Don’t Be So Harsh on The Seahawks’ Secondary

Alright, first of all many of you guys will look at the title of my article and say why shouldn’t we criticize the Seahawks secondary?

I am here to hopefully break down to you why I believe our secondary was not as godawful as many of you have come to believe. By no means am I saying it was excellent, just not as horrible as many of you have made it out to be.

First of all, let’s start out with the D-Line.

We were banged up as hell last year on both sides of the ball. First of all we lose Patrick Kerney early in the year when he was on pace to get roughly around 10 to 12 sacks, and many of us know he is probably the most consistent pass rusher on our team.

He just never stops going. Even if he does not get to the QB in time for the sack, he almost always makes sure he forces some kind of pressure, which can be the difference between a huge play, which many teams did all year to us, and an incomplete pass.

The Seahawks were unable to get any pressure whatsoever on any of the QBs in mid-season of last year. It started out well with the duo of Kerney and Peterson, but once Kerney was injured and was taken out for the season, the opposing team would just pick up Peterson and that would be the end of the Seahawks’ chance at getting any pressure on the QB.

Due to the lack of pressure on the QB he could take as long as he wanted, until one of his WRs would bust wide open for him to deliver the the perfect pass to.

The Hawks’ corners can only chase the WRs around for so long. I am not saying that the lack of pressure was the only reason the secondary was awful, but it played a major role in it.

For example, let’s look at Thanksgiving 2008—Cowboys vs. Seahawks. There was a particular play that I watched on NFL live, where Tony Romo had 8.3 seconds in the pocket just bouncing around, not worrying about a damn thing!

So what happens? He waits and waits, then decides he will wait some more and takes his girlfriend Jessica on a date, then comes back from that dinner and a movie and delivers the ball to T.O. who is cutting across the field for a touchdown. I mean seriously, 8.3 seconds!?

Now back to me supposedly defending the secondary. There are a couple of reasons that the Hawks’ secondary will be better next year.

One huge reason is Colin Cole. He will take so much relief off the rest of the line by simply being there, which will free Hill (if re-signed that is) up to do his thing. Hill we able get to the QB, which he showed he can do in his rookie year, and Kerney will also be able have penetration, while Tatupu and Curry sit in the back field.

So many factors play into why the Seahawks’ secondary was burned on countless plays last year. There are so many, but the main reason I could find was the lack of the pass rush. The Hawks have added size to the line, and with the healthy men back and Hill hopefully back, they can get some pressure on the QB, which can lead to some incomplete passes, a lot more interceptions, and more turnovers as well.

One more scenario I would like to look back on was the snowy Seahawks vs. Jets game. The Seahawks managed to rack up 5.5 sacks that game, which led to two interceptions. Yes, I understand that the snow had a lot to do with it, but we are also talking about Brett Favre here. He led the Packers to a romping of our Seahawks the year before in guess what? The snow. Much harder snow in Green Bay may I add.

So obviously I am getting at something; more pressure = better secondary.

We will have plenty of this in the ’09 season.

Chiefs Draft: Is This All I Get?

The 2009 NFL Draft is now behind us, thankfully. Personally, I don’t know how the allure of this monster has become what it has…on second thought, yes I do.

It is not the attraction to Kiper’s hair, McShay’s disagreements with Kiper, or the so-called experts handing out of “A’s” and “B’s” like an underwater basket weaving instructor hands out grades to student athletes.

The interest is sparked by the ray of hope and excitement that comes with a new crop of players, similar to a child opening a new group of gifts on Christmas morning.

On the eve of the NFL draft, teams dream of unrealistic scenarios in which they discover the mother load of football immortality, just as a child fills lists with the biggest and best toys on the pages of the Toys R Us Sunday circular.

When the draft is over, the draft pundits and fans alike will critique their respective teams’ picks, the way a child sorts through new gifts until they decide to move on to the next big thing.

For the NFL, that next big thing is signing rookie free agents, scouring other teams’ castoffs, and attempting to the fill the holes their draft board left unfilled.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2009 NFL draft class reminds me of a child receiving an age-inappropriate gift that might be great in the future, but is kind of a bummer right now.  

I think Chiefs fans in general were expecting more of a splash from first year GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley.

I didn’t feel any overwhelming sense of excitement with any of the picks, though I do feel there is potential for great things in the future.  

The lack of movement within the draft itself left me wondering if some Raiders fan had disconnected the Chiefs phone lines. Didn’t this guy learn from the Patriots?

The upcoming weeks will be sure to surround Chiefs Nation with more new players, difficult personnel decisions, and hopefully, a more clear look in to the future of the franchise.

As for now, all we have is a mildly disappointed group of fans eager to see the next big thing our team will give us. Help at receiver, a trade to get LJ out of town, and a clearing of the mud on our D-line, are first on my list.

Hopefully, as the smoke clears, we won’t find ourselves asking, “Is this all I get?”

NFL Fantasy Update: 2009 Rookie Fantasy Value

by Derek of The Sportmeisters

 

What a weekend for football. The NFL Draft finally came and went, and what a draft it was. Being the Fantasy Guru of the Sportmeisters, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about the fantasy implications of some of the 2009 Rookies.

Obviously, you aren’t going to be reaching in the first three rounds for one of these guys, but there are definitely some players worth a look in the middle to later rounds. Let’s take a look at who those guys might be.

 

WR – Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers stole Crabtree at pick 10 after the Rams, Chiefs, Seahawks, Bengals, Raiders, and Jaguars (all teams that need a WR) passed on him. He was regarded as the draft’s biggest playmaker and that is a good thing for fantasy.

The 49ers already have a great running game with RB Frank Gore, plus they have WR Isaac Bruce and TE Vernon Davis (who is primed for a breakout season) as playmakers in the offense.

The big question that affects Crabtree’s value is the QB situation. However, I think that Alex Smith is healthy and he should beat out Shaun Hill and Damon Huard and revert back to his 2006 form when he threw 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, his career best.

If Smith can be the QB that everyone thinks he can, then Crabtree will be a steal in the middle rounds and could be the guy you choose to keep if you play in a keeper league.

Projection: 55 Receptions, 900 yards, six TDs

 

WR – Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles

This is the guy that I think will have the best season of all the rookies. Maclin was the guy to pick after Crabtree was off the board and was said to be just as much of a playmaker as Crabtree. He steps right into a great situation for a rookie.

He has an elite QB in Donovan McNabb, and an elite RB in Brian Westbrook, not to mention second year WR DeSean Jackson and WR Kevin Curtis. With Jackson and Maclin on the field at the same time, the Eagles will have an explosive passing game that could hit the deep play at any time.

Maclin could also have value as a returner if the Eagles choose to use him there. This is another guy you may want to look at as a keeper for the future.

Projection: 66 Receptions, 975 yards, six TDs

 

RB – Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos

The Broncos have a plethora of running backs on their roster and you never know who will step into the limelight. However, they wouldn’t have drafted Moreno in the first round without expecting to utilize him in the offense. He will be competing for playing time, but has enough potential to be a good No. 2 fantasy RB.

He will be utilized in the passing game as well, which gives him added value. The RB position is usually picked in the middle rounds, so I can see him being drafted here.

Projection: 875 yards rushing, eight TDs, 45 Receptions, 350 receiving yards, two TDs

 

RB – Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts

Anyone remember Joseph Addai’s rookie season? Well, Brown is a lot like Addai. Brown has outstanding speed and elusiveness and fits the Colts’ running game perfectly. With Addai having injury issues recently, that could open the door for Brown to have a great year.

Even if Addai stays healthy, Brown will get carries. He will have to compete with second year RB Mike Hart, but they wouldn’t have drafted him in the first round just to sit him on the bench. I could see using a middle round pick on him and getting good No. 2 RB numbers.

Projection: 1000 yards rushing, eight TDs, 45 receptions, 350 receiving yards, two TDs

 

RB – Chris Wells – Arizona Cardinals

Beanie Wells will be taking over for Edgerrin James after he is released later this week. He is going to be splitting carries with RB Tim Hightower, but it should be an equal split. Wells has a very physical style of running and mixes that with the perfect balance of speed.

With Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays this year, the Cardinals’ running game will be featured more, so Wells could be a middle round pick that produces like a first round stud.

Projection: 800 yards rushing, nine TDs, 25 receptions, 200 receiving yards, one TD

 

RB – LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles

Just call this guy Brian Westbrook Junior. He is quick, elusive, and has great hands. He should have a decent amount of value coming out as Westbrook’s backup, especially with Westbrook’s injury history.

I could see him going in the middle rounds and producing Westbrook-like numbers, but that is a bit of a gamble because it all depends on if Westbrook stays healthy, because you know that Eagles offense runs through Brian Westbrook, for now.

Projection: 600 yards rushing, five TDs, 40 receptions, 400 receiving yards, two TDs

 

WR – Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings

Harvin has the chance to be the next Devin Hester. However, that may not lead to fantasy glory. He is an intriguing pick due to his explosiveness and his playmaking ability as a return man, but he is still a rookie and I wouldn’t jump too high for him.

