Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Do you have what it takes?
The great people at www.walterfootball.com are arranging a draft competition in their forum. The first price is $250. Go to their site, check out the forums and join the competition.
Monday, 3 March 2008
First mock!
Been a while since I had some thoughts written down. Not because of lack of thinking but becasue of lack of time. Anyway, here comes the, as far as I know, first ever mock draft written by a swede. Enjoy!
1. Miami Dolphins - Chris Long (Virginia).
For a long time I had the Fins picking Glenn Dorsey number one based on the lack of knowledge about what defense they were gonna field next year and having the feeling that Dorsey was the best player out there. The start of fere agency where Tuna signs two NT’s and some cuts of OT’s makes me think that they are either going OT or DE with this pick. OT because it is a need and DE because Chris Long is the best player out there (and he played end in a 3-4 system in college and excelled). If Tuna decides to go 3-4, which seems likely with the FA signings they have done, They will go with Chris Long.
OK, I know there is a lot of discussion about whether or nor not the Rams will remain in a 4-3 defense or go 3-4 next year. On their official site the depth chart is still listed as a 4-3 team so I’ll stick to that for now. Last year they drafted Carriker who they converted from DE to DT. They could dlide him back out or simply just slot Ellis in next to him instead of Glover who is 33 by now. Let’s just face it. Ellis is a beast.
A lot of interesting possibilites here. DMac will not be the pick since they now have acquired the services of one Michael The Burner Turner to be their running back. They could look at the DT’s Ellis and Dorsey but Ellis just came off the board and a lot of old Dorsey injuries have just been revealed, raising questions about his durability. The Falcons could also, I believe take a really close look at the top-rated QB, Matt Ryan, but I think that their new GM and coaching staff in the end will think along the same lines as the Browns did last year: What good is a franchise QB if we can’t protect him? That piece of thinking makes them go with Jake Long, the tackle out of Michingan. He may not be everything that Joe Thomas is, but he kept Chad Henne upright and made Mike Hart look like a first class runner from time to time.
Let’s face it. Al Davis might be a moron, but he is a moron that likes speed. Anybody who thinks he is going to pass up the speed DMac has has to think again. For a while I considered giving them Dorsey here, but since they gave Tommy Kelly a gazillion dollars on his new contract I don’t think that will happen. DMac may not be the best pick for the franchise, but since when has Davis cared about such techicalities?
If the Chiefs are serious about making Brodie Croyle their Quarterback of the future they better make sure that he is upright long enough to deliver the ball. Adding a good OT surely increases the odds of that happening.
And look what falls to the Jets all of a sudden. Combine workout hero Vernon Gholston. The Ohio State DE will be used as a OLB in the Jets 3-4. With the addition of Gholston and the trade for Jenkins the Jets D is shaping up.
This is, to me, the most obivous trade down in the draft. The patriots have 2 major draftable needs, DB and WR (a bit depending on what happens with Moss and Gaffney) which easily can be found later in the first or in the second and third rounds. Look for teams targeting Dorsey to make a trade with the Pats. Look for the Bears, Panthers and Broncos to be interested. The Patriots third glaring need, their aging linkebacking crew, will most likely not be fixed thorugh the draft but through free agency. Because there are no good 30-year old linebackers avaliable in the draft rof Bellichek to draft. McKelvin seems to be the top dog of the DB’s, at least for now, so let’s have him heading to the pack if they against all odds remain at #7.
Let’s see. McNair is old and Boller hasn’t turned out to be as good as people thought he’d be. So the Ravens pick Ryan as their new franchise QB and let McNair run the offense from the start of this season until they feel like Ryan is ready to step in and take over.
Well, same procedure as every year i seems. The Bengals have a great offense with Palmer, Who’syomama, Ocho Cinco and Chris Henry but the defense can’t stop my grandmother from scoring. (Mind you she is almost ninety and has never touched a football). Their biggest need might be at LB and DL. As I am wiriting this news that the Bengals have acquired Dewayne Robertson from the Jets reaches me which probably means they won’t go with Dorsey here. That leaves LB and DE (since they lost Justin Smith in FA). So, Phillip Merling or Keith Rivers? Given that they during the 07 seven season at one point had almost no LB’s healthy they’ll go with Rivers.
