Potpourri of letters
National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
December 22, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: scanter@***.net
To: LouP ickney
Date: Dec 14, 2005 4:56 PM
Subject: Omar Jacobs
Omar Jacobs is not going into the 1st round, Scouts dont likes his weird offence that hes use to, and his strange throwing motion. I think Jacobs will be a mid - late 2nd rounder. Jay Cutler QB (vandy), is a much better choice for Miamis 1st round pick, Nick Saban likes SEC players and Cutler was the SEC offence player of the year. People compare Cutler to Brett Farve.
Lou: I was stuck on the Omar Jacobs as a first rounder for a long, long time, primarily because of how well he did last season. But this year he hasn't fared quite as well, and the reality of the situation now is that he'd actually be better off returning to Bowling Green for one more season.
Clearly, the Dolphins need a new direction at QB. How Nick Saban plans to go about that should be interesting to see.
From: jeffck@***.net
To: Lou Pickney
Date: Dec 14, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject: Lions
Hi Draft king. Love your sight. I'm a (unfortunately) die hard Lion fan,
and, like most years being a Lion fan, I'm looking ahead to the draft 6
months in advance! What do you think the chances the Lions take a QB
with their first pick this year. I know Leinert probably won't be there,
but Vince Young and Jacobs seem like possibilities. I know Harrington
was a bust, but I'm tired of the Lions selecting mediocre QBs in the
late rounds (Charlie Batch, Mike McMahon, Don Orloskey) thinking they'll
become Pro-Bowlers someday. Granted getting QBs in the draft is a crap
shoot in any round, but if you take a QB top 10, there's close to a
50/50 chance he'll turn into a good player. Although a bit raw, I think
Vince Young could be a hell of a player in a couple years. Do you see
any other options for a (real) starting QB for the Lions next year other
than the draft. Teams don't let Pro-bowl QBs walk away in free agency,
so I don't see any other options here. Maybe they could trade for John
Kitna, but even he would just be a short term solution.
Lou: It's entirely possible that the Lions could take a QB their first pick, though to do that they would become very salary-heavy at the position. I could see a more likely scenario being Detroit using a second or third rounder on a QB, particularly with it being Matt Leinart, then a drop to Jay Cutler... and then quite a bit of argument as to who is next in the order. Unless Cutler has a great combine/workout, I don't see the Lions using their forthcoming top ten pick on him. And even if he does, it would be yet another year with a first round pick not spent on defense. That adds up after awhile.
In reality, Detroit would be much better off with a DE like Tamba Hali or Mathias Kiwanuka. In a division where the other three starting QBs on opening day in 2006 might be Rex Chapman (Chicago), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay, if Brett Favre retires) and Brad Johnson (Minnesota, if Daunte Culpepper isn't completely recovered from his injury), it only makes sense to get a strong pass rushing threat.
From: Jason Simmons
To: Lou Pickney
Date: Dec 20, 2005 4:15 PM
Subject: Cowboys draft strategy
Hey Lou,
As always great analysis, I would like to add my input as a Dallas homer into the mix. I believe right now offensive tackle and outside linebacker are the biggest area of need for the Cowboys. It is painfully obviously how bad their offensive line is right now and teams are able to run the ball at will with Fujita unable to make plays. Barring a free agent pick-up the Cowboys will draft either an OLB or OT. Just my two cents. Let me know what you think.
Lou: I concur with your thoughts, particularly at OT. Drew Bledsoe is starting to face more and more pressure, both from blitzing and from standard rush packages, on a weekly basis, and a quality OT could do some great things for the Cowboys.
With OLB, it is a possibility, though the Cowboys must also consider MLB with the likely forthcoming retirement of MLB Dat Nguyen.
I have the Cowboys penciled in at WR as of this writing, since they need to get some youth in at that position. But if Bill Parcells is more concerned with winning now than building toward the future, then he might forego a rookie WR in favor of an OT. We'll see.
