2020 Draft Discussion

[Aston]

{fake news reporter voice}

{Peter Bling, the alternate universe Peter King, who covers football for OSFL Illustrated}

Well, the big debate leading up to the draft was who would Waco take with that #1 overall selection. Some outstanding skill players at the top of this draft, and it was all about which direction they wanted to go in. Waco made a bold statement by electing to go RB, with Temple's Buddy Pritchard probably arriving as one of the best RBs in the league for a long time.

But the Bayhawks in San Fran followed at #2 with probably one of the best WRs to come into the league in years, maybe since Shannon Rudzinski of Columbus. Many analysts think Wells could even be better, and at least a few GMs believe he should have gone first.

With Wells being passed over by Waco, is this an indication that they don't have faith in 3rd-year quarterback Jonathan McBriar, the former ballyhooed 2nd-round pick that was supposed to be their starter by now?

Post ye 2020 OSFL draft discussion here!

[Aston]

At 1.03, Las Vegas continues the trend by taking the top QB in this draft, Herb Bowers, out of Arizona. Like in the recent NFL draft, there wasn't any clear-cut #1 QB, but a lot of guys that you could make arguments about. Some high risk/high reward here. As my man Jon Gruden likes to say though, if you believe that a guy can be a franchise man for you, there's just no way you pass him up. And the Spears now have a young QB to build the team around. With the cupboard bare in Las Vegas, this figures to be as good a starting point as any.

At 1.04, Ohio Valley clips the trend of flashy skill position players with Tracy Trout, defensive end, Miss State. Tough, blue collar guy. In my opinion the safest pick in the entire draft. Perfect for the Ohio area, and perfect for that 4-3 system they run there. Love the pick.

It'll be interesting to see where some of these other QBs land. Todd Baxter has the college production, but some wonder if he's going to be ready to make the transition. My pal Mel Hyper (stole this guy's name from dave at the CyFL) personally believes he's a 2nd round pick, not a first, along with Sean Copenhauer - two small school guys who are coming from shotgun spread systems and haven't taken a snap from under center since maybe their high school days, or before. Who's even heard of wherever the hell Copenhauer is from. Towson? Is that a real school?

..

The guy I really like is Greg Glenn out of Texas. Here's a guy who has played on 2 national championship squads, running a pro-style offense and is for sure the most pro-ready QB in this draft. Plus, alliteration guys are winners, proven fact. At the other end of the spectrum is Hardy Campana, out of Virginia. Five-star high school player, never redshirts and struggles with some modest numbers at a small market college team, but aces the combine and clearly has the physical qualities to be a top-flight QB in the OSFL. Workout wonder or future star?

And the other guy that could be intriguing: San Jose State's Darryl Swift. Outstanding pocket awareness from this kid. He comes from a small school, but a system that has produced great pro QBs in the past. Word on the street is that he's been a hit with teams at the combine interviews, really showing his football acumen and love for the game. Don't pass on this guy as potentially one of the top QBs in the draft.

The big question as this draft unfolds: will it be like the NFL in 2010, with a crop of four or more first round QBs? Or will it be one of those recent OSFL drafts where QBs drop like flies in the 2nd round? The last big first round QB crop in the OSFL was in 2018, with four first rounders.

[Guest]

Fantastic write-up/s. Awesome.

[Aston]

1.05 - CHI - WR Maurice Huntley
1.06 - DEN - S Kevin Crane
1.07 - BOS - ILB Ricky Thomason
1.08 - MOR - CB Vernon Gentala
1.09 - NLB - DT A.J. Wade
1.10 - DEN - OT Lawrence Sivela
1.11 - BKL - DE Dusty Ziegler
1.12 - CHA - RB Antonio Pasricha
1.1 - SMD - CB Roger Mayes
1.14 - UTA - WR Colin Fletcher

Some highlights here...Denver pulls in the top tackle of the draft by a wide margin, in a weak crop of offensive linemen in general. But the real coup was nabbing ultra-ultra-stud safety Kevin Crane at 1.06. With the secondary they have assembled with their last three first round picks in two years, Utah is sweatin' over their heavy recent investment in a passing attack (and neglect of the running game)

Maurice Huntley is gonna tear it up in Chicago. Great pick at #5. And Charlotte I think got a great steal in RB Antonio Pasricha at 12. I liked him better than Pritchard personally, just a little. Not that I know anything about RBs, or I would've drafted one of worth by now.

Some trade action with Phoenix ducking out of 1.08 to pick up a future first from Morgantown...and garion picks up an outstanding corner in Vernon Gentala. Can't emphasize enough how good this guy is, I think he has awesome written all over him.

As for Utah...after picking up an extra second in the offseason, they decided to move up in the first to 1.14, again trading with Morgantown, and giving up its own second rounder in the process.



Who says white boys can't run? Colin Fletcher, hopefully here to bring a little razzle dazzle to the Utah offense. A strong set of WRs now for the Bees, who look to have a slight revamping of the lower parts of their receiver roster this offseason.

Bees GM Bobby Nutah (what a name, right) cited Fletcher's character, as well as his on-the-field skills, as reasons for why the Bees felt so strongly about him. It was a tough decision, for sure, as Utah was rumored to favor several other players still left on the board, enough that they surely could have waited at 1.22. But all offseason, the organization has talked about the strength of its current roster, and for once, quantity of draft picks is secondary to quality. Look for the Bees to continue trying to move up throughout the draft.

[Guest]

Wuh-hoo. Don't know if he'll really pan out, but I went to bed last night at 1.15, with Hardy Campana at the top of my list... and got him at 1.21. Have no idea if he's a steal, or even worth it, but happy to land him.

[Aston]

He had a pretty bangin' combine. Come think of it, he was probably my personal favorite out of the bunch. Including the guy that went at #3. Didn't do any interviews, but he seems legit.

[Guest]

Wuh-hoo. Don't know if he'll really pan out, but I went to bed last night at 1.15, with Hardy Campana at the top of my list... and got him at 1.21. Have no idea if he's a steal, or even worth it, but happy to land him.

He is a steal, because you stole him from me. haha

[Aston]

Lots of buzz about that 1-29 linebacker, Le Mule Provine. He looks like a complete steal, especially that late. One of the picks I really, really liked was 1.25, Herb Rotruck, to Lake County.

And my favorite pick of the second round so far: FB Rich Gregory, St. Paul. thenewchuckd would be proud. Gonna move him to TE, Matt? It looks like he has the size to make the move, and the skills to translate.

Poor Waco.

With Wells being passed over by Waco, is this an indication that they don't have faith in 3rd-year quarterback Jonathan McBriar, the former ballyhooed 2nd-round pick that was supposed to be their starter by now?

AI really did give them a QB in round 2, at 2.01 no less. And on top of that, it's the Towson guy.

[Aston]

In a draft very thin on offensive linemen, Brooklyn picks up a great one at 2.10, Graham Woods, guard, South Carolina. Well done.

4 QBs in the second round already:

2-1 Copenhauer (Waco)
2-7 Glenn (Los Alamos)
2-1 Emerson (Phoenix)
2-15 Cole Meister (South Maryland)

and we might not even be done. Certainly there's at least one guy left who deserves to have his name called soon. If the colemeister can go at 2.15, it'll be a shame if this guy drops into the third.

[Guest]

4 QBs in the second round already ... and we might not even be done. Certainly there's at least one guy left who deserves to have his name called soon. If the colemeister can go at 2.15, it'll be a shame if this guy drops into the third.

Sort of how the real NFL draft should have gone.

[Aston]

Got busted in the draft chat for saying this, so I'll deflect it onto the AI that made the pick (and it bears repeating)...

Memphis loves Cox.

Seriously though, solid receiver pick. There's a big drop-off in talent now, with Cox out of the picture.

[Aston]

Lots of people liked Jon Scott (2-20, TE, Kalispel) as the second tight end off the board. We also saw the 2nd fullback at 2.11, Alvin Cole, to Charlotte.

Yuma has two second round picks and we'll see if Julio makes the most of them as he continues to stockpile. 2.24, I think he did very well with Erik Ramirez. Looks like a good corner, maybe free safety or nickelback.

Garion gets a nice haul out of trading back from 1.14 to Utah. Picks up a good WR in the first round, and with the 2.25 gets Darryl Swift, might've been my favorite QB after Campana.

A couple guys like 2-27, Rob Wickes, to Dakota. I don't have RBs that figured out. I think I would move him to WR, or try to. Might be a fairly solid player there.

And I love this center pick that Matt turned in with St. Paul: Norm Conley. I think he was way overlooked for what an absolutely studly combine he had. I mean, it was really good. Might even be masked.

And now Yuma's back on the clock.

[Aston]

Billy Joe McCarthy - Portland - 3.17

Very intriguing player. Do RBs come with any higher bench press than 27? If so I haven't seen it. He might turn out to be a steal. Thoughts? That's not just an outlier combine score, it's an obscene outlier.

[Guest]

Billy Joe McCarthy - Portland - 3.17

Very intriguing player. Do RBs come with any higher bench press than 27? If so I haven't seen it. He might turn out to be a steal. Thoughts? That's not just an outlier combine score, it's an obscene outlier.

Gotta say I'm really curious about how he turns out. Was going to hope he fell to me if I skipped running back in the 2nd round, but that didn't work out for me last year so I snatched a RB there. Good thing, too, because RBs got cleaned out IMO.

[Guest]

Do RBs come with any higher bench press than 27?

According to MalcPow's study, no they don't. So very intriguing pick indeed. And in PORTLAND.