Line ‘Em Up: Buffalo Bills Draft For The O-Line

Christmas in April came to an end last weekend, and we are definitely not short of a few opinions. 

I love reading everyone’s point of view, but this year I find myself contemplating how some draft experts grade the Bills at a B+ all the way down to an F.  

Looking at the picks and the makeup of the team, I’ve decided to grade the draft at the higher end of the spectrum.

With two first round picks, many thought the Bills would address their need at left tackle with their 11th overall by drafting Michael Oher. When the Bills took Aaron Maybin, a DE from Penn State, it was almost a slam-dunk that a tackle would be taken with the 28th pick. 

To the surprise of many, Buffalo took a center, Eric Wood from Louisville, bypassing their need on the vacant tackle spot. The Bills then followed up with a CB from Oregon, and traded back into the second round for a Guard from Oregon State.

Most experts have agreed that not addressing the left tackle was a poor choice by the Bills. Some are still disagreeing over the Maybin pick, but that’s another argument to be had. 

Here is some background that some may know, and others may not regarding the Bills offensive line:

Langston Walker, the Bills starting right tackle, played left tackle for Jason Peters in the opening game of the season and also filled in during the second game as Peters was not in playing condition. Walker filled in the hole quite nicely, and during those two games, Bills fans everywhere contemplated, “If Jason Peters ever left…”

Eric Wood was a standout center at Louisville racking up (unofficially) around 160 knockdowns throughout his career. The Bills want to use free agent signee Geoff Hangartner at center, so the theory is that Wood will move over to fill the vacant left guard position. 

Wood is described as having a “nasty” demeanor on the field and is always looking for the next player to punish.  Wood also played guard in high school and says that the transition should be easy enough, as the footwork is similar.

As I said before, the Bills want to use Hangartner at center.  Although Hangartner only performed as a backup in Carolina, he did end up starting mid-year due to injuries and performed admirably for Carolina’s powerful running game.

Should Hangartner not be the free agent Buffalo thought he will be, I suspect that Wood would be moved to the starting role.

Brad Butler has manned right guard for the past two years, and he looks to be the only part of the offensive line that will not change.  However, with different scenarios that could pan out, Butler could move around the line. 

Most seem to have forgotten that Butler’s natural position is tackle.

Last is right tackle.  With this position now becoming the one with the biggest questions, the Bills have several options.  Kirk Chambers played at this position last year during the first two games, while Walker moved to the left side. 

The Bills also drafted a tackle last year in the seventh round—Demetrius Bell.  Bell was drafted as a work in progress, but has since shown extreme promise after being on the practice squad last year. 

For all of you who can’t see a seventh rounder making the team, remember that Peters was an undrafted tight end. 

If neither of these two options work out, there is the possibility that Butler is moved outside to right tackle, and the Bills second round guard, Andy LeVitre, will be plugged in at right guard.

At the end of day one, many people were agitated that the Bills did not address their needs, but it looks like they did everything they needed to.  I give the Bills exemplary marks for this year’s draft, but hey, what do I know? I’m no draft expert.

Donovan Mcnabb Brokers Middle East Peace, Booed For Taking So Long (Satire)

After years of searching for a peace agreement, President Barack Obama held a press conference today to announce that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb brokered Mid-East peace via cell phone while in his Arizona home.

The emotional announcement was met by boos from from thirty Eagles fans who made the trip to the White House, led by WIP radio personality Angelo Cataldi.

“He’s had fifteen years here. Why did it take so long?” screamed Cataldi.

“You suck, McNabb!” he added.

Echoing Cataldi’s sentiments was Tony from Palmyra.

“You know what? If he had done this years ago, the world would be a better place,” said Tony. “Every single death in the history of that region until now is on his head. Booooo!”

“Look at him smiling, up there, like he’s done something,” said Mario from South Philly. “T.O. was right about you! You ain’t done nothing! He’s so smug. He needs to be more serious. When he finds Osama Bin Laden, then I’ll stop booing.

“(Former Eagles quarterback Ron) Jaworski was a better negotiator than you’ll ever be, you putz!”

McNabb was his usual ebullient self. When asked about the booing fans, he smiled and said, “That’s how it is in this town, and that’s what I love about it. They put a lot of pressure on you to complete passes, win championships, and bring peace to the world. But no one puts more pressure on me than I do.”

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders chimed in as well. “This is why the people of Philadelphia don’t deserve this great man. I hope the war just moves there and they just kill each other off like the animals they are.”

When asked why he was choosing to condemn an entire city to death because of thirty fans, he replied simply, “It’s God’s will. Praise Jesus!”

Mcnabb was asked what it would take to win this city over after three straight Super Bowl wins, two NFL MVP trophies, and bringing peace to a region that has known hatred and bloodshed for decades. He said that he was not concerned with accolades.

“People are always going to have their opinions, and that’s just how it is. I don’t worry about what people think. I just go out and do what I have to do to be successful, whether that is scrambling out of the pocket, changing a play at the line of scrimmage, or getting (Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and (PLO Leader) Mahmoud Abbas on the phone to stop the killing, all while having fun. That’s what its all about, not the championships, not the trophies, not the millions of lives saved, it’s about having fun.”

Eagles coach Andy Reid was asked what he thought of the fans’ booing of his Nobel Prize winning quarterback.

“Uh, I’m not gonna get into all of that. Donovan is my guy. I had to have him take a step back and let Kevin Kolb get on the phone for a little bit, just for a fresh perspective. But it all worked out in the end.”

McNabb told reporters that he has no ill will towards the people who drove down just to boo him. “I’m not one to hold grudges,” he said.

“But I’ll never forget it.”

After the press conference, Cataldi and Sanders were drafted by the Army and sent to Afghanistan.

“I’ll boo him with my dying breath,” said Cataldi.

 

Redskins Season Ticket List is a Sham

Yet another reason to hate the money-grubbing, parking fee gouging Washington Redskins? Decent folks who have been waiting for season tickets for years are likley being bamboozled.

Deadspin airs them out real proper like with a H/T to the Washington City Paper’s expose’ on a Redskins season ticket list that shouldn’t exist in the face of disappointing seasons, a broken-down economy, and the team’s solicitation for ticket purchases from people not even on the list.

Shame on you, Daniel Snyder, for your greed and insistence that Johnny Rockets is worth it’s exorbitant prices.

Hail indeed.

Oh, and they linked to the Superskin post from earlier this morning.

Potential Sleeper Wide Receiver Among Dolphins’ Undrafted Rookies

The Dolphins have added three more undrafted rookies, bringing the grand total to eight. Newly signed are Temple center Alex Derenthal, Stanford running back Anthony Kimble and Tulsa wide receiver Brennan Marion.

Alex Derenthal

A four-year starter for the Temples Owls, Derenthal started all 47 games possible during his collegiate career and earned second-team All-MAC honors as a senior in 2008.

As reported earlier on this site, Derenthal worked out for the Dolphins in late March. He was ranked the 719th prospect in the draft by NFL Draft Scout.

Anthony Kimble

Kimble’s numbers steadily improved in four seasons for the Stanford Cardinal, rushing for 244 yards and two scores as a freshman and capping things off with 717 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. He finished his collegiate career with 1,940 yards on 415 carries (a 4.7-yard average) and 18 touchdowns.

This offseason, Kimble just barely cracked Draft Countdown’s list of running back prospects, ranking 27th out of 29 total backs.

Brennan Marion

A two-year starter at Tulsa after transferring from DeAnza Junior College in 2007, Marion was a tremendous deep-play threat for the Golden Hurricane, breaking the NCAA record for yards per reception as a junior at 31.9!

Topping 1,000 yards both years at Tulsa despite never catching more than 43 passes in a season, Marion finished his collegiate career with 82 receptions for 2,356 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Marion tore his ACL on the final offensive play of the Conference USA championship game in December 2008, which likely hurt his draft stock and could impact his availability in the Dolphins’ offseason activities.

Interestingly, Draft Countdown had Marion as the 37th-best wide receiver prospect in this year’s draft—one spot ahead of Dolphins fourth-round pick Brian Hartline.

Analysis

Of the three players discussed in this article, Marion is clearly the most talented and thus has the best chance of sticking around. He’s only six months removed from the torn ACL suffered at Tulsa, so he’s likely destined for the practice squad or stashed on injured reserve in 2009. Still, there’s no denying his talent and he could end up being a steal for the Dolphins down the line.

Kimble’s best chance at staying in Miami is on the practice squad, where he’ll have to beat out 2008 sixth-rounder Lex Hilliard for a spot. Neither one of them has a realistic chance at jumping Patrick Cobbs for the No. 3 tailback job.

As it stands, Derenthal is the only other pure center on the roster behind starter Jake Grove. However, guards like Joe Berger and Andy Alleman can play center and have a lot more ability than Derenthal, so he has quite a few bodies in his way if he wants to make the team.

Derenthal is extremely borderline pro prospect and doesn’t stand much chance of sticking around. He’s got experience but is simply limited physically and probably doesn’t have what it takes to make it in the NFL.

 

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Chris Nelson is a journalism major at Georgia State University. He operates his own Miami Dolphins blog, which can be found here.

NFC Draft Grades You Need to See

DETROIT LIONS

It is hard to chastise the new regime, because the team needs help everywhere after their winless season.

I do not agree with the Stafford pick, because Stafford can easily end up like David Carr, and many more like him, without blocking.

Getting Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe would have been the smarter move. It also probably would have saved the Lions tens of millions of dollars. Stafford has to play right away, prepared or not, to justify that insane paycheck.

Pettigrew was a no-brainer pick. As I pointed out in my mock, Detroit has not had a really good TE since Charlie Sanders. I’m not saying Pettigrew is Sanders, but he is going to see a lot of balls in his career.

Delmas was a good move, because he was easily the highest rated FS in the draft. He needs to get coached up on tackling technique, but he starts day one.

Levy was picked because he fits the Lions defensive coordinators scheme. He is good against the pass, but needs lots of work against the run. He isn’t a very big OLB.

Williams was an excellent pick, and maybe one of their best. He helps a thin WR corps, will stretch the seam, and return kickoffs if needed.

Hill is a project who needs to be coached up. He is very strong, so he helps stop the run as part of a DT rotation until he learns. A good pick, and gamble, in my opinion.

Brown was someone I correctly predicted to be picked by Detroit in my mock. He will return kicks, and provide a change of pace. He has the ability to develop into a third down type of pass catching back too.

Murtha has a world of talent, and is very smart. His issue is durability and a perception of lacked desire. If the light turns on, this kid can help at RT or RG.

If he really realizes his potential, and stays healthy, he might have LT ability. He was drafted right about where I had him, as was Gronkowski.

Gronkowski is smart, tough, and durable. He will add depth, and has a shot at being the second TE one day. He is also underrated as a receiver.

Follett is a possible sleeper Detroit recently signed. He had mid-round potential. He has a non-stop motor, and definitely will help on special teams. Expect every draft pick to be given every opportunity to make the squad.

GRADE : B

CHICAGO BEARS

The Bears needed a good draft, because they have mortgaged their future in Jay Cutler. Gilbert is very athletic, with the ability to line up at DT, DE, and OT. His issue is strength and consistency. He will be given time to develop, but I think DE might be his best spot for now.

Iglesias is smart, tough, and a leader. He will add needed depth, but he reminds me of Bennett. I expect a good season from Bennett this year.

Melton is an up and coming guy. Very athletic, he has a lot to learn. I expect him to get plugged into the rotation slowly at first.

Moore is a real steal for Chicago. This kid is a winner, and even has WR experience. I think he supplants Vasher next year, or in 2011.

Knox is the guy I think will be the pick of the draft. He is a burner, something the Bears really needed. He will stretch the seam from the slot, and open things up for guys like Bennett and Olsen.

Freeman was also an excellent pick up. He fell in the draft because of injury concerns. He will help on special teams in the first few years.

Alfalava is going to be the Bears’ future starting SS, and is a huge upgrade over Steltz as a reserve. He put up better numbers, at his pro day, than any safety at the combine.

Louis is a project, like Kellen Davis is. I think he is a developmental squad type this year. Kinder’s only shot is on special teams.

The Bears attacked the draft, and might have gotten six starters out of it. These are the types of drafts you need when you have championship dreams.

I only saw one huge oversight. Chicago put the ball in Matt Forte’s hands much too much last year. That recipe does not make for a long career.

They should have used that Louis pick, or at least Kinder pick, on a RB. Depth is needed, and their current reserves aren’t anything special.

GRADE : A –

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Vikings think they are a few steps away from the Super Bowl. They needed to fill some big needs in this draft to make that final push.

Harvin was an excellent first step. He gives them a weapon they really needed. Harvin has the ability to take a three-yard screen to the end zone every time he touches the ball. I expect them to line him up everywhere.

Loadholt has the ability to start at RT right away, and this was a smart pick.

Allen will help on the extra DB packages for now, but this kid is a future starter. He gets to learn from Winfield, not a bad gig.

Brinkely is a two-down type of MLB, but the guy really hits hard. He adds good depth, in case Henderson goes down again.

Sanford has good athleticism, but he is raw and has character issues. His only shot is on special teams.

The Vikes recently signed Ian Johnson and Khalil Bell to vie for third string RB. A good move.

The bad move is that they have neglected DT. Pat Williams is 37, and might be suspended a few games. I have no idea why they blew off that need. Maybe they are praying to get to 2010 in one piece?

GRADE : B –

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay already had a good roster. They just all got injured last year. Still, they went in and scored big again. Switching to the 3-4, you need a good NT. They didn’t really have a good one, just a few guys you rotate in. Not anymore.

Raji is that very important piece to the puzzle. A 3-4 is garbage without a good NT. Raji will fill the need. Matthews III might get spotted this year, but he can play DE and SLB. He has the ability to be special, and was the best USC LB prospect in the draft.

Packer fans will like the versatility of Lang. He probably plays guard, but can play RT too. He will sit and learn a year or two. Johnson’s pick shows me the Packers want a better lead blocker at FB.

Johnson delivers crushing blocks, but that is about it for now. He is very raw. Meredith was a pick I loved. Another versatile kid who can play guard or tackle. He also could start in a few years.

Wynn is a DE who is a run stopper. He has a shot at adding to the rotation. Underwood is very raw, but he could go FS or CB. I expect him to be developed slowly. Jones is hoping to help on special teams.

My only question is why the Packers didn’t grab a RB. Grant is their guy, but his reserves have been very inconsistent. If Grant goes down, it could get ugly. But, they attacked defense and OL depth. That is always a smart move.

GRADE : A-

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Cardinals draft was much like their 2008 season. They got out of the starting blocks slow, came on strong, then fell short.

You know they would have preferred Moreno or Don Brown, but had to settle for Wells. Knowing they were dumping the dull Edge, it was a need pick. Wells has been as fragile as paper mache thus far, but he has tools you want in a RB.

He is big, strong, athletic, and can catch the ball well. If he holds up, for once, he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

Cody Brown was a great draft pick. Their OLB’s are aging, so this kid will be important for a while.

R.Johnson might slip right into the Cards secondary soon. He is very smart, and they may prefer him next to Wilson over Rolle. He’ll add good depth at the least.

I really like the drafting of Toler. The guy is an excellent athlete, and they will groom him to start down the road.

H. Johnson fell in the draft, but Russ Grimm will have fun molding this mountain. Davis could be a real steal, and end up bookending C. Brown at OLB one day.

Choosing Stephens-Howling confused me. There were better, and faster, guys on the board. We’ll see.

Canfield has a legitimate shot at adding depth. Many had him pegged as an mid-round type.

Arizona drafted at every area of need, except TE. I think that was a mistake, and it will be interesting to see what they saw in Stephens-Howling.

GRADE : A-

SAINT LOUIS RAMS

The Rams have to very happy these days. They started out their solid draft by grabbing J. Smith. He is a little raw, but he has the desire to get coached up to be special. Cowan, Slater, Pace, and now Smith adds to the legacy hopefully.

Laurinaitis was a great pick. The Rams desperately needed a MLB, and they got themselves a winner.

Fletcher has the talent to start day one, but he needs some technical work too.

Scott could end up being a steal. He has underachieved thus far, but he could open things up for an up and coming DL IF he realizes his potential.

Foster is a very good athlete, and could add quality depth. Null is a project with good size and arm strength.

Ogbannaya is a great pass receiver, so it will be interesting to see how he is used. After the draft, the Rams then signed the promising Guard Roger Allen, along with 2 DE’s that could add depth.

The only real reach was Null, but they can afford to take their time with him since Bulger is signed for a few more years.

GRADE : A+

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

The Niners started out their draft by getting a gift. Crabtree gets to learn from Bruce, and is going to start right away.

Coffee will try to add depth behind Gore’s balky knees. McKillop is a guy Singletary will love. He is very smart, and has the ability to start one day as a two-down ILB.

Davis has the talent to win the starting QB job. He has very good tools, and the desire to prove his dyslexia will not prevent him from being special.

Pascoe will add depth at TE. Taylor needs work, because he is so raw, but he will help on special teams until then.

Jean-Francois is a guy who fell far in the draft because of character and consistency issues. If the light switch turns on, he could really help big.

After the draft, the Niners also grabbed 2 DE’s and a OT who could make the team. The Niners hit every area of need, and must be pleased with their draft.

GRADE : A

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seattle had a mostly solid draft. Getting Curry was a no-brainer. His addition now may give Seattle the best LB trio in the NFL.

Unger was a great pick. His versatility is important, now that teams activate 7-8 blockers a game.

Butler gives them a guy who can go deep, something they really needed bad.

Teel is a big reach. He has a lot of experience, but has a lot to work on. He also does not have a gun.

Greene is a guy whose draft stock dropped after a poor senior year. If he plays like before then, the Seahawks have their future starting SS.

Reed is going to play SLB, but will have to learn the transition from DE. Morrah could be a steal. He is a receiving TE, with good speed and athleticism.

Seattle recently signed RB Devin Moore. He is blazing fast, and should return kicks. They also signed ultra smart LB Dave Philistin, who will add quality depth.

It remains to be seen if Teel ever does much, but the rest of the draft was very good. My only surprise is they didn’t draft a RB, and are set to go with the underwhelming bunch they have now.

GRADE : B+

NEW YORK GIANTS

It isn’t easy drafting quality players when you are always one of the last teams in each round, but Jerry Reese keeps finding a way.

Nicks is a player with nice hands, and a flair for the circus catch. He might start right away, because he has the talent to.

Sintim was a wonderful pick, and the Jints have now gotten two young OLB’s to groom in the last two years.

Beatty is a great athlete, but he isn’t going to be needed any time soon. He will slowly be groomed, and this was a steal for them.

All Barden seems to do is catch touchdowns. He should soon assume the role of red zone threat.

Beckum was a great pick. He is a pass catching TE, and gives the Giants another weapon in their arsenal.

Brown was a good value pick, in case one of their top three RB’s isn’t able to do the job. He has the ability to beat out Ware too, if he stays healthy.

Bomar might supplant Andre Woodson as the young QB they want to groom. Wright and Stoney Woodson were picked up to help on special teams, but Wright has the ability to do more down the road. The G-Men have to be pleased. They get the OT to groom, a TE who can get deep, another needed OLB, and two big WR’s. Getting a good RB was icing on the tasty cake they baked.

GRADE : A +

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles have had a roller coaster off season. It isn’t easy saying good bye to guys who gave so much, and is hardly ever popular. Especially two veterans like Dawkins and Thomas. Getting Peters was a great move, so they went into the draft looking to fill more holes. I think Maclin could be a real steal, and is my early pick as R.O.Y. He is even better at WR and PR than Jackson, and that is saying a lot. McCoy was an absolute need pick. They need someone, anyone, to give depth. McCoy also fits their system nicely. Ingram is a horrible blocking TE, and coming off knee surgery. BUT, he is an excellent receiver when healthy. If he is at full speed, he will make that offense even more dangerous. Harris is a confident player, but is not blessed with great speed. He should help in the dime package. Tupou is a guy a team would like to have. He is nasty and strong. He has the ability to start very soon at RG. Gibson is a hard working guy, and has a shot at sticking. Fanaika is another of many young blockers the Eagles have drafted the last two years to stash and develop. Fokou will help immensely on special teams, and maybe more in a few years. The Eagles were moments away from a Super Bowl last year, and McNabb asked for more weapons. He got three right off the bat. I would have liked to see Philly get more DL help, especially inside. But they chose to keep stocking the OL, so you can’t be too upset. A VERY solid draft, and maybe enough to get Donovan his ring.

GRADE : A +

DALLAS COWBOYS

Williams was used as a pass rushing defensive end in college, but rumor is that the Cowboys will try him out as an inside linebacker. He will have time to learn behind the veteran starters, and help on special teams. A good draft choice. Brewster is very experienced and versatile, but needs to hit the weight room and get stronger. A solid prospect. McGee had a very erratic and injury filled collegiate career, but he blew away scouts at both the East-West Shrine Game and his pro day. He has good size at 6’3″ 225, and is a good athlete. He needs major work in all areas of his game, but there is no rush. A solid pickup. Butler has stiff hips and questionable awareness. He needs a lot of work, but might make the team as a special teams performer. Williams is virtually a slower clone of Butler, but with a bigger upside. He is also strictly a pass rusher and special teams player right now. Many felt Smith was the highest rated defensive back of the talented trio of Bearcats in this draft. He can play cornerback, best fitting in a zone scheme, but his best position may be safety. He is very good at supporting the run. An excellent pick. Which safety spot Hamlin will play is the quandary. He is very smart, and a team leader. He also has been very injury prone in college, and is not a great athlete. He has intangibles and desire, so he could prove to be valuable as more than just a special teams player. Buehler was a good pick. Dallas doesn’t need him to score points, because Nick Folk was nearly perfect last year. He is athletic and huge, at 6’2″ 225, and will be a kickoff specialist. Possibly more, there are rumors he will get looked at in other positions. Hodge is a fantastic special teams player, and this is how he will make the team. Phillips is not much of a receiving threat, and an average blocker. He was also injury prone throughout college. We will see what they saw in him. Mickens went up and down draft boards last month. Mickens was a four year starter in college, and was very productive, having led the NCAA’s in interceptions last year. A possible steal. Johnson runs good routes, and has above average hands. He has shown the toughness to go after the ball in crowds, but has an elbow injury worth watching. He has the ability to replace Hurd or Austin, but it is doubtful he’ll ever be starting material. The Cowboys also recently signed a WR, Ogletree, who might be better than Johnson. They also smartly signed Greg Isdaner, a guard who could end up starting one day. One can criticize Jerry Jones in many areas, but the draft is not one of them. He has always overseen solid drafts. The man makes sure the homework is done. Most pundits were not enthralled by the talent in this draft, and the Cowboys seemed to be part of that group. The most interesting part may be witnessing how many of these picks even make an already very good team.

GRADE : B –

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The Redskins headed into the 2009 NFL Draft with little to work with, thanks to their incompetent player personnel director Vinny Cerrato. Cerrato proved again why he is the worst at what he does in the 2009 NFL Draft. He chose to ignore the team’s needs, as well as better players, while choosing projects. It makes one wonder if he drafts by throwing darts at names, or draws the names out of a hat blindfolded. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. In spite of the incompetent Vinny Cerrato, the Skins lucked out and wisely grabbed Orakpo. He should have fun lining up next to Haynesworth, and open things up for Andre Carter. Barnes can play any scheme, and really hits hard. He needs to hit the weight room to stay healthy, but he adds much needed depth. Glenn was A WEIRD PICK. A former RB with good speed, but is very raw. He has character issues, and his toughness is in question. Doubtful he would have been drafted, but Washington has the incompetent Vinny Cerrato making these picks. Glenn is a special teamer, unless he somehow develops into more. Henson is a small linebacker at 6′ 228, and is fast. He might get a look at safety, but will certainly try to help on special teams. Williams projects as an H-Back/ FB type. Hard worker, but in a crowded position. Mitchell is tall and a good leaper. He has an intriguing set of skills. Might be a guy worth developing. Getting Orakpo might be best defined as, “Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while”. That blind furry rat is Cerrato. Barnes was actually one of the few picks, besides Orakpo, to like. I have seen this kid grow as a Terp. He really brings it as a hitter, and he is very good in any coverage scheme. Maryland has been producing many good DB’s for the NFL lately, and Barnes should continue that tradition if he stays healthy.
The Glenn pick is bothersome. Yes, the Redskins desperately need linebackers, but Glenn? He isn’t really one yet. He is an athlete with character issues. Will Davis, a pass rusher from Illinois, somehow had fallen on the board and has a much bigger upside.
Henson is too small to be an NFL linebacker. I assume they drafted him for special teams, but sitting right on the board was a much better special teams player just a few miles away from Fed Ex Field. Moise Fokou, of Maryland, is a special teams star and has a chance to play linebacker in the pros. Now Fokou is an Eagle, thanks to Cerrato passing on him. Davis, now a Cardinal, was also still available. The Williams pick was not another wasted pick on a tight end, like Cerrato did last year on Fred Davis of USC. Though it is highly doubtful Williams makes the team, he is built for the West Coast offensive system the Redskins employ. I suspect he was picked to get a look to see if he can replace Mike Sellers one day. Mitchell has a real shot, in my opinion, of making the squad. Malcolm Kelly, another of Cerrato’s wasted draft picks last year, is slower than an iceberg and produced nothing in 2008. Mitchell is very raw, but has excellent skills. All it takes is his being coached up to reach his potential.The Redskins draft will have Orakpo’s face on it. Behind the P.R. gloss, you see missing draft picks that the Miami Dolphins used by bamboozling Cerrato for high draft pick in exchange for a washed up, Hollywood bound, and departed Jason Taylor. Using the few picks they had on projects is unacceptable for team that missed the playoffs. Especially after witnessing all their division rivals upgrade significantly. The only reason they do not get a failing grade is because of the Orakpo and Barnes picks.

GRADE : C –

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

When you have only four picks to use, you better do well. Getting Jenkinswas the right move. Whether they line him up at FS or CB, he helps a secondary in big need of an upgrade. Vaughn is a guy who will need to be groomed, but he has a chance to start down the road. Arnoux will try to add MLB depth, and help on special teams. Morstead was a great pick, even if rookie punters are hard to predict. The Saints recently signed Parrish of Kent State, and he is a lineman worth developing. They also grabbed OLB Casillas of Wisconsin, and hope he can help. It is hard to grade a draft that has one first round pick, two fourth rounders, and a fifth. They did well with the little ammunition they had.

