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Something to watch this Saturday

I am still buzzing about last nights game; however, as we turn our attention to the Chargers game, many of you may want to check out the USC vs. Ohio State game this Saturday since CU won't be playing, even if you are not a fan of either program. There will be several players that I assume will be on the Broncos radar for next year's draft, although I am hoping that we are picking 32. So most of these players may be out of reach; however, you never know who will fall or what trade we may be able to pull off.  Of note in the game include:

James Laurinaitis - LB, Ohio State, Many people have compared him to an A J Hawk or (this may be too much) a Randy Gradishar, I on the other hand think he is somewhat over-hyped and not as physical a player that he should be.  However, several early mock drafts have Denver taking him (that was assuming we pick somewhere around 18)

Rey Maualuga - LB, USC, I personally love this guy, he is likely to be a top 5 pick, so little chance we could nab him, (but who knows, maybe Al Davis will trade us his pick for Travis Henry, Patrick Ramsey and a new jump suit), anyways, I compare him to a bigger version of Junior Saeu, he is somewhat stiff in coverage, but I have never seen a college LB his size, that could run as well, and hits like a freight train.  He makes plays all over the field.  A really special player, here's hoping he doesn't end up in Silver and Black.  I really hope he ends up outside our division if we don't get him, because he will be a terror in the league for a long time.

Brian Cushing - LB, USC, Not as heralded as Maualuga (he was injured last year), but is fundelmentally as sound as they come, hard nosed, and makes plays, would be a great outside backer as he has great pass rush skills, but I could also see him being a terror in the middle.  This is a guy we would probably have a shot at (although likely trade) since he will probably be a top 15 pick.

Marcus Freeman, LB, OSU, A classic speed outside LB with good size, Freeman has great pass rush skills and good size for an OLB in a 4-3 scheme.  Will likely play the weak side LB in a 4-3 scheme or inside in a 3-4, similar to Jarrod Mayo who the Pats drafted this year, but I think he  needs some work on his coverage skills. Likely a top 25 pick, although with DJ signed for years and the signing of Boss Bailey, I think not likely going to be a Bronco.

Taylor Mayes - LB/S, USC, Think a cross between Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, and Dennis Smith (O.K. that may be a bit much) and that is what you have in Mayes, 6-4 and 225 lbs, and reportly is the fastest Trojan.  He is always around the ball and has very good ball skills, needs to be more consistent, but would be a great pick-up for the Broncos and continue the hard hitting safety tradition.

Fili Moala - DT, USC, I have not seen as much of his play, but scouts do rave he is a great penetrating DT that is taller than the past DT that have come out of USC that, projected as a top 20 pick, some another possibility to be wearing the orange and blue next year. 

Malcom Jenkins - CB, Ohio State, Seen as another very good cover corner coming out of OSU, he compares favorably with many past OSU corners (think Shawn Springs in his prime) that he is physical and can run, unlikely Denver would draft him since I am assuming he will be a top 15 pick and that will likely not be considered a need in the draft, but should have an interesting day facing USC.

Jeff Byers - G/C, USC, the hometown Colorado boy has all the physcial tools and smarts to excel in a zone blocking scheme, obviously he won't likely be a 1st rounder, but someone to look for in round 3 to 4, he lacks the typical size for larger lineman, but is mobile, strong and smart (6-4, 285), and can play guard or center.

 

 

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

1 recs  |  Comment 6 comments

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great info. go buckeyes!

i, as a buckeyes fan, will certainly be watching this one. beanie wells(if he plays), is another player to keep an eye on. he is a heismann candidate, and although we have torain coming back, and hall looks good, this kid can play football. i am a big laurinaitus fan. he’s like a bigger, less shifty version of a.j. hawk, and i also believe more physical. expect him to bring it on saturday. he came back this season to win a title, and his intangibles are extraordinary. he was a preseason top-5 pick, but if all else is relatively equal between maualuga, i’ll take the lower pick-and keep more later picks ourselves. whoever that may be by season’s end, we need a serious upgrade by drafting 1 of these guys.

i don’t know much about maualuga, but i have read people love him on this site at mlb. i will keep an eye on him, as well as mayes and moala. dt, mlb, and safety(1 at each level) should be in our draft plans next year. as good as webster looked, i would like a mlb with our first pick. quaterback of the defense, make the trade up. if we could pair dj with 1 of these guys, that will cover a lot of holes. safety in second round, dt in 3rd, maybe a de in the 4th, too. moss is a waste(i’ve said this since day 1), and i don’t know what happened to crowder, although i still think he will improve. this may become a need position, and i’ll be checking out the de’s, too. i don’t care what they do with the rest of the draft-ol, whatever, but this will be a great game to scout from with these 2 programs. unfortunately, shanny has been drafting heavily from the sec, so this whole thing might be moot. this should be a doozy of a game, and i’m glad i’m not the only one trying to follow the college game.

by davecheffy on Sep 10, 2008 9:58 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I hope USC

crushes OSU. I just cant get over how well Carroll recruits. I have heard the experts say there could be 11 first day draft picks from USC, including all 3 of their starting LB’s. To me there has only been one good player ever to come from OSU, that was Randy Gradishar. =)

by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 10, 2008 11:48 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

we found a trojan's fan! michigan fan?

i guess chris carter sucked. keith byars, le charles bentley, chris gamble, anthony gonzalez, a.j. hawk, santonio holmes, nick mangold, will smith, to name a few more you might know. please, that is just an ignorant statement. i’m surprised at you

by davecheffy on Sep 10, 2008 12:17 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I knew I would get a response

I just dont like OSU fan, you may be different. But the majority of the OSU fan I have dealt with were smug and arrogant and just made watching OSU games not enjoyable. (Plus I cabnt stand Chris Carter even to this day his arrogance is BS, he feels he is smarter than everyone else) I am a CU guy thru and thru. Plus on the olny good player from OSU it was a joke. (thats what the smiley face was for)
It should be a great game, but I want USC to win. BTW Michigan fan is actually worse in my book

by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 10, 2008 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am a fan of neither program but I think USC will win

I respect both programs, but I think as far as a talent level, OSU is far behind USC, just an opinion, but that’s why they paly the games. I admire OSU for scheduling the likes of USC and Texas, shows they are willing to play ball and not hide in their conference, unlike most SEC teams.

"How do the berries taste Ralph?" Bart Simpson
"They taste like burning." Ralph Wigam
Broncoman

by Broncoman on Sep 10, 2008 1:29 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hope we get a MLB in the 1st

and it would be a bonus if he has a name that is spellable.

by Arctic Bronco on Sep 10, 2008 11:28 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

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