SB Nation - Al Afalava

Upgrade/Downgrade - Safety

Jake Bertalotto — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:00:14 -0000

We continue in the secondary, where Al Afalava (36 career starts) ad Greg Laybourn (15) depart. The good news is that Suaesi Tuimaunei has made strides to replace Afalava at free safety, and Lance Mitchell looks like the guy to replace Laybourn, who led OSU in tackles last season with 113.

Last Year:

Al Afalava

#9 / Safety / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 212

Year: graduated

Greg Laybourn

#44 / Safety / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 5-10

Weight: 208

Year: graduated

This Year:

Suaesi Tuimaunei

#28 / Safety / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 208

Year: junior

Lance Mitchell

#10 / Safety / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-2

Weight: 205

Year: sophomore

Other safeties who could be in the mix: Josh LaGrone, Cameron Collins, and Anthony Watkins.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

Poll

Will Tuimaunei/ Mitchell be an upgrade or downgrade from Afalava/Laybourn at safety?

Upgrade

8 votes

Downgrade

26 votes

About the Same

16 votes

50 votes | Poll has closed

Upgrade/Downgrade - Cornerbacks

Jake Bertalotto — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:13 -0000

We continue today by moving into the secondary, where Mark Banker and Keith Heyward have some big shoes to fill. At safety, which we will discuss tomorrow, Al Afalava and Greg Laybourn are gone. At cornerback, it's Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, two players who had a combined 90 starts at Oregon State-- 43 for Hughes and 47 for Lewis.

Tim Clark, who started six games last season, shouldn't have many problems filling in the everyday starter role as a senior. He got plenty of time last season, and just needs to tune up his skills in fall camp in order to avoid some of the mental lapses in coverage that we saw last season.

The other cornerback position looks to be occupied by James Dockery, but Brandon Hardin and Patrick Henderson may also compete for a starting job. Dockery returns from injury for his junior season, and needs to continue improve if he wants to avoid being "picked on" by Pac-10 quarterbacks.

The Beavers last ran into a similar situation in 2005, when the secondary was decimated by graduation. The circumstances won't be as dire in 2009, but Banker will have to replace some starters who have been hoarding the playing time (for good reason) for the past three or four years.

Last Year:

Brandon Hughes

#36 / Cornerback / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 178

Year: senior

Keenan Lewis

#6 / Cornerback / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 196

Year: senior

This Year:

Tim Clark

#21 / Cornerback / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170

Year: senior

James Dockery

#4 / Safety / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 175

Year: junior

Vote! And because this one should be rather easy and one-sided, I would like to hear your thoughts on the new roleplayers in the secondary.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

Poll

Will Clark/Dockery be an upgrade or downgrade from Lewis/Hughes when it's all said and done?

Upgrade

9 votes

Downgrade

70 votes

About the same

20 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

The Bears Den - 5/5/09

ChiFan13 — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:00:13 -0000

....where we can't tell who we dislike more: Jason McKie or Rashied Davis.

In The Den

Chicago Sun-Times

Looks like Jerry and Lovie are worried about Brett Favre going to the Vikings.

D.J. Moore and Al Afalava had good minicamps and added to the muddled safety positions.

At this point, Afalava will miss most of the OTA's due to the NFL's school rule.

Mike Brown is still without a job and Lovie seems happy with who he has at both safety spots.

Brad Biggs thinks that the confidence that Lovie has for Graham in the safety spot actually shows confidence in Vasher.

Guess what? Don't expect Will Ta'ufo'ou to unseat Jason McKie. Sounds like the coaching staff is happy with McKie.

Chicago Tribune

Steve Rosenbloom is really excited about the Favre-to-Minny rumor.

Daily Herald

Bob LeGere thinks that Marcus Freeman was a big steal for the Bears. He also thinks that he's a traditional Will backer but will see more action at the Sam this year.

Ball State P Chris Miller is hoping to get an invite to Bears training camp.

Official Chicago Bears Website

Formers Bears Steve McMichael and Ken Margerum will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Are you going to be at the Bears Expo? If so, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Orlando Pace, and Greg Olsen will be doing a Q&A session.

Meet Your 2009 Chicago Bears Draft Picks!

ChiFan13 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:23:10 -0000

Here are your 2009 NFL Draft picks!

Round	Pick	Overall	Name	Position	School
3	4	68	Jarron Gilbert	DT	San Jose State
3	35	99	Juaquin Iglesias	WR	Oklahoma
4	5	105	Henry Melton	DE	Texas
4	19	119	D.J. Moore	CB	Vanderbilt
5	4	140	Johnny Knox	WR	Abilene Christian
5	18	154	Marcus Freeman	OLB	Ohio State
6	17	190	Al Afalava	S	Oregon State
7	37	246	Lance Louis	TE	San Diego State
7	42	251	Derek Kinder	WR	Pittsburgh

Let's run down our new prospects. All videos are courtesy of CloudyFuture.

Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose State
Height: 6'5" ¼ Weight: 288 lbs.

Combine: 4.87 (40); 28 reps (bench); 35 ½" (vertical); 9-11 (broad); 7.70 (cones); 4.56 (shuttle)

Breakdown (Fantasy Football Toolbox):

Gilbert gained fame when he made the now famous YouTube video in which he showed his athleticism by jumping out of the shallow section of a swimming pool in just one motion. He was very productive in college and was the Western Athletic Conference's co-defensive player of the year after registering 22 tackles for loss with 9.5 sacks.

Gilbert was the most impressive player at the San Jose State Pro Day. He ran a 4.76 40, which was faster than the 5.00 scouts projected. He has a good size/weight ratio and is very athletic and always in motion. Quick in and out of his stand, Gilbert is very flexible (can play inside or outside). He has good range and moves well in the second level.

However, Gilbert lacks mental toughness. He is still very raw and just needs more experience. He played most of his career as a defensive tackle, but has gotten by with pure athleticism against lesser opponents. His level of competition is a legitimate concern. Despite speed and agility, Gilbert moves awkward laterally. He also does not slide fluidly and tends to lose focus on inside plays.

Gilbert is a physical phenomenon; Big, strong and now, fast. The Spartan senior put up a show at the 2009 East-West Shrine Game. He followed his impressive showing with an even better one at the NFL Combine. Gilbert is a good third round pick who could pan out in the long run.

Video: Video 1; Video 2

San Jose State fan's take (BaronVonCurrentEvents): Anyway, Gilbert is a hell of a pick for the Bears. I was hoping he'd last until the 49ers' pick in the third round because he'd be excellent for their needs. He's extremely athletic and fast and has great size. San Jose State's defense was their strongest suit last season and Gilbert was the anchor of the D. He's used to the 4-3, so he should fit in just fine. Since he was a round 1 or 2 talent, you guys should consider this at least a minor steal. Keep in mind I'm a bit biased because I go to San Jose State, but I'm so proud of my guys getting drafted. With Gilbert and CB Christopher Owens going to Atlanta in the third round, my crappy school already has two guys drafted.

WCG's Take: I know it surprised a lot of people and I think most of us have come to terms with this and are ok with it. The Bears reportedly had a player they thought they could get at 49, but the Raiders picked him 2 in front of us, so we traded out. We then pick up one of the top guys left on Day 2.

Angelo traded for Cutler and he got him two new receivers later, so at this spot he stuck to Bears football. Last year we could not get to the QB and we could not stop the run without using our linebackers. We brought in Rod Marinelli to coach up our D-line and now Lovie is going to call the defense. Angelo got those two a player they can work with and fit into the game where needed.

I don't know how he projects to the pros or what he will become, but despite the need at other positions, I like the pick.

ChiFan13's Take: There is no doubt about Gilbert's athleticism. Regardless of where the Bears are going to play him, he offers some versatility. If injuries occur at either DE or DT, we will be able to plug Gilbert in. I expect him to play at DT, but the versatility is the key to me. Like every other third round prospect, he's going to need some coaching. Do not expect him to walk into camp and have a starting spot ready for him. Let Marinelli work his magic; I promise it will pay it off sooner rather than later.

Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
Height: 6'0"7/8 Weight: 210 lbs.

