Rivals 100 draft prospects

[claynd105]

Some of you may have seen this but Rivals did their top 100 draft prospects and ND basically has 5 in the top 50.

Brady Quinn- #1

Jeff Samardzija- #35

Victor Abiamiri- #47

Tom Zbikowski- #49

Ryan Harris- #51

Something to also keep in mind is this list includes juniors and not all of them will go to the NFL.

 

[marv81s]

can't argue with this

 

[claynd105]

I thought Zbikowski would have dropped a little more but I am very pleased with where he is at. I have always been a Zbikowski supporter despite what a lot of posters think.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I thought Zbikowski would have dropped a little more but I am very pleased with where he is at. I have always been a Zbikowski supporter despite what a lot of posters think.

I like Zibby a lot, but I am a bit surprised at the rank. It just seems like this was not a standout year for him. HOWEVER, the NFL is about talent and potential...it is not about just how good you are at one point in time.

 

[njuneardave]

I like Zibby a lot, but I am a bit surprised at the rank. It just seems like this was not a standout year for him. HOWEVER, the NFL is about talent and potential...it is not about just how good you are at one point in time.

yeah, but i cant help but to think that if someone took zibby as the #49 pick, that they would be getting a bit ripped off. if i were a GM, id honestly go with someone else. i like zibby and all, but i dont see him being an impact player in the NFL

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

yeah, but i cant help but to think that if someone took zibby as the #49 pick, that they would be getting a bit ripped off. if i were a GM, id honestly go with someone else. i like zibby and all, but i dont see him being an impact player in the NFL

I am not sure. He's tough and has a great work ethic. He might look better around better talent...then again...

 

[marv81s]

Zibby probably would have had a better year coverage wise if he didn't have to play so far up so much to defend against the run. This year was a constant reminder of how much we missed having our old two stud LBs. Because of that absence we got torched deep on several plays, and those damn HB passes killed us, what, 3 times?

 

[ackirl]

Do you think NFL teams could project him as playing linebacker?
What did Zbikowski weigh in at for the fight in Madison Square Garden?

Comparing him to some of the speed type linebackers it’s not that much of a stretch

<table border=0 width=50% cellspacing=5 cellpadding=1 bgcolor=ffffff cols=3>
<tr><td> </td><td> Height: </td><td> Weight:
<tr><td> London Fletcher </td><td> 5-10 </td><td> 245
<tr><td> Lofa Tatupu </td><td> 6-0 </td><td> 238
<tr><td> Zach Thomas </td><td> 5-11 </td><td> 228
<tr><td> Cato June </td><td> 5-11 </td><td> 227
<tr><td> Tom Zbikowski </td><td> 6-0 </td><td> 210
</table>

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Do you think NFL teams could project him as playing linebacker?
What did Zbikowski weigh in at for the fight in Madison Square Garden?

Comparing him to some of the speed type linebackers it’s not that much of a stretch

<table border=0 width=50% cellspacing=5 cellpadding=1 bgcolor=ffffff cols=3>
<tr><td> </td><td> Height: </td><td> Weight:
<tr><td> London Fletcher </td><td> 5-10 </td><td> 245
<tr><td> Lofa Tatupu </td><td> 6-0 </td><td> 238
<tr><td> Zach Thomas </td><td> 5-11 </td><td> 228
<tr><td> Cato June </td><td> 5-11 </td><td> 227
<tr><td> Tom Zbikowski </td><td> 6-0 </td><td> 210
</table>

He coudl EASILY put on some weight. As a Safety he has avoided that.

I think he would be a mean sonnuvabitch at LB.

 

[johnchampion]

He coudl EASILY put on some weight. As a Safety he has avoided that.

I think he would be a mean sonnuvabitch at LB.

I think his frame might be as compact as it will be. As an NFL player, I think he'd make a nice special teams threat.

 

[Guest]

No Carlson? Thats weird.

 

[marv81s]

he's coming back next year to help us out, so no NFL draft for him.

Was very happy/suprised by that decision.

 

[dankus]

Ted Ginn Jr. at #6 is too high.

 

[goldenechoes]

Ted Ginn Jr. at #6 is too high.

I agree. I dont like his hands. He wont get by with just speed in the NFL.

 

[Famboo28]

I agree. I dont like his hands. He wont get by with just speed in the NFL.

I agree with you, while he has amazing athleticism, he doesn't focus on the smaller things like footwork and good route running. He can get by with this pure athleticism in the college game, but once he goes pro, everyone else has the same advantage as him, therefore the adjustment will be much, much harder for him. While I do believe that he has the potential to be a great player on the Professional level, he has a lot of work to do and I don't believe he should be that high up on the list.

 

[claynd105]

I agree. I dont like his hands. He wont get by with just speed in the NFL.

With his speed there will be a lot of teams that are willing to take on the project.

 

[reneg]

I am not saying Rhema McKnight should be top 100 or anything, but I have yet to see him get any kind of attention towards making it in the NFL? Are teams too scared by his past injury or whats the deal? I always thought he was a fairly good player and always flew under the radar so to speak.

