Recap: #13 Northwestern @ #18 Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Homecoming at any level always has the extra bells and whistles, and today was no different. Wolverine country simply has a different feel right now and it is something that fans haven’t felt in a long time. From the Alumni Band, to Alumni players, everyone was out for the most anticipated game in recent memory for both of these ranked squads.

Michigan lost the toss, took the ball, and saw Jehu Chesson take the opening kickoff back almost untouched for the entire 96 yards to paydirt. When asked about kicking away from Peppers to Chesson, Peppers knew the play was coming:

“Big Mistake…big mistake… Jehu is a top speed guy on the team and I could tell the ball was coming to him based on how he teed it up…so I told him I got your block follow me”

Northwestern, would take the field just outside of their own 20 yard line. One stuffed run and two incomplete passes later, Michigan would start their next drive just outside of the 50 yard line. De’Veon smith broke it loose to get the Wolverines in scoring range, Jake Butt would slip open on a bootleg to get them inside the 5 yard line, and Drake Johnson would cap off the drive for the teams second touchdown of the afternoon. With ten minutes left in the 1st quarter, Michigan lead 14-0.

The Cats finally made some progress on their second possession of the game, driving down the field only to stall out on a 4th and 1 that eventually lead to their first missed field goal of the game. Michigan would get the ball back unscathed.

Joe Kerridge rumbled for a 32 yard run to move the Wolverines back into scoring territory where Chesson got the team inside the 5. Then, somehow, Rudock read the read option correctly and got his first points of the day on a goal line stretch. With 2 minutes left in the 1st quarter Michigan would lead 21-0.

2nd Quarter

After scoring more points in the 1st quarter than the Cats had allowed all season, Michigan started off the second quarter with the ball once more. Faced with a 3rd and 5, the Wolverines continued to slice through the Cats defense, this time by tight end AJ Williams. Quickly, Big Blue was faced with another third down after two minimal gains and the Wolverines failed to convert for the first time all game.

Faced with another 3rd and long, Northwestern suffered a false start penalty to move them back to the 15 yard line and a tough 3rd and 15. Wideout Austin Carr would get the best of Peppers on that one and the Cats converted to keep the drive alive. Another penalty would push them back for a 2nd and 17 and then a 3rd and 15 that they were not so lucky in converting. Chalk up a coverage sack for the defense and the Cats would punt once again.

Jourdan Lewis would not let the fans down in this game either as the first time the ball went up for grabs in his direction, it turned into another touchdown for the Wolverines. Extending their lead to 28-0 with just over 3 left in the first half. Peppers had some more than kind words about Lewis’ play so far:

“Jourdan is the best Corner in the country…that makes everyone’s job a lot easier when you have someone who can shut down half the field…it’s expected from him…Jourdan inspires me to play better”

At halftime, the Wolverines had, 2 rushing touchdowns, a defensive touchdown, and score off of specials teams. The only thing more impressive than that was the continuation of their now two and half game shutout. The score at the half, 28-0. After about 30 plays a piece, Michigan had outgained Northwestern 213 yards to their 95.

The Wolverines would get their first field goal for the game around the 10 minute mark in the 3rd quarter. The 47 yarder was a career long for kicker and punter Kenny Allen. Wolverines extend their lead to 31-0.

James Ross would be ejected shortly after for targeting and will miss the first half of the Michigan State game next week.

Throughout the third, Michigan and the offense put it into cruise control ate up as much clock as possible. Extending the time of possession battle in their favor by over 7 minutes time. (24:11 to 17:46) Northwestern would fail to cross midfield once more and were forced to punt.

4th Quarter

Big Blue put it in cruise control on their way to their 38-0 rout of the Cats. There wasn’t a weak side of the ball and Michigan could seemingly do no wrong. Northwestern only crossed midfield once the entire game, Michigan did not turn the ball over, and they scored every possible way you can in a college football game (Offense, Special Teams, and Defense). When asked about any of the shutouts or the streak every player simply stated:

“it’s expected of us…that’s what Coach wants…that’s what they tell us everyday”

Stats

Passing: Jake Rudock – 17/23 – 179 yards

Rushing – De’Veon Smith – 8 carries – 59 yards – 3 receptions – 19 yards

Receiving – AJ Williams – 4 catches – 48 yards

Defensive – Jabrill Peppers – 5 tackles – 1 for loss – 3 break ups

Defensive – Jourdan Lewis – 4 tackles – 1 for loss – 1 interception – 1 touchdown

Defensive – Willie Henry – 4 tackles – 2 sacks – 2.5 for loss

Pre-game Peek: #13 Northwestern @ #18 Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

By the Numbers:

Today’s matchup is all about the defense. Boasting the #1 and #2 nationally ranked scoring defenses, it is set to be slugfest. Michigan, holds the edge in the air while the Cats look to control the ground game. Both teams average around 390 yards per game and only allow 7 (Northwestern) and 7.6 (Michigan) points per game. Conversely, the two teams rack up 27.8 ppg (Michigan) and 25.4 (Northwestern). On paper the two teams couldn’t be more evenly matched with the biggest disparity coming in the conversion rates on 3rd and 4th down and in the redzone. Northwestern leads in 3rd down conversions with 55%, and 4th down offense with 50%. Michigan holds the edge in scoring territory with a gaudy 94% offensive efficiency and 83% defensively.

Players to Watch:

NW – Offense – Justin Jackson, RB – the lead dog for the cats is talented runner and would probably be successful despite the offense he is playing behind. The Cats run heavy attack only looks to showcase the young runner who has averaged 122 yards per game over his last 13 games. Jackson, has been the team’s leading rusher in every game he has played.

NW – Defense – Anthony Walker, MLB – the Miami native is all purpose defender who leads the team in tackles with 44, and 8 tackles for loss on the season. Walker is the leader of the #1 ranked scoring defense that hasn’t had one change in the lineup all season and they have allowed only 7ppg through their 5 consecutive wins.

UM – Offense – Jake Rudock, QB – somewhat of a copout picking the quarterback, but here is why. Even though this isn’t the same Wolverine squad that took the field week 1, people are too quick to forget how bad quarterback play can erase even the most soundly executed game. Rudock needs to be a game manager today and not try to show off in front of a voracious home crowd.

NW – Defense – Jourdan Lewis, CB – regarded by some as the best cover corner in the nation, Lewis doesn’t shy away from contact either. The Cats will not shy away from the run and they love to test the edges, if Lewis stays honest he very well could make a game changing play anytime the ball is in the air.

The Prediction:

Northwestern struggles to have any success through the air but come out to an early lead thanks to the efforts of Jackson. The Wolverines will struggle out of the gate but will look like a new team in the second half on their way to a come from behind victory. Giving them their first win as a ranked team against a ranked team since 2013 when they beat the Irish under the lights. Big Blue wins on homecoming, 24-17.

Dear, Summer

Where the hell did you go?

I blinked and it’s August already. They say time flies when you are having fun and I’ll say that is partially true. Time also flies when you work, are away from home, or when you go through big changes in your life.

I’ve had some fun the last month, but I have also went through all of the aforementioned scenarios as well. Thank god for my new house and roomates they are all a blessing.

I want my show back.

Guess that’s it. For my current mood listen to Dear Summer – Jayz

It’s kind of like fishing.

Why or what is like fishing you ask?

This field, yo.

It takes patience, great timing, good bait, and a little luck to catch what you want.

I feel like at this juncture after recent announcements at HOMTV, my metaphorical lake has gotten much foggier. However, fog is not an indicator of a lack of opportunity, simply the loss of a clear path.

All-Access is going to be cooling for the month of July, ending our long running episode streak of I don’t even know how many in a row. This, makes me sad first because I didn’t take a full time position offered at Channel 10 as I wanted to still try and do the show, while making improvements. Secondly, I feel bad for the rookies and juniors who work with and around the show. Not until I saw everyone else’s reactions did I realize how many people our show affects even though nobody watches it. Hi Mom.

On to less whiny things now.

As for the Rookies, man, I love my team. Thanks Deb and Brandie for dropping these three gems into my life. First Richie and Alex, now these three? Clutch.  Spencer, you ask questions and work hard, I don’t care what field you’re in, keep that up and you’ll have no issues in your career endeavors. Don’t ever lose the snark either, take it from me, you will need that skill one day for radio and much more.  Zach, you are still a little raw bub, but what I’ve seen shows vast amounts of potential and I want to be one of those people who help groom you into the All-Purpose-Multimedia-Ass-Kicker I know you can be. Seeing you come back all sweaty and tired from a sporting event makes me happy because I know you are out there busting it to get the story done. Andrea, Im glad you decided to stay. Even with your experiences in the past you haven’t let that stop you from putting out good work. The best continue to get better everyday. Also, I’m glad you didn’t scare Mateen away.

As for my Juniors and other Paid HOMies. You guys know what’s up. We will get through this All-Access Hiatus.

Another reason why this field is like fishing: It’s more fun to fish with friends, than by yourself. Fortunately for me, my boat is full.

Bye, Haters.

2015 NFL Draft – Rounds 2 & 3

Day 2 is where the real scouting departments show off their stuff. It’s easy to identify great players, but from here on out each player has some type of flaw be it big or small. Here’s how it went down.

