Lack of Quality in NFL Draft 2009
Many NFL devotees feel that this is a weak draft, In some ways I concur. Tom Marino who has worked for 5 different NFL franchises and presently works for Scouts Inc., was recently quoted as saying:
"I think it's one of the worst drafts I've seen in a long time,'' said this Boston native who works for Scout.com. "I don't see strengths anywhere.
As far as the Top prospects as a class and the lack of depth at any one position, I kind of agree. If I were the Lions I would trade the #1 pick. I don't think any QB in this class is a 1 st round pick. Sanchez has 1 year under his belt. He played behind a superior line and had his best games at home. Including the Rose Bowl a few miles from USC against Penn State.
Matthew Stafford has a big time arm and in many ways I think he is Drew Brees like. However Brees was far more accurate of a passer. Brees also did not go in the first round. Actually he was the 32 nd pick of the 2 nd round.
I am not suggesting that neither can play in the NFL, but merely stating they are not worthy of sniffing the first round. I wouldn't take either on the first day. Tom Modrak of the Buffalo Bills is on record as saying this:
"It's a very average draft," said Tom Modrak, the Buffalo Bills' assistant general manager who usually is an optimist. "I wouldn't want to be a quarterback chaser now at the top, though.''
Ozzie Newsome, Ravens GM however made this statement that I happen to agree with. He said:
"I think this draft has depth," said Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome, who has done one of the best jobs of assembling talent in the NFL over the past decade. "What I mean is, you can go in rounds three, four and five and find some quality players that will be able to come in and contribute to your football team. What it offers is good depth."
What about the prospects for the Steelers in particular?
The last time the Steelers drafted Offensive Lineman in the first round was in 2002. They have not taken a beefer earlier than round 3 in the last 3 years. I hope this changes this year.
Centers, Alex Mack of California (6'4 ” 316 pds) and Eric Wood (6'4 ” 290 Pounds) of Louisville are projected to possibly be available late in the first round for the Steelers to consider. Reports actually have the Steelers thinking and/or hoping that Wood will be there when their turn comes in the 2nd round.
The following is the Sporting News Today bio on Alex Mack:
2008: One of the best centers in the country with a long list of awards by his name ... recipient of the Draddy Trophy as college football's top scholar-athlete, an award that includes a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship ... named the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football ... selected a first-team All-American by Rivals.com ... also chosen a second-team All-American by Walter Camp and the Sporting News and a third-team All-American by the Associated Press ... won the Morris Trophy as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10 (as voted by Pac-10 defensive linemen) for the second year in a row, just the third player to receive the award twice ... a finalist for the Rimington Trophy given to the top center in college football ... also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for academic and athletic accomplishment ... named a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award ... earned first-team All-Pac-10 and Pac-10 All-Academic notice ... chosen a first-team mid-season All-American by the Sporting News and College Football News ... Cal's Co-Offensive MVP ... received the team's Schlessinger Coaches Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic ability, academic success and community service ...had three pancakes and four knockdowns in the opener against Michigan State ... registered five pancakes and four knockdowns against Arizona State ... tallied a season-high six pancakes against Stanford ... prior to the year, selected to the Playboy Preseason All-American Team ... has the top clean all-time at Cal (all positions) at 374 pounds. 2007: Selected as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the nation ... earned the Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-10 as voted on by the league's defensive linemen ... one of just three players to be a unanimous first-team All-Pac-10 selection ... a first-team All-American at center by The Sporting News and an honorable mention All-American by SI.com ... honored as the midseason first-team All-American center by Phil Steele's Magazine as well as a midseason first-team All-American by SI.com and Rivals.com ... rated as the No. 1 junior center in the nation by Mel Kiper ... also a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award ... anchored offensive line which allowed just 11 sacks (best in the Pac-10, third in the nation) ... voted the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman (Brick Muller Award) ... led the team in pancakes, knockdowns and cuts ... earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors for the second straight year ... named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team ... Cal averaged 165.7 rushing yards per game including nine individual 100-yard efforts ... helped pave the way to 471 yards of total offense, including 230 on the ground, against Tennessee ... opened the hole for QB Nate Longshore to duck into the end zone for a two-yard score against the Volunteers ... Cal leads the Pac-10 and ranks third in the nation in sacks allowed over the last two years (24) ... rated as the No. 3 center in the nation by The Sporting News ... also on preseason Watch List for the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman). |
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Here is some comments on Wood:
Wood is an explosive interior lineman who plays with a powerful motor. He has great size and strength. He understands his and his linemates assignments and is a leader on offense. He’s dominates upfront and overpowers the opposition during running situations. He displays good technique in pass protection. He has great awareness and picks up blitzes well. He’s reliable and works well with the quarterback. - Chris Steuber, Scout.com
By:
Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer