With no new collective bargaining agreement signed between the players union and the owners it was not a surprise how many moves we saw take place this offseason. With not as big of a pool for unrestricted free agents teams had to get creative to fill voids on their teams with quality players.
The Lions I feel were best at working all ways to aquire new players to help out a team that was desperate for talent. Martin Mayhew did a great job swinging deals for Corey Williams, Chris Houston, Shaun HIll, and Tony Sheffler. Williams will start with Ndamakung Suh in the middle of that Detroit defense, while Chris Houston, who was aquired for only a 6th round choice will most likely shore up a starting corner job. Shaun Hill the Lions got for a seventh round pick will be able to back up their franchise QB Matt Stafford. Sheffler was an interesting pickup in a trade, although the Lions lost Ernie Sims they got a great downfield threat that can play either traditional tight end or in the slot.
The Lions also were able to get free agents Kyle Vanden Bosh and Nate Burleson to help bring in significant veteran presents on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Add in more depth pickups in free agency and another strong draft class and it seems like the Lions are on their way up.
This is just one story of many teams looking to make their teams better. One other team that has greatly improved, on paper, is the New York Jets. Rex Ryan is trying to put together a jugernaut. More and more players continue to buy into Rex Ryan's ideals, but most of them are players that have had concerns off the field. It will be interesting to seeif Ryan can harness the talent or if it will implode.
In the ever changing landscape of the NFL, another draft goes by and teams are now getting prepared for minicamp.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
What are the Bears Doing?
The Bears soon to be implosion is one that I have been waiting for since... well the Cutler trade. Jay Cutler is a guy that has been gifted physically with the ability to be one of the best QB's in the game, but he has an attitude problem. Over and over again on the field the viewer could see Cutler's attitude coming out. The guy just has never gotten it, he is a player one throw he will amaze while the next throw may be an interception. The Bears went out and spent two first round selections on him along with some other later round picks.
This draft was where they had to watch the Broncos use the second first round choice the Bears handed to them. The Bears also gave up a second rounder for the late Gaines Adams. This year the first choice the Bears had was pick number 75 where they took safety Major Wright. Wright is a solid choice but no one that Lovie Smith can trust to come in and immediatly produce.
Now with the lack of high round choices their team is beginning to crumble. Teams are built through the draft not through trades and free agent pickups. By getting rid of those high round choices it makes it much difficult to get young high level talent. This is what the Bears need since the players that took them to the Superbowl in which they lost to the Colts are all now on the wrong side of 30.
The Bears defensive coordinator is Rod Marinelli who is famous for leading the Detroit Lions to the only 0-16 season in the history of the NFL. He was never more then a D-line coach before getting the head job in Detroit, he failed miserably when having to look over an entire roster instead of just eight players on a D-line. Now as a defensive coordinator I look for him again to fail because he is a teacher of the game that does great coaching one on one, but when he is the overseer watch out.
Also void of any offensive threats Cutler looks to have another bad year of turnovers. The Bears didn't do enough this offseason to help the line or their poor run game. This is a team that has slowly deteriarated, I see Lovie looking for a new job next spring and the Bears holding a top 5 pick in the draft... that is if they didn't trade that pick already too.
This draft was where they had to watch the Broncos use the second first round choice the Bears handed to them. The Bears also gave up a second rounder for the late Gaines Adams. This year the first choice the Bears had was pick number 75 where they took safety Major Wright. Wright is a solid choice but no one that Lovie Smith can trust to come in and immediatly produce.
Now with the lack of high round choices their team is beginning to crumble. Teams are built through the draft not through trades and free agent pickups. By getting rid of those high round choices it makes it much difficult to get young high level talent. This is what the Bears need since the players that took them to the Superbowl in which they lost to the Colts are all now on the wrong side of 30.
