Thread: Randys Recruits

I didn't see Vernon going to the 3rd round as I was expecting more like 5th round given the circumstances. But I'm not complaining, he's going to the Phins and finally they did something right. I also saw Spence going in the 3rd and he went to the perfect team. I believe a guy like Spence can easily add another 10 lbs. to his frame, especially through NFL workouts that make college workouts look like a breeze. I can't see Spence loosing 10-20 lbs to play safety especially since he has to go through the aforementioned workouts still.

I can see the other UM players being picked (Washington, Streeter, and Miller) being picked in 4th, maybe even the 5th round. I honestly think Forston will not get drafted. He was average at best while playing for the U, and he's always had some type of significant injury. When Al Golden mentioned staying another year to improve stock, Forston was the first player that came to mind.

@Ed: I agree, Jojo came a long way and hopefully he goes in the 6th or 7th and works his way up starting on Special Teams.

Much of this thread is very negative so in an attempt to balance that....

1.) Thrilled to see Spence get drafted so high, IMO he was obviously our best football player. I hope he proves everybody wrong and winds up being a pro bowler.
2.) I'm not entirely sure what kept Byrd off the field for much of 2011 but when he was on the field he made a LOT of tough catches...hope he can find a home.
3.) There was cruel irony that Ojomo wasn't allowed back despite being one of the few who wanted to come back. Volunteered to play DT in his final year despite being undersized and knowing that he could hurt his draft stock. He has been dealt a couple tough hands, I'm hoping he makes a team before it is all said and done.
4.) Finally, Marcus Robinson was hands down the most under valued player on the team last year. The kid did nothing but make plays for us. I hope he gets rewarded for that.

Great lesson for future pigs & hogs)
Hogs get fat and pigs get slaughtered.

Spence has zero chance of playing LB in that scheme. He is an in the box safety.

The rest of them all went below where I assumed. This team was littered with mediocre starters, playing in new schemes, having not been properly conditioned, under a cloud of scandal, and we wonder why we went 6-6??

Bottom line? Al Golden was the big winner in this draft. Any sense of entitlement went out the window when several players who should have stayed another year left money on the table by going early. A lot of sophmores and juniors are going to learn some hard lessons from this draft. Golden doesn't have to say a word.

Originally Posted by section9

Bottom line? Al Golden was the big winner in this draft. Any sense of entitlement went out the window when several players who should have stayed another year left money on the table by going early. A lot of sophmores and juniors are going to learn some hard lessons from this draft. Golden doesn't have to say a word.

I don't know, I think everybody lost in this draft. Golden has a harder coaching job without Streeter, Lamar, Vernon, etc. The 2012 Canes have a tougher road without those players. Finally, the guys who left early lost quite a bit of money and possibly their shot at the NFL (Forston). I'm not sure anybody won here.

Kudos on a four page thread on a highly charged subject without a hint of animosity. Maj proud of you guys.

Congrats to the draftees & FAs.

Originally Posted by Ed La Fave

I don't know, I think everybody lost in this draft. Golden has a harder coaching job without Streeter, Lamar, Vernon, etc. The 2012 Canes have a tougher road without those players. Finally, the guys who left early lost quite a bit of money and possibly their shot at the NFL (Forston). I'm not sure anybody won here.

The point I was making was not the obvious, that Golden lost some key players. That obviously hurt. We would be better with Streeter and Vernon, for example, than without them going into 2012. You're quite correct that Golden's job becomes harder in the short run.

However, in the long run, the younger players will learn that it pays to stay through your Senior Year and get the seasoning that the Player Personnel Directors are looking for from an Al Golden-coached player to get the big money. Everybody now realizes how much money was left on the table by the guys who left early. Don't think that the UM players who stayed behind aren't having this conversation.

Not every player is Michael Irvin.

However, your fundamental point is correct about the hurt that was done to the team's 2012 prospects by a bunch of guys leaving early. Golden will just have to provide some workaround.

I think Spence will flourish in Pitt. He is in the perfect organization and coaching staff to learn from besides the Ravens staff. In the 3-4 defense he can play the inside or outside, Spence has the instincts to be very good LB in Pitt.