Rather than recap what you all already knew I had picked yesterday, I thought it might be a better idea to wait and feature some of the bolder picks of the first round with my thoughts on them.
Throw the mock draft out the window- the real one was much wilder. And after Denver passed on their primary need at DT to take Von Miller, AND after the cards passed on drafting a quarterback... well, throw most of what I said out the window, we're dealing with a different animal. Here are my thoughts on the most surprising picks from last night:
2. Denver Broncoes- Von Miller (OLB). I already alluded to this, but... wow. Many teams draft players they dont need because their athleticism and skill is so off the charts that they just have to take them, simply because they're still on the board. This is not the case with Denver and the second overall pick. With every possible player they could ever want still on the board- the only one gone was Cam Newton, and the quarterback is one of the only positions the broncos don't need- they chose a player that they really don't need. I mean honestly, when JMU's own Arthur Moats is one of your linebackers... who needs other linebackers?
Okay but seriously, why take Von Miller? You can't use the "he's just so good that we had to take him" excuse because the same thing could be said of Patrick Peterson, AJ Green, and... oh yeah, Marcell Dareus. You know, that guy that actually fills the position you desperately need?
The upside is that Von Miller is still an exceptional player that's gonna be an immediate and noticable impact. So it's not like it was a waste... just a little inefficient if you ask me.
Grade: C
5. Arizona-Patrick Peterson (CB) Same problem as Denver, but magnified. Do these guys realize that their team literally does not have a quarterback right now? Okay, clearly these guys have a plan on what to do about their qb situation. Either they wanna take someone like Kaepernick that will still be available when they pick again at the end of the second round... or they want to trade after the entire draft is over for someone like Bulger. I love Bulger for the obvious reasons (all time passing yards leader for qb's at WVU) and he's been a consistent qb in the NFL. But he's getting old. Why would you want a qb who would be starting in the 11th hour of his career? It's a temporary fix for a big, big problem, and when there are clearly franchise-altering solutions right in front of you, it seems a little weird to fill a slot you don't need filled, albeit with a freakishly gifted player.
Grade: C
6. Atlanta (traded from Cleveland)- Julio Jones (WR) This is a rare trade where both teams absolutely hit the lottery. Cleveland got something like five picks from Atlanta, two of which are future first rounders. Atlanta, meanwhile, picks up Julio Jones, a top end receiver that will take away the double team option on Roddy White. That solves one of only two real needs for the Falcons. The only need left to address is DE, and there are PLENTY of them still available tonight in the second round.
Atlanta Pick Grade: A
Cleveland Trade Grade: A
7. San Francisco- Aldon Smith (DE) Did SF not realize Blaine Gabbert was still on the board here? What happened? They need a quarterback. They need a corner, and Prince was there. There's literally a million End's this year... why waste your top ten pick on one that 1. isn't even a DE in the top 15 players and 2. doesn't address a primary concern on your team?
Grade: D
13. Detroit- Nick Fairley (DT) When I first heard this pick, I thought... wow. just when the lions were starting to get it together, they go and pick someone that makes no sense at all. But when I really started to think about it, I realized I was going to have nightmares thinking about the D-line that is Fairley, Suh, Vanden Bosch, and insert fourth name here who is not nearly as scary as the other three. That is psycho stuff. That is the defensive line that inspires movies like Saw. It's just downright disgusting stuff. So yeah, they dont fix their O-line and they didnt get a corner. But it might just be worth it.
Grade: B
16. Washington- Ryan Kerrigan (DE) Now I don't mean this as a knock on Kerrigan, because he's one of the best Ends in the class and even more importantly, he's a really good kid. But WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THE REDSKINS THINKING? attention, tragic redskins fans: you're team has once again achieved an epic fail. this has gotta be one of the worst picks I've ever seen. Washington drafted an end, which they dont need, with the intention of spending time converting him into a linebacker, which they REALLY don't need (orakpo is kind of a beast, in case you hadn't heard). Prince is still on the board! draft him! draft a receiver! draft a quarterback! draft SOMEONE that makes sense on any level! good grief...
Grade: F
26. KC- Jonathan Baldwin (WR) He wasn't projected as a first round pick at WR, but this kid is good. And he's out of Pitt- so think how good he must be if I'm admitting that he is, in fact, a good pick. Baldwin will compliment the playing style of Bowe, and will add spread-the-field capabililties to an offense that, without Bowe, is frankly pretty one-dimensional. Baldwin will help the running game more than any offensive lineman could by making the D respect the pass. Certainly a high risk pick, but the Chiefs will see high reward.
Grade: A
I'll keep you all updated this weekend on anything strange or exciting. My twitter will be spewing out draft information all weekend long, so keep that in mind too!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
MOCK DRAFT: NFC East, AFC North
Welcome readers to the final day of the blog. Today features almost all of the local favorites: the giants, redskins, ravens, steelers, eagles, and cowboys all have prominent fan bases in Virginia and the surrounding states (though how the cowboys pull that off from Texas still amazes me). Here are the requirements and my picks for the final eight teams:
NFC East
Dallas- The defense got burned a lot last year, and its mainly the secondary's fault. Since there are no Eric Berry's to be drafted in the first round this year, look for Dallas to take a D. End to take pressure off their secondary, or fill holes in their offensive line.
Philly- How the eagles manage to have such a good defense without more than one good corner amazes me. They need someone opposite Asante Samuel, and it's a pretty big need. Another linebacker would be nice, but is really more of a luxury. I would also think that they need a guard, but when your quarterback is Michael Vick, do you really need any offensive line at all?
NYG- You remember how surprised I was about the Philly's defense with only one corner? I'm about 10 times that on the linebacker-less, Superbowl-winning New York Giants. They didnt have linebackers then, and they dont really have them now either. their defense could be downright scary with some extra additions at linebacker and corner. But the line needs touching up too, as Eli is getting sacked far too often.
Washington- the one-of-everything approach? simply put, the redskins don't have enough draft picks to fix what they need to fix. they probably want out of the donovan deal, but they really have got to get some receivers now too. And that's receivers, plural. The line can probably survive for another year, but it's far from perfect. The front 7 actually isnt bad, but they do need a corner... and preferrably a runningback that is not going to get injured!
AFC North
Cincinatti- Carson Palmer clearly is somewhere on the path that is leading out the door. The question is- how much time is left on his Bengal clock? Do they have another year, or do they need a new quarterback right now? Regardless of palmer, the two best WR's (ochocinco and T.O.) are out the door. When your best receiver is Jordan Shipley, you're gonna need to draft some wideouts. Hopefully the organization can show some fictitious devotion to Palmer and draft a receiver, and at least put a bandaid on the qb problem for another year.
