My First 2012 Mock

[focosteeler]

I have tried to resist doing this before the combine/pro days are over but I can't resist. This is how I hope the draft can play out for us, because of this I included some trades (maybe borrowed from certian board members ) that I think are somewhat realistic.

Here it is....
**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 1.16 (1000) and 4.108 (7 and New York Jets get 1.24 (740) and 2.56 (340) 1078 vs. 1080

1.16 -- David DeCastro – OG – Stanford 6’5” 316lbs

3.88 -- Lucas Nix – OG – Pitt – 6’5” 317lbs

4.108 – Shea McClellin – LB – Boise State – 6’3” 258lbs

4.120 -- Miles Burris – LB San Diego State 6’2” 240lbs

**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 4.124 (4 and Buffalo gets 5.152 (30.6) & 6.184 (17.8 ) [48 vs. 48.4]

4.124 -- Akiem Hicks – DL – Regina 6’6” 325lbs

7.216 -- Chase Ford – TE – Miami 6’6” 245lbs

7 comp -- Chad Diehl – FB – Clemson 6’ 2” 260lbs

7 comp -- Brandon Bostick – WR – Newberry 6’4” 240lbs


i think I got the pick numbers and point values right but I do make mistakes .... let me know what you think!

[Dee Dub]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

I'd be happy with your first 4 picks. You get an immediate starter and possible year one pro-bowler in DeCastro, a possible second year starter in Nix, and two freakishly talented, high-motar guys in LB's in McClellin and Burris. McClellin could be the next Clay Matthews and Burris could be the next Brian Cushing.

Nice.

[Oviedo]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

I have tried to resist doing this before the combine/pro days are over but I can't resist. This is how I hope the draft can play out for us, because of this I included some trades (maybe borrowed from certian board members ) that I think are somewhat realistic.

Here it is....
**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 1.16 (1000) and 4.108 (7 and New York Jets get 1.24 (740) and 2.56 (340) 1078 vs. 1080

1.16 -- David DeCastro – OG – Stanford 6’5” 316lbs

3.88 -- Lucas Nix – OG – Pitt – 6’5” 317lbs

4.108 – Shea McClellin – LB – Boise State – 6’3” 258lbs

4.120 -- Miles Burris – LB San Diego State 6’2” 240lbs

**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 4.124 (4 and Buffalo gets 5.152 (30.6) & 6.184 (17.8 ) [48 vs. 48.4]

4.124 -- Akiem Hicks – DL – Regina 6’6” 325lbs

7.216 -- Chase Ford – TE – Miami 6’6” 245lbs

7 comp -- Chad Diehl – FB – Clemson 6’ 2” 260lbs

7 comp -- Brandon Bostick – WR – Newberry 6’4” 240lbs


i think I got the pick numbers and point values right but I do make mistakes .... let me know what you think!

Got to say I love that draft. Best one I've seen this off season. Just might look for a Safety in Round 4 instead of two LBs.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Dude! EPIC Mock draft.. That is BEAST!

I especially like the Jets trade for DeCastro, getting another guard as well, Hicks from Canada, and Diehl at FB (see my sig).

[grotonsteel]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Nice draft. Great picks. One of the best mock draft.

[focosteeler]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

I have tried to resist doing this before the combine/pro days are over but I can't resist. This is how I hope the draft can play out for us, because of this I included some trades (maybe borrowed from certian board members ) that I think are somewhat realistic.

Here it is....
**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 1.16 (1000) and 4.108 (7 and New York Jets get 1.24 (740) and 2.56 (340) 1078 vs. 1080

1.16 -- David DeCastro – OG – Stanford 6’5” 316lbs

3.88 -- Lucas Nix – OG – Pitt – 6’5” 317lbs

4.108 – Shea McClellin – LB – Boise State – 6’3” 258lbs

4.120 -- Miles Burris – LB San Diego State 6’2” 240lbs

**Trade**
Pittsburgh gets 4.124 (4 and Buffalo gets 5.152 (30.6) & 6.184 (17.8 ) [48 vs. 48.4]

4.124 -- Akiem Hicks – DL – Regina 6’6” 325lbs

7.216 -- Chase Ford – TE – Miami 6’6” 245lbs

7 comp -- Chad Diehl – FB – Clemson 6’ 2” 260lbs

7 comp -- Brandon Bostick – WR – Newberry 6’4” 240lbs


i think I got the pick numbers and point values right but I do make mistakes .... let me know what you think!

