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Interview with Joe Everett of Rookiedraft.com
by Jamie MacLachlan
With less than two weeks to go until the 2012 NFL Draft gets underway at 8:00pm ET on April 26th, NFL sites are uploading Mock Drafts on a regular basis and fans read them in anticipation as they try to work out who will end up being taken by their team. As part of our build up for the Draft we have conducted an interview with Joe Everett president of http://www.rookiedraft.com/ answering a number of our questions.
1. Do you think any teams will pull off a Julio Jones type trade and move up in the draft? Could it be the Niners after their FA signings?
Well, the obvious answer here is that the Redskins already made the "Julio Jones" deal but I wouldn't put it past a team like the Dolphins to move up in the draft to ensure they can get their hands on quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He's a very intriguing player in the Top-10 because the Dolphins will have great interest, as will the Kansas City Chiefs. As far as a team giving up five draft picks that include two first rounders and a second rounder, I just don't see it happening on draft day.
2. Which team’s playoffs hopes for this year are the most dependent on a good draft?
The San Diego Chargers. After losing Vincent Jackson in free agency and watching their once great offensive line deteriorate over the past two years, they are on the verge of missing the playoffs again in a division they used to dominate. The Denver Broncos made a power move to control the AFC West with their acquisition of Peyton Manning and while the Chargers may have added Robert Meachem, their lack of a true number one receiver is a huge area of concern. They need to add a pass rushing presence, a potential number one wide receiver and additional help along the offensive line or it may be the end of the road for Norv Turner in San Diego.
3. How do you evaluate tweener 3-4 OLB/4-3 DE prospects? What traits do you look for in a player to judge which system would fit them best?
While there are a lot of similar qualities and skill sets that both the standup pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 and a hand in the dirt base end in a 4-3 possess, a few finer points separate the players and make them better fits for a given scheme. 4-3 Defensive End: This player should possess the ability to stack and shed, disengaging from blockers to make plays in both the pass and the run. More often than not, a 4-3 defensive end will be asked to do a lot more in run support and will more than likely always wind up in a three or four point stance. The 4-3 end also has a thicker base and trunk as far as their frame is concerned, usually giving the player a better chance to maintain the point of attack against the run. 3-4 Outside Linebacker: This player is a classic hybrid that should possess knowledge of a number of different positions to go along with the athletic ability and skill set to carry out the great many tasks that will be asked of him. While some 3-4 OLBs might be pass rushing specialists, most have a number of responsibilities on the field dependent on the scheme and coordinator. The stand up pass rusher has to be a more fluid athlete with the ability to not only turn his hips and drop back into coverage but also possess enough core strength to stack up against the run and bull rush opposing tackles.
1. Do you think any teams will pull off a Julio Jones type trade and move up in the draft? Could it be the Niners after their FA signings?
Well, the obvious answer here is that the Redskins already made the "Julio Jones" deal but I wouldn't put it past a team like the Dolphins to move up in the draft to ensure they can get their hands on quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He's a very intriguing player in the Top-10 because the Dolphins will have great interest, as will the Kansas City Chiefs. As far as a team giving up five draft picks that include two first rounders and a second rounder, I just don't see it happening on draft day.
2. Which team’s playoffs hopes for this year are the most dependent on a good draft?
The San Diego Chargers. After losing Vincent Jackson in free agency and watching their once great offensive line deteriorate over the past two years, they are on the verge of missing the playoffs again in a division they used to dominate. The Denver Broncos made a power move to control the AFC West with their acquisition of Peyton Manning and while the Chargers may have added Robert Meachem, their lack of a true number one receiver is a huge area of concern. They need to add a pass rushing presence, a potential number one wide receiver and additional help along the offensive line or it may be the end of the road for Norv Turner in San Diego.
3. How do you evaluate tweener 3-4 OLB/4-3 DE prospects? What traits do you look for in a player to judge which system would fit them best?
While there are a lot of similar qualities and skill sets that both the standup pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 and a hand in the dirt base end in a 4-3 possess, a few finer points separate the players and make them better fits for a given scheme. 4-3 Defensive End: This player should possess the ability to stack and shed, disengaging from blockers to make plays in both the pass and the run. More often than not, a 4-3 defensive end will be asked to do a lot more in run support and will more than likely always wind up in a three or four point stance. The 4-3 end also has a thicker base and trunk as far as their frame is concerned, usually giving the player a better chance to maintain the point of attack against the run. 3-4 Outside Linebacker: This player is a classic hybrid that should possess knowledge of a number of different positions to go along with the athletic ability and skill set to carry out the great many tasks that will be asked of him. While some 3-4 OLBs might be pass rushing specialists, most have a number of responsibilities on the field dependent on the scheme and coordinator. The stand up pass rusher has to be a more fluid athlete with the ability to not only turn his hips and drop back into coverage but also possess enough core strength to stack up against the run and bull rush opposing tackles.