Cleveland- so much to fix, so little time. I'm gonna go ahead and call the browns the most damaged team, even though their record from 2010 might not show it (sorry Uncle Dave). the browns have just got to get a wide receiver so SOME quarterback on that team has someone to throw to besides runningback Peyton Hillis. The Brown's entire front 7 needs work, and the whole right side of the O-line needs new life too. Can you trade for a team?
Baltimore- The lack of an offensive tackle is causing everyone to shift around and play out of positions that theyre used to in Baltimore. Is it a big enough problem to require a first round solution? Eh, not by my reckoning. They also need receivers and a corner, but seeing as it is the Ravens, I've gotta think they might take someone that wants to run at the quarterback...
Pittsburgh- Corner is actually a major weakness for the Steelers. Expect them to address it way before any offensive line issues that need to be dealt with.
4. Cincinatti- AJ Green, WR, Georgia. He's an absolute monster and will solve problems on a team that needs receivers in game number one,
6. Cleveland- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Another beast, another instant solution.
9. Dallas- J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Nothing they need besides DE is available, and Watt is a good fit for this team.
10. Washington- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. If it wasn't for some guy named Patrick Peterson, Prince (who comes from the same univerisity as almost-equally-unpronouncable Ndamakung Suh- hope Im spelling that right because that's from memory) would most likely be the best corner in this draft. Instead, he sits on the verge of the top 10 and could fix the giant hole that plagues the redskin's secondary- the same hole that currently leaks everywhere not within 6-10 feet of Deangelo Hall.
19. NYG- Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. it's not a deep class for linebackers, but not many teams actually need linebackers. please, new york. take Ayers. you need a linebacker. that being said, they will probably take a defensive end...
23. Philly- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. Jimmy Smith is a guy who was already a mid-first round pick. This week, his stock has risen dramatically. Okay, maybe not that dramatically, because he's still a mid-first round pick... but now people are talking about him! Anyway, the point is he might not make it all the way to 23 because several teams need corners. Philly's saving grace could be that there are several good corners ahead of Smith on the board.
26. Baltimore- Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. What can I say. With this class, I can't see the ravens not taking a defensive end.
31. Pittsburgh- Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)
Tomorrow, I put it all together and offer some final thoughts. And I know many of you like these teams today, so let me hear what you think! Like your potential new team member or hate him? Smart decision, bad decision? Am I dumb? Actually, please don't answer that last question.
NFC East
Dallas- The defense got burned a lot last year, and its mainly the secondary's fault. Since there are no Eric Berry's to be drafted in the first round this year, look for Dallas to take a D. End to take pressure off their secondary, or fill holes in their offensive line.
Philly- How the eagles manage to have such a good defense without more than one good corner amazes me. They need someone opposite Asante Samuel, and it's a pretty big need. Another linebacker would be nice, but is really more of a luxury. I would also think that they need a guard, but when your quarterback is Michael Vick, do you really need any offensive line at all?
NYG- You remember how surprised I was about the Philly's defense with only one corner? I'm about 10 times that on the linebacker-less, Superbowl-winning New York Giants. They didnt have linebackers then, and they dont really have them now either. their defense could be downright scary with some extra additions at linebacker and corner. But the line needs touching up too, as Eli is getting sacked far too often.
Washington- the one-of-everything approach? simply put, the redskins don't have enough draft picks to fix what they need to fix. they probably want out of the donovan deal, but they really have got to get some receivers now too. And that's receivers, plural. The line can probably survive for another year, but it's far from perfect. The front 7 actually isnt bad, but they do need a corner... and preferrably a runningback that is not going to get injured!
AFC North
Cincinatti- Carson Palmer clearly is somewhere on the path that is leading out the door. The question is- how much time is left on his Bengal clock? Do they have another year, or do they need a new quarterback right now? Regardless of palmer, the two best WR's (ochocinco and T.O.) are out the door. When your best receiver is Jordan Shipley, you're gonna need to draft some wideouts. Hopefully the organization can show some fictitious devotion to Palmer and draft a receiver, and at least put a bandaid on the qb problem for another year.
Cleveland- so much to fix, so little time. I'm gonna go ahead and call the browns the most damaged team, even though their record from 2010 might not show it (sorry Uncle Dave). the browns have just got to get a wide receiver so SOME quarterback on that team has someone to throw to besides runningback Peyton Hillis. The Brown's entire front 7 needs work, and the whole right side of the O-line needs new life too. Can you trade for a team?
Baltimore- The lack of an offensive tackle is causing everyone to shift around and play out of positions that theyre used to in Baltimore. Is it a big enough problem to require a first round solution? Eh, not by my reckoning. They also need receivers and a corner, but seeing as it is the Ravens, I've gotta think they might take someone that wants to run at the quarterback...
Pittsburgh- Corner is actually a major weakness for the Steelers. Expect them to address it way before any offensive line issues that need to be dealt with.
4. Cincinatti- AJ Green, WR, Georgia. He's an absolute monster and will solve problems on a team that needs receivers in game number one,
6. Cleveland- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Another beast, another instant solution.
9. Dallas- J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Nothing they need besides DE is available, and Watt is a good fit for this team.
10. Washington- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. If it wasn't for some guy named Patrick Peterson, Prince (who comes from the same univerisity as almost-equally-unpronouncable Ndamakung Suh- hope Im spelling that right because that's from memory) would most likely be the best corner in this draft. Instead, he sits on the verge of the top 10 and could fix the giant hole that plagues the redskin's secondary- the same hole that currently leaks everywhere not within 6-10 feet of Deangelo Hall.
19. NYG- Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. it's not a deep class for linebackers, but not many teams actually need linebackers. please, new york. take Ayers. you need a linebacker. that being said, they will probably take a defensive end...
23. Philly- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. Jimmy Smith is a guy who was already a mid-first round pick. This week, his stock has risen dramatically. Okay, maybe not that dramatically, because he's still a mid-first round pick... but now people are talking about him! Anyway, the point is he might not make it all the way to 23 because several teams need corners. Philly's saving grace could be that there are several good corners ahead of Smith on the board.
26. Baltimore- Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. What can I say. With this class, I can't see the ravens not taking a defensive end.
31. Pittsburgh- Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)
Tomorrow, I put it all together and offer some final thoughts. And I know many of you like these teams today, so let me hear what you think! Like your potential new team member or hate him? Smart decision, bad decision? Am I dumb? Actually, please don't answer that last question.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
MOCK DRAFT: 2.0 Changes, NFC South, AFC East
Mock Draft feataures some changes to the previous two days. I have updated my own Draft lines and moved some players around. Below are the players I have changed and the reasons why I changed them:
Tennessee Titans: Before- Jake Locker
Current- Nick Fairley
The titans still like Locker, but if you look throughout the first round, most teams outside of those drafting in the top 10 do not need quarterbacks. The titans desperately need a playcaller, but they need a D. tackle just as bad. There are rumors of Fairley's draft stock falling, but I can't see him falling all the way to Jacksonville. Fairley is all too capable of having an immediate impact on a team in need of a DT to fall past Tennessee. Look for them to draft Fairley, but still try to acquire an early second round pick to grab Jake Locker.
