Mock Draft 2.0

I usually do a billion mock drafts but this year I decided to just do two. Since there was no free agency, there hasn't been any roster movement. Player evaluations change everyday so I thought it was best to do one mock draft before the combine and then one right before the draft. The one I'm posting today is for the first two rounds, so we will see how accurate I was in a few days...

1. Carolina Panthers – Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
Before you jump the gun, this is not a typo. Yes, I realize I don’t have Cam Newton being selected number one. Here is my reasoning…As much as I like Cam as a player, he isn’t worth the first pick in this draft. I think he has the talent to be a very successful quarterback one day but it will take some time. This is time that the Panthers can’t afford to waste. Not only is Cam coming from a spread offense, that is rarely seen in the NFL but he also had a very simple play book at Auburn. He has even admitted this. If you haven’t already, watch Grudens QB Camp on ESPN and pay close attention to when Cam Newton diagrams a play and then watch when some of the other QB’s diagram a play. It’s clear that he will be a step behind the other QB’s from a playbook stand point. With that said, the Panthers should go with the best player and or the biggest need. I personally have Dareus rated has the best player overall, above Patrick Peterson and AJ Green and he fits a major need. Panthers do your selves a favor and take the safe pick.

Obviously, the second option here is Cam Newton. A sleeper pick would be AJ Green. Last receiver taken number one was Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.

2. Denver Broncos – Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
This is a tough pick and I didn’t get much help looking at mock drafts because everyone had Cam Newton going first, so they put Dareus second with the Broncos. The Broncos are in a weird situation. They keep saying they are interested in a QB but how is that possible with Tim Tebow, Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn on the roster. They are also switching from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense, which means major player personnel changes in their front seven. If Dareus was here, I’d say he is the easy choice, but he shouldn’t be here. I’m a big fan of Nick Fairley and wouldn’t be mad if he was taken here but I do think that is a little too high for him. Patrick Peterson has instant playmaker written all over him. He will get to learn under Champ Bailey and won’t be asked to cover other team’s number one wide receivers this year. This would be a great situation for him and the team.

3. Buffalo Bills – Cam Newton, QB Auburn
Now this is where Cam Newton belongs. There is no other team that deserves a player with Cam Newton’s potential as much as the Bills. This team hasn’t been good since the “Music City Miracle.” Their defense is slowly coming around and now it is time to draft the QB of the future. Cam will get to groom in Chan Gailey’s system for awhile, as he plays behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Assuming there is a rookie salary cap, there is an even higher incentive for the Bills to draft a QB this high and not rush to play him because his salary won’t be as high as many early picks in the past. We have all seen what Cam is capable of on the field, now he just needs time to develop into a pro QB.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
I’m going to be honest. I’m not in love with this pick. The only reason I have Blaine Gabbert here is because it makes sense. The Bengals have a very young core of players. The two veterans on the team that immediately come to mind (Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer), want out. I assume Ocho Cinco will not get his wish but with Palmer claiming that he would rather retire than come back to the Bengals, it is time to move on. The situation sounds like a bridge that will never be repaired, so the Bengals should draft their future QB now. From what I’ve seen, there isn’t much to get too excited about with Gabbert. In fact, most people had never even heard of him until after the season. The kid has a decent arm, he’s very athletic and kind of looks like Ken (the Barbie Doll). He will definitely be a marketable player and will be an easy sell to the Cincinnati fans as the new face of the franchise. He had a productive year, throwing for over 3,000 yards and led his team to a 10-3 record, including a win over Oklahoma. What scares me is that he only threw 14 touchdowns and tallied nine interceptions. That’s not a very good ratio for the number four pick in the draft. I wish he had won his bowl game but Missouri suffered a heartbreaker to Iowa. I say all this to say, Gabbert has no business being picked fourth overall. I think he would be better suited going eighth to the Tennessee Titans but with the situation the Bengals are in, Gabbert should be the choice.

Another option here would be AJ Green. That doesn’t make as much sense as Gabbert but Green is a much better player right now.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Von Miller, OLB/DE Texas A&M
Von Miller…Wow, I haven’t seen a pass rusher get this much hype since Gaines Adams. It is amazing to me how much Von Miller has flown up the draft boards since the Bowl games ended. Don’t get me wrong, Miller is a great player and I think he will have a successful career but there is no way I’d rate him a top-3 player in the draft. He is definitely an elite pass rusher in this class, but that’s the only thing he does that truly impresses me. I assume he will land on a team that runs a 3-4 defense, where he is allowed to chase the QB all game. That would be great for his career, which is why I think Arizona is a perfect fit for him. Their front seven is decent but what they are really lacking is someone coming off the edge and that is where Von Miller will make his money.

6. Cleveland Browns – AJ Green, WR Georgia
I’m not sure if this is possible but I believe AJ Green has been underrated during this scouting process. The guy is a complete animal and will give opposing defensive backs problems for years. If teams drafted by best player on the board, there is no way Green makes it to pick number six. I think this is a match made in heaven and if he is still on the board, Browns execs will be drooling. The Browns are switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, so many people think they should focus on making that transition easier but let’s be honest, what kind of message would they be sending Colt McCoy if Green is on the board and they didn’t take him.

7. San Francisco – Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
This pick will probably catch people off guard. In my opinion, the 49ers two main needs are an elite pass rusher and a franchise QB. Unfortunately, the way this mock has worked out, the two top QB’s have already been selected and so has the top pass rusher. Robert Quinn makes a lot of sense here, but medical reports showed he used to have a brain tumor and while it is gone now, it could return in the future. It really sucks how things you can’t control dictate your life and sometimes your money (I’ll get to this later). With Quinn having medical issues and missing the last year’s season because of suspension, the 49ers should take a safer pick. Amukamara is a very solid player and should be a play maker from day one.

