The Perfect Dallas Draft

     Boy, have the Cowboys screwed things up royally with this Pacman Jones trade.  This man will never see the field in Dallas because he won?t be playing.  Even if the commissioner reinstates him, I am willing to wager American currency that he does not make it through training camp with the team.  In fact, [...]

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http://mvn.com/nfl-cowboys/2008/04/24/the-perfect-dallas-draft/

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Eagles may opt for offensive tackle

Tell a football fan his favorite team is about to use its first-round draft pick on an offensive lineman and you'll probably get the same reaction as when you tell your kid it's time to go to the dentist. Sure...

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http://www.eaglesfootballblog.com/2008/04/eagles-may-opt.html

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Bears may have special interest in Zbikowski

The knock on Tommy Zbikowski is that he lacks the athletic ability to be a special NFL player. Maybe that?s true, but the Bears believe the Notre Dame and Buffalo Grove product might have special intangibles. Those qualities go a long way toward shaping draft decisions, and the hometown kid just might be a perfect fit for the hometown team.

The Bears have a legitimate need at safety with veteran Mike Brown returning from another serious injury. He?s penciled in as the starter at free safety, with the strong safety job up for grabs between Brandon McGowan and Kevin Payne. Danieal Manning is in the mix as well, but the team was ravaged by injuries at the position last season and needs help. Continue

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http://www.bearsfootballblog.com/2008/04/bears-may-have.html

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Dallas Cowboys players won't police Pacman

The Dallas Cowboys' defensive players aren't going to babysit Pacman Jones. Several have made that abundantly clear during an informal survey I've conducted over the last few weeks. They'll tell him where to go for a good time and give...

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http://www.cowboysfootballblog.com/2008/04/dallas-cowboy-6.html

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Scouts Inc. Breaks Down Recent Raiders #1 Picks

CB Nnamdi Asomugha is the only first-round pick to really get excited about on the Raiders’ list. While the jury is obviously still out on QB JaMarcus Russell, the future of Oakland’s franchise is lying squarely on his shoulders. These selections explain why the Raiders have fallen on tough times of late.

Oakland RaidersYearPlayerPickVerdictBottom Line2007JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU1Russell failed to live up to the expectations of a No. 1 pick thanks, in part, to his reporting to preseason camp late and not getting up to speed until the season had already started.2006Michael Huff, S, Texas7It is too early to write off Huff, but so far he has not been the difference-maker Oakland envisioned.2005Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska23Washington is a good young player who is better versus the pass than the run. He is still a talented player with good cover skills, but might be best suited as a No. 3 or No. 4 corner.2004Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa2Gallery could have easily been considered a monumental flop until the new staff came in and moved him to guard, where he seems more at home. But, he still hasn’t lived up to expectations.2004Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, California31Asomugha is one of the brightest spots on a team in disarray. He is one of the biggest corners in the league and if he can continue to develop his skills should be a force for years to come.2003Tyler Brayton, DE, Colorado32Brayton plays with a high motor and great durability, but isn’t flashy — just consistent. He was a solid defender in the Raiders’ defense but was recently signed by the Panthers.2002Phillip Buchanon, CB, Miami (Fla.)32Buchanon never developed into the shutdown corner the Raiders envisioned when they selected him in the first round.2002Napoleon Harris, LB, Northwestern23Harris is a big, physical inside linebacker who can take on blocks in the running game, while possessing the play speed to be on the field during third down.2001Derrick Gibson, S, Florida State28There isn’t much good to say about Gibson’s short stay in the NFL. He was viewed by many as a do-it-all prospect, but fizzled out abruptly.2000Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State17He has been a solid NFL kicker over his career. He has a big-time leg and if he didn’t attempt so many 50-plus-yard field goals his percentage would be better.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.raidersgab.com/2008/04/24/scouts-inc-breaks-down-recent-raiders-1-pick
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Jets trade Robertson to Broncos

The Denver Broncos acquired defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson from the New York Jets on Thursday for a conditional pick in the 2009 draft. Robertson, the fourth overall pick in the 2003 draft from Kentucky, spent five inconsistent seasons with the...

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http://www.jetsfootballblog.com/2008/04/jets-trade-robe.html

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What if the Titans select a DE in Round One

We’ve discussed the different possibilities of who the Titans might select in Round One on Saturday. Although we don’t know how the draft will shake out and which position the Titans will select for with their first pick, it’s pretty clear which players are in the mix as the prime candidates at a few positions.If [...]

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http://mvn.com/nfl-titans/2008/04/24/what-if-the-titans-select-a-de-in-round-one/

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Questioning Hobson's Logic on Chad Johnson

It's not that I disrespect Geoff Hobson, but there are times that I think he misses points -- or becomes oblivious to the team's bottom line -- make the team and ownership look good. For example, in his latest mailbag, Hobson is adamant that the Bengals keep Chad Johnson... and that they should.

They (Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis) seem to think it's quite ludicrous to trade a potential Hall of Famer for, say, Reggie Nelson and Jonathan Wade. What am I missing?

Reggie Nelson is with the Jacksonville Jaguars, not in the NFL draft. Then this blurb from the Pro Football Talk guys.

Per a league source, Johnson is serious about staying away, despite the cost.

Granted. Most people, even myself to some degree, think that once the paychecks appear, then Chad will return. But nothing is guaranteed with this entire episode. Will he played, won't he play. Will he pout, or just play. Will he play, or simply go through the motions.

If you have a Pro Bowl wide receiver that's potentially a Hall of Famer (like Corey Dillon) that sits out, you're missing his roster spot and whatever return the draft pick could have provided. You also miss the obvious distractions if Chad Johnson sits out -- the funny-ass SportsCenter interviews, the soon-to-be drive way interview, etc... I'm sorry, but if he does sit out, after each loss, the question about Chad Johnson will be asked to Lewis and Palmer (unfairly). You know it. And it will come from the same people that currently pen their support for keeping him, rather than trading him when the chance was presented. Now the question is that if every NFL team knows that the Bengals won't even listen to offers, will anymore show up when the team decides to move him?

The Redskins offered the 21st pick in this year's draft and a conditional third in 2009. Nelson, a decent safety for the Jaguars, was the 21st pick last year.

Wouldn't you take a seventh round pick expecting T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Would you use the same comparisons when Palmer was picked #1 in the 2003 NFL draft while David Carr was first the year before? The only justified comparison from year to year, is predicting contracts based on slots. Not the actual players and their rookie season performances. That would be, what's the word, unproven?

so now you trade him and you've got two unproven players and one fewer Pro Bowl receiver for your Pro Bowl quarterback.

When the Bengals traded Corey Dillon for the #56 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, the team received unproven Madieu Williams. Even Hobson wrote at the time:

Williams, the man who could have been a trivia question as the 56th pick in the draft, has instead become a Rookie of the Year candidate as he bids to become the first Bengals rookie defensive back to have four interceptions in a season since 1986 and Pro Bowler David Fulcher.

So the bigger risk is whether you keep Chad and he sits, using up a roster spot and losing your opportunity at the best deal that could have already passed by, or you dump the trash and risk the unprovens. Speaking of Fulcher, he had this to say about Chad:

"If Chad doesn't want to be here, man, let him go. Let him go because the stuff he's saying right now, do you really expect that it's not going to be a distraction to the team? It's going to be a distraction." — David Fulcher, Bengals strong safety (1986-92).

Distraction. Distraction. Distraction. Rather than moaning Chad's attitude through the season, why not let a new kid become acquainted with the NFL while using the 2009 pick as another "need" filler.

Frankly, the Bengals were out of their minds if they didn't hang up on the Redskins. Hopefully Mike and Marvin told them to come back with Santana Moss on the table and now they can start talking.

Santana Moss. I'm always told that people are always replaceable. I'm not sure how Chad became an exception that rule. Before he came to Cincinnati, the Mike Brown era Bengals have stunk. When he came to Cincinnati, they continued to stink. During his career here, other than the glorious 2005 season and the half-time locker room "incident", the Bengals have been mediocre at best. So don't replace Chad. Remain status quo. Then complain three months into the season about the Bengals not listening (at least!) to trade offers.

I get both sides of the argument. I do. My school of thought, which could be different than yours (and that's fine), is that there is no chance that this team benefits with Chad in 2008. None. There's too many bridges that need mending really soon, or it won't happen at all. And the main point isn't the draft picks, but the problem within the locker room. Hopefully if Chad comes back, then all that can be put aside. But I'm not that optimistic.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/4/24/460068/questioning-hobson-s-logic

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Who the hell will they draft 2008: Boston College
LBer Jo-Lonn "Joey" Dunbar

Photo via media.rivals.com

For the last Who the hell will they draft for 2008, I decided to focus on a LBer that will likely be available in rounds 4-7: Boston College’s Jo-Lonn "Joey" Dunbar.

