Denver Broncos Drafted Poorly? Nope

I honestly dont understand the frustration in almost all Bronco fans during the NFL draft this weekend. Maybe because they needed to go towards the defense? Or maybe because Denver was adding depth instead of the holes? Think again…

 

Round 1, Pick 12 – Knowshon Moreno RB

At first I was with everyone else on this pick. Thinking about why in the world did Denver just added another running back.

Having Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torain, and Selvin Young. Then I asked myself again, are they all legitimate running backs?

When was the last time we saw one of those running backs go over 100+ yards? We all know Moreno can easly prove that.

LaMont Jordan had three 100+ rushing yards in the last 3 years, his age has shown him that he can no longer be the dominant back he was in the past, this is year 11 for him.

Correll Buckhalter only had four 100+ rushing yard games in his 9 year career, now entering his 10th. J.J. Arrington…. has he even rushed for over 50+ in a game? Probably once or twice. And returning Denver Bronco running backs Selvin Young, Ryan Torain. 

Young has just two 100+ yard games (Both against KC in 2007), but can he even stay healthy? Finally Ryan Torain, basically missed all of the 2008 season and had a fairly decent game against the Browns in the first half.

Last season the New England Patriots ran the ball very…very effectively and with that in mind, McDaniels might have a well balanced attack using the best rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, LaMont Jordan, and Correll Buckhalter.

The passing attack will mostly consider the wide receivers and tight ends but will feature J.J. Arrington, Knowshon Moreno and Peyton Hillis at times.

 

Round 1, Pick 18 – Robert Ayers DE/LB

Very good pick by Denver. A defensive playmaker that can play both ways, defensive end and outside linebacker. He will most likely be playing defensive end most of the time along the side with Darrell Ried and Kenny Peterson. Probably will stand up at times.

 

Round 2, Pick 5 – Alphonso Smith CB

While I saw this decision be made, Many people hated this because Smith is a undersized cornerback that doesn’t have much speed and so on.

Denver traded their first-round natural pick to Seattle in return for the 37th pick in the draft, which ended up being Alphonso Smith.

Has first-round talent that is an absolute ball hawk that had I believe 22 career interceptions which is an ACC record. Now tell me thats not good, seriously.

 

Round 2, Pick 16 – Darcel McBath SS

Not much of a speed type player, but he is like Alphonso Smith, he is a ball hawk. A safety that can also play cornerback at times which really helps Denver in case of a backfield injury, he will provide with help. Great player

 

Round 2, Pick 32 – Richard Quinn TE

This was the 2nd time I was all, “Wait? They already got Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, and Jeb Putzier. Why did they add another tight end?”

This was actually an incredible pick because Tony cant block at all but is a threat to linebackers and safeties. Putzier is a well balanced player but is becoming a poor athlete as his career goes.

Richard Quinn provides extra run blocking strength/pass blocking strength that is needed in Goal Line formation and also in third-and-2 or fourth-and-1 situations.

There was a situation in New England when they had the same fit. Having Kyle Brady, Ben Watson, and David Thomas. Brady and Thomas are complete blockers but lacked in the passing game, while Watson was the threat.

 

Round 4, Pick 14 – David Bruton FS

Interesting pick here, they went with another safety. I actually like the pick though because David is some athlete with a lot of speed and adding more competition in the free safety and strong safety position. He is helping Denver in injury wise and preparing for the feature.

 

Round 4, Pick 32 – Seth Olson OG

With Denver having Hamilton and Wiegmann going into retirement mode some time, they are considering a guard at this time which is a pretty decent pick.

 

Round 5, Pick 5 – Kenny McKinley WR

Great wide receiver at 6’0″ 200 pounds with great hands and speed. Probably will fill in when Brandon Marshall gets an 8 game suspension this season, good choice here. Can also return punts and kicks which is what Denver needs.

Round 6, Pick 1 – Tom Brandstater QB

Say hello to our future quarterback Tom Brandstater. Maybe McDaniels thought if he drafted a guy name Tom then he’ll turn out to be like Tom Brady (who was drafted in the 6th round). Ill put some facts out there for some people who dont know this person.

A 6’5″ 220-pound quarterback out of Fresno State. Played all 4 years in college. Started to play in his Sophomore year having 1,490 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His Junior year was a bit better having 2,654 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.

His Senior year was to go out there and prove hes a 1st rounder or 2nd rounder but instead struggled… throwing 2,664 yards, 18 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions…. sound a bit familiar kind of?

Round 7, Pick 16 – Blake Schlueter C

Last and final pick ends up being another offensive lineman. Blake can bring more competition for a possible starting job next year, this guy is a pear football player, simple as that.

Now, I bet a lot of you are very disappointed in this year’s draft considering they did not go after the defensive line or linebacking corp at all except grabbing Ayers in the first round. Saying Mc”…..” is the worst coach ever and blah blah blah. Well in case you didnt notice, this guy KNOWS what he is doing, trust me.

I’ve commented on alot of peoples mock draft’s and so on that Denver does not need to go after a linebacker, which i was right that they didnt go after one.

Simply because they have way to much depth at the inside and outside linebacker positions right now, and they are all very talented as well.

I was hoping Denver would have at least get 2 defensive ends during the draft, Robert Ayers is like a Darrell Ried, playing defensive end and outside linebacker which is fearly good, and having Kenny Peterson who I believe can be a potential starter.

I have 100% full trust in the Denver Bronco organization and if this is what they believe to have on there roster, then so be it.

I grade this draft a B because they did an excellent job filling in needs in game situations, not because they were adding depth. I will be very disappointed if anyone says this is the worst draft ever or doubtful comments like that.

Eagles Finally Get the Message…It’s about Time!

As a loyal Eagles fan, I must admit that draft day always brings questions that I never seem to get the answers to—namely, ” How are we going to improve our team and get back to the Super Bowl?” and “How are Andy and the FO going to mess it up?”

Well, Eagles fan, they finally got it right!

I know we lost the “heartbeat” of the defense in Dawk, but we have very capable players and even with the aging “Mad Scientist” Jim Johnson, we will be just as tough this year as we were last year (No. 3 total D, for all the haters).

So, with that being said,” How did they get it right?” 

For starters, the Eagles chose not to mortgage their future and go after the “big WR” that so many say we needed. 

Instead, they chose to get an electric, young WR, who’s 6’1″, named Jeremy Maclin and decided to get “Shady” (LOL), which basically provides No.5 with more weapons for the future instead of going after a talented yet attention-starved receiver in Anquan Boldin. 

The guys in the corner office finally seem to get that in order to make things happen you have to make your quarterback happy—like Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

The Eagles didn’t make any earth-shattering moves, but they did make an impact on their future, as a whole, and on the franchise.

They get a RT, LT, and a veteran CB, to circumvent the situation with Sheldon Brown, and bring in the duo of young S, who along with “Macho” Harris, will provide an interesting battle in Training Camp!

So, what’s next for the Eagles?

Who knows. But one thing that we do know is that the FO and Andy finally listened to the “voice of the people!”

Now, only if they can find a way to trade Kolb for a rejuvenated Michael Vick, the Iggles will finally have their piece of the cheesesteak!

“Fly, Eagles, Fly!”

Pittsburgh Emerging As Sports Juggernaut

In 1979, I was seven-years-old.  It is a year I will never forget and some of my most vivid childhood memories date back to it. 

It was arguably the best year in Pittsburgh’s storied sport history.

The Steelers dynasty of the ’70s won their fourth Super Bowl.  And the “We are Family” Pirates stormed back from being down 3-1 to beat the Orioles and capture the World Series.  

I remember waiting at the barber shop while my dad was getting a haircut, listening to the barber lament that he didn’t think the Pirates had a chance (down 3-1), but he hoped they could at least win the next game.  They came back and won the series in thrilling fashion.  It was just an all-around great year to be a Pittsburgh sports fan. 

Remember the Sports Illustrated cover featuring Terry Bradshaw and Captain Willie Stargell?  It remains one of my all-time favorites.

Don’t look now, but Pittsburgh is once again becoming one of the premier sports cities in America.   

