SB Nation - Brian Robiskie

Bucknotes is lookin' lean and mean

Sam @ WWAHT — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:16 -0000

Contrast that with this and you get an idea of how much more athletic this line could be

Not a whole lot of news out of the first day of camp, what with it being closed and all. That being said, the offseason fluff machine may be winding down, but my willingness to cover it shall never wane.

Freshman Matt Barkley vying for USC Trojans' top QB job - ESPN
I know I've been dogging the Bucks for months over this game, but if Pete Carroll is serious about starting a true freshman in the 'Shoe against what should be a ferocious pass rush, I'm liking our chances a whole lot more.

NCAA College Football Power Rankings - NCAA Football - ESPN
Ohio State places sixth, proving that the lovefest ain't just the coaches.

EDSBS " Archive " THE JIM TRESSEL MOOD CHART

The chart should yield multiple dividends. First, skirts take flight for the winter and and never return under the steely gaze of Jim Tressel: it’s foreplay and distraction in one efficient move. In addition to this, your wife/girlfriend/prison psych will assume you’re actually trying, and will likely call this "progress." Finally, you can engage in this activity while spending mere seconds away from watching sweet, precious football.

If, for some reason only known to you and God, you aren't reading EDSBS consistently, this will convince you to do so.

SEC plans to enact new media policy | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
That gigantic new contract with the WWL has its drawbacks for the media and fans. About time something bad happened to something associated with the SEC.

A 2011 Recruiting Primer | mgoblog
Michigan thinks they have a chance at Braxton Miller, but HA:

his dad has said that Braxton won't play in an offense where the quarterback has to run around all the time

Nevertheless, Miller did attend a UM camp, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to assume he did it to put up some good camp numbers.

Wake me when Terrelle Pryor's fake 40 time eclipses speed of sound - Dr. Sa... - NCAA Football - Rivals.com
Dr. Saturday dampens the enthusiasm over Pryor's ridic 40 time, which I still believe is on the very low side. Not that Pryor isn't fast, he just isn't "a few tenths of a second slower than Chris Johnson" fast:

If that time is correct, it would make Pryor not only the fastest Buckeye, but surely one of the fastest humans on earth. Consider that a 4.33 40 is significantly faster than any quarterback has run for the electronic clocks at the NFL Combine in the last four years, including Pat White (who turned in an official 4.55 in February at 197 pounds), and in fact more than a full tenth of a second faster than any running back or cornerback ran at this year's combine. Only one player at that entire event, Darrius Heyward-Bey, came in with a faster time (4.30) than Pryor's alleged 4.33. Of Pryor's six non-lineman teammates in Indianapolis -- a group that included Beanie Wells, Malcolm Jenkins and Brian Robiskie -- only one, cornerback Donald Washington, came in under 4.5 (4.49). In 2007, Ted Ginn Jr's "official" workout times ranged from 4.37 to 4.45, which knocked the scouts out. Ginn then weighed 178 pounds. Pryor's usual analog, Vince Young, reportedly ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds in 2006 at 228 pounds, on what was apparently considered a "fast track" in Austin [...]

Sweater Vest Digest – The Best Damn Blog in the Land! BuckeyeBanter.com " Preview No. 10: Penn State
BB ably breaks down the Penn State game, though I think they're underestimating the Lions on the year.

Ray Small waiting on grade change, dad says (Blogging the Buckeyes)
Whole thing still seems fishy. I mean, I've never heard of a grade being delayed this long. For anyone, let alone a star athlete. Plus, we know his dad is batnuts insane.

The story behind Michigan's dismissal of Feagin - Big Ten - ESPN
Cocaine's a hell of a drug.

Big Ten preseason power rankings - Big Ten - ESPN
Rittenberg places Ohio State first, says the offense will be "fine".

Ohio State linebacker Tyler Moeller likely to miss season with head injury suffered in fight - ESPN
The story constantly evolves; now the brawl apparently took place in Cincy (UPDATE: Nevermind...) and Moeller has since had a seizure. Thoughts and prayers to the family; football is entirely a secondary concern now.

Ohio State confirms free public practice on Aug. 24 - cleveland.com
No autograph session, except for JT, who'll be signing copies of the Winner's Manual.

Bucknotes says goodbye to gravity and says goodbye to death

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

Hello to an ankle sprain and Cards fans' bated breath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An Early Look: Minnesota, dontcha know?

Sam @ WWAHT — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:16 -0000

Image courtesy ladiesdotdotdot.wordpress.com

For the second straight year, Ohio State will take on Minnesota in Columbus, this time in late October rather than late September. Sort of a raw deal for the Gophers, playing twice in Columbus before welcoming the Buckeyes to the new stadium, eh? Last year's game against Minnesota was deceptively close; the Buckeyes ran out to a 34-6 lead before surrendering two fourth quarter touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. Final score: 34-21. Minnesota would then be one of only three teams all season to score more than 20 points on the Buckeyes, joining the rarefied company of Texas and USC, albeit in a losing effort. More on the Gophers, interesting stats, and a prediction after the jump.

