|
April 19, 2009
Mike's 2 Round Mock Draft
1st Round Projections
1. Detroit Lions…..Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams…..Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle, Baylor
3. Kansas City Chiefs…..Aaron Curry, Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks…..Mark Sanchez, Quarterback, USC
5. Cleveland Browns…..Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver, Texas Tech
6. Cincinnati Bengals…..Eugene Monroe, Offensive Tackle, Virginia
7. Oakland Raiders…..Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars…..Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
9. Green Bay Packers…..Tyson Jackson, Defensive End, LSU
10. San Francisco 49ers…..Brian Orakpo, Defensive End, Texas
11. Buffalo Bills…..Aaron Maybin, Defensive End, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos…..B.J. Raji, Defensive Tackle, Boston College
13. Washington Redskins…..Michael Oher, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi
14. New Orleans Saints…..Malcolm Jenkins, Cornerback, Ohio State
15. Houston Texans…..Brian Cushing, Outside Linebacker, USC
16. San Diego Chargers…..Rey Maualuga, Inside Linebacker, USC
17. New York Jets…..Josh Freeman, Quarterback, Kansas State
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears)…..Robert Ayers, Defensive End,
Tennessee
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers…..Darius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver, Maryland
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas Cowboys)…..Peria Jerry, Defensive Tackle,
Mississippi
21. Philadelphia Eagles…..Knowshon Moreno, Halfback, Georgia
22. Minnesota Vikings…..Everette Brown, Defensive End, Florida State
23. New England Patriots…..Clay Matthews, Jr., Outside Linebacker, USC
24. Atlanta Falcons…..Brandon Pettigrew, Tight End, Oklahoma State
25. Miami Dolphins…..Darius Butler, Cornerback, Connecticut
26. Baltimore Ravens…..Vontae Davis, Cornerback, Illinois
27. Indianapolis Colts…..Evander “Ziggy” Hood, Defensive Tackle,
Missouri
28. Buffalo Bills (from Carolina via Philadelphia)…..Eben Britton,
Offensive Tackle Arizona
29. New York Giants…..Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, Florida
30. Tennessee Titans…..James Laurinaitis, Middle/Outside Linebacker,
Ohio State
31. Arizona Cardinals…..Chris “Beanie” Wells, Halfback, Ohio State
32. Pittsburgh Steelers…..Eric Wood, Offensive Center/Guard, Louisville
2nd Round Projections
33. Detroit Lions…..William Beatty, Offensive Tackle, Connecticut
34. New England Patriots (from K.C. Chiefs)…..Alphonso Smith,
Cornerback, Wake Forest
35. St. Louis Rams…..Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver, North Carolina
36. Cleveland Browns…..Clint Sintim, Outside Linebacker, Virginia
37. Seattle Seahawks…..Connor Barwin, Outside Linebacker, Cincinnati
38. Cincinnati Bengals…..Kenny Britt, Wide Receiver, Rutgers
39. Jacksonville Jaguars…..Brian Robiskie, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
40. Oakland Raiders…..Alex Mack, Offensive Center, California
41. Green Bay Packers…..Larry English, Defensive End/Outside LB,
Northern Illinois
42. Buffalo Bills…..Shawn Nelson, Tight End, Southern Mississippi
43. San Francisco 49ers…..Phil Loadholt, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
44. Miami Dolphins (from Washington)…..Ron Brace, Defensive Tackle,
Boston College
45. New York Giants (from N.O. Saints)…..Donald Brown, Halfback,
Connecticut
46. Houston Texans…..Louis Delmas, Free Safety, Western Michigan
47. New England Patriots (from S.D. Chargers)…..Patrick Chung, Strong
Safety, Oregon
48. Denver Broncos…..LeSean McCoy, Halfback, Pittsburgh
49. Chicago Bears…..Jamon Meredith, Offensive Tackle, South Carolina
50. Cleveland Browns (from T.B. Bucs)…..William Moore, Strong Safety,
Missouri
51. Dallas Cowboys…..Michael Johnson, Defensive End, Georgia Tech
52. New York Jets…..Derrick Williams, Wide Receiver, Penn State
53. Philadelphia Eagles…..Mohamed Massaquoi, Wide Receiver, Georgia
54. Minnesota Vikings…..D.J. Moore, Cornerback, Vanderbilt
55. Atlanta Falcons…..Marcus Freeman, Outside Linebacker, Ohio State
56. Miami Dolphins…..Max Unger, Offensive Center/Guard, Oregon
57. Baltimore Ravens…..James Casey, Tight End, Rice
