Super Bowl Preview Part I: The Quarterbacks

This year’s Super Bowl features two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in 2009. The Indianapolis Colt’s Peyton Manning is arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history while his opponent in this game, the New Orleans Saints Drew Brees has been one of the most consistent for the past few seasons. It was the solid play of both of these quarterbacks that helped them get to the Super Bowl this season and it will be their play that determines who wins this game.

Here is a side by side look at both of the quarterbacks that will be playing in the Super Bowl on the 7^th of February. Who has the edge? Read on to find out.

Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts-After a rocky start to his career Manning finally settled down and thanks to an offense that has suited him well has become one of the most consistent quarterbacks in NFL history. Manning is a leader on the field and off and just his on the field presence makes the offense that much better. Manning is well known for making calls at the line, funny movements and changes that help to confuse the defense and make plays. Some people say that there is no meaning behind some of the antics he uses while he lines up under center but even if there is no meaning they still cause defenses headaches.

Manning has been blessed with an offense that suits his abilities as well as superior wide receivers and tight ends that help make him the quarterback that he is. His current crop of receivers are some of the better players at their positions in the league and this gives them a clear edge in any game including the Super Bowl. Manning has a way of stepping up in big games and he will certainly be ready for this one.

Drew Brees-New Orleans Saints-Brees had the best statistical season of any quarterback in the NFL and was one of the most consistent players this season. Brees, like Manning, is a true leader but he doesn’t it much quieter than Manning does however he is still pretty vocal. Brees takes charge of the offense and doesn’t’ t make a lot of mistakes like other quarterbacks in the NFL but what is most important is that he is very productive. He threw a lot of touchdown passes this season and was clearly the most productive quarterback in the NFL.

Brees also has an outstanding supporting cast around him much like Manning does and this helps Brees guide the Saints to wins game in and game out. He also has a running game that helps keep the pressure off and allows him to throw the ball down the field much easier. Brees, like any other quarterback, doesn’t work well under pressure and if you can get pressure on him he makes mistakes. And the Colts could get to Brees and they will have to in order to win this game.

So Who Wins: Manning has been to the Super Bowl once already and knows what it takes to win this game. He has the tools to manage games well and is well protected by his offensive line (so that he doesn’t get put under a lot of pass pressure). The thing that he doesn’t have is the strong running game but they manage well with what they have. Brees is the consummate statistical passer but he may not have enough to keep his team ahead of the Colts and win this game. Depending on how their two defenses play, this could end up being a pretty even matchup with Manning having the slight edge. It all depends on what the opposing defenses give them.

Edge: Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts

By Bryan Dietzler

2010 East West Shrine Game

The East vs. West Shrine Bowl was held this past Saturday and it showcased some of the lesser known talent coming out of college football this season. Several players made a big name for themselves after this game while others may have hurt themselves a little bit in this game. Here is a look at a few players that both helped and hurt themselves in the East vs. West Shrine Bowl.

The game was pretty low scoring and most of the action took place in the second half.

The West team got the first score of the game, in the second quarter, when kicker Hunter Lawrence kicked a 47 yard field goal to put them up by three. The East team would tie it up when kicker Joshua Shene booted a 44 yard field goal still in the second quarter. Eventually they would go ahead by three when Shene kicked a 40 yard field goal. It was 6-3 at the half with the East team in the lead.

There was no scoring in the third quarter but things got hot in the fourth quarter as West quarterback Max Hall hit Ryan Moya on an eight yard touchdown pass to make it 10-6 in favor of the West. But the East offense, led by quarterback Mike Kafka, marched down the field and took the lead and grabbed the win when Kafka hit wide receiver Andrew Quarless on a two yard touchdown pass. The East went ahead 13-10 and that is how the game would end.

Dennis Pitta-TE-BYU-Pitta ended up being quarterback Max Hall’s favorite target on the day and showed us that he has great size and speed for the tight end position. He could be a good second tight end in the NFL.

Max Hall-QB-BYU-Hall looked pretty shaky to start the game and it was said that he had a bad week of practice. He did play better in the second half and could be on the radar of some NFL teams heading towards the draft.

O’Brien Schofield-OLB/DE-Wisconsin-It was said that the coaching staff asked Schofield to make the switch from outside linebacker to defensive end and he did well in making the switch. This could help him out a lot in the draft.

Mike Kafka-QB-Northwestern-Kafka was named the most valuable player in this game and looked good all the way around. Early in the game he showed poise and accuracy on his passes and ended the game with a game winning drive. He looked good both passing and running the ball and made some smart decisions. He was a good leader on the field and showed a lot of poise. He should have easily raised his stock in the eyes of many NFL scouts.

Andre Anderson-RB-Tulane-Anderson showed some great skill returning the ball on special teams and should get a look or two leading up to the draft.

Hunter Lawrence-K-Texas-Lawrence had a steady career at Texas and made a long field goal in this game. He should get a look by any team that is need of a kicker during this offseason.

Todd Reesing-QB-Kansas-Reesing exhibited some good running skills for a quarterback and has a good head on his shoulders but his mechanics are off a little bit. He threw the ball sidearm a few times and made a poor decision on an interception close to the end of the first half. He may have hurt himself a little in this game.

Daryl Clark-QB-Penn State-Clark had a pretty good game and exhibited some good decision making and a strong arm. He also showed patience in allowing receivers to get open and then throw the ball to them. He should get a few strong looks before the draft in April.

Blair White-WR-Michigan State-White ended up being a Mr. Everything in this game and showed that he is a reliable wide receiver. He is a good route runner and catches the ball very well. He improved his draft stock a lot in this game.

Overall, the East defense played pretty well early in this game.

By Bryan Dietzler

A Second Opinion:

Overall, it struck me how the defensive players looked better than the offense. Maybe this draft more about the defense? But it's too early to tell. I know it's hard to get an offense together in less than a week. But, I did not see anyone on offense that could just snap off a 60 yard run. No game breakers out there. (In the part of the game I saw.)

Of the Shrine game I saw, I liked that Northwestern QB, Michael Kafka. He was accurate, and I love that in a QB. For me, that rates over arm strength most of the time. He could be a good backup in the NFL. Maybe 4th or 5th round?

That tall TE from Army, Villanueva, looked out of place. He needs to concentrate on the Army. Too tall and slow to play in NFL for sure.

The linebacker/DE, O'brien Schofield from Wisconsin impressed me. He seems to be naturally smart. I think he could play linebacker in the NFL.

The TE, Dennis Pitta, from BYU looked good. He was as good as any of the receivers. Good size if he's really 6'5".

The QB's Todd Reesing and Daryl Clark did not look NFL caliber at all. Clark is not accurate and seemed out of position, but he can run, he might have to make it as a running back, and Reesing didn't do anything well.

At WR, I'd say Blair White from Michigan State looked the best. he got open more than the others. He has nice height too. This game should help him get drafted.

Devin Ross, CB, Arizona covered well from what I saw. If he got burned, I did not see it.

By Mark Stein

Rahim Alem DE Louisiana State 3rd round

Alem showed the pass rush ability that will propel him to the 3rd round of the draft. He twice hurried the QB into bad passes and caused an interception by hitting the qb just as he was delivering the ball. He has good but not great moves. He struggles to get low around the corner of the O line but will get better as a pro. He needs to anchor better against the run.

O'Brien Schofield OB Wisconsin (Torn ACL 5-6 round)

Schofield had been a DE at Wisconsin. This was his first game at LB. He did an excellent job dropping into coverage and showed ball skills in picking off a pass. He also showed his pass rush ability. He was 2nd in Division 1 last year in sacks. He did well pursuing the rush outside but needs work on anchoring the run on the edge. He also was good on special teams. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL and will probably miss his rookie year in the NFL.

