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| Articles about Nfl Draft |
| Defensive Ends for the 2009 NFL Draft | | 2008-07-03 20:49:09 | | Just looking at the seniors there is not a lot to get excited about at the defensive end position this year, but throw in the top three or four juniors and this class of pass rushers could be special indeed. Here is a quick look at some of the top pass rushing talent this year in college football.Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech:Many thought Johnson would declare for the 2008 NFL Draft, where the NFL Advisory panel gave him a third round grade. Johnson (6’ 6” 255 lbs.) is a freak of nature, in the Jevon Kearse mold. He hasn’t been as productive as what you would like to see from a size and speed stand point, recording only 5 sacks as a sophomore and 4 as a junior, but he is poised for a breakout season in 2008. Potential can get you only so far, now it's time to produce.Tyson Jackson, 6' 4" 290 lbs. LSU:I am not as high on Jackson as most. I lower a player’s draft grade when their production goes down for no good reason. Jackson is a fantastic talent though, he will be drafted hi | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | The 2008 NFL Draft: How the First Round Should Have Played Out | | 2008-05-28 09:47:48 | | The 2008 NFL Draft is over and many of the mock drafts that came before the draft ended up being somewhat inaccurate due to so many trades, but here is how this writer feels the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft should have came off in the first round.1. Miami Dolphins-Matt Ryan-QB-Boston College-(selected Jake Long, OT, Michigan). The Dolphins might have gotten more mileage out of Ryan for the long run as offensive tackles, at times, have a history of washing out in the NFL. Ryan could have given them a ton of options for the future. Long is still a good choice however and should be able to help the Dolphins immediately. John Beck is still unproven and Ryan would have been a good insurance policy.2. St. Louis Rams-Jake Long-OT-Michigan (selected Chris Long-DE-Virginia as Jake Long was picked by the Dolphins). The Rams have had a history of problems on offense but they could have used the help on the offensive line had Jake Long been available they would have most likely picked him. Or | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Grades: The AFC | | 2008-05-12 17:36:19 | | The 2008 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: THE AFC DRAFT REVIEWBy Rick Weaver: Carolina Panthers NFL ColumnistKANSAS CITY CHIEFS "A+"WINNERThe Kansas City Chiefs had multiple needs going into draft day and they had 13 picks to work with. Thanks to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings the Chiefs traded away pro-bowl defensive end Jared Allen and received the Vikings 1st round, 17th pick overall and they got both of the Vikings 3rd round picks, plus the teams swapped their draft positions in the 6th round. Allen was statistically the best defensive end in the NFL last year with 15 1/2 sacks while playing in only 14 games. Allen was one of the bright spots on a team that was reportedly "rebuilding" last season. Allen had made rumblings about being unhappy in Kansas City as he had "issues" with the team's management. The Chiefs already had an unhappy fan base after posting just 4 wins last season and trading their "best" player only made matters worse. If General Manager, Carl Peterson, was wanti | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
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| 2008 NFL Draft Grades | | 2008-05-05 10:21:35 | | Draft Winners and Losers (A Second Opinion)By Patrick LuoWinners:Kansas City Chiefs: (A+) Glenn Dorsey, Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam, DaJuan Morgan, William Franklin, Brandon Carry, Barry Richardson, Kevin Robinson, Brian Johnston, Mike MerrittIn terms of just the draft, they easily had the best one. If you consider the fact that they had to give up Jared Allen for a lot of the picks, not so much. But they still had the best draft. Getting the 2nd best defensive prospect (in my opinion), Glenn Dorsey, with the 5th pick is huge. They still addressed their offensive line issues with Branden Albert, easily the top guard in this draft class. They also drafted Barry Richardson from Clemson, great value for a 6th round pick. Cottam was a good pick in the 3rd, maybe a slight reach, but he’s still the best blocking tight end in the draft. DaJuan Morgan, arguably the 2nd best overall free safety in this draft, was a good value pick in the 3rd. Brandon Flowers w | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | Winners and Losers of the 2008 NFL Draft: NFC | | 2008-05-02 19:40:57 | | The rich got richer in the 2008 NFL Draft as many of the teams with the highest marks in my book were also teams that went deep into the playoffs in 2007 and look to be there again in 2008 with an infusion of NFL ready young talent. Here is how I graded out the NFC:The winners:Dallas Cowboys: A The Cowboys come up a winner in the 2008 draft in part because they obtained an additional 1st round pick from Cleveland for the acquisition of Brady Quinn last year. The Cowboys made the most of their fortune by grabbing a great complimentary back in Felix Jones even though Rashard Mendenhall was still on the board. I think Dallas went into this draft targeting Jones because he would be a great second punch after Marion Barber. Questions about Mendenhall being a 1 year wonder may have crept into the Cowboys’ mind as well. Mike Jenkins came into the offseason as the #1 corner in the draft and the Cowboys secured him in the late 1st round and addressed a position of need. Martellus Bennett may | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
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| 2008 NFL Draft - Quick Thoughts | | 2008-04-28 13:17:03 | |
Random thoughts from the weekend.
I watched almost the entire draft. It's harder to watch the draft buzzer to buzzer than it is not to. I really liked the 10 minute clock switch this year. More than in years past, I felt like I had an idea when a team was scrambling to make a trade, come to a consensus on one guy, or when they knew exactly who they wanted.
On that note, Denver got their man at pick 12. You had to feel good that Denver was able to pick their top guy of everyone that they could have hoped would be available. Clady, Williams, Albert, Stewart, and Mendenhall were all available at 12. Denver did their homework on this pick, and they seemed to pick fairly quickly, which tells me that they had no second thoughts about Ryan Clady. Anytime Coach Shanahan tells the media he's starting a rookie offensive lineman the same day he drafted him and guaranteed him $11 Million dollars, it's obvious that this is the most confident he | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Monday Morning Wrap-up! | | 2008-04-28 09:56:54 | |
Nothing says draft weekend like a morning in LaGuardia airport. I've been here 15 minutes and my flight is already being pushed backwards. If the new time is 12:15, would you take the over or under on being wheels up at 1:00?
Let's take a look at how the rest of the world is judging the Jaguars draft, shall we
: I don't give a lot of love to SI's Peter King, though he's done the best job in explaining the impact of trading for Matt Ryan on the rest of the NFL Draft. He also had this to say about the Jaguars Draft:
(Five things he thinks he might think when he thinks about the best drafts)
5. Jacksonville. I christen this draft the "We Are Desperate To Sack Peyton Manning and Will Sell Our Souls to Do So Draft." The Jags started the weekend with six picks in the top 150 of the draft. They exited the weekend with two players, and both are former SEC defensive ends -- Derrick Harvey of Florida and Quentin Groves of Auburn, picked at eight and 52, respectively. If yo | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Signs 7 Undrafted Free Agents | | 2008-04-28 01:52:05 | |
A quick introduction to some of the newest Broncos!
