Draft Thread: Day 3

David Molk was a first-team All-American last year, and won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the country.
But that didn't make him the best pro candidate in the country. Size and injury issues led analysts to project the former Michigan football captain to land in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft -- and he fell even later than that.
Molk's wait finally ended Saturday when the San Diego Chargers selected him with the 19th pick of the draft's seventh and final round.

David Molk

He was the second Michigan player off the board, following the Tennessee Titans' third-round selection of defensive tackle Mike Martin.
It has been an overall poor draft for the Wolverines, who had only one player taken in the first six rounds. That had happened only three times in the common draft era (1968, 1985, 1994).
Molk and receiver Junior Hemingway were thought to be mid-round picks, and defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen was expected to be picked late after a strong pro day. But only Martin and Molk have been picked, and Molk dropped a long ways before he finally found a home.
Molk's fall was perhaps the most noticeable because he was such a fixture for the Wolverines. He was a captain, a four-year starter and won the Rimington last season.
He was projected as the second- or third-best center in this draft, but slipped to fifth following the selections of Wisconsin's Peter Konz (second round, Falcons), Georgia's Ben Jones(fourth round, Texans), Baylor's Phillip Blake (fourth round, Broncos) and Western Oregon'sJason Slowey (sixth round, 49ers).
The last one was surprising, as San Francisco -- and its coach, former Michigan quarterbackJim Harbaugh -- elected to go with the Division II Slowey.
“There are always obstacles that I’ve had to face," Molk told Chargers.com. "There’s always limitations that people put on me and there’s always something that people can say that I don’t do well enough and something that I don’t have that sets me back, and it’s just proving them wrong over and over and over again until finally there’s nowhere else to go.”
Hurting Molk's stock were two factors. First, he suffered four right leg injuries at Michigan, most recently severing a tendon in his foot during warmups for the Sugar Bowl. He played through the pain in the game, but underwent postseason surgery and was not able to run for scouts.
Also, Molk's 6-foot-1 frame puts him among the shortest 10 percent of NFL centers. No player shorter than 6-2 has been drafted before the sixth round since 2001, when the Detroit Lions selected Nebraska's Dominic Raiola in the second round.
Even Jeff Saturday, who at 6-2 made five Pro Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts, went undrafted out of North Carolina. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. says Molk could have a similar career arc.
"David Molk, you thought, could be like Jeff Saturday. At least he was selected in this draft process," Kiper said on ESPN shortly after Molk's selection. "David Molk will, I think, make the football team and could be a starting center in the NFL."
Molk acknowledged in a recent interview all that was working against him, but maintained he believed he was the most talented center in the draft.
He's eager to show he is, once he's healthy enough to practice with his new team.
"I don't follow projections, but I know what people say," Molk said. "Stuff like that pisses me off. Any scout who denies me pisses me off. 'Oh, this is what you got. You’re not good enough.'
"Well, (to hell with) you, let me show you what I got."
Molk is the first Michigan center to be selected since David Baas was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the opening pick of the second round in 2005.
When he joins the Chargers, he'll be reunited with former teammates Stephen Schilling (an old offensive linemate) and linebacker Jonas Mouton. They were drafted by San Diego last year.
Three of Michigan's past four draft picks have been selected by the Chargers.

January 27, 2012 - The 2011 Rimington Trophy was formally awarded to the University of Michigan’s David Molk earlier this month at the Rimington Trophy Presentation in Lincoln, Neb. The trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division FBS.

In addition, former University of Nebraska and Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff was on hand to formally accept the 2011 President Gerald R. Ford Legends Award.

“This award is something special to me. It’s something that I played every down for. I lifted every weight, every set for this. I was striving for this ever since I got into college,” said Molk, who was unable to attend the banquet, after undergoing surgery for a torn tendon in his foot. Molk suffered the injury during pre-game warm-ups prior to the start of this year’s Sugar Bowl.

Molk’s father, Thomas, and University of Michigan Sports Information Director Justin Dickens were on hand to accept the award on David’s behalf. Dickens recalled those uncertain moments before the Sugar Bowl for the audience.

“He didn’t think he was going be able to play, and I think he’d be the first to tell you, along with our trainer, that there was no way he should’ve been able to play in that game. But he didn’t want to watch his final collegiate game go by like that. It spoke to his fight, his sacrifice and what a true Michigan man he is. On the field, it’s probably an understatement to say he was the unquestioned leader of our football team,” said Dickens.

