Tim Tebow was obviously the biggest story going into the senior bowl. I thought Tebow would be a gamer and not worry about his mechanics or all the scouts and just play football. Obviously that was not the case. He does not posses any amazing attributes for an NFL quarterback, he looked slow, and unathletic compared to all the other players on the field. I would not draft him unless he would be willing to move to tight end or fullback. I still believe that he will definitely go in the first 2 rounds based on hype alone. Look at a guy like Maruice Clarett, he had major character issues, only one year of college football, poor workouts and he was still drafted in the 3rd round because of his name. If Tebow was more open to a position change, I think it would help his draft stock a lot. I like Tebow's character and work ethic but I just do not see him being successful QB at the NFL level.
Guys that played well at the senior bowl:
DE/OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan - He was absolutely dominate and ended up wining MVP honors. The biggest question about him is his size ( he is only 6'1") but he has had amazing production in college. He is similar to a guy like Elvis Dumervil (5'11") who had a great college career but was not drafted until the 4th round because of his size. Where he will be drafted now: Mid-to-late first rounder.
WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - I really like Gilyard, and I do not understand why he has not gotten more attention. He put caught 168 receptions and 22 td's in the last two years he has good size (6'1") and has amazing quickness. He is probably the 4th best wide receiver in this years draft. I do not place a high value on wide receivers, but Gilyard can contribute on special teams and is very good at getting yards after the catch. I would consider drafting him early in 2nd round.Where he will be drafted now: 2nd rounder.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
1. St. Louis Rams – QB Jimmy Clausen, Norte Dame – Over the past few years the Rams have struggled, yet insisted on sticking with QB Marc Bulger. After another tough year they may finally address the QB situation in the draft. Clausen put up tremendous numbers in college and could be the franchise QB the Rams have been looking for. He has been a top recruit at every level, and he will most likely wow scouts at the combine and pro day and be selected first overall.
2. Detroit Lions – DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska – The Lions had the worst defense in the league giving up 30+ points and 390+ yards a game. In the last 10 years the Lions have had 12 first round picks; they have used 11 of those picks on offensive players. They will need that trend to stop if they wish to make the playoffs anytime soon. Suh is an outstanding player who is one of the best defensive players in college football and possibly the best prospect in this year’s draft.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma – The lack of talent on the Buccaneers is astounding. The Buccaneers have so many needs that this pick should simply go toward adding the best possible player in the draft. McCoy is a great player that has been over shadowed by DT Ndamunkong Suh. He is amazingly quick off the ball and could play DE or DT for Buccaneers. He is one of the best players in the draft and would be a great pick up for the Buccaneers and their second-rate defense.
4. Washington Redskins – QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma – Even though QB Jason Campbell continues to get better every year, it just seems like the Redskins have given up on him. They should probably address the offensive line considering that they let up 45 sacks or a possible replacement for injured RB Clinton Portis. However, it is likely they will select a QB. Bradford was a surefire top 5 pick last year; unfortunately he went back to school and injured his shoulder twice. He obviously has a lot of questions marks regarding his health, but he is talented enough for someone to take the risk.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – S Eric Berry, Tennessee – The Kansas City Chiefs are in a re-building process. They brought in General Manager Scott Pioli, new Coach Todd Haley and a hopeful franchise QB in Matt Cassel all in one year. They have a lot of young talent on their team and it would not be surprising to see the Chiefs turn it around in a year or two. Pioli is known for drafting based on talent rather than team needs. Luckily for the Chiefs Berry is one of the best talents in the draft and the safety position is a big need for the Chiefs. Berry is a ball hawk in the secondary that may be the best prospect at safety since Sean Taylor.
6. Seattle Seahawks – OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma St. – The Seahawks will have to address their offensive line problems this offseason. They allowed 41 sacks, they did not have a back with over 700 yards rushing, and their backs have only seen the end zone 6 times. Those are some discouraging stats for a team that runs the west coast offense, an offense that predicated on a good running game and quick passes. Okung is clearly the top offensive tackle in this years draft and it would not be surprising to see him selected in the top 5.