We don’t know who will be the QB yet, either Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, but we do know that he will be playing with RB Adrian Peterson and RB Chester Taylor, as well as WR Bernard Berrian. They have a good offense, and Harvin can only help expand it.

They are already talking about Harvin in the wildcat offense and I could definitely see some reverse plays going Harvin’s way. As I said, he is intriguing, but I wouldn’t jump too high, especially with his injury history.

Projection: 40 receptions, 650 yards, four TDs, 350 rushing yards, three TDs

 

QB – Mark Sanchez – New York Jets

This pick may be reaching a bit, but that’s why it’s a late round pick. Sanchez will have the chance to be the starter, but will battle with Kellen Clemens. He is expected to win the job and, if he does, could have fantasy value with the players around him.

He would step into an offense that has RB Thomas Jones, RB Leon Washington, WR Jerricho Cotchery, and TE Dustin Keller. Rookie QB’s usually aren’t great fantasy players, with the exception of Matt Ryan; however, I could see using a late pick and possibly nabbing your super sleeper/keeper of the draft.

Projection: 3,000 yards passing, 18 TDs, 18 INTs, two rushing TDs

 

WR – Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders

While he definitely wasn’t worth the No. 7 pick in the draft, he will be worth a late round look as a fantasy WR. He has the speed to get away from defenders and has a strong-armed QB in JaMarcus Russell, so that’s a positive.

They also have a strong running game with RB’s Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush. They don’t really have a No. 1 WR in Oakland, so Heyward-Bey has the chance to jump right in and take the job. He could definitely be worth a late round flier.

Projection: 35 receptions, 600 yards, three TDs

 

WR – Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants

The Giants got the WR that they needed and everyone seems to love this pick. With no real No. 1 WR on the roster, Nicks has the opportunity to be that guy. If he plays as well as everyone predicts, he could be a steal in the later rounds.

The reason I have him so low is the possibility that he may not blossom until his second or third year. I wouldn’t use a pick higher than round 11 on him, by 12 or later sounds about right for now, but let’s see what happens after OTA’s.

Projection: 60 receptions, 575 yards, four TDs

 

TE – Brandon Pettigrew – Detroit Lions

This was a highly disputed pick, especially by my partner, Sportmeister Ryan, but I like it. Pettigrew is the perfect combination that a TE should be. He doesn’t have the speed needed to stretch the defense like a Jeremy Shockey or an Antonio Gates, but he can catch the ball just as well.

Not to mention that he could be one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL in just his rookie season. The fact that he is such a good blocker will cut into his fantasy value, and he definitely shouldn’t be your first TE chosen, but he would be in my Top 15 and could be a late round steal.

Projection: 40 receptions, 400 yards, six TDs

 

QB – Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

You would think that the No. 1 pick in the draft would be higher. Not necessarily. Stafford isn’t guaranteed, nor is he expected, to start this year and even if he does, he won’t have the Matt Ryan effect on his team. The only reason he is on this list is for keeper leagues. If you can grab him in the last few rounds and stash him away, you may have a 2010 steal on your hands.

Projection: 1000 yards passing, nine TDs, nine INTs, one rushing TD

 

WR – Brian Robiskie – Cleveland Browns

This could be the ultimate rookie sleeper of this year’s draft. Depending on the QB situation and whether or not they decide to keep Braylon Edwards and on Donte’ Stallworth’s legal situation. If everything goes down the way we expect it to (Edwards gets traded, Stallworth is wrapped up in legal trouble) then Robiskie gets thrust into a starting role.

He is a great route runner and has phenomenal hands. I could see him landing in the later rounds and being a super sleeper. Watch and see what happens with him.

Projection: 55 receptions, 800 yards, six TDs

 

RB – Glen Coffee – San Francisco 49ers

Here’s an intriguing sleeper pick. Coffee has been compared to Shaun Alexander, with his size and speed and the fact that 49ers don’t have a true backup for Frank Gore. I could see him as a touchdown vulture his rookie year, due to the fact that Gore will get most of the carries, which is why he isn’t a middle round pick.

However, he has the speed to break a few big runs for touchdowns. Watch OTA’s carefully to see where to put him on your draft board.

Projection: 450 yards rushing, six TDs, 15 receptions, 150 yards, one TD

 

WR – Juaquin Iglesias – Chicago Bears

This pick is largely due to the fact that Jay Cutler is the QB and not Kyle Orton. Iglesias should end up the No. 2 or third WR on the Bears and could have a Wes Welker type effect on the field, as he is fearless over the middle according to the NFL.com report.

With Devin Hester on the outside as the deep threat and Greg Olsen at TE, Iglesias could be just as big a sleeper as Robiskie. Watch this situation carefully.

Projection: 40 receptions, 550 yards, four TDs

 

There are my predictions for the 2009 rookie class of the NFL in the fantasy world. Any questions or concerns, email me at Derek@Sportmeisters.com.

Why Justin Fargas Is The Man In Oakland

Who doesn’t like seeing a running back hit the hole and move the pile for those tough yards when you need them?  This style of play has been a hallmark of professional football since the earliest days of the sport.

 

The battering ram concept has never been lost on Al Davis and throughout his tenure as Emperor of the Raiders, he has made sure at least one guy on the roster is capable of moving the pile.

 

Usually you can depend on your fullback for such chores but this isn’t always the case.  You want a guy who can accelerate in traffic.

 

It takes a certain kind of back to be able to do this on a regular basis.  You need a body that can hold up over the long haul and you need a thick skull to be able to absorb that kind of punishment for a living.

 

The Oakland Raiders have enjoyed their fair share of thick skulled backs.  Pete Banaszak, drafted in 1966, spent his entire career filling short yardage needs.  His successor, Mark Van Eeghen was almost a mirror image of Banaszak though more athletic.   If you think the Raiders are all about the deep ball, think again.  Mark Van Eeghen carried the ball so much he amassed over 5,000 career yards as a Raider.  He also led all backs in yardage with a whopping 75 in the super bowl victory over the Vikings.  Two and three yard pickups is the name of the game when it comes to big backs who can wear down a defense.

 

There was also fullback Marv Hubbard.  Ironically, Hubbard and Van Eeghen both were drafted out of Colgate University.

 

In the modern era, Tyrone Wheatley  was supposed to be that sort of guy but never really developed into it.  Zack Crockett filled that role for a while.  There have been others but you get the idea.

 

Nowadays we have Justin Fargas, who has redefined that role a bit by adding a lot more speed and catching out of the backfield to the mix. As the game has changed and player athleticism has evolved over the years, Fargas has not only grown into the role, he has risen to the occasion and won the position outright over highly regarded Darren McFadden.

 

Interestingly, while playing at Michigan, coaches moved Fargas to safety.  After getting hurt, he transferred to USC where he did pretty well for himself as a running back.  He was a third-round draft pick by the Raiders where he has finally worked himself into the role of “the man.”

 

Fargas is not built like a truck but he can move the pile when he has enough momentum.  He can be considered the Raiders short yardage specialist.  Though we can blame bad play calling for anyone thinking Fargas is going to give you first downs on third and long.

 

“Lil Hugg” has carried the rock more than any other Raider back over the past two seasons.  This, along with his community-minded approach to being a Raider has earned him numerous accolades by booster clubs.

 

In many ways Lil’ Hugg symbolizes what being a Raider is all about.

 

So why doesn’t he have the respect of all Raider fans?

 

People want to see more of Darren McFadden and get a long look at what Michael Bush can do.

 

With both of those guys we have seen glimpses of potential greatness but not enough to displace Fargas.  At least not yet.

 

McFadden is not really a between the tackles type of runner.  He showed he can do that but it wears you down, especially a guy like McFadden, who you ideally want to get into open space.  We can only hope he gets more than a handful of carries per game and plays designed to take advantage of his abilities.

 

Michael Bush just needs a chance to prove himself every day.  It doesn’t seem likely he will be an every game performer (at least as a Raider) thanks to being third on the depth chart.

 

We also can’t forget about Louis Rankin, who shows good burst out of the backfield and whom Undead Al surely wants to see more of (as indicated by his promotion from the practice squad in the off-season).

 

It’s a crowded backfield and Justin Fargas leads the pack.  Don’t expect that to change in ’09.

 

NFL Draft Day Headline

The Jets were the talk of the first round, leaping all the way from 17th to fifth—to pounce for Trojan star quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jets now have their franchise quarterback. The trade works for the Cleveland Browns, which swapped its fifth pick with the Jets. The team avoided the big money guaranteed contracts that top ten picks command in the NFL, holding tight to that loot for signing other players down the line. The Browns’ strategy today is to keep trading down and collect more picks because they’ve got a lot of holes to fill; this is very smart and cost-efficient. The new Browns brain trust is already earning its money.