GRADE : C

TAMPA BAY

Getting Josh Freeman wasn’t too confusing. A QB HAS to go now. But who? They aren’t going to keep Griese for long, or it may be time to trade McCown instead. Josh Johnson is a prospect I REALLY like, but the Bucs new head coach knows Freeman really well from their time in college together. Leftwich is expected to start the next year or two as the kid learns, but maybe McCown wins the job?. They smartly added depth to their D-line. Miller and Moore are two guys who are best at stopping the run, and they should help the rotation. Fulton adds depth, but he will need time to mature and get stronger. Biggers is a reach, but he is a big CB, Stroughter might be a steal. He is an electric return specialist, and he could help as a WR down the road. The Bucs seem OK with their OLB’S, but I think it was a mistake not thinking about the position in the draft at all. CB was another area they needed to bolster. Macho Harris was sitting right there, and is perfect for their cover two scheme, but they went with Fulton.

GRADE : C

ATLANTA FALCONS

Having reached the playoffs unexpectedly, the Falcons are trying to keep the ball rolling. Getting a Hall Of Fame TE was just a start. They then finally focused on defense. Jerry is already the best DT they have, and they better hope his back holds up. If so, he opens things up for their excellent DE’s. Moorecould be a real steal. They could move him to WLB if DeCloud holds onto the SS spot. Owens and Middleton will try to add depth to a young group of CB’s. Sidbury was a need pick, and he might really help at SLB. Adkins is a special teamer, but he also adds depth to a dreadfully thin LB corp. Walker does the same for an equally thin group of DT’s. The pick I liked best on the second day was Reynolds. The Falcons are really thin at OT depth, and especially at Guard. He has the ability to fill both needs. They also just signed Arkansas OT Jose Valdez, a mauler, to try to get more depth. Atlanta got the best defenders they had on their board. I think they should go into the next draft and continue upgrading the trenches, but it is hard to hit every area when you are rebuilding and winning at the same time.

GRADE : A

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina has been really aggressive since draft day. They traded up to get their pass rusher, Brown, to learn from Peppers before Julius departs.

Martin was a need pick, after losing Lucas, and he has the ability to start one day. Irvin is a guy who is best at stopping the run, and the Panthers need DT’s in the worst way.

Goodson will allow Stewart to get off KR duty, and provides good depth. Fiammetta was grossly underutilized in college, but the kid can do all the little things well. Don’t be surprised if he beats out Hoover soon.

Robinson is a steal, and he could line up next to Otah to give Carolina two huge mashers on the right side.

Munnerlyn should have stayed in college another year, but he might help on special teams.

Carolina then went out right away and signed 20 undrafted players. Cantwell is a strong armed QB worth sticking on the developmental squad and seeing where he goes.

Cadogan had first day talent, but has yet to use it. If the light turns on, he will help.

Marlon Favorite, of LSU, is a squatty DT who is very strong. He is purely a run stopper, but he has a shot of joining their DT rotation.

The guy to watch, in camp, is Jamall Lee of Bishop’s University. At 6′ 225, the kid runs a 4.5 forty. He might have a shot.

You cannot be upset if you are a Panther fan. They aggressively got the best pass rusher in the draft, at the expense of next year. That tells the roster you want to win NOW. Always a good message for a veteran team.

GRADE: A

 

The Raiders’ 2006 Draft—Good Quality

It’s time to grade the Raiders on their 2006 draft. For grading criteria, if the player made it to the Pro Bowl, he gets an A. If he has started at least 22 games (1.5 seasons) he gets a B. C’s are still on the team. D’s are still in the NFL. F’s are no longer in the NFL. Plus and minuses are subjective.

Round One, Pick Seven: Michael Huff, S, Texas

39 starts, 191 tackles, one sack, one safety, one interception, 17 passes defensed. Huff is more of a tweener safety at this point. But since all teams do against the Raiders is run, I’m not going to put a minus on him.

Grade: B-

Round Two, Pick 38: Thomas Howard, OLB, Texas El-Paso

47 starts, 302 tackles, two sacks, 17 passes defensed, seven interceptions, and two TDs! I really had a hard time not giving him a bump up one more grade.

Grade: B+

Round Three, Pick 69: Paul McQuistan, G, Weber State

Appeared in 31 games in his first two seasons, starting 12. His third season he played in the first game, suffered an injury and was placed on injured reserve. The jury is still out on this pick. I am going use a plus for a future upside, and red mullet.

Grade: C+

Round Four, Pick 101: Darnell Bing, S/LB, USC

Played S in college, projected as a LB in the pros. He didn’t make it into a game his rookie year due to a neck injury. In 2007 he was on the 49ers practice squad. 2008 he started on the Lions practice squad, and was promoted to the active roster in week 12, appearing in one game and making one tackle. 

Grade: C

Round Six, Pick 176: Kevin Booth, G, Cornell

Cut by the Raiders after a rookie campaign that included 14 starts. He signed with the Giants and got into only one game in 2007. In 2008 he played in all 16 games.

Grade: C+

Round Seven, Pick 214: Chris Morris, C, Michigan State

Has played in 31 games for the Raiders, starting his first game during the 2008 season. Giving a plus just for the Raiders keeping him.

Grade: C+

Round Seven, Pick 255: Kevin McMahan, WR, Maine

Has never played in an NFL game. He has made, and been cut from teams three teams—NYG (Oct ’07) and KC (Oct. ’07, Aug. ’08).

Grade: F+

 

So adding up all of the grade points, just like you would in college (grade times credits). And we’ll pretend that the first round is a 7 credit class, the second round is six and so forth.The Raiders have 26 credits, with 70.4 grade points. That gives a GPA of  2.70.

This would be a good draft for the Raiders if they could keep every one on their team. Two starters, two sixth men (lineman that are versatile and can fill many positions in rotation or injury), and a special teamer.

This draft may not have graded so well if not for the two previous wretched drafts—two starters and and two roster place holders out of 12 picks. Whereas in this draft there is only one pick not in the NFL.

Top 10 Sports Personalities in Washington D.C.

George Michael: Before Sportscenter became a household word, and we all tuned it at 11 PM to catch the daily highlights there was The George Michael Sports Machine. The show first aired locally here in Washington D.C. in 1980, and then went national in 1984. George Michael was also the voice for the NBC affiliate in Washington D.C. he had the ear of Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and he always got the inside scoop at Redskins park.

Andy Pollin: Andy Pollin began his career out west in Texas, before moving to New York City where he was one of the original broadcasters at WFAN. In the early 1990’s Pollin returned to his home town in Maryland and helped establish what now ESPN980 is; the first 24/hour sports station in Washington D.C. In many ways Pollin has been a staple of the Washington sports scene. His recently published book with fellow Washingtonian Leonard Shapiro showed Pollin’s knowledge and understanding of D.C. sports history. For any D.C. sports fan there is no better way to spend the evening drive home than listening to Andy Pollin on his daily radio broadcast The Sports Reporters.

 

John Thompson: Better known as coach, Big John has made the transition from stalking the sidelines at Georgetown to sitting in a chair behind the microphone, and radio listeners in Washington D.C. cannot be happier. John Thompson brings the same straight shooting style that made him a standout coach to his interviews and athletes and writers alike can all appreciate his talents. Big John has not been afraid to remind listeners to what it was like back in the when he was growing up in the area as well as when he first came to Georgetown. Without a doubt his biggest accomplishment in the booth has been keeping it real.

 

Richard ‘Doc’ Walker: Doc Walker first burst onto the Washington D.C. sports scene after being traded to the Washington Redskins. He would go on to be a founding member of the Redskins Fun Bunch. After stepping off the gridiron Doc picked up a microphone and become of the best game broadcasters in the area. His weekly work covering college football has made him a staple in any ACC fans weekly diet. In addition to being a color commentator Doc Walker also host his own radio shows as well as working as a sideline reporter for the Redskins. While all of those accomplishments are good, Docs biggest addition to the D.C. sports scene has been the nicknames. Mongoose Marcus Washington, Sean the Tarantula Taylor, Mike Caveman Sellers. All of these have become staples in the Metropolitan region.

Brian Mitchell: B Mitch, has been described as a hard ass, and that description would be 100 percent accurate. After retiring, Brian Mitchell came to the airwaves in 2006 and D.C. radio has not been the same since. Brian Mitchell was known for bringing intensity and trash talking to the field as a player and he has brought the exact same mindset to the radio booth. B’Mitch has been known to threaten local athletes and challenge them both on the field and sometimes in the back alley. However, despite the hard exterior, this writer can personally attest to the good side of Brian Mitchell, who took time out of his busy schedule to help a struggling rugby player practice his kick and punt returns.

 

Al Koken: Despite growing up in St. Louis Missouri, Al Koken has become a popular figure in Washington Sports. In the last two decades Koken has worked doing game commentary for the Orioles, Wizards, the CAA conference and most notably the Washington Capitals. In addition to his in game work, you can also catch Al Koken as a co-host on the John Thompson show.

 

Steve Buckhantz: Buck as they like to call him has been a staple in the Washington D.C. sports scene for nearly 25 years. He made his mark during a 14 year stint as the sports director and lead sports anchor for Fox 5 news. Buckhantz now spends his days doing play-by-play for the Washington Wizards. Without a doubt Buckhantz’s biggest contribution to sports have been the catch phrase “dagger” that can be heard on any Wizards highlight clip. Note: also be aware of premature “dagerlation” at the end of a game.

 

Mike Wilbon: Mike Wilbon has been with the Washington Post since 1980, and no one can deny the impact he has had both locally and nationally. The majority of people know Wilbon for his role on PTI, ESPN’s highest rated show. In reality PTI is the product of a near 30 year friendship between Wilbon and TK. In addition to being a feature columnist, radio guest, Wilbon has become one of ESPN’s top basketball analysts. Many a writer including Mike Wise has attributed Mike Wilbon’s work ethic and mentoring to their success.

 

Mike Wise: Michael Wise is the newest guy on this list, having only resided in Washington D.C. since 2004. This is after his time working in New York City. However, despite only being in D.C. for a little under five years, Mike Wise has made his impact known. He has become one of the elite columnists for the Washington Post, with Mike Wilbon focusing more of his attention toward his ESPN commitments. There is no one who has his thumb on the pulse of Wizards basketball like Mike Wise. Bringing plenty of is California laid by cool to the busy district Wise provides a unique voice that is very refreshing for the region. Also Michael Wise is an avid animal lover, having saved his dog from a freezing river last winter. How can you not like this guy?

 

Sally Jenkins: She may be the only female on this list, but don’t let that fool you. Sally Jenkins is better qualified to talk sports than anyone writing or reading this blog. The former head writer for Sports Illustrated is now an award winning feature columnist for the Washington Post. I’m not sure what it is, perhaps because she is a woman she has a different perspective, but Jenkins brings a new light and a refreshing look to the stories she writes about. And the Washington D.C. area is far better for having her.

 

Just Saying, Is All… | The Right Sentence for Donte’ Stallworth

Conscience never needs an accomplice.

Donte’ Stallworth is a free man. He’s also a bound prisoner. Although his arraignment on DUI manslaughter charges was postponed last week, the Browns receiver is still preparing for an uphill legal battle—which is itself only the opening salvo in a war he’s fated to lose.

Retribution means paying for your sins.

Remorse, on the other hand, means accounting for the debt.

This isn’t a plea for clemency. Stallworth killed a man, and he deserves whatever destiny due process assigns to him. But let’s not confuse social and personal sanction. In a justice system built on Western values, there’s no executioner more merciless than a mind forced to contemplate its own guilt.

Intent is the essence of crime.

Memory is the substance of punishment.

When he’s done serving time in the public spotlight, Stallworth will still be exposed to the eyes in the mirror.

Professional athletes live in a parallel universe. Fame, fortune, freaky-fast cars—it’s an intoxicating mix, an implicit grant of license. The catch, of course, is that a world without consequences is an awfully lonely place. Moralists will argue that Stallworth should suffer for his misdeeds. I’d counter that the evidence on file makes anguish a foregone conclusion.

Penance is hard.

Impunity is harder.

Stallworth may escape the arm of the law, but he’ll never outrun the cops in his head.

Some convictions can’t be overturned. To stop a heart is to face the void; to face the void is to surrender all liberty. The right sentence for Donte’ Stallworth is the one he’s living with, and the one he’ll continue to live with for as long as he has life to give. If Stallworth is meaningfully human, his case is already closed. If he isn’t, no court on Earth could ever possibly make his burden any more onerous.

Critics claim that sports stars believe themselves to be above the law, but any Dostoyevsky fan knows how that story ends:

And if only fate would have sent him repentance—burning repentance that would have torn his heart and robbed him of sleep, that repentance, the awful agony of which brings visions of hanging or drowning! Oh, he would have been glad of it! Tears and agonies would at least have been life. But he did not repent of his crime.

Which if nothing else suggests that official opprobrium is utterly beside the point.

Because a mens rea is always its own worst enemy, and every external verdict under heaven only amounts to some judge’s toothless just saying, is all…

Top 100 Impact NFL Rookies for the 2009-10 Season

Sadly for NFL fans, the draft does not even signify the midway point between the Super Bowl and the start of the next regular season.

For two days packed with incessant speculation and unmatched optimism, every football fan gets a fix. And for fans of every team, hope springs that maybe these few new players can make the difference. Then, we wait for four months until kickoffs count.

