We, as sports fans, are often guilty of shameless idolatry when it comes to those that play the games that we love so very much. We look at them, not as people, but as either some fantastical entity that can do no wrong, or as mindless robots whose sole existence is to play the game that they are paid so much to. We often forget that they are human beings and possess a life outside of sports. We also often forget that they, as human beings and not robots, suffer from a lot of the same day-to-day issues that most of us suffer from as well. Then there are cases that make us step back and remember "wow, they have problems just like the rest of us". Today, that case is the former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young.
Titus Young was a very talented wide receiver coming out of Boise State University. Not a lot of people were paying attention to Boise State when Young got there in 2008, but by the time he left Boise, they had become a relative powerhouse in college football and are a key factor, I believe, in the NCAA committee's decision to finally give the fans what they've been clamoring about for years, a playoff. Even during those early years at Boise though, it was evident that Young had some behavioral issues and might need someone to step in and seek counsel for him. He was suspended for most of his sophomore season after fighting with a teammate, but he was supremely talented at this game that we all love so much, so his issues were overlooked and probably attributed to "boys being boys" or something equally ridiculous.
Fast forward to 2011, when Young is drafted in the second round (despite having first round talent, he slipped in the draft due to the off-field issues) by the Detroit Lions. Of all the places for a troubled youth to end up, Detroit (both the city and the organization itself) is probably the worst place in all of the NFL. Detroit seems to be a haven, and not in the benevolent sense either, for behaviorally-suspect players. You need not look any further than the on-field antics of Ndamukong Suh to illustrate that point (though to be fair to Suh, he has never had any issues off the field). Young had no problems his rookie year of 2011, being used primarily as the teams number two wide receiver and having some pretty respectable contributions for a rookie, including a two-touchdown game against division rivals Green Bay.
Then the troubles started again for Young. During practices in May, the troubled wide receiver was sent home after sucker-punching a teammate. Fights happen all the time in practice, so I'm sure that not much was made of it, but given his prior history, this should have been a red-flag to the organization that maybe this kid has some issues with anger and should be prompted to seek counselling. Later on that season, he was sent home yet again, this time for the ever-ambiguous "conduct detrimental to the team". It was later reported that this "conduct" was him intentionally lining up in the wrong position multiple times after a verbal spat with his position coach over the teams usage of Young. As of right now, that would be the last time that Young plays in the NFL. In the weeks following the incident Young was declared inactive for a game, told to stay away from the team's practice facilities, put on injured reserve despite not being injured (a move that would end his season, and career in Detroit), and ultimately released following several tweets by Young expressing his desire to leave the team if he wasn't going to get playing time and production.
Now, it's easy to look at all of this and see a man who is a stuck up, snot nosed kid who just needs to grow up and handle the responsibilities that have been placed upon him. When I look at it though, I see a man who is desperately in need of someone to step in and say "You may not want this, but it's time that you got help for whatever issues are plaguing you. You don't have a choice, this is an intervention, you're getting the help". The need for this help became even more evident in the past month where, after being picked up on waivers by the St. Louis Rams (the only team to put in a claim on him), Young was arrested not once, not twice, but three times in the span of five days, two of which were on the same day. On May 5th, Young was arrested on suspicion of DUI. He was given a ticket, his car was impounded and he was free on bail. Approximately 14 hours later, Young was arrested again, this time for attempting to steal his car out of the impound lot. On May 10th, Young was arrested yet again this time for suspicion of burglary (again), resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer.
At what point does someone need to step in and tell this man that enough is enough? When will someone save him from himself? For the sake of Young, I hope it's sooner rather than later.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
NFL Preview: Miami Dolphins
With my preview of next year's draft out of the way, and with not much else going on in the world of sports that I care about, I figured I'd dedicate a large portion of my blog's future to preview each team in the NFL for the upcoming season. Being that I'm a Dolphins fan, what better team to start off my preview with than the team that I follow most closely? Here's my preview of the 2013 Miami Dolphins.
Key Losses: The Dolphins lost a couple of big name players in free agency this off-season, most notably former starting running back Reggie Bush and former starting left tackle Jake Long. Bush has departed to become the starter in Detroit and Long is off to St. Louis to protect Sam Bradford's blindside. The loss of Reggie Bush shouldn't be much of an issue for the Dolphin offense, as we're making the transition to a more pass-happy offense. Lamar Miller is being slated as Bush's replacement and by all accounts so far, he seems more than capable of filling the shoes. The loss of Long, however, is going to be much more of a problem for us. As it looks right now, Miami is going to slide last year's second round pick Johnathon Martin from right tackle over to the left side (the side he played on at Stanford protecting Andrew Luck). This is worrisome for most fans, as Martin didn't look very solid last season and needed to do some serious work in the off season to improve his strength and conditioning. All reports indicate that Martin has put in this work, so we'll see if it translates to his performance on the field.
