Sports Lynx Blog

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Everyone’s a draft expert on the Monday after the draft so it is only right that I jump in there and offer my expertise.  I can’t and won’t comment on every selection made in round one but I will offer my thoughts on some of them.

 Jake Long (Miami):  I love the pick.  However,  you always have to wonder if you offensive tackle draft pick can protect your franchises’ back side.  Playing in the Big-10,  I don’t know if Long saw as many hellacsious defensive ends with the kind of speed he will witness at this level.  There’s no doubt about his run blocking.  So,  if he does not work out on the left,  he will certainly work out on the right.  When you can get an offensive lineman and the quarterback he protected in college (Chad Henne) in the same draft you have done something good.  Just drafting anyone named Chad just seems right.

Matt Ryan (Atlanta):  Bust!  Write it down.  I am going out on a limb and saying it.  The draftniks and public fell in love with this guy and I don’t know why.  I don’t see what he’s going to bring to that position and team that will elevate them. In my eyes he’s a very average quarterback and will play that way.  Average arm.  below average mobility (which is big in today’s game) and questionable decision making which to me is A #1 for quarterbacks.  I liked Chad Henne better than Ryan in this draft but the Falcons got plowed by public opinion.

Darren McFadden (Oakland):  I like the player but Oakland is where players go to kill their careers.  Oakland loves 40 times and so McFadden was their guy.  Personally,  I think they need a back that can take a pounding and I don’t know that McFadden is it.  Perhaps JaMarcus Russell and McFadden can grow up together.  Perhaps Al will put on a pair of jeans and sell the team.  I can’t recall an Oakland first round pick that turned into something in the last decade. 

Glenn Dorsey (Kansas City): I love defensive tackles.  They are the way to a good defense.  They make everyone better.  Your linebackers make more plays when the tackles are good.  Your defensive backs make more tackles when the defensive tackles are good and your defensive ends get single blocked when your tackles are good.  This tackle is good.  This pick is good.  Kansas City’s defense will be good.  Got it?  Good.

Jonathan Stewart (Carolina):  Carolina had several needs and this was one of them.  Is there a chance they could have gotten Stewart in the 2nd round?  Yes but you can never be sure.  Stewart is their can of runner and should be effective with DeAngelo Williams.

Ryan Clady (Denver): Through the years,  Denver has done a good job knowing what it is they do and finding people to fit into it.  There were linemen that graded out better than Ryan Clady that were available when Denver was up at pick #12.  However,  none fit their system better than this guy. 

Dominique Rogers Cromartie (Arizona):  Any time the Cardinals can draft on defense,  it’s a good thing.  Having Cromarties to team up with Antrell Rolle gives them a tremendous advantage in the pass happy NFL.  There were concerns about Cromartie playing against small school competition.  Whoever subscribed to that theory knows little about playing this position.  Schools like this are where great corners come from.  They face pass happy teams with fast receivers because the small schools don’t get the highly skilled big guys.  Cromartie is highly skilled and will make an impact early.

 Joe Flacco (Delaware):  Hyping up small school quarterbacks is usually a bad deal.  The small school quarterbacks have done well when they have been underrated and off of the radar.  Flacco will come in with immediate pressure and I don’t know that he will be able to handle it.  A strong quarterbacks coach,  offensive coordinator and system will be needed to make this guy a success.  If you are missing any of those three then we are headed for bustville.

Aqib Talib (Tampa Bay):  I don’t know that he’s a corner in the NFL.  I think he will struggle there and Tampa will be forced to move him to safety at some point.  He’s also immature which will be a problem in the city of Tampa and with this coach.  If Tampa is going to be running a bunch of cover 2 then perhaps Talib can make them not curse this pick.  Start going man to man then the wheels could come off.

Sam Baker (Atlanta):  Notice the formula,  draft a quarterback high,  you better draft an offensive tackle high.  Atlanta followed that formula here.  Baker was hampered by injuries at USC and you can’t help the club in the tub.  IF he can stay healthy and can block the Dwight Freeney’s of the World then this is a good pick.  However,  Matt Ryan won’t give him much help eluding defensive ends so he’s going to have to work overtime to keep this QB clean.

Felix Jones (Dallas):  I like this pick by the Cowboys who filled a need.  Marion Barber may not be around.  I don’t know why but I think Felix Jones will be a better running back than Darren McFadden.  Going to Dallas instead of Oakland will play a big part in that but Jones won’t have as much pressure on him as McFadden and that is a huge factor in your NFL success.

Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh):  Great pick up for the Steelers although I would have liked to have seen what Mendenhall could do in a Broncos uniform.  Mendenhall can do the dirty work inside like Jerome Bettis used to and this will make Willie Parker that much better.

Chris Johnson (Tennessee):  I don’t know why this pick needed to be made here but they did.  The success of this pick depends on how they use him.  I don’t know that Johnson’s run to the sidelines style is suited for the way Tennessee runs the ball but there’s a new offensive coordinator in town so things might change.  I do know that Lendale White is not the answer and if Johnson can’t handle a significant amount of the workload with White then this pick will not pan out.

 Kenny Phillips (NY Giants):  Anytime you get a player from the U in the first round you have gotten yourself some quality.  There’s a whole lot of evidence to support this.  Phillips has some things to work on and from what I know,  he’s coachable and willing to fill in the gaps.  Joining the World Champs gives him time to get his game up to speed so for now he can use his athleticism to make great plays.