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DT DeMario Pressley |
Saints Draft 2008 Day Two Picks
Exclusive scouting reports from NOPF on the Saints'
class of '08
posted April 27, 2008 - print
me!
updated April 28, 2008
neworleansprofootball.com
Fifth Round - 9th Pick
- #144 Overall
DeMario Pressley, defensive tackle, North Carolina State
6'3, 303 pounds, 5.15 40 yard dash
Pressley is a physical project at defensive tackle.
He has the prerequisite size and athleticism and like the Saints'
previous pick at the position, plays a game of disrupting gaps
and solid tackling. Moves very well for a big guy and at the top
of his game is very quick.
Pressley beat 2007 third round pick DeMarcus "Tank"
Tyler out on the depth chart and started in 2005 and 2006 for
the Tarheels.
That's where the flowery praise ends. Pressley was
cursed with injuries in 2007, suffering a broken left big toe,
a right knee meniscus injury, a sprained ankle, a painful elbow
injury that left multiple ligaments damaged. It started in 2006
with a dislocated wrist. Dogged by injuries, Pressley found his
draft stock slipping badly despite a very healthy, very promising
early college career. Because of injuries, his conditioning and
discipline slipped, raising questions of his desire. When he was
supposed to be coming into his prime as a senior, he started only
eight games in 2007, playing through a list of injuries. That
should speak of his toughness.
Pressley is nonetheless experienced and possesses
a solid, strong frame to play inside in the NFL. Quick enough
to perhaps slide outside to end, and would also fit as a DE in
a 3-4 scheme. Collected only four sacks in his collegiate career.
Alternatives: After sitting patiently through
rounds three and four, the Saints hopped up two spots to steal
Pressly from the Bengals, whom they feared would take him at #145.
Iowa State LB Alvin Bowen, Virginia Tech DT Carlton Powell, Texas
DT Frank Okam, Florida State DT Letroy Guion, USC LB Thomas Williams
all went almost immediately after, though three cornerbacks and
a great value at tight end, Louisville's Gary Barnidge, went in
the four picks before the Saints moved up. Michigan State TE Kellen
Davis was also available.
Impact on Saints: The Saints didn't have
much youth at all a defensive tackle before this weekend, and
now they have two prospects for the one-gap defensive tackle spot.
Neither Pressley nor Ellis should play the nose tackle, but both
could learn from Brian Young. If Pressley can play near 100% of
his potential and avoid injuries, he has a shot to make the team.
Fifth Round - 29th
Pick - #164 Overall
Carl Nicks, offensive lineman, Nebraska
6'5, 330 pounds
Huge and gifted, Nicks dominated college football
at left tackle in his one season of starting. A former defensive
tackle, Nicks has it all at left tackle from a physical standpoint
- huge arms, fast feet, outstanding strength, prototypical size.
He's mature, already 25 years old, married with a kid, and seemed
to enjoy his time annihilating opponents last year. He started
two games on the right side and eleven on the left side over two
seasons, and gave up one sack. He's regarded as one of the best
prospect run blockers in the draft.
So why is he available in the fifth round? Nicks
is very raw and got by for the Cornhuskers on raw physical prowess.
He made basic mistakes in pass defensive but could recover at
the college level. Despite his maturity, he shows inconsistent
poise, undisciplined technique and frustrating effort. Projects
to right tackle in the pros.
Offseason problems, including a disorderly conduct
arrest last month, sent his stock plummeting. He wasn't even allowed
to work out at the Nebraska pro day.
Alternatives: Vanderbilt ILB Jonathan Goff
went next. Texas S Michael Griffin, Alabama S Simeon Castille,
Boston College S Jamie Silva, Kentucky OLB Wesley Woodyard, Georgia
OLB Marcus Howard, were still on the board. The Saints have drafted
three linemen so far, though Nicks is the first offensive
player.
Impact on Saints: For offensive line coaches
Doug Marrone and John Morton have yet another raw prospect to
form and mold this offseason, joining guys like Jermon Bushrod,
Andy Alleman and Zach Strief, not to mention brilliant success
story Jahri Evans. We're not sure if Nicks will be able to stick
at tackle.
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Taylor Melhaff |
Sixth Round - 12th Pick, #178 Overall
Taylor Melhaff, kicker, Wisconsin
5'10, 183 pounds
Like Adam Vinatieri, Melhaff is from South Dakota. A football,
hockey, soccer and track star in high school. Left-footed boomer
whose kicks up north have conditioned him to kick in any elements.
21 of 25 last year, including a 51-yarder. Was an immediate and
four year starter for the Badgers.
Legend has it one of his kickoffs in high school traveled 78
yards before hitting the ground. Melhaff was a fantastic youth
soccer player in South Dakota and didn't start kicking footballs
until eighth grade.
The Saints personally worked out Melhaff, a coaches All-America
pick in 2007. Had the Saints not traded their seventh round pick
earlier to move up two spots for Pressley, they would have taken
Melhaff one round later. Its clear the Saints targeted Melhaff
before.
Alternatives: Nicholls State S Kareem Moore, Melhaff's
teammate Wisconsin DT Nick Hayden, Arizona LB Spencer Larsen were
among those that went later. If the Saints are to consider a runningback,
two big, solid runners are still on the board with Arkansas' Peyton
Hillis and Michigan's Mike Hart. LSU LB Ali Highsmith continued
to plummet. Notre Dame C John Sullivan was on the board.
Impact on Saints: Should challenge Martin Gramatica for
the placekicking and kickoffs job. That the Saints have put a
draft pick on him gives his status as the camp leg legitimacy.
Melhaff is not simply here to be the emergency fallback to an
established veteran, as we have seen in many training camps past.
Seventh Round - 30th Pick,
#237 Overall
Adrian Arrington, wide receiver, University of Michigan
6'3, 203 pounds, 4.51 40 yard dash
Tall and narrow frame with long arms and long legs. Long stride
with mediocre acceleration. Good leaper with a willingness to
take the hit. Arrington mixes acrobatic circus catches with drops.
His run blocking is hit and miss. No deep speed to speak of and
his effort on offense will be strictly as a possesion guy who
works against the zone.
Arrington left Michigan early, along with many players, when
Rich Rodriguez was named coach. He faced domestic violence charges
that were eventually dismissed when the victim wouldn't show for
court, and last year was suspended in the spring for undisclosed
reasons. Started 13 games as a redshirt junior in 2007, four as
a redshirt sophomore. Fractured ankle and missed the entire 2005
season. Had nine catches for 153 against Florida in his final
collegiate game, and 16 TD's in the past two years catching passes
from Chad Henne.
Saints obviously were having trouble bidding for him on the rookie
free agent market, so they traded back into the bottom of the
seventh round with the Packers to get him. The Saints had traded
their original seventh round pick to move up two spots to get
DT DeMario Pressley.
Alternatives: Is trading into the late seventh round really
worth it to take an athletically limited, early entrant with off-field
problems? Obviously someone in the Saints staff has interviewed
Arrington, has spoken to the old staff and feels that Arrington
has a chance to be something. Two other receivers taken after
this point were Louisville WR Mario Urrutia and Arkansas WR Marcus
Monk.
Impact for Saints: This isn't a regular seventh round
pick, its one where the Saints clearly targeted him. Sean Payton,
who was live on video conferencing with ESPN when the trade was
announced, happily announced the pick himself, pre-empting the
official draft card. But where Arrington fits on the depth chart
is unknown. While the Saints will have competition for wide receiver
spots two through five, without a quantum leap in attitude and
game refinement, Arrington simply doesn't appear to be capable
of getting open at the NFL level. Hopefully, he is willing to
play special teams.
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