Cincinnati
1- Safety: The Bengals have probably the best pair of starting corners in the league but the safeties playing along side them are pretty awful. To make the secondary complete they could use a big time upgrade at either safety position.
2- Guard: Cincy addressed the tackle situation last year but inside at guard they have Bobby Williams (who is old to begin with) and pretty much nothing else. Obtaining extra linemen to pave the way for Cedric Benson and to even more importantly protect the always fragile Carson Palmer should be high on Cincy's to do list.
3- Wide Receiver: The Bengals have Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant as their starters but after that a bunch of question marks. The NFL is a pass first league nowadays and the Bengals passing game is their biggest weakness so bringing in an extra receiver early on draft weekend would help this team immensely.
Baltimore
1- Cornerback: The Ravens are really weak at the corner position. It should be a position addressed early on draft day.
2-Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Terrell Suggs is entrenched at one starter spot but after that the Bengals have an aging Jarrett Johnson and an unknown in Paul Kruger.
3- Tight End: Todd Heap is in decline and his replacement is needed ASAP. A good young TE to pair with Heap would really help in Joe Flacco's development.
Pittsburgh
1- Cornerback: The Steelers secondary was exposed last season after Troy Polamalu went down. He'll be back in 2010 but the corner position still needs more talent.
2- Wide Receiver: Now that Santonio Holmes is gone the Steelers have Mike Wallace and then just a bunch of guys. They need more weapons.
3- Offensive Line: Pittsburgh has gotten away for a couple years now with a sub par line, but adding in some reinforcements to both the interior and tackle positions would do this team good.
Cleveland
1- Quarterback: Jake Delhomme and Senece Wallace are set to battle for the starting gig...yikes.
2- Outside Linebacker: There is pretty much no proven passrushers on the Browns roster.
3- Safety: Realistically I could have listed a bunch of positions in this spot, but the Browns safety situation is particularly bad. Mike Adams and Abram Elam are likely the projected starters at this point... think the Browns would like Eric Berry?!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
AFC East Draft Needs
New England
1- OLB: New England's passrush used to be a strong point. Not any more. They've rebuilt the secondary for the most part, they have a stud ILB, and they have a NT. They just need an OLB.
2- DE: Richard Seymour's departure really hurt this DLine.
3- WR: Randy Moss' long term future is unknown. Wes Welker is a pure slot guy, and he's coming off a brutal injury. Another option is needed.
New York Jets
1- WR: The running game is there...the defense is solid... they have the young franchise QB...what they need to do now is get more weapons.
2- DE: The Jets DLine is fairly solid but some young blood out at DE would really help.
3- Secondary: Sure the Jets got Antonio Cromartie...but truth is, Cromartie isn't that good. Jets would be wise to get another corner or two this draft, and the safety position also could use an upgrade.
Miami
1-WR: If Chad Henne is going to succeed he needs better weapons.
2-OLB: Bill Parcells builds his teams around his passrushers. Currently their best passrusher under contract is Cam Wake. They definitely need another one
3-NT: Jason Ferguson is suspended for the first 8 games AND hes already pretty old anyway. A young NT is a big time need.
Buffalo
1-QB: Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm are the current Bills QB's... I think I just threw up in my mouth.
2-OT: The Bills offensive line is an absolute mess. Itll continue to be that way until they get some real offensive tackles on the roster.
3-NT: Shifting to a 34 defense usually means 2 things...get yourself a solid passrushing OLB and get yourself a NT. They took a passrusher last year, now they need their big body in the middle.
1- OLB: New England's passrush used to be a strong point. Not any more. They've rebuilt the secondary for the most part, they have a stud ILB, and they have a NT. They just need an OLB.
2- DE: Richard Seymour's departure really hurt this DLine.
3- WR: Randy Moss' long term future is unknown. Wes Welker is a pure slot guy, and he's coming off a brutal injury. Another option is needed.
New York Jets
1- WR: The running game is there...the defense is solid... they have the young franchise QB...what they need to do now is get more weapons.
2- DE: The Jets DLine is fairly solid but some young blood out at DE would really help.
3- Secondary: Sure the Jets got Antonio Cromartie...but truth is, Cromartie isn't that good. Jets would be wise to get another corner or two this draft, and the safety position also could use an upgrade.
Miami
1-WR: If Chad Henne is going to succeed he needs better weapons.
2-OLB: Bill Parcells builds his teams around his passrushers. Currently their best passrusher under contract is Cam Wake. They definitely need another one
3-NT: Jason Ferguson is suspended for the first 8 games AND hes already pretty old anyway. A young NT is a big time need.
Buffalo
1-QB: Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm are the current Bills QB's... I think I just threw up in my mouth.
2-OT: The Bills offensive line is an absolute mess. Itll continue to be that way until they get some real offensive tackles on the roster.
3-NT: Shifting to a 34 defense usually means 2 things...get yourself a solid passrushing OLB and get yourself a NT. They took a passrusher last year, now they need their big body in the middle.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
2010 Safeties
Playing the safety position in todays NFL is a very tough task. To be an elite safety you're expected to cover like a corner and hit like a linebacker. There aren't many players gifted enough to excel at both of these traits. This year there is. Eric Berry is one of the most dynamic prospects to come out in recent memory. He is the #2 overall player in this years draft behind Ndamukong Suh. He is one of two or maybe three players this year that is truly and elite NFL prospect. Berry has the coverage skills to run with anyone and he combines that with elite hands and dynamic skills with the ball in his hand. Any team could feel comfortable playing Berry in centerfield and let him roam free and call it a day. But thatd be a mistake in my opinion. Berry is a Charles Woodson clone. Not only can be play safety, he can be left alone on an island against a receiver as an outside corner, you can plug him in at nickel, and you can let him blitz off the edge. Berry hits like a truck, and tackles as good as anyone. Combining those run stuffing skills with his 4.4 speed and elite athleticism makes Berry a true weapon. You can line him up anywhere and he can do it all. There really aren't enough good things one can say about Berry. He dominated in the SEC for three years and has shown the ability to play anywhere in the secondary. Berry routinely tops safety rankings this year, but one well known draft analysis has him as his #2 safety....crazy talk I say! Mike Mayock is the best in the business, and for the most part, when Mayock talks, you should listen. He has access to a ton of tape, has a proven track record, and his analysis is usually spot on. Rating Eric Berry behind Earl Thomas to me though is pretty ridiculous.
Thomas is a fantastic cover guy. He can run with anyone, and he showed his ball skills this past year notching 8 picks. Like Berry, hes fast and athletic and can turn and run with anyone. His problems are that he isn't that strong, he misses some tackles, and he's not exactly a physical presence. His best fit may come at corner at the next level. In fact, had he stayed in Texas, thats where they may have moved him for next season. So while Thomas is no slouch, he just isn't even in the same league as Berry.
Both of the aforementioned guys are first round locks. The next guy on the list is Taylor Mays.
A lot can be said about Taylor Mays. He is probably the hardest prospect to evaluate this year.
I can start with this... Mays may be the biggest athletic freak the NFL draft has seen in many, many years. He is nearly 6'4, 230 lbs... and he can run a sub 4.3 40.... that is Chris Johnson territory folks. Thats right... a guy who is big enough to play linebacker who runs at a similar speed to the fastest guy in the league. Thats absolutely mind blowing. Though his combine official times say he ran a 4.4, anyone with half a brain can look up his 40 yard dash video and manually time it and have it come up in the 4.3 range every time.
Okay. Enough about his phycial freakishness. How is his tape? Difficult to tell... Mays played in a one deep base defense pretty much his entire time in USC. Teams knew what he was going to do pretty much every play... he roamed center field exclusively. It was some pretty clear cover one or cover three type zones. So it wasn't hard to avoid him...which gives us a difficult task in terms of evalutaing his NFL potential. Teams often steered clear of throwing deep on him, but when they did challenge him Mays could never really display any ball skills of any kind. Where he shines is in run support and in laying the huge hit on helpless receivers. He is a real intimidating force. He does struggle in diagnosing plays and he takes some pretty brutal angles at times resulting in bad technique and missed tackles.
Mays played in a difficult system to scout, but what is apparent is 2 things.
1- He has world class athleticism. He's got the speed, he's got the strength.
2- At times he played flat out poorly. Bad angles, bad technique, and no ball skills to be seen.
So where does that put him in the draft? Tough to say. I think he's worth a first rounder. Guys with his skill set dont come along often. Maybe his best position will be as an in the box strong safety instead of the deep cover one rover. That position would allow him to come in and easily cover a tight end or slot guy while also allowing him to shoot up the middle and attack the run. Mays has a sky high ceiling but he also has bust potential. I think he's worth the risk, but buyer beware.
Here are my rankings:
1) Eric Berry, Tennessee (Top 10)
2) Earl Thomas, Texas (Round 1)
3) Taylor Mays, USC (Round 1-2)
4) Nate Allen, USF (Round 2)
5) Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (Round 2)
6) Chad Jones, LSU (Round 3)
7) Reshad Jones, Georgia (Round 3)
8) Larry Asante, Nebraska (Round 4-5)
9) Darrel Stuckey, Kansas (Round 4-5)
10) Major Wright, Florida (Round 4-5)
Thomas is a fantastic cover guy. He can run with anyone, and he showed his ball skills this past year notching 8 picks. Like Berry, hes fast and athletic and can turn and run with anyone. His problems are that he isn't that strong, he misses some tackles, and he's not exactly a physical presence. His best fit may come at corner at the next level. In fact, had he stayed in Texas, thats where they may have moved him for next season. So while Thomas is no slouch, he just isn't even in the same league as Berry.
Both of the aforementioned guys are first round locks. The next guy on the list is Taylor Mays.
A lot can be said about Taylor Mays. He is probably the hardest prospect to evaluate this year.
I can start with this... Mays may be the biggest athletic freak the NFL draft has seen in many, many years. He is nearly 6'4, 230 lbs... and he can run a sub 4.3 40.... that is Chris Johnson territory folks. Thats right... a guy who is big enough to play linebacker who runs at a similar speed to the fastest guy in the league. Thats absolutely mind blowing. Though his combine official times say he ran a 4.4, anyone with half a brain can look up his 40 yard dash video and manually time it and have it come up in the 4.3 range every time.
Okay. Enough about his phycial freakishness. How is his tape? Difficult to tell... Mays played in a one deep base defense pretty much his entire time in USC. Teams knew what he was going to do pretty much every play... he roamed center field exclusively. It was some pretty clear cover one or cover three type zones. So it wasn't hard to avoid him...which gives us a difficult task in terms of evalutaing his NFL potential. Teams often steered clear of throwing deep on him, but when they did challenge him Mays could never really display any ball skills of any kind. Where he shines is in run support and in laying the huge hit on helpless receivers. He is a real intimidating force. He does struggle in diagnosing plays and he takes some pretty brutal angles at times resulting in bad technique and missed tackles.
Mays played in a difficult system to scout, but what is apparent is 2 things.
1- He has world class athleticism. He's got the speed, he's got the strength.
2- At times he played flat out poorly. Bad angles, bad technique, and no ball skills to be seen.
So where does that put him in the draft? Tough to say. I think he's worth a first rounder. Guys with his skill set dont come along often. Maybe his best position will be as an in the box strong safety instead of the deep cover one rover. That position would allow him to come in and easily cover a tight end or slot guy while also allowing him to shoot up the middle and attack the run. Mays has a sky high ceiling but he also has bust potential. I think he's worth the risk, but buyer beware.
