Second Day Brain Pain.

By TOM

I needed a day to digest, into my brain, the disaster of the bizarre Second Day of the 2007 Draft. At first glance I give them an F-, that’s right a Capital F Minus. After the Forth Round, they piled one disaster after another. When you add in Kareem Brown it probably becomes a solid f+, a lower case f with a plus to hide its flaws. Were there any positives at all from the Draft, BB, “Well we were certainly a lot more active at adding players to our team than we were yesterday. So that was good. We have a lot of new names to work with. I just feel like, overall, the two things we did in the draft was we added some quality and depth to our roster and also put ourselves in position next year with some strong picks in the first day of the draft.”

After surviving the First Day, and being fully impressed at how they craftily and completely surprised me again, I was disingenuously convinced they could not completely shock and surprise me  on the Second Say. How do you spell idiot- T-O-M. What were they doing? Did BB have a plan at all? BB, “Overall, we feel good coming out of it. It wasn't like it was a goal we had going into it. It's just the way it turned out, and I think we're okay with that.”

Felt good? I had a migraine by the Sixth Round. From Moss to 110 to 247, I had no idea what the hell BB was doing. I mean really- Justin Rogers, at pick 180? Please? Corey Hilliard and Justise Hairston in the Sixth? Please? F-, F-, F-. Even Kiper skipped right over Rogers on the ESPN Broadcast, you could tell he had no idea who he was. I have never seen Kiper stumped like that before.

Justin Rogers. Pro Football Weekly had Rogers rated as the 57th best D-End. That is no the 57th best D-Player or even the 57th best D-Lineman (They rate D-Tackles separately), they had him rated as the 57th best DE in the Draft. Which puts him at about the 1,000th best prospect in the draft. Ouch! At least PFW had him listed, because they were the only ones. Okay, BB (if he can remember who the hell he is) clearly likes him and thinks he has a great burst on the outside to reach the QB. BB, “He is a little more on the athletic side. And… let's keep my notes here so I have them in order… we picked up Rogers, outside linebacker from SMU, a big physical kid who gives us, again, anytime you get depth on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the latter rounds of the draft, that is hard to pass up.” See even BB was confused at who he was, and it looked like he had a headache as well;-) I give Rogers a F--. That’s right a Double F minus, and I hear by place BB and Pioli on Double Secret Probation. Damn my head hurts.

Cory Hilliard. Okay, are you ready for this? He was rated as the 25th ranked O-Tackle by PFW, with a rating of 5.00. There were 16 Centers and 22 guards rated over 5.00. Making him the 63rd ranked O-Lineman in the draft according to PFW. Which, granted, was not as bad as Rogers. Rogers was rated 4.30, and there were 49 D-Tackles rated over 4.30 making him the 106th ranked D-Lineman in the Draft according to PFW. Okay, but at least BB new who he was, “Corey Hilliard is another big tackle (from) Oklahoma State. We saw him in the bowl games. (He's a) big kid who's pretty athletic as well.” So at least he has a chance. You have to trust BB when it comes to drafting O-Lineman late in the draft. BB’s greatest talent as an evaluator of talent/coach, is his ability to take undrafted O-Lineman, put them in his special Offseason Workout Program and turn them into viable Lineman, like Ashworth, Gorin, Neal, Britt, Mruczkowski, and Hochstein. And this is not a mistake, he spent a lot of time developing this Double Secret Probation Program in Cleveland (where he developed the undrafted Wally Williams into a Pro Bowl Center) and has used it at every stop. It has garnered cheap, undrafted, and starting O-Lineman in Cleveland, NY, and the Pats. Okay, Hilliard is an F, but two years into BB’s Double Secret Probation Program he could be an B, so we’ll split the difference and call it a C-.

Justise Hairston, never heard of him? I mean who is this guy? Where does he come from? Central Kuwait State? He was PFW 25th rated RB with Darius Walker still on the board. My Migraine is back. Save me BB, “Justise Hairston is a kid from Scott's alma mater, so we have a little prejudice there toward the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. That was an interesting connection, but, in any case, (he) started out at Rutgers (and was) very productive at his level. Obviously, it is a big jump from Central Connecticut to the National Football League, but he has been very productive at his level and shows a lot of skills in both running the ball and the opportunities he's had as a pass receiver and running after the catch; a little bit limited there, but he's still done a good job with that.” Oh, Central Connecticut State. Oh, that makes all the difference in the world. F.

Okay so what happened? The answer is simple, as evidenced by the First Day, BB hated the talent in this draft. BB always does what he thinks is best for the team. They had to get help in the Secondary, and a back up NT. But other than that, was there really an opening for a rookie anywhere else on the team. LB? Does any LB from this draft come in and start on this team? No, period. Corner? Does any rookie CB come in and start for this team? If Assante Samuel is back, then no, period. Safety, Does a rookie Safety come in and start for this team next season? Maybe.

What are the odds of Eugene Wilson and Rodney Harrison both making through the entire 2007 season without getting hurt 100/1, a 1000/1? The Pats needed to pick up depth in the Secondary, at Corner and at Safety, so they grab the best S/CB prospect in the draft. I would have like more (when Rogers was taken, John Wendling, David Irons, and Ryan Smith were all on the Board), but I think you have to give them an A for Meriweather.

Why would anyone question why they took Meriweather? They had to address the Safety and Slot Corner positions, period. Meriweather addresses both those positions. Then, BB looked at his board and his Depth Chart, and asked “Are there any players left who can start for this team?” (Hell, are there any players worth drafting who can even make this team?) The answer was clearly no. So why bother spending First Day picks, and starters money, on back-ups. So they traded out of the first day. Then they spent the entire Second Day drafting Back-ups, and Practice Squad Players, players who he hopes he can stash away for a season or two as they hopefully develop into legitimate NFL players.

Okay the positives:

Kareem Brown. He finally developed into a legitimate player his Senior year. At 6-4 and around 300 pounds, he can hold the point of attack. He can be disruptive when teams try to run right at him, which is what you are looking for in a back-up NT. He developed some pass rush last season, and of course something as easy as Sack total is imposible to find. One source had Brown having 8.5 Sacks, another had 9.5 Sacks, another had 11 sacks and another had11.5 sacks, it never easy finding information on who BB drafts. I went to the U of Miami website to find the Sack Sats. He had 1 sack against Houston, 1 sack against Duke, 1 Sack against Georgia Tech, 1 sack against Virginia Tech, 2.5 Sacks against U of Virginia, and 2 Sacks against BC giving him 8.5 Sacks for the season. He also garnered 2.5 Sacks against Neveda in the Bowl Game giving him 11 for the whole season. He had 9.5 Sacks coming into his Senior season, giving him 20.5 career Sacks. He played in all 25 games over the past two seasons (he was the third D-Tackle/5th D-lineman, and back up all four positions on the D-Line); He started only 10 games over that period, garnering 101.5 TKL, 21 TFL, and 13 Sacks. He has the flexibility to play multiple positions along the D-Line, but should be Wilfork’s main back-up. What do think BB, “Then that threw us down to the lower part of the fourth round (trading for Moss) and we picked Kareem Brown. He's played on the defensive line at Miami at a couple of different positions. He had a little bit of flexibility down there and has been a good player in their system.” He should replace Marques Hill on the active roster. Great pick, I had him rated as a Second Round pick.

Clint Oldenburg OT, 6-5, 30. He is a legitimate Left Tackle Prospect, but he needs to spend at least two years working out and getting stronger. Sounds like a super prospect for BB’s Double Secret Probation Program, right BB, “Oldenburg is a tackle. He actually came to Colorado State as a tight end and moved to tackle. He is a little more on the athletic side. And… let's keep my notes here so I have them in order…”. I always like it when a Left Tackle prospect played TE. Has the athletic ability and feet to play Left Tackle, in a limited role, but he has short arms which will hinder him significantly at LT. Has all the BB characteristics: smart, tough, loves the game, etc. He may be too talented to make the Practice Squad without another team taking a stab at him. Will have to get injured or beat out Wesley Britt for the Forth-Tackle spot (not likely), or as the Forth O-Guard to make the active roster. Best scenario, he survives the purge and ends up of the Practice Squad where he lifts weight fanatically for a year and makes the team as the Forth-Tackle in 2008. My problem with the pick, Michael Coe, H.B. Blades, and Rufus Alexander where still on the Board.

Mike Richardson is a Corner from Notre Dame. He has experience in BB’s system, and can play Special Teams. BB, “Richardson is a corner who played for Charlie, and played in a very good defensive system there with their staff and does a lot of things. We saw him do a lot of things kind of similar to NFL teams in terms of coverages and techniques and things like that.” Probably doesn’t have the athleticism to play Corner, and is only 5-10.5, 190 pounds. But he is super tough, and can really support the run. He could be moved to FS. In the mold of Hawkins, only not as athletic. Not good enough to make the team, but bad enough to make the Practice Squad, meaning no team will try and steal him when the Pats cut him. Practice Squad player who, in a year or two, could be the eighth DB and swing between Safety and Corner and really help on Special Teams. My problem with the pick, Ryan Smith, Prescott Burgess, and Michael Johnson where still on the board.

Oascar Lua. Okay, so a Seventh Round pick who won’t make the team, big deal. He is a Practice Squad player just waiting to happen. Has absolutely no chance to make the team next season. Was replaced as a Senior at USC by underclassmen his Senior year. BB, “And Oscar Lua is an inside linebacker from USC. He actually ended up playing behind a couple of very good players, guys that I am sure will go very high in the draft next year out of USC, but he is a pretty good player in his own right.” Similar to Cassel in that respect. Nobody had him rated, but he didn’t really play last season. Although, he led USC in tackles in 2005. He is excellent in a short area, and can find the ball in traffic. Only started one year, but could be a super-duper steal if he somehow makes the team in a year or two. Will have no problem making it onto the Practice Squad. My problem with this pick, Ben Patrick, Kelvin Smith, and Brandon Siler where still on the board.

Mike Elgin. Okay another Seventh Round pick in a weak draft that I sound silly criticizing. Practice Squad player who make the roster in 2008 if Hochstein’s contract is up. BB, “And then we finished up with Mike Elgin, who played for Iowa, played for Kirk (Ferentz). Very good technique; fundamental player; athletic guy as well.” I can’t really complain about a Practice Squad Center form a program BB respects with pick 247.

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