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2005	19	290	15.3	34	2	1	9	9.0	9	0	0	0
2006	41	514	12.5	37	2	2	6	3.0	4	0	0	0
2007	68	907	13.3	51	5	8	87	10.9	41	1	0	0
2008	74	1150	15.5	48	10	1	7	7.0	7	0	0	0

Combine: 4.54 (40); 34 ½" (vertical); 9-8 (broad); 4.40 (shuttle)

ChiFan13's Breakdown:

Pros: Great route-runner....no character issues....great vision after the catch....appears to take pride in his blocking....will not go down after the first hit....will go across the middle....above-average awareness along the sideline.

Cons: More quick than fast; will not be a deep threat....has some past fumbling issues....separation from corners at NFL level is a question mark.

Video: Video 1; Video 2; Video 3

Crimson and Cream Machine's Take (courtesy of Matt): Juaquin Iglesias led the Sooners last season in both receptions (74) and receiving yards (1,150) and was second in yards per reception (15.5) and touchdowns (10). He's got very good game speed and great hands. Playing in the shadow of Malcolm Kelly for three of his four years at Oklahoma we had seen glimpses of Iglesias' potential but in '08 he had his breakout year by becoming Sam Bradford's go to receiver.

Standing at an even 6-0 he most likely won't have the size to play on the outside but can be very dangerous from the slot and has proven that he only needs a little space to secure the ball.

WCG's Take: This is one of my favorite picks of our draft. I'm still reeling with all this talk about the Bears being on the phone with AZ about Boldin and not wanting to give up whatever else the Cards wanted, but I like this pick. In the SBN mock draft, I was considering Iglesias with our 2nd round pick. To get him with the 2nd 3rd round pick is value.

The thing I like the most about him is he has good hands. We have enough issues with dropped passes. A few years back we had Moose, Hester has some issues, Davis got nicknamed based on his bad hands. The rumors that the Bears would take Massaquoi scared me. No way should we take anybody with questionable hands. Iglesias isn't a burner, but he doesn't need that. We have Hester. We need a possession guy and I think this could fill it.

ChiFan13's Take: "Iglesias is one of those players who you root for. He's a high-character individual who does a lot of little things right. The problem with drafting Iglesias is how he'll fit on an NFL team. He won't outrun anyone, which leaves him as a #4. If has a good 40 at the combine, his stock will dramatically rise."

That's what I wrote prior to the combine. I am thrilled with this pick. As WCG said, he's not a burner. He will not be a #1 or #2 WR. What he does do is run good routes and has great hands. He will be able to come into the Bears and help us immediately, which is something that Sir Jay desperately needs.

Henry Melton, DE, Texas
Height: 6'3" Weight: 280 lbs.

40 time: 4.79

Breakdown (SI):

POSITIVES: Relatively athletic defensive end with adequate size/speed numbers. Moves well on his feet, plays with balance, and fluid making plays in all directions of the field. Keeps his pads low to the ground, stays within his pass rush angles, and quickly gets into the backfield to disrupt the action. Works his hands throughout the play, and rarely off his feet.

NEGATIVES: Lacks top first-step quickness. Does not show a burst of speed. Raw at the position, and does too much thinking rather than playmaking.

ANALYSIS: After bouncing around as a reserve early in his Texas career, Melton may have finally found a home at defensive end. He possesses the build for a two-gap lineman, yet he is a developmental prospect who needs a lot of work on his overall game.

Video: Video 1

Burnt Orange Nation's take (courtesy of PB):

Melton didn't have the benefit of a redshirt year, playing right away at running back for Texas. Incredible speed for such a big body, but he wasn't cut for the tailback position (rushing instincts weren't great) and was moved to defensive end prior to his junior season. He was overshadowed by Brian Orakpo (#13 pick to Redskins) but played exceptionally well his senior year, garnering some all-conference mentions.

Chicago's getting a guy with tremendous physical tools whose played just two years at his position. He's the definition of high upside. A potential steal.

WCG's Take: I have to admit I know next to nothing on this guy, but I like the position. It is never a bad idea to draft either side of the line. One more guy for Marinelli. Ogunleye has never lived up to his value. Mark Anderson is still a mystery. Alex Brown is the only guy we have that we know is a baller at that spot.

