My 2008 Pre-season Rankings

[Mr. Stiller]

This is my Pre-Season 2008 Rankings per Position:

QB:

1. Brian Brohm, Louisville
2. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
3. Chad Henne, Michigan
4. Andre Woodson, Kentucky
5. Matt Ryan, Boston College
6. John David Booty, Southern California
7. Erik Ainge, Tennessee
8. Josh Johnson, San Diego
9. Sam Keller, Nebraska
10. Anthony Morelli, Penn State

Top 5 Juniors:

1. Nate Longshore, California
2. Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State
3. Chase Daniel, Missouri
4. Ben Olson, UCLA
5. Stephen McGee, Texas A&M


RB:

1. Brandon Ore, Virginia Tech
2. Mike Hart, Michigan
3. Patrick Allen, Oklahoma
4. Amir Pinnix, Minnesota
5. Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
6. Ryan Torain, Arizona State
7. Dantrell Savage, Oklahoma State
8. Rafael Little, Kentucky
9. Albert Young, Iowa
10. Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia

Top 5 Juniors:

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
2. Jon Stewart, Oregon
3. Ray Rice, Rutgers
4. Steve Slaton, West Virginia
5. Jamaal Charles, Texas


FB:

1. Owen Schmidt, West Virginia
2. Jacob Hester, Louisiana State
3. Peyton Hills, Arkansas
4. Mike Cox, Georgia Tech
5. Michael Pitre, UCLA


WR:

1. Early Doucet, Louisiana State
2. Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State
3. Limas Sweed, Texas
4. Andre Caldwell, Florida
5. Maurice Purify, Nebraska
6. Dorien Bryant, Purdue
7. Keenan Burtan, Kentucky
8. D.J. Hall, Alabama
9. Sammie Straughter, Oregon State
10. Adrian Arrington, Michigan
11. Marcus Monk, Arkansas
12. Harry Douglas, Louisville
13. Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech
14. Darius Reynaud, West Virginia
15. Todd Blythe, Iowa State
16. Ernie Wheelwright, Minnesota
17. De'Cody Fagg, Florida State
18. Derek Kinder, Pittsburgh
19. Billy Pittman, Texas
20. Leance Leggett, Miami

Top 10 Jr's:

1. DeSean Jackson, California
2. Mario Manningham, Michigan
3. Jaison Williams, Oregon
4. Mario Urruttia, Louisville
5. Patrick Turner, Southern Cal
6. Devone Bess, Hawaii
7. James Hardy, Indiana
8. Derrick Williams, Penn State
9. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
10. Greg Carr, Florida State


TE:

1. Martin Rucker, Missouri
2. John Carlson, Notre Dame
3. Jacob Tamme, Kentucky
4. Kory Sperry, Colorado State
5. Fred Davis, Southern California
6. Dustin Keller, Purdue
7. Tom Santi, Virginia
8. Cole Bennett, Auburn
9. Joey Haynos, Maryland
10. Craig Stevens, California

Juniors:

1. Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M
2. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
3. Chase Coffman, Missouri


OT:

1. Sam Baker, Southern California
2. Kirk Barton, Ohio State
3. Barry Richardson, Clemson
4. Jake Long, Michigan (Only because I don't believe he has LT potential)
5. Gosder Cherilous, Boston College
6. Pedro Sosa, Rutgers
7. Tony Hills, Texas
8. John Greco, Toledo
9. King Dunlap, Auburn
10. Brandon Rodd, Arizona State

Top Juniors:

1. Jared Gaither, Maryland (If he doesn't enter Supp Draft)
2. Ryan Clady, Boise State
3. Lydon Murtha, Nebraska
4. Alex Boone, Ohio State
5. George Robinson, Oklahoma


OG:

