Houston, TX-On Wednesday, the Rotary Lombardy Award Committee announced it’s much anticipated Lombardy Award Pre-season Watch List. The award, which recognized the top front seven down or end-to-end linemen on either the offensive or defensive side, is one of the most coveted ones in college football.
The 75-strong list is headed by three underclassmen which project as top 10 picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. Leading the pack is Alabama’s Marcell Dareus. The massive defensive tackle was a one man crew during the Crimson Tide dismantling of Texas in the BCS Championship Game. His performance earned him Defensive MVP honors. Dareus, who is a prototypical 3-4 end, is rated as one of the top overall pro prospects.
Also listed were DEs Da’Quan Bowers out of Clemson and Oklahoma’s Jeremy Beal. Bowers is an athletic DE/OLB tweener capable of taking over a game. He is an active pass rusher with surprisingly above-average strength to support the run. What set him apart are his uncanny cover instincts. Beal may not be as known as Dareus or Bowers, despite being a Third Team All American last season. Beal is a quick, in-and-out defensive end with a great first step.
The senior class is headed by Buckeye superstar Cameron Heyward. The son of former NFL running back, Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward is as talented as they come. Has great upper body strength and good lateral movement. Like Dareus, the Ohio State senior is rated as a blue chip prospect.
On the offensive side, Wisconsin’s offensive tackle Gabe Carimi standout from the pack. His athleticism and power have scouts comparing him to former Badger great Joe Thomas.
The complete list can be found at: http://www.rotarylombardiaward.com/pdf/2010watchlistpressrelease.pdf
The preseason list was compose by a Rotary subcommittee comprise of 500 members of the media and Division I coaches and administrators. The Semifinalist will be announce in late October with the award presentation slated for the 7th and 8th of December at the George R. Houston Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
St. Louis came into the 2010 NFL Draft looking for a high ticket offensive item and all indications points towards a successful mission. Still, the draft can’t be called a complete success mainly because they failed to upgrade the roster with top shelf talent at several key positions.
No running back to alleviate starter Steven Jackson was found nor did a fast perimeter receiver. This could have been a franchise turning type of draft for the embattle Rams. Now that will happen only if several late picks performs above their projections.
With the release of Marc Bulger there were little question which direction the team was headed coming into Thursday. St. Louis wasted little time in making Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford the number one overall pick of the draft. The 2008 Heisman Trophy winner is a solid signal caller with good pro upside. But there are huge questions surrounding him.
Beside the health issues, Bradford main problem could be the style of offense he played in Norman. Spread systems quarterbacks had trouble adjusting to the pro game, just ask 49ers Alex Smith. They tend to struggle with the speed and complexities of the game. He should become a good starter but not immediately. He is not Matt Ryan or even Joe Flacco, his learning curve is that much higher.
The team could have selected a top end WR in the second round, after all, there were a plethora of fast wide outs still on the board. Instead they went and took another offensive tackle early and in the process made one of the draft biggest reaches. Indiana’s OT Rodger Saffold (#33) is an athletic lineman with some pop but he lacks the speed and agility of USC’s Charles Brown, who was still on the board as were Maryland’s Bruce Campbell and Selvish Capers out of West Virginia, both superior prospects. He is a marginal pass blocker, at best, and has questionable desire.
They hit it with third round pick CB Jerome Murphy (#65) out of South Florida. Defensive back was an area of need coming into the draft as the team’s two starting corners (Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher) are average starters without shutdown capabilities. Murphy is an underrated prospect who lacks discipline. But he has all the talent to be a game changer, including a no-non sense attitude.
The Rams finally selected a WR in the fourth round. Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard (#99) is a good route running, although he has not played in a pro-style system, with great hands and intangibles. Unfortunately for St. Louis, he is not a difference maker. He lacks the speed (4.54) and agility to make something happen in the second level. In brief, he would be a solid complementary pass catcher in a club full with them.
Tight end was not a need area but they still took one in the fifth round. Michael Hoomanawanui (#132) was the Rams’ biggest reach. The Illinois product was viewed my most scouts as a priority free agent, at best. He lacks the speed, agility and strength to be a regular contributor in the NFL. The other selection in the round, DE Hall Davis (#149) was another reach. He has talent not that much to overcome a huge the learning curve.
Sixth rounder Fendi Onobun (#170) has be considered a waste pick. He has not hands and suspect instincts. A bad all around selection. So is Eugene Sims (#189), a big and slow defensive end out of West Texas A&M who has not chance of making the opening day roster.
The best late round selection was South Florida’s DE/OLB George Selvie (#226). The slim former Bulls defensive demon has the explosiveness and agility to one day become a part time starter in the league. CB Marquis Johnson (#211) out of Alabama and Penn State LB Josh Hull (#254) are long shots to make the team. Neither has the set of skills required to made contributions in the near future.
Grade: Overall, this can be considered a bad draft. They hit on their first pick but the rest are either reaches or developmental players with a lot to grow.
After years of struggling selecting players in the draft, the Bengals are finally making right choices. Much like last year, this class should provide instant help. TE Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma (#21) is the best player at his position, by far. He will give embattle QB Carson Palmer a reliable middle-of-the field option.
Carlos Dunlap of Florida, (#52) was the second best rated defensive end before off the field issues sunk his stock. Still, getting a top 15 player in the middle of the second round has to be considered a steal.
Third rounder Jordan Shipley (Texas, #84) is not explosive enough to play outside, but his set of skills are very similar to that of Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Gonzalez. If he gets bigger, and the former Longhorn star have the frame to do it, he could become a difference maker in a year or two. The team’s other third round pick, Wake Forest’s CB Brandon Ghee (#96) could be viewed as a reach mainly because the lacks the necessary athletic ability to be anything more than a special teammer.
The fourth round gave the club one very intriguing prospect and a project with limited ability. Georgia Bulldog’s DT Geno Atkins (#120) has the penetrating ability and lateral movement to join the Bengals’ defensive line rotation in 2010. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of Texas’ Roddrick Muckelrov (#131). He has the size but lacks the explosiveness and strength to be anything more than a backup.
Fifth rounder Otis Hudson, G Eastern Illinois (#152) is a solid player with a lot to grow before he can contribute. He has some talent. Has quick feet and good straight-line speed. Could be a late round gem.
Kansas’ WR Dezmon Brisco (#191) was considered a borderline draft prospect so getting him in the sixth round is a reach. Has some good traits (hands and desire) but his negatives (lack of explosiveness and raw route running skills) outweighs his favorable. The last player selected by Cinci, Reggie Stephens (seven round, #228) could be around for a few seasons due to his special team prowess.
At NFLDraftDog.com, we like football, we like the NFL Draft, and we are competitive by nature. The writer’s for NFL Draft Dog got together to hold a Mock Draft contest of the 2010 National Football League’s 1st Round. The rules were as follows:
- Make each pick for the 1st round; including Pick Number, Team, Player Name, and Position. - 3pts awarded for an Exact Pick. - 1pt awarded for Position Pick (different player, yet same position). - 1pt awarded for Player Pick (same player at that pick, yet different team). - Tiebreaker is most Exact Picks.