ChiFan13's Take: I like this pick for all the reasons PB mentioned. Do I think he was a bit of a reach? Yeah, but Jerry must have really wanted him. Melton is a guy who I compare to Danieal Manning in terms of being moved around throughout his career. Originally, he came to Texas as a RB. When Jamaal Charles started dominating, Melton was relegated to a spelling role. He was moved to DE his junior year and did fairly well. Is he a little raw? Yes. However, he's a physical specimen and I never heard anything negative about his coachability. Marinelli will work his magic and hopefully we'll have a mainstay DE.

D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Height: 5'9" Weight: 192 lbs.

Combine: 4.56 (40); 17 reps (bench); 39.5" (vertical); 9-10 (broad); 7.02 (cones); 4.28 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Good upper body build for his size. Very quick to support the run or attack quick screens and passes in the flat. Quick reactions and instincts make him a natural in zone. Not contact shy, so receivers will expect to get hit on shorter routes. Sits on routes and closes very quickly to make quarterbacks pay if they birddog. Looks like he knows routes as well as the receiver does. Very good straight-line speed and will chase his teammates' receivers downfield. Tries to knock the ball out after securing the tackle. As a slot receiver, Moore has the strength to get off the line, elusiveness in the open field, reliable hands to adjust to poor throws and an ability to track the ball over either shoulder. Extremely quick feet on routes, accelerating past defenders. Uses those receiver skills after interceptions.

Negatives: Barely adequate height for a corner. Thin legs. Not asked to press much. Lack of size could make bringing down bigger and quicker NFL receivers tough when closing fast. Can be dominated by good blocking receivers. A bit slow to react when receiver stutters and heads up the field. May not have the recovery speed to catch up to quicker NFL receivers using fakes or double moves, and his aggressive style could also cost him in this regard. Doesn't always secure the ball or make good decisions on punt returns while trying to do too much.

Video: Video 1; Video 2; Video 3

WCG's Take: Another great value pick. I've seen him projected to go as high as the second. Is he a better pick than Sean Smith or Rashad Johnson? He is ranked higher than Smith on nfldraftcountdown. He is a shade under 5'9", but he has a nose for the ball and I think that fits very well with what we do on defense.

ChiFan13's Take: Moore's going to need some coaching. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If he can be properly taught, I think this could be a borderline steal. He fell hard down draft boards after mediocre performances at the combine and his pro day, but I think he's a great pickup for us. If anything, he offers some depth.

Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian
Height: 6'0" Weight: 185 lbs.

Combine: 4.34 (40); 35" (vertical); 10-2 (broad); 6.81 (cones); 4.15 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Adequate height with wiry upper body strength and good muscle definition in his arms. Not your typical slight small-school receiver. Good initial quickness off the snap to get into his route. Reliable hands; snatches the ball and adjusts to poor throws. Gets up to high-point and secure the catch. Sinks his hips and displays quick feet going into and out of routes. Has good vision and is elusive running in the open field. Works hard to block downfield, and will sustain and even dominate against smaller corners. Experienced as a punt returner.

Negatives: Thin through the hips and legs. Gets a lot of his yardage after short routes, screens and swing passes. Lacks elite speed or quickness, but had enough to be special at the FCS level. Easily tripped up in the open field. Does not switch the ball to the outside hand. Despite his strong effort, he lacks the bulk and strength to be effective against NFL defenders. Dances and runs backward too much after the catch or on returns -- will not get away with that at the next level.

Video: Video 1

WCG's Take: Has very good speed. Should be an immediate help on special teams. Another guy with return skills. Really too small to be a big time NFL receiver, but with our inexperienced squad, who knows?

ChiFan13's Take: Knox is a quick guy who can be immediately used in ST and maybe as a slot WR. With that speed, I see him as a poor man's (and smokeless) Percy Harvin. However, I realize that Knox is very raw and will need some coaching before he sees the field, at least on offense.

Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6'0" Weight: 239 lbs.