The Giants select: Landon Collins, Strong Safety, Alabama

This is one of the most sound defensive players in the draft. Collins was a mainstay for the Crimson Tide and while he is not the quickest player out there, his savvy and willingness to lay the wood on opposing ballcarriers is undeniable. Big Blue needed to get a defensive player early and Collins at worst can be a 1st and 2nd down safety and a 3rd down linebacker. At best, he could be a longtime starter and eventual captain.

Grade: B+

Tampa Bay selects: Donovan Smith, Offensive Tackle, Penn State

After grabbing Winston in round one, this pick makes sense. Even though there are knocks on his motivation and work ethic, I have to commend this young man for sticking with Penn State through the dark times post-scandal and bowl ban.

Grade: B

Oakland selects: Mario Edwards Junior, Defensive End/Tackle, Florida State

Oakland has been on point with their picks thusfar in the draft and Mario is the type of player who will find a spot even if he doesn’t have a defined spot coming out of school. He’s got a pedigree (father played DB for the Cowboys) and even though his numbers weren’t through the roof, he was a top prospect out of high school and a mainstay on a stingy Florida State defense.

Grade: A

Jacksonville selects: TJ Yeldon, Running Back, Alabama

Another great value pick to start off the second round. Yeldon would have been a workhorse starter on just about every other team in the nation but the crowded Bama backfield made it tough for him to shine as much as he could. Despite the shared time he still got his yards and always seemed to have an answer when the Tide needed a big play.

Grade: A

The Jets select: Devin Smith, Wideout, Ohio (State)

The Jets just solidified their first pick with a monster of a #2 pick. Smith is a big game, big play type of wide receiver. The deep ball is his specialty and that doesn’t just mean he runs faster than his defender. He tracks the ball better than anyone else, understands how to highpoint passes, and can make tough catches in traffic. Billed as a one trick pony, he is going to be a much needed addition to the Jets anemic offense

Grade: A

Washington selects: Preston Smith, Defensive End, Mississippi State

The skins need help all across the board and Smith is a solid, but not great addition to the defense that struggled to be consistent. He had a good senior year and benefited from the extra year. Kiper thinks he was a a first rounder, time will tell.

Grade: B+

Chicago selects: Eddie Goldman, Nosetackle, Florida State 

With a personal commendation from a Bears legend before the pick, Chicago and the fans appeared to love the pick. So do I, Goldman is the stubby type of nostetackle that has enough athletic ability to stick around for every down. The Bears needed defense, and they got another key piece to the Nole’s championship defense.

Grade: A-

Tennesee (from Giants) select: Dorial Green-Beckham, Wideout, Mizzou/Oklahoma

The former top prospect is long, strong, and talented. However, his small hands and off the field issues ranging from pot charges to domestic violence dropped him out of the first round and could have caused a further slip. He’s one of those players where if he behaves himself and learns to be a pro, he could be a probowler. If not, he’ll end up another statistic.

Grade: B

Carolina selects: Devin Funchess, Wideout, Michigan

With the addition of Funchess the Panthers and Cam Newton have two of the best vertical threats in the younger half of the league. Funchess is a tough player to evaluate as he spent the majority of his career on a Michigan team that was in a state of disarray with no true quarterback throwing him the ball. He does have a drop problem (almost 9% drop rate) but he’s got strength and agility rare for a player his size.

Grade: B+

Atlanta selects: Jalen Collins, Cornerback, LSU

Jalen is talented and has all the traits you want from a corner but with a limited amount of starts it is hard to judge how he’ll fare against NFL competition. Again, the Falcons need help on defense and if he pans out, he could be one of the bigger steals of this years draft.

Grade: B-

Houston (from Cleveland) selects: Benardrick McKinney, Inside Backer, Mississippi State

With each passing pick, Houston is getting stronger on defense. McKinney is fearless against the run and though he may not be as fast as some would like, he is the heady, classic style of inside backer that isn’t going to dissappear from the NFL.

Grade: A-

New Orleans selects: Hau’oli Kikaha, Outside Linebacker, Washington

With Kikaha, if you are a slave to the combine, you hate this pick. Personally, I am not and this kid’s tape is extraordinary. He was a sack machine in his final year on a staunch Washington defense. Don’t look at his workout numbers. Look at his tape and his stats. As long as the 4.9 40 yard dash isn’t his downfall, he could be another big steal in round 2.

Grade: A

Minnesota Selects: Eric Kendricks, Inside Backer, UCLA

Continuing the run on linebackers in round 2, the Vikings went for the hyper productive Kendricks who is a tackling machine. Minnesota’s linebacking core is aging and underperforming. Kendricks could be a ten year starter in the NFL if he plays to his potential.

Grade: A

San Fran selects: Jaquiski Tartt, Safety, Samford

Super talented, yet super raw. The small school standout only played one year of high school ball but shined in the FCS ranks. Risky pick for the 9ers but, he’s another guy who’s tape matches his 4.47 40 time.

Grade: B

Philly (from MIA) selects: Eric Rowe, Defensive Back, Utah

Rowe started 45 of 47 games at Utah. Playing multiple positions and doing them all well, Rowe is the nifty type of defensive back that is trending in the NFL as the offenses continue to spread out. Good in the open field and good in coverage. Projects as a corner, but has the skills to keep himself on the field for every down.

Grade: B+

San Diego selects: Denzel Perryman, Inside Backer, Da U

He wore number 52 for the Hurricanes and lived up to every ounce of that. Perryman is the best backer in this years draft and the Chargers just grabbed an instant starter and possible pro bowler in the future. There’s nothing he can’t do from a defensive standpoint. Love this kid.

Grade: A

Kansas City selects: Mitch Morse, Offensive Guard, Mizzou

He’s your standard tough and gritty interior lineman who can play stiff at times. The Chiefs needed to shore up the o-line and he was a solid, but not flashy pick that filled a need.

Grade: B-

Buffalo selects: Ronald Darby, Cornerback, Florida State

Ronald Darby was yet another key piece to the Noles defense. He’s fast and built well but has moments where he may miss a tackle. Good speed, great technique, but time will tell to see if he was a product of a good system or a product of his own ability.

Grade: A-

Cleveland (from Houston) selects: Nate Orchard, Defensive End, Utah

The former wideout is still developing his skills as an end. However, with double digit sack totals in his final year, he’s shown that he is only getting better from here on out. He’s not fast in drills, but he’s fast on the field.

Grade: B+

Miami selects: Jordan Phillips, Nosetackle, Oklahoma

Phillips was not super productive but his stature alone makes him look the part. Tough, and experienced, the 320+ pounder will continue to plug up running lanes in the NFL but I don’t know if he has pro bowl skills. This is round 2, so not a terrible pick.

Grade: B-

Cincy selects: Jake Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Oregon

Jake is a huge reason for the Ducks’ success over the past few years. When he wasn’t playing, the Ducks’ offense scored almost 10 less points per game. He’s better than you think, and if he can keep himself on the field, the Bengals will have a longtime starter at left tackle.

Grade: A

Detroit selects: Ameer Abdullah, Running Back, Nebraska

I wanted Duke Johnson, but, Ameer is more than a consolation prize. He was super productive and has all the character and little things that make a player great. His biggest issue is ball security but with the Lions’ multiple attack, he won’t have to be an every down back. Some compare him to Sproles, and that is not a bad person to be compared to.

Grade: A-

Baltimore (from Arizona) selects: Maxx Williams, Tight End, Minnesota

He could have stayed for another two years to develop, but when your whole family has made a living in the NFL, why not? Maxx is a stretch tight end that can offer you a lot of options in your gameplan week to week. The Ravens need to give Flacco more weapons and Williams should fit that bill.

Grade: B+

Pittsburgh selects: Senquez Golson, Cornerback, Ole Miss

Golson has a true knack for the ball. He is always around it, and he creates his own opportunities as well. Not afraid to hit, but could use some polishing in his all around game. Should start day 1 for the Steelers.

Grade: A-

St Louis selects: Robert Haventsein, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin

Nasty, a little chubby, but uber talented and looks to be another Wisconson lineman who fits right in at the pro level. Great hand punch and surprising agility for a guy that frankly doesn’t look athletic at all. Arrived at Wisconsin weighing 380 and dropped down to the 330 range for his playing weight.

Grade: A

Arizona selects: Marcus Golden, Defensive End, Mizzou

Stubby arms are the biggest knock on Golden. Billed as the “other” pass rusher for Mizzou, he still tallied double digit sacks in his final year and battled his way back from dropping out of high school and a short JUCO career. Not a fan of short armed defensive ends, but his tape is solid.

Grade: B

Denver selects: Ty Sambrailo, Offensive Tackle, Colorado State

A world ranked skier and snowboarder, he is fearless. Can play left tackle or guard in the NFL. Nice hands and good feet. Not overly mean or nasty but he’s started everywhere on the line besides center.

Grade: A-

Dallas selects: Randy Gregory, Outside backer, Nebraska

Arguably the best edge rusher but stock crashed after he tested positive for weed at the draft. Lead the B1G in QB hurries his last two years and has the skills to do it at the next level. He’ll need to bulk up to play his game at the next level. Bottom line, he didn’t rape, beat, steal, or kill anyone and a weed problem can be overcome. Hopefully he uses his time in the Chicago green room to motivate him and keep him clean. If he does, watch out NFC East.

