The Hall of Fame weekend kicked off the beginning of preseason football. For his part, Tom Brady played well in his first game since returning from injury. The same can be said of few others. Brady was 10 for 15 for 100 yards, 2 TD's and one interception; while not all of his passes were as razor sharp as they might have been during his 2007 MVP campaign, he looked almost like his old self again.
Many of the other high-profile quarterbacks struggled in their first action of the season. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning were both 1 for 2; while this could be attributed to them being held out by their respective teams, Manning didn't look comfortable against a dominant Minnesota defense that recorded three sacks in total. Brees had it easier, playing against a historically lackluster and once again unimpressive Cincinnati team.
Jay Cutler failed to make an impression in his Bears debut, throwing a pick on the first series and nearly throwing another that was fortunately dropped. Even more fortunate for Chicago was the recovery if a muffed punt on the very next play. Even with this advanced field position, Cutler could not get the Bears into the endzone.
But it will be hard to argue that any starting quarterback has a worse game than Kyle Orton, who threw three interceptions for the Denver Broncos before Josh McDaniels substituted him in a seemingly merciful gesture. McDaniels, meanwhile, continues to look the fool for facilitating the trade for Jay Cutler. It should be noted, however, that McDaniels' last protégé (Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, who was with McDaniels in New England last year) also struggled mightily in preseason before going on the throw for 3,600 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago.
Long story short: anything can happen.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hall of Fame Welcomes 2009 Class
As I'm sure most of the fans who were paying attention to the NFL this weekend, six new enshrinees were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend in Canton, Ohio. In case you were not, here is a brief review of the Hall of Fame class of 2009 (in no particular order):
1. Ralph Wilson, Jr.: The founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson has been instrumental in creating the National Football League as we know it today. He was a founding member of the 8-team American Football League in 1959, and aided in the planning and execution of the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Years later, he would oversee the Bills' unprecedented run of four consecutive Super Bowls, which would feature the next person in the Class of 2009.
2. Bruce Smith: A perennial Pro Bowler and a 19-year veteran by the end of his career, Bruce Smith still holds the all-time career sack record in the NFL with a whopping 200, a figure that doesn't look likely to be broken anytime soon (the closest active player is Jason Taylor, who now appears to be languishing back in Miami still 78.5 sacks behind). Smith terrorized the edge as the familiar face of the Buffalo Bills franchise in the 80's and 90's, where he played as the key defensive end during the aforementioned Super Bowl run. Although he (and all the other Bills players in the Hall) never got a ring, his accomplishments should not be at all diminished.
3. Randall McDaniel: While undersized and awkward-looking (you may remember his peculiar three point stance with his left foot splayed out to the side), McDaniel is still regarded as one of the greatest, most versatile guards to play the game. In a world where there never seem to be any numbers for offensive linemen, try this: Randall McDaniel blocked for six 3,000-yard passers in his career, started 202 consecutive games in 14 seasons, and made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-2000) within the same span (still an NFL Record). Regardless of position, those are impressive, Hall of Fame quality stats.
4. Bob Hayes: Known to many as "the Bullet" and quite possibly the fastest man to ever play in the NFL, Hayes has the honor of being the only man to ever win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. In ten seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes scored over 70 touchdowns and became the first player in the history of the Dallas Cowboys to catch for over 1000 yards. He was a key player in winning Dallas' first Super Bowl in 1972. Despite his reputation as a track man, Hayes was succinctly described by teammate and Hall of Fame presenter Roger Staubach as "a football player who also ran track, not a track star who played football". There is little doubt that Hayes changed the game with both his blazing speed and his prodigious talent.
5. Derrick Thomas: One of the best pass rushers of all-time, Derrick Thomas was voted to 8 Pro Bowls during his 11-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, including his rookie season in 1989, when he became the first rookie Kansas City linebacker selected to a Pro Bowl since fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Bell in 1968. Thomas is ranked among another prestigious club; he is one of only 22 NFL players to reach the benchmark of 100 or more career sacks with 126.5 in total. Perhaps his crowning achievement is his record for the most sacks in a single game, when he officially recorded seven against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990.
6. Rod Woodson: Last but most certainly not least, Rod Woodson shined in a brilliant 20 year career with four teams, including 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Third on the list of all-time interceptions, Woodson was named to the NFL's 75th-anniversary team in only his seventh year in the league and made 3 Super Bowl appearances throughout his career (one each with the Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders), winning once. Woodson also holds the distinction of being the only first-ballot Hall of Famer in this year's class (meaning this was the first year he was eligible for Hall of Fame induction).
It goes without saying that all of these men deserve our utmost respect for their accomplishments both on and off the gridiron.
1. Ralph Wilson, Jr.: The founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson has been instrumental in creating the National Football League as we know it today. He was a founding member of the 8-team American Football League in 1959, and aided in the planning and execution of the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Years later, he would oversee the Bills' unprecedented run of four consecutive Super Bowls, which would feature the next person in the Class of 2009.
2. Bruce Smith: A perennial Pro Bowler and a 19-year veteran by the end of his career, Bruce Smith still holds the all-time career sack record in the NFL with a whopping 200, a figure that doesn't look likely to be broken anytime soon (the closest active player is Jason Taylor, who now appears to be languishing back in Miami still 78.5 sacks behind). Smith terrorized the edge as the familiar face of the Buffalo Bills franchise in the 80's and 90's, where he played as the key defensive end during the aforementioned Super Bowl run. Although he (and all the other Bills players in the Hall) never got a ring, his accomplishments should not be at all diminished.
3. Randall McDaniel: While undersized and awkward-looking (you may remember his peculiar three point stance with his left foot splayed out to the side), McDaniel is still regarded as one of the greatest, most versatile guards to play the game. In a world where there never seem to be any numbers for offensive linemen, try this: Randall McDaniel blocked for six 3,000-yard passers in his career, started 202 consecutive games in 14 seasons, and made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-2000) within the same span (still an NFL Record). Regardless of position, those are impressive, Hall of Fame quality stats.
4. Bob Hayes: Known to many as "the Bullet" and quite possibly the fastest man to ever play in the NFL, Hayes has the honor of being the only man to ever win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. In ten seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes scored over 70 touchdowns and became the first player in the history of the Dallas Cowboys to catch for over 1000 yards. He was a key player in winning Dallas' first Super Bowl in 1972. Despite his reputation as a track man, Hayes was succinctly described by teammate and Hall of Fame presenter Roger Staubach as "a football player who also ran track, not a track star who played football". There is little doubt that Hayes changed the game with both his blazing speed and his prodigious talent.
5. Derrick Thomas: One of the best pass rushers of all-time, Derrick Thomas was voted to 8 Pro Bowls during his 11-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, including his rookie season in 1989, when he became the first rookie Kansas City linebacker selected to a Pro Bowl since fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Bell in 1968. Thomas is ranked among another prestigious club; he is one of only 22 NFL players to reach the benchmark of 100 or more career sacks with 126.5 in total. Perhaps his crowning achievement is his record for the most sacks in a single game, when he officially recorded seven against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990.
6. Rod Woodson: Last but most certainly not least, Rod Woodson shined in a brilliant 20 year career with four teams, including 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Third on the list of all-time interceptions, Woodson was named to the NFL's 75th-anniversary team in only his seventh year in the league and made 3 Super Bowl appearances throughout his career (one each with the Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders), winning once. Woodson also holds the distinction of being the only first-ballot Hall of Famer in this year's class (meaning this was the first year he was eligible for Hall of Fame induction).
It goes without saying that all of these men deserve our utmost respect for their accomplishments both on and off the gridiron.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Favre Gone Too Far?
Brett Favre's impending decision on his return to the NFL for a 19th season has been drawing eyes from around the league, but particularly from the NFC North, where both the team that made him a legend (the Green Bay Packers) and the team that seeks to reenlist him into professional football (the Minnesota Vikings) reside. Despite Favre's dubious comments supporting the contrary ("Once you quit, you can never go back.") it seems quite likely that he will once again be under center for an NFL team.
Is it the right move for Favre? Probably. As far as he's concerned, if he wants to play and someone is willing to take him, what he does is his business. Despite his advancing age and ailing health (he's recovering from surgery on a partially torn muscle in his throwing arm), no one can question Favre's determination to play the game as long as he is able.
But the question of whether or not his return is the right move for the Vikings remains to be seen. Minnesota is on the cusp of being a Super Bowl team. But while they have a superb defense and punishing ground attack, they are lacking a quarterback who can guide them to the Super Bowl. Because of his long experience and natural arm strength, Favre seems the ideal candidate for the Vikings’ job. But what Minnesota needs is a game manager—someone who can instill enough fear with the pass to allow their run game to take over—not an archetypical gunslinger like Brett Favre who will sometimes throw as many interceptions as touchdowns.
With Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice as the Viking’s receivers (not to mention the running back tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor), the Vikings can make a compelling case for Favre to return, but last year’s ill-fated end with the Jets (and the up-and-down season preceding it) should have shown him that his days as the NFL’s iron man are numbered. With this next attempt at a comeback, could Favre do more harm than good. Favre has been known to only come back if he is promised the starting job, and is not well known for tutoring younger quarterbacks at his previous stops. This does not bode well for up-and-coming Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who displayed signs of promise at the end of last season despite a disappointing playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Obviously, the Vikings would not be making this move if they thought Jackson or fellow quarterback Sage Rosenfels could get them to the Super Bowl. This situation still remains a gamble of risk versus reward, a one year shot for the championship with Favre. This year, the whole league will watch Minnesota with keen interest.
Is it the right move for Favre? Probably. As far as he's concerned, if he wants to play and someone is willing to take him, what he does is his business. Despite his advancing age and ailing health (he's recovering from surgery on a partially torn muscle in his throwing arm), no one can question Favre's determination to play the game as long as he is able.
