SB Nation - Mohamed Massaquoi

Georgia Bulldogs 52, Arkansas Razorbacks 41

T Kyle King — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:24:05 -0000

I know I am arriving a little late to the party---ESPN and the Griffin District of the United Methodist Church did not get their schedules straight when the former lined up three straight night games for the Georgia Bulldogs on the very same weekends on which the latter arranged for me to attend my lay speaking recertification course for four hours every Sunday---but I appreciate the way everyone has kept the conversation going in the comments and in the fanposts.

Permit me to add a few observations, but please bear in mind that I haven’t had the time to check out any other weblogs or the game day open comment thread, so some of what follows may be repetitive, or redundant, or repetitive:

As the first quarter came to an end, I was very nearly ready to flush the 2009 season and get the guy most likely to start under center next autumn out onto the field to get some playing experience. Needless to say, Joe Cox answered any remaining doubts about his competence in the remaining three quarters. He hooked up on 18 of 26 attempts for 375 yards, a record-tying five touchdowns, and one interception. Although undeniably aided by the amazing abilities of A.J. Green (seven catches for 137 yards and two scores), Cox did a much better job of hitting his receivers in stride. This may be damning him with faint praise, but Cox didn’t throw long and incomplete any more often than Matthew Stafford would have.

I was a bit surprised at how surprised everyone seemed to be at the supposed "emergence" of Michael Moore. When was Michael Moore not clearly the Bulldogs’ second-best receiver following the departure of Mohamed Massaquoi? Why did everyone seem so shocked that Moore caught six passes for 91 yards against the Arkansas Razorbacks when he ended last season by catching six passes for 97 yards against the Michigan St. Spartans in last year’s Capital One Bowl? Who didn’t know already the dude was good?

I have always admired Mark Richt’s willingness to give a player an immediate shot at redemption after he makes a mistake. After Branden Smith’s gaffe in the return game against South Carolina, he was given the opportunity to make up for his miscue on the reverse. Coach Richt’s charges respond well to his confidence in them and usually make the most of their second chances. Tavarres King had a couple of potentially game-changing mistakes in Fayetteville, which were addressed by giving him the chance to haul in a 50-yard touchdown pass. He made good on that opportunity. Kudos to the coaches for letting the young man atone for his error and kudos to King for justifying his coaches’ faith in him.

Lisa Loeb. Tina Fey. Sarah Palin. Now Erin Andrews. I don’t know what it is about librarian-style glasses on good-looking women, but, holy smoking barbecue in a wire basket, that’s a look that works for me. Yowzers!

Although his play-calling sometimes seems strangely streaky, Mike Bobo is better at his job than he generally is given credit for being, and he managed a surprisingly balanced ballgame. The ‘Dawgs ran the ball 36 times and threw the ball 26 times. That demonstrates an admirable commitment to the ground game on a night when your quarterback is hitting almost 70 per cent of his passes. Three Bulldogs averaged four or more yards per carry, Richard Samuel rushed for 104 yards on 16 attempts, and Georgia scored on an 80-yard touchdown run. When that happens at the same time your signal caller is airing it out for a career night, you’re sticking with the running game.

The Bulldogs’ growing pains this year will pay big dividends next year. Ere anyone criticizes Brandon Boykin for a few miscues in the secondary, I have two words for you: Bruce Thornton. In his first year in the defensive backfield, he looked hopelessly lost and was picked on mercilessly by opposing quarterbacks. By the final year of his varsity career, Thornton was as good a defensive back as the Bulldogs had. Boykin shows great promise, on which he will deliver. Be patient.

As hopeful as I am for the future, though, I am worried that we’re going to go through this whole thing all over again a year from now if no quarterback other than Cox gets to run the offense for at least a couple or three series per game. As matters presently stand, Cox’s successor is going to come into the job in 2010 with less live game experience than Cox had coming into 2009, which is nothing short of downright scary.

There was a lot to like out of the Georgia offense last night. The ‘Dawgs answered the Hogs score for score, hung half a hundred on an opponent for the first time since last year’s LSU game, and did it without needing a special teams or defensive score to boost the stats. The Red and Black’s nine scoring drives covered 57, 26, 85, 75, 34, 65, 62, 73, and 17 yards, respectively. Other than the first-quarter drive following the Ryan Mallett fumble and the fourth-quarter game-clincher after the poor punt from the home team’s two yard line, the ‘Dawgs were moving the ball well over long distances.

The defense gave up a pair of one-play drives in the first quarter. A 50-yard Cobi Hamilton kickoff return set up a 48-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright and Samuel’s fumble was followed by a 30-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs. I realize that the special teams and the offense put the defense in bad situations in those instances, but the Bulldogs have to do better on potentially momentum-changing drives. No single aspect of this game makes me more fearful for the future than this indication that the Classic City Canines’ inability to adapt to sudden changes in circumstances is one of the ugly holdovers from last year’s meltdown.

Georgia returned the ball well and kicked field goals well. The Bulldogs turned the ball over too often and drew too many penalties. This is a recording.

I truly have no clue what to make of our defense. Georgia gave up 21 points before the break and 20 points after intermission; so much for Willie Martinez’s ability to duplicate Brian VanGorder’s trademark second-half shutdowns (and, oftentimes, shutouts). Last week’s excuses do not apply; Mallett isn’t half as elusive as Stephen Garcia, and the Bulldog D wasn’t overworked against the Razorbacks, who ran 63 plays to the Red and Black’s 62. Georgia held the ball for almost 32 minutes of clock time, so fatigue should never have been a factor. The Classic City Canines gave up next to nothing on the ground (77 yards on 24 carries) while surrendering 408 yards and five touchdowns through the air, without so much as a single pick. On third down, though, the ‘Dawgs permitted the Hogs to convert just over 20 per cent of the time (3 of 14). What gives?

What makes the Georgia defensive numbers appear even weirder is the fact that Mallett was on fire, then, all of a sudden, he was ice-cold. The Arkansas quarterback completed eight of his first nine attempts in the second half, connecting on a pair of 40-yarders and one 30-yarder that was hauled in by Childs for a first down at the visitors’ eight yard line with fewer than five minutes remaining in the third period. At that point, a false start penalty cost the Razorbacks five yards, and, suddenly, Mallett couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Starting with the very next snap after the flag (one of eleven against the Hogs, who lost a football field’s worth of yardage to yellow laundry), Mallett went three for 14 the rest of the way. His last 14 attempts picked up a total of 36 yards, Mallett was sacked once, and he did not lead a touchdown drive. Maybe something changed that I was missing, but it didn’t look like the ‘Dawgs were getting a good deal more pressure on Mallett than they had before, yet his aim went from lethally accurate to absolutely off-target for no reason I was able to discern at first glance. Maybe Mallett was feeling the heat more than he had been before, but it didn’t seem like the ‘Dawgs were getting to him so much faster that he should have gone from looking like an NFL starter to looking like Jonathan Crompton so swiftly.

In the course of Coach Martinez’s tenure as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, the Bulldogs have surrendered single-game point tallies of 31 and 38 in 2005; 51 in 2006; 35, 30, and 34 in 2007; 41, 38, 49, 38, and 45 in 2008; and 37 and 41 in 2009. Seven of the last twelve opponents the Red and Black have faced have scored at least 37 points on Georgia. That is all.

The enduring value of Mark Richt’s consistent calm was on full display in Fayetteville. Down 21-10 after fifteen minutes of play, Georgia could have come unglued, yet the Bulldogs remained poised and continued to play their game without panic or desperation. There are a lot of problems which persist from last year, but there are a lot of positives that remain present, as well. What is worrisome is the reality that the ‘Dawgs had to come back and hang on to beat mid-tier league challengers in their first couple of conference outings. What will the Red and Black do when facing a ranked opponent whose SEC pedigree dates back before the early 1990s?

Those are my thoughts, and y’all have done an excellent job of sharing yours. (If I happen to have echoed sentiments I have not yet read, well, I guess great minds think alike.) Keep up the good work, and, as always, don’t forget to savor the win while spotting the flaws. Optimism may be overly extreme, but enjoyment and hope are entirely appropriate.

Go ‘Dawgs!

BlogPoll Roundtable Responses: Throw That Doug a Bone Edition

T Kyle King — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:00:20 -0000

Let’s face facts. Right about now, our good friend Doug Gillett is a bit down on his luck. Well, I mean, except for the fact that his fake engagement seems to have turned into an actual relationship, which worked out well for him, but which troubles me somewhat because I really had put a lot of thought into the bachelor party we were going to throw for him before his prearranged disengagement from his fauxancee---planned T-shirt slogan: "A Fake Engagement Calls for Fake Breasts"---but, hey, Doug’s a buddy, so I want to do what I can to help him out in his hour of need, provided he agrees to sell me the movie rights to his story, because I’ve already started working on a screenplay for a romantic comedy about two fictional characters I call "Hug" and "Dolly." (Yes, there’s a wedding scene in which the groom takes a toaster oven from the gift table and hurls it out a second-story window.)

Accordingly, as a show of solidarity with Doug, I am going above and beyond the call of duty and friendship by answering Doug’s BlogPoll roundtable questions. Don’t say I never did anything for you, pal. Here are my responses:

1. Without naming names, a few teams seem to have popped up frequently on everyone's "overrated" lists in the preseason, so let's forget about them for the moment and concentrate on a different group: sleepers. Which currently unheralded team are you currently putting at least a few of your chips behind in the hopes that you'll be able to say "totally called that" once they've accomplished big things by the end of the season?

A while ago, I identified three teams that were on the upswing, but I’ve backpedaled on a couple of them, so I’m left with the Clemson Tigers. I expect to see our old rival undergo a revival with C.J. Spiller running behind an offensive line that brings back all five starters. Eight returning first-teamers from a defense that held six of its last ten regular-season opponents under 14 points will keep the Country Gentlemen in a lot of games and Dabo Swinney has brought a whole new attitude to this team. Despite being named after Ferengi roulette, Coach Swinney is an Alabama alum who was promoted from within the existing staff. The last three Clemson coaches to share those characteristics were Frank Howard, Charley Pell, and Danny Ford. How’d that work out for the Tigers? This year, I think it works out in the form of an ACC championship.

2. In a similar vein, pick a sleeper player on your team whom nobody's talking about right now and tell us why we will be talking about them by December.

I have been a big fan of Tavarres King for a while now, and I believe this will be his breakout year. He’s put on muscle and improved his work ethic, and, with every player in the Georgia receiving corps having the opportunity to step up a notch to fill the void left by Mohamed Massaquoi, King (no relation) will make the most of his opportunity.

3. Florida is about as big a consensus favorite as we've seen in recent years, but remember, USC got 62 out of 65 first-place votes in the AP's 2007 preseason poll and still managed to lose to Stanford. Given how difficult it is to go undefeated period these days, where do you think the Gators are most likely to stumble in the regular season?

Since 1933, Georgia and Florida have alternated precise 19-year cycles of dominance over one another, and the Gators’ latest 19-year run (16-3 from 1990-2008) ended last year, meaning the ‘Dawgs historically are due. Since 1965, the Red and Black are 7-1 against defending national champions, including 2-0 against Florida teams coming off of No. 1 rankings the year before. The Classic City Canines have an open date before tangling with the Sunshine State Saurians, and Steve Spurrier proved how important the bye week before Jacksonville really was. Urban Meyer is the kind of coach who tears it up in big games yet stumbles against lesser opponents, and the Bulldogs appear pretty meager this year, especially in light of the way Lane Kiffin drew Coach Meyer’s ire this offseason. Plus, if Mark Richt is right about travel having an impact, the Orange and Blue ought to be tired out after the previous week’s 550-mile trek home from Starkville (where the Gators have not won in their last four trips, by the way). We all know Florida is going to lose one somewhere along the way, and that somewhere is by the St. John’s River. Mark it down: Georgia will beat Florida.

4. Which regular-season game not involving your team or conference are you most looking forward to this year?

That would be the one kicking off in just a few hours. I’ve been rooting for the Boise St. Broncos since the ‘Dawgs shellacked them in Athens in 2005, because that fun and stirring victory gets better and better with age as the WAC’s marquee program enjoys more and more success. I’m curious to see what the Oregon Ducks bring to the table at the end of a transitional offseason, as well. It’s a great way to get Labor Day weekend underway, and, since I’m Stillwater-bound on Friday, I get to stay up late and take it all in, provided I am able to convince my wife to let me watch it (or adjust the color on the set so the field looks green and I can trick her into believing I’m watching something else entirely).

5. In honor of Georgia's opening-weekend opponent and their most prolific booster, let's say you somehow come into T. Boone Pickens money and can buy anything you want for your program -- facilities upgrades, an airplane for recruiting, buy out the contract of that coach you hate, you name it. Where does your first check go?

I would schedule an appointment with Mark Richt, open up a briefcase full of cash on his desk, and say, "How much of this will it take for you to grow a goatee?" Mark Richt + goatee = national championship, guaranteed.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Bucknotes says goodbye to gravity and says goodbye to death

Sam @ WWAHT — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:48 -0000

Hello to an ankle sprain and Cards fans' bated breath

The Associated Press: Cardinals rookie RB Wells sprains right ankle
Well, I wish I could say that was surprising. The severity of the injury is unknown, but it "doesn't appear serious" and most seem to think he'll be fine for the season. It did, however, take place in a harmless drill, so the worries of Cardinals fans are well-placed. When I was asked to do an evaluation of Wells for the SBN Cards blog, I told them that he'll give you the world - as long if he stays healthy. Fortunately, before going down with the injury, he reportedly impressed the staff. Revenge of the Birds is, understandably, a bit concerned.

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Positive signs
Apparently, Terrelle Pryor is a bit more humble, and a lot more coachable, this offseason. Good to hear.

Preseason predictions: Ohio State - Big Ten - ESPN
Rittenberg, who Ohio State makes the Rose Bowl; Pryor will kinda improve, and Gibson will again be beastly. He has Gibson returning for his senior year in 2010 after 2009, which to me implies a year of not-quite consistency. If that means he's a QB-killa for what I'm hoping is a title run in 2010, I'm alright with that.

Scout.com: 2009 CFN All-Redshirt Freshman Team
Stoneburner's the TE here; CFN has this to say:

Stoneburner thinks he’s a wide receiver. The scales beg to differ. As he’s grown to 6-5 and 243 pounds, he’s left no doubts where he’ll be lining up, though catching a bunch of passes remains firmly on the to-do list. Although the position has been somewhat marginalized in recent years, he has the athletic ability, speed, and soft hands to force a subtle change in philosophy, especially once starter Jake Ballard graduates this year.

... there's actually nothing incredibly stupid there. Good job, CFN.

Yes, We Know That Most of You Don't Want UConn. | mgoblog
Okay, UConn may not be that bad of an opponent, and by the time this game happens, they'll probably be a better game than Michigan - and at least their equal, but it's hardly the sexiest name the AD could schedule, if Brian's opinion of the likelies was to be believed. Michigan fans are, however, OUTRAGED - their only real mood lately - as the return trip goes to 40,000-seat Rentschler field. Boo-hoo.

The Associated Press: Jets' Gholston hopes to put dismal year behind him
Sorta-fluffy take on the Gun Show (credit for the nick to ElevenWarriors) Redemption Tour '09; Rex Ryan is really high on Gholston's attitude, but he's holding off on any evaluations until he actually sees him on the field for an extended period of time.

Slur will cost Hawaii coach $169,000 - College Football - Rivals.com
Whatever your politics, no place for hate-speech in sports.

Brian Robiskie is signed, excited to be a Cleveland Brown - cleveland.com
Robo is officially a Cleveland Brown, and he may be benefited by Braylon Edwards' mysterious injury, which kept the star receiver out of practice last week. Oh, and he's competing with an SEC boy, too - Mohamed Massaquoi.

Camp preview: Offensive line (Blogging the Buckeyes)
With camp coming up in less than a week, BTB gives a short overview of the OL situation. Two positions are "locked up" - Boren at LG and Brewster at C - with every other spot supposedly up for grabs. Either Cordle or Browning will end up being crowded out, and Adams is still having a hard time putting away Miller at the LT spot - which is a bit worrisome but, hey, play the best players, even if the one you're benching already had talk of retiring his jersey number when he hit campus as a freshman. Oh, and I guess Shugarts as an "edge" too. Lovely.

BuckeyeXtra - Rob Oller commentary: Oden knows this season could be boom or bust
Tough times ahead for Greggers; if he doesn't impress, the bust label is almost guaranteed. Shame, too, because he could go on, have a respectable career elsewhere, and still have that label following him until his retirement. That's how big the year is for him.

Time to Step Up: Five Buckeyes Expected To Be Strong in 2009 | Bleacher Report
Not a whole lot new here; just odd placement of Brian Rolle. I know the guy hits like a ton of bricks, but I just think he has been crowded out. The only way I see him getting the starting nod is through injuries, or if Moeller struggles mightily in the opening a few weeks (very possible against the likes of Navy and USC). Maybe I'm wrong; I'd like to see the kid do well, but I think people may be putting too much stock into those special teams hits (and they were nasty).

Recruit Marcus Rush Flies by Night to Michigan State for 11th Commit - The Only Colors
Dantonio is cleaning up at MSU this year; 11 commits is pretty commendable when you're typically a Big Ten also-ran. So much for him getting fired and rejoining the Ohio State staff, I guess. Damn you, Sparty!

toledoblade.com -- Time to change? Big Ten debates playing games in December

Okay, look, here's the deal: I am going to smack the next person who tells me Ohio State lost two straight championship games due to an "extended" layoff. I will find you, and I will smack you. And then I will mail you CDs comprised entirely of recordings of me laughing at you. This is the worst excuse in the history of excuses. As Coach Tressel has himself said; Ohio State had a similar 50+ day layoff before the Miami game in '02 (technically '03, but whatev), and damn it, if that wasn't the most fired up Ohio State team you've ever seen, I'd like some photographic evidence of it.

But, I am still of the opinion that division and a conference championship game will help make the conference "stronger"; it won't totally make up for the staid coaching philosophies, the talent differentials between the upper tier and the lower tier, or the poor OOC scheduling by a majority of Big Ten teams. But it'll help. Of course, I only want this should a round-robin setup somehow not work out.

Out of Curiosity: How DID Julio Jones steal the spotlight from A.J. Green?

Todd — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:29 -0000

Inspired by kleph's Stupid Question of the Day fanpost from Friday (and therefor AJC columnist Bill King's poor answer to said question), I thought it was time for another "Out of Curiosity" post to take a look at some of the reasons Julio Jones has received more attention and hype than A.J. Green despite both being VHT Five Star types that had stellar freshman seasons. King has two theories about it, one of which has merit and one of which could have merit if it wasn't wrapped in pure, homer paranoia, while I have five (hopefully solid) reasons of my own. Let's begin:

Julio was simply a higher profile recruit than Green. Though both were arguably as highly touted by Rivals (the #1 and #2 receivers, respectively, and both were top ten overall recruits), Green committed to Georgia in October of '06 while Julio waited until National Signing Day to choose Alabama (at a televised news conference, no less). In the four months between commits, Green flew under the radar while Jones remained in the public eye by refusing to name his leader while also taking all of his official visits, and reportedly being asked to leave during an official visit to Florid for "recruiting" for Oklahoma (which all turned out to be nonsense, but it was still quite a story). Further, while Green was certainly a huge get for UGA, it can be argued that he was just another link in the chain of stellar recruits that Mark Richt has brought to Athens over the years, while Julio put the cherry on top of what turned out to be the #1 recruiting class in the country at a program that hadn't been doing so well in that regard for...ever, really. So even though both were big gets for their respective programs, the differing circumstances surrounding their individual recruitment made Julio a household name and Green just another VHT at a school that was no stranger to them.

Julio was a bigger part of Alabama's passing game. This actually ties in with King's theory that Julio deserves more credit because he was stuck with a "servicable" John Parker Wilson running the Tide offense while Green had the luxury of Matt Stafford, the eventual #1 draft pick, throwing to him. This one actually has merit to it, if only for the fact that, with a QB like Stafford, the ball was being thrown around a lot more and there was a greater emphasis on the passing game. The numbers bear that out as well:

Georgia	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Mohamed Massaquoi	58	920	15.9	8	78	70.8
A.J. Green	56	963	17.2	8	54	74.1
Michael Moore	29	451	15.6	2	46	34.7

Alabama	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Julio Jones	58	924	15.9	4	64	66.0
Nick Walker	32	324	10.1	2	40	23.1
Mike McCoy	16	191	11.9	1	30	14.7

Looking at the top three receivers for each team last season, a few things ought to jump out at you:

1. The top three receivers for UGA were just that; receivers. Meanwhile, the Tide's #2 man was a Tight End and, to take it even further, the Dawg's 4th and 5th leading receivers were WRs while the Tide's Glen Coffee (a RB) was fourth ahead of WR Marquis Maze at Alabama.

2. Though Green led the team in receiving yards, Massaquoi actually led the team in number of receptions and tied Green for # of receiving TDs with 8. Meanwhile, no one on the Tide's roster came close to touching Julio's production from a # of receptions or receiving yards standpoint. Green was clearly a crucial cog in the UGA passing game, no doubt, but given Massaquoi's similar production and the fact that Michael Moore was a reliable third man, Greene didn't carry the burden of receiving production alone. Julio, on the other hand, was essentially the entire passing game for Alabama. Furthering that thought...

Knowshon Moreno stole A.J. Green's thunder, not Julio. With Stafford, a solid overall receiving corps, and a star at tailback, the Dawgs had a much more balanced attack than the Crimson Tide, and therefor the individual cogs in the UGA offense had more opportunity to shine. This made Knowshon Moreno very happy:

This is in no way meant to imply that Moreno is some sort of showboating hot dog, but let's face it, when you have teammates leaping over defenders and creating some of the more iconic images of the season, it's kind of hard to separate yourself from the pack. In Alabama's case, though Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram (and Roy Upchurch, when healthy), were solid running backs they weren't out making highlight reel moves, they were simply lowering their shoulders and running defenders over. Julio, on the other hand, was a one man highlight reel:

Soundtrack Warning

This all goes back to the idea that Jones was able to remain in the public conscious while Green was just another part of the Georgia offense.

Alabama had the better season. This is probably the biggest reason Julio has received more hype and attention than Green, and one King somewhat touched on in his column (in a condescending, homerish way):

So what’s the difference in how Green and Jones are being perceived? Does Jones being on a team with the magic name of "Alabama" that went to the SEC Championship play into it?

Yes it does and, quite frankly, it should. Before the Tide and Dawgs met last season, Georgia was a national title contender, and thus the focus of plenty of media coverage and the attendant scrutiny of it's players. After that game, though, Alabama became the national title contender and, considering Georgia was absolutely slaughtered by Florida four weeks later and dropped their season ending match with Georgia Tech, remained heavily in the discussion of "best teams" in the country while Georgia fell off the radar.

No one knows what the Georgia offense will do in 2009. Now that Stafford, Massaquoi, and Moreno are in the NFL, there is far more uncertainty about the Georgia offense than there is Alabama's. Though the Tide will try and open up the passing game and develop receiving threats outside of Jones in 2009, all the elements are their to continue the kind of physical, run first approach that dominated the play calling in '08. Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch are back to continue on with the power running, the TE position is again one of the deepest we have, and we have another smart if unspectacular QB that can make the throws necessary but who's biggest asset is taking what the defense gives him and avoiding negative plays. With the mindset that Alabama will be doing pretty much the same thing it did last year, it's only natural that a focus be put on Julio Jones, who was such a big part of the offense's success. Georgia, on the other hand, has more pressing concerns like finding a QB and replacing Moreno in the backfield, two issues that are going to be first and foremost in the minds of fans and the media when discussing the upcoming season.

All in all, Georgia fans have every right to consider A.J. Green one of the top receivers in the SEC (and even in the country) and should hold out high hopes that he will continue to develop into a truly elite player, but what they shouldn't do is get upset that Julio Jones is receiving more attention in the preseason. He earned it.

There Simply is No Basis for Believing the 2009 Georgia Bulldogs Will Succeed

T Kyle King — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:15:11 -0000

(Author’s Note: What follows is, after the fashion of our favorite football coach, somewhat tongue-in-cheek . . . which is to say, the exaggerations that follow are, like Mark Richt’s mention of the relative humidity in the Sunshine State, hyperbolic expressions of beliefs the speaker genuinely holds at the most basic level, albeit not to the extreme extent indicated. If this also happens to remind you of anything else you may have read here recently, well, such a resemblance probably is not coincidental.)

Summer is upon us and optimism is in abundance, from donkeydawg to charlottedawg and from DavetheDawg to Doug Gillett (who is a loyal Bulldog fan, despite not having any variation of "Dawg" in his handle).

Well, I, for one, have tried my hand at viewing the glass as ~~full~~ ~~half-full~~ ~~anything other than empty~~ not broken into sharp jagged shards, and the experienced left me burned, bloodied, and convinced that Larry Munson was overly inclined to look on the bright side. Move over, Wallace "Weeping Wally" Butts; step aside, Vince Dooley . . . the dour doubters, dejected doomsayers, and Chicken Littles of Bulldog Nation are about to crown a new King. (See what I did there?)

Seven weeks ago, I was bold enough to declare that Georgia was going 7-5. I’ll be straight with you, folks: I have the 2009 schedule magnet affixed to my refrigerator, and, every time I look at it, I get a shiver up my spine. I think the bottom’s about to fall out, people.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

The Bulldogs open against a current Big 12 school in a venue other than Sanford Stadium. The Red and Black have done so twice in their history, opening the autumn against Texas in Atlanta in 1957 and in Austin in 1958. Both outings ended in Georgia losses to start seasons that ended with the ‘Dawgs finishing under .500.

The Classic City Canines’ second opponent is South Carolina, which kicks off the campaign in a Thursday night game on September 3 and therefore has nine days in which to prepare for the ‘Dawgs. Georgia’s third opponent is Arkansas, which has an open date the Saturday before facing the Athenians. The Bulldogs’ last opponent is Georgia Tech, which also has a bye week prior to ending the season against Georgia. (The comically soft "gauntlet" the Yellow Jackets must run in the stretch leading up to their date with the Red and Black consists of Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and Duke, so the Ramblin’ Wreck starters should play a combined total of about eight quarters’ worth of football in the five weeks prior to Thanksgiving, which should give them a lot of clean old-fashioned rest.)

Many other Georgia opponents might as well have open dates before taking on the ‘Dawgs. Auburn faces Division I-AA Furman, Arizona State meets Louisiana-Monroe, and both Florida and L.S.U. catch Mississippi State seven days before squaring off with the Red and Black.

As if all that weren’t bad enough, now Joel’s even got me worried about Lane Kiffin, for crying out loud!

Joel, you had me at Kristin Davis. Adding bacon and "Kyle hates Auburn" was just piling on, really.

The 2009 Bulldogs must replace a number of star players at key positions, so there are bound to be some growing pains, but the new starters had better do their growing in a great big hurry. Georgia opens the season by playing seven straight games without a break and only three of the Red and Black’s first eight games are between the hedges.

That would be bad enough even against a manageable slate, but this year’s schedule is far from manageable.

To make matters worse, we had no sooner begun to feel a modicum of confidence about the defensive end spot than Justin Houston got himself suspended for the games against the Cowboys and the Gamecocks. The ability to apply pressure with the front four without an inordinate amount of blitzing is the lynchpin of the Brian VanGorder/Willie Martinez defensive philosophy; what basis do we have for believing that the ‘Dawgs will be better at it this year than last?

All right, I’m not truly as down as all that, and nothing would please me more than to have the team prove me wrong, but, where Doug sees the possibility of a ten-win season including a bowl victory, I’m beginning to wonder whether we’re staring down the barrel of a five-win season and no bowl eligibility. At best, we could be looking at a 1985-type season, in which a so-called "upset" over the No. 1-ranked Gators (I consider a win in Jacksonville inevitable, making the Florida game the only "guaranteed" Division I-A win on Georgia’s schedule) is required to reach seven victories for the fall.

Does anyone want to try talking me down (or, rather, up) from that position?

Go ‘Dawgs!

Post-Spring Previews: Georgia

Gamecock Man — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:34:56 -0000

After traveling to Raleigh, the Gamecocks continue their path along one of the nation's toughest schedules when they go to Athens to take on the 'Dawgs. The Georgia game is always one of the defining moments of our season. Most Gamecocks fans consider Georgia our biggest SEC rival, and a win typically marks the beginning of a good season (2007 aside).

On the whole, Georgia is a team full of question marks. They disappointed last year after coming into the season with sky-high expectations. This year, they have to replace a number of significant players, most notably offensive stars Matt Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and Mohamed Massaquoi. On the other hand, they return significant talent on defense and on the offensive line. Their success will likely depend on whether Joe Cox can be efficient and can at least come to close to matching Stafford's productivity and if their defense can stay healthy and play better than it did in highly publicized meltdowns against LSU, Florida, and Georgia Tech last season. We'll probably know a lot more about Georgia after they open their season at Oklahoma State, a team with an absolutely explosive offense that will probably be preseason top ten.

Let's take a closer look at how we match up against these guys.

Quarterback

Mark Richt plans to start senior Joe Cox, who got significant playing time early in 2006 but since then has been Stafford's backup, only playing in mop-up duty. Cox is a fairly talented player and has spent a lot of time in the system, so the 'Dawgs can reasonably hope that he will be a competent signal caller. However, he lacks Stafford's physical abilities, so his ceiling is probably relatively low. I'd call it a push between Cox and Stephen Garcia; Cox has had longer to grow into his roll and is a more mature player, but he lacks Garcia's natural talent and has less in-game experience than Garcia. Usually, I'd say that means that Garcia has the advantage, but Garcia was hardly impressive in some of his appearances last year. Although he showed promise at times, he has plenty to prove this time around.

Verdict: Push

Running Backs

While Moreno leaves big shoes to fill, Georgia is uncommonly deep at the running back position, with several highly recruited players waiting to become the next Moreno, Garrison Heart, or Herschel Walker. The one most likely to become a household name is Caleb King, a speedy home run threat who rushed for over 200 yards last year as Moreno's primary backup. However, Richard Samuel will also get plenty of touches, and the two backs may form something of a Thunder and Lightening duo. I'd say UGA has a slight advantage over us here; while I like our stable of backs and expect us to field a much improved running game in the fall, both King and Samuel could start at any school in the nation. These guys are monsters and, while we might get the 'Dawgs during a transition period while UGA tries to figure out how best to divvy the caries, I doubt UGA will miss a beat without Moreno this year.

Verdict: Slight advantage Georgia

Offensive Line

UGA returns a seasoned, talented offensive line led by tackles Quintin Sturdivant and Clint Boling. Sturdivant's preseason injury last year caused this unit to underperform last year, but if Sturdivant is able to return close to full strength, this should be a very good unit. I would give them a slight advantage over our line. While I expect much-improved blocking from our guys this year and the play in the spring gives us every indication that that's what we'll get, we simply lack the talent possessed by Georgia at these positions.

Verdict: Slight advantage Georgia

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Georgia returns phenomenal receiver A. J. Green (yep, the same Summerville star that screwed his home state's flagship university by committing to a bitter rival) but loses the aforementioned Massaquoi, and so far it's unclear who will be the second receiver. That could be problematic for Georgia, as Cox could use the benefit of a slew of targets. At TE--a position that hasn't been featured in recent UGA offenses but may be this year--UGA loses ball-dropping machine Tripp Chandler but brings in the highly recruited Orson Charles and Arthur Lynch. Charles is a big, fast player receiving end somewhat out of the Jared Cook mold, while Lynch is more of a traditional end. Either will be a significant improvement over Chandler. I'd call it a push at these positions; after losing Kenny McKinley we don't have anyone like Green on our team, but what we lose in that contrast we gain in better depth.

Verdict: Push

Defensive Line

The 'Dawgs return a very strong couple of players at tackle in Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens. However, they appear to lack a dangerous pass rusher, especially as they'll be without end Justin Houston, who is suspended for the first two games, when they play us. If Ladi Ajiboye plays in this game, I think we have a slight advantage here. While I like Atkins and Owens a bit more than Ajiboye and Nathan Pepper, UGA lacks the sack threats at end that we have in Clifton Geathers and Cliff Matthews.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Linebackers

UGA and Carolina each return one of the nation's best linebackers in Rennie Curran and Eric Norwood. UGA, however, also returns Daryl Gamble, another quality player, whereas Carolina will still be in the process of breaking in Rodney Paulk and Shaq Wilson as Norwood's partners in crime. UGA gets a slight advantage here.

Verdict: Slight advantage Georgia

Secondary

Georgia returns star safety Reshad Jones as well as corner Prince Miller but is a little more uncertain at the other two starting spots. This puts them in a similar spot to Carolina, who returns Chris Culliver, who came into his own as a future star late last season, and Darian Stewart but, after the departure of Emanuel Cook, Captain Munnerlyn, and Stoney Woodson to the NFL, will have to fill the other spots with a host of freshmen and returning lettermen like Addison Williams who haven't always been the best around. I'm calling this one another push.

Verdict: Push

Special Teams

UGA returns a pretty good placekicker in Blair Walsh. However, their return units were a liability last season, and they'll have to prove they can improve in those areas this year. Carolina has similar questions and lacks the returning kicker, so I'll give UGA a slight advantage here.

Verdict: Slight advantage Georgia

Head Coaches

Although he's yet to win a national title, Mark Richt has been one of the most consistent coaches in the SEC while at Georgia and has one of the highest winning percentages in school history. In a way, that makes him a lot like Steve Spurrier at Florida before Spurrier won the national title in 1996, as Spurrier had up until that point been a coach that won lots of games and often got his team in position to compete for national titles but usually ended up dropping a game he should have won. My thinking is that Richt will put together that perfect season one day; a coach doesn't put his team in the top 10 as consistently as Richt does without finally having a season when the ball rolls his way. In terms of comparing the two, you can put me in the camp that believes that Spurrier still has his coaching chops, but the fact that Spurrier hasn't managed to really do much since he left Florida in 2001 means that advantage here has to go to Richt, who still appears to be at the height of his powers.

Verdict: Slight advantage Georgia

Overall

We and our coach tend to be at the top of our game when facing the 'Dawgs. However, Georgia does have more talent than us at most positions. They also have more depth than us, although I think the gap has closed somewhat and, at any rate, depth shouldn't matter too much in the second game of the season. All of that means that a victory in this game, especially considering it's in Athens, would be an unqualified upset. I think the game will be close and that we'll have a chance to win it late, but I can't bring myself to predict a victory at this point. After we've seen how these two teams play in their season openers, maybe we can revise that.

Prediction: Georgia wins by a touchdown

Report: WR Drew Bennett Being Brought in for Workout

Chris Pokorny — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:21:58 -0000

According to Scout.com's Adam Caplan, former Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams WR Drew Bennett will be brought in by the Cleveland Browns for a physical and a work out.

The news comes as somewhat of a surprise considering we were inactive in the wide receiver free agent market prior to the draft, with our only significant signing being veteran wideout David Patten. After drafting receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi this past weekend, it looked as if we were "set" for the season.

With that said, I would encourage a Bennett signing if we can get him for cheap. He flourished at times while he was with the Titans, but he was a major disappointment the past two years for the Rams. At 6'5", Bennett has similarities to former Browns wideout Joe Jurevicius.

Bennett is coming off foot surgery after only playing in one game last season.

Poll

After just drafting Robiskie and Massaquoi, would you like the Browns to sign WR Drew Bennett?

Yes

1122 votes

No

215 votes

1337 votes | Poll has closed

Reacting to Day 1 of the Cleveland Browns Draft

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:56:40 -0000

Before the draft, we were wondering if any of the trade rumors regarding the Cleveland Browns would come true. Would QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson, or WR Braylon Edwards be on the move? Well, get this folks: the Browns made three trades in the first round alone -- although none of them involved us parting with players.

When the Browns first sat on the clock at No. 5 overall, they had to be disappointed that LB Aaron Curry was selected at No. 4 by the Seattle Seahawks. I just don't see how we could have passed up that potential if he were on the board, which means that we probably wouldn't have made any trades.

Clearly, based on our quick dealings, George Kokinis and Eric Mangini had this "backup plan" in mind all along, especially with the New York Jets. You don't just make a deal that includes three current NFL players in a matter of ten minutes -- there has to be some prior negotiation.

The Jets needed a QB, so they traded up to the No. 5 spot. How ironic is it that Mangini was negotiating with his former team? Business is business, though, and that's all that counts. Yesterday, I took down the tagline that I had on this site for about a month that read "Converting Green to Orange and Brown, Day-by-Day". In hindsight, I should have left that message up.

The Browns dropped down to the No. 17 overall pick and also acquired the Jets' No. 52 pick. That in itself would not have been a very good trade, but here is the part that made it bearable: three quality players from the Jets.

QB Brett Ratliff - We could have a QB battle between Quinn and Anderson still, and then end up trading Anderson in training camp to a team that needs him. Ratliff at least provides us with a ready backup. His experience is at a minimum, but from what I saw of him in the preseason last year, I'd feel more comfortable with him than Ken Dorsey.
DE Kenyon Coleman - We can't stress how important it is to have a rotation at the defensive line position. Last year, we seemed set at the start of the season, but the Robaire Smith injury set us back. Coleman has the experience, recording 83 tackles in 2007 and 55 tackles last season.
S Abram Elam - This is probably the most critical pickup in this trade, because he will probably be the leading candidate to start opposite Brodney Pool at safety. The Browns originally tried to sign Elam as a restricted free agent a few months ago, but the Jets (somewhat surprisingly) matched the offer and kept him, reportedly because they felt he was important to the team.

From there, the Browns did a little more shuffling to move down from the No. 17 spot. First, we traded with Tampa Bay to exchange first-round picks (they had No. 19 overall), and we also acquired their pick at No. 191. When we were on the clock again, we made our final trade of the evening, this time to the Philadelphia Eagles. We again exchanged first round picks (they had No. 21 overall), and we acquired their pick at No. 194.

Finally, after all of that ruckus, the Browns settled on selecting C Alex Mack. I love the idea of having Mack, as I stated a couple of days ago in my draft primer. I'm not excited about having to pick him a little earlier than I would've liked, but I'm not going to curse out Kokinis and Mangini for the pick. Hank Fraley was a liability on the line, and now I feel a lot more secure about the development of Brady Quinn heading into this season. We also are in line to have a better line for RB Jamal Lewis to be in front of.

The Browns' next two picks also addressed positions of need, wide receiver.

I am already salivating over the concept of removing the horrors of our wide receiver position last year, when Donte Stallworth did nothing and Syndric Steptoe was put in a starting situation when he had proved nothing.

At No. 36 overall, we took Ohio State product Brian Robiskie. He was touted as being the most polished or "ready" wide receiver in the draft. In other words, he should be able to step in and be as productive as he can be without going through the "rookie" learning experiences.

NFL ready? Young player? I guess Quinn and Robiskie will be on the same page in terms of expectations at least.
At No. 50 overall, we took Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia. I certainly didn't expect two receivers in a row, but as I stated above, the concept is intriguing. Part of our team's problem two years ago (when we should have made the playoffs) was that we didn't have a third receiver. Now, we potentially have three receivers who can contribute. Also, if one of them is a bust, at least we can fall back on the other guy.

Now, here is the somewhat controversial part to the picks above. When we were on the clock at No. 36 overall, the following players were still available:

LB Rey Maualuga (No. 38 overall)
LB Everette Brown (No. 43 overall)
LB Connor Barwin (No. 46 overall)

Barwin wasn't the surprise -- seeing Maualuga and Brown in the second round were the shockers. The Browns passed on both of them, but don't neglect the fact that so did "X" number of other teams. Considering that I was emphatic about linebacker being the Browns' biggest need though heading into the draft, I think only time will tell whether this was an "OK" decision for management to make.

With our final pick of Day 1, we did get that linebacker I was looking for -- Hawai'i product David Veikune. I'll have to compile a scouting report on him in the next few days, but rufio loved the selection and called him the type of [pass-rushing] linebacker we needed.

In conclusion, the first day for the Browns seemed like a very fair day. It was certainly more eventful than last year, but it wasn't a draft that shattered expectations. We didn't disappoint either, which is all I can ask for from new management.

At least it wasn't like the Oakland Raiders or the Denver Broncos, eh?

(One other note: thanks to everyone for sticking around DBN in the open draft threads! And, a huge thanks to rufio for picking up the slack while I was away, as well as the DBN Big Board he has compiled over the past few weeks.

Be sure to come back tomorrow bright and early at 10:00 AM. We don't have a third round pick, but after three trades today, would you really bet your money on us not having a selection in that round when it's all said and done?)

Poll

What is your satisfaction "grade" of Day 1 of the 2009 NFL Draft for the Cleveland Browns, considering who was available when they picked?

A (Outstanding)

167 votes

B (Pretty Good)

1196 votes

C (Fair)

537 votes

D (Disappointed)

252 votes

F (Failure)

83 votes

2235 votes | Poll has closed

SEC Day 1 Draft Grades

Year2 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:54:37 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

Light blue is so not his color. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Browse more photos »

If there's one thing I've learned about NFL Draft coverage, it's that it's never too early to grade draft picks. Two seconds after the commissioner makes the announcement: was that a reach? Is he a good pick? What were they thinking?!

So in an attempt to embrace the insanity, here's your Day 1 draft grades for the SEC:

1. Matthew Stafford: F

The Lions are one of the worst franchises and have been forever. The city of Detroit is a mess, and it will only become moreso if the auto industry can't get itself sorted out. The worst of it? He doesn't look right in blue. He had it correct coming out of high school, when he chose to play for the red and black in Athens. Just a disaster all around.

3. Tyson Jackson: A

He gets to reunite with former teammates (and fellow first round picks) Glenn Dorsey and Dwayne Bowe. Plus, New England architecht Scott Pioli is running the show so there's actually hope for real improvement to the franchise. He chose not to go to New York because he thought he couldn't handle the business of New York, so KC is a good contrast to that. There's a lot to like here.

6. Andre Smith: D

Let's see... he's best as a run blocker and appeared to have maturity issues during draft season. So, he's going to a team with a brittle quarterback, no running game, and the most character issues of any in the game. You tell me how this makes sense.

12. Knowshon Moreno: C

It's always dicey heading into a franchise that has undergone a regime change, and it's only amplified if the new coach is only 32. At least the Broncos managed to replace their young quarterback Jay Cutler with a more experienced, veteran guy in Kyle Orton. That should totally take a lot of pressure off of the running game.

18. Robert Ayers: C

22. Percy Harvin: C or A

If the Vikings don't get someone other than Tavares Jackson by kickoff of Week 1, then this is no better than a C. If they pick up someone like Utah's Brian Johnson on day two of the draft and run some triple option with Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Harvin, then it's an unquestioned A.

23. Michael Oher: A

All sarcasm aside, it's great for Oher that he's a first round pick. Go read up on his backstory. It's a statistical outlier that he even got this far, and he earned everything he's getting. Plus, the Ravens tend to be one of the better run franchises. It's a good fit for a good guy.

24. Peria Jerry: B

The Falcons appear to be on the way up and Atlanta isn't that far away from Mississippi. This only gets a B though because the Falcons made the playoffs last year. As the franchise is cursed never to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Jerry will miss out on the possibility of a postseason bonus check in his first year.

50. Mohamed Massaquoi: B-

How big a role he'll need to play depends a lot on whether the Browns end up trading Braylon Edwards. It's a position of need regardless, so it's not a bad fit. Two problems: Cleveland is way too cold in the winter (it's not called the snow belt for nothing) and now he actually has to spend time around the Mangenius.

62. Sen'Derrick Marks: B

As long as Jeff Fisher is in Tennessee, defense will be the top priority. The Titans were one of last year's surprise teams, lasting the longest without losing. This season they should be good again, and Marks will get a chance to contribute. This will all work swimmingly until Kerry Collins breaks down in January.

Finishing Up the ROTB Community Mock Draft

Andrew602 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:02:08 -0000

First off, we just want to give a big thanks for everybody participating and making this community mock draft so successful. It's currently crunch time and I think I can speak for everybody when I say, thank god the draft his tomorrow because all these mock picks are starting to become deflating. So with that said, I haven't received a response for the Giants, Colts and Titans picks and will therefore, make the selections so we can vote for the Cardinals 2nd round pick.

New York Giants - RB Donald Brown

He's somehow managed to last this long and the Giants would love to add a young multipurpose back to their team. He's current the BPA and would be a great value pick and #59. The Giants had that three headed monster attack last year that was one of the best rushing units in the NFL and was key to their success. Adding Brown would fill the loss of Derrick Ward.

Indianapolis Colts - WR Mohamed Massaquoi

Massaquoi will never fill the void of Marvin Harrison leaving this off-season but the Colts would benefit from acquiring him. He's got a nice frame and would be ideally suited in the slot due to his yards after the catch. He does need some work on holding on to the ball, but aside from that, the Colts do have two good receivers in Wayne and Gonzales that can allow Massaquoi to develop.(Thanks to IrishCardinal for making this pick)

Tennessee Titans - WR Juaquin Iglesias

The best defensive tackles are already off the board and the Titans need to establish a need they've had since Derrick Mason left, wide receiver. Iglesias provides a legitimate threat on offense and an all-around talented receiver. His only drawback is his speed but his natural ability excels in every other category.

And now on to the Cardinals potential second round pick------------------------------->

In the 1st round, the ROTB community voted and decided the Cardinals would take running back Beanie Wells to shore up their inept running game. With that being said, the Cardinals can now establish needs in other areas. At this point the Cardinals can very well go BPA(Best Player Available). Here are the nominees:

Duke Robinson G Oklahoma

Robinson has good straight-line quickness for a player his size, but is a bit stiff and shows just marginal foot speed working into the second level. He has great strength and leg drive to run through defenders and open rush lanes. His frame is also a great asset when he is asked to create movement off the snap. While he might struggle to mirror quicker edge rushers, he uses his arms well to engulf the smaller opponent. When he plays on his feet, he can do a good job mirroring vs. edge rushers.

Jason Williams OLB Western Illinois

Williams has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above-average player in the open field with suddenness to close. He shows good strength at initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes.

Chase Coffman TE Missouri

He is explosive with his initial step off the line of scrimmage and shows the body control to easily adjust on the move. He demonstrates the wingspan and reach to adjust easily to the poorly thrown pass and looks agile and alert running his routes. Coffman has natural hands, above average lateral agility and does a fine job of getting open, displaying the power to break tackles and the leaping ability to hurdle over smaller opponents.

Cody Brown OLB/DE University of Connecticut

Despite the concerns about his size or strength, it's impossible to ignore 33 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including five forced fumbles in 2008. Brown consistently made impact plays and was arguably the most explosive defender in the Big East Conference over the two seasons. He was a three year starter at U-Conn was the first true freshman to start a game on the defensive or offensive line in U-Conn's D1 era. He's got a ton of experience but he still must continue developing his game if he wants to be an every down player.

Eric Wood C Louisville

Wood would be a solid addition in the second round if he somehow slipped to the Cardinals pick. He's a dependable player who will keep his legs driving and plays with a mean streak. He's a straight line center that does a good job matching what the defender brings. If he can improve on his quickness and lower body strength, he can be an anchor for any teams offensive line.

Sherrod Martin FS Troy

Martin's a versatile player who should be able to help any team that drafts him in a variety of ways. He was a very effective gunner on punt coverage and could be a solid contributor on special teams early in his career. If he's left at his natural position, safety, his transition to the NFL could be a relatively easy one. Overall though he is an underrated prospect with a very intriguing skill set.

Sen'Derrick Marks DT Auburn

Marks has adequate timed speed, good balance and short-area quickness, showing the loose hips needed when changing direction. He can accelerate into the backfield to disrupt the plays and plays at a low center of gravity that he combines with his squat frame to slip under reach blocks, but fails to play with a consistent motor. He uses his hands effectively and gains leverage to jolt and stack blockers. His motor runs hot and cold and he needs to play with more consistent intensity. He is basically a short-area type of player with limited long speed.

Most of breakdowns provided are from Cbssports.

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Again, thanks for everybody who participated and lets hope for a productive real draft tomorrow. I'll be on here for the draft and we'll post the Cardinals second round pick then as well.

Poll

Who should be the Cardinals mock draft 2nd round pick?

Duke Robinson G

14 votes

Jason Williams OLB

20 votes

Chase Coffman TE

14 votes

Cody Brown OLB

38 votes

Eric Wood C

38 votes

Sherrod Martin FS

3 votes

Sen'Derrick Marks DT

13 votes

Other

10 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed