SB Nation - A.Q. Shipley

Potential Penn State Problem #2: Musical Chairs For Dancing Bears

Run Up The Score — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:00:12 -0000

We're down to the last two possible pitfalls for Penn State in 2009, and neither will be a surprise to anybody. It's the offensive line and the secondary, and based upon the fact that the secondary will have all new starters and, you know, the Rose Bowl, the shuffling and replacing along Penn State's offensive line lands that unit at #2 on the list.

Okay, take a look at this picture of last year's offensive line. That would be, from left to right, Dennis Landolt, Stefen Wisniewski, A.Q. Shipley, Rich Ohrnberger, and Gerald Cadogan.

Photo credit: readingeagle.com

Now realize what has been done in the offseason. Landolt switches from RT to LT, Wisniewski moves from RG to C. The other three guys are currently in NFL training camps. Consequently, Penn State's 2009 offensive line will feature five players who are either starters for the first time or starters learning a new position in 2009. This...this is not good.

Truth be told, Landolt and Wiz should be just fine. Landolt (Sr., 6'4" 303) has practiced at LT in the past (as Levi Brown's backup), and Wisniewski (Jr. 6'3", 302) is acknowledged as being so damned good that he's showing up on pre-season All-American and All-Conference teams as a center. So let's take a look at the new guys.

Right Tackle: DeOn'tae Pannell (So. 6'5" 313) is the starter. He was originally penciled in as the left tackle until the coaching staff decided that moving the more experienced Landolt to LT was a better insurance policy for Daryll Clark's blindside. The coaches like his footwork, but obviously don't trust him that much yet.

Right Guard: Lou Eliades (Jr. 6'4" 305) appears to have nailed this one down. Just when it looked like he might make a run at a starting position on the offensive line in 2007, injuries held him back. He's healthy now, and gained experience in last year's Rose Bowl, when he played 31 snaps in place of an injured Landolt (knee sprain)

Left Guard: Most people expected Johnnie Troutman (So. 6'4" 322) to win this position, but Joe Paterno was less than impressed with Troutman's conditioning and rehab of a hamstring injury. Consequently, it seems that redshirt freshman Matt Stankiewitch (6'3" 290) is the guy.

The concerns about the offensive line aren't just with respect to the relative inexperience and lack of familiarity. There is an alarming lack of depth, as well. The primary backups appear to be the aforementioned Troutman, along with...well, not much. And we don't really even know if Troutman can play. Ako Poti (Sr. 6'3" 303) and Nerraw McCormack (Sr. 6'5" 279) were junior college transfers a few years ago. They appear to be the emergency plan at tackle barring any hasty rearrangments such as sliding Eliades out to tackle and inserting Troutman at guard (unless true freshman Eric Shrive (6'6" 298) is ready to go). The backup at center is...Quinn Barham (So. 6'3" 290), maybe?

So, yeah. Depth and inexperience are issues here. Penn State was lucky with a general lack of injuries along the line last year, and had an experienced, versatile guy like Mike Lucian to step in when necessary. They'll need to be even luckier this season.

Inside-Outside is Sick of The Tebow

BSD — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:52:29 -0000

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow could totally bang that chick in the third row if he wanted to. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

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It's Friday, so we're back with another edition of Inside:Outside. This week we discuss all of the Penn State preseason hype. Is it justified? Then we look ahead to next week's Big Ten Media Days with the questions we would ask if we were there.

Inside: Okay, let's be honest. Penn State is replacing three offensive line starters, moving another guy from guard to center, and replacing three starting wide receivers. The secondary is all new, and the depth at defensive end is practically non-existent. Why are so many people automatically assuming that the Nittany Lions will be a top-ten team in 2009?

RUTS Says...There are really two possibilities here -- either it's assumed that the players we're plugging into these spots are comparable or better than last year's, or the Lions are somehow being rewarded for the combination of their confectionery schedule, the conference's awful reputation, and the dearth of acknowledged, legitimate Big Ten championship contenders.

The former possibility is counterintuitive at best (if they were better players, where were they last year?). I don't think anybody legitimately expects the wide receivers to be better than the trio of Norwood, Williams, and Butler. That's just stupid. A.Q. Shipley was the best center in the nation, Rich Ohrnberger was drafted in the fourth round by New England, and Gerald Cadogan was an excellent left tackle who is hoping to catch on with the Carolina Panthers. Do you really think the offensive line will be better this season?

Even the secondary, tenderized beyond recognition during and after the Rose Bowl, doesn't look to be a candidate for addition by subtraction. A.J. Wallace has been an enigma throughout his Penn State career, and especially since his switch to defense. He was decisively beaten out by Lydell Sargeant last year. Now he's supposed to be our #1 cornerback?

So it's gotta be the schedule, right? Anyone care to talk me down on this? I keep reading predictions for 12-0, 11-1, or 10-2, and I'm just not seeing it from this group of players. Not yet, at least.

Mike Says...A big part of it is the laziness of the Media. "Hey, Penn State went to the Rose Bowl last year. Daryll Clark is coming back. They'll be a top ten team!"

But Penn State does have a lot going for them. Besides returning Clark, they also return Royster, Wisniewski, Odrick, and Bowman who all earned All-Big Ten honors last year. Plus Sean Lee is coming back, and he earned All-Big Ten honors in 2007. No other team can claim that much proven star power at this point. And really, when you step back and look at the Big Ten, what other team besides Ohio State looks like they have potential to dominate the league?

Kevin Says...Basically you need to look at (1) who is going to be taking over for the departed, and (2) what teams on the schedule will be able to take advantage of weaknesses.

The o-line loses a lot of players but Steele still has three of the current guys on his list of the Big Ten’s best. Clark, Royster and Green all return, obviously, so the offensive attack should be less intimidating but still capable.

The defensive line was incredibly deep last year and I think that helps in 2009. One or two injuries could devastate the unit, but with perhaps the best set of LBs in the nation backing them up I don’t worry about being run all over, which is how you die in the Big Ten (anecdotal evidence but still: the bottom five teams in the conference finished 10th, 6th, 11th, 9th and 8th in rushing defense, going last to seventh).

I don’t anticipate having any debilitating voids to fill other than receiver and secondary, but with the running game I don’t worry so much about being killed on offense and no one in the conference has proven yet that they are capable of torching even a mediocre set of corners and safeties.

