Where Does Larry Johnson Belong?

Larry Johnson wants out of Kansas City; however there are a few obstacles in leaving Kansas City. LJ has a massive contract which will cost any team who has him $8.2 million off of their cap. He also is facing two trials which, if he is found guilty could lead to suspension. LJ will also be 30 in November. All of this should be familiar to anyone with a slight interest in Larry Johnson. However, some may not know the positives about LJ. For instance, LT is a few months older than LJ and has had in 8 years 2,657 carries, not to mention an extensive college career. Larry in six years has had 1,243 carries and only received substantial carries his senior year at Penn State. At Penn State he also achieved the 2,000 yard in one season with fewer carries than any other back to achieve such a feat. Larry has had a relatively light load and so concerns over his age are not as critical. Also, behind a porous offensive line in Kansas City, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Most of the time LJ seemed to run into a brick wall, an unavoidable consequence of defenses stacking the box against a young QB. However, when a hole is opened up for LJ, he hits it at full speed. Larry is still as elusive as ever, still making people miss. The point is that Larry is still a dominant running back in the league in search of a home.

Johnson has never felt at home with Kansas City. Dick Vermeil once told him to take off the diapers and he was resented for his holdout. Then this season was a rough one with the quarterback carousel and the changing offense. Larry wants out and perhaps rightly so. People are discussing Detroit, Arizona, and Cincinnati as possible locations for LJ. Detroit and Arizona have shaky o-lines and inexperienced QB’s in the foreseeable future and LJ has had difficulties with these situations. Cincinnati may be willing to bring on LJ, but with Benson having a training camp under his belt and Palmer returning, they may be unwilling to use a draft pick to trade for LJ. So where should LJ go?

If LJ wants to enjoy success in his career, he needs to bite the bullet and play in Kansas City. Thigpen has been developing satisfactorily and will command more attention from the secondary in the years to come taking men out of the box. Also, Thigpen comes into next season as the starter, which means no QB carousel. Effective QB play from the beginning of the season will go a long way towards helping the running game. The o-line will have another season to mature and will be able to get acquainted with Johnson and Thigpen.

The two problems Kansas City has are hurting Larry and the Chiefs by extension. Kansas City’s defense was atrocious and lost many games for the Chiefs. When you allow 158 rushing yards per game it is almost impossible to win. Another off-season should help the Chiefs improve their defense. The second problem with the Chiefs is that they do not have a commitment to the run. Larry had ten carries against Cincinnati for 18 yards. In the first quarter Larry ran three times compared to 8 passes 4 of which were completed including second and third down incompletions on one drive leading to a three and out. A commitment to the run would go a long way towards helping Larry put up better numbers and help keep Kansas City’s defense off of the field. If Kansas City can improve their defense and run more and earlier the Chiefs could once again become a contender. Larry has already put in a considerable amount of time in at Kansas City. Although the offense left Larry behind this season, they are giving him a large payday to put up with their rebuilding. I doubt very much that LJ’s importance is and ability is lost on the coaching staff. They will make adjustments to incorporate Larry into the offense as their key playmaker. If no such adjustments are made, Kansas City has wasted Larry’s, the fans, and quite frankly everybody’s time. So, if LJ wants to have a valuable career, he needs to grit his teeth and look no further than Kansas City.

These are the Favres of Our Lives

First off, let me say Favre is one of my all time favorite football players. He is a great blue collar player who I have admired for years. However, he should have retired. He had a great year, made a conference championship appearance, and looked as great as he ever did. He retired with most of the passing records and the most consecutive starts. There was a good indication that Favre was not quite done when he agreed to be on the Madden cover. However, most put it aside and assumed he would be the one to break the Madden curse.

Then the curse struck and Favre got the itch. He wanted to comeback, but Green Bay had moved on. Green Bay was right to move on after Favre retired. They have other plans for their future and Favre was no longer among them. However, the Green Bay front office made the horrible decision of trying to hold on and get as much value as they could from him. Favre should have been released and allowed to pursue his career elsewhere. Now this whole mess has become a soap opera and most of America is burnt out on Favre. I think the worst casualty in all of this was the man who started it, Brett Favre. Favre seems to have lost his spirit and love of the game. Its that spirit that has carried Favre through 17 seasons. Maybe Favre does need a new environment to foster that love of the game. I hate to say this, but maybe the Deity of Wisconsin needs to move on.

In that spirit, I viewed an article EA did a few days ago in which the simulated how different teams would do with and without Brett Favre at the helm. I was fascinated by the article and decided to do my own analysis of how some teams would fare with Brett Favre at the helm. If you are curious how the simulation went here is the link to the article:
Favre Simulation

New York Jets

From Favre's standpoint this is not the worst place to end up. The Jets have a good offensive line weighed down by recently added Alan Faneca. Thomas Jones would certainly benefit from having Favre. Favre presence would take eight players out of the box and open up running lanes for the Jets. However, the receiver corp is nothing terribly spectacular. Although Coles can get open at will, the rest of the receiver corp is young. Before anyone frets though people were saying the same thing about the Packer's receivers last year. Given that the Jets are a year removed from a playoff run, New York would be an ideal place for Brett Favre to land and make a playoff run.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jon Gruden collects QBs so it is no surprise that Tampa Bay is in the running for Favre. Tampa Bay would be a nice fit for Favre. Having Joey Galloway to bomb the ball to all day would not be a bad thing in the least. Having Graham and Dunn running the ball, Tampa will go pass first and use the running game as a tool to keep the defense honest. Tampa Bay however does not seem to be terribly enthusiastic to acquire Favre given that they have a veteran in Garcia who helped them earn a playoff berth.

Minnesota Vikings

Although it is increasingly unlikely that Favre will be playing in the NFC North lets pretend shall we. Think about the headache defensive coordinators would have trying to stop the Minnesota offense. They could try and put people in the secondary to hold back Favre, but what about the young phenom Adrian Peterson? It would be a double edged sword no defense could hold back. The Vikings would be a nice landing spot for Favre, but it is highly unlikely.

Chicago Bears

Once again let's pretend that Favre would go to a NFC North team. The Bears would be an awful fit for any QB, much less Brett Favre. Hester is fast, but unproven as a receiver. The only other reciever worth mentioning is Brandon Lloyd who may be in for a career rebound, but is not the best go-to receiver. They have an old offensive line and a lackluster running game. Favre may not be enough for the Bears to pull themselves out of ruin.

So, if Favre and the Packers are really through where would I like to see him the most? Honestly, nothing would make me happier than to see Favre play the Patriots twice a year. For too long the Patriots have had a blank check to run the AFC East. With Favre behind the helm the Jets can stand a chance against the Patriots. With Buffalo's defense building up and Miami in repair mode, avre and the Jets can contend long enough to make the AFC an open competition as opposed to a one man show.

Madden 09: A Few Things to Change

Players are traded and added to rosters at the tail end of the off-season, but Madden is finalized before these moves occur. Thus, there are always minor adjustments to be made on Madden rosters to make the gae true to life, that is unless you didn't agree to that move. I've decided to address some of the moves that Madden will not have made adjustments for. These are not going to be all of them, but these will be the most prominent and significant moves to be made.

Jason Taylor
Madden location: ROLB Miami Dolphins
Actual location: DE Washington Redskins

If Madden has not brought back position changing a lot of Redskins fans will be upset. However, if he can be changed Redskins fans will definitely make the roster change as soon as the game is out of the box. Jason Taylor will provide the Skins with a phenom pass rusher. I have friends that played with the Skins and one of the comforts I had was that as long as I avoided Andre Carter I'd have al day to throw. Now the Skins will be pass rushing from both sides and I already feel Roethlisberger's pain...

Jeremy Shockey
Madden Location: TE New York Giants
Actual Location: TE New Orleans Saints

Giants fans may not be quick to make a roster update, but Saints fans will definitely welcome this change. Saints fans will now have a big target over the middle of the offense that will demand attention. The attention he will command will open up lanes for Reggie Bush and Deuce helping Saints fans establish a much smoother running game.

Kevin Jones
Madden Location: Free Agency
Actual Location: RB Chicago Bears

Given that his signing was a month ago there is a high probability that he will actually be on the Bears roster on Madden 09. Jones will provide the Bears with a decent caliber running back. However, as far as Madden goes, it will be a matter of preference as to whether Jones is properly utilized. If users pass to HB's a lot, Jones will be valuable, but otherwise they have a power back in Forte and a speed back in Wolfe. Jones will provide depth, but nothing game altering.

Brett Favre
Madden Location: NFL Greats List
Actual Location: New York Jets

Favre will be a topic of hot contention for online franchise modes. Die hard Packer fans will not want to let him go and Jets fans will insist on having him. How Favre is dealt out is not a concern of mine. However, or those of you curious on how to activate Favre I can tell you how. EA states that Favre is on their NFL Greats List. All that is required is that you activate Favre and he becomes available in the free agent pool. Once their assign him to the team you and yours have decided upon.

Chad Pennington
Madden location: New York Jets
Actual Location: Miami Dolphins

Pennington will be welcome to Dolphins fans. The other options at QB for iamiwere not nearely as promising. Pennington will provide stability until the user can pump up one of the younger QBs or Pennington can be trading bait used to get a better QB. Either way, Pennington has considerable value in Miami.

Daunte Culpepper & Byron Leftwich
Madden Location: Free Agency
Actual Location: Pittsbrugh Steelers
Many Steelers owners will not want these two with a healthy Charlie Batch on roster, but the shrewd owners will take on the two veterans and trade two of the four Steeler quarterbacks for picks and/or offensive lineman. Pending the ratings of all the QBs I plan on keeping Culpepper in reserve. Culpepper's strong arm and mobility will mean in the event Roethlisberger gets hurt, I won't have to change my offense very much. Culpepper can be a reliable backup to Reothlisberger and a welcome addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Free Agency: Real World and Madden

The Preseason has started and there are still some decent free agents out there. Its unfortunate for these players that they don't have a place to play football. However, the silver lining is that there is a wealth of players to choose from in Madden 09. Free agents can help bolster depth in a needy area, fill in for an injured player, be a stopgap to hold you over until the next off season, or provide your team with a valuable steal. I always try and add a free agent or two to my franchise at the beginning of the season. Here are a few that I will be interested to look at in this year's version of Madden.

Ty Law CB
Legendary shutdown corner Ty Law is surprisingly still on the free agent market. Law is notorious for asking for way too much money. However, at this point in the year and being at the tail end of his career Law might have to settle for a smaller pay check if he wants to play. The last time Ty Law was mentioned in the news it was Browns GM Phil Savage saying Ty Law's asking price was too high. Kansas City fired him, the Browns think he's not worth the high price, and the Patriots have made little effort to bring back their star corner. Unfortunately for Ty Law, if he doesn't act and soon, his career will be over.

Madden Analysis:
Ty Law's speed will probably be too low to be of great value to a team. However, if Madden has brought back position changes, Ty Law will be a great Safety. His abilities will help provide stability at the safety position or a year while another player is groomed or traded for.

Kendrell Bell LB
Kendrell Bell had a great career in Pittsburgh and then joined Kansas City and did very poorly. He did not fit in at all with the 4-3 defensive structure. What is surprising is that no 3-4 team has wanted to sign him as a veteran voice . He may get a look if injuries occur, but he should have been tried out on many different squads. Kendrell Bell still has some years left in him and could become very valuable to a 3-4 team.

Madden Analysis:
Kendrell Bell will not have a very high rating after an 8 tackle season. However, he can provide depth on linebacker needy teams.

LeCharles Bentley C/G
Bentley suffered a substantial knee injury on the first day of Browns training camp in 2006. Then, he got a staph infection which took him out another year. Finally the Browns released Bentley and he now reportedly has many different offers to join squads. However, most squads are concerned about his ability to come back and play after two years. If he can indeed comeback and play at a level he used to play at, Bentley could be a veritable steal for some franchise.

Madden Analysis:
Bentley's ratings will be hindered by him not being in the NFL for two years. Depending on how kind EA is towards Bentley, he will be a free agent steal or nothing more than a backup.

Daunte Culpepper
I have said enough about Culpepper in this blog for people to know I think he could be great for some team. However, no team seems to be interested in him. It's not surprising considering that most teams solved their QB problems in the draft. However, if an injury occurs and Brett Favre isn't available Culpepper could get looked at.

Madden Analysis:
Culpepper will have a strong arm in Madden. So for those of you in need of a Strong Armed QB, Culpepper could be a cheap solution.

Madden 09 Player Ratings: NFC East

The NFC East is the most competitive division in football. It seems that you can't see an NFC playoff picture without two teams from that division. Whenever I play a Madden Franchise, there are three NFC east teams in the playoff run. So, I have chosen this division to evaluate second.

Washington Redskins















I like that Todd Collins is better than Jason Campbell. Campbell has more upside, but Collins definitely has a better grasp of the game. Collins' awareness will be higher than Campbell, but Campbell will have the better passing stats. I think Portis deserves more especially considering he ran very well behind a second string line. If the Skins O-line is healthy they will be one of the better ones in Madden. Chris Cooley looks about right and I think Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El look right if they are in the Skins system. However, with the addition of Thomas and Kelly, Randle El and Moss will greatly improve...as will Campbell. Everything on the defense looks pretty good. They will have to add Erasmus James and Stuart Schweigert, but other than that I would say the Skins' defense is pretty true to reality.

Philadelphia Eagles















I think that Mcnabb is justified at 92. I like him, but he does have trouble playing when hurt. I think he will come out and be a fantasy superstar and a great QB for Madden. Westbrook looks as if he will dominate, his receiver stats will dominate. Sadly enough the receiver corps looks true to life. Reggie Brown needs to step up and be a #1 for Mcnabb. That oline looks great considering they allowed 12 sacks in one game. The Philly front seven looks pretty rough, but their secondary with three corners over 90 and Dawkins will be tough to play against.

New York Giants















The Super Bowl Champions deserve this high a rating. They did what many other teams had failed to do...beat the Patriots. Some would say Eli Manning does not deserve that high a rating just based on his finish, but I think he does. Watching his games at the end almost all of his passes hit the target, but a ridiculous amount of them we dropped. Despite that Burress has a 96 rating...maybe a little high, but I feel he can live up to that rating. The Running Back corp looks pretty good and Shockey and Boss are justified at 94 and 80. We'll see if Strahan returns and Umenyoria looks as dominate as he is in real life. The rest of the defense isn't anything to ecstatic about, but they will get the job done. Overall the Super Bowl Champs look like they could do very well in Madden.

Dallas Cowboys















The Cowboys had more Pro Bowlers than the Patriots and it looks like they could be the dominant team in Madden this year. Romo is very good at throwing to TO...and vacationing before career defining games. Does he deserve a 94 after a poor playoff showing and five picks against a sub par Buffalo secondary? He did throw a lot of touchdowns in the regular season though so I'll begrudge the rating. TO, Witten, and Barber are justifiably awesome. The O-line looks good. The defense doesn't look to bad either. The addition of Zach Thomas makes the linebacker corps fierce. I'll be interested to see what ratings Pacman will receive (if he is even in the game). Overall the Cowboys will cap off a very competitive division with fierce talent.

Overall the NFC east looks very competitive, as it is in real-life. On-line franchise mode will only add to the fierce competition of this division. Redskins fans will be able to take on the role of GM and develop their own image of the Redskins ...one that will wreak havoc on division rivals. However, if the GMs decide to keep things as is, they will have very good teams. From the looks of it, the NFC east will dominate Madden franchise modes in Madden 09.

Madden 09 Player Ratings: AFC North

A link to the new Madden 09 Rankings have come out and I am intrigued by many of the ratings. Many are spot on and others are just...well not so on the spot. Here is a breakdown of some of the ratings. http://www.pastapadre.com/2645/madden-09-player-and-team-ratings

Pittsburgh Steelers














This may not be final, but I do like what I see here. Roethlisberger has a 95 overall and as long as he has good Throwing Power I will be happy. Considering that Willie Parker was the leading rusher until he got hurt I think he deserves a little better than a 93 overall. Ward and Holmes deserve higher ratings. Unfortunately the O-line looks about right, but so does Miller. I like that people are giving Aaron Smith the respect he deserves. Anthony Smith should be higher. He got picked on in the Pats game, but played well on many other occasions. He is largely responsible for the Bengals aerial attack not dominating the Steelers. Lamar Woodley looks about right, but he may get upgraded in an update. PS: Where is Lawrence Timmons?

Cleveland Browns















Derek Anderson may deserve a higher rating, not much higher, but still better than 88. Jamal Lewis is a 90 overall and while that seems low, his power running will be higher than most RBs. Stallworth deserves a higher rating, but Braylon Edwards is perfect. I think Winslow is right. The Offensive Line for Cleveland is phenomenal, as it is in real life. I will be interested to see in the next few days whether Bentley will deserve a higher rating. The defense looks about right. The safety corps could use some improvement, but overall the Cleveland Defense looks about right.

