Spotlight on Phillip Merling for the 2008 NFL Draft

It seems like myself and Mel Kiper are about the only Draftniks that have Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling ranked as a first round NFL Draft Prospect. As of 31 January 2008 Kiper has him ranked 11th on his big board and I have him rated as a first round NFL Draft prospect on my Draft Value Board. Since he is a recently declared junior maybe the scouts haven’t had a chance to go back and look at his game film yet.

Regardless of the reason, I predict by the end of the NFL Scouting Combine Merling will be widely regarded as a first round talent. Merling was forecast as a second-round pick by the NFL underclassmen advisory committee. But he (Merling) believes he could move into the first round with a good showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. I agree, Merling has all the tangibles you look for in an NFL prospect, nice size at 6.4 ½ and 276 pounds and very nice athletic ability. Reportedly, he decided to turn pro partly because he has a child, and also because his mother is struggling financially.

Merling was a two way player and a tight end at Fork Union Military Academy (2004) before joining the Clemson Tigers, he had 38 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns; he added five sacks, 51 tackles, and eight pass breakups as a defensive end. He was the 18th ranked tight end in the nation according to SuperPrep, the 20th ranked tight end by Scout.com and was rated as the 25th best prep player in the nation by Rivals.com.

Merling has been extremely productive on the football field and has the entire repertoire of pass rushing moves. At close to 280 pounds he also has the girth to hold up against the run. The other thing that makes him attractive to the NFL is his size and strength will allow him to play end in either a 34 or a 43 defense. It’s not even out of the question to convert him to outside linebacker. Greg Ellis made the transition for the Dallas Cowboys and both players have almost identical size and abilities, Merling might even be a little quicker than Ellis.

Once he got to Clemson (2005) he quickly adapted to playing defensive end exclusively; he was awarded the 12th Man Award for the defense as a rookie and received second-team freshman All-America honors as a defensive end by Rivals.com. He played 271 snaps, fifth among Clemson freshmen and second among first-year freshmen.

As a sophomore (2006) he played behind eventual first round pick (#4 Tampa Bay Bucs) Gaines Adams, but played in all 13 games. He totaled 46 tackles, third-most among defensive linemen and was ninth on the team in tackles. Clemson's defense was rated in the top-16 nationally among division 1 defenses. Merling had 10 tackles for loss, second-most on the team behind Gaines Adams and finished the season strong with at least four tackles in each of the last six contests. He had 30 of his 46 tackles during the last six games and finished the season with five tackles along with a tackle for loss against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

This season (2007) as a junior he elevated his play even further. He led Clemson in tackles for loss with 17 and quarterback sacks with seven. He was instrumental to the Tigers’ top 10 national ranking in scoring and total defense. Merling recorded 78 tackles to rank fourth on the team, first among defensive linemen. He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times, more than any other ACC player. It marked the first time since 2001 that a Clemson player was named ACC Player of the Week three times. On 17 November 2007 in a game against Boston College (BC), Merling registered six tackles, including two sacks for 22 yards. He also was credited with three quarterback pressures on the night, and drew two holding calls against the BC offensive line. In 67 defensive snaps, Merling graded at 88 percent as the Clemson defense held the Eagles to just 60 yards rushing. He dominated a quality BC offensive line and is expected to do the same in the NFL.

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Frank's 2008 Senior Bowl Report

Frank Misaege gives us a 49er twist to the game as he is a San Francisco 49er NFL Team Columnist and senior writer at NFL Draft Dog.com. The 49er Coaching staff coached the South team, who won the game 17-16 in dramatic fashion after a late fourth quarter drive.

Well, it turned out to be a very interesting game in the 2nd half...gotta love Coach Mike Martz' call to end the game. I thought it was pretty cool of Ainge to Praise Martz over and over after the game...which made me think, if he can do that much in five days with these college players, just think what he can do with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith between now and Sept. Anyway, it gave me a good feeling just seeing him on the sidelines calling plays.

As for the guys who got my attention during the game, here they are and my observations:

- QB John David Booty. I still don't understand why he's not ranked higher among the QB's...all the guy's done is win. I thought he was the North squad's best QB...he makes plays, is smart, and to me is simply a winner. I think he improved his overall stock in this game.

- LB Dan Connor. Pretty easy to see why he's so highly regarded...should be the first ILB drafted, hands down. Has a nose for the ball and can hit...sure wouldn't mind seeing him lineup beside Patrick Willis. But, I don't see Nolan drafting a LB with his first pick, and he'll be gone by the time their 2nd round pick comes up.

- DT Sedrick Ellis. Woah...what a load this guy is. I could see him on our DL...he'd instantly upgrade it. But, he'll be long gone before the Niners pick. Whoever gets him, they've got a S-T-U-D. Seems to have the stamina, too...he was still really bringing it at the end of the game, a fact I'm sure not lost on scouts.

- WR Lavelle Hawkins. Just as he did in practice, this guy's a player, and he showed it. Great athleticism and leaping ability...he'd be a nice playmaker in Martz' offense. Being a local guy, I'm sure Niner scouts have tons of film and live game analysis of his abilities.

- DE Lawrence Jackson. Terrific compliment to Ellis on the USC defense...he'd translate to an OLB in a 3-4 defense. Nice burst...I can see him playing a long time in the NFL.

- DT Trevor Laws. Outstanding motor...another guy Nolan had to be impressed with. Niner DL Coach Tomsula would have a ball coaching this guy. Like Ellis, didn't seem to wear down at the end of the game.

- CB DeJuan Tribble. Seemingly a bit "undersized" for an NFL CB, but the guy just makes plays. Has excellent closing speed and a nose for the ball.

- RB Chauncey Washington. Some project him to be an undrafted player, but I don't think so. He could help a lot of teams...nice size, decent speed, fine receiver.

- QB Erik Ainge. I liked what he did in the 2nd half...not that highly rated, but he's got that ability to make plays. Played in the rugged SEC, so I think he just might be more NFL-ready than some think.

- WR Donnie Avery. Made some nice catches...showed excellent speed and ability to go get the ball. Another guy you could see thriving in a Mike Martz offense...could be a heckuva slot player.

- DT Red Bryant. Big, bad dude...with proper coaching, this guy could be a force in the NFL. Moves pretty well for such a big guy. Wouldn't mind seeing him in crimson and gold with the "SF" logo next fall.

- WR Andre Caldwell. Made some nice plays, including the game winner. Kind of similar to Early Doucet, he'd be a good slot player in the NFL.

- RB Tashard Choice. Has nice combination of being a tough runner, very capable of running inside, and a good receiver. I've always liked his game.

- TE Brad Cottam. Huge TE...injury history, but if he could stay healthy. he could really create some nice mismatches in the NFL.

- WR Harry Douglas. Not hard to see why he caught Nolan's eye...very quick, good hands...a playmaker. Nice run to get South deep into red zone at the end of the game.

- RB Matt Forte. Also not hard to understand why Nolan really likes this guy. He's looking for a bigger back to give Gore some relief...catches very well out of the backfield and really finishes off his runs.

- DT Marcus Harrison. Another big, tough guy from the SEC...could be a good DE in a 3-4 defense.

- FB Jacob Hester. This guy is just one tough football player...any coach would love to have him on his team. Can do anytthing you ask him to...great character guy, too.

- Peyton Hillis. Big RB...very good power...decent moves for a big guy and can catch the ball. Could be devastating on screen passes...

- DE Kendall Langford. Made the key 4th down stop to give the South the ball for their game-winning drive. Has room to fill out some more...could become a very good DE in the NFL.

- CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. One fo the stars of the game...terrific ball hawking skills...tremendous closing speed. Kid's a player...and helped his draft stock tremendously.

- DE Jeremy Thompson. More than likely an OLB on 3-4 defense teams...showed good speed and quickness.

- LB Wesley Woodyard. He'll be a S in the NFL...excellent hitter and always seemed to be around the ball.

Frank

Daryl's 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Here is a nice looking mock draft from Daryl Breault. Daryl is a Columnist for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a senior writer for NFL Draft Dog.com

1. Miami Dolphins- Matt Ryan QB

Dolphins need a franchise QB and everything about the team is in a state of flux so why not start over with a fresh QB and put some weapons around him.

2. St. Louis Rams- Glenn Dorsey DT

This will be the Rams only chance to get a game changing DT, they can pick up def. ends and lineman in later rounds. Dorsey is the player who can finally take the pressure off of Leonard Little.

3. Oakland Raiders- Darren McFadden RB

I think this is a case of Al Davis trying to hit the home run. While he would be great in the Silver and Black, the Raiders have so many needs that they might be better served taking Jake Long, Chris Long or a wideout like DeSean Jackson.

4. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Long OT

The Falcons lack talent at multiple positions. They missed out on Ryan, who they desperately need while McFadden would have been another excellent selection for them. New Coach Mike Smith seems like a tough-minded guy, so getting tougher in the trenches may be the way they go.

5. Kansas City Chiefs- Ryan Clady OT

The Chiefs need a major overhaul along the o-line and most likely will target Jake Long hoping he slips to them. If not, they might have to reach for someone like Clady who is currently the second highest rated lineman.

6. New York Jets- Chris Long DE

This scenario couldn’t have gone better for Jets fans. Long is a prototype 3-4 def. end and a playmaker that the Jets lacked last season. Mangini needs to start finding pieces for that defense and Long would be one heck of a way to start.

7. New England Patriots- Dan Connor LB

Connor can play inside and outside and is the versatile, sound linebacker that they prefer. They need an infusion of youth at the position and while it’s said they will go linebacker every year, they could add an impact linebacker this time and I think that pushes them towards taking a LB.

8. Baltimore Ravens- Antoine Cason CB

Due to suspect speed, Cason’s stock is low right now. When he works out and proves everyone wrong, I see him shooting back up draft boards as he is the most experienced corner available this year. QB is the flashy pick for Baltimore, but the Ravens have to look at replacing both Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle.

9. Cincinnati Bengals- Sedrick Ellis DT

Defense is the name of the game for Cincy this spring. They have a long ways to go as a team still and getting a playmaker is of utmost importance for them. Ellis is an immediate starter and a candidate for DROY.

10. New Orleans Saints- Kenny Phillips S

New Orleans nearly jumps for joy at getting a chance to take Phillips. Their pass defense was horrible, but then, so was the rest of their defense. Keith Rivers could be the pick too.

11. Buffalo Bills- Fred Davis TE

Davis is smooth and Buffalo is seriously lacking at this position. This is high for Davis but he fills a need for the Bills. They can pick up a receiver later and use multiple picks on defense where they can unearth gems in later rounds.

12. Denver Broncos- Vernon Gholston DE

After trying for years to solve their d.line issues, they nab a solid Buckeye who could be a real star. Gholston would get every opportunity to dominate and is a real steal at this point.

13. Carolina Panthers- Keith Rivers LB

By passing on him, the Broncos did the Panthers a huge favor in gift-wrapping Rivers for them. Rivers would team with Jon Beason to make a formidable duo at linebacker while the Panthers can fill holes in alter rounds. They don’t really lack at any one position except safety.

14. Chicago Bears- Brian Brohm QB

If the Bears have their choice of QB at this position they should thank the football Gods. They may decide to go with a veteran option but there isn’t much available in that area. Brohm may be able to start rather quickly for them. Don’t be surprise if they get back to their roots and draft defense in an effort to recapture the glory.

15. Detroit Lions- Mike Jenkins CB

The secondary in Detroit is porous at best. Jenkins would have to be the number 1 corner because the Lions don’t have much else. Look for a run on defense now that Mike Martz is gone.

16. Arizona Cardinals- Quentin Groves DE/OLB

The pieces are coming together for the Cardinals but they have a long way to go still. This is a team that always seems so close but just can’t get over the hump. They need a pass rusher and Groves is the best available.

17. Minnesota Vikings- Limas Sweed WR

If Tarvaris Jackson is the man, then he needs more weapons. Sweed could be a number 1 receiver for them right away as he is a chain mover they desperately lack. They can fill out their pass rush needs in later rounds.

18. Houston Texans- Jeff Otah OT

Still trying to fill out their off. Line after all these years is pathetic, its high time they start to add some talent up front. Matt Schaub looks like he might be injury prone so protecting him will be very important going into next season. Adding an explosive playmaker is an option as well.

19. Philadelphia Eagles- DeSean Jackson WR

For a team that missed the play-offs they don’t have many needs. They would be making a huge mistake in going away from McNabb, they need to keep him happy and add some more explosiveness to the offense. Jackson would be perfect in their scheme, he is dangerous after the catch.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Sam Baker OT

Baker would help along an o-line that had its up and downs last year. They need another wideout but that position is deep this class. Adding Baker would move Petitgout over to his more natural right side.

21. Washington Redskins- Derrick Harvey DE/OLB

Washington is really shaking things up what with the retirement of Joe Gibbs. They should have promoted one of their coordinators to keep some stability, but that would make sense and they just wouldn’t be the Redskins if they didn’t try to get it ‘just right’ every spring. Harvey is an overrated pass rusher who could step up next to Andre Carter.

22. Dallas Cowboys- Ray Rice RB

The kid may be small but he is a home run hitter who would be the flash to Marion Barber’s bang. Rice isn’t rated this high but he should be. Dallas can afford to swing for the fences since the have another 1st round pick.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kentwan Balmer DT

It is still unclear if the Steelers will switch to a 4-3 or stay with the 3-4 so picking up Balmer would be a smart pick as he is versatile enough to hold up in both positions. Continuing to draft players like Balmer will give the Steelers the ability to play multiple schemes, a chameleon defense much like New Englands.

24. Tennessee Titans- Malcolm Kelly WR

They need playmakers, steady guys who can catch the ball. Badly.

25. Seattle Seahawks- Jonathon Stewart RB

Stewart isn’t perfect for their scheme, but he would be a nice tandem with Maurice Morris. Shaun Alexander is done and with the way he mailed it in last year, I’d be surprised to see him come back. The Seahawks are few pieces from returning to the big stage.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars- Mario Manningham WR

Stretching the field will be paramount for the Jags to continue their dominance on the ground. Teams have the Jags passing game figured out and David Gerrard can carry them only so far, eventually, he will need someone who can consistently help him out (i.e. catch the damn ball!). Another team that’s very close to playing in a Super Bowl.

27. San Diego Chargers- Aqib Talib CB

San Diego will need playmakers in the secondary to continue to keep pace with the Colts and New England. Cromartie and Jammer are a great pair, but you need three corners and two top safeties to properly attack the Colts and Pats.

28. Dallas Cowboys- Reggie Smith CB/S

A versatile piece for their secondary. Ken Hamlin is not a great fit at free safety and Smith could replace him or move outside and replace Anthony Henry. Hitting on their two picks could put the Boys over the top.

29. San Francisco 49ers- Early Doucet WR

The 49ers shot their wad last year to no avail and they’re paying for it this year with picking at the bottom of the round despite finishing 5-11. They spent a boatload of money and have major holes left to fill. Doucet is only a start.

30. Green Bay Packers- Carl Nicks OT

Green Bay could use some size and power along their o-line. Nicks could be afford time to get comfortable before taking over at either left or right tackle. He is a prospect on the rise and a team picking late, a la Packers, could be greatly rewarded.

31. New York Giants- Leodis McKelvin CB

The NFL has turned into a passing league and the market for corners will be bullish. McKelvin could be a solid nickel corner to start while providing an upgrade at returner.

Top 3-4 Prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft

Image: DE Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest

Outside Linebackers:

Quentin Groves- 6’ 3” 255 lbs. Auburn
Not a lot of experience dropping back into coverage or playing off the line of scrimmage but he has the highest potential to be a prototype 3-4 rush linebacker. Groves is quite powerful though he gets caught using his speed and strength to often when attacking the pocket. He does possess an all-around game (pass rush and run stopping) though he is still rough around the edges. He’s commonly thought to be a mid to late 1st round pick though he could go much higher after workouts.

Bruce Davis- 6’ 3” 235 lbs. UCLA
Davis is one of the few guys on this list with experience dropping back, which will greatly help his cause come draft day. He is too small even by college standards to play defensive end and UCLA took advantage of his athleticism and speed by moving him around to confuse the offense. Davis looked natural moving backwards when asked too and he just needs more experience in this area. His forte is rushing the passer and backing off the line will enhance his abilities.

Darrell Robertson-6' 4" 247 lbs. Georgia Tech
Very athletic playmaker that should be able to make the transition to outside linebacker. Fast twitch speed rusher that can turn the corner in a hurry. Recorded 36tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2007. Robertson looked dominate at times during practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.

Angelo Craig- 6’ 4” 235 lbs. Cincinnati
A sleeper pick. Much like Davis, Craig is far too small to play defensive end and played at linebacker for most of the Hula Bowl. Craig knows he must show the ability to switch positions in the pros and he has a background at linebacker to help his cause. Like most guys who have to switch, he is not strong enough to lock horns with lineman but his speed is extraordinary for someone his size. With good showings during workouts he could move up draft boards and hear his name being called in Round 3. He could be a real find for some team.

Derrick Harvey- 6’ 4” 260 lbs. Florida
Harvey put up solid numbers at Florida but he should have stayed in school another year. He is far too raw to play immediately and is not perfect for either end or linebacker. That being said, with some work, Harvey could be quite dangerous. His physical tools are spectacular and he has the instincts to hold up in coverage. He would need to go to a team that asks its linebackers to play zone but he has an impressive burst and first step that will translate well to linebacker.

Vernon Gholston- 6’ 3” 265 lbs. Ohio State
While Gholston is probably the 2nd highest rated end in the draft, he falls a little bit behind the others on this list. Gholston has the best chance to become a true end with his size and strength as he possesses decent speed and athleticism but not at the same level as the others. Gholston is vicious and aggressive and can be an absolute terror off the edge. He has no experience at dropping back and probably doesn’t change directions well enough to play linebacker but is such a solid prospect that he could play, and succeed, in that role.

