2008 Herd Board Live Mock Draft

Final Results:

1. Miami- DE/Chris Long
2. St Louis- DT/Glenn Dorsey
3. Atlanta- OT/Jake Long
4. Oakland- RB/Darren McFadden
5. Kansas City- DT/Sedric Ellis
6. NY Jets- QB/Matt Ryan
7. New England- DE/Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore- CB/Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati- DE/Derrick Harvey
10. New Orleans- LB/Keith Rivers

1. Glenn Dorsey dt - Will anchor the line against the run and provide a disruptive force up the middle. Will be the best dt the rams have had since Olsen.

2. Quentin Groves de - I chose him months ago here so I got to stay with him. Has the frame to add more size for a 4-3 end with lb speed. In his rookie year he plays strictly on passing downs opposite LL. Lets hope the run on ol and corners push him to us.

3. Mike Pollak c - Physical and strong run blocker with rare athleticism for the center position.

4. Dexter Jackson wr - I wanted to go with Jordy Nelson here because I like big (6-3 217) productive receivers with great hands. But somebody in my office sent me this clip and this guy WOWED me. He runs fast in shorts, and faster on a football field. He gets on top of safety's as fast as any wr I've ever seen. Take a peek: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/24/dexter-jackson-runs-4-27-at-combine/

5. Chauncy Washington rb- CLICK READ MORE below

Macklin signed as a depth player. Will compete for an inside slot position. Best available free agent corner. Likes Wade. Last year was a redshirt year for him. Wade exceeded what the Falcons thought he could do last year. Thinks Wade can compete for a starting job in '08.

Compares Caldwell to Macklin on defense. Would compete for a depth job. Knows the offense and had a good year with New England two years ago. Would have to fight for a roster spot. Between St. Louis and Washington for Caldwell's services.

Doesn't think they have enough offensive linemen. Doesn't know whether they will take one early or late, but they need more bodies. Noted that many teams have hit on 5th, 6th, 7th rounders on the offensive line.

On use of the #2 pick...the guys that we've seen have reconfirmed what our opinion of them was before we spoke to them. Going to see Dorsey next week. Anxious and excited to see him. Also going to USC to see Ellis one last time.

It is scary to use a high pick on a DT. He notes that. Said much of the problem with DT's that are taken high is changes in system. Dwayne Robertson is a perfect example, he says.

Jake Long
Posted by F.Mulder,

Drew, thanks for doing this again, we really appreciate it!

There seems to be absolutely no consensus on what will happen with the #1 overall pick so it is obviously more difficult predicting the #2.

There seems to be a strong feeling however that if C Long goes first J Long goes next or visa-versa. For a variety of reasons it seems Dorsey and Ghoslton are not as strongly in play.

IF J Long is the pick do you believe he is destined for ROT or do you believe he can eventually move to and be a top-end LOT?

Thanks!


RE: Jake Long
Posted by TheHuddleReport,

DB:
Jake Long can be a LT in certain systems like play action vertical game, a vertical offensive system. He will struggle as a LT in a spread offense. He can play RT and LG along with LT.

edited by ROT

Quote:
>who do you see the Dolphins taking at #1 along with the Rams
>taking at #2?
>
>Thanks for taking time out of your schedule for the HERD!!


Drew Boylhart wrote:
Thanks for having THR! There are three possible picks for Miami (in my opinion):
- Chris Long (DE Virginia)
- Matt Ryan (QB Boston College)
- Vernon Gholston (DE Ohio State)

For the Rams, I would think:
- Jake Long (OT Michigan)
- Vernon Gholston
- Chris Long

This would be my options for both teams.

Says that he and Linehan have very similar philosophy. They had several long talks and think along the same lines.

Linehan, like he told us yesterday, told Saunders "I need your help." I think that's a big move by Linehan.

Said the most important offensive coach relationships for an o-coordinator are QB coach and O-line coach. Happy that Loney worked in the same system in Arizona with Keith Rowan...that'll make Loney's transition easier. Hasn't studied the Rams OL, but notes that in this offense, you need linemen than can run...be athletic. Said Brian Waters was a TE/FB before they moved him to guard. He and Loney met on an airplane after a Senior Bowl before and had great chemistry.