Key Additions: Miami had a very active off season, adding a lot of fire power on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. On offense, Miami went out and signed Mike Wallace at the start of the free agency period. The addition of Wallace will give Miami something that they have not had in a long time, possibly since I started following the team back in the early 90's, a bona fide number 1 receiver. Wallace's speed alone should significantly open things up offensively, and he has put in work the last two seasons to become a more complete receiver instead of just a one-trick speedster. Miami also went out and signed Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller to bolster our passing game. Putting Gibson in the slot along with Wallace and Hartline on the outside will give Miami as starting trio of wide receivers that I feel can rival almost anyone in the NFL. Keller's addition at tight end will give Tannehill an athletic, large target to throw to in the redzone as well as down the seam. These guys should spell a marked improvement in both Ryan Tannehill's development as a young quarterback and to Miami's offense as a whole. On the defensive side of the ball, Miami's biggest addition was the signing of corner back Brent Grimes. Coming off of an Achilles tendon injury and being on the wrong side of 30 when the season starts, Grimes is a bit of a risk. But he has been a top-5 corner (when healthy) in the past and addresses what has been Miami's biggest need on the defensive side of the ball for several years now. With the addition of Grimes, along with Phillip Wheeler, Dannell Ellerbe, and the drafting of Dion Jordan, Miami should easily have a top-10 defense this season, if not better.
What it means: With all of the additions made to the offensive side of the ball, the front office has sent a clear message that the time is now to turn this franchise around. Miami has been mired in mediocrity for the better part of the last 15 years and it's time for that to stop. If Ryan Tannehill can progress in his quarterbacking the way that everyone expects him to with these new weapons, it's hard to imagine Miami being anything less than a 9-7 team this season. I'm hoping to see more along the lines of 11-5 and an AFC East championship, loosening the New England Patriots recent stranglehold on the division. 11-5 and a playoff birth is certainly within the realm of possibility for this team right now. I'm not willing to hop on the bandwagon and say this team is one of the best in the AFC, but we certainly have that potential.
Key Losses: The Dolphins lost a couple of big name players in free agency this off-season, most notably former starting running back Reggie Bush and former starting left tackle Jake Long. Bush has departed to become the starter in Detroit and Long is off to St. Louis to protect Sam Bradford's blindside. The loss of Reggie Bush shouldn't be much of an issue for the Dolphin offense, as we're making the transition to a more pass-happy offense. Lamar Miller is being slated as Bush's replacement and by all accounts so far, he seems more than capable of filling the shoes. The loss of Long, however, is going to be much more of a problem for us. As it looks right now, Miami is going to slide last year's second round pick Johnathon Martin from right tackle over to the left side (the side he played on at Stanford protecting Andrew Luck). This is worrisome for most fans, as Martin didn't look very solid last season and needed to do some serious work in the off season to improve his strength and conditioning. All reports indicate that Martin has put in this work, so we'll see if it translates to his performance on the field.
Key Additions: Miami had a very active off season, adding a lot of fire power on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. On offense, Miami went out and signed Mike Wallace at the start of the free agency period. The addition of Wallace will give Miami something that they have not had in a long time, possibly since I started following the team back in the early 90's, a bona fide number 1 receiver. Wallace's speed alone should significantly open things up offensively, and he has put in work the last two seasons to become a more complete receiver instead of just a one-trick speedster. Miami also went out and signed Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller to bolster our passing game. Putting Gibson in the slot along with Wallace and Hartline on the outside will give Miami as starting trio of wide receivers that I feel can rival almost anyone in the NFL. Keller's addition at tight end will give Tannehill an athletic, large target to throw to in the redzone as well as down the seam. These guys should spell a marked improvement in both Ryan Tannehill's development as a young quarterback and to Miami's offense as a whole. On the defensive side of the ball, Miami's biggest addition was the signing of corner back Brent Grimes. Coming off of an Achilles tendon injury and being on the wrong side of 30 when the season starts, Grimes is a bit of a risk. But he has been a top-5 corner (when healthy) in the past and addresses what has been Miami's biggest need on the defensive side of the ball for several years now. With the addition of Grimes, along with Phillip Wheeler, Dannell Ellerbe, and the drafting of Dion Jordan, Miami should easily have a top-10 defense this season, if not better.
What it means: With all of the additions made to the offensive side of the ball, the front office has sent a clear message that the time is now to turn this franchise around. Miami has been mired in mediocrity for the better part of the last 15 years and it's time for that to stop. If Ryan Tannehill can progress in his quarterbacking the way that everyone expects him to with these new weapons, it's hard to imagine Miami being anything less than a 9-7 team this season. I'm hoping to see more along the lines of 11-5 and an AFC East championship, loosening the New England Patriots recent stranglehold on the division. 11-5 and a playoff birth is certainly within the realm of possibility for this team right now. I'm not willing to hop on the bandwagon and say this team is one of the best in the AFC, but we certainly have that potential.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
2014 Draft Class Preview: Defensive Backs
In today's installment of my blog, we come to the end of my preview of the 2014 NFL draft class. In my last preview, I'm going to talk about the top defensive backs who should be available. This class is, along with every level of the defense, a very strong class. It is comprised of four cornerbacks and one safety. Let's take a look.
1.) Bradley Roby, Ohio State University*. Roby is the very definition of a prototypical corner. At 5'11" and 190 lbs, Roby has the size necessary to come up to the line of scrimmage and play phyiscal, man coverage. With a 40 yard dash time of under 4.5, he also possesses the speed necessary to recover when beat or to make a play on the ball when in a zone scheme. In his two years as a starter for the Buckeyes, Roby has tallied 110 tackles, 17 passes broken up, five interceptions, six tackles for a loss and one sack. These numbers illustrate that Roby is an all-around corner, possessing the skills to not only be a great cover corner, but also an ability to come up and make a tackle in the run game or to blitz the quarterback if necessary. This versatility is why Roby is the top rated corner in this draft and should be a top 10 pick.
