Archive for the '3rd Round' Category

Indianapolis - Does Any Team Ace The Draft More Consistently?

Published by Sigmund Bloom April 27th, 2008 in 2nd Round, 3rd Round, 4th Round and Indianapolis Colts. 0 Comments

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.

Manningham the perfect “we’re the champs” gamble

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round, 4th Round and New York Giants. 1 Comment

Did anything Mario Manningham did on the field ever make you think he lacked the tools to make it in the NFL? All I saw was a guy who could track the ball like a hawk, make tough catches, and jump for the ball when it mattered. Think about it — he made an outstanding adjustment on Chad Henne’s deep ball gamble against App State, and his catch set up what should’ve been the game winning field goal. That’s just one example of Manningham coming through when it counted, even if others let him down. Rumors of off-the-field issues and a poor Wonderlic sent Manningham’s stock tumbling, and WRs in general have been in a massive free-fall the entire draft. But when you’re coming off a Super Bowl win, you can afford to take a few chances, and the Giants have nothing to lose by taking Manningham. I think he’ll be helping the team long after physical but non-instinctive CB Terrell Thomas goes elsewhere.

In the 4th, the Giants grab BYU ‘backer Bryan Kehl, a weak-side defender with adequate athleticism who racks up tackles in space. He’ll help on special teams and possibly more in 2008.

Chad Rinehart should smash some face in Washington

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and Washington Redskins. 0 Comments

I didn’t love his play at the Senior Bowl, but I like everything I’ve seen from Rinehart. He played LT at Northern Iowa and garnered consensus All-American honors for a reason — he’s particularly ferocious as a run-blocker. He gets to the second level pretty well despite a pedestrian 40 time, and he likes to create lanes for his backs. He doesn’t have the build of an obvious tackle in the NFL, but I think he’ll be an immediate fit inside at guard and will add toughness to Washington’s Hogs.

Andre Fluellen a perfect fit for DET’s Cover 2 D

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and Detroit Lions. 1 Comment

Think Tommie Harris, but maybe a bit more mortal. That’s the type of player the Lions snagged in Andre Fluellen — he’s a slightly undersized but quick DT who penetrates upfield and fits exactly what Rod Marinelli’s scheme demands of its tackles. He could step right into that rotation and make an impact, especially on passing downs.

Don’t be disappointed by Fluellen’s ho-hum stats at Florida State, Lions fans. He’s going to make a lot of memorable plays in the near future.

Update: Wow! Avril fits perfectly as a DE in the cover 2, as well! The Detroit D-line’s looking a lot better. If the small-ish Dizon can hold up at LB, this team should be much more stout in the front seven and start to shed that soft reputation.

On the Milk Carton

Published by Sigmund Bloom April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round. 0 Comments

Cliff Avril, DE/OLB, Purdue - Great combine numbers, and Purdue has been a 3/4 OLB assembly line the last few years. Bryan Smith and Bruce Davis are very similar, so you know that Avril is getting no respect on draft boards.

Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida - There must be some bad medical stuff from his combine exam. He’s definitely as good as at least five wideouts who have already been selected.

Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas - Teams reach Sam Baker and Duane Brown, but Collins hasn’t gotten a sniff in the first 89 picks?

Dre Moore, DT, Maryland - Kentwan Balmer is a first round pick, and Moore is still on the board in the late third? What Gives?

Justin King, CB, Penn State - How does a corner that runs a sub 4.4 40 last this long?

My first “who?” pick of the day…

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and Philadelphia Eagles. 0 Comments

Bryan Smith dominated the FCS as a defensive end at McNeese State, but I freely admit I’ve never seen him play. But in 2007, he had 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. That’s no misprint — 22.5 tackles for loss. He’s considered an outstanding edge rusher, though the Eagles listed him as an OLB on their card. Should be exciting to see if this athletic talent can continue to tear up offensive gameplans in the NFL.

Blue Light Special in Aisle Three

Published by Sigmund Bloom April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers. 1 Comment

Lots of values in the NFL Draft in the beginning of the second day, let’s take a closer look at some of the players who should outperform some of the first day picks:

Charles Godfrey, CB, Carolina - He’ll be better than Terrence Wheatley, Patrick Lee, or Terrell Thomas. He can also be worked in slowly, as a dime back at first, because Carolina has three good corners in Marshall, Gamble, and Lucas.

Earl Bennett, WR, Chicago - Instantly the most dependable WR on the Bears roster under 30. Bennett will make the tough catches over the middle and snare errant passes from Grossman or Orton or Jim McMahon coming out of retirement.

Tavares Gooden, LB, Baltimore - Ray Lewis gets to mentor the best young LB from the U in the draft this year. Isn’t that special?

Chris Ellis, DE, Buffalo - He was announced as an LB, but he’ll help be helping Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay stay healthy.

Reggie Smith, DB, San Francisco - While Michael Lewis headhunts, Reggie Smith can cover the deep middle, and he can be a nickel/dime back right away.

Pat Sims, DT, Cincinnati - Here’s your consolation prize for missing out on Sedrick Ellis, Bengal fans. Sims is a little soft around the middle, but he can be a space eater and let those athletic LBs do some damage.

Video profile of Antwaun Molden, CB, Eastern Kentucky — now a Houston Texan!

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and Houston Texans. 0 Comments

Molden has the raw tools to step in and start early for the Texans:

Another running back committee emerging?

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and Kansas City Chiefs. 0 Comments

The Chiefs have Larry Johnson signed for a while, they reportedly like Kolby Smith quite a bit, and now they select Jamaal Charles.

This might’ve been a best-player-available sort of move, and he’s definitely a change of pace from his backfield roommates, but it’s surprising they didn’t go for more defense with someone like DE Kenny Iwebema or hit the OL with a choice like Oniel Cousins.

We like their choice of Bard Cottam at TE for sure, though. Injuries kept him from breaking out in a big way over his career, but this big kid can motor in pads and has solid hands. He really impressed us at the Senior Bowl, and he’ll be an outstanding red zone target. We like him much more than Seattle 2nd-rounder John Carlson.

Hester already the best San Diego short-yardage runner?

Published by Marc Faletti April 27th, 2008 in 3rd Round and San Diego Chargers. 0 Comments

If LaDainian Tomlinson’s twilight years are to be extended, then the short-yardage pounding he’s often taken needs to be reduced. Is it any surprise, then, that the Chargers went out and got perhaps the top short-yardage player in the draft in Jacob Hester? We like Hester a lot and feel he’s often overlooked by the draft media. While he may never develop into a full-time starter, he’s tough between the tackles, great in the locker room, and money on 4th down.

LT may see fewer TDs, but that will also man less pounding and perhaps a longer career. And if I were Jacob Hester, I’d see the contract Michael Turner just got and feel pretty good about my future.

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