Game Thread: 2012 NFL Draft Thread

[RTR91]

I'm not trying to pick a fight. Just saying that I watched plenty of draft coverage and never heard his name once. I would wager that most of us on this board (and most college football fans) have never heard of him either. But anyone who watched the BCSCG knows Courney Upshaw

It's easier to know an Alabama player because of the publicity.

 

[colbysullivan]

I still think tannehill has bust written all over him.

Yeah I still don't get that. I've seen some of his highlights and he can make most if not all the throws but I'm not sure about his decision making. He doesn't have enough experience yet I guess

 

[RTR91]

I still think tannehill has bust written all over him.

He might be a bust, but he's won when it comes to his fiance/wife.

 

[rickvox79]

Before I crash for the night I gotta wonder again how Upshaw didn't go first round. I'm sure he'll go early 2nd round but I think he'll make a lot of teams regret that choice in the next several years. He's going to have a lot of fuel to prove people wrong and I believe he will. The 2nd round is by no means a slap in the face, just extremely surprised personally.

 

[lafella]

I heard ago during the post draft bit about a player with short arms.... what they are getting bigger and faster but their arms are shrinking?

everytime I heard it I thought of this....

sure they said arms just couldn't ditch the image.

 

[CrimsonProf]

To me Jeffrey = Maze with 6 more inches and 5 stars out of High School.

I have no idea what this means.

Like something Tracy Jordan would say on 30 Rock.

 

[rickvox79]

Some current and former Bama players have Upshaw's back via Twitter (if these accounts are real)...

Eryk Anders ‏ @Erykanders They played my man upshaw


Tj Yeldon ‏ @T_Yeldon Can't believe upshaw didn't get drafted in the first round


ReggieRagland(bama) ‏ @reggieragland He got short arms that stupid that man can play football that's what I know

and the man himself- Courtney Upshaw ‏ @334Upshaw41
#motivation

 

[Catfish]

He might be a bust, but he's won when it comes to his fiance/wife.

She'll fit right in with the South Beach crowd.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Half of these players drafted tonight will be busts. It's the nature of the business. So many of these NFL GMs try to out think the room instead of picking a guy that has played at a high level for 3 or 4 years. They'll go with a guy who had incredible numbers at the combine but didn't do a lick of anything at a small school.

Maybe, maybe that guy is a late bloomer and just needs to be in the right system. But chances are, it's a reach and he'll be a bust. What happened with Upshaw tonight reminds me so much of DeMeco Ryans. Upshaw will get drafted early second round, and he'll excel.

 

[subherbanite]

He might be a bust, but he's won when it comes to his fiance/wife.

I stopped reading at this point

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

I feel sorry for the QBS for 31 teams....Upshaw is the last guy you want to have with a chip on his shoulder coming after you.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

The one thing that that the Merciless/Keuchlys of this world is that they are good footballers who play on mediocre teams so they easily outshine their teammates. A Defense with Dre, Dont'a, Mark Barron and Courtney U are outstanding players playing on an outstanding defense. As such, they do not show how great they are when compared to the other players on the team including those who will be 1st rounders in the coming years. I hope Courtney just tears up the NFL and make a lot of teams regret not taking him.

 

[subherbanite]

Who do you guys see as being a bust out of this bunch? My guess is Poe from Memphis. Another Mike Mamula workout warrior who didn't do anything on the field to justify the pick.

Poe is the easiest guy to label as a "workout warrior" but I think Tannehill and Irvin are risky picks. If Irvin busts then that'll be 2 first round LBs in like 4 years for the Seahawks IIRC.

 

[dadleyblane5]

Can't believe the Cowboys didn't take Mark Barron.....wow..

 

[Bamabuzzard]

It is hard to believe that at one point Upshaw was being talked about as a top 10 pick to not even getting picked in the first round. It seems to happen to one player every year. I hate it was Courtney.

 

[lafella]

What's the difference in first round and second round money these days with the cap?

 

[Black Warrior]

It is hard to believe that at one point Upshaw was being talked about as a top 10 pick to not even getting picked in the first round. It seems to happen to one player every year. I hate it was Courtney.

I feel the same. Dang shame....

 

[TIDE-HSV]

What's the difference in first round and second round money these days with the cap?

Not as great as it used to be, I understand...

 

[DiamondDust]

Late to the party, but let me just say...

Hightower is a Patriot, y'all!!!!!

 

[rgw]

I felt Upshaw was going to slip when teams that could have been looking for an OLB rusher passed on him mid-round. I didn't feel like the teams at the back end of the first had a pressing need for a guy like Upshaw.

I feel bad that Upshaw didn't get to go on the stage like his other teammates at New York but he'll be better for it. I'm sure somebody will snag him up quickly in the second round via trade or whatever. One of the advantages for the GMs having the draft spread out over several days and the first round being a standalone night broadcast is they can review who got lost in the draft mayhem and should have already been drafted. I'm sure there are several teams that are reviewing the board right now and targeting Courtney. He'll probably end up with a better fit because he got passed over tonight.

Another note, I really like the Pats going after Hightower. On paper they already have two starters at ILB - Mayo and Spikes - but Hightower does bring incredible versatility. I wouldn't be surprised if they liked Hightower better as their Jack LB prospect than Upshaw. He was always highly effective in a pass rushing role. He's definitely not an NFL-level Sam LB, so they may be planning to play him at Will or Mike with some looks as Jack or sub rusher by moving Mayo to Sam in base defense. Mayo played some 4-3 OLB when they had to go 1-gap 4-3 due to their personnel this season. Between Chandler Jones - who should be the 3-4 end they need - and Hightower, they've basically restored the 3-4 personnel they need to succeed. Spike and Hightower are the manhole cover ILB tandem they've been missing.