The Jets needed a franchise quarterback in a bad way, and probably made the big move up to fifth to beat the Washington Redskins—who were also in the market for a starting signal caller. Sanchez is a big time player who commandeered So Cal’s dazzling pro style offense to a 12-1 record. USC’s offense more than prepares its quarterbacks for the NFL and the fact that Sanchez excelled in that sophisticated offense, shows that he is NFL-ready. Sanchez has pro Bowl-caliber talent, following in a recent line of quality USC quarterbacks: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Matt Cassel.

At the seventh spot (the Oakland Raiders make a bizarre pick) is Darrius Heyward-Bey WR. He’s very raw and and doesn’t have great hands. Why they didn’t draft Michael Crabtree is beyond me, but these are the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis went for blinding speed and that’s why this pick was made. At 10, the San Francisco 49ers grabbed Crabtree. That was the correct pick—he is the most talented player available at 10 and the 49ers must be ecstatic to find Michael Crabtree still on the board. Crabtree is 6’1″ and 215 lbs., with great hands, and he is a pro bowl-quality receiver. Some character concerns coming into the draft: Mike Singletary will weed those out in a hurry; it’s an excellent pick. Crabtree has speed to burn, a great work ethic, fights for passes, and scores touchdowns, and is a special talent. Is Crabtree the new Jerry Rice? Time will tell.

Oakland Raider’s Draft Pick Darrius Heyward-Bey Is Being Sold Short

When many people think of the Oakland Raider’s draft, they immediately think, “FAIL!“.

I’ll admit that this is not a horrible conclusion, but the biggest mistake many people are jumping to the conclusion of is that Darrius Heyward-Bey will be a bust.

This is completely false.

I have to say that it was not a great decision by Al Davis and his front office to bypass both Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree, but that does not mean that the selection of Heyward-Bey is a bust.

Heyward-Bey clocked a 4.30 seconds at the NFL Combine’s 40-yard dash, setting records for his speed and helping the Raiders lean towards selecting him. People just cannot jump to the conclusion that he will be a bust simply because Maclin or Crabtree should have been picked instead.

Heyward-Bey should also not be labeled as a “bust” like most people say when mini-camp or even preseason has not even begun yet.

Heyward-Bey is a very fast and experienced receiver, who posted good numbers at Maryland. It’s just that Crabtree’s numbers were far better then his.

This still does not mean that he will be a bust!

While I believe Al Davis, and the Raiders organization made the wrong pick at the wrong time, I strongly believe Heyward-Bey will develop into a solid and consistent receiver for the Raiders.

Only at the end of several NFL seasons can Heyward-Bey be labeled as a “bust”.

Bears Sign Nine Undrafted Free Agents

You can read this article and many more at Bearsbacker.com: THE Blog for Any Chicago Bears Fan.

The Bears signed nine undrafted rookie free agents to contracts today and gave them a shot to fight for a spot on the roster.

They picked up Johan Asiata (guard) from UNLV, Dennis Conley (guard) from Hampton, Dahna Deleston (safety) from Connecticut, Tyrell Fenroy (running back) from LA – Lafayette, Kevin Malast (linebacker) from Rutgers, Eric Peterman (wide receiver) from Northwestern, Mike Rivera (linebacker) from Kansas, Will Ta’ufo’ou (fullback) from California,Woodny Turenne (defensive back) from Louisville.

Breaking Down These Players:

1) John Asiata (YO-han AH-c-AH-ta) – G/T from UNLV, played at Yuba Junior College from 2004-2005, was redshirted in 2006 at UNLV, started twelve games at right tackle in 2007 and started twelve games at left guard in 2008. He has a shot to make the roster. Maybe because there thin at the guard position, he’ll have a shot.

2) Dennis Conley- Guard from Hampton, Conley was a tight end in high school, but moved to left guard for the Pirates, where he earned a first-team All-MEAC in 2007. He is an under the radar player, because he played for a FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school. He could make the team because of the lack of depth at the guard position.

3) Dahna Deleston– Safety from Connecticut, played linebacker in college, recording four career interceptions, but played in only five games last season. Special teams player at best.

4) Tyrell Fenroy– Running Back from LA- Lafayette is a four year starter on La.-Laf. teams that were top 20 in the country in rushing offense every year… over 1,000 yards rushing every year… one of only seven players ever to rush for 1,000 yards four straight years. At 5′8″, 191 he uses his speed to break by defenders. Could battle Garrett Wolfe for final RB spot on roster.

5) Kevin Malast– Linebacker from Rutgers is 6′2″, 205 pounds and ran a 4.58 second 40 yard dash. Could battle Marcus Freeman and Joey Larocque for last LB spot on roster.