The Saints will be tempted to pick Dorsey here but if you look at their run defense (13th in the NFL) and their pass defense (30th in the NFL) they have to pick a CB. Rogers-Cromartie across from Gay. Sounds like a good pair of CB’s to me.
Two needs here to be adressed early DE to help the pass rush and WR to help Trent Edwards on the offense. Since they seem to be acquiring Bryant Johnson (Not sure if the deal really is done yet) that slightly diminshes the need of WR and lets the Bills nab Merling. They won’t go with Dorsey since they just acquired Stroud from Jacksonville.
Well what do you know. If I had written this mock a month back I’d probably had Dorsey as number one overall. Now he is avaliable for Denver at number 12. There are concerns about his durability due to a lot of old injuries which has helped his slip. Denver, ranked 30th against the run last year acknowledges the risk, and takes it. Great value for them if he stays healthy.
The Panther were 29th in passing offemse last season. One reason may be that they played one trillion quarterbacks (one of them being 44, another one being David Carr) but they can also need som help protecting their QB’s Delhomme was hurt and Carr got sacked seven times in a game (seems to be his fate). They franchised their RT Gross so perhaps it is time for an upgrade at left tackle.
Let’s see, the Bears resogned Lance Briggs. Good on them since that makes their defense resonably non-awful. But what are there plans on offense? They’ve got no OL, no WR’s left, Cedric Benson as RB and they resigned Rex as their QB. What do they intend to do when they have the ball? Have Hester snap it to Hester with Hester and Hester blocking while Hester scans the field for options and then finally finds Hester whi has run out of the backfield avaliable för a short gain and then hope that he can make the tacklers miss? Stewart won’t be having an OL to run behind but he’ll be ok anyways.
Wouldn’t be the least surprised to see the Lions picking a WR out of habit. No, but seriously, people sy they haven’t got any running game. Well, they haven’t got any running backs worth mentioning. They will get one in Mendenhall. CB might be an option here but the acquisition of Bodden makes that a lesser need.
To put it frankly: Their CB’s stink and they get good value in Jenkins at this point.
The Vikings had three major needs going into free agency. Safety, DE, and QB. They fixed the safety need with Williams and they need an experienced QB to help Tavaris Jackson (What about Quinn Gray in FA or trade for Rosenfels). That leaves the DE need which Harvey will fix.
Well, Paying Reeves a load of money probably won’t help their seconday all that much. Getting Cason will. I can also see them looking at an OT here to help keep Schaub healthy.
Remind me: What team had a tackle who let Umenyiora sack their QB six times in a game? Oh that’s right, the Eagles. Otah at tackle will help such embarrasments in the furture.
Let’s see Hilliard is over 30 and Galloway must be closer 60 then 20 by now and I don’t think Clayton is their next big go-to-guy. Kelly is big, and will be a nice target for Garcia. They could potentially go QB here, but since there hasn’t been any rush on them, and if they haven’t fallen very much in love with some QB, they can get a good one in the second round.
The Redskins racked up 33 sacks last year but apart from Andre Carters 10 no one had more than 5. Groves will make a change to that. They may also look at a WR at this point.
The Cowboys were obviously thinking that the Browns would do worse last year so that they would get an early pick in the 2008 draft. They were wrong. With all the three top RB’s gone but all of the second tier-ones remaning Dallas decides to pick a WR to take over for Glenn and T.O. when they get older. Jackson is somewhat mercurish.
Big Ben saw the turf (or rather the mud for the games on Heinz Field) last year. And that was an offense line with Faneca! Now Faneca is gone, but enter Nicks who can play both tackle and guard. Hopefully he will keep Big Ben standing.
Since the opposing teams have realised that the Titans have no good recievers they have no problem hunting down Young when he takes off running. In an attempt to help their sideways-throwing QB they give him Sweed. (And Imagine the headline possibilities: “Sweed Emotion!” [When he scores his first TD], “How Sweed to be an Idiot” [When he does something moronic]. Or maybe the best [or worst] of them all: Sweed Vince-anity!)