Here are my rankings:
1) Eric Berry, Tennessee (Top 10)
2) Earl Thomas, Texas (Round 1)
3) Taylor Mays, USC (Round 1-2)
4) Nate Allen, USF (Round 2)
5) Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (Round 2)
6) Chad Jones, LSU (Round 3)
7) Reshad Jones, Georgia (Round 3)
8) Larry Asante, Nebraska (Round 4-5)
9) Darrel Stuckey, Kansas (Round 4-5)
10) Major Wright, Florida (Round 4-5)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
2010 Cornerbacks
This years corner class is a very exceptional group...off the top of my head there are approximately 10 guys that could go in the first 2 rounds. Thats impressive.
One name who isn't talked about a lot is Chris Cook from Virginia. Cook is probably a second round lock but there are rumblings that the Vikings like him enough to possibly take him at #30 overall.
Cook is 6'2 212 lbs and runs a mid 4.4 40. Those triangle numbers are extremely intriguing. He is a good athlete, and has excellent hips and change of direction skills. He has good ball skills as well. Though his technique isn't that great and he isn't very physical, Cooks athleticism and triangle numbers are enough to have a team gamble on him. With good coaching and in the right situation the sky is the limit on this kid.
My favourite corner in this draft is probably Donovan Warren from Michigan. He is a great athlete, with exceptional ball skills, and he plays the run extremely well. He is physical, a good tackler, and is comfortable being left alone on an island with a receiver. His problem? Speed. He ran an awful 40 yard dash at the combine. Now for some positions, the 40 doesn't mean much. For corners however it means a lot. Warren ran a 4.64. Thats pretty bad. If he ran, say a 4.44 then Warren would most likely be a 2nd rounder, but unfortunately for him he could fall to round 4. I like Warren a lot despite of his speed. Put him in a zone situation where he doesn't often have to turn and run with receivers down field and instead can keep his eye on the line of scrimmage and pitch in on the run game, and you could have yourselves a poor man's Antoine Winfield.
Now there is a lot that can be said about guys like Joe Haden and Kyle Wilson, who are virtual first round locks. I want to discuss another guy who could slip into round one but doesn't get much publicity...Kareem Jackson.
Jackson has size, speed, and physicality. He is scheme diverse and is a very good run defender. He does get burned sometimes and has issues with separation from speed receivers but he has the skill set and athleticism to overcome those issues. Jackson got overlooked on Alabama because his team was stacked with so many other stars, but on draft day his name could be called earlier than most casual fans realize.
Here are my rankings:
1) Joe Haden, Florida (Round 1)
2) Kyle Wilson, Boise State (Round 1)
3) Devin McCourty, Rutgers (Round 1-2)
4) Kareem Jackson, Alabama (Round 1-2)
5) Chris Cook, Virginia (Round 1-2)
6) Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State (Round 2-3)
7) Dominique Franks, Oklahoma (Round 2)
8) Patrick Robinson, FSU (Round 2)
9) Donovan Warren, Michigan (Round 4)
10) Jerome Murphy, USF (Round 2-3)
One name who isn't talked about a lot is Chris Cook from Virginia. Cook is probably a second round lock but there are rumblings that the Vikings like him enough to possibly take him at #30 overall.
Cook is 6'2 212 lbs and runs a mid 4.4 40. Those triangle numbers are extremely intriguing. He is a good athlete, and has excellent hips and change of direction skills. He has good ball skills as well. Though his technique isn't that great and he isn't very physical, Cooks athleticism and triangle numbers are enough to have a team gamble on him. With good coaching and in the right situation the sky is the limit on this kid.
My favourite corner in this draft is probably Donovan Warren from Michigan. He is a great athlete, with exceptional ball skills, and he plays the run extremely well. He is physical, a good tackler, and is comfortable being left alone on an island with a receiver. His problem? Speed. He ran an awful 40 yard dash at the combine. Now for some positions, the 40 doesn't mean much. For corners however it means a lot. Warren ran a 4.64. Thats pretty bad. If he ran, say a 4.44 then Warren would most likely be a 2nd rounder, but unfortunately for him he could fall to round 4. I like Warren a lot despite of his speed. Put him in a zone situation where he doesn't often have to turn and run with receivers down field and instead can keep his eye on the line of scrimmage and pitch in on the run game, and you could have yourselves a poor man's Antoine Winfield.
Now there is a lot that can be said about guys like Joe Haden and Kyle Wilson, who are virtual first round locks. I want to discuss another guy who could slip into round one but doesn't get much publicity...Kareem Jackson.
Jackson has size, speed, and physicality. He is scheme diverse and is a very good run defender. He does get burned sometimes and has issues with separation from speed receivers but he has the skill set and athleticism to overcome those issues. Jackson got overlooked on Alabama because his team was stacked with so many other stars, but on draft day his name could be called earlier than most casual fans realize.
Here are my rankings:
1) Joe Haden, Florida (Round 1)
2) Kyle Wilson, Boise State (Round 1)
3) Devin McCourty, Rutgers (Round 1-2)
4) Kareem Jackson, Alabama (Round 1-2)
5) Chris Cook, Virginia (Round 1-2)
6) Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State (Round 2-3)
7) Dominique Franks, Oklahoma (Round 2)
8) Patrick Robinson, FSU (Round 2)
9) Donovan Warren, Michigan (Round 4)
10) Jerome Murphy, USF (Round 2-3)
Mock, Mock... Who's There?
1) St. Louis- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Seems like consensus at this point. I disagree with the pick, but I can't see it not happening.
2) Detroit- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Best player available in Suh...or proetect Stafford's blindside with Okung? Last year the Lions showed us they like taking the BPA over positional value (Pettigrew over Oher) so Suh is the pick for now.
3) Tampa Bay- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
They'll take Suh if he is available or McCoy if he isn't. That simple.
