Draft nuggets: [Archive] - BlackReign.net

donovan

03-21-2007, 05:21 PM

Anyone ever heard of Courtney Brown? I-AA corner who goes to my school. IIRC he's from Oakland and wore No. 2 in college because of Charles Woodson.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=159390

NFL | C. Brown works out at Pro Day
Wed, 7 Mar 2007 02:06:35 -0800
Gil Brandt, of NFL.com, reports Cal-Poly DB Courtney Brown measured a height of 6-1 3/8 and a weight of 200 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and 4.32 seconds. He finished the short shuttle in 4.07 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.10 seconds. He had a 41 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-11 broad jump and completed 15 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=21669

03/13/07 - Stock Rising: The most impressive overall workout of the early Pro Day sessions unquestionably belongs to Cal Poly CB Courtney Brown. Not invited to the Combine due to questions about his speed, Brown's efforts March 6 at San Jose State silenced critics in exactly 4.35 seconds. After running that first blistering time, Brown's second attempt was timed at 4.32, matching the top time in Indianapolis this year (Arkansas CB Chris Houston). Brown wasn't only fast, his 41.5-inch vertical jump, 10'11" broad jump and 4.07-second short shuttle were also among the elite turned in by any athlete at the Combine or subsequent Pro Days. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Brown is hardly considered a workout warrior. He missed nearly the entire 2004 season with a torn ACL, but returned in 2005 to earn D-IAA All-American honors with seven interceptions. Timed at a 4.60 last spring, Brown entered his senior season discounted by some scouts, yet rarely challenged by the opposition, leading to less than eye-popping statistics in 2006 (one interception, seven pass break ups, 55 tackles). With size, athleticism and obvious upside, Brown certainly won't be overlooked any more.

03/08/07 - Former Cal Poly cornerback Courtney Brown established some eye-catching marks at the Pro Day held Tuesday at San Jose State. So much so that the NFL Network is doing a feature story Thursday afternoon on the Mustang senior. Brown posted the fastest 40-yard dash time of 4.32 seconds as well as the highest vertical jump at 41.5 inches. In addition, Brown recorded the second-fastest 10-yard time of 1.46 seconds, was No. 4 in shuttle time (4.07 seconds) and also recorded marks of 15 reps in the 225-pound bench press and 7.10 seconds in the three-cone drill time. Brown, a 6-2, 205-pound senior cornerback from Oakland (Saint Mary’s College High School), tied the Cal Poly Division I-AA school record for interceptions in a season with seven thefts in 2005 and added one more last season -- Sept. 2 against Fort Lewis -- to raise his career total to 10, moving to within three of the all-time top 10 at Cal Poly. The two-time first-team All-Great West Football Conference selection had seven pass breakups last season and 29 for his Mustang career. He is considered by many to be Cal Poly's top NFL prospect this fall and has 51 tackles, including 33 solo stops. Brown notched 44 tackles a in 2005, earning third-team All-Northwest Region honor sby Don Hansen's Football Gazette. He missed virtually the entire 2004 season due to a knee injury suffered in the season opener against Humboldt State. - Cal Poly Athletics

12/21/06 - Though Cal-Poly is far from being confused with USC, some will be surprised to learn that first day picks have been plucked from the relatively tiny campus each of the past two years (Jordan Beck 2005, Chris Gocong, 2006) and in cornerback Courtney Brown, another athletic defender is on the way. Brown earned his second consecutive year of all conference recognition despite posting only 1 interception and 7 pass breakups. The reason was that most quarterbacks chose to throw elsewhere after Brown broke the D-IAA record with 7 interceptions in 2005. At 6-1, 205 pounds Brown has prototypical size for the position, though there have been questions about his speed after he was clocked at a 4.60 this past spring. Brown is expected to shave at least a tenth off this time, with two years now removed from the ACL surgery that limited him to only 1 game in 2004. Teams looking for a late round cornerback with upside will certainly keep Brown in mind.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=uwire-polycornerbrownsnfldraftst&prov=uwire&type=lgns

Seems to have da Raidas written all over it in some respects.

Turo

03-22-2007, 01:02 AM

There's your second round pick, ladies and gentlemen.

:eek:

RaiderIVlife

03-22-2007, 08:29 AM

Jordan and Rhodes are both on 1 year trials. Draft Bush in a later round and let him rest up and be ready to go in 2008?

McFadden next year?

Limee

03-22-2007, 01:17 PM

If as it looks now we are not going to have Peterson this year then yes I most certainly want McFadden next year.

NIPS

03-22-2007, 01:49 PM

Take the trade with Atlanta and dump Moss

Get #8, #33, #39, #44 & #47

If Atlanta takes CJ, Browns will surely take Russell.. That'll put us in a good position to grab Adrian Peterson at #8

Now we are in a prime postion to select some solid players early in rd 2

Hell, if this goes down, we could arguably have 5 players drafted by the middle of rd 2

Cook it up

R4Life

03-22-2007, 05:26 PM

Per PFT

QUINN RUNS A 4.73

According to NFL.com, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn churned out a 4.73 and a 4.82 in two tries at the 40-yard dash on Thursday.

Quinn did not run at the scouting combine, or at Notre Dame's initial Pro Day workout.

He posted the times running outdoors on FieldTurf.

Last week, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell ran the 40 in 4.83 seconds.

Recently, the perception that Quinn would slide to the bottom of the top ten has changed, and there's a school of thought in some league circles that he will be gone within the first few picks.

NFL.com

Quinn did only passing drills and had a good workout, showing good velocity and good anticpaction. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis ran the passing drills. Quinn threw to Irish tight end Marcus Freeman and receivers Rhema McKnight, Darius Walker and Matt Shelton, who finished at Notre Dame in 2005. On March 22, Quinn weighed in 233 pounds. He ran indoors on FieldTurf. He ran his 40s faster than expected (4.82 and 4.73). He also ran the short shuttle in 4.22 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.79 (with tiny cones, not tall ones). In addition, he had a 36-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-7 broad jump.

hawaiianboy

03-22-2007, 06:28 PM

Hehehe, check out the serious manboobs on Amobi Okoye (1st on the left):

R4Life

03-23-2007, 10:23 AM

Hehehe, check out the serious manboobs on Amobi Okoye (1st on the left):

Amobi Okoye hears a pitch for his first endorsement deal. ;)

massraider

03-24-2007, 06:12 PM

Highlights of LSU/UT last season.

Nice Russell and Meacham plays in there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rONdPf4-5U8

massraider

03-24-2007, 07:39 PM

Houston had their Pro Day yesterday, and Kevin Kolb had a good day, but RB Jackie Battle stole the show.

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4657932.html

NFL scouts went to the Yeoman Field House for the University of Houston's pro day on Friday to see highly touted quarterback Kevin Kolb, but they left talking about underrated running back Jackie Battle.

Kolb, who's expected to be a second-round pick in next month's draft, put on a good show, but Battle brought down the house.

"That was one of the greatest workouts I've ever seen," said Tennessee's coordinator of college scouting C.O. Brocato.

Battle is 6-2, 238. Brocato timed him in the 40-yard dash in 4.44 and 4.43.

"Some had him in the 4.3s," Brocato said. "He put on a fantastic show. He made himself a lot of money. He went from a player going to be drafted in the fifth through seventh rounds to a first-day pick. It was just a fabulous workout."

Battle showed outstanding size and incredible speed. He excelled in every drill. He caught the ball extremely well.

"I mean, that kid's stock shot way up," Brocato said. "If he'd been able to do that at the combine where every coach and general manager was, he'd be a first-round pick. He showed us everything we wanted to see today."

Kolb was the only Cougar invited to attend the Indianapolis scouting combine. Battle and receiver Vincent Marshall, who also had a terrific performance Friday, weren't invited.

"I wish I would have been invited to the combine," Battle said, "but I wasn't, so I focused all my energy on our pro day. I knew what I'm capable of doing. I've just been waiting for a chance to show it.

"I'm very happy with what I did. I don't know where I'll be drafted or how much it'll be worth, but I'm real excited about today. I was very confident coming in, and I'm very confident going out. Now we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Ark Raider

03-25-2007, 10:59 AM

If as it looks now we are not going to have Peterson this year then yes I most certainly want McFadden next year.

Mcfadden is something to see. I've seen him play probably 12 games live, including high school when he played for Pulaski Oak Grove. His high school was 2A at the time so you can imagine the competition he faced. Basically a TD everytime he got the ball. The guy I coach football with actually coached Mcfadden back in the pee wee days.

Arkansas has another RB who's pretty solid as well, Felix Jones and an Alstott type of FB named Peyton Hillis. I expect all 3 will be coming out next year, Hillis is the only senior

Limee

03-25-2007, 11:26 AM

I got to see Arkansas a few times this year and they certainly had a very impressive ground game. I really like that wildcat package they use.

BigTron

03-26-2007, 03:34 PM

Im bored and didnt know where to post this.Here's a Raider's mock 3/36:
Im assuming we trade Randy Moss for a 2nd round pick.

1. JaMarcus Russell. Ive flip flopped 60 times. After all this David Carr talk we really do need to take a chance on a guy with great upside. If our coaching staff is as good as we hope, this is the pick. He is what we need to get the pressure off our franchise and give us some hope. Maybe free agents wont think we are a joke.

2. Blaylock or Grubbs. These guys are both going to be solid pro's. Staley will most likely be gone and I would consider T.Ugoh here but he was ruffed up at the senior bowl. Blaylock is a Mauler in the run game and can move very well for a mammoth. Grubbs is an outstanding guard who i hope slips to us. We need to start Boothe oppositeone of the guys day one and move McQ to RT. Gallery back to left and Simms can back-up both.

2a. Craig Davis/S.Smith/S.Rice/Jarrett- A young WR to replace Moss. This years class is deep why not take a guy who would be in Rnd 1 any other year. Porter, Curry, and a young Rook. Good targets for JR and AW. So much less money and headache than Moss.

3. Ben Patrick- Im from Delaware. And this guy is the best pass catcher after Olsen. Humble roots should keep this guy hungry. We already have blockers in place. Courtney Anderson 1.5 million, shit...

3a. Michael Bush- If he is still here we should gamble on this guy. he is going to play with a serious chip. Could replace LJ if he has a bad year. Would have been a top 20 pick beofre injury.

4. Tim Crowder/ Francis (Hawaii)/ Baraka Atkins- Hopefully one of these guys will be here. I like all three of them and think they are well rounded DE's that could eventually play every down. Playing the Pass and Run decently. Good depth for us with run stopping DE's. If not one of these guys the BPA DE/DT. Lamaar Woodley will contribute as a pro. He will be someone's sleeper.

5. Kareem Brown/ Marcus Thomas DT's- Just some more depth. If injuries pop up we need some bodies. I think Tajj is going to have a break out year and get some snaps and play well spelling Sands and Sapp.

5a. James Martin T BC, Samson Satele C hawaii, Andy Alleman G Akron, Doug Free T, Dustin Frye Clemson. Dont know if any of these guys will be around but another O-Lineman would be good. BPA O-Line

Hopefully we can just draft BPA and take some gamble from this point on.The QB from Boise State would be a nice gamble. Maybe a 3rd down RB like Booker or another young WR. Thats all i got.

massraider

03-26-2007, 04:55 PM

Notes from Path to the Draft, from NFLN, for those poor souls without it:

Mike Mayock's rankings of the top 25 overall (He's doing 5 a day). Today, 21-25:

21. Jarvis Moss
22. Levi Brown--Mayock admits he has him lower than most.
23. Greg Olsen
24. Dwayne Bowe
25. Ryan Kalil

Brady Quinn was on set. He was in LA filming a commercial. They spent a few minutes talking to him, and I can honestly say that nothing interesting was said.

His defense of the 'can't win the big one' knock: "All of our games are big games...."

Ha. Yeah, Brady, you keep telling yourself that. You wish Notre Dame was still that relevant.

massraider

03-26-2007, 10:21 PM

Rumors from: http://www.newerascouting.com/index.php?c=10&a=237

Reports from Detroit are that the Lions have inquired with Kansas City about QB Trent Green. The Lions are still actively shopping the #2 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

- One rumor was that the Patriots may get involved in trade talks with the Lions. The Pats are the only team with two first-round picks.

- Many scouts we've spoken with feel that LB Patrick Willis is not rising up draft boards. They said that instead he is only regaining the status most had him at before and even during the season.

- One player that is dropping is Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. We've been told not to expect to hear his name in the first-round. Ginn has not been able to workout for NFL teams and many question his desire.

- We've heard from our sources at the Texas Pro Day that the Cowboys brass are very interested in OG Justin Blalock.

- Talks with the Minnesota Vikings and QB David Carr are progressing to the point that the former Texan could sign today.

- The Eagles are trying to complete a trade that would send DT Darwin Walker to the Green Bay Packers.

- USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett will meet with the New York Giants soon.

- The Giants are also scheduled to meet with Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown.

- We've heard that the Patriots may be open to drafting a running back early on day two as a precaution against Laurence Maroney's shoulder surgery.

Limee

03-27-2007, 04:58 AM

- Many scouts we've spoken with feel that LB Patrick Willis is not rising up draft boards. They said that instead he is only regaining the status most had him at before and even during the season.

- The Eagles are trying to complete a trade that would send DT Darwin Walker to the Green Bay Packers.

1st one is a stupid statement if he was lower at some point in time then he is rising up draft boards even if he is only rising back to where he was intially.

Could the second be in relation to the Moss to GBP for Williams?

Turo

03-27-2007, 09:36 AM

If Ginn slips to the second round and we haven't drafted a WR.. if that isn't the definition of an Al Davis lock, I don't know what is.

CrossBones

03-27-2007, 09:43 AM

Ginn isn't going to slip into the second round. That's just not going to happen. But yeah we'll be lucky oif Al doesn't take him #1. :o

Limee

03-27-2007, 12:54 PM

I don't think Al will let Ginn slide to the second. I expect him to start twitching if he is not gone by the late teens.

R4Life

03-27-2007, 01:30 PM

(March 27, 2007) -- After spending a few days with the general managers, coaches and an owner or two at the NFL owners' meetings in Phoenix this week, I have a much different perspective about where the draft is headed.

Mock draft No. 5 reflects the trade between the Falcons and Texans that sent Matt Schaub to Houston, the Eagles-Bills trade involving Takeo Spikes, and all the information floating around Phoenix. Free-agent signings are slowing down a bit but there are still a few personnel moves affecting the draft.

The top of the draft seems to have changed the most in the past week as teams seem to be settling in on their plans. As one GM said, "There is the potential for more trades than ever on draft day."

Note: Changes from the fourth mock draft are marked with an asterisk. There are three hypothetical trades in this mock draft.

1. **Oakland: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech -- The Raiders have a lot of needs, but as long as quarterback is one of them, they have to respond by selecting the guy with the great deep ball, JaMarcus Russell. By passing on the opportunity to get Schaub in a trade, it looks like a quarterback is the pick -- but if the Raiders secure a QB like Josh McCown :eek: from the Lions, then here comes Calvin Johnson. Let's go with Johnson, the top-rated player on most draft boards!
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10091269

Lord, I like Pat, but I hope he's wrong. McCown/Walter/Booty or Otis does not set well with me.

massraider

03-28-2007, 09:51 AM

Interview with Phil Savage, giving some info about the Browns plans:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/football/nfl/cleveland_browns/16980527.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_cleveland_browns

Trying to determine General Manager Phil Savage's plans about the Browns' draft plan is as easy as trying to learn the ending of The Sopranos.

It just isn't happening.

But Monday at the NFL's annual spring meetings, Savage did offer three certainties about the Browns' first-round pick, which is the third overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Well... near certainties:

• The Browns won't draft a defensive player third.

• They might trade down, but they will not trade up to the first or second spot.

• If another quarterback is brought in, it will be through the draft and not via trade or free agency.

So rule out Trent Green, forget David Carr and don't think that the Browns gave a lot of thought to acquiring Matt Schaub, who recently was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Houston Texans.

``To me (the cost of a trade for Schaub) was just going to be a little too prohibitive,'' Savage said Monday. ``Because you're going to give away draft picks and you're going to have to pay him. That's a pretty substantial contract ($48 million) for a guy who hasn't played a ton of football (161 passes, two starts in three years).''

Savage said the team discussed each quarterback option, but had its reasons for not making a move on any.

Carr did not succeed given ample opportunity with the Texans, and there were issues with Green, whom the Kansas City Chiefs have given permission to work out a trade. Among them: Green's desire to be a starter.

``I think (also) arm strength in our stadium with the wind,'' Savage said. ``Mobility, as well. I think there's too many factors to try to integrate (him) into where we are.''

This is not to say that the quarterback position is set.

Savage conceded that Derek Anderson had closed the gap with Charlie Frye, and that there will be some competition at the spot in training camp.

And two quarterbacks remain in the mix in the draft: JaMarcus Russell of LSU and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame. Savage said the six weeks of workouts before the draft have been and will be important to Frye and Anderson.

``I think we'll have a pretty good gauge of the two primary competitors, and the new coaches will have a pretty good feel for them by the time we get to the draft,'' Savage said.

Savage did not attend Quinn's second workout because it was just running and agility. He did go to see Quinn and Russell throw, and he did not disagree with reports that Russell's arm strength impressed.

``There was nothing I didn't see that I didn't see when he was 14 years old,'' Savage said, referring to seeing Russell at his camps in Mobile, Ala. ``I kind of went there to enjoy the show a little bit.''

There's also offensive tackle Joe Thomas and the skill players, including running back Adrian Peterson of the University of Oklahoma, who will visit the Browns in the next couple of weeks.

``He's a terrific talent,'' Savage said.

The wild card: Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

``This guy is as clean a prospect as any who's come through in a while,'' Savage said.

Would he be ruled out at No. 3?

``Like I said, he's right up there near the top of the draft,'' Savage said.

Savage said he came to Phoenix with a list of 16 teams that he wanted to talk to about trading down, but he does not expect to move up.

``I would sense that it's going to be prohibitive for (picks) one and two because I think the two teams that are sitting up there can ask for whatever they want to ask for,'' Savage said.

Trading down would garner the Browns extra picks -- something the team needs.

But it might not happen until draft day.

``My whole expectation has been all this (trade calls) will take place once we go on the clock,'' Savage said.

Who would trade up? Teams that want a receiver like Johnson, which could be the Falcons, or a quarterback if one does not go in the top two picks.

Savage is not obsessed with a trade, though.

``There's been a lot of speculation,'' he said. ``Are we moving down? Are we moving up? What are we doing? At the end of the day, if we don't do anything, we're going to get a good player.''

He said it would be ``a stretch'' to think that it would be a defensive player, which points to a tackle, running back or receiver.

If, that is, it's not a quarterback.

Said Savage: ``If we opt not to take a quarterback, it'll be because we feel comfortable with bringing other players in around the two that we have, and we'll go forward with it.''

massraider

03-28-2007, 06:16 PM

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67 at his pro day. Couldn't find any of the other USC news, interested in Steve Smith's numbers.

One thing I'll say about these WR's, there's going to be some surprises. I am quite sure that NFL boards vary greatly on these guys, as coaches value things differently. Ted Ginn might be the obvious #2 to some, but not to others.

The only guys I think are for sure 1st rounders are CJ, Bowe and Meacham. I am sure there will be more, but I could see the rest of these guys dropping into the 2nd. If Ginn runs well April 12th, put him in that 1st round category as well.

hawaiianboy

03-28-2007, 09:52 PM

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67 at his pro day. Couldn't find any of the other USC news, interested in Steve Smith's numbers.

I haven't found anything on Smith too, but I thought I had heard he was going to stand on his combine numbers....

Jarrett didn't time well, but it looks like he was in great shape at the pro day:

BigTron

03-28-2007, 10:00 PM

I haven't found anything on Smith too, but I thought I had heard he was going to stand on his combine numbers....

Jarrett didn't time well, but it looks like he was in great shape at the pro day:

If he knock is not being tough, He looks pretty jacked...

Turo

03-29-2007, 01:40 AM

Dude is ripped. Wow.

Jack's sore libido

03-29-2007, 12:53 PM

Ripped don't mean much, really.

Greg Jones is ripped.

Peyton Manning is not.

Turo

03-29-2007, 01:05 PM

Totally agree. Just a passing remark on the dude's physique.

(cue homosexual joke here)

BigTron

03-29-2007, 01:29 PM

Yeah but its better than being flabby and running a 4.6. I think when he is in traffic fighting for the ball being muscular will help somewhat.

Byron2112

03-29-2007, 06:05 PM

Ripped don't mean much, really.

Greg Jones is ripped.

Peyton Manning is not.

Yeah, after seeing that Manning is built like Ann Coulter it kinda puts 21 year old Russ's baby fat in perspective... maybe not such a big deal afterall...

Jack's sore libido

03-29-2007, 10:12 PM

I'm not worried about Russell being soft. I am worried about him being fat, though.

A soft 260 ... eh. But a fat 300 (which rumors had him reaching in the offseason) is a very bad sign.

massraider

03-30-2007, 06:59 AM

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10096449

Week in review. A good read.

massraider

03-30-2007, 07:44 AM

Marcus Thomas worked out yesterday:

Thomas worked out on March 29 in Jacksonville at the Velocity Sports Center but wasn't 100 percent (hip flexor and right quad strain). He ran indoors on a fast rubber track, clocking 5.23 and 5.27 in the 40, 4.81 in the short shuttle and 8.03 in the cone drill. He also had a 26½-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot-5 broad jump. He did his position drills outdoors on the old AstroTurf and looked pretty good.

-Gil Brandt

I wonder what affect this'll have on his status.

massraider

03-30-2007, 05:37 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/prospects?rank_type=2

Link to Yahoo's video highlights of prospects. Doesn't seem to be very comprehensive, but a nice setup. Hopefully they will add more.

massraider

04-03-2007, 09:31 AM

http://www.newerascouting.com/index.php?c=10&a=377

-We've heard as recently as this morning that the Oakland Raiders have every intention of drafting a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft. We hear Head Coach Lane Kiffin likes JaMarcus Russell, but that some on staff want the more finished product in Brady Quinn.

- The Bears are close to trading LB Lance Briggs to the Redskins, but they want a player thrown in the mix along with the 6th overall pick. Two of the rumored players are Rocky McIntosh or Lemar Marshall.

- We're also hearing that the Detroit Lions are locks to select OT Joe Thomas with the 2nd pick in the draft if they do not trade their pick.

- Sources close to the Vikings told us that the team has DE Gaines Adams and S LaRon Landry atop their boards today.

- People close to DT Alan Branch have told us that he has been talking with the 49ers and Dolphins. Both teams have shown interest in the big defensive player before.

- Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett was not pleased with his 40 time last week at USC, but we've heard reports that he will not drop past Tennessee in the first-round.

- With Cleveland likely to be sitting with the chance to draft Calvin Johnson third overall, we've heard the team would entertain the idea of bringing in the talented receiver despite needs elsewhere.

donovan

04-03-2007, 07:20 PM

Anyone think anything about Eric Wright?

The corner who got kicked off of USC and finished at UNLV?

Ran in the 4.3s at the combine.

Wouldn't mind him as a Day 2 dime back.

007

04-03-2007, 07:37 PM

He's got round 1 skills.

He'll go round 3ish in the end, I think.

Wouldnt be out of the question to draft a guy that early, considering that Aso could get Clements style money in about 12 months... :(

Deadbolt

04-04-2007, 10:01 PM

I always liked Wright at USC. I think he had some injury problems, but I remember he looked like a pretty damn solid corner.

massraider

04-07-2007, 11:51 AM

This is a must bookmark:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2007/video/

Very, very cool.

CrossBones

04-07-2007, 12:51 PM

This is a must bookmark:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2007/video/

Very, very cool.Thanks Mass... :cool:

I'm gonna check that out in more detail later on toady.

massraider

04-11-2007, 08:24 AM

A pretty good read from Pat Kirwan:

April 10, 2007) -- No matter how your favorite team stacks its own draft board, no matter what the team needs are and regardless of the free-agent activities surrounding your squad, there are a few unofficial guidelines that I might keep next to me come Draft Weekend.

Each and every draft has a personality of its own and with the expenses surrounding quality free agents, rosters have to be built during the draft. So here are a few things that would be taped inside my draft book for the last weekend in April.

1. Don't take one guy with a character alert: Commissioner Roger Goodell is going to come down hard on the bad guys. The majority of veteran players are fed up with the antics of some of the problem children around the league and no one is talking about how much these players are tearing down the locker room. Four-game suspensions strangle a team because of the 53 man roster limit. I bet Bengals coach Marvin Lewis isn't taking another chance on a guy with first-round talent and has character issues.

NFL Network video

2. Look for the medical competitive advantage: Modern medicine is ever changing and teams with an aggressive medical staff are providing general managers with a larger pool of talent to draw from. It's going to be interesting to see which team pulls the trigger on Louisville running back Michael Bush. He was headed toward a first-round grade when injuries side-tracked him. As Chargers GM A.J. Smith said to me last year following the draft, "we listened to our doctors and took the players accordingly." Well, a number of teams failed OT Marcus McNeill because of a narrowing of the spine. But Smith grabbed McNeill at the 50th pick and he went on to start all 16 regular season games on his way to the Pro Bowl.

3. Don't pass on a franchise quarterback: I don't care if your quarterback's name is Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Donovan McNabb. If a signal-caller is there when you're on the clock, just take him. Look at what the Falcons were able to get in a trade for Matt Schaub. A quarterback is a blue-chip investment. If a team like the Lions pass on a potential franchise QB for the second year in a row and look back a few years from now to see Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn in the Pro Bowl, they will feel the same way the Jets felt when after passing on Hall of Famer Dan Marino. If Oakland had taken Leinart or Jay Cutler last year, it would have been negotiating with Calvin Johnson right now.

4. Identify the top three matchup nightmares and take one: The NFL game has evolved into a chessboard of matchup problems. Whether it's a Reggie Bush in the backfield, or Antonio Gates as a tight end, or a safety with corner skills, every team wants to create more matchup problems for their opponent.

5. Dedicate one early second-day pick on the best special teams player on the board: In a typical NFL game, there are close to 30 special teams plays. They change field positions; sometimes score points and a other times that special player can make a big difference. Don't hesitate to take one of the top three special teams players, especially a returner. The Bears hit a home run last year, selecting Devin Hester with the 57th pick in the draft. Not many of the 56 players chosen before him did more for their teams' success.

6. Always let the game tapes trump the workout in shorts: There always seem to be a workout warrior who rises up the draft boards because of a 4.3-second time in the 40-yard dash or 35 reps on the bench press test. If those numbers are intriguing, then take a look back at the game tapes. Playing speed is a whole lot different than the 40 speed. For example, Dwayne Jarrett ran a slow 4.6 seconds and some believe he has dropped to the second round. The top rated cornerback on most boards is Leon Hall, who ran a 4.39 40. Watch the game tapes to see who looked faster in a football uniform.

7. Trade up or down to get the player you really want and make the deal happen: After all the work done to prepare for a draft, make sure you get the key player you want if your research leads you to him. For example, if Calvin Johnson is the best player on the board and you believe as one head coach said to me this week, "Calvin will play in at least 10 Pro Bowls," then go get him and be a dealmaker. When I was at the Jets we traded up to get Brett Favre and missed by one spot. I hate to think about what the future held for me and everyone in that room if we were able to get to the right spot on that draft day.

8. Sign the two biggest offensive linemen not drafted: There are expanded practice squads and then there is NFL Europa where offensive linemen can develop. I have done it and smart teams are looking to take a guy or two with rare size and a willingness to work. Sign them immediately following the draft and put opening day in 2009 as the target date to play them. With 800 days of structured prep time to teach techniques, develop strength and play 20 games in Europe every spring, should do the trick.

Antwaan Randle El's versatility proved valuable in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL victory.
9. Use a pick on an athlete who was a college quarterback to do other things: The 49ers drafted Penn State QB Michael Robinson with the 100th pick last year. He has versatility as a running back, wide receiver, special teams player and he's the third-string QB without worrying about the game rules governing the third QB. There's always a player like Antwaan Randle El out there and every team needs to find one and be willing to develop a package around him. Two potential candidates in this year's draft pool are QBs Paul Thompson of Oklahoma and Syvelle Newton of South Carolina.

10. Use one late pick or compensatory pick on Jeff Samardzija: Sure the Notre Dame clutch receiver signed a big baseball contract, but stranger things have happened. Samardzija caught 179 passes and scored 27 touchdowns. What if he can't get his curveball across the plate? If I draft Brady Quinn, I would surely select Samardzija early on the next day and let Quinn do the recruiting.

11. Listen to the one scout in the draft room who's opinion is contrary to the group: Because everyone in the NFL seems to talk with each other, there are universal opinions about players. Too many times it's just safer to go with the flow and inflate or deflate players like everyone else does. If one of your scouts is willing to stand on the table for a guy, contrary to the group, then listen to him. Risk takers are few and far between in the personnel business and a scout willing to go away from the flow just might know something the rest of the group doesn't know. I remember a Carolina Panther scout begging the team to draft Wayne Chrebet in the seventh round. No one listened and the rest was history.

12. Draft a basketball forward who was a very good high school football player: The NFL rules really can favor a big man with hand-eye coordination as a receiver down the field. Call him a move tight end, a hybrid receiver, or anything you want. No one in NFL history had more success finding athletes to play football like NFL.com's Gil Brandt did back in his glory days of the Dallas Cowboys. The college basketball courts are full of 6-foot-6 athletes who are starting to realize their NBA dreams are never going to happen. If they played high school football, like Antonio Gates did, then the project has a chance. Just like those big offensive line projects, a team has two years to develop a basketball player.

Turo

04-11-2007, 08:46 AM

Awesome read, thanks Mass.

hawaiianboy

04-11-2007, 10:50 AM

3. Don't pass on a franchise quarterback: I don't care if your quarterback's name is Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Donovan McNabb. If a signal-caller is there when you're on the clock, just take him. Look at what the Falcons were able to get in a trade for Matt Schaub. A quarterback is a blue-chip investment. If a team like the Lions pass on a potential franchise QB for the second year in a row and look back a few years from now to see Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn in the Pro Bowl, they will feel the same way the Jets felt when after passing on Hall of Famer Dan Marino. If Oakland had taken Leinart or Jay Cutler last year, it would have been negotiating with Calvin Johnson right now.

6. Always let the game tapes trump the workout in shorts: There always seem to be a workout warrior who rises up the draft boards because of a 4.3-second time in the 40-yard dash or 35 reps on the bench press test. If those numbers are intriguing, then take a look back at the game tapes. Playing speed is a whole lot different than the 40 speed. For example, Dwayne Jarrett ran a slow 4.6 seconds and some believe he has dropped to the second round. The top rated cornerback on most boards is Leon Hall, who ran a 4.39 40. Watch the game tapes to see who looked faster in a football uniform.

Preach on Reverend Kirwan... there are still some infidels out there that need to be saved from themselves...

007

04-11-2007, 11:38 AM

That post was money, Mass.

I agree with most of it.

R4Life

04-11-2007, 02:25 PM

More from Father K.

Ten questions being asked about the draft

By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst

(April 10, 2007) -- Whether I'm on my Sirius Radio Show, an NFL Network segment, or just talking football with people around town, there are a number of questions that seem to come up every day as the NFL Draft draws closer.

1. Is Brady Quinn being overhyped?
I say Quinn isn't overhyped. But I do feel he's been overanalyzed. It's not the first time that a quarterback (Quinn) who was expected to come out as a junior and decided to return for his senior year, got put under the microscope twice and had to answer many critics, while an underclassman (JaMarcus Russell) with a lot less to go on, got the hype. I can recall when speculations had Peyton Manning leaving Tennessee after his junior year and worthy of a top selection. He stayed in school, gained a lot more experience, worked on his skills and actually got better. Then a year later, a fast rising junior named Ryan Leaf split the votes as to which athlete was the best QB.

Last year, the same could be said for Matt Leinart. He won a national championship as a junior, but wanted another year of seasoning so he returned to school. The critics said it was a big mistake. His draft value supposedly went down. But none of those critics were to be found after he took the field as a rookie for the Cardinals.

There is something to be said for experience and production. Brady Quinn gets labeled as a guy who has accuracy issues. How about the fact that he threw more passes in college than Russell, Drew Stanton and Troy Smith combined? How about the fact that he threw more touchdown passes than Russell and Stanton combined? Any team that passes on Quinn can't predict they will ever be in a position to draft a QB of his caliber in the next five years. As one general manager said, "he could probably start for 10 teams in 2007 and make them better right away." Some people view the fact that he was tutored by Charlie Weis as a negative. It's the system that made him productive is the claim. Same stuff was said about Manning and Leinart. I say the experience with Weis is going to go a long way to help him survive and probably flourish in the NFL.

2. Should JaMarcus Russell be the first pick in the draft?
Well, Russell is going to be the first pick by the Raiders barring any last-minute changes by owner Al Davis. He knows a guy with arm strength and size don't come along very often. Someone told me that when Calvin Johnson visited the Raiders, Davis hardly had any time to even spend with the top receiver and possibly the highest rated player on most draft boards.

I always believe in taking a QB. And even though Russell has struggled with his weight at times and only has 29 career starts under his belt, he is what the doctor ordered for the Raiders. Oakland's plan to bring in a mobile QB like Josh McCown (via trade) in order to buy some time to let Russell develop is a good one.
Finally, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pellini, a former NFL coach sold me on Russell when he told me the guy can call the protections and has the football intelligence to win in the NFL.

3. Which player is likely to disappoint after his rookie season?
No one can predict where the bust label should be put and in fact, it's a bad idea to think anyone can figure it out. Quarterbacks always stand the chance of being labeled, especially if they go to bad teams and have to play too early.

When I posed this question to two personnel, they both thought the highest risk in the first round is with the pass rushers, especially Jamaal Anderson and Jarvis Moss. They are two very talented young players, but considering what happened to Mario Williams his rookie season, there are issues that scare some teams.

Williams came out of college as a 6-foot-6, 295-pound specimen who had 26½ sacks in college and 35 reps on the bench press test. He finished up his rookie season with 4½ sacks. Mathias Kiwanuka had 37½ sacks at Boston College, but only got to the QB four times as a rookie. Kameron Wimbley had excellent numbers as a rookie, but he was moved to outside linebacker and the scheme helped him. If Anderson and Moss have to play with their hands on the ground, then there might be some concern.

Both players left school early, have under 20 college starts and neither one is much more than a one dimensional pass rusher at this point. Neither has demonstrated the power and strength to hold up on the line of scrimmage. Moss only had 16 reps on the bench (eight less than Quinn) and Anderson's 22 reps isn't much better. Neither player comes to pro football with 20 career sacks in college. Moss has 15 and Anderson 17½, which probably translates to very pedestrian numbers as rookies. I would never call any player a 'bust' before he gets his chance to perform. But there are clear cut concerns about the pass rushers in this draft.

4. Rate JaMarcus Russell vs. the other No. 1 draft pick quarterbacks in recent years?
The NFL is a brutal league, especially for young quarterbacks. The honeymoon ends the second you take the field and can't win games. Russell and Quinn will find that out in due time, but to suggest that either one can be compared to Eli Manning, David Carr, Carson Palmer or Alex Smith is impossible.

Most people will say Palmer is better, but have a strong opinion that Russell is quickly going to pass Eli Manning as a QB. The younger Manning threw 81 touchdowns in college to just 35 interceptions. He has a winning record as a professional quarterback (20-19). He led his team to an 11-5 record and the playoffs in his second year. He has thrown 54 touchdown passes to just 44 interceptions in his first 39 games. Call back later when Russell has 39 starts under his belt.

R4Life

04-11-2007, 02:25 PM

Cont.

5. Who's the safest pick in the 2007 draft?
The safest pick in any draft usually comes down to a great running back behind a very good offensive line or an offensive lineman. This year, I would say the safest pick in the 2007 draft is center Ryan Kalil from USC. If he goes to a team like Denver with the zone running scheme, he will start early and be very effective. As one O-line coach said, Kalil is a 10-year starter with a couple of Pro Bowls in him. If he struggles early with big nose tackles because he is giving up 30-40 pounds, the scheme can protect him. If he lasts to the second round, then he wins the safest pick award for sure.

6. Who's stock dropped the most in recent weeks?
If you define stock dropping as lost money, keep in mind that dropping five or six spots in the first round can cost a player more than dropping two or three rounds later on. The downward pressure on the running back position because of four offseason trades -- Willis McGahee, Thomas Jones, Tatum Bell and Reuben Droughns -- and three free-agent acquisitions -- Ahman Green, Jamal Lewis, Dominic Rhodes -- could cost Adrian Peterson a lot of money. Peterson hasn't done a thing wrong, but the pressure is real.

Two players who's stocks have dropped for other reasons are wide receiver Sidney Rice of South Carolina and running back Michael Bush of Louisville. Bush is a victim of injury and he has plummeted from a first-round pick to no one knows where for sure. Rice renounced his senior year of eligibility and jumped into a very good draft class of receivers. He has made some questionable decisions about performing for scouts and coaches in the past few weeks and now sits outside the first round looking in.

Amobi Okoye has steadily improved his stock as draft day approaches.
7. Who's stock has risen the most in recent weeks?
Take a look at DT Amobi Okoye from Louisville. He has a decent senior year as a 19-year-old and finished up as a probable second-round pick. He packed his bags for the Senior Bowl to prove he's better than that and after a week in pads in front of all the NFL brass, he jumped to a late first-round pick. He went to the Combine with that same focus and his workout and interviews moved him up the charts to a mid first-round selection. At his pro day workout, he clocked 4.88 in the 40-yard dash at a weight of 302 pounds. film studies on him by the defensive line coaches draw parallels to Warren Sapp. With just a few weeks to go, it looks like the teenager has climbed to a top-10 pick.

8. Who is the third quarterback in this draft?
There is no third quarterback worthy of a first-round selection. I asked a number of teams how they see the third quarterback and I got a different answer from almost everyone. There's no Jay Cutler in this draft for sure. Drew Stanton was the consensus third, back in January. Troy Smith didn't help himself that much at the Senior Bowl, but hung tough. Trent Edwards got healthy and his stock started to rise and there has been an under current of support in a few places for Kevin Kolb and John Beck. But the truth is, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to the third QB.

Edwards was sacked 84 times in 31 starts and has foot and shoulder issues. But he has that it factor some teams are looking for. Stanton is a 64 percent completion passer who can run as demonstrated by his 1,500 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. But the it could be missing in some talent evaluators' minds. Smith has to deal with the height issue and his supporters point at Drew Brees. Kolb comes from a throwing system and some are leery of his numbers. His supporters point at Alex Smith. Beck has a release point that troubles some. For now, my advice is don't claim to know who the third QB is, but don't expect the run on these guys to start until the late second to early third round. As one GM said, "I think we'll wait until the second day and take a long look at that kid from Boise State, there's something about him I like." I said, 'are you talking about it?'

9. Will there be a lot of trading on draft weekend?
I expect trading to continue this year just like it did last year. Teams are getting more comfortable pulling the trigger on a trade using picks for picks -- 2008 picks for 2007 picks, veteran players for picks and they realize with the healthy salary cap situations most teams have right now, it works. Randy Moss should be the big-name player to be moved on draft day, but don't expect more than a second- or third-round pick as compensation and that only happens if he gets his contract restructured.

10. Which virtually unknown player would you want on your team?
Two players come to mind every time I'm asked this question -- Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie and Alabama fullback LeRon McClain. DeOssie can help a team in so many ways with his size, speed, intelligence and long-snapping ability. McClain is a classic fullback in the mold of Lorenzo Neal.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10119448

massraider

04-16-2007, 12:05 PM

From Peter King's MMQB. I am not a big fan of King's opinion peices, but relaying what he hears from NFL people? This stuff interests me:

I've spent the last few days asking several NFL personnel people and scouts what kind of draft this is, and this is the conclusion I've drawn: This league is scared witless about the money it's about to pay this class of rookies, because there aren't enough first-round-caliber players who deserve it.

One executive I spoke with -- a smart football man whom I trust very much -- said his team gave only 18 players first-round grades in its recently concluded draft meetings. That means, as he said, a bunch of second-round-quality players (at least, in this team's view) will be drafted between the middle and end of the first round, and they will make more money than players with holes deserve to make. "I bet you'll see plenty of teams in the mid- to low-first-round trying to trade down, and I bet they'll have a lot of trouble finding trading partners,'' this personnel guy said.

And I don't recall hearing this many questions about top picks in a while. Does Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas (VIDEO) look so good mostly because the crop of offensive linemen is so weak this year? Will LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell (VIDEO) stay unspoiled and focused with $25 million in the bank? Is Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn (VIDEO) -- the player who scares the teams at the top of this draft the most -- a product of the Charlie Weis system or a bona fide blue chip prospect? The only player question-free is Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson (VIDEO) , who runs like a cornerback (4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and who has tight end size (6-foot-5, 239 pounds).

"The top of this draft board is so weak,'' one top scout said. "Guys will be handed money who haven't done nearly enough to deserve it.''

Ten quick observations I've gleaned over the past few days:

1. The upset special of the first round? I say it's the ascension of Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson (VIDEO) into the top 10. After a mediocre pro-day workout (4.75-second 40, 22 reps of the 225-pound bench press) the knocking of Anderson began. But there are many teams that view Anderson as the surest thing among defensive ends and outside linebackers; I've talked to three that like Anderson over top-five lock Gaines Adams (VIDEO), the Clemson defensive end. Anderson weighs 284 pounds, and he should be able to adapt to an end spot in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

2. Running back Adrian Peterson (VIDEO) wants to be a Brown. So does Quinn. I met both of them the other day in New York, where they were promoting the Sprint draft phone. (How bizarre. You can get a cellular telephone and watch the draft on it.) Anyway, I asked Peterson: Got a gut feeling where you're going to get picked? Now, when you ask most guys this question, they've been well-schooled in not favoring one team over another. Said Peterson: "My gut feeling? Cleveland at three. Sitting down with them [coach Romeo Crennel, GM Phil Savage], I get the feeling they're very, very interested. I would love it there. The fans in Cleveland are the closest to college fans in the NFL. I love the Dawg Pound. I think I can be a franchise back and really help the Browns turn it around"

3. Regarding Quinn, he seemed to make a believer out of Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden during a Saturday morning workout in South Bend. "This is a very physical guy who can make all the plays," Gruden said. "I was very impressed. All I can say is he is a tremendous young prospect. He really blew me away with his workout."

Quinn is having a good time with the process and seems, at least outwardly, to now take the pre-draft criticisms of his game (not accurate enough, can't win the big one, system quarterback, etc.) better than he did at the combine. "As far as draft analysis,'' he said, "I don't pay much attention to it. The only thing that matters is where you get picked, and learning everything you can about that offense once you get picked.''

I asked one personnel man last week where he placed Quinn on his board. "Middle of the first round,'' he said. "When I watch him on tape, I come up with more questions than answers. I really don't like how he played against an athletic team like LSU in the bowl game this year, and you know he's going to face a lot of defenses like that in the NFL.''

4. Everyone thinks the Raiders should pick JaMarcus Russell. I mean, everybody.

5. At receiver, Dwayne Jarrett (VIDEO) seems to be sinking like a stone. Ted Ginn Jr. (VIDEO) is rising, bad foot and all. There are teams -- plural -- that, if they resolve all their medical questions about Ginn in the next week or so, will have him as the No. 2 receiver on their boards, just ahead of Robert Meachem (VIDEO) of Tennessee and Dwayne Bowe (VIDEO) of LSU. Jarrett? Smells like a second-rounder to me.

6. Darrelle Revis (VIDEO), Leon Hall (VIDEO). Leon Hall, Darrelle Revis. Pick a corner, any corner. I bet NFL teams would be 17-15 in some order or 16-16 if you asked which corner they had rated higher, Pitts' Revis or Michigan's Hall. Opening-day 2007: Hall's your man. Reliable, big-game-tested. Opening-day 2009: Maybe Revis, who's slightly bigger with a little more potential. They are so similar, in fact, that Hall was .01 faster in dashing 10 yards (1.45 to 1.46) and Revis .01 faster in the 40- (4.38 to 4.39).

7. More people like Joe Thomas than don't, but there is some question about his ability to overpower defensive ends. No question, though, he's one of the quickest left tackle prospects to come out in years, and he and Calvin Johnson are by far the top prospects with the fewest questions. "He's got no holes,'' Tampa Bay GM Bruce Allen told Thomas' agent, Peter Schaffer, after Thomas visited the Bucs last week.

8. In the eyes of most teams, there seems to be a group of seven players who belong as high-first-round picks: Russell, Johnson, Adams, Peterson, Thomas, Quinn (despite the questions, because he's a quarterback) and safety LaRon Landry (VIDEO) of LSU. After that, the questions start. "It's why I'd almost rather be 19 than nine in the first round,'' one GM said. "Because you get to nine, and there's a good chance the guy you have next on your board won't be the guy picked at eight, nine, 10, and the team at nine won't be able to trade back because the value just won't be there.''

9. No one knows what Al Davis or Matt Millen are going to do at 1-2. This will make for an entertaining run-up to the draft.

10. For a long time, defensive tackle Alan Branch (VIDEO) looked like a sure-fire top-five pick. But most teams don't see the motor they'd like to see on a very high pick, and some see him only as a 3-4 nose man. So to invest the fourth, fifth or sixth pick on him ... dicey. Very dicey. And expensive.

massraider

04-16-2007, 12:08 PM

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/draft/gosselin_rankings.html

Gosselin's latest rankings. Some interesting picks.

R4Life

04-17-2007, 03:36 PM

The Lying Game
Okay, I am going to preface this by saying that this is the time of year when the NFL - land of super, double, top secrets - becomes the domain of loose lips. Everyone is lying about everything. Still, there is always a kernel of truth available out there, and here is what I heard from people today. So, with that caveat out there and this duly filed under the "slightly-more-than rumor" category, here's what I have heard:

Looks like the Skins would have to trade to first overall to get Calvin Johnson. I heard today that the Raiders will end up with Culpepper after MIA cuts him (also heard today the Fins asked the KC Chiefs for the proper sizes and specifications of Trent Green's equipment today). So the Raiders take the stud WR to replace Randy Moss - who probably goes to Green Bay - and Russell falls a bit.

Detroit loves Gaines Adams. Have visited with him three times. The coach there might see him as a reincarnation of Simeon Rice, who he coached in Tampa (although some people I talked to him see him as a situational pass rusher who is a third-down guy at the next level). They could probably trade down and still take him, and the Lions have been shopping this pick since right after the combine (when they first explored trades with the Redskins).

Cleveland is deadset on a QB (Lions might be gunshy about taking another Qb so high even if Russell is still there). Cleveland loves Quinn, but I hear the Dolphins do too, maybe even enough to trade up and get him should he still be there at 6th overall (hint, hint).

Tampa loves CJ, but could flirt with a QB, too. They might also end up trying to trade that pick if CJ and Russell are gone.

Arizona really loves the tackle, and his agent happens to be the same guy who represents the new head coach and offensive coordinator there.

So at 6 the Skins could very well have their pick of the defensive players. If they use the pick, I would be stunned if they took someone not names Landry or Okoye (both have completely wowed the team and again, I heard Landry had a killer workout Monday). After those two, Jamaal Anderson and Gaines Adamas would be the next two best options among some people out at The Park, with Calvin Johnson likely ending up the top player on the Skins overall draft board (that will be completed this week after the offensive draft meetings end this week - defense went last week, position by position).

Minn. is set on a Qb or Landry if available, I hear, and Houston will probably draft D, too.

Mia is thinking QB if possible as I said and Atlanta has fallen hard for Okoye (who played for the coach and D Line coach at Louisville) and Landry, enough so to trade up for either. Again, the Skins at 6 could be prime partners. Keep an eye on this, cause at 10, plus getting a second round pick, the Skins might find two really good players in such a trade.

Also, I hear the Skins will have something like 15 kids - on defense only! - at the facility this week, to say nothing of all the offensive players who have come through and still will come through. Is that overkill and indicative of the over-the-top nature of the guy who signs the checks? Is that too many bodies for any team to really handle in a limited time? Is it a little circus-like?

Yeah, probably, but that's the Skins. That's how they roll.

In the end, it doesn't really matter, as the film study, interviews and backround checks should carry the day. If they get the right guy or make a shrewd trade, then more power to them. There remain no shortage of people in that building really hope they trade down, but we'll see what the Snyder/Gibbs axis ends up doing in the war room.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2007/04/the_lying_game.html

massraider

04-18-2007, 12:45 PM

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

Scott Wright's latest mock. Among the better mockers out there.

Raiders:

JaMarcus
Tony Ugoh
Ikaika Alama-Francis
Marcus Thomas

Booooinng!!!!!!:eek: :D :) :p

R4Life

04-18-2007, 01:21 PM

Never heard of the team doing this before.....

Official 2007 Draft Party
April 18, 2007
Join The Oakland Raiders on Saturday April 28, 2007, for the Official Draft Party at McCovey’s Restaurant in Walnut Creek, Calif. The event is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. - Noon and will feature special appearances by current Raiders players, Raiderettes, and Raider Legend and Hall of Famer Jim Otto.

The cost for the event is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. The first 50 fans to sign up will receive an autographed Jim Otto photo. In addition to admission to the event, the ticket price includes a choice of one of six available breakfast options, two non-alcoholic beverages, and a raffle ticket for various random drawings. Raffle prizes include a helmet autographed by the Raiders first choice in the 2007 Draft, and Raiders memorabilia and merchandise.

For more information call 925.944.9444,

R4Life

04-18-2007, 02:36 PM

and

A look at the Oakland Raiders' first-round draft picks
By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

(04-18) 11:29 PDT Alameda, Calif. (AP) --

A look at how the Oakland Raiders' first-round picks over the last 10 drafts have fared:

2006 — Michael Huff, S, seventh overall: Taken ahead of quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler, Huff started all 16 games as a rookie, but had no sacks, interceptions or fumble recoveries. -Jury's Out

2005 — Fabian Washington, CB, 23rd: Oakland traded the No. 7 pick in the deal for Randy Moss, but moved into the first round to get Washington, who has shown improvement each year, but did get picked on at times last season. Because Aso was untouchable 2008 he breaks out with 6 picks.

2004 — Robert Gallery, OT, second: Considered a can't-miss prospect, Gallery has struggled as the Raiders have shuttled him between left and right tackle and changed offensive line coaches. Oakland hopes new line coach Tom Cable can bring out the best in Gallery, something the team has yet to see. 2008 make or break year for Gallery

2003 — Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, 31st: Oakland's best first-round pick in recent years, Asomugha had a breakthrough season in 2006. He was one of the top cover cornerbacks in the league last season and also had eight interceptions. Stellar

2003 — Tyler Brayton, DE, 32nd: Has just six sacks in 63 career games at both defensive end and linebacker. Perhaps best known for kneeing Seattle's Jerramy Stevens in the groin at the end of a play in a nationally televised game last season. Certainly not known for what he's done during play

2002 — Phillip Buchanon, CB, 17th: A speedster expected to contribute on defense and special teams, Buchanon lasted just three seasons in Oakland before being traded to Houston. We picked up Kirk Morrison with one of the two picks and the other was used to move up for Fabs. Pbuch's only value to the Raiders

2002 — Napoleon Harris, LB, 23rd: Started 13 games as a rookie as Oakland went to the Super Bowl, but was traded to Minnesota in 2005 for Randy Moss. Lost his starting job with the Vikings and now is in Kansas City. Welcome baaaaaack!

2001 — Derrick Gibson, S, 28th: Has intercepted just three passes in six seasons and was replaced in the starting lineup last year by Huff. Gibson is not expected back in 2007. Sad

2000 — Sebastian Janikowski, PK, 17th: The first kicker taken in the first round of the draft in 21 years, Janikowski has been a solid pro, but probably not worth a first-round pick. He has a strong leg, but has been inconsistent at times. Seattle took star RB Shaun Alexander two picks later. Oops

1999 — Matt Stinchcomb, OT, 18th: Injured his shoulder as a rookie and never was able to establish himself in the NFL. Had the injury when they drafted him too.

1998 — Charles Woodson, CB, fourth: Made three Pro Bowls with the Raiders and was a key part of the 2002 AFC championship team. Injuries held Woodson back and he never quite lived up to the hype he had as a Heisman Trophy winner. Could have been a great one

1998 — Mo Collins, OT, 23rd: Oakland traded up to select Collins, who was a solid blocker before injuries cut short his career Solid

1997 — Darrell Russell, DT, second: Made two Pro Bowls with Oakland before his promising career was derailed by drugs. Was out of the NFL by 2003 and died in a car crash in December 2005. Extremely sad.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/04/18/sports/s112915D82.DTL&type=printable

and

Raiders draft woes helped lead to team getting No. 1 pick

By The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Getting the No. 1. selection in the NFL draft usually means a team hasn't picked well in previous years. That's half true with the Oakland Raiders.
While owner Al Davis' team has done fairly well selecting defensive players in recent years, it's been nearly two decades since the Raiders have drafted a player who turned into an offensive star.

"I don't think Al Davis has forgotten what a good football player is," draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "They have drafted very well on the defensive side of the ball. The bottom line is that some of their offensive picks have not panned out. They need to get better in a hurry on the offensive side."

With two talented quarterbacks in LSU's JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn and one of the top-rated receivers ever to come out of college in Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson available, the Raiders hope to remedy that situation later this month.

Assuming Oakland keeps the top pick and uses it on one of those players, it would mark the first time since taking tight end Ricky Dudley in 1996 that the Raiders used a first-round pick on a skill position player.

Of Oakland's 13 first-round picks since then, there have been six defensive backs, three offensive lineman, two defensive lineman, a linebacker and even a kicker.

"It's no secret what Al Davis likes. He likes big guys who can run fast on either side of the football," Mayock said. "Last year, they had the opportunity to draft a quarterback with Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler and went with Michael Huff instead."

While Leinart and Cutler were starting by the end of the season and appeared to be far ahead of Oakland's second-year quarterback Andrew Walter, Huff had problems making the transition to the NFL.

Davis said the decision to take Huff instead of a quarterback was made by former coach Art Shell. But few who follow the Raiders closely believe any pick is made without Davis' approval.

Billed as a playmaker in the secondary, Huff had no sacks, no interceptions and no fumble recoveries as a rookie. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has said he thinks Huff could have a breakthrough year in 2007 similar to the way 2003 first-round pick, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, did last season.

Asomugha and Huff were among the eight starters on the NFL's third-ranked defense that came from the draft. Oakland's entire back seven is homegrown, and the team has done well in getting middle linebacker Kirk Morrison in the third round in 2005, outside linebacker Thomas Howard in the second round last season, and using first-round picks on starting cornerbacks Asomugha and Fabian Washington.

The Raiders have also had some success picking receivers in later rounds, getting Jerry Porter in the second round in 2001, Doug Gabriel in the fifth round in 2003, and Ronald Curry in the seventh round that year.

Oakland also got a starter on the offensive line in the sixth round last season, picking Kevin Boothe out of Cornell.

"I still think the Raiders are above average if you stack up their players against other people in the league in terms of how many players have made it and how many are still playing," said Gil Brandt, the former personnel director for the Dallas Cowboys who is now the NFL's draft adviser. "I'm very familiar with the Raiders' people and I do think they do a very thorough job evaluating players."

But since taking receiver Tim Brown in the first round in 1988, the Raiders have drafted only one player -- running back Napoleon Kaufman in 1995 -- who has gained either 1,000 yards in a season rushing or receiving, or had a 2,000-yard passing season.

Since picking eight-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Steve Wisniewski in the second round in 1989, the Raiders have drafted only one Pro Bowl player on offense: center Barret Robbins in 1995.

What appears to have been the biggest bust came three years ago when Oakland used the No. 2 overall pick on what seemed to be a can't-miss offensive tackle, Robert Gallery of Iowa.

In three seasons, Gallery has shuttled back and forth between left and right tackle, and has often looked overmatched. His poor play was a big reason the offense struggled so much last season, allowing a league-worst 72 sacks.

"I thought Robert Gallery was going to be a Pro Bowl player for 10 years," Brandt said. "He's a wonderful person, a salt of the earth guy. He looks like they almost put a different guy in his uniform. I think with a new offensive line coach that could be the big difference this year."

The Raiders certainly could use it.

Nice to see some press that doesn't completely bash the old man and his team.

R4Life

04-24-2007, 11:17 PM

Draft buzz
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Tuesday at 4:24 pm
ESPN and the NFL Network are both reporting the Raiders may not select JaMarcus Russell if Kansas City quarterback Trent Green is traded before the draft to Miami.

As the story goes, Oakland could then take Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and pounce on free agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper when he released by the Dolphins.

Sounds preposterous from here.

Culpepper played ineffectively in four games last season after suffering a serious knee injury the year before. He rushed his rehab to return in time to start the season for the Dolphins, and hasn't seen the field since.

Remember, Culpepper was playing poorly in 2005 before he was hurt, with wide receiver Randy Moss having been traded to Oakland. There's no evidence Culpepper will ever appraoch the player he was in 2004, when he completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 4,717 yards, 39 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.

Culpepper is as big a risk in his own way as a quarterback of the future as Russell. He has seven years and $50 million remaining in salary. It's not guaranteed, of course, but if you're worried about dumping him at all, it's not wise to make him your quarterback.

– Detroit backup quarterback Josh McCown hasn't given up hope of joining the Raiders.

"I would love a chance to be moved somewhere where I have an opportunity to play," McCown told Sirius Satellite Radio Tuesday. "And right now that current situation seems like Oakland. So I'm hoping come this Saturday or Sunday . . . I'll find that I've been traded to Oakland so I can have a shot to get on the field.

"I think when it comes down to it it'll be a great thing for everybody. I think the Lions can gain compensation and I can get an opportunity and I think it will really work for all sides and everybody will be happy."

Detroit is unlikely to part with McCown unless they get Russell or Notre Dame's Brady Quinn. Otherwise, they're gambling that 35-year-old starter Jon Kitna can hold up for another 16 games.

The Lions' No. 3 quarterback at present is Dan Orlovsky, entering his third year out of Connecticut. When McCown sat out the Lions' voluntary minicamp, part of his thinking was that if Orlovsky did well enough with the additional snaps, his odds of being traded would increase.

– Profootballtalk.com reports the Raiders, who can sign the top pick before the draft, are negotiating with Russell, Johnson and Quinn.

It would make sense to get an idea what each man is expecting in terms of compensation, and talking with more than one of them helps conceal the Raiders' true intentions.

– Will the Raiders sign the top pick before the draft?

One club source said he doubts it.

"It doesn't seem like the way we do things," the source said.

– Arkansas tackle Tony Ugoh told the New York Times his pre-draft tour included a Bay Area stop to talk with both the Raiders and 49ers. He was driven by a Raiders employee from the 49ers facility to Alameda and said he was given a small suitcase filled with a jumpsuit, shirts and an Oakland draft-day cap.

Ugoh said he took a written personality test, talked with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and assistant line coach James Cregg, who reviewed his SEC game against LSU.

On his way out, there was one more surprise _ Al Davis.

According to Ugoh, Davis said, "Is this who I think it is? Tony Ugoh from Arkansas, right?"

Ugoh said it was true. He said Davis asked him, "You're from Brooklyn, right? He was like, `Yep, I'm the king of Brooklyn.' We just started laughing . . . He was amazing. He had a great personality and was real fun to talk to."

Ugoh could be available when the Raiders make their second-round pick.

– Want to keep a secret? Better not tell anyone associated with the NFL.

Pro Football Weekly reported recently that upper tier draft prospects Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams and Amobi Okoye all admitted to using marijuana during their recorded inteview sessions with teams.

The sessions are available to all teams, meaning someone with access to them _ whether with a team or the league _ leaked the information.

This is the same league in which information regarding those who run afoul of the substance abuse policy are routinely made public through "sources" before any appeals process takes place.

The admissons are unlikely to affect the draft status of Johnson, Adams and Okoye because the honestly answered the questions about what they've done in the past as opposed to testing positve for drugs.

But if I'm an agent, I'm telling future interviewees to zip it regarding past drug use unless the league finds a way to take action for the this year's leaks.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/

massraider

04-26-2007, 08:52 AM

BUFFALO BILLS

Key Debate: They have to replace three starters on defense and need a dependable running back? Should they take a corner or linebacker at No. 12? Is running back Anthony Thomas the right guy to replace Willis McGahee?

My Advice: Take the defensive player they have rated the highest -- perhaps Leon Hall, Darrelle Revis or Patrick Willis -- in the first round. Then come back and find the running back in the second or third round. Antonio Pittman, Kenny Irons or Brandon Jackson will be available in the second.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Key Debate: Will cornerback Asante Samuel be there long term? How much longer will safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Tedy Bruschi play at a high level? Can Laurence Maroney carry the load by himself?

