Ryan Tannehill

School:  Texas A&M
Position:  Quarterback
Measurements:  6′ 3 7/8″ 221 lbs.
Projection:  Top 15 Overall

In One Word: Cerebral
Fantasy Value: Draft n’ Stash
Resembles: Alex Smith
Mock Predictions: Dolphins (8th)

Overview

Ryan Tannehill‘s NFL stock is on the rise and he’s now solidly projected to be a top ten pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Along with having the prototype size/frame to be an NFL QB (nearly 6′ 4″ and 221 lbs with a frame that could still add bulk), solid accuracy and arm, and excellent athleticism (Tannehill was a wide receiver the first half of his college career).

Perhaps the biggest benefactor in Tannehill’s rise up the mock-draft database is the NFL’s new rookie wage-scale. As we saw last year with the surprising selections of Jake Locker and Christian Ponder, clubs will not be a afraid to take a first round chance on a potential quarterback of the future. With the wage-scale, the penalty isn’t nearly as severe or expensive if a team swings and misses on a prospective signal-caller.

Of course, for any college QB to be considered for the first round in the NFL, he has to have a solid pedigree and Tannheill is no exception to that rule. As a former wide receiver, he has excellent athleticism and speed (4.6040 yard dash at A&M’s pro-day). It’s almost unheard of, but while an Aggie, Tannehill was both the team’s leading pass-catcher and passer during his career.

While his stint as an NCAA quarterback was brief, it was productive. In his first start, he set a school-record with 449 passing yards. Along with excellent accuracy and timing, Tannehill was a respected leader in the huddle who showed solid decision-making skills and physical toughness.

Although his versatility is a huge asset to his professional stock, Tannehill is relatively inexperienced as an NCAA quarterback….he played 30 games as a wide-out before finishing his collegiate career with a season and a half under-center. Like nearly all incoming rookies, he’ll still need some time to develop his down-field awareness, read-progression and mechanics.

As stated, Tannehill has all the measurements and statistics to be a solid QB at the next level…if a team is willing to draft him with the expectations that he be given a year or two to develop. If put in a good position, where he can learn and grow, Ryan Tannehill could make a solid and winning NFL signal-caller.

His current value places him solidly in the top half of round one and we think many of the QB-needy teams will snag him. Should he get past the Browns (at 4) and Dolphins (8th), he could wind up in Kansas City (11), Seattle (12), or if he slips to 15, Andy Reid has shown some interest in a developmental passer to succeed Michael Vick.

The move to the Dolphins at eight might make the most sense. Not only has Miami failed to land a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino retired 13 long seasons ago, the Phins new offensive coordinator is none other than Mike Sherman, Tannehill’s head coach throughout his career in College Station. Sherman has seen first hand what Tannehill can do, and the transition would be a smooth one for both.

Fantasy Football:

Stephen Hill

School: Georgia Tech
Position: Wide Receiver
Measurements: 6’4″  215 lbs.
Projection: First round pick

In One Word: Beast
Fantasy Value: Draft n’ stash
Resembles: Demaryius Thomas (low side), Hakeem Nicks (high side)

Mock Prediction: Broncos (25th overall)

Overview:

Few players have seen their individual NFL Draft stock improve as much as Hill. In fact, our friends over at First Round Exchange say the former Georgia Tech wide-out’s value has soared an amazing 150.7% since trading began, making him the most profitable incoming rookie in the entire Exchange.

So what caused Hill’s value to skyrocket? A phenomenal showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Hill measured in at a downright-imposing 6′ 4″ and 215 lbs. while his official 4.36 second 40 yard dash was tied for the fastest in the group. He looked very good catching the ball in drills, with solid hands and has the appearance of being a game-changing deep threat at the next level.

Hill hopes to follow in the footsteps of another huge receiving-threat out of Georgia Tech, Calvin Johnson. Though Hill is still a bit raw and will need time to develop, he has the speed and frame to be an outstanding jump-ball and red-zone target. He should be adept right out of the gate at using his size/speed combination to get by smaller defensive backs and has shown a good propensity for tracking down deep passes.

