SB Nation - Philip Loadholt

Vikings Fan Named Director of Fandemonium

Gonzo — Sat, 09 May 2009 05:53:45 -0000

We take a moment away from the Brett Favre saga to take a look at a guy whose loyalty is in no way, shape, or form in question.

If you think back to the draft a couple of weeks ago, you'll remember that about halfway through the second round, a guy rocking a Jim Kleinsasser jersey (North Dakota represent!) was allowed to stride to the podium and announce that the Beloved Purple had selected OT Phil Loadholt with their second-round selection.

Well, that man's name is Onyx Herrera (no relation to Anthony. . .as far as I know), and he was named Monster.com's Director of Fandemonium for this season. Mr. Herrera was selected from over 300,000 NFL fans that applied for the position. He was fortunate enough to not only be able to announce the Vikings' second round pick (which you can see again right here, in case you missed it the first time), but he also got to interview folks outside of Radio City Music Hall and generally just have a great time at the 2009 NFL Draft.

We at the Daily Norseman would like to offer our belated congratulations to Mr. Herrera, and we know that he'll represent not only Viking fans, but NFL fans in general in an outstanding manner

Quick Tidbits from Minnesota Vikings Mini-Camp

Gonzo — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:22:47 -0000

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP

7 months ago: Minnesota Vikings tackle Phil Loadholt, left, a second-round draft pick, goes through drills during the Vikings' minicamp Friday, May 1, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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Okay, so I'm not going to get to a story about that one guy today. But it's coming, don't you worry about that. For now, let's take a look at a couple of the stories coming from the Vikings' mini-camp that don't involve Percy Harvin not being there.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

-Phil Loadholt? He's apparently very large. "I see a good competition (at right tackle)," says Brad Childress. That's weird. . .I see Loadholt beating Ryan Cook like he stole something.
-Also, according to the link above:
--52 players participated in practice today, which seems like a lot
--Asher Allen, the Vikings' third-round selection, stayed late after practice to get some work in with DB coach Joe Woods.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

-The Vikings have invited Marcus Fitzgerald, younger brother of Larry, to camp on a tryout basis. Fitzgerald the Younger starred at Holy Angels in Minneapolis, much like his older brother did.
-Cole Konrad, a two-time heavyweight wrestling champion for the Golden Gophers, is trying out for the team. What position? Who knows. . .I just hope he works out a bit better than the last former Gopher with an NCAA wrestling pedigree (Brock Lesnar).

And, really, that's pretty much it. Most of the news that's out there on the Vikings at the moment involves hyperventilation over the non-news about Percy Harvin or that guy that was released by the Jets a few days ago. So that's all for this evening. . .join us again tomorrow, folks!

Playing the Numbers Game: New Vikings Get Their Numbers

Gonzo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:44:19 -0000

According to Access Vikings, the newest members of the team have all gotten their new numbers. Here they are. . .at least when I get that Harvin jersey in a few weeks, I'll know what number is on it.

Vikings' Draftees

Percy Harvin (WR, Florida) - #12

Phil Loadholt (OT, Oklahoma) - #71

Asher Allen (CB, Georgia) - #30

Jasper Brinkley (LB, South Carolina) - #54

Jamarca Sanford (S, Mississippi) - #33

Vikings' Undrafted Free Agents

Sean Glennon (QB, Virginia Tech) - #6

Nick Moore (WR, Toledo) - #14

Vinny Perretta (WR, Boise State) - #15

Kahlil Bell (RB, UCLA) - #36

Ian Johnson (RB, Boise State) - #42

Devon Hall (S, Utah State) - #44 (Chuck Foreman's number? Really?)

