SB Nation - Deandre Levy

Football is here! Our 10 questions for Fall Camp

Adam Hoge — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:55:09 -0000

The 2009 football season officially starts today at 3:50 p.m. when the Wisconsin Badgers open their first practice of the season at Camp Randall Stadium.

Finally! Trust me, eeking out content on this site all summer long has been no easy task. From today until late March we're going to have plenty to talk about on Bucky's 5th Quarter.

What's on tap for camp

As camp opens, here's what you can expect:

After completely closing the media's access to practice last season, Bret Bielema has graciously opened up practice from Aug. 17 to Aug. 25. That is going to give us all a better idea of what's going on as Bielema sets up his final two-deep depth chart 10 days before the opener (Aug. 26).

I will personally be attending a few of those open practices, although when is yet to be determined.

For the first week, we are going to have to go strictly off post-practice interviews from coaches and players and every day we will have all the links to the stories that come out of camp.

Questions, questions, questions

Every camp opens with questions. The difference between a good football team and a bad football team depends on how many of those questions get answered before the season opener.

In Wisconsin's case, the following questions need to be answered before Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. when UW hosts Northern Illinois:

1) Has Dustin Sherer developed into a Big Ten-caliber quarterback capable of leading the Badgers back to a New Year's Day bowl game? If not, are freshmen Curt Phillips or Jon Budmayr good enough to take over the reigns this season?

2) Who will fill the void left by the departed Jonathan Casillas and DeAndre Levy at linebacker? Are Blake Sorensen and Mike Taylor ready?

3) Are there any young guys capable of fixing the serious depth issue apparent on the defensive line?

4) Who starts opposite of Aaron Henry at the other cornerback position?

5) Are any of the veteran members of the secondary (Aubrey Pleasant, Shane Carter, Jay Valai, Chris Maragos) ready to put together an all-conference season?

6) Is Josh Oglesby the real deal or a bust?

7) Can Jake Bscherer cut it at guard?

8) Who will start at fullback? Will Mickey Turner have to become a make-shift fullback?

9) Which formerly young wide receiver (David Gilreath, Issac Anderson, Kyle Jefferson) becomes a dependable go-to veteran? Will Nick Toon be that guy as a sophomore?

10) Which incoming freshmen earn playing time with a solid camp?

What questions do you want to see answered in the coming weeks? Leave them here and we will see if they get answered as we break down camp on a daily basis.

Badger Bloggers Roundtable: Discussing the defense

Adam Hoge — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:16:56 -0000

In Part II of our preseason roundtable, the Badger Bloggers got together to discuss the defense. Joining me in the roundtable are Duff Beach from On Wisconsin! Scott Tappa of Badgercentric, and Phil Mitten of Hoops Marinara:

Can you believe it has been five years since that great defensive line of 2004? Depth is once again an issue this year, but there seems to be some promise in J.J. Watt among others. Do you see any newcomers stepping up on the D-line to provide some depth?

On Wisconsin: Yeah, 5 years since Anttaj and Erasmus, but harder to believe for me is that Chapman and Shaughnessy never became true beasts on the line. They had so much promise early. Schofield is solid (led the team in sacks last season) and everyone is excited about Watt, but it's all based on practice so far. I want to believe in him, but I'm a little nervous. I'm concerned about our size everywhere and Moore really should be an end (where he would probably be very good), but we should have speed on the edges. I don't know who the solid tackles-to-be are, but with Nzegwu, Mains, and Westphal, there is plenty of young talent ready to step up on the ends. We'll need it.

Badger Centric: It's funny, because when you mentioned 2004, the first thing I thought was "I thought 2005 would be a down year, and we ended up winning 10 games, great year." But that was in spite of the defensive line! Even so, while injuries killed that unit (remember Beckum playing end?), but guys like Shaughnessy, Hayden, and Chapman showed promise. I don't see those guys on this unit. O'Brien is a solid starter. Watt seems to have a Hayden-like ceiling. But are there difference-makers? Doesn't look like it. I'll be happy if these guys can keep offensive linemen off our linebackers.

Hoops Marinara: It's a shame Erasmus and Co. flamed out in the NFL. Maybe they weren't that great after all. In 2009, the Badgers look weak up the middle and that spells trouble. I like O'Brien Schofield, who seems like he should be the emotional leader on the unit. Again, I like the younger guys UW has backing up the end positions, but inside is a question mark.