Writer’s banged their heads for a couple months doing research and submitted their Mock Drafts by April 15th, 2010. Following the completion of the 1st Round on Thursday night, the results were tallied, and here are the Top 5 finishers:
1st: Larry McCammon (Chiefs’ Writer) = 24 points, with 7 Exact Picks.
2nd: Mike Dixon (Seahawks’ Writer) = 21 points, with 6 Exact Picks.
Round Two is in the books and it’s time to analysis which team helped themselves the more and which, for a lack of a better term, undermined their competitive effort with questionable selections.
Winners 1. Baltimore Ravens: GM Ozzie Newsome certainly knows his stuff and in this round he got it right again. Baltimore selected two players with superstar potential. First they grabbed arguable the best OLB in the draft, Sergio Kindle of Texas, with their first pick (#48) of the round. A tremendous athlete, Kindle could one day be Ray Lewis’ replacement.
With their second pick, #57, Newsome took Alabama’s enigmatic defensive tackle Terrence Cody. He lacks explosiveness, probably because of overweight, but his athleticism, at 370lbs, cannot be teach. He has the ability to alter results (see the Tennessee game). If properly motivated, Cody could become a steal.
2. Tampa Bay Bucs: Two picks, two potential starters. What else can you ask for in Round 2? UCLA’s DT Brian Price (35th pick) is an active playmaker who is well advance in his pass rushing technique. A true one gap penetrator with great upside. To make things sweeter for QB Josh Freeman, the Buccaneers selected one of the most dynamic wide receivers in this draft. Illinois’ Arrelious Benn was once projected as a first rounder, but his poor Combine numbers and lack of big time production scarred many teams. Still, getting a first round talent at 39 is reason for celebration.
3. Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen (48th) finally heard his name called and he could not have landed in a better spot (except Minnesota). With uninspired Matt Moore expected to start the year under center, mainly because there’s any other worth mentioned candidate on the roster, Clausen will have a real chance to beat the less athletic Moore in training camp. This could be the steal of the draft.
4. Kansas City Chiefs: They got perhaps the most dynamic RB this side of C.J. Spiller with the 36 pick. Ole Miss Dexter McCluster lacks the size to be full time workhorse back, but his speed (4.36) and lateral agility will give opposing teams fits in the second level.
Losers:
1. Cleveland Browns: With so many good covering corners still on the board, the Browns picked up one with a very low ceiling. Oregon’s TJ Ward is an undersized, underpowered corner/safety who lacks the agility to cover the outside and the power to play the Deep 2 position. A big time reach at 38.
2. Minnesota Vikings: Tell me why with a loaded backfield do the Vikings select a mediocre back with little to non existence explosiveness. Toby Gerhard is one of the most liked players in this draft. But that doesn’t mean he will be a good pro. In fact, there are real questions regarding his future at RB. He could move to H-back, but Minnesota seldom used the position in passing packages. His lack of speed and unorthodox running style are not compatible with this team high octane offense.
3. Houston Texans: They needed a RB, but reached huge to take what is consider to be a lat fifth, early sixth round back. Ben Tate lacks speed to turn the corner and the power to run inside. His hands are suspects and his blocking is lackluster at best. A very bad pick for a team with a glaring need at the position.
New Orleans missed a big time opportunity to upgrade their front seven. Texas' Sergio Kindle would have been a great addition. Instead they reached for a corne who lacks shut down skills.
The Colts did it again! They selected one of the most promising prospect in the draft. Hughes is an active playmaker who recorded 26 sacks in the last 2 year. Excellent pick.
The Lions traded up to get a second round pick in the first. Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer is a better prospect. Best does have superior speed, but is not explosve off the blocks.
Wilson is one of the draft's most underrated players. A playmaker corner with tremendous upside but one has to wonder why the Jets did not went after a DEs such as Texas' Sergio Kindle?
Odrick's versatility won the heart and mind of Bill Parcells. He can play down as a 3-4 end or up in a 4-3 scheme. Great pass ruching insticts that can not be teached.
Passing on a linebacker such as TCU's Jerry Hughes for a second round rated corner makes no sense at all. They needed to upgrade the front seven. They didn't here.
One of the better picks of the night. Williams is the type of player who just keep getting better and better with each outing. A run stuffer with above average pass rushing skills.
The Broncos did not help themselves tonight. All the trade down for what? To grab a QB who will not be ready to play in the next three years? Poor Brady Quinn, he can't catch a break.
Carson Palmer need more weapons outside and Gresham is now one of them. He needs work in the blocking department but his agility and ability to get open down field are uncanny.
The Steelers reached here. They could have solidified their offensive line with a pure tackle such as USC Charles Brown. Instead they pick aan interior lineman. A shift in offensive style?
So far we're at the 16th pick and the expected Dallas trade up to grab safety Earl Thomas of Texas did not materialize. In a flurry of wheels and deals for the last 4 picks, the Niners traded yp 2 spots to grab Anthony Davis, the Chargers surprisingly traded way up to get Ryan Matthews, the Eagles jumped up 11 spots to get DE Brandon Graham, and then the Seahawks dashed many a Cowboys fans dream by taking safety Thomas of Texas.
A high energy guy with explosiveness. He abused Iowa's OT Bryan Bulaga at this year Orange Bowl. He should give the team seven to twelve sacks a season.
One of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. Has all the talent in the world, and that what the Giants are looking for because he is raw and will likely not contribute in 2010
THe string of bad drafts extended to Buffalo. This is not a kock on Spiller, the draft's best running back, but they needed a franchise lift and only QB Jimmy Clausen could have done that.
A big time reach. he is not a top ten talent and the team did not needs another linebacker, they needed a solid offensive tackle. Another bad draft for the Raiders.
CB Joe Haden was the perfect fit. They resisted the tempation of Jimmy Clausen and took the draft's best corner. A physical player with better-than-advertised coverage skills.
With the Chief selecting Eric Berry, nobody was more plaese than the Seahawks who made oklahoma State's OT Russell Okung. He is the best tackle in the draft. Has high energy level with superb intagibles. A much better pick than Trent Williams.
With the Redskins passing on OT Russell Okung, the Chiefs should make a play for him. But they selected Tennessee' S Eric Berry. Berry is the possible the best athlete in this draft. he should star from Day One.
The NFL Draft got off to an expected star. With teh first three teams selecting franchise-type pf players.
1. St. Louis: Despite some early day rumors regarding the Browns, the Rams made the right choice and drafted a potential franchise signal caller in Sam Bradford.
2. Detroit: As with the Rams, the Lions selected a difference maker and potential star in Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh.
The NFL Draft is just three days away and hundreds of prospective players are now in the final stages of preparation for the event. There will be not more private workouts, no more interviews, no more promotional tours. It’s time to get ready.
It is also time for pro scouts to re-define their big boards one last time. To select which players will hold the most promise and which will fail to meet them. There’s a big enough list of underperforming players (QBs Kyle Boller and JaMarcus Russell, WRs Michael Clayton and Ted Ginn, Jr, RB Laurence Maroney to name a few).
Here’s a list of possible first and second round offensive picks who are likely to join the ever groin list of draft bust.
1. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: Yes, the consensus number one pick tops this list. There are a plethora of reasons why the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner will excel in the NFL. There are also a few Red Flags that indicate he won’t. Chief among them is the style of play he performed under.
He did not play in a pro-set offense where WRs, TEs, and RBs are require to run crisp, pro-style routes. Instead, Sooner’s receivers were ask to run straight, simplified routes making it easy for Bradford to hit them. This is not taking anything away from his accomplishments; in fact, he does hit receivers on line, but the simple nature of the route running makes evaluating him a tough deal. He also has not taken that many snaps under center, instead he played out of the vaunted Shut Gun formation. A five steps window over the under-center system which translate into an additional 1.5 second reading time. In the pros he will not have that distinguish advantage. Enough time to make quick reads and hot throws in the flanks.
Simply put it, spread offense quarterbacks had a hard time making the transition to full time NFL signal callers. Of the 32 projected starters in 2010, only four (Alex Smith, David Gerrard and Donovan McNabb) played in a spread-type of offensive system in college. The rest are product of pro-set schemes.
Health is another big concern. He hasn’t been healthy since late in his sophomore campaign. At 219-225 pounds, he still looks like a skinny kid. His frame will simply do not allow him to grow beyond that. Can he take the punishment the Rams’ offensive line will allow? That’s the big question.
2. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech: Thomas has all the intangibles of a super star. Has size (6’3”, 230lbs) and speed (4.41), plus he racked up 1,154 yards worth of receptions (25.1 average) playing for a run oriented team. But he has big time fundamental issues regarding route running and breaks. He will need a lot of work before his production matched his talent. The biggest question mark surrounding the four year junior is his maturity. Can he handle the stress of the NFL?
3. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois: Once viewed as a first round pick, Benn now looks like a late second rounder, at best. This biggest drawback is his lack of production last season. Playing in what supposed to be a high octane offense, he only scored twice in 2009 (490 total yards). He runs a very slow 40-time (4.43) and has shown a complete lack of burst off the line. Is slow making cuts and his route running is in need of more refinement. His lack of productivity cut into the character and his desire to become a difference maker.
4. OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland: Without much argument, he is one of the better athletes in this draft. His size (6’7”, 312) and speed (4.96) suggest he is a dominator, but nothing has been further from the true. He struggled last fall, mainly due to an assortment of nagging injuries, as well as the one before (no excuse here) with motivation. The talent is there, but he tends to play down from time to time. Not a big motor guy. Good enough to start right away, but if he goes to a team such as the Oakland Raiders, a franchise in disarray, he can get lost fast. Need a team with establish stars in other to reach full potential.
5. OT Ciron Black, LSU: Another in a long line of Tiger offensive linemen who are destined to a backup role in the NFL. He is massive (335) and with long arms, but he is not as strong as his size indicates. Lacks agility and lateral movement. Biggest detriment is his laziness. Looks disinterested much of the time.
6. OG Jon Asamoah, Illinois: Illini players tend to disappoint in the pros and Asamoah could follow that path. He is a top notch athlete with a mean streak, but his is not second round (which is where he is projected to go) material by any means. Like Black, Asamoah tend to be lazy on the field. He also relays too much on natural talent instead of technique. Is strong minded which means he will have trouble adjusting to coaching.
7. RB Jahvid Best, Cal: Everything about Best, yards per carry and receiving skills, seems top tier, but he is neither a fluid nor agile athlete. Will not make people miss on the second level. Billed as a big play weapon, Best has done that, albeit in a limited role, but not much else. A liability inside where his lacks of size procurement to do anything more than gain a few yards here and there. His blocking is also subpar. He is not the workhorse teams envisioned prior to 2009.
8. RB Joe McKnight, USC: He is not a franchise back that can carry the ball 20 times a game. More of a change-of-pace running back with good, not great speed. What separate him from the rest is his uncanny ability to slide in space and his top notch balance. But outside those two traits, he brings nothing special to the table. Does a lot of dancing which negates his lateral agility and his indecisiveness relegate his balance. Add to it a lack of pure speed and a slim frame and it’s easy to see why he is a third rounder, at best, with a clouded pro future.
It could have been one of the best drafts in history, easily rivaling the much hyped one of 1983.With names such as Heisman Trophy winner, RB Mike Rozier (Nebraska), DE Reggie White (Tennessee), QB Steve Young (BYU), DT/DE Robert Smith (Grambling), WR Irving Fryar (Nebraska), K Tony Zendejas (Nevada-Reno) and LB Wilbert Marshall among others, it can be argue that this was a more deeper overall class than the previous one.
Pro scouts were salivated at the chance of grabbing one of those projected franchise players. Unfortunately that opportunity never materialized. Instead of going down in the record books as one of the all time great, the 1984 NFL Draft will forever be remember as the USFL Raid. In the winter of 1983, the newly founded United State Football League began its assault on the NFL with one of the all time great heists of talent.
Led by two of its pillars, Donald Trump and J. William Oldenburh, the USFL signed 10 of the top 50 and 19 of the top 175 players available that spring. Even more impressive was the fact that they got the top two available prospects, Rozier and White. At the same time, they selected the class’ best signal caller, Young; best offensive lineman, Baylor’s Mark Adickes and even the best kicker (Zendejas). Which such a deep raid of talent, scouts went back to the drawing board re-profiling available players for the draft.
Here’s a look at some of the best of what the NFL teams could scout for prior to the ’84 draft. Some of these players left a profound trail in our memories while other left only a small footprint in history. But what all of the following players had in common been the fact that they were the most highly regarded players at their position.
QB: Without Young, Maryland’s Norman ‘Boomer’ Esaison (16th ranked player accordingly to Inside Football Magazine, 2nd round, 38th overall pick Cincinnati Bengals) became the premier passer available. A three year starter for the Terrapins, Esaison received the highest mark of any quarterback entering the draft. His arm strength, which many questioned follow an early season shoulder injury, was not an issue thanks to an impressive performance at the Tangerine Bowl. Another QB who received high grades was Duke’s Ben Bennett (Jacksonville-USFL. 19th rated player, 149th overall) He did not possessed Boomer’s arm strength, which was comparable to all QBs, expect John Elway, taken the previous year, but his accuracy and mobility made him a coveted item. West Virginia’s Jeff Hostetler (24th rated, 3rd round 56th overall) was a big drop back passer with good arm strength who enticed teams running a pro-set offensive scheme.
RB: Oklahoma State’s Ernest Anderson (105th, 3rd round, 74th overall Detroit Lions) emerged as the best running back prospect once Rozier signed with Pittsburgh. The 5-foot-10 slasher had ‘superb acceleration and balance. Plus, he is extremely strong’, that’s how the official NFL Scout Profile of the former Cowboy star read days prior to the draft. What’s even more impressive than his scouting report is the fact that he gather such acclaims while barely playing (bleeding ulcer and a nagging groin pull) his senior season. He used a big Senior Bowl week to catapult himself into the scouts’ eyes once again (he was the darling of pro player personnel gurus in 1982 after rushing for 1,877 yards on 353 carries). Another tailback highly touted was Penn State’s Jon Williams (20th, 3rd round, 79th overall New England Patriots). Williams came into the draft as the second best RB behind Anderson. The thickly built Nittany Lions’ career was plagued by a plethora of mild injuries. He played both fullback and tailback positions before establishing himself as a full time feature back during his senior campaign.
WR: No matter what the USFL did, they could not take away from the NFL the class’ best wide out. Irving Fryar (3rd, 1st round, 1st overall New England Patriots) of Nebraska. He was timed faster (4.36) than Jonny Rodgers. His 38-inch vertical leap topped all players invited to participate in the postseason. In an essence, he was considered the most explosive player in the draft. In ’83 he caught 40 passes, on an offensive system predicated on the run (400 rushing yards per game) for 780 yards (19.5 average) and 8 TDs.
Another player meriting strong consideration in 1984 was Kenny Jackson (9th, 1st round, 4th overall Philadelphia Eagles) of Penn State. Jackson was the Nittany Lions’ top offensive weapon during his four year career. He had the distinction of being the school’s first All American WR. He set the school record for catches (109), yards (2,006) and scorers by a wide out (25). A high school QB at South River New Jersey, where Joe Theismann played, Jackson proved to be as dynamic as head coach Joe Patterno envisioned. Something the scouts coveted in ’84.
TE: Cal’s David Lewis (15th, 1st round, 20th overall Detroit Lions) had the size (6’4”, 230lbs), speed (4.59) and blocking prowess GMs dream about. One of the most intriguing prospects available that year, Lewis followed a different path to the NFL. After showing great promise as a sophomore leading the vaunted PAC-10 in receptions (32) by TEs, he became disenfranchise once head coach Mouse Davis arrived on campus. With him came the notorious ‘Run and Shoot’ offense which relegated the tight end to mostly blocking assignments, when he was on the field. With his role reduced, Lewis quit the team briefly in 1981 before rejoining the squad as a linebacker.
Former HC Joe Kapp returned that fall and promptly returned him to his natural position. Lewis responded immediately with a banner 1982 (54 receptions for 715 yards and 6 TDs). The improvement put him on the NFL map and the rest was history. In the fall of 1983, scouts were placing him at the top of their TE list.
Those were the most highly regarded skill position players available in the 1984 Draft. Of the group, only two (Esaison and Fryar) made it to the Pro Bowl. The rest were a mix of good, complementary players and efficient starters.
It is getting close. The time of year for many football fans that is equivalent to the likes of Christmas and the Fourth of July. It is a time to awaken the barbeque from a long winter’s nap, dust off that old jersey, and ice down the kegerater. Celebrations will be in order as well as the occasional grumbling from those who did not get what they wanted. Yes, it is about time for the annual National Football League’s entry draft.
It is the football world’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? – Reality TV at its finest. The young stars of the college gridiron will meet their professional destinies face to face and the rest of the world, including myself, will tune in to watch them.
The yearly event that takes place this April, 22nd through the 24th in New York’s Radio City Music Hall has blossomed into one of the most interesting and most followed aspects of football. It not only provides an organized format for NFL teams to take turns selecting the top college talent but it also offers another chance for fans to brag or whine about their team. Discovering who will be gracing plasma screens across the nation for possibly the next decade can be equivocal to getting a new car. You want to show it off to your friends while at the same time crossing your fingers and hoping it performs at the highest level, at least until you are finished making the payments on it. Occasionally you score the dream car which more than fulfills your expectations and other times, unfortunately, you get a lemon.
The whole story of the NFL Draft starts in 1936 with the Philadelphia Eagles as the first team ever on the clock. They then selected Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago and he went on to be flop. In fact, he never even played a down of professional football. Since then, the NFL draft has gradually blossomed into a multi-media phenomenon that has uniquely become just as much of a spectacle as the Super Bowl itself. In fact, viewer ratings of the draft have gone up 62% in the last six years and the league is banking on increasing that number, at least for the first round. This year, for the first time ever, it will be broadcast live on a Thursday night. This will be the first time it has been in a prime time slot and with a livelier format it could probably draw the same type of following as Survivor and American Idol.
Growing up on ‘80’s television I was subjected to a lot of game shows such as Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. Sure, it was fun to play along and try to solve the puzzles or guess the correct answers before the contestant could figure it out, but there was more to it than that. It was fun to see how much money somebody could walk away with and the more money somebody was playing for the more interesting it became. The NFL Draft has no shortage of young, instant wealth which has also become part of the draw. Where else will you see a guy anxiously waiting to be called to a podium where he will realize his dreams of becoming a famous, multi-million dollar earning pro athlete?
For a lot of interested parties, die-hard fans and sports writers the NFL draft also presents an opportunity to flex their prognosticating muscles. Mock drafts are a dime a dozen these days and if you have never seen one you can go to the NFL Draft Dog (nfldraftdog.com) and view several differing opinions on how it will turn out.
In a relatively young country still forming its cultures and traditions, American football is one thing that has started as and remained an American institution. We as fans hold all its rituals and folklore, no matter how trivial they may seem to the unacquainted, in high regard. From the singing of the national anthem to the Gatorade showersit is all something we cherish with the solemnity of a religious radical. Not to make light of those with devout beliefs but sports in general have an innate ability to draw the best and worst out of those that love it the most.
The draft is no exception to this absolute love. To some fans it may actually be the high point of their sports year. It has become a rite of passage for the players entering a new phase of their life while ceremoniously signaling the end to hard times for a struggling franchise – at least for one more off-season. This year the Rams are the first team on the clock. Whether they take quarterback Sam Bradford or defensive tackle Ndamokung Suh, a high percentage of the hopes and dreams belonging to St. Louis fans will be pinned on the young player they select. After that it will only be a matter of time before we can figure out if they were worth the hype and 50 million dollars that the organization will dish out to them.
While it could be anybody’s guess as to who will go where, there are a few certainties when it comes to the draft. For one thing, you can bet there will be a gaggle of raucous Jets fans filling the hall with cheers and jeers, depending on who their team picks. You can also bet on the Raiders making a selection that leaves the room silent, as it did when it took kicker Sebastian Janikowski in the first round in 2000 with quarterback Chad Pennington and running back Shaun Alexander still on the board. Honestly, the draft would not be nearly as fun to watch without Raiders owner Al Davis in his Evil Kneivel jump-suit making a decision that causes draft guru Mel Kiper to choke on his diet soda.
The draft has also seemingly become the highlight of the NFL Commissioner’s yearly duties as well. Nobody would even know what he looked like if he did not make the traditional walk to the podium every year, acting like a Michael Buffer-ish ring announcer at a heavyweight fight. Former commish Paul Tagliabue could hardly wipe the smile off his face while announcing that the first team “is on the clock”. When he vacated his position and Roger Goodell came on, it was like Leno taking over for Carson.
