The Barking Hard 2nd annual first round pick poll.

[Brown Warrior]

We went defense with the top two picks last year... we ranked 31st in scoring and 13th in scoring defense.

BPP, I don't get it. We were 8th in sacks, almost top 10 in scoring D... and one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Why do you think we should be so intent on being a good defensive team and a horrible offensive team? How can "scoring more points" NOT be our biggest need?

I honestly don't understand where you're coming from. Are you just really into defense?

[Solon16]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

We went defense with the top two picks last year... we ranked 31st in scoring and 13th in scoring defense.

BPP, I don't get it. We were 8th in sacks, almost top 10 in scoring D... and one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Why do you think we should be so intent on being a good defensive team and a horrible offensive team? How can "scoring more points" NOT be our biggest need?

I honestly don't understand where you're coming from. Are you just really into defense?

New defense this year with 3 huge holes to fill on D-line...we can get the #1 receiver next year...Momass and robo must really elevate their play or will be out of the NFL and If Colt is truly a good NFL QB he will make them better. OK?

Not only am I into defense...I know we need a #1 wr...I'd prefer JJ over green all day as well, but Say hello of Dline and stop the whinning

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

dont forget those who like Jones over green

Good to see you coming around to Julio PGL, Flugs was reminding us two months ago to not overlook Julio, and I don't seem to recall too many people backing this pick prior to the combine. Matter of fact, I recall you disparaging Julio pretty bad awhile back. Glad to see the light bulb going off for some people, good football players are just that.

Green is the prima donna everyone wants to love, but Jones may just be the better guy in the long term, especially in our scheme going forward.

I applaud your efforts to change your opinions and take what Flugs said into account. Much like Benard, Flugs seems to be ahead of the curve very often. I was guilty of assuming Julio didn't have the necessary hands, as we have been burned too many times with this. However, piggybacking what Flugs has been saying and others coming around nationally, Julio looks to be worthy of the sixth pick if we go offense. It's good we have the ability to change our opinions based on what others bring to our attention, the national guys aren't always the only guys to know football, either.

While Green may not be this year's version of Dezzie the donator to unpaid jewelry bills, he does have some serious questions about possibly being a diva. Sometimes real football players with upside are the best option even if they don't meet the pretty factor like guys such as Dezzie and AJ. Let's face it, some of us who know a number one WR is a huge need, have also come to grips with the fact that Green is most likely gone by our pick, so talking ourselves into Julio is the next best option.

[Brown Warrior]

Is A.J. a diva? I've never heard that. But I do give mad props to my pal Fluges for homing in on Julio early.

That said... A.J. Green is a crazy-ass talent. One of the top 2-3 players in the draft. I just wonder if Julio Jones isn't a better WCO WR.

Originally Posted by Riffer X

Good to see you coming around to Julio PGL, Flugs was reminding us two months ago to not overlook Julio, and I don't seem to recall too many people backing this pick prior to the combine. Matter of fact, I recall you disparaging Julio pretty bad awhile back. Glad to see the light bulb going off for some people, good football players are just that.

Green is the prima donna everyone wants to love, but Jones may just be the better guy in the long term, especially in our scheme going forward.

I applaud your efforts to change your opinions and take what Flugs said into account. Much like Benard, Flugs seems to be ahead of the curve very often. I was guilty of assuming Julio didn't have the necessary hands, as we have been burned too many times with this. However, piggybacking what Flugs has been saying and others coming around nationally, Julio looks to be worthy of the sixth pick if we go offense. It's good we have the ability to change our opinions based on what others bring to our attention, the national guys aren't always the only guys to know football, either.

While Green may not be this year's version of Dezzie the donator to unpaid jewelry bills, he does have some serious questions about possibly being a diva. Sometimes real football players with upside are the best option even if they don't meet the pretty factor like guys such as Dezzie and AJ. Let's face it, some of us who know a number one WR is a huge need, have also come to grips with the fact that Green is most likely gone by our pick, so talking ourselves into Julio is the next best option.

