Bradley’s Buzz: McShay rates Tech’s Morgan No. 3 overall
Two Augusts ago I was watching Georgia Tech practice and commenting on the impressive nature of the defensive line. Michael Johnson, Vance Walker, Darryl Richard …
A man who works for Tech said to me: “Derrick Morgan is the best of the bunch.”
I started watching Morgan closely from that moment on. (I am, as we know, a moron, but I can be coached up.) And by the middle of the 2008 season I agreed: Derrick Morgan stood out the most along a D-line that would see its other three members drafted by NFL teams.
Which brings us to 2009, when Morgan was named ACC defensive player of the year, and almost to 2010, when Todd McShay of ESPN.com’s Insiders foresees the same Mr. Morgan going No. 3 overall in the NFL draft. (Link requires registration.)
Not third among defensive linemen, mind you. Third among everybody.
The top five: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska; Eric Berry, S, Tennessee; Morgan; Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma, and Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. That’s four defenders up top, and three of the top five from the Big 12. Who said the SEC owns college football?
McShay’s take on Morgan: “[He] can anchor at the point of attack, make plays in pursuit, get to the quarterback coming off the edge and drop into coverage. That type of versatility would be a nice addition to a Browns defensive front seven that lacks difference-makers.”
Yes, for his good work Derrick Morgan might end up in Cleveland. But that’s what happens when you’re really gifted. Tech’s Calvin Johnson went No. 2 overall in 2007 and landed in Detroit, and Georgia’s Matthew Stafford joined him two years later. Still, I hear those guys do get paid.
But back to Morgan: He was nowhere in anyone’s first round when the season began — nowhere in anyone’s first round I saw, anyway — and only last month did he climb into the top 20. Now he’s No. 3, at least according to McShay, which means Morgan has caught and passed big-name Florida defenders Carlos Dunlap (No. 6 on McShay’s board) and Brandon Spikes (No. 19) and even Tech mate Jonathan Dwyer (No. 29; McShay has him going to San Diego).
As for the Falcons, who could stand to land a Suh or a Berry or a Morgan or even a Dunlap … McShay has them taking a defender, all right. He’s Navorro Bowman, an outside backer from Penn State. (Hey, wasn’t Jack Ham an outside backer from Penn State? And did I ever tell you Jack Ham is my favorite NFL player ever?)
McShay’s rationale regarding the Falcons: “The Falcons need an impact player at cornerback, but the next-best corner [after Florida's Joe Haden], Florida State’s Patrick Robinson, is not worth taking this early. Bowman has some off-the-field baggage, but he might be the best all-around athlete at linebacker in this class.”
Off-the-field baggage? Bowman was suspended back in 2007 and into 2008 for an altercation at the student union, for which he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. And he also, according to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com, admitted smoking marijuana this year and saw his probation extended into 2010. Sound like a Falcon to you? (Wait, wait. Don’t all answer at once.)
But back to Morgan one last time: He’s a tremendous player and a splendid fellow who bears more than a passing resemblance to Will Smith. And if you thought Tech’s D was awful this season, imagine how it might be without him next year. (Wait, wait. Don’t all shudder at once.)
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194 comments Add your comment
GT Alum
December 15th, 2009
5:10 pm
Just a note on the Tech allottment of tickets for the Orange Bowl and why nobody is buying those tickets. You can’t select the tickets you want if you are buying them through Ramblinwreck.com. Just like last year for the Chick fil A bowl, it is a random draw on where the seats are. And the sections assigned for GT are pretty bad to begin with. My friends and I are going to the game but we will be purchasing off Craigslist or through other sources so that we know where our seats are!! I’d rather spend more a little more and know I’m getting good seats. The random selection stuff through GT is BS.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2009
5:11 pm
No. 16, Slick.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2009
5:11 pm
Last two Tech games: No punts by either team.
altvol55
December 15th, 2009
5:12 pm
I would love to see Berry number 1 and for the Falcons to make a move for the hometown boy. Unfortunately, I don’t see either happening. Suh is a beast
MalibuGT
December 15th, 2009
5:13 pm
House broke, i have 6 season tickets for GT and got the same for the Orange Bowl (though a bowl game midweek after the holiday break isn’t good for me or my kids). So you can blame me for a lot of things, but dropping $$ on GT isn’t one of them. Keep giving my friends grief though, I want to see them all in Miami.
So Mark….like those Pittsburgh linebackers huh? Back in the Ham/Lambert days, all the kids were either Cowboys fans or Steelers. I was a Staubach guy.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2009
5:15 pm
I was a Steeler guy. Still have the Terrible Towel.
homer
December 15th, 2009
5:16 pm
hey house broke dog…at age 78 you should have gained some maturity, but I guess that senility is hard to overcome. Now go and change your diapers and come back with some more of that doggie talk. Man, you are pathetic.
Adam
December 15th, 2009
5:17 pm
I would hope the shreveport game is close to a sell out. It holds less people (50K) than Bobby Dodd and a&m only has 48k students. lol
GT97
December 15th, 2009
5:20 pm
All I want from the Draft Santa is a couple of picks that don’t end up on IR.
stingem
December 15th, 2009
5:20 pm
its funny to read these comments from these uga fans. there so stupid. football is team game not a one man team.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2009
5:21 pm
I think we’d be seeing a somewhat different Falcons defense had Jerry not gotten hurt. Somewhat.
Slick
December 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
Well, if Haden is gone at 16 (which is most likely) and we do draft a LB I think I’d rather have Spikes. I know he plays mostly MLB at Florida but I think he’d do great at OLB as well. Spikes is a tackling machine and makes plays. Just watch out for your eyes.
GT97
December 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
Bradley, any Updates on the progress of Jerry and Moore?
Jam
December 15th, 2009
5:25 pm
I hate for Morgan to leave. Tech has a bad enough defense even with him there. It’s been frustrating knowing we had to score at least 40+ points to win games this year.
But unlike Rennie Curran, at least Morgan isn’t a luv-em-and-leave-em babydaddy, I’ll say that for him.
Cuttysark
December 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
Derrick Morgan has had a very good senior season and will go to the NFl after the Orange Bowl. Not worth the risk of sustaining a Sam Bradford injury to come back for another season after winning the ACC Championship and defensive POY in the conference.
Go to http://isportsweb.com for more Georgia Tech football articles as they get ready for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Orange Bowl. Go Jackets!
GT Alum
December 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
I’m a season ticket holder that did not request bowl tickets before the deadline as our Bowl game was very much up in the air at that point. But again, part of the reason was that I would be thrown in some random lottery and where I end up sitting is anybody’s guess. Can somebody please elaborate on why everything is done randomly? I’m not going to buy tickets to any sporting event without knowing where my seats are!! And I doubt I’m the only one that thinks that way.
Uga sucks balls...chokers!!!
December 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
irrelevant uga is….it’s true
richard cranium
December 15th, 2009
5:28 pm
Morgan will make a great Pro – I just hope it’s NOT with the Falcons.
Because UGA fruitcakes will talk him down… just like they do with Brooking.
House Broke Dawg
December 15th, 2009
5:28 pm
Well thanks homer…for your thoughts, although i see no logical link between sinility and maturity!
pathetic…..lets not make the mistake of thinking persona here has anything to do with anything of importance! Years ago, you could come to these blogs and have a somewhat reasonable, at least semi-inteligent re:what ever topic was!
Have to say the fact that you read and acknowledge my postings encourages me, as that is my purpose…..and i do habe lots of free time!
You want to get po’ed…thank your driveling nerd herd buddies that blew up every single solitary UGA related blot every day for the past year!!! Only because we out sorried them by 3 points for your only win in the past 9 years!
30-24….glad it hurts so bad!
Jam
December 15th, 2009
5:28 pm
Shreveport. I thank God that Tech has never sunk that low.
Shreveport. My my my, have fun.
The Truth
December 15th, 2009
5:30 pm
Has CMR found a DC willing to take a hit and move to athens?
-OR-
Is he too busy preparing the team for…SHREEEEVE-A-STINKIN-PORT!
That’s right…5 loss teams EARN the right to play in SHREVEPOT!
Say it with me dawg nation…
WE ARE . . SHREVE – PORT! . .
WE ARE . . SHREVE – PORT! . .
WE ARE . . SHREVE – PORT! . .
OH YEAH, IT’S SHREEEEEVEPORT!
House Broke Dawg
December 15th, 2009
5:31 pm
JAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
My man…….of what do you speak…..please tell me you know of Boise…you know the one with the blue rug…the one tech played in for 3 of 4 years…..surely you know about Boise…the bowl game ya’ll sold a whopping 241 tickets to?
bp
December 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
does not sound like housebroke dog is housebroke at all
WW
December 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
Even people like McShay play the stupid card every once in a while. Most of the mock drafts give the individual’s favorite team the players they need, and award teams like the Falcons with players they don’t need. This is why ESPN thinks that golf is a sport, and goes all girly over Tiger’s dilemma. If he was an athlete, then it would be a story, but he is not.
Retards.
GT97
December 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
I thought our defense was going to be ok when the season started. I hope we fill the void on defense next year with Thomas and Dwyer more than likely leaving for the draft. I don’t think we will come close to our offense success of this year. I may be wrong, but I am just saying. Maybe the birds can shop Redman to move up in the draft. He would look excellent in a Lions uniform. Lord knows Detroit really stretched it when the drafted Baby Face from over yonder.
Dawgfan
December 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))hahahahahaha
3 Dawg Night
December 15th, 2009
5:34 pm
We belong in Shreveport. Beating GT was one of our few accomplishments. It really wasn’t all that impressive as the GT defense was easily the worst we faced all season.
House Broke Dawg
December 15th, 2009
5:37 pm
Brooking….brooking…mmmm…oh yeah i remember…..he was 0 for 4 against the dawgs…in one of the seversl classes at tech since early 90’s that never experienced a win over the DAWGS!!!!
tech….UGA’s female dogs for the last 50 years and counting!
Slick
December 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
Sorry House Broken Dawg, he doesn’t remember. Jacket fans, like most of the Bama fans I’ve talked to recently, pretend the first 3/4 of this decade didn’t happen.
Eaasssy
December 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
How bout getting your tails kicked by a weak WAC team in Boise a couple of years ago?
It’s all good. I hope you dorks are looking forward to the Massacre in Miami. You thought the Peach massacre last year was bad, wait until you see what Iowa does to you. Too much power for your soft D.
Keys for Iowa crushing Tech:
Pancake all highschool level defensive tackles. Check
Double team the only descent player on the line. Check
Watch the DB’s chase the running back aimlessly into the endzone…Check
With over a month to prepare the gimmick, Iowa’s D will be just fine. Check
Hahaha. Better bring a book to the game losers. Its gonna be a long night for ya…
DawginLex
December 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
Who recruited these guys anyway?
Think the nerd herd will miss Gailey’s recruiting after a couple of more years?
GT97
December 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
HousebrokeDawg….Get over yourself. If we were to go back to Boise, I am sure we would only sell 41 tickets this time around. Who gives a Sh%+. Get in your busted up kia and drive your happy a$$ to Shreveport while I fly 1st class out of IAH to Miami.
Benjamin
December 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
I want to qualify my comment by stating this: I’m a Georgia Bulldog fan who doesn’t see the need in posting “30-24!” or constant references to such an event on this page.
That said… third overall? Really? Derrick Morgan’s good — first round good, in my opinion — but drafting him third seems a little high to me. I guess that’s why McShay gets paid by the Universe and I post on your blogs, Bradley.
AlabamaBuzzer
December 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
GT Alum, I ordered thru the GT ticket office Orange Bowl tickets on Monday and got the seats I requested; they were not random. However, I think if you tried ordering on line you may well be right.
I Run This State
December 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
Mark Bradley: you projected Tech to win the game. So did your little bald buddy Jeff Schultz…when are you guys gonna eat some crow?
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
December 15th, 2009
5:44 pm
It’s a free country, nobody has to eat anything they don’t want to.
House Broke Dawg
December 15th, 2009
5:45 pm
FINALLY…GT97 gets it…and he is right…when it comes to tech football…noone gives a sh!t!
Glad you making the trip 97…just hope it’s not 43 years before you get to do it again!
I Run This State
December 15th, 2009
5:46 pm
Lay off GT97…he’s been bouncing back and forth between Boise, ID and Seattle, WA for the prestigious “Emerald Bowl” the past 8 years. Let him enjoy South Beach.
All Cupcakes Conference
December 15th, 2009
5:49 pm
“I fly 1st class out of IAH to Miami.”
Oh yeah? Well… I’m taking my private jet to Shreveport, and getting a knob shine from Tiger’s mistress on the ride there.
(See, I can make up stuff too)
99 Greasy Red Caps
December 15th, 2009
5:52 pm
out of curiousity who did UGA stop vs Kentucky? Tn? LSU? Ok St? 5 stars equals 7 wins in Athens, time to buy you another UGA cap cause the 99 ones are too greasy for Shreveport to allow you in the city limits
MalibuGT
December 15th, 2009
5:54 pm
I’m getting dumber just reading this stuff
Slick
December 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
You got us 99. UGA didn’t stop any of the teams you mentioned. But I can think of one we did. Want to guess who? Go ahead. Guess. It’ll be fun.
Benjamin
December 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
30-24 or no, Dawg fans, I’d trade Tech’s bowl for ours anyday.
When do we have a new D-CORD?
Benjamin
December 15th, 2009
5:56 pm
Blog comments tend to do that to one’s brain, Malibu. And yet, like bugs to the zapper, we can’t stay away…
girl know better than you
December 15th, 2009
5:57 pm
I’m saying Morgan stays, watch this know it alls!
The Sting
December 15th, 2009
6:00 pm
Yeah, these pro scouts don’t know anything, but the Doofus Dawgs on here know it ALL! You people are such a joke. No wonder you’re a laughing stock to out of staters. UGA may have won 30-24, but NOBODY OUTSIDE OF MUTTNATION CARES!!!
Slick
December 15th, 2009
6:06 pm
Sure Benjamin, no dawg fan wouldn’t trade bowls with Tech this year. But would you trade history? Would you trade the last decade? Tech had a good season and gets to enjoy the rewards. But much like last season, the better season didn’t equal a victory Thanksgiving weekend. So this year dawg fans at least get to enjoy that reward.
willie martinez
December 15th, 2009
6:06 pm
Mark,
have you heard any gossip about who might draft Tebow?
also, heard of any coaching openings?
willie
Slick
December 15th, 2009
6:07 pm
You care Sting. And you’re a liar if you say you don’t. I’ll be the first to admit I cared last year.
Kuntufecky
December 15th, 2009
6:08 pm
On your knees doggies
I rule ‘dis hous