Tuesday, Vikings head coach Brad Childress spoke to the media about the health of troubled rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin. Oh, yeah. He also said something about adding a veteran quarterback to the roster. Some guy named Favre.
Wait, what?
Childress spoke quite outwardly that he would speak to the near-40 QB very soon about the possibility of returning to the NFC North as a Minnesota Viking.
Personally, I hope he does come back. He had enough last year to get through 12 games with great stats without a dominant run game. In Minnesota, Favre has a security blanket in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. He would also have some receivers, guys like Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and rookie Percy Harvin.
So long as Brett stays healthy, we all know he can throw the ball. He reportedly needs a shoulder operation, but he would have to put that on the back burner if he wanted to make it to Vikings camp. Last year, he was way late to Jets’ camp, and it showed in a few early games. But so long as he gets to camp, learns the system and stays healthy, we all know what he can do with his ability and leadership. The Vikings need only a quarterback to compete for a Super Bowl, and when they get one, you can call the NFC North a 3 team race, pitting Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota against each other for the division title.
I want to see number 4 out there this year. I think his never-say-die attitude and free-slinging playing style is great for the league.
It may also keep the abomination known as Tavaris Jackson off of the field for a while.
Now that the draft is over, we have to return to documenting stories like this one. But I don’t mind. I want to see Favre debacle the Packers as much as anyone would after they screwed him over.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
TE Gonzalez Traded to Falcons
Atlanta got second-year quarterback Matt Ryan another weapon today.
But not just a new tailback or receiver. No, this is something much bigger. The utlimate weapon, so to speak.
Try 10 time Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez.
The Chiefs replaced the second rounder spent on Matt Cassel by sending Gonzalez to the Falcons, leaving them without the greatest receiving tight end of all time for the first time since 1996.
This means that the Atlanta will likely pick a linebacker in the first round, just as I predicted in my mock draft below. Scroll down and check it out.
Gonzalez has a staggering career stat line: 916 receptions, 10,940 yards, 76 touchdowns.
And he still has upside. The man is 33, yes, but he had a great year with the Chiefs in 2008, catching 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Falcons now have an elite offense. Their line is solid with Baker and Clabo anchoring it, and they have skill player like Matt Ryan, Michael "The Spurner" Turner, "Rowdy" Roddy White, Michael Lewis, and Jerrious Norwood.
Add Tony Gonzalez to that mix, and you have the best team in the NFC South. all they have to do is fix the defense by adding a defensive tackle and a linebacker, and they have a real shot at making a deep playoff run. Possibly even the Super Bowl.
But not just a new tailback or receiver. No, this is something much bigger. The utlimate weapon, so to speak.
Try 10 time Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez.
The Chiefs replaced the second rounder spent on Matt Cassel by sending Gonzalez to the Falcons, leaving them without the greatest receiving tight end of all time for the first time since 1996.
This means that the Atlanta will likely pick a linebacker in the first round, just as I predicted in my mock draft below. Scroll down and check it out.
Gonzalez has a staggering career stat line: 916 receptions, 10,940 yards, 76 touchdowns.
And he still has upside. The man is 33, yes, but he had a great year with the Chiefs in 2008, catching 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Falcons now have an elite offense. Their line is solid with Baker and Clabo anchoring it, and they have skill player like Matt Ryan, Michael "The Spurner" Turner, "Rowdy" Roddy White, Michael Lewis, and Jerrious Norwood.
Add Tony Gonzalez to that mix, and you have the best team in the NFC South. all they have to do is fix the defense by adding a defensive tackle and a linebacker, and they have a real shot at making a deep playoff run. Possibly even the Super Bowl.
New Article on NFL Draft Dog
There will soon be a new article on the Colts up at my column on http://www.nfldraftdog.com/.
And everyone should thank Google for thoroughly fucking up a good relationship with a loyal client.
I certainly have. But I'm going to readd Adsense. It really is a good program.
Soon I'll have one up here about Tony Gonzalez.
And everyone should thank Google for thoroughly fucking up a good relationship with a loyal client.
I certainly have. But I'm going to readd Adsense. It really is a good program.
Soon I'll have one up here about Tony Gonzalez.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
2009 Mock Draft
1.) Detroit- Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia, 6-2, 225
The Lions need a quarterback like no one’s business. Yes, they could take a tackle, but Jeff Backus is there and that makes getting a tackle the primary option at the 20th pick. Aaron Curry is projected to play ILB in the NFL, so the value is atrocious. If James Laurinaitis can’t get projected to go in the first round, then I do not see why Curry could go first overall. Jason Smith is a good prospect but picking a player due to his upside is not smart in this economy.
Plus, Stafford wants to be there. In a pre-draft interview with Lions’ top brass, Stafford reportedly told head coach Jim Schwartz he wanted to play for the Lions. Stafford even went so far as to sneak up behind and bear hug Lions president Tom Lewand and tell him, “Let’s go!” I hope he didn’t do that, because if you hurt the president, you don’t get drafted by that team. That said, Stafford has a cannon arm and will fit well in a Kevin Smith-led power offense. Stafford will be the first pick because Detroit needs him, he needs Detroit, and most of all. ESPN needs to tease us for four hours on draft day.
2.) St. Louis- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, 6-5, 309
Eugene Monroe is the right man to take Orlando pace’s spot. He is a good run blocker and has some of the best feet of any prospect in the last decade. The reason I don’t have Jason Smith here is because he is not a developed run blocker, and as I said before, I would not pick a player who has upside simply because they have upside, especially in a risky economic climate. So Eugene Monroe gets the nod, allowing St. Louis to improve their abysmal offensive numbers from last year.
3.) Kansas City- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest, 6-2, 254
Curry is a lock here because he can play every position in the 3-4 defense, which the Chiefs are switching to. They added veteran linebacker Zack Thomas to play the middle, and they have Derrick Johnson to play the rush linebacker spot or the second inside spot, so adding Curry would provide flexibility in the front seven and would help KC run the 3-4 very effectively within a couple of years.
4.) Seattle- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6-2, 215
Seattle finds a bookend receiver for T. J. Houshmanzadeh and finally puts some pressure on Deion Branch to perform. Branch has battled injuries since the Patriots stole Seattle’s first round pick for him a few years ago. Crabtree will extend Matt Hasselbeck’s career and make it an easy transition from him to any future quarterback Seattle adds.
5.) Cleveland- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6-3, 263
Cleveland adds a player to a very poor defense. Trading Leigh Bodden actually seems to have been a good move, as Shaun Rogers is a huge threat in the middle and his space eating ability makes up for any lack of ability they may have in the secondary. It does not, however, make the linebackers play any better. Kamerion Wimbley failed as a draft pick, and he needs to be replaced. Beau Bell could start on the inside for them this year, the outside spot needs a serious upgrade.
6.) Cincinnati- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6-5, 309
I had B. J. Raji here, but I changed it when I remembered that I had predicted Jason Smith to go after Monroe, something most mocks do not have. Raji would be my pick: the Bengals have a veteran tackle in Levi Jones, who is actually only entering his ninth year and is only an issue because he is recovering from an injury.
7.) Oakland- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland, 6-2, 195
Oakland picks a freak wide receiver, even if Al Davis doesn’t always do so. The reason I don’t have a Michael Johnson here is because he is a huge reach. Not that Heyward-Bey isn’t a reach, but at least he is a consensus round one pick. Johnson is considered by most, including myself, to be a second round guy. Therefore, Oakland adds a receiver with 4.3 speed to a potent offense; that is, if JaMarcus Russell can learn an NFL offense.
8.) Jacksonville- B. J. Raji, NT, Boston College, 6-1, 330
Jacksonville can get back on the right track if they find a number one receiver and reestablish a strong defense front. They accomplish the latter here by replacing Marcus Stroud and getting a great DT in the meantime.
I don’t believe Denver will trade into this spot because I don’t believe that they need Mark Sanchez. I don’t even see Denver finding another QB: clearly, if McDaniels wanted to appease his Denver fan base, he would have kept Cutler. Right now, Orton is the guy for Denver. Can he make every throw possible? No, but neither can Matt Cassel, and he still got a big franchise tag and a starting gig in KC… all because Josh McDaniels produces a great system QB.
9.) Green Bay- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State, 6-4, 253
Aaron Maybin put on weight and managed to run a 4.5 at his Pro Day. This shows me that there had to have been a major screw up with official times at the combine. After all, Maybin ran a 4.8 at the combine, and had every draftnik moving him down the board. But here he is, back, and possibly, sitting in Packer green and gold.
10.) San Francisco- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC, 6-2, 227
It kills me to put Sanchez here, but he is the best player available. I say it kills me because I absolutely love Shaun Hill. Go ahead, laugh. Go on, do it. But look at the guy’s record. On a bad San Francisco team last year, Hill threw 13 touchdowns and 8 picks in the final eight games, going 5-3 as a starter. Very good for a guy with only either too-old or too-young receivers on the roster. I think Mike Singletary is smart, though. He will allow Sanchez to develop, let Hill play this season, then let Hill walk and give Sanchez the reigns. Either way, Niner fans can all agree on one thing: a celebration is in order, because Alex smith will probably never again play for the Niners!
11.) Buffalo- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State, 6-1, 256
The best pure 4-3 DE left, Buffalo can now help build on their sack total from last year, and still probably come away with a decent value pick.
Brown is too short to play 3-4 rush linebacker, but he is fine for a 4-3. So the Bills can get a good compliment to whatever Schobel brother they have, at this point.
12.) Denver- Tyson Jackson, DE/DT, LSU, 6-4, 296
I really hope Denver does not take a QB here. Josh Freeman is not only a reach but he is not a guaranteed prospect. He is, in my mind, JaMarcus Russell without the hype. Basically, a farce. It takes a lot more to win in the NFL than arm strength and a big body. Therefore, Denver begins to build the defense right here and hopefully try to win over their fan base with solid defensive play. Look for the Broncos to grab Ron Brace, a NT from Boston College, in round two.
13.) Washington- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6-5, 309
Washington gets a right tackle here and helps protect a now fired up Jason Campbell. Chris Samuels is a good LT, so Oher can be the bookend to an offense that could really put up points this year, especially if Devin Thomas upsets Antwaan Randle El at the spot across from Santana Moss.
14.) New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB, Ohio State, 6-0, 204
New Orleans need to improve their defense if they expect to win the NFC South ever again. They start here by making their defense forget about the pitiful play on Josh Bullocks. Jenkins was a corner at OSU, but a poor forty, 4.55, could have NFL teams putting him at safety. That’s fine by me.
15.) Houston- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5-11, 203
Houston could go linebacker here, but they signed Cato June this offseason, and he is a very capable starter. They can address linebacker later in the draft now, which gives them a chance to nab the best corner on the board at this point.
Davis is a very good corner, a natural athlete who could really help Houston try to stop Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.
16.) San Diego- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6-4, 332
A poor decision maker, Smith left the combine randomly, and openly admitted to not working out before the draft process began…
WTF?????? This is the biggest job interview of your life! You cost yourself millions because you are lazy! How dumb can you be?
At least A.J. Smith, San Diego’s GM, won’t care: he has never shown reluctance to make a boneheaded first round pick. (See Craig Davis, WR, LSU, 2007 Draft.)
17.) New York (Jets)- William Beatty, OT, Connecticut, 6-6, 307
Most mocks have a running back or quarterback going here. I, however, think the Jets will take a tackle to replace Damien Woody, who was severely overpaid last off-season, at right tackle. The Jets can land a running back like Kory Sheets later on in the draft.
18.) Denver- Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC, 6-2, 249
This pick comes courtesy of Jay Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook, from the Bears. I believe Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels will continue to rebuild that horrible defense with a beast of a linebacker here in the middle of round one. While at USC, he won the Bednarik Award as the best linebacker in the nation and was named All-American and Team MVP.
19.) Tampa Bay- Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State, 6-6, 248
A fast riser, mostly due to his strong arm, Josh Freeman comes off the board here to help Tampa Bay rebuild. I have never seen a team level their own roster the way the Bucs have this off-season, and hopefully this guy will help them win for years to come. I do not think he will, but hey, what does Tampa care? As long as they sell tickets and fill the seats, everything will be fine… right?
20.) Detroit- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona, 6-6, 309
Eben Britton only did 24 reps of the 225-lb bench press at the combine, but he ran the ten yard dash in 1.68 seconds, fastest of all the first round tackles. That swiftness will aid his NFL transition, especially against speed rushers.
21.) Philadelphia- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers, 6-3, 218
Kenny Britt was a star at Rutgers, managing great numbers without a great quarterback. Philly needs another good receiver opposite DeSean Jackson, and they can get him here in Britt, who runs a high 4.4 forty, which is great for his size. Most people accuse Andy Reid of stupidity, and rightfully so, but after trading his other first round pick to Buffalo for left tackle Jason Peters, I think Reid has to draft Britt here in order to get a good receiver.
22.) Minnesota- Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut, 5-11, 183
Another guy who has risen the wave of pre-draft hype, Darius Butler has a lot of talent. But will his game translate to the NFL? Minnesota will find out if they draft him here. Too bad they couldn’t draft a decent GM and a lobotomy for their entire front office, that way they could get rid of Tavaris Jackson and add a real quarterback by trading up for one.
23.) New England- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC, 6-3, 243
Cushing has been rundown by some analysts as nothing more than a workout warrior with a chiseled body who needs more time to develop into a real football player. Who better to do that then Bill Belichick? Cushing has all the talent to take over for Mike Vrabel as the ILB / OLB tweener in the Pats 3-4 defense.
24.) Atlanta- Clay Mathews, OLB, USC, 6-3, 240
Most mocks have Brandon Pettigrew here. I do not, however, because right now Atlanta has NO ONE at outside linebacker. Curtis Lofton is great in the middle, but Keith Brooking and Michael Boley both left in free agency, and the Falcons need to improve the defense more than the offense. A defensive tackle like Peria Jerry would also fit here.
25.) Miami- Connor Barwin, OLB / DE, Cincinnati, 6-4, 256
A former tight end, Connor Barwin is exactly the type of versatile player Miami likes. He could play across from Joey Porter in the 3-4, and there in no reason why he couldn’t play some offense at the tight end spot.
26.) Baltimore- Hakim Nicks, WR, North Carolina, 6-1, 212
Jeremy Maclin is an option, but Baltimore doesn’t really need a kick returner so much as they need a good receiver. That’s what Nicks can be. What helps rokkie reciever more than any other skill? Route running. Nicks is a standout route runner, and he can instantly become the Ravens’ number two receiver across from Derek Mason.
27.) Indianapolis- Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss, 6-2, 299
Peria Jerry is an immediate upgrade over Keyunta Dawson, who actually tried out for some teams as a linebacker before coming into the league in 2007.
28.) Buffalo- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State, 6-6, 263
The Bills finally get their tight end. Thanks to a trade with Philly, Buffalo can use this pick on Brandon Pettigrew, who despite a lack of deep speed (high 4.8 forty times) is a very good pass catcher, and a guy who can use his big frame to steal receptions from smaller defense players.
29.) New York (Giants)- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri, 6-1, 198
While not the huge target Plaxico Burress was for the Giants, Maclin could be a great returner and receiver for the Giants, and with such a good roster already, the Giants can really pick the best player available here. In my mind, that has to be Maclin.
30.) Tennessee- Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forrest, 5-9, 193
While he is small, Alphonso Smith is a gamer and exactly the type of corner Tennessee needs. He is a ball hawk and a great athlete who could be an instant upgrade over the aging Nick Harper.
31.) Arizona- Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State, 6-1, 235
A big back, Chris Wells could take Edgerrin James’ place in the Cardinals’ offense. Wells falls here in my mock only because running back is not a great value pick, and none of these teams really needs a tailback that badly. Although, don’t put it past the Pats to take him at 23rd overall.
32.) Pittsburgh- Alex Mack, C, California, 6-4, 307
Pittsburgh needs a new center after Justin Hartwig surrendered 6.5 sacks in 2008, tops in the league. Actually, they could use a whole new offense line. All of their starters would be backups on 75% of the other teams in the league.
The Lions need a quarterback like no one’s business. Yes, they could take a tackle, but Jeff Backus is there and that makes getting a tackle the primary option at the 20th pick. Aaron Curry is projected to play ILB in the NFL, so the value is atrocious. If James Laurinaitis can’t get projected to go in the first round, then I do not see why Curry could go first overall. Jason Smith is a good prospect but picking a player due to his upside is not smart in this economy.
Plus, Stafford wants to be there. In a pre-draft interview with Lions’ top brass, Stafford reportedly told head coach Jim Schwartz he wanted to play for the Lions. Stafford even went so far as to sneak up behind and bear hug Lions president Tom Lewand and tell him, “Let’s go!” I hope he didn’t do that, because if you hurt the president, you don’t get drafted by that team. That said, Stafford has a cannon arm and will fit well in a Kevin Smith-led power offense. Stafford will be the first pick because Detroit needs him, he needs Detroit, and most of all. ESPN needs to tease us for four hours on draft day.
2.) St. Louis- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, 6-5, 309
Eugene Monroe is the right man to take Orlando pace’s spot. He is a good run blocker and has some of the best feet of any prospect in the last decade. The reason I don’t have Jason Smith here is because he is not a developed run blocker, and as I said before, I would not pick a player who has upside simply because they have upside, especially in a risky economic climate. So Eugene Monroe gets the nod, allowing St. Louis to improve their abysmal offensive numbers from last year.
3.) Kansas City- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest, 6-2, 254
Curry is a lock here because he can play every position in the 3-4 defense, which the Chiefs are switching to. They added veteran linebacker Zack Thomas to play the middle, and they have Derrick Johnson to play the rush linebacker spot or the second inside spot, so adding Curry would provide flexibility in the front seven and would help KC run the 3-4 very effectively within a couple of years.
4.) Seattle- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6-2, 215
Seattle finds a bookend receiver for T. J. Houshmanzadeh and finally puts some pressure on Deion Branch to perform. Branch has battled injuries since the Patriots stole Seattle’s first round pick for him a few years ago. Crabtree will extend Matt Hasselbeck’s career and make it an easy transition from him to any future quarterback Seattle adds.
5.) Cleveland- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6-3, 263
Cleveland adds a player to a very poor defense. Trading Leigh Bodden actually seems to have been a good move, as Shaun Rogers is a huge threat in the middle and his space eating ability makes up for any lack of ability they may have in the secondary. It does not, however, make the linebackers play any better. Kamerion Wimbley failed as a draft pick, and he needs to be replaced. Beau Bell could start on the inside for them this year, the outside spot needs a serious upgrade.
6.) Cincinnati- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6-5, 309
I had B. J. Raji here, but I changed it when I remembered that I had predicted Jason Smith to go after Monroe, something most mocks do not have. Raji would be my pick: the Bengals have a veteran tackle in Levi Jones, who is actually only entering his ninth year and is only an issue because he is recovering from an injury.
7.) Oakland- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland, 6-2, 195
Oakland picks a freak wide receiver, even if Al Davis doesn’t always do so. The reason I don’t have a Michael Johnson here is because he is a huge reach. Not that Heyward-Bey isn’t a reach, but at least he is a consensus round one pick. Johnson is considered by most, including myself, to be a second round guy. Therefore, Oakland adds a receiver with 4.3 speed to a potent offense; that is, if JaMarcus Russell can learn an NFL offense.
8.) Jacksonville- B. J. Raji, NT, Boston College, 6-1, 330
Jacksonville can get back on the right track if they find a number one receiver and reestablish a strong defense front. They accomplish the latter here by replacing Marcus Stroud and getting a great DT in the meantime.
I don’t believe Denver will trade into this spot because I don’t believe that they need Mark Sanchez. I don’t even see Denver finding another QB: clearly, if McDaniels wanted to appease his Denver fan base, he would have kept Cutler. Right now, Orton is the guy for Denver. Can he make every throw possible? No, but neither can Matt Cassel, and he still got a big franchise tag and a starting gig in KC… all because Josh McDaniels produces a great system QB.
9.) Green Bay- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State, 6-4, 253
Aaron Maybin put on weight and managed to run a 4.5 at his Pro Day. This shows me that there had to have been a major screw up with official times at the combine. After all, Maybin ran a 4.8 at the combine, and had every draftnik moving him down the board. But here he is, back, and possibly, sitting in Packer green and gold.
10.) San Francisco- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC, 6-2, 227
It kills me to put Sanchez here, but he is the best player available. I say it kills me because I absolutely love Shaun Hill. Go ahead, laugh. Go on, do it. But look at the guy’s record. On a bad San Francisco team last year, Hill threw 13 touchdowns and 8 picks in the final eight games, going 5-3 as a starter. Very good for a guy with only either too-old or too-young receivers on the roster. I think Mike Singletary is smart, though. He will allow Sanchez to develop, let Hill play this season, then let Hill walk and give Sanchez the reigns. Either way, Niner fans can all agree on one thing: a celebration is in order, because Alex smith will probably never again play for the Niners!
11.) Buffalo- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State, 6-1, 256
The best pure 4-3 DE left, Buffalo can now help build on their sack total from last year, and still probably come away with a decent value pick.
Brown is too short to play 3-4 rush linebacker, but he is fine for a 4-3. So the Bills can get a good compliment to whatever Schobel brother they have, at this point.
12.) Denver- Tyson Jackson, DE/DT, LSU, 6-4, 296
I really hope Denver does not take a QB here. Josh Freeman is not only a reach but he is not a guaranteed prospect. He is, in my mind, JaMarcus Russell without the hype. Basically, a farce. It takes a lot more to win in the NFL than arm strength and a big body. Therefore, Denver begins to build the defense right here and hopefully try to win over their fan base with solid defensive play. Look for the Broncos to grab Ron Brace, a NT from Boston College, in round two.
13.) Washington- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6-5, 309
Washington gets a right tackle here and helps protect a now fired up Jason Campbell. Chris Samuels is a good LT, so Oher can be the bookend to an offense that could really put up points this year, especially if Devin Thomas upsets Antwaan Randle El at the spot across from Santana Moss.
14.) New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB, Ohio State, 6-0, 204
New Orleans need to improve their defense if they expect to win the NFC South ever again. They start here by making their defense forget about the pitiful play on Josh Bullocks. Jenkins was a corner at OSU, but a poor forty, 4.55, could have NFL teams putting him at safety. That’s fine by me.
15.) Houston- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5-11, 203
Houston could go linebacker here, but they signed Cato June this offseason, and he is a very capable starter. They can address linebacker later in the draft now, which gives them a chance to nab the best corner on the board at this point.
Davis is a very good corner, a natural athlete who could really help Houston try to stop Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.
16.) San Diego- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6-4, 332
A poor decision maker, Smith left the combine randomly, and openly admitted to not working out before the draft process began…
WTF?????? This is the biggest job interview of your life! You cost yourself millions because you are lazy! How dumb can you be?
At least A.J. Smith, San Diego’s GM, won’t care: he has never shown reluctance to make a boneheaded first round pick. (See Craig Davis, WR, LSU, 2007 Draft.)
17.) New York (Jets)- William Beatty, OT, Connecticut, 6-6, 307
Most mocks have a running back or quarterback going here. I, however, think the Jets will take a tackle to replace Damien Woody, who was severely overpaid last off-season, at right tackle. The Jets can land a running back like Kory Sheets later on in the draft.
18.) Denver- Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC, 6-2, 249
This pick comes courtesy of Jay Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook, from the Bears. I believe Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels will continue to rebuild that horrible defense with a beast of a linebacker here in the middle of round one. While at USC, he won the Bednarik Award as the best linebacker in the nation and was named All-American and Team MVP.
19.) Tampa Bay- Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State, 6-6, 248
A fast riser, mostly due to his strong arm, Josh Freeman comes off the board here to help Tampa Bay rebuild. I have never seen a team level their own roster the way the Bucs have this off-season, and hopefully this guy will help them win for years to come. I do not think he will, but hey, what does Tampa care? As long as they sell tickets and fill the seats, everything will be fine… right?
20.) Detroit- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona, 6-6, 309
Eben Britton only did 24 reps of the 225-lb bench press at the combine, but he ran the ten yard dash in 1.68 seconds, fastest of all the first round tackles. That swiftness will aid his NFL transition, especially against speed rushers.
21.) Philadelphia- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers, 6-3, 218
Kenny Britt was a star at Rutgers, managing great numbers without a great quarterback. Philly needs another good receiver opposite DeSean Jackson, and they can get him here in Britt, who runs a high 4.4 forty, which is great for his size. Most people accuse Andy Reid of stupidity, and rightfully so, but after trading his other first round pick to Buffalo for left tackle Jason Peters, I think Reid has to draft Britt here in order to get a good receiver.
22.) Minnesota- Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut, 5-11, 183
Another guy who has risen the wave of pre-draft hype, Darius Butler has a lot of talent. But will his game translate to the NFL? Minnesota will find out if they draft him here. Too bad they couldn’t draft a decent GM and a lobotomy for their entire front office, that way they could get rid of Tavaris Jackson and add a real quarterback by trading up for one.
23.) New England- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC, 6-3, 243
Cushing has been rundown by some analysts as nothing more than a workout warrior with a chiseled body who needs more time to develop into a real football player. Who better to do that then Bill Belichick? Cushing has all the talent to take over for Mike Vrabel as the ILB / OLB tweener in the Pats 3-4 defense.
24.) Atlanta- Clay Mathews, OLB, USC, 6-3, 240
Most mocks have Brandon Pettigrew here. I do not, however, because right now Atlanta has NO ONE at outside linebacker. Curtis Lofton is great in the middle, but Keith Brooking and Michael Boley both left in free agency, and the Falcons need to improve the defense more than the offense. A defensive tackle like Peria Jerry would also fit here.
25.) Miami- Connor Barwin, OLB / DE, Cincinnati, 6-4, 256
A former tight end, Connor Barwin is exactly the type of versatile player Miami likes. He could play across from Joey Porter in the 3-4, and there in no reason why he couldn’t play some offense at the tight end spot.
26.) Baltimore- Hakim Nicks, WR, North Carolina, 6-1, 212
Jeremy Maclin is an option, but Baltimore doesn’t really need a kick returner so much as they need a good receiver. That’s what Nicks can be. What helps rokkie reciever more than any other skill? Route running. Nicks is a standout route runner, and he can instantly become the Ravens’ number two receiver across from Derek Mason.
27.) Indianapolis- Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss, 6-2, 299
Peria Jerry is an immediate upgrade over Keyunta Dawson, who actually tried out for some teams as a linebacker before coming into the league in 2007.
28.) Buffalo- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State, 6-6, 263
The Bills finally get their tight end. Thanks to a trade with Philly, Buffalo can use this pick on Brandon Pettigrew, who despite a lack of deep speed (high 4.8 forty times) is a very good pass catcher, and a guy who can use his big frame to steal receptions from smaller defense players.