4) Washington- Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
They just got their QB. Now they need to focus on the OL.
5) Kansas City- Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Reports are they love Bulaga and don't want to take a safety in the top 5.
6) Seattle- Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Very hard pick to project. Berry is the best guy left. But they have a huge hole on the OL and Trent Williams is shooting up draft boards for some weird reason. We don't know how Schneider and Carroll will draft yet, so for now I'll go the safe route and pick Berry.
7) Cleveland- Jared Odrick, DE/DT, PSU
Shocker! Reports out of Cleveland are that they are in love with Odrick and could take him if Berry is off the board. I considered Haden, Trent Williams, and Spiller here as well but I've got a feeling Odrick could be a surprise.
8) Oakland- Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
I've been going Bruce Campbell for a while now at this pick, but when you step back and think of it that makes no sense. Al Davis loves his skill players fast and athletic, but he likes his lineman big, strong, and overpowering. Davis fits the bill. His character concerns don't scare crazy Al.
9) Buffalo- Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Harest pick so far... Clausen, Williams, Dan Williams, or CJ Spiller? This is hard because we dont have a history of this regime to study. Everyone is saying that Clausen is falling like a rock (which he shouldn't) and I've also heard Buffalo wants Tim Tebow. So Clausen is out for now. Spiller is a realistic option, but too much of a luxury for an offense with no line and no QB... Dan Williams is a possibility but Trent's value is better...so Trent Williams it is!
10) Jacksonville- Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
This pick could be Tim Tebow. Considering they dont have a second round pick, they're going to have to grab him in round 1 or kiss him goodbye.
11) Denver- Earl Thomas, DB, Texas
Last year Denver went BPA in round 1 grabbing Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers even though both were iffy picks. I have a feeling Thomas is high on a lot of teams boards, and Denver would be wise to nab a guy who could play corner or safety for them.
12) Miami- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF
Parcells wants his rush linebacker bad. I can't see him not getting one here.
13) San Francisco- Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Great value, and at a position of need.
14) Seattle- CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
This was Spiller or Charles Brown all the way. Spiller is a better talent in most peoples eyes, and Alex Gibbs probably thinks he can plug anyone into his zone blocking scheme, so they elect to go the RB.
15) New York Giants- Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Good fit in their defense. I think the Giants are looking DT or LB all the way here, so McClain is probably the best value.
16) Tennessee- Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Their DE situation is really bad and Morgan is fantastic value.
17) San Francisco (from Carolina)- Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The 49ers need to come out of round 1 with a RT and some secondary help. Campbell is a bit of a reach but he has all world potential.
18) Pittsburgh- Maurkice Pouncey, C/OG, Florida
Too high for a center? Think again. This is as low as he goes. He could go as high as #11.
19) Atlanta- Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Weatherspoon or Graham? Its a toss up but Atlanta seems to favour positional value (QB, LT, DT were the last 3 first rounders for the Falcons) so they go with the DE over the LB.
20) Houston- Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
For whatever reasons, many teams are smitten with Mathews. It was either him or some secondary help, but I feel that the talent and depth of round 2 corners and safeties will force them to pull the trigger on Mathews.
21) Cincinnati- Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Bryant's poor work ethic and character concerns will not concern Mike Brown. He'd take Bryant in a heart beat.
22) New England- Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
Kindle physically is a prototypical Belichick OLB. Unless Odrick is available, I think this pick is Kindle all the way.
23) Green Bay- Charles Brown, OT, USC
Fits the scheme...check.... fills a need..check...is good value...check. Makes too much sense.
24) Philadelphia- Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Corner was a possibility before they dealt Brown, now its a big time need. Wilson is good value at this point too.
25) Baltimore- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Baltimore always scoops up players that fall. Gresham has top 10 talent but blocking and injury concerns. At this point in the draft it's worth the gamble.
26) Arizona-Everson Griffen, DE/OLB, USC
Arizona plays a hybrid 43/34 so Griffen who projects more as a pure end still makes sense. The Cardinals need a pass rush bad. They could also take Clausen if he falls this far but I think they're going to give Leinart is shot, for better or for worse.
27) Dallas- Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
They could go Taylor Mays here, but the OLine is a bigger concern. A big mauler like Iupati would fit in well with the Cowboys.
28) San Diego- Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
It was not my intention of dropping Williams this low, but the needs of the teams in front of San Diego didn't match up. If Ryan Mathews is gone I expect this pick to be a NT.
29) New York Jets- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
I don't like this pick, but reports are that Thomas is the #2 WR on most teams boards.
30) Minnesota- Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
It happened to Aaron Rodgers in 2005 and Brady Quinn in 2007...it could be Jimmy Clausen in 2010. If Buffalo passes on Clausen, his landing spot could be here. A huge fall for a prospect with top 10 talent.
31) Indianapolis- Roger Saffold, OL, Indiana
It is no secret that the Colts want OL upgrades. Saffold may be a reach here, but it isn't rare to see OT's get pushed up boards at this time of year. If Charles Brown is off the board I think this pick is Saffold all the way.
32) New Orleans- Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
Weatherspoon drops because of his positional value, but the Saints could really use an upgrade at OLB, so this pick makes a ton of sense. He could be a starter from day 1.
Seems like consensus at this point. I disagree with the pick, but I can't see it not happening.
2) Detroit- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Best player available in Suh...or proetect Stafford's blindside with Okung? Last year the Lions showed us they like taking the BPA over positional value (Pettigrew over Oher) so Suh is the pick for now.
3) Tampa Bay- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
They'll take Suh if he is available or McCoy if he isn't. That simple.
4) Washington- Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
They just got their QB. Now they need to focus on the OL.
5) Kansas City- Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Reports are they love Bulaga and don't want to take a safety in the top 5.
6) Seattle- Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Very hard pick to project. Berry is the best guy left. But they have a huge hole on the OL and Trent Williams is shooting up draft boards for some weird reason. We don't know how Schneider and Carroll will draft yet, so for now I'll go the safe route and pick Berry.
