SB Nation - David Bruton

Your Turn! - 2009 NFL Draft Grade - Denver Broncos

John Bena — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:26:20 -0000

You've read all the comments, the quotes from the players, the coaches, the talking heads and all of us here on MHR and across the web. You've taken it all in, and hopefully come to some kind of early conclusion. Now take a stab at grading the 2009 Denver Broncos draft.

Below are all the picks, provided with a bit of commentary from Styg. Six offensive players, 4 defensive players. Look at it, and make an educated decision based on what the Broncos did, what they addressed, instead of what others say should have happened.

2009 NFL Draft
Rd/Pick	Player, position	School	Comments
1.12	RB Knowshon Moreno	Georgia	The Man.
1.18	DE Robert Ayers	Tennessee	Technique and Talent.
2.37	CB Alphonso Smith	Wake Forest	Savvy ballhawk.
2.48	FS Darcel McBath	Texas Tech	Smart and attacks the ball
2.64	TE Richard Quinn	N.Carolina	Best blocking TE in the draft.
4.114	FS David Bruton	Notre Dame	Team leader.
4.132	OG Seth Olsen	Iowa	Versatile interior lineman.
5.141	WR Kenny McKinley	S.Carolina	Tenacious, quick, great hands and routes.
6.174	QB Tom Brandstater	Fresno State	Likely #3 QB.
7.225	C Blake Schleuter	TCU	Smart and very athletic.

Poll

Your Turn! Grade the 2009 Denver Broncos Draft

A

370 votes

B

1078 votes

C

694 votes

D

416 votes

F

231 votes

2789 votes | Poll has closed

Josh McDaniels discusses Day 2 of the 2009 NFL Draft

John Bena — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:03:01 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

7 months ago: Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels talks about this weekend's NFL draft at its conclusion at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, April 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Browse more photos »

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

END OF 2009 NFL DRAFT PRESS CONFERENCE

Opening statement

"Day two is officially over, well I don't know if the draft is over, but our part in it is. I am very happy with what we have accomplished here in the last two days which was to add the kind of players that will compete for spots on our team, and we feel like we did that with five more players today. I am looking forward to the competition as it begins later this week in our second mini camp"

On QB Tom Brandstater (6th Rd., 174th overall, Fresno State University)

"In terms of the mold of a quarterback, the arm strength, the height, he is 6'5" 220 and has a good arm. He is bright and smart, and I like that a lot. He has above average feet that he can maneuver a little bit in the pocket. I think he also has a passion for football, and for being the best player that he can be. He has got a long way to go as most quarterbacks coming into the league do, but he has a great attitude and a great approach, and he will be here later this week. I am looking forward to getting him in here and beginning to teach him."

On comparisons between QB Tom Brandstater and New England QB Tom Brady

"The body type may be similar, but I would not compare any quarterback to Tom [Brady] or Matt [Cassel] at this point. We are talking about a guy who has never even practiced at this level, so I am not going to put anybody in that category. I don't know if I have been around any rookie quarterback that has come in ready to compete immediately. He is going to come in and be competitive with his work ethic and in meetings, so we will see how far he can go, and we will continue to coach him the entire time he is here."

On the way he approached the draft

"I don't think this is a very deep draft in terms of players that would fit our system in those areas. When you get to a selection and you have a player that you valued much higher than another player, then in my opinion you don't want to draft someone because they play a certain position. There may have been a few times where there was some discussion had, but we are not looking to draft players and cut them, especially early on. If the player is not going to come in and compete with someone on our roster, then we are going to go in a different direction at another position, and that is what we did the entire draft."

On finalizing the roster

"We will not be done with our roster until the end of August. If that means college free agency after the draft, we are never going to stop looking. We are not going stop looking at any position not just including the front seven. We have players who have been here for the past few months working extremely hard, and we are going to see how they do and how much we can coach them."

On if they got every player they wanted

"I'm not going to say any names here or there, but the players we drafted yesterday and today I am very pleased with. Each has an opportunity to come in and compete and make our team this year and make our team better. That's what we were looking for, guys with skill sets that we value at those positions and the traits. Most of you have spoken to or asked questions to the guys we drafted on the first day and hopefully they represented what we are all about, which is tough, smart, competitive, good people, believe in the team. Not just it's ‘me, me, me.' None of them are like that. You're not going to find the five we drafted today are like that either. I'm very happy with the results of what we tried to get done this weekend. Again, the results won't speak until these guys actually get here and go into their first meeting and come out with a big headache and not having any idea what to do. Then they get out on the field and try to get better each day. It's a slow process, but we're excited about what we added on our team this weekend and we're looking forward to coaching them here on Friday."

On if they targeted more offensive players

"I mentioned before, we were trying to add good players on either side of the ball. I think the perception was that we were going to do more on one side than the other, but if we could add good players on either side of the ball or, in many cases, we added players that can help on our special teams which is a big key for us. We have so much room to improve on special teams. We were 32nd in the league in field position, so anybody that can help us on a kicking unit, I'd love to have them in a Bronco uniform. We addressed some areas where we felt we could help our team. Some of those were offense, some were defense. I didn't have a preset number. Sometimes when you get to a selection, you have two or three guys you are hoping are going to be there. Then you mini-rank them throughout the draft, then two picks before you pick, one of them is gone, then the pick before you pick, the other's gone, so you say, ‘that's our guy.' That happened more than a few times. That's the process that you go through and we hopefully got the value we were looking for at each pick."

On speaking with drafted players

"I personally spoke to each player that we drafted before we actually sent the card in today. Most of the players, I think seven in total, came to the facility before. The other three we worked out extensively in private workouts. We either met them here, did a private workout, or, in many cases, did both. We are very familiar with each player we have now. I think that helps the process. When we called today and I got on the phone, there was a familiar voice on the other end. They knew me, I knew them, and they knew what we're about too. They've heard it before."

On familiarity with drafted players

"We took advantage; we used almost all of the allotment we are permitted as far as bringing players in. I think the number is 30 that you're permitted. We brought in close to 30. Like I said, seven of ten have been here before. They know their way around, they've seen the facility. They've met me and the coaching staff. We targeted players; we weren't trying to throw a bunch of smokescreens in the process. We wanted to bring in players we had a sincere interest in and we felt could help our team. We're fortunate that we felt comfortable with them, we watched them on tape, we brought them here, and we saw them at the combine. We have a mini relationship started already with many of them."

On WR Kenny McKinley (5th Rd., 141st overall, University of South Carolina)

"He can really run and he's got very good hands. He's smart and loves to compete. He's a guy that can play more than one spot in the receiver alignments. Adding a player that has sub 4.4 speed, I think anytime you add a skill player with that kind of speed, it's a good thing and you've gotten faster. You've hopefully helped out your special teams in some capacity, which hopefully Kenny can do. He's a great kid. Again, he loves football and he loves to compete. He's very much like the other players we drafted, he has a little different skill set, but should fit in and compete with the talented receivers we have on our roster."