1. Will Arnold, LSU
2. Jordan Grimes, Purdue
3. Shannon Tevaga, UCLA
4. Kirk Elder, Texas A&M
5. Roy Schuening, Oregon State
6. Drew Radovich, Southern Cal
7. Adam Kraus, Michigan
8. Andrew Crummey, Maryland
9. Chester Adams, Georgia Tech
10. Andrew Bain, Maryland

Top Juniors

1. Michael Oher, Mississippi
2. Cedric Dockery, Texas
3. Jeremy Perry, Oregon State
4. Herman Johnson, Louisiana State
5. Steve Rehring, Ohio State


OC:

1. John Sullivan, Notre Dame
2. Doug Legursky, Marshall
3. Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green
4. Trevor Rees, Northwestern
5. Adam Spieker, Missouri

Top Juniors:

1. Alex Mack, California (OG)
2. Eric Wood, Louisville
3. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama




DE:

1. Lawrence Jackson, Southern California (3-4 OLB)
2. Chris Long, Virginia ( 3-4 DE)
3. Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech ( 3-4 OLB)
4. Bruce Davis, UCLA ( 3-4 OLB)
5. Tommy Blake, Texas-Christian ( 3-4 OLB)
6. Quentin Groves, Auburn( 3-4 OLB)
7. Kendall Langford, Hampton (3-4 DE)
8. Kenny Iwebema, Iowa( 3-4 OLB)
9. Louis Holmes, Arizona ( 3-4 OLB)
10. Wallace Gilberry, Alabama( 3-4 OLB)
11. Chase Ortiz, Texas-Christian( 3-4 OLB)
12. Alex Boston, Florida State ( 3-4 OLB)
13. Greyson Gunheim, Washington( 3-4 OLB)
14. Dexter Manley, Oregon( 3-4 OLB)
15. Chris Harrington, Texas A&M( 3-4 OLB)

Top Juniors

1. Tyson Jackson, Louisiana State (3-4 DE)
2. Calais Campbell, Miami (4-3 DE (6'8 268lbs))
3. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State( 3-4 OLB)
4. Derrick Harvey, Florida( 3-4 OLB)
5. Brian Orakpo, Texas( 3-4 OLB)


DT:

1. Glenn Dorsey, Louisiana State(3-4 DE)
2. Franklin Okam, Texas(3-4 DE)
3. DeMario Pressley, NC State(3-4 DE)
4. Sedrick Ellis, Southern California (NT)
5. DeMonte Bolden, Tennessee(3-4 DE)
6. Dre Moore, Maryland(3-4 DE)
7. Marcus Harrison, Arkansas (NT/DE)
8. Andre Fluellen, Florida State(3-4 DE)
9. B.J. Raji, Boston College(NT)
10. Red Bryant, Texas A&M(3-4 DE)
11. Keilen Dykes, West Virginia(3-4 DE)
12. James McClinton, Kansas (NT)
13. Chris Norwell, Illinois(3-4 DE)
14. Carlton Powell, Virginia Tech (NT)
15. Nick Hayden, Wisconsin(NT/DE)

Top Juniors:

1. Fili Moala, Southern Cal (NT/DE)
2. Roy Miller, Texas(NT)
3. Marlon Favorite, Louisiana State(NT)
4. Jeff Owens, Georgia(NT/DE)
5. Antonio Dixon, Miami (NT)


OLB:

1. Keith Rivers, Southern Cal (3-4 ILB)
2. Dan Connor, Penn State(3-4 ILB)
3. Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech(3-4 ILB)
4. Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech(3-4 ILB)
5. Shawn Crable, Michigan(3-4 ILB/OLB)
6. Brian Toal, Boston College(3-4 ILB)
7. Ali Highsmith, Louisiana State(3-4 ILB)
8. Robert Killebrew, Texas(3-4 ILB)
9. Malik Jackson, Louisville(3-4 ILB)
10. Bo Ruud, Nebraska(3-4 ILB)