So if you are new to the ins and outs of the NFL Draft, this year is a good one to get yourself up to date. It is the 75th anniversary of the event so the league will be pulling out all the stops. It just so happens that this year’s crop of prospects is one of the deepest and most talented overall classes that we have seen in a while. One reason being is that more college underclassmen, being juniors and sophomores, have entered the draft more than any other previous year. With the state of the economy today that is not such a bad idea for a young man, considering that there are a lot of people out there with college degrees washing dishes and waiting tables. I suspect that next year we will see more of the same.
Personally, this is my favorite time of the year for a few reasons. First and foremost, winter exits and spring enters, and with the advent of spring comes not just the beautiful weather, but also, the very first true “Spring Classic,” THE NFL DRAFT!
I cannot help but smile as I write this article because it has brought back so many fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn. I did not have access to cable TV until 1988, so I never even watched a telecast of the NFL Draft until 1989. It wasn’t until then that I discovered the king of the draft, Mel Kiper, sporting his trademark DA hair-style, By the way, if you people think Mel has big hair now, well, bare in mind that the 80’s were all about big hair and Kiper not only had a lot of jacked-up hair, but between he and Jimmy Johnson, well, lets just say the two of them kept the share-holders for the hair-spray companies very happy. Sorry Mel! I’m a big fan.
Back in the day, when we needed an up to the minute scoring update, we would call “Sports-Phone,” which was essentially a recording that was updated about every half hour by a variety of the local sports reporters in New York. You would call and get a recorded message with all the up to the minute scores. Sports-Phone was especially beneficial to us sports fans if we were at a wedding, for instance, or if it were late in the baseball season during the pennant race and we wanted to find out what some of the rivals were doing. Lets be honest about something, though; Sports-phone was created for and became the degenerates gambler’s life-line. Trust me! Unfortunately I know ! But I digress. Sports-phone really came in handy because it was the only access I had to the up to the minute selections on draft day. Whereas today, I could just check my phone. I remember calling every fifteen minutes for about 8 hours on the first day of the draft, just so I could get each selection as they came. I would pretty much do the same the very next day, too.
Remember that back in the 80’s, the NFL Draft was not 7 rounds, it was 12 rounds. The thing with Sports -Phone was that, well, in addition to being a really cool tool, it was a little pricey, though. Luckily, not as pricey as the sex-phone chat lines. Not that I would know! Anyway, when mom got Aprils phone bill in May, let’s just say she found another use for the big wooden spoon she regularly used for Sunday pasta!
The draft has evolved into a phenomenon that is almost mind-blowing. As you may know, the draft is entering it’s 75th year. That’s 75 years of intrigue, excitement, drama, busts, and home runs. If you look at the evolution of the draft, it’s not as if it has been a meteoric rise from the start. Far from it, in fact. The draft started out and had been paired down from over 14 rounds. Back then, the NFL teams did not always have the funds to send scouts all over the country to check out many of the small school talents. As a result, it was not uncommon to have some small school “finds” stay home and play with the NFL team that the player was geographically closer to. No prospect goes unnoticed today, regardless of the school he attends.
There are no secrets in the area of scouting today, not even when it comes to finding those truly obscure, small school “gems” or “sleepers.“ Think of Andre Reed, who hailed from a little known school called Kutztown State or Jerry Rice, who was the product of a great football factory, Mississippi Valley State. In today’s NFL, however, everyone is a known commodity. Gary Jeter, the former Ram great was a guy drafted at the end of the draft in the 14th round. With the finances NFL teams invest in scouting, and with the advent of the information highway, small school stars are not only heavily scouted, but they may even be selected very high in the draft, like Dallas Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware (Troy State).
The draft has always had something of a cult following with a select few of NFL fans, otherwise known as “Draftniks.” By the way, for the purpose of full disclosure, yours truly is, has been, and will always be a die hard Draftnik! Years ago, when the draft was shown exclusively on ESPN, and cable TV was not an option for everyone, many of us would make the trek to the Marriot Marquise Hotel in NYC to watch the draft in person. Attending the draft is not completely understood by the masses, even by many die-hard football fans. My brother (a Jets’ fan), for one, could never quite grasp the concept of getting into the whole draft frenzy, especially traveling to and seeing it in person. He would ask me “So you’re going to wait on line for 6 hours just so you can to get into the Marriot, and then you’re going to sit there for another 6 hours and listen to a guy announce a name every fifteen minutes?” Of course, I responded rather incredulously “Yeah! And what is it “you” don’t get here?“ Yes, I was indeed a draftnik and a football “geek!” And I embraced it!
I remember my first trip to the NFL Draft back in 1993. I waited in line with a peculiar bunch, to say the least. Honestly, It felt as if I were in line at a Star Trek convention. No, Folks, I am not a fan of Star Trek and really don’t understand the whole “trekki” mind-set! Try to picture this, though. Some of the fans in line were seemingly in their mid 30’s and had that “I still live at home with mom look.” What’s more, some even came to the draft sporting those “uber-cool” transistor radio-ear phones that were such a big hit back in the 1980’s! Indeed, you had a very unique and vast array of fans who attended the draft years ago. I have to admit, though, I got a real kick out of all the Raider Nation fans who showed up. I couldn’t resist taking some pictures with them. Those guys were great! The outfits were hilarious, and seeing them brought me back a few years earlier as a kid growing up and watching wrestling. I was a big fan of the Road Warriors and that’s exactly what some of these guys reminded me of.
Once inside, the Jets’ fans at the 1993 NFL Draft were extremely vocal and we made it abundantly clear whom we wanted them to draft. Marvin Jones! In fact, what I will always remember about that day was how we made a 20yr old man feel like he was on top of the world. Jones was one of the 8 or 9 players invited by the NFL to attend the draft. Not only was this young man about to be selected by an NFL team and become a newly minted millionaire, but he was thoroughly embraced by the Jets’ faithful! Thanks to the telecast of the draft on ESPN, the entire country knew New York wanted their guy, Marvin Jones! He could not show his face on stage without the Jets’ fans getting whipped up into a frenzy, shouting and pounding the balcony seats while screaming his name. All morning long, all you could hear from the balcony were chants of “Mar-vin Jo-nes!” The place just erupted when the commissioner called his name. Surely, it must have been a great feeling for “Shadetree Jones!”
The response from the fans in the balcony has always been interesting. Especially when it came to the Jets fans. First off, back then the Jets were not the well run and aggressive organization they are today. It was always “how are they going to screw this pick up this year?” So to have the Jets’ faithful overwhelmingly approve and cheer a selection is very rare, to be sure. Who can forget the film clip from 1983 of former commissioner Pete Rozelle with the smirk on his face as he announced the Jets selection of QB Kenny O’brien, from Cal- when DAN MARINO WAS ON THE BOARD? Yes, the Jets have a litany of draft misses and busts. What’s more, some of those busts came at the expense of passing up players like Richmond Webb, Junior Seau, Emmit Smith-and that was just one round from the same draft!
