Husker draft wrapup 2012

Another NFL Draft has come and gone. I watched it pretty religiously in my younger days but now my idea of following it is checking out the ticker every 20 or so minutes.

Four Nebraska players had their name called for the chance to have a job that requires work on Sundays. Here’s a closer look:

LaVonte David, LB

Second-round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You have to feel good for this young man, he appeared genuinely excited in his interview about returning to his home state to play pro ball. David is truly a class act and set new standards by which future Blackshirts will be measured against and he did it all in two years because keep in mind he was a junior college transfer.

I was very impressed the way he came in, kicked butt, and acted like it was all about the team as if he had been in the program all along. Though I have never met David, he seems to be an
outstanding guy.

I love the idea of David playing weakside linebacker in the Bucs’ 4-3 front. David lacks ideal size but he’s one of the top pure players in this year’s draft and will outperform a lot of the guys who went ahead of him. The question is, given that he is undersized, will he morph into a productive starter or become a nickel linebacker.

Jared Crick, DT

Fourth round, Houston Texans

Crick was once considered a first-round talent but a season-ending pectoral muscle injury dropped him all the way to the fourth round.

The concern I have about Crick is that he falls into the ‘tweener. At 6-4, 285, he’s not big enough to play tackle but not quick enough to play end. However, if there is a defensive coordinator that will know how to use him it’s Wade Phillips. F or all of his shortcomings as a head coach, there’s nothing wrong with Phillips as a defensive coordinator. Being a 3-4 end might be his best shot.

Alfonzo Dennard, CB

Seventh round, New England Patriots

Dennard’s stock plummeted badly due to a subpar combine and getting arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Dennard will make the team but has a lot of proving to do. His injuries and the lack of production this past season really have hurt him but his off-the-field stupidity hurt him more.

However, the idea that a talent like this could fall to the Patriots this late is mind-boggling. He’s a tough kid who can play press, loves to mix it up in the run game and has the attributes to mature into a starter on the outside or slot man early in his career.

Marcel Jones, OT

Seventh round, New Orleans Saints

It looks like the Saints are going to make sure that Drew Brees is protected no matter what may happen this season.

Jones has a lot of honors and accolades under his belt and is a very big body to put on an already very good offensive line. Jones is a mammoth 6-7, 320 pounds so he will certainly tower over many and has a great reach to help block.

With New Orleans' need for depth on the o-line, Jones is a solid pick. While not quite ready to start just yet, Jones is a big body that can be plugged into the Saints line.