At WhatIfSports.com, it’s a little different. Draft day signifies the beginning of one of our busiest times of the year as we work on our comprehensive, full-season preview. For the preview, we project stats for every single player and team in the league by simulating each game on the schedule 10,000 times.

Coming up with statistical inputs is relatively easy for veteran players, as most tend to play to a predictable performance trend as they age and take on different roles.

Rookies present the biggest challenge. To come up with statistical inputs for rookies, we run a very complex set of algorithms that factors collegiate performance, role in college, strength of collegiate competition, “measurables,” likely NFL role, previous performance of a similar player in that NFL role for this coaching staff, and trends of similar rookies in the past.

This gives us the player’s projected ratio stats (expected yards per carry, completion percentage, etc.), as well as his forecasted usage for the upcoming season. From there, we can compare all rookies based on who we think will make the biggest positive impact for his new NFL team in his first year. The Top 100 from this ranking are listed below.

We have done pretty well with this approach leading into the 2008 season. Last season’s ranking is located here.

As you can see, not only did this methodology correctly rank first round draft choices like Jonathan Stewart, Jerod Mayo, Jake Long, and Sedrick Ellis among the top 10, it helped to point out some steals like Steve Slaton, Charles Godfrey, Matt Forte, Trevor Scott, Jamaal Charles, and Cliff Avril.

Clearly, it is easier for some players at some positions to come in and make a positive impact in the first year. Typically, these positions include wide receiver and inside linebacker, where the stats rack up with playing time.

For 2009, we are ranking 12 wide receivers among the Top 100 impact rookies. Four of them are in the top 10. Six of the eight inside linebackers drafted also appear on this list.

Based on these rankings, with six Top 100 rookies each, Detroit and Buffalo will get the most positive impact from their rookies in 2009. With just one player each in our Top 100 —both first round quarterbacks—Tampa Bay and the New York Jets have the draft classes with the least depth.

Without further ado, Nos. 100 to 11 are:

100. William Moore, S, Atlanta
99. Andre Brown, RB, New York Giants
98. Jaimie Thomas, OL, Indianapolis
97. Terrance Taylor, DT, Indianapolis
96. Nic Harris, LB/S, Pittsburgh
95. David Johnson, TE, Houston
94. D.J. Moore, CB, Chicago
93. Patrick Chung, S, New England
92. David Veikune, DE, Cleveland
91. Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Tennessee
90. Derrick Williams, WR, Detroit
89. Zack Follett, LB, Detroit
88. Victor Harris, CB, Philadelphia
87. Shawn Nelson, TE, Buffalo
86. Lardarius Webb, CB, Baltimore
85. Chris Owens, CB, Atlanta
84. Jared Cook, TE, Tennessee
83. Seth Olsen, OL, Denver
82. Louis Murphy, WR, Oakland
81. Cornelius Ingram, TE, Philadelphia
80. Stanley Arnoux, LB, New Orleans
79. Pat White, WR/QB, Miami
78. Courtney Greene, S, Seattle
77. Travis Beckum, TE, New York Giants
76. Duke Robinson, OL, Carolina
75. Myron Pryor, DT, New England
74. Mike Mickens, CB, Dallas
73. Aaron Maybin, DE, Buffalo
72. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay
71. Herman Johnson, OL, Arizona
70. Jarett Dillard, WR, Jacksonville
69. Clint Sintim, LB, New York Giants
68. Louis Vasquez, OL, San Diego
67. Andrew Levitre, OL, Buffalo
66. Robert Ayers, DE, Denver
65. Fili Moala, DT, Indianapolis
64. Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Chicago
63. Michael Oher, OL, Baltimore
62. Scott McKillop, LB, San Francisco
61. Robert Henson, LB, Washington
60. Stryker Sulak, DE, Oakland
59. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay
58. Vontae Davis, CB, Miami
57. Max Unger, OL, Seattle
56. Paul Kruger, LB, Baltimore
55. Victor Butler, LB, Dallas
54. James Casey, TE, Houston
53. Michael Mitchell, S, Oakland
52. DeAngelo Smith, CB/S, Dallas
51. Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City (Mr. Irrelevant makes the cut!)
50. Darius Butler, CB, New England
49. Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati
48. Sherrod Martin, CB, Carolina
47. Kraig Urbik, OL, Pittsburgh
46. Antoine Caldwell, OL, Houston
45. Brian Robiskie, WR, Cleveland
44. Alex Mack, OL, Cleveland
43. Evander Hood, DT, Pittsburgh
42. Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Atlanta
41. Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis
40. Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati
39. DeAndre Levy, LB, Detroit
38. Everette Brown, DE, Carolina
37. Jonathan Luigs, C, Cincinnati
36. Sean Smith, CB, Miami
35. Jairus Byrd, CB, Buffalo
34. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, New Orleans
33. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit
32. Tyson Jackson, DE, Kansas City
31. Phil Loadholt, OL, Minnesota
30. Jason Phillips, LB, Baltimore
29. Eben Britton, OL, Jacksonville
28. Rashad Johnson, S, Arizona
27. Eric Wood, OL, Buffalo
26. Eugene Monroe, OL, Jacksonville
25. Larry English, DE/LB, San Diego
24. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia
23. Jarron Gilbert, DT, Chicago
22. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia
21. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland
20. Connor Barwin, DE, Houston
19. Chris Wells, RB, Arizona
18. Brian Cushing, LB, Houston
17. Rey Maualuga, LB, Cincinnati
16. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver
15. James Laurinaitis, LB, St. Louis
14. B.J. Raji, DT, Green Bay
13. Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington
12. Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis
11. Alphonso Smith, CB, Denver

And now the top 10:

10. Louis Delmas, S, Detroit

The likely starter over last year’s free safety, Kalvin Pearson, former Western Michigan standout Louis Delmas should be an instant impact player on a team starving for help in the defensive backfield.

The Lions only intercepted four passes all of last season. Delmas matched that total in his sophomore and senior seasons while racking up the tackles for the Broncos. He is a great fit alongside young, hard-hitting strong safety Daniel Bullocks.

 

9. Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants

With Plaxico Burress’ sudden release and the team’s unwillingness to bring back Amani Toomer, Eli Manning needs some help. Nicks, the 6’1″, 215-pound receiver out of North Carolina, is somewhere in between those previously mentioned receivers.

He has great hands like Toomer and projects to a higher yards-per-catch than the retiree, yet lacks Burress’ elite size and red zone prowess.

By the end of the year, expect Nicks to ultimately win the competition with Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith to be Manning’s new favorite target in the passing game.

 

8. Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee

Tennessee is another team in desperate need of a go-to wide receiver. The Titans have not had a wideout eclipse 750 yards since Derrick Mason in 2004. In 2008, Justin Gage led the way with 651 yards on just 34 catches.