Minnesota's offseason has been a little hectic. After the offense finished a distant last in the conference in rushing yardage, offensive coordinator and spread guru Mike Dunbar took his ball and went home. Jedd Fisch took over after a supposedly exhaustive search, apparently ready to install the dreaded "pro-style" offense of five step drop-backs and off tackle rights. But what's this?

He really has no experience with the spread offense. I know there has been a lot of talk about becoming a power running team. But at no point has Brewster said they are abandoning the spread. They are just adding some power attitude and power formations. Now they hire an offensive coordinator who has been in the NFL. I'm sure he has a great offensive mind and this isn't going to be beyond his grasp. But if our OC is learning while he's teaching I'm just skeptical how effective he'll be early on.

There are two ways this can go - Minnesota can develop a bit of a hybrid offense like the one LSU is already running, one that "incorporates the spread" while still sporting a solid between-the-tackles running game. Or, alternatively, Jedd could be a Fisch out of water (ed. note: hurr hurr I am witty and witty is me) and we could have a bit of an Auburn-style disconnect between what the OC wants and what the rest of the staff wants, only in reverse. This time, it's Fisch commited to the "power running" game, with Brewster adamant that the Gophers "spread it out". There is also a risk that the offense becomes a tad predictable - when it deploys a 4-wide set, you know it's passing, and when it comes out in a two-tights and a fullback, you know it's running. That sort of thing. Regardless, The Daily Gopher likes the hire, so I, not knowing jack about Minnesota football and respecting their opinion, tentatively approve of it as well.

Golden Gophers you should care about:

Without a doubt, Eric Decker. As a junior, he led the Big Ten in both receptions and receiving yards, and the only BXI player to catch more touchdowns was the dearly departed Brian Robiskie. Dude's a player. Dude's also a baseball player. Very few teams torch Ohio State through the air, but when they do, it's because they have athletes like Eric Decker lining up at flanker. While Minnesota's rushing offense was dire last year, DeLeon Eskridge performed admirably for a true freshman with little-to-no blocking to work with. He racked up 678 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground after assuming the starting role in the third game of the season. Senior Traye Simmons notched four picks last year at CB, so chances are quite good Tressel will be spending most of the game throwing away from him.

Interesting / Relevant Statistics and facts: (numbers garnered from College Football Stats and the NCAA Statistics Website)

- While not as astronomically bad as the 2007 defensive unit, Minnesota still finished next-to-last in the conference in total defense. Fortunately for them, they return 12 of their top 15 tacklers.

- 3 teams all year held Minnesota without a passing touchdown - Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa (!)? For the record, that's two of the conference's "meh" secondaries to go with its second best overall defense. Bizarre.

- With such a bad rushing attack, Minnesota also never attempted fewer than 24 passes in a game in '08.

- That awful Minnesota rushing offense is a repository of lulz. They were held to fewer than 100 yards rushing by seven teams, including a lolocaust 44-attempts-for-59-yards in their game against Indiana, the league's second worst rush defense.

- You would think that such a horrible rushing offense would be offset by a relatively competent passing attack, and it was. Sort of. Minnesota had the league's 4th best aerial attack, but there's a caveat: Adam Weber passed for a mediocre 6.7 yards per attempt, compared to Juice Williams' 8.3 and Daryl Clark's 8.1

My prediction: While I essentially used that spate of stats to find all the bad things one could possibly say about Minnesota, really, I actually think this will be a fairly competitive game. Minnesota's defense literally has to improve, and if that offense can find a way to achieve balance and the staff's differing philosophies jell well, it'll be a fairly dangerous unit, with or without Eric Decker. The key for the Gophers will be their offensive line. Last year, it was god-awful; arguably the third worst unit in the Big Ten behind Michigan's and Purdue's, but Brewster has made changes. To go with the aforementioned new OC, he has brought in.... drumroll please.... Alabama Director of Player Personnel Tim Davis! Uh... Tim Davis, everybody! Seriously though, Davis has at least one thing on his resumé going for him: from 2002-2004, he served as the offensive line coach at Southern Cal, presiding over two lines that paved the way to two straight mythical national championships (one of which was awarded by the AP). While he has decidedly less talent to work with at Minnesota, you can't argue with those credentials. Anyway, onto that whole game thing. Again, Minnesota will hang tough for a half or so. But by this time, the Ohio State offense will finally be finding its late-season groove, and a big day for both Daniel Herron and Terrelle Pryor on the ground will yield a 31-16 win heading into what will hopefully be a breather against New Mexico State.

A Gopher's Thoughts:

To give a bit more of a balanced perspective to these previews, I'm going to ask a few questions of one of the opponent's SBN bloggers, if they have one on this fine network. Gopher Nation from The Daily Gopher was kind enough to answer my questions about his team:

What Minnesota players should fans of opposing teams be wary of? - The obvious pick here is All-American candidate, Eric Decker. Assuming a healthy season Decker will claim a handful of Minnesota receiving records and is working his way up the Big Ten record books for receptions and yards. And while Decker is the the weapon that can open up the rest of the offense it should also be noted that Adam Weber is the most underrated QB in the Big Ten. Entering his junior season he will likely break Minnesota records for yards, completions and TDs then have his senior year to add to his totals. This combo is dangerous and since the Golden Gophers are usually a blip on the Buckeye radar many OSU fans may not realize just how good these guys are.