8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
Nick Fairley is one of my favorite players in the draft. I loved watching him play all year. I’ve seen some of the negative things scouts say about him and I agree with most of the things I’ve seen. He does take plays off and he does have “character issues.” Nick Fairley is human and shouldn’t be expected to be perfect. Yes, he takes a few plays off but a lot of players in the NFL do. A lot of good players in the NFL take plays off. Look at the film and you will see that when he is playing hard, he is unblockable. Another thing to note is that Fairley is a clutch time player. He knows when to bring it and when his team is depending on him for a big play. The whole character issue thing is over blown. Many people say he is a dirty player. I’d say he plays with a nasty streak. It is funny how once you get labeled something it sticks. Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (a player I loved and if you check my mocks from last year, you will see I was praying he landed in Tampa) had several “dirty” plays this year but everyone swept it under the rug because well, we all love Suh. For whatever reason, Fairley isn’t liked by many people and every little thing about him gets blown out of proportion. If you question Fairley, watch his workouts (some of the quickest feet I have ever seen from a defensive tackle) and then watch the game film. Fairley isn’t a Hall of Famer but he will be a very productive player at the next level. Go ahead and quote me on that.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Tyron Smith, T USC
The Cowboys looked horrible last year and for that reason they have the ninth pick in the draft. Normally we would be looking for them to make the sexy pick, but because their offensive line stunk last year they are forced to upgrade up front. Tyron is a very athletic tackle. In fact he used to play tight end at USC before he moved to tackle. The question with him is will he be able to play left tackle or will he have to stay at right tackle? The good news for the Cowboys is they could use both, so either way it’s a win-win for them.

10. Washington Redskins – Julio Jones, WR Alabama
I think this is a pick that most people had penciled in months ago. Then Julio Jones left us all in ah after his workout at the combine. As much as that workout made me want to move him up in my mock, I just couldn’t see it. I also secretly would love to see him as a Redskin. The only way this could be ruined is if AJ Green goes higher than sixth, forcing the Browns to take Julio Jones or if the Skins make a bad call and draft a pass rusher. Robert Quinn and Aldon Smith would both probably be good picks but Jones is just a better player.

11. Houston Texans – Robert Quinn, DE/OLB UNC
Robert Quinn is one of my favorite players in the draft. In my last mock, when he at the time was being underrated, I said that once the combine came and scouts really starting evaluating him, his stock would rise. Well I was right…well sort of. What I did not know was that he had a brain tumor in the past and that some scouts question him as a stand up linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Somehow his stock grew tremendously but I still have him getting drafted outside of the top-10 like most people originally had. Where ever he lands I anticipate Quinn rewarding the team that believed in him and causing havoc to opposing offensive linemen for many years. It will be interesting to compare Von Miller and Robert Quinn’s careers in about four or five years.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Mallett, QB Arkansas
If I had to guess, I’d say the Vikings will trade this pick. But if they stay put, they should target Ryan Mallett. He is the only QB in this draft that is ready to play right now. He has the size, the arm strength and the accuracy. He is not very athletic which may be an issue in the pocket but when you look at the stats, he was sacked 25 times which isn’t great but that is only two more times than Christian Ponder, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert who are all considered much better athletes. Mallett can throw anywhere on the field and the Vikings were in the NFC Championship two years ago. They aren’t rebuilding, they just need a QB. They should go with the guy that is ready to play now and lean on Adrian Peterson to carry the offense.

13. Detroit Lions – Anthony Castonzo, T Boston college
The Lions need defensive back help badly. With Prince off the board they need to worry about protecting their injury prone QB. As we have seen in the past, the Lions will go as far as Matthew Stafford takes them, so they need to keep him healthy. Castonzo is a great tackle and is probably being considered by the Cowboys as well.

14. St. Louis Rams – Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
Cory Liuget is a player not many people know much about. Trust me when I tell you that the Rams have done their homework on him and if they can’t find a way to get Julio Jones, then they will likely address the defensive line. Liuget should be able to bolster the weak defensive front the Rams have and make life for their linebackers a little easier.

15. Miami Dolphins – Mike Pouncey, C/G Florida
The Dolphins are in an interesting situation. At pick 15 they are in the area where it is safe to gamble. They also are a team that has several needs. With the future of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams unclear Mark Ingram would be a good selection here. There offensive line could use help across the board so Mike Pouncey is a good fit but so are any of the remaining tackles. Lastly, the Dolphins could quit on Chad Henne and draft the QB of the future. While all those picks make sense, I think Mike Pouncey has the best value at pick 15. They can address the running back and possible quarterback needs in the 2nd round if they want.

Random Note: Mike Pouncey visited with the Cowboys a few weeks ago and later tweeted that he was going to be a Cowboy. I found that to be odd but maybe he revealed the Cowboys plans to trade back and select Pouncey. It will be interesting to see how this plays out on draft day.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Aldon Smith, DE/OLB Missouri
The Jaguars need help in a lot of areas but defensive line is the biggest need. They drafted a defensive tackle in the first round last year and now it is time to get a pass rusher. They have had bad luck drafting pass rushers in the past but I have a good feeling about Aldon Smith.

17. New England Patriots – JJ Watt, DE/DT Wisconsin
I have JJ Watt as a top-10 talent in this draft, which gives me more of the reason to believe he will somehow fall to the Patriots. What can I say, like them or hate them, the Patriots know how to draft. Watt would come in and fill the void left by Richard Seymour a few years ago. He is a very solid player who will likely go unnoticed for most of his career but he plays hard and does his job. Watt won’t be the pass rusher that the Patriots need but with five picks in the first two rounds, they can address the pass rusher need later.

