A Look at Earl Bennett

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 26, 2008 4:25 PM MDT in 2008 NFL Draft - Denver Broncos

First Things First

Due to popular request I thought I would give us Bronco's fans some notes to ponder on the junior WR out of Vanderbilt. The first thing to establish, is what is this going to cost? Well, on my own board I have him as the #9 WR, though he has spent much of the last few months in the #7-#8 range. Basically, the pro days of bigger, faster WRs are starting to bump him down. Overall I have him going between #58 and #64, so, late 2nd round, early 3rd.

The ideal way for Denver to acquire Bennet would be to trade down, either in the first or second, to no later than #56, just to be sure. Taking Bennett with our #42 is bad draft management, but I am not against it if our back is to the wall. If you get the players you want from the draft, you had a success, even if you didn't leverage the draft to its full potential. Leave the idealistic theorizing to the ivory towers. But if we want Bennett, we need to be prepared to take him early. Which leads us to the second question.

Why would we want him?

Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt
6'0", 209lbs, 4.48 40yd

Bennett is spelled B-R-O-N-C-O

Is he fast? HT and others have made their wishes known that a field stretching WR opposite Marshall, pulling away the safety help would be of tremendous benefit to the Broncos. You won't get any argument against that here, and I will lead off this overview of Bennett by stating that this is the one area where we could do better.

But speed comes with qualifications. Bennett has an uncanny knack to track down deep balls that are thrown his way, and against most corners in the NFL he has a very fair chance of battling for the underthrown deep ball, which is becoming an art form at the NFL level. And his acceleration is nothing to scoff at either. He accelerates as fast as anyone, but he just seems to hit a maximum stride sooner than most. But make no mistake, that acceleration puts him on an even playing field with unprepared deep help, which faces the near instantaneous choice of committing to Bennett or coming up into Marshall's work area. Great safeties won't be fooled. Bennett simply can't pressure the deep help for long enough, but I would hazard the guess that most safeties, relying on instinct, would react to Bennett's burst off the line. And this is where it starts to get interesting.

From Bennett's worst asset to arguably his best, we turn now to look at his route running ability. Body control is most evident in his spectacular catches, but if you rewatch those same plays unfold, you see that body control being used to dominate defenders off the line, make crisp cuts and to find the ball.

Off the line he has tremendous hands, using them well to battle bump coverage and physical defenses close to the line of scrimmage. The defenders are routinely left grasping and reacting to his fluid movement when he starts into his routes. At Vanderbilt he was often double teamed, and as a result his ability to fight off initial bouts of trash became heightened. It should be good enough to be serviceable from day one against NFL quality DBs. In terms of measureables defining this characteristic, he has an unusually long wingspan for his height, and he has a solid upper back and torso with a thick chest and broad shoulders. He finished 8th among WRs at the combine for 225lb bench press reps.

While he will be serviceable getting into his routes at the NFL level, he should really shine at executing the route itself. He has an elite understanding of his body's leverage and gravity, and it shows in his plants, cuts, stutter steps and acceleration. He couldn't be more fluid if he was a dancer. He has low hips and the ability to give subtle shakes and feints, and does it without breaking the timing or fluidity of the route. He does lack suddeness in his movement, which is a tough characteristic to pin down. Basically, he can excell at a route, where he can size up his defender and apply mental effort, but he would probably not be an effective kick or punt returner.

Which brings us to the final aspect of his route running, and by far the most NFL critical of the skills he needs to have to make an impact early: finishing it off. And what stands out here more than anywhere else is his football intelligence. Before we look at his ability to catch, we should first note his awareness before the catch. He reads zones well, and does a great job of showing a target to his QB, bodying out defenders for the lane. He is one of the first on the field to react when his QB is in trouble, and great and coming back to help. He has a mature understanding of his role as well, and knows that he is on the field to help the team win, and all the ways that he can contribute. When catching, he uses his long arms naturally, looking passes in and presenting an outside shoulder to his QB. All in all, he can singlehandedly present opportunities at the last level of his route running, and he is never out of the play.

Rounding out the Image

We'll close with a highlight video and some stats, but first we will consider the other elements he could bring to a #2 WR role in Denver.

First, his blocking. Aggressive defines it best. He has mastered the cut block and uses it well, and shows a great ability to get his hands into a defender and maintain a physical presence. Brings attitude to his blocking game and even does a good job of pestering bigger pass rushers. Has a good "grasp" of how to get his hands into defenders without getting caught.

