Mailbag 5.21.10

In the Mailbag, I will answer questions sent in by you.  Remember, if you have a question you want to see answered, send it in an email to ezfootballfutures@gmail.com

Hello EZ…

   So with the spring ball now in the books, which schools do you think will be in the mix for the national title?  Any that are typically not on the national radar who could make some noise?  How about some schools that are usually title contenders that could take a step backwards? 

Matt B.
San Jose, CA

Hello Matt…

    Wow, a three part question.  Very nice.  Well, let’s start by talking about some teams who could be on the decline.  First, I am going to point out some SEC teams like Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.  Each of these big time programs has been competitive for much of the last decade, especially Florida.  Each of these squads I think will miss the mark somewhat in 2010 though.  The Vols and the Dawgs are both rebuilding a bit.  Dooley becomes the third coach in three years in Knoxville, and the Dawgs need to find some answers at QB before they will challenge for the conference crown again.  The Gators lost an immense amount of talent this offseason, and although they guys that will replace them are all going to be studs, it may take a year for the team to rebuild the chemistry that made them title contenders and winners in recent years.

   

   Some other teams that could slide a bit include Oklahoma, who like the Gators lost a huge amount of talent to the NFL this offseason, and the Trojans, who now have a new HC in town.  Although talented, I am just not sure Lane Kiffin will have this team performing the way Pete Carroll did.  Don’t forget about Texas Tech either, who may find that although they wanted Mike Leetch out of town, he may have just taken that powerful aerial attack with him.  Also watch for slides from Penn State, Cincinnati, and Texas.

   

   As for some contenders, we have to start with the defending champs.  I think Bama will enter the season with a number one overall ranking, and deservedly so.  They are a very talented program who is well coached.  They still have one of the nation’s most dynamic players in Mark Ingram, and overall more experience.  Losing Cody, McClain, Jackson, and Arenas from their defense could hurt, but I expect them to still be a dominant program.

   

   Another team to watch will be of no surprise if you are a regular reader of the blog. I think that the Carolina Tar Heels could have quite a year in front of them.  Not typically a factor in the ACC, I think UNC will have maybe the best defense in the country this coming season.  With guys like Bruce Carter, Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, Dunta Williams, and Quan Sturdivant all currently projected as possible first round picks in next year’s draft, I think this defense will keep them in every game they play this year.  If Butch Davis can motivate the offense to put some points on the board, they could very well make a run for the ACC title, and possibly enter the national title discussion this year.  Some other teams on the rise include South Carolina, Miami, Oregon State, Ohio State, and West Virginia.

Thanks again for the question Matt.

EZ…

    Recently, the sportswriters were asked to revote on Brian Cushing’s ROTY award from this past season.  Some of them felt this was completely inappropriate despite his testing positive for a PED.  What are your thoughts on this?

Casey M.
Dallas, TX

Casey…

   Thanks for the question.  First, let me be clear.  I was not warning teams against drafting Brian Cushing.  I said in numerous posts, that he has tenacity and upside, both of which would serve him well at the next level.  I did however question if he had the strength necessary to be linebacker worthy of a first round selection. 

  

   Now, another thing for me to point out here is that I am not a doctor.  Heck, I don’t even play one on TV.  As a result, I can only form an opinion based on the information I read and hear.  According to the league, Cushing failed a test early during the season, and then didn’t fail another one.  According to Cushing, he was not using performance enhancing drugs.  Was he?  Wasn’t he?  Ultimately I am not sure we will ever get a definitive answer to the question.

   

   I do know this however.  The league is very clear on what substances are banned.  If you take any of them, intentionally or not, you should be punished.  These are professional athletes we are talking about.  Their body is their tool needed to be effective at their trade.  Therefore they, and only they are responsible for what goes into it.  Each player has a responsibility to be cognizant of everything they ingest.  I don’t care if it was prescribed to them or not, they have to know what they are taking, and what the associated risks are. 