On S David Bruton (4th Rd., 114th overall, Notre Dame University

"He's one of the finest special teams players in the draft, period. He was a great gunner for the punt team, getting down there and getting to the returner before the ball was caught, many times forcing a lot of fair catches. He's got great speed. I think he's the fastest safety in the draft. He could really impact us on three or four teams; punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return. I think he's blocked a kick or two in his career, or certainly has the capability to do that. He's got great range in the deep part of the field as a safety also."

On if any rookies will start this season

"I think it's so hard to tell how fast they are going to get to that point. At some point through injuries or progression, you may end up with that many starting. I don't know, we'll see. But I love the attitude that every one of these guys is going to approach our organization and our team with, which is that they are going to come in and work hard. They know they have good competition ahead of them. They know they have good veteran players to learn from. They're going to try in any way they can to help us improve. If that means starting one of them, or five of them, or all ten of them at some point, then I hope our team is better for it."

On offensive line

"I think that's a spot you always- you know, you don't ever turn head away from. If you feel like you've got good players inside that fit your scheme, that are athletic, physical, smart players that can play more than one position, which is important. We don't want to have players too many players along the front that don't have good versatility. (C) Blake (Schlueter) and (G) Seth (Olsen) both, they can play either guard or Blake's certainly more center than Seth. But Seth is a player that will learn how to snap the ball and play center once he's here. So, to have three-position versatility inside is very big. We have some players on our roster right now that have that, and we looked to add more and those two players were guys that we really liked."

On strategy during draft

"I think we were aggressive, if you want to use that term. We didn't have that many players on our board once we were done with the evaluation, and that was the goal. ‘Let's get the players on the board that we want on our team. Let's not have 200 names up there if we don't want 200 guys on our roster.' So, we had a board that was thinned out. (General Manager) Brian (Xanders), and the scouts and the coaches did a great job evaluating the players they had in their areas. And, by the end of the process, our board was thin. We knew we wanted to come away with players on our board and we did, we didn't go to the back board for anybody. At some certain points in the draft, I think you ask yourself ‘If we wait, is he going to be there?' And there were a few times where we felt like there's no way. If we wait, we're not going to be able to attain a player that we'd like to get. We weighed the value of what we were trading to try to go ahead and get the players that we were looking to get. And we have a totally full draft next year, one through seven. So, we didn't give away any rounds next year. We had a couple extra (this year) and we used those to move and get the players in this year's draft."

On trading own pick in 2010 draft to Seattle to acquire CB Alphonso Smith (2nd Rd., 37th overall, Wake Forest University)

"We agreed that (the pick) could be ours. After talking through with (Seattle), we felt like ‘that's okay, we'll roll the dice. I have no idea where Chicago's pick is going to be, and I don't have the foresight to know where our pick is going to be. So, we felt like, at that point to haggle over something like that, that may not turn out in your favor, but it may. After discussing it with (Seattle), we said, ‘alright, let's go ahead and do it."

On trying to get more picks in Rounds 3-7

"It's an interesting night after the first day of the draft where you kind of take the players that are left. After the first day, it's even thinner than it was when it started on Saturday. We took the players that were left on our board, that we felt very good about in terms of wanting to try to acquire those players. We stacked those differently from top to bottom. We felt like if that group of 20-some players starts to go quick in the third round, where we didn't have any selections, then our best maneuver would be to try and get as many of them as we could. But, we felt comfortable with where we were at, looking at the players that we had a chance to get, so we just took them."

On pursuing college free agency, feelings of roster

"I don't think the work's going to ever stop. We're going to address the college free agency hard, we're going to bring in some college free agents and see if they can compete. And, if they can win a roster spot, that's great, that's good for our football team. And the ongoing spring, college free agents, veteran free agency- there's a lot of things that go into that. By the time August rolls around, we'll have a much better idea, a much better feel. But we're going to bring in the amount of players that we can bring in after the draft to try and give ourselves an opportunity to see as many guys that we kinda liked that didn't get drafted as we can. And if those players are good enough through a month-and-a-half of minicamp and passing camp practices to make us want to take them to training camp once all the draft picks are signed, then we'll do that. But they'll have an opportunity to do that in the next month-and-a-half, and if they succeed at that, it makes our team better."

On the type of player the Broncos were targeting

"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win. And we think we brought in those types of free agents with every guy we brought in and we think we drafted 10 players that fit that mold also. And the college free agents that we bring in will hopefully be the exact same. So, if our locker room is full of those kinds of players, we're going to be happy with the kind of player we have in there. And, ultimately, it's our job and their job to come together and improve throughout the entire spring so that'll we get to the point, as a football team, where we can actually execute and play well. It's not only good to have those kinds of players, but to play well with them. And all of them are good players, and they're going to have an opportunity to make us better. Again, I can't emphasize enough how much we're going to try and win as a team. It will not be one side of the ball. It will not be one side of the ball beating the other team, it won't be the other side of the team beating the other team. It'll be three phases, playing well, playing together, complimenting one another and playing good situational football, and that's how we'll win."

On S Darcel McBath (2nd Rd., 48th overall, Texas Tech) and CB Alphonso Smith (2nd Rd., 37th overall, Wake Forest)

"Both (S) Darcel (McBath) and (CB) Alphonso (Smith) have gotten their hands on the ball. And that, to me, is sometimes something you can coach a player to improve in that area, and sometimes that's instinctive, that's something that they possess as football players. They can see the quarterback and the route at the same time so they can get to the catch-point before the receiver does. I would say it's hard to find guys in a draft or free agency that you feel like have that kind of production. So, hopefully we've addressed an area where we feel like we can help our team turn the ball over more with the players we have in the secondary. And hopefully it shows this year on the field."

On pursing college free agents

"We're going to try to get as many as we can today. The competition starts as soon as (pick) 256 is done. So, we'll see how fast we can get it done and obviously we'll work as late as we can today to try and close those things off, so that in the morning we feel like we've got an idea of who's going to be here on Thursday."

On C Blake Schlueter (7th Rd., 225th overall, Texas-Christian University)

"He's one of the best athletes, in terms of those interior positions, that was in the draft. I think he was the fastest interior linemen, not that that matters a whole lot- they don't have the ball and are running away from everybody. But it shows that he can move and that he has good movement skills and that he can do some of the things that we ask our centers and our guards to do, in terms of the zone scheme that we'll use, in terms of pulling and getting out in front of the runner, screens- a very athletic player that can do some of those things and that's going to be something that we're going to try and improve at this year, is our screen game. Blake (Schlueter)'s very versatile, very, very good kid, very smart, multiple positions, flexibility. And he fits the mold of what we're looking for in there. His athletic ability is certainly a big plus."

On C Blake Schlueter getting bigger

"I think he was 292. If he can get a little heavier, that's great. But he's certainly effective, strong, plays strong, plays with great leverage. That's one of the things, he's 6-2-and-a-half and he uses that to his advantage. He can bend, he can get under people, he can anchor the pocket and drop back passes, and that's something that's valuable to us here. But I think he can probably get a little bigger."

On draft experience as head coach

"It was great. (General Manager) Brian (Xanders) and I worked hand in hand the whole weekend and it was a lot of fun. It's always great fun when you're sitting there adding player after player after player that you feel like can come in and improve your team. And to actually put the tag on the board, where he's actually on your roster, on your depth chart, that's a neat feeling. So, it was a great experience, I look forward to next year's draft and going through the process again."

Denver Broncos Select David Bruton, DB from Notre Dame

Jeremy Bolander — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:09:01 -0000

Yet another DB to add to the backfield, and it makes you wonder just how much confidence Denver has in the current crop.

Bruton's Scouting Report

Strengths: Ideal NFL size with reasonable bulk...terrific natural athlete...natural center fielder type...good long speed...above average zone coverage abilities...willing in run support...team leader...offers a lot of special teams value...attacks the ball at the highest point...

Weaknesses: Too stiff to handle man coverage...quickness in a short space is just adequate...needs to be less aggressive...ball skills are just marginal...needs to be nastier when attacking the run...

Overall: David Bruton is a better athlete than a football player at this point. He has good size and speed, but needs to add some bulk and player tougher when attacking the run. His ball skills are just average, and he struggles to matchup with the quickest receivers. He likely profiles best as a center field free safety, though he is likely be suited for a backup role initially. He does have the ability to be a contributor on special teams.

One thing is for sure, if any of these guys pan out sooner rather than later, Denver will have lots of options when it comes to structuring rosters, and more importantly, contracts.

Poll

How about it gang? Like the DBs?

It is a sound structure and an obvious scheme and plan.

140 votes

I am scratching my head at the strategy, but I like the players.

201 votes

This is getting ridiculous! 3 DBs

258 votes

599 votes | Poll has closed

Last Two Rumblings Authors Mock: MARVelous, poz

Brian Galliford — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, right, dives for a touchdown as Kansas State defender Justin McKinney, left, defends during the fourth quarter of a college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Pettigrew is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Browse more photos »

Ed. Note, by Brian Galliford: We know. You're as tired of mock drafts as we are. Eight editors here at Rumblings have provided you their pre-draft thoughts over the past five days; the last two on the schedule, MARVelous and poz, present you 2 this evening. What you see on the front page is a brief overview of their picks. Click on past the jump if you're looking for explanations for the picks - our two guys did a stellar job rationalizing their selections. And when you're done reading/commenting, breathe a sigh of relief - the mock draft season has come to a close. Tomorrow, the real thing begins. End Note

MARVelous	poz
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee	1-20: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
1-22: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State	1-28: Alex Mack, G/C, California
2-42: Max Unger, G/C, Oregon	2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, GA Tech
3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest	2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
4-117: Cody Brown, DE, Connecticut	3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin
5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame	5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, UNC
6-183: R. Allen, OG, Missouri Western	6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
7-220: Samuel Allen, T, Grand Valley St.	7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia

MARVelous explanation
This is my first and only mock draft, as Brian was courteous enough to give me a chance to proclaim my predictions on his super-awesome blog. I know everyone is "mocked-out" but I had to at least give this a whirl as to what I think the Bills will do and a scenario in which I think they get players to make "immediate" impact. In my mock draft I try to predict what the Bills will do, along with a sprinkling of my personal evaluations. The two trades below are predicators to my mock draft. Never has their been a year where the wait for the draft has run my life as much as this one as the eventful off-season for the Bills finalizes with this mega-event. The theme of my mock is physical, toughness, and productive collegiate players. Below I detail the one trade I make for Roscoe, albeit it seems unlikely he gets dealt at this point. Feel free to ridicule and "mock" my predictions below.

Jason Peters was traded. The Eagles gave us their lower first round pick (28) and their fourth round pick. Thank God this dilemma is now over.

I am also trading Roscoe Parrish. I wouldn't trade him if I were the Bills, but my instincts tell me he will be dealt as the Bills have so many holes right now, they need the arsenal of picks and also will need to make a deal with the devil that Leodis McKelvin does not get hurt. The Bills coaches are high on Steve Johnson and he should get the snaps on offense Roscoe would normally get. I have the Bills sending Parrish to the Cowboys, for the Cowboys 4th round pick, #117 overall. The
Cowboys need depth at WR and Roscoe will be a huge addition in the punt return game.

These trades give the Bills 10 picks with two first rounders and three fourths. It gives the Bills flexibility.

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. The growing sense is that OT will fly off the boards in the top 10 this Saturday. Brian says the most likely OT that the Bills would take is Andre Smith and I don't see him slipping past GB or SF. While Michael Oher,
Brian Orakpo and BJ Raji may be available at #11, I'm comfortable if the Bills select Mike Mayock's #1 rated defensive prospect. The need at DE is absurd, and the injection of youth at the position will greatly help out Buffalo's defense and may help get Chris Kelsay on a plane out of town for good.

1-22: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. The Falcons at #24 may be all over Pettigrew if he falls this far as well as the Ravens at #26, so I go to make sure I get my 2nd targeted prospect in Pettigrew. I have to give up 2 4th round picks to do it (#110, #121) but I think it's worth it to ensure we add the best TE in the draft. Pettigrew's run/pass blocking will aid big time in whoever fills in at LT, and his ability to develop as a pass-catcher as the season progresses is a huge upside. Bottom line is to win in the NFL you have to be able to score points consistently. Now, maybe Trent Edwards will prove to not be the guy to lead the Bills, but adding T.O. and Pettigrew will give him every opportunity to succeed and that's the least Dick Jauron can do with 2009 being a make or break season for him.

2-42: Max Unger, OL, Oregon. This 6'5", 309 lb OL is exactly what the Bills need to bolster their OL. Versatility & toughness are the two words we are hearing out of OBD about their next wave of OL. Unger played 2 years at LT and 2 years at Center. Mike Lombardi always states when you draft a guy, a question you have to ask is "if he doesn't work out the way we want, where else could he play." That's called value, and that's exactly what Unger gives Buffalo. He gives Buffalo more flexibility and that is a great thing for the coaching staff to have.

3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest. My infatuation with Chip Vaughn continues as I think the need on the back end is a necessity. With Scott/Whitner seemingly entrenched as starters in 2009, depth at this position is needed. Vaughn has a
"toughness" that is themed throughout my mock draft, and would be an ideal candidate at SS to replace Scott in 2010. Plus, Dick Jauron can't go past the 3rd round without taking a DB. Vaughn lacks ball skills, but his tenacity and willingness to run over opponents is a breath of fresh air.

4-117: Cody Brown, OLB, Conneticut. I can't see Elison start another season. Brown at the very least, could be a subpackage player in 2009 as he recorded 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for losses in 2008. He has the top end speed to get after the QB, something Buffalo's defense needs a boost for. At 6'2", 248 lbs, Brown has ideal size. Some will say he is better fitted for a 3-4 OLB, but I can see him lining up as the SAM. Most importantly, Brown is a leader, a player that has through his own hard work developed into a very productive player, and can contribute immediately for the Bills.

5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame. If Bruton falls to round 5, I like this run stuffing S. A guy who could immediately get after it on ST's, and could be a subpackage player as a run support. Extremely physical and has the toughness that I think would be a huge benefit to add to the mix on the back end. At 6'2", 209 he is a big physical specimen who produced 97 tackles last year as well as 2 FF's and 4 INT's.

6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western. Toughness, character, a leader. That sums up this small school prospect. Allen made 36 consecutive starts, and is a project for the Bills to start developing. First offensive lineman to receive MIAA freshman of the year honor. Earned first team All-MIAA honors during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.

7-220: Samuel Allen, OT, Grand Valley State. This small school prospect started 30 games at OT, has great quickness and athleticism and great room to grow into his 6'6" frame. This is an ideal project for the Bills and with this pick the Bills have re-stocked their OL projects.

Alright, let's hear it Bills Nation. I know many of you are not high on Ayers, but the DL cannot be ignored for another off-season. My philosophy was that our defense is in desperate need of a youthful injection of talent. I have no idea what the Bills plan to do at LT, but addin the versatility of Unger, gives me confidence that Sean Kugler has the flexibility to put together a unit that can work in 2009. The addition of Brown provides an extra piece for Perry Fewell to use in blitz packages. Most importantly we got 3 immediate impact players in Ayers, Pettigrew and Unger, and potential impact in Brown and Bruton if at least ST's. Plus I re-stocked the OL cabinet. So let's have at it... what do you think of MARVelous version 1.0?

poz explanation
This mock draft is predicated on a draft day trade which I fully expect to occur. After selecting their QB of the future the Detroit Lions will anxiously hope that Michael Oher will last until pick #20. Jim Schwartz after all, is a firm believer in winning by building in the trenches. Of course, when Andre Smith becomes the 3rd LT off the board to Cincinnati at number 6, images of the 2008 draft will swiftly come to Schwartz' mind. In 2008, Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Brandon Albert, Gosder Cherilus, and Jeff Otah all flew off the board at picks 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19, respectively. Five LT's in 7 picks before #20. Knowing that Buffalo covets many players who would be a reach at #11, Detroit picks up the phone and makes an offer that the Bills can't refuse and which really benefits both teams. Picks #20 and #33 for picks #11, #110, and #121. The Lions complete their offensive re-birth with Stafford, Oher and Calvin Johnson on board while picking up depth picks they desperately need and Buffalo gets the chance to plug as many starting position holes as possible. In the event of a Roscoe Parrish trade for a 4th or 5th (which I do not include in my mock), the exchange is relatively painless for Buffalo and Detroit.

1-20: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. With a rebuilding process along the offensive line, providing Trent Edwards with a complete set of weapons is more vital than ever and he needs a tight end. In addition, Pettigrew's fantastic blocking abilities, which are so good he has held his own against some of the defenders going off the board before him, are a much bigger plus then they were last week when we had Peters.

1-28: Alex Mack, C, California. By receiving pick 28 from the Eagles, monster running lanes creator Alex Mack has to have re-entered the discussion as a potential big time pick up. Mack is the late first round choice and will team up with Brad Butler and Geoff Hangartner to open serious running room for what is now by far the most talented backfield committee in the NFL in Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes.

2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. This year, defensive end is one of those positions that will go fast as only two true, play with their hands on the ground, non-OLB hybrid DEs who are considered 1st round prospects; Robert Ayers and Tyson Jackson. That makes guys like Paul Kruger and Johnson shoot up draft boards into the early second round. At 6'7, 230, Johnson excelled at the combine but still scares teams who think on film there is proof that he has never played up to his potential. With Buffalo in win now mode, they will take a risk an athletic specimen who recorded 17.5 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. Not only that, but a place like Buffalo, which has its top three defensive ends over the age of 30, is the perfect place for a guy like Johnson to finally reach his potential; surrounded by hard working, knowledgeable, and high motor veterans who will push him.

2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. With Chris Brown hinting the Bills are comfortable moving forward with Langston Walker at LT and Demetrius Bell at RT, Loadholt can come into Buffalo and provide healthy competition for Bell and Chambers at RT. Loadholt teamed up with Duke Robinson in Oklahoma to create a terrifyingly effective run blocking duo and a line of Walker, Mack, Hangartner, Butler, Loadholt and Pettigrew blocking for Lynch, Jackson and Rhodes immediately makes us one of the most intimidating rushing attacks in the league.

3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin. Even with the additions of Mack and Loadholt, Buffalo remains woefully thin at depth on the offensive line. Urbik will provide excellent depth as he learns to overcome some his deficiencies, mainly how to play lower to the ground. Urbik could back up at guard and right tackle if needed.

5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, North Carolina. My pick for the most underrated player in the draft, Goddard could probably be had later but more than a few scouts will recognize his talent and grab the undersized safety if Buffalo doesn't here. Despite his size he hits like a ton of bricks, grabbed 7 INTs last season, plays with a high motor, and has plenty of game time experience under his belt.

6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson. Good against the run, perfect size for the position and solid strength are countered by a penchant for not giving his all throughout games. He will need to be motivated, but if he can, there could be value here. Force Scott and McCargo to compete and see who is truly lazy.

7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia. Strong, athletic, a leader, tough. Unfortunately questions abound regarding missing tackles, speed, and technique. Will provide depth as he gets coached up to hopefully play at the next level.

There you have it. I'm sure it's obvious that my draft is offense heavy at the top but I do think that offensive line will be Buffalo's focal point this weekend. Keith Ellison and Bryan Scott have proven themselves to be the least of our concerns and capable of handling their duties if needed. Meanwhile our offensive line is in shambles. Hopefully, this draft takes care of that.

Who the Hell Will They Draft 2009: David Bruton

mgrex03 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:51:49 -0000

We have focused quite a bit on 1st and 2nd round selections for the Colts here at Stampede Blue, but I want to focus on one of the many 2nd day selections the Colts could take in the draft: Notre Dame S David Bruton. I've had the pleasure of watching Bruton play every game over the past 4 years, and I'm very excited about the possibility of him becoming a Colt. He's also they only ND player that is draftable this year, so any excuse to profile someone from my alma mater is gladly appreciated.

Now, I know what you are thinking: Why would the Colts take another Safety in the draft? Safety is (arguably) the deepest position on the team, with Sanders, Bethea, Bullitt, Giordano (if he's resigned), and Silva, so why should we draft another? I'm loaded with reasons, so here goes...

Let's look at the measurables, which are all from the combine:

	Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Vertical	Broad	3-Cone	20 Shuttle	60 Shuttle
Stat	6'0"	219	4.46	19	41.5"	11'0"	6.60	4.28	10.96
Rank (S)	N/A	N/A	2 (21)	7 (20)	T1 (20)	1 (20)	T2 (18)	11 (18)	1 (3)

Looking at these numbers, Bruton looks to be a workout wonder, as he was 1st or 2nd in 5 of the 7 categories tested at the combine. His 40 time was better than all CBs that were there, which is lightning quick. What do the Colts base their entire defense on? Speed, and Bruton is the cream of the crop this season, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The Vertical is also a very good measurement, as a DB needs to be able to get up to knock down passes. Overall, I think Bruton helped his cause at the Combine.

While all these numbers are great, how did he play on the field? Here are Bruton's career stats:

Year	Tackles	FF	INT
2005	13	0	0
2006	18	0	0
2007	84	0	3
2008	95	2	4
Total	210	2	7

It's pretty obvious he was a 2 year starter at ND, playing behind Bengals S Chinedum Ndukwe and Ravens S Tom Zbikowski. As a Junior and Senior, he finished in the top 3 on the team in Tackles, and led the team both years in Interceptions. Now I'm not going to lie to you, the ND defense has not been the best of units the last 2 years, but Bruton has shined through, even with all the young guys playing around him.

These stats, however, do not take into account his greatest strength, which the Colts need desparate help in: Special Teams. Bruton was a fixture on Special Teams all 4 years, mostly as a Gunner. Remember that speed I talked about earlier? He is fantastic as a Gunner because he can get down the field fast, and has the closing skills to actually make the tackle. Nothing is worse than having a fast guy get downfield, and blow the tackle due to bad technique. ND finished #1 in the country in Kickoff Coverage last season. Oh, and his coach? Brian Polian. I'm guessing him and his father have had a conversation or two about Bruton.

With NFL gameday rosters only at 45 guys, it isn't very feasible to have a guy who only plays Special Teams on the roster (or more than 1, as Justin Snow fits this as well), so Bruton would have to be valuable on the defensive side as well. As I mentioned before, Safeties are already 2 deep + 1, and I can't see the Colts having 6 Safeties active. So for the Colts to draft Bruton, I think some DCE needs to occur. How about a move to LB? If Bruton could put on just 6 pounds of muscle, he'd be the exact same size as newly signed LB Michael Okwo, and bigger than Jordan Senn. He obviously has the Coverage skills, which is probably all he'd be asked to do early in his career. With his ability on Special Teams, it would be a good risk for the Colts to take.

SBNation's Mocking the Draft hasn't profiled Bruton yet, but a couple other sites have some info on Bruton:

Draft Countdown (Emphasis mine)

Strengths:
Superb natural athlete...Good size and bulk...Very physical...Active and aggressive with a non-stop motor...Great tackler...Does a fantastic job supporting the run...Plays fast and has a burst to close...Good range...Outstanding leaper...Great footwork...Will deliver the big hit...Nice instincts...Will create big plays...Very productive...A phenomenal special teamer...Smart... Mature ...Hard worker... Leader.

Weaknesses:
Timed speed is just average...Does not have very good hands and drops too many interceptions...Has a thin lower body and needs to get stronger...Is not very fluid and doesn't flip his hips well...Will struggle to match up in coverage...Can be too eager at times and will get fooled.

Notes:
Two-year starter who took over for Chinedum Ndukwe...Team captain as a senior...Possesses the tools to be a force against the run as well as in coverage and could develop into a starter at the next level...Has Pro Bowl potential as a gunner on special teams...A better pro prospect than Tom Zbikowski, who was a third round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 Draft.

NFLDraftScout, via NFL.com (Emphasis Mine)

Positives: Centerfielder with good height and upper-body build. ... Nice straight-line speed and overall athleticism for his size. ... Usually able to track down ballcarriers from behind, although he will usually take the correct angle to prevent the catastrophic play. ... Covers a lot of ground in the deep half, with the ability to high-point the ball on the sideline for the interception. ... Good hands make to quarterbacks pay for overthrows. ... Also moves inside-out well to get to ballcarriers on stretch plays, either behind the line of scrimmage or working through trash. ... Breaks down well, getting low to make the tackle in the open field. ... Long enough to wrap up in space and get a hand on the ball to force the turnover. ... Major special teams contributor for the Irish as a gunner, winning hand-play at the line, beating the double team, showing good speed down the field and securing the tackle. ... Good leader and hard worker.

Negatives: Stiff in the hips. ... Has trouble flipping open in transition. ... Adequate closing on underneath patterns and staying with tight ends, but struggles manning up against quicker receivers. ... Needs to improve reading quarterback so he can be involved in more plays. ... Not physical enough against the run or in coverage. ... Often loses hand battles and fights for the ball with receivers. ... Doesn't explode into tackles, but is more of a catcher. ... Running backs drive through his arm tackles. ... Will whiff in the open field when ducking his head instead of seeing what he hits.

Bruton started out in the Rounds 4-5 range, but is slowly moving up, and now (most likely) will be a 3rd round selection. He would give the Colts much needed help on Special Teams, which we all know is desparately needed. He works his tail off, and is the kind of leader the Colts look for.

I couldn't find a highlight video, but NFL Network did a story on Bruton during the Combine.

2009 NFL Combine: What Can Saints Fans Take From It?

Saintsational — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:12 -0000

Now that the 2009 NFL Combine is over and all the prospects have returned to their corner of the globe it's time for fans and experts alike to analyze the results and recalculate what they think the draft will look like this April. Whatever the landscape of 2009 mock drafts looked like last week doesn't matter anymore. With fresh stats from the Combine to use now, most mock draft authors will begin tweaking their picks and releasing their mock drafts version 2.0. To help us all get a better handle on what this means for Saints fans let's review some of the things we've learned these past few days and how it will shape draft talk in Who Dat Nation.

Aaron Curry

Before the Combine, Curry's name was linked with the Saints in a handful of mock drafts. If you still think the Saints might have a chance to snag him with the 14th pick you should probably un-tap your Kool-Aid keg. Curry was just plain nasty in Monday's workouts as he solidified his position as the top linebacker in the draft. He should be a top five pick.

Brian Cushing

Like Aaron Curry, Cushing had an awesome combine and did wonders for his value. Brian was a top performer in six of the seven workouts. He did so well, in fact, that he will probably now be off the draft board by the time the Saints are on the clock. If Cushing did somehow fall to the Saints at 14th they would probably be stupid not to snag him and ignore their need for a DB. Or even better, use it as a bargaining chip for a sweet trade down. I wouldn't plan on it though.

Malcolm Jenkins

Once touted as the best cornerback in the draft, Malcolm Jenkins is now being viewed as the top safety in the draft. This is good news for Saints fans. If Jenkins is viewed as a safety, his draft stock would inevitably lower and the chance of him being available when the Saints pick would be much more likely. Personally, I think the possibility of a versatile player who could play either cornerback or safety would be just what the doctor ordered for the Saints. I'm likin' it. He didn't have the best of Combine performances, but finished with the best 3-Cone time and top five in the 20-yard Shuttle. Still, the fact of the matter is that Jenkins is a talented football player.

James Laurinaitis

I'm just not a fan of James Laurinaitis for the Saints. Personally, I don't want to see New Orleans draft any linebacker unless it's Aaron Curry (not happenin') or maybe even Brian Cushing (also probably not happenin'), but Laurinaitis just seems to have this aura of dud surrounding him. He's already got the reputation for dissappearing in big games. Laurinaitis performed well in the 3-cone drill and well enough in the 20-yard shuttle but he layed an egg in the 40-yard dash. I hope he's still not on the Saints radar.

Studs and Duds

After taking a look at the cornerback and safety top performer lists I must say I am surprised by a lot of the names that appear and just as surprised by the names that don't appear. Here are a few players who really helped themselves yesterday and who may be possible targets by the Saints.

Kevin Barnes - Cornerback - Maryland - Top performer in 40-yard dash, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, 3-cone Drill and 20-yard Shuttle.
Lardarius Webb - Cornerback - Nicholls State - Top performer in 40-yard dash, 3-cone Drill and 20-yard Shuttle.
Donald Washington - Cornerback - Ohio State - Best performance in both the Vertical Jump and Broad Jump.
David Bruton - Free Safety - Notre Dame - Top performer in 40-yard dash, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, 3-cone Drill and 60-yard Shuttle.
Sherrod Martin - Free Safety - Troy - Top performer in 40-yard dash, 3-cone Drill 20-yard Shuttle and 60-yard Shuttle.
C.J. Spillman - Free Safety - Marshall - Top performer in 40-yard dash, Vertical Jump and 60-yard Shuttle.

These guys will probably start showing up a bit more often on future mock drafts. Particularly as second and third round options. We will take a better look at all of these players as we get closer to the draft.

There were also a few prospects who didn't make much of an impression during yesterdays workouts. Did some of these guys decide not to participate and wait for their respective pro day? What happened to...

William Moore - Safety - Missouri - Didn't finish as a top performer in any workout.
Rashad Johnson - Free Safety - Alabama - Didn't finish as a top performer in any workout.
Alphonso Smith - Cornerback - Wake Forest - Didn't finish as a top performer in any workout.
Patrick Chung - Strong Safety - Oregon - Only finished as a top performer in the Bench Press.

Random Fact

Ever wonder who foots the bill for the NFL Combine every year? The teams do! Each NFL franchise pays a $75,000 fee to help host the Combine making the total hosting cost $2.4 million. This buys each team all of the medical reports, test results and video tapes of the workouts and drills.

Make the jump to see a complete list of all the top linebacker, cornerback and safety performers for each workout.

Linebackers

40-yard dash

Name	Time
Curry, Aaron	4.56
Arnoux, Stanley	4.61
McRath, Gerald	4.61
Matthews, Clay	4.67
Phillips, Jason	4.69
Brinkley, Jasper	4.72
Cushing, Brian	4.74
Freeman, Marcus	4.74
Follett, Zack	4.75
Fokou, Moise	4.76

Bench Press

Name	Reps
Cushing, Brian	30
Freeman, Marcus	30
Maiava, Kaluka	30
Felder, Anthony	28
McKillop, Scott	27
McKenzie, Tyrone	27
Brinkley, Jasper	26
Curry, Aaron	25
Casillas, Jonathan	24
Robinson, Lee	24

Vertical Jump

Name	Height
Curry, Aaron	37.0
Follett, Zack	37.0
Freeman, Marcus	37.0
McKillop, Scott	35.5
Matthews, Clay	35.5
Brinkley, Jasper	35.5
Ellerbe, Dannell	35.0
Williams, Worrell	35.0
Cushing, Brian	35.0

Broad Jump

Name	Distance
Curry, Aaron	10'4"
McRath, Gerald	10'3"
Arnoux, Stanley	10'1"
Fokou, Moise	10'1"
Matthews, Clay	10'1"
Phillips, Jason	10'0"
Cushing, Brian	10'0"
Levy, DeAndre	9'11"
Sintim, Clint	9'11"
McKillop, Scott	9'11"

3-cone Drill

Name	Time
Cushing, Brian	6.84
Matthews, Clay	6.90
Laurinaitis, James	6.93
Freeman, Marcus	6.98
Maiava, Kaluka	6.98
McKillop, Scott	7.00
Ellerbe, Dannell	7.00
Brinkley, Jasper	7.03
Fokou, Moise	7.09

20-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Freeman, Marcus	4.12
Matthews, Clay	4.18
Maiava, Kaluka	4.20
Cushing, Brian	4.22
Ellerbe, Dannell	4.23
Laurinaitis, James	4.24
Fokou, Moise	4.28
Phillips, Jason	4.32
Brinkley, Jasper	4.32

60-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Curry, Aaron	11.35
Fokou, Moise	11.41
McRath, Gerald	11.51
Arnoux, Stanley	11.64
McKillop, Scott	11.66

Cornerbacks

40-yard dash

Name	Time
Webb, Lardarius	4.46
Davis, Vontae	4.49
Hughes, Brandon	4.50
Owens, Christopher	4.51
Barnes, Kevin	4.52

Bench Press

Name	Reps
Davis, Vontae	25
Word-Daniels, Jahi	24
Francies, Coye	24
Pegues, Derek	23
Trent, Morgan	23
Quin, Glover	22
Burnett, Joe	22
Allen, Asher	22

Vertical Jump

Name	Height
Washington, Donald	45.0
Butler, Darius	43.0
Moore, D.J.	39.5
Mouton, Ryan	39.5
Barnes, Kevin	38.5
Fletcher, Bradley	38.5
Quin, Glover	38.0
Trent, Morgan	38.0

Broad Jump

Name	Distance
Washington, Donald	11'3"
Butler, Darius	11'2"
Mouton, Ryan	10'9"
Barnes, Kevin	10'8"
Hughes, Brandon	10'8"
Trent, Morgan	10'7"

3-cone Drill

Name	Time
Jenkins, Malcolm	6.59
Burnett, Joe	6.68
Harris, Victor	6.68
Johnson, Bruce	6.71
Barnes, Kevin	6.72
Davis, Vontae	6.75
Webb, Lardarius	6.77