After Georgia Tech’s March 6th pro day, there were little doubts about Hill’s abilities. NFL Network’s noted draft-guru Mike Mayock said Hill was “really good” at running his routes and said he was a “natural” pass catcher. Though his pro-day route running was mostly deep “fly” routes, posts and “flag” routes, he excelled and looked fluid making cuts.

As always for fast risers, there will be concerns about Hill’s rapid rise and relative inexperience. He did leave school a year early, after only being a starter for two seasons. He only managed to snag 49 passes and nine touchdowns with the Yellowjackets. Some pro scouts think that he could have trouble getting off of the line of scrimmage against NFL-caliber defensive backs, which are far superior to what Hill saw in the ACC.

Stephen Hill is the wide receiver wild-card in the 2012 NFL draft. He could be drafted as high as the middle of the first round, as the second wide-out of the board, or teams could see more risk than reward and he could slip into the upper part of the second round. With NFL offenses increasingly pass-happy, and the need for big and fast receivers like Hill growing ever more prevalent, look for him to be selected by one of the many squads in the bottom half of round one who could use a new number two pass-catcher.

Fantasy Football:

Tim Tebow UFL Star Or NFL Backup?

It’s a fair question. And quite honestly, based on Tim Tebow’s decision to return for his senior season at Florida, one that actually warrants a careful response. We will undoubtedly have to wait until next April’s NFL Draft to find out for sure, but the question remains: Would it be better for an under-hyped college football star to take the short route to pro stardom and join the UFL, or take his chances in the NFL Draft and be a back-up?

Or worse—possibly not even make an NFL roster?

While Tebow is a household name (and not just in Florida) you may be surprised to learn that some draft experts pick him as a mid-rounder, at best, and some even say he won’t get drafted as a passer. The trick with the NFL is if you don’t make an impression immediately, you will likely go one of two routes: you’re either a project, or you’re a pre-determined failure.

See: Eric Crouch

See: Jared Zabransky

See: Any other option quarterback, or running back under 5’10″.

Whether we like it or not, the NFL is famous for profiling players. Whether it’s size, speed, race, or size of school, every player is held under a microscope, and even for guys with names like Tim Tebow, the tiniest of flaws are sometimes blown into insurmountable mountains. But before we get into the flaws that could see Tebow elect for a league like the UFL (despite Jacksonville’s claims) let’s look at the good.

1. Is he big/tall enough to see over defenders?

Um, yeah. Tebow is 6’3” and 240 pounds, and at only 22 years old, already possesses the size, strength, and experience that most future NFL starters at the same position only wish they had. Compare those (get ready, Al Davis) measurables to guys taken in the first round before him (Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez, etc.), and Tebow looks like a mammoth of a man towering over grade-schoolers.

2. Does he have the numbers to back up the hype?

Where do we start? Tebow has three Bowl Championships, including two of the last three BCS Titles. Not impressed? In 2007, Tebow put up 3,286 yards passing and 32 touchdowns to only six interceptions, while also running 210 times for 895 yards and another 23 touchdowns.

Tebow followed up that impressive sophomore season with 2,747 yards passing, 30 touchdowns to only four interceptions, while rushing for 673 yards and 12 touchdowns off of 176 carries. Again, in comparison with other NFL star quarterbacks (we’ll go with Eli Manning), Tebow measures up quite well. In four seasons at Ole Miss, Manning only topped 30 touchdown passes once, and while he beats Tebow in yardage, only had a career completion percentage of 60 percent, while offering very little in the athleticism department.

Plain and simple: Tebow makes plays, can air it out, and keeps the turnovers to a minimum. Oh, and he can run the heck out of the football.

3. But is he accurate?

Considering he plays in the SEC, one of the toughest conferences in NCAA football, and averages just over 65 percent for a completion rate, it’s safe to say the answer is an emphatic “yes”.

4. So, then, what’s the problem?

Just a few minor details, really. The league (outside of Steve Young and Mark Brunell) has traditionally been anti-lefty quarterbacks, at least in the last 15 years. Tebow is also looked down on due to a bit of a slow and unorthodox release.  Moreover, he plays in an offense that doesn’t necessarily prepare him for the NFL. And there is the “senior” rule. Just like with the NBA, the NFL unknowingly discriminates against senior players on the offensive side. Without much truth to it, teams generally view seniors as less athletic because they stay an extra year.

