WW85's 2011 Top 5 Offensive Players by Position

Nice work, WW.

I'm really excited about this receiving class. We'll more than likely get rid of one of our two potential #1s, so Tannenbaum might go after the best wideout that falls out of the top ten.

The Tight End class actually isn't as bad as you think. The SEC has three very good tight ends - Tennessee's Luke Stocker is a player on the rise. DJ Williams doesn't have ideal height, but he's a playmaker in the passing game. Weslye Saunders is arguably the most complete tight end in the nation. A lot like what you said about the guard/center class - it's fairly strong at the top, but then it falls off later.

I'm glad that you added Ryan Whalen into this list - he's a very underrated player. Stanford has a big play wideout named Chris Owusu that has first round potential. I'm excited to watch this guys play with a more experienced Andrew Luck.

 

In a small sample I didn't see Ponder as having an NFL arm. Had a solid season last year but if he's going to be the 2011 Colt McCoy I think he has to improve.

I think Kyle Rudolph could be a late 1st rounder if he's 100% healthy. Could be a Todd Heap player at the next level.

 

Keep an eye out for WR Greg Childs from Arkansas he may suprise alot of people this year.

 

Kyle Rudolph's my top tight end at the moment - I just hope he's utilized in Brian Kelly's offense.

People are really underrating DJ Williams right now. If Ryan Mallett has a strong year, so will Williams. The guy is a very fast, athletic receiving tight end - very, very similar to Dustin Keller.

 

Ryan Williams is such a beast, I like this years running back class alot, though I wouldnt touch Evan Royster with a 100 yard stick

This years tackle class looks ok, but usually we see one of these guys really emerge as the elite player as the season progresses

I know its early on, but I think Ryan Mallet may be a big faller as the season goes on. I'm just more skeptical now than I was 5 months ago about his ability at the next level

 

Why? He's got elite size and a cannon for an arm.

I know he's not very accurate, but his offensive line was garbage and he still put up big numbers in the SEC.

I think he'll have to sit and learn a year in the NFL before he's ready, but he certainly has the tools to be a top ten pick.

 

I love Rudolph.

He's just a solid TE. If he has a good season without Clausen, he'll crack the top 25.

 

Rudolph will probably have similar numbers to Cincy tight end Ben Guidugli: Last season, Guidugli had 27 receptions for 364 yards and 3 TDs in Brian Kelly's spread system.

Kelly just doesn't use the tight end too often in his offense and it could end up hurting Rudolph's stock.

I think he's a hell of a tight end, but lack of production could cause his stock to fall a bit.

 

Deon Lewis is a beast

 

Exactly. It's like I told NDmick in another thread. Some of the classes don't seem deep right now, but someone emerge and come out of nowhere. They always do.

 

I think he has some very good tools, but I'm sort of hesitant about someone who comes from a pass happy offense. Yeah what Bobby Petrino runs isnt exactly the same thing as a spread or run and gun offense, but its still a passer friendly system. Obviously being able to throw the ball the distance and the velocity that Mallet does is something that isnt related to the system. But, the last big name quarterback to come out of Petrinos system was Brian Brohm, now I know Brohm doesnt come close to Mallets skills or upside, but I'm still suspicious.

Also one thing working in Mallets favor is that the NFL enjoys guys with big arms, and the reasons Jamarcus Russell and Stafford were selected one overall was not because of their pin point accuracy

I do agree that wherever he gets picked, he should sit out a year

Still the season hasnt started, I hope I'm wrong and Mallet does well (except against LSU) and solidifies himself as a first round prospect

 

I think Childs is more of a product of Petrino's offense, like Harry Douglas, Mario Urrutia , Josh Tinch, etc...

Plus he has somewhat of a drop problem, which he doesn't have enough pure ability for scouts to overlook that...

 

Good job dub dub, just some general comments.

- Christian Ponder has the arm of a 12 year old girl. I can't imagine how some people are hyping him as a potential top ten guy. He's AT BEST around 7 or 8 for me among QBs (inc. UCs).

- I know you don't like Lewis because of his height, but I can't see putting him behind a guy like Royster. I really don't see the latter having the skills to be anything but an average #2 back at the next level, at least Lewis could be a dangerous speed back.

- I love this WR class too, my own unsung favorites are ECU's Dwayne Harris and UNC's Greg Little.

- For TE's, I like Luke Stocker too, also Zack Pianalto from UNC could be a guy with some big time potential.

- My OT to take over the class is Nate Solder, Carimi and Costanzo are OK, but I'm not sure either has the pop that guys like Long or Thomas have had to be top 3 guys. Plus, I love former TEs at Tackle.

- Ryan Mallett terrifies me, but he's a guy that will just have to end up as a top ten pick. I'd put him as 50% Top 3 NFL QB and 50% JeMarcus Russell, no in-between.

 

Just a question, where do you place Noel Devine among the RBs in this class?

 

I wonder if Luck will declare... my bet atm would be no...

 

I think we'll be going defense in next year's draft. I'm looking at upgrading the outside of our front 7.