29.) New York (Giants)- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri, 6-1, 198
While not the huge target Plaxico Burress was for the Giants, Maclin could be a great returner and receiver for the Giants, and with such a good roster already, the Giants can really pick the best player available here. In my mind, that has to be Maclin.
30.) Tennessee- Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forrest, 5-9, 193
While he is small, Alphonso Smith is a gamer and exactly the type of corner Tennessee needs. He is a ball hawk and a great athlete who could be an instant upgrade over the aging Nick Harper.
31.) Arizona- Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State, 6-1, 235
A big back, Chris Wells could take Edgerrin James’ place in the Cardinals’ offense. Wells falls here in my mock only because running back is not a great value pick, and none of these teams really needs a tailback that badly. Although, don’t put it past the Pats to take him at 23rd overall.
32.) Pittsburgh- Alex Mack, C, California, 6-4, 307
Pittsburgh needs a new center after Justin Hartwig surrendered 6.5 sacks in 2008, tops in the league. Actually, they could use a whole new offense line. All of their starters would be backups on 75% of the other teams in the league.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
2009 Mock Draft, Picks 1 through 16
1.) Detroit- Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia, 6-2, 225
The Lions need a quarterback like no one’s business. Yes, they could take a tackle, but Jeff Backus is there and that makes getting a tackle the primary option at the 20th pick. Aaron Curry is projected to play ILB in the NFL, so the value is atrocious. If James Laurinaitis can’t get projected to go in the first round, then I do not see why Curry could go first overall. Jason Smith is a good prospect but picking a player due to his upside is not smart in this economy.
Plus, Stafford wants to be there. In a pre-draft interview with Lions’ top brass, Stafford reportedly told head coach Jim Schwartz he wanted to play for the Lions. Stafford even went so far as to sneak up behind and bear hug Lions president Tom Lewand and tell him, “Let’s go!” I hope he didn’t do that, because if you hurt the president, you don’t get drafted by that team. That said, Stafford has a cannon arm and will fit well in a Kevin Smith-led power offense. Stafford will be the first pick because Detroit needs him, he needs Detroit, and most of all. ESPN needs to tease us for four hours on draft day.
2.) St. Louis- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, 6-5, 309
Eugene Monroe is the right man to take Orlando pace’s spot. He is a good run blocker and has some of the best feet of any prospect in the last decade. The reason I don’t have Jason Smith here is because he is not a developed run blocker, and as I said before, I would not pick a player who has upside simply because they have upside, especially in a risky economic climate. So Eugene Monroe gets the nod, allowing St. Louis to improve their abysmal offensive numbers from last year.
3.) Kansas City- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest, 6-2, 254
Curry is a lock here because he can play every position in the 3-4 defense, which the Chiefs are switching to. They added veteran linebacker Zack Thomas to play the middle, and they have Derrick Johnson to play the rush linebacker spot or the second inside spot, so adding Curry would provide flexibility in the front seven and would help KC run the 3-4 very effectively within a couple of years.
4.) Seattle- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6-2, 215
Seattle finds a bookend receiver for T. J. Houshmanzadeh and finally puts some pressure on Deion Branch to perform. Branch has battled injuries since the Patriots stole Seattle’s first round pick for him a few years ago. Crabtree will extend Matt Hasselbeck’s career and make it an easy transition from him to any future quarterback Seattle adds.
5.) Cleveland- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6-3, 263
Cleveland adds a player to a very poor defense. Trading Leigh Bodden actually seems to have been a good move, as Shaun Rogers is a huge threat in the middle and his space eating ability makes up for any lack of ability they may have in the secondary. It does not, however, make the linebackers play any better. Kamerion Wimbley failed as a draft pick, and he needs to be replaced. Beau Bell could start on the inside for them this year, the outside spot needs a serious upgrade.
6.) Cincinnati- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6-5, 309
I had B. J. Raji here, but I changed it when I remembered that I had predicted Jason Smith to go after Monroe, something most mocks do not have. Raji would be my pick: the Bengals have a veteran tackle in Levi Jones, who is actually only entering his ninth year and is only an issue because he is recovering from an injury.
7.) Oakland- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland, 6-2, 195
Oakland picks a freak wide receiver, even if Al Davis doesn’t always do so. The reason I don’t have a Michael Johnson here is because he is a huge reach. Not that Heyward-Bey isn’t a reach, but at least he is a consensus round one pick. Johnson is considered by most, including myself, to be a second round guy. Therefore, Oakland adds a receiver with 4.3 speed to a potent offense; that is, if JaMarcus Russell can learn an NFL offense.
8.) Jacksonville- B. J. Raji, NT, Boston College, 6-1, 330
Jacksonville can get back on the right track if they find a number one receiver and reestablish a strong defense front. They accomplish the latter here by replacing Marcus Stroud and getting a great DT in the meantime.
I don’t believe Denver will trade into this spot because I don’t believe that they need Mark Sanchez. I don’t even see Denver finding another QB: clearly, if McDaniels wanted to appease his Denver fan base, he would have kept Cutler. Right now, Orton is the guy for Denver. Can he make every throw possible? No, but neither can Matt Cassel, and he still got a big franchise tag and a starting gig in KC… all because Josh McDaniels produces a great system QB.
9.) Green Bay- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State, 6-4, 253
Aaron Maybin put on weight and managed to run a 4.5 at his Pro Day. This shows me that there had to have been a major screw up with official times at the combine. After all, Maybin ran a 4.8 at the combine, and had every draftnik moving him down the board. But here he is, back, and possibly, sitting in Packer green and gold.
10.) San Francisco- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC, 6-2, 227
It kills me to put Sanchez here, but he is the best player available. I say it kills me because I absolutely love Shaun Hill. Go ahead, laugh. Go on, do it. But look at the guy’s record. On a bad San Francisco team last year, Hill threw 13 touchdowns and 8 picks in the final eight games, going 5-3 as a starter. Very good for a guy with only either too-old or too-young receivers on the roster. I think Mike Singletary is smart, though. He will allow Sanchez to develop, let Hill play this season, then let Hill walk and give Sanchez the reigns. Either way, Niner fans can all agree on one thing: a celebration is in order, because Alex smith will probably never again play for the Niners!
11.) Buffalo- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State, 6-1, 256
The best pure 4-3 DE left, Buffalo can now help build on their sack total from last year, and still probably come away with a decent value pick.
Brown is too short to play 3-4 rush linebacker, but he is fine for a 4-3. So the Bills can get a good compliment to whatever Schobel brother they have, at this point.
