SB Nation - Jamon Meredith

Keys to Success in 2009: Number 2, Establishing a Running Game

Gamecock Man — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:22:38 -0000

Without a doubt, one of our biggest problems last year was our inability to establish a running game. We ranked 112th in the country and dead last in the SEC in team rushing offense. While a lot of the talk right now is about how Stephen Garcia needs to step up for the Gamecocks to win in 2009, the truth is that, even at its worst, last year's passing game looked like a well-oiled machine compared to the running game. Even in Steve Spurrier's passing-oriented offense, we're not going to score many points with such a horrible ground game even if Garcia plays well. In fact, Spurrier's offenses rely on the run game more than many might think. Spurrier, like most coaches that run something like a pro-style offense, needs strong running to open keep defenses honest and thereby open up the opportunity to throw the ball down field. We haven't had that kind of running game since late 2006, and it's shown. Simply put, we have to improve in this as the first step to getting the offense as whole to come into its own.

I'll be honest: I'm not quite as confident in our ground game as I am in Garcia showing marked improvement. We've seen Garcia play well and therefore have an inkling as to what he's capable of when he's on. Moreover, most of his mistakes can be attributed to the kinds of decision-making difficulties that inexperienced quarterbacks often show when they're asked to do more than they're ready for. Those mistakes often disappear with experience. The problems with the running game, though, are multifaceted. For one thing, offensive line play has been a problem for most of Spurrier's time here, and it was a huge problem last year. You can mask a poor line in pass protection to some degree by running out of the shotgun and just asking the linemen to hold off defenders long enough for the quarterback to get a pass off. However, you can't mask poor run protection. Run protection requires not only holding defenders off but actually creating running lanes. Not even the best running backs can run well if that's not happening, and he certainly can't run well when defensive tackles are in his face as soon as he gets the ball in his hands, which was the case last year. Second of all, even when we've gotten relatively good run blocking, our backs haven't been the best since Cory Boyd graduated. Mike Davis was probably never destined to be anything more than a third-down back and a reliable receiver out of the backfield, and Brian Maddox and Eric Baker lacked experience last year. A lot of progress needs to be made in all of these areas for us to get to where we need to be.

Read the rest of the story after the jump.

Luckily, though, while there is still cause for concern, there is also reason to believe that we will have a better running game this year. For one thing, the offensive line played better in the spring and appears to be more talented than the lines we've had in the past, the departure of Jamon Meredith notwithstanding. Part of the spring improvement, perhaps, is attributable to new line coach Eric Wolford, who replaces the much-maligned John Hunt. Wolford and Steve Spurrier have pledged to get better, tougher line play in general and better run blocking in particular as one of their primary goals this year, and they made some strides in the spring.

We also now have a relatively deep backfield. Brian Maddox has been named the starter after a solid spring, and incoming freshman Jarvis Giles, Eric Baker, and redshirt freshman Kenny Miles are all going to contribute. While none of these guys look like the next coming of Herschel Walker, each is talented and, moreover, each is talented in different ways, making the prospect of using a rotation that takes advantage of the skills of each more plausible. Maddox and Giles are all-purpose backs (although Giles may need to put on a few pounds to survive taking his licks from SEC linebackers), Baker is a good receiver out of the backfield, Miles is a home-run threat, etc.

Will this be one of the SEC's best rushing offenses? Probably not, when you consider the kind of talent teams like Alabama and Georgia have. But I do think it will be better than what we've had in the past, and if it can do its job along with Garcia, we could actually have a decent offense around here for a change.

Friday News and Notes: Eric Hyman Receives Extension, Jamon Meredith Signs with Packers

Gamecock Man — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:12:33 -0000

The USC Board of Trustees have approved a contract extension for AD Eric Hyman. Hyman has proven somewhat divisive with USC fans. Rising ticket prices and revisions to seating allotment rules have angered some, while others see Hyman as putting us in line with the tactics used by power programs to bring sufficient money into their programs to retain their elite status. My take? While I regret that the days of cheap tickets and apple pie are gone, we have to recognize that we're in an arms race with the Georgias and Floridas of the world. Hyman has taken steps to put us into competition with them, and he deserves his extension for that. He also gets credit for hiring Darrin Horn, which has worked out pretty well so far.

The other news today is that Jamon Meredith has signed with the Green Bay Packers. Meredith's deal is worth 1.75 million over four years. Congrats, Jamon!

Post-Spring Preview: NC State Wolfpack

Gamecock Man — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:51:23 -0000

Carolina once again opens their season against NC State, this time traveling to Raleigh to take on the 'Pack. Last time around, we beat State 34-0. However, the score was deceiving: we only led 3-0 at the half and 13-0 at the beginning of the final quarter, and Chris Smelley came in to relieve the regrettable Tommy Beecher and played a deceptively good quarter in which we scored the final 21 points. As we all know, this game was a harbinger of many things we would experience throughout the season, among them a defense that saved the crazy bad offense, inconsistent QB play, absolutely no running game (don't let all the yards Mike Davis racked up at the end of this game deceive you).

