Browns Second Day Draft Could Be Huge

After a busy day in the first and second rounds of the draft, the Browns are poised to make some more moves in day two.

It is no secret that they want to get as many picks as possible (look at the trades in the first round for third and sixth-round picks).

Now they need to focus on fixing a few more needs.

Cornerback, Safety, Tight End and Linebacker are the most glaring weaknesses.

• Chase Coffman (6’6″ 245 lbs – Big receiving TE would be back with Mizzou teammate Martin Rucker in a strong Two TE Ace Formation for the Browns, who are already missing the talent of Winslow.)
• Chris Clemons (6′ 208 lbs – Clemson FS would be a nice replacement for Sean Jones with 4.5 speed)
• Kevin Ellison (6’1″ 227 lbs – USC Safety had 32 reps on Bench Press at the combine, he could be one of the most feared safeties in the NFL if he performs to potential – only 4.8 speed, however.)
• Scott McKillop (6’1″ 244 lbs – Pitt Linebacker with solid college performance.  Hard working highly productive Linebacker would be a solid choice for Cleveland.  4.8 40 yard dash was faster than James Laurinaitis and Rey Maualuga.)
• Donald Washington (6′ 197 lbs – Ohio State CB who played opposite of Malcolm Jenkins.  4.49 40 yard dash with a habit of being around the ball and locking down receivers.)
• Brandon Underwood (6’1″ 198 lbs – Cincinnati CB from Ohio State with 4.48 speed and a talent only overshadowed by Washington and Jenkins.  Underwood is a hard hitter and has a solid frame for dealing with big and fast NFL WRs.)

-Others to keep an eye on –

Shonn Greene (HB- Iowa)

Glen Coffee (HB- Alabama)

Marcus Freeman (LB- Ohio State)

Stanley Arnoux (LB- Wake Forest)

Nic Harris (S- Oklahoma)

Alex Boone (T- Ohio State)

Duke Robinson (T- Oklahoma)

Here are the trade possibilities for more picks:

• Braylon Edwards to Chicago for two 3rd round picks (119 and 140 OVR) – Makes sense because it is a big city, big market team with few options at WR and a new gun slingin’ QB.

• Derek Anderson to Minnesota for 3rd and 5th round picks (86 and 158 OVR)- Makes sense because they now have a deep threat in Percy Harvin and a strong running game to take some pressure off of Captain Clown Shoes. He could really extend the field for the Vikings and give them a passing threat they desperately need.

• Brady Quinn (or Derek Anderson) to San Francisco for 3rd and two 5th round picks (74, 146 and 171 OVR) – I don’t want this to happen, but with Crabtree and Quinn, you could have the second coming of Montana to Rice. I know there are some Quinn haters out there, but to see another Notre Dame QB in San Fran would be nostalgic to say the least.  

Round Two of the Cleveland Browns Draft

Coming off a solid first round, successfully turning one draft pick into a seven-player pickup, what was up the sleeves of the Cleveland Browns in Round 2?

Having filled the holes in the defensive end slot (Coleman), the strong safety position (Elam), and our weakness in the middle of the offensive line (Mack), it should have come as no surprise that we would focus our sights on the receiver core.

With both “star” receivers coming off disappointing 2008 seasons, one of them being a 2010 free agent, and the other looking at a lengthy jail sentence…who will take their places?

At No. 36 the Cleveland Browns select:

WR Brian Robiskie, OSU

Overwhelmingly a hometown favorite, Brian was made for the Cleveland Browns. Robiskie grew up in Cleveland as a lifelong Browns fan, a former ball-boy for the team, and an Ohio State Buckeye. It couldn’t make for a more perfect scenario.

Better yet, the man can catch. An Academic All-American who led his team in catches even with a freshman quarterback at the helm, he’s been called the most polished receiver in the draft.

 

At No. 50, the Cleveland Browns select:

WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia

Massaquoi should be ready to start at the NFL level in his first season. While the common perception is he will likely be a No. 3 receiver, having some depth at the position is a blessing for the Browns.

Sticking with the theme of Mangini’s vision, Mohamed is a smart player on and off the field, excelling in the classroom.

A favorite target of Matthew Stafford on the field, he completed 58 catches for 920 yards and eight TD’s in his senior year.

 

At No. 52, the Cleveland Browns select:

DE David Veikune, Hawaii

Although he’s not well known, Veikune will make the transition to OLB and most likely start opposite of Wimbley in the Browns 3-4 defense.

At 6-foot-2 and 257 pounds, he posted impressive numbers despite a mediocre team. In 2008, he put up 73 tackles, nine sacks, and caused four fumbles.

The man has no quit in him and is always moving, great instincts, good quickness, and could really excel on a solid linebacker squad.

The draft isn’t over by any means, having four more picks in the top 200, but I’m loving what I’ve seen so far out of the first two rounds.

Looks like Josh Cribbs won’t have to do everything this season. Every pick has been a potential starter from day one, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here.

Chicago Bears Draft: Day One Review and Day Two Prediction

So, reviewing the Chicago Bears selection on the first day of the draft, they selected … oh wait, did I miss something? Who did we pick?

Mohamed Massaquoi? Nope, but he went to at the 50th selection, the pick right after us…

Rashad Johnson? No, he hasn’t even been selected yet…

William Moore? Not him, either. He went six picks after when we were supposed to select.

Max Unger? No he was selected in the spot we had, but not by us…So that must mean we traded that pick…

…WAIT, DID WE TRADE FOR ANQUAN BOLDIN?? He was supposed to be on the market for a second-round pick and another player or two. Did Jerry Angelo really prove me wrong and turn out to be a superb GM and my new favorite person of all time?

Nope, fake out. We traded our pick to the Seattle Seahawks for a third- and a fourth-rounder this year. Wow, good work, JA.

That is why I waited five hours on the computer, screaming, pleading, begging, cursing, yelling when the Giants and Eagles and Browns all selected receivers. I knew that they were out of the Boldin sweepstakes. I knew we had a chance.

And then I heard we traded and I almost died of happiness assuming it was with the Cards.  But it was not to be…

To be fair however, it was a longshot anyway. But it just angers me that there were players available, that Jerry had expressed interest in, at the No. 49 spot and he wimped out and traded down.

I realize Rashad Johnson is still out there and having the fourth pick in the third round gives us an excellent chance at landing him.

But I refuse to give Angelo any credit because there was no way of knowing that Johnson would not be selected by a team in the 50-64 pick range. It was just luck that he is still there.

And a receiver, Massaquoi, that Angelo thought very highly of was right in front of him. Just waiting. For a man who has basically staked his future on the success of Jay Cutler, you think Angelo would be a little more eager to give his QB some help.

The Bears now have nine selections in the remaining five rounds. Two third round picks, two fourth round picks, two fifth round picks, one sixth, and two seventh. And I know that Angelo has found gems in the later rounds (Berrian, Briggs, Vasher) but he has also botched a lot. And while I don’t blame him, many picks in the fifth round or later never pan out for any team, I think that the time for the Bears to continue stepping up and being bold is now. Instead, Jerry took the easy way out.

Now this way, if a late round pick pans out, people will call Angelo a genius. But if none of them amount to much more than a competent back up, nothing will be said because the expectations are now so much lower.

Angelo better man up and Bear down on this second day. Because if you think I am angry now, just wait…

Here is my Bear Mock Draft for Day 2:

68: Lawrence Sidbury – DE – Richmond
99: T.J. Lang – OG – Eastern Michigan
105: Trade this and next years second-round pick for a third and a fourth in the 2010 draft BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT ANGELO DOES!
119: David Bruton – S – Notre Dame
140: Patrick Turner – WR – USC
154: Tony Fiammetta – FB – Syracuse
190: Nate Davis – QB – Ball State
246: Chris Baker – DT – Hampton
251: Bear Pascoe – TE – Fresno State (because its a seventh round pick and the man’s name is Bear)

Greatest Day in Seattle Sports History: April 25, 2009

Today, April 25, 2009, had to be one of if not the greatest day in Seattle sports history. For many reasons.

 

The Seattle Seahawks started it all by selecting Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry in the NFL draft fourth overall. Curry was the best player in the 2009 NFL draft.

 

The second reason, for all Seattle Sounders FC fans out there, the Sounders won their fourth game and goal keeper Kasey Keller set an MLS record for not allowing a goal in a new MLS-record 389 minutes, which includes the 29 minutes before he was sent off against KC.

 

The record was held by Ronald Waterreus who opened with 375 scoreless minutes for the New York Red Bulls in 2007.

 

And last but not least the Seattle Mariners held on to beat the LA Angels 9-8. They are now 12-6 and stand atop the AL West.

 

Everyone predicted the Mariners to finish last again but this is still a great start for the Mariners.

