Friday, April 26, 2013
ACSS Making a Comeback
I feel like we need to continue the trend of posting on random/sports stuff. We haven't had a string of posts like this since, what? 2011? This makes post number 6 of the Week. That's almost once a day. Perhaps this blog will be worth coming back to daily!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
2013 NFL Draft: Timeline of Events
04/25/2013
Dan and I will be writing every thought we have during this draft down, and it shall live forever. I hope everyone enjoys the draft. I know I'm going to have fun writing about it.
6:47 PM: Analysts mention the QB's in the draft. Is it just me, or does anyone else think there won't be any impact QB's taken this year?
6:49 PM: Rumor has it the Chiefs will take OT Eric Fisher over OT Luke Joeckel. I disagree with this pick. I think Joeckel is the most NFL ready tackle in the draft. How can you pass over a player who has played well in both the Big XII and the SEC?
6:56 PM: Jets rumored to be looking at WR Tavon Austin. I think they will make this pick, as they have been known to make terrible decisions over the last few years.
7:04 PM: Roger Goodell is booed as he walks onto the stage. The draft has officially begun.
7:06 PM: Dan and I both agree 10 minutes is just long enough for picks in the First Round. We don't have all night.
7:16 PM: The Chiefs select Eric Fisher (OT - Central Michigan). You already know how I feel about this. They should have went with Joeckel, who has experience playing against Von Miller (on the practice field) and knows Miller's tendencies. Dan: This is my favorite Central Michigan player to be selected #1 overall.
7:20 PM: In our draft world, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected to move to LA, and have traded their #2 overall pick for a punter.
7:21 PM: Dan: The Jags should look at Geno Smith in order to become more dynamic on offense
7:24 PM: The Jags take Luke Joeckel (OT - Texas A&M). Great pick by the Jags. I feel they could have gone to DE or OLB here to put some pressure on the opposing QB, but they got, in the eyes of most, the best player in the draft.
7:28 PM: Dan: Last year the first 2 picks scored 55 touchdowns. This year, the first two picks will score zero. Book it.
7:32 PM: Raiders trade the #3 pick to Miami. My thought: Miami moves up to take Lane Johnson from Oklahoma. Good move by Miami and by Oakland. Dan: 7 trades will be made in Round 1.
7:34 PM: Miami takes Dion Jordan (DE/OLB - Oregon). Odd decision here by Miami. I guess they want to put Brady on his back a bit more, but I think they should have tried to replace Jake Long. Dan is also shocked at this pick.
7:42 PM: Philly takes Lane Johnson (OT - Oklahoma). Great move by Philly to solidify the offensive line. Dan and I both agree on this one. Great decision for the Eagles.
7:46 PM: NFL Draft analysts discussing Legos. It's time to hire a new crew.
7:50 PM: Barry Sanders announces he will be returning to Detroit. Then all Lions fans wake up to see Sanders announcing Detroit will take Ezekiel Ansah (DE - BYU). Bad pick by the Lions in the eyes of myself and Dan. Very talented athletically, but has very little experience.
7:55 PM: Cleveland selects Barkevious Mingo (DE/OLB - LSU). Not quite sure how I feel about this. I believe they should have went with Milliner, but Mingo can make plays rushing the passer. Dan: Still no TD's drafted this year. Mingo looks like a young Julius Peppers, though.
8:01 PM: Arizona takes Jonathan Cooper (G - North Carolina). Dan: "Good pick if they want the second best guard." My thoughts exactly. Still, Cooper will help block two of the best defensive lines in the NFL in Seattle and San Fran.
8:04 PM: Bills trade #8 pick to the Rams. 2nd trade out of the 7 Dan predicted.
8:09 PM: Rams select Tavon Austin (WR - West Virginia). I've stated this before. Tavon is too undersized to be a big impact receiver. He'll be good returning kicks and punts, though. Too bad Seattle and San Fran won't be punting. Dan: "He's a good fit for STL, but I still think he's the second best WR from WV."
8:17 PM: Jets take Dee Milliner (CB - Alabama). Dan called it. Milliner looked upset when his name was called, as he should be. The Jets have a lot of holes to fill before they can compete in the NFL. Maybe they should spend a couple years in the ACC before getting called back up to the bigs.
8:26 PM: Titans take Chance Warmack (G - Alabama). Great pick here. I think he's going to have the biggest impact out of any offensive lineman in the draft. He will help plug up holes and block for Chris Johnson. Roll Tide.
8:31 PM: Chargers select DJ Fluker (OT - Alabama). Good pick for San Diego. They need someone to protect Rivers. Three consecutive picks from Bama, by the way. Dan: Eifert would have been a good pick. They need to replace Gates eventually.
8:38 PM: Raiders take DJ Hayden (CB - Houston). The Raiders needed to solidify their pass defense, and this will help. Still they had to reach for him. In this situation, they should have taken the best guy available, which would be Star.
8:41 PM: This is a true Raiders pick We learn DJ Hayden will probably be dead by Week 3. Dan: "Al Davis phoned one in from beyond."
8:44 PM: Dan: If the Jets draft Manti Te'o, the New York media would blow their collective loads. Also, ESPN would shut down.
8:46 PM: Jets take Sheldon Richardson (DT - Missouri). Once again, another team taking the second best player at the position available. Star is going to be a huge steal wherever he lands.
8:52 PM: Star Lotulelei (DT - Utah) goes to Carolina. I love this pick. He is going to fit in well in Carolina, who needs help on defense. The health risks are there, but you can't ignore the talent and potential.
8:59 PM: Saints take Kenny Vaccaro (S - Texas). Good pick for a team that gave up 7,000 yards last year. This will help them limit the big plays they gave up last season.
9:04 PM: Buffalo Bills select EJ Manuel (QB - Florida State). The first QB taken this year, and this pick comes as a shocker. Manuel will do well in my opinion, but he came out of nowhere to be the first QB drafted. Dan loves this pick.
9:12 PM: Steelers take Jarvis Jones (LB - Georgia). Jones looks solid on tape, but his combine stats scare me. It's probably a good pick, but I think Ogletree is better.