18. San Diego Chargers – Cameron Jordan, DE California
Cameron Jordan is an interesting prospect. From what I’ve seen from him, he doesn’t jump out at me as a special talent. He is a versatile defensive end that can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 system. A lot scouts love him and expect him to be a play maker instantly. I personally just don’t see it, but eh, what do I know? Enjoy Cameron Jordan Chargers.

19. New York Giants – Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
I feel bad for Mark Ingram. In three years at Alabama he won the Heisman Trophy, led his team to a National Championship, rushed for over 3,000 yards, had 42 rushing touchdowns and never averaged under five yards per carry. People compare him to Emmitt Smith but yet scouts still question his impact at the next level. There is no doubt that he is the best running back in the draft but his stock is all over the place. I’ve heard he could go as high as the Redskins or as low as the early second round. If you look at his stats and then watch his game film, the only question anyone should be asking is what else does he have to prove? If the Giants can’t get the offensive lineman they are targeting I hope they grab Ingram. He could instantly become the best back in the NFC East.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB Purdue
As much as I’d love to talk about how happy I was that Tampa Bay surprised everyone last year and won an astounding 10 games but somehow did not make the playoffs, I won’t. The truth of the matter is that we played a very very very weak schedule and we took advantage of it like we were supposed to. Injuries and the lack of a pass rush plagued the team all season and ultimately became the reason the Bucs didn’t make it to the post season. There is no secret that Raheem Morris is targeting a defensive end in the first round and if Ryan Kerrigan is available he will be a great fit. He isn’t a standout pass rusher but he is very solid; he has the ability to get to the QB and he has an extremely high motor. Watching him play reminds me a lot of Clay Matthews in college. Note that I said in college and not the manimal that destroyed the league this year for the Packers. If Da’Quan Bowers is still on the board it will be tough to pass on him but with defensive end being such a huge need, the Bucs should go with the safe pick.

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Justin Houston, DE/OLB Georgia
The Chiefs should target an offensive lineman with this pick but I have a feeling they will go pass rusher. This draft is loaded this defensive line prospects and many of them will come off the board in the first round so I can understand the Chiefs taking one with pick 21. I think Justin Houston is a little overrated and should be drafted between picks 25-35 but he does fit a need that the Chiefs have. Hopefully he will be a more productive player than I’m predicting.

22. Indianapolis Colts – Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
The Indianapolis Colts had a rough season. It almost seemed like every week a new player went down with an injury. My gut is telling me that if Gabe Carimi is still on the board like I think he will be, that they should draft him but for some reason I can’t see them passing on Akeem Ayers. They desperately need outside linebacker help and Ayers can fill the void. The Colts are one of those teams that can draft offensive linemen in the middle and late rounds of the draft and turn them into starters. Ayers is a first round talent and would fit in well with their defense.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Da’Quan Bowers, DE Clemson
Finally, we get to a team that is willing to take a chance on Da’Quan Bowers. Remember back at pick number seven when I said it is unfair how sometimes things you can't control alter your fate or your money. Well I was mainly referring to Bowers and his knee injury. If he ends up falling this far it will be a sad sad story. A few months ago this guy was a lock for the first or second pick. Now scouts question the severity of his knee injury. He and his agent say he is fine but if you saw his pro day, he didn’t look fine. Of course he is still rehabbing the knee but will it ever back to 100%? That’s the million dollar question or in Bowers case 50 million dollar question. It is easy to pick on someone when they are down and that is what scouts have done to this kid. Once we found out his knee was hurt more than anyone thought, all of a sudden everyone questioned his play on the field. Yes, he had a breakout year with 16 sacks but why did the former number one recruit in the nation according to ESPN only have four total sacks in his first two years? Does he play he play hard every down? Does he have the explosiveness off the line that it will take to be an elite pass rusher? These are all questions that GM’s and scouts are asking each other about this kid and as of right now, most teams are not willing to take the chance. At pick 23 the Eagles don’t have much to lose. If Bowers doesn’t pan out it would be a low risk pick at this point but if he does play like the top-5 talent everyone initially thought he was, then the Eagles have the steal of the draft.

24. New Orleans Saints – Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame
Saints are a Super Bowl contender that doesn’t have a ton of holes. They could use some help on the defensive front and at linebacker but I think Rudolph is the best value pick for them. Rudolph will step in and instantly be an upgrade from Jeremy Shockey. The passing game will become even more dangerous because not only is Rudolph athletic for his size but he is also a very smart player. He understands how to read a defense and where he needs to be so the QB can get him the ball. On top of that he is an underrated run blocker which will help the Saints poor running game. Linebacker and defensive line depth can be found in the later rounds.

25. Seattle Seahawks – Jake Locker, QB Washington
This is a pick that I think is perfect for both the player and the team. No one denies that Jake Locker is a hard-nosed QB with a ton of talent. What people hate about him is his accuracy in the pocket. The good news for him is that accuracy is not a god given ability; it is something he can perfect over time with thousands of reps in practice. Locker belongs in Seattle…They need a franchise QB of the future and he will be the hometown hero (He played at the University of Washington). Pete Carroll knows a lot about Locker and likes him. Locker actually upset Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans two years ago, so if you can’t beat em, join em. He will have the opportunity to sit and learn under Matt Hasselback for at least a year and then Pete Carroll can throw him in the trenches when he feels he is ready. I absolutely love this pick.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Temple
As I previously stated in my first mock, the Ravens seem like that team that will always be in the hunt but will never get over the hump. With that said, as dominant as their defense may seem, it can use a lot of work. The secondary is average, they need another pass rusher, they should consider grooming someone to be Ray Lewis’s replacement and they need help on the defensive line. If you’re paying attention I pretty much just said they need help at every level on defense. Muhammad Wilkerson was a very productive player at Temple. In three years he tallied a whopping 139 tackles playing defensive tackle! At 6’4 315 lbs he will not only plug up gaps but he has also shown signs of great pass rushing ability.

