rynesandbergfan23
Bench Warmer
April 2, 2007
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
You either like a player, or you don't.
That's my belief when it comes to the NFL Draft. So many scouts and personnel people spend January until April trying to find ways to convince themselves why they don't like a guy. If you like him in November, why not like him come April?
The personnel men pick the players apart, bit-by-bit, and when they're done, their heads are so filled with doubt that they have no choice but to change their beliefs.
Then there are the scouts who actually stand by their conviction and then see them picked apart by head or position coaches who come to the process late. Instead of standing up to their beliefs, they get caught up in what others think and often are backed down by the head coach's beliefs.
That's when mistakes are made. "Stick to your convictions" should be on signs hung throughout the league's draft rooms.
With that in mind, and about a month to go before teams make their picks, it's a good time to unveil the players on my annual Better-Than Team. Each year, I come up with a list of players I like better than most scouts or analysts, and this year I've come up with 20.
Of the 20, only a couple have a chance to go in the first round, and if they do, it will be late.
Most will be second-, third- or fourth-round picks. In three years, some will be on their way to the Pro Bowl. Others will be quality starters. Some might be failures; the odds say so, but I like my guys.
I believe in these 20 players. And nobody, not even the scouts I talk to, can change my mind.
Remember: Stick to your convictions.
Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State: He is a move-the-chains type of runner. You won't get a lot of explosive plays, but he knows how to find the cracks and creases to pick up yardage. He plays hard all the time.
Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn: He was bothered by injuries in 2006 and didn't play as well as he did in 2005. But this kid knows how to slash his way to open spots. He should be a second-round steal for some team.
Ray McDonald, DE-DT, Florida: At 6-feet-4, 275 pounds, he moved inside in 2006 to play tackle, but he's probably better suited outside. He came back from a serious knee injury in 2005 and had a nice season. He shows up on film. He might not have the speed of teammate Jarvis Moss, but he's stronger at the point of attack.
Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame: He isn't one of the top-rated defensive ends, but he was a guy who always showed up on Saturday. He plays hard and he has some speed off the corner.
Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State: He played with a swagger, which I like from the quarterback. I also don't think he received great coaching at Michigan State, which stunted his growth. He can make all the throws.
Eric Wright, CB, UNLV: He started his college career at USC but was booted from the team for off-field issues. At UNLV, he played really well last season and should be an outstanding cover corner.
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: Reggie Nelson and LaRon Landry are the top-rated safeties, but this kid is right there with them. He has the speed to play corner, which is why he will make a great free safety.
Steve Smith, WR, USC: Even before he ran a 4.4 at the combine, I really liked this kid. He has a way of getting open. During his time at USC, he was overshadowed by some bigger-name receivers, but he always got his share of catches.
David Harris, LB, Michigan: When I watched the Wolverines play, he was always around the football. He isn't a first-round pick, but here's a bet he plays better than some of the linebackers who will go there.
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, UTEP: He has game-breaking speed, which is why I like him. He didn't always play as fast as his times, but he started to show that last season. He has just barely tapped his potential.
Mario Henderson, T, Florida State: He wasn't well-coached at Florida State, but he has the feet coaches love. He's a little light in the butt, but that can change as he matures. The athleticism is really enticing.
Dallas Sartz, LB, USC: He is a long, lean linebacker who plays with toughness. He might not run that well, but he knows how to find the football. He could be a special-teams demon.
Matt Trannon, TE, Michigan State: He played receiver for the Spartans, but I see him as an NFL tight end. Trannon can be the next Antonio Gates, a basketball player turned tight end. At 6-5, he has the height.
Sabby Piscitelli, S, Oregon State: He is a physical specimen who has run better times than most scouts expected. He's a tough guy who will find a way into the starting lineup for some NFL team.
H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh: The son of former NFL player Bennie Blades, he doesn't have the size-speed ratio teams want, but he's a football player. When you watched the Panthers, he always made plays.
Tim Crowder, DE, Texas: When the top defensive ends are mentioned, Crowder's name never comes up. It should. He has the size to hold up against the run and the speed to come off the corner.
Josh Beekman, G, Boston College: He isn't a great athlete, but he has that tenacity you like from a guard. He won't back down from anyone. Tough-guy guards last a long time in the NFL.
Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State: He can fly and has good size. But he didn't always put up big numbers. The feeling here is that he will play better on the next level than he did in college.
Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State: He's a late bloomer who didn't play football until late in his high school career. A JUCO transfer, he didn't start until his senior year at State. But at 315 pounds, he has good quickness. The potential is there.
John Beck, QB, BYU: He has played in a pro-style offense and done so with a keen ability to read coverage and get the ball out on time. Will be a 25-year-old rookie because of a Mormon mission, but this kid has the "it" of playing the quarterback position.
