SB Nation - Fenuki Tupou

Eagles 2009 draft wrap-up

JasonB — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:22:32 -0000

8 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles draft picks wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, left, and running back LeSean McCoy Answers questions from reporters Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph, Jr.)

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The 2009 draft is over. While it is the centerpiece of the NFL offseason and a great event... by the time it does end you find yourself very much grateful to see it go. It's two long, long days.

- The Eagles draft pretty much started with the mega trade that sent their #28 overall pick and a 4th rounder to the Bills for pro bowl LT Jason Peters.

- The Eagles first actual draft pick came after they traded up 3 2 spots to grab WR Jeremy Maclin 6'1, 200lbs from Missouri.

- The Eagles shored up a need in the second round with the selection of 5'11, 210lb RB Lesean "Shady" McCoy from Pittsburgh.

- The Eagles then made a series of trades that saw them drop down in the 3rd round and then out of it in a trade with the Saints. They picked up an extra fifth rounder and a third rounder next year in the process.

- The Eagles would then make yet another trade, but this time they netted an actual player by sending two 5th round picks for New England Patriots CB Ellis Hobbs.

- The Eagles would make three picks from #153 to #159 in the fifth round, the first being 6'4 245lb TE Cornelius Ingram from Florida. ESPN's Todd McShay called Ingram the "best pick of the fifth round."

- The first defensive player selected came at #157 overall, 5'11 CB Victor "Macho" Harris from Virgina Tech.

- At #159 the Eagles grabbed 6-6, 330lb OT Fenuki Tupou from the Oregon Ducks.

- The Eagles then traded their 164th overall pick to the Saints for a seventh rounder this year and the Saints fifth rounder next year.

- With the 194th overall pick the Eagles took their fourth skill position player, 6-1 WR Brandon Gibson from Washington State.

- In the 7th round the Eagles would turn their attention back to the offensive line with the selection of OG Paul Fanaika from Arizona St.

- The Eagles final pick would also be the second defensive player taken, 223lb OLB Moises Fokou.

Oregon's 2009 NFL Draft Summary

dvieira — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:34:19 -0000

Congratulations to the following Ducks that have been selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Big ups to Nick Reed especially who conquered the odds and went in the 7th round, despite not having that typical NFL body. Sometimes having that motor helps and it will be good to see him remain local. I was also very surprised to have 3 Ducks go in the Top 50 of the draft. That's awesome and hasn't happened before. All of these teams should be competing for playoff spots next year as well. Great job guys!

-- Patrick Chung to New England: 2nd Round, 34th overall

-- Jairus Byrd to Buffalo: 2nd Round, 42nd overall

-- Max Unger to Seattle: 2nd Round, 49th overall

-- Fenuki Tupou to Philadelphia: 5th Round, 159th overall

-- Ra'Shon Harris to Pittsburgh: 6th Round, 205th overall

-- Nick Reed to Seattle: 7th Round, 247th overall

Poll

Which Duck will have the biggest impact on the field next year in the NFL?

Patrick Chung

237 votes

Jairus Byrd

58 votes

Max Unger

206 votes

Fenuki Tupou

9 votes

Ra'Shon Harris

2 votes

Nick Reed

41 votes

553 votes | Poll has closed

With the 159th overall pick the Eagles select OT Fenuki Tupou

JasonB — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:13:34 -0000

With the 23rd pick in the fifth round the Eagles select OT Fenuki Tupou from Oregon.

Mocking the Draft scouting report

6'6, 330 pounds | Oregon | Offensive tackle

Strengths: An incredibly large offensive linemen. Weight equally spread throughout his frame. Keeps a good base. Does a good job on pulls moving laterally and attacking a moving target. Solid quickness off the snap. Generally doesn’t get beat immediately. Good drive blocker. Plays like a guard. Seals off opponents when he can stay in line.