27. Atlanta Falcons – Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
Adrian Clayborn was a player I was high on a few months ago but apparently scouts aren’t as high on him as I was. Some people think he could fall to the second round but I have a hard time believing that. I think he would be a good fit for an Atlanta Falcons team that has been trying to build a stout defensive front but hasn’t seen the progression they would like up to this point.

28. New England Patriots – Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
With five picks in the first two rounds the Patriots will likely do a lot of maneuvering during the draft. Many people anticipate them moving back a lot and targeting specific players and trading picks to get picks in next year’s draft. I think they should only trade back if they really need to. If guys they like are on the board when they are picking, they should take them. No need to plan for next year because you never know what will happen. Take these five early picks and surround Tom Brady with more help and a better defense. He isn’t getting any younger but with a successful draft they can extend their window of opportunity. They need to address the offensive line at some point and if they can grab Carimi, it should be a no brainer.

29. Chicago Bears – Nate Solder, OT Colorado
The Bears over achieved last year and the truth is they have a lot of positions that need to be upgraded. Their season ended last year because Jay Cutler got hurt, so their number one priority should be protecting him in Mike Martz pass friendly offense.

30. New York Jets – Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
The Jets need to upgrade their front seven on defense. They could use a pass rusher and someone to command double teams on the line. Phil Taylor is a massive player and will gladly accept the role as the block absorber. The Jets will be happy with this pick.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado
The Steelers defense got shredded by the Packers in the Super Bowl. At times it looked like they were playing with 10 men not 11 on the field. The secondary MUST be upgraded. There are three players that would be a good fit. Jimmy Smith, Aaron Williams and Brandon Harris would all likely start immediately, at least as the nickel back. I think Jimmy Smith is the most talented of the three and the only reason he isn’t a top-15 pick is because of character issues. The Steelers are no strangers to players with character issues and with a veteran group already in place, Jimmy Smith should be fine.

32. Green Bay Packers – Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St
For the past few weeks all I’ve been hearing is that the Packers will target a pass rusher off the edge or a running back with their first round pick. I think those are both good ideas if: A. Mark Ingram is still on the board and if B. Justin Houston is still on the board. Since I don’t think either will be available they should address the defensive line. Cameron Heyward is a player with a ton of talent but he just doesn’t have the high motor you’d like to see from him. If Green Bay drafts him, he will fit in well as a rotational player and won’t need to worry about saving any energy.

33. New England Patriots – Jonathan Baldwin, WR Pittsburgh
The New England Patriots have everything on offense except and elite running back and a receiver that can stretch the field. Jonathan Baldwin does one thing really well and that’s run fly routes. He has the size and athletic ability to beat most corners and win any jump ball. He should be able to fill the small shoes that Randy Moss left before getting traded.

34. Buffalo Bills – Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi St
If the Bills get Cam Newton in the first round they need to find someone that will protect him. Derek Sherrod makes a lot of sense here if he is still available. They can also look at a pass rusher but I think Sherrod is a better player than any of the pass rushers that will still be on the board at this point.

35. Cincinnati Bengals – Aaron Williams, CB/S Texas
Assuming the Bengals go QB in the first round, they should look to upgrade their defense in the second round. Aaron Williams is a versatile player that can cover the slot as a corner but will likely find safety as his natural position. This is the same team that started “Can’t Cover Roy Williams.” It’s time to move on.

36. Denver Broncos – Marvin Austin, DT UNC
If Denver is unable to get Marcell Dareus they need to look for a defensive tackle in the second round. Marvin Austin is a first round talent but because he sat out a year, his stock has dropped a little. If he is still on the board the Broncos should take him immediately.

37. Cleveland Browns – Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB Pittsburgh
Jabaal Sheard was a very productive player at the collegiate level. As a junior he thrived while playing opposite of Greg Romeus. As a senior he dominated and earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors, while playing injured. He had an off the field issue where he threw a man through a window (as the story goes, throwing him through the window wasn’t enough. He proceeded to beat him up on the ground, even as cops attempted to control him) in defense of one of his teammates but other than that he is a great kid! He sounds like someone I want on my team if I’m going to battle.

38. Arizona Cardinals – Brandon Harris, CB Miami
The Cardinals would love to get their hands on Patrick Peterson but if he isn’t available they can still fill their corner back need with a player like Brandon Harris. Harris wasn’t very productive last year but if Sam Shields from the Packers is an indicator of anything, maybe Miami just didn’t know how to use these guys.

39. Tennessee Titans – Christian Ponder, QB Florida St
The Titans must come away with a QB in this draft. They have two rounds to make it happen. Assuming they don’t take one early they should have their choice of three or four solid guys to choose from. Christian Ponder should be a good fit in Tennessee. He doesn’t have the “wow” factor that some of the other QB’s in this draft have but he is a solid player and unlike Vince Young, he isn’t crazy.

40. Dallas Cowboys – Rahim Moore, S UCLA
The Cowboys need secondary help if they are going to improve next year. Two of their divisional opponents have very explosive passing games, so they will need to counter that. Rahim Moore is a very solid player and if he played a position of higher value he would be a first round pick. He will start from day one.

41. Washington Redskins – Andy Dalton, QB TCU
If the Skins play their cards right they will come away with their franchise QB and receiver of the future. I think drafting Andy Dalton and Julio Jones with their first two picks is the dream scenario. The offense will instantly be revamped and they can start working on how they are getting Donovan McNabb out of town.

42. Houston Texans – Stephen Paea, DT Oregon St
I originally saw Stephen Paea as a possible top-10 talent. Unfortunately, he blew his knee out during a Senior Bowl practice and his stock plummeted shortly after. The good news is that he set a record for most bench press reps at the combine with 49 (UNREAL) and his knee appears to be rehabbing well. There is always the question if a man his size will ever fully recover after knee surgery but in the second round he is worth the risk. Assuming all goes well, Houston will love his production.