My Advice: Focus on defense in the first round. A big-time corner should still be on the board at No. 24, and look for a safety or linebacker at No. 28. Aaron Ross, Brandon Meriweather, Reggie Nelson or Jon Beason would keep the defense playing at a high level.

NEW YORK JETS

Key Debate: Who will start opposite cornerback Andre Dyson? Will they find a pass rusher to improve a mediocre pass defense? Is Chris Baker the long term answer at TE?

My Advice: Take tight end Greg Olsen if he is on the board in the first round, then grab a quality corner like Daymeion Hughes or Jonathan Wade in the second round. A pass rusher like Anthony Spencer would also be a nice pick up in the first round if Olsen is already off the board.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Key Debate: Can they find a franchise quarterback to groom? How do they address the offensive line woes?

My Advice: Hope that Brady Quinn falls to No. 9. If he isn't there, take offensive tackle Levi Brown, then focus on finding a quarterback like Trent Edwards or Drew Stanton in the second round. There will be plenty of offensive linemen available in rounds two and three. Josh Beekman, Marshal Yanda and Ryan Harris are candidates.

AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS

Key Debate: They wonder if star offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will return for another season, and there are other holes along the offensive line. Will Samari Rolle return to Pro Bowl level? Is Kyle Boller still considered a potential quarterback of the future?

My Advice: Take the best available offensive lineman at No. 29, then grab a cornerback in the second round. Tony Ugoh, Ben Grubbs, Justin Blalock or Arron Sears would be first-year starters along the line, and a young corner like Jonathan Wade or Josh Wilson would compete for time in their nickel package.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Key Debate: How do you improve a defense that ranked 30th overall in yards allowed and 31st in pass defense? Who steps in for suspended receiver Chris Henry?

My Advice: The defense needs to be addressed early in the draft. They can grab a top pass rusher such as Jamaal Anderson or Jarvis Moss at No. 18 and patch up their secondary holes by adding a versatile defensive back like Tanard Jackson at No. 49.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Key Debate: Is Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson the quarterback of the future? Can Jamal Lewis improve the 31st-ranked rushing offense? Finding a starting cornerback is also a priority.

My Advice: The prospect of adding Brady Quinn is intriguing, but running back Adrian Peterson gives the offense an workhorse to build around. A quality corner should be available at the top of the second round -- Eric Wright or Marcus McCauley would be intriguing options at No. 36.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Key Debate: Do they draft defensive personnel for the 3-4 or the 4-3? They need to find a big back to complement Willie Parker and stud guard Alan Faneca is in the final year of his deal.

My Advice: Stay at No. 15 and grab an explosive player like Lawrence Timmons or trade back to grab an OG like Grubb or Justin Blalock late in the first round. Address the running back situation in the second or third round with a power back like Tony Hunt, or gamble on the talented, but injured Michael Bush.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Key Debate: The quarterback situation has been addressed with the Matt Schaub trade, but they must find offensive linemen to protect him. Can they find another receiver to take the pressure off Andre Johnson?

My Advice: Hope that Levi Brown falls to No. 10, but if he is not available take a cornerback like Leon Hall or Darrelle Revis to solidify the secondary. Receiver Sidney Rice would be a nice grab in the second round.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Key Debate: The defending Super Bowl champions lost several key players during free agency. Can they find a run stopper at DT to help improve a weak run defense? Who replaces Cato June at linebacker? Is Joseph Addai ready to carry the load?

My Advice: Focus on defense during the early rounds. Take the best available defender at No. 32. Justin Harrell or Jon Beason both fit in the Tampa 2 scheme. Look for another running back to complement Addai in later rounds.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Key Debate: The team is solid, but aging at several spots on defense. Can Reggie Hayward bounce back from an Achilles injury? Who replaces safety Deon Grant?

My Advice: Add a dominant pass rusher like Jamaal Anderson or Jarvis Moss at No. 17 to boost the pass rush and pick up a ball-hawking safety in the second or third to solidify the secondary. Take a gamble on a quality receiver that falls into the third round.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Key Debate: They let the leading rusher and receiver walk during free agency, and also lost Pacman Jones for the year due to a suspension. Who does Vince Young throw to?

My Advice: Add a playmaker at wide receiver in the first round. Dwayne Jarrett, Robert Meachem and Dwayne Bowe are nice fits, but Ted Ginn Jr. , because of his return skills, would be the best option if he is still on board. If they grab the receiver early, take an underrated pass rusher like Charles Johnson or Lamarr Woodley in the second round.

AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS

Key Debate: The team has several question marks on defense. Linebacker Al Wilson was let go, and there are bigger issues upfront. How do you improve a weak pass rush? Can safety John Lynch keep playing at a high level?

My Advice: Take the best available safety or pass rusher in the first round. Reggie Nelson or Michael Griffin would be nice fits at safety. Or they could go with Anthony Spencer or Jarvis Moss to improve the pass rush. In the second round, target a big defensive tackle like Tank Tyler to help stop the run.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Key Debate: The sudden departure of Will Shields and the losses of Jordan Black and Kyle Turley have left the offensive line in shambles. Can they find a receiver to replace Eddie Kennison? How much longer can Ty Law and Patrick Surtain hold up at the corners?

My Advice: Take Ben Grubbs or Justin Blalock in the first round to solidify the middle of the offensive line, pick up Daymeion Hughes or another Cover Two type corner in the second round. The draft is deep at receiver, so there will a good player available in the later rounds.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Key Debate: They struggled offensively and need help along the offensive line. Andrew Walter isn't the answer at quarterback, so who is? Will Randy Moss and Jerry Porter return to form?

My Advice: JaMarcus Russell is too intriguing to pass up at No. 1. Logic would say grab the best offensive lineman on the board in the second round, but it would be a great opportunity to snatch a talented player that unexpectedly dropped out of the first round. Don't rule out picking up a dependable tight end to give the offense a bona fide threat down the middle of the field.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Key Debate: How long can they win without a legitimate No. 1 receiver to take pressure off LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates? Can veteran linebacker Donnie Edwards be replaced? Who replaces safety Terrence Kiel in the deep middle?

My Advice: The roster is full of quality players, so they have the luxury of waiting for the best available player to fall to them at No. 30. Michael Griffin and Dwayne Jarrett would be instant upgrades, but a sturdy linebacker like David Harris would fit the bill too.

massraider

04-26-2007, 08:55 AM

DALLAS COWBOYS

Key Debate: The 'Boys aggressively filled their needs in free agency, so they enter the draft with only a few needs. Both receivers, Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens, turn 33 this season and may not be brought back in 2008? Can cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn still get it done?

My Advice: Without huge holes on their roster, the Cowboys can focus on taking the best available player in each round. Darrelle Revis or Aaron Ross would be great picks in the first round and they could find their receiver of the future in the second round. Anthony Gonzalez should be there.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Key Debate: Defense has glaring holes at linebacker and cornerback. Who replaces Luke Petitgout at LT? Can receiver Armani Toomer bounce back from an injury at 32?

My Advice: Pay attention to the defense on the first day. Take Lawrence Timmons in the first round and look to pick up a solid cornerback like Tanard Jackson or Marcus McCauley in the second. An underrated receiver should be there in the third round.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Key Debate: The addition of Takeo Spikes helps at linebacker, but Jeremiah Trotter and Dhani Jones are on the decline. Can Jevon Kearse return to Pro Bowl form after a major injury? How much longer can Brian Dawkins patrol the middle of the field?

My Advice: Picking at the bottom of the first round limits their options, but Brandon Meriweather or Michael Griffin should fall to them at No. 26. Finding an impact linebacker, cornerback or pass rusher should be a priority in rounds two and three.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Key Debate: They have five draft picks, but only one on the first day. Should they trade down in the first round and pick up another first-day pick? How do you improve a defense that only sacked the quarterback 19 times in 2006? Who lines up beside Sean Taylor after the failed Adam Archuleta experiment?

My Advice: Find a trade partner and move back into the middle of the first round. Grab a pass rusher or defensive tackle in the first round and take the best available players with the other selections. If no one is willing to trade up, take LaRon Landry or Amobi Okoye at No. 6.

NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS

Key Debate: How do they handle the Lance Briggs situation? Who steps in for Tank Johnson if he is suspended for an extended period of time? Does Rex Grossman have enough weapons in the passing game to be successful?

My Advice: Trading up is a possibility, but standing pat at No. 31 and No. 37 gives them a chance to get two good players. Jon Beason fills their need for a weak side linebacker in the first round and grabbing Dwayne Jarrett, Sidney Rice or Zach Miller in the second round gives Grossman another weapon in the passing game.

DETROIT LIONS

Key Debate: Can they take another receiver early in the first round? Jon Kitna is OK, but who is the quarterback of the future?

My Advice: Conventional wisdom says take Joe Thomas or Gaines Adams, but passing on Calvin Johnson at No. 2 would go against the theory of taking the best available player. Adding Johnson in the first round and Trent Edwards or Drew Stanton in the second round sets up the Lions offense for years. There are enough pass rushers in this draft to get one in later rounds.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Key Debate: Who replaces the departed Ahman Green? Is Bubba Franks still a threat down the middle of the field?

My Advice: This is a tough one because impact players, Marshawn Lynch and Greg Olsen, should still be on the board. Lynch gets the nod because he is a big back who fits in perfectly in the west coast offense. The Packers have several picks in the draft, so they can take the best available player in each round and add depth to several key positions.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Key Debate: Can they improve the 31st-ranked pass defense? Is Tavarius Jackson a franchise quarterback? Who is the go-to guy in the passing game?

My Advice: The Vikings are in a tough spot because they have to wait and see if Adrian Peterson, Brady Quinn or Gaines Adams will be there when they pick at No. 7. If those guys are gone, LaRon Landry or Leon Hall should be the pick. Offensive weapons will be there in the second and third rounds. Adding a combination of Dwayne Jarrett, Sidney Rice or a talented runner like Antonio Pittman would help improve an offense lacking playmakers.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS

Key Debate: The defense is not only small upfront, but also needs to replace Patrick Kerney at DE. Is Jimmy Williams ready to start opposite DeAngelo Hall? Will the pass protection improve around Mike Vick?

My Advice: Taking Levi Brown at No. 8 would finally give them the franchise tackle that they have been missing for a long time. In the second round, pick up a pass rusher and corner or safety to bolster the weak pass defense. Charles Johnson and Tanard Jackson would fill those needs.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Key Debate: The defense finished in the top 10, but has issues at linebacker and safety. Can Dan Morgan stay healthy in the middle? Who replaces Mike Minter at safety? Can they find another pass rusher to start opposite Julius Peppers?

My Advice: Hope that Patrick Willis falls to No. 14 or trade up to get him. If they are not able to get him, grab a pass rusher like Jamaal Anderson or Jarvis Moss in the first round. In the second round take the best available linebacker or safety. David Harris would help out at MLB. Or hope that Brandon Meriweather slides into the second round.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Key Debate: Is Marques Colston ready to be the No. 1 guy? Can Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita continue to play at a high level? Will Fred Thomas bounce back from a sub-par year in 2006?

My Advice: The Saints will have a good player fall to them at No. 26. Paul Posluszny, Chris Houston or Dwayne Bowe may be sitting there for them. In that scenario, take Houston in the first round and find a receiver or linebacker in the second or third round.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Key Debate: Will Calvin Johnson fall to them at No. 4? Simeon Rice still gets after the quarterback, but how much longer can he play? Can they find a quality tackle to help protect the quarterback?

My Advice: If they want Johnson, they will have to move up to get him. They may lose the rest of their first-day picks, but he's worth it for them. If they are not able to make the move, Gaines Adams would give them a pass rusher in the mold of Simeon Rice and they might be able to pick up their tackle, Joe Staley, in the second round.

NFC WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS

Key Debate: Will the Cardinals solve their offensive line woes through the draft? Is running back Edgerrin James on the decline? Can they find a corner to pair with Antrel Rolle?

My Advice: Take the best available player at No. 5. Joe Thomas would help immediately at OT and they should have a quality corner fall to them in the second round. Marcus McCauley would give them an explosive and athletic corner opposite Rolle.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Key Debate: With 10 draft picks, they have a chance to fill several holes. Can they find more playmakers for their 3-4 defense? Is Ashley Lelie a No. 1 receiver?

My Advice: Unless one of the elite players falls out of the top 10, try to grab linebacker Patrick Willis at No. 11 to upgrade ther inside linebacker spot. Take the best available player in the second round. A top-rated receiver or offensive lineman will fall to them in the second. Offensive linemen Arron Sears and Tony Ugoh and receiver Steve Smith should be available at their pick.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Key Debate: They need a defensive tackle and don't have a first-round pick. Who replaces Jerramy Stevens at TE?

My Advice: There aren't a lot of options without a first-round pick. They can sit and wait for the best available player to fall to them in the second round. Taking a chance on Tank Tyler may solve a problem at DT, and picking up a solid offensive lineman like Josh Beekman in the third round would give them depth at offensive guard.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Key Debate: They finished 31st against the run last year. Can they find a pass rusher to take some of the pressure off Leonard Little? Who starts opposite Tye Hill at cornerback?

My Advice: Focus on improving the defense through the draft. Take Darrelle Revis in the first round to solve the cornerback problem, then add in Ray McDonald in the second round to shore up the defensive line.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bucky_brooks/04/25/war.room.debates/3.html

R4Life

04-26-2007, 11:09 AM

False move
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
April 26, 2007

I fear for the Oakland Raiders. I really do.

They've never been in this spot – with Al Davis at the wheel, the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in their lap, and desperately needing to make the right decision. Not just for a fan base that has been in agony for the last four seasons with 15 total wins. But for a franchise that has lost its way so horribly, a Las Vegas odds maker would say the smart money is on Oakland blowing it when the draft begins on Saturday.

But I have hope. Hope that Davis won't do the popular thing. Won't do what pundits say he has to do. I have hope he'll make the smart bet and pass on LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Go with wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Go with the steak rather than the sizzle.

I say this not because I think Russell is a bad choice for the Raiders. I say this because I think Russell is a bad gamble for the Raiders. Of course, analysts will argue otherwise. Yahoo! Sports' Cris Carter doesn't even agree with me, saying he thinks you have to draft a franchise quarterback when it's a need and there is one sitting in front of you. But I see it as a case-by-case scenario, not just some bind oath of "always take the quarterback."

While Russell's arm strength is truly exquisite – and I witnessed it myself at his pro day in March – that's not enough for the Raiders to take the risk. Nor is his amazing size or the fact that he played tough competition last season at LSU.

Strangely enough, I have changed my opinion 180 degrees over the last 3½ months. When I saw Russell play in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, I called our other NFL writer, Jason Cole, told him to turn on the game, and proclaimed "That's the No. 1 pick in the draft."

I was sure of it … until I really thought about it.

The longer I picked over the statistics and scouting opinions, the more I had a creeping feeling that this was a player ripe to be spoiled in the wrong conditions. Rush him into action, and he'd flop. Don't surround him with the right coaches and ample offensive pieces, and he'd fail. Which eventually put me where I am now: If you send Russell to the Raiders right now, with the environment still so unstable and the talent still so uncertain, you might as well take him to the Golden Gate Bridge and throw him over.

It's probably not the popular opinion, what with Russell being adorned with the annual sashes of "best arm of the draft" and "limitless potential." But these are the blind compliments of the NFL draft. Too often we talk about the tools, but disregard other factors. With that in mind, I give you three quotes about another quarterback with a strong arm and limitless potential. He ended up in a similar circumstance to what Oakland is going through right now. And the result was less than ideal.

"The story of this draft is Akili Smith. A lot of people had him No. 1 on their boards." – former Cincinnati coach Bruce Coslet on April 17, 1999, after the Bengals drafted what they thought was their franchise quarterback.

"That was the biggest deal I ever turned down. Maybe next year or three years from now I'll say, 'If we'd have done that, golly, would we be in better shape?' I hope I don't have to think that." – Bengals owner/president Mike Brown on April 17, 1999, admitting that he drafted Smith rather than accept a trade offer from the New Orleans Saints that would have delivered nine draft picks, including three first-round choices.

"You put John Elway's arm on [Randall] Cunningham, that's what you're getting in me." – Akili Smith on April 18, 1999, at his introductory meeting with reporters.

History is a cruel thing.

And now I can't get Smith out of my mind. Do I think Russell is a better player than Smith? Yes, I do. But do I think Oakland is a better destination than Cincinnati was in the 1990s? Absolutely not!

In fact, a lot of the parallels are disturbing. In Smith, you had a kid who was shot out of nowhere – whose one rocket-propelled season at Oregon and franchise measurables had the heads of scouts spinning. He wowed coaches in every conceivable way of the sorting process. Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid gushed about Smith's arm. Former Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer loved his mobility. Coslet and the Bengals ate up his cocky leadership.

Go back and sift through all the media reports about Smith in late February and March of 1999. He was painted as a "boom" pick with big potential, despite his one year of dominance and some character baggage that came along with him.

"Big arm." "Good size." "Raw skill." "Limited dominance." "Has a tendency to force things with his arm."

Sound familiar?

It should because those are five of the significant bullet points on Russell this year: Otherworldly arm strength; huge body; a ceiling that stretches beyond that of Brady Quinn and every other quarterback in this draft; and some lingering questions about how he only truly surfaced during the final seven games of his career and sometimes used his arm to compensate for impatience. Between Smith and Russell, the tool set is more similar than not.

Next issue: environment. Like Cincinnati in the '90s, Oakland has become a place that marquee free agents avoid. There has been massive turnover in the coaching staff. And for one reason or another, promising first-round picks don't fulfill their potential. For the Bengals, it was Ki-Jana Carter, Dan Wilkinson and John Copeland, among others. For the Raiders, it's been guys like Robert Gallery, Phillip Buchanon and Matt Stinchcomb. Quarterback projects have been a bust in both places, too. In Cincinnati it was Donald Hollas, before ending his career in Oakland, and David Klingler prior to Smith. In Oakland it's been Marques Tuiasosopo, Andrew Walter and veterans like Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks.

Critics of this line of thinking will come back and say "So what? The draft is a crapshoot anyway. If you're going to swing and miss, swing and miss while going for a game-changing player." And that's a fine argument. I have no problem with that at all. But I do argue with those people who say you have to take a shot at Russell just because he's sitting there, particularly when Calvin Johnson is on the board.

In Johnson, you have one of the most infallible prospects to go through the draft's sifting process in years. And that's not my own opinion. That's the opinion of a lions-den of decision-makers and scouts, guys who live to find a flaw. We're talking about the same guys who looked at Reggie Bush last year and suggested he might not be an every-down back. The guys who looked at Vince Young and said it might take two years before he would be ready to consistently start. Who looked at Matt Leinart and said he was "too Hollywood" and "might be a product of all the talent surrounding him."

Yet, these same guys on Calvin Johnson? Largely silent.

They say the kid has everything: a long record of dominance, success under the worst of conditions, a great attitude, great rapport with his teammates and top-notch work ethic. And lest we forget, like Russell, he has the size and tools that have had personnel departments raving and teams pondering a trade-up to go after him. Even when it surfaced last week that Johnson reportedly had admitted to trying marijuana, it was spun in a positive light – that Johnson had the character to tell the truth when lying was the easier thing to do.

Johnson is the safe gamble. And for the Raiders, he's the good gamble. He won't need to be stuffed into an incubator for a year like Russell as fans wait impatiently. The coaching staff won't have to worry about overloading him or destroying his confidence – two things that are always issues with quarterbacks. And best of all, Oakland can take a shot at one of the draft's other quarterbacks with the 33rd overall pick. Take the best of both worlds: Johnson making plays on the field, while Drew Stanton or John Beck or Trent Edwards matures on the bench.

Go safe. Improve on the NFL's worst offense with a sure bet. And know that it's worked for other teams in the past. Think about how a little over six years ago, the San Diego Chargers traded out of the top pick in the draft when everyone said it was an absolute atrocity to pass up on Michael Vick.

LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees seemed like a better option, and it was.

"Some people thought it was crazy," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith told Yahoo! Sports last season. "You couldn't pass up the talent and potential of Michael Vick. But we did."

And with Johnson sitting in their laps, the Raiders have to do just that, too.

Charles Robinson is a national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Charles a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjMv38ZGsZiboettQKHOCBNDubYF?slug=cr-raiderspick042607&prov=yhoo&type=lgns