Mocking the NFL's second round

 

The Down and Dirty version...

33) New England: Jabaal Sheard, OLB, Pittsbugh - Sure, the Pats could deal again, but they truly need a pass rusher and a few are still here

34) Buffalo: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU - Him or Colin Kaepernick. Dalton is the safer, steadier option.

35) Cincinnati: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas - When has a player's negative off-the-field rep scared away the Bengals?

36) Denver: Marvin Austin, DT, UNC - After passing on Dareus in the first, Broncos must address defensive tackle spot in round two.

37) Cleveland: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson - Injuries sent the sack master's draft stock plummeting, but Browns have extra second rounder to chance it.

38) Arizona: Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona - Cardinals go with the local kid for outside pass rush pressure

39) Tennessee: Justin Houston, DE, Georgia - Reported failed drug test likely knocked Houston out of round one and into Titans waiting arms.

40) Dallas: Aaron Williams, DB, Texas - Cowboys secondary was picked on last year. Help is coming, whether Williams eventually is a corner or safety

41)  Washington: Colin Kaerpernick, QB, Nevada - Now with an extra second round pick, Mike Shanahan can take his QB of the future here, though a defensive lineman like Stephen Paea serves more immediate need.

42) Houston: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami - Dead last in pass defense, Texans get help in a 5-foot-9 package.

43) Minnesota, Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State - Williams Wall starting to crumble, powerful Paea would solidify defensive line.

44) Detroit: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia - Secondary weakest link in Lions improving defense and UVA stud is last of quality corner options

45) San Francisco: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland - Not Niners top need, but the blazing receiver fills in role opposite Michael Crabtree.

46) Denver: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA - Secondary or right tackle makes sense here for Broncos, but Moore only true viable safety option in the draft

47) St. Louis: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame: Rams must give Sam Bradford better receiving option and Rudolph is great value this far down.

48) Oakland: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA: Ayers had first round grade for many, but lack of off-the-charts athleticism knocks him down

49) Washington: Rodney Hudson, G/C, Florida State: A four-year starter at FSU, Hudson was the Seminoles offensive MVP last season and is a strong fit for the Redskins zone blocking schemes. Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams is another option.

50) San Diego: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami - Chargers like their big receivers and could lose Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd in free agency.

51) Tampa Bay: Bruce Carter, OLB, UNC: Could corner considering Aqib Talib's legal issues, but Carter best value and linebacker sincere need

52) NY Giants: Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida: Offensive line is aging across the board and the massive Gilbert started 27 games for Gators the last two seasons

53) Indianapolis: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech - Joseph Addai's skills are eroding and Donald Brown's never materialized. 

54) Philadelphia: Mason Foster, OLB, Washington - Eagles would be wise to take a second offensive lineman, but Foster will be a strong open-field tackler for their defense.

55) Kansas City: Kenrick Ellis, NT, Hampton - Chiefs were thought to be hot and heavy for Phil Taylor in round one, but get their nose tacke here.

56) New England: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois - Patriots have solid, but not true lead backs.

57) Seattle: Jurrell Casey, DT, USC -  Pete Carroll knows what the defensive lineman sleeper is all about.

58) Baltimore: Titus Young, WR, Boise State -  Ravens must add speed to aging unit and Young does that in spades.

59) Cleveland: Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky - Nobody is scared of the Browns current receiving options, other than the quarterbacks that have to throw their way.

60) New England: Ben Ijalana, G/T, Villanova - Patriots could lose 2-3 starters along offensive line.

61) San Diego: Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois - The inside linebcker posted 112 tackles one season after neck surgery, would be a steal this late.

62) Chicago: William Rackley, G, Lehigh - Another big body to help protect Jay Cutler and his, um, injured knee.

63) Pittsburgh: Johnny Patrick, CB. Louisville - Steelers secondary had no chance against Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl. Taking a guard like Georgia's Clint Boling also in play.

64) Green Bay: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami: Protection in case Cullen Jenkins leaves via free agency.

Why mockers sending Locker to Redskins makes me bonkers

Whether it's my pal Evan Silva from Rotoworld, Russ Lande from the Sporting News or other national writers, it seems just about everyone is Locker-ing in on the Washington Redskins selecting the University of Washington quarterback in the first round.

As a lifelong fan of the Burgundy and Gold, allow me to use a quote from my grandmother to sum up what is either a growing factual consensus or a herd mentality: Oy Vey.

For the moment, let's put aside the fact that Redskins don't have a single area on offense they can hang their hat on (if you want to count tight end with Chris Cooley and Fred David, go for it). Let's look past their 31st ranked defense and that they are currently without picks in rounds three and four to help address their needs.

Instead, let's start with the first sentence Evan writes about Jake Locker. It reminds me of what draft-niks thought of another Pac 10 quarterback a few years back.

- Silva, on Locker: "Statistically, Locker grades out as an undrafted free agent with a 53.9 career completion rate, 15-25 record, and 6.65 yards-per-attempt average."

How can that line of thinking be equated with a player projected in the top-10?

(To be clear, not at all picking on Evan's take. The point of a mock draft is too simply do project what the NFL teams will do, not necessarily the path the author would take.

Now, here's the comparison to a previous first round QB.

-Pro Football Weekly, circa 2003. "Had poor stats on a poor team for his first three years, never completing 50 percent of his passes... Played for different offensive coordinators at Cal, but in '02 got to play for a new head coach, Jeff Tedford… putting him in a truly QB-friendly offense that generally required him to read only half the field. The result was Boller completed 225-421-2,815-28-10 (53.4 percent) and Cal had a winning season… Good size, speed and outstanding athletic ability for the position.

The mystery quarterback, Kyle Boller. Yes, scared me too.

The similarities to the Ravens bust are a little to close for my liking, even if some say Locker's accuracy issues are overblown.

Here's one more take on Locker, that quotes Scout's Inc. Matt Williamson. He's talking about rumors the local kid could get selected by the Seahawks.

- "He went to school in that area. It is easy to say that is a good fit, but I think Seattle is going more and more to a pure West Coast offense, and Locker doesn't fit the West Coast offense at all."

The Seahawks may not run an exact replica of the offensive scheme found in the page's of Mike Shanahan's playbook, but it's in the same general family.

Now back to Silva and the second line of his commentary: "Athletically, Locker is a picturesque fit for the Shanahans' scheme, which relies heavily on its quarterback making throws outside the pocket."

Williamson takes that aspect a step further - and also sounding a bit like he's describing the mobile passer who started 13 games in Washington last season):

- "Locker is pretty accurate outside the pocket," Williamson said, "but as far as going 1-2-3 and getting it out, having good footwork, hitting a guy in stride, he is terrible."

For more foreboding talk about Locker's pocket presence, check out NFL Films' Greg Cosell, here, here and here.

Most agree that Locker is going somewhere in round one and certain television analysts that love everyone really love Locker. So for some, taking a shot on a guy who a year ago may have been the overall number one pick is reasonable. But not for this team.

Santana Moss is a free agent and iffy at best to return. Ryan Torain is the top running back and he makes Austin Collie seem durable by comparison. The offensive line has one true building block (Trent Williams) and he's entering his second season. And the defense, well, let's just say that for all the hangups over Albert Haynesworth's attitude, this unit statistically was better with him.

Yeah, sounds like a great environment for a young passer to thrive in, right David Carr?

As for the other QB options, unless the eventual resolution to the ongoing labor situation leads to the Redskins being forced to keep Donovan McNabb, they won't. That leaves Rex.

Now, I know Grossman is a great punching bag for all the wanna-be comics out there, but he's fine for this team for this year. He has a decent arm, he can put up points. Sure he makes loads of mistakes, but he also gives the Redskins a puncher's chance, but more importantly Grossman can hold the fort while they put other much needed pieces in place.

It's ok to lose if there is a plan in place to get better, unlike what the last decade has wrought.

So where would I get a QB to groom? For now, look in the later rounds, but remember there is always next season. Right now, the focus should be on the offensive line and the defensive front-7.

Simply put, it seems like the Redskins drafting a not-so accurate quarterback at No. 10 is an awfully big risk with so many other needs available to address. Just a circa 2003 Ravens fan.

Getting on the record for the NFL fantasy season

We all have talked and talked about who would like, our sleepers and guys we want to avoid like the plague. This is me getting on the record about which guys - even the studs - will meet or exceed expectations followed by those I do not think will ultimately live up to their ADP, hype or simply were not my bag. (Commentary to follow shortly)

Top Tier

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Schaub, Tom Brady

RB: Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall

WR: Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Roddy White, Miles Austin, Greg Jennings

TE: Jermichael Finley

K: Stephen Gostkowski

Def: Green Bay, San Francisco

Next Level

QB: Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford

RB: Jahvid Best, Matt Forte,Jonathan Stewart

WR: Hakeem Nicks, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace

TE: Chris Cooley, Zach Miller

K: David Buehler

Def: Arizona

Even Deeper and then some

QB: Chad Henne, David Garrard

RB: Michael Bush, Ahmad Bradhaw, Tim Hightower, Tashard Choice, Mike Bell, Larry Johnson, Peyton Hills, Darren McFadden*

WR: James Jones, Mike Thomas*, Julian Edelman, Eric Decker

TE: Tony Scheffler, Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez

Top Tier eh's or stay aways

QB: Peyton Manning - He's a stud clearly, but since he hasn't been on any of my fantasy teams for years (for no particular reason) and the weakness of Colts o-line makes me nervous, I stayed away.

RB: Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, Cedric Benson

WR: Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, Chad Ochocinco

TE Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis

K: Robbie Gould

Def: Philadelphia

Next Level

QB: Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer

RB: LeSean McCoy, Clinton Portis, Felix Jones

WR: Mike Sims-Walker, Hines Ward, Donald Driver, Jets WRs

TE: Owen Daniels, John Carlson

*McFadden and M. Thomas were on the original list, but accidentally omitted from this page.

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