Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
Sporting Fools
The frequent and occasional humorous musings behind two of the World's greatest underappreciated sports minds.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Mock Draft: Day FourYou miss the first three days? Just scroll down...lazy ass.
Second half of the first round and it's been a a round filled with a few surprises like Baltimore trading up to take Cutler at 8. Three quarterbacks went in the top 8, defensive tackles were taken back-to-back. Overall 8 offensive players and 7 defensive ones have gone.
16) Miami - Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
Strengths: Natural receiver size (6'1, 213 pounds) with 4.35 speed; Is a threat in the middle of the field as well as vertical; Stepped up to catch almost 90 passes as a junior.
Weaknesses: Pretty much a selfish prick who was gladly shown the down by Meyer; Not a real physical presence.
Why This Pick: Nick Saban made it no secret that he wanted a top-flight receiver and few are more top flight than Jackson.
17) Minnesota - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Strengths: A natural receiver, great route runner, does the little things well; Physical and strong but big-time home run hitter; Part of the great history of athletes from Glades Central High School.
Weaknesses: Has two kids (!!); Cousin of Fred Taylor; Not the fastest timed speed out there; A little smaller than most first-round receivers.
Why This Pick: The Vikings have needs and cap room. They could got a number of ways, but they decide to take the best on their board and let the chips fall.
Trade.
Dallas trades their first round pick (18th overall) to the N.Y. Giants. Details of trade will follow.
18) N.Y. Giants - Ernie Sims III, LB, Florida State
Strengths: A tackling machine, a playmaker who will go sideline to sideline and has the recovery speed to cover the tight end; Non-stop motor will shed blockers on every down.
Weaknesses: Lacking in size; Tends to freelance from time to time.
Why This Pick: The Giants take a huge gamble by moving up to select Sims to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt linebacking corps.
Details of the trade are as follows: The Giants acquire Dallas' first-round selection (#18) and fifth-round pick (#150) for the 25th overall selection in the draft, the Giants' third-round choice (#87) and the Giants' fifth-round pick (#158)
19) San Diego - Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech
Strengths: Probably the best defensive back in the draft; Long arms, great size for the position; Can play safety if needed
Weaknesses: Still learning the nuiances of being a cornerback; Tends to freelance and will give up the big play at times.
Why This Pick: Williams is great value at this spot. Even if he doesn't work out at corner he's a great addition to this team's secondary.
20) Kansas City: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
Strengths: NCAA track champion clocked at a 4.30 in the combines; Stocky kid who plays the ball extremely well; Experienced player has continued to improve each year.
Weaknesses: Likes to be physical but probably doesn't have the size (5'9, 185) to do so in the pros; Often out of position in zone coverage.
Why This Pick: These last two selections should begin a run on cornerbacks for the rest of the first round. At this point its who has who rated higher.
Second half of the first round and it's been a a round filled with a few surprises like Baltimore trading up to take Cutler at 8. Three quarterbacks went in the top 8, defensive tackles were taken back-to-back. Overall 8 offensive players and 7 defensive ones have gone.
16) Miami - Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
Strengths: Natural receiver size (6'1, 213 pounds) with 4.35 speed; Is a threat in the middle of the field as well as vertical; Stepped up to catch almost 90 passes as a junior.
Weaknesses: Pretty much a selfish prick who was gladly shown the down by Meyer; Not a real physical presence.
Why This Pick: Nick Saban made it no secret that he wanted a top-flight receiver and few are more top flight than Jackson.
17) Minnesota - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Strengths: A natural receiver, great route runner, does the little things well; Physical and strong but big-time home run hitter; Part of the great history of athletes from Glades Central High School.
Weaknesses: Has two kids (!!); Cousin of Fred Taylor; Not the fastest timed speed out there; A little smaller than most first-round receivers.
Why This Pick: The Vikings have needs and cap room. They could got a number of ways, but they decide to take the best on their board and let the chips fall.
Trade.
Dallas trades their first round pick (18th overall) to the N.Y. Giants. Details of trade will follow.
18) N.Y. Giants - Ernie Sims III, LB, Florida State
Strengths: A tackling machine, a playmaker who will go sideline to sideline and has the recovery speed to cover the tight end; Non-stop motor will shed blockers on every down.
Weaknesses: Lacking in size; Tends to freelance from time to time.
Why This Pick: The Giants take a huge gamble by moving up to select Sims to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt linebacking corps.
Details of the trade are as follows: The Giants acquire Dallas' first-round selection (#18) and fifth-round pick (#150) for the 25th overall selection in the draft, the Giants' third-round choice (#87) and the Giants' fifth-round pick (#158)
19) San Diego - Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech
Strengths: Probably the best defensive back in the draft; Long arms, great size for the position; Can play safety if needed
Weaknesses: Still learning the nuiances of being a cornerback; Tends to freelance and will give up the big play at times.
Why This Pick: Williams is great value at this spot. Even if he doesn't work out at corner he's a great addition to this team's secondary.
20) Kansas City: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
Strengths: NCAA track champion clocked at a 4.30 in the combines; Stocky kid who plays the ball extremely well; Experienced player has continued to improve each year.
Weaknesses: Likes to be physical but probably doesn't have the size (5'9, 185) to do so in the pros; Often out of position in zone coverage.
Why This Pick: These last two selections should begin a run on cornerbacks for the rest of the first round. At this point its who has who rated higher.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Mock Draft: Day ThreeMissed Day One? Pathetic
Missed Day Two? Ummm Pathetic-er!
We're heading towards the middle portion of this draft and things have settled in nicely. Three quarterbacks went in the top eight picks and now we are reaching a group of teams who need their first-round picks to contribute in order for them to contend this year.
11) St. Louis - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB, Florida State
Strengths: Wimbley is a terrific pass rusher and playmaker in general; Team player gets the most out of his underdeveloped ability.
Weaknesses: Just a one-year starter; limited ability fits the mold of other FSU bust pass rushers (Jamal Reynolds, Andre Wadsworth)
Why This Pick: The Rams just need guys who can create havoc on the defensive end and Wimbley is the second best playmaker on the defensive line in this draft behind Mario Williams.
12) Cleveland - Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Strengths: MASSIVE defensive line product (over 330 pounds); Great athletic skills; Large size shouldn't matter since he's Samoan; Should be better than Gerard Warren.
Weaknesses: Has Oregon ever been known for producing a good defensive player?; Needs more development and seasoning.
Why This Pick: A great block to build around, Ngata has the ability to become a dominating nose guard in a 3-4.
13) Buffalo (via trade from Baltimore) - Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State
Strengths: Brodrick Bunkley is one of the great names; lives a few miles from me; hard worker went from run-support nose guard to playmaking defensive tackle.
Weaknesses: Barely hitting 300 pounds makes him too small to be in a 3-4 scheme; will have to make plays without the help of a strong pass rusher.
Why This Pick: Buffalo's gamble pays off as they get a major defensive upgrade and add another fourth-round pick.
14) Philadelphia - DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Strengths: Not the fastest runner but very effective style; Strong receiver out of the backfield; Team leader, good character guy; reminds me of Roger Craig...although I don't think he fucked O.J.'s wife.
Weaknesses: His ceiling isn't as high as the other four first-round running backs; played at Memphis.
Why This Pick: The Correll Buckhalter experiment might as well end without a third ACL tear. Williams can pair with Brian Westbrook and give Donovan McNabb two versatile running options.
15) Denver - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
Strengths: A freakish combination of size, speed and ability that hasn't been seen since Ivan Drago; continues to improve every year.
Weaknesses: Not yet 6'4, Davis isn't the big target that other tight ends; Blocking skills are raw and underdeveloped.
Why This Pick: This guy could be the next Antonio Gates.
Missed Day Two? Ummm Pathetic-er!
We're heading towards the middle portion of this draft and things have settled in nicely. Three quarterbacks went in the top eight picks and now we are reaching a group of teams who need their first-round picks to contribute in order for them to contend this year.
11) St. Louis - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB, Florida State
Strengths: Wimbley is a terrific pass rusher and playmaker in general; Team player gets the most out of his underdeveloped ability.
Weaknesses: Just a one-year starter; limited ability fits the mold of other FSU bust pass rushers (Jamal Reynolds, Andre Wadsworth)
Why This Pick: The Rams just need guys who can create havoc on the defensive end and Wimbley is the second best playmaker on the defensive line in this draft behind Mario Williams.
12) Cleveland - Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Strengths: MASSIVE defensive line product (over 330 pounds); Great athletic skills; Large size shouldn't matter since he's Samoan; Should be better than Gerard Warren.
Weaknesses: Has Oregon ever been known for producing a good defensive player?; Needs more development and seasoning.
Why This Pick: A great block to build around, Ngata has the ability to become a dominating nose guard in a 3-4.
13) Buffalo (via trade from Baltimore) - Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State
Strengths: Brodrick Bunkley is one of the great names; lives a few miles from me; hard worker went from run-support nose guard to playmaking defensive tackle.
Weaknesses: Barely hitting 300 pounds makes him too small to be in a 3-4 scheme; will have to make plays without the help of a strong pass rusher.
Why This Pick: Buffalo's gamble pays off as they get a major defensive upgrade and add another fourth-round pick.
14) Philadelphia - DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Strengths: Not the fastest runner but very effective style; Strong receiver out of the backfield; Team leader, good character guy; reminds me of Roger Craig...although I don't think he fucked O.J.'s wife.
Weaknesses: His ceiling isn't as high as the other four first-round running backs; played at Memphis.
Why This Pick: The Correll Buckhalter experiment might as well end without a third ACL tear. Williams can pair with Brian Westbrook and give Donovan McNabb two versatile running options.
15) Denver - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
Strengths: A freakish combination of size, speed and ability that hasn't been seen since Ivan Drago; continues to improve every year.
Weaknesses: Not yet 6'4, Davis isn't the big target that other tight ends; Blocking skills are raw and underdeveloped.
Why This Pick: This guy could be the next Antonio Gates.