7) Cleveland- Jared Odrick, DE/DT, PSU
Shocker! Reports out of Cleveland are that they are in love with Odrick and could take him if Berry is off the board. I considered Haden, Trent Williams, and Spiller here as well but I've got a feeling Odrick could be a surprise.
8) Oakland- Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
I've been going Bruce Campbell for a while now at this pick, but when you step back and think of it that makes no sense. Al Davis loves his skill players fast and athletic, but he likes his lineman big, strong, and overpowering. Davis fits the bill. His character concerns don't scare crazy Al.
9) Buffalo- Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Harest pick so far... Clausen, Williams, Dan Williams, or CJ Spiller? This is hard because we dont have a history of this regime to study. Everyone is saying that Clausen is falling like a rock (which he shouldn't) and I've also heard Buffalo wants Tim Tebow. So Clausen is out for now. Spiller is a realistic option, but too much of a luxury for an offense with no line and no QB... Dan Williams is a possibility but Trent's value is better...so Trent Williams it is!
10) Jacksonville- Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
This pick could be Tim Tebow. Considering they dont have a second round pick, they're going to have to grab him in round 1 or kiss him goodbye.
11) Denver- Earl Thomas, DB, Texas
Last year Denver went BPA in round 1 grabbing Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers even though both were iffy picks. I have a feeling Thomas is high on a lot of teams boards, and Denver would be wise to nab a guy who could play corner or safety for them.
12) Miami- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF
Parcells wants his rush linebacker bad. I can't see him not getting one here.
13) San Francisco- Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Great value, and at a position of need.
14) Seattle- CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
This was Spiller or Charles Brown all the way. Spiller is a better talent in most peoples eyes, and Alex Gibbs probably thinks he can plug anyone into his zone blocking scheme, so they elect to go the RB.
15) New York Giants- Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Good fit in their defense. I think the Giants are looking DT or LB all the way here, so McClain is probably the best value.
16) Tennessee- Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Their DE situation is really bad and Morgan is fantastic value.
17) San Francisco (from Carolina)- Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The 49ers need to come out of round 1 with a RT and some secondary help. Campbell is a bit of a reach but he has all world potential.
18) Pittsburgh- Maurkice Pouncey, C/OG, Florida
Too high for a center? Think again. This is as low as he goes. He could go as high as #11.
19) Atlanta- Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Weatherspoon or Graham? Its a toss up but Atlanta seems to favour positional value (QB, LT, DT were the last 3 first rounders for the Falcons) so they go with the DE over the LB.
20) Houston- Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
For whatever reasons, many teams are smitten with Mathews. It was either him or some secondary help, but I feel that the talent and depth of round 2 corners and safeties will force them to pull the trigger on Mathews.
21) Cincinnati- Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Bryant's poor work ethic and character concerns will not concern Mike Brown. He'd take Bryant in a heart beat.
22) New England- Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
Kindle physically is a prototypical Belichick OLB. Unless Odrick is available, I think this pick is Kindle all the way.
23) Green Bay- Charles Brown, OT, USC
Fits the scheme...check.... fills a need..check...is good value...check. Makes too much sense.
24) Philadelphia- Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Corner was a possibility before they dealt Brown, now its a big time need. Wilson is good value at this point too.
25) Baltimore- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Baltimore always scoops up players that fall. Gresham has top 10 talent but blocking and injury concerns. At this point in the draft it's worth the gamble.
26) Arizona-Everson Griffen, DE/OLB, USC
Arizona plays a hybrid 43/34 so Griffen who projects more as a pure end still makes sense. The Cardinals need a pass rush bad. They could also take Clausen if he falls this far but I think they're going to give Leinart is shot, for better or for worse.
27) Dallas- Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
They could go Taylor Mays here, but the OLine is a bigger concern. A big mauler like Iupati would fit in well with the Cowboys.
28) San Diego- Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
It was not my intention of dropping Williams this low, but the needs of the teams in front of San Diego didn't match up. If Ryan Mathews is gone I expect this pick to be a NT.
29) New York Jets- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
I don't like this pick, but reports are that Thomas is the #2 WR on most teams boards.
30) Minnesota- Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
It happened to Aaron Rodgers in 2005 and Brady Quinn in 2007...it could be Jimmy Clausen in 2010. If Buffalo passes on Clausen, his landing spot could be here. A huge fall for a prospect with top 10 talent.
31) Indianapolis- Roger Saffold, OL, Indiana
It is no secret that the Colts want OL upgrades. Saffold may be a reach here, but it isn't rare to see OT's get pushed up boards at this time of year. If Charles Brown is off the board I think this pick is Saffold all the way.
32) New Orleans- Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
Weatherspoon drops because of his positional value, but the Saints could really use an upgrade at OLB, so this pick makes a ton of sense. He could be a starter from day 1.
2010 Linebackers
Linebackers, like running backs, tend to slip on draft day. Linebacker is a relatively easy position to transition to from college to the NFL which pushes many talented players down draft boards. Last year for example, everyone and their mother knew that Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis were some of the most talented players in the country. Both were projected high first round picks since early on in their college days all the way up until the draft. What happened? They both went in round 2.
Remember guys like Curtis Lofton and Dan Connor in 2008? Both possible first round guys who slipped until rounds 2 and 3 respectively. Some other names to consider are DeMeco Ryans, a super talented linebacker who slipped until round 2 in 2006... Paul Posluszny in 2007, same story.
The point of this is that there is an obvious trend in the draft that said linebackers, and specifically linebackers who don`t offer much in terms of pass rush, tend to slip on draft day. That is a fact. Sure there are some exception...Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo, Keith Rivers, and AJ Hawk for example... those guys were very talented. All athletic specimens who either projected as a monster in the middle for a 34 team or an outside guy with pass rush potential in a 43 team.