Top Juniors

1. Brian Cushing, Southern California(3-4/4-3 OLB)
2. Erin Henderson, Maryland(3-4/4-3 OLB)
3. Sean Lee, Penn State (3-4 ILB)
4. Geno Hayes, Florida State (3-4ILB)
5. Jerod Mayo, Tennessee (3-4 ILB)

MLB:

1. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
2. Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt
3. Vince Hall, Virginia Tech
4. Corey McKeon, Nebraska
5. Jeremy Leman, Illinois
6. Romeo Davis, Miami
7. Nelson Coleman, Tulsa
8. Mike Klinkenborg, Iowa
9. Luke Sanders, LSU
10. Roderick Johnson, Oklahoma State

Top Juniors

1. James Laurainitis, Ohio State
2. Rey Maualaga, Southern California
3. Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
4. Ronnie Palmer, Arizona
5. Rashad Bobino, Texas


CB:

1. Paul Oliver, Georgia (If he doesn't enter Supp Draft)
2. Antoine Cason, Arizona
3. Dwight Lowery, San Jose State
4. DeJuan Tribble, Boston College
5. Terell Thomas, Southern California
6. Chevis Jackson, Louisiana State
7. Mike Jenkins, South Florida
8. Johnathan Zenon, Louisiana State
9. Ambrose Wooden, Notre Dame
10. Zachary Bowman, Nebraska

Top Juniors:

1. Justin King, Penn State
2. Aguib Talib, Kansas
3. Jack Ikegwuono, Wisconsin
4. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
5. Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech


FS:

1. Darrien Williams, Oklahoma
2. Quintin Demps, Texas El-Paso
3. Tierre Green, Nebraska
4. Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee
5. Dennis Keyes, UCLA
6. Jamie Silva, Boston College
7. Roger Williams, Florida State
8. Thomas DeCoud, California
9. Husain Abdullah, Washington State
10. Marcus Watts, Kansas State

Juniors:

1. Courtney Greene, Rutgers
2. Nic Harris, Oklahoma
3. Brandon Harrison, Michigan
4. Josh Pinkard, Southern California
5. Anthony Reddick, Miami


SS: (Bad season.. best SS, I rank as a mid to late 3rd rounder.. expect Kenny Phillips and Mike Hamlin to come out)

1. Jamar Adams, Michigan
2. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
3. Japhus Brown, Texas A&M
4. Josh Barrett, Arizona State
5. Brandon Sumrall, Southern Miss
6. Kyle Jackson, Florida
7. Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State
8. Chris Horton, UCLA
9. Craig Steltz, Louisiana State
10. Caleb Campbell, Army

Top Juniors:

1. Kenny Phillips, Miami
2. Michael Hamlin, Clemson
3. Carlton Williams, South Florida
4. Kevin Ellison, Southern California
5. Jamarca Sanford, Mississippi


P:

1. Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech
2. Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
3. Jimmy Kaylor, Colorado State


K:

1. Jeremy Ito, Rutgers
2. Art Carmody, Louisville
3. Alexis Serna, Oregon State

[skarocksoi]

Is it sad or obsessive that Im getting excited for next years draft before this season has even started?

[steelcrew43]

good rankings...no marcus freeman and malcolm jenkins should be one or two as far as juniors go

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by steelcrew43

good rankings...no marcus freeman and malcolm jenkins should be one or two as far as juniors go

I want to see how well he does this season. This is just preliminary and Jenkins could very well make his way to the #1 Junior spot.

I assume you mean Marcus Freeman the OLB from OSU and not the TE from ND.

I think he's good with potential to be a monster, but I think moving to Sam really affected his play. He was a lot better as the Will backer. Letting him be an explosive playmaker, where Sam he was having issues with traffic. I think with a solid Season there's no way I can deny him top 5 junior status.

[Man_Of_Steel]

You have way too much time on your hands. Too early for me to be looking at next years draft, however ill prob check back to this thread around august.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by Man_Of_Steel

You have way too much time on your hands. Too early for me to be looking at next years draft, however ill prob check back to this thread around august.

I've been on sick leave, unfortunately for me, I do have too much time on my hand. I'll work on it again near august as well.

[TerribleEd]

I'd like to see the Steelers continue to build a dominating LB corps with another first rounder in 2008. Next year's LB talent is awesome.

Keith Rivers would be excellent. Could play inside in a 3-4 and outside in a 4-3.

How's this for a 4-3 alignment: Timmons and Rivers at OLB with Keisel and Woodley at DE. Quite nice!

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by TerribleEd

I'd like to see the Steelers continue to build a dominating LB corps with another first rounder in 2008. Next year's LB talent is awesome.

Keith Rivers would be excellent. Could play inside in a 3-4 and outside in a 4-3.

How's this for a 4-3 alignment: Timmons and Rivers at OLB with Keisel and Woodley at DE. Quite nice!

I don't like Rivers for us because he's exactly What Timmons is.

We're going to throw Timmons to Mack.

So our LB Core with the rookies will be...

James Harrison - Timmons - Larry Foote - LaMarr Woodley

Which means Farrior Retired, Haggans didn't get extended which means our second team is..

Arnold Harrison - ???????? - Goo Wallace - Marcello Church

So I still think 2-3 LB's in next years draft is perfect.


What I'd like to see. Is basically back and forth.. OL/LB/OL/LB/

1) Barry Richardson, LT, Clemson - We need a future at LT. If Faneca does leave, Colon can possibly take over. However Marvel has a pinched nerve, is the weakest LT in the AFCN. Lets upgrade and get better.

2) Chris Ellis, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech - He'res a 6'5, 260lb 4.6' range DE/OLB. I think Either Keisel or Aaron Smith can slide to UT so having Woodley and Ellis can slide up and drop their hand and we're instantly in a 4-3.
Woodley Slides up, we have Foote at SLB, Timmons at MLB, Ellis at WLB. Ellis Slides up, we'll have Woodley at SLB, Foote at MLB, and Timmons at WLB. We're set.

3) Kirk Elder, OG, Texas A&M - We need a reliable LG, If Colon wants to slide to LG, I think he has the best potential, but if they want to keep him at RT, then Elder is the perfect replacement for Faneca.

4) Mike Klinkenborg, ILB, Iowa - he's got good size at 6'2 245lbs. He's got good speed being clocked as quick as 4.58. He's not the big play maker like Brinkley, Goff, or Hall. But he is very solid and reliable. He'll back up Foote at Buck, and slide Wallace over to Mack behind Timmons.

5) Derek Kinder, WR, Pittsburgh - I think this kid can be the future for Ward. He's tough, good blocker, and has big play capability

6) Lance Ball, RB, Maryland - I think Lance is a MJD type player, Small, built and compact. He's 5'09 and 228lbs. He's part of a two pronged attack at Maryland and will fall because of that and will be a beast backing up Willie Parker.

7) Bryan Mattison, DE/OLB, Iowa - Bryan is part of a Great rotation at Iowa. He's the Strongside DE and he's solid. He'll be a good backup and situational player as a backup to LaMarr Woodley. He'll provide the depth lost by Haggans. He'll battle Harrison for the last LB spot.

1: Chris Ellis (WOLB) - Lawrence Timmons (WILB) - Larry Foote (SILB) - LaMarr Woodley (SILB)

2: James Harrison(WOLB) - Goo Wallace (WILB) - Mike Klinkenborg (SILB) - Bryan Mattison (SOLB)

3: Marcello Church (WOLB) - Arnold Harrison (SOLB)

This is without seeing this season.

I believe the LB Help and OL help is imminent anyways, but as for Kinder/Ball, that could chance with Underclassmen or needs.

I would consider Kregg Lumpkin instead of Ball

[TerribleEd]

Mr Stiller:

The fact that Rivers is a Timmons look-alike is exactly why I like him.

What do they both offer? Athleticism and Flexibility. They are both well suited for either the 3-4 or 4-3. In a 4-3 cover-2 scenario, they would be a tremendous OLB combo - they are both sideline to sideline and they can both cover. In a 3-4 scenario, one would play ILB while the other plays OLB.

The difference in our thought process is that you see James Harrison as a future starter, and I do not. I believe that in the future the Steelers will be running both the 3-4 and the 4-3 defense. The picks of Timmons and Woodley support this strategy. Both of these guys were selected for their flexibility. We will see more of the same next year, just watch.

The other player that continues to grow on me as a Steeler first rounder in '08 is Justin King. Thoughts?

[Mr. Stiller]

Mr Stiller:

The fact that Rivers is a Timmons look-alike is exactly why I like him.

I like Rivers, But I don't think we have room for another Rd 1 pick to move inside. Rivers isn't a block-shedder well enough to pay Buck, or Sam in a 4-3, he's purely a Weakside Backer, which is exactly what Timmons is.

What do they both offer? Athleticism and Flexibility. They are both well suited for either the 3-4 or 4-3. In a 4-3 cover-2 scenario, they would be a tremendous OLB combo - they are both sideline to sideline and they can both cover. In a 3-4 scenario, one would play ILB while the other plays OLB.

They would be tremendous athletic wise, but neither one sheds blocks well enough to play SAM in a 4-3. Foote could do that, but I think both Timmons and Woodley are a waste as a 4-3 MLB, they're too athletically gifted and should both be WILL backers in a 4-3. I don't think either offers enough in a 3-4 scenario to play OLB. If either did, it woud be Timmons. If you want to go that route, I'd throw out 2 names that can play 4-3 and 3-4 OLB. Brian Cushing and Erin Henderson. Both offer the abilities of 4-3 SAM, and a 3-4 WOLB. I think they'd both fit better, even in a cover 2. Both can cover and both can rush the passer as well as stuff the run game. Like I said, If we didn't draft Timmons, I'd be completely all about Keith Rivers. I don't think he offers us the flexibility that Cushing or Henderson would offer.

The difference in our thought process is that you see James Harrison as a future starter, and I do not. I believe that in the future the Steelers will be running both the 3-4 and the 4-3 defense. The picks of Timmons and Woodley support this strategy. Both of these guys were selected for their flexibility. We will see more of the same next year, just watch.

I agree. I don't see Harrison as a future starter, I think he starts this season and Possibly some of next season. But IMO, I think Chris Ellis is the perfect guy, he's as fast as Timmons and he's a guy that can play DE or OLB. OLB In both systems, DE in a 4-3. I think he's the better pick because he can slide up to the line, where as Rivers/Timmons don't have the size to necessarily slide up to DE.

The other player that continues to grow on me as a Steeler first rounder in '08 is Justin King. Thoughts?

I'll start off by saying I love Justin King and his potential. However either 4-3 or 3-4 we don't value a corner as a 1st rounder. Even with his capabilities, I'd love to add King. But it'd be a waste of his talent. Either 3-4 (Zone Blitz) or 4-3 (Tampa2) they're both zone schemes that hide the deficiencies for the Corners by brilliant Safety play and a great pass rush. Honestly I think for zone coverage William *** will end up being a monster starter for us. He's perfect for our zone coverages and like I said, I love King I don't think he's going to be a chance for us. I know it's popular to say we need a corner, I disagree. We need LB and OL. Maybe a WR/RB but other than that, Corner is one of the least of my worries. I wanna see how Coach Tomlin coaches up the secondary.

[Hines]

i dont like uofa (i like asu bein from az) and all that

but i really want luis holmes and cason
cason is a stud
and luis is a beast

[Hines]

another player to look out for is rudy burgess from asu
hes like the reggie bush of asu (rb,wr,kr,pr)
he has good speed and i believe is underrated
he also played some cb last year