Steve Muench: I hope everyone is doing alright and ready to talk draft. Just so you know I've been breaking receivers down this week so if anyone has any questions about them fire away.
Josh (NJ): Hey Steve, I am a huge Rams fan. I am confused on who they will take with the #2 pick. I know they have Jackson at RB and Bulger at QB. But with the health of them last year and the trade value Matt Ryan and D-MAC will have. Is it possible that they might draft D-MAC or Ryan, or will they go with Dorsey or Chris Long?
Steve Muench: It's too early to press the panic button. I think that they need to improve that offensive line and that they well (A healthy Orlando Pace would help) A stronger offensive line should help Bulger and Jackosn is young enough to get bac k on track. Now the Rams could take Jake Long to bolster the tackle position but they need more help on the inside so taking Dorsey and then a guard/center later on makes the most sense to me.
Corey (Philadelphia, PA): Hey Steve, which player do you see suprising everbody by being selected with a top 10 pick?
Steve Muench: I think the average fan will be surprised to see Troy CB Leon McKelvin go that early but I think he will. On a similar note, I am surprised that so many people have Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston in their top ten. Don't get me wrong I thnk he's absolutly a first-round pick but taking that early is a signficant reach.
christopher (philadelphia, pa): Is Matt Ryan the #1 player in this draft? I just don't see the same caliber / talent as say JaMarcus Russell or even Brady Quinn?
Steve Muench: I'm glad you bring this up because I was wathcing a skills' competition for some of the prospects earlier this week and they taled about comparisons to Tom Brady. This made me wonder if maybe Ryan's stock had been inflated by those comparisons. And I don't think he's as talented as Russell or possibly Quinn but he is more polished and technically sound. In addition, one similarity he shares with Brady is he has the frame to bulk up and get stronger so the bottom line is yes I think he is the No. 1 pick overall but for different reasons than Russell was the top pick.
Mike, Philly: What happened to Dennis Dixon? I watched him play all season and he looked like the real deal (height, arm strength, speed, accuracy, ect.). Am I missing something, or did his injury really drop him stock significantly?
Steve Muench: The one area I couldn't disagree with you more is weight and it's an imporant point to make. The reason is Dixon is a mobile quarterback who is at his best using his feet to keep defenses balance. At the NFL level where defenders are bigger and stronger he's going to take more big hits so there are concerns about hios ability to stay healthy. His knee injury only made those concerns greater and inability to showcase his skills in any of the All Star games only makes matters worse. So that's why his stock has dropped so much.
John (Chicago): Enough questions from Philadelphia. Who are the top return men in the draft and how high might they be picked?
Steve Muench: The biggest name is Cal's DeSean Jackson but I also like VA Tech's Eddie Royal and Purdue's Dorien Bryant. A small scholl prospect to keep an eye on is Utah State's Kevin Robinson.
Steve Muench: As fas where these guys go. Jakcosn should go in the first, Royal in the third and Bryant in the third or fourth.
Mikey(Lackawanna,NY): Do you think the Bills should go WR with their 11th overall pick? Do you think Limas Sweed would be a good pick?
Steve Muench: I think they will take a receiver but Sweed would be a reach there. Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly or Jackson would be better picks.
Rich (Boston): Jamie Silva! He just makes plays and is a true football player. Will be overcome his lack of measureables and will some team fall in love and take him maybe in the 3d round?
Steve Muench: I think he will slip to the second day of the draft but he's a great sleeper. I'm not sure he's ever going to develop into an every-down player but he's going to be a great reserve and even better special teams' player in my opinion. And how many times do we look back at drafts and see a team's middle-round picks either out of football or no longer with the team? Keeping that in mind I think Silva is an excellent fifth round pick.
bismarck ND: who do you feel is the fastest corner coming out this year
Steve Muench: I can't wait for the combine and this is why. McKelvin, who I mentioned earlier. absolutly flies on film. It's like watching a video game at times but he played as a small school so I'm waiting to see the official numbers.
Matt, Chicago: Do you think Dallas will be able to get one of the elite CB's in this year's draft? Do you think this position is on JJ's radar? Thanks!
Steve Muench: I think it's on their radar but the top three will be off the board by the 22nd pick I think. Niow they could either take CB Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie at 28 or possibly get a running back like Felix Jones. Jones is a slightly better value in my opinion so I would take him and then hope to get VA Tech's Brandon FLowers in the second or possibly Arizona's Antone Cason though I don't think he fits that scheme as well as FLowers.
Chris (Norman,Ok): No one ever answers whether the niners will take a QB in this Draft!
Steve Muench: Well let me be the first. Yes I think they need to draft a quarterback but not too early.
Scott (Dallas): The Steelers are hurting on both O- and D-Line. Will they use multiple high picks to address either and which is a bigger need?
Steve Muench: Offensive line is a greater need and I think they will go after a tackle like PItt's Jeff Otah or Boston College's Gosder Cherilus in the first. They could then get an end like Clemson's Phillip Merling in the second. If it were to unfold like this, the Steelers could then get good value and fill thier needs along the interior offensive line with their middle-round picks.
Ken (Tarzana, CA): Will you tell your boy Todd McShay that DT is not a pressing need for the Cards? They have Darnell Dockett and have drafted Alan Branch and Gabe Watson in the last two drafts. Research is fun.
Steve Muench: Sorry computer forze for a sec. Let me answer that KEn.
Steve Muench: I did't see where Todd said that but I'll try and get his back. I know they need an end so Todd may have suggested filling that need by taking a DT that can line up there. He may also be saying that the Cards need to add a situational pass rusher in the later rounds because Watson and Branch are far better stuffing the run than they are getting after the quarterback.
Brian (Evansville, IN.): As a dolphins fan and having the #1 pick, I see them trading down but to who. I keep hearing rumors of Dallas and McFadden for their #1s and possibly a player. Any insight?
Steve Muench: This is the most talked about trade in football because it makes some sense. Miami wants out of that slot in my opinion and Dallas owner Jerry Jones has ties to Arknasas. And you know both teams may be considering it but like I said last week this is only a rumor. If MIami is going to trade out, it's going to take the best overall value and that means waiting to hear any and all offers. In addition, it will be interesting to see if the stcok of either Long, Dorsey, McFadden or Ryan shoots up. If this happens with McFadden for example, don;t be surprised to see the Dolphins talking him up and how much they need a back. After alll, it will drive the price up if there is a team that has its heart set on McFadden.
kevin Mitchell (New York): If Kenny Phillips or Reggie Smith are available to the Giants at 31 do they take them? If they're off the board what other options do they have for a safety?
Steve Muench: Both of these guys will likley slide into the second round so they should be there but I think that OLB Keith Rivers would be the best option if he's there. OLB is a need and he's a great value there. if they don't get Phillips or Smith in the second, they could wait until the third and take Alabama's Simeon Castille. He's got great cover skills for a safety and you know the G-Men need a safety that can cover with all the blitzing that they do.
Mike (New Orleans, LA): Please tell me the Saints go defense with the #10 pick!
Steve Muench: DB MIke Jenkins looks like a real possibility for them at that pick.
Josh (Dexter, NY): Steve, Where do you project Antoine Cason going and is he best fit for a Cover 2 system? Thanks.
Steve Muench: Second round and yes I think he fits best in a cover 2 scheme.
Just Draft Baby (Oakland): When is the coin toss between the Falcons and the Raiders? With the 3rd (or 4th pick) of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...
Steve Muench: At the combine. Fairly important coin flip huh?
Bo (Honlulu, HI): What do the Raiders do? So many possibilities. McFadden should be available but both lines are in more need. Do they take McFadden over Dorsey, Long, and Long if available?
Steve Muench: In a perfect world I think Oakland woud take McFadden because Al Davis loves talent and McFadden is arguably the most talented player in the draft. The problem is we don't libe in a perfect world we live in a salary cap world and they have some cap issues. I think they will shop this pick around as a result.
Ben (Mobile AL): Top 5 picks is there anyone else in the discussion other than Long, Long Dorsey, McFadden, and Ryan?
Steve Muench: Not right now and I think that's as it should be. To me there's a noticeable drop off after the top five.
John(Buffalo): Do you think Jordon Dizon will be a sleeper pick for some team late in the draft?
Steve Muench: Sorry but no. I like the way Dizon plays the game and he's got the instincts to provide good depth. Unfortunately, I don't think he has enough natural ability to emerge as a difference maker.
Chris Texas: What do you think of James Hardy the WR from I.U. ?
Steve Muench: i am worried about his burst and ability to separate from man coverage but he's big, he's smooth getting in and out of cuts and he catches the ball well. I think he'll go late in the first or early in the second.
Brad (Florida): What is the deepest and weakest positions in this year's draft?
Steve Muench: I think that safety is the weakest position though tight end is worth mentioning and I think that it's a deep offensive tackle class as well.
Ryan (WI): Does Ikegwuonus knee injury drop him to the 2nd day? Or was he there to begin with even before the injury?
Steve Muench: He looked like a first-day pick to me but the knee injury is going to kill his draft stock unforunatly. At this point, I think there's a real chance he goes undrafted. It's a terrible situation for that young man and I hope things work out for him somehow someway.
Ken (Tarzana, CA): "Al Davis loves talent"????? Are you aware of an owner who doesn't love talent?
Steve Muench: Good point and thanks for driving it home with several question marks. What I should have said is he has a history of placing far greater vlaue on players with raw natural ability than he does on fundamentally sound players and filling needs.
Steve Muench: That's it for now. Enjoy the week.
