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Click Here For My Main Pagewith links to my Pats Draft Blog and Player Ratings.Click here for an interesting Contrasting pre-Combine look at the 2008 Mock Draft. For more Info on Pats, check out my: Patriots Draft Blog and Player Ratings.
$ with player in red- signifies I got the pick right. |
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My Picks: (U)- Unofficial |
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1. |
Miami |
Grade: A Best Pick: Chad Henne QB Needed a QB.
Worst Pick: Jake Long OT Needed a QB. |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Did well addressing needs, but still have a lot of needs left. I like the Combo pick of Long and Henne, and have questions for years why teams would spend millions on a First Round pick and/or a young QB and not draft a player they played with in college to help with the transition to the NFL. I actually like Jake Long better as a player then Henne, but I put him as the Worst Pick because they should have taken Matt Ryan. I love the picks of Merling and Langford, who I think match their defense better then they would in a 4-3. $ Jake Long- OT Michigan, 6-7, 313- Signed, sealed, and delivered. I still think they should have taken Ryan. 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. Phillip Merling- DE Clemson, 6-5, 270- I was not the biggest fan of Merling and felt he was miscast. He is not a great passrusher. However, I really like him as a 3-4 D-End. He is a good passrusher as a 5-technique DE. Has the size and strength to be be very efficient against the run, and looks like he could add more weight. Is really rising and some think he was a guaranteed first rounder until hernia surgery. Had an impressive 78 Tackles his senior year, leading all D-Linemen on his team, and led his team with 17 TFL. Had 7 sacks, and was able to pressure the QB consistently. Was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week 3 times. I watched his game against Florida State this year where he had a terrific game and was named ACC D-Lineman of he week. Then I saw him dominate against B.C. He had Two Sacks and looked unblockable at some points. Still, I hate placing D-Ends in the First Round who are not great Passrushers. Merling is not a great Passrusher, he only had 7 Sacks last season (2 against BC, 2 against Florida State, and only 3 in the other 12 games), and only 12 career Sacks in three seasons. However, he is a high motor player with exceptional size, and is excellent against the run. May be better off adding weight and moving inside to DT like Cory Redding. $ Chris Henne- 6-3, 228, QB Michigan- Another pick I got right. I question how good he can be as a Pro. Looks like he got worse each season, but he did finally win a Bowl Game as a Senior. Henne has a very strong arm, and throws a nice looking ball. However, the further he throws it the more his accuracy suffers. He is a tough guy to scout. He was surrounded by a lot of talent, but he struggled in big games. He was 1 and 3 in Bowl Games despite almost always having superior talent. He appears to me to have regressed. You could argue his best season was his Freshman season and his worst was his Senior season. However, he is a good leader, and his teammates seem to like him. He is smart, hard working, and has a lot of the intangibles you want your QB to have. I am not a person who sees him as a First Round talent, and I question if he can do it in the NFL. Kendall Langford- 6-5 3/8, 287, 4.8, 31", 9'5"- Great pick. I had Langford in the Third Round, but couldn't find a 3-4 team to put him on. Fit the system perfectly. Looked like a 5-technique D-End at Senior Bowl. Reports have him now up to almost 300 pounds, and Parcells may use him as a NT? Really played well at the Senior Bowl where he showed he had a good motor. He played physically, stood up well at the point of attack and still had enough slipperiness to get to the QB. Showed he could be an excellent 5-Tachnique DE. Reminds me of Bobby Hamilton. Showed up at he Senior Bowl at 270. The at the Combine at 272, and he grew to 287 by his Proday. Has a great blend of strength and quickness.
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2. |
Rams |
Grade: A Best Pick: John Greco OL Has a Chance at LT.
Worst Pick: Chris Long DE I liked Dorsey. |
Key F.A. Signings:
Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: They did a great job addressing their needs, leaving only two needs on my list- a second CB and a TE. I put Long as their worst choice, because of a very minor disagreement- Dorsey was the Rams and my Best Player Available. Otherwise, I thought they made good decisions all down the line. $ Chris Long- DE/OLB, Virginia, 6-3, 275, 4.71(U)- I would have went with Dorsey, but Long looks like the real deal as well. Long is a terrific football player who can play D-End in a 3-4. Long looks like a great hybrid player in a 3-4, and he can play in the 4-3. Had amazing Senior season. Acquiring 14 sacks, 75 Total Tackles, and 19 TFL as a 5-Technigue D-End playing in a 3-4 is unheard of! Relentless, and I mean Relentless passrusher. In his Bowl Game against Texas Tech, Tech throw the ball 69 times! Long rushed relentlessly on nearly ever single pass, he dropped back into a coverage a few times and was on the bench for a few plays in the First Half. Amazingly, he got the most pressure in the Forth Quarter where he got his hands on Harrell at least twice and almost sacked him twice, but he lost he balance and was falling down and wasn't able to hold on. That is the definition of relentless. His coach Al Groh said (and I'm paraphrasing because I did not write the quote down), (He is) "afraid Long might wear down as a D-End in the NFL, and that his most natural position would be as a Mike Vrabel-type OLB." Oh yeah he also said, and I quote, "Clearly, there's no better player in college football than Chris Long. He performs like a star but doesn't act like a star." Sounds like a Patriot to me. First-Team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association. First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. Donnie Avery- WR Houston, 5-11 1/8, 192, 4.33, 36" 10'2"- Nobody would be questioning this pick if Thomas and Sweed had been taken in the First Round like they should have. Had an outstanding Senior season in a system that doesn't translate well to the NFL. Has a great Senior Bowl, Combine, and Proday. Leaving only the question of how well he can transition from the Run an' Shoot into the Rams offensive system. A quick hiccup and he's gone. Has the speed that scares Defenses. Reminds me of a stronger built David Patton. Doesn't cut as well as you would like for a shorter receiver, but he knows how to get open deep as well any WR in this Draft. Had a great senior season, caught 91 balls for 1,456 yards and 7 TDs. Returns Kicks as well. Played in a spread offense that doesn't always translate well to the NFL. Earned a starting position at Senior Bowl. Not the most physical WR. Can be jammed at line of scrimmage, but if the CB misses, he is gone. Plays with his timed speed. John Greco- OT/OG Toledo, 6-4.75, 310, 5.2- I had him as the Pats pick in the Third Round, so you know I liked him. I liked him more as a O-Guard, but he has the Atticism and measurables to play LT. If he can develop next to Pace at Left Guard for a few seasons, I believe he can step over one spot to LT when Pace is gone. Greco is a late developing O-lineman, who has a good chance to be a legit O-Tackle in the NFL. He is still more promise then production. He often struggled at Toledo, but seemed to really take to Pro coaching at the East-West Game. He also displayed the size and athleticism to play Tackle in the NFL at the Combine. He turned a lot of heads this off season, and he should easily go in the Third Round. *Justin King- CB Penn ST, 6' 193, 4.31- Has everything you want physically in a CB, but needs a lot of work on technique and upstairs. A hot and cold player who looked like a Second Round pick, was a steal in the Forth Round. Super fast, super athletic Corner who can turn and run with any receiver. Sometimes looks great and sometimes for terrible. His inconsistency seems to be a matter of his lack of physicality. Not a physical player and doesn't seem to like that aspect of the game. Has everything needed to be a finesse Corner, but wasn't taught to backpedal at Penn. He will need time to adjust to NFL and learn proper footwork and technique. Will be over drafted because of speed and will be seen as a disappointment because he will take some time to develop. But, in a year or two, he has the talent to develop into an excellent finesse Corner. Roy Schuening- OG Oregon ST, 6-3.5, 306- A rough and tumble OG, who I could not put in the First 3 Rounds because he looks too much like Artie Lang. However, he was a steal in the Fifth Round. A wrestler who plays low and dirty. Mean, tough, and physical, everything you want in an O-Guard. He lost nearly 20 pounds during his Senior season, playing with Walking Pneumonia! What more can you say?
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3. 21. |
Falcons |
Grade: A++ Best Pick: Matt Ryan QB Needed a QB.
Worst Pick: Sam Baker OL Needed a LT.
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F.A. Signings Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: I gave them the ridicules A++, because KC had an A+ and I wanted to signify that I they had a better Draft. Their needs transcended just players. And, unlike Miami, KC, and Oakland last year, they needed to do more then just reboot their Franchise. They had to exorcise the unspoken specter that was living in their Franchise. The ghost in the their machine, was the specter of Michael Vick. It was haunting the Falcons like nothing we've ever seen. His over inflated memory was a ghostly virus eating at the very core of their thought processes. They were in a unique situation, now that the Michael Vick had turned from star to ghost, and a ghost to a virus, they needed to eliminate the associations completely. They had quarantined the virus Vick had become, now they to remove any doubt of his return, and repair all the damaged player files. Starting with the QB position. I have said all a long that Drafting Matty Ice was their number one priority. As for the Draft itself, they addressed all their needs, except D-Line and a second O-Tackle. But, most importantly they address the desperate despair their Franchise has been locked up in. I have been been mercilessly critical of Brad Blank. But, insisting they stick at Three and take Ryan, is a Franchise changing decision. They went off their board, and didn't take the horrid Best Player Available decision- Dorsey. They took the player that would help their Franchise the most. This was not just a great Draft, it was a Franchise changing Draft. Almost everybody and their brother had KC as having the best Draft, but they are wrong. This was the best Draft. I heard idiots from Atlanta on the radio, okay one idiot, as late as last month saying that Vick was going to get out of prison and led the Falcons to the Super Bowl. This Draft separates them from Vick, even in the alleged minds they idiotic Vick fans. Without Matty Ice, they are still Vick's team, and now they are not. They also took a lot of Linebackers, which could signal a switch to the 3-4. They also got 3 later Round picks I really liked: Harry Douglas Slot Receiver, Thomas DeCoud SS, and Thomas Brown RB. $ Matt Ryan- QB BC, 6-5, 230- Ryan is the anti-Vick, he is a team first player, not a me first player; he is not going to have explosive runs, but will come through in the clutch with the big pass; and he won't be on the cover of any video games, but he will just keep winning. Many Draftnics like to forge that he almost had B.C. in the BCS Championship Game! Are you kidding me? B.C. has no business of being considered in the Championship Game. All's he does is win, with lesser talent, and much slower players. He had no WRs who will be in the NFL. He had one RB who might, just might get drafted in the 7th Round. He had Cherilus who will be Drafted in the First Round, and that was it. He had Jolonn Dunbar, DeJuan Tribble, and Jamie Silva; Now I am not meaning to degrade these players, because they were great, and I mean great players at B.C., and were the heart and soul of their defense, but none of the three will be First Day Picks. This is the team he almost brought to the Championship Game. Matt Ryan has all the intangibles that teams want at QB. He reminds me of Matt Hasselbeck, only he is far more advanced now then Matt was when he came out of BC. Would you take Matt Hasselbeck with this pick if he was a Rookie? He is super tough and smart. As intelligence becomes more and more important each year, I think Ryan has a shot at number one. Loves to hang out after practice and do film work with coaches, an absolute must to succeed as a QB now-a-days. His coaches and teammates rave about him. Plus I have heard Draftnic raving about the Pro-Style Coaching that Brain Brohm has received? And while he has received Pro-Style coaching, Ryan was coached by Pro Coach, Jags was Offensive Coordinator in Green Bay for three seasons. So while Brohm played in a Pro-Style Offense, Ryan played in a Pro Offense last season. He is the most NFL ready QB in this Draft. Miami will live to regret passing on Ryan. $ Sam Baker- OG/OT USC, 6-4.5 309, 5.5, 29 Reps, 28.5", 9"4'- I had Baker going to Atlanta in the Second Round, so I don't want to be to critical. He looks like a beast moving forward, and looked labored and natural moving backwards last season, but he suffered from Hamstring injuries all season. With when I look back, all that awkwardness he had in his Kick-Step could have been caused by the bad Hamstrings. Plus, it's never a reach if it's a Left Tackle. My only problem is that they gave up a LOT to move up. I have been comparing him to Matt Light, and he better be a LT to justify the all the picks they gave up to get him. The more I watch him the Less I like him. Doesn't have elite feet or size for a Left Tackle. Has short arms, 32-inch arms makes playing LT in the NFL very difficult. However, he reminds me of Matt Light, who I still think would be better on the Right side. 3-Time All-American. He can pull and hit the Linebacker on the Second Level with consistency. Thumper, who like to hit. Can knock his man down when he is right in front of him. Is a Work out Warrior, who by all reports love to work and lives in the weight room. I believe he will succeed in the NFL, I'm just not sure it will be at Left Tackle. Curtis Lofton- ILB Oklahoma, 6' 235, 4.6- Lofton is a player I like. I think he will fit in great with this team. Lofton is most often classified as a "Thumper". Best hitter in the draft. Down hill Inside Linebacker with great Production. Last season he has 157 Tackles, 10.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 5 PBU, and 3 INTs. Lack of height will hurt him, but he take on O-Guards better then expect. Terrific in pass coverage, maybe just the Player the Pats are looking for. A little tight, doesn't always look natural changing direction. Chevis Jackson- CB LSU, 6-0 1/8 192, 4.57, 40" 10' L.J.- A player I liked. He has everything you want in a DB except pure speed. He will play for a long time in this league. Terrific Corner with terrific hips and cover skills. Can twist out of his backpedal and into a full sprint smoother then any DB in this years Draft. Lacks elite speed and will need help over the top. Physical player who loves the game. Looks the part. is well built and has long arms. Heady player who understands what he is suppose to be doing on the field. Could be a steal for a Tampa Two team as he is very smart and understands zones and zone concepts. Super smart Corner who lacks big time speed. He can get beaten deep because of speed, but plays the position so well it doesn't happen often. He has excellent short area quickness, and really exceptional hips. Is excellent in run support and offers some extra value as a FS. Would probably be better off with a zone heavy team. Harry Douglas- WR Louisville, 5-11, 180, 4.5- Another player I really like. Compares favorably to Deion Branch. He will be a slot receiver in this league for a long time. Underrated WR, who has the exceptional quickness and change of direction talent to be all but uncoverable in the slot. In 2006, he garnered 70 Receptions, for 1,265 yards and 6 TDs. Last season, he garnered 71 Receptions, for 1,159 yards and 7 TDs. He is small, but super tough, super competitive, and will fight anybody for the ball. He is smart and knows what he is doing on the field. The more I watch him the more I like him. Thomas DeCoud SS- 6-1, 207, 4.5- Another player I like. Looks long, thin, and smooth and has the speed of a FS, but he cannot play FS in the NFL, as he has very questionable Ball Skills. However, he excels in the box, and is a ferocious tackler who will hurt ball carriers. A Strong Safety who looks likes a Free Safety. He is a naturally smooth athlete. He is excellent against the run and really struggles with the pass. He has1 Career INT. He started only 4 games as a Junior, and garnered 45 Tackles, 3 PBU, 1 TFL and ZERO INTs. Last season he garnered, 116 Tackles, 5 PBU, and his only career INT. He is a Downhill tackler who can really hit through ball carriers. Very aggressive and really excels in the box. However, he can really look lost in a zone, and for all his exceptional athleticism and speed he does not cover the deep Center Field well at all. He will be a very good player for a very long time, if he used correctly. If however, he is miscast as a FS, and expected to play Centerfield like Eugene Wilson, he will fail. But, if you play him like a SS, and ask him to do what Marvin Harrison does, he will excel. Thomas Brown- RB Georgia, 5-9, 205- Another player I like. He reminds me of Maurice Jones-Drew. He is short but not small. Built like a granite statue. Has excellent character, and is the type of person everybody wants on their team. Has great quickness and is a tough as they come. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and is already adept at pass blocking. Also has Kick Return experience. Should make this team, even if only as a Special Teams guy, and stick for a long time.
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4. |
Raiders |
Grade: D+ Best Pick: Tyvon Branch WR Needed a QB.
Worst Pick: Sam Baker- Needed a LT.
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F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Terrible off season. This team is in complete disarray. Jevon Walker was given a 6-year deal, and he could play last season because of his knee. Tommy Kelly given 6 years, and he could play last season because of his knee. They took Darren McFadden, even though they are loaded at RB, and Glenn Dorsey was on the Board. I like McFadden, and I think he is going to be a dynamic Pro, but when you can't stop anybody from running up the middle, and the most dominating D-Tackle is still on the Board, you take him. It will be another long season in Oakland. Darren McFadden- RB/QB Arkansas, 6-2, 217, 4.27(U)- McFadden is a super dynamic RB, but they had so many other needs. How much will he really upgrade the RB position, certainly not more then Dorsey would have upgraded the DT position. I'm a McFadden guy, and I always say you should help your young QB, but this was a mistake. If McFadden reminds me of anyone he reminds me of a faster Marcus Allen. Now, what separated Allen from other backs of his skill level was his amazing toughness. I'm not saying McFadden has his toughness, so very few NFL players do, but when I watch him run he just looks like Allen. Allen was a long lean upright runner, who had this amazing ability to suddenly duck under the pads of an incoming defenders at the last second, and hit him rather then the other way around. It was great to watch, he would be striding along, and bam quicker then you can see he had lowered his shoulder pads right into the defenders gut. McFadden has that same knack for striding along and then bam almost diving into the defender. The comparisons to Reggie Bush are ludicrous. Bush's problem is that he now tries to bounce it outside on every single block. I can't tell you how many times I saw a blocker on his team with inside shade, and the defender holding the edge, and if he just cut inside the blocker he was gone. Instead, he fakes inside and runs right into the defender holding the outside, every single time, and defensive players now know it. If he would just learn to read his blocks he would be a great weapon again. McFadden doesn't bounce it outside on every single block. He will lower his pads and hit the hole where he is suppose to, at least enough to keep the defense honest. Now at Arkansas they ran outside a lot. Duh, with McFadden and Jones in the backfield you want to use that speed to the outside, not pound them into the big fats guys who can't catch them. McFadden reads blocks well, and will lower his pads and hit the hole between the Tackles when he is called to, unlike Bush, who is bouncing himself right outside the league if he continues to not follow his blockers. McFadden is a super- fast slick RB. His instincts and intelligence are amazing. I think he is the second best player in this draft. But, I also think the comparisons to Adrian Peterson are weak. McFadden looks and runs nothing like Peterson. Peterson is stronger, shiftier, and quicker, while McFadden has more straight-line speed. Plus, McFadden has no injury concerns. He runs upright in the open field, but does a good jump getting his pads low when he needs to, and is almost miraculously quick at getting his pads low when someone is about to crush him. Incident at night club has hurt his reputation. Was forced to take a Paternity test by an unscrupulous moneygrubber. Neither of these incidents worry me. Also, has fumbled more then makes me comfortable, 23 times in 3 seasons. Two time Doak Walker award winner. Very impressive young man in person. Has the smarts to play QB as well as RB. Articulate and intelligent in interviews. Dealt with the media very well at Combine. Second all time rusher in SEC history with 4,590 yards. Had a very impressive 2,310 all purpose yards and 16 TDs last season at Arkansas. Ran an amazing 4.27 at 211 pounds at the Combine. Tyvon Branch- CB/S/KR Connecticut, 6', 204, 4.33, 33"- Branch was an excellent pick, at another non-need position. He would develop into a nice Nickel Corner for this team, if he can ever get on the field. A track guy playing Corner. Has the pure size and speed combo that makes GM's drool. Still struggling with instincts and ball skills. Tested as one of the top five Corners in the Draft. Plus, he is very smart and a good student. Has more straight line speed then quick cutting quickness, which can hurt him in the NFL. Has the size and toughness to play FS. Has played Special Teams, and some already see him as a special teams maven. He is already an excellent Gunner and cover man. Is actually an excellent Tackler who has been amazingly productive over the past two seasons. In the past two season he has garnered 168 Tackles, 15 TFL, but only 1 INT. He also is an excellent Kick Returner who averaged almost 30 yards a return.
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5. 17. |
Chiefs |
Grade: A+ Best Pick: Glenn Dorsey DT To good to pass.
Worst Pick: Will Franklin Don't know don't care. |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: Ty Law CB |
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The Team: Chiefs get lucky and Dorsey falls to them, and they almost blew that. They were on the phone for five minutes with the patriots trying to trade this pick to the Pats. They Pats finally said no, and they made the pick. However, they moved on from their to have arguably the best draft. I have Atlanta having the worst Draft, because of their dire circumstances, but player for player this was the best Draft. I had Will Franklin as their worst pick, I never heard of him, and don't know if he is a good player or not. However, when your worst pick is in the Forth Round, and the seventh player you have selected, then you had an excellent Draft. Glenn Dorsey- DT LSU, 6-2, 300- Dorsey was a great pick. Getting the top player in the Draft at pick Five is huge. Their needs appeared to be more at D-End, but getting a Defense changing D-Tackle is always a great pick. Dorsey can display almost inhuman strength sometimes. He can grab onto O-Lineman and shuffle his way sideward until the RB appears, and then throw the O-Linemen aside and crush the RB, like Reggie White. He can burst threw the line with 3-Tcchnique explosion, and just throw the OG to the ground. He reminds me a little of Reggie White, in that he flashes White's Hulk-like strength every now and again, and can just toss an off balance O-Lineman aside like yesterdays trash. Dorsey is not an immovable object in the middle, but he is big, quick and plays under most other players. He get low and shots the gap as well as any D-Linemen ever has. When he stays low, he can drive an O-Lineman 3-5 yards backwards with amazing power and prejudice. He was double-teamed, grabbed, and held on almost every play, but can still made plays. I would like a little more slipperiness out of him. He gets stalemated a little too much, which is a little unfair to say because he gets so much attention from the O-Line. He can shed and really punished the Ball-carrier inside, as well as any D-Tackle who has ever played. Brandon Albert- OG/OT Virginia, 6-5, 305- O-Tackle was clearly a huge need for this team, and most people project Albert to Left Tackle. I still see him more as an O-Guard. He still blocks better on the move, and hold down the Left Tackle spot will be difficult for him. Even worse, word out of KC is that they are planning on mving him to Right Tackle. So not only are they planning on making him make the very difficult transition form inside to outside, they also are going to have him make the very difficult transition to the opposite side, the side he has never played. Risk move, making this more of a risky pick then they needed to. Now KC's typical mismanagement is starting to show. I'm not sold on Albert being the second best O-Tackle in the Draft. He started two games at LT last season and played okay. When you are projecting O-Linemen to change positions, normally they move inside where the degree of difficulty is less. When you project an O-Guard to move outside to Left Tackle, you better be real careful. That is a very complicated and difficult move for a player to make. I think Albert is NFL ready to play Left Guard, but Left Tackle? I would be very nervous. However, this team does have grave concerns at Left Tackle, now that I can understand. Okay I think I'm finally coming around on this guy. The more I watch him the more I like him. Was recruited as a LT, but with D'Brickashaw Furguson many that spot, he slide over to Left Guard, and made that position his own. He was suppose to move back, but they had another young stud LT Eugene Monroe, so they felt it would be less disruptive to keep Albert at LG. He has very long arms that he uses very well to punch, pop, and keep D-Linemen off balance. Pulled a lot in his role at Virginia, and even pulled on Pass Downs sometimes. Plays better on the run, and can be devastating when pulling and hitting defenders on the move. Looks like a LT plays like a LG. Started all 37 games since he step on the campus as a Freshmen. Was named All-ACC all three years at Virginia. Has the natural feet, athleticism, and Quickness to play Left Tackle. Reminds me of Ruben Brown the old Buffalo O-Guard who played last season in Chicago. Has a large rounded body like him, and very long arms. Looks like an O-Tackle, and most people think he can play O-Tackle, but he is an O-Guard, and it looks like he should be a great one, like Brown. *Brandon Flowers- CB Virginia Tech, 5-10, 195, 4.54, 4.08 S.S., 6.72 3CD- Another risky pick, but another good one as well. His lack of pure speed will hinder him at the Corner position, but his toughness and physical play is hard to not like. He is the best tacking and run supporting CB in this Draft, and as such I wonder if playing a Bob sanders type Free Safety is not his best position, where his speed is an asset and not a liability. Small guy with freakish strength and punishing style. Some see him as a First Round Pick, but I see him more as a late Second or Third Round pick. His best position as a Pro might be at FS, like Eugene Wilson. He has below average speed and good coverage ability, but will get beat consistently deep as a Corner. However, he has good speed for a Safety, and great coverage ability. Plus, his greatest asset is his superior tackling, physicality, and his ability to sniff out the run faster then anyone on the field. If he reminds me of anyone, it could be that he has the potential to develop into a Bob Sanders-type FS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