9:14 PM: Dallas trades the 18th pick to San Fran, who takes Eric Reid (S - LSU). No idea why San Fran traded up for this guy. They could have waited and gotten him at the end of the first round. This pick helps Dallas more than it helps the Niners.
9:17 PM: Dan and I determine there is a 60% chance the Bears screw up and take Manti Te'o.
9:20 PM: Giants take Justin Pugh (OT - Syracuse). Safe pick for the G Men. I'm surprised they didn't go for a LB like Ogletree or Te'o, but this is probably the safer bet. You can never have too many good lineman. Dan: "I see a ton of holding in this guy's future."
9:28 PM: Bears take Kyle Long (G - Oregon). Well, Chicago needed a guard, but I think there were three much better picks available. They could have gone with Floyd, Eifert, or Ogletree and I wouldn't have had a problem. Very anticlimactic pick from the Bears.
9:34 PM: Bengals take Tyler Eifert (TE - Notre Dame). The Bengals passing game just got a whole lot better. Watch out, AFC North. This kid is special. Dan: "I think he's overrated, but he will be good for them."
9:36 PM: Rams trade #22 pick to Atlanta. 4th trade so far. Only 3 to go.
9:40 PM: Falcons take Desmond Trufant (CB - Washington). Good pick by Atlanta, who needs help at cornerback. He should help out the Falcons pass defense in a division that includes Drew Brees and Cam Newton. Dan: "Steve Smith and Vincent Jackson just cursed out loud."
9:45 PM: Vikings take Sharrif Floyd (DT - Florida). I hate to say it, but this was a great pick by Minnesota. He is a steal at this spot, and was the best player available. Dan: "Bad news for Jay Cutler. Hopefully Kyle Long is prepared to own this guy."
9:51 PM: Colts take Bjoern Werner (DE - Florida State). This will help them replace Dwight Freeney. However, there were probably better fits out there for Indy.
9:54 PM: Vikings take Xavier Rhodes (CB - Florida State). Another solid pick for Minnesota. They play Rodgers, Stafford, and Cutler twice each per year. That's 6 games every year against solid QB's. It's surprising they didn't take a linebacker, but this is still a good pick.
10:01 PM: Packers take Datone Jones (DE - UCLA). Good pick here for Green Bay. He's a solid pass rusher, but is not limited to rushing the passer. He can also cover a tight end or stop the run. Dan: Green Bay should have taken a running back.
10:09 PM: Texans select DeAndre Hopkins (WR - Clemson). Dan: "Fantastic pick." I couldn't agree more. The Texans needed someone at receiver not named Andre Johnson and this will help.
10:15 PM: Broncos select Sylvester Williams (DT - North Carolina). Great pick and likely a steal here for Denver. He is close in talent to the other 3 defensive tackles that were already picked. Denver's defense just got a lot better.
10:20 PM: New England trades #29 pick for Minnesota for 4 picks. Minnesota gave up way too much.
10:25 PM: Tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon and subsequent events. Sweet Caroline played. Great moment at the draft, except for some idiot yelling. Classless move by a person in New York. I've heard that somewhere before.
10:30 PM: Vikings take Cordarrelle Patterson (WR - Tennessee). After a couple of solid picks from the Vikings, they really dropped the ball on this one. I consider Patterson to be a bust, so I'm really happy Minnesota went this direction. Dan: "It's a bad pick for what they gave up."
10:37 PM: Rams take Alec Ogletree (LB - Georgia). Great pick by the Rams. They way I see it, they could have gone with Alec or Eddie Lacy, but they went with the better overall player. This will help their defense, which was already solid. Dan: "The Rams got a great player."
10:42 PM: Cowboys select Travis Frederick (C - Wisconsin). This is a reach for the first round. Dallas needed a center, but they could have traded back here.
10:44 PM: Ravens take Matt Elam (S - Florida). They passed on Manti Te'o, which of course is a good move. Elam can fill in for Ed Reed and has great athleticism. He started his career as a cornerback, so the pass coverage is good, but he can also hit hard.
Closing Thoughts: No running backs taken for the first time in 50 years. Also, Manti Te'o not taken, meaning teams are smarter than they look. I look forward to the next few rounds tomorrow.
Thanks for reading!
Dan and I will be writing every thought we have during this draft down, and it shall live forever. I hope everyone enjoys the draft. I know I'm going to have fun writing about it.
6:47 PM: Analysts mention the QB's in the draft. Is it just me, or does anyone else think there won't be any impact QB's taken this year?
6:49 PM: Rumor has it the Chiefs will take OT Eric Fisher over OT Luke Joeckel. I disagree with this pick. I think Joeckel is the most NFL ready tackle in the draft. How can you pass over a player who has played well in both the Big XII and the SEC?
6:56 PM: Jets rumored to be looking at WR Tavon Austin. I think they will make this pick, as they have been known to make terrible decisions over the last few years.
7:04 PM: Roger Goodell is booed as he walks onto the stage. The draft has officially begun.
7:06 PM: Dan and I both agree 10 minutes is just long enough for picks in the First Round. We don't have all night.
7:16 PM: The Chiefs select Eric Fisher (OT - Central Michigan). You already know how I feel about this. They should have went with Joeckel, who has experience playing against Von Miller (on the practice field) and knows Miller's tendencies. Dan: This is my favorite Central Michigan player to be selected #1 overall.
7:20 PM: In our draft world, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected to move to LA, and have traded their #2 overall pick for a punter.
7:21 PM: Dan: The Jags should look at Geno Smith in order to become more dynamic on offense
7:24 PM: The Jags take Luke Joeckel (OT - Texas A&M). Great pick by the Jags. I feel they could have gone to DE or OLB here to put some pressure on the opposing QB, but they got, in the eyes of most, the best player in the draft.
7:28 PM: Dan: Last year the first 2 picks scored 55 touchdowns. This year, the first two picks will score zero. Book it.
7:32 PM: Raiders trade the #3 pick to Miami. My thought: Miami moves up to take Lane Johnson from Oklahoma. Good move by Miami and by Oakland. Dan: 7 trades will be made in Round 1.