Robert Francois (LB, Boston College) - #57

Tremaine Johnson (DT, Louisiana State) - #67

Jon Cooper (C, Oklahoma) - #68

Bobby Lepori (OT, Fresno State) - #72

Andy Kemp (G, Wisconsin) - #78

Nick Walker (TE, Alabama) - #89

Antoine Holmes (DT, North Carolina State) - #97

The Sooners NFL Draft Recap

dishingoutdimes — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:38:53 -0000

More photos » by Jerry S. Mendoza - AP

Detroit Lions' tight end Brandon Pettigrew, left, safety Louis Delmas, center, of Western Michigan, and quarterback Matthew Stafford, of Georgia, sport looks of concern about being drafted by the Lions during a news conference at the Lions' headquarters on Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Allen Park, Mich. [I made that up]. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

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No Sooners are going to the 0-16 Detroit Lions, but it seems like the Minnesota Vikings have a thing for the Oklahoma Sooners. They drafted Adrian Peterson in 2007. They drafted Rufus Alexander last year. And now it appears they have two Sooners on their summer roster - Phil Loadholt and Jon Cooper. It should be noted that Brad Childress, Vikings head coach, visited Norman a couple of times personally. I had that in one of my notebooks, but I'm not going to dig it up now.

In any event here's how it breaks down:

Phil Loadholt: drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 22nd pick in the 2nd round, 54th pick overall.

Juaquin Iglesias: drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 3rd round with the 99th overall pick.

Nic Harris: drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 5th round with the 147th overall pick.

Duke Robinson: drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 5th round with the 163rd overall pick.

Manuel Johnson: drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 7th round with the 229th overall pick.

Jon Cooper: signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.

Brandon Walker: signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans.

Lendy Holmes: signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

Quentin Chaney: signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

So in total, 5 Sooners were drafted and 2 more were signed as free agents. Here's a good summary quote from soonersports.com:

Oklahoma continued several notable streaks in the 2009 NFL Draft. At least one Sooner was selected for the 47th consecutive Draft (1963-2009) and for the 41st time in the first seven rounds (1969-2009). For the 12th-straight year (1998-2009), a Sooner was selected in the first three rounds.

OU has supplied 339 players all-time in the NFL Draft (fourth-highest total of all schools). Despite its relative youth when compared with other coach staffs, the Sooner staff has done remarkably well at preparing players for the next level. This group of coaches can boast more than 66 players (41 drafted) who entered the NFL.

Personally, I'm shocked that Duke Robinson fell to the 5th round with his work ethic and talent level. He was often widely considered to be one of, if not our best, linemen.

I'm not really too surprised by anything else. Players still out there that might catch on with free agent contracts include Branndon Braxton and Mike Knall.

NFL Draft: No Huskers Drafted So Far - Clearly NFL Doesn't Understand "Value"

Cobby — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:02:26 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

Some beady-eyed dude with the Broncos wondered the same thing we are - where are the Huskers? Where are they? Dammit!!! (Either that or he just showed up and they're out of ham and cheese sandwiches already

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There were no Huskers taken on the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft. Clearly the NFL doesn't understand the work ethic and value of what it means to draft a Nebraska player.

The NFL does understand what it means to make no sense of anything.

Around the Big 12:

- Baylor had a lineman, Jason Smith, drafted at the #2 spot overall. You're wondering the same thing I am - what the hell was this guy doing at Baylor?

- Michael Crabtree went 10th overall to the 49ers. Al Davis proved once again that he's still living in the '70s and picked some guy no one's ever heard of ahead of Crabtree.

Who doesn't love Al Davis? He's still the same act, same show, year after year. He's dependable. Hell, he tells old men to get off his lawn.

- Texas' Brian Orakpo went to the Washington Redskins. I liked watching Orakpo play in college, at least as much as a Nebraska guy can enjoy watching a Texas guy (I know, I'll say three "Hail Mary's" for that one), and it's always a little sad when these guys come out of college and get sentenced to hell.

- Josh Freeman went at 17th to the Buccaneers. Nice pick, Tampa Bay. Josh can throw a ball real far. He's big. Suddenly he's worth millions. What's that you said about society and misplaced priorities? You may be right.

