So I overslept today because I was drunk last night, so I need to get caught up a little. Lets do bullet points.
[ul]
[li]JaMarcus Russell goes to the Raiders. No big shock there but I think they’ll regret not taking CJ.[/li][li]The Lions take another WR! I can’t blame them for this one, he’s going to be a stud. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone tries to wow them with a trade and what they do at QB. [/li][li]Very few notable trades. The Browns coming up to get Quinn as he slid makes great sense, but if that 1st rounder next year is in the top 5 they might be in a little trouble. They’d better hope Thomas and Quinn combined with some key guys getting healthy leads them to a above .500 season. [/li][li]I’m surprised the Bucs went with Gaines Adams. Didn’t see him as a top-5 value but he does fit a need and their system well. [/li][li]The Cards taking Levi Brown is an almost perfect pick, though Peterson must have been tempting. [/li][li]The Vikings got a real gift with Peterson sliding to them. Not real excited with the prospects of seeing both Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson in the NFC Norris. [/li][li]I’m a little surprised to see Anderson going ahead of Akoye but he fits a need for the Falcons. [/li][li]Ted Ginn to the Dolphins was the reach of the draft. Ginn probably would have lasted until the end of the first round where the Dolphins could have moved up, perhaps swapping with the Bears, and used this pick to get Quinn or help in the secondary. [/li][li]The Texans getting another D-lineman might not be sitting well with their fan base. Seems like Marshawn Lynch would have been a better pick here, they need someone who can run the ball. [/li][li]Overall the first round has been ridiculously lopsided towards defensive players. Something of a surprise.[/li][/ul]
The best player currently on the board is Ben Olsen and he would look incredible in a Bears uniform. I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone trade up to get him if they have a real need at TE. Perhaps the Bears will move up preemptively.
With all the defensive players coming off the board I’m concerned with the chances of the Bears solidifying their LB corps and the secondary with those first couple picks. I hope they don’t reach and take Olsen and Irons if they are both available. The rush on defenders means these guys both could potentially slide to them. If Olsen is gone Meachem would be a solid pick as well. I’m not sure what the deal is with Alan Branch, he’s sliding and people question how good he will be at the next level but if he makes it down to the Bears at 31 you have to take him since they could be without 3 of their DTs from last season.
This draft has been awfully slow going. Seems like every team is dragging their feet. I think the Quinn situation made everyone who drafted wait to get that call from a potential trade partner.
No idea why these guys are acting shocked by the Saints taking Meachem. He’s a hell of a WR and they lost Joe Horn, this was the pick I completely expected them to take followed closely by Alan Branch.
Additionally, it looks like a lock that Olsen will be there for the Bears if they want him. The Pats, Ravens and Chargers all have rock solid TEs, so without a trade that option will be there. Then again all three teams are pretty solid at DT so Branch will probably still be there too. All things being equal I bet the Bears take Branch. He worries me and I dream of the day when the Bears have a great TE, we’ll see.
Nope…wonder how far Branch will slide. Run stuffing DTs used to be one of the most valuable commodities. Man, I wonder what the chances of the Bears getting both him and Olsen. No way either of those guys get past the teams between the Bears 2 picks. Indy would kill to have Branch I think and they’ll pass on Olsen. The Raiders and Lions are the biggest threats to take Olsen, but I think the Raiders have more pressing needs than a TE and the Lions can’t take another pass catcher after taking CJ. The Eagles at set at TE too.
Dream scenario, Bears take Branch at 31 and Olsen at 37.
The Chargers took the wrong WR. I think they valued his return ability too much and should have gone with the better pure pass catcher.
Bears are on the clock, if they bypass Alan Branch I will be shocked and pissed. If they take Paul Posluszny I’m going to have a fit, he’s not going to be that good and will get swallowed up by blockers in the pros.
Well, shit. I’m almost certain Olsen would have been there at 37. Branch definitely will not be. Olsen is a great value here still, but they could have had their cake and ate it too.
Well, there went Branch. That was predictable. I don’t see a LB or a DT worth taking at 37. Looks like they should go with Irons there, though he’s a slight reach considering the players who have slid. Jarrett might be a good choice to develop behind Moose.
Hey, maybe the Giants will be able to stop opposing wideouts this season. This Aaron Ross kid looks impressive hell in the secondary.
As for their second round pick, I know nothing of this kid, but I find it hard to argue against picking a wide receiver named Steve Smith. Sure gonna make things confusing, though.
And the SDMB craps out on me just as things start getting interesting.
Going back to the Bears second pick. They traded down and it looks like they made out like bandits and stockpiled some midround picks. I liked the move since there wasn’t a player at a position we needed there. I was hoping that Kenny Irons would still be there at that 62nd pick but no such luck. Pittman from OSU would be a solid value at this spot and he’s on the board as the Bears are on the clock. I like Irons speed better but Pittman can run and would pair well with Benson as a third down back.
I don’t see a DT or a Safety worthwhile at this spot so they should make that pick and find defenders in the third round.
Dan Bazuin? Really don’t like this pick. He plays with a good motor but if there was a position we didn’t need help at it’s defensive end. According to every draft board I’d seen he was projected as a late third rounder at best so this seems like a reach too. I was wondering if perhaps the Bears wanted to move him inside as a DT on passing downs but he’s said to have average size and it’s unlikely he can add the bulk and lacks the leg strength to move inside. This pick is pretty baffling.
One scenario that might work is moving him to an upright position as a LB. He has good speed and aggressiveness and a tendency to over-pursue which sounds like good thing for a converted LB. No idea if this a realistic thing, but I can’t see him being very valuable as a DE behind 3 or 4 studs they have now.
Any way you slice it, this is a reach if the ranking are to be believed.
Badzuin is supposed to be rather underrated. He could end up being interesting.
As for Detroit, they’re unseasonably aggressive this year. I like it. They seem to have people that they want in certain places and they’re going up to get them. I think someone’s sedated Millen and there’s someone in place that knows what they’re doing these past two years.
I wanted them to get Branch when he slid down. That would have made me happy and would have been a very (pouty? chubby?) good pairing for defensive tackle. I like the Drew Stanton pick and want to echo what Mel Kiper the Junior said. He said that Stanton and Kolb will be measured with Quinn because the teams that took the two former quarterbacks had at least one chance to take Quinn. I think that’s an apt comparison. Take Stanton, for example. The knock on him was inconsistency, but he showed up in some big games. That’s the same knock on Quinn, yet his cast was much better (and had much better press). A good buddy of mine lusted after Quinn and wanted to know why the Lions didn’t hop up and take Quinn instead of waiting for Stanton. My guess is that they figured they were more or less equal (and were therefore spending less money by waiting for Stanton). I think Martz didn’t want Quinn. Quinn has been tutored by Charlie Weis. Martz would have to hammer any stuff he didn’t like first, then work on getting the stuff he wanted in his brain. Stanton is a comparable quarterback without any prior history.
I’ll be honest, though. My buddy wanted Quinn since he heard he put up 225 like 30 times. I’m sure there’s more to his Quinn-love, but that’s when he started up the hype machine.
I’m a happy Lions fan today. I proclaim today a “big plus”.
The picks look solid so far. I read the ESPN snippet for both and both run a 4.44.
The CB was also a successful punt returning and has a nose for the ball.
So far so good.
Antonio Pittman RB | (5’10", 207, 4.4) | OHIO STATE is still on the board, if he last 8 more picks, hopefully the Giants grab him as the third down back. He looks like he would fit our needs pretty well.