Keep an eye on this guy. Big DE who would fit the new scheme perfectly. 6'6 almost 300 lbs! A nice late second to third round guy. You heard it here first.
Actually, he was first mentioned on this board a month ago... http://forums.theganggreen.com/showpost.php?p=363815&postcount=1
^ Agree Completely. We wil be lucky if he lasts until our 1st 2nd round pick (Wash pick) I would love to have him on the team. He and Ellis would be great bookends in a 3-4 defense. Plus his size the word is that he has shown versatility on all D line positions this year.
If Carriker is gone we could look at his partner in crime Jay Moore (6'4" 280). Big enough to be a 3-4 DE and about as productive as Carriker (34.5 tackles - 6 sacks vs. 29.5 tackles - 5 sacks)
Or Frank Okam if he survives. He's big enough to play nose tackle in situations, and defensive end. Ray McDonald is another play who I've seen all season and he can occupy blockers with the best of them. A very Mangini type of player, considering he's hard working and very emotional.
Carriker is a guy I have my eye on. I can see late second early third. I would defintely take him if he was there with our second, second rounder.
I think some of you are underrating Carriker. He is definitely on people's radars for the first round. Not that he's 'the end all be all,' but Mel Kiper has Carriker as 8th on his Big Board. I don't think he'll go that high, but he's definitely in the mix in the first round for all the 3-4 teams looking for a DE. http://proxy.espn.go.com/melkiper/index.html I would have no problem taking him with a pick in the ~25 area.
mangini4life's got it. He will be taken early in the 2nd at the very latest. 3rd round is a pipe dream.
dream draft would be this as our first 3 picks: ~24 RB marshawn lynch 5'11 220 lbs ~38 OLB lamar woodley 6'2 265 lbs ~56 DE adam carriker 6'6 298 lbs however, who knows if any of them will fall to each spot
That would be great but as you indicate, its a long shot for this to take place (but you never know in the draft). How about: ~24 DE adam carriker ~38 OLB anthony spencer 6-3 260 ~56 ILB David Harris 6-2 251 (Michigan, solid ILB with great intangibles) The only issue with the above is that I would like to use one of these draft picks to land an OL or RB. But these are 3 defensive players that are intriguing.
There is a chance Okoye may fall to our second round pick but he is most likely a middle of the first round type of player due to his potential and once he starts getting some measurables down he should fly up because besides Branch there is not a very good DT prospect besides him. Also I think we have a better chance of getting Carriker at ~38 and Spencer at ~24. The read I am getting is Spencer is slightly higher rated than Woodley at this point while Carriker is still slightly undervalued.
Carriker's stock will only rise as the draft approaches. I don't even know if he will be there with our first 2nd round pick. Imo, DE is our biggest need, and if his stock continues to rise, I wouldn't mind taking him with our 1st round pick. That's of course considering a top talent doesn't drop into our lap.
Currently my 'realistic' dream first day is the following: 1 - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska 2a - Aaron Sears, OG/OT, Tennessee 2b - Victor Abiamiri, OLB, Notre Dame 3 - Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State If we want Carriker, and I really do, I'm pretty sure we will have to take him with our 1st round pick. I'm not sure if there is a better 3-4 DE available other than Branch and arguably Okam, but that is only if they declare. Sears and Abiamiri could be swapped in the 2nd round, but both are tough, smart, athletic, football players with upside. I suppose Spencer or Woodley could be in place of Abiamiri, and Levi Brown or Blalock instead of Sears, but I'm imagining that all of those guys will be gone. Hunt will be a nice addition to Houston and Washington, as Barlow and Blaylock will be cut. I think we need another back to go along with Houston and Washington, because if either of them goes down, as Houston seems to do somewhat often, I don't like our chances.
All that's for sure is that this draft is a GREAT draft to grab yourself a DE, no matter what scheme you run. I actually think his stock will drop after the combine. And saying early 3rd is not a pipe dream at all. Last year they had the Bucs jumping all over Eric Winston OT Miami in the 1st, and he made it all the way to the early 3rd where teh Texans nabbed him. What's all this talk of Woodley? Isn't he comming out as a DE?
Woodley has been projected to be a great fit for the OLB in a 3-4. Thats why people on this board are falling all over themselves to support drafting him. I personally think that Anthony Spencer might be more effective in that role or that Victor Abimyri (forgot how to spell his name) might be better value later in the draft. How would people feel about one of these scenarios? 1) Trading up with our two second rounders to ensure that we nabbed both Carriker and Woodley / Spencer? 2) ~24 Justin Blalock (seems he would be available at this point in many mocks) ~36 Adam Carriker ~54 Victor Abimyri Also, how do you guys feel about Brandon Mebane (DT California; 6-3 290) as a DE in the 3-4? How well would he project there? Just a thought.
