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IFL Mock 1-10
1.1 Wichita Outlaws – QB Danny OUELLETTE (Penn State) Correct Prediction
After an aggressive trade to grab the number 1 pick, it’s crystal clear who Wichita are after.
With no quarterback talent on the roster it’s an obvious no-brainer that the Outlaws will be drafting the superstar out of Penn State.
Ouellette has good size, an excellent skill set (excepting some doubt over his ability to read pro style defenses) and absolutely blew the scouts away at the combines posting up elite scores in all the drills except broad jump.
His 4.42 speed is quicker than many WR’s/DB’s making him a dangerous runner in his own right, a very strong arm, great agility and very impressive solecismic score make him one of the hottest passers to come of out the college ranks in several years.
As the whole package, Ouellette (pronounced ‘oo-el-et’) is regarded as a rare blue chip talent and one that could single handedly turn a franchise around.
Volatility might be an issue but the ‘B’ word is banned around Kansas Stadium.
Like all rookie quarterbacks he’ll need time to develop but Wichita look to have hit pay dirt and Ouellette is a very worthy top pick.
1.2 Lansing Ogres – DE Paul LAKE (Michigan State) Correct Prediction
Lansing are one of several teams holding two 1st round picks this year.
At 1.2, the Ogres have choices over who to take but with defensive talent stacked up behind Ouellette, surely this pick will be spent on the D.
Lansing will interview both the top corners (Rocco and Collier) and will also put OLB J.C Robbins through his paces, however GWB won’t pass up on top pass rushing talent like Lake who also fills a big need on their roster.
The Spartans star is a well developed end with excellent run stopping ability who can play every down.
As you’d expect of the top ranked defensive prospect, Lake has great pass rush skills being able to get to the QB using technique or brute strength in equal measure.
Perhaps what really puts him into that top tier of talent is his game day smarts and terrifying hitting power.
Not many edge rushers can boast such a complete set of tools and if Ouellette represents the pin-up image of football stardom, Lake is the destructive nemesis.
1.3 St Louis Cardinals – CB T.J ROCCO (Southern Utah) Correct Predicition
‘Bazooka’ Barlow has had a tough couple of years introduction to the pro game.
Before the class was revealed he was no doubt lobbying hard for the Cards to draft receiving talent or an elite LT to guard his back.
Unfortunately for Bazooka, the rookie talent around at 1.3 means he will probably have to wait another season at least for that go-to wideout or top LT he is looking for.
Instead, the sensible money is on Suicane adding defensive talent and one of the top cornerbacks will be suiting up in red and powder blue next season.
Either Rocco or Collier would merit this spot but taking all factors into account, Rocco will be the choice.
The Thunderbirds alumni is the more developed player, has the edge in body size and has the slightly better engine.
St Louis’ roster has a lot of needs, but T.J will be the team’s shutdown corner for the next 10+ years.
1.4 Louisiana Voodoo – CB Grady COLLIER (Southeast Missouri State) Correct Prediction
My tip to trade out of the top 5.
The Voodoo are an emerging team with a sprinkling of excellent players across the roster.
Another franchise that would have been hoping for a top receiver, like St Louis the Voodoo will turn to defense if they don’t trade down slightly.
Sure, they’ll look at OLB Robbins and maybe one of the O-lineman but picking at 1.4 you have to go with the talent.
Despite already having Phillip George starring in the Louisiana secondary, Wolf will take Collier off the board and create perhaps the best corner tandem in the league.
1.5 Little Rock Toads - WLB J.C ROBBINS (Mississippi State) Correct Predicition
The Toads may have been hoping that one of the corners might slip to them, however, if both are gone then Little Rock continue the defensive trend as Cringer grabs WLB J.C Robbins out of Mississippi State.
Robbins has good size and enjoyed an excellent combine.
Quick, agile and smart, he is the kind of dominating WLB that a 3-4 team like the Toads looks for to be the feature pass rusher in their D.
With NT Glen Ross killing the run, Robbins will provide the Little Rock front seven with an elite pass rush and is a great fit.
1.6 Los Angeles Matadors – DE Jamal WALDRON (Virginia Tech) Missed Prediction
The LA franchise has a new identity and with a talented roster taking shape, the future looks bright for the Matadors.
The talent pool maybe gets a little murkier from this point and LA have a couple of obvious needs.
Help at DE, in the secondary and at receiver will be high on their shopping list.
This class isn’t ideal for LA and being a wily son of a gun Hoosier might look to trade out if he can find a taker.
If the Matadors end up sticking at 1.6 then the BPA would be OG Glen Humphrey but convention says that’s too
high to take a guard.
Drafting here leaves Hoosier with a difficult decision but he takes a gamble and goes for no combine DE Jamal
Waldron.
The Virginia Tech enigma puzzled many with his decision not to show at the combine but he preferred to let his
game tape do the talking. Waldron has text book rush technique and plays the run exceedingly well. The rest of his
skill set isn’t quite up to the elite standards of say Lake etc but they aren’t far behind.
Despite the lack of combine scores, Waldron has enough talent to merit a top 10 pick and with LA needing a top
pass rusher this pick makes sense.
1.7 Orlando Pirates – OT Lorenzo GRIFFIN (Florida State) Team Traded & Missed Prediction
The Pirates traded out of the 1.1 slot and grabbed a handful of top end picks in return.
The move made sense for a franchise with a young star QB already in place but with several holes across the team.
Perhaps splitting hairs, the draft class might not be as good here as Orlando could have hoped but the opportunity to reinforce several areas has the Pirates fans excited.
In an ideal scenario, Orlando would have wanted a corner, top end RB or a star receiver to fall into their laps here.
They may look hard at the running backs available and Mallard may tempt Pirates but he is not a clear cut top 10 talent.
Instead, I see Pirates playing it safe and spending his hard earned picks wisely.
Second year QB Ed Wilkins is the future of the team and Orlando draft an elite offensive lineman to protect their investment.
Still too high to take OG Humphrey, Pirates selects the most developed talent at OT in Griffin.
1.8 Dakota Spirit– OT Dusty HICKSON (Purdue) Missed Prediction
Dakota might also be disappointed with this class. Help in the secondary and on the defensive line are top
priorities but 1.8 may not be the right spot to go with need in this draft.
DG will look hard at D-linemen Greer, Drake and Smoczyk, QB Gurley doesn’t look like the answer and there are
no star receivers to grab the eye.
With another 1st round pick at 1.15, the Spirit may think twice about taking one of the guards here so maybe a RB
will tempt George? Greg Galloway perhaps?
In the end, this is still probably too high to roll the dice on one of the backs so OT Dusty Hickson gets the phone
call and injects some youth into an ageing O-line.
1.9 Salt Lake City Stallions – RB Tom MALLARD (Kansas State) Team Traded & Missed Prediction
The Stallions need something special in their secondary but with the top CB’s gone and nothing to turn the head at safety, Vito has to look elsewhere this year.
It makes a lot of sense for Salt Lake to bring in an offensive playmaker to help take the pressure off QB Edward Jacobs and as such their scouts work overtime examining the talent at receiver, TE and RB.
There are tricky choices to make in choosing a skill offensive player at this point in the draft but RB Tom Mallard looks to be a pacy playmaker out of the backfield and will help stop defenses keying in on Jacob’s pass attack.
1.10 Hartford Whalers – RB Roman PECKHAM (Morgan State) Correct Prediction
KK’s team have talent in the trenches and look to be building a roster the old fashioned way – from the front back.
Fittingly for a team with a deep sea mascot, the team look to have very good strength in depth but is it time
to add a star skill player or two?
With OG Jamal Sheldon into his ninth year as a pro, the newly named Whalers might toy with the idea of drafting
elite guard Glen Humphrey as a future replacement but to be frank, that would seem like a luxury choice at
this stage in the draft and Hartford fans are vocal in wanting a glamour name to add some pizzazz to the strength
up front.
With no secondary players worth taking this high, the Whalers go for offensive fireworks and take the lightning
quick RB Roman Peckham.
With the Whalers O-line dominating scrimmage, expect to see Peckham take one or two to the house next season.
There you go folks, I doubt I'll have time to do more than top 10.
A tricky mock to put together but at least I know I've got one pick right!!
:mrgreen:
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