 

But the key reasons why this is one of the greatest days in Seattle sports history is because of Aaron Curry and Kasey Keller’s MLS record.

 

The only possible down side to the day was the Seahawks letting go of Leroy Hill. But the day as a whole for the Seahawks was great.

 

Let’s now go through the Seattle sports teams and see how there day went and why it equals one of the greatest days in Seattle sports history.

 

 

 

1) Seattle Seahawks: Draft Day

 

The Seahawks started the day with the NFL draft. They had the fourth overall pick in the 09 draft and the possible picks were OT Eugene Monroe, QB Mark Sanchez, WR Michael Crabtree and LB Aaron Curry.

 

Now on a lot of people’s mock draft, Curry was projected to go to the Kansas City Chiefs third overall. Instead they took DE Tyson Jackson and passed on the No. 1 player in the draft LB Aaron Curry.

 

That allowed the Seahawks to be able to pass on a plain value pick like Mark Sanchez who wouldn’t be an immediate impact player and select a value pick AND a immediate impact player in Aaron Curry. That adds a huge defensive presence to the Seahawks.

 

Then in the second round the Seahawks decided to trade their pick to the Denver Broncos for a 2010 first-round pick. This could turn out to be a huge steal for Seattle because if the Broncos defense doesn’t step up and be the 29th defense in the league again and considering Kyle Orton is no Jay Cutler talent wise, this team could earn a top 10 pick next year which would help out the Seahawks a lot.

 

Because the Seahawks are aiming to win right now, which is why they signed T.J Houshmanzdeh and drafted Aaron Curry, who are both immediate impact players, so if the Seahawks go deep in the playoffs and hopefully a Super Bowl title, they could still draft a guy like Taylor Mays or decide than next year is the better year to get a QB for the future. Either way, they will have two first-round picks.

 

So this was a great day for the Seattle Seahawks organization and Seahawks fans.

 

 

 

2) Seattle Sounders FC

 

The Sounders FC started the season 3-0 with three straight shutouts. But they have lost their last two games without GK Kasey Keller. Keller in his first three games had all clean sheets.

 

He kept that going tonight against San Jose and didn’t allow any goals for his fourth consecutive clean sheet. By doing that he set a new MLS record for not allowing any goals. He’s gone 389 minutes without allowing a goal, which broke the former record of 375 minutes.

 

Not only did Keller shut out San Jose but Seattle picked up two goals via Steve Zakuani his second goal of the season and Brad Evans also his second goal of the season.

 

This gives the Sounders a 2-0 win, earning the three points they needed to get back on a winning note.

 

So this was a great night for the Seattle Sounders FC organization to get back on a winning note along with their fans.

 

3) Seattle Mariners

 

The Mariners were supposed to do horrible this season that included not doing great in the month of April. But they are 12-6 and atop the AL West.

 

They held on to beat the LA Angels. Also, SP Carlos Silva got his first win since last August. He had been 1-17 since going 3-0 in his first three starts as a Seattle Mariner. So Carlos Silva broke his slump, and the Mariners just keep on winning.

 

A great win for the Seattle Mariners, especially Carlos Silva, and it keeps the fans happy.

 

NOTE: The UW Huskies held their second Purple vs. white spring game. All of the starters did very well with new head coach Steve Sarkisian on board. QB Jake Locker went 16-of-18, throwing two TDs and 200 yards in a 33-0 win.

 

That’s a nice sight for Sarkisian and his entire coaching staff.

Sharp Cheddar: Cheeseheads Must Trust Ted Thompson in 2009

The feeling inside 1265 Lombardi Avenue after the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft was remarkably different than in previous Ted Thompson drafts: no boos.

The man known both affectionately and infamously as “TT” in Cheesehead circles had made his mark on the franchise once again, but this time in a way fans should embrace. 

B.J. Raji’s enormous presence could be felt from a time zone away. As he fell down the board on Draft Day, Thompson and his staff were anxiously waiting to see if the Boston College stand-out would fall all the way to their pick at No. 9.

He did, and the Packers pulled the trigger on the incredibly talented defensive tackle and first team all-ACC performer. Raji has a unique combination of speed and strength for a man of his size.

Hopefully, after the Packers drafted the the 330-plus pound Raji, they hired a bigger cafeteria staff for the upcoming OTA’s.

Packer fans watching the Draft in the Lambeau Field atrium cheered vigorously when the pick was announced, a stark contract from the last two years when the selection was met by a loud chorus of boos from the fans.

The Packers didn’t draft in the first round last year, instead trading back to acquire picks, then moving up to take Kansas State wide-out Jordy Nelson who was no better than the Packers third wide receiver in 2008.

Not a popular pick on draft day, not a popular pick now, particularly when the Packers could have had DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal, Limas Sweed, or Devin Thomas with that pick.

Things were not much better in 2007 when the Packers took Justin Harrell 16th overall, only to lose him to injuries in both seasons as a pro. The dangerous “b” word looms over the former Volunteer’s head and TT knows that.

With a switch to the 3-4 defense, the nose tackle position will be even more important in getting stops. The best 3-4 defenses in the NFL also happen to have the best nose tackles.

Casey Hampton anchors that punishing Steeler defense, while Vince Wilfork has allowed the talented Patriot linebackers to become stars.

That is what could make Raji special. Wilfork and Hampton make others better, and Raji has the strength and power to eat up blockers, freeing up his teammates. The difference is Raji can move like the aforementioned players can’t. And they’re Pro Bowlers.

On the interior, Raji registered eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a senior, and by the end of the year was the most dominating defensive player in the nation.

Aaron Curry might have been the most complete player in this draft, but Raji was the most dominant, at least defensively.

To say the Packers had any decision to make between Raji and Crabtree would be foolish. Certainly, Crabtree projects as an instant impact player in the NFL, but the Packers have shown you can get a receiver anywhere in the draft. Big bodies who can move like Raji are few and far between.

The other crucial cog in the 3-4 defense is the rush linebacker position. Ted Thompson shocked the Packer nation when he gave up his second and both third-round picks to move back into the first round and grab Clay Mathews, the outside linebacker from USC.

There is talk about the Packers overpaying for Mathews, particularly if you use a point system to rank slotted draft positions. But as Thompson said in his press conference, if you want to get a particular player, you have to pay the price for him.

Mathews is a special athlete with the most fluid hips of any of the outside linebackers worthy of first day consideration. He catches the ball like a receiver, but loves to stick his nose in the play and make a big hit.

Oh, and Kevin Greene, one of the best 3-4 OLB’s in the history of the NFL is the Packers linebackers coach. He likes this kid a lot. That is good enough for me.

With essentially just three key needs, defensive line, linebacker, and offensive tackle, the Packers have set themselves up marvelously for the draft’s second day.

Thompson has already proven adept at finding talent late in the draft and can certainly find a serviceable tackle to add depth to this group.

Sure, the Packers could have taken Crabtree at No. 9, or even Brian Orakpo. They didn’t and we don’t know if it was the right call.

Both Raji and Crabtree have big-time bust potential, but if Raji plays up to his potential he can  be one of just a handful of big-time defensive tackles in this league.

With guys like Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte in the division, that nose tackle position has to be your anchor.

As far as over-paying for Mathews, much like Raji, only time will tell. Mathews could be Mike Mammula, or he could be Mike Vrabel. He is a physically gifted athlete who will not be out-worked by anyone.

Mathews also has the benefit of having an outstanding teacher in the aforementioned Greene. He will also have Aaron Kampman playing opposite him, leaving Mathews in 1-on-1 situations on the edge. 

Thompson has messed it up before. If a GM without a mistake was he who could cast the first stone, there’d be a lot of rocks on the ground and very few in the air.

But Thompson has brought this team a core of talented young players like Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, and Nick Collins.

So while Crabtree is catching touchdown passes by the Bay and Orakpo is terrorizing Tony Romo, pay attention to Raji taking on double teams so A.J. Hawk can make the play in the backfield.

Watch Clay Mathews cover Matt Forte 1-on-1 out of the backfield on second down, then on third down force an overthrow by whipping Roberta Garza and getting in Jay Cutler’s face just before releasing the ball.

Ted Thompson may say he has thick enough skin to withstand the boos, but this time he knows he got it right. It seems Packer fans do too.

Analyzing Carolina’s First Day: Did They Fill Their Needs?

Here it is, and there it goes once more. The first day of the 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone, and with it, many surprise picks have been set in stone.

But I’ll leave all the pick-by-pick analysis to the people who actually know all the players (or at least pretend that they do).

Instead, I’ll focus on my beloved Panthers and their two picks on this fateful first day.

Let’s start off with the first one that they got, defensive end Everette Brown out of FSU at No. 43.

Not a bad pickup, indeed, it might be a very good one in the long run. Considered by many to be a first-rounder, it was a surprise to many that he fell so low.