Whether this could translate to the NFL or not remains to be seen, but Bennett is not a star who becomes a no-show in critical situations. If anything he raises his level of play to keep up. He shows end-zone awareness, and does a good job of stretching the endzone to its limits. He can get better at controlling his body around the sidelines, as far as keeping his feet in bounds goes, but all in all he is on the right track in that area, and shows all of the intangibles to be able to pick it up.

Lastly, no discussion of Earl Bennet would be complete without talking about the kind of character he brings to a team. He is the antithesis of the prima-donna WR, and the archetype of consistency. A leader by example, he gives 100% in film study, in practice and in the game. He has always had a team first attitude, and has never had qualms about his role, and what it means to the success of the team, whether he is catching TDs, blocking in the running game or bailing out his QBs.

Denver and its fans have been missing the days of Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. We have missed the dependability of WRs that show up every game and leave everything they have on the field. We miss the grit and determination of a Broncos WR corp that fights to stay in it and creates chances when the defense does its best to take those chances away. It isn't really about skill or speed. Its about desire. The desire to be better and the willingness to do anything in the name of that. We miss that, and it is heartbreaking to see it come and go in brief flashes of inconsistency and undependability.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Statistics:

Receiving= 79 for 876yds, 11.1avg, 9 TDS, Passing= 2 for 2 40yds, 2 TDS
82 for 1146yds, 14.0avg, 6 TDS
75 for 830yds, 11.1avg, 5 TDS

View video on Youtube here!

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Comments

Amen Styg -

great post. I have to say that I see a bit of Marvin Harrison in him with the smoothness, but he does appear more physical.
One thing that you didn't mention (because maybe it's too obvious) is that while he would have to learn and adapt to Denver's offense, he has preexisting chemistry with our QB. Not only have they played together, but they also worked out together this offseason. I wonder if when Jay, Brandon, Tony, and Earl were all at the same place at the same time whether they did anything as a group....
I think he should be taken in the 2nd round regardless of which slot.

"The angel is no more than the shark well-governed." -Herman Melville

by jadunn on Mar 26, 2008 5:46 PM MDT reply actions

Chemistry

Good to bring up, and could be a key part of his development as well as helping him pick up on the nuances better. I didn't mention it because I was more focused on what he brings as an individual, regardless of who is around him.

Another thing that I didn't really address, but that your Harrison reference reminds me of, is that you don't hear a lot of the standard fluff questioning "durability" with Bennett even though he is a smaller sized WR. But he is good at avoiding the big hit (thogh, as you say, he seems to be more physical than Marvin), and bouncing up after a tackle. I think part of it might be his aggressive play, letting him be the hitter more often than being the hittee. Not sure though. He took some pretty good hits at Vandy, but kept on ticking.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 26, 2008 6:06 PM MDT up reply actions

re. Earl Bennett

Nice article, styg. Just out of curiosity, where did Earl stand in the SEC in terms of yards, TDs, etc? You know, receiver stats? Could you give us a list just for comparison?

by dardarsh on Mar 26, 2008 6:29 PM MDT reply actions

SEC

First for anyone who isn't sure who all is in the SEC:

Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt.

Tough conference, no doubt about it.

Reception's Leaders:

1. Kenny McKinley, S Carolina 77

2. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt 75

3. Lucas Taylor, Tennessee 73

4. DJ Hall, Alabama 67

5. Keenan Burton, Kentucky 66

6. Steve Johnson, Kentucky 61

7. Percy Harvin, Florida 59

8. Early Doucet, LSU 57

Receiving Yardage

Steve Johnson, Kentucky 1052

DJ Hall, Alabama 1005

Lucas Taylor, Tennessee 1000

Kenny McKinley, S Carolina 968

Percy Harvin, Florida 858

Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt 830

Andre Caldwell, Florida 761

Keenan Burton, Kentucky 741

Mike Wallace, Ole Miss 716

Rodgeriqus Smith, Auburn 705

Average per reception

1. Mike Wallace, Ole Miss 18.8

2. Demetrius Byrd, LSU 17.7

3. Steve Johnson, Kentucky 17.2

4. Sean Bailey, Georgia 15.8

5. Jamayel Smith, Miss St 15.5

29. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt 11.1

Touchdowns

1. Steve Johnson, Kentucky 13

2. Keenan Burton, Kentucky 9

Kenny McKinley, S Carolina 9

4. Andre Caldwell, Florida 7

Cornelius Ingram, Florida 7

Dicky Lyons, Kentucky 7

Demetrius Byrd, LSU 7

14. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt 5

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 26, 2008 7:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Career ranks

Also, as well as how he ranks this year, for his career:

1st all-time SEC in career receptions, 236. The previous record was 208 in 4 seasons.

