SB Nation - Gerald Cadogan

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.

Replacing Jason Peters

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

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poll

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

No. 1 - Move L. Walker to LT

184 votes

No. 2 - Preserve continuity, start Chambers/Bell

187 votes

No. 3 - Draft OT at 11

351 votes

No. 4 - Draft OT at 28 or 42

288 votes

1010 votes | Poll has closed

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Galliford's Take

Brian Galliford — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:15:08 -0000

DE Ayers a likely Round 1 target (photo source)

The 2009 NFL Draft is one week from tomorrow, Buffalo Bills fans! With that glorious fact in mind, (most of) the editorial staff at Buffalo Rumblings will be bringing you our final versions of our seven-round team mock drafts over the next week. Predicting the NFL Draft is impossible even without a contract squabble hanging over your heads; we're toughing it out. Over the next seven days, you'll have at least one mock from a Rumblings author - but don't worry. We'll have plenty of draft coverage to supplement the mocks as well, including the reveal of the Buffalo Rumblings 2009 NFL Draft Big Board.

Since I run the show (toot!), I'm starting the Authors Mock series off today. Each author was given free license to do the mock however they saw fit; in my case, I've done two - one with trades of Jason Peters and Roscoe Parrish included, and one without. This is going to be long, so bear with me.

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES

We'll get the "boring" mock out of the way first. This is how I believe the draft might unfold for the Bills - not "what I would do," but "what I think the Bills will do." I don't do mock drafts for personal satisfaction or to promote my own beliefs on prospects. This is how I see the Bills making decisions on draft day. (And I feel extremely comfortable predicting that much can and will change over the next week, so don't take this as canon.)

Round 1, Pick 11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
You probably saw this pick coming based on writings over the past week or two. Ayers has soared up draft boards at the right time and is now a lock to be taken in the first round. Ayers will be at, or at a bare minimum near, the top of the Bills' board. I did not project a Peters trade in this mock, but that doesn't mean he's signed; if that's the case and Alabama OT Andre Smith were available, the Bills would undoubtedly seriously consider him, if not pick him. I expect that TE Brandon Pettigrew and LB Clay Matthews will be in the conversations as well, but Ayers seems like the probable choice at this point.

2-42: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
No matter what, the Bills are still in need of a new starting guard. I've been touting Oregon's Max Unger for a while as a possibility, but call this one the first of many gut feelings I'm about to have - I think Levitre will be their pick in round two. The college left tackle is far better suited to play guard at the NFL level, and some scouts think he can play center as well. That versatility is Unger's major selling point, but Levitre might have just as much of it - in a tougher, nastier package. He should start immediately at either left or right guard.

3-75: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
Again, I re-iterate: Peters is not traded in this scenario, but he's not signed, either. That's the worst-case scenario for Buffalo, so they will need to hedge their bets with a high-upside OT prospect in the early rounds that can start in a pinch. Cadogan is that type of player - not an immediate starter, but a possessor of very solid potential. He would compete with Kirk Chambers for the starting LT position while Peters sat at home hoping the team will pay him. (And again, I feel I should mention that this is the worst-case scenario for Buffalo. I don't expect this to happen unless things go very badly on draft day.)

4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
It's always difficult to predict what type of linebacker the Bills will pursue - will they take the big-bodied, downhill run defenders or the light-footed, undersized pass defenders? In McRath, they get a little of both - he's a middle linebacker by trade with the athletic chops to man the weak side in a 4-3 scheme. He's been over-hyped a bit in terms of draft status, and it's not a lock that he would be available this late (though he certainly could be). I think he'd be a good fit as a SAM linebacker in Buffalo, though he's not by any means an immediate starter.

5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Buffalo had Irvin in for a pre-draft visit - which doesn't mean a lot, but it doesn't mean nothing, either. At this point in the draft, he would represent solid value - and the team would like to add some competition to kick John McCargo into gear (though that's clearly not a high priority). Irvin is an underrated athlete that's quick in the short area. He can cause some problems as a penetrator. The Bills should seriously consider investing in the long-term future of the DT position with Marcus Stroud on the wrong side of 30, but if they do, it likely won't be too early in the draft.

6-183: John Phillips, TE, Virginia
This is the type of tight end pick that Bills fans would immediately despise. See why it makes sense? Phillips is the type of TE that the team has traditionally preferred - gritty, solid athletically and a good blocker. He would add to the competition at the position, and he and Derek Fine could actually make a pretty solid (if extremely underwhelming) 1-2 punch at the position.