What do you honestly think Minnesota's record will be at the end of the regular season? - that is tough to say because the 2009 schedule does very few favors for the Gophers. We don't get to face Indiana; we have road games at OSU, PSU and Iowa; and we have a couple losable non-conference games with Air Force and Cal. And that's not even mentioning @ Northwestern, home for Mich St and home for Wisconsin. In 2008 we improved by 6 wins and finished 7-5. But another 7-5 season would probably be a step forward when considering the schedule.

My honest opinion? I think the best we could hope for is 8-4, but I'll stick with a 7-5 record as my prediction here.

Give us a prediction for the game against Ohio State. - Name the only two teams to score more than 20 points on Ohio State last year. If you guessed Texas and Minnesota then you are absolutely correct. (ed. note - I like this line of thought. The USC game never actually happened.) And don't give me the "they scored against our third string" excuse because that simply was not true. With that said, I have no dreams of predicting a Gopher victory. I do believe that OSU will be slightly less potent than they were a year ago and I believe the Gophers will be a notch or two better than we were in 2008. But the talent gap is far to great to overcome barring the perfect storm (OSU overlooks the Gophers, we execute perfectly and escape with a win). It's been done before, but let's be realistic here. I think Ohio State wins but since I'm a homer I'm going to say the Gophers keep it relatively competitive. 21-30 for the bad guys with stickers on their helmets.

So... basically the same game as last year, then? Sounds spiffy to me. What do you guys think?

Why Does Ohio State Get A Pass?

BSD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:20 -0000

More photos » by Terry Gilliam - AP

Terrelle Pryor: Looking Spectacular in the Spring Game.

Browse more photos »

It's only June, and I'm already getting tired of the Penn State haters. Our offensive line is inexperienced. Our secondary got shredded like coleslaw in the Rose Bowl, and this year we have to play with the coleslaw's backups. We'll miss those great wide receivers. You know, the ones that were supposedly overrated as well as uninspiring and hard to tell apart. But just to cover their bases in case Penn State does put it all together and do well, people are already starting to rip the schedule: a drum beat we're sure to hear from now until next January.

I'm not here to say Penn State is going undefeated. I'm an experienced blogger who has learned to not make crazy predictions like that because some Pitt troll out there is going to bookmark the page and send me the link when we choke in some late October road game. I can deal with the fact Penn State has holes to fill. That's the nature of college football. Every team has holes to fill. But what I don't understand is, why does Ohio State always get a pass?

Every single crackpot preseason poll I've looked at so far ranks the Buckeyes in the top ten and the favorite to win the conference. And what is the general reasoning for this believe? Simply the fact that Terrelle Pryor has improved. For the life of me I can't understand how the Bucknuts have come to this conclusion. Is it because of his performance in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas? My God, he completed five passes for 66 yards against a pass defense that ranked No. 104 in the country. Let's retroactively give him the Heisman. If anyone tries to say he looked great in the spring game I'll just laugh. I can remember a few years ago Knowledge Timmons had two interceptions and Chris Rogers had three sacks. Neither guy sniffed the starting lineup. Spring games mean nothing.

The Ohio State offense was far from a juggernaut last season. They ranked 76th in total offense and 45th in scoring offense. Now they don't have Beanie Wells to carry them. Their offensive line situation is very similar to ours. They have to replace the left side and some guys on the right are switching around. And while we have to replace our top three receivers, they have to replace their top two, Brian Robiske and Brian Hartline. But hey, everything will be fine, because, you know, Terrelle Pryor will be better. I mean, he has to be, right?

Oh defense the Buckeyes are also very similar to Penn State. They return a scary defensive line, but they also have to replace James "Pile-jumper" Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman. And they lose all Big Ten cornerback Malcolm Jenkins so there are holes to fill there. It's not like their pass defense was all that special last year. They ranked 25th in pass defense and 13th in pass efficiency defense. Penn State ranked 27th and 19th, respectively, despite the Rose Bowl debacle.

Now, Ohio State recruits well and I'm sure they'll fill the holes with very good players. But how can anyone assume they will play as a cohesive unit from the get go? Why are they getting a complete pass on all of this and a top ten ranking while people are lining up to tear down Penn State before the season even starts?

I'm not saying Penn State deserves a top ten ranking. Long time BSD followers will remember my stance on preseason polls. I hate them, and I don't think there should be any poll released until week four or five in the season. But I just don't understand why Ohio State is getting a free pass on all of the talent they have to replace.

2009 NFL Draft: Big 10 Players Drafted

grahamfiller10 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:46:59 -0000

# Players Picked From Each Big 10 School

Ohio State (7) - Marcus Freeman, Brian Hartline, Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinatis, Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington, Chris Wells

Penn State (5) - Deon Butler, Aaron Maybin, Rich Ohrnberger, A.Q. Shipley, Derrick Williams

Iowa (4) - Bradley Fletcher, Shonn Greene, Brandon Myers, Seth Olsen

Wisconsin (4) - Travis Beckum (looks like we correctly predicted when he would get drafted...in January-take that you experts), DeAndre Levy, Matt Shaughnessy, Kraig Urbik

Illinois (3) - Vontae Davis, Will Davis, Xavier Fulton

Michigan (2) - Terrance Taylor, Morgan Trent

Purdue (2) - Alex Magee, Curtis Painter (check out Painter's ranking...)

Michigan State (1) - Javon Ringer

# of Big 10 Players Selected, Last 4 Years

2005: 41

2006: 31

2007: 27

2008: 28

First Round Money...Maybin (left) about to be rolling in a Maybach

Comments and Surprises

Beanie Wells went to Arizona in the first round. Will Beanie the Destroyer and his 240 lb. frame fit in Arizona's Spread Offense?

Deon Butler helped himself considerably this offseason, running 4.3 40 times and dominating pre-draft practices. The Seahawks are going to be extremely happy with their third round selection.

We knew someone would be ripped for choosing Brian Robiskie. That unlucky team is the Cleveland Browns, who scooped up Robiskie in Round 2. He hasn't played a down and is being referred to as having the ceiling of a complimentary receiver. Touche. At least Robiskie (who grew up in Cleveland and played for OSU) won't be far from home.

Somehow Morgan Trent, the five star recruit Michigan cornerback who underperformed at UM, got drafted in Round 6. I know he's fast, but his years at Michigan weren't entirely fruitful.

Report: WR Drew Bennett Being Brought in for Workout

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

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

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

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

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

Poll

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

Yes

1122 votes

No

215 votes

1337 votes | Poll has closed

Reacting to Day 1 of the Cleveland Browns Draft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poll

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

A (Outstanding)

167 votes

B (Pretty Good)

1196 votes

C (Fair)

537 votes

D (Disappointed)

252 votes

F (Failure)

83 votes

2235 votes | Poll has closed

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW: The 1st Round Live Blog (Tape Delayed)

Josh from Hollywood — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:15:01 -0000

More photos » by Jason DeCrow - AP

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FOOCH'S NOTE: Josh put this together and offered it up and I thought we could hold off with more in-depth analysis until tomorrow. Let's end the night with a little levity.

For those who don't know (a.k.a. "n00bs"), I posted a columns a couple of times a week during last season (you can check those out here). Due to time constraints, I've gone postless since the Super Bowl, but I'm back with a vengeance for the greatest offseason event in sports -- Draft Day.

I’ve watched the NFL Draft for over 20 years now. And I’ve never experienced it in any other way than on ESPN. I can still vividly remember being super pissed when the Jets took Roger Vick, a RB out of Texas A&M, with the 21st pick in 1987, because Mel Kiper made it clear the Niners wanted to take him at #22. Boy, that really came back to bite the Niners, huh?

When the NFL Network began airing the draft, I always meant to give their coverage a try. But I’m a creature of habit, so I never managed more than a cursory click-over during a commercial or particularly annoying part of ESPN coverage. The coverage was decent enough, with Mooch, and Deion, and Marshall Faulk. It also had Rich Eisen leading the charge, a huge improvement over Berman. The Net’s version of Mel Kiper is Mike Mayock. He actually played in the NFL, so he’s got that going for him. And he’s every bit as abrasively East Coast as Mel -- his Phillyese is quite similar to Mel’s Baltimorese.

Because I’m so into my comfortable routines, I’ve never actually gave them a shot, going with them right from the get-go. But after 20+ years of Chris Berman’s bad jokes, Mel Kiper’s hair, and the ever expanding Scott Stuartization of their coverage, I’ve finally had enough. I need to go one year without it. So today’s the day -- except for that rare click-over during commercials, I plan to stay ESPN-free today. I'm flying with The NFL Network -- The Net, for short -- all day today. Won’t you join me on this journey of discovery?

8:59am -- I’m all ready for this draft. All settled in on the couch, got my notebook, food, drink, computer, TV’s on. I’M READY ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

9:01 -- Wait, the draft’s not on. Checking my programming guide, I see it doesn’t start until 1pm. Totally forgot about that. So I got up at 8:30am for no absolutely no reason. Oh well, more time to ~~download porn~~ do research.

11:47 -- After a long nap, I’m back and ready to roll again. Turn on the NFL network pre-~~game~~ draft just in time to see Rich Eisen toss it to Santa Clara, where Brian "Creepy Pinky" Baldinger is at Niner HQ. He breaks big news on the Niners plan of action for the draft: "That’s what this draft is all about -- improving the roster, improving their chances of winning next season." Mind blown. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.

11:49 -- After that truly enlightening report from Baldinger*, the feed switches back to the ballroom, where a camera mounted up high gazes down at reporter’s doing stories on the main floor. This shot includes a sweet look at Erin Andrew’s ass. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor again (this time for real). We’re going to see a lot of talent on display here today, but surely none will be as awe-inspiring as that. * No actual enlightening included

11:50 -- More shots from the ballroom floor, including one of Michael Crabtree. Rich Eisen and Marshall Faulk take this opportunity to praise him for his lavender shirt. There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’m too lazy to look for it.

11:53 -- Back from commercial, we’re presented with a 3-man satellite desk where Brian Billick, Charles Davis, and Brian Billick discuss the Jets. Dukes’ microphone appears to be turned off -- nice work by the crew there, and I’m not being sarcastic.

11:57 -- Dukes’ mic is now working -- the Lord giveth, and He taketh away.

12:00pm -- High noon. Now I can start drinking alcohol without feeling guilty. Don’t get me wrong -- I’ve been drinking since dawn, it’s just that until now I’ve been feeling guilty about it.

12:01 -- Nice ponytail, Cushing. Now that was sarcasm.

12:01 -- Two good bits of info from the main desk: 1) Mike Mayock calls this the worst draft in recent memory. 2) Steve Mariucci has been nominated for an Emmy. I’m not sure which is more disappointing.

12:02 -- What the hell is that?! It looks like Bill Belichick, now there appears to be something on his face I’ve never seen there before. I know this sounds crazy, but it has all the earmarks of... a smile.

12:06 -- Belichick drops the nice guy act when Eisen asks about the Matt Cassel, giving a typically lifeless answer. This is a good thing, because Smiling Belichick was giving me cold chills down my spine.

12:25 -- The NFL network airs a retrospective on the QB class of 1983. They call Todd Blackledge "the biggest bust in Kansas City Chief history", then proceed to show him a) taking a shotgun snap to the face, and b) the worst mullet in NFL history. Somewhere, Blackledge sits in the dark listening to The Smith’s and cutting himself.

12:35 -- The Niners unveil their new jerseys. A nation says, "Meh". I like them, myself. Reminiscent of the 80’s version, which is all I ever wanted.

12:45 -- Deion introduces the top prospects in the draft. Jets fans boo him. Jets fans are in full-throat, as usual. This is really their day, more than any other. When I think "NFL Draft", I think "Jets fans booing".

12:46 -- Watching the top prospects all take the stage, I can’t help but wonder which of them will look back on this day as the highlight of not just their career, but their life. It sounds a little morbid when put like that, but it’s really morbid when you realize none of us will ever achieve such greatness. I’m making another drink.

12:59 -- John Gruden: "I’m fired up!" Gruden, fired up? I’m shocked, shocked.

1:01 -- The Net opens their coverage with a terrible, repetitive, annoying song. ESPN opens theirs with Chris Berman. This is like ‘Sophie’s Choice’, only in reverse.

1:03 -- The Commish steps to the podium to announce the first pick. I’m going on record to say I think it will be Matthew Stafford.

1:04 -- Oh my, I was right! Matthew Stafford is the #1 pick in the Draft, and the New York crowd shows it’s class by booing him and then chanting "Overrated".

1:10 -- The lambs are on the clock. Mayock says Spanolouloloulououo wants to improve the ground game, as shown by his off-season moves -- including personal favorite Mike Karney.

1:12 -- Copious shots of Mark Sanchez on his cell at his home in Orange County before the Rams pick at #2. Sanchez is doing the right thing -- chill at home, and celebrate with your friends and family instead of doing it before hundreds of strangers in person and the prying eye of the national TV camera.

1:14 -- As their time expires, the Lambs pick is in. Mayock says a team might purposely pass up their pick, insinuating the Rams might do it. Eisen corrects him that there is a pick -- Jason Smith.

1:19 -- ESPN comes back from commercial for 8 seconds before Berman says anything. I turn back to The Net.

1:22 -- The Chiefs are on the clock, and Gruden says they will go offense here, as Haley wants to give Cassel another weapon. Crabtree? Really? The Chiefs had a terrible pass rush last year and also got pushed around. And they already have Bowe.

1:23 -- The Chiefs pick is in. Eisen explains that the pick was be checked for spelling and pronunciation before it is "processed" and handed to the Commish. It’s Tyson Jackson. Note to self: Don’t listen to Jon Gruden.

1:32 -- The hosts talk about the widespread rumor that Seattle is picking Mark Sanchez, but the Seahawks select Aaron Curry. And this is why you watch from home like Sanchez is doing. If he was at Radio City, the cameras would be so far up in his grill we’d know if he trimmed his nose hairs recently or not.

1:36 -- Rich Eisen sees people on the phone and starts a rumor there might be a trade. Mayock says it could be someone moving up to snag Sanchez, or it could involve Braylon Edwards to the Eagles (but wouldn’t that involve the Browns getting another pick, not losing this one?).

1:38 -- Eisen was right -- there is a trade, and it’s the Jets! Jets fans are beside themselves, and I am too. Everybody said they liked Freeman, but could this be for Sanchez?

1:39 -- It is! It’s Mark Sanchez! The Net has him on TV at his home putting on a Jets cap before he’s even picked. Maybe he should’ve come to New York after all.

1:41 -- Most Jets fans are thrilled and cheering, but the camera is staying trained on two guys who hate the move. They’re scowling, and one clearly says, "This horrible! I’m so pissed!" I love Jets fans.

1:50 -- The Bengals take Andre Smith, and his ample breasts.

1:54 -- The Raiders are on the clock and everybody is thinking a speedy WR. Why? Because they are the Raiders. Is it Crabtree?

1:56 -- Oakland does pick a WR, but not the ones most people were talking about -- Darrius Hayward-Bey. Mayock: "A classic Al Davis pick". Meanwhile, Crabtree's still on the board. I wonder if he wishes he was watching at home.

1:59 -- The Jags are on the clock. Gruden is saying it might be Crabtree.

2:05 -- It’s Eugene Monroe. Second reminder to self: don't listen to Gruden. That makes 3 OT’s in the first 8 picks. Mayock: "He can bend!" Okaaaay.

2:06 -- Crabtree continues to slip. If he slips past Green Bay (which he should -- no way they need another WR), he'll be there for the Niners. That both excites and terrifies me. He could be a poor man’s Jerry Rice, or he could be a rich man’s Rashaun Woods.

2:08 -- And there’s Raji on the phone -- the telltale sign of an upcoming pick (or a Drew Rosenhaus production). This is happening, it’s really happening.

2:10 -- I feel like Jessie in that very special ‘Saved By the Bell’: I’m so excited... I’m so scared! I don’t know whether to root for Crabtree, or against him.

2:13 -- The Pack takes BJ Raji, and the Niners are on the clock. What will they do? I hope they don’t screw this up. They really have no choice but to take Crabtree. You just don’t see talents like that slip to you that often. They have to do it, or potentially watch while he blows up elsewhere.

2:18 -- Crabtree on the phone! And grinning! This is good. Being on the phone is always a good sign you’re about to get picked, but the fact his expression went from "My dog just got run over" to "I’m the next Jerry Rice" in two minutes means he’s about to be a Niner.

2:21 -- It’s official -- Michael Crabtree is a Niner, and I’m thrilled. It took me like 10 seconds to go from "Should we?" To "What the [SITE DECORUM] are you talking about?! Of course, we should!". In fact, I don’t know that I’ve been this excited about a pick in a long time. I knew Patrick Willis would be great, and I hoped Alex Smith and Vernon Davis would be. I honestly don’t know what Crabtree will be, but I’m damn excited to find out.

2:23 -- I click over to ESPN on the other tuner, and rewind to watch their coverage of the pick. It’s quickly followed by a interview between Crabtree and Erin Andrews -- this works on so many levels of entertainment. Great TV.

2:25 -- So Crabtree is headed to San Francisco -- at least there he won’t be the only man in a lavender shirt. See, I told you there was a joke in there somewhere.

2:26 -- The Bills select Aaron Maybin at #11, but I’m still too busy thinking about Crabtree to comment.

/goes back to picturing Crabtree beating Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for a long TD on Monday Night Football, and Ron Jaworski getting so excited while talking about his talent, he has an orgasm on national TV.

2:31 -- The Broncos take Knowshon Moreno. They could use the help at RB, but what about that porous defense?

2:33 -- The picks are coming fast and furious now as the Skins take Brian Orakpo. I like how much quicker the Draft moves now -- I used to get so bored between picks, but now the pace is much more crisp and efficient.

2:40 -- The saints pick is in, and Jamie Dukes says what many others have -- they’ll take Beanie Wells. But it’s Wells’ teammate, Malcolm Jenkins.

2:43 -- The camera catches Brian Cushing putting his hand in his nose, then his mouth. Seconds later, his gets a call clearly telling him he’s about to be picked. Apparently, the Texans just can’t resist I guy with a ponytail who eats his boogers on national TV. Who can blame them?

2:45 -- It’s official -- the Texans take Brian Cushing. One more douchebag in Texas.

2:51 -- The Chargers take Larry English at #16. I’d like to give you some informed analysis on this pick, but to be perfectly honest, I’ve never heard of Larry English.

3:01 -- Cleveland trades down again -- sending the #17 pick they got from the Jets to Tampa, who picks Josh Freeman. Cleveland must be picking up quite a few picks today. If they end up trading Braylon Edwards for picks today, they could end up setting some kind of record.

3:02 -- The guys at the mian table are all giving Gruden crap about Tampa finally drafting a big-time QB now that he’s gone. Gruden is smiling, but he clearly wants to kill them all.

3:06 -- The Broncos use their second pick in the last half-hour to select Robert Ayers, finally adding some help to their D. The Net shows video of him absolutely owning Michael Oher in a Senior Bowl practice. Mayock: "He might be a big reason Oher hasn’t been drafted yet."

3:11 -- Eisen announces that the Browns have traded down yet again. They’ve dealt the #19 pick they got from Tampa to Philly, moving down to the Eagles’ spot at #21. The Eisen: "They’re stockpiling late-round picks, and also have three 2nd’s from their trade with the Jets."

3:13 -- Who did the Eagles trade up 2 spots to nab? Jeremy Maclin. between him and DeSean Jackson, the Eagles can't say they don’t have speed at WR.

3:19 -- Detroit uses their second pick to take Brandon Pettigrew. I’m surprised -- with all the problems they have, I’d think there would be a better use of their resources than that.

3:21 -- The Browns are on the clock. Again. They can’t possibly make another trade, can they?

3:24 -- Nope, no trade -- the Browns have made a pick: Alex Mack.

