Just posted my first entry in something I want to take right up until draft day, my blog on the 2014 Draft. It's a (very) early mock draft of the first round.

 

http://www.morningbigblue.com/community/blog/7/entry-23-an-early-look-at-the-first-round/

 

Thoughts, comments, anything else is welcomed.

LDT destroyed his pro day.

 

CFL draft stock way down.

LDT destroyed his pro day.

CFL draft stock way down.

What about the NFL interest?

Double post.

CFL interest is down because in all likelihood will be drafted in the NFL draft.

 

LDT destroyed his pro day.

CFL draft stock way down.

What about the NFL interest?

 

 

waaaaaaay up

Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff's pro day is today.  Bombers not in attendance.  Severla CFL and NFL teams there...biggest presence at the work out are the REDBLACKS. 

 

Bombers are in attendance. Penton inquired and the Bombers said they have someone there.

Duane Forde said Bombers didn't have a rep. 

Duane Forde said Bombers didn't have a rep. 

 

That's because we jilted him for our AGM job for Walters, and he has sour grapes...

Bob Irving ‏@BobIrvingCJOB  1m

Unlikely any Cfl team will touch McGill o-lineman Laurent duvernay tardif in first round of CFL draft--he is headed for NFL

Duane Forde said Bombers didn't have a rep. 

 

What he probably should have said was "I'm not sure if the Bombers have a rep" because let's be honest, he's not going to recognize everybody that goes to these things.

Penton's mock draft has Ottawa taking Foucault and the Bombers getting Lavertu. That's a great scenario for the Bombers.

Was that in todays paper?

Here's Penton's full mock:

The CFL combine has come and gone, and teams now have seven weeks to put together their lists for the May 13 draft. The expansion Ottawa RedBlacks, who have the first-overall pick, are holding their cards close to their vest. No one seems to know what direction they're headed, and that's in part because they need a little bit of everything as they build their first roster. That won't stop us from throwing out our first mock draft. Here is how we see the first round going down if the draft were held today:

1. Ottawa

OL David Foucault, Montreal

The RedBlacks are set at centre after they scooped up veterans Marwan Hage and Alex Krausnick in the expansion draft. As a result, they don't need prospects like Pierre Lavertu or Matthias Goossen. Foucault was the most impressive looking offensive lineman at the combine, checking in at 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds. He could be that ratio-breaking tackle every CFL team covets or a solid guard.

2. Winnipeg

OL Pierre Lavertu, Laval

The Blue and Gold let Justin Sorensen walk to the Eskimos in free agency, because they need an upgrade there. Chris Kowalczuk has been a three- or four-year project but has yet to make the jump, and Steve Morley could fill in here if needed. Lavertu, who looked good at the combine, could be their centre of the future. The dark horse here is Manitoba running back Anthony Coombs.

3. Edmonton

OL Matthias Goossen, Simon Fraser

Like the Bombers, the Eskimos need a centre to help fix what arguably ended up being the CFL's worst offensive line last season. There doesn't seem to be much to choose between Lavertu and Goossen, so either way Edmonton should be able to get one of them. If they don't sign free agent Ted Laurent, though, Manitoba defensive tackle Evan Gill could be the pick here.

4. Montreal

WR Devon Bailey, St. Francis-Xavier

Often no one knows which way the Alouettes are going to go, based on last year's surprise Steven Lumbala pick at No. 5, and the same goes with this year's pick. Are they willing to wait on stud offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who is the consensus best player in the draft? They probably shouldn't pick him here, so Bailey would be a good choice. It looks like they'll have at least one NI starting receiver this season, and Bailey could end up being that man before long.

5. B.C.

DT Quinn Smith, Concordia

The Lions definitely need offensive line help, but the three big ones will be gone by this point. That means they might try to trade up, but the top three teams also need offensive linemen, so it's tough to see something happening. Smith had a fantastic combine, and the Lions could always use some defensive-line depth behind Jabar Westerman.

6. Toronto

RB Anthony Coombs, Manitoba

The Argonauts have plenty of import and non-import running backs on their roster, but Coombs would give them an intriguing option who is quite similar to Andre Durie. The two have been compared, after all, since they run and catch. Chad Kackert has had trouble staying healthy, so why not give the dynamic Coombs a shot? Quinn Smith could be an option here, too.

7. Calgary

DT Evan Gill, Manitoba

The Stampeders don't have any real pressing ratio needs, so they'll probably take the best player available. That would be Gill, who had a so-so combine but is a very large man who one day will be eating quarterbacks for a living. The Stamps also have Corey Mace on the defensive line, and he's been injury prone.

8. Saskatchewan

WR Kris Bastien, Concordia

There's a good chance the Roughriders will trade down and out of the first round at this point. They'll be trying to secure as many draft picks as possible, and anyone taken here probably won't be any more of a sure thing than anyone further down. Since we don't know for sure a trade is happening, we'll say they add to their depth behind Chris Getzlaf with Bastien, who had an excellent combine.

9. Hamilton

OL Terry Hart, St. Francis-Xavier

If there's an area where the defending East Division champs need an upgrade, it's the offensive line. Peter Dyakowski is recovering from a nasty knee injury suffered in the Grey Cup and won't be ready to start the season, and they lost Marwan Hage in the expansion draft. Hart looks like the next best offensive lineman after the big four, so he could very well be the pick here.

thanks

I like the work of Penton lately, my only critique of his mock is that I can't see 9 picks going by without either Lue or Thibault going off the board. But that's also just my opinion.

 

Not sure Quinn Smith is a first rounder either.

 

Duane Forde said Bombers didn't have a rep. 

 

What he probably should have said was "I'm not sure if the Bombers have a rep" because let's be honest, he's not going to recognize everybody that goes to these things.

 

 

It's not hard to ID those in attendance as they all have to sign in to be there. 

 

 

That's the Argos Chris Rossetti there on the left. 

Rids: what's your take on Smith? Where do you project him?

With being possibly drafted by the NFL, how far does LDT  drop?

With being possibly drafted by the NFL, how far does LDT  drop?

 

3rd or 4th round probably.

Rids: what's your take on Smith? Where do you project him?

 

Well it depends on how teams see him. As a OG I believe his value is higher than as a DT. Only 2 teams started a DT last year and neither of them have their starters from 2013 (Edmonton - Ted Laurent; Sask - Keith Shologan) but BC does have Westerman and a quality back up could push him into a starters role. 

 

As a OG to finish the 2013 season 14 of the 16 starting spots were occupied by non-imports. Quinn Smith did very well as a OG at the CFL Combine against the best DL competition. So if they project him as a OG he's potentially a first round pick. As a DT then he's probably a second round pick. 

 

On paper he tested better than the Concordia LBs even though his production numbers are fairly low. Perhaps he was a bigger factor into Max Caron's gaudy tackling numbers than anybody previously expected. 

I like the work of Penton lately, my only critique of his mock is that I can't see 9 picks going by without either Lue or Thibault going off the board. But that's also just my opinion.

 

Not sure Quinn Smith is a first rounder either.

 

I don't see Thibault going in the first round. I don't think he has the tape or the experience to go that high, regardless of his athletic ability. Lue I could see going early.

I'd love for Thibault to drop to pick 20.

I'd love for Thibault to drop to pick 20.

 

Do you see him at safety?

I'd love for Thibault to drop to pick 20.

Do you see him at safety?

We need more NI safety's...only have 7 on the roster now.

Thibault used to be a wide receiver. Still has great speed for a NI receiver and is used to playing special teams.