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The Official 2014 Draft Thread

kingofdetroit57 said:
Hell if I know. I pulled that off of the CBS Sports page. CBS ranked him as the 3rd best center, and 112th best player.

Not the best source, but here's what WalterFootball had on him... http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2014tswanson.php

Strengths:
Powerful
Strong run blocker
Mean streak
Quickness
Intelligent, should be an asset in line calls
Developed run-blocking technique
Does well in short yardage
Quality drive blocker
Anchors well against bull rushers
Good technique
Recoverability
Strong hands
Sustains blocks
Scheme flexibility
Durable
Experienced 4-year starter
Versatile for guard or center




Weaknesses:
Short arms (32 7/8)
Should improve pass protection against speed rushers


Summary: Swanson has been one of the best and most consistent offensive linemen in the SEC over the past few years. Arkansas has had some rough years in the SEC West, but Swanson has proved his quality by playing very well against elite defensive tackles on an annual basis.

Swanson was a four-year starter who was very durable as he made 50 starts in his Arkansas career. He was very effective for Arkansas. Swanson is a tough run blocker who has a mean streak to him. That caused some players at other schools to label him a dirty player, as Swanson never missed an opportunity to fight through the whistle or do whatever it took to keep a defender at bay. Swanson should be an asset in the NFL as a run blocker as he has strength at the point of attack and is quick to fire to the second level.

Swanson improved his pass blocking throughout his collegiate career. He went up against fast speed rushers and strong bull rushers. Swanson held his own and was good at hitting double teams. The linemen at LSU and Alabama gave Swanson good preparation for the next level. Like all players, Swanson will have to get used to the speed of the NFL, but he should be a well-rounded center who is equally effective blocking for the run or pass.

Swanson has an excellent combination of size, strength, quickness, technique and intelligence for the center position. He could fit in a man blocking or zone scheme in the NFL. There is a real possibility that Swanson could be an immediate starter. He could break into the lineup at guard or center. Swanson's intelligence should allow him to develop into a center who makes the protection calls and that could come in handy if he is ever forced to work with a young quarterback.

Swanson looks like a starting center for a long time in the NFL. He should be a nice value selection on the second day of the draft, but it wouldn't be surprising if a team desperate for a center considers taking him late in the first round like the Cowboys did last year with Travis Frederick.



Player Comparison: Alex Mack. The Browns took Mack with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Swanson probably won't go that high, but he has a similar skill set to Mack (6-4, 311). They are almost the same size with the power to be effective in the ground game and the athleticism to be a quality pass protector. Mack has developed into one of the better centers in the NFL, and Swanson has the potential to be a good one.

NFL Matches: Atlanta, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, New England

There are a number of teams that need a new center. Atlanta never adequately replaced Todd McClure, and WalterFootball.com heard from sources that the Falcons want to improve the interior of their offensive line. Drafting Swanson could give Matt Ryan a long-term center to work with.

The Jaguars had Brad Meester call it a career, so they'll need a new center. Baltimore really missed Matt Birk last year, as Gino Gradkowski was a disappointment. The Ravens could upgrade their center position with Swanson on day two.

Cleveland may lose Alex Mack in free agency and that would leave big hole in the middle of the Browns offensive line. The Lions re-signed Dominic Raiola for 2014, but have to get a long-term answer at the position.
Click to expand...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1665046/travis-swanson

From CBS...borderline starter.
 
I was hoping Marcus martin was going to fall to us. I was ok to draft a C this year for next year.

Swanson is the first pick that I'm not liking as of now. However if they can coach him up and bulk him up it could work out.
 
kingofdetroit57 said:
Hell if I know. I pulled that off of the CBS Sports page. CBS ranked him as the 3rd best center, and 112th best player.