People will argue that I’m overlooking the losses on the o-line, which is fair, but you can never tell how good an o-line is going to be anyway. Ohio State’s completely let them down last year despite returning what I think was the entire unit, and Penn State ended up with the best center in the nation last year even though the kid was playing (or, not playing) d-line the first two years of his career at Penn State.

It’s obviously the million-dollar question, but having three extremely capable players and two highly recruited ones isn’t a bad place to start when your first three games are glorified practices.

Outside: At SEC Media Days, Tim Tebow said he was a virgin and saving himself for marriage (a hilarious question asked by Tennessee blogger and author Clay Travis). What probing, personal question would you ask at Big Ten Media Day?

RUTS Says... I'd ask Mark Dantonio if he's recovered from the hypothermia that obviously set in toward the end of last year's Michigan State v. Penn State game. It's the only possible explanation for him calling two consecutive timeouts with nine seconds remaining in a 49-18 blowout, other than being an enormously stubborn and grumpy dicktard.

Mike Says...The SEC media days are a circus. I was expecting a big push on their part for a college football playoff system or some big announcement on an all new SEC Network or something. Instead the big question of the week is "Who didn't vote for The Chosen One?" Thank God we got that sorted out though.

Seeing all of these bloggers getting press passes to the Big Ten Media Day kind of makes me kick myself for not thinking about flying to Chicago next week. I'd love to run into JoePa kicking back a bourbon in the hotel bar and strike up a conversation. But if I had access here are some questions I would ask.

To Jim Tressel: You have struggled in big games against southern teams the last few years. This year you're lagging behind Penn State and Michigan in recruiting. More and more Big Ten teams are putting together SEC-like offenses that have given you fits. Do you feel like your grip on the Big Ten might be slipping a little bit?

To Brett Bielema: Don't you kind of regret that intentional offsides kickoff stunt you pulled on JoePa a few years ago? I mean, he's completely kicked your ass 86-14 in the two games since then.

To Rich Rodriguez: Penn State will be pretty tough for your young squad this year. Then they rotate off the schedule in 2010 and 2011. Do you think you'll be around to get another shot at beating Paterno in 2012?

Kevin Says...I would try to get Tim Brewster to spill the beans on any type of punctuation clinic he might have been checked into during his younger days. Dude has serious exclamation issues and was my pick for the John L. Smith Award this year.

We're All Growns Up, And Making Bryce Paup References

Kevin HD — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:32:06 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

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I've always found the draft a bit of an odd thing. On one hand fans typically like to see their players to get drafted early and take pride in how many players were taken by teams in The League. But then again, fans dread and seethe scorn when a player jumps for the cash, and also can't feel good about so many talented players not being around for the next college football season.

Anyway, five Penn State players were taken in the seven round draft, second most in the conference to Ohio State, and another nine guys were signed as of the time of this post.

Aaron Maybin - Pick 11, Round 1 (11) - Bills

Project Mayhem, who came out of nowhere in 2008, did The Pass Rush Factory well on Saturday, confirming the jump was indeed a pretty good move.

There were early rumors that Maybin could go as high as five with the Browns looking at so many holes, but most of the recent projections had him in the 10-12 range. The 'experts' can score this one as correct, and Buffalo Rumblings is pleased:

On paper, Buffalo has its most explosive pass rusher since Bryce Paup...What makes this pick better is the fact that they took the right player. No DE displayed a quicker first step in college or at the Combine than Maybin. I had him rated as the top DE on the board the moment he declared for the draft, and the Bills clearly followed suit, if only at the most critical juncture. I think he's the best pass rusher in the draft. The Bills, too, think he's the best pass rusher in the draft, and his upside is tremendous.

Derrick Williams - Pick 18, Round 3 (82) - Lions

No one deserves a little draft luck like Williams, the former #1 rated recruit in the land was taken in the third round and, for the second time in his career, will be tasked with helping to rebuild a program in distraught.

The Pride of Detroit gives the pick a D+, which is, well not even a real grade if I remember right. Regardless, they didn't like the pick, although I think that had a lot to do with Williams not really filling one of their copious amounts of needs like some of the other players who were still on the board.

The Lions have a history of dismissing important needs and picking wide receivers, and as bad as a D+ is, I have to give him credit for his optimism. If I was cursed with being a Lions fan for the past several years, every decision that organization made would get an F- by default until something dramatic happens. I would probably just be that bitter.

The Free Press has a couple of quotes about the pick:

Kiper's response:

"He came into Penn State and he was supposed to wow everybody. He didn't initially, but came on. ... He doesn't have the great 40 time, but he's quick out of his burst, out of his cuts. He has that burst you look for and has the ability to score in a lot of ways -- in the return game, on reverses, catching the football. He's very good after the catch in the open field."

You hear things like this all the time and I gave up a long time ago trying to argue about it. Williams was no Reggie Bush or Tim Tebow, but he was important, in a way that the occasional observer wouldn't recognize. I don't blame anyone for this, I completely understand how his stats can be seen as underwhelming, but let's drop the whole "never lived up to the hype" thing, because to be frank it's a stupid comment.

Mayock's response:

"II thought he had an excellent Senior Bowl, but he followed it up with a poor Combine, running a 4.67 -- very slow for an elite receiver. Great Senior Bowl, but too many drops in his career. ... I watched him catch punts one day (at the Senior Bowl) and this is supposed to be an elite punt returner and that day if the football had been a harpoon, he'd have been dead. It'd have pierced his chest."

He was reportedly pretty sick the week of the combine and told by his agent to sit the thing out. He worked out anyway, which was indeed a bad decision, but as we've talked about before here at BSD looked great in the Senior Bowl.

And I have no idea where he's going with that harpoon analogy.

Deon Butler - Pick 27, Round 3 (91) - Seahawks

About four picks before Butler was drafted by Seattle, a commenter who shall remain nameless set the over/under at pick 114 in the open thread, a fourth round choice. I too was a bit surprised to see him go so early, but his blazing 40 at the combine apparently helped the draft stock of one of the most under-the-radar receivers in the nation last year.

Seattle loves them some record setting Penn State receivers, of course, and so we all saw this coming:

"He has some of the same traits as far as route-running goes," Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said when asked to compare Butler to his fellow PSU alumnus. "He's not as polished, obviously, as Bobby is."

Rich Ohrnberger - Pick 23, Round 4 (123) - Patriots

Ohrnberger was probably the biggest surprise from a Penn State perspective, who many thought wouldn't go until after Shipley and Cadogan. Not true, of course. Ohrnberger will be buried on the depth chart this season, but was part of an effort to hedge against an aging line:

Ohrnberger, a player who took a pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium, adds youth to the interior of the offensive line and provides a fallback, longer-term option with starting guards Logan Mankins (left) and Stephen Neal (right) entering the final year of their contracts.

PatsBlog likes the pick, even if it did cost them a well respected cornerback in Ellis Hobbs:

Ohrnberger is a guy I actually like. Although he is undersized, he plays with a good motor, is quick out of his stance, and is good in pass protection and pulling. Solid pick who could eventually take over for Stephen Neal at right guard.

A.Q. Shipley - Pick 17, Round 7 (226) - Steelers

There was a time when I though A.Q. might not get drafted, and at that time I was thinking it would be the most bewildering event (or non-event?) of the weekend.

He is undersized, and probably slid because of it, but once picked I found it hard to feel bad for a guy who gets to play for his hometown team. The Steelers earned overall "grades" as low as an F and as high as an A+, further lending credibility to the practice of grading drafts.

Naturally the local papers loved it. Not everyone was sold, though:

Can't say I'm too big a fan of Big 10 football so I can't comment on whether or not Shipley is so adored for his local product status, his ability on the field, or some combination of the two. Probably headed for the practice squad as well, but there's an interesting discussion to be had about the future of our offensive line - especially for those who have an opinion one way or another as to whether or not Shipley legitimately could be a better than average starting center....

I'm not sure if he's upset the Steelers picked a kid from the Big Ten or if he simply doesn't know much about A.Q. It's not like the Big Ten hasn't produced some decent linemen in the last five years. Besides, as far as risk and reward go, there's nothing wrong with picking the conference's best center in the seventh round and hoping it works out.

Quickly: Signed but undrafted...

It's easy to pile on Maurice Evans at this point; he goes undrafted but signs with the Giants. As disappointed as I am in his 2008 production and decision to leave, I can unconditionally say I wish him all the best.

Jordan Norwood will join the Browns, and Facebook Stalking H/T to NittanyWhiteOut, who was all over this one.

Gerald Cadogan was a major surprise as an undrafed free agent. He'll go to Carolina.

Lydell Sargeant will move north to help build Penn State another satellite campus in Buffalo. Front page promotion for the best photoshop of this one in the comments.

Tyrell Sales signs with the Colts.

Josh Gaines stays in-state with the Eagles.

Dan Lawlor signs with the Redskins.

Mark Rubin signed with the Rams.

Anthony Scirrotto signs with the Panthers.

And with the #63 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals Select...

Chris Thorman — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:00:13 -0000

Penn. St. C A.Q. Shipley

THE_TRUTH with the pick...

Having acquired Knowshown Moreno in the first round to assist in the lackluster running game of last year, two more positions are in dire need for the Card’s this year. To recap, Arizona needs a Center as well as OLB’s (due to age).

Having tossed this around, there are some potential OLB picks that Arizona can grab in the mid-late rounds and the opportunity to grab a strong Center at this point is better then ever. Considering the availability of talent at the 63rd pick, the best player(s) on the board playing Center that haven’t already been acquired are Antoine Caldwell (Alabama) and AQ Shipley (Penn State).

The race between these two young men was closer then ever and each could produce very well as Centers for Arizona in my mind. You have Caldwell at 307 as well as Shhipley at 304 lbs. respectively. Caldwell is 6’4” and Shipley is 6’01”. The difference in the 40 at the combine was negligible -.04s.

After reviewing some tape of both players, both players played their positions very well and to make the decision even more difficult, I was impressed with their footwork on the line as well as the use of their hands. So the dilemma became apparent…flip a coin, or maybe not. Both players played very well for their teams and actually stood out on their respective lines. It was difficult to determine if they were even breaking a sweat, except when they had to run off the field ;)

I was presented with an interesting stat (thx. Lanier63) that gave me the answer I was looking for (since I couldn’t actually interview both players to determine whether their head is in the right place). The stat was Size/Speed ratio. It basically compares size with speed to give a good determination if you will, on how a players weight/speed matches compared to the rest of the field. The idea is that heavier players don't necessarily equate to better players unless they have speed as well.

It’s a stat that divides a player’s weight by his 40-yard dash time and takes the square root of the result. One important note is that obviously you can only compare this stat with others who play the same position.

A.Q. Shipley’s ratio was 7.65
Antoine Caldwell’s ratio was 7.66

So by the slimmest of margins, Arizona picks Center, A.Q. Shipley from Penn State as the 63rd pick in the draft.

Round 1 is here.

Previous pick: LB Cody Brown

Read more: Center Rankings (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock: Pittsburgh Steelers (McWhirt33)

Click over for the schedule and current draft results.

Pick	Round 2	Selection	Date	Approval Rating
1(33)	Detroit Lions - UCrawford	CB Darius Butler	Weds., April 8th	48%
2(34)	New England Patriots (From Kansas City) - connerman	DE Robert Ayers	Weds., April 8th	67%
3(35)	St. Louis Rams - Lanier63	DT Evander Hood	Thursday, April 9th	55%
4(36)	Cleveland Browns - HIV2Elway	DE Connor Barwin	Thursday, April 9th	68%
5(37)	Seattle Seahawks - mikvogel	OT William Beatty	Friday, April 10th	67%
6(38)	Cincinnati Bengals - mistamic	C Max Unger	Friday, April 10th	68%
7(39)	Jacksonville Jaguars - DThomasReigns	G Duke Robinson	Monday, April 13th	72%
8(40)	Oakland Raiders - mushin	T Phil Loadholt	Monday, April 13th	68%
9(41)	Green Bay Packers - JasonM	DT Ron Brace	Tuesday, April 14th	62%
10(42)	Buffalo Bills - ArrowDread	DE Michael Johnson	Tuesday, April 14th	60%
11(43)	San Francisco 49ers - Harry Feltersnatch	DE/LB Larry English	Weds. April 15th	67%
12(44)	Miami Dolphins (From Washington) - shraggyj	WR Kenny Britt	Weds. April 15th	69%
13(45)	New York Giants (From New Orleans) - ChiefsFan90s	LB Clint Sintim	Thursday, April 16th	64%
14(46)	Houston Texans - ChiefsDude	FS Louis Delmas	Thursday, April 16th	37%
15(47)	New England Patriots (From San Diego) - connerman	DE/OLB Paul Kruger	Friday, April 17th	64%
16(48)	Denver Broncos (From Texans) - Keyser Sose	RB Donald Brown	Friday, April 17th	41%
17(49)	Chicago Bears - Holmeslice	C Jonathan Luigs	Monday, April 20th
18(50)	Cleveland Browns (From Tampa Bay) - HIV2Elway	RB Shonn Green	Monday, April 20th
19(51)	Dallas Cowboys - chiefsfan1384	SS William Moore	Monday, April 20th
20(52)	New York Jets - PSUkegreen	WR Mohamed Massaquoi	Tuesday, April 21st
21(53)	Philadelphia Eagles - Chiefsfan717	RB LeSean McCoy	Tuesday, April 21st
22(54)	Minnesota Vikings - kcsno56	C Eric Wood	Tuesday, April 21st
23(55)	Atlanta Falcons - RedNose	CB Victor Harris	Weds. April 22nd
24(56)	Miami Dolphins - shraggyj	CB Jarius Byrd	Weds. April 22nd
25(57)	Baltimore Ravens - Ben S	WR Brian Robiskie	Weds. April 22nd
26(58)	New England Patriots - connerman	DL Jarron Gilbert	Thursday, April 23rd
27(59)	Carolina Panthers - 808NaNz808	OL Fenuki Tupou	Thursday, April 23rd
28(60)	New York Giants - ChiefsFan90s	OT Herman Johnson	Thursday, April 23rd
29(61)	Indianapolis Colts - saskwatch	DT Fili Moala	Friday, April 24th
30(62)	Tennessee Titans - Lvl.99	LB Cody Brown	Friday, April 24th
31(63)	Arizona Cardinals - THE_TRUTH	C A.Q. Shipley	Friday, April 24th
32(64)	Pittsburgh Steelers - McWhirt33		Friday, April 24th

Poll

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

15 votes

No

20 votes

Indifferent

9 votes

44 votes | Poll has closed

C, A.Q. Shipley, Penn St.

Jeremy Bolander — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:19:31 -0000

C, A.Q. Shipley, Penn St.

At A Glance
Position 1: Center	Height: 6-1
Position 2: Guard	Weight: 304
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 5th	40time: 5.19

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 33	Vertical: 31
20yd Split: 2.93	Broad Jump: 8'4"
10yd Split: 1.72	20yd Shuttle: 4.40
3 Cone Drill: 7.46

Pros: Stout, tough and physical at the point, plays like the former nose guard he is. Strong anchor in pass protection, and does not get bull-rushed as he uses his wide base to maintain leverage.

Cons: Lacks height, bulk and arm length. Projects to center only, probably in a zone-blocking system.

Styg's Broncos Fit: a former nose guard, Shipley is tough, physical, aggressive, and likes to get dirty. Understands his duties on the line, makes good calls and consistently gets off the line with adequate pop; he lacks a bit in the work-ethic category, and isn't a guaranteed "play to the whistle" type of player. Doesn't have ideal measurements to play at a consistently high level at guard, so may project best as a backup center.

Around MHR:

From "Another attempt to Mock our Draft":

Shipley actually "slips" to us here on my board based on needs. His Wonderlic Score (40) makes me happy because he can process information quickly which is needed in a zone OR gap blocking system. Good depth on the Offensive Line with Guys like Polumbus and Lichtenstieger.

From "Jumping on the Bandwagon":

A. Q. Shipley is another Penn Stater I like, and he has been a beast for his entire collegiate career. He started 39 games in a row, was first team All Big Ten, and has great size and bulk. He was team captain and has a reputation for being an intellectual which was proven true by the 40 he scored on his Wonderlic. So why is he rated so low? He has short arms. You know what? I don't care if he has little midget Tyrannosaurus Rex arms, the man is a pure football player and I would welcome him on my team. He and Lichtensteiger would be an excellent tandem to replace Weigmann and Hamilton when they move on

Around SBNation:

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Full name is Allan Q. Shipley...Began his college career as a defensive tackle...Three-year starter for the Nittany Lions...Won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center in 2008...1st Team All-Big Ten as a junior and senior...Was named a 2nd Team All-American as a senior...Overachiever who compensates for his lack of ideal physical tools with top-notch intangibles and by doing all the little things...The type of guy you hate to doubt...Don't be shocked if he ends up starting. [see more...]
A tough, stocky center who plays with good leverage and technique inside. Snaps and steps very quickly and plays with a real nasty demeanor inside. Displays good footwork and body control and can consistently reach-block and seal run lanes inside. A flexible athlete who can pull and get outside, breaks down well and is a natural cut-blocker in space. [see more...]
As a junior, Shipley was named to the All-Big Ten Conference first-team by the league's coaches and was a candidate for the Rimington Trophy. He registered 76 knockdowns that included nine touchdown-resulting blocks. He made ESPN's All-Bowl team, experiencing every lineman's dream, as he caught a deflected pass for a 4-yard gain vs. Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. Behind his block-calling, he helped the team rank third in the Big Ten Conference in rushing (193.77 ypg), as the Nittany Lions also amassed 5,201 yards in total offense.

In 2008, Penn State's offense was explosive, thanks to the stellar play of its senior-laden front wall. The Big Ten Conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year recorded 11 touchdown-resulting blocks to go with 78 knockdowns. The team finished as the league leader in pass efficiency (145.35 rating), total offense (448.92 ypg) and points scored (38.92 ppg). [see more...]

NFL Draft 2009: All-Name Team

briandean — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:09 -0000

I knew right away that Alex Smith would never be a standout quarterback in the NFL. The name just didn't work. Look over the list Hall of Famers. The names just pop out. Joe Montana, Warren Moon, Johnny Unitas, Fran Tarkenton, Bart Starr--I mean, the 49ers #1 pick in 2005 wasn't even the only Alex Smith in that draft. Our Alex would have had much better chances if he'd gone by his vampire name, "Attila of Whores" (I swear that's what came up).