No SEC receiver has ever had 2 consecutive seasons of 75+ receptions; Earl had 3.

8th all-time SEC in career receiving yards.

and I think 9th all-time SEC in career TDs.

by hartley on Mar 28, 2008 8:11 AM MDT up reply actions

Very well done.

Yes, I advocate a speed demon at the #2 for various reasons (including stretching the field in a dimension we don't have with our current makeup, as well as pulling the FS).

But that's a matter of opinion, and speed isn't a requirement to be a terrific WR.

Next to being able to catch the darn ball, route running (which you spend some time on in your excellent article) is probably the most important aspect of a good receiver. Many fans focus on speed and hands, and good Denver fans (and PITT fans to an even greater degree) focus on run blocking ability as well.

Bennett has some qualities that would make me feel fine with him for a good pick. The importance of route running cannot be overstated.

In fact, perhaps the greatest attribute of Rod Smith was his mastery of route running, and some analysts considered him one of the best route runners to have played the game.

Throw in chemistry with our QB and add a dash of good character, and I would make an exception to my personal desire for speed opposite of Marshall.

Again, great piece Styg!

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Mar 26, 2008 6:46 PM MDT reply actions

I don't understand everyone's

belief that we need a deep threat. I saw plenty of times when Marshall burned someone deep. I would like another solid route runner like Bennet. Possesion receivers that have the ability to break one long. BMarsh is our deep threat and our go-to-guy in my opinion. :)

OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
It's JaMakus Fail, RRRRRUUUUNNNN!!!!!

by Tim Lynch on Mar 26, 2008 10:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Now Just Wait A Minute, Little Buddy!

Styg, Styg, Styg!
Back it up! Back it UP! ooh! oooh! OOOOH!!! Who is that Steve Johnson guy?!?!?! Fewer receptions, MORE YARDS, more avg. per and over twice as many TDs against common opponents than Earl?!?!?! You don't Mean it? Caught the winning score vs. LSU?! And vs. Louisville, the in-state rival?! All that AND available for nothing more than a 7th round pick!!!??? Now we must all take the Stygian Oath. Solemnly. We petition the Broncos, Imperator Shanahan and the gods of football...we want Steve Johnson w/Denver's #202 (circa) pick!

by dardarsh on Mar 26, 2008 8:07 PM MDT reply actions

Why not?

Expect him to be stashed on the practice squad for a year, but for the #202, why not?

To explain a little about his WOW factor, he did NOTHING as a sophmore or junior, but definitely came on strong in his senior year. He was really the #4 option behind WR Keenan Burton, TE Tamme and RB Rafael Little, but he did capitalize on his opportunities.

He has some good timed speed, but the scouting reports I read say it doesn't translate to the field. Not sure how good or bad that is. He is definitely a developing player. Look up Kentucky highlights, or Keenan Burton highlights, and you will get a few chances to see what I mean. He just looks a little out of place or something. Maybe "unprepared" is the right word. Put him under the tutelage of a good coach and he could be a diamond in the rough, and for a seventh rounder, what more could you ask than a chance?

But don't do it in my name. If he is worth it, do it in his.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 26, 2008 8:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Lighten up, Bro!

Styg,
Do I detect a note of bitterness? Do your homework, man. Steve Johnson didn't do anything as a sophomore at Kentucky because HE WASN"T AT KENTUCKY! He was lighting it up at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. Nothing as a Junior is a little unkind; after a year to adapt, he didn't do too badly for a guy who "looks a little out of place or something" or "unprepared". How often does an out-of-place, unprepared dude score 13 TDs? I guess he made Andre' Woodson look good. Sounds like another round of "Is it Steve Tensi making Fred Biletnikoff look good, or is it Fred Biletnikoff making Steve Tensi look good?" I'd like to hear what LSU's secondary would say to you, "Yeah, we just decided not to cover that 'out-of-place, unprepared guy' and we just let him score that winning TD because we felt sorry for Kentucky and wanted to jeopardize our National Championship hopes." The Kentucky OC and Woodson apparently had more confidence in Stevie-baby than you do.

Dude! Ahmad Bradshaw was the 250th player drafted last year. Too bad the Giants didn't "stash him on their practice squad for a year". I guess Steve Johnson did "capitalize on his opportunities"; 61 of them for 1052 yards, 13 TDs 17.2 avg. according to your stats.

Have a sense of humor, Bro! I punked you! I asked you for the stats and you gave them! "Tough conference, no doubt about it." So what now? The SEC is not so tough for Steve Johnson and it is for Earl Bennett?

Come on, my Brother, laugh it off. You don't want to be in danger of becoming a Nazi, do you? They had NO sense of humor. All I can say now is that if you're calling the D, I want to be calling the O against you. The ball's over here, wait no it's over there-the ball disappeared and suddenly reappeared in the endzone! As for the Stygian Oath, it really isn't your name, unless you're the daughter of Oceanus.

by dardarsh on Mar 26, 2008 9:42 PM MDT reply actions

You lighten up, Broo!

Like, come on man, you punked him, so let's throw it in his face and try to make him look like a moron, brooo!

Seriously, what the hell?

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Mar 26, 2008 11:30 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm not sure what you want from me

But it sounds like I have given you plenty. I don't mind being used as your foil to draw attention to Steve Johnson. To be honest, I hadn't completed anything beyond an "initial scout" on him, and your comments caused me to dig out what I had and look into it more. A "second level" scouting turned up a little bit of info that corroborated what my initial look (from two moths ago) had said, basically that he was very raw and statistically an anomaly. I hope I haven't given you the impression that I am dismissing him. I don't have any feelings about it one way or the other, but I DO lack information on a LOT of players.

I also hope that I haven't come across as bitter about learning something new. It is not how I feel at all. And if I came across as too serious, it was because I didn't realize you were setting me up (I actually got an email from a concerned member who thought I might have been offended by this post, prompting me to come back in and find out what he was talking about :)). I answered in all seriousness because I thought you were (in your own unique way) truly curious about who he was. Rereading it, I feel pretty silly not seeing that you were setting me up.

Which brings me to the one point of contention I have in all of this: I am disappointed to think that you already knew what the stats were when you asked me to post them. It took time that I don't get back, looking up and typing something that no one needed. You should have just posted your opinion on Johnson and saved us all the hassle.

But that point aside (and disregarding what you felt may have been attitude coming from my corner) you have successfully pointed out Steven Johnson to a lot of people who come to MHR to find information they can't get elsewhere. But there are over 2000 prospects coming into this draft. I'll be lucky to get a "second level" evaluation on 100 of them. I'll be even luckier to find points of interest to a Broncos fan that warrants even ten "third level" evaluations (of which I would consider the Bennett and Chris Johnson articles to be). Guys like Steven Johnson I will never get around to unless someone asks me to look at them specifically. I would insert something humorous at this point, so that the MHR faithful don't confuse me with a Nazi, but unfortunately I can't think of anything. Maybe next time.

The great thing about a community like MHR is that if you have that key information, you have a lot of ready readers who want it, and will be appreciative of it. I noticed you had a lot of technical insight in HT's recent university article and I see that HT is prepping you in the other thread to be able to spruce up a diary or post.

Here's hoping that it leads to something good.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 12:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Context Is Everything.

Simply pointing out that they played in the same league isn't enough to compare Steve Johnson's and Earl Bennett's production in college. You have to realize that Earl was the focus of any defnse playing against Vanderbilt, while Steve was one of many. And remember, we're talking about production here; stats and measurables are nice, but not necessarily indicative of success at the next level. For instance, he may have been he most PRODUCTIVE receiver on tat team, but he certainly wasn't the BEST, at least not in the estimation of opponents and even his own coaching staff. I'm not saying that Johnson won't be good or isn't worth a late draft pick, but your analysis has to be deeper than what you've stated thus far. Highlights and stats are all well and good, but they're not the whole story.

by ejruiz on Mar 27, 2008 1:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Wierd

Little buddy? Bro? Punked? Nazi?

So, obnoxious = sense of humor.

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Mar 27, 2008 8:59 AM MDT up reply actions

How tall is Hitler's wife?

Dear SlamDunkTheFunk:
Your birthday wouldn't be April 20th, would it?

by dardarsh on Mar 26, 2008 11:44 PM MDT reply actions

...lol?

