With the twenty first pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, DannyO selects...
Phil Taylor - DT, Baylor
Kansas City made the playoffs last season by going 10-6 and winning the AFC West. However, in Scott Pioli's 3rd year as GM, the Chiefs are still rebuilding their team. In 2010, the Chiefs were ranked as the 8th youngest average age in the league at 25.66 years old. The Chiefs primarily run a base 3-4 defensive scheme since the hiring of GM Scott Pioli & Head Coach Todd Haley. In such a scheme, one position that is at great importance is the nose tackle position or the zero-technique. Every great 3-4 defense has one and every other team needs or wants one. Good nose tackles are hard to find. Recently Ron Edwards has been the NT for K.C., but he'll be 32 years old at the start of the season & without a contract for 2011. In my eyes, Taylor is the best nose tackle in this draft. He has the prototypical size and skill-set to make it in the NFL.
More after the jump...
Taylor measures up at a earth-shaking 6'3", 334lbs and uses his hands to get a great initial punch off the snap. He anchors the front-7 against the run and commands double teams an the attack allowing for teammates to find gaps in the offensive line. In 1-on-1 situations, he can be unblockable. Taylor isn't limited to zero-technique and one-technique looks, he'll occasionally shade outside the guard and become a real problem as a huge three-technique, he has the skill-set to do so. He's an interesting prospect because he played for both Penn State & Baylor, using his brute force in both the Big10 & Big 12 conferences. He does have a few skeletons in his closet though; In 2007, Taylor was dismissed from Penn State for academic issues and for being involved in a fight. Taylor and two others allegedly beat up a man at a fraternity dance at the school's student union. Taylor was charged with felony aggravated assault, but the charge was eventually dropped. It seems like being kicked off the team by JoePa was a big wake-up call for him. Since transferring to Baylor to reunite with former PSU assistant Brian Norwood, he's been a key player for the Bears. Known for his leadership and toughness to play through injuries. In 2010 the Baylor senior had 62 tackles, 7 for loss & 2 sacks. After a two week mission in Kenya, Taylor stated "It was a life-changing experience, an eye-opener." ... "I had no idea how good we have it ... It made me humble myself to work harder." A different person than what he was at Happy Valley and a viable 1st round pick.
Taylor dominated offensive linemen at the senior bowl, and his combine numbers were what you would expect from a defensive lineman of his size.
Combine numbers
40yd dash: 5.14sec.
3cone drill: 7.75sec.
Broad jump: 8'4"
Vertical Jump: 29.5"
Bench Press: 31 reps at 225lbs.Looking through Scott Pioli's draft history, 4 of his 11 1st round picks were used to select a d-lineman. He's had success with all of the defensive linemen he's drafted in the 1st round:
RDE - Richard Seymour, NT - Vince Wilfork, LDE - Ty Warren, and recently LDE - Tyson Jackson.A player like Taylor would look pretty good between Tyson Jackson & Glenn Dorsey on the K.C. defensive line and if all pans out this year, Pioli will receive yet another NFL executive of the year award to add to his vast collection.
Next on the clock will be Shawsage with the Indianapolis Colts.
Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey 20 - Adrian Clayborn