2011 NFL Draft Grades- AFC
by Jon Dove on May 1, 2011 4:31 PM EDT
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PrintThe 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone with many teams landing an impressive haul of players. After the draft, everyone likes to look down at the selected players and form an opinion. NFL Draft grades are very popular because it lets you see how your team stacked up against the rest of the league.
This is just a quick impression of each team's draft and we will be taking a more extensive look as the summer progresses. So check out the grades and feel free to leave some feedback.
AFC East
New England Patriots- Nate Solder, Ras-I Dowling, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Ryan Mallett, Marcus Cannon, Lee Smith, Markell Carter, Malcolm Williams
C There are some nice players in this draft class but I think that they miss an opportunity to get real impact players. Solder has a ton of potential but he needs to work on improving his technique. Dowling has been injury prone which needs to play into your evaluation. Both Vereen and Ridley are nice running backs but are similar to the current combo of Woodhead and Green-Ellis. The Mallett and Cannon may take a little to pay off but were smart selections.
Miami Dolphins- Mike Pouncey, Daniel Thomas, Edmund Gates, Charles Clay, Frank Kearse, Jimmy Wilson
C+Pouncey is going to be starting along the Dolphin offensive line for many years. Gates brings a ton of speed and may develop into the receiver the team thought Ted Ginn would. I felt that the Thomas pick was a bit of a reach but he does have wildcat experience.
New York Jets- Muhammad Wilkerson, Kendrick Ellis, Bilal Powell, Jeremy Kerley, Greg McElroy, Scotty McKnight
C+Both Wilkerson and Ellis fill needs along the defensive front. Powell is going struggle to find carries in a crowded backfield. Kerley will return kicks and provide some receiver depth.
Buffalo Bills- Marcell Dareus, Aaron Williams, Kelvin Sheppard, Da'Norris Searcy, Chris Hairston, Johnny White, Chris White, Justin Rodgers, Michael Jasper
A-The biggest need for the Bills was a lack of talent. They needed to bring in better players at several different positions and they did that with this draft. Dareus and Williams will bring toughness and versitility to the defense. I feel Hairston is a potential starting right tackle that can open up running lanes. Johnny White could eventually take over for Fred Jackson when he runs out of gas. Overall this team got better this weekend and that is the goal of the draft
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens- Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, Jah Reid, Tandon Doss, Chykie Brown, Pernell McPhee, Tyrod Taylor, Anthony Allen
A-The Ravens got good value and filled a need with each of their selections. Smith will immediately start at corner and really improve that unit. I think that Jah Reid has very good right tackle written all over him as he plays with good balance and strength. The Ravens needed speed and that is what Torrey Smith brings to the table.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Cameron Heyward, Marcus Gilbert, Curtis Brown, Cortez Allen, Chris Carter, Keith Williams, Baron Batch
B-The Heyward pick was what the the Steelers needed to bring in along the defensive line. I thought that the Gilbert selection was a bit of a reach but not enough to beat them up over the selection. I think that the Curtis Brown pick is a steal.
Cleveland Browns-Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard, Greg Little, Jordan Cameron, Owen Marecic, Buster Skrine, Jason Pinkston, Eric Hagg
B-I really like Phil Taylor but thought he was a better fit in the 3-4 defense. However, he has the quickness to penetrate and could be moved around the defensive line. Sheard is undersized but can bring pressure off the edge and he plays with a good motor. Cameron needs some time to develop but can be a good pass catching tight end down the road. Jason Pinkston will be a good backup offensive lineman in the NFL and was a good value pick.
Cincinnati Bengals- A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, Dontay Moch, Clint Boling, Robert Sands, Ryan Whalen, Korey Lindsay, Jay Finley
A I absolutely love the Green, Dalton, and Boling selections as all three could have a quick impact. I am not sure many remember that there was talk about the Bengals releasing Carson Palmer before he asked for a trade. So I think the Dalton pick makes sense even if Palmer was 100% returning to the team.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts- Anthony Castonzo, Ben Ijalana, Drake Nevis, Delone Carter, Chris Rucker
A-The Colts hit the nail on the head with this draft. They needed to rebuild their offensive line and they got a big steal with Castonzo. Look for Castonzo to start at left tackle with Ijalana working to develop and eventually ending up on the right side. I love the Nevis pick as he will bring nastiness to the defensive line.
