Here’s hoping that the bitterness leads to dysfunction that lasts into week one of the season.

Brugler on Hagen:

23. JACOB HAGEN | Liberty (Va.)
2010: Redshirted
6023|207 lbs|5SR Orange Park, Fla. (Orange Park HS) 3/15/1992 (age 23) #27 GRADE Priority Free Agent
MEASUREABLES Arm: 31 1/4 | Hand: 10 1/8 | Wingspan: 76 1/2
COMBINE Not invited
PRO DAY 40-YD: 4.55 | 10-YD: 1.62 | 20-YD: 2.66 | BP: 22 | VJ: 36 1/2 | BJ: 10’04”
2011: (11/0) 2012: (11/10) 2013: (12/11) 2014: (14/14) Total:(48/35)
30/0.0/0.0/4/0 46/3.5/0.0/4/1 61/2.5/0.0/13/6 108/5.5/0.0/15/8 245/11.5/0.0/36/15

SUMMARY: A three-year starter, Hagen developed into one of the most productive safeties in the country, finishing his senior season with a team-best 108 tackles, 15 passes defended and eight interceptions. He is a football junkie with a natural feel for the game, flashing controlled instincts with quick eyes to diagnose and put himself in position to make plays. Hagen hits with a heavy shoulder and looks to separate man from ball at the contact point, but that also leads to missed tackles when he doesn’t properly wrap or overpursues the action. He has above average ballskills with the length to give him a large catching radius, showing smooth feet to flip his hips and track the ball. Hagen has excellent height with NFL toughness, but lacks ideal muscle tone and functional strength. He isn’t an elite athlete and tends to be feast or famine on tape, but the natural ballhawking instincts are there – offers special teams experience with NFL upside as a valuable reserve safety.

I think that with the ACL injuries to Fowler and Heuerman it’s pretty obvious that teams should avoid drafting guys with healthy knees. The Rams got this one right.

I liked the draft as well. Mostly for all the reasons stated already. They clearly had a plan and they stayed the course. I’ve never been one of the “a team needs a specific identity in order to be successful crowd,” but with this draft it would seem that Fisher is really try to build a clear identity.

The thing that pleased me most about this draft is that the Rams did not feel any pressure to pick an average-to-good G, OT or G/OT with their first pick. A line can be built in the later rounds.

InvaderRam wrote:

in retrospect we shoulda seen it a long time ago.

it’s the jeff fisher way. he’ll almost always go for the special playmaking talent in the first round. offensive linemen are usually taken in the later rounds. he got his stud left tackle. and he’s going to fill in other positions with lunch pail types.

Yes, given Fisher’s history none of the mocks projecting OT/G types at ten never quite felt right to me.

OT Andrew Donnal improved his bench reps from the combine today, going from 17 to 23 (225 pounds as many times as you can).

— marcmorehouse (@marcmorehouse) March 23, 2015

Pre-draft article:

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-football-rob-havenstein-nears-end-of-up-and-down/article_ad46dc1b-3e35-5969-9157-13486ab3b803.html

Badgers football: Rob Havenstein nears end of up-and-down NFL draft process

It took a while for Todd McShay to take University of Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein seriously.

The ESPN NFL Draft analyst, like many others, was initially fooled by the 6-foot-7, 320-pounder’s unathletic frame, and his on-field play with the Badgers didn’t always look pretty.

Then McShay studied the game tape. Havenstein always found a way to get the job done.

“You look at the combine pictures and you’re like, ‘Ugh, is this guy really a legitimate prospect?’” McShay said. “You look at his numbers, they’re not great. But then you put on the tape and it’s just, over and over and over again, he finds a way to get in position, he takes the right angle and he’s just grinding it out and figuring out a way to finish.”

After thinking he would slap a late-round grade on Havenstein and move on, McShay wound up giving the tackle a mid-third-round grade.

Like McShay’s change of heart, Havenstein’s draft stock has taken a few wild turns in the months leading up to this week’s NFL Draft, which will run Thursday-Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

He’s one of two UW players, along with potential first-round pick Melvin Gordon, sure to be selected in one of the draft’s seven rounds, and Havenstein will hope to be selected Friday night, when Rounds 2 and 3 are completed.

The concerns surrounding Havenstein elevated at the NFL Combine in February, when he didn’t show much athleticism and benched 225 pounds just 16 times, a low number for an offensive lineman.

It was a performance that seemed to wash away his fantastic showing at the Senior Bowl in January.

“He’s a much, much, much better football player than he is athlete,” McShay said. “I would say, there may be the greatest discrepancy in terms of just raw athleticism and combine numbers versus tape that there is in this draft.

“I think he belongs in Day 2 of the draft, and I think he’s got a chance to become a starter in the league. It’ll be interesting to track his career and see if he can overcome some of the physical limitations. I’m not going to bet against him. I’ll put it that way.”

Havenstein bench pressed again at the Badgers’ Pro Day in March, upping his total to a more respectable 20 reps.

“My numbers are my numbers, and it was the best I could do,” Havenstein said. “I thought I could do more than what I did at the combine. I was pleased with it. It was improvement.”

While Gordon and Havenstein know they’ll be drafted at some point this week, other former UW players are simply hoping for an invite to training camp.

McShay said he has free-agent grades on defensive lineman Warren Herring and offensive lineman Dallas Lewallen. Wide receiver Kenzel Doe and defensive back Peniel Jean were also at UW’s Pro Day hoping to impress enough to earn a contract after the draft.

Herring has the best chance to sneak into the last couple of rounds Saturday, according to McShay.

He’s a versatile player who showed impressive athleticism for a defensive lineman at the Badgers’ Pro Day.

Some believe he played a bit out of position last season as a nose guard and could excel as a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end.

“I feel like anywhere they put me is going to work,” Herring said. “But I feel like probably a 4-3 defensive tackle, 3-4 end, one of those two (would be best).

“I feel like I can play anywhere. I’ve played everywhere across the defensive line, and I feel very comfortable. That’s one thing teams can expect out of me — 100 percent effort wherever they put me.”

Ourlads on Malcolm Brown:

Started 25 games over his four year career. From Cibolo, TX. a tough three down north/south runner. Runs with a low centre of gravity. Flashes good quickness and cutting ability. Played with a whole new line in 2014. Many times he got hit in the backfield or before he could get started. Productive over his Longhorn career despite rotating with a variety of backs. A good inside zone runner with vision and running skills. Finishes his runs by lowering pad level and driving his legs on contact. A willing pass protector who step up and attack an inside or outside blitzer. Catches the ball well out of the backfield. A good athlete with good foot agility with the ability to step through a tackle. Brown upgrades the quality of depth of an NFL backfield. An East-west Shrine game participant. 2014 stats: 708 yards, 3.9 upcoming, 6 TD, 16 rec, 58 yes. OSR: 10/34. Seventh round/PFA. (A-32 3/4, H-10 1/4, BP-19, SS- 4.15).

Brugler blabs ’bout Bryce:

16. BRYCE HAGER | Baylor
2010: Redshirted
6006|234 lbs|5SR Austin, Texas (Westlake HS) 5/4/1992 (age 22) #44 GRADE 5th-6th Round

MEASUREABLES Arm: 31 3/8 | Hand: 09 | Wingspan: 74 3/8

COMBINE 40-YD: 4.60 | 10-YD: 1.60 | 20-YD: 2.69 | BP: 26 | VJ: 35 | BJ: 09’09” | SS: 4.36 | 3C: 7.15 PRO DAY N/A (positional drills only)

2011: (13/0) 2012: (13/10) 2013: (9/9) 2014: (13/13) Total:(48/32)

13/0.0/0.0/1/0 124/9.5/4.0/2/0 71/2.5/1.0/0/1 114/12.0/2.0/2/0 322/24.0/7.0/5/1

BACKGROUND: A two-star linebacker recruit out of high school, Hager was barely a blip on the recruiting radar with only a few scholarship offers, committing to Baylor and redshirting in 2010. He played in every game as a redshirt freshman on special teams in 2011 and earned the starting middle linebacker job as a sophomore in 2012, finishing with a team-high 124 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Hager started the first nine games as a junior before an injury ended his 2013 season, recording 71 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. He returned healthy in 2014 as a senior and started all 13 games, finishing with 114 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and his first (and only) career interception, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Hager accepted an invitation to the 2015 East-West Shrine Game.

STRENGTHS: Advanced read/react quickness with accurate diagnose skills…alert and instinctive, not getting fooled by misdirection and zone reads…high FBI (football intelligence) and directs traffic pre-snap – made all the defensive checks based on his reads…attacks the line of scrimmage with a physical demeanor…not an elite athlete, but plays fast and stays controlled with range to make sideline plays…breaks down well in space with strong hands/wrists to finish tackles…anticipates well in coverage to float and undercut routes…motor is always running with the pursuit skills to track down ballcarriers…accountable and highly competitive with NFL intangibles on and off the field – gets the most out of his talent…productive starter with 322 career tackles at Baylor…NFL bloodlines – father (Britt) was an All- American linebacker at Texas and still holds the school records for tackles in a season (195) and career (499); drafted in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played nine seasons in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal size, length and growth potential for the position…suspect functional power at the point of attack and too easily eaten up by blockers, struggling to keep himself clean at the line of scrimmage…needs clear lanes and struggles to use his peripheral vision to simultaneously avoid blocks while tracking the ballcarrier…needs to use his reach better and load more ammo into his hands…stiff and struggles to change directions, needing a moment to collect himself…lacks secondary quickness after contact with only one gear, slow reaching the sideline at times…inconsistent spatial instincts and doesn’t achieve proper depth when moving in reverse…past durability issues, missing the final four games in 2013 due to a groin injury that required surgery (Feb. 2014).