Other Potential Recruits: Hilee Taylor, North Carolina; Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State; Cliff Avril, Purdue; Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech; Shawn Crable, Michigan; Ezra Butler, Nevada;

Defensive Ends:

Chris Long- 6’ 4” 280 lbs. Virginia
Long has played in a 3-4 system his entire college career and was still an excellent pass rusher. He has all the tools needed to play end in a 3-4 front as well as the size and strength. His greatest attribute may be his ability to defeat double-teams, a must in this system. Long is incredibly versatile with the ability to shift inside or play end in a 4-3 as well as the 3-4. No matter the system, Long has the ability to be a difference maker.

Jeremy Thompson- 6’ 5” 270 lbs. Wake Forest
A “sleeper” type, Thompson had some excellent performances during practice leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl. Strong against the run and has a quick first step. Thompson was very productive in 2007 recording 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Kentwan Balmer- 6’ 5” 290 lbs. North Carolina
A classic underachiever, Balmer did not have a breakout season till his senior year, which leads some to believe that he will not show the drive and desire needed to succeed at the next level. Based on athletic ability, Balmer projects as a Richard Seymour type who can play the same kind of game. He will need extensive work on handling double teams and adding strength but few defensive tackles in this draft have his athleticism. Another plus for Balmer is some very long arms.

Kendall Langford- 6’6” 280 lbs. Hampton
Langford dropped weight before the Shrine Game to try to up his speed and quickness with poor results. He got manhandled and was a major disappointment all week long. He slimmed down to the 275 range after playing at or around 295 for his college career. Hopefully the lesson in humility will show Langford that he needs to bulk back up and regain the strength he lost. Langford showed great strength and power at 295 and can hold his own when run at.

Other Potential Ends: Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb; Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan; Trevor Scott, Buffalo , Eric Foster, Rutgers; Vernon Bryant, Hampton

Nose Guards:

Glen Dorsey from LSU and Sedrick Ellis from USC both have the talent to play nose guard and at around 6’ 2” 305 pounds they both have the size, however, they are a better fit in a 43 type of defense due to their ability to penetrate the gap and disrupt the opposing teams offense. Here are few excellent prospects that look like pure nose guards.

Marcus Harrison- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Arkansas
Very powerful prospect with a huge lower body. Very good at using leverage and holding his ground at the point of attack. Suffered a knee injury in 2006 and was suspended for three games in 2007 after a drug arrest, but still recorded 72 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 1.5 sacks. Harrison must fight the character issues, but talent wise he is special.

Trevor Laws- 6' 1" 302 lbs. Notre Dame
Laws is one of the best Sleeper prospects out there. From his defensive tackle position he led the Fighting Irish with an amazing 112 tackles! He also recorded 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He was unblockable during the practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.

Red Bryant- 6’ 4” 325 lbs. Texas A&M
Definitely has the size for it. Looked like a world beater as a sophomore. As a junior (2006) he blew out his knee in game 9, and missed the final four games of the season. Bounced back nicely from the injury and his senior year he recorded 46 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Dre Moore- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Maryland
Moore wasn’t surrounded by great talent at Maryland and that led him to be double teamed often. He has the quickness to put pressure on the pocket and the strength to tie up blockers. While not a special talent like Harrison, Moore may be able to slide out and play a 3-4 end.

Ahtyba Rubin- 6' 3" 321 lbs. Iowa State
Who? This is not a typo. Rubin is one of the fastest risers up the draft boards after back to back dominating performances at the East West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl practices. Rubin has a low powerful anchor and consistently drives the center back into the quarterback. He converted from offensive line to nose guard in 2006 and was the strongest player on the Cyclone roster. He really emerged as a nose guard in 2007 recording 42 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Other Potential Recruits: Frank Okam, Texas; Jason Shirley, Fresno State; Chris Norwell, Illinois; Derek Lokey, Texas

By Guest Blogger: Daryl Breault

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Declared Juniors for the 2008 NFL Draft

Updated 14 January 2008


The underclassmen that have declared for the 2008 NFL Draft.



RB Darren McFadden, 6' 1" 218, Arkansas
OT Ryan Clady, 6-5, 320, Boise State
DE Vernon Gholston, 6' 3" 268, Ohio State
WR Mario Manningham, 6' 0" 189, Michigan
WR DeSean Jackson, 5' 11" 170, California
TE Martellus Bennett, 6-6, 255, Texas A&M
RB Jonathan Stewart, 5' 10" 220, Oregon
CB Reggie Smith 6' 1" 202, Oklahoma
CB Aqib Talib, 6-1, 205, Kansas
RB Jamaal Charles, 6-0, 200, Texas
RB Kevin Smith, 6-1, 212, Central Florida
OLB Derrick Harvey, 6-5, 250, Florida
S Kenny Phillips , 6-1, 205, Miami
LB Curtis Lofton, 6' 0" 238, Oklahoma
LB Erin Henderson, 6-3, 238, Maryland
RB Felix Jones, 5' 11" 202, Arkansas
RB Rashard Mendenhal, 5' 11" 224, Illinois
WR Malcolm Kelly, 6' 4" 218, Oklahoma
RB Steve Slaton, 5' 9" 202, West Virginia
DE Calais Campbell, 6-6, 280, Miami
WR James Hardy, 6-6, 220, Indiana
LB Geno Hayes, 6' 1" 218, Florida State
CB Brandon Flowers, 5-9, 180, Virginia Tech
RB Ray Rice, 5' 8" 200, Rutgers
DT Pat Sims, 6' 3" 305, Auburn
DE Phillip Merling, 6' 4" 272, Clemson
WR Devin Thomas, 6-1, 215, Michigan State
OG Chilo Rachal, 6' 4" 308, USC
WR Earl Bennett,6' 0" 208, Vanderbilt
CB Justin King, 5' 10" 188, Penn State
WR Adrian Arrington, 6' 2" 190, Michigan
CB Jake Ikegwuono, 6-0, 200, Wisconsin
OT Anthony Collins, 6-5, 310, Kansas
WR Davonne Bess, 5-10, 195, Hawaii
WR Darius Reynaud, West Virginia
OG Branden Albert, 6-6, 336, Virginia
WR Mario Urruttia, 6-6, 220, Louisville
TE Jermichael Finley, 6-5, 240, Texas
TE Cornelius Ingram , 6-4, 235, Florida
DE Jonathan Dingle, 6-3, 275, West Virginia
WR Ryan Grice-Mullins, 5' 10" 178, Hawaii
OT Franklin Dunbar, 6-5, 345, Middle Tennessee State
S DaJuan Morgan,6' 0" 202, North Carolina State
QB/WR Xavier Lee, 6' 4" 238, Florida State
WR Taj Smith, 6-0, 190, Syracuse
WR James Banks, 6-2, 205, Carson-Newman
CB Orlando Scandrick, 5' 10" 192, Boise State
DT Letroy Guion, 6' 4" 296, FSU
LB Lamar Myles, 6' 0" 220, Louisville

2008 Mock NFL Draft Updated

Bill Parcells shakes up the 2008 NFL Draft in a trade with his old friend Jerry Jones. Of course this trade is only a fantasy that I have laid out in the 2 January 2008 update to my 2008 NFL Mock Draft.

The trade does make a lot of sense to both teams though and Jerry Jones is known as a wheeler and dealer in the NFL Draft. The Dolphins desperately need more quality players and the Cowboys will be thin at running back after Julius Jones leaves via free agency. Jones has not been impressive and Marion Barber is more of a power back with marginal speed. So the question is what will it take to get the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft? Probably both first rounders and a 3rd either this year or next and maybe even a 4th or 5th draft pick thrown in somewhere to boot. I doubt Jerry Jones will want to give up any players, but if he did, a player like Special teams standout Keith Davis might be good trade bait.

So back to the updated Mock Draft. This NFL Draft order is getting close to being set so it's getting easier and easier to come up with an accurate mock draft, if there was such a thing. I took the liberty to include some of the top juniors that might enter the draft early. I included Darren McFadden, Malcolm Jenkins, Derrick Harvey, Vernon Gholston, Mario Manningham, James Laurinaitis, Ryan Clady, Kenny Phillips, Rey Maualuga and Reggie Smith. I left off Calais Campbell from Miami, I think he had a down year and might be well advised to return for his senior year.

Illiniois RB Rashard Mendenhall is another talented junior that I left off. He had an excellent performance in the Rose Bowl in a losing cause. The Illini got crushed by USC 49-17, but Mendenhall rushed 17 times for 155 yards and 1 touchdown. He had a 9.1 yards per carry average in the game. I think Mendenhall would be advised to stay in school for his senior year, he has nice size at 5' 11" 224 pounds, but if he comes out this year he will be competing against a deep group of running backs. If he waits until next year he could be the second running back selected behind Central Florida's 2008 Heisman Trophy Candidate Kevin Smith.

I also left off two top quarterbacks in Andre Woodson and Colt Brennan. I think the Bears might draft Woodson, if not he could slip into round two. I like Hawaii QB Colt Brennan, but he needed a big game against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and Georgia destroyed the Rainbows 41-10. I am not blaming the loss entirely on Brennan, because his offensive line was thoroughly manhandled, but he will definitely need to adjust to a much faster game in the NFL than what he is used to playing. Given time to develop though Brennan could be a 2nd or 3rd round steal.

A few players that are working their way into the early rounds due to great post season performances are Purdue tight end Dustin Keller, Houston wide receiver Donnie Avery, Michigan QB Chad Henne, Oregon running back James Stewart, USC tight end Fred Davis, East Carolina RB Chris Johnson, and West Virgina safety and defensive end Eric Wicks and Johnny Dingle, respectively.

2007 College Football All-American Team

Introducing NFL Draft Dog's 2007 All-American Team. Before the season we did a pre-season team and it was interesting to see some of the same prospects remain on the post season list like: RB Darren McFadden, DTs Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis, linebackers James Laurinaitis, Dan Connor and Keith Rivers, offensive lineman Jake Long, Andre Smith and Michael Oher, and cornerback Antoine Cason. But what was interesting, was to watch the young prospects rise up and dominate the college football landscape. It seems our All American team has a load of talented sophomores on it. Look closely and you can see why we have started including some of these talented sophomores in our 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

Some of my selections were quite simple, the players simply dominated their respective position, but some were very difficult as a couple players were neck and neck. One of the most difficult selections was at quarterback, Tim Tebow was every body's darling, but I gave the nod to Colt Brennan. Brennan had a better completion percentage than Tebow, 71.40 compared to 68.45 for Tebow. Brennan didn't lose a single football game and threw for an amazing 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns. Besides, Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, so it wouldn't be fair to let him win everything. NFL Draft Dog's All American Team isn't quite on par with the Heisman, but we try.

The other difficult selection was at second team running back. Tulane RB Matt Forte almost got the award, he (Forte) rushed for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns, but the player that got my attention this year was Jamaal Charles, he (Charles) had a higher yards per carry average that Forte, 5.89 for Forte and 6.31 for Charles, but what really swayed my decision was the way Charles finished out the season, especially in the fourth quarter of games down the stretch. In his last four games of the season, Charles recorded 736 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a 290 yard performance against Nebraska.

Most of our other selections weren't that difficult. RB Kevin Smith from Central Florida was a no brainer, he was the nation's leading rusher and he ran for 2,448 yards and 29 touchdowns with a 188.31 yards per game average. He passed Marcus Allen in the record books and was only 180 yards behind Barry Sanders in rushing yards for a single season.

Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree was another lock. He led the nation in every receiving category by a large margin with 1,861 yards and 21 touchdowns. His closest receiving competitor was Kansas State's Jordy nelson, who had 11 touchdowns. Speaking of Nelson, he was one of my second team All-Americans. He was #2 in the nation in receiving finishing 2007 with 1,606 yards and 11 TDs. He managed a 133.83 yards per game average. Jordy Nelson abused NFL Prospect Kansas cornerback Aquib Talib when the Wildcats played Kansas. See the Video here.

Wide receiver Davone Bess from Hawaii was another wide out that caught my eye. Bess was instrumental in Hawaii's undefeated season and came up with big play after big play all season. Not real big, but Bess is blazing fast, runs precise routes and will catch anything thrown his way. He finished 2007 with 101 catches for 1,213 yards and 12 TDs. Yes he was in the run and shoot, but he has the skills to produce in any offensive system.

On defense, a few sophomores dominated their positions, the player that really stood out was South Florida's George Selvie. He led the nation almost the entire year in sacks, only to lose the sack title at the very end of the season to Indiana's Greg Middleton. Don't feel sorry for Selvie though, he led the nation in tackles for loss with an amazing 31.5 and finished second in sacks with 14.5.

Indiana's defensive end Greg Middleton had an incredible season, especially the second half, the super sophomore finished #1 in the nation with 16 sacks and he also recorded 17 tackles for loss. Defensive end Maurice Evans from Penn State was another sophomore that ended up on our All American team. Evans ranked 5^th in the nation with 12.5 sacks and an impressive 21.5 tackles for a loss.

In the defensive secondary a player that I am surprised doesn't get more press is junior cornerback Joe Burnett from Central Florida. Opposing offenses knew Burnett was lurking back there and they tried to avoid him, but he still managed 6 interceptions and 12 passes defended. Also good against the run, Burnett recorded 54 solo tackles this season.

Safety Quintin Demps was a player that just couldn't be ignored. The senior Demps is a Sleeper for the 2008 NFL Draft. He finished 2007 with 5 interceptions, 72 tackles and 9 passes defended. But what was amazing is he returned two of those interceptions, 100 yards each, for touchdowns. Most players maybe have one 100 yard return in an entire career, but Demps had two in the same season.

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Small School Studs for the 2008 NFL Draft

Image: Bruce Hocker, WR, Duquesne

Every year a few small school prospects emerge into the national spotlight leading up to the Draft and this year is no different, in fact there will be some great small school prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft. By now everyone has heard the story about Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo coming from the small school ranks of Eastern Illinois.

With so many NFL teams in desperate need of a quarterback there will be three small school quarterbacks that garner a lot of attention from NFL Scouts: Joe Flacco from Delaware, Ricky Santos from New Hampshire, and last but not least, Josh Johnson from San Diego. Those three prospects are legitimate NFL prospects and with patience and good coaching, could emerge into quality NFL starters.

Of course everyone wants to focus on quarterbacks and with those three talented quarterbacks, there is a lot to talk about, but for this post I want to write about three other small school prospects that look to have bright future in the NFL.

Wide Receiver Bruce Hocker from Duquesne has a lot of NFL Scouts' attention. He is the complete package with butter soft hands, nice size at 6' 3" 206 pounds and decent speed, he has been clocked as fast as 4.44 in the forty. After breaking his collar bone as a sophomore he came back strong last season as a junior (2006) and accumulated 1,070 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns. This year as a senior (2007) he has seen almost constant double teams, but after playing nine games, with one left to play, he has made 48 receptions for 625 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Defensive End Rudolph (Rudie) Hardie from Howard University is a little known defender with a vast amount of talent. He often gets over looked by NFL scouts because he is a little short at 6' 1" tall, but at close to 280 pounds he is rock solid and strong as an ox. Hardie is also very quick off the ball and has been hugely productive on the football field. Hardie is currently ranked 2nd in the FCS (1AA) with 22.5 tackles for a loss and ranked 5th in sacks with 10. Hardie might be a late round steal in the 2008 NFL Draft. He has been clocked as fast as 4.67 seconds in he forty. That's pretty quick for a man of his size.

Cornerback Dominique Rogers-Cromartie from Tennessee State has already received a lot of national press and it looks like it has been for good reason. Quite often these uber talented defensive backs get over looked because they don't put up very lofty statistics. Defensive coordinators find out about these guys and they formulate their game plans to avoid them. To make a long story short, they just don't get many balls thrown their way because they have their man covered so well. Cromartie has been able to make the most out of his touches however, especially recently. He has two interceptions in his last three games and amazingly he returned both back for touchdowns, one for 69 yards and one for 71 yards. He has also returned 28 kick-offs for 635 yards, blocked four kicks and defended 11 passes. Cromartie has the potential to even be drafted on the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft, and that is saying a lot with the new changes to the draft, as the first day will only include the first two rounds.

Mid-season 2007 NFL Draft Rookie Report

The Season is half over and it’s time to take a look at how the rookies are doing. Some of these players were training camp holdouts and some have been fighting injuries, but it’s still interesting to see the progress of these guys. However, I will tell you, the second half of their rookie season is more important than the first half, so don’t count any of these young prospects as “busts” just yet. I think it takes about three years to label a prospect with that tag.

1. Oakland Raiders: QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU
Russell was a huge disappointment for a team still trying to find its identity with a young new coach. His lengthy holdout caused him missed all of training camp and he got way behind on learning the offense and subsequently hasn’t stepped onto the field yet. The Raiders quarterback situation got so bad they were forced to sign Dante Culpepper. Russell still might be a great quarterback in the future, but he definitely didn’t get off to a good start.

2. Detroit Lions: WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
Johnson started out hot catching 2 touchdowns in his first two games, but since then hasn’t been back in the end zone. He has been a little bit of a disappointment. He missed the Chicago game with an injury and over all he has only caught 15 passes for 273 yards and two TDs.

3. Cleveland Browns: OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
Thomas has been fantastic, starting every game at left tackle. With Derek Anderson’s excellent play at quarterback it’s hard to fault Cleveland for selecting Thomas. Young, franchise left tackles are hard to find and the Browns have one in Thomas.

4. Tampa Bay Bucs: DE Gaines Adams, Clemson
Adams definitely hasn’t played up to his potential yet. He has played some in every game in the defensive line rotation, but hasn’t been able to beat out Greg Spires or Kevin Carter in the starting lineup. He has only recorded 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks to date.