Baltimore Ravens















Troy Smith got screwed over in this projection. Troy Smith put on a decent showing at the end of the season that was a hell of a lot better than Kyle Boller. Also, he has proven he can play in the NFL unlike Brady Quinn who hasn't but has an 82 overall rating! Smith, who bested Quinn for the Heisman, deserves better. The rest of the offense looks about right. We'll see if Ogden stays around another year however. The Ravens Defense looks fearsome as ever, but justifiably so. Overall Baltimore looks about right, minus Troy Smith who got egregiously wronged.

Cincinnati Bengals















Carson Palmer is a good QB. He leaves his receivers out to dry and I, and statistics, say that Roethlisberger is a better QB. I don't think Palmer deserves that high a rating. Rudi Johnson had a bad year and did not deserve to drop that much in his overall rating. The receiver corp is just right. Utecht might deserve a higher rating and the oline looks about right. Unfortunately the Bengal defense is pretty close to reality. Leon Hall may deserve a little higher rating, but overall I think EA got it right.

The AFC North is going to have a rough season with their ridiculously difficult schedules. I think that they can handle it, I only hope that the difficulty of the year does not hurt their ratings in Madden 10. However, in Madden things will be interesting. User skills can make up for poor rankings. Any player can make any team dominant, it is just a matter of will power...and careful use of the precision passing.

Why Hasn't a Team Signed Daunte Culpepper?

I am having difficulty believing that some team has not grabbed Daunte Culpepper off the free agent market. NFL.com says that “he is being selective, waiting for the right opportunity with the right team.” If that is the case…why hasn’t a team given him an offer he can’t refuse? Culpepper has many question marks, but a solid QB is very tough to come by in this league. In this article I’ll explore the question marks concerning Culpepper and discuss possible locations for him.

Could Daunte Culpepper’s success in the NFL be attributed exclusively to Randy Moss? I say no. Randy Moss is a once in a generation talent and he definitely helped Culpepper in similar fashion to how he helped Tom Brady. Culpepper was and is a good QB and Randy Moss just enabled him to explode. Culpepper still has a ridiculously strong arm, which is a blessing and a curse. Culpepper fits the ball into very tight spots the second those spots open. Five times in 2007 Culpepper tried to thread the needle and got picked, but most of the time he got a completion out of the exchange. He also has some mobility. Although hampered by his knee injury, he is mobile in the pocket and even beat a linebacker to the edge for a touchdown against Miami in 2007. Culpepper is talented and Randy Moss only enhanced that talent.

Should Daunte Culpepper’s injury history be a concern? I say not necessarily. Culpepper damaged three ligaments in his knee and had surgery to repair those ligaments. However, I agree with Culpepper that an injury of that nature and the surgery required to repair the knee takes two years to recover from. Culpepper and Miami both rushed his return to the field. He should not have been on the field that soon. In four games he was sacked 21 times and Saban benched him. Saban reportedly stated that Culpepper’s problem was “further north of the anatomy chart” implying that he felt Culpepper’s knee was fine, but rather his head was the reasoning behind his benching. Culpepper has had some decision making problems, but I attribute this to faith in his arm. Gunslingers always throw interceptions and considering he has a career completion percentage of 63.8% I think he knows the ins and outs of the game. Culpepper played in seven games in Oakland and put up a decent showing. He injured his hamstring at the end of the season, but this should be of little concern to his knee. Culpepper, from what I read and hear, is fully healed and ready for a football season.

Should Culpepper’s mediocre stint in Oakland be an indication of his abilities? I say no. In 2006 Culpepper got sacked 21 times in 4 games and in seven 2007 games he was sacked 21 times again. That’s an improvement…it’s not great, but Oakland doesn’t have that great of an offensive line and Culpepper wasn’t incredibly mobile. Five touchdowns to five interceptions is not great, but it is better than many QB’s. Culpepper did lose three of nine fumbles, but his small hands have always made fumbling a problem. Any team that hires him should be prepared for fumbles, but Culpepper is experienced in getting on top of those fumbles. Culpepper, if given the right atmosphere and talent, could one again become a dominant QB in the NFL.

What team should sign Daunte Culpepper? With the draft having passed there are few options left for Culpepper. Green Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami all took QB’s in the draft. Culpepper could be signed if there is an injury. The team I would most like to see Daunte Culpepper going to would be the Carolina Panthers. Deangelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart will provide Carolina with a great running game. Carolina has one o the better offensive lines in the NFL. Plus, Steve Smith, D.J. Hackett, Muhsin Muhammad, and Dwayne Jarrett will make a fierce receiver corps. Daunte Culpepper would be a terrific insurance policy in the event that Jake Delhomme gets injured. In so many ways, Carolina would be a great fit for Daunte Culpepper. However, many teams could benefit greatly from having Culpepper on their roster and I sincerely hope that somebody snatches him up. Culpepper has a rocket arm and ability that I definitely want to see more of and I look forward to seeing him on the field once again.

The Steelers' Offensive Line

Left Tackle:

Starter: Marvel Smith

Marvel Smith says that he is feeling great after having surgery on his injured back. Smith has been a great offensive lineman and I have no doubt that his back injury contributed to his poor play. It is ridiculously difficult to pass block when you can’t stretch to stand up a defender with ease. I look for Marvel Smith to rebound and have a great year.

Backup: Trai Essex

Essex is a good offensive lineman. He is currently on a one year deal, so look for good play from him in an effort to stay with Pittsburgh or make it onto another roster.

