Rock out with your Mock out : Russ Lande (Sporting News)

Of all the draft "experts" Lande is probably my least favorite. Although I certainly am not looking for everyone's mocks to be identical, and I too have some "hunch" predictions that don't follow the consensus, Lande's work just seems from outer space sometimes...

Things start off sorta ho-hum, then smacks you in the face with the Washington Redskin's selection of the NT from the University of Washington Alameda Ta'amu, whom I am quite high on, and also have him in my first round, but no-where near the top 10. He then nearly has a second NT going top 10, with Kansas City's selection of Memphis' Dontari Poe.

Among other surprises, Lande has Mike Adams going 13th, six spots above Reiff.

Juron Criner's good performance at the Senior Bowl has made Lande forget about his uninspiring last season at Arizona. He has him going 30th to the 49ers, while leaving out Rutgers WR Sanu.

Many feel a tight end wont be selected until the Giants selection, but Lande has Stanford's Coby Fleener going to the Browns, who have a new QB in Robert Griffin III.

He did play it safe with many of his picks, and I still seem to be alone in my belief that Luke Kuechly, Janoris Jenkins, and Kendall Wright will all be second round picks. Lande has them all in his top 20.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2012/2/12/2784975/10-players-i-hate-more-than-you

However he did include two of my personal favorites in Virgina CB Chase Minnifield, and Clemson DE Andre Branch, while excluding Nebrasksa's Alphonzo Dennard.

I also support his decision to leave out Alabama's Mark Barron and Don'ta Hightower, but NOT Courtney Upshaw.

He seems to be very down on this group of pass-rushers, as in addition to Upshaw's absence, there is also no sign of Whitney Mercilus, Vinny Curry, or Bruce Irvin.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-09/nfl-mock-draft-first-round-board-fluctuates-as-combine-approaches#ixzz1mTLEQ8m8