The Rams got their man in the first round of this years draft. Carriker will come in and be an iunstant starter most likely and he will help out on an improving defense.
Winners of Draft Weekend 1. Carolina - Trading down and still getting the great talent of Jon Beason. Then they got a big steal by selecting Dwayne Jarrett mid round two. Jarrett would have been a top 10 overall pick had his 40 time not been so disappointing. He still plays hard and can be dominate at times. Later in round two, they got another steal with center, Ryan Kalil. Kalil was a late first-early second round talent. Charles Johnson is a good end that will help add depth to that position. Ryne Robinson can help out the receiving core. Since that position is already deep, it may take time or an injury to really give him some gametime.
2. Indianapolis - Normallydrafting last will hurt your picks, but not for the Colts. They filled their need of a good slot receiver right away by selecting Anthony Gonzalez. They got another good value pick by taking Tony Agoh near the middle of the second round. Then with their two third round picks, they snatched up Daymeion Hughes and Quinn Pitcock. Both players were first round projections at the start of the offseason, but there stock fell. If the Colts can get them to play to their full potential, they got some real steals. Finally, I really like the pick of Michael Coe at the 173rd overall pick. Coe will fill in at a CB spot and I think he can contribute early in his career.
3. Minnesota - I like the Vikings Draft because they got some explosive players. The addition of Adrian Peterson, healthy or not, will help out a lot. He will split time with Taylor and eventually take the full load. Sidney Rice is either a major hit or a big flop. He only played two years in college, but what a two years they were. He had monster receiving stats. Becasue he doesn't have the full experience as most, he may not know how to adjust his game to the NFL. Getting Marcus McCauley in the third round is also a very good pickup. He will help address a week pass defense. Rufus Alexander could turn out to be a big steal as well. If he can perform at his potential, he can be very good.
4. Cleveland - Cleveland got what everyone is calling the "sexiest" draft, it doesn't reflect that they don't have a first round pick next year. Getting Joe Thomas at 3 was a good fit for them. They decided to pass on Brady Quinn, but got lucky when they traded up to get him at 22. Both players had top 10 grades. Getting Eric Wright in round 2 was a good pick as well. Wright was a part of USC until off the field issues led to a transfer to UNLV. He's got enormus talent, but some teams didn't want to take the gamble on him. Other then those three players, their draft wasn't too special.
5. New England - Belichick gets another one. It wasn't the draft that impresses me, it't the fact that they get Randy Moss for a 4th round pick. They started Saturday with two first round picks and ended it with one one total pick. That one pick was Brandon Meriweather though. Meriweather is a versitile safety that will help out the team right away. Oscar Lou was a good pick that they got in the seventh round. Coming from USC, he's bound to be good. Moss alone would make this draft one of the best, but add Meriweather and I give them a top 5 grade.
Rams Close Out the Draft With Stanley With the 249th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Rams took exciting wide receiver, Derek Stanley. Not much is known about Stanley to most. He went to a D3 school in Wisconsin-Whitewater. I gre up in the area and I'ver seen some of him. He has speed and talent. He ran track in college and was clocked at a 4.34. He has the feet, hips and adjust ability to develop.
Bio from draftace.com
Derek Stanley Wide Receiver Wisconsin-Whitewater Ht: 5'10 Wt: 173
Strengths: Tremendous all around athlete. Good field vision; finds the soft spot in zone coverage. Can make things happen after the catch. Good speed. Weaknesses: Undersized. Doesn't always run crisp routes. Hasn't faced top competition. Comments: Stanley was a very productive receiver at his level of competition. He is a quick, shifty receiver with some upside as slot receiver at the next level. He projects as a late round selection.
Rams Select Jackson in 7th Round With back-to-back picks to close out the Rams draft, the Rams took Keith Jackson with the 248th overall selection. The Rams wanted a nosetackle, but I still think Jackson will be another member that will struggle to make the opening day roster and may see a lot of time on the practice squad. He's undersized, so that's not going to help him out too much.
Bio from NFL.com
Keith Jackson Height: 6-0 Weight: 305 Position: Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle College: Arkansas
OVERVIEW During his final two seasons at Arkansas, Jackson made a name for himself as a physical run stuffer in the middle of the line. If his name sounds familiar to old-time football fans, his father, Keith Jackson, Sr., was a two-time All-American tight end at Oklahoma and was a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. Jackson, Sr., is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and also serves as a radio color commentator on the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network for football games. Jackson, Jr., was rated the fifth-best overall player in Arkansas by Rivals.com as a senior at McClellan High School. He was a member of the Associated Press Arkansas Super Team as a senior. As a junior nose guard, he made 126 tackles (50 solos) while recording 4½ sacks and three fumble recoveries. As a junior fullback he rushed for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a senior, Jackson had 80 tackles (eight for loss) and eight sacks. He was a member of the PrepStar All-Region VI Team and earned All-Southwest honors from Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. He was given a 3.5 star rating by Forrest Davis. Jackson enrolled at Arkansas in 2003, turning down scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech. He earned playing time in eight games as a reserve defensive tackle in 2003, posting 12 tackles (four solos) with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He continued to see reserve action on the defensive line in 2004, earning his first career start against Louisiana-Monroe. He finished his second season with 26 tackles (18 solos), two sacks, 4½ stops for losses and a forced fumble. Jackson took over right defensive tackle duties in 2005 and was the only down lineman to start every game. He registered 74 tackles (44 solos) with 2½ sacks, 6½ stops behind the line of scrimmage and six quarterback pressures. He recovered three fumbles and caused another while also batting away a pass. As a senior, he earned All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors from the Associated Press. He ranked fourth on the team, recording 79 tackles (43 solos) with 2½ sacks and 7½ stops for losses from his right tackle position. In 14 games, he added 16 pressures, a forced fumble and three pass break-ups. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown. In 44 games at Arkansas, Jackson started 28 contests. He collected 191 tackles (109 solos) with seven sacks for minus-65 yards, 18½ stops for losses of 87 yards and 23 quarterback pressures. He caused and recovered four fumbles, knocked down four passes and had two interceptions for 69 yards in returns, including a touchdown. ANALYSIS Positives: Has a squat, yet thick frame with a thick chest, broad shoulders, wide waist and hips, built in the lines of a nose guard … High energy type who is very effective at splitting double teams and plugging the inside rush lanes … Does an adequate job of shedding blocks and moving down the line to make plays in pursuit … Lacks great timed speed, but is effective at moving to the ball in the short area … Has made steady strides in improving his work ethic and showed the last two years that he will give full effort during the game … Has a decent feel for blocks and locating the ball in a crowd … Does a much better job firing off the pass than he does in stringing out run plays … Will generally put himself in position to make the tackle … Has the strength for two-gap activity and uses his hands well to shed … when he keeps his pad level down, he has success getting underneath the blockers to penetrate and make plays in the backfield … Has the strong anchor to hold ground against plays directed at him … Takes good angles and shows the lateral range needed in pursuit … More of a drag down, wrap-up tackler, but can generate some explosion behind his hits … Needs to use his hands better to gain separation, but utilizes them well to defeat single blocks … Has the short-area burst to gain advantage and can drive the blocker back into the pocket when he stays low and fires off the snap with his head up. Negatives: Even with his strong anchor, he can be pushed off the ball, especially when he gets too tall in his stance … Marginal pass rusher, as he is more apt to pressure the pocket than seal the deal (lacks awareness in the backfield) … Also lacks an array of moves to counter when attempting to penetrate … Active with his hands, but tends to get so involved with over-powering the blocker, he forgets about attacking the ball … When bull rushing, his arms get outside the frame, leaving his chest exposed to combo blocks … Needs to play with his head up (when he gets his head down, he struggles to recognize blocking schemes) … Has improved his work ethic, but will still get a bit lazy at times and needs monitoring. Compares To: Anthony McFarland, Indianapolis Colts … Like McFarland, when Jackson's head is into the game, he can be a disruptive force on the line … He has that low center of gravity and short area burst to get underneath the blockers, but needs to use his hands better in attempts to shed. He does well with two-gap assignments, but even though he plays with a high motor, he is better served in a sub package than as an every down lineman. INJURY REPORT 2007: Could not complete the agility tests at the Combine due to a right groin pull. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 4.85 in the 40-yard dash … 440-pound bench press … 605-pound squat … 300-pound power clean … 31-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-8 broad jump. Combine: 5.06 in the 40-yard dash … 1.72 10-yard dash … 2.95 20-yard dash … 4.56 20-yard shuttle … 7.65 three-cone drill … 30-inch vertical jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 33 times. HIGH SCHOOL Attended McClellan (Little Rock, Ark.) High School, playing football for head coach Anthony Chambers … Rated the fifth-best overall player in Arkansas by Rivals.com as a senior … Member of the Associated Press Arkansas Super Team as a senior … As a junior nose guard, he made 126 tackles (50 solos) while recording 4½ sacks and three fumble recoveries … As a junior fullback he rushed for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns … As a senior, Jackson had 80 tackles (eight for loss) and eight sacks … Member of the PrepStar All-Region VI Team and earned All-Southwest honors from Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report … Given a 3.5 star rating by Forrest Davis. PERSONAL Sociology major, enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences … Son of Valerie and Ronald Williams, and Keith Jackson, Sr. … Father was a two-time All-American tight end at Oklahoma and was a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers … Keith Jackson, Sr., is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and also serves as a radio color commentator on the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network for football games … Born Feb. 25, 1985 … Resides in Little Rock, Ark.
Rams Select Shackleford in 6th round Doesn't look very promising for Kendrick Shackleford. The negatives out weigh the positives. He will have to really show something to make the teams opening day roster, may see the practice squad this season. He didn't get that much experience at Georgia.
OVERVIEW Finally given an opportunity to start in 2006, Shackleford awarded the coaching staff for its patience by dominating the competition from the strong-side tackle position. With the massive blocker leading the way, the front wall allowed only 17 sacks for the season. Shackelford attended Villa Rica High School, where he was an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 50 in Georgia and Class AAA first-team all-state selection. He added Times-Georgian All-Area honors as a senior, repeating those honors in both football and basketball during his junior season. He was named all-region in basketball and was selected the 2001 squad's Most Improved Player. Shackelford enrolled at Georgia, where he provided reserve duty at tackle for the school's 10-3 team in 2003. He was the recipient of the team's Iron Man Award in 2004 while serving mostly as a reserve, starting one game against Vanderbilt. He was second string at strong-side tackle in 2005, appearing in every game. As a senior, he started every game for the Bulldogs, producing 52 knockdowns. ANALYSIS Positives: Has a thick frame with muscular arms, big gut, large thighs and calves, thick ankles and big feet … Shows great balance and lower body strength to maintain position vs. the bull rush … Has the long arm reach to engulf smaller edge rushers and knows how to use his frame to lean, push and wear down the bull rusher … Despite his size, he is efficient on pulls and traps, taking good angles and locating linebackers to neutralize on the move … Comes off the snap with great force, jolting the pass rusher back … Lacks timed speed, but uses his burst off the snap to gain leverage over the defender … Maintains contact on the move and is able to create huge holes with his explosiveness … Plays with good body control when called upon to trap block … Has a good running motion for a player of his size … Shows good arm extension and power in pass protection and the foot agility to slide out to neutralize the edge rush. Negatives: Lunges and over-extends at times when his initial move fails to lock onto a defender … Needs to improve his hand technique (has the power, but seems to drop his hands too quickly on contact) … Short-arm blocks and his large frame sometimes poses problems when he has to go down low … Needs to be quicker recoiling and resetting his hands … Appears too stiff in his hips to run with a fluid stride … also must use his hands better to avoid tacklers at his legs (can be taken down easily when attacked low). Compares To: Kevin Barry, Green Bay Packers … Like Barry, Shackelford can play either tackle position … Neither is known for his foot speed, but both do an efficient job of holding off the bull rush by using their size to lean into and occupy the defender until the play is completed. INJURY REPORT No injuries reported. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 5.3 in the 40-yard dash … 460-pound bench press … 25-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-3 broad jump. Combine: 5.33 in the 40-yard dash … 1.88 10-yard dash … 3.09 20-yard dash … 5.05 20-yard shuttle … 8.35 three-cone drill … 24½-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-6 broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Villa Rica (Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Lynn Rowe … Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 50 in Georgia and Class AAA first-team all-state selection … Added Times-Georgian All-Area honors as a senior, repeating those honors in both football and basketball during his junior season … Named all-region in basketball and was selected the 2001 squad's Most Improved Player. PERSONAL Child and Family Development major … Born Feb. 2, 1985 … Resides in Villa Rica, Ga.
Rams Select Ryan More Defensive line help with this pick. Carriker will come in and probably start at DE, Ryan won't be so lucky. He will probably hardly see the field as a rookie, but creates more depth. He's athletic and the Rams seem to like that.
Bio from NFL.com
Clifton Ryan Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Position: Defensive Tackle/End College: Michigan State OVERVIEW Ryan was originally recruited as an outside linebacker, playing that position briefly before shifting to rush defensive end in 2003. As he continued to grow in size, the coaching staff utilized him as a strongside defensive end as a sophomore and junior, shifting him to weakside defensive tackle for his final season. At Arthur Hill High School, Ryan was an All-Midwest choice by Super Prep, Prep Star and Prep Football Report. He ranked among the nation's top 25 athletes by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming and was listed among the Midwest's top prospects by Super Prep. He was rated among the state's top seniors by the Lansing State Journal, the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. He added first-team Class A all-state honors from the Detroit News as a senior and was a three-time All-Saginaw Valley Conference selection. Ryan recorded 87 tackles, including four sacks, in 2001. He also rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns that year. He produced 108 tackles, including 11 for losses, and forced three fumbles as a junior. He also gained 250 yards (41 carries) and scored four rushing touchdowns in 2000. As a sophomore, he posted 115 stops and finished his career with 310 tackles, including 12 sacks. He also lettered in basketball and track. Ryan enrolled as a 260-pound outside linebacker at Michigan State in 2002. He played in two games before the coaching staff decided to redshirt him, as he was limited to a pair of tackles. He moved to rush end in 2003, playing behind Greg Taplin, finishing with 16 tackles (10 solos), a sack and two stops for loss. In 2004, Ryan took over strongside defensive end duties. In 12 games, he collected 41 tackles (29 solos) with 2½ sacks, seven stops for loss and seven quarterback pressures. He also caused a fumble and deflected a pass. Ryan struggled with his weight in 2005, as he played at more than 300 pounds. The strongside end managed 34 tackles (22 solos) with three sacks, as he caused and recovered a fumble. He also had three pressures. Ryan shifted inside to weakside tackle in 2006. He delivered just 25 tackles (16 solos), but produced 13 pressures with four sacks, six stops for loss and two forced fumbles. In 50 games at Michigan State, Ryan started 35 contests. He made 118 tackles (78 solos) with 10½ sacks for minus-62 yards, 19 stops for losses of 94 yards and 23 quarterback pressures. He caused four fumbles and recovered two others while also deflecting a pair of passes. ANALYSIS Positives: Has a thick frame with a firm lower body … Has good weight-room strength, but must have it translate to the field better … Shows adequate quickness out of his stance and does a decent job of stringing plays out … When he keeps his pads down, he is able to generate enough of a burst to gain advantage off the snap … Does a good job of adjusting on the move and has shown improved hand usage in attempts to shed … Gives adequate effort in his lateral pursuit and has functional pop on contact … Improved his wrap-up tackle technique, doing a better job of facing up and striking as a senior … Flashes quick hands with strength to jolt and fend off blocks, but needs to do a better job of protecting his body … Was much better in 2006 when trying to flash that extra surge after separation to close on the play … Might be a better fit for the under tackle position, as he lacks the quickness to play on the edge … When playing tackle, he showed better ability to get under the blocker's jersey and was more efficient taking on the lead blocker to clog the rush lanes … Takes better angles from the two-gap than from the edge (will take a wide loop in order to avoid when playing end) … Has the leg drive to anchor and hold ground, but needs to do it with more consistency … His 13 pressures in 2006 indicate he could be effective on stunts, and he showed better lateral mobility in attempts to push the pocket. Negatives: Frame lacks muscle tone (thick, but not well built) and is at maximum growth potential (added more than 40 pounds since his freshman year) … Slow to read and react to plays and will throttle down when not involved in the action … More of an assignment type (does what he is told) than one who plays on instincts … Has generated little production as a tackler, but shows adequate ability to pressure the quarterback … His weight room strength fails to translate to the field, as he struggles to stack and control, shed and anchor (did show better anchor working inside in 2006, though) … Doesn't have the balance to make plays in space … Slow to stunt outside, as he takes false steps in his change of direction … Has a good short-area burst, but his feet die when having to labor long distances … Needs to use his hands better to deflect passes at the line, and also must do a better job of keeping those hands inside the frame (takes wild swipes and leaves his chest exposed too often) … Might be better off dropping some pounds, as his added bulk led to tired legs and calf problems. Compares To: ORIEN HARRIS-Cleveland … Ryan might be a better fit at tackle than guard. He has some redeeming qualities to fill a roster spot, as he can play inside in a 4-3 or bounce wide in a 3-4 alignment. However, with only 118 tackles in 50 games, including 35 starts, you can see he has not been productive. He showed better run-stuffing skills at tackle in 2006, but if a team drafts him to play end, he will have a short summer in training camp. INJURY REPORT 2006: Bothered most of the year by a calf strain. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 5.14 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times … 29-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-4 broad jump … 4.83 20-yard shuttle … 7.36 three-cone drill … 32½-inch arm length … 8¾-inch hands … Right-handed. Combine: 5.1 in the 40-yard dash … 1.77 10-yard dash … 2.97 20-yard dash … 4.69 20-yard shuttle … 7.49 three-cone drill … 26½-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-6 broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.) High School, playing football for head coach James Jones … All-Midwest choice by Super Prep, Prep Star and Prep Football Report … Ranked among the nation's top 25 athletes by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming and was listed among the Midwest's top prospects by Super Prep … Rated among the state's top seniors by the Lansing State Journal, the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press … Added first-team Class A all-state honors from the Detroit News as a senior and was a three-time All-Saginaw Valley Conference selection … Recorded 87 tackles, including four sacks, in 2001 … Also rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns that year … Produced 108 tackles, including 11 for losses, and forced three fumbles as a junior … Also gained 250 yards (41 carries) and scored four rushing touchdowns in 2000 … As a sophomore, he posted 115 stops and finished his career with 310 tackles, including 12 sacks … Also lettered in basketball and track. PERSONAL Kinesiology major … Son of Regina Ryan … Born Feb. 18, 1984 … Resides in Saginaw, Mich.
Rams Select Fry After trading down and out of the 4th round, the Rams used their newly aquired 5tf round pick, 139th overall, to select center/guard, Dustin Fry from Clemson. Fry is a big, stong, powerful guy. He picks up the blitz well. Rams may keep him and work him into the system slowly for the future.
Bio From NFL.com
Dustin Fry Height: 6-2 Weight: 326 Position: Center College: Clemson
OVERVIEW The all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection was the anchor for the Tigers' front wall ever since taking over full-time center duties as a sophomore. With his low center of gravity, girth and squat frame, Fry has made it a habit of putting defenders on their pants, registering 171 knockdowns while manning the pivot. Much of the team's success running with the football is because of Fry's dominance in the middle, where more than 60 percent of the Tigers' ground yardage was attained in 2006. The hard-nose drive blocker helped elevate the team's rushing attack to fifth in the nation with 217.85 yards per game, a far cry from the Tigers' 100th place ranking during Fry's sophomore season in 2004 (team averaged 107.55 yards that year). Fry played under legendary head coach John McKissick (only coach in high school, college or professional history to win more than 500 games in a career) at Summerville High School. He earned All-American honors from SuperPrep, CBSSportsline.com and Max Emfinger, adding all-state, all-area and all-region accolades as a senior. He also picked up all-Lowcountry honors in three sports -- football, wrestling and track and field. Fry started at offensive guard and tackle during his career. He recorded 80 knockdown blocks as a senior, grading better than 80 percent for blocking consistency in every game. He was rated as one of the top four football prospects in the state of South Carolina and played in the Shrine Bowl after his final season. In wrestling, Fry captured the state Class AA championship as a junior. He finished second in the state finals in the shot put his junior campaign and was named Post & Courier Lowcountry Male Athlete of the Year. In 2002, Fry enrolled at Clemson; he chose the Tigers over Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. He competed as a center on the scout team and retained freshman eligibility. The following year, Fry collected 12 knockdown blocks and earned his first career start against North Carolina. Fry continued to play behind Tommy Sharpe at center in 2004. He saw action in 10 games, sitting out the season opener against Wake Forest while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He finished the 2004 season with 18 knockdown blocks. The following season was his first as a full-time starter. Fry was a first-team all-state pick by Orangeburg Touchdown Club and winner of the Solid Rock Award from the coaching staff among offensive linemen. He graded 83 percent for blocking consistency and registered 72½ knockdowns in 820 plays. Fry was named all-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team in 2006. He participated in 666 plays, made 68½ knockdowns and was called by the coaching staff the main reason for the team's offensive prowess. The Tigers led the conference and ranked 15th nationally with 410.92 yards per game in total offense, ranked fifth in the nation in rushing (217.85 ypg) and ranked 12th in the Division I-A ranks with 32.89 points per game. The most important figure was the protection Fry and his fellow linemen afforded the Clemson backfield. After ranking 61st in the nation by allowing 2.63 sacks per game in 2005, the front wall ranked sixth in the country and led the ACC in 2006, giving up only 1.15 sacks per game. Fry wound up starting 26 of his 46 games. He saw action in 2,192 plays and registered 171 knockdown blocks. ANALYSIS Positives: Lacks muscle tone, but has good overall body thickness, long arms, natural strength, round midsection, thick hips, thighs and calves and big bubble. … Has good knee bend and balance for a player with his girth, showing good quickness firing off the snap to block in space. … Has adequate foot movement in his kick slide and does a good job of mirroring the defender in one-on-one action. … Plays with a nasty streak and likes to use his hand punch to shock and jolt. … Made good strides as a senior to improve his marginal hand placement, appearing to be more active shooting and recoiling his hands with force. … Uses his leg drive to wall off and turn the defender while maintaining position, doing a nice job of coming off the snap to reach the interior defender. … Gets out of his stance nicely, generating good explosion to generate movement off the snap for the running game, showing functional quickness in the short area. … Uses his hands properly to set, pop and stop the bull rush charge, and learned in 2006 how to use his body mass to deliver more force behind his blocks. … Despite his girth, he demonstrates decent knee bend and flexibility, staying low in his anchor. … Plays flat-footed, making good body adjustments in his lateral slide and rolls his hips and punches with his hands to drive the defender off the ball. … Very effective at bumping the defensive tackle, climbing into the short area and redirecting to hit and land on targets in space. … Tough lineman who will compete and challenge defenders. … Smart and very instinctive, making all of the calls at the line, rarely making any assignment mistakes. … Hard worker in the weight room whose 500-pound bench press ranks among the all-time best by a Clemson player. … Has the leg base to keep his balance dropping back in pass protection (will get jerked forward by a defender when he gets too tall in his stance, though). … Does a nice job of incline blocking, adjusting to stunts on the move. Negatives: Inconsistent getting to the second level, lacking the sustained speed. Tends to get top heavy, crossing his feet and narrowing his base to make it easy for defenders to pull him down to the ground. … While he has a good hand punch, he will overextend, causing him to not sustain blocks for long. … Relies more on strength; he is not known for getting position and finessing his man. … Trips over his feet trying to get out to neutralize the linebackers. … Has an effective hand jolt, but will still revert to catching the defender rather than rocking him back at times. … Must learn to play at a lower pad level; he gets too upright in his stance. … Can handle defenders one-on-one, but is susceptible to the speed move. … Good on the short pull, but struggles to locate linebackers; he tends to keep his head down moving up field. … Has improved his hand placement, but needs to reset them quicker in order to defeat counter moves. Compares To: Richie Incognito, St. Louis -- Like Incognito, Fry plays with a lot of aggression. He is not the most sound-blocking technician (he is still learning proper hand technique), but has the strength and hand punch to shock and jolt defenders with consistency. He is very quick firing off the ball to lock on to the 1 tech defender working inside, but outside of the short pull, he doesn't have the foot speed to be effective blocking in the second level. He compensates for a lack of ideal quickness with brute strength, but when he gets too high in his stance, he can be walked back into the pocket, evident by his struggles holding off the bull rush in Senior Bowl practices. INJURY REPORT 2002: Granted a medical hardship while recovering from a dislocated right kneecap. 2004: Underwent arthroscopic left shoulder surgery (1/04/04) after the 2003 season. … The injury would force him to miss the season opener vs. Wake Forest. 2005: Underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery in January. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 5.27 in the 40-yard dash. … 500-pound bench press. … Bench presses 225 pounds 42 times. … 655-pound squat. … 410-pound hang clean. … 27-inch vertical jump. … 7-foot-6 broad jump. … 32 3/8-inch arm length. … 9¾-inch hands. … Right-handed. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Summerville (S.C.) High School, playing football for legendary head coach John McKissick. … Earned All-American honors from SuperPrep, CBSSportsline.com and Max Emfinger, adding all-state, all-area and all-region accolades as a senior. … Also picked up all-Lowcountry honors in three sports -- football, wrestling and track and field. … Started at offensive guard and tackle during his career. … Recorded 80 knockdown blocks as a senior, grading over 80 percent for blocking consistency in every game. … Rated as one of the top four football prospects in the state of South Carolina and played in the Shrine Bowl after his final season. … In wrestling, Fry captured the state Class AA championship as a junior. … Finished second in the state finals in the shot put his junior year and was named Post & Courier Lowcountry Male Athlete-of-the-Year. PERSONAL Sports Management major. … Born Dustin W. Fry on 10/03/83. … Resides in Summerville, S.C.
Day 2 Starts with Bush With day two of the NFL Darft flying by, The Raiders kicked things off by taking Louisville RB, Michael Bush. Bush has tremendous talent but a leg injury limited him to only most of 1 game last season. If he can be healthy, he can see some playing time. A more powerful runner, just like Rhodes and Jordan. A little bit later, New Orleans selected OSU RB Anonio Pittman. To me this pick doesnt make too much sense since they had Deuce McAllister and drafted Reggie Bush last year. Pittman probably won't see too much playing time early. Buffalo made another interesting pick when they selected Fresno State RB Dwayne Wright. Wright is a good prospect, but they already used their first round pick on Marshawn Lynch so this didn't make too much sense. The biggest pick up of the day has to be from the Patriots. The Pats traded their 4th round pick to the Raiders for Randy Moss. Moss makes the Patriots Super Bowl favorites immediatly. Big move for them.
Keep An Eye On Report I didn't expect many of these plaeyrs to be day one picks, but some of them did very well for themselves QB John Beck - BYU - Rd 2 - #8(40) - Miami Dolphins QB John Stocco - Wisconsin RB Chris Henry - Arizona - Rd 2 - #18(50) - Tennessee Titans RB Garrett Wolfe - Northern Illinois - Rd 3 - #30(93) - Chicago Bears WR Sidney Rice - South Carolina - Rd 2 - #12(44) - Minnesota Vikings WR Derek Stanley - Wisconsin-Whitewater WR Jeff Samardzija - Notre Dame LB Mark Zalewski - Wisconsin LB Prescott Burgess - Michigan LB Will Herring - Auburn CB David Irons - Auburn S Sabby Piscitelli - Oregon State - Rd 2 - #32(64) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Eric Weddle - Utah - Rd 2 - #5(37) - San Diego Chargers K Mason Crosby - Colorado
The Rams Go For Wade After taking a defensive lineman and a fullback, Rams fans finally have someone they can get a little excited about. Cornerback Jonathan Wade will come in and battle for playing time. With Fisher gone and Butler on his way out, it leaves the Rams with Fakhir Brown, Tye Hill, Mike Rumph, and Lenny Walls. Wade will battle for the 3rd or 4th CB spot most likely. He used to be a WR and is still learning at the CB spot, but he is still very talented. Good pick by St. Louis.
Bio from nfl.com
Jonathan Wade Height: 5-10 Weight: 192 Position: Cornerback College: Tennessee
OVERVIEW Wade is an emerging talent who came into his own as a senior, his first season as a full-time starter. A versatile athlete, he was originally recruited as a wide receiver, playing with the offensive unit during his first two years at Tennessee before shifting to the defensive backfield as a redshirt sophomore in 2004. Wade also excelled on the Volunteers' track team. He was a member of two of the three fastest 4x100-meter relay teams in school history, capturing 2005 indoor and outdoor All-America recognition. The outdoor 4x100-meter relay team placed third at the NCAA Finals with a time of 38.83 seconds, third best in school history. He was the squad's top 200-meter sprinter in 2004 with a season-best 20.79 and sprinted to the team's best 55-meter time of 7.36 at the Tennessee Invitational. He also anchored Tennessee's 2003 SEC champion and NCAA outdoor runner-up 4x100-meter relay that clocked 38.72 in the NCAA finals, the second-fastest time in Volunteers history. Wade was an All-America selection by Tom Lemming and Super Prep, adding Class 5A all-state honors as a senior at Evangel Christian High School. He started three seasons at cornerback and twice started as a wide receiver, leading the team to a 54-3 record, three Class 5A state titles and the 1999 national championship. Wade recorded 24 tackles with 30 pass deflections and three interceptions as a senior. He was also an accomplished track-and-field athlete, winning the 200-meter dash title with a time of 20.95 at the 2001 World Youth Championships. He also won the 2001 state 100-meter and 200-meter titles. He set the state record in 200-meters (21.03) and his best 100-meter time was 10.15, earning him Louisiana 2001 Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year and all-state MVP honors in track by The Shreveport Times as a junior. He also excelled in the classroom, earning Principal's List and Honor Roll student accolades. After enrolling at Tennessee in 2002, Wade appeared in the final 12 games, starting three games as a receiver. He caught eight passes for 84 yards (10.5 avg.) and rushed nine times for 78 yards (8.7 avg.). He also played on special teams, posting two tackles. A left shoulder injury against Marshall required surgery, shutting down Wade's 2003 season after only two games. He had a five-yard reception, but lost 10 yards on a reverse. When he returned to the field in 2004, he shifted to left cornerback, starting five of 13 games. While adjusting to his new position, he posted 24 tackles (19 solos) with a pass break-up and a forced fumble. Wade started seven of 11 games he played in during 2005. He came up with 32 tackles (26 solos) with 1.5 stops for losses and a fumble recovery. He batted away five passes and intercepted two others, adding one more tackle on special teams. The All-Southeastern Conference choice started all 13 games at left cornerback in 2006. He was credited with 52 tackles (44 solos) and six stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused a fumble and posted three special teams stops. He had 13 pass deflections and four interceptions while also gaining 18 yards on a kickoff return. In 51 games at Tennessee (14 on offense), Wade started three times as a receiver and 28 times as a cornerback. He finished with 110 tackles (90 solos) and 7.5 stops for losses of 22 yards. He recovered one fumble, caused two others and posted six special teams stops. He had 19 pass deflections with six interceptions for 112 yards in returns (18.7 avg.), including a touchdown. He rushed 10 times for 68 yards (6.8 avg.), caught nine passes for 89 yards (9.9 avg.) and had an 18-yard kickoff return. ANALYSIS Positives: Has a lean, angular frame built for speed, with knotted calves, tapered muscles, long limbs and outstanding quickness … Gets a quick break on the ball and, while he is a bit of a gambler, he has the recovery speed to get back into the play … Can allow a big cushion because of his explosive closing burst … His experience on offense was beneficial, as he is alert to the receiver's route progression and moves … Has the natural hands to catch the ball cleanly and away from his frame … Has the change-of-direction agility and flexibility to make plays from sideline-to-sideline … Best when playing in man coverage, as he does a good job of using his hands to jam and re-route … Has very good recovery skills, but needs to refine his backpedal, as the shuffle-and-bail technique he uses affects his quickness coming out of breaks … Better when playing off the receiver, as he has the speed to close on plays in front of him … Does a good job of using his hands to knock the receivers off their rhythm … Shows nice feet and loose hips to turn and trail, but must develop better route anticipation (can lose position at times) … When he doesn't use his shuffle technique, he gets a much quicker break on the ball … Will flash nice feet to plant-and-drive out of transition cleanly (when not shuffling) … Opens his hips properly to turn and run with the backs along the perimeter … Has the second gear needed to recover and close … Showed good improvement covering on the go route and shows the body control and adjustments to compete for the ball at its high point … Plays bigger than his size indicates due to his fine leaping ability … Will sell out to break up the pass and is best when competing for the ball in flight … Catches the ball cleanly and is a good open-field runner with the burst to separate after the interception … Worked hard in the 2006 off-season to improve his strength, and while he is still a work in progress in run support, he showed improvement staying square to make the open field tackles (still need wrap-up technique work). Negatives: Has only dedicated one off-season to football (spent his first four years competing with the track team in the spring) and still lacks an ideal feel to read the play (slow to see it develop) … Gets fooled often on play-action and screens … Could be even quicker in his coverage ability if he abandons the shuffle technique he uses in his backpedal … Has loose hips, but his explosion is sometimes negated because of his marginal pedal … Will eyeball the backfield too long, causing him to miss the route progression working in the zone … Improved a bit in 2006, but seems to lack courage when asked to step inside the box to lend run support (shies away from contact) … Lacks the hand punch to defeat blocks in closed quarters and doesn't stay low enough in his pads to make an impact taking on a lead block … More of an ankle biter as a tackler, getting reckless by grabbing rather than wrapping and securing … Has a good break out of his pedal, but sometimes opens his hips too early in transition … Needs to keep his arms more active in order to prevent bigger blockers from reaching him. Compares To: Fred Smoot, Washington -- Wade looks the part as a man coverage defender, but you really have to question his desire to hit, especially against running plays … He needs to refine his backpedal technique and must add more bulk, but the additional weight could affect his quickness … A former track man, he has only one year of full-time starting experience … His speed will bring good value as a nickel back, but unless he can develop better courage, he will be a liability against running plays. INJURY REPORT 2003: Suffered left shoulder AC joint damage against Marshall and underwent surgery on Sept. 22, missing the rest of the season. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 4.45 in the 40-yard dash … 335-pound bench press … 450-pound squat … 300-pound power clean … 35-inch vertical jump. Combine: 4.46 in the 40-yard dash … 1.62 10-yard dash … 2.64 20-yard dash … 4.4 20-yard shuttle … 11.58 60-yard shuttle … 7.07 three-cone drill … 40½-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-6 broad jump. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) High School, playing football for head coach Dennis Dunn … All-America selection by Tom Lemming and Super Prep, adding Class 5A all-state honors as a senior … Started three seasons at cornerback and twice started as a wide receiver, leading the team to a 54-3 record, three Class 5A state titles and the 1999 national championship … Made 24 tackles with 30 pass deflections and three interceptions as a senior … Also an accomplished track-and-field athlete … Won the 200-meter dash title with a time of 20.95 at the 2001 World Youth Championships … Won the 2001 state 100-meter and 200-meter titles … Set the state record in 200 meters (21.03) and his best 100-meter time was 10.15, earning him Louisiana 2001 Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year and all-state MVP honors in track by The Shreveport Times as a junior … Also excelled in the classroom, earning Principal's List and Honor Roll student accolades. PERSONAL African American Studies major … Born Jonathan Charles Wade on Mar. 27, 1984 … Resides in Shreveport, La.
Piscitelli Rounds Out Round 2 An interesting round, in which 3 QBs were selected and Trent Edwards still has not been taken. Kenny Irons, Chris Henry, Brian Leonard, and Brandon Jackson were all taken from the running back position. One pick I like is Josh Wilson in Seattle. Though I am a Rams fan, I like Wilson and he should have a good career. Steve Smith to the Giants may help out Eli, but the Giants still need blockers. To end the round, the Buccs selected safety SabbyPiscitelli, my favorite player in this years draft. Piscitelli is a hard hitting safety who players a lot like Adam Archuleta did.
Rams Select Brian Leonard With the 52nd overall pick in the draft, the Rams took FB/RB, Brian Leonard from Rutgers. Leonard is very versatile. As an inside runner, he shows nice vision, agility, and balance. He can run, block, and catch. I'm not so sure he'd the best pick for the rams here, but he'll be good for us.
Bio from NFL.com
Brian Leonard Height: 6-1 Weight: 238 Position: Fullback/Running Back College: Rutgers
OVERVIEW While the fullback position has evolved over the years, Leonard's hard-nosed, aggressive style is reminiscent to that of former Green Bay Packers great Jim Taylor. Not since Purdue's Mike Alstott (1991-95) has a collegiate fullback been able to determine an outcome of a game on such a consistent basis as Leonard did throughout his career. Whether breaking free for a long run, powering his way into the end zone in goal-line situations, providing a devastating block for halfback sensation Ray Rice or making the clutch catch in traffic, Leonard is the type of player defenses always need to account for. Leonard was a standout running back and linebacker at Gouverneur High School (N.Y.), where he led the team to a 9-1 record and the Class B Section X championship as a senior. He was a two-time all-state selection and the Watertown Daily Times Athlete of the Year, in addition to being named All-Northern Conference Most Valuable Player three times. He closed out his career as the state of New York's all-time scoring leader with 696 points, totaling 107 touchdowns while rushing for 5,854 yards. As a senior, Leonard rushed for 2,398 yards on 234 carries (10.2 avg.) and 47 touchdowns, adding seven two-point conversions; he also caught 23 passes for 529 yards and produced nine consecutive 200-yard rushing games that year. As a linebacker, he recorded 64 tackles, including 41 solo stops, one sack and two interceptions. He rushed for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats' 28-22 win over Ogdensburg Free Academy in the title game and scored eight touchdowns in the Wildcats' victory over Cornwall High. Leonard was also a standout basketball player. He garnered first-team all-league recognition and PrepStar All-American honors. In track, he competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. He posted impressive wins in both the 100 and 200 at the Section VII/X Track and Field Championships. Leonard was a four-time honor roll student. The younger brother of former Scarlet Knight linebacker Nate Leonard (1999-2001), Leonard enrolled at Rutgers in 2002 and spent the year as a halfback on the scout team while his brother served as a graduate assistant. Brian Leonard exploded onto the collegiate scene in 2003, earning Freshman All-American honors as he was also named Big East Conference Freshman of the Year. He started 10 of 12 games at halfback, leading the team in rushing with 880 yards and nine touchdowns on 213 carries (4.1-yard average). He also led the Scarlet Knights with 53 receptions for 488 yards (9.2 avg.) and five scores. He ranked fifth in the Big East with an average of 114.0 all-purpose yards per game and scored 84 points. He also had two solo tackles and a fumble recovery. Leonard shifted to fullback in 2004, earning Pro Football Weekly All-American honors. The first-team All-Big East Conference pick missed the Syracuse game with a leg bruise, but he still led the conference with an average of 125.0 all-purpose yards per game. He led the team with 199 carries for 732 yards (3.7 avg.) and seven touchdowns and ranked second on the squad with 61 catches for 518 yards (8.5 avg.) and two scores to finish with 54 points. Leonard also had three tackles (two solos). In 2005, Leonard was again named to Pro Football Weekly's All-American team, in addition to picking up All-Big East Conference accolades. Taking on a more traditional fullback role with the arrival of halfback Raymell Rice, Leonard still finished second on the team with 173 rushes for 740 yards (4.3 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He led Rutgers with 55 receptions for 568 yards (10.3 avg.) and six scores. His average of 8.5 points scored per game ranked fourth in the Big East while his average of 4.58 catches per game ranked second. He scored a career-high 102 points and averaged 109.0 all-purpose yards per game. As a senior, Leonard was again named a first-team All-American and landed on the All-Big East Conference second team. He was used more as a blocker, producing 14 touchdown-producing blocks. He carried 93 times for a career-low 427 yards (4.6 avg.) and five touchdowns. He caught 38 passes for 294 yards (7.7 avg.) and totaled 667 all-purpose yards with 30 total points and two solo tackles. In 47 games at Rutgers, Leonard started 45 times. He holds the Big East record with at least one reception in 47 games. He holds the school record with 207 career receptions, on which he gained 1,868 yards (9.0 avg.) and scored 13 touchdowns. He rushed 678 times for 2,779 yards (4.1 avg.) and 32 scores. He holds the school record with 272 points scored and recorded seven tackles (six solos) and a fumble recovery. Leonard holds the Rutgers record with 5,961 all-purpose yards, averaging 129.59 yards per game. ANALYSIS Positives: Solidly built with above-average strength, thick thighs and calves, good bubble, tight waist, broad shoulders and good arm-muscle definition … Has excellent speed for his position, showing the upper body strength and leg drive to create and maintain a rush lane as a lead blocker … Has a good short area burst through the creases and the change-of-direction agility to make the initial tackler miss … Shows the plant-and-drive agility to make precise cuts … Has very good balance and body control throughout his stride, demonstrating fluid flexibility and quickness getting to top acceleration … Has good vision to locate and neutralize the blitz and an excellent feel for the soft spots in the zone, consistently getting there, to make the underneath catch … Comes out of his stance quickly and with good urgency, running at the proper pad level with legs churning to push the pile … Has the quickness to explode through the holes and the cutback agility to make the initial tackler miss … Generates the speed to pull away from linebackers and safeties after the catch and is quick enough in his stride to be a valid deep threat … Has the loose hips to elude and makes sharp cuts to separate in his patterns … Displays good field vision, showing patience setting up his blocks when carrying the ball … Alert to stunts and blitzes, showing good slide to neutralize edge rushers … Has the strong base and balance to bounce off of tacklers and maintain his stride … Bruising runner between the tackles with the loose hips to change direction quickly … Picks up his feet nicely to get through traffic and is nimble enough to redirect and cut back outside when the inside hole is clogged … With his sharp cutting agility and burst, Leonard has had good success separating after the catch … Holds the ball secure to his chest when running inside and in the outside hand when turning the corner … Shows very good hands on toss plays and, even when he gets erect in his stance, he is conscious of protecting the ball … Has the speed to separate after the catch and the power to obliterate the smaller defender that tries to get in his path … Is especially effective on swing and middle screens, flat and wheel routes … Has good hip snap maintaining blocking position to protect the pocket and shows urgency facing up … Good cut blocker who shows alertness picking up the blitz. Negatives: When he gets too erect in his stance, he will lose some base and get pushed back through the rush lane … While Leonard has had success bouncing outside to gain yardage in the past, he was used mostly on runs between the tackles as a senior … Seems to have the speed to get outside, make the cut and turn it up the field, but he tends to lose his body lean and get too high in his stance, leaving his feet exposed for shoestring tackles … Runs with good forward lean between tackles, but must learn to keep the same pad level on cuts to the perimeter … Effective lead blocker, but despite his strength as a runner, he fails to generate much pop on contact with his hands … Flashes good speed cutting on the edge, but must generate a stronger kick-out and hand technique in attempts to sustain. Compares To: Justin Griffith of the Atlanta Falcons (Mississippi State) … Leonard is not the physically imposing blocker Tampa Bay's Mike Alstott is but, like Griffith, he generates excellent quickness out of his stance, precise cutback agility and natural hands to be a legitimate receiving threat … He made strides as a lead blocker, but might be best utilized as a halfback in a one-back offense. INJURY REPORT 2004: Sat out the Syracuse game (Oct. 2) after suffering a leg bruise the previous week vs. Kent State. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 4.52 in the 40-yard dash … 425-pound bench press … 535-pound squat … 335-pound power clean … 34½-inch vertical jump … 30¼-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … Right-handed. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Gouverneur (N.Y.) High School, playing football for head coach Joe Whal … Led the team to a 9-1 record and the Class B Section X championship as a senior … Two-time all-state selection and Watertown Daily Times Athlete of the Year, adding All-Northern Conference Most Valuable Player accolades three times … Closed out his career as the state of New York's all-time record holder by scoring 696 points, totaling 107 touchdowns while rushing for 5,854 yards … As a senior, Leonard rushed for 2,398 yards on 234 carries (10.2-yard average) and 47 touchdowns, adding seven two-point conversions, as he also caught 23 passes for 529 yards … Produced nine consecutive 200-yard rushing games during his final season … As a linebacker, he recorded 64 tackles, including 41 solo stops, one sack and two interceptions … Rushed for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats' 28-22 win over Ogdensburg Free Academy in the title game and scored eight touchdowns in the Wildcats' victory over Cornwall High … Was also a standout basketball player … Garnered first-team all-league and PrepStar All-American honors … In track, he competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump … Posted impressive wins in both the 100 and 200 meters at the Section VII/X Track & Field Championships … Four-time honor roll student. PERSONAL Labor studies major … Younger brother of former Rutgers linebacker Nate Leonard (1999-2001), whose career was cut short by a knee injury. Nate Leonard served as a graduate assistant at Rutgers during Brian Leonard's first season with the Scarlet Knights in 2002 … Born Feb. 3, 1984 … Resides in Haisborough, N.Y.
3 QBs Off the Board Early in Round 2 to start the first 11 picks of the second round, 3 QBs were taken. Surprisingly, they were not the three QBs most people expected. Many scouts thought Trent Edward was the 3rd best QB and he should go early in round 2, then came John Beck and Drew Stanton. The Eagles shocked a lot of people when they chose Kevin Kolb out of Houston with the #36 pick. Beck went to the Dolphins as expected and Stanton stays in Michigan with Detroit. Edwards is still on the board, but should go soon, I would think. To start the 2nd round, the Cardinals selected Alan Branch. Branch is a very talented DT but has some isues with his work ethic. He may have been a top 5 overall pick had his senior season been a little more productive. Next came talented linebacker Paul Posluszny to Buffalo. Paul was Penn State's all time leading tackler from "linebacker U." Superstar Sidney Rice went off the board at #44 to Minnesota while Dwayne Jarrett went to Carolina at #45. Both are very talented receivers. Experience may have hurt Rice while speed concernes may have hurt Jarrett. Both should have very good careers.
First Round Ends With Gonzalez The Colts ended the longest first round in NFL history by selecting wide receiver, Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez will move into the slot receiver roll, replacing Brandon Stokley. It was a question of would the Colts go for a LB or a WR and they went with WR. Steve Smith was another good option here, but they decided to pass on him. Good pick still from the Colts. Gonzalez should have a good career and hes got some of the best teachers.
Bears Get a Gift One of the top athletes in this years draft has fallen all the way down to 31st to the Bears. The Bears have been looking fora TE for a few years now and they found a good one in Greg Olsen. Though Desmond Clark had a good year last season, the Bears still will use Olsen to help the entire offense. Olsen is a very smooth, athletic mover with good speed. He projects to be like a Todd Heap but not quite as good of a blocker.
Baltimore Selects Grubbs One of the best offensive linemen in this years drfats fell all the way to the 29th overall selection to the Baltimore Ravens. With Willis McGahee coming in and becoming Baltimores new RB this offseason, drafting guard, Ben Grubbs, is going to help out all over. McNair will have more time to pass as well. The Ravens don't need to improve on much and the addition of Grubbs helps a good team get better.
49ers Move Up to Take Staley With the Patriots second first round pick this year, the 49ers moved up in a trade to take tackle Joe Staley. Staley went to a small school in Central Michigan. He fell farther then most expected. Staley, being the 3rd ranked tackler in the draft, is expected to be an instant starter. He is athletic for a tackle. San Fransisco did have to give up its 2008 first-rounder and a fourth-round pick this year. Look for Kwame Harris to be traded if the Niners can get anything for him. New England won't pick again until the third round.
Saints Go For a WR The high powered offense in New Orleans just got better by selection Robert Meachem. Since Joe Horn moved on to Atlanta, the Saints wanted a wide receiver. Meachem is a big, fast guy. All the receivers will battle for every job as everything is unsure as of now. Colston was very surprising at the beginning of last year, but slowed down due to injuries. Henderson is a big play threat every time. The other receivers are improving. With a little defensive help, the Saints could find themselves in the Super Bowl this year.
Cowboys Move up to Take Anthony Spencer The Eagles traded down with the Cowboys to pick up defensive end, Anthony Spencer. Dallas had just traded their 22nd overall pick away to Cleveland to move out of the first round and this trade moves them back in. The Eagles receive a 2nd round pick, a 3rd round pick and a 5th round pick from Dallas. Spencer is an athletic player who can play end or stand up and play linebacker. Most scouts ranked his as the last elite defensive end. He will fit in their scheme well.
Panthers Select Jon Beason The second straight Hurricane taken, Beason is a good prospect. The Panthers needed a linebacker to fill in for Dan Morgan. Beason didn't have too productive of a career, but he still projects well in the NFL. Many people thought the Panthers would select a different Miami player, Greg Olsen. Olsen was high on many people boards, but he continues to fall. He may end up in Chicago.
Merriweather to New England With the first of two first round picks this year, the Patriots took safety Brandon Merriweather. Many scouts thought Merriweather slipped out of the first round with a weak senior season, but the Patriots have done there research and expect him to go back to his old ways. I believe he is good and will have good career. Being coached by Belichick will help any player.
The Chiefs Select Dwayne Bowe As expected, the Chiefs went for a WR. Only 2 receivers were off the board by the 23rd pick so the Chiefs had options. Bow is a big receiver with decent speed. Having Russell at QB doesn't hurt. The Chiefs needed to get younger and Bowe will help. He will move into a contributing role immediately. The Chiefs needed a wide receiver. Damion Huard appears to be the starter with Green on his way out and Croyle appearing to be their QB of the future. Huard should be happy to have another target other then Gonzalez
Quinn Goes Home After falling almost as low as Aaron Rodgers did in 2005, the Cleveland Browns traded up to snatch Brady Quinn. Quinn grew up in Ohio and was a Brown's fan. Coming back home to Cleveland was a dream to him. When the opportunity passed when the Browns took Joe Thomas with the #3 overall pick, Quinn was left to tumble. And tumble is what he did. many thought the Dolphins would take him at #9, but even they passed on him. Cleveland had to give up their 2nd round pick and their first round pick of next year to get him, but it should be worth it. Though they just took Charlie Frye in 2005, Quinn may move into the starting role. Great day for Browns fans as they get 2 of the top 10 players in the draft.
Jags Select Nelson After the departure of Deon Grant, the Jags needed a free safety. Reggie Nelson is a perfect fit. He Jaguars have a good secondary already and Nelson only makes it better. Though he's not very big, he has great ball skills. jaguars got a good player with this pick.
Giants Get Ross Giants selected Texas CB Aaron Ross with the No. 20 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Ross had a great senior year, scoring six interceptions. New York was very interested in his return ability. He should also move into the starting lineup instantly. I believe Ross was better then the 20th pick, but many scouts had him in this general area. Good pick for the Giants.
Titans Grab Griffin The Titans selected safety Michael Griffin with the 19th overall pick. Griffin Put up great numbers as a junior, but couldn't put the same numbers up as a senior. DB was a need of the Titans. Griffin will battle Hope for the starting job.
Bengals Get a Steal Leon Hall was a top ten projected player. when he started falling, teams started getting excited. Once Revis went off the Board, Hall was the top corner, no doubt, available. He is going to a highly competitive team in the Bengals. The Bengals like to force turnovers. Hall is a good character guy that shouldn't find himself in trouble by the league. Hall should put up great stats throughout his career.
Broncos Trade Up The Broncos traded up in the draft for the 5th straight year. They traded their first round pick, 3rd round pick, and 6th round pick just to move up 4 spots in the first round from Jacksonville. The Broncos drafted DE Jarvis Moss. Moss had a good college career and should do fine in the NFL. He will battle for the starting job right away. The Broncos looked at trading up higher to get Patrick WIllis or Amobi Okoye, but no deals were made.
Head Scratching pick by the Packers The Packers have needs on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, Green is gone. I think Vernand Morencey is and should be their starter. If Marshawn Lynch would have fallen to them, I think they would have taken him, though I think Lynch is highly overrated and wont have a good career. Even If a DE like Carriker or Anderson slipped to them, they would probably take one of them. But since none of that happend the Packers made a head scratching move by selecting DT Justin Harrell. Harrell was a high prospect until injuries slowed him down and he didnt have a highly productive season this year. He may battle for a starting job, but I still feel this was the wrong pick for the Packers, they could've traded down if they really wanted him. Otherwise they should have taked Greg Olsen.
Steelers Replace Porter The Pittsburgh Steelers made the mover to draft linebacker, Lawrence Timmons. Timmons is a big play guy that will fill in great for Porter. He looks to be great for many years. Maybe a little high for him, but the Steelers loved him and he fit their needs.
Jets Trade Up The Carolina Panthers didn't know who they wanted and there were two elite corners sitting on the board. The Panthers did the logical thing by capitalizing on there situation. They traded the #14 pick and their 6th round pick for the Jets #25 pick and their 6th and 7th round picks. The Jets then srprised some by taking Darrelle Revis. I believed Leon Hall was a little better, it was close. i actually liked one of the two to go to St. Louis. Obviously, the Jets needed a lead corner, and they mnay have just got one.
Rams Select Adam Carriker The Rams did trade for James Hall earlier this offseason, but they liked Carriker. He will have to batte for a starting job right away, but may eventually replace Leonard Little. The pick is good. Many people predicted this, nothing to special.
Bio from nfl.com
Adam Carriker Height: 6-6 Weight: 292 Position: Defensive End College: Nebraska
OVERVIEW One of the Big 12's most dominant defensive players, Carriker has drawn favorable comparisons to New England Patriots standout Richard Seymour. Both have the explosive burst to penetrate the backfield and the range to chase down ball carriers along the perimeter. The team's 2004 Lifter of the Year, not only does Carriker have impressive strength and an imposing frame, but has also excelled in the classroom. He is a three-time All-Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member. Carriker was a standout quarterback and rush end at Kennewick High School in Washington. Even though his team did not win a game his senior year, he still earned second-team All-Big Nine Conference honors on defense and played in the state all-star game. Carriker recorded 15 sacks, five pass break-ups, four forced fumbles and 25 tackles for loss in his only season as a defensive end. He was a three-year starter at quarterback and served as a team captain three years. He ran track one year and earned All-Conference baseball honors three times as a designated hitter and first baseman. Academically, he was named to the Principal's list. Carriker attended Big Red Football School in 2001, and also visited Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State before choosing to enroll at Nebraska in 2002, spending the season as a defensive end on the scout team. A high ankle sprain in 2003 would sideline the reserve defensive end for three games. In limited action in nine contests, he made three tackles (2 solos) with a 9-yard sack and three pressures. His ankle problems continued in 2004, which cost him one game of action. He would go on to play in 10 games, starting four at right defensive end before shifting to left end for the final four games. He produced 36 tackles (19 solos) with three sacks, seven stops behind the line of scrimmage and seven pressures. Carriker started all year at "Base" (right) defensive end in 2005. He earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors and was named the team's Defensive MVP. He ranked seventh on the team with 43 tackles (26 solos), but he led the conference and ranked 15th in the nation with 9½ sacks. His 17 stops for losses were a team-high and placed him fourth in the league. He added 21 pressures with three pass deflections and recovered one fumble. In 2006, Carriker was named All-Big 12 Conference first-team, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, All-American third-team and team Defensive MVP. He started every game at "Base" defensive end, finishing with 52 tackles (24 solos), as he led the team with seven sacks and ranked second with 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He picked off a pass and deflected 12 others while also blocking a kick. He was also credited with 12 quarterback pressures. In 45 games at Nebraska, Carriker started 34 times. He collected 134 tackles (71 solos) with 20½ sacks for minus-156 yards and 41 stops for losses totaling 184 yards. He posted 43 quarterback pressures and recovered one fumble. He also batted away six passes, picked off another and blocked one kick. ANALYSIS Positives: Has a well-built frame with long arms, good chest muscle definition, tight waist, good bubble and decent thickness in his thighs and calves … Lacks sudden explosiveness, but shows the initial quickness, balance and body control to charge hard in his backside pursuit … Keeps his pads down nicely for a player of his size, allowing him to gain position and hold his base well vs. double teams … Has the functional change-of-direction agility to work his way down the line … Demonstrates a punishing hand punch and excellent overall strength to easily handle multiple blockers, stack and control … Plants his foot into the ground to anchor at the point of attack and is quite effective at shooting the gaps when working in-line … Leader by example type, but the staff says he will not only play with pain, but simply refuses to come off the field when hurt … Has a strong work ethic and is a good program type who does not hesitate to mentor the younger players … Just adequate coming off the line, but uses his long arm reach and strength to gain advantage out of his stance … Might be a better fit for tackle due to his lack of edge quickness, but he has the strength and size to destroy interior blockers on contact and bull rush with consistency … Shows valid instincts and great vision to quickly locate and run to the ball … Aware of blocking schemes and does a good job of locking out blockers and locating the ball at the X's … Solid wrap-up tackler whose strength lets him quickly disengage from blocks … Has the lower-body power in his anchor to neutralize double-team action, consistently stacking while holding ground … Has enough speed to slip off some blocks and uses his hands well to keep the opponent off his body … His arm strength lets him consistently gain separation, stuff and shed … Also has the feet to adjust on the move … Shows good desire and effort in his lateral pursuit (more on short-area play than going long distances) … Does a nice job of neutralizing the outside run and forcing it back inside … His long arms let him engulf ball carriers, showing good strike form to wrap, secure and take down … Presses the corner well and uses his strength to compensate for adequate speed in attempts to pressure the pocket … Gives a good second effort in attempts to disengage … Lacks the extra burst to close on the quarterback, but will collide and push blockers back into the pocket … Has enough functional quickness to pursue from the backside. Negatives: More of a power-oriented pass rusher than an explosive edge rusher, making him a better candidate to play one-gap as a defensive tackle … Has a strong hand punch, but needs to recoil and set quicker when engaging blockers … Also must keep his hands active; he lacks ideal chop-and-rip moves when trying to disengage … Lacks an array of moves as a pass rusher and is more of a "meat and potatoes" type who prefers to punish the blocker rather than try to avoid … Might be at maximum growth potential; the added bulk on his frame in 2006 impeded his explosion off the snap. Compares To: Richard Seymour, New England -- Carriker is more suited to play like Seymour does in the 3-4 alignment -- out on the edge as a run stuffer and inside as a pass rusher. He has outstanding strength and size, but needs to develop better hand usage in his attempts to disengage. He does a good job of splitting double-teams and does a good job of keeping his feet when moving through trash. He won't spend most of his time chasing down quarterbacks; he doesn't have the explosive closing speed. But he is very effective at pushing blockers back into the pocket. With his size/strength combination, using him as anything outside of the way Seymour plays would be wasting his athletic ability. INJURY REPORT 2003: Suffered a high ankle sprain vs. Utah State (9/06), missing the next three games vs. Penn State, Southern Mississippi and Troy State. 2004: Sat out the Pittsburgh contest after suffering a high ankle sprain vs. Southern Mississippi. AGILITY TESTS Campus: 4.85 in the 40-yard dash … 440-pound bench press … 600-pound squat … 370-pound power clean … 33 5/8-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Kennewick (Wash.) High School, playing football for head coach Warren Hull … Played quarterback and defensive end … Even though his did not win a game his senior year, Carriker still earned second-team All-Big Nine Conference honors on defense and played in the state all-star game … Recorded 15 sacks, five pass deflections, four forced fumbles and 25 tackles for loss in his only season as a defensive end … Was a three-year starter at quarterback and served as a team captain three years … Ran track one year and earned All-Conference baseball honors three times as a designated hitter and first baseman … Academically, he was named to the Principal's list. PERSONAL Graduated in December 2006 with a degree in Business Administration … Three-time Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member … After graduation, he was married to the former Angela McBride, the sister of former Husker defensive end Jeff McBride … Volunteers his time as part of Nebraska's hospital visitations and as a speaker during American Education Week … Born 5/06/84 in Hastings, Nebraska … Resides in Kennewick, Wash., where his family moved to when he was 3 years old.
Lynch Goes to Buffalo Buffalo had options at this pick. Many people figured they would look at a corner. Lynch will contribute right away and may have a good career. The Bills are getting better on offense as Lee Evans and JP Losman progress, but losing Willis McGahee is gonna hurt. I'm not sure Lynch can fill his shoes.
49ers Take Willis The 49ers were in love with Patrick Willis ever since the Senior Bowl. They hoped no other teams would snatch him up before them. Willis will be a good fit in an improving 49 team. the 49ers should put up a good charge at the division.
Houston Takes the Kid 19 year old Amobi Okoye's dream of playing in the NFL came true when the Houston Texans took him #10 overall. Okoye will line up next to Mario Williams on the Texans defensive line. Their line will be good for years to come. Though they still need some help, they are getting to a more competitive level. Many scouts picked Okoye to go as high as 6 to the Redskins. The Texans may have got a steal.
Miami Passes on Quinn The Dolphins made a shocker when they passed on Brady Quinn and took Ted Ginn Jr. Many people, including me, don't even have ginn as their 2nd best, 3rd best, or even 4th best receiver. Ginn is talented, but I believe this pick is a little early for them. he will contribute along with Derek Hagan. Marty Booker is expected to get cut or traded.
Another Jamaal Anderson in Atlanta This time, it may be spelled different, but the Falcons are still getting a tremendous talent. Anderson will have to fill in for Patrick Kerney and should start right away. Many teams had Anderson just behind Adams in the rankings. He should have a good career.
Vikings Strike Gold Finally a playmaker in Minnesota. Vikings fans havn't seen this since the Randy Moss days. Adrian Peterson will be a good fit in Minnesota. He will battle with Chester Taylor for the starting job and probably won't win it for week one. In the future, Peterson may be a Hall of Famer. Even this season, Peterson could play the Laurence Maoroney, Joseph Addai, or even Maurice Jones-Drew role this season. If so, he should still put up good numbers.
Landry Goes to Washington What a hard hitting safety combo in Washington; LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor. Both are the same type of bruising safeties. Teams will be afraid to go across the middle. A good fit since the skins traded Adam Archuleta and Troy Vincent retired. Landry should be a day one starter and hold that job for a long time.
No Joe Thomas, means for the Cardinals that they had to take Levi Brown. Though other players like Adrian Peterson and Amobi Okoye among others were there, Brown will be a good fit for the left handed Matt Leinart. Brown may have been a slight reach, but he still will be an instant impact to help out the run and pass game.
Not trading up for the number two pick means for the Buccs, they don't have Calvin Johnson. They did however select the best defensive player in the draft. It is unsure if a trade for Johnson is still coming, but as of now, Adams will be a good fit for the Buccs defense that is not what they used to be.
Thomas can come in and help out the weak Brown offensive line. The Browns passed on Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson, baasically saying they are happy with Charlie Frye and Jamal Lewis. Thoams can help out the pass and run game.
Another wide receiver for the Lions, this time a great one. He may be the most talented WR, if not player, in the last 10 years. Johnson can be an instant star. He won't be placed into the first receiver slot, maybe the second. Mike Martz will be able to use him and make him a star. The Lions still listened to calls for a trade, and probably still are. Don't be too surprised if Johnson doesn't last the day in Detroit.
Raiders Take JaMarcus Russell First Overall As many people expected, the Raiders will take LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first overall. Russell has tremendous talent and his mental game is great. He has the size and strength to make it in the NFL. The Raiders looked into trading down the first pick, but couldn't find a deal worth taking. It looks like Randy Moss will not be playing in Oakland this season, so the Raiders may have to look into a receiver in round two. The Raiders have a lot of needs and this one pick will not make them a playoff team yet. Their defense has gotten a lot better in the past few seasons and the offense has some talent. It doesn't help that they have to play the Chargers, the Broncos, and the Chiefs twice a year.
As you can see the card at the right, I will be making a card using a madden screenshot for each player picked in round one
The Readers Mock (Done by David Cornelius) Raiders JaMarcus Russell Lions Calvin Johnson Browns Brady Quinn Buccaneers Gaines Adams Cardinals Joe Thomas Redskins Alan Branch Vikings Adrian Peterson Falcons LaRon Landry Dolphins Amobi Okoye Texans Levi Brown 49ers Adam Carriker Bills Patrick Willis Rams Jamaal Anderson Panthers Greg Olsen Steelers Leon Hall Packers Marshawn Lynch Jaguars Reggie Nelson Bengals Darrelle Revis Titans Ted Ginn Jr. Giants Paul Posluzny Broncos Joe Staley Cowboys Robert Meachem Chiefs Dwayne Jarrett Patriots Lawrence Timmons Jets Jarvis Moss Eagles Michael Griffin Saints David Harris Patriots Chris Houston Ravens Justin Blalock Chargers Dwayne Bowe Bears Ben Grubbs Colts Jon Beason
As you can see, he took the safe way out and left off any trades. This could play our smart, but there always are a few trades that may screw up more then one of your picks. Guessing these trades can be difficult. One wrong guess and even more of your picks are wrong. Obviously, as most people did, David chose JaMarcus Russell to go number one and Calvin Johnson to go two. As you can see by my mock draft, I believe The Buccs will either trade up to get Johnson or draft Joe Thomas, I can't see them looking at Gaines Adams unless a swap is worked out with Detroit. One pick that baffles me is Alan Branch at 6. At the beginning of the offseason, Branch was a major player in the draft, but as workouts and interviews went along, Branch's stock has near plummeted. Some scouts say he won't even fall in the first round. Having Peterson fall to 7 may not be too much of a reach. If the Vikings keep that pick, which they should, they have to take him. They can't let a playmaker like him slip through. As far as the rest goes, its pretty much anybodies guess. Most of his picks are highly possible. It will be interesting to see how things turn out come the start of the Draft tomarrow morning.
1. Cleveland - Calvin Johnson (Braylon Edwards to Oakland) 2. Detroit - JaMarcus Russell (Couldn't find a trade partner for JRuss) 3. Oakland - Joe Thomas (Oakland just got a little better and looks at Trent Edward in rd 2 for QB) 4. Tampa Bay - Gaines Adams 5. Arizona - Adrian Peterson (Edge has a friend) 6. Denver - Amobi Okoye (Chicago traded Briggs to Wash, then Bears trade back down) 7. Minnesota - Brady Quinn (Quinn is a gift for the horrible Vikes) 8. Atlanta - LaRon Landry 9. Miami - Leon Hall 10. Houston - Levi Brown 11. San Fransisco - Jamaal Anderson 12. Buffalo - Patrick Willis 13. St. Louis - Darrelle Revis (Hill and Revis are the future of the Rams) 14. Carolina - Marshawn Lynch 15. Pittsburgh - Jon Beason 16. Green Bay - Greg Olsen 17. Jacksonville - Reggie Nelson 18. Cincinnati - Paul Posluszny 19. Tennessee - Ted Ginn 20. N.Y. Giants - Joe Staley 21. Chicago - Justin Harrell 22. Dallas - Dwayne Bowe 23. Kansas City - Robert Meacham 24. New England - Micheal Griffin 25. N.Y. Jets - Aaron Ross 26. Philadelphia - Brandon Merriweather 27. New Orleans - Adam Carriker 28. New England - David Harris 29. Baltimore - Ben Grubbs 30. San Diego - Dwayne Jarrett 31. Washington - Alan Branch 32. Indianapolis - Lawrence Timmons
Other players to watch
QB John Beck - BYU, QB John Stocco - Wisconsin, RB Chris Henry - Arizona, RB Garrett Wolfe - Northern Illinois, WR Sidney Rice - South Carolina, WR Derek Stanley - Wisconsin-Whitewater, WR Jeff Samardzija - Notre Dame, LB Mark Zalewski - Wisconsin, LB Prescott Burgess - Michigan, LB Will Herring - Auburn, CB David Irons - Auburn, S Sabby Piscitelli - Oregon State, S Eric Weddle - Utah, K Mason Crosby - Colorado
1. NT If St. Louis doesn't ship its second-rounder to Carolina for Kris Jenkins, it appears the Rams will address this spot in Round One. Branch and Amobi Okoye (who could grow into a nose) will be considered if available. The Rams must avoid reaching for a useful yet one-dimensional player like Justin Harrell (Tennessee) at No. 13.
3. WR This will probably be Isaac Bruce's final season in horns and Scott Linehan wants an eventual replacement. Drew Bennett is likely the Rams' slot receiver, now and for the future. There are numerous wideouts worthy of St. Louis' late second-round choice, including LSU's Craig Davis and Washington State's Jason Hill.
4. LB This isn't a pressing need after the Chris Draft signing, but the Rams could use depth in case Samoan superman Pisa Tinoisamoa breaks and dislocates every bone in his upper body again. The Rams love speed 'backers and Mississippi's Rory Johnson, a player with tremendous upside, could be available early on Day Two.
I agree with this article completely. I believe we will touch at least 3 of these needs on day one of the draft. I believe we will look at D-line in round 1, wide receiver in round 2 (maybe rd 1 if the right player is there), and RB in round 3 (as i said before, Chris Henry looks good here). We may also look at a cornerback if the right player becomes available.
1. Cleveland - Calvin Johnson (Braylon Edwards to Oakland)
