Hey, Guys. Just got back from NYC and the NFL Draft. Lots to talk about, but it's a very busy week for me, and I'm already behind the 8-Ball for an important catering gig scheduled for Friday, so it's going to be 'catch as catch can' for the time being...
I'll try to address some things in order:
My comments about Colt Brennan: I don't watch the 'Alphabet Network' (ABC, CBS, NBC) Evening News, and I don't pay much attention to what the Redskins throw out there for the General Public to hear, pretty much for the same reasons - they're both full of slant, spin, deception, downright falsehood, and are agenda-driven. You get their version of the news, and while there are shreds of truth mixed in, it's rarely the real story, and never the full story.
When it comes to the Redskins, all I can say is that I'm fortunate enough to have access to the real story, and from people involved with the organization at a level where they work with the athletes daily, in areas I understand from my own educational and football background at Penn State.
I think I gave a GREAT explanation of why Colt Brennan will not be a successful NFL QB unless he's place in the 'perfect storm' of skill position circumstances, earlier in this thread. Why don't the Redskins want to share the same info with you? Gee, I don't know...maybe because they're still clearing egg off their faces from last year's Draft?
How much egg? I'll say this much: the 'skins brought 2 Jerseys to Radio City Music Hall Saturday, and if Orakpo hadn't been there at 13, the other Player they were ready to select would have been an absolutely BLISTERING indictment of last year's Draft. ABSOLUTELY BLISTERING.
Again: don't believe everything you hear, especially from the Redskins Media Network: Dan Snyder has his share of foibles, but one thing he's very good at is Snyder Communications: Media and Public Relations. We should always be digging for the truth behind the illusion with everything that anyone from that Organization shares with the General Public.
Mike Williams: Yeah, he's a big boy, all right, but underneath all that lard they're currently working off him - his program entered it's 'intense' stage at about 8AM today - he's got a TON of muscle. Yes, he didn't stop eating, but he's never stopped hitting the weights either, because he really does want to play in the NFL again. He's currently around 415, but it's one of my acquaintences main responsibilities to trim him down to 365 by Training Camp. I'll say this much, though - after Dockery encouraged the Team to bring him in for a tryout - which they did because he and Dock became best buddies in Buffalo, and Dock is well within the good graces of the organization now that he's back - they didn't expect much. But everyone was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by how strong that guy was under all that fat - and I don't just mean weight room strong - I mean playing mechanics strong. He blew everyone in the DT rotation (Haynesworth, Griffin, Montgomery and Gholston) off the line with solid leverage techniques as well as pure strength. He's got skills and potential, and if he shows the committment to get down to the mid-300's, he's got it in him to be a legit road-grader.
Apparently, they've spent significant time rebuilding Rinehardts confidence in the offseason, and he's ready for at least another chance, and while Fred Davis won't be another Cooley anytime soon, he's doing a pretty good impression of Don Warren (who was an original Hog, remember), working on strength and technique designed to make him effectively another Offensive Tackle, who can slip loose and catch the occasional pass when the opportunity presents itself.
There's nothing like sitting on Press Row at the NFL Draft right next to Faletti and Bloom, and with John Clayton and Jay Glazer within talking distance to my right and in front, respectively. I was in the Interview Room with every Rookie attending on both Day 1 and 2, with a recorder, and pretty much unlimited access to ask questions, which I wasn't completely prepared for, and quite frankly, more than a little surprised by. Can't wait for next year. Orakpo wasn't much of an interview - I think he's socially slow, but apparently he's got a very high football IQ, and that's all that matters.
LOVE the Orakpo Pick, btw. Oher was the only other Rookie I would have considered at that point, and quite frankly, I'd have loved it if the 'skins had cut a deal with the Ravens for this year's 3rd and next year's 1st to take Oher with the Ravens pick, but that probably wouldn't have been enough to get into that spot...but I do think the kid has 'it'.
Ugh, 9:40 already. Gotta get moving. Plenty more to share. I don't have any feeling yet about the rest of the Draft Class except that I think they could have done better in the 3rd Round than to take a guy who hasn't completely recovered from a broken shoulder and torn labrum. Not that he doesn't have outstanding football skills, BUT...there were other CB's with equivalent skills who were available at that point. When it's a big part of your job description to tackle, well, doing that much damage to your shoulder is a risky proposition for sure...