3:26 -- The Vikes are on the clock, and Mayock is pushing Percy Harvin as a way to help them stretch the field. Gruden concurs.

3:28 -- The Vikes do take Percy Harvin. Remember, the last time they took a WR who tested positive for pot in college it was Randy Moss. Dope-smoking WR’s FTW!

3:30 -- As the guys from The Net all celebrate the Harvin pick, Mayock gets off the line of the day: "We’re all patting ourselves on the back here, but if ends up on the Love Boat smoking a bone, we’ve all got a problem." I think I like this guy. No way Kiper comes up with a line like that.

3:36 -- The Pats trade down, sending the #23 pick to Baltimore, who takes Michael Oher. He may have slipped further than many people thought, but this has still got to be a great day for Oher -- his journey has now officially taken him from the outhouse to the penthouse. If you haven’t already read about his story in The Blind Side, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

3:42 -- The Falcons take Peria Jerry. Or is it Jerry Peria?

3:45 -- The Dolphins are on the clock, and the guys on The Net are making the point that Parcells likes bloodlines -- both Brian Robiskie (son of Terry) and Clay Matthews (son of Clay) are available. The Phins make their pick -- Vontae Davis, VD’s brother. I don’t think those were the type of bloodlines they were talking about.

3:50 -- Fatigue is starting to become a factor. I’m not used to working this hard on a weekend. All this drinking and eating and watching and typing has me feeling more dead than that guy Donte Stallworth ran over. Too soon?

3:52 -- Bill Belicheck is making a run at the Browns -- the pats have traded down for the second time today, and trail Cleveland by only one trade-town. The Pats entered with 11 picks in the draft, and 6 in the top 100 -- more than anybody else. They now have 13 picks overall, and 8 in the top 100.

3:53 -- The Packers get the Pats pick, trading up from #26 to take Clay Matthews.

4:00 -- The Colts select Donald Brown. That’s all i have to say about that.

4:04 -- The Bills select Eric Wood. Mayock informs us that he is "not sexy". Seeing as he is an offensive lineman, I don’t find that especially surprising.

4:09 -- The Giants (and their loud mouth fans) take Hakeem Nicks to fill their void at WR, though I still wouldn’t be surprised if they trade for a big name WR between now and training camp.

4:18 -- With the #30 pick, the Titans choose Kenny Britt to fill the gaping hole left by Brandon Jones. Gaping, I tell you. Gaping.

4:20 -- Know what time it is? Time for Percy Harvin to get high. That’s what time it is.

4:22 -- The Cards are on the clock. Eisen suggests they might take Beanie Wells, but Mayock says he’s too similar to Tim Hightower, and Faulk agrees. Seriously? I think Wells in a whole other class than Hightower.

4:28 -- Yup, the Cards take Beanie Wells. And Mayock does a quick flip-flop, saying Wells is an "upgrade". He does question his ability to stay healthy. Faulk sticks to his "same as Hightower" argument

4:30 -- The world champion Steelers cap off the 1st round by drafting Evander "Ziggy" Hood. I’m not watching ESPN, but I’d be willing to bet $1,000 Chris Berman just made a "Ziggy Stardust" reference.

4:32 -- Alright, that’s it for me. I’m TiVoing the rest of this, while I go see if my wife is still speaking to me.

The Valley Ranch Review: Draft Day Edition

Aaron Novinger — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:00:14 -0000

This weekend has a holiday feel for Cowboys fans. Whether you are watching the draft alone at home, with some friends, or partying at the Arlington Convention Center, the #51 will be much anticipated. Will Dallas stick in that slot, or try to move up?

DMN's Todd Archer says that Jerry Jones may have a hard time staying put.

"We're going to put him in a straitjacket," executive vice president Stephen Jones joked.

For a second, Jerry Jones thought about the potential boredom of sitting on his hands for more than six hours Saturday.

"You're right," he said. "Put me in a straitjacket."

Here's something to chew on: FOX's Peter Schrager's complete seven-round mock draft.

51. Dallas - Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
69. Dallas - Pat White, QB, West Virginia
101. Dallas - Mike Wallace, WR, Ole Miss
117. Dallas - Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State
156. Dallas - Quan Cosby, WR, Texas
166. Dallas - Ryan Mouton, CB, Hawaii
172. Dallas - Augustus Parrish, OT, Kent State
197. Dallas - Andrew Gardner, OT, Georgia Tech
208. Dallas - Brandon Underwood, S, Cincinnati
210. Dallas - Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech
227. Dallas - Jamarko Simmons, WR, Western Michigan

Dallas needs to do a better job drafting offensive linemen.

DMN's draft series features Ohio State WR, Brian Robiskie.

Tony Romo and Baltimore's Joe Flacco were quarterbacks found from colleges not necessarily known for producing pro players, let alone starting QBs. Their successes may help open the doors for this year's crop of obscure gun-slingers.