- Jeremy Maclin went after Freeman at 19th, to the Eagles. AFTER Freeman. And you thought utter stupidity was limited to Al Davis? Shame on you.

- Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State went to the Detroit Lions with the 20th pick. Brandon, I don't know you or your family, but my prayers are with you and yours.

- Evander Hood from Missouri went to the PIttsburgh Steelers. I don't have a joke here.

- Darcel McBath, Texas Tech, went to the Denver Broncos. I have nothing against Tech, nor Darren. At least I didn't before yesterday, but I can't stand the Denver Broncos. Maybe it's just Colorado in general. Yeah, that's it. Good luck, Darcel, I hope you suck.

- Phil Loadholt from Oklahom went to the Minnesota Vikings at #54. Blocking for his old teammate, Adrian Peterson. Good for Phil. Good for the Vikings. Now learn what it means to be a perennial disappointment.

Oh. Yeah, that's right, you probably already know what that is.

- William Moore went to the Atlanta Falcons at #55. Missouri had a good player in the defensive secondary? How could they tell that?

Where Gonzo Talks About the First Day of the NFL Draft

Gonzo — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:32:50 -0000

"I'm no football expert, but I know what I hate. . .and I don't hate this."
-C. Montgomery Burns, American entrepreneur (sort of)

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the first day of the NFL draft has come and gone in pretty much record time. The first round only lasted three hours and forty-two minutes, the fastest since the league went to 32 teams by a long shot. Our Beloved Purple did quite well for themselves, if you ask me. The Cleveland Browns were thwarted in their quest to acquire every pick in the sixth round of the draft, the Broncos had five selections in the first two rounds and somehow found a way to not take Rey Maualuga with any of them, and Al Davis. . .well, he's still Al Davis, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

In the interest of equal time, since we already had a story with a picture of Minnesota's first round pick in it, you'll see to your right a picture of Minnesota's second round draft pick, Oklahoma offensive tackle Philip Loadholt. As you can see, Loadholt is rather large, standing in at 6'8" and tipping the scales at 335 pounds. Most importantly, he has a very good chance of pushing Ryan Cook out of the starting lineup, which is something that I think we're all looking forward to. I know I am.

Drafting a tackle to play tackle. Crazy, isn't it?

So, yes, I love the Loadholt pick. I'm also coming around on the Percy Harvin pick, and will have something more extensive on it here shortly. What I have to say about it right now is that if Brad Childress went down to Gainesville this past week, had a heart-to-heart with Harvin, and decided he was worth the risk. . .well, then, he's be worth the risk. What I'm interested in is to see how the Vikings will utilize him in the context of their offense. You don't take a guy like a Percy Harvin without having some idea of how you'd like to use him. Yes, yes, I know he got busted for pot before the Combine. But, after the pick was made, a couple of things occurred to me. . .

1) The last wide receiver we drafted in the first round with "character issues" was that Moss fellow back in 1998. That seemed to work relatively well. I'd rather my receivers have "character issues" than "watching the ball bounce off your face mask rather than catching it" issues. (See also: Williamson, Troy)

2) Last season, we sent a first round selection and two third round selections to the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire a guy that, before that, was basically an alcoholic that had picked up two DUI convictions in the span of five months. That seems to be working okay thus far.

3) Harvin isn't the first guy in the history of NFL. . .or even *gasp* in college. . .that has smoked marijuana. He won't be the last. I don't like it, and I don't endorse it, but I'm not going to crucify him for it, either.

So, yes, all in all I think the Vikings have done well for themselves on Day One of the draft, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what transpires tomorrow. I'm also happy that Day Two has the more "traditional" draft start time of 9 AM Central rather than having to wait until 3 PM.

Some of my other observations from Day One of the 2009 Draft from around the league.

