Posts Tagged ‘NFL Draft’

It’s almost here: Who will the Eagles take first in the draft?

Monday, April 27th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

After five months of talk and speculation, the 2015 NFL draft is almost here. The intrigue surrounding Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles is at record levels. Have his series of bold moves this offseason all been part of a brilliant masternfl_draft plan to snag Oregon QB Marcus Mariota? Will all be revealed (and make sense) come Thursday night?

The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been for the Birds. It is the first draft where Kelly will fully wield power. After a disastrous selection of Marcus Smith in the first round last year, the Eagles have got to make a pick able to make a positive impact on the field this season. No room for excuses.

We know that Philadelphia has a number of areas of need that it must fill, safety and wide receiver chief among them. And we know that Kelly will say, as we’ve always heard from the Eagles, that the draft is about taking the best player available, not about addressing needs.

But still…we must mock. Mock draft, that is. The mock drafts don’t even wait until the NFL season ends these days, and the mock madness is at fever pitch in these final days leading up to the draft. They are never close to the reality that unfolds during the draft, but they are still worthy of discussion.

Many experts like Alabama SS Landon Collins for the Eagles. In fact, three of the eight experts on NFL.com’s “Mock Draft Central” predict that he will be Philadelphia’s first round selection, with the 20th pick overall. In what is viewed as a weak safety class, Mike Mayock rates Collins as the second-best safety in the draft, behind Arizona State’s Damarious Randall.

But the Eagles themselves may be throwing shade at the prediction. When Eagles director of player personnel Ed Marynowitz spoke with the media last week, among a series of interesting comments he provided remarks on how he viewed Collins:

“He can do it, to a degree. I think all these guys have strengths and weaknesses. Landon has the potential to do that. Maybe not to the degree that some other guys do, but he certainly has the ability to do that.”

Certainly not a ringing endorsement.

ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have the Eagles still addressing needs in the defensive backfield with their first-round pick, but at the cornerback position with the selection of Washington’s Marcus Peters. Of the pick, Kiper said:

“Marcus Peters, cornerback from Washington, is the pick at No. 20 for Philadelphia. Marcus Peters has an attitude and approach: physical. When you think about in press coverage there against [Jaelen] Strong. You think about a guy who can upgrade a secondary that desperately needs it, that defense. You can’t keep outscoring people. You need to start stopping people and containing people. […] He went up against some really good receivers in the PAC-12 and at the cornerback spot for Washington, he held up exceptionally well when he was challenged and put up to the test against those guys who are going to be in the NFL as high picks.”

If the Eagles went for a wideout with their top pick, names like Breshad Perriman from Central Florida and Phillip Dorsett from Miami have been mentioned as possibilities for the team. Mayock ranks Perriman as the fourth-best wideout of this year’s class, and doesn’t feature Dorsett in the top 5 of version 4.0 of his position rankings. Perriman’s elite combination of size, speed and explosiveness could be an enticing target for Kelly.

Dorsett is projected as a first or second rounder, with his average of 25 YPC getting teams’ attention. Does Kelly want to make his mark with his top pick in what is truly his first draft on a 5’10”, 185 lb receiver? I don’t see that happening.

Who do you want the Eagles to snag at the top? Hold on tight, ladies and gents, we’re going to get our answers soon.

Check out some Landon Collins highlights and decide if you think he’s the man for Birds:

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#687)

Monday, April 27th, 2015

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #687 SHOUTOUT to you DAVE CASPER…..((MLB)) winners include WHITE SOX(susp)…TIGERS…CUBS…MARLINS…RAYS…ORIOLES…PHILLIES…BREWERS…WHITE SOX…RANGERS(11)…ASTROS…TWINS(11)…PADRES…giants/rockies postponed…PIRATES…YANKEES……SUBWAY SERIES won by YANKEES (what else is new ??)…METS are going to be good (AFR surprise team)…ADRIAN BELTRE (rangers) sends pitcher GARRETT RICHARDS (angels) an invoice for three broken bats…..”cash only..no checks”…..ADAM WAINWRIGHT (cardinals) OUT FOR SEASON{ankle/achilles}….MAX SCHERZER (nationals) hurt batting too…says NL needs DH((((thats NATIONAL LEAGUE and DESIGNATED HITTER))))…..what do YOU think ?????……will discuss in THE SPORTS HOUSE RADIO SHOW with THE MAYOR tonight !!!!—-646-478-5337—-6pm—-WACKO BOB NETWORK—->…..((NBA))**PLAYOFFS** EAST—> WIZARDS 125(beal 23) RAPTORS 94(lowry 21)—washington wins series 4-0..CAVALIERS 101(james 27/10) CELTICS 93(sullinger 21/11)—cleveland wins series 4-0….HAWKS lead NETS 2-1….BULLS lead BUCKS 3-1…./WEST—>MAVERICKS 121(ellis 31) ROCKETS 109(harden 24)—HOU 3-1….CLIPPERS 114(paul 34) SPURS 105(leonard 26)—TIED 2-2….GRIZZLIES lead BLAZERS 3-0….WARRIORS win series over PELICANS 4-0….((NHL))**PLAYOFFS** EAST—> CANADIENS 2 SENATORS 0-CANADIENS win series 4-2….RED WINGS lead LIGHTNING 3-2….ISLANDERS/CAPITALS tied 3-3….RANGERS win series over PENGUINS 4-1…./WEST—>WILD 4 BLUES 1-WILD wins series 4-2….BLACKHAWKS win series over PREDATORS 4-2….FLAMES win series over CANUCKS 4-2….DUCKS over JETS 4-0…..((BOXING)) WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (champ) defends HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE with unanimous decision over BRYANT JENNINGS (yawn)……SADAM ALI wins unanimous decision(dunno bout all that) over FRANCISCO SANTANA in WELTERWEIGHT bout…..((MLS)) NY RED BULLS 1 LA GALAXY 0….TORONTO FC 2 ORLANDO CITY SC 0….SEATTLE SOUNDERS 1 PORTLAND TIMBERS 0….((NASCAR)) KURT BUSCH wins SPRINT CUP SERIES at RICHMOND(((((toyota owners 400)))))…..kyle harvick…jimmie johnson…….MLB GAME of the day ASTROS(mchugh) v PADRES(shields)….NBA PLAYOFF game of the day HAWKS v NETS (east game 4)….NHL PLAYOFF game of the day ISLANDERS v CAPITALS(east game 7)……TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “ROCKIN IT”-FEARLESS FOUR……its MONDAY…..make it happen……the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!….AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of the After Further Review Podcast, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#685)

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #685 SHOUTOUT to you WILLIAM “REFRIGERATOR” PERRY…….((NFL)) schedule dropped last night and at first glance it seems there are a lot of interesting matchups in 2015…..STEELERS v PATRIOTS (sept 10…KICKOFF WEEKEND)…..LIONS v EAGLES…PANTHERS v COWBOYS….BEARS v PACKERS (nov 26)….THANKSGIVING)…..TITANS v BUCCANEERS (week 1…who dint see that one coming)….COWBOYS v EAGLES (week 2)….BILLS v EAGLES(week 14)….three LONDON games——–> JETS- DOLPHINS(oct 4)….BILLS-JAGUARS(oct 25)….LIONS-CHIEFS(nov 11)….first MONDAY NIGHT sees EAGLES v FALCONS / VIKINGS-NINERS….((MLB)) winners include NATIONALS….PHILLIES….CUBS….BLUE JAYS….YANKEES….METS….RED SOX….CLEVELAND….ROYALS….REDS….PADRES….RANGERS….ANGELS….ASTROS….GIANTS…..guess we wont be hearing too much from a certain group about YANKEES getting swept in DETROIT….oh well….that be life…..((NBA)) **PLAYOFFS** EAST—->CAVALIERS 99(james 30) CELTICS 91(thomas 22)—(clev leads 2-0)….WIZARDS 117(beal 28) RAPTORS 106(derozan/Williams 20)—(wash leads 2-0) ….ROCKETS 111(howard 28/12) MAVERICKS 99(ellis 24)—(hou leads 2-0)……..((NHL)) **PLAYOFFS** EAST—–> RED WINGS 1 LIGHTNING 0(det leads 2-1)….CAPITALS 2 ISLANDERS 1-ot (tied 2-2)…..WEST——> BLACKHAWKS 3 PREDATORS 2(chi leads 3-1)….FLAMES 3 CANUCKS 1(cal leads 3-1)…gonna make VEGAS wait till 2017 for their expansion bid….first league to have a professional team there….sheeeeeeesz…..AFTER FURTHER REVIEW 2.0 got busy of course ….wanna thank KIA and MR HOLLYWOOD for comin thru to chop it up with THE MAYOR…….and a BIG EXTRA STRENGTH SHOUT to all the callers and people that rock wit AFR….the lines are open and ummm..if you feel safe “typin” sports …then THATS WHATCHOO ARE !!!!!…….a sports typer….don’t FB about it….TALK about it………unless you umm…cant……..MLB GAME of the day CARDINALS(lackey) v NATIONALS(fister)……TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “”INTERNATIONAL ZONE COASTER” – LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL……its HUMP DAY…..make it happen for yourself……the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!!…….AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of the After Further Review Podcast, for War Room Sports

Chip Kelly: Genius?…or Arrogant Dictator?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

by Robert Williams

Robert Williams Blog

 

 

 

 

(Image via WhartonMagazine.com)

(Image via WhartonMagazine.com)

The Philadelphia Eagles have cut their best pass rusher and now they have traded their best running back in team history. They are about to let their best wide receiver and second best pass rusher test the open market.  Eagles fans throughout the nation are completely in shock. There are two things that can come from these moves.

 

1.) Chip is building his team with his players. As a coach who has been in the league for two years, he has a feel for what he wants. He has assumed complete command of the front office. His director of player personnel was picked by him, who was the head recruiter for Alabama. Kelly intends to maintain the balance of power he once had when he was in college; which lead to the success of the Oregon college football program. He had success without successfully recruiting top players in the country. He believes in the motto ‘hard work beats talent if the players are willing to work hard’. The owner Jeffrey Lurie wouldn’t have given Kelly so much power if he didn’t trust him. He did the same thing with Andy Reid and that turned out well in the long run. With these moves he has freed up to $50 Million+ in cap room. The team can potentially sign more players in free agency to build around their dilapidating defense. Plus Nick Foles and Mychal Kendricks contract are up next year, so this is a great opportunity to build for the future. Those players were Andy Reid players and he simply wants to bring in his own players. Hopefully they’ll be more successful.

2.) Chip Kelly is not making conscious decisions. He hasn’t recognized the team chemistry these veterans have been building. LeSean McCoy and Trent Cole wanted to restructure their contracts for the team. Brandon Graham wants to stay here (if the price was right). He noted he still had some unfinished business with the team. Kelly needs to understand these are not only players, but irreplaceable. Trent Cole draws so many double-teams, it leaves one-on-one matchups for the other players to get sacks. We’ve seen this with Jason Babin and now Connor Barwin. Not that they are not great players in their own rights, but they wouldn’t be as effective without the presence of Trent Cole. The other Eagle that will be missed (if he is allowed to leave) will be Jeremy Maclin. He is coming off a career year in which he made the Pro Bowl and was a strong candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. His impact will be missed to a young inexperienced Wide Receiving corps. Brandon Graham is a rare player to find. He can play either as a 3-4 OLB pass rusher or a 4-3 defensive end. He proved this year he can be a three down player. He was supposed to be a replacement for Trent Cole, instead he will be allowed to test the market. LeSean McCoy has been the most productive running back since he has been drafted. He is also coming off of back-to-back Pro Bowls. It was hard for him to gain yards last season due to injuries to the offensive line and repetitious play calling. Chip Kelly ridding himself of all of these players is a dangerous move. These are not players that can be replaced in the draft and free agency; these are polished NFL players. Kelly has brought his Oregon players onto the team and they haven’t been productive at all.  It is looking like the Eagles are trying to tank this season like their brethren across the parking lot.  The team needs to make some key moves in Free Agency and in the NFL Draft the next two seasons. If Chip Kelly cannot develop a deep postseason team in three years, he will be known as the biggest goat in recent memory.

 

Robert Williams, for War Room Sports

Top 8 Reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles should NOT trade for Marcus Mariota

Saturday, February 21st, 2015

by Robert Williams

Robert Williams Blog

 

 

 

 

(Image via philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

(Image via philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

It will be an interesting 8 to 9 weeks till the NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles have a new Director of Player Personnel and several new position coaches. They also have NO General Manager (at least not in title). We can expect the Eagles not to be too aggressive in this free agency period and pick up role players for cheaper prices. The release of James Casey could be a sign of picking up a fullback. Does that mean the team will switch to a traditional way of getting the ball across the goal line? The NFL Scouting Combine is happening, which some people call “The Underwear Olympics”; slave auction with a homogenized element to it. It is just another way to evaluate players.

 

Top 8 Reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles should NOT trade for Marcus Mariota:

 

1.)  They already have a QB; Nick Foles has established himself as the Philadelphia Eagles signal caller: He is 14-4 in his first 18 starts under Chip Kelly. He still has ways to go but I believe he can IMPROVE in time. Chip Kelly has to be more creative and less animated with his play calling. He needs to pound the ball to keep the defense honest. This takes pressure off of Foles and balances the attack on the defense.

 

2.) Chip Kelly had a Mariota “type” before and didn’t do well: Eagles fans forget about Michael Vick being the Eagles QB. He was 2-4 under Chip Kelly and had 5 turnovers in 6 games. The Eagles weren’t playing up to the standard of Chip Kelly. It wasn’t until Vick got injured and Foles took his place to lead the team to the playoffs. Plus Chip Kelly knows how to change his system to fit Nick Foles. It not only worked, it was better!

 

3.)  Nick Foles has the support of the locker room: LeSean McCoy and others have already voiced their opinions on a potential idiotic trade. LeSean McCoy called Foles “OUR LEADER”. Trading a player that the WHOLE team supports will put in doubt the decisions that Chip Kelly will make throughout his tenure.

 

4.)  Nick Foles balances out the madness of Chip Kelly: As people praise him as “offensive genius”, he still displayed some flaws in his strategy. The running game was non-existent in the first five games of the 2014 season; running virtually the same play, making the game awfully simplistic. Not including the passing situations in which Chip Kelly would call screens or obvious go to routes with Darren Sproles. Nick Foles forces Chip Kelly to play a pro-style system with a touch of “Kellyness”.