Indeed, it may make you wonder that teams forgot about him.

But apparantly not to the Panthers, whose careful watch on this kid made them pick him up, even trading up to do so, giving up next year’s first-rounder to San Francisco for their second- and fourth-round pick.

At the FSU Pro Day in the past few weeks, the Panthers were one of only a few teams that sent their head coach to take a look at their stock. Apparantly, they saw something in him that impressed the scouts and even the head honcho himself.

Some teams saw him transitioning to outside linebacker in the 3-4, much like a certain Demarcus Ware of the Cowboys.

Instead, the Panthers had enough faith in him to draft him so that he might play opposite Peppers, or even replace him when a trade comes knocking.

Oh, and on that topic, a Peppers trade might be worth it. A few NFL Network analysts called this the worst draft in recent memory.

A few first rounders next year might be helpful with all those quarterbacks. Just some food for thought for my “Sack Jake” Carolina brethren.

But anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I liked this Brown draft, he’s got very smooth feet, and is definitely one of the better pass rushers in this year’s draft.

However, I am dissapointed that Conner Barwin didn’t fall to the Panthers. Not only was he a great defensive end at Cincinnati, but he also had a bit of time as a tight end.

His dual role abilities might have been very useful, especially since Carolina doesn’t have a truly good tight end. And no, drafting tight ends in each of the past three fifth rounds doesn’t always solve one’s TE problems.

Which is disappointing, because even if Barwin didn’t work as an end, he could fill a need at the tight end position and help stretch the field for Steve Smith.

Ah, oh well, such is how the draft works, and the Texans (one of my favorite AFC teams) have a real gem playing for them.

Now, onto the Panthers first pick that they had from the start. At number 57, they pick up Sherrod Martin, a safety out of Troy.

Not a bad pick, especially since Carolina’s main defensive issues came from the backfield.

Martin was known for being a very hard hitting guy, always going after the ball carrier and punishing him whenever possible. I can only imagine how wide receivers will feel when going up Chris Harris and Martin, some of the hardest hitting DBs in the game.

Not only that, but now the Panthers have a very young backfield to grow on. Godfrey was a rookie last year; picked up in the third round and started immediately. PLus they have shut-down corner Chris Gamble and Harris, both relatively young guys in the prime of their career.

But let’s be honest. Just because he was drafted as a Safety, it doesn’t mean that he’ll play as one in the pros. Ever since Lucas was released, they’ve been left with a rather glaring hole.

Although Richard Marshall has proven to be a decent corner, he’s more of a nickle corner who only comes in on certain occassions, and with the Martin pick, they should keep it that way.

However, despite the mostly positive draft choice, I feel that another player might have been a superior choice.

Perhaps another D-lineman or an offensive lineman would have served the Panthers better.

Let us not forget that although Carolina has a great line, they are now terribly low on depth.

Tackle Will Beatty out of Connecticut was taken one pick later, and his presence could be enough to keep the injury bug from plaguing the Panthers O-line.

But alas, what’s done is done, and now all we can do is hope that these picks pan out. You can yell at the computer screen all you want, but no matter what you do, the pick won’t go away (sorry Lions fans, enjoy your 3-13 season).

And now that day one is done with, now we must go into the second day where only the most hardcore NFL fan can survive. With just a few more picks left for Carolina, it should be a rather uneventful draft.

But hey, that’s just how I enjoy my off-season. Not a lot of noise and not a lot of changes: team stability all the way.

The Jason Campbell Saga

The Redskins have selected an excellent pass-rushing DE out of Texas named Brian Orakpo.  He may play left end.  He may take Marcus Washington’s place at outside linebacker.  He may switch back and forth.

Whichever way Greg Blache chooses to play him, the defense will be improved because of this pick. 

Personally, I had written that the ‘Skins ought to focus on offense instead of trying to “fix” their fourth-ranked defense.  But there is a lot to be happy about as a result of this pick today.

Given this good news, what does the Washington Post write about?  In their continuing war with Dan Snyder, they feature a piece on how not to treat your quarterback.  

Now everyone knows that Campbell can’t be feeling too good about these continuing efforts to give him some competition for the starting position. 

First, it was the attempt to arrange a trade for then-Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. Now, most recently, it was the attempt to trade up to get USC quarterback Mark Sanchez in the draft.

If the Redskins had given up a lot to get Sanchez, then there may have been room to criticize them for the decision.

The Redskins have needs on both the offensive and defensive lines. They also have a need at wide receiver, unfortunately, despite drafting two receivers in the second round last year.

And no quarterback can win on his own.

But they did not pull the trigger, and they did not give up too much to get Sanchez.  They were willing to give this much, and no more.  So, good for them.

That said, quarterback is still the most important position on the field.  And an excellent quarterback gives your team a better chance at winning than an average or below average quarterback does.

Jason Campbell has not proven himself to be an excellent quarterback yet.  He has some flashes of promise. 

The Redskins seem hopeful that he might turn the corner and become at least a better-than-average quarterback.

But he’s not there yet.

I can buy the argument that Jason Campbell has done well enough to deserve trying to build a better offensive unit around him before giving up on him.  

What I can’t buy is that the quarterback of an NFL team should be pampered by not having anyone behind him to push him.  

This is not a matter of giving up on Campbell.  It’s simply a matter of Campbell not doing enough to give the coaches and fans enough confidence to sit back and feel satisfied that the quarterback position is well taken care of.

It’s not.

Campbell may improve this coming season.  He may not.

Should the Redskins throw big money at him when they have doubts as to whether he can deliver the goods?  No.

So, Jason Campbell should get used to having to prove himself.  Because in the NFL, if you haven’t proven you’re the man beyond any doubt, everyone’s going to keep looking for a potential replacement for you.

That’s just the way it is.

Denver Broncos Day One Draft Review: McDaniels Bolsters Both O’ and D’

April 25, 2009, marks the busiest draft day in the history of the Denver Broncos.  Josh McDaniels and Co. were wheeling and dealing all day long, and Denver ended up with five picks in the first two rounds of the draft.  How did the Broncos fare given their extreme amount of picks?

 

1 (12) Knowshon Moreno; Running Back, Georgia

I absolutely love this pick.  Despite my “homerism” toward Shonn Greene out of Iowa, Denver came away with the very best running back in this year’s draft.

Josh McDaniels made it a priority to address the running back position this off-season, signing Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, and now drafting Knowshon Moreno.

Despite Denver’s large group of backs, Moreno is the early and clear favorite to win the starting job.  He went into his redshirt sophomore season at Georgia at 207 pounds, and has bulked up to 217. 

While some are bashing this pick due to Denver’s strong need on the defensive side of the ball, I contend that this was the smartest pick McDaniels could have made given Denver’s top two defensive targets (B.J. Raji, Tyson Jackson) were long gone by now. 

In two seasons for Georgia, Moreno rushed for 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns, and also caught 53 passes for 645 yards and two touchdowns. 

Josh McDaniels’ offensive scheme requires a running back that can run between the tackles, catch the ball, and block on third down.  Moreno can do every one of those things very effectively.

The Denver Broncos’ offense now features the likes of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Tony Scheffler, Daniel Graham, Jabar Gaffney, Peyton Hillis, and now Knowshon Moreno.  It’s a very dynamic, athletic group of players that forms one of the top young groups in the entire NFL.

 

1(18) Robert Ayers; Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Tennessee

If anyone has been keeping tabs, you know that I have strongly opposed the acquiring of Ayers throughout the “mocking” process. 

I didn’t really see a fit for the former Volunteer, and thought that the fact that he only had one really good year meant that he was a second round pick at best.

Now, I’m not so sure.  Ayers is widely considered to be one of the most athletic and versatile defensive linemen in the entire draft, and he looks like the next best alternative to Denver’s top target Tyson Jackson. 

Ayers is 6’3″, 275 pounds, and brings a very complete game to the defensive end position.  Some feel he would have been best fit for the 4-3 scheme as a defensive end, but Josh McDaniels feels that Ayers can stand up as a rush linebacker if needed, as well as dig his hand in the ground and stuff the run.

The key stat with Ayers is tackles for loss, of which he registered 15.5 in 2008.  Many experts feel he was playing his best ball at the end of his college career, and that he will continue to ascend heading into the NFL. 

“When Robert got here, he thought he was God’s gift to football,” former head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “He wouldn’t listen to the upperclassmen…not in a bad way, but he just didn’t take to coaching very well. (As a senior) he’s starving for coaching, and he’s giving great effort. He’s turned into a big-time SEC defensive end.”

Denver needed to upgrade their run defense in the first round, and they did that with Ayers.

 

2 (37) Alphonso Smith; Cornerback, Wake Forest

The Denver Broncos acquired the rights to the 37th overall pick in the second round by trading away their first round pick from 2010, and I doubt they will regret it. 