12.) Denver- Tyson Jackson, DE/DT, LSU, 6-4, 296
I really hope Denver does not take a QB here. Freeman is not only a reach but he is not a guaranteed prospect. He is, in my mind, JaMarcus Russell without the hype. Basically, a farce. It takes a lot more to win in the NFL than arm strength and a big body. Therefore, Denver begins to build the defense right here and hopefully try to win over their fan base with solid defensive play. Look for the Broncos to grab Ron Brace, a NT from Boston College, in round two.
13.) Washington- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6-5, 309
Washington gets a right tackle here and helps protect a now fired up Jason Campbell. Chris Samuels is a good LT, so Oher can be the bookend to an offense that could really put up points this year, especially if Devin Thomas upsets Antwaan Randle El at the spot across from Santana Moss.
14.) New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB, Ohio State, 6-0, 204
New Orleans need to improve their defense if they expect to win the NFC South ever again. They start here by making their defense forget about the pitiful play on Josh Bullocks. Jenkins was a corner at OSU, but a poor forty, 4.55, could have NFL teams putting him at safety. That’s fine by me.
15.) Houston- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5-11, 203
Houston could go linebacker here, but they signed Cato June this offseason, and he is a very capable starter. They can address linebacker later in the draft now, which gives them a chance to nab the best corner on the board at this point.
Davis is a very good corner, a natural athlete who could really help Houston try to stop Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.
16.) San Diego- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6-4, 332
A poor decision maker, Smith left the combine randomly, and openly admitted tp not working out before the draft process began…
WTF?????? This is the biggest job interview of your life! You cost yourself millions because you are lazy! How dumb can you be?
At least A.J. Smith, San Diego’s GM, won’t care: he has never shown reluctance to make a boneheaded first round pick. (See Craig Davis, WR, LSU, 2007 Draft.)
The Lions need a quarterback like no one’s business. Yes, they could take a tackle, but Jeff Backus is there and that makes getting a tackle the primary option at the 20th pick. Aaron Curry is projected to play ILB in the NFL, so the value is atrocious. If James Laurinaitis can’t get projected to go in the first round, then I do not see why Curry could go first overall. Jason Smith is a good prospect but picking a player due to his upside is not smart in this economy.
Plus, Stafford wants to be there. In a pre-draft interview with Lions’ top brass, Stafford reportedly told head coach Jim Schwartz he wanted to play for the Lions. Stafford even went so far as to sneak up behind and bear hug Lions president Tom Lewand and tell him, “Let’s go!” I hope he didn’t do that, because if you hurt the president, you don’t get drafted by that team. That said, Stafford has a cannon arm and will fit well in a Kevin Smith-led power offense. Stafford will be the first pick because Detroit needs him, he needs Detroit, and most of all. ESPN needs to tease us for four hours on draft day.
2.) St. Louis- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, 6-5, 309
Eugene Monroe is the right man to take Orlando pace’s spot. He is a good run blocker and has some of the best feet of any prospect in the last decade. The reason I don’t have Jason Smith here is because he is not a developed run blocker, and as I said before, I would not pick a player who has upside simply because they have upside, especially in a risky economic climate. So Eugene Monroe gets the nod, allowing St. Louis to improve their abysmal offensive numbers from last year.
3.) Kansas City- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest, 6-2, 254
Curry is a lock here because he can play every position in the 3-4 defense, which the Chiefs are switching to. They added veteran linebacker Zack Thomas to play the middle, and they have Derrick Johnson to play the rush linebacker spot or the second inside spot, so adding Curry would provide flexibility in the front seven and would help KC run the 3-4 very effectively within a couple of years.
4.) Seattle- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6-2, 215
Seattle finds a bookend receiver for T. J. Houshmanzadeh and finally puts some pressure on Deion Branch to perform. Branch has battled injuries since the Patriots stole Seattle’s first round pick for him a few years ago. Crabtree will extend Matt Hasselbeck’s career and make it an easy transition from him to any future quarterback Seattle adds.
5.) Cleveland- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6-3, 263
Cleveland adds a player to a very poor defense. Trading Leigh Bodden actually seems to have been a good move, as Shaun Rogers is a huge threat in the middle and his space eating ability makes up for any lack of ability they may have in the secondary. It does not, however, make the linebackers play any better. Kamerion Wimbley failed as a draft pick, and he needs to be replaced. Beau Bell could start on the inside for them this year, the outside spot needs a serious upgrade.
6.) Cincinnati- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6-5, 309
I had B. J. Raji here, but I changed it when I remembered that I had predicted Jason Smith to go after Monroe, something most mocks do not have. Raji would be my pick: the Bengals have a veteran tackle in Levi Jones, who is actually only entering his ninth year and is only an issue because he is recovering from an injury.
7.) Oakland- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland, 6-2, 195
Oakland picks a freak wide receiver, even if Al Davis doesn’t always do so. The reason I don’t have a Michael Johnson here is because he is a huge reach. Not that Heyward-Bey isn’t a reach, but at least he is a consensus round one pick. Johnson is considered by most, including myself, to be a second round guy. Therefore, Oakland adds a receiver with 4.3 speed to a potent offense; that is, if JaMarcus Russell can learn an NFL offense.
8.) Jacksonville- B. J. Raji, NT, Boston College, 6-1, 330
Jacksonville can get back on the right track if they find a number one receiver and reestablish a strong defense front. They accomplish the latter here by replacing Marcus Stroud and getting a great DT in the meantime.
I don’t believe Denver will trade into this spot because I don’t believe that they need Mark Sanchez. I don’t even see Denver finding another QB: clearly, if McDaniels wanted to appease his Denver fan base, he would have kept Cutler. Right now, Orton is the guy for Denver. Can he make every throw possible? No, but neither can Matt Cassel, and he still got a big franchise tag and a starting gig in KC… all because Josh McDaniels produces a great system QB.
9.) Green Bay- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State, 6-4, 253
Aaron Maybin put on weight and managed to run a 4.5 at his Pro Day. This shows me that there had to have been a major screw up with official times at the combine. After all, Maybin ran a 4.8 at the combine, and had every draftnik moving him down the board. But here he is, back, and possibly, sitting in Packer green and gold.
10.) San Francisco- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC, 6-2, 227
It kills me to put Sanchez here, but he is the best player available. I say it kills me because I absolutely love Shaun Hill. Go ahead, laugh. Go on, do it. But look at the guy’s record. On a bad San Francisco team last year, Hill threw 13 touchdowns and 8 picks in the final eight games, going 5-3 as a starter. Very good for a guy with only either too-old or too-young receivers on the roster. I think Mike Singletary is smart, though. He will allow Sanchez to develop, let Hill play this season, then let Hill walk and give Sanchez the reigns. Either way, Niner fans can all agree on one thing: a celebration is in order, because Alex smith will probably never again play for the Niners!
11.) Buffalo- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State, 6-1, 256
The best pure 4-3 DE left, Buffalo can now help build on their sack total from last year, and still probably come away with a decent value pick.
