The Ravens #1 pick might be a bit undersized
Only six months (actually just under six months) until GO JUMBO!!
Thursday night we went over to Dobby’s to taste test the various levels of the Irish Soldiers and Heroes Irish Whiskey the gang had bought. Hans from the local wine shoppe brought over his whiskey expertise (recently downloaded) and a nice bottle of Red Breast.
Of course, Thursday was also the first night of the NFL draft. So I brought over the splitter Dobby needed to hook up his TV on the deck – only to find out he needed 25’ of cable too. Sorry Dobby, you need to get that yourself.
That meant that while the draft was going on I was relegated to monitoring my Iphone for the latest picks. About an hour into the draft Chris and I were guzzling our drinks so we can go over to his Outdoor Ampitheatre (with the rest of Hans’ Red Breast) and see the draft as it was meant to be seen – on TV. Good time.
The draft – not so good at least talent wise. The MAC had the
number 1 overall pick for the first time ever when OT Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) went to Kansas City. Much to the Lions misfortune it started a run on OT when 3 of the first four picks were blind siders (Luke Joeckel #2 and Lane Johnson #4).
With their top targets off the board and trading down proving to be a buyers market - the Leos decided to “grip it and rip it” taking DE Ezekiel Ansah from BYU. Ziggy is either going to be a 350 yard right down the middle or a deep slice into the giggly weeds. Detroit HC Jim Schwartz not only coached Ansah in the Senior Bowl but also used the Lions wide nine defense in the game. He must have liked what he saw. My take - Ansah is really raw and for a
supposed top five sack master he only had 4.5 sacks last year in his only year as a starter. The Lions better pack their ball retriever.
And speaking of the Senior Bowl – turns out that every team took at least one player from the Senior Bowl. Guess I’ll have to watch it next year.
And with the Lions pick - that started another run in the draft – a run of reach and bad picks. There’s a reason some teams are forever picking high in the draft – they suck at it. Cleveland took the overrated LB Mingo (LSU) at 6. Mingo took last year off tallying a Ziggyesque 4.5 sacks last year. Arizona took a good player in G Jonathan Cooper (UNC) at 7 but guards can be had much later in the draft – you don’t take them in the top 10.
St Louis made a nice move trading up to 8 to get WR Tavon Austin (WVU) and giving QB Sam Bradfrd some weapons now that Steven Jackson moved down to the ATL. The Jets in essence traded perennial pro bowler Derrel Revis for CB Dee Milliner (Bama) at 9. Milliner had a mere 6 INTs in his college career.
Another guard was taken at 10 with Chance Warmack (Bama) going to the Titan. San Diego at least took a guard who can play tackle by selecting Warmack’s teammate and former number one offensive line recruit in the nation - DJ Fluker at 10.
By now 8 of the first 11 picks were linemen. Since all linemen are projects this draft was shaping up to be as riskier than telling the Mrs. I’m having a Doofus Deck party on our anniversary.
Oakland having wisely traded out of the 3rd pick (Miami taking stud DE Dion Jordan (Oregon) before Chip Kelly got him at 4) and got Miami’s 12th and 43rd pick. So far so good but then they took the high risk CB DJ Hayden (Houston). Hayden nearly died in a practice injury back in November. If he stays out of ambulances this could be a
good pick.
The Jets were on the clock again at 13 and made a better selection with the versatile and explosive DE/DT Sheldon Richardson (Mizzou). That meant that one of the best DTs in the draft Star Lotulelei (Utah) fell right into Carolina’s lap. New Orleans also got a gift when S Kenny Vaccaro was still on the board at 15. With the Panthers and Saints making good picks on defense, Matt Ryan’s road to the NFC South title just got a whole lot harder.
But the dumb picking got back on track when Buffalo won the Matt Millen award for dumbest pick of the draft by taking QB EJ Manuel (FSU). Manuel is raw and makes bad decisions. If Buffalo needed a QB (they do) they should
have waited until day 2 to take Ryan Nassib or Geno Smith – or better yet take play makers this year and take a QB next year. The Bills are bound to have a top pick next year they way they draft.
Now it was time for the smart organizations to start picking up all the gifts that worked their way to the back of the draft. Pittsburgh made a tremendous pick over looking his neck injury and taking LB Jarvis Jones (UGA) to
team up with LaMarr Woodley. San Francisco traded up to 18 and solidified the weak link in their defense by taking S Eric Reid (LSU). The Giants probably reached a bit by taking OT/G Justin Pugh (Syracuse) at 19. Pugh can fill a lot of holes but could have been had later in the draft.
Then it was time for the runner up for the Millen award when Chicago took G Kyle Long. Not only is Long a guard (what was it about guards this year?) but he was second day talent at best. Cincinnati made an interesting pick with TE Tyler Eifert (ND) at 1. Eifert has nice hands and gives QB Andy Dalton book end TEs with Jermaine Greshem .
Atlanta once again traded away the future for a Super Bowl now by trading up 8 spots to 22 and nabbing CB Desmand Trufant (Washington). With CB Asante Samuel the defensive backfield for the Falcons is starting to shape up as a strength. No if they can only get pass rushing help.
The Vikings must have felt like a 5 year old at Christmas when DT Sharrif Floyd (Florida) and CB Xavier Rhodes (FSU) were available at 23 and 25. How they got by the teams ahead of them I’ll never know.
In between those stocking stuffers – the Colts took DE Bjoern Werner (FSU) at the magical 24th slot. Doesn’t seem that long ago Werner was being mocked in the top 5. If history is any guide he should be a Pro Bowler. Got get for Indy. And Green Bay showed why they are annual playoff contenders by taking DT Datone Jones (UCLA). While the Lions take on high potential high risk players The Pack takes proven commodities. Jones will be chasing Matt Stafford all over Lambeau field for years to come.
Thursday night we went over to Dobby’s to taste test the various levels of the Irish Soldiers and Heroes Irish Whiskey the gang had bought. Hans from the local wine shoppe brought over his whiskey expertise (recently downloaded) and a nice bottle of Red Breast.
Of course, Thursday was also the first night of the NFL draft. So I brought over the splitter Dobby needed to hook up his TV on the deck – only to find out he needed 25’ of cable too. Sorry Dobby, you need to get that yourself.
That meant that while the draft was going on I was relegated to monitoring my Iphone for the latest picks. About an hour into the draft Chris and I were guzzling our drinks so we can go over to his Outdoor Ampitheatre (with the rest of Hans’ Red Breast) and see the draft as it was meant to be seen – on TV. Good time.
The draft – not so good at least talent wise. The MAC had the
number 1 overall pick for the first time ever when OT Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) went to Kansas City. Much to the Lions misfortune it started a run on OT when 3 of the first four picks were blind siders (Luke Joeckel #2 and Lane Johnson #4).
With their top targets off the board and trading down proving to be a buyers market - the Leos decided to “grip it and rip it” taking DE Ezekiel Ansah from BYU. Ziggy is either going to be a 350 yard right down the middle or a deep slice into the giggly weeds. Detroit HC Jim Schwartz not only coached Ansah in the Senior Bowl but also used the Lions wide nine defense in the game. He must have liked what he saw. My take - Ansah is really raw and for a
supposed top five sack master he only had 4.5 sacks last year in his only year as a starter. The Lions better pack their ball retriever.
And speaking of the Senior Bowl – turns out that every team took at least one player from the Senior Bowl. Guess I’ll have to watch it next year.
And with the Lions pick - that started another run in the draft – a run of reach and bad picks. There’s a reason some teams are forever picking high in the draft – they suck at it. Cleveland took the overrated LB Mingo (LSU) at 6. Mingo took last year off tallying a Ziggyesque 4.5 sacks last year. Arizona took a good player in G Jonathan Cooper (UNC) at 7 but guards can be had much later in the draft – you don’t take them in the top 10.
St Louis made a nice move trading up to 8 to get WR Tavon Austin (WVU) and giving QB Sam Bradfrd some weapons now that Steven Jackson moved down to the ATL. The Jets in essence traded perennial pro bowler Derrel Revis for CB Dee Milliner (Bama) at 9. Milliner had a mere 6 INTs in his college career.
Another guard was taken at 10 with Chance Warmack (Bama) going to the Titan. San Diego at least took a guard who can play tackle by selecting Warmack’s teammate and former number one offensive line recruit in the nation - DJ Fluker at 10.
By now 8 of the first 11 picks were linemen. Since all linemen are projects this draft was shaping up to be as riskier than telling the Mrs. I’m having a Doofus Deck party on our anniversary.
Oakland having wisely traded out of the 3rd pick (Miami taking stud DE Dion Jordan (Oregon) before Chip Kelly got him at 4) and got Miami’s 12th and 43rd pick. So far so good but then they took the high risk CB DJ Hayden (Houston). Hayden nearly died in a practice injury back in November. If he stays out of ambulances this could be a
good pick.
The Jets were on the clock again at 13 and made a better selection with the versatile and explosive DE/DT Sheldon Richardson (Mizzou). That meant that one of the best DTs in the draft Star Lotulelei (Utah) fell right into Carolina’s lap. New Orleans also got a gift when S Kenny Vaccaro was still on the board at 15. With the Panthers and Saints making good picks on defense, Matt Ryan’s road to the NFC South title just got a whole lot harder.
But the dumb picking got back on track when Buffalo won the Matt Millen award for dumbest pick of the draft by taking QB EJ Manuel (FSU). Manuel is raw and makes bad decisions. If Buffalo needed a QB (they do) they should
have waited until day 2 to take Ryan Nassib or Geno Smith – or better yet take play makers this year and take a QB next year. The Bills are bound to have a top pick next year they way they draft.
Now it was time for the smart organizations to start picking up all the gifts that worked their way to the back of the draft. Pittsburgh made a tremendous pick over looking his neck injury and taking LB Jarvis Jones (UGA) to
team up with LaMarr Woodley. San Francisco traded up to 18 and solidified the weak link in their defense by taking S Eric Reid (LSU). The Giants probably reached a bit by taking OT/G Justin Pugh (Syracuse) at 19. Pugh can fill a lot of holes but could have been had later in the draft.
Then it was time for the runner up for the Millen award when Chicago took G Kyle Long. Not only is Long a guard (what was it about guards this year?) but he was second day talent at best. Cincinnati made an interesting pick with TE Tyler Eifert (ND) at 1. Eifert has nice hands and gives QB Andy Dalton book end TEs with Jermaine Greshem .
Atlanta once again traded away the future for a Super Bowl now by trading up 8 spots to 22 and nabbing CB Desmand Trufant (Washington). With CB Asante Samuel the defensive backfield for the Falcons is starting to shape up as a strength. No if they can only get pass rushing help.
The Vikings must have felt like a 5 year old at Christmas when DT Sharrif Floyd (Florida) and CB Xavier Rhodes (FSU) were available at 23 and 25. How they got by the teams ahead of them I’ll never know.
In between those stocking stuffers – the Colts took DE Bjoern Werner (FSU) at the magical 24th slot. Doesn’t seem that long ago Werner was being mocked in the top 5. If history is any guide he should be a Pro Bowler. Got get for Indy. And Green Bay showed why they are annual playoff contenders by taking DT Datone Jones (UCLA). While the Lions take on high potential high risk players The Pack takes proven commodities. Jones will be chasing Matt Stafford all over Lambeau field for years to come.
When you're ugly like us you just naturally got to be cool
Then Ellis took his cigar out and flashed a big grin as the second Tar Heel of the taken on the night, DT Sylvester Williams went to Denver. Williams gives the Broncos an interior pass rush that was sorely lacking last year.
The Vikings traded up to take their 3rd first round pick. With three picks you can afford to swing for the fences and they did with WR Cordarelle Patterson (Tenn). Patterson is raw but fills a need after Percy Harvin left for Seattle.
St Louis then was back on the clock and for the second straight year to a high risk character with LB Alec Ogletree (Georgia). Ogletree is talented but a knucklehead. If he straightens out they got a steal.
And the Millen third star of the draft goes to Dallas with C Travis Frederick (Wiscy). Sure, Dallas has struggled at center for years but Frederick was a third round talent. Terrible pick. Dallas doesn’t get the draft.
And with the last pick in the first round the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens select S Matt Elam Florida. A bit undersized Elam fits a need with the departure of future hall of famer Ed Reed.
And when the draft was all said and done the SEC dominated. A full 63 of the 254 (25%) were from the SEC. In fact, SEC East with 32 and SEC West with 31 beat the other conferences. The next best conference was also from
the south with the former basketball ACC logging 31 picks. A full 11 of those picks came from FSU – the most of any team.
The Big Ten cemented themselves as a basketball conference by having the second fewest picks by a BCS conference with 22 picks. Only the 8 team Big East had fewer with 18.
And while the draft was going on a legend of country music passed away. George "No Show" Jones battled the demon rum for years and was forever mixed up in bad relationships – all of which was reflected in his music. Waylon Jennings put it best when he sang “If we could all sound like we wanted to - we would sound like George Jones”
Here’s three of my favorites The Race is on, a song that pretty much sums up the Ol Possum's life Still doin time and considered the greatest country song of all time – the only song to win the CMA song of the year two years in a row He stopped loving her today OK, I’m wiping a tear and I’m sure George won’t mind if I raise a toast in his honor. We're going to miss you George.
The Vikings traded up to take their 3rd first round pick. With three picks you can afford to swing for the fences and they did with WR Cordarelle Patterson (Tenn). Patterson is raw but fills a need after Percy Harvin left for Seattle.
St Louis then was back on the clock and for the second straight year to a high risk character with LB Alec Ogletree (Georgia). Ogletree is talented but a knucklehead. If he straightens out they got a steal.
And the Millen third star of the draft goes to Dallas with C Travis Frederick (Wiscy). Sure, Dallas has struggled at center for years but Frederick was a third round talent. Terrible pick. Dallas doesn’t get the draft.
And with the last pick in the first round the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens select S Matt Elam Florida. A bit undersized Elam fits a need with the departure of future hall of famer Ed Reed.
And when the draft was all said and done the SEC dominated. A full 63 of the 254 (25%) were from the SEC. In fact, SEC East with 32 and SEC West with 31 beat the other conferences. The next best conference was also from
the south with the former basketball ACC logging 31 picks. A full 11 of those picks came from FSU – the most of any team.
The Big Ten cemented themselves as a basketball conference by having the second fewest picks by a BCS conference with 22 picks. Only the 8 team Big East had fewer with 18.
And while the draft was going on a legend of country music passed away. George "No Show" Jones battled the demon rum for years and was forever mixed up in bad relationships – all of which was reflected in his music. Waylon Jennings put it best when he sang “If we could all sound like we wanted to - we would sound like George Jones”
Here’s three of my favorites The Race is on, a song that pretty much sums up the Ol Possum's life Still doin time and considered the greatest country song of all time – the only song to win the CMA song of the year two years in a row He stopped loving her today OK, I’m wiping a tear and I’m sure George won’t mind if I raise a toast in his honor. We're going to miss you George.
