Nov 12, 2011; Stanford CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard David DeCastro (52) blocks Oregon Ducks defensive end Terrell Turner (45) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. Oregon defeated Stanford 53-30. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

One of my favorite draftwebsite (other than this one of course) is www.mockingthedraft.com run by the terrific Dan Kadar. I reached out to Dan to see if he would be interested in a weekly Q an A and he happily obliged. For this week’s topics we chatted about the value of interior guard David DeCastro, the Senior Bowl, and who to expect a breakout season from in 2012.

David DeCastro is pretty high up on a lot of big boards, number four on National Football Post’s Wes Bunting’s big board for instance. How high can you justify a guard prospect being drafted…and what are some teams you think DeCastro might be a good fit for in the first round?
With a player like DeCastro it’s easier to justify because he’s that good. He’s the Andrew Luck of guard prospects. The Saints’ offensive line is a good example of how important good guard play can be. Their tackles are decent, but their best players on offense after Drew Brees are guards Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans. Although they were later-round picks, the value of good guard play shouldn’t be as understated as it is. In my most recent mock, I had the Chiefs taking him at pick 11. The Cowboys at 14 and the Bengals at 17 could also be landing spots. It’s hard to see DeCastro last beyond Cincinnati’s second first-round pick at No. 22.

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Nov.12, 2011; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is hit by Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive lineman Cordarro Law (49) as he throws at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIRE

Every year, there are guys that fall through the cracks, guys that not a lot of people even in today’s age of instant information talk about. One of those players this year is Southern Mississippi defensive end Cordarro Law, who took some time out of his pre-draft schedule to talk to me.

Law said his pre-draft plan is to train in California, and he also participated in the Casino Del Sol All-Star game in Arizona earlier in January.

The senior defensive end had an extremely productive career at Southern Miss, and the team overall had a lot of success in 2011 finishing in the top 25. I asked Law about this past season and what was the key to success, and what went wrong in the losses.

He said that this year’s version of Southern Miss was a team that knew how to lose games, but more importantly, they knew how to win. They were a veteran team and were always focused.

Individually, Law had a ton of success these past couple of years, in 2011, he finished with 64 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 4 passes broken up, and four forced fumbles. I asked Law what the key was to that success:

“First and foremost, I just tried my best to make sure the team got a win. I didn’t play to the best of my abilities in the losses, and that showed. I felt like I was the leader of the defense.”

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NFL Mocks Exclusive Interview with Southern Mississippi DE Cordarro Law - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick (21) reacts after a play during the BCS National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-US PRESSWIRE

The Colts move on from Peyton Manning and get the guy who is supposed to be the best prospect at the position since John Elway. Not a bad transition.

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma
Playmaker who has been compared to Terrell Owens, Blackmon is a guy who could save Sam Bradford’s job and make Jeff Fisher a very happy new head coach.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Kalil will be the cornerstone of the Vikings’ offensive line for years to come. Great athlete who can also come in and block field goals.

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Big time playmaker at quarterback who could struggle early, but he’s smart and will be able to improvise with his legs and make his learning curve less difficult.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Richardson is a huge addition for the Bucs’ offense and rookie head coach Greg Schiano. He can be a Pro Bowl caliber player from day one.

6. Washington Redskins: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Excellent cornerback prospect and a guy who could really upgrade the Redskins’ already improved defense. This could be a great fit if the Skins are unable to trade up for a QB.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DT/DE, North Carolina
Excellent pass rush prospect for a team that desperately needs that on its roster.

8. Carolina Panthers: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Reiff is a guy who will come into the league well-coached and able to play either tackle position. Instant upgrade for what Carolina likes to do offensively.

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
One of my favorite players from Senior Bowl week. I think Upshaw is a future superstar in the NFL, and Miami is a perfect spot to land.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

Bills will be using a lot of different fronts defensively next year, and Ingram is a perfect addition for that. He can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt.
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Updated 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Post-Senior Bowl Edition - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

David DeCastro Tops the Guard Rankings Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

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Offensive Guard Updated Rankings - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football