Mel Kiper: UW's Jake Locker will be the #1 pick in 2011..

[Upton]

"If you had to ask me right now who is going to be the number one pick in the 2011 draft, I would say it's etched in stone it's going to be Jake Locker," Kiper said. "You can mark that down. Jake Locker, if he's not the number one pick, it's an upset."

Kiper made the remark when asked a question about Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who is also likely to be a high pick in the 2011 draft if he declares, saying that the top three QBs will be Locker, Mallett and Stanford's Andrew Luck.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2011551153_uwfb08.html?syndication=rss

Interesting that Kiper suggests two out of the top three QBs taken in 2011 will be from the PAC-10. The Premier Athletic Conference-10 has produced Hall of Famers at the QB position in the past....Elway and Aikman for example.

[Auggie]

1. Mel Kiper's act is tired -- can we get somebody new?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. Of course Jake still

has to play this year. Really, he needs to have superior numbers this year for that to happen, imho. He is very talented but labored under a terrible system (Willingham), had an injury that shortened another season. So this year is the one every Huskie fan hopes will bring Locker a Heisman bid and the team back to respectability. Sarkisian is the right coach for Jake so I think he'll improve on last year. If you were to lay out Jake's college stats as of today, to take him number one is to gamble on the potential he shows.........

[Upton]

11. UW is back..

The Huskies have already returned to "respectability"....Defeating USC, giving LSU all they could handle. A break here or there and they would have been bowl eligible..quite an improvement from the winless previous year..It can only get better under Sarkisian.

Oh, and speaking of the Heisman, Locker is one of the early favorites for 2010.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/307719-top-10-heisman-candidates-for-2010#page/12

[JonLP24]

3. I would put Andrew Luck higher

This may be narrow but I seen Jake Locker threw a pick to Vontaze Burfict that was nullified by a defensive penalty away from the ball. The very next play he throws another pick that counted. Aside from the first drive of the game he struggled while Andrew Luck... wow... what a performance he put up against them. There was nothing, I mean nothing they could do to stop him and he put up impressive numbers against the nation's #13 defense(ASU).

Locker is good too but if I had the choice between the two assuming both are going to be in the draft next year I take Luck.

[Upton]

10. I like both of them..

they've both got good size, strong arms, are reportedly excellent leaders, and will be playing on Sunday. Though I think Locker's mobility gives him a slight edge in my book. Another year under Sarkisian and Jake should look much more polished.

[PVnRT]

4. LOL - you're relying on Kiper for "expert" advice?

[wilt the stilt]

5. All you need to know about Mel Kiper

Mel Kiper, Jr.
From Dickipedia - A Wiki of Dicks
Mel Kiper, Jr. (born July 25, 1960) is an ESPN analyst for the NFL draft, huge football nerd, and a dick. Since 1984, he has been a staple of ESPN's annual draft coverage, which begins in May and extends through the following April.

While ESPN has a storied history of launching the careers of irritating commentators, Kiper is surely in the upper echelon. His achievements include appearing at 24 consecutive drafts and somehow interrupting every single ESPN show ever to air. He is the most recognizable dick in conjunction with the NFL draft.

It is important to note that, in regards to football, Kiper does not have actual coaching or playing experience, and has been able to designate himself an expert simply by saying so, loudly, many times, without anyone questioning it. This is standard dick behavior.

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Mel_Kiper%2C_Jr.

[wilt the stilt]

6. Proof of genius

Proof of genius

Though a dick, Mel Kiper is an infallible genius when it comes to scouting future NFL talent.

* He once snidely remarked of the Colts, "That's why keep picking number two every year," after their 1994 second overall selection. Kiper was widely critical of the Colts’ pick that year, Marshall Faulk, who turned out to be such a bust that he is expected to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in the near future.

* In 2005, Kiper praised 8th overall selection, wide receiver Mike Williams, saying, "I'll see you at his Hall of Fame induction." Many people have yet to fully recognize the abilities Kiper saw in Williams. These people include coaches, fans, analysts, referees, the players on the teams he played for and against, and anyone else who has seen him in a football jersey. Williams’ journey to the Hall of Fame suffered a slight detour in 2007 when he stopped playing football and no one wanted to sign him.

* In 1999, he touted the potential of Oregon quarterback Akili Smith to exceed at the professional level. Fans have high hopes for Smith to have a great season this year and to make a big statement in his league.

* In 1998, Kiper argued that Ryan Leaf, 2nd overall pick, had an attitude that would be an asset in the NFL. He has since become one of professional football's most notable quarterbacks.

* In 2001, Kiper predicted a dismal 0-16 season for the New England Patriots. The team finished slightly better than that prediction, managing to win just one Super Bowl the entire season.

[JonLP24]

7. To be fair

He was critical of the #5 pick, Trev Alberts which was selected 3 slots after Marshall Faulk. I seen the video so I'm pretty sure. He suggested that they should have drafted Trent Dilfer instead.

Also he was far from the only one touted Akili Smith and Ryan Leaf.

I'm no fan of Kiper but these draft analysts have an accuracy that rivals batting averages when it comes to picking something as unpredictable as the draft.

[Upton]

8. We get it.. you don't like Kiper

Well, since you believe he's wrong in this case, then I'm sure you'll be able to find me a draft expert who DOESN'T have Locker at or near the top for 2011.

If you're correct...it should be easy...

[Arkana]

12. If you think that's bad, check out the record of his ESPN partner-in-crime Todd McShay.

In addition to declaring JaMarcus Russell a Hall-of-Famer-in-waiting, he also denounced Sidney Rice and Darrelle Revis as busts when they were drafted.

McShay also has yet to retract his statement that said that Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead was a) a better athlete than Texas QB Colt McCoy, and b) would be drafted in the top 5 this year.

This year he's pissing all over Jimmy Clausen, so I fully expect Clausen will be at least moderately successful.

[JonLP24]

13. You got to see this

Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen defended himself on Wednesday against criticism about his maturity from ESPN analyst Todd McShay.

Clausen is regarded as a first-round prospect in the April 22 draft by most analysts, and may be selected as high as one of the top few picks. But McShay has been a strong voice of dissent about Clausen and has said there are serious issues about the QB's maturity and "mental capacity." (Video of McShay's analysis here.)

Clausen responded in remarks to the Washington Post:

"I have no idea why he says that. People are just going to say what they want to say. But at the end of the day, I am who I am. And the people who really know who I am, know the type of person that I am -- a loving, caring person (who's) a pretty good football player and a great leader on the field and off the field."

<snip>

"If I was as bad of a leader and as bad of a teammate and person that (McShay's) portraying me to be out there, I don't think anybody would have voted for me as a captain.

"To be honest, I don't think my receivers would have come out to stay at my house with my family for a week last year before the past season in the summertime. There are just a lot of things he says that I really don't get. But that's just another person who really doesn't know who I am as a person."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/03/notre-dame-qb-jimmy-clausen-fights-back-after-stinging-criticism-from-espn-analyst-todd-mcshay/1

[Arkana]

14. McShay's just a lousy piece of shit.

Google "Todd McShay sucks" and read the PFT article--it basically talks about how scouts and top brass have a world of respect for Kiper but think McShay's an insufferable asshole.

[Upton]

15. The full McCoy/Snead story has yet to be written..

I've seen boards, mock drafts, that have Snead rated higher than McCoy. Obviously, after last season, Snead isn't going to be going in the top 5, but he might yet end up being the superior NFL QB..

[MadBadger]

9. OBSESSED