 

[BigIrish]

I am not saying Rhema McKnight should be top 100 or anything, but I have yet to see him get any kind of attention towards making it in the NFL? Are teams too scared by his past injury or whats the deal? I always thought he was a fairly good player and always flew under the radar so to speak.

i would be more scared by his knack for dropping balls in big games - the SoCal game being the most glaring example. i saw him as being very inconsistent this year, catching a lot of difficult balls and dropping a fair amount of easy ones.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I'm kinda shocked Zibikowski is higher than Ryan Harris. I think Harris has the potential to be a solid tackle on the next level if he's well-coached. I dunno if Tommy is ever going to be a starting safety for anybody though in the NFL. I think he could make it at WLB if he put on about 10-15 lbs.

 

[weisbankaccount]

In all the Zbikowski talk, the fact that Samardzija is a projected 2nd rounder is a bit surprising - Im not a scout by any means but I always saw him in the 10-20 range.....

 

[Pete]

In all the Zbikowski talk, the fact that Samardzija is a projected 2nd rounder is a bit surprising - Im not a scout by any means but I always saw him in the 10-20 range.....

If I was an NFL GM, I wouldn't want to invest a first round pick and first round money on somebody who isn't going to devote 100% of their time with my team. This is the same reason why he fell to the fifth round in the MLB draft.

 

[mwinely]

Early poster compared Zibby to Cato June. Probably a good comparison - June was a safety coming out of Michigan. Though if you saw the game last night - Johnson just carried him for at least 10 yards after the contact was made. I am not sure that Zibby can effectively add enough weight to be a pro linebacker, time wil tell though. In the right system maybe - we know he has the work ethic for it.

 

[njuneardave]

i loved how June got owned by Johnson... and then, a few minutes later he had an arm tackle and proceded to celebrate his awesomeness by flailing his arms to garner some attention...

 

[jiggafini19]

If I was an NFL GM, I wouldn't want to invest a first round pick and first round money on somebody who isn't going to devote 100% of their time with my team. This is the same reason why he fell to the fifth round in the MLB draft.

A great observation. And it goes deeper than this.

NFL scouts are concerned that against GT, scUM, UCLA and USC (tOSU, Fiesta Bowl) Samardizja was easily jammed by DBs within what would be considered the NFL's "5 yard halo."

 

[sonomairishfan]

A great observation. And it goes deeper than this.

NFL scouts are concerned that against GT, scUM, UCLA and USC (tOSU, Fiesta Bowl) Samardizja was easily jammed by DBs within what would be considered the NFL's "5 yard halo."

great point. shark is not tough enough right now to be worthy of a high pick. once a defense decides to be physical with him, he basically disappears. he doesnt' go over the middle and drops balls when the DB is near him. that has been a flaw of his since he took over the starting job. i don't think that he blocks well and he wouldn't really be a factor on special teams (again, toughness). the only other talent he shows is holding for a PAT/FG. i don't think that warrants a high pick.

you cannot deny his big play ability. if he weren't intimidated easily, he would be a first rounder, my opinion.

Zibby- i think that he can contribute as a special teamer. i also think that if he packed on 20lbs, he would make a decent LB. too bad we didn't do that at ND. he basically played LB anyways. it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

[jiggafini19]

I agree with all you said, sans the blocking. He's a pretty good WR blocker.

Not as good as Stovall was, but good.

I think he goes late first round, but a lot of that will come from what happens in the three months between the Sugar Bowl and Draft.

 

[johnnd05]

There's been lots of talk of Zibby becoming a linebacker. I've asked this before and got a quick 'no' from someone: if he comes back (and I take it that it's not yet decided that he won't, right?), is there any chance that we could have him bulk up and play LB, to give the kids a chance at FS?

 

[jiggafini19]

Since HS when he was an option QB and safety, he's probably jacked himself up at least 20 lbs, maybe 25-30.

How much more weight is he going to get on that frame?

 

[Pete]

great point. shark is not tough enough right now to be worthy of a high pick. once a defense decides to be physical with him, he basically disappears. he doesnt' go over the middle and drops balls when the DB is near him. that has been a flaw of his since he took over the starting job. i don't think that he blocks well and he wouldn't really be a factor on special teams (again, toughness). the only other talent he shows is holding for a PAT/FG. i don't think that warrants a high pick.

you cannot deny his big play ability. if he weren't intimidated easily, he would be a first rounder, my opinion.

Zibby- i think that he can contribute as a special teamer. i also think that if he packed on 20lbs, he would make a decent LB. too bad we didn't do that at ND. he basically played LB anyways. it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

The problem with being a pitcher and a football player is that the NFL guys want him to add some bulk, while the baseball guys want him to stay where he is at. The added bulk would/should allow him to fend off the CBs at the next level.
On a side note, if it were me, I would pick baseball, longer career, less toll on the body, and if eefing Gil Meche can get a guarantee 55 mil, to me it is a no-brainer.