Let’s see: Hacket is a free agent, Branch is injured and Engram is 35. Some youth at reciever perhaps? Early Doucet brings youth and offers Hasselbeck a nice new target.
McCray just signed with the Saints so why not replace him with another big-bodied DE? Jackson fits what the Jags look for in a DE.
A lot of options here: NT, OT, OG and S. I think it comes down to Phillips and Albert at this juncture and the chargers elect to go with the latter to replace an aging Goff.
The starting CB’s for the cowboys are old and their nickel signed a ludicrous contract with some desperate AFC south team. They sure need a new CB. He can also step in at safety when Williams get suspended for his next horse-collar.
So, you have hired Mike Martz as OC. What do you draft? You’re dead on. Of course they will go WR. Martz is gonna wet his pants when he realizes that Devin Thomas who is 215 and ran a 4.32 40 is avaliable when the niners pick.
Another team with old cornerbacks. Flowers is a physical back who reminds me a bit of Al Harris so who better to learn from? Ran a slow 40 at the combine but will hopefully redeem himself at pro day.
Some defenseive losses for the Giants after winning the Super Bowl with two LB’s and the safety Wilson leaving for other clubs. In my mind Wilson is the biggest loss and in Phillips they find a great replacement (with great value here) even though his forty-time at the combine was disappointing.
1. Miami Dolphins - Chris Long (Virginia).
For a long time I had the Fins picking Glenn Dorsey number one based on the lack of knowledge about what defense they were gonna field next year and having the feeling that Dorsey was the best player out there. The start of fere agency where Tuna signs two NT’s and some cuts of OT’s makes me think that they are either going OT or DE with this pick. OT because it is a need and DE because Chris Long is the best player out there (and he played end in a 3-4 system in college and excelled). If Tuna decides to go 3-4, which seems likely with the FA signings they have done, They will go with Chris Long.
OK, I know there is a lot of discussion about whether or nor not the Rams will remain in a 4-3 defense or go 3-4 next year. On their official site the depth chart is still listed as a 4-3 team so I’ll stick to that for now. Last year they drafted Carriker who they converted from DE to DT. They could dlide him back out or simply just slot Ellis in next to him instead of Glover who is 33 by now. Let’s just face it. Ellis is a beast.
A lot of interesting possibilites here. DMac will not be the pick since they now have acquired the services of one Michael The Burner Turner to be their running back. They could look at the DT’s Ellis and Dorsey but Ellis just came off the board and a lot of old Dorsey injuries have just been revealed, raising questions about his durability. The Falcons could also, I believe take a really close look at the top-rated QB, Matt Ryan, but I think that their new GM and coaching staff in the end will think along the same lines as the Browns did last year: What good is a franchise QB if we can’t protect him? That piece of thinking makes them go with Jake Long, the tackle out of Michingan. He may not be everything that Joe Thomas is, but he kept Chad Henne upright and made Mike Hart look like a first class runner from time to time.
Let’s face it. Al Davis might be a moron, but he is a moron that likes speed. Anybody who thinks he is going to pass up the speed DMac has has to think again. For a while I considered giving them Dorsey here, but since they gave Tommy Kelly a gazillion dollars on his new contract I don’t think that will happen. DMac may not be the best pick for the franchise, but since when has Davis cared about such techicalities?
If the Chiefs are serious about making Brodie Croyle their Quarterback of the future they better make sure that he is upright long enough to deliver the ball. Adding a good OT surely increases the odds of that happening.
And look what falls to the Jets all of a sudden. Combine workout hero Vernon Gholston. The Ohio State DE will be used as a OLB in the Jets 3-4. With the addition of Gholston and the trade for Jenkins the Jets D is shaping up.
This is, to me, the most obivous trade down in the draft. The patriots have 2 major draftable needs, DB and WR (a bit depending on what happens with Moss and Gaffney) which easily can be found later in the first or in the second and third rounds. Look for teams targeting Dorsey to make a trade with the Pats. Look for the Bears, Panthers and Broncos to be interested. The Patriots third glaring need, their aging linkebacking crew, will most likely not be fixed thorugh the draft but through free agency. Because there are no good 30-year old linebackers avaliable in the draft rof Bellichek to draft. McKelvin seems to be the top dog of the DB’s, at least for now, so let’s have him heading to the pack if they against all odds remain at #7.
Let’s see. McNair is old and Boller hasn’t turned out to be as good as people thought he’d be. So the Ravens pick Ryan as their new franchise QB and let McNair run the offense from the start of this season until they feel like Ryan is ready to step in and take over.
Well, same procedure as every year i seems. The Bengals have a great offense with Palmer, Who’syomama, Ocho Cinco and Chris Henry but the defense can’t stop my grandmother from scoring. (Mind you she is almost ninety and has never touched a football). Their biggest need might be at LB and DL. As I am wiriting this news that the Bengals have acquired Dewayne Robertson from the Jets reaches me which probably means they won’t go with Dorsey here. That leaves LB and DE (since they lost Justin Smith in FA). So, Phillip Merling or Keith Rivers? Given that they during the 07 seven season at one point had almost no LB’s healthy they’ll go with Rivers.
The Saints will be tempted to pick Dorsey here but if you look at their run defense (13th in the NFL) and their pass defense (30th in the NFL) they have to pick a CB. Rogers-Cromartie across from Gay. Sounds like a good pair of CB’s to me.
Two needs here to be adressed early DE to help the pass rush and WR to help Trent Edwards on the offense. Since they seem to be acquiring Bryant Johnson (Not sure if the deal really is done yet) that slightly diminshes the need of WR and lets the Bills nab Merling. They won’t go with Dorsey since they just acquired Stroud from Jacksonville.
Well what do you know. If I had written this mock a month back I’d probably had Dorsey as number one overall. Now he is avaliable for Denver at number 12. There are concerns about his durability due to a lot of old injuries which has helped his slip. Denver, ranked 30th against the run last year acknowledges the risk, and takes it. Great value for them if he stays healthy.
The Panther were 29th in passing offemse last season. One reason may be that they played one trillion quarterbacks (one of them being 44, another one being David Carr) but they can also need som help protecting their QB’s Delhomme was hurt and Carr got sacked seven times in a game (seems to be his fate). They franchised their RT Gross so perhaps it is time for an upgrade at left tackle.
Let’s see, the Bears resogned Lance Briggs. Good on them since that makes their defense resonably non-awful. But what are there plans on offense? They’ve got no OL, no WR’s left, Cedric Benson as RB and they resigned Rex as their QB. What do they intend to do when they have the ball? Have Hester snap it to Hester with Hester and Hester blocking while Hester scans the field for options and then finally finds Hester whi has run out of the backfield avaliable för a short gain and then hope that he can make the tacklers miss? Stewart won’t be having an OL to run behind but he’ll be ok anyways.
Wouldn’t be the least surprised to see the Lions picking a WR out of habit. No, but seriously, people sy they haven’t got any running game. Well, they haven’t got any running backs worth mentioning. They will get one in Mendenhall. CB might be an option here but the acquisition of Bodden makes that a lesser need.
To put it frankly: Their CB’s stink and they get good value in Jenkins at this point.
The Vikings had three major needs going into free agency. Safety, DE, and QB. They fixed the safety need with Williams and they need an experienced QB to help Tavaris Jackson (What about Quinn Gray in FA or trade for Rosenfels). That leaves the DE need which Harvey will fix.
Well, Paying Reeves a load of money probably won’t help their seconday all that much. Getting Cason will. I can also see them looking at an OT here to help keep Schaub healthy.
Remind me: What team had a tackle who let Umenyiora sack their QB six times in a game? Oh that’s right, the Eagles. Otah at tackle will help such embarrasments in the furture.
Let’s see Hilliard is over 30 and Galloway must be closer 60 then 20 by now and I don’t think Clayton is their next big go-to-guy. Kelly is big, and will be a nice target for Garcia. They could potentially go QB here, but since there hasn’t been any rush on them, and if they haven’t fallen very much in love with some QB, they can get a good one in the second round.
The Redskins racked up 33 sacks last year but apart from Andre Carters 10 no one had more than 5. Groves will make a change to that. They may also look at a WR at this point.
The Cowboys were obviously thinking that the Browns would do worse last year so that they would get an early pick in the 2008 draft. They were wrong. With all the three top RB’s gone but all of the second tier-ones remaning Dallas decides to pick a WR to take over for Glenn and T.O. when they get older. Jackson is somewhat mercurish.
Big Ben saw the turf (or rather the mud for the games on Heinz Field) last year. And that was an offense line with Faneca! Now Faneca is gone, but enter Nicks who can play both tackle and guard. Hopefully he will keep Big Ben standing.
Since the opposing teams have realised that the Titans have no good recievers they have no problem hunting down Young when he takes off running. In an attempt to help their sideways-throwing QB they give him Sweed. (And Imagine the headline possibilities: “Sweed Emotion!” [When he scores his first TD], “How Sweed to be an Idiot” [When he does something moronic]. Or maybe the best [or worst] of them all: Sweed Vince-anity!)
Let’s see: Hacket is a free agent, Branch is injured and Engram is 35. Some youth at reciever perhaps? Early Doucet brings youth and offers Hasselbeck a nice new target.
McCray just signed with the Saints so why not replace him with another big-bodied DE? Jackson fits what the Jags look for in a DE.
A lot of options here: NT, OT, OG and S. I think it comes down to Phillips and Albert at this juncture and the chargers elect to go with the latter to replace an aging Goff.
The starting CB’s for the cowboys are old and their nickel signed a ludicrous contract with some desperate AFC south team. They sure need a new CB. He can also step in at safety when Williams get suspended for his next horse-collar.
So, you have hired Mike Martz as OC. What do you draft? You’re dead on. Of course they will go WR. Martz is gonna wet his pants when he realizes that Devin Thomas who is 215 and ran a 4.32 40 is avaliable when the niners pick.
Another team with old cornerbacks. Flowers is a physical back who reminds me a bit of Al Harris so who better to learn from? Ran a slow 40 at the combine but will hopefully redeem himself at pro day.
Some defenseive losses for the Giants after winning the Super Bowl with two LB’s and the safety Wilson leaving for other clubs. In my mind Wilson is the biggest loss and in Phillips they find a great replacement (with great value here) even though his forty-time at the combine was disappointing.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Texans have a .500 season but need to improve
The Houston Texans have finally managed to avoid a losing season. This years .500 season resulted in a last place finished in their division with the three other teams (Colts, Jags and Titans) all heading for the playoffs.
Their new signal caller Schaub played good when he was healty and the backup Rosenfels played good when Schaub was injured (which he seemed to be quite often).
After taking care of the defense their last two drafts (Okoye and Mario Williams. Williams has, in case anybody missed it, been really good this season and everybody who killed the Texans after selecting him first in 2006 better start rethinking that....) the texans now need to start thinking offense. Last offseason they signed Ahmad Green to a long term contract and he hasn't done anything extraordinary and Ron Dayne isn't all that good either. I would not be the least surprised to see them pick a RB in the first round. How does Jonathan Stewart sound?
They might also want to find a WR to play opposite of Andre Johnson so that their QB's get someone to throw the ball to.
Their new signal caller Schaub played good when he was healty and the backup Rosenfels played good when Schaub was injured (which he seemed to be quite often).
After taking care of the defense their last two drafts (Okoye and Mario Williams. Williams has, in case anybody missed it, been really good this season and everybody who killed the Texans after selecting him first in 2006 better start rethinking that....) the texans now need to start thinking offense. Last offseason they signed Ahmad Green to a long term contract and he hasn't done anything extraordinary and Ron Dayne isn't all that good either. I would not be the least surprised to see them pick a RB in the first round. How does Jonathan Stewart sound?
They might also want to find a WR to play opposite of Andre Johnson so that their QB's get someone to throw the ball to.
Help For Garrard?
I am really impressed with the Jaguars this season. They have two good lines, just see how they manhandled the Steelers in Pittsburgh a few weeks back, and two good running backs in Jones-Drew and Taylor (Who should have been voted to the Pro Bowl instead of Addai.).
Their Quarterback Garrard has also been splendid in his playing, making good decisions and hardly turning the ball over at all. What makes this even more impressive is that the Jaguars numner 1 reciever is Dennis Northcutt. How can anyone play as good as Garrard has done without having any good recievers? My guess is that Jacksonville will see to that he gets a few better targets to next year, but whether they do it through the draft or via free agency remains to be seen.
Another weak point for the jags is that they sometimes gives up big pass plays way to easy. Look for them to try to upgrade their secondary during the draft.
Now let's see if the Jaguars can beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the playoffs as well...
Their Quarterback Garrard has also been splendid in his playing, making good decisions and hardly turning the ball over at all. What makes this even more impressive is that the Jaguars numner 1 reciever is Dennis Northcutt. How can anyone play as good as Garrard has done without having any good recievers? My guess is that Jacksonville will see to that he gets a few better targets to next year, but whether they do it through the draft or via free agency remains to be seen.
Another weak point for the jags is that they sometimes gives up big pass plays way to easy. Look for them to try to upgrade their secondary during the draft.
Now let's see if the Jaguars can beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the playoffs as well...
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Packers
The Packers are an enigmatic team to predict where they will go this coming draft. A lot of the mock drafts have them picking a RB early on but frankly I don't see the need. They have Ryan Grant whi right now is giving them 100 yards per game. They had DeShawn Wynn before he got injured plus they have Morency and Jackson. I'd say they are loaded at RB.
In the loss to the Cowboys we got proof that Aaron Rodgers can play the game so they won't draft a QB either.
The Packers are a relatively young team (except from Favre) all together and I can't see any real needs. They could use some depth at defense though (see what happened when they missed two starters against the Cowboys) so maybe they'll pick a LB or CB in the first round.
In the loss to the Cowboys we got proof that Aaron Rodgers can play the game so they won't draft a QB either.
The Packers are a relatively young team (except from Favre) all together and I can't see any real needs. They could use some depth at defense though (see what happened when they missed two starters against the Cowboys) so maybe they'll pick a LB or CB in the first round.
Browns Anyone?
Well, in last years draft the Browns secured their left tackle of the future and also traded back into the first round to nab Brady Quinn their future franchise QB. This costed them their first tound pick in this years draft. But I would not be surprised to see the Browns making a pick in the first round. Why? Well, they may have drafted their future QBm but what will they do with Derek Anderson? Anderson has played extremely well this season and the offense lead by Anderson is the major reason that the Browns have a serious chance to make the playoffs for the first time since god knows when.
Whether or not the Browns draft in the first round remains to be seen, but when they draft they will probably need to focus on their defense. Especially linemen (Defensive ends, they need a pass rush) and linebackers. Theur secondary is actually rather decent and will be even better if they can get some help from the line. I can also see them picking a running back in this draft, but first of all they need to upgrade their defense.
Whether or not the Browns draft in the first round remains to be seen, but when they draft they will probably need to focus on their defense. Especially linemen (Defensive ends, they need a pass rush) and linebackers. Theur secondary is actually rather decent and will be even better if they can get some help from the line. I can also see them picking a running back in this draft, but first of all they need to upgrade their defense.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Hear the Lions roar!
A few weeks back, after Lions got beaten by the Redskins who managed to cause all sorts of trouble with their front four defenders while dropping the linebackers into coverage, I was convinced that the Lions were gonna draft an offensive lineman first thing in the draft.
Now, a few weeks later, I can't see any reason to change that opinion, especially since their defense have gotten a lot better and with Kevin Jones returning at RB they seem set at that position. I think that the thing they need most now is to inject som eyouth into their offensive line, although it does not seem so urgent as it did a few weeks back.
Now, a few weeks later, I can't see any reason to change that opinion, especially since their defense have gotten a lot better and with Kevin Jones returning at RB they seem set at that position. I think that the thing they need most now is to inject som eyouth into their offensive line, although it does not seem so urgent as it did a few weeks back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)