So, let's take a look at the top prospects in 2009. Set aside the game film and scouting reports. Who just sounds like they can play?

QB: John Parker Wilson- How do you make a boring name sound cool? Add the middle name. You know Richard Anderson couldn't have pulled off MacGyver, but Richard Dean Anderson (bet you didn't know dude can sing too)? Now we're in business. Honorable mention: Rhett Bomar.

RB: Knowshon Moreno- Moreno's name is taken from his mother's name Varashon and father's nickname Knowledge. Honorable mention: Marlon Lucky.

WR: Darius Passmore- Mike Singletary probably isn't interested.

WR: Juaquin Iglesias- Nice to see Juaquin break the mold from the Iglesias family.

WR: Ramses Barden- Ramses II has been described as Egypt's greatest Pharaoh. Barden has some work to do if he wants to be called Ramses "The Great".

WR: Brooks Foster- I guess I'm running the spread offense. Gotta love a guy with two last names. Honorable mention: Quan Cosby.

OT: Phil Loadholt- Sounds like the type of guy you want to run behind.

OG: Augustus Parrish- Continuing the royalty theme.

C: A.Q. Shipley- As Quoted?

OG: Kraig Urbik- The more K's the better, IMO.

OT: Fenuki Tupou- Just fun to say (fen-UU-kee TUU-puu).

After the jump I'll reveal the All-Name Defense.

DE: Stryker Sulak- Sounds like a chracter in a bad movie. Honorable mention: Peanut Whitehead.

DT: B.J. Raji- Plays like his name sounds--awesome.

DT: Peria Jerry- I swear they got his first and last name backwards in kindergarten and it just stuck.

DE: Paul Kruger- Freddy...'nuff said.

OLB: Brian Orakpo- His nickname is "O-Sack-po", which isn't bad, but I perfer "Rack 'em".

ILB: Jasper Brinkley- Almost as good as his twin brother Casper. Honorable mention: Rey Maualuga.

OLB: Ataefiok Etukeren- That name makes me cross-eyed. Just want to hear a play-by-play guy attempt this in the 4th quarter of a preseason game.

CB: Captain Munnerlyn- Throws hand up..."Dibs on team captain."

FS: Dre'Mail Hardin- Sounds like some new form of spam that your junk filter can't detect.

SS: Al Afalava- All I can think of when seeing this name--is this guy. Honorable mention: Sha'reff Rashad.

CB: Wopamo Osaisai- Had a few too many of these at a sushi bar once. Don't remember much after that.

So, there you go. Throw out your mock drafts. These guys are can't-miss.

2009 NFL Draft -- Point of Attack - Centers/Guards Ranked for Denver

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:31:31 -0000

With only a handful of ideal starter-quality zoneblock linemen, and with many mocks placing them at odd spots just out of Denvers reach, I found myself looking deeper and deeper at a position that is generally a lot of fun to analyze. I was pleased to see lots of good, traditional-style zoneblock linemen throughout the middle and later in the draft, with a few more promising prospects just on the outside of the CFA cut.

With that in mind Denver should feel pretty good about going after a C/G combo at any point where the deal falls into their laps, and no sooner. Worst case-scenario Denver misses out on the draftable prospects and gets their choice of some highly select, workaholic prospects, so this is one area where I am hoping to see Denver refrain from reaching.

As to whither C or G, these analyses ended up leaning towards C, but only because a lot of good guard prospects this year are more suited towards power schemes, and thus translate better between G/T than C/G. A few prospects looked like good fits anywhere along the line, and they were included, and a few looked like they would make better tackles, period, and they were left off. Of the group selected here they tend to be more athletic, good second level blockers, good at timing and placing cut blocks, technicians favored over power, and capable of or experienced at handling C duties. The highest rated prospects for Denver also tend to have a great football mind to go with their great zoneblock fits, which raises their short-term value significnatly, on the grounds that they may be asked to step in in the case of injury, and so they will need to learn quickly and show a good grasp of their responsibilities, with the potential to prevent Hamilton from having to slide over to center in the event of injury at C.

Lets check out the rankings:

C--Alex Mack

1st-2nd

Alex Mack, California: A solid all-around center with terrific speed and balance, but who can lose leverage battles against quicker 3-techs. He has above-average intelligence and football smarts, even for a center, and has mastered his duties on the line, in terms of getting other players in position and making the correct reads. He has a classic competitor's mindset and plays through the whistle every time. Tough and ornery, this is one near-elite level player who figures to be gone by the time Denver gets around to addressing the O-Line depth, but no doubt ranks highly on Denver's board.

C--Max Unger

2nd

Max Unger, Oregon: A tough player with a nice, workman-like attitude towards his responsibilities. Though his speed and agility impressed at the combine, on the field he doesn't look quite that quick. He is, however, good on short pulls and traps and can land blocks at the second level. Very intelligent and understands his job. If he has a serious compromise, it is in his whole-body strength, as he is severely lacking in lower-body strength, and very inconsistent about using his upper-body strength to consistently hit and reset against opponents. It really hurts his drive-blocking ability, which makes him an early liability in the running game. Overall he is a solid player with experience at the tackle position, but I am expecting Denver to not rank him that highly for what they are trying to do, and for a second-round pick, I think they will be looking for more than a questionable starter.

G--Duke Robinson

2nd

Duke Robinson, Oklahoma: Excellent size and weight, and is surprisingly agile for his size. Not fast so much as quick, and does a great job getting off the line and into his blocks. Excellent in short yardage and power situations, but has issues when blocking on the move. Not the most effective pull or trap guy, and doesn't always make contact at the second level. Does not place his cut blocks well against DBs, and can lose his own footing and balance easily. A lot of teams will appreciate his size and presence in a drive-blocking scheme, and Denver will no doubt agree that he has a lot of upside, but for what Denver is trying to accomplish on the line, the value isn't there; from a scheme standpoint, their are major questions as to whether he could fit in at all. Only two stars for this excellent prospect who simply doesn't fit the traditional profile on the Denver line.