43. Minnesota Vikings – Allen Bailey, DE Miami
Because of the lockout, the Vikings have no idea what will happen with free agent defensive end Ray Edwards. They should take Allen Bailey as insurance.

44. Detroit Lions – Danny Watkins, G/T Baylor
I mentioned earlier that the Lions need to focus on protecting Matthew Stafford. If Danny Watkins is still on the board they need to grab him. Watkins may get taken late in the first round but he will likely slip to the second round because he is 26 years old. I know you are wondering why he is 26 and just finishing college, so I’ll tell you. Danny was a firefighter for four years before pursuing his college football career.

45. San Francisco 49ers – Brooks Reed, DE/OLB Arizona
Brooks Reed is a talented pass rusher who has seen his stock all over the place. The Packers like him a lot, so he could be drafted in the first round but I think he will likely be taken by the 49ers at pick 45.

46. Denver Broncos – Martez Wilson, MLB Illinois
Martez Wilson is the best middle linebacker in the draft. Unfortunately linebackers aren’t valued very high (unless you are a pass rusher). He is a first round talent but because of the position he plays, he will fall to the second round. With the Broncos changing defenses they need to draft their defensive leader now.

47. St. Louis Rams – Leonard Hankerson, WR Miami
Assuming the Rams don’t land Julio Jones, they will have a decent crop of receivers to choose from in the second round. Leonard Hankerson will be the most polished of those available so they should go with him. He will start from day one.

48. Oakland Raiders – Stefen Wisniewski, C/G Penn St
An article I read recently, stated that Stefen Wisniewski’s uncle played 13 years under Al Davis and is currently an assistant coach for the Raiders…Sounds like this pick is written in stone.

49. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ras-I Dowling, CB Virginia
The Jaguars need secondary help, so a corner would be a good pick here. Plus, how could you pass on a guy named Ras-I Dowling?

50. San Diego Chargers – Torrey Smith, WR Maryland
The Vincent Jackson saga is not over. He was franchised in February, which means there will be more contract disputes after this season. Torrey Smith is a speedster from Maryland and can be a productive slot receiver right now as he develops into a starter.

51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bruce Carter, OLB UN C
The Bucs somehow got by with an average defense last year. I wouldn’t count on that happening again. They have a few major needs that they need to fill. One of them is outside linebacker. Bruce Carter was a very solid and consistent player at UNC. Even this year when they were playing with several backups in the lineup because of suspensions, Carter still produced at a high level. Assuming he is still there at pick 51, the Bucs should grab him with no hesitation.

52. New York Giants – Rodney Hudson G/C Florida St
The Giants grabbed their franchise running back in the first round and now it is time to find some people to block for him. Hudson can play guard or center, which will always keep him in the rotation.

53. Indianapolis Colts – Benjamin Ijalana, OT/G Villanova
Earlier I mentioned how the Colts are the type of team that can draft linemen in the middle and late rounds and make them starters. Well this is the second round but Ijalana is a player that most people have never heard of. That is because he played at Villanova, a school that most people didn’t know had a football team. Regardless, Ijalana is a massive specimen and looked great in his workouts. He may not start immediately but he will be insurance if they run into injuries again.

54. Philadelphia Eagles – Colin Kaepernick, QB Nevada
This is a little bit of a surprise pick but if you think about it, it really makes sense. It is almost a guarantee that Kevin Kolb will be traded. Too many teams have a need for a QB of his talent and experience for the Eagles to hold on to him as a backup. Michael Vick was electrifying last year but his body started to wear down towards the end of the season. He isn’t a very big guy and he is already 30. The Eagles should draft some insurance in case Vick gets hurt and Kaepernick is the perfect solution. He is an athletic QB who will fit well in the Eagles’ offense. He will have plenty of time to learn and groom under Vick and maybe one day he will take over the starting job.

55. Kansas City Chiefs – Titus Young, WR Boise St
The Chiefs need a number two wide receiver. I’m a big fan of Dexter McCluster but there is no way he should be the number two receiver. Titus Young was extremely productive at Boise St and his game should translate well to the NFL. Dwayne Bowe will be happy teams can’t triple team him anymore.

56. New Orleans Saints—Quan Sturdivant, MLB UNC
This pick is a reach but when you don’t have many holes you have to focus on what you need. Jonathan Vilma is a great player but he should be playing outside linebacker. If the Saints draft Sturdivant, then Vilma can move over to outside linebacker. The Saints can also consider Casey Matthews or Colin McCarthy.

57. Seattle Seahawks – Mikel LeShoure, RB Illinois
The Seattle Seahawks did well by taking Marshawn Lynch off of the Bills hands last year. Now they need to take another running back that can play with Lynch. Mikel LeShoure is a great player and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went in the first round to either the Saints or the Packers.

58. Baltimore Ravens – Sam Acho, DE/OLB Texas
Last year the Ravens took a dominant pass rusher in Sergio Kindle and he suffered a severe injury before he even signed his contract. Kindle may never return to true form again so the Ravens should take a pass rusher just in case. Kind of interesting that Sam Acho is another sack artist from Texas just as Kindle was.

59. Atlanta Falcons – Orlando Franklin, G Miami
This is simple, the Falcons will go as far as Matt Ryan takes them…He needs to be protected.

60. New England Patriots – Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech
I have a feeling the Patriots will push this move off as long as possible but at some point they will need to draft a long-term reliable running back. Ryan Williams can be that player and if they get him at the end of the second round, it will be a steal.

61. San Diego Chargers – Quinton Carter, S Oklahoma
The Chargers don’t have a ton of holes but they could use help at safety. Quinton Carter is a very skilled player and he should compete for a starting job early.

62. Chicago Bears – Kenrick Ellis, DT Hampton
The Bears upgraded the offensive line in the first round with Nate solder and now it is time to upgrade the defensive line with Kenrick Ellis.

63. Pittsburgh Steelers – Will Rackley, OT/G Lehigh
The Steelers made a great pick by drafting Pouncey last year. The offensive line still needs to be upgraded, so Will Rackley should be the pick here.

64. Green Bay Packers – Dontay Moch, DE/OLB Nevada
The Packers didn’t come away with a pass rusher in the first round but Moch would be a great selection at the end of the second round. This could be a little bit of a reach for him but a player with his athletic ability won’t be waiting for them in the third round. They should take Moch while they can.

Classic CP3

New Orleans Hornets star, Chris Paul has used the first four games of the playoff series against the Lakers to remind us all that he is still the best point guard in the NBA. It is easy to forget about Paul because his team is rarely on television, so instead we move names such as Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Russell Westbrook ahead of him. Chris takes everything personal on the court and has noticed he became an after thought in most of our minds. See how he takes his frustrations out on Andrew Bynum below...

Drink Sprite

Very embarrassing....

Nike Cartoon Show Commercial

Interesting Nike shoe commercial that features Chris Bosh, DeSean Jackson and Amare Stoudemire.

Why Von????

Von Wafer what were you thinking with this one?

Watch Your Head

WOW!

White Man Can Jump

Jacob Tucker shows off his athletic ability in the 2011 NCAA Dunk Contest. Keep in mind Jacob is only 5'10!

National Championship

We finally made it, the National Championship. We all witnessed a season of ups and downs with pretenders (Michigan St, Kansas St, Tennessee) and surprising contenders (North Carolina, Florida, Texas) constantly shifting spots in the top-25 up until early March. Conference championships came around and gave a few interesting stories, most notably UConn winning five straight games in five days to take home the Big East Championship after going just 9-9 in Big
East play during regular season play.

Finally we were awarded with an NCAA Tournament crazier than Charlie Sheen. This was the first year where there was a field of 68 teams instead of the typical 64. The drama started on selection Sunday when teams such as Colorado, Alabama, and Virginia Tech were snubbed for schools like VCU and Clemson. The upsets began early with Morehead State taking down Rick Pitino’s heavily favored Louisville squad and VCU knocking out a veteran led Georgetown team. The second round was equally as entertaining as Marquette took down Big East rival Syracuse, VCU toppled Purdue in an 18 point victory, Florida St bullied Notre Dame on their way to the Sweet 16 and a Arizona versus Texas game went down to the wire (A strange five second call that led to an Arizona and-one ultimately decided the game, in case you forgot). I know what you’re thinking and yes, I conveniently left out Butler knocking out number one seed Pittsburgh in the field of 32…So what!

The fun didn’t stop with the Sweet 16. UNC knocked off the tournament favorite in Ohio State, Duke was embarrassed by Arizona (I’m still smiling about that), Jimmer Fredette’s college career came to an end against Florida and VCU and UConn kept rolling. In the Elite Eight the surprisers, well, kept surprising. VCU knocked off the last number one seed remaining the Kansas Jayhawks, Butler took down Florida, Kentucky out shot UNC and UConn won again…Finally, the Final Four. If someone told me they had UConn, Butler, VCU and Kentucky in the Final Four I’d instantly call them a liar. To me it’s impossible. I don’t even think a computer could randomly simulate the tournament and come out with that Final Four. With all the hype of the two mid-major schools facing off against one another and then two storied coaches in coach John Calipari and coach Jim Calhoun going to battle, the Final Four was rather entertaining. Ultimately, UConn and Butler prevailed in two very entertaining games.

Random fact…Only in the 1980, 2006, and 2011 seasons has there been no number one seeds in the Final Four.

So that brings us to tonight, the National Championship. There are two interesting stories to note. One, UConn is thought of as a storied basketball school but they haven’t been to a Final Four since 2004. Two, Butler is returning to the National Championship for the second consecutive year. That is something that doesn’t happen very often. In fact the last time that happened was when Florida won back-to-back National Championships in 2006 and 2007. Before that no one made it to two consecutive National Championships since Kentucky made it three consecutive years in the late 90’s.

UConn has been somewhat of an underdog all season. They have a young team, led by junior sensation Kemba Walker. Like most people I wrote Butler off this season after their star last year Gordon Heyward left for the NBA. Little did I know, that team was a lot more talented and well-rounded than I thought. Just like last year they flew under the radar and entered the tournament being overlooked. The story was a little different but the outcome was about the same, they are back in the big game. So with two unexpected teams in the title game, who is the favorite? Great question and from what I’ve heard and read in various sports media outlet it appears it is a matter of personal choice. If you’re a Big East fan or a Kemba Walker fan you are most likely going for UConn. If you like the unknown or “underdog” you will likely go with Butler. Both teams have great coaches and play extremely well together. I personally could care less who wins, I just want to see a great game. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on UConn and Kemba Walker but I’m biased because of the Big East.

Check back later for a game recap once we have crowned a new champion.

Tourney TV Ratings

This year the NCAA went with a new format for broadcasting its basketball tournament. Typically CBS controls what games we see for the tournament but this year the NCAA decided to show every game and used four different networks. CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV (random), broadcasted the entire first two rounds of the tournament and it led to the highest television ratings for the first weekend in 17 years. Apparently I wasn't the only person that thought showing every game was a good idea. I just wonder what took so long?

MMA Digest

I don’t talk a lot about MMA but there have been two recent topics that can’t go without me giving my opinion. First, roughly 10 days ago very big news flew under the sports radar. Zuffa purchased Strikeforce. For those unfamiliar with Zuffa or even Strikeforce, this was the MMA’s equivalent to the WWE buying WCW or the NBA and ABA merger. It is huge news that solidifies UFC as the dominant MMA company, with little to no competition. In a sense they have monopolized the sport. If you’re wondering why I switched from talking about Zuffa to talking about the UFC, it is because Zuffa is a sports promotional company that acts as a parent entity to UFC. So basically UFC has purchased its biggest competitor and is locked in to take Mixed Martial Arts to the next level.

What does all of this mean and why should I care?

If you are an MMA fan this is your dream. UFC now controls probably around 90% if not more of the best talent around the world. Not only will we (the fans) be given more “must see” fights but there will be more fights in general. With such a large roster bolstering a plethora of talent, there will definitely be an increase in the number of shows and events. Every year UFC pushes to get mixed martial arts legalized in more states and thus far they have been marginally successful to an extent. The more states that legalize the sport, the more shows they can have in various places, the more fans get to see live events, the more overall exposure the sport gets. On paper, it’s a win-win for everyone. Dana White has already expressed interest in having two pay-per-view events per month or having two televised events on the same night in different locations. White has also said that he envisions a UFC channel in the near future. UFC is currently under contract with SpikeTv but in my opinion the company has outgrown the channel and I have a feeling Dana White feels the same way. It appears the foundation is set for UFC and Mixed Martial Arts to take off to the level not only nationally, but internationally as well. For those reading this in excitement, just as I was when I first read about the Strikeforce-UFC merger, I’d recommend you hold your excitement for a while. Even though Zuffa now has the rights to Strikeforce, Dana White has publically said that Strikeforce will act as a separate company for now. Showtime currently has a multi-year deal with Strikeforce and White said they will honor that deal. It appears White doesn’t see any reason to rush the merger so he is taking the patient route. For now, just imagine the WWE after if purchased ECW but acted like ECW was still its own company and brand. Just like that experiment ended with a merger, UFC and Strikeforce will ultimately merge rosters and produce any MMA fans dream product.

Okay, so you got me excited about something that isn’t going to happen for a while. What was the other thing you wanted to say?

Glad you asked. Now that we have the business side of this out the way, time to focus on the actual action. Saturday night, UFC hosted UFC 128. The main event featured a seasoned veteran Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and the very young and electrifying Jon “Bones” Jones. Rua came into the bout as the Light Heavyweight Champion and had yet to defend his title. His most recent win was very impressive as he completely dismantled Lyoto Machida’s defense and KO’d him in the first round. Jon Jones put together a remarkable resume, with a 12-1 record (side note, only two of his fights have ended in decision) in just his first three years of action. He has signature wins over Stephan Bonner, Brandon Vera, and Ryan Badar. His one loss was to Matt Hamil and it was a fluke disqualification for an illegal elbow. After Rua’s total domination over Machida many questioned if Jones would be able to handle the savvy veteran, even with Jones superior athleticism. Well to keep this short Jones put every question that anyone had to rest. The only question left was who is next? The fight was a colossal beat down. In the past, Jones has displayed his incredible ground game and ability to control a fight but I doubt many people expected the all-around domination that occurred on Saturday. Surprisingly Shogun looked like an amateur in this fight. He fought like he knew he lost before Bruce Buffer did his long-winded introductions. Jon Jones beat Rua up for two rounds and some change before finally putting him out his misery and knocking him out. The final hit count was 13 for Rua and 87 for Jones. There are no stats or scorecards that can show how ugly and dominant this fight was. It is truly something you must see with your own eyes.

If you’re reading this and feel this is a totally biased article from a Jon Jones band wagon rider, well your partially right. I assume if you feel that way you probably didn’t watch the fight because as much as I’m hyping Bones Jones, he was really that dominant. And yes, I am officially riding the Jon Jones band wagon, as should anyone that saw that fight. As for Rua, I truly thought he would be the Light Heavyweight Champion for awhile. Maybe even a year. In his first bout against Machida he got robbed by the judges and in the rematch he didn’t give the judges a chance to play a role in the fight. At the time I would have argued Machida had one of the best strike defenses in the UFC and definitely in his weight class. After witnessing Shogun dominate Machida, I saw a potential long-term champion in Rua. In fact, if he had defended his title against Rashad Evans or Rampage Jackson like he was initially supposed to, I think Shogun would still be the champion. Unfortunately, he ran into something he was not prepared for in Bones Jones and if there were a rematch this could potentially go differently but after that beat down I don’t see a rematch anytime soon.

For those who still aren’t sold on Jon Jones I want you to remember a few numbers…He is 6’4 with an 84.5” reach (the longest in MMA history). He currently has a 13-1 record and is just 23 years old. The sky is the limit for this guy.

Image above provided by Getty Images

Big East Basketball and March Madness:

This year's "powerhouse" conference in NCAA basketball has performed rather poorly in the "big dance." Minus the teams that have had to play each other, for the inevitable elimination, Big East play has been nothing short of horrendous. Everything that the public has thought about Big East Basketball has been proven null and void from the performances and lack thereof during tournament play. Eight of the 11 qualifying teams in the Big East (those not-so fortunate: Louisville, Georgetown and Villanova) made it out of the 64 team round, but the play of teams in that round and in the round since has been all but pathetic. Both Georgetown and Villanova appeared not to have even showed up to play basketball, and Louisville lost a heart breaker in the final seconds against Morehead State... Surprisingly enough, in the ensuing week, coach Rick Pitino (Louisville) is on the March Madness halftime shows analyzing the play of other teams participating in March Madness. Honestly speaking, both Louisville and 'Nova should have won their respective games and advanced to the next round... VCU ran Georgetown out of the gym, just as they did last night against Purdue.

West Virginia played well in their first game of the tournament, subduing a hot-handed Clemson team that many thought had a shot at doing some decent damage in the tournament. Despite playing well against Clemson, in the following game against Kentucky, the Mountaineers just couldn't get it going against the Wildcat defense.

Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, O Pittsburgh!!! Congratulations on being the first number one seed to be bounced out of the tournament. Being an alumnus of Pitt, I cant help but laugh at the irony in which "we" lost that game. For those familiar with the situation, I want people to stop blaming the Coach Jamie Dixon for having his players lined up on the free throw line. Maybe he thought it would have been tough on Gil Brown to make the free throw with only opposing players on the line... I don't know, but what I do know is this: Robinson is at Pittsburgh to play basketball, keeping that in mind, he should have been aware of the situation and know that the chance of Butler making that shot from under Pitt's goal with .8 seconds left is 1 in 899 Billion. Don't blame the coach, blame the player that commits what will arguably be the silliest play in this year's March Madness. -----> More on Pittsburgh, they played sloppy in their tournament opener against UNC-Ashville, and the sloppiness continued against Butler; not surprised in the fact that that game ended up going to the wire. It goes to show you that if you let a team hang around long enough, and you increase your opportunity to go home.

Marquette and Syracuse both did well in their round of 64 openers against Xavier and Indiana State, respectively, which resulted in a head-to-head clash against one another in one of the most competitive games that the tournament has seen thus far. Both teams played with heart and desire, but Marquette went for the hat-trick beating Syracuse for a total of three times in as much games this season and as a result, heading to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since Dwayne Wade took them there in 2003.

Another pair of Big East teams dueled for an opportunity to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, the Bearcats of Cincinnati and the UConn Huskies... Cincy showed out with their impressive 15 point victory over Missouri and were heading into the round of the 32 with a head of steam. They then had to compete against Big East Champions, Kemba Walker and the Huskies, after their 29 point rout of Bucknell. Anyone would have been intimidated after watching a team maul their opponent the way UConn picked apart Bucknell, however Cincy did play a respectable game and only ended up losing by eleven.

Number 2 seed Notre Dame played well against Akron in the 64 team round, but it got embarassed against an energetic Florida State Seminole team that seems to be out for blood. The Seminoles started out on top and continued to pound away at "Fighting Irish" team that lost their fight early.

All in all, the Big East has played badly and has failed to live up to its hype as a powerhouse conference in the tournament. Do not be surprised if UConn or Marquette make it to the Final Four, but be very surprised if they both do!!!

Kemba Walker is going to make a serious impact on this tournament. He is playing like a man possessed, and I fear for any team that gets in way!!!

Samson X

What a lockout would really mean

There appears to be a very dark cloud hanging over the NFL and the NBA right now. While many are getting ready for the NFL draft and NBA playoffs in April, there is a looming distraction that finds its way to headlines almost daily—the potential lockout. The NFLPA and the owners have been meeting for over 10 days while trying to iron out an arrangement for a new collective bargaining agreement CBA. The good news is that the two groups continue to talk so it appears they are at least attempting to get a deal done. The bad news is they can do all the talking they want but until a deal is done there isn’t a reason to be very optimistic. On the NBA side of things, unlike the NFL, the NBA is still in season. We are about a month away from the playoffs, so most teams (players and owners) are focused on finishing the season with a championship, or for all the non-playoff teams (sorry Wolves), momentum for next season. The lockout is still in the back of everyone’s mind but is not priority number one at this point. To be honest, I think the NFL will get a deal done relatively soon, but unfortunately I think the NBA is headed for every fan’s nightmare. But instead of breaking down what the players and owners are fighting about in their respective organizations, I think it’s best to shed light on what is really important in the case of a lockout…FANTASY SPORTS.

Let’s be honest, how crushed would we be if there were no fantasy football or basketball next season? I’d actually be somewhat heartbroken if a new CBA was agreed upon mid-way through the season and we only had half a season of fantasy football or basketball. I understand fantasy sports are extremely popular within my group of friends but I was interested in how many people really participate, so I dug up a little information.

According to a Dave and Buster’s survey, about 15,000,000 people participate in fantasy football yearly. I couldn’t find a stat on fantasy basketball but I do know that it is not close to being as popular as fantasy football. Regardless, there are approximately 30,000,000 people that participate in fantasy sports and about half of them play fantasy football. It can be assumed that at least 2-5 million play fantasy basketball so we are looking at roughly 17-20 million people that can’t participate in their annual fantasy leagues because of potential lockouts next season.

If you participate in any fantasy leagues, you’re aware of the benefits. Not only is it fun, but it brings out the competitor in most of us. It makes us follow sports more attentively, and above all, anyone can be successful. You don’t have to know every player on every team, or know stats that are really only important if you’re a coach or some type of sports analyst to be a winner. There are rankings and suggestions to help you during drafts and throughout the season, so as long as you make decent decisions and set your roster (I hate it when people don’t set their rosters!) you will always have a chance.

So, while the players and owners fight over money and power, I hope someone is considering what a lockout would do to the fans. Not only would an NFL lockout put a damper on Sundays, but an NBA lockout would leave us with only NHL highlights on SportsCenter (sports gods please shoo the lockout devils away!). If the players and owners can’t agree on a new CBA, for themselves and for the sake of their respective sports, I just ask that they get a deal done for fantasy sports.

Rim Breaker

In this video, a high school coach tries to show his team he can still dunk. Watch as he tears down the rim...literally.

Amazing Home Video

Unbelievable video of Kansas State's Zach Enyeart. Long snapping has never been so interesting.

Amazing Dunk!!!

Amazing dunk by Jordan Green, who is headed to Texas A&M next year. As you watch this video, keep in mind this kid is only 6'4.