--If, at any point in my tenure as the head guy at this site, the words "Good job, Al Davis" or any variant thereof come across my keyboard, please have somebody track me down and just pummel me with a heavy, blunt object until I lose consciousness. I mean, seriously. . .it's not even the Heyward-Bey pick that kills me, although I personally think it was awful. They took a guy in Round Two. . .and, frankly, I can't even remember the guy's name. . .that Mel Kiper had rated as the seventy-third best safety in this year's draft. Really, it might have been the biggest reach in the history of the draft, and I can say that without exaggeration.

I'm going to hang out by my phone tomorrow, in case the Raiders would like to draft me at some point. I've been working out.

--As far as the NFC North, the two teams that did have Day One selections had some good and some bad. B.J. Raji was a good pick for the Packers at #9, and he should help ease their transition to the 3-4 defense. LB Clay Matthews, on the other hand? Doesn't worry or impress me in the least. I am glad, however, that the Packers had to give up as much as they did to get a guy that, frankly, isn't that good.

The Lions did a good job. . .as well they should have, what with three of the first 33 picks at their disposal. I can't believe that Matthew Stafford is going to get almost $42 million in guaranteed cash, but that's where we are in the NFL these days. (Rookie wage scale, anyone?) They also got the best tight end in the draft in Brandon Pettigrew. Their pick of Louis Delmas at the top of Round Two is a bit of a head-scratcher, particularly when they could have used an offensive lineman, but he was one of the top-rated safeties in the draft, so I suppose it could have been worse.

The Bears? No Day One picks. Makes the analysis very easy.

--I really don't know how Rey Maualuga not only went behind both his USC linebacker teammates, but fell out of the first round entirely. Maybe he was night putting with the daughter of the dean or something, I don't know. The Bengals got themselves a very nice steal at the top of the second round.

We'll have more observations from the draft tomorrow as the draft moves along. Until then, I hope you enjoyed the double-barrelled coverage that we had of Day One, and we'll be back for more fun and excitement tomorrow. Have a good one, ladies and gentlemen!

Phil Loadholt First Sooner Taken According To Todd McShay

dishingoutdimes — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:49:40 -0000

According to ESPN's Todd McShay, Phil Loadholt will be the first Sooner taken in tomorrow's NFL draft. Of course, it's a mock draft, which are in general, not all that accurate but still fun to complete and look at.

McShay has Loadholt going in Round 2. He also has Duke Robinson going in Round 3, Nic Harris and Juaquin Iglesias going in Round 5, and Lendy Holmes in Round 7.

Time to just relax and take it all in. I'd say at the very least the Sooners should have 4 players drafted (Loadholt, Robinson, Harris and Iglesias). I'm shocked that McShay has Robinson going in Round 3. That seems way too low, but I have Loadholt pegged about where he does.

Here's my thoughts:

Duke Robinson: anywhere from late first round to early third round, but most likely somewhere in the early 2nd.
Phil Loadholt: could jump up into the late first round but I suspect he'll go somewhere in the 2nd round.
Juaquin Iglesias: I think he could be high as late 3rd round, but most likely will go early in the 2nd day (4th or 5th round).
Nic Harris: his 40 time will hurt him. I think 5th or 6th round, most likely 6th.
Lendy Holmes: maybe late 6th, but most likely in the 7th or free agency.

Last Two Rumblings Authors Mock: MARVelous, poz

Brian Galliford — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, right, dives for a touchdown as Kansas State defender Justin McKinney, left, defends during the fourth quarter of a college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Pettigrew is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Browse more photos »

Ed. Note, by Brian Galliford: We know. You're as tired of mock drafts as we are. Eight editors here at Rumblings have provided you their pre-draft thoughts over the past five days; the last two on the schedule, MARVelous and poz, present you 2 this evening. What you see on the front page is a brief overview of their picks. Click on past the jump if you're looking for explanations for the picks - our two guys did a stellar job rationalizing their selections. And when you're done reading/commenting, breathe a sigh of relief - the mock draft season has come to a close. Tomorrow, the real thing begins. End Note

