Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Ezekiel Ansah participates in a defensive drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser prefaces his mock draft version 1.0 by stating that this is all speculation.  We don’t really know who the Jaguars will be drafting.  This quickly after the NFL Scouting Combine, players are flying up draft boards based on workouts.  But, like all mock drafts, the Jaguars have to make a pick at number two overall.  According to Oehser, it’s BYU’s Ezekiel Ansah.

While it now seems unlikely that the Kansas City Chiefs take left tackle Luke Joeckel first overall after putting the franchise tag on LT Branden Albert, that move likely does not affect the Jaguars “reaching” for Ansah.  Ansah is a raw, athletic defensive end who could fit in with the Jacksonville Jaguars defense smoothly.  But is he worthy of being picked at number two overall?  That is the primary question that will go with this selection.  But with a draft class as close and as deep as this one, really it’s anybody’s guess.

Here is what Oehser has to say about Ansah:

He’s an ascending pass rusher with a ton of upside, and amid the pre-draft speculation, many are speculating that he could rise to the top of a lot of teams’ boards by April 25. So, he’s as good a choice as any.

That all seems straightforward enough.  I can’t say I’d be upset if the Jags picked Ansah.  The BYU stud has been impressing all offseason and has the tape to back up his workouts.  He is still learning the game so his potential currently seems limitless.  Other “proven” commodities like Florida State’s Bjoern Werner will get some more looks, but the boldness of Ansah really fits with GM Dave Caldwell’s desire to hit homeruns and not base hits.

- Luke N. Sims

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There are others who might put too much stock into the combine. These guys get flat out enthralled by the combine events -especially the 40! Now most of us know better, but I read something just this morning stating that Manti Te’o could launch himself back into top 10 consideration with a good 40 time. No, I’m not going to crack a joke about “making something up.” I refuse to do so no matter how strong the temptation may be. However, I just don’t see how a fast 40 time could help Te’o accomplish anything. It’s definitely not going to make me change my mind about him. My mind was made up after the championship game, not because Alabama is that good (even though they are) but because when his team needed him most, he didn’t deliver. It was almost like he shied away from the big moment. Unfortunately if Te’o runs a 4.5, I’m sure some team will begin changing their tune. Mel Kiper’s hair will shake feverishly as he begins to tell us how great of a pro Manti will be.

As impressive as Dontari Poe’s 40 time was last year, I just can’t put too much stock into the combine. There are other drills, better drills, that will give us a better idea of just how these players’ athletic traits will transfer onto the football field and even then you just never know.

Am I a fan of the combine? Yes, I am. I love watching these kids come out and show these scouts what they can do, even if it really isn’t “football.” There are a few players I cannot wait to see light up these events, and somehow raise their draft stock.

• Lane Johnson, LT, Oklahoma:Did I hear right? Is he running his 40 in the 4.8 range? Even though this skill is about as useless as a poop flavored lollipop as a left tackle, I want to see a 6’7″ 303 pound man run that fast. He did run down Jordan Poyer at the Senior Bowl after his interception. I don’t normally watch the OL run their 40, but this year I will for this reason alone.
  

  Could you imagine a 4.8 40 from this!? Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

• Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: Ansah’s stock is up. This guy might be as raw as they come, not having played an awful lot of football. He is a beast, however, and there are clamourings that he could crawl into the top 10. Either way, as a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, whenever  a pass rusher begins to climb, I pay attention. I originally had Barkevious Mingo ahead of Ansah, but all of a sudden the Mingo-haters reared their ugly heads. You know what I’m talking about-whenever a prospect begins to climb, someone comes out of nowhere to bring them back down to earth. As far as Ansah goes, I am looking at his raw athletic skills. The combine actually plays in his favor. He may be able to “out-athlete” other pass rushers and push himself further into the 1st round. Is Ansah’s ceiling higher than Mingo’s?
• Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: QB Geno Smith is participating in ALL combine drills. If he performs well, look for a team to reach come April. If he performs poorly, look for a team to still reach come April. I’m very curious to see how he does. This is a player who was hot at the beginning of last college season, then immediately cooled off. Let’s see if he can cement himself as the “best QB in the draft” conversation.
• Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama vs. Jonathan Cooper, OG, UNC: Even though Warmack is regarded as the best offensive guard in this draft class…well apparently the best one in years, there are camps that believe Cooper would be better suited for a zone blocking scheme. I’d like to see how Warmack moves in these drills. If he is as good as advertised, then he’ll be able to play any scheme. If anything, I’m sure Warmack will be amazing at the benchpress.