[OzDawg]

Alot of people mentioned Julio back when draft talks first started. (like December). Just took many awhile to come around I guess.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

You Tube

A.J. Green's college coach adds to the chorus: Receiver is a sure thing in NFL draft

Published: Saturday, April 23, 2011, 11:30 PM Updated: Sunday, April 24, 2011, 12:33 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Georgia head coach Mark Richt can't fathom A.J. Green becoming a bust in the NFL like so many of his first-round wide receiver counterparts since 2000. "It'd be the most shocking thing since I've been coaching [26 years] if that happened," Richt said in promoting the Bulldogs' star in a phone interview. "If he stays healthy, I can't help but think he'll have a tremendous career."
Green, one of the top two receivers in the draft along with Alabama's Julio Jones, is one of the half-dozen players the Browns are considering with the sixth pick in the first round. Green could well be gone by then -- possibly going fourth to the Bengals.
"Is he the best available player in the draft? He just might be," said Richt. "He's in the conversation for sure."
Of all the players Richt has coached in his 26 seasons, including the last 10 at Georgia, Green might be the best.



View full sizeJohn Amis / Associated Press

"The thing that's most impressive to me outside of the hands, are his ability for a big guy to get in and out of breaks," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says of Georgia's A.J. Green. "I'm not a huge proponent of wideouts going (in the first few picks), but I think this kid is the exception."
"I saw highlights everyday in practice," said Richt. "I never quit saying 'wow.' Some people might've gotten used to it, but I never did. I always understood what we had there and I knew to enjoy it as I witnessed it."
Richt admired the way Green, highly touted coming out of high school, allowed current Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi to show him the way as a freshman.
"Everybody knew he was an extremely talented guy and he could've shown up and said 'here I am, look at me,'" Richt said. "Instead, he came in with a humble attitude knowing that he needed to learn. And there's no better way to learn than from Mohamed, who was going to be a senior at the time.
"When A.J. ran a route, he'd go to Mohamed and ask him what he did right and wrong, how he could learn the system and produce as a freshman."
Green did just that, named SEC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-SEC after catching 56 passes for 963 yards (17.2 per catch) and eight touchdowns.
"He was the No. 1 receiver in the SEC as a true freshman and I think it was because of his attitude," said Richt. "He endeared himself to his teammates because of it. He knew he had to earn it and he was very teachable."
Green (6-3 1/2, 210 pounds) finished with 166 receptions for 2,619 yards and 23 TDs over his three seasons. He averaged 15.8 yards per catch and made some of the most spectacular receptions in college football annals.
"A.J.'s got it all," said Richt. "For a guy that's as tall as he is, who can leap like he can, who can catch the ball the way he can, he still has the quickness of a smaller man, which you just don't see. You might see a big guy with speed, but not the agility A.J. has."
The Green file

• College: Georgia.
• Position: Wide receiver.
• Ht./wt.: 6-3 ½ / 219.
• 40 time: 4.48.
• Other combine numbers: 18 reps at 225 pounds, 34 1/2-inch vertical, 10’6“ broad jump, 4.21 short shuttle, 6.91-cone drill.
• Notable: Suspended the first four games of 2010, Green still managed 57 catches for 848 yards and nine TDs. Starred as a freshman with 56 catches for 963 yards and eight TDs. Averaged 15.8 yards per catch over his three seasons, with 23 TDs. All SEC first-team his first two seasons.
• What they’re saying: nfldraftscout.com’s Rob Rang: “[Hands are] unquestionably his best attribute. Long arms, big, soft hands and excellent body control to contort and make the highlight-reel catch, including seemingly impossible one-handed grabs.” Mel Kiper: “Makes tough catches across the middle, withstanding vicious hits and not allowing the ball to be jarred loose.” Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki: “Has very comparable traits to some of the NFL’s great receivers, and his pedigree, competitiveness, and rare skill put him on pace to reach that level sooner than later.”— Mary Kay Cabot

