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« Is Having Great Speed Overrated For An NFL Wide Receiver?Keep Your Eye On These 2nd Day 2009 NFL Draft Picks
http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com/wordpress/?p=191
I have always believed that the 3rd to 7th round of the NFL Draft is what separates the Super Bowl contenders from the pretenders. It is not enough for a team to hit on its 1st and 2nd round selections. The teams that go on to win a Super Bowl ring always find key players in the mid-to-late rounds. This is the case today, and in the past as well. The Giants selected RB Brandon Jacobs (4th round), DE/DT Justin Tuck (3rd round), LT David Diehl (5th round) and TE Kevin Boss (5th round) in these crucial rounds. New England found LB Tedy Bruschi (3rd round), C Dan Koppen (5th round) and of course, QB Tom Brady (6th round). The Steelers picked WR Hines Ward (3rd round) and DE Aaron Smith (4th round) who went on to be key players for years.
Pittsburgh’s dynasty of the 70’s was fueled by its drafts. The Steelers hit on high picks, but there is no dynasty without WR John Stallworth (4th round), C Mike Webster (5th round), S Mike Wagner (11th round), DE L.C. Greenwood (10th round), DE Dwight White (4th round), DT Ernie Holmes (8th round) and CB Mel Blount (3rd round). I have been following the NFL Draft for over thirty years and I still do not believe any team has drafted better than the Steelers did during the 1970’s. It follows suit that they were the team of the 70’s with four championships in a six-year stretch.
Here are the key picks in rounds 3 to 7 to keep an eye on this season (in order of round selected):
RB Shonn Greene (3rd round), Jets- Head Coach, Rex Ryan, has a blueprint for the Jets to win games this year. The plan is to pound the ball on the ground with the offense and punish opponents with a talented and aggressive defense. A team needs more than one back when it is as committed to running the ball as the Jets are this year. Thomas Jones will start and Leon Washington is the 3rd down back. The powerful Greene will be ready to provide a breather for Jones in 2009 and will take on a heavier load in the future.
LB Jason Williams (3rd round), Cowboys- The Western Illinois find is a great athlete with tremendous speed and quickness for a 240-pound linebacker. He likely will not be up to speed from an assignment standpoint to start as a rookie. However, Williams will be dangerous on special teams and a threat to block punts. He will push Bobby Carpenter in camp and may earn a spot on 3rd down passing situations as the season progresses.
DE Michael Johnson (3rd round), Bengals- Cincinnati coaches, Mike Zimmer and Marvin Lewis, have excellent defensive minds. They will be moving the athletic Johnson around to rush the quarterback. The plan is to utilize Johnson as a 3rd down pass rush specialist at defensive end, tackle and even a little at linebacker. Johnson has much to prove and is not ready to play the run well. The Bengals’ plan to give him a defined role that focuses on his strengths is a sound one and there is no question that Johnson has the size and athleticism to develop into a quality pass rusher.
RB Glen Coffee (3rd round), 49ers- Coffee may not be the most gifted of running backs, but he runs with a lot of determination. San Francisco’s head coach, Mike Singletary, is going to make the running game a big part of the team’s offense. Frank Gore will receive about 300 carries this season, but he needs some help after being banged up the past two seasons.
G Louis Vasquez (3rd round), Chargers- Vasquez has a good shot at earning a starting guard position. San Diego lost solid veteran, Mike Goff, to free agency and Vasquez will compete with Kynan Forney. The rookie is big and strong and has more pass blocking experience entering the NFL than most offensive linemen due to playing at pass-happy, Texas Tech.
DT Roy Miller (3rd round), Buccaneers- The Tampa Bay defense is in a rebuilding mode. Miller is a dedicated player who plays to the whistle on every snap. He will back-up the undistinguished, Ryan Sims, and on hustle alone should receive a fair number of snaps.
TE Jared Cook (3rd round), Titans- Tennessee’s starting tight end, Bo Scaife, is solid, but is pedestrian compared to how well Cook runs. The rookie is really a big wide receiver and can catch the ball and stretch the seam. The Titans are looking for more big plays from their passing attack and Cook has the potential to deliver some. Scaife will start, but Tennessee will find a role for Cook if he is mentally ready as far as limiting his mistakes.
WR Deon Butler (3rd round), Seahawks- Butler is a polished receiver for a rookie with a knack for getting open. He will likely be Seattle’s 4th receiver this year behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.
TE Chase Coffman (3rd round), Bengals- Cincinnati really could use a quality pass-catching tight end and Coffman has a lot of ability. He will have to show that he is completely healthy after injuring his foot in the Alamo Bowl. Coffman is just now starting to participate in football activities. I believe Coffman can be another Jay Novacek in the right situation and having Carson Palmer throwing the ball to you certainly is a positive. Palmer will become confident throwing to the sure-handed Coffman on third down.
WR Juaquin Iglesias (3rd round), Bears- Iglesias finds himself in a very good situation in Chicago. The Bears need significant help at wide receiver and have a top quarterback in Jay Cutler delivering the ball. Iglesias should play a lot as a rookie and Cutler will make him better. Iglesias is not explosive, but will have the opportunity to play and develop into a decent possession receiver in Chicago.
TE Travis Beckum (3rd round), Giants- Kevin Boss keeps improving as the stating tight end for the G-men, but he will never be explosive. Beckum is a great athlete who can stretch the seam and catch the ball in traffic. The Giants do an excellent job of getting their young players ready to play. It would not surprise me if Beckum found a role in 3rd down passing situations as the season progresses.
WR Austin Collie (4th round), Colts- Any receiver who has the chance to play with a quarterback like Peyton Manning is in a great situation. Collie will team with WR Reggie Wayne, WR Anthony Gonzalez and TE Dallas Clark as the likely slot receiver. Collie’s intelligence and sure hands should be a good fit in the Colts’ offense as a possession receiver.
DT Terrance Taylor (4th round), Colts- Indianapolis is soft up the middle at defensive tackle. Taylor has a powerful and compact build and is capable of playing with leverage. He will not put up impressive stats, but could earn a spot as a rotational player whose job is to plug holes and occupy blockers in run support.
LB Jason Phillips (5th round), Ravens- Baltimore lost Bart Scott and needs some young linebackers to step up. Phillips is highly instinctive and fits right in with the Ravens from a toughness standpoint. Baltimore is not set at the inside linebacker spot next to 14-year vet, Ray Lewis. Tavares Gooden is the current favorite to start this season, but he is unproven and in college was a better athlete than football player. Phillips will contribute on special teams, but has the ability (especially mentally) to be a solid starter.
WR Kenny McKinley (5th round), Broncos- Josh McDaniels likes to spread defenses out with 4 and 5 receiver sets. McKinley has to prove he can stay healthy, but he has the potential to be a fine slot receiver. Denver wants to lean on Brandon Stokley and his 11 years of NFL experience in 2009, but McKinley could be the future.
WR Jarett Dillard (5th round), Jaguars- The wide receiver position has been a problem area for the Jags for a number of years due to 1st round mistakes made in the NFL Draft. Dillard was super productive in college and is a natural at setting defensive backs up. His chances of playing as a rookie have increased since the recent trade of WR Dennis Northcutt to the Lions. Dillard will compete with the disappointing, Troy Williamson, and several young, but unproven wide receivers to join veteran, Torry Holt. Dillard’s ability to run routes and be where he is supposed to be should earn the trust of his coaches and quarterback early in his pro career.
TE Cornelius Ingram (5th round), Eagles- Andy Reid loves to throw the ball and Philadelphia does not have anyone at tight end that possesses Ingram’s speed. The former Gator is not only fast, but has terrific hands. If his knee is 100% recovered from last year’s surgery then he could find the end zone in the Eagles’ attack.
S Michael Hamlin (5th round), Cowboys- The Cowboys wanted to upgrade their safety play in this year’s draft. Hamlin could be a 5th round draft gem with his instincts and tackling ability. He will play on special teams in 2009, but I would not be surprised if he became a starter by next season. The current safety tandem of Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh both have to prove they can limit their mental errors and missed tackles.
S Kevin Ellison (6th round), Chargers- USC has a very high profile football program, but Ellison slipped through the cracks due to injury concerns. San Diego’s incumbent strong safety, Clinton Hart, must play better. Ellison plays faster than he times and is a smart and physical player. He has a chance to surprise this year and contribute more than just on special teams.
CB Mike Mickens (7th round), Cowboys- Every NFL team should be 4-deep at cornerback to defend numerous multiple receivers sets. Mickens has an excellent opportunity to nail down the 4th cornerback spot with Dallas. He is a ballhawk with a knack for making interceptions. Dallas is a good fit for Mickens because the strength of their defense is a strong pass rush, which is the first step in producing turnovers. The Dallas rush should force opposing quarterbacks to rush throws and a corner like Mickens can take advantage of this and come up with picks.
Tags: 2009 NFL Draft. 2009 NFL Rookies
http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com/wordpress/?p=191
I have always believed that the 3rd to 7th round of the NFL Draft is what separates the Super Bowl contenders from the pretenders. It is not enough for a team to hit on its 1st and 2nd round selections. The teams that go on to win a Super Bowl ring always find key players in the mid-to-late rounds. This is the case today, and in the past as well. The Giants selected RB Brandon Jacobs (4th round), DE/DT Justin Tuck (3rd round), LT David Diehl (5th round) and TE Kevin Boss (5th round) in these crucial rounds. New England found LB Tedy Bruschi (3rd round), C Dan Koppen (5th round) and of course, QB Tom Brady (6th round). The Steelers picked WR Hines Ward (3rd round) and DE Aaron Smith (4th round) who went on to be key players for years.
Pittsburgh’s dynasty of the 70’s was fueled by its drafts. The Steelers hit on high picks, but there is no dynasty without WR John Stallworth (4th round), C Mike Webster (5th round), S Mike Wagner (11th round), DE L.C. Greenwood (10th round), DE Dwight White (4th round), DT Ernie Holmes (8th round) and CB Mel Blount (3rd round). I have been following the NFL Draft for over thirty years and I still do not believe any team has drafted better than the Steelers did during the 1970’s. It follows suit that they were the team of the 70’s with four championships in a six-year stretch.
Here are the key picks in rounds 3 to 7 to keep an eye on this season (in order of round selected):
RB Shonn Greene (3rd round), Jets- Head Coach, Rex Ryan, has a blueprint for the Jets to win games this year. The plan is to pound the ball on the ground with the offense and punish opponents with a talented and aggressive defense. A team needs more than one back when it is as committed to running the ball as the Jets are this year. Thomas Jones will start and Leon Washington is the 3rd down back. The powerful Greene will be ready to provide a breather for Jones in 2009 and will take on a heavier load in the future.
LB Jason Williams (3rd round), Cowboys- The Western Illinois find is a great athlete with tremendous speed and quickness for a 240-pound linebacker. He likely will not be up to speed from an assignment standpoint to start as a rookie. However, Williams will be dangerous on special teams and a threat to block punts. He will push Bobby Carpenter in camp and may earn a spot on 3rd down passing situations as the season progresses.
DE Michael Johnson (3rd round), Bengals- Cincinnati coaches, Mike Zimmer and Marvin Lewis, have excellent defensive minds. They will be moving the athletic Johnson around to rush the quarterback. The plan is to utilize Johnson as a 3rd down pass rush specialist at defensive end, tackle and even a little at linebacker. Johnson has much to prove and is not ready to play the run well. The Bengals’ plan to give him a defined role that focuses on his strengths is a sound one and there is no question that Johnson has the size and athleticism to develop into a quality pass rusher.
RB Glen Coffee (3rd round), 49ers- Coffee may not be the most gifted of running backs, but he runs with a lot of determination. San Francisco’s head coach, Mike Singletary, is going to make the running game a big part of the team’s offense. Frank Gore will receive about 300 carries this season, but he needs some help after being banged up the past two seasons.
G Louis Vasquez (3rd round), Chargers- Vasquez has a good shot at earning a starting guard position. San Diego lost solid veteran, Mike Goff, to free agency and Vasquez will compete with Kynan Forney. The rookie is big and strong and has more pass blocking experience entering the NFL than most offensive linemen due to playing at pass-happy, Texas Tech.
DT Roy Miller (3rd round), Buccaneers- The Tampa Bay defense is in a rebuilding mode. Miller is a dedicated player who plays to the whistle on every snap. He will back-up the undistinguished, Ryan Sims, and on hustle alone should receive a fair number of snaps.
TE Jared Cook (3rd round), Titans- Tennessee’s starting tight end, Bo Scaife, is solid, but is pedestrian compared to how well Cook runs. The rookie is really a big wide receiver and can catch the ball and stretch the seam. The Titans are looking for more big plays from their passing attack and Cook has the potential to deliver some. Scaife will start, but Tennessee will find a role for Cook if he is mentally ready as far as limiting his mistakes.
WR Deon Butler (3rd round), Seahawks- Butler is a polished receiver for a rookie with a knack for getting open. He will likely be Seattle’s 4th receiver this year behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.
TE Chase Coffman (3rd round), Bengals- Cincinnati really could use a quality pass-catching tight end and Coffman has a lot of ability. He will have to show that he is completely healthy after injuring his foot in the Alamo Bowl. Coffman is just now starting to participate in football activities. I believe Coffman can be another Jay Novacek in the right situation and having Carson Palmer throwing the ball to you certainly is a positive. Palmer will become confident throwing to the sure-handed Coffman on third down.
WR Juaquin Iglesias (3rd round), Bears- Iglesias finds himself in a very good situation in Chicago. The Bears need significant help at wide receiver and have a top quarterback in Jay Cutler delivering the ball. Iglesias should play a lot as a rookie and Cutler will make him better. Iglesias is not explosive, but will have the opportunity to play and develop into a decent possession receiver in Chicago.
TE Travis Beckum (3rd round), Giants- Kevin Boss keeps improving as the stating tight end for the G-men, but he will never be explosive. Beckum is a great athlete who can stretch the seam and catch the ball in traffic. The Giants do an excellent job of getting their young players ready to play. It would not surprise me if Beckum found a role in 3rd down passing situations as the season progresses.
WR Austin Collie (4th round), Colts- Any receiver who has the chance to play with a quarterback like Peyton Manning is in a great situation. Collie will team with WR Reggie Wayne, WR Anthony Gonzalez and TE Dallas Clark as the likely slot receiver. Collie’s intelligence and sure hands should be a good fit in the Colts’ offense as a possession receiver.
DT Terrance Taylor (4th round), Colts- Indianapolis is soft up the middle at defensive tackle. Taylor has a powerful and compact build and is capable of playing with leverage. He will not put up impressive stats, but could earn a spot as a rotational player whose job is to plug holes and occupy blockers in run support.
LB Jason Phillips (5th round), Ravens- Baltimore lost Bart Scott and needs some young linebackers to step up. Phillips is highly instinctive and fits right in with the Ravens from a toughness standpoint. Baltimore is not set at the inside linebacker spot next to 14-year vet, Ray Lewis. Tavares Gooden is the current favorite to start this season, but he is unproven and in college was a better athlete than football player. Phillips will contribute on special teams, but has the ability (especially mentally) to be a solid starter.
WR Kenny McKinley (5th round), Broncos- Josh McDaniels likes to spread defenses out with 4 and 5 receiver sets. McKinley has to prove he can stay healthy, but he has the potential to be a fine slot receiver. Denver wants to lean on Brandon Stokley and his 11 years of NFL experience in 2009, but McKinley could be the future.
WR Jarett Dillard (5th round), Jaguars- The wide receiver position has been a problem area for the Jags for a number of years due to 1st round mistakes made in the NFL Draft. Dillard was super productive in college and is a natural at setting defensive backs up. His chances of playing as a rookie have increased since the recent trade of WR Dennis Northcutt to the Lions. Dillard will compete with the disappointing, Troy Williamson, and several young, but unproven wide receivers to join veteran, Torry Holt. Dillard’s ability to run routes and be where he is supposed to be should earn the trust of his coaches and quarterback early in his pro career.
TE Cornelius Ingram (5th round), Eagles- Andy Reid loves to throw the ball and Philadelphia does not have anyone at tight end that possesses Ingram’s speed. The former Gator is not only fast, but has terrific hands. If his knee is 100% recovered from last year’s surgery then he could find the end zone in the Eagles’ attack.
S Michael Hamlin (5th round), Cowboys- The Cowboys wanted to upgrade their safety play in this year’s draft. Hamlin could be a 5th round draft gem with his instincts and tackling ability. He will play on special teams in 2009, but I would not be surprised if he became a starter by next season. The current safety tandem of Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh both have to prove they can limit their mental errors and missed tackles.
S Kevin Ellison (6th round), Chargers- USC has a very high profile football program, but Ellison slipped through the cracks due to injury concerns. San Diego’s incumbent strong safety, Clinton Hart, must play better. Ellison plays faster than he times and is a smart and physical player. He has a chance to surprise this year and contribute more than just on special teams.
CB Mike Mickens (7th round), Cowboys- Every NFL team should be 4-deep at cornerback to defend numerous multiple receivers sets. Mickens has an excellent opportunity to nail down the 4th cornerback spot with Dallas. He is a ballhawk with a knack for making interceptions. Dallas is a good fit for Mickens because the strength of their defense is a strong pass rush, which is the first step in producing turnovers. The Dallas rush should force opposing quarterbacks to rush throws and a corner like Mickens can take advantage of this and come up with picks.
Tags: 2009 NFL Draft. 2009 NFL Rookies