St Louis Rams: Before- Rahim Moore
Current- Robert Quinn
Rahim Moore is a nice safety, but it would be pretty risky to draft him in the middle of the first round. It's possible that the rams address a need and take Danny Watkins out of Baylor, but I think they instead try to build a pass rushing force around a deep class of Defensive Ends. Figuring out exactly what DE's will and won't fall to the 14th pick is next to impossible, but Robert Quinn seems like a guy that just fits the middle of the first round.
Indianapolis Colts: Before- Gabe Carimi Kansas City: Before- Corey Liuget
Current- Corey Liuget Current- Gabe Carimi
OG's are not really in too much need this year; OT's are different. Carimi is the last of four offensive tackles thats are practically locks to go in the first round, with Derek Sherrod as a possible fifth pick at the end of the round. I do believe that Carimi could go to the Colts if he makes it that far, but I think that he might go right before to the chiefs. Carimi addresses a more immediate need at OT, while Liuget can take some double team pressure off of Indianapolis' premiere Defensive End, Dwight Freeney.
Jacksonville: Before- Nick Fairley
Current- Ryan Kerrigan
I just can't see Fairley falling this far. The jags have shown serious interest in Kerrigan and claim that he would be a great fit. End isn't exactly a need, but all the players that could fix a hole will most likely already be off the board.
Green Bay: Before- Adrian Clayborn
Current- Brooks Reed
Same position, different player. I don't see Clayborn falling all the way to the last pick of the first round.
Some large changes, some small adjustments. Regardless, on to today's teams:
NFC South
Atlanta- Roddy White can't be the only receiver in town (tony gonzalez doesn't count). What they really need is a better pass rushing force in the form of an End.
Tampa Bay- Also in need of an End/Linebackers. Come to think of it, both teams could use some O-line spruce ups too, but that definitely won't be in the first round.
Carolina- The panthers have eighteen thousand quarterbacks, all of which are partially functional. Jimmy Clausen could be the quarterback of the future and could potentially develop while Matt Moore gets some starts. Carolina has a giant need at DT, and Marcell Dareus would be a HUGE help in making this team competitive again. Couple that with a second round draft of a Tight End, another huge need, and Carolina is looking at doubling their win total from 2010 this year. at least that's what I think.
Or Carolina can (and probably will) draft another qb in Cam Newton, and continue to limp along in a very good NFC South. Yep, that's probably what they're gonna do.
New Orleans- The defense was way too soft in 2010. The saints need to get an end and a linebacker that can develop into big defensive forces. And for love of all things football, who does Drew Brees have to kill to get some decent receivers in New Orleans?
AFC East
Buffalo- Sure, Fitzpatrick isn't Peyton Manning. But he's a decent quarterback and Buffalo could build a team around him. Buffalo has had a problem with offensive tackle FOREVER and it has caused game-deciding problems. They need to take their first pick and draft a tackle now. will they? ehh. maybe. a "franchise quarterback" can definitely wait.
Miami- the dolphins offense is absolute crap. Runningbacks are in free agency or just falling off the map, chad henne in my opinion has never been good, and there are serious offensive line problems everywhere.
New England- It's not like New England needs another runningback after last year's performance by Benjarvus Green-Ellis, but they have showed huge interest in Mark Ingram. They do however need an outside linebacker and an offensive lineman. Good thing they have two first round picks.
NYJ- basically one of every defensive player. because rex ryan has a love affair with defensive players. front 7 guys, and i believe they need a safety as well.
1. Carolina- They've showed interest in Cam Newton. They shouldn't draft Cam Newton. They're probably gonna draft Cam Newton.
3. Buffalo- Tyron Smith, OT from USC. if they draft Blaine Gabbert, they're doomed to another year of shooting-for-mediocrity. apologies in advance to my boy arthur moats.
15. Miami- Mike Pouncey, a premier center from Florida. He will provide some immediate help to an absolute mess.
17. New England (1)- Mark Ingram. You don't show interest in a player you don't really need unless you're going to draft him.
20. Tampa Bay- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE from Temple. Part of a giant and inevitable run on Defensive Ends in the middle of the round.
24. New Orleans- Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri. The DE run is still going strong, even as the round is coming to a close.
27. Atlanta- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. Yep, still going.
28. New England (2)- Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State.
30. NYJ- Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State.
Tomorrow is the last day of the mock draft, and I have saved the best for last. Many of the teams that local readers like will be featured tomorrow, including the Eagles, Redskins, Giants, Ravens, and Steelers. Make sure you stop by again tomorrow!
Tennessee Titans: Before- Jake Locker
Current- Nick Fairley
The titans still like Locker, but if you look throughout the first round, most teams outside of those drafting in the top 10 do not need quarterbacks. The titans desperately need a playcaller, but they need a D. tackle just as bad. There are rumors of Fairley's draft stock falling, but I can't see him falling all the way to Jacksonville. Fairley is all too capable of having an immediate impact on a team in need of a DT to fall past Tennessee. Look for them to draft Fairley, but still try to acquire an early second round pick to grab Jake Locker.
St Louis Rams: Before- Rahim Moore
Current- Robert Quinn
Rahim Moore is a nice safety, but it would be pretty risky to draft him in the middle of the first round. It's possible that the rams address a need and take Danny Watkins out of Baylor, but I think they instead try to build a pass rushing force around a deep class of Defensive Ends. Figuring out exactly what DE's will and won't fall to the 14th pick is next to impossible, but Robert Quinn seems like a guy that just fits the middle of the first round.
Indianapolis Colts: Before- Gabe Carimi Kansas City: Before- Corey Liuget
Current- Corey Liuget Current- Gabe Carimi
OG's are not really in too much need this year; OT's are different. Carimi is the last of four offensive tackles thats are practically locks to go in the first round, with Derek Sherrod as a possible fifth pick at the end of the round. I do believe that Carimi could go to the Colts if he makes it that far, but I think that he might go right before to the chiefs. Carimi addresses a more immediate need at OT, while Liuget can take some double team pressure off of Indianapolis' premiere Defensive End, Dwight Freeney.
Jacksonville: Before- Nick Fairley
Current- Ryan Kerrigan
I just can't see Fairley falling this far. The jags have shown serious interest in Kerrigan and claim that he would be a great fit. End isn't exactly a need, but all the players that could fix a hole will most likely already be off the board.
Green Bay: Before- Adrian Clayborn
Current- Brooks Reed
Same position, different player. I don't see Clayborn falling all the way to the last pick of the first round.
Some large changes, some small adjustments. Regardless, on to today's teams:
NFC South
Atlanta- Roddy White can't be the only receiver in town (tony gonzalez doesn't count). What they really need is a better pass rushing force in the form of an End.