7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's
The Bills like their "random DB" picks, and always have. No one had heard of Northwestern State's Terrence McGee in 2003. Nor had anyone a clue about Akron's Reggie Corner last year. Toler is a popular sleeper pick out of St. Paul's, a school that has never had a player drafted into the NFL. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the Bills - but Toler's got some solid upside.

There. Boring stuff is out of the way. In my second mock - which appears after the jump - the Bills are getting three extra picks through two trades, and it's shaking up the way they're going about adding players to the roster. Check it out!

MOCK TWO: PETERS, PARRISH TRADED

Before we get into the picks (patience, padawans!), we have to go over the trades involved in this mock.

Peters to Philadelphia: I still believe that the Bills will be able to squeeze a first-round pick out of a team the closer they get to draft day. The Eagles are obviously interested. (But are they more interested in Anquan Boldin?) I have the Bills shipping Peters to Philadelphia for two picks - their second first-rounder, No. 28 overall, and the first of their four fifth-rounders, No. 141 overall. It's time to lay the "first and a third for Peters" dream to rest - the Bills will likely be willing to accept (far?) less than that to get the situation resolved. With the Eagles possessing twelve picks, this is a fair trade in that they pick up Peters while retaining their high first-round pick as well as at least one selection in every round.

Parrish to Tennessee: Buffalo is reportedly seeking a fourth-round pick for Parrish - which isn't an awful lot value-wise to a team as good as the Tennessee Titans. Last year's best regular season team holds ten draft picks - and they're hurting for both a return man (Chris Carr left via free agency for Baltimore) and receiver depth. Parrish has a chance to help them tremendously - can you imagine having to deal with the type of speed that offensive skill players like Parrish and RB Chris Johnson possess? Therefore, I have the Bills shipping Parrish to the Titans for their fourth-round pick, No. 130 overall.

There we go. Peters and Parrish are gone for a first, a fourth, and a fifth. Onto the picks...

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Surprise! Peters is gone, and the Bills aren't taking an offensive tackle?! It's not the lock that most Bills fans seem to think it would be. There is very little chance that the team could seriously contend for top tackle prospects Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe. That leaves Andre Smith and Michael Oher. The team would obviously prefer Smith, but I sincerely doubt that he makes it out of the top ten. I mentioned in the "boring" mock that I thought Ayers would beat out Pettigrew and Matthews for the pick; Oher is now necessarily a part of the conversation because of the Peters trade, but I still think Ayers beats Oher out. Just a gut feeling. The margin between Ayers and Pettigrew/Matthews is much wider than between Ayers/Oher, based on need alone. I still think Ayers is the pick.

1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
It's fairly obvious that the Bills love Pettigrew. Obviously, OT is still a need, but it's incredibly unlikely that Oher or even the overrated Eben Britton drop this far into round one. The team could reach for UConn's William Beatty, but far more likely, they'd take a guy they like. I firmly believe that if the Bills are able to pick up an extra first-round pick by dealing Peters, Pettigrew will be the target. There's a chance that Pettigrew could slide, but it's also possible (and more likely) that the Bills could swap a pick or two to move back up a few slots and nab Pettigrew. If they were to emerge from round one with Ayers and Pettigrew in tow, even with a hole at LT remaining, I believe the Bills' brass would be ecstatic (and most of the fan base would have fists through monitors).

2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
Ladies and gentlemen, your new starting left tackle... at some point. OT is such a critical need at this point that I think the Bills would reach for any guy that they believe has good upside. I wanted to pencil Beatty in here, but I don't think he lasts all the way to No. 42. Again, Cadogan would enter the mix with Kirk Chambers and Demetrius Bell - and Bills fans would worry about the LT position for all eternity. (So would the Bills, in all likelihood.)

3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
Linebackers typically fall on draft days - which is exactly why I don't see the Bills addressing the position earlier than this spot, and which is exactly why I'm hoping McKenzie lasts this long into the third round. I love this kid - he's active, athletic, and mature. I think he's an instant starter. I wouldn't be disappointed if the Bills considered him in the second round. He's not ever going to be a dominant run defender, but he's good in coverage already, plays hard, and has some solid upside.

4-110: T.J. Lang, G/T, Eastern Michigan
One of the more underrated linemen in the draft, Lang is a stocky, physical run blocker that has the potential to start very early in his career. It's tough to gauge exactly when a small-school prospect like Lang will be picked - he could go as late as the fifth round, or as high as the second, as EMU teammate DL Jason Jones did last year. Lang might start at guard as a rookie in Buffalo, and he'd be excellent value here.