C--Eric Wood

2nd

Eric Wood, Louisville: Smart, strong and athletic with lots of durability and and an unquestionable drive and work ethic, this player is almost perfect for Denver. Where he falls a bit short is in the characteristic "nimbleness" required from our interior linemen. But for as tall as he is, he has mastered keeping his pads low and rarely loses the leverage battle, and he understands opposing defenses inside and out, putting in lots of extra time to study them. He isn't the most consistent through the hips and knees, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to stay with and finish a block. He has an intense attitude and gives 100% every play. Denver will definitely value Wood, but may find themselves out of the running before they even have a chance to consider him in the 2nd round.

G--Kraig Urbik

2nd-3rd

Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin: Powerful upper and lower body, with quickness and explosion at the snap. Can play inside or outside, but has not played center. Good at pass protection and on the move, but can struggle in short yardage and goal-line situations due to letting himself come up in his stance. Needs to bend more at the knees and work on keeping his pads low, but has an excellent grasp of the game and tenacious work ethic. Again, another case of versatility that isn't quite what Denver is looking for, but which provides extra value.

C--Jonathon Luigs

3rd

Jonathon Luigs, Arkansas: Less-than-desirable lower-body strength, and inconsistency in bending his knees and driving forward will drive down Luigs' stock, but there may be no better "game smart" player at the center position in 2009. Applauded by coaches for his ability to translate coaching to on-field production, Luigs could execute even complex plays and schemes with minimal practice. His love for the game and competition shined when he was put up against tougher or faster players, and he would fight to the whistle to stay with a block. His explosion off the snap is excellent, and he has relied on it to compensate for his lack of brute power, but he will need to address his lower-body strength in the pros. He is excellent when pulling and locating blocks on the second level, but needs to do a better job of maintaining his balance when blocking fast DBs, as he will overextend himself to make the block. His highest value will be to zone-blocking teams, but any team will be able to appreciate his awareness of the defense and alignment on the field. I am thinking Denver may grade Luigs out very highly among offensive linemen.

C--Antoine Caldwell

3rd-4th

Antoine Caldwell, Alabama: A leader and a motivator, Caldwell is stronger than his measurables might indicate, getting most of his power from his lower body. Not the most effective player on the move, nor does he seem to possess other great prospects' feel for the pocket and protecting their QB, but he does handle line calls and pre-snap reads adequately. A stronger type of center that would be suitable for a power scheme, but to the degree that Denver continues with zone-block, should lose value.

G--Tyronne Green

4th

Tyronne Green, Auburn: This is one of those "sweet spot" picks that Denver may have a chance to nab. He is versatile, playing at DT, G and most recently C, which he picked up quickly. He does a good job of studying defenses and using technique against opponents, but his strength is definitely his inherent athleticism. Not a finished product currently, he needs a little more time to work with an offensive line and to polish his game up. He grades out well and consistently in every category, but with some time he has the ability to grade out great. As a high-investment backup, he has the potential to pay tremendous dividends.

C--A.Q. Shipley

5th

A.Q. Shipley, Penn State: a former nose guard, Shipley is tough, physical, aggressive, and likes to get dirty. Understands his duties on the line, makes good calls and consistently gets off the line with adequate pop; he lacks a bit in the work-ethic category, and isn't a guaranteed "play to the whistle" type of player. Doesn't have ideal measurements to play at a consistently high level at guard, so may project best as a backup center.

G--T.J. Lang

5th-6th

T.J. Lang, Eastern Michigan: A work in progress, Lang is a tough-minded, physical player who never lets up and who shows flashes of the kind of awareness you like to see in C depth. He is athletic enough to pull and trap effectively, has good balance and is smart enough to learn the line calls. A self-starter who responds well to coaching and could play a relief role at any spot on the line, he could be a good value for Denver in their search for interior depth, but may not have the upside to project to a long-term answer at C.

C--Edwin Williams

6th

Edwin Williams, Maryland: The overall world-class depth of this year's center class is driving down the value of good players like Williams. Because he isn't the tremendous athlete of the top of the class, teams can expect to start bidding for his services later in the second day, and they may just get a steal. Williams had the admiration of his teammates and coaches for his leadership both on and off the field, and he could be counted on to disrupt surprise-blitzers and to call the exotic defensive plays correctly for his team. Adequate strength and speed, with excellent short-area quickness and a great explosion off the snap, he can be beaten by quicker defenders consistently, and struggles to maintain longer blocks on the stronger players. Overall a solid player with limited upside but who could provide dependable depth for years.

C--Jon Cooper

7th-FA

Jon Cooper, Oklahoma: The traditional makeup of a zone-blocking center. Cooper is smart, versatile, and can hold the point of attack with help from the guards. Tenacious and never gives up on a play. He moves well and has a real gift in his short area quickness, allowing him to help both guards in the same play. Excellent snapper out of the shotgun and has long-snapping experience, he is bound to intrigue Denver if they still are looking for this classic version of a zone-blocking center; lighter, quicker and very aggressive.

C--Brett Helms

7th-FA

Brett Helms, LSU: Another undersized zone-block specimen with adequate smarts and recognition, a good snapper in the shotgun and a great never-say-die attitude. Team player who buys in completely to the line and QB, giving up his body in protection. Of course, he wouldn't have to do that so much if he had the strength and athleticism to consistently hold the point of attack. Intriguing prospect with a small amount of upside, rare for this late in the draft.

G--Roger Allen

7th-FA

Roger Allen, Missouri Western: Very smart guard, one of the few guards in this class who clearly could project to center at the next level. He is very competitive, has played through an injured hand and shoulder and takes a lot of pride in his consistency. The shoulder injury and questionable competition figure to drive his stock way down; but after getting cleared medically, the hope is he can climb back into the draft. He has tremendous upside, with a very strong hand-punch; good, strong lower body with good drive and consistency in run blocking. He also has quick feet and hands, adjusts well to defenders and finds good blocks at the second level. An exceptional option late in the draft, he may turn out to be one of the best linemen drafted this year, and Denver is bound to take a long, hard look.

G--Matt Slauson

7th-FA

Matt Slauson, Nebraska: A one-and-done type of player, Slauson is in need of some good coaching, because his "one" can be positively amazing sometimes. As a moving blocker, he adjusts and pulls well, and has the speed and agility to locate and execute blocks at the second and even third levels. Has adequate strength, but shows flashes of a terrific hand-jolt that can hold up blitzing players on his outside shoulder, without losing leverage for his inside block. But these flashes of elite-level talents are inconsistent, and too often he can be beaten after that first move. He seems to lack the knowledge and understanding to properly readjust and reset, so he tends to be finished after that first move. Hopefully he can get the coaching he needs to address this, and if so, he has tremendous potential. As a final draft pick or UFA, he could be worth a shot.

C/G--Alex Fletcher

7th-FA

Alex Fletcher, Stanford: A smart player who has started at both center and at right guard. He was a team captain who knows how to anchor, and how to play with leverage. Cna hold his own versus strength and bull-rush oriented opponents and also has the lateral agility and speed to pull or trap effectively. Has great hand technique and can turn defenders and get his hands placed well, and can place and reset to maintain the line of scrimmage. Tough and thick like a burlwood knot in the middle of the line, he has only marginal lower body strength and struggles to get a push in short yardage and goalline situations. Overall a solid pickup as a late rounder who could provide solid depth or be a surprising earlier pick with potential to start.

NFL Combine Coverage Day 1: Open Thread

jri111 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:00:37 -0000

NFL Network coverage of the NFL Combine starts this morning at 11:00 AM with OL, TE and K. For those who are fortune enough to have the NFLN (like yours truly), it should be a fun time watching and evaluating potential new Buffalo Bills. For those who are not so lucky, check right here for updates throughout the day.

Personally, this is one of my favorite times during the off-season. I love watching, evaluating and comparing the players' skills as they go through all the drills. From the workout wonders to the high profile athletes, the scouting combine always delivers some surprises.

On today's menu (after all, it's not known as a "meat market" for no reason) are kickers, O-Linemen and tight ends. Arguably, two of Buffalo's biggest needs (TE and C) could be filled in April by guys who are working out today. We'll keep a close eye on all players at those positions. Here are some specific names of guys we'll be watching closely:

Max Unger (C - Oregon)
Eric Wood (C - Louisville)
Jonathan Luigs (C - Arkansas)
Antoine Caldwell (C - Alabama)
A.Q. Shipley (C - Penn State)
Brandon Pettigrew (TE - Oklahoma St)
Jared Cook (TE - South Carolina)
Shawn Nelson (TE - Southern Miss)
Travis Beckum (TE - Wisconsin)
James Casey (TE - Rice)

Finally, everyone should take a look at Gil Brandt's article over at NFL.com about what NFL teams look for in combine drills. He provides some great insight about what to look for and what not to look for. He also provides this super-helpful chart:

**Target test results**
Drill	Significance	QB	RB	FB	WR	TE	OT	G/C	DT	DE	ILB	OLB	CB	S
40-yard dssh	Speed over distance	4.90	4.55	4.85	4.55	4.85	5.30	5.30	5.15	4.85	4.80	4.70	4.55	4.60
10-yard split (40	Initial quickness	1.70	1.60	.170	.160	1.70	1.80	1.85	1.80	1.70	1.70	1.65	1.60	1.65
20-yard split (40	Maintain burst	2.85	2.60	2.80	2.65	2.80	3.00	3.05	3.00	2.80	2.75	2.70	2.65	2.60
225-pound bench reps	Upper body strength	N/A	20	22	12	22	24	26	26	24	24	23	15	18
Broad jump	Explosiveness, leg strength	9-0	9-9	9-3	10'	9-6	8-6	8-6	8-9	9-9	9-6	9-9	10'	10'
Vertical jump	Explosiveness, leg strength	30"	36	30	36	32	30	30	30	33	33	36	36	36
20-yard shuttle	Flexibility, burst, balance	4.30	4.20	4.25	4.15	4.20	4.65	4.55	4.55	4.30	4.20	4.10	4.00	4.05
60-yard shuttle	Flexibility, balance, endurance	N/A	11.7	11.8	11.4	11.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	11.8	11.7	11.4	11.2	11.2
3-cone drill	Agility, change of direction	7.25	7.25	7.40	7.00	7.30	7.85	7.85	7.75	7.35	7.20	7.10	7.00	7.10

UPDATE: Pat Kirwin has a great "Viewer's Guide" to the NFL Combine

Nitt Picks Can't Make Up Its Mind

Kevin HD — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:01:22 -0000

Project See-Ya. Aaron Maybin is, in fact, leaving for the NFL.

Aaron Maybin, a graduate of Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Md., will return to his high school on Tuesday afternoon to give a motivational speech and declare for the NFL at that time, his father told The Patriot-News on Monday.

Because first he was, and then he maybe-might not, but now he is. We are obviously in full "good luck and godspeed" mode for Aaron and all the departing players, but I can't help but second guess his projection as a top five pick. I hope he is, of course, and will be looking forward to the draft.

This Sleeping Lion Is In The NFL Draft. Derrick Williams had a solid senior season and will look attractive in the draft because of his versatility.

"What's going to help Derrick is the invention of the wildcat formation in the NFL," Steuber said [NFL draft analyst for scout.com].

Steuber slots DWheels as a second to third rounder.

We Are Not Normal, We Are All-Stars. Everyone's favorite motivational speaker Deon Butler is also dreaming big, going from walk on to what Steuber (link above) projects as a "late-round pick or priority free agent".

He will have a chance to make one last impression before the draft:

Penn State wide receiver Deon Butler [is]...on the 50-man East roster for the 84th East-West Shrine Game, to be played at 4 p.m. Saturday in Houston.

The game will be televised on ESPN2.

A.Q. Shipley was also invited, but passed in favor of attending the Rimington Trophy dinner, also on Saturday, to receive his award as the nation's top center. Steuber projects A.Q. as a third to fifth round pick.

Ru-Ro. One thing that seemed grossly under-reported after the Rose Bowl were the injuries to Penn State's top two running backs. The early reports for both Green and Royster were apparently nothing to lose sleep over. Well, now there is this:

The initial diagnosis appeared to be a good one for the redshirt freshman -- a sprained right ankle.

Upon further review, however, the damage reportedly turned out to be much more serious. According to a program source, tests conducted when Green returned to the East Coast revealed he sustained broken bones in his right ankle and lower right leg.

He is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday morning to assist in the healing of the breaks and is expected to be out of action for up to three months.

So this probably rules him out for spring ball, which is a major disappointment.

In scores of other games. The Rose Bowl rating were up 5% compared to last year, the Granddaddy was (by far) the second highest rated game of the bowl season, behind only the championship game.

[photo credit: daylife]

Nitt Picks Will Not Be Drafted In The First Round

Run Up The Score — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:00:06 -0000

All kinds of good stuff floating around The Internets today, so let's flag a few stories for the people who are stuck at work (hi!) on the Friday after Christmas.

It's been a successful year for the Nittany Lions on the field, but a very quiet year for them elsewhere:

Despite those hurdles, Bowman took over at one starting linebacker spot four games into this season and has remained there.

"I've matured a lot," he said. "I notice a lot of things that I don't do now. I appreciate my family just always being there for me. Just Joe (Paterno) and the Penn State family also just helping me out and leading me on the right path."

Paterno has noticed the growth of Bowman, on and off the field.

"He's become very solid," Paterno said. "And when he lost his dad, I think that was a shock to him and kind of made him think twice about his obligation to his family and some things."

Other Penn State defenders who have benefited from second chances are end Maurice Evans and tackle Abe Koroma. The pair still faces misdemeanor marijuana possession charges from a Sept. 2 incident at their apartment. Each sat out three games, returned for the Illinois game, and contributed to a highly-rated defense.

Evans, a junior who before this season had been promoted for All-America honors based on his 12.5 sacks from last season, started the opener but has been a backup since, registering 31 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

"I tried to come back and be a force like I was before," Evans said. "Things didn't work out that way, but I'm happy with the progress now from the beginning of the season."

Koroma, a redshirt sophomore, also was a first-game starter but has been a backup since. He finished the regular season with 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

"I'm happy where I'm at right now, where the team's at right now," Koroma said. "I'm blessed."

It would be a bit foolish to say that the 11-1 record is directly due to the improved citizenry of the Penn State players, but it certainly could not have hurt. And hey, we know Maurice Evans will be back, right? As for Aaron Maybin, well...

When you go from having 12 tackles - total - in 2007 to 12 sacks, 19 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles the following season, maybe the worst thing you can do is wonder why and how it all happened.

"I don't know. I try not to think about it," the serendipitous Maybin said when asked about his dizzying ascent from a possible rotation-type guy on Penn State's defensive line to its most acclaimed star. "In any case, that's really not something I can control now. Things happen for a reason."

As is the case with run-stuffing junior defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Maybin, a 6-4, 247-pounder from Ellicott City, Md., is contemplating an early jump to the NFL. Each has filed paperwork with the league to assess his draft prospects, although Maybin said his only focus for now is on fifth-ranked Southern California (11-1), which takes on No. 6 Penn State (11-1) in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

"I'm really not concerned about it," Maybin said of the NFL evaluation of his potential for going high in the draft, should he choose to come out. "I probably won't get the report until after the Rose Bowl, anyway."

Okay, nothing set in stone there. I think we all agree that Maybin would be foolish to come back if he was truly projected as a top ten pick. Whether he would actually be drafted that soon is still open for debate.

ESPN.com recently ran a nationwide poll about who would win the Rose Bowl. You likely know the results by now -- 49 48 states picked USC. The Penn State players were bemused:

"I'm glad we got one state," [A.Q.] Shipley said. "It's obviously disappointing that 49 other states don't think we've got a shot."

Defensive end Josh Gaines, watching on the Penn State campus, ordinarily doesn't worry about such things. He made an exception this time.

"I immediately jumped up," he said. "I got a little excited."

Then he called teammate Jared Odrick.

"I was actually writing a paper, and I didn't see it," Odrick said. "I think it kind of caught me off-guard during the conversation. I was eight pages deep in a paper."

...

"We've developed a black eye for the past couple years," Shipley said. "I was talking to James Laurinaitis from Ohio State, and if we win both of our games, [The Big Ten conference is] back on the map. It's going to be a challenge, but we both think we can do it."

I'm sure we'll get into recruiting once the Rose Bowl is in the books, but the Pocono Record has a nice rundown (they're highly underrated for PSU coverage, in my opinion), including news of a possible second quarterback, the ongoing saga of five-star LB Jelani Jenkins, and wide receiver Justin Brown of Delaware.

Finally, we know that athletes from every bowl-eligible team receive an armful of goodies. The Rose Bowl swag:

The Rose Bowl ranked among the middle of the pack, giving each player a Sony DVD camcorder, a Fossil watch, an Ogio backpack, a New Era 59Fifty fitted cap, a plaque, an autographed football and a one-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine.

Not too bad. Who autographs the football, anyway?

Elsewhere: USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian says Aaron Maybin is "the best [pass] rusher we've ever seen." Joe Paterno still isn't sure whether he'll coach from the sideline or the press box. David Jones takes a fun look at the first USC-Penn State Rose Bowl in 1922. The apparent star of the Rose Bowl Parade? A 49-foot tall robot from Japan. Oh, and miniature donkeys from Indiana. Both terrifying in their own ways.

SB Nation - A.Q. Shipley

Potential Penn State Problem #2: Musical Chairs For Dancing Bears

Inside-Outside is Sick of The Tebow

We're All Growns Up, And Making Bryce Paup References

And with the #63 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals Select...

Penn. St. C A.Q. Shipley

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

No

Indifferent

C, A.Q. Shipley, Penn St.

C, A.Q. Shipley, Penn St.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

NFL Draft 2009: All-Name Team

2009 NFL Draft -- Point of Attack - Centers/Guards Ranked for Denver

2009 NFL Draft Coverage-Merry Draftivus!!

C--Alex Mack

1st-2nd

C--Max Unger

2nd

G--Duke Robinson

2nd

C--Eric Wood

2nd

G--Kraig Urbik

2nd-3rd

C--Jonathon Luigs

3rd

C--Antoine Caldwell

3rd-4th

G--Tyronne Green

4th

C--A.Q. Shipley

5th

G--T.J. Lang

5th-6th

C--Edwin Williams

6th

C--Jon Cooper

7th-FA

C--Brett Helms

7th-FA

G--Roger Allen

7th-FA

G--Matt Slauson

7th-FA

C/G--Alex Fletcher

7th-FA

NFL Combine Coverage Day 1: Open Thread

Nitt Picks Can't Make Up Its Mind

Nitt Picks Will Not Be Drafted In The First Round