But the question of whether or not his return is the right move for the Vikings remains to be seen. Minnesota is on the cusp of being a Super Bowl team. But while they have a superb defense and punishing ground attack, they are lacking a quarterback who can guide them to the Super Bowl. Because of his long experience and natural arm strength, Favre seems the ideal candidate for the Vikings’ job. But what Minnesota needs is a game manager—someone who can instill enough fear with the pass to allow their run game to take over—not an archetypical gunslinger like Brett Favre who will sometimes throw as many interceptions as touchdowns.
With Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice as the Viking’s receivers (not to mention the running back tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor), the Vikings can make a compelling case for Favre to return, but last year’s ill-fated end with the Jets (and the up-and-down season preceding it) should have shown him that his days as the NFL’s iron man are numbered. With this next attempt at a comeback, could Favre do more harm than good. Favre has been known to only come back if he is promised the starting job, and is not well known for tutoring younger quarterbacks at his previous stops. This does not bode well for up-and-coming Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who displayed signs of promise at the end of last season despite a disappointing playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Obviously, the Vikings would not be making this move if they thought Jackson or fellow quarterback Sage Rosenfels could get them to the Super Bowl. This situation still remains a gamble of risk versus reward, a one year shot for the championship with Favre. This year, the whole league will watch Minnesota with keen interest.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hundred Million Dollar Man Graces the Pitch, Not the Gridiron
Today I'll take a reprieve from the NFL to discuss what the rest of the world knows as "football." The Confederations Cup, regarded by many as the precursor to the World Cup, is well underway and the U.S. already eliminated. As saddened as I am by this, I can hardly say I am particularly surprised by the result.
Despite certain fanatical advocates who claim that Major League Soccer is on even footing with the top European teams, the general concensus remains that there is a clear desparity across the pond. And why shouldn't it be this way? In Europe, "football" is perhaps the most widespread commercial enterprise, attracting high-end attention from the likes of a former Italian Prime Minister (Silvio Berlusconi, owner of Serie A club AC Milan) and a Russian oil tycoon (Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League team Chelsea FC). In America, some wouldn't even consider it a sideshow to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.
So what separates the two sides: the Americans and the Europeans? First of all, TV exposure and other such monetary opportunities ensure that only the big-time clubs compete against US club (imagine the Superbowl champs going to play against NFL Europa teams). This favor towards international giants is understandable given the appeal of such teams to the United States audience, but in the end it skews the results of such friendly matches. Such irregular competition is not the best formula to decide who has the competitive edge.
Differences in league rules are also a divisive force between the U.S. and Europe. The United States uses the draft system for nearly every sprt of any national acclaim, which is aimed towards increasing the competitiveness and parity of the participating teams. The idea of allowing the worst team to choose the best potential player is thoroughly American, for it is not often shared by the rest of the sports world.
European soccer (and generally the rest of the world's leagues as well) is based almost purely on capital: the club with the most money can get the best players, ideally translating into success. There is no draft process, making it more similar to college football than the NFL. The transfers of Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka (for $102 million and $92 million, respectively) exemplifies the idea that permeates the world of professional football: the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
In addition, the leagues themselves affect the status of their clubs. The MLS, NFL, and MLB are all singular entities that represent all the franchises in their respective leagues. In Europe, each club is its own independent organization; while they are tied to a collective governing body in nation Football Associations and FIFA, the restrictions imposed upon these clubs are much less strict than those of American sports. The European transfer market is essentially unregulated, allowing any team with enough dough to buy as many players as they want. There is no salary cap because wage budgets are set by the individual owners, allowing clubs to pay players as much as is required to get their signature.
Since Major League Soccer lacks any such transfer market (and any deals from outside have to go through the MLS, which owns the rights to all player contracts), it is difficult to make a fitting analogy that will strike a chord with American readers who do not follow intercontinental soccer. To illustrate the dominance of wealth, imagine if one NFL team held the top four picks in the Draft. In addition, they can pay each player as much as they wish, with no restrictions on incentives or contracts. An epitome of parity and fairness? I think not.
So when the MLS is accused of being a weaker league, I think we should take pride in the fact that we have a system that fosters competition and the opportunity for success for all.
Despite certain fanatical advocates who claim that Major League Soccer is on even footing with the top European teams, the general concensus remains that there is a clear desparity across the pond. And why shouldn't it be this way? In Europe, "football" is perhaps the most widespread commercial enterprise, attracting high-end attention from the likes of a former Italian Prime Minister (Silvio Berlusconi, owner of Serie A club AC Milan) and a Russian oil tycoon (Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League team Chelsea FC). In America, some wouldn't even consider it a sideshow to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.
So what separates the two sides: the Americans and the Europeans? First of all, TV exposure and other such monetary opportunities ensure that only the big-time clubs compete against US club (imagine the Superbowl champs going to play against NFL Europa teams). This favor towards international giants is understandable given the appeal of such teams to the United States audience, but in the end it skews the results of such friendly matches. Such irregular competition is not the best formula to decide who has the competitive edge.
Differences in league rules are also a divisive force between the U.S. and Europe. The United States uses the draft system for nearly every sprt of any national acclaim, which is aimed towards increasing the competitiveness and parity of the participating teams. The idea of allowing the worst team to choose the best potential player is thoroughly American, for it is not often shared by the rest of the sports world.
European soccer (and generally the rest of the world's leagues as well) is based almost purely on capital: the club with the most money can get the best players, ideally translating into success. There is no draft process, making it more similar to college football than the NFL. The transfers of Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka (for $102 million and $92 million, respectively) exemplifies the idea that permeates the world of professional football: the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
In addition, the leagues themselves affect the status of their clubs. The MLS, NFL, and MLB are all singular entities that represent all the franchises in their respective leagues. In Europe, each club is its own independent organization; while they are tied to a collective governing body in nation Football Associations and FIFA, the restrictions imposed upon these clubs are much less strict than those of American sports. The European transfer market is essentially unregulated, allowing any team with enough dough to buy as many players as they want. There is no salary cap because wage budgets are set by the individual owners, allowing clubs to pay players as much as is required to get their signature.
Since Major League Soccer lacks any such transfer market (and any deals from outside have to go through the MLS, which owns the rights to all player contracts), it is difficult to make a fitting analogy that will strike a chord with American readers who do not follow intercontinental soccer. To illustrate the dominance of wealth, imagine if one NFL team held the top four picks in the Draft. In addition, they can pay each player as much as they wish, with no restrictions on incentives or contracts. An epitome of parity and fairness? I think not.
So when the MLS is accused of being a weaker league, I think we should take pride in the fact that we have a system that fosters competition and the opportunity for success for all.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Draft Recap Part 3
12. Denver Broncos – Knowshon Moreno – RB – Georgia: The inauspicious title of my Most Puzzling Pick Award, Denver defied the predictions of most draft analysts when they chose the Georgia back at #12. That is not to say that Moreno is a bad player; on the contrary, he may be the best overall running back in the draft with his quickness, lateral agility, good hands, and youth. My concern is that he is not the best for Denver, who suffered on defense last year with a dismal ranking of 29th in the NFL. The fact that this is a recurring theme (the Broncos have finished 15th on defense in 2005, 14th in 2006, and 19th in 2007, usually due to a porous front seven) makes it even more disappointing that they did not more aggressively pursue a difference maker on the defensive line. I would have loved to see this team move up to #8 to get B.J. Raji, as Jacksonville was attempting to trade down at the time. It doesn’t seem inconceivable that Josh McDaniels could have traded this pick and a second-rounder to move up to the eighth spot, and given the Broncos woeful defensive line Raji would have been a big help. With that possibility come and gone, it seems to me that McDaniels was instead trying to alleviate the loss of Jay Cutler with another stud player in the backfield. If Moreno turns out like Clinton Portis, that’s great, but I must say I was not particularly impressed with this selection, which appears to be make as the result of a mistake and not as the result of a ‘best-player-available’ strategy.
13.Washington Redskins – Brian Orakpo – DE/LB – Texas: It doesn’t seem often that a player has one specific team that they want to play for and that one team ends up picking them, but that seems to be case here. Brian Orakpo was jubilant upon being selected by the ‘Skins, and I’ll bet that Washington was eager to get him. A highly athletic and versatile talent, Orakpo will probably play a hybrid of linebacker and defensive end for the Redskins. The stars seem to have aligned for the former Longhorn and his new team, whom Orakpo stated after his selection was “the team I want.” This is a good fit for Washington given the status of aging pass rushers Andre Carter and Jason Taylor, but they should be wary of Orakpo’s status as a ‘workout warrior’ and hope he does not end up like Vernon Gholston, picked sixth by the Jets last year.
14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio State: While they lured safety Darren Sharper from Minnesota, the release of Mike McKenzie left the Saints secondary vulnerable at the cornerback position. Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best cover corners in this draft, and he possesses that rare ability that NFL teams covet in corners: the willingness to tackle. Having played safety as well as corner at (the) Ohio State University, Jenkins is an able tackler who can deliver the hit and give an instant boost to the Saints defense.
15. Houston Texans – Brian Cushing – LB – USC: Houston are building a case for one of the most talented defensive units in the league with the success of Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, and Omobi Okoye, and Brian Cushing could be another component in what I see as a future perennial playoff defense. Cushing is an extremely capable linebacker who might not have the most upside of the three USC linebackers, but during his college tenure he showed pass rushing ability and excellent coverage skills, which the Texans could definitely use. So who does he replace? Ryans? Definitely not. Marlon Greenwood, Xavier Adibi, or Zack Diles? Probably.
16. San Diego Chargers – Larry English – DE/LB – Northern Illinois: Larry English adds another talent to an already star-studded Chargers team. While San Diego’s squad has some of the best depth in the league, the loss of Shaun Merriman exposed some glaring weaknesses in the Chargers pass rush. English is a quick and powerful pass rusher who will complement Merriman well, giving the San Diego defense more ability to create chaos in the opponent’s backfield.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Cleveland, from NY Jets) – Josh Freeman – QB – Kansas State: This pick wasn’t much of a surprise; Tampa needed a quarterback coming into this draft (even with the remnants of Jon Gruden’s QB carousel still in-house) since Jeff Garcia departed for the Oakland Raiders. Josh Freeman can be for Tampa this year what Joe Flacco was for the Baltimore Ravens last year: a tall, strong-armed pocket passer who can give an ailing pass attack a shot in the arm. With recent star Antonio Bryant back in the receiving corps, Tampa will look to form a potent combination between him and Freeman.
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – Robert Ayers – DE/LB – Tennessee: Let’s just say I was significantly more pleased with this pick than I was with #12. Who better to help fix the Broncos defense than a standout from a school known for producing stout defensive players (Albert Haynesworth, Jerod Mayo, and former Bronco Al Wilson for starters)? His lack of production at Tennessee (3 sacks in his senior year is poor, even on a struggling team), but Ayers has shown that he is a superb talent and potentially well-valued at 18th overall, able to bring an explosive presence to Denver’s new 3-4 defensive scheme.
Stay tuned for picks #19-25 on the next edition of our NFL Draft Recap.
13.Washington Redskins – Brian Orakpo – DE/LB – Texas: It doesn’t seem often that a player has one specific team that they want to play for and that one team ends up picking them, but that seems to be case here. Brian Orakpo was jubilant upon being selected by the ‘Skins, and I’ll bet that Washington was eager to get him. A highly athletic and versatile talent, Orakpo will probably play a hybrid of linebacker and defensive end for the Redskins. The stars seem to have aligned for the former Longhorn and his new team, whom Orakpo stated after his selection was “the team I want.” This is a good fit for Washington given the status of aging pass rushers Andre Carter and Jason Taylor, but they should be wary of Orakpo’s status as a ‘workout warrior’ and hope he does not end up like Vernon Gholston, picked sixth by the Jets last year.
14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio State: While they lured safety Darren Sharper from Minnesota, the release of Mike McKenzie left the Saints secondary vulnerable at the cornerback position. Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best cover corners in this draft, and he possesses that rare ability that NFL teams covet in corners: the willingness to tackle. Having played safety as well as corner at (the) Ohio State University, Jenkins is an able tackler who can deliver the hit and give an instant boost to the Saints defense.
15. Houston Texans – Brian Cushing – LB – USC: Houston are building a case for one of the most talented defensive units in the league with the success of Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, and Omobi Okoye, and Brian Cushing could be another component in what I see as a future perennial playoff defense. Cushing is an extremely capable linebacker who might not have the most upside of the three USC linebackers, but during his college tenure he showed pass rushing ability and excellent coverage skills, which the Texans could definitely use. So who does he replace? Ryans? Definitely not. Marlon Greenwood, Xavier Adibi, or Zack Diles? Probably.
16. San Diego Chargers – Larry English – DE/LB – Northern Illinois: Larry English adds another talent to an already star-studded Chargers team. While San Diego’s squad has some of the best depth in the league, the loss of Shaun Merriman exposed some glaring weaknesses in the Chargers pass rush. English is a quick and powerful pass rusher who will complement Merriman well, giving the San Diego defense more ability to create chaos in the opponent’s backfield.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Cleveland, from NY Jets) – Josh Freeman – QB – Kansas State: This pick wasn’t much of a surprise; Tampa needed a quarterback coming into this draft (even with the remnants of Jon Gruden’s QB carousel still in-house) since Jeff Garcia departed for the Oakland Raiders. Josh Freeman can be for Tampa this year what Joe Flacco was for the Baltimore Ravens last year: a tall, strong-armed pocket passer who can give an ailing pass attack a shot in the arm. With recent star Antonio Bryant back in the receiving corps, Tampa will look to form a potent combination between him and Freeman.
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – Robert Ayers – DE/LB – Tennessee: Let’s just say I was significantly more pleased with this pick than I was with #12. Who better to help fix the Broncos defense than a standout from a school known for producing stout defensive players (Albert Haynesworth, Jerod Mayo, and former Bronco Al Wilson for starters)? His lack of production at Tennessee (3 sacks in his senior year is poor, even on a struggling team), but Ayers has shown that he is a superb talent and potentially well-valued at 18th overall, able to bring an explosive presence to Denver’s new 3-4 defensive scheme.
Stay tuned for picks #19-25 on the next edition of our NFL Draft Recap.
Monday, May 11, 2009
NFL Draft Recap #2
This begins the second edition of our NFL Draft Recap.
5. New York Jets (from Cleveland) – Mark Sanchez – QB – USC: In what would prove to be the first of Cleveland’s three first round trades, the New York Jets moved up to nab Sanchez at #5. The USC quarterback only has one year of starting experience coming out of college, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for with raw talent. While his arm strength is not quite as excellent as Stafford, it is nothing to joke about, and Sanchez has tight, accurate throws that his Georgia counterpart sometimes lacks. He is also a quick learner, as displayed by his strong performances during the second half of last year. He had some injury concerns, so it will be interesting to see how he performs over the long haul of a 16-game season, but the Jets have an expensive and veteran offensive line that should help him along the way.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith – OT – Alabama: Cincinnati has a history of taking players with character concerns, and the theme continued on Draft day. Andre Smith is probably the most talented offensive lineman in this year’s class, but his suspension from Alabama’s Bowl game and his unflattering appearances at the Combine and his Pro Day have raised questions about his work ethic. I don’t question Smith’s skill, but there is reason to question his discipline, and given the Bengals’ inability to effectively handle undisciplined players I’m not sure that it is the best place for him. At Alabama he flourished under Nick Saban’s orderly structure, but someone will have to give him the same discipline in Cincinnati for him to be successful.
7. Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR – Maryland: This pick had a chance to be my Most Intriguing and Most Puzzling, but came up short on both counts. While Heyward-Bey might have been a stretch at #7, Raiders owner Al Davis loves raw speed, which the Terrapins receiver certainly provides as the fastest player at the Combine with a 4.30 second 40-yard dash. That being the case, it is little surprise that Davis picked Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. While Heyward-Bey may not have been the best overall receiver, but with his combination of height and speed he is in many ways a poor man’s Randy Moss and will give JaMarcus Russell and the Raider’s lackluster pass attack a much-needed shot in the arm.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe – OT – Virginia: A common pre-Draft argument was whether Monroe or Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith would go second overall to the Rams; few other names were even in contention. Despite Jacksonville’s repeated attempts to trade out of this pick, they can’t be too disappointed with Monroe. Regarded by many as the best pure pass protector in this year’s draft (so good that he made last year’s first-round pick Brandon Albert play guard at Virginia), Monroe will give David Garrard some time to drop back and throw after the departure of previous left tackle Khalif Barnes, and like Jason Smith has few character issues to worry about.
9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji – DT – Boston College: The Packers were fortunate and likely ecstatic to land Raji at this spot. As the most highly rated defensive tackle in the draft, the BC product is a dominant force at the point of attack, and at 330 pounds at only 6’1” he is also an excellent space eater. With Ryan Pickett as the only other considerable option at nose tackle, it is highly likely that the Packers will start Raji right away in their new 3-4 defense. His suspension in to 2007/2008 season due to academic ineligibility and positive drug test at the Combine may have raised some eyebrows about his character (or perhaps his intelligence), but Raji is one of the premiere defensive players this year and a special nose tackle in the mold of Steelers starter Casey Hampton. Ironically, both Hampton and Raji teamed up with second-round picks during who came out the same year they did (Browns DT Shaun Rogers and new Patriots DT Ron Brace, respectively).
10. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree – WR – Texas Tech: The 49ers came into the draft amidst speculation that they were hunting for a new signal caller, but they may have instead gotten the best overall player in this draft with the selection of Michael Crabtree. While his college tape shows he possesses excellent athleticism and natural hands, Crabtree came to the Combine requiring ankle surgery for a fractured metatarsal and did not run there or at the Texas Tech pro day. Without a 40 yard dash, it is not inconceivable to think that his stock might have taken a little dip. Despite TTU’s tendency to be a pass-happy team, it still takes a special talent to dominate games against quality opposition the way Crabtree did against the Texas Longhorns and to win back-to-back Biletnikoff awards as a redshirt freshman and sophomore (in fact, he is the first player to ever win the award twice).
11. Buffalo Bills – Aaron Maybin – DE – Penn State: The Bills are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team after years of shattered expectations, which has featured no playoff seasons in over a decade. The Bills teams that went on a historic run of four straight Super Bowl appearances seem a distant memory. Their defensive line improved tremendously with the addition of Marcus Stroud in last year’s offseason, but Aaron Schobel is close to being on his last legs at 32 years old and Chris Kelsay has not been as productive as the Bills management has hoped, so Aaron Maybin was brought into the fold. Considered to be undersized by the standards of most NFL ends at only around 250 pounds, Maybin nevertheless has superb speed and edge-rushing ability. He will also have the opportunity to be mentored by the veteran Schobel, who is similarly undersized.
Picks 12-18 will be covered in the next Draft Recap, so stay tuned until then.
5. New York Jets (from Cleveland) – Mark Sanchez – QB – USC: In what would prove to be the first of Cleveland’s three first round trades, the New York Jets moved up to nab Sanchez at #5. The USC quarterback only has one year of starting experience coming out of college, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for with raw talent. While his arm strength is not quite as excellent as Stafford, it is nothing to joke about, and Sanchez has tight, accurate throws that his Georgia counterpart sometimes lacks. He is also a quick learner, as displayed by his strong performances during the second half of last year. He had some injury concerns, so it will be interesting to see how he performs over the long haul of a 16-game season, but the Jets have an expensive and veteran offensive line that should help him along the way.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith – OT – Alabama: Cincinnati has a history of taking players with character concerns, and the theme continued on Draft day. Andre Smith is probably the most talented offensive lineman in this year’s class, but his suspension from Alabama’s Bowl game and his unflattering appearances at the Combine and his Pro Day have raised questions about his work ethic. I don’t question Smith’s skill, but there is reason to question his discipline, and given the Bengals’ inability to effectively handle undisciplined players I’m not sure that it is the best place for him. At Alabama he flourished under Nick Saban’s orderly structure, but someone will have to give him the same discipline in Cincinnati for him to be successful.
7. Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR – Maryland: This pick had a chance to be my Most Intriguing and Most Puzzling, but came up short on both counts. While Heyward-Bey might have been a stretch at #7, Raiders owner Al Davis loves raw speed, which the Terrapins receiver certainly provides as the fastest player at the Combine with a 4.30 second 40-yard dash. That being the case, it is little surprise that Davis picked Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. While Heyward-Bey may not have been the best overall receiver, but with his combination of height and speed he is in many ways a poor man’s Randy Moss and will give JaMarcus Russell and the Raider’s lackluster pass attack a much-needed shot in the arm.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe – OT – Virginia: A common pre-Draft argument was whether Monroe or Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith would go second overall to the Rams; few other names were even in contention. Despite Jacksonville’s repeated attempts to trade out of this pick, they can’t be too disappointed with Monroe. Regarded by many as the best pure pass protector in this year’s draft (so good that he made last year’s first-round pick Brandon Albert play guard at Virginia), Monroe will give David Garrard some time to drop back and throw after the departure of previous left tackle Khalif Barnes, and like Jason Smith has few character issues to worry about.
9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji – DT – Boston College: The Packers were fortunate and likely ecstatic to land Raji at this spot. As the most highly rated defensive tackle in the draft, the BC product is a dominant force at the point of attack, and at 330 pounds at only 6’1” he is also an excellent space eater. With Ryan Pickett as the only other considerable option at nose tackle, it is highly likely that the Packers will start Raji right away in their new 3-4 defense. His suspension in to 2007/2008 season due to academic ineligibility and positive drug test at the Combine may have raised some eyebrows about his character (or perhaps his intelligence), but Raji is one of the premiere defensive players this year and a special nose tackle in the mold of Steelers starter Casey Hampton. Ironically, both Hampton and Raji teamed up with second-round picks during who came out the same year they did (Browns DT Shaun Rogers and new Patriots DT Ron Brace, respectively).
10. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree – WR – Texas Tech: The 49ers came into the draft amidst speculation that they were hunting for a new signal caller, but they may have instead gotten the best overall player in this draft with the selection of Michael Crabtree. While his college tape shows he possesses excellent athleticism and natural hands, Crabtree came to the Combine requiring ankle surgery for a fractured metatarsal and did not run there or at the Texas Tech pro day. Without a 40 yard dash, it is not inconceivable to think that his stock might have taken a little dip. Despite TTU’s tendency to be a pass-happy team, it still takes a special talent to dominate games against quality opposition the way Crabtree did against the Texas Longhorns and to win back-to-back Biletnikoff awards as a redshirt freshman and sophomore (in fact, he is the first player to ever win the award twice).
11. Buffalo Bills – Aaron Maybin – DE – Penn State: The Bills are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team after years of shattered expectations, which has featured no playoff seasons in over a decade. The Bills teams that went on a historic run of four straight Super Bowl appearances seem a distant memory. Their defensive line improved tremendously with the addition of Marcus Stroud in last year’s offseason, but Aaron Schobel is close to being on his last legs at 32 years old and Chris Kelsay has not been as productive as the Bills management has hoped, so Aaron Maybin was brought into the fold. Considered to be undersized by the standards of most NFL ends at only around 250 pounds, Maybin nevertheless has superb speed and edge-rushing ability. He will also have the opportunity to be mentored by the veteran Schobel, who is similarly undersized.
Picks 12-18 will be covered in the next Draft Recap, so stay tuned until then.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
NFL Draft Recap #1
Now that the last pick has been called, the Draft is officially over, but the drama is not. Now each team must get their players signed and on to the practice field. In the meantime, here is the first installment of our Draft Recap.
Most Intriguing Pick: I will not go so far as to say ‘best’ or ‘worst’ pick, since none of these players’ careers or set in stone. But I can say that the most interesting to me was Mark Sanchez, picked fifth overall by the New York Jets. The Jets made a costly trade to get the rights to Sanchez, and most of their hopes will be riding on his shoulders.
Most Puzzling Pick: Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos). With all of the focus for improvement on Denver’s ailing defense, they instead elected to take Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia who many Draft analysts expected to be taken in the middle of the first round at the highest, more in the area of the Broncos’ #18 pick instead of their substantially higher #12 selection.
1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford – QB – Georgia: As I outlined previously, the Lions went with Stafford over USC QB Mark Sanchez or Wake Forest product Aaron Curry. While Curry would have addressed the need for a fresh face at linebacker, Stafford could end up being a much more emphatic stamp on this new Lions regime with his elite arm strength and three years of college starts. Sanchez also had a case to go here, but he had some injury concerns in college and Stafford has the toughness that will probably be needed at the woeful Lions, where he can expect to get beat up for a while.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith – OT – Baylor: With the release of Orlando Pace who has been a feature on the Rams’ offensive line for the past decade, offensive tackle shot up the list of St. Louis’ needs (keep in mind it was already a concern before Pace’s departure, and thus became even more critical afterwards). They met it well, drafting a strong run- and pass-blocker in Jason Smith. While Alabama’s Andre Smith may have had the most potential of all the offensive linemen in this draft, Jason still has tremendous talent and is a safer pick due to his lack of off-the-field issues. I think that, like Pace before him, Smith with anchor the Rams line for a decade or more.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE – Louisiana State: This was my first (but not biggest) surprise of this draft. While Tyson Jackson is ideal for the Chiefs’ conversion to a 3-4 defense with his ability to play 3-4 end or even 4-3 defensive tackle during the transition period, he might not have been worth the third overall selection. He is a solid player, but his potential is limited and he isn’t the type of talent who is necessarily going to change the fortunes of a franchise. Now the Chiefs tried to trade down but were unsuccessful, so while Jackson may have been a bit of reach in terms of talent he was likely one of the best players for Kansas City. He and last year’s fifth overall pick Glenn Dorsey will form a formidable tandem on the Chiefs defensive front along with first-rounder Tamba Hali.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry – LB – Wake Forest: Most of the pre-draft hype had Seattle taking a receiver, but with the acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency the Seahawks elected to go with Aaron Curry. One of the best players in this draft, Curry has excellent size (6’1” and 250 pounds), speed, skill, and raw instinct. He fits Seattle’s defensive scheme almost perfectly and can step right into the spot that Julian Peterson vacated, keeping the strong Seahawk linebacker core alive with Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu.
We will have picks #5 through 11 on the second edition of our 2009 NFL Draft Recap.
Most Intriguing Pick: I will not go so far as to say ‘best’ or ‘worst’ pick, since none of these players’ careers or set in stone. But I can say that the most interesting to me was Mark Sanchez, picked fifth overall by the New York Jets. The Jets made a costly trade to get the rights to Sanchez, and most of their hopes will be riding on his shoulders.
Most Puzzling Pick: Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos). With all of the focus for improvement on Denver’s ailing defense, they instead elected to take Knowshon Moreno, a running back from Georgia who many Draft analysts expected to be taken in the middle of the first round at the highest, more in the area of the Broncos’ #18 pick instead of their substantially higher #12 selection.
1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford – QB – Georgia: As I outlined previously, the Lions went with Stafford over USC QB Mark Sanchez or Wake Forest product Aaron Curry. While Curry would have addressed the need for a fresh face at linebacker, Stafford could end up being a much more emphatic stamp on this new Lions regime with his elite arm strength and three years of college starts. Sanchez also had a case to go here, but he had some injury concerns in college and Stafford has the toughness that will probably be needed at the woeful Lions, where he can expect to get beat up for a while.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith – OT – Baylor: With the release of Orlando Pace who has been a feature on the Rams’ offensive line for the past decade, offensive tackle shot up the list of St. Louis’ needs (keep in mind it was already a concern before Pace’s departure, and thus became even more critical afterwards). They met it well, drafting a strong run- and pass-blocker in Jason Smith. While Alabama’s Andre Smith may have had the most potential of all the offensive linemen in this draft, Jason still has tremendous talent and is a safer pick due to his lack of off-the-field issues. I think that, like Pace before him, Smith with anchor the Rams line for a decade or more.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE – Louisiana State: This was my first (but not biggest) surprise of this draft. While Tyson Jackson is ideal for the Chiefs’ conversion to a 3-4 defense with his ability to play 3-4 end or even 4-3 defensive tackle during the transition period, he might not have been worth the third overall selection. He is a solid player, but his potential is limited and he isn’t the type of talent who is necessarily going to change the fortunes of a franchise. Now the Chiefs tried to trade down but were unsuccessful, so while Jackson may have been a bit of reach in terms of talent he was likely one of the best players for Kansas City. He and last year’s fifth overall pick Glenn Dorsey will form a formidable tandem on the Chiefs defensive front along with first-rounder Tamba Hali.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry – LB – Wake Forest: Most of the pre-draft hype had Seattle taking a receiver, but with the acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency the Seahawks elected to go with Aaron Curry. One of the best players in this draft, Curry has excellent size (6’1” and 250 pounds), speed, skill, and raw instinct. He fits Seattle’s defensive scheme almost perfectly and can step right into the spot that Julian Peterson vacated, keeping the strong Seahawk linebacker core alive with Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu.
We will have picks #5 through 11 on the second edition of our 2009 NFL Draft Recap.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)