2.) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon University*. Being only an inch shorter, the same weight, and running a significantly faster 40 time (4.39), it's hard for me not to put Ekpre-Olomu ahead of Roby for the top spot in this draft. His numbers would justify the switch too, with him notching 63 tackles, 16 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and four interceptions in his one season as a starter for the Ducks. The reason I have him here instead of ahead of Roby is that I feel like Roby is a better all-around corner. Ekpre-Olomu needs to work on his zone coverage skills along with working to be stronger and more physical, especially in run support. If he makes significant improvement to these aspects of his game, he could very well take the number 1 spot from Roby.
3.) Jason Verrett, Texas Christian University. I have Verrett rated higher than some other prognosticators (WalterFootball.com, for instance, has him rated their #9 corner), but I like what I have seen from the TCU product. He's got solid height at 5'10" and solid speed, running a sub 5-second 40 yard dash. He also has the production on the field to back up being ranked higher than 9, with 121 tackles, 20 passes broken up, seven interceptions, and a blocked kick. The issue with Verrett for me is his weight, he only weighs 175lbs. If he can get himself into the weight room and become a more physical presence to go along with his speed and instincts, he'll justify me having him in this slot. He is my sleeper at the position.
4.) Loucheiz Purifoy, University of Florida* Purifoy is undoubtedly the most physically gifted cornerback in this class. At 6'1" and 189lbs, Purifoy has nearly unprecedented size for the position, and with a 40 yard dash time of 4.42, he is also one of the fastest guys at the position. That combination gives me pause about having Purifoy so low on this list, but he doesn't have the production necessary for me to justify having him any higher. In his one year as a starter for the Gators, Purifoy amassed 51 tackles, five passes broken up and three forced fumbles. For a corner as physically gifted as Purifoy to not notch even one interception gives me reason to question whether or not he has the hands and ball skills necessary to justify being a top-flight corner.
5.) Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, University of Alabama*. The first, and only, safety to crack my top 5, Clinton-Dix has had an impressive run for the Crimson Tide. In his one year as a starter, Clinton-Dix totaled 37 tackles, five interceptions, four passes broken up, and a forced fumble. That kind of production from a safety is a huge bonus for any defense. Clinton-Dix has wonderful ball skills at the safety position and plays very well in space as a roving defender. Now that Clinton-Dix is the main man in the Crimson Tide secondary, I expect him to show that his production isn't just a product of playing with other great defensive backs. I'm looking for a huge year from Clinton-Dix.
So folks, there you have it. My look into the 2014 NFL draft is officially complete. We'll have to wait until next May (the NFL draft is being moved back several weeks due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall during the normal weekend, though there is a lot of talk that this may be a more permanent move in an effort to space out the NFL calendar more and make the league relevant in the month of May) to see if these predictions are anywhere close to coming to fruition. Until then, I had a lot of fun putting these articles together and I hope you had just as much fun reading them. I'm going to be off tomorrow for the Memorial Day holiday, regular posting will resume on Tuesday!
1.) Bradley Roby, Ohio State University*. Roby is the very definition of a prototypical corner. At 5'11" and 190 lbs, Roby has the size necessary to come up to the line of scrimmage and play phyiscal, man coverage. With a 40 yard dash time of under 4.5, he also possesses the speed necessary to recover when beat or to make a play on the ball when in a zone scheme. In his two years as a starter for the Buckeyes, Roby has tallied 110 tackles, 17 passes broken up, five interceptions, six tackles for a loss and one sack. These numbers illustrate that Roby is an all-around corner, possessing the skills to not only be a great cover corner, but also an ability to come up and make a tackle in the run game or to blitz the quarterback if necessary. This versatility is why Roby is the top rated corner in this draft and should be a top 10 pick.
2.) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon University*. Being only an inch shorter, the same weight, and running a significantly faster 40 time (4.39), it's hard for me not to put Ekpre-Olomu ahead of Roby for the top spot in this draft. His numbers would justify the switch too, with him notching 63 tackles, 16 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and four interceptions in his one season as a starter for the Ducks. The reason I have him here instead of ahead of Roby is that I feel like Roby is a better all-around corner. Ekpre-Olomu needs to work on his zone coverage skills along with working to be stronger and more physical, especially in run support. If he makes significant improvement to these aspects of his game, he could very well take the number 1 spot from Roby.
3.) Jason Verrett, Texas Christian University. I have Verrett rated higher than some other prognosticators (WalterFootball.com, for instance, has him rated their #9 corner), but I like what I have seen from the TCU product. He's got solid height at 5'10" and solid speed, running a sub 5-second 40 yard dash. He also has the production on the field to back up being ranked higher than 9, with 121 tackles, 20 passes broken up, seven interceptions, and a blocked kick. The issue with Verrett for me is his weight, he only weighs 175lbs. If he can get himself into the weight room and become a more physical presence to go along with his speed and instincts, he'll justify me having him in this slot. He is my sleeper at the position.
4.) Loucheiz Purifoy, University of Florida* Purifoy is undoubtedly the most physically gifted cornerback in this class. At 6'1" and 189lbs, Purifoy has nearly unprecedented size for the position, and with a 40 yard dash time of 4.42, he is also one of the fastest guys at the position. That combination gives me pause about having Purifoy so low on this list, but he doesn't have the production necessary for me to justify having him any higher. In his one year as a starter for the Gators, Purifoy amassed 51 tackles, five passes broken up and three forced fumbles. For a corner as physically gifted as Purifoy to not notch even one interception gives me reason to question whether or not he has the hands and ball skills necessary to justify being a top-flight corner.