Bucky’s 5th Quarter: You have to be careful from what comes out of Camp Randall in the off-season because a lot of it can be propaganda. But I must say I am a little more optimistic about the defensive line than I was in the spring. After talking with O’Brien Schofield, I must say he seems like a solid leader and he’s determined to have a good year. If J.J. Watt blossoms like he is supposed to, I think Brendan Kelly and Louis Nzegwu do enough to make this a solid line.

Speaking of a lack of depth, the linebacking corp. seems to be scrambling to replace Jonathan Casillas and DeAndre Levy. Blake Sorensen didn't have a great spring, but he is still listed ahead of Mike Taylor on the depth chart. Are you worried about the linebackers?

On Wisconsin: I think the linebackers are the scariest group. First, Sorenson looked S-L-O-W in the spring. I'm pulling for Taylor if only because Sorenson either isn't fast enough or didn't care enough to try harder. I think St. Jean played pretty well when he had his chances last season, so we have two solid starters, but who's backing them up? That's where the loss of Hodge as a solid, contributing second-stringer really hurt. We've heard some positives about Megna, Rouse, and Hubbard, but we haven't seen it yet. Bottom line: I'm worried. Really worried.

Badger Centric: Yes, very. Don't want to join the chorus questioning Sorenson, but I've never seen it with him. Saw Taylor play in high school and he was a stud, but we certainly can't count on him to be a standout this year. McFadden and St. Jean are average at best. And there is no one else. What about playing Pleasant at linebacker? We see so much spread it might make sense to have a guy like that in the front seven.

Hoops Marinara: Sorensen certainly has a lot of expectations to fulfill, but I think along with Culmer St. Jean and J. McFadden they can form a decent group. No one will accuse them of being as athletic as last year's group -- Casillas and Levy were two of the best athletes at that position that Wisconsin has seen. But what the Badgers really need is simply a group that knows how to tackle well. I don't want every draw play that gets past the line going for 6 ... can we get another Donnel Thompson in this bunch, please?!

Bucky’s 5th Quarter: I’m excited about McFadden in the middle, but very worried about the other two spots. Culmer St. Jean has never really put it all together and Sorensen didn’t exactly take advantage of his opportunities in the spring. It should be interesting to see what Mike Taylor can do. If he has a good camp, this will be the most fun defensive position battle over the next month.

Is it safe to say (and a little scary to say) that the secondary is the strength of the Badger defense? It seems like every guy listed on two-deep has shown flashes of brilliance at some point in the last few seasons, but they also have had their hardships. And will Aaron Henry really be as good as he looked like he would be before the knee injury?

On Wisconsin: I think they are a strength, but that's relative to the near total unknown of the front 7. Especially at safety, I worry about making that critical tackle. As much as Valai can lay the wood (needs to watch the head-to-head stuff, though), he missed his fair share of tackles last season. That's been Carter's problem all along, which is why Maragos will probably start at free safety. At corner Henry will be fine. I'm glad they decided to keep him out all of last season to truly let him heal. Niles Brinkley played fine last season, and I'm hoping Fenelus and Smith are coming along as well as advertised. But hope is not a method.

Badger Centric: It is scary, and I'd even question the "flashes of brilliance" assertion. We've seen flashes of competence from these guys, and I'd settled for sustained competence. But every one of the starters has question marks: Henry with the knee, Maragos still learning the position, Valai and his pure hitter MO, and Brinkley giving up big plays. But I'm actually optimistic about these guys and the young guys too. Shane Carter is a wild card, if he could come in and force some turnovers that would be huge.

Hoops Marinara: There's no question that the secondary looks good by comparison. But I think they actually will be good. Henry should be ready to go -- he's one of the elite talents on the team. I'm really excited to see him grow up. The entire makeup of the secondary is intriguing. You have knock-out artist in Valai, an overachiever in Maragos, plus a lot of experience backing those safeties up (Carter and Pleasant). Niles Brinkley is probably the weak link.

Bucky’s 5th Quarter: Remember when Shane Carter led the Big Ten in interceptions two years ago? And Niles Brinkley picked off four passes last season? Why don’t I remember all of this? Oh, because when they weren’t grabbing turnovers they were getting beat for touchdowns and committing crucial penalties. Every member of the starting secondary has a good amount of experience, but how much talent do they have? We’ll find out soon.

What are your thoughts on the defensive coaching staff? Toughness seemed to be an issue at times last season. How will this unit overcome the mental and physical shortcomings that were apparent in 2008?

On Wisconsin: Bottom line is the heat should be squarely on Doeren. After what Hankwitz did to turn around the Northwestern defense, Bielema's choice to go with Dave over Mike hasn't looked so hot. Maybe it was just breaking everything in the first year with guys who were more used to Hankwitz's way of doing things? That's no excuse this year. On top of making tackles, the defense needs to improve its conditioning. The losses to Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State all lay at the defense's tired feet (Bielema's too, of course). The idea that a Barry Alvarez legacy team (as long as he's the AD, he's a part of it) could be 9th in scoring defense in the Big Ten is unfathomable. That can't happen again.

Badger Centric: I don't know about toughness, it's hard to get to be a guy who plays a lot on a Big Ten defense and not be at least somewhat tough. Remember, there were a lot of injuries on that side of the ball last year: Casillas, Levy, Chapman, Henry, and that hurt productivity. What sticks with me are comments made on my blog after the Iowa game. I forget who said it, but the point was made that our defense had finally adapted to deal with the Spread, but when we go against a power line and back like Iowa had, we get run over. That probably won't always happen, but there's a lot of truth there. So by making the seemingly necessary adaptation to deal with the Spread, we have lost our identity as being a stout, stop-the-run defense, and become just another defense with a bunch of undersized guys running around in space. If these undersized guys were racking up sacks and interceptions, that would be one thing, but the unit seems mediocre at best, and it's not like next year looks any more promising. Some of that's on X's and O's coaching, but it's also recruiting and player development.

Hoops Marinara: It starts at the top with BB. I can't stress enough how much I want the coach to relinquish the Special Teams duties. He needs to set the example being focused and knowing where to be at all times. The good news is if the secondary can be everything I want it to be, that makes the job of pressuring the QB a little easier. I think the offense can be better this year too, which should (hopefully) alleviate the problems the defense had being worn out all the time in tight games.

Bucky’s 5th Quarter: The good news is that fixing these problems was item No. 1 in the off-season. Improving the defense’s mental and physical toughness – and committing fewer mistakes – will give this team an extra win or two this season. And if the problems continue then it will be a major problem for the defensive coaching staff.

Recapping Day Two of the 2009 NFL Draft

Sean Yuille — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:15:17 -0000

More photos » by Jason DeCrow - AP

8 months ago: Detroit Lions representatives work during the third round of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall Sunday, April 26, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Browse more photos »

Like many teams, the Lions made multiple trades on day two of the 2009 NFL Draft to stock up on picks. The first trade was actually what started day two of the draft. The Lions exchanged third-round picks with the Jets and received a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder for making the swap. The Lions felt that they didn't need to pick at the top of the third-round, so it was a great move to trade down. The more picks you can get the better. The same goes for the move made in the sixth-round. The Lions traded their sixth-rounder to the Broncos for a seventh-rounder this year and a fifth-rounder in 2010. This type of strategy is one the Patriots have mastered, so I'm all for the Lions doing it. I think both trades were great moves.

Round 3 - Pick No. 76 - LB DeAndre Levy (Wisconsin)

The Lions' first pick of day two was more than a tad puzzling at first. Levy played outside linebacker at Wisconsin, and most of us were wondering why the Lions would pick an OLB when they had such a gaping hole on the inside. The explanation for that, as we now know, is that Levy is going to play middle linebacker for the Lions, at least initially. He will try out the MLB position at next weekend's rookie minicamp, which makes me understand this pick much more.

I'm still not a huge fan of this pick, though, as it seems like Levy was drafted on his potential to play MLB more than anything. While many draft picks are made based on potential at another position, I guess I just don't have a ton of confidence that a player can effectively play MLB in the NFL after not playing it in college. Some will probably ask why I wanted Aaron Curry, as he would have been switched to MLB. My response to that question is that Curry actually played some MLB in college. Levy, at least based on my initial research, didn't actually play that position very much at Wisconsin.

Grade: D+

Even though I'm going to take a wait and see approach with regards to this pick based on trusting Jim Schwartz and company, if I had to give it a grade it would only be a D+. Although Levy will play MLB for the Lions at the rookie camp, I just don't think he will be as effective -- at least not in year one -- as some of the true MLBs in the draft. Then again, most of the true MLBs fans wanted dropped big time, so hopefully the coaches and front office know something we don't. I hope that is the case, but for right now, anyways, my grade for the Levy pick is only a D+.