SUMMARY: Hager received a walk-on opportunity at Texas where his father starred in the late ‘80s, but once he received a scholarship offer to play football in Waco, the family changed allegiance from burnt orange to green and gold. A three-starter for the Baylor defense, he directed traffic and acted as a coach on the field, reading pre-snap and orchestrating his teammates. Hager plays controlled in pursuit with the instincts to key/read/flow, but his limited physical traits will hinder his role at the next level – projects as a mid-to-late round pick and reserve in a 4-3 scheme.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by canadaram.

I was listening to Phil Savage talk about Donnal on Sirius radio. He said that when Ferentz called him back in Janaury to say that Schreff wouldn’t be coming to e Senior Bowl they talked about Donnal. Ferentz apparently said that Donnal started to play well later in the season. The rest of the Sirius guys talked about how well coached Iowa linemen are. That kind of stuff.

Brugler on Donnal:

14. ANDREW DONNAL | Iowa
2010: Redshirted 2011: (4/0)
6057|313 lbs|5SR Monclova, Ohio (Anthony Wayne HS) 3/3/1992 (age 23) #78
GRADE 5th-6th Round

MEASUREABLES Arm: 33 1/2 | Hand: 10 | Wingspan: 80 5/8

COMBINE 40-YD: 5.31 | 10-YD: 1.92 | 20-YD: 3.14 | BP: 17 | VJ: 32 | BJ: 08’05” | SS: 4.77 | 3C: 7.84 PRO DAY BP: 23 | 3C: 7.48

PRONUNCIATION duh-NELL

2012: (7/3) 2013: (12/0) 2014: (13/13) Total (36/16)
3 RG 13 RT
13 RT, 3 RG

BACKGROUND: A four-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Andrew Donnal narrowed his college choice to Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Virginia and Iowa, committing the Hawkeyes and redshirting in 2010. He saw limited snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2011 and filled in as a starter at right guard for three games in 2012 before suffering a season-ending injury. Donnal was a versatile back-up in 2013 as a junior, but didn’t start any games. He took over the right tackle duties as a senior and started all 13 games in 2014, earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.

STRENGTHS: Desired height with workable arm length and hand size…adequate athlete and set-up quickness…prefers to use his hands to drive block, keeping his grip inside defenders and shuffling his lower body…fundamentally sound and well-coached…uses his length well to initiate the action and seal the edge any way he can…always looking for someone to block with alert, active eyes…doesn’t make mental mistakes, staying focused from snap-to-snap…impressive tenacity through the whistle, displaying the finishing toughness to eliminate his man – often powers defenders to the ground like a wrestler…buys into coaching and works hard to hone his craft…team-first attitude and waited his turn to be the starter.

WEAKNESSES: Leaner-than-ideal and lacks ideal body girth…narrow base and upright off the snap, making leverage an issue…can be bullied on his heels and lacks the anchor to absorb bull rushers…forces his momentum out of his stance, making him susceptible to inside moves, struggling to recover in time…engages well, but needs to redirect his target and do a better job with angles…needs to load more ammo into his punch to shock defenders, especially at the second level…hesitant and needs to speed up his decision-making…impatient on the edges and finds himself hunched over at the waist…only one season of true starting experience (16 career starts)…some durability concerns, suffering an ACL injury (Oct. 2012) that ended his sophomore season and bothered him throughout his junior year.

SUMMARY: Brandon Scherff and Donnal both arrived at Iowa as part of the 2010 Hawkeyes recruiting class, which was also the last year the school produced two offensive tackle picks in the same NFL Draft (Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Calloway). Scherff and Donnal both suffered serious injuries in 2012, but Scherff rebounded quickly and became an All-American. Donnal wasn’t as fortunate, but finally got his chance to be the starter in 2014 and started every game at right tackle, limiting mistakes and showing consistent improvement. He has good initial quickness, but struggles to keep that same lateral momentum in his kickslide to cut off speed, forcing him to lunge and overextend at the waist. Donnal shows very little semblance of a punch, but takes pride in his technique and has the work ethic and attitude that makes him compatible with NFL coaches – late round developmental option.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by canadaram.

Ourlads on RH:

Three year starte at RT WHO passes the physical look test. The amount Airy, MD native was a first team All-Big 10 in 2014. Good athletic feet for a big man to seal his target by setting the edge of a defense. Knows how to use his long arms and plays with a competitive attitude. The huge tackle can lock up a pass rusher. Does a good job of sitting down, locking out, and being patient in pass protection. Projects to be a serviceable starte in the NFL at the RT position. Had a strong week at the Senior Bowl. A long and physical tackle who reminds scouts of former Eagle John Runyan. Demonstrates good lateral agility and foot movement. Has good hip flexibility placement with his initial punch. Not always explosive or powerful hip roll and extension, but gets movement with functional foot mobility and athletic ability. Physical on down defensive linemen and works to finish his blocks. Lacks the thick power producing backside to drive defenders off the ball in man blocking schemes. Must work to bend his knees because of his tall frame. Not particularly agile in space or on the second level blocking linebackers on a fast flow. OSR: 34/41. Fourth/fifth round. (A-33 5/8, H-10, BO-16, 10-1.89).