Molk is the second player from the University of Michigan to receive the Rimington Trophy, joining 2004 recipient David Baas.

He broke into the staring lineup in 2008, earning his first varsity letter as the Wolverines’ starting center. The 2010 season was a breakout year for Molk, having started all 13 games at center and being named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.

Dickens recalled his first encounter with the future winner.

“I got to Michigan in April of 2011. So when I first met Dave Molk I asked him, ‘Who are you? What’s your story, and how can I help?’. He said,’I want to win the Rimington Trophy,” said Dickens.

Molk’s father, Thomas thanked the Rimington Trophy committee and said nothing seemed to stand in the way of his son’s achievements.

“You’ve awarded a very special young man with this trophy. He’s a tough, smash-mouth football player. He sees every obstacle not as a setback, but as an opportunity to reach the next level. He’s a fierce leader and a fierce competitor. He demands perfection from his peers, from his players on and off the field,” said Molk.

After receiving the Ford Award, Mick Tingelhoff recalled snippets from an illustrious career he enjoyed with the University of Nebraska. After leaving Nebraska, he would later snap the ball to Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton while the two were with the Minnesota Vikings.

“It truly is a great honor to be with you here tonight and accept this award bearing the name of a great man, President Gerald R. Ford,” said Tingelhoff, who received a video introduction from Tarkenton himself.

Former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon gave the keynote address.

Cystic fibrosis survivor and Boomer Esiason Foundation volunteer Jerry Cahill spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to continue their support in fighting the disease, which affects nearly 30,000 people in the United States.

In its twelfth year, the Rimington Trophy has raised nearly $3 million for the cystic fibrosis community in Nebraska.

He has the talent, and decent size..... and we all know how good Norv is at developing young QB's......hard to find much info on him, but this one shines a good light on him.

At LSU.......with limited snaps, he got the job done, and we all know how tough that conference is....great accuracy..

http://tucsoncitizen.com/tc-arizona-sports/?p=362

all the QB's who found success under Norv did so in spite of him

All the QB's he "developed" already had the raw skills. Their throwing style and manner of running an Offense were already established. Unfortunately, in San Diego, they run a predictable Offense and lack the ability to run the clock properly. Not seeing much genius, guru or anything else brilliant in THAT!

lol!

Thought I lost ya back there...this is the old Sax I love!

Look....we all know injuries killed us. I have no problem with Norv running this team. He has some flaws.....and I think he is as much to blame for that as anything, trying to do to much (clock management, not allowing his assistants to become more involved on offense, ect. )

Peopple wanted Chucky to come in (Grudens best years came when he had good to great defense backing him) and people wanted Cowher to come (who's biggest success came with a killer defense and great coaching.....and just a solid well balanced offense)

This off season, was there a better option as a HC? No............did I want Harbaugh....hell yes.

Lets see what Norv can do if the o-line can hold up, and we can actually get some pressure on the QB and get other teams off the field on 3rd downs.

I don't buy into Norv's records as head coach declining each year because he forgot how to coach.....injuries and shit defense cost us playoffs appearances, period.

If we can stay healthy, the defense improves and gets more physical and can stop a team from gaining 1st downs when it's 3rd and 10'yrds or longer, we will have success. If all those things happen, and we still don't improve, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DIVISION, who is the fault gonna fall on??

Lets wait and see. I wasn't on here crying about us retaining Norv.......I didn't want AJ back, but I think he did a good job this off-season.

If everything falls into place, and we are still not a better team............who's to blame? Shit runs downhill.

I was just joking with Sax

I realize that......I was just pointing out my opinion, and with my long-winded post, you and sax were already playing ping-pong......but yeah, I got zero heartburn with Norv. Injuries and poor defense....from pass rush (which will make a good secondary look horrible.....to a horrible secondary, which will keep the chains moving)

I'll tell ya one thing for sure.....with the additions to the interior d-line and ILB's, our DB's will be tested again, big-time. It's all up to pressuring the QB, and the secondary getting in synch....instead always looking at each other and saying, "where were you.....that was your responsibility", like last year. Fuck that pissed me off.

Watching the Chargers vs Broncos game in S.D. right now.......Tebow took some viscous hits in that game......tough goddamn kid.

I agree he looked real good most of the season. But in the big games he started throwing picks and was taken out in favor of Jefferson. That destroyed his confidence. I hope he can get it back with us and maybe make the PS. For now that's pretty much best case scenario for him as a Charger. If they didn't keep three QBs last year with Tolzein I can't see how they would this year unless he REALLY impresses in camp.