2012 NFL Draft: Justin Blackmon, Mohamed Sanu Are Going Pro
by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 3, 2012 12:24 PM CST
in 2012 NFL Draft
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Over the last 24 hours, two of the country's top wide receiver prospects have declared their intentions to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State, widely considered the top prospect at his position, and Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers will both head to the NFL this year, according to Mocking the Draft. Both names could figure into the St. Louis Rams draft considerations this year.
MORE: Be sure to check out SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft.
Sanu looks like a second-round pick, perhaps capable of sneaking into the latter part of the first round. His best asset is his hands. For the sake of lazy comparisons, he'd be a better version of Austin Pettis. Here's a scouting report.
Blackmon is a potential top five pick this year. While most would rank him below A.J. Green and Julio Jones, the top receivers in last year's draft, he's still a dynamic playmaker capable of being a number one in the NFL. Blackmon had eight catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the Fiesta Bowl last night. It did nothing to hurt his draft stock.
If the Rams manage to trade down, and stay in the top 10, they would have to consider Blackmon who fills what has been the team's biggest need for a long, long time. That need becomes even greater with Brandon Lloyd likely to leave as a free agent if Josh McDaniels bolts town.
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yeah after blackmon's performance last night
I am officially on the blackmon bandwagon. I think he’ll be our #1 when brandon Lloyd leaves whether its this year or in a couple years.
I am offically a believe!
People will say he’s not as good as Green or Julio but the only thing they have over him his height. I’d put him over Julio (who also was said to have drop problems). He has as much athletic ability and has all the intangibles to be a number one.
Ignorance is Bliss
by RG31 on Jan 3, 2012 12:33 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Yep
As talented as Green and Julio are, Blackmon is close. What does he have over them? Heart. They have a lot of heart as well, but Blackmon has more heart than any player I’ve seen in a few years (Tebow is religious, that’s different). Blackmon has heart like I only see in truly great players.
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 12:44 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I will
go out on a limb and say his heart turns him into the next TO. That is good in terms of production but the baggage not so much.
Are you joking right now?
He’s as humble as they get
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:19 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
It's called being fired up
Brady does it, WITH HIS COACHES! TO’s issue is that he doesn’t care about anyone but himself, Blackmon isn’t like that.
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:34 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Since
you and he are close I will take your word on it. As for Brady doing it that’s a bit different sicne he is top 2 or 3 to ever play a game and a mega franchise QB. I only wish our franchise QB would show that fire. I am afraid a rookie wr showing “fire” may no be the best thing for a young need to be franchise QB. That is my concern with Blackmon that’s all. Talent no question.
Blackmon is maybe the best college reciever ever, it's not out of place in college
And Sam leads in a different way, trust me, he has the passion, I kinda gotta think Spags sucks fire out of you. Joking
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
And I'm not close to Blackmon
I just know based on what everyone in Oklahoma says about him and the whole story about that young girl with cancer, which I don’t remember anything like that with TO
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
All
I am saying is with 2 offenses in 2 years lack of pass protection as it sits now the last thing Sam needs is a WR in his ear wanting to get the ball. Now being fired up is one thing but gimme the damn ball is a whole nother. As long as he isn’t that guy then great and I don’t disagree with needing playmakers my philosophy is start with a good OL building inside out same on D. You get to the QB your corners become that much better. Give your QB time and your WR become that much better.
My brain says take Kalil
However if we can trade down to 4 and take Blackmon, I’m taking that. I just have this guy feeling about Blackmon being special. Same thing I had for Demarco last year, but more so. Qb’s say they like having a WR who just wants the ball, the problem is when they get mad when someone else gets the ball. I think Blackmon was more annoyed cause the offense was stalling so he was saying “get me the damn ball, I can get us going!” which he did. He had all 3 TD’s tossed by Weeden, and he was cheering for Randle when he got the game tying td
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 4:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Blackmon reminds me of aj...
I like aj 10x more than julio.. I get the feeling he actually enjoys the game and hes a lot more humble, julio reminds me of djax, all the talent but he lets it go to his head…
by Rando on Jan 3, 2012 12:58 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Julio does not let it go to his head
He is extremely humble
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 1:04 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
''Sanu looks like a second-round pick, perhaps capable of sneaking into the latter part of the first round.''
that is what they said about kenny britt another rutgers product. if he is anyway close to britt in terms of ability then i like him a lot already. i rate britt in the top 5 in the league having watched him beat double teams and out muscle others for the ball. also he is great at yac.
If his head was on straight
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 1:05 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
i get that all the time
on the field he is a beast and was leading the league when he blew out his knee. off the field he needs to grow up though.