Not even close, really. Not entirely sure why the question was directed at me, but I'm happy to answer.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Mar 27, 2008 3:35 AM MDT up reply actions

Sorry, I don't have any witty criticisms, but I

think that Bennett sounds like the kind of team first WR that would make a good addition to the Broncos, even if we have to use a 2nd round pick to get him. I am adamantly opposed to wasting 1st and 2nd round picks on WRs, but he seems like an exceptionally tough young man, probably the type who would willingly throw his body around on ST while waiting to make his mark.

by Arctic Bronco on Mar 27, 2008 12:05 AM MDT reply actions

To be honest

I hadn't really thought about him on ST other than to rule out PR or KR. It is a testament to his character that it is pretty easy to imagine him competing at the ST level, even as a 2nd rounder, though I think that Denver will make a strong case to the players on ST this year regarding how important it is. If a few starters are on board for the ST units, that would go a long way towards convincing the others that it mattered and wasn't just a stepping stone.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 1:40 AM MDT up reply actions

"Waste" a pick on WR?

For the sound of his aggressive, competitive nature, armstrength, upper-body-ditto - we could line him up at DT...

Seriously, i see what you mean, though i do not agree - diff. of oppinion...

styg:
With your desecription of him, i get the impression, that his only flaw i mediocre speed. Well a lot of teams has a speed demon, and needs a possesion reciever: How come Bennet isn't on top of their WR-draftboards? I mean, is the something you're not telling, or are the talent-evaluators of the NFL simply blind?

From Denmark, so i excuse my self for un-knowing-ness...

by Claaaaas on Mar 27, 2008 8:22 AM MDT up reply actions

To be fair to Bennet

He had one job at the combine, and it was to show that he had good speed. 4.48 isn't bad by any stretch. Also at his proday, (catching passes from Cutler) they specifically ran a few dep routes to show that Bennet could get out and get under the ball in a hurry. On all the draft boards I have seen, Bennet is settling in around the #54 pick.

The key is to know that where he goes won't have as much to do with him as the guys who are going before him. Lots of people feel a possession receiver can be built from spare parts, and the bust rate on WRs that are high picks will make teams look at the handful of guys who SEEM to have what it takes to be a #1 (Sweed, Thomas, Kelly) as being possession receivers if they flop. Now, that is a pretty generalized statement, but it highlights what teams are really looking for in the draft: potential. Teams aren't looking for guys to reproduce what they did in college, they are looking for guys who can do MORE than they did in college. There is a school of thought on Bennett that essentially says he can't be any better than he has been, and that at the NFL level, that makes him a bit player. I don't see that and I think a lot of teams don't see that, which is why he isn't projected to go in the fourth or fifth round, with the rest of the top possession receivers.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 2:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Bennett's numbers (retort)

With regards to your statements regarding Steve Johnson v. Earl Bennett in the SEC. You have to realize who the QB was for each team. Johnson was relatively unknown and had a potential first or second round QB in Andre Woodson throwing to him. Bennett was in an option style offense with a running QB that couldn't throw his way out of a paper bag (Chris Nixson or Mackenzie Adams, take your pick). Last year was also Bennett's third year against the same SEC defenses. He was pretty much Vanderbilt's only option and everyone knew it. All that and still put up those numbers. Trust me, I would love to see Earl in Denver as a Vanderbilt fan, but as a Titans fan as well, would also love to see him here in Nashville.

by eazye187 on Mar 27, 2008 7:05 AM MDT reply actions

Great Points!

And Welcome! I have always said that I am more impressed by Bennet's numbers the past two seasons becuase of who was at quarterback than his awesome freshman season with Cutler....Slotting him, however, is going to prove difficult...

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Mar 27, 2008 8:01 AM MDT up reply actions

Good job, Styg!

Dear Styg,
You are truly a good Bro, and I would hang with you any time. Your original article was very good and you took my teasing very well. You have friends on this blog who don't take teasing well (such pink, fuzzy, thin and easily bruised skin) and who came to your defense; rightfully so. Is this a blog about football or what?

I actually didn't know the SEC Rec. stats, and I greatly appreciate you giving them. You are a storehouse of info. I did have a feeling, but didn't realize it would be so dramatic. I actually had posted a mock draft in response to HT's "naked truth" article in which it was proposed: 1) not trading down or up and using all nine picks; 2) emulate the Giants and carefully choose players who could make the team; and, 3) further emulate the Giants by getting players in the 7th who have a real shot to contribute a' la Ahmad Bradshaw. I think it's way at the bottom of "naked truth" which has now drawn many comments. The title of my post was something like "Some Giant Considerations". Let me know what you think. Blow it up! Rake me over the coals! I can take it!

Eazye and EJ's points about Vandy's offense vs. UK's are very well taken. Earl Bennett would have been much more productive as a WR in UK's offense. However, he is also projected to be drafted much higher than Steve Johnson. In your article, you point out that since Denver lacks a 3rd, drafting Bennett is a problem. Hard to justify using the 2nd, therefore you propose restructuring the Bronco's selection sequence. Something like that may very well happen as reflected by the poll HT conducted. I really want to see the Broncos draft another Vandy player, Chris Williams (actually prefer him to Clady) whom I think would be much more important than getting Earl. But, that's just me. I'm a build from the lines up, blocking, tackling and running guy.

All I was trying to do was find decent prospects in the 7th like Steve Johnson and Pierre Garcon. Eazye and EJ's points about measurables vs. college production is important, which is why I was trying to find guys with a combination of the two. After all, the combine is just a bunch of guys running around in shorts. You never really know until the pads and hats go on and the hitting begins. Ever coach? You can have some kids who look great in drills w/bags and in the weight room all summer, but they start to wilt during 2/days and on the first day of hamburger some of them just disappear. So, measurables vs. production. I think people sometimes get burned out by the 7th round and are careless with those picks. Obviously the Giants drafted well in '07 and are a good example of how to build via the draft. Kevin Boss? Are you kidding? Western Oregon? I know where it is geographically, but... Is that D.III? See what I mean? That's why Johnson caught my attention.

So, Styg baby! Keep it up! You are obviously a very good natured and thoughtful human being.

Sincerely,
Dardarsh

by dardarsh on Mar 27, 2008 10:59 AM MDT reply actions

I would rather look at Dexter Jackson

not the 7th, but bigger upside I think. :)

OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
It's JaMakus Fail, RRRRRUUUUNNNN!!!!!

by Tim Lynch on Mar 27, 2008 11:13 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks for the compliments!

Always appreciated. And Pierre Garcon deserves another mention. I have tried and failed to put together several Denver Mocks (I always get way too carried away) and I always had Garcon penciled in with our first pick in the seventh.

Factor in about 19 compensatory picks between the 3rd and 7th rounds and I say spend our new #174 from Houston on him. It would be a sixth round pick, but barring taking a top guy in the fourth, I see him as being a great 4th WR, along the lines of what you are saying with the Giants. Even if he isn't in the mix right away he has some versatility that should allow him to see the field for at least a few plays a game, and then if injuries start to thin you out, or you find yourself in a deep playoff run and needing to get more rest for your players, he would, hopefully, be ready. I see him as being able to run slot routes (anything over the middle should work good:)) or deep routes. Nothing too fancy I don't think, but once he was comfortable with how the offense was using him, I would even want to use him in some Marshall-like WR screens.

Good point on staying vigilant in the seventh. I find that for creating a mock is easy for the first two or three ronds, and then I go to the end of the draft and start looking at guys who should still be around. Where I start to get hung up is rounds 4 and 5, since as you say, I start feeling the burnout. My hope is that even if you are burned out, the 4th and 5th rounds shouldn't require as much effort to find solid contributors.

On the other hand, I have a chart that shows that 3rd round tends to produce more overall value than the second, and that 4th and 5th round tends to generate a lot of value in comparison to the the 3rd. Not MORE per pick, necessarily, but more per point, meaning that a good football player in the fourth is just as valuable (if not more) than a top guy in the 2nd. Of course the chart shows that in every possible category 1st rounders are where you consistently find stars.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 3:13 PM MDT up reply actions

New Era Scouting Thoughts on Bennet

They seem to like Bennett alot as well --

http://www.newerascouting.com/profiler/viewprofile.php?id=106

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Mar 27, 2008 11:01 AM MDT reply actions

Matt Miller seems to think

Bennett will go in the second around, but should go in the first round.

Maybe using our second on him isn't such a reach?

OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
It's JaMakus Fail, RRRRRUUUUNNNN!!!!!

by Tim Lynch on Mar 27, 2008 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions

They hit the nail on the head

and they are probably watching him in person, so I totally buy what they are saying about him body catching. I didn't see that, but everything I didn't see would just about fit into the grand canyon.

Solid Bronco, its just a matter of being convinced that he would be worth moving for if somebody else was sitting there that you wouldn't have to move for.

Past drafts suggest that we WILL move if we need to. Past drafts also had Sundquist in the picture.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 2:49 PM MDT up reply actions

What if?