4-130: Courtney Greene, SS, Rutgers
I've believed all along that the Bills would pursue an in-the-box strong safety to complement Donte Whitner's move to free safety. Greene is that type of player - big and physical. He's also a smart player and will be able to help out on special teams. He's got the career outlook of a Bryan Scott - a situational player that won't let you down, but a liability in other areas. That's about as much has they can hope for from a mid-round safety prospect. (Side note: I seriously considered Derek Pegues of Mississippi State here because of his return experience, but two separate legal issues turned me off.)

5-141: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
I had him in my "boring" mock, too, six spots lower than this. See above for an explanation.

5-147: Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn
I think the Bills will look for a sixth cornerback in this draft. They'll have an easier time getting away with it if they have extra draft picks thanks to a trade. Powers is a small player that will have to play inside as a pro, but he's a quick athlete - and with some polish, he has the potential to grow into a very solid sub-package corner and special teams player. Powers is a bit of a risk-taker, and the Bills could use some of that defensively.

6-183: Henry Melton, DE, Texas
I don't believe that the Bills are looking at this year's draft and thinking "we have to draft two defensive ends." I believe they'll take at least one, but if a player with Melton's raw potential were to be available here in the sixth, I think they'd have a hard time not pulling the trigger. Melton is a superb athletic specimen, and though he hasn't played a lot of end (he started out as a RB at Texas), he's got elite potential - and that potential alone may get him drafted higher than this. If the Bills were to enter training camp with Chris Ellis, Ayers and Melton as the "young guns" at defensive end, I'd say they have a future at the position. Melton's best fit will be as a left end in a 4-3.

7-220: Anthony Parker, OG, Tennessee
Versatile, athletic, solid line prospect that has fallen out of favor in most places because of an arrest and his limited upside. Sounds like a solid fit for the Bills as a depth player - and in the seventh round, you're not doing much better than a depth player.

So, to recap...

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
2-42: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
3-75: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
6-183: John Phillips, TE, Virginia
7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's

MOCK TWO: PETERS, PARRISH TRADED
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
4-110: T.J. Lang, G/T, Eastern Michigan
4-130: Courtney Greene, SS, Rutgers
5-141: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
5-147: Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn
6-183: Henry Melton, DE, Texas
7-220: Anthony Parker, OG, Tennessee

I imagine that the few of you that actually read every word of this are gnashing your teeth right now. I imagine that the majority of you that skimmed just to see what the trades were and who was picked are gnashing your teeth and think I'm insane (though the first group is entitled to that opinion as well). It's up to you to decide whether or not your teeth-gnashing makes my guesses more or less accurate. Fire away.

Tracking the Kansas City Chiefs' Draft Interests

Chris Thorman — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:04:48 -0000

*Updated April 22, 2009

Private Workout/Visit	Spoke with at Senior Bowl/Combine	Attended Pro Day	Rumored interest	Scouted in person during 2008 season	Local Pro Day Attendees
G Roger Allen (Mo. Western, Rd. 7)	QB Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas, Rd. 6)	OLB Jason Williams (Western Illinois, Rd. 3-4)	OG Marlon Davis (Alabama, Rd. 7)	T Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	QB Josh Freeman (K-State, Rd. 1-2)
DE Connor Barwin (Cinncinati, Rd. 1-2)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Georgia	LB Jasper Brinkely (S. Carolina, Rd. 4-5)	CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio St. Rd. 1)	LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)
WR Taurus Johnson (S. Florida, Rd. 7)	WR Mike Wallace (Ole Miss, Rd. 5)	Georgia Tech University (Likely)	FB Jerome Johnson (Nevada-Reno, Rd. 7)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	WR Tommy Saunders (MU, Rd. 7)
DE Everette Brown (FSU, Rd. 1)	QB Pat White (WVU, Rd. 2-3)	LSU (Likely)	OG/C Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook)	LB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	LB Brock Christopher (MU, Rd. 7)
DT Ricky Jean-Francois (LSU, Rd. 4)	OLB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Tennessee	LB Derek Nicholson (FSU)	CB Mike Mickens (Cincinnati, Rd. 2-3)	K Jeff Wolfert (MU, Rd. 7)
OT Jason Smith (Baylor, Rd. 1)	CB Keenan Lewis (Oregon St.), Rd. 3	PK Ryan Succop (Univ. South Carolina, Rd. 7)	SS Bret Lockett (UCLA, Rd. 7)	LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	G Roger Allen (Missouri Western, Rd. 7)
LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)	DT Fili Moala (USC, Rd. 2-3)	TE Rob Myers (Utah State, Rd. 7)	CB Vince Anderson (Webber International University)	T Eugene Monroe (Virginia, Rd. 1)	TE Darius Hill (Ball St. Rd. 7)
TE Anthony Hill (NC State, Rd. 5-6)	OT Alex Boone (Ohio State Rd. 5-6)	Ole Miss (Ole Miss) Rd. 1	DE Tyson Jackson (LSU, Rd. 1)	DT B.J. Raji (Boston College, Rd. 1)	TE Chase Coffman (MU, Rd. 2-3)
LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	OT Andrew Gardner (Georgia Tech, Rd. 5-6)	University of Iowa (Likely)	WR Quinten Lawrence (McNeese St., Rd. 7)	TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma St., Rd. 1)
DL Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman College, Rd. 5-6)	OT/G Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State, Rd. 6)	USC	Chase Patton (MU, Rd.7)
OT Eben Britton (Arizona, Rd. 1-2)	OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	Stephen F. Austin	WR Austin Collie (BYU, Rd. 4)
DE Jarron Gilbert (San Jose St., Rd. 2-3)	OLB DeAndre Levy (Wisconsin, Rd. 6-7)	University of Alabama	LB Mike Maresh (NDSU)
NT Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn, Rd. 2-3)
OT Gerald Cadorgon (Penn. State, Rd. 3)
OT Cornelius Lewis (Tenn. St., Rd. 6)
OT Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook U., Rd. ???)
LB Clint Sintim (Virginia, Rd. 2)
DE Paul Kruger (Utah, Rd. 3)
WR Mike Thomas (Arizona, Rd. 2-3)
TE Richard Quinn (North Carolina, Rd. 5)
DE Brian Orakpo (Texas, Rd. 1)
LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio St., Rd. 1-2)
K Robbie Dehaze (NAU, Rd. 7)
RB Javarris Williams (Tenn. St., Rd. 5-6)
LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)
LB Larry English (Northern Illinois, Rd. 1-2)
DB Vince Anderson (Webber International University, Rd. 7)
RB Andre Brown (NC State, Rd. 2-3)
CB Darius Butler (UConn, Rd. 1-2)

Good afternoon to you all on a beautiful (at least where I am) Saturday (It's Saturday, right?) afternoon. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the NFL draft is approaching.

The table above lists all of the Kansas City Chiefs' draft interests we've been able to dig up (This is not intended to be a comprehensive list), arranged by four different categories. I've linked back to the stories on AP citing those sources for legitimacy. Take the categories as seriously as you want. Obviously, the private workouts are probably the most legitimate, although you have guys like Mike Rivera from KU who are only going to the Chiefs little local Pro Day in mid-April that is for KC-area prospects.

After today, I'm going to feature this story and there will be a permanent link in the left sidebar to this so we can access it at anytime. We'll also be updating this list as new prospects connected to the Chiefs come up.

And one more thing, please let us know in the comment section if we missed anyone. Thanks!

I Am So Smart! S-M-R-T!

Run Up The Score — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:24:10 -0000

Congratulations, nerds!

Having seen a school record 10 Nittany Lions earn first team All-Big Ten honors on Monday, Penn State has landed a program record five players on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team, with four earning first team honors.

Senior tackle Gerald Cadogan (Portsmouth, Ohio), junior linebacker Josh Hull (Millheim), junior kick snapper Andrew Pitz (Bettendorf, Iowa) and senior safety Mark Rubin (Amherst, N.Y.) earned first team accolades. Sophomore guard Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville) was a second team choice. Cadogan is a two-time first team honoree.

Penn State's four first team selections and five overall selections led the nation. Brigham Young, Dayton and North Dakota State were the only other schools with more than two honorees. Penn State is the first school to have five Academic All-America football players since Nebraska in 1997.

The Nittany Lions were the only Big Ten Conference team with more than one Academic All-American. The five Academic All-America selections give Penn State 43 all-time, with 41 under Coach Joe Paterno. Twenty-seven Nittany Lions have earned first team Academic All-America honors a total of 31 times under Paterno. The Nittany Lions' total of 43 Academic All-America football players ranks third among all Division I-A institutions.

Grading the Offense Against Ohio State

BSD — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:41:28 -0000

We all expected more offense in this game, but I think we can all agree the end result came out ok. Let's take a look at how the offense did.