The Steelers stand as the model NFL franchise and have captured two Super Bowls in four years.  They have a good shot at repeating this year, with the best clutch quarterback in the league, a ferocious defense, and a championship roster that returns mostly intact.

The Penguins just dispatched their most-hated rival and are moving on to the second round of the playoffs.  They put together an improbable late season run to move from well outside the playoff standings to becoming one of the favorites to drink from the Cup.  If they do capture the Cup, it will be 1979 all over again, with Pittsburgh sports teams capturing two of sports most coveted championships.

The Pirates are also getting in on the act.  While it is hard to imagine them winning a championship, the fact that they are still in contention after a month of play is a major step forward.  They have some of the best pitching in the league and these guys are playing hard. 

They are no longer the joke of the league, the team that everyone wants to play.  They are gunning down some of the premier teams in the National League.

Even on the basketball front, Pittsburgh fans have had plenty to cheer about.  The Pitt Panthers just finished up what was likely their best season in history, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and advancing to the Elite Eight. 

While their run ended a little bit earlier than we would have liked, that does not diminish their incredible achievement.  For sports fans, the sad truth is that except for the fans of one team, everybody else will end the season disappointed. 

But, the fact remains that the Pitt Panthers were one of the best college basketball teams in the country.  And, with one of the best coaches in college basketball in Jamie Dixon, they will remain a national power.  Even the long struggling Duquesne Dukes had their moments this year, to include their upset win over Xavier.

And college football also gave us plenty to cheer about.  Penn State was one of the top teams in the Big 10, returning Joe Paterno to a slim lead over Bobby Bowden in the race to become college football’s winningest coach. 

While Penn State may not be a Pittsburgh team, there are enough area connections to warrant their inclusion here.

Very few other cities can boast anywhere close to this kind of recent success across several sports teams.  Pittsburgh may not be one of the nation’s bigger or more influental cities, but in the sports world, it is a national power.

Packers’ Ted Thompson Does Unthinkable In 2009 NFL Draft

Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson is widely known around the NFL (or at least to Packers fans) as being a “best-available guy” on draft day.

In a stunning change of events, Thompson did the right thing considering Green Bay’s situation … he drafted NEEDS.

The offensive “skill” positions are strong and have depth, so nothing should have been done to change that … and there wasn’t.

The defense lost several games for Green Bay last year. The Packers brought in a new defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, switched to a 3-4 scheme and needed Thompson to help out, and he did.

Overall, Thompson made some good decisions in this year’s draft, hopefully helping the Packers improve on that 6-10 record that landed them the No. 9 pick.

With some draft day trades, Thompson and the Pack ended up with eight picks this year, and here they are.

Round 1

No. 9: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College, 6’1″, 337 lbs

The Packers needed help all over the defensive side of the ball, and it was certainly addressed with this pick.

Whether Raji was the best available or not is irrelevant, he can clog the middle, and has a great ability of being able to find the quarterback. 

He should get some quality playing time as a rookie, possibly along side some combination of Cullen Jenkins, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly.

No. 26: Clay Matthews, OLB, Southern Cal, 6’3″, 240 lbs

Ted Thompson actually traded up in the draft, which is mind boggling considering he traded away the first round pick last year. He swapped picks with New England because Matthews likely would’ve been gone at No. 40 (Green Bay’s second-round pick).

Matthews is big and strong, exactly what you want in a line backer. Packers fans are already dreaming of the “four” in the 3-4; Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Matthews. If that doesn’t scare opposing QBs, I don’t know what will.

If Matthews is anything like his father (Clay Sr.) or uncle (Bruce), he will be playing 20 years in the NFL (hopefully all in Green Bay).

He should also see plenty of action on special teams.

Round 4

No. 109: T.J. Lang, OT, Eastern Michigan, 6’4″, 312 lbs

With no second- or third-round picks for Thompson, he responded in the fourth addressing yet another need – the offensive line.

With little depth and Mark Tauscher still unsigned, the Packers need some help in protecting Aaron Rodgers.