Agreed
The lockout showed he’s a mess
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Sanu in second
Kalil in first
WE SUCK. THAT IS ALL.
by RAMSALLTHEWAY on Jan 3, 2012 1:08 PM CST via mobile reply actions
That celebration is another reason to draft him
And AJ Smith and Norv are staying in San Diego
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 1:37 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Very tough call
Blackmon was great last night. However…can you pass up a top-talent like Kalil? That offensive line is a mess!
The thought is we trade down for more picks, making Kalil unavailable, and take Blackmon
Which is a fair trade off IMO
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 1:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I keep seeing this scenario repeated on TST
And I’m just not seeing how it will happen so easily. We won’t be the only team targeting Blackmon after last night’s performance. I’m having a hard time buying the Browns as a trading partner. It works great for the Rams, but I think they might be interested in trying to fill more holes than just a big one at QB. If I’m right and the Browns aren’t the Rams trading partner for the #2 pick, then I think the Rams will have to trade back up to get into the Blackmon sweepstakes.
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 2:15 PM CST up reply actions
The thought is cause the Browns have all those extra picks
And if they don’t get Blackmon, Floyd is still there
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
i get why rams would look at the browns as a perfect trade partner
i’m just not convinced the browns would look at the rams the same
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:00 PM CST up reply actions
I'm saying they want RG3, an they don't have to give away all their picks to get him
Cause they have so many and there fore can still fill holes even if they trade up for RG3. If they want him, they have to trade up to the Rams pick for him,
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:09 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
where are you seeing that they want him?
i haven’t seen that. i’ve some searching and haven’t seen that sentiment anywhere.
i’d love for this to happen, but i’m skeptical about getting my hopes up for this team anymore
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:35 PM CST up reply actions
Let's put two an two together
They need a qb, after RG3 the next best qb is Landry Jones (if he leaves) and most feel he is a guaranteed bust (90% chance he is a bust IMO). They will want RG3.
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
ESPN dedicated a day to him staying
And yes
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:48 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
so your source is your gut
i wouldn’t mind you being right, but pardon me if i don’t put as much faith in your speculation as you are (at least not yet)
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
It’s two days after the season, let’s give it awhile, the rumors will start to leak that they want RG3
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
ftfy :-D
It’s two days after the season, let’s give it awhile, the rumors might start to leak that they want RG3
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:59 PM CST up reply actions
What? That's what I said
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 4:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I don't
understand why we need more picks. After all we got rid of the reason the team lost. (Spags)
We have to make up for all the holes he and Devaneu caused
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:23 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
That
was sarcasm. My point all along is this team is lacking talent. Everyone wanted to just say Spags sucked. I know he wasn’t the best in the world and maybe isn’t HC material but at teh end of the day no one could have won with this team this year. The GM has more to do with personnel than the HC.
This team lacks talent, and it's also that he and Devaney sucked
And why does no one seem to remember how Spags was given a lot of say in personel? It’s 40% him for having no talent, 60% BD. the team being a joke on the field almost every week is 100% on Spags, cause at the end of the day its on the coach. This team isn’t good, but Spags was not HC material
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:38 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
ooh he likes the white girls
Beating off the dog is never appropriate when we have company over...... I mean EVER!
Of course that’s your bug revelation…….. And who DOESN’T?!?!!
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
*big
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 2:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
After last season, not having a game changing wideout hurt more than a gunshot to the head.
I say, screw Khalil. Teams will be trading up to get Blackmon if the Rams don’t draft him. He’ll be gone by pick #5 if they screw this one up. They should have learned from last years draft that teams aren’t going to wait for a game-changing wideout to fall in their laps come draft day. AJ Green and Julio Jones… remember them? Remember Atlanta swooping in for Jones and denying the Rams a shot at him? I’m sure Spags and Devaney do, and I’m sure they regret nor doing whatever they could to get one of them. Instead they took two possession receivers and a receiving tight end. Ha! What a joke! I’m sure they thought about it a lot as they took their belongings out in a box of Rams park today.
i bet they wish their problems were as simple as one player
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:01 PM CST up reply actions
It's not about one player...
Have you seen the Falcons defense, particularly their secondary? They were FAR from one player but they saw amazing talent that wasn’t their with anybody else and simply went after it. The Falcons could have EASILY passed on Julio considering they already had a #1 wideout in Roddy White (he led the league in receptions the year they drafted Julio). But instead they said…“Wow this guy is amazing and we NEED this guy on our team to compete in a league that’s based around passing”…and they went out and got him. The Falcons did and currently DO NOT have a great offensive line and needed a LT or O-Lineman just as the next team. But instead of settling for an OK lineman to come to them, they said were going to get one of the best playmakers in the draft. So don’t say the Falcons were “one player away” because they were and still are far from it.
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
all i'm suggesting
is that julio wouldn’t have been enough to save steve or billy
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:44 PM CST up reply actions
No, but we'd be better with him
Then with Kendrick’s, Salas, and Pettis. Although I would only have done a Falcons style trade for Green
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
if cleveland would've taken a 2, 3 and 4 for their #1 from the rams
then devaney should’ve been fired after day one of the draft last year
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:48 PM CST up reply actions
That's who we took because we couldn't get Julio
And I wouldn’t have given up what the Falcs did for Julio, only for AJ
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
it sound like you saying the rams could
exchange those three picks for julio, now i don’t get your point
i’d be curious what the bengals wanted for that pick, doubt the rams could afford it, it’d be interesting to visit that alternate universe though :-)
by hex706f726368 on Jan 3, 2012 3:57 PM CST up reply actions
Ummm...
The playoffs?…..
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
+1
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:43 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Umm, Sir...that was last year...
Just because a team was good with the same group of people LAST YEAR, doesn’t mean they would be just as good (Exhibit A: The 2010 Rams vs. The 2011 Rams) Have you seen Julio play THIS YEAR? Have you seen teams try to defend him AND Roddy White THIS YEAR? Remember they let Michael Jenkins go to the Vikings THIS YEAR? How can you honestly say they would be just as good, if not better, than if they didn’t draft Julio THIS YEAR???
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
Agree as well
They got the player they thought was most necessary. Although for the Rams, with all the other needs they have, I think only AJ would have been worth making a Falcon kinda deal for for the Rams.
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
To further that point. I say that the Bradford pick is a waste if they don't get Blackmon.
Why draft a franchise QB and pay him more money than God if you don’t surround him with skill players? It doesn’t take consistently taking a tackle with your 1st pick to beef up the o-line. The Patriots, Colts, Packers, and Steelers don’t feel the need to draft offensive tackles in the 1st round every other year.
Trade to the Browns (even if they offer a little less than others, which they will)
And then take either Blackmon or Kalil (it’ll be Blackmon) after the Vikes take their pick (probably Kalil). If we get Kalil at 4, then we take Alshon at the top of the second (unlikely) or we move back into the bottom of the 1st for him.
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:33 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Apparently
You haven’t seen the last couple of Packer drafts. Buloga ring a bell? Sherrod ring a bell? I can’t recall the last time the Pack took a WR in the 1st. They last time the Pats took a WR as early as even the 2bd was 2006and last year Solder OT. The steelers also don’t jump for WR in the first. I think Wallace was a 3rd. The went OL in the 2nd this year and 1st lasy year. Most teams that win do to things well A) protect the QB and B) get to the QB.
Actually, the Steelers don't protect the qb
They stink at it, Big Ben is just a water buffalo
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 3:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Do you see the Pack drafting LT with their 1st round every other year? I don't.
The Rams will if they pick Kahlil.
Well the Rams have picked Barron, Smith, and this year they might draft Kahlil.
Not to mention Saffold in the 2nd round a couple of years ago. Where does it end? Do we need a 1st round LT, no we don’t. We don’t need one in the 1st round every 2 years. LT depth later in the draft… yes… the first pick in the draft… no. The Packers don’t need a WR, however we do. Everytime we bypass elite skill players on offense, we waste a talented and expensive franchise QB’s shelf life. So the choice is yours Kroenke.
In case
your wondering the PACK have an abundance of 2, 3 ,4 rd WR so apparently you don’t need one in the first to make it big. Now as for the Rams every other year OL since 2000 we have drafted 9 OL and of those 9 2 were in the first, 1 in the second, 2 in the 5th, and 4 in the 7th and not 1 last year.
And
it paid big dividens when the starters went down each of teh last 2 years. They werent shuffling guys in off the street. Again give me a franchise LT ie Pace, Long Thomas before a #1 WR. Keep my QB up right and you can make playmakers out of 3 and 4 rd WR
So
you’re gauranteeing Blackmon will be the next Ande Johnson or Fitzgerald? Again is Sam is on his ass like he was this year I don’t care who is split out there.
If he had a Blackmon and Danny and Salas, and maybe a Bowe (less likely)
He’d have guys he can throw it to hot
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 4:30 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Not true, Sir...
Alex Smith has been on his @ss all year and are the #2 seed in the playoffs. The Packers gave up the 21st most sacks this year and are the #1 seed…
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
Not gaurantee anything here.
But I’d like to see them get someone who can catch a ball. A receiver that can out-muscle a cornerback will take pressure off of Steven Jackson. I’m not even refering to deep routes, which Blackmon is good at. He’s similar to Megatron and Fitzgerald in which he can catch the ball in tight coverage. Which in and of itself should open more holes in the running game. Which will also stop the defense from stacking the line and killing Bradford in the process. He’ll have better play action ability if he doesn’t have cornerbacks and safeties blitzing him. The main problem with the offense is that defenses don’t fear the pass. Our current receivers can’t even catch a cold, let alone a football. Oddly enough an elite wide receiver might be the best pass protection for Bradford this year.
by Da Rams! on Jan 3, 2012 4:31 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
JESUS!!!
This is what I have been trying to tell people on this board all year!!! But they act like I’m talking Latin and don’t understand it. I was just telling someone that a good corp of WRs will help out the offensive line because they aren’t sending 7-8 guys each play! In turn, the O-Line will have less people to block and Sam will have more time! I have been trying to say this but people act like I’m crazy!!!
THANK YOU!
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
I'm with you man
I feel like I’m always talking latin
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 4:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I'm also with ya RamsMan
Sometimes its hard for people to diagnose the illness from the symptoms. Even after another season of obvious less than mediocre route running, ball dropping, and poor coverage shaking, it obvious to us savvy people that the receivers are severely lacking.
An offensive line can only do so much if the defense is continually sending everyone over the line to kill Bradford. You get injured lineman because they’re being overextended trying to block 2 or 3 defenders at once. And it doesn’t help that Bradford doesn’t have a blocking halfback to give him an extra second during a safety blitz either. I’d fix the WR and RB problems first and go back to working on Jason Smith to improve his pass blocking ability. Less defenders attacking the line will do wonders for your offensive line’s performance and their health.
He beats his corner for the ball
That’s the big thing
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 4:34 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Didn't
say they did. I said most teams. But they do draft OL in the first because they dont protect they didnt draft WR to fix it.
At this point I'd rather see them spend money on a serviceable LT in free agency than waste another high round pick on one.
Too many holes in the roster to continually draft high at one position. I agree bookend tackles make for a better offense, but not at the expense continually wasting top draft picks on them. If the Rams can’t get their guy on the 1st couple of tries through the draft then maybe they need to trade for one or go get one through free agency. Easier said than done, but going for left tackle through the draft hasn’t improved this team offensively over the past 6 yrs.
For the record...
The two best offensive lines this year are the Bills and Titans respectively. And guess what? {drum roll}….NEITHER OF THEM MADE THE PLAYOFFS! The Raiders have the 5th best offensive line this year, Chargers at 8th and Eagles at 10th and…wait for it…NONE OF THEM MADE THE PLAYOFFS.
However…our divison opponent San Francisco 49ers have the 26th ranked offensive line in the league. Packers are 21st, Broncos are 23rd, and the Steelers are 24th yet ALL OF THEM ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS, with the 49ers having the worst out of all of them yet are the #2 seed…
And just to prove this isn’t an anomaly, check out the 2010 stats where only 4 out of the top 15 teams with the best offensive lines made it to the playoffs…FOUR OUT OF FIFTEEN!!! This proves that it’s not totally about an offensive line but more about playmaking ability…
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
nfl.com...
Adjust the year and compare them to the playoff teams of the respective years…
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
We're SUCH WINNERS!
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 5:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
that is based on sacks only
tn is a run first team and their line was not exactly opening holes for cj so the rankings are flawed.
Well...
Thats how they judge the offensive line, by how many sacks they have…
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
by RamsMan83 on Jan 3, 2012 11:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
near the bottom in ypc and rushing tds
and even if you are saying they were #2 in pass blocking that would be misleading without factoring in pass attempts.
Here's how we setle the "who should we draft (and how should we draft) them" debate:
WE DRAFT KATE UPTON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
2 reasons i did this
1) this place needs the mood lightened after how the last few days have gone
2) its Kate Upton
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 3, 2012 5:27 PM CST up reply actions
Blackmon should not be passed up on.
It’s time. Get him.
However, I’d still like Khalil, so we need to move some picks, and do some fancy dancing to get a qualified LT. Be smart and know the Draft Board thoroughly, to find a LT we can use with Blackmon & Lloyd. Now, if Lloyd wants to go with McDaniels, then that solidifies for me, that he’s hiding behind coach. Cause there aren’t many coaches who would feature Lloyd like McDaniels. If that’s the case, then bounce! We don’t want players hiding behind coaches anyway. We need alot. It starts with Blackmon and a move of some kind, to obtain a good LT, veteren or draftee………Go Rams!
Is it just me?
It does it look like Blackmon’s nose is poking her in the eye?
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Jan 4, 2012 12:15 AM CST via mobile reply actions
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