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4. Do you think Trent Richardson will be the next Adrian Peterson, or will the knee injuries he has had limit him?
While these two are different players, Richardson has similar explosion and tackle breaking ability but I don't think he possesses the straight line speed that Peterson had coming out of Oklahoma. Regardless of that he can have a very similar impact on his NFL team because of his terrific athleticism, great vision and phenomenal strength. Trent Richardson's most recent knee surgery was a minor scope and his only other knee injury during his Alabama career was a sprain in 2010 that caused him to miss two games. The most significant injury of his career was a foot injury that caused him to miss his entire sophomore season but outside of that, he's got a fairly clean bill of health and Richardson should be considered less of a health concern than Peterson was when he entered the draft. 5. Would you draft Ryan Tannehill with a first round pick or do you think he is over rated? I would definitely draft Tannehill with a first round pick but I would not take him in the Top-10 where he's most likely going to fall on Day One of the NFL Draft. The QB position is consistently pushed up to the top of the draft each and every year with this year an almost certainty to be no different, as both the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins have picks within the first eight selections. |
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Tannehill has a ton of upside and presence as a potential signal caller with his athleticism and ability to make a number of different throws but he might be a year away from being ready to take charge under center. There's certainly a lot to work with in Tannehill but it will take exactly that, a lot of work to polish this former wideout into a franchise passer. I'd rather take a player that will need a year in the 20-40 range, as opposed to the Top-10 picks.
6. Do you think any of the "combine warriors" i.e. Dontari Poe and Stephen Hill, will have a highly successful career?
There's always a chance with every player and with many, it will rely heavily on exactly what team they land and exactly what kind of coaching they'll be getting. I'm sure you could picture drastically different outcomes for Stephen Hill if he got drafted by the Patriots as opposed to the Jets but in Hill's case, I think he's very dependent on where he ends up because he is a "Workout Warrior" that has limitations as a route runner. There is a ton of potential with Hill's athleticism so his upside remains high but there are no guarantees for Hill being a great pro. In Dontari Poe's case, I could see him winding up in the right situation and taking advantage of his great physical tools in an even front where his strength, pass rushing ability and versatility would be welcomed.
6. Do you think any of the "combine warriors" i.e. Dontari Poe and Stephen Hill, will have a highly successful career?
There's always a chance with every player and with many, it will rely heavily on exactly what team they land and exactly what kind of coaching they'll be getting. I'm sure you could picture drastically different outcomes for Stephen Hill if he got drafted by the Patriots as opposed to the Jets but in Hill's case, I think he's very dependent on where he ends up because he is a "Workout Warrior" that has limitations as a route runner. There is a ton of potential with Hill's athleticism so his upside remains high but there are no guarantees for Hill being a great pro. In Dontari Poe's case, I could see him winding up in the right situation and taking advantage of his great physical tools in an even front where his strength, pass rushing ability and versatility would be welcomed.
Brandon Weeden
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7. Cleveland have said they're willing to trade down but probably no further than the 8th pick, I think the Rams, Jaguars and Dolphins could all be interested in making the deal. Which team do you think will make the deal?
Well, my last Mock Draft has the Dolphins trading up with the Browns to acquire Ryan Tannehill and remaining in the Top-10 is the most likely scenario is exactly where the Browns could have value fall directly in their lap with guys like Michael Brockers, Fletcher Cox and Quinton Coples all potentially looming there. The history of Tom Heckert/Mike Holmgren wheeling and dealing during the draft is too much to ignore so trading down would not surprise me but trading outside of the Top-10 certainly would. 8. How much does Brandon Weeden's age truly affect his draft prospects? The fact that Brandon Weeden will be a 28 year old rookie is the reason that I foresee him ultimately being drafted in the second round. Brandon Weeden might have a chance to fit into the Top-10 this year if he were the same player, from the same system but happened to be only 22 years old. Each pick on an NFL team's board is a basic investment or stock that they hope will flourish while under their possession and the fact that he'll be 32 by the time he's up for his second contract is a huge knock on the potential return on their investment. |
9. Is Kellen Moore worth a late round pick? Who is best placed to give him a shot either via the draft or as a UDFA?
Moore was such a successful passer at the collegiate level but his physical limitations could potentially keep him from being drafted at all. I think a team should take a chance on him in the last round because he does have backup potential in the right system. A team that has a franchise passer in place that is more of a cerebral player Moore could learn from initially would make the most sense like the Saints or Rams.
Moore was such a successful passer at the collegiate level but his physical limitations could potentially keep him from being drafted at all. I think a team should take a chance on him in the last round because he does have backup potential in the right system. A team that has a franchise passer in place that is more of a cerebral player Moore could learn from initially would make the most sense like the Saints or Rams.
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(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission
(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission