Tweet
Daily News Journal - DnJ.com Interview Special.
Today we have a rare chance to talk to Mules GM Dave Thompson as the draft has concluded.
Dnj: Welcome and thanks for joining us what are your initial thoughts on the draftees?
Thompson: Thanks for the welcome. I like the players we selected obviously and am happy with how the draft turned out.
Dnj: Ok lets be more specific with our questions, why did you select Oregon WLB Donnell Reed with the 27th overall pick?
Thompson: Speed, I know I sound all Al Davis here but Reed has 4.44 speed, that’s faster than a lot of the WR’s and CB’s in this draft. Reed excels in pass rushing QB’s he also is strong delivers a real punishing hit and makes plenty of good decisions. His agility means he can play the run well and has an engine that means he doesn’t need to take many plays off, what’s not to like.
1.27 Donnell Reed WLB Oregon. Pre-camp 30/65
Dnj: With your 2nd pick that was the early 3rd round pick you got from Dakota you selected a safety in the form of Texas El-Paso’s Glenn Van Pelt, some analyst were wondering if you should have moved up in the draft and tried to grab Chester Emley from Iowa State?
Thompson: I will be honest we really liked Emley and he may well have been the choice if he has fallen to us, but with only 5 draft picks we felt like we had enough needs that we needed to keep the picks. Add in that we traded next years 3rd and 4th round picks for 3.15 this year we didn’t want to move any more next year either. However we did get to pick Glen Van Pelt who is quick and agile so should play the run as well as anyone in this draft class. Note he had the 2nd best agility score in the whole draft class. He also has strength which aids his ability to destroy offensive skill players when he hits them so we look to see plenty of balls separated from WR’s and RB‘s. He has no track record for picking off passes but Riley and the CB’s are good in that area so we could afford to not need that skill.
3.3 Glen Van Pelt S Texas El Paso. Pre-camp 25/57
Dnj: There were shock when you used pick 3.15 (acquired from Salt Lake for 2022 3rd and 4th round picks) on a punter when you have one of the league’s best already on the roster?
Thompson: Gepner is a quality punter and if he was younger we would not have looked at drafting a punter, however he will be in his 14th season this year and even if he plays well he may not be back next year so we decided to use the pick this year to find his replacement rather than possibly be scrambling to find one next year. Saying that Calvin Lin we feel was a quality punter. He has excellent power, the ability to develop quality hang time and his direction kicking is as good as I have seen at the college level. He can hold kicks as well so he has lots to offer. He may not play much this year or he may replace Gepner, either way we expect him to be on the roster.
3.15 Calvin Lin Punter Iowa State. Pre-camp 46/64
Dnj: Your final two picks, 4th round ILB Sutter and 5th round selection of DT Austen were also defensive players as you didn’t select any offensive player in this draft, why?
Thompson: Honestly there was no plan to go this route, we took the players who we felt were the best option when we were on the clock, in fact in Sutter’s case he was top of our list from the moment we selected Lin. So when he was available late in the 4th we couldn’t get the card in quick enough.
Dnj: What did you like about Sutter?
Thompson: He is intelligent and agile, plays the run really well That is what he will be asked to do, anything else is a bonus.
4.28 Ralph Sutter ILB Western Kentucky. Pre-camp 22/52
Dnj: The final pick was Austen the DT out of Arizona State can you give us your thoughts on him?
Thompson: Austen does what we want from a DT/NT he plays the run really well using his agility to make plays. Add in his ability to diagnose plays and a good motor to stay on the field he is perfect against the run. If he was stronger and could supply a bull rush then he wouldn’t have been available in the 5th round so he was everything we were looking for
5.27 Trevor Austen DT Arizona State. Pre-camp 18/52
Dnj: With our final question how do you feel that Free Agency has gone?
Thompson: It’s been a decent one for the Mules we added a good 3rd TE in Hartsock who has big play ability and is a good blocker. WR Novack is a big play threat though may be slowing down due to age but was worth bringing in. We loked Seguin as safety as he provides good pass protection and long snapping ability and we also brought back SLB Chandler as he can rush the QB, play in zone coverage and is decent against the run. DE Odumuyiwa has good pass rushing skills while NT Dunn is solid and will be able to mentor Austen. I like the moves, but we do have cap issues as QB Peterson is not willing to negotiate a contract with us.
Dnj: Does that mean you are willing to move him?
Thompson: It would depend on the type of offer we received. Ah there is my phone got to go, I will speak to you again soon.
