Saturday, March 31, 2012

Don't rule troubled Jenkins out as Chargers' first-round pick


Those who follow the San Diego Chargers recognize the team's greatest needs heading into this year's draft are right tackle, left guard, pass-rushing outside linebacker, and strong safety. With that in mind, most mock drafts have the Chargers selecting an offensive lineman, a pass-rusher, or Alabama safety Mark Barron with the 18th overall pick. That's very understandable, but there's a problem: It's not out of the question that Barron and the rest of the top prospects at the positions San Diego needs most will already be gone before the 18th pick. In that case, where do the Chargers go?

San Diego general manager A.J. Smith is one of the toughest personnel men to figure out when it comes to his picks on draft day. It's probably safe to say there weren't many, if any, who thought he was going use last year's first- and second-round picks on defensive lineman Corey Liuget, cornerback Marcus Gilchrist, and inside linebacker Jonas Mouton. Liuget, now a starting defensive end in the Chargers' 3-4 scheme, was the only one of the three who filled a primary need. Mouton, meanwhile, was considered a third-day prospect by most experts, and he was picked ahead of Justin Houston, a pass-rusher from Georgia who would have made more sense at the time. Smith was expected to select a pass-rushing outside linebacker and offensive tackle early, but he didn't take anyone at either position in the entire draft.

On this blog I've made it clear that, of all the realistic possibilities for San Diego's first-round pick, my favorite prospect is Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro. If he's not there, I want Smith to grab USC defensive end Nick Perry, a pass-rusher I believe will develop into an impact player. Smith works in mysterious ways, however, and I'm beginning to think he may grab a cornerback in Round 1.

With Quentin Jammer turning 33 in June, the struggling Antoine Cason heading into the last season of his rookie contract, and Shareece Wright and Gilchrist about to begin the sophomore years of their NFL careers, one could make the argument that the cornerback position is a bigger area of concern for the Chargers than most believe. In a league that enforces rules which totally favor the aerial attacks, an argument can also be made that San Diego cannot expect to be a serious contender in 2012 with the secondary it has in place right now.

Taking all of this into consideration, there's one very intriguing prospect who just may turn out to be the latest shocking selection that will make Chargers fans shake their heads and scream, "What the #@&*, A.J.!" The player who fits that profile perfectly is North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

One of the most talented players in this year's draft, if not for a checkered past Jenkins probably would be competing with LSU's Morris Claiborne to be the first cornerback selected. The 5-10, 192-pound Jenkins is a dynamic talent who has the ability to shut down the opposing offense's best receiver and be a big-time threat on punt returns. Originally a student-athlete at the University of Florida, after three arrests--two of them drug-related--over a two-year period Jenkins was dismissed from the Gators' football team by just-hired head coach Will Muschamp in April of 2011. Prior to that point, Jenkins was considered the best cornerback in the country, as he had just come off a dominant 2010 season in which he held Georgia's A.J. Green and Alabama's Julio Jones, both of whom were taken in the top six picks of the 2011 draft, to an average of 38 yards over two games.

A three-year starter at Florida, Jenkins had eight interceptions and broke up 25 passes. After joining North Alabama last fall, he picked off two passes and returned three punts for touchdowns. Clearly, he has the goods to be a success in the NFL, but there's just so much baggage.

In addition to his arrests, Jenkins is the father of four children with three different women, and NFL executives are afraid he may struggle to manage his money intelligently after he signs his first pro contract. Chargers fans know all about this, what with the struggles former San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie has experienced while fathering nine kids with eight different women. The fact that Cromartie was traded unceremoniously to the New York Jets in 2010 alone has some Chargers fans hoping A.J. Smith will cross Jenkins off San Diego's draft board.

"He's definitely a player," one AFC general manager said of Jenkins in an article written by ESPN's Jeffri Chadiha. "He can run, and you could start him at the nickel [cornerback] from day one. The thing that somebody will have to decide is whether he's accountable. You don't know if what he's been through will rear its head again."

In that article Jenkins was very adamant that his troubles are behind him and he's ready to move forward. North Alabama head coach Terry Bowden agrees wholeheartedly.

"Janoris isn't a risk of being a problem off the field in the NFL," Bowden said. "He's a tough kid and a hard worker. People talk about him having four kids, and I didn't even know that because he never talked about it. Usually, guys that have issues with that are late for practice or always dealing with stuff. I always felt like Janoris was handling his business."

Bowden also made it clear that he doesn't believe Jenkins has a drug problem. While that's nice to hear, Jenkins will have to prove that himself. There have been many times in which a prospect with a checkered past has had a coach speak up for him, letting the world know all of that junk was behind the young man. Then a few months later that same prospect ended up in a jail cell once again.

"The toughest thing is what are the issues?" former Baltimore Ravens coach and current Fox analyst Brian Billick told Chadiha when asked about drafting players with character questions. "Young people tend to do stupid things. Do you have a sense he understands he has to change his behavior? … Going forward, is this an ingrained part of his character, or did he just do some stupid thing? If it's the latter, you can be optimistic about the NFL and what's at stake for him will help sort that out. If it's an innate part of the character, that's where you don't want to make that mistake."

As of late A.J. Smith has shied away from taking chances on players such as Jenkins, but there's no doubt the young cornerback could help the Chargers tremendously. Cason, Gilchrist, Jammer, and Wright combined to produce four interceptions last year. Clearly, that isn't nearly enough for a defense wanting to put its offense in better scoring position by creating turnovers. If free safety Eric Weddle hadn't had a career year with seven interceptions in 2011, the Chargers cornerbacks' ineptitude would have been much more noticeable.

Keeping this all in mind, Jenkins may not be the player I want the Chargers to select in the first round, but I definitely won't scream "What the #@&*, A.J.!" if it does end up happening.

Friday, March 30, 2012

A San Diego spin on Kiper's chat wrap, Part III




With less than a month left until the NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper is surely locked in. Kiper had another chat wrap yesterday afternoon, and for the third straight week, I pulled some questions and answers I believe will be informative for San Diego Chargers fans to read. In bold, I will type my thoughts underneath Kiper's answers.


Odell (Atlanta)

Mel who do you have going as next best OT after Martin and Adams

Mel Kiper

After those two guys, the guy I have right in there is Bobby Massie from Ole Miss, a RT or OG in the NFL.

Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie is a player I'm real high on. My hope is he'll be there for the Chargers at pick #49 in the second round, but as of right now it looks highly unlikely that will occur. Although Kiper said Massie could play guard in the NFL, I think the big man from Ole Miss would be the ideal replacement for Chargers right tackle Jeromey Clary, whom I've said repeatedly is one of the worst at his position in the NFL.

Matthew (Columbia, NJ)

Mel: Would it be a reach for the Eagles to grab Devon Still from Penn State at #15?

Mel Kiper

I think it would be. If you're looking at a DT at that point, you're probably looking at Brockers, Cox. That would be more in line. If Dontari Poe is there, he would be a nice pick.

Still is borderline first round pick. He could go late first or early second.

It won't shock me if San Diego general manager A.J. Smith selects a defensive lineman in the first round. With Luis Castillo just released, and Tommie Harris still unsigned, the Chargers are a little thin at the defensive end spot. It's unlikely that Smith will select a player such as Penn State's Devon Still or Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox in the first round, though. If Castillo and Harris don't come back, Smith will probably look to address the defensive end spot in the mid-rounds.

Randy (Boston)

Nick Perry has the size Bellicheck likes in his 3-4 OLB. Do you think he can stand up or is he better playing with his hand in the dirt?

Mel Kiper

I think he would be better as a 4-3 DE. He's not as fluid as you'd like a 3-4 OLB to be, but he can do it. 6-3, 270, tremendous upperbody strength. He can run and he's fast. He's a little stiff, but he has measurables off the chart. He could go between the mid and late first round. He's been a good pass rusher at USC. He's definitely a first rounder. His numbers are too good not to.

I'm a little surprised to see Kiper say USC defensive end Nick Perry wouldn't be a better fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme such as the Chargers'. I disagree with Mel's assessment vehemently, as I believe Perry is the best pass-rusher to make the switch from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker. I would love to see A.J. Smith select Perry in the first round.

Dave (Green Bay)

With the 28th overall pick the the 2012 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers will select....?

Mel Kiper

They could go a couple of ways: pass rusher, safety. Nick Perry could be a choice for them. Whitney Mercilous. Harrison Smith at safety.

Perry, Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus, and Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith are all believed to be very high on the Chargers' draft board. It's good to know Mel thinks it's possible Mercilus or Perry could be there at the end of the first round. If that's the case, it's likely that both Mercilus and Perry will be available when the Chargers are up at selection #18. On the other hand, the Chargers seem to be very high on Harrison Smith. If the Packers pick the Notre Dame safety in the first round, San Diego will obviously have no chance of getting him. Then again, let's hope A.J. Smith doesn't like Harrison Smith too much. A.J. has been known to reach, and selecting Harrison Smith at pick #18 would certainly be foolish move in this draft.

Tom (Chicago)

In which round do you see Jonathan Massaquoi going?

Mel Kiper

He's interesting. I like him. The thing with him is he has tremendously long arms. He's 6-2, very athletic. His impact numbers dropped this year. He didn't produce as many big plays on the run or the pass this year. He dropped from 20.5 TFL to 10 this year. 13.5 sacks down to 6. But they dropped him into coverage some. The system may have caused that drop a little bit. As a 3-4 OLB, I think he can get it done. You can probably pick him up in the early Day 3 area.

Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi is a player I'm very high on, so it's good news to see Kiper stating he'll likely fall to the fourth round. Now, my hope is A.J. Smith will draft Nick Perry in Round 1, Bobby Massie in the second, Casey Hayward in the third, and Massaquoi in the fourth. Two pass-rushers in one draft, you ask? You betcha. If Perry and Massaquoi are drafted by the Chargers, my feeling is they'll take away the roster spots that currently belong to Larry English and Travis LaBoy, both of whom don't offer much to the team.

John (Wisconsin)

Is there any James Starks type of players in the draft.. Players that got injured during their senior year whose stock will drop but will be a steal later in the draft?

Mel Kiper

Some guys who could be nice picks late who had injury issues: Ryan Broyles; Travis Lewis; Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A-M, had a hamstring injury all season; Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse, the knee injury forced him to miss 5 games and would have been a first round pick if healthy.

Syracuse defensive end/outside linebacker Chandler Jones is a player Chargers fans should keep their eyes on--especially if he falls to the second round. Jones missed five games last season but still finished with 4.5 sacks. It's not a stretch to state he may have recorded double-digit sacks if he had played a full season in 2011.

Greg (DC)

Who's been the hardest guy to evaluate in this draft?

Mel Kiper

Ryan Tannheill. Jared Crick. Crick is a guy that missed a lot of time with injury this year. He could go in the category of the last quesetion with his injury hurting his last year. Alshon Jeffery, because of his weight. It fluctuates. Whitney Mercilous. He's a one-year wonder. He was completely off the radar going into this year and he ended up as one of the nation's leaders in sacks and fumbles.

Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick just may turn out to be the biggest steal in this draft. He missed most of the 2011 season with a torn pectoral muscle, but he was considered a first-round talent before that. Now, however, there are some mock drafts projecting him to go as late as the fifth round. That's odd to me, as a torn pectoral muscle shouldn't be considered a career-threatening injury. If the Chargers could get Crick in one of the mid-rounds, I'll be very happy.

Joe (Sacramento)

From what you can tell, who is the guy that is going to get drafted way too high in the first round (other than a QB)?

Mel Kiper

You could see Mike Adams going too high. Jonathan Martin. Stephen Hill. David Wilson. Orson Charles. Jayron Hosley.

Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams and Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin are interesting names to see in that answer. I like Adams as a right-tackle prospect, but there have been many negative reports written about him, so I don't think A.J. Smith should take him in the first round. Martin falls in the same category. The more I read about him, the less I like. While I would love it if Adams fell to the Chargers in the second round, I'm at the point where I'm not interested in Martin at all.

Zach (Texas)

Do you see another reaching for QBs landslide again? Could Foles Weeden, etc all follow Tannehill (if he goes 8th).

Mel Kiper

There is a lot of mixed opinion on these QBs. I think Weeden goes in the second. Osweiller probably goes in the second. Foles, third round. Cousins, third round. Day 2, I think you see those guys go.

At this point last year most people didn't think Jake Locker or Christian Ponder would be picked in the first round, but they both went in the top 15. Here's hoping something similar occurs next month, as every time a quarterback is picked before selection #18, it gives the Chargers a better chance at grabbing a highly-rated prospect of greater need. After the Indianapolis Colts take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck #1 overall and the Washington Redskins select Baylor's Robert Griffin III at #2, the dream scenario would be for the Cleveland Browns to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill #4 and the Miami Dolphins to reach for either Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden or Arizona's Nick Foles eighth overall. Is that likely to happen? Probably not, but who thought the Tennessee Titans were going to take Locker eighth overall and the Minnesota Vikings were going to select Ponder at pick #12 last year? Probably no one.

Alex (OH)

What do you see the Bengals doing with their two picks in the first round?

Mel Kiper

They could look at Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama. Gilmore. David DeCastro. Cordy Glenn. CB/OG are two areas they could look at.

The Cincinnati Bengals' first pick is the 17th overall selection, one ahead of the Chargers. Here's hoping the Bengals avoid taking Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro, who's probably going to be an elite talent at his position for about 10 years in the NFL. After Kris Dielman's retirement, the Chargers could use a left guard, as it's not exactly comforting to think of veteran Tyronne Green as the replacement. It would be nice if Cincinnati goes with Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick instead of DeCastro at pick #17.


Kiper said his next chat is scheduled for next Thursday, April 4, at 1 ET. I will once again pull out some questions and answers for me to analyze on this blog next week.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Upshaw fails to impress at Alabama Pro Day




Today was a good day for those of us who don't want to see our San Diego Chargers select Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw in the first round of this April's draft. Upshaw, considered one of the premier pass-rushers in this draft class, failed to impress scouts at Alabama's Pro Day this morning.

Opinions on Courtney Upshaw's workout are sure to be varied, but the productive college defender showed little in the way of speed and quickness during position drills. In many of the drills which required Upshaw to move laterally he struggled with his balance and seemed to trip over his feet. He displayed a minimal burst of speed and his change of direction was only adequate. During bag drills Upshaw displayed great punch and power. Upshaw, whose official 40 time came in at 4.78 seconds, is still likely to be selected in the first round, but his limited speed and lateral movement skills will narrow the number of teams willing to draft him in the top 32 .

This shouldn't come as a surprise to those who have actually seen Upshaw play. Simply put, as impressive as he may appear in a uniform, he looks very stiff when he's out on the field. All indications point to Upshaw possessing a lack of athleticism. Obviously, that doesn't bode well for his future in the NFL

Although Upshaw didn't perform up to expectations today, a fellow Crimson Tide defender solidified his status as mid-first-round pick. Strong safety Mark Barron, the consensus #1 prospect at his position, put together a successful workout despite the fact he just recently underwent double hernia surgery.

Mark Barron had his moments during position drills. For the most part Barron looked very fluid moving about the field, displaying a good change of the direction and the ability to quickly flip his hips transitioning from moving backwards to running forwards. Barron was always on balance and looked very athletic on the field. He needs to improve his backpedal as Barron was a little stiff moving in reverse and the big safety showed little burst in drills and looked more like a one speed player. Considering he underwent double hernia surgery a little more than two months ago it was a solid performance by Barron, who solidified himself as a mid-to-late first round pick.

Keeping in mind that the Chargers haven't had a Pro Bowl talent at strong safety since Rodney Harrison was let go in 2003, and given how the team is dangerously thin at the position right now, Barron just might be the answer in the first round. Barron is the type of a sure tackler in the box the Lightning Bolts could use in a tandem with All-Pro free safety Eric Weddle.

Most mock drafts predict Barron will be available at San Diego's 18th overall pick. Apparently the New York Jets, who own the 16th overall selection, are considered the only team that could get in the way of the Chargers grabbing him.

Welcome back to San Diego, Antonio!


Antonio Garay Antonio Garay #71 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The San Diego Chargers are now in a position where they don't need to add a nose tackle. The team came to terms on a two-year deal with veteran nose tackle Antonio Garay this afternoon.

Garay has been the starting nose tackle for San Diego since the beginning of the 2010 season. He first joined the Chargers in 2009, after they plucked him from the the New York Jets' practice squad.

Pretty much coming out of nowhere, Garay performed close to a Pro Bowl level during the 2010 season, as he finished with 48 tackles and 5.5 sacks. His sack number fell to 2.5 in 2011, but he was still a reliable player at the critical position Clearly, his return helps make the Chargers and their fans feel more comfortable heading into next season

With fellow nose tackle Cam Thomas going into his third year next September, it's unclear if Garay will retain his starting job. Thomas was picked in the fifth round of the 2010 draft and has shown some promise when given the opportunity to play. He just may be the future fixture on the interior of San Diego's defensive line. But for now, with both of them on the roster, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith doesn't have to feel pressured into taking a nose tackle during this April's draft.


Saturday, March 24, 2012

Hayward could be steal of 2012 draft




The NFL draft season is rolling by quickly, as there are less than 33 days until commissioner Roger Goodell officially puts the Indianapolis Colts on the clock for the first overall pick. With the San Diego Chargers expected to place a strong emphasis on defense with their draft selections, it will be interesting to see if they address the cornerback position. One player they may want to give strong consideration in the third or fourth round is Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward.

A three-year starter, Hayward picked off 15 passes for the Commodores, seven of which came last season and six recorded in 2010. Given his stats, many experts believe he's a ballhawk, an interception machine. That's certainly something the Chargers could use in their secondary, particularly at cornerback--being how there has been a lack of thefts from that position.

Given his playmaking ability, one has to wonder why Hayward isn't considered a first- or second-round prospect. According to Pro Football Weekly, however, Hayward isn't as physical as NFL teams would like. Even so, NFL talent evaluators have to be intrigued by the coverage skills Hayward will bring to a team's secondary. He showed off some of his talent at Vanderbilt's Pro Day yesterday.

Hayward was solid in ball drills, displaying natural cover skills and catching every pass thrown to him.

Now that I've learned about Hayward, I'd like to see Chargers general manager A.J. Smith spend his third- or fourth-round pick on the Vanderbilt cornerback. For the future, at the very least Hayward would likely serve as good depth at the cornerback spot with Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright--and perhaps Antoine Cason if he's re-signed following the 2012 season. Hayward could be one of the steals of the 2012 draft.

Friday, March 23, 2012

A San Diego spin on Kiper's chat wrap, Part II


Last week I posted a selection of questions and answers related to the San Diego Chargers during ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper's chat wrap from Wednesday, March 14. Kiper had another chat wrap yesterday afternoon, so I pulled some more questions and answers I believe will be informative for Chargers fans to read. In bold, I will type my thoughts underneath Kiper's answers.


Eric (Tenn)

Whats preventing ronnell Lewis from being a 1st round pick, because he was very production at oklahoma

Mel Kiper

He had a good career at OU coming out as a junior. He made more impact plays this year. What's helped him, when people saw him in the right game, you saw a guy who can be a 3-4 OLB. He's gained momentum the last couple of months. I think he's a solid second rounder. He fits the 3-4 teams.

I have already written about Oklahoma outside linebacker Ronnell Lewis twice. What I can't get past is how he's a second-round prospect in many experts' eyes in spite of the fact he had just 10.5 sacks during his college career. The Chargers need a dynamic pass-rushing talent, and Lewis doesn't appear to be that type of player.


Jack (Boston)

Mel-Always great work, does the Peyton Manning signing change how the Broncos will approach the draft?

Mel Kiper
No, I don't think it changes their approach. They still need defense. Manning can't be in a position where he has to outscore everybody. They need DL help, secondary. They need that defense better and up to speed. You maybe draft a QB in the late rounds, but that's too much of a luxury pick early.

The Denver Broncos already have a strong defense, one that can only be made better if newly-acquired quarterback Peyton Manning produces long drives on offense. Here's hoping Denver will pick a bust in the first round.

Junior (OH)
Is mark barron in the same league as eric berry and earl thomas?

Mel Kiper

He's a different kind of player. He's a strong safety type, in the box type. He's the LaRon Landry type of guy. He's the glue that held the Alabama defense together. He's not an Ed Reed, he's a Landry. Barron is coming into the league with the hernia injury, but he should be fine and should be a mid first round pick.

Alabama safety Mark Barron may just be the player San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith selects in the first round. The Chargers have a glaring need at the strong safety spot alongside free safety Eric Weddle, and Barron is certainly an intriguing candidate to fill that position. Personally, I think Smith would be better off selecting a pass-rusher or an offensive lineman in Round 1. As far as I'm concerned, those two positions carry greater importance than strong safety. But Barron certainly possesses the physicality and tackling skills to be a pretty good player for a long time, so I won't cry or throw a temper tantrum if he ends up being San Diego's first-round pick.

Alex (Villanova)

Who are the 3 likeliest picks for the Jets at 16?

Mel Kiper
Depending upon what happens with the rest of free agency, you need a pass rusher. Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram. You can't run Rex Ryan's defense without a pass rush. WR, RB, RT. They have some holes. They have to help out Mark Sanchez. The biggest issue right now is they need a guy who can finish plays. They don't have a closer off the edge.

I'm under the assumption that South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram and Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw will be selected before the New York Jets are up at selection #16. By all means, I'd love to see the Jets take Upshaw, since I feel he is quite overrated, but I really hope they don't take one of the pass-rushers I want for the Chargers. I'll be greatly disappointed if the Jets select USC defensive end Nick Perry, who's my favorite pass-rusher in this draft.

Tom (Chicago)

How high is Brandon Brooks going?

Mel Kiper

He could go as high as a second or third round. Powerhouse guard. Very athletic. Strong kid. Powerful kid. It was surprising that he wasn't invited to the combine. He's one of the top 5 pure guards in the draft. I say he goes in the third round.

It would be wonderful to see the Chargers select Miami of Ohio offensive guard Brandon Brooks in the third round. Right now, Tyronne Green is penciled in as San Diego's starting left guard. Green, to me, is a good backup, but I'm not so sure he's the long-term replacement for the retired All-Pro Kris Dielman. Brooks has the size and athleticism to really excel in the NFL.

Brandon (Wi)

can decastro play every position on the line?

Mel Kiper

He's an outstanding pure guard. He can play center. He'll have value. With the DT play in the NFL right now, he'll be huge to have. He's like a Steve Wisniewski. That's the kind of player DeCastro can be. He has that potential. He's the guy you pencil in as a starter and figure that he'll be a pro bowl player. I think he goes in the middle of the first. He shouldn't get past No. 20 to Tennessee.

As much as I want the Chargers to select an offensive tackle or a pass-rusher in the first round, Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro should be the choice if he's there at pick #18. DeCastro is a rare talent for his position, and I could definitely see him being a Pro Bowl left guard for many years. It would be stupid to pass him up.

Anthony (Philadelphia)

Where do you see Bruce Irvin going?

Mel Kiper

I think he could go as high as the second. I'm projecting the third. He has a lot of speed. He didn't play as well this year as two years ago. I thought he could be a first round pick if he played up to how he once did. He dropped from 14 sacks to 7. He could be a very good OLB.

West Virginia outside linebacker Bruce Irvin is a prospect who was considered by many as a first-round talent before last season began, but he didn't perform up to expectations in 2011. That worries me a little bit, but I plan on doing a little more research on him. I wouldn't totally rule him out just because he struggled last year.

Brandon (San Diego)

If the Bears want to go OL and DL with their first 2 picks, which one should they get in the first and which one in the second?

Mel Kiper

The first round, if you're looking OT, you're looking Mike Adams from OSU. Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State would be a possibility at DL. Second round OT, Bobby Massie, Jonthan Martin, James Brown. For second round DT, Jerel Worthy.

The Chicago Bears select one pick after the Chargers. I hope A.J. Smith grabs Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie before he falls to Chicago in the second round. What I find interesting about what Kiper said is how he puts Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin as a second-round possibility. I don't know if that was a mistake, but I wonder if Martin's stock is dropping now.

I will continue to check into Kiper's chat wraps and follow up with my own analysis leading up to the draft. For some reason, his latest chat wrap was yesterday afternoon, a Thursday, but the rest have been on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. ET.

Prater could be enticing option after Round 2


With nearly every San Diego Chargers fan talking about how badly the team needs help at outside linebacker, strong safety, right tackle, and left guard, one position that seems to have been overlooked during the mock draft season is cornerback. As of right now there are four cornerbacks listed on San Diego's roster--Quentin Jammer, Antoine Cason, and 2011 draft picks Marcus Gilchrist (second round) and Shareece Wright (third round). Jammer will be 33 in June, and it's unclear whether or not Cason has a long-term future with the Chargers. And since no one knows how Gilchrist and Wright will pan out in the NFL, one has to believe cornerback is a spot the Chaargers must add depth to.

Despite there being more pressing concerns at other positions, cornerback may very well be addressed at some point in April's draft. San Diego general manager A.J. Smith will likely take a cornerback somewhere between the third and seventh rounds. One prospect expected to be selected within that area, probably in Round 4, is Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater.

At 5-10, 190 pounds Prater was a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes. In 2011 he had 51 tackles, a sack, four forced fumbles, and an interception. Playing left corner as his primary position, he is considered a defensive back capable of playing any type of coverage, and it was noticeable to some that opposing offenses weren't comfortable throwing in his direction. That could explain why he had just one interception last season, although he did finish his college career with seven picks.

"One thing I noticed in looking at 2011 tape was that opponents don’t throw his way very often," National Football Post's Greg Gabriel wrote in a scouting report on Prater. "In three games viewed I think I saw only 5 or 6 passes thrown in his direction."

Prater ran for scouts during Iowa's Pro Day this week. He didn't disappoint.

At the Iowa pro day cornerback Shaun Prater, who did not run at the combine due to a minor right knee flare-up, posted 40 times as fast as 4.39 seconds today. He also timed 4.19 seconds in the short shuttle.

Given Prater's experience and success at the college level, along with the speed he showed this week, it may be a good idea for A.J. Smith to seriously consider the Iowa cornerback after Round 2.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Mock Draft (Second round)




As painful as completing the first round of a mock draft can be, it's excruciating to come up with the right fits for the teams in the second round. Many of the players picked in Round 2 are prospects I've just learned about, so it gets quite tedious after I get to the 40th overall selection

Nevertheless, I got through it, as I will for a Round 3 in the coming days.

Second round

33. St. Louis Rams: LSU wide receiver Reuben Randle

The Rams got their right tackle in Round 1; now it's time to grab a wide receiver for Sam Bradford to throw to. Along with great size (6-4, 208 pounds) for the position, Randle catches nearly everything thrown his way. He'd be a real, much-needed reliable target for Bradford.

34. New York Giants: Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams

With longtime right tackle Kareem McKenzie told to explore other options, the Giants have to find a replacement. Adams has first-round talent, but his stock has dropped due to character concerns. Tom Coughlin is the right head coach to get Adams in line so he can reach his full potential.

35. Minnesota Vikings: Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu

The Vikings got their left tackle in Round 1; now it's time to get a receiver for Christian Ponder to throw to. Sanu has great hands and uses the proper technique while catching the ball. He also possesses good size (6-2, 215 pounds) for the position and would fit nicely as a complement to the speedy Percy Harvin.

36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Virginia Tech running back David Wilson

The Buccaneers need to get a running back to work in tandem with the bulldozing LeGarrette Blount. Wilson has a thick lower body that will intimidate tacklers as they attempt to wrap their arms around his legs, and he possesses game-breaking speed to create quite a bit of separation from defenders on his way to the end zone. Wilson can also be a factor in the passing game, as he has above-average hands. He would serve as quite a security blanket on screen passes for quarterback Josh Freeman.

37. Cleveland Browns: Clemson defensive end Andre Branch

The Browns have a young pass-rushing talent in Jabaal Sheard, their second-round pick from last year. They take another promising quarterback hunter during this year's second round, as Branch is too talented to pass up. The Clemson defensive end is a bit undersized, but so was Sheard coming out last year. Branch uses his superior speed and long arms to get considerable pressure on the opposing quarterback. Adding him would give Cleveland one of the more talented defensive lines of the future.

38. New England Patriots (trade-up with Jacksonville Jaguars): Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones

It seems as though many draft experts view Jones as a poor man's version of Jason Pierre-Paul, who had limited production at South Florida but proved to be an absolute freak of nature when he showed off his back-flipping skills during pre-draft workouts in 2010. Jones had just 4.5 sacks last year, but he played only seven games, due to a leg injury. Although experts believe Jones needs to work on his technique, much like like they said of Pierre-Paul, they feel Jones has immense upside. To complete their defense, the Patriots need to acquire a pass-rushing threat, so Belichick goes out of character here by trading his 2013 first-round pick to ensure himself of getting Jones.

39. St. Louis Rams: Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith

The Rams just signed Cortland Finnegan to fill their hole at cornerback; now they need to get a strong safety. Smith is considered the second-best strong safety in this draft, as he possesses the coverage and tackling skills to excel at the position. New head coach Jeff Fisher would certainly make a player out of Smith.

40. Carolina Panthers: Nebraska cornerback Alonzo Dennard

Chris Gamble is going into his ninth season, and Captain Munnerlyn is severely undersized, so the Panthers need to grab a cornerback with one of their premium draft picks this April. Dennard is a multi-talented cornerback who can excel in either man-to-man or zone coverage, and he's also proven to be a capable tackler.

41. Buffalo Bills: North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown

With the Bills switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3, it's unclear who will step in as the weakside linebacker. Brown could solve that problem right away, as he has all of the athleticism needed to excel at the position. Otherwise, Buffalo could go with Nick Barnett, Kirk Morrison, or Kelvin Sheppard as the starting weakside linebacker. Yeah, none of those three would be a good idea. Brown would be the right selection at this point.

42. Miami Dolphins: Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen

After selecting their quarterback of the future in Round 1, the Dolphins get him a pass-catching tight end to work with. Allen is the most complete tight end in this class, as he excels at catching passes and blocking. That type of package is certainly something Miami could use as a future replacement for Anthony Fasano.

43. Seattle Seahawks: Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler

With Robert Gallery's release last week, a hole opened at left guard on the Seahawks' offensive line. Zeitler has wowed scouts in predraft workouts, and many believe he's the third-best guard in this draft. He would be another young building block on Seattle's protection unit.

44. Kansas City Chiefs: Miami running back Lamar Miller

The Chiefs were hurt badly by stud running back Jamaal Charles's season-ending injury during Week 2 of last year. They need another running back to carry the load, and Miller is very capable of doing just that. If Charles could remain healthy, he and Miller would be quite a formidable duo in Kansas City's backfield.

45. Dallas Cowboys: Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson

Although the Cowboys would like to use this pick on a safety, there aren't any who can match Thompson's talent. Dallas would like to add to its 3-4 defensive line, and while Jay Ratliff has been one of the better nose tackles in the NFL, adding Thompson could move Ratliff out to end. Thompson also has the versatility to play defensive end in the Cowboys' scheme.

46. Philadelphia Eagles: Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David

The Eagles' current weakside linebacker is 2010 seventh-round pick Jamar Chaney. It would probably be best for Chaney to return to middle linebacker, where he could back up the newly-acquired DeMeco Ryans.

David would be a huge upgrade to what the Eagles have been lining up on the weakside lately. With great quickness for a man his size, he's capable of running down ball-carriers from almost any spot on the field, and he's a sound tackler.

47. New York Jets: Oklahoma defensive end/outside linebacker Ronnell Lewis

The Jets believe they have turned outside linebacker Aaron Maybin's career around, but they still need another pass-rusher. Although Lewis may not have been all that productive in college, he has the athleticism to become quite a player. Head coach Rex Ryan is the right guy to get the most out of Lewis.

48. New England Patriots: Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson

In addition to safety, the Patriots could use yet another cornerback, and Robinson is believed to be among the most athletic prospects in this draft. He absolutely tore it up at the Combine, and he is said to possess the right attitude for a coach like Belichick to develop.

49. San Diego Chargers: Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie


The Chargers re-signed left tackle Jared Gaither and center Nick Hardwick, but don't think for even a second that's all they needed to do on their offensive line. In Jeromey Clary, San Diego still has one of the worst right tackles in the NFL, so general manager A.J. Smith needs to find a replacement.


Massie is a 6-6, 315-pound mauler who has been gaining momentum as the draft season has gone along. He possesses long arms and quick feet, and many believe he'll develop into a very good starter in the NFL. He'd be a great fit on San Diego's offensive line.


50. Chicago Bears: Midwestern State offensive guard Amini Silatolu

Silatolu was a left tackle in college, but he'll be moved inside to guard in the NFL. The Bears could use an interior lineman like Silatolu, an intimidating blocker who relishes the opportunity to pancake his opponents. Choosing Jonathan Martin in Round 1 and Silatolu in the second would surely allow Jay Cutler to sleep easier at night.

51. Philadelphia Eagles: Boise State running back Doug Martin

Veteran Ronnie Brown didn't exactly work out too well as a complementary running back to the dynamic LeSean McCoy. Martin has the receiving skills to be a factor in head coach Andy Reid's offense, and his short, thick body would be helpful in short-yardage situations, which has plagued Philadelphia over the last few years.

52. Tennessee Titans: Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks

The Titans need a linebacker to replace Stephen Tulloch, who left for Detroit before last season. Kendricks is considered short for the position, but he possesses every other attribute to be a success in the NFL. Tennessee would have a lot of fun utilizing Kendrick's sideline-to-sideline speed in its defensive scheme.

53. Cincinnati Bengals: Washington running back Chris Polk

The Bengals are extremely desperate for a running back, so they "reach" for one here. Although Polk may be considered a third- or fourth-round prospect by most, he's a determined runner who appears to possess everything required to be a workhorse in the NFL. He runs very well between the tackles, which is currently the missing element in Cincinnati's growing offense.

54. Detroit Lions: Troy offensive tackle James Brown

After getting a defensive back in Round 1, the Lions have to address their other weakness: offensive line. Brown is a versatile offensive lineman who can play both tackle spots and guard. After Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had an outstanding season in his first full year without getting injured, Detroit needs to make sure it does everything possible to keep his jersey clean. In that regard Brown would be a big help.

55. Atlanta Falcons: Virginia defensive end Cam Johnson

With defensive end Jonathan Abraham up there in age (34), the Falcons need to plan for the future. Johnson is a very strong defensive end who needs a year or two to develop his pass-rushing moves. With Abraham, Ray Edwards, and Kroy Biermann already on the roster, Atlanta doesn't have to put unnecessary pressure on Johnson to develop rapidly.

56. San Diego Chargers (pick acquired in first-round trade with Steelers): Miami of Ohio offensive guard Brandon Brooks


With Kris Dielman just announcing his retirement, Tyronne Green has been penciled in as the starting left guard. The Chargers can't be overly comfortable with Green in that spot, so getting Brooks here would be a wise move.


Although he wasn't invited to the Combine, it's almost a given that the 6-5, 346-pound Brooks will go in Round 2. After starting all four years at Miami of Ohio, he has wowed scouts in predraft workouts over the last month, showing off his overall strength on the bench press (36 reps) and quick feet in position drills. As of right now, it's difficult to see much difference in ability between Brooks and Cordy Glenn.

57. Denver Broncos: Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy

The Broncos must add to the interior of their defensive line, and they would be thrilled if Worthy were to fall this far. Worthy's stock has dropped recently, as his disappearing acts in games and lack of aggression and technique are worrisome to those evaluating him. At this point, there are those who feel his bust rate is pretty high. Head coach John Fox is just the right man for the task of making sure Worthy gets the most out of his 6-2, 308-pound body, though. Worthy would be a nice fit in an up-and-coming defense.

58. Houston Texans: Washington defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu

Much like Worthy, there are significant concerns about the 6-3, 337-pound Ta'amu. Entering last season with the reputation of being a first-round talent, Ta'amu didn't live up to the hype. But the Texans are a little light at nose tackle, and Ta'amu's upside is far too tremendous to pass up at this point in the draft. If he were to play up to his potential, he would be quite an intimidating presence between defensive ends J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith.

59. Green Bay Packers: Boise State defensive end/outside linebacker Shea McClellin

After getting a defensive lineman in Round 1, the Packers grab their pass-rushing outside linebacker in the second. McClellin is the prideful, hyperactive player Green Bay needs to line up on the opposite side of Clay Matthews. Considered a tweener heading into the draft season, the 6-3, 260-pound McClellin has proven his doubters wrong by impressing scouts tremendously at the Combine and during Boise State's Pro Day. McClellin would be a tremendous help to the Packers as they attempt to revert to playing great defense.


60. Buffalo Bills (trade-up with the Baltimore Ravens): Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins

The Bills move up to get their quarterback of the future in Cousins, who has done an outstanding job in predraft workouts. Although Buffalo extended quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in the middle of last season, he struggled badly during the second half of the year. At 6-2, 214 pounds, Cousins may not be the perfect quarterback prospect when it comes to overall ability, but he possesses the ideal attitude, intelligence, and leadership qualities to be a success in Bills head coach Chan Gailey's system.

61. San Francisco 49ers: Iowa State offensive guard Kelechi Osemele

With the running game being the strength of the 49ers' offense, San Francisco could use another mauler to take over the right guard spot. The 6-6, 333-pound Osemele is a punishing blocker who would work well on the interior with left guard Mike Iupati--the 49ers' first-round pick in 2010. With the addition of Osemele, running back Frank Gore would enjoy larger holes to run through.

62. Jacksonville Jaguars (trade-down with the New England Patriots): Appalachian State wide receiver Brian Quick

The Jaguars have a severe dearth at the wide receiver position, and Quick is one of the more intriguing players on the rise in this draft, so this is a natural fit. At 6-3, 222 pounds Quick has great speed and was a dominant player at the FCS level. Coming from an option offense, he'll probably need some time to develop in the NFL, but his upside is very alluring to a team with a young quarterback in Blaine Gabbert.

63. New York Giants: Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner

The Giants addressed their need at right tackle with their first pick; now it's time fill their hole at middle linebacker. At 6-0, 233 pounds Wagner is a little short and light for the position, but he's the tackling machine the Super Bowl champs need in the middle of their defense. He would be quite an upgrade from Chase Blackburn, who played well for New York during its Super Bowl run but isn't the long-term answer at the position.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Mock Draft (First round)



There's nothing much more painful than putting together a mock draft. It's incredibly difficult to place the right players with the correct teams so it all makes sense. Plus, let's not forget that the draft is more than a month away, which means I'll probably do at least two more mocks that will contain many changes as more information and rumors flow in.

Nevertheless, here's the first round of my initial mock draft of the silly season. I will post the second round in the coming days.

First round

1. Indianapolis Colts: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck

This a no-brainer. The Colts are in the very fortunate position to acquire a quarterback many believe is the best prospect to enter the draft since Peyton Manning did in 1998. Why would they pass that up? They won't.

2. Washington Redskins (trade-up): Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin

The Redskins gave up a lot to own this pick, but it's understandable, since they haven't had a franchise quarterback since....

Griffin has the skills to be an ideal fit in Mike Shanahan's offense, and Washington has built a good defense over the last few years. Although it will take a little while to get the Redskins back to a championship-caliber level, this selection is the biggest step in that direction.

3. Minnesota Vikings: USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil

The Vikings believe they have their franchise quarterback in Christian Ponder. Now it's time to provide the pass protection Ponder will need to succeed. Kalil is the consensus #1 left tackle prospect in this draft. He's expected to be an elite blindside protector for the next 10-15 years. This is another no-brainer

4. Cleveland Browns: Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon

The Browns are in desperate need of a dynamic threat to fill the #1 receiver role in Pat Shurmur's offense. Blackmon has been compared to Terrell Owens, minus the attitude problems. Colt McCoy will be the happiest man alive after this selection is made.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne

Tampa Bay's defense is filled with an abundance of young talent along the defensive line, but it needs a shutdown cornerback. Claiborne is the top defensive back in this draft, and he would be the ideal successor to Ronde Barber.

6. St. Louis Rams: Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff

By moving down this far, the Rams lose out on getting Blackmon, but they're still able to acquire Reiff, who's considered the best right tackle prospect in the draft. It's rumored St. Louis will release 2009 first-round pick Jason Smith, who's now considered a bust. Reiff could be the bookend to left tackle Roger Saffold for many years to come.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples

Last year the Jaguars selected Blaine Gabbert to be their franchise quarterback. This year they take Coples to be the pass-rusher they've needed for a very long time. Coples is the top-rated defensive end in this draft.

8. Miami Dolphins: Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill

With the offensive-minded head coach in Joe Philbin, the Dolphins need a serious upgrade from Matt Moore at quarterback. Miami missed out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn in free agency, and the recently signed David Garrard just isn't the answer. Tannehill is a reach, but the Dolphins are so desperate for a quarterback of the future that they don't care.

9. Carolina Panthers: Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd

The Panthers have a ton of needs on defense, but their best pass-catcher, Steve Smith, will turn 33 this May, and quarterback Cam Newton will need someone to throw to when #89 is finished. Floyd is a big, strong receiver with the necessary speed to make huge plays in the passing game.

10. Buffalo Bills: South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram

After signing superstar defensive end Mario Williams, and with Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus at defensive tackle, the Bills don't appear to have a need for a defensive lineman. But this is a copycat league, so Buffalo will preach that "You can never have enough pass-rushers" after they select Ingram. During pre-draft workouts Ingram has shown he's a superior athlete with a ton of upside. Ingram as the bookend to Mario Williams could turn out to be of the fiercest pass-rushing tandems in the NFL.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe

General manager Scott Pioli wants a Vince Wilfork for his defense. In this class there doesn't appear to be as dominant of a force as Wilfork, but Pioli will settle for the most athletic defensive tackle to enter the draft in a very long time. While Poe didn't dominate at a lower level of competition in college, his upside is immense, and the Chiefs would be thrilled to see him terrorize opposing offenses from the nose tackle spot in their 3-4 for many years to come.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus

Carroll continues to build the defense into a more formidable unit by adding one of the elite pass-rushers in this draft. Mercilus led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles in 2011, and he's impressed many with the overall athleticism he's shown in pre-draft workouts. Carroll is a coach capable of getting the most out of such a talent. Hopefully Nick Perry doesn't go all Taylor Mays on Carroll after this selection is made.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw

The Cardinals are in the process of building an outstanding defense, as they possess elite talents in cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett. What they're missing is a pass-rushing outside linebacker. For a very long time Upshaw has been considered the best 3-4 outside linebacker prospect in this class. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro

Yes, the Cowboys are very weak in the secondary, as their biggest needs are cornerback and safety, but DeCastro is one of the best offensive guards to come out in awhile. Dallas could definitely use him to team up with Tyron Smith as the key building blocks to an elite offensive line for many years to come.

Considering the Cowboys have to contend with the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Babin, Trent Cole, Brian Orakpo, and Ryan Kerrigan, putting together a dominant offensive line is much more vital than adding a cornerback such as Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick. Dallas could get by with signing defensive backs in free agency and drafting them after the first round.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers

After trading a fourth-round pick to the Houston Texans for middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles are able to focus their attention on other spots in their defense. In spite of already having defensive ends Jason Babin and Trent Cole and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins on their dominant front four, Philadelphia can't resist the temptation to add Brockers,

16. New York Jets: Alabama running back Trent Richardson

The Jets would be absolutely thrilled if Richardson falls this far, as they desperately need a stud ball-carrier to take the workhorse role away from Shonn Greene. Richardson is actually one of the top five players in this draft, but he will probably drop to this selection because of how devalued the running back position is these days. Regardless, the Jets would be ecstatic to add a back capable of gaining 1,500+ yards behind their offensive line. That would take some of the heat off quarterback Mark Sanchez.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick

The Bengals didn't come up with much of a replacement after stud cornerback Jonathan Joseph left for Houston last summer. Kirkpatrick is the second-best cornerback in this draft, so he's the ideal selection at this point.

Kirkpatrick would likely start right away on the opposite side of fellow corner Leon Hall. By making this pick, Cincinnati would have more firepower to negate the attacks from the top quarterbacks in their division--Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore's Joe Flacco.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (trade-up with San Diego Chargers): Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly

Kuechly is a very intelligent player who could thrive while playing alongside Lawrence Timmons. The Steelers are ready to move on from James Farrior, who was released last week, and Kuechly is the type that could become another intimidating tackler for the Steel Curtain. By making this selection, Pittsburgh would become an even harder-hitting defense. The Steelers make this move up ahead of the Titans, who would have been happy to select Kuechly.

19. Chicago Bears: Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin

The Bears got their wide receiver this offseason by trading for Brandon Marshall. Now they have to provide better protection for quarterback Jay Cutler, who led Chicago to a 7-3 record before suffering a season-ending broken thumb injury.

Martin is considered by most as the third-best offensive tackle in this draft. By making this selection, Chicago would finally have the left tackle it's wanted as Cutler's blind-side protector. Martin and right tackle Gabe Carimi, last year's first-round pick, would work quite well together in tandem.

20. Tennessee Titans: South Carolina cornerback Stephen Gilmore

After losing Cortland Finnegan in free agency, the Titans need to find a replacement. Gilmore's stock has risen significantly over the last month, and Tennessee would be thrilled to find him here at this point. Gilmore is capable of becoming the top dog in the Titans' secondary.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn

Glenn is perhaps the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft, as many believe he could play guard or right tackle, and he's made a name for himself by tearing it up during pre-draft workouts. The Bengals need help along the offensive line, and Glenn's ability to play either guard or tackle would come in handy. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Stanford tight end Coby Fleener

The Browns add another weapon to their offense with a pass-catching tight end in Fleener. The thought behind this pick is Fleener would develop into the Brent Jones- or Mark Chmura-type tight end that thrived for team president Mike Holmgren when he was an offensive coordinator in San Francisco and a head coach in Green Bay. The Browns may not have gotten their franchise quarterback in this draft, but getting Blackmon and Fleener in the first round would set things up very nicely for whomever is picked to replace Colt McCoy.

23. Detroit Lions: North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins

The Lions have done a great job building their defensive line, but the secondary was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Although Jenkins is a character risk, he has the talent to develop into an elite cornerback, and head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham are the right guys to keep the youngster in line.

24. San Diego Chargers (trade-down with the Pittsburgh Steelers): USC defensive end Nick Perry

The Chargers didn't get their pass-rusher in free agency, as they signed Jarret Johnson, who's predominantly a run-stuffer. Perry is an underrated talent and the best pass-rusher left on the board at this point, so it's a no-brainer to select him.

Outside linebacker Antwan Barnes led the team with 11 sacks last season, but he's just a part-time player, and Larry English is an injury waiting to happen. Meanwhile, Shaun Phillips had a down year in 2011, so who knows if he'll ever return to his Pro Bowl form? Perry would provide fresh talent off the edge, and the hope is he'd produce 10-15 sacks once fully developed.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (trade with the Denver Broncos): Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright

The Steelers acquire this pick from the Broncos, who signed restricted free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace to a lucrative contract Pittsburgh refused to match. (Note: I'm predicting this trade; it hasn't happened--yet.) Under this scenario, the Steelers replace Wallace with Wright, who is a dual-threat as a receiver and returner. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wouldn't be pleased with Wallace's departure, but he'd be excited about the playmaking ability Wright would bring to the table.

26. New England Patriots (trade-up with the Houston Texans): Alabama safety Mark Barron

The Patriots' entire secondary was embarrassed throughout last season, and Bill Belichick tries to solve that problem by bringing in the top strong safety from this draft. Barron isn't as talented as Troy Polamalu or Eric Berry were coming out of college, but he's the hard-hitting safety New England's defense has missed since Rodney Harrison retired following the 2008 season. Barron and Patrick Chung would be quite a tandem at the safety spots in Belichick's defense.

27. New England Patriots: Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork needs help beside him on the defensive line, so Belichick makes the logical move by selecting Cox to play defensive end in the returning 3-4 scheme. The Patriots were winning Super Bowls when they had Richard Seymour and Ty Warren playing the 5-technique defensive end spots in the 3-4. Since those two left, Belichick's defense hasn't been the same. Cox has the ability to help turn New England's defense back into an effective unit.

28. Green Bay Packers: Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still

Among many other issues, the Packers' defense missed Cullen Jenkins on the defensive line. B.J. Raji is one of the top young nose tackles in the NFL, but defensive end Ryan Pickett will be 33 in October. Still is a young talent who could turn into a dependable starter for defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Wisconsin center Peter Konz

Matt Birk is returning, but he'll be 36 in July. The Ravens need to plan for the future at the center spot, and Konz is the top prospect at the position in this draft. After left guard Ben Grubbs departed in free agency, Konz could fill in at that position until Birk retires.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry

The 49ers signed Randy Moss in free agency, so they now need a slot receiver to complement Moss and Michael Crabtree, and there isn't one worth taking at this point in the draft. So, San Francisco continues to build its defense by selecting a pass-rusher in the first round for the second year in a row. Curry would be the long-term bookend to Aldon Smith at outside linebacker. What a tandem that could turn out to be.

31. Houston Texans (trade-down with the New England Patriots): Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill

The Texans need an impact wide receiver on the other side of Andre Johnson. Hill has dominated during workouts this draft season, and though he didn't catch a lot of passes in Georgia Tech's offense, neither did Demaryius Thomas, who showed a lot of promise in his second season with the Broncos in 2010. Hill's size and speed would add a wonderful element to Houston's passing attack. Quarterback Matt Schaub would surely be thrilled with this pick.

32. Indianapolis Colts (trade-up with the New York Giants): South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery

There's a run on wide receivers, and the Colts don't want to risk losing their man, so they make a trade with the Super Bowl champs and move up to select Jeffery. Heading into the 2011 season, Jeffery was in a battle with Blackmon to be the top receiver in this draft class. Struggling with weight issues and inconsistency, Jeffery lost that fight in a landslide, but he's still a talented pass-catcher who could thrive in the right system. Working with Andrew Luck and veteran receiver Reggie Wayne would certainly help Jeffery thrive.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Chargers must now turn to April's draft for a pass-rusher


The last unrestricted free agent pass-rusher has now been signed, as Kamerion Wimbley agreed to a five year, $35 million deal with the Tennessee Titans today.

There had been speculation that the San Diego Chargers were interested in adding Wimbley, who spent the last two seasons with the division rival Oakland Raiders. But there was no way San Diego general manager A.J. Smith was going to spend that type of dough on Wimbley, a good-but-not-great pass-rusher. Smith has already spent a lot of money during this free-agent period, so overpaying for Wimbley clearly wasn't an option.

Now that all the veteran pass-rushers are gone, one has to assume Smith will pick someone such as Illinois' Whitney Mercilus or USC's Nick Perry in the first round--or Clemson's Andre Branch or Troy's Jonathan Massaquoi in the second. Smith is quite a tricky fellow, though, so who knows what he's thinking at this point?

Monday, March 19, 2012

Tolbert's departure creates hole in San Diego's backfield


With do-everything running back Mike Tolbert now a Carolina Panther, the San Diego Chargers are in need of backup to 2010 first-round pick Ryan Mathews. The question: Where does general manager A.J. Smith turn to?

U-T San Diego has mentioned Kansas City Chiefs unrestricted running back Jackie Battle. In spite of Smith making logical moves in free agency this offseason, one has to believe he's due for a head-scratcher, and bringing Battle in as Tolbert's replacement would certainly qualify as a ridiculous move. Battle gained 597 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Chiefs last year, but he received increased time only because stud running back Jamaal Charles went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2. In the 2009 and 2010 seasons combined, Battle rushed for 71 yards on 27 carries, equating to a 2.6 average. Clearly, unless there was a serious injury, the Chiefs didn't think Battle was worthy enough to be a regular in the ball-carrier rotation on game days, so why should the Chargers?

There are appealing options on the unresticted free agent market, most notably the just-released Joseph Addai and Brandon Jacobs, along with the Oakland Raiders' Michael Bush. Those backs are probably too pricey for San Diego at this point in time, however, so expect the Chargers to look for a running back during the mid-to-late rounds of April's NFL draft.

Here are some prospects' names to think of as the draft approaches:

1. Washington's Chris Polk
2. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead
3. Oregon's LaMichael James
4. Utah State's Robert Turbin

Polk, Pead, James, and Turbin are all selected in the third round of Walter Football's latest mock draft.

5. Temple's Bernard Pierce
6. San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman

Pierce and Hillman are both selected in the fourth round of Walter Football's latest mock draft. The site has Hillman going to the Chargers in that round.

7. Tennessee's Tauren Poole

Poole is the lone running back selected in the fifth round of Walter Football's latest mock draft.


The hope is the Chargers will get a running back with more overall talent than Tolbert possesses. If Mathews could remain healthy and receive the proper blocking in front of him, he has the ability to gain between 1,200 and 1,500 yards, but the team could definitely use a complement that Oakland has enjoyed with Bush over the last few years. It's now up to A.J. to acquire that player.

Former nemesis Rosario joins Chargers


According to U-T San Diego's Michael Gehlken, the Chargers have added a veteran tight end to their roster by coming to terms on a one-year, $700,000 deal with Dante Rosario. The former Carolina Panther, Miami Dolphin, and Denver Bronco joins the Lightning Bolts even though they just re-signed Randy McMichael Saturday.

The 27-year-old Rosario caught just seven passes for 117 yards in 14 games last season in Denver. Prior to that, however, he was a reliable target with the Panthers, as he caught 32 passes for 264 yards in 2010, his final season in Carolina.

San Diego fans remember him most for the game-winning catch he hauled in for the Panthers against the Chargers in Week 1 of the 2008 regular season. Rosario was quite an irritant for San Diego's defense that day, as he finished with seven receptions for 96 yards and the game-winner. As great as he was that day, though, he never turned into the next Antonio Gates.

After the Panthers chose not to retain Rosario, he joined the Broncos last July. Denver released him after the preseason. The Dolphins picked him up shortly thereafter, only to release him two weeks later. The Broncos picked him up again, and he spent the rest of the year playing tight end in Denver's wacky offense. It's probably safe to say he's happy to join San Diego head coach Norv Turner's scheme.

Welcome to the AFC West, Peyton!




Last week, during an interview with XX1090's Darren Smith, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said he wanted Peyton Manning to join the Denver Broncos. Well, it appears Rivers is getting his wish, as Manning has chosen Denver as the ultimate destination to coninue his career, according to ESPN. The Broncos haven't officially signed Manning, but it is believed he will agree to a five-year deal worth $95 million.

This will lead to the Broncos becoming the favorites to win the AFC West. In spite of that, Rivers and the rest of the Chargers welcome the challenge. Bold words spoken, but San Diego has done very well against Manning, beating him five of the last six times, the last of which was a 36-14 Chargers triumph. During that game Peyton threw four interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns.

Experts believe strongly that Manning will improve the Broncos' record from 8-8 this past season to 11-5 or 12-4 in 2012. Yet, there's no guarantee Manning will be able to perform close to the elite level he's been accustomed to. As prisoners of the moment, many are forgetting that Manning endured one of his worst seasons in 2010, which culminated with a playoff loss to the New York Jets in the opening round. Four neck surgeries later, along with a full season away from the game, it appears to be foolish to bank Denver as the clear-cut favorite of anything.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Get to know Harrison Smith




Since Rodney Harrison was allowed to hit the free agent market in 2003, the San Diego Chargers have yet to find a fixture at the strong safety position. Harrison's departure to the New England Patriots, with whom he won two Super Bowl titles, has haunted Chargers fans, as the Lightning Bolts' ensuing strong safeties have been abused by opposing tight ends on deep passes and the elite running backs in the open field far too often. The hope is the Chargers will finally acquire their future strong safety this offseason.

After the Oakland Raiders' Tyvon Branch was slapped with the franchise tag a few weeks ago, the market for a veteran strong safety in free agency wasn't promising. As a result, the Chargers signed Atari Bigby, formerly of the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Friday night. Bigby had a couple productive seasons in Green Bay, but he was a backup in Seattle last season. Clearly, he is not the long-term solution to the current most glaring weakness in the Chargers' secondary.

There are two strong safety prospects expected to be selected with premium draft picks this April. One of them, Alabama's Mark Barron, is projected to be chosen in the first round. With the Chargers expected to snatch a pass-rusher or offensive tackle in Round 1, general manager A.J. Smith probably won't take Barron with the 18th overall pick. But the second-best strong safety prospect in the draft, Notre Dame's Harrison Smith, is rumored to be liked very much by San Diego's front office.

At 6-2, 213 pounds, Smith was a tackling machine in the Fighting Irish's defense. He had 90 tackles, three of them for losses, last season. The year before he had 93 tackles and showed his aptitude in coverage with seven interceptions and 14 passes defended. He was also a team captain last year.

Smith was one of the most versatile athletes on Notre Dame's team. With the safety position stacked with veterans during his freshman and sophomore seasons, he was put at outside linebacker, a decision the coaching staff felt it had to make.

“He’s just one of those guys that he has every tool,” former Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum said about Smith during the 2008 season. “A guy like that is a guy that you’ve just got to get him on the field because he can just make things happen just because he’s so fast, he’s strong and he has good size, and he has hands and he’s smart and he knows the game. He’s one of those guys having him on the field, anything can happen. He can make a play, or he can help make a play.”

Smith has shown his immense athleticism during pre-draft workouts this offseason, leading some to believe he's worked his way into the first round. He a ran 4.57 40-yard dash and excelled in position drills at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, leaving Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, an NFL Network analyst, highly impressed.

"Harrison Smith out of Notre Dame did a lot to help his draft stock today," Sanders wrote in a draft blog on NFL.com. "He was just on point in every drill and had himself a fundamentally sound day."

My take: The Chargers could use a young strong safety to develop into a long-term starter, but I feel they'll be better off using their first two picks on a pass-rusher and an offensive lineman. Smith appears as though he's going to be selected before San Diego is up in the second round, and my hope is A.J. Smith won't move up to grab the Notre Dame safety.

A.J. has made some very foolish decisions when moving up in the draft--trading a 2009 second-round pick to move up for fullback Jacob Hester in the third round of 2008 draft being the most horrendous. If A.J. feels as though he has to move up in the second round, I hope it's for someone such as Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie or Clemson defensive end Andre Branch.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Note to A.J. Smith: Stay away from Courtney Upshaw


During the NFL draft season, many fans across the country become emotionally attached to prospects. Since the draft has gained more and more coverage and analysis over the last two decades, there are several armchair general managers believing they know all the answers when it comes to improving their favorite teams. It can be unhealthy at times, as fans could have their hearts broken when their teams don't make the "right" picks during the draft. Nevertheless, fans will always lust for certain prospects joining their teams and becoming future Hall of Famers.

One of the most coveted prospects by San Diego Chargers fans this offseason has been Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. After watching Upshaw in a few games last season, and reading about him over the last few months, I can't help but struggle tremendously to get behind the idea of adding him to San Diego's roster.

In 2011 the Crimson Tide's national championship-winning defense featured four players (Upshaw, safety Mark Barron, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, and inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower) expected to be picked in the first round. The 6-2, 271-pound Upshaw had a productive year, finishing with 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles for losses, and two forced fumbles. Those numbers, along with playing for a national championship team, have led many to believe Upshaw will be a difference-maker in the NFL. But whenever I hear someone state that Upshaw is the player the Chargers should select in the first round, I have to respectfully ask: Have you ever actually seen him play?

One draft expert who has taken the time to pore over prospects' game film has been Jonathan Bales of TheDCTimes.com. About two months ago Bales wrote a scouting report on Upshaw, stating the Crimson Tide linebacker is an overrated prospect who doesn't possess the skills to warrant a first-round selection. Bales, who mentioned he watched five of Upshaw's games from last season, went into great detail, and it was very informative when he stated the following:

I’ll just start by saying it: I think Upshaw is very overrated. His biggest strength, versatility, is negated by the fact that he doesn’t play any single position that well.  At 6’2″, 271 pounds, he’s too large to play as an inside backer.  In today’s pass-happy NFL, I would send Barry Church out there at inside linebacker before Upshaw.

Upshaw’s height, however, is a major concern as an edge rusher.  With an arm length just a hair over 31 inches, Upshaw will have major problems fighting off larger offensive tackles.  I see some issues already in college, as Upshaw has trouble getting off of blocks.  This leads to very poor run defense when offenses run right at him.

Bales did say Upshaw is an intelligent player with a very high motor. Other than that, however, Bales can't find many other positives, and he, like I do, has a hard time understanding why Upshaw is considered a first-round talent:

Still, Upshaw’s weaknesses are large and abundant enough that I cannot figure out how he’s a “surefire” first-round pick.  A short, heavy linebacker who gets blown off the ball at times and possesses a good but not great pass rush repertoire isn’t what I would be seeking in the first round.  Yes, he has versatility to play a few positions, but a player with second or even third-round talent at a few positions doesn’t equate to a first-round draft pick.

As far as I'm concerned, the Chargers should stay away from Upshaw in Rounds 1 and 2.

McMichael coming back


Randy McMichael - Denver Broncos v San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers will not have to look for a new backup to superstar tight end Antonio Gates, as Randy McMichael is returning for his third season with the Lightning Bolts. According to U-T San Diego's Michael Gehlken, McMichael just agreed to a two-year deal with the Chargers this afternoon.

After joining the Chargers in 2010, McMichael has been an ultra-reliable player for head coach Norv Turner. The soon-to-be-33-year-old tight end has played every game over the last two years, and he's excelled as a blocker and on special teams. Additionally, he's come up big in place of an injured Gates, who's missed nine games over the last two seasons. McMichael has caught 50 passes for 492 yards and two touchdowns with San Diego.

In addition to re-signing McMichael, San Diego retained third-string tight end Kory Sperry with a one-year deal earlier this week. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith is still expected to add a fourth tight end, most likely with a mid-to-late round draft pick this April, since both Gates and McMichael are in their thirties.

Chargers likely in pursuit of USC's Perry


Earlier this week the San Diego Chargers signed former Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson to a four-year conract. Johnson joins an outside linebacker group that includes Shaun Phillips, Travis LaBoy, Antwan Barnes, and 2009 first-round pick Larry English. Given Johnson isn't a dynamic pass-rusher, it's clear the Chargers still need to add one at some point this offseason. There's some speculation that San Diego is in pursuit of Kamerion Wimbley, who was released by the Oakland Raiders yesterday, but the most likely route the Chargers will take is through the NFL draft.

One player drawing a ton of interest from San Diego Chargers fans this draft season has been USC defensive end Nick Perry. In 2011 the Trojans standout, who measured in at 6-3 and weighed 271 pounds during the NFL Scouting Combine, had a productive junior year while combating some of the best offensive linemen in the nation, Stanford's Jonathan Martin being the most notable. Perry finished the season with 9.5 sacks and declared for the draft two months ago.

This offseason The New York Times has run an NFL draft scouting report series compiled by Jonathan Bales, the founder of TheDCTimes. Bales' scouting report on Perry was published this morning, and I found this part of the piece to be the most interesting:

I watched tape of Perry before checking his statistics or combine results, and what I saw coincided with how Perry measured.  He’s an explosive player who is outstanding when moving forward. He fires off the ball and can get upfield in a hurry, and this is represented in his 4.64 40-yard dash time and 38.5-inch vertical leap.  These numbers are sensational for a player his size.

Perry’s speed rush is one of the best in the class, as he uses his explosiveness to quickly gain leverage on slower tackles.  You can see this at the 38-second mark below, when Perry flies off the ball, dips his shoulder and turns the corner.  He’s very good at making his body “small” to limit a target for the blocker.

Off his speed rush, Perry utilizes a full pass rush repertory, including a spin, swim, rip and bull rush.  At the 3:07 mark below, you can see an example of this.  Despite his pass rush versatility, only Perry’s speed rush is effective consistently.


Bales went on to state that Perry isn't an effective defender against the run and possesses tight hips that may lead him to struggle if asked to drop into coverage at the professional level. In spite of that, Bales writes, "A team that runs a 3-4 defense and is in need of a threat off the edge could find Perry attractive, though." Bales listed the Chargers as one of the teams likely to select Perry in the first round.

It would be nice if Perry were considered a more complete player, but it's rare to read a scouting report that has no negatives listed. Moreover, pass-rushers who don't defend the run well have still been able to help lead their teams to Super Bowl championships. Just think of Simeon Rice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won Super Bowl XXXVII, and Osi Umenyiora, who has helped the New York Giants capture two of the last five Vince Lombardi Trophies. Even if Perry is awful against the run, the burst and explosiveness he possesses as a pass-rusher will be worth a first-round pick if he can develop into a player capable of collecting 10-15 sacks per season.



Friday, March 16, 2012

Whitehurst returns to Chargers; Volek released


After spending the last two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is making his return to the San Diego Chargers. Whitehurst, who was picked by the Chargers in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft, signed a two-year deal with San Diego tonight.

After spending his first four seasons with the Chargers, Whitehurst was traded to the Seahawks in a deal that allowed San Diego to move up 20 spots in the second round of the 2010 draft. The Chargers also acquired Seattle's third-round pick in the 2011 draft. San Diego used the 2010 second-round pick to move up 16 spots in the first round to select Ryan Mathews with the 12th overall selection. The 2011 third-round pick, 89th overall, was used on cornerback Shareece Wright.

The Seahawks had hoped Whitehurst would be their quarterback of the future, but that never came to fruition. In his two years with Seattle, Whitehurst started just four games and posted a well-below-average quarterback rating of 64.2 while completing just 54.2% of his passes for 805 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. His best moment came when he quarterbacked the Seahawks to a 16-6 triumph over the division rival St. Louis Rams during the final week of the 2010 regular season, allowing Seattle to capture the NFC West title and clinch a playoff berth.

Whitehurst will be the backup quarterback behind starter Philip Rivers. Billy Volek, who had been Rivers' primary backup since the 2007 season, was just released in a move to create extra space below the salary cap. According to U-T San Diego, Volek's release allows the Chargers to save a total of $.3.5 million against the cap. Volek was due a $750,000 roster bonus next Thursday.