MARVelous	poz
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee	1-20: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
1-22: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State	1-28: Alex Mack, G/C, California
2-42: Max Unger, G/C, Oregon	2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, GA Tech
3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest	2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
4-117: Cody Brown, DE, Connecticut	3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin
5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame	5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, UNC
6-183: R. Allen, OG, Missouri Western	6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
7-220: Samuel Allen, T, Grand Valley St.	7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia

MARVelous explanation
This is my first and only mock draft, as Brian was courteous enough to give me a chance to proclaim my predictions on his super-awesome blog. I know everyone is "mocked-out" but I had to at least give this a whirl as to what I think the Bills will do and a scenario in which I think they get players to make "immediate" impact. In my mock draft I try to predict what the Bills will do, along with a sprinkling of my personal evaluations. The two trades below are predicators to my mock draft. Never has their been a year where the wait for the draft has run my life as much as this one as the eventful off-season for the Bills finalizes with this mega-event. The theme of my mock is physical, toughness, and productive collegiate players. Below I detail the one trade I make for Roscoe, albeit it seems unlikely he gets dealt at this point. Feel free to ridicule and "mock" my predictions below.

Jason Peters was traded. The Eagles gave us their lower first round pick (28) and their fourth round pick. Thank God this dilemma is now over.

I am also trading Roscoe Parrish. I wouldn't trade him if I were the Bills, but my instincts tell me he will be dealt as the Bills have so many holes right now, they need the arsenal of picks and also will need to make a deal with the devil that Leodis McKelvin does not get hurt. The Bills coaches are high on Steve Johnson and he should get the snaps on offense Roscoe would normally get. I have the Bills sending Parrish to the Cowboys, for the Cowboys 4th round pick, #117 overall. The
Cowboys need depth at WR and Roscoe will be a huge addition in the punt return game.

These trades give the Bills 10 picks with two first rounders and three fourths. It gives the Bills flexibility.

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. The growing sense is that OT will fly off the boards in the top 10 this Saturday. Brian says the most likely OT that the Bills would take is Andre Smith and I don't see him slipping past GB or SF. While Michael Oher,
Brian Orakpo and BJ Raji may be available at #11, I'm comfortable if the Bills select Mike Mayock's #1 rated defensive prospect. The need at DE is absurd, and the injection of youth at the position will greatly help out Buffalo's defense and may help get Chris Kelsay on a plane out of town for good.

1-22: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. The Falcons at #24 may be all over Pettigrew if he falls this far as well as the Ravens at #26, so I go to make sure I get my 2nd targeted prospect in Pettigrew. I have to give up 2 4th round picks to do it (#110, #121) but I think it's worth it to ensure we add the best TE in the draft. Pettigrew's run/pass blocking will aid big time in whoever fills in at LT, and his ability to develop as a pass-catcher as the season progresses is a huge upside. Bottom line is to win in the NFL you have to be able to score points consistently. Now, maybe Trent Edwards will prove to not be the guy to lead the Bills, but adding T.O. and Pettigrew will give him every opportunity to succeed and that's the least Dick Jauron can do with 2009 being a make or break season for him.

2-42: Max Unger, OL, Oregon. This 6'5", 309 lb OL is exactly what the Bills need to bolster their OL. Versatility & toughness are the two words we are hearing out of OBD about their next wave of OL. Unger played 2 years at LT and 2 years at Center. Mike Lombardi always states when you draft a guy, a question you have to ask is "if he doesn't work out the way we want, where else could he play." That's called value, and that's exactly what Unger gives Buffalo. He gives Buffalo more flexibility and that is a great thing for the coaching staff to have.

3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest. My infatuation with Chip Vaughn continues as I think the need on the back end is a necessity. With Scott/Whitner seemingly entrenched as starters in 2009, depth at this position is needed. Vaughn has a
"toughness" that is themed throughout my mock draft, and would be an ideal candidate at SS to replace Scott in 2010. Plus, Dick Jauron can't go past the 3rd round without taking a DB. Vaughn lacks ball skills, but his tenacity and willingness to run over opponents is a breath of fresh air.

4-117: Cody Brown, OLB, Conneticut. I can't see Elison start another season. Brown at the very least, could be a subpackage player in 2009 as he recorded 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for losses in 2008. He has the top end speed to get after the QB, something Buffalo's defense needs a boost for. At 6'2", 248 lbs, Brown has ideal size. Some will say he is better fitted for a 3-4 OLB, but I can see him lining up as the SAM. Most importantly, Brown is a leader, a player that has through his own hard work developed into a very productive player, and can contribute immediately for the Bills.

5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame. If Bruton falls to round 5, I like this run stuffing S. A guy who could immediately get after it on ST's, and could be a subpackage player as a run support. Extremely physical and has the toughness that I think would be a huge benefit to add to the mix on the back end. At 6'2", 209 he is a big physical specimen who produced 97 tackles last year as well as 2 FF's and 4 INT's.

6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western. Toughness, character, a leader. That sums up this small school prospect. Allen made 36 consecutive starts, and is a project for the Bills to start developing. First offensive lineman to receive MIAA freshman of the year honor. Earned first team All-MIAA honors during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.

7-220: Samuel Allen, OT, Grand Valley State. This small school prospect started 30 games at OT, has great quickness and athleticism and great room to grow into his 6'6" frame. This is an ideal project for the Bills and with this pick the Bills have re-stocked their OL projects.

Alright, let's hear it Bills Nation. I know many of you are not high on Ayers, but the DL cannot be ignored for another off-season. My philosophy was that our defense is in desperate need of a youthful injection of talent. I have no idea what the Bills plan to do at LT, but addin the versatility of Unger, gives me confidence that Sean Kugler has the flexibility to put together a unit that can work in 2009. The addition of Brown provides an extra piece for Perry Fewell to use in blitz packages. Most importantly we got 3 immediate impact players in Ayers, Pettigrew and Unger, and potential impact in Brown and Bruton if at least ST's. Plus I re-stocked the OL cabinet. So let's have at it... what do you think of MARVelous version 1.0?

poz explanation
This mock draft is predicated on a draft day trade which I fully expect to occur. After selecting their QB of the future the Detroit Lions will anxiously hope that Michael Oher will last until pick #20. Jim Schwartz after all, is a firm believer in winning by building in the trenches. Of course, when Andre Smith becomes the 3rd LT off the board to Cincinnati at number 6, images of the 2008 draft will swiftly come to Schwartz' mind. In 2008, Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Brandon Albert, Gosder Cherilus, and Jeff Otah all flew off the board at picks 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19, respectively. Five LT's in 7 picks before #20. Knowing that Buffalo covets many players who would be a reach at #11, Detroit picks up the phone and makes an offer that the Bills can't refuse and which really benefits both teams. Picks #20 and #33 for picks #11, #110, and #121. The Lions complete their offensive re-birth with Stafford, Oher and Calvin Johnson on board while picking up depth picks they desperately need and Buffalo gets the chance to plug as many starting position holes as possible. In the event of a Roscoe Parrish trade for a 4th or 5th (which I do not include in my mock), the exchange is relatively painless for Buffalo and Detroit.

1-20: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. With a rebuilding process along the offensive line, providing Trent Edwards with a complete set of weapons is more vital than ever and he needs a tight end. In addition, Pettigrew's fantastic blocking abilities, which are so good he has held his own against some of the defenders going off the board before him, are a much bigger plus then they were last week when we had Peters.

1-28: Alex Mack, C, California. By receiving pick 28 from the Eagles, monster running lanes creator Alex Mack has to have re-entered the discussion as a potential big time pick up. Mack is the late first round choice and will team up with Brad Butler and Geoff Hangartner to open serious running room for what is now by far the most talented backfield committee in the NFL in Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes.

2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. This year, defensive end is one of those positions that will go fast as only two true, play with their hands on the ground, non-OLB hybrid DEs who are considered 1st round prospects; Robert Ayers and Tyson Jackson. That makes guys like Paul Kruger and Johnson shoot up draft boards into the early second round. At 6'7, 230, Johnson excelled at the combine but still scares teams who think on film there is proof that he has never played up to his potential. With Buffalo in win now mode, they will take a risk an athletic specimen who recorded 17.5 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. Not only that, but a place like Buffalo, which has its top three defensive ends over the age of 30, is the perfect place for a guy like Johnson to finally reach his potential; surrounded by hard working, knowledgeable, and high motor veterans who will push him.

2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. With Chris Brown hinting the Bills are comfortable moving forward with Langston Walker at LT and Demetrius Bell at RT, Loadholt can come into Buffalo and provide healthy competition for Bell and Chambers at RT. Loadholt teamed up with Duke Robinson in Oklahoma to create a terrifyingly effective run blocking duo and a line of Walker, Mack, Hangartner, Butler, Loadholt and Pettigrew blocking for Lynch, Jackson and Rhodes immediately makes us one of the most intimidating rushing attacks in the league.

3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin. Even with the additions of Mack and Loadholt, Buffalo remains woefully thin at depth on the offensive line. Urbik will provide excellent depth as he learns to overcome some his deficiencies, mainly how to play lower to the ground. Urbik could back up at guard and right tackle if needed.

5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, North Carolina. My pick for the most underrated player in the draft, Goddard could probably be had later but more than a few scouts will recognize his talent and grab the undersized safety if Buffalo doesn't here. Despite his size he hits like a ton of bricks, grabbed 7 INTs last season, plays with a high motor, and has plenty of game time experience under his belt.

6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson. Good against the run, perfect size for the position and solid strength are countered by a penchant for not giving his all throughout games. He will need to be motivated, but if he can, there could be value here. Force Scott and McCargo to compete and see who is truly lazy.

7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia. Strong, athletic, a leader, tough. Unfortunately questions abound regarding missing tackles, speed, and technique. Will provide depth as he gets coached up to hopefully play at the next level.

There you have it. I'm sure it's obvious that my draft is offense heavy at the top but I do think that offensive line will be Buffalo's focal point this weekend. Keith Ellison and Bryan Scott have proven themselves to be the least of our concerns and capable of handling their duties if needed. Meanwhile our offensive line is in shambles. Hopefully, this draft takes care of that.

ROTB Community Mock Draft: With the 54th Overall Pick, the Minnesota Vikings Select...

Hawkwind — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:46:03 -0000

Phil Loadholt (OT), Oklahoma

6'8", 330

The left side of the Vikings OL is as good as it gets with the combination of Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie. The team lost the anchor of the line when Matt Birk left for Baltimore, but feel that John Sullivan can step in at center and produce. That leaves the right side of the line, which was below average last year. With that in mind, the Vikings select 6'8", 330 pound, OT Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma. Loadholt is as big as they come and has some agility to go with his size. There are some character concerns and penalties have been an issue in the past, but if he can produce anywhere near his ceiling the Vikings should improve an already dominating running game.

Positives: Loadholt is a massive offensive tackle with devastating size and long arms. He's a dominating in-line drive blocker who looks intimidate his opponents. He's strong, physical and has decent athleticism and quickness given his size. He has decent mobility and a nasty demeanor to finish off blocks.

Negatives: As with almost any tackle of his size, Loadholt struggles with speed rushers and can get beaten off the snap. His massive size also makes him hard for him to recover once a defender initially beats him. He also needs to improve his technique because he too often relied on his size to engulf defenders. Some scouts suggest that he should move inside to guard while others say that his height would be a liability on the inside.

Many thanks to jallred350 for submitting this pick. The Falcons and Cardsfan08 are now on the clock (email pick to revengeofthebirds@gmail.com) with the Dolphins and CardsIrish on deck. If anyone needs to refresh their memory on the second round draft order, check here.

Also guys, we're in draft 'crunch time' right now with ten picks to cover in the next two days so we're going to be hitting these fast and furious. Please, send a list of three players who you'd like to draft as your pick approaches so that we can stay ahead of the action and knock these picks out quickly.

April 21st Sooner Sports Notebook - T.J. Taylor Commitment Edition

dishingoutdimes — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:38:05 -0000

It's Blake Griffin Day in Oklahoma City, so I hope you're all enjoying yourselves!

It's certainly a good year for Sooner athletes. Blake Griffin swept the postseason player awards in college basketball. Sam Bradford took home the most prestigious award in college football - the Heisman Trophy. Add to that all of the records that Courtney Paris set in women's basketball, in addition to carrying them to the Final Four.

Speaking of Blake, it's certain he'll be drafted into the NBA, but for his brother Taylor it's much less certain. The Tulsa World did a nice piece on the pro prospects for Taylor. Interesting that if the whole NBA or European basketball thing doesn't work out, he could always go play ball in Korea. Here's a quote from Taylor:

“I haven’t heard a lot from NBA teams,” Taylor said. “But I’ve heard a lot of positive stuff overseas. I’ve pretty much got an offer from Korea.

"I know there are a lot of teams in Japan that like me. I’ve heard there are a lot of teams in Europe that like me. Korea and Japan traditionally offer better money, but from what I hear it’s not as competitive."

Staying with the men's basketball team, they added their first 2010 commitment today in 6'3" combo guard T.J. Taylor. Taylor is from Denison, Texas and chose OU over Arizona State and Marquette. For what it's worth, he averaged 26 points per game last season in high school. OU still has a scholarship to give for the 2009 class. No word on whether that will be used yet, but if it does it may go to a JUCO transfer.

Quotable

“I see myself playing the role of a playmaker,” [T.J.]Taylor told Rivals. “I can score when I need to, and I also like to pass the basketball.”

In The News

Rose Hammond and Jenny Vining, both guards, will transfer from the OU women's basketball team. It appears as though they are both looking for more playing time. I don't blame them necessarily given the rise of Danielle Robinson and Whitney Hand this year. Best of luck to them whereever they decide to go.
OU Freshman Will Claye was named Big 12 athlete of the week (Track & Field). Congratulations to him.
OU's baseball team looks to rebound from a weekend sweep in Austin when they face the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday.
Apparently Phil Loadholt's draft stock is rising. The NFL Draft is this weekend.
Trent Williams checks in at #14 on Tim Griffin's list of the top 40 best players in the Big 12.
OU Athletics has a new policy regarding athletes' facebook and myspace pages. Probably not a bad idea.
Here's a great article from the Oklahoman about how Sooner stars don't necessarily have that success translate to the NFL.
The Oklahoma State student newspaper has an article up about their defensive prowess in the spring game. Worried yet?
The Killeen Daily Herald does an interview with Juaquin Iglesias in preparation for the NFL Draft. Also in preparation for the NFL Draft, the Oklahoman catches up with Reggie Smith and Allen Patrick. I knew that Smith was with the 49ers, but I didn't know Patrick had gone to the Browns.
USC has named sophomore Aaron Corp as the starting quarterback through the summer. Tough luck for Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain, who appears to be buried at #3 on the depth chart.
The Mountain West Conference continues its BCS crusade.

Secondhand Reports & Rumors

Saying this is a popular internet rumor would be an understatement, but apparently a lot of people are saying that Chris Fowler and Lee Corso are going to be replaced on College Gameday. But wait, as with some rumors, this could turn out to be completely false. See this link (includes a mention of an email from ESPN).
It seems as though Jeff Capel has been trying to fire up Ray Willis by talking about how it would be nice to see him make a good jump next year. Here's to hoping Ray can be a productive guard and help round out some depth behind Warren and Tommy Mason-Griffin.
The street by Putnam City North High School has been renamed "Sam Bradford Drive".
Remember Robert Marve? If not, he is the Miami quarterback who decided to transfer after this past season. Apparently he's looking at both Nebraska and Texas Tech, and both schools are in his top 5.