If he's going to go in the first round, I think the Pats' pick may be a bit high to spend on him. I was actually thinking Bears or Seahawks may be at the right position for him. Not sure who they're losing, though, and what needs they'd have to address because of those losses.


Being a Steeler's fan, I would love to see him line up on the other side of Ward. With Plaxico going to the Giants this past season, Stovall would be a big time replacement. Plus anytime you can get rid of a Spartan, and replace him with a Domer, its always a good thing.


In the background of the picture you can see a coach in shorts....that's Norm Chow. Glad to see he's scouting for the Titans rather than calling plays for USC!


Stovall fits into the Steelers offense probably better than any other WR expected to go on the first day. While other teams that like to throw the ball first and run second need a great route-running receiver with speed, Stovall is a big target who can level DB's while run blocking. He upgrades the Steelers run game, which is their primary threat, and he helps Big Ben (not even going to try to spell his last name) in the pass game by virtue of the fact that Ben can just throw it 7' in the air and let Stovall go get it. That covers Ben's relatively minor passing deficiencies and ensures that Stovall doesn't have to try to be a 'go' route-type receiver, which he's not a great fit for.


The Patriots depending on whether Givens rejoins the club or takes the cash and runs... they will need to overhaul the entire recieving corps.

Branch will stay, one more year on contract, Brown might retire, Givens is a FA, Davis might be back, Bethel Johnson is probably cut, Tim Dwight is probably gone as well.

Though never can you rule out anything when it involves the Pats, do I see MoSto being picked with the 21st pick? No, but then I also said last year that there is no way in hell the Pats draft an O-Lineman early, and they drafted two.

I still suspect though they won't get him 1st rd. There are other needs and there is a trend of not getting wideouts early, particularly with the needs at linebacker and cornerback. Despite my affection for Asante Samuel, BB has repeatedly complained about his hands.

So in summation, yes, I think MoSto might be a Patriot, I would not be surprised if he is not.


One thing that we need to take into consideration with Stovall is that this year he didn't really have any DB's that could match his height. He was usually paired up with a DB that was 5'11 or 6'0 and could just out jump him. In the pros, you need a lot more than just height. He will be evenly matched and will probably have less opportunities to simply "out-jump" the defender. I think scouts will be most impressed with his blocking ability, which is why I agree that he would be a good pick for the Steelers or even the Bears considering that have a such a struggling passing game right now. Since I'm a Bears fan, I'm hoping he lands in Chi-town.


I wouldn't be surprised by any team previously mentioned taking Mo'Nuff in the first round with one exception being the Bears. Since they already have Moose and Gage (two big receivers) I imagine they would go for a speedier wideout.
As for other names worth considering, possibly the Colts. I'm sure this sounds ridiculous, but they have PLENTY of speed receivers and there's a good chance they lose Wayne this off-season.
Regardless of who takes him, the fact of the matter is this: Mo will be a great pick up. His character and team influence are beyond reproach. Clearly, he would grade out as a top-tier talent when it comes to blocking at his position. On top of that, he has great hands, concentration and body control. Top-level speed appears to be his only area of improvement. Now that I mention all this, I see one other team that would seriously give him a first round look.... ..the Carolina Panthers.


Another factor working in Stovall's favor is the fact that he's only 20 years old. He has to be one of the youngest players in the draft and I'm sure that the NFL teams are aware that he has plenty of "football years" left in him.


I'm glad to see Stovall getting recognized. It must have been a tough adjustment for him to see Samardzija get all the press and AA recognition. Mo put up great numbers all year and always seemed to be playing hard. I think he would make a terrific #2 receiver somewhere.


Go Mo Go!

Thank God for Weis. Someone should double his pay. The happiness he has brought would make it all worth it.

I remember Mo's first game and the long fade routes against scUM that year. There were such great expectations after that. I just don't think Mo would have reached anywhere near the potential that we all hope for had it not been for Weis and Crew.

Go Mo Go.


MattMillen:BigReceiver::Cat:CanOpener


The Panthers would be an intriguing choice to pick Stovall. They could certainly use Mo's size to put up opposite Smith. With his height and athleticism, that almost forces you to have to keep a safety over the top of him in the red zone to prevent the fade route, and that means you can't double or triple team Smith any more. At least not if you want to blitz. Carolina also relies on their running game, so Stovall upgrades them in that area too. Cap that off with the fact that the Panthers draft very late in the first and Stovall could look like a very good fit value-wise.


Lions will -- they use all their draft picks on receivers -- never mind finding an offensive line that can block long enough for a quarterback to set his feet....


While I agree with everyone above on Mo being a great fit for the Bears of Steelers, I think the Bears would be a better fit. The Steelers, due to their style of play, always need to use high drafts on LBs and O lineman (none of whom are too young). While I would expect them to use a pick on those, they also need to replenish the RB stable. While Parker is doing great for them, they are likely going to lose Bettis, and Deuce Staley (who never seems to even dress?) isn't getting any younger. They can't afford to go into the next season with only ONE proven runner in Parker with the style of ball they play. I think the Bears, Carolina, and the Colts (depending on Wayne's status) could be excellent chances to go after Big Mo.


And to think, I was going to come in here and make a joke about the Lions until I saw that had already been done.


Wow! I didn't realize Stovall was a Doogie Howser!


I live in Columbus, and regularly listen to the local sports station, which is an ESPN affiliate. The station (1460 The FAN) is the home station for several guys who also do work for ESPN, including Kirk Herbstreit (of College Gameday fame) and Chris Spielman (star linebacker for OSU and for the Detroit Lions).

Spielman is current down at the Senior Bowl and provides daily updates on performance, changing draft prospects, etc. Since he's there for the local station and not ESPN, his focus has been on the performance of the Buckeye players. Every day this week, though, he has commented on how impressive Maurice Stovall has been. Spiels has complemented Mo for his work ethic, his blocking (which Spielman LOVES in receivers), his coachability, he ability to go up for a ball and always come down with it, and his hands. Spielman has no love for Notre Dame, but does generally discuss the team and players fairly objectively. For him to be so keen on Stovall is another good sign for his prospects.


I could've done without the weigh-in photo. Creepy.


Can't see the Bears taking Stovall. They have too many young receivers already and will try to sign Randle-El in free agency. Not to mention they desperately need a corner or tight end (Desmond Clark to the Pro Bowl, what a joke). Colts have a young veteran # 5 receiver in Aaron Moorehead who is in the same mold as Stovall and knows the Colt system in and out, so I'd be surprised to see them take Mo. Maybe Carolina since Steve Smith is a midget (but an amazing midget at that) and Proehl isn't getting any younger...


That SI title needs to edited to read "Return to Glory v1.0" Let's hope v2.0's coach is the real difference maker!


Well, I'm going to be the first to say it- not only will the Lions draft Stovall, they'll trade up for the honor to do so.

F&*#in millen...


fire millen.

: )


Interesting.

What a difference a coach makes.
Seems like a long time ago that we thought Ty was the 2nd coming of Rockne.

Now we all saying "What a difference a coach makes" again. I have faith that Weis will be more consistant than Ty.


The Bears have a greater need at TE than WR, especially if Mark Bradley comes back healthy next year. He showed a lot of potential before his injury.

I think Stovall may end up on the Chiefs (who have been looking at him closely) or the Jets.


Sorry Bears, Steeler and Pats fans, but the E-A-G-L-E-S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! will land Mo.

CDub and Andy Reid are reported to be close as well. Would LOVE to see PHILLY GUY, MoSto, return to the roost and it's not like the Iggles don't need a quality receiver.


The Eagles draft too high to take Mo, unless they trade down or Mo suddenly becomes THE number one receiver in this years draft. Don't get me wrong, he probably should be the number one receiver, but he hasn't had the consistent years in college to get a team to pay him that kind of cash.


I would love to see Mo become a star for the Eagles -- who, as Domer95 points out, certainly need someone to throw to. Andy Reid is too smart to take Stovall with the 14th pick, when he should still be around in the 20's. He could trade down, though . . .


Tony and Bill- right
ND101 and Brad-wrong

The Bears don't need Mo. Moose is a big receiver (6'3") and by his own admission, a possession receiver. Bradley showed nice promise and all indications are, he'll be healthy. The Bears need a veteran, proven receiver with some wheels. Randle El would be nice. Here's someone else who would be more than nice: TO.

There was some talk on a Chicago radio station that Jerry Angelo was seen having dinner recently with TO. While I think the guy has been a royal prick the last year, I think there's no doubt that wherever he goes, he will be on his very best behavior or his career is over. I'd love to see DA BEARS! take a chance on him.

And before any Bear fans say no, just remember: I and all Bulls fans HATED Rodman before he came to Chicago, but after he got here and helped the Bulls win 3 more championships (and for the most part, behaved), we loved him.


Shit, that's right, I forgot all about Bradley. Damn, all this pre-Super Bowl drinking is getting to me.


Brad, I hear ya about the drinking; this weekend is a good weekend to drink since there's no sports of concern happening (unless you count the Australian Open Tennis finals, which I don't). I think I might try and find a way to bathe in tub of beer.