7. Cleveland Browns – WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St. – Watching the Cleveland Browns play is just painful. Their offense never seems in sync and their defense is not able to stop anyone. Their only positive is having kick/punt return specialist Josh Cribbs. You can see why Cleveland fans are turning against their team and coach. Bringing in Mike Holmgren as the VP of football operations was a smart move and hopefully he can get the Browns headed in the right direction. Bryant is a legit top 5 talent. In the little time he played in college he dominated. He would be a great addition to the Browns and help out a team that somehow had no one with over 34 receptions.
8. Oakland Raider – DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida – After the Raiders drafted WR Darrius Heyward-Bey over standout WR Michael Crabtree it was clear once again that owner Al Davis only cares about combine numbers. So it is hard to predict this pick at this point without seeing 40 times and vertical jumps. Dunlap is a 6’6” 290 lb physical freak that can do everything. He would actually be a nice pick up for the Raiders but do not be surprised if they draft other big name players who will do well at the combine like S Taylor Mays, RB C.J. Spiller, QB Tim Tebow, or RB Jahvid Best.
9. Buffalo Bills – QB Colt McCoy, Texas – It is amazing that the Bills have won so many games without a true number one quarterback. QB Trent Edwards did not work out and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is merely a replacement. Look for the Bills to try and trade up and snag Clausen or Bradford, if not McCoy may be the answer. Many believe McCoy is a second rounder at best, but McCoy reminds me a lot of QB Phillip Rivers. Extremely accurate, an amazing collegiate career, average arm strength, and a ¾ arm delivery. Rivers ended up being selected 4th overall, but was not supposed be drafted until late 1st round. Do not be surprised if McCoy finds his way into the top 10.
10. Denver Broncos (from: CHICAGO) – S Taylor Mays, USC – The Broncos had a complete overhaul last year bringing in a new coach, a new defense and a lot of new players on both sides of the ball. Their defense has been excellent this year, but it is aging and could be an issue in the future. Taylor Mays is a player that people have been raving about since he started as a true freshman at USC. He is 6’3” 230 lbs and is not afraid to deliver a hit. Mays has pro bowl type talent and it would be great for him to learn from a hard hitting veteran like FS Brian Dawkins.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars – LB Ronaldo McClain, Alabama – The Jaguars are seriously missing playmakers on their defense. They were last in the league at getting to the quarterback with only 14 sacks and they are one of the only teams that have not scored a defensive touchdown. They do not have that key player that they can rely on to make a big play on defense. This is especially tough when your team plays Peyton Manning, Chris Johnson, and Andre Johnson twice a year. McClain is a guy that could come in right away and play any linebacker spot and make plays.
12. Miami Dolphins – TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida – I would love to see the Dolphins draft QB Tim Tebow just to see what type of offense they could run with him. That is probably very unlikely, they will most likely try to add a receiving option or upgrade on defense. Hernandez is a playmaker at the tight end position. He runs and catches like a receiver, has moves like a running back and does it all in a tight ends body.
13. San Francisco 49ers – CB Joe Haden, Florida – The secondary used to be one of the only strengths for the 49ers. Now the 49ers look to be on the rise, but the secondary has taken a step backwards. Haden is an all around corner that has great coverage skills and is not afraid to come up and hit. With a better secondary and ILB Patrick Willis and RB Frank Gore leading the team, the 49ers should be a very good team in the future.
14. Seattle Seahawks (From: Denver) – RB C.J Spiller, Clemson – The Seahawks do not have a true play maker on offense. What they are missing is a fast explosive player that can add another dynamic to their offense. Spiller might be the most dynamic player since RB Reggie Bush. He had 21 touchdowns of over 50 yards and is a huge threat on special teams and in the passing game. Spiller is likely to impress at the combine and he should end up in the top 15.