6) Eric Peterman– Wide Receiver from Northwestern, the 6′1″ Peterman ran a 4.50 second 40 yard dash and could be in the mix for a spot on the roster, most likely contributing on special teams. Peterman had 59 receptions, 737 yards and six touchdowns last season at Northwestern. A very nice pickup.

7) Mike Rivera– Linebacker from Kansas a 6-2, 245 pounder, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds, but had a weak senior season for the Jayhawks.

8) Will Ta’ufo’ou (tau-FOE-oh)– Fullback from Cal, my favorite pickup out of all these players. Ta’ufo’ou had interest from more than half of the teams in the league, but ultimately picked the Bears because he can compete with Jason McKie for the starting job. Many say he was the best fullback in the entire draft.

9) Woodny Turenne– Defensive Back from Louisville, a 6′1″, 182 pound corner, who transferred from a junior college to Louisville in 2007, could battle Marcus Hamilton for last cornerback spot.

NFL Draft Review and Various Musings

Saturday’s NFL draft was watched by a ton of people. A ton of people that weren’t watching the NBA or NHL Playoffs. A ton of people that weren’t watching the Yankees and Red Sox annual grudge match. The NFL is far and away the most successful and popular professional sports league in America.

Here’s the most notable picks and draft classes of the weekend.

Great

NY Jets – The Jets only picked three players, yet they had by far the best draft of any team. Mark Sanchez will be this year’s Matt Ryan. Ryan came into a system that already had the pieces in place, but needed a decent-enough QB to not mess it up. The Jets are in the same position.

Then to get Shonn Greene with the first pick of the third round was an ingenious move. Greene only fell from the first round because of his 40-time.  

Greene could have easily been the fourth best RB in this draft. The teams that passed on him because of a few-hundredth’s of a second will be kicking themselves in three years or less.

Philadelphia Eagles– Having Jeremy Maclin fall into their laps was a stroke of luck. But when you throw in LeSean McCoy at 56 it should be considered a coup. The Eagles strengthened that offense and should be considered a threat this year in the NFC East.

 

Other teams that made out like a villain:

Cleveland Browns

Seattle Seahawks

Green Bay Packers

 

Good

Atlanta Falcons– I cannot separate the pre-draft trade that Atlanta pulled off to get Tony Gonzalez. This was a remarkable deal for the Falcons.  

First-rounder Peria Jerry will turn out to be great pick for these guys. His game translates well to the pros. The Falcons definitely strengthened the defense with plenty of young talent in this draft. No one knows how prospects will eventually turn out, but strengthening defensive depth with young, talented potential is always a good thing.

 

Indianapolis Colts – The Colts surprised everyone with its first round pick of RB Donald Brown from UConn. It was a needed move considering Addai’s injuries and inconsistency. The fact that Fili Moala was available at No. 56 overall is beyond me. Thankfully the Colts snatched him up and also added DT Terrance Taylor from Michigan later in the draft.

 

Fourth rounder—Austin Collie is a perfect fit at WR for the Colts. He’ll remind a lot of people of Brandon Stokley. He will line up in the slot and will become one of Peyton’s premier go-to guys underneath.  

I still wonder why the Colts did not take an LB in this draft.

 

Other teams that did well:

NY Giants

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

  

Acceptable

Pittsburgh Steelers – The defending Super Bowl champs took the best available player with their first round pick. Ziggy Hood is a premier defensive player and should have a great pro career.

 

All the “experts” were shocked when the Steelers didn’t take C Max Unger with that first pick. They did address that aging O-Line with third round pick of G Kraig Urbik and seventh round pick of C A.Q. Shipley. It was an overall a decent draft for Mike Tomlin and crew.

 

Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford will not earn his No. 1 pick status in 2009. However, 2010 and beyond will be bright in Detroit. I do not buy for one minute all the talk that Stafford is overrated and that the Lions made a mistake in taking him.

Mark Sanchez has stepped into an ideal opportunity. Matthew Stafford has not. Sanchez will be better in year one. But Stafford has the brightest future of the two as being a top NFL QB. Once Detroit puts more pieces in place the sky is the limit for the former Bulldog.  

Later in the first round Detroit took TE Brandon Pettigrew making their first round a great one. The third round pick of WR Derrick Williams should further help this offense. Too bad they needed more on defense than they picked.   

Other teams that didn’t wow anyone, but did just enough:  

Houston Texans

Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins

Dallas Cowboys

  

Bad

K.C. Chiefs – How do you pass on LB Aaron Curry? He was as close to a “sure thing” in this draft as anyone. While Tyson Jackson is no slouch, the Chiefs should have taken the Linebacker with the third overall pick, and should have gone after one of the many quality D-Linemen available with its third-round pick.

