chinawildman
Footballguy
You see a few picks every year.... the picks where we scratch our heads and wonder why the teams did that. Hopefully it will go something like this:
1) CAR - With a new regime, the panthers will take either Gabbert or Newton. Clausen's presence is a non-factor. CAR's run D was actually top 10 last yr in YPC allowed, considering how much they were on the field that's not bad at all. They've got a good RB and a decent mix of aging and young up and coming WRs. With the owner's distaste for drama queen athletes this pick will almost certainly be Blaine Gabbert.
2) DEN - It's essentially a lock that the broncos are going defense with this pick. I've seen Miller and Peterson mocked to them, but that makes no sense with Bailey and Dumervil coming back. Bowers was almost a certainty here until the medical reports. Denver's swiss cheese run defense had to be hard for fans to stomach, and they will welcome Marcell Dareus with open arms, though I would not be surprised to see Nick Fairley here.
3) BUF - The Bills are in a great spot. They have their choice of elite prospects in Newton, Peterson, and Miller. Buffalo's pass defense actually wasn't too shabby (though it may have been because their atrocious run defense). Neither Miller or Peterson will do much for their run D and I get the feeling the Bills are just blowing smoke about Newton. Ideally they would like to trade down and plug more holes, but in this scenario we have a mini-suprise when they take Nick Fairley to anchor their new 4-3.
4) CIN - The Bengals are in complete disarray on offense. They could potentially (and likely) be without their starting QB, RB, and WRs. Miller and Peterson again are options but the Bengals D actually isn't too bad and they already have Dunlap and Joseph. With the ghosts of Akili Smiths past looming, the Bengals shy away from Cam Newton and go with the safer bet in AJ Green and hope Carson changes his mind.
5) ARI - Ken Whisenhunt needs to win NOW, so I doubt the cards have the patience to watch Newton develop. Every mock I've seen this is where Von Miller gets taken, if not higher, but I just don't see a player like Patrick Peterson dropping any further. The cards' pass D was bad last year after the departure of Antrell Rolle. Even if Peterson doesn't work out at corner, he will make a menacing safety a la Sean Taylor (RIP) who was also drafted 5th overall.
6) CLE - Rarely have I seen Von Miller fall out of the top 5 in any recent mock. But he's a perfect fit in cleveland. They have a good young corner in Haden, but the front seven scares no one. They will briefly consider Julio Jones here, but in the AFC north defense wins championships. Holmgren wastes no time in choosing who he hopes will be the next Derrick Thomas.
7) SF - The niners are in a bit of a pickle because all the top defenders are gone and although Newton's available, the management has shown little interest thus far. Most mocks have them settling for Amukamara or Quinn in this situation, but I'm going a different route. The niners D is no slouch, and fans in the bay area have been starved by good offense for almost a decade now. Not sold on Crabtree as a game changing receiver, the niners attempt to reincarnate TO in the form of Julio Jones who personifies Harbaugh's tough physical mantra.
8) TEN - Bud Adams probably can't wait to get the taste of the whole Fisher/Young fiasco out of his mouth. What better way than to pick a new QB w/ tremendous upside for your new coach in Cam Newton? Many people seem to think the Titans will shy away from Newton after the Young debacle. I think just the opposite, the Titans have seen how a raw rookie with natural ability can win them games, and hope Newton can do what Young did for them without the headaches.
9) DAL - The cowboys have the most overall talent of all teams picking in the top 10. Everyone seems to think Dallas will reach for a tackle here because Romo got knocked da f--- out. I live in Texas and have endured my share of Cowboys games and I have to say, their biggest area of need is secondary. Newman is getting old, and Jenkins was playing flag football the entire season. Jerry will be pleased when he sees Prince Amukamara available to them at 9.
10) WAS - The skins are pretty devoid of talent on offense and faced with a situation not unlike that of the Bengals. Unfortunately, the top shelf talent on offense has run dry. Some mocks have Ingram penciled in here, but that is very un-shanahan-like to take a RB so high. After last season's shellacking by the Eagles, I see Dan Snyder going defense and gambling on a guy who could turn out to be the best player from this draft in Robert Quinn.
1) CAR - With a new regime, the panthers will take either Gabbert or Newton. Clausen's presence is a non-factor. CAR's run D was actually top 10 last yr in YPC allowed, considering how much they were on the field that's not bad at all. They've got a good RB and a decent mix of aging and young up and coming WRs. With the owner's distaste for drama queen athletes this pick will almost certainly be Blaine Gabbert.
2) DEN - It's essentially a lock that the broncos are going defense with this pick. I've seen Miller and Peterson mocked to them, but that makes no sense with Bailey and Dumervil coming back. Bowers was almost a certainty here until the medical reports. Denver's swiss cheese run defense had to be hard for fans to stomach, and they will welcome Marcell Dareus with open arms, though I would not be surprised to see Nick Fairley here.
3) BUF - The Bills are in a great spot. They have their choice of elite prospects in Newton, Peterson, and Miller. Buffalo's pass defense actually wasn't too shabby (though it may have been because their atrocious run defense). Neither Miller or Peterson will do much for their run D and I get the feeling the Bills are just blowing smoke about Newton. Ideally they would like to trade down and plug more holes, but in this scenario we have a mini-suprise when they take Nick Fairley to anchor their new 4-3.
4) CIN - The Bengals are in complete disarray on offense. They could potentially (and likely) be without their starting QB, RB, and WRs. Miller and Peterson again are options but the Bengals D actually isn't too bad and they already have Dunlap and Joseph. With the ghosts of Akili Smiths past looming, the Bengals shy away from Cam Newton and go with the safer bet in AJ Green and hope Carson changes his mind.
5) ARI - Ken Whisenhunt needs to win NOW, so I doubt the cards have the patience to watch Newton develop. Every mock I've seen this is where Von Miller gets taken, if not higher, but I just don't see a player like Patrick Peterson dropping any further. The cards' pass D was bad last year after the departure of Antrell Rolle. Even if Peterson doesn't work out at corner, he will make a menacing safety a la Sean Taylor (RIP) who was also drafted 5th overall.
6) CLE - Rarely have I seen Von Miller fall out of the top 5 in any recent mock. But he's a perfect fit in cleveland. They have a good young corner in Haden, but the front seven scares no one. They will briefly consider Julio Jones here, but in the AFC north defense wins championships. Holmgren wastes no time in choosing who he hopes will be the next Derrick Thomas.
7) SF - The niners are in a bit of a pickle because all the top defenders are gone and although Newton's available, the management has shown little interest thus far. Most mocks have them settling for Amukamara or Quinn in this situation, but I'm going a different route. The niners D is no slouch, and fans in the bay area have been starved by good offense for almost a decade now. Not sold on Crabtree as a game changing receiver, the niners attempt to reincarnate TO in the form of Julio Jones who personifies Harbaugh's tough physical mantra.
8) TEN - Bud Adams probably can't wait to get the taste of the whole Fisher/Young fiasco out of his mouth. What better way than to pick a new QB w/ tremendous upside for your new coach in Cam Newton? Many people seem to think the Titans will shy away from Newton after the Young debacle. I think just the opposite, the Titans have seen how a raw rookie with natural ability can win them games, and hope Newton can do what Young did for them without the headaches.
9) DAL - The cowboys have the most overall talent of all teams picking in the top 10. Everyone seems to think Dallas will reach for a tackle here because Romo got knocked da f--- out. I live in Texas and have endured my share of Cowboys games and I have to say, their biggest area of need is secondary. Newman is getting old, and Jenkins was playing flag football the entire season. Jerry will be pleased when he sees Prince Amukamara available to them at 9.
10) WAS - The skins are pretty devoid of talent on offense and faced with a situation not unlike that of the Bengals. Unfortunately, the top shelf talent on offense has run dry. Some mocks have Ingram penciled in here, but that is very un-shanahan-like to take a RB so high. After last season's shellacking by the Eagles, I see Dan Snyder going defense and gambling on a guy who could turn out to be the best player from this draft in Robert Quinn.
I'm just hoping they find a way to get McNabb. Draft a QB next year.
I don't follow that logic.