All throughout this series, I focused on players who I think the Colts will draft this weekend. These players must fit a certain mold Indy looks for when going into the draft (speed over strength, quickness over size, what school you played at makes little difference, and high character). Because of this, I’ve likely missed on some people that the Colts could very well take on draft day. One person I left out is Tennessee TE Brad Cottam, but soon I should have some thoughts from SB Nation’s own Rocky Top Talk (Tennessee Volunteers blog) on Cottam and his NFL potential. I’ve also done some brief write-ups on Manningham, Doucet, and the Marshall prospects: Bernard Morris and Doug Legursky. I’ve spent a lot of time dissecting offensive and defensive lineman, RBs, and TEs. Left out of most of the talk (other than kicker and punter) is a linebacker.

 

And like most LBers the Colts like, Dunbar is small, fast, and a hard, hard hitter.

 

 

Of all the positions on the Colts defense, LBer is the most "throw away." I put that in quotes because there is a misconception that the Colts don’t give a crap about their LBers. Since 2002, the Colts have many good LBers walk away. Mike Peterson (2nd round 1999), Marcus Washington (3rd round 2000), David Thornton (3rd round 2002), and Cato June (5th round 2004) have all left the Colts for other team, usually signing good free agent contracts. Of those four, Bill Polian (I’m told) really wanted to keep Washington and Thornton, but the salary cap prevented him from breaking the bank on either. This has forced the Colts to dedicate a lot of draft picks to LBers. In the last two years, Freddie Keiaho, Tyjuan Hagler, and Clint Session were drafted. Gary Brackett, the starting MLBer, wasn’t drafted out of Rutgers, and he’s been the only LBer the Colts have signed to a multi-year extension. All these recent LBers have something in common: They were second day picks who are small, fast, tough, aggressive tacklers who can cover in space.

 

Like the current Colts LBers, Jo-Lonn "Joey" Dunbar is under-sized, but as we have shown in this series (and as the Colts have shown when they won Super Bowl 41) size is an over-rated feature. A LBer that is big and fast is great, but rarely do you find such a player the second day. If you have to choose between big or fast, you choose fast. If you don’t, you have the Denver Broncos 2007 defense. With Dunbar, he seems to fit the mold as a Colts LBer:

NFL.com:

Has an instinctive feel for the ball in flight, taking short pitter-patter steps in his retreat when dropping back in zone coverage...Shows a good feel for blocking schemes, he attacks the line of scrimmage with shoulders squared and plants his feet to prevent from getting washed out by bigger blockers at the point of attack...Very good at lowering his pads and driving hard with his legs to split double teams and stack and control vs. inside running plays.

NFL Draft Countdown:

Intense and aggressive with a great motor...Able to hold his own in zone coverage..Offers some versatility…Playmaker and always around the action.

The last part of the quoted NFL Draft Countdown evaluation is key. Just like S Corey Lynch, Dunbar always seems to find his way to the football. Whenever there is a turnover or big hit, it usually involves Dunbar. He was the leader of a very good Boston College defense that stuffed the run all throughout 2007. QB Matt Ryan often got all the credit for BC’s solid 2007 season, but it was their defense that kept BC in the games. From Scout.com:

Dunbar could be a special player: a linebacker which displayed a nose for the ball leading to four touchdowns throughout his defensive career, a playmaker who relied on his instincts, attitude, and guts to get the job done.

Dunbar is ideally fitted for a MLBer in Dungy’s Tampa 2 defense he runs in Indy. Like Gary Brackett, he is compact, deceptively quick, and has good coverage skills in a zone. He is also a very reliable tackler, and can create violent collisions at the point of attack:

NFL.com:

Has a good flow to the ball inside the box and delivers a strong hand jolt to shock a lethargic blocker...Hits with a thud, doing a good job of colliding with and bringing down ballcarriers with his initial hit...With his low center of gravity, he is capable of slipping through the inside trash to take down the ballcarrier in the backfield.

Dunbar also has the intangibles you look for in a LBer. He’s a football smart kid who used his intelligence and his instincts very well in college. Most LBers in college get away with things by relying on their talent. Dunbar has the brains and the talent:

NFL Draft Countdown:

Smart with a high football IQ...A hard worker...Team leader and captain...Experienced...Very productive.

