04/24/24
April 22, 2010
Bradford, Suh Lead NFL Draft's First Round: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh were selected first and second overall to start the 2010 NFL Draft in primetime Thursday night.
Tyson Alualu at No. 10? If the Jags wanted to make a shocking reach, why not Tim "Amateur Mohel" Tebow?
posted by rcade at 09:15 PM on April 22, 2010
The Raiders made a solid choice in the top ten. I must have hit my head.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:23 PM on April 22, 2010
Jerry Azumah is worried about Jimmy Clausen.
posted by yerfatma at 10:22 PM on April 22, 2010
The Broncos just took Tebow in the first round, #25 overall.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:23 PM on April 22, 2010
Denver trades up to get Tebow in the 1st .... ???
I love Tebow the competitor, he seems like a guy you'd want on any team. I just don't see him as a QB in the NFL.
Denver could have had him in the 2nd or 3rd round.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:42 PM on April 22, 2010
Granted Dez Bryant doesn't hold out like Crabtree and isn't a problem child like Marshal, I think Dallas got an absolute steal at No. 24. But thats a lot of "ifs".
posted by sgtcookzane at 11:08 PM on April 22, 2010
Kiper had Jimmy Clausen ranked 4th on his Best Overall, either he misfired huge on that one or he is smarter than all of the NFL team scouts.
posted by sgtcookzane at 11:15 PM on April 22, 2010
Denver traded three picks to move up and get Tebow. That's a low of low-hanging fruit to give up, though you might assume that the coaching time devoted to those picks will now be spent on turning Tebow into an NFL player and handling press on what/when/where Tebow will be playing.
posted by etagloh at 12:37 AM on April 23, 2010
Think Brady Quinn's cursing again?
posted by jjzucal at 12:54 AM on April 23, 2010
What were the Chiefs thinking by passing on Okung? There OL is one of their biggest weaknesses.
Denver traded three picks to move up and get Tebow.
I don't understand McDaniels. If he is such a great QB coach, why couldn't he make Quinn work? Why ignore other draft needs when you have QBs already on your roster that you can mold into Brady's image?
posted by bperk at 09:54 AM on April 23, 2010
I give up...What were the Chiefs thinking?
posted by yzelda4045 at 10:21 AM on April 23, 2010
If he is such a great QB coach, why couldn't he make Quinn work?
Probably same reason he passed on Clausen and traded Cutler...just doesn't believe they're the QB everyone else seems to think they are.
My guess is he's happy enough with Orton in the short term, and believes he can mold Tebow over the coming years to be the QB he wants long term. And in between that time he can use Tebow in various other positions to get some sort of immediate value out of him.
I'm not saying I agree with the above (well, I mean besides his assessment of Cutler who I always felt was overrated), but I'm just guessing that is what he's thinking. And I think it's too soon to tell whether he's a crackpot or genius...will take a few years to determine that, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
I did love Steve Young's comments after McDaniel told Werder that the receiver he just drafted reminded him a lot of Brandon Marshall. "He reminds you of Marshall? The guy you just traded?" :-)
posted by bdaddy at 10:40 AM on April 23, 2010
And after all the posturing (which I can only guess was their form of "scared straight"), the Steelers have the #2 rated QB on the board at their pick and go center. I don't believe they have any intention of getting rid of Big Ben.
posted by bdaddy at 10:42 AM on April 23, 2010
The Steelers could think that Dixon will be a fine QB someday.
My guess is he's happy enough with Orton in the short term, and believes he can mold Tebow over the coming years to be the QB he wants long term. And in between that time he can use Tebow in various other positions to get some sort of immediate value out of him.
Still, I don't understand the combination of the trade for Quinn and the extreme reach for Tebow. It seems like they couldn't make up their mind. It is very Gruden-esque to be collecting so many QBs. And, Tebow really does nothing to help them in the short-term though they have plenty of needs. I don't want to give McDaniels the benefit of the doubt because he has been pretty much all over the place since he arrived in Denver. I am giving Shanahan and Allen the benefit of the doubt that they passed over Okung for Trent Williams. I'm always wary of OL that have high upsides or potential rather than good technique right now. Williams is fast and strong and Okung is the better offensive lineman.
posted by bperk at 10:56 AM on April 23, 2010
Anyone know if phone services have been shut off in St. Louis, Minnesota or Tampa Bay? If they have my guess is that it is because Mike Shannahan has called in a couple of favors with the phone company to keep anyone from trading up to get in his way of getting Claussen or McCoy.
posted by Demophon at 11:21 AM on April 23, 2010
My Lions got Suh. I just have to savor this moment. Millen would have picked a punter.
posted by smithnyiu at 11:50 AM on April 23, 2010
#1 - No USC players taken in the first round--been a long time since that has happened, probably McCoy would have gone but the pot test smoked that chance.
#2 - Lions did pick Jahvid Best with the second pick, which I think is unlikely to turn out well for them.
#3 - LOLZ@Jimmy Clausen!
posted by billsaysthis at 12:00 PM on April 23, 2010
Anyone know if phone services have been shut off in St. Louis, Minnesota or Tampa Bay? If they have my guess is that it is because Mike Shannahan has called in a couple of favors with the phone company to keep anyone from trading up to get in his way of getting Claussen or McCoy.
St. Louis got their QB, so the Vikings can have Claussen if they want. If they wanted him, why wouldn\'t they have drafted him when they had the chance?
#2 - Lions did pick Jahvid Best with the second pick, which I think is unlikely to turn out well for them.
Concussions or do you just not think he is that good?
posted by bperk at 12:15 PM on April 23, 2010
My Lions got Suh. I just have to savor this moment.
It's funny when you are relieved that your team made the no-drama, no-brainer choice. Teams of the Washington team and the Bucs are feeling the same way.
posted by bperk at 12:16 PM on April 23, 2010
Crap. The Broncos are drafting for 2014. McDaniels is willing to punt the next two seasons for the hope of a dominant offence in three years time.
Moreno and now Tebow. What is his obsession with great college players who are missing a crucial piece to be a viable NFL player?
And seconding the puzzlement on the collection of QBs. Why couldn't they be collecting interior linemen, or DBs, a position where there was a real weakness last season?
posted by deflated at 12:19 PM on April 23, 2010
The Steelers could think that Dixon will be a fine QB someday.
I heard the same thing about Mike Quinn and a plethora of other 3rd string QB's on their roster..none of whom ever saw the field in a meaningful game.
He's 3rd string for a reason (his only start due to an injury to Ben and Batch). There's also a reason they jumped at Leftwich when they realized they would be without Ben for 4 games. I mean Ben was NFL caliber as a rookie (15-1). Dixon is at a stage where they don't even feel comfortable letting him start a 4 game stretch for them. That speaks volumes about the talent differential between the 2, so why would you trade the former to be stuck with the latter?
posted by bdaddy at 12:23 PM on April 23, 2010
LOLZ@Jimmy Clausen!
Why? I wish ESPN would leave off trailing around the guy who isn't getting drafted. I heartily endorse Colt McCoy's decision to stay home where you can always kick them off the property. I loved the ESPN interview with McCoy in front of his party; coming back from it, Steve Young questioned whether the QBs in this draft have enough "blue-collar" in them. Dear Steve, growing up in Connecticut and attending BYU because you're a direct descendant of the university's namesake, "blue collar" is a reason to fire the help, not an attitude you're familiar with.
Full Disclosure: I am a Notre Dame fan, but I also think Clausen is a second-round talent at best. Regardless of who you root for though, the kid's just out of college, no longer plays for your rival, etc., so why the schadenfreude?
posted by yerfatma at 12:48 PM on April 23, 2010
Time will tell (perhaps a lot of time) if the Broncos picking Tebow at # 25 will be a smart or a dumb decision. I can't help but think that Tehow's so called "intangibles" lead to this pick. Look at what the Broncos are doing. They got ride of two players in Cutler and Marshall that clashed with the coaching staff and management creating a possibly toxic environment for the team, and have taken a player in Tebow that has a good reputation for "leadership" and being a "team player." I can see how the Broncos feel this will improve their, but drafting Tebow at # 25 seems too high when he would likely be on the board later in the draft. However, there is also a under current of politics at work here too. Tebow is also well known for his religious and conservative political views. I believe he was picked so high for this reason too. I don't know what the politics of McCoy or Claussen are (although I suspect they are not too far from Tebow's views), but the Broncos have sent a message to players, the league and fans with the selection of such a player who wears his views on his sleeve (and his eye black).
posted by Bag Man at 01:28 PM on April 23, 2010
However, there is also a under current of politics at work here too. Tebow is also well known for his religious and conservative political views. I believe he was picked so high for this reason too. I don't know what the politics of McCoy or Claussen are (although I suspect they are not too far from Tebow's views), but the Broncos have sent a message to players, the league and fans with the selection of such a player who wears his views on his sleeve (and his eye black).
Wow! Really?!? You have any cites for this?
posted by cjets at 02:01 PM on April 23, 2010
Trader Bill had the bazaar open again last night. He ended up with Devin McCourty from Rutgers, a completely unexpected pick whose main strengths appear to be on special teams. In McCourty's defense, he had a good performance at the scouting combine, is rated by some as the 3rd best corner in the draft, and evidently impressed BB at a meeting during a coaches' clinic at Rutgers. The Pats are taking some heat for the pick, but the only available players (at their original 22 spot) they really might regret not taking are Dan Williams of Tennessee and Jared Odrick of Penn State. There are still a lot of players available in the 2nd round that can help. They might have traded up for a couple of people, but other than Mayo this has not been their tendency of late.
posted by Howard_T at 02:08 PM on April 23, 2010
When have NFL teams ever cared about an athlete's political or religious views?
posted by rcade at 02:14 PM on April 23, 2010
Moreno and now Tebow. What is his obsession with great college players who are missing a crucial piece to be a viable NFL player?
Huge UGA (Moreno alum) fan and not sure how fair of a shot that it is the Broncos for drafting him. Watching Moreno play in college, myself and others thought he Had What It Takes. Granted, so far we're wrong, but I don't recall that being a stretch at the time. Plus, you don't usually draft RBs to develop them 3 years down the road. By then, they're sometimes already slowing down from all the hits they take.
posted by jmd82 at 02:45 PM on April 23, 2010
St. Louis got their QB, so the Vikings can have Claussen if they want. If they wanted him, why wouldn't they have drafted him when they had the chance?
I forgot that Washington traded the pick to the Eagles to get McNabb. I was implying that Washington would then get to draft Claussen or McCoy if the picks ahead of them weren't traded. Not sure why I remember Minnesota had the second pick in the round but forgot that Philly had the 4th.
I do however like the fact that the SI.com second round mock draft has Vald Ducasse of UMass falling to the Eagles at #55
posted by Demophon at 03:21 PM on April 23, 2010
He ended up with Devin McCourty from Rutgers, a completely unexpected pick whose main strengths appear to be on special teams.
He may have drafted McCourty just to tweak the Jets who were salivating over this guy (at least before the draft).
Rumor has it that the Jets would have selected McCourty at 29 if he was available. The Jets did end up taking Kyle Wilson, another CB and special teams standout.
posted by cjets at 03:44 PM on April 23, 2010
a completely unexpected pick whose main strengths appear to be on special teams
Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better, but I don't think that's accurate. I think the talking heads all said that because the kid blocked 7 punts in college and the Pats need some help in that area. He sounds like he's a pretty decent corner too: one of the scouting reports I read this morning lists him as a potential #1 corner in the NFL.
posted by yerfatma at 04:50 PM on April 23, 2010
I was punking on Claussen because I believe he's another overrated ND QB who will be a career backup in the NFL.
Jahvid Best I like but think he's too injury-prone for his size to last 7-10 years with serious touches, which is my standard for first round RB picks. I have to think they could have traded down 4-5 picks or stayed with the high second pick they had and still gotten him but instead they traded up.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:06 PM on April 23, 2010
He sounds like he's a pretty decent corner too: one of the scouting reports I read this morning lists him as a potential #1 corner in the NFL.
That was certainly what the Jets thought of him.
posted by cjets at 01:58 AM on April 24, 2010
Wow! Really?!? You have any cites for this?
I don't have any sites. This is a gut feeling. Tebow, McCoy and Claussen all have the intangibles and the leadership skills to be an NFL quarterback, but McCory and Claussen seem to have an edge over Tebow in their mechanics and familiarity with a pro-style offense. So, why would the Broncos spend such a high pick on Tebow and draft him over McCoy and Claussen? Why would the Broncos pick a "project" in Tebow with two players still on draft board that would contribute on the field much, much faster? The main quality that Tebow possesses that McCoy and Claussen don't then must be something other that an ability to play football. It is Tebow's reputation that is bolstered by his conservative political and religious views. NFL fans know were Tebow stands on certain issues. They know this because they have been widely publicized by the media, Tebow literally wore his views on his equipment (although I believe such displays are banned by the NFL) and Tebow publicized these views during his must viewed and controversial Super Bowl and online ad. Of course, I am not arguing that Tebow deserves a better reputation as a team player or is better suited to be a leader because of his views, but that is exactly what the Broncos think their fans will believe.
posted by Bag Man at 04:19 PM on April 24, 2010
I'm amused that the Dolphins got back into the second round by taking what was originally Seattle's pick - a pick the Seahawks gave to San Diego in return for third string QB Charlie Whitehurst.
Seattle had entertained Brandon Marshall but couldn't match Denver's valuation because they'd already given their second rounder to San Diego for Whitehurst who has never thrown an NFL pass.
So Miami got Marshall and Seattle's second rounder.