The 2nd round of the draft begins in 13 minutes. Seven minutes per pick. ESPN showed a shot of Janoris Jenkins in his living room. No, he was not smoking a joint and getting into a fight while surrounded by his four children and three baby's mamas. The ESPN talking heads think Jenkins goes early in the 2nd round because he is too good a player and cornerback is not a deep position in this draft. I have to admit, I would not be upset if he ended up in New England.
I am not going to format this the same as yesterday. I'll probably just log the picks and comment in between. I lost control when I got calls, emails and text messages. The 1st round moved fast yesterday, which was great. It should be more of the same today. Bill Polian agrees. I have really liked Polian on ESPN since he was fired in Indianapolis.
Two Minute Warning:
Friday, April 27, 2012
In Between Rounds
Round 2 of the NFL Draft begins in an hour and a half, so here are a few thoughts looking back, then forward.
What I liked:
1. Cowboys moving up to get the player I like best (aside from Luck and RG3).
2. Dolphins pick Ryan Tannehill - As a Patriots fan, I am as excited as when they took Ted Ginn Jr. with a high pick. I see Tannehill as an extremely risky developmental QB, the type that can get GM's and coaches fired (again in the case of Tannehill's college coach, Mike Sherman).
3. The J-E-T-S taking Quinton Coples when Melvin Ingram was available. Coples could turn out to be an excellent player, especially with Rex Ryan and the Jets defense, but I think Ingram will be better and comes with less "bust" risk.
4. Panthers select Luke Kuechly. They have a MLB for years to come.
5. Steelers draft David Decastro. Like the Panthers, the Steelers get a day one starter, who should be good for a long time. Lucky Decastro fell to them, which leads to...
6. Patriots draft Dont'a Hightower. If Decastro gets drafted earlier, perhaps the Steelers take Hightower. Love the pick, and if Chandler Jones can develop to play the Willie McGinest "Elephant" position, the Patriots will have hit the jackpot. I am happy with my teams picks.
7. Rams and Browns load up on draft picks.
What I'm not as thrilled by:
Avoiding the phrase "what I didn't like".
1. Bills made a good pick in Stephon Gilmore. When did the Bills suddenly start doing all the right things?
2. Buccaneers find a way not to draft Morris Claiborne - Claiborne is the player I liked third. The Bucs could have had him at #5 and found a way to screw it up. I will grant you they got two good picks (Barron and Martin), but they passed on the best player at an area of huge need.
3. Chiefs take Dontari Poe - Risky pick with a high chance of being a bust. I would have taken Fletcher Cox. Haven't the Chiefs missed on a few DL in recent years?
4. Seahawks draft Bruce Irvin - Like Poe, very risky, with the added caviot that Seattle could have probably traded down and got Irvin much later.
5. 49ers draft AJ Jenkins - All I know is that he was rated the #20 WR by The National Football Post. Rumor is that the Rams wanted him in the 2nd round, but the Niners will look really good or really bad for taking Jenkins higher than anyone expected.
What I am looking forward to:
1. There are a lot of good players available in this draft. It may not be loaded at the top, but it is very deep.
2. My best guess is that the Patriots (barring the very good possibility of trades) come away with a DB and OL. Many people believe they will draft a WR or RB. Maybe so.
3. Rams have three picks in the first half of Round 2.
4. Who takes a chance on character guys who fall? The Patriots have no problem doing it.
5. Trades - there will be plenty more of them.
What I liked:
1. Cowboys moving up to get the player I like best (aside from Luck and RG3).
2. Dolphins pick Ryan Tannehill - As a Patriots fan, I am as excited as when they took Ted Ginn Jr. with a high pick. I see Tannehill as an extremely risky developmental QB, the type that can get GM's and coaches fired (again in the case of Tannehill's college coach, Mike Sherman).
3. The J-E-T-S taking Quinton Coples when Melvin Ingram was available. Coples could turn out to be an excellent player, especially with Rex Ryan and the Jets defense, but I think Ingram will be better and comes with less "bust" risk.
4. Panthers select Luke Kuechly. They have a MLB for years to come.
5. Steelers draft David Decastro. Like the Panthers, the Steelers get a day one starter, who should be good for a long time. Lucky Decastro fell to them, which leads to...
6. Patriots draft Dont'a Hightower. If Decastro gets drafted earlier, perhaps the Steelers take Hightower. Love the pick, and if Chandler Jones can develop to play the Willie McGinest "Elephant" position, the Patriots will have hit the jackpot. I am happy with my teams picks.
7. Rams and Browns load up on draft picks.
What I'm not as thrilled by:
Avoiding the phrase "what I didn't like".
1. Bills made a good pick in Stephon Gilmore. When did the Bills suddenly start doing all the right things?
2. Buccaneers find a way not to draft Morris Claiborne - Claiborne is the player I liked third. The Bucs could have had him at #5 and found a way to screw it up. I will grant you they got two good picks (Barron and Martin), but they passed on the best player at an area of huge need.
3. Chiefs take Dontari Poe - Risky pick with a high chance of being a bust. I would have taken Fletcher Cox. Haven't the Chiefs missed on a few DL in recent years?
4. Seahawks draft Bruce Irvin - Like Poe, very risky, with the added caviot that Seattle could have probably traded down and got Irvin much later.
5. 49ers draft AJ Jenkins - All I know is that he was rated the #20 WR by The National Football Post. Rumor is that the Rams wanted him in the 2nd round, but the Niners will look really good or really bad for taking Jenkins higher than anyone expected.
What I am looking forward to:
1. There are a lot of good players available in this draft. It may not be loaded at the top, but it is very deep.
2. My best guess is that the Patriots (barring the very good possibility of trades) come away with a DB and OL. Many people believe they will draft a WR or RB. Maybe so.
3. Rams have three picks in the first half of Round 2.
4. Who takes a chance on character guys who fall? The Patriots have no problem doing it.
5. Trades - there will be plenty more of them.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
NFL Draft: Live Diary
It's been a while. I logged off this blog at the end of the Super Bowl and haven't been back since. Yesterday I decided I would stay home and watch the first round of the 2012 Draft. So why not write while I do it?
I would prefer to watch the NFL Network, mostly for what they don't have - Berman, Kiper and McShay. However I don't have that channel, so I'd have to do it on the computer. Still might do that and have ESPN on mute.
I figure the structure will be simple. Who's on the clock, who I think the pick should be, comments. Trades will be fun. Heck, my team could sit around for most of the first round, then trade one or both of their picks (#'s 27 and 31). Or they could move ahead of Dallas to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron. Predicting what the Patriots will do on draft day is a waste of everyone's time.
Oh, and definitely throw in some memories from draft years past.
This clip is how long it took for me to be excited about Rob Gronkowski. It's all great, but if you're lazy, fast-forward to 2:15 and watch from there.
Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck
We know the first two picks, so this is the easy part. Both Luck and Robert Griffin, III are worthy of the #1 pick. Both are terrific quarterbacks and exceptional people. There do not appear to be big holes in their game, both are smart, and there are not character concerns. Both will be good NFL quarterbacks and starters on day one.
One hour to go. RG3 is talking with Suzy Kolber. He said what I was thinking:
Me: "Damn!"
RG3: "You look good. I like it."
Did not say: "I just want to kiss you."
I would draft Luck ahead of Griffin, but the Redskins gave up a lot to get an excellent prospect.
Trade Report: Vikings trade #3 pick to Cleveland. Cleveland intends to draft Trent Richardson. Vikings get 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks to move down one spot.
Bill Polian approves.
I have no problem with Richardson being drafted at #3. I would take Morris Claibourne, but perhaps the Vikings get the best of both worlds by moving down (passing on a player they would not have taken anyways) and getting Claibourne at #4. Or Matt Kalil. Or the Vikings could trade out of the #4 position.
The Browns now and the Redskins a few weeks ago did something I can't argue with when it comes to draft philosophy. If you know who you want, do what it takes to go up and get him. Don't hope the player falls to you, or risk another team trading up to draft ahead of you. Make sure you get your player.
ESPN is showing draftee introductions, the NFL.com feed is showing someone sitting on-camera in what appears to be the Steelers media room.
OK, now that NFL.com is back, I can mute Berman and Kiper, and still see Suzy. Thank you football gods.
Now the NFL Network has three talking heads discussing Trent Richardson and fantasy football. Really? You've got to be kidding me. MUTED.
Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck
I would prefer to watch the NFL Network, mostly for what they don't have - Berman, Kiper and McShay. However I don't have that channel, so I'd have to do it on the computer. Still might do that and have ESPN on mute.
I figure the structure will be simple. Who's on the clock, who I think the pick should be, comments. Trades will be fun. Heck, my team could sit around for most of the first round, then trade one or both of their picks (#'s 27 and 31). Or they could move ahead of Dallas to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron. Predicting what the Patriots will do on draft day is a waste of everyone's time.
Oh, and definitely throw in some memories from draft years past.
This clip is how long it took for me to be excited about Rob Gronkowski. It's all great, but if you're lazy, fast-forward to 2:15 and watch from there.
Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck
We know the first two picks, so this is the easy part. Both Luck and Robert Griffin, III are worthy of the #1 pick. Both are terrific quarterbacks and exceptional people. There do not appear to be big holes in their game, both are smart, and there are not character concerns. Both will be good NFL quarterbacks and starters on day one.
One hour to go. RG3 is talking with Suzy Kolber. He said what I was thinking:
Me: "Damn!"
RG3: "You look good. I like it."
Did not say: "I just want to kiss you."
I would draft Luck ahead of Griffin, but the Redskins gave up a lot to get an excellent prospect.
Trade Report: Vikings trade #3 pick to Cleveland. Cleveland intends to draft Trent Richardson. Vikings get 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks to move down one spot.
Bill Polian approves.
I have no problem with Richardson being drafted at #3. I would take Morris Claibourne, but perhaps the Vikings get the best of both worlds by moving down (passing on a player they would not have taken anyways) and getting Claibourne at #4. Or Matt Kalil. Or the Vikings could trade out of the #4 position.
The Browns now and the Redskins a few weeks ago did something I can't argue with when it comes to draft philosophy. If you know who you want, do what it takes to go up and get him. Don't hope the player falls to you, or risk another team trading up to draft ahead of you. Make sure you get your player.
ESPN is showing draftee introductions, the NFL.com feed is showing someone sitting on-camera in what appears to be the Steelers media room.
 |
| NFL.com draft coverage: Not off to a good start. |
Now the NFL Network has three talking heads discussing Trent Richardson and fantasy football. Really? You've got to be kidding me. MUTED.
Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck
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