Was the Darrius Heyward-Bey a Good Risk to Take?

Many people are down on the Raiders draft. There is a good reason for this, as it appears most picks were reaches, and in most cases the the Raiders could have traded down and drafted the same player, or gotten that player is a different round.

The madness of Raider fans starts with Darrius Heyward-Bey. While I agree that they could have gotten him 15-20 picks later, this wasn’t totally a bad choice.

Most GMs believed that outside of the top four our five picks, the next 30 were pretty equal. So many teams were only willing to trade up if they were afraid the person that fit the need would be gone when they got to draft.

The Raiders chances of trading down were greatly impaired with Sanchez being picked at five. The only person that was worth trading up for was Monroe. The teams that needed a left tackle had either already picked, or were going DE in round one-Buffalo- due to the depth in this class.

Other than Jacksonville, which picked Monroe, the next team that would have been looking at tackle, was Detroit at 20. I don’t see them giving up the 33rd pick to get Monroe. So Jacksonville didn’t have to get in the bidding battle, because there wasn’t any competition. And now the Raiders are stuck at 7.

That being said, DHB was rated as the third best WR in this draft on most boards. But look at the offense that is going to be run in Oakland. It reminds me of Baltimore’s Superbowl offense. Run, Run, and Run. And when the defenses start stacking the box, throw it deep for the big play.

While Maclin is fast, DHB is faster, not to mention taller. DHB also played in a pro style offense at Maryland. Maclin played in the spread which is all about get the ball to fast player in space. DHB is a fit for classic Al Davis offense. The major reason for Cable keeping the job was the belief in this system.

There are two major reasons why players are either busts or slow starters- They are either rushed into playing too early, or poor fit in scheme or position. In the Davis system a premium is put on the ability to stretch the field.

Crabtree really doesn’t fit here. Although he has the potential to be a great receiver, he doesn’t have the game breaking speed that the Davis system requires. If Davis was looking for that type of player, he probably would have given up his 1 to get Bolden.

Maclin would have been a fit, as he does have enough speed to stretch the field. I believe Maclin is a Bernard Berrian/Donnie Avery clone. Its all about speed. I don’t see a whole lot of upside.

If you are looking for something more, than you have to risk more. Al Davis has stuck neck out trying to get something more than a Bernard Berrian. Maybe he gets lucky and gets a Roddy White. But, he could be the second coming of Ashley Lelie.

If DHB can keep his attitude straight, develop his game, and avoid the injury bug this could be the best pick Davis could have made.

Perceptions on Race and Profiling in the NFL

It’s not a secret, or is it?

There aren’t a lot of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL.

The reasons for their lack of field presence seem to run from the historical perceptions that still exist in some circles, even now.

Some of these being:

• Blacks don’t have the capacity to lead.
• Blacks aren’t smart enough to make good decisions on the field.
• Blacks rely too much on their physical ability to be intelligent signal-callers.
• Blacks are better suited for running than passing.

That being said, do you agree?

Now, I happen to feel that it is less about the tendency of the black athlete to be a scrambler than it is about the coach who nurtures the athlete in that way.

Take Michael Vick.

At Virginia Tech, he was a god. Everyone thought that he was going to make a major impact in the NFL as both a passer and a scrambler. He was the complete package—a game-changer.

It was okay for him to make people look silly as he scrambled outside the pocket for major gains.

That made the Hokies look great on television and, coupled with “Beamer Ball,” gave Virginia Tech national exposure.

Why mess up a good thing by changing his style of play?

The problem is that his style, although dynamic, never translated into NFL success.

Outside of one playoff season, he found himself unable to be the quarterback that the Falcons needed to maintain a high level of success.

However, does that have anything to do with him being black? No. The Atlanta Falcons have been bad for a long time and Vick’s presence on the team would not have changed that.

But, if he had been given better coaching in his game, shown how to be more patient in the pocket when the defense is closing in, and better honed his skills in making second and third reads, could he have been more effective?

I think so.

The fact is that Vick had a strong arm—he just had no clue how or when to use it. I blame that on coaching, not Vick.

This leads me to Donovan McNabb.

He is an example of what can happen with good coaching, but he is also a victim of his own making.

McNabb wants to be known as a pocket-passer. He refuses to run in a lot of situations when he should, simply because he wants to show that he can be effective from the pocket.