All the OT’s are pretty much the same on day two of the draft, but it was good to see that Thompson wasn’t satisfied with the present state of the offensive line.

Round 5

No. 145: Quinn Johnson, FB, Louisiana State, 6’1″, 246 lbs

The only offensively “skilled” position selected by Green Bay this year, and it left me scratching my head. I thought John Kuhn and Korey Hall have been solid at fullback for the Packers.

I would like to know the reason behind this pick, because there was plenty of other options to choose from. A corner back would have looked better, but Thompson was able to grab one later on.

No. 162: Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina, 6’4″, 304 lbs

Much like the Lang pick earlier in the day, the pick makes sense due to the aging and questionable offensive line.

Meredith should provide some nice competition in camp, and if he makes the final roster, it would allow other members of that line from having to play two or three positions throughout the year.

Round 6

No. 182: Jarius Wynn, DE, Georgia, 6’3″ 275 lbs

When your defense let you down throughout the year like Green Bay’s did, you can never have too many options.

Maybe Wynn is the one who can finally take the roster spot of Justin Harrell, who was Thompson’s biggest mistake for the Packers.

He really stepped up in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan State (two sacks), and Green Bay hopes he can carry that momentum going into 2009.

No. 187: Brandon Underwood, Cincinnati, 6’1″, 198lbs

The lone secondary position selected by the Packers, which looked pretty solid last year, with some up and coming talent.

Underwood had a very successful season a year ago, where he was named the Bearcats’ special team’s Player of the Year.

Like Matthews, Underwood might have a heavy work load on special teams, which was a little bit of a weakness for the Packers last year.

Round 7

No. 218: Brad Jones, Colorado, OLB, 6’2″, 232 lbs

You can never have enough line backers in a 3-4 defense, especially if a team has never played it.

I don’t know what kind of impact Jones will have (if any). He will most likely end up on the practice squad and be a fill in for any injury that might occur.

It wasn’t possible for Thompson to screw this pick up, but what makes it better is that Jones is a defensive player.

Thompson is the hardest GM to read. That’s good when talking other GM’s in the league, but it’s nerve-racking for fans.

I’ve never been a true fan of his, but the 2009 draft got me hating him a little less and it let me see that there really is an NFL GM somewhere in Thompson.

Adding Weapons for Donovan McNabb in the Draft

This year in the first round, the eagles traded up to pick number 19 from the browns and selected Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin. Most people thought they should have traded this pick away for Boldin or Edwards, but I think they cost too much money and also would require a third round pick, as well. Maclin can help in the return game, unlike Boldin and Edwards. Maclin is a fast guy who was projected to be a top ten pick ahead of Michael Crabtree. I really like this pick because we have needed a WR for a long time. Although it wasn’t their biggest need, he was the best player available.

With their second round pick, the Eagles selected Lesean McCoy RB from Pittsburgh. I also liked this pick. McCoy is a strong runner who can also catch out of the backfield. He will complement Brian Westbrook and be the future replacement. I think he will grow into one of the league’s best players.

They traded their third round pick away to the Seahawks

With their first fifth round pick, they selected TE C. Ingram. He would be a one-two round pick if he had played his last year. He got injured and had to sit out. I think TE was a major need. Even though Brett Celek was great last year, he needs a partner and I don’t think Matt Schobel is good enough

With their second fifth round pick, they selected CB Victor Harris, who they’re probably going to move to S. This pick helps us a lot in the secondary, where before the draft, we needed some help.

With their third fifth round pick, they selected OT Tuopo. I didn’t love this pick. Although he’s a decent player i think there are other positions they could use more help with.

They traded their fourth fifth round pick away to the saints.

With their sixth round pick, they selected WR Brandon Gibson. I liked this pick due to the fact that he is a sixth round steal, and a very good player.

With their first seventh round pick, they selected OG Paul Fanaika. This is an okay pick and he is a decent player.

With their second seventh round pick, they selected LB Moise Fokou. I liked this pick because I believe we needed some depth at linebacker.

They traded pick for Cb Ellis Hobbs. I loved this deal because it helps secondary big time, and even more if Sheldon Brown leaves. It also effects special teams because he’s a good return man.