Britt, who has prototypical size and athleticism for the position, should be the long-term answer for the Titans.

With an excellent running game and a veteran quarterback, he has a good chance of breaking out this season. In the latter weeks and in the playoffs, look for Britt to become an intimidating weapon for Kerry Collins.

 

7. Andre Smith, OL, Cincinnati

Andre Smith is listed here for the same reason he was drafted so early by the Bengals—for what he did on the field. The beauty of this analysis is that it is not biased (and does not know what the guy looks like without his shirt on).

If a player has “issues,” we work those into his playing time projection, but we don’t let that impact how he is projected to play when he does.

Smith is a dominant run blocker who warranted Heisman conversation last season and is much closer to being No. 1 on this list than he is to being a bust.

 

6. Jason Smith, OL, St. Louis

Jason Smith gets the nod over Andre Smith because he is the better pass blocker. And while Andre’s pass blocking ability is closer to Jason’s than Jason’s run blocking is to Andre’s, protecting the quarterback is crucial in the NFL.

All signs seem to indicate that Jason Smith is incredibly talented and yet is still improving. That should pay off for the Rams this season for many years to come.

 

5. Aaron Curry, LB, Seattle

Curry is a versatile linebacker who is ready to step in as a starter for the Seahawks in week one. The Wake Forest product has averaged 94 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions per season as a three-year starter in the ACC, making him as ready-made for the NFL as defensive prospects come.

Furthermore, while some ultra-productive college defensive players have extreme red flags in their “measurables” that correctly point to deficiencies in their games, Curry possesses great size, speed, and strength for the position.

 

4. Percy Harvin, WR/RB, Minnesota

Everyone who has seen Harvin run raves about how quickly he can get to full speed and how fast he is with the football. For as impressive as he is to watch, Harvin’s numbers are better. Playing against the country’s best competition in the SEC, he was always the most dynamic player on the field.

Per touch, he has more talent and can bring more to an NFL team than any other rookie. Our projection assumes Harvin is used in a way similar to Reggie Bush (or at least how Bush may be used in a backfield with Adrian Peterson), with 76 rushes, 50 receptions, and some return duty.

 

3. Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets

Mark Sanchez is better than Matthew Stafford. Sanchez projects to complete 60 percent of his passes and throw an interception per 36 attempts for a typical NFL team. In the same vacuum, Stafford completes 54 percent of his passes and throws an interception every 29 passes.

Stafford is ranked higher because of two things: 1) The Lions will throw the ball more and 2) Calvin Johnson. Sanchez should be solid this season and for several years. Neither of these quarterbacks appears to be a consistent Pro Bowler (New York bias aside), yet Sanchez’s bust potential is much lower than Stafford’s.

 

2. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit

2009 should be significantly better for Detroit with Stafford at the helm than it was in 2008. That being said, there will be a learning curve, and Stafford will probably never be great.

The rankings of the quarterbacks on this list have more to do with the opportunities to impact the team positively than with talent. We project Sanchez to attempt 97 percent of the Jets’ passes and Stafford to attempt 91 percent of the Lions’.

On total number of plays and touches alone, they would probably both be at the top of the “greatest overall negative impact” list as well.

 

1. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco

Unlike last season, when three players eclipsed the mark, there are no 1,000-yard rushers or receivers projected from this group of rookies. Crabtree is the closest thing, and it really would not be a surprise to see him do it.

He gets great marks across the board from college performance, to NFL opportunity, to “measurables,” and even a successful player (Isaac Bruce) in this role last season.

The only concerns with this projection would be inconsistency at quarterback—Shaun Hill, Damon Huard, Alex Smith, and Nate Davis are the options—and recent injuries to his feet and ankles.

Detroit Lions: 2006 What Could Have Been

It takes thee to four years to truly evaluate a draft class. The 2006 draft class has three full NFL seasons under their belt. As draft grades are being tossed around, I think its time to look back at the ’06 draft and see where the Lions could have taken a different (better) direction.

Round One, Ninth Pick: Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State

Sims has compiled 371 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four passes defended, and one interception. Those are decent numbers. I would like to see some forced fumbles, but he’s been solid.

My grade on the Sims pick: B+

Notable Players Available at No. 9 Overall

QB Jay Cutler, DT Haloti Ngata, and DE/LB Kamerion Wimbley. If the Lions could have a do over, I think they would have taken Cutler over Sims., Sims has been a solid, but not a game changing LB. Cutler would have provided the franchise the QB they’ve been searching for.

Round Two, 40th Pick: Daniel Bullocks, DB, Nebraska

Bullocks missed the 2007 due to injury. In two seasons he’s compiled, 168 tackles, five passes defended, and 0 interceptions. Bullocks has been a back up. While he’s not a horrible player, he has not lived up his second round draft status.

My grade: D

Notable Players Available at No. 40 Overall

DB Danieal Manning, OG Deuce Lutui, DB Roman Harper, DB Cedric Griffin, DB Devin Hester, and RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Clearly the Lions struck out with their pick. Any of the mentioned players would have been a better pick. My pick would be Harper or Griffin, but an argument could be made for any of them.

Round Three, 74th pick: Brian Calhoun, RB, Wisconsin

Calhoun missed the 2008 season. He has not done much, this, in my opinion is another poor pick.

My grade: D

Notable Players Available at No. 74 Overall

RB Jerious Norwood and OG Jason Spitz. Either of these players would have been upgrades for the Lions. I would have picked Spitz, to help solidify the offensive line.

Round Four: The Lions Did Not Have a Fourth Round Pick

Round Five, 141st Pick: Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas

Scott plays for the Buffalo Bills now, and has played in 20 games over three years, with six starts. This isn’t a horrible pick, the later rounds are more of a crap shoot anyway. Scott has been a backup. Adding depth should be the primary goal of rounds 5-7 anyways.

My grade: C+

Notable Players Available at No. 141 Overall

LB Brandon Johnson, DB Dawan Landry, DE Mark Anderson. There are others, Landry seems like the best of the bunch in my opinion.

Round Six, 179th pick: Alton McCann, DB, West Virginia

To my knowledge, McCann has not played an NFL game.

My grade: D

Notable Players Available at No. 179 Overall

DT Johnny Jolly, OT Jeromey Clary, and OT Charlie Johnson.

Round Seven, 217th pick: Fred Matua, OG, USC.

Round Seven, 247th pick: Anthony Cannon, LB, Tulane.

Matua has gone to a couple of different teams, but has yet to play a game in the NFL. Cannon has not made it in the NFL.

My grade: D

I grade similar to a college grading scale (A =  4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0) and give rounds descending values (first = five credits, second = four credits, third = three credits, fourth = two credits, fifth-seventh = one credit).

Based on this scale, the Lions would recieve a C- from me for their 2006 NFL draft.

Hopefully the 2009 class grades out better.

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