7:34 PM: Miami takes Dion Jordan (DE/OLB - Oregon). Odd decision here by Miami. I guess they want to put Brady on his back a bit more, but I think they should have tried to replace Jake Long. Dan is also shocked at this pick.
7:42 PM: Philly takes Lane Johnson (OT - Oklahoma). Great move by Philly to solidify the offensive line. Dan and I both agree on this one. Great decision for the Eagles.
7:46 PM: NFL Draft analysts discussing Legos. It's time to hire a new crew.
7:50 PM: Barry Sanders announces he will be returning to Detroit. Then all Lions fans wake up to see Sanders announcing Detroit will take Ezekiel Ansah (DE - BYU). Bad pick by the Lions in the eyes of myself and Dan. Very talented athletically, but has very little experience.
7:55 PM: Cleveland selects Barkevious Mingo (DE/OLB - LSU). Not quite sure how I feel about this. I believe they should have went with Milliner, but Mingo can make plays rushing the passer. Dan: Still no TD's drafted this year. Mingo looks like a young Julius Peppers, though.
8:01 PM: Arizona takes Jonathan Cooper (G - North Carolina). Dan: "Good pick if they want the second best guard." My thoughts exactly. Still, Cooper will help block two of the best defensive lines in the NFL in Seattle and San Fran.
8:04 PM: Bills trade #8 pick to the Rams. 2nd trade out of the 7 Dan predicted.
8:09 PM: Rams select Tavon Austin (WR - West Virginia). I've stated this before. Tavon is too undersized to be a big impact receiver. He'll be good returning kicks and punts, though. Too bad Seattle and San Fran won't be punting. Dan: "He's a good fit for STL, but I still think he's the second best WR from WV."
8:17 PM: Jets take Dee Milliner (CB - Alabama). Dan called it. Milliner looked upset when his name was called, as he should be. The Jets have a lot of holes to fill before they can compete in the NFL. Maybe they should spend a couple years in the ACC before getting called back up to the bigs.
8:26 PM: Titans take Chance Warmack (G - Alabama). Great pick here. I think he's going to have the biggest impact out of any offensive lineman in the draft. He will help plug up holes and block for Chris Johnson. Roll Tide.
8:31 PM: Chargers select DJ Fluker (OT - Alabama). Good pick for San Diego. They need someone to protect Rivers. Three consecutive picks from Bama, by the way. Dan: Eifert would have been a good pick. They need to replace Gates eventually.
8:38 PM: Raiders take DJ Hayden (CB - Houston). The Raiders needed to solidify their pass defense, and this will help. Still they had to reach for him. In this situation, they should have taken the best guy available, which would be Star.
8:41 PM: This is a true Raiders pick We learn DJ Hayden will probably be dead by Week 3. Dan: "Al Davis phoned one in from beyond."
8:44 PM: Dan: If the Jets draft Manti Te'o, the New York media would blow their collective loads. Also, ESPN would shut down.
8:46 PM: Jets take Sheldon Richardson (DT - Missouri). Once again, another team taking the second best player at the position available. Star is going to be a huge steal wherever he lands.
8:52 PM: Star Lotulelei (DT - Utah) goes to Carolina. I love this pick. He is going to fit in well in Carolina, who needs help on defense. The health risks are there, but you can't ignore the talent and potential.
8:59 PM: Saints take Kenny Vaccaro (S - Texas). Good pick for a team that gave up 7,000 yards last year. This will help them limit the big plays they gave up last season.
9:04 PM: Buffalo Bills select EJ Manuel (QB - Florida State). The first QB taken this year, and this pick comes as a shocker. Manuel will do well in my opinion, but he came out of nowhere to be the first QB drafted. Dan loves this pick.
9:12 PM: Steelers take Jarvis Jones (LB - Georgia). Jones looks solid on tape, but his combine stats scare me. It's probably a good pick, but I think Ogletree is better.
9:14 PM: Dallas trades the 18th pick to San Fran, who takes Eric Reid (S - LSU). No idea why San Fran traded up for this guy. They could have waited and gotten him at the end of the first round. This pick helps Dallas more than it helps the Niners.
9:17 PM: Dan and I determine there is a 60% chance the Bears screw up and take Manti Te'o.
9:20 PM: Giants take Justin Pugh (OT - Syracuse). Safe pick for the G Men. I'm surprised they didn't go for a LB like Ogletree or Te'o, but this is probably the safer bet. You can never have too many good lineman. Dan: "I see a ton of holding in this guy's future."
9:28 PM: Bears take Kyle Long (G - Oregon). Well, Chicago needed a guard, but I think there were three much better picks available. They could have gone with Floyd, Eifert, or Ogletree and I wouldn't have had a problem. Very anticlimactic pick from the Bears.
9:34 PM: Bengals take Tyler Eifert (TE - Notre Dame). The Bengals passing game just got a whole lot better. Watch out, AFC North. This kid is special. Dan: "I think he's overrated, but he will be good for them."
9:36 PM: Rams trade #22 pick to Atlanta. 4th trade so far. Only 3 to go.
9:40 PM: Falcons take Desmond Trufant (CB - Washington). Good pick by Atlanta, who needs help at cornerback. He should help out the Falcons pass defense in a division that includes Drew Brees and Cam Newton. Dan: "Steve Smith and Vincent Jackson just cursed out loud."
9:45 PM: Vikings take Sharrif Floyd (DT - Florida). I hate to say it, but this was a great pick by Minnesota. He is a steal at this spot, and was the best player available. Dan: "Bad news for Jay Cutler. Hopefully Kyle Long is prepared to own this guy."
9:51 PM: Colts take Bjoern Werner (DE - Florida State). This will help them replace Dwight Freeney. However, there were probably better fits out there for Indy.
9:54 PM: Vikings take Xavier Rhodes (CB - Florida State). Another solid pick for Minnesota. They play Rodgers, Stafford, and Cutler twice each per year. That's 6 games every year against solid QB's. It's surprising they didn't take a linebacker, but this is still a good pick.
10:01 PM: Packers take Datone Jones (DE - UCLA). Good pick here for Green Bay. He's a solid pass rusher, but is not limited to rushing the passer. He can also cover a tight end or stop the run. Dan: Green Bay should have taken a running back.
10:09 PM: Texans select DeAndre Hopkins (WR - Clemson). Dan: "Fantastic pick." I couldn't agree more. The Texans needed someone at receiver not named Andre Johnson and this will help.
10:15 PM: Broncos select Sylvester Williams (DT - North Carolina). Great pick and likely a steal here for Denver. He is close in talent to the other 3 defensive tackles that were already picked. Denver's defense just got a lot better.
10:20 PM: New England trades #29 pick for Minnesota for 4 picks. Minnesota gave up way too much.
10:25 PM: Tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon and subsequent events. Sweet Caroline played. Great moment at the draft, except for some idiot yelling. Classless move by a person in New York. I've heard that somewhere before.
10:30 PM: Vikings take Cordarrelle Patterson (WR - Tennessee). After a couple of solid picks from the Vikings, they really dropped the ball on this one. I consider Patterson to be a bust, so I'm really happy Minnesota went this direction. Dan: "It's a bad pick for what they gave up."
10:37 PM: Rams take Alec Ogletree (LB - Georgia). Great pick by the Rams. They way I see it, they could have gone with Alec or Eddie Lacy, but they went with the better overall player. This will help their defense, which was already solid. Dan: "The Rams got a great player."
10:42 PM: Cowboys select Travis Frederick (C - Wisconsin). This is a reach for the first round. Dallas needed a center, but they could have traded back here.
10:44 PM: Ravens take Matt Elam (S - Florida). They passed on Manti Te'o, which of course is a good move. Elam can fill in for Ed Reed and has great athleticism. He started his career as a cornerback, so the pass coverage is good, but he can also hit hard.
Closing Thoughts: No running backs taken for the first time in 50 years. Also, Manti Te'o not taken, meaning teams are smarter than they look. I look forward to the next few rounds tomorrow.
Thanks for reading!
PREDICTIONS: Three Steals and Three Busts in the First Round
04/25/2013
Before the 2013 NFL Draft starts, I wanted to get my predictions out there in the open. That way, when I'm right, everyone can see I called it. Ok, honestly, I just wanted to share my thoughts on players that I think are worth "reaching" for and players I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. So, here are my Steals and Busts of the First Round.
Dan's picks will also be included, but without commentary. He will be focusing more on steals and busts overall, rather than just the First Round.
Steals:
Chance Warmack (G - Alabama) - I think Warmack is the best lineman in the draft. Even though he isn't a coveted tackle, I think having a stellar guard is just as important as anything. If you look at the best offensive lines in the NFL, they all have one thing in common - a solid interior. True, they all have good to great tackles as well, but I think Warmack is a special player who can start immediately at the NFL level and has perennial Pro Bowl talent. It's not a sexy pick, but the team who drafts him won't be sorry.
Alec Ogletree (LB - Georgia) - This is one guy I'm very interested in, because he could land in Chicago, and I really hope he does. He is a very rare combination of raw talent and great instincts. He looks great on film and has great linebacker instincts with safety speed. He can step in and make an impact right away
Star Lotulelei (DT -Utah) - How far he has fallen in the eyes of some is a shocker. At one point, he was being discussed as a #1 overall pick. He definitely has the talent to dominate on the interior of the defensive line, and reminds me a bit of Ndamukong Suh without the behavioral problems. He simply cannot be blocked.
Dan's Steals:
Steadman Bailey (WR- West Virginia)
Kenjon Barner (RB - Oregon)
Geno Smith (QB - West Virginia)
Notes: I think Dan is a fan of the West Virginia Class of 2013.
Busts:
Tavon Austin (WR - West Virginia) - While I do agree that his counterpart, Steadman Bailey, will be a solid NFL receiver, I'm not sold on Austin. He has excellent speed and big play ability, but is really undersized at this point in the draft. I believe Austin will be more of a slot receiver than a deep ball threat. This leaves him having to make plays after the catch, which is much tougher to do in the NFL than in college.
Geno Smith (QB - West Virginia) - Let me set the record straight. I think Smith has excellent potential as a read option QB, and in the right system, he could be very, very good. However, I don't see him doing that. He struggled against the tougher competition he faced, especially in conference games. He was a clear-cut Heisman winner last year, and the the Big XII schedule hit and he fell off the board. Also, his high completion percentage had to do with him throwing a lot of short passes and screen passes. It's hard to make a living out of doing that.
Jarvis Jones (LB - Georgia) - I used to love Jarvis Jones. I'm now a huge fan of Georgia's other linebacker, Alec Ogletree (see above), but Jones scares me. He went into last year as the favorite for SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but seemed to be overshadowed by other players in his conference. This is really to no fault of his own, he looks good on tape. However, his doesn't have the physical skill set that I'd like to see at this point in the draft. Give me Ogletree over Jones, and it's not even close.
Dan's Busts:
Ezekiel Ansah (DE - BYU)
Manti Te'o (LB - Notre Dame)
Montee Ball (RB - Wisconsin)
Notes: I agree wholeheartedly with Dan's busts. I would also like to add Coradelle Patterson (WR - Tennessee) to my list. Not enough experience to be ready for the NFL.
Other notes:
Dan believes the Niners should trade up to get a couple of dominant players. I believe this would be illegal as it would make them unstoppable, meaning a new league would have to be created above the NFL.
Dan also noted tat Eddie Lacy's choice of attire was awful. Seriously, do people even know they look terrible?
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and enjoy the draft!
Before the 2013 NFL Draft starts, I wanted to get my predictions out there in the open. That way, when I'm right, everyone can see I called it. Ok, honestly, I just wanted to share my thoughts on players that I think are worth "reaching" for and players I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. So, here are my Steals and Busts of the First Round.
Dan's picks will also be included, but without commentary. He will be focusing more on steals and busts overall, rather than just the First Round.
Steals:
Chance Warmack (G - Alabama) - I think Warmack is the best lineman in the draft. Even though he isn't a coveted tackle, I think having a stellar guard is just as important as anything. If you look at the best offensive lines in the NFL, they all have one thing in common - a solid interior. True, they all have good to great tackles as well, but I think Warmack is a special player who can start immediately at the NFL level and has perennial Pro Bowl talent. It's not a sexy pick, but the team who drafts him won't be sorry.
Alec Ogletree (LB - Georgia) - This is one guy I'm very interested in, because he could land in Chicago, and I really hope he does. He is a very rare combination of raw talent and great instincts. He looks great on film and has great linebacker instincts with safety speed. He can step in and make an impact right away
Star Lotulelei (DT -Utah) - How far he has fallen in the eyes of some is a shocker. At one point, he was being discussed as a #1 overall pick. He definitely has the talent to dominate on the interior of the defensive line, and reminds me a bit of Ndamukong Suh without the behavioral problems. He simply cannot be blocked.
Dan's Steals:
Steadman Bailey (WR- West Virginia)
Kenjon Barner (RB - Oregon)
Geno Smith (QB - West Virginia)
Notes: I think Dan is a fan of the West Virginia Class of 2013.
Busts:
Tavon Austin (WR - West Virginia) - While I do agree that his counterpart, Steadman Bailey, will be a solid NFL receiver, I'm not sold on Austin. He has excellent speed and big play ability, but is really undersized at this point in the draft. I believe Austin will be more of a slot receiver than a deep ball threat. This leaves him having to make plays after the catch, which is much tougher to do in the NFL than in college.
Geno Smith (QB - West Virginia) - Let me set the record straight. I think Smith has excellent potential as a read option QB, and in the right system, he could be very, very good. However, I don't see him doing that. He struggled against the tougher competition he faced, especially in conference games. He was a clear-cut Heisman winner last year, and the the Big XII schedule hit and he fell off the board. Also, his high completion percentage had to do with him throwing a lot of short passes and screen passes. It's hard to make a living out of doing that.
Jarvis Jones (LB - Georgia) - I used to love Jarvis Jones. I'm now a huge fan of Georgia's other linebacker, Alec Ogletree (see above), but Jones scares me. He went into last year as the favorite for SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but seemed to be overshadowed by other players in his conference. This is really to no fault of his own, he looks good on tape. However, his doesn't have the physical skill set that I'd like to see at this point in the draft. Give me Ogletree over Jones, and it's not even close.
Dan's Busts:
Ezekiel Ansah (DE - BYU)
Manti Te'o (LB - Notre Dame)
Montee Ball (RB - Wisconsin)
Notes: I agree wholeheartedly with Dan's busts. I would also like to add Coradelle Patterson (WR - Tennessee) to my list. Not enough experience to be ready for the NFL.
Other notes:
Dan believes the Niners should trade up to get a couple of dominant players. I believe this would be illegal as it would make them unstoppable, meaning a new league would have to be created above the NFL.
Dan also noted tat Eddie Lacy's choice of attire was awful. Seriously, do people even know they look terrible?
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and enjoy the draft!
ACSS Combo NFL Mock Draft
Merry Christmas 3!!!!!!!! Ryan and I
sat down the past two days and did a mock draft over gchat. Sorry for all the
grammer (yes that’s a joke) errors below but I needed to post before this
became irrelevant.
Enjoy!
Steve
me: #1 Kansas City Cheifs Select:
Luke Joeckl OT Texas A&M.
I personally love this pick and think he's going to have a great career. He was one of the bigger reason Johnny Manzel won the Hesiman. KC Andy Reid and brought in Alex Smith, so they now can bring in another nice addition to thier offense
Ryan: Yeah, can't go wrong going
with the top OT in this heavy OL draft. Plus, they got some made the smart move
by trading Brendan Albert to the dolphins, so it is a need.
Jaguars - Geno Smith QB WVU
I don't know if he will be good, but Jacksonville sent their entire front office down to watch this kid play. Plus, they have Blaine Gabbert, which was an insane pick in the first place, so they desparately need a QB
Jaguars - Geno Smith QB WVU
I don't know if he will be good, but Jacksonville sent their entire front office down to watch this kid play. Plus, they have Blaine Gabbert, which was an insane pick in the first place, so they desparately need a QB
me: Yeah, picking another first
round pick on a QB. I don't think any of the QBs in this class are as good as
the guys last year. He did throw ball at WVU a ton, but a lot of them were
quick routes often behind the line of scrimmge. So I do have questions with
him, also wouldn't be suprised if they picked a lineman n either side of the
ball
#3 Oakland Raiders Selcet, Shariff
Floyd
me: They are replacing everyone on D
so i'd be suprised if they didn't take someone from that side of the ball. He
played both inside and outside at Florida and was part of one of the best D's
in the league NCAA
Ryan: Smart pick from the Raiders.
They are trying to get away from that reaching for a guy who excels at the
combine and grabbing them several picks way too early mode.
He's perfect for that
#4 - Eagles - Dion Jordan - DE/OLB
Oregon
Ryan: The Eagles have shown a lot of
interest in Dion Jordan. After last year, they could really use some help
rushing the passer as well as just general help defensively. It was a toss up
between him and Star, but I wasn't expecting him to fall to 4, so Dion Jordan
it is
me: I like that pick, versatile
player who can play the rush linebacker that is becoming very popular ithe
league
me: I was thinking he would could
possible land at the next pick
#5 Detroit Lions Select Eric Fisher OT from Central Michigan.
With Jeff Backus retiring they need
a new Tackle. Taking a home state guy worked out for a decade plus last time so
that's why I have them takin Fisher over Lane Johnon. Also, he is Scout.com's
#1 prospect
Ryan: Great pick for the Lions. They
benefit from the Jaguars picking Dion Jordan. Sucks for the Bears, but oh well.
Cant win every battle
#6 - Cleveland Browns - Jarvis Jones
UGA OLB
The Browns need linebacker helpand
Jarvis Jones is a beast. I know people think he will drop because of his spinal
issue, but he played 3 years with the issue. He has been a stud and would go
higher if it weren't for that issue. Also, IDK if i said this already but the
Browns need LB help
me: I do like Jarvis Jones. He flies
around the field and was part of the UGA team that was one play away from
winning the SEC and maybe the National Title
#7 The Arizona Cardinals Select Matt
Barkley.