If not for his height (5-foot-9), Smith would have been a top five pick in this year’s draft.  He has undoubtedly been the most productive cornerback at the collegiate level over the last four years, and even in the past century.

In fact, Smith is only the third cornerback in the last 100 years to have ammassed over 20 interceptions for his career.  Smith’s 21 interceptions complemented his career 189 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and eight forced fumbles. 

Oh yeah, did I mention he was also a special teams ace?  Smith averaged 20.7 yards per kickoff return, and blocked five kicks in his career at Wake Forest.

The three time All-American will start his career in Denver as the nickel cornerback behind Champ Bailey and Andre’ Goodman, but make no mistake about it:  This kid intends on starting sooner rather than later. This was an excellent value pick by the Denver Broncos.

 

2 (48) Darcel McBath; Safety, Texas Tech

This pick really intrigued me.  I never really thought of McBath as a possibility for the Broncos, simply because nobody has him rated as a second-round prospect.  My question now, after doing a lot of research on him is, “Why?”

McBath is a converted cornerback, who at 6’0″ 198 pounds has excellent bulk and size for the free safety position.  He will benefit greatly from the tutelage of future Hall of Famers Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey as he hones his coverage and tackling skills. 

In three years as the starter, McBath registered 223 tackles, 12 interceptions, and became an All-Big 12 performer over that three year span.

McBath’s banner campaign came in his senior season, which he had 75 tackles, seven interceptions, and seven passes defensed. 

He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and forced a fumble.  His stellar play garnered him first team All-Big 12 and All-American Honors.

I have no doubt that Denver made the correct choice with this pick.  I cannot wait to see these two ball-hawking defensive backs in McBath and Alphonso Smith take the field for the Broncos. 

 

2 (64) Richard Quinn; Tight End, North Carolina

This pick, acquired from Pittsburgh along with a fourth round pick in exchange for two third round picks was a head scratcher for many Denver fans. 

Quinn is a blocking specialist who, in his time as a Tar Heel, had only 12 receptions, two of which were touchdowns.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels insists this will have no effect on Tony Scheffler, and while I will believe that when I see it, I think this was probably Denver’s riskiest pick of the day. 

We cannot say Quinn would have been available at pick 79 or 84, but it is highly likely that he would have been.  Quinn himself was surprised that he received a day one call.

Quinn is in a similar mold to current Broncos’ tight end Daniel Graham, and while his receiving skills are not elite, his blocking skills are rivaled only by Brandon Pettigrew among the tight ends available in this draft.

A curious pick by the Broncos, which is sure to raise questions, but a solid player nonetheless.  Quinn is not great value here, but Denver probably would have picked him anyway, and they still have six picks on day two.

Overall, I felt it was a very productive day for the Denver Broncos, who addressed both offensive and defensive needs.

They found their star running back, run-stuffing defensive lineman, two ball-hawking defensive backs, and a blocking specialist at tight end. 

Day two is sure to bring more excitement, and the Broncos are in a good position to add more young talent to their squad.

Day One of the NFL Draft: Top Five Value Picks

Now that the first day of the draft is over, here is what I believe to be the best five value picks of the day.

Without further ado, here we go.

 

5. Running back LeSean McCoy at pick No. 53.

If there was ever a player who reminded me of Brian Westbrook, it would be McCoy. 

The Eagles made a great pick here and have the heir to the running back position, without having to change the offensive system.

McCoy is a well-balanced runner with great vision.  He is very elusive and has breakaway speed.  He rushed for over 2,800 yards and scored 21 touchdowns the past two years for Pittsburgh.

To top it off, he has great hands and route running ability.

The Eagles hit a home run with this pick.

 

4.  Defensive end Brian Orakpo at pick No. 13.

The Redskins had only one pick on day one, but it was a very good one.

It was almost unanimous that Orakpo would not make it out of the top five picks.  Perhaps durability concerns allowed him to fall down the draft board, but he is definitely an elite talent.

He has great awareness and plays disciplined football.  He is excellent at rushing the passer, and is good at shedding blockers to fill the hole against the run.

Although he was advertised as a hybrid defensive end, the Redskins will likely use him opposite Andre Carter in their 4-3 defensive scheme.

That is just fine for Orakpo.  In an interview with Sirius NFL Radio after he was selected, he said he preferred to play with his fingers in the turf.

 

3.  Linebacker James Laurinaitis at pick No. 35.

Laurinaitis is a great tackler with good lateral speed and strength.  He is also a smart player who is quick to read and react.