The Bears defensive coordinator is Rod Marinelli who is famous for leading the Detroit Lions to the only 0-16 season in the history of the NFL. He was never more then a D-line coach before getting the head job in Detroit, he failed miserably when having to look over an entire roster instead of just eight players on a D-line. Now as a defensive coordinator I look for him again to fail because he is a teacher of the game that does great coaching one on one, but when he is the overseer watch out.
Also void of any offensive threats Cutler looks to have another bad year of turnovers. The Bears didn't do enough this offseason to help the line or their poor run game. This is a team that has slowly deteriarated, I see Lovie looking for a new job next spring and the Bears holding a top 5 pick in the draft... that is if they didn't trade that pick already too.
Defensive Rookies to Make Immediate Impact
After giving a quick synopsis of who I look to be in the running for offensive ROY I will now look at a few of my front runners on defense.
Ndamakung Suh DT Detroit Lions- The consensus top player in this years draft Suh ate the collegiant athletes he faced week in and week out. The most dominating performance of a defensive player I have ever seen was the Big XII championship game when he completely took over the game with 4.5 sacks on Heisman contender Colt McCoy. He is looked at as a very safe pick, high character guy, but has tenacity on the field. Look for him to dominate just as he had in college.
Eric Berry S Kansas City Chiefs- All around playmaking safety in the mold of Ed Reed. A straight ball hawk that if not in the tackle is always around the ball. When he does get an interception look for him to take it to the house every time. Safety is quickly becoming a more and more important position on NFL rosters. Look for him to be a cornerstone of a rebuilding defense in Kansas City.
Rolando McClain MLB Oakland Raiders- One of my favorite players in the draft. Oakland has had trouble the past few years in the draft by drafting underachieving players that are a reach at their selection. This year the Raiders got great value and a great player. McClain is a quarterback on the defense, I have called him the Peyton Manning of college football defense because whenever the offense is making audibles, McClain is shouting out his own audibles to the defense. A physical specimen that stands at 6'3 255 pounds and can move very well. An already solid Raiders defense only continues to get better.
Ndamakung Suh DT Detroit Lions- The consensus top player in this years draft Suh ate the collegiant athletes he faced week in and week out. The most dominating performance of a defensive player I have ever seen was the Big XII championship game when he completely took over the game with 4.5 sacks on Heisman contender Colt McCoy. He is looked at as a very safe pick, high character guy, but has tenacity on the field. Look for him to dominate just as he had in college.
Eric Berry S Kansas City Chiefs- All around playmaking safety in the mold of Ed Reed. A straight ball hawk that if not in the tackle is always around the ball. When he does get an interception look for him to take it to the house every time. Safety is quickly becoming a more and more important position on NFL rosters. Look for him to be a cornerstone of a rebuilding defense in Kansas City.
Rolando McClain MLB Oakland Raiders- One of my favorite players in the draft. Oakland has had trouble the past few years in the draft by drafting underachieving players that are a reach at their selection. This year the Raiders got great value and a great player. McClain is a quarterback on the defense, I have called him the Peyton Manning of college football defense because whenever the offense is making audibles, McClain is shouting out his own audibles to the defense. A physical specimen that stands at 6'3 255 pounds and can move very well. An already solid Raiders defense only continues to get better.
Offensive Rookies Looking to Make an Immediate Impact
This early in the offseason, in which new rookies are now brought into the mix, it is time to look at what offensive rookies can step right in and have an immediate impact on their new orginazation.
CJ Spiller RB Buffalo Bills- Spiller is arguably the most explosive back in the game. With a crowded backfield as already in Buffalo with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson one might not think Spiller would be wildly productive. I see him right now as the only true break out threat on that Bills offense. Sure the two backs I named are quality players, but they aren't threats on every down like Spiller. Also Spiller can be split out wide, with Spiller on one side and Lee Evans on the other the opposing team will need some fast corners.