I thought the Eagles did a great job drafting.

Frank “The Tank” Summers: What You Should Know

First off, I know that is not Frank Summers above, it is Jerome “The Bus” Bettis. I am using it to make a point. Summers actually looks a lot like that…weird. 

Frank Summers comes out of University of Las Vegas or UNLV for short. For those of you who do not know, we do actually have a football team. (I go to UNLV just clarifying) We have had players go to the NFL most recently Beau Bell and Eric Wright both drafted by the Browns. 

Only recently did we actually have a legitimate running back here on campus though. Frank is that running back. He gave UNLV a threat on offense that every team needed to account for. Frank scared defensive players, from defensive backs to defensive lineman. 

So what does he do on the field? Well he is a big running back who has soft hands who does not shy away from contact. Summers is leader material and will give everything he has every play he can. He is one of those players who gets better as the game goes on.

He led the Runnin’ Rebels in rushing yards the last two years and in total touchdowns. He also was the only true consistent weapon that the Rebels had. 

Summers fills the void that Gary Russell left. Summers will be able to help in goal line rushes basically from day one, and with his stellar blocking and hands he is a perfect third down back. 

Summers is a bruising back, which is something that Steelers have not had since a guy you might of heard of named Jerome Bettis. You will ask how dare I make the comparison. When the truth is how can I not? 

Jerome Bettis Frank Summers

Nickname “The Bus”  Nickname “The Tank”

Height 5-11 Height 5-10

Weight 255 Weight 243

Style: Punishing Style: Punishing

Hands: Soft Hands: Soft

Hates USC: Yes Hates USC: Yes

The two are very similar in a lot of ways, and well I could not be happier that he landed in Pittsburgh. Now to be clear I am not saying he will be the next Jerome Bettis, but what I am saying is everything is perfectly in place for him to fill those shoes. Also adding a tank to any offense is something that every team should want. 

Kansas City Chiefs Draft: First Impressions

In the immediate aftermath of the grueling two-day sojourn the NFL’s Draft has become, it’s difficult not to feel a bit like a kid on Christmas morning with a slew of shiny new playthings under the tree.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to open all these gifts in one fell swoop. There’s no orgy of excess here to experience because these gifts have to reveal themselves by the way they walk and talk and work and most importantly, by their performances on the field of play.

At the end of the first day of the draft I wrote Scott Pioli had morphed from a guru into an enigma…and it felt that way after waiting for some fireworks all day only to see KC make a single solitary pick. No blockbuster trade…no adding a pick in the second round, nada…zippo…yawn!!

What I forgot about Pioli is his reputation for being a guru is based on two things; great trades, and an astute eye for football talent, particularly in the later rounds.

Today, he looks to be more guru than enigma. Though a man who seldom reveals the actual content of his mind to us except through his actual decisions/actions is likely to remain an enigma to some degree no matter what. And I personally think he likes it that way.

It’s too soon for a really serious analysis of the Chiefs draft, but my first impressions are as follows:

Tyson Jackson: I love this pick, and I suspect all of you will eventually if not today.

Alex Magee: See comment above.

Donald Washington: This could end up being the steal of the entire 2009 draft. He has remarkable first round talent. If KC can put him in a situation that nurtures him and provides him with the support he needs, and I think they can, he could become a 10 year Pro-Bowl Cornerback for us. Absolutely the quintessential Pioli pick.

Colin Brown: Whodathunk Cinderella was a 6’8″ 325 lb offensive tackle from Mizzou? This is a guy from the area who grew up going to games at Arrowhead and dreaming of running out of that tunnel.

A guy who wants to be a Chief. On the whole I really love this pick too; he’s a huge man, not a sloppy fat guy. Pioli says they see him as a right tackle. Again, very much a Pioli kind of pick.

I haven’t had much of a chance to look at the rest of the guys, but I agree with the basic selections of a WR, RB, TE and a Kicker.

I don’t think you can read too much into the LJ situation with this RB, but it still sends a message to LJ and it hedges their bets with him.

Later in the week, after some more thought and research I’ll have a more in-depth analysis of this draft and what it means.

This will also give the team a chance to sign some undrafted free agents,  and I do believe they’re going to find some keepers out there. Because this year’s draft was so deep I don’t think teams up to now have had as much time to spend in that area as they do most years.

Stay tuned, Chiefs fans…same bat time, same bat channel.

Evaluating The New York Giants’s Draft: Day Two

The New York Giants followed an already productive Day One of the NFL Draft with a very solid Day Two.

Most critics and analysts say that the true winners and players are always found and chosen in Day Two in the later rounds.

From the looks of it, its seems as though the Giants may have picked some talented players who have the ability to contribute to the team right away.

New York started off Day Two in the third round very quickly when they traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to the 85th spot and selected wide receiver Ramses Barden from California Poly.

With their other third round selection, the Giants choose Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum.

Barden is a 6’6″, 228 pound machine. He’s a big receiver who can go up and catch any ball that is thrown in his direction. That is huge for quarterback Eli Manning because, as we all know, the winds in the Meadowlands toward the end of the season start to go crazy and Barden will have the height and the ability to bring those balls down.

Although he played at a lesser level of competition in college, he put up amazing numbers and was the face of his team. If Barden works hard in camp and throughout the summer, he can find himself in the third or fourth receiver spot.

The Giants went in the right direction when they picked up tight end Travis Beckum.

Beckum, who is listed at 6’3″, 238 pounds, will be the draft pick that makes the most impact right away during this year.

He is a perfect compliment to three-year veteran tight end Kevin Boss and isn’t that good of a blocker, so that still leaves room for Michael Matthews, who did most of the blocking for the Giants last season.

Beckum can work the middle of the field and can provide a safe bet for Manning to throw too.

Later in Day Two, New York selected North Carolina State running back Andre Brown in the fourth round and Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar in the fifth round.

Brown, who is a big, physical back listed at 6’0″, 226 pounds, can be that nice third running back the Giants are looking for if he works hard enough for it.

Brandon Jacbos and Ahamad Bradshaw have pretty much locked up the first and second spots on the depth chart respectively, so Brown will have to beat out Danny Ware for that third spot.

The selection of Rhett Bomar was intresting and also quite surprising.

If you haven’t already heard his story, Bomar was the starting quarterback at Oklahoma but then himself in a huge scandal regarding money and he had to transfer to Sam Houston State.

If he does make the roster, Bomar will be the third-string quarterback behind Manning and David Carr.

To finish off Day Two, the Giants selected two corner backs in the sixth and seventh rounds.

In the sixth, New York took DeAndre Wright out of New Mexico and Stoney Woodson from South Carolina in the seventh.

The Giants seem to be already set at corner back with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross in the starting spots and Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas battling for the third and fourth spots.

Wright and Woodson will have to battle for that fifth cornerback spot and which ever out-performs the other will be handed the spot. If both make the team heading into the season, they will make a nice splash on special teams.

Overall, the New York Giants draft was very successful, just like in past years. Let’s hope these guys can put it together and help contribute to a winning team.

Philadelphia Eagles: Grade-A Draft Weekend

After mostly toiling in mediocrity since the 2004 Super Bowl appearance, the Philadelphia Eagles seem to be back among the NFL’s elite.

They didn’t make the big trade for Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards, but they put together an exceptional draft. 

What did they do?

The Eagles added potentially big-time playmakers for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The Eagles added a ton of athleticism.

The Eagles added tremendous versatility.

The Eagles added explosiveness.

The Eagles made themselves a better football team than they were in 2008.

In the first round, the Eagles pulled a huge shock by picking Jeremy Maclin.  Maclin completes possibly the speediest group of three wide receivers in the league (with DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis).

In round two, they got a running back that Sports Illustrated’s Peter King had them taking with the 21st pick.

McCoy is truly a perfect fit for this offense.  He is a very similar player to Brian Westbrook, and he has yet to turn 21-years-old.  He gives them the depth that they sorely need at running back, and there will not be much drop-off when Westbrook leaves the field.

