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Return of the Big Uglies – The Grand Finale

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:02:12 +0000

- submitted by Long Ball, DOF

How did you do on the Chapter 4 test? Ready to take it a step further? OK, you have just been promoted to General Manager of your favorite NFL team – there’s a reason you got the job, your team has not been doing well, you have an impatient billionaire owner and you have to get value on your first draft – or there may not be a second draft (how’s that for impatient?)

While it’s true that drafts are measured by later-round gems, you cannot afford to miss on any of your choices in the first 3 rounds. You are well aware of the failure rate of early round selections invested in quarterbacks and wide receivers, running backs have become somewhat of a commodity, and then, out of the blue, you remember “Professor Long Ball used to extol the virtues of the Big Uglies!”

So, do we go offensive or defensive with our Big Uglies? Let’s start the research with the first three rounds of the 2009 Draft, offensive linemen first then defensive linemen:

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 2 Jason Smith OT Baylor Rams / Back-up

1 6 Andre Smith OT Alabama Bengals / Back-up

1 8 Eugene Monroe OT Virginia Jaguars / Starter

1 21 Alex Mack OC California Browns / Starter

1 23 Michael Oher OT Mississippi Ravens / Starter

1 28 Eric Wood OC Louisville Bills / Starter

2 39 Eben Britton OT Arizona Jaguars / Starter

2 49 Max Unger OT Oregon Seahawks / Starter

2 51 Andy Levitre OG Oregon State Bills / Starter

2 54 Phil Loadholt OT Oklahoma Vikings / Starter

2 58 Sebastian Vollmer OT Houston Patriots / Back-up

2 60 William Beatty OT Connecticut Giants / Back-up

3 75 Robert Brewster OT Ball State Cowboys / Injured

3 77 Antoine Caldwell OC Alabama Texans / Back-up

3 78 Louis Vasquez OG Texas Tech Chargers / Starter

3 79 Kraig Urbik OT Wisconsin Steelers / Back-up

Hmmm, pretty impressive – 9 first year starters, 6 solid back-ups and only 1 lost year due to injury. OK, how about the defense?

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 3 Tyson Jackson DE LSU Chiefs / Starter

1 9 B.J. Raji NT Boston College Packers / Starter

1 11 Aaron Maybin DE Penn State Bills / Back-up

1 13 Brian Orakpo DE Texas Redskins / Starter

1 16 Larry English DE Northern Illinois Chargers / Back-up

1 24 Peria Jerry DT Mississippi Falcons / Back-up

1 32 Ziggy Hood DT Missouri Steelers / Back-up

2 40 Ron Brace DT Boston College Patriots / Back-up

2 43 Everette Brown DE Florida State Panthers / Back-up

2 46 Connor Barwin DE Cincinnati Texans / Back-up

2 52 David Veikune DE Hawaii Browns / Back-up

2 56 Fili Moala DT USC Colts / Back-up

2 57 Paul Kruger DE Utah Ravens / Back-up

2 62 Sen’Derrick Marks DT Auburn Titans / Back-up

2 63 Cody Brown DE Connecticut Cardinals / Injured

3 67 Alex Magee DT Purdue Chiefs / Back-up

3 68 Jarron Gilbert DT San Jose State Bears / Back-up

3 70 Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech Bengals / Back-up

3 71 Matt Shaughnessy DE Wisconsin Raiders / Back-up

3 72 Terrance Knighton DT Temple Jaguars / Starter

3 81 Roy Miller DT Texas Bucs / Back-up

3 93 Corvey Irvin DT Georgia Panthers / Injured

Not quite as impressive – 4 first year starters, 16 back-ups and 2 lost to injury. OK then, but sometimes it takes a year or two for a player to get used to the speed of the NFL game, and one year is a pretty small sample size. Let’s see what happened to the players drafted in 2008:

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 1 Jake Long OT Michigan Dolphins / Starter

1 12 Ryan Clady OT Boise State Broncos / Starter

1 14 Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt Bears / Starter

1 15 Branden Albert OT Virginia Chiefs / Starter

1 17 Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College Lions / Starter

1 19 Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh Panthers / Starter

1 21 Sam Baker OT USC Falcons / Starter

1 26 Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech Texans / Starter

2 39 Chilo Rachal OG USC 49’ers / Starter

2 59 Mike Pollak OG Arizona State Colts / Starter

3 65 John Greco OT Toledo Rams / Back-up

3 83 Jeremy Zuttah OG Rutgers Bucs / Starter

3 96 Chad Rinehart OT Northern Iowa Redskins / Back-up

3 99 Oniel Cousins OT UTEP Ravens / Back-up

A footnote is required for Mike Pollak – he started his rookie year, but was replaced after the first 7 games the second year by yet another rookie, Kyle DeVan. Nevertheless, whether it’s 10 or 11 starters versus 3 or 4 back-ups, those are still pretty good odds.

On the defensive side of the ball:

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 2 Chris Long DE Virginia Rams / Starter

1 5 Glenn Dorsey DT LSU Chiefs / Starter

1 7 Sedrick Ellis DT USC Saints / Starter

1 8 Derrick Harvey DE Florida Jaguars / Starter

1 28 Lawrence Jackson DE USC Seahawks / Starter

1 29 Kentwan Balmer DE North Carolina 49’ers / Back-up

2 32 Phillip Merling DE Clemson Dolphins / Back-up

2 47 Trevor Laws DT Notre Dame Eagles / Back-up

2 50 Calais Campbell DE Miami (Fla) Cardinals / Starter

2 52 Quentin Groves DE Auburn Jaguars / Back-up

2 54 Jason Jones DT E. Michigan Titans / Back-up

3 66 Kendall Langford DE Hampton Dolphins / Starter

3 72 Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech Bills / Back-up

3 77 Pat Sims DT Auburn Bengals / Back-up

3 80 Bryan Smith DE McNeese State Eagles / Back-up

3 87 Andre Fluellen DT Florida State Lions / Back-up

3 90 Marcus Harrison DT Arkansas Bears / Back-up

3 92 Cliff Avril DE Purdue Lions / Starter

Further footnotes: Chris Long started every game as a rookie, but was replaced 4 games into his second season and is now a back-up. Quentin Groves did start 7 games in 2009, Pat Sims started 14 games in 2 years and Marcus Harrison started 9 games in 2009. However you decide to interpret that information, less than 50% of defensive linemen drafted in the first 3 rounds of the 2008 Draft are starters.

Shall we look at one more year? The infamous “they” always say to not judge a draft for three years – 2007, here we come:

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 3 Joe Thomas OT Wisconsin Browns / Starter

1 5 Levi Brown OT Penn State Cardinals / Starter

1 28 Joe Staley OT C. Michigan 49’ers / Starter

1 29 Ben Grubbs OG Auburn Ravens / Starter

2 35 Aaron Sears OG Tennessee Bucs / Starter

2 39 Justin Blalock OG Texas Falcons / Starter

2 42 Tony Ugoh OT Arkansas Colts / Back-up

2 59 Ryan Kalil OC USC Panthers / Starter

2 60 Samson Satele OC Hawaii Dolphins / Starter

3 67 James Marten OT Boston College Cowboys / Back-up

3 70 Ryan Harris OT Notre Dame Broncos / Starter

3 86 Marshal Yanda OT Iowa Ravens / Starter

3 88 Andy Alleman OG Akron Saints / Back-up

3 91 Mario Henderson OT Florida State Raiders / Starter

Now, some of the players have changed teams; however, the result I listed is the status they have with their current teams. I count 11 starters and 3 back-ups – and Tony Ugoh has started 27 games in 3 years! I bet those of you well-versed in statistical analysis are finally beginning to see a trend here – oh well, let’s look at the defensive line draftees from 2007:

Rd Sel Player Pos School Team/Result

1 4 Gaines Adams DE Clemson Bucs / Starter

1 8 Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas Falcons / Starter

1 10 Amobi Okoye DT Louisville Texans / Starter

1 13 Adam Carriker NT Nebraska Rams / Starter

1 16 Justin Harrell DT Tennessee Packers / Back-up

1 17 Jarvis Moss DE Florida Broncos / Back-up

2 33 Alan Branch DT Michigan Cardinals / Back-up

2 54 Turk McBride DE Tennessee Chiefs / Back-up

2 56 Tim Crowder DE Texas Broncos / Starter

2 57 Victor Abiamiri DE Notre Dame Eagles / Back-up

2 58 Ikaika Alama-Francis DE Hawaii Lions / Back-up

3 62 Dan Bazuin DE C. Michigan Bears / OOTL

3 65 Quentin Moses DE Georgia Raiders / Back-up

3 81 Jay Alford NT Penn State Giants / Back-up

3 82 Tank Tyler DT N. Carolina St. Chiefs / Starter

3 83 Charles Johnson DE Georgia Panthers / Back-up

3 85 Brandon Mebane DT California Seahawks / Starter

3 97 Ray McDonald DE Florida 49’ers / Back-up

3 98 Quinn Pitcock DT Ohio State Colts / OOTL

The late Gaines Adams was a starter with the Buccaneers, but a rotational player with the Bears, and Tank Tyler started his second year with the Chiefs, but is now in a back-up role with the Panthers. “Professor Long Ball, what’s an OOTL?” LOL, that’s an acronym for “Out Of The League”! So, we have 6 starters, 11 back-ups and 2 who are out of the league.