Weaknesses: Due to Oregon’s system of rolling out on passes, Tupou’s pass blocking probably looks better than it really is. Inconsistent in keeping his feet on the ground. Will pick up and step instead of shuffling. Adept cut blocker. Struggles to pick up blitzes, particularly to the inside. Tupou is packed with strength and power, but he doesn’t seem to always utilize it correctly. Instead of mauling opponents, he lets them control him. Doesn’t sustain his blocks very long. Appears to be in below-average condition. Nearly gave up football in high school when his team struggled. Struggles at times with blitz awareness. Only played two seasons of big-league college football after attending a community college.

Final word: Due to his play in 2007 spring practice, Oregon coaches pushed Max Unger to center to get Tupou into the lineup at left tackle. He played every game since with good results. Tupou is a large tackle who can handle the physical punishment at the line of scrimmage. However, he did play is a wide open spread offense and needs to work on the fundamentals. Likely a guard or right tackle. Will be a 24-year-old rookie.

Round projection: 4

And with the #59 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers Select...

Chris Thorman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:00:15 -0000

Oregon OL Fenuki Tupou

808NaNz808 with the pick...

This will be the Panthers first selection of the draft this year, they have few holes on their roster after a very impressive season. However the way I see it, Carolina's needs shake out as (from most to least important) DE(pending on where Julius Peppers plays next year), DT, RG, QB, than CB.

Julius Peppers may very well be a Panther next year seeing that he has signed a franchise tender, the Panthers would be more than happy to see Peppers return, and because Peppers is less than a year away from 30, and a year separated from a 2.5 sack campaign his trade market may be too low for the Panthers to give up their premier pass rusher.

Next up is DT. Carolina's biggest problem on the interior defensive line was in Maake Kemoeatu's lackluster performances. However, Sen'Derrick Marks, the next highest rated player at this junction is too small, and didn't impress with both his combine and pro day results; he ranked near last amongst D-linemen in the 40, didn't bench at the combine, and only benched the 225 sixteen times. Which is good for last amongst Defensive linemen at the combine, heck that's good for fourth to last among running backs at the combine. Plus Carolina will hope to see Sammie Lee Hill drop to them in the third.

The Panther's next need is at RG. There wasn't a distinguished starter at RG all season in 2008, as an eight game starting streak escaped every player to man the position. In a deep offensive line class the Panthers are in position to draft a late first round talent toward the end of the second In Fenuki Tupou. Tupou may be just what the Panthers need at this point, he has all the right tools to play every position on the line and this may prove vital to the Panthers who are looking at a 29 year old Jordan Gross in 2009. With Tupou's versatility, Chris Williams is free to man the right end of the line with Tupou in the guard position next to him until Gross retires. When Gross does retire Williams can slide to LT, Tupou is kicked out to RT and Carolina finds bookends for a very long time. The Carolina O-Line outside of the RG position gave up 10.5 sacks (5 by Chris Williams) Tupou may be the missing link on this line, and for a team with so little holes they find a great BPA that fits a position of need.

Round 1 is here.

Previous pick: DL Jarron Gilbert

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock: New York Giants (ChiefsFan90s)

Click over for the schedule and current draft results.

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

Poll

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

11 votes

No

14 votes

Indifferent

10 votes

35 votes | Poll has closed

NFL Draft 2009: It's a Big Man's Game

briandean — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:08:50 -0000

When trying to really get down to it and get in the mind of Scot McCloughan, there's one underlying phrase that continues to come up, "It's a big man's game." It might have been one of the first things I ever heard him say as personnel man of the 49ers. He brings it up again every offseason. McCloughan has continuously practiced what he preaches through both free agency and the draft.

"The one thing about the NFL that is not going to change is, it's a big man's game. Over a 16-game schedule, the bigger team, the more physical team is going to pan out most of the time, especially in the cold-weather games."

-Scot McCloughan, 2006

"The “big back” would be someone who, if Frank were to get hurt, could come in and carry the load for two, four or six weeks. I don’t see a smaller back being that type of guy. We’re going to be a good team this year because we’re able to establish the run and come downhill between the tackles. With a smaller back, that is tough to do, especially for a longer period of time. We always look for good football players and that’s what we’ll continue to do, but you have to understand that this is a big man’s game. The big backs are going to survive in this league."

-Scot McCloughan, 2009

It's not that McCloughan has completely avoided assets like speed, as we've seen with players such as Vernon Davis, Manny Lawson, Patrick Willis, Josh Morgan, and Nate Clements. Size, however, did acompany speed in those cases. On the other hand, Kentwan Balmer, Chilo Rachal, Reggie Smith, Michael Lewis, Justin Smith and Tully Banta-Cain were never considered among the best athletes at their positions. What the later group did posses is, you guessed it, size. When Scot McCloughan must spend resources on a player, you can bet he'll err on the side of the big man.

Off the top of my head it's hard to come up many names drafted during the McCloughan era who did not matchup closely with the positional size prototype. Frank Gore was short, but certainly not undersized with his powerful frame. Brandon Williams, a 3rd round wide reciever out of Wisconsin in 2006, was listed as 5-11, 183. And there's my list. Yet I spent hours last April wondering how the 49ers could pass on DeSean Jackson, not once, but twice in favor of big uglies. I won't make that mistake again.

So, that should narrow down the shopping list a bit. You can throw away that mock with Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin penciled in. Who does that leave us with?

Big Man Mock Draft:
1. BJ Raji, DT (6-1, 337) ... Andre Smith, OT (6-4, 332) or Brian Orakpo, OLB (6-3, 263)
2. Sean Smith, CB (6-4, 214) ... Ron Brace, DT (6-3, 330) or Phil Loadholt, OT (6-8, 332)
3. Ramses Barden, WR (6-6, 229) ... Andre Brown, RB (6-0, 224) or Rashad Jennings, RB (6-1, 231)
4. Fenuki Tupou, OT (6-6, 314) ... Jasper Brinkley, MLB (6-2, 252) or Sebastian Vollmer, OT (6-8, 312)
5. Matt Shaughnessy, OLB (6-5, 266) ... Patrick Turner, WR (6-5, 223) or Jason Watkins, OT (6-6, 318)
6. Arian Foster, RB (6-1, 226) ... Alex Boone, OT (6-7, 328) or Javarris Williams, RB (5-10, 223)
7. Jamarko Simmons, WR (6-2, 231) ... Gartrell Johnson, RB (5-10, 219) or Marko Mitchell, WR (6-4, 218)

And that doesn't even include the future 1st rounder traded away to get Kansas State QB Josh Freeman (6-6, 248).

Poll

What do you think of Scot McCloughan's "big man" strategy?

Love it. We must physically dominate the opposition.

43 votes

Enough already. We need explosive playmakers, regardless of size.

66 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

Ranking the NFL Draft's offensive tackle prospects

Brian Galliford — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:00:11 -0000

Alabama's Smith has highest ceiling at OT (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, we here at Buffalo Rumblings will continue interviewing bloggers and consulting outside sources in putting together detailed scouting reports on some of the Draft's most noteworthy prospects - concentrating, of course, on prospects that could pique the interest of the Buffalo Bills. This post continues a series in which I'll rank prospects at each position; ultimately, this project will roll itself into the "Buffalo Rumblings Big Board", which is exactly what it sounds like - the same type of big board NFL teams keep handy on draft day.

We've already ranked the tight ends, linebackers, interior offensive linemen and defensive ends. Full rankings of those positions, as well as all positions, will be made available prior to the draft, which is about two and a half weeks away. What follows is a ranking of the draft's best offensive tackle prospects - an area that is not currently a big need area for the Bills, but very well could be by draft day if the team is serious about trading LT Jason Peters.

FIRST ROUND PROSPECTS
1. Michael Oher, Mississippi: He has seen his draft stock slide over the past couple of months after a so-so senior campaign and pedestrian off-season workouts. Those issues have been compounded by questions about his motor, which reportedly runs hot and cold. Looking past those issues, however, Oher is the most well-rounded tackle available this year. He's big with long arms, highly athletic and equally talented as a pass blocker and a run blocker. Questionable technique and motivational issues can be addressed by a competent coaching staff. Coupled with his guard experience, Oher is one of the "safe" picks at tackle, and he makes a lot of sense for the Bills schematically as well.

2. Andre Smith, Alabama: Smith is this year's Jason Peters - he's short by tackle standards, is huge with dominant potential in the run game, and has documented character issues (though, to be fair, Peters' issues did not appear until he was already a pro). In terms of raw potential, Smith takes the cake at this position by a country mile. If an NFL team is satisfied that his strange behavior at the Combine is an aberration as opposed to the start of a trend, Smith is going to make said franchise very happy.

3. Eugene Monroe, Virginia: If you're looking for the tackle prospect that's least likely to let you down, Monroe is your man. He may not have the highest ceiling of these prospects, but he does have the highest floor. That's not to say Monroe isn't talented, though - he comes from a school in Virginia that routinely pumps out quality NFL linemen, and his footwork is the best in the draft class. But he'll never be a dominant tackle - he'll be the dependable, steady type that gets the job done but doesn't transcend scheme or instantly improve an offense. Safe? Sure. But that doesn't make him the best.

4. Jason Smith, Baylor: Back in January, I laughed when I saw Smith projected to the Jaguars at No. 8 overall. Now he's potentially the top overall pick in the draft - and I can't fathom it. That's not to say that Smith isn't a good (and potentially great) player - he's a tremendous athlete with a killer work ethic, and he plays the game the right way. But he's still highly one-dimensional as a blocker and has some work to do getting stronger and becoming a better run blocker. I think Smith is starting-caliber as a rookie. But there's no way I place him higher than this on the list of OT prospects.

5. Eben Britton, Arizona: Set aside the notion that Britton is solely a right tackle prospect. He deals with his average athleticism and range very well - he's a smart, sound blocker with good footwork, solid hand punch and knows how to finish. He's never going to blow anyone away, because he's not as physically gifted as many of the tackle prospects in this draft class. He's also got short arms, and yes, he'll need a bit of polish before he can play the left side in the NFL. But he's the type of tackle that will get the job done and be completely underrated throughout his entire, likely lengthy NFL career.

These are obviously the big names. There are five more tackle prospects, however, that warrant early-round consideration, and some might even be able to contribute as rookies. Those names appear after the jump.

SECOND ROUND PROSPECTS
6. William Beatty, Connecticut: Outside of the top four names on the board, Beatty is the best pure left tackle prospect remaining in this class. He's huge, has a great frame, and was blessed with tremendous athletic prowess. He needs a lot of work, though, in the strength and polish departments. He'll never be a dominant run blocker. He'll need some time to develop, and it'd be risky to ask him to start as a rookie, but in terms of upside, Beatty ranks closely with some of the bigger names on the list.

7. Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma: If you're a fan of gigantic, road-grading right tackles that are capable of making defenders look like rag dolls on run plays, Loadholt is your man. Just don't expect much more than that out of him. He's not terribly light on his feet, and he's simply not athletic enough to consider playing on the left side of the line. It will take the right situation, but Loadholt could start right out of the gate at right tackle for a team that loves to run the football. He's not a perfect fit for every franchise, and I'd include the Bills in that latter category.

THIRD ROUND PROSPECTS
8. Troy Kropog, Tulane: I consider Kropog to be one of the two or three best pass blockers in this tackle crop. He's got great agility and a good frame for keeping the pocket clean, and he certainly got a lot of practice in pass pro coming from Tulane. He's not a candidate to start as a rookie, however, because he stands a good chance at being overwhelmed on running plays. He needs to do a lot of work to strengthen his core and become a more physical blocker; he's far too one-dimensional at this point. There is upside, but he'll need some time to develop before tossing him into the starting lineup.

9. Fenuki Tupou, Oregon: Tupou is the reason that top center prospect Max Unger played center in the first place - Tupou displaced Unger at left tackle. He's big, physical, and a solid finisher, but he's limited athletically and struggles in space. He's a far better run blocker than pass protector, though he's not necessarily a liability in the latter department. There isn't a lot of upside with Tupou, and truth be told, he's a far more comfortable fit on the right side, or perhaps even at guard. I like his versatility and his run-blocking prowess, but I don't think Tupou is a great fit for Buffalo's blocking scheme. He'll surprise some folks, though - I think he can start for a power running team right out of the gate.