58. New England Patriots…..Jared Cook, Tight End, South Carolina
59. Carolina Panthers…..Lawrence Sidbury, Jr., Defensive End, Richmond
60. New York Giants…..Gerald Cadogan, Offensive Tackle, Penn State
61. Indianapolis Colts…..Juaquin Inglesias, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
62. Tennessee Titans…..Jarron Gilbert, Defensive Tackle, San Jose State
63. Arizona Cardinals…..Cody Brown, Outside Linebacker/DE, Connecticut
64. Pittsburgh Steelers…..Jairus Byrd, Cornerback, Oregon
Jan. 13, 2009
|
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Mike Detiliier's 1st Mock Draft for 2009
1. Detroit Lions, Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams, Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs, Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
4. Seattle Seahawks, Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland Browns, Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
6. Cincinnati Bengals, Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
7. Oakland Raiders, Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars, Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
9. Green Bay Packers, B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
10. San Francisco 49ers- Everette Brown-DE/OLB, Florida State
11. Buffalo Bills, Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos, Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
13. Washington Redskins, Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
14. New Orleans Saints, James Laurinaitis, OLB/ILB, Ohio State
15. Houston Texans, Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
16. San Diego Chargers, Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
17. New York Jets, Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
18. Chicago Bears, Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chris “Beanie” Wells, HB, Ohio State
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas), Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
21. Philadelphia Eagles, Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
22. Minnesota Vikings, Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
23. New England Patriots, Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
24. Atlanta Falcons, Brandon Pettigrew,TE, Oklahoma State
25. Miami Dolphins, Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
26. Baltimore Ravens, D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
27. Indianapolis Colts, Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina), Larry English, DE, Northern
Illinois
29. New York Giants, Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
30. Tennessee Titans, Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
31. Arizona Cardinals, LeSean McCoy, HB, Pittsburgh
32. Pittsburgh Steelers, Alex Mack, C/G, California
Dec. 14, 2008
Mike D’s Top 66 Prospects for
the 2009 NFL Draft
1. Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, Alabama *
2. Sam Bradford, Quarterback, Oklahoma **
3. Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver, Texas Tech **
4. Matt Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia *
5. Michael Oher, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi
6. Malcolm Jenkins, Cornerback, Ohio State
7. Aaron Curry, Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest
8. Chris “Beanie” Wells, Halfback, Ohio State *
9. James Laurinaitis, Inside Linebacker, Ohio State
10. Rey Maualuga, Inside Linebacker, USC
11. Eugene Monroe, Offensive Tackle, Virginia
12. Taylor Mays, Free Safety, USC *
13. Brandon Spikes, Inside Linebacker, Florida *
14. Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma *
15. Knowshon Moreno, Halfback, Georgia **
16. D.J. Moore, Cornerback, Vanderbilt *
17. Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Missouri **
18. Brian Cushing, Outside Linebacker, USC
19. Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma **
20. Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, Florida *
21. Brian Orakpo, Defensive End, Texas
22. Everette Brown, Defensive End/OLB, Florida State *
23. William Moore, Free Safety, Missouri
24. Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle, Baylor
25. B.J. Raji, Defensive Tackle, Boston College
26. Eben Britton, Offensive Tackle, Arizona *
27. Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State *
28. Peria Jerry, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
29. Brandon Pettigrew, Tight End, Oklahoma State
30. Vontae Davis, Cornerback, Illinois *
31. Tyson Jackson, Defensive End, LSU
32. Clint Sintim, Outside Linebacker, Virginia
33. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver, Maryland *
34. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas *
35. George Selvie, Defensive End, South Florida *
36. Greg Hardy, Defensive End, Ole Miss *
37. Duke Robinson, Offensive Guard, Oklahoma
38. Louis Delmas, Free Safety, Western Michigan
39. Derrick Williams, Wide Receiver, Penn State
40. Terrence Cody, Defensive Tackle, Alabama *
41. Michael Johnson, Defensive End, Georgia Tech
42. Jared Cook, Tight End, South Carolina *
43. Jerry Hughes, Defensive End/OLB, TCU *
44. Alphonso Smith, Cornerback, Wake Forest
45. Max Unger, Center/G/OT, Oregon
46. Clay Matthews, Outside Linebacker, USC
47. Brandon LaFell, Wide Receiver, LSU *
48. Sen’Derrick Marks, Defensive Tackle, Auburn *
49. Juaquin Inglesias, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
50. Mohamed Massaquoi, Wide Receiver, Georgia
51. C.J. Spiller, Halfback, Clemson *
52. Chase Coffman, Tight End, Missouri
53. Alex Mack, Offensive Center, California
54. Louis Murphy, Wide Receiver, Florida
55. Rashad Johnson, Free Safety, Alabama
56. James Davis, Halfback, Clemson
57. Jamon Meredith, Tackle/Guard, South Carolina
58. DeAngelo Smith, Cornerback, Cincinnati
59. Victor “Macho” Harris, Cornerback, Virginia Tech
60. Antonio Coleman, Defensive End/OLB, Auburn *
61. Fili Moala, Defensive Tackle, USC
62. Pat White, Quarterback/WR, West Virginia
63. Patrick Chung, Strong Safety, Oregon
64. Michael Hamlin, Strong Safety, Clemson
65. Phil Loadholt, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
66. Cornelius Ingram, Tight End, Florida
* Junior
** Third year sophomore
August 4, 2008
By Mike Detillier
Brett Favre Saga finally comes to an end.. well at least I think it did
Very few of us get to end our professional careers in storybook fashion,
but Brett Favre is now facing the reality that most athletes and regular
Joe’s of the working world face day to day.
There is plenty of blame to go around in the Brett Favre/Green Bay
Packers story over the past few months, but ending up being dealt to the
New York Jets was not really how Favre wanted this “slow moving carwreck
of a story to end.”
Brett wanted to maneuver his way first and foremost back to the Green
Bay Packers as the proclaimed starter, but the personal animosity
between himself and Packers general manager Ted Thompson could not be
fixed.
If that could not be done, Favre wanted out to play for either the
Minnesota Vikings (his preferred team) or the Chicago Bears.
Favre wanted to stick it to his old boss and what better than to face
off against the Packers twice a season.
Hey, let’s face it, GM Ted Thompson isn’t stupid and the Packers weren’t
going to deal him away or release him so they would have to play him
twice a season and possibly confront a fan-base that isn’t exactly sold
on Aaron Rodgers.
The best option for the Packers was to deal him to an AFC team and not
have him always looking over their shoulders in the NFC and that is
exactly what they were able to do.
The two schoolgirl crushes on Favre came from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the team that ended up with him, the New York Jets.
Anyone who knows Jon Gruden knows how highly he talks of Brett and
admires his talents, but unless he came up with a deal far greater than
one put on the table by the New York Jets, Favre was headed to an AFC
club.
Both individuals respect and like one another, and both have a similar
passion for the sport. Brett has not lost his passion for the game, but
he lost his passion for playing for some people in the Packers’
organization.
The Gruden-Favre marriage would have worked in Tampa Bay. Both
individuals know how to adjust to the present and if you have worked and
flourished under Mike Holmgren, which Favre did in Green Bay earlier in
his career, he could work with Gruden.
No coach is as tough on quarterbacks as Holmgren has been in both Green
Bay and Seattle.
The non-trade of Favre to Tampa had nothing to do with Jon Gruden’s
personal style of dealing with quarterbacks, but the trade had
everything to do with the Pack sticking Favre in the AFC and not have
him stomp around football fields in the NFC.
Gruden knows that Favre is a better football player than Jeff Garcia.
This is no knock on Jeff, but it is the reality of the football world
and Jeff’s style of play, which is buying time with his quick feet and
elusiveness, will also make him more susceptible to injury at 38 years
old.
Garcia had back problems in 2007 and he missed three games.
Watching him down the stretch of the 07 season it was obvious Jeff
Garcia was still smarting from that back injury and the New York Giants
exposed the Buccaneers’ offense in the 1st round of the 07 playoffs.
The Giants shut down the Bucs’ solid running game and due to their
tremendous pass rush pressure and double-team coverage on WR. Joey
Galloway, the Bucs offense was stuck in neutral in their 24-14 defeat by
the eventual Super Bowl champions.
Jeff Garcia is a good football player, but Gruden is well aware that
this film has been studied and broken down by every defensive
coordinator that will face the Bucs in 2008.
You have an off-season to adjust your schemes and talent and if you
don’t, they get exposed the following year.
I am fully convinced that some of the problems the 2007 version of the
New Orleans Saints had on offense and defense were exposed in the Saints
two playoff games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears.
Big games also showcase big problem areas.
But a deal involving the Packers and the Buccaneers wasn’t going to
happen unless the Bucs were the only suitors for Favre or they paid a
price above and beyond what the Jets would have offered.
Just think about the Jeremy Shockey deal to New Orleans.
If the New York Giants had a better offer from an AFC team, do you think
they would have dealt the talented Mr. Shockey to New Orleans?
The answer is no…
It would have had everything to do with getting him out of the NFC and
not having to face him, but no such deal was on the table.
It will be interesting to see just how fast Brett Favre gets some
passing rhythm and timing down with his receivers in New York.
The Jets have a strong offensive line, a solid running attack with
Thomas Jones and Leon Washington and a pretty good receiver unit with
Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery along with 2008 1st round TE.
selection Dustin Keller.
I have to be honest and say I think there is better offensive talent on
the New York Jets than the Tampa Bay Bucs have right now.
The ingredients of a very good offense are there, but football is no
light-switch and it just can’t be turned on and off.
The bottom line is that Brett got his wish and he was able to extend his
career with another team, but not with the team of his choice.
He is now with a team that had a bigger crush on him that any other and
a team that wants to do whatever they have to do to catch a hated rival
in the New England Patriots.
The good news for New Orleans Saints fans is that the Green Bay Packers
are not nearly as good a football team without Favre in the lineup and I
can safely say the same for the team that really tried to acquire him in
Tampa Bay.
The Bucs will now deny they had any interest in trading for Favre, but
we all know better.
Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Bucs’ infatuation with Favre was taken over
by the New York Jets obsession and hatred to catch the gold standard
team in the NFL today, the New England Patriots.
Saints fans continue to smile. New Orleans has the best QB. in the NFC
in Drew Brees and a player that would have been the MVP in the NFL last
season if QB. Tom Brady didn’t have such a sensational 2007 season, is
now playing in the AFC for the New York Jets.
Brett Favre loves Green Bay and the members of the Packer-Nation, he has
told me this numerous times, but he now knows that storybook endings
rarely happen in sports.
Brett Favre Saga finally comes to an end.. well at least I think it did
Very few of us get to end our professional careers in storybook fashion,
but Brett Favre is now facing the reality that most athletes and regular
Joe’s of the working world face day to day.
There is plenty of blame to go around in the Brett Favre/Green Bay
Packers story over the past few months, but ending up being dealt to the
New York Jets was not really how Favre wanted this “slow moving carwreck
of a story to end.”
Brett wanted to maneuver his way first and foremost back to the Green
Bay Packers as the proclaimed starter, but the personal animosity
between himself and Packers general manager Ted Thompson could not be
fixed.
If that could not be done, Favre wanted out to play for either the
Minnesota Vikings (his preferred team) or the Chicago Bears.
Favre wanted to stick it to his old boss and what better than to face
off against the Packers twice a season.
Hey, let’s face it, GM Ted Thompson isn’t stupid and the Packers weren’t
going to deal him away or release him so they would have to play him
twice a season and possibly confront a fan-base that isn’t exactly sold
on Aaron Rodgers.
The best option for the Packers was to deal him to an AFC team and not
have him always looking over their shoulders in the NFC and that is
exactly what they were able to do.
The two schoolgirl crushes on Favre came from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the team that ended up with him, the New York Jets.
Anyone who knows Jon Gruden knows how highly he talks of Brett and
admires his talents, but unless he came up with a deal far greater than
one put on the table by the New York Jets, Favre was headed to an AFC
club.
Both individuals respect and like one another, and both have a similar
passion for the sport. Brett has not lost his passion for the game, but
he lost his passion for playing for some people in the Packers’
organization.
The Gruden-Favre marriage would have worked in Tampa Bay. Both
individuals know how to adjust to the present and if you have worked and
flourished under Mike Holmgren, which Favre did in Green Bay earlier in
his career, he could work with Gruden.
No coach is as tough on quarterbacks as Holmgren has been in both Green
Bay and Seattle.
The non-trade of Favre to Tampa had nothing to do with Jon Gruden’s
personal style of dealing with quarterbacks, but the trade had
everything to do with the Pack sticking Favre in the AFC and not have
him stomp around football fields in the NFC.
Gruden knows that Favre is a better football player than Jeff Garcia.
This is no knock on Jeff, but it is the reality of the football world
and Jeff’s style of play, which is buying time with his quick feet and
elusiveness, will also make him more susceptible to injury at 38 years
old.
Garcia had back problems in 2007 and he missed three games.
Watching him down the stretch of the 07 season it was obvious Jeff
Garcia was still smarting from that back injury and the New York Giants
exposed the Buccaneers’ offense in the 1st round of the 07 playoffs.
The Giants shut down the Bucs’ solid running game and due to their
tremendous pass rush pressure and double-team coverage on WR. Joey
Galloway, the Bucs offense was stuck in neutral in their 24-14 defeat by
the eventual Super Bowl champions.
Jeff Garcia is a good football player, but Gruden is well aware that
this film has been studied and broken down by every defensive
coordinator that will face the Bucs in 2008.
You have an off-season to adjust your schemes and talent and if you
don’t, they get exposed the following year.
I am fully convinced that some of the problems the 2007 version of the
New Orleans Saints had on offense and defense were exposed in the Saints
two playoff games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears.
Big games also showcase big problem areas.
But a deal involving the Packers and the Buccaneers wasn’t going to
happen unless the Bucs were the only suitors for Favre or they paid a
price above and beyond what the Jets would have offered.
Just think about the Jeremy Shockey deal to New Orleans.
If the New York Giants had a better offer from an AFC team, do you think
they would have dealt the talented Mr. Shockey to New Orleans?
The answer is no…
It would have had everything to do with getting him out of the NFC and
not having to face him, but no such deal was on the table.
It will be interesting to see just how fast Brett Favre gets some
passing rhythm and timing down with his receivers in New York.
The Jets have a strong offensive line, a solid running attack with
Thomas Jones and Leon Washington and a pretty good receiver unit with
Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery along with 2008 1st round TE.
selection Dustin Keller.
I have to be honest and say I think there is better offensive talent on
the New York Jets than the Tampa Bay Bucs have right now.
The ingredients of a very good offense are there, but football is no
light-switch and it just can’t be turned on and off.
The bottom line is that Brett got his wish and he was able to extend his
career with another team, but not with the team of his choice.
He is now with a team that had a bigger crush on him that any other and
a team that wants to do whatever they have to do to catch a hated rival
in the New England Patriots.
The good news for New Orleans Saints fans is that the Green Bay Packers
are not nearly as good a football team without Favre in the lineup and I
can safely say the same for the team that really tried to acquire him in
Tampa Bay.
The Bucs will now deny they had any interest in trading for Favre, but
we all know better.
Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Bucs’ infatuation with Favre was taken over
by the New York Jets obsession and hatred to catch the gold standard
team in the NFL today, the New England Patriots.
Saints fans continue to smile. New Orleans has the best QB. in the NFC
in Drew Brees and a player that would have been the MVP in the NFL last
season if QB. Tom Brady didn’t have such a sensational 2007 season, is
now playing in the AFC for the New York Jets.
Brett Favre loves Green Bay and the members of the Packer-Nation, he has
told me this numerous times, but he now knows that storybook endings
rarely happen in sports.
August 4, 2008
By Mike Detillier
|
Top 22 Senior Players for the 2008 NFL
Draft.. |
|
1. James Laurinaitis-Middle
Linebacker Ohio State |
|
2. Rey Maualuga-Middle Linebacker USC |
|
3. Michael Oher-Offensive Tackle Ole Miss |
|
4. Malcolm Jenkins-Cornerback Ohio State |
|
5. Michael Johnson-Defensive End Georgia Tech |
|
6. Eugene Monroe-Offensive Tackle Virginia |
|
7. Brian Cushing-Outside Linebacker USC |
|
8. Tyson Jackson-Defensive End LSU |
|
9. Fili Moala-Defensive Tackle USC |
|
10. Duke Robinson-Offensive Guard Oklahoma |
|
11. William Moore- Free Safety Missouri |
|
12. James Davis-Halfback Clemson |
|
13. Darry Beckwith-Middle Linebacker LSU |
|
14. Phil Loadholt-Offensive Tackle Oklahoma |
| 15. Brandon Pettigrew-Tight End Oklahoma State |
| 16. Cullen Harper-Quarterback Clemson |
| 17. Jeff Owens-Defensive Tackle Georgia |
| 18. Demetrius Byrd-Wide Receiver LSU |
| 19. Jamon Meredith-Offensive Tackle South Carolina |
| 20. Michael Mickens-Cornerback Cincinnati |
| 21. Travis Beckum-Tight End Wisconsin |
| 22. Brian Orakpo- Defensive End/OLB. Texas |
| |
| Right on the Cusp…. |
| Darius Butler-Cornerback (Connecticut) |
| Courtney Greene-Free Safety (Rutgers) |
| Dannell Ellerbe-Middle Linebacker (Georgia) |
| Curtis Painter-Quarterback (Purdue) |
|
Before the 2008 New Orleans Saints training camp sessions started
defensive line coach Ed Orgeron talked about wanting to set the
defensive tempo with getting more pressure on the quarterback.
“ If it has been at Miami (Fla.) under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson
or at Syracuse under Paul Pasqualoni and then with Pete (Carroll) at USC
the tempo of those defenses started with putting pressure on the passer,
“ Orgeron said. “We have good talent here in New Orleans and I was
brought in to just give a twist or two different technically to maximize
the talent. Charles Grant, Will Smith, Hollis Thomas, Antwan Lake,
Kendrick Clancy and Brian Young know how to play the game, but sometimes
you can do something just a little different to give them the best shot
to disrupt a play. My motto is “Get up the field” and cause problems.”
In the early part of training camp Orgeron’s front-line group has set
the tempo very well and as he pointed out before Jackson, “ If we can
get a good push in practice against this offensive line, which is one of
the best in the league protecting the quarterback, we can do it against
the other teams. I think sometimes fans and even some of the media-types
don't really understand how impressive this offensive line is and the
depth here is very good also. That (Jermon) Bushrod kid is a heck of a
player and (Carl) Nicks is a man out on the field and they are not the
starters. We got to earn our keep here first and then take it to another
level when the season starts for real.”
I am sure Orgeron would have wanted to have defensive tackles Hollis
Thomas and Brian Young healthier for the early camp sessions, but both
look to be ready to roll in Week #1 of the regular season.
What has gotten the Saints defensive squad and Orgeron excited about
getting consistent pressure on the quarterback has been the free agent
addition of defensive end Bobby McCray and defensive tackle Sedrick
Ellis.
McCray is talented, but he seems to be someone who constantly needs to
be pushed and Orgeron is the right guy to push his buttons. The former
Jacksonville Jaguar defensive end has the football skills to be a
difference-maker in 2008.
Sedrick Ellis has lived up to his lofty resume from USC. The guy is
strong, quick and constantly working hard to get up the field. Orgeron,
who coached Sedrick early in his college career, says that Ellis has
similar skills to that of another former Orgeron-coached defensive
lineman, Cortez Kennedy, who went on to star with the Seattle Seahawks.
In obvious passing situations the foursome of Will Smith, Bobby McCray,
Charles Grant and Brian Young will be hard to keep off opposing QB’s.
Watch how the Saints defensive line gets off the ball in pre-season, it
is a big difference from what you have seen the past couple of seasons.
Pressure breaks the pipe in the NFL and the Saints want to put that type
of strain on opposing quarterbacks.
I know there has been great debate about just how many WR’s will end up
on this roster, but I have a strong feeling that it will end up being 6.
If the Saints carry just 2 quarterbacks, Drew Brees and Mark Brunell and
one of the kickers pull away from the other in the pre-season games,
then why not.
Marques Colston, David Patten, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Adrian
Arrington and Terrance Copper would seem to be the right group to be
included on the Saints 53-man squad barring an injury.
Moore and Copper are very good special teams performers and I just can’t
see any way that Adrian Arrington will not make this squad. It will be
interesting to see Meachem and Arrington on the special team units also
and how they perform.
If this is the case then Devery Henderson is the odd man out.
But injuries have more influence on a 53-man squad than any other
factor.
On the kicking front the pre-season games and how the kickers perform
will determine if the Saints carry one kicker or two.
Ideally the Saints would love for rookie Taylor Mehlhaff to take over
the kicking spot and do for them what Nick Folk did for the Dallas
Cowboys last season.
Folk did a marvelous job as a rookie kicker with the Dallas Cowboys last
season hitting on 26 of his 31 field goal attempts and the Saints hope
that Mehlhaff can show that type of consistency in pre-season.
If not, then the door is open for Martin Gramatica.
In a strange twist of fate it was Folk who beat out Gramatica in the
pre-season last year in Dallas for the placekicker spot in Big D.
One free agent player I want to watch closely in the pre-season games is
TCU safety David Roach. Roach quickly passes the eyeball test and while
he was a good player in the college ranks he always left you feeling
that he was just a step away from being a front-line performer.
Roach was my 16th rated safety for the 2008 NFL draft, but question
marks about his top-line football instincts left him go undrafted.
From an athletic standpoint ( 6-0 ¼, 210 and he runs the 40-yard dash in
(4.51), Roach has the tools to develop into a solid NFL player, but he
must show a more aggressive nature and gain quicker diagnostic skills to
play in the big leagues.
The rangy safety has talent and he has pretty good coverage skills, so
let’s see if he can turn the dial up high on the football field in
pre-season.
Former Boston College linebacker Jolonn Dunbar has gotten a lot of
attention due to his play in the early practice sessions and earned it,
but Roach might be someone who can make this team with a breakout
pre-season. He certainly has looked good in the practice sessions.
I have gotten a lot of emails concerning my list of the top senior
players for 2008. Below are my top 22 senior players early on in the
evaluation process.
** Just a note to add, but I have a strong feeling that this will end up
being the largest junior class of eligible players ever for the 2009 NFL
draft. These young men know there is an impending new salary scale for
rookies coming right around the corner and they will want to cash in
now.***
Mike Detillier |
