(This article is the 6th Installment of the "Pro Draft Report" By Football Reporters Online)

Training for "NFL" football?

By Eric Dolan-Beyond Sports Network Partner & Parisi Speed School Owner/Trainer

Before getting into the “training for football” thing, it is important to look at why we care so much about football. We have coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists along with former coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists being dubbed as “experts” in football. Everybody has an opinion and everybody justifies their opinion using film, stats, athletic feats, and so on. At the end of the day, we are all fans and we all claim to evaluate without bias and to base our opinion on how some particular player looks on the field of play. This claim is basically a lie. Let’s face it, how the guy plays is only part of the equation. There is the difficult task of trying to figure out “how his game translates to the NFL.” While I am a believer in actually watching the man play being the most important step, it is true that schemes are different and different players fit different schemes.

There are guys better suited to play in the CFL, for example, than in the NFL. I don’t believe every CFL player is inferior, but I do believe the required skill sets are certainly different. You have different rules, a different field, and different schemes. So, trying to figure out who fits what scheme and who may be able to play in a system they never played in before, and who may have trouble with the “mental side” of the game, and who may be too fragile emotionally to play in a big market, etc, are all things that basic film study may not easily translate.


Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Then there are the numbers. The stats. Yes, the stats that so many people claim they don’t look at. Anybody can play with numbers and make them work to their own advantage. Lies, damned lies, and statistics. We hate stats. Stats are for baseball, not football, right? Wrong. Stats are what we train for. I’m talking numbers across the board. Tackles, sacks, interceptions, receptions, yards and touchdowns are some of the numbers we look at, but there are more than these. There are numbers like how many feet of water some random unknown safety can jump out of and still land on his feet. How many back flips did Jason Pierre-Paul do again? Then there is the ultimate set of numbers known as the Combine. What gets lost in these numbers is that the Combine actually consists of several variables including football drills, interviews, written tests and so on. What we are interested in, though, are the numbers. We want to know height, weight, forty time and vertical jump more than anything else. If we can get shuttle, broad jump, and three cone times; well, that’s just icing on the cake. How big are his hands? So, we train for this – not making our hands bigger, but the other stuff. We train to put on Vernon Davis and Mike Mamula displays of athleticism. This training and these numbers move millions of dollars in and out of the hands of future professional athletes before they ever sign a contract. A dominant, SEC, 3-year starter, and widely respected inside linebacker is a first rounder on everybody’s board. Oops. He ran a 4.97 forty. Umm, second rounder because of his production and despite his struggles with long linear speed.

The truth is, we have to train to become a better athlete in order to perform on the field, and we have to train to test well when the time comes. Some believe that testing and playing do not correspond. I do not completely agree with this. Testing may not always directly correspond, but there will be aspects that do and good, hard training is good for an athlete no matter how you slice it. Let’s take a look at Mark Ingram this year. Most feel he is the best running back in the draft. Some weren’t thrilled with his forty time because it was basically average. He caught a little slack for this. What few pointed out was that he had an exceptional “ten yard” dash to start the run. He obviously trained and trained hard on that run, but focused on the initial ten yards. Now we should ask ourselves whether we want a RB with a blazing forty or one who goes from zero to top speed in the shortest time and distance – a blazing 10 yarder. How many RB’s have to go fast in under 10 yards, stop and do it again versus how many run straight for 40 yards on any single play. Keep in mind there are different ways to time these players as well. Hand timing with a stopwatch will give the fastest times. Electronic timing will give the slowest, but most accurate. The NFL Combine uses a hand start, electronic finish which lands somewhere in the middle.

The other big tests are the 20-yard (5-10-5) shuttle and the three cone (L-drill) which are measures of agility and change of direction. The 5-10-5 also shows short lateral speed; and the vertical jump and the broad jump, which show different levels of explosiveness. The 60-yard shuttle is another popular drill that also indicates levels of stamina. I hear varying opinions on the importance of this drill. There is no doubt that we will never run an exact 20-yard shuttle, counting our steps, on the football field. We will also never do a standing broad jump on the football field. I’m fairly certain a 60-yard shuttle has never been attempted during a game either. Of course, if I told you that I could train you in these areas and I would promise you to get faster, more explosion, have more agility, quickness and stamina; would that make you a better ball player? It certainly can’t hurt.

A football player must first become an athlete. Training should start with this premise. We should absolutely move into sport-specific and testing-specific training within an appropriate time prior to taking the field or participating in a combine, but we need the basic fundamentals of athleticism before we can reach full potential in the more specific areas. We must eventually master football though. There is a great story about an NFL personnel guy and a coach arguing over a player and the coach finally admits he took the guy because of his great athleticism. The personnel guy responds with “You want great athletes, go to the Olympics, but the problem is half of them are women. I’ll get you great football players if that’s what you’re looking for.”

I love that story and it is absolutely true that a great athlete does not make a great football player. Of course, most great football players are indeed great athletes and have trained as such. When we get into sport specific training mode, strength, flexibility and injury prevention tend to get lost at times and these are the most important aspects of our training. Players should always perform an active and dynamic warm-up before training. I’m not talking about static stretching and a quick jog around the backstop. Stretch a cold rubber band out and let me know what happens. I’m talking about a good warm-up that actively assists in flexibility and strength. A good warm-up will not only loosen you up, but you will break a little sweat. A good warm-up increases your core temperature, activates your central nervous system and gets your muscles in competition mode.

Focus on technique. This is where combine-specific training really comes into play. You want more speed, power, and explosion – you need to generate more force production. Strong legs will do that. Technique will make the difference. The challenge with technique is that it’s a re-learning experience. This is why combine training takes such a long time to master. We all taught ourselves how to run when we were two years old. We also taught ourselves how to jump. Nobody learns how to efficiently run and jump with the least amount of wasted movement and best techniques to maximize force production until they are much older than two. This is a complete change in mental and neural makeup. One must completely change how their body acts and responds until it actually becomes the way their body acts and responds. This change in make-up goes for test training as well. You will actually hear players counting their steps, for example, when practicing their shuttles. Everything has to be on point and perfect. There is no quick fix to training for a combine or pro-day. Players pay monetarily, physically, emotionally and huge in time commitments to train for strength, flexibility, injury prevention, technique and, of course, statistics because they stand to gain and lose a lot more based on a tenth of a second.

Eric is a recent addition to the contributors List at the FRO. He is the Director of Scouting & training at our co-operators BEYOND SPORTS NETWORK (www.beyondsportsnetwork.com) and a Parisi School Owner/Operator In Maryland.

NFC SOUTH: TEAM DRAFT RECAPS/GRADES-William Queen and Ralph Garcia-Football Reporters Online

The NFC South gave birth to the Super bowl Champion in 2009. However, despite the good play, many, many needs have arisen from each of the four teams in the division. The fastest, easiest way for teams to make up for their teams losses each year is the NFL Draft. Lets see how the NFC South did.

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons needed quite a few different things in order to make this year’s draft a success; a receiver to counteract Roddy White, help at linebacker, depth at defensive tackle, an offensive guard to solidify the line, and somebody who knows how to stop the pass (I know they have to defend Drew Brees, but when you play Carolina twice a year, ranking 28th in pass defense doesn’t cut it).
With their first round pick (19th) Atlanta decided to take Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Now this is a great pick considering that he was the best player available; He’ll surely cure all their problems at linebacker; he can play all three linebacker positions. His combine results were top-of-the-line and his film backs it up. A very instinctive, playmaking linebacker, Weatherspoon will probably serve a huge role as a weak side backer in Atlanta’s Tampa Two defense. I say this pick was a huge success.
The Falcons had to wait until the end of the third round before their next selection came around. This time, big-boy Kentucky defensive tackle Corey Peters was the selection. Now Peters isn’t the ideal starting defensive tackle, in the sense that his technique isn’t where it needs to be in order to compete every down in the NFL. However, Peters will add another hard-working body to the defensive tackle rotation in Atlanta; that looks like a solid pick to me.
Now in order to get their offensive line under control, which wasn’t too bad in the first place (only allowing 27 sacks in 2009), they drafted Alabama offensive guard Mike Johnson and UNLV offensive guard Joe Hawley. Neither may be the immediate fix at offensive guard, however, they will provide much needed depth to Atlanta’s questionable offensive line. Johnson can be a solid backup as a rookie, while Hawley has the versatility to play any of the three interior positions. Hawley may not be quite as talented as Johnson, but will provide more help than many may expect. Okay so these two picks didn’t quite exemplify the offensive line, but it’ll work for the time being.
Well, so far so good for the Falcons. At this point, they’ve used every one of their picks in a good manner. However, with all the needs that Atlanta came into the draft needing, it’s nearly impossible to satisfy all of them; Roddy White’s still lonely out wide and the secondary didn’t get any better when you drafted two straight offensive guards. Yet, I think this is where the Falcons did the best job. Still needing some help in the secondary, Atlanta chose Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks. Franks is a surprisingly good fit for Atlanta’s Tampa Two defense and should excel with his great instincts and zone coverage. He may not be a starting corner at first, but could help out in packages that require more than four defensive backs such as nickel or dime.
At this point, the only need left for the Atlanta Falcons to fill is at receiver. Wide receiver Roddy White accounted for 85 receptions, 1153 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2009, so it’s safe to say that they have a #1 receiver. But other than that, the Falcons don’t’ have a guy that can pick up the slack (#2 receiver Michael Jenkins only had 635 receiving yards and one touchdown reception in 2009). So, with all this in mind, Atlanta picked up hybrid Kansas receiver Kerry Meier to fill their hole. Meier used to start at quarterback for the Jayhawks, but was converted to a receiver during his junior year. Ever since, Meier has been more than productive considering his circumstances. However, I don’t think that Meier is gonna be enough to satisfy that #2 spot. Hey, he might go out there and prove me wrong, but I haven’t seen enough proof to lead me to believe that this guy can be a productive receiver in the NFL. Picking up someone in the fifth round doesn’t exactly fill their need as well as it should. I’m not very impressed with how Atlanta handled that.
Overall Draft Grade: B
　
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers came into the draft needing three main things; a quarterback to build their team around, someone for that quarterback to throw to, and some players that could stop the run for God’s sake (particularly at defensive end). Some fans argue that quarterback is not as big of a need as the media portrays it to be, however, when your team leader throws more picks per game than any other quarterback in the league, we got a problem. So, to fit this need, the Panthers looked to the draft for answers.
It was probably a very painful few hours in Carolina’s draft room, as they were forced to wait until the mid second round before their first pick arrived. When it did, and they saw that Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was still on the board, they couldn‘t believe their eyes. What is it with Notre Dame quarterbacks these days? I don’t know, maybe Brady Quinn scared teams off. But no matter, Carolina jumped all over Clausen while he was still there and there probably isn’t a second that goes by that the Panthers regret their decision. Clausen has an NFL-ready arm and is very used to playing in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame. He can fire passes into small spaces and can put some touch on the ball in order to make it just over the defender and into the receivers hands. Clausen should have plenty of opportunities to blossom as a quarterback in Carolina. Running backs Jonothan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams should make him look good anyways (much like Mark Sanchez and the Jets).
Now for that player for him to throw to; the Panthers had another whack at the NFL Draft piñata, this time in the mid third round, and went with LSU receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell was a player that was projected to go in the early-to-mid second round, but it wasn’t a huge shocker when he was still around at the 78th pick. Carolina‘s #2 receiver Muhsin Muhammad is entering his 15th season in 2010, so this is a very smart pick, as LaFell shouldn’t have to wait long before his spot opens up in the offense. During his junior and senior season at LSU, LaFell never really had an established quarterback to throw him the ball and still managed to put up 1721 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns during that two-year speriod; he’s probably thrilled to be starting along side a matured quarterback in Jimmy Clausen.
That’s two needs down with their first two picks, so I guess you can say that the Panthers had plenty of breathing room with eight picks left. However, drafting quarterback Tony Pike and wildcat quarterback Armanti Edwards in the later rounds, I guess you can say Carolina would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to quarterback. Don’t wanna take any more chances there. These two picks may not look like much of a significance at first, but this is really where Carolina’s draft is going to make a huge impact. Not only do they have one franchise quarterback (Clausen), but they have two (Pike)! Not to mention someone to take the snaps in the wildcat and give Deangelo Williams a break.
This is where the “great” part of the Panther’s draft ends and the “good” part begins. With Probowl defensive end Julius Peppers on his way out, Carolina needed a strong, balanced guy to take his spot. Drafting Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy may not be in the best interest for the Panthers. Hardy used to be a big-time, explosive player at Ole Miss, but wasn’t even a starter in 2010 because of how badly injuries have affected him; I don’t think Hardy is a very reliable replacement at defensive end. Well too bad that’s the only defensive lineman they drafted, cause they sure needed some help in the middle if you ask me. Ranking 22nd in the league in rush defense, the line is in obvious need of repair. And don’t go blaming their linebacking core; middle linebacker Jon Beason racked up 141 tackles last year; he’s not the problem.
However, the Panthers did draft South Carolina outside linebacker Eric Norwood in the late fourth round. Norwood isn’t the best athlete, but he has instincts and playmaking skills that shows very great potential. Norwood actually reminds me of middle linebacker Jon Beason that I spoke of earlier. If Norwood turns out like Beason, then the Panthers may not need a defensive line for then next eight years.
Overall Draft Grade: B+
　
New Orleans Saints
Coming into 2010 as the defending Super Bowl champs, it’s hard to believe that the Saints have any needs whatsoever. However, with last year’s first-round selection Malcolm Jenkins being in a limbo between corner and safety, while free safety Darren Sharper’s career is coming to a close, New Orleans has a lot happening on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle and linebacker are areas of concern and some how the secondary still isn’t up to par.
With their first round pick, 32nd overall, the Saints took another chance with a corner, this time Florida State’s Patrick Robinson. All this means is that last year’s 16th overall pick Malcolm Jenkins will have a chance to move to safety, hopefully solidifying the secondary; so, when are the Saints going to give the whole defensive back thing a rest? That’s three years in a row that they’ve selected a defensive back with their first round pick, meaning that those picks obviously didn’t make a big enough impact to direct their draft picks in another direction. Now Robinson is a speedy, athletic corner that closes in fast on the receiver. He has great see-to-do instincts and can make a play pretty much anywhere on the field; he didn’t fall into the first round on accident. Robinson can provide another solid developing corner to the Saints secondary and can hope to be starting along side Malcolm Jenkins in the near future.
The next two picks were a bit of a mystery to me; first of all, do the Saints really need another tight end? They had five on their roster last season. And it’s not like they’re all bad or anything, Jeremy Shockey is probably the best pass-catching tight end in the game and back up David Thomas has enough talent to be a starter for just about any other team. Anyways, the guy they drafted, Miami tight end Jimmy Graham, is an ex basket ball player that only played two years of college football. He was very productive during his time on the gridiron and reminds many of Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. It would be great if this guy turned out like Gates, heck, it’d be great if all six of their draft picks turned out as pro-bowlers; then Drew Brees would have to get used to throwing out of two tight end packages.
The Saints took USC offensive tackle Charles Brown in the late second round, fulfilling a potential need at tackle if Jammal Brown gets traded. Brown is a solid NFL tackle that has a certain potential to become a starter sometime during his career. 6’5” 305 pounds, his size is certainly good enough and has pretty good athleticism for a big guy. This is a solid pick by New Orleans, they took the best player available rather than someone to fill their immediate needs, but I think this pick will certainly pay off.
Trading up seven spots to draft LSU defensive tackle Al Woods was probably the best decision by the Saints this draft. He may not be that player that’ll just blow up the scene in New Orleans, but he’s a hometown hero in Baton Rouge and will attract plenty of fans. The college-NFL transition will be very easy and he’ll have tons have people pushing him for success. He was one of the best run stoppers in the nation last year and that’s exactly what the Saints are looking for in a defensive tackle. With a surprising draft up to this point, Al Woods just made it look better.
Moving to their last pick of the draft, the Saints drafted Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield. Even though the Saints don’t have a very good history in drafting quarterbacks, this was a mediocre pick because they needed somebody be behind Drew Brees. If Brees were to get injured, the Saints wouldn’t be receiving their Super bowl rings this August. The need for a back up was exposed after Mark Brunell went unsigned this off season; in Brunells only start last season, he threw for 102 yards and one interception, so they’re not losing too much. Canfield is the type of quarterback that will be a good fit in New Orleans. He’s smart and accurate, much like Brees, and has great leadership skills; should be a great back up for the Saints.
Draft Grade: C
　
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers finished with the worst record in the NFC South, third worst in the NFL, and therefore had the third overall pick in the Draft. They needed quite a few things this draft, particularly on defense; two defensive tackles to satisfy the defensive line, help at defensive end, a play-making safety, someone at wide out, and maybe a guy or two to help out at linebacker.
Having the third pick of the NFL Draft, Tampa Bay had the opportunity to draft practically in player in the whole draft (outside the first two picks). Luckily, the Bucs chose the right year to be in need of a defensive tackle; Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy fell right into their laps. One of the four Oklahoma players to be drafted in the top four picks, McCoy was slightly overshadowed by the presence of Nebraska counterpart Ndamukong Suh. Suh was drafted second overall by the Lions, leaing Tampa Bay with a defensive tackle of equal value. McCoy is an extremely quick and speedy defensive tackle that also has enough power and strength to fight off the double team. An all-around athlete that has virtually no weaknesses. Predictable, yet great pick by Tampa Bay.
Does everybody remember when Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland ruled the LOS back in the early 2000’s? They actually won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay if you recall. Well maybe that’s what they’re trying to recreate here by drafting UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price to follow up McCoy. Price brings more of a raw talent to the defensive line. He is very quick, like McCoy, but also is very violent in his play. Has great moves and is one of those guys that can really shoot a gap and stuff it. I like what the Buccaneers are trying to do here with their defensive line and I think both McCoy and Price have great potential starting next to each other.
Tampa Bay drafted two big-play receivers to quench their thirst for a receiver; Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn in the second round and Syracuse receiver Mike Williams in the fourth. Benn is a player that knows how to make guys miss and is a terrific worker, while Williams is very talented, yet had some off the field issues that put him at risk of not finding the field as much as wants to. The Buccaneers weren’t a very explosive offense in 2009, so adding these two receivers was a great way to add more talent around quarterback Josh Freeman.
In the later rounds, Tampa Bay addressed their nagging concern for a linebacker by not drafting one, but two solid players. Virginia Tech’s Cody Grimm and Florida State’s Dekoda Watson were both drafted in the seventh round by the Bucs. Both Grimm and Watson have enough drive and heart to be very effective special teams players as a rookie. Watson has more immediate potential to actually make a difference on defense, while Grimm may stick as a special teams player for most of his career.
As cornerback Ronde Barber is getting towards the point of retiring from the NFL, Tampa Bay looked for, and found, a replacement in this year’s Draft. Taking Vanderbilt corner Myron Lewis in the third round, Tampa Bay hopes that the retirement of Barber will not leave the secondary in ruins, but let a young star take over. Lewis has sound technique at every secondary position and is one of those guys that will impress wherever you put him. A good pick by the Bucs.
Overall Draft Grade: A

The Giants selected Linval Joseph, the Defensive Tackle from East Carolina in the second round after taking Jason Pierre-Paul ,the Defensive End from South Florida in yesterday's first round action. Many feel the move further improves the Giants pass rush, although some feel Osi Umenyoria will be traded, The Giants say otherwise. They also selected Chad Jones the talented defensive back from LSU in round three.

The Jets took Vladimir Ducasse the Offensive Tackle from UMASS tonight in round 2, after taking Kyle Wilson the Defensive Back from Boise State yesterday. They have no third round selection.

More Updates Later and tomorrow Live from the NFL Draft

ACC DRAFT PREVIEW-By William Queen For Football Reporters Online

Georgia tech

Wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas is a big play receiver if there ever was one. Averaging more than 25 YPC in 2010, Thomas takes advantage of every ball thrown his way. Unfortunately, Georgia Tech runs a triple-option offense, where the receiver is more of a blocker, so his 3.28 receptions per game is tough to judge. But no matter, NFL scouts are getting very good vibes from this kid; he’ll be taken sometime in the late first round.

During his college career, running back Jonathan Dwyer found himself living a running backs dream; the triple option. The Yellow Jackets made there living on the ground the entire time Dwyer was at Georgia Tech, so it’s safe to say that he never had to fight for carries. However, providing the fact that there’s no A-back position in the NFL, Dwyer is one of the toughest backs to project. Tallying 2,790 yards and 26 touchdowns in his last two seasons, there’s no question that he can run the ball, but a primary running back position will be a huge change for Dwyer. Personally, I think he won’t be taken till the mid-second round, but he’ll be an immediate contributor in a running back rotation.

Now switching to the other side of the ball, the Yellow Jackets will be without their two largest defensive forces, Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett. Defensive end Derrick Morgan isn’t the top rated defensive end in this year’s draft for nothing. His ACC-leading 12.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2009 is only a side attraction for his impressive skill set. Morgan gets great leverage on the line and is always in the right position to make a play. He has great athletic ability that is complimented by an unbelievable motor and should be a great asset to any team in need of a 4-3 defensive end. Because of his speed and quickness, he may also be converted to a 3-4 outside linebacker. He should be the selected in the top half of the first-round; you can’t go wrong with this pick.

Safety Morgan Burnett gave Georgia Tech’s defense some fire to it 2009. His big-play ability and quick, athletic play, Burnett can make a quarterback think twice about a throw. His aggressiveness in the box doesn’t quite match up to his 6’1” 210 pound frame, but he still manages to bring the ball-carrier to the ground. Burnett never makes mistakes. His big-hits may not work so well on NFL ball carriers, but Burnett’s well worth a high second round selection based on his game-speed and instincts alone.

North Carolina

Defensive tackle Marvin Austin has steadily developed into a top-notch player during his time at North Carolina. He played all through his whole career at UNC and has plenty of playing experience coming into the draft. Austin is a huge space eater. He may have only had 4 sacks in 2009, but his play goes further than just his stats. He gets plenty of penetration and finds a way past the offensive line and into the play. Austin always seems to be in on the play and looks like he’ll be getting a call from a team sometime in the first round.

Numero dos in UNC’s defensive tackle montage, Cam Thomas is a force to be reckon with. Six foot three inches tall and 331 pounds, Thomas is as big as they come. Accumulating only 23 tackles as a senior, he doesn’t make very many plays, but he eats up tons of space on the offensive line and gives his teammates a chance at the ball. His pass rush collapses the pocket at ease and his lower body strength gives him very good potential in the NFL. He’ll probably land himself in the 2nd round sometime.

Cornerback Charles Brown has a very great potential in the NFL as well. Another underclassmen deciding to declare, Brown is about as close to the total package as you can get; a classic shut-down corner. He was the leader of the UNC secondary in 2009, accumulating 66 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. It’s tough to find any predictions on where Brown will fall in the Draft, but somewhere in the top 3 rounds for sure.

Elite Tarheel linebacker Quan Sturdivant will be greatly missed in the ACC. He racked up more solo tackles than just about any other linebacker in the nation. Sturdivant is a very fast, physical linebacker that’s not afraid to hit you straight up. A real football player. One of the best players tackling in the open field. Wasn’t expected to declare as a junior, but will most likely get drafted in the 2nd round anyways. Can play middle linebacker in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.

It seems as if UNC’s whole defense is leaving to the NFL. Safety Deunta Williams is leaving the Tarheels as a very established player. Racking up 138 tackles and 12 interceptions during his 3-year collegiate career, Williams has plenty to be proud of. He has great speed and a huge dedication to studying the game; watches more film than most quarterbacks. Displays very impressive hands for a defensive back; should go in the mid second round.

Outside linebacker Bruce Carter and defensive lineman Aleric Mullins and E.J. Wilson will also find their way early on in the NFL Draft.

NC State

The Wolfpack have just a few impressive prospects entering this year’s NFL Draft, the best being linebacker Nate Irving. Irving only started 12 games throughout his college career, but, averaging 8.7 tackles per game, took advantage of his playing time. Unfortunately, he was part of a bad car wreck in the summer of 2009, breaking his leg, collapsing a lung, and ultimately losing a third of his season. Due to a lack of playing time, it’s safe to say that Irving flew under the radar and should be a surprisingly good pick for a team in the early-to-mid 4th round.

I did a double-take when I saw quarterback Russell Wilson on this year’s NFL Draft prospect list. Wilson is a rare talent at quarterback and can turn a broken play into a touchdown by using his feet; the only problem is that he’s coming out as a sophomore. For a quarterback, declaring for the draft prematurely is often frowned upon. Quarterback is the most logistic position in football and, because of that, experience is wanted in a quarterback that is headed to the NFL. However, in situations like these, you ought to think that he’s taking the gig early just for the money. Hey, I don’t blame him, you get paid big bucks in the NFL. But since he’s coming out as a sophomore, he’s not only hurting Wolfpack fans across the state of North Carolina, but he’s setting him self up to be sitting on the bench for most of his early career.

Wide receiver Owen Spencer and defensive end Willie Young are also good value picks in the mid rounds; they will be missed in Raleigh.

Virginia Tech

Defensive end Jason Worilds will be the first guy off the board coming from the Hookies. His power and explosiveness surprises offensive lineman at the snap and he can really beat you into the back field. Worilds put up extremely good numbers in his first year as a starter in 2008 (18.5 TFL and 8 sacks), but didn’t live up to his standards in 2009 (11TFL and 4.5 sacks). Even though his senior season wasn’t as great, he still earned the respect of many when he played with a shoulder injury through the year. He may be a suitable outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, so his versatility should bump him up into the 2nd round.

Safety Kam Chancellor made his way into the 3rd round with his impressive performance on the bench press at the combine. Yet, even 22 reps at 225 pounds doesn’t accurately represent the strength and effort he exemplifies on the football field. He plays with tons of power and delivers huge hits on whoever is near the ball. Lots of ACC receivers ate dirt because of this guy. Even though he had six interceptions in 2009, he doesn’t exactly have the best hands, always manages to knock it down though. Chancellor’s excitement will surely be missed by Hookies fans.

Offensive lineman Sergio Render and Ed Wang should make there way into a new home sometime in the 4/5th round.

Boston College

Linebacker Mark Herzlich is one of the best stories in this year’s draft. He was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, and, instead of letting it interfere with his life, he’s made a near full recovery and continues to make plays on the football field. Herzlich runs right through blockers and always makes the tackle in the backfield. Racking up 110 tackles in 2010, it’s clear that he plays very smart and never lets the ball carrier get the best of him. Reeling in 6 interceptions last season, he’s also shown exceptional coverage skills as well. Herzlich has the potential to be an immediate starter at the next level. He’s a first round lock.

Running back Montel Harris was one of, if not the biggest, offensive tool in Boston College’s offense. Harris exploded as a sophomore, running the ball for 1,457 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a result, his NFL Draft stock went flying through the roof and Harris decided to declare. Though most players are encouraged to stay in school and finish their degree, I think that he made the right decision. Many teams are looking for a rotation back such as Harris. Harris hit’s the hole hard and speeds through the front seven. He makes quick cuts and has no trouble making defenders miss. A good comparison, yet a bit of an exaggeration, would be Knoshon Marino. I see Harris going in the early-mid 3rd round, a good pick up.

Boston College is losing practically their whole offensive line in this year’s draft. Starting offensive tackles Anthony Castonzo and Rich Lapham are both predicted to go either in the 2nd or 3rd round. And starting center Matt Tennant and starting guard Thomas Claiborne are also predicted to depart in the 3rd round. All four leaving in the same year will cripple Boston College’s offense greatly in 2010. Now I know why running back Montel Harris is leaving; he doesn’t wanna get killed!

Miami

Offensive tackle Jason Fox has what it takes to make it in the NFL. Though I think he’ll only go in the 3rd round, Fox has plenty of potential. He possesses great footwork and displays great leverage when blocking. He uses his lateral quickness to make sure the defensive end doesn’t get around him. A great zone blocker. Has had a few injuries during his career, but has always manned up and played through them. Fox is a very tough player that gets the job done. He may not be as strong or imposing as you want your left tackle to be, but, as I said before, he gets the job done.

Tight end Jimmy Graham is an ex-basketball player that decided to try football in his senior year of college. Well it’s obvious now that that decision was a good one; he’s now looking at a potential NFL career. Graham doesn’t have very great technique, but that should be fixed by simply playing more football. He has great speed and physical features and runs his routes very well. He’s able to use his size to overpower to smaller defenders when the ball’s in the air. Graham’s also a solid blocker and, like I said earlier, more experience is key to his development. Very coachable. A good comparison would be San Diego Chargers Pro-Bowl tight end Antonio Gates; both are former college basketball players and if Graham turns out anything like Gates, then he has a heck of a career ahead of him.

Two Hurricane running backs have a crack at the NFL this Thursday; Graig Cooper and Javarris James. Cooper never ran for more than 850 yards in any given season, but his natural athletic ability is too much to pass up. While Javarris James is more of a power runner and will serve as more of a one-cut runner and goal-line back in the NFL. Both should get drafted in the later round of the Draft.

Miami is also losing linebacker Darryl Sharpton in the NFL Draft. Sharpton will most likely be drafted in the 5th round do to his explosiveness and power at the point of attack. Offensive guard Orlando Franklin also has a shot in the NFL due to his monstrous 6’7”, 320lb frame and raw abilities.

Virginia

Competitive cornerback Chris Cook has a good chance to be drafted high in this year’s NFL Draft. He tallied 40 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2009, setting him towards the top of this year’s cornerback class. Cook is a true competitor. He is very tough and provides great help with run support. Lacks the elite lateral quickness and change of direction that you look for in a starting corner, but has good straight line speed; he ran a 4.46 40-yard-dash at the combine. Due to his instincts and competitiveness, he’ll probably be drafted in the late 2nd round.

Virginia’s second departing corner, Ras-I Dowling will be going approximately the same time as Cook. Tight end Joe Torchia and offensive tackle Will Barker will also be drafted towards the middle of the draft.

Florida State

Myron “Academic Heisman” Rolle has finally entered the NFL draft. Perhaps one of the smartest people to ever play football, Rolle skipped his senior season to be a Rhode Scholar and study in Oxford. Not only is this guy smart, but he’s built to play football. He has prototype speed and size for a safety and never gets tricked by a quarterback. Because of him missing his senior season, there isn’t much game film to judge him by. But when he did play, Rolle was considered on of the top safety’s in the NCAA. He’ll probably be selected in the late 2nd round because of his lack of recent football experience.

Cornerback Patrick Robinson is making his way into the NFL spotlight. He’s one of those players that can go either way; he may be a big-time player or may be a big-time bust. Either way, he’ll get drafted high. Robinson has tremendous speed and leaping ability. Will challenge every ball thrown his way. He has great football instincts and easily sheds blocks to get to the ball carrier. However, Robinson relies on his athleticism a little too much when he plays, which is why I said he has a potential to be a bust.

Linebacker Dekoda Watson is one of the most imitating players in this year’s draft. He is built perfectly for the linebacker position and, despite his huge physique, he’s still an amazing athlete. Watson shows amazing quickness and keeps moving through the whole play; he doesn’t waste time taking on blockers. A tremendous rusher coming off the edge and plays with the intensity and leadership that you look for in a starter. Despite all this, he’ll probably only be drafted in the 4th round. A big sleeper at his position.

Florida State has two offensive lineman going in the mid rounds of the draft; center Ryan McMahon and offensive guard Rodney Hudson. McMahon is a very reliable player that will endure the whole NFL experience very well and will go in the 4th round. While Hudson is a very agile player that takes pride in footwork and should go in the 2nd round.

Clemson

The man himself, Clemson’s very own ,C. J. Spiller is entering the NFL Draft after a very successful four-year collegiate career. In senior season, Spiller racked up 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, 4 receiving touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and 5 touchdowns as a return specialist; this guy lights the scoreboard up. He is such a scoring threat, that it is impossible for NFL teams to ignore him. Spiller does have a slight injury problem with his toe and hamstrings, but he played through it all last season and managed to put up those numbers I mentioned before. He makes his cuts extremely fast and is as good as they get in the open field. Spiller runs through every arm-tackle and can explode in between the tackles and into the secondary. So much versatility, so many possibilities, he’ll most likely get selected in the mid 1st round.

Wide receiver Jacoby Ford was easily overshadowed by CJ Spiller through his career at Clemson. Yet, he still put up great numbers. Reeling in 56 balls for 779 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2009, Ford was primarily a big-play receiver. If this were any other receiver, they may not be in the 2nd-3rd round conversation. However, because of his sub 4.40 forty speed, Ford is looking at an early draft selection. He can catch the ball well in traffic and is dangerous on short screen passes. Reminds me of a less celebrated version of Percy Harvin. Ford will probably stick himself in the late 2nd round because of his speed.

Offensive guard Thomas Austin and defensive end Ricky Sapp are preparing for this year’s draft as well. Austin is a very powerful blocker who uses leverage and never gets pushed around. He doesn’t let defenders make plays and is a very durable player. He’ll probably go in the 4th round. Sapp is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker than a defensive end. His speed and coverage skills sets him apart from most d-lineman and should get some good looks because of his versatility. When he does rush, he gets into the back field in a hurry; should be drafted in the 3rd round.

Maryland

Offensive tackle Bruce Campbell has a heck of an NFL career ahead of him. He has the size, strength, speed, and awareness to be a successful left tackle in the NFL. His length allows him to slow down the pass rush and his quickness helps him to get in the right places and be a really effective blocker in the open field. He can really open up a screen play with his raw power. I can see this guy contributing to some big plays at the next level. However, Campbell is more of a prototype and may need some time to learn so that he doesn’t get outsmarted by NFL defensive lineman. No matter, he’s bound to find his way somewhere in the 1st round.

One of my “ACC Rising Stars”, running back DaRel Scott will be in this year’s draft. Scott broke out as one of the ACC’s best backs in 2008. Yet, do to injury, he only rushed for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2009. He missed about half of his season due to injury and flew under the radar as a junior, making himself one of the biggest sleeper running backs. Once Scott gets the ball, he picks a hole and explodes through it. He breaks every arm tackle and doesn’t slow down when he makes cuts. A very north-south runner. Scott will probably go sometime in the 3rd round.

Defensive back Antwine Perez and linebacker Alex Wujciak will also be selected in the mid rounds of the Draft.

Duke

During his time at Duke, quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was the ring leader of the football program. The Blue Devil’s football program has slowly been on a rise as far as winning is concerned; give it up for the man behind the plan. Lewis nearly led Duke to a bowl game by throwing for 3,300 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 2010. He’s the type of quarterback that will do anything to help his team win. He delivers quick, accurate throws to his best receivers. Rarely makes mistakes and can really work his way around in the backfield in order to find an open receiver. Despite all this, he’s not very high on many draft boards; most have him going in the 7th round. I think he’s one of the biggest sleeper at quarterback in this year’s draft, he’ll surprise many of people a few years down the road.

Defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase is the classic big-boy defensive tackle. He has some injury and endurance issues, but, when he’s at his best, he can really do some damage. Only 37 tackles (7.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks) in 2009, Oghobasse didn’t live up to expectations due to foot injuries. Yet, he’s still looking like he’s going to be a second-day selection. He has enough upper-body strength to bull rush effectively and has the versatility and smarts to learn any position on the defensive line. Oghobaase should be a solid back up in the beginning of his career and may have chances to move up.

Wake Forest

Field general Riley Skinner is one of many risky picks at quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft. His low release and 6’1” height makes things tough to be successful as an NFL quarterback. But hey, six foot tall Drew Brees just won the Super Bowl; there shouldn’t be a problem. Short or not, Skinner can play. He’s known for his intense study of the game and perfection of pre-play reads and calls. Skinner threw for 3160 yards and 25 touchdowns while maintaining a 66% completion percentage in 2009. He has tremendous accuracy and creates time in the pocket using his feet. Tends to squeez the ball into tight spaces and that may hurt him at the next level. Most likely a late round selection and should be a solid back up for the time being.

Cornerback Brandon Ghee will make a living in the 3rd round in this year’s draft. Ghee is a very well-rounded corner who has great coverage skills as well as run support. He only had one interception during his whole career as a Deacon, mostly because teams don’t throw his way, but still racked up 56 tackles in 2009. Ghee helped out his draft stock tremendously with his performance in the NFL Combine. He was a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.45) and ranked among the top performers in the broad jump, 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle. Ghee should be an early 3rd round selection.

Defensive tackle Boo Robinson is another player that will make his way into the NFL sometime in the 4th round. Robinson had to be double teamed in college and may get some 1-on-1 situations in the NFL. He outsmarts every offensive lineman he goes up against and has a huge upside. His size offers versatility as a 3-4 nose tackle.

How is it no one knows who Conte Cuttino is when he's the 17th Best Running Back in this Draft?
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online

Action Photo: Conte Cuttino vs. Gardner Webb in 2008-By A.F. Chachkes for Football Reporters Online
Candid Photo by Josh Griffler for Football Reporters Online

Why is it that every year the only players people talk about when getting ready for the draft are the kids from the schools who play in the "acronym" conferences? Ok, we know there are plenty of talented players at the FBS level and they play most every Saturday during the fall, but it's time people start recognizing the smaller school players. The "kids" who toil for four years at schools in the FCS (the former Division 1-AA), Division II, Division III, and the NAIA.

Everyone knows by now the Joe Flacco story and the the Ramses Barden story. There are some interesting stories in this draft. Fordham's John Skelton could be making history for someone as early as this fall. Then there are some others, like Northern Iowa's Jason Fiacco and Pat Grace, Stephen F. Austin's Tim Knicky, and James Mallory from Central Conn. St. But no story is more interesting the that of the Pride of Uniondale N.Y., Stony Brook's Conte Cuttino.

A 5' 10" Running back who plays much larger then his frame. Conte runs with unique power and vision while possessing swift knife-like cutting ability and above average to very good receiving skills as well Cuttino didn't just set records at Stony Brook. He engraved them into Sony Brook's and the Big South Conference ledger. 3,067 career total rushing yards (a Stony Brook record) and several mentions in the big south records for 2008 as follows: 5th all time in yards rushing in a single game with 233 against VMI on 11-15, and 12.06 yards per carry the week before 11-8) against Iona, where he had 17 carries for 206 yards. He did this while sharing time and carries with teammate Ed Gowins, and completed his career this past season while playing through an ankle injury and still managing nearly 800 rushing yards. His high school asst. coach told me early this week that he could have had well over 4000 yards in his college career if he were used more often in his freshman and sophomore seasons and if he was not injured this past year.

The back story goes even deeper then that. Growing up in Uniondale to working middle class parents who both work in law enforcement, you could say that he had a strict upbringing if you didn't know him. But his family has a strong resolve and a whole lot of faith thanks to their church-going background. Conte's dad who is also Conte, retired from the NYC department of corrections in 2006. We got to speak with him a bit about his son's ascent to athletics. "He's been an athlete since he's seven years old. We let him try all the sports. I was a basketball player, but even though my son was good at basketball, he wasn't tall enough. But football, now that's where he excelled, and very early, although he played defense first." Conte is no slouch in the classroom either, earning close to a 3.0 GPA. while majoring in business management.

Cuttino has been training under the watchful eyes of the good people at Parisi speed school at both their New Jersey and Long Island locations. We know he can play at the next level if he's given a chance, and hopefully some NFL team will do just that in a little over two weeks.

Send in the QB's, Where are the QB's??

By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online/Gridiron Draft Guide

I'm looking at various lists put out by the "big guys" regarding how they rate the Quarterbacks for the 2010 Draft. For the life of me i can't figure out what some of these guys are on. The Site with the "Acronyms" in it's name that has two supposed "Top Talent Evaluators" on it's staff and on it's airwaves claim that Sam Bradford of Oklahoma is the best QB in this Draft. Must be something in the Hair Gel fumes.
Bradford is talented, yes, but he has yet to impress many "real" Draft Scouts, unless some miracle lighting bolt hits Lucas Oil stadium this weekend. Bradford if you remember, spent the majority of the 2009 season injured. Unless he throws the football across the river and into the indy zoo, his status won't change by next week in my eyes. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen isn't horrible either, but he's at least three full NFL seasons away from being close to a starter in my eyes. He suffers from "Tony Romo-itis" of his feet, amongst other issues with his game.

The Best "Big School" QB's in this draft are Texas' Colt McCoy, Central Michigan's
Dan LeFevour, and Cincinnati's Tony Pike. After those three, the next three best QB's in this class are at the FCS level. Number four is Jacksonville State's Ryan Perrilloux (the LSU transfer), then Fordham University's John Skelton rounds out the top 5. Skelton clearly has the best Arm of any QB in this class. Number six is Troy State's Levi Brown, followed by Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph at seven.
Too many independent scouts have underrated the players from the "lower" conferences for far too long. The Next "FBS" QB ranks at number eight, and he is Mississippi's Jevan Snead. Number nine is Northwestern's MIke Kafka, and rounding out the "Top Ten" is Oregon State's Sean Canfield. Below you will find (not in order) some other QB's we are tracking. You will notice that a certain QB from Florida isn't on my list. Again, unless he's hit by lighting, don't expect to hear his name called until late on day two if not day three of the draft.

Some more QB's that Impress:

Jonathan Crompton-Tennessee
Tyler Sheehan-Bowling Green
Tim Hiller- Western Michigan
Eric Ward- Richmond
Armanti Edwards-Appalachian St.
Pat Grace-N.Iowa

Our full ratings for every position will be published in the Gridiron Draft Guide (a combined work of Consensus Draft Services and Football Reporters Online, with assistance from the Black Athlete Sports Network) and can be purchased for Ten dollars U.S. at www.gridirondraftguide.com and will be e-mailed on April 4th and 5th.

Clausen and Tate take their Games to Sundays
By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate sat before the media hearts thumping and their emotions heavy. In between them former coach Charlie Weis was all smiles. With the flashing bulbs illuminating over their life size posters, both declared for the NFL draft during a Monday news conference.

They had talked about their intentions with fired Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Friday. Jimmy Clausen decided took his next step towards childhood aspirations.

"Growing up as a kid, one of my lifelong dreams has been to play in the NFL and with that being said, with the support of my family and coaches I will be forgoing my senior year and entering the 2010 NFL draft," Clausen said in a release handed out by the school before his news conference.

The decision was much harder for Tate. His relationships on the gridon and the diamond made it even tougher.
"But after talking with my family and coach Weis, I am going to pursue my dream and enter next year's NFL draft," he said.
Clausen came to Notre Dame from Westlake, California in 2007 and enrolled early. He was most-hyped Notre Dame quarterback since Ron Powlus back in 1993. Clausen was known for infamously announcing his decision to attend Notre Dame at the College Football Hall of Fame, arriving in a Hummer limo and flashing three high school championship rings. He came to South Bend claiming he would add 4 national title rings to his collection.

His career was one of high aspirations unfulfilled. Clausen never directed the Irish to a single Bowl Championship Series game. He did help the Irish break their 9 game bowl losing streak with a 49-21 victory in the Hawaii bowl in which he was the MVP.
He made 34 starts for the Irish compiling a 16-18 record. He finished 2009 ranked second in the country in pass efficiency behind Boise State's Kellen Moore. Clausen threw for 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns this year. He only threw 4 picks, which was his biggest problem and averaged 310 yards a game passing.

Tate on the other hand was never thought to leave this early after barely finding the field as a freshman. Tate came in to South Bend as a running back and struggled to adapt to the precise route running necessary for Charlie Weis’s scheme. He only had six catches for 131 yards that season.

Last season he was the most improved player on the roster, leading the Irish in all-purpose yards with 1,754. He snagged 58 passes for 1,080 yards, an averaged 18.9 yards a catch. But he came of age this season becoming more of a well-rounded receiver and made highlight reel catches. After the Michael Floyd injury he repeatedly beat zone coverage’s, ran the ball from the wildcat, and increased his production game to game.

Tate was even talked about as a possible Heisman Trophy contender until the Irish lost their last four games.
The 5-11, 195-pound junior from Hendersonville, Tenn., finished the 2009 campaign with 93 catches for 1,496 yards and 15 touchdown receptions. He also added two scores on the ground and one on a punt return for a touchdown. He finished third in the nation in receiving yards per game (124.67), seventh catches per game (7.75), and is a Blinkoff Finalist for the nations best receiver.

According to most draft experts Clausen and Tate are top 15 picks. In the eyes of the Fro Tate is easily the best receiving prospect while Clausen presents mixed feelings towards his ranking.

Small School Prospects For 2010 In the Tri-State Area Turning Heads Across The Nation- By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online (photo: Fordham QB John Skelton throws to a receiver in the flat while being rushed by a Columbia defensive lineman in the 2009 liberty cup game on sept. 20th-By A.F. Chachkes for FRO


Most people do not look at the NYC area as a breeding ground for NFL level talent, but if you look hard enough, you can find players will do more then just make a roster at the next level. The very first player you notice when you talk about NYC area players is Fordham University’s talented Quarterback John Skelton.

While Fordham had some difficulty early on this season coming off a down 2008 after the Patriot league title in 2007, they seem to have righted the ship on the throwing arm of the talented 6”6” Skelton and his 6”5” younger brother Stephen, who is the teams’ tight end. Skelton also has the talented Asa Lucas at wide receiver, and Xavier Martin at tailback. Skelton Is lighting up the competition, with consistant performances of well over 300 yards every game (last week he threw 20-27-420 yards and five touchdowns against Cornell in a 39-27 win. Four of the scores were on passing plays of 50 or more yards). Skelton has been proclaimed by some, as a “Top Ten” quarterback. While he has a high level of skill, he most likely will be a day two selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. Still, he manages to turn heads every time he steps on the football field. Fordham plays Lafayette this weekend who are always a strong team.

Moving over to upper Manhattan, Columbia University has put a team on the field that some are calling the best in many years at the school. One player who is gaining recognition outside of the Ivy League is wide receiver/return specialist Austin Knowlin. While he has gathered accolades within the Ivy before, Knowlin is now perceived as a legitimate candidate to play at the next level. He needs only 135 years coming into this weekend (10-24) to set the all time receiving yardage record in Lions history. Five others at Columbia who are gaining some notice are running back Ray Rangel, quarterback M.A. Olawale, OL’s John Siler, and Evan Sanford, linebacker Cory Cameron and strong safety Andy Shalbrach. Columbia Travels to New Hampshire this week to play Dartmouth in an important road meeting.

Moving over to the Long Island teams, Hofstra once again has a few players who could easily get the chance to play on Sunday next season. One is Senior quarterback Cory Chirstoper, who at almost 6’2” and 251 pounds can remind you of Daunte Culpepper with his athletic style. One of his bodyguards on the offensive line is Mike Trice who weighs close to 360 pounds, and can play both guard and tackle. Although Trice has been part of an offensive line rotation and not a starter in the true sense, we have seen enough of him to know he is a prospect. Also Jimmy Mangiero and David Spinach deserve mention here. The Defense has two stellar defensive backs in Leslie Jackman and Ray McDonough. Hofstra already has an upset win over James Madison, and a road win against Rhode Island, they need to move their overall record to 5-3 and get a critical CAA win at home.

Finally out at Stonybrook, coach Chuck Priore has a few prospects on his squad of gridders as well. Defensive backs Cory Giddings and Chris Richards have continually made it difficult for opposing wide receivers to do their jobs this season. Defensive lineman Chris Perri has also been noticed this season for his work upfront, as has linebacker Tyler Santucci in the middle. On the offense three seniors who have interested us are wide receiver Stephan Towns, lineman Chris Pugliese, and running back Conte Cuttino. With a 3-4 record and a big game this week against Costal Carolina that will be shown on television you can expect this group to be playing all out.

You can also expect to hear more about at least some of these players in the future.

His Stock is Falling Fast By Nick Haswell-Football Reporters Online

With one swing of his fist, Oregon RB LaGarrette Blount might have lost himself a lot of money. The difference in guaranteed money for a late first round draft pick and a late round draft pick is $5-$6 million for the late first round pick and $25,000-$75,000 for a late round draft pick. Had Blount stayed out of trouble and produced on the field in 2009, Blount could have been one of the first running backs taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. But after he connected his punch with Boise State DE Byron Hout last Thursday night, Blount saw his NFL Draft stock drop dramatically. He is now projected as a 7th rounder or undrafted free agent.

In 2008, LaGarrette Blount rushed for 1,002 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He also broke Oregon’s school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 17. One of the lasting images of the 2008 Oregon Ducks season was Blount’s final touchdown run versus Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, where he hurdled a defender, bounced off two tackles, and stiff-armed a final defender en route for a 29 yard touchdown. Following the Holiday Bowl, Blount contemplated declaring for the 2009 NFL Draft, but LeGarrette ultimately decided to return for his senior season at Oregon.

Blount’s scouting report reads that he is a big back at 6-1, 240 lbs. that is tough to bring down. He also has decent quickness and athleticism (he routinely hurdles defenders in the open field) and a great nose for the endzone. But his speed is not great, as he gets caught from behind in the open field, and he is not the most patient runner. He has almost no experience as a receiver out of the backfield and is very passive as a blocker. Also, his off the field problems had been a concern before his altercation against Boise State. He was suspended during the spring in 2009 for his poor attendance at voluntary workouts in the winter. He then showed up to spring practice overweight, and appeared slow and overweight in the 2009 opening game versus Boise State.

Before being suspended for the remainder of the 2009 season, I projected LeGarrette Blount as a 5th or 6th round prospect in the NFL Draft. After his inexcusable actions in Boise and being suspended for the remainder of the season at Oregon, I can’t give Blount a higher grade than being an undrafted free agent. If I were an NFL team, I couldn’t afford to risk a draft choice on him. It’s unfortunate that Blount likely ended his collegiate career with that punch. It would have been interesting see if he matured from the incident and continued to showcase his talent. As of now, it seems unlikely that he would be able to petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility. For whoever picks up Blount for 2010, it is definitely a buyer beware situation.

Could Taylor Mays Be Picked Number One in the 2010 Draft?-By Will Osgood For Football Reporters Online

“Thud… Whack… Bam…Ouch!” That is an edited version of what you will hear when on the field at a USC practice or game when Taylor Mays is playing safety. Mays is the hardest hitting safety to play for the Trojans since Steelers’ All Pro Safety Troy Polamalu wore Cardinal and Gold at the beginning of Pete Carroll’s magical run atop the College Football world.
Some wonder if Mays is actually a better version of Polamalu. Right now, I will tell you flat out… NO!
But, almost as interesting, is he better than Tennessee’s Eric Berry? And are either capable of being the number one pick in 2010’s NFL Draft?

Rare is the day when two safeties dominate so much of the talk involved in the NFL Draft. To think that it’s even worth mentioning either as a potential number one pick is really mind-boggling. 2006 is the first year in which two safeties have been drafted in the top-10. They were Michael Huff, drafted by the Raiders out of Texas, and Donte Whitner, from Ohio State drafted by Buffalo. Neither of those two players had nearly the fan fare or anticipated stock heading into their final years in college as Mays and Berry.
To be real honest, though, the better comparison, at least stylistically is Polamalu and Ed Reed. Mays compares to the former Trojan, while Berry compares favorably to the current Baltimore Raven, Reed.
Berry is always making plays on the ball and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. It is not to say he won’t hit someone, but he’s not as well known for that as Mays.
Mays even compares to Rodney Harrison a bit, in that he’ll hit you so hard, and sometimes illegally, that he’ll literally knock you out. He nearly did that to his teammate Kevin Thomas in the Rose Bowl game against Penn State this past season. Of course, Jordan Norwood of Penn State was down for quite awhile as well.
And that is exactly what Mays does, he makes you fall over as you see just how much talent God blessed him with. The guy is 6 foot 3 inches tall and 230 pounds, yet he runs like a cornerback. If the guy was playing running back, no one would want to tackle him. If he were playing receiver he’d be like Terrell Owens. He has a recorded 4.47 40-yard dash. A lot of corners and running backs don’t even run that fast. Here’s a linebacker-type doing that. The guy is absolutely ridiculous.
When you add in Mays’ football intelligence, you have a guy who automatically projects to being an elite safety at the NFL level. Why you ask? He’s always in good position. He keeps the ball in front of him at all times. He takes good angles to the football, both versus the run and the pass. He reads plays and breaks on them very quickly, most of the time he gets to the ball just in time to knock it away from the receiver.
He may not always be around the football, but remember he played with eight guys on that defense who are now in the National Football League. They were making plays, and that’s also partially because offenses tried to keep the ball away from Taylor Mays. They knew what would happen if they attacked him too often; they’d have an injured player or two.
So why would Taylor Mays not be a top-five pick if he has so much talent and is so intelligent? Well, unlike Berry, he hasn’t shown an ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. That is what makes a great safety in today’s NFL. That’s why in my books, Berry is slightly ahead of Mays at this point. Mays has more talent, but Berry has produced more. If Mays can produce equally, he will go ahead of Berry next April because of his size and ferocity. He plays the game with an attitude and defensive coaches love that. Mr. Mays could be the number one pick next year if he can just turn all that ability into production. “Thud…Bam…Whack…Ouch” needs to be accompanied by “Mays picks that ball off and takes it 50 yards to pay dirt for a pick-six”.

Change in NFL Draft: Draft moves to Three Day format with first round on Thursday Night in Primetime.

The NFL might have done the smartest thing ever in the eyes of real draft fans when they announced a change ton the format of the draft broadcast a short time ago. By moving the draft's first round to thursday night's prime time slot you draw even more viewers and even more of the "casual" football fans then ever before. you also cut a few days of late hype off of the week leading up to the start of the draft because you have the actual first round selections taking place on a weeknight. Then Rounds 2-4 on Friday and 5-7 on Saturday.

What this does for the fan is to also involve them more in the broadcast. For the People working for the teams and the media this gives them(us) an extra Day off/travel day in Sunday, so that people can file their monday stories sooner and grab some relaxation before returning to the grind. In fact, anyone looking for the draft to be shortened should be happy with the reduction in time per pick on 2008 and the format change for 2010. Even if it means one more day of coverage, it's less time on each day.

The big winners here are ESPN and NFLNetwork, because they get to add an extra day of broadcasting to their schedules. So we get an extra Day of Mel Kiper proclaiming that some other front office doesn't know how to handle their business or another chance to hear some more drivel about what some player is going to do with his bonus money instead of real football journalism like "Why did that team pass on that Runningback and take the guy who looks like he'll be packing bags at walmart next month" or how horrible that owner really is, instead of what we really want to know.