Blair White WR Michigan State 4th

White could be a steal in the 4th round. He could go higher if he betters the 4.54 40 that he has been projected to run. He is a Welker type receiver that just gets open in small spaces. Even when doubled, he got open and showed good awareness at the sideline. He also has above average hands. The other value he brings is the ability to catch bad balls. He catches high or low without letting the ball getting to his body.

Lindsey Witten DE Connecticut 4th

Whitten was active against the pass. He was able to consistently push the O line back into the QB. He also was effective against the outside run but does not show up as often as you would like on a run up the gut.

Freddie Barnes WR Bowling Green State 5th

Freddie is considered a FA by some but I like him despite the fact he is not fast or big. He is a slot receiver that runs crisp patterns and can get open vs. man or zone. He also is able to fend off very close coverage to catch the ball as he is getting hit. He has very soft hands and is aware of the out of bounds or line to gain.

James Ruffin DE Northern Iowa 5th

Ruffin is one of the lesser known linemen. He got a sack and a hurry and was active against the pass. He is not as effective against the run. At 264 he will have to beef up to play end at the next level. Otherwise he is a prospect as a pass rush specialist.

By Bill Smith

Ranking the Under-Classmen for the 2010 NFL Draft

The Deadline for underclassmen came and went and we now have about a 99 percent idea on who will be available for the 2010 NFL Draft. Be advised however that if these prospects haven't had any contact with an agent, they could change their mind. Here is NFL Draft Dog's early rankings. Obviously, these guys greatly strengthen the 2010 NFL Draft: Approximately 20 will get drafted in the first round!

QB Jimmy Clausen, 6-3, 222, Notre Dame

QB Sam Bradford, 6-4, 212, Oklahoma

S Eric Berry, 5-11, 205, Tennessee

DT Gerald McCoy, 6-3, 302, Oklahoma

CB Joe Haden, 5-10, 185, Florida

ILB Rolando McClain, 6-3, 253, Alabama

OLB Pierre-Paul, 6-5, 260, South Florida

S Earl Thomas, 5-10, 200, Texas (Soph)