NFL.com:

Has good eyes in pass coverage, showing good ball anticipation mirroring tight ends underneath... Has some Ray Lewis in him, as he enjoys playing the "enforcer" role with his impact tackles... Quiet leader-by-example type, but has good command in the huddle...Hard worker in the training room who has made a good transition from tailback to linebacker, putting in extra hours after practice working on technique and compiling lots of time in the film room studying game tape...

His negatives? Well, they are the usual: He’s small. Again, size in the NFL is not as important as speed. Dunbar clocked a very subpar 40 time at 4.87 at the Combine, but that timed speed might not be accurate. Dunbar plays much faster than his timed speeds indicate. He also has trouble shedding blocks, a fault that got Cato June booted to the curb in 2006 despite a Pro Bowl nod in 2005 and a Super Bowl ring in 2006. However, what Dunbar does have is a non-stop motor and a genuine desire to improve as a player. He has very good closing speed, which can make him a very valuable special teams player (where he will likely play if drafted).

 

Dunbar compares with Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu, another small LBer who, like Gary Brackett, has made an impact on the NFL. Dunbar’s playmaking ability and high intangibles make him an ideal pick for Dungy’s Cover 2, and if he is there in the late rounds, the Colts will look to take him.

 

Well, that about does it for the Who the hell will they draft 2008 series. Look for my final mock draft for 2008 later today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/4/24/460051/who-the-hell-will-they-dra

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Soooooo. . .Now What

Pretty much every post I've made for the last week has had some sort of focus on Jared Allen.  There was a good reason for that, obviously, but now that one of the game's best pass rushers is signed, sealed and delivered to Minnesota, let's take a new look at the Beloved Purple.

As I've said numerous times, we've fulfilled a vast majority of our biggest needs this off-season with solid talent that SHOULD be entering the prime of their careers.  But what do we have left to look at with the six draft picks we have remaining this coming weekend?  Personally, I think our biggest needs are as follows.

1)  Offensive tackle - If you've been reading the site for any length of time, you know I'm no fan of Ryan Cook.  I thought it was a bad selection when the pick was made, and he hasn't done a whole hell of a lot to change my mind.  Sure, he's had his moments, but he's also very inconsistent.  Then there's Marcus Johnson, part of what will go down as the Great Draft Disaster of ought-five.  I've said pretty much all that needs to be said there.

With the one first-day pick we have remaining at this point. . .unless we trade down in Round 2, which is something I'd love to see. . .I think we could very easily go for an offensive tackle like Virginia Tech's Duane Brown, Nebraska's Carl Nicks, Oniel Cousins of Texas El-Paso, or Sam Baker of Southern Cal.  I don't think Baker will drop, but there's a chance that Brown will be there at #47, and Nicks and Cousins should definitely be there.  Brown, however, would be my first choice.

2)  Development QB - We know Jackson is the starter.  We know Frerotte is the backup.  But we have GOT to upgrade over Brooks Bollinger at that #3 QB spot, and prepare a guy that can start in the future in the event that Tarvaris Jackson isn't the guy.  I think the second round would be too high for that selection, so no Chad Henne's here or anything like that.  But looking into the fourth round, we could be looking at guys like Kentucky's Andre Woodson (who I would love), San Diego's Josh Johnson (ditto), Southen Cal's John David Booty, or Erik Ainge out of Tennessee.

3)  Receiving tight end - There's going to be value at the TE spot in the later rounds, in my opinion.  Unless Visanthe Shiancoe ends up playing up to his contract in 2008, this is something the Vikings need to address.  If they went with Southern Cal's Fred Davis or Purdue's Dustin Keller in Round 2, I wouldn't be terribly unhappy.  But if we wait until the later rounds, the Beloved Purple could potentially steal somebody like Missouri's Martin Rucker, Jermichael Finley out of Texas, Kellen Davis of Michigan State, or Jacob Tamme from Kentucky.

After that, the rest of our selections could go towards solidifying depth in the secondary, along the D-line, and at linebacker.  I have confidence that Rick Spielman and Brad Childress can find quality guys late in the draft to make that possible.

What do you folks think?  Have I hit our needs on the head, or am I missing something glaring that our team needs to address?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.dailynorseman.com/2008/4/24/459965/soooooo-now-what

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