Combine: 4.74 (40); 30 reps (bench); 37" (vertical); 9-5 (broad); 6.98 (cones); 4.12 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: A bit shorter than scouts would like, but a well-built athlete with room for additional mass. ... Instinctive defender who flows to the ball quickly. ... Athletic enough to elude blockers and make plays at or near the line of scrimmage. ... Reliable open-field tackler. ... Breaks down well and can drive the ballcarrier into the ground. ... Good awareness and speed in coverage. ... Gets good depth on his drops. ... Reads the quarterback's eyes and closes quickly. ... Excellent special teams player. ... Tough and plays through pain. ... Solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

Negatives: A bit smaller than scouts would like. ... Likes to avoid blockers rather than facing them up and struggles in disengaging. ... Lacks the bulk to hold up when targeted in the running game. ... Athletic in coverage, but seems content to allow the reception to be made and make a secure tackle, rather than breaking on the ball. ... Has struggled with durability: torn knee ligaments and a subsequent staph infection forced him to redshirt the 2005 season. Had his knee scoped following the 2007 season for a possible torn meniscus. Struggled through the 2008 season with a recurring ankle sprain.

Video: Video 1

We Will Always Have Tempe's Take (courtesy of Sam): In many ways, I consider Marcus Freeman a superior pro prospect to his former teammate James Laurinaitis. The Bears got a late round steal with this guy. Freeman is faster than Laurinaitis, he defeats blocks far better, and has the quickness and toughness to bring down any back for minimal yardage. He lacks, however, in football smarts at times; he has been known to bite on play-action on occasion, and can overpursue and get himself out of position to make the play. He just overthinks a little often, and I think that's why he dropped as he did. Nonetheless, Freeman is a pure athlete, and with the right coaching, he could develop into a lethal run stuffer for the Bears. He has all the tools one could ask for.

WCG's Take: Another good pick. Nfldraftcountdown has him as a 2nd or 3rd rounder. The strong side is obviously one spot we haven't nailed down yet. Freeman has very good speed. He has the range and ability to cover a lot of space. Special teamer to start, but may have a shot at starting at some point.

ChiFan13's Take: Hey, I will never complain about getting great value out of a prospect. Freeman looks to have a lot of the tools to succeed. Again, it's not a sexy pick, but it's a necessary one. Freeman will help us on ST right away, and I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually displaces Hunter Hillenmeyer or Nick Roach, whoever the Sam backer ends up being.

Al Afalava, S, Oregon State
Height: 5'11" Weight: 213 lbs.

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Good build for the position. Instinctive defender who reads the quarterback's eyes well and breaks on the ball. Very quick to read run and come up in support. Physical hitter who can be an intimidating presence over the middle. Reliable open-field tackler. Willing to take on blocks to make the play. Durable performer with experience at strong and free safety.

Negatives: May lack the speed and agility for NFL coverage. Makes most of his plays coming downhill and isn't the same playmaker with his back to the quarterback. Questionable deep speed. Lacks the hip flexibility to turn and run with receivers one on one. Rarely tested deep in this defense due to Oregon State's good pass rush and veteran press corners - both of whom will be drafted this April. Character red flag: Suspended for the first game of 2008 after he crashed his car into an empty bus shelter and left the scene on foot. Reached plea agreement to reduce original DUI, hit-and-run charges.

Video: Video 1

WCG's Take: Again my one issue is we needed a safety. However, is this guy worth passing up Johnson or Clemons?

ChiFan13's Take: I have problems with this pick. I actually have huge problems with this pick. Afalava is a SS and we need a FS. Second, he was just recently arrested on a DUI charge. I know that Henry Melton did the same, but Melton did it during college and has stayed clean since. Afalava ran into a shelter and then ran. I don't like people who do that. Regardless, he'll be a good ST player and decent depth in our secondary.

Lance Louis, TE, San Diego State
Height: 6'3" Weight: 300 lbs.

Breakdown (source):

Positives: Gets out and pulls well. Athletic. Quick feet.

Negatives: Needs work on angles and keeping his anchor. A project who may intrigue a team. Will probably need a year or two on a practice squad and NFL weight training.

WCG's Take: Coming soon

ChiFan13's Take: Y'all said it. We have Kellen Davis and a host of other people who can block. This was my big "duh" pick of the draft.

Derek Kinder, WR, Pittsburgh
Height: 6'1" Weight: 210 lbs.

Breakdown (SI):

POSITIVES: Nice-sized receiver who struggled making his way back from injury last year. Consistently looks the ball into his hands, makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception, and not afraid to get vertical in a crowd for the catch. Possesses strong hands and pulls the fastball from the air. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, effectively using his frame to shield away opponents.

NEGATIVES: Marginally productive last season. Inconsistent as a blocker. Lacks the speed to get downfield separation.

