Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri:
While some sites will have Rucker lower than I do here, we are projecting where Rucker will most likely end up in April. I was fortunate enough to be present at every Mizzou football game in the last four years, and no I'm not a Mizzou fan (Hook 'Em!), but the organization I've worked for has been credentialed. Rucker is down-graded by some scouts because they perceive he is one-dimensional or lacks the true speed to separate from defenders. Let's look at that in two ways:

1. Rucker is one-dimensional.

Anywhere you see this as a weakness, please ask the scout how many Missouri games they saw this year. Rucker was used more as an in-line blocker in 2007 than ever before, with Chase Coffman filling the role of the moving tight end. Rucker has been used considerably in motion this season and in year's past, but these are often to exploit a match-up. Some people will look at motion as a way to give a blocker an angle before attacking the defender or keeping him from being jammed; but what most people that have not coached TEs or WRs is that motion is almost always used to gain a favorable match-up for the receiver. Moving Rucker in motion allows the Mizzou offense to gauge the level of coverage on him, which is often bracket coverage with an OLB and safety, and also move him around to change the way a defense can cover him.

Rucker was used more than ever as a decoy this year. He is not a Kellen Winslow type end that will run away from a defense, but he's also bigger and stronger and will hold up over a long season better. He's more John Mackey than Vernon Davis.

2. Rucker can't run away from defenders.

The best linebackers in the NFL are going to be faster or as fast as Rucker. The same can be said for the best corners vs wide receivers. The advantage is that Rucker is a much better route runner than most tight ends. His experience as a slot receiver, true tight end and even a receiver out of the back field have molded him into an accomplished route runner. He is not going to run 25-yards up the seam for a touchdown, but he will work the 15 and under routes and has the body to box-out defenders. He puts himself between the ball and is not afraid to make contact. Anyone watching the Cotton Bowl saw Rucker continuously make plays against the physical Arkansas defense.

For anyone wondering why Rucker was going #11 in our mock draft, or why he will remain our #1 TE, please look outside your fandom and consider the talent, potential and true need of the position. Tight ends are becoming as important as any wide receiver. For a team like Buffalo, who have confirmed to New Era Scouting sources located in Columbia, MO that they are looking at Rucker; grabbing a tight end to team with Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch and Jason Peters in building a nucleus around quarterback Trent Edwards is a priority. How many fans felt like Donte Whitner was a reach in the top 10? How many draft sites hated that pick? You can't always believe everything you read, even here, but I ask that everyone take a look at things in an objective point of view and ask yourselves if there are 20 players in this class (right now) that you would rather have.