2011 NFL Draft News and Notes: Andy Dalton in round 1? Cam Newton laced into. Taiwan Jones a sub 4.35 40?

Another day, another installment of draft news and notes.

CBS Draft Scout highlights five players they think can sneak into the first round based on conversations Rob Ranb has had with about a third of the teams in the league.

Any Guesses? I’ll tell you after the page break.

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Give up?

Marvin Austin

Brooks Reed

Rodney Hudson

Andy Dalton

Jabaal Sheard

Sheard’s one we’ve pinpointed in our mock draft busters series we’ve done already so that doesn’t surprise me. We’ve also placed Brooks Reed into our first round of different mock drafts we’ve done so that’s also not a surprise. Marvin Austin has big time first round talent so again not a surprise.

But the last two are intriguing to me.

Andy Dalton? Andy Dalton? In the first round. That’s the first I’ve heard of this and I don’t get it. Mallett, Locker, Newton, and Gabbert are all possible quarterbacks who could go in the first round to the QB needy teams. There’s only one QB needy team in the bottom half of the draft (two if you count Jacksonville) the Seahawks. The other teams are all early in the second round and I’m not sure why they would jump up to get Dalton.

I”m also one who doesn’t think Dalton is as talented as Ponder is, and would prefer him in the second round.

That’s an interesting one to me.

Apparently the big draw to Hudson is that he is a safe player who should contribute immediately.

I prefer both Hudson and Pouncey in the 2nd round if I’m a general manager.

Brandon Fusco will visit the Eagles on April 5th. He’s a player that can go much higher than people are considering right now. 2nd to 4th range wouldn’t surprise me as the #2 or #3 center (depending on whether or not you consider pouncey a center prospect).

No surprise, but Mark Ingram has visited with the Miami Dolphins

Taiwan Jones will work out April 14th. I’m curious to see where he gets drafted, and wonder what a blazing 40 yard dash could do for him. I think he’s generally considered in the 4th to 6th round range at the moment.

This though is about to change…Mike Mayock says about Taiwan Jones: He’s 194 pounds and I think he’s going to run 4.35 or better,” He’s a home-run hitter who can impact the return game and I think that you try to get him another 10 touches per game as a change-of-pace back.”

Talking about someone he thinks is an under-the-radar prospect.

CBS draft scout says about Taiwan Jones from a person with knowledge of his workouts:

“Running fast. Running fast,” Callaway replies. “We haven’t caught him on a full 40 yet, but his first 10 he’s been running low 1.4s and that sets him up to run really fast whenever he goes out.”According to sources within the league, the fastest electronically timed 10-yard split run at the 2011 Scouting Combine was by Ohio State’s Chimdi Chekwa — who ran it in 1.52 seconds. Chekwa was electronically timed at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, only .01 seconds slower than Miami’s DeMarcus Van Dyke — the fastest player at the 2011 Combine. Van Dyke’s fastest 10-yard split was 1.58 seconds.*

If Jones runs a sub 4.30 40 yard dash does he go in the 2nd round?

Mike Pouncey’ll attend the draft if he’s invited

Profootballweeklydraft guide isn’t kind to Cameron Newton (Putting it nicely)

“Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup. Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and will always struggle to win a locker room . . . Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.”

The winners from the first round of voting for the Madden cover is in.

The biggest upset to me is that Jamaal Charles defeated Tim Tebow. That blows me away I thought Tebow’s sheer popularity might have pushed him to the end of this thing. Instead he received a first round knock-out.

Rodney Hudson will meet with the Steelers.

Pouncey seems to be a lock to go in the top 20 (for reasons I continue to not understand), if that’s so are they now going to turn their attention to Hudson. Would they possibly consider him in the first round?

From the Denver Post:

Dareus looks like front-runner for 2nd overall pick. Dareus or Bowers make the most sense to me. Dareus is more of a need as the Broncos have no one playing DT really. I don’t think Peterson provides enough positional value to take at #2 overall, even if a Peterson and Bailey CB combo is tempting.

Colin McCarthy had an impressive pro-day

McCarthy (6-1 3/8, 237) had a very strong workout, showing quick feet and instincts in his positional drills. He was obviously engaged, jumping back to the line, looking to repeat drills, and generally showing a high level of intensity. Like many of his teammates, he stood on all of the results from his combine workout in Indianapolis.

While Allen Bailey still only weighed in light, 275 pounds. He might have to move to defensive end int he N.F.L.

CBS Draft Scout says their source says that Akeem Ayers won’t have a good pro-day

Ayers is what he is — a damn good football player. But, I can tell you right now, when he started working out, he wasn’t very fast. He’s improved and I expect him to be better at the Pro Day than he was at the Combine, but he’s not going to blow anyone away with his workout

I never loved Ayers as a prospect as a top 15 player, but I was really surprised with how slow he ran the 40 yard dash. He’s a good palyer and plays much It’ll be interesting to see where he goes in the draft, I don’t think there is anyway he makes it past the Jets in the first round, who will love his versatility and potential as a pass rusher.

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