Says the most important ability for a WR in his offense is the ability to seperate by making great cuts. It's just not as easy for a big WR to do that. Thinks Holt is still an elite receiver and that Bruce is a very special talent. Said he had Charlie Joiner in his 18th year in S.D. and McCardell in his 16th this year in Washington. Says there's no reason that Bruce can't still be effective.

edited by ZN

Randy Karraker

what about Linny missing the Senior Bowl? I saw he could not get to the Senior Bowl due to the funeral, I would feel more comfortable if the guy making the picks got to speak to some of the prospective draft picks because as we know drafting character guys has not been a Rams strong point.

He also could have talked to prospective OC's and DB coaches.

Isnt showing up a day late better than now showing up at all?
RK: He'll get to interview prospects at the combine, and he knows which assistants he's going to talk to. I don't think it's that big of a deal. I think it was more important for him to go to the funeral, and then if he'd flown yesterday he would have got there for the second practice. I think he did the right thing.

Karraker and Miklasz---their attitude toward Linehan is remarkably negative. They cite as fact their conclusion that he has lost the team and that is questionable whether he has the capability, the presence or the charisma to get them back.

The whole discussion revolved on Linehan's inability to get it done. They compared his reception with the team to that of Martz who they claimed had instant credibility because of his relationship with Ike and Green. They didn't understand why the FOSL's that Linehan brought in didn't produce a similar result.

The only credit I heard Bernie give out concerned Linehan at Minnesota. He said he reviewed all the comments made about him by the players and they all sounded as though his loss was going to be a terrible thing. Bernie noted that both Culpepper and Moss each were big fans of Linehan.

RK: I don't know if Linehan, as a first time head coach, can get his veterans back on board. Vermeil was able to accomplish that in '99, Coughlin did with the Giants this season. Sometimes if players tune a coach out, the thing to do is replace the players. We agree that it'd be beneficial to get the stars on his side. That's how you coach successfully these days in pro sports. Belichick, Coughlin, Dungy, Lovie, Jim Leyland, Francona, Popovich, Torre...all of those guys have stars that would go through a wall for them...and the other guys fall in place behind them.

I made my way to the game in AZ a few weeks ago because I thought it might be Bruce's last game. I found my old Isaac jersey and threw it on.

Prior to the game a buddy and I headed to the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale where the rams were staying. Out of nowhere, here comes Isaac walking by himself, wearing one of those inflatable neck pillows around his neck that you see people wearing on airplanes. Now I'm not usually and autograph seeker - but WTF, its Ike and I'm wearing his jersey for the first time since 1999.

Hey Ike, can you do me the honor? Ike looks up, says nothing, takes my sharpie and signs the "0" on the Jersey. I guess that he was being sincere when he said when they retire his jersey Henry gets the "Eight" and he gets the "O". I said I always wanted to thank him for the 1999 playoffs - the first play - a 77 yard touchdown - and the last play - a 73 yard TD to win the SB. I told him, on behalf of all rams fans, he is the man and that we wanted him back (though apparently thats not true). He didn't react.

I said to him, if you go, just don't go to San Francisco. He looks up and says. . . no way. And slips off.

Bernie Miklasz: Randy said if he picked...he’d take Jake Long (at number two). You’re the King of the World at Rams Park. Do you like him?

Dan Dierdorf: Yes, I like him. I can’t speak as to whether that’s the Rams primary need or not, in terms of who’s available. But I’ll just say this. Michigan has produced a long line of big, strong, smart offensive linemen. I think of guys like Jon Runyan, and I think of guys like Jumbo Elliott, and Jon Jansen, who plays for the Redskins. And I just think Jake Long is right in that group. I don’t know…I don’t think Jake is the athlete that, say, Orlando Pace is, but he is, he’s…he in my mind would be a very good left tackle. He’d probably be a great right tackle. Again, I think you’re getting a guy with…he’ll play for you for ten or thirteen years, and I think he’s a can’t miss guy in that respect. I do not think that he’s a phenomenal athlete.

Randy Karraker: One of the reasons, Dan, that I really advocate taking him…and Chris Long, Howie Long's son, by the way…is a heckuva player, too…

Dan Dierdorf: Yes, he is…

Randy Karraker: