SB Nation - Clay Matthews

USC News and Notes 10/7

Paragon SC — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:37 -0000

I will be out today and tomorrow traveling on business so posting will probably be light so here is some news, notes and links from the past day or so...

Help is on the way...RoJo and Mondo should be back for the ND Game and that will be big deal on offense as we get a deep threat.

Injured USC wide out Ronald Johnson and defensive end Armond Armstead will return to practice Tuesday afternoon and Trojan coach Pete Carroll is hopeful both will be able to play at Notre Dame October 17.

"We’re thinking that way," Carroll said Tuesday morning. "But we’re kind of wishful thinking around here."

Johnson, perhaps the Trojans’ top deep threat, suffered a broken collarbone in practice in late August. Johnson had 33 receptions for 570 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Those are some big numbers that the offense needs this season.

- - -

Scott Wolf offers his take on Saturday's win.

This was easily the least interesting matchup in the Carroll-Jeff Tedford rivalry. And it reinforced the idea that while the series is usually entertaining, it is also lopsided. Carroll is now 7-1 against Tedford, and it's been six years since the Bears' highly discussed 34-31 triple overtime victory.

"We were zero dimensional today, because we couldn't run it and we couldn't throw it," Tedford said. "They are that much better than us if we don't execute and we don't throw and catch the football."
USC (4-1, 2-1) should have won by an even bigger margin, but the offense settled for three field goals because of errant Matt Barkley passes near the end zone. But as the Trojans' offense slowly progresses each week, it allows USC to improve because the defense is consistently shutting down the opposition.

"We love the guys (on defense last year) that left, but the guys that are here are playing great," Carroll said. "We are very solid right now."

He is right...for all of the hype early in the season about Cal this game was a stinker. I am sure that some will say the same thing about SC's loss to UW but SC has more than proven their worth nationally...Cal? Not so much.

- - -

Here is Pat Haden on the Dan Patrick show...

PH on DP

This is a good interview from the USC great!

- - -

Interesting take...Pete Carroll offers his thoughts on Taylor Mays running down Jahvid Best

What struck me most about Carroll’s comments: He wanted Cal to get the ball to Best in a situation like that. Seriously. Call it professional curiosity.

"I don’t think there’s anybody (else) that could have made that play against Jahvid," Carroll said. "I was hoping they were going to pitch it and call it, just to see what would happen. It was really a cool play to see. And when they did it was a race – it was as classic a mano a mano situation as you could get."

No question we will miss him when he heads up to the NFL.

Also...

- - -

Taylor Mays picks up some more accolades

From Ted Miller's blog...

USC safety Taylor Mays was named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week as well as Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week.

Good time to pause for a moment and appreciate Mays, who led the Trojans with 10 tackles and an interception in their 30-3 drubbing of California.

But first a quiz.

How many touchdown passes has USC allowed this year?

Answer: Zero.

[...]

It's going to be a lot of fun to watch Mays against Notre Dame and quarterback Jimmy Clausen on Oct. 17. With 12 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 68 percent completion percentage, Clausen leads the nation in passing efficiency, while Mays and the Trojans rank third in pass efficiency defense.

But back to Mays against Cal. The play that stuck out to me was not his interception in the endzone.

It was when he chased down Jahvid Best, one of the fastest players in college football, on a third-and-short play in the second quarter.

It wasn't just the speed, though. It was Mays' recognition and reaction. You get the feeling that when Best looked up and threw an abortive stiff-arm he was thinking, "What the heck are you doing here?"

Man, if we had Mays against UW we win that game no question!

- - -

Buster Sports ranks the Pac-10 coaches.

This is an interesting take...

7. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA (Previous 3) The Bruins are taking on the persona Neuheisel had at Washington during the early years, which is, never count them out. What’s missing, though, is Marques Tuiasosopo at quarterback. Stock: neutral.

I still think it is early yet but the play calling was a bit peculiar against Stanford, the defense did not look prepared and the penalties sure didn't show a very disciplined team. The question is how will they look when he has all his players after Norm Chow is gone?

- - -

Check out the video of Clay Matthews last night against Minnesota

Clay rips the ball out!

- - -

I hope to have something tomorrow but I am not counting on it...If not I will back at it on Friday!

Roll On: Xs and Os of the Trojans & How California Can Beat USC

Avinash — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:29:57 -0000

More photos » by Don Ryan - AP

This could be Jeff Tedford's biggest game since 2004. Will his California Golden Bears roll on or step down?

Browse more photos »

Don't forget to RSVP to the CGB tailgate!

Now that you're thoroughly pumped up, it's time to get to know the enemy on the field. To get us prepared for the technical side of the Cal-USC game, we talked with the West Coast version of Smart Football, Trojan Football Analysis. In addition we'll look at last year's 2008 game (with help from ieeebear) and see what has changed and what we might look out for on Saturday. My notes are in parentheses.

1. Could you explain the basic concepts of USC’s simple but effective offense? Have you seen any variation between the way Sarkisian and current OC John Morton have designed their game plans?

Let’s start with the running game which is somewhat simpler to explain. Since 2002 the USC rushing offense has increasingly relied upon the inside zone (IZ) and outside zone (OZ) stretch plays for 70-80% of its rush attack. Other plays include standard one and two back power plays, toss sweep, and a few lead isolation or draw type plays. The inside zone attack is a downhill in the play side A & B gaps (or offer cutback opportunities on the backside) with linemen executing blocks according to "covered" vs. "uncovered" rules. USC can run inside zone leaving the backside defensive end unblocked like a lot of option teams do. However since the USC QB is not a threat to run usually they instead utilize a fullback or H-back across on the play to secure the back side. This motion importantly also ties into the passing game as well since those same two players often leak out into the passing game thus putting the DE into a bind….Should he try and run down the IZ play from behind, pressure the QB if it is a pass, or disrupt the FB or HB leaking out into the flats?

(Author's Note: One of the biggest things we should look at is how the Cal linebackers perform in run defense. Although the D-linemen did their job in stopping the run for much of the first half last week, they will have a much tougher go against a veteran Trojan offensive line. If USC's running back platoon of McKnight, Bradford and Gable can get to the second level the linebackers have to be ready to make quick open tackles. Put the Trojans in 2nd and 3rd and short situations and it opens up the playbook for Barkley and Bates.)

USC Inside zone runs vs Cal 2008: Background music--Day 'N' Nite, Kid Cudi.

(After the jump, more on USC's running game, their pass plays, their defense, and how to attack each part of the team.)

The outside zone game is a more perimeter oriented play attacking the play side C & D gaps. The run two plays complement one another. Running the inside zone with success eventually pulls defenders a couple of feet closer to the center of the play. This in turn opens up a little more space on the perimeter plays. The outside zone concept is basically to stretch out the defensive line and linebackers horizontal to the line of scrimmage and create bigger running gaps. If the LB’s in particular over pursue on the play the back can often cut up on the play and head more north – south. Otherwise they press the zone outside the tackle / tight end area and try to make it to the perimeter for a few yards.

(Author's Note: Again see how many yards USC picks up on these carries: having the luxury of backs and an offensive line that can put up 5-9 yards on 1st and 2nd down makes it way easier for the Trojans to catch the defense off guard with the passing game via play-action. More on the passing after the jump, but it's safe to say that California cannot allow this type of offensive production through the game.)

USC Outside zone runs vs Cal 2008: Background Music--My Squad, Chief Kamachi and the Ju Ju Mob.

Stopping at least one of these plays is key to stopping the USC offense. Ohio State for example shut down the outside zone game with an unusual alignment, fast LB flow on the play and disciplined reads.

The basic USC offense philosophy in reality has not changed all that much the past few years despite the changes in coordinators. Success of course has varied depending upon the personnel and execution. So far in 2009 USC has been pretty conservative the first four games of the season with new quarterbacks in the back field. There has been a lot more use so far of 12 personnel packages and Twin / Pro Wing Single Back alignments. Chris Brown did a pretty thorough job on the USC passing game on Yahoo! Rivals a while back, and I’d suggest that readers go to that piece as a starting point on the passing game. USC employs a mix of 3 step quick game concepts (slant flat, double slants, curl flat, etc.), 5 step intermediate stuff (Smash routes, 4 Verticals, etc.), drop back play action, and then roll out plays off the IZ/OZ run action to confuse the defense. The USC vs. Cal game in 2008 shows some of the quick game concepts as well.

2) I’m not sure how much you watched of the Cal-Oregon tape, but Jeremiah Masoli played a precise quick-hitting game that negated the Cal pass rush and broke down the holes in a porous zone using bubble screens and short passes to the outside flats. It worked almost to perfection, and disastrously for Cal’s defense.

Interestingly, this passing game plan was very similar to what Mark Sanchez did last season, although USC made a note of establishing the run first and then mixing up the play calling, while Oregon primarily opened up the pass before devastating the Bears with the run. Based on the things you’ve seen from Matt Barkley and from previous seasons, what do you see the Trojans doing in order to break down Cal’s defense?

In some respects I don’t think USC coaches will be too influenced by the Oregon contest. It has to be thrown out as somewhat of an aberration. Also USC does not run Oregon’s spread option attack so it is pretty hard to emulate. USC will run its normal offense plus whatever wrinkles they want to work in for Cal. USC will balance its attack in terms of run and pass. Last season the coaches seemed really concerned about throwing deep versus Cal and its secondary which ranked #3 in the country with 24 interceptions. As a result Sanchez seemed to rarely throw deep in that game. The same might happen in this game unless Cal’s secondary is a lot more vulnerable than last season. USC will throw different passes out of different formations than Oregon but they’ll look to attack the perimeter with quick hitch throws, bubble screens, etc. when corners play off. Against normal down and distance alignments they’ll run their standard 3 step quick game plays. A big question is how much the coaches feel comfortable trying to attack deeper this week with a true freshman QB.

(Author's Note: You see a lot of these quick hitch throws and bubble screens in the video below, as well as the play-action fake bootleg which has been so successful for Trojan offenses in the past. Expect to see plenty of these on Saturday, unless Matt Barkley suddenly gains potent accuracy in the midrange/downfield game. Again, critical for the linebackers to step up and play their zones well--those holes got really deep last Saturday.)

USC Passing vs Cal 2008: Background Music--Conquistadors, Binary Star

3) With Stafon Johnson now out, how do you see USC’s run game changing? Johnson was arguably the Trojan’s best goal-line/short yardage back; does this put more responsibility on Joe McKnight or will it be delegated toward Allan Bradford?

The loss of Stafon Johnson hurts in many ways. Johnson was not the biggest or fastest of the USC running backs but as you point out he was consistent and probably the best at picking the right hole and gaining a few tough yards. The lost Johnson carries will probably translate into more playing time for Allan Bradford at tailback in short yardage situations and plays where Joe McKnight comes out of the game. CJ Gable or Marc Tyler may see a few more plays as well.

(Author's note: Stop Bradford and the Bears have a really good shot at controlling SC on offense. McKnight is a skilled runner, but he's not a grinder and can't hit the holes as well--in last year's game he was hitting the outside a lot, and they preferred to go with Gable or Johnson inside. This year it's been Johnson and Bradford on the ins. Gable is available but has not played much this season. Take away either the outside or inside zone and it forces Matt Barkley to beat you.)

4) Having watched the Trojans first four games, I’m guessing you’re more satisfied with USC’s defense than their struggling offense. Based on what you’ve seen, is the 4-3 under scheme still the same as previous seasons? And has there been a huge drop off in the production of the current players from the seven that were picked in the NFL draft?

I think there are some holes in the USC defense and injuries are also starting to become a real concern. USC in reality gave up 138 rushing yards to Washington State. The NCAA subtracts sack yardage off the run game so with the eight sacks versus Washington State USC padded its run stats by subtracting off 53 yards off that total to make it a more respectable figure. The Cal rush attack will be the second major test for the defense…USC surrendered 108 on the ground to Ohio State before sack yardage came off the total.

Pete Carroll likes to base out of a 4-3 under front however that is very dependent upon his available personnel, what formation the opponent chooses, and what plays they like to run the most. In recent years with Brian Cushing and then Clay Matthews available USC played the under front with a stand up LB at one of the DE spots. Additionally as the spread type of offense has proliferated on college football USC has played some more "over" fronts and "solid" aka double eagle fronts the past couple of seasons.

(Author's note: Cal will again be severely tested on the edges with Tepper and Schwartz needing to step up against a defense that leads the nation in sacks. Although USC has lost several of their key players on th, including DT Hebron Fangupo, DE Armond Armstead, and their sack leader DE Nick Perry and LB Malcolm Smith being questionable, Everson Griffin, Devon Kennard, Christian Tupou and Jurrell Casey (the likely starters for Saturday if Perry cannot go) are far from pushovers on that front line. Cal's O-line cannot let Kevin Riley get tossed around or the Bears offensive gameplan will crumble from the outset. It's on Ludwig and Marshall to have them properly prepared.)

Generic Defensive Fronts

via i109.photobucket.com

Double Eagle formation on display vs ASU

via i109.photobucket.com

5) Based on what you’ve seen from the Ohio State/UW games, what is the best way for an offense to attack the 4-3 under? Is the Trojan defense’s weakness really quick decision-making, mobile quarterbacks? Or is it something more?

As I mentioned USC has become a lot more multiple in its defensive alignment up front in recent years. Depending upon Cal’s formations, the down and distance, etc. you can expect to see USC in either the Over, the Under, or the Double Eagle front.

Double Eagle Alignment Up Front

via i109.photobucket.com

Double Eagle up Front, 2 High Safety Look

via i109.photobucket.com

4-3 Under Alignment Up Front

via i109.photobucket.com

4-3 Under Cover 1 secondary look

via i109.photobucket.com

4-3 over alignment up front

via i109.photobucket.com

Rotation to Cover 3 post snap from Cover 2 shell.

via i109.photobucket.com

The Cal contest will be interesting since the Bears run an excellent power game and mix in some zone concepts as well. Mobile QB’s can give any defense trouble but in reality just good execution and push by the offensive line can also give a team trouble all night. Oregon State in 2008 essentially ran one inside zone running play over and over versus USC and Jacquizz Rodgers gained 186 yards running right at USC.

(Author's note: Uhhh, Cal's O-line can't whiff on their blocks or be out of position like they were last week. They do and we lose. Handily. They play well and execute their blocks and maintain push on the front seven, then Jahvid Best will have a good opportunity to eat them up.

More importantly, if the running game stalls, the receivers need to run their routes properly, or at the very least be able to adjust and make plays on the ball against what figures to be strong Trojan coverage. A healthy run and pass balance is the best way to attack this hard-hitting, physical USC defensive front and a lethal secondary headed by Mays, in order to keep them guessing the same way USC's offense kept Cal's defense guessing last year.)

6) How concerning is USC’s poor 3rd down conversion rate, currently at 25%, 114th in the country? Are the Trojans putting themselves into too many 3rd and long passing situations, or are there execution issues you’ve seen between quarterback and receiver, or is the veteran offensive line making mental errors?

The 25% 3^rd down conversion rate is a major concern and in real need of improvement. USC has to get this number up into the 40-45% range otherwise it will not sustain many drives this season. Stupid penalties, poor field position, poor QB decisions, and dropped passes, etc. are all part of the problem. Everyone shares in the blame on this one. Bad execution, a few curious play calls, and too many mental mistakes are killing USC in this department in the first four games.

(Author's note: If Cal's zone defense allows the Trojans to convert 40-45% of their 3rd downs, I'll be okay, I'm resigned to that figure this season with the weaker linebacking corps. If it goes over 50%, I will be severely distressed.)

Thanks again to TFA, who you can follow all season with his excellent analysis of the USC Trojans, plus other useful articles and analysis on the game of football.

Poll

The most important part of Saturday's Cal-USC matchup will be...

Cal passing game versus USC pass defense

68 votes

USC passing game versus Cal pass defense

14 votes

Cal run game versus USC run defense

94 votes

USC run game versus Cal run defense

20 votes

Something else.

4 votes

200 votes | Poll has closed

Comparing the Online Recruiting Ranking Services

Buck Bravo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:11 -0000

Rivals, Scout, and ESPN all provide ranking systems for recruits headed to Division 1 football programs. Often, ratings of individual players will vary greatly from one service to another. In an attempt to determine which service most accurately projects the future performance of players, let's take a look at the ratings that were given to the 2009 NFL first round draft picks back when they were being recruited for college football:

PICK

NAME

COLLEGE

TEAM

RIVALS

STARS

SCOUT

STARS

ESPN

RATING

Matthew Stafford

Georgia

Jason Smith

Baylor

Tyson Jackson

LSU

Aaron Curry

OLB

Wake Forest

Mark Sanchez

USC

Andre Smith

Alabama

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Maryland

Virginia

Boston College

Texas Tech

Penn State

Georgia

Texas

Ohio State

OLB

USC

Northern Illinois

Kansas State

Tennessee

Missouri

Oklahoma State

California

Florida

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Illinois

OLB

USC

Donald Brown

Connecticut

Louisville

North Carolina

Rutgers

Ohio State

Missouri

ESPN did not start ranking recruits until 2006, so players from before that time have no ranking. Despite this limitation, let's look at the trend lines for the different services:

While Scout may have had the most 5 star rankings for recruits who ultimately became first round NFL draft choices, Rivals had the best trendline for accurately ranking future NFL talent. A more comprehensive analysis looking at later rounds and previous years would best determine which service best analyzes talent. If I were retired or writing for TDG full time, I'd be eager to put such a report together for later this week. For now, the first round of the 2009 NFL draft will have to suffice.

Conquest Chronicles links for June 23rd

Paragon SC — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:00:31 -0000

Lots of little things out there today...

USC Football

Scout.com: Keeping Up with Pete Carroll
Interview on Fox Sports

USC's Mitch Mustain dealing with academic eligibility issues | Los Angeles Times
This is a bit disconcerting

Smith appeal denied by CU transfer committee - Big 12 - ESPN

USC Basketball

Cantu returns to Central Coast for annual camp, awaits fate at USC
Need to keep an eye on Cantu...

How will USC hoops do in the NBA Draft?

Jamison Picks DeRozan - Wizards Insider

Lakers should have USC's Taj Gibson high on draft list | Los Angeles Times
Taj to the Lakers?

NBA Draft preview: USC Trojans (Part I)

NBA Draft preview: USC Trojans (Part II)

Mike Garrett continues to draw scrutiny

USC's Mike Garrett says his record speaks for itself; agreed | Adam Rose
A lot of people are looking at Mike Garrett and his "coaching" record

Former Player News...

Clay Matthews News
Packers notes: Matthews willing to wait

Team Needs: Backup Point Guard - CelticsBlog
Some interesting thoughts on Gabe Pruitt in the comments

Stais Boseman arrested for allegedly taking part in carjacking - SI.com
Nimrod...

Miscellaneous

2009 Preview: Rating The Defensive Ends | Heismanpundit
HP has a nice series of players to watch by position in 2009

Money Players: "One and done" is never done
Nice write-up on one-and-done's

Enjoy your day!

Conquest Chronicles Links for June 11th

Paragon SC — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:28 -0000

There are some interesting articles here today...especially one by Bill Plaschke. I think he makes a number of very valid point in regards to AD Mike Garrett

More Tim Floyd fall out...

USC's lack of leadership during hard times is revealing - Los Angeles Times
Here is Plaschke's take...This needed to be written! (I will have more on this later)

USC basketball: Players ‘distraught,’ recruits ‘nervous’ - USC - OCRegister.com
I feel for these guys right now

Doug Gottlieb: Another way to look at the USC situation - ESPN
College Basketball Experts Blog on ESPN.com.

O.J. Mayo, Rodney Guillory deal cost Tim Floyd his career - Seth Davis - SI.com
Seth Davis has a good take

Analysis: 10 questions in the wake of Tim Floyd's resignation - ESPN
In the wake of Tim Floyd's resignation at USC, three of our college basketball insiders -- Andy Katz, Dana O'Neil and Pat Forde -- give their rapid-fire reaction to the news and analyze what this all means.

Clay Matthews News

Hamstring limits Matthews' practice time | Green Bay Press-Gazette

Stanley has new roommate...

Meet Stanley Havili’s new roommate - USC - OCRegister.com

Mark Sanchez signs with the NY Jets

Jets and Sanchez Reach Deal on Contract - The Fifth Down Blog - NYTimes.com

Scott Wolf on the radio

Wolf Audio from PMS 6/10

Cushing plans to sack libelous NFL Draft site

Mocking Dan — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:04:54 -0000

More photos » by Matt Sayles - AP

Browse more photos »

NFLDraftBible.com should get ready to hear from linebacker Brian Cushing's legal team.

The newest Houston Texan plans to "take action toward" the site for falsely claiming he tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Almost immediately after the claim went public, Cushing and agent Tom Condon shot it down in an email to ProFootballTalk.com.Now with the draft out of the way, Cushing seems set on filing suit.

“I’m pretty tired of everything happening with all these supposed rumors [and] people trying to tarnish my reputation,” Cushing said on ESPN 1530 in Texas. “I’m not sure what happened. I’m don’t know if it’s my playing attitude [or] people just don’t like how I handle myself. But you know that’s too bad for them.”

As someone who is a huge advocate for not only journalistic rights and also integrity, there's just no way you can back DraftBible. They stood by their claim all along and are likely going to pay for it in the end.

Still no word on whether or not Clay Matthews III, who was also falsely accused, also plans legal action.

I've done a tiny bit of work with NFLDB's head guy Rick Serritella and he seems like a good guy. His site at least gets a lot of interviews and they have a good radio show. But this could quite possibly be the end of the site for running with and backing some seriously false rumors.

And remember boys and girls, the words "allegedly" and "reportedly" are always your best friends in these kinds of situations.

h/t PFT

NightLink: Will the Packers Be In the Mix in 2009?

Dane Noble — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:57:22 -0000

This was the first year in ages that I missed the NFL draft, and today I have been having a crash-review of all of the hoopla. A ton of stories came from the draft, and we have several new Bears players that we hope will make a solid contribution to the 2009 season.

But, one thing in particular jumped out in my mind, and I haven't been able to quite figure it out... Did the Packers just get good?

All around the NFL world, the Bears and the Vikings have been said to have the best shot at winning the NFC North. And with the 6-10 Packers and 0-16 Lions last year, how could anyone argue that either could make a run in 2009?

But what keeps popping up in my mind is how good, really good, the Packers could be this year. Already having a roster made up of Aaron Rogers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk , and the additions of BJ Raji and Clay Matthews in this year's draft, the Packers might try and sneak up on some folks this year.

With the 3rd easiest schedule in 2009 (games against the Bengals, Browns, Lions, Bucs, 49ers), the Pack could feasibly win 9 or 10 games... maybe more. I don't know how good the Packers will be, but I do know that game #1 on September 13th might be a little more important than we think.

Tennessee Titans 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Jimmy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:17:51 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Browse more photos »

Let me start off by saying that grading a draft today is a little bit ridiculous. We have no idea how any of these guys will pan out, but there are still some ways we can grade this draft that aren't as ridiculous.

Right now we will look at what they did to address their need positions. I have to give them a B+ on that one. The only thing that keeps them from getting an A here is the fact that they didn't take a corner until the 4th round, and when they finally took a corner it was a very questionable one. Overall though I love the fact that they took a receiver in the first round. We have seen a parade of middle round receivers in here over the past decade that never amounted to anything. They took a flier on a guy that they were really impressed with, and I applaud them for that. All of the reports I am hearing is that they were really high on Kenny Britt and Clay Matthews. Had the Packers not traded up to get Matthews, there is a very good chance that he would have been the pick pick. I know they need depth at linebacker, but I am really glad that we ended up with Britt instead.

The Sen'Derrick Marks pick was an interesting one. Defensive tackle depth was a need, but I felt they had bigger needs that could have been addressed with the pick. Marks is an athletic guy with a lot of upside so there is a good shot he will end up a very good player under the guidance of Jim Washburn.

The first really questionable move they pulled was trading next year's #2 to the Patriots to move up and take Jared Cook. The move was questionable to me on two fronts:

If I were an NFL GM, I would never make a deal with the New England Patriots. In the words of August, "They always win."
We didn't have a need at tight end. We already have future Hall of Famer Bo Scaife there.

However, if Cook can become the player that we all hoped Ben Troupe would be, it will prove to have been a great move. Vandy fans will remember Cook because he torched them in that Thursday night ESPN game last season. He presents all kind of match-up problems and should open some things up for the running game.

Then comes the Ryan Mouton pick. This is one of those picks that I really don't understand. Mouton really only started for one season in college and had just 3 picks in his college career. He also has durability concerns. I am going on record right now that there is only a 20% chance that Mouton ends up being a better in NFL corner than D.J. Moore.

The Titans finally addressed their LB depth need in the 4th round when they took Gerald McRath. McRath played inside linebacker in college, but from everything I have heard should be able to easily make the transition to outside linebacker. I would assume the Titans took him because he was the best available linebacker on their board.

The next pick was Troy Kropog from Tulane. He appears to be Daniel Loper part two. He played tackle in college but will probably be the back-up at tackle and guard for the Titans. I have never heard of him, but Mike Munchak will coach him up. i have no doubt he will be a solid player.

I was shocked to see the Titans pick a running back because they just never do that. /sarcasm Javon Ringer was an All-American last season. It is never a bad thing to pick up one of those in the 5th round. Ringer is a horse. He carried the ball 635 times in his last 2 seasons at Michigan State and scored 22 touchdowns last season. That is a lot. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield. Ringer obviously will not unseat Crazy Legs, but he is a good insurance policy for when The Round Mound walks after this season. Say goodnight Chris Henry.

I like the Jason McCourty pick in the sixth. He is really fast, 4.30, and was a return guy in college. Sure he is a project, but a guy with that type of speed is worth picking up in the sixth round.

I alos really like the Dominique Edison pick in the sixth round. August rained all over my Edison parade when he responded to my text message with "Is he Filani part 2?" But hey, 6-2, 204, 4.45 in the sixth round is worth a shot. He may not pan out, but at least he is really, really fast.

I don't know anything about the guys picked in the 7th round, but I bet we eventually see Ryan Durand playing meaningful minutes for this team. I have that much confidence in Munchak.

With the exception of taking Mouton over Moore, I really like what they did with this draft. I love that they finally took a receiver in the first round, and they did a good job addressing the needs with the rest of the picks.

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!

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW: The 1st Round Live Blog (Tape Delayed)

Josh from Hollywood — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:15:01 -0000

More photos » by Jason DeCrow - AP

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FOOCH'S NOTE: Josh put this together and offered it up and I thought we could hold off with more in-depth analysis until tomorrow. Let's end the night with a little levity.

For those who don't know (a.k.a. "n00bs"), I posted a columns a couple of times a week during last season (you can check those out here). Due to time constraints, I've gone postless since the Super Bowl, but I'm back with a vengeance for the greatest offseason event in sports -- Draft Day.

I’ve watched the NFL Draft for over 20 years now. And I’ve never experienced it in any other way than on ESPN. I can still vividly remember being super pissed when the Jets took Roger Vick, a RB out of Texas A&M, with the 21st pick in 1987, because Mel Kiper made it clear the Niners wanted to take him at #22. Boy, that really came back to bite the Niners, huh?

When the NFL Network began airing the draft, I always meant to give their coverage a try. But I’m a creature of habit, so I never managed more than a cursory click-over during a commercial or particularly annoying part of ESPN coverage. The coverage was decent enough, with Mooch, and Deion, and Marshall Faulk. It also had Rich Eisen leading the charge, a huge improvement over Berman. The Net’s version of Mel Kiper is Mike Mayock. He actually played in the NFL, so he’s got that going for him. And he’s every bit as abrasively East Coast as Mel -- his Phillyese is quite similar to Mel’s Baltimorese.

Because I’m so into my comfortable routines, I’ve never actually gave them a shot, going with them right from the get-go. But after 20+ years of Chris Berman’s bad jokes, Mel Kiper’s hair, and the ever expanding Scott Stuartization of their coverage, I’ve finally had enough. I need to go one year without it. So today’s the day -- except for that rare click-over during commercials, I plan to stay ESPN-free today. I'm flying with The NFL Network -- The Net, for short -- all day today. Won’t you join me on this journey of discovery?

8:59am -- I’m all ready for this draft. All settled in on the couch, got my notebook, food, drink, computer, TV’s on. I’M READY ROCK N’ ROLL!!!

9:01 -- Wait, the draft’s not on. Checking my programming guide, I see it doesn’t start until 1pm. Totally forgot about that. So I got up at 8:30am for no absolutely no reason. Oh well, more time to ~~download porn~~ do research.

11:47 -- After a long nap, I’m back and ready to roll again. Turn on the NFL network pre-~~game~~ draft just in time to see Rich Eisen toss it to Santa Clara, where Brian "Creepy Pinky" Baldinger is at Niner HQ. He breaks big news on the Niners plan of action for the draft: "That’s what this draft is all about -- improving the roster, improving their chances of winning next season." Mind blown. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.

11:49 -- After that truly enlightening report from Baldinger*, the feed switches back to the ballroom, where a camera mounted up high gazes down at reporter’s doing stories on the main floor. This shot includes a sweet look at Erin Andrew’s ass. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor again (this time for real). We’re going to see a lot of talent on display here today, but surely none will be as awe-inspiring as that. * No actual enlightening included

11:50 -- More shots from the ballroom floor, including one of Michael Crabtree. Rich Eisen and Marshall Faulk take this opportunity to praise him for his lavender shirt. There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’m too lazy to look for it.

11:53 -- Back from commercial, we’re presented with a 3-man satellite desk where Brian Billick, Charles Davis, and Brian Billick discuss the Jets. Dukes’ microphone appears to be turned off -- nice work by the crew there, and I’m not being sarcastic.

11:57 -- Dukes’ mic is now working -- the Lord giveth, and He taketh away.

12:00pm -- High noon. Now I can start drinking alcohol without feeling guilty. Don’t get me wrong -- I’ve been drinking since dawn, it’s just that until now I’ve been feeling guilty about it.

12:01 -- Nice ponytail, Cushing. Now that was sarcasm.

12:01 -- Two good bits of info from the main desk: 1) Mike Mayock calls this the worst draft in recent memory. 2) Steve Mariucci has been nominated for an Emmy. I’m not sure which is more disappointing.

12:02 -- What the hell is that?! It looks like Bill Belichick, now there appears to be something on his face I’ve never seen there before. I know this sounds crazy, but it has all the earmarks of... a smile.

12:06 -- Belichick drops the nice guy act when Eisen asks about the Matt Cassel, giving a typically lifeless answer. This is a good thing, because Smiling Belichick was giving me cold chills down my spine.

12:25 -- The NFL network airs a retrospective on the QB class of 1983. They call Todd Blackledge "the biggest bust in Kansas City Chief history", then proceed to show him a) taking a shotgun snap to the face, and b) the worst mullet in NFL history. Somewhere, Blackledge sits in the dark listening to The Smith’s and cutting himself.

12:35 -- The Niners unveil their new jerseys. A nation says, "Meh". I like them, myself. Reminiscent of the 80’s version, which is all I ever wanted.

12:45 -- Deion introduces the top prospects in the draft. Jets fans boo him. Jets fans are in full-throat, as usual. This is really their day, more than any other. When I think "NFL Draft", I think "Jets fans booing".

12:46 -- Watching the top prospects all take the stage, I can’t help but wonder which of them will look back on this day as the highlight of not just their career, but their life. It sounds a little morbid when put like that, but it’s really morbid when you realize none of us will ever achieve such greatness. I’m making another drink.

12:59 -- John Gruden: "I’m fired up!" Gruden, fired up? I’m shocked, shocked.

1:01 -- The Net opens their coverage with a terrible, repetitive, annoying song. ESPN opens theirs with Chris Berman. This is like ‘Sophie’s Choice’, only in reverse.

1:03 -- The Commish steps to the podium to announce the first pick. I’m going on record to say I think it will be Matthew Stafford.

1:04 -- Oh my, I was right! Matthew Stafford is the #1 pick in the Draft, and the New York crowd shows it’s class by booing him and then chanting "Overrated".

1:10 -- The lambs are on the clock. Mayock says Spanolouloloulououo wants to improve the ground game, as shown by his off-season moves -- including personal favorite Mike Karney.

1:12 -- Copious shots of Mark Sanchez on his cell at his home in Orange County before the Rams pick at #2. Sanchez is doing the right thing -- chill at home, and celebrate with your friends and family instead of doing it before hundreds of strangers in person and the prying eye of the national TV camera.

1:14 -- As their time expires, the Lambs pick is in. Mayock says a team might purposely pass up their pick, insinuating the Rams might do it. Eisen corrects him that there is a pick -- Jason Smith.

1:19 -- ESPN comes back from commercial for 8 seconds before Berman says anything. I turn back to The Net.

1:22 -- The Chiefs are on the clock, and Gruden says they will go offense here, as Haley wants to give Cassel another weapon. Crabtree? Really? The Chiefs had a terrible pass rush last year and also got pushed around. And they already have Bowe.

1:23 -- The Chiefs pick is in. Eisen explains that the pick was be checked for spelling and pronunciation before it is "processed" and handed to the Commish. It’s Tyson Jackson. Note to self: Don’t listen to Jon Gruden.

1:32 -- The hosts talk about the widespread rumor that Seattle is picking Mark Sanchez, but the Seahawks select Aaron Curry. And this is why you watch from home like Sanchez is doing. If he was at Radio City, the cameras would be so far up in his grill we’d know if he trimmed his nose hairs recently or not.

1:36 -- Rich Eisen sees people on the phone and starts a rumor there might be a trade. Mayock says it could be someone moving up to snag Sanchez, or it could involve Braylon Edwards to the Eagles (but wouldn’t that involve the Browns getting another pick, not losing this one?).

1:38 -- Eisen was right -- there is a trade, and it’s the Jets! Jets fans are beside themselves, and I am too. Everybody said they liked Freeman, but could this be for Sanchez?

1:39 -- It is! It’s Mark Sanchez! The Net has him on TV at his home putting on a Jets cap before he’s even picked. Maybe he should’ve come to New York after all.

1:41 -- Most Jets fans are thrilled and cheering, but the camera is staying trained on two guys who hate the move. They’re scowling, and one clearly says, "This horrible! I’m so pissed!" I love Jets fans.

1:50 -- The Bengals take Andre Smith, and his ample breasts.

1:54 -- The Raiders are on the clock and everybody is thinking a speedy WR. Why? Because they are the Raiders. Is it Crabtree?

1:56 -- Oakland does pick a WR, but not the ones most people were talking about -- Darrius Hayward-Bey. Mayock: "A classic Al Davis pick". Meanwhile, Crabtree's still on the board. I wonder if he wishes he was watching at home.

1:59 -- The Jags are on the clock. Gruden is saying it might be Crabtree.

2:05 -- It’s Eugene Monroe. Second reminder to self: don't listen to Gruden. That makes 3 OT’s in the first 8 picks. Mayock: "He can bend!" Okaaaay.

2:06 -- Crabtree continues to slip. If he slips past Green Bay (which he should -- no way they need another WR), he'll be there for the Niners. That both excites and terrifies me. He could be a poor man’s Jerry Rice, or he could be a rich man’s Rashaun Woods.

2:08 -- And there’s Raji on the phone -- the telltale sign of an upcoming pick (or a Drew Rosenhaus production). This is happening, it’s really happening.

2:10 -- I feel like Jessie in that very special ‘Saved By the Bell’: I’m so excited... I’m so scared! I don’t know whether to root for Crabtree, or against him.

2:13 -- The Pack takes BJ Raji, and the Niners are on the clock. What will they do? I hope they don’t screw this up. They really have no choice but to take Crabtree. You just don’t see talents like that slip to you that often. They have to do it, or potentially watch while he blows up elsewhere.

2:18 -- Crabtree on the phone! And grinning! This is good. Being on the phone is always a good sign you’re about to get picked, but the fact his expression went from "My dog just got run over" to "I’m the next Jerry Rice" in two minutes means he’s about to be a Niner.

2:21 -- It’s official -- Michael Crabtree is a Niner, and I’m thrilled. It took me like 10 seconds to go from "Should we?" To "What the [SITE DECORUM] are you talking about?! Of course, we should!". In fact, I don’t know that I’ve been this excited about a pick in a long time. I knew Patrick Willis would be great, and I hoped Alex Smith and Vernon Davis would be. I honestly don’t know what Crabtree will be, but I’m damn excited to find out.

2:23 -- I click over to ESPN on the other tuner, and rewind to watch their coverage of the pick. It’s quickly followed by a interview between Crabtree and Erin Andrews -- this works on so many levels of entertainment. Great TV.

2:25 -- So Crabtree is headed to San Francisco -- at least there he won’t be the only man in a lavender shirt. See, I told you there was a joke in there somewhere.

2:26 -- The Bills select Aaron Maybin at #11, but I’m still too busy thinking about Crabtree to comment.

/goes back to picturing Crabtree beating Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for a long TD on Monday Night Football, and Ron Jaworski getting so excited while talking about his talent, he has an orgasm on national TV.

2:31 -- The Broncos take Knowshon Moreno. They could use the help at RB, but what about that porous defense?

2:33 -- The picks are coming fast and furious now as the Skins take Brian Orakpo. I like how much quicker the Draft moves now -- I used to get so bored between picks, but now the pace is much more crisp and efficient.

2:40 -- The saints pick is in, and Jamie Dukes says what many others have -- they’ll take Beanie Wells. But it’s Wells’ teammate, Malcolm Jenkins.

2:43 -- The camera catches Brian Cushing putting his hand in his nose, then his mouth. Seconds later, his gets a call clearly telling him he’s about to be picked. Apparently, the Texans just can’t resist I guy with a ponytail who eats his boogers on national TV. Who can blame them?

2:45 -- It’s official -- the Texans take Brian Cushing. One more douchebag in Texas.

2:51 -- The Chargers take Larry English at #16. I’d like to give you some informed analysis on this pick, but to be perfectly honest, I’ve never heard of Larry English.

3:01 -- Cleveland trades down again -- sending the #17 pick they got from the Jets to Tampa, who picks Josh Freeman. Cleveland must be picking up quite a few picks today. If they end up trading Braylon Edwards for picks today, they could end up setting some kind of record.

3:02 -- The guys at the mian table are all giving Gruden crap about Tampa finally drafting a big-time QB now that he’s gone. Gruden is smiling, but he clearly wants to kill them all.

3:06 -- The Broncos use their second pick in the last half-hour to select Robert Ayers, finally adding some help to their D. The Net shows video of him absolutely owning Michael Oher in a Senior Bowl practice. Mayock: "He might be a big reason Oher hasn’t been drafted yet."

3:11 -- Eisen announces that the Browns have traded down yet again. They’ve dealt the #19 pick they got from Tampa to Philly, moving down to the Eagles’ spot at #21. The Eisen: "They’re stockpiling late-round picks, and also have three 2nd’s from their trade with the Jets."

3:13 -- Who did the Eagles trade up 2 spots to nab? Jeremy Maclin. between him and DeSean Jackson, the Eagles can't say they don’t have speed at WR.

3:19 -- Detroit uses their second pick to take Brandon Pettigrew. I’m surprised -- with all the problems they have, I’d think there would be a better use of their resources than that.

3:21 -- The Browns are on the clock. Again. They can’t possibly make another trade, can they?

3:24 -- Nope, no trade -- the Browns have made a pick: Alex Mack.

3:26 -- The Vikes are on the clock, and Mayock is pushing Percy Harvin as a way to help them stretch the field. Gruden concurs.

3:28 -- The Vikes do take Percy Harvin. Remember, the last time they took a WR who tested positive for pot in college it was Randy Moss. Dope-smoking WR’s FTW!

3:30 -- As the guys from The Net all celebrate the Harvin pick, Mayock gets off the line of the day: "We’re all patting ourselves on the back here, but if ends up on the Love Boat smoking a bone, we’ve all got a problem." I think I like this guy. No way Kiper comes up with a line like that.

3:36 -- The Pats trade down, sending the #23 pick to Baltimore, who takes Michael Oher. He may have slipped further than many people thought, but this has still got to be a great day for Oher -- his journey has now officially taken him from the outhouse to the penthouse. If you haven’t already read about his story in The Blind Side, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

3:42 -- The Falcons take Peria Jerry. Or is it Jerry Peria?

3:45 -- The Dolphins are on the clock, and the guys on The Net are making the point that Parcells likes bloodlines -- both Brian Robiskie (son of Terry) and Clay Matthews (son of Clay) are available. The Phins make their pick -- Vontae Davis, VD’s brother. I don’t think those were the type of bloodlines they were talking about.

3:50 -- Fatigue is starting to become a factor. I’m not used to working this hard on a weekend. All this drinking and eating and watching and typing has me feeling more dead than that guy Donte Stallworth ran over. Too soon?

3:52 -- Bill Belicheck is making a run at the Browns -- the pats have traded down for the second time today, and trail Cleveland by only one trade-town. The Pats entered with 11 picks in the draft, and 6 in the top 100 -- more than anybody else. They now have 13 picks overall, and 8 in the top 100.

3:53 -- The Packers get the Pats pick, trading up from #26 to take Clay Matthews.

4:00 -- The Colts select Donald Brown. That’s all i have to say about that.

4:04 -- The Bills select Eric Wood. Mayock informs us that he is "not sexy". Seeing as he is an offensive lineman, I don’t find that especially surprising.

4:09 -- The Giants (and their loud mouth fans) take Hakeem Nicks to fill their void at WR, though I still wouldn’t be surprised if they trade for a big name WR between now and training camp.

4:18 -- With the #30 pick, the Titans choose Kenny Britt to fill the gaping hole left by Brandon Jones. Gaping, I tell you. Gaping.

4:20 -- Know what time it is? Time for Percy Harvin to get high. That’s what time it is.

4:22 -- The Cards are on the clock. Eisen suggests they might take Beanie Wells, but Mayock says he’s too similar to Tim Hightower, and Faulk agrees. Seriously? I think Wells in a whole other class than Hightower.

4:28 -- Yup, the Cards take Beanie Wells. And Mayock does a quick flip-flop, saying Wells is an "upgrade". He does question his ability to stay healthy. Faulk sticks to his "same as Hightower" argument

4:30 -- The world champion Steelers cap off the 1st round by drafting Evander "Ziggy" Hood. I’m not watching ESPN, but I’d be willing to bet $1,000 Chris Berman just made a "Ziggy Stardust" reference.

4:32 -- Alright, that’s it for me. I’m TiVoing the rest of this, while I go see if my wife is still speaking to me.