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thoughts and observations |
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REALITY OF THE DRAFT
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...isn't that how it goes? No one ever said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and every year the beholder changes." In the NFL Draft, that is exactly how it works. Let's face it, draft experts are nuts...period. Mel Kiper, Pete Prisco, you name it. Even Dan Patrick. They're all so topsy-turvy it makes me crazy. At least that is what comes to mind when I read all the draft grading going around.
Okay, so I'm looking at this year's draft, and I have a lot to say. I don't get into the grading thing, because let's face it, we don't know who had the best draft. What I will do, it fill you in with the reality of many of the teams' drafts.
Let's start by looking at this whole Joey Harrington selection. I have nothing against Joey Harrington, but let's do a little comparison shopping. The big knock on Harrington was arm strength. Gee, wasn't that the same knock on Drew Brees last year? Brees lasted until the first pick in the second round. They really look pretty similar to me. Harrington is a tad taller. Does that justify the difference between almost a round for the selection? Uh, no. But Harrington's still a great pick to everyone. Brees could wind up the more solid player. We don't know. Akili Smith was also a number three pick overall, but the Bengals should have picked a quarterback?
Speaking of the Bengals, let's really look at their questionable pick. They took Levi Jones with the tenth pick, and all I keep hearing is they could have traded down and still got Jones. Trade down with who? What were the deals? Did the Rams want to trade up from number 31 to the tenth spot and offer a seventh round choice? Should the Bengals have taken it? Again, what were the offers? I liked the Bengals to take TE Jeremy Shockey of Miami. Why? My thought was if you cannot get a better quarterback for your roster, then improve the players around the quarterback you have. Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson is a good one, but he doesn't want to switch to the left side without a huge pay raise...and he make s a lot now. The truth is, the Bengals improved their offense, and secured it for the future. You don't find starting left tackles in the fifth round. Rarely do you find them in the second. The pick wasn't that far off. WR Peter Warrick was picked third overall by the Bengals two years ago, and even though he may not be special in the league, the team caught no flack for that. A little strange, I think.
Oh, but let's move on. The Falcons get absolutely hammered for taking T.J. Duckett with their first rounder. The Falcons actual bad move was signing Warrick Dunn to a big contract, not drafting Duckett. Jamal Anderson is on his last leg. Oops, sorry, he blew his last leg out last year. So tell me, what takes more pressure off of QB Michael Vick? A strong running game, or a rookie receiver? That's what I thought. John Elway took the Broncos to three Super Bowls with sub-standard receivers. Isn't there some comparisons to Vick and Elway?
Not done. Seattle's Mike Holmgren caught grief for taking TE Jerramy Stevens at the bottom of the first round. They blew it trying to get Daniel Graham, I keep hearing. Quick, can you think of a coach that relies on his tight end more than Holmgren? Uh, do the names Mark Chmura or Keith Jackson ring a bell? This position is important to Holmgren, just like it is with the Broncos' Mike Shanahan. Oddly, those two come from the same offensive background. The only difference is Denver has the tight ends right now. Oh, and even stranger, they were both fighting over the services of Shannon Sharpe. Hmmm.
Then, there's the Cowboys, who were applauded for their draft. Okay, it was probably the best draft they had without Jimmy Johnson. But here's what I continue to hear about their selection of S Roy Williams. One writer says they got the next Ronnie Lott or Rod Woodson in Williams, and they, too, were solid first round selections. This guy obviously forgot that Lott and Woodson were both cornerbacks when drafted. And good ones. They only later moved to safety. Safeties are way lower in importance. There's only been a handful drafted in the first round in the last five years. Williams is a good player, but let's not make it more than it is.
I'm not finished. What team got tons of kudos for their draft? Washington. Why? Because they traded down twice, and selected a quarterback at the end of the round? Yes, Patrick Ramsey is a nice prospect, but he was considered a second rounder. Where's the problem? The Rams selected LB Robert Thomas the pick before Ramsey, but they were lauded because Thomas was considered a second rounder. Where is the consistency here?
I almost believe the Redskins were graded well, because they traded down twice and got the extra picks, and the ESPN guys thought that was great. Before the second round, or the Redskins second pick, everyone thought they had done great, and the residual effect was hard at work. Let's look at this draft.
| Washington Redskins |
| Rd. |
Pk. |
Player |
Pos. |
College |
| 1 |
32 |
Pat Ramsey |
QB |
Tulane |
| 2 |
56 |
Ladell Betts |
RB |
Iowa |
| 3 |
79 |
Rashad Bauman |
CB |
Oregon |
| 3 |
87 |
Cliff Russell |
WR |
Utah |
| 5 |
159 |
Andre Lott |
CB |
Tennessee |
| 5 |
160 |
Robert Royal |
TE |
LSU |
| 6 |
192 |
Reggie Coleman |
OT |
Tennessee |
| 7 |
230 |
Jeff Grau |
LS |
UCLA |
| 7 |
234 |
Greg Scott |
DE |
Hampton |
| 7 |
257 |
Rock Cartwright |
RB |
Kansas State |
Now, can you tell me what is so special about this draft? Betts is okay, but he'll sit behind Stephen Davis. They don't need cornerbacks. Bauman is a dime back at best. They did need receivers, but Russell isn't going to help a lot this year.
I'm still not finished. Back to the Rams, they get flack for Thomas, and for their whole draft, but Thomas would not have been there a round later, and he was the second best linebacker in the draft. And they needed a linebacker. So, what's wrong with the pick.
Here's the problem. Draft pundits focus mostly on first round players. No one does a mock draft for the middle and late rounds (aside from ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback, who did a mock seventh as a joke). The glamour is in the first round. So when you get a player like the Rams second round pick, CB Travis Fisher, who they really know nothing about, they dub it a "reach" or a bad pick.
Here's what's even funnier. The Rams were again dogged for taking Eric Crouch at the bottom of the third round. Yet the Steelers get applauded for taking Antwaan Randle El at the bottom of the second. Randle El has not played much more receiver than Crouch. Crouch is faster. Crouch is bigger. Crouch may be the better open field runner. What's the difference? Opinion.
Oh, yeah, there's more. You have the Colts taking DE Dwight Freeney in the first. Seems to me coach Tony Dungy used a similar player in Simeon Rice last year in Tampa, and that seemed to work. The Jets took DE Brian Thomas because he was their "best player available".
Believe me, I have nothing against Mel Kiper, and the rest. I have a lot of respect for what they do. What you have to remember is that they don't attend private workouts, and most the time grade the player according to what they have seen on TV, and what insiders tell them. Also remember that insiders like to tell fibs so players will last to their team.
The bottom line is these teams do things for a reason. Each team has done much more research than any single draft expert. I know there is entertainment value in grading the draft, but these people should be responsible enough to cover why teams make the selections they do. I suppose the reason they don't is because they don't know enough. If only the GM's would do a private grading of each team, and then release it. That would be worth looking at.
I'll move along, and point out some other interesting tidbits from the draft.
A look around...
Hot and Cold
Some irony grabbed me when I saw Denver take WR Ashley Lelie in the first round. Here you have a player that grew up in Hawaii, and played college ball there going to Denver! I can't wait to see him play at home in December this year.
The Lowly
Everyone always likes to say the Bengals and Cardinals do poorly every year, but I really thought they drafted soundly. Granted, the Bengals first rounder can be questioned to a slight degree, but overall, both these clubs addressed the draft well.
Draft Men
It was generally stated the Chargers and Saints drafted well, and they did. They got solid players with high picks, and kept going well in the later rounds. Here's something real funny. While the Redskins were applauded for their draft, their draft last year may end up a better class. When Marty Schottenheimer was coach there. Now, Schottenheimer is with the Chargers. He doesn't get credit for his selections, but he should, because he was a major part of the decision making both years.
Rave On
If the Ravens needed to replace so many defensive players, why did they
draft six offensive players out of ten, and another was a punter? And they
picked no offensive linemen!
The Free Agency Value List
Here is an update on the market. The pickings are slim in some areas, but still good in others. The list is unrestricted only.
Quarterbacks
- Gus Frerotte, DEN - May be a Bengal soon.
- Jonathan Quinn, JAX - He should be getting more interest.
- Shayne Matthews, CHI - Bengal interest here, too.
- Tony Banks, WAS - Has excited no one.
- Dave Brown, ARI - Pretty weak crop left, eh?
Running Backs
- Ricky Watters, SEA - Someone will pick him up by camp.
- Skip Hicks, TEN - Showed flashes last season.
- Ki-Jana Carter, WAS - Injury prone, but can still play.
- Robert Holcombe, STL - Needs the right offense.
- Benjamin Gay, CLE - Has talent, and is just 22.
Wide Receivers
- Cris Carter, MIN - Labeled himself early, and now it's hurting.
- Willie Jackson, NO - Should get interest by summer.
- Michael Westbrook, WAS - Mr. Baggage.
- Bobby Engram, SEA - Plenty effective.
- Jeff Graham, SD - Can still start, and produce.
Tight Ends
- Ken Dilger, IND - Getting interest, but not signing.
- Damon Jones, JAX - Will be a steal for his taker.
- Terry Hardy, ARI - Is no slouch, but hasn't done enough.
- Tony McGee, CIN - Old, but can block and catch.
- O.J. Santiago, CLE - Will find a place at some point.
Offensive Linemen
- Raleigh Roundtree, SD - This crop is thin.
- Bubba Miller, PHI - Very Thin.
- Ben Coleman, WAS - Anorexic.
- Roman Fortin, SD - It's like an anorexic...
- Pete Pierson, TB - ...after weeks on Survivor.
Defensive Linemen
- Sam Adams, BAL - Great interior guy.
- Keith McKenzie, CLE - Is starting to get interest. Can play.
- Larry Webster, BAL - Ravens want him back.
- Michael Sinclair, SEA - Hawks will probably resign.
- Chidi Ahanotu, STL - Can play in and out.
Linebackers
- Allen Aldridge, DET - Best of a light bunch.
- Dean Wells, CAR - Tank running low.
- Lee Woodall, DEN - See Dean Wells.
- Terry Killins, SF - Solid back-up type.
- Brian Williams, DET - Special teams.
Defensive Backs
- Terrell Buckley, NE - Perfect for nickel back.
- Chad Cota, IND - He's a starting safety.
- Tyrone Drakeford, SF - Back up that hangs in there.
- Jeff Burris, IND - Worth a roster spot somewhere.
- James Trapp, BAL - Not great, but can play.
Specialists
- Cary Blanchard (K), ARI - Underrated kicker.
- Gary Anderson (K), MIN - Kickoffs are hurting him.
- Sean Landetta (P), PHI - Always around league leaders.
- Kyle Richardson (P), BAL - Young and above average.
- Tom Tupa (P), NE - Can also play quarterback in a pinch.
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW OR WONDER:
Why didn't anyone select Pig Prather? The name alone is worth announcing.
Al Davis looks in the mirror often and thinks he's pretty cool.
The Vikings got screwed in the Dallas-Kansas City mix-up on draft day.
The Bengals must hate all ESPN personalities.
Watching the Vikings operate without Dennis Green is like watching Blue's Clues without Steve.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
The Saints offense will start to look a lot like the Colts and Rams this season.
The Falcons will not have a deep passing game, but the names Vick, Dunn and Duckett make me think they should lead the league in rushing yards.
No one will be able to repeat the Patriots free agent bargain rack this year, because everyone is trying to do it now.
Ricky Williams will play well for the Saints this season, and the team will be happy with him. I mean the rookie from Texas Tech.
The remander of the offseason will be so slow we will all feel compelled to actually go to individual player sites and read what they have to say.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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