In other words you have to be a very special player, to be a non passrushing linebacker in order to be a first round pick, no matter how talented you are.
Actually, this year we may only have one, or possibly two pure linebackers (not ends that could switch position) that go in round 1.
The first is Rolando McClain. He is everything youd want in an ILB for a 34 team. Big, strong, a team leader, incredibly smart, great tackling, exceptional against the run, and he offers some passrush upside. McClain does have some speed concerns, he isn't the most rangy of players, and he has some health questions. He should be a first round pick. He isn't quite on a Patrick Willis level of prospect but he's close. If he is put in the right situation he will shine, because he can step in and be a very productive player from day one.
The other guy who has a chance to go in round 1, is Sean Weatherspoon. He is a very solid 43 outside linebacker, but he could go lower then expected on draft day. He has trouble with shedding blocks and his technique is sometimes sloppy. Though he is a proven pass rusher he could struggle with blitzing in the pros. He is very vocal and is considered a team leader but his personality has been known to rub some people the wrong way. Despite all of this, he has a ton of talent. He is a great tackler, he has exceptional range, and he has some nice ball skills. Weatherspoon has first round talent there's no doubt, but his negatives are similar to many of the linebackers in the pasts negatives who have fallen out of the first round. I dont think he will fall out of round 1 as of now, but it definitely wouldn't surprise me.
Another guy who will probably go in round 1 is Sergio Kindle. He is a classic tweener. Could play 43 end or 34 OLB. I don't like him as much as most, but there is no denying his talent. He is very explosive and strong, but gets neutralized by blockers way too often. His passrush moves aren't very impressive and his motor seems to run hot and cold. Combine all of that with apparent character concerns and you have yourself a risky prospect. Hes got a ton of potential and could be a terror as a passrusher but I wouldn't take a chance on him personally until round 2.
Finally, I want to talk about one of my favourite linebackers in the draft: Dekoda Watson out of Florida State. He was probably the most impressive physical specimen at the combine this year. His athleticism is out of this world. Everyone knew this guy was a physical freak though, even before the combine. His only major question mark was his size...listed at about 225 lbs in college, Watson bulked up to a very nice 240. With the size question out the window, and world class athleticism, Watson could be a star in the NFL. He was a productive player at FSU with great passrushing skills and the ability to rack up tackles in space. He has all the potential in the world. Watson isn't exactly a household name in the draftnik community but I wouldn't be surprised to see someone take this guy in round 2.
Here are my rankings for linebackers. I'll do OLB and ILB seperately. Ill put a star beside a guy who projects as a 34 OLB.
ILB
1) Rolando McClain, Alabama (Round 1)
2) Sean Lee, PSU (Round 3)
3) Jamar Cheney, Mississippi State (Round 3)
4) Donald Butler, Washington (Round 3)
5) Pat Angerer, Iowa (Round 4-5)
6) Brandon Spikes, Florida (Round 4-5)
7) Philip Dillard, Nebraska (Round 4-5)
8) Daryl Sharpton, Miami (Round 5-6)
9) Micah Johnson, Kentucky (Round 6)
10) Reggie Carter, UCLA (Round 5-6)
OLB
1) Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri (Round 1-2)
2) Sergio Kindle, Texas (Round 1-2)*
3) Daryl Washington, TCU (Round 2)
4) Dekoda Watson, FSU (Round 2-3)*
5) Navarro Bowman, PSU (Round 3)
6) AJ Edds, Iowa (Round 3)
7) Eric Norwood, South Carolina (Round 3)*
8) Rennie Curran, Georgia (Round 3-4)
9) Thaddeus Gibson, OSU (Round 3-4)*
10) Rodrick Muckelroy, Texas (Round 4)
Remember guys like Curtis Lofton and Dan Connor in 2008? Both possible first round guys who slipped until rounds 2 and 3 respectively. Some other names to consider are DeMeco Ryans, a super talented linebacker who slipped until round 2 in 2006... Paul Posluszny in 2007, same story.
The point of this is that there is an obvious trend in the draft that said linebackers, and specifically linebackers who don`t offer much in terms of pass rush, tend to slip on draft day. That is a fact. Sure there are some exception...Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo, Keith Rivers, and AJ Hawk for example... those guys were very talented. All athletic specimens who either projected as a monster in the middle for a 34 team or an outside guy with pass rush potential in a 43 team.
In other words you have to be a very special player, to be a non passrushing linebacker in order to be a first round pick, no matter how talented you are.
Actually, this year we may only have one, or possibly two pure linebackers (not ends that could switch position) that go in round 1.
The first is Rolando McClain. He is everything youd want in an ILB for a 34 team. Big, strong, a team leader, incredibly smart, great tackling, exceptional against the run, and he offers some passrush upside. McClain does have some speed concerns, he isn't the most rangy of players, and he has some health questions. He should be a first round pick. He isn't quite on a Patrick Willis level of prospect but he's close. If he is put in the right situation he will shine, because he can step in and be a very productive player from day one.
The other guy who has a chance to go in round 1, is Sean Weatherspoon. He is a very solid 43 outside linebacker, but he could go lower then expected on draft day. He has trouble with shedding blocks and his technique is sometimes sloppy. Though he is a proven pass rusher he could struggle with blitzing in the pros. He is very vocal and is considered a team leader but his personality has been known to rub some people the wrong way. Despite all of this, he has a ton of talent. He is a great tackler, he has exceptional range, and he has some nice ball skills. Weatherspoon has first round talent there's no doubt, but his negatives are similar to many of the linebackers in the pasts negatives who have fallen out of the first round. I dont think he will fall out of round 1 as of now, but it definitely wouldn't surprise me.