Richt said Green has all of the other qualities it takes to be successful.
"He's got nerve," said Richt. "It takes some bravery to catch certain balls. And he can catch the quick fades, the bombs, the slant, the dig. It doesn't matter what the route is, he can do it. And he can do it better than anybody else I've seen."
Richt struggled to draw a comparison with any NFL receiver. "He may be part this guy, part that guy," he said. "But not one guy has the skillset that A.J.'s got."
The only knocks against Green are that he was suspended the first four games of last season for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 and that he reportedly scored a 10 out of 50 on the Wonderlic intelligence test, one of the five lowest scores from the combine.
"A.J. knew in his spirit once he sold the jersey it was wrong," said Richt. "But he admitted what he did and was very remorseful. If you watched him in practice, you never would've dreamed he wasn't going to be playing on Saturday."
It was Green's first game back from the suspension that has NFL Network's Mike Mayock convinced he's a top-five pick. Green caught seven passes for 119 yard and two TDs against Colorado.
"He had seven catches against two NFL-quality corners," said Mayock. "He made it look like he was back in Pee Wee League just catching the football. The thing that's most impressive to me outside of the hands, are his ability for a big guy to get in and out of breaks. I'm not a huge proponent of wideouts going that high, but I think this kid is the exception. I wouldn't bat an eye if he went No. 4."
As for the Wonderlic, ESPN's Todd McShay says it's not an issue.
"He hasn't tested well in anything," said McShay. "For an elite receiver, his 40-yard dash (4.48) is not exceptional. Some of the results at the combine weren't exceptional like the Wonderlic test. But when you study him on film, he's as savvy and football-intelligent as any receiver in this class.
"I still think if it's not No. 4 to Cincinnati, he should be off the board by No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns."
Richt said some of the best things about Green are his intangibles.
"He's a good person and he's got humility," said Richt. "He's loves to compete and he's a good team guy. He was certainly our most talented player and he was one of the lowest maintenance guys we've ever had."

[hammertime]

i'll go out on a limb and say we trade down aquiring Cameron Jordan and more picks!!!

[Sez.EJ]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

We went defense with the top two picks last year... we ranked 31st in scoring and 13th in scoring defense.

BPP, I don't get it. We were 8th in sacks, almost top 10 in scoring D... and one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Why do you think we should be so intent on being a good defensive team and a horrible offensive team? How can "scoring more points" NOT be our biggest need?

I honestly don't understand where you're coming from. Are you just really into defense?

The year before that we spent our top 3 picks on offense with the same result.
Two years before that we spent our top 2 picks on offense with worse results.. Losing seasons..

We now appear to have managment that actually has a good plan to build the team. It appears they will build inside out.. Your formula of throwing draft picks on one side of the ball to increase wins and losses does not fly.. you have to build a COMPLETE team in order to win. While I agree we need a WR.. We may not draft one this year depending on how they want to build the team for the future. This is not a 2-3 player-away-from-winning team. We look like swiss cheese with all of our holes.

[Solon16]

Originally Posted by Solon16

New defense this year with 3 huge holes to fill on D-line...we can get the #1 receiver next year...Momass and robo must really elevate their play or will be out of the NFL and If Colt is truly a good NFL QB he will make them better. OK?

Not only am I into defense...I know we need a #1 wr...I'd prefer JJ over green all day as well, but Say hello to Dline and stop the whinning

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I went with Fairley.

I think there's a very real chance Miller could drop to Cleveland, but if Miller or Green aren't there, I am saying Fairley or a trade down. Possibly Bowers.

[Brown Warrior]

Fairley at least fits the defense AND fills a real need at the 3-tech. I think the chances of Miller (questions about his run recognition) or Watt (he's a 3-4 DE) are very close to zero. Drafting guys who don't fit your scheme is a mistake... like trading for Corey Williams. It does matter.

Of the guys who would be there, Quinn, Fairley, Green, and Jones make sense to me. I don't think Bowers will go in the top 10 at this point.