SI's top fifty prospects for the NFL draft

by HenryJames on Feb 24, 2009 8:03 AM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

Dedfischer over at the Tortilla Retort has a post up about Sports Illustrated's Top 50 prospects for the NFL draft and the Big 12 players contained therein. After overcoming my initial anger that the Report isn't a review site for Tex Mex restaurants, I read the article. Before adding my thoughts though, I'll let you get a glimpse of behind the scenes magic here at the BarkingCarnival media empire. Actual email exchange below.

Ripley: Great write up, ded. Scipio/HJ - Can one of you link it, and address it in a post?

HJ: Scipio has pulled an Andre Smith. No one knows his current whereabouts.

dedfischer: Michael Oher is waaaaaaaaaay overrated too.

HJ: Was Jon Cooper invited to the combine for the same reason Carrie was invited to the prom?

dedfischer: I was surprised he did 31 reps @ 225. I don’t think he sucks as bad as you guys do. I keep trying to find a better center in the Big 12, but overall, the position just sucks and he’s as good as anyone was rolling with. Other options include a walkon or an overgrown 8th grader.

Ripley: This is why we blogs, you fucking imbeciles. Go discuss this shit on the web. Sweet creeping Jebsus.

HJ: I hope Dexter Pittman fouls you.

1. Michael Crabtree

Yeah, he's not quite 6'2" and has a stress fracture in his foot, but not even Matt Millen could fuck this one up. Some idiot GM will not be 'sold on his speed' and so they'll pass on a 10 year NFL guy. The NFL is still hung up too much on physical attributes. Look at the top dozen or so receivers in the league last year and tell me Crabtree doesn't belong in that group. He's a faster Michael Irvin.

4. Jason Smith

This guy was the best lineman in the Big 12 last year. Dude used Auston English worse than Bob Stoops and Jerry Schmidt did. Credit ex-Baylor coach Guy Morris for finding the then 220 pound Smith playing tight end in high school. You don't see many stories like that any more now that high school players can arrive in your program as freshman weighing 310. Smith is just fantastic athletically and definitely has the feet to be an NFL left tackle.

7. Brian Orakpo

I actually think Orakpo is a tad overrated at this point. The talk is that he's going to be a 3-4 OLB in the pros, but I haven't really seen the ability to play in space nor the change of direction that position requires. I'm not saying he doesn't have it. I just haven't seen it. He plays stiff at times. He reeled off a couple of 4.70s at the combine, but then popped a hamstring doing a drill.

20. Brandon Pettigrew

He doesn't run a 4.6! So? He's a dominating blocker, and will catch a lot of passes by using his frame to shield defenders. Like an entry pass into the low post.

45. Ziggy Hood

Tell me if you've heard this before. Athletically gifted defensive lineman who doesn't dominate like he should. Time to get serious, Ziggy.

46. Duke Robinson

Robinson is a fat aggressive mauler at the next level and so he reminds me of any guard for the Baltimore Ravens in the last five years. He did reshape his body in college so the work ethic is there. And he'll be served well by his 'If you can't beat 'em, hold 'em' philosphy.

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Comments

Pretty sure the media empire looks better overall when you get the names of your sister sites correct. Just sayin’.

by Big Satan on Feb 24, 2009 8:12 AM CST reply actions

“He did reshape his body in college so the work ethic is there.”

“work ethic.” Is that what you crazy kids are calling HGH these days?

by Tony Mandarich on Feb 24, 2009 8:29 AM CST reply actions

Is this an inappropriate forum to talk about how much Bob Stoops sucks?

by D D D on Feb 24, 2009 8:32 AM CST reply actions

The internal correspondence was more interesting and probably entirely accurate.

Transparency is what the people deserve!

And the folks that are expecting Orakpo to become the next Demarcus Ware because of his combine numbers are going to be disappointed.

by Vasherized on Feb 24, 2009 10:19 AM CST reply actions

Lendy Holmes and Nic Harris just threw down a 4.7 and 4.8, respectively, in honor of Dwayne Slay.

by dedfischer on Feb 24, 2009 11:08 AM CST reply actions

Quan Cosby should have stood near the finish line while Holmes was running just to fuck with him.

by HenryJames on Feb 24, 2009 11:11 AM CST reply actions

I don’t think there’s ever been a D-I skill position player who graduated high school running slower than a 4.5. At least, that’s what Rivals always tells me.

by dedfischer on Feb 24, 2009 11:21 AM CST reply actions

On a positive note, TCU’s Stephen Hodge just busted a 4.49 at 234 lbs.

by dedfischer on Feb 24, 2009 11:22 AM CST reply actions

It’s always fun to go back and look at how big the TCU players were when recruited (remember, recruiting services are not known for understating sizes). Jason Phillips, now 6’0" and 239# was 5’11" and 185# as a 2004 recruit. Hodge, 5’11" and 234# was 5’11" and 180# as a 2005 recruit.

by TaylorTRoom on Feb 24, 2009 11:37 AM CST reply actions

I concur with that, Taylor. It makes me laugh when TCU’s LBs outrun Tech’s WRs at the Combine. And, then people label Patterson as a junk defense guy.

by dedfischer on Feb 24, 2009 11:55 AM CST reply actions

I don’t see Orakpo as an OLB in a 3-4 either. Playing stiff is a good way to describe him. He did do that at times. Is it because he’s not 280+ lbs? If Elvis Dumervil, Darren Howard, and Leonard Little can all play in the league at DE, the Brian Orakpo sure as shit can.

by Steve Nebraska on Feb 24, 2009 12:33 PM CST reply actions

Brandon Foster measured 5’8" and ran a 4.57 and 4.58.

by HenryJames on Feb 24, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions

McBath laid down a 4.57 on a bad hammy. That’s better than I thought. He might be able to crack 4.5 at his pro day.

by dedfischer on Feb 24, 2009 1:47 PM CST reply actions

Did you mean Ryan Palmer? Foster ran a 4.38 or something last year.

by Bow Shumbuckler on Feb 24, 2009 2:00 PM CST reply actions

If Palmer had gone to TCU, he would have run that 4.58 at 5’8" and 225#.

by TaylorTRoom on Feb 24, 2009 2:02 PM CST reply actions

Yes, I meant Palmer. Damn it.

I also confuse Gary Coleman with Emmanuel Lewis.

by HenryJames on Feb 24, 2009 2:06 PM CST reply actions

I seem to recall everyone saying, five years ago, that Palmer’s upside was pretty large due in part to his outstanding speed. I vividly remember people saying he was a “4.3 guy”, and kept waiting to see it on the field.

by Nordberg on Feb 24, 2009 2:30 PM CST reply actions

My wee wee is a 4.3" guy and I am also waiting to see it on the field

by Spring Branch Horn on Feb 24, 2009 2:59 PM CST reply actions

Kind of short, like a beer can, but wide, like a cheese wheel…

by uthookem on Feb 24, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions

Sorry, between that and the cock-flavored popsicle, I just can’t miss a shot at dick jokes…kind of like the kid in superbad that loved drawing dicks…“A big, fat, triumphant, veiny bastard…”

by uthookem on Feb 24, 2009 4:33 PM CST reply actions