WR Dez Bryant, 6-1, 218, Oklahoma State

DT Brian Price, 6-2. 300, UCLA

TE Aaron Hernandez, 6-2, 255, Florida

OT Brian Bulaga, 6-5, 309 Iowa

DE Everson Griffin, 6-3, 280, USC

OT Anthony Davis, 6-5, 320, Rutgers

RB Toby Gerhart, 6-0, 240, Stanford

WR Golden Tate, 5-10, 190, Notre Dame

OLB Navorro Bowman, 6-1, 232, Penn State

DE Derrick Morgan, 6-3, 272, Georgia Tech

DE Carlos Dunlap, 6-5, 290, Florida

RB Jahvid Best, 5-10, 195, California

OT Bruce Campbell, 6-6, 310, Maryland

WR Arrelious Benn, 6-2, 220, Illinois

RB Ryan Mathews, 5-10, 210, Fresno State

S Chad Jones, 6-2, 221, LSU

CB Donovan Warren, 5-11, 195, Michigan

S Morgan Burnett, 6-0, 210, Georgia Tech

TE Dan Gronokowsi, 6-5, 265, Arizona

CB Kareem Jackson, 5-10, 195, Alabama

WR Damian Williams, 6-0, 198, USC

S Chad Jones, 6-2, 221, LSU

WR Dezmon Briscoe, 6-2, 200 Kansas

CB Amari Spievey, 6’ 0”, 190, Iowa

RB Joe McKnight, 5-11, 200, USC

C Maurkice Pouncey, 6-4, 325, Florida

WR Jevan Snead, 6-3, 215, Mississippi

SS Reshad Jones, 6-2, 212, Georgia

WR Demaryius Thomas, 6-3, 230, Georgia Tech

OLB Jason Worilds, 6-2, 240, Virginia Tech

RB Jonathan Dwyer, 5-11, 235, Georgia Tech

CB Domnique Franks, 6-0, 190, Oklahoma

WR Antonio Brown, 5-9, 180, Central Michigan

LB Rennie Curran, 5-10, 225, Georgia

DE Kevin Basped 6-5, 240, Nevada

DE Clifton Geathers, 6-7, 280, South Carolina

WR Carlton Mitchell, 6-4, 215, South Florida

SS Major Wright, 6-0, 203, Florida

RB Darius Marshall, 5-9, 195, Marshall

DE Thaddeus Gibson, 6-2, 240, Ohio State

WR Mike Williams, 6-1, 205, Syracuse

DT Abe Koroma, 6' 3" 312, Western Illinois

The 2010 NFL Draft Underdogs

When you look at an NFL roster take note of what schools are represented there. Sure you will see a lot of Ohio States, Floridas, and USC’s, but you may also see a few Marshalls, South Dakotas, or Winston-Salem States as well. These small, non-Bowl Championship Series schools do get an influx of quality high school talent and often turn them into professional athletes. It is just the matter of getting the attention of NFL scouts enough to get the player an invite to the NFL Scouting Combing where he can put his skills on display.

There are also players who played for a prestigious college program but get lost in the shuffle on a very talented roster. There just aren’t enough balls to go around when you have very highly touted recruits running three deep at every position. Remember, Kansas City Chief’s quarterback Matt Cassel didn’t even start at USC.

I have put together a list of guys here that may or may not get invited to workout at the scouting combine but should get a chance to display their skills in one capacity or another within the next few months. If given a chance, they may just make enough of an impression to get selected or picked up as a free agent and taken to an NFL training camp next summer.

Some of these guys you may have already heard about as they may have already been on the radar, putting up big numbers in a non-BCS conference or playing for your favorite school. All they need now is a good off-season showing to raise their stock and entice just one NFL team to take a chance on them.

Running Back:

• Reggie Arnold 5’9” 219 lbs. Arkansas State – Arnold is no secret by any means, being one of the most prolific runners in Sun Belt Conference history. He is not a fast guy but he is extremely strong (450 Bench) and tough, often playing through injuries. Over the course of his career he has averaged 5.3 yards per carry while rushing for over 4,000 yards and 32 TD’s.
• Brandon West 5’10” 188 lbs. Western Michigan – Rushed for 3671 yards as Bronco and accounted for 33 all-purpose touchdowns (25 rushing, six receiving, one passing, and one returning). He has averaged 5.2 yards per carry and leaves as the NCAA Division I FBS career kick return yards (3,118) and all-purpose yards (7,764) record holder.

Wide Receiver:

• Freddie Barnes 6’0” 212 lbs. Bowling Green – Barnes did not put up very impressive numbers his first three seasons but had a healthy, productive senior campaign, catching a whopping 155 balls for 1770 yards and 19 touchdowns. Needless to say, he led the nation in receiving. As a result, he may have jumped up from being a potentially undrafted free agent all the way to looking like a possible day one selection.
• Jeremy Williams 6’1” 201 lbs. Tulane – Has been in the coach’s doghouse in the past and has battled injuries. Averaged over 14 yards per catch and over 24 yards per kick return in four seasons with the Green Wave.
• Andre’ Roberts 5’10” 190 lbs. Citadel – Small but tough and productive player who has caught 286 passes for 3743 yards and 36 TD’s in his career.
• Ricardo Lockette 6’2” 205 lbs. Fort Valley State – Every year some team falls in love with a guy because of his speed. Rumor has it that Lockette can run a 4.36. If that is true the Raiders’ Al Davis might already have him on speed dial.

Tight End:

• Jake Ballard 6’6” 256 lbs. Ohio State – Did not get the ball thrown to him very much over the course of his career. He split a lot of time with Rory Nicol his first couple years and then spent most of his time run-blocking. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor has struggled somewhat at getting the ball to his receivers so all their numbers have been down. Ballard has played in 45 games for the Buckeyes, catching 34 passes for 337 yards and three TD’s. He came up with a big third down reception late in the Rose Bowl win over Oregon. An NFL club will give him a chance to prove he can play.
• Clay Harbor 6’3” 240 lbs. Missouri State – Had 59 catches for 729 yards in 2009. He is a good athlete who could soar up draft boards with a great workout.
• Scott Sicko 6’3” 230 lbs. New Hampshire – Caught 160 passes in four seasons as a Wildcat, accounting for 2023 receiving yards and 22 TD’s. He is not an elite prospect but could fill in as a fullback, H-back, or tight end.