The Jets were never safe from the criticism of media members like Mel Kiper, either. My first memory of a televised draft was Mel Kiper and his big hair ripping the Jets to shreds for not knowing what the draft was all about and how to maneuver through the draft. Kiper went nuts over the jets selecting Jeff lageman, who was a pretty good prospect and turned out to be a solid player. The problem was that, according to Kiper and some NFL scouts, Lageman had an across the board 2nd round grade. What’s more, he was drafted ahead of Michigan State WR Andre Rison, and wide-receiver was a major need for the Jets that year, too. Kiper’s on-air ripping of the Jets is still shown from time to time when ESPN pops on some of the NFL draft flashbacks.
As the draft began to really become a national phenomenon with NFL fans, Kiper had his share of on the air tussles with various football executives. One of the more notable confrontations was with former Indianapolis Colts GM, Bill Tobin. Tobin went into an on air tirade, basically calling into question the knowledge and integrity of Mel Kiper, after Tobin bristled at Kiper’s ripping of his decision to pass over QB Trent Dilfer. The Colts, prior to the arrival of Peyton Manning, were just an awful, and absolutely inept organization and Tobin took umbrage with Kiper‘s criticism, who in Tobin’s mind was under-qualified in the scouting department and nothing more than a sports handicapper.
He looked at Kiper as nothing more than a guy who sat alone in his basement watching film of college players. The late Joel Bushbaum, a proud Brooklyn alumni, who unfortunately died way too young in 2002, was exactly that. In fact, he was the guy who paved the way for the likes of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. Bushbaum knew his business, too. His scouting was not only respected, but he was often referenced by some NFL teams and scouts. In fact, he was so good at his work that he would often turn down offers to work in the scouting department of NFL teams. I always made it my business to get Bushbaum’s annual draft edition and his work never disappointed. He was in a class by himself
The draft has become every fans “off-season super bowl!” What made this such a huge phenomenon, in my opinion, was the fact that teams who were perennial door-mats, the Cardinals (prior to Whisenhunt taking over), my Jets, the Bengals, just to name a few, had a chance to close the gap a little each April. Fans were excited at the possibility of their lovable losers striking gold and coming up with an all time great, like Lawrence Taylor, Peyton manning, or a Larry Fitzgerald. They say in baseball that “Hope springs eternal in February!“ Well, in football, “Hope springs eternal in April!”
For many years, ESPN has enjoyed sole possession of the broadcast rights to the draft. And for the last 20 years or so, the NFL draft has become a ratings boom and a major money-maker for the network. Thankfully, for people like myself, who have really grown tired of the on-air droids at ESPN, the NFL network was born. The NFL network is the one and only true source to televised pre-draft coverage. As a fan of the draft, you’re lucky if ESPN devotes even a few moments to the draft on either NFL Live and/or Sportscenter. Conversely, the NFL Network, however, floods the air with pre-draft coverage. Really, can anyone say Mike Mayock is not only the best in the business, but a great listen, too? His voice never gets old and you never want to throw a brick through the TV like I often want to do when I hear a guy like Dick Vitale. Thank the Lord Dicky V. is only a basketball guy!
The popularity of the NFL Draft is getting to be so outrageous. So much as so that the NFL has looked to capitalize on its popularity by making the first round of this years draft a prime-time show. The draft is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm (EST) on Thursday, April 22, with rounds 2 & 3 scheduled to take place on Friday, April 23rd, and the remaining rounds of the draft concluding on Saturday.
The spike in popularity is not just evident in the NFL’s decision to switch the broadcast of the draft from Saturday afternoons to prime -time, but also with the growth of internet draft sites, as well as the plethora of draft magazines that have flooded the news stands over the past few years. To be sure, the NFL draft is a bigger off-season event than most of the post-season games that are televised by the other major sports. Would anybody be surprised if the 1st round of this years draft scores a higher national rating than the opening round of the upcoming NBA and NHL playoffs?
The televising of the draft is entertaining for so many different reasons. It’s not just the anticipated Bronx jeers that we hear when the teams make an unpopular choice, like when the Philly fans viciously responded to the choice of Donovan McNabb over the flakey Texas RB, Ricky Williams. Hey Cheese-steak fans, how’d that one turn out for you? For me, I love it when we hear the fans boo some obscure offensive guard taken from a school like UAB or one of the MAC schools. Because we all know how the draft-nicks know all about a guy like Sebastian Vollmer, or Vladamir Ducasse. It often amazes me at how so many fans seemingly go to the draft just to boo a selection or even call into their local sports talk radio right after the pick to rip their favorite team. Even with all the access we have to prospects today, the fickle nature of fans never ceases to amaze me.
I remember shaking my head in disbelief at the 2000 draft when the Jets selected a DE from a terrible South Carolina squad. The fans booed like crazy and were more than enraged at the pick. It was highly unlikely, however, that any of those fans got a chance to see South Carolina the previous fall because they were such a terrible team, and therefore received minimal national exposure. I turned to my buddy and said this guy’s going be “our best pass-rusher since Gastineau and Klecko!” The player was John Abraham! What was amusing was the reaction right after the selection. Immediately after the selection, the giant screen in front of the fans in the balcony flashed all of Abraham’s many highlights. It was impressive, to say the least. The boos stopped and you could a pin drop. It was almost as if everyone looked around at one another and said, “Well I didn’t boo! Wasn’t me! Nope!”
After 75 years there is no doubting how much the draft has grown and just how far it has come in its popularity. It is truly amazing, because in some respects when you get right down to it, the criticism we draft-geeks hear is somewhat warranted to an extent. We work ourselves up into a crazy frenzy just to hear a name called. There is something overtly strange about this whole phenomenon.
I for one, however, could care less. For I love spring-time because I love the draft! I love Mel Kiper and I love his hair. Most of all, however, I love all the information overload leading up to the draft and I love the fact that I no longer have to call Sports-phone 50 times a day during the draft! So get ready to boo or cheer that selection of a player you’ve never seen before and probably wouldn‘t know if he mugged you and took your girlfriend, because you’re a draft-nick and that’s your duty! That’s right, Scream at your television when your team drafts a player that you “know” will be out of the league in 2 or 3 years when, in fact, he will become an 8 time pro bowler and future hall of famer. Because you’re a draft-nick and that’s what you do! Yes, kids! The NFL draft is back and it’s bigger and better than ever!
In less than three weeks, the St. Louis Rams will make one player, most likely Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, a very famous and rich man when they take him #1 overall in the up and coming NFL Draft.
With the honor of being grabbed #1 and the riches that always follow (an expected signing bonus of at least 30 million dollars and a guarantee contract of 3 to 5 years) come high expectations. Expectations that sometimes proved to be too heavy on the shoulders of the draftee.
Of the 10 number one overall selections in the NFL Draft this decade, only three have sure-fire outstanding careers. Two had been consistent, albeit not great, starters. While the rest should be considered complete bust at this time.
2009: Detroit Lions: QB Matt Stafford, Georgia
The jury still is out on this strong armed former Bulldog. He took the usual slums rookie QBs are expected to have, but he displayed enough promise and more importantly to the Lions, leadership skills, to have the city excited for the first time in 15 years.
Status: Too early to project
2008: Miami Dolphins: OT Jake Long, Michigan Made the Pro Bowl his first year in the league (only the fourth #1 pick to do so). He repeated the feat last season. Big and strong, Long, who started since Day One, is the anchor of the Dolphins’ offensive line.
Status: Boom
2007: Oakland Raiders: QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU
On the field, Russell is a complete bust. In three years with the team he has posted mediocre (4,083 passing yards with only 18 TDs and 23 interceptions and a QB rating of 66.09)numbers, at best and his future with the organization is in doubt. That said, it easy to blame Oakland (they bypassed RB Adrain Peterson and OT Joe Thomas, two Pro Bowl players) for this disaster, but in the spring of 2007, the Raiders did not had a choice but to grab a signal caller with the first pick. The team came off a pedestrian 2006 and were in dire need of a face lift.
Status: Complete bust at 24!
2006: Houston Texans: DE Mario Williams, North Carolina State
This selection will forever be remembered by the ‘what could have been’ factor no matter how well Williams does. He did made two (2010 and 09) Pro Bowls and had been a started since arriving to Houston. But the fact remains he hasn’t transformed the franchise. The Texans are still in need of defensive lien help despite investing millions. To make things more interesting, the two players pundits had them picking #1, RB Reggie Bush and QB Vince Young, had taken their teams to the playoffs, something the Texans are yet to experiment.
Status: Boom, but not great
2005: San Francisco 49ers: QB Alex Smith Utah
The great debate in 2005 was which quarterback the Niners will take at number one, Cal’s Aaron Rodgers or Smith. Scouts raved on and on about Smith’s physical and leadership abilities while at the same time, downgrading Rodgers despite having the stronger arm and a more complete background in a pro-set offense (Smith ran Urban Meyers’ complicated spread offense for the Utes). Still SF took Smith mostly because of his superior agility and accuracy. Two traits he has hardly displayed in the Bay during his tenure there.
In his defend the Niners had never surrounded the 6-foot-4 quarterback with a stable coaching staff nor a top flight WR or a decent offensive line. And despite it all, Smith displayed maturity, poise and blue chip athleticism late last year. He threw for 18 scorers (12 INTs) in an unimaginative offense. Given time, stability and a better receiving corps (Michael Crabtree), he still could develop into the franchise QB the team desperately need.
Status: Bust with potential
2004: New York Giants (trade) QB Eli Manning, Ole Miss
It is unfair to compare Eli and Payton’s careers, but such is the nature of the beast. Numbers wise, the Big Brother wins by a landslide. But overall, the former Rebel signal caller isn’t far off in terms of on the field success. Eli validated his lofty draft status when he delivered a Super Bowl title three years ago. But he is much more than one playoff run. Quietly, the youngest of the Manning in the NFL have taken his place among the elite QBs. His 4,021 passing yards, 27 TDs and a 93.1 rating in 2009 placed him on the top echelon. At 29, he will be entering the prime year for quarterbacks.
Status: Boom
2003: Cincinnati Bengals: QB Carson Palmer, USC
The best pick the Bengals had taken in more than twenty years. Injuries and poor team chemistry has robed him of more stardom, but overall, he is one of the best passers in the AFC. Good arm strength and top notch mechanics are what separate him from the pack. The only knock on him is that he hasn’t won on a consistent basis. But that is more a reflection of Cincinnati’s talent level than on Palmer. His career TD-INT ratio (128-80) is as solid as they come. With better receivers and a more creative offensive scheme, this 6-foot-5 pocket passer could have a big second half of his career.
Status: Boom
2002: Houston Texans: QB David Carr, Fresno State
Much like the Raiders (2007), the Texans did not have a real choice in 2002. This is not saying Carr was a bad pick at the time. In fact, an argument can be made that he was projecting stardom before the house felt on him in 2007. Blessed with better-than-average arm strength, good athleticism and pocket presence, Carr was viewed as the corner stone of the new Texas franchise. Unfortunately for all involve with his selection, the team failed to surround him with decent offensive line. Took 249 sacks and 594 hurries in just four year officially ending his confidence and his career as a functional NFL starting quarterback. His career is reminiscence of another highly touted passer, Jim Everret (Los Angels Rams QB in the early 1990s), who flamed out under constant pressure.
Status: Bust
2001: Atlanta Falcons: QB Michael Vick, Virginia Tech
One of the most intriguing players ever to take the field, Vick was everything the Falcons envisioned, and sadly, more. On the field, few players matched him in athleticism. Blessed with a powerful left arm and the speed of a top tier wide receiver, Vick ruled the team until his demise in 2007. But what makes him a boom pick was his ability to raise the team’s level of play. He was a winning QB on a team that seldom had winning seasons prior to his arrival.
Status: Boom 2000: Cleveland Browns: DE Courtney Brown, Penn State
Brown has the distinction of being one of the worse top picks in the 2000s. Cleveland made this highly reel pass rushing defensive end their second straight (QB Tim Couch of Kentucky was drafted in 1999) number one pick. There was little argument about the need for an edge rusher in Brownville, but the team omitted obvious playing field flaws on Brown (lack of intensity, poor tackling technique and an apprehension to support the run) that in the end cost them dearly. They should had been better off taking DE John Abraham (South Carolina) which went 13th to Jets but is still playing (Atlanta Falcons) at a high level.
The release of QB Marc Bulger most likely put an end to any discussion of regarding the first overall pick in this month NFL Draft. Barring a complete shocker, the St. Louis Rams will select Oklahoma junior passer Sam Bradford.
The Rams management hopes the Bradford selection puts to an end a string of questionable recent first round picks. In recent drafts, the team has more than miss on its first round picks. Some, like 2008 DE Chris Long and 2007 DT Adam Carriker, although serviceable, hasn’t developed into the full time playmakers the team sorely need. The same can be said of last year’s top choice, OT Jason Smith.
The rest of the 2009 class, with the exception of MLB James Laurinatis, could be viewed as a complete disappointment.