Round 3 - Pick No. 82 - WR Derrick Williams (Penn State)

The initial reaction to this pick was disgust, just because it was a wide receiver. With actual positions of need out there, why did the Lions decide to draft a WR so early on? Well, think of it more like they drafted a returner who can play receiver as well, because that is the type of player Williams is. He isn't a great receiver, but his return abilities make him very appealing, as does his athleticism. He is someone that could run the Wildcat for the Lions, as he did that many times at Penn State. The best description I can give you is that he is a more talented Kenneth Moore, the Wake Forest receiver drafted by the Lions on day two a year ago for his return abilities. Moore didn't make the team but ended up signing with the Panthers, so the hope obviously is that Williams will be good enough at WR to make the team and the active roster on game days. That way the Lions would actually have a decent returner for a change.

Grade: D+

While I understand the thinking behind this pick, I am not a huge fan of it. It is very important for the Lions to upgrade their return game next season, but Williams will only help with that matter if he makes the team and then the active roster for games. I'm not so sure that he will be able to do that, especially if the Lions only keep four receivers active for games. Considering the Lions are going to incorporate the tight end position more, it may not be necessary to have more than four receivers on the active roster. That's why I'm a bit skeptical that Williams' return abilities will even be utilized. Given that, I don't think it was worth spending a third-round pick on him.

Round 4 - Pick No. 115 - DT Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman)

This is my favorite pick of day two and maybe of the entire draft for the Lions. Sammie Lee Hill has amazing athleticism for being so big, and it seems like he could be a hidden gem. At the very least, he appears to be a great value pick, and beyond that, he actually fills a need. Defensive tackle was a position that needed to be addressed in the draft, so it's good to see that it actually was.

Grade: A

As stated, this was a great value pick and addressed need at the same time. It doesn't get much better than that on day two of the draft.

Round 6 - Pick No. 192 - RB Aaron Brown (TCU)

This was probably one of the most confusing picks of the day. Running back isn't exactly a position of need for the Lions, and Brown has lots of question marks surrounding him. For example, he had some injury problems in college and was suspended for the first three games of 2008 for violating a university policy. The upside for Brown is that he is also a returner, but as stated in my analysis of the Williams pick, that only means something if a player can make the active roster.

Grade: D

By the time the sixth-round in the draft rolls around, most picks are risks, but this one just seemed unnecessary. The Lions already have a couple players similar to Brown on the roster -- Aveion Cason and Brian Calhoun. Both Cason and Calhoun are nothing more than depth at the running back position, but their upside is that they can return kicks. Calhoun can't ever stay healthy and probably won't be a Lion for too much longer, but Cason is serviceable in my mind. If anything, Brown is a poor man's Cason.

Round 7 - Pick No. 228 - OT Lydon Murtha (Nebraska)

The Lions finally decided to pay attention to the offensive line in the seventh-round of the draft. The OT they picked, Lydon Murtha, has great size and athleticism. Like many players with that kind of makeup, his size and athleticism haven't translated too well to the football field. Even so, in the seventh-round there is no point not to pick someone like this. He has great potential, and better yet, he plays a position that is a need for the Lions.

Grade: B

Murtha certainly has all the potential in the world, but whether or not he will ever reach his potential is left to be seen. Regardless, the Lions only used a seventh-round pick on him, so it's not like the risk involved is that big.

Round 7 - Pick No. 235 - LB Zack Follett (California)

Zack Follett is an interesting character, to say the least. I'll expand on that in his scouting report, but it is obvious that he has a colorful personality. He also appears to have a mean streak on the football field, which is pretty important for a linebacker. Follett is listed as an outside linebacker, but he did play MLB in college. I actually like his potential in the middle more than Levy, the Lions' first third-round pick. Follett has a ton of potential, and it seems like he has a better chance of actually living up to it than others.

Grade: A

The more I read about Follett and the more video I watch, the more I like this pick. Follett can play both OLB and MLB, and he also will contribute on special teams. He's got the perfect mindset for a linebacker, and he seems like someone that could be viewed as a steal a few years from now.

Round 7 - Pick No. 255 - TE Dan Gronkowski (Maryland)

Teams that have one of the last picks of the draft have to figure out which player is going to be the toughest to sign as an undrafted free agent. That way they can simply draft him and not have to worry about competing with other teams to make a signing. For the Lions, they felt that player was TE Dan Gronkowski. This pick makes two things evident as we look ahead to next season: the Lions are going to utilize the tight end position more and the coaches aren't content with the TEs already on the roster. The latter point was obvious after Brandon Pettigrew was picked on Saturday, but this pick further echoed that notion.

Grade: D

It's tough to even give out a grade for a pick this late in the draft, but I decided on a D based on the fact that the Lions already drafted Brandon Pettigrew. I would have preferred to see depth added to the offensive or defensive line. Even so, I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in any grade for the second-to-last pick of the draft. Like I said, at this point it is all about who will be the toughest to sign as an undrafted free agent, so I'm hoping the Lions knew that Gronkowski was going to end up somewhere else if he wasn't drafted.

Overall: C+

While there were a couple picks I really liked from the second day of the draft, there was still a lot of room for improvement, in my opinion. It really was hit or miss on Sunday, as it seems like fans either loved or hated the picks. There was more of a middle ground with the day one picks. Then again, I guess that should be expected to happen more with lesser-known players. People usually are going to flat out hate the pick or like it based on what they first read about the player. That is why draft grades are so tough to give out for second day picks. In a few years when you look back at draft grades, there's a good chance they will all be inaccurate. Even so, it's a good topic to discuss, so let's hear your grades for day two.

Poll

What grade do you give the Lions for day two of the draft?

A

47 votes

B

178 votes

C

167 votes

D

113 votes

E

10 votes

F

47 votes

562 votes | Poll has closed

Lions Draft DeAndre Levy and Derrick Williams in Third Round

Sean Yuille — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:25:01 -0000

After trading down with the Jets to start the second day of the draft, the Lions used one of the picks acquired from NY (No. 76 overall) to select Wisconsin outside linebacker DeAndre Levy. Levy is someone that compares to both Alex Lewis and Keith Bulluck. I'm guessing the latter comparison is why he was picked, as Jim Schwartz must see something in him. I don't understand the thinking behind drafting an outside linebacker, but the only explanation is that he will be switched to the middle. After all, the Lions have absolutely nobody at MLB right now, so someone has to play that position next season.

Continuing the trend of pushing need to the side for talent, the Lions selected Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams with the No. 82 pick of the draft. Williams' special teams abilities are his best asset, as he can return both kicks and punts. His wide receiver skills likely aren't the reason he was picked. The Lions have a need for a returner, and hopefully Williams will be good enough to make the team so he can fill that need. Even if he does, though, I don't like how the Lions passed up needs at other positions to take a wide receiver/special teams player. Cue up the Millen jokes, I guess, but this is getting a tad annoying. I get the whole talent over need thing, but at some point the defense needs to be addressed beyond a safety and outside linebacker that might play inside.

The Lions' next pick is 115th overall, the 15th selection of the fourth-round.

Badgers in the NFL Draft: Where will they go?

Adam Hoge — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:24:38 -0000

It will probably be a quiet day for former UW football players looking to get drafted this weekend as most of them will be selected in the third round or later, which won't happen until Sunday.

But there as many as 12 outgoing Badgers hoping to find NFL teams this weekend and B5Q predicts where those players will get drafted:

3rd Round

Travis Beckum (TE/WR, 6-3, 243) - The further he falls, the more he'll regret not coming out after his junior season.

Kraig Urbik (OG, 6-5, 328) - Arguably the Badgers' best pro prospect.

4th Round

Matt Shaughnessy (DE/OLB, 6-5, 266) - If he gets drafted into a 3-4 defense, he'll have to move to linebacker.

5th Round

Jonathan Casillas (OLB, 6-1, 228) - Injuries and DUIs have held Casillas back, but scouts still seem to love his talent.

DeAndre Levy (OLB, 6-2, 236) - Scouts love Levy's potential.

Andy Kemp (OG, 6-5, 313) - Will be drafted solely on size.

7th Round

P.J. Hill (RB, 5-10, 222) - Advice to any mediocre draft prospects who want to enter the draft early: DON'T GET TWO DUIs WHILE TRYING TO IMPRESS DRAFT SCOUTS! Hill will be lucky to get drafted.

Free Agents (In order of chances of being signed)

Chris Pressley (FB, 5-11, 255) - Hard worker and solid blocker. Has the will to make an NFL roster.

Jason Chapman (DT, 6-2, 281) - Injuries have really hurt his NFL chances.

Mike Newkirk (DT, 6-1, 285) - Probably too small to make it in the league.

Dave Peck (LS, 6-4, 245) - Good long snappers can be very valuable.

Bill Rentmeester (FB, 5-11, 247) - Brings a little speed to the table.

Be sure to join us on Twitter to get updates during the NFL Draft.

Poll

Which former Badger will get drafted first?

Travis Beckum - TE/WR

11 votes

Jonathan Casillas - OLB

3 votes

DeAndre Levy - OLB

2 votes

Matt Shaughnessy - DE/OLB

10 votes

Kraig Urbik - G

6 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

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

MattRichWarren — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:00:14 -0000

Here is the goal for my last Rumblings Authors Mock. I am going to attempt to address every need I think the Buffalo Bills have with capable players. I'm not going to go crazy with "if this guy falls two rounds" or anything like that, but it will certainly take some strange twists and turns. My first two mocks mean very little at this point in time, but here is the pre-free agency version and my post free-agency version. They are at least a starting point of players I like and positions of need.

Identifying positions of need
The first step in this mock was determining every need I think needs to be addressed. On offense we need a new starting left tackle to replace Jason Peters, a new starting guard to replace Dockery, and one to two depth players along the line. Even if you think Derek Fine can step up and start this year, something I wouldn't be against, we need another tight end on the roster. On defense at least one new pass rushing defensive end would be ideal and an upgrade over Keith Ellison at linebacker would be nice as well. Adding a safety who could supplant Bryan Scott and rotational depth at defensive tackle would be a bonus. That's nine players but with only seven picks that won't be easy to accomplish.

Trades
Jason Peters was traded. Reportedly the Eagles gave us their lower first round pick (28) and their fourth round pick. This needed to happen before draft day in order to allow the Bills to refocus their draft strategy.

I am also trading Roscoe Parrish. He has become expendable with James Hardy/Steve Johnson and Leodis McKelvin coming in last year. Put Leo back returning punts and I don't see a huge drop off. The Bills coaches are high on Johnson and he should get the snaps on offense Roscoe would normally get. The Browns were 23rd in the league returning punts last year averaging a little more than half of what the Bills averaged. They also need WR help badly with the Donte Stallworth situation and potential trade of Braylon Edwards. I trade Roscoe for Cleveland's Round 4 pick, number 104 overall.

These trades give the Bills nine picks with two first rounders and three fourths. It greatly increases trade up scenarios if a player the Bills covet falls like a Brandon Pettigrew or Clay Matthews. It also gives the Bills the best shot of filling their needs.

Click on the link to see the mock...

Here's the most realistic and optimistic mock draft I could put together.

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
After Brian's mock (I swear I didn't look at it first) you are probably not surprised by this pick. A well-rounded defensive end is something the Bills staff looks for and Ayers is that player. He injects youth to the position and has the ability to contribute right away while hopefully becoming a guy like Aaron Schobel (was) who can contribute in every phase of the defense and still pick up double-digit sacks.

1-28: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
I continue adding players to the defensive front seven with Clay Matthews in to replace Keith Ellison. If Michael Oher is still there I think they may take him but I won't bank on it. They may have to use one of those fourths to trade up to get Matthews, but I think they like him enough to do that.

2-42: Max Unger, C/OG, Oregon
Unger has been the top interior lineman on my board for a while now. He is athletic, versatile, and smart. We should make him our new starting RG and move Butler over to the left side to solidify the interior. He can also be our back-up center should Hangartner go down to injury.

3-75: Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
At some point along the way I had to add a tight end to the mix. I have been on the Beckum bandwagon for a while now. He went to Wisconsin as a linebacker and converted to TE. He has some growing to do at the position but outside of a broken leg he suffered while blocking (yes blocking) he has been durable. He has great hands and good feet. He has the potential to be our opening day starter or a nice compliment to Derek Fine.

4-104: Augustus Parrish, OT, Kent State
I've waited long enough. I still have not added a new offensive tackle to replace the departed Jason Peters. Parrish would have an opportunity to compete for the starting job at left tackle. He has great athleticism but lacks the strength to be a road grader type run blocker. Luckily he has the frame to add muscle and become the complete package. He has been durable as well.

4-110: Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest
With the biggest needs on my draft board addressed, I can look one of two ways to strong safety or defensive tackle. Intense and an outstanding tackler, Vaughn could immediately come in and start on running situations. In college his coverage skills were generally limited to the deep zone where he could use his great closing speed to make tackles. He wouldn't be brought in to replace Bryan Scott but rather compliment him. ("Nice work Bryan.") But he certainly could replace Scott eventually.

4-121: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Marcus Stroud is over 30 and John McCargo is a disappointment. The answer is Irvin who was in for a visit at One Bills Drive. (I swear I didn't read Brian's mock before I did mine.) This could do one of two things - light a fire under McCargo and make him a capable contributor or be the last nail in the proverbial pick slip coffin. Oh hey quick question.... Where did Marcus Stroud go to college? They develop them hard (and flat) nosed when they are Bulldogs.

5-147: Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston
The Bills obviously liked Chris Ellis's value for his draft position this year. Hunt's value to them as a Tampa 2 DE will be too much to pass up in the fifth round. While he may be hard pressed to get playing time or contribute this year, the Bills need to add youth to the position and Hunt would be ready to play by the time the big three DEs contracts expire. The Bills have a history of drafting positions of need in bunches and this fits the bill.

6-183: Cornelius Lewis, OT, Tennessee St.
Lewis was a transfer from Florida State after violating team rules (they have them at FSU?). All he did was become an excellent pass blocker. Lewis showed off great hands and feet in the Texas vs. the nation event. Even with some character concerns, he's worth the risk in the 6th round.

7-220: DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin
One way to hedge your bets on a draft pick is to bring in another player later in the draft as a safety valve (see Williams, Kyle). Kawika Mitchell is 30, Alvin Bowen may or may not be the same after his ACL tear, and Keith Ellison is likely only around for one more year. This is a great place to bring in an additional linebacker who could excel on special teams while waiting in the wings to make an impact on defense. Levy has a high motor, ran a great 40 at his pre-draft workout, and was very productive in his college career.

So, do you feel better about the Colts' linebackers?

BigBlueShoe — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:57:10 -0000

By re-signing Tyjuan Hagler, the Colts will enter the draft with Hagler (WILL, SAM), Clint Session (WILL, SAM), Adam Seward (MIKE, SAM), Gary Brackett (MIKE), Philip Wheeler (SAM, MIKE), Michael Okwo (WILL), and Rufus Alexander (SAM, WILL) are the primary linebackers. Gone are Freddy Keiaho and Buster Davis, both were starters the last month of the 2008 season. Replacing them are Clint Session (moving from WILL to SAM) and Philip Wheeler, who will now start at SAM. Hagler used to be the starting SAM, and the Colts seemed to have very high hopes for him. But last year, as 18to88 so accurately put it, the Colts treated Hagler like "toxic waste."

The one element Hagler does bring to the table is speed, experience, and a little size. Hagler is roughly 6'0, and played a lot of time at WILL last season. He hits hard, supports the run well, and hustles.

As we stated a few weeks ago, the move to sign Seward, coupled with promoted Wheeler and cutting Davis, might be a sign that Colts are focusing a bit more on size as opposed to quickness. This is not to suggest Seward and Wheelers are "slow." They aren't. But while Buster Davis and Freddy KO lacked height, they had quickness, burst, and power. In close quarters, they could knock out a rhino. But, despite their hitting power, they just weren't good enough to support the run on a consistent basis.

John Ohser at Indy Football Report doesn't necessarily agree that cutting Davis is a sign the Colts are looking to get taller at linebacker. Maybe. But with most of the 5'11 and shorter LBers gone, and with two 6'2 backers added, it's hard to argue that the Colts aren't looking to get taller at linebacker.

I think we'll get a firmer answer in the draft, espeicaly if Polian goes for someone like Western Illinois' Jason Williams (6'2) or Wisconsin's DeAndre Levy (6'3). Regardless, depth at linebacker actually looks pretty good. Do you expect Bill to pick any linebackers?

Badger Bits: Opening Day... just kidding, Edition

Adam Hoge — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:37:05 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

8 months ago: Illinois head coach Bruce Weber talks with his players from left, Findlay's Josh Bostic (21), Boston College's Tyrese Rice (5) and Wisconsin's Marcus Landry (31) during the college all-star basketball game at the men's Final Four NCAA basketball tournament Friday, April 4, 2009, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Browse more photos »

There are few Mondays as great as Opening Day, especially when the National Championship happens to be played on the same night. And the build up for Opening Day has never been greater with the extra week of Spring Training. So when your favorite team--In my case, the White Sox--postpones Opening Day about 20 hours before the first pitch, it makes you want to cry. And it's even worse when it's not even raining or snowing today.

Then there are the Brewers, who got the unlucky draw of starting their season on Tuesday in San Francisco. So I think the majority of the B5Q community is wishing their favorite team was playing today, except for the Cubs fans (and I know we have a lot of them) who get to see their team play today no matter what, because the Northsiders open their season in Houston tonight at 6 p.m. Of course, the Astros have a roof.

Anyway, while I was gearing up for baseball all weekend, there was a lot of Badgers news. So let's get right to it:

Marcus Landry (No. 31 in the picture above, with Illinois' coach Bruce Weber) scored 14 points Friday in the college all-stars game in Detroit.
The UW football team's game at Hawaii was officially scheduled for Sat., Dec. 5 and will be aired on either ESPN or ESPN2. There had been talk about the game being played on Fri., Dec. 4 depending on TV schedules. The kickoff time will be announced at a later date.
Here's a cool video from UWBadgers.com. Last week defensive coordinator Dave Doeren wore a microphone during practice and was followed with a camera.
Last week we took a look at the status of the high-profile UW head coaches. The same day, Andy Baggot (Wisconsin State Journal) had this take on whether or not UW women's head coach Lisa Stone should be replaced.
Former UW soccer player Aaron Hohlbein scored his first MLS goal Sunday as his Kansas City Wizards beat San Jose 2-0. You can see the goal here.
Eight NFL teams sent scouts to watch DeAndre Levy's solo workout in Madison last week. Levy missed the NFL Combine, which is why he was hosting the workout. Jonathan Casillas was supposed to participate but could not because of a hamstring injury.

OLB, DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin

Jeremy Bolander — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:52:21 -0000

OLB, DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin

At A Glance
Position 1: Outside Linebacker	Height: 6-2
Position 2:	Weight: 236
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 6th	40time: 4.56

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 19	Vertical: X
20yd Split: X	Broad Jump: 9'11"
10yd Split: X	20yd Shuttle: X
3 Cone Drill: X

Pros: Very physical at the line, takes on fullbacks in the hole or tight ends on the edge to allow other players to make the tackle. ... Uses above-average arm length to effectively wrap up and form tackle in the open field.

Cons: A bit stiff in the hips, works best in a straight line. ... Backpedal is tall and choppy. ... Not explosive closing on the ball.

Styg's Broncos Fit: Smart defensive leader, Levy makes up for his lack of speed and playmaking with a steady, physical presence on the outside. A sure tackler inside and in the open field, he doesn't show the hips or feet needed to be a consistent option in coverage. And despite his downhill effectiveness, he too often doesn't show the explosiveness needed to properly engage and shed blocks. He needs to work on his handwork, explosiveness and ability to rush as a 9-technique, but he could be a solid special-teams addition for his ability to break down and wrap up, and his willingness to play within his scheme.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From "East-West Shrine Game Rosters" at Arrowhead Pride:

DeAndre Levy: Wisconsin (6-3, 228) Projection: 6th round

An athletic sideline-to-sideline backer that chases the ball well in pursuit. Showcases good re-direction skills and coverage, but lacks consistent power inside the box.

Highlights:

Badger highlights, Look for #11:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Displays impressive quickness and closing on the outside. Runs well for a strongside linebacker. Likes to mix it up at the line of scrimmage. Does a nice job chasing down the ball in pursuit and is a solid wrap-up tackler. Has good range in coverage and reads and reacts quickly to plays. Showcases sound instincts and always seems to be flowing toward the ball. An impressive open-field tackler. [see more...]
Scouts consider Levy a good second-day prospect at strong-side linebacker. The 2008 honorable mention All-Big Ten pick isn't a flashy playmaker (although he did have 193 tackles, 26.5 for loss and 14 sacks the past three years), but does all of the little things well. His speed is underrated, and that athleticism will endear him to teams come campus workout time. [see more...]

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!