10. Jamon Meredith, South Carolina: Meredith's stock has soared during pre-draft workouts, as he's put up some very solid numbers athletically, including one of the faster 40 times for offensive linemen. Like Kropog, though - yet perhaps to a lesser extent - Meredith needs some work in the strength room before he can be considered an NFL starter. He also needs a serious amount of technique work, particularly when it comes to using his hands. He's another early-to-mid round left tackle prospect that some smart team will groom into a top-flight blind-side protector.

***

This is just my opinion, folks. These are the top ten tackles in the draft by my book. If you think I've made a grievous error in these rankings, let me know. If you think I've got some sort of hidden agenda, I'd love to hear about it. If you're itching to re-shuffle my rankings, let it rip. Consider this an open forum on 2009 NFL Draft offensive tackle prospects. Go.

Poll

Which first-round OT prospect do you prefer?

Michael Oher

117 votes

Andre Smith

120 votes

Eugene Monroe

81 votes

Jason Smith

60 votes

Eben Britton

11 votes

389 votes | Poll has closed

Sunday Links and Notes: Selecting an OT late in the draft suggests the Bengals know scouting

Kirkendall — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:25:07 -0000

+ It wasn't that the Bleacher Report item about a Chad Johnson trade that surprised us -- it was the level of seriousness it which it was taken. Even for the split-second in which you thought to yourself that trading Johnson for running back Michael Bush and a second round pick made sense, you have to consider that BR isn't what we'd call credible. Joe Reedy reached out to Jack Brennan on Saturday and said "the team would not comment on speculative player moves" (aka, horse dung). One reader pointed out that Alan Cutler was even talking about how awesome Bush is. PFT reacted to it (not the trade, the actual report).

It's reports like these, from sites like this, that damages the rest of us. Many will call BR a blog, and therefore, when said blog lies about a report, it hurts places like CJ. I've held no illusions about it; we're a blog, a group of people reacting to our favorite NFL team. We don't publish news; we react and analyze it. Our end game isn't ratings, hits, or rankings. That will come if you put out a quality product. And I feel in the three years this site has been active, that we're at the top of our game.

Some would ask me, "why did you reference it?" It's simple. I believe in two things that define this site. Knowledge and Discussion. Since the BR didn't really fall under the guise of knowledge, it did prompt discussion -- primarily because Johnson is heavily favored by fans to be trading bait. This isn't Bengals related, so why are we talking about it? In truth, this is a minor introduction to the noobs about our motivations, putting a reason behind the name that's behind the site. This is what we're all about. Knowledge and discussion.

Moving on.

James Walker believes that the best fit for the Bengals in the first round is defensive tackle B.J. Raji, provided if Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Aaron Curry are already off the board. Walker has promoted Raji for some time now, consistently calling Michael Oher a reach and Andre Smith a risk. I firmly believe that the Bengals should go after an offensive tackle, but even I admit, talent can be found in all rounds of the NFL draft -- it's a matter of finding that talent with superior scouting, which with the Bengals, well, you know.

Other than the top four tackles in the draft, the Bengals have reportedly shown interest in one tackle that would likely be selected outside the top four prospects. Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou. Granted, there's a possibility that Cincinnati has more than five offensive tackles on their board, and we only hear about the most popular prospects. Still, based on what we know, if the Bengals don't select a tackle in the first round, then there's only one tackle (that we know of) they've shown considerable interest for.

+ Not to mention that the Bengals are his favorite team, while growing up in the area (played for Elder), Eric Wood is also viewed as being able to play guard in the NFL. This obviously helps the Bengals. Right guard Bobbie Williams is playing the final year under contract. If the Bengals don't draft a start-ready tackle and Levi Jones is let go, then Andrew Whitworth likely moves to left tackle (Anthony Collins on the right) developing an immediate need for left guard. No matter how you cut it, the Bengals are in a need for linemen.

Eric Wood said:

"It would mean a lot. Besides the fact that I'm a fan of the organization, I'm also a fan of Marvin Lewis and the job he has done."

The Matt Birk of Cincinnati?

The Rams offensive line can be effective without drafting an OT at #2

VanRam — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:29:57 -0000

Football Outsiders has their mock draft up now, and, as usual, they put some real thought into it, factoring in team management precedent as well as how they assess players. They've got the Lions taking OT Jason Smith and the Rams drafting LB Aaron Curry. Something the mock drafters said over there got me thinking about the Rams draft strategy, and the conventional wisdom that says they'll take an OT with the second overall pick. Barely a week ago, I was fixed on the Rams drafting an OT with their second overall pick, but in the last few days, well, I'm just not so sure anymore. Here's what the FO crew said that shed some new light on the debate of who the Rams should pick at #2:

We figure Smith over Eugene Monroe because of their nature; Monroe's more of a finished product, but he's a pass blocker first. The Lions are going to be building around an ability to run the football, for better or worse, and Smith's the better run blocker.

Assume Detroit takes Jason Smith first overall, which may or may not be a sure thing based on reports this week. That essentially mandates that the Rams choose between Monroe or Curry. But the Rams are also building around the running game, and for that, they may already have a LT that fits the need. Alex Barron, despite his trouble with snap counts, has proven to be an effective run blocker (and a decent enough pass protector), giving some credence to the notion of moving him to LT.

As for replacing Barron on the right side, the OTs most apt to be available with the Rams second round pick all seem to be natural fits at RT, or at least guys who would need to start their NFL careers on the right side, including players like Oklahoma's Phil Loadholt or UConn's William Beatty. They could even find a replacement RT in the later rounds among names like Kent State's Augustus Parrish or Oregon's Fenuki Tupou.

This probably isn't going to give the Rams an elite offensive line. However, it gives them a line for 2009 well-suited their new offensive philosophy and an offense that will feature Steven Jackson as its centerpiece. Beyond 2009, ideally, the rookie they draft to fill the RT spot is a guy sitting on some potential and the coaching staff can coax him into the LT role should Barron not work out, or they choose to part ways when his contract ends after next season. Of course, they could also draft an OT next year too to replace Barron...or free agent...whatever, the point is, they've got options.

Long story short, the Rams could have an effective o-line for an offense built around Steven Jackson and the running game - the Jason Brown signing certainly supports that - even if they choose not to draft an OT with their second overall pick. Echoing Taiko's cost/benefit analysis from yesterday, drafting Curry would most likely give the Rams the biggest impact while filling one of the team's biggest needs in the middle of their defense...without having to sacrifice anything by not drafting an OT with that pick.

NFL Draft 2009: All-Name Team

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OG: Augustus Parrish- Continuing the royalty theme.

C: A.Q. Shipley- As Quoted?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bengals reportedly have interest with Oregon Offensive Tackle Fenuki Tupou

Kirkendall — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:35:38 -0000

In the article that clearly was interesting, if not relieving, that the Bengals didn't interview Andre Smith, another offensive tackle is clearly high on the team's interest. Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou.

The 6-foot-5, 314-pound Tupou is best known for his toughness in the trenches, athleticism, versatility and work-ethic. He’s strong, knocked out 24 reps of 225lbs on the bench press, and is proven to be pretty fast and quick for a man his size. Tupou was a 300-pound option-quarterback in high school showing that he possesses some serious agility.

According to Tupou, he had a great interview with Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander. Tupou said that he would look good in tiger stripes.

Tupou’s cousin is USC prospect defensive tackle Fili Moala, who is coincidentally a cousin of Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.

Mocking the Draft rates Tupou as the seventh best offensive tackle in the draft, a fourth round projection, and notes his versatility, saying he's also a potential guard, calling him the 74th best player in the draft. This seems like another Anthony Collins like pick, which would address the team's offensive tackles. If he's projected in the fourth round, and the team reportedly having immense interest in, then the Bengals could be going after him allowing them to free up a defensive selection in the first round.

Poll

What would you rather do?

Draft Fenuki Tupou early on the second day, opening the first round again

52 votes

Draft an offensive tackle no matter what in the first round

27 votes

Draft an offensive tackle in the first AND Tupou

47 votes

126 votes | Poll has closed