Today we have a rare chance to talk to Mules GM Dave Thompson as the draft has concluded.
Dnj: Welcome and thanks for joining us what are your initial thoughts on the draftees?
Thompson: Thanks for the welcome. I like the players we selected obviously and am happy with how the draft turned out.
Dnj: Ok lets be more specific with our questions, why did you select Oregon WLB Donnell Reed with the 27th overall pick?
Thompson: Speed, I know I sound all Al Davis here but Reed has 4.44 speed, that’s faster than a lot of the WR’s and CB’s in this draft. Reed excels in pass rushing QB’s he also is strong delivers a real punishing hit and makes plenty of good decisions. His agility means he can play the run well and has an engine that means he doesn’t need to take many plays off, what’s not to like.
1.27 Donnell Reed WLB Oregon. Pre-camp 30/65
Dnj: With your 2nd pick that was the early 3rd round pick you got from Dakota you selected a safety in the form of Texas El-Paso’s Glenn Van Pelt, some analyst were wondering if you should have moved up in the draft and tried to grab Chester Emley from Iowa State?
Thompson: I will be honest we really liked Emley and he may well have been the choice if he has fallen to us, but with only 5 draft picks we felt like we had enough needs that we needed to keep the picks. Add in that we traded next years 3rd and 4th round picks for 3.15 this year we didn’t want to move any more next year either. However we did get to pick Glen Van Pelt who is quick and agile so should play the run as well as anyone in this draft class. Note he had the 2nd best agility score in the whole draft class. He also has strength which aids his ability to destroy offensive skill players when he hits them so we look to see plenty of balls separated from WR’s and RB‘s. He has no track record for picking off passes but Riley and the CB’s are good in that area so we could afford to not need that skill.
3.3 Glen Van Pelt S Texas El Paso. Pre-camp 25/57
Dnj: There were shock when you used pick 3.15 (acquired from Salt Lake for 2022 3rd and 4th round picks) on a punter when you have one of the league’s best already on the roster?
Thompson: Gepner is a quality punter and if he was younger we would not have looked at drafting a punter, however he will be in his 14th season this year and even if he plays well he may not be back next year so we decided to use the pick this year to find his replacement rather than possibly be scrambling to find one next year. Saying that Calvin Lin we feel was a quality punter. He has excellent power, the ability to develop quality hang time and his direction kicking is as good as I have seen at the college level. He can hold kicks as well so he has lots to offer. He may not play much this year or he may replace Gepner, either way we expect him to be on the roster.
3.15 Calvin Lin Punter Iowa State. Pre-camp 46/64
Dnj: Your final two picks, 4th round ILB Sutter and 5th round selection of DT Austen were also defensive players as you didn’t select any offensive player in this draft, why?
Thompson: Honestly there was no plan to go this route, we took the players who we felt were the best option when we were on the clock, in fact in Sutter’s case he was top of our list from the moment we selected Lin. So when he was available late in the 4th we couldn’t get the card in quick enough.
Dnj: What did you like about Sutter?
Thompson: He is intelligent and agile, plays the run really well That is what he will be asked to do, anything else is a bonus.
4.28 Ralph Sutter ILB Western Kentucky. Pre-camp 22/52
Dnj: The final pick was Austen the DT out of Arizona State can you give us your thoughts on him?
Thompson: Austen does what we want from a DT/NT he plays the run really well using his agility to make plays. Add in his ability to diagnose plays and a good motor to stay on the field he is perfect against the run. If he was stronger and could supply a bull rush then he wouldn’t have been available in the 5th round so he was everything we were looking for
5.27 Trevor Austen DT Arizona State. Pre-camp 18/52
Dnj: With our final question how do you feel that Free Agency has gone?
Thompson: It’s been a decent one for the Mules we added a good 3rd TE in Hartsock who has big play ability and is a good blocker. WR Novack is a big play threat though may be slowing down due to age but was worth bringing in. We loked Seguin as safety as he provides good pass protection and long snapping ability and we also brought back SLB Chandler as he can rush the QB, play in zone coverage and is decent against the run. DE Odumuyiwa has good pass rushing skills while NT Dunn is solid and will be able to mentor Austen. I like the moves, but we do have cap issues as QB Peterson is not willing to negotiate a contract with us.
Dnj: Does that mean you are willing to move him?
Thompson: It would depend on the type of offer we received. Ah there is my phone got to go, I will speak to you again soon.
Comment