OK, Mr. General Manager, now you have all the research from the Long Ball Institute of “I don’t have enough to keep me busy!” So, how are you going to invest your draft choices in the first three rounds? Yep, the rest of the equation is totally up to you – are you a riverboat gambler or do you want to go for the sure thing?

Well folks, this concludes another year of posts on the less glamorous positions in football – I certainly hope you have enjoyed them, and more importantly, learned a little more about some of the prospects in this year’s draft. Be kind to Big Uglies that you pass on the street – one of them just might be ole Long Ball!

The Big Ugly Hisself,

Long Ball

Return of the Big Uglies – Chapter 4

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:22:10 +0000

- submitted by Long Ball, DOF

Should we sub-title this chapter “The Pretty Boys of the Big Uglies”? Speed-demon pass rushers have been in great demand since the great Deacon Jones coined the term “sack” to define the tackle of a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. If you have ever watched film clips of Deacon Jones terrorizing quarterbacks, you would take issue with the definition “the tackle of a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage” – but that’s a topic for another post.

The defensive end position in a 4-3 alignment has evolved through the years – no longer is a tall, angular athlete that can block passes and play the run an absolute requirement. Shorter, quicker players that can play the run with leverage and beat their much larger opponents (offensive tackles) with quick moves and speed rushes are also in demand.

And then we have the 3-4 Outside Linebacker (OLB) – first things first – just because a 4-3 DE is smaller than some of his counterparts and has a pretty good 40 time does not necessarily mean he can successfully make the transition. Not only will a 3-4 OLB have pass rush responsibilities, but he must also be “fluid in the hips” to be able to run and cover backs in the flat, as well as short to intermediate passes. He must also be able to utilize leverage in fighting off blocks standing up, as opposed to a 3 point stance. Anticipation is another attribute that will be required to play the position.

The 2010 draft class is a study of contrasts: there are defensive ends that can play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, there are defensive ends that are strictly 4-3 defensive ends, there are outside linebackers that are strictly 3-4 OLB’s and there are hybrids that can play either 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB. As a result, arriving at an absolute ranking is difficult, if not impossible; therefore, I will rank the prospects in three categories (4-3 and 3-4 DE, 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB) and allow the reader to project which prospect would best fulfill their team’s needs.

4-3 and 3-4 DE: Carlos Dunlap (6’6”, 290 lbs) of Florida has drawn favorable comparisons to Mario Williams and may be the best combination of size, strength and speed in this draft class. He utilizes his length well and has been a consistent performer in the SEC over the past two years. His suspension from the SEC Championship Game due to a DUI has caused scouts to question his maturity – however, Long Ball isn’t so old as to not remember having a drink or two in college!

Corey Wooton (6’6”, 280 lbs) of Northwestern is explosive for his size and uses his hands extremely well to get to the corner. Despite playing tall on the edge, he manages to maintain his leverage against running plays. A leader on and off the field, has an excellent work ethic.

Alex Carrington (6’5”, 284 lbs) of Arkansas State had an exceptional Senior Bowl and moved up the board with his performance against offensive linemen from larger schools. Does not possess the explosion of the first two prospects, but is “country-boy strong”, collapsing blocking schemes of offensive lines.

An underclassman (whose decision hacked off the old ball coach) that could be a gem in the rough is Clifton Geathers (6’7”, 281 lbs) of South Carolina. His older brother Robert Geathers, Jr. left Georgia early and was a 4^th round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, and his father Robert Sr. and uncle Jumpy also played in the NFL, so the genes may be working in his favor.

4-3 DE: This section of the series is going to sound extremely negative, because each of the top 4 prospects fall short in the attributes necessary for a top-notch 4-3 DE. I know I should look at the body of work instead of one game, but Derrick Morgan (6’4”, 272 lbs) of Georgia Tech was a non-factor against Iowa in the Orange Bowl. He had no success against Bryan Bulaga (my #1 LT prospect), but was even handled by the red-shirt freshman RT Riley Reiff. Morgan was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, but so were Chris Long and the late Gaines Adams and they struggled early in their respective NFL careers.

Everson Griffen (6’3”, 278 lbs) of USC may have to convert to a 3-4 OLB, as he does not hold up against the run. He is a work-out warrior and will impress scouts at the Combine with his speed in the forty and weight-room reps; however, his weight-room strength does not translate to the field as he is inconsistent in ability to hold up at the point of attack.

The highest ceiling may well belong to Jason Pierre-Paul (6’6”, 265 lbs) of USF, as the former basketball player exhibits “freakish” athleticism. He utilizes his speed and length well in pass-rush but will need to build strength to hold up to the rigors of the NFL game. There are technique issues, as he loses balance and ends up on the ground far too often; nevertheless, there are DL coaches frothing at the mouth at the opportunity to “coach him up”.

I like Brandon Graham (6’1”, 263 lbs) of Michigan – and I really liked his MVP performance at the Senior Bowl. He has a non-stop motor and finds a way to beat the man across from him. Yes, he does not have ideal height – neither does Dwight Freeney – but he utilizes leverage about as well as any prospect I have graded. He works fairly well in space, needs to work on his back-pedal, but might be able to play the 3-4 OLB like his former teammate, Lamarr Woodley.

A dark horse that caught my attention during the Senior Bowl was Austen Lane (6’6”, 267 lbs) from Murray State – he more than held his own against the offensive linemen from the larger schools. He dominated Ohio Valley competition: 68 tackles, 22 for loss and 12 sacks his junior season and 64 tackles, 19.5 for loss and 11 sacks his senior season. Lane will need to build up his strength in the pros, but possesses the athleticism and speed to start out as a situational pass-rusher (clocked a 4.58 forty and has a 35” vertical).

3-4 OLB: As previously stated, Griffen and Graham have work to do in order to play OLB – Pierre-Paul may have the athleticism, but if he adds to his frame, he will most likely stay at DE. Ricky Sapp (6’4”, 248 lbs) of Clemson and Sergio Kindle (6’4”, 255 lbs) of Texas are considered first round material at the position. Sapp has the straight-line speed, already excels as a pass-rusher and drops into zone coverage well, with the balance and agility to redirect in space. One concern – from a respected NFL scout “better athlete than football player”. Kindle is not quite as fast as Sapp, but possesses excellent “football speed”. Another natural athlete, Kindle defends the running game better than Sapp and displays the same pass-rushing skills.

Jerry Hughes (6’2”, 257 lbs) of TCU led the nation as a junior with 15 sacks and followed with 11.5 his senior season, although every team game-planned for his presence. The former running back is fluid in space, having played in different areas in TCU’s 3-3-5 alignment. Hughes will be good value in the second round.

Can lightning strike a couple more times? A pair of pass-rushing teammates from the school that produced DeMarcus Ware entered this year’s draft: Brandon Lang (6’4”, 260 lbs) and Cameron Sheffield (6’3”, 256 lbs) of Troy. These players are raw, but disrupted offenses in the Sun Belt Conference and should be available in the mid to late rounds.

OK folks, I’m providing you all my smarts – now, it’s time for a test! (You didn’t think we would go 4 chapters without me checking to see if you were paying attention, didja?) I provided my choices for an offensive line made up of this year’s prospects – and if you’ve already forgotten, go back to the end of Chapter 2! Your assignment is to prepare a 7 man defensive front from this year’s prospects to attack that offensive line and post it as a reply to this post. And yes, you can utilize either a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment – sound like fun? Let’s see what you got!

The Big Ugly Hisself,

Long Ball

Return of the Big Uglies – Chapter 3

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:55:58 +0000

- submitted by Long Ball, DOF

The 2010 Draft Class is deep in interior defensive linemen. “Professor Long Ball, why did you say interior defensive linemen?” I am so glad you asked – when analyzing the Big Uglies on the defensive side of the ball, we have to consider the positional requirements of the 4-3 versus the 3-4 alignments. Would you believe both alignments evolved from the old 5-2 “Monster” scheme? How about a brief history lesson before looking at the prospects?

The 3-4 defensive alignment evolved from the old 5-2 “Monster” scheme. The nose tackle in the 3-4 was called a nose guard in the 5-2, defensive ends in the 3-4 were called defensive tackles in the 5-2, and the outside linebackers in the 3-4 were stand-up defensive ends in the 5-2, responsible for rushing the passer and covering the flats.

Tom Landry, while defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, pulled Sam Huff from his nose guard position and made him stand on two legs as the traditional 4-3 middle linebacker. He then split the linebackers that were already playing the position to weak side and strong side, moved the defensive tackles in over the offensive guards and had the defensive ends put their hands on the ground and line up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackles – thus, the origin of the 4-3 defensive alignment.

Why is this history lesson important? Well, truth be known, from a responsibilities perspective, the defensive ends in a 3-4 alignment have much more in common with defensive tackles in the 4-3 – as they were named in the 5-2. Defensive ends in a 4-3 alignment normally line up on the offensive tackle’s outside shoulder. Defensive ends in a 3-4 alignment line head up on the offensive tackle and are responsible for two gaps: between the guard and tackle and outside the tackle (between the tackle and tight end, if one is present). 3-4 defensive ends are normally larger and stronger than their 4-3 counterparts, as the “speed” pass rush comes from the outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme.

There are variations of defensive lineman responsibilities in both alignments; however, the two categorizations that are easiest to understand are the “read, react and control” that allow the linebackers to flow to the play, and the more aggressive “gap penetration” role that attempts to disrupt the offensive play by shooting the gaps. A common misconception is that tackles only have one-gap responsibility in the gap penetration role – rest assured that tackles have two-gap responsibilities in both schemes.

Most nose tackles are huge men with a low center of gravity, making it difficult for offensive lineman to move them; however, this has more to do with utilizing leverage than just absolute size. It is easier to play the position if the weight distribution is from the waist down – but the ability to stay low and maintain balance is paramount to success. These attributes are also important to the strong side defensive tackle in the 4-3, whereas the “3” technique defensive tackles require quickness to shoot the gap, generate a pass rush and generally disrupt the flow of the offensive play.

OK, so where do the 2010 prospects fit? Although some draft pundits have Gerald McCoy closing the gap on Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh (6’4”, 302 lbs) as the #1 prospect, I do not. Do you remember the joke “Where does an 800 pound gorilla sleep? Anywhere he wants to!” – well, Mr. Suh has the ability to play either 4-3 DT position, 3-4 DE and also 3-4 NT. A few years ago, I would have been hesitant to “waste his talent” at nose tackle; however, Jay Ratliff has proven that impact players can make an impact from any position. Suh is not only a powerfully built man with the lower body to anchor his position, but also possesses excellent agility from years of playing soccer. Although McCoy is considered the quicker of the two, Suh’s time in the forty yard dash is faster.

Gerald McCoy (6’4”, 298 lbs) is leaving Oklahoma as a junior, but he is NFL-ready. He will play 3-technique DT in the 4-3 alignment and could possibly play weak-side DE in the 3-4. McCoy combines quickness with active hands to disrupt the flow of running plays as well as rushing the passer. When slanting against the run, can make himself “skinny”, exploiting gaps. His strength is in his upper body, as his lower body is not as developed as Suh’s; as a result, he has a tendency to get a bit high and can be power-drive blocked.

Dan Williams (6’2”, 329 lbs) of Tennessee is the best 3-4 NT prospect in this year’s draft – and will also make a fine 4-3 strong-side DT as well. His strength is his low center of gravity due to a lower body that allows him to win leverage battles. His upper body is excellent, as his strong hands allow him to pop and disengage or employ a swim move – good “phone booth” quickness and lateral pursuit.

Former Nittany Lion Jared Odrick (6’5”, 301 lbs) may find his niche as a 3-4 DE rather than a 4-3 DT, although he can play either position. He plays the run and pass equally well, but his long arms provide a visual barrier for QB’s when he comes off the end.

After the top four, question marks abound – the next two prospects on the Big Board have weight issues (on opposite ends of the spectrum) and are probably ranked too high. Brian Price (6’2”, 300 lbs) skipped his senior season at UCLA and has trouble maintaining his weight, ending the season under 285. Although his lower body is somewhat developed, he will be a “one-trick pony” in the pros, playing a 3 technique DT in a 4-3 to utilize his quickness. Alabama’s Terrence Cody (6’4”, 375+++ lbs), in the words of a former NFL coach, may “eat his way out of the league” – the “Mountain” could be a force at NT, but in his current condition will only contribute on 2 downs and will have to come out during an opponent’s drive that consumes first downs.

A player that continually impressed me during Senior Bowl practices was Tyson Alualu (6’2”, 291 lbs) from California, consistently whipping bigger, stronger offensive linemen in drills and during the game. Strictly a 3-technique 4-3 DT, he and Lamarr Houston (6’3”, 302 lbs) of Texas performed well at the Senior Bowl and are two of the faster DT’s in this year’s draft. Cam Thomas (6’4”, 331 lbs) of North Carolina and Torrell Troup (6’3”, 310 lbs) of Central Florida are the next best NT prospects.

Dark horse candidates to keep an eye on include a pair of East Carolina teammates that would enhance a 3-4 line: Linval Joseph (6’6”, 322 lbs) with an ungodly wing span at DE and Jay Ross (6’3”, 314 lbs), a fireplug NT that has the explosion to disrupt plays in the backfield. Two small school NT candidates to remember: Tommie Duhart (6’3”, 329 lbs) of Valdosta State and Abe Koroma (6’3”, 317 lbs) of Western Illinois.

A lotta stuff, eh? I told you this was a deep draft for interior defensive linemen! In the next installment, we will look at the “speed guys”: 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 outside linebackers and those rare “hybrids” that can play both positions.

The Big Ugly Hisself,

Long Ball

Return of the Big Uglies – Chapter 2

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:03:09 +0000

- submitted by Long Ball, DOF

While the offensive tackles are protecting the outside space and often face the opposition’s best pass rushers, strength up the middle is no less important, as it forms the “bubble” of the quarterback’s pocket. A triumvirate of center and two guards is essential to both the running game and passing attack of a pro offense.

There are differences in the blocking techniques of interior linemen versus tackles – the first is an ability to maintain a low center of gravity, from the inertia generated upon initial contact through the maintenance of the block. This is true whether blocking for the run or the pass – guards and centers must get below the pad level of the opposing DT’s (and/or DE’s and LB’s, if pulling). Where length and long arms are a benefit for the OT position, that is not necessarily true for OG and OC. In addition, short, choppy steps are the preference for interior linemen (once again, whether pass protection, straight-line or cross-blocking, or pulling for a sweep), as opposed to the longer kick-slide step of tackles.

Let’s look at the guards and centers together, since there will be some overlap – we’ll start with the guards, since some of the tackles we previously analyzed may end up as guards.

The Samoan Road-Grader from Idaho, Mike Iupati (6’5”, 325 lbs), could be the 2^nd coming of Larry Allen – his strength is off-the-charts scary and he has a mean attitude. Combine that with agility and quickness and you can see why he’s being called “the complete package”. There’s just one problem: the scouts discovered at the Senior Bowl that he has 35” arms, so they wanted to see him perform at tackle as well. He struggled a bit in space against speed rushers, but could eventually end up at RT.

One of the surprises at the Senior Bowl was the adaptability of John Jerry (6’5”, 332 lbs) of Ole Miss, who came in 18 pounds lighter than expected. Jerry stepped up his play, performing well at both OG and RT, promoting favorable comparisons to his older brother Peria (2009 1^st round choice by Atlanta). Jerry’s translates his mass and strength (34 reps of 225 lbs) to the playing field, following up a strong first punch with either “sticky hands” in pass protection or nastiness in run blocking, often ending in a pancake. Surprising agility and first step quickness for a man his size.

Jon Asamoah (6’4”, 300 lbs) of Illinois injured his shoulder at the Senior Bowl and did not play in the game; however, if the injury is not too serious, it should not have a significant impact his draft status. His length and anchor make him an excellent pass protector and his body control on the line and in space make him an effective run blocker as well. Very coachable with excellent practice and weight room habits.

There is a significant drop-off in quality after the first three prospects, as the remainder all have deficiencies to correct. Another adaptable OG that improved his stock at the Senior Bowl was TCU Horned Frog Marshall Newhouse (6’3”, 326 lbs), consistently out-working his opponents. The scouts were impressed with his versatility to slide out to RT (his college position) and demonstrated nice footwork and strength.

Physically, Mike Johnson (6’6”, 306 lbs) of Alabama and Brandon Carter (6’6”, 326 lbs) of Texas Tech have similar attributes: good strength, tall for the OG position, bend too much at the waist (losing balance), and slow. The difference between the two is mental make-up: Johnson is cerebral, out-thinking opponents and Carter has a nasty disposition. Either player will have to be in a scheme that does not require much athleticism out of its guards.

A couple of “dark-horse” candidates that could be had late in the draft, or even signed as UDFA’s for development are Joe Hawley (6’3”, 303 lbs) of UNLV and Matt McCracken (6’3”, 300 lbs) of Richmond.

Centers normally call the line blocking assignments and, as a result, are second in importance only to the LT position. The best center in this year’s draft, and may battle Jerry for the #2 guard ranking behind only Iupati (not counting some of the OT’s that may play OG), is Maurkice Pouncey (6’5”, 318 lbs) of Florida. Smart, durable and athletic, Pouncey is a potential 1^st round selection – and not only does he possess the physical attributes for the position, but is a technician at his craft. A student of the game, Pouncey was the leader of the Gator OL, calling out pre-snap assignments.

The drop-off at the center position starts even before the guard position – Matt Tenant (6’5”, 290 lbs) of Boston College is next in the pecking order, but will have to go through a year (or two) of off-season training to add mass before he’s even ready to compete at the next level. As a result, J.D. Walton (6’3”, 305 lbs) of Baylor may play before Tennant. He’s a mauler, held up well against more powerful DT’s at the Senior Bowl, and is a tough, durable, intelligent OL leader – scouts love his propensity to give his all every play.

Jeff Byers (USC), Ted Larsen (NC State) and Eric Olsen (Notre Dame) all got the hell beat out of them during Senior Bowl practices. Quite frankly, the 4^th best center this year may well be Erik Cook (6’6”, 320 lbs) of New Mexico – few players are named OL MVP, Offensive MVP and MVP on a 1-11 team. His coaches and teammates call him a leader on the field, in the weight room and in the locker room.

Teams looking for developmental players should take a long, hard look at Kyle Mutcher (6’3”, 300 lbs) of Weber State and Austin Steichen (6’3”, 305 lbs) of Northern Iowa.

Whew! Are ya outa breath yet? Tell you what – I’ll take a starting offensive line of Bulaga at LT, Iupati at LG, Pouncey at OC, Jerry at RG and Saffold at RT and you can pick out any skill positions you want – we’ll make it work! On our next installment, we’ll jump across to the defensive side of the ball and break down some more Big Uglies.

The Big Ugly Hisself,

Long Ball

Return of the Big Uglies

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:51:41 +0000

- submitted by Long Ball, DOF

Hello and welcome back to the trenches – it’s that time of year again when old Long Ball takes a long, hard look at the prospects that really make things happen in a football game: the Big Uglies! As I stated last year during my analysis, my philosophy has always been that I don’t care if you run a pro-style formation, shot-gun, run-and-shoot, Wildcat (single-wing) or the wishbone . . . . if my big guys whip your big guys, I’m gonna win!

Don’t be surprised if my personal rankings don’t necessarily fall in line with the Big Board (even though I am responsible for the Big Board LOL!) Let’s start with the high-dollar position of offensive tackle – you know the drill, click and read . . . .

Developing NFL offensive linemen is normally a 2-3 year process – many players’ first starting opportunity is at a position they will not remain, i.e. future LT’s may start at RT, future RT’s may start at OG, etc. In some instances, a college offensive tackle may struggle in space in the pros, leading to an inside move (Leonard Davis of the Cowboys, for example).

Left tackles are coveted for their ability to protect a QB’s blind-side (given the limited number of left-handed QB’s in the NFL) and must be able to block the opponent’s best pass-rusher, who normally exhibits both speed and power in their respective pass-rush moves. Therefore, LT prospects will be graded higher in this review.

Bryan Bulaga of Iowa is the best LT prospect in this year’s draft. The junior declared early, despite missing games early in the season with a thyroid condition. Fully recovered, this “man among boys” (6’6”, 312 lbs) dominates in both run and pass blocking (Iowa’s strength and conditioning program is second to none in producing quality linemen) and exhibits the best footwork, quickness and speed of the top-ranked OL prospects. In the games he played, he consistently graded high and is only ranked lower due to games missed last year and his underclassman status.

Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Anthony Davis of Rutgers are #2 and #2A, depending on a scout’s or coach’s point of view. Okung (6’5”, 302 lbs), the top-rated tackle on the Big Board, is a solid performer with a great work ethic and attitude. He lacks strength and can get his pad level too high on pass protection, leans forward too far when aggressively run blocking and does not possess the elite foot speed exhibited by Top 5 OT’s in previous drafts. Davis (6’6”, 325 lbs) owns the size, strength and athleticism that scouts desire; however, his inconsistent technique, reputation as an underachiever and troubles staying at his ideal playing weight promote a concern of his work ethic once he obtains his big pay-day.

Bruce Campbell (6’7”, 310 lbs), another Maryland “work-out warrior” could develop into a top LT, if he improves his run-blocking technique. As with most tall linemen, he will lunge as a power drive blocker and lose his balance – he is mobile enough to pull, but also needs to work on cut-blocking. He excels in pass protection, sets quickly with good knee bend and meets his man with a strong punch (instead of catching him), locks on and moves well laterally, utilizing his length.

I have 3 developmental candidates in my “Rayfield Wright” category (former TE’s with excellent footwork): Charles Brown (6’5”, 295 lbs) of USC, Jason Fox (6’6”, 314 lbs) of Miami and Selvish Capers (6’5”, 304 lbs) of West Virginia. All three would benefit from an NFL off-season weight program to fill out their ample frames and build strength.

A prospect that impressed me during Senior Bowl workouts is Rodger Saffold (6’5”, 312 lbs) of Indiana. I originally had him as a candidate for an inside position, but his battles with Greg Hardy opened my eyes. He played LT for the Hoosiers for 3 ½ years, so he might make it back outside in the NFL.

On the other side of the line, Trent Williams (6’5”, 308 lbs) of Oklahoma was the only returning starter on the Sooners OL. He was moved to LT to replace Loadholt, but is a RT at best and probably a candidate to move inside. He has serious work to do from a technique perspective at the next level and may only be the 2^nd best OG prospect, behind Iupati.

Vladimir Ducasse (6’5”, 322 lbs) of Massachusetts is moving several rungs up the ladder, as the native of Haiti never played football before high school. He had a rough start to Senior Bowl practices, as Brandon Graham got the best of him during individual drills; however, he improved as the entire line portion of workouts progressed. He will start inside, but has the potential to work in space.

Do you prefer “Honorable Mention” or “Best of the Rest”? If you have read this far, vote in the comments and that’s what I will use for the rest of the series – anyway, Kyle Calloway (6’6”, 322 lbs) of Iowa (yeah, what a pair of bookends for the Hawkeyes) and Ciron Black (6’5”, 331 lbs) of LSU are two of the better RT candidates not previously mentioned.

One small school prospect that has received some press due to his size (6’8”, 321 lbs) and speed (4.89 forty) is Jared Veldheer of tiny Hillsdale College. He will be a RT candidate and a project at that, moving up in class of competition. A “dark-horse”, developmental type prospect to groom on a practice squad is available in the person of Tony Washington (6’6”, 305 lbs) from Abilene Christian – extremely athletic but raw, having played only one year of high school football.

OK all you draft geeks – have I got ya salivating yet? Next we will move inside and take a look at guard and center prospects. To steal a phrase from my English Professor friend Mikey, always remember: a double negative is a no-no!

The Big Ugly Hisself,

Long Ball

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”

DrafttekStaff_Longball — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:04:52 +0000

Submitted by Long Ball, DOF

In 1859, Charles Dickens penned the absolute best opening of any novel in modern day prose – it would no doubt amuse him that “A Tale of Two Cities” would be applied to American Football. Nevertheless, I could not help but visualize the irony involved in the playoff game between Baltimore and Indianapolis.

For those of you younger than the author of this blog, a history lesson is in order: once upon a time, the Indianapolis Colts were known as the Baltimore Colts and the Baltimore Ravens were known as the Cleveland Browns. Confused? Click below for continuation of the history lesson.

The Baltimore Colts competed in the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) from 1947 to 1950, and then again in the NFL starting in 1953. The Miami Seahawks (yes, the name has been used before) moved their gawd-awful green uniforms to Baltimore during the days of the AAFC. The NFL Colts had quite a journey to Baltimore:

Dayton Triangles (1913) – Founding member of NFL

Brooklyn Dodgers (1930)

Brooklyn Tigers (1944)

Merged with Boston Yanks (1945)

Boston Yanks become New York Yanks (1949)

New York Yanks become Dallas Texans (1952)

Dallas Texans become Baltimore Colts (1953)

March 29, 1984: A day that will live in infamy, started at 2:00 AM as 15 Mayflower trucks packed, loaded and moved the Colts’ franchise from its long-term home in Baltimore to Indianapolis, all taking different routes in the middle of a snowy night.

The Cleveland Browns were a founding member of the AAFC in 1946 and later became a member of the NFL in 1950, the only professional team named after its coach (Paul Brown). The Browns were a powerhouse in the pre-Super Bowl years of pro football, winning championships in both the AAFC and NFL.

Art Modell signed a deal to relocate the team to Baltimore on November 6, 1995; ironically, Cleveland voters approved a tax referendum to increase funding from $175 million to over $300 million for demolition of Municipal Stadium and the construction of a new football stadium the very next day, November 7, 1995.

The NFL had learned from the Colts fiasco and placed a 3 year deactivation of the Browns name, allowing it to stay with the City of Cleveland. Art Modell renamed the franchise in Baltimore “Ravens”, in 1999 the Cleveland Browns returned, and now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know “the rest of the story”.

Hopefully, the Ghost of John Unitas can find some peace!

Short Shots on Draft Thoughts and Raiders Coaching Turmoil

DrafttekStaff_Hudson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:26:13 +0000

Once the Raiders (Al Davis) make the final call on the coaching situation, look for a more in depth discussion on the team needs and draft scenarios. For the time being we’ll look at the “real” or popular (in the case of Mike Leach) coaching possibilities for the Raiders in 2010.

Let’s start with Cable: Two scenarios here – Davis gives Cable a chance to operate with some autonomy and a chance to address big team needs. Cable’s OL expertise could address real problems such as our OT and OG liability. On the other hand, Davis could take back the reigns and continue to pick more athletes. This leaves Spikes eligible as a possible pick, but he may be too slow. In this scenario, Taylor Mays could be more of a candidate.

Jim Fassel is often mentioned with ties to the Raiders coaching search, and this year is no different. His draft style (at first blush) seems to go for a combination of team need fit (Ron Dayne to compliment Tiki Barber, and Jeremy Shockey to give Kerry Collins another target) and also the best player available strategy (drafted Vinsanthe Shiancoe the year after drafting Shockey. Fassel has also had success with QB’s such as Collins in New York, and Losman in Las Vegas, which spells good (or bad) news for Russell getting another year or two to develop.

Mike Leach has been tossed around lately as both a coach and kindred spirit to Al Davis. Whether you agree or disagree with the fit (I don’t), it can’t hurt to forecast a bit of draft style. Leach needs several key pieces for his offensive puzzle to work with the Silver and Black Raiders. I don’t think that JaMarcus Russell is the right QB for that system (quick decisions, quick reads, and quick throws as well as a high amount of dedication to learning and working in the system), however drafting another QB is pretty unlikely (unless it’s a later round project, and Leach could trade for a veteran), though probably necessary for an effective Leach offense. The rest of a Leach draft could be used on OL depth or shoring up defensive problems and depth.

That covers the quick draft hits I wanted to look at. Any other coaches we should examine? Will Cable stick around and live out his contract? Unhappy with my Team Needs rankings or pick commentary? Post a comment or email me and I’ll get back to you.

-Tim, Your RAAAAAAAAAIDAAAAAHHS Team Needs Correspondent (Raiders@Drafttek.com)

Mac’s Final NFL Power Rankings

DrafttekStaff_McGlothlin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:45:26 +0000

Rick McGlothlin, Senior Writer, Drafttek.com

So the regular season has been completed and the second season begins next Saturday with some new faces mixing it up in the post-season. There are some intriguing matchups to look at in the four wildcard playoff games set for next weekend, including three rematches of “yawners” on the final weekend. They should be anything but yawners this time ’round.

In the end, the St. Louis Rams managed to reap the reward of the first overall pick in next April’s draft, while the two #1 seeds in the playoffs finish the season with back to back losses. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, it’s been three consecutive losses. Not the sort of momentum a team wants heading into the playoff run, but at least they have homefield advantage throughout.

Here’s a look at the final results for Mac’s NFL Power Rankings in 2009:

1. Indianapolis (14-2) – Though losing their last two “meaningless” games, the Colts are still a powerhouse when Peyton Manning is on the field.

2. San Diego (13-3) – Whipped the Redskins with mostly reserves in the 2nd half and now look to make some noise in the playoffs.

3. New Orleans (13-3) – No team that has lost their final 3 games of the season has ever gone on to play in the Super Bowl. The Saints hope to buck that trend.

4. Dallas (11-5) – Clinch the NFC East in convincing fashion, but the pressure is now all on the Cowboys, who will be at home trying to fend off receent playoff demons of the past few years.

5. Philadelphia (11-5) – Not sure how to figure out the Eagles in this game, but perhaps they figure they’d save their best for the playoff contest – wherever it was to be played.

6. Minnesota (12-4) – Favre and the Vikes put on the cruise control against a lifeless Giants ballclub. With the Philly loss, they also get the other first round bye.

7. Green Bay – (11-5) Why they went so long with their starters is beyond me – they play the Cardinals again next week. At Arizona. What was the purpose?

8. New England (10-6) – One has to feel bad for Wes Welker who really helped the Pats achieve much of their success offensively. The Pats now must face the Ravens in the playoffs.

9. Cincinnati (10-6) – Looks like Chad Ochocinco will end up being Chad Johnson next week as he loses his own personal bet with DB Revis. Hope he has lots of money, as Reebok isn’t amused.

10. Arizona (10-6) – Left their starters in the game longer than expected considering they knew a rematch was possible. Calais Campbell has a fractured thumb.

11. Baltimore (9-7) – So the Ravens make the playoffs and get to travel up to New England and take on the Patriots. This time Baltimore has an offense to go with their defense.

12. N.Y. Jets (9-7) – Thumped the Bengals to make the playoffs, now have to go do it again at their ballpark.

13. Atlanta (9-7) – The Falcons complete their first-ever back to back winning campaigns in team history. They’ll be a team to be reckoned with for years to come.

14. Pittsburgh (9-7) – Pulled out their final win of the regular season, but that 5-game losing skid really cost them a shot at a playoff run.

15. Houston (9-7) – First winning season in the history of the franchise, but the sting of missing the playoffs (again) will surely hurt all off-season long.

16. Tennessee (8-8) – Happy that Chris Johnson made it over the 2,000 yard mark as he was very deserving, while VY is looking very comfortable in the Titan pocket.

17. Carolina (8-8) – Great finish for a team that seemed thoroughly lost at several times this season.

18. Denver (8-8) – Only the 3rd team in NFL history to start out 6-0 and then fail to make the playoffs.

19. N.Y. Giants (8-8) – Miserable finish to a once promising season will possibly lead to some off-season restructuring – not just draft related moves.

20. Miami (8-8) – Tyler Thigpen almost leads the comeback win for the Dolphins, but falls short.

21. Jacksonville (8-8) – Didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with the cold, inclement weather in Cleveland until it was too late.

22. San Francisco (8-8) – Mike Singletary made great strides with his young ballclub this season, and now just has to move up to the next level and make the playoffs.

23. Chicago (7-9) – Finish off the season wtih a win over division foe Detroit but still have quite a few unanswered questions.

24. Buffalo (6-10) – The win against the Colts in the snow didn’t really prove much except that they can beat a team utilizing a completely inexperienced rookie QB and reserves.

25. Oakland (5-11) – The main thing you come away with watching the Raiders is that they’re not to far away from being relevant. They need to start with that offensive line though.

26. Cleveland (5-11) – The Browns win four in a row to close out the season and ushered in the Holmgren era. Wonder if it includes Mangini?

27. Washington (4-12) – During the game it was leaked that Jim Zorn would be fired Monday as the Skins headcoach. That was false. They did it before the plane returned to D.C. 6th coach to be fired since Dan Snyder took over as owner back in 1999.

28. Kansas City (4-12) – Played inspired in the season finale against division rival Denver and should continue to improve in the coming years.

29. Seattle (5-11) – The fall of the Seahawks this season has been incredible. I don’t look for Jim Mora to be able to hold onto his job, but you never know.

30. Tampa Bay (3-13) – The Bucs were a tough team to whip all season long. I’d give Raheem Morris some more time as the headcoach, but doubt the Glazers will do so.

31. Detroit (2-14) – The Lions limp to the finish of a long, hard season that gave them the distinction of breaking out of the funk of winning zero games the year before.

32. St. Louis ( 1-15) – Congrats to the Rams – they get the first selection of the 2010 draft. Now, what will they do with it?

Mac’s NFL Power Rankings Week 17

DrafttekStaff_McGlothlin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:53:51 +0000

Rick McGlothlin / Drafttek.com Senior Writer

How aprapo that the Vikings go down on Monday Night Football the same weekend that the Colts get their first loss and the Saints stumble against the Bucs. The NFC playoff picture is pretty clear now as far as which teams will be playing - it’s only a question of seeding. The AFC, however, is still a knock-down, drag ‘em-out affair that will go down to the wire. Meantime, the Colts “surrender” is getting ripped locally, as well as nationally while the Saints are teetering on the brink of a total implosion after the remarkably stunning collapse at home against the Bucs. So here are the next to last week of NFL Power Rankings, complete with a couple of changes that shouldn’t be too surprising but still makes for a shift that is felt through most.

1.(1) Indianapolis (14-1) – Most sports fans and those who travel around the country have probably heard of the phrase “Hoosier hospitality”, which underscores one of the best traits of the folks from this state and of the midwest in general. Nice people, easy going and friendly. Except when you decide to pull the rug out from under their feet and make one of the most clueless coaching / management decisions in NFL history. Up just 5 points with a little over 5 and a half minutes to go in the game (and having been just been pinned at their own 9 yard line following a punt by the Jets) Indianapolis coach Caldwell (most likely at the direction of GM Bill Polian) pulls Peyton Manning out of the game and inserts rookie QB Curtis Painter against the #1 defense in the NFL.

The collapse was on and so was the very uncommon response from the Colt faithful – which really can’t be reprinted here. Suffice it to say that the partisan crowd was extremely livid, boisterous and sometimes ……fanantical in their response. And it wasn’t directed at Curtis Painter per se, but rather the decision itself. No one wants to see a win turned into a loss – especially when you are pretty much driving up and down the field. But that’s basically what happened in Indianapolis in their game with the Jets and it will now remain to be seen if the players can just move on and put it out of their minds.
The only thing it shows for certain is just how valuable Manning is to this franchise, and should seal the MVP voting if wasn’t already. No other team in the league would self-destruct as much or as quickly as the Colts did post-Manning removal. It also just created havoc for some other teams with playoff aspirations.

2.(3) San Diego (11-3) – I’m moving the Chargers to #2 even though they have one more loss than New Orleans. But also because they don’t screw up play-calling like the Saints tend to do. They had a road game with the #2 seed in the balance, and just went out and blasted a Titan team that had been on fire in 7 of their last 8 games. And San Diego didn’t let up when they took a 17 point lead, unlike New Orleans. Nor did they try to get cute with some of the play calling that trended away from what they are good at doing, unlike New Orleans. Bottom line is the Chargers are peaking and the Saints are now scratching their heads two weeks in a row.

3. (2) New Orleans (13-2) – The Saints back into the homefield advantage thanks to the Vikings loss at Chicago. But they have issues in New Orleans, especially with playing a full four quarters. How you can be up 17-0 on one of the more beatable teams in the NFL, the just shut down and lose is beyond me. If it weren’t for the Colts pulling Manning and basically surrendering a game to the Jets, this would be the biggest story in the NFL today. Not sure what the idea was with the playcalling after going up 17-0, and I know Pierre Thomas went out with an injury, but allowing your players to become complacent or start straying away from finishing what you started is not a good sign that you’re ready to make a Super Bowl run. Much will be made of the special team play for the Saints – and it too should be criticized – but there is absolutely no reason for the NFL’s #1 offense to be forced to punt against a last place divisional opponent that has but two wins on the year coming into this game. Additionally, the defense couldn’t stop the potent (?) Bucs offense down the stretch. At home in the dome. And I won’t even mention the abhorrent performance from the placekicker. Oops – I just did, but I won’t elaborate.

4.(7) Philadelphia (11-4) – Clinched the NFC East with a close shave over the inspired Denver Broncos. When Denver reeled off 17 unanswered points, many in the Philly crowd were growing noticeably nervous and upset. However, the Eagles prevailed and have won six in a row. Now having clinched the division, the Eagles look to their final game with the Cowboys with a little less pressure on them. In fact, it could be a game where Michael Vick and others play if they so desire.

5.(7) Dallas (10-5) – The Cowboys forced 8 punts in the final nine possessions for the Redskins…and shut out a ballclub that have not scored a TD in both games against Dallas this year. What’s more, the Cowboys have erased the horrid memory of December’s past with Romo firing for 286 yards and a TD, while Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined for 120 yards and a TD on the ground.

6.(4) Cincinnati (10-5) – Any other week I’d be concerned about struggling to beat the Chiefs as much as the Bengal did at home. However, we must take into consideration everything this team has gone through in the past 10 days: The news of Chris Henry’s accident, followed by news of his death the next day. The inspired game they played against San Diego only to fall a last second FG away. Then going to New Orleans for the funeral of Chris Henry. Christmas with family. Gametime. Not exactly a norm in the path of a playoff bound ballclub, so give the Bengals organization a tip of the cap getting through a horrendously difficult week and getting the job done against an opponent they were supposed to beat.

7.(8) Arizona (10-5) – Made it look easy and this is why so many people have absolutely no clue what to expect from this team from week to week. In this game against the over-matched Rams, the Cards scored on four of their five visits to the redzone and had good production from RB’s Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower, who collectively rushed for 100 yards and two TD’s.

8.(4) Minnesota (11-4) – Great comeback and great drama, but never should’ve been in that situation. The Vikings fall down 16-0 at the half and then 23-6 before deciding there might be a reason they should win this game. Favre was his usual legendary self down the stretch, but Adrian Peterson is quickly establishing himself as the greatest runner that can be counted on to fumble at the most inopportune times in a ballgame. And the missed FG earlier in the game came back to haunt Minnesota as well.

9.(10) New England (10-5) – Up 28-0 in the 3rd quarter and the Pats go for it on 4th down? Oh yes, I remember….they sit Brady in the 3rd quarter when they give up, not when the other team can’t come back. That would be my main focus if it weren’t for the fact that Jacksonville isn’t a cupcake ballclub.

10. (9) Green Bay – (10-5) Just crushed the Seattle, who played more like Seachickens than Seahawks. The running game was especially impressive in this game as they gashed Seattle for over 125 yards and 3 rushing TD’s. Ryan Grant was just a monster, while Aaron Rodgers fired it all over the field against the Seahawks as well as the Pack led 38-3 going into the 4th quarter.

11.(11) Baltimore (8-7) – Had a huge opportunity to gain solid footing for a playoff run, but couldn’t quite grasp it because of the same achilles heel that has been bothering them all year: Self-destructive mistakes that lead to penalties.

12.14) Denver (8-7) – Could not capitalize on a few critical plays and allowed Philly to pull out a close one, ruining what could’ve been a huge day for the Broncos. Now for Denver to make the playoffs, the Jets must beat Cincy, Ravens must lose to Oakland and Pittsburgh must lose to the Dolphins. ]

13.(18) Pittsburgh (8-7) – The Steelers get a post-Christmas Day gift with a football that bounces off the back of Ravens helmet, then watch as the Ravens self-destruct and give Pittsburgh a stronger pulse for a possible post-season run.

14.(16) N.Y. Jets (8-7) – The Jets were the beneficiaries of the football gods on this weekend. The Ravens, Dolphins and Jags all lost while the Colts pull Peyton Manning off the field late in the 3rd quarter with a 5 point lead. This didn’t look like a #1 defense until the JV unit came on the field for Indy.

15.(20) Houston (8-7) – Up 27-3 at the half, the Texans probably had flashbacks of the Indy comeback as Miami scored 17 points in the 2nd half while shutting out Houston, to cut the lead to 27-20. However, an failed onside kick ended the comeback and now the Texans need help to get to the playoffs. They can still sneak in if they beat New England and then get Miami, Oakland and Cincy to post wins. What a game for QB Matt Schaub, who led the Texans to five scores on their first five drives. No doubt next week will be Houston’s Super Bowl. Like it was against Tennessee and Indianapolis in recent weeks.

16.(15) Atlanta (8-7) – The Falcons keep at it, even though they are out of playoff contention, this time stomping Buffalo. Roddy White with a big game, scoring twice on passes from Matt Ryan, who also did well with 250 yards and 3 touchdown passes.

17.(12) New York Giants (8-7) – That was simply the most atrocious job by any NFL team since …..well, ……ever. 41-9? At home ? Fighting for the playoffs?

18.(13) Tennessee (7-8) - KA-BOOM! Or is it: ” And BOOM goes the dynamite?” Either way, that was a pretty sad showing at home. Chris Johnson was pretty much the lone bright spot of this effort, ringing up 142 yards and a TD and is just 74 yards shy of the record for most rushing yards in a single-season ( Marshall Faulk, 1999). Is he out of the MVP picture now? Not sure, but the loss may have helped to elevate Philip Rivers past Johnson and Brees, and a little more closer to Peyton Manning.

19.(17) Miami (7-8) – This team seems to have fallen right off the cliff for no seemingly no solid reason whatsoever.

20.(18) Jacksonville (7-8) – Well that was an inspiring performance on behalf of the Jags. Note that this is dripping with sarcasm. Unbelievably, the Jags could still make the playoffs if they beat Cleveland and Baltimore, Cincy, Miami and New England all win. The irony there is that if it came true, they’d face the Patriots once again.

21.(21) San Francisco (6-9) – A big third quarter by Frank Gore ensured the Niners wouldn’t relinquish the lead to the Lions and notched their 6th win of the year.

22.(23) Chicago (6-9) – Jay Cutler and the Bear defense showed up in the first half and in overtime, as the Bears stun the Vikings and temporarily muzzle the raging fans and media of Chicago. Temporarily, I said.

23.(25) Buffalo (5-10) – Well, at least TO got his 1,000th catch even though his ballclub was drubbed. This team has too much talent to be pounded that badly.

24.(22) Carolina (7-8) – Where the hell did that team come from? And how about Mike Moore everyone? Wow. 41-9 in the Meadowlands? And kudos to Steve Smith for a great game.

25.(26) Washington (4-11) – MNF vs New York Giants

26.(24) Oakland (5-10) – Blasted by the Browns as this team just continues to baffle everyone.

27.(27) Seattle (5-10) – Sad, inept performance.

28.(29) Cleveland (4-11) – Kept the “W’s” coming in with a thorough butt-kicking of the Raiders. Looked like a few players are interested in sticking around to play for Mike Holmgren & Co.

29.(30) Kansas City (3-12) – Gave the Bengals all they wanted but still not enough to win the game.

30.(28) Detroit (2-13) – Great effort, but too many mistakes to overcome
.
31.(31) Tampa Bay (3-12) – Offensively this team is very, very close to being a unit that can do some damage – and their young. Defensively, they stepped it up more than many expected and pulled out a surprising win on the road against a powerful Saints ballclub.

32.(32) St. Louis ( 1-14) – Continue to show why they are very deserving of the #1 pick in the 2010 draft. Now the question is: do they trade it away or use it? And on whom?

Mac’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 15

DrafttekStaff_McGlothlin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:26:18 +0000

Rick McGlothlin / Drafttek.com Senior Writer

Wild, wild endings all over on Sunday in the NFL, and the AFC playoff picture is about as clear as mud right about now. Six teams have records of 7-7 with two weeks left in the season. In the NFC, Minnesota let the Saints off the hook with a loss in Carolina Sunday night, so New Orleans still has the inside track on homefield throughout the playoffs even thought they lost. Green Bay and Dallas are holding down the wildcard spots with identical 9-5 records….but all the pressure is now on the Packers, as the Giants victory over Washington puts them right on the tail of Green Bay in the playoff race.

Speaking of that first loss of the year for the Saints, their stumble on Saturday leaves the Indianapolis Colts as the lone undefeated team (and the new #1 in this weeks rankings) in the NFL. as the season boils down to a two week sprint and playoff spots hang in the balance for a few more teams. With that, here’s the rundown of the power rankings for week 15 :

1.(2) Indianapolis (14-0) – Say what you want about the reasons for having to come from behind 7 times to win a game this season, but the fact is each of those 7 times it was a successful comeback and the winning streak continues. And it’s not like they were playing the Purdue Boilermakers. Jacksonville is a tough divisional opponent with one of the top running attacks and a solid defense. Well, except for Reggie Nelson – but he’s still a youngster. The Colts have not played a game at 100% peak efficiency all year nor have they had every single player healthy at one time in any game this season. If that happens during the playoffs, I’m thinking a comeback may not be necessary – even against the Chargers.

2. (1) New Orleans (13-1) – Certainly a forgettable night in many respects for a ballclub that has been the toast of the league much of the year. What stood out in their first loss of the season was the disaster along the offensive line and the inability of the defensive secondary for much of the game. Third downs were a death knell for the Saints as well on both offense and defense. Sure, Drew Brees tossed a couple of passes he normally wouldn’t, but when your O-line is leaking like a sieve, drastic times call for drastic measures. And Devery Henderson’s imitation of former Cowboy wideout Jackie Smith’s dropped pass in the endzone didn’t help matters any. Still, no need for panic as some of the players that didn’t play get healthy and can close out the season with a couple of wins ( home to Tampa and closing at Carolina) and gain homefield advantage.

3.(4) San Diego (11-3) – Give San Diego credit in this game as they faced an emotional charged Bengal team that would not go away. It took a lucky break with the officials not calling a second 10-second runoff of the clock on a non-called penalty (LT coming onto the field illegally) and one bad defensive play not forcing San Diego receivers into the middle of the field on the final pass play from Rivers to set up the game-winner by Nate Kaeding. However, the Chargers win their 9th in a row and clinch their 4th straight division crown and travel to Tennessee on Thursday for a Christmas night matchup with the Titans.

4.(3) Minnesota (11-3) – On a night when the Vikings could inch closer to homefield advantage and really turn the heat up on the New Orleans Saints, they instead turned the heat up on themselves by stumbling against the Carolina Panthers. What’s more, Minnesota has provided the media with some yummy fodder to jabber about for the next few weeks regarding the “discussion” between coach Childress and Brett Favre on the sidelines. Seems coach thought QB should come out of the game with the Vikes holding a one point lead at 7-6. I’m trying to figure that one out – Chilly said it was to “protect” Favre – as one usually does not pull out a starting QB unless they’re struggling or the game means little. So, which one was it? And why didn’t the QB follow the orders of his coach? And who is running the team since Favre basically told him to “pack sand.” That’ll be the topic over the course of the next several days, if not weeks.

5.(5) Philadelphia (10-4) – Started out like they would send the 49ers home in all sorts of pieces, but someone must have turned the switch off at halftime, because there was a really long “pause” in production after that for the Eagles. But in the end, Philadelphia used McNabb’s arm, Jacksons big play performance helped Philly remain the favorite (for now) in the NFC East.

6.(6) Cincinnati (9-5) – Not sure how you recover from the shock that one of your key offensive components is killed in a domestic incident. Especially after having had to go through the traumatic loss of life to one of the coaches family members just a few weeks earlier. No doubt it won’t be held against them if they falter down the stretch with so much taking place off the field.

7.(8) Dallas (9-5) – What a solid showing for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. After suffering through the onslaught of media musings about their struggles in December (including from yours truly as well) the Cowboys come through big time in one of the most intimidating venues in all of sport. Give huge props to DeMarcus Ware for coming right back from a frightening injury and playing a tremendous game, as well as former Boilermaker Anthony Spencer – who dumped his fellow alum Drew Brees several times in the game. The line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball belonged to Dallas for nearly 90% of the game. Now tied for first in the NFC East, Dallas still has business to take care of beginning with a trip next week to D.C., and a finale against co-division leader Philly. If the Cowboys make a run in the playoffs, this specific game could be the launching point that turned their season around.

8.(8) Arizona (9-5) – Up 17-0 on the lowly Lions, the Cardinals pushed “autopilot” much too soon, because everyone seemed to disengage and go their separate ways in this one. I think Detroit definitely got their attention when they tied it not once, but twice, late in the game. Once Arizona came back to their senses, they scored and were then able to hold off a final charge by the Lions. Not a way to prep for a playoff run, but it does beat the alternative of losing down the stretch. Beanie Wells with a nice job of running up the gut against the Lions before getting a little nicked up late. Next up is the St. Louis Rams.

9. (7) Green Bay – (9-5) They had the game won, seemingly, going up 36-30 after the onside kick by Pittsburgh backfired and gave the Pack excellent field position. But Green Bay’s defense did what both defenses were extremely good at all day long. Not playing defense. Green Bay allowed over 500 yards in passing alone.

10.(10) New England (9-5) – Not an awe inspiring win by any stretch of the imagination, but they got the job done despite sweating out the late rally by the Bills. Of course, it seems worse than it probably is because the Pats have handed Buffalo a loss in 18 of the past 20 games they’ve played, some even closer than this one. One thing is still certain: New England is not a powerhouse any longer. Absolutely loved Randy Moss and his postgame comments. Preach it brother.

11.(13) Baltimore (8-6) – The Ravens demolish the Bears as they pick off Jay Cutler three times while the offense cashed in on the miscues. Joe Flacco was hot on a frigid December night, passing for over 230 yards and 4 touchdown strikes, while Ray Rice put up 84 yards on the ground for good measure. Next up is a trip to Pittsburgh, followed by a finale on the road in Oakland – both will be tough road tests that determine if the Ravens will be in the post-season mix.

12(12). New York Giants (8-6) – Still a pulse left in the GMen….and a pretty strong one at that. A thorough thumping of the Redskins on the road brings the NFC East into the final two weeks in the season with what should be a wild finish and a potential of three NFC East teams making the playoffs. If Green Bay loses its final two games, it would open the door for the Giants to join Philly and Dallas in the playoff picture.

13.(20) Tennessee (7-7) – Vince Young returns and the Titans hold off a valiant effort by Miami to keep alive in the division race with New England. Now they’re just one of several 7-7 teams hoping for a miracle to slide into the playoff picture, but they’re much better than 7-7 when you consider they have won 7 out of their last 8 games, with the lone loss coming to Indy on the road.

14.(9) Denver (8-6) – Seemingly in control of the game, the Broncos must have collectively been thinking of post-game dinner arrangements because someone forgot to tell Oakland that it was over. Incredible collapse at home, settling too often for field goals instead of redzone touchdowns and now are precariously close to the edge in post-season arrangements.

15.(16) Atlanta (7-7) – No playoffs to play for, just pride and the principle of winning. When it looked like it wasn’t to be, the Falcons pull off a last minute win to upend the Jets on their home turf. How fitting it was that the young gun Mattie Ice hitting the aging vet Tony Gonzalez for the winning TD.

16.(15) N.Y. Jets (7-7) – First of all, a huge thumbs down to the classless Jet fans who were throwing snowballs onto the field all around the line of scrimmage during the Falcon scoring drive late in the game. I hope someone pointed them out to police and they end up in jail for attempted assault. It’s ridiculous. The Jets FG unit missed three FG attempts while Mark Sanchez tossed 3 interceptions against one of the more easy secondary units in the NFL….dropping yet another home game. But guess what? They’re still in the running for a playoff spot and have the Colts up next…..and Indy probably will pull starters after the first half at the latest.

17.(14) Miami (7-7) – Up until this game, Chad Henne was moving into “Best emerging young QB” territory. He still might wear that well even after his 3 pick day against the Titans, but with this loss, the Dolphins lost a shot to solidify that final wildcard playoff spot.

18.(17) Pittsburgh (7-7) – Despite the bizarre onside kick decision with a newly acquired lead late in the game, the Steelers manage to swap leads with Green Bay four times in the final eight minutes of play – the last time with no seconds remaining on the clock and a Big Ben touchdown pass to , followed by the game-winning FG by . But seriously, 800+ yards total offense in the game by both teams?

19.(18) Jacksonville (7-7) – QB David Garrard played exceptionally well throughout the game against Indy…until right at the end. Threw for 3 TD passes but his defense could not stop Peyton Manning. Pretty much the norm in the history between these two teams. They haven’t been as dominant as Tennessee in the past 8 weeks, but they still hold the tie breaker over the Titans should they need that to make the playoffs.

20.(19) Houston (7-7) - Andre Johnson put on another great performance for the Texans, and Houston joins a bevy of teams sitting at 7-7 with aspirations of a season-reviving playoff spot landing in their lap. Sorry gang, that’s one Christmas present Santa can’t bring you – you had your chances against Indy and Tennessee last month.

21.(21) San Francisco (6-8) – Looked to be on the verge of getting blown out by halftime, the 49ers make a charge but can’t reel in the Eagles.

22.(25) Carolina (6-8) – Didn’t look like they were playing a top-caliber playoff team on Sunday night, did it? But it did look a little like a playoff game for the Panthers, because it’s as close as they’ll get to one this year.

23.(22) Chicago (5-9) – Jay Cutler might be the only QB in NFL history to go from Pro Bowl caliber to most despised by fans of his teams – all in just one 6 month period of time. The Bears have now lost 8 of their last 10 games and this one probably signals the end for coach Lovie Smith, if there weren’t enough signals already.

24.(27) Oakland (5-9) – The QB carousel was in full swing in Denver as Frye and Russell both led Oakland to a win, with Jamarcus making some crucial plays down the stretch to pull out a “W” in Denver.

25.(23) Buffalo (5-9) – Gave it the ‘ole college try, which really doesn’t work that well in the pro’s.

26.(26) Washington (4-10) – I think that game pretty much solidified the sentiment regarding Jim Zorn and his future connection with this organization. Fair or not, he’s going to take the brunt of responsibility for the failure of this team and new GM Bruce Allen will surely be replacing him soon after the final second of the final game. But the Skins are still better than the Seahawks.

27.(24) Seattle (5-9) – Intersting note by Adam Shecter on a Twitter message Sunday when he stated: ” By losing to Tampa Bay, Seattle helped St. Louis get the #1 pick in the NFL draft and now the Seahawks might have to face Suh in NFC West.” That is a good catch and if anyone thinks the Rams won’t take Suh first in the draft, they’re out of their minds.

28.(29) Detroit (2-12) – Still have to rank this club above the two other 3-win teams because they are just playing all out and forcing good teams into tight finishes.

29.(30) Cleveland (3-11) – Where has the Cleveland coaching staff been hiding Jerome Harrison? All he did was take over the game from Josh Cribbs after Cribbs got the party started with two TD returns. Cribbs now finds himself at the top of NFL return history while Jerome Harrison makes a big impact after playing incognito for the past four years after coming to the NFL from Washington State.

30.(28) Kansas City (3-11) – Did Todd Haley not study all week? Kick it to Josh Cribbs? Twice? Nice job – most laymen in coaching wouldn’t be that stubborn. Great effort by the Chiefs battling back and forcing OT, but imagine how the game would’ve turned out had they not kicked off twice to Cribbs.

31.(31) Tampa Bay (2-12) – Great effort by Josh Freeman and the Bucs to go into Seattle and cut down a Seahawks team that is usually tough to beat at home. Freeman tossed two TD passes and made the Seahawks pay for their 5 turnovers.

32.(32) St. Louis ( 1-13) – Lost the game but will gain the first pick in the upcoming draft and inch closer to turning the program around. Imagine DE’s Long and Carriker with Suh blasting up the middle. Wow. Plenty of talent available in the rounds after their first pick, so just go ahead mark down Suh as the first selection of the 2010 NFL Draft. It’s a no-brainer.