2008 AFC North Draft Grades

Baltimore Ravens

Needs: QB, WR, CB, DL, LB, RB

Baltimore suffered a serious fall from grace last year after they competed with Cincinnati for bottom feeder in the AFC North; a year removed from winning the division with an impressive 13-3 record. In the wake of Steve McNair’s retirement and a new coaching staff, a new QB is at the top of the wish list along with numerous offensive playmakers. The Ravens usually stout defense is aging rapidly and does not have a backup plan if Bart Scott and/or Ray Lewis were to leave via free agency in the upcoming year. Read more

2008 NFC West Draft Grades

Arizona Cardinals

Needs: CB, S, RB, DL, LB, OL

The Cardinals are a team that showed a bit of flash last year but it was the old guard getting it done. Kurt Warner stepped in a started for an injured Matt Leinart. 30 year old Edgerrin James ran the ball all year long and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were the dynamic playmakers they always are. Unfortunately for the Cards, Larry Fitzgerald huge backloaded rookie contract forced them into a corner in the free agent market. Fitz’s deal finally got done but not until after key free agents were gone. It was rumored that Arizona was targetting former Steelers guard Alan Faneca. Read more

2008 NFC North Draft Grades

Chicago Bears

Needs: OL, WR, RB, QB, DL

Between inconsistent play, injuries and free agency, the Bears need a complete retooling on offense. Both starting receivers, Bernard Berrian (Vikings) and Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers), left via free agency. Cedric Benson produced sporadically before suffering a severe ankle injury and there is little prognosis on his comeback. Rex Grossman resigned with the Bears because there was little recourse in the QB free agency market. A solid draft would cue a Bears turnaround.

1.14 - Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
2.13 - Matt Forte RB Tulane
3.07 - Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt
3.27 - Marcus Harrison DT Arkansas
4.21 - Craig Steltz S LSU
5.07 - Zackary Bowman CB Nebraska
5.23 - Kellen Davis TE/DE Michigan State (no that’s not a misprint, Davis played on both sides of the ball last year)
7.01 - Ervin Baldwin DE Michigan State
7.15 - Chester Adams OG Georgia
7.36 - Joey LaRocque OLB Oregon State
7.40 - Kirk Barton OT Ohio State
7.41 - Marcus Monk WR Arkansas

Draft Grade: B+

Comments: I know that popular opinion is to condemn the Bears draft because they neglected to get a QB. I agree somewhat. If Angelo had turned the Steltz pick or the Bowman pick into Andre Woodson, I would have to give them an A. Chicago hit on all of the positions they needed to (except QB) without any reaches that I saw. They even picked up a couple steals in Marcus Harrison and Marcus Monk. I believe Harrison is a first day pick if he doesn’t get injured early in the year and I cannot fathom how Marcus Monk is 7th round material. His size alone should allow him to crack the Bears roster. Chris Williams will provide the Bears with stability on the offensive line and Matt Forte is a three down back who will make Bears fans forget the name Cedric Benson. I think Earl Williams will make a serviceable pro as well. This draft was solid and should bring Chicago back on the right path.

Detroit Lions

Needs: OL, RB, LB, DL, CB

Mike Martz is gone as offensive coordinator. Gone with him are runningbacks TJ Duckett and Kevin Jones and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Quarterback Jon Kitna will be sacked all the way to the hospital if he gets hit with the same frequency he has in the past two years. Paris Lenon is likely one of the worst MLBs in the NFL. The Lions have made no secret to the fact that they would like to shift gears and get back to a power running game. Difficult to do without an offensive line and a runningback.

1.17 - Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College
2.14 - Jordon Dizon OLB Colorado
3.01 - Kevin Smith RB Central Florida
3.24 - Andre Fluellen DT Florida State
3.29 - Cliff Avril DE/OLB Purdue
5.01 - Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest
5.11 - Jerome Felton FB Furman
7.09 - Landon Cohen DE Ohio
7.11 - Caleb Campbell S Army

Draft Grade: A

Comments: Probably couldn’t have done much better. The first three rounds filled all of the major needs that the Lions had. They even got a decent fullback to lead block. Gosder Cherilus will be used as right tackle, which is his best position and Jordon Dizon will start at SLB before transitioning into the MLB role. There is nothing flashy about Kevin Smith’s running style; he just gets it done. I view the Lions running game in a similar light. No razzle dazzle but solid production. I think Cliff Avril will play a hybrid type of role; both standing up at LB and with his hand down as DE on pass rush downs. Caleb Campbell is an interesting prospect out of Army. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him integrated into the Lions defense sooner rather than later. Excellent draft by the Lions.

Green Bay Packers

Needs: CB, OL, QB, TE, DL

The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a season that saw them win the NFC North and make it to the NFC Championship game. They are a team with very few holes. Youngster Aaron Rodgers seems poised to take over the reigns from Number 4 at QB and hidden gem Ryan Grant seems ready to handle the upcoming year with a full load. What the Pack does need is insurance for Rodgers and some depth on the line and at TE. Their CBs are getting up there in age as well.

2.05 - Jordy Nelson WR Kansas State
2.25 - Brian Brohm QB Louisville
2.29 - Patrick Lee CB Auburn
3.28 - Jermichael Finley TE Texas
4.03 - Jeremy Thompson DE Wake Forest
4.36 - Josh Sitton OT Central Florida
5.15 - Breno Giacomini OT Louisville
7.02 - Matt Flynn QB LSU
7.10 - Brett Swain WR San Diego State

Draft Grade: B-

Comments: It’s difficult to grade a draft where the team doesn’t have any glaring needs. At first glance, they hit on all of the positions they needed depth at. But upon further inspection, there are a few head scratchers. Brian Brohm at 2.25 sticks out for sure. Why spend that high of a pick on a backup for Aaron Rodgers? I know that competition breeds winning but that seems like a bit of a waste to draft a backup QB that high, especially with prime interior lineman on the board available. Taking Matt Flynn alone could have accomplished the same goal without the use of a 2nd round pick. Jordy Nelson is an interesting pick. I like him as a faster, smaller version of TO. He uses body positioning and physicality to make a living over the middle. Just not sure he was the pick with every WR not named Thomas or Avery on the board. Ted must have seen something though. I like the Lee pick. He is a better corner than many give him credit for. The tackles taken both seem like fliers but if I am banking on one team flier tackles panning out; it’s the Packers. Finley seems like a bit of a reach. All in all, Green Bay got the depth they needed but I wonder if a couple of their choices were out of place or reaches.

Minnesota Vikings

Needs: QB, WR, OL, S, DT

Minnesota made a huge splash before the draft, trading their 1st and 3rd round picks to acquire Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. If you can make a deal to secure a big piece of the puzzle and you need to move high picks to do it, good on you. In my opinion, the Vikings are a pass rusher and a consistent quarterback away from being a huge contender. Vikes brass seems high on Tarvaris Jackson but he needs to work on his decision making and consistency.

2.12 - Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State
5.02 - John David Booty QB USC
5.17 - Letroy Guion DT Florida State
6.21 - John Sullivan C Notre Dame
6.27 - Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State

Draft Grade: A-

Comments: Minnesota made its mark before the draft but the players they added with those picks should propel them into the division title race. My only complaint is waiting until the 6th round to address the OL. I think a better guard or tackle should have been had in the 5th round like Roy Schuening, Carl Nicks or Barry Richardson. John David Booty is an intriguing pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. Tyrell Johnson is a quality prospect who should crack the starting lineup late this year or next. Jared Allen could very well be the player they need for their defense to be propelled into legendary status.

tag: NFL, NFL Draft, Grades, Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears, sports, footballjabber.com

2008 AFC West Draft Grades

Denver Broncos

Needs - LT, DT, KR/PR, WR, CB

With the retirement of Matt Lepsis, the Broncos absolutely had to have a left tackle of the future out of this draft. Pair that with the loss of Javon Walker and a dismal run defense in which much of the blame was placed on the defensive line, it was easy to see what positions Denver was going to target early in the draft.

1.12 - Ryan Clady OT Boise State
2.11 - Eddie Royal WR Virginia Tech
4.09 - Kory Lichtensteiger OG Bowling Green
4.20 - Jack Williams CB Kent State
5.04 - Ryan Torain RB Arizona State
5.13 - Carlton Powell DT Virginia Tech
6.17 - Spencer Larson OLB Arizona
7.13 - Josh Barrett S Arizona State
7.20 - Peyton Hillis FB Arkansas

Draft grade: B

Comments: The Broncos hit on Clady; I think that kid is the real deal. He is athletic enough to get out and block in space for Denver’s zone blocking scheme. Royal is a bit of a head-scratcher. Everyone is quick to compare Royal to Steve Smith of the Panthers but the AFC West is chock full of physical corners and I think Royal might get fed his lunch at the LOS by guys like Quentin Jammer and DeAngelo Hall. He is a legitimate return threat however. I believe Barrett in the 7th is a huge steal and one always has to take notice when Denver drafts a running back in the late rounds. With the Denver backfield in a bit of flux with Travis Henry’s poor performances last year and Mike Shanahan’s unwillingness to give Selvin Young the job outright, Torain may make a splash.

Kansas City Chiefs

Needs: OG, OT, DT, DE, WR, QB, CB

Kansas City had holes on both sides of the ball and needed a huge draft; especially in the wake of trading away Jared Allen. I think that was the right move. Chiefs brass needs to admit that they are rebuilding. Trading Allen gave them the extra ammo needed to get some young impact players and bring their team back to respectability.

1.05 - Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
1.15 - Brandon Albert OG Virginia
2.04 - Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech
3.10 - Jamaal Charles RB Texas
3.13 - Brad Cottam TE Tennessee
3.19 - DaJuan Morgan S North Carolina State
4.06 - Will Franklin WR Missouri
5.05 - Brandon Carr CB Grand Valley State
6.04 - Barry Richardson OT Clemson
6.16 - Kevin Robinson WR Utah State
7.03 - Brian Johnston DE Gardner-Webb
7.32 - Mike Merritt TE Central Florida

Draft Grade: A-

Comments: Some may argue that if you can’t give KC an A+ with this draft, you can’t give anyone an A+. I disagree with some of the moves that KC made. Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Albert and Brandon Flowers are a monster rounds 1 and 2. A dream for Coach Herm and GM Carl Peterson. But in the third round, it gets dicey. Jamaal Charles opened the Chiefs third round. I get that they want support for Larry Johnson but if LJ were to ever go down to injury, you’d want another bowling ball type of back. I think that if you wanted an RB that could handle 20-25 carries to back up LJ, then Tashard Choice was the pick. If you wanted an RB that would split time with Kolby Smith if LJ fell to injury, you could have waited for that guy. Either the Charles pick was a miss in my opinion. My second biggest beef is the lack of OL picks. Brandon Albert and Barry Richardson are good value for where they were picked but you can make a case for replacing 4 of the 5 starters on the Chiefs line. Yet only two OL selections were made. I think that OL could have been addressed with the Cottam pick and TE could have been selected later. All in all though, KC had the big draft they needed. I view their defense being upgraded greatly as well as half of their line. It will be interesting to see what Herm’s plans are for Jamaal Charles.

Oakland Raiders

Needs: WR, KR/PR, OL, DL, LB

Oakland dipped into the free agent pool hard this year; signing talent like Javon Walker, Drew Carter and Gibril Wilson. They also traded for DeAngelo Hall; giving a second round pick to Atlanta in return. Oakland’s draft was thin but they had the 4th overall pick and a smattering of mid round picks to cover depth and a few needs.

1.04 - Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
4.01 - Tyvon Branch CB Connecticut
4.26 - Arman Shields WR Richmond
6.03 - Trevor Scott DE Buffalo
7.19 - Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State

Draft Grade: C+

Comments: Crazy Al Davis strikes again. I realize that dynamic playmakers score touchdowns and touchdowns help win football games. I get that. But Oakland had the following players at running back; Justin Griffith, Oren O’Neal, Dominic Rhodes, LaMont Jordan, Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Adimchinobe Echemandu. Mike Bush hasn’t been evaluated at the NFL level and had first round grades before his freak leg injury last year. You just resigned Fargas for three years. Glenn Dorsey is still on the board and you know that New Orleans is foaming at the mouth for him and is willing to sell the farm to get him to the tune of two 1s (this year and next) and a 2. I think a trade down was the right call there. The Raiders are jammed right up against the cap and a cheaper rookie pick would probably have served their purposes moreso. My feelings of Oakland’s right course of action aside, I think that Tyvon Branch will serve the Raiders return game well as the replacement for Chris Carr. Arman Shields has a shot to crack the roster this year.

San Diego Chargers

Needs: OT, DT, CB, RB, S

With the departure of Shane Olivea, the Chargers have a big hole on the offensive line. Mike Turner also left via free agency and LaDainian Tomlinson needs a backup. Injuries to Jamal Williams last year also exposed a shallow defensive line. The Chargers had few holes as a team and had the luxury of taking BPA for many of their picks. Like Oakland, San Diego’s draft is thin due to pre-draft trades.

1.27 - Antoine Cason CB Arizona
3.06 - Jacob Hester FB/RB LSU
5.31 - Marcus Thomas RB Texas El-Paso
6.26 - DeJuan Tribble CB Boston College
7.27 - Corey Clark OT Texas A&M

Draft grade: B-

Comments: Antoine Cason is good value in the late first round; I don’t think any of the remain tackles were of decent value there. I think that a trade down would have served the Chargers better but they may not have had any takers. Going back to back RBs in the third and fifth is a bit of a head scratcher, Andrew Pinnock seemed to be the heir apparent at FB and Darren Sproles remains as a scat back option. Taking Tashard Choice (can you tell I’m a T Choice fan?) as a guy who can handle a full load should LT fall in the early third and going line (offensive or defensive) with the fifth round pick would have made more sense to me. Waiting until the seventh round to take a shot at a tackle would suggest to me that the Chargers are confident in their ability to replace Shane Olivea from within. Time will tell whether that thinking is correct or not.

tag: NFL, Football, NFL Draft, Grades, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders, footballjabber.com

Top 10 WR Prospects | Football Jabber

This year’s class of wide receivers is a good mix of speed and size guys but lacks a standout top 10 guy. With many high profile offensive teams needing a top WR, this year’s class should prove to have good opportunity to make an immediate impact. A deep class, many teams may choose to wait until the third round to get their guys.

1) Limas Sweed, Texas

There was worry that Sweed would run a 4.5+ 40 at the combine and that teams may choose to ignore him until the second round. Well Sweed ran a 4.46 and had a solid combine, cementing his first round status. I think Sweed is the safest pick in the class with sure hands and crisp route running. He is a physical receiver who can fight off jams at the LOS. The only knock on Sweed is injury history.

2) Devin Thomas, Michigan State

Thomas may have earned the distinction of being the first WR selected in the draft with his monster combine. He ran a 4.32 40 at 215 pounds. A physical sure-handed pass-catcher, Thomas will receive some criticism for not producing at all until this past year but I believe that can be attributed to scheme and coaching as much as the player.

3) DeSean Jackson, California

The top speedster in the draft, he won’t get a lucky top 10 reach this year like the receiver many compare him to did last year, Ted Ginn Jr. Elite kick return abilities paired with 4.3 40 speed and sure hands, Jackson has Steve Smith-like upside but will need to adapt to playing at a much more physical NFL level.

4) James Hardy, Indiana

I really want to rank Hardy at #1 on this list. I really do but I always have difficulty ranking guys who have character concerns around effort. Look at guys like Dwayne Jarrett. Ranked highly and set up to succeed as the WR2 for Carolina but now he might be lucky to crack WR4 on that team. Hardy, at 6′5″, has the size to win jump balls all day in the red zone and has surprisingly good hands for a big man who doesn’t necessarily run the cleanest routes. Easily the biggest upside in the draft, Hardy could develop into the next TO.

5) Early Doucet, LSU

Many have Early Doucet as a proto-typical slot receiver; I couldn’t agree more. Doucet worked out and produced well at the Senior Bowl but neglected to perform at the combine and worked out poorly at LSU’s pro day, running a slow 4.56 40. Doucet has big game experience and the hands to produce in the NFL.

6) Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma

Kelly has seen the biggest freefall in his draft stock outside of the now second day pick Adarius Bowman. Concerns about his knee, inability to tough out a thigh injury and finally a horrible 4.68 40 on the OU pro day have lead to Kelly falling from surefire WR1 to round 2 pick. Measureables and injuries aside, the kid has talent. We’ve all seen the circus catches that Kelly has made. I hope that the thigh injury bothering him had hampered his ability to run. If he can get/stay healthy, he might be a steal for a team in the second round.

7) Jordy Nelson, Kansas State

I like Nelson as a physical possession receiver for a team starving for WR help. He is the type of player who can fight for catches over the middle with his 6′2″ 217 lb frame and still have enough speed to beat his man occasionally with his 4.49 40 speed. He has shown the ability to beat elite corners in college and has the size to position out defenders in the NFL.

8 ) Donnie Avery, Houston

Donnie Avery sort of back up his claim to being a top level speedster. His 4.34 pro day time isn’t the 4.2 he predicted, nor was his 4.40 at the combine. However, 4.3 speed is still legitimate speed. Avery’s numbers are thought to be inflated because of the pass happy Houston offense but you cannot deny his ability to catch the ball. He also brings return abilities to the table. I like him to go in the late second or early third.

9) Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech

While a 4.39 40 time may not turn too many heads when you are 5′9″ 184 lbs, Royal won over scouts at the combine by performing well in the route running and catch drills. He was fluid and looked very comfortable in performing. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the first day.

10) Mario Manningham, Michigan

Manningham has done all he could to ruin his draft stock; running a 4.59 40 when speed is your calling card, lying directly to NFL GMs and scouts and terrible interviews to name a few. Mario is back on the rise after running a 4.42 on his pro day. He needs to works on his hands as the last time I recall watching some game tape on Manningham, he suffered through multiple drops. His injury history is also well documented. Still, when Manningham is on his game, he is a force on the field. Mario’s draft position may have much to do with what Gms are willing to gamble.

Close to the cut:
Andre Caldwell, Florida
Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
Will Franklin, Missouri
Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State
Paul Hubbard, Wisconsin
Harry Douglas, Louisville
Marcus Monk, Arkansas

tag: NFL, Football, Dynasty, Fantasy Football, 2008 NFL Draft, Keeper, footballjabber.com

Top 10 CB Prospects | Football Jabber

The cornerback class, unlike most other classes this year, is filled with small school prospects. Between amazing combines and small school scouting, five of my top 15 CBs are from small schools. I find that as technology is the game increases and becomes more widespread, less of these small school gems slip through the cracks.

1) Leodis McKelvin, Troy

McKelvin is the closest thing to a complete corner in this draft. Between his burst and reactionary abilities, he can disrupt passing and make plays that few corners in the draft can make. Pair that with the fact that he is one of the better return men available this year, McKelvin should be a top 10 choice.

2) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State

I don’t believe that there is any one player who people are so hot and cold on more than Rodgers-Cromartie. Over the past two months, I’ve heard comments such as; “project player”, “developmental”, “future hall-of-famer”, “overrated”, “best defensive back available” and finally “product of misplaced hype”. Dallas loves DRC as evidenced by their leaked draft board and with his rare combination of blazing speed and size, why not? Hype or not, DRC won’t last to the bottom half of the first round.

3) Aqib Talib, Kansas

A victim of good competition, I think Talib cracks the top 10 in last year’s draft and isn’t receiving the type of fanfare of McKelvin, DRC or even Mike Jenkins. I think Talib is the best physical corner in the draft and at 6′2″ 205, it isn’t hard to see why. If selected by the right team, don’t be surprised to see Talib emerge as the best corner in the draft.

4) Mike Jenkins, South Florida

Once considered the best corner available in the draft, Mike Jenkins suffered a slight fall due personal issues (reports of fighting outside of a bar) and being overshadowed by DRC at the combine. Jenkins and college teammate Trae Williams formed one of the scariest CB duos in college football last year. At times, Jenkins played well enough to be considered a shutdown corner. However, he proved to be inconsistent at times. The talent is there for sure, he won’t escape the first round.

5) Antoine Cason, Arizona

Cason is probably the most battle proven CB available playing in the pass happy Pac-10 with reasonable success. It is likely you won’t find a better tackle at the CB position than Cason outside of possibly Reggie Smith. Reliable, smart and solid ball skills. Not as high of upside as some CBs but Cason has a higher floor than any of the top 5.

6) Tracy Porter, Indiana

Porter is hailed as being a quality athlete who can go stride-for-stride with your burner receiver. He has premium ball skills and uses his agility to make outstanding plays. The knock on him is that he is not physical enough to get a jam on many receivers and can be out-bodied on many balls by a physical receiver.

7) Reggie Smith, Oklahoma

Smith has the ability and experience to play safety as well so as you’d expect, Smith isn’t going to be faster than most of the CBs in the class. That being said, his physicality and ball skills are both top-notch. He is solid in pass coverage but may lack the burst to run with NFL receivers. His versatility will probably be his calling card in the NFL.

8 ) Justin King, Penn State

Speed and agility are what teams are keying on if they are scouting King. He won’t lose many races against your receivers and can jump well to make plays on the ball. Big receivers gave him problems in college and will continue to do so in the NFL.

9) Terrell Thomas, USC

What stands out of me with regards to Thomas is his ability to support on run defense. His size and strength lend weight his abilities as a great cover 2 corner.

10) Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech

Despite what his size may tell you, Flowers is an aggressive corner always looking for the big hit/play. However, he tends to get burned occasionally because of this whether he misses the ball or loses a tackle. His speed isn’t great but his football smarts are great. A good corner for zone coverage.

Close to the cut:

Chevis Jackson, LSU
Antwaun Molden, Eastern Kentucky
Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
Trae Williams, South Florida
Patrick Lee, Auburn
Charles Godfrey, Iowa

tag: NFL, 2008 NFL Draft, Draft Prospects, Cornerback, footballjabber.com

Football Jabber IDP Fantasy Focus

DJ Williams-Denver Broncos

Confirmation of what I suspected for the last couple months occurred yesterday. DJ Williams informed the football world that he will be returning to the weak side.

I warned you in an earlier FBJabber piece that DJ was a perfect Sell High candidate. However, his drop in value will not be as bad as if he ended up on the strong side. Expect LB2-LB3 production going forward. If you can get top 5 LB value for him now before the news breaks, do it. If not, I hold and hope for a change in scenery as Williams will be a free agent after this year. With his experience, if he walks, he could end up back in the middle with a new team.

The new man in the middle in Denver is Niko Koutouvides, formerly of the Seahawks. Expect teams to continue to run against the Broncos until they are given a reason not to. After all, why would you attempt to pass against a secondary that includes Champ Bailey, Dre Bly and John Lynch if you didn’t have to? Temper your expectations slightly for Niko as I am projecting him as being a 2 down LB. If you can pick him up on the cheap now, I would do it.

Stephan Cooper-San Diego Chargers

Chargers ILB Stephen Cooper landed himself a four game suspension for testing positive for a banned stimulant.
This is the second time in recent memory that a San Diego LB has earned a suspension for taking a banned substance. In 2006, OLB Shawne Merriman received a similar suspension. Cooper stands to miss weeks one through four. The exact substance he tested positive for was not reported. As you would expect, the standard response of “I didn’t know it was banned when I took it.” was used. Don’t these guys have a multitude of trainers, coaches and medical staff to take this kind of guesswork out of this?

The fantasy impact of this news is next to none. Cooper isn’t going to lose his job over this and the SILB job, while productive in SD, will likely be split between youngsters Brandon Siler and Anthony Waters and journeyman Derek Smith, formerly of the 49ers, while he is gone. Give Matt Wilhelm a small bump up as he will likely compensate somewhat for Cooper’s absence in these first four games.

Jason Taylor-Miami Dolphins

Rumor has it that the price for Jason Taylor is floating around a 2nd round pick or higher. It’s no secret that Jacksonville is interested but they may wait out the Dolphins to force their hand. Personally, I’m surprised Taylor hasn’t garnered more interest. He is old but is still one of the better ends in the game. He is less than two years removed from a Defensive MVP season. [Insert Dancing with the Stars joke here]

Linebackers-Carolina Panthers

The Carolina linebacker situation seems to be cleaning itself up a bit. According to the Charlotte Observer, Landon Johnson has already secured the WLB spot over emcumbent Na’il Diggs. You had to see that coming. Super sophomore Jon Beason is a beast in the middle and for some unknown reason, John Fox is convinced that Thomas Davis is a better Sam backer than Will. Diggs was clearly the weak link in the corps and now moves to 4th LB.

Expect LB4 numbers as Davis and whatever Mike he is paired with usually chew up the majority of tackles. This may change with the loss of Kris Jenkins to the Jets but I don’t think it will be enough to warrant any significant boost in value to Johnson.

Pacman Jones-Tennessee Titans (Dallas Cowboys)

Another rumor I am hearing is that if Dallas can secure the services of Pacman Jones, they intend to shift Anthony Henry to strong safety and still draft a first round CB, relegating Roy Williams to a wolverine-type of role. Take this one with a grain of salt; as Cowboys fan will be quick to dismiss this as they generally love RW whereas Cowboys hater will be quick to believe this as they generally hate RW. I don’t think this would be a permanent move by any stretch, I still think that Roy Williams is the best strong safety on their team for 1st and 2nd down. But one must admit that Williams has/does struggle with pass coverage.

tag: NFL, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football tips, IDP, footballjabber.com, Pacman Jones, Jason Taylor, Stephan Cooper, DJ Williams

LB Tackle Stats | IDP Fantasy

Note: teams who experienced severe injury or whose LB corps production will see significant change due to addition or subtraction were not included

List describes the percentage of plays run against the team in which the mentioned LB registered a tackle (Above 9% shown)

David Harris - 17.9%
Patrick Willis - 16.1% (Note: next best 49er LB was Derek Smith at 7.2%)
Jon Beason - 15.0% (compensated to excluded games played at OLB)
DJ Williams - 14.3% (may be removed from MLB this year)
Nick Barnett - 13.2%
DeMeco Ryans - 12.9%
Kirk Morrison - 12.6%
David Thornton - 12.6%
London Fletcher-Baker - 12.5%
Barrett Ruud - 12.5% (missed game compensated)
Ray Lewis - 12.4%
Ernie Sims - 12.3%
Angelo Crowell - 12.0%
DQwell Jackson - 12.0% (injury compensated)
Brian Urlacher - 11.9% (slightly skewed due to Briggs injury)
Morlon Greenwood - 11.9%
Gary Brackett - 11.9% (skewed due to Freddie Keiaho and Rob Morris injury)
Napoleon Harris - 11.9%
Justin Durant - 11.5% (compensated to exclude games not started)
Mike Peterson - 11.3% (injury compensated)
Derrick Brooks - 11.2%
EJ Henderson - 11.1% (Note: Minnesota had the most passing downs against and the 4th fewest rush downs against)
Lance Briggs - 11.1% (injury compensated)
Will Witherspoon - 11.0%
Paris Lenon - 10.9%
Karlos Dansby - 10.9% (injury compensated)
Donnie Edwards - 10.7%
Stephen Cooper - 10.7%
Antonio Pierce - 10.6% (skewed due to frequent subsitiutions late in the year due to injury)
Keith Brooking - 10.6%
AJ Hawk - 10.6%
Michael Boley - 10.5%
Lofa Tatupu - 10.5%
James Harrison - 10.5%
Omar Gaither - 10.2%
James Farrior - 10.1%
Thomas Howard - 10.0%
Tedi Bruschi - 10.0%
Chad Greenway - 9.9%
Calvin Pace - 9.7% (slightly skewed due to Dansby injury)
Gerald Hayes - 9.7%
Derrick Johnson - 9.7%
Matt Wilhelm - 9.6%
Bart Scott - 9.6%
Keith Bulluck - 9.1%
Adalius Thomas - 8.4%
Mike Vrabel - 8.1%
Junior Seau - 8.0%

There are most definitely some interesting findings on this list.

1) 38 LBs were involved in at least 10% of their teams defensive snaps registering a tackle.
2) The top three tackle registering LBs on a per snap basis are ALL rookies and Patrick Willis did not top the list.
3) Despite having the 4th fewest rushes against and having the most pass against, two Minnesota LBs made the list.
4) 12 pairs of LBs made the list (Houston, Chicago, Tennessee, Oakland, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Minnesota, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Diego) and two threesomes (Arizona and Kansas City). Note: New England doesn’t count as only Bruschi went over 9%, I added the other LBs to show the spread in production of LBs
5) The highest scoring OLB is Ernie Sims (12th) at 12.3%.
6) Justin Durant (11.5%) and Mike Peterson (11.3%) scored extremely close; indicating the productivity of the position rather than the player.
7) Only one fulltime strong side LB made the list; Michael Boley (10.5%)

Enjoy, I hope you were able to draw some conclusions from this list. I know it weighed in significantly in my top 40 LB lists. Opened my eyes on a few guys. This list is the one true way to level the playing field of defensive opportunity for tackles.

tag: NFL, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Tips, IDP, Linebacker, Sports, footballjabber.com

NFL Draft Prospects | Top 5 ILB

Top 5 ILB Prospects

Much like the safety prospects this year, the inside linebacker class of this year lacks a true standout player. Many of the players in this year’s offering are OLB converts or only project well as a situational ILB in a 3-4 scheme. Be wary of this when planning your IDP dynasty draft. Expect some of the labeled ILBs to convert back to OLB and likewise, many of the bigger OLBs will likely move inside early in their career.

1) Dan Connor, Penn State

Connor’s roots are on the outside, spending all of his college career there save his senior year. He is a better blitzer than coverage LB but is still a sure tackle. His football instincts are paramount and is rarely caught out of position. His speed and size will allow him to adapt well to the NFL game. Expect the team that drafts Connor to keep him on the outside for a year or two.

2) Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma

Quickness is Lofton’s calling card in this draft. Beginning his career at strong-side linebacker, Lofton moved inside for the last four games of his junior year and finished off an excellent year amassing 157 tackles. I compare him to a more well-built version of D’Qwell Jackson, a short stocky type linebacker that relies on quickness and good tackling to be effective. Despite limited experience at the position, I believe Lofton is a better fit for the inside than outside. In fact, some sites do not even list Lofton as an inside linebacker. Similar to Connor, he is a tweener type that may live on the outside until he gets his shot.

3) Jerod Mayo, Tennessee

Mayo, like the previous two on the list, spent all of the college career on the outside before moving inside in his senior year. Mayo is an instinctive football player who can close on ball carriers, cover well and blitz effectively. A knock on him is that he is too light for his frame and many scouts have considered Mayo better suited to the weak side. Mayo scares me the most out of all of the prospects on this list to move back to the outside permanently. He is still a great prospect but this may not translate to fantasy success as an inside linebacker.

4) Johnathan Goff, Vanderbilt

A more natural inside linebacker, Goff has the intangibles you want in the leader of your defense as a two-time team captain for Vanderbilt. One of the best combine performers, don’t be surprised if Goff is taken higher than many expect. Although he would likely do fine in a traditional 4-3 set, I believe he would benefit from being inside in a Wade Phillips-type 3-4 set that does not require larger LBs. (No, I’m not saying the Cowboys will select him)

5) Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech

A high-school defensive end, sophomore weak side linebacker and junior/senior middle linebacker, Wheeler is the epitome of a physical upside player that has shown his ability to learn new positions and in turn, new schemes. Wheeler is a superb blitzer but has shown a tendency to bite on fakes. He is also a big presence for a linebacker as 245 lbs and rarely is taken off of his feet. Another linebacker who may not see the light of day from the inside, Wheeler needs to improve his awareness on playaction before teams will consider him a true Mike. His athleticism and penchant for getting to the QB will likely land him a gig on the outside early in his career.

Close to the cut:
Beau Bell, UNLV - Another OLB convert, injury history, character issues and weak coverage play knock him out of the top 5. Keep your eye on him however, as he projects better to the inside than many of his predecessors.
Erin Henderson, Maryland - Yes, Henderson is a true OLB but I believe he will become an excellent 3-4 ILB, watch for the team that drafts him.
Spencer Larsen, Arizona - Smaller body and weaker combine; Larsen produces but in outclassed but other prospects.

tag: NFL, Draft, Prospects, Phillip Wheeler, Johnathan Goff, Jerod Mayo, Curtis Lofton, dan connor, football, football jabber, sports, combine

2008 NFL Draft Prospects |Top 5 at Free Safety

This class of free safeties is much different from other classes. After the one true blue chip prospect, you are left with 4 or 5 guys who will be serviceable NFL talent with significant upside.

1) Kenny Phillips, Miami

Despite a disappointing combine, Phillips remains the class of the bunch. However, he may not go in the top half of the first round as many predicted (myself included). His ball skills are premium and good football instincts are there. I have heard many say about Phillips that “he is a good safety but he is not Ed Reed”. While that may be true, it is not fair to Phillips to have Reed as his measuring stick. Phillips will make an excellent free safety for the team that lands him.

2) DaJuan Morgan, NC State

Morgan is Mike Mayock’s top ranked safety although I don’t know what Morgan did to earn that praise. He is a quality talent no doubt but his combine was pedestrian. He did improve his tackling this season by racking up 117 but I still fail to see him as a better prospect than Phillips. Carolina is rumored to be targeting Morgan in the second round to pair up with Chris Harris.

3) Thomas DeCoud, California

Unlike the previous two, DeCoud bettered his stock with a good combine, running 4.5 and leaping 35.5 inches high. I like this guy because he is always looking for the highlight reel hit. He never plays soft. His coverage is good enough to play at the NFL level but is far from elite. His closing speed is excellent and he shows good awareness and reflexes in tipping and intercepting the ball. DeCoud is very close to beng second on this list but he needs more experience at the position.

4) Quentin Demps, UTEP

Demps had one of the better combines for defensive backs. His 4.4 forty time should do wonders for his draft stock. Demps brings four years of starting experience at the position paired with excellent football instincts. He needs to bulk up a bit to be more effective.

5) Marcus Griffin, Texas

Living in the shadow of his twin brother Michael, Marcus has developed into a quality defensive back for the Longhorns. Griffin’s combine was weak but his stats speak a different tune of 97 tackles, 5 Pass Ds and 3 INTs. Marcus plays like a strong safety at the free safety position, his tackling is his strong suit. But he continues to work on his coverage and ball abilities and should make a fine pro.

tag: NFL, Draft, Prospects, Combine, Free Safety, Defensive backs, Marcus Griffen, Quentin Demps, Thomas DeCoud, DaJuan Morgan, Kenny Phillips

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