Gonzo's Seven-Round Vikings Mock Draft

Gonzo — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:08:31 -0000

More photos » by Seth Perlman - AP

8 months ago: In this Oct. 11, 2008 file photo, Illinois' Vontae Davis carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Minnesota at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Davis is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

Browse more photos »

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm getting a bit of a late start this evening, but I hope you'll find the wait to be worth it, as I'm presenting to you what the Vikings' draft on Saturday would look like if I was running things. Now, I know there's pretty much zero chance that the draft will actually work out this way, but it's fun to try to predict what you'd like to see happen. Of course, I won't be doing any "trades" in this draft, and I'm only going to be looking at the Beloved Purple. Tomorrow I'll come back with my full first round mock.

So, without any further ado, here's what I'd like to see the Vikings do this weekend.

Round 1, Pick 22 - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Yes, I know that the biggest needs for this team are wide receiver and right tackle. Truth be told, I'm not as enamored with Eben Britton as the Vikings seem to be, and I don't expect Michael Oher to fall to #22. I also don't think any of the wide receivers that could be available at this spot are potentially worth this pick, either. The Vikings probably won't go after Percy Harvin because of his character issues, and Darrius Heyward-Bey just reeks of Troy Williamson to me at this point. There's no guarantee that Heyward-Bey will be around at this spot in any case.

Vontae Davis, on the other hand, may very well be the best cornerback in this year's draft class. He's got more speed than Malcolm Jenkins, and is every bit as good in coverage. He's physical, and likes to get in the faces of receivers at the line of scrimmage. Davis is also an outstanding special teams player, and someone that we could groom for the future in the event that Antoine Winfield's time in Minnesota is shorter than any of us want it to be. I'm very sure that Davis would be no worse than the nickel back in our defense as soon as the ink dried on his rookie contract, and would be a fine addition to the Vikings' defense.

Round 2, Pick 54 - Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State

I like Robiskie a lot, as I detailed in my look at receivers that the Vikings could potentially take a stab at in the second round. He's a big receiver that runs very good routes, and is the kind of rare receiver that could step in right away and have an impact. The Vikings already have a speed guy in Bernard Berrian, and someone like Robiskie could team with Sidney Rice (if Rice can stay healthy) and create a lot of mismatches for opposing defenses to deal with. Honestly, if you're going to send Berrian deep to clear things out, how many groups of DBs could match up with 6'4" Rice, 6'3" Robiskie, and Visanthe Shiancoe running down the seam? Robiskie would give some legitimacy to our pass offense, and though I'm not sure whether or not he'll be around at this pick, the Vikings should jump on him if he is.

Round 3, Pick 86 - Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane

In a perfect world, Oklahoma's Phil Loadholt would end up at this spot, but I'm pretty sure he's not even going to make it out of Round 2. In 2006, the Vikings drafted Ryan Cook, a college center, at tried to jam a square peg into a round hole by playing Cook at right tackle. In a novel move, I have the Vikings selecting a tackle to play right tackle instead. Kropog is a big guy (6'5", 310) with a great deal of athleticism. Though he's bulked up during his time at Tulane. . .he was 265 when he came to the Green Wave as a freshman. . .he has room on his frame to add even more weight if he chooses. This spot might be a bit early to grab Kropog, but with no fourth-round pick to fall back on, the Vikings can get a pretty good OT with this pick here.

Round 5, Pick 158 - Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse

"A fullback," you might say? Yes, a fullback. As great and effective a weapon as the swing pass to Naufahu Tahi is, it was very apparent that the Vikings' offense missed Tony Richardson in 2008. Fiammetta is a similar type of player to Richardson. He was a tight end at Syracuse for much of his career, but was moved to fullback this past season, and his pass-catching abilities make him the most versatile FB in this class. He's seen as sort of an H-Back type, but he's a pretty decent blocker as well. He has some special teams potential as well. All in all, he'd be a decent addition to the roster in the fifth round.

Round 7, Pick 221 (from Washington) - Aaron Brown, RB, Texas Christian

While having the best running back in the National Football League is always nice, his current backup, Chester Taylor, is hitting that vaunted 30-year old mark where running backs start to go downhill a bit. Brown might not see a whole lot of carries at the running back spot right away, but he's somebody that could potentially be developed as time progresses. He also might be able to make an impact right away as a return guy, as he performed quite well in that role for the Horned Frogs.

Round 7, Pick 231 - Thomas Morestad, P, Southern Methodist

Remember that big discussion about Chris Kluwe potentially having to be replaced a while back? Well, this pick would let Mr. Kluwe know that we were serious about that. Now, it's not as though we traded up in the third round to select a punter that's never going to do anything at the NFL level. . .unlike some teams we could mention. . .but taking a flier here on the guy that may have been the nation's best punter in 2008 could be something that pays off. Morestad has a big leg and gets pretty good hang time on his kicks. If he can concentrate on the latter, he could very well find hmself punting for the Vikings on Sundays this year.

And that's what I'd do with Minnesota's six draft picks in this year's draft if I was running the show. What do you folks think? Do I have my priorities out of order? Do you agree, disagree, or otherwise with my selections? Discuss all that and more here, and I'll be back at some point tomorrow with my final 2009 Mock Draft (which will basically serve as my entry for the NFL.com Predict the Pick contest, which you still have time to sign up for by going to NFL.com. Once you sign up, look for the "Daily Norseman Drafters" group and join the fun with the rest of us.

Until then, good night, ladies and gentlemen!