SB Nation - Chip Vaughn

Deacon Dump 10/19: Road to Recovery

MRickman84 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:28:40 -0000

The Deacs obviously have a lot to think about and work on after the loss on Saturday. It seems like Wake always has one loss like that on the road. Unfortunately, it is usually at Death Valley. After last year's loss to Maryland, Chip Vaughn said that the team had a "come to Jesus" meeting. Here's hoping this year's team does the same thing.

ACC Football Power Rankings, Oct. 19 Articles
In the Atlantic, Wake Forest and Clemson traded places when the Tigers thumped the Deacons. Clemson has head-to-head wins over Wake and Boston College and therefore wins any (remotely conceivable) tie involving the schools.

Daily Herald | Bulls making gains in athleticism
The No. 2 rookie scorer in the preseason, behind top pick Blake Griffin, is Atlanta guard Jeff Teague at 15.2 points. Teague played with Bulls forward James Johnson at Wake Forest. Plenty of college basketball fans wondered why Wake went from a No. 1 ranking in January to a brutal first-round NCAA loss to Cleveland State last season. Johnson said it wasn't because of any friction between him and Teague. "I talk to him every day," Johnson said. "That's my man and I wish him the best always. We fell apart because we fell apart."

TigerNet.com -- Football News -- Spiller, Tigers dismantle Demon Deacons
"I thought they had a good game plan for us," Grobe said. "I think they did some good things with their off time, and I think they played really well. There is never any doubt about their talent level, and I was impressed with their talent, and their coaching staff did a nice job scheme-wise. They used the time off wisely. I thought their kids played great."

The Clemson Sports Blog: Thoughts from Clemson 38, Wake Forest 3 : News : TigersXtra.com
"We had a lot of fire burning down inside us," said C.J. Spiller. "We knew if we came in and got this win we could be right back where we wanted to be, in control of our destiny. The guys, I challenged them last night and they came out and responded."

Clemson rolls past Wake Forest
"It's a long bus ride -- especially when you play like that," defensive tackle John Russell said.

Duke Is Back, And They Are Melodramatic - Duke Blue Devils - Deadspin
There are some unfamiliar names on this year's Blue Devils squad. Thankfully, they're making sure they give us things to make fun of them for.

DeaconsIllustrated.com - Never a chance in Death Valley

Clemson says bye-bye, Deacons : News-Record.com
"We've played (Skinner) over the years and know if he gets hit a few times, he starts getting frustrated," Sapp said. "We knew we had to come out, hit him, and get him on the ground."

Deacons roll to soccer victory - Sports - News & Observer
Wake Forest senior forward Zack Schilawski started the scoring in the fifth minute, his sixth goal this season. Senior midfielder Austin da Luz, the ACC's assist leader, had the first of his three assists.

Allen will treat Wake with visit on Halloween
Zachary Allen, the outstanding linebacker at Pahokee and one of the top-rated recruits in Palm Beach County, is planning to take his official visit to Wake Forest the weekend of Halloween for the Demon Deacons' game against Miami. Allen has made a verbal commitment to Wake Forest, but other schools continue to court him, including UM. However, Allen told Deacons Illustrated this week that his commitment is solid and he still plans to enroll at the North Carolina school in January after graduating early from Pahokee.

ACC INSIDER: Fifth quarter … Now it’s a free-for-all in both divisions | ACC Insider
Wake Forest, F: The Deacons came into their game at Clemson atop the Atlantic Division standings and leading the ACC in total offense, but they didn’t like they belonged in the same league with the awakened Tigers. Quarterback Riley Skinner threw for less than 100 yards, got sacked five times and threw two interceptions. The ground game wasn’t much better. Wake also hurt itself with costly mistakes, such as the holding penalty it committed on the 1-yard line that turned a potential momentum-turning touchdown early in the second quarter into a short field goal. Defensively, the Deacons couldn’t contend with the speed and athleticism of Clemson’s skill players, led by all-purpose running back C.J. Spiller. And don’t let the fact that they "held" the Tigers to just seven points in the second half fool you. Had the Tigers not called off the dogs after halftime, this one could have – and probably should have – been much worse.

What Went Wrong: Wake Forest vs. Baylor

MRickman84 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:00:25 -0000

Picture courtesy of Bob Hebert

Where to start? The Baylor loss was eye-opening, but as Chip Vaughn said last year after the Maryland loss--sometimes losses like these are a "come to Jesus" moment. Did the Deacs have their come to Jesus moment early on? A young team falls into bad habits that take awhile to address at times, and if they win their first few games, those mistakes and problems get masked. At least the problems came to the forefront early. Now the question is, what went wrong vs. Baylor?

Invasion of the Riley Snatchers

I don't know if Riley Skinner had swine flu or not, but it sure looked like something was wrong. He just wasn't himself. The senior quarterback was skittish, slow in decision-making and just all around looked uncomfortable in the pocket.

If this team is going to succeed, it is absolutely imperative that Skinner lead this offense. He is one of the most accurate passers in the nation and he needs to trust his abilities. Far too often Riley had a guy open over the middle or in the flats and he either didn't see them in his progression, or he was trying to do too much by looking for the big play. He needs to go back to what has been successful for him in three years--look for the dumps and dinks for 5-15 yards and take shots downfield when they present themselves. Riley's play on Saturday is going to play a huge factor in whether or not the Deacs will beat the Cardinal.

A Bad Case of the Drops

Have you seen that commercial where Andre Johnson catches everything because of those gloves? Here's hoping Jim Grove has seen it too and went right out and bought a whole case of them after Saturday's loss. In critical times, the Williamses saw balls right on the money bounce right out of their hands. There is nothing worse for a drive than seeing a wide open route turn into a dropped pass. In one critical juncture, the ball popped right up in the air for a Baylor INT in the red zone. Even worse, in the last drive, there were two drops in a row on open looks, killing the drive and ending the Deacs' chances for a comeback. I already have one Braylon Edwards to follow, I don't need two more.

Mistakes Mistakes Mistakes

This sure looked like the Navy game didn't it? Bunches of turnovers, missed opportunities, blown coverages and head-scratching decisions crippled the Demon Deacons against Baylor. What's worse is that Wake still had a chance to win it in the final two minutes. If the Deacs had minimized the mistakes just a little bit, they probably would have won that game.

As discussed above, Riley played completely out of his head, there were fumbles and big plays for Baylor off of missed assignments or blown coverage--see first drive and double pass for a TD. To their credit, Baylor maximized those opportunities. This is not Jim Grobe football, and believe me, he will not let this happen again.

WHEEL OF...OFFENSIVE SCHEMES!

I know Wake has made its mark offensively off of trick plays and mixing up the looks, but who can get comfortable with a new formation every series and sometimes from play to play? In the first drive, the Deacs had a lot of success in a wishbone set, using Chris Givens and Y'lou, but they went away from that in favor of FB football later, then tradition I-formation, then shotgun.

Lobo tends to outthink himself--he comes up with good plays and schemes, but he has a real problem sticking with one formation or another and this has to hurt the flow of the offense. And to add insult to injury, Kevin Harris had just four carries on the day and Brandon Pendergrass and Josh Adams combined for 7 carries and 20 yards. This just is not going to get it done for a team that said they were going to smashmouth football this year.

If the Deacs go back to misdirection, pulling guards, opening holes in the middle and using end-arounds as well as getting Riley good looks in the flats, over the middle and down the sidelines, Wake will have more success. It will be interesting to see what Lobo goes with this week.

Who Will Step Up On Defense?

I'm going to leave the offensive line alone for today. They were pushed around here and there and allowed the pocket to collapse on Riley much of the day, but overall they showed a lot more than most of last year. I'm not particularly worried about the offensive line play. What I would like to focus on is the defensive side of the ball. We all knew coming in that the defense was a question mark--now how did they perform?

As expected, early on there were growing pains as evidenced by Baylor's opening drive. They also gave up far too many big plays overall. But, there were flashes including the last stand to give Wake the ball back with about a minute and a half to play in the game to give the Deacs a chance to win.

The Deacs lost more than just talent on defense last year, they lost leaders and playmakers. It was easy for the defense to know that if the team needed it, guys like AC, Phonz, Chip and KP would step up and come up huge. Players need to take on this role this year as well and not just look around for someone else to do that. Whether it is Boo, JR, Ghee, Wilber or someone else, the Deacs need leadership on the defensive side of the ball.

Deacon Dump 9/2: Bevy of football links

MRickman84 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:07:38 -0000

Today is another big day for links, so if you're stuck at the office on a slow Wednesday or just have a lot of time, put on your reading glasses and get to work. Keep an eye on McKenzie's decision --he'll announce at 2 p.m. today whether he'll be a Demon Deacon or not. That said, I'll keep the 'graph short today so you can get on your way...linktime!

ACC Preview: Top players, games to watch - Sports - The News Herald
Riley Skinner, Wake Forest quarterback The ACC returns a bevy of starting quarterbacks this season and none may be better than Skinner. The 6-1, 210-pound senior is the school’s career leader in completion percentage (.673), passing efficiency (132.33) and wins (26). He also is the ACC career leader in completion percentage and should collect loads more school records this season.

BC Interruption: Food Chain: Ranking The 2009 Schedule
September 26: Boston College vs. Wake Forest Brian: The Deacons have to take a step back this season, right? I know that Wake Forest will be sound offensively led by senior "it feels like he’s been there for 8 years" quarterback Riley Skinner. But the Deacons seem to have lost just too much talent on the defensive side of the ball to rank this game too high up in pecking order. It is true that you should never count out a Jim Grobe-led team, and Wake Forest has given the Eagles fits at Alumni Stadium over the years, but this game seems to be one of the more winnable ACC games this season. I guess that is saying something.

The Zook Awards: Best and Worst Coaches 2009
5. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest - No coach does more with less than Jim Grobe. Did you ever think you'd see Wake Forest in a BCS Bowl? In 3 straight bowl games, winning 2 of them? Well neither did anyone else until Jim Grobe showed up. Wake Forest hasn't had a coach since 1950 win even 30 games in his career (Grobe's predecessor was 26-63). Grobe is 54-44.

Wake Forest scouting report : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

How do the Deacons replace seven defensive starters? Wake Forest lost some serious star power, with LB Aaron Curry, CB Alphonso Smith, S Chip Vaughn and LB Stanley Arnoux all taken in the NFL draft. This year's defense is short on experience but long on talent, and it's built around a front four anchored by returnees John Russell and Boo Robinson. "Even when we've had great players in the past, I've always felt that it all starts up front with the D-line," Russell said. This year, they'll have to prove it.

Tribe Men's Soccer Falls in Season Opener at #3 Wake Forest, 1-0
The William and Mary men's soccer team once again played the #3 Wake Forest Demon Deacons to the wire on Tuesday night. But for the second straight match, the Deacs were able to edge the Tribe, 1-0. Last season, Wake defeated the Tribe, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With the loss, the College falls to 0-1,while WF moves to 1-0.

SoccerAmerica.com: Articles - 2009 Men's College Soccer Preview - 09/01/2009
The 10 starters from Wake Forest's 2007 championship team who are no longer with the team are all playing pro ball in MLS, the USL or Europe. That includes rising senior Cody Arnoux, who signed with English club Everton a month before the start of the 2009 season. Despite Arnoux's departure, the Demon Deacons should also be in the running for the national title. About the time Everton inked Arnoux, Wake announced the signing of midfielder Andy Lubahn, who had spent time at Belgian club Cercle Brugge.

Baylor QB to challenge all facets of Wake's D - ACC - ESPN
"This is definitely, definitely an early test," said [Jonathan] Jones. "In one sense it’s a blessing we get to play them in the first game so we’ve had a little longer to prepare for them. They do a lot of things, throw a lot of things at you, and with Robert Griffin being the dual threat that he is, you have to have everybody have all eyes on him. Everybody has to be focused and in tune. This is not a game that’s going to be won by the front, or won by the defensive backs. We need a collective team effort on defense to try to contain this offense."

The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX - Wake Forest’s Skinner wants to go out a winner
"I’ve still got so much to learn, and I still want to learn something new every day," Skinner said. "And I think that’s one thing that can only make you better as a quarterback — knowing that you don’t have all the answers. They’re coaches for a reason."

Freshman to play for Deacs
"We'll kind of see how that plays out," Grobe said. "I think with Souza, it could be good either way. If he redshirts, it will certainly be good for him. But he's a pretty good player and he's real competitive to play right now. "I think we'll probably see how those first four guys (John Russell, Robinson, Lockett and Booi) do. I think Tripp Russell's gotten better. Certainly we've already redshirted Tripp, and we would like for him to take snaps if we need it. "It's really going to be up to (assistant coach) Ray McCartney. I think we've told Frank there's a good chance he'll play this year. But we'll start out at 3:30 Saturday with those top four guys and see how it goes from there."

WFU wins soccer opener over William & Mary
"I'm impressed that we put a lot of pressure on a team like William & Mary, and we did control the game," Vidovich said. "At this time of the year, that's good. And for the freshmen like Andy Lubahn and Anthony Arena to come in and do so well is nice to see." Courtney said it was frustrating that the Deacons had so many chances to score but managed just one goal. But he also knows that staying patient while continuing to attack is a critical. "There's some pressure," Courtney said of the season, "but it's a new year, and we know we are going to be good."

College football: Knights share vision of upcoming season | Varsity845U.com
Army senior cornerback Mario Hill on Wake Forest linebacker Dominique Midgett: "He's my brother's cousin. We played at the same high school our first year and he transferred to a rival high school. He is a redshirt senior. He's a real big fella, very athletic. I remember growing up he was pretty good at basketball so he had the footwork for football. He has the will. He's a hard-working dude."

Aaron Curry's First Big Play - Field Gulls

Griffin ready to open season as Baylor’s starting QB | College Sports | Star-Telegram
"That’s the thing that really makes us have a chance to be as comfortable as you can be at this time of the year, because we’ve got nine (defensive starters) back over there," Briles said. "We’ve got some guys back there that played a bunch against a lot of good offenses. "So that type of ball they’re not going to be shocked or surprised by anything that’s thrown at them, because there’s some good offenses in this league. So that’s a confident factor for us."

My Take on Wake - On Second Thought: Grobe Not Infallible | JournalNow.com
"That was another thing of me not being the smartest guy in the world,‘’ Grobe said. "Last year we tried to be too much spread, and too much dinking and dunking. And we had a couple of pretty good fullbacks that we probably didn’t take advantage of doing that.‘’

Cincinnati.Com | Cincinnati Enquirer | High School Sports Blog " McKenzie to decide Wednesday afternoon
Moeller senior forward Griffin McKenzie is scheduled to announce his college choice at a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the school. McKenzie, one of the state’s top basketball players in the 2010 class, has narrowed his choices to Northwestern, Xavier, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

Rookie Mini-Camp Review: Are You Freaking Kidding Me Edition

Saintsational — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:00:17 -0000

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, left, has flashbacks while watching Ryan Walters (26) from Colorado, during football minicamp at the team's training facility in Metairie, La., Friday, May 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Browse more photos »

Day one of rookie mini-camp is officially in the books and Saints fans are none the wiser about what to expect from this years team. It's been nice getting a little taste of some action and having something to talk about but did we really learn anything from yesterday's workouts?

No.

Well...I take that back. We learned that the Saints installed three coverages via a Malcolm Jenkins press conference. Thanks Malcolm. Funny thing is he probably got an earful from Payton after that for saying too much. Jenkins will learn.

We also learned that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I'm talking about the Stanley Arnoux injury. And the John Halman injury. What in holy hell is going on here!?! The thought of having another promising season destroyed because of rampant injury is just too tough a pill to swallow. Not after last season. Not after this off-season. Not now. But 2009 seems to have picked up right where 2008 left off. If yesterday was any indication of the season to follow, the Saints will be lucky to finish 8-8.

I'm able to write this post calmly now because I took a step back to get some perspective. SERENITY NOW!! But when I first heard the news I was just as irate as the next guy. Who wouldn't be? Then, all that cautious optimism I've been preaching for months covered my body like a warm, protective blanket with two holes cut out just enough so I can see out. I've been expecting crap like this to happen so why should I be surprised because it's actually happening? Serenity now. I figure these early injuries can't really be blamed on the Saints strength and conditioning program since this was the first day of rookie practice. More likely it's just plain bad luck. What's worse is that there's nothing anybody can do about bad luck. You may just want to assume that this was an abberation, forget it ever happened and move on with the rest of your daydreaming. Honestly, you don't have a choice. As for me...everything is right on schedule.

Oh...and...uh...I told you so.

I've got some other notes from the events of yesterday. You can make the jump for a few of my favorite things (continuing the Sound of Music reference from yesterday).

Disrespecting the Deuce

I know some of us were freaking out about Colorado free agent safety Ryan Walters wearing #26 at practice yesterday. Calm down. It's just mini-camp. I also don't think anyone is going to want to wear the number if they're going to catch hell like this from most of Who Dat Nation.

It's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your...

Everyone was talking about the weather yesterday. More specifically, complaining about the heat. Big surprise there. We hear this every year.

It was a lot hotter than in New Jersey or Ohio.

-Malcolm Jenkins

I have to get used to the heat, but it was a great first day of practice.

-Chip Vaughn

Wusses. I live approximitely ten miles from the practice facility and yesterday was nothing. It was gorgeous out. If these guys think it was hot yesterday they're in for a rude awakening this August. They ought to be more like punter Thomas Morstead. He's a real man.

I'm excited about this weather actually. I'm from Houston so I'm used to the hot stuff. It's pretty nice and it's good practice out here with the wind.

-Thomas Morstead

I'm startin' to like this kid. What else did we learn about Morstead today?

I'm kind of crazy. I've told coaches before and I'll tell them again that I'm up for anything. I'm up for whatever they want to do.

-Thomas Morstead

Woah, Tommy! You barely even know them. I think you should take it slow and get to know each other first. Maybe a romantic dinner and a walk along the beach. Actually, Morstead reminds me of another kicker the Saints drafted suspiciously early. Listen to the way they each describe themselves.

"I'm the kind of guy that I'm just never satisfied with where I'm at. I'm always trying to improve, always trying to do better. I'm kind of my own biggest critic. I expect a lot out of myself, and my goal is to go out there and put the ball deep in the end zone and get touchbacks for our team with good hang time."

-Taylor Mehlhaff

"I could care less really about that. I'm harder on myself than anybody else could be. Coaches have to tell me not to worry about it and hit the next one, which I do, but I'm very hard on myself."

-Thomas Morstead

We know what happened to Mehlhaff. Not good, Tommie. Not good.

Zoo York Reprezent

I never knew that undrafted free agent running back P.J. Hill is from Elmhurst, Queens; about twenty minutes from where I grew up. Now I'm pulling for him.

Quote of the Day

"Knock 'em the ( -- -- ) out!"

-Gregg Williams

Random Fact of the Day

Q: What's the story on Stanley Arnoux?

A: Stan's actually a great cook. He can cook Haitian food.

Q: Have you eaten Haitian food before?

A: It's pretty good.

Q: Did he get you hooked on that?

A: He did.

-Transcript of Chip Vaughn Press Conference

Poll

Are you worried about injury this season?

Nah.

115 votes

I wasn't until yesterday!

98 votes

I have been all along.

75 votes

Someone's already injured!? Mother $^%&!!!

205 votes

493 votes | Poll has closed

Chip Vaughn: A Post-Draft Analysis

MtnExile — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:13 -0000

I have to admit: I didn't know anything about Chip Vaughn. I read up on Louis Delmas, on Patrick Chung, on William Moore and Rashad Johnson and even Derek Pegues—who wasn't even drafted. But Vaughn slipped right past me.

He didn't slip past Gregg Williams. I've found what I think is compelling evidence that Williams saw something in Vaughn that may have reminded him of the best football player he ever coached.

First of all: the Saints needed safety help. Everyone knew it, and that was part of the reason that so many projected Malcolm Jenkins to the Saints. But the Saints immediately announced that Jenkins was penciled in at the corner position—not at safety. So Jenkins wasn't the dynamic safety that everyone knew Williams coveted. But the Saints had already targeted one, even though they had to wait until the fourth round to pull the trigger.

When you haven't followed a player, and have to rely upon objective professionals to give you an analysis, you almost always seem to run into this problem: who to believe? So it is with Chip Vaughn.

NFLDraftScout.com had him rated the third-best safety prospect in the country, behind only Patrick Chung (love that Chung kid) and William Moore. According to them, Vaughn is an "aggressive defender that attacks in run support. Reliable open-field tackler. Heavy hitter that can separate the ballcarrier from the ball..." He's not as good, however, in pass coverage.

Sporting News, on the other hand, has him rated sixth. But not because he's poor in coverage: "Vaughn's failure to stand out in run support and his tendency to disappear from games are certainly big concerns. However, he consistently shows the athleticism and instincts to be effective in pass coverage, crucial for NFL safeties."

What the hell? Should we be doing scouting reports on the reporters, instead of the players?

ESPN comes at it from a different angle. They rate Vaughn's character, reporting that he's "A sociology and religion major. There have been no off-the-field incidents to our knowledge." What character rating does that give him? Average.

Okay, let's go for consensus here. NFL Draft Countdown reports "Terrific size and bulk...Superb tackler...Real tough and physical...Will deliver the big hit...Very active and aggressive...Good range...Does a fantastic job against the run...Smart and instinctive...Very productive." Okay, that tends to suggest that Sporting News wasn't paying attention. Scout.com says "Vaughn is a physically imposing defender who has a lot of upside. He has great size, speed and athleticism. He positions himself well and delivers jarring hits. He’s always around the ball and looks to create turnovers. He’s aggressive at the line of scrimmage against the run, but even though he’s quick, he struggles in coverage. He has to locate the ball quicker and improve his ball skills." That confirms it for me: whoever did the write-up for Sporting News doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. And that leaves us with this: Chip Vaughn was one of the best strong safeties in the draft, who is going to be a demon (no pun intended) in the box. But he's seemingly no better than Roman Harper in coverage.

Despite that: Sean Payton has said that Vaughn is penciled in as a free safety.

So how does Vaughn compare to other free safeties Gregg Williams has worked with? Well, at Tennessee he had All-Pro Marcus Robertson, and at Washington, of course, he had Sean Taylor. The first thing you notice in comparing them is that Vaughn is very close to Taylor: at 6-2 and 221 pounds, he is the same height and nine pounds lighter than Taylor's rookie measurements. With a 4.43 40 time, he's faster than Taylor's 4.51; and his 21 reps on the bench are ten better than Taylor's rather notorious 11. What's more, compare these two analyses:

NEGATIVES: Better facing the quarterback and slow to locate in man-to-man coverage. Lacks top hands for the interception and, as a result, defends more throws than he actually picks off.

Negatives: ...May lack the agility to mirror routes. Better facing the quarterback. Loses track of the ball and has only marginal hand-eye coordination for the interception.

The first of those quotes is from Sports Illustrated's 2004 assessment of Taylor; the second, from NFLDraftScout's recent assessment of Vaughn.

Plus, consider this: Vaughn played strong safety in college, where skill in pass defense wasn't as critical. Yet, Sean Payton announced almost immediately that he was penciled in as a free safety—Sean Taylor's position. That leads me to believe that Gregg Williams was the driving force behind this pick...and that he thinks he sees something there very similar to his former star. This is not to suggest that Vaughn is on the brink of becoming a superstar in the NFL; only that Williams may have found just the r ight person to fill the role of safety as it's envisioned in his system. If that's true, we could be in for exciting times.

If it's not...then I'm just not being objective.

Grading the Saints 2009 Draft

Saintsational — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:00:14 -0000

I understand that it's way too early to be grading this years draft. Having never played a single down in the NFL there is absolutely nothing performance-wise to grade these players on. In fact, it probably takes about five years to adequately judge any draft class. But I do know what areas the Saints need to improve and I do have opinions on whether or not they've attempted to do so. Consider these grades more of a gauge on how well the Saints have done to address their greatest needs.

Malcolm Jenkins - Cornerback - Ohio State

A+

Most of us saw this coming. We've been talking about Jenkins for the last month and it should be no surprise that the Saints grabbed him up when it was their turn to select. I applaud the team for making the right move and the obvious choice. Jenkins has been highly touted and there is already talk about him being an instant upgrade for this defense. Whether he winds up playing corner or safety the Saints officially have some depth now in their secondary. Way to go Payton and company.

Chip Vaughn - Safety - Wake Forest

B+

I'll be honest with you, I had never even heard of this guy until yesterday. I think it's safe to say Vaughn wasn't on any of our pre-draft radars. But the pick certainly addresses the Saints needs in the secondary and adds even more depth where there once was none. Vaughn should also be able to contribute on special teams and we know how much Payton loves guys like that. Don't expect Chip to be an instant starter but with some mentoring from free agent acquisition and veteran safety Darren Sharper, he has the possibility of being a great pickup for the Saints.

Stanley Arnoux - Linebacker - Wake Forest

Arnoux is the second Wake Forest player taken by the Saints in this years draft and he's also the second player I had never really heard of. Though he's listed as an inside linebacker, the position currently held by Jonathan Vilma, the Saints will move him to the outside and have him compete there. Like Vaughn, his special teams contributions might be the difference maker. Regardless of how the selection of Arnoux actually plays out, I applaud the Saints for using this pick on a position of need.

Thomas Morstead - Punter - Southern Methodist University

C-

Initially this pick had me, and many other Saints fans, all hot and bothered. Up until selecting Morstead the Saints were doing a great job of choosing players that addressed their needs. But after taking a deep breath and drinking a couple of 190 Octanes I now have a better understanding of the reasoning behind this selection. Often an overlooked position, Punters play an important role in the field position game and the Saints haven't had anything too great in the punting department for quite a while. Still, drafting a specialist could blow up in the Saints face...again. The question from here on out will be, "Was he worth it?" They gave up their 2010 fifth round pick as well as this years seventh round pick just to land this guy. There were also players left on the draft board with higher grades than Morestead. The pressure is on. I'm not sure about this one but I am feeling generous so I went with a grade of C. Glenn Pakulak...your days may be numbered.

Poll

What grade would you give the Saints 2009 draft class?

A

103 votes

B

493 votes

C

173 votes

D

21 votes

F

12 votes

802 votes | Poll has closed

Demon Deacons Discover NFL Destinations

WakeJake — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:29:17 -0000

Aaron Curry - 4th overall to the Seattle Seahawks

Alphonso Smith - 37th overall to the Denver Broncos

Chip Vaughn - 116th overall to the New Orleans Saints

Stanley Arnoux - 118th overall to the New Orleans Saints

** Update: Free agent signings:

Sam Swank - Philadelphia Eagles

Kevin Patterson - Jacksonville Jaguars

DJ Boldin - Detroit Lions

Congratulations guys!

With the 116th Pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Saints Select S Chip Vaughn

Saintsational — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:15:54 -0000

via cache.daylife.com

The New Orleans Saints continue to upgrade their secondary by drafting Wake Forest safety Clarence "Chip" Vaughn.

Here is some linkage for you guys:

NFL Combine Video

New Orleans Saints official website Bio File

Combine Page

Positives: Looks the part. ... Rare size and upper-body development for the position. ... Aggressive defender that attacks in run support. ... Reliable open-field tackler. ... Heavy hitter that can separate the ballcarrier from the ball, resulting in forced fumbles and passes broken up. ... Appears to have at least adequate straight-line speed, good balance and a low backpedal. ... Good leaping ability to battle for the ball. ... Has developed a reputation for game-changing plays over his career. ... Came to Wake Forest as a wide receiver and is still an ascending player.

Negatives: Better in run support than against the pass. ... Questionable instincts. ... A step slow in recognizing the action and has a hitch in his turn. ... May lack the agility to mirror routes. ... Better facing the quarterback. ... Loses track of the ball and has only marginal hand-eye coordination for the interception. ... Surrounded by a great deal of talent at Wake Forest.

Draft Countdown

Strengths:
Terrific size and bulk...Superb tackler...Real tough and physical...Will deliver the big hit...Very active and aggressive...Good range...Does a fantastic job against the run...Smart and instinctive...Very productive.

Weaknesses:
Just average speed...Doesn't have great hands or ball skills...Gets too high in his backpedal...Hips aren't real fluid...Will struggle to match up with wideouts in man coverage...Isn't very quick...A little inconsistent.

Notes:
First name is "Clarence"...Actually arrived at Wake Forest as a wide receiver...Saw extensive action as a backup early in his career before taking over a starting job in 2007...Led the Demon Deacons in tackles as a junior...A blue-collar prospect who certainly isn't flashy but has adequate physical tools and even better intangibles...An in-the-box run supporter whose best fit at the next level will be as a strong safety.

Wake Forest Player Bio

Rumblings Scouting Report: Wake Forest S Chip Vaughn

Poll

On a scale of 1-10, how do you feel about this pick?

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232 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.

NFL Draft Day Two: Diamonds In The Rough

Jake — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:28:11 -0000

The Draft has been the spark for the rebuilding process of the Houston Texans. Since Gary Kubiak took the reigns in 2006, the Texans have shown adeptness at finding talent to fit their needs that few other teams have matched in that time period. Some credit the fact that Kubiak was heavily involved in scouting while an assistant coach in Denver, while others feel that it is because Rick Smith values the opinions of the assistants that have a multitude of experience at their specialties, like Alex Gibbs and Frank Bush. Whatever the cause, it is encouraging to see results in the draft after several years of disappointments prior to the current regime.

It isn’t just the Texans’ ability to identify talent in the first two rounds that has led to success though; it’s also their keen eye for talent in rounds three through seven. Every year since 2006, there have been key players that had their names called on Day Two of the proceedings, such as Owen Daniels, Eric Winston, Fred Bennett, Xavier Adibi, and Zac Diles, all of whom have been productive starters for Houston at one point or another.

The Texans have held their cards pretty close to their vest this year, so we have little to no word on what players they are interested in, even in the first two rounds. All we know is the Texans’ overall needs. Based off these needs, I’ve tried to peruse the second day draft talent to find players that I think would look great in Steel Blue. I included the round in which I feel they may be available, but that round is also the earliest I would want the Texans to select them.

Offense

Andre Brown/RB/NC State – 3rd Round – Brown would likely be a first round pick if it wasn’t for the multiple injuries he suffered in college. Brown wowed coaches and scouts at the Senior Bowl, and then absolutely astonished them at the Combine with his 4.37 40 despite weighing 224 pounds. His rare blend of size and speed would be a perfect match for Slaton’s speed and quickness. Unfortunately, wishing for Brown in the 3rd might be a pipe dream, yet I wouldn’t want to take him before then.

Rashad Jennings/RB/Liberty – 3rd Round – Jennings is a beast. He doesn’t possess Brown’s top-end speed, but he has more power. Jennings also has considerable character. Often times transfers such as the one he conducted (Pitt to Liberty) are done for selfish reasons, but Jennings did it because his father was sick. He’s definitely not blazing, but we don’t need a track star; we only need a goal line back.

Antoine Caldwell/C/Alabama – 4th Round – Caldwell fared well against SEC DTs throughout his career. If he is able to put his hands on opposing lineman he fares well, but speed can sometimes beat him, keeping him from being dominant. Caldwell is also known as a smart player, which will help him adapt to Alex Gibbs’ zone blocking scheme.

Patrick Turner/WR/USC – 4th Round – The Texans had the 3rd best yardage offense in the league, but only the 17th ranked scoring offense. The offensive players that Houston needs are ones that will help in the red zone, and Turner can do just that. How high is someone that is 6’5” that can jump 34.5”? High enough. Also, Turner isn’t just a big oaf. He could be a decent possession receiver in the NFL, especially under the tutelage of our offensive staff.

Lydon Murtha/OT-G/Nebraska – 5th Round – Murtha was by far the most athletic OT at the Combine, as evidenced by his 4.82 40 and his 35” vertical jump. Murtha is on the lighter side at 306 pounds, but at 6’7” he can stand to add some weight, even at the risk of losing some speed, and still be impressive.

Quan Cosby/WR/Texas – 5th Round – This may garner me an accusation of being a homer, but I assure you that I try my best to disassociate myself with Texas players as soon as they are done playing in Austin. I think that Cosby is going to be a great NFL player cut from the same cloth as Wes Welker. Nothing on paper about Cosby is that astonishing; he ran a 4.5 40, and he is already 26 because of a stint playing professional baseball. If you watch Cosby play though, there is no doubt that he can play football.

Gartrell Johnson/RB-FB/Colorado State – 6th Round – Johnson attends the same school that Gary Kubiak’s sons attend, which happens to employ a zone blocking scheme. Even though Johnson is only 220 pounds, at 5’10” he’s built more like a FB than a RB, which is probably a good thing. Kubiak has stated before that he prefers having two FBs on the roster, and right now we only have the Human Coke Machine. Johnson will likely last until the 6th though, because he probably won’t be good for more than 10 carries a game in the NFL.

Louis Vasquez/G/Texas Tech – 6th Round – If you have a soft spot for big, bruising offensive lineman, look no further than Vasquez. Vasquez is 6’5” and weighs 333 pounds. As you can imagine, he’s not the quickest man in the world, but his 39 reps in the bench press were best in that category at the Combine this year. You can always find a use for a bruiser of his ilk.

Defense

Kaluka Maiava/OLB/USC – 3rd Round – Who is the loser in the Clay Matthews Cinderella story? A big bruising SLB Maiava is not, but he is a football player. Despite irregular playing time in his senior year, Maiava recorded the third most tackles for the Trojans and was the MVP of the Rose Bowl. Maiava is better suited to play WLB, but would be a great addition for depth and could play in the rotation immediately.

Chip Vaughn/SS/Wake Forrest – 3rd Round – Vaughn is the last of a dying breed--a true SS. At 6’2” 221 pounds, Vaughn has the size to play in the box but is quick enough (4.42 40) to cover some as well. Vaughn loves contact, and is responsible for 192 of Wake Forrest’s tackles in the last two years. If Vaughn didn’t start immediately, he would receive significant playing time.

Sherrod Martin/CB-FS/Troy – 3rd Round – Martin is my dark horse at FS this year. Martin is incredibly athletic, so much so that coaches played him as a CB in the Senior Bowl, something that he rarely did the majority of his collegiate career. So what you have is a guy that played almost exclusively at FS, but has the athleticism to play CB (4.43 40). At 6’1” 200 pounds, he’s more suited to play FS anyway, which happens to be one of our needs.

Michael Hamlin/SS/Clemson – 3rd Round – Hamlin isn’t the fastest guy in the world (4.57 40) and he’s not the strongest either (17 reps), but he performs on the field. He’s been productive since his redshirt freshman year, and in the last two years he has 177 tackles and 10 INT. That’s about 8 tackles a game and an INT almost every two games. I don’t like him as much as Vaughn or Martin, but if both of them are gone and we haven’t drafted a safety yet, I definitely wouldn’t mind Hamlin.

Darcel McBath/FS/Texas Tech – 4th Round – McBath has shown adeptness in coverage with his 12 career INT, 7 of those coming last year, but is lacking in run support. That deficiency means that he will probably only be suited to play FS in the NFL, a league in which teams prefer safeties to be interchangeable. That fact coupled with mediocre measurables (6’0”, 198 pounds, 4.58 40) has him slated to go in the middle of the draft. McBath does have an impressive 38” vertical, and a name that makes him sound like he was a Duck Tales character.

Dorell Scott/DT/Clemson – 4th Round – Scott isn’t the prototypical space eater yet, but he could be. Scott measured 6’3” 312 pounds at the Combine, so his frame appears to have some room left for a little more weight. Several 3-4 teams are looking at Scott to anchor their defensive line at NT, which means he’s big enough to play alongside Amobi.

Greg Toler/CB/St. Pauls – 4th Round – Kubiak and Smith love to take flyers on small school guys every once in a while. Well, is St. Paul’s College small enough for you? Toler at 5’11” 191 pounds is being compared to Domanique Rodgers-Cromartie. Toler ran the 40 in 4.45, and could be a steal in the 4th round.

John Gill/DT/Northwestern – 5th Round – Gill is the same type of DT that Amobi Okoye is--a smaller penetrating DT. I don’t think we should replace Amobi, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get more depth behind him. Despite being 6’3”/301 pounds, Gill ran the 40 in 4.92 and the all important 10-time used to determine a D lineman’s burst off the ball was 1.7, which is pretty good for a guy his size.

Zack Follet/OLB/California – 5th Round – Follet was originially brought to my attention by DieHard Chris, who is rather fond of him, and after reading up on Follet and watching videos, I jumped on the bandwagon as well. Follet had an amazing 51 tackles for loss in his career at Cal, which shows that he can get into the backfield and wreak havoc. Follet is undersized to play SLB at 6’3” 236 pounds, but could be a candidate to give depth at WLB.

Brandon Underwood/FS/Cincinnati – 5th Round – Underwood is slated to go late in the draft because he only started one year, but what a year it was. While playing both FS and CB in 2008, Underwood tallied 66 tackles, 4 INT, 2 forced two fumbles and recovered 3, all of which earned him all-conference honors. Underwood has good measureables as well at 6’1” 200 pounds, and ran 4.50 40 with a 36.5” vertical. Underwood would probably be a 3rd round prospect or better if he had more experience.

Russell Allen/OLB/San Diego State – 6th Round – Allen would definitely be a project, but what else would you expect in the 6th round? Allen is 6’3”/230 pounds, which shows that he has the frame to be bigger, and he ran a 4.65 50, which included a 1.58 10-yard time, which was equal to Clay Matthews III. Allen started all 48 games since his time started at SD St., and was a Dick Butkus award nominee twice.

Lardarius Webb/CB/Nicholls State – 6th Round – Webb is another small school prospect, but the difference with him is that he started at a bigger university (Southern Miss.) and transferred to the smaller institution. Webb is smaller at 5’10”/180 pounds, and would be a huge project as a CB, but what I love about him is his return ability. Webb ran a 4.35 40, and returned 16 kicks for 472 total yards (29.5 average) before teams simply quit kicking to him. For that kind of ability, I wouldn’t mind expending a 6th round pick.

There are other players that I feel will make good or even great players in the NFL that can be had in rounds three through seven, but I didn’t include them because I either felt they didn’t fulfill a need for the Texans or they would have to be taken too early for my liking. If you feel that I have any glaring omissions, you disagree with any of my picks or simply have a dark horse of your own, feel free to let me know. Who knows--maybe a couple of these players will be the newest members of the Houston Texans come Sunday.

SB Nation - Chip Vaughn

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It's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your...

Zoo York Reprezent

Quote of the Day

Random Fact of the Day

Are you worried about injury this season?

Nah.

I wasn't until yesterday!

I have been all along.

Someone's already injured!? Mother $*^%&*!!!

Chip Vaughn: A Post-Draft Analysis

Grading the Saints 2009 Draft

Malcolm Jenkins - Cornerback - Ohio State

Chip Vaughn - Safety - Wake Forest

Stanley Arnoux - Linebacker - Wake Forest

Thomas Morstead - Punter - Southern Methodist University

What grade would you give the Saints 2009 draft class?

A

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D

F

Demon Deacons Discover NFL Destinations

With the 116th Pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Saints Select S Chip Vaughn

On a scale of 1-10, how do you feel about this pick?

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Last Two Rumblings Authors Mock: MARVelous, poz

NFL Draft Day Two: Diamonds In The Rough

Someone's already injured!? Mother $^%&!!!