 

A Whole New Level of Bad

Oakland Raiders – Heyward-Bey would have been available in the second round. This guy caught five TD passes last season. He was selected because of speed and speed only. Al Davis is a fool and is going to pay this guy at least five-million per season more than he had too.  

Unfortunately for Raiders fan the madness did not stop there. The Raiders took S Michael Mitchell from Ohio with its second round pick. Michael Mitchell wasn’t even invited to the combine in March! Mitchell was a seventh-round pick and the Raiders wasted a top-fifteen second round pick on him!

The Raiders will continue to pick in the top 10 as long as Al Davis is running the show.

 

Other useless information from the draft…and various Colts notes:

• How do you measure the success and popularity of the NFL? When you consider that the NFL Draft drew more viewers than the NBA Playoffs, the NHL Playoffs, and the rivalry series between the Red Sox and Yankees…combined!

• Is it just me or did Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Don Banks, and Peter King all miss badly on their mock drafts? Quit predicting and just tell us who the best prospects are guys. Seriously.

• I am proud of myself for picking Austin Collie to go to the Colts in the fourth round. Of course he was picked with their second pick of the fourth instead of the first, which I thought, but I deserve some credit don’t I? Collie is a Colt. He looks like a Colt and has all the characteristics of a Colts WR. Perfect fit.

• Word has it Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt created new cuss words to express his displeasure over the Colts beating him to RB Donald Brown. Arizona had apparently coveted Brown for weeks. Bill Polian is still the master.

• I understand needing a third-string QB behind Peyton, and Jim Sorgi. But did the Colts really have to draft Purdue QB Curtis Painter in the sixth round? I don’t think so. I’d rather see LSU, LB, Darry Beckwith selected there. Then again Beckwith was not picked by anyone. So maybe the Colts know something I do not.

• As I stated above, Fili Moala, is a heckuva pick-up late in the second half. When Polian and Co. realized he was still available they traded up five slots to take him.

  This is why the Colts were able to go with a RB in the first round rather than taking Ziggy Hood. Hood is a tad quicker than Moala. But Moala is bigger, and that’s what Indy needed.

Will Everyone Shut Up About Flacco!!!

To start things off, I will begin by saying a lot of people will disagree with what I have to say. I’m flat out sick of people giving Joe Flacco so much undeserved credit. 

Yes, he did “lead” a less than stellar offense into the postseason and won two games. Yet, the simple fact is that a lot of his performances were less than stellar.

People rave about this large armed, quarterback like he’s in the same category as Payton Manning. Matt Ryan was so much more polished and better all around than Flacco. Flacco had a almost impenetrable defense on his side. He could hide behind this and let them take the game over.

Let’s not forget that in 16 starts (yes, a full 16), he only had 2900 yards, and a 14-12 TD to INT ration (extremely average).

Literally, what really blows me up is in the championship game vs. Pitt, Flacco, at one point, was 2-12 passing, with no TD and two picks. The announcers actually said that Flacco looked really good. He was terrible! Let’s not kid ourselves here, he isn’t that good, YET! This makes me angrier than when Tom Brady throws a five yard pass, the receiver ran 70 yards for the score, and people rave about the incredible throw Tom Brady threw. 

Although, some credit is deserved to Flacco. He did come in and lead an offense and win games…it’s just that I’m sick of hearing him and Matt Ryan in the same category. (I hate both the Ravens and Falcons.) Ryan had a much better year, start to finish. Ryan also had a much weaker defense. 

To leave things on a positive note, I believe that Flacco can become an elite quarterback, but, c’mon, lets not kid ourselves: he’s not there yet!

Underwhelming, but Solid Nonetheless: Evaluating the Cleveland Browns’ Draft

As draft day rumors peaked heading into the weekend, Cleveland Browns fans were fearing the worst.

Would we really draft another quarterback?  Would we not only keep our “diva” receiver, but add another one as well?  Just exactly how “in love” was the new regime with players we really didn’t need or want?

Finally, three months of rumors and smokescreens lead to the number five overall pick. 

And then, they traded it. 

Pick No. 17? Traded that, too. 

The 19th selection? Well, you know the theme by now.

At long last, pick No. 21 came and the selection was made.  And after what seemed like hours upon hours of trading down, the Browns made the unsexiest of all the unsexy picks—a center.