5. Arizona Cardinals: OT Levi Brown, Penn State
Brown was drafted a little earlier than anticipated and unfortunately was one of the last five rookies signed. This is what Arizona general manager Rod Graves said about his holdout, "We were a bit frustrated by the amount of time it took and didn't think it had to take this long." Brown then missed a few games with an ankle injury, but he has started the last four games at right tackle and looked solid in those games.

6. Washington Redskins: SS LaRon Landry, LSU
Landry has been very solid; Sean Taylor was moved to free safety to allow Landry to play strong safety. He has started every game and recorded 50 total tackles so far. He had his best game last week against New England where he recorded 11 solo tackles.

7. Minnesota Vikings: RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
All I can say is wow! Every time he gets the ball everybody holds their breath, he has the speed to take every carry to the end zone. His combination of power and speed hasn’t been seen since Bo Jackson. If he stays healthy, which is a big “if”, with his aggressive running style, he should easily win offensive rookie of the year honors this year. In week 6 against Chicago he ran for an amazing 224 yards and 3 TDs, (breaking a rookie record) and on the season he has 128 carries for 740 yards and 5 TDs.

8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas
Right after the college season in which Anderson came to the NFL as only a junior, Anderson tore his hamstring, but he was a quick healer, went to the Falcons camp and has played in every game this season. Anderson had the unenviable task of trying to replace Patrick Kerney, who left as a free agent for Seattle in March. Through seven games the rookie has 19 tackles and one forced fumble, but has yet to record a sack. So far he has been only average, he should have stayed in school for his senior year.

9. Miami Dolphins: WR Ted Ginn Jr. Ohio State
Ginn was drafted way early and has battled numerous nagging injuries. Thought of as a project at receiver because he was mostly a returner in college. Ginn hasn’t done much for the Dolphins this year catching only 7 passes for 141 yards and 1 TD, but he seems to be coming on as of late, he caught his first TD pass last week against the Giants and the week before against New England he had his best game of the season catching 3 passes for 37 yards.

10. Houston Texans: DT Omobi Okoye, Louisville
This kid is special, and I mean kid, at 20 years old he is the youngest player in the NFL. He has played every game on the inside and has recorded four sacks already, that’s impressive for a defensive tackle, especially for a 20 year old rookie.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis, Mississippi
Willis has been spectacular. In the preseason I predicted he would win the defensive rookie of the year honors and it looks like I will be correct. He is all over the field and has already recorded 73 total tackles, that puts him on pace to accumulate 173 tackles by the end of the year! He might even make the Pro Bowl.

12. Buffalo Bills: Marshawn Lynch, California
Drafted to be the franchise back for the Bills, he has started every game and been solid, but nothing special. He has carried the load with 138 carries for 547 yards and 4 TDs. However his 3.6 yards per carry average is mediocre.

13. St. Louis Rams: DE Adam Carriker, Nebraska
The Rams moved Adam to defensive tackle, which I think is a huge mistake. Yes he has the size for it at 296 pounds, but his 6’ 6” tall frame and outstanding quickness enables him to play defensive end more effectively, which by the way, was his natural position in college. He hasn’t done much statistics wise on the inside with only 14 tackles and 1 sack, but stats don’t tell the entire story for defensive tackles that often times occupy dual blockers to enable linebackers to make the tackle.

14. Jets (from Panthers): CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
Beat out Andre Dyson and has started every game at corner. Revis has struggled at times, as most rookie corners do, but overall he shows good promise for the future. He has recorded 54 tackles and one interception.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Lawrence Timmons, Florida State
Not good, hasn’t seen the field much and has only recorded 6 total tackles all year. He missed most of training camp with a groin injury. The Steelers second round pick LaMarr Woodley has been much more impressive.

16. Green Bay Packers: DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee
What a huge disappointment, Harrell has been inactive 5 out of 7 games. His rookie year is looking like a lost cause, but remember, he missed all of his senior year at Tennessee with a serious leg injury, so it might take him a couple years to get his act together.

17. Broncos (from Jags): DE Jarvis Moss, Florida
Not what the Broncos had hoped for. Moss suffered an ankle injury in camp which slowed his development, and then he came back and was working his way back in the lineup recording 12 tackles and 1 sack. But then, bam, on November 1st Moss suffered a season-ending injury in practice. He broke his right fibula and suffered torn ligaments in his right ankle and was subsequently placed on season ending IR.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Leon Hall, Michigan
Hall has been one of the better rookies of this draft class so far. He has been fighting for playing time behind Jonathan Joseph and Deltha O’Neil, but he has played in every game recording 19 tackles and 2 interceptions.

19. Tennessee Titans: S Michael Griffin, Texas
Griffin was moved to cornerback, which I don’t think is his best position. He was behind Cortland Finnegan on the depth chart until recently. He seems to be coming on as of late, in his last two games he recorded nine tackle, but in his first six games he only recorded two tackles combined. The Titans should draft a cornerback in the 2008 NFL Draft and move Griffin back to his more natural safety spot.

20. New York Giants: CB Aaron Ross, Texas
Ross has been phenomenal; he and Patrick Willis will battle it out for defensive rookie of the year honors. Ross has had impressive production for a rookie corner with 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. He looks like the steal of this draft so far.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars: FS Reggie Nelson, Florida
Nelson is a very impressive rookie. He has started every game at free safety and has played very well recording 28 tackles, 1 sack and 2 interceptions. In my opinion, If Nelson wouldn’t have been selected here, Dallas would have taken him and not traded their pick to the Browns.

22. Browns (from Cowboys): QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Looked good in the pre-season, but that doesn’t mean a darn thing. The people clamoring to insert Quinn over Derek Anderson are crazy. Anderson is playing very well, leave him in, there is no guarantee Quinn will even be a good quarterback in the NFL. There is no sense in rushing Quinn into the starting lineup.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Dwayne Bowe, LSU
Started off very slow due to a lengthy holdout, but has had solid rookie numbers with 29 receptions for 499 yards and 3 TDs. Against San Diego in week 4 he had a break out performance with an impressive 8 catches for 164 yards and 1 TD. He looks like the real deal.

24. New England: S Brandon Meriweather, Miami (Fl)
Moved to cornerback and stuck behind Ellis Hobbs, Meriweather was obviously drafted for the future. He hasn’t played much except in the nickel, recording 15 total tackles to date.

25. Carolina Panthers: LB Jon Beason, Miami (Fl)
I missed on this one, at 6’ 0” 237 pounds and running poor at the combine, he looked to small and slow to me, but he is obviously a football player. Beason is having a decent rookie season at middle linebacker. I am not trying to put him in the hall of fame or anything, but he has recorded 50 solo tackles this year.

26. Dallas (from the Eagles): DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue
Spencer was thrust into the starting lineup due to Greg Ellis’s slow recovery from his Achilles injury. He has flashed some big time skills rushing the passer. He has had to learn a new position going from defensive end to outside linebacker, but he is the real deal. His stats aren’t very impressive with only 20 tackles and 1 sack, but he has pressured the quarterback numerous times and played solid run defense. The Dallas Cowboys have really invested in their linebackers, Greg Ellis, Bobby Carpenter, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are all first round NFL Draft picks.

27. New Orleans Saints: WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee
Meachem was one of my favorite offensive prospects in this draft and he has really disappointed me so far. He showed up over weight and out of shape and missed time in the off season program and mini camps with a sprained ankle. Then in late June he had an arthroscopic procedure to clean out loose cartilage and repair his medial meniscus on his right knee. Remember, Meachem had surgery on the same knee in 2003, when he sat out a season as a medical redshirt for Tennessee. He has yet to play this season.

28. 49ers (from Pats): OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan
Staley has started every game at right tackle and has struggled at times. He looks a little stiff and has had trouble with speed rushers; however I think he has played better than left tackle Jonas Jennings, but that’s not saying much.

29. Baltimore Ravens: OG Ben Grubbs, Auburn
Grubbs has been solid, he beat out Chris Chester at right guard. Grubbs is a promising young talent and a good selection for the Ravens.

30. San Diego Chargers: WR Craig Davis, LSU
This was a horrible pick in my opinion. Davis has been battling a sprained ankle and has only caught 9 passes for 84 yards and 1 TD for the entire season.

31. Chicago Bears: TE Greg Olsen, Miami
Olsen missed the first two games of the season with a sprained knee and since his return has been sharing time with Desmond Clark, but recently he has flashed some excellent skills, in his last four games he has caught 15 passes for 4 TDs. For the season he has 21 receptions for 255 yards and 2 TDs. Greg Olsen is one of the fastest tight ends in the NFL, he ran his 40 yard dash at the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine at 4.45 seconds.

32. Indianapolis Colts: WR Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio State
Gonzo is in the perfect position, he can learn behind Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. I look for Gonzo to be a future star for the Colts. He might get his first start this weekend in the huge undefeated showdown with the Patriots as Marvin Harrison is injured and might not play. Gonzo has 14 catches for 194 yards and zero TDs to date.