The Eagles did nothing in the third round but trade down, and eventually, out of the round altogether.  They stockpiled six fifth-round choices, which is where they did some serious damage.

With the first two, they acquired dynamite kick returner Ellis Hobbs, who is also an improving cornerback.  At just 26, Hobbs already has three kick return touchdowns on his resume.

With their first actual draft choice on Day Two, they got what looks to be an absolute steal in Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram.  He is a dynamic athlete that adds a very intriguing dimension to the Eagles’ passing attack.

In 2007, Ingram scored seven touchdowns on just 34 receptions.  He averaged 15.0 yards per catch, unheard of for a tight end.  He isn’t much of a blocker, but he will definitely help stretch the field.

The fifth round also yielded corner/safety Victor “Macho” Harris from Virginia Tech and Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou.

Harris was a playmaker in all phases of the game in college.  He intercepted 15 passes in his final three seasons, returning four for touchdowns.   He also returned kicks and punts, and spent time at tailback and wide receiver.

Tupou played left tackle at a very high level in the Pac-10.  As Andy Reid loves to do, he will likely move him inside to guard.  A great combination of size and athleticism, he has the ability to pull and make blocks down the field.

In the sixth and seventh rounds, the Eagles mostly traded, but did manage to pick up three more players.

With the 194th pick, they selected Washington State wide receiver Brandon Gibson.  Gibson is a precise route-runner with great hands.  He is also noted for being an exceptional blocker.

Gibson is a highly competitive player that works hard as a possession receiver.  He is also a great candidate to help out on special teams.

The Eagles finished their weekend drafting two players in the seventh round.  They selected guard Paul Fanaika from Arizona State, and Maryland outside linebacker Moise Fokou.

At 6’5″ and 327 pounds, Fanaika is a massive human being.  He does not have ideal athleticism, but he definitely can add some depth to the line with his smarts.  He is a mauler that should have a chance to win a backup spot.

Moise Fokou is a bit of an enigma.  He is very athletic with playmaking ability against both the run and the pass.  He can get to the quarterback, harass running backs behind the line of scrimmage, and can cover backs and tight ends.

The problem is, he has trouble giving consistent effort.  He will have to raise his level of play to make this team, but should be able to beat out Tracy White if he can be an asset on special teams.  At pick 230, you have to like his upside.

Everyone thought the Eagles were satisfied with never taking the next step to the Super Bowl, but this draft proves that theory incorrect. 

They ended up putting together a very aggressive offseason, and made very bold selections in the draft.

They have a wealth of playmakers now in all phases of the game, and there will be more competition than ever in camp for roster spots and playing time.

As it stands right now, from top to bottom, this may be an even more talented Eagles team than the 2004 squad.  The defense is young and improving, and this offense became much more explosive this weekend.

Contract situation aside, Donovan McNabb should be smiling, and you know what everyone says about how McNabb plays when he is smiling.

When does the season start?

 

Why Michael Crabtree Is the Next Terrell Owens—Not Jerry Rice

One thing that has bothered me about the Draft analysis of Michael Crabtree has been the comparisons to Jerry Rice.  People do so because of Crabtree’s perceived lack of speed.

I know one thing for certain though—Michael Crabtree is not the next Jerry Rice.  He’s the next Terrell Owens.  Or at worst, the next Mike Williams.

In other words, I think Crabtree will be productive player, but in listening to his interviews, I can tell that he’s not excited about where he’s going.  Maybe he’s upset because he lost money.  Maybe it’s because he wanted to play for a different team.

He sounded like he needed Zoloft.

One thing I know for sure is, moody players are usually more trouble than they are worth.

I think that’s why teams passed on Crabtree.  Keep in mind that Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Jacksonville all passed on Crabtree too.  I think they saw the same things in Crabtree that the Raiders did—a moody and uncooperative player.  Rumor has it to that some within the 49ers organization did not want Crabtree either.

People think that the Derrius Heyward-Bey pick is just typical Al Davis, but from all indicators, other teams were uninterested in Crabtree as well.  Heyward-Bey could have been the first receiver selected, regardless of Al Davis.  So, we’ll see.

People have scratched their head over Oakland’s choice of Derrius Heyward-Bey at first, because Michael Crabtree, B.J. Raji, Aaron Maybin and Eugene Monroe were all available.

Each one would have upgraded a position for the Raiders.  Yet they went with the burner.  Everyone knows that Al Davis is a speed-freak.

I was disappointed by the pick, but I would rather let Derrius Heyward-Bey disprove that disappointment, rather than berate Al Davis for the pick.

One thing is for sure:  With Johnnie Lee Higgins and Derrius Heyward-Bey, the Raiders will truly be able to stretch the field.

I Worked on This Article All Day…

With college players, sometimes the productive ones pan out while the athletes flop.  Other times, the athletes pan out and the productive players flop.

The productive skill-players are particularly hard to judge.  Florida and USC have been notorious for productive college skill-players that flopped at the next level.  They go from the limelight to no light in a small town where they just feel restless to be a star again. 

I think it’s just a matter of work ethic, the system, and attitude that will determine the player’s future.  There’s really no determining quality or quantity that will guarantee success for a college player at the next level. 

I know it does sound trite, but it truly is a matter of how much the player wants it.  Some pro athletes in history have the rare combo of talent and hunger (i.e. Michael Jordan), and others are talented but don’t really care (i.e. Joe Barry Carroll).

I know I’m comparing football players to basketball players, but the reality is, there is at least one thing that’s universal in sports and that is: How much do you really want to win or to just win individual records? 

Is it just a matter of whether you win records or whether your team wins championships?  Whether you’re a superstar on a losing team, or a productive player on a winning team. 

Time after time, productive players on losing teams have been plucked by other teams, only for that player to continue to lose.

How else would you explain the fact that a quarterback with an history of bad knees, Jim Plunkett, would twice win the Super Bowl?

Who Ya Got? / Why Impostors Have Destroyed Journalism and Bloggers Have Saved It

That is why the “journalists” continue to denigrate Plunkett’s achievements.  They would rather think that some people in life were born inherently unable to compete with the best of the best, while others were just gifted to compete with the best of the best.  And that if someone defies the fire in their minds then it’s just a fluke. 

That’s because most sports “journalists” are the poor-sport types that would take the ball home when they lose.  Yet, they attempt to define the perceptions of the sports that they could not win at.

Frankly, I think those “journalists” are no better than Adolf Hitler for thinking that black people were born inherently unable to compete with those that Hitler defined as the best of the best. 

And it seems ironic that “journalists” have continued to denigrate the legacy of a Jewish man, Al Davis, in the eyes of the contemporary fans—after his strive to model a successful franchise in his abhorrence for the Holocaust of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.  After all, Davis did come of age during the Nuremberg trials.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blog

The shills give one ounce of credit to Davis with one hand, but take away two with the other. 

Shills for the players that remind them of themselves.  Shills for the parties.  Shills for the interviews and the attention.  Shills that claim to protect journalistic integrity, but just make stuff up half the time and collect a paycheck.  Shills that would rather ramble about “Who ya got” predictions and contradictions rather than investigate the sport for malfeasance and for crimes against the fans.  Shills for the teams that they labeled as great (i.e. New England Patriots), only to learn that was a false label.  But like any corrupt journalist or historian, they insist that the truth doesn’t matter, or will ask: What is truth?

All I know is, there’s a difference between constructive and destructive.  And that the “journalists” are mostly just destructive by protecting corruption.  Your silence is your complicity, because it’s your job as a journalist to be eternally vigilant.

The impostors in the media do not know the beginning of the world greatness—thus, it’s better to ignore them and just focus on the game and not making mistakes.  Don’t let them in your head.

Players cannot let the sad sac “journalists” run them down simply because they hold the keys to the sports kingdom known as the Hall of Fame.  All you can or should worry about is whether you win.

As I’ve said before, there’s no gray area to that: Just SILVER AND BLACK.

_____________________________________________________________________

References:
CBS.sportsline.com

Fire in the Minds of Men; Billington, James H; Harvard Press

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