Danny Bateman

Al Davis took Sebastian Janikowski with the 17th pick overall in 2000. In the NFL they use brand new balls when kicking. They are a lot harder and many have struggled adapting quickly to it. Kickers in college love kicking beat up old footballs. Alex goes in the 6th round IMO because the asset of being a hell of a punter, makes teams think of roster space. And he is that good as well. Alex's value is definitely boosted by the fact he is also a STUD punter. Not very often do you find a specialist that can do both ably, let alone excel at both like he has. Holy mother of pearl... I guess Davis isn't the punchline of so many draft jokes for no reason. I had no idea he took a kicker in the first round. Al Davis: Bringing you the finest in crazy for over eight decades now.

I love me some David Akers as an Eagles fan, but he can't keep kicking forever. I don't know... he's 36 now. We might be able to get anywhere from 3-15 more years out of him, depending on how badly he wants to keep kicking into his "Morten Andersen" years. I'd love for the Eagles to snag Henery late. Go from one deadly accurate kicker to another. Just depends on how much longer Andy wants to keep Akers around, I guess. Haven't the eagles been on the fence with Akers lately? Just another case of kicker traffic in the NFL, the reason I think Alex goes late. Sure he's adjusting to a new ball, but all kickers do. Not long ago Kiper and crew were saying he would be the highest kicker picked in years, and we were agreeing. Hmm... I guess upon further review, I forgot that Akers declined to sign his transition tag for next year (similar to franchise tag). A lot was made of how Andy Reid commented on Akers missing two kicks in the playoff exit to the Packers, because it later turned out Akers was distracted by the fact his young daughter has cancer. A bit of a backstory for you. I guess you're right. A lot of teams changed kickers lately. Dallas, Pittsburgh, Minnesota... and that's just the teams I can think of. Should be a good year for Alex to try to get taken. Wonder if he's got a chance to be taken before Mason Crosby, who was the highest drafted kicker I can remember for a while (5th round).

I love me some David Akers as an Eagles fan, but he can't keep kicking forever. I don't know... he's 36 now. We might be able to get anywhere from 3-15 more years out of him, depending on how badly he wants to keep kicking into his "Morten Andersen" years. I'd love for the Eagles to snag Henery late. Go from one deadly accurate kicker to another. Just depends on how much longer Andy wants to keep Akers around, I guess.

Good breakdown as well, GKFB. A lot of those picks make sense. It will be interesting to see if Roy or Niles is next off the board after Prince. I think both of them probably helped their draft stock with their post season showings more than any other Huskers (besides Prince solidifying his top 15 status). Roy especially TORE IT UP at the combine. Niles also posted a better 40 time at our pro day than many thought possible. I can't decide whether I like the lineman as pro prospects or not. For two years now, we've been hearing Keith Williams is/was our best lineman (or had the most potential), and yet, I personally hardly ever saw him prove it on the field. Now, whether or not you can blame that on his constantly being hurt is up for debate. However, I did see one magazine mock said he has awesome potential at the next level, but flat out called him out on "how badly he wants to dominate." Summed it up pretty well to me. Henry, he's as nasty as they come, but I question his pass pro at times. Guess we'll see. Who would you take if you could have one of the two at the next level? I'm tempted to say Ricky.

Unfortunately, from what I've gathered, Alex has actually possibly dropped his draft stock during the post season events this year, so he could've performed his way out of getting drafted. I've heard the same with Pierre Allen... Was unimpressive at Senior Bowl, didn't work out at combine (IIRC). Out of all the positions though, teams should put the least stock into the off the field performances of kickers. It's all about what you can do on the turf. You can either put the ball between the pipes or you can't. Alex has definitely proven he can (moreso than any other kicker we've ever had, anyway), so if I'm a GM, I'm definitely looking at him in the late rounds... if I've done my homework. They don't call him the Skinny Assassin for nothing. Gmoose, I too think I like Walterfootball the best out of all the mocks. I tend to stick to the reputable one as well, and I recognize the format of a few others from past years, but WF is definitely my #1 as well. I agree that a lot of mocks have Prince going to the Cowboys. They need help at corner about as badly as my Eagles do... Probably even worse. However, I noticed a couple weeks ago a ton of mocks started to have J.J. Watt as the Cowboys selection, with Prince falling to the Texans. Definite possibility... Jerry Jones seems more and more like Al Davis anymore. He drafts a lot of guys based on their physical tools, as opposed to actual proven playmakers. Watt definitely is a freak of nature... but taking him at number 9 might be reaching a bit. Looks like either way our boy Prince winds up in Texas

I don't know. Do we really want this? One of the issues I see is not really the whole 'we need an identity' thing, but when it comes down to it, and it's 3rd and 3, late in the game, what does Beck dial up that DOESN'T produce results like we saw vs. aTm and OU. Both times, with plenty of clock, we had a chance to at least come down and tie the game with one of the best FG kickers in the HISTORY of college football, and we could hardly pick up a first down both games. Saw that vs. ISU in '09, too. I remember a lot of games from the option days where it would be 3rd and medium and Osborne would send in some ISO, counter or FB trap. At first glance, it was like, "What the hell is he thinking?" But you'd see those linemen pull around and create driveway-sized holes for guys like Hipp, Rozier, Keith Jones, Calvin Jones, Phillips and Green who would bull through a tackle to move the sticks. The boys in red had those plays imprinted in their brains, and they just pushed opponents around. Then, of course, on 1st down, the all-expected ISO between the tackles suddenly became a deftly hidden play action fake, and then a deep spiral to Johnny Mitchell, Bostick, Rod Smith, Muhammed, Baul, etc. It worked because even if defenses knew one of those two plays was coming, they couldn't stop either effectively. If we're going to be consistent, we can't be a 'jack of all offenses, master of none.' Bread and butter's gotta be somewhere. I know it doesn't address your actual point, but if it makes you feel any better, someone said in another thread they watched practice for a few minutes this spring and saw more option plays being run than they had during all of Watson's reign.

Hopefully this can become a bit of an official thread for discussing who's worked out for what teams, who's getting drafted where, etc etc... right up to draft day. I know the draft and next season looks really murky right now, but the draft is still on and I'm still very interested in where our boys wind up. Mods, I guess feel free to do away with this thread if you think it isn't a good idea... I had a nice tidbit to share that I picked up on yesterday. I read my Philadelphia Eagles are bringing in Dejon Gomes for a workout... he'll most likely wind up as a safety. Obviously, I'd love to see use trade way up to snag Prince to pair with Asante Samuel, but Gomes has been every bit the playmaker throughout his two years here that Prince has. Anybody hear anything else about other guys getting private workouts so far?

Time to drop some knowledge. Today's game wasn't technically a rubber match. The final game is only a rubber match if the teams split the first two games... we lost both.

Lol at Cotton recruiting only lineman, besides the one QB. I know it's his position and everything, but it's as if the coaches feel the same way as we do... "No, Barney, you just focus on the lineman. Leave the rest to us. You can spend you free time... playing army guys." (Bo gives to Barney)

I can't believe we are discussing EMart not being able to help in run support. The guy whose nickname is Caveman. The guy who got suspended for his hit on ST ( still think it was a horsecrap call). The ST maven. Seems like it's such an oxymoron. Guess it makes a big difference when a 300+ lb. OT wants to maul you on a running play

Caught the end of the game yesterday on the radio in the kitchen of the restaurant I wait at. It was especially pleasing to hear the walk off announced b/c the lone cook yesterday is a big OU fan. Man was he pi$$ed off we found a way to win Well, this series tells me it appears our baseball team may have located and/or regrown the cojones they've been sorely lacking the last few years. If they can keep it up, should be a fun year. Would be great to break in the new stadium with our Huskers earning a CWS berth... but that's a long ways off.

Let's hope we continue to battle on the mound, pick up some hits, and take the rubber game today!

I just find the state of our team laughable... It honestly makes me smile how stupid trying to root for our Bball team makes me feel. I get off work tonite around 9:45 and tune in to the game on the way home. We're down nine and Jeter (our leader who always puts this team on his shoulders) nails a three. Then we try to get back in it and... What do you know? Diaz "loses" the ball out of bounds. How many times have I heard that phrase this year? This would be understandable for someone, say, who had rocks instead of hands, but then why the hell would that person get a basketball scholarship?!?! Perhaps before next season Diaz should attempt to learn how to catch a basketball.

Well, we shall hope this works out better than our last transfer. Or at least Mike doesn't end up in such a poor place in life that he feels the need to sue the NCAA over a video game.

I initially thought of Paul and Justin Jackson for those who were trying to keep track at home. Totally forgot about Steiny and Rickey Thenarse. Also, thought of Jake Cotton's incident with his old girlfriend that he went to court for, for those trying to keep track of our players. I guess this article goes to show you that for every kid out there that's respectful and follows his mama's orders, there's also a kid willing to throw a guy through a glass door and continue to punch him while he's bleeding, or a guy willing to choke out/slap his girlfriend and her friends. Really sad.

I like you plan for the end of the game. The only problem I see with your plan is that whole "throwing it to Diaz" part. I don't know that we could successfully execute anything like that. LOL @ the username "Accountability" being the last guy to post in this thread. It's something we always seem to lack after these inexplicable losses.

LOL. And a +1 for you, sir.

Well... The JBD hate thread should officially wreck the board now. For anyone not watching the game, Jeter just made a dish to a WIDE OPEN JBD down low down 3... and JBD had the ball go off his chest and proceeded to fall over.

KSU.. If missouri can start to struggle and we beat them, then we can maybe put them on the bubble. If we win today and Missery loses, we are only a game back. A game we could make up on Tuesday and then Mizzou has to play KU after us. If we win out, Missery loses out we could take 5th in the Big 12. 5th means we get ISU in game one in the tourney, then another shot at KSU. Correct me if i am wrong in my assumptions. No, that sounds great. You obviously put more thought in than myself. Thought about it for all of about 10 seconds. I just really want another shot at KSU/Pullen now. He's a douche because: A) He said he wouldn't play if they went to the NIT. What a tool B) The beard. We all know what it really looks like... like something you should trim in the shower.

Also, just curious... perhaps one of the more basketball savvy guys could fill me in... Who do we want to win the Mizzou/KSU game? It's on ESPN right now, and KSU holds the edge 41-38 at half? Do we cheer for the team that just beat us or the one we have yet to play? I'd think Mizzou since we could then come back to beat them.

Just noticed, ESPN was too lazy to do a preview write up for this game (can't really blame them with all the NCAAB games), but they have Standhardinger listed as our top rebounder with 5.5/game. I agree with Redout, this really is a must win game. We cannot suffer a loss to a team this bad and still have reasonable or even Great Expectations () to get into the tourney. We need to show we even have a pulse on the road, do well finishing out the schedule, and then impress when we get into the tourney. We still have a ton of people to win over.

Time to yank another O-tackle out of Colorado? We shall see. To be honest, with the haul we got last year and the youth we already have, offensive line is not one of the spots I'm worried about in this cycle. Would LOVE to see some stud LB's tho... As I'm sure most of you would.

Huskerjournal Good lord... Guess it ain't ever too early to set in with this crap.