Mel Kiper's first NFL mock draft

be careful - casserly's much too savvy to just give away information like that. my guess is that he covets someone else, and so in talking up harris, he's hoping a team ahead of houston takes the bait.

or maybe he really likes him, but why tip your hand this early when you're picking 10th?

 

As an amature scout myself, I can assure you that the scouting teams for every NFL organization interested in defensive line prospects has a firm grip on what each prospect's abilities are and what they can or will contribute to their respective teams. Other organizations do not concern themselves with other GM's thoughts on prospects; they have their own group of minds to make such decisions. The thought of Casserly throwing a smoke screen through a local sports radio outlet in hopes of thinking another team will not "see" or "overlook" an Udeze, or a Wilfork, is proposterous.

 

the point of the smokescreen is to confuse those around him in the draft as to what, exactly, he's going to do. if casserly has an inkling whoever's picking 12th wants harris, well, by floating the idea you really like him, suddenly, the thought of harris not being there at #12 starts a chain reaction among those picking near you.

end result, someone jumps ahead of casserly to secure harris and the guy he really wants is one pick closer to falling to #10.

why else would casserly make his affection for harris known this early? during the senior bowl (which harris isn;t participating in) and before the combine and individual workouts?

 

I agree with Ric on this one. There's no good reason why Casserly should come right out and say that he likes Tommie Harris before even working anyone else out. The shadow of a doubt he places in other team's minds that want Harris will probably shake the draft board up a little and drop whoever we're looking at into our laps. Or we could even "reluctantly" trade our pick to a team wanting Tommie and then gain a few other draft picks in the process.

 

You guys are funny. It does not matter whether Casserly says he likes Tommie Harris or not. First of all, even if Harris were to run a 5 flat 40 time (which he doesn't), he is still likely to go before the tenth selection. To think that a team with a selection following the Texans is going to press the panic button and try to make a trade to acquire a selection ahead of Houston, causing a chain reation of a prospect sliding just because Casserly mentioned Tommie is far and away the most talented defensive lineman prospect in the draft does not happen. Casserly is just stating what is fact. It is no secret, every team knows Harris is the top DL prospect and the teams following the Texans (as with every team) has a list of projected players of the team's need that may be available with their respective selection. If a certain team has a dire need to aquire Harris they will try to move up and get him. More than likely, a team picking that high with the ability to move up a few spots still has a few other places on their roster that can be improved upon. If he is there, he's there. If not, they will probably fill another need. Again, teams are not going to press the panic button because another team's GM says what is already clearly obvious.

 

Among Horn fans, the legend of Tommie Harris is a running joke. I know he has good athleticism for his size, but I'm really curious to see how he'll do in the NFL. In actual games, his production was horrible, and saying that he was constantly double and triple teamed is a huge exagerration.

Normally, Casserly seems to be pretty reerved and vague when discussing scouting and player personnel. Especially at this time of the draft process.

 

I watched every OU game... so I know alot about Harris.

To say he was triple teamed is an understatement.

He usually was blocked by the center, two gaurds, two tackles,a nd both tight ends. Sometimes, on running plays, the quarterback would also be asigned to block him thus making him octupleblocked. He would often fight through all of these blocks to sack the QB and make plays in the backfield.

A true stud, Tommy Harris.

 

Don't forget that the receivers would also go into motion and get around the line to block him also, so thats 10 people bocking on a running play.

He would be perfect for the Texans as he can tie up 10 blockers and that would free up our linebackers and safteys to make the plays.

 

Tommie Harris didn't produce? He's a DT, he isn't going to get 20 sacks. The UT fans need to wake up and stop being idiots about Harris, Look at the Last College Season Statistics of every DT taken in the 1st round of the NFL Draft for the past 3 seasons and more often than not they are similar to what Harris put up this year. I'm not saying he's a great player, I personally think Chad Lavalais will be the best DT out of this draft, but labeling Tommie Harris is a complete bust is just bitter, hyprocritical resentment.

 

Nomar...hahaha...a true stud

I don't think anyone is bitter. I don't think anyone was asking to get 20 sacks either. Just compare his stats to his teammates or other DT's in the Big XII. I never labeled him a bust either. I'm curious to see how he does. In a year or two we'll see the legend of Tommifer.

 

FYI, both UT DTs had double the number of tackles that Harris had.

 

Sacks, Tackles for losses, tackles..anything. Just make a play on the ball, and don't get manhandled in your 2 (actually 3 if you count TX where he was singleblocked most of the day) biggest games of the year/

He didn't have 20 sacks in 3 years of starting. Shoot, Rien Long had 13 sacks as a DT in 02....you think somebody else on WSU was getting doubleteamed? I don't think so. Warren Sapp had 10.5 his senior year at Miami..etc etc etc. Great defensive Tackles made plays no matter who was blockingn them.

It's not that Harris was bad so much as not worhty of being a 2 tiime All AA, outland/lombardi etc player. He was nowhere close.

I think his draft stock will slip..I think scouts will notice this, I would be surprised if he goes top five and not be surpirsed if he drops to the mid 1st round.