5.) Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, University of Alabama*. The first, and only, safety to crack my top 5, Clinton-Dix has had an impressive run for the Crimson Tide. In his one year as a starter, Clinton-Dix totaled 37 tackles, five interceptions, four passes broken up, and a forced fumble. That kind of production from a safety is a huge bonus for any defense. Clinton-Dix has wonderful ball skills at the safety position and plays very well in space as a roving defender. Now that Clinton-Dix is the main man in the Crimson Tide secondary, I expect him to show that his production isn't just a product of playing with other great defensive backs. I'm looking for a huge year from Clinton-Dix.
So folks, there you have it. My look into the 2014 NFL draft is officially complete. We'll have to wait until next May (the NFL draft is being moved back several weeks due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall during the normal weekend, though there is a lot of talk that this may be a more permanent move in an effort to space out the NFL calendar more and make the league relevant in the month of May) to see if these predictions are anywhere close to coming to fruition. Until then, I had a lot of fun putting these articles together and I hope you had just as much fun reading them. I'm going to be off tomorrow for the Memorial Day holiday, regular posting will resume on Tuesday!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
2014 Draft Class Preview: Linebackers
Today's post (which should have been yesterday's, but life got in the way) will focus on the prospects who should be available at the linebacker position. This list will include both inside and outside linebackers, but not defensive ends who occasionally line up at outside linebacker. I wanted this list to be comprised of guys at their primary positions. So, with that said, let's take a look.
1.) Anthony Barr, University of California (Los Angeles). Barr had a standout season in 2012, his first at the linebacker position after playing his first two years at fullback. With 83 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five passes batted and four forced fumbles, Barr had an absolutely monster season and was only out-performed in the sack department at his position by Jarvis Jones, who was a first round pick in this year's draft. If Barr is able to replicate his performance from last year, I fully expect to see him come off the board very early in the draft. With that kind of production consistently, he may find himself in the top 10.
2.) C.J. Mosely, University of Alabama. Every Dolphins fan cringes (at the very least) at the very mention of the name Nick Saban. And for good reason, the man left in a shady way that left a very sour taste in all of us fans' mouths. That being said, you have to recognize that the man has developed some serious talent in his time with the Crimson Tide. Mosely will be the latest in the long line of talented Tide players to make an impact at the next level. Mosely tallied 107 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble last season. Mosely's real value is his skill in pass coverage, he has the speed and agility necessary to cover a back out in the flat or to cover a tight end down the seam, which will surely make him rise up teams draft board into the top twenty picks of the first round.
3.) Kyle Van Noy, Brigham Young University. Overshadowed by the meteoric rise of teammate Ziggy Ansah, Van Noy quietly developed into one of the best linebackers in the nation. His season finale against the San Diego State Aztecs was simply one of the best performances any player had in a game last season. He recorded eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two touchdowns. One came on a 17 yard interception return, and the other on a fumble recovery. All told last season, Noy ended up with 53 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, five passes batted, and two interceptions. He was also among the nations leaders in sacks with 13. The BYU product should find himself in the latter half of the first round, possibly higher if he exceeds last seasons production now that Ansah has moved on to the NFL and he's the main focus of the defense.
4.) Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky. A small-school product, Jackson has had an outstanding career for the Hilltoppers. He has totaled 231 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in his two years as a starter. Jackson hasn't just beat up on the small schools either, he has totaled 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his three games against SEC opponents (Kentucky and LSU his sophomore season and Alabama last year). A big, bruising linebacker, Jackson plays very well in run support and his personality lends him to being a leader on and off the field. Jackson should find himself in the late part of the first round or the early part of the second.
5.) A.J. Johnson, University of Tennessee*. A very versatile player, Johnson not only lined up at inside linebacker for the Volunteers, but he was also their short-yardage running back, running for 21 yards and six touchdowns on twelve carries. That kind of versatility exhibits an athleticism that every coach in the NFL covets. It also shows an ability to learn and adapt to wildly different responsibilities and reads, and gives him an insight into the mind of an offensive player that makes him a better linebacker. One of the only good things to happen to a bad Volunteer team last season, Johnson totaled 138 tackles, which was good for a tie for fifth in the nation. He also tallied 8.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one pass broken up. If Johnson can duplicate the production he had last year, he should find himself in the top of the second round, possibly sneaking into the first. If he decides not to make himself eligible for the draft and returns to Tennessee for a senior season, I anticipate talking about him next year as a top 20 possibility.
Five down, one position left. Next post: Defensive Backs. Stay tuned!
1.) Anthony Barr, University of California (Los Angeles). Barr had a standout season in 2012, his first at the linebacker position after playing his first two years at fullback. With 83 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five passes batted and four forced fumbles, Barr had an absolutely monster season and was only out-performed in the sack department at his position by Jarvis Jones, who was a first round pick in this year's draft. If Barr is able to replicate his performance from last year, I fully expect to see him come off the board very early in the draft. With that kind of production consistently, he may find himself in the top 10.
2.) C.J. Mosely, University of Alabama. Every Dolphins fan cringes (at the very least) at the very mention of the name Nick Saban. And for good reason, the man left in a shady way that left a very sour taste in all of us fans' mouths. That being said, you have to recognize that the man has developed some serious talent in his time with the Crimson Tide. Mosely will be the latest in the long line of talented Tide players to make an impact at the next level. Mosely tallied 107 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble last season. Mosely's real value is his skill in pass coverage, he has the speed and agility necessary to cover a back out in the flat or to cover a tight end down the seam, which will surely make him rise up teams draft board into the top twenty picks of the first round.