The truth is, another year in the SEC can only help Tebow, and should inevitably help his draft stock. The problem is, it won’t.

So, after four questions we see that Tebow is more than capable of being drafted and starting in the NFL, yet there still exists the possibility that NFL teams take a pass, and his pro career could remain “up in the air”. If that were to happen, or if Tebow’s draft stock appears too low, could we see a future with Tebow manning the Florida Tuskers? For all of these questions, only time will tell. But for all those Florida fans who would love to see Tebow stick around in the “Sunshine State”, you can keep holding onto that dream.

As of the date this article was written, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers switched starting quarterbacks, the Miami Dolphins lost theirs, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are still interested.

As for the Tuskers’ interest? Take a wild guess.

Fantasy Football:

LeGarrette Blount was an elite running back that was due for a break out season at Oregon in 2009. The 6’2 240 lbs running back had first round draft pick written all over him, but with one punch his career could be in jeopardy. Without this monster RB the Oregon Ducks will no doubt suffer, Blount was a focal point for the team’s offense. The Ducks looked shaky in the season opener where they lost 19-8 to Boise State.

There’s no real reason why Blount would react the way he did, unfortunately there’s no taking it back. Hout yelled in Blount’s face and tapped him on the shoulder pad in celebration of the win which must have set the running back off. Before Boise State coach Chris Petersen could pull Hout away, Blount landed a right to Hout’s jaw, knocking him to his knees.

Fantasy Football:

Winners

Jaguars- Two instant starters with OT’s E. Monroe & E. Britton. Patience is a virtue, and the Jags let these two great offensive big men fall to them, nice work.

Seahawks- Seattle made some smart moves drafting Aaron Curry & Max Unger, but the 2nd round trade to acquire the Broncos 2010 first round pick is something definitely worth bragging about.


Eagles- First round winner for sure, grabbing what many thought to be a top 10 pick in WR J. Maclin, only having to give up a late round pick to move up a couple spots. RB Shady McCoy is a sleeper that could be a great player in the Eagles offense, maybe the only place where he can play early.


Giants- Great value with all three of their picks, grabbing LB’s C. Sintim and W. Beatty, both thought to be first round talents. WR H. Nicks was a bit a of a reach, as maybe the Giants should have used the pick on trading for Boldin, but either way they got a much needed receiver.



Lions- Smart, tough players with Pettigrew and SS L. Delmas, you can tell someone did their homework.

Losers

Raiders- What the hell is going on in Oakland? Apparently all it takes to be a high draft pick on the Raiders board is high end speed. I’m calling it now: D. Heyward Bey is the 2009 version of Ted Ginn Jr. After passing on Michael Crabtree, Oakland dove deep into the safety pool to create a super-reach in M. Mitchell. There is a reason why this team only wins a handful of games a year.


Browns- I’ll trade you a $100 bill for 4 $20′s, and then I’ll trade 4 $20 bills for 6 $5 bills. Way to go Cleveland, you own the 6th round, and will have 5 extra players that won’t make your team, was that really worth moving down?

Cowboys & Bears- I know this has been dubbed a weak draft but that’s overall, there is great talent in the first 40-50 picks. If you don’t like the overall skill level, pull a “Ditka” and package it all up to move into the top 30, grab a receiver and call it a day.

Fantasy Football:

Fantasy Football:

Nobody wants to be the next Arron Rodgers ( 24th overall in 05) or Brady Quinn ( 22nd overall in 07) sitting around waiting to have your name called, but this years NFL Draft has a few players that might need to brush up on their Tetris skills, as they have a chance to break new records. From what I’ve seen, many people have Michael Oher ranked as their 3 or 4th Offensive Tackle on the board, while quarterback Josh Freeman has been pegged in the mid twenties? There hasn’t been this many players who have wanted to sit around and listen to Mel Kiper speak since the 1996 draft, when 11 players attended. Now that the 1st round is 10 min a pick, the day has picked up tempo, but if some of these guys fall into the middle of the first round they’ll be there for hours! …oh, and look stupid on TV


Players Attending are:

WR Michael Crabtree, LB Aaron Curry, LB Brian Cushing, QB Josh Freeman, T Eugene Monroe, T Michael Oher, DE Brian Orakpo, T Jason Smith, QB Matthew Stafford

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