The Colts didn’t have a first round pick, but that’s because they were able to turn it into Tony Ugoh last year, who filled the massive vacuum left by Tarik Glenn’s retirement. In the second round this year, all they did was take a player who can start at guard right away in Mike Pollak, which takes the sting out of division rival Tennessee’s signing of Jake Scott. Pollak should also end up being an eventual replacement for Jeff Saturday in the middle of the offensive line. In the third, the Colts took one of my favorite players in the draft, Philip Wheeler - he’s decent enough dropping into coverage to play the middle in the cover 2, and he’s one of the best blitzing linebacker in the draft. In the fourth, they get a one-dimensional TE in Jacob Tamme, but the Colts rarely ask their TEs to do anything but catch the ball. Tamme is clutch, and he’s courageous over the middle.
We get tired of saying this, but well done Polian & co.
Anyone who made a dynasty/fantasy football play for Aaron Rodgers better think hard about snagging Brohm in a rookie draft. Rodgers is unquestionably #1, but Brohm won’t just provide insurance — he could challenge for the job from day 1. With the wideout core they’ve cultivated, and the solid running game behind him, the Packers just need a QB who is poised, patient, and accurate. Brohm’s a 65% passer who’s dealt with some serious adversity and hung on through it. He’s remarkably polished coming out of college, and he knows how to do a lot of the little things (throw a ball away, check down at the right time, etc.). Rodgers was a big question mark coming out of college — a much bigger one than Brohm. Rodgers has seasoning and some game experience now, but it’ll be interesting to see how close they are in training camp.
Meanwhile, Miami just took another BPA that also fills a need. John Beck looked overwhelmed as a rookie (not that I blame him), and Henne has him beat in the arm strength department for sure. I find Henne to be too slow making his reads and dishing out the ball, but he and Jake Long certainly have a connection on the field, don’t they? I don’t see Henne as a future top 10 QB, but he could be one of those “won’t kill you” guys if he learns one of the afore-mentioned skills — tossing the ball away.
Published by Marc Faletti April 26th, 2008 in 2nd Round and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Anyone who’s heard me on the Audible or stood within 50 feet of me at any bar in Austin knows I consider Sweed an overrated wideout who tends to fade from the ball, plays mechanically, seldom gets separation, and can get pushed around for a player his size.
But at the end of the 2nd? He’s well worth it. By all accounts, he’s a great kid who works hard and wants to be great. And he got better every season at Texas. Combine his physical talent with that work ethic and you’ve got someone to build on. I didn’t feel Sweed merited the first round pick status most folks wanted to bestow upon him, but this is value for the Steelers. He’s the jump-ball red zone threat they lack and will learn the craft from Hines Ward.
Published by Marc Faletti April 26th, 2008 in 2nd Round and Arizona Cardinals.
Unlike most Miami players, the knocks on Campbell aren’t about his motor or effort, they’re about his lack of fast-twitch explosion. He plays more like Aaron Kampman than a startling pass rusher. Now, his Combine numbers look sweet, and he had a sick double-digit sack season in 2006, but those two things actually have less to do with each other than one would think.
Campbell should be a hard worker for the Cards, and like Merling, he’ll do the dirty work of a 3-4 DE while also being a threat to hit the QB if you don’t account for him. This seems like a much better fit to me than a 4-3 scheme. Campbell helps the Cards immediately and should develop into a capable starter in the future.
Published by Marc Faletti April 26th, 2008 in 2nd Round and Minnesota Vikings.
Tyrell Johnson’s not well known in most parts, but this fast, strong, instinctive safety from Arkansas State is the real deal.
Against the Texas Longhorns last fall, Johnson didn’t just play well, he dominated. I saw this game live, and Johnson was unbelievable. 14 tackles, 10 of them solo. He hit Jamaal Charles in the backfield for a 6 yard loss — the 4.3 speed Jamaal Charles. And he picked off Colt McCoy in the red zone. Those are big plays, clutch plays, and physical plays. Johnson also picked off 13 passes in his career, started 46 games, and piled up over 350 tackles in that time.
This also confirms Minnesota has little love for Brohm or Henne.
Of course the QBs, Chad Henne and Brian Brohm. If Tarvaris Jackson and Kellen Clemens are 2nd round QBs, then Henne and Brohm are values at this point.
WRs - where does the list stop? Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Desean Jackson, Early Doucet, Andre Caldwell…
Mike Pollak, clearly the best center on the board, should go any pick now.
Martellus Bennett is the best two way TE in the draft, and he’s more athletic than John Carlson (what was Seattle thinking?)
Trevor Laws is going to be a better pro than Kentwan Balmer. I guarantee it.
Calais Campbell might have been a reach in the first, but his physical potential makes him worth a 2nd at this point.
Tyrell Johnson was the top safety on some boards, he’ll go any second now.
To add to the intrigue, Minnesota just traded up, let’s see who it was for… Henne?
Published by Marc Faletti April 26th, 2008 in 2nd Round.
With Martellus Bennett on the board, John Carlson was a reach. Otherwise, this has been a solid start to the second. The top talent to fall was picked first in Merling, 3 good wideouts went in a bunch, KC took a DB some teams had as their top corner, San Fran grabbed the best remaining guard (unless you count John Greco as a guard), and the Saints took a pint-sized but feisty CB who’s mature enough to start this year.
The biggest question left: when will the QBs go?
Donnie Avery the first wideout off the board - if you were reading Russ Lande’s stuff this week, that should not have shocked you. His raw speed is right there with Jackson. Jordy Nelson the third wideout off the board will provide instant value for Green Bay as a punt returner, and another physical presence in the slot with James Jones. Aaron Rodgers certainly won’t fail for a lack of weapons in the passing game.
Look at those names still on the board at wide receiver. Should be fun to see where they land.
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