The Bears don't deserve Stovall - after the way the treated Domer Marc Edwards. Not that this a Bears Blog, but everyone seems to be forgetting about Bernard Berrian. He was showing up the Moose in the playoff loss to Carolina. Not sure what his specialty is, but he looked pretty good that game.


Yeah, I never understood why the Bears got rid of Edwards. He did pretty damn well for them, even scored a few touchdowns, one of which was a game winner if my memory serves me correctly. What's up with that?


Berrian has been injured alot already in his career and I doubt Da Bears are banking on Bradley being full speed by next season (his injury-type typically takes two seasons for complete recovery). However, the Bears would not be taking Mo. They need speed and that's not Stovall's forte.
Carolina, the Eagles (if Mo slips to the 2nd), Pittsburgh possibly and some other teams (maybe Seattle) would be much more likely. The Chiefs are intriguing. The Niners might even be a possibility... ..if Mo slips to the second. Teams that need a #2 WideOut, value character guys, don't have a possession receiver and could use run-blocking will be all over him. I'd say Carolina seem the most obvious fit.


As a Bears fan, I do NOT want T.O. to come to Chicago. I understand the whole Rodman comparison, but I think the two were different. Rodman showed promise, even with the Pistons that he could be coachable, even though he was a jerk. T.O. has not shown me anything in his career that makes me think he will dramatically change. I don't care that he is "on his best behavior" now. I think he would just get completely pissed with the Bears because they do not have an outstanding Quarterback, just like he did in Philly. If the team doesn't fit T.O., he will be a prick. And as far as I've seen, there isn't a team in the NFL that fits T.O. He doesn't even deserve to be playing. I don't care how much talent somebody has. I would be very disappointed if the Bears went to pick him up. He's a great receiver, yes, but his character is just too much.


Irish Rat--

"While I think the guy [Owens] has been a royal prick the last year, I think there's no doubt that wherever he goes, he will be on his very best behavior or his career is over."

For your sake, I'd hope that TO doesn't end up in Chicago...
1. San Fran--malcontent, forced 49ers to deal him to...
2. Baltimore--where he decided he didn't want to go after all, and ended up in...
3. Philadelphia--with a year where he bickered with everyone from the QB to the waterboy, got hurt, then staged a pre-season camp holdout for the ages, finally coming to camp, getting booted from camp, returning to the team, then getting booted from the team for good.

Are you kidding me? Guys like TO and Marcus Vick prove that a leopard doesn't change his spots.


I hope TO ends up in professional wrestling. Either that or NASCAR. Either way, I'll never hear of him again.


C-stone, you might be right; it's definitely a risk, no doubt. I think whatever team takes him is going to have a contract that pays him very little in guaranteed money and requires good behavior to "get paid". Whether, the Bears, Broncos, or whomever, I think whatever team takes him will launch at the first sign of trouble.

It just occurred to me that we all must be jonesing for a football fix if we're talking about DA Bears on an ND blog.

I was disappointed with the release of Edwards. If I remember correctly, it wasn't necessarily a game winner, but he did catch the only TD for the Bears in their win over the Ravens. Maybe Bryan Johnson is better (although he ended up hurt and didn't play against Carolina), but I find it hard to believe that Johnson and Jason McKie are better than Marc.


Maurice did the his job quietly, without complaining, and did the dirty work well (blocking). I wish him the best of success in the NFL.


I know this is late, so it probably won't be read, but did anyone see Mo's listed weight for the senior bowl?

ESPN has Mo's roster weight for the Senior bowl as 6'4" 236lbs, whereas he was 6'5" 222lbs at und.com. Didn't Weis tell him to lose those 15 lbs? Or has Mendoza's strength program bulked Mo up that much? Or is it irrelevant?

Data found here:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/d...%3fid% 3d2307236

http://und.collegesports.com/spo...footbl- mtt.html


I'll bet he's just bulked up a bit. Banquet food plus a little weight lifting can easily make one gain 15 in a month. While Weis may like his receivers smaller, most NFL guys will probably drool over a built, 6'4" 235 lb. receiver, ESPECIALLY one with great blocking skills.


Realistically, it is hard to imagine Stovall going in the first round. This draft is pretty deep and the smart teams (not the Lions) try to get RBs and Wrs in the middle rounds because those positions are deeper. Having said that, we are talking about a guy who was projected to be between 6th round and undrafted going into this season and is now looking at 2nd round dollars. I think he should take some of his signing bonus and make a donation to Hannah and Friends.


Great idea DD!


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