Another guy who will probably go in round 1 is Sergio Kindle. He is a classic tweener. Could play 43 end or 34 OLB. I don't like him as much as most, but there is no denying his talent. He is very explosive and strong, but gets neutralized by blockers way too often. His passrush moves aren't very impressive and his motor seems to run hot and cold. Combine all of that with apparent character concerns and you have yourself a risky prospect. Hes got a ton of potential and could be a terror as a passrusher but I wouldn't take a chance on him personally until round 2.
Finally, I want to talk about one of my favourite linebackers in the draft: Dekoda Watson out of Florida State. He was probably the most impressive physical specimen at the combine this year. His athleticism is out of this world. Everyone knew this guy was a physical freak though, even before the combine. His only major question mark was his size...listed at about 225 lbs in college, Watson bulked up to a very nice 240. With the size question out the window, and world class athleticism, Watson could be a star in the NFL. He was a productive player at FSU with great passrushing skills and the ability to rack up tackles in space. He has all the potential in the world. Watson isn't exactly a household name in the draftnik community but I wouldn't be surprised to see someone take this guy in round 2.
Here are my rankings for linebackers. I'll do OLB and ILB seperately. Ill put a star beside a guy who projects as a 34 OLB.
ILB
1) Rolando McClain, Alabama (Round 1)
2) Sean Lee, PSU (Round 3)
3) Jamar Cheney, Mississippi State (Round 3)
4) Donald Butler, Washington (Round 3)
5) Pat Angerer, Iowa (Round 4-5)
6) Brandon Spikes, Florida (Round 4-5)
7) Philip Dillard, Nebraska (Round 4-5)
8) Daryl Sharpton, Miami (Round 5-6)
9) Micah Johnson, Kentucky (Round 6)
10) Reggie Carter, UCLA (Round 5-6)
OLB
1) Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri (Round 1-2)
2) Sergio Kindle, Texas (Round 1-2)*
3) Daryl Washington, TCU (Round 2)
4) Dekoda Watson, FSU (Round 2-3)*
5) Navarro Bowman, PSU (Round 3)
6) AJ Edds, Iowa (Round 3)
7) Eric Norwood, South Carolina (Round 3)*
8) Rennie Curran, Georgia (Round 3-4)
9) Thaddeus Gibson, OSU (Round 3-4)*
10) Rodrick Muckelroy, Texas (Round 4)
Saturday, April 3, 2010
2010 Defensive Tackles
No positional group this year is as good as the DT's. This group has elite talent at the top of the draft and depth in the middle rounds. It's a good year to be in the market for men in the middle. Before discussing anyone else, every discussion about this group should begin with Ndamukong Suh. Suh is one of the best prospects I have ever seen regardless of position. He has a non stop motor, elite strength, the ability to shut down a teams entire run game up the middle, he can take on and shed multiple blockers, he's blessed with the best bullrush move I've ever seen in a prospect, he tackles exceptionally well, and he is terrific in pursuit of the ball carrier. There isn't enough good things one can say about Suh. However some people like to throw some negatives out there...you usually here three things when people want to criticize Suh. I want to address each one.
1- Suh doesn't have many pass rush moves.
Well how do you know? He was the most dominant defensive player in college football in recent memory, why would he switch what he was doing in the bullrush? His upper body strength is unmatched by pretty much everyone.. why would he change what was working so well? In the NFL, yes he will have to show off some more moves, but there's no doubt he has the work ethic and ability to do so...and there's no way that his bullrush will be fully neutralized anyways. I don't see this point as a negative in any way.
2- Doesn't have an elite first step.
His first step penetration ability is not all world, but it's not bad. He has the acceleration off the snap to be successful and the first step is good enough to be a good pass rusher. No, it is not elite, but that's not really his game. If you watch his tape, you'll realize that his burst off the snap isn't exceptional but it isn't bad by any means. For a guy whose game is based on power and strength, his first step is actually quite good.
3- Injury concerns.
Now this is valid. He had knee injuries in the past and they required surgery. Now in no way has this hindered his play and there is no reason to think that it will affect him in the pros, but a team has to do its homework on those knees before drafting him because if this problem starts occurring again and again than there could be a problem.
Suh is an elite talent. He has the upside of Reggie White. He is that good and could be that dominant at the next level. He is my #1 player regardless of position in the draft by a long shot. Some people think differently though, and have fellow DT Gerald McCoy ranked higher then Suh. Now McCoy is fantastic, in fact he is my #3 player regardless of position in the draft (Eric Berry being #2), but in my opinion he isn't on the same level as Suh...he's not even close.
McCoy has the burst and penetration ability of Tommie Harris (before he started going downhill) and could be an absolute stud as a passrusher. He has all the moves you want to see out of a DT. He isn't exactly good in the run game, but he isn't bad either. At times he can get pushed out of a play rather easily but there are also times where he holds his own. He shouldn't be a liability in the run game but he won't be a difference maker by any stretch of the imagination. In one on one pass blocking situations he has shown to be an effective block shedder, but when it comes to double teams he is easily neutralized. He has a non stop motor and is a hard worker but wasn't overly productive at Oklahoma.
McCoy's technique is NFL ready and his elite first step have people drooling over his pass rush potential. He is a fantastic prospect in his own right, but when comparing him to Suh, he just doesn't compare. If he goes ahead of Suh, then a team will be making a big time mistake in my opinion because Suh is better then him in pretty much every category except than first step quickness. Suh is more scheme diverse, he has better strength, he is a better tackler, he is a better block shedder, he is proven to more productive, he has better size, he is much better against the run, and their motor and technique are on par.
McCoy is good yes. In fact he's a borderline elite prospect in his own right. But his ceiling may be Tommie Harris...not a bad thing, but Suh has potential in a DT that only comes along once in a decade or so.
Well thats enough about Suh and McCoy. One could on for hours about them. How about the top nose tackle prospect??
Dan Williams is a first round lock and should be the first NT off the board. He is an immovable force in the run game, has the ability to take on multiple blockers in the middle, and has a big 6'2 330 lb frame. What more do you want from a nose tackle!?
