ron rivera presser at the combine

[frash.exe]

Brockers is only a sophomore. He has not even touched his potential. He is only going to get better. A team that picks him may have to wait a year or two for his develop but he will be a beast. Although they don't play the same position he kind of reminds of Jason Pierre-Paul. A guy who is raw but has the measurables to be great. He just needs time and experience to reach his potential. I don't know if we will be that team.

if he came out next year this whole board would be fawning over him and he'd be projected as a top 3 pick.

...we can get a guy that is possibly the best prospect out of any DT in this draft and is still growing into the position a year early at a bargain compared to where he would end up being drafted if he declared after his junior year

[bleys]

cam did phenomenal in spite of those issues. can't say the same thing at all for mcclain and fua.

for rookie DTs drafted in the 3rd round? I saw nice potential...

the problem is expecting them to play at a Nick Fairley level... who was noted to be a safer pick than Newton, yet didn't exactly show up this year..

[Gallagher]

for rookie DTs drafted in the 3rd round? I saw nice potential...

the problem is expecting them to play at a Nick Fairley level... who was noted to be a safer pick than Newton, yet didn't exactly show up this year..

I agree with this. I think our line next year should be Hardy, McClain, Edwards, and Johnson with Fua, Neblett, Keiser and whoever we draft behind them. With Kearse and Tucker in the mix too, I suppose.

[mario]

yes

fug brockers because he faces a lot more double teams than either of those ends and therefore can't get to the QB as much

it's not all about measurables, stupid

I'm not comparing him to his teammates, i'm comparing him to other DT in this class.

Devon Still and Michael Brockers played Alabama this season (arguably the best OL both of them faced all season):

Michael Brockers was doubled in that game (NCG) 20 times between pass and run plays. He didn't beat the double team vs the pass once in that game (not so surprising given that his own coaches didn't believe in him as a 3rd down pass rusher).

Devon Still was double 15 times against the same OL (pass and run playes combined again). He did beat the double team 3 times in pass plays, and once in run plays.

So yes, Brockes was doubled more times, but it doesn't justify his lack of production (vs Alabama in particular, and all season long in general).

LOL @ looking at a DT's sack numbers to determine their worth....

Who did say that? I know sacks aren't the best way to measure DT's success, still when you're picking in the 1st round (much more in the Top 10) you want some sort of production. 2 career sacks is just underwhelming for a Top 10 draft pick, i don't care if he was double much more than other DT in this class (which he wasn't, as stated above).

JPP was an athletic freak like Brockers is, but he was productive in South Florida. Sure, Brockers could have the highest roof in this draft class (Fletcher Cox is another posivility) but at this point he's a hell of a risky pick with more bust potential than other DT's because he hasn't show yet that he can be a player whose productivity warrants a Top 10 draft choice.

[rayzor]

(not so surprising given that his own coaches didn't believe in him as a 3rd down pass rusher).

this statment lets me know that you don't know what you're talking about.

[mav1234]

In college didn't Suh have like 4 sacks after 2 pretty much full years of play time? Brockers had 2 this last year... Meh... DTs aren't known for accumulating sacks. Obviously Brockers is no Suh, and I do think that because he has had so little play time he is a bit of a risk, but I think that to judge Brockers on his sack total alone - or how often he played on 3rd down as a sophmore - may be a bit misleading.

[mario]

this statment lets me know that you don't know what you're talking about.

Maybe you're right, so let's see what Brockers have to say about this:

“Being a big guy like I am, I attract a lot of double teams. . . . Our defense, we do a lot of slanting and let blitzers come off the edge. I feel like I played my part in the defense being a force in the middle on first and second downs and getting us to third down situations,” Brockers said.

Telling, right?

Your statment lets me know that you've decided to enter de Brockers' bandwagon without really watching LSU defense.

In college didn't Suh have like 4 sacks after 2 pretty much full years of play time? Brockers had 2 this last year... Meh... DTs aren't known for accumulating sacks. Obviously Brockers is no Suh, and I do think that because he has had so little play time he is a bit of a risk, but I think that to judge Brockers on his sack total alone - or how often he played on 3rd down as a sophmore - may be a bit misleading.

So you're fine drafting a player based almost exclusively on upside/development instead of on-the-field productivity (and i'm not talking about sacks). That's fine, i respect that, i just don't agree with that when we're talking about a Top 10 overall pick.

[Jesse]

In college didn't Suh have like 4 sacks after 2 pretty much full years of play time? Brockers had 2 this last year... Meh... DTs aren't known for accumulating sacks. Obviously Brockers is no Suh, and I do think that because he has had so little play time he is a bit of a risk, but I think that to judge Brockers on his sack total alone - or how often he played on 3rd down as a sophmore - may be a bit misleading.

I wish Suh did.

As a senior, Suh led Nebraska in tackles for the second straight season with 85 tackles, the most by a defensive lineman since 1974. He also became the first defensive lineman to lead Nebraska in tackles in consecutive seasons. He also led the team in tackles for loss (24), sacks (12), quarterback hurries (26) and blocked kicks (3). His 24 tackles for loss were second on the Nebraska season list, while his 12 sacks ranked third in school history. Suh's 10 pass breakups were second on the team and led the nation's defensive linemen. He also added his fourth career interception, an NU record for defensive linemen.

Brockers just had 9.5 TFL this year.

HOWEVER, Suh was in his senior year that was around some pretty good DL IIRC in 2009. Brockers still had another two years to accomplish what Suh did at Nebraska.

[mav1234]

So you're fine drafting a player based almost exclusively on upside/development instead of on-the-field productivity (and i'm not talking about sacks). That's fine, i respect that, i just don't agree with that when we're talking about a Top 10 overall pick.

I disagree that his on-the-field productivity was as low as you think it was. Sacks don't tell the whole story. Now, whether or not he's worth the 9th pick, I don't know. I haven't looked into him as much as others, but it does sound like he's drawn some interest from the FO, so there's likely some reason for that.

[mav1234]

I wish Suh did.

Brockers just had 9.5 TFL this year.

HOWEVER, Suh was in his senior year that was around some pretty good DL IIRC in 2009. Brockers still had another two years to accomplish what Suh did at Nebraska.

That was in 2009 as a senior, go look at him in 2006/2007. Hence my statement about Suh's first two years of play time. Obviously as a Senior he was exceptional. Same with as a junior.

Suh had like 50 total tackles and 4 sacks in his first 2 years of play time, it wasn't until 2008/2009 that he exploded. What I meant was that you can't judge a sophmore on his numbers like that, because he's still got a lot of developing to do.

[DaCityKats]

Brockers weighed in at 322. He will be a top 10 pick. and its a reason all those guys are getting the one on one match up to show case their skills.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/michael-brockers?id=2533050

[rayzor]

Maybe you're right, so let's see what Brockers have to say about this:

Telling, right?

Your statment lets me know that you've decided to enter de Brockers' bandwagon without really watching LSU defense.

i watched enough to know that his performance on passing downs wasn't enough to warrant taking him out on 3rds nor am i going to assume that i know what that coaching staff is thinking. you can go on assuming you know that they didn't trust him, though. it will be just about as right as the assumptions people made about newton and the supposed lack of trust his coaching staff had in him by asking him to run the offense he did.

not being asked to do something doesn't necessarily mean a lack of faith or belief in their ability to do something. there's likely more going on than you realize.