Jaguars Mock draft 3/15/2008 – including probable 7^th round compensatory

1) Calais Campbell, DE         Miami             6’8”  290lbs.   5.03/40 – Bigger than prototype size and good athleticism.  Vanished at times this past season.  Was considered a top 10 pick after his Sophomore season.  I am still convinced that he is far better than his workouts.

2) Dre Moore, DT     Maryland        6’4”   305lbs.  4.88/40 – Rough around the edges DT with elite athleticism.  Built more like a DE than a DT, but has a good base and strength to rival most DT’s in this draft class.  With more polish, he’d be a late First Rounder, IMO. 

3a) Heath Benedict, OT/OG     Newberry   6’5”  326lbs.   5.07/40 – Athletic O-Lineman with great size and an ability to play 4 positions across the OL.  If asked to play early, he’d project inside.  With good coaching and improved technique, he could be a very productive OLT.  Shows elite athleticism and was angered after running a “slow” 5.07/40 at the combine and only putting up 27 reps of 225lbs.  He claims to be more of a 4.85/40 guy and 33-35 reps!  One time High School All America admits readily to partying his way out of the Tennessee Volunteer program (I didn’t think that was possible).  He decided to attend Newberry in order to continue to play football without sitting out a season. 

3b) Tom Zbikowski, SS     Notre Dame   5’11”   209lbs.  4.55/40 – Experienced Safety with better-than-advertised coverage ability.  Big hitter with good hands and instincts.  Good Punt Returner.  Surprised many with his excellent workouts.  A true strong safety excels in the box, but is solid in coverage.  Production dropped off this season on a bad Notre Dame team.

4) Tommy Blake, DE   TCU   6’3”   272lbs.  4.78/40 – I don’t believe we can pass this guy up when he slides to us here.  A former first round talent, who’s of the field issues really hurt his game and his scale this past season.  Sought medical help for depression and anxiety and has worked very hard in the offseason to return to his prior form.  He’s not there yet, but with a close eye by the coaching staff and an NFL quality conditioning program, he could be a helluva player in the mold of Terrell Suggs. 

5a) Kevin O’Connell, QB     laceName>San DiegolaceName> laceType>StatelaceType>   6’5”   225lbs.   4.61/40 – It’s looking more and more like QG won’t be on this roster next season.  This guy is a developmental prospect with big upside.  Good arm with good athleticism.  Not what you’d call a polished QB, but has all the physical tools and prototype size.  Definitely on the rise after showing well at the combine.  Clearly shows the athleticism at the position that Shack and Jack covet.  A season with Mike Shula will make O’Connell a very solid QB…sooner rather than later.

5b) Ben Moffitt, LB   South Florida   6’1”   234lbs.   4.58/40 – Very productive LB’er with the ability to play ILB or OLB.  Showed very well at his Pro Day after not running a 40 at the combine due to injury.  Ran a low time of 4.55/40 at his Pro Day with a 37.5” vertical.  Has the production and athleticism to be considered earlier, but the lack of need for us at LB will allow us to wait until the middle of the 5^th to grab him.

5c) Cory Boyd. RB  South Carolina  6’0”   213lbs.   4.51/40 – Strong, productive running back with good hands out of the backfield.  Has the ability to run over safeties and the speed to beat linebackers to the edge.  The real question mark was his speed, but he answered that with a solid 4.51 at the combine.

6) To Minnesota

7) Zackary Bowman, CB/FS   Nebraska   6’0”   197lbs.   4.39/40 – Significant injury risk pushes this kid straight to the bottom of the draft.  However, two knee surgeries later and the kid still runs a 4.4/40.  Excellent size/speed ratio and decent hands.  More of a zone than a man-to-man corner as he plays best with the ball in front of him.  Struggles with smaller, shiftier receivers in space and may project best as a backup FS where he can use his speed to keep everything in front of him.  With a roster like ours, any 7^th rounder would have a hard time sticking on our roster.  You might as well take one with first day talent knowing that you can keep him around at least one year by putting him on IR.

 

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions

1.  Phillips, SS.  If Phillips is not available then I flip the first two picks with Nicks, OT and DeCoud, SS, being the selections.  Johnson and Morgan have already been selected earlier in round 2.

2.  Hills, OT.

3a.  Langford, DE.

3b.  Butler, LB.  an alternate is Guyton, LB.

4.  Terrell, CB.  faster than Jackson.

5a.  Barnidge, TE.  a solid receiving TE.  probably will not be selected by Jags since he is not the well-rounded type TE they seem to prefer.

5b.  Boyd, RB.

5c.  Roach, S.

I heard that O'Connell measured in at the dreaded 6' 6" height. That is huge for a QB.

Go heavy early. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

A 4.61 / 40 at 6'6" is incredibly fast.  If nothing else, he may get looks as an athlete-type of QB.  Kind of like a much bigger Seneca Wallace.

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions

Yes it is. Really, really fast. I have to wonder if he might be even more attractive than J. Johnson just due to his arm strength.

I am scouring trying to find out everything that I can about this guy.

Go heavy early. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

I told you he'd be hot after workouts...I just hope he doesn't get too hot.

To me, he's the perfect candidate for the type of guy you'd want to bring in for our offense.  He got very good athleticism like David and Cleo.  He's got very good arm strength much like the other two.  I think it makes sense to bring in a guy that you don't have to make many changes to accommodate.

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions

   It is my opinion that the only true needs required to be addressed in the draft are the DE and SS position. Beyond Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Derrick Harvey, and Phillip Merling there are not any true "first round" talents remaining at the DE position. Considering that it is highly unlikely that any of them will slip to our spot I would rather see the Jaguars select the BAP then reach for a DE because of need. However, reaching for small school "sleepers" in late rounds may be the only option unless the front office is considering trading up for a DE. For that reason my draft is as follows:

1) Carl Nicks,  LT    Nebraska     6’5”, 330 lbs.  5.25/40 - Khalif Barnes has been in the dog house for quite some time. Carl Nicks shutdown Lawrence Jackson and looked fantastic at the Senior Bowl , playing both left and right tackle.  He is very effective against speed rushers and a bulldozer as run blocker. No DE is of value with the 26th pick, unless Phillip Merling continues to slide and may very well be the  best value on the board besides Devin Thomas at #26.

2) Dustin Keller,  TE   Purdue     6’4”   245 lbs.    4.54/40 –  Keller has as good, if not better hands than most of the WR’s in this draft. He had an incredible showing at the