Brown is too short to play 3-4 rush linebacker, but he is fine for a 4-3. So the Bills can get a good compliment to whatever Schobel brother they have, at this point.
12.) Denver- Tyson Jackson, DE/DT, LSU, 6-4, 296
I really hope Denver does not take a QB here. Freeman is not only a reach but he is not a guaranteed prospect. He is, in my mind, JaMarcus Russell without the hype. Basically, a farce. It takes a lot more to win in the NFL than arm strength and a big body. Therefore, Denver begins to build the defense right here and hopefully try to win over their fan base with solid defensive play. Look for the Broncos to grab Ron Brace, a NT from Boston College, in round two.
13.) Washington- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6-5, 309
Washington gets a right tackle here and helps protect a now fired up Jason Campbell. Chris Samuels is a good LT, so Oher can be the bookend to an offense that could really put up points this year, especially if Devin Thomas upsets Antwaan Randle El at the spot across from Santana Moss.
14.) New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB, Ohio State, 6-0, 204
New Orleans need to improve their defense if they expect to win the NFC South ever again. They start here by making their defense forget about the pitiful play on Josh Bullocks. Jenkins was a corner at OSU, but a poor forty, 4.55, could have NFL teams putting him at safety. That’s fine by me.
15.) Houston- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5-11, 203
Houston could go linebacker here, but they signed Cato June this offseason, and he is a very capable starter. They can address linebacker later in the draft now, which gives them a chance to nab the best corner on the board at this point.
Davis is a very good corner, a natural athlete who could really help Houston try to stop Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.
16.) San Diego- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6-4, 332
A poor decision maker, Smith left the combine randomly, and openly admitted tp not working out before the draft process began…
WTF?????? This is the biggest job interview of your life! You cost yourself millions because you are lazy! How dumb can you be?
At least A.J. Smith, San Diego’s GM, won’t care: he has never shown reluctance to make a boneheaded first round pick. (See Craig Davis, WR, LSU, 2007 Draft.)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Bucs add Leftwich and All of His Mediocrity
Byron Leftwich signed a 2 year, $7.5 million contract with Tampa yesterday. It’s awesome what you can do when you have two decent games as a backup on a Super Bowl Championship team in this country, isn’t it?
Leftwich, famous for his long windup, penchant for interceptions, and very unusual eating habits for a quarterback, joined a team without a quarterback after Jeff Garcia left for free agency.
Smooth move, Tampa. Way to allow a 3 time pro bowler in Garica to walk, while adding an overweight, underachieving quarterback who couldn’t hang on in the Jaguar’s offense.
In fairness to Tampa, Garcia is 39. But now this leaves them with no one but Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown to compete for the quarterback job.
Or does it?
Every draft site has Tampa drafting Josh Freeman of Kansas State in round one, but do they have to? Afterall, they did draft a quarterback named Josh last year.
Josh Johnson, 6-2, 201, was drafted in the fifth round last year after throwing 40+ touchdowns to only one pick in his senior season at San Diego, a D I-AA school. Johnson also ran a 4.4 second forty, sparking his ascent onto many draft boards.
Johnson has been given the green light by Tampa’s new regime to compete for the starting job, and his deep-slinging ability has opened many eyes on the team’s new coaching staff.
I’m not saying he will start, all I’m saying is, give me Josh Johnson, a kid who can run in a new offense, as opposed to Byron Leftwich, who wouldn’t move from the pocket if the nearest Subway was giving out free food.
Now, make that a McDonalds, and I’m sure he would run a 3.9 in the first forty yards.
Given that Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich, and Luke McCown are the only things stopping the young signal caller right now, I would be fine handing him the job tomorrow.
So fire away Tampa. Your offensively line is chock full of young, talented guys. The only piece missing is the quarterback and the receivers. But I assure you the Bucs would win more games with Johnson under center then they would with Freeman or Leftwich hogging up the backfield.
Leftwich, famous for his long windup, penchant for interceptions, and very unusual eating habits for a quarterback, joined a team without a quarterback after Jeff Garcia left for free agency.
Smooth move, Tampa. Way to allow a 3 time pro bowler in Garica to walk, while adding an overweight, underachieving quarterback who couldn’t hang on in the Jaguar’s offense.
In fairness to Tampa, Garcia is 39. But now this leaves them with no one but Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown to compete for the quarterback job.
Or does it?
Every draft site has Tampa drafting Josh Freeman of Kansas State in round one, but do they have to? Afterall, they did draft a quarterback named Josh last year.
Josh Johnson, 6-2, 201, was drafted in the fifth round last year after throwing 40+ touchdowns to only one pick in his senior season at San Diego, a D I-AA school. Johnson also ran a 4.4 second forty, sparking his ascent onto many draft boards.
Johnson has been given the green light by Tampa’s new regime to compete for the starting job, and his deep-slinging ability has opened many eyes on the team’s new coaching staff.
I’m not saying he will start, all I’m saying is, give me Josh Johnson, a kid who can run in a new offense, as opposed to Byron Leftwich, who wouldn’t move from the pocket if the nearest Subway was giving out free food.
Now, make that a McDonalds, and I’m sure he would run a 3.9 in the first forty yards.
Given that Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich, and Luke McCown are the only things stopping the young signal caller right now, I would be fine handing him the job tomorrow.
So fire away Tampa. Your offensively line is chock full of young, talented guys. The only piece missing is the quarterback and the receivers. But I assure you the Bucs would win more games with Johnson under center then they would with Freeman or Leftwich hogging up the backfield.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Top 5 Reasons the Jacksonville is the Dumbest Franchise in the NFL
For years, Jacksonville has shown their ineptitude in the front office.
This is the team that drafted Byron Leftwich. This the team that traded for Troy Williamson. This is the team that traded Marcus Stroud for nothing. This is the team that gave Jerry Porter $30 million. This is the team that built a defense to beat the Colts, and have never finished ahead of them in the divisional standings. This is the team that fired Tom Coughlin.
All told, this is a team that makes dumber moves than even the Oakland Raiders. And as a Colts fan, I love to pile it on. So let’s look back now at the top 5 things that make Jacksonville look oh, so stupid.
5.) Drafting Byron Leftwich.
In 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a BIG splash by drafting a 6-5, 245 lb QB from Marshall named Byron Leftwich. Many people expected the move, despite the fact that Jacksonville already had a more than capable signal caller in Mark Brunell. Leftwich was known as the guy who helped Marshall win a game on a broken leg, but he was also known for his inability to run and his ridiculously long and tedious wind up that allowed any decent DB to read his throws. So why draft Leftwich? Because new Jags GM James Shack Harris wanted to have his own guy, and he thought Brunell was too old. That didn’t stop Brunell from moving on to Washington, where he threw 38 touchdowns and only 20 picks for a rating of 80.6 in two seasons.