Anthony Alridge (WR - Houston) RB/WR Don't tell Anthony that he is a dreaded 'tweener. Reportedly responded to not being drafted by swearing vengeance on every team in the league, except for the Broncos of course, who nabbed him right up. Alridge is an electrifying player, a north south one-cut runner with a massive chip on his shoulder and experience at multiple positions. Should compete at KR/PR, but needs to bulk up a little to really push either of our current "change-up" specialists
K Garrett Hartley (Oklahoma) Denver is taking a flyer that Hartley will show the consistency and range he had his first three years, before inexplicably losing both his accuracy and some of his power. Hits into the endzone at about a 33% rate, and is(was) exceptionally accurate inside of 50 yds. Has enough power to hit longer ones and has gotten better about getting lift into his kicks, b | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | NFL Draft 2008 - Broncos Reloading Thoughts | | 2008-04-28 01:47:03 | |
Go easy on me, this is my first diary on MHR :)
First, a change in philosophy:When we won back to back Championships, we had a lot of high character guys - Rod & Easy Ed, Elway, Davis, Neil Smith, just about the entire offensive line, Steve Atwater, and, for all of his talking, Shannon Sharpe. For most of the post Superbowl Mike Shanahan era, it seems that as long as someone could play technically sound football, they had a place on our team. Character traits were overlooked for numbers (Dale Carter, Daryl Gardener, Travis Henry – though he seems to be making a good effort to turn it around). Guys with attitude problems were welcomed if they could put up the stats (Javon). Sure, we'd like the guys who were leaders and had high character, and we'd have them on the team, but it wasn't a priority compared to their play. As those guys left, we didn't replace them with enough outspoken high character players. We weren't prepared for the leadership vacuum last year when R | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects FB, Peyton Hillis | | 2008-04-28 00:15:40 | |
The final pick in a nine pick draft. KC will get a lot of credit for getting a lot of solid picks in this draft, but what else is to be expected of six picks on day one? Whe it comes right down to it, this pick for Denver is the "Mike Shanahan Approved" stamp that packages up this draft neatly and sends it off to training camp.
Shanny wants nothing more than to score TDs.
He knows he has the most important ingredient for success, a young QB with limitless talent and a drive to be the best. At this point it is all about building around Cutler. From LT to insurance on Henry to arguably the best center in the draft to a dynamic player who can single-handedly improve the Broncos starting field position by leaps and bounds, the Broncos are closer right now to scoring in the red zone than they were in over 25 trips insde the 20 last year.
FB is a bit of a misnomer as recent new member hooper recently pointed out:
Part of Hillis's job will be to protect Cutler.
Hil | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects SS, Josh Barrett | | 2008-04-27 23:51:51 | |
I'm not much for giving grades, but I would say that so far the draft has stacked up in the A-B range. But this pick is the first that I really want to like but just can't get too enthusiastic about.
Its a shame too, because like HT I really like the safety position and would love to see Denver take it very seriously.
First off, this is the second pick that seems more suitable to a cover-2 type of defense. I suppose if Denver feels like the Jack Williams pick and this pick can outlive Champ and Bly's stay in Denver that they migh find more value instituting a cover-2 scheme. But this is a question for HT to address. I would just like to look at some of the things I like about Barrett and some of the things that bother me.
I like that he is a safety that can play well in the box, since I'm with Shanny that you need one safety up to stop the run (especailly with our great man corners) and that will free you up to back him off later and get after the QB once the | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Undrafted Free-Agent Signings! | | 2008-04-27 22:31:07 | |
The Jaguars signed 14 undrafted free agents this evening:
Nevada WR Adam Bishop
Florida State DE Alex Boston
Tennessee TE Chris Brown
Arizona State WR Rudy Burgess
Maine FB Anthony Catrone
, Grambling WR Clyde Edwards
Maryland CB Isaiah Gardner
Arkansas CB Michael Grant
Houston WR Jeron Harvey
Vanderbilt DT Theo Horrocks
Florida G/C Drew Miller
Louisville LB Lamar Myles
Tulsa QB Paul Smith
Stillman CB Brian Witherspoon.
By the way, Tommy Blake, still unsigned. E:60 hurt him.
-Chris
| | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Bills Pick Recap | | 2008-04-27 20:46:32 | |
The 2008 NFL Draft is now officially in the books, and the Buffalo Bills were a busy team on draft weekend. Holding ten selections on the weekend, the Bills chose to stay pat and draft players at each of those ten spots. Here is a recap of those picks, with links to Buffalo Rumblings' coverage of each player:
Round - Overall: Name, Pos., College
1-11: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
2-41: James Hardy, WR, Indiana
3-72: Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech
4-114: Reggie Corner, CB, Akron
4-132: Derek Fine, TE, Kansas
5-147: Alvin Bowen, LB, Iowa State
6-179: Xavier Omon, RB, Northwest Missouri State
7-219: Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State
7-224: Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky
7-251: Kennard Cox, DB, Pittsburgh
As I mentioned earlier, I will post my initial thoughts on this weekend's Bills proceedings tomorrow morning - I need a night off for a little perspective. Expect that early tomorrow morning. For now, enjoy your evening. We'll see you back here tomorrow.&nb | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects ILB, Spencer Larsen | | 2008-04-27 18:51:34 | |
The first thing I did when I got ready to do this write-up on Larsen, was to go backand read everything I had on Wake Forest C, Steve Justice.
Say what?
I did that because I like the Larsen pick. He is a great ST addition who will be an immediate upgrade over many of our veteran journeymen who currently under-occupy the positions, and unlike them, he will have something to prove. Plus, I like the idea that we can challenge K2 without making a huge vote of "no confidence" in him, as a Lofton pick may have done. We are paying him after all.
My reasoning for looking at Justice, is that of all the players still on the board who stood to be gone by the time denver selected again, he was the one who I had always assumed would be a solid choice for Denver. The question wasn't whether he should have been selected instead of Larsen, but whether we should have passed on K-Lic (if you guys want me to stop using this nick for him, you better suggest something fast, | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Final Thoughts Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 17:55:33 | |
It's over.
The 2008 NFL Draft is behind us, trailing away in the rear view mirror as we run (slowly) toward the 2008 regular season. We know more now about the Jaguars than we did a week ago, and I'll be the first to say that it's impossible to know how these things will play out.
The only prospect that I previewed to end up on the Jaguars was Quentin Groves, a player that I very much like. Trevor Laws, Red Bryant, Jason Jones, Brian Johnston and Tom Z were all drafted. Tommy Blake, despite my hopes, was not drafted.
Jacksonville ended up making five picks, four went to the defense. We reshaped our defensive line with two explosive pass-rushers, and were largely idle during the rest of the draft.
I'm meeting up with some family in New York City for the evening, consider this an open thread to discuss the NFL Draft, the Jaguars, the failure of the Jaguars.com website, and anything else football related.
-Chris
Poll
Grade the draft | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects DT, Carlton Powell | | 2008-04-27 17:52:59 | |
Regardless of how you rank our offseason needs, there is no doubt we had three critical issues to this teams success:
Score TDs in the redzone
Stop the run
Improve STs
As I peruse our 2008 draft class, I see just how deeply complex football is, as on the surface we seem to putting a lot of effort into #3 above, when I would probably rate it as a distant second to #2. But that is where the complexity lies. By addressing 3 you indirectly optimize 1 which in turn has an effect on 2 which improves 3 which...
I think you get the point.
And not to be overlooked in the drafting or non-drafting of a DT is the fundamentally flawed stature of this years DT class. Outside of Ellis and Dorsey (who I wil leave out of the discussion from here on out) there simply wasn't anyone that I felt the Bronco's absolutely must get. I have looked at more DTs this year than in any year of the draft, and I have extensie notes on 27 (!!!) DTs alone, making up almost a fifth | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects RB Ryan Torain | | 2008-04-27 17:11:16 | |
Denver's most recent late round RB selection seems to be getting a bit of a cold shoulder from the faithful.
For shame.
If you have learned anyhting about these Denver Broncos it is that they don't mess up the RB picks. I could very easily file this one away under success without pulling out my notes to corroborate what they are doing here, but I enjoy checking up on the Broncos, so it is my pleasure to introduce you to the newest 1000 yd rusher for the Broncos.
But first, let's get something out of the way. We all get a little too caught up in "this guy should go here" and "that guy should go there". Here is a mental exercise: take all of the currently active NFL players and throw them in a pot and then draw lots and draft to build a team (not a fantasy team here, guys. An actual team.) There will be a top fifty or so (around 3 rds) that everyone will be vying for. But after that, the players you want will differ drastically from the player | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars Select Running Back Chauncey Washington | | 2008-04-27 16:26:24 | |
With the Jaguars final pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected USC Running Back Chauncey Washington. Jack Del Rio must feel bad for all the UCLA players he's selected early in previous drafts, so he'll make up for it by taking some depth players late.
Chauncey was part of a fleet of running backs used by USC in the post-Bush era. In 31 games he started 15 of them, with over 1700 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a 4.8 yards per carry average. He's a classic "north-south" runner that can get first downs and critical yardage.
Jacksonville needs to start thinking about what happens at Running Back after Fred Taylor. Because of the Derrick Harvey trade, they did not have the third round picks to go after someone like Kevin Smith. Chauncey, as far as I know, is not the future starting running back, rather he'll be a role guy to build and develop. While I'm not going to completely hate on the guy, he's described as someone wh | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Denver Selects CB Jack Williams | | 2008-04-27 16:19:47 | |
You don't know Jack.
And it is fairly debatable about whether you want to or not.
First, let's get the obvious out of the way. The guy is too small. At 5' 9" (generously) he comes to a team that won't draft elite safety help if their lives depended on it, and is guaranteed to be mismatched 9 times out of 10 in one on one coverages. I love D-Will, but I remember him being burned a lot in one on one scenarios against precise passers. He was at his best when the opposing QB was screwing up, where his tenaciousness made teams pay for their mistakes.
Which is something you see in J-Will as well. Tenaciousness. Fire. Competitiveness. You WILL see him in the mix at KR/PR. You WILL see him fly down the field with some of the best timed speed in the draft. You WILL see his willingness to work and his great team attitude. You WILL see a combination of strength and speed that is rare in a CB. And you WILL see a playe | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | Bills' Seventh Round Picks in NFL Draft | | 2008-04-27 16:16:26 | |
The Buffalo Bills will close out their participation in the 2008 NFL Draft with three selections in the seventh round. Those selections are...
7-219: Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State- We knew coming into the day that the Bills would try to target an offensive lineman who can play guard and tackle; a "swing" lineman, if you will. At 6'5" and 303 pounds, Bell is that type of lineman. He's only got three years of experience in football, but he's a big kid with a load of potential. In the seventh round, a developmental project with as much upside as Bell has is about all you can hope for. This is a strong pick for the Bills.
7-224: Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky- I really, really like this pick. Johnson is a productive receiver coming out of the SEC, and at 6'2", 210 pounds and with 4.55 speed, he has the ability to be an underrated slot receiver at the NFL level. He's not quick or explosive, but he's a smooth player who scored 13 touchdowns | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft -- Broncos Select C, Korey Lichtensteiger | | 2008-04-27 15:49:52 | |
I didn't see this coming but I definitely love this pick.
This is another nasty Olineman with good instincts and versatility, and what really excites me is what he can bring to Denver's running game down the line: as a guard he had 184 knockdowns, 27 resulting in TDs. That's what I'm talking about.
When you factor in his effortless move to center, where he graded the highest among NCAA centers for his blocking (92 knockdowns in first year, 10 for TDs), you can understand why he was the highest ranked center going into 2007, but that leads you to ask: Why didn't he stay at the top?
He began 2007 by recording 96 knockdowns, and 16 were for TDs, and he did this through only nine games. He also added 6 other knockdowns that resulted in big plays (over 25 yards) and gave up only 1 sack through that time period. But unbeknownst to him he was playing through pain that would ultimately prove to be a torn labrum, which was repaired via arthroscopic surgery, but | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Day 2 Overflow Thread #2 | | 2008-04-27 14:50:19 | |
Fun day so far. Here's a quick recap of Miami's day 2 picks so far:
#66: Hampton DE Kendall Langford#110: Utah St. G Shawn Murphy#176: Toledo RB Jalen Parmele
A little info about Parmele. He measures in at 5'11, 224 lbs. He has decent speed for his size, running a 4.47 40. However, he reportedly plays slower than his timed speed. But he's a tough, physical inside runner who can pick up those short yards. Seems like a solid, "Parcells-esque" pick.
I'm running out to do a favor for some people, so I won't be by the computer for the remaining picks. Much more on all of this weekend's events in the coming days and weeks. Should be a lot of fun breaking this thing down.
**UPDATE 5:03pm** With the #195 pick, the Dolphins take UCONN guard Donald Thomas. So that makes 2 second-day guards taken. Thomas is 6'3, 303. He's got good quickness for a guard, but seems like a bit of a project. His technique needs work and some | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Selects Thomas Williams, Linebacker, USC | | 2008-04-27 13:46:02 | |
With the Dallas Cowboys trading up in the 5th round, the Jaguars now pick at 155. WIth this as our first pick in the second day of the draft, it's important that we get at least a little value.
That said, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected linebacker Thomas Williams from the University of Southern California. If anyone knows how to identify a linebacker, its Del Rio. Our history of finding talented linebackers deep in the draft is well known
About Thomas Williams :
Never one to complain about his playing time, Williams went about filling any role the coaches asked. In addition to being a stellar performer on the coverage units, the instinctive player started at three different positions, including competing on both sides of the ball as a junior. In 49 games at Southern California, he started at strong-side linebacker for eight games as a sophomore, at fullback for two contests as a junior and as a middle linebacker for four games as a senior.
Compar | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft 5th Round Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 12:45:46 | |
Here we go, we have two picks in this round. Who are we taking?
1.(136) Detroit Lions - WR Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest
2.(137) Minnesota Vikings - QB John David Booty, Southern Cal
3.(138) Atlanta Falcons - OLB Robert James, Arizona State
4.(139) Denver Broncos - RB Ryan Torian, Arizona State
5.(140) Kansas City Chiefs - CB Brandon Carr, Grand Valley State
6.(141) Carolina Panthers - TE Gary Barnidge, Louisville
7.(142) Chicago Bears - CB Zackary Bowman, Nebraska
8.(143) Dallas Cowboys - CB Orlando Scandrick, Boise State
9.(144) New Orleans Saints - DT DeMario Pressley, North Carolina State
10.(145) Cincinnati Bengals - DT Jason Shirley, Fresno State
11.(146) Detroit Lions - FB Jerome Felton, Furman
12.(147) Buffalo Bills - OLB Alvin Bowen, Iowa State
13.(148) Denver Broncos - DT Carlton Powell, Virginia Tech
14.(149) Arizona Cardinals - RB Tim Hightower, Richmond
15.(150) Green Bay Packers - OT Breno Giacomini, Louisville
16.(151) Houston Texans - DT Frank Okam, Texas
1 | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | | 2008 NFL Draft: Day 2 Overflow Thread | | 2008-04-27 11:47:56 | |
So here's what has happened today:
-Dolphins take Hampton DE Kendall Langford at #66.
-Dolphins move up to take Utah St. guard Shawn Murphy. NFL.com compares him to Justin Smiley. He's an older prospect, though, as he was on a Morman mission. NFL.com says about the pick:
The Dolphins traded up to get Murphy. This is a good, solid pick at this point in the draft. He's versatile on the offensive line. Murphy is mature and has great size. In Miami, they are going to want to pound the ball and he is not only strong but tough, smart and can change direction. He could be in the league a long time.
-Remaining picks in this draft as of right now: #176, #195, #204, #245
We'll have much, much more on this weekend's events in the coming days and weeks.
**UPDATE 1:46pm** Interesting little nugget by Ethan Skolnick in his blog :
The Ronnie Brown question I can answer.
He's in much better shape, from what I'm hearing, than he was last year at this time. And I heard a m | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | The Good, The Bad, and the Shocking in the 2008 NFL Draft | | 2008-04-27 11:03:43 | | The NFL Draft continues as day two is upon us. Day one was filled with a lot of trades, some great picks, and some shocks. Here is a quick rundown of the good, bad, and downright shocking of day one of the NFL Draft.
The Good:
The Chiefs - Herm Edwards has to be thrilled with the [...] | | By: NFL GridIron Gab | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft 4th Round Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 10:59:32 | |
Finally, another selection for the Broncos. The Broncos make 2 picks in the 4th round....Talk about them here....
1.(100) Oakland Raiders - CB Tyvon Branch, Connecticut
2.(101) St. Louis Rams - CB Justin King, Penn State
3.(102) Green Bay Packers- DE Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest
4.(103) Tennessee Titans - DE William Hayes, Winston-Salem State
5.(104) Cleveland Browns - OLB Beau Bell, UNLV
6.(105) Kansas City Chiefs - WR Will Franklin, Missouri
7.(106) Baltimore Ravens - WR Marcus Smith, New Mexico
8.(107) San Francisco 49ers - OL Cody Wallace, Texas A&M
9.(108) Denver Broncos - OG Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green
10.(109) Philadelphia Eagles - OT Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh
11.(110) Miami Dolphins - OT Shawn Murphy, Utah State
12.(111) Cleveland Browns - TE Martin Rucker, Missouri
13.(112) Cincinnati Bengals - OT Anthony Collins, Kansas
14.(113) New York Jets - CB Dwight Lowery, San Jose State
15.(114) Buffalo Bills - CB Reggie Corner, Akron
16.(115) Tampa Bay Bucs - | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | Bills Select DE Ellis in Third Round of NFL Draft | | 2008-04-27 09:29:23 | |
Ellis figures in as #4 DE as rookie (Photo Source)
With the seventy-second overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Virginia tech defensive end Chris Ellis.
After spending the early part of their free agency period upgrading the interior of their defensive line with the additions of tackles Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson, the Bills have added another piece to their defensive line in the form of Ellis, whose strength is as a speed rusher. Ellis immediately becomes the #4 defensive end for the Bills, effectively replacing Anthony Hargrove, an unrestricted free agent who stood no chance of being re-signed by the Bills after failing a drug test, leading to another suspension.
Ellis measures up at 6'4" and 263 pounds, and ran a 4.71-second 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. That 4.71 speed will serve him well as a rookie, and he has the frame to get bigger. That likely won't happen in Buffalo, where smaller ends are preferred, but his p | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Round 3 Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 09:05:49 | |
I am going to be running around New York today so use this as the official Open Thread for the 3rd Round. As it stands, the Broncos don't have a pick in the 3rd round, but with 7 picks remaining the ammo is there to make a move.
Awesome job by EVERYONE yesterday, proving once again that MileHighReport.com is the best fan site out there! Enjoy Round 3!
1.(64) Detroit Lions - RB Kevin Smith, Central Florida
2.(65) St. Louis Rams - OT John Greco, Toledo
3.(66) Miami Dolphins - DT Kendall Langford, Hampton
4.(67) Carolina Panthers - CB Charles Godfrey, Iowa
5.(68) Atlanta Falcons - CB Chevis Jackson, LSU
6.(69) San Diego Chargers - FB Jacob Hester, LSU
7.(70) Chicago Bears - WR Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
8.(71) Baltimore Ravens - OLB Tavares Gooden, Miami
9.(72) Buffalo Bills - DE Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech
10.(73) Kansas City Chiefs - RB Jamaal Charles, Texas
11.(74) Carolina Panthers - OLB Dan Connor, Penn State
12.(75) San Francisco 49ers - DB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
| | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: 2nd Day Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 08:38:10 | |
We've got a couple of rounds before the Jaguars pick again and I've got some Radio City adventures in my future before I can toss up the "live blog".
Use this for draft talk, speculation, rumors, and ideas for what the heck we should do with two fifth round picks!
Don't Forget, visit Alligator Army and Track em' Tigers , our Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers blogs!
-C
| | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Day 2 Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 08:30:01 | |
Day 2
After a fun, but exhausting day yesterday, we are back for day 2, which begins at 10 am EDT. Still some very good players available and it sure would be good for the Dolphins, for once, to uncover a "hidden gem" here in the later rounds. This is where great teams are made and solid depth is found.
I won't go on and list all the players I would like to see taken, but here are a few I wouldn't mind Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland selecting here on day 2:
-RBs - Kevin Smith, Jamaal Charles, Tashard Choice-WRs - Mario Manningham, Andre Caldwell, Earl Bennett, Early Doucet-OLs - Jeremy Zuttah, Carl Nicks, Roy Schuening, Anthony Collins, John Greco-DLs - Red Bryant, Pat Sims, Frank Okam-LBs - Beau Bell, Dan Connor, Cliff Avril, Tavares Gooden, Shawn Crable-DBs - Reggie Smith, Charles Godfrey, Justin King, DaJuan Morgan, Antwaun Molden, Josh Barrett, Tyvon Branch
As you can see, some very good players are still on the board.
**UPDATE 9:51 am** The Dolphins have traded pic | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | NFL Draft: Round Three Open Thread | | 2008-04-27 08:28:19 | |
Welcome to Day Two of Buffalo Rumblings' coverage of the 2008 NFL Draft! This is going to be a short post that will serve as the open thread for the very early portion of Round 3. The Miami Dolphins start today's picking process off with pick #64, and the Bills are scheduled to pick at #72, so we should not have to wait long for Buffalo's next selection.
So this will be a short one. Give us a shout out if you're here for day two!
| | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft - Grade The Broncos Two First Picks | | 2008-04-26 22:45:21 | |
Before the draft I expressed my deisre for the Broncos to trade down. I kept hope alive all the way until Roger Goodell said Ryan Clady's name. It isn't that don't like Clady. Just the opposite. On MHR Radio the other night, I called Clady the safest pick for the Broncos if he was there, and by the sounds of Mike Shahahan he thought the same thing.
There were plenty of trades, which speaks to the sheer fluidity of this draft. That doesn't mean it is easy to get a deal done. It was becoming clear with all the movement around the Broncos that they weren't going to be able to get something done. At that point the Broncos had no choice but to punt and take the best fit.
Clady gives the Broncos something on the O-Line they haven't had in a long time. Natural, God-given talent. The Broncos have gotten so much out of guys drafted in the late round, so much over-achievement, that at some point you need to add real talent to the equation. | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars select Quentin Groves | | 2008-04-26 21:42:47 | |
There he is, Quentin Groves, the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 52nd overall pick. The Jaguars traded a fifth round pick from the 2008 draft and a 2009 7th round pick to move up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quentin Groves, as I previewed here, is a pass rushing defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid known for his speed on the edge.