Tampa Bay- Also in need of an End/Linebackers. Come to think of it, both teams could use some O-line spruce ups too, but that definitely won't be in the first round.
Carolina- The panthers have eighteen thousand quarterbacks, all of which are partially functional. Jimmy Clausen could be the quarterback of the future and could potentially develop while Matt Moore gets some starts. Carolina has a giant need at DT, and Marcell Dareus would be a HUGE help in making this team competitive again. Couple that with a second round draft of a Tight End, another huge need, and Carolina is looking at doubling their win total from 2010 this year. at least that's what I think.
Or Carolina can (and probably will) draft another qb in Cam Newton, and continue to limp along in a very good NFC South. Yep, that's probably what they're gonna do.
New Orleans- The defense was way too soft in 2010. The saints need to get an end and a linebacker that can develop into big defensive forces. And for love of all things football, who does Drew Brees have to kill to get some decent receivers in New Orleans?
AFC East
Buffalo- Sure, Fitzpatrick isn't Peyton Manning. But he's a decent quarterback and Buffalo could build a team around him. Buffalo has had a problem with offensive tackle FOREVER and it has caused game-deciding problems. They need to take their first pick and draft a tackle now. will they? ehh. maybe. a "franchise quarterback" can definitely wait.
Miami- the dolphins offense is absolute crap. Runningbacks are in free agency or just falling off the map, chad henne in my opinion has never been good, and there are serious offensive line problems everywhere.
New England- It's not like New England needs another runningback after last year's performance by Benjarvus Green-Ellis, but they have showed huge interest in Mark Ingram. They do however need an outside linebacker and an offensive lineman. Good thing they have two first round picks.
NYJ- basically one of every defensive player. because rex ryan has a love affair with defensive players. front 7 guys, and i believe they need a safety as well.
1. Carolina- They've showed interest in Cam Newton. They shouldn't draft Cam Newton. They're probably gonna draft Cam Newton.
3. Buffalo- Tyron Smith, OT from USC. if they draft Blaine Gabbert, they're doomed to another year of shooting-for-mediocrity. apologies in advance to my boy arthur moats.
15. Miami- Mike Pouncey, a premier center from Florida. He will provide some immediate help to an absolute mess.
17. New England (1)- Mark Ingram. You don't show interest in a player you don't really need unless you're going to draft him.
20. Tampa Bay- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE from Temple. Part of a giant and inevitable run on Defensive Ends in the middle of the round.
24. New Orleans- Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri. The DE run is still going strong, even as the round is coming to a close.
27. Atlanta- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. Yep, still going.
28. New England (2)- Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State.
30. NYJ- Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State.
Tomorrow is the last day of the mock draft, and I have saved the best for last. Many of the teams that local readers like will be featured tomorrow, including the Eagles, Redskins, Giants, Ravens, and Steelers. Make sure you stop by again tomorrow!
Monday, April 25, 2011
MOCK DRAFT: NFC North, AFC West
Day two of the draft readers. Let's get right down to it.
NFC North
Chicago- I say Jay Cutler, you say.... well you should probably say sack. Jay Cutler gets sacked more than just about any other quarterback. Period. And this isn't a one year thing, either. The bears offensive line was dead last in 2010, and wasn't too much better the previous few years. Then again, when I say jay cutler, you should probably think interceptions too. but that one isn't on the offensive line. rant aside, the bears need to draft linemen. a d. tackle and a receiver wouldnt hurt either.
Detroit- The offense is finally starting to... you know, score points. The o-line could use some work, but its minor. This year, I think Detroit will start to concentrate on the other side of the ball. Suh was a big help up front, and had Bradford not almost lead his team to the playoffs as a rookie, the unpronouncable monster would be my vote for rookie of the year. Now they need to give him some linebackers to work with- as soon as they address the even more important need at the corner position.
Minnesota- what dont the vikings need? a new quarterback, massive help on the offensive line, and some help in the secondary. the head coach of the vikings should probably blindly throw a dart... he'll probably hit a position he'll need, and he wont have to worry about what to fix first either.
Green Bay- what do the packers really need? Not really anything. That's what happens when you win the superbowl. but if i had to pick one thing, a nice d. end might come in handy. watch the packers to trade their second pick (#33) away.
AFC West
Denver- lots to address here. some help in the middle of their front 7 would be great, and a tight end couldnt hurt either. come to think of it... does denver even have a tight end, or do they just have tim tebow?
San Diego- Rivers needs more protection. Look for San Diego to grab a tackle, and then address some issues on the other side of the ball.
Kansas City- This one was tough, but I think the chiefs will look to draft mainly on the offensive side. Bowe needs a threat on the other side to shake off double teams, and the line needs to get some more players to protect the Chiefs primary offensive threat (the dual run game)
Oakland- ive been saying this since last year. surely you guys saw Jason Campbell with the redskins... why would ANYONE pick him up after his tenure there? the raiders eventually are going to need a new qb. rumor is that theyre looking at nevada's qb (colin kaepernick), who i think is a nice diamond in the rough. good think he's not considered a first round pick- oakland traded their first pick to the patriots.
2. Denver- If Carolina takes Cam Newton as leaked information seems to indicate, look to denver to pounce on Marcell Dareus. He's an absolute monster (still not better than suh in my opinion) and will have an immediate impact in denver.
12. Minnesota- I don't think Minnesota can pick anyone that they need and justify them as a early/mid first round pick. look for the vikings to trade down, or otherwise take da'quan bowers, whose stock has fallen a little bit after a knee injury scare.
13. Detroit- Anthony Costanzo, OT out of Boston College. side note: this kid has MAJOR heart.
18. San Diego- Nate Solder, another OT out of Colorado
21. Kansas City- look for a trade. if they cant go up or down, they might take Corey Liuget out of Illinois.
29. Chicago- Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
32. Green Bay- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.
Today was pretty straight forward. Tomorrow, I feature the NFC South and the AFC East. Stay tuned!
NFC North
Chicago- I say Jay Cutler, you say.... well you should probably say sack. Jay Cutler gets sacked more than just about any other quarterback. Period. And this isn't a one year thing, either. The bears offensive line was dead last in 2010, and wasn't too much better the previous few years. Then again, when I say jay cutler, you should probably think interceptions too. but that one isn't on the offensive line. rant aside, the bears need to draft linemen. a d. tackle and a receiver wouldnt hurt either.
Detroit- The offense is finally starting to... you know, score points. The o-line could use some work, but its minor. This year, I think Detroit will start to concentrate on the other side of the ball. Suh was a big help up front, and had Bradford not almost lead his team to the playoffs as a rookie, the unpronouncable monster would be my vote for rookie of the year. Now they need to give him some linebackers to work with- as soon as they address the even more important need at the corner position.
Minnesota- what dont the vikings need? a new quarterback, massive help on the offensive line, and some help in the secondary. the head coach of the vikings should probably blindly throw a dart... he'll probably hit a position he'll need, and he wont have to worry about what to fix first either.
Green Bay- what do the packers really need? Not really anything. That's what happens when you win the superbowl. but if i had to pick one thing, a nice d. end might come in handy. watch the packers to trade their second pick (#33) away.
AFC West
Denver- lots to address here. some help in the middle of their front 7 would be great, and a tight end couldnt hurt either. come to think of it... does denver even have a tight end, or do they just have tim tebow?
San Diego- Rivers needs more protection. Look for San Diego to grab a tackle, and then address some issues on the other side of the ball.
Kansas City- This one was tough, but I think the chiefs will look to draft mainly on the offensive side. Bowe needs a threat on the other side to shake off double teams, and the line needs to get some more players to protect the Chiefs primary offensive threat (the dual run game)
Oakland- ive been saying this since last year. surely you guys saw Jason Campbell with the redskins... why would ANYONE pick him up after his tenure there? the raiders eventually are going to need a new qb. rumor is that theyre looking at nevada's qb (colin kaepernick), who i think is a nice diamond in the rough. good think he's not considered a first round pick- oakland traded their first pick to the patriots.
2. Denver- If Carolina takes Cam Newton as leaked information seems to indicate, look to denver to pounce on Marcell Dareus. He's an absolute monster (still not better than suh in my opinion) and will have an immediate impact in denver.
12. Minnesota- I don't think Minnesota can pick anyone that they need and justify them as a early/mid first round pick. look for the vikings to trade down, or otherwise take da'quan bowers, whose stock has fallen a little bit after a knee injury scare.
13. Detroit- Anthony Costanzo, OT out of Boston College. side note: this kid has MAJOR heart.
18. San Diego- Nate Solder, another OT out of Colorado
21. Kansas City- look for a trade. if they cant go up or down, they might take Corey Liuget out of Illinois.
29. Chicago- Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
32. Green Bay- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.
Today was pretty straight forward. Tomorrow, I feature the NFC South and the AFC East. Stay tuned!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
MOCK DRAFT: NFC West, AFC South
Welcome to Day 1 of my draft. A little bit about how this will work:
I'm going to list the teams from each division and quickly real off my assessment of what each team needs. I've also compiled a list of fifty or so of the best draft prospects this year by position (not listed here).
Anyway, on to the forecast, which calls for light showers of unfairly athletic people:
NFC West
St Louis- For a 7-9 team that missed the playoffs thanks to the lowly Seahawks, this team isn't too bad off. They need to shore up the offensive line to protect young quarterback Sam Bradford by taking a Guard. Their secondary is a little weak. Most importantly, they need some sort of Wide Receiver for two reasons- they dont have a real deep threat, and they need some sort of passing game to open up running lanes for Steven Jackson.
Seattle- The seahawks need a quarterback of the future, and you can almost guarentee that they will take one with the amount of qb's in this year's draft. But they need to fix holes in their offensive line too, and they have approximately 0 reliable corners.
San Francisco- yet another team, yet another needed quarterback. Fun fact: alex smith was drafted parallel to Green Bay quarterback and recent superbowl winner aaron rodgers. another fun fact: alex smith sucks, and aaron rodgers doesn't. i believe the 49'ers are finally going to pull the plug on smith and take a new quarterback. they also need a few defesive players that will probably come in the second round.
Arizona- yes, you guessed it. quarterback. a tight end and linebackers wouldnt hurt either.
AFC South
Tennessee- will the need for quarterbacks never end? Vince is done, and the titans need a new qb. a D. Tackle and receivers will have to wait. too bad you cant draft a new coach, though.
Houston- Last year, the texans were synonymous with "no pass defense." they need a complete overhaul of their secondary. they have little holes along their line they need to fix too (OLB, NT), but look for them to fix the gaping hole before the small leak.
Jacksonville- The other team known for very little pass defense. Jacksonville needs a safety, but they also really need a couple receivers after the departure of Mike Sims-Thomas. Mike Thomas cant do this by himself people.
Indianapolis- Most of the things Indy needs centers around their running game. It's basically nonexistant, with Indy's run ranking in the late 20's (i wanna say 28th). They're gonna need to draft a couple offensive linemen, and a runningback that isn't old and injury prone (joseph addai) or just otherwise really bad (hart/everyone else). The improved line has the added bonus of protecting Peyton Manning, who- let's face it- is getting old, and will appreiate the protection.
5. Arizona- just cant decide. Either Gabbert or Von Miller. Let's say Gabbert.
7. San Fran- too soon to take a qb that doesnt belong in the top 10. The 49'ers draft Patrick Peterson.
8. Tennessee- Tennessee really, really likes Jake Locker, but this qb doesnt belong in the top 10. they might try to trade down, maybe even with Jacksonville, but still get Locker along with possibly another pick or cash from the trade.
11. Houston- I think Von Miller slips through the cracks somehow, and Houston grabs him at 11.
14. St. Louis- The rams need have specific needs, and all of the elite level Guards and WR's are taken. I think they end up taking Rahim Moore, much to the chagrin of the jaguars at 16.
16. Jacksonville- Jax is in a bit of a problem- the talent they could want will already be taken, and the talent that will be left will not be worth of a mid first round pick. watch them to either trade away, or take someone that they dont need but fits the pick. I think they try to trade but cant, and could end up taking Nick Fairley.
22. Indianapolis- Gabe Carimi, an OT out of Wisconsin
25. Seattle- Aaron Williams, a Corner from Texas
Check out tomorrow, when i do the NFC north and the AFC West!
I'm going to list the teams from each division and quickly real off my assessment of what each team needs. I've also compiled a list of fifty or so of the best draft prospects this year by position (not listed here).
Anyway, on to the forecast, which calls for light showers of unfairly athletic people:
NFC West
St Louis- For a 7-9 team that missed the playoffs thanks to the lowly Seahawks, this team isn't too bad off. They need to shore up the offensive line to protect young quarterback Sam Bradford by taking a Guard. Their secondary is a little weak. Most importantly, they need some sort of Wide Receiver for two reasons- they dont have a real deep threat, and they need some sort of passing game to open up running lanes for Steven Jackson.
Seattle- The seahawks need a quarterback of the future, and you can almost guarentee that they will take one with the amount of qb's in this year's draft. But they need to fix holes in their offensive line too, and they have approximately 0 reliable corners.
San Francisco- yet another team, yet another needed quarterback. Fun fact: alex smith was drafted parallel to Green Bay quarterback and recent superbowl winner aaron rodgers. another fun fact: alex smith sucks, and aaron rodgers doesn't. i believe the 49'ers are finally going to pull the plug on smith and take a new quarterback. they also need a few defesive players that will probably come in the second round.
Arizona- yes, you guessed it. quarterback. a tight end and linebackers wouldnt hurt either.
AFC South
Tennessee- will the need for quarterbacks never end? Vince is done, and the titans need a new qb. a D. Tackle and receivers will have to wait. too bad you cant draft a new coach, though.
Houston- Last year, the texans were synonymous with "no pass defense." they need a complete overhaul of their secondary. they have little holes along their line they need to fix too (OLB, NT), but look for them to fix the gaping hole before the small leak.
Jacksonville- The other team known for very little pass defense. Jacksonville needs a safety, but they also really need a couple receivers after the departure of Mike Sims-Thomas. Mike Thomas cant do this by himself people.
Indianapolis- Most of the things Indy needs centers around their running game. It's basically nonexistant, with Indy's run ranking in the late 20's (i wanna say 28th). They're gonna need to draft a couple offensive linemen, and a runningback that isn't old and injury prone (joseph addai) or just otherwise really bad (hart/everyone else). The improved line has the added bonus of protecting Peyton Manning, who- let's face it- is getting old, and will appreiate the protection.
5. Arizona- just cant decide. Either Gabbert or Von Miller. Let's say Gabbert.
7. San Fran- too soon to take a qb that doesnt belong in the top 10. The 49'ers draft Patrick Peterson.
8. Tennessee- Tennessee really, really likes Jake Locker, but this qb doesnt belong in the top 10. they might try to trade down, maybe even with Jacksonville, but still get Locker along with possibly another pick or cash from the trade.
11. Houston- I think Von Miller slips through the cracks somehow, and Houston grabs him at 11.
14. St. Louis- The rams need have specific needs, and all of the elite level Guards and WR's are taken. I think they end up taking Rahim Moore, much to the chagrin of the jaguars at 16.
16. Jacksonville- Jax is in a bit of a problem- the talent they could want will already be taken, and the talent that will be left will not be worth of a mid first round pick. watch them to either trade away, or take someone that they dont need but fits the pick. I think they try to trade but cant, and could end up taking Nick Fairley.
22. Indianapolis- Gabe Carimi, an OT out of Wisconsin
25. Seattle- Aaron Williams, a Corner from Texas
Check out tomorrow, when i do the NFC north and the AFC West!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Mock Draft is Coming
Despite the current National Football League lockout, the NFL draft begins this Thursday, April 28. I will be forecasting my own thoughts on what player will go where based on each teams needs. I will NOT be going in order- instead, I will do two divisions every day. Thursday, I will compile these into one big list that follows the current order of the draft (before any trades are made). I will also feature some commentary and feature teams most likely to trade away their first round picks on Thursday as the day builds toward the nighttime draft.
I will kick things off on Sunday with the NFC West and the AFC South. Make sure to stop by to check out who your team might pick up, or get advice on who you think will go where. Remember, Bud Light is giving away $10 million to the fan who accurately predicts which players go where in the first round of the draft!
I will kick things off on Sunday with the NFC West and the AFC South. Make sure to stop by to check out who your team might pick up, or get advice on who you think will go where. Remember, Bud Light is giving away $10 million to the fan who accurately predicts which players go where in the first round of the draft!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Life Outside of the Playoffs (okay fine, we can talk playoffs too)
Happy Wednesday, everyone. Hope you’re all ready for a quick jaunt around the sports world, because there’s lots to mention, playoffs or no playoffs. Without further ado:
-As of this morning, three University of Kentucky players declared for the NBA draft. They are Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, and DeAndre Liggins. UK has become somewhat known for one and dones recently, but this year may be slightly different. Knight and Jones are not the only rising Sophomores at Kentucky (Liggins is a rising senior), so Kentucky may have some stellar second years still around when next year’s once again excellent recruiting class comes in. However, Kentucky could look even better next year- because Knight, Jones, and Liggins did not hire agents as of this morning, they still have the option of pulling their names back out of the draft and returning to college basketball. If they do hire an agent, or they do not pull themselves out before the May deadline, they will be forced to proceed in the NBA direction.
-If you haven’t been watching the Boston-New York NBA playoff series, you probably only know that Boston is up 2-0 and that’s it. The reality is that New York could pretty easily have stolen at least one game if they just could have closed. The Knicks held leads within the final minute of both games, but watched each game slip through their fingers like magical Celtic sand. In game 1, the knicks were up 1 when the refs called an extremely bad offensive foul away from the ball as Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce were grappling for position. Bad call or not, the Knicks watched the Celtics go down the court and hit an extremely clutch three via (who else?) Ray Allen. Down two and with about twelve seconds to go, Carmelo Anthony calls for the ball and… drives to the lane? Of course not, that would be the smart thing to do! Instead, he jacks up a Jimmer Fredette- like three-pointer which doesn’t go for him. In game two, a late forecast of raining threes kept the Knicks in the game and eventually up 1 point once more. Doc drew up a play for the C’s that involved a Kevin Garnett hook shot over a decidedly smaller lineup for the Amare-less, Chauncey-less Knicks. When the hook shot went, Carmelo was inbounded the ball and immediately double teamed. He threw the ball into the post for the winning shot as time all but expired (.6 left on the clock), but the Knicks managed to lose the ball. Garnett immediately jumped on it, and the Celtics win. Talk about luck of the Irish. The knicks better get it in gear, or they could be out of the playoffs pretty fast.
-I recently talked about the Tim Tebow statue that was erected in honor of the Heisman winner at the University of Florida. Evidently other SEC schools caught the statue-erecting fevor, because Alabama has recently unveiled a statue of their own of head coach Nick Saban. Uhh… why? Nick Saban has spent all of three or four years at Alabama. Sure, he won a national championship, but we’re not exactly talking about a nobody school here. Alabama is a significantly historic program that has claimed 13 national championships over the years, the last of which (before the 2009-2010 season) was in the 90’s. Why build a statue of Saban? I could understand if, say, Virginia Tech finally won their first national championship under longtime head coach Frank Beamer. A statue seems like an appropriate way to pay homage to the legacy of Beamer, who has given much of his life to the betterment of the Virginia Tech football program. But Nick Saban? We’re talking about a guy that, not even five years ago, coached an NFL team! Come on, Alabama. Let’s just admitted you built a statue of Nick Saban because he likes to look at shiny things.
-Has anyone noticed the Rockies this year so far? The pitching has been quite pretty good, especially when you consider the fact that Jimenez is on the DL, but the Rockies have quietly outperformed opponents and acquired one of the best records in the Majors. Colorado is 13-5 with a notable sweep of a four-game series against Mets. They hold a three game lead in the NL West. We’re not even 20 games into the season, but if Jimenez can regain his form along with continued strong outings from Chacin and De La Rosa, it’s not hard to imagine the Rockies once again contenders for the World Series.
-The Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl is an absolute mess. In fact, because of some corporate controversy on whether to keep or drop sponsorship of the bowl, it might even lose its BCS status as one of the five most important bowl games in college football (Nat. Championship, Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange). This is less of a concluded story, and more of an ongoing saga. Follow the latest here.
-Former CAA football member UMass has made the decision to officially move up to FBS level football and join the MAC conference. This makes them the second team this year that has been on the record for at least formally showing interest in moving up out of the CAA. Villanova has also been offered a spot by the Big East. Unlike the MAC, the Big East conference offers an autobid to a BCS conference that Villanova (and also new transfer TCU) may claim by as soon as 2012 by winning the league’s regular season championship, which is not decided by a championship game. UMass is an interesting case study- the northeast has very few BCS level teams, the most notable of which are UConn (BE) and Boston College (ACC). Both teams are on UMass’ schedule in 2011. Their home games will be played at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, until the University’s own stadium has completed the renovations currently in progress.
-The Red Sox really need to hurry up and decide if they want to suck or not this year. They start by being swept by Texas AND Cleveland. Then, they turn around and win a series against the Yankees. They turn around and get swept by the putrid Rays. They take three games out of four against AL East rival Toronto. Then they split two games in Oakland? This Bosox team is a bookie’s dream and a betters’ nightmare. Boston is in the middle of a nine-game road trip, and since they’ve won exactly one game on the road so far this year, it could be a long stay in LA and Baltimore. Here’s to hoping the Orioles sweep them.
-Despite the lockout, both the NFL draft and the Fall schedules are still set to take place. The NFL recently released the projected schedules for the season, and the notable early games involve some tragically involved cities. The New York Giants will travel to play against the Redskins while the Jets will host the Cowboys in the Meadowlands on September 11, 2011 on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Expect lots of media coverage and a pregame tribute to those that lost their lives in the two cities most severely affected by the attacks, Washington and New York. I think that Rex Ryan, the Jets coach who is normally outspoken to the point that I kind of want to stab him on some days for causing pointless media arguments, said it best (for once): That stadium is going to be full of emotion, not only the people from the area but in the entire country. The fact that it’s the tenth anniversary of 9/11, that’s where the focus should be, not be playing against my brother [assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys].”
-Hockey Update: The Red Wings have officially swept the Coyotes, and Vancouver owns a 3-1 series lead as the next game returns to western Canada. Head on collision? Just remember who predicted it first, readers. It’s all I ask.
In the east, The Caps and Penguins are also hurdling toward a showdown, this one in the second round. Both teams own 3-1 leads over the Rangers and Lightning, respectively, and both teams would love to hate to have to play each other. The Habs are up a game on the Bruins and could take Boston to the brink tonight in Montreal. The Philly-Buffalo series has gone back and forth as each team struggles to define the series. High scoring games have favored the Flyers, but Miller has posted two shutouts now. When he’s hot, all Buffalo really needs is one goal to win…
That’s your comprehensive update ladies and gentlemen. I’ve got a good piece coming up about Jay-Z, so look forward to that!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Four East Matchups Highlight Upcoming NHL Playoffs
The first round of the NHL playoff is sure to whet many hockey fans’ appetites this year.
Before I get started, I have listed the first round matchups for reader convenience below:
EAST: New York Rangers (8) vs Washington Capitals (1), Buffalo Sabres (7) vs Philadelphia Flyers (2), Montreal Canadiens (6) vs Boston Bruins (3), Tampa Bay Lightning (5) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (4)
WEST: Chicago Blackhawks (8, Defending Champs) vs Vancouver Canucks (1), LA Kings (7) vs San Jose Sharks (2), Phoenix Coyotes (6) vs Detroit Red Wings (3), Nashville Predators (5) vs Anaheim Ducks (4)
Because this is a primarily regional blog, I’m going to be covering all of the Eastern matchups, which will be particularly easy because all of the Eastern matchups are fantastic (more on that in a little bit). I will also offer a little insight into my thoughts on the western race too, and why it’s not really that important.
We’re starting with the West. The matchup to note here is definitely the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks who punched their playoff ticket on the last day after they… lost? Yes, the B’hawks controlled their own fate and couldn’t finish, but because the Dallas Stars couldn’t notch their last win either (and thus move over the Blackhawks into the eighth spot), Chicago retained their tenuous hold on a playoff bid. This Vancouver-Chicago matchup is of particular interest not because of this year’s regular season performance, but because of the previous two years’ postseason performance. This is the third year in a row that the Blackhawks and Canucks have faced each other in the first round of the NHL playoffs, with the Blackhawks prevailing both times. Now that Vancouver is finally the #1 seed, can they actually beat Chicago? Absolutely. Vancouver is not only this season’s President’s Trophy winner, they are far and away the best team in the Western Conference, and probably the best team in the entire league. The Western playoffs can fall any number of ways, but I think a Detroit-Vancouver matchup is inevitable with the grand prize being a bid for the Stanley Cup.
Now, for the East. If you are not a hockey fan and want to get into the sport, this is the year to watch some of the playoffs. Each matchup is not only good- each first round series will feature a unique aspect of hockey that will make it an extremely entertaining. Series by series, here we go:
Rangers at Capitals: Okay, we all know I’m ever so slightly biased here, but I do love the caps. This game will feature several crazy high scoring, high octane games. Honestly, I think the caps have once again drawn a pretty bad first round matchup as the Rangers have definitely had Washington’s number in the regular season. But the caps are going to hit their stride at just the right time, getting Mike Green back from a lengthy injury recovery along with a healthy Alex Ovechkin. The offense is fired up. The defense is maintaining a high level of intensity. The Rangers are not going to be any pushover, and I think New York takes this to seven games, and probably has an early 2-1 or possibly even 3-1 series lead. The series will almost definitely go to seven games. But in the end, I think Washington is too good at the right time and moves on to an ugly rivalry-type of second round playoff matchup against the lightning or the (expletive expletive) penguins.
Sabres at Flyers: This is your standard Scary Offense vs Incredible Defense matchup. The Flyers seem to run almost a blitzkrieg type of offense at times, that on a bad day is high scoring and on a good day is a high-speed death march. The answer? None other than born-and-bred American Ryan Miller, who rose to prominence in the 2010 Winter Olympics with his heroics in goal. When Miller is on, he is an absolute highlight reel, making saves that most people can’t even imagine is humanly possible. Buffalo has a solid lineup of goalies behind him, but frankly, everyone sucks when compared to Ryan Miller. Just my opinion, of course. That being said, Ryan Miller can’t do it all, and Buffalo’s offense isn’t reliable enough to outshoot the Flyers on a nightly basis. Philly in 6.
Canadiens at Bruins: Possibly the best first round matchup of the entire playoffs. This is bound to be a classic series between two physical teams and bitter rivals that hate each other. Expect a LOT of body checks, fights, etc. But don’t think the series will be without scoring too. Both squads have had strong finishes. Boston is probably the better team, but good goaltending on the Montreal side of things fairly close. There’s just something about this Canadiens team I like- maybe it’s just me mentally compensating for their inexplicable series win against the Caps last year, but I think this team plays their best hockey in the postseason. Look for Montreal to ride Carey Price into the second round of the playoffs- I’ll take the Canadiens in 7.
Lightning at Penguins: This series has a little bit of everything. Both teams are dominated by individual superstars, although Crosby may not be making an appearance at any point throughout the series. Both teams are battling uphill as their best hockey of the year is already way behind them. Most importantly, both teams have something to play for (besides the obvious) because, if seeding holds, the winner of this series will play the Washington capitals. Tampa has played some extremely competitive and fierce Southeast games against the Caps this year, and would surely salivate at the chance to get some more games against them. Penguins-Capitals, meanwhile, has been one of the fiercest rivalries of the last few years, and any hockey fan would love to see yet another playoff rematch between Washington and Pittsburgh. Can Pittsburgh win despite their obvious injury problems? I don’t know, but I do think Pittsburgh isn’t falling downhill quite as fast as Tampa. Pittsburgh will manage to win by not being the worse team; Penguins in 7.
Look for the first set of series to kick off tonight- Rangers at Caps, Coyotes at Red Wings, Lightning at Penguins, Blackhawks at Canucks, and Preds at Ducks all play their first game tonight!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Rant Time: Tebow To Be Statue?
With the absence of college basketball, there has been little in the way of college sports to commentate on. Many basketball programs are landing last minute recruits, while football teams are in the midst of spring trainings and scrimmages. Couple these with the upcoming NHL and NBA playoffs, and it makes for a calm before the storm that’s great for fan anticipation but horrible for sports writing.
Out of the darkness came a story so fast and controversial that I think I have whiplash.
The University of Florida has recently unveiled three life-sized statues of Gators from years past, paid for by a smattering of recent donations to the athletics department. The most talked about has been none other than the cultural phenomenon that is Tim Tebow.
Tim Tebow has often been called “The Anointed One.” Okay fine, I’m really the only one that has ever called him that, but it’s still hard to deny that he is often talked about in ways that would suggest to many people that he is a minor god in a polytheistic religion. Tebow could do no wrong in college, gathering a cult-like fan base with a core of many devout Christians, similar to the Mormon base which follows Jimmer Fredette. His popularity was initially well deserved, as he was a great player with obvious leadership skills and dual threat capabilities. He became the first sophomore Heisman winner in the fall of 2007 football season. He was part of two national championship teams in Gainesville in 2006 and 2008. Clearly Tebow was a great college player and deserved a lot of hype, for the way he carried himself off the field and also for the way he carried the ball on the field.
However, the fervor surrounding Tebow surpassed “a lot of hype” somewhere around his junior year. He became less man and more myth, less quarterback and more God. As a devout Christian man, this is probably the last thing he ever wanted. Analysts on various networks (mostly CBS) gave him just a tad too much credit. Fans were much worse, quickly anointing Tebow as the greatest college football player to ever live. They would often be found on the internet, saying things like the following:
Or this:
"Tim Tebow is already in the conversation for ‘Greatest Ever’ even before [his senior year] starts. Layer in another [potential] national title and another Heisman, and I don't think it's close." (Editor’s Note: Tebow lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game in senior year and won the Sugar Bowl against the University of Cincinnati by a large margin. He finished 5th in the Heisman behind Ndamukong Suh, Colt McCoy, Toby Gerhart, and Heisman winner Mark Ingram. Ingram was approximately 1,000 votes ahead of Tebow.)
Tebow is arguably best known for his rushing ability (a trait that is portrayed by his U of F statue, as seen here), but he doesn’t even crack the top ten quarterback rushers of all time. Tebow totaled 2,947 yards over his collegiate career; while this number is a great stat, it’s hardly deserving of “best ever.” It certainly eclipses the average qb’s rushing total by hundreds of yards, but he comes up very short of even cracking the top 10 rushing quarterbacks. This is an even more noticeable stat line when you consider that dual threat quarterbacks are a relatively new concept- of the top ten qb rushers, eight are from the BCS era (which is only the last 20 or so years). To give you an idea of the top/notable rushing quarterbacks, tenth place is pre-BCS era Brian Mitchell (La-Lafeyette) with 3,335 yards; Josh Cribbs is fourth with 3,670 yards; Antwaan Randle El is third with 3,895 yards; Missouri’s Brad Smith is second with 4,289 yards. The all-time record is held by Pat White with 4,480 yards. Pat White vs Tim Tebow is a debate I’ve had multiple times, and which quarterback I would take varies by context (ie I would take White in the Big East/ACC/Pac-10, but probably Tebow in the Big 10/Big 12; SEC is a toss up). But that’s another debate for another time.
The truth about Tebow is that, unlike many great college athletes that carry their otherwise average teams (a la someone like an Alex Smith at Utah), Tebow had a good offensive unit around him and a stellar defense that kept him in games. Put a team like that in a topheavy but otherwise incredibly mediocre SEC, and you’re bound to see fireworks.
This unprecented fervor has reached new heights of rediculousness in Tebow’s pro career, where he scored a handful of touchdowns on an even fewer amount of starts for the subpar Denver Broncos. Tebow somehow ended up in the Madden cover vote and was beat pretty soundly by Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles. The media and many sports fans seemed utterly shocked that Jamaal Charles, one of only two runningbacks in the history of the NFL to average 5.8 yards per carry in back to back seasons, had beaten a backup quarterback in the voting. I’m not sure where the shock is coming from.
So for all of these reasons, many sports fans have been very unwilling to accept Tebow’s bronze depiction in Gainesville. Criticism floods online message boards with many skeptics wondering if Tebow was good enough to be immortalized forever on the grounds of football’s stadium. With Tebow only a year separated from his great college career, do we have the perspective necessary to justify a million-dollar statue? My answer might surprise you.
It’s a resounding yes.
Florida has made very clear that they intended to honor not only Tebow but also the other Florida Heisman winners- 1966 Steve Spurrier (current South Carolina football coach) and 1996 Danny Wuerffel. Tim’s statue received the most media and fan attention not because he is the most deserving but because he is the most recent and known by the largest amount of people across all demographics. The University of Florida wishes to pay its respects to a great player and a better person who happened to win the Heisman. That is commendable. So why are people up in arms about it? I would understand if Florida declared him the greatest player that ever lived or proclaimed that no one should ever have a statue made but Tebow. This was not the case. For once, no one is claiming that Tebow is more than he is. The big men in Gainesville have only declared that Tim Tebow is a Heisman trophy winner, and the naysayers need to understand this and get over it.
I’m fine with the trophy, and I’m fine with the sentiment. The Anointed One was a great college player and deserves the accolades, as long as no one dabs holy oil on the statues palms.
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