He doesn't have much to offer as a pass rusher, though he can push the pocket back, and he disappears sometimes in games. His conditioning and stamina have come into question. These negatives are things that pretty much every NT prospect faces though. Dan Williams is a prototypical nose, and they are always in high demand whether it be for a 34 or 43 team. He should hear his name called early on the 22nd.
Finally, I want to look at Lamarr Houston out of Texas. He is easily one ofthe most underrated DT's this year. 6'3 and 305 lbs, Houston is a big tackle who is very similar to Gerald McCoy. He has great passrushing ability, great technique, is very athletic and strong, and he never takes plays off. His problems are that he gets pushed out of the run game too often and his first step penetration isn't on an elite level. His ceiling isn't as high as McCoy because Houston doesn't possess the penetration ability that he does but other then that they are fairly similar players. A team will be extremely happy to land Houston in round 2.
Here are my rankings:
1- Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (Top 5)
2- Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma (Top 5)
3- Dan Williams, Tennessee (Round 1)
4- Brian Price, UCLA (Round 1-2)
5- Jared Odrick, Penn State (Round 1)
6- Lamarr Houston, Texas (Round 2)
7- Terrence Cody, Alabama (Round 1-2)
8- Tyson Aluala, Cal (Round 2)
9- Cam Thomas, North Carolina (Round 2)
10- Geno Atkins, Georgia (Round 2-3)
1- Suh doesn't have many pass rush moves.
Well how do you know? He was the most dominant defensive player in college football in recent memory, why would he switch what he was doing in the bullrush? His upper body strength is unmatched by pretty much everyone.. why would he change what was working so well? In the NFL, yes he will have to show off some more moves, but there's no doubt he has the work ethic and ability to do so...and there's no way that his bullrush will be fully neutralized anyways. I don't see this point as a negative in any way.
2- Doesn't have an elite first step.
His first step penetration ability is not all world, but it's not bad. He has the acceleration off the snap to be successful and the first step is good enough to be a good pass rusher. No, it is not elite, but that's not really his game. If you watch his tape, you'll realize that his burst off the snap isn't exceptional but it isn't bad by any means. For a guy whose game is based on power and strength, his first step is actually quite good.
3- Injury concerns.
Now this is valid. He had knee injuries in the past and they required surgery. Now in no way has this hindered his play and there is no reason to think that it will affect him in the pros, but a team has to do its homework on those knees before drafting him because if this problem starts occurring again and again than there could be a problem.
Suh is an elite talent. He has the upside of Reggie White. He is that good and could be that dominant at the next level. He is my #1 player regardless of position in the draft by a long shot. Some people think differently though, and have fellow DT Gerald McCoy ranked higher then Suh. Now McCoy is fantastic, in fact he is my #3 player regardless of position in the draft (Eric Berry being #2), but in my opinion he isn't on the same level as Suh...he's not even close.
McCoy has the burst and penetration ability of Tommie Harris (before he started going downhill) and could be an absolute stud as a passrusher. He has all the moves you want to see out of a DT. He isn't exactly good in the run game, but he isn't bad either. At times he can get pushed out of a play rather easily but there are also times where he holds his own. He shouldn't be a liability in the run game but he won't be a difference maker by any stretch of the imagination. In one on one pass blocking situations he has shown to be an effective block shedder, but when it comes to double teams he is easily neutralized. He has a non stop motor and is a hard worker but wasn't overly productive at Oklahoma.
McCoy's technique is NFL ready and his elite first step have people drooling over his pass rush potential. He is a fantastic prospect in his own right, but when comparing him to Suh, he just doesn't compare. If he goes ahead of Suh, then a team will be making a big time mistake in my opinion because Suh is better then him in pretty much every category except than first step quickness. Suh is more scheme diverse, he has better strength, he is a better tackler, he is a better block shedder, he is proven to more productive, he has better size, he is much better against the run, and their motor and technique are on par.
McCoy is good yes. In fact he's a borderline elite prospect in his own right. But his ceiling may be Tommie Harris...not a bad thing, but Suh has potential in a DT that only comes along once in a decade or so.
Well thats enough about Suh and McCoy. One could on for hours about them. How about the top nose tackle prospect??
Dan Williams is a first round lock and should be the first NT off the board. He is an immovable force in the run game, has the ability to take on multiple blockers in the middle, and has a big 6'2 330 lb frame. What more do you want from a nose tackle!?
He doesn't have much to offer as a pass rusher, though he can push the pocket back, and he disappears sometimes in games. His conditioning and stamina have come into question. These negatives are things that pretty much every NT prospect faces though. Dan Williams is a prototypical nose, and they are always in high demand whether it be for a 34 or 43 team. He should hear his name called early on the 22nd.
Finally, I want to look at Lamarr Houston out of Texas. He is easily one ofthe most underrated DT's this year. 6'3 and 305 lbs, Houston is a big tackle who is very similar to Gerald McCoy. He has great passrushing ability, great technique, is very athletic and strong, and he never takes plays off. His problems are that he gets pushed out of the run game too often and his first step penetration isn't on an elite level. His ceiling isn't as high as McCoy because Houston doesn't possess the penetration ability that he does but other then that they are fairly similar players. A team will be extremely happy to land Houston in round 2.
Here are my rankings:
1- Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (Top 5)
2- Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma (Top 5)
3- Dan Williams, Tennessee (Round 1)
4- Brian Price, UCLA (Round 1-2)
5- Jared Odrick, Penn State (Round 1)
6- Lamarr Houston, Texas (Round 2)
7- Terrence Cody, Alabama (Round 1-2)
8- Tyson Aluala, Cal (Round 2)
9- Cam Thomas, North Carolina (Round 2)
10- Geno Atkins, Georgia (Round 2-3)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
