Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
1. Oakland Raiders: They have a lot of holes to fill. Everyone is talking about them taking JeMarcus Russell in the upcoming draft. Certainly Aaron Brroks being cut would make you think they are clearing the way, but I also think it will be another mistake by a team that can’t get out of its own way. They lose Gruden in 2001, fire Calahan 2 seasons later, Turner 2 seasons later, Art Shell 1 year after that…the problem is up top in the front office. Maybe it is the owner is going senile but they are just not picking players that pan out in the NFL.
The Raiders would be better served to bring in a guy like Jake Plummer(who they can’t get because he wears a Broncos uniform), or go get Jeff Garcia who could surely deliver the ball to Moss and Porter. An in the draft they should work on that horrible OL and bring in Joe Thomas from Wisconsin. This guy runs a 4.9 40 time, eats defenders up at the point of attack, simply is the answer at LT for almost every team that has a top5 or top10 pick. You draft Thomas, move Gallery over to RT where he is better suited…this would make the Raiders a better team. They have skills position players and the defense is not the absolute worst in the league. A good ground game and a decent offense can protect a marginal defense.
Will the Raiders do this? Probably not but it makes the most sense. The other thing Oakland could do is draft Calvin Johnson with the #1 pick. When they drafted Tim Brown, that seemed to work out well for them so why not take what many believe is the best player in the draft.
Edited to add that they have gone out and done what we said they should. Perhaps now they start to turn their attention to Calvin Johnson.
2. Detroit Lions: I think Detroit is the closest to getting things turned around than almost anyone else with top10 picks this year. They have a good QB they can start for right now...the WR are solid, they have a hole at RB for the 1st half of the season but they did draft Brian Calhoun last year. They can probably bring in a veteran to hold the fort down for awhile since the RB is never going to get 20+ carries a game in a Mike Martz offense. I again think the biggest weakness the Lions have is probably the OL and also they need some help along the DL. I see 2-3 sure fire prospects for them. Again if Joe Thomas form Wisconsin is available it would make a lot of sense for them to take him. However I also think they could use a little pop at DE and get more rush from the corners.
They have Cory Redding and Shaun Rodgers at DT and they can potentially make one of the best 1-2 punches at DT in the NFL. But they need some speed coming around the edges. Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas is a 6”6', 280 lb freak of nature that reminds a lot of people of Julius Peppers. I also like Gaines Adams from Clemson a lot but they could trade down to get that guy.
You could see Detroit take Adrian Peterson here as well but I don’t think his pass catching abilities will make him a hot prospect in Martz’s eyes. Coach Marinelli came from the Bucs and knows that to win championships you need to be good in the trenches. Look for Detroit to improve themselves on either side of the ball along the line.
3. Cleveland Browns: Team has just been snakebit when it comes to their draft picks and free agent acquisitions. If AP is on the board then expect the Browns to take him if for nothing else to try and appease the fans, giving them someone to root for. The team is a long way from being in the playoffs but they have an exciting young WR in Braylon Edwards, maybe a good young RB will help them along. They still have major OL needs but I look for them to address those issues in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft. They could also trade down and get some additional picks to get that OL turned around.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A lot of people expect Gruden to jump all over Calvin Johnson if he is there at #4. Certainly CJ is one of the best prospects in the top5 along with Joe Thomas. I just think the Bucs need to decide if Simms is really going to be their QB. He did lead them to the playoffs in 2005 but that was more because of the injury to Brian Griese. Simms looked terrible last season and that is because the OL for TB is one of the worst in the league. Again I would say with such a high pick they should try and trade up to secure Joe Thomas from Wisconsin. He would/could be the centerpiece to build the rest of the OL around. The Raiders seem to like to trade with the Bucs, why not swap the picks and they can still get Russell is they desire him at #4…if he is gone somehow, the Raiders could still take Brady Quinn.
I understand why the Bucs will want to get Johnson, but they still have Galloway and Michael Clayton which isn’t a terrible 1-2 at WR. They need a better OL to help “Cadillac” become the #5 pick he was supposed to be 2 seasons ago. They went 11-5 in 2005 because they got good protection at QB and good run blocking for Cadillac. Time to get back to what works in the NFL…BLOCKING!!! There are only 2 things you do 90% of the time as a football player on the filed, block and tackle…if the OL cannot block then expect to do nothing well on offense.
5. Arizona Cardinals: It is obvious they have talent, lots of it at WR, QB, and Edge is still a good RB. They need an OL plain and simple. Assuming Joe Thomas is gone it is time for Levi Brown to come off the board. He started as ®Freshman at Penn St and never let it go. He is a big kid but has good strength. Not the same impact player that Joe Thomas is…in fact I think Thomas many notches better then the rest of his OL class, just like Calvin Johnson is for the WR class. I have seen where the Cardinals are slated to take a DE like a Jamaal Anderson…they certainly need that as well but they need an OL to protect their investment on offense and to give them at least a little bit of a running game.
6. Washington Redskins: They gave up a lot of yards on the ground last season, time to bring in a DT they can build around. Alan Branch a Junior DT from Michigan is just what the doctor ordered. They need to rebuild the DL and why not start in the middle so they can plug up the run. There is talk they might move down in the draft, but I think the wise move is to shore up the defense. The OL is solid, great RB, good WR, QB will be a bit shaky but time to get work on the defense.
7. Minnesota Vikings: Very interested to see who they take. I have heard and read that Childress doesn’t believe in taking 1st round WR…that seems short sighted…maybe he doesn’t like reaching for them when he has a top10 pick. The Vikings have the makings of a good OL. I don’t think Tavaris Jackson is the answer at QB…I really think they should look at Brady Quinn at the point. They need an upgrade at the position, argue all you like but they need to address it. They might be able to nab another QB with a lesser pedigree in the 2nd or even 3rd round so maybe they should try for Gaines Adams with this pick and lay the groundwork for a solid DL. Adamas isn’t going to get the fans excited in Minnesota but in the end it may make the most sense on draft day.
If the Raiders take Calvin Johnson then look for Jamarcus Russell to be drafted by the Vikings.
8. Houston Texans: I see several areas of need for them. If they can work a trade for Jake Plummer then they will have a lot of options and ways they could go on draft day. Let’s examine the needs.
QB: Could bite the bullet and take Brady Quinn if they do not find a decent veteran to bring in. Could Jeff Garcia be a possible addition for this team?
RB: Dominic Davis “Williams”, Ron Dayne, Wali Lundy…I could see them going after Marshawn Lynch for his ability to run and catch. Might not be the best pick and they could trade down and still get Lynch but it is an area they need to address.
WR: They need something better on the opposite side of Andre Johnson. Dwayne Jarrett would make a fine addition to this team. The 6”5’ WR can get separation and has terrific hands. I would think he would make a good compliment to the speed AJ on the other side.
OL: Nothing around this pick that would justify the selection. If Levi Brown were still on the board, he would be worth a look.
Defense: If they wanted to address the defense they would likely trade down for a LB but they took Mario Williams #1 last year so I think Kubiak will get to use the 1st round this year to build the offense.
9. Miami Dolphins: Again if Levi Brown falls they should jump on him as they need OL help. They have Ronnie Brown, Chris Chambers, Culpepper, McMichael, I think Cam Cameron can work with what he has. They need to upgrade at the OL.
The defense needs some help but around this pick they would be looking at one of 3 possible DBs…Reggie Nelson from UF, LaRon Landry from LSU…I like Landry and he has the potential to fill a void Miami has had since Louis Oliver. They need a guy that can come up and lay a lick on a guy. Leon Hall from Michigan would get a look here but he probably would not have the 1st year impact they are looking for form this pick.
10. Atlanta Falcons: Probably have their sights set on a Safety. Nelson and Landry will be on their short list of possibilities. Could also see them look at a DT like Quinn Pitcock here. Might be a tad early for that pick though.
The Raiders would be better served to bring in a guy like Jake Plummer(who they can’t get because he wears a Broncos uniform), or go get Jeff Garcia who could surely deliver the ball to Moss and Porter. An in the draft they should work on that horrible OL and bring in Joe Thomas from Wisconsin. This guy runs a 4.9 40 time, eats defenders up at the point of attack, simply is the answer at LT for almost every team that has a top5 or top10 pick. You draft Thomas, move Gallery over to RT where he is better suited…this would make the Raiders a better team. They have skills position players and the defense is not the absolute worst in the league. A good ground game and a decent offense can protect a marginal defense.
Will the Raiders do this? Probably not but it makes the most sense. The other thing Oakland could do is draft Calvin Johnson with the #1 pick. When they drafted Tim Brown, that seemed to work out well for them so why not take what many believe is the best player in the draft.
Edited to add that they have gone out and done what we said they should. Perhaps now they start to turn their attention to Calvin Johnson.
2. Detroit Lions: I think Detroit is the closest to getting things turned around than almost anyone else with top10 picks this year. They have a good QB they can start for right now...the WR are solid, they have a hole at RB for the 1st half of the season but they did draft Brian Calhoun last year. They can probably bring in a veteran to hold the fort down for awhile since the RB is never going to get 20+ carries a game in a Mike Martz offense. I again think the biggest weakness the Lions have is probably the OL and also they need some help along the DL. I see 2-3 sure fire prospects for them. Again if Joe Thomas form Wisconsin is available it would make a lot of sense for them to take him. However I also think they could use a little pop at DE and get more rush from the corners.
They have Cory Redding and Shaun Rodgers at DT and they can potentially make one of the best 1-2 punches at DT in the NFL. But they need some speed coming around the edges. Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas is a 6”6', 280 lb freak of nature that reminds a lot of people of Julius Peppers. I also like Gaines Adams from Clemson a lot but they could trade down to get that guy.
You could see Detroit take Adrian Peterson here as well but I don’t think his pass catching abilities will make him a hot prospect in Martz’s eyes. Coach Marinelli came from the Bucs and knows that to win championships you need to be good in the trenches. Look for Detroit to improve themselves on either side of the ball along the line.
3. Cleveland Browns: Team has just been snakebit when it comes to their draft picks and free agent acquisitions. If AP is on the board then expect the Browns to take him if for nothing else to try and appease the fans, giving them someone to root for. The team is a long way from being in the playoffs but they have an exciting young WR in Braylon Edwards, maybe a good young RB will help them along. They still have major OL needs but I look for them to address those issues in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft. They could also trade down and get some additional picks to get that OL turned around.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A lot of people expect Gruden to jump all over Calvin Johnson if he is there at #4. Certainly CJ is one of the best prospects in the top5 along with Joe Thomas. I just think the Bucs need to decide if Simms is really going to be their QB. He did lead them to the playoffs in 2005 but that was more because of the injury to Brian Griese. Simms looked terrible last season and that is because the OL for TB is one of the worst in the league. Again I would say with such a high pick they should try and trade up to secure Joe Thomas from Wisconsin. He would/could be the centerpiece to build the rest of the OL around. The Raiders seem to like to trade with the Bucs, why not swap the picks and they can still get Russell is they desire him at #4…if he is gone somehow, the Raiders could still take Brady Quinn.
I understand why the Bucs will want to get Johnson, but they still have Galloway and Michael Clayton which isn’t a terrible 1-2 at WR. They need a better OL to help “Cadillac” become the #5 pick he was supposed to be 2 seasons ago. They went 11-5 in 2005 because they got good protection at QB and good run blocking for Cadillac. Time to get back to what works in the NFL…BLOCKING!!! There are only 2 things you do 90% of the time as a football player on the filed, block and tackle…if the OL cannot block then expect to do nothing well on offense.
5. Arizona Cardinals: It is obvious they have talent, lots of it at WR, QB, and Edge is still a good RB. They need an OL plain and simple. Assuming Joe Thomas is gone it is time for Levi Brown to come off the board. He started as ®Freshman at Penn St and never let it go. He is a big kid but has good strength. Not the same impact player that Joe Thomas is…in fact I think Thomas many notches better then the rest of his OL class, just like Calvin Johnson is for the WR class. I have seen where the Cardinals are slated to take a DE like a Jamaal Anderson…they certainly need that as well but they need an OL to protect their investment on offense and to give them at least a little bit of a running game.
6. Washington Redskins: They gave up a lot of yards on the ground last season, time to bring in a DT they can build around. Alan Branch a Junior DT from Michigan is just what the doctor ordered. They need to rebuild the DL and why not start in the middle so they can plug up the run. There is talk they might move down in the draft, but I think the wise move is to shore up the defense. The OL is solid, great RB, good WR, QB will be a bit shaky but time to get work on the defense.
7. Minnesota Vikings: Very interested to see who they take. I have heard and read that Childress doesn’t believe in taking 1st round WR…that seems short sighted…maybe he doesn’t like reaching for them when he has a top10 pick. The Vikings have the makings of a good OL. I don’t think Tavaris Jackson is the answer at QB…I really think they should look at Brady Quinn at the point. They need an upgrade at the position, argue all you like but they need to address it. They might be able to nab another QB with a lesser pedigree in the 2nd or even 3rd round so maybe they should try for Gaines Adams with this pick and lay the groundwork for a solid DL. Adamas isn’t going to get the fans excited in Minnesota but in the end it may make the most sense on draft day.
If the Raiders take Calvin Johnson then look for Jamarcus Russell to be drafted by the Vikings.
8. Houston Texans: I see several areas of need for them. If they can work a trade for Jake Plummer then they will have a lot of options and ways they could go on draft day. Let’s examine the needs.
QB: Could bite the bullet and take Brady Quinn if they do not find a decent veteran to bring in. Could Jeff Garcia be a possible addition for this team?
RB: Dominic Davis “Williams”, Ron Dayne, Wali Lundy…I could see them going after Marshawn Lynch for his ability to run and catch. Might not be the best pick and they could trade down and still get Lynch but it is an area they need to address.
WR: They need something better on the opposite side of Andre Johnson. Dwayne Jarrett would make a fine addition to this team. The 6”5’ WR can get separation and has terrific hands. I would think he would make a good compliment to the speed AJ on the other side.
OL: Nothing around this pick that would justify the selection. If Levi Brown were still on the board, he would be worth a look.
Defense: If they wanted to address the defense they would likely trade down for a LB but they took Mario Williams #1 last year so I think Kubiak will get to use the 1st round this year to build the offense.
9. Miami Dolphins: Again if Levi Brown falls they should jump on him as they need OL help. They have Ronnie Brown, Chris Chambers, Culpepper, McMichael, I think Cam Cameron can work with what he has. They need to upgrade at the OL.
The defense needs some help but around this pick they would be looking at one of 3 possible DBs…Reggie Nelson from UF, LaRon Landry from LSU…I like Landry and he has the potential to fill a void Miami has had since Louis Oliver. They need a guy that can come up and lay a lick on a guy. Leon Hall from Michigan would get a look here but he probably would not have the 1st year impact they are looking for form this pick.
10. Atlanta Falcons: Probably have their sights set on a Safety. Nelson and Landry will be on their short list of possibilities. Could also see them look at a DT like Quinn Pitcock here. Might be a tad early for that pick though.
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. The rest of the line is servicable, but an argument could be made about replacing Leckey at Center and the high 2nd round pick is a nice spot to land Kalil. This would be a completely revamped line 
Next I go all in to try and get Clements to come play corner for me, instantly moving Rolle to #2With my 5th overall pick I pick Laron Landry, the tandem of Landry & Wilson would be the best in the league, that pick and the huge addition of Clements in FA suddenly makes the secondary a strength not a weakness.2nd round - I feel Leckey is servicable but Kalil is too nice of an option to pass up here.Rest of the draft - depth, depth, depthMany things have to go just right in this scenario, but suddenly the Cards in my eyes is a contender 