Not the best source, but here's what WalterFootball had on him... http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2014tswanson.php

Strengths:
Powerful
Strong run blocker
Mean streak
Quickness
Intelligent, should be an asset in line calls
Developed run-blocking technique
Does well in short yardage
Quality drive blocker
Anchors well against bull rushers
Good technique
Recoverability
Strong hands
Sustains blocks
Scheme flexibility
Durable
Experienced 4-year starter
Versatile for guard or center




Weaknesses:
Short arms (32 7/8)
Should improve pass protection against speed rushers


Summary: Swanson has been one of the best and most consistent offensive linemen in the SEC over the past few years. Arkansas has had some rough years in the SEC West, but Swanson has proved his quality by playing very well against elite defensive tackles on an annual basis.

Swanson was a four-year starter who was very durable as he made 50 starts in his Arkansas career. He was very effective for Arkansas. Swanson is a tough run blocker who has a mean streak to him. That caused some players at other schools to label him a dirty player, as Swanson never missed an opportunity to fight through the whistle or do whatever it took to keep a defender at bay. Swanson should be an asset in the NFL as a run blocker as he has strength at the point of attack and is quick to fire to the second level.

Swanson improved his pass blocking throughout his collegiate career. He went up against fast speed rushers and strong bull rushers. Swanson held his own and was good at hitting double teams. The linemen at LSU and Alabama gave Swanson good preparation for the next level. Like all players, Swanson will have to get used to the speed of the NFL, but he should be a well-rounded center who is equally effective blocking for the run or pass.

Swanson has an excellent combination of size, strength, quickness, technique and intelligence for the center position. He could fit in a man blocking or zone scheme in the NFL. There is a real possibility that Swanson could be an immediate starter. He could break into the lineup at guard or center. Swanson's intelligence should allow him to develop into a center who makes the protection calls and that could come in handy if he is ever forced to work with a young quarterback.

Swanson looks like a starting center for a long time in the NFL. He should be a nice value selection on the second day of the draft, but it wouldn't be surprising if a team desperate for a center considers taking him late in the first round like the Cowboys did last year with Travis Frederick.



Player Comparison: Alex Mack. The Browns took Mack with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Swanson probably won't go that high, but he has a similar skill set to Mack (6-4, 311). They are almost the same size with the power to be effective in the ground game and the athleticism to be a quality pass protector. Mack has developed into one of the better centers in the NFL, and Swanson has the potential to be a good one.

NFL Matches: Atlanta, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, New England

There are a number of teams that need a new center. Atlanta never adequately replaced Todd McClure, and WalterFootball.com heard from sources that the Falcons want to improve the interior of their offensive line. Drafting Swanson could give Matt Ryan a long-term center to work with.

The Jaguars had Brad Meester call it a career, so they'll need a new center. Baltimore really missed Matt Birk last year, as Gino Gradkowski was a disappointment. The Ravens could upgrade their center position with Swanson on day two.

Cleveland may lose Alex Mack in free agency and that would leave big hole in the middle of the Browns offensive line. The Lions re-signed Dominic Raiola for 2014, but have to get a long-term answer at the position.
Click to expand...


Heres scouts....also not the best for info but its alarming some of the negative things they write about him.


Travis Swanson


OC
6-5, 312 lbs
Arkansas
Scouts Grade51
Position Rank4
Overall Rank175
Arm Length33-1/8"
Hand Size10"
40-YD Dash5.28
ConferenceSEC
Team

Round

PK(OVR)

DET 3 12(76)


Draft Analysis


WHAT HE BRINGS
Much like Colorado State's Weston Richburg, Swanson is a four-year starter and two-time team captain with good length (33 1/8 inches) for the position. He's not as balanced as Richburg and has a tougher time staying in front of defenders, but he shows good awareness and rarely gets caught out of position in pass protection. He's also an adequate positional blocker who gets into position and walls off defenders.
Draft Results

Overall Football Traits

Production 1 2009: Redshirt 2010: (13/13) 2011: (13/13) 2012: (12/12) 2013: (12/12)
Height-Weight-Speed 2 Hits all the marks in terms of height, weight and top-end speed but lacks muscle definition and has thin ankles. Above-average arm length (33 1/8") and big hands (10") for center position.
Durability 1 Started every game of college career.
Intangibles 1 Two-time team captain. Leader on and off the field. Hard worker that takes professional approach to game. Son of Todd and Gina Swanson. Majoring in sociology.

1 = Exceptional2 = Above average3 = Average4 = Below average5 = Marginal


Offensive Center Specific Traits


Pass Protection 4 Longer arms and big hands to lock on and lock out. Active hands and resets quickly. Finds ways to get job done with effort. Digs in, plays with wide base and fights to hold ground against power but doesn't bend well and can give too much ground. Limited athlete that struggles to stay in front of defenders. Top heavy; lunges and gets caught off-balance too often.

Run Blocking 3 Good first step and adequate initial hand placement. Drives legs once in position and flashes ability to move defenders off ball but more of a positional blocker than bulldozer. Plays high and leans. Gets stood up. Doesn't press defender off frame. Slips off blocks and spends too much time on ground. Footwork, size and enough balance to be adequate zone blocker. Takes sound angles to second level assignments and flashes ability to cut off linebackers despite athletic limitations. Sub-par angles on block back.

Awareness 1 Smart and makes accurate pre-snap reads. Makes line calls. Keeps head on a swivel in pass pro. Picks up line stunts and blitzes. Keeps head up and locates second level assignments as a run blocker.

Toughness 2 Not an overwhelming mauler but grinder that finishes when he catches defenders off balance and smells blood in water. Aggressive and throws weight around in space. Agitator that can get under opponent's skin by blocking through whistle and leaning on defenders on ground.
 
Last edited:
I seem to remember a lot of guys not being excited about Rieff. Short arms. T-Rex.

I seem to remember a lot of guys (myself included) not liking the Warford pick.

I seem to remember a lot of guys (everyone) not thinking Waddle could play his rookie year. Undrafted.

... I seem to remember everyone complaining about Riola year after year until last year when he finally played at a high level.

Lions had one of the better offensive lines in the league last year, and it just got younger and better.
 
Diggler Cometh said:
Who's been a beast at every level and will continue to be one.
Click to expand...
Nix wasnt a beast. For all the talk about how great Nix and Tuitt were ND got pushed all over the field by damn near everyone they played. Michigan had one of the worst OL's in D1 and they handled ND except for 1 play. They had very little push considering they had 2 guys at DT that many said were first rd talent.
 
I like him, you don't. Some scouts like him, some don't. I really don't care enough to keep arguing the point since he's here now.
 
wheels002 said:
Nix wasnt a beast. For all the talk about how great Nix and Tuitt were ND got pushed all over the field by damn near everyone they played. Michigan had one of the worst OL's in D1 and they handled ND except for 1 play. They had very little push considering they had 2 guys at DT that many said were first rd talent.
Click to expand...

Nix was a force against everyone including every game against Michigan. And Tuitt happened to be going against the 11th pick in this years draft for Michigan. they're exceptional players. They're the reason they made it to the National Championship last year.
 
Damn just saw that Nate broke his arm again. This time during OTA's for the browns.
 
Have you guys seen any more conflicting scouting reports than on Swanson? One says he can't play OG, another says he can. One says he's got short arms, another says he's got great length for the position. One says he's content to play to a stalemate, and another says he's nasty and battles through the whistle. One says he's weak, and another says he's got great strength. One says he's got good speed, and another says he's slow.
 
Josh Gordon and Nate Burleson out for the browns lol...manziel will be throwing to Digglers Grandma next year.
 
Diggler Cometh said:
Nix was a force against everyone including every game against Michigan. And Tuitt happened to be going against the 11th pick in this years draft for Michigan. they're exceptional players. They're the reason they made it to the National Championship last year.
Click to expand...

WE will agree to disagree I watch a lot of college ball and from what I saw from them I did not see what you call force. I saw guys who were big that lacked effort and whos publicity didnt match productivit and he was on the ground gar more than a good player should be.
 
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