If we want a NT- look no further than Dontari Poe

[CardiacCats]

I also despise the combine though, it's incredibly stupid

Does 0.4 make THAT much of a difference? Brockers and Still have way better stats against much better competition.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I'm done with you. I see that your intellectual ability is woefully lacking.

I'm still waiting for you to provide an informed counter response to my initial post. You haven't been able to do so yet. This shows a clear lack of intelligence on your part, not mine, and really does nothing but show how petty you are.

Irony.

I just ask of you to read back through your posts and see how defensive you became instantly as soon as others questioned your views. You immediately lashed out at anyone and everyone who thought differently.

Once again, irony. I made input to the thread. You responded with some stupid emoticon that you, at the time, thought was witty. When asked to provide some information behind it, you started this little temper tantrum you've been on.

You seem to think of me as some internet geek, while you ramble on about internet geek things that I have no idea what they are or even mean. I'm sorry you're insecure about being an internet geek. Embrace it and love yourself for who you are, man.

Oh I'm fine with who I am. What I can't understand is why you can't be fine with other people being different than you. Wait? Didn't you just tell me to embrace other people's views (as if I should just see it your way because afterall it's your way, and you're you) Ha, would you look at that? Irony here as well.

I'm done with you. You don't know much about the evaluation of football players and you're an angry, angry little man. There's not much left to say to you or about you.

I gave an evaluation. You got angry and started this little tirade, remember? Care to take a guess at what that is?

[Cat'sGrowl]

just shut the f*ck up and talk football

This is ironic, because that's what made him so angry. Me talking football. Oh well. He opened this can of worms. Let him face it like a man.

[LinvilleGorge]

We have a space eater already with Ron Edwards assuming he is back to 100% and we just used two third round picks at DT last year. I find it hard to justify going DT this year unless he is a Suh or Dareus type prospect.

I think if we go DT, it's because we think the guy we're taking is that type of prospect, or at least a big-time impact player. I liked some of what I saw out of McClain, but I'm not sure we have a player in Fua. I'm not ready to write him off yet, but he was none too impressive either. Starting two rookies side by side isn't much of a recipe for success, but it was pretty telling that our DT play increased by leaps and bounds when we inserted some street free agents into the lineup. I don't even count Edwards. He's a stopgap at best. He'll be 33 next season.

[LinvilleGorge]

Ignore the troll, folks. Let's just talk football.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Ignore the troll, folks. Let's just talk football.

[LinvilleGorge]

Dude, we're trying to talk about football here. You continue to post dumb poo.

Your initial post regarding Poe's workouts was stupid beyond comprehension. I and others called you out on it, talking football in the process. That's when you became butthurt and started lashing out derailing the thread. I'd like that to stop.

I'd like to just go back to talking football. I think others would as well.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Dude, we're trying to talk about football here. You continue to post dumb poo.

Your initial post regarding Poe's workouts was stupid beyond comprehension. I and others called you out on it, talking football in the process. That's when you became butthurt and started lashing out derailing the thread. I'd like that to stop.

I'd like to just go back to talking football. I think others would as well.

You could try to rewrite history this way my friend, but unfortunately for you I've got a fancy new sig.

You really want to talk football? Give me an actual reply. This is how this all started. With me talking football. Yet you couldn't, and still haven't, given an informed retort. You started this, so be a man and finish it, or concede that you were wrong to judge without being informed. There is no "we." As many posters that disagreed with me, agreed with me-so you can't retreat to "Dude, everyone knows you're wrong okay?!?!" It's just you, trying to run away from what you posted and save some face, and me, trying to pry an actual football retort out of you.

Poe's performance in the on-field drill today was sub-par. Even the one person who came to your aid conceded that. What I want to know is your justification for that.

[panthers55]

Lol. You're actually trying to convince people (and truthfully, I think yourself as well) that combine times are indicative of good football players. The on-field drills are on the ones that showcase actual football skills. I just find it to be comedic that you would accuse me of not playing the game (which is so far from accurate that it makes me giggle) and then try to convince me 40 times and bench presses are the trademarks of good football players, while things that require actual on field-ability are meaningless.