Grade: A

Tampa Bay selects: Ali Marpet, Offensive Lineman, Hobart

Dominant at his level of play. Sneaky athletic abilty, and had a great combine and senior bowl. Biggest question is the obvious one, does division 3 translate to the NFL? In a few games at his level he was picking players up off the ground and dropping them. Exciting value pick for the Bucs as they shore up their offensive line.

Grade: A

Green Bay selects: Quinten Rollins, Cornerback/Point Guard, Miami (OH)

Love this pick. Love this player. Rollins was a one year wonder for the Redhawks and can only get better from here. If he doesn’t start day 1, he will be a full time starter year 2.

Grade: A-

Seattle selects: Frank Clark, Defensive End, Michigan

Troubled past and not enough to tape to warrant a pick at this point in the draft. Size is good, character and tape are lackluster.

Grade: C-

Patriots select: Jordan Richards, Safety, Stanford

This kid might as well have been a Patriot before the draft even started. Super heady and aware of his position on the football field at all times. Captain and quarterback of the Cardinal defense. Great size, not the best timed speed but that isn’t a big deal with the safety spot at the next level. Once again, the Pats find the guy others may have overlooked.

Grade: A

Indy selects: D’Joun Smith, Cornerback, FAU

D’Joun is another one of the big time small school prospects in this years draft. Sound technique but the big question is how will he stack up against big time wideouts in the NFL>

Grade: B

Tennessee selects: Jermiah Poutasi, Offensive Guard, Utah

This is a guy I really became a fan of after I did more research. Absolutely enormous and great in the run game. If they want to get the full potential out of Mariota, this was a great place to start. Given his size, he is mobile enough. In the run game though? Poutasi should make an instant impact.

Grade: A-

Jacksonville selects: AJ Cann, Offensive Guard, South Carolina

You can’t go through Cann. You can go around him though. Not a great athlete, but if he makes contact, the defender is removed for the play. Started 51 of 52 games.

Grade: B+

Oakland selects: Clive Walford, Tight End, Miami

Not in love with this pick, but some people love this guy. Set records at Miami for tight ends and has great size to translate to the next level. Great hands, only fumbled once in 3 years. 7 touchdowns in his senior year. Could be a big surprise, though.

Grade: B+

Seattle selects: Tyler Lockett, Wideout, Kansas State

Lockett is the best value pick of the 2nd and 3rd round. Should be an instant impact for the Seahawks. Wilson need someone to blow the top off the defense and the Hawks just got it in the former Wildcat Captain.

Grade: A

Houston (from the Jets) select: Jaelen Strong, Wideout, Arizona State

Looks the part of an NFL wideout. Good size, good speed, but his hands are the most impressive part of his game. He can make contact catches and had his way with the PAC-12. Houston needed someone to throw the ball to and he may not blow up right away but he looks to be the type of player that comes on in the second half of his rookie year.

Grade: B+

Chicago selects: Hroniss Grasu, Center, Oregon

Just big enough for size to not be an issue and something has to be said for a guy that started all 52 games at Oregon. Their offense, despite how spread out it may be, was prolific because of line play. Skill players come and go but Grasu was a stump in the middle of the line and is smart enough to work his way into a starting role.

Grade: B+

St Louis selects: Jamon Brown, Offensive Tackle, Louisville

Big fella both in the vertical and horizontal sense of the word. For the Rams to get the best return on their investment with Gurley they need to make sure they have the blockers up front. A member of a strong offense throughout 2 different coordinators, the big fella should fit in nicely in St Louis.

Grade: B

Atlanta selects: Tevin Coleman, Running Back, Indiana

Atlanta got a steal in Coleman at this point in the draft. Fantastic on the field production and good both as an inside and outside runner. Only knock on Coleman is that he runs too upright. They need the help in the run game as the Steven Jackson experiment didn’t pan out.

Grade: A

The Giants select: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Defensive End, UCLA

Big Blue has a knack for finding great defensive lineman all throughout the draft but have not been as successful in recent years. Odighizuwa is not a pass rusher but is a classic run stuffer who can hold the edge against more physical teams. Motor is not the issue, athleticism and health are a concern after a few surgeries hampered his production.

Grade: C+

Nola selects: Garret Grayson, Quarterback, Colorado State

Billed as one of if not the strongest arm in the draft, Grayson looks to be the incumbent starter for the waning Drew Brees. Great value grab by the Saints who will probably be in a state of flux for the next few years.

Grade: A

Kansas City (from Minnesota) selects: Chris Conley, Wideout, Georgia

KC needs help at wide receiver after being in the bottom of the league for TD’s caught by wideouts. Conley, has good size and blazing speed to go with his his solid on field production. However, the NFL is not a track meet and for him to be effective he needs to polish his routes and learn the finer points of the position at the next level. Ran a 4.35 40 yard dash and had a 45 inch vertical jump.

Grade: B+

Cleveland selects: Duke Johnson, Running Back, Da U

One of my favorite backs in this years draft. Duke is a do it all back who broke records at Miami and considering the running back pedigree from there, something has to be said for that. Smooth runner who gained weight and didn’t lose any speed. Would have loved to see him on a more consistent team.

Grade: A

Nola (from Miami) selects: PJ Williams, Cornerback, Florida State

The other corner from the Noles championship defense, PJ is the more physical of the two that declared this year. Could be a free safety if he bulked up. Defends a lot of passes but his aggressive style leads to him getting beat as well. With some refining, he could be better than advertised as a corner if he clears up mistakes and stays out of trouble. Had a DUI dismissed earlier this year.

Grade: B

San Fran selects: Eli Harold, Outside Backer, Virginia

Can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 style defense and has the stuff you want out of a guy on the edge of your defense. Prison style body with a much more developed top half but doesn’t let it hinder his game too much. Second Team All-ACC in his final year and lead the team in tackles for loss. Great fit for a defense that likes do-it-all types of players.

Grade: B+

Detroit (from Minnesota through Kansas City) selects: Alex Carter, Cornerback, Stanford

Detroit hit a home run by addressing big needs with their first three picks without overdrafting them. The Lions have to be fond of Carter who they traded up to get. Honorable mention for the PAC-12 every year he played so you know that he his consistent. I worry about him covering shiftier wideouts as he struggles with double moves and doesn’t have the change of direction or recovery to make mistakes at the next level. With that said, he is a smart player who has good size and can tackle well enough for a nickelback.

Grade: B+

Buffalo selects: John Miller, Offensive Guard, Louisville

Offensive lineman is one of those spots where you can have enough depth. With the addition of Shady in the offseason it is in the Bills best interest to make sure they can protect their investment. Miller played well in a multiple offense and had 47 career starts. Questionable pass pro overshadowed by overall talent.

Grade: B

The Jets (from Houston) select: Lorenzo Mauldin, Outside Linebacker, Louisville

Huge for an outside backer. Mauldin is one of those great players who couldn’t have had a more difficult time growing up. Lived in a group home in highschool and was spurned by the Gamecocks the day before signing day. Lead team in sacks in 2012 and was 1st team All-ACC in his final year. Great character makeup and one of those players that it hard to root against.

Grade: B+

San Diego selects: Craig Magor, Cornerback, Texas State

Small school prospect who played above his competition. Started 46 of 48 career games and is another guy who’s character transcends his upbringing. Lost his Mother to an incident of Malpractice and took on a parental role for his younger siblings, so you know that he is fighting for more than just himself. Ran a 4.44 40 yard dash and had a 38 inch vertical so it will be interesting to see his story pan out.

Grade: B

Philly selects: Jordan Hicks, Outside Linebacker, Texas

10 inch hands and a 147 tackles in his final year at UT. The Longhorn linebacker has a great upside and got markedly better under the guidance of Charlie Strong. Does all of the little things that great players in the league do off the field. He will stick in the league, it’s just a matter of how hard.

Grade: A-

Cincy selects: Tyler Kroft, Tight End, Rutgers

A former wideout, Kroft has just enough speed to make him a vertical threat. Good size, but isn’t a natural pass catcher and according to scouts, lets too many balls hit his chest rather than extending and high pointing the ball.

Grade: B

Arizona selects: David Johnson, Running Back, Northern Iowa

Still no QB for the Cards, but they are putting pieces in place to make their offense more effective. Fast, but not quick. Good size for RB at 220lbs and a natural pass catcher who runs good routes and can be a mistmatch for linebackers.

Grade: B-

Pittsburgh selects: Sammie Coates, Wideout, Auburn

Big play wideout on a championship caliber team. Averaged 20 yards a catch but has some serious focus problems that lead to drops that shouldn’t happen. Good wideouts in the league have a box of tools to use and he doesn’t have that many outside of his turn and burn skills. Went off against Alabama for over 200 yards. Doesn’t need to be the man in the Steelers offense so his value as a slot guy is better than a right away style of contributor. Boom or bust type of player who could be scary if he figures out the game.

Grade: A-

Minnesota (from Detroit) selects: Danielle Hunter, Defensive End, LSU

In a continued effort to shore up the defense the Vikes opted for the Tigers defensive end. Prototype size and speed along with 23 consecutive starts. Lead the Tigers in tackles for loss but not a natural pass rusher by any extent as reflected by low sack totals. Sub 4.6 40 makes him an attractive draw despite low sack totals in the pass happy NFC North.

