[Thursday Edition]
TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK
Making the Grades
(A second look)
My Take on how some teams did….
Continuing with my, if you will evaluation of how I think some teams did in this year's annual NFL draft….
Good….
I’ll start with another team I thought did a good job of acquiring talent that could pay immediate dividends. The New Orleans Saints were one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, so there was little guessing as to what areas they would focus on entering the 2009 draft. The defensive side of things is where they would start and with their first round pick at number 14 they most definitely addressed that need. The Saints took defensive back Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), a talented corner many feel possesses great cover skills. With Darren Sharper acquired this offseason, Jenkins will likely be slotted as one of the teams starting corners and should give the secondary an instant boost. Their second pick of Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest) was another solid addition to a very poor secondary last season. Vaughn will add depth at safety and again with a great offense the defense won’t need to be great to start. The Saints made the picks they needed and coming off a poor showing in 2008 (defense was ranked 23rd) should be better in 2009.
Fair….
My opinion of the Washington Redskins' draft is base solely on one pick and that is defensive end Brian Orakpo (Texas). I thought the Skins got themselves a steal with Orakpo at 13. More than that though, playing along side Albert Haynesworth, he’s not only going to be good he’s going to make an immediate impact. The Texas Longhorn is consider a hybrid rusher, but will likely play on the edge and see great success. While one player hardly makes a draft; I think this pick will prove to be very positive for an already pretty good Redskin’s defense.
I’ll start with another team I thought did a good job of acquiring talent that could pay immediate dividends. The New Orleans Saints were one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, so there was little guessing as to what areas they would focus on entering the 2009 draft. The defensive side of things is where they would start and with their first round pick at number 14 they most definitely addressed that need. The Saints took defensive back Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), a talented corner many feel possesses great cover skills. With Darren Sharper acquired this offseason, Jenkins will likely be slotted as one of the teams starting corners and should give the secondary an instant boost. Their second pick of Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest) was another solid addition to a very poor secondary last season. Vaughn will add depth at safety and again with a great offense the defense won’t need to be great to start. The Saints made the picks they needed and coming off a poor showing in 2008 (defense was ranked 23rd) should be better in 2009.
Fair….
My opinion of the Washington Redskins' draft is base solely on one pick and that is defensive end Brian Orakpo (Texas). I thought the Skins got themselves a steal with Orakpo at 13. More than that though, playing along side Albert Haynesworth, he’s not only going to be good he’s going to make an immediate impact. The Texas Longhorn is consider a hybrid rusher, but will likely play on the edge and see great success. While one player hardly makes a draft; I think this pick will prove to be very positive for an already pretty good Redskin’s defense.
It’s really hard to tell this early in the process, just how well a team really did, but I think that the St. Louis Rams selection of offensive lineman Jason Smith will eventually prove to be huge in the long run. What made this such a smart pick at number two, there were two reasons the Rams had to go lineman; Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. The team has a lot of money tied up in both players and Smith will only make both better. The Rams are desperate to find Bulger protection and they need a tank on the line to open holes for Jackson. Reading all the press on Smith, I believe that is exactly what they got in the six foot, five inch mammoth out of Baylor University. There second pick was equally impressive with the selection of linebacker Jim Laurinaitus. The Ohio State product will give the defense a very intelligent player in the middle which should help improve the leagues 29th ranked run defense.
Are you kidding me?....
Now I am not clear if the end result qualifies, but after watching the New England Patriots bounce all over the board with trades, adding picks, moving down, I just have to say “are you kidding me?”
The Pats started at 23, but did not make their first pick until number 34, and then they got two more picks at 40 and 41. When the day started you knew the Patriots were going to be players; six picks in the top 100, and a total of 12 for the draft.
I am not completely sold on the draft class of the Patriots, but leave it to Belichik to shake things up on draft day, move all over the board, and keep the experts guessing all day.
Check back every Tuesday for more “Tuesday (Football) Talk”
Now I am not clear if the end result qualifies, but after watching the New England Patriots bounce all over the board with trades, adding picks, moving down, I just have to say “are you kidding me?”
The Pats started at 23, but did not make their first pick until number 34, and then they got two more picks at 40 and 41. When the day started you knew the Patriots were going to be players; six picks in the top 100, and a total of 12 for the draft.
I am not completely sold on the draft class of the Patriots, but leave it to Belichik to shake things up on draft day, move all over the board, and keep the experts guessing all day.
Check back every Tuesday for more “Tuesday (Football) Talk”
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