I couldn't help myself but i could
totally see this team picking another soon to be bust QB from Southern Cal.
Honestly, they could go a ton of different directions, with this pick, and i
think if Geno is still here they would take him
Ryan: my comments are as follows. LOL
the cardinals definitely could do something that stupid
#8 Pick in the draft - Buffalo Bills
select Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse –
They've shown a ton of interest in
him. They are going to reach. They're GM proved he was dumb
Ryan: and that makes three qbs gone
in the top 10 when not one of them, aside from MAYBE geno smith, should be
taken int he top 32
me: It's Doug Morone's QB from last
year so he's familiar with him. With Fitzpatrick out as QB it makes sense that
he would pick them
me: #9 The New York Jets take
Darkevious Mingo DE LSU.
He's a crazy good athlete and is one
of hte million of LSU defenders who ave left. Ryan likes Def and see im going
this way.
Ryan: great
Ryan: great pick for the Jets. He's
an athletic freak. Not saying he will pan out, but he has quite the high
ceiling. The Jets need a pass rusher and this is the perfect fit
Ryan: 10 - Tennessee Titans -
Coradarrelle Patterson - WR – Tennessee
They go with the home town product
he is a big receiver with
exceptional speed
and he also has some experience
being used in the backfield
which is the way offenses in the NFL
are going
me: Pair him up with Jake Locker to
make strong combo
Ryan: yup
i think its early for him but hey
he's a bit raw if you ask me
but you don't find 6'4" 4.3 38'
vertical everyday
me: #11 San Diego Chargers Select
Lane Johnson
I see them going with the best
Lineman here if it's Johnson, o Chance Warmack of Jonathon Cooper or Fluker.
personally like Johnson thebest of this group and see him as stater from day 1
Ryan: smart choice. Chargers need to
improve their online they are looking at LT's and they got a very good LT
12 - Miami Dolphins - Dee Milliner -
CB Alabama
Ryan: He's not as dominating as
either Patrick Peterson or the other CB from LSU that came out last year that
is slipping my mind. That's why he drops this far. Also, because some teams are
so QB hungry they'll take a shot on a crappy one. Either way, the Dolphins land
Milliner much later than anticipated, and do not have to move up for a guy they
were potentially targetin anyways
me: I really like him and think
that's a good pick for the Dolphins. I don't actually think he'll be there at
12, but if he is, it's a good pikc
Ryan: yeah
lol
i agree
but hey whats his face fell last
year
and the year before that patrick
peterson did too
me: #13 the Jet's Select Tavon
Austin WR WVU
While i think Star Lotulelei would be who they want to take, taking two DL 5 picks apart is a little much. They need help on offense and he can help them
Ryan: i agree, the Jets are for sure
taking Mingo and Austin
they lack the outside threat and
need someone to bolster the defense
14 - Panthers - Star Loutelielie DT
Utah
The Panthers luck out that probably
the best defender in the draft had a heart issue, that maybe a non-issue, at
the combine
They are seriously considering
Sheldon richardson, but Star is just too good to pass up
me: #15 New Orleans Saints slecect
Alec Ogletree
This might be a little hih for
Ogetree but I think they go LB with this pick and Jones and Mingo are already
off the board
Ryan: interesting. I could see it.
Ogletree is an athletic freak
well not freak
but very athletic
16 - St. Louis Rams - Ezekiel Ansah
- DE/OLB – BYU
He dropped quite a bit in this
draft, but that doesn't surprise me the Rams take him to either improve their
LB corps, or their pass rushing. Eitherway, they like the fact that he fell to
them and don't hesitate to draft him even though he may not fit their scheme
per se
me: wow he fell
me: I think he is a top 10 talent
and if they get him here that is a steal. Good pick for the team can help
create a pass rush with Chris Long. Also good to have athlete's to stop the
read option that San Fran and Seattle will be running
Ryan: much more insightful than my
commentary
me: #17 the Pittsburgh Steelers
Select Chance Warmack, G Alabama.
Pittsburgh typically drafts the best
talent on the board despite what they need, but in this case they get both.
They need to protect Big Ben and he's the 1st step to doing it
Ryan: also, the steelers once again
land an incredible talent. I think he may be the best guard to come out since
Steve Hutchinson
Ryan: Dallas Cowboys - Terron
Armstead - OT - Arkansas Pine-Bluff
The Cowboys need OL help and despite
conventional wisdom they reach into the second round and grab a guy who
destroyed the combine putting up incredible numbers and setting recordsIt may
be a reach, but it happens every year with at least a few teams, and he has
risen his stock incredibly high
and i honestly think someone is
going to reach for this guy based on his athleticism combined with his play
against inferior competition. Not that they will be wrong
me:
#19 Giants take Justin Pugh OT from Syracuse. I think this might be a
reach for them as scout has him ranked #48, but i have heard they are high on
him. A lineman who should start and is from just down the road Syracuse
Ryan: with the 20th pick in the NFL
Draft the Chicago Bears select: Manti Te'o
Wait what? Why would the Bears do this? Jonathon Cooper is still there. Honestly, I'd pick Cooper over Teo EXCEPT I wanted to tel you this as a surprise. Turns out, I believe Teo is by far the best ILB in the draft. His ability to immediately read and react to plays, and to stay disciplined is heads and tails above the other LBs. Even when he has a poor game, like Alabama, he does a lot to redirect the defense. He was able to meet and win a lot of battles against Warmack and Jones. Additionally, he is by far the best ILB at getting off blocks. His coverage skills can use some work, but otherwise, he does just about everything you could ask for an ILB. He diagnoses trick plays, or misdirection plays almost immediately.
Wait what? Why would the Bears do this? Jonathon Cooper is still there. Honestly, I'd pick Cooper over Teo EXCEPT I wanted to tel you this as a surprise. Turns out, I believe Teo is by far the best ILB in the draft. His ability to immediately read and react to plays, and to stay disciplined is heads and tails above the other LBs. Even when he has a poor game, like Alabama, he does a lot to redirect the defense. He was able to meet and win a lot of battles against Warmack and Jones. Additionally, he is by far the best ILB at getting off blocks. His coverage skills can use some work, but otherwise, he does just about everything you could ask for an ILB. He diagnoses trick plays, or misdirection plays almost immediately.
but really, since Jonathan Cooper is
still around, Jonathan Cooper
me: wait what?
Ryan: lol, i wanted some way to
break it to you that after i watched a few of his games, I think Manti Te'o is
REALLY good
but, I didn't realize Jonathan
Cooper was on the board
me: i do think he's really good, but
i'm a little worried about his size
Ryan: so in the end, the bears go
the smart choice
he's like the same size as alec
ogletree though
the question is can he bulk up
though right?
me: I do think he's really good in
coverage, and he is a leader. I do think the combo of his g/f and the overall
poor showing of UND in the title game have made his stock drop
Ryan: or is it his size too
dude, rewatch all the defensive
plays from that game he is guilty of 1) trying to arm tackle and 2) screws up
on one PA fake and is killed for it bc it was at the 5 and led to a td, but
that happens to the best players otherwise, I think he does a great job of
redirecting plays and his defense absolutely blows everything else
so anyways
back to the draft
the bears select Jonathan Cooper UNC
Ryan: fills a huge need, and some
would argue that he is the best G in the game
me: I do like that pick a lot. Bears
picked up a tackle in FA so would solidify the line
me: #21 The cincinnati Bengals
Select Eric Reid, FS LSU
LSU had an awesome defense and the Bengals are really high on Eric. This would be a good pick to help the Defense
Ryan: Solid pick. Bengals could use
some safety help and he fits the mold.
Ryan: #22 St. Louis Rams select
DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson.
The Bengals are relally high on this
young man and they need WR help after letting Amendola go and having no one
else
me: I like that pick. Clemson had a
good year last year and he was part of a powerful offesnse
me: #23 the Vikings take Manti Te'o.
As we've discussed he's great in
covrage and is leader on Defense. He can instantly help the defense on this
playoff team
Ryan: great pick for the vikings. We
have thoroughly vetted this conversation and word is the Vikings are trying to
move up ahead of the Bears to land teo
#24 - Colts - Kenny Vacarro S Texas
Vacarro drops a bit and they get the
guy they never thought they'd have a chance to land Plus they can use help in
their secondary although, i dont know if i remember the colts drafting
secondary in the first round
me: I like that pick. Despite the
fact that Texas had a bad year he still had a really good season. Colts seem to
be doing ok on offense and this will be a good help on D
me: #25 The Vikings Select Sylvester
Williams DT UNC.
I was thinking of taking him at 23,
but grabbed Te'o First. These two picks really solitfy the Vikings Def up the
middle
Ryan: that's a really solid pick.
These picks really do help solidify the Vikings front 7. Not to mention, Kevin
Williams should be a great teammate and make for an unstoppable force between
the tackles
#26 Greenbay Packers Select Xavier
Rhodes CB FSU
me: I like him a lot
Ryan: They lost Chuck and their
defense is terrible. They need more play makers all over the defense, and this
just happens to make sense
i know
me: Yeah, they need as much help as
they can get on Defense. They are a get to the QB Defense, this will help them
become more balanced
me: #27 Texas select Robert Woods.
WR USC.
I think they will take the best WR
at this point. They need someone to catch passes besides Andre Johnson as he
was facing triple team at times last year
Ryan: The Texans have needed a WR
opposite Johnson for about a decade. It's about time they finally addressed
this issue with a solid selection
28 - Denver Broncos - Desmond
Trufant CB Washington
After getting absolutely burned last
year in the playoffs, and Champ Bailey being on his last legs, the Broncos
select their heir apparent
me: I like Trufant a lot. The
Broncos lost to the ravens because of the Secondary. I know it's a team game,
but they choked against the ravens
me: #29 the Patriots select Jarm
Taylor, CB Boise State.
A three year starter at Boise helps
the Patriots on the defensive side of the ball. Honestly I’m guessing Belicik
will be trading down
Ryan: yeah i agree about trading
down, but solid pick for the patriots whose defense still needs some real work
#30 - Atlanta Falcons - Tyler Eifert
TE Notre Dame
Holy shit did he drop Tony Gonzalez
is for sure retiring next year they can use pass rush help, but they did not
expect him to be there. He is an athletic pass catching TE who can also block.
And he will learn from the best TE in the game and maybe the best TE ever
me: No, that's the 49ers pick ass
Atlanta will have a strong offense
again, and his speed at TE will be utilized better in he dome. I think he is a
future pro bowl TE
me: #31 San Francisco select Zach
Ertz, Stanford TE. Ertz will stay in the Bay Area and Jim Harbaugh takes a
player from his former job. A TE in this offense could make it more lethal then
it already is
Ryan: solid pick for the 9ers they
lost their backup TE during the offseason and two te sets are becoming a
necessary thing in the NFL
#32 - Baltimore Ravens - OT DJ
Fluker Alabama
The Ravens want to bolster the right
side of their line and are shocked when fluker drops to the last pick int he
first round
My One Round 2013 NFL Mock Draft
Alright, here is my one round NFL Mock Draft. However, I'm not projecting any trades, and it needs to be clear that I am not doing this based on who I think these teams should take. Rather, I'm picking based upon what I believe the GMs of each team WILL do at their respective spots, or would have done had they not traded out of their respective spot. I think that's what a Mock draft is supposed to be, but I'm not really sure. Also, it's a bit late, and I'm a bit too lazy to write my reasoning for each pick. Anyways, without further adieu, here it is:
1 - Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Joeckel - OT Texas A&M
2 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Geno Smith - QB WVU
3 - Oakland Raiders - Eric Fisher - OT Central Michigan
4 - Philadelphia Eagles - Dion Jordan - DE/OLB Oregon
5 - Detroit Lions - Ezekiel Ansah - DE/OLB BYU
6 - Cleveland Browns - Jarvis Jones - DE/OLB Georgia
7 - Arizona Cardinals - Star Lotulelei - DT Utah
8 - Buffalo Bills - Ryan Nassib - QB Syracuse
9 - New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo - DE/OLB LSU
10 - Tennessee Titans - Cordarrelle Patterson - WR Tennessee
11 - San Diego Chargers - Lane Johnson - OT Oklahoma
12 - Miami Dolphins - Tyler Eifert - TE Notre Dame
13 - New York Jets - Tavon Austin - WR WVU
14 - Carolina Panthers - Sharrif Floyd - DT Florida
15 - New Orleans Saints - Dee Milliner - CB Alabama
16 - St. Louis Rams - Kenny Vaccaro - S Texas
17 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Jonathan Cooper - G UNC
18 - Dallas Cowboys - Terron Armstead - OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff
19 - New York Giants - Manti Te'o - ILB Notre Dame
20 - Chicago Bears - Chance Warmack - G Alabama
21 - Cincinnati Bengals - Alec Ogletree - ILB Georgia
22 - St. Louis Rams - DeAndre Hopkins - WR Clemson
23 - Minnesota Vikings - Xavier Rhodes - CB Florida State
24 - Indianapolis Colts - Sheldon Richardson - DT Missouri
25 - Minnesota Vikings - Justin Hunter - WR Tennessee
26 - Greenbay Packers - Desmond Trufant - CB Washington
27 - Houston Texans - Ryan Swope - WR Texas A&M
28 - Denver Broncos - Sylvester Williams - DT UNC
29 - New England Patriots - D.J. Fluker - OT Alabama
30 - Atlanta Falcons - Tank Carradine - DE Florida State
31 - San Francisco 49ers - Tyrann Matheiu - CB LSU
32 - Baltimore Ravens - Arthur Brown - ILB Kansas State
Alright, there you have it. I'm not feeling so great about this draft. I wanted more reaches. Oh well. Here are my top players on offense and defense and by position.
Top Offensive Player: Chance Warmack OG Alabama
Top Defensive Player: Dion Jordan DE Oregon
Top Player: Chance Warmack OG Alabama
QB: Geno Smith
RB: Eddie Lacy
FB: Lonnie Pryor
WR: Ryan Swope
WR: Marqise Goodwin
WR: Cordarrelle Patterson
TE: Tyler Eifert
LT: Lane Johnson
LG: Chance Warmack
C: Brian Schwenke
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Brennan Williams
DE: Dion Jordan
DT: Star Lotulelei
DT: Sheldon Richardson
DE: Margus Hunt
OLB: Ezekiel Ansah
MLB: Arthur Brown
MLB: Manti Te'o
OLB: Jarvis Jones
CB: Tyrann Matheiu
CB: Xavier Rhodes
CB: D.J. Hayden
S: Kenny Vaccaro
S: Earl Wolff
There you have it. Pick these players and your team is set! Hopefully Chance Warmack falls to Chicago. GO BEARS!
1 - Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Joeckel - OT Texas A&M
2 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Geno Smith - QB WVU
3 - Oakland Raiders - Eric Fisher - OT Central Michigan
4 - Philadelphia Eagles - Dion Jordan - DE/OLB Oregon
5 - Detroit Lions - Ezekiel Ansah - DE/OLB BYU
6 - Cleveland Browns - Jarvis Jones - DE/OLB Georgia
7 - Arizona Cardinals - Star Lotulelei - DT Utah
8 - Buffalo Bills - Ryan Nassib - QB Syracuse
9 - New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo - DE/OLB LSU
10 - Tennessee Titans - Cordarrelle Patterson - WR Tennessee
11 - San Diego Chargers - Lane Johnson - OT Oklahoma
12 - Miami Dolphins - Tyler Eifert - TE Notre Dame
13 - New York Jets - Tavon Austin - WR WVU
14 - Carolina Panthers - Sharrif Floyd - DT Florida
15 - New Orleans Saints - Dee Milliner - CB Alabama
16 - St. Louis Rams - Kenny Vaccaro - S Texas
17 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Jonathan Cooper - G UNC
18 - Dallas Cowboys - Terron Armstead - OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff
19 - New York Giants - Manti Te'o - ILB Notre Dame
20 - Chicago Bears - Chance Warmack - G Alabama
21 - Cincinnati Bengals - Alec Ogletree - ILB Georgia
22 - St. Louis Rams - DeAndre Hopkins - WR Clemson
23 - Minnesota Vikings - Xavier Rhodes - CB Florida State
24 - Indianapolis Colts - Sheldon Richardson - DT Missouri
25 - Minnesota Vikings - Justin Hunter - WR Tennessee
26 - Greenbay Packers - Desmond Trufant - CB Washington
27 - Houston Texans - Ryan Swope - WR Texas A&M
28 - Denver Broncos - Sylvester Williams - DT UNC
29 - New England Patriots - D.J. Fluker - OT Alabama
30 - Atlanta Falcons - Tank Carradine - DE Florida State
31 - San Francisco 49ers - Tyrann Matheiu - CB LSU
32 - Baltimore Ravens - Arthur Brown - ILB Kansas State
Alright, there you have it. I'm not feeling so great about this draft. I wanted more reaches. Oh well. Here are my top players on offense and defense and by position.
Top Offensive Player: Chance Warmack OG Alabama
Top Defensive Player: Dion Jordan DE Oregon
Top Player: Chance Warmack OG Alabama
QB: Geno Smith
RB: Eddie Lacy
FB: Lonnie Pryor
WR: Ryan Swope
WR: Marqise Goodwin
WR: Cordarrelle Patterson
TE: Tyler Eifert
LT: Lane Johnson
LG: Chance Warmack
C: Brian Schwenke
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Brennan Williams
DE: Dion Jordan
DT: Star Lotulelei
DT: Sheldon Richardson
DE: Margus Hunt
OLB: Ezekiel Ansah
MLB: Arthur Brown
MLB: Manti Te'o
OLB: Jarvis Jones
CB: Tyrann Matheiu
CB: Xavier Rhodes
CB: D.J. Hayden
S: Kenny Vaccaro
S: Earl Wolff
There you have it. Pick these players and your team is set! Hopefully Chance Warmack falls to Chicago. GO BEARS!