It’s going to happen. Someone is going to come out of nowhere and set the NFL draft season ablaze with eye-popping numbers. It’s always exciting, but it’s only for the season. As closely as I plan on watching the combine, I have to constantly remind myself not to put too much stock into what I’m seeing. Things change once the pads come on.

-David R. Johns

Did the No. 2 overall pick practice and play last week? I don’t believe so, but this draft is looking more and more like the kind of draft in which you trade down and stock pile picks. The trenches on both sides of the ball in Jacksonville need serious rebuilding, and with the way some of these linemen look, the Jaguars may be in luck.

In this post I will briefly brush up on the prospects who really stood out last week.

• OT Eric Fisher of Central Michigan was a brick wall all week and in the actual game as well. He was a man among boys and man handled some of the best DEs in college football. Could he challenge Luke Joeckel as the best tackle in the draft?
• DE Ezekiel Ansahhad a lot of hype around him. He hasn’t played much football and didn’t show up that much in practices. It was a different story when the 2nd half of the game began as he wreaked havoc. He’s a raw prospect that a team will fall in love with. I’m looking forward to his combine.
  

  Mandatory Credit: Josh D. Weiss-USA TODAY Sports

• CB Robert Alford from Southeastern Louisiana had a good week of practice, but it was his 88 yard kickoff return that stuck out. The Jaguars return game troubles have been well documented and Alford could be a player who could help immediately in that area.
• S Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International is a prospect that got a lot of love last week.  He can play the run. He can cover receivers, backs, and tight ends. Dave Caldwell says we’ll be a needs based drafting team. Well…we need a safety. Could Cyprien be that safety?
• DT Kawaan Short of Purdue would be a gem in the middle of the defensive line. He looks like an athletic big man who can push the pocket. He’s averaged 6.5 sacks for Purdue over the last three seasons.
• OG Larry Warford of Kentucky had a solid week of practice and moves pretty well for a big man. His stock is steadily rising, and after witnessing the rotating doors that were the interior of our offensive line this year, getting Warford in the 3rd would be a steal. Something tells me he’ll be gone by then.

The quarterbacks were OK. EJ Manuel helped boost his stock with one rushing TD and one passing TD, Tyler Wilson wasn’t bad, and Landry Jones should probably find another job altogether. The two most popular QBs in this year’s draft  (Geno Smith and Matt Barkley) didn’t participate.

What kind of post would this be without talking about the quarterback position? As of now we have to draft a young prospect at the position. I don’t believe there’s anyone worth getting in the top 10 or even the top 20 for that matter, but maybe we could draft an EJ Manuel type to bring along and groom, provide competition, and push Gabbert.

Many want the Jaguars to find a QB in this draft. I was one of those people, but as time goes by and as the combine draws nearer, we don’t need to have any kind of knee jerk reactions. We’ve taken our time in finding our new GM. We’ve taken our time in finding our new HC. We’ve taken our time finding our OC, DC, and positions coaches.

What I’m getting at is that one can’t simply wish a franchise QB into existence. What we have is what we have. We can add through free agency (PLEEEEEEASE, ALEX SMITH), draft a young prospect, throw them into the mix with Gabbert and Henne and see what sticks.

Either way, even if we don’t get that next explosive young quarterback, there are players in this draft just like any other draft that can immediately help this team. Counting the days to the combine…

-David R. Johns