This year, I expect this game to be much different. First of all, State is no longer the team they were at that point. Led by QB Russell Wilson, the "Pack emerged at the end of last season after a horrid start and eventually earned a bowl berth. State will look to continue their solid play this year. South Carolina, on the other hand, still has questions, this time on both sides of the ball. However, a more experienced Stephen Garcia, a new offensive line coach in Eric Wolford, and another stellar recruiting class have us believing we can play better this year.

Let's take a look at how the two teams match up against each other on offense. The defensive and head coaching comparisons are soon to come.

Offense

Quarterback

State comes in with the aforementioned Wilson, who played very well down the stretch last year. Wilson's most impressive stat is his 17-1 TD-INT ratio, a surprising stat considering that his completion percentage was good but not great at 54.5%. Wilson is also an effective scrambler. If Wilson gets hurt or doesn't live up to expectations, former star recruit Mike Glennon is waiting in the wings.

We of course have Stephen Garcia, who looked good in spurts last year but played poorly over the last few games. Garcia probably has more upside than Wilson, but he needs to prove that he can live up to expectations. Hopefully his good spring was an indication that he's on the way there, but he still haven't proven he can play well consistently, which Wilson has done to some degree.

Verdict: Push--Wilson is more proven but Garcia could be much better when all is said and done

Running Back

State loses Andre Brown, who went to the New York Giants in the fourth round. However, they do return Jamelle Eugene, a capable back that has played well in tandem with Brown over the past two years.

South Carolina loses starter Mike Davis, but returns talented back ups in Brian Maddox and Eric Baker and has new comers with star potential in true freshman Jarvis Giles and redshirt freshman Kenny Miles. While none of these players has yet played a major role in the offense, they are all talented and having a number of them gives us a lot of depth. While I hesitate to call anything about our running game superior, I think this will be a break out unit in 2009.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina--State will be productive, but one or more of the SC backs will emerge for a breakout 2009

Wide Receiver

With Jarvis Williams and Owen Spencer returning, State has a solid receiving core coming back. These two players were Wilson's main targets last year.

South Carolina lost one of its best players in recent history when Kenny McKinley graduated. Losing McKinley will hurt us, but hopefully Jason Barnes, Moe Brown, and Dion LeCorn will be able to step in and fill his shoes. Each, however, has failed to consistently perform well over the past couple of years. I think it's key that one of these guys emerges as the go-to guy. He doesn't have to be McKinley or Sidney Rice, but he does need to provide us with a viable target.

Verdict: Slight Advantage NC State--the fact that State has proven targets and that I think we have a group of players with a lot to prove gives State the slight advantage

Offensive Line

South Carolina loses Jamon Meredith but retains depth otherwise. This line has performed poorly over the past few years, but new coach Eric Wolford had them performing well in spring practice. I expect significant improvement here in 2009.

State loses two important linemen in John Bedics and Meares Green. Losing these two could be hell for a unit that will have to keep Eric Norwood out of their backfield.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina--as with the running game, I hesitate to make this call, but I really think we're going to see improvement here

Saturday News and Notes: Gamecocks Clinch UGA Series and Second in the East

Gamecock Man — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:56:52 -0000

South Carolina took out the Dawgs again last night, this time by a score of 7-4. Nolan Belcher gets the win and pitched a very good game; the score was 7-1 until UGA put up three in the final two innings against our bullpen. The victory clinches the series and ensures second in the East. More importantly, the win along with Arkansas's loss to Ole Miss, if I'm not mistaken, ensures fifth seed in Hoover. A win tomorrow would be good for regional seeding and, of course, the pride of sweeping UGA. Georgia fans have to be wondering what has happened to their team. Kyle King of Dawg Sports sure is. We know how it feels, Kyle. As for us, we can be proud of a team that has pulled it together in a big way down the stretch.

The AJC reports that we rank sixth in the SEC with 71 career starts for returning offensive linemen (H / T Get the Picture). By comparison, UGA leads the SEC with 99 and Arkansas has the fewest with 43. (The number for Arky, by the way, makes me even more skeptical of Razorbacks Expats claim that the Hogs will take us this year; can you imagine what Eric Norwood will do against their young line?) Although the fact that we lost one of our best in Jamon Meredith hurts, I would say that's a promising statistic for a unit that's had lots of trouble over the past few years. Plus, we have what is hopefully a superior coach coming in in Eric Wolford. I'm hesitant to get too excited over the possibility for good line play, but I'm honestly beginning to feel like this is one place where we should see a lot of improvement this year. Of course, we can only go up, so maybe that doesn't mean much.