 

5.) The “Combo Meal” never worked:  Most teams who trade away their future for one player hasn’t worked; See the Herschel Walker and Ricky Williams trades for starters. We already see what is happening to the Redskins. This savior complex is not only dangerous, but detrimental to a franchise and its future.

 

6.) The TEAM needs help elsewhere: The Eagles secondary is atrocious. 3 of the 5 starting offensive lineman are over the age of 30. The Eagles need younger pass rushers. Not including a more tone receiving corp. SPECIAL TEAMS. There are more positions to worry about than the quarterback position.

 

7.) Elephant in the room: The team doesn’t really have their front office in order. We cannot trust the front office. It is really scary that they tried to interview people for GM and nobody wanted the job. Plus Chip Kelly is just learning about the draft process and how to properly draft players. We can tell from the previous two drafts that he has a lot of LEARNING to do.

 

8.) Nick Foles Contract: This is Nick Foles’ contract year. Let him EARN his money!

 

Robert Williams, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#510)

Friday, May 9th, 2014

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

 

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #510 SHOUTOUT to you LARRY “CHIPPER” JONES…..((NBA)) **PLAYOFFS** HEAT 94 (james 22) NETS 82 (teletovic 20)—mia 2-0….SPURS 114 (leonard 20) BLAZERS 97 (batum 21)—sa 2-0….MIAMI is trying to even up SEASON series v NETS….and they are playing as is 4-0 in regular season never happened…..BLAZERS had to deal with a snake in the locker room….”snakes at the game”….((NHL)) **PLAYOFFS** BRUINS 1 CANADIENS 0 (OT)—2-2…..DUCKS 3 KINGS 2—la 2-1……MATT FRASER (bruins) called up from minors scores winner in OT for BOSTON….nobody wants to win on home ice in KINGS-DUCKS series…..((MLB)) CLE 9 MIN 4….HOU 6 DET 2….TOR 12 PHI 6….BAL 3 TB 1….TEX 5 COL 0….CHC 12 CHW 5….SEA 1 KC 0….SF 3 LAD 1(10)….MIA 3 SD 1(11)….YANKEES will retire JOE TORRE (#6) in ceremony on AUG 23….running out of single digits wit the quickness…SEATTLE affiliate (CLINTON LUMBERkings) down 17-1 after 5 innings comes back to win 20-17 in 12…it aint ovah !!!!…..NELSON ARENADO(rockies) hit streak at 28…..TRACY MCGRADY (yep THAT one) will make his pitching debut tomorrow for SUGARLAND SKEETERS…he better be decent or ROY HIBBERT gonna get at him on twitter…..((NFL)) DRAFT 2014…….one of best first rounds in recent memory…1–JADAVEON CLOWNEY (texans)…2–GREG ROBINSON (rams)…3-BLAKE BORTLES (jaguars)….4-SAMMY WATKINS (bills)….5-KHALIL MACK (raiders)……TAMPA BAY BUCS select MIKE EVANS at #7….we called it at AFTER FURTHER REVIEW…..think the draft got interesting when BORTLES went at 3….CLEVELAND BROWNS select JOHNNY MANZIEL at 22…..GIANTS select ODELL BECKHAM JR at 12….JETS select CALVIN PRYOR at 18…..weren’t too many “who are you” moments in first round……SECOND ROUND is tonight (7pm/espn)…plenty of good talent still available…….((BOXING)) BERMANE STIVERNE(23-1-1/20ko) v CHRIS ARREOLA(36-3/31ko) for WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP(8pm/espn)…..the press conference became heated…you had promoters DAN GOOSEN/DON KING betting each other (loser shaves head)…STIVERNE would give up his purse if he loses (GOOSEN asks is it “Gucci”)…..way to hype it up fellas !!!!!….((WNBA)) **PRACTICE** SUN 60 (c.ogwumike 16) LIBERTY 44 (carson 11)……KIMIKO WILLIAMS (liberty) tears ACL will miss 2014 season….its DOUBLEHEADER FRIDAY so lets get it …….NBA GAMES of the day PACERS v WIZARDS–1-1 east /game 3…..THUNDER v CLIPPERS–1-1 west/game 3…..NHL GAMES of the day RANGERS v PENGUINS–pitt 3-1 east/game 5…..BLACKHAWKS v WILD–chi 2-1 west/game 4…..TRUE SCHOOL JAMS of the day “THE LIFE”- STYLES P feat PHAROAH MONCH / “I RAN”- A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS….its the weekend….watch out for them chicken coops cause ya moms might have to come and getchoo out !!!!!!…..HAPPPY MOMS DAY to ya !!!!!!!!!…….the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!!!!………AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of GeeQue Palace Sports, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#508)

Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

 

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #508 SHOUTOUT to you WALT BELLAMY…((NBA)) **PLAYOFFS** HEAT 107 (james 22) NETS 86 (williams/johnson 17)—mia 1-0……SPURS 116 (parker 33) BLAZERS 92 (aldridge 32/14)—sa 1-0…..betchoo dint think they would move a LADY GAGA show for a WASHINGTON WIZARDS playoff game….didya ????….let coaching carousel begin….MARK JACKSON gets gate at GOLDEN STATE….why you ask ???…..hmm maybe MIKE BROWN could provide some answers to that one there….((NHL)) **PLAYOFFS** CANADIENS 4 BRUINS 2—mtl 2-1……WILD 4 BLACKHAWKS 0—chi 2-1…..NASHVILLE PREDATORS hire PETER LAVIOLETTE as new coach….yaaaawn….by the way hope to see more of SEAN JONES (popeyes son) next season….((MLB)) winners include YANKEES…CLEVELAND…DODGERS…BLUE JAYS(10)…PIRATES…TIGERS…RED SOX(12)…ATLANTA…MARLINS…ORIOLES…WHITE SOX…DIAMONDBACKS…ROCKIES…MARINERS…ROYALS(11)…..we finally got a instant replay walkoff in GIANTS-PIRATES game…..talk about “delay of game”…..sheeeeeesh !!!!!…..AFTER FURTHER REVIEW 2014 MLB ALL STAR BALLOT on JUNE 20….mark the date !!!…..THE BIGGER SHOW was poppin last night (as usual)…some people showed and some showed they were not as mouthy as they appear when given room to speak….SHOUTOUT to CALLERS (KIA…ANGIE…SCRIBBY…MARK)….we discussed NFL DRAFT…..CHRIS RUSSO….MAYWEATHER/MAIDANA….NHL/NBA PLAYOFFS….where were you ???…..SHOUTOUT to LISTENERS we see you too !!!!…..((BOXING)) RIP to JIMMY ELLIS……undefeated lightweight champ TERRENCE CRAWFORD (23-0) will defend his belt v YURIORKIS GAMBOA (23-0) on JUNE 28 in OMAHA NE (hbo)……will 50 CENT be in the building ????…. ((NFL)) less than 36 hours away from draft….the clock is starting to tick LOUDER for HOUSTON TEXANS…..who do they selct with top pick….or do they trade down ????….CONGRATULATION to DERRICK BROOKS (BUCCANEERS) for being selected to RING OF HONOR…presentation on SEPT 14 (v.RAMS)….BUFFALO BILLS are moving but staying….get it ????…..((WNBA)) *practice* SHOCK 76 (diggins 30) STARS 75 (mcBride 17)…..MYSTICS 80 (currie 18) FEVER 63 (howard 14)…..**AFTER FURTHER REVIEW WNBA PREVIEW** drops on MAY 16th….((TENNIS)) SHANGHAI OPEN—SERENA WILLIAMS over SHUAI PENG (6-2.6-3) that’s her 14th straight win in tournament….TOMAS BERDYCH over KEVIN ANDERSON (6-1.6-4)…..NBA GAME of the day CLIPPERS v THUNDER west/game 3–lac 1-0……NHL GAME of the day PENGUINS v RANGERS east/game 4–pit 2-1…..TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP” – THE JARMELS…..its HUMP DAY….get over it……the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!……AFR

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of GeeQue Palace Sports, for War Room Sports

2014 NFL Mock Draft (1-24 picks set)

Saturday, January 11th, 2014

by Christian Roberts

Christian Roberts Blog

 

 

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1. Houston Texans (2-14) – Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater
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With new head coach Bill O’Brien, expect the Texans to select their franchise QB in Teddy Bridgewater. Houston’s QB play this season has been miserable, and it’s time for the team to move on from Matt Schaub and Case Keenum. Coach O’Brien will be excited to coach this going man up, and maximize his potential. Bridgewater has all the tools you want in a franchise guy. The Texans will be smiling from ear to ear when they call this pick in.

2. St Louis Rams (via WSH) (3-13) – South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney
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Does pairing the most dominant pass rusher in this draft class with Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Alec Ogletree, and Michael Brockers sound good? It does to me and I’m sure it does to coach Jeff Fisher as well. The front 7 would cause havoc year in and year out. There has been some rumbling of the Rams possibly trading out of this spot, but if that does not happen, expect to hear Clowney’s name called.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) – UCF QB Blake Bortles
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Jaguars FINALLY get their guy at QB. Bortles is the safest pick of the QB’s left on the board, and the Jaguars would be happy to have him. Bortles has been one of the fastest rising players in this year’s class. Rightfully so, he possesses great arm strength, accuracy, high football IQ and the mobility to escape pass rushers on the edge. The Blaine Gabbert era is over. I bet that sounds like music to Jags’ fans ears.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12) – Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
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The Texas A&M QB is the most puzzling out of all the quarterback prospects in this draft. On one hand, his playmaking ability and knack for making plays all over the field can’t be denied. On the other, his lack of maturity could pose a big problem in his NFL career. The Browns will have to decide which one out weighs the other. A QB with Manziel’s skill set, may be too hard for Cleveland to pass up though.

5. Oakland Raiders (4-12) – Texas A&M OT Jake Matthews
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The Raiders appear to like what they have in young QB Matt McGloin. Why not protect him by going out and getting him the best offensive tackle in this draft. Oakland needs to build depth on that roster. Their o-line play last year was horrible. Pairing Matthews with stud tackle Jared Veldheer would open up lanes for the struggling Darren McFadden and make life a little easier for McGloin.

6. Atlanta Falcons (4-12) – UCLA LB Anthony Barr
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Besides Jadeveon Clowney, Barr is probably the most athletically gifted player in this entire draft. With just straight raw ability, Anthony Barr is a terror coming off the edge. He is a bit wet behind the years because he has only played defense for 2 years, but he is this good now, imagine his ceiling. He could be un-blockable at the next level. This is exactly what Atlanta needs. They struggled getting to the passer all year, which played a part in their poor record this season. In 3 years, Barr could be one of the best defensive players in all of the NFL.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) – Buffalo LB Khalil Mack
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New head coach Lovie Smith’s first pick will be a defensive player. What better player to pick than Khalil Mack. A downright playmaker on the football field. Adding him with star LB Lavonte David will give opposing offenses fits. Lovie Smith will have fun coaching up this supremely talented linebacker.

8. Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1) – Fresno State QB Derek Carr
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Carr’s last name will probably scare some teams off, seeing that his brother David Carr was a disaster in the NFL. But these brothers couldn’t be more different. Derek Carr has elite arm strength and can make every throw on the football field. His downfall is sloppy mechanics. But that can be fixed with good coaching. If he puts in the work, Minnesota will reap the benefits. Vikings desperately need to hit on a QB, especially after dropping the ball so bad with the Christian Ponder pick.

9. Buffalo Bills (6-10) – Texas A&M WR Mike Evans
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This may be a little high for the stud WR, but Buffalo needs playmakers on offense. Yes, Sammy Watkins could go here as well, but I think Buffalo will target the big 6’5″ Evans here. It will give promising young QB EJ Manuel a huge target to throw to, and will attract double teams so Roberts Woods can do some damage. He would also be a terror in the red zone.

10. Detroit Lions (7-9) – Clemson WR Sammy Watkins
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The most explosive receiver in this class. Watkins has it all. Elite speed, hands, and route running. He’s only 6’1″ but plays a lot bigger than his height suggests. He’s just a playmaker. With him on the opposite side of Megatron, a lot of offensive coordinators will lose sleep preparing to play the Lions.

11. Tennessee Titans (7-9) – Auburn OT Greg Robinson
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Assuming the Titans hang on to RB Chris Johnson, this would be a great pick. Robinson is one of the top tackles in this class, and would immediately upgrade the offensive line for Tennessee. Holes would open for Chris Johnson the moment Robinson steps on the line. Titans could also use a linebacker here, but I think they will continue to try and make their RB happy.

12. New York Giants (7-9) – Alabama LB CJ Mosley
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Cornerback and offensive line will be a strong choice here as well, but this class is pretty deep on cornerbacks, and they could sign a couple o-linemen in free agency. Why not add some young talent on that front 7 of the Giants with drafting CJ Mosley. He would be an immediate upgrade to New York’s linebacking core and would pair nicely with Jon Beason. This is the first step in rebuilding that defense.

13. St Louis Rams (7-9) – USC WR Marqise Lee
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I expect the Rams to trade down with this pick and eventually select Marqise Lee. While Sam Bradford may not be the answer for the Rams, it seems they are going all in for him, so why not get him some more weapons to help him succeed? Lee is arguably the best route-runner in this NFL draft and will have absolutely no problem getting open in the NFL. He also has a great set of hands and can make the tough catch if needed. We could possibly be looking at the next Torry Holt.

14. Chicago Bears (8-8) – Alabama S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
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With Charles Tillman hitting the free agency market, Chicago needs to retool their secondary. Clinton Dix would step in at safety and make plays right away. Clearly the best safety on the board, the Bears can’t go wrong selecting the talented Bama safety.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) – Michigan State CB Darqueze Dennard
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Steelers are jumping up and down right now with the best cornerback on the board sliding to them at 15. He would bring a physicality the Steelers and Mike Tomlin loves. He plays the run like a safety and is not afraid to stick his nose in there and make a tackle. This would also be a great start in adding some fresh young talent to that aging defense.

16. Baltimore Ravens (Coin Flip)(8-8) – North Carolina TE Eric Ebron
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TE Dennis Pitta is coming off of an injury and TE Ed Dickson didn’t exactly have his best year. Eric Ebron is a dynamic tight end and would provide an upgrade for Baltimore and Joe Flacco. The 100 million dollar QB would love this pick. Ebron would come in and help the passing game drastically and give Baltimore the best playmaking TE they have had since Shannon Sharpe.

17. Dallas Cowboys (Coin Flip)(8-8) – Notre Dame DT Louis Nix III
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Cowboys need all the help they can get on defense. The huge 340 pound Notre Dame defensive tackle could be that run stuffer Dallas so desperately needs. Safety is also a huge possibility here, but I think they grab Nix to anchor that front seven.

18. New York Jets (8-8) – Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro
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New York Jets receiving options are laughable. Outside of the strange Santonio Holmes and injured Dustin Keller, the Jets have absolutely nothing to be impressed about. Getting young talented playmakers in the fold for QB Geno Smith is essential in his growth process. Drafting Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro would be a start. Amaro will be a matchup nightmare for defenders in the NFL, and make the learning curve for Geno a little bit easier.

19. Miami Dolphins (8-8) – Auburn RB Tre Mason
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Offensive tackle is a huge need for Miami, but I feel so is the running back position. Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas have basically done nothing since entering the league. Miller has the potential, but for some reason he hasn’t been able to put it all together. They need another RB in the fold. Insert Auburn stud RB Tre Mason here. Mason would bring a toughness both Miller and Thomas lack. He could carry the load for the Dolphins so QB Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have to throw the ball so much every game. This might be a little high for a running back to go in the draft but Mason possesses outstanding vision and breakaway speed coveted by NFL teams today.

20. Arizona Cardinals (10-5) – Michigan OT Taylor Lewan
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Arizona led by HC Bruce Arians is going to be a force in the NFC for a long time. They don’t have any gaping holes besides at running back, so why not sure up that offensive line for Carson Palmer? There’s a good chance Lewan doesn’t slide this far, but if he does, Arizona should hop all over the chance to draft him.

21. Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) – Clemson LB Vic Beasley
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Vic Beasley is a beast. Him and a healthy Clay Matthews would do damage. His closing speed and burst are what make Beasley a intriguing prospect. Similar to Seahawks Bruce Irvin, he relies on his athleticism a lot to make plays, but if coached up he could be a special edge rusher in the NFL.

22. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) – Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert
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Gilbert is exactly what the doctor ordered for Philly. He may not be the shutdown corner Michigan State CB Dennard is, but when it comes to making the big play, Justin Gilbert is your man. TCU CB Jason Verrett is also a possibility here, but I think Gilbert’s playmaking ability and ridiculous athletic ability makes him the pick here. The Eagles’ secondary struggled a lot this year. Adding a talent like this will make coach Kelly a happy man.

23. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) – Florida State WR Kelvin Benjamin
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The hero of the BCS Championship game is oozing with potential. His 6’5″ frame gives him the ability to make the tough catch and create mismatches for cornerbacks. He’s a bit raw, but the overwhelming potential is there. Alex Smith could use a big WR like this. Benjamin could make the Chiefs offense that much more dangerous next season.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5) – TCU CB Jason Verrett
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Bengals are thrilled to land Verrett here. Needing more depth in the secondary, the TCU product is a great fit for Cincinnati. Great coverage skills, but is a little undersized. Still, that being said, this kid can play. Bengals already boast one of the best defenses in the NFL, so being able to snatch Verrett here, the rich get richer.

 

Christian Roberts of Sportz Overtime, for War Room Sports

Who’s Really the #1 QB in the 2014 NFL Draft?

Saturday, December 28th, 2013

by Christian Roberts

Christian Roberts Blog

 

 

 

 

 

College QBs

 

-Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater, 6’3″, 220 pounds
3,523 Passing Yards, 28 TDs, 4 int, 70.2% 

What he brings to the table: Football IQ, Accuracy, Toughness, Arm Strength, and Pocket Awareness

Teddy Bridgewater is considered the prize of the QB class this year. Rightfully so, he brings a very good skill set to the table. His pocket awareness and poise are incredible. Add that with pinpoint accuracy and you can see what all the hype is about. He doesn’t have the upside of past QB’s taken number 1, but he still is a great QB prospect. His ceiling isn’t as high as UCF QB Blake Bortles or Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel. What you see is what you get with Bridgewater. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Durability may be a concern for him though. He has taken a lot of hits over his career. Mostly because he hangs so tight in the pocket. The talented QB also has a tendency of playing down to his competition. The teams you think he’s going to pick apart, you come away from the game wanting more.

Draft Projection: Top 5

-UCF QB Blake Bortles, 6’4″, 230 pounds
3,280 Passing Yards, 22 TDs, 7 int, 68.1%

What he brings to the table: Prototypical Size, Arm Strength, High Upside, and Mobility.

Bortles has snuck up on everybody this year and put himself into the conversation of being the first QB taken off the board. He has scouts drooling over his physical tools and upside. He’s very good in the pocket, but can escape when pressure is in his face. No, he won’t be Cam Newton, but having that ability to escape pass-rushers is a plus. His downside would be he hasn’t played top competition at the collegiate level and his passing mechanics could use some work. With the right coach and QB coach, he could develop into a special quarterback. He reminds me a lot of another player who hadn’t faced topped competition in college, but you could clearly see all the physical tools. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Draft Projection: Top 15

-Alabama QB AJ McCarron, 6’4″, 214 pounds
2,676 Passing Yards, 26 TDs, 5 int, 67.6%

What he brings to the table: Leadership, Accuracy, Pocket Awareness, and Poise.

The Bama QB doesn’t have a high ceiling, but his skills translate well to the NFL. He may need to sit for a year or two, to hone his skills behind a vet. His leadership and accuracy will serve him well at the next level. His college numbers aren’t as gaudy as some of the other top passers in college football, but that’s mainly because Alabama runs a power run scheme. If not for that, his numbers would be right up there. McCarron doesn’t have ideal arm strength, but it’s strong enough to make all the throws at the next level. How he develops will play a major part on how the QB will turn out. If he’s thrown into the fire too soon, it could ruin him.

Draft Projection: Mid 1st-Early 2nd Round

-Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, 6’1″, 210 pounds
3,732 Passing Yards, 33 TDs, 13 int, 69.1%

What he brings to the table: Playmaking Ability, Athleticism, Arm Strength, Instincts.

Johnny Manziel might be the greatest college quarterback ever. Statistically, you could make an argument. How that greatness translates to the pros, remains to be seen. Manziel’s biggest obstacle he has to overcome, to achieve that greatness is his immaturity. If he comes into the NFL ready to learn and work hard, no doubt he will be a star. His playmaking ability and instincts are second to none. Some may say he is too short to play QB in the NFL and be successful, but Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is putting an end to that stereotype. If you’re a playmaker as Wilson and Manziel are, height means nothing. It’s just a number. He also needs to work on his mechanics. He tends to try and make every play, and that leads to inaccurate passes and costly interceptions. Once that is corrected, sky’s the limit for this kid. But he has to put in the work.

Draft Projection: Top 10

-Fresno State QB Derek Carr, 6’3″, 205 pounds
5,080 Passing Yards, 50 TDs, 8 int, 68.7%

What he brings to the table: Elite Arm Strength, Accuracy, Pocket Awareness and Mobility.

Let me just get this out the way. Derek Carr is by far a better QB prospect than his older brother ever was. Carr is blessed with a cannon arm and is the definition of a gunslinger on the football field. When his mechanics are right, his accuracy is tremendous. But like his older brother David, sloppy footwork is an issue. While that bad footwork doesn’t rear its ugly head too often, it’s still an issue that needs to be corrected at the next level. This issue was front and center in Fresno State’s bowl game loss vs USC. If this is not corrected,  you could see Derek Carr end up like Lions QB Matthew Stafford. Can throw the ball all over the field, but his sloppy footwork and mechanics result in a lot of back-breaking interceptions. There is no doubt Carr needs a bit of refining, but his upside is extremely high. The lack of competition he faced will also raise some eyebrows, but his physical tools will be too good to pass up in the first 15 picks.

Draft Projection: Top 15

Conclusion: This is a very good crop of quarterbacks in this class. Everybody brings something different to the table. The slight edge goes to Teddy Bridgewater for the best QB in this class. But it’s by a very slight margin. Johnny Manziel would be my #1 QB, but the immaturity factor is too big for me to look past. While he might have the greatest upside of the 5 QB’s, he is also the greatest risk. Bridgewater is easily the safest pick at QB. You know exactly what you are getting. One thing’s for sure, this 2014 NFL Draft is top-heavy with great talent at the quarterback position and it’s going to be interesting to see who’s name is called first.

 

Christian Roberts of Sportz Overtime, for War Room Sports

It’s official: QB Matt Barkley signs 4-year deal with the Eagles

Friday, June 14th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Signed, sealed, delivered: Matt Barkley signs his contract with the Eagles.
(Photo via Barkley’s Instagram account)

 

The Philadelphia Eagles have come to terms on a four-year agreement with QB Matt Barkley, the team announced on Thursday. Details of  Barkley’s contract are not yet known.

Barkley was the Eagles’ fourth-round  selection in the 2013 NFL Draft (98th overall pick). The 22-year old player was the all-time leading passer in both Pac-12 Conference and USC history. A four-year starter for the Trojans, Barkley finished his career with over 12,000 passing yards and became the only player in conference history to throw for over 100 touchdowns (116) in a career.

Barkley fell to the 4th-round in this year’s draft when, had he decided to go pro last year, he would likely have been a 1st-round pick. Chip Kelly and the Eagles believed in the USC player’s talent and believed that they obtained the quarterback for tremendous value when he fell to the fourth round. Since the selection, the topic of what Barkley’s presence means in the continued battle of supremacy between  Mike Vick and Nick Foles have been constant topics of Birds-related conversation.

Barkley’s signing means that 7 of the 8 of the team’s 2013 draft picks have contracts in place. 1st-round pick Lane Johnson is the last draft pick that remains to be signed.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports