By the way, what happened to Boomer? It's a little weird not having him around just before the draft.
The Team: Signed, sealed, and delivered. Jake Long IS the number one pick in the Draft.
Word out of Miami is they are settling on Jake Long OT from Michigan, and like a predicted they have started negotiations with Long's agent. This makes sense when you look at their depth chart. Vernon Carey is there current starting Left Tackle, and he is similar to Long in that he might be better suited to RT. Justin Smiley looks pretty secure at Right Guard, and Samson Satele will be good Center for this team for a long time. The Rex Hadnot will battle the below average Chris Liwienski and old friend Gene Mruczkowski, which makes for a pretty good line. Oh wait, am I forgetting something, yes, a RT. They have no RT. Unless you consider Cory Lakkerkerker your starting RT. Now, the previous regime thought Lakkerkerker could develop into a pretty good player. If only Carey could play Right and Left Tackle. If you add Long this O-Line it could be pretty good right away.
The Player: Long has terrific hands and feet. He already looks like an NFL LT in his techniques and sets. He blocks with arms extended and punches well with both hands. Then he drives in and grabs shirt with both hands, inside the shoulders (which is NFL legal) and continues shoving violently, and all the while keeping his feet moving, driving, and tapping along for power and balance. He sets his hands in the ready position exactly the way it is coached in the NFL. His footwork is textbook. He does everything the way coaches teach technique. He is clearly one of the most coachable players in this years draft. The more I watch him play the more I think he could be a Left Tackle. He has been compared recently to Jumbo Elliot. Elliot was a power LT who Parcells drafted in the Second Round out of Michigan. He struggled with speed sometimes (but let's be honest here, what LT doesn't struggle with speed sometimes?), but more then made up for it in the Running game. That could be a very apt description of Long, who I consider be the best Run Blocker in the Draft. Plus, he only gave up two Sacks starting for four years at Michigan, I think that amazing stat gets over looked too much. Long doesn't have the classic machinegun feet of a classic LT, but he uses his feet like a tightrope walker to stay in perfect balance. It just never appears that he is out of balance, except when he pulls outside sometimes, and the closer he gets to the left sideline the more uncomfortable he looks. He does have negatives. He doesn't always look smooth moving backwards. His kick-step is good, but not machinegun quick like Chris Williams. But he uses his long arms and great hands perfectly in pass protection to more then make for an imperfect kick-step. And you know, GMs and coach around the league are smiling when they see how mean and nasty he is on the field, and even I was smiling when I saw him interviewed, and he was smiling and laughing as he bragged about how much he enjoyed destroying defenders and driving them into the ground and jumping on top of them;-)
Monster run blocker. Huge man who makes D-Ends look small and weak. I think Long can step in at Right Tackle where he is better suited. Long has great size, strength and toughness, but I question his feet. If you can't dance you can't play LT in the NFL;-) Looks fierce, graceful, and natural when moving forward into defenders. Can block multiple players on running downs. Is the strongest run blocker in the draft. Can collapse an entire D-Line by driving the D-End into the D-Tackle. Does not look natural moving backwards, his backpedal is not what one would call elegant. Loses all grace when pass blocking. Quicker then he looks, and is never off balance. Doesn't look natural when he pulls to the outside, and struggle the further outside he goes. When he moves off the line straight, he is a wonder to behold. He can punch the D-End and still rush straight forward and eliminate the middle Linebacker or Safety. He is so big and strong, and when he gets his giants mitts on a defender, they are defeated. Doesn't look natural moving backwards. However, he does get back faster then it looks, there appears to be a bit of a hop in his kick-slide, and he uses his long arms and gigantic strong hands well. Only gave up 1 Sack in his super impressive Senior season.
The Reason: Jake Lone makes sense, because he has the least chance to be a complete disaster. Some think, myself included, he can step in and be a Franchise LT for the next 12-15 years. If he can't, he can step in and be a Franchise RT for the next 12-15 years. If for some reason, and we've all seen college OT who can't play Tackle in the Pros, he can step inside and play O-Guard. That is two fall back positions, like Robert Gallery and Tony Mandarich (who did play O-Guard for Indy for a few years). When you are giving over 30 Million in guarantees, you know that player is going to be on your Roster for the next 5-6 years. You have to get something out of them. Jake Long looks like the player who is least likely to be a complete disaster.
Second Choice: None
Second Choice: None
The Team: Word out of Miami is they are happy with Jon Beck. They think he is better then all the QBs in this years Draft. This will be the pick the tests that theory. A NT would be nice here, but I just can't see them passing on Flacco. This is going to be an interesting pick. Apparently they really like Beck, and think he is the heir apparent. However, if Flacco is here, can they pass on him? Most people now believe that someone will trade up into the First Round and grab Flacco, or maybe San Fran or Green Bay will take him. But if he falls?
The Player: Flacco is a small school wunderkind, who has the size and arm teams crave. Looks like a cross between Drew Bledsoe and Alex Smith. I don't see how you can watch film of him and not see Bledsoe. His shoulders, his size, his arms, his throwing motion all are the ghost of Bledsoe. Plus, I just cannot see Parcells passing on him with the first pick of the Second Round, almost like Bledsoe, who Parcells took with the first pick in the First Round. Has good feet inside the pocket. Is not a great runner or athlete, but knows how to move around the pocket and when he can step up he can really deliver the ball with zip and accuracy. Unlike Bledsoe, he actually does a good job of throwing with touch, and can take a lot off his fastball when dumping the ball off to flat, screen, or short pass.
The Reason: Simple, since Marino has retired this Franchise has been in 1-800-No-QB-Zone.
Second Choice: Red Bryant DT
Second Choice: Red Bryant DT
The Team: In Parcell's defense you need a good Nose tackle to really make it work. Right now it looks like Paul Soliai is their only Nose. Now I liked him in last years Draft, but if the last regime was frustrated by his work ethic, or lack there of, how do you think Parcells will react?
The Player: Has exceptional size and exceptional interior quickness. Can not just hold the double team, but has the size, strength, and quickness to split the double team consistently like Ted Washington used to do. Has some boom and bust in him, as he hasn't learned how to control his weight, is a bit of a one hit wonder, and has a history of immaturity. 2005 DNP- do to discipline issues. 2006 16 Tackles, 5 TFL, 3 Sacks. 2007 37 Tackles, 11.5 TFL, 4.5 Sacks. Has a lot of problems in 2005. However, by all accounts he has turned his life around and was considered a team leader and one of the hardest working players on the team. A player I am rooting for, as I hope he continues his redemption. We all need a little redemption in our lives.
The Reason: They could go a lot of directions here. However, if a viable Nose Tackle Prospect is still on the board I think they take him, and Sims certainly looks like a NT.
Second Choice: Matt Ryan QB
Second Choice: Matt Ryan QB
The Team: Miami will be looking to help out their young QBs. A WR here makes a lot of sense.
The Player: Was recruited as a QB, and started out as a Safety, so understands what a QB is looking for and what a DB is looking at on passing downs. This has given him a tremendous advantage as he developed into the top WR in College football last season. And, this is why, he plays with such intelligence and great instincts. He has excellent size and excellent interior quickness. Uses strength, speed, and quickness on short quick routes like Wes Welker on Growth Hormones. Has that unique ability to bully position from DBs. Plus, he is sneaky fast, he doesn't exploded off the line and get full-bore quickly, but when he reaches his full stride he leaves a LOT of DBs, including Aqib Talib, in the dust. Has terrific hands, and can snatch the bal out of the air. Last season alone, he caught 112 passes for 1,606 yards and 11 TDs.
The Reason: I always believe in helping out young QBs with O-Linemen and WRs. They could go speed here, but with Ted Guinn Jr. playing on one side and Wilford on the other, getting a quick slot guy is more valuable. I think Nelson can really excel as a slot receiver as a rookie, and move into the starting role eventually.
Second Choice: Red Bryant DT
Second Choice: Red Bryant DT