Jacksonville Jaguars- Blaine Gabbert, William Rackley, Cecil Shorts, Chris Proniski, Rod Issac
C+The Jaguars are a team that needed to fill a few needs but instead took a risk on Gabbert. This was a hard draft to grade and I may end up adjusting it to a higher grade. Gabbert was my top rated quarterback and the Jags needed a qb of the future so you cannot kill that pick. I think Rackley can be a very good starting guard in the NFL and Shorts can contribute right away. Again a good draft but I gave them a lower grade because they failed to address some key needs.
Houtson Texas- J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed, Brandon Harris, Rashad Carmichael, Shiloh Keo, TJ Yates, Derek Newton, Cheta Ozougwu
A I love this draft for Houston as they set out to improve their defense and that is exactly what they did. What makes the draft so good is that they filled position of need without reaching for players. Watt, Reed, and Harris all could have went higher but feel into the Texans lap.
Tennessee Titans- Jake Locker, Akeem Ayers, Jurrell Casey, Colin McCarthy, Jamie Harper, Karl Klug, Byron Stingily, Zach Clayton, Tommie Campbell
C+Locker will make or break this draft class but there are some other solid selections. Ayers, Casey, and McCarthy could all be an immediate help to the Titans defense. Ayers plays like a 1st rounder but fell because of a poor workout.
AFC West
Oakland Raiders- Stefen Wisienswki, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Joe Barksdale, Chimdi Chewka, Tiawan Jones, Denarius Moore, Richard Gordon, David Ausberry
C-I feel the Raiders reached for everyone of these players. They continue to put a ton of stock into speed and that is why Van Dyke, Jones, and Chewka were selected. Wisinenwski and Barksdale are a decent offensive lineman that have a shot to help out early.
Denver Broncos- Von Miller, Rahim Moore, Orlando Franklin, Nate Irving, Quinton Carter, Julius Thomas, Mike Mohamad, Virgil Green, Jermey Beal
A-While I dont think Miller is a great fit in a 4-3 defense he is still a tremendous player. This draft needed to be heavy on defense and that is exactly what happened. Franklin will help the offensive line and could play either tackle or guard. Watch out for Virgil Green as he has tons of speed and could stretch the defense in passing situations.
Kansas City Chiefs- Jon Baldwin, Rodney Hudson, Justin Houston, Allen Bailey, Jalil Brown, Ricky Stanzi, Gabe Miller, Jerrell Powe, Shane Bannon
B+I see a draft with a ton of talent filling positions of need. Baldwin might be a reach but there were several other teams looking hard at him in the 2nd round. The Chiefs have the right coaches in place to get the most out of Houston, Bailey, and Powe. Stanzi is a nice developmental quarterback that gives them a good backup option.
San Diego Chargers- Corey Liuget, Marcus Gilchrist, James Mouton, Vincent Brown, Sharcee Wright, Jordon Todman, Stephen Schilling, Andrew Gachkar
B The Mouton pick is a head scratcher but the rest of the draft helped overcome that reach. Liuget is a terrific player and will make an immediate impact. Gilchirst is versatile player that can play both corner and safety. Vincent Brown is a good wide reciever that can make the tough catch. Look out for Jordon Todman as Norv Turner will find ways to use his quickness.
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With free-agency after the draft...
…you can do BAP, and fill the needs in free agency, we went BAP, all the way through the draft, knowing we may not fill our needs, so you can give the Jaguars a lower grade for not adressing needs, that was part of the plan.
"Don't go away Mad, Just go away."
how did the Jags go BAP? Both of their last two picks were not in the top 750 of Scouts inc or NFL scouts
My Seton Hall blog: http://thesetonhallblog.blogspot.com/
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by seton hall and steelers on May 1, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Do yourself a favor and youtubue rod issac and chris prosinsko
SCALP'EM
Jesus is Lord!
by Thunder64 on May 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Do yourself a favor and youtubue rod issac and chris prosinski
SCALP'EM
Jesus is Lord!
by Thunder64 on May 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes let's go by highlight reels!!!!
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 1, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously.
Who doesn’t look good on highlight reels?
Dear Theo, please trade Crawford, Salty, Lackey, and Jacoby for nothing.
Anyone stupid enough to take those contracts can have them.
Good Point...
Muhammad Wilkerson + Kenrick Ellis=
-Greatest two picks of all time
-Sleepless nights for Tommy Bieber
He does AFTER its over
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 1, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
They went by THEIR board
not Scouts inc or these “NFL scouts” that your talking about
by Sylvester.The.Jaguar.fan on May 1, 2011 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
How can you give the Broncos an A?
Are you a Giants fan that values LBs over everything else and think they = championship?
I don’t think they did horrible by any means, but their reluctance to draft DTs when they could really use them…who cares that they drafted some nice LBs?
They’re probably gonna rack up a lot of numbers, but those tackles most likely are 5-6 yards down the field every play.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
It was an A-
The Broncos admitted they wanted to go DT, but clearly their man in the 2nd, Jarvis Jenkins, was taken. They obviously didn’t like Austin, and Paea’s injury must have been a turnoff. For the 3rd round, Nate Irving is a guy who many see with a very high ceiling and Bill Parcells has him as the best ILB in the draft. Terrel McClain was also gone at that point.
Once the 3rd round was over, there really were no DT’s of worth except for Ballard, who went before their 4th round pick. They did a good job in letting their board dictate who to pick and not panic and take a DT they didn’t like. Plus, the DT’s that project to start, Vickerson and Thomas, are both big guys who have had some success in 4-3s. I’d agree, you’d like to see them go DT, but I’d give them a A-/B+ for drafting the way they did
If you reply to a comment/post/fanshot of mine, I will more likely then not respond to it, unless you come off like a d-bag.
Also
lets not forget too that Safety and LB are 1b and 1c to the DT 1a, I even thought that LB was slightly bigger since they needed 2 new starters there as opposed to needing one at DT. And clearly they weren’t bringing Harris back which left a gaping hole at RT. I wish they would’ve addressed DT, but you can’t penalize them for failing to address needs, every pick they made was a filling a need
If you reply to a comment/post/fanshot of mine, I will more likely then not respond to it, unless you come off like a d-bag.
Got to go with you...
The 1 thing I noticed is that all of the players that they drafted where players who where smart TEAM 1st guys. There are all should help on 3rd downs also.
Miller = Starting SLB/ Pass rushing DE on 3rd downs.
Moore = Starting FS over Hill or Jones. At this point is better option then McBAth also.
Franklin = bye-bye Harris. Starts at RT.
Irving = DJ’s replacement in a year or 2.
Carter = Dawkins replacement in a year or 2.
Thomas = a project that could be the next Gates.
Mohamad = Starts on ST’s this year and then moves into the middle.
Green = Freak athlete. Speed and jumping ability are off the charts for a TE. Kaepernicks best reciever last year.
Beal = Could be the steal of the draft if he can produce at DE for us.
Yes we could of drafted a DT, but maybe EFX thought the best thing to do would be to get some help in the FA pool. We should look at getting 1 of the following: Mebane(Sea), Coefield(NYG), or Franklin(SF). Then bring back Bannan, and Thomas. That would give us 4 DT’d to start with. There are some good UDFA’s also: Ian Williams (Notre Dame), Cedric Thorton (Southern Arkansas), and Martin Parker (Richmond). So, we are not done with the DL, but we should be done with LBers, and the secondary.
No problem there
but yea, you can penalize them for drafting the same position multiple times with so many apparent needs.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
The same position multiple times
because they needed multiple players there. We needed 2 LB’s and 2 S’s, maybe Mike Muhamad was overkill, but that was such a late round pick a DT wouldn’t have really mattered anyway. TE was a big need too, and Virgil Green was such a late pick its the same argument with Muhamad.
They went with their board, got the best players at every pick (except for Franklin, IMO), and helped a lot of their needs. They had way too many needs to address them all in this draft so you CAN’T penalize them for it.
If you reply to a comment/post/fanshot of mine, I will more likely then not respond to it, unless you come off like a d-bag.
the broncos had a ton of needs on defense so they could have went any direction
Jon Dove
NFL Analyst at Mocking the Draft
@Jon_Dove42
I agree with that...
so then why the hell would you spend 3 picks on LBs and 2 on safeties? If you have a ton of needs, why wouldn’t you spread that wealth around?
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
ermm
Mike Mohammed? Unless you plan on playing him at DT….
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
The Broncos will not have to go out and get any LBers or S's in the FA pool.
There get to look at all of the DT, DE, RB, and TE’s in the FA pool.
And the could have covered a few of those needs in the draft instead of going for all the LBs
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 1, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Well yea
but why would you worry about spending all that money? Even to get a mediocre RB or DT, you’ll be paying at the lowest 2nd round money.
All I’m saying is you’d think a better mix of players would be there. Sure you drafted good players, but if you have a ton of needs like you say and considering the positional value of LBs and Safeties, probably should’ve changed that up a bit.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Rorschach,
Your thinking is sloppy. By your measure, the fact that we didn’t address DT = failure? How about you critique the players and not the position? Yes, we needed DT’s, we also needed DB’s, LB’s, TE’s, and an OT. What’s your point??? I’m not saying we definitely had a good draft, in fact, I have no idea, but I am saying that critiquing our draft because DT wasn’t addressed is dumb.
We had the leagues worst defense last year. By definition, we have needs all over the defensive side of the ball.
Again, critique the player, not the position. “Draft grades,” the day after the draft, is as big an exercise in futility as mock drafts.
is it sloppy? or was their drafting sloppy....
there were plenty of DTs available where they picked. Maybe they got BPA at those spots, but where they were drafting (near the top of every round) there was a DT that had to be BPA at that point.
They didn’t get a good enough mix of players. 5 LBs and safeties in total. You build through the trenches.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Actually,
you build in many ways, not just one. If the Broncos have a safety and a DT available, and the safety is ranked higher, would you advocate they take the DT?
If you say yes then I don’t want you to be the GM of my team.
If you have a safety and LB drafted already
I’d lower that position a bit.
Especially given the positional value of said positions. IF this is a DL we’re talking about, you can double up cuz you can never have enough of them.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
The problem with that is
that when the Broncos were picking Rahim Moore and Orlando Franklin in the second round, they did not have depth yet. When they picked Quinton Carter in the fourth they did not have depth yet (he projects to SS). When they picked Mohammed it was the sixth round and there was nobody better available. Mohammed projects to a very good special teams player, and in the sixth round, what more do you want?
Tom Brady
Duh who else would you want in the 6th round?
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 1, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
still a safety
and still a LB. The special teams thing I understand, but wouldn’t that be what Irving’s for?
Just a bad mix of positions and positional value.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
I don't really see how the Broncos doubling up on LB is a bad thing
If you had a need at OT and OG, you wouldn’t stop addressing the OL after you select a OT.
Moving back to the 4-3, the Broncos only have two linebackers that would work, DJ Williams and Wesley Woodyard. Both of those guys will be slotted at the weakside linebacker. We didn’t have anyone to play the MLB or SAM before the draft.
We didn’t just pick three LBs. We picked a guy who will start at SAM, a guy who will start at MLB, and a guy that has the versatilty to fill a reserve spot inside or out. Its the same story with the safeties. Sure we picked two safeties, but they will end up playing completely different positions. It is sloppy to lump all these guys together and say we overloaded because they all are linebackers or safetys. When you break it down by position, the Broncos got great value at areas of need.
"I want to get a ring, and I want to do it here." - Champ Bailey
www.worthingtonjohn.com
LB is a position that when overvalued, like the Broncos clearly did
you get in trouble, cuz it doesn’t matter who your LBs are if the DL sucks. Sure, you got a MLB and a Sam, that’s great. But teams that avoid the defensive line don’t have good defenses, plain and simple.
Sure, there’s other types of safeties and LBzers. But they all don’t matter and will get filleted while the defensive line gets no pressure or can’t stop the run.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes would like to speak to you about that.
