seniors in the nfl?

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KD6-3.7

KD6-3.7

credulous skeptic
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the only senior i can see getting drafted, as we only have 3 starting--VDS, simmons and hightower, unless i am missing someone--is van de steeg. i could see simmons making a practice team undrafted, and get a chance that way.

but VDS should get drafted, i am thinking late fourth early fifth?
 

I'm not sure if Steve Davis was technically a starter, but he is another one. He's undersized and I don't believe anyone will draft him. Also, both Kucek and Monroe are seniors (I believe). I think Kucek will latch on with an NFL team right away, but I'm not sure how long his NFL career will last.

Speaking of seniors, I wish we would have found a way to get Tony Mortenson on the field somehow. He was a darn good football player but never really entered the mix at QB (except for two well played games in 05). Good luck Tony
 

I'm thinking both kickers could get a chance to see a camp or two. My bet is that Kucek get's a chance at game day.

WVDS, I think will be another in a long line of Gopher defensive linemen that surprise in the NFL.
 

Really?

KoolAid said:
I'm not sure if Steve Davis was technically a starter, but he is another one. He's undersized and I don't believe anyone will draft him. Also, both Kucek and Monroe are seniors (I believe). I think Kucek will latch on with an NFL team right away, but I'm not sure how long his NFL career will last.

Speaking of seniors, I wish we would have found a way to get Tony Mortenson on the field somehow. He was a darn good football player but never really entered the mix at QB (except for two well played games in 05). Good luck Tony
Click to expand...

I'm sure you are from Hutch or know him personally and I think that is tainting your memory. Two well played games in '05? I'm assuming you mean Michigan & Wisconsin. The Michigan game he came in when Cupito had a concussion to hand off to Russell on the 60 yard run to set up the winning field goal. He didn't even throw a pass so it is hard to give him credit for leading a game winning drive. The Wisconsin game he was 7-17 for 99 yds, 1 TD and 1 Int. The running game rolled up 411 yds with virtually no threat to pass. He filled the role but he hardly played a great game.

Last year when I watched Weber/Mortenson at spring practice competing for the vacant QB position I thought Mortenson would win. It was close at the time but obviously Weber got better by the fall and won the job. This year Weber was a second team all Big Ten selection as voted by the coaches so it is hard to say that we should have had Mortenson out there. I've got nothing against the guy and I'm glad he chose Minnesota and I hope he uses his degree and has a good future but I think we had the right guy taking snaps.
 

I would be surprised to see Monroe get a chance but Kucek will likely get a tryout. I would be surprised to see him make a roster.

Van De Steeg will get drafted and I could see him anywhere from round 3-6 depending on how he does at the combines. Your guess of late fourth or fifth is probably right.

It seems reasonable for Simmons and maybe Hightower to get a tryout but I don't think either of them will make a roster. Simmons is a good pass catcher but I don't think he is a good enough blocker. Hightower will likely end up in Canada or the Arena league if he wants to continue playing. He is big enough to play in the NFL and his speed is to the slow end but probably adequate but he frequently takes bad angles and loses containment (see film of him blitzing Kafka).
 


Kucek will miss the folding of NFL Europe. That's where specialists got noticed.
 

grunkiejr said:
I'm sure you are from Hutch or know him personally and I think that is tainting your memory. Two well played games in '05? I'm assuming you mean Michigan & Wisconsin. The Michigan game he came in when Cupito had a concussion to hand off to Russell on the 60 yard run to set up the winning field goal. He didn't even throw a pass so it is hard to give him credit for leading a game winning drive. The Wisconsin game he was 7-17 for 99 yds, 1 TD and 1 Int. The running game rolled up 411 yds with virtually no threat to pass. He filled the role but he hardly played a great game.

Last year when I watched Weber/Mortenson at spring practice competing for the vacant QB position I thought Mortenson would win. It was close at the time but obviously Weber got better by the fall and won the job. This year Weber was a second team all Big Ten selection as voted by the coaches so it is hard to say that we should have had Mortenson out there. I've got nothing against the guy and I'm glad he chose Minnesota and I hope he uses his degree and has a good future but I think we had the right guy taking snaps.
Click to expand...

Nope, not from Hutch but I played Mortenson in High School and he was one of the better ones. When I said I hoped to see him on the field more, I meant at a position other than QB. When he was elected to the state all-star game, he decided to play linebacker in the game because they were thin at the position and he made some 17 tackles or so. Like I said, good player. In regards to him playing well in his collegiate games, he was the QB that beat Michigan (even though he didn't do anything) and he should have been credited with a win against Wisky, not his fault. He made all the plays he needed to to win (Maroney also did his share).
 

at one point i read he was practicing long snapping, just so he could help the team out in any way--class guy.
 

The only thing I really remember about Mortenson in the game against Wisconsin is that late in the game, he made a big run, but went out of bounds and stopped the clock (I believe it was in a situation where the clock would stop under current rules, but I could easily be wrong). Anyway, had the clock not stopped, I don't think Wisconsin can force the Gophers to punt (which as everyone remembers, was blocked) and we win. I am not pinning the loss on Mortenson. I know some of the staff out at Hutchinson and he is a top-notch kid. I just remember thinking at the time, "Wow! I hope this doesn't come back and bite us."

As for the possible draftees, VanDeSteeg will definitely get drafted, probably early 2nd day. I can see him putting on about 25 pounds and being one heckuva pass-rush specialist at the next level. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hightower, Davis, Simmons, and Kucek all get free agent invites. Whether or not they make it will depend on who they sign with and what type of scheme they run. I've always liked Hightower's game and he may be a late-bloomer.
 



KoolAid said:
Speaking of seniors, I wish we would have found a way to get Tony Mortenson on the field somehow. He was a darn good football player but never really entered the mix at QB <b>(except for two well played games in 05)</b>.
Click to expand...

lolwut?
 

I think Willie VanDeSteeg's senior year will get him drafted, but it all depends on the combine. If he runs a 4.9, he might not get drafted at all. If Willie runs 4.6-4.7 and shows some ability to possibly project as an OLB for a 3-4 team, I could see him going in the 3rd round.

Here's Willie's NFLDraftScout profile:

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=33327&draftyear=2009&genpos=DE

Jack Simmons would probably have to wow the scouts at the Gophers Pro Day to be drafted and even then it would be late, but he should get an invite to someone's camp.

I could see Deon Hightower getting in to someone's camp and making a team as a special teamer. It would be a longshot, but Hightower is a hard hitter and seems (from the outside looking in) as a guy who has the right mindset to succeed in such a role.

Kucek will probably be in someone's camp as the "competition" to an established punter who has little chance to lose his job.

I guess Steve Davis could be brought to a camp too, but I have a hard time seeing a role for him in the NFL.
 

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