Left Guard:

Starter: Chris Kemoeatu

This is the mystery of the off-season for the Steelers…who is going to fill the void left by Alan Faneca? Many believe it will be four year veteran Chris Kemoeatu. Chris has great strength and is a punishing run blocker, but I question his pass blocking ability along with his ability to pull and lead block. Both are important roles for the Steelers’ Left Guard, whoever he may be.

Backup: Sean Mahan

Mahan was naturally a guard who the Steelers moved to center. Mahan had difficulty with the transition and at this point should only play guard. Whether he is good enough to land a starting job has yet to be seen, but for the moment I have him backing up Chris at Left Guard.

Center:

Starter: Justin Hartwig

Hartwig does have injury concerns, but he was a great center. Carolina cut him because they did not have the cap room to support two good centers and they felt they had more upside with Ryan Kahlil. Hartwig will be a welcome addition to the Steeler’s offensive line craving an anchor at center to not only make room for the power run, but also block for Big Ben.

Backup: Darnell Stapleton

The young center from Rutgers put on a clinic on how to play center during his two year career at Rutgers. He started every game in those two years. In 2006 Rutgers' line only allowed eight sacks and allowed Ray Rice to run 1,794 yards. Stapleton could be a great center for the Steelers, but for now he provides valuable depth at the center position.

Right Guard:

Starter: Kendall Simmons

Simmons has some concerns given his diabetes which may hamper his play. However, he has considerable speed and strength which is always welcome on any offensive line. If he can take care of himself and not let his diabetes hurt him, Kendall could rebound to Super Bowl form.

Backup: Willie Colon

Colon is a good offensive lineman that maybe was not meant to be an OT. Many have considered putting his at the guard spot and he is in contention for the LG starter spot. Colon is good, and has starter caliber potential. If any of the starters minus Hartwig begin to waver, look for Colon to immediately take over.

Right Tackle:

Starter: Max Starks

Starks has games where he just looks lost in pass protection and other times he is able to shut down some of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL. He is either the very best tackle or the very worst. If Starks can bring consistency to his play he will be very valuable to the Steelers. I could also see him taking over at Left Tackle in the event Marvel Smith is unable to play there.

Backup: Tony Hills

Hills was the only offensive line draft pick…something I am not necessarily happy about, but I don’t make the big decisions. Hills will be a great offensive lineman for the Steelers however. He has injury concerns, but his speed and strength will some day prove to be of great use to the Steelers.

I believe that the Steelers will have a stable offensive line next year. The line absolutely has to protect Big Ben. Our $108 million quarterback’s safety has to be priority one. In the past two seasons Ben has been sacked 93 times! That is a ridiculous number made even worse by the fact that Ben has evaded countless other sacks. I will say that sometimes Ben does hold onto the ball too long, but for the most part I saw him with very little time to stand in the pocket. This line needs to pass block and until it does it will always be a problem area. If another year goes by with 40-something sacks an overhaul may be required, which may not be too hard considering that three players on this line have one year contracts.

Mock Draft Review

Miami Dolphins

1. Projected Pick: Jake Long OT Michigan
2. Actual Pick: Jake Long OT Michigan
3. This was a freebee, but it still counts. Jake Long will immediately help the running game and protect whoever Miami’s QB is.

St. Louis Rams

1. Projected Pick: Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia
2. Actual Pick: Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia
3. Long is a very versatile defender that will definitely improve the Rams’ number of sacks and his constant motor will help them against the run. Many inside St. Louis wanted Dorsey, but Long perfectly fits their hybrid 4-3/3-4 system.

Atlanta Falcons

1. Projected Pick: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
2. Actual Pick: Matt Ryan QB Boston College
3. I like Matt Ryan and the Falcons did need a QB, but I still think they could have waited and gotten a good QB later on in the draft. Dorsey would have had great value and filled a pressing need. I like Matt Ryan; he has all of the tangibles of a franchise QB, but I seriously question his decision making ability. 19 interceptions in his senior year worries me.

Oakland Raiders

1. Projected Pick: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State
2. Actual Pick: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas
3. One ESPN analyst said that the Pittsburgh Pirates are as bad as it gets in Baseball and the Oakland Raiders are as bad as it gets in football. When the Raiders have so many problems one would think that any one of those areas would be a good area to draft in. However, Oakland decided that it was necessary to land the dynamic McFadden to improve their top ten running game! One can’t complain really because McFadden will help Oakland, but at what cost?

Kansas City Chiefs

1. Projected Pick: Branden Albert G/OT Virginia
2. Actual Pick: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
3. Kansas City’s D-line would have been it trouble with just Tamba Hali weighing down the end spot. The Chiefs later picked up Albert so I had their first round figured out. They needed a DL and an OL. I had Albert and Harvey, but one can’t argue with the combo of Dorsey and Albert. These two plus Flowers and all of the other rookies Kansas City drafted will go a long way towards rebuilding this team.

New York Jets

1. Projected Pick: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas
2. Actual Pick: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State
3. The Raiders took Run DMC so Gholston makes a lot of sense. He will help the Jets pass-rush considerably.

New Orleans Saints

1. Projected Pick: 10^th Overall Mike Jenkins CB USF
2. Actual Pick: 7^th Overall Sedrick Ellis DT USC
3. If I was able to mock trades this would have been one of them. The Saints most pressing need was DT and they got a great one in Ellis.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Projected Pick: 26^th Overall Calais Campbell DE Miami
2. Actual Pick: 8^th Overall Derrick Harvey DE Florida
3. I had the position right, but I did not see Jacksonville trading all the way up here, but it works out or them. Derrick Harvey is the 3^rd best DE in this draft and will greatly improve Jacksonville’s already fierce D-line.

Cincinnati Bengals

1. Projected Pick: Keith Rivers OLB USC
2. Actual Pick: Keith Rivers OLB USC
3. The Bengals needed a defensive player and Rivers was the best available.

New England Patriots

1. Projected Pick: 7^th Overall Sedrick Ellis DT USC
2. Actual Pick: 10^th Overall Jared Mayo ILB Tennessee
3. I did not think that Belichick’s linebacker corps had room for the young, but I was wrong. Mayo will probably play the interior enabling Adailus Thomas to play the OLB spot he naturally dominates at.

Buffalo Bills

1. Projected Pick: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St.
2. Actual Pick: Leodis Mckelvin CB Troy
3. The Bills needed a large receiver and a corner. I had the position right, but Mckelvin is a better corner right now than DRC and so is the logical choice.

Denver Broncos

1. Projected Pick: Ryan Clady OT Boise State
2. Actual Pick: Ryan Clady OT Boise State
3. Ryan Clady is the perfect zone blocker for Denver’s running game. He will help them return to the running back factory they used to be.

Carolina Panthers

1. Projected Pick: Matt Ryan QB Boston College
2. Actual Pick: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
3. I honestly believe they would have gone after Matt Ryan had he been available anywhere close to them, but looking at where Flacco ended up, Ryan probably would not have gotten past Baltimore. Harvey was also off the board so they chose Stewart. Stewart will provide the Panthers with a power running game. I thought they would go OT here if Ryan was off the board, but Stewart combined with Williams will go a long way towards helping Carolina’s offense.

Chicago Bears

1. Projected Pick: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
2. Actual Pick: Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
3. I had the position right, but player wrong. Williams will help Chicago’s O-line which was my main argument for Otah. Chicago must have liked Williams more.

Kansas City Chiefs

1. Projected Pick: 17^th Overall Derrick Harvey DE Florida
2. Actual Pick: 15^th Overall Branden Albert G/OT Virginia
3. I already addressed Kansas City’s draft earlier.

Arizona Cardinals

1. Projected Pick: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
2. Actual Pick: Dominique Rodgers Cromartie CB Tennessee State
3. I thought that the Cardinals would seek out a spell back for Edge, but they decided to go corner so that they could move Rolle back to safety where he belongs. DRC is an awesome player and will help Arizona’s defense immensely.

Detroit Lions

1. Projected Pick: 15^th Overall Jared Mayo ILB Tennessee
2. Actual Pick: 17^th Gosder Cherilius OT Boston College
3. I don’t know what to think of this pick. The Lions needed OT’s, but they could have used Mendenhall more. The Oline is the most important position on the field and so this is a smart pick. For once Detroit pursued substance over flash…it’s just strange to see that.

Baltimore Ravens

1. Projected Pick: 8^th Overall Leodis Mckelvin CB Troy
2. Actual Pick: 18^th Overall Joe Flacco QB Delaware
3. I have already stated in a previous article why I disagree with Baltimore taking a rookie QB. That being said, Flacco is one of my favorite prospects in this draft and I look for him to do great things in the future.

Carolina Panthers

1. Projected Pick: Philadelphia Eagles Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
2. Actual Pick: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
3. Carolina needed offensive lineman and Otah will help them considerably. He will help the power running game (via their other pick Stewart) and help protect Delhomme. He also will make it possible to move Wharton to the inside. This is a good pick, but considering all they gave to get into the first round again, I wonder if it was all worth it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Projected Pick: Desean Jackson WR Cal
2. Actual Pick: Aqib Talib CB Kansas
3. I thought that Jackson was Gruden’s boy and the hands down first round pick…I was mistaken. Still, Talib is a good pickup and could someday replace Ronde Barber as a starting corner in Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Falcons

1. Projected Pick: Washington Redskins Philip Merling DE Clemson
2. Actual Pick: Sam Baker OT USC
3. I do not like this pick. The Falcons traded a lot to get a second round offensive lineman. Baker is good, but drafting him this early, I feel, was a mistake.

Dallas Cowboys

1. Projected Pick: Felix Jones RB Arkansas
2. Actual Pick: Felix Jones RB Arkansas
3. Dallas needed a speed back to compliment Marion the Barbarian and they got it in Felix Jones.

Pittsburgh Steelers

1. Projected Pick: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
2. Actual Pick: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
3. I liked Stewart’s power and speed, but there is nothing wrong with Mendenhall. He has great power, footwork, and speed. His cutting ability is fierce. He will combine with Willie Parker to make a great running back tandem.

Tennessee Titans

1. Projected Pick: Limas Sweed WR Texas
2. Actual Pick: Chris Johnson RB East Carolina
3. I like Chris Johnson, but he should not have been a first round pick. His speed may be a nice compliment to Lendale White, but I still disagree with him being a first round pick. A WR should have been priority #1 and the Titans had their pick of any of the receivers in the draft.

Dallas Cowboys

1. Projected Pick: James Hardy WR Indiana
2. Actual Pick: Mike Jenkins CB USF
3. Pacman Jones may join the Cowboys but he may not. Jenkins however can return and be a shutdown corner. Jenkins, Pacman, and Newman will make an awesome cornerback crew for the future.

Houston Texans

1. Projected Pick: 18^th Overall Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
2. Actual Pick: 26^th Overall Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech
3. I had the position right, just not the player. This was a big reach for the Texans, but an offensive lineman will help them out considerably.

San Diego Chargers

1. Projected Pick: Gosder Cherilius OT Boston College
2. Actual Pick: Antoine Cason CB Arizona
3. The Chargers had needs at corner with the departure of Florence. Cason and Paul Oliver will combine with Cromartie and Jammer to form a dominant cornerback crew. The Chargers could have gone anywhere with this pick and although I question Cason’s value here, he addresses a need.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Projected Pick: 25^th Overall Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
2. Actual Pick: 28^th Overall Lawrence Jackson DE USC
3. I thought the Seahawks would go interior defensive line, but Jackson can provide some much needed depth at the DE spot.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Projected Pick: Dan Connor ILB Penn State
2. Actual Pick: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
3. The 49ers needed someone on defense and Balmer is who they selected. Balmer had good value here and Connor dropped into the third round. Balmer will probably play end in the 49ers 3-4 Defense.

New York Jets

1. Projected Pick: Green Bay Aqib Talib CB Kansas
2. Actual Pick: Dustin Keller TE Purdue
3. Chris Baker was not that happy about this pick and I question Keller’s first round value. That being said, Keller will be great for the Jets not only as a blocker but as a great receiver. He is comparable to Dallas Clark and if he can make an impact anywhere close to the impact Clark made, he will be valuable to the Jets.

New York Giants

1. Projected Pick: Kenny Philips S Miami
2. Actual Pick: Kenny Philips S Miami
3. The Giants have an aging secondary and Philips will help this often burnt defense improve

This draft was filled with trades and trades always destroy mock drafts. I also had a lot of positions right, just not the player. I had 12 positions right, but only 7 players matched up. It is an improvement from last year, but I suffer because I did not bow down to conventionality. I still stand by my opinions that the Raider's did not need Darren McFadden, the Falcons did not need Matt Ryan with the third overall, and the Ravens did not need a rookie QB. It is fine though. Same thing happened in last year's mock when I had the Raiders picking Calvin Johnson 1st overall because I knew they would sign Culpepper. Oh well. I had fun doing these mock drafts and I thank you for viewing them. Thank you and so concludes my 2008 mock drafting.

Final Draft of My Mock Draft

1. Miami Dolphins: Jake Long OT Michigan

Jake Long is already signed. Thanks for the freebee Miami.

2. St. Louis Rams: Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia

The Rams are looking for players that can run in their hybrid 4-3/3-4 defense and Long is just that person. Long has shown that he can succeed as a 3-4 DE and still pass-rush. That type of talent is rare. Long could play OLB or DE in a 3-4 or a DE in a 4-3. He is a pass-rushing expert that will improve on Leonard Little’s 1 sack and he has a constant motor that will drastically improve the Rams atrocious run defense.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU

There is nothing exciting about drafting a DT with the 3^rd overall, but Dorsey is a great DT. He didn’t make much in the way of big plays in the National Championship, but he definitely opened up many holes for others to make plays. Dorsey can be a fundamental part of Atlanta’s defense for a long time to come.

4. Oakland Raiders: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State

Al Davis loves dynamic players and Gholston destroyed every workout he came up against. He is as strong a Jake Long and can jump higher than most corners. With Kelly in the middle and Gholston opposite Burgess, Oakland would actually have stability along a part of their team.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Albert G/OT Virginia

This has been a tough decision between Albert and Clady. Albert is versatile and a nasty run blocker, meanwhile Clady is a solid prospect at tackle who could immediately start at left tackle. However, I go with Albert’s versatility winning out.

6. New York Jets: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas

The Jets have a solid run-blocking O-line, a young QB, and a talented tandem back in Thomas Jones. The no-brainer pick is McFadden. His dynamic speed and vision can make an immediate impact on the Jets offense and help them stay competitive with the Pats…at least offensively.

7. New England Patriots: Sedrick Ellis DT USC

This is a difficult pick for me to swallow. The New England 3-4 is no place for young linebackers, so I rule Keith Rivers out. Corner could be a need, but free agent signings and a deep CB class make it a non-priority. A trade will probably occur here which will kill my mock draft, but if no trade happens, then Ellis seems to be the choice. The Pats have one of the better lines in the league, they should not be judged on how they performed in one game. Meanwhile Ellis can help a d-line that may be losing a lot of people in 2009. Ellis seems to be a very smart pick.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Leodis McKelvin CB Troy

Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle are both getting up there and are often injured. Pittsburgh and Cleveland will be opening up their offenses considerably making three good cornerbacks a necessity. McKelvin can make an immediate impact in Baltimore and can bring a future to this fearsome defensive unit. Matt Ryan may be taken, but I feel that is a horrible idea given that they already have two young QB’s, why add a third with the 8^th overall pick?

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Keith Rivers OLB USC

The Bengals desperately need linebackers. Johnson left and even though Odell Thurman is returning, the rest of the linebacker corps is lackluster. Rivers could bring character, leadership, and talent to a decrepit defense. Derrick Harvey is also a possibility with the departure of Justin Smith, but look for Rivers to be the pick.

10. New Orleans Saints: Mike Jenkins CB USF

Quite frankly I think DRC is the more talented corner, but the Saints reportedly really like what Mike Jenkins brings to the table. He can help a corner group that looked lost and befuddled. However, they did sign Gay and drafted Young so corner may be a non-priority. However, no DT is rated high enough here so the Saints draft an eventual replacement for McKenzie.

11. Buffalo Bills: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State

Buffalo has said it really would like a big WR, but there isn’t one with value here. They could trade down if they wanted or reach for Devin Thomas, but DRC has much better value at this pick. Considering how badly the Patriots devastated the Bills last year, a corner may be a good investment especially one as dynamic as DRC.

12. Denver Broncos: Ryan Clady OT Boise State

Liepsis has retired and while Harris may be able to play the position, Clady can play it better. Clady fits perfectly with the running scheme in Denver and he will return them to their 1,000 yard RB factory form soon enough.

13. Carolina Panthers: Matt Ryan QB Boston College

Carolina apparently loves Matt Ryan. They are currently considering trading up if he falls far enough. It makes sense for the Panthers to draft a QB here because if they wait until second round a good QB probably will not be available. Ryan can come in and either learn from Delhomme or if Delhomme gets hurt again come in and immediately play. Ryan could help solidify the QB position for the Panthers considerably.

14. Chicago Bears: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh

The Bears may want a half-back here, but a running back is useless if he does not have an offensive line to block for him. For that matter so is a QB. So, before the Bears try and add talent to the Offense, they should try and add to the foundation with Otah.

15. Detriot Lions: Jerod Mayo ILB Tennessee

Mayo is a new pick for my mock and I begrudgingly put him here (Dan Connor is the Man). The Lions really like Mayo. Harvey is a distinct possibility here as well, but Marinelli wants a solid draft and Mayo is just that, solid. Mendenhall is also a possibility, but the Lions may just be tired of drafting offensive players in the first. They can get a good running back in the second round, resign Kevin Jones, or sign Shaun Alexander if they want a running back.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois

Edge rushed 1,222 yard last year and that’s great. Behind him in Arizona was J.J. Arrington with 78 yards and that is unfortunate. Mendenhall can come in and make a considerable impact and take the heat off of Edge. Mendenhall can also be yet another young, dynamic offensive player that could help make Arizona a young, fierce offense.

17. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Harvey DE Florida

Patience pays off for Kansas City. With the 5^th overall they get their O-lineman and with this pick the Chiefs get Derrick Harvey. A lot of people project him to go higher than this, but if everything works out Kansas City can draft Jared Allen’s replacement here.

18. Houston Texans: Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt

Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle said it better than I could ever say it: “If Vanderbilt left tackle Chris Williams falls to No. 18 and the Texans don't take him, then fans should riot at Reliant Stadium. Everybody in the organization should be buried alive. And after Smith is buried alive, he should NEVER WORK AGAIN IN THE NFL!”

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Thomas WR Michigan State

Donovan Mcnabb has played brilliantly before. I know that Mcnabb is one of the best in the NFL. All he needs is a big receiver like TO to propel Mcnabb back into his former elite QB status. Devin Thomas can be that receiver. He can also help in the return game and be a pressure valve for Mcnabb when he is under pressure, reducing sacks and helping the durability of Mcnabb.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desean Jackson WR Cal

Jackson is Gruden’s boy. He can make an immediate impact on special teams and be a dynamic receiver with homerun capability every time he is on the field.

21. Washington Redskins: Philip Merling DE Clemson

The Skins sent a rather large contingent to visit Merling and they liked what they saw. Merling could help the pass-rush in Washington considerably. WR may be considered here, but the Skins will wait and draft a receiver later, or hold out for Chad Johnson.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones RB Arkansas

The Cowboys need a WR and RB. The Cowboys also feel they need to win now and so they will look for players who can make an immediate impact. Felix Jones is not only the speedy RB that can compliment Marion the Barbarian, but he also is not hurt like Stewart. Sweed or Kelly could also be looked at here, but Dallas goes for Felix Jones here.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon

I cannot believe I am making this pick! For two years I have been begging for Offensive Linemen and Cherilus is available! I would be ecstatic with that pick given the transition nature of Starks’ contract. However, Marvel Smith, Willie Colon, Trai Essex, and Max Starks make a full-house at tackle. I would like to see them grab Schuening from Oregon State or Rachal from USC in the second round. However, in this round Stewart has a rare combination of speed and power that could be immeasurably valuable to Pittsburgh. So many times we were unable to run out the clock and lost games. Stewart could bring back the smash mouth element of running to Pittsburgh as well as take some pressure off of Willie Parker.

24. Tennessee Titans: Limas Sweed WR Texas

Why not reunite Vince Young with a former target especially when the Titans have very little talent at WR. Sweed can bring Young back to National Championship form.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina

Kerney dominated with a lackluster DT crew. Add Balmer and Kerney could reach whole new levels previously unreached by normal men. Seattle could also go for the size that Hardy brings to the table, but at the end of the day, Balmer will help make a fearsome defensive unit better all around.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Calais Campbell DE Miami

Jacksonville needs help along the D-line and Campbell is the best D-lineman available.

27. San Diego Chargers: Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College

Cherilus fills the biggest need San Diego has in the wake of Shane Olivea’s departure. Safety and Corner may also be looked at, but Paul Oliver from UGA takes care of the corner problem and Cherilus fills the greater need.

28. Dallas Cowboys: James Hardy WR Indiana

The Cowboys need a WR and RB. The Cowboys also feel they need to win now and so they will look for players who can make an immediate impact. Hardy had three very productive years in which he broke about every receiving record Indiana ever had. He could also benefit under the tutelage of TO a receiver of the same build.

29. San Francisco: Dan Connor LB Penn State

Dan Connor is believed by some to be a better prospect than Posluszny was and if that is true, the 49ers would be crazy not to draft him and have Connor fill the void left by Derek Smith. Willis and Connor roaming the middle could destroy offenses for years to come.

30. Green Bay: Aqib Talib CB Kansas

If not for the Pot-Smoking, Talib would have been long gone, but Green Bay will be happy to get this steal and bring youth and a future to their secondary.

31. New York Giants: Kenny Phillips S Miami

Steve Spagnuolo really likes Phillips and his presence could help alleviate an oft burned secondary. Phillips could help the Giants Defense remain tough and improve it at the same time.

Alright, well this is it. My best in mock drafting is six right, my worst is two. Thanks to Miami I am half way towards tying my worst. We'll see. There are always a lot of trade rumors and trades screw up my mock draft. Oh, well though. C'est la vie! I score myself by player and team, not number taken in the draft. For example, if the Panthers make a move up for Matt Ryan, it still counts that I got it right. Trades are too difficult to predict so this is the consolation I have.