2011 NFL Draft Mailbag

NFL Draft Mailbag Notes: These are not actually e-mails. They are comments left on the comment board in my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. I’ve included some of these comments and my responses to them.

3/7/11

2011 NFL Draft E-mails – Combine Questions and Comments

From Tommy Touch:

If I were the Panthers at #1. I’d seriously consider Peterson. Another comming of Charles Woodson.

–> Mike Mayock and Deion Sanders discussed Patrick Peterson to the Panthers. They both agreed that a corner can’t be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft because the opposing quarterback can just throw away from a corner.

I’ll discuss all of Carolina’s possibilities in a detailed article tomorrow.

From Bob:

Dareus over Fairley? Are you kidding or what? Fairley got better combine than dareus.

–> Not even close, Bob. Marcell Dareus was far more impressive. Despite being nearly 30 pounds heavier than Nick Fairley, Dareus showed nearly as much athleticism and ran a faster 10-yard split.

From NYC Sportz Fan:

Von Miller did not thrive in the drills, not even close.. He was not smooth as Mayock and Mora said, in almost every drill, excpet for the one that are pass rush type drills, coming off the edge… He proved hes a 3/4 player in the drills.. I don’t know how u think he looked good in the drills… And the cherry on top, he almost dropped the ball on his catch, bobbling it around before snagging it…

–> Couldn’t disagree with this more. Von Miller looked great and solidified himself as a top-five pick. And who cares if he almost dropped the ball? It’s not like the Cardinals are going to think, “Well, we were going to take Von Miller because he’s a beast pass-rusher, but since he almost dropped a pass at the Combine, we’ll select someone else instead.”

From Alex Williams:

You have nothing in here about Dion Lewis who was very impressive in ever running back drill. I’m utterly confused how he goes unmentioned.

–> Because Dion Lewis ran about a 4.60 at his minuscule size. Lewis is a Round 4-5 prospect at best.

From Tom R:

“Dontay Moch was supposed to blow up the Combine, but his 4.45 40 is the fastest for any linebacker at the Combine in at least a decade.” Or at least until Martez Wilson ran – “Wilson ran a 4.44 40”

–> It was the fastest 40 by a defensive lineman; not a linebacker, according to Rich Eisen. My bad.