Got to say I love that draft. Best one I've seen this off season. Just might look for a Safety in Round 4 instead of two LBs.

I originally put in 2 LB because we are losing either Foote or Farrior, plus I was not impressed at the fact that Carter couldnt stay healthy last year. I think both McClellin and Burris could play any LB position in our D and could contribute immediatly on ST. But based off of the way McClellin preformed today he probably wont be available in the 4th so I will have to move him up. Hopefully Nix would fall to our first 4th pick

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Monday February 27, 2012

Stanford guard DeCastro has upside, but is he worth a first-round risk?

By Pat Kirwan | CBSSports.com National NFL Insider



DeCastro ran a slow 40 time at the combine, but showed off explosive strength. (US Presswire)

The combine evaluations are well under way. Some of the projected first-round picks have impressed and others have raised some questions. There's no doubt Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin have solidified their positions at the top of the draft with outstanding work. But others have created some doubts, at least in the minds of a few.

I am glad I waited until today to investigate this question about Stanford guard David DeCastro because as I boarded my plane to leave the combine, I wound up sitting next to a former Stanford coach who spent three years with DeCastro and knows him very well. Before my flight, I sat down with an NFL head coach, a personnel director and an offensive line coach to discuss the idea of a guard getting drafted in the first round.

There is plenty of speculation that DeCastro is not only the top guard in the draft, but he should be selected in the first round.

As one personnel director said, "Not so fast when it comes to taking a pure guard in the first round." Consider that no more than four pure guards have been selected in the first round since 2000, and the average spot those were guards taken was in the second half of the round.

DeCastro will be fighting an uphill battle to hold his spot in the top 32. He needs to be clean as a whistle in the weeks of evaluations that are coming up across the league.

DeCastro was born in South Africa before his parents moved to America, and football wasn't really a part of the DeCastro family culture. As the former Stanford coach said, "He really didn't know much about football when we got him and it took a few years for him to even use his hands in pass blocking." When you factor in that information, it is impressive he's even in the conversation for a first-round selection.

DeCastro ran a slow 40 at the combine (5.43) but he did demonstrate explosive skills with his vertical leap, standing broad jump and bench press. I like to add up the three scores; if the score hits 70 or better, you've got an explosive player. DeCastro's three-score total was 72, which is very impressive for an offensive lineman.

For me, it means he can compete in the combat zone. He also came through with the top score for offensive linemen in the three-cone drill (7.3), which indicates he can move, pull and adjust in space. The debate about his physical ability should be won by those who want to draft him in the first round, but the film study might tell a different story, according to one head coach I spoke with about DeCastro. He said for his team to take a guard in the first round instead of a left tackle, he has to be as good as Steve Hutchinson was coming out of Michigan, and I'm not real sure DeCastro is in that conversation.

So I went back and watched more tape on DeCastro. I got a chance to watch the Stanford-Oklahoma State game last night with an offensive line coach. He pointed out three things that would concern me as it relates to a first-round grade.

The film indicated DeCastro is a physical guy who really likes to punish a defender when he gets the chance, but saying that, he gets himself in trouble with his overaggressiveness. DeCastro was on the ground six times during the game, usually from an overaggressive technique, and as the line coach pointed out, "That could wind up being 8-10 times in an NFL game."

I know David is a smart player and understands he must control his tempo and trust his technique. Easier said than done, especially for first-round picks who line up as starters in Week 1.

Secondly, DeCastro tends to play too high in his pass sets at times, and is susceptible to a bull rush that will push him back into the QB. He must be more consistent dropping his weight, bending his ankles and knees, and winning the leverage game.

Third, there was a play when DeCastro set for pass protection and the defender vacated and was uncovered. As he waited for the blitzer, he was fooled by a head fake and went to the ground.

Again, when thinking about a first-round guard, there really can't be these kinds of issues. During some of his drill work at the combine, he slipped to the ground, which my line-coach friend was quick to point out.

The next pressure DeCastro faces -- and maybe the toughest of all -- comes from the fact that guards like Cordy Glenn (Georgia), Brandon Washington (Miami) and Kevin Zeitler (Wisconsin) should be solid picks in the second round.

My good friend Gil Brandt and I talked about taking a guard in the first round. As he pointed out, it isn't the guard you are taking but rather the guy you will be passing up at a franchise position like pass rusher or cornerback that makes it tough to take the guard. His point was: The pass rusher or corner you see in the second round might be much worse than the guard you will see in the second round. It's the value of the pick and the big picture that comes into play when considering a player like DeCastro.

Finally, I know David DeCastro is NFL-ready, yet still has room for growth, which makes him an intriguing prospect. I would not fault a team for taking him in the first round but I will not be shocked if he winds up at the top of the second round. Teams like to take tackles in the first round, and if they don't pan out, move them inside to guard like the Raiders did with Robert Gallery.

[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/17469105/stanford-guard-decastro-has-upside-but-is-he-worth-a-firstround-risk"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/stor ... round-risk[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Stanford guard DeCastro has upside, but is he worth a first-round risk?

I love listening to Kirwin on the radio every afternoon, but there is no way that DeCastro makes it out of the teens. I'd love him to, because I want to get him on my team by virtually any means necessary, but I just don't see it happening.

[steeler_george]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

I like how your draft works out. Need to foucus on the OL big time in this draft and find replacement for FARRIOR/FOOTE.

That article is sort of interesting some valid points, but he is going to go early, no way he falls to us unless a miracle run of DL, Tackles, and WR happen. We never thought mendy would fall to us. And maybe, it is better to trade back in the second and get selection of top guards after Decastro and Glenn or reverse trade up in the second, third for guard.

[Slapstick]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

While DeCastro is an intriguing prospect, it really is rare for guards to go in the first round, though it has happened more often in recent drafts...on many occasions, as Kirwan pointed out, the first OG might not come off the board until round 2...

Is DeCastro's draft grade comparable to Mike Pouncey?

If so, did Mike Pouncey make enough of an impact to encourage teams to draft DeCastro in the teens?

Depending upon other players rising in the days leading up to the draft, DeCastro could be sitting there at 1.24...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Oh God please let every FO be thinking this! I will gurantee DeCastro never makes it past #24! He could have run a 5.6 at the combine...I don't care. His split was a 1.82 which is average. However, He ran a 3 cone of 7.30 & a 20 yard shuttle of 4.56. Rate him on that because there were very few better. That shows me outstanding body control and change of direction. You combine that with the tape and how well he hits targets in space and on the run. He shows up on tape with leverage & power...Elite! He has great feet. His tech is sound in pass pro and he moves his feet to stay square on his man. Might be the most complete G I have seen since Faneca. And oh by the way...Faneca ran 5.4-5.5 40.

[Oviedo]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

Oh God please let every FO be thinking this! I will gurantee DeCastro never makes it past #24! He could have run a 5.6 at the combine...I don't care. His split was a 1.82 which is average. However, He ran a 3 cone of 7.30 & a 20 yard shuttle of 4.56. Rate him on that because there were very few better. That shows me outstanding body control and change of direction. You combine that with the tape and how well he hits targets in space and on the run. He shows up on tape with leverage & power...Elite! He has great feet. His tech is sound in pass pro and he moves his feet to stay square on his man. Might be the most complete G I have seen since Faneca. And oh by the way...Faneca ran 5.4-5.5 40.

I would love if he was within reach and all we had to give up was our third.

Beter yet I would love to have a second 1st Round pick (Wallace signed) which means we really have ammo to make moves.

IMO what Mike POuncey did last season does not have teams thinking they have to get a Guard before pick #20. He was no where as good as his brother or Mike Iupati in 2010.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: My First 2012 Mock

While DeCastro is an intriguing prospect, it really is rare for guards to go in the first round, though it has happened more often in recent drafts...on many occasions, as Kirwan pointed out, the first OG might not come off the board until round 2...

Is DeCastro's draft grade comparable to Mike Pouncey?

If so, did Mike Pouncey make enough of an impact to encourage teams to draft DeCastro in the teens?

Depending upon other players rising in the days leading up to the draft, DeCastro could be sitting there at 1.24...

It's tough to compare DeCastro to Mike Pouncey, since Pouncey was drafted to play center, while DeCastro was drafted to play guard. Plus, Mike's stock was artificially boosted because of his twin brother's success in the NFL during his rookie year.

The best comparison may be the last pure guard taken in the middle of round 1, Mike Iupati (who was taken by the Niners one pick before we took Maurkice Pouncey). Iupati is certainly a more imposing physical speciman, but DeCastro is more technically sound. Both were excellent run blockers coming out (Iupati as a dominant drive blocker, DeCastro with quick feet to pull and locate defenders on the second level). At Senior Bowl practices, Iupati was awfully "grabby" because of poor technique in pass protection, which is something that DeCastro never had a problem with, since he is as intelligent, technically sound, high effort player as you will find among interior o-linemen.