Doofus Manor was packed for the last Doofus Deck party After a lot of hard work by Mrs Doofus,
Doofus Manor passed inspection and the household goods moved into three different storage units. All that was left was the closing and one last party.
It was the final Doofus Deck Party and
befitting the moment it was full FPC colors. The gang broke out their black bowling shirts proudly sporting the FPC logo and a great time ensued. Attendance was amazing. Just about everyone made it and brought their kids if they were of age. Plenty were. Four Doofus kids made it.
Good thing the eldest Doofus Son made a
last minute beer run before the party started. There was nothing left the next day.
No doubt, we saved one of the best Doofus Deck party for the last one. The only thing that would have made it better would have been some football on the telly.
Now it is time to get the planning started on the Doofus Deck party 3.0. It will be the best yet.
As far as football – it’s time to recap the 2014 NFL draft. As always the draft is a fun event. It’s been on my bucket list
for a long time. But you got to keep in mind it’s more of an event then a game changer for teams. Outside a once a decade quarterback – no player is going to single handily change a team’s fortunes. And even then, a QB will take a couple of years to get a team into the playoffs. So blow off all the hype. Just see if the pick can be an improvement at
the position and contribute.
So here is my take on the First Round
Doofus Manor passed inspection and the household goods moved into three different storage units. All that was left was the closing and one last party.
It was the final Doofus Deck Party and
befitting the moment it was full FPC colors. The gang broke out their black bowling shirts proudly sporting the FPC logo and a great time ensued. Attendance was amazing. Just about everyone made it and brought their kids if they were of age. Plenty were. Four Doofus kids made it.
Good thing the eldest Doofus Son made a
last minute beer run before the party started. There was nothing left the next day.
No doubt, we saved one of the best Doofus Deck party for the last one. The only thing that would have made it better would have been some football on the telly.
Now it is time to get the planning started on the Doofus Deck party 3.0. It will be the best yet.
As far as football – it’s time to recap the 2014 NFL draft. As always the draft is a fun event. It’s been on my bucket list
for a long time. But you got to keep in mind it’s more of an event then a game changer for teams. Outside a once a decade quarterback – no player is going to single handily change a team’s fortunes. And even then, a QB will take a couple of years to get a team into the playoffs. So blow off all the hype. Just see if the pick can be an improvement at
the position and contribute.
So here is my take on the First Round
On the bucket list 1. Houston Texans – DT Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
Just before the draft there was talk of the Texans taking Khalil Mack and prior to that a QB. Only the gullible bought into those rumors. They were designed to keep the ratings up for ESPN. This pick was always going to be Clowney.
Clowney went from the number 1 recruit
coming out of high school to the number 1 pick in the draft. Not sure if that has ever happened before. Clowney won’t have to dominate right away with J.J. Watt playing just down the line.
This wasn’t a need pick but was the correct one. Excellent no brainer pick.
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) –OT Greg Robinson, Auburn
Another pick that was not a need pick. Jake Long is getting a bit long in the tooth and he will be an improvement over Joeseph Barksdale. Not as polished as OT Jake Mathews (Texas A&M) he has a better upside.
This was a solid pick – just not sure it was worth the overall number 2.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Blake Bortles, UCF – And the QB picks get started. The last time the Jags drafted a QB they made an all time blunder in taking Blaine Gabbert. Bortles will be better than Gabbert but that is a really low bar. None of the QB’s stood out this year and all are reaches in the first round but the NFL is what it is and you have to get the QB position right. And taking a QB from down the road in Orlando will help put butts in seats in Jacksonville. That is until they move to LA.
Overall – meh. The Jags will still suck.
4. Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) - WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson - The pressure will be on Watkins. The Bills traded a 1st in 2015 plus 4th round pick and the 9th pick in this year’s draft. I like Watkins. He and Clowney were the best players in the draft. Add in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson at RB and the Bills are now going to be one of the most exciting teams in the league. But E. J. Manuel is still the Bills QB so their impact may be limited.
Overall – great pick but did they overpay?
5. Oakland Raiders - OLB Khalil Mack, Buffalo – The next can’t miss LB. Sometimes that works out (see Luke Kuechly 9th overall to Carolina in 2012) and sometimes it doesn’t (see Aaron Curry 4th overall in 2009 to Seattle – a bust). So where will Mack end up? He was a stud at U Buffalo and had a pick six against Ohio State this year. But Baylor rolled up 781 yards on the Bulls. I think Mack is more likely to end up more like Curry than a Kuechly.
Overall – potential bust
6. Atlanta - OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M – Matthews is more polished than Robinson. The Falcons got the right guy at the right spot. He will be protecting Matty Ice’s blind side for years to come.
Overall – great pick.
7. Tampa Bay - WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M – The Bucs traded away Mike Williams so needed a bookend receiver for Vincent Jackson. Evans is still a bit raw on route running and he doesn’t get separation but has the potential to be a “throw it up and see what happens” type WR.
Overall – good not great pick.
8. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota) - CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State – Now I’m biased in that I think MSU’s Dennard was the best CB in the draft but Gilbert will be just fine. A tad small but blazing quick Gilbert will be a nice tandem with Joe Haden on the other side of the field. The Browns secondary will be one of the best in the league.
Overall – excellent pick
9. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland) - OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA – The Vikings needed a pass rusher after letting Jared Allen go to the Bears. Enter Anthony Barr. Barr is a tweener – part DE part LB. He will fit into Mike
Zimmer’s 4-3 scheme. A converted RB he is still raw.
Overall – good not great pick.
10. Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – The Lions just don’t get the draft. Don’t get me wrong. I think
Ebron will be a weapon. Ellis was pumping him up coming into the draft. He is more a tall WR than TE. Forget
about involving him in blocking schemes. But if you wanted a tight end – why resign Brandon Pettigrew while overpaying for Golden Tate too. And Ebron could have been had further back in the draft. Teams were trading up all day. The Lions should have gotten some value in addition to Ebron
Overall – Nice to have opposite Megatron but picked too early.
11. Tennessee Titans - OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan – I now hate the Titans. Lewan is a total dick and overrated. A prick on the field – he should have been suspended after the MSU game and a prick off the field – beating up on
OSU fans after another rivalry loss. If he was so good – where was he when the Spartans were sacking Devin Gardner seven times and had him spitting up blood.
Overall – A prick and a bust
12. New York Giants - WR Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU – The Giants needed a bookend for Victor Cruz now that Hakeem Nicks (another Tar Heel said a strutting Ellis) is gone to Indianapolis. But other better receiver could have
been had later on. The Giants should have traded back and taken either Marqise Lee or Brandin Cooks. Beckham is not a tall WR (5”11”) nor a blazer and he is weak with only 7 reps in the combine. Expect him t make a bigger impact on special teams.
Overall – wrong pick too early
13. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – Wow. The NFC West loves great defenses. A DL that already had Chris Long and Robert Quinn picks up Aaron Donald too. A tad small – he is blazing quick and a devastating pass rusher. With teams taking reaches ahead of them the Rams got a top ten pick at number 12.
Overall – Excellent pick
14. Chicago Bears - CB Kyle
Fuller, Virginia Tech – And
Dennard still waits. A bit of a tweener he is more safety like than the other
CBs in the draft. The pick allows the Bears to move an aging Charles Tillman
over to safety. He has good size (6’ 0”) and enough speed to be a decent CB.
Overall – solid pick
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - OLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State – The Steelers needed to upgrade the speed on defense and Shazier fits the bill. Shazier is not a thumper in the middle but was ultra productive at OSU due to his quicks and with bad intentions when he got there. He was picked a bit too early but will be a good fit in Steel Town
Overall – solid to excellent pick
16. Dallas Cowboys - OT/OG Zack Martin, Notre Dame – The Boys continue to build their OL through the draft. Last year they reached for center Travis Fredrick at number 31. This year they got a bit of value with Martin at
16. Still, Dallas had the third worst defense statistically all time last year and had bigger needs. Martin will be a solid starter for years to come.
Overall – good value pick - bad need pick.
17. Baltimore Ravens - OLB C.J. Mosley – Bama picks especially on defense have had high bust rates lately. The Ravens know defense but I think they made a mistake here. They needed secondary help more so taking the third
best LB seems a reach too. A solid tackler, Mosley is a bit small for the middle.
Overall – more likely to continue the Bama bust trend than star LB
18. New York Jets - FS Calvin Pryor, Louisville – The Jets were expected to take a WR here but when Pryor fell into their laps they didn’t hesitate. Pryor fits Ryan’s defense to a T. An excellent run stopper and intimidating thumper. With coaching from Rex expect fines a plenty.
Overall – great pick
19. Miami Dolphins - OT Ja’Wuan James, Tennessee – Miami needed help on the OL after all the drama last year. But this was a real stretch. James was second round material. He’ll stay on the right side in a non descript career
Overall – Better picks were available.
20. New Orleans Saints (from Cleveland) - WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon – Cooks is a great fit for the Saints aerial attack. Quick with great deep threat speed he gives Brees yet another weapon and take the heat off Jimmy Graham.
Overall – great value pick and great fit
Just before the draft there was talk of the Texans taking Khalil Mack and prior to that a QB. Only the gullible bought into those rumors. They were designed to keep the ratings up for ESPN. This pick was always going to be Clowney.
Clowney went from the number 1 recruit
coming out of high school to the number 1 pick in the draft. Not sure if that has ever happened before. Clowney won’t have to dominate right away with J.J. Watt playing just down the line.
This wasn’t a need pick but was the correct one. Excellent no brainer pick.
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) –OT Greg Robinson, Auburn
Another pick that was not a need pick. Jake Long is getting a bit long in the tooth and he will be an improvement over Joeseph Barksdale. Not as polished as OT Jake Mathews (Texas A&M) he has a better upside.
This was a solid pick – just not sure it was worth the overall number 2.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Blake Bortles, UCF – And the QB picks get started. The last time the Jags drafted a QB they made an all time blunder in taking Blaine Gabbert. Bortles will be better than Gabbert but that is a really low bar. None of the QB’s stood out this year and all are reaches in the first round but the NFL is what it is and you have to get the QB position right. And taking a QB from down the road in Orlando will help put butts in seats in Jacksonville. That is until they move to LA.
Overall – meh. The Jags will still suck.
4. Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland) - WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson - The pressure will be on Watkins. The Bills traded a 1st in 2015 plus 4th round pick and the 9th pick in this year’s draft. I like Watkins. He and Clowney were the best players in the draft. Add in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson at RB and the Bills are now going to be one of the most exciting teams in the league. But E. J. Manuel is still the Bills QB so their impact may be limited.
Overall – great pick but did they overpay?
5. Oakland Raiders - OLB Khalil Mack, Buffalo – The next can’t miss LB. Sometimes that works out (see Luke Kuechly 9th overall to Carolina in 2012) and sometimes it doesn’t (see Aaron Curry 4th overall in 2009 to Seattle – a bust). So where will Mack end up? He was a stud at U Buffalo and had a pick six against Ohio State this year. But Baylor rolled up 781 yards on the Bulls. I think Mack is more likely to end up more like Curry than a Kuechly.
Overall – potential bust
6. Atlanta - OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M – Matthews is more polished than Robinson. The Falcons got the right guy at the right spot. He will be protecting Matty Ice’s blind side for years to come.
Overall – great pick.
7. Tampa Bay - WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M – The Bucs traded away Mike Williams so needed a bookend receiver for Vincent Jackson. Evans is still a bit raw on route running and he doesn’t get separation but has the potential to be a “throw it up and see what happens” type WR.
Overall – good not great pick.
8. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota) - CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State – Now I’m biased in that I think MSU’s Dennard was the best CB in the draft but Gilbert will be just fine. A tad small but blazing quick Gilbert will be a nice tandem with Joe Haden on the other side of the field. The Browns secondary will be one of the best in the league.
Overall – excellent pick
9. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland) - OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA – The Vikings needed a pass rusher after letting Jared Allen go to the Bears. Enter Anthony Barr. Barr is a tweener – part DE part LB. He will fit into Mike
Zimmer’s 4-3 scheme. A converted RB he is still raw.
Overall – good not great pick.
10. Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – The Lions just don’t get the draft. Don’t get me wrong. I think
Ebron will be a weapon. Ellis was pumping him up coming into the draft. He is more a tall WR than TE. Forget
about involving him in blocking schemes. But if you wanted a tight end – why resign Brandon Pettigrew while overpaying for Golden Tate too. And Ebron could have been had further back in the draft. Teams were trading up all day. The Lions should have gotten some value in addition to Ebron
Overall – Nice to have opposite Megatron but picked too early.
11. Tennessee Titans - OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan – I now hate the Titans. Lewan is a total dick and overrated. A prick on the field – he should have been suspended after the MSU game and a prick off the field – beating up on
OSU fans after another rivalry loss. If he was so good – where was he when the Spartans were sacking Devin Gardner seven times and had him spitting up blood.
Overall – A prick and a bust
12. New York Giants - WR Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU – The Giants needed a bookend for Victor Cruz now that Hakeem Nicks (another Tar Heel said a strutting Ellis) is gone to Indianapolis. But other better receiver could have
been had later on. The Giants should have traded back and taken either Marqise Lee or Brandin Cooks. Beckham is not a tall WR (5”11”) nor a blazer and he is weak with only 7 reps in the combine. Expect him t make a bigger impact on special teams.
Overall – wrong pick too early
13. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – Wow. The NFC West loves great defenses. A DL that already had Chris Long and Robert Quinn picks up Aaron Donald too. A tad small – he is blazing quick and a devastating pass rusher. With teams taking reaches ahead of them the Rams got a top ten pick at number 12.
Overall – Excellent pick
14. Chicago Bears - CB Kyle
Fuller, Virginia Tech – And
Dennard still waits. A bit of a tweener he is more safety like than the other
CBs in the draft. The pick allows the Bears to move an aging Charles Tillman
over to safety. He has good size (6’ 0”) and enough speed to be a decent CB.
Overall – solid pick
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - OLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State – The Steelers needed to upgrade the speed on defense and Shazier fits the bill. Shazier is not a thumper in the middle but was ultra productive at OSU due to his quicks and with bad intentions when he got there. He was picked a bit too early but will be a good fit in Steel Town
Overall – solid to excellent pick
16. Dallas Cowboys - OT/OG Zack Martin, Notre Dame – The Boys continue to build their OL through the draft. Last year they reached for center Travis Fredrick at number 31. This year they got a bit of value with Martin at
16. Still, Dallas had the third worst defense statistically all time last year and had bigger needs. Martin will be a solid starter for years to come.
Overall – good value pick - bad need pick.
17. Baltimore Ravens - OLB C.J. Mosley – Bama picks especially on defense have had high bust rates lately. The Ravens know defense but I think they made a mistake here. They needed secondary help more so taking the third
best LB seems a reach too. A solid tackler, Mosley is a bit small for the middle.
Overall – more likely to continue the Bama bust trend than star LB
18. New York Jets - FS Calvin Pryor, Louisville – The Jets were expected to take a WR here but when Pryor fell into their laps they didn’t hesitate. Pryor fits Ryan’s defense to a T. An excellent run stopper and intimidating thumper. With coaching from Rex expect fines a plenty.
Overall – great pick
19. Miami Dolphins - OT Ja’Wuan James, Tennessee – Miami needed help on the OL after all the drama last year. But this was a real stretch. James was second round material. He’ll stay on the right side in a non descript career
Overall – Better picks were available.
20. New Orleans Saints (from Cleveland) - WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon – Cooks is a great fit for the Saints aerial attack. Quick with great deep threat speed he gives Brees yet another weapon and take the heat off Jimmy Graham.
Overall – great value pick and great fit
My new favorite Bengal 21. Green Bay Packers - FS Ha Ha
Clinton-Dix, Alabama – Unlike the Lions, the Packers thrive in the draft. Needing safety help they waited while everyone else passed on Dix and grabbed him. Will he be another Bama bust? Doubt it. At 21st pick he doesn’t need to be a star
but he will be productive and a force up the middle.
Overall – typical solid pick by the Pack.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia) - QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M – After all the pre-draft hype and the talk of the first day – someone was bound to make
the blunder. Leave it to Cleveland to blow it. Manziel is an over rated jerk. Smaller and not nearly as good as RGIII, Johnny Football will never last a full season. Good thing Hoyer is still on the roster. The Browns will be calling him
off the bench for a long time. The Browns have struggled taking a QB at 22 after taking Brady Quinn here in 2007 and Brandon Weeden in 2012.
Overall – Their biggest number 22 bust yet
23. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Dee Ford, Auburn – Another 1st round lineman pick for Auburn. Ford is also a DE LB
pash rushing tweener. A bit small for a DE and not quite athletic enough to be a true LB but he will be a good fit
opposite Tamba Hali. Still he was a reach at 23.
Overall – Not an every down player but productive. Not worth a number 1 though.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State – What can I say. A great pick. I am now a
Bengals fan. Dennard doesn’t have the athleticism of the other CBs picked ahead of him but he plays the game best. His eyes are always in the right spot and he rarely makes mistakes. Bengals got a great
one
Overall – outstanding pick
25. San Diego Chargers – CB Jason Verrett TCU - Needing a CB the Bolts missed their man by one pick. So they took the next best available. Too bad the drop off is more than one pick. Verret is small at 5’9’’ but he is lightning quick. He’ll contribute but not a first day pick
Overall – San Diego should have traded up.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis through Cleveland) - DE/OLB Marcus Smith, Louisville – Huh? Bradley Roby and Marqise Lee were available here and the Eagles take a late second round pick. That said he will
fit into Chip Kelley’s pass rushing scheme. But this was a big reach.
Overall – Ooops - can we have a do over?
27. Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans) - SS Deone Bucannon, Washington State – And the NFC West continues to go all D all the time. Bucannon will join a stud secondary with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. But Bucannon was a second round pick and more of a LB than SS.
Overall – Should have waited until day 2
28. Carolina Panthers - WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State – Definitely a position of need but why Benjamin over Lee? Tall at 6’5” he is not a good route runner and no real speed which means he doesn’t get separation. He dominated smaller CB but he will struggle against NFL secondaries
Overall – right position wrong guy - bust
29. New England Patriots - DE Dominique Easley, Florida – Easley was considered a top 10 pick until he blew his ACL. With teams looking to move up to get a QB NE could have traded back and gotten Easley much later. Huge
potential but a huge risk too.
Overall – way too early - check back in a couple of years and see if he stays healthy
30. San Francisco 49ers - SS Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois – with plenty of picks in their pocket the
Niners stayed put and then made a reach pick. Ward is a tall corner and a baller but doesn’t have great measurables. Once again the NFC West makes a defensive pick. Ward won’t need to be a star with all the great talent around him but he could have been taken later
Overall – He’ll play but won’t stand out.
31. Denver Broncos - CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State – Roby is more about measurable and upside than production. He was great in 2012 and then roundly disappointed in 2013. With Aqib Talib on the opposite side, Roby won’t have to take on the #1 WR.
Overall – If he wants to Roby can give the Bronco’s a tremendous secondary.
32. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) - QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville – Coming into the season the debate was whether Bridgewater on Clowney would be the number 1 pick overall. A mediocre season and disastrous pro day later and there was no debate. Bridgewater scared off many teams with his small stature and smaller hands but he is great at reading defenses and making decisions. He’ll be an instant upgrade over Christian Ponder.
Overall - Bridgewater will be a middle of the pack QB which is an improvement.
And here are a few facts about the draft I found interesting
First – here is the draft picks by conference
SEC – 49
ACC -- 42
Pac-12 -- 34
Big Ten -- 30
Big 12 -- 17
Mountain West --16
American -- 12
Conference USA -- 9
Independents -- 9
MAC -- 8
Sun Belt -- 4
Non Div 1A – 20
Since 1970, just four quarterbacks drafted in the first ten picks won a Super Bowl for the team that drafted them
No Texas Longhorns were taken in the NFL Draft for the first time since the presidential administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1937. The closest Texas came to having a pick was former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who finished his career at SMU, and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round at No. 214.
The punter that the Bears drafted (Pat O’Donnell Miami (FL) ) in Round 6 put up more reps on the bench than Jadeveon Clowney
Remember – the 2014 GO JUMBO trip is November 15, 2014 at the LVH Hotel.
Clinton-Dix, Alabama – Unlike the Lions, the Packers thrive in the draft. Needing safety help they waited while everyone else passed on Dix and grabbed him. Will he be another Bama bust? Doubt it. At 21st pick he doesn’t need to be a star
but he will be productive and a force up the middle.
Overall – typical solid pick by the Pack.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia) - QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M – After all the pre-draft hype and the talk of the first day – someone was bound to make
the blunder. Leave it to Cleveland to blow it. Manziel is an over rated jerk. Smaller and not nearly as good as RGIII, Johnny Football will never last a full season. Good thing Hoyer is still on the roster. The Browns will be calling him
off the bench for a long time. The Browns have struggled taking a QB at 22 after taking Brady Quinn here in 2007 and Brandon Weeden in 2012.
Overall – Their biggest number 22 bust yet
23. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Dee Ford, Auburn – Another 1st round lineman pick for Auburn. Ford is also a DE LB
pash rushing tweener. A bit small for a DE and not quite athletic enough to be a true LB but he will be a good fit
opposite Tamba Hali. Still he was a reach at 23.
Overall – Not an every down player but productive. Not worth a number 1 though.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State – What can I say. A great pick. I am now a
Bengals fan. Dennard doesn’t have the athleticism of the other CBs picked ahead of him but he plays the game best. His eyes are always in the right spot and he rarely makes mistakes. Bengals got a great
one
Overall – outstanding pick
25. San Diego Chargers – CB Jason Verrett TCU - Needing a CB the Bolts missed their man by one pick. So they took the next best available. Too bad the drop off is more than one pick. Verret is small at 5’9’’ but he is lightning quick. He’ll contribute but not a first day pick
Overall – San Diego should have traded up.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis through Cleveland) - DE/OLB Marcus Smith, Louisville – Huh? Bradley Roby and Marqise Lee were available here and the Eagles take a late second round pick. That said he will
fit into Chip Kelley’s pass rushing scheme. But this was a big reach.
Overall – Ooops - can we have a do over?
27. Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans) - SS Deone Bucannon, Washington State – And the NFC West continues to go all D all the time. Bucannon will join a stud secondary with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. But Bucannon was a second round pick and more of a LB than SS.
Overall – Should have waited until day 2
28. Carolina Panthers - WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State – Definitely a position of need but why Benjamin over Lee? Tall at 6’5” he is not a good route runner and no real speed which means he doesn’t get separation. He dominated smaller CB but he will struggle against NFL secondaries
Overall – right position wrong guy - bust
29. New England Patriots - DE Dominique Easley, Florida – Easley was considered a top 10 pick until he blew his ACL. With teams looking to move up to get a QB NE could have traded back and gotten Easley much later. Huge
potential but a huge risk too.
Overall – way too early - check back in a couple of years and see if he stays healthy
30. San Francisco 49ers - SS Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois – with plenty of picks in their pocket the
Niners stayed put and then made a reach pick. Ward is a tall corner and a baller but doesn’t have great measurables. Once again the NFC West makes a defensive pick. Ward won’t need to be a star with all the great talent around him but he could have been taken later
Overall – He’ll play but won’t stand out.
31. Denver Broncos - CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State – Roby is more about measurable and upside than production. He was great in 2012 and then roundly disappointed in 2013. With Aqib Talib on the opposite side, Roby won’t have to take on the #1 WR.
Overall – If he wants to Roby can give the Bronco’s a tremendous secondary.
32. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) - QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville – Coming into the season the debate was whether Bridgewater on Clowney would be the number 1 pick overall. A mediocre season and disastrous pro day later and there was no debate. Bridgewater scared off many teams with his small stature and smaller hands but he is great at reading defenses and making decisions. He’ll be an instant upgrade over Christian Ponder.
Overall - Bridgewater will be a middle of the pack QB which is an improvement.
And here are a few facts about the draft I found interesting
First – here is the draft picks by conference
SEC – 49
ACC -- 42
Pac-12 -- 34
Big Ten -- 30
Big 12 -- 17
Mountain West --16
American -- 12
Conference USA -- 9
Independents -- 9
MAC -- 8
Sun Belt -- 4
Non Div 1A – 20
Since 1970, just four quarterbacks drafted in the first ten picks won a Super Bowl for the team that drafted them
No Texas Longhorns were taken in the NFL Draft for the first time since the presidential administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1937. The closest Texas came to having a pick was former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who finished his career at SMU, and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round at No. 214.
The punter that the Bears drafted (Pat O’Donnell Miami (FL) ) in Round 6 put up more reps on the bench than Jadeveon Clowney
Remember – the 2014 GO JUMBO trip is November 15, 2014 at the LVH Hotel.
