It’s finally here! I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Is it my anniversary? No. Is it my birthday? No. Is it the anniversary of my first divorce? Close, but no. Tomorrow is the N.F.L. draft. This is like Christmas in April every year for me, and other deranged draft-niks.
Believe it or not I have been preparing for tomorrow since late December. After the NFL Super Bowl ended, I have been concentrating even more on the draft.
Why do I do this? I don’t know. But my wife learned very early in our relationship not to bother me on draft weekend. She has conveniently scheduled herself to work this week end. Good girl!
I can’t help it. You see there has been NO football since the Super bowl, and I need a fix on football so bad it would make Amy Winehouse blush.
I have bought three or four of the top draft publications, and I have been watching “Path to the Draft” on the NFL Network every night (sometimes twice!) to prepare for the draft. This last week I have doubled my draft watching, as I prepare for this draft weekend..
At this point you might be asking yourself “Is he a football personnel guy?” No. “Is he a team General Manager?” No. I simply need to get myself ready to help my team (The Oakland Raiders) put together a good draft. It’s not like they are going to call me and consult me on which player they should take; but I wish they would, because I would have the answer for them. Instead I am just going to sit in front of my TV for three days, drink beer, and wear my Raider’s hat proudly as I watch my team pick the guys who are going to take us to the Super Bowl this year. (Right!) This year I’m walking the path to the draft, and the Raider’s are on the bright side of that road.
I do know that I am a geek, and that most of you folks think I am a few bricks short of a full load. You are right. I just want to tell you that I am not alone. NFL Draft day is the highest rated day of the year for ESPN, and every year it gets bigger. If it keeps getting bigger each year, it won’t be long before we will have NFL games fifty two weeks of the year.
My wife will NOT be happy.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Oakland Raiders Mock 2010 Draft
I have been an Oakland Raiders fan since 1966, and I have been a draft-nik since 1982; mostly so I could figure out which would be the best picks for the Raiders to make each year. Needless to say it has been difficult to be a Raiders prognosticator the last few years. While Al Davis has mined a few gems, he has often been wrong about drafting great athletes that didn't translate into good pro football players. With that being said, here is my 2010 Oakland Raiders mock draft.
The Raiders trade the eighth pick to the NY Giants in exchange for the Giants 15th pick in the first round, and their second round pick. The Giants need to upgrade their pass rush and hope to get one of the top two safeties Eric Berry, or Earl Thomas. They may also use this pick to steal DT Dan Williams from the Bills, or for DE Derrick Morgan. The Raiders pick with the 15th pick: Tim Tebow, QB Florida. This is Al's pick all the way and right up his alley. Tim Tebow is the anti-JaMarcus Russell; fast, athletic, good character, hard worker, and a winner. Al knows this is a bit of a reach but he realizes that if the Raiders are ever going to win in his lifetime he needs a QB.
With the first of his second round picks Al picks Sean Lee LB Penn St. The Raiders run defense has been very porous the last few years, and Sean Lee will plug up the gaping holes we've been seeing in the middle of the defense. With their second pick of the second round the Raiders pick Myron Lewis CB, Vanderbilt. This is another classic Al Davis pick, he's tall (6' 1 1/2") and fast almost a Nnamdi Asoumough clone.
In the third round Raiders pick Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas. Lamarr has the size Al covets, and plays with a high motor, high effort, intense style.
In the fourth round Raiders pick Zane Beadles, C, Utah. Zane is listed as a guard or tackle in most draft guides, but Al converts him to center to give the team the tall, mean center it needs.
In the fifth round Raiders pick Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech. This may be a bit of a reach at this point, but it gives the Raiders a big, strong, mauler to help shore up the middle of the line.
In the sixth round the Raiders pick Darryl Sharpton, LB, Miami,FL. Darryl doesn't have the size Al normally looks for but he knows that Miami linebackers are smart, well coached, and instinctive. Darryl will make his mark the first couple of years as a special teams gunner.
In the seventh round the Raiders pick James Starks, HB, Buffalo. A former teammate of Trevor Scott at Buffalo, James is big, fast, instinctive, and elusive. He will make the ideal third back for the Raiders now that Huggy Bear's kid is no longer with the Raiders.
Well, there it is; my 2010 Oakland Raider mock draft. Will any of these players become actual Raiders? Only time and Al Davis can tell.
The Raiders trade the eighth pick to the NY Giants in exchange for the Giants 15th pick in the first round, and their second round pick. The Giants need to upgrade their pass rush and hope to get one of the top two safeties Eric Berry, or Earl Thomas. They may also use this pick to steal DT Dan Williams from the Bills, or for DE Derrick Morgan. The Raiders pick with the 15th pick: Tim Tebow, QB Florida. This is Al's pick all the way and right up his alley. Tim Tebow is the anti-JaMarcus Russell; fast, athletic, good character, hard worker, and a winner. Al knows this is a bit of a reach but he realizes that if the Raiders are ever going to win in his lifetime he needs a QB.
With the first of his second round picks Al picks Sean Lee LB Penn St. The Raiders run defense has been very porous the last few years, and Sean Lee will plug up the gaping holes we've been seeing in the middle of the defense. With their second pick of the second round the Raiders pick Myron Lewis CB, Vanderbilt. This is another classic Al Davis pick, he's tall (6' 1 1/2") and fast almost a Nnamdi Asoumough clone.
In the third round Raiders pick Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas. Lamarr has the size Al covets, and plays with a high motor, high effort, intense style.
In the fourth round Raiders pick Zane Beadles, C, Utah. Zane is listed as a guard or tackle in most draft guides, but Al converts him to center to give the team the tall, mean center it needs.
In the fifth round Raiders pick Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech. This may be a bit of a reach at this point, but it gives the Raiders a big, strong, mauler to help shore up the middle of the line.
In the sixth round the Raiders pick Darryl Sharpton, LB, Miami,FL. Darryl doesn't have the size Al normally looks for but he knows that Miami linebackers are smart, well coached, and instinctive. Darryl will make his mark the first couple of years as a special teams gunner.
In the seventh round the Raiders pick James Starks, HB, Buffalo. A former teammate of Trevor Scott at Buffalo, James is big, fast, instinctive, and elusive. He will make the ideal third back for the Raiders now that Huggy Bear's kid is no longer with the Raiders.
Well, there it is; my 2010 Oakland Raider mock draft. Will any of these players become actual Raiders? Only time and Al Davis can tell.
Monday, April 12, 2010
NFL Draft / Ndamukong Suh VS Gerald McCoy
Much of the talk for 2010 NFL Draft is centered around the two big defensive tackles that are considered top 5 picks; Ndamukong Suh, and Gerald McCoy. What are the pluses and minuses of each one, and which one will make the better pro. In this post we will examine each of these prospects and their strengths and liabilities.
When I watch tape on Suh I am left with the impression of one former player, Reggie White. Suh is bigger than Reggie was, but he is just as quick, and disruptive as Reggie. Suh has the strength to throw around offensive linemen as if they were rag dolls, and he is almost unblockable. This guy looks like King Kong in shoulder pads, and has the demeanor of a woman scorned. I can see Suh being able to play, and dominate any position on a four man line. I also believe Suh can dominate as defensive end on a three man line. Suh is big enough and quick enough that he can clog the middle of the line and be a run stopper in the 4-3. He is also strong enough to push offensive tackles into opposing quarterbacks as a power end in the 4-3. As a 3-4 defensive end Suh is perfect for stopping the run, and generating a pass rush. I believe Suh can play any position on the defensive line with the exception of a 3-4 nose tackle. It is not so much that he couldn't play nose in the 3-4, but that much of his talent would be wasted using him just to clog up the middle of the line.
When I watch tape on Gerald McCoy, I am impressed with his quick first step, and his ability to take on double teams and still be effective. I believe McCoy can dominate as a defensive tackle in the 4-3, and as a nose tackle in the 3-4. His strength allows him to clog the middle against the run, and his quickness off the ball allows him to pressure the quarterback up the middle. At 6'4" he will also make it difficult for many qb's to throw over him without it getting slapped back in their face.
In conclusion, I believe both of these players will dominate in the pros. Suh gives a team more flexibility on how they can use him along the defensive line, but McCoy is your more prototypical nose tackle if your team is playing the 3-4. Both of these players should be off the draft board by pick five.
When I watch tape on Suh I am left with the impression of one former player, Reggie White. Suh is bigger than Reggie was, but he is just as quick, and disruptive as Reggie. Suh has the strength to throw around offensive linemen as if they were rag dolls, and he is almost unblockable. This guy looks like King Kong in shoulder pads, and has the demeanor of a woman scorned. I can see Suh being able to play, and dominate any position on a four man line. I also believe Suh can dominate as defensive end on a three man line. Suh is big enough and quick enough that he can clog the middle of the line and be a run stopper in the 4-3. He is also strong enough to push offensive tackles into opposing quarterbacks as a power end in the 4-3. As a 3-4 defensive end Suh is perfect for stopping the run, and generating a pass rush. I believe Suh can play any position on the defensive line with the exception of a 3-4 nose tackle. It is not so much that he couldn't play nose in the 3-4, but that much of his talent would be wasted using him just to clog up the middle of the line.
When I watch tape on Gerald McCoy, I am impressed with his quick first step, and his ability to take on double teams and still be effective. I believe McCoy can dominate as a defensive tackle in the 4-3, and as a nose tackle in the 3-4. His strength allows him to clog the middle against the run, and his quickness off the ball allows him to pressure the quarterback up the middle. At 6'4" he will also make it difficult for many qb's to throw over him without it getting slapped back in their face.
In conclusion, I believe both of these players will dominate in the pros. Suh gives a team more flexibility on how they can use him along the defensive line, but McCoy is your more prototypical nose tackle if your team is playing the 3-4. Both of these players should be off the draft board by pick five.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Why Tiger Can't Tell Us the Truth
It's Master's golf week, and excitement abounds. The buzz going around Augusta today was Tiger Wood's first TRUE interview since that infamous night last Thanksgiving. Tiger did put on a 34 minute interview, and he did give much more in depth answers than ever before.
The one question he did not answer, and that everyone wants him to answer is "What happened last Thanksgiving, and what caused you to run into that tree?" Everyone thinks Tiger is being elusive by not answering that question; but think about it, can you blame him?
Tiger can't answer that question without incriminating his wife for prosecution. Imagine if you will today's interview went like this: (Interviewer) "Tiger what really happened last Thanksgiving night?" (Tiger) "Well that was the night when the shit hit the fan. Like a stupe, probably because of the meds I had taken earlier, I forgot to close my email on the computer before walking away and my wife found it. She went NUTS! She saw a nine iron I had sitting in the corner, grabbed it and came after me! She chased me through every room that I had sex with that Perkin's hostess; which is everyone of them. She was totally crazed, swinging that nine iron as if she were harvesting sugar cane. Though I was sedated, I managed to stay away from that swinging nine iron. Unfortunately she cornered me in the upstairs hall. She swung the club, I blocked it with my arm, but the wedge grazed my head causing a gash and stunning me. I ran down the hall, down the stairs and out the door. Luckily my keys were hung up next to the door. I grabbed them and out the door I ran in my T-shirt, underwear, and bare feet. I dove into the vehicle and I fired that mother up! I Threw it in reverse and backed out of the driveway. As I went past my wife, she yelled "I WILL kill you!" then she bashed in the passenger window right behind me. I tell you, I just wanted to get out of there with my life! I put it in gear and took off. I hit the gas harder than I wanted and my barefoot slipped off the brake causing me to ram into the tree. After the vehicle rammed the tree my wife ran away because she thought the vehicle might explode. I managed to crawl out of the broken windshield and laid in the street until the ambulance showed up."
Tiger would not have those words out of his mouth for five minutes before the police would be arresting his wife for assault, if not assault with a deadly weapon. Tiger can not tell us what really happened that night without implicating his wife.
We will probably find out what really happened when Tiger writes his memoirs, many years after the statute of limitations is over for last Thanksgiving. I bet my account is close.
The one question he did not answer, and that everyone wants him to answer is "What happened last Thanksgiving, and what caused you to run into that tree?" Everyone thinks Tiger is being elusive by not answering that question; but think about it, can you blame him?
Tiger can't answer that question without incriminating his wife for prosecution. Imagine if you will today's interview went like this: (Interviewer) "Tiger what really happened last Thanksgiving night?" (Tiger) "Well that was the night when the shit hit the fan. Like a stupe, probably because of the meds I had taken earlier, I forgot to close my email on the computer before walking away and my wife found it. She went NUTS! She saw a nine iron I had sitting in the corner, grabbed it and came after me! She chased me through every room that I had sex with that Perkin's hostess; which is everyone of them. She was totally crazed, swinging that nine iron as if she were harvesting sugar cane. Though I was sedated, I managed to stay away from that swinging nine iron. Unfortunately she cornered me in the upstairs hall. She swung the club, I blocked it with my arm, but the wedge grazed my head causing a gash and stunning me. I ran down the hall, down the stairs and out the door. Luckily my keys were hung up next to the door. I grabbed them and out the door I ran in my T-shirt, underwear, and bare feet. I dove into the vehicle and I fired that mother up! I Threw it in reverse and backed out of the driveway. As I went past my wife, she yelled "I WILL kill you!" then she bashed in the passenger window right behind me. I tell you, I just wanted to get out of there with my life! I put it in gear and took off. I hit the gas harder than I wanted and my barefoot slipped off the brake causing me to ram into the tree. After the vehicle rammed the tree my wife ran away because she thought the vehicle might explode. I managed to crawl out of the broken windshield and laid in the street until the ambulance showed up."
Tiger would not have those words out of his mouth for five minutes before the police would be arresting his wife for assault, if not assault with a deadly weapon. Tiger can not tell us what really happened that night without implicating his wife.
We will probably find out what really happened when Tiger writes his memoirs, many years after the statute of limitations is over for last Thanksgiving. I bet my account is close.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
