Eleven Warriors

I know this is an obvious statement to make, but I think it all depends on what happens this year. If he has a breakout year, which I expect he will, and if he's projected so high, I say he's gone. If he has a so-so year and his draft prospects aren't favorable, I think he could stay.

While I think winning a title is most likely very important to him, it would be hard to pass up being a 1st round pick to come back for a chance to maybe win a title (although I do think OSU will certainly be primed to make a title run in 2013).

Good Thing we are recruiting Beast to replace him on the D- Line

Simon will probably not be a high draft pick due to his lack of size ... and they say he is even slimmer this year ...

Hank is a better pro. Simon is a great football player but is a classic Tweener. Hank is a legit, 1 gap Nose tackle in a 4-3 and can transition to be a 2 gap nose in a 3-4. Simon, as a pro, is not in the same ball park because he doesn't have ideal pro DT size or DE speed.

As a Bears fan who has enjoyed the Lovie Smith 4-3 Cover 2 system for years, I wouldn't mind seeing Simon play the 3 technique in that system where he's supposed to be a penetrator but I think he's too small for that. Tommie Harris (before injury) was the quintessential Cover 2, 3 technique but he played at about 295 pounds. Warren Sapp was the prototype 3 tech and he played around 305 too. As an end, Simon is probably not athletic enough off the edge.

With all of that said, he's going to land on an NFL roster. This dude has New England written all over him. Bill finds a way to use guys who can play. Simon can play. He just doesn't have the build for a DT or the measurables for a DE. He isn't a top 25 pro prospect, sad to say.

I don't know. I like Simon, but even if he gets double digits this year he's a 4th round toy for a creative DC.

@ Brewster, Double digit sacks for Simon would be an outstanding year, and certainly far from guaranteed, BUT there is nfw that Simon lasts until the 4th round if he puts up numbers like that. 

While I agree with all the tweener statements you guys made about Simon and that is most certainly why Hank is above him on the Big Board, I don't think it matters. The man has the best work ethic in college football. If someone believes he can play OLB, he will slim down and get fast enough to play there. He'll never run a 4.4, but the man has wheels and will only get faster if he needs to. If he needs to put on some lbs. and play DT, he will do that too. I would absolutely love for him to get drafted by the Patriots because all you need to be successful with them is a motor. If you have that, their coaching staff will teach you and put you in position to be successful.

@ Brewster,

I think pretty much everybody agrees that Big Hank comes off the board way before Simon.  Furthermore, I'm pretty sure everybody agrees that Simon looks to be a classic "tweener" for the NFL.  You seem to be saying just a little bit more than that.  Earlier in the thread you stated that "if Simon gets double digit [sacks] this year he's a 4th round toy."  I am saying that IF Simon gets double digit sacks this year there is nfw he lasts past the 2nd round.  Outside of a QB, there is nothing that GMs value more than a guy who can knock that QB on his back.  If Simon shows he can be that guy, he'll be far more than a pet project in the 4th round.  

Why are we worrying about where Simon projects NOW. Let's wait until his senior year is over and how he performs in a system better suited for him. You forget, all the scouts are going by is what they have seen from him in the PAST. They have not seen the slimmer Simon who may be used in a capacity better suited to his skills. Lets see how he performs this year before playing the disrespect card.

@ Cincy,

Can't speak for others, but I am talking about Simon now, because I'm having a lunch break, it's May, and football season is still 4 months away.

@ Brewster,

We're not far off on this thing.  The point I am making is based entirely on an IF, and that "if" is whether or not Simon can get double digit sacks (to get drafted in the first 2 rds, I'd actually make 11 the magic number).  There's a good chance he will not.  In fact, if I had to guess his total this year, I'd put him at about 8-9.  However, if he does get more than 10, he has demonstrated that he CAN become a game changing player.  Just think about it this way, when was the last B10 player with more than 10 sacks not drafted in the first two rounds?

Saturday - I'm not saying there's anything wrong with talking about football now. I was simply pointing out that SOME ppl are playing the disrespect card too early...the NFL draft is a full season away. There are too manys ifs ans or buts that can come into play. As of what scouts have on Simon up to this point, there are pretty accurate in their projections.

I do AGREE with you though, I feel that he will be utilized much better in this system and should hopefully be able to raise his profile.

I think you mean Bruce Irvin of West Virginia. The difference between him and Simon is that Irvin is insanely quick off the snap and has plenty of room to grow. While Simon is quick off the snap, he is not in the same league as Irvin in that regard (few guys are). Also Simon is maxed out physically, he's not really going to get any bigger. Not saying Simon can't be every bit as good as Irvin, but they're just different players and what Irvin brings to the table is something that can't be coached. 

I don't really get bringing up QBs in comparison to Simon, that is very much apples to oranges. There is a world of difference between a project QB and a project DE/OLB.

Hank will stay, Urban has already formed a good friendship with him and will be well able to recruit his services for 2013, however if he leaves we have been recruting defensive line hard so idk i would rather have him but if he has to go, i understand that too

@Sir Rickithd3rd

I just don't see how anyone can claim he'll be a surefire 1st rounder this early in the game (few guys are at this point anyway). I think it's possible that after a great season this year and possibly a bit more position stability he could be a 1st rounder. However the fact is at this point he doesn't have a true position right now and he hasn't yet proven to have elite pass rushing skills. These are things that keep good college players from going in the first round of the draft. I'm a little curious as to why you think it is such a foregone conclusion that he will be a 1st rounder? You didn't exactly back up this claim in your post.

I will say this... many are calling him a "tweener" and it is not a false statement.  However, the guys that normally get labeled "tweeners" (or who are without an NFL position) had a specific position in college which they no longer have ideal size for in the NFL.  Usually that is a guy who was a DE in college, but is too small and ends up moving to LB.  Or, a safety who is too big/slow, and moves to LB, CB moving to safety, etc.  These guys are "tweeners" because they are being projected in the NFL at a position they've never played.  That is, they are being scouted and researched based on athleticism/potential alone rather than their body of work in college.

The interesting thing about Simon is he has already moved around quite a bit on the D-line at OSU.  He has played DT, SDE, and WDE, as well as dropping into zone coverage once in a while.  I think there is a good chance we may seem him lining up this year at all those positions as well as a rush OLB and possibly MLB.  He is unique because he will already have a body of work off which scouts can base their ratings.

The thing about Simon is he will be a hot commodity at the next level because of his durability, flexibility (positionally), character, and motor, as well as his production.  I have a hard time believing he will fall past the 2nd round, at most, because of that.

^I actually think that Clay Matthews would be a good comparison for Simon. I see Simon as 2nd-3rd rounder, because he is a bit of a project in that he has to make the switch to OLB. Hankins will likely be a top 10-15 pick if he has a good season, just because he projects so well as a nose tackle. 

Your right I didnt back my post up with much. As all my post is pure speculation. I personally see Simon at around 12 sacks at the end of the year (Urban has said numerous times nobody on our line can block him). Also who does Urban rave about Hank or Simon? Simon imo will put up big sack numbers this year, great locker room guy, works harder than anyone on the field, durable, consistent, huge motor. Furthermore at the combine Simon will press 225 38+ times. This kid has a Tebowesque quality about him. Now that i showed my man crush. the thing I didnt take into consideration was exactly how strong this yrs crop of dlinemen is. This may be one of the strongest classes coming out in a long time with okafor and jeffcoat from texas montgomery from lsu taylor south carolina gholston at msu (who i think simon will end up ahead of) buchanon illinois werner from fsu lotulelei from utah and short from purdue. All that said I think someone is gonna take a chance on Simon 22- end of the first.

Sir, not sure why you're calling out Brewster as an elitist. Do you consider Brewster an elitist for having knowledge about the NFL draft and what teams histroically look for when evaluating a player or do you just consider anybody that actually takes time to support their opinion an elitist?