Brunell threw 144 touchdowns with only 86 picks in 9 years for a quarterback rating of 85.4 while with the Jags. He led the team to the AFC Championship Game in 1996 and made 3 pro bowls as a Jaguar. But Brunell was benched by new Jaguars General Manager VP James Shack Harris in favor of Byron Leftwich following halftime of the third game of the 2003 season. It would be the final time Brunell took the field as a member of the Jaguars.
4.) Trading Away Marcus Stroud
The Jags used to win games with their big defensive set. They have always been a smash mouth team, allowing power backs like Natrone Means and Fred Taylor to run all over the opposition. But they ruined that mindset before the 2008 season by trading away space-eating defensive tackle Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills for, and this is the kicker, a third round pick and a fifth round pick. Buffalo stole Marcus Stroud, a first rounder and three time pro bowler, and left the Jags with a defensive line manned by John Henderson, who is still a great tackle, and… no one else. So Jacksonville went from 11-5 to 5-11, and wound up dead last in the division. And all of this was due to the fact their front office is just plain dumb.
3.) Firing Tom Coughlin
Yes, Tom Coughlin had 4 losing seasons in his last years as Jags head coach. But Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll also had losing seasons. What made them successful? The organization, the Pittsburgh Steelers, gave them time to work out the issues. Firing a coach almost never helps if he is remotely competent, and in this case, it was the wrong move.
Coughlin was hired in 1995 and quickly made the expansion team into a winner. In only his and the team’s second season, he led them to the AFC Championship Game. He continued on for six more seasons, and when he was fired after the 2002 season, he had an overall record of 68-60. That is definitely not a bad record, and over the next 6 years, Jack Del Rio led the team to a 50-46 overall record. So was the team more successful under Coughlin? Yes. And Let’s not forget he led an inferior New York Giants team to a Super Bowl in 2007. Once again, Jacksonville comes to regret a harebrain move.
2.) Poor Drafting Ability, Especially Amongst Wide Receivers
Reggie Williams. Matt Jones. Ernest Wilford. R. Jay Soward. Mike Walker. None of these guys turned out to be productive players, and none of them are still on the Jaguars. All told, the Jags haven’t had any real receiving threat since Jimmy Smith, and even he was a failed draft pick by the Cowboys in 1992. Which leads me to my next point…
1.) The Jags Do Not See the Point in Finding Real Wide Receivers
When Jerry Porter stole $30 million from Jacksonville before 2008, everyone knew they were desperate. Then again, we knew that already, because they had failed on three first round receivers before that had even happened. Then they traded for Troy Williamson, a failed first round pick of the Vikings. All told, Jacksonville hasn’t had a receiver pose any threat to any team since 2005 when Jimmy Smith retired. In a pass-happy NFL, this shows that Jacksonville is truly delusional, and in my eyes, it makes them the dumbest franchise in the NFL.
This is the team that drafted Byron Leftwich. This the team that traded for Troy Williamson. This is the team that traded Marcus Stroud for nothing. This is the team that gave Jerry Porter $30 million. This is the team that built a defense to beat the Colts, and have never finished ahead of them in the divisional standings. This is the team that fired Tom Coughlin.
All told, this is a team that makes dumber moves than even the Oakland Raiders. And as a Colts fan, I love to pile it on. So let’s look back now at the top 5 things that make Jacksonville look oh, so stupid.
5.) Drafting Byron Leftwich.
In 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a BIG splash by drafting a 6-5, 245 lb QB from Marshall named Byron Leftwich. Many people expected the move, despite the fact that Jacksonville already had a more than capable signal caller in Mark Brunell. Leftwich was known as the guy who helped Marshall win a game on a broken leg, but he was also known for his inability to run and his ridiculously long and tedious wind up that allowed any decent DB to read his throws. So why draft Leftwich? Because new Jags GM James Shack Harris wanted to have his own guy, and he thought Brunell was too old. That didn’t stop Brunell from moving on to Washington, where he threw 38 touchdowns and only 20 picks for a rating of 80.6 in two seasons.
Brunell threw 144 touchdowns with only 86 picks in 9 years for a quarterback rating of 85.4 while with the Jags. He led the team to the AFC Championship Game in 1996 and made 3 pro bowls as a Jaguar. But Brunell was benched by new Jaguars General Manager VP James Shack Harris in favor of Byron Leftwich following halftime of the third game of the 2003 season. It would be the final time Brunell took the field as a member of the Jaguars.
4.) Trading Away Marcus Stroud
The Jags used to win games with their big defensive set. They have always been a smash mouth team, allowing power backs like Natrone Means and Fred Taylor to run all over the opposition. But they ruined that mindset before the 2008 season by trading away space-eating defensive tackle Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills for, and this is the kicker, a third round pick and a fifth round pick. Buffalo stole Marcus Stroud, a first rounder and three time pro bowler, and left the Jags with a defensive line manned by John Henderson, who is still a great tackle, and… no one else. So Jacksonville went from 11-5 to 5-11, and wound up dead last in the division. And all of this was due to the fact their front office is just plain dumb.
3.) Firing Tom Coughlin
Yes, Tom Coughlin had 4 losing seasons in his last years as Jags head coach. But Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll also had losing seasons. What made them successful? The organization, the Pittsburgh Steelers, gave them time to work out the issues. Firing a coach almost never helps if he is remotely competent, and in this case, it was the wrong move.
Coughlin was hired in 1995 and quickly made the expansion team into a winner. In only his and the team’s second season, he led them to the AFC Championship Game. He continued on for six more seasons, and when he was fired after the 2002 season, he had an overall record of 68-60. That is definitely not a bad record, and over the next 6 years, Jack Del Rio led the team to a 50-46 overall record. So was the team more successful under Coughlin? Yes. And Let’s not forget he led an inferior New York Giants team to a Super Bowl in 2007. Once again, Jacksonville comes to regret a harebrain move.
2.) Poor Drafting Ability, Especially Amongst Wide Receivers
Reggie Williams. Matt Jones. Ernest Wilford. R. Jay Soward. Mike Walker. None of these guys turned out to be productive players, and none of them are still on the Jaguars. All told, the Jags haven’t had any real receiving threat since Jimmy Smith, and even he was a failed draft pick by the Cowboys in 1992. Which leads me to my next point…
1.) The Jags Do Not See the Point in Finding Real Wide Receivers
When Jerry Porter stole $30 million from Jacksonville before 2008, everyone knew they were desperate. Then again, we knew that already, because they had failed on three first round receivers before that had even happened. Then they traded for Troy Williamson, a failed first round pick of the Vikings. All told, Jacksonville hasn’t had a receiver pose any threat to any team since 2005 when Jimmy Smith retired. In a pass-happy NFL, this shows that Jacksonville is truly delusional, and in my eyes, it makes them the dumbest franchise in the NFL.
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