Predictions: 1st Round Surprises

I think people are down on campbell because they expected him to be a top 10, if not top 5 pick, and he didnt perform well enough last year to warrant that. That doesnt mean all of a sudden he sucks. He came off a 10.5 sack year with a bad year. The canes team was undergoing a coaching change.

One of the 'coaching changes' was the departure of his dline coach...who is now with the Skins.

Im a big fan of the mock draft on nfldraftcountdown.com that has us taking campbell in the first, malcom kelly in the second, and safety thomas decoud in the third. I know people are down on kelly, but with a late second round pick he could be a steal (aka, boldin, chad johnson, to...etc)

Alan Branch award: Aqib Talib will fall to second round tomy opinion.

Logan Mankins award: definitely LB Curtis Lofton, highly underrated, he can climb to the bottom of the first.

Im a big fan of the mock draft on nfldraftcountdown.com that has us taking campbell in the first, malcom kelly in the second, and safety thomas decoud in the third. I know people are down on kelly, but with a late second round pick he could be a steal (aka, boldin, chad johnson, to...etc)

Neither Campbell nor Kelly are safe picks, but they both appear to have upside. I'd be happy with that draft.

Alan Branch = Glenn Dorsey (lower leg fractures anyone?)
Logan Mankins = Roy Scheuning (w/Bugel)

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that McFadden stinks it up. MAYBE he'll rush for over 1,000, but something tells me he turns into a huge bust.

As far as the most underrated guy to turn into gold, that's so hard to say because it could be about anyone. Not because I'm a Tech guy, but just because I have this feeling, I think Eddie Royal will surprise a lot of people out of this year's WR draft class.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3243768

this is a list of the "top receivers" back in February. Malcon Kelly was listed as teh number one receiver in this class.

ZERO football has been played since then. Think about it...based on what he did on the field, everyone had him at number one. Then theres two months of looking at people under a microscope and all of a sudden the list is completly different.

Personally, Id almost prefer to make my draft list in January then stick with it. I dont put as much weight on the combine. If one guy runs a 4.3, and the other a 4.7. But the slow guy has better game speed, makes great catches, etc, then what does the speed matter.

Weve tried those combine guys...cliff russel comes to mind...but they dont turn out to be football players.

Theres more stories about guys that have crappy combines (jerry rice, terrel suggs, boldin..etc) that you here about being great players. Then guys that show up at teh combine...ala matt jones...

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that McFadden stinks it up. MAYBE he'll rush for over 1,000, but something tells me he turns into a huge bust.

As far as the most underrated guy to turn into gold, that's so hard to say because it could be about anyone. Not because I'm a Tech guy, but just because I have this feeling, I think Eddie Royal will surprise a lot of people out of this year's WR draft class.

I'm a Hokie too & Royal came to mind as well. His stock went up considerably after the combine & senior bowl. I know we want a big wr, but if eddie is there in the 3rd I think he'd be a great pickup. We do need someone to step in for Moss, who can't stay healthy a whole year.

Alan Branch Award, Vernon Gholston, because he is not worth a top fifteen pick like he will probably be, and my Logan Manking Award goes to, Tom Zbikowski, if he gets the right coaching and has the demeaner to get better, he will be a great safety.

I personally hate the McFadden compariosons to AP. AP is a beast and the ultimate power runner. McFadden is a tall speed demon which worries me, since runners that try and kick it outside for 90% of their runs seem to be huge risks (see Ron Dayne and Reggie Bush).