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
You either like a player, or you don't.
That's my belief when it comes to the NFL Draft. So many scouts and personnel people spend January until April trying to find ways to convince themselves why they don't like a guy. If you like him in November, why not like him come April?
The personnel men pick the players apart, bit-by-bit, and when they're done, their heads are so filled with doubt that they have no choice but to change their beliefs.
Then there are the scouts who actually stand by their conviction and then see them picked apart by head or position coaches who come to the process late. Instead of standing up to their beliefs, they get caught up in what others think and often are backed down by the head coach's beliefs.
That's when mistakes are made. "Stick to your convictions" should be on signs hung throughout the league's draft rooms.
With that in mind, and about a month to go before teams make their picks, it's a good time to unveil the players on my annual Better-Than Team. Each year, I come up with a list of players I like better than most scouts or analysts, and this year I've come up with 20.
Of the 20, only a couple have a chance to go in the first round, and if they do, it will be late.
Most will be second-, third- or fourth-round picks. In three years, some will be on their way to the Pro Bowl. Others will be quality starters. Some might be failures; the odds say so, but I like my guys.
I believe in these 20 players. And nobody, not even the scouts I talk to, can change my mind.
Remember: Stick to your convictions.
Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State: He is a move-the-chains type of runner. You won't get a lot of explosive plays, but he knows how to find the cracks and creases to pick up yardage. He plays hard all the time.
Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn: He was bothered by injuries in 2006 and didn't play as well as he did in 2005. But this kid knows how to slash his way to open spots. He should be a second-round steal for some team.
Ray McDonald, DE-DT, Florida: At 6-feet-4, 275 pounds, he moved inside in 2006 to play tackle, but he's probably better suited outside. He came back from a serious knee injury in 2005 and had a nice season. He shows up on film. He might not have the speed of teammate Jarvis Moss, but he's stronger at the point of attack.
Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame: He isn't one of the top-rated defensive ends, but he was a guy who always showed up on Saturday. He plays hard and he has some speed off the corner.
Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State: He played with a swagger, which I like from the quarterback. I also don't think he received great coaching at Michigan State, which stunted his growth. He can make all the throws.
Eric Wright, CB, UNLV: He started his college career at USC but was booted from the team for off-field issues. At UNLV, he played really well last season and should be an outstanding cover corner.
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: Reggie Nelson and LaRon Landry are the top-rated safeties, but this kid is right there with them. He has the speed to play corner, which is why he will make a great free safety.
Steve Smith, WR, USC: Even before he ran a 4.4 at the combine, I really liked this kid. He has a way of getting open. During his time at USC, he was overshadowed by some bigger-name receivers, but he always got his share of catches.
David Harris, LB, Michigan: When I watched the Wolverines play, he was always around the football. He isn't a first-round pick, but here's a bet he plays better than some of the linebackers who will go there.
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, UTEP: He has game-breaking speed, which is why I like him. He didn't always play as fast as his times, but he started to show that last season. He has just barely tapped his potential.
Mario Henderson, T, Florida State: He wasn't well-coached at Florida State, but he has the feet coaches love. He's a little light in the butt, but that can change as he matures. The athleticism is really enticing.
Dallas Sartz, LB, USC: He is a long, lean linebacker who plays with toughness. He might not run that well, but he knows how to find the football. He could be a special-teams demon.
Matt Trannon, TE, Michigan State: He played receiver for the Spartans, but I see him as an NFL tight end. Trannon can be the next Antonio Gates, a basketball player turned tight end. At 6-5, he has the height.
Sabby Piscitelli, S, Oregon State: He is a physical specimen who has run better times than most scouts expected. He's a tough guy who will find a way into the starting lineup for some NFL team.
H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh: The son of former NFL player Bennie Blades, he doesn't have the size-speed ratio teams want, but he's a football player. When you watched the Panthers, he always made plays.
Tim Crowder, DE, Texas: When the top defensive ends are mentioned, Crowder's name never comes up. It should. He has the size to hold up against the run and the speed to come off the corner.
Josh Beekman, G, Boston College: He isn't a great athlete, but he has that tenacity you like from a guard. He won't back down from anyone. Tough-guy guards last a long time in the NFL.
Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State: He can fly and has good size. But he didn't always put up big numbers. The feeling here is that he will play better on the next level than he did in college.
Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State: He's a late bloomer who didn't play football until late in his high school career. A JUCO transfer, he didn't start until his senior year at State. But at 315 pounds, he has good quickness. The potential is there.
John Beck, QB, BYU: He has played in a pro-style offense and done so with a keen ability to read coverage and get the ball out on time. Will be a 25-year-old rookie because of a Mormon mission, but this kid has the "it" of playing the quarterback position.