I must admit, I was probably one of the many Browns fans who was more than a little upset that I had to wait all day to see us draft Cal center Alex Mack.  But, after looking at this selection, along with the rest of the moves made by Cleveland, I must say I’m a little impressed.

The Browns came into this weekend with only five selections and left with eleven new players.  DE Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam, and quarterback Brett Ratliff were the latest Jets added to Cleveland from trading down. 

With their picks, Cleveland selected Mack, receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, OLBs David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava, cornerbacks Don Carey and Coye Franceis, and running back James Davis.

Neither of these new players really jump out as you as much as an Aaron Curry or Michael Crabtree would.  However, one has to realize that each pick and acquisition the Browns made fills necessary and even immediate needs for the team.

First, there’s Mack.  Let’s face it, while Hank Fraley was good at helping Cleveland recover from the LeCharles Bentley incident, he was on borrowed time.

The offensive line also took a beating last year when facing tougher opposition than that of the 2007 season.  While a center wasn’t the most pressing need, it was certainly one which couldn’t be ignored.

Alex Mack will add an immediate impact to the line, giving it a shot of youth along with impressive bulk.  While the Browns previous draft pick at center, Jeff Faine, was more of a sleek lineman, Mack is a 300 pounder who is an expert at shoving people to the ground. 

Also, this addition could vastly improve the running game, goal line offense, and the overall protection of the quarterback (whomever that may be).

Next, you have Cleveland’s depleated receiving core.  Joe Jurevicius was released, Kellen Winslow was traded, and Donte Stallworth will most likely be playing for some sort of penal league.  Thus, it was obvious the Browns needed to fill some holes here.

Although former Ohio State Buckeye Brian Robiskie was not the most heralded receiver in this year’s draft class, he is regarded by many scouts as the most “polished” wideout.  Experts don’t fawn over his speed, but he is quoted as having the most reliable hands of this year’s receivers and many believe he could be an instant starter.

Georgia’s Mohamed Mossaquoi had a few problems with dropped balls early in his career (something we’re full-up on here).  These issues seemed to clear up last season, as Mossaquoi was a big reason why Matthew Stafford’s stock was so high. 

He is also known as a solid blocking receiver, which should be a welcome change from Kellen Winslow’s “I’ll block when I feel like it” approach.

After shoring up the offensive side of the ball, Eric Mangini and Co. picked up two relatively unheralded, but definitely talented linebackers in David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava.

Veikune didn’t get a lot of recognition due to playing out in Hawaii.  However, even though he was picked a little early, many experts believe he might be a find.  He’s a defensive end the Browns are most likely going to transition into an outside linebacker, and with his speed, agility, and strength, Veikune could become a pretty talented pass rusher.

Kaluka Maiava was surrounded by the much more hyped USC linebackers Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews III, and Rey Maualuga.  It should be noted, though, that Mel Kiper Jr. was pretty outspoken about Maiava, claiming he was underrated and would be a solid pick for teams seeking linebacker help. 

He may not start, but he will definitely add more depth to the shallow pool that was Cleveland’s front seven.

While cornerbacks Don Carey and Coye Francies will bring some serviceable bodies to the Browns cornerback crew, someone to keep an eye on will be Clemson running back James Davis.

Davis had three outstanding years at Clemson, and would’ve been a 2008 first round pick had he not returned for his senior year.  A slightly off year ensued, but you shouldn’t discount him for it.

Davis is a big bruiser of a back, and would make the perfect student for Jamal Lewis.  In fact, Davis already knows Lewis since the two went to the same high school, and Lewis has spent some time training him.

So, is this a draft class soaked with eye-popping talent from top to bottom? No, but does it bring some solid talent to positions that needed it badly? Yes.

Another point worth noting is the intelligence level of this new squad. 

Almost every pick the Browns made was noted for their academic excellence.  To be fair, scouts don’t see exam scores on the same level as impressive 40 times.  What it does say, though, is that these players are smart enough to know a good decision from a bad one.

High intelligence means these players have a better chance of avoiding stupid off-the-field mistakes and hanging out with the wrong crew.  It means they knew the importance of keeping grades up and they didn’t screw around through college knowing they’d be in the pros before long.

It also means the extensive playbooks and schemes seen in the NFL won’t be as difficult to grasp.

Again, drafting a bunch of smart athletes may just make the team a little less dumb than it was before, but there are some notable benefits which may go unnoticed for a bit.

In the end, no expert can really predict how successful players will be until they take the field.  The Browns have a long offseason left to get these newbies ready for their first year in the NFL. 

Until then, we should take solace in the fact that we were expecting a season-crushing draft, and were given one that has quite a lot of potential.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010