Personally, I don’t think that he has anything to prove. Donovan McNabb is a good quarterback. His color is irrelevant to me, as it should be to everyone who sees him play.

His assertion that it’s harder for black quarterbacks is true in a sense, but it’s not the only reason that he has been criticized in the past.

A lot of people feel that McNabb lacks passion for the game. He can’t take charge when his team needs it and, when he does, he’s hardly inspiring enough for it to be effective.

He’s blah. He lacks personality.

Again, I ask if that has anything to do with him being black.

I don’t think so.

In this instance, it has to do with Philly.

The Eagles are a tough crowd. Donovan never really forgave the fans for booing him and, consequently, never took to the team.

It’s my guess that, if he played with half of the love and heart of a Vince Papale, then he may have won a Super Bowl by now and be a more beloved figure in Philly.

Of course, I know at least one Eagle fan who will tell you that those boos had nothing to do with McNabb. Read Geoff Crawley’s article here for a little more insight.

If that’s true, then McNabb has been walking around with a chip on his shoulder for the last ten years and. White or black, he will never be able to overcome his personal demons.

The NFL has been very good at giving this black quarterback a shot.

Some have been successful: Daunte Culpepper, Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Kordell Stewart. Others have crashed and burned: Akili Smith, Andre Ware, Quincy Carter, and, so far, Tavaris Jackson.

None of these players were ousted before his time because he was black. Each had plenty of chances to prove that he was worth his weight in gold.

If they failed, then they were given the hook—the same as Rex Grossman and Doug Johnson.

Production ensures your job.

Am I naive enough to believe that race is never a factor? Of course not. People have preconceived notions about players at all positions, not just quarterback.

For instance, were you aware that there are currently no white running backs starting in the NFL?

Or that the last time a white running back rushed for 1,000 yards was 1985, and his name was Craig James, for the New England Patriots?

Or that the last white running back taken in the first round of the NFL Draft was Tommy Vardell? He went to Cleveland in 1992.

Why do you think that is?

Is it due to the perception that:

• Whites don’t run fast enough.
• Whites don’t have the ability to be as elusive.
• Whites aren’t built for the rigors and pounding of an NFL season at that position.
• Whites simply aren’t athletic enough to play running back.

Sounds ridiculous, no?

The fact of the matter is that these perceptions are born long before these players get into the college or pro game.

A lot of coaches, maliciously or innocently, profile players based on stereotypes.

Those being that blacks are athletic, fast, and dumb and whites are intelligent, slow, and flat-footed.

Are they right? No. Are they true? In some instances, yes. In others, no. In neither case is it color specific.

It’s important to know when and where the line has been crossed in the evaluation of a person’s skill set.

You risk putting a guy in at a position where he will be decent but can’t thrive.

The NFL has been notorious for asking players to change positions because they don’t feel that a player can be effective at his natural one.

Pat White is going through that right now.

Sometimes it works to make a player change. Take Anquan Boldin.

He is clearly a talented wide receiver. Would he have been just as talented as a quarterback? Hard to say, but that’s precisely the position he played at Florida State.

Other times it doesn’t.

Eric Crouch could never be the wide receiver the league wanted him to be and he had to leave the league to be successful at his natural position.

As of now, Brian Leonard faces the dilemma of being stuck in the fullback role, despite his desire to play running back.

Could he be as effective as Steven Jackson? Maybe. After all, he did pretty well at Rutgers.

There are holes to be found in any argument for or against race being a factor in the NFL. Currently, the numbers don’t lie, there are only a handful of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL.

However, the same can be said of white running backs, wide receivers, and cornerbacks.

If it’s about race, then it’s about race. But, you have to admit that it’s a two-sided coin.

Hey, Talk Radio Callers, Bloggers: Stop “Grading” 2009 NFL Draft, Right Now!

NFC South Draft Grades: Winners Or Losers?

Even though this year’s NFL draft was considered weak by many, multiple teams upgraded themselves with young talent. We’ll forecast the impact of the draft for each of the four teams in the NFC South. Let’s take a look and see who were the winners and/or losers in the 2009 draft.

ATLANTA FALCONS         

The Atlanta Falcons went into the draft with multiple holes on defense. They filled the need of tight end with the pre-draft trade with Kansas City for Tony Gonzalez. The Falcons traded down in the draft and picked up the first pick in the seventh round. The Falcons had eight selections overall, and seven of the eight picks went toward the defensive side of the ball.

The first pick in their draft was Peria Jerry at #24 in the first round. Jerry has an A draft grade by many and is looked at as possibly the best DT in the draft. Jerry should help the defensive line be more stout against the run and give John Abraham some help with the pass rush.

With the Falcons not retaining Lawyer Milloy they had a need for strong safety. It wasn’t a huge surprise for Atlanta to go with safety in the second round. They nabbed William Moore, SS out of Missouri. Moore was considered a top ten talent after his junior year but he was slowed by injuries and inconsistent play last season. Even though Moore’s stock dropped he was still viewed as possibly the most talented safety in the draft. If Moore pans out he will definitely have been a steal for the Falcons.

The Falcons also had holes at linebacker, corner, and defensive end. The corner positions were addressed in the third and fifth rounds. Both corners selected run in the mid 4.4 range and could provide depth or even push to start. Chris Owens San Jose St(3rd round) is 5’10, 181lbs and is considered a good man to man cover-corner. He was projected to go much later but the Falcons have had their eye on him for some time.

The fifth round selection, William Middleton was a three year starter and team captain out of Furman. He is 5’10, 193lbs and is a quality corner and high-character guy.

In the fourth round the Falcons may have struck gold with the pick of DE Lawrence Sidbury. Sidbury, out of Richmond was projected to go in the second round but fell to the Falcons with pick #125. Sidbury is a highly-talented pass rusher and ran a 4.5 forty at the combine. So far Jamaal Anderson has been a bust and may lose his starting job this season. Sidbury should also help the Falcons pass rush this season and I’m sure was the pick was popular with John Abraham.

In the fifth round the Falcons also picked up OT Garrett Reynolds from North Carolina. Garrett, 6’8, 310lbs. was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels. He will be a quality backup and fill a hole created by the retirement of OT Todd Weiner. 

In the sixth round the Falcons added LB Spencer Adkins out of Miami. Spencer was the first Miami player drafted at pick number 176. He is a bit undersized at 5’11, 230lbs and should be a quality backup/special teams player.

The last pick was DT Vance Walker out of Georgia Tech. He has good size at 6’2, 295lbs and was projected to go in the middle rounds of the draft. His stock dropped because of a lackluster senior season in which he battled a concussion and ankle injuries. The Falcons may have gotten another steal here as well.

Overall, the Falcons addressed almost all of their needs in the trade for Gonzalez and the draft. The only place I see they are still thin is at linebacker. We know Peterson and Lofton will be starters, but it’s still up in the air on who will start the other linebacker position. Coy Wire filled in last year and was solid but unspectacular. Stephen Nicholas is younger, faster, and more athletic and hopefully will push for the starting position. Past these four guys Atlanta doesn’t have much linebacker depth so look for them to add some more players in free agency. The Falcons drafted very well and this could be an A draft if William Moore and any of the other draftees pan out. DRAFT GRADE: B+

New Orleans Saints

Like Atlanta, the Saints went into the draft looking to bolster their defense. The Saints were the most aggressive players in free agency in the south and made some good acquisitions. Keeping Jonathan Vilma was big, but the additions of Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator and S Darren Sharper should help as well.

The one thing that hurt New Orleans is they only went into the draft with four picks. The first round selection of Malcolm Jenkins CB/S could help the D out significantly. Jenkins was the number one ranked corner in the draft and has decent size at 6’0, 204lbs. He ran a 4.51 forty at the combine and looks like a solid pickup for the Saints.

Their next selections didn’t come until the fourth round where they picked SS Chip Vaughn, and LB Stanley Arnoux (both out of Wake Forest). Vaughn may be a good pick as he was projected to go in the second to third round. Vaughn is 6’1, 211lbs and ran a 4.42 forty and is good in run support.

Arnoux is 6 ft. 230 lbs and ran a 4.56 forty. Both of these look like solid pickups. The head-scratcher for the Saints was trading up to take a punter in the fifth round. No doubt the Saints had kicking woes last season but that move didn’t make much sense. Thomas Morstead out of SMU was their pick. He is 6’4, and weighs 225. Although he was projected to go in the seventh round, the Saints thought he had the strongest leg of all the punters in the draft. 

Other than reaching for the punter, the Saints had a solid draft by picking good players that they sorely needed on defense. The Saints didn’t have enough picks and the reach on the punter drops their grade as well. GRADE: C+

Carolina Panthers

One bane this off-season for the Panthers has been the Peppers saga. They franchised him, but he is yet to sign the tender. Due to the fact that franchising Peppers took a ton of cap money, the Panthers were virtually non-existent in free agency. Also they had no first round draft pick and in a questionable move traded away their number one next year.

Carolina ended up with seven picks in the draft (2 second, third, 2 fourth, fifth, and seventh). With their first pick Carolina selected DE Everette Brown out of Florida State.

If the team trades Peppers then this pick may end up being a good one. If they don’t it may not be so good for the Panthers. Brown with his high motor and work ethic seems like a solid pickup but the team has other, more gaping holes. It seems like a lot to give up for an insurance policy if Peppers leaves. Brown was projected to go in the first round and is a good player.

The other second round pick, FS Sherrod Martin out of Troy will add depth to the Panthers secondary. Evidently the Panthers are going to try him at corner. The knock on Martin is he was often injured, missing one whole season and having three major operations. If he can stay healthy he should be a solid pickup.

In the third round the Panthers reach to select DT Corey Irvin out of Georgia. He was projected to go in the later rounds of the draft. Irvin only had one season as a starter and probably will serve as a backup. He does have good size though at 6’3, 303lbs.

In the fourth they selected RB Mike Woodson (who is said to have injury and attitude problems) to replace the third running back slot vacated by Nick Goings. Woodson is a great return man and that may be where he finds his niche with the Panthers.

The other fourth round selection was FB Tony Fiammetta. A good blocker and pass protector, may be the heir apparent of FB Brad Hoover. Hoover looks like he’s still the man but he is getting older. Fiammetta looks like a backup for now.

What might be a late round steal was the pick of OL Duke Robinson in the fifth round. Robinson was projected to go in day one but dropped. Robinson definitely has talent but has been known to not have a great work ethic and has weight issues. Could be a great value pick if the Panthers can motivate him.

In the seventh round the Panthers took CB Captain Munnerlyn who definitely has the coolest name of anyone in the draft. Munnerlyn is undersized at 5’9 and 185. He will probably be relegated to a backup at best.

Overall, the Panthers didn’t do a bad job but they didn’t do a spectacular job either. Not having a first rounder and trading away their first rounder next year hurts. Also, most of the guys they selected will be backups and may not help the team that much this season. Not sure they filled the need at defensive tackle where they were decimated last year with injuries. DRAFT GRADE: C-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs have made some moves this offseason that puzzle me. First, they hire an unproven head coach and a new general manager. They in turn do a major roster purge of veterans. Then they add the oft-injured but talented TE Kellen Winslow. That didn’t seem like a bad move, until they gave him a huge contract extension before he even proves himself.

This team has tons of cap money, but also looks like Swiss cheese looking at the holes. One glaring need (for a long time) has been quarterback. In the first round they traded up to get Josh Freeman out of Kansas State. Freeman has talent but is raw and will take a while to develop. He probably won’t be an impact player for the Bucs this year, considering all the quarterbacks on the roster. The pick may have been a little high for Freeman but it was a position of need. The question is will he pan out? The Bucs better hope so.

In the third round Tampa selected DT Roy Miller out of Texas. He is 6’1 and 310lbs and is a run stuffer. Looks like a good pickup for the Bucs and could surprise.

In Round 4 they selected DE Kyle Moore out of USC. He is 6’4, 265lbs and is a solid player. He had five sacks last season which was the most in his career. He was on a defense full of playmakers and may have been overlooked. Could be a good player for the Bucs.

OT Xavier Fulton was the Bucs fifth round pick. He is 6’4, 301lbs and played college ball at Illinois. A solid player with good work ethic but was inconsistent in college. Could end up being a starter given time.

The Bucs had two seventh round selections and picked CB E.J. Biggers, and WR Sammie Stroughter. Biggers is 5’11 and 180lbs, and ran a 4.34 forty. His knocks are he doesn’t have the athleticism to cover NFL receivers and he is too lanky.

Stroughter has talent and may be a good pickup. He has good return ability and is a decent receiver.

Overall the Bucs picked up some guys that can help but didn’t make a big splash. Freeman may end up being good but it might take a while. The defensive linemen will definitely help out. The team has too many holes and didn’t do enough to address them. DRAFT GRADE: C

 

 

 

Draft notes: Ex-Hawk DeVries on Stafford; NFL Network’s Mayock on Shonn Greene

Michigan Football: Recruiting Round-Up

With spring ball over and the “summer” freshmen not yet on campus, the Wolverines are knee deep in the Barwis summer work out program. The coaches on the other hand are all over the US talking to kids about Michigan’s program.

Recruiting always heats up over the summer months, with camps and official visits. As you have seen over the past five years, recruiting starts earlier and earlier. Michigan has about 50% of it’s 2010 class filled already, but still has some outstanding needs at defensive back, a second QB, linebacker, and at defensive tackle. The latest report has Michigan brandishing 150 offers on the street.

Here is an update on where Michigan stands with some of it’s prospective players for 2010:

• Michigan QB Prospect Performs Well at an Elite 11 Camp: Per ESPN: Munchie Legaux (New Orleans/Edna Carr) has excellent size (6′ 4″, 187 lbs) and can throw the football well. He had 15 rushing touchdowns last season, so he can also run. Legaux claims an offer from Michigan—and others from Tulane, Louisiana Tech, and Florida International. Baylor, Oregon, and Virginia are also showing him attention. Legaux is likely going to benefit from his performance and see his stock rise. He was impressive.

• FL RB Cassius McDowell has Michigan listed as his leader. He is teammates with future 2009 Wolverines Denard Robinson and Adrian Witty.

• Rashad Knight, a CB from Florida, has offers from BYU, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Rutgers, and Maryland but Michigan just offered on Tuesday and Rashad seems very interested in the Wolverines.

• Do you think RR and Staff are recruiting speed? Check this out: Liberty senior Fitzgerald Toussaint ran a blistering 10.86 to cruise in the 100. Also this: Toussaint, who won a state indoor title in the 60 in March, also anchored the third-place 4×100 relay, which included fellow University of Michigan football recruit Isaiah Bell. A third Michigan recruit, junior Antonio Kinard, joined Bell on the sixth-place 4×200 relay. Bell is a 2009 safety recruit for the Wolverines and Antonio is a 2010 committed linebacker recruit, yes, a linebacker.

• FL OL Torrian Wilson still has Michigan in his top group with Tennessee, Stanford, and Miami.

• Michigan has offered Cincinnati Tight End Alex Welch. Alex should feel honored because Michigan doesn’t offer too many tight ends anymore. What’s next, a full back?

• Michigan offered Baltimore (Md.) City College wide receiver Adrian Coxson. Adrian is 6′ 4″, 185 lbs, and the No. 158 prospect in the country by Rivals.

• Michigan went into Hyattsville, Maryland DeMatha, and offered just about the entire team including; safeties Jeff Knox, Lorenzo Waters, and Michael Coley and offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio.

• Decatur (Ga.) Southwest DeKalb cornerback Jonathan Mincy has been offered by the Wolverines and so has his teammate defensive end T.J. Stripling (6′ 6″, 215 lbs).

• Running back Andre Givens from Ohio who rushed for 1,433 yards and 18 touchdowns last season is also sporting a new Michigan offer.

• Larry Foote heading by foot or plane to the Detroit Lions? Seems the Pittsburgh Steelers were prepared to release Larry Foote yesterday but Larry started to get immediate interest from the Detroit Lions and now the Steelers are trying to work a trade for the former Wolverine linebacker. If a trade can’t be worked out, look for Larry to be released by this weekend.

• Drew is Done: Drew Henson was released by the Lions yesterday, most likely ending his professional football career. So much promise and so little to show for it.

Another Reason to Watch E:60

As if there weren’t already a littany of reasons to watch the ESPN hardcore sports news show, the most recent edition offered up just another benefit to grabbing a season pass on your Tivo for E:60.

Lisa Salters challenged Jeremy Schaap to a pose-down after Schaap admitted he subscribes to Muscle Development magazine. Oh yeah, and for some reason it was in black and white:

We’re not sure if that’s a shadow or a tuft of hair pouring out of that pit and frankly, we don’t want to find out. ###MORE###

April 29

1892 – Charlie Reilly becomes baseball’s first pinch hitter

1951 – Dale Earnhardt is born into the world.  Currently celebrated as a national holiday by 87.3% of mustached-Americans.

1954 – Jerry Seinfeld is born into the world.  Currently celebrated as a national holiday by Matt Sebek.

1967 – After refusing induction into the United States Army the day before (citing religious reasons), Muhammad Ali is stripped of his boxing title.

1986 – Roger Clemens, then of the Boston Red Sox, sets a major league baseball record with 20 strikeouts in nine innings against the Seattle Mariners.  Kerry Wood tied the record over 10 years later (May 6th, 1998).

This day last year, Matt Sebek had an in-depth profile of the NFL Draft attendee. We won’t even pull text from the column to spike your interest, we’ll just post a couple of pics to give you an idea where he was coming from.

And that’s just the New York portion of the fans. For the whole column …

CLICK HERE

Okay, so this really isn’t video “goodness,” but it is worth your viewing. Apparently the higher ups at Foxsports.com have decided to mimic NBC’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo videos with a loudmouth of their own, columnist Mark Kriegel. In this particular installment, Kriegel sounds off on the fans who attend the NFL Draft. Nothing wrong with that (ahem), but Kriegel’s tone, volume and his parting shot are head shakers.

At least he doesn’t flail around like a drunken, spastic monkey. Still needs to relax, though.

Okay, Mr. Widget. But can you stop the video in link form?

CLICK HERE

Julie A. has some unpleasant words for one Matthew Vasgersian…and it has nothing to do with past comments about sweaty Ozark residents and their beat up Camaros.

Peter King returns to his pooping ways in the Media Circus; and we issue a warning to watch out for the giant Lens Crafters hands attacking sports Web sites around the globe.  Scary stuff.

Ranking All 32 Teams in the NFL Draft

This is a raking of how I thought each team did in the draft based on value of the picks. There will be a best value pick and a biggest reach pick for each team as well. Although some teams might have had a great first and second round that doesn’t necessarily mean that they had a good overall draft. I tried to look at the whole picture. Let me know what you think.

Maurice Jones-Drew: Fantasy Running Back on the Rise

As we drift ever closer to the 2009 season, the debate between who to take with the first overall pick in fantasy football drafts remains, much as it did following week 17 of the 2008 season, with owners arguing the upside of both Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson and Atlanta Falcons’ runner Michael Turner. With those two firmly entrenched as the number one and two picks this season, the question now falls to who to take with that tricky third overall selection. Numerous names have been uttered in regards to the spot from the Chicago Bears’ Matt Forte, a rookie who impressed in 2008 with 1,238 rushing yards and 12 total TDs, to DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers, who erupted for 20 total TDs in 2008, all the way to LaDainian Tomlinson, who still finished sixth among fantasy RBs in 2008 despite a down year. However, despite the merits and credentials of all these runners, the man rising up everyone’s draft sheets is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew.

MJD’s ascension has occurred primarily for two reasons. First and foremost, Jones-Drew now seems to be part of a committee of one as the Jaguars officially parted ways with veteran running back Fred Taylor this offseason. The move means Jones-Drew, who has not yet recorded a 200 carry season in his three year NFL career, should be well past that number in 2009. After all, Taylor had 231, 223, and 143 carries in each of his last three seasons with the Jags. In fact, even if you err on the safe side and only pencil Jones-Drew in for 250 carries, that still translates into 1,200 rushing yards, if he matches his career yards per carry average of 4.8. The additional carries should also lead to even more TDs for a guy who has had at least nine in each of his first three seasons of play.

Further strengthening MJD’s case to be the third overall selection in fantasy drafts this coming season is the improvement that is expected to come from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line. For one, the line will be healthy, something that was not the case in 2008, as it seemed simply playing offensive line for the Jags was a sure way to get yourself injured. Secondly, the line will get a boost from two key offseason additions, the first being offensive tackle Tra Thomas, who the Jags acquired via free agency. Thomas, a former pro-bowler, had spent the previous 12 years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. While he may be getting a bit long in the tooth, the 335-pounder can still open up holes with the best of them. His experience will also be useful to the Jags as he’ll be able to tutor the Jags’ other big offensive line, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, the player the Jags took with the eighth overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Jags were so impressed with Monroe and his ability that they even passed on wide receiver Michael Crabtree, despite their need at that position. With a combination of Monroe and Thomas anchoring the line, Jones-Drew should find plenty of holes to burst through in 2009.

The debate will rage on as to who will nab that third overall pick in 2009 fantasy drafts, but one thing is certain: Maurice Jones-Drew definitely belongs in the debate.

McCloughan Raises the Bar In 49ers Draft Room

For all the swings and misses former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan took during his tenure with the team, both in regards to talent and when he walked the sideline, it’s becoming apparent that the one bright side to his “legacy” could be the hands he left the team in upon his midseason dismissal last year.

In an almost comical sense of irony, the first time coach that insisted on being the sole face of the franchise when he was hired in 2005 brought not one, but two, of his own successors into the fold—guys that were supposed to be his support and subordinates.

Ultimately, Nolan was replaced by his linebackers coach Mike Singletary, and fired by Scot McCloughan—a man he brought in as a glorified talent scout who was supposed to help Nolan with his General Manager duties but wound up assuming them himself, and then giving the sharp dressed coach his walking papers the following season.

If this past weekend’s draft is any indication, Nolan’s replacements have this team headed in the right direction.

Nothing is set in stone of course, especially with this 49ers team that could just as easily wind up with another top ten pick in the 2010 draft as it could find itself in the 2010 playoffs.

But the clear cut direction of the current regime is a breath of fresh air compared to the mixed signals and baffling decision making that was common place with Nolan.

Since McCloughan was originally brought on board, it was unclear exactly what role he played and how much power he held.

Even as he was promoted to the GM position prior to the 2008 season (supposedly to ease Nolan’s workload), the now former coach still stuck his chest out at the press conference and proclaimed himself to still be “the one voice of the franchise.”

For these reasons, it was hard to know who to credit the personnel decisions to, which, to some 49ers followers, appeared to be about the only praise Nolan was worthy of.

We can pat him on the back all we want for Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, and Joe Staley, but how hard is it to draft a Butkus Award winner?

How hard is it to take a third round flyer on an oft injured running back that had started over two quality NFL running backs in college? Trading up to get the best available tackle when your first major offseason signing was an expensively fragile offensive tackle?

What foresight…

The point is, the talent evaluation during Nolan’s tenure is as much responsible for his demise as his apparent cluelessness at times on the sideline and the lack of respect he held among his players.

As great as Willis and Gore have been, Nolan saddled the team with the likes of stone hands Vernon Davis, non-factor Kentwan Balmer, and borderline cripple Jonas Jennings. It’s hard to even say how big a bust Alex Smith has been considering Nolan rode him like a mule until his shoulder nearly disintegrated, and then outed him as a whiner to his teammates when Smith went public with his injuries.

Moving foward, if this team is to climb out of the lower echelon of NFL mediocrity, it needs to upgrade it’s talent and bring in long term solutions—not short term fixes, something McCloughan seems to have a firm grasp on.

Snagging Michael Crabtree at number 10 was obviously a no brainer. Both the head coach and the GM were steadfast in their claim that they were out for the best available players and not simply trying to fill needs.

What McCloughan did later on showed some true moxie.

With pressing needs staring him in the face during the second round, the GM watched as some of the 49ers more coveted players came off their board. Rather than reaching to fill a need, McCloughan set the team up for an even better draft in 2010, finagling Carolina’s first round pick next year for the teams second and fourth round picks.

The likes of Everette Brown (who Carolina traded up to get) and Jarron Gilbert were still on the board, potentially nice additions to a 49er squad in need of bolstering its pass rush.

But now, the 49ers are in a position to land two potential starters in the first two hours of next year’s draft, and if McCloughan packages those picks to move up and land, say, Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford or USC’s Taylor Mays—possibly the second coming of Ronnie Lott—the pick swap will become pure genius.

Day two was equally productive with the 49ers taking QB Nate Davis in the fifth round; a high value pick given he was once considered a first day prospect. The addition of iron man tight end Bear Pascoe out of Fresno State, safety Curtis Taylor, and former five star recruit Rickey Jean-Francois (both from LSU) gave the team some intriguing prospects to work with.

And if your biggest reach of the draft is taking a bruising senior running back that rushed for over 1300 yards in the third round to spell your Pro Bowl workhorse, then pat yourself on the back.

To use the cliche, the draft “is, what it is…” and therefore, it’s not certain that this draft’s acquisitions won’t flop at the next level.

But since the end of last season, the 49ers brass—especially McCloughan—have maintained, without hesitation, that this team has a defined direction; a clear cut plan to return to its past glory.

By living up to it’s pre draft assurances, vague as they were (as with any NFL team), they’ve already begun putting their bold talk into promising action.

 

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