   

   Regardless of whether the intention to cheat was there or not, Cushing popped positive on a test, and the league rightfully reacted.  Suspensions are nothing new in the NFL.  Guys like Julius Peppers and Shawn Merriman have tested positive for banned substances before, and been punished accordingly.  I know some folks were turned off by the league calling for a revote on Cushing’s ROTY status, but I think it is the right thing to do.  If you cheat to win, and are later caught, you should not be allowed to reap the benefits of winning.  If it is found that a college team doesn’t follow proper protocols for player eligibility, they are stripped of wins, even after the fact.  If it is found out that Grammy Award winning artists actually were lip-synching,  they get stripped of their award.  It was absolutely the right move for the league to call for a revote on Cushing’s award.  Now, he did in fact re-win the vote, and as such will maintain his award, but I do think he tarnished his reputation in the process.  If he goes on from here, keeping his nose (and the rest of his body) clean, and continues to produce, we may eventually lose sight of this setback, ultimately filing it away next to blips like Brett Favre’s addiction to pain killers.  But until then, every success and accomplishment will be cautiously examined.  And that is the way it should be.  After all, intentionally or not, Cushing has shaken our trust in him.  It will take some time for him to earn it back.

Good question Casey.

Hey EZ,

Big fan of the blog, keep up the great work! My questions are about all of the conference expansion talk swirling around in the media right now. If the Big East winds up having 3 of it's top teams poached, do you think the conference can survive by adding some new schools, would it survive but wind up losing it's BCS eligibility, or would it simply be doomed and headed for extinction? If there is a possible future, which schools do you think would be the best candidates for addition? Thanks,

Eric R.
Ft Lauderdale, FL

Hey Eric…

   Conference expansion in college football has been a hot topic lately, so I am glad you asked this question.  Unfortunately the answer at this time is really unknown.  Right now, no one knows much, and anyone who claims they do, unless they are a conference commissioner or school president probably doesn’t know what they are talking about.  The truth is all we know is that the Big 10 has made strong overtures to 5 schools (Missouri, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Syracuse) in an attempt to become the nation’s first “super conference”.  How the other conferences react is still very much an unknown.  We have heard that the Big 12 is not interested in dissolving, and with teams like Texas supposedly wanting to stay put, there could be a real chance of the Big 12 maintaining its existence, although probably not in the form we know now.  As for the Big East, losing three teams out of an 8 team football conference, makes it difficult at best to remain a legitimate force, or maintain their BCS bowl alignments. 

   But since we don’t really know a lot let’s instead do a little speculation of our own.  Below, I have included a table which shows a new conference layout proposal I am suggesting.  The teams highlighted in yellow are current Big East schools.  The teams in green are currently members of the Big 12.  Those teams highlighted in blue are not currently part of a BCS conference.  Lets take a closer look.  

   As we have already mentioned, the Big 10 is making some waves, so let’s assume this moves forward.  They would now be a 16 team “super conference” with some good teams and rivalries.  Michigan and Ohio State stay put, as do Indiana and Purdue.  Pittsburgh comes into the conference and renews its in-state rivalry with Penn State, and both the Rutgers/Syracuse and Nebraska/Missouri rivalries come over in tact. 

   This move would drop the Big 12 from 12 teams down to 10.  My next prediction would include the Big 12 trying to replace their two lost teams with two others from the Big East (Cincinnati and Louisville).  These teams would open the Big 12 to some new television markets, which increases both conference revenues and conference footprint.

   The next conference to make a move would then be the ACC.  The ACC is no stranger to expansion, having added Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College a few years ago. My prediction with them would be to add 4 more teams to become the second “super conference”.  Having lost 5 of 8 teams already, I would expect the ACC to grab the remaining three teams from the Big East (Connecticut, South Florida, and West Virginia), relegating the Big East to a basketball only conference.  Then, to round out the picture and give them an even 16 teams, I think they would go and add a school like C-USA’s Central Florida.  They are a big school, in a growing media market, and they would be able to renew the War on I-4, with rival and new conference-mates South Florida.

   To remain competitive in this new alignment, the Pac 10 will react, and try to add two schools of their own, increasing to a 12 school conference.  Boise State is a good program, who fits geographically, and would add to the conference’s overall talent pool.  Same thing could be said for BYU, who is currently a member of the smaller Mountain West conference.  

   This would leave us with 2 super conferences, and 3 other “BCS” conferences, accounting for a minimum of 5 of the 8 spots need to fill the current BCS bowl games.  For the final three spots, I would recommend making them “at large bids” given to some subset of a group comprised of the losers of the super conference title games, and the conference winners from all of the other conferences across the country like C-USA, the Mountain West, the WAC, the MAC, and the Sun Belt to name a few.  The only stipulation is that in order to obtain a bid to one of these bowls (and consequently be eligible for a national title), a school would have to be a member of a conference.  This would mean that a team like Notre Dame would still be eligible to compete in any of the other bowls with which they maintain an alliance, however, they would be excluded from BCS Bowls until they joined a conference. 

   So although this is all simple conjecture, this is one of my predictions.  Thanks again for the question Eric, and I hope I gave you something to think about.
 

. Big 10 SEC Big 12 ACC Pac 10 . Illinois Alabama Baylor Boston College Arizona . Indiana Arkansas Cincinnati Central Florida Arizona State . Iowa Auburn Colorado Clemson Boise State . Michigan Florida Iowa State Connecticut BYU . Michigan State Georgia Kansas Duke California . Minnesota Kentucky Kansas State Florida State Oregon . Missouri LSU Louisville Georgia Tech Oregon State . Nebraska Mississippi State Oklahoma Maryland Southern Cal . Northwestern Ole Miss Oklahoma State Miami Stanford . Ohio State South Carolina Texas North Carolina UCLA . Penn State Tennessee Texas A&M North Carolina State Washington . Pittsburgh Vandy Texas Tech South Florida Washington State . Purdue Virginia . Rutgers Virginia Tech . Syracuse Wake . Wisconsin West Virginia

Hot Stocks 5-11-10

As we embark on a new season of college football, we have to start the watch on a whole list of new stocks. The following players are, during the pre-season, the hottest stocks in the nation, to keep an eye on.

 

1. Jake Locker, QB, WashingtonHad he come out after his Junior campaign, he would have pushed Sam Bradford for the top spot in the draft. As a result, he goes into this year in the cat-bird seat.
   
   
   
2. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford *Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has been grooming Luck to become one of the next great NFL signal callers. This could be his season to put pressure on conference-mate Locker as the best in the class.
   
   
   
3. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina *When you play DE at North Carolina it is hard to not draw comparisons to alum Julius Peppers. For Quinn, he has the talent to live up to the high expectations that accompany that comparison.
   
   
   
4. Marcell Darius, DT, Alabama *Alabama is loaded this season with talent on both sides of the football. Calling Darius the best of the bunch is saying quite a lot.
   
   
   
5. Mark Ingram, RB, AlabamaLast year Ingram became the Tide's first ever Heisman Trophy winner. This year he will take a stab at becoming the first player since Ohio State's, Archie Griffin, to do it twice.
   
   
   
6. Adrian Clayborn, DE, IowaPass rushers are acquired at a premium in the NFL. Clayborn has an explosive first step that will be very enticing to potential investors next April.
   
   
   
7. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio StateThe son of former NFL player Ironhead Heyward, Cameron is on his way to becoming a highly sought after commodity next spring. A strong fall is the first step in that campaign.
   
   
   
8. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas *One of the more hyped players in the last decade, Mallett is living up to expectations at Arkansas after bolting from Michigan. If he continues to develop, he will be a first round pick in either 2011 or 2012.
   
   
   
9. AJ Green, WR, Georgia *This underclassman is still the class of collegiate wide receivers, despite battling injuries last year. His natural abilities are unparalleled in the game right now.
   
   
   
10. Julio Jones, WR, AlabamaJones is the third member of the defending national champs in the top ten. He has all of the right abilities to become a contributor at the next level.
    
    
    
11. Prince Amukarmara, CB, NebraskaIn the pass heavy NFL, having good corners has become increasingly important. Amukarmara is the best of a very talented corner back group that could be available next year.
    
    
    
12. Bruce Carter, OLB, North CarolinaBruce Carter had a borderline first round grade before announcing his return to Chapel Hill. Now he enters this season as the nation's premiere prospect at linebacker.
    
    
    
13. Ras-I Dowling, CB, VirginiaDowling is fast and flashes the ability to develop into a shut-down corner at the next level. His senior season will be his opportunity to showcase his abilities.
    
    
    
14. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU *This underclassman has to be accounted for on every play. He covers ground real quickly, and he plays with immense tenacity. He could push Dowling and Amukamara for the top corner spot if he comes out after this year.
    
    
    
15. Marvin Austin, DT, North CarolinaJoining forces with Quinn and Carter will give the Tar Heels one of the most feared front seven's in the country. With so much talent, it is hard to imagine anyone putting up very many points against this defense.
    
    
    
16. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston CollegeLast year's draft boasted some real talent and good depth at the OT position. Castonzo will use this senior season to prove he should be the toast of next year's class.
    
    
    
17. Greg Romeus, DE, PittsburghPittsburgh has quietly developed some real good NFL talent over the last decade. Romeus can be the next in a line of players who are prepared to succeed in the big time.
    
    
    
18. Demarco Murray, RB, OklahomaIf Murray can avoid injury he can move up this board as the season progresses. If he stays healthy, he will also garner himself some Heisman consideration.
    
    
    
19. Mike Pouncey, C/G, FloridaAfter his twin brother traded his Gator blue for his Steelers Black last month, Mike Pouncey become the man on the Florida o-line. If he transitions to center as well as I expect, you can expect to hear Mike's name called sometime during the first round next year.
    
    
    
20. Vonn Miller, OLB, Texas AMMiller is a playmaker on the Aggie defense. His gets after the ball well, and uses leverage to bring down ball carriers very effectively. The fact that he is currently higher rated than any Longhorn will not be lost on the Aggie faithful either.
    
    
    
21. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson *Bowers is amongst a group of talented edge rushers who could become pros after this next season. Of course if he has another strong season, and chooses to return to college for one more year, they sky will be the limit in 2012.
    
    
    
22. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame *Floyd will now be able to step out of the shadow of Golden Tate and establish himself as one of the nation's premiere weapons during this next season. This is of course dependent upon someone being able to get him the football.
    
    
    
23. Jurrell Casey, DT, USC *Casey is the top Trojan on Lane Kiffen's sqad right now. If he performs well, he could earn himself a place in the first round of the draft should he decide to skip school early.
    
    
    
24. Jurrell Powe, DT, Ole MissThis big fella is going to be difficult for lineman in the SEC to content with. If he can't toss them out of his way, he may just pick them up and eat them instead.
    
    
    
25. Cliff Matthews, DE/OLB, South Carolina

 I like the determination that Matthews brings to the field on Saturdays. He is the best player on this South Carolina program, and could be the primary reason that the Gamecocks become one of this coming season's surprise teams.

2011 Way-Way-Too-Early Mock Draft 5.8.10

The rumor around town is that it is never too early to start mocking it up for next year's draft as it is only a year away. Well I think that is complete rubbish. A year out is way, way too early to start mock drafts for next year. But here at EZFootballFutures, we would let a little fact like that stop us from getting into the action. So, based only on our Hot Stocks, and the inverse order of the EZFootballFutures power rankings, welcome to the "Way-Way-Too-Early" Mock Draft.

 

 

1. Buffalo Bills – Jake Locker, QB, WashingtonThe Bills grabbed CJ Spiller with their first pick this year, and despite how good he is, I am still projecting this team to be bad enough to get on the clock first overall. The Bills need a QB to lead them in the future, as of now I have Jake Locker as the number one player available. Andrew Luck will get some discussion too, but in the end Locker should be the man. If he had come out this year, he would have pushed Bradford for the top pick overall.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. St. Louis Rams – Marcell Darius, DT, Alabama *
   
   Over the last two offseason, the Rams added themselves a franchise QB, and the o-linemen necessary to keep him upright. Now they will return and address the middle of their defense. If the Bama junior come out early, he should be the top DT on the board. Darius may not have the same celing as either Suh or McCoy who went two and three this year, but he is still a good ball player, and will make the Rams better.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford *
   
   Early this offseason, Jacksonville's GM was heard complaining that incumbent David Garrard is not good enough. Well after bombing this years draft, he will find himself with the opportunity to get his future franchise QB. Harbaugh has his protégé almost ready to make the leap to the pros. If the junior comes out, he will be highly sought out by NFL clubs.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina *
   
   After securing their future in the middle of the d-line during this draft, I expect the Bucs to look to add a premiere pass rushing threat early in next year's draft. Quinn is a skilled junior who can get after opposing QBs, and the Bucs will need this to return to respectability.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Denver Broncos – Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
   
   I was rough on Denver because I think they made some draft mistakes, and I think it will cost them during the season. One of the needs I felt Denver had was a legitimate pass rusher coming off the end. The seventh round pick of Jammie Kirlew will not be enough. Now they get a chance to add the best senior pass rusher in the group in Clayborn.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Kansas City Chiefs – Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
   
   KC is still a team needing to rebuild. This draft helped, but not enough. Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson are good, and Mike Vrable is old. Carter is athletic and fast. He will help move around the defense making plays as he goes.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Detroit Lions – Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
   
   Detroit is a team on the mend. I like what they have done this offseason, and I think they will be improved next year. Having said that, this team should still be in position for a top ten pick next year, and that will allow for them to grab the top tackle on the board to protect Matt Stafford.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Cleveland Browns – Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
   