Quarterback:

• Sean Canfield 6’4” 220 lbs. Oregon State – Could not grab any national attention playing for the Beavers, getting injured in ’07 and splitting time with Lyle Moevao in ‘08. Put up some good numbers overall, including completing 60% of his passes his first three years and then completed 68% of his passes for 3271 yards, 21 TD’s, and only seven INT’s in 2009 for the Beavers. Do not be surprised if he comes off the board on the first day of the draft.
• Rusty Smith 6’5” 212 lbs. Florida Atlantic – With a lot of work Smith could eventually become a capable starter in the NFL. In four years playing for the Owls he completed 56% of his passes for 10,112 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions.
• Tim Hiller 6’5” 228 lbs. Western Michigan – No stranger to national attention, Tiller has been considered amongst the NCAA’s top quarterbacks the last two years. He finished his career in Kalamazoo with 11329 yards and 99 TD’s, with a 63% completion rate. He also made the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Team.

Offensive Line:

• Zane Beadles 6’4” 305 lbs. Utah – A four year starter on a good offensive line and credited with lots of pancake blocks and knockdowns. He has played both guard and tackle for the Utes and was a 2009 First Team All-American selection by the Football Writer’s Association of America as a left tackle. Utah has been undefeated in bowl games during his career, playing Tulsa, Navy, Alabama, and California.
• Tony Washington 6’6” 305 lbs. Abilene Christian – A solid pass protector with good footwork, Washington will have to answer some questions about his strength. He may turn out to be a solid left tackle.
• Vladimir Ducasse 6’5” 328 lbs. Massachusetts – Could Ducasse be the second coming of Larry Allen? Allen was a little known prospect out of Sonoma State and went on to be one of the best offensive lineman ever! Ducasse possesses similar size and mauling ability. The big question is whether or not he will be a guard or tackle in the pros.
• Derek Hardman 6’5” 294 lbs. Eastern Kentucky – Another small college product looking to take advantage of a weak crop of offensive tackles this year, Hardman may have just enough skill to play left tackle in the NFL.
• Jim Cordle 6’4” 297 lbs. Ohio State – Although he is not built like a starting tackle or guard and does not appear to be an elite prospect, Cordle has extensive experience playing all three line positions for the Buckeyes. With a weak crop of centers in this year’s draft he could do a lot to improve his stock by working out at that position. At the very least, his versatility could prove to be very valuable and he could find himself a home on an NFL roster for the next decade.

Defensive End:

• Alex Carrington 6’5” 284 lbs. Arkansas State – He was the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in ’08, racking up 53 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for a loss. In 2009 he had 28 solo tackles, 13 assists, and 9 sacks. NFL scouts are well aware of his size and abilities so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a phone call very early in the 2010 draft.
• Austen Lane 6’6” 259 lbs. Murray State – A fast athlete who will be a project as he may still be growing into his body. Does he have the strength and leverage to compete against NFL offensive linemen?

Defensive Tackle:

• Mike Neal 6’4” 305 lbs. Purdue – Neal has the strength (450+ Bench), size, and experience, playing in 46 games for the Boilermakers, that many scouts look for in defensive tackle prospects. He doesn’t necessarily wreak havoc in backfields or tear apart double teams but with a lot of work on technique he will have the ability to plug up running lanes and apply pressure to the quarterback every now and then in the NFL. As a senior in 2009 he chipped in 35 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
• Alex Daniels 6’4” 259 lbs. Cincinnati – In 2009 Daniels virtually came out of nowhere to make 56 stops and get 8.5 sacks. He was a big reason the defense played well enough to help them get to the Sugar Bowl. He made a few nice plays against the Gators in the Sugar Bowl but the Bearcats were too outmatched. Daniels will try to make the transition from tackle to end in order to better utilize his size and quickness. Unless he is a real workout warrior, however, he may not get any attention until after the draft is over.

Linebacker:

• Blake Boyd 6’3” 250 lbs. Western Kentucky – Originally played for Louisville and transferred over in 2006. He was a big contributor on the Hilltoppers defense for three years. In ’08 Boyd had 67 tackles with 9.5 going for a loss. He seems right at home as a 3-4 outside linebacker. It may be too late for him though, as he missed his senior season due to academic issues. His intelligence and work ethic will continue to be a question mark until he can prove otherwise. At this point it will be hard for him to get a real shot.
• Aaron Morgan 6’4” 220 lbs. Louisiana Monroe – A two-time First Team Sun Belt Conference selection, Morgan played defensive end for the Warhawks but looks like he could get a shot as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the pros. He has racked up 138 tackles and 21.5 sacks while facing most of the opposition’s double team blocking schemes. He needs to look smooth in drills and run a good forty.
• JT Gilmore 6’4” 260 lbs. Western Oregon – This guy may not get invited to the combine and probably will not get drafted but he could get a shot somewhere. He possesses rare size for a guy of his abilities. Had 253 tackles in his career, with 98 in ’08 and 89 in ’09.

Cornerback:

• Akwasi Owusu-Ansah 6’0” 197 lbs. Indiana PA – With a weak crop of corners this is a good year to be great small college defensive back. Owusu-Ansah has real nice size and supposedly runs a 4.47 forty. If he works out well this off-season he’ll find himself high up on some NFL draft boards.
• Jorrick Calvin 5’11” 184 lbs. Troy – The Trojans have pumped some good talent into the NFL. Calvin was a junior college transfer that was a Second Team Sun Belt Conference selection his first year in Troy. Like Boyd, he was declared academically ineligible for his senior season. He could still get a chance impress some scouts enough to be given a shot at making a roster.

Safety:

• Da’mon Cromartie-Smith 6’2” 210 lbs. UTEP – A good athlete who played a hybrid safety/linebacker position and was an Honorable Mention Conference USA in ’07 and ’08. In ’09 he was a Football Coaches All-Conference First Team selection. He ended his career with 296 tackles to his credit, with 12 passes defended, four INT’s, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
• Van Eskridge 6’0” 200 lbs. East Carolina – Played in 54 games for the Pirates, making 363 tackles with 11 INT’s (1 TD), 18 passes defended, and five forced fumbles.

By Scot Acocks

Updated 2010 NFL Mock Draft

The #NFL regular season is over, the draft order is set, so NFL Draft Dog has completed a massive update of it's 2010 NFL Mock Draft.

All the underclassmen haven't yet declared and we haven't had the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine, so there will be some changes before the draft on Thursday 22 April at 7:00 PM (Eastern). However, with the regular NFL season over and many underclassmen already declaring we have a pretty good glimpse of what's to come.

Please comment on our mock and give us your suggestions, but please remember that while team needs are important, it's always the best policy to take the best available player. Reaching for a player to fill a team need is one of the biggest mistakes NFL teams make.

Here are a few players that just missed the first round. They have first round talent, I just couldn't fit them in. Many will eventually be first round selections, but many will likely be second round steals in the 2010 NFL Draft.

1. OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma

2. TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida (JR)

3. LB Navorro Bowman, Penn State (JR)

4. LB Ricky Sapp, Clemson

5. WR Damian Williams, USC (JR)

6. DT Arthur Jones, Syracuse

7. CB/S Donovan Warren, Michigan (JR)

8. OG Jon Asamoah, Illinois

9. CB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky

10. ILB Daryl Washington, TCU

11. QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati

12. RB/WR Dexter MCluster, Ole Miss

13. WR Brandon LaFell, LSU

14. RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford

15. TE Ed Dickson, Oregon