Grade: B+

St Louis (from Carolina) selects: Sean Mannion, Oregon State

All-PAC 12 selection over Brett Hundley. Mannion is obviously an insurance policy for newly acquired Nick Foles. Not super flashy but another player who does the little things well. 4 year starter who is calculated in everything he does. Speed is not the name of his game. Classic pocket QB at 6’6 who shouldn’t have passes batted away at the line.

Grade: B-

Baltimore selects: Carl Davis, Defensive Tackle, Iowa

They make em big and they make em strong out there in Iowa. Toughness is a prerequisite for any lineman on either side of the ball for the Hawkeyes. Big, long, and strong at 6’5 320 but doesn’t hustle and has little to no pass rush value. Needs to improve on quick-twitch areas of defensive line play or he won’t last.

Grade: C+

Dallas selects: Chaz Green, Offensive Tackle, Florida

Despite drafting OL in the first round year after year, it doesn’t hurt to shore up the strongest part of the fort. Dallas needs to protect Romo and whoever is running the ball so from a value point, I can see why they grabbed the former Gator. Green, is much better in pass protection than the run and given the recent roster moves, he fits their scheme better than he would have last year.

Grade: C+

Denver selects: Jeff Heuerman, Tight End, Ohio (State)

Great all around player that can turn it upfield when he does get the ball. Started every game of his last two seasons for the Championship Buckeyes. Production dipped after quarterback change, though. Looks the part, could surprise some people in Denver.Needs to improve blocking.

Grade: B-

Indy selects: Henry Anderson, Defensive End, Stanford

If you saw him in person you would think defensive tackle. Somewhat of a tweener who gets hustle plays but doesn’t have the handfighting skills or counter moves to be a productive pass rusher. Upside, he doesn’t take plays off and has a team first attitude. Best fit would be a 3-4 end spot where he can take up space and free up true edge rushers.

Grade: C+

Green Bay selects: Ty Montgomery, Wideout, Stanford

Looks the part at first glance and does have big play capability. Inconsistent as a route runner and relies on his natural athleticism and strength to make his mark on the field. Suspect hands and better suited as a returner. Great character guy who is willing to block and not afraid to throw a crack block if the window is there. Packers got a guy here that could surprise people.

Grade: A-

Washington (from Seattle) selects: Matt Jones, Running Back, Florida

Great size and should be a solid compliment in the Skins backfield. He can catch so not only limited to between the tackles type of runs. Vision is not there, but he doesn’t dance around the hole either. Does the dirty work at 6’2 230 and is the type of player every team should have, but not every team relies on.

Grade: B-

Cleveland (from New England) selects: Xavier Cooper, Defensive Tackle, Washington State

Not sure if Cooper is an insurance policy for #Feastmode or if they just needed the depth. Cooper is the type of player that needs to be in an aggressive style of defense as he is a disruptive force when he can pin his ears back. Sub 4.9 40 yard dash indicative of athletic ability that had him playing tight end back in high school. Started 25 games at Washington State and in a 4 man front, could be a great pairing with Shelton. In a 3-4 scheme, projects as a strongside defensive end.

Grade: C+

New England (Compensatory pick) selects: Geneo Grissom, Defensive End, Oklahoma

The Pats love their defensive ends and linebackers as their scheme calls for well rounded players that can rotate spots and handle every aspect of defensive football. Grissom is raw, but has played OLB and DE in college so it’s no surprise the Pats took a chance on the 6’3 260 pounder.

Grade: C+

Kansas City (Compensatory pick) selects: Steven Nelson,Cornerback,Oregon State

Ideal fit for a cover 2 style of defense where he doesn’t have to cover large amounts of the field. Scrappy, in your face, hustle type of player who’s will supercedes any natural ability. Solid in the Senior Bowl as he broke up two passes. Second team All-PAC12 in his final season.

Grade: C+

Cincy (Compensatory pick) selects: Paul Dawson, Inside Backer, TCU

Dawson comes from a long line of tough linebackers that man the middle of TCU’s 4-2-5 scheme. Dominant in his final season for the Frogs. Big 12 player of the year with 136 tackles, 20 for loss, and 4 interceptions. Despite on the field production, scouts knock his film study and his willingness to freelance and play outside the scheme. Some say he’s suited for a weakside backer in 4-3. Big fan of this kid and how he plays as the 4-2-5 allows your middle backer to freelance a little bit anyways. Best suited behind a 4 man front where he can use his eyes and speed to make plays.

Grade: A

Rnd 2
33	AZ from Tenn	Landon Collins	SS	Alabama
34	Tampa Bay	Donovan Smith	OT	Penn State
35	Raiders	Mario Edwards Jr	DL	Florida State
36	Jacksonville	TJ Yeldon	RB	Alabama
37	Jets	Devin Smith	WR	Ohio State
38	Washington	Preston Smith	DE	Mississippi State
39	Chicago	Eddie Goldman	NT	Florida State
40	Tenn from Giants	Dorial Green-Beckham	WR	Mizzou/Oklahoma
41	Carolina	Devin Funchess	WR/TE	Michigan
42	Atlanta	Jalen Collins	CB	LSU
43	Hou from Cle	Benardrick McKinney	ILB	Mississippi State
44	New Orleans	Hau’oli Kikaha	OLB	Washington
45	Minnesota	Eric Kendricks	ILB	UCLA
46	San Fransisco	Jaquiski Tartt	SS	Samford
47	Philly from Mia	Eric Rowe	DB	Utah
48	San Diego	Denzel Perryman	ILB	Miami
49	Kansas City	Mitch Morse	OG	Mizzou
50	Buffalo	Ronald Darby	CB	Florida State
51	Cleveland from Hou	Nate Orchard	DE	Utah
52	Miami	Jordan Phillips	DT	Oklahoma
53	Cincy	Jake Fisher	OT	Oregon
54	Detroit	Ameer Abdullah	RB	Nebraska
55	Bal from Az	Maxx Williams	TE	Minnesota
56	Pittsburgh	Senquez Golson	CB	Ole Miss
57	St Louis	Rob Havenstein	OT	Wisconsin
58	Arizona	Marcus Golden	DE	Mizzou
59	Denver	Ty Sambrailo	OT	Colorado State
60	Dallas	Randy Gregory	OLB	Nebraska
61	Tampa Bay	Ali Marpet	OL	Hobart
62	Packers	Quinten Rollins	CB	Miami (OH)
63	Seattle	Frank Clark	DE	Michigan
64	Patriots	Jordan Richards	SS	Stanford
Rnd 3
65	Indy from TB	D’Joun Smith	CB	Florida Atlantic
66	Tennessee	Jeremiah Poutasi	OG	Utah
67	Jacksonville	AJ Cann	OG	South Carolina
68	Oakland	Clive Walford	TE	Miami
69	Seattle	Tyler Lockett	WR	Kansas State
70	Hou from Jets	Jaelen Strong	WR	Arizona State
71	Chicago	Hroniss Grasu	OC	Oregon
72	St Louis	Jamon Brown	OT	Louisville
73	Atlanta	Tevin Coleman	RB	Indiana
74	Giants	Owamagbe Odighizuwa	DE	UCLA
75	Saints	Garret Grayson	QB	Colorado State
76	KC from Minn	Chris Conley	WR	Georgia
77	Cleveland	Duke Johnson	RB	Miami
78	Nola from Mia	PJ Williams	CB	Florida State
79	San Fransisco	Eli Harold	OLB	Virginia
80	Det from Minn/KC	Alex Carter	CB	Stanford
81	Buffalo	John Miller	OG	Louisville
82	Jets from Hou	Lorenzo, Mauldin	OLB	Louisville
83	San Diego	Craig Magor	CB	Texas State
84	Philly	Jordan Hicks	OLB	Texas
85	Bengals	Tyler Kroft	TE	Rutgers
86	Arizona	David Johnson	RB	Northern Iowa
87	Pittsburgh	Sammie Coates	WR	Auburn
88	Minn from Det	Danielle Hunter	DE	LSU
89	St Louis from Car	Sean Mannion	QB	Oregon State
90	Baltimore	Carl Davis	DT	Iowa
91	Dallas	Chaz Green	OT	Florida
92	Denver	Jeff Heuerman	TE	Ohio (State)
93	Indy	Henry Anderson	DE	Stanford
94	Green Bay	Ty Montgomery	WR	Stanford
95	Was from Sea	Matt Jones	RB	Florida
96	Cle from Ne	Xavier Cooper	DT	Washington State
97	Ne Comp. Pick	Geneo Grissom	DE	Oklahoma
98	KC Comp. Pick	Steven Nelson	CB	Oregon State
99	Cincy Comp. Pick	Paul Dawson	ILB	TCU

NFL Draft 2015 – Round 1

As legendary as the Radio City Music Hall is, something about Chi-town just feels right. After months of splitting hairs and watching film, the day of reckoning has finally arrived. This was no smooth ride for many of the top prospects but from here on out, their college accolades mean nothing now, and it doesn’t matter what they did, the important thing is what they do. Tampa Bay held the first pick, and here’s how it shook out.

Tampa Bay selects: Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State University.

This is a pick everyone saw coming and the biggest question, is simply “can this kid behave himself?”. I believe he will, but what worries me are his mistakes. Once he finds a receiver he is fond of, he will throw to him relentlessly. In the NFL, that’s one of the easiest type of QBs to prepare for. Under pressure, he’s great, but he hasn’t faced an NFL defense and an NFL culture that is unforgiving. He will make the Bucs better, but if they can’t protect him, his career will be a short one. Bottom line, they need the help. Jameis elevates the players around him and he is worthy of the 1st overall pick.

Grade: A

Tennessee selects: Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon

No trade here, the Titans need an answer at quarterback and they may have just found it. I don’t buy into the system quarterback myth when the QB is as efficient as this kid can be. He doesn’t throw picks, he doesn’t make bad decisions. Had he played for a more traditional offense I believe he would have won a championship both pre and post BCS. Mariota has more tools at his disposal than Winston and he doesn’t have the off the field baggage. His arm may not be as big, but his ability to buy time and his patience are something the new age of NFL QB has to have.

Grade: A

Jacksonville selects: Dante Fowler Jr, Defensive End, Florida

Defense wins championships and if the Jags want to claw their way out of the bottom tier of the league, this guy is a great place to start. There are a number of pass rushers in this draft but Fowler is too strong and a fantastic athlete. The new Leo for the Jags defense is going to be disruptive from jump, but he will face a learning curve as he won’t be able to outmuscle and outrun blockers like he did in college. Love the pick from a location standpoint for the DE born and bred in Florida.

Grade: B+

Oakland selects: Amari Cooper, Wideout, Alabama

Oakland needs to feed their offense some fresh legs and talent and what better place to start than the most consistent wide receiver in the draft. Kevin White may pan out better, but right now, Cooper is the mountaintop for wideouts in this years draft. Cooper has hands, moxy, route running, and experience playing in the SEC during it’s recent streak of dominance. I worry about Bama players translating to the NFL, but Cooper may be the exception.

Grade: A-

Washington selects: Brandon Scherff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Multi-talented mauler from what has been one of the best places for offensive lineman in recent memory. Relentless is what you hear when you ask about Scherff, and the tape holds true to that. The Skins have to protect their assets and bolster a run game that is needed for success given their style of play. This was their first 1st round pick in a couple years and it was the best way to spend it.

Grade: A

The Jets select: Leonard Williams, Defensive End, USC

The Jets love their defensive players and when you add Williams to an already strong defensive front, you made the strongest part of their fort that much better. The tape on Williams is stellar and he is ready to play day 1. I love the player, but I am not in love with the pick specifically for the Jets. They need offensive help or they will continue to look up at the Patriots.

Grade: A-

Da Bears select: Kevin White, Wideout, West Virginia

When you play in the NFC north, you need to score points. Kevin White is a man unafraid. Yes, he is a one year wonder, and yes he only lines up on the right side, but you can’t deny what you saw on tape. In his games against the SEC he caught the ball at will and I don’t see the defensive backs for the Vikings, Packers, or Lions locking him down. Marshall is gone, and Alshon can’t do it all by himself. Jay Cutler needed someone, and the Bears just got that someone.

Grade: A

Atlanta selects: Vic Beasley, Defensive End, Clemson

Beasley will be the combine wonder who doesn’t shine right away from this years draft. He’s too raw and inconsistent to be drafted #8 overall. He doesn’t cover the run well, but he can be great against the pass. The Falcons need help all over, and he may pan out but I’d be surprised if he lit up the NFC South in his first year. They needed a pass rusher, they got a pass rusher, but that is about it.

Grade: C+

The Giants select: Ereck Flowers, Offensive Lineman, Da U

The Giants have to protect Eli or he will throw the ball to the other team every game. He’s raw, but I like the upside for the big fella out of The U. He’s got the height/weight for the Giants style of play and I like the fit, I do worry about how fast he’ll adjust to the speed of the NFL.

Grade: B

St. Louis selects: Todd Gurley, Running Back, Georgia

The Rams are quietly building one of the best defenses in the league and have spent a number of their high rounds picks on players who are great all around when it comes to defense. With Nick Foles, I feel they have a higher ceiling than with Bradford, but their division is brutal. Now, with the best running back in the draft on their team, they need to give him some blockers and this kid could easily be a 1,000 yard rusher his rookie year. The talent is real, lets hope the health isn’t a long term issue.

Grade: A-

Minnesota selects: Trae Waynes, Corner, Michigan State

The Vikings need to be able to stop the pass every week in the NFC North and Waynes can contribute right away. The big knock on Waynes is that he isn’t the most surefire tackler in the draft but his speed and experience on a top-ranked defense has to speak volumes. In the Cotton Bowl, he didn’t look great, but there is something special about this kid and it will be interesting to see him play out of the confines of Spartan Stadium.

Grade: A-

Cleveland selects: another quarterback. Just kidding. They went with Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle, Washington AKA “Feast Mode”

The Browns looks like they are putting themselves in a position to compete in their very tough division. Shelton is a monster and my favorite defensive lineman in the draft. Great character, great tape. He struggled early in his career but was going through the death of his brother and a number of other issues. Once he was able to focus on football, he looked like the next great nosetackle in the NFL. Cleveland needed someone to plug the middle and plug might as well be this kid’s middle name.

Grade: A

Nola selects: Andrus Peat, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

New Orleans needs to protect Drew Brees and while tackle was a position of need, I don’t know if Peat is going to be a day 1 beast. He’s still raw and can be physical, but he is not physical by nature even though he started 27 games at LT for the Cardinal. The Saints went with need here and with two first rounder they may be able to salvage something still. He could be good, but he would have been better off waiting another year.

Grade: C

Miami selects: Davonte Parker, Wideout, Louisville

Parker is a solid, consistent performer on good teams throughout his career. He did have an injury early this year but he came back without missing a beat. He’s a prototype wideout and should be a great addition to the Dolphins as they continue to try and develop their offense. He’ s not flashy, but he’s done well under different OC’s in college.

Grade: B

San Diego (from San Fran) selects: Melvin Gordon, Running Back, Wisconsin

The Chargers did the right thing trading up for Gordon. He’s a do it all back who looked like he was a step above the defenses he played every week. So many yards, so many plays. He does it all. He does run upright but he’s got breakaway speed despite what his 40 time dictates. Great move by the Chargers.

Grade: A

Houston selects: Kevin Johnson, Corner, Wake Forest

Johnson is a do it all corner who can tear your head off if he gets a clean look. He can cover, tackle, and just be a disruptive force overall. He does miss some tackles but he does have the ability and will to strike wide receivers. The defense just got better and the Texans are setting themselves up to compete with the Colts.

Grade: A-

San Fran (from San Diego) selects: Arik Armstead, Defensive End/Power Forward, Oregon

Armstead certainly looks the part, but his production says otherwise. The former hooper needs to be able to play every down and at the moment he is still a work in progress. With the defensive culture created in San Fran he won’t be able to take plays off and he will have players around him that will be able to cultivate his skills further. Not great as a value pick, but with a defense that is in flux with injuries and retirements the 9er’s have to get new bodies.

Grade: B-

Kansas City selects: Marcus Peters, Cornerback, Washington

The Chiefs hit the nail on the head as far as need goes, but Peters is hurt, and has a history of attitude problems. Andy Reid can handle this kid and if he doesn’t get with the program he will be gone as quick as he arrived. If he does, he will prove why he was considered the best cornerback in the draft.

Grade: B+

Cleveland selects: Cam Erving, Offensive Lineman, Florida State

Cleveland appears to have a plan with this years draft and with the addition of Erving they are having arguably the best 1st round out of all the teams. Erving can play every spot but is a natural center.

Grade: A

Philly selects: Nelson Agholor, Wideout, USC

The Mad scientist got a replacement player for the loss of Jackson/Maclin. The junior got busy in the PAC-12 and played multiple positions in high school. He’s not a burner, but he catches everything and is good with the ball once he does get it in his hands. Fits the system and addressed a need.

Grade: B+

Cincy selects: Cedric Ogbuehi, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Coming from a spread offense, one has to wonder how well he will fit in with a more power-style offense. He’s coming off an injury and doesn’t grind anyone down, but he has all the footspeed and agility to start for the Bengals.

Grade: B

Pittsburgh selects:Bud Dupree, Edge Backer, Kentucky

Team captain at Kentucky and he has all the traits that the Steelers love in the fire pressure defense. Wears #2 because he “wants to be number 1”. This is one of my favorite edge rushers in the draft and he should contribute day one. He may not lead the lead in sacks, but he’ll do all the other things they need him to do.

Grade: A-

Denver selects: Shane Ray, Defensive End, Mizzou

Despite his citation, this kid is a monster. He’s too fast for most tackles and he plays hard every down. He did get injured which slowed him down, but he has a great story and will be a great compliment to Von Miller. I do worry about the legality of Marijuana in Colorado and that could be a distraction in the future even though he has vowed to stay on the right path.

Grade: B+

Arizona selects: DJ Humphries, Offensive Tackle, Florida

The Cardinals somehow keep fielding teams that are competitive despite very visible roster flaws. Even though they have not 100% settled on a QB, any other QB would have been a big overreach at this point in the draft. Humphries is a great place to start if they want to protect any future investments. He’s not a giant tackle in the NFL at 6’5 305 but he is certainly not undersized either. When an offense is in flux, a tackle is a great place to start to help solidify a line that can protect whoever is running the show.

Grade: B+

Carolina selects: Shaq Thompson, Outside Linebacker, Washington

Shaq is arguably the most versatile player in this years draft. He’s been productive where ever and whenever the Huskies have put him in. He’s got a nose for the ball and has the ability to not only create turnovers, but capitalize on them. The speed is real and for a guy that tips the scales at over 220 pounds and with his defensive back background he is the prototype outside backer (will/weakside) for today’s NFL which is now driven by the pass. Oh yea, he also dabbled at running back while at Washington and ripped off some long touchdown runs. Great football player in the true sense of the word.

Grade:A

Baltimore selects: Breshad Perriman, Wideout, UCF

Fast in his workouts, and fast on the field. Bottom line, this kid is Florida fast. He pulls away from just about everyone he faced in college and with the cannon-armed Flacco heaving it up for him to chase he could be a very exciting year one player. He does have to ability to go up and get the ball and can make the tough catches in traffic/contested situations. Biggest thing to keep in mind, UCF to the NFL is going to be a big jump and NFL DB’s don’t fear his speed yet.

Grade: B+

Dallas selects: Byron Jones, Corner, UCONN

The boys struggled to stop the pass and the cornerback spot has been a point of contention despite the drafting of Morris Claiborne. Byron Jones is freakishly athletic and does have a background playing safety. He’s very polished and blew teams away with his combine and pro day numbers and measurements. Jones was a good grab at this point in the draft and can help shore up the defense as the Cowboys got a taste of the playoffs last year and look to return.

Grade: B+

Detroit (from Denver) selects: Laken Tomlinson, Guard, Duke

Mayhew made the trade with Denver and to almost everyone, we assumed that they would go with Malcolm Brown at 28. The Lions look like they have a plan this year and they got a very solid player while acquiring a Center/Guard in the move back with Denver. Tomlinson is a sound football player who one day wants to be a neurosurgeon and was a vocal team leader for the Blue Devils. Many were upset with this pick, I was not one of them. Detroit got two players (one vet and one rookie) at spots of dire need and they didn’t have to sell the farm to do so.

Grade: A

Indy selects: Phillip Dorsett, Wideout, Miami

Indy just needs to give Luck some weapons and he could guide this team to a Superbowl sooner than some may think. Dorsett is tough, too fast wideout for the Hurricanes and had good performances against top tier teams (see: the Florida State game). While not as fast or tall as Perriman from UCF, he makes up for it with grit and going up against better competition on a weekly basis. I think down the road he will have a more productive career than Perriman and should contribute right away for the Colts.

Grade: A

Green Bay selects: Damarious Randall, Free Safety, Arizona State

The pack addressed a need after the departure of several DB’s from the team in the offseason. He’s much more rangy than top-rated Landon Collins and in the pass happy NFC North, he is ready to be the rover that the Packers aggressive defense needs to make sure the top doesn’t get blown off by players like Calvin Johnson and Kevin White. Randall is 4th all time in tackles at ASU.

Grade: B+

New Orleans (from Seattle) selects: Anthony Stephone, Inside Backer, Clemson

In a year where it was sort of a pick your poison at the middle/inside backer spot, the Saints might have picked the right one. He’s not super quick laterally but he takes great angles and has a good sense of spatial awareness while in man/zone pass protection. He flashed some hands on a few interceptions and managed to knock balls down at the line as well. New Orleans has to play defense to rise up in the NFC South and Stephone may be the best middle backer in the draft.

Grade: A-

Patriots select: Malcolm Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas

True to form, the Patriots did not miss a beat and got a great value pick in Brown to replace the newly departed Vince Wilfork who has been the big nasty plug in the Pats multiple front defense for years. He certainly left his mark at Texas even though they are in a rebuilding phase. He’s got a great first step and looks to have a solid grasp on his responsibilities and should fit like a glove in the Pats defensive scheme.

Grade: A

Pick #	Team	Name	Position	School
1	Tampa Bay	Jameis Winston	QB	FSU
2	Tennessee	Marcus Mariota	QB	Oregon
3	Jacksonville	Dante Fowler Jr	DE	Florida
4	Oakland	Amari Cooper	WR	Bama
5	Washington	Brandon Scherff	OT	Iowa
6	Jets	Leonard Williams	DE	USC
7	Chicago	Kevin White	WR	West Virginia
8	Atlanta	Vic Beasley	DE	Clemson
9	Giants	Ereck Flowers	OG	Miami
10	St. Louis	Todd Gurley	RB	Georgia
11	Minnesota	Trae Waynes	CB	Michigan State
12	Cleveland	Danny Shelton	DT	Washington
13	New Orleans	Andrus Peat	OT	Stanford
14	Miami	Davonte Parker	WR	Louisville
15	SD from SF	Melvin Gordon	RB	Wisconsin
16	Houston	Kevin Johnson	CB	Wake Forest
17	San Fransisco	Arik Armstead	DE	Oregon
18	Kansas City	Marcus Peters	CB	Washington
19	Cleveland	Cam Erving	OL	Florida State
20	Philadelphia	Nelson Agholor	WR	USC
21	Cincy	Cedric Ogbuehi	OL	Texas A&M
22	Pittsburgh	Bud Dupree	OLB	Kentucky
23	Den from Det	Shane Ray	DE	Mizzou
24	Arizona	DJ Humphries	OT	Florida
25	Carolina	Shaq Thompson	OLB	Washington
26	Baltimore	Breshad Perriman	WR	UCF
27	Dallas	Byron Jones	CB	Uconn
28	Detroit from Den	Laken Tomlinlinson	OG	Duke
29	Indy	Phillip Dorsett	WR	Miami
30	Green Bay	Damarious Randall	FS	Arizona State
31	Saints from Seattle	Anthony Stephone	ILB	Clemson
32	Patriots	Malcolm Brown	DT	Texas

Michigan Spring Game 4.4.2015

With clear blue skies and a crisp spring breeze it almost felt like it was a fall Saturday in Ann Arbor. This season is going to be a memorable one as Coach Harbaugh has returned to be the savior of one of the cornerstones of college football. Fresh off almost a decade of failed coaches and teams, there is a buzz in Ann Arbor that one can feel upon arriving to the stadium. That buzz lead to fans and students lining up almost 4 hours before the game kicked off.

Also,
2014 Attendance: 15,000
2015: 60,000
This man has a lot to do with that.

Postgame Videos

Coach’s thoughts on spring game and what he looks for out of his team.

Coach’s stance on who is the frontrunner for the QB job and using “the good ole depth chart” to motivate players.

Coach talks about Norfleet’s move to defense and the development of Malzone.

Coach tells the media what sets Peppers apart from other players he’s worked with.

Peppers shares how his injury helped him on and off the field.

Peppers talks about why he stuck with Michigan, and what the biggest misconception about the team is.

Peppers shares that winners run when they win competitions in practice.

Final Thoughts

I have not bought or sold my stock in Shane Morris, if I had to make a choice based on today’s performance I would hold the stock.

De’veon Smith looks to become the lead horse in the backfield as none of the other backs have showed his combo of power, speed, and willingness to hit the hole.

Peppers is going to go first team All-B1G this season now that he is at safety.

Michigan needs 3 things to be successful

1. A Quarterback has to emerge as a bonfide starter and he has to prove to his teammates he is ready.

2. Wideouts need to get open more often and catch more contested balls.

3. A running back or tandem of backs needs to get it going. None of the backs on roster right now are burners so the offensive line is going to have to get some chemistry to create a more efficient offense.

Stats

Offensive MVP – Team Blue – Quarterback – Shane Morris – 11/24, 1TD, 135yds

Defensive MVP – Team Maize – Linebacker – Joe Bolden – 13 Tackles, 1 Sack, 3 TFL

Team Maize – Safety – Jabrill Peppers – 4 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU

Team Maize – Running Back – De’Veon Smith – 7 rushes for 54 yards

Team Blue – Wideout –  Amara Darboh 4 Rec, 75yds

Game Recap

1st Quarter.

Team Maize took the ball first and De’Veon smith broke the game open with a 35 yard rumble on the opening play. Malzone converted a long 2nd and 18 and showed some pocket presence evading any type of rush but was stallworted on a 3rd and 10 on the Blue teams 28 yard line. The ensuing pass on 4th and 10 was broken up but an offside penalty gave him another shot. A failed double pass would lead to a turnover and Team Blue’s ball. Jehu Chesson hauled in a catch on the drive as well. 

On Team Blue’s first attempt Shane Morris took the field and quickly found himself in a 3rd and six situation. He completed the pass but was way short. 

Maize went with Malzone once more but switched out Smith for Derrick Green. Another screen would leave the offense facing a 3rd and 7 inside Maize territory. A seemingly surgical downfield pass was quickly intercepted and gave Team Blue the ball once more. True to form, two screen passes were called in succession leaving the Blue offense with a 3rd and 12. Team Maize would get an interception of their own.

With another 3rd and long the Maize offense went for it with a downfield throw but Malzone’s throw would again sail high. Team Blue took over on their own 10 yard line to stat their next drive and that would end the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

Antonio Whitfield made his debut getting caught behind the line and once again the Blue offense was forced to convert a 3rd and 14. This play ended with no open wideouts and scrambling for his life. Somewhat similar to last year. 

Maize would take over and ride Derrick Green to another first down but Desmond Morgan had other plans and picked off the Malzone pass.