   Cleveland added some good talent during the draft, but like the Lions, they are not there yet. Based on their current team, I think the discussion will come down to DE vs WR. Heyward is a real talent and could make a Will Smith like impact in the NFL. Cleveland would be wise to spring on this guy.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Carolina Panthers – Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
   
   The Panthers got the guy who they think will be their QB of their future in Clausen. Now they will need to focus on building their defensive line. Marvin Austin is the top senior DT in the class. He is a beast in the middle, and opponents will be the first to attest to that. The Panthers will be some much better with Austin on their team.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Seattle Seahawks – Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
    
    The Hawks are another improved team, but they too still have some holes to fill. As a result they will have their second straight chance at a top ten pick. Mark Ingram is the big, fast, and strong running back the team needs to make their offense stop longing for the days of Alexander.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Tennessee Titans – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
    
    I really like the addition of Derrick Morgan to their defensive front this draft. Now they need to add more talent at the corner position. Verner, their fourth round pick this year from UCLA has the potential to be pretty good, but he is not the number one shut down corner they need. With a strong senior campaign under his belt, Amukamara could prove himself to be that guy.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Washington Redskins – Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida
    
    The cornerstone to Denver's success under Mike Shannahan was a veteran QB and a fantastic o-line. They added Donnovan McNabb to play the role of QB, and they added Trent Williams in the first round this year. But Mike is not done. Now he has the chance to pick up the top interior lineman in the draft. Mike is just as good as his twin brother who was taken in the middle of the first round this year.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Chicago Bears – AJ Green, WR, Georgia *
    
    After adding Julius Peppers and some good defensive talent through the draft this year, the Bears need to focus on getting some weapons for their young and expensive QB. AJ Green was dynamic before his injury. If he comes back to form, and there is no reason to think he won't, he could be the first wideout off the board.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. New England Patriots via Oakland – Demarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
    
    The Pats get Oakland's first round pick in 2011 from the Richard Seymore deal. Now they will be able to add the top running back that this offense has been missing. When healthy, Murray has the skills and ability to be a real good rusher in the NFL.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
    
    The Eagles will really love what Graham bring to their defense, but I think it won't take this team long before they start to miss Sheldon Brown. I am not sure that Trevard Lindly, from this year's draft crop, will be that answer. Dowling has excellent cover skills and could emerge as a top prospect from the '11 class.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Pittsburgh Steelers – Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh
    
    Although good, the defensive front of the Steelers is getting really old. All of these guys will need to be replaced soon, and Romeus is the type of end that the Steelers will really like . He can play the pass or the run, and I think he can be a long term answer for Pittsburgh.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
17. Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas *
    
    A lot of the talent that the Cards lost this offseason was replaced during the 2010 draft. Unfortunately the QB was not. I expect the Cards to give Matty L the chace to prove he can be an NFL starter, this year. Then I expect them to take their real QB of the future during next year's draft.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
18. Miami Dolphins – Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
    
    The Brandon Marshall addition should really help the Phins become a better offense. Still, they really need another talent opposite him to give their opponents fits. Jones is 1B to AJ Green's 1A as far as wide receivers from this class go. This should make Miami happy.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Atlanta Falcons – Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson *
    
    Atlanta has started making some strides, trying to get their defense to play better football this offseason. Still, this team needs a real pass rushing threat if they are going to pull the division crown from the hands of the Saints. Bowers is a talented pass rusher from Clemson, and I think he could be the replacement for the Jamaal Anderson bust.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. Houston Texans – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame *
    
    Kareem Jackson will try and replace Dunta Robinson, and Ben Tate will try and provide some consistency to the Houston backfield. This means that Houston should be competitive for a playoff position during 2011. However, for this team to take the next step, they have to have another receiving threat opposite Andre Johnson. Houston will make this pick with the hopes that Floyd can be that guy.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
21. New England Patriots – Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
    
    After adding their back with their first pick, the Pats will now have the opportunity to address their aging receiving corp with this pick. Baldwin is a very good wide receiver, and with the mentors he would have in New England, this could be a great addition.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
22. New York Giants – Von Miller, OLB, Texas AM
    
    After losing out on Rolando McClain during this years draft, the Giants will still having a glaring need at linebacker going into the 2011 offseason. Von Miller is a fantastic athlete and will be the kind of all over the field backer that Big Blue likes.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
23. San Diego Chargers – Quan Sturdivant, ILB, North Carolina
    
    One of the themes all ready becoming evident this year is that the Tarheels should be a good football team in 2011. Then, many of their studs will be on to NFL stardom, including ILB Quan Sturdivant. If Cam Thomas (another Tarheel) becomes the player I think he can be for the Bolts, they will have no problem returning to that well in 2011.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
24. Minnesota Vikings – Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College
    
    The Vikes still have not secured their QB of the future but I am not sold on Christian Ponder as an NFL signal caller. Instead, I expect that the Vikes to look to improve their linebacking corp. Mark Herzlich will be the feel-good story of the year, and if he can return to his pre-cancer form, he could easily earn this first round grade.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
25. Green Bay Packers – Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU *
    
    The Packers continue to be a good football team because of a smart and steady approach they take when it come to the draft. It is true that they have a pair of real good corners on this team, however, they are getting along in age. Adding a young stud like Peterson will allow for him to learn, and to eventually replace one of these guys on the defense.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
26. Cincinnati Bengals – DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson
    
    Much of the 2010 draft for Cincinnati was dedicated to getting Carson Palmer some more weapons to throw to. This should allow for the team to simply fill any remaining holes they have with the 2011 draft. McDaniel is currently the top safety on the board, and he could become an imposing force at safety in a division that already boasts Ed Reed and Troy Polomalu.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
27. San Francisco 49ers – Jurrell Casey, DT, USC *
    
    After striking gold with their 2010 draft, I do not expect for the Niners to have many holes remaining on this team. I do think that ultimately the team will look for an upgrade at QB over Alex Smith, but as I mentioned earlier, I am not sold on FSU's Christian Ponder as a first round talent, and he is the next best QB currently on my board. This should allow for San Fran to grab the best overall left on the board, and that guy is Casey. He is real strong at the point of attack and used in rotation with the rest of this defensive front in the Bay Area, I think he can help this team in 2011.
    
    
    
    
    
    
28. Dallas Cowboys – Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin
    
    The addition of Dez Bryant gives this team some awesome weaponry for Tony Romo. Austin, Witten, and Bryant will make a slick group for Romo to use. Having said that, this team will be looking to upgrade up front in 2011, and Carimi will be the next in a long line of Big 10 big nasties to become impact linemen at the next level.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
29. Baltimore Ravens – Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina
    
    For a long time, the Baltimore secondary has been patrolled by the future hall-of-famer, Ed Reed. For the first time, this previous offseason, so rumors started circulating that Reed could be nearing the end of his illustrious career. Even if reed stays for another season or three after this one, the Ravens still need to start to groom his heir. Williams is another Tarheel who has the ability to make an impact in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
30. New York Jets – Cliff Mathews, DE, South Carolina
    
    The Jets had an active 2010 offseason, and added some more talent to their roster. They will be a good team this year, and I have them making a return trip to the AFC title game as a result. Unfortunately, they still do not have a real pass rushing threat on that defense, and I see that being an issue for them. Mathews is one of the new breed of tweeners. At South Carolina, he is a pass rushing end, however I project him to play OLB in a 3-4 in the pros. His tenacity will be a great asset to this Rex Ryan defense.
    
    
    
    
    
    
31. Indianapolis Colts – Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi
    
    During my draft review I raved about the Jerry Hughes selection in the first round of the 2010 draft. This will make the Colts defense better. I think adding a stout DT will also help, and 2011 seems like the chance for the Colts to do just that. Powe is a big body up front and I think he can be the type of difference maker that the Colts need at the point of attack.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
32. New Orleans Saints – Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
    
    As the defending champions, the Saints have the number one position in my Power Rankings. They should be competitive in the NFC again after adding some nice talent during the 2010 draft. One of the areas not addressed during the draft was a replacement at OLB. Jeremy Beal is another tweener, and he can play either upright, or with his hand in the dirt. I think this flexibility and the smart of Greg Williams, will combine to make him a nice fit with the Saints.
    
    
    
    
    

Straight A’s

Every year after the draft, everyone does some type of draft review, usually consisting of a composite grade of some kind for each team in the league. As many of you know, a draft review was recently posted at EZFootballFutures, and our grading system resulted in a team "GPA". One of the most common questions I get following the posting of the review each year is, "Which selections did you give an "A" grade to?"
This year I have decided to answer that question in this article. I will list and talk briefly about each of the 34 selections earned an "Excellent" rating in the draft review.

 
Round 1
Pick 2 (2)     Detroit Lions select Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Suh has the potential to become a hall-of-famer up front. The Lions needed a guy like this badly.
Pick 5 (5)     Kansas City Chiefs select Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
This guy has the potential to be the best player from this class period, and he can change a secondary. KC needed their secondary changed.
Pick 6 (6) – Seattle Seahawks select Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
Patients pays off for the Hawks as they were able to land the top LT in this class. With Walter Jones retired, this is a great fill for Seattle.
Pick 14 (14) – Seattle Seahawks select Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Thomas is flexible enough to play safety or corner in the league. Seattle needed a playmaker in their secondary like this.
Pick 16 (16) – Tennessee Titans select Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Getting the most polished pass rushing end in the draft in the middle of the first round, after losing your best pass rushing end in free agency earns you an "A" in my book.
Pick 17 (17) – San Francisco 49ers select Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Iupati has all the makings of a long term "Larry Allen" type player. The Niners need that consistency to compete in the totally remade NFC West.
Pick 23 (23) – Green Bay Packers select Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
Being able to grab a top 10 talent at one of the most important positions on the field in the 20s was a steal for Green Bay.
Pick 24 (24) – Dallas Cowboys select Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Dallas made the right move here and traded to grab Bryant. He is playmaker, and gives that offense something they needed badly opposite Miles Austin.
Pick 26 (26) – Arizona Cardinals select Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Williams was the best true NT in the draft. His addition late in round 1 give the Cards a young front with the potential to dominate for a long time.
Pick 31 (31) – Indianapolis Colts select Jerry Hughes, LB, TCU
This is what happens when the right player falls to the right team. Hughes in this system has Rookie-of-the-Year written all over it.

 
Round 2
Pick 11 (43) – Baltimore Ravens select Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
Every year first round talents fall into later rounds. Kindle shouldn't have. He will be awesome playing opposite Terrell Suggs.
Pick 15 (47) – Arizona Cardinals select Daryl Washington, LB, TCU
This kid was an under the radar type through much of the pre-draft activities. He will quickly make the Cards forget the loss of Dansby through free agency.
Pick 17 (49) – San Francisco 49ers select Taylor Mays, S, USC
Another situation of the right player in the right system. Singletary will get the most out of Mays, and that could make for a scary situation for receivers who have to play the Niners.
Pick 32 (64) – New Orleans Saints select Charles Brown, T, USC
The Saints do not have a whole lot of needs, so their being able to nab a borderline first round talent at the back end of the second round is a steal for this team.

 
Round 3
Pick 5 (68) – Kansas City Chiefs select Jon Asamoah, G, Illinios
Jon Asamoah has the type of attitude you want from your o-linemen. He is mean an nasty during games, and loves to finish his blocks. For a KC team with needs up front, he will be a welcome addition.
Pick 22 (85) – Cleveland Browns select Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
In my mocks, I projected McCoy to the Browns… only a full round earlier. For them to grab a guy with franchise potential in the back end of the third could be huge for this team.
Pick 25 (88) – Arizona Cardinals select Andre Roberts, WR, Citadel
Of all of the receivers in this class, Andre Roberts may have the biggest upside. He is a raw talent, but given the right system and teachers, and he could develop into a superstar. Learning from Larry Fitzgerald won't be too bad for his future either.
Pick 28 (91) – San Francisco 49ers select Navarro Bowman, LB, Penn State
When I wrote up my mocks, linebacker was one area where I felt the Niners needed to address. Adding Bowman at the end of the third is a total steal. He has first round physical talent. Only his attitude and maturity kept him from being a first round pick. Singletary won't put up with any garbage from this kid. Great match.

 
Round 4
Pick 2 (100) – Minnesota Vikings select Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Talk about a draft day plummet. Everson Griffen should have gone in the first round, but his interview turned some teams off. Getting him early in round four is real value for Minnesota.
Pick 3 (101) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse
In my opinion, Mike Williams was one of the most underrated players in this entire draft. He was a dominant force in the Big East, almost uncoverable at times. He can be an immediate impact player for the Bucs, especially across from fellow draftee Arrelious Benn.
Pick 8 (106) – Oakland Raiders select Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
As many of my readers will recall, only 2 or so Mocks ago, I projected the Raiders picking Bruce Campbell because of his freakish athleticism. Well, I was right, but only 4 rounds too early in my projection. Campbell was not first round worthy, but he was worth a second round pick, so for the Raiders to get this super athlete in the fourth round was a nice choice.
Pick 11 (109) – Chicago Bears select Corey Wooton, DE, Northwestern
This kid is one of the guys who I think we should keep our eyes on. He has the talent and drive to become one of the better pass rusher in the game, and that is why I gave him a second round grade. I really believe if this kid played at a better program, he could have had first round hype. For the Bears to grab him, without either a first or second round pick, is getting real value.
Pick 15 (113) – New England Patriots select Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
This is another example of the right player going to the right system. I know Hernandez took a hit over a failed drug test, but I also know that the Pats would have done their due diligence, and if there were questions, they wouldn't have made this choice. Hernandez is perfect for the TE role in NE, so this pick gets an "A" in my book.
Pick 26 (124) – Carolina Panthers select Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
At this time last year, I had pegged Eric Norwood as a Hot Stock, and a real legit first round talent. He didn't have the best year, and sort of fell off the radar a little. Like Mays, he is still a great talent, and for the Panthers to have spend a fourth round pick on him is an awesome addition for the Panthers.
Pick 32 (130) – Arizona Cardinals select O'Brien Schofield, LB, Wisconsin
Schofield is the poster boy for why you should not play in post season all star games. When the season came to a close, this Badger was a borderline first round talent. Then he got hurt at the Senior Bowl, and his stock dropped. For the Cards to add this kid in the fourth is as good a choice as any made over the weekend.

 
Round 5
Pick 3 (134) – Philadelphia Eagles select Ricky Sapp, DE, Clemson
After watching Clemson play twice this year I came away thinking two things. Spiller and Sapp will make some NFL teams very happy. Oh, and Dabo Swinney is one of the most underrated coaches in the game. Bottom line is Ricky Sapp is a stud, and the Eagles made a wonderful choice grabbing this second round talent in the fifth.
Pick 4 (135) – Atlanta Falcons select Dominique Franks, CB, Oklahoma
I talked about this quite a bit in the draft review, but I was real surprised about the fall of two corners in particular. Perrish Cox who we will talk about next, and Dominique Franks. Franks was a quality corner for the Sooner program, and now he will be a quality corner for the Falcons. I really like what this kid brings to the table, and there is no question in my mind that Atlanta gets a great bargain here in the fifth.
Pick 6 (137) – Denver Broncos select Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
I know I bashed the Broncos for their draft, but this was a stellar selection for the team. Perrish Cox was a superb grab for this team. This kid can press, and he can cover. It will remain to be seen how he adapts to covering NFL receivers, but with the future hall-of-famer, Champ Bailey, there to provide guidance, he should be just fine.
Pick 26 (157) – Baltimore Ravens select Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
So the story with Arthur Jones is inconsistency. That is why he was available for Baltimore late in the fifth round. But here is another truth about Arthur Jones. When he is focused, he is close to unblockable. With DTs like Jones and Cody, this team is set up front for the next decade (or until Cody eats his way out of the league).

 
Round 6
Pick 16 (185) – Seattle Seahawks select Anthony McCoy, TE, USC
After the draft, Pete Carroll said that McCoy was the steal of the draft, and he could be spot on. McCoy has the type of makeup that can make him quite difficult for opposing defenses to deal with. He can be a good in-line blocker on one play, matching up to drop a blitzing linebacker, while on the next play braking off to catch a 20 yard hitch down the center of the field in front of an over matched safety.
Pick 22 (191) – Cincinnati Bengals select Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas
Every so often there are receivers who are taken in the sixth round that emerge to become NFL playmakers. Dezmon Briscoe can become the next pass catcher in that line. He has all of the skills necessary to create match-up problems for opposing defenses. Carson Palmer needed targets other than Ochocinco to throw to. Now he has Gresham and Briscoe.
Pick 38 (207) – Tennessee Titans select Myron Rolle, S, Florida State
I know a lot of folks are down on Rolle because of a weak combine performance. I have heard all about his stiff hips and lack of interceptions at FSU as reason for concern. One of the things you can never have enough of is smart football players. Myron Rolle may be the smartest player to have ever been drafted into the NFL. I think this guy will bring an intelligence to the Titan secondary that will make everyone on that defense better.

 
Round 7
Pick 19 (226) – St Louis Rams select George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Even a week later, I really can't understand how a guy once projected as a first round pick fell all the way into the seventh round. Selvie will likely switch to playing an OLB spot for the Rams defense, and that is OK. He has a natural talent for getting after the opposing QB, and the Rams got a tremendous player in the seventh round.
Pick 24 (231) – Washington Redskins select Selvish Capers, T, West Virginia
It is not the norm to see seventh round picks even make the team, let alone grow into difference makers. I think the Skins got a guy in Capers who will not only make the team, but could become a real player on this o-line. Considering that 230 guys were wanted more than him, I think the Skins will have gotten just what they wanted here at 231.