3.) Kyle Van Noy, Brigham Young University. Overshadowed by the meteoric rise of teammate Ziggy Ansah, Van Noy quietly developed into one of the best linebackers in the nation. His season finale against the San Diego State Aztecs was simply one of the best performances any player had in a game last season. He recorded eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two touchdowns. One came on a 17 yard interception return, and the other on a fumble recovery. All told last season, Noy ended up with 53 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, five passes batted, and two interceptions. He was also among the nations leaders in sacks with 13. The BYU product should find himself in the latter half of the first round, possibly higher if he exceeds last seasons production now that Ansah has moved on to the NFL and he's the main focus of the defense.
4.) Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky. A small-school product, Jackson has had an outstanding career for the Hilltoppers. He has totaled 231 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in his two years as a starter. Jackson hasn't just beat up on the small schools either, he has totaled 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his three games against SEC opponents (Kentucky and LSU his sophomore season and Alabama last year). A big, bruising linebacker, Jackson plays very well in run support and his personality lends him to being a leader on and off the field. Jackson should find himself in the late part of the first round or the early part of the second.
5.) A.J. Johnson, University of Tennessee*. A very versatile player, Johnson not only lined up at inside linebacker for the Volunteers, but he was also their short-yardage running back, running for 21 yards and six touchdowns on twelve carries. That kind of versatility exhibits an athleticism that every coach in the NFL covets. It also shows an ability to learn and adapt to wildly different responsibilities and reads, and gives him an insight into the mind of an offensive player that makes him a better linebacker. One of the only good things to happen to a bad Volunteer team last season, Johnson totaled 138 tackles, which was good for a tie for fifth in the nation. He also tallied 8.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one pass broken up. If Johnson can duplicate the production he had last year, he should find himself in the top of the second round, possibly sneaking into the first. If he decides not to make himself eligible for the draft and returns to Tennessee for a senior season, I anticipate talking about him next year as a top 20 possibility.
Five down, one position left. Next post: Defensive Backs. Stay tuned!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
2014 Draft Class Preview: Defensive Line
In today's look at the top players who should be available in the 2014 NFL draft class, we shift our focus to the defensive side of the ball. This year's draft was a defense heavy class, with most of the best players coming from this side of the ball. I see that trend continuing this year, starting with the presumed number one overall pick, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Let's take a look at who I think makes up the top 5 prospects on the defensive line.
1.) Jadeveon Clowney, University of South Carolina*. As I previously mention, all conventional wisdom points to Clowney being the first player selected in the 2014 draft, pretty much regardless of who ends up with the pick. Clowney would most likely have been the first overall pick in this year's draft had he been eligible. I would venture to say that the same thing goes for the year prior to that too. Clowney has been a top-tier NFL talent since coming out of high school, and I would venture to say that he has the potential to become the best defensive end since Bruce Smith. If you need convincing, just go to YouTube and search for the hit he put on Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl back in January. Enough said.
2.) Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame*. Another defensive end, Tuitt was instrumental in leading the Fighting Irish to the National Championship game last season. Without the performances turned in by Tuitt and his partner at defensive tackle Louis Nix, Manti Te'o would not have gone on to become the phenomenon that he did. Without those two guys eating up blockers and rushing the passer, Te'o is just another guy. Tuitt will get a chance to prove this year that he deserves just as much (if not more) recognition for the Notre Dame resurgence as Te'o got last season. If Tuitt meets or exceeds his numbers from last year, I expect him to be taken in the top half of the first round.
3.) Louis Nix, Notre Dame. As previously mentioned, Nix (along with Tuitt) was a lynch-pin in the success and recent resurgence of the Notre Dame football program. Nix is a beast in the middle, measuring 6'3" and 340lbs. Nix eats blockers with the best of them, freeing up guys like Tuitt and (last year) Te'o to make big plays. Every defense needs a guy like Nix. But Nix's value isn't only in his ability to be a big body in the middle. He is also quite agile for a man of his size and is very capable in both the pass and run game. With 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and six passes batted down, Nix has an all-around game that should see him selected with Clowney and his Notre Dame counterpart in the top half of the first round.
4.) Anthony Johnson, Louisiana State University*. Johnson is the next in a long line of great defensive players to come from the SEC powerhouse that is LSU. Following in the footsteps of guys like Michael Brockers, Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, and others, Johnson has a mighty big legacy to uphold, and he has all the talent to do just that. At 6'3 and 304 lbs, Johnson has the size to play either inside or outside. And he has the speed and athleticism to do both very well. With his combination of size, speed, and God given ability, it's hard for me not to put Johnson higher on this list. The only reason I have him at number 4 on this list instead of number 2 or 3 is that he's only been a starter one year. I want to see him produce for one more season before I put him ahead of the likes of Nix and Tuitt. If he has the kind of year that he is capable of having this year, I may have to revise this list and bump him up.
5.) Timmy Jernigan, Florida State University*. Jernigan has all the physical tools to be a force to be reckoned with, standing 6'2" and weighing in at just a shade under 300lbs, while also running a 40 yard dash in under 5 seconds. After a disappointing 2012 that saw Jernigan be overshadowed by the likes of Bjoern Werner, Tank Carradine, and Everette Dawkins, Jernigan looks to redeem himself and equal or surpass the numbers he posted in his breakout freshman season. That season (2011), Jernigan led the D-line with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. If Jernigan can expand those numbers now that he is the "big man on campus" so to speak, he should find his way into the latter half of the first round.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the next to last segment in my look at the 2014 NFL draft, when I break down the top 5 linebacker prospects.
1.) Jadeveon Clowney, University of South Carolina*. As I previously mention, all conventional wisdom points to Clowney being the first player selected in the 2014 draft, pretty much regardless of who ends up with the pick. Clowney would most likely have been the first overall pick in this year's draft had he been eligible. I would venture to say that the same thing goes for the year prior to that too. Clowney has been a top-tier NFL talent since coming out of high school, and I would venture to say that he has the potential to become the best defensive end since Bruce Smith. If you need convincing, just go to YouTube and search for the hit he put on Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl back in January. Enough said.
2.) Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame*. Another defensive end, Tuitt was instrumental in leading the Fighting Irish to the National Championship game last season. Without the performances turned in by Tuitt and his partner at defensive tackle Louis Nix, Manti Te'o would not have gone on to become the phenomenon that he did. Without those two guys eating up blockers and rushing the passer, Te'o is just another guy. Tuitt will get a chance to prove this year that he deserves just as much (if not more) recognition for the Notre Dame resurgence as Te'o got last season. If Tuitt meets or exceeds his numbers from last year, I expect him to be taken in the top half of the first round.
3.) Louis Nix, Notre Dame. As previously mentioned, Nix (along with Tuitt) was a lynch-pin in the success and recent resurgence of the Notre Dame football program. Nix is a beast in the middle, measuring 6'3" and 340lbs. Nix eats blockers with the best of them, freeing up guys like Tuitt and (last year) Te'o to make big plays. Every defense needs a guy like Nix. But Nix's value isn't only in his ability to be a big body in the middle. He is also quite agile for a man of his size and is very capable in both the pass and run game. With 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and six passes batted down, Nix has an all-around game that should see him selected with Clowney and his Notre Dame counterpart in the top half of the first round.
4.) Anthony Johnson, Louisiana State University*. Johnson is the next in a long line of great defensive players to come from the SEC powerhouse that is LSU. Following in the footsteps of guys like Michael Brockers, Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, and others, Johnson has a mighty big legacy to uphold, and he has all the talent to do just that. At 6'3 and 304 lbs, Johnson has the size to play either inside or outside. And he has the speed and athleticism to do both very well. With his combination of size, speed, and God given ability, it's hard for me not to put Johnson higher on this list. The only reason I have him at number 4 on this list instead of number 2 or 3 is that he's only been a starter one year. I want to see him produce for one more season before I put him ahead of the likes of Nix and Tuitt. If he has the kind of year that he is capable of having this year, I may have to revise this list and bump him up.
5.) Timmy Jernigan, Florida State University*. Jernigan has all the physical tools to be a force to be reckoned with, standing 6'2" and weighing in at just a shade under 300lbs, while also running a 40 yard dash in under 5 seconds. After a disappointing 2012 that saw Jernigan be overshadowed by the likes of Bjoern Werner, Tank Carradine, and Everette Dawkins, Jernigan looks to redeem himself and equal or surpass the numbers he posted in his breakout freshman season. That season (2011), Jernigan led the D-line with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. If Jernigan can expand those numbers now that he is the "big man on campus" so to speak, he should find his way into the latter half of the first round.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the next to last segment in my look at the 2014 NFL draft, when I break down the top 5 linebacker prospects.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
2014 Draft Class Preview: Wide Receivers
Today we reach the halfway point of our look into the top players who should be available in the 2014 NFL Draft. This post will finish off the offensive side of the ball, looking at the top 5 wide receivers. In my opinion, this class is one of the weakest classes I have ever seen at this position and I had a hard time filling out every spot. I'm in no way confident with my predictions here beyond the first two. With that said, let's take a look:
1.) Marqise Lee, University of Southern California*. Lee is head and shoulders above everyone else at his position in this class. Had a few other wide receivers stayed in school for their senior seasons that may be a different story, but with the crop expected to be in this class, he dominates. Lee has had the privilege of working with one of the great college quarterbacks in Matt Barkley. With his departure to the NFL, it's time for Lee to step up and show us that his previous successes are a product of him and not simply a reflection of how great Barkley was.
2.) Sammy Watkins, University of Clemson*. Were it not for a disappointing season last year, Watkins wouldn't be on this list at all, as he would have declared for the draft and would be fighting for a starting position in the NFL. But, after an arrest that led to a two game suspension, and subsequently seeing his roster spot be taken by De'Andre Hopkins, Watkins is back to re-establish himself as a top-flight receiving prospect. Watkins has all the physical tools you want in a wide receiver, being listed at 6'1" and 200 lbs, while also running a 4.4 flat in the 40 yard dash. That combination of size and speed is something that every coach looks for, so if Watkins can get over his off-the-field issues, he should, along with Lee, see himself chosen in the top half of the first round of next year's draft.
3.) Austin Seferian-Jenkins, University of Washington*. Now here is where you're probably thinking (if you follow college football, that is) "But Chris, Seferian-Jenkins is a tight end, you said this was about wide receivers". And you would be right, Seferian-Jenkins is, in fact, listed as a tight end. But with the way that tight ends are used in today's offenses, they may as well be another wide receiver. The elite tight ends in today's NFL put up just as much production as the top wide receivers, and for this reason, I have no qualms about putting the top college tight end at number three. Seferian-Jenkins is a freakish athlete, being listed at 6'6", 266 lbs and still running a sub 4.6 40 yard dash. As with Watkins, that rare combination of size and speed will all but ensure that Seferian-Jenkins joins the two previously listed wide receivers as first round selections.
4.) Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt University. This is where the class starts to fall apart. After the first three guys, I'm not sure that I see anyone else being selected in the first round. If there is another one though, I think it's most likely to be Matthews. Matthews is relatively unknown, playing for one of the bottom feeder universities, but he has managed some pretty impressive production in his time there. In the 2012 season, Matthews hauled in 94 catches for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. In his sophomore season (2011) he managed to bring in 41 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Matthews has some excellent hands and appears to be a very accomplished route runner. Oh, and his cousin is Jerry Rice, so he has some impressive genetics on his side as well
5.) Brandon Coleman, Rutgers University*. Coleman is unlikely to be a first round pick, but I have to have someone to round out the top five and in my opinion, he's the next in line. Built more like a tight end at 6'6 and 220 lbs, Coleman is a large target and should be quite valuable as a red-zone target. The biggest question mark about Coleman, and the reason he's not expected to be a first round pick, is his speed. Unlike his similar-sized tight end counterpart Seferian-Jenkins, Coleman runs in the 4.6+ range in the 40 yard dash, which as a wide receiver will make teams shy away from taking him. He has put up good production in his time at Rutgers, but unless he can do something to improve his speed, he will fall to the second day of the draft.
And that does it for the offensive side of the ball. Tomorrow we'll start our look into the defensive side, including the consensus number one overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney. Until tomorrow!
1.) Marqise Lee, University of Southern California*. Lee is head and shoulders above everyone else at his position in this class. Had a few other wide receivers stayed in school for their senior seasons that may be a different story, but with the crop expected to be in this class, he dominates. Lee has had the privilege of working with one of the great college quarterbacks in Matt Barkley. With his departure to the NFL, it's time for Lee to step up and show us that his previous successes are a product of him and not simply a reflection of how great Barkley was.
2.) Sammy Watkins, University of Clemson*. Were it not for a disappointing season last year, Watkins wouldn't be on this list at all, as he would have declared for the draft and would be fighting for a starting position in the NFL. But, after an arrest that led to a two game suspension, and subsequently seeing his roster spot be taken by De'Andre Hopkins, Watkins is back to re-establish himself as a top-flight receiving prospect. Watkins has all the physical tools you want in a wide receiver, being listed at 6'1" and 200 lbs, while also running a 4.4 flat in the 40 yard dash. That combination of size and speed is something that every coach looks for, so if Watkins can get over his off-the-field issues, he should, along with Lee, see himself chosen in the top half of the first round of next year's draft.
3.) Austin Seferian-Jenkins, University of Washington*. Now here is where you're probably thinking (if you follow college football, that is) "But Chris, Seferian-Jenkins is a tight end, you said this was about wide receivers". And you would be right, Seferian-Jenkins is, in fact, listed as a tight end. But with the way that tight ends are used in today's offenses, they may as well be another wide receiver. The elite tight ends in today's NFL put up just as much production as the top wide receivers, and for this reason, I have no qualms about putting the top college tight end at number three. Seferian-Jenkins is a freakish athlete, being listed at 6'6", 266 lbs and still running a sub 4.6 40 yard dash. As with Watkins, that rare combination of size and speed will all but ensure that Seferian-Jenkins joins the two previously listed wide receivers as first round selections.
4.) Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt University. This is where the class starts to fall apart. After the first three guys, I'm not sure that I see anyone else being selected in the first round. If there is another one though, I think it's most likely to be Matthews. Matthews is relatively unknown, playing for one of the bottom feeder universities, but he has managed some pretty impressive production in his time there. In the 2012 season, Matthews hauled in 94 catches for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. In his sophomore season (2011) he managed to bring in 41 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Matthews has some excellent hands and appears to be a very accomplished route runner. Oh, and his cousin is Jerry Rice, so he has some impressive genetics on his side as well
5.) Brandon Coleman, Rutgers University*. Coleman is unlikely to be a first round pick, but I have to have someone to round out the top five and in my opinion, he's the next in line. Built more like a tight end at 6'6 and 220 lbs, Coleman is a large target and should be quite valuable as a red-zone target. The biggest question mark about Coleman, and the reason he's not expected to be a first round pick, is his speed. Unlike his similar-sized tight end counterpart Seferian-Jenkins, Coleman runs in the 4.6+ range in the 40 yard dash, which as a wide receiver will make teams shy away from taking him. He has put up good production in his time at Rutgers, but unless he can do something to improve his speed, he will fall to the second day of the draft.
And that does it for the offensive side of the ball. Tomorrow we'll start our look into the defensive side, including the consensus number one overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney. Until tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
2014 Draft Class Preview: Running Backs
Two weeks ago I started my preview into the 2014 draft class. After that post I went through some life issues that forced me to suspend my blog. Now that my life issues have been sorted out, I'm ready to continue where I left off, with the running back class for the 2014 draft. But before I get to that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people who have helped me out in the last two weeks. To James Bozeman, Robert Parker, Brendan Toungate, and Elinor Levin thank you guys for all the support you have given me! Now, without further adieu, I present to you the top 5 running backs in next year's draft.
1.) De'Anthony Thomas, University of Oregon*. This year's draft class was a historically weak class for the running back position, with none being taken in the first round for the first time in over 40 years. In my opinion, next year's class isn't much stronger than this one. Running back is quickly becoming one of the most overlooked and under-developed positions in the NFL. If three of these guys are selected in the first round, I will be shocked. That being said, I think that Thomas is by far the top of the class. He's had a pretty good first two years splitting time with Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James. Now it's Thomas' turn to show what he can do as a featured back. If he can expand on what he was able to do the last two seasons, he should be the first running back off the board next April.
2.) Ka'Deem Carey, University of Arizona*. Carey isn't far behind Thomas for the top spot in this class. He took the college football landscape by storm last year, coming from relative obscurity to lead the nation with nearly 2,000 yards while maintaining a 6.4 yards per carry average. Though Carey does not possess ideal size, if he is able to add 10lbs or so to his frame and maintain his quickness, he may make a strong case for leapfroging Thomas into the number one position.
3.) Lache Seastrunk, University of Baylor*. Seastrunk possesses a bit more size than Carey does, so if Carey doesn't add the bulk that he needs to, Seastrunk could easily surpass him. The top three running backs in this class. With the departures RGIII, Nick Florence, Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams, Seastrunk should be the number one option for the Baylor Bears. With 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns (including 843 in the final six games) last season as a second or third option, his numbers should increase significantly this season. If he improves upon his numbers from last season and reaches his own personal goal of winning the Heisman Trophy, he could easily become the number one guy on most people's boards. I have Seastrunk as the number 3 guy because he has a bit of a tendency to dance in the hole and not to just trust his instincts and run downhill.
4.) Damien Williams, University of Oklahoma. Much like Seastrunk at Baylor, Williams has been a second or third option in the past, but should finally get the chance to be the focal point of the Sooner's offense. At 5'11" and 215lbs, Williams has the best size of any running back in this class, and while he does have nice elusiveness and quickness for his size, he isn't quite as complete of a running back as the previously mentioned prospects.
5.) Silas Redd, University of Southern California*. In light of the scandal at Penn State revolving around former coach Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State running back decided to jump ship and transfer to USC. In his first season with the Trojans, Redd amassed 905 yards and nine touchdowns. In his previous season at Penn State, Redd ran for 1,200+ yards and seven touchdown, so Redd does have the potential to be a successful running back. The knock on Redd comes when you look at his receiving ability. He doesn't catch the ball often out of the backfield, and at the next level he's going to be asked to do that. Until he can display this ability, he can't be rated any higher. If he does though, he may leapfrog over Williams.
There you have it folks, the top 5 running back prospects in next year's draft. Four out of the five are underclassmen, which is pretty much par for the course when it comes to running backs. It's a position that gets beat up a lot, so they have to get their money when they can. Tomorrow I'll look at the top 5 wide receivers. Come back tomorrow to see who is ranked and where!
1.) De'Anthony Thomas, University of Oregon*. This year's draft class was a historically weak class for the running back position, with none being taken in the first round for the first time in over 40 years. In my opinion, next year's class isn't much stronger than this one. Running back is quickly becoming one of the most overlooked and under-developed positions in the NFL. If three of these guys are selected in the first round, I will be shocked. That being said, I think that Thomas is by far the top of the class. He's had a pretty good first two years splitting time with Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James. Now it's Thomas' turn to show what he can do as a featured back. If he can expand on what he was able to do the last two seasons, he should be the first running back off the board next April.
2.) Ka'Deem Carey, University of Arizona*. Carey isn't far behind Thomas for the top spot in this class. He took the college football landscape by storm last year, coming from relative obscurity to lead the nation with nearly 2,000 yards while maintaining a 6.4 yards per carry average. Though Carey does not possess ideal size, if he is able to add 10lbs or so to his frame and maintain his quickness, he may make a strong case for leapfroging Thomas into the number one position.
3.) Lache Seastrunk, University of Baylor*. Seastrunk possesses a bit more size than Carey does, so if Carey doesn't add the bulk that he needs to, Seastrunk could easily surpass him. The top three running backs in this class. With the departures RGIII, Nick Florence, Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams, Seastrunk should be the number one option for the Baylor Bears. With 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns (including 843 in the final six games) last season as a second or third option, his numbers should increase significantly this season. If he improves upon his numbers from last season and reaches his own personal goal of winning the Heisman Trophy, he could easily become the number one guy on most people's boards. I have Seastrunk as the number 3 guy because he has a bit of a tendency to dance in the hole and not to just trust his instincts and run downhill.
4.) Damien Williams, University of Oklahoma. Much like Seastrunk at Baylor, Williams has been a second or third option in the past, but should finally get the chance to be the focal point of the Sooner's offense. At 5'11" and 215lbs, Williams has the best size of any running back in this class, and while he does have nice elusiveness and quickness for his size, he isn't quite as complete of a running back as the previously mentioned prospects.
5.) Silas Redd, University of Southern California*. In light of the scandal at Penn State revolving around former coach Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State running back decided to jump ship and transfer to USC. In his first season with the Trojans, Redd amassed 905 yards and nine touchdowns. In his previous season at Penn State, Redd ran for 1,200+ yards and seven touchdown, so Redd does have the potential to be a successful running back. The knock on Redd comes when you look at his receiving ability. He doesn't catch the ball often out of the backfield, and at the next level he's going to be asked to do that. Until he can display this ability, he can't be rated any higher. If he does though, he may leapfrog over Williams.
There you have it folks, the top 5 running back prospects in next year's draft. Four out of the five are underclassmen, which is pretty much par for the course when it comes to running backs. It's a position that gets beat up a lot, so they have to get their money when they can. Tomorrow I'll look at the top 5 wide receivers. Come back tomorrow to see who is ranked and where!
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