ANALYSIS: Kinder possesses NFL size and displayed a lot of skill in the past. His game took a step back last year, and he must return to prior playing form for any chance to make a roster this summer.

Video: Video 1; Video 2

WCG's Take: Coming soon

ChiFan13's Take: I like this pick. We took a risk on a guy who was injured with an ACL injury. He has nice size and decent speed. If he doesn't work out, we didn't really lose anything.

Poll

What grade are you giving Jerry Angelo?

A

271 votes

B

703 votes

C

252 votes

D

44 votes

F

24 votes

Grading drafts before they've stepped on the field is useless.

264 votes

1558 votes | Poll has closed

Chicago Bears Draft Update

Adam T — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:00:45 -0000

With the Cutler deal over most it is a bit harder to project what and where the Bears will go with their 2nd round pick (#49 overall). Most think that wide reciever is a must, but what if all the guys worth this pick are off the board? Do they go safety, defensive line?

Here is a look at known or expected visits and workouts .

Friday - Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma

Pre-draft visits

Al Afalava, Safety, Oregon State
ADDED APRIL 4 Aaron Brown, Running back, TCU
Jason Chery, Wide receiver, Louisiana-Lafayette
Maurice Crum Jr., Linebacker, Notre Dame
Derek Kinder, Wide receiver, Pitt
T.J. Lang, Offensive lineman, Eastern Michigan
ADDED APRIL 4 Ellis Lankster, Cornerback, West Virginia
Henry Melton, Defensive end, Texas
Brandon Myers, Tight end, Iowa
Rich Ohrnberger, Guard, Penn State
Anthony Scirrotto, Safety, Penn State
Jamaal Westerman, Defensive end, Rutgers
Nathan Williams, Linebacker, Murray State

Private workouts

Russell Allen, Linebacker, San Diego State
Eben Britton, Offensive tackle, Arizona
Kenny Britt, Wide receiver, Rutgers
John Gill, Defensive tackle, Northwestern
~~Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide receiver, Maryland~~ canceled
ADDED APRIL 4 Juaquin Iglesias, Wide receiver, Oklahoma
Phil Loadholt, Offensive tackle, Oklahoma
Lance Louis, Guard, San Diego State
Sherrod Martin, Safety, Troy
Mohamed Massaquoi, Wide receiver, Georgia
Michael Mitchell, Safety, Ohio
Hakeem Nicks, Wide receiver, North Carolina
Richard Quinn, Tight end, North Carolina
Mike Wallace, Wide receiver, Ole Miss*

Get together (we're not sure if these will be visits or private workouts)

Todd Boeckman, Quarterback, Ohio State*
Brian Robiskie, Wide receiver, Ohio State

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.

What the Hekker? Initial thoughts on OSU's 3-0 Sun Bowl victory

Jake Bertalotto — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:08:27 -0000

In what resembled a MLB game, or a bad hockey game, or a soccer game, or a 2nd grade youth basketball game, the Beavers beat Pittsburgh 3-0 in the 75th Brut Sun Bowl.

The last time Oregon State won 3-0 was against USC in 1967.

The Trojans came to town with O.J. Simpson, with everyone assuming that the Beavers would just be another featherweight in the path of USC claiming the national championship and going undefeated.

In that game, it all boiled down to a second-quarter field goal by Oregon State kicker Mike Haggard. Of his three attempts, a 30-yarder with 5:18 left before halftime was the only one he made.

In the 2008 Sun Bowl, Justin Kahut (now pronounced kay-HUT, by the way) made a field goal with 2:18 left in the first half.

The similarities between the two games are quite interesting.

"The whole game I didn't think that field goal would hold up," then-OSU coach Dee Andros said of the 1967 game in an interview with The Oregonian years later. "The conditions didn't bother O.J. a bit, and it was just a well-played defensive game by both teams."

Oregon State won the Sun Bowl due in a large part to their defense, which held LeSean McCoy to 78 yards on 24 carries in the game.

My schedule didn't allow for me to watch the game live, so I had to resort to watching the game off of my DVR several hours later. I will now spew out my thoughts stream-of-consciousness style, so I apologize in advance for poor grammar and anything that is unclear.