Blue took back over and handed the ball off to Ty Isaac but were again faced with a 3rd and long. Morris came out in the gun and found a man for the first down but Darboh couldn’t hold on to the pass. 

Maize kept Malzone in the game and tried to work their way out of their own territory and were faced with a 3rd and 14 from their own 11 yard line. Malzone came out in the gun and found no one open once again. Cue up the “virtual punt” and Team Blue would take over from the 49 yard line.

Faced with a 3rd and 5 Morris came out in the gun and couldn’t find his timing to connect with an open Jake Butt. With just under 5 minutes to go the score still remained tied.

With 2 minutes left in the half it was hard to tell if anyone, even the fans were winning. Neither quarterback showed any dominance and the wideout group couldn’t get any type of open. Team Blue took the ball from their own 25 in an attempt to break the scoring drought. A quick offensive burst, a pick, an offsides call, and a readjustment of clock threw off their tempo.

With exactly 1 minute on the clock, team Maize took the field and started off their drive with another false start call. With a 3rd and ten looming Team Maize went to the shotgun formation but threw to flats once more. 

Team Blue took the field on the 48 yard line with 44 seconds to go in the first half. Morris, would take the snap from under center. Wyatt Shallman rumbled forward to give Team Blue and 2nd and 1 with 36 seconds to go. After a Morris incomplete pass it was now 3rd and 1. Maize came out in the gun and went after Darboh once more. Darboh hauled in the pass to put the Maize team on the 14 yard line. Morris then found Jaron Dukes in the corner for the first and only score of the day. 

Halftime Recap

There was not much to be excited about in two quarters of football. Neither offensive line gained much ground and more importantly, the quarterbacks looked to have no chemistry with anyone they were throwing the ball to. 3 interceptions in the first half is certainly something that will be addressed at the postgame presser. There is worry brewing in AA as this spring game is looking a lot like last year. No offensive consistency, no clear cut leaders, and lots of defensive stops. One can only hope that the defense is just that good and the offense will find itself in the waning months of summer or the Wolverines may be in some serious trouble. 

3rd Quarter

Maize opened up the second half on offense and got off to quick start with a holding call on first down. Despite a 3rd and 15, Morris was able to find Jake Butt for the first down once again. Faced with a 3rd and 9, Team Blue dumped off a pass to Jake Butt once more and were faced with a 4th and 1 on their own 44 yard line. Morris floated one in to fullback Joe Kerridge for the first down. Once Peppers broke up the pass on 2nd down the Blue offense was faced with a 3rd and 9. 

Team Maize took over on their own ten yard line and handed the ball off to fullback Joe Beneducci for 1 yard. Maize was then faced with a 3rd and 8 and could not get to the sticks. After another virtual punt the Blue offense took the field from the 43 yard line. Whitfield tried to stretch out the defense but was stopped behind the line by veteran linebacker Joe Bolden. Morris couldn’t escape the pressure on 3rd down and forced another 4th and long for the Blue offense.

Maize took the field from their own 22 yard line and put De’Veon Smith into the backfield once more. On first down the young back rumbled for 8 yards and had one of the longer runs of the day thusfar. He was given the ball again on the ensuing play and converted the first down. Maize did find a spark after their second attempt at a double pass was successful to end the 3rd quarter on Team Blue’s 28 yard line.

4th Quarter

Maize continued it’s drive from the previous quarter and was faced with a 3rd and 6 from the Blue 28. Sadly, Smith put the ball on the ground and created the 4th turnover of the day. 

Blue got the ball and was faced with a 3rd and 5 from their own 33. Morris came out in the gun once more and wrangled a bad snap to get the ball to Butt once more. The pass would fall short and force a 4th and 1 for the Blue offense. After the virtual punt, Malzone took the field once more. After a few plays it was once again 3rd and 8. Malzone came out in the gun and was unable to convert.

Blue took over on their own 29 with 6 minutes left. When faced with a 3rd and 9 they once more put Morris in the gun and he uncorked one only to have it sail just a little too high for the streaking wideout. Maize would get the ball on the 30 yard line after the virtual punt. Malzone ran out of bounds on 1st down, and couldnt connect on a curl route and was faced with a 3rd and 12 from deep inside their own territory. Jehu Chesson couldn’t get ahold of the ensuing pass and Blue would get the ball with just over 4 minutes to go. 

Morris and the Blue Team took over from the 32 yard line and he could not connect on his first pass. Second down saw Morris scamper forward to give the team a workable 3rd and 3. Morris found Darboh to keep the chains and clock moving with just over 3 minutes left in the 4th. Maize would call their first timeout with 2:43 left in the game. Facing a 3rd and 9 to essentially win the game, Team Blue came out in the gun and gave Morris another shot deep to Darboh. 

Maize and Malzone would get the ball with 2:33 left in the game and down 7. They started the drive off with two short gains and were faced with a 3rd and 7 from their own 14 yard line. Brian Cole broke open across the middle and did not advance but Canteen caught the next ball to get Maize a first down. 

1:16 left and Canteen catches another pass to make it 2nd and 4. Rise wash repeat and the they ran the same play to get a first down on the next play. 50 seconds and clock is ticking, Malzone throws the ball away and stops the clock. Another hitch is thrown and it’s 3rd and 4. Malzone comes out in the gun but the play has to be re-done due to a false start. With 16 seconds and clock running, the penalty forced 6 seconds left and Malzone would connect on an out and end the game. Team Blue Wins 7-0.

Michigan Spring Pre-Game 4.4.2015

For Michigan to regain it’s timeless mystique it needs to realize that the journey starts today. With a new coach and reinvigorated fan base all this team needs to do is light a match and the fire will rage in Ann Arbor once more. Harbaugh, the prodigal son of Michigan, spent several years seeing success in college at Stanford, and he helped drive the 49ers out of years of obscurity with his intense demeanor. For this season to be a success they will need 3 things to change over the spring and summer months.

1. The quarterback needs to rise to prominence rather than being bestowed the starting role. Moreover, the fans needs to see at least one player show some promise today or the natives may get a little more restless. Michigan has never been the pinnacle of quarterbacks but in this day and age, you need someone who can sling it and bring it every weekend. With the B1G becoming ever more powerful, Michigan needs a star to emerge or we may see this team slide further into the depths of mid-tier B1G teams. The style of the quarterback is not important, Harbaugh has seen success with pistol and pro style quarterbacks at varying levels so one would hope that the best player, not the best fit, will win the job. Even though Morris has fallen somewhat out of favor I am looking for him to make a big impact on the game today.

2. When was the last time Michigan had a dominant defensive end or defensive lineman for that matter? If you said Brandon Graham, that was simply too long ago. They have players at that spot, but none who have cemented themselves as any kind of consistent threat. The Michigan defense hasn’t been completely out of sorts but for the team to take the next step, they need to become markedly better at the line of scrimmage. I’m a fan of Poggi moving over to defensive end, but with an older overall defensive line group the Wolverines desperately need someone to become a disruptive force.

3. Health. It does not matter one bit if you have the best or most well trained athletes in the game if you can’t keep them on the field. Over the past several seasons injuries have been an issue and in the Morris concussion debacle even went as far as national news. With more and more information about the dangers of football being pushed across all mediums, it is imperative that the program can convince parents that their children will be taken care of or they may go play elsewhere. Hopefully Harbaugh’s experience with the long NFL season can help him keep the team fresh and off the injury report.

So in my humble opinion, if the Wolverines have a true quarterback emerge, have the defense look like the defenses of old (or 49er playoff teams) and they manage to stay healthy, they will beat either MSU or OSU in the first year and the B1G arms race will begin. No conference championship in the first year, but they will spoil someone else’s trip.

Here are the rosters for today’s game courtesy of mgoblue.com

Blue Team	Position	Maize Team	Position
Blake Countess	DB	De’Veon Smith	RB
Bo Dever	WR	Jabrill Peppers	DB
Kenneth Sloss	WR	Brian Cleary	QB
Shane Morris	QB	Henry Poggi	DE
Allen Gant	LB	Channing Stribling	DB
Terry Richardson	DB	Ramsey Romano	QB
Matt Thompson	QB	Da’Mario Jones	WR
Drake Harris	WR	Alex Malzone	QB
Jack Wangler	WR	Garrett Moores	QB
Antonio Whitfield	RB	Freddy Canteen	WR
Wilton Speight	QB	AJ Pearson	DB
Matt Mitchell	DB	Jared Wangler	LB
Jarrod Wilson	S	Dennis Norfleet	WR
Jeffrey Houston	DB	Derrick Green	RB
Dymonte Thomas	DB	Travis Wooley	DB
Jourdan Lewis	DB	Reon Dawson	CB
Brandon Watson	DB	Nick Benda	LB
Ross Taylor-Douglas	CB	Jeremy Clark	S
Kyle Seychel	K/P	Joe Bolden	LB
Ty Isaac	RB	Bobby Henderson	FB
Shaun Austin	DB	Joe Beneducci	FB
Wyatt Shallman	RB	Ryan Tice	K/P
Joe Kerridge	FB	Ben Gedeon	LB
Francois Montbrun	DB	Delano Hill	DB
Nick Volk	FB	Chase Winovich	TE
Chris Wormley	DE	Brady Pallante	FB
Scott Sypniewski	LS	Deyanco Hardwick	LB
Desmond Morgan	LB	Anthony Dalimonte	DB
Royce Jenkins-Stone	LB	Andrew Robinson	LS
David Dawson	OL	Tom Strobel	DE
Garrett Miller	DL	Greg Froelich	OL
Graham Glasgow	OL	Mason Cole	OT
Alex Kaminski	LB	Patrick Kugler	OL
Ben Pliska	OL	Blake Bars	OL
Dan Liesman	LB	Kyle Kalis	OL
Willie Henry	DT	Maurice Hurst Jr.	DT
Ben Braden	OL	Nikhil Brueggeman	OL
Logan Tuley-Tillman	OL	Erik Magnuson	OL
Dan Samuelson	OL	Brian Cole	WR
Juwann Bushell-Beatty	OT	A.J. Williams	TE
Amara Darboh	WR	Maurice Ways	WR
Jaron Dukes	WR	Jehu Chesson	WR
Jake Butt	TE	Brad Anlauf	WR
Ian Bunting	TE	Bryan Mone	DT
Michael Jocz	TE	Kenny Allen	K/P
Ryan Glasgow	DL	Lawrence Marshall	DE
Cody Zeisler	DE

Cotton Bowl Preview

AT&T Stadium 

Dallas, Texas

As we come to the close of another wild bowl season, the good folks down in Texas will get to see the #8 ranked Michigan State Spartans and the #5 ranked Baylor Bears.

Michigan State came into the season riding the momentum from last years historic Rose Bowl win over Standford. The Spartans only faltered twice this season, accumulating a record of 10-2 with the only two losses coming to teams that are now in the inaugural College football playoff. (Oregon & Ohio State) This is a team in a state of flux though, with defensive coordinator and team motivator Patt Narduzzi accepting a head coaching position at Pitt. When asked why he stayed to coach this game instead of recruiting for his new team he simply said “ we’ve (Coach Dantionio and himself) have built something here…what kind of man would I be if I just left…these are my guys, in a week I’ll have new guys but these will be my guys forever”

Baylor comes into the game with a slightly better record as they only dropped one game on the season to West Virginia back in October. Since then, the Bears have been on a tear as they have averaged 48.6 points per game and held those opponents to only 25.8 points per game over that span. Baylor’s signature win on the season though, was the week prior to their loss where they handed the TCU Horned Frogs their only loss of the season by a score of 61-58. TCU dominated their bowl game as they trounced the formerly #1 ranked Ole Miss Rebels and senior QB Bo Wallace by a score of 42-3.

Both of these teams have been on the rise and are fighting for every scrap of respect they can get. MSU always plays with a chip on their shoulder, and Baylor knows they were one win away from representing the BIG 12 in the playoff. Had there been a conference championship game, TCU or Baylor could have very well been the 4^th team.

In a clash of styles, Coach Art Briles won’t have to travel far to put his high-tempo offense on display for the Texas faithful who made the trip. Meanwhile, the Spartans are coming into the game with an opposite approach. Michigan State is your traditional hard-nosed, run the ball, play defense and control the clock style of team.

For Baylor to win, they need to come out fast, score quick, and get Michigan State out of their comfort zone. The Spartans can and will air it out if they need to though, as Connor Cook has showed that he is capable of making the big play if need be. For the Spartans to win, they need to hit this team in the mouth and make their offense as inefficient as possible. A few long scoring drives by the Spartans could throw off Baylor’s tempo but, regardless of what happens the Spartans are going to need to score to come out on top in this one. If you are expecting a defensive battle from these teams, you may need to look elsewhere.

Key defensive players:

Baylor: Shawn Oakman – the freakish athlete was a projected top pick in the NFL draft before this game and announced this week that he will be returning for his senior year. Oakman (6-9 280lbs) was nominated for All-America, Bednarik, Nagurski, Lombardi, and the Hendricks awards as he racked up 46 tackles, 9 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries and he has batted 3 pass down at the line. All week at media days he made it clear he thinks he is going to slide right past the Michigan State offensive line. If he gets loose today, don’t be surprised if Connor Cook is unable to finish the game.

Michigan State: Shilique Calhoun – aptly nicknamed “the freak”, Calhoun is the best defensive lineman in this game and arguably the best player on the best defense in the country. Calhoun is smaller than Oakman as he measures in at 6’5 and 256 pounds but he makes up for that with his tenacity and skill. Calhoun is a two time All-American, a Bednarik and Lombardi semifinalist as well as a two-time first team All-B1G selection and the 2013 B1G defensive player of the year. Over the course of this season Calhoun has 37 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.

Key offensive players:

Baylor: Bryce Petty – this offense and team go where Petty goes. If the young man from Midlothian, Texas can get this Baylor team off to a fast start and force MSU to play a faster paced game, do not be shocked if he walks away with a victory and Cotton Bowl MVP award. The senior quarterback has been an All-American, Heisman, Maxwell, Manning, Camp, O’Brian, and Big 12 player of the year candidate while accruing 25 TDs, 2,893 yards and a pass efficiency rating of 153.0 despite missing two games. Over his career, he’s got 7,233 yards, 58 TDs and only 8 interceptions in two years as a starter.

Connor Cook – formerly an Elite 11 roommate of Petty’s, he is the less shiny of the two QBs in today’s game. With that said, Connor Cook is no slouch. He’s got a big arm, moxy, and a team that has rallied around him without hesitation. Cook has just enough attitude to get back up and keep swinging even if the Baylor defensive line gets ahold him. He will have to make plays through the air to win this game, he’s got the tools to do it but it will be a matter of him matching the pace of his old buddy Petty.

Prediction:

Now that bowl season is under way, the BIG 12 has made it clear that they can compete with whoever they go up against. See: TCU in the Peach Bowl. The Bears are going to get up early and force the Spartans to chase them for the first half, watch for MSU to flip the switch at halftime and force a turnover or two to get them back into the game as there are few better gameplanners and motivators than Dantiono and Narduzzi. When MSU plays with emotion, and there will be loads of it with this game being the final one with that core group of players, nobody can slow them down. Spartans rebound in second half and pull out a close one, 48-45.

Cotton Bowl 12.30 “Media Day…or something like that”

Dallas, Texas @ AT&T Stadium

Today was media day and Michigan State certainly stole the show. Baylor was up first  though and Art Briles, Shawn Oakman and Michigan native Gus Penning all shared their thoughts on the game and shed some light on the differences between Texas and everywhere else. However, between Shilique Calhoun’s responses and the impromptu impersonation session by Matt Macksood, the Spartans won the day. Before the antics began, Coach Dantonio was posed with a question regarding a hot topic from back in the Mitten State.

In case you haven’t heard, Michigan named Coach Harbaugh the new head coach of the football team. With this dominating the airwaves and social media, Coach D was asked about his thoughts on the matter. True to form, he quickly batted away the question and made it clear he only wanted to talk about Michigan State and the Cotton Bowl.

Baylor Head Coach Art Briles had a little more candid approach to the situation.

 

“Maybe your perception of what’s happening in Texas isn’t the same as what is happening in Texas… when one of us sneezes someone is going to say gesundheit… and we say thank you”.

There is one player on Baylor’s team that is from Michigan though, and he is actually a transfer from the recently dismantled Grand Rapids Community College. Gus Penning, a tight end who attended Jennison and played linebacker as well as tight end, found his home after stops at Grand Rapids and Riverside Community College in California.  The 6’6 Junior shared his story and talked about being one only 12 players on the Baylor roster who do not hail from the Lone Star State. “there’s no love for Michigan State anymore even though I was a fan growing up…I’ve got friends back home and I told them I’d get them tickets to the game but they have to wear Baylor stuff…there is a few things that go on that me and the other non-Texas guys look at and say that only happens down here.” Penning  has played in 11 games this year and does not have any receptions.

When asked about the difference between Texas and Michigan high school football he had this to say:

“It’s just different here, there is the stereotype that Texas is the best state for football and I’d have to say it is true”.

Shawn Oakman, who recently announced he would be returning to Baylor for his senior year, appeared dismissive to most media as he spent the early parts of his interview on the phone and facetiming with his alleged girlfriend back in Philly.

Once he put the phone down though, he did open up and broke down the family roles that his fellow defensive lineman would have if they were in fact a family unit. “Billings would be the Grandaddy, Jamaal would be the cool Uncle,  Bo would be the daddy…

“and me? I’d be the kid, I’d be the wild kid out of the group”.

Spartan defensive end Shilque Calhoun fielded the same question and it lead to him actually calling some backup to help him hammer out the details. “I’m Dad automatically, actually I’m Great-Granddad since I’m the oldest. I’ll give Dad to Heath” he responded emphatically. He then called up fellow lineman Demetrius Cooper who helped him clear up the matter:

“Marcus Rush is Mom… Grandson is Malik, Great-Grandson is Sweat, Great-Great-Grandson is Craig Evans and we gave him a little too much porridge so he is getting a little chunky”

Afterwards there was a crowd gathered around one of the Cotton Bowl media teams who ended up getting Matt Macksood to do his best impressions of members of his team and Coaching staff.

As hard as everyone tried, no one could get him to do his best Narduzzi impression with the cameras on. To this he simply stated:

“I just can’t capture his intensity without using some words that are not TV friendly”

Analysis was in short supply today but after 3 days of the same old questions, the players were all ready to cut loose a little bit and have some fun.