Offensive Line

The line had trouble creating running lanes as Ohio State did an excellent job of clogging the middle. But they were getting a nice push allowing Royster to gain three or four yards when there was seemingly nothing there. I thought Landolt was having problems holding a few blocks on Gibson, but Cadogen had an excellent game. Penn State was often pulling him down the line as a lead blocker. It's quite satisfying watching a linebacker line up thinking he's about to bring down Royster for no gain just before big ol' #76 comes around the corner and pancakes him. Ohio State is claiming moral victory because they held us sixty yards under our season average in rushing yards. I'm claiming moral victory because we rushed for sixty yards over their defensive average.

They had their hands full with pass protection as Ohio State was blitzing heavily on passing downs. Again I thought Cadogen did extremely well. Everyone else was ok and they only gave up one sack.

Final Grade: B

Running Backs

As I mentioned before Evan Royster had a tough time finding any open space to run. The Ohio State defensive line did an excellent job of blocking the running lanes. But he did what good backs do in those situations. He followed the push of his offensive line and got three yards where other backs would try to bounce outside and lose two. He was never once tackled for a loss. But there were a few cases where he missed a blitz pickup, and he made a poor decision in cutting a screen pass inside instead of following his blockers in the red zone. He may have cost us a touchdown there.

I was really pleased to see Stephfon Green come in the game early in the third quarter with the game on the line. I thought it was a nice change of pace that had potential for a huge payoff if he could hit a home run. He didn't hit any out of the park, but he did have a nice 12 yard gain that helped swing the field position in our favor. Then he had some nice five and six yard gains to finish with a healthy 7.7 ypc.

But Royster came back in late when the game was on the line and Penn State was clinging to a slim four point lead. Resting him up in the third quarter turned out to be a brilliant move. Starting at the PSU 37 yard line they handed the ball off to Royster on seven out of eight plays with the other play being a quarterback sneak for a first down. Royster gained 28 of his 77 yards on that final drive eating up three of the final four minutes and set up a Kevin Kelly field goal to ensure at worst an overtime period.

Final Grade: B

Quarterbacks

Ohio State got pressure on Clark early and often and I didn't think he handled it well. He never looked comfortable in the pocket or decisive in his throws. He overthrew a few guys and almost threw an interception. Luckily Deon Butler is a converted defensive back and broke it up even if he did have to interfere to do it. On third down passing Clark completed 3-of-5 but only got one first down and he also took a sack. Not a great day.

But Clark did have his moments. The throw to Zug was a great read even if the ball was underthrown. And he picked up some crucial yards and first downs by running the ball.

Pat Devlin came in after Clark got his bell rung. He did a fine job handing off to Evan Royster and sealing the win. His one pass attempt drew a pass interference call, and unlike Pryor he dove over center for the touchdown instead of trying to get too much.

I was a little curious in the way Clark handled getting benched. He was clearly upset by it. By all accounts it was a medical decision, but I'm not 100% buying that. Clark stayed in the game after getting hit. The next handoff looked a little awkward, but after that he completed a couple of nice passes to Butler and Williams and had a nice 12 yard gain on a draw play. The third quarter then came to an end. You would think the doctors would have had a chance to evaluate him during the timeout. If he really had a problem they should have pulled him then. But he went back in the game and finished off the drive for the field goal.

But then Devlin came in the game and just handed off the ball. Even if Clark was struggling in the passing game he could have done that. Maybe the coaches throught putting Devlin in would make Ohio State worry about the pass more and open up the running game. It seemed to work as Royster promptly ripped off a nine yard gain. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit?

I mentioned Clark's attitude after throwing the pick against Wisconsin. here again I didn't like the way he handled being benched. The team looks up to him as a leader. He can't be stomping around throwing cups and kicking helmets on the sideline. He needs to cheer on his teammates and stay focused. I was very disappointed by this.

Final Grade: B

Recievers

The trio of Williams, Butler, and Norwood were virtually non-existant combining for six catches and 28 yards. Usually you can count on them to block well but Butler whiffed twice on his block for a couple of bubble screens to Norwood and Williams. Butler had a pass interference penalty, but that was arguably a good play on a poorly thrown ball. It was just not a good day for any of them.

Graham Zug saved the group from a failing grade by making the huge play to set up the game's first score.

Final Grade: D

Offensive Coaching

I've watched the game twice and I'm still sitting here trying to figure out if the offensive coaching philosophy was idiotic, brilliant, or just lucky.

On one hand, pucker pucker pucker. It was a classic Joe Paterno game where they only score 13 points and hope the defense can hold on for a victory on the road. They ran the ball 37 times versus only 20 pass attempts. On first and second down the split was 30-15. They even ran it three times on third and long situations. Pucker pucker pucker. Even more discouraging was how they kept running over right guard over and over. Even after Williams took the opening snap and busted a pitch right for 14 yards they almost never went back to it.

But on the other hand, it seemed to wear Ohio State down. Maybe sitting Royster in the third quarter was just a way of resting him up for the punishing fourth quarter drive.

I can't argue with the results, but the Wisconsin game should have proven to us we can open up the play book on the road. A two touchdown lead would have been a daggar to the heart of the Buckeyes. Their offense isn't capable of passing when it needs to come from behind. Keeping it a low scoring field position game played directly into their hands.

Final Grade: D

Poll

Who was the offensive MVP against Ohio State?

Daryll Clark

40 votes

Pat Devlin

131 votes

Evan Royster

284 votes

Stephfon Green

9 votes

Offensive Line

130 votes

Graham Zug

46 votes

640 votes | Poll has closed

Blue & White Roundtable: The Beginning Of The Beginning

Run Up The Score — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:46:30 -0000

Almost forgot, didn't you? You're wasting time in Blogfrica (Blogbabwe? Blogistan*?). It's a Wednesday. It's football season**. That means it's time for the 8,395 Penn State blogs to put their pasty heads together for Blue & White Roundtable.

Also, before we begin, allow me to plug Kevin's Penn State Bars post. Find a viewing spot in your neighborhood, or help a fellow Penn Stater locate a place to watch the weekend's slaughter.

This week's questions are written by our old friend, William F. Yurasko.

Joining in are the usual jokers:

If there are more participating, let me know in the comments. It's often hard to keep track of this mess.

1. What are you optimistic about this season (Anthony Morelli running out of eligibility does not count)?

I'm certain that Evan Royster is going to have a tremendous year. I'm optimistic that Daryll Clark will play well. The running game should take pressure off him during the non-conference schedule. Hopefully, that will give him an opportunity to get comfortable throwing the ball. There will be days in the Big Ten when he'll have to move the team with his arm.

2. What are you pessimistic about this season?

The back seven of the defense. The linebackers scare me until further notice, and the secondary really needs to rebound from a poor 2007. They'll be fine this week, but Oregon State's Mike Riley is a very good offensive coach. He'll do his best to create confusion and mismatches next Saturday.

3. Who is the most important player on either side of the ball?

I almost went with Gerald Cadogan, but it has to be Maurice Evans. With Sean Lee out of the lineup, Evans is the true game-changer on defense. If he goes down, the pass rush gets to the quarterback a second or two later, and the secondary likely gets fried.

Lightning Round

How many games are you going to this season?

Three, for sure. Maybe more, unless my Saturdays are scheduled away by The Future Mrs. Up The Score*** spent totally humping on Scarlett Johannson.

Do you have Big11Ten Network?

Yessir, I'm a new DirecTV subscriber and loving it. Even if I have to watch the same crappy Big Ten promotional ads.

Where is Coastal Carolina located?

South Carolina. Proximal to a bunch of golf courses which are usually infested by chubby, pale northerners.

What record will Penn State have on January 9?

9-4.

* Southwest Blogistan Tech may be on Penn State's 2010 schedule.

** This is for real. When it's 50 degrees at sunrise in central Pennsylvania, you know it's football season.

*** I lack descended testicles.

SB Nation - Gerald Cadogan

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

Replacing Jason Peters

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

No. 1 - Move L. Walker to LT

No. 2 - Preserve continuity, start Chambers/Bell

No. 3 - Draft OT at 11

No. 4 - Draft OT at 28 or 42

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Galliford's Take

Tracking the Kansas City Chiefs' Draft Interests

I Am So Smart! S-M-R-T!

Grading the Offense Against Ohio State

Offensive Line

Running Backs

Quarterbacks

Recievers

Offensive Coaching

Who was the offensive MVP against Ohio State?

Daryll Clark

Pat Devlin

Evan Royster

Stephfon Green

Offensive Line

Graham Zug

Blue & White Roundtable: The Beginning Of The Beginning

The Nittany Line

There Is No Name On My Jersey

Tangled Up In White and Blue

The Nittany Notebook

Nittany Whiteout