He is good enough to contribute immediately, and I am sure the Rams would like to see him starting on day one.

The Rams really got a great bargain, as they filled a glaring need at inside linebacker. 

 

2. Offensive tackle Michael Oher at pick No. 23.

The Ravens always seem make great selections with their draft picks.  Once again, they have amazed me.

As Oher was slipping and slipping down the draft board, I was wondering who would be the lucky team. 

For the life of me, I do not understand how the Lions passed on him at pick No. -20.  But that is a story for another article.

Since the draft was deep at the tackle position, Oher slipped through the cracks.  I really believe Oher has a chance to be the best of the class.

He uses his 6-foot-5 and 315-pound frame, and long arms to adeptly hold off pass rushers. He is also very strong and has good lateral movement. 

Some have criticized his run blocking, and that may be a fair point. 

However, having only three years experience playing left tackle, Oher has steadily improved in this area each year.

The Ravens are the perfect fit for Oher, as they are good at grooming offensive lineman.  

Oher will one day be considered among the many great picks of the Baltimore Ravens.

 

1. Linebacker Rey Maualuga at pick No. 38.

An outstanding selection for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Maualuga is an aggressive player with great range.  He reads a play well, and is  explosive in his pursuit and tackling.

He was almost certainly considered a first-round selection. 

The Bengals really struck gold with this pick, especially considering how badly they need a replacement for Dhani Jones at middle linebacker.

Maualuga appears to be the first-day steal of the NFL Draft.

Day 1…Did You Really See This Coming?

Today was all about the speculations. A friend and I were on our way to Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles Draft Party.  I’m listened to the radio hoping for a last minute move to bring in either Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin.

I just knew that the Birds were going to obtain that stud receiver today along with using the No. 21 pick on Knowshon Moreno.  Boy was I wrong.

When the Oakland Raiders selected Darius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) with the No. 7 pick instead of Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), that was my first clue that it would be a very interesting Day 1 of the draft.

As far as the Eagles were concerned, I wanted them to upgrade at the three offensive skill positions of wide receiver, tight end and running back (in no particular order) before the day was over.

Two thirds of my request was fulfilled, but how it was done is what threw me completely off-guard.  I kept thinking to myself about the last article I wrote.  When it comes to the Philadelphia Eagles, expect the unexpected.

When Denver picked running back Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) at No. 12, there definitely were a few grumbles echoing throughout the Linc.  Many fans felt he was the only option at running back.

I kept thinking that the best next option is LeSean McCoy(Pittsburgh) for running back, but they definitely were going to have to trade up in the second round for him. 

Before that though, let’s keep our fingers crossed that tight end Brandon Pettigrew stays available until pick No. 21.

When the Eagles traded with the ultra-generous Cleveland Browns to jump up to pick No. 19, I was prepared to cheer for our new starting TE. 

Then came the shocker.  The Eagles selected wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) and all I could do was just stand still for five minutes with my jaw dropped.  Initially there were mixed feelings surrounding me.  Some fans loved the pick, others hated it. 

Once recollected my thoughts and came back to Earth, I thought about previous reports about Maclin.  He was the No. 2 wideout in this draft behind Crabtree.  He was projected to be a top 10 pick.  Simply put, he fell right to the Eagles as a gift and I’m happy they cordially accepted.

I didn’t pay much attention to him before the draft because I figured if he’s a top 10 prospect there’s absolutely know way he’ll end up in midnight green.  Thank God mock drafts are meaningless.

The Eagles need to send another thank you present to Al Davis (the first for the win over Tampa last year that helped the Eagles reach the post season). You see, if he didn’t have such an infatuation with speed, the Raiders would’ve selected Crabtree instead of Heyward-Bey, prompting the San Francisco 49ers to take Maclin at No. 10. 

Yes, the Eagles could’ve still taken Pettigrew but Maclin is actually a better fit. Also, there are still quite a few tight end prospects available that could contribute immediately.

To top the day off, the Eagles were able to select McCoy in the second round without having to trade up.  McCoy actually is a player I originally felt would fit the Birds style of play better than Moreno. 

I truly believe the Harrisburg, Pa., native will be the heir apparent to Brian Westbrook.

Once again, the Eagles made a move nobody saw coming.  Unlike previous years, I must say it was a pleasant surprise.  They addressed a need fans screamed about for years and they kept their first round pick. 

I’ll give them an A for Day 1 of the draft. Now it’s time to look forward confidently to Day 2 selections….

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