Rivals has their position and coaching power rankings up, and we have a few guys on the lists, including Eric Norwood, Weslye Saunders, and Ellis Johnson. I have to say that I think Norwood is a little low at 12; I would probably put him at seven or eight. (While I hate to say it, another guy I think is too low at his position is CJ Spiller.) Also notable: Steve Spurrier is off the coaching list. I'd say that's fair; people aren't going to leave him on these lists forever for things he did a decade ago. However, if he can get us to eight or nine wins this year, I say put him back on.

Dawn Staley's recruiting class, highlighted by Kelsey Bone, ranks fourth in the country. Staley's first year in Columbia was pretty lackluster, but if she continues to recruit like this, it won't be long before she's competing with Tennessee and Auburn for SEC titles.

San Francisco 49ers 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Fooch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:15 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

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And so the 2009 NFL Draft is officially in our rear view mirror. Things got a bit heated at times (pretty much the entire time after the first round), but that's to be expected this time of year. Unless you're a Raiders fan, most teams' drafts leave some fans happy, some angry and some somewhere in between.

Naturally, the first thing we can do is grade the draft. I decided to wait a day so people could calm down and take a second look at the returns. Some of you will still be angry, but at least you've had a chance to sleep on it. Also, as you can see from the poll, we're including undrafted free agents in this group. While not part of the "draft class," they are a part of the San Francisco 49ers rookie class of 2009. Maybe they get lucky with some of them, maybe not. But we're including them anyways. On to the grades. A grade for the draft as a whole is at the end. And no pluses or minuses here. Just solid grades.

Michael Crabtree, WR - Grade: A
I realize the luck/Al Davis stupidity involved here. But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. And in this case, the 49ers were exceptionally lucky. Crabtree was pretty close to #1 on my list of all players in the draft, and definitely #1 on the guys I wanted who I thought miiiiight slip to the 49ers. He's a gifted athlete who could be the 49ers #1 receiver before too long.

Obviously most any pick could be a bust, but there was simply no way the 49ers could pass up when Crabtree was dangled before them at #10. I think Michael Oher will end up having a very solid career in the NFL. Nonetheless, when it comes to what he brings to the table, he is no Michael Crabtree. Wide receiver was not a great need for the 49ers, but I won't even discount the grade because of that. He's the man and that's all there is too it.

Glen Coffee, RB - Grade: C
I'm not a big Coffee drinker but i actually like Glen Coffee. Based on what I've read and what some Alabama fans have told me (included in the above post), Coffee will be a very solid option for the 49ers as a backup running back. I like that he knows he can stand to put on about 8-10 lbs. That would put him at 6-0 and close to 220lbs. More importantly he loves to hit things and you know Singletary loves that.

The reason I discount this grade so much is that I'd imagine they could have had him a little later, or even gone with some other RB options late in the draft. Running back was a need for this team, in spite of what others might think. However, there were some serious players available here that left me a bit confused. In the end I can live with this pick because I do think the 49ers front office has some clue of what's going on (no snickers please). However, it was one that had me a little bit befuddled.

Scott McKillop, ILB - Grade: B
Barrows was pretty much on the money with this as he was pointing to McKillop and another ILB at this spot a few minutes before hand. People were screaming for Jamon Meredith as he was slip-sliding like crazy. The selection of McKillop resulted in a lot of Agggggghhhhhs. However, on reflection, people seem to be recognizing the value of the pick.

McKillop will start off as a special teams guy and a backup to Takeo Spikes. Jeff Ulbrich is running out of gas and is probably nearing the end of his 49ers tenure. Ulbrich could never snatch that Ted position, so now we've got another youngster who will get a crack at it. This is mostly about the future as McKillop is a sure tackler who probably has a good chance to eventually take over Spikes's position. Not a homerun pick but one that I view as very sound.

After the jump we wrap up the remaining four picks and undrafted free agents and give our overview.

Nate Davis, QB - Grade: A
The fifth round was all about looking to the future. The compensatory pick was used on a guy who might very well be a QB of the future. I was trying to decide between an A and a B and I just can't lower the grade. Nate Davis does have Alex Smith tendencies that we certainly don't want to see. The dyslexia is something that can be overcome in the NFL, but obviously is something to keep in mind.

And yet, I couldn't look past the wild productivity in college and the fact that he slipped into the end of the fifth round. Even if he doesn't end up as the long term answer, I like this pick no matter what. Over the last couple years Davis actually was considered a potential high NFL prospect. His draft stock slipped due to the dyslexia and probably the grip on the football. As a fifth round pick, this could end up being one of the steals of the draft.

