Day 1 Winners and Losers

Winners

Jacksonville Jaguars

It was very surprising that Gabbert was not the 2^nd quarterback chosen in the draft, and the Jaguars benefited from him falling to them at #10. He will be able to spend time studying on the bench behind David Garrard, and will not be rushed into the starting role, something I don’t think any of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft can handle. There are many needs on the defensive side of the ball, but when a potential franchise quarterback falls into your lap, you have to pull the trigger.

Detroit Lions

I can’t think of a single draft that had Fairley going to the Lions, but now that it has happened, it looks awfully good on paper. Lining up Suh and Fairley will give Qb’s nightmares for years to come, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay Cutler was already actively looking for a trade out of the division. The secondary still needs work, but may not be as big an issue if the opposing quarterbacks are constantly finding themselves on the ground.

New York Giants

Your Royal Highness, Prince Amukamara, fell farther than expected and the Giants couldn’t be more pleased about it. They get a very talented corner to help a defense that was toasted by both the Eagles and Packers which left them out of the playoffs. Solidifying the secondary to compliment an already elite pass rush is just what the Giants need to get them back into the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills

No it’s not a mistake, the Bills this year actually managed to pick a solid 1^st round choice. After the disastrous picks that were Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Maybin in 2007 and 2009 respectively, and the misguided pick of CJ Spiller to a team that already had two solid running backs in 2010, the Bills went with Marcell Dareus, who will shore up what was an awful defense last year. Perhaps most importantly, Dareus is a guy who can start right away, and without a lot of downside, which the Bills need considering their past draft failures.

Losers

Atlanta Falcons

After having the best record in the NFC and then embarrassingly trounced at home by the Packers in the playoffs, the Falcons made a knee-jerk reaction by trading so high up in the draft. Julio Jones is a fine player and a solid pick, but the price to get him was far too high, and he isn’t a player that is the difference between perennial playoff team and Super Bowl champion. Giving up 2 first round picks, a second rounder and 2 fourth round picks is way too much for someone who isn’t even the best wide-receiver in this draft. Patience is the key in the NFL, but the Falcons want a Super Bowl now, and it may be very costly to them in the future.

Minnesota Vikings

Easily the reach of the draft, Christian Ponder wasn’t predicted to go in the 1^st round, but somehow finds himself a Viking with the 12^th pick. The Vikings desperately needed a quarterback, but if they really wanted Ponder they should have traded down. Instead they have a quarterback who is far from a sure thing, as well as an aging team that could use youth at a lot of positions. Once one play away from the Super Bowl, the Vikings have taken quite a tumble, and look like they might be in the cellar of the NFC North for at least a couple of years.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is a very divisive person with about half of NFL fans believing he will be a star, and the other half thinking he will be the next JaMarcus Russell. You can count me as part of the latter half because I think there are just too many questions surrounding the character, intelligence, and ability of Newton to make him the top overall pick in the draft. To me it would have made more sense to either trade down, or go with Miller, Green, or Dareus, three players who can play right away and are about as close to sure things as you get with rookies. The Panthers just used a high draft pick on Clausen last year, and if they really feel like he isn’t going to pan out, just bite the bullet for one more year and get Andrew Luck next year, who is far and away better than any Qb in this year’s draft. I think this pick will end up setting the Panthers back for the awhile.

Chicago Bears

The Bears don’t find themselves in the “losers” list because of their draft picks, but because of the mess they caused with the Ravens. The Bears initiated a trade with the Ravens to take their spot, but somehow didn’t send anyone to inform the NFL that the trade had taken place, effectively making the Ravens run out of time and lose one spot in the draft. Not only will the Bears likely be faced with some sort of repercussion from the NFL, but it reflects terribly on them as an organization and could force some teams to shy away from trying to trade with the Bears in the future.

McG's 2011 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers (2-14) – QB Cam Newton, Auburn – After ranking last in almost every offensive category and shuffling through different quarterbacks all season, the Panthers were really hoping that QB Andrew Luck would enter the draft. While the best option may be to give QB Jimmy Clausen another opportunity, I don’t think the Panthers are willing to have another season like there last one. There are a lot of different opinions on Newton, but there is no question that the Heisman winner has the talent to become a special player and is a winner. The question is can he develop into an NFL quarterback and run a pro-style offense.

2. Denver Broncos - CB Patrick Peterson, LSU - John Fox's first job as the

Broncos new head coach, will be to re-vamp the defense. The Broncos allowed the most points, and yards in the NFL last year. The Broncos could use this pick to fill a number of needs, but I think they may just go with the best player available and that is Peterson. At 6-feet, 219-pounds and a 4.34 in the 40, Peterson posses some of the best physical talents in the draft. It will be hard for anyone to pass up on Peterson who could become a shut-down corner or top safety.

3. Buffalo Bills - QB Blain Gabbert, Missouri - The Bills have a track record of drafting risky big name guys (CJ Spiller, Aaron Maