While many may consider today to be the unveiling of the 2009 National Football League, the NFL season kicked off last Thursday with a narrow 13-10 contest as the Tennessee Titans took on the defend Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Defense ruled the day as the game went into overtime before a winner could be decided. Facing dominant defenses, both teams had trouble moving the ball downfield. But no one struggled more than Titans kicker Rob Bironas, who squandered his chances to win the game with two missed field goals (one of which was blocked by Pittsburgh). The Steelers paid for the blocked kick, however, as star safety Troy Polamalu left the game with what was later diagnosed as a sprained MCL, which will likely sideline him for anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks. All in all, the overtime battle between two of last year's best teams proved a dramatic and exciting way to start the season.
Titans Verdict: Albert who? The Tennessee defensive line looked impressive even without Pro Bowler Albert Haynesworth, who inked a $100 million free agent deal with the Washington Redskins. On the negative side, their schedule doesn't seem to get any easier as they host a Houston Texans team that looks to take their division by storm. The next three games, however, will likely seem to be a cake walk before they Titans must play Indianapolis and New England back to back.
Steelers Verdict: Pittsburgh looked like their old selves. This is both good and bad for Pittsburgh. While the defense looked in midseason form against a proven Tennessee team, their offensive line looks as shaky and inconsistent as they did last year. Ben Roethlisberger was hit hard several times, and the running game was sub par just like they were last season. While they might have won the Super Bowl last year, I do not see their chances of a repeat looking too bright if they continue to play as they did Thursday night, especially after the Madden curse struck again in the form of Polamalu's injury.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
He's Back!
After both he and the Minnesota Vikings released public statements allegedly condemning the possibility of a deal between them, Brett Favre is now a Minnesota Viking. His roller coaster of a career is once again on the move, and it is difficult to not question his motivation in this latest venture.
Personally, I do not believe that Favre would have joined up with Minnesota if he was not committed to playing for them in games. He wants to play in the games, and likely would not have signed with the Vikings if he had not been guaranteed the starting job. That being said, he stated that he did not want to stay in a dormitory (his excuse for skipping Vikings training camp) and his story describing the circumstances of his return remains doubtful at best. As tearful and compelling as it was, many fans appear to remain skeptical and unconvinced by Mr. Favre's explanation that he did not return to the NFL to get revenge against the Green Bay Packers.
While the circumstances of his second NFL comeback may be in question, the fact remains that he is now in Minnesota. After only spending a week in a Vikings uniform, Favre started their game against the Kansas City Chiefs and looked unimpressive, going 1 for 4 for 5 yards on two series as the Vikings won out. Despite #4's initial struggles, the Vikings look as poised for success as ever. Sporting one of the best running back tandems in the league in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor as well as a tremendously stout defense, it appears that all Favre will have to do to win is take advantage of the 8-man fronts he will see due to the presence of Peterson. In addition, Favre should not have as much trouble adjusting to Minnesota as he did New York. He has played in the Vikings' division and offense for 16 years; once he is familiar with the personnel, the rest should take care of itself.
Personally, I do not believe that Favre would have joined up with Minnesota if he was not committed to playing for them in games. He wants to play in the games, and likely would not have signed with the Vikings if he had not been guaranteed the starting job. That being said, he stated that he did not want to stay in a dormitory (his excuse for skipping Vikings training camp) and his story describing the circumstances of his return remains doubtful at best. As tearful and compelling as it was, many fans appear to remain skeptical and unconvinced by Mr. Favre's explanation that he did not return to the NFL to get revenge against the Green Bay Packers.
While the circumstances of his second NFL comeback may be in question, the fact remains that he is now in Minnesota. After only spending a week in a Vikings uniform, Favre started their game against the Kansas City Chiefs and looked unimpressive, going 1 for 4 for 5 yards on two series as the Vikings won out. Despite #4's initial struggles, the Vikings look as poised for success as ever. Sporting one of the best running back tandems in the league in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor as well as a tremendously stout defense, it appears that all Favre will have to do to win is take advantage of the 8-man fronts he will see due to the presence of Peterson. In addition, Favre should not have as much trouble adjusting to Minnesota as he did New York. He has played in the Vikings' division and offense for 16 years; once he is familiar with the personnel, the rest should take care of itself.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Brady Shines in First Preseason Game, Others Stumble
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.
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.
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.
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