NFL Draft Review - Part One - From Triple Threat Sports!
 Back to Article Listing
|
| Triple Threat Sports - 7/16/2009 2:04 AM |
|
Hello to all readers!!!. It is great to be back and I look forward to a great football season in both the colleges and the NFL. This series of articles will take a look at the NFL draft, give each team a grade, and at times I will add some general thoughts about a team's season in general. I will be back with the B's in a few days, the C's not long after that, and then will finish up with the teams that got a D. First things first, giving a team a draft "grade" is in inexact science to be sure, as injuries, the inevitable numbers game at some spots for some teams, and even contract holdouts affect how these young players turn out. With all of that said, these grades will assume 100% health and Signability for all involved. One last note before giving my grades, and that is that different eyes view the draft very differently. One only needs to look at Mel Kiper vs Todd McShea on ESPN as proof of that. With that said, I will include the draft grades of two other sources (yahoo.com and nfl.com) at the top of each item for comparison's sake. So now lets get to it, from top to bottom. Teams that share the same grade are placed from highest to lowest overall in that category. Here we go with the teams that got some form of an "A" grade: A+ - Philadelphia Eagles (Yahoo: B- / NFL.com: A) Just love what the Eagles have done here. A year after tabbing big time impact player DeSean Jackson they have added to the arsenal of Donovan McNabb with their first round selection of Jeremy Maclin. He is an ideal fit for the Andy Reid pass happy offense. Next, for the rare times Reid actually does decide to run the ball, the Eagles got LeSean McCoy, who is strong enough to get the tough yards and should develop into the next Michael Westbrook, as he in an excellent receiver out of the backfield.The fifth round choice of Victor Harris was nice, and he should become just as good if not better than fellow Hokie DB's Ike Charlton and Pierson Prioleau, both of whom were solid pros. I like the sixth and seventh round picks as well, and for addressing needs, getting the best players available, getting depth, and allowing for an immediate impact, the Eagles get my top grade for this draft, and that does not even include the veteran acquisitions of Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews.This could be the year for the Eagles in a wide open NFC. A+ - Tennessee Titans (B/C+) The grades from the other sources to puzzle me, but also shows how different views can be on the same crop of players. Just love Kenny Britt, as he was a very productive player at Rutgers despite having to make up for the deficiencies of Mike Teel at QB and the overall run first philosophy of Schiano. The second round pick of Sen'Derrick Marks is the reason many feel the Titans did not do well in this draft, but I could not disagree more. To get a full scale first round talent with the 60th overall selection was a steal, and while Marks does like consistency at times, so did Albert Haynesworth when Jeff Fisher drafted him, and we all know that turned out. I think Marks could be that type of player. Every other draftee gets a positive grade from me, and Javon Ringer was a steal in the fifth round. If it is the Titans and the Eagles in the Super Bowl in February, this draft will be a big reason why, and for two teams drafting late in the draft to do so much to help their team speaks volumes. A - St Louis Rams (B/C+) I am a big believer in drafting for need, as my view is that the " best available player" idea is outdated in today's NFL since talent is so close that filling an immediate need can often be the difference in a couple of games a season. In the case of Ram top draftee Jason Smith, he not only filled a need but was the best player available, and that type of Daily Double almost assures a team a good draft. It got even better for the Rams in the second round, as James Lauriniatis will make an immediate impact, and each of the remaining Ram tabbings got a positive grade from me as well. I respect the thoughts of Yahoo and NFL.com, but on this one I think they are really missing the boat, as this looks like an excellent haul for the Rams. A - NY Giants (B/A) Each of the first four picks are solid players, and top choice Nicks will help offset the loss of Plaxico Burress. However, Giants really made hay, and earned this A, on the second day. Andre Brown was very good for the Tar Heels, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and gives the G-men another bruising runner. Rhett Bomar was a potential first round choice a few years ago when at Oklahoma but dropped off the radar some by finishing his college career at Sam Houston State. He has the potential to develop into a quality backup for Eli Manning. A- - Houston Texans (B+/B+) Brian Cushing will do a lot to stabilize an at times leaky linebacking corps, and USC defenders tend to do well early on in the NFL, as they are used to a pro style system, AND since they practice against the stellar USC offense every day. My favorite pick of this draft for the Texans came in the third round on former Alabama OL Antoine Caldwell. I watched Caldwell dominate strong SEC defensive linemen all season long, and he is the type of big athlete that Alex Gibbs sent to Pro Bowl after Pro Bowl with the Broncos. Anthony Hill is a great blocker from the TE spot, and with his addition Houston should be very tough in short yardage this year, an area they have not excelled at of late. Finally, cannot ignore the mental comparison of sixth round choice Brice McCain to that of fellow Utah Ute grad Andre Dyson. McCain has pure speed, and when his coverage skills catch up to that speed he should be a nice addition. A- - Atlanta Falcons (B+/C+) One thing is crystal clear when looking at the Atlanta draft, and that is the confidence coach Mike Smith has in his offense, of course centered around Matt Ryan. To illustrate that, note that seven of the seven of the eight draftees are stop unit players. Top choice Peria Jerry has talent, but also some health issues, but if he can stay on the field he will help a great deal. Rounds Four and Five saw the Falcons nab two small school players in Furman's William Middleton and Richmond's Lawrence Sidbury, with the latter being very highly rated by many. The pick that puts the Falcons on the "A" list was second round choice William Moore, who has great size and speed as well as a knack for the ball. I thought he would go in the late first round, and for Atlanta to get him at pick 55 overall was a coup. A- Carolina Panthers (C/B-) Others do not like this draft, but as long as Julius Peppers remains a Panther, the first choice (second round) of Everette Brown will have a huge impact this season. With Peppers getting so much attention, Brown will get to take on blockers one on one, something he probably has not gotten to do since Pony league. I think he will end up with double digit sacks this season, I like all the rest of the picks as well to varying degrees, and with this draft the Panthers have addressed needs and added depth; a very nice job. A- - Seattle Seahawks (B/B+) Aaron Curry at 4? Nobody within the Seattle organization thought that was possible, but when he dropped into their lap the Seattle brass almost tripped over themselves trying to get the envelope to the podium. He will team with Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu to give the Hawks the best LB corps in the NFC, and maybe the league. Second choice Max Unger is versatile and can move a pile, and should help keep Hasselbeck healthy this season. Late round pick Nate Reed was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Pac 10, and the local product could develop into a nice player. Seattle made seven picks in this draft, and I like six of them, but cannot give them a full scale A since I just deplore sixth round choice Mike Teel. He made a habit of making TERRIBLE decisions with the ball at Rutgers, and do not see him all of the sudden getting smarter now that he has an NFL shot. Charlie Frye should easily beat him out and hang onto his backup job, and if you read in a QB rotation somewhere that Teel is going to play a lot this post season, that is a signal to go against the Hawks in that game. Aside from Teel this was a nice draft though. A- - New England Patriots (A/B-) The Pats get my final "A" level grade of the draft, and in doing so showed it was not all due to Scott Pioli that they always have solid draft classes. They had twelve picks and also added two second round choices for next year, and while only one I consider to be a "great" choice, all graded out as at least "good" to "very good" and that was enough for the A-. The one great choice to me was third rounder Brandon Tate out of North Carolina. I had him rated higher than former teammate Hakeem Nicks, and the latter (a good player in his own right) was a first round draft choice of the Giants. One other thing that cannot go ignored about this draft is the seventh round, 232rd pick overall, choice of Julian Edelaman of Kent State. He put up very good numbers at usually offensively challenged KSU, and his mix of skills make him a candidate to play the QB in "Wildcat" formations for Belichick this year. However, even if he never sees the field during the regular season, he will be a tremendously important practice player for New England inasmuch as he will be able to mirror opposing QB's in the Wildcat. If you recall, the Pats were the first team Miami sprang the Wildcat on last year, and with this pick Belichick is making sure he is not caught off guard again, and that his defense will be well prepared. There is a reason other coaches call this guy a genius! Thanks for reading Part One of my NFL Draft review. I am very excited to be a part of youwinnow.com this football season, and I look forward to a great NFL season, and I cannot wait for it to start. Do not miss my baseball plays all summer long as well. Have a Great Day! |
|
Back to Article Listing |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