Offense: Coming into the game, we knew we would have to rely heavily on the passing game. Without Jacquizz being effective, the Beavers offense isn't the same. I had an inking that it could turn into a game where we throw the ball 50+ times, but after I watched Lyle throw his first pass of the game not even close to intended receiver Ryan McCants, I knew we were in for a long game.

I didn't think Lyle played particular well, but I know the wind was a large factor. There were a number of passes in which our receivers were wide open and had to make diving catches, negating yards after the catch, but Lyle has been doing that in almost every game this season.

We really needed our running backs to step up, and I thought they did fairly well. Nothing spectacular, but I don't think we expected a tremendous performance from either McCants or Francis. Like Lyle's incompletion that I was talking about above, another bad omen that came at the beginning of the game was McCants' fumble on his first carry. All in all, 99 yards between McCants and Francis isn't bad. This game was clearly a defensive battle, and Pitt's defense played well. That being said, Oregon State misfired a bunch-- twice, the Beavers took the ball inside Pitt's ten yard line and came away with no points.

Defense: The defense clearly won this game for us. Coming into the game, I thought that it would be very difficult to hold Pittsburgh to zero points. I seemed to think that Pitt would score several touchdowns even if we played great defense, and our offense would have to score to win the game. However, it worked the opposite way, and Oregon State won by keeping Pittsburgh out of the end zone.

Our defensive line was outstanding. Victor Butler, Slade Norris, and Stephen Paea all did a great job of leading the defense in dominating Pitt's offensive line all game. And when Pittsburgh did try to throw the ball, OSU's secondary stepped up. Pitt QB Bill Stull only completed (correction... 7) of 24 passes for 52 yards, and when he got hurt, backup QB Pat Bostick completed two passes for 37 yards. Both of Bostick's completions came on the final Pitt drive when the Panthers needed to get into field goal position to attempt a field goal to tie.

Thinking back on the game, I can only remember one time that Al Afalava was involved on a tackle. The box score indicates that he had one solo tackle and one assisted tackle, but I can only remember him tackling LeSean McCoy late in the game. Really, it seemed like our front seven just stuffed Pitt's rushing attack to the point that the secondary didn't have to make many tackles.

Special Teams: The game wouldn't have gone the same way it did without the performance of the defense, but our special teams were outstanding as well. For Hekker to punt the ball ten times and average 45 yards is phenomenal, especially considering where he was at the beginning of the season. And he was drilling kicks into the wind. Punting wasn't a liability today, it was an asset.

We can't end this conversation without talking about Kahut, who made the eventual game-winning kick in the second quarter. And also, kudos goes to Taylor Kavanaugh, who got the snap down after bobbling the football. Even if Kahut did kick the laces, it showed how disciplined the Perry-Kavanaugh-Kahut combination is.

Anything else I forgot? Chime in below.

GO BEAVERS!

(Sorry buthol, "What the Hekker" was too good to pass on.)

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

A look over the defensive numbers

Jake Bertalotto — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:57:26 -0000

The defense was the true MVP of last night and held Arizona to just a shade under 300 yards, a full 113 yards under their season average. As well as holding them to roughly half their average point total--Arizona scored as many points in the 1st half last week as they did last night in the whole game. Here's a look at the leading tacklers:

Player	Total	Solo	TFL	Sacks
Greg Laybourn	11	8	1.5/ 2
Keaton Kristick	8	7
Bryant Cornell	6	6
Al Afalava	6	5
Slade Norris	6	2	2.5/ 9	0.5
Keenan Lewis	5	5
Victor Butler	5	3	2/ 10	1.5/ 9
Dwight Roberson	5	1
Christopher, Booth	2	2
13 players with	1

Some notes:

It seems fitting that the two players who were assigned to Gronkowski the most--Kristick and Laybourn-- led the team in tackles. Now, there were times when Gronkowski seemed to have our defense beat but couldn't reel in the catch, but I thought that Keaton and Greg did a great job of bullying big Rob all night long. On his touchdown catch, Kristick barely made contact as Rob was coming off the line of scrimmage (he might have had a different assignment, not sure), but it allowed Rob to run to the corner, catching the pass over Keenan Lewis (if memory serves). I'll take three catches for 50 yards from one of the Pac-10's best receiving tight ends. Remember-- he had 12 catches for 143 yards last week at Autzen.
Cornell had 5 tackles very early into the game, and his effectiveness in stopping the run seemed to have a tangible cause-and-effect relationship with Arizona's playcalling.
Victor Strong Butler threw down Willie Tuitama for a sack near the end of the first half when the Wildcats were inside the Beaver 5 yard line. That goal line stand isn't being talked about much today, but it was huge for the Beavers to keep Antolin and Co. out of the end zone on that drive, and force them to settle only for a field goal.
On a similar note... The Wildcats had been averaging 22.1 points in the first half this season, and the Beavers held them to just a field goal.
Before their touchdown in the 2nd half, it had been 3 seasons since Arizona had scored an offensive touchdown against Oregon State.
Great job by the defense to stick with it on Arizona's last possession. It definitely seemed deflating when Willie Tuitama ran for 10 yards on 3rd and 8 with the clock around three minutes (that's when I changed my shirt), but the defense rallied to stop Antolin three times (nice play calling, UA).

I'm sure there's lots more than this to add. If you've got a comment about the defense, the thread is all yours.

GO BEAVERS!

Malicious Internet Interrogation with Building The Dam

BSD — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:30:06 -0000

Jake, from SBNation's fine Oregon State blog, Building the Dam, was kind enough to sit down with BSD and answer a few questions for us this week. Enjoy.

Ok, so last year Oregon State had the toughest run defense in the nation averaging just 70 yards rushing allowed per game. Last week they gave up 210 yards to Stanford, and 147 of those yards were by a guy coming off of major knee surgery wearing a knee brace. Was this just a fluke, or are Beaver fans concerned this could be a problem that plagues them all season?

Well, the cliche answer to this question is that we had to replace our entire defensive front seven. However, we feel like this year's group has more overall speed, and has the potential to be just as good as last years' group. We didn't see that from them last game, so we're hoping they needed a game to acclimate and develop as a cohesive unit. We'll have safety Al Afalava back this game, which whill help

How much will the return of safety Al Afalava improve the defense this weekend?

Having him back could loosen up the defense. Our new linebackers will likely take more risks if they know that one of the conference's best safeties is behind them. He's great in coverage and is one of the hardest hitters we've seen in awhile. I'm not sure if he's the answer to the defensive woes we experience last week, but he will definitely make an impact.

Last week your passing attempts were almost a 2:1 ratio versus the run attempts. The passing yardage was over four times the rushing yardage (404:86). Would you say that is the kind of split the OSU coaches shoot for or would they like to see a little more balance? And how will they go about achieving that balance?

Um, no. Oregon State takes pride in its running game, and the coaches would probably like to see us excel more on the ground. It's not our style to put up 400 yards in the air, but that's what happened at Stanford. We got a surprise performance from WR Shane Morales that was excellent, and gave us 150 yards that we usually don't have. Sammie Stroughter also had about 150 yards receiving, and the rest made up the final 100. On the ground, we just couldn't get anything going. Our O-Line really needs to step up against the Lions, because we need much better blocking both to help the rushing game, and to give Lyle more time to get the ball downfield-- an area I think the Beavers can really excel.

How do Beaver fans feel about their situation at quarterback? Lyle Meovao had 400 yards passing and three touchdowns, but he also gave up a few turnovers.

We're happy with Moevao-- he only had one noticible bad decision against Stanford, and that was an interception thrown to one of the conference's best safties. He's the best leader we have at the quarterback positions, and he makes good decisions for the most part. We're much more concerned with the offensive line and the running backs.

The Beavers have to fly across the country and ride a bus two hours up into the mountains to get to Penn State. They will have 107,000 fans intent on disrupting everything they try to do. There is a possibility the remnants of hurricane Hanna may be passing over Pennsylvania that day mixing driving rain with 30 mph winds. Can things get any worse for the Beavers?

If you think back to the last time the Beavers were in a situation like this-- 2004 at LSU-- you'll notice that the Beavs fared well despite the tough situation. The Beavers didn't pull of the win in that game, but it was much closer then all of us expected. There was also a rain storm before that game, and us Oregonians live for the rain. Weather shouldn't be a problem unless we're dealing with lots of heat (a la Stanford last week), although wind could make things interesting.

Thanks again to Jake from Building the Dam.