Let me share a tip with you I learned from my playing days-NFL players are expected to be able to do the things they do in those on-field drills. If they can't-if a player shows stagnant hips, poor maneuverability, weak lateral agility, poor concentration, etc, etc etc...that will cause a player to fall. That is what's being scouted. The amount of hype that surrounds 40 times is nothing but crap, churned out by the media-and it's sad that you, who typically try to convey yourself as a reliable poster, would fall for it hook line and sinker.

Yes, indeed, I do think we're done here.

Were you ever invited to the combine? thats what I thought? Lets not compare your playing days to guys who are going to be drafted in the first round or believe because you played at a college somewhere that it qualifies you to know NFl talent or to evaluate others.

On field drills do matter to evaluate how ready a player is or how well coached they have been. So you learn how raw they were. But if you think that running around 2 tackling dummies and slappng at one or even pushing a sled is more important than a 10 second split on a 40, you have just shown how little you know.

Scouts don't care about on field drills anymore than they do 40 times. They scout game film and watch the way they play in against players not dummies. They already know about the players loong before tthe combine. The combine just helps compare folks side by side which can help define opinions and clarify things. Combine numbers help guys like Poe show how they compare to the guys like Brockers or even how they compare to the times of Suh and guys from prior years. Guys they could not have played against or with.

No one is saying a 40 time is all telling. That old trick of making ridiculous statements and ascribing them to posters to minimize them may work with some folks but don't waste them on me. What is sad though is that you have to tell someone you played football because otherwise from your posts no one would ever believe you stepped anywhere close to a field. Here is a tip for you, stop tooting your own horn, if you know what you are talking about it will be evident. If it isn't, no one cares about what you did years ago. BTW, if you had real credibility you wouldn't be posting on a message board with me. Notice I don't claim expert status, I usually post the opinions of those who I respect or who are experts. It is called credibility by proxy.

[LinvilleGorge]

Your reading comprehension sucks, that's for sure.

He showed very quick feet on the on-field drills. I don't care about his technique punching bags in drills that are simply there to show what type of feet they have.

If you don't think his 10 yard split (it was under 1.7) and 44 reps is impressive, then I'm not sure what to tell you.

His lack of production scares me, but the raw talent is off the charts.

That was my reply that addressed your concerns. Now, do you want to address that, or do you want to continue to act as if no one has addressed your points?

To finally help you out, your double reading comprehension fail was calling me "George" twice. Check my username again. Thank you for quoting your fail in your sig for all to see.

Posters like you are why I normally just avoid the Huddle. There are plenty of great posters here and a lot of quality conversation, but just too much bullpoo and I apologize to the rest of the posters for contributing to that myself in this thread.

[panthers55]

Fair enough. But he isn't the first DT or NT to get that kind of attention. I was impressed with his athleticism today. With his 10 yard split which translates to explosiveness off the line I would just have thought he would have been more productive. Couple that with the fact that Conference USA doesn't have elite talent in the trenches... I just feel like he should have been more productive with that kind of talent in that kind of conference.

I guess it depends on what we are expecting out of him. We have a space eater already with Ron Edwards assuming he is back to 100% and we just used two third round picks at DT last year. I find it hard to justify going DT this year unless he is a Suh or Dareus type prospect.

But if we pick him I will be happy and quickly drink the Poe-laid.

I think his lack of production is a concern. I also agree with those who say we should have him in for a workout. I wouldn't pick him right now without a lot more information. But his workout does give you a reason to start looking into him a lot more.

As for Ron Edwards I think he will be the starter this year. If you are drafting Poe you have to be thinking down the road. Again how many rookie DTs do make an impact each year? 1 or 2?? Then again it was pretty accepted that it would take Newton 2 or 3 years to learn the offense and we saw how that worked out. But the safe thing would be to expect him to be a rotational guy for a year and groom him for the future.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Were you ever invited to the combine? thats what I thought? Lets not compare your playing days to guys who are going to be drafted in the first round or believe because you played at a college somewhere that it qualifies you to know NFl talent or to evaluate others.

On field drills do matter to evaluate how ready a player is or how well coached they have been. So you learn how raw they were. But if you think that running around 2 tackling dummies and slappng at one or even pushing a sled is more important than a 10 second split on a 40, you have just shown how little you know.

Scouts don't care about on field drills anymore than they do 40 times. They scout game film and watch the way they play in against players not dummies. They already know about the players loong before tthe combine. The combine just helps compare folks side by side which can help define opinions and clarify things. Combine numbers help guys like Poe show how they compare to the guys like Brockers or even how they compare to the times of Suh and guys from prior years. Guys they could not have played against or with.

No one is saying a 40 time is all telling. That old trick of making ridiculous statements and ascribing them to posters to minimize them may work with some folks but don't waste them on me. What is sad though is that you have to tell someone you played football because otherwise from your posts no one would ever believe you stepped anywhere close to a field. Here is a tip for you, stop tooting your own horn, if you know what you are talking about it will be evident. If it isn't, no one cares about what you did years ago. BTW, if you had real credibility you wouldn't be posting on a message board with me. Notice I don't claim expert status, I usually post the opinions of those who I respect or who are experts. It is called credibility by proxy.

I told you I had played before because you accused me of not doing so. Don't try to rewrite the books that way. You want that all-so desired credibility you seek? Stop acting as if your opinion is the only one that means "credible' and that if anyone disagrees that they sink into "incredible." range. Accusing people of not having an understanding of the game if they disagree with your sentiment does nothing but invalidate you as a poster, not the other way around. It does nothing but exude a sense that you aren't even sure if you believe what you're saying.

You know as well as I do of the validity of 40 times, so let's stop dancing around that bush right now and not spend any more time on it. 40 times, especially at the DT position, are an almost useless tool as an indication of the player's success at the next level.

The fact that you minimize the importance of on field drills is where this conversation becomes laughable, which leads me to believe once more that you don't even believe what you're saying. On field drills, as previously stated, are football drills. Simply branding them "dummy" drills is not only a sweeping generalization, but an in accurate one at that. Most of the on field drills do not include dummy's, but rather showcase a player's ability to perform football tasks (basic as in "root" not as in "simple")

They are THE determining indicator of how refined a player is, and how much work he will need to reach his "potential." (which btw, is what the measured drills such as the 40 are for, albeit very poor indicators)

[Cat'sGrowl]

I also think it's funny that you claim to look to experts for your "credibility" and yet we have posts like this one here..

Heard a scout asked about Brockers after the combine. He raved about how long his arms are and that guys will have a very difficult time actually getting into his body. He continued on to rave about his technique and upside in this young man. Brockers according to him was just growing into his frame.

They asked him about Poe's reps the guy said with arms as short as Poe's (insanely short arms for his size!!) can sit there and bounce the bar off his chest. He wasn't that impressed and wouldn't put him above Brockers.

Sooo...What? Is any expert who agrees with you "credible" and anyone who does not, not credible? Are we all just living in your world and anyone who doesn't see it your way has no business being near the game? If we don't see it P55's way, we clearly have never been involved in the game in any way?

Settle in boys and girls, it's P55's world and we're all just living in it.

[panthers55]

I also think it's funny that you claim to look to experts for your "credibility" and yet we have posts like this one here..

Sooo...What? Is any expert who agrees with you "credible" and anyone who does not, not credible? Are we all just living in your world and anyone who doesn't see it your way has no business being near the game? If we don't see it P55's way, we clearly have never been involved in the game in any way?

Settle in boys and girls, it's P55's world and we're all just living in it.

You are good at trying to draw people into a fight with your trolling tactics. But I am not playing. Everyone has a right to an opinion and anyone can say what they want. Do I have to be right or make fun of others if they disagree? Of course not, It isn't a competition for me. I don't have to win like you apparently do.

As for the concern about arm span, I just compare him to one of our all time great DTs- Kris Jenkins who had a 33 inch arm length compared to Poe's 32 inch arm length. Suh has 33 1/2 arm length. So let me get this straight- 32 inch arms are ridiculously short but an inch longer makes you great and a dominant DT. Do you think that held Jenkins back or kept him from being effective. How about Suh?? I would rather compare his measurables to a great DT rather than care whether one scout thinks his arm length would be a problem. Maybe you need to pick better scouts to listen to. Then again I ignored the scouts who criticized newton so frequently. We see how that worked out. Long arms seem more important for offensive linemen than defensive ones. But then again if you actually played the game you would already know that.....