The Pittsburgh Steelers went into the 2009 NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl Champions. They finished out of the playoffs, and head into the offseason with plenty of questions.
Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for a 5th Round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Too many off the field problems and a looming 4 game suspension led to the trade of Holmes. Then the big bombshell hit. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was levied with a six game suspension for his off the field indiscretions. The Steelers head into the 2010 NFL season with a lot of questions and still looking for the answers.
The offensive line has been a problem for years, and with their first round selection the Steelers picked Maurkice Pouncey, a center from Florida. Pouncey is a mauler in the middle of the line. He will be looked upon to play guard at first then move to his natural position.
Emmanuel Sanders, a wide receiver from SMU, will be looked upon to help fill the void left by the trading of Holmes. But the draft for the Steelers was heavy on defensive ends and linebackers. The second round brought Jason Worilds from Virginia Tech. The Steelers are strongest at the linebacker position, and many of their draft picks will be looked upon to help on special teams, a unit which gave up way too many touchdowns in the 2009 season.
A late round sleeper looks to be Jonathon Dwyer,a running back from Georgia Tech. Dywer is a physical, pound it between the tackles runner who can help fill the void left by the free agent departure of Willie Parker and back up Rashard Mendenhall.
Draft Grade: C+
Friday, April 30, 2010
Draft Grades: Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles went into the 2010 NFL Draft for the first time since 1999 without Donovan McNabb as their quarterback. The face of the franchise was dealt to the Washington Redskins, and the reins have been turned over to Kevin Kolb, who has a total of 2 starts in his three year career.
Much like the New England Patriots, Philadelphia makes a lot of trades before and during the draft, and they moved up from #24 to #13 to select Brandon Graham, a defensive end from Michigan. Graham should provide the Eagles with a solid pass rush, and he plays with a high motor from start to finish. Philadelphia then went looking to fill the void left by the departure of Brian Dawkins the previous season and picked Nate Allen, a safety from South Florida. The offense was not a target of the draft until Round 4, when the Eagles picked Mike Kafka, a quarterback from Northwestern. They then selected Clay Harbor, a tight end from Missouri State, and Riley Cooper, a wide receiver from Florida, who should assist Kolb in transitioning to the starting quarterback position and the new face of the Eagles franchise.
A sleeper pick from the later rounds looks to be Ricky Sapp, a linebacker with exceptional speed who can be used in blitz packages, which has been a staple of the Eagles defense.
Draft Grade: B+
Much like the New England Patriots, Philadelphia makes a lot of trades before and during the draft, and they moved up from #24 to #13 to select Brandon Graham, a defensive end from Michigan. Graham should provide the Eagles with a solid pass rush, and he plays with a high motor from start to finish. Philadelphia then went looking to fill the void left by the departure of Brian Dawkins the previous season and picked Nate Allen, a safety from South Florida. The offense was not a target of the draft until Round 4, when the Eagles picked Mike Kafka, a quarterback from Northwestern. They then selected Clay Harbor, a tight end from Missouri State, and Riley Cooper, a wide receiver from Florida, who should assist Kolb in transitioning to the starting quarterback position and the new face of the Eagles franchise.
A sleeper pick from the later rounds looks to be Ricky Sapp, a linebacker with exceptional speed who can be used in blitz packages, which has been a staple of the Eagles defense.
Draft Grade: B+
Draft Grades: Oakland Raiders
To say that the Oakland Raiders have fallen on hard times is putting it mildly. Since appearing in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season the Raiders have lost at least 11 games in every season. Their lack of success on the field has been reflected in a series of bad picks at the top of the NFL Draft. But in 2010 the Raiders seemed to make all the right picks and left with potentially one of the best draft classes in 2010.
The 8th overall selection was used on Rolando McClain, who was far and away the best linebacker in the draft. He should be a force in the middle of the defense for years to come. The second round selection brought Lamarr Houston, a defensive tackle from Texas.
The next two picks were used for a pair of offensive tackles that have all the physical tools and then some, but who need more experience. Jared Veldeer comes from Hillsdale college, and Bruce Campbell, the Workout Wonder from the NFL Combine, comes in with only a handful of starts at the University of Maryland. Both tackles are in the area of 6'7 and 320 pounds. If they develop then the Raiders have a pair of giant sized bookends on the offensive line.
A late round sleeper could very be an Al Davis selection special, Jacoby Ford. A receiver from Clemson, he posted the fastest 40 times at the Combine. The Raiders are hoping he can hold on to the ball, something their first round selection in 2009, Darrius Heyward-Bey, did not do much of in his rookie season.
The 8th overall selection was used on Rolando McClain, who was far and away the best linebacker in the draft. He should be a force in the middle of the defense for years to come. The second round selection brought Lamarr Houston, a defensive tackle from Texas.
The next two picks were used for a pair of offensive tackles that have all the physical tools and then some, but who need more experience. Jared Veldeer comes from Hillsdale college, and Bruce Campbell, the Workout Wonder from the NFL Combine, comes in with only a handful of starts at the University of Maryland. Both tackles are in the area of 6'7 and 320 pounds. If they develop then the Raiders have a pair of giant sized bookends on the offensive line.
A late round sleeper could very be an Al Davis selection special, Jacoby Ford. A receiver from Clemson, he posted the fastest 40 times at the Combine. The Raiders are hoping he can hold on to the ball, something their first round selection in 2009, Darrius Heyward-Bey, did not do much of in his rookie season.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Draft Grades: New York Jets
The New York Jets were the surprise team of the NFL in 2009. With a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez, they finished with a 9-7 record and a wild card appearance. They then went on the road and won at Cincinnati and San Diego before falling to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. They were active in the offseason, acquiring LaDanian Tomlinson, , Jason Taylor, Antonio Cromartie, and Santonio Holmes. The Jets look to be ready for another run through the playoffs.
The first round selection of the Jets was Kyle Wilson, considered by many to be either the first or second best corner of the 2010 NFL Draft. Wilson will be the third corner, and that was where the Colts attacked them in the playoffs.
The drafting of Vladimir Ducasse signaled the end of Alan Faneca with the Jets, and Ducasse looks to be able to step in right away at guard. Ducasse has the tools and physical skills, but coming from UMass and playing against lesser competition may hinder him at the start.
A late round sleeper looks to be Joe McKnight. The Jets traded Leon Washington, and McKnight is an open field playmaker who can have an impact on third down and passing situations.
Draft Grade: C+
The first round selection of the Jets was Kyle Wilson, considered by many to be either the first or second best corner of the 2010 NFL Draft. Wilson will be the third corner, and that was where the Colts attacked them in the playoffs.
The drafting of Vladimir Ducasse signaled the end of Alan Faneca with the Jets, and Ducasse looks to be able to step in right away at guard. Ducasse has the tools and physical skills, but coming from UMass and playing against lesser competition may hinder him at the start.
A late round sleeper looks to be Joe McKnight. The Jets traded Leon Washington, and McKnight is an open field playmaker who can have an impact on third down and passing situations.
Draft Grade: C+
Draft Grades: New York Giants
The hallmark of the New York Giants has been defense. In 2009, the defense fell apart and ranked near the worst in the league. A 5-0 start was wasted and the Giants were left looking in when the playoffs came around.
The pass rush was addressed with the selection of Jason Pierre-Paul, the defensive end out of South Florida. His athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Jevon Kearse, but he is far from a finished product and will need work. The interior of the defensive line was the focus in the second round, as the Giants picked Linval Joseph, a big run stuffer at defensive tackle.
The only offensive player selected was Nick Petrus, a guard with the athletic ability to move across the line and get downfield to block.
Chad Jones, a safety out of LSU, was taken in the third round, and he is also a valued special teams player. A late round sleeper can be found in Phillip Dillard, a linebacker out of Nebraska. His role was limited in college, but he has the chance to blossom with the Giants.
Draft Grade: B-
The pass rush was addressed with the selection of Jason Pierre-Paul, the defensive end out of South Florida. His athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Jevon Kearse, but he is far from a finished product and will need work. The interior of the defensive line was the focus in the second round, as the Giants picked Linval Joseph, a big run stuffer at defensive tackle.
The only offensive player selected was Nick Petrus, a guard with the athletic ability to move across the line and get downfield to block.
Chad Jones, a safety out of LSU, was taken in the third round, and he is also a valued special teams player. A late round sleeper can be found in Phillip Dillard, a linebacker out of Nebraska. His role was limited in college, but he has the chance to blossom with the Giants.
Draft Grade: B-
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Draft Grades: New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints capped their 2009 season with the first Super Bowl title in team history. But even with their success the Saints needed to fill some holes that opened up with free agency, and while many of them were not addressed the Saints still had a good draft.
The Saints have not made a decision to re-sign Darren Sharper, and with their first round selection they picked Patrick Robinson, a cornerback out of Florida State. If they play Robinson at corner, which they are deep at, they may move Malcolm Jenkins to the safety position formerly occupied by Sharper.
The Saints are also strong at the offensive tackle position, but Charles Brown was too good of a selection to pass up at the end of the second round. The third round brought Jimmy Graham, a tight end out of Miami who was a basketball player before moving to the gridiron. Jeremy Shockey should be able to mentor his fellow Hurricane at the position and help with his development.
A sleeper pick looks to be Al Woods, a defensive tackle from LSU. A weakness for the Saints on defense was their ability to stop the run, and Woods should help correct that situation.
Draft Grade: B
The Saints have not made a decision to re-sign Darren Sharper, and with their first round selection they picked Patrick Robinson, a cornerback out of Florida State. If they play Robinson at corner, which they are deep at, they may move Malcolm Jenkins to the safety position formerly occupied by Sharper.
The Saints are also strong at the offensive tackle position, but Charles Brown was too good of a selection to pass up at the end of the second round. The third round brought Jimmy Graham, a tight end out of Miami who was a basketball player before moving to the gridiron. Jeremy Shockey should be able to mentor his fellow Hurricane at the position and help with his development.
A sleeper pick looks to be Al Woods, a defensive tackle from LSU. A weakness for the Saints on defense was their ability to stop the run, and Woods should help correct that situation.
Draft Grade: B
Draft Grades: New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are becoming the favorite every year to make the most trades and wind up with the most draft picks. 2010 is no different. The Patriots wound up with 13 draft picks, and with an aging team they may be looking for an infusion of youth to help get them back on top.
Devin McCourtey should step into the secondary and help shore up the pass defense with solid man to man cover skills. He also provides depth in the return game. Second round selection Rob Gronkowski was considered the best blocking tight end in the draft, and he is also a solid pass catcher. Many believe the Patriots will be returning to a more physical attack on offense, and Gronkowski will help open holes in the blocking game and provide Tom Brady with a big target over the middle.
New England then tapped the University of Florida for 3 of of their next 4 picks, taking linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes, as well as tight end Aaron Hernandez. Cunningham should play on the outside, and Spikes will man the middle. Many were surprised that Hernandez fell to the 4th round, but he revelation that he failed at least one drug test in college explains why he fell as far as he did.
A sleeper pick looks to be punter Zoltan Mesko. The Patriots are looking for a new punter, and Mesko has the big leg to pin opponents back deep in their own territory.
Draft Grade: A-
Devin McCourtey should step into the secondary and help shore up the pass defense with solid man to man cover skills. He also provides depth in the return game. Second round selection Rob Gronkowski was considered the best blocking tight end in the draft, and he is also a solid pass catcher. Many believe the Patriots will be returning to a more physical attack on offense, and Gronkowski will help open holes in the blocking game and provide Tom Brady with a big target over the middle.
New England then tapped the University of Florida for 3 of of their next 4 picks, taking linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes, as well as tight end Aaron Hernandez. Cunningham should play on the outside, and Spikes will man the middle. Many were surprised that Hernandez fell to the 4th round, but he revelation that he failed at least one drug test in college explains why he fell as far as he did.
A sleeper pick looks to be punter Zoltan Mesko. The Patriots are looking for a new punter, and Mesko has the big leg to pin opponents back deep in their own territory.
Draft Grade: A-
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