|
National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
June 8, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Matt Smith
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 27, 2007 3:30 PM
Subject: Quarterbacks
How do you compare this years top quarterbacks to last years classe rating
them as you saw them as they came out in the draft, not how they have fared
in the pros, so if they all came out who would go first and so on
Lou: The fact that Vince Young, Matt Leinart, *and* Jay Cutler all earned starting jobs during the 2006 season speaks to their ability and long-term potential. Young carried the Titans in a remarkable second half of the season run, Leinart unseated Kurt Warner in Arizona quickly, and Jay Cutler (while not finding much success in the win column) has the confidence of Mike Shanahan to the point where Cutler remained in the starting spot despite the fact that his presence there likely cost the Broncos a playoff spot. Shanahan has job security, so he was willing to take the gamble: that's the long-term potential he sees in Cutler.
So, if you're talking about trying to replicate that from the 2007 QB class, that's a tall order. Rookie QBs usually struggle, as even the most intelligent, instinctive, and athletic players have to adjust to a very steep learning curve. JaMarcus Russell will have every opportunity to earn the starting job in Oakland, and Brady Quinn could be playing right away in Cleveland. Have you seen Quinn and fellow first round pick Joe Thomas hanging out at Cavs games? There's a reason those two are together: they're the future of the franchise. Charlie Frye may give him a run in training camp, but ultimately that job will belong to Quinn. Cleveland gave up its first rounder in the 2008 draft to get Quinn, and they wouldn't have done that if they didn't see him as being the future franchise QB.
Beyond that... Troy Smith could be a surprise player for Baltimore. Steve McNair, at 34, is not going to last forever, and it's not as if Kyle Boller is the heir apparent there. Drew Stanton in Detroit has long-term potential, John Beck in Miami appears to be a project for on down the line (post Trent Green), and who knows what to expect in Philly with Kevin Kolb going to the Eagles in round two.
Overall, I think the 2006 QB class has an overall stronger long-term prognosis, but there is potential and depth to the 2007 crew that may pan out on down the line.
From: Jared Gruber
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 29, 2007 8:49 PM
Subject: Colts overall haul
Hey Lou. So what do you think about the Colts overall haul? I still think
that Polian is nuts for not taking Poz in the 1st round and getting
Gonzalez in the 2nd, but he redeemed himself when he got Hughes and
Pitcock in the the 3rd. I'm surprised that he didn't try to get Rufus
Alexander in the 4th or fifth but he knows what he is doing. Roy Hall is
an interesting prospect and I thought we got great value for Michael Coe.
I don't reaalt know anything about the LB we got(Clint Session) but Bill
seems to have a gift for finding good LB in Day two. The SS we got should
have a great impact on special teams, too. Anyway, I've kept you too long.
I love your site and will continue to view it whenever you get things
rolling again. Later.
Lou: It surprised me that Polian went with a WR in the first round, though I'd hardly call him nuts for doing it. Polian built a championship team in Indianapolis, and I trust his judgment.
He must think highly of Arkansas guard Tony Ugoh, shedding next year's first rounder to make a move to get him. But the great moves for the Colts, in my estimation, came in the third round, where the Colts drafted Cal CB Daymeion Hughes in a major steal, then got DT Quinn Pitcock three picks later. Bang bang, two major needs filled -- and at third round prices. Advantage: Colts.
I have to admit that the Colts opting to disregard the LB position until round three was a bit of a surprise, but Indy's "Tampa 2" defense utilizes undersized linebackers, and at 5'11" Pitt OLB Clint Session fits that bill. But Session is a bit of a ballhawk and seems to me to be a good fit for Indy's defense, with skills at throwing tight ends off their patterns and good strength.
Overall, what the Colts did surprise me in some ways, but it's mighty hard for me to argue with what the team ended up with out of the draft. The Colts are thin at RB behind Joseph Addai, but it would take just one free agent pickup to remedy that situation.
NFL Draft Prospect Profiles
Draft King is owned and operated by Lou Pickney. Copyright © 2003-2025, all rights reserved. Information on this website should not be used for any gambling purposes, nor does it constitute any sort of advice, financial or otherwise.
|