20-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Barnes, Kevin	3.96
Harris, Victor	3.98
Trent, Morgan	4.01
Johnson, Bruce	4.05
Jenkins, Malcolm	4.07
Davis, Vontae	4.07
Powers, Jerraud	4.08
Webb, Lardarius	4.10

60-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Trent, Morgan	11.07
Akins, Kevin	11.12
Hughes, Brandon	11.25
Burnett, Joe	11.27
Owens, Christopher	11.40

Safeties

40-yard dash

Name	Time
Clemons, Chris	4.41
Bruton, David	4.46
Spillman, C.J.	4.50
Vaughn, Chip	4.51
Martin, Sherrod	4.52

Bench Press

Name	Reps
Ellison, Kevin	32
Sanford, Jamarca	29
Chung, Patrick	25
Hodge, Stephen	22

Vertical Jump

Name	Height
Bruton, David	41.5
Spillman, C.J.	41.5
McBath, Darcel	38.0

Broad Jump

Name	Distance
Bruton, David	11'0"
Taylor, Curtis	10'9"
Clemons, Chris	10'7"
Delmas, Louis	10'6

3-cone Drill

Name	Time
Martin, Sherrod	6.60
Bruton, David	6.60
Delmas, Louis	6.67

20-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Martin, Sherrod	3.98
Vaughn, Chip	4.12

60-yard Shuttle

Name	Time
Bruton, David	10.96
Martin, Sherrod	11.17
Spillman, C.J.	11.27

Will the new Special Teams Coach be a Polian?

mgrex03 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:35:31 -0000

Ever since we learned that Russ Purnell will not be re-signed, I've had the same thought running through my head over and over: Are the Colts going to hire Brian Polian for the job? Why did I immediately think that? He's the Special Teams Coach at my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. He's been there since Weis took over in 2005.

Four years is long enough to get a decent body of work, so let's take a look at how the Irish Special Teams fared (all stats came from NCAA website):

Year	KO Return		Punt Return		KO Coverage		Punt Coverage
Year	Yds/Rtrn	Rank	Yds/Rtrn	Rank	Yds/Rtrn	Rank	Yds/Rtrn	Rank
2005	19.0	89	14.1	12	21.2	72	6.4	22
2006	21.4	39	7.4	88	20.0	50	11.5	101
2007	19.7	94	9.1	53	22.8	89	7.4	40
2008	21.6	53	8.9	60	16.5	1	6.0	27

Some notes on the bolded rankings:

I knew this before writing this up, but ND finished #1 in Kickoff Yardage Defense in the NCAA this season. It was an amazing turnaround from each of the past 3 seasons, and it was thanks to 2 absolute studs: David Bruton and Mike Anello (a former walk-on!).
In 2005, Weis (and probably Polian as well) decided to try Tom Zbikowski at Punt Returner. Whoever thought of it was a pretty smart guy. He'll be returning kicks for the Ravens this weekend, by the way. Here's an example of his work, and you'll see that, while the blockers helped get him to the 30, Zibby did the rest on his own:

Zibby Return (via bluegraysky)

Looking at all those other stats though, would you want him coaching the Colt's special teams? This past season, we had 2 burners returning kicks (Armando Allen and Golden Tate), and only averaged 21.6 yds/return. Considering some of the teams we played this year, it should have been much, much higher. I know I was always completely frustrated with kickoff returns on Saturday, as well as Sunday this season.

If I put on my ND fan hat, losing Polian would be bad news, as he is (arguably) our best recruiter. I actually feel this is the only reason he is still on the staff. He can walk into a 17-year old's house, introduce himself, and tell him,

My dad is the best General Manager in the National Football League. I know how to get you to the NFL. Come play for us.

Now, I have no evidence he's actually said this, but I can imagine he's said something similar in the past. Weis's whole mantra since he started was about how he can get his players into the NFL.

In a completely unscientific poll of 4 of my buddies, asking how they'd feel if Polian left to go to the NFL, I got:

Bad

Bad for recruiting, but I think it would be easy to upgrade the coaching.

Good recruiter, that's about it.

Eh...whatever

I don't think Brian Polian is ready to take over the Colt's Special Teams. He hasn't shown me nearly enough in 4 years at Notre Dame to instill confidence in me that the Colt's ST would improve. We need somebody who's done it in the NFL. It needs to be an obvious upgrade from Purnell. That is not Polian.

"Observer" Clippings, Football Friday Edition

CW — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:00:20 -0000

I would be remiss if I didn't point you all to David Bruton's Irish Insider profile in today's Observer. There are also, as usual, a couple of highly entertaining, football-related Viewpoint letters, which can be found here and here.

Notre Dame At Michigan State: Delayed Initial Thoughts

CW — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:55:38 -0000

No, fair readers, Rakes did not disappear into a pile of whimpering despair, pouting and sulking its way through the Michigan State loss. The real reason is probably sadder than that, as the wireless interest my roommates and I were unsafely leeching off our neighbors dried up. Somehow, Verizon can't get here and install our interest until October 11^th, so it'll be praying for our unnamed internet benefactors to restart their service or scraping by wherever I can.

In regards to the game, not an inspiring effort on Saturday. I'm not anywhere near hopping aboard the "Fire Charlie Weis" train, but I am aware of where they sell the tickets. I think some Irish fans are neglecting the fact that the majority of playing time is going to underclassmen, with the elder statesmen of this team a mix of crucial, big-time leaders (David Bruton, we heart you) and those that have managed to improve minimally in their time at Notre Dame. These youngsters will make mistakes, whether those miscues are blown coverages, missed blocking assignments, poor tackling angles or running an incorrect route. That's okay, as I'd much rather lose with talented young players learning the ropes than with veterans who are less talented and won't even be around for the future.

My main problem with this team is that I'm not sure the coaching staff pays any attention to the previous games. There is a consistent theme in post-game commentary that the Irish lack an identity, which I think is attributable to the coaches. If you watched the first two games of the season, what person with even a modicum of football knowledge would be struck with the idea that starting the game with six straight runs was a good idea. Any time the Irish were successful against the Aztecs or Wolverines they were chucking the ball around, so Weis and Haywood decide it's a good idea to run right at Michigan State? Conservative play-calling on the road be damned, Notre Dame needed to score points and put Javon Ringer in a hole. Along those lines, who would watch the last two seasons of Notre Dame football and say, "Hey, let's try kicking a 51-yard field goal on fourth and manageable!". It's hard to establish an identity when your coaching staff is like Guy Pearce in Memento.

This offense should revolve around giving Golden Tate and Michael Floyd the ball over and over again, with the runs then sprinkled in after the pass is established. I don't care about balance or claims of "pounding the ball;" I just want to score points. Maybe that's too much to ask, but when the defense continues to play pretty well - containing a very good Javon Ringer until the final drive when all hope was already lost - the offense only needs to put up a few touchdowns against most of the teams remaining on the Irish schedule (especially with North Carolina losing their coming-of-age starter). The blitzes still aren't getting to the quarterback, but I like the effort and the defensive line's workman-like effort to make a different.

There's a lot more to look at, but everyone just needs to calm down. As Rob put it in an e-mail, it sucks to lose, but most Irish fans, if you told them the team would be 2-1 to start the season, would be pleased. Now, there are obviously big differences between 3-1 and 2-2, so this Saturday's game against an average Purdue team is huge. Hopefully the home field advantage plays a big part with a young team, but the gameplan will be more important than any amount of cranking me up.

Also, much more on this bullshit later. The University - and heck, this country - has far bigger problems than going on underage drinking witch hunts.

Also, Free Brady Quinn, even if it requires firing Romeo Crennel.

This Is Sparta?: A Look At This Weekend's Clash Between Notre Dame and Michigan State

CW — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:40:43 -0000

After a week leading up to Michigan where there are a slew of Wolverine blogs to peruse for information, Michigan State week is always a downer. I'm not going to call out any particular sites, but when you start cruising the Spartan blogosphere, the results are rather thin, and usually filled with typos and sub par grammar to boot. Still, there is plenty of information to glean about a Michigan State team that won last year's match-up in South Bend 31-14.

The biggest problem is obviously going to be stopping Javon Ringer, the same gentleman who has racked up over four hundred yards and seven touchdowns in the last two weeks. He is thankfully without the thunder to his lightning, Jehuu Caulcrick, but the senior tailback is more than capable of giving an undersized, under-experienced and relatively youthful Irish defensive line fits. The one thing that should give Irish fans hope in regards to stopping him is that California held him to 81 yards on 27 carries in the season opener, and while that made the Golden Bears look good at the time, new evidence (getting shellacked by Maryland) has arisen that makes it appear Jeff Tedford's team might not be that good.

Hopefully we don't see this too much.

Joining Ringer in the backfield is senior quarterback Brian Hoyer, who I think it would benefit the Irish to push the pressure on. While Hoyer tossed four touchdown passes against in South Bend last year, those were set up by the running game on a day where he went 11 of 24. Dating back to the Spartan bowl loss to Boston College last December, Hoyer has thrown six interceptions to only three touchdown passes, a ratio inverse to what you'd normally like to see from a quarterback, especially one who's had over a season of experience under his belt. While I called for the Tenuta to lash himself to the mast and avoid the temptation of blitzing last week, I'd welcome him to cram everyone into the box and send the house - via blitzes, stunts or the usage of sledge hammers - in cutting Ringer down behind the line and forcing Mark Dantonio's offense into third and longs. After San Diego State's dink and dunk attack and Michigan's spread, this will be the first normalish offense the Irish defense goes against this season, and I'm interested in seeing how that change coupled with two games of experience in Tenuta's schemes affect the sack total at the end of the game.

If the Irish are to load up the box, Hoyer will need someone to throw to. While top targets Devin Thomas and Kellen Davis moved on after last season, sophomore Mark Dell has stepped up in a huge way, hauling in 13 catches for 320 yards (nearly twenty-five yards a grab!) and effectively balancing out the Spartan offense at this point in the season. Those numbers are particularly shiny when you consider monsoon-like conditions relegated the Michigan State attack to only fifteen passing attempts last weekend against Florida Atlantic, leaving Dell with only one grab for forty-seven yards. Hoyer was only 5-of-15 for 88 yards and a pick, but again, weather was a huge factor, as Owls quarterback Rusty Smith - he of the 58.7% completion percentage in 2007 - completed just 8 of his 34 tosses.

On defense, the Spartans faced one quality attack in normal weather and gave up gobs of points at Berkeley to start the season. Some of their problems stem from the losses of Ervin Baldwin and Jonal Saint-Dic on the defensive line, who combined for 18.5 sacks and well over a hundred tackles last year. After Tedford pulled a typically horrendous Nate Longshore from the game, Kevin Riley cruised to a 17-of-24, 202 yard, two touchdown evening, his attack balanced by not one but two hundred yard rushers. The unit has been solid under Dantonio, but there's nothing in the secondary that makes me think the Irish couldn't have some success going back to the max-protect, chucking it deep strategy.

via www.bluegraysky.com

While some critics will point to Clausen's modest passing numbers to demean the overall effectiveness of the Irish aerial attack, I think it's important to note that the Irish really only aired it out on five drives so far this season, scoring touchdowns on all of them. The last two touchdown drives against San Diego State and the first three scores against Michigan. They were considerably more conservative in the early goings of the season opener and the second half of Saturday's torrential downpour, meaning that if Weis unleashes Clausen from the get-go, this could be Jimmy's first big game where the focus of the offense was consistently around him. The other benefit to trying for some deep scores early is that if the Irish can somehow build an early lead, they might be able to cause some panic in the Spartans that would lead to the abandoning of the running game, which would be a huge benefit to the Irish. Dantonio is a considerably better coach than John L. Smith - who abandoned the running game even when up by several touchdowns - but I'd rather try and play from ahead against a great rushing attack than behind.

After two solid performances at home against middling competition, this is a big step for a relatively young Irish team: a road game against an opponent that appears on paper to be well ahead of Notre Dame's first two conquests. I think the visiting Irish catch a break with this game not being at night, and when you consider the fluky propensity in this series of the road team winning, it makes you ponder if that line, which has ballooned towards double digits, may be getting a little high. Any sort of victory will revolve around stopping Ringer and a Spartan rushing attack that has gouged the Irish over the last few years, and I'm not sure the Irish have the beef up front to slow him. I would advocate just cramming the box and putting the pressure on the Notre Dame secondary, a unit whose depth and talent impress me more and more every time I think about them. Michigan State has a clear advantage when its their rushing attack against the Notre Dame front four, but when it becomes Hoyer against David Bruton and Kyle McCarthy and their merry bunch of corners, I would say the pendulum swings completely to the other side.

The biggest match up in this game will be Clausen, Tate, Floyd, Grimes and everyone else against the Michigan State secondary, because if the Irish can explode like it appears to have the ability to do, the pressure being firmly put on Hoyer is a great benefit. If Otis Wiley and the gang can pick Clausen off a few times and throw Weis' offense out of whack, things could get ugly, especially if the offensive line can't continue their level of play in regards to pass protection.

I was mildly optimistic going into the Michigan game, and despite my general attitude towards Irish football of "Don't get your hopes up," I'm not feeling very gloomy about the trip to East Lansing, either. Expectations are rather low, because as long as the Irish don't embarrass themselves, not many people are giving them a chance at victory here. I wouldn't be surprised if they stumbled their way to 3-0, but the final score isn't as important as the team continuing to make strides in the right direction.

New SBN Big Ten blog The Rivalry, Esq., alerted me to a really interesting piece they have up going into the Michigan State game defending Charlie Weis. Their whole site is really well written and I recommend swinging by there if you need a Big Integer fix.