1. Jason Smith, OT Baylor (1st round): He was considered to be a top athlete with an uncanny ability to move into the second level. In eight games played, only five starting for an offensive linemen-deprived team, Smith did not impressed anyone. He did displayed solid run blocking, but the agility he showed at the Indianapolis Combine last February was sorely missing on pass protection. A concussion ended his rookie year before he can demonstrate anything more. Status: Bust
2. James Laurinatis (2nd round), LB Ohio State: Coming into the draft, many scouts downgraded him base mostly on his poor athletic prowess. That was their mistake and the Rams can’t be more thrilled about it. The son of a former pro wrestler quickly established himself as a difference maker. His run support is second to none on the team and his coverage skills, although not to the standards of elite interior linebackers, is not as deficient as many though. With more work and experience, Laurinatis could become a premier star in the league. Status: Boom
3. Bradley Fletcher (3rd round), CB Iowa: This is one of the saddest stories of the Rams 2009 draft. Fletcher was joining the starting rotation before suffering a season-ending injury. His two passes broken up against Arizona’s Pro Bowl WR Larry Fitzgerald was a preview of things to come. If he is fully recovered, the sky is could be the limit. In seven games played, the former Hawkeye showed a solid coverage skill set with a deceptive second gear. His run support needs more work, but overall, the talent is there for a solid career. Status: Boom
4. Darell Scott (4th round), DT Clemson: This is one of the most intriguing players drafted last year. Played on the right side and mad the rotation by mid season. Had some questionable performances early on, but really came into his own late in the year. At 6-foot-3, 315 pounds and blessed with a great lateral agility, Scotts figures to be an integral part of the defensive line. This does not mean he is star material. In fact he is more suited for situational relive appearance than anything else. A solid backup. Status: Boom
5. Brooks Foster (5th round), WR North Carolina: Picked mostly because of his special teams play, Foster never made it into the field due to an ankle injury. Some pundits are impressed by the speed he displayed in training camp, but there was a reason he never cracked the Tar Heels’ starting unit despite the team having an obvious need at the position. Most likely he will not make the 2010 roster. Status: Bust
6. Keith Null (6th round), QB West Texas A&M: Unsuccessfully tried to make the jump from West Texas to an starting position in the NFL. Did not display the arm strength and athletic ability he once showed in pre-draft workouts. Looked lost and slow in the field. More troubling, he never seemed to improve in extensive (full 4 games) action. Status: Bust
7. Chris Ogbonnaya (7th round), RB Texas: Expend most of the season on the practice squad. Played little late and did not show enough to merit a second chance in 2010. He did have a couple of catches and two semi-impressive runs, but that will not be enough for him to hang in the roster. Status: Bust
Is a common assumption that this year’s offensive guard class is one of the deepest in recent memory. For the first time in a while, there’s a true blue chip prospect (Idaho’s Mike Iupati) who projects to go somewhere in the top twenty picks of the draft.
Aside Iupati, there’s a good number of offensive guards that look slated to be taken in the first three rounds. But what separates this group from previous ones is the depth in the later rounds. Nearly half of the guards projected to be taken are slated to go in the middle rounds.
The depth of the class extends beyond the first four rounds. In fact, many scouts believe that the ‘meat’ of the guards could be selected in the last two rounds. With this in mind, here’s a look at a few prospect which have the chance to shine on Sundays despite its projected late round selected status.
1.Marshall Newhouse, TCU (6’3”, 325lb, 5.08 40-yard time): One of the most athletic players in this class, Newhouse had found his value drop dramatically this offseason. The main culprit is his lack of any spectacular trait. He does have short arms, another point scouts had emphasized while grading him, but his uncanny flexibility, lateral movement and knee bending agility, more than offset that. He is raw and inconsistent, but he is by far, one of the most intriguing prospects around. Projection: 6th round
2.Jacques McClendon, Tennessee (6’3”, 324, 5.29): This relative small and slow prospect is one of the most powerful inline blockers in the draft. His strength and leg drive are top notch. Unfortunately for him, his lack of speed and agility (he has struggled to consistently reach the second level) will push him down the second day. Despite his shortcomings, McClendon will be a perfect fit, in time, for a team operating a straight-up zone blocking scheme. Projection: 6th round
3.Zipp Duncan, Kentucky (6’4”, 293, 5.14): There are a plethora of reasons why he could go undrafted (lack of bulk, thin arms and inconsistent technique) but what he brings to the table cannot be teach or gained through the weight room. The former Wildcat is one of the more explosive players in this class. His first step more than matched that of many other more highly regarded prospects. His ability to gain separation and move into the second level is his trump card. A great sixth to seven rounder who, with additional bulk, could start one day in the NFL. Projection: 7th round
4.Greg Boone, Virginia Tech (6’2”, 290, 4.78): Maybe the faster player at his position, Boone is also one of the most overrated prospects around. Has an small frame which curtail him from adding muscle mass and a low power base. On the plus side, he is ultra quick. Reaches the second level with fluidity and can pull with the best of them. Because he played most of his career at TE, there’s a chance that the team that draft him will consider placing him in an H-back slot. A ‘tweener who lacks the bulk to succeed at the next level as a pure guard but has enough natural talent to contribute right away in other areas. Projection: 6th round
5.Alex Parsons, USC (6’3”, 300, 5.26): There are a ton of arguments why Parsons should not be drafted: he is small framed with no explosiveness and zero lateral agility. The argument for him is center on his technique and competitiveness. Both traits are top notch. Another above average trait is his ability to seal off linebackers at the second level on north-west running plays. He will never be a fulltime starter in the NFL, but he should become an adequate backup guard for years. Projection: Free Agent
Compare to the last three years, 2010 is shaping up to be a banner year for cornerbacks. Up to twenty five corners should their name called in this April’s NFL Draft. Unlike 2009, this is a more balance class as there is only one player (Florida’s Joe Haden) who consistently grades as first round material.
But what this class lacks in top tier talent, it certainty made it up with depth. Nearly half of the 25 projected CB drafted will come in the later stages of the process.
Look for the fifth round to be a particular fertile with around seven possible going there. With this in mind, here’s a look at this year’s CB class possible late round (5th to 7th) gems.
1. Joshua Morgan, Kansas State (5’11”, 188 lb, 4.44 40-yard time): This is one of the better prospects around. A solid cover guy with top end speed, Morgan will be a hot commodity come Day 2. What sets him apart of the field is his ability to support the run with explosiveness. If he can fuel that burst into pass defense, he can become a shut down corner in the NFL. Projection: 5th round
2. Brian Jackson, Oklahoma (6’1”, 200, 4.55): A big, physical corner who will most likely be converted into a safety. It could be a big mistake, because despite his size and lack of speed, Jackson is an instinct CB. He has the agility to play and excel in a Cover 2-type of scheme. Much has been said about his poor workout numbers. Throw that aside, he is a much better football player than an athlete and in the next level, teams will figure it out soon. Possible sleeper. Projection: 5th round
3. Walter Thurmond, Oregon (6’0”, 187, 4.54): If he was healthy, Thurmond would have been ranked higher than this. He is a good, quick corner who can succeed in either man-to-man or zone coverage. Despite a serious knee injury, the former Duck star still retains much of his lateral speed and closing burst. Two traits any CB will trade for. The team that takes a gamble on him could prosper tremendously down the stretch. Projection: 6th round
4. Stephen Virgil, Virginia Tech (5’11”, 189, 4.48): Virgil’s lacks of closing burst, despite having great timed speed, is his biggest drawback, aside his recent knee surgery. If he is fully recover, and for all intend and purpose he looks to be well on his way, he should rise up this level. Big and with the frame to add more bulk, Virgil could become a legitimate playmaker on Sundays very soon. His pure speed, lateral movement and physical style are tailor made for an aggressive Cover 2 system. Projection: 7th round
5. Jamar Wall, Texas Tech (5’10”, 201, 4.50): A true sleeper who have the chance to become a solid starter in the NFL for years. Have great cover skills, lateral agility and closing speed. His instincts are above average as well. The biggest drawback on him is perceived uninspired run support. He also does not read fast enough some plays in front of him. But these deficiencies should be corrected with better coaching and more dedication. Overall, he is one of the best prospects in this class and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he emerges as a top tire cornerback in the NFL. Projection: 7th round