Jahvid Best RB Detroit Lions- Another player in the same type of mold as Spiller. Ran the fastest 40 yard dash of any runningback in 4.35 seconds. A true playmaker but questions about durability made him slip to the bottom of the first round. The Lions dissmissed these durablity concerns when they traded up to the number 30 pick to snag Best. Scott Linehan is one of the best offensive coordinators in the league and is excited to be able to move Best all around the field. With Kevin Smith coming off a season cut short with an ACL tear the starting tailback job looks to be Best's.
Jimmy Clausen QB Carolina Panthers- The Panthers got a gift sitting at pick number 48 when Clausen dropped all the way to the mid second round. Clausen is the most pro ready quarterback in this draft class. He played in the pro style offense under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Knocks on his leadership could have accounted for the slip, but day one I see him as the starter in Carolina and he could be a solid QB for years to come.
CJ Spiller RB Buffalo Bills- Spiller is arguably the most explosive back in the game. With a crowded backfield as already in Buffalo with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson one might not think Spiller would be wildly productive. I see him right now as the only true break out threat on that Bills offense. Sure the two backs I named are quality players, but they aren't threats on every down like Spiller. Also Spiller can be split out wide, with Spiller on one side and Lee Evans on the other the opposing team will need some fast corners.
Jahvid Best RB Detroit Lions- Another player in the same type of mold as Spiller. Ran the fastest 40 yard dash of any runningback in 4.35 seconds. A true playmaker but questions about durability made him slip to the bottom of the first round. The Lions dissmissed these durablity concerns when they traded up to the number 30 pick to snag Best. Scott Linehan is one of the best offensive coordinators in the league and is excited to be able to move Best all around the field. With Kevin Smith coming off a season cut short with an ACL tear the starting tailback job looks to be Best's.
Jimmy Clausen QB Carolina Panthers- The Panthers got a gift sitting at pick number 48 when Clausen dropped all the way to the mid second round. Clausen is the most pro ready quarterback in this draft class. He played in the pro style offense under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Knocks on his leadership could have accounted for the slip, but day one I see him as the starter in Carolina and he could be a solid QB for years to come.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Surprises of the Draft: Clausen Being Passed Up By Quarterback Row
The surprises started flying as always starting with Al Davis and his Raiders. With the eighth selection they took Rolando McClain linebacker from Alabama. This is a player projected to go mid first round but is not considered a reach. Most people thought they would look to the oline for help or draft Jimmy Clausen to show Jamarcus Russell the door.
The next surprise was the Bills at pick nine taking running back CJ Spiller. Spiller is arguably the most electrifying player in this years draft, again not a reach to go get him but still a strange pick. With the Bills already seemingly solid at the runningback position with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch I don't think anyone expected the Bills to look for another runner. Also again this pick could have been Jimmy Clausen because the Bills too needed a quarterback.
Again the very next pick was a complete surprise, an Al Davis if I may. With the tenth pick some still speculated that the Jaguars would take Tim Tebow to try and boost popularity, but they went defensive with California's Tyson AluAlu. This drafts deepest position could be defensive tackle, but this was a guy that was projected to go either late in the first round or in the second round. A bit of a reach, but who knows in three years this pick could look brilliant... I wouldn't bet on it though
After Clausen made it through spots 6-14 it was clear he would drop but no one knew how far. Finally in the second round with pick 48 the Carolina Panthers drafted the player that in most mocks was predicted to be a top ten pick. I feel as though the Panthers got great value in this pick and it made them a better team.
The next surprise was the Bills at pick nine taking running back CJ Spiller. Spiller is arguably the most electrifying player in this years draft, again not a reach to go get him but still a strange pick. With the Bills already seemingly solid at the runningback position with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch I don't think anyone expected the Bills to look for another runner. Also again this pick could have been Jimmy Clausen because the Bills too needed a quarterback.
