The Evolution of the Draft

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!

By John Avvento bambam3qqq@aol.com

2000s #1 Overall Picks Revierw

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.

Status: Complete Bust

By Raul Colon

St. Louis 2009 Draft Review

By Raul Colon

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

Late round guard sleepers

By Raul Colon

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

Some possible CBs gems

By Raul Colon

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

NFL News Niblets for March 2010

Best comment of the month: “The retired NFL players are pawns in the CBA negotiations.”

by Marvin Cobb on Mar 19th, 2010

Well said, Bill. Thank you for speaking up for us old timers, as we continue to find our voice and stand up for ourselves. The Independent Advocates for Retired Players are gathering for the second year in a row in Las Vegas next month to educate and inspire our fellow former players to find our voices and stand up for better pensions and a reformed disability system that takes into account our unique health challenges. Again, thank you for your support.

I really appreciate all the comments we get. Your comments keep me writing this site. Marvin, I can not add anything to what you have said. Too often both the owners and active players seem to forget that it was the Jim Browns and thousands of other players that have made the game what it is today. Had it not been for them, the current guys would not be getting anything close to the money they enjoy.

Updates on previous columns:

What does the Williams' case mean for the NFL's drug policy?

We should know in 6 weeks the outcome in Minnesota state court. Hennepin County Judge Gary Larson has set an April 2nd deadline for both sides filing their final briefs and said that he would have a decision within 6 weeks of that date. On the line is every professional and college sports drug policy in the country. While this one judge will not be the final arbiter, it will one side the advantage of precedence.

American Needle v. NFL

We are still waiting for the decision of the US Supreme Court on this case. If the NFL loses the entire nature of professional leagues will be changed. We will keep you advised.

Does the NFL need to change the overtime rules?

The rule change was approved 28-4. That sounds very close to the vote on the last Collective Bargaining Agreement (30-2) and look how nicely that turned out.

The retired NFL players are pawns in the CBA negotiations.

Hopefully the new CBA will include more for the retired players. I have outlined DeMaurice Smith and the NFLPA's options on Draft Dog's NFL News Notes and Rumors dated March 18th. I outlined the leagues options and what a 2011 season without a CBA might look like in the article dated March 22nd. Check that out.

Niblets fresh from the cob:

Cleveland goes 19-0 and wins the 2010 Super Bowl--kind of.

Unfortunately that was not the Cleveland Browns, it was my Sportsims.net Cleveland team in the Elway League. If you are missing fantasy football, try a free league at Sportsims.net. It lets you trade players and draft choices, draft, and play a season a month. It's great fun and it is absolutely free.

The nature of the 2010 NFL Draft"It was the best of times and the worst of times." No, I am not rewriting the great novels of history but this draft is exactly that. There are not a lot of big school top picks or the traditional senior "name brands" that the casual fan will recognize in this draft. Part of that is because there are so many juniors coming out this year. But this draft is the deepest draft I have seen in the last 10 years. Understand that I have been studying the draft since 1960 so I am kind of new at this.

The D prospects are particularly deep with a lot of small school guys that are outstanding prospects. Check out my "under the radar" columns in the NFLDraftDog.com blog area for the guys that I think will be real steals in the later rounds of the draft.

The NFL teams are taking advantage of the uncapped year.

Teams have used this uncapped year to eliminate bad contracts for overpaid players and cut their total salary liability. 12 teams are now under the 2090 minimum salary and more are headed there soon. DeMaurice Smith once said the NFLPA would never agree to a salary cap in the future. He is now preaching the value of a salary cap. That shows us all how much the economic downturn has impacted the teams.

A look at some of the 2010 Draft Specialist

Unlike last year when six kickers were drafted, most in five years, the 2010 crop boost only one top prospect and a bunch on undistinguished specialist. At the head of the class is Michigan’s punter Zoltan Mesko. The 6-foot-4, 234 pounder is the only kicker projected to go in the early stages of Day 2.

But what this class lacks on top tier talent, they more than make it up with depth. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see as many as seven specialists from the 2010 class playing on Sundays in the fall.

With this in mind, here’s a look at some kickers and punters that should receive consideration come April.

Punters

1. Mesko: Easily the top athlete at his position. He has a powerful leg drive. The ball tends to explode off his foot. He needs to improve his technique, more pressing, his leg drop, which is a tad too low. But overall, his far and head the top player of this class.
Projection: Fourth Round

2. Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech (6’3”, 204, 4.79): A solid prospect without any outstanding quality. Is very consistent punter with a tall drop point and smooth kicking motion. On the downside, he does not posses the strongest leg out there. He also has some accuracy issues when punting against the wind.
Projection: Sixth Round

Kickers

1. Brett Swenson, Michigan State (5’7”, 177, 5.00): The best short-to-mid kicker in the draft, Swenson will offer the team that draft him a consistent performed who will not get rattle. Is a clutch player coming huge in big time situation. Has good mechanics and leg drive. The only knock on him is his lack of power. The ball does not explode off his foot. Nevertheless, his skill set and intangibles are tailor made for dome teams.
Projection: Seventh Round

2. Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State (6’0”, 180, 4.95): A great athlete with strong enough leg to make all the kicks. The big drawback on him is his lack of passion. He wasn’t even the staring kicker on his team prior to 2009 despite clearly being the best. His mechanics, specially, his sweeps, needs more refinement. As it is, Pettrey should gather a late round flyer by a desperate club.
Projection: Seventh Round

Jimmy Clausen's possible landing spot

With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, there is already a wind swirl around the class’ best pocket passer. The recent trade barrage has left many wondering about Notre Dame’s QB Jimmy Clausen draft status.

Once pegged to go as high as fourth to the Washington Redskins, now the former high school wonder kid could very well slide into the top part of the second round. It all depends on what the Buffalo will do.

Sitting at ninth, the Bills controls Clausen stock. If the club follows a logical path, they will take the emotional Fighting Irish passer. They do have other needs, most glaring an anchor offensive tackle, but the number one priority is quarterback.
There’s little change the Buffalo will not win with their current group of QBs.

Former starter, Trent Edwards is not a franchise-type player. The other two Bills signal callers, Brian Brohm and Ryan Fitzpatrick, are little more than caretakers. They need to address the position now.

But with new head coach Chan Gailey believing in his ability to rehabilitate quarterbacks, there is a better-than-average chance the Bills will pass on Clausen.

With this in mind, here’s the Notre Dame product other possible destinations.

1. Minnesota Vikings (30th overall): If Buffalo do not take him, look for the Vikings to make a hard push for him. This will be the perfect fit for Clausen. Minnesota is loaded with young and extremely talented (RB Adrian Peterson and WR Percy Harvin) skill position players. They had a big and athletic offensive line and a top notch offensive coach (Brad Children). They also are desperate for an upgrade at the position, even if Brett Favre returns. Getting Clausen at this late stage of the round would be considering a steal.

2. Indianapolis Colts (31st): As much as he will fit in Minnesota, the Colts could be an even better landing spot for him. Indianapolis needs to upgrade the position this year. The current backups (Jim Sorgi and 2009 sixth rounder, Curtis Painter) are hardly starting material. In fact, the case could be made that neither should hold a backup spot in the league. Sorgi has looked lost every time he takes the field and in Painter’s case, his mop up duties late last season left too much to be desire of. With Payton Manning entering his 12th year, the team would be wise to commence the search for a future starter. Clausen’s skill set compares favorably with what Indianapolis covets in a quarterback.

3. Washington Redskins (4th): This is the more logical destination for the 6-foot-2 pocket passer. Mike Shannahan’s needs a new start at the position because despite all the accolades he has been throwing at projected starter, Jason Campbell, he knows the team will never win on a consistent basis with the former 2005 first rounder under center. Four years has clearly demonstrated this. But as the draft is being set up, Shannahan will most likely go for a big offensive tackle with the hopes of getting back in the later stages of the first rounds, possible trading with San Francisco at 17th.

4. Cleveland Browns (7th): Despite the recent signing of an ageing quarterback (Jake Delhome) and a talented but erratic one (Seneca Wallace), this team will still like to come out of this draft with a top tire prospect at the position. Those two moves probably take the team out of the running for Clausen with the seven overall pick. Could they move back in the first, ala 2007 when they got back in the first to take a Fighting Irish QB (Brady Quinn)? Not likely. A more palpable possibility is the second round (38th) but by then it could be too late.

Other intriguing landing spots are the Rams, if they do not take Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford at number one, the Raiders, because of owner Al Davis unpredictability, and the 49ers, where the need for a quarterback is still there despite Alex Smith’s promising play down the stretch last season.

A look at some sleepers QB prospects

Almost anyone agrees that unlike the previous two years, this upcoming NFL Draft boost one of the most deluded quarterback classes in years. As was the case last year (Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman), only juniors are projected to be first round material.

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame are the only sure fire selections. Both posses the necessary skill set and intangibles to become franchise signal callers. But aside the Big Two, no other QB is expected to be drafted in the first two rounds. In fact, there’s a good chance only four QBs will be drafted on Day One.

Aside Bradford and Clausen, only Cincinnati’s Tony Pike (6’6”, 212, 4.88) has the possibility of being a top, opening day pick while 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow (Florida, 6’3”, 245, 4.79), will most likely be selected higher than his ability to play the position merit due to his high public persona.

Despite this somewhat lackluster top half of the class, there are several good, late Day 2 prospects who have the talent to become future starters on Sundays. Topping the list is West Virginia’s Jarrett Brown. The 6-foot-3, 218 pounder is one of the faster risers in many boards thanks to his impressive postseason performance.

Brown sports the best arm of the class. He also is a creative player who has the ability to move the chains with his feet (4.64). He will need time to develop, but his skills will intrigue teams looking for a developmental quarterback who will sit and learn for a few years. Cleveland comes to mind. Last week the Browns signed Jake Delhomme. The former Carolina Panther QB, who will battle, and most likely will win, Seneca Wallace for Cleveland’s job; is viewed as just a stopgap measure until a big time playmaker can be find. Brown will be a perfect fit for the club if he is available in the middle rounds.

Another diamond in the rough possibility could be Jonathan Crompton (6’4”, 228, 4.76). The Tennessee product had a career year in 2009 playing in Lane Kiffin’s pro-style offense. He has the arm strength to make any NFL throw and the timing to play in a West Coast-type of system. He will need more coaching and experience, but the overall talent is there for him to make it as a starter. Projected as a mid-to-late fifth rounder, Crompton could prove to be one of the best Day Two picks this year.

That same label can be attached to Oregon State’s Sean Canfield (6’4”, 214, 4.94) who once was viewed as a mid-to-upper second round pick but due to a poor finish and an undistinguished postseason, has dropped all the way back to the end of fifth round. Still, his arm, mobility and accuracy are solid. He needs to work out on his mechanic and foot movement, but he does one thing that neither Brown nor Crompton seem to do, hit his receivers in stride. Look for a team such as New England or Indianapolis, clubs with established stars, to take a long, hard look at Canfield.

John Skelton (6’5”, 244, 4.89) out of Fordham is gathering the most attention of all the possible sleepers. His size and strength are reminiscence of the Raven’s Joe Flacco, but that where the similarities ends. Unlike Flacco (Delaware 2008) who blew scouts since away with his quick and savvy mind, Skelton hasn’t demonstrated the ability to promptly comprehend a complex playbook. That’s why his stock hasn’t rise above the fourth round territory. In time he could develop into a serviceable backup. He is more similar to former Temple great Walter Washington (un drafted FA in 2005) than to the current Baltimore starter.

Scouting Reports on Guys Under the Radar

Roddrick Muckelroy OLB Texas 6' 2" 235

Overall: Muckelroy is the classic sleeper. Few fans realize that he is a good prospect that can get better with good coaching and reps.

Strengths: Muckelroy has above average awareness. He reacts quickly to the play action or screen pass. He has the speed to track down the ball and make the play. He anchors against the run reasonably well but excels in the blitz and in zone coverage against the pass. He has above average ball skills. He is willing to battle for the ball.

Weaknesses: Despite his girth, he gets caught up in the wash more often than you would like. He struggles to separate from the blocker and doesn't seem to have mastered the techniques necessary to use his hands and upper body strength to its maximum advantage. He also is less effective in man pass coverage than zone. He has the mobility to cover but seems to lack the experience.

The Bottom line: Muckelroy was under the radar until last season. But OBs that can cover are a desired commodity. Now he is ranked in the late 5th. Don't be surprised if he is drafted in the late 3rd or early 4th round. He has a significant upside and is a value pick at his level.

Donovan Waren CB 5'11" 193 Michigan

Overall: Warren is a junior that might have been better off staying in school. However he has the skills to develop into an NFL player. He is so young that that it will take him some time to develop.

Strengths: He is able to cover man to man effectively. He has decent speed and fluid hips. He handles multiple moves effectively without losing contact with the receiver. He has quick hands and is effective at knocking the ball away. He plays his best in big games.

Weaknesses: He is a decent hitter but does not jump the run. He doesn't exhibit great instincts. He doesn't have the ball skills to make pick when he has the chance. That will come with experience. As they say, there is a reason that some players are CBs and not WRs.

Bottom Line: He is totally off everyone's draft charts but could catch on as a Rookie Free Agent. Given his age, he is worth taking a chance on.

T.J. Ward SS 5' 11" 211 Oregon

Overall: Ward played well in the Rose Bowl and did OK at the combine running a 4.56. He is on some draft charts but should be on more of them.

Strengths: Any team looking for a Tampa 2 safety should check Ward out. He is solid in zone, breaks on the ball well and helps out the CBs against the long pass. He brings all 211 when he tackles. He can cover the TE man to man deep and despite his height can make a play.

Weaknesses: Despite his size, he doesn't make as many plays against the run as you would expect. He needs to spend more time in the film room. As a pro, he will.

Bottom Line: Ward is a late 3rd or early 4th round prospect in a really deep group at safety. He has the tools to be an above average SS in a Tampa 2 or primarily zone scheme.

Antonio Brown WR 5' 10" 186 Central Michigan

Overall: Brown suffers from being in a small school and being in the 20's in the WR rankings. He will be a nice pick for someone.

Strengths: Brown is one of those guys that just gets open. He runs fairly precise routes and gives good fakes to get away from the DB. He is not very big but attacks the ball. He has good hands and catches the ball crisply. He is quicker than fast which makes him a candidate for the slot receiver spot. He does not lose speed going into and coming out of his breaks. That too helps him get open.

Weaknesses: He is a size/speed combination that is not popular. At 5-10 186 most WRs run better than a 4.57 40. He is not a return guy but is willing on special teams as a gunner.

Bottom Line: Depending on how he runs at his pro day, expect him to be a late 5 or early 6th round pick.

Daryll Clark QB 6' 2" 235 Penn State

Overall: Clark had a much better junior year than senior season. He regressed in terms of TD to interception ratio. In 08 he threw 19 TDs with 6 picks and was considered the top QB in the Big 10. In 09 he threw 24 TDs but had very costly picks that cost his team games. Last year he was a prospect but this season he is considered not draftable. However, those that were around when a guy named Dan Marino had a bad senior year and fell to the Dolphins at pick 27 in the 1983 draft. Clark is not a Marino but he is better than the experts realize.

Strengths: Clark is generally accurate at the short and medium pass. He has above average arm strength but shows good touch of wheel and swing routes out of the backfield. He is tough and will stand in against the rush and throw accurately. He also can throw on the move without losing sight of the WRs down field. He is an above average runner when the pass protection breaks down.

Weaknesses: This season his decision making broke down. In the big games he tended to try to do too much and make plays that weren't there. That was the biggest single contributor to the additional picks. He is also inconsistent with his footwork but that is true of almost all college QBs. He seems to be a good student of the game and the additional time he will have in the film room will help him.

Bottom Line: Being a big name college QB should get him some attention but he is not on the radar. He could be a RFA signing that could turn out to be a good backup QB in the league.

Charles Scott RB LSU 6' 0" 238

Overall: Had Scott stayed healthy all year he might have been in the second group of RBs in the draft. But he was hurt against Alabama and did not play the rest of the year. In 08 he gained 1174 yards, averaged 5.4 per attempt, and scored 18 TDs. In 09 he got just 116 carries for 542 yards and 4 TDs.

Strengths: Scott has the strength to break tackles and enough speed to break big runs. He was not used much as a receiver but catches the ball easily and makes yards after the catch. He shows good vision and has the quickness to get to the hole. He also is a good blocker and can pick up a blitz.

Weaknesses: His speed is in question because of his injury. He is expected to run a 4.7 which is below average for a back. He does not have much experience running routes and it shows.

Bottom Line: Had he been healthy he might have been a late 2 or early 3. Now his draft position will depend on his medical evaluation and how the teams judge it. The best guess now is that if he is going to be ready for the 2010 season, he should be a 5th or 6th round pick. He could be a value there.

Keenan Clayton OLB Oklahoma 6' 1" 229

Overall: I really like this kid. He shows a lot of the skills that I look for in an OB. He is considered not-draftable but I think he would be a good RFA signing.

Strengths: Clayton is equally good against the run and the pass. He has the ability to cover RBs or TEs and has the quick hands to knock the ball away. At 4.66 he wouldn't be expected to have the speed to keep up with the receivers but he anticipates their moves and is quick in and out of a change of direction. He reads plays well and reacts quickly taking good angles to the play. He hits better than expected for a guy his size and will dislodge the ball from the runner. He is quick and alert enough to see a run coming his way and then attacks it down hill getting the tackle in the backfield.

Weaknesses: His biggest weaknesses are his size at just 229 pounds and his speed at 4.66. He doesn't have the speed to convert to S or the body frame to build into a 240 OB. But some players have succeeded at that size.

Bottom Line: His talent and ability to contribute on special teams makes him draftable. If not he should be signed as a RFA.

By Bill Smith informan1@yahoo.com

Bengals' 2010 Draft Preview

The recent signing of free agent Antonio Bryan probably takes the Bengals out of the not-so enviable position of having to reach for a wide receiver in the first round of next month’s NFL Draft. As the draft were set up, Cincinnati would have most likely had taken Illinois’ gifted but extremely raw wide out Arrelious Benn with the 21st overall selection.

The 6-foot-2, 220 pound Benn would have offer a similar skill sets to the newly signed Bryan. Both are tall, lanky players with little burst or straight-line speed. But what the former Bucs lacks in explosiveness and suddenness, he more that made it up with crisp cuts, sharp stops and leaping ability. In a nut shell, he should provide the Bengals with a solid, possession-type receiver capable, if properly motivated (remember 2008 when he came out of exile to post a career-83 receptions, 1,248-year), of topping the 70 catch mark.

Unfortunately, Bryan can’t stretch the field, something Cinci desperately need. This is the reason why the club will pick, at least one wide out. Possibilities variety but if for some reason Notre Dame’s Golden Tate (5’11”, 195lb, 4.44) slip pass the Baltimore Ravens at 25th the Bengals will waste little time in making a move at the top of the second round. Another possibility could be Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster (5’8”, 165lb, 4.42) or Ohio’s fast riser Taylor Price (6’0”, 198, 4.36). Both are expected to be available in the third round.

With their need to reach thrown out of the window the Bengals should go with the best available athlete in the first round. If the draft runs as predicted, head coach Marvin Lewis will have his choice between a speedy end rusher and a pass blocker. Idaho’s guard Mike Iupati (6’5”, 325lb, 5.20) offers the club good value at twenty one. His versatility and strength will allow assistant head coach and offensive line coordinator, Paul Alexander, to move him all along the interior of the line.

If Florida’s DE Carlos Dunlap (6’6”, 290, 4.78) is still on the board, Lewis will be hard press to pass on him. Dunlap carries some off the field baggage and is somewhat immature. But his rare combination of size, strength and speed will entice many teams.

Aside WR, the Bengals will like to come out of New York with a big-play tight end. The current depth chart at position (Chase Coffman, Dan Coats, J.P. Foschi, Darius Hill and Reggie Kelly) reads like a Who-is-who of backup players. Foschi is a dependable target but he is not a different maker. Coats (2nd year out of BYU) can block but offer little else while Hill and Kelly (10th year out of Mississippi State) are below average.

The Bengals would be wise to take Arizona’s Rob Gronkowski (6’6”, 265, 4.76) in the second round, if Tate is gone. ‘Gronk’, as he is commonly known, is arguable the draft’s second best TE. When he is healthy, and he looks to be that way now, the former Wildcat is a solid blocker with great open field playmaking ability. His speed, which tops the more publicized Jermaine Gresham (4.80), will allow Carson Palmer to stretch out the middle of the field on a regular basis.

On the defensive side, the team will look to add depth to its defensive backfield. Another fast cornerback and a big hitting strong safety are needed. This is a particular deep CB class, especially down the bottom half, so the club will have good options in the later rounds. Trevard Lindley (5’11”, 176lb, 4.49) out of Kansas State, Alabama’s Kareem Jackson (5’11”, 192lb, 4.50) and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (6’0”, 205lb, 4.48) out of Indiana, Pa., are good, middle round options. Virginia Tech’s SS Kam Chancellor (6’3”, 232, 4.58) will offer good value in the fourth round.

In the end, Cincinnati needs this draft to be the home run last’s year was if they want to make a prolong playoff run in 2010.

The Top Ten NFL Draft Websites

The 2010 NFL Draft is almost here and it’s that time of year again to start searching for the best draft information, player interviews, player profiles and mock drafts on the internet. Believe me, you will find a large number of websites out there that can provide you with a lot of information about the 2010 NFL Draft. However, with so many sites out there, which sites are the best? Which sites provide you with the most reliable, accurate information about the 2010 NFL Draft?

Let’s take a look at the top ten NFL Draft websites on the internet and find out which are the best. For the purpose of this we only included 100% free sites.

1. NFL Draft Countdown-Website owner Scott Wright continues to impress with a site that is very functional, easy to navigate, pleasing to the eye and continues to provide some of the best draft information that you can find. Scott’s layout is very functional and the information is extremely accurate and helpful to anyone who is interested in learning more about the NFL draft. When looking at this site, I felt that the best part of the site was the mock draft. The website’s mock drafts are always well put together, full of information and some of the best mock drafts out there. The pop ups are annoying though.

2. Walter Football-If you want a lot of great information all in one place (and consistently updated) you need to look no further than Walterfootball.com. Site Owner Walter Cherepinsky has taken a ton of information and put it all into one place where it’s easy to find and simple to understand. Some of the better features of this site include the in depth player profiles that Walter provides along with mailbag pages, mock drafts and other interesting information. The player profiles are the best feature of this website and are some of the most detailed on the internet.

3. The Football Expert-Owner Michael Abromowitz long time website has condensed itself a little bit but still provides some of the best draft information on the internet. The Football Expert site provides detailed information on every prospect in the draft and their position rankings (which are the best feature on the site) are some of the best on the web. Also featured are detailed player profiles that are some of the best on the web. This is one of the easiest sites to navigate and is consistently updated.

4. Great Blue North Draft Report-The GBN Report, owned by Colin Lindsay, is one of the most well updated sites on the internet keeping its readers informed of the latest happenings in both college and professional football. This site features several different draft related features including a detailed positional rankings and a picks by team board that is very easy to understand. The site is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye as well.

5. NFL Draft Dog-With some of the most up to date content on the internet NFL Draft Dog is turning out to be one of the most reliable and timely draft sites on the internet thanks to owner Robert Bryant’s timely updates. Some of the features of this site that help to make it one of the best NFL Draft sites on the internet include the detailed player profiles for many of the prospects coming out in the 2010 NFL Draft. There are also several mock drafts posted to this site and these are constantly updated which is very nice. This site has come a long way and continues to delve into new and interesting areas in both the NFL and College football.

6. Football’s Future-This site continues to impress a lot of people thanks to it’s easy to navigate layout, its graphics and the information that it provides. The best feature of this website is its extensive team needs columns that appear to updated on a regular basis and they are very well detailed. The site also has a place where you can post your mock draft and have other people comment on it. It’s a simple easy to navigate website with lots of great information.

7. New Era Scouting-This site has come a long ways since first coming to the web and now is one of the most informative draft website on the internet. Owner Matt Miller has added some of the great features of this website including a very easy to navigate layout that is very easy to understand and very pleasing to the eye. They also have very detailed scouting reports that are easy to understand along with rankings for every player in the draft. The best thing about this site is its updates including updates (daily) at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine. This is definitely one of the top sites on the web and is getting better all the time.

8. Draft Daddy-The Draft Daddy website has remained one of the better draft websites for a long time thanks to owner Matt Bitoni. Some of the best features of this site include consistently updated information, updated mock drafts along with very detailed player rankings which are the best feature of this site. Also included are up to date team pages and a great listing of small school sleepers. The best part of this site is its player rankings and blog.

9. Draft Ace-This site provides its readers with a simple and easy site to navigate and one of the best mock drafts on the web. The best feature of this site is its consistent Twitter updates which keep its reader informed about all of the latest happenings relating to the NFL draft. Owner Ryan McCrystal has made graphics that are very nice, the links all work and the site is consistently updated. This is clearly one of the better draft sites on the web.

10. Draft Breakdown-The Draftbreakdown website is one of the most pleasing to look at and easiest to navigate of all the sites listed in this top ten. Owner Will Spencer uses a nice mix of colors and graphics to make it an enjoyable read. Some of the great features of this site include updated and solid prospect rankings along with prospect profiles that are the site’s best feature. The information is fresh and consistently updated and the site is very easy to navigate.

2010 NFL Scouting Combine Report: The Running Backs

RB Jahvid Best

This year’s Combine, much like it did in 2008, could send a couple of running backs, once viewed as middle of the pack material, to the upper part of the NFL Draft.

Much like in 2008 when Chris Johnson vaulted to the first round with an amazing workout in Indianapolis, this year, Cal’s Jahvid Best could do the same. Other that helped himself enormous was Joe McKnight. The former Trojan put to rest concerns about his strength with a solid bench press mark.

The biggest loser at Indianapolis has to be Stanford’s Toby Gerhart who did not qualm scouts reservations about his explosiveness. In fact, he placed another on the scouts’ mind with his average bench pressing mark.

Here’s a list of who helped himself and who falter at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.

On the Rise:

Jahvid Best (Cal): The 5-foot-10 dynamo of a runner was viewed by many scouts as a mid to late second rounder with top, thanks to his excellent outside speed and corner explosiveness. His eye-popping 40 yard time (4.35) coupled with his 3-Cone Drill time of 6.75, both tops among RBs, were to be expected, but the way he ran, with authority and passion, caught the eye of all personnel men.

He impressed the scouts with his new bulk-up physic. Listed at 195 pounds in the media guide, Best showed up at the Combine a rock solid 199 ponder. The added bulk helped him post a better-than-expected bench pressing (18 times at 225 pounds) mark. The added weight and newly display strength will make him an attractive, mid first round candidate.

Projection: San Francisco 49ers at 17th or San Diego Chargers at 28th

C.J. Spiller (Clemson): The class best prospect did nothing to hurt his chances of being the top back selected. Besides posting the second best 40-yard Dash time (4.37), he bench pressed the same number (18) as Best. Proving that despite his reputation as an explosive playmaker with little pop, he could manage tackles at the second level. Spiller may have drawn some flack regarding his absence at the Vertical and Broad Jump drills, but he is still the draft’s best RB prospect.

Projection: Seattle at #14

Joe McKnight (USC): No one helped himself more than the former Trojan standout. Entering the Combine, McKnight was viewed as a fast and elusive, open field runner with little pop inside the tackle box. But his performance at Indianapolis squashed that profile. Aside his speed (4.47), which was expected, the former high school star posted an impressive Bench Pressing effort (18 reps) and the Combine’s best Broad Jump (10.8).

He was also one of the few RBs that participated in almost all the drills. His Q&A session was also a home run. All in all, he probably posted the best mark among the scouts and in the processed, cementing his place as the class’ third best back.

Projection: Solid second rounder, maybe as high as 35 to the Tampa Bay Bucs.

On the Decline

Toby Gerhart (Stanford): The darling of the Cardinals magical 2009 season flamed out somewhat at the Combine. Coming in to Indianapolis, Gerhart, who was projected as a strong, inside the tackles runner with little to offer outside, needed to prove he has the explosiveness to be an every down back. He failed in both instances.

His 40 time of 4.53, which felt slower than that, did not help him as much as his pedestrian effort in the Bench Press Drill hurt him. Packing a solid 235 pounds, Gerhart was supposed to blow away at the strength drill. Unfortunately for him that was not the case. His 22 reps, with the last two looking extremely iffy, were lower than anticipated. In fact, Fresno State’s seldom use Lonyae Miller (26) posted better numbers despite being outweigh by Gerhart by fifteen pounds.

His much better-than-anticipated speed did not translate into explosiveness as he posted an average 3-Cone Drill time (6.94). That, coupled with a lower bench press number, probably pushes him to the later stages of Day 1.

Projection: A late third rounder, at best.

One of the few surprises at the Combine has to be Lonyae Miller. Despite having a solid career with the Bulldogs, the 225 pounder was relegated to backup duties with the emergence of Ryan Mathews.

Running a crisp, 4.53 in the 40 yard dash and posting the event’s top score in the Bench Pressing drill, has elevated Miller’s draft status from a borderline, late Day 2 pick, to a very solid, fourth rounder.

By Raul Colon

2010 NFL Scouting Combine: The Wide Receivers

The receivers were running today at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine and except for cornerbacks, speed means more to them than any other position. Speed is not everything obviously, they still need to be able to run crisp routes and catch the ball, but without top flight speed they will have difficulty separating from defensive backs in the NFL.

On the Rise:

WR Jacoby Ford, Clemson (5' 9" 186 lbs): The fastest player at the combine so far. Ford ran a 4.27 and a 4.28 forty. He can stretch the field. In 2009 he amassed 779 receiving yards and 6 TDs and he had 15 catches of over 20 yards. Ford might have moved up into the second round unless the Raiders nab him with the 8th overall pick.

WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame (5' 10" 199 lbs): We all knew he could catch and run and rack up huge numbers. In 2009 he amassed 1,496 yards and 15 TDs. What we didn't know was just how fast he was. Now we know he can run, at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine he ran an official 4.42 forty.

WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois JR (6' 1" 219 lbs): Benn has looked fantastic, very solidly built, very athletic and ran a 4.48 forty at the Combine. He is a first round lock for the 2010 NFL Draft. Benn was also the strongest receiver with 20 reps on the bench.

WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut (6' 3" 210 lbs): A sleeper and a player that might get drafted much sooner than most people think. Easley ran an amazing 4.39 forty at the combine and had a productive senior year catching 48 passes for 893 yards and 8 TDs.

WR Emmanuel Sanders, SMU (5' 11" 186 lbs): Some thought he was a system receiver in June Jones' pass happy offense, he finished 2009 ranked 7th in the NCAA with 1,339 yards and 7 TDs. Now we know he can run also to go along with his production. He ran an very nice 4.41 forty at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine. Sanders was also 2nd fastest of all the receivers in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.60 seconds.

WR Andre Roberts, Citadel (5' 11" 195 lbs): Who will be the next small school star like Pierre Garcon from last year? It might be Roberts or Chris Bell or Donald Jones. Roberts is a speedster, he ran a 4.46 forty and last year in the FCS (formerly division 1AA) he amassed 791 receiving yards and 8 TDs. WR Chris Bell (6' 2" 211 lbs) caught 51 passes for 958 yards and 13 TDs for Norfolk State and ran a nice 4.47 second forty at the combine. Youngstown State's Donald Jones (6' 0" 214 lbs) ran a 4.47 forty and recorded a 41 inch vertical jump.

TE Clay Harbor, Missouri State (6' 3" 252 lbs): Another Small School Prospect that I really like is Clay Harbor. Harbor is an excellent athlete with nice size. He caught 59 passes for 729 yards and 4 TDs last year. At the combine he ran a very nice 4.69 forty, benched 225 pounds 30 times and executed a 41 inch vertical jump.

WR Blair White, Michigan State (6' 2" 209 lbs): Was very productive in the Big 10 where he recorded 990 receiving yards and 9 TD. White has always been noted for running crisp routes and now his 4.53 second forty at the combine will only help him. White was also 3rd fastest of all the receivers in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.69 seconds.

WR David Gettis, Baylor (6' 3" 217 lbs): Didn't put up huge numbers at run happy Baylor, but he showed a lot of explosiveness for a big receiver running a 4.47 forty at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.

On the Decline:

WR Desmon Briscoe, Kansas JR (6' 2" 207 lbs): Very productive on the field last year catching 84 passes for 1,337 yards and 9 TDs, but the big question on him has been speed and he didn't look real fast at the combine running a 4.61 forty.

Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati (6' 0" 187 lbs): I still like Gilyard a lot as a receiver and a return man, he catches the ball very well and runs precise routes. His 87 catches for 1,191 yards and 11 TDs are impressive, but running a 4.56 forty at the combine will cause him to slip in the draft a bit. I thought he would run better, but I still think he has nice football (on the field) speed.

WR Damian Williams, USC (6' 1" 197 lbs): Not real big and not real fast. Williams ran a disappointing 4.53 second forty at the combine.

WR Brandon LaFell, LSU (6' 2" 211 lbs): Didn't look real explosive at the combine where he ran a mediocre 4.62 forty.

The Truth about NFL Draft Rumors

This time of year is when all the rumors start flooding in. The Buccaneers are reportedly interested in South Florida's DE Pierre-Paul is one that's floating around right now. To all the myth mongers I say phooey. NFL teams have absolutely zero motivation in letting us know what their plans are and who they are interested in. If anything is being officially released it is probably mis-information anyway. You will see in the next (approximately) six weeks before the draft, the rumors will be flying all about, so believe them at your peril. Most of these rumors are just made up to get people like you and me to read them.

Team Draft for the Future:

The other mistake that the average Draftnik (NFL Draft Fan) makes is thinking that NFL teams always draft players for immediate help. Most teams think ahead 2-3 years for their draft picks. A couple years ago the Cowboys drafted OLB Anthony Spencer and they already had Greg Ellis in that spot, who by the way just made the pro bowl. The next year Ellis is with the Raiders and Spencer steps in and has a great year in Ellis' spot. Last year the Eagles draft RB LeSean McCoy and they already had a pro bowl running back in Brian Westbrook, now they release Westbrook and give McCoy the starting spot a year later.

So just because an NFL team looks strong at a certain position right now doesn't necessarily mean they won't draft for that same position. For example, in my 2010 NFL Mock Draft I have the Steelers drafting massive Alabama nose tackle Terrance Cody. The Steeler fans are shocked, "we already have Casey Hampton" they say. Yes they might Franchise Hampton, but where will he be in two-three years? Smart, successful NFL teams are proactive and not reactive and they draft with vision for the future.

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