Jacksonville, in two picks, as made Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Vince Young soil themselves as the team who could not bring the heat now as two of the top pass rushers in the draft are now in the Teal and Black. Sure, it was expensive to get the two of them. The Jaguars now have two 5th round picks to round out their draft. While I don't think the move reeks of desperation, the Jaguars must believe that these two players will be home runs. If any team learned from the New York Giants, it's the Jaguars who can now field a diverse range of defensive linemen, the scrappy Derek Landri, the monster of John Henderson, | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft - Denver Selects WR, Eddie Royal | | 2008-04-26 20:39:39 | |
This pick is primarily about one thing, and that is CHARACTER.
And even though Royal's skillset will probably make him a good choice to replace Stokely eventually in the slot, I will go out on a limb here and say that Royal could really be in line to replace a much different kind of receiver, with a much different style of play, but similar results: Rod Smith.
You see, Royal gets it, and what the Denver staff must have seen from him is the same kind of maturity that they have seen in guys like Smith, and Foxworth. More than anything, Denver just wants to get some players on this team that they can DEPEND on, and nothing is a better indicator of that than character.
As far as his style on the field, slot routes are ideal for Royal, and any kind of route that lets him look for the soft spot between the defenders. While he does have a tendency to round off his routes, he shows the quickness in and out of breaks, and he doesn't telegraph his motions, which are muc | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft - Broncos WR Eddie Royal Conference Call | | 2008-04-26 19:48:27 | |
On knowing the Broncos were interested in him
“I had an idea. I spoke with them at the Senior Bowl, but I was totally shocked when I was picked. I got the call from [Head] Coach [Mike] Shanahan, and I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
On his ability to return kicks
“I definitely feel like I can come in and be that guy. I can come in and make plays on special teams and be a guy that teams are scared to kick the ball to. I definitely look forward to doing that and making an impact right away.”
On if he prefers returning punts or kickoffs
“It doesn’t matter. I feel comfortable doing both. I have had more success on punt returns, but I love doing them both. If it involves catching the ball and making plays for my team, I’ll do it.”
On making an immediate impact with the Broncos
“I’m hoping they need me a lot because I want to come in right away and play. At the opening game, I look to be the sta | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Overflow Thread #2 | | 2008-04-26 18:41:20 | |
This day keeps getting more and more interesting. Quick recap:
-Dolphins take Clemson DE Phillip Merling at #32.
-Lorenzo Booker traded to Eagles for their 4th round pick.
-Jason Taylor "might" be on his way to Tampa Bay in return for at least Tampa's 2nd rounder.
Full draft thoughts on today's events and tomorrow's events to come all week next week.
**UPDATE 8:11pm** The Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the Dolphins have indeed traded Jason Taylor to the Bucs. However, it's not know what Miami gets in return.
**UPDATE 8:36pm** It seems this report about a trade isn't accurate or, if it is, it's not for a 2nd round pick. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have drafted Michigan QB Chad Henne with the 57th overall pick. I guess you can never have too many QBs. And competition at every position is a good thing. John Beck and Josh McCown now have another competitor and it will make for a fun training camp.
**UPDATE 9:10pm** Well it's been a fun day. But I'm | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | WR Hardy is Bills' Choice in Round Two of NFL Draft | | 2008-04-26 18:14:19 | |
Hardy should start next to Evans as rookie (Photo Source)
With the fourty-first overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Indiana wide receiver James Hardy. After passing on a receiver in round one in order to select CB Leodis McKelvin, the Bills were lucky to see no wide receivers taken in the first round, and the team had their pick of Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly and Hardy at this point.
Ultimately, the Bills' choice was Hardy, who at 6'6" provides precisely the big-bodied target that the Bills coveted. Even at such height, Hardy pumped out a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, proving his athleticism. Hardy is arguably the best red zone threat in the entire draft, and immediately gives young QB Trent Edwards a possession and red zone threat with the potential to be a vertical nightmare as well. Hardy is a matchup nightmare, and although he has some documented character concerns, they were not enough to deter the Bills fr | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft, Broncos OT Ryan Clady Conference Call | | 2008-04-26 17:45:52 | |
On whether he expected the Broncos to select him
“Yeah, I knew the Broncos were interested in picking me up. I thought there was a good chance, and I wasn’t all that surprised when they called.”
On his expectations as a rookie
“Right away, I just want to learn the system. I want to play well and I want to be a starter. Everyone wants to be a Pro-Bowler and to win a couple Super Bowls.”
On being taken by the Broncos in the first round of the draft
“I came in and I visited. Being drafted in the first round is a terrific thing, and I should be able to make an immediate impact right away.”
On the Broncos’ blocking system being similar to what he played in at Boise State
“I think it will help me a lot. It is the same type of system and I have been in the system for four years, and I have gotten to know it well. I am on the fast track for learning and getting on the field a little faster because I know t | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | The 2008 NFL Draft Day Open Thread -- 2nd Round | | 2008-04-26 17:42:46 | |
Time for the 2nd Round. What will the Broncos do at #42??
#32 Miami Dolphins -- DE Phillip Merling, Clemson Concerns about Merling's recovery from a sports hernia surgery dropped the talented ACC pass rusher out of the first round. With the first pick of the second round, however, the Dolphins added a big, physical defensive lineman that projects nicely outside to end in the 3-4 alignment.
#33 St Louis Rams -- WR Donnie Avery, Houston Someone could have made a lot of money in betting that Donnie Avery would end up being the first receiver taken in the 2008 draft. Avery lacks the big name of some of the other highly rated receivers, but his stock has been skyrocketing in recent weeks and he fills a clear need as a slot receiver and returner for the Rams.
#34 Washington Redskins -- WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State Once Jim Zorn was hired as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins, it was clear that the club would be adding taller receivers soon. The Redski | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | | The 2008 NFL Draft Day Open Thread -- 1st Round(21-31) | | 2008-04-26 16:24:48 | |
Two-Thirds of the way through the draft. Is it me, or are we flying through the First Round???
#21 Atlanta Falcons -- OT Sam Baker -- Another trade, another surprise. I felt that Baker would be available early in the 2nd round, but it's obvious the Falcons didn't agree. The Falcons need help on the O-line if new quarterback Matt Ryan is to stay alive.
#22 Dallas Cowboys -- RB Felix Jones -- Jerah Jones went to Arkansas, Felix Jones went to Arkansas. How cute is that. Seriously, Jones provides a worthy replacement to Julius Jones and much needed insurance for Marion Barber III.
#23 Pittsburgh Steelers -- RB Rashard Mendenhall -- What a pick for the Steelers. Great value for Mendehhall, who slips all the way to 23. With Willie Parker already there Mendenhall won't have to come right in and perform. A perfect situation for him and the Steelers.
#24 Tennessee Titans - RB Chris Johnson -- That is a shock. an absolute shock. | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | | 2008 NFL Draft Overflow Thread | | 2008-04-26 16:12:17 | |
It's been an interesting draft so far. Lots to talk about, and we haven't even had any Dolphins news yet. So be sure to continue talking about it below in the "live-updating" comments.
As for the Top 15 Challenge we had going, the final standings were:
Finnatic - 13 points13FinsFan - 13 pointsYatilGinnJr - 10 pointsYorke Hunt - 9 pointsboss302 - 9 pointsNumber Seven - 9 pointsMatty I - 8 pointsNatalya - 8 points
Congrats to "Finnatic" and "13FinsFan" for tying in 1st place.
Things are going to be getting more interesting. So be sure to get involved below!
**UPDATE 6:57pm** First off, here's what we know. The Dolphins have drafted Phillip Merling, out of Clemson, with their #32 pick. Merling was thought to be a first round prospect, but fell after suffering from a "sports hernia," limiting his pre-draft workouts. He did say, though, in a conference call that he could practice next week if he had to. So his health shouldn't be a problem. | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars select Derrick Harvey | | 2008-04-26 15:25:04 | |
In what can only be described as a huge turn of events, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected University of Florida Defensive End Derrick Harvey. The Jaguars traded their 1st, two 3rd, and a 4th rounder to trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore needed to go backwards in order to find a quarterback after the Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Ryan with the 3rd pick.
One word Wow.
I had no idea this was coming. None whatsoever. The Jaguars, in my opinion, did not have the picks to move up any higher than 17. Were it not for Matt Ryan going to Atlanta, this series of events would never happen.
Matt Miller of New Era Scouting gives this analysis:
Harvey was the best defensive end in football during the 2006 season. He wasn't as amazing in 2007, having lost three fellow starters on the line. He's a hard charging rush end, but has strength to stand up against the run. He was our #15 player, but has the potential to be an immediate impact Pro Bowl type pass rusher.
| | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | The 2008 NFL Draft Day Open Thread -- 1st Round(11-20) | | 2008-04-26 15:16:46 | |
Welcome Back! The Broncos are only 1 pick away and every one of the OL's are still on the board. TRADE DOWN!!!
#11 Buffalo Bills -- CB Leodis McKelvin -- The Bills undoubtedly tried to move down. Reaching for a WR here would have been a huge reach so the Bills made the wise move taking the best DB on the board. Remember, the Bills play against Tom Brady twice a year. Nice move for the Bills.
ON THE CLOCK -- THE DENVER BRONCOS!
#12 Denver Broncos -- OT Ryan Clady -- I guess we had to know this pick was coming when all these linemen fell. Clady and the Broncos have been connected at the hip during this entire process. I said on MHR Radio that O-Line would be the safe pick. It turned out that the Broncos decided to stay safe. Styg50 will have his thoughts ASAP.
#13 Carolina Panthers -- RB Jonathon Stewart -- The Panthers waste no time taking the card with Stewart's name to the commish. Stewart has question | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | Bills Select CB McKelvin in Round One of NFL Draft | | 2008-04-26 15:14:21 | |
Troy alum should start at CB in Buffalo (Photo Source)
With the eleventh overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin. The small-school product with big-time potential was reportedly the top player on their board, and fills an immediate need at cornerback.
We can now report that McKelvin was the top player available on Buffalo's board, which was finalized this week. The team did consider other options at one point earlier this week, but ultimately, McKelvin was "their guy" all along. Had McKelvin been gone, the team would have targeted a trade down, with selecting WR Devin Thomas atop the priority list.
The McKelvin SkinnyMcKelvin is widely regarded as the top cornerback available this year and comes from a Troy program that has produced such NFL stars as Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware. McKelvin is a pro-ready corner that is a solid tackler, has good size, outstanding leadership skills and instincts, and is a | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | It's Here!! The 2008 NFL Draft Day Open Thread -- 1st Round(1-10) | | 2008-04-26 12:47:06 | |
(1:15 PM est) - Welcome to the 2008 NFL Draft Open Thread! After weeks and weeks of talking about it, writing about it, commenting about it, losing sleep over it, the day is finally here. Can the Broncos continue a decent trend of solid draft picks? Will Kansas City use the bounty they received in the Jared Allen trade to immediately improve? Can the Raiders finad a way to screw up another draft?? We'll find out in a little over 90 minutes.
MileHighReport has you covered today, from Jake Long to Mr. Irrelevent. Be here all day to talk about everyt pick and enjoy the Auto-Refreshing Comments! Get involved by posting your thought in the FanPosts or FanShots. New to the site? Sign up, Sign In, and GET INVOLVED!!!
(1:30 PM est) - Some team may have forgotten the start time is 3 hours later this year. It already appears the Top 4 picks are set, though some of it may be a smoke screen. As of now, here is what we are hearing -
#1 - | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | | 2008 NFL Draft Open Thread | | 2008-04-26 10:30:06 | |
AND IT'S FINALLY HERE!
The 2008 NFL Draft is finally here. After months of speculation and debate, the time for teams to take action is now. And while the intrigue of the Dolphins' #1 overall pick has been killed thanks to the pre-draft signing of Jake Long by the Dolphins, there are still plenty of things to watch as this weekend unfolds.
So what will I specifically be looking for on day one of the draft? I'll be very interested in seeing if the Dolphins do draft a QB at any point on this first day. I don't think they will. And if they do indeed pass on a QB, does that mean this new regime is giving John Beck a vote of confidence? Of course, I'll also be interested in seeing if this regime can indeed swing a deal for another 1st or 2nd round pick by shipping Jason Taylor out of Miami.
Speaking of the Jason Taylor saga, Armando Salguero is at it again. Apparently he has sources nobody else does, writing that he knows for a fact that Taylor | | By: The Phinsider | | |
| | NFL Draft Day 2008 at Buffalo Rumblings | | 2008-04-26 09:41:47 | |
2008 NFL Draft: 3PM ET, ESPN/NFLN
To create an account and join in today's discussions, set up an SB Nation account and migrate your old Buffalo Rumblings account.
Welcome to Buffalo Rumblings' coverage of the 2008 NFL Draft! Buffalo Rumblings is your one-stop shop for all things Buffalo Bills, and today, we'll honor that billing. This year's draft is an incredibly important one for the playoff-starved Bills, so we'll be watching anxiously and keeping the conversations rolling all day and tomorrow.
So grab your favorite beverages (or grab several). Grill up some grub, find your most comfortable piece of furniture, and get your computer as close to the television as possible. The NFL Draft starts at 3:00 PM Eastern, and for all of the draft news pertaining to the Buffalo Bills, you've come to the right place. Enjoy yourselves at Buffalo Rumblings today!
Here's what you can expect to see as far as Bills coverage goes, and also some suggestions if you feel like adding worthwhile | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | NFL Draft JabberOrama | | 2008-04-26 05:49:50 | | The day is here. Put the mock drafts to bed. Leave the back peddling on why he was way off on the pick to Mel Kiper Jr. now. This morning we bring the link dump of link dumps for the morning of the draft. You have some extra time to kill [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | What's the fuss over the NFL draft? | | 2008-04-26 00:43:00 | | Well, today, Saturday, is NFL Draft Day. Like the Super Bowl, the NFL's draft has become somewhat of a national holiday — for football fans.The coverage of the draft lasts almost all day on ESPN. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get it. The draft itself, where teams announce who they're picking, doesn't yield all that much excitement anyway.The player's name is called, the crowd usually lets out boos, the player comes to the podium, puts on a hat of his new team, the player and team officials smile for the camera ... and that's it. But the commentators spend the rest of the time dissecting the players, their abilities, etc., as if these guys are about the assume the Presidency of the United States of America.Then again, I'm not much of a football fan. Perhaps if I were more of a fan, I'd understand it better.So to all the football fans out there, Happy NFL Draft Day. I hope you get the players you've been longing for. | | By: The Hudson Line Blog | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Primer #5 - The Jets Debacles | | 2008-04-25 17:30:40 | |
Coming at you live from New York City! What better way to celebrate my arrival than to look back at some of the greatest draft day screw-ups in history, all attributed to one team, the "home" team of the draft, the New York Jets. Enjoy this trip down memory lane! --
| | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Primer #4 - A Brief History Of Pick #42 | | 2008-04-25 12:20:42 | |
Denver’s second-round choice in the 2008 NFL Draft comes at No. 42, a position it has selected at three times in club history. Most notably, the Broncos in 1980 selected Utah State DE Rulon Jones at that spot.Jones went on to play 129 career games (100 starts) for Denver from 1980-88 and earned Pro Bowl honors for the club in consecutive years from 1985-86. He also started on Broncos teams that advanced to Super Bowl XXI in 1986 and XXII in 1987.BRONCOS ALL-TIME DRAFT CHOICES AT NO. 42 OVERALLYear Player Pos. School1981 Clay Brown | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | Strategies for the 2008 NFL Draft (Part two) | | 2008-04-24 21:59:58 | | This is the second part of my "Strategies for the 2008 NFL Draft" covering the bottom half of the first round, picks 17-32. To check out picks 1-16 click here.The bottom half of the first round is more difficult to devise a draft strategy for. Not only do player evaluations fluctuate more when you get to these picks, but the teams are generally more talented and their needs aren't always as obvious. Some of the better teams even totally disregard team needs and stick to the best player available theme, like last year the Cowboys drafted OLB/DE Anthony Spencer and arguably linebacker was their strongest position. They drafted Spencer for the future, forecasting Greg Ellis retiring in a couple years. As it turns out, they probably should have drafted a cornerback.Also, as a fan, try not to get overly fixated to the first round, some of these teams have multiple picks in the later rounds and in this draft especially, some fantastic talent at receiver and running back will be found in the | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/24/08 | | 2008-04-24 06:59:00 | | The Rams are on the clock. Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long would look good here (or a trade to New Orleans). The Rams would like to start negotiating but the league says notta.
“They cannot (negotiate),” a league official told the Post-Dispatch via e-mail Wednesday afternoon. “That has been our policy. Only the [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | Strategies for the 2008 NFL Draft (Part one) | | 2008-04-23 12:21:27 | | The 2008 NFL Draft is coming up in a couple days and many die hard NFL fans like to try and figure out which college prospect is going to be selected by which NFL team.People that don't "get it" have asked me time and time again, "what's the big deal?" or "Why do we do it?" Well, because it's fun, we can play general manager, plan strategy, evaluate college prospects and talk about NFL team needs and probable picks around the water cooler at work. The real hardcore draftniks can even come up with their own Mock Drafts and compare them after the draft with the experts like ESPN. But what's especially cool is that most of the so called "expert mock Drafts" are really no more accurate than the casual fan doing one at home.The so called experts seem to think they get inside information from NFL personnel directors, scouts, general managers, and yes even coaches and owners, but in reality, if they do get information, it is usually mis-information. Why would an NFL team give a reporter a sc | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/21/08 | | 2008-04-21 06:11:04 | | Contra Costa Times has the Raiders Top 5 Draft needs. But as everyone knows, this means nothing to Al Davis.
Mel Kiper Jr. and Mike Mayock admit that their mock drafts focus on need and not teams reaching for the player they want. This explains Kiper’s back peddling on draft day.
“I think we get [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/18/08 | | 2008-04-18 07:01:44 | | CBSSportsline.com has up a RB preview for you to sink your chompers into. Looks like we can see some quality backs slipping in this draft.
“I don’t know if there are a ton of teams in the league that have a first-round need at running back,” one NFC personnel director said. “So that will [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/16/08 | | 2008-04-16 07:02:06 | | “The Law of Colston” dictates that you must look at small school sleepers as the NFL Draft approaches. SportsIllustrated.CNN.com will assist you in your studies.
FoxSports.com has their NFL Pre-Draft Defensive Awards posted.
Pro Football Talk has their latest Mock Draft posted.
We do too.
The biggest voice of a little guy in NFL media, Adam Schien, [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Jabber 4/14/08 | | 2008-04-14 06:35:43 | | Thomas George at NFL.com doesn’t hold back when stating the good and bad on DeSean Jackson…
“The bad: A me-guy. Selfish. Not a good teammate. Not a coachable player. Too many questionable influences hanging around him and a hard time letting them go.”
FoxSports.com are giving out their pre-draft Offensive Awards.
Calais Campbell talks about the ups and [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/12/08 | | 2008-04-12 07:46:50 | | In The Fanhouse Mock Draft, David J. Warner has the Bucs taking Mike Jenkins at #20. I discussed CB in the Bucs draft with the guys at WhattheBuc.net last week and we agreed that you do not need to take a CB at pick #20 when the guy is going to be playing in [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | With the 19th Pick In The MHR Mock NFL Draft.... | | 2008-04-10 19:00:02 | | The Kansas City Chiefs, managed by jonnyr44, select.... BRANDEN ALBERT, OG - VIRGINIA G.M. - jonnyr44 -- A dream scenario for Kansas City has occurred. W/ no one available at #5 who they wanted to pay the money, trading down and picking up Lito Sheppard and an add'l 5th round pick was great. Had KC not traded down, I very well might have selected Albert at #5, only now we get to pay him like a late teen pick, and not top 5. Holy hell, this is how you work the draft people. Instead of getting one player at #5 and paying him boatloads of money, we'd get Lito Sheppard as CB and KR/PR, a 5th rounder, and Albert and it'll probably be cheaper to pay those 3 players than it would to pay Vernon Gholston, who was selected 5th in our mock draft. Why Albert? He can play anywhere on the line. at 6'5'' 310 pounds, he played G in college but could project as a LT. His versatility makes him more desirable than Otah from Pitt. He'll either be a great G or a very good tackle, and KC just has tons | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/10/08 | | 2008-04-10 06:58:31 | | Malcolm Kelly blames his slow 40 time on his school changing the surface…
“This is my life. You know what I’m saying? This ain’t no school. This ain’t no classroom. This ain’t got nothing to do with that,” Kelly said. “This has to do with me; my family. This is what I do. I play [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | Daily NFL Draft Video | Football Jabber | | 2008-04-08 07:12:27 | | Leading up to the 2008 NFL Draft there will be daily NFL Draft related videos added to our Vod Pod. Prospects highlights and analysis for the Jabber Head.
The videos can be accessed by the little video box on the side bar or clicking the video link in the above toolbar.
tag: 2008 NFL Draft, [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | NFL Draft Jabber 4/7/08 | | 2008-04-07 06:27:11 | | Jameel McClain, LB for Syracuse, is going to be working out for his hometown Eagles on Wednesday.
“I would love to play for the Eagles, not only for my dreams, but for the things I could do for the community,” said McClain, who double-majored in communications and sociology, graduating last spring. “The community has given me [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | The New and Improved NFL Draft | | 2008-04-04 06:32:15 | | So in a few weeks here the new and improved NFL draft will be unveiled. The biggest changes include shorter rounds and a later start.
The Draft will begin at 3PM EDT and be two rounds instead of three on the first day. The later start is a small price to pay for a [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | Speed Demons for The 2008 NFL Draft | | 2008-04-03 12:54:55 | | Every Year there are several players drafted that may not be the fastest, but can make plays based on heart, determination and instincts. The following players don't fit that mold, I am not saying they don't have heart and instincts, but these guys can get by on speed, blazing speed, the speed that makes coaches and fans say "wow".They will be deep threat wide receivers, home run threat running backs, lock down corners and one quarterback that will make everyone forget about Michael vick. They may not all be household names, but don’t let that fool you. I expect many of them to make a huge impact in the NFL. If nothing else they will surely be fun to watch on Sundays. I have listed them below based on who is the fastest.Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina/ 5'11" 197 / Speed: 4.24His 40 time says it all he can straight out fly. He has phenomenal quickness and can burst through the slightest gap. He is long touchdown run waiting to happen and he will score many for the team that drafts | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | 2008 NFL Draft Jabber 4/2/08 | | 2008-04-02 18:00:18 | | What not to do within a month of the biggest life changing day of your life…Adarius Bowman, WR for Oklahoma State was busted for having some pot. Simple misdemeanor but your under a microscope by people just looking for a reason not to like you at this point.
JJ Cooper at The Fanhouse has labeled [...]
| | By: Football Jabber | | |
| | With The 12th Pick In The MHR Community Mock NFL Draft.... | | 2008-04-02 06:59:34 | | WE HAVE A TRADE!! That's right, the Broncos and EJRuiz777 have decided to trade down. Who stepped up to get into the Top 12? None other than the Minnesota Vikings and jontollerud. Here are the details of the trade -- Vikings Get - #12 Pick Broncos Get - #17 Pick, #73 Pick(3rd Round) Here are the GM's thoughts on the deal -- Broncos G.M. - EJRuiz777 -- Earlier today I was approched by Jon Tollerud (representative of the Minnesota Vikings in this MHR Community Draft) with a trade offer for the #12 overall pick. Though we were comfortable with our probable selection there, we opted to accept his proposal to trade down to #17 and acquire the #73 pick as compensation. The extra selection replaces the one we previously traded in order to attain DT Marcus Thomas in last year's draft and puts us in a position to snag one of several intriguing prospects that we would otherwise be unable to get at reasonable value. Moreover, we feel as though we'll be a | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | With The 11th Pick In The MHR Community Mock NFL Draft... | | 2008-04-01 19:21:37 | | The Buffalo Bills, represented by amirebram, select.... MALCOLM KELLY, WR - OKLAHOMA G.M - amirebram -- The Bills would have like a CB, but the top 3 guys were all taken. They also have a need for a RT. But given their long time solution at LT, I believe that this is too high a pick to spend on RT. Kelly isn't a safe choice at all, but he is a safer pick than Hardy (character), Sweed (health), or Jackson (size). A lot of people have hyped Thomas at WR, but he isn't the best pick. He doesn't play as fast as his timed speed. Just look at his yards/catch. He isn't a deep threat you need at a high pick like this. Ducet is a very safe and decent pick, but like Bennett he has limited potential. Teams look for something really outstanding for a pick this high. Anyhow, Kelly has nice hands, which is a must for any WR. I think Kelly is only second to Bennett in actually catching the ball once it is near him. So in this sense he is a better pick than most of the guys I already mentioned. He | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | With The 10th Pick In The MHR Community Mock NFL Draft... | | 2008-04-01 19:10:20 | | The New Orleans Saints, proudly controlled by BroncosDude793 select.... MIKE JENKINS, CB - USF While Broncosdude793 really didn't provide any comments, it is safe to assume that the Saints have a plethora of needs on the defensive side of the ball. Jenkins is fast and athletic and should help to shore up a disgusting defensive backfield in New Orleans. The Draft So Far -- #1 - Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long, Virginia #2 - St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long, Michigan #3 - Atlanta Falcons - DT Glen Dorsey, LSU #4 - Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas #5 - Philadelphia Eagles(via Trade w/ K.C. Chiefs) - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St. #6 - New York Jets - DB Leodis McKelvin, Troy St. #7 - New England Patriots - CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tennessee State #8 - Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College #9 - Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC The Next 5 Picks -- Buffalo (7-9) -- amirebram Denver (7-9) -- ejruiz777 Carolina (7-9) -- Jaxon Chicago (7-9) -- WCG D | | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | NFL Draft Scenarios:: Worst Case Edition | | 2008-03-24 21:47:56 | | This post is more of a "thought experiment" than a serious consideration of draft scenarios. Call it the result of not enough sleep. I'm mining through some Mock Drafts for any useful predictions and stumbled across an interesting, albeit terrifying scenario. Oregon Running Back Johnathan Stewart falls to 26. More specifically, what happens if Johnathan Stewart is the highest rated player on the draft board when the Jaguars select at pick 26? There's a bit of a debate happening within the fan base about the merits of Best Available Player (hereby referred to as BAP) and Position-Specific Selection (PSS). The former requires a team to pick the highest rated player when their name is called, the latter is when a team picks the player that fills the greatest need, rather than greatest value. Despite the Zero Sum games that Vic Ketchman plays on Ask Vic there is, in my opinion, a happy medium between the two. A couple of points: The New York Giants, in recent h | | By: Big Cat Country - An Unoffical Jacksonville Jaguar | | |
| | MHR Radio -- Matt Miller From New Era Scouting Joins Me To Talk NFL Draft! | | 2008-03-05 11:56:48 | | What a wild and crazy first week of free agency and MHR Radio has you covered. And I promise, no Brett Favre talk.... --Matt Miller from NewEraScouting.com joins me for a 1/2 hour of draft talk. What does he think about the Broncos' needs and who should we be targeting. Who are the sleepers? Of course, your questions from the chat room. --Is Al Davis a threat to himself and others?? --The Broncos additions so far, who else they should target, and what it means to the existing roster. All that and more, tonight on MHR Radio, 9PM est/6PM pst on TPSRadio.net!
| | By: Mile High Report | | |
| | All Under Rated Team for the 2008 NFL Draft | | 2008-03-05 07:17:20 | | 1. S Quintin Demps, (photo left) UTEP:Demps redshirted in 2003, then was a four year starter playing in 46 out of 47 possible games in which he intercepted 17 passes, defended 20, and and accumulated 135 solo tackles. He also has extensive experience returning punts and kick-offs. Demps (5' 11" 206 pounds) had an excellent post season, intercepting a pass at the Senior Bowl and running an amazing 4.35 forty at the NFL Scouting Combine.2. DE Philip Merling, Clemson:He is a force off the edge, has a good blend of speed and strength and is also a high character player and a hard worker. Merling, only a junior, is already rated as a first rounder in most legitimate 2008 NFL Mock Drafts, but if he slips anywhere lower than the 20 spot, could be a steal. Read my complete Scouting Report here.3.WR Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State:I watched the Michigan game and after watching him torch their secondary for two touchdowns I was deeply impressed. He has phenomenal speed and hands and is a exce | | By: The NFL Draft Site | | |
| | NFL Draft Prospects | Top 10 QB’s | | 2008-03-04 06:51:50 | | NFL Draft Prospects | Top 10 QB’s
Draft Prospects: Quarterback, NFL Draft, National Football League Comments (0)
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The interesting thing about this year’s draft class actually has nothing to do with this year. Scouts have lamented over the weakness of the quarterbacks coming out in next year’s draft; [...] | | By: TINO Sports Page | | |
| | NFL Draft Prospects | Top 10 RB’s | | 2008-02-28 18:03:31 | | NFL Draft Prospects | Top 10 RB’s
Draft Prospects: Running Back, NFL Draft, National Football League Comments (0)
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I can’t recall in recent memory, a draft that has been so deep in quality runners. While 2006 produced many solid halfbacks, it is my belief that the players who [...] | | By: TINO Sports Page | | |
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