15. New York Giants – RB Jahvid Best, California – The Giants rely heavily on their running attack on offense. This year the Giants were a little less consistent running the ball and it really stalled their offense. RB’s Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are both bruising backs that like to run inside the tackles. The Giants are missing that explosive threat or a true 3rd down back. NFL teams love to have multiple running backs capable of doing different things, and Best could be the “lightning” back to Bradshaw and Jacobs “thunder”. Best is another guy that could end up higher than most project with a good combine.
16. Tennessee Titans – DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech – The Titans defense is beginning to show its age. Six of their starters on defense are older than 29. The most obvious need that the Titans should address is their defensive line. Losing DT Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins last year really hurt their pass rush and run defense. Morgan is an all-around player that can stop the run and get after the quarterback; he would be a big addition for the Titans.
17. San Francisco 49ers (From: Carolina) – DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida – With two first round picks the 49ers will try to address their biggest needs: secondary, pass rusher, and offensive line. Pierre-Paul is a 6’6” 260 lb defensive end that is lightning quick. He is athletic enough to stand up and play the OLB position in the 3-4. The 49ers could definitely use a guy like Pierre-Paul who can rush the QB.
18. Pittsburg Steelers – OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma – The super bowl champs had a very disappointing season. The talent is still there, they just did not play up to their potential. There are not many holes on their team, but the one problem was offensive line. The Steelers let up 50 sacks so they will probably try to add some depth to the offensive line in this draft. Williams comes from a school known for producing great offensive lineman. Oklahoma has produced Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Davin Josheph, Chris Chester, and Jamal Brown. Williams should be no different.
19. Atlanta Falcons – DE/OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas – The Falcons have had a tough year, especially defensively. They are bottom of the league in almost every defensive statistical category. They have tried to improve their defense over the last few years by drafting defensive players with early draft picks but most of those players have not panned out. One major weakness is their two defensive ends. Starting defensive ends John Abraham and Jamaal Anderson have combined for 6 sacks this year which is simply not going to cut it. A better pass rush could help Atlanta’s porous secondary. Kindle has a great motor and even though he played defensive end in college, he seems to always be around the ball. Kindle is just a great athlete that could come in and get pressure on the QB. He could play defensive end or transition into a linebacker.
20. Houston Texans – S Earl Thomas, Texas – The Texans have a very young talented team and the future looks bright. If it were not for some close losses the Texans could easily have 10+ wins this year. This draft will be very important for the Texans and their future playoff hopes. Their biggest need has to be the safety position. The Texans are hoping that somehow S Taylor Mays will drop to them. If not Earl Thomas is a guy that they will have to strongly consider. Thomas is only a redshirt sophomore, but he has all sorts of talent and would be a great pick up for the Texans.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma – No one believed WR Chad Ochocinco when he predicted the Bengals would go 12-4 after a 4-11-1 record in 2008. Ochocinco may not have been right, but the Bengals still ended up going 10-6 and making the playoffs, a huge turn around. Surprisingly it was strong defensive play that helped the Bengals make it to the playoffs and not the offense. The Bengals really missed the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh and need to add another reviving threat. Gresham is an amazing pass catching tight end and a very talented player. He did not play senior year but had 66 receptions and 14 touchdowns in his junior year. He would be a great weapon for QB Carson Palmer.
22. New England Patriots – DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern – The second half of the decade was not as kind to the Patriots as the first half. The biggest reason for why the Patriots “dynasty” may be at its end is because of their defense. They do not possess the same talent or swagger that they used to have. The patriots just have not been able to replace versatile veterans like OLB Willie McGinest or OLB Mike Vrabel. Wootton is a 6’7” 280 lb defensive end that has power and speed. He is a guy that could play OLB in the 3-4 for the patriots or put a hand down and play DE on passing downs.
23. Green Bay Packers – OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers – This may be the most obvious pick in the draft. General Manager Ted Thompson is known for selecting the best available player no matter what, but there is no way that he can ignore the abysmal offensive line that the Packers have. The offensive line let up a league worst 51 sacks during the regular season and 5 sacks in the post season including a sack-fumble that cost them the game. Davis is a big young talented offensive tackle with a lot of upside. He would be an immediate upgrade for the Packers offensive line.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Everson Griffen, USC – It finally looked like the year for the Eagles to win it all, leading up to week 17 they had won 6 straight, their offense and defense were clicking. When they went up against Dallas in week 17 and in the first round of the playoffs, everything fell apart. There is not really a place you can point your finger and blame for their collapse, they simply just got beat. With this pick the Eagle will most likely continue their trend of drafting offensive and defensive lineman with their early picks. Since 1991, 13 of the eagles first round picks have gone to an offensive or defensive lineman. Griffen only started one year and came out early as a junior, but based on upside alone he will merit a first round pick. He is extremely athletic and could be a guy they develops into the next Trent Cole.
25. Baltimore Ravens – Arrelious Benn, Illinois – Every year it is the same story for the Ravens, a great defense but a poor offense. This year, however, QB Joe Flacco had an impressive year and the Ravens looked a lot better on offense. One concern for the Ravens has to be the receiving core. Their problem is that Derrick Mason, the teams leading receiver since 2005, is 35 and beginning to show signs of aging. They need to bring a new receiving threat. Benn is a playmaker that can come in and hopefully develop into the new number one threat for the Ravens.
26. Arizona Cardinals – OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa – The Cardinals have a young talented defense and a great passing offense the one thing they are missing is a solid running game. Now with RB Beanie Wells the Cardinals are looking to establish a great running game. The only problem is they need to makes some improvements to their offensive line. Bulaga is a solid left tackle that is very fundamentally sound. He should be able to help protect Kurt Warner and open up some holes for Wells.
27. Dallas Cowboys- OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland – The good news is the Cowboys finally had some success in December, but the bad news is that Wade Phillips is still the Cowboys coach. Phillips’ Cowboys have had a great team every year and fallen apart when it counts, it is surprising he still has a job. Fortunately for the Cowboys, there are not a lot of big holes to fill. The one place they need to get younger is the offensive line. They have had a consistent and productive offensive line, but every starter is 31 or older. Campbell is only a junior but he has a lot of potential it would be good for him to come in and learn from a aging veteran line.
28. San Diego Chargers – RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech – It was shocking to see what some considered to be the best in the NFL get beat by the 8-8 Jets team. You would have to say the biggest difference in the game was Jets RB Shonn Greene’s 123 yards and a TD versus LaDainian Tomlinson’s 24 yards on 12 carries. If you cannot run the ball in the playoffs you cannot win. The Chargers will most likely try to acquire a pounder like Greene who could split carries with RB Darren Sproles. Dwyer is a pure pounder whose job in the Georgia Tech triple option the majority of the time was to take the ball straight up the middle. He would help add a physical back that the Chargers desperately need.
29. New York Jets – WR Golden Tate, Norte Dame WR – It is commonly believed that the two most important things in creating a championship team are a good defense and a good running game. The Jets were first in both running the ball and defense so it was surprising that they were only able to squeak into the playoffs. The Jets are a young dangerous team and will be a huge threat in the future. With this pick they will have to try and bring in some more weapons for first year QB Mark Sanchez. Tate is a versatile guy that knows how to get open and would help take some pressure off of Sanchez and WR Braylon Edwards.
30. Minnesota Vikings – QB Tim Tebow, Florida – It is going to be awful having another off-season filled with questions about “will Brett Favre retire or not?” If the past holds true, then he will most likely retire and the Vikings will look else where for a QB, but then Favre will come back and cause problems. Hype plays such a big role in the draft; I strongly believe that Tebow will find his way into the first round. Tebow skills may not translate perfectly in the NFL but he is a competitive guy that will some how find his way onto the field. The Vikings are not afraid to take risky picks and Tebow could be one of those guys like Percy Harvin, that end up paying off.
31. New Orleans Saints – DT Brian Price, UCLA – The Saints are top of the NFL in almost every offensive category, so this pick will probably be used on defense. The biggest need has to be linebacker or defensive line. Outside of DE Will Smith the Saints have not had a consistent starter on their defensive line. Price is a guy that many people believe is a top 15 talent, the Saints would be lucky to get him this late.
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