Again the very next pick was a complete surprise, an Al Davis if I may. With the tenth pick some still speculated that the Jaguars would take Tim Tebow to try and boost popularity, but they went defensive with California's Tyson AluAlu. This drafts deepest position could be defensive tackle, but this was a guy that was projected to go either late in the first round or in the second round. A bit of a reach, but who knows in three years this pick could look brilliant... I wouldn't bet on it though
After Clausen made it through spots 6-14 it was clear he would drop but no one knew how far. Finally in the second round with pick 48 the Carolina Panthers drafted the player that in most mocks was predicted to be a top ten pick. I feel as though the Panthers got great value in this pick and it made them a better team.
Seattle Seahawks Come Away As Draft Champs
The Seattle Seahawks came away from the new three day draft weekend as the overall winners. They made moves not only with great value at their selections, but also traded well not only for draft picks but for more players.
Taking Russell Okung at the number six pick was huge for this franchise. With All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones set to retire any day now, the Seahawks knew they needed to find a viable option to take his place. Okung had slipped to number six and the Seahawks were elated. The Seahawks picked again at pick 14. Again they must have been elated to see another value player drop into their laps, Earl Thomas safety from Texas was their choice. Two high graded first round talents.
They were able to fill even more holes later in the draft, but maybe the most impressive part of the Seahawks draft was their ability to trade. Lendale White will rejoin his old college coach Pete Carrol after he was basically able to steal White away for nothing. Later Carrol was not done adding to his backfield, he then traded the New York Jets for Leon Washington who had become expendable when the Jets took Joe McKnight in the fifth round. Justin Forcett played strong at the end of the season last year but now he will be in a stable of backs that now include a bruiser in White and a homerun treat in Washington.
Taking Russell Okung at the number six pick was huge for this franchise. With All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones set to retire any day now, the Seahawks knew they needed to find a viable option to take his place. Okung had slipped to number six and the Seahawks were elated. The Seahawks picked again at pick 14. Again they must have been elated to see another value player drop into their laps, Earl Thomas safety from Texas was their choice. Two high graded first round talents.
They were able to fill even more holes later in the draft, but maybe the most impressive part of the Seahawks draft was their ability to trade. Lendale White will rejoin his old college coach Pete Carrol after he was basically able to steal White away for nothing. Later Carrol was not done adding to his backfield, he then traded the New York Jets for Leon Washington who had become expendable when the Jets took Joe McKnight in the fifth round. Justin Forcett played strong at the end of the season last year but now he will be in a stable of backs that now include a bruiser in White and a homerun treat in Washington.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Tim Tebow's Dad Predicts Son to Be a Top 15 Selection
Tim Tebow has been at the head of a lot of speculation to where he will end up in the draft. Some experts say second round while others say he could drop even farther. Tim's dad just recently came out with the bold prediction that his son will be a top 15 choice in this Aprils NFL Draft.
Why would his dad say this? Is this just normal father bias or does Tim know that a team in the first half of the round is high on him? The likeliest destination for him that high in the first round would be Jacksonville who has already been tied into discussions about drafting him to hopefully help the fan base.
The fan base has spoken in an online vote and has voted away from drafting Tebow because the team and the fans still support pro bowl quarterback David Garrard. So if they do draft Tebow there could be a split in the locker room or just an overall pissed off attitude towards Tebow.
If not the Jags then I'm not sure who would take him that high, unless the Raiders pull off another surprise move at the top of the draft then I think you will be seeing Tebow sitting for a while in the green room.
Why would his dad say this? Is this just normal father bias or does Tim know that a team in the first half of the round is high on him? The likeliest destination for him that high in the first round would be Jacksonville who has already been tied into discussions about drafting him to hopefully help the fan base.
The fan base has spoken in an online vote and has voted away from drafting Tebow because the team and the fans still support pro bowl quarterback David Garrard. So if they do draft Tebow there could be a split in the locker room or just an overall pissed off attitude towards Tebow.
If not the Jags then I'm not sure who would take him that high, unless the Raiders pull off another surprise move at the top of the draft then I think you will be seeing Tebow sitting for a while in the green room.
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