IF the Broncos had a 3rd, I would hope they would take Josh Barrett S Az.St.. Then they could use their first 4th rounder on Dexter Jackson. But, if they DID have a 3rd, then they probably couldn't get Chris Williams w/1st because they probably would have obtained the 3rd by trading down. Some seem to think that the Broncos might draft DeSean Jackson w/1st. I hope that's just a Shanahan ploy to conceal his real intent, because if they actually did that...well, it would be very depressing. It would be Ted Ginn all over again and remember who took him? That's right-Miami! Apparently, according to some scouting reports being passed along here, Earl Bennett's stock is rising. Could it be because he is a Viking warlord? I guess THAT would be more like Jarl Bennett. Never mind. An English lord?

by dardarsh on Mar 27, 2008 11:53 AM MDT reply actions

3rd rounder

We have a strong chance to get a 3rd rounder for the draft from losing either Foxworth or Paymah. The deadline for someone to make them an offer is the 25th of April, so the day before the draft. Denver is prepared to lose them (as prepared as they can be at any rate) and I only expect them to push to keep one of them. But they can only push so hard. I would rate this at 50% chance of getting a 3rd rounder through this means.

And trading down is the surefire way to get it. There is nothing in the range of #10-#40 or so that I can't live without, but TONS of guys (including Barrett) who I think can make this team from about #42 on. Start with Sims and Lofton and start working your way down... :)

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions

Earl is for real...

With my first posting on here, I couldn't pick a better subject to stumble upon. As both a Vandy graduate and a lifelong Bronco fan, I thought my excitement could not top the moment the Broncos traded up to get Cutler, but now with the possibility of reuniting Jay and Earl, I am as giddy as a schoolgirl.

I used to live in Denver, but now as a resident of TN for the past 20 years, I got to watch Earl weekly for the past 3 years. For those who are not in the South, SEC football is the topic of discussion all year long. With that being said, Earl was the centerpoint of attention week in and week out when Vandy was mentioned. As a Freshman with Jay at the helm, he bursted on the scene and was an immediate threat to all teams. He saw double coverage weekly, and always had the best CB on some of the best defenses in the nation. His TD's went down last season, mainly because Vandy's lack of a consistent QB.

His speed is pretty good as a sub 4.5 guy (4.48), but as stated it is the last thing people worry about when defending Earl (in a god way). He is explosive off the ball, has great technique releasing off the line, has a knack of getting open, and can catch anything thrown his way.

He is honestly a great football player and a great person off the field, and we would be lucky to get him in the 2nd round. Also do not under estimate the chemistry between he and Cutler. Not only did they play together, but Jay worked out with him this winter and even threw the balls to him in Earl's pro day evaluation a couple weeks ago.

by VandyBronco on Mar 27, 2008 3:00 PM MDT reply actions

Welcome aboard!

I would like to see Bennet become a Bronco as well. I am also big on Dexter Jackson... either will make me happy as a clam. :)

OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
It's JaMakus Fail, RRRRRUUUUNNNN!!!!!

by Tim Lynch on Mar 27, 2008 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Welcome VandyBronco!

And if Denver isn't trading down in the first we very well may end up with Chris Williams too!

I am really stoked to hear corroboration coming from the heart of Vandy country. I am on the outside looking in trying to find value in the draft, but I am counting on the readers and contributors in the community to consistently offer guidance and approval for the ideas that get put forth. Nothing can match seeing these guys in person, and I am glad that we are seeing a lot of the same things in Earl, and I would be pretty excited if we call his number on draft day.

Here's to VandyWest!

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 27, 2008 3:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Welcome to MHR

"VandyBronco" is a great title. Well done!

by Arctic Bronco on Mar 27, 2008 7:04 PM MDT up reply actions

I would like to say you're wrong...

...but only because I want Earl for the Titans.

;)

by hartley on Mar 28, 2008 8:32 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks!

I can't even fathom the chance of getting Chris in Denver too. Vandy may not have the best team in the world, but they do have NFL talent every year, and Jay, Chris and Earl are proof. On top of that, character issues are never going to be a concern for the Vandy guys.

Chris has been a dominant LT for the past 2 years. He only allowed 2 sacks and was a constant point of attack being on the left side. He has good feet and hips, and probably the best technique out of any OL in the draft. His strength needs to improve, but that can be made up with more work. He makes up for that with his technique and his intelligence on the field, not to mention a 32 on the Wonderlic test.

by VandyBronco on Mar 27, 2008 4:32 PM MDT reply actions

A Stay-Put (no up or down) Nine pick Mock

Dear Styg:

For the record, here is the mock I posted prior to this current article about Earl Bennett who is starting to sound like the second coming of Rod Smith:

#12=Chris Williams T Vandy

#42=Trevor Laws DT ND

#104=Craig Steltz S LSU

#115=Jeremy Zuttah G Rutgers

#130=Owen Schmitt FB WVA

#140=Frank Okam DT Texas

c.#177=Ben Moffitt MLB SFla.

c.#202=Steve Johnson WR Kentucky

c.#209=Pierre Garcon WR Mount Union

by dardarsh on Mar 27, 2008 4:51 PM MDT reply actions

Why two 7th round WR?

I can only think of one 7th round WR that became a an all-pro in recent years. Are there really that many great starting 7th round picks at the WR position!?

I'd rather scrub those and pick OL in the 7th round and pick up Dexter Jackson in the 4th. Overall I like the first two picks, the Okam pick and Schmitt pick.

OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
It's JaMakus Fail, RRRRRUUUUNNNN!!!!!

by Tim Lynch on Mar 27, 2008 6:14 PM MDT up reply actions

Mock modification

Dear Zappa (if only you were Frank..Dweezil...Moon Unit...Diva?):

Hey! Thanks for the response, So, you want All-Pro guys in the 7th round...? I was just looking to approximate what the Giants did in the 7th in '07 w/#s224 & 250; Michael Johnson and Ahmad Bradshaw. You know, guys who make the team (not the practice squad) and help you in spots where you need it.

The assumption was that those two WRs could make the Bronco's roster if they are the only WRs drafted. Look closely at who the Broncos have now at WR and you'll see what I mean. Garcon is a workout freak as he showed at the combine and Johnson is a sleeper based on his Senior year.

But, hey, I like Dexter Jackson, too. He's got some wheels. So, if we delete Steltz at #104, do you still want to add a S w/one of those 7s? How about Dexter's teammate, Corey Lynch? You say you want more OL? This mock already has Williams and Zuttah. OL is difficult in the 7th because in order to give them a chance to succeed there should be at least a possibility of making the roster. Also, they should fit the Denver OL concept. Many OL at this point in the draft are big, strong, SLOW guys. But, how about Fernando Velasco C/G Georgia? Although, Broncos already have three C types in Nalen, Hamilton and Wiegmann plus, don't forget Mark Fenton. Shanahan even mentioned his name in a press conference. My mock only contemplated adding two OL, but what more would you suggest? Keep Garcon?

Glad you like Schmitt (the best blocking FB in the draft) and big Franklin. Me, too.

Vale, Dardarsh

"Ipsa scientia potestas est."-Sir Francis Bacon

by dardarsh on Mar 27, 2008 8:09 PM MDT reply actions

In my opinion the important factors are:

Bennett is:

The most NFL ready receiver in this class.
The most fundimentally sound WR in this class.
Top notch blocker.
Can do every thing you ask.
Is smart & has good character/work ethic.
The smallest bust risk of them all.

Why is he rated lower than 7 or 8 other guys? Because there are guys with higher potential than Bennett. There are some guys who are just bigger, faster and more athletic than Bennett, but none of those guys is a better/more proven WR at this point of time.

Many teams want certain level of potential before they draft someone in the first, and to be honest, Bennett is going to be a Rod Smith type player... not a mega-star type talent like Moss, D Bowe, or Calvin Johnson, but good enough to be a franchise player. Hard work and a good head will take him further than half the guys ranked above him.

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents.

Orange County is hot. Really! Haven't you seen the weather report?

by amirebram on Mar 28, 2008 3:54 AM MDT reply actions

This is all

that any Broncos fan needs to know about him.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 29, 2008 3:53 PM MDT up reply actions

I really don't think we can stress...

... being an NFL ready WR. In today's game, the roster changes way too fast, and it's hard when it takes some guys 3 or 4 years to reach their full potential.

Given Marshall's injury, and Stokley's inability to be an every down back, it is very critical for us to get a guy who is ready to play from day 1. This, in my opinion, is so important that we should go with Bennett over guys with more potential.

A guy like Malcom Kelly might not really start to produce until 2010--his 3rd season. That's very typical for a WR.

Orange County is hot. Really! Haven't you seen the weather report?

by amirebram on Mar 29, 2008 11:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Speaking of Giddy

As a life long (30+ years) suffering Vanderbilt fan, who has been through far too many lean years to count. I am just unbelievably ecstatic that people are even TALKING about our players and the NFL. Despite our records, Bobby Johnson obviously has a knack for recruiting and coaching up hidden NFL talent. We were the only school to offer on Jay, Earl was not very highly recruited either. I think Jay has opened for the door for many years to come. Keep up the good work. I am enjoying the discussion.

by eazye187 on Mar 28, 2008 6:32 AM MDT reply actions