AFC East
Buffalo Bills
9th Overall -- C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
41st Overall -- Torrell Troup, NT, South Florida
72nd Overall -- Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State
107th Overall -- Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
140th Overall -- Ed Wang, OT, Virginia Tech
178th Overall -- Arthur Moats, DE/OLB, James Madison
192nd Overall (from Philadelphia) -- Danny Batten, DE, South Dakota State
209th Overall (from Detroit) -- Levi Brown, QB, Troy
216th Overall -- Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
Well what do you say about the Bills draft? It was certainly interesting. Chan Gailey passed on Clausen for the offensive weapon in C.J. Spiller and agree with that because this offense desperately needs to add some speed to it. Lynch and Jackson are both grinders and Evans is the only true weapon on the field which makes him susceptible to double teams that he can't crack. I wouldn't object too much to taking Torrell Troup in the 2nd as he could have gone late 2nd except that Buffalo passed on Jimmy Clausen to do it and there is no reason to have any faith in Edwards, Fitzpatrick, or Brohm. On the bright side, the Bills found some nice talent for the 3-4 with Alex Carrington and Danny Batten. They added two offensive linemen in Ed Wang and Kyle Calloway, but I expect Wang to be a project like current starter Demetrius Bell and Calloway should be a career back-up. Torrell Troup is the only player who will have immediate starting responsibilities while C.J. Spiller is likely the only offensive player drafted that will even see playing time. Alex Carrington could crack a rotation, but the Bills took on a lot of projects. It's nice to do that occasionally, but you can't make a draft out of it.
Grade: D
Reasoning: They did nothing to make me think they'll be improved this season, and relying so heavily on projects is a recipe for disaster.
Miami Dolphins
28th Overall (from San Diego) -- Jared Odrick, DT/DE, Penn State
40th Overall (from Seattle through San Diego) -- Koa Misi, OLB, Utah
73rd Overall -- John Jerry, OG, Ole Miss
119th Overall (from New England through Dallas) -- A.J. Edds, LB, Iowa
145th Overall (from Chicago) -- Nolan Carroll, CB, Maryland
163rd Overall (from St. Louis through New Orleans, Philly, and Washington) -- Reshad Jones, SS, Georgia
212th Overall (from Kansas City) -- Chris McCoy, OLB, Middle Tennessee State
252nd Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Austin Spitler, LB, Ohio State
I think Parcells may have lost a step. The Dolphins passed on Kyle Wilson (would have given Miami the best young secondary in football with Sean Smith moving to safety) to take a 3-4 DE when they already had two very good ones in Kendall Langford and Randy Starks. The Dolphins failed to draft a nose tackle so with Ferguson suspended for eight games and already past his prime Randy Starks will have to start the first eight games out of position at nose tackle (he's also way undersized). That puzzled me to begin with. And of course Parcells took one of his patented project rush linebackers. The Dolphins stole Reshad Jones in the 5th round, but its Yeremiah Bell's job to lose right now at strong safety. Miami got maybe just three full-time starters, and two of them may not see much action in their first few seasons. It's not an awful draft, but it won't go down as Parcells best.
Grade: C
Reasoning: A strange and unorthodox draft from Bill Parcells for the most part. Not impressed.
New England Patriots
27th Overall (from Dallas) -- Devin McCourtey, CB, Rutgers
42nd Overall (from Chicago through Tampa Bay and Oakland) -- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
53rd Overall -- Jermaine Cunningham, OLB, Florida
62nd Overall (from Minnesota through Houston) -- Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
90th Overall (from Dallas) -- Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
113th Overall (from San Francisco through Denver) -- Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
150th Overall (from Houston) -- Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan
205th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Ted Larsen, C, North Carolina State
208th Overall (from St. Louis through Washington) -- Thomas Welch, OL, Vanderbilt
247th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Brandon Deadrick, DE, Alabama
248th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Kade Weston, NT, Georgia
250th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots had a deep draft, and they've always been good at recognizing players at certain positions, but it's unlikely that a lot of the guys they grabbed will be anything more than incredible depth because of a lack of opportunity. Devin McCourtey is a four down player thanks to being a great special teamer, but he might be relegated to the nickel corner with up and comer Darius Butler and Leigh Bodden ahead of him on the depth chart. Rob Gronkowski's major competition is going to come from rookies drafted with him, not Alge Crumpler. New England should have found one decent tight end of the three that they drafted. Competition breeds success. I've never understand BB's obsession with Florida Gators so we'll ignore the Hernandez selection.
Props on the guts to take Brandon Spikes though. No linebacker has ever run a 5.0 or worse and been drafted--Spikes is talented enough not only to break that streak but go in the 2nd round. He should have Guyton's job by mid-season at the latest. Spikes has great instincts, ball skills, and is a hell of a hitter.
I love the depth added to the DL with Brandon Deadrick and Kade Weston. They could both one day start in this league. Deadrick has a better chance then Weston though since Weston has newly re-signed Vince Wilfork and 2009 2nd round pick Ron Brace to contend with. Also I like the Zoltan Mesko pick and I can't say I'm shocked that New England grabbed another quarterback late as BB loves the Ron Wolf philosophy of drafting. Robinson will join names like Bobby Hoyer, Kevin O'Connell, and Matt Gutierrez as late-round Brady back-ups if he should make the team. Only Matt Cassell did anything in the Patriots offense, and now he's struggling in Kansas City. Anyway, good draft by New England. I see at least five future starters in this draft.
Grade: A
Reasoning: I'm not sure if Belichick is going to stay around much longer, but even with the Patriots aging as much as they are, if they draft this well again in 2011 nobody is going to notice any rebuilding period in New England. 09 was superb, and 10 should turn out to be great. Three straight great drafts and Tom Brady may be enticed to play very deep into his 30's.
New York Jets
29th Overall -- Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
61st Overall -- Vladamir Ducasse, OG, Massachusetts
112th Overall (from Carolina) -- Joe McKnight, RB, USC
139th Overall (from Seattle) -- John Connor, FB, Kentucky
Well the Jets addition of Santonio Holmes was meant to beef up the receiving game and Tomlinson was brought in mainly as a check-down option for Sanchez, but besides Kyle Wilson there is no doubt that Tannenbaum wants to keep the Jets offense run first. While it won't be featured as heavily the more Sanchez develops, the Jets still want to be a team that primarily is going to grind you down, and regardless of what happens this year the Jets have set themselves up to have one of the best running games in all of football for a long time. Ducasse adds incredible run blocking skill and strength to the offensive line. He may not start right away, but Matt Slauson who is familiar with Bill Callahan's offensive line calls and decisions as a former Husker can hold down one of the guard spots if Ducasse isn't ready right away, but I think Ducasse wins the starting job in camp anyway.
Joe McKnight is another one who is going to eat into LT's carries as the second running back as the season goes on. McKnight should get plenty of opportunities on special teams to keep Jim Leonhard and Darrelle Revis from returning any kicks or punts. McKnight has the ability to be a special back, but his timed speed wasn't great. McKnight and Greene are going to be a scary duo in a few years.
And with John Connor, the Terminator, the Jets traded up to get him and the ferocious, powerful lead blocker is the heir apparent to Tony Richardson. The Jets must be nervous that Richardson is either at the end of his rope (which he likely is) and/or he is going to retire after this season (which he likely is). The Jets drafted four players, and they will likely all start (I'm guessing Cromartie is gone after this season).
Grade: A-
Reasoning: They failed to address the front seven at all, but the direction the Jets went in made just as much sense. It's about priorities, and their first priority is making sure that the running game is in top shape. After all, a good running game is a young quarterback's best friend. With the weapons that Sanchez has on offense now, the only thing that will hold the Jets offense from being elite in the league is how long it takes Sanchez to develop.
No comments:
Post a Comment