Bear Pascoe, TE - Grade: C
I'm sure somewhere on Niners Nation I'm on record as being a fan of a tight end named Bear. He just sounds like a tight end and I fully expect him to ably fill the role of Billy Bajema, with maybe even a little receiving game thrown in. Sounds great for a late pick and I realize we can't complain too much about a sixth round choice. Maybe I'm being a bit too hard on the pick.

However, I kind of look at the sixth round as an opportunity to roll the dice on either character guys, or injury issue guys. In the end I'm perfectly fine with Bear Pascoe here because I am firmly convinced he'll contribute in the regular season. And yet, part of me wishes the team had been a bit more aggressive here. It's probably wanting to have my cake and eat it too, but such is life.

Curtis Taylor, S - Grade: B
I like this pick, in spite of the Mark Roman comparisons that were going on. Taylor seems like the type of guy you roll the dice on late in the draft. There are legitimate and obvious flaws in his game. However, when you know the flows, it can often be easier to fix them.

As a seventh round pick there is obviously no pressure on him to win a starting job. And yet, I think he'll give Dashon Goldson a fair amount of competition in training camp. What I found most interesting in his scouting report is that he's too aggressive, and yet he's not physical enough. I suppose I can see how that's possible, but it still sounds like an oxymoron somehow.

Ricky Jean-Francois - Grade: B
Where Bear Pascoe is a football name, Ricky Jean-Francois (RJF from here on out) is decidedly NOT a football name. I expect to see him smoking long cigarettes and insulting opponents with a thick French accent. Actually, he makes me think of Jean Girard from Talladega Nights.

However, RJF, like Taylor, seems like an upside guy that is worth gambling on in the 7th round. At 6-2, 295lbs he's probably a bit undersized for a nose tackle. However, I'd like to think he could pack a little weight on to his frame and possibly make some noise in that position. He's a bit taller than both Sopoaga and Franklin, but I don't know how his frame compares for adding such weight.

Undrafted Free Agents - Grade: A
I've included these as one group because I think the context of all the signings makes a little more sense. Thus far, they include Pannel Egboh (DE), Kory Sheets (RB), Alex Boone (OT), Jahi Word-Daniels (CB) and Carlos Thomas (CB). None of these guys is a home run hitter, or they would have gone in the draft. Question marks abound, but again, that's why they landed on the street.

It's waaaay too early to tell what will happen, but with a few extra pounds on his frame, I think Egboh could push Ray McDonald for a roster spot. McDonald has struggled in making his mark and with Kentwan Balmer and Demetric Evans getting their chances, the squeeze coud be on for Ray.

Kory Sheets was solid at Purdue, but he just doesn't seem to have the potential bulk that Coffee brings to the table. Sheets could find himself in a battle for Thomas Clayton's old practice squad spot. Meanwhile, you've got Alex Boone, who's had a few run-ins with the law. McShay projected him as a late fifth round pick, factoring in those character issues. So, just maybe, the 49ers might have a solid backup option. He'll be battling the likes of Joe Toledo and Jacob Bender for a roster spot, or maybe just a practice squad spot.

OVERALL - Grade: B
I'll bet good money a lot of folks disagree with me on this. I mentioned it in Since79's FanPost, but to reiterate, this was a very odd draft. It just had a weird feel to it, from top to bottom, even beyond the 49ers picks. Guys like Jamon Meredith were plummeting, and Al Davis was drafting guys not even in draft guides.

Beyond the Crabtree pick, the 49ers seemed to be drafting like a team just filling some depth needs, or more precisely, a playoff team with not a ton of concerns. That's certainly not the case and that is why many folks were getting furious. Personally, I wanted a Jamon Meredith or Duke Robinson. I would have liked a Shonn Greene.

However, when you factor in the undrafted free agents, this 49ers rookie class is very intriguing. I gave Coffee a C but that was more because it was a 3rd round pick, instead of a 4th or 5th round pick. You like to hit on those and it seemed like a bit of a gamble. However, I do like Coffee's upside as a backup RB. I don't think he's a guaranteed bust, like others.

People were surprised the team did not grab any offensive linemen or outside linebackers. While I don't know any more than any of you, I do think this indicates the team is obviously fairly happy with what they already have in place. Boone will get a chance to win a roster spot, but for now he's pretty far down the depth chart behind Smith, Snyder and Sims.

Finally, there's The Trade. I was amazed at the divide over this. Some love it, some hate it and very few are in between. I'm a fan of the deal. It cost some potential talent this year, but I like getting that extra first rounder next year. It's all a crapshoot in the end, so why not increase your odds of avoiding crapping out? If I didn't like this trade I would have definitely seen the point of giving the 49ers a C or a D given that it involved a 2nd and 4th round pick. However, I think the trade should prove beneficial in the long run, thus I maintain the B.

There is much much more to be said about this draft. Numerous questions are raised by the moves made this weekend. As long as this post is, I simply can't fit it all in. Over the course of this week and beyond, we'll have plenty of thoughts about what I think again many people would agree was a rather bizarre weekend.

Poll

What grade would you give the 49ers 2009 draft (including UDFA)?

A

636 votes

B

1072 votes

C

294 votes

D

44 votes

F

29 votes

2075 votes | Poll has closed

Gamecocks in the NFL Draft: The Winners and the Losers

Gamecock Man — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:41:44 -0000

South Carolina had a quite a day in this year's draft with a total of seven players hearing their names called. Here are my thoughts about who today's big winners--and by that I mean guys that have reason to be happy about how things went down today--and losers--and by that I mean the guys that must be disappointed.

The Winners

Jasper Brinkley - Fifth Round to Minnesota

Before his knee injury in 2007, Brinkley was considered one of the country's top prospects at ILB, so it has to be kind of disappointing to Jasper to see his stock fall due to injury. However, he has to be feeling good about his successful rehabilitation. Plus, he's joining his old buddy Sidney Rice on the roster of a solid NFL franchise. Not too shabby.

Kenny McKinley - Fifth Round to Denver

While McKinley didn't go in the high rounds and walks into an uncertain situation in Denver, I can't help but think that this is a guy that has really overachieved to get drafted at all. He lacks the kind of size that NFL teams want in WRs these days, but his quickness, hands, and football smarts will help him. I'm not sure if he'll ever be a primary receiver, but he has a good future ahead of him as a slot receiver.

Stoney Woodson - Seventh Round to New York Giants

Most folks were unsure on whether Woodson would hear his name called, so he's gotta be happy that New York--one of the league's most successful franchises--chose him. He'll have to fight an uphill battle to make the roster, but NFL scouts apparently see more potential in him than his defensive-backfield buddy Emanuel Cook (see below). Good for him.

Ryan Succop - Seventh Round to Kansas City

Succop is this year's Mr. Irrelevant as the the very last selection of the draft, but for a guy that plays his position, that's good news. If I'm not mistaken, he was one of only two placekickers selected, which is quite an accomplishment. Although he needs to get his head screwed on a little straighter, I've always thought Succop--who has range that is well above average, even for an NFL kicker--could make it in the NFL. Kansas City's choice to use a pick on him suggests that NFL scouts see his potential.

The Losers

Jared Cook - Third Round to Tennessee

Cook was, unsurprisingly, the first Gamecock off the board, so I hesitate to call him a draft-day loser. He did, though, fall further than I thought he would. I thought Cook's unique combination of size, speed, hands, and route-running ability would make him a second-round selection. I probably underestimated, though, the extent to which NFL scouts would at his questionable blocking ability, lack of true TE size, and Spurrier's tendency to line him up wide. The NFL puts a (sometimes unreasonable, I would say) premium on guys that fit the mold of what they think a player at a certain position should look like, and, despite his obviously valuable abilities, Cook just isn't exactly what teams want in a TE. This all makes me wonder if he could have improved his stock by staying another year, putting on some weight, and working on his blocking abilities. You would have to think that if he did those things effectively, he might have a chance to cash in on a first-round paycheck next year. Still, I think Cook made an acceptable decision. He'll sign a nice contract and shouldn't have much trouble getting his hands on a roster spot. Cook didn't do as well as we had hoped today, but he did OK. He also gets the luxury of joining a pretty good team. Could be worse, right? He could have been drafted by the Lions.

Jamon Meredith - Fifth Round to Green Bay

I expected Meredith to go on the first day or early in the third round, but questions about his run blocking abilities apparently made scouts pretty uneasy. Jamon is a good kid and his athletic ability makes him a valuable prospect, but at the end of the day falling as far as he did can't sit well with him.

Captain Munnerlyn - Seventh Round to Carolina

After choosing for an early entry, Munnerlyn saw his stock--which was already questionable after a sub-par 2008 season--fall like a rock as teams expressed concern over his lack of elite size and his possible character issues. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think Munnerlyn made a grave mistake by leaving early. He didn't have the kind of year in 2008 that's made to impress NFL scouts, and if he had come back, worked hard, and had a good 2009, he could have gone much higher in next year's draft. His chioice not to is going to cost him a lot of money. Plus, as a seventh-round selection, his status with Carolina is hardly secure. He'll really have to fight just to make the roster. I wish him luck and thank him for the good things he at times did here, but I really wish he would have made a smarter decision on this. At least he'll get to be close to home if he makes the Panthers' roster.

Emanuel Cook - Undrafted

What do you call declaring early entry and not getting drafted at all? A boneheaded decision of epic proportions. Cook's stock plummeted during the week's leading up to the draft as questions about his athletic ability in the wake of poor workouts supplemented the existing concerns about his character and maturity. I still think Cook may have a place in the league--his success as a college player and physical style indicate that he has what it takes to do well in the NFL--but he's going to have to work for it harder than he decided to work on his classes late last fall. I wish Cook luck and hope he gets a spot as a free agent but can't say that I feel all that sorry for him.

Mike Davis - Undrafted

Not many folks expected Mike to hear his name called, so I hesitate to call him a loser, but in the end, he didn't hear his name called. Like Cook, I hope he gets his shot as a free agent. Mike doesn't have the kind of speed most teams would like, but he's a hard, tough runner, can catch the ball, and blocks well. Some teams could certainly use a guy like that.

ROTB Community Mock Draft: With the 52nd Overall Pick, the New York Jets Select...

Hawkwind — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:13 -0000

Jamon Meredith (OT), South Carolina

6'5", 304

The Jets are really looking for a QB but there's not that's even close to a second round pick so instead of drafting their future QB, they draft the guy who might end up having his back for the next decade. Jamon Meredith is a smart, experienced player with 38 starts in his collegiate career. He has started games at both tackles and guard and he's proven to be a team player. He's better suited to play tackle at the pro level where his strengths in pass protection can be an asset. Offensive tackle isn't a huge need for the Jets but starting right tackle Damien Woody isn't getting any younger (will turn 33 during the season).

Positives: Meredith has good size and great athleticism. He's got quick, agile feet to be a plus pass protector and long arms to keep defenders at bay. He's athletic enough to get to the second level and even pull. He's a natural knee-bender and can be a factor cut blocking defenders.

Negatives: Meredith is a bit of finesse tackle who needs to get more physical at the point of attack. He doesn't always use his hands well and lacks the killer instincts to finish blocks. He just needs to play more aggressive in all aspects on the game.

First Round Pick: Darrius Heyward-Bey

Many thanks to RedBirdsRule for submitting this pick. The Eagles and AJBirdwatcher are now on the clock (email pick to revengeofthebirds@gmail.com) with the Vikings and jallred350 on deck. If anyone needs to refresh their memory on the second round draft order, check here.

Also guys, we're in draft 'crunch time' right now with twelve picks to cover in the next three days so we're going to be hitting these fast and furious. If you can, send a list of three players who you'd like to draft as your pick approaches so that we can stay ahead of the action and knock these picks out quickly.

2009 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft Round Two: Picks 42, 43, and 44

BigBlueShoe — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:15:47 -0000

42. Buffalo Bills

Max Unger, C, Oregon

Drafter: BlueVol03

43. San Francisco 49ers

Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina

Drafter: VolsnCards5

44. Miami Dolphins

James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State

Drafter: King Richard

Replacing Jason Peters

Brian Galliford — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Ole Miss OT Michael Oher, pictured above in a game against rival Mississippi State, will now be a first-round consideration for the left tackle-starved Buffalo Bills. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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As I'm sure you're all well aware by now, we'll keep the basics short: on Friday, the Buffalo Bills pulled off one of the bigger trades in team history, shipping OT Jason Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for first- and fourth-round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft (Nos. 28 and 121 overall) as well as an undisclosed 2010 day two selection.

Whether you're pleased that the fiasco is over, upset at the team's willingness to trade elite talent or confounded by the various intricacies of the deal, the fact of the matter is that it's over. Peters has signed his new deal with the Eagles, and both teams have announced the deal. It's time to move on - and the Bills have a lot of work to do.

There are a lot of ways the Bills can go about filling the void at left tackle. None of them are ideal - but, then again, neither was the 2008 version of Jason Peters. Here's a quick run-down of Buffalo's options.

Scenario one: move Langston Walker to left tackle
When Peters missed the season opener last year, the Bills had no issues switching right tackle Langston Walker to the left side. Entering his eighth season in the league, Walker has never been an elite pass blocker. He is, however, an intelligent football player that is consistent in his technique and reads, which helps him make up for some of his athletic shortcomings. He has a very small sample size at the position, but he acquitted himself well against the Seahawks. At the very least, he'd be a stable, consistent player at that position.

In this scenario, one of two players would replace Walker at right tackle. The most obvious candidate is Kirk Chambers, a veteran that has proven himself valuable as a fill-in at both tackle positions as well as guard. A darkhorse candidate, however, is second-year player Demetrius Bell, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008. The Bills have shown a willingness to insert young players into the lineup at right tackle (see: Peters, Jason and Pennington, Terrance), and they are reportedly very high on Bell's potential and his progress in the practice setting last year.

Scenario two: preserve continuity, make Chambers your starter
The Bills don't have to move Walker to left tackle; when Peters missed the final two games last season, Chambers slid into the starting lineup and played consistently as well. Considering the fact that the Bills will feature at least three new starters on their offensive line (including center Geoff Hangartner and replacements at tackle and left guard), the Bills may choose to preserve as much continuity as possible and keep Walker and right guard Brad Butler together for another season.

Scenario three: draft an OT at No. 11
There are four outstanding OT prospects available in this year's draft class. Two of them - Baylor's Jason Smith and Virginia's Eugene Monroe - are not expected to last beyond the top five selections. Either of the other two players, Alabama's Andre Smith and Mississippi's Michael Oher, could be available when the Bills pick at No. 11 overall in the first round.

I feel pretty comfortable making a guarantee here: I believe strongly that if Andre Smith were available when the Bills pick, he'll be the selection. They'd plug him in at left tackle and be completely satisfied. I also feel comfortable stating that they will at least entertain the idea of moving up to take Smith if the ultra-talented, enigmatic tackle were to last beyond the seventh or eighth selection. I'm not saying they would, just that they would consider it.

I'm not sure I can make the same public claims about Oher if he were available. There are at least three other prospects that the Bills would strongly consider alongside Oher at No. 11, and there's a strong chance they could gamble a bit and take a defender - this team needs a defensive playmaker just about as much as they need a left tackle. The Bills will not force the issue, folks. They never do when it comes to the draft. They will most certainly consider any and all available OT prospects with their first pick, but it's not going to be imperative that they take one.

Scenario four: draft an OT at No. 28 or No. 42
With three picks on the first day of the draft - in the top 42 selections, no less - the Bills could see an opportunity to take a defender (or a tight end) with their top selection and draft an OT with one of their next two selections. There are several second-tier OT prospects that could intrigue Buffalo with their second first-round selection, including Connecticut's William Beatty, Arizona's Eben Britton and Oklahoma's Phil Loadholt (with the latter two likely getting looks at right tackle initially).

If they choose to wait again, Penn State's Gerald Cadogan, South Carolina's Jamon Meredith and Tulane's Troy Kropog could be considerations. All three have the potential to be elite pass blockers, but they've got some work to do in the strength and run-blocking departments. The Bills would be taking a risk asking any of these players to start, but the talent of these prospects in undeniable. If they waited on OT twice, they would likely consider some late-round prospects as well to further boost their depth at the position.

Sound off!
If you're asking me, I'm telling you that I think the Bills are secretly keeping their fingers crossed that they can find a way to land Andre Smith. Which scenario would you prefer to see play out in Buffalo, Bills fans?

Poll

Which scenario would you like to see the Bills pursue in replacing LT Jason Peters?

No. 1 - Move L. Walker to LT

184 votes

No. 2 - Preserve continuity, start Chambers/Bell

187 votes

No. 3 - Draft OT at 11

351 votes

No. 4 - Draft OT at 28 or 42

288 votes

1010 votes | Poll has closed

Ranking the NFL Draft's offensive tackle prospects

Brian Galliford — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:00:11 -0000

Alabama's Smith has highest ceiling at OT (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, we here at Buffalo Rumblings will continue interviewing bloggers and consulting outside sources in putting together detailed scouting reports on some of the Draft's most noteworthy prospects - concentrating, of course, on prospects that could pique the interest of the Buffalo Bills. This post continues a series in which I'll rank prospects at each position; ultimately, this project will roll itself into the "Buffalo Rumblings Big Board", which is exactly what it sounds like - the same type of big board NFL teams keep handy on draft day.

We've already ranked the tight ends, linebackers, interior offensive linemen and defensive ends. Full rankings of those positions, as well as all positions, will be made available prior to the draft, which is about two and a half weeks away. What follows is a ranking of the draft's best offensive tackle prospects - an area that is not currently a big need area for the Bills, but very well could be by draft day if the team is serious about trading LT Jason Peters.

FIRST ROUND PROSPECTS
1. Michael Oher, Mississippi: He has seen his draft stock slide over the past couple of months after a so-so senior campaign and pedestrian off-season workouts. Those issues have been compounded by questions about his motor, which reportedly runs hot and cold. Looking past those issues, however, Oher is the most well-rounded tackle available this year. He's big with long arms, highly athletic and equally talented as a pass blocker and a run blocker. Questionable technique and motivational issues can be addressed by a competent coaching staff. Coupled with his guard experience, Oher is one of the "safe" picks at tackle, and he makes a lot of sense for the Bills schematically as well.

2. Andre Smith, Alabama: Smith is this year's Jason Peters - he's short by tackle standards, is huge with dominant potential in the run game, and has documented character issues (though, to be fair, Peters' issues did not appear until he was already a pro). In terms of raw potential, Smith takes the cake at this position by a country mile. If an NFL team is satisfied that his strange behavior at the Combine is an aberration as opposed to the start of a trend, Smith is going to make said franchise very happy.

3. Eugene Monroe, Virginia: If you're looking for the tackle prospect that's least likely to let you down, Monroe is your man. He may not have the highest ceiling of these prospects, but he does have the highest floor. That's not to say Monroe isn't talented, though - he comes from a school in Virginia that routinely pumps out quality NFL linemen, and his footwork is the best in the draft class. But he'll never be a dominant tackle - he'll be the dependable, steady type that gets the job done but doesn't transcend scheme or instantly improve an offense. Safe? Sure. But that doesn't make him the best.

4. Jason Smith, Baylor: Back in January, I laughed when I saw Smith projected to the Jaguars at No. 8 overall. Now he's potentially the top overall pick in the draft - and I can't fathom it. That's not to say that Smith isn't a good (and potentially great) player - he's a tremendous athlete with a killer work ethic, and he plays the game the right way. But he's still highly one-dimensional as a blocker and has some work to do getting stronger and becoming a better run blocker. I think Smith is starting-caliber as a rookie. But there's no way I place him higher than this on the list of OT prospects.

5. Eben Britton, Arizona: Set aside the notion that Britton is solely a right tackle prospect. He deals with his average athleticism and range very well - he's a smart, sound blocker with good footwork, solid hand punch and knows how to finish. He's never going to blow anyone away, because he's not as physically gifted as many of the tackle prospects in this draft class. He's also got short arms, and yes, he'll need a bit of polish before he can play the left side in the NFL. But he's the type of tackle that will get the job done and be completely underrated throughout his entire, likely lengthy NFL career.

These are obviously the big names. There are five more tackle prospects, however, that warrant early-round consideration, and some might even be able to contribute as rookies. Those names appear after the jump.

SECOND ROUND PROSPECTS
6. William Beatty, Connecticut: Outside of the top four names on the board, Beatty is the best pure left tackle prospect remaining in this class. He's huge, has a great frame, and was blessed with tremendous athletic prowess. He needs a lot of work, though, in the strength and polish departments. He'll never be a dominant run blocker. He'll need some time to develop, and it'd be risky to ask him to start as a rookie, but in terms of upside, Beatty ranks closely with some of the bigger names on the list.

7. Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma: If you're a fan of gigantic, road-grading right tackles that are capable of making defenders look like rag dolls on run plays, Loadholt is your man. Just don't expect much more than that out of him. He's not terribly light on his feet, and he's simply not athletic enough to consider playing on the left side of the line. It will take the right situation, but Loadholt could start right out of the gate at right tackle for a team that loves to run the football. He's not a perfect fit for every franchise, and I'd include the Bills in that latter category.

THIRD ROUND PROSPECTS
8. Troy Kropog, Tulane: I consider Kropog to be one of the two or three best pass blockers in this tackle crop. He's got great agility and a good frame for keeping the pocket clean, and he certainly got a lot of practice in pass pro coming from Tulane. He's not a candidate to start as a rookie, however, because he stands a good chance at being overwhelmed on running plays. He needs to do a lot of work to strengthen his core and become a more physical blocker; he's far too one-dimensional at this point. There is upside, but he'll need some time to develop before tossing him into the starting lineup.

9. Fenuki Tupou, Oregon: Tupou is the reason that top center prospect Max Unger played center in the first place - Tupou displaced Unger at left tackle. He's big, physical, and a solid finisher, but he's limited athletically and struggles in space. He's a far better run blocker than pass protector, though he's not necessarily a liability in the latter department. There isn't a lot of upside with Tupou, and truth be told, he's a far more comfortable fit on the right side, or perhaps even at guard. I like his versatility and his run-blocking prowess, but I don't think Tupou is a great fit for Buffalo's blocking scheme. He'll surprise some folks, though - I think he can start for a power running team right out of the gate.

10. Jamon Meredith, South Carolina: Meredith's stock has soared during pre-draft workouts, as he's put up some very solid numbers athletically, including one of the faster 40 times for offensive linemen. Like Kropog, though - yet perhaps to a lesser extent - Meredith needs some work in the strength room before he can be considered an NFL starter. He also needs a serious amount of technique work, particularly when it comes to using his hands. He's another early-to-mid round left tackle prospect that some smart team will groom into a top-flight blind-side protector.

***

This is just my opinion, folks. These are the top ten tackles in the draft by my book. If you think I've made a grievous error in these rankings, let me know. If you think I've got some sort of hidden agenda, I'd love to hear about it. If you're itching to re-shuffle my rankings, let it rip. Consider this an open forum on 2009 NFL Draft offensive tackle prospects. Go.

Poll

Which first-round OT prospect do you prefer?

Michael Oher

117 votes

Andre Smith

120 votes

Eugene Monroe

81 votes

Jason Smith

60 votes

Eben Britton

11 votes

389 votes | Poll has closed