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Dallas Cowboys Targeting RB Darren McFadden

With the 2008 NFL Draft just around the corner, NFL Scouting departments are already putting their draft boards together and scouting their potential selections. Find out if the Dallas Cowboys are going to select Arkansas RB Darren McFadden.

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NFL Draft Made for Primetime

NFL Draft addicts, better known as draftniks, have rejoiced in recent years as the NFL Draft has become more and more popular. Last years draft actually had better TV ratings than the NBA Playoffs. But the draft for the average fan has always been thought of as a long drawn out, grueling affair, more of a marathon than a race. Most football fans just want to watch the first round to see who their favorite NFL team was picking and even that was an all day event. last April, for example, if you were a Colts fan, (as the Superbowl champs they had the last pick), you had to wait 6 hours and 8 minutes to see who your team was going to select. This set a record for the most elapsed time ever and probably didn't convert many football fans to Draftniks.

Unlike other sports, the NFL is not afraid to adapt it's methods and rules to improve its fan base. For example, a few years ago it made pass interference penalties more stringent, giving an advantage to the offense, which has allowed quarterbacks like Peyton Manning to shatter Dan Marino's single season touchdown record. Manning broke Dan Marino's record in 2004 with 49 touchdowns. Tom Brady now has 27 through seven games. He (Tom Brady) is set this year to break Peyton Manning's record of 49 by the 13th game. That puts him on pace to throw around 61 touchdowns this season. Fans like to see touchdown passes, and hey can you argue with success, the NFL is easily the most popular sport in America, with the annual Superbowl breaking worldwide ratings and it's own "most watched" records seemingly year after year.

The NFL Draft will never be as popular as the Superbowl, but the NFL, never one to rest on it's laurels, has taken some significant steps to improve the appeal of it's annual draft. The primary move was to speed up the entire process by cutting the allotted time between picks in the first round from 15 minutes to 10. It also moved the Draft closer to prime time, from noon EDT to 3 p.m. and limited the first day to two rounds instead of three.

The second round will also change, going from 10 minutes to 7 minutes between picks. NFL teams in the past have often waited their entire allotted time between picks trying to wheel and deal and trade up and down for draft slots. So will these changes reduce the amount of trading and dealing between picks? I don't think it will, NFL teams will just have to be more prepared and be more willing and able to "pull the trigger" quicker.

Day two won't change much except obviously it will now include rounds 3 through 7 instead of 4-7. The time between picks will stay at five minutes and to make up for that extra round the start time will be moved back an hour from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Like last year, both days will be broadcast by the NFL Network and ESPN. This years 2008 NFL Draft will be held on April 26-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

With huge 24 hour coverage by the NFL Network and the draft moving to prime time and becoming more streamlined, we should see more and more football fans taking the plunge and becoming certified Draftniks. If you do become a Draftnik, don't worry, at NFL Draft Dog we have the cure, the most accurate and thorough NFL Draft coverage on the internet. Sorry folks, I couldn't resist throwing that plug in.

Spotlight on Andre' Woodson

By Guest Blogger: Daryl Breault

Brian Brohm will soon know exactly how Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart and Aaron Rodgers have all felt come draft night. All three of those elite college quarterbacks watched another young passer emerge during their senior years and snatch high draft selections, not to mention millions of dollars, away from them. At least Leinart still went in the Top-10; Quinn and Rodgers plummeted all the way down the late first round.

Andre Woodson will be the one who steals the glory away from Brohm, the talented Louisville QB who has been the consensus #1 pick for a year and a half now. Brohm may even see Boston College’s Matt Ryan get selected before him now that Louisville’s season has come apart. Woodson is not a finished product, but his ceiling is incredible. If Woodson reaches his full potential in the pros, he will be a franchise QB for many years, of this I’m certain.

Woodson emerged in 2006, his junior campaign, by leading the Wildcats to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Music City Bowl against Clemson. Woodson was phenomenal in leading the Wildcats to 28-20 win as he threw for 299 yards and 3 TD. It was the Wildcats best season since the Tim Couch-lead teams of 1996-’99. The emerging talent finished the campaign with 31/7 TD/INT ratio and 3515 yards. The young Wildcats struggled against some of the nations elite teams, namely a 59-28 loss to Louisville to start the season and a 49-0 slaughter at the hands of LSU. Georgia gave him troubles with their superior front-4, but the Wildcats still won 24-20.

In 2007, Woodson and the Wildcats have emerged as one the best teams in the country. They upset Louisville in a comeback, 40-34 victory that went down to the wire and was the beginning of the end for Louisville. Woodson led the Wildcats to a 5-0 start by throwing for 16 TD over that span and not tossing his first INT of the season until 3:30 into the 3rd quarter of the fifth game against Florida Atlantic. That INT snapped an NCAA-record streak of 325 consecutive passes without an INT, the streak dating back to 1:04 left to go in the 2nd quarter of the Wildcats game against Georgia on November 4th, 2006. That 8 full games and two half games, and the Wildcats had an 8-1 record over that span.

With 21 TD in 8 games this season, Woodson now has 60 passing TD in his career. He is on pass for 36 this season, which would give him 75 total for his career. If he finishes with a passer rating above 110 this year, it will be his 4th straight season with such a number. He currently is at 149.9, the maximum. Woodson will certainly go down as one of the most productive college QB’s of all time.

Woodson has an amazing arm, leaving no doubt about the caliber of his gun, that’s for sure. That is just one of his NFL-caliber strengths. He has elite size at 6-5’ 230lbs. One of the things that stands out when you watch Woodson is his posture in the pocket and his throwing motion. He holds the ball real high when he drops back to pass, nearly touching his chin, making it difficult for blindside rushers to cause the fumble. His delivery is very compact and fast, his arm moves in a blink and he gets his entire body into it. He is so strong that he can get away with just using his upper body, but he does an excellent job of setting his feet getting into his motion. He has great velocity on his passes, throws a tight spiral, and gets a very smooth arc on longer passes. He can throw bullets 40-yards deep through coverage and he has great faith in arm. The Wildcat offensive line has been much improved this season and Woodson is afforded much time to throw out of the shotgun, which helps to pad his stats. Woodson is not scared of the pressure and takes some Byron Leftwich-esque hits in the pocket because he holds the ball too long sometimes in an effort to make a play. He has good pocket awareness in spite of this, and buys time with his feet much like Payton Manning can by sliding and getting rid of the ball quickly on short passes and screens.

Woodson’s character cannot be understated either. He is a team-leader and has the practice habits that all coaches demand. Woodson has great football acumen and works hard in the film room. He has a great rapport with a talented trio of big play receivers in Keenan Burton, Steven Johnson and Dicky Lyons. Woodson spreads the ball around evenly to all three, keeping any ego in check. The intangibles Woodson possesses will make him a great NFL player.

One of the biggest knocks on Woodson will be the system he plays in as he passes out of the shotgun on nearly 90% of his attempts. Woodson may need some time to work on getting accustomed to taking snaps from center. This issue usually gets overblown come draft time, and the success of Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith among other QB prospects has dampened much of this concern among most scouts. Woodson is technically sound enough to overcome this with a little work. He will need to work on dropping back in 3 and 5 step drops. Woodson is very good at going through his progressions and checking down to a back or tight end, but will have to work on getting the ball out faster against NFL defenses. He is guilty of holding the ball too long sometimes, trusting that his receivers will get open and leaving his offensive line to have to block for far too long, resulting in sacks. Woodson is also not very mobile, he will never be mistaken for Donovan McNabb, and is strictly a pure pocket passer. With experience, Woodson will learn when to throw the ball away and when to force the issue. Woodson does see his accuracy waver the longer he has to throw, but having a pro QB coach to help tighten up his mechanics will improve that.

Many of Woodson’s flaws are fixable with better coaching at the next level. He is one of the best QB prospects to come around in a long time and is far superior to JaMarcus Russell. Looking back on things, the Raiders would have been better off with Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper, drafting Calvin Johnson, and waiting until this year to draft a QB. The 2008 draft boasts an incredibly strong group of senior quarterbacks, and Andre Woodson will be the first one selected (in my opinion).

Strengths: Size, Arm, Intelligence, ToughnessWeaknesses- Mobility, Deep Accuracy, System
NFL Comparison: Alex Smith, San Francisco

Strengths of the 2008 NFL Draft

Most college football teams have played a little over half their games, but for NFL Draft purposes the "Draft" season is only one quarter complete. Let me explain, if you give two points to the season, one point to the bowl games and All-Star Games (i.e. Senior Bowl, Shrine Game) and another point to the NFL Scouting Combine and individual "Pro Day" workouts, then you could surmise that the season is only 1/4 over.

So at the one-quarter spot, how does this draft stack up against last years draft and more importantly past drafts? It's to early to draw a whole lot of conclusion from last years draft, but we can speculate a little. Why not, if you follow the NFL Draft as I do do, then speculation is the name of the game.

A few months ago I wrote a piece highlighting the talented juniors that are draft eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft. Why does it seem that there are so many talented juniors this year? Because so many underclassmen entered the draft last year it has diluted the seniors for this year. I expect even more juniors to declare early this year even further diluting the seniors for the 2009 NFL Draft. That is why it has become even more important to identify the top sophomores as early as possible in the evaluating process.

OK, so what are the strengths of this 2008 NFL Draft? I think it's at the running back and offensive tackle positions. When you throw in the top juniors that are likely to declare, then these two positions are incredible indeed. Here is a list (including the juniors) of the running backs that could be drafted in the first three rounds (day one), and all of these prospects could fight for considerable playing time on NFL rosters as rookies: Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Ray Rice, James Davis, Steve Slaton, Mike Hart, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Ryan Torain, Allen Patrick, Kevin Smith, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. As a comparison, last year, (2007 NFL Draft) there were nine running backs drafted in the first three rounds. Yes the quantity is just slightly better, but the quality is a significant upgrade over last year, with a lot of possible franchise type backs on that list.

This group of offensive tackles is also impressive, including the top juniors, we could even see as many as seven tackles selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft! Here are some possible first rounders: Jake Long, Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus, Ryan Clady, Barry Richardson, Michael Oher and Chris Williams. I can't see all seven going in round one, but I would grade all seven as first round talent. Don't know Chris Williams? He is a very athletic lineman from Vanderbilt with excellent size (6' 6" 319 lbs).

The quarterback position needs to be mentioned as well. Quantity and quality, it will be a very strong position in this draft, especially at the very top with Brian Brohm, Matt Ryan and Andre' Woodson all having the potential to be top ten picks. Last year, JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn were the only two quarterbacks selected in the first round and neither has played in the regular season yet. Not everyone is sold on Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, because he throws so may interceptions and plays against such inferior competition, but I love his potential. If I were an NFL team needing a quarterback and the top three guys were already gone, I would definitely take a chance on Brennan, yes he might burn out and fade away, but the chance that Brennan will be a super star is just to good to pass up. I really like Erik Ainge from Tennessee as a second or third round selection and even though I am not high on either Chad Henne or John David Booty, they will likely be drafted during the same time frame. As a comparison, there were six quarterbacks selected on the first day of the 2007 NFL Draft. It's way to early to draw any final conclusions, but the best quarterback from the 2007 NFL Draft looks like Trent Edwards, and he was the last quarterback selected on day one last year (92nd over-all), and so far, is the first rookie quarterback to secure a starting job, beating out Buffalo's J. P. Losman.

Colt Brennan and the Rainbows Stay Undefeated

The Hawaii Rainbows finally got some air time on national TV and the defense laid an egg. The Rainbows barely beat a mediocre San Jose State team 42-35 in overtime. Quarterback Colt Brennan and their trio of uber talented receivers had to bale out their porous defense, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns. That is nothing new for the Hawaii defense, who gave up 44 points to Louisiana Tech and 37 points to Utah State. Friday night (Oct 12) the Rainbow defense gave up 35 points to San Jose State. Not to throw everything on the defense for the San Jose State fiasco, Colt Brennan's four interceptions put his defense in a bad spot a few times.

So Are the Hawaii Rainbows, at an undefeated 7-0, a legitimate legitimate BCS Championship team? Absolutely not, they just don't have the defense. Does anyone think if they played in the SEC they would even be a .500 team? Probably not.

Hold your horses all you Hawaii Rainbow fans before you click away in disgust. I am not here to bash the Hawaii Rainbows, I am just trying to be realistic. I actually love the Rainbows, I have given them significant coverage in the past, I wrote a glowing article last year about running back Nate Ilaoa and more recently, I wrote an interesting article on the King of Honolulu, June Jones.

I am rooting for the Rainbows, I love an under dog, the run and shoot offense is fun to watch and I am a huge fan of record setting Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan. Unlike a lot of draftniks, I think he has excellent NFL Potential. I am highly impressed with his quick release, accuracy and ability to move around in the pocket. He reminds me a lot of Tony Romo, with his gunslinger mentality. I would draft him in the later part of round one and be very patient with him, like Tony Romo, he (Brennan) will need a couple of years in the NFL to develop the mental part of his game, he throws way to many interceptions at this point, but make no mistake, Colt Brennan has all the physical skills to eventually develop into a pro bowl NFL quarterback.

During Friday nights game against San Jose State, Brennan, recovering from a sprained ankle, displayed some of that gunslinger mentality, making spectacular throw after throw at times and then throwing the ball up for grabs at other times, seemingly hot and cold. Bennan attempted a WAC record 75 passes, completing 44 for 545 yards 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He came through when he had to however, throwing the winning touchdown pass in overtime to WR Ryan Grice-Mullen from 8 yards out in front of 20,473 frenzied San Jose State fans on a muddy, wet field to win the game in over time 42-35. This, after he rallied back from a 14-point deficit in the final 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. It was the first time this season the Rainbows failed to score at least 45 points.

"Coach (Jones) was telling me, 'If you can come back from this, it will define you as a quarterback.' " Brennan said afterward. I love the King of Honolulu, June Jones, but he is borderline arrogant, after the game he blamed his teams difficulties on the wet, sloppy conditions of the field, saying something to the affect that if the conditions wouldn't have been so bad they would have scored 60 more (points). C'mon June, do you really want to score 104 points against San Jose State? Is that what you think people want to see to select you for a BCS championship game? Nope, you need a better defense and a tougher schedule if you want real nationwide respect.

Hawaii is off to it's best start since 1981 and despite my earlier comments, they do have an outside shot at a BCS game. Mark your calender for November 16th, the Rainbows play at Nevada in another Friday night nationally televised game on ESPN and then on November 23 they have a huge game against last years Cinderella team Boise State, and then on December 1st they play a tough Washington team, both of the later games are at Hawaii and they will need to destroy all three of those teams by huge margins to have an outside chance.

College Football News and Notes

By guest Blogger: John April

College Football

OK, so we are roughly half way through the 2007 Season. We saw some big upsets this week, Stanford over # 2 USC 24-23, Illinois over # 5 Wisconsin 31-26, and S. Carolina beating # 8 Kentucky 38-23 all in the top 10. (AP Poll ranking)

We have also seen some up and coming teams thus far this year. And the one that strikes me boldly is # 5 South Florida (5-0). For once, I agree with the AP Poll on this one. Matt Grothe # 8, only a Sophomore, threw 17/27 for 122 yards, only to rush for an additional 120 yards. Yes, its early, but watch for this young man in the NFL Draft in a few years, I promise, he WILL be at the top.

Another team that has earned some respect is # 7 South Carolina. Spurrier’s win over a # 8 ranked Kentucky, puts the Gamecocks at (5-1), 3-1 in the SEC. That makes it, 15 consecutive wins over Kentucky. South Carolina just outplayed the Wildcats, although the stats say otherwise. South Carolina will be losing 23 seniors this year, but their present QB, # 7 Chris Smelley, is only a Freshman. I feel confident that within the next 3 years, Smelley will hone his skills and that should keep S. Carolina in the top ten for a few years to come.

Personally, I don’t believe that Notre Dame’s troubles are over. They meet # 4 Boston College, then # 10 (AP)USC, and Stanford. But, if you look at it rankings and schedule wise. Notre Dame beat UCLA, who in turn has beaten Stanford, who has beaten USC, who has beaten Nebraska. You get my drift. In other words, if anything has been proven to us this year, this year especially, is that ANY team, Appalachian State, South Florida, Colorado, etc. can beat any team. So, watch this week and see if # 81 Arizona can beat # 10 USC, or another great match-up this week is # 75 Notre Dame vs. # 4 Boston College.

Some games to watch this week are: # 6 Oklahoma at # 11 Missouri and # 1 LSU at # 17 Kentucky. Of these games, I feel that Missouri has a better passing game, Chase Daniel Missouri QB last week threw for 401 yards against a tough Nebraska, where Oklahoma’s total yards last week were only 414.

# 1 LSU, playing a determined # 17 Kentucky will be another great game to view. Don’t shut Kentucky out of this one. The Wildcats can definitely move the ball, obvious from last weeks loss to # 7 S. Carolina, where Kentucky had more first downs, more totally yards, more rushing yards and more yards on punt returns. But LSU does claim to have the No. 1 defense in the nation, I question that after Tulane move the ball a total of 227 yards, and Florida had a total of 314 yards.

All in all, this should be an interesting week. And at the end of week 7, will there be another “Biggest Upset in College Football”.

John April's Top 20 College Football Rankings

It's always good to have a different set of opinions. Here is Guest Blogger, John April's version of the NCAA Football Top 20 Rankings.

Have a comment or question? Join the Discussion in our Forums

1. LSU (6-0)

Well, after the slight win 28-24, over a tough Florida team, as well as USC’s 24-23 loss to a non-ranked Stanford (1-3), I HAVE to give, and I do mean give, LSU the top spot this week. It was ONLY in the last 2 minutes of the game that they actually squeaked by.

2. California (5-0)

Ok, you can disagree with me on this one, yes they had a bye this week, but don’t hold it against them. With the USC loss, lets give them the benefit of the doubt and kick um up a notch.

3. Ohio State (6-0)

Ohio State again, with a dominant (23-7) win over a confidant (5-0) # 23 ranked Purdue, continues to climb that ladder to the top. Although Purdue out-threw Ohio State 268-200 yards, Ohio States running game more than made up for that rushing for 181 yards vs. Purdue’s four.

4. USC (4-1)

I am at a loss for words here. USC has disappointed its fans and alumni with its last 2 games, the close win over the Washington Huskies, and this weeks loss to Stanford. Special teams, the missed PAT by Buehler, as well as the 4 interceptions by Booty, is what cost USC the win this week. Still, I believe that USC can make it to the Rose Bowl.

5. South Florida ( 5-0)

No hate mail on this, please. S. Fla., not as well known as LSU, USC, Ohio State, etc., has become the ONLY undefeated team in Florida. Williams, rushing for 186 yards, was followed close behind by fellow teammate Grothe, who ran for 120 yards and passed for another 122 yards, making this 35-23 win over Fla. Atlantic, fantastic.

6. Boston College (6-0)

Boston College, a mainstay in the top 20 for the last 3 years, dominated Bowling Green (3-1) this week in a stunning 55-24 victory. 6 thrown Bowling Green interceptions, 5 by QB Sheehan, and 1 by Glaud, aided in this loss. Boston College QB Ryan had a noteworthy week, passing for 24/32, 312 yds., and 4 TD’s.

7. Wisconsin (5-1)

Wisconsin’s 14-game winning streak was stopped by a 5-1 Illinois team. Beating Wisconsin in a 31-26 battle, and yes this one was a battle. Wisconsin TE Beckum, had 160 receiving yards on 11 carries. QB Donovan threw for 392 yards, and Wisconsin had 28 first downs compared to Illinois 18. None the less, Wisconsin did suffer defeat against this better than expected Illinois team.

8. Oklahoma ( 5-1)

One of the more enjoyable games available this week. Nothing really outstanding about either team for this game. It could have gone either way, but it seems that Oklahoma just wanted it more.

9. South Carolina ( 5-1)

Turnovers, turnovers. Kentucky surpassed S.C. in just about every category. first downs, total yards, time of possession and rushing. They also were ahead on turnovers 4-1, and that cost them the game.

10. Florida (4-2)

Yes, I believe that Florida should be in the top 10. After witnessing a game that I felt should have gone to Florida, with the poor officiating, there is no way that I feel comfortable putting them at less than 10th in the rankings. Florida played in what I consider the toughest stadium in the country, and actually won the game until the last 1:02 minutes.

11. Kentucky (5-1)

Now this is funny, AP has Kentucky ranked 17th in the nation. What are they thinking about. 4 turnovers are all that cost Kentucky the loss against S. Carolina. 384 total yards, 227 in the air and 157 rushing. But drop down to 17, I don’t buy it. Watch for Kentucky in the future.

12. West Virginia (5-1)

W.V. had 486 total yards this week against Syracuse. Some tough games ahead for the Mountaineers. Rutgers, Louisiville and Cincinnati, will all give W.V. a great game.

13. Oregon ( 4-1)

Oregon had a bye this week, and I hope that did some serious practicing. Arizona State 6-0, USC 4-1 and UCLA 4-2 are some tough competitors for this Oregon defense.

14. Virginia Tech (5-1)

I originally wanted to put V. Tech higher in the rankings this week, but considering the win over Clemson 41-23, did not properly disclose the true game itself, I am not truly sure V. Tech at this time, is a team to be reckoned with. Clemson totally outplayed V. Tech, in total yards, first downs and time of possession.

15. Hawaii (6-0)

At 6-0, Hawaii may look impressive, but take a look what class of teams they are beating. Utah St. 0-6, Northern Colorado 0-6, La. Tech 1-4 and Idaho 1-5. Come on give me a break. I only put them here because I do have respect for any team that goes 6-0, but I believe that Boise St. and Washington will give them a game.


16. Missouri (5-0)

Yes, they beat Illinois 5-1, and they also beat Nebraska 4-2, BUT they still have to get by Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas Tech, Texas A & M and Kansas, all tough teams. But 606 total yards against Nebraska 4-2 is very impressive. Junior QB Chase Daniel, threw for 401 yards and ran for 72. Missouri WR’s and TE’s all were instrumental in this weeks win.

17. Illinois (5-1)

# 5 RB Rashad Mendenhall, a Junior, rushed for 160 yards in this weeks exciting upset over Wisconsin 5-1. Watch for this player in the NFL Draft a couple of years from now. Despite the 519 total yards orchestrated by Wisconsin QB Donovan, Illinois was able to break Wisconsin’s winning streak of 14 games.

18. Kansas (5-0)

Lets keep our eyes on this team. I am not sure that they can hold onto a position in the top 20. The have some tough teams ahead on their schedule, a 5-1 Texas A & M and a 5-0 Missouri.

19. Arizona State ( 6-0)

Atop the PAC-10 standings sits Arizona State (3-0) along with UCLA, also 3-0.

20. Cincinnati (6-0)

The 20th spot in the ranking is very difficult to pick. There were a number of other teams I could have put here, but at 6-0 I believe they have earned it.

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Fantasy Football Update

Image: Brandon Marshall

The NFL Football season is one quarter over and it's time to start adjusting your fantasy football rosters. By now we can start identifying trends in performance and injuries and we need to do some tweaking to our rosters to stay competitive.

I have done some research and have identified a few players that would be worth picking up if they are still available in your league. We will start with the quarterbacks, there a ton of back-ups starting now, some are pretenders and some contenders. The quarterback that looks the most appealing is the Raiders' Daunte Culpepper, he scored 2 TDs last week against Miami and is poised for a break out season, his knee finally looks 100%. Should you pick up Trent Dilfer now that Alex Smith is out for the year? I wouldn't unless you didn't have any other viable starters, Dilfer is ancient, immobile and the 49ers offensive line is struggling.

I like the Cleveland Browns Derek Anderson, he looks like he has the starting quarterback spot nailed down and has got some legitimate weapons around him with WR Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow JR. The 6' 6" 225 pound Anderson has recorded 9 touchdowns this year.

There a few interesting running backs starting to emerge. Cadillac Williams is injured and out for year for the Bucs, so the opportunity is there for someone else to emerge to fill that void, that someone is running back Earnest Graham (5' 9" 225 lbs), he is short and squat and has excellent balance and power, the Bucs like to use him near the goal line as his 3 TDs would indicate. He will share time with Michael Pittman, who is also used as a receiver. Either one of those guys could be a viable backup on your fantasy football rosters.

Denver running back Travis Henry is facing a year long suspension, so it might be a good time to reach a little and pick up Selvin Young. The rookie, Young, was an un-drafted free agent out of Texas, but he led the team in rushing in the pre-season and coach Shanahan has proven year in and year out he will put almost anyone in his backfield. Young has already played well in the regular season and has a 9.2 yards per carry average. Look for Young to get more carries as the season unfolds.

If you drafted the Dolphins' running back Ronnie Brown, grew impatient with his slow start, and were thinking about trading him, well don't. Brown is just to big, strong and fast to let go. He will get on track and have some big games for you before the season is over, he is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He looked good last week against Oakland, rushing for 134 yards and 1 TD. Speaking of receiving, for the season Brown has 20 catches for 248 yards and 1 TD. So Brown's versatility can get you a lot of fantasy points.

Another running back that looks like he is finally coming into his own is the Raiders' Justin Fargas. What makes Vargas an intriguing fantasy prospect is his home run speed. He has the speed to score a touchdown from anywhere on the field. Fargas had a breakout game last week against the Dolphins, he rushed 22 times for 179 yards.

The Cowboys running back Marion Barber is probably not available, but if he is you should try to get him, Dallas is primarily a passing team this season, but Barber is used around the goal line and he has emerged as the top dog over Julius Jones. Expect Barber to get more and more caries as the season goes along, especially in the second half. Barber already has scored 4 TDs.

There are a few talented receivers emerging as stars. My favorite is the Broncos' Brandon Marshall. I was infatuated with this kid coming out of college. He was selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, from tiny Central Florida. Through four games he has 20 catches for a team-leading 290 yards (14.5 avg.) and two touchdowns. Marshal is very similar to Terrell Owens in size (6' 4" 230 lbs), speed and ability.

See if you can get Steeler wide receiver Santonio Holmes on your roster. He was the Steelers 2006 1st round (25th over-all) draft pick for a reason, he is very athletic and fast and has emerged as Ben Roethlisberger's favorite target. Last week against Arizona he caught 6 balls for 128 yards and 2 TDs. He is young, so he will get better and better and could be a pro bowler by the end of the season.

If your Fantasy Football league gives you points for individual defensive players, you need to try to get your hands on 49er rookie inside linebacker Patrick Willis, already, as a rookie he has emerged as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. He is a tackling machine, after four games he is tied for 3rd in the NFL in tackles with 38.