Of course the Niners D-Line its horrid but I wouldn’t say that its awesome.
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
Im not competitive I just addicted to winning.
isn't horrid*
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
Im not competitive I just addicted to winning.
It's a lot better than given credit for
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 2, 2011 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Abrayo Franklin and Justin Smith are NOT horrd
plus we’re talking 4-3 teams, so I’d think you’re out of your element.
And Takeo and Patrick can talk all day. They’re still overvalued, at least by some teams. Undervalued by others (Giants, Eagles…) but considering the caliber of the defenses its better to undervalue them and build the trenches.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Hm
Drafting Miller to play the Sam LB spot, which does force him into coverage/against the run quite often, which hes not good at.
great value for the #2 pick
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 1, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
AAAAAAHHH!!!!!!
“..Again a good draft but I gave them a lower grade because they failed to address some key needs.”
do you know nothing?!!! The Jaguars do not draft for need!!! They draft BAP, and so it is essentially impossible for you to grade them on how they did because they did just what they set out to do. GET THE BAP!!!!
my grades are based on my opinion not the draft strategy of the jaguars
Jon Dove
NFL Analyst at Mocking the Draft
@Jon_Dove42
ok
but someone goes ahead and drafts BAP by their board. You have no right to say they drafted poorly, becuase they drafted according to their stratgy and their board. say that you question their board, but don’t say they drafted poorly becuase a BAP team can’t draft poorly.
Yes they can
if their drafts continually result in players that can’t find a position or do nothing to help a team win, it is drafting poorly. You’re arguing semantics here.
Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange
by bigbluethruandthru on May 1, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Is this Al Davis?
I don’t think anyone with half a brain would suggest Oakland drafts well year in and year out because they stick to their ‘strategy’ of drafting fpa (fastest player available).
In any case, the dude can grade how he wants. Perhaps, part of that grade reflects that strategy.
Going straight bpa isn’t a good strategy many times….
And really, if your team drafts bpa solely why are you reading draft reviews? Mock drafts and ‘professional’ prognosticators use their own subjective opinion to rank prospects. Because of the variance of ‘expert’ opinions, it is necessary that filling needs weighs heavily into grading drafts, so get real man.
Scott Pioli for President in 2012. Experience? If the current President doesn't need it, why does Pioli? Besides, Pioli has the blue collar work ethic with a white collar brain. He has humility. He is tough on security. He supports war on Sundays. And he makes sound, fiscally conservative decisions.
by chief Stevie_k on May 1, 2011 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
once again
it is about criticizing startegy. Say that you dislike the BAP startegy and drafting players who are ranked highest on their board. Okalnd ear in and year out drafts based on a specific startegy, and so it is hard to say they drafted poorly, becuase they did exactly what they set out to do.
You want to go out and say you dislike the startegy used by a team to draft, so ahead and say it, Don’t say they drafted poorly, becuase they didn’t.
This is precisely why draft grades are stupid prior to seeing how the players end up doing in the NFL
You're arguing semantics unnecessarily here.
If he believes a certain strategy is stupid, I’d say it’s fair to assert that most drafts conducted under said poor strategy would result in a poor draft.
Grading the picks is fine, as long as people understand that the grades are based on what the writer believes about the players taken and the team that took them.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!
If Dalton can ball and Colt McCoy comes along well
The AFC North might get very, very competitive. Yikes
Back on the Sweed train. Choo Choo!
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
I was thinking the same thing. As a Ravens fan it is definitely still a battle between us, but they both did very well on draft day. I personally think the Browns will be the team to watch because I just can’t help but think Cincy will screw it all up somehow. The Browns set themselves up nicely for next years draft and a lot of their progression will be on McCoy.
Agree with the Pats C
They did kind of whiff. Solder and Dowling were decent, but are definitely question marks. Cannon was a great pick, but 2 RBs is downright stupid, especially with Woody and BJGE.
Dear Theo, please trade Crawford, Salty, Lackey, and Jacoby for nothing.
Anyone stupid enough to take those contracts can have them.
Don’t you mean like a D
C means it was decent…….
by Pablo Escobar on May 1, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
It was decent.
getting 2 good O-Linemen doesn’t merit a D, no matter how bad everything else was. Day 2 pretty much sucked, however, so C, maybe C-. Nevertheless, not a D.
Dear Theo, please trade Crawford, Salty, Lackey, and Jacoby for nothing.
Anyone stupid enough to take those contracts can have them.
Denver
The Broncos may have drafted as many as four instant starters in this draft, but that says more about the status of their roster beforehand than the actual caliber of their picks. On the flip-side, I’d say at least three picks were wasted purely by virtue of their being superfluous (two of the linebackers, a safety and a tight end) and another was a lateral move at best (the OL). The optimist in me wants to give it a B-
MileHighReport.com member since 02/06/07, promoted to "Position Coach" (i.e. new staff writer) on 02/16/10!
On paper, possibly
I think it’s a C though. As a Pats fan, all I can do is recite “In Belichick we trust” until the season starts.
Dear Theo, please trade Crawford, Salty, Lackey, and Jacoby for nothing.
Anyone stupid enough to take those contracts can have them.
Another Thought
Belichick also managed to get Saints 1st and Raiders 2nd which I think should be considered when giving draft grades
by Always Sunny Next Year on May 1, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
And God knows how many picks he'll turn those into next year
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 1, 2011 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Jon,
I appreciate the analysis and scouting reports that you offer. In fact, I read them hundreds of times during the pre-draft days. However, I want to correct your line of thinking.
You look at “draft grades” through the prism of addressing needs only. That is misguided if not altogether wrong. I want my GM to pick the best players available first and go for need second. I guess if I had to quantify it I would say 70% BPA and 30% need.
After all, if I told you, prior to the draft, that the Lions would pick a DT with their #13 overall, you would probably say that was a bad pick. If I told you that player would be Nick Fairley, you would probably say that was a good pick.
Some teams can do both at the same time. Cf chiefs and Scott pioli
Scott Pioli for President in 2012. Experience? If the current President doesn't need it, why does Pioli? Besides, Pioli has the blue collar work ethic with a white collar brain. He has humility. He is tough on security. He supports war on Sundays. And he makes sound, fiscally conservative decisions.
by chief Stevie_k on May 1, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm sure he considered that.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!
First grade of A that I have seen for Baltimore so far
And I agree. We got two of the best playmakers in this draft in the first 2 rounds and filled every need the rest of the way.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
Hot tub time machine with me to November 2010.
Tell me a team is going to get Ryan Mallett, Nate Solder, Ras-I Dowling, Shane Vereen, and Marcus Cannon, as well as a 2012 first and second round pick. Let’s laugh at the absurdity of how good that draft is.
Now it’s in April and those picks lose some luster because of injuries (Dowling, Cannon) and character (Mallett). The Patriots have had no problem grooming a raw, yet top OL prospect to be ready to go during their first season (Light, Mankins, Vollmer) so I don’t think the Solder pick is too crazy. Still, this draft is based on future potential and BPA, as opposed to immediate impact. I can see the tough grade as a result.
by Richard Hill on May 1, 2011 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I'll admit:
While none of the Pats picks were amazing to me, the fact that they still robbed some more picks for next year is crazy. Sadly, in a good way.
Muhammad Wilkerson + Kenrick Ellis=
-Greatest two picks of all time
-Sleepless nights for Tommy Bieber
I say this was a typical Belicheck draft
Build for the future & stockpile picks. I say mission accomplished
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 1, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
So true!
People say they reached on running backs, but if thats how Bill rated them, then I trust him. Plus they fit the system and bring special teams value where Leshoure or thomas couldn’t. We have also wasted 3rd rounders before, so it is worth the gamble taking mallet when he is either: A) The heir to Brady B) Traded for a future 1st rounder or C) an after thought. Great draft
I think the Texans draft went quite well. Kinda shows what Wade is capable of doing without Jerry Jones getting in the way
I can’t complain about any of our picks. Carmichael could be a steal, while Keo & Yates might be some great gems. I think we could address some other needs with some UDFAs. Mark Herzlich, Joe Lefeged, Terrence Tolliver, Ian Williams, & Blaine Sumner from the Colorado School Of Mines could be great players to target.
Obviously we would target Nnamdi Asomugha in Free Agency, but unless Andre Johnson gave him one hell of a sales pitch & he really liked what we did with the defense, I don’t see him coming here, especially not with the likes of Dan Synder & Jerry Jones more than willing to overpay him (if that’s even possible). Jonathan Joseph is a toss up depending on the what the Free Agency rules are (5 or 6 years till Free Agency). Seeing as our depth at CB is pretty young, Ike Taylor could be on our radar now to teach up these young bucks
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
Wade is the Texans GM?
I think not. And talent was absolutely not the Cowboys’ problem.
by Sylvester.The.Jaguar.fan on May 1, 2011 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Wade was giving his input into every pick & Rick Smith gave him what he wanted
Jerry Jones took whoever he thought would sell jerseys & tickets. Jerry values the sexy pick over the wise pick unless they have an absolutely screaming need
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 1, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Texans are running a 3-4 with J.J. Watt and Mario Williams
I guess drafting Watt was for BPA to the Texans but Wade will seriously have to consider how this switch is going to work
I'm still wondering about the switch myself
That front 7 wasn’t as horrible as the secondary led people to believe, now its another HUGE question mark.
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 2, 2011 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Injuries killed the Texans front 7 last year
But now you’re gonna have Mario, Antonio Smith, & J.J. Watt rotating at DE, possibly with Amobi Okoye in that mix as well. You’ll have Reed, Barwin, Mark Anderson, Cheta Ozougwu, rotating at the OLB spots with Mario & Cushing possibly getting put out there occasionally. With all those guys (as long as they stay healthy), the question becomes which ones will the opposing tackles block?? That confusion alone should help out the pass defense by making the QB force throws out earlier
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 2, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The question will be for awhile
Will the players work out in the new scheme?
On paper you can put any names you want to and think its going to be epic, until it works you can’t start saying its a great move
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 2, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
True, but Wade will try his best to make this a damn good defense
Hell, just average or mediocre would be a huge upgrade over last season
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 3, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I just still don't see the point in switching
Hopefully it works out for the Texans though
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 4, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Probably to make the defense less predictable
Which is very valuable against Peyton Manning
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
by The Night Owl on May 4, 2011 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I will admit I really don't know too much about the 1gap system that Wade runs
However it’s not like the 3-4 is the new shiny toy in the NFL anymore. One other thing is that you will not be in a base 3-4 for that long in a game the Chiefs were in the base 3-4 about 50% of the time. That is another reason that I don’t get the switch. The nickel package will more than likely be a 4 man front so it just seems like another step back.
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 5, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Ravens
Felt this was another classic Ozzie draft. Let the good players fall to him and it helped that they were at some big positions of need. One of the picks I am most excited about is Tandon Doss. I think he is one of the most polished WR’s in the draft. He dropped because of the injury and speed, but I think he is actually a little faster than people think because he played all of last year with a sports hernia on both sides. It sounds like he will make a full recovery and has a chance to be a very good player with us.
I really want to see what Jimmy can do on that defense
I do believe that was the best spot for him, hopefully that locker room can turn him around. No one is denying his talent
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 2, 2011 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I do as well. I feel confident he won’t cause any problems here because we did a lot of homework on him and he hasn’t had any problems the last 2 or 3 years. Those incidents were from his freshman and sophomore years and seem more like being young and making mistakes rather than true character issues. I think the character issues got a little overblown which worked out for us because if they weren’t then I don’t think there’s anyway he falls to us.
He will be one of the rookies I will be following this season
Along with Aldon Smith and Pettis
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston
by BAMFSpecialOps on May 3, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think we're better than the Browns but it won't be easy.
This was one hell of a good draft class for us (the only reason why 2010’s draft might be better is because it had more picks, so there was more room for error and depth/ST picks). Dalton, Boling, and Green look to start immediately provided Marvin/Paul Alexander’s infatuation for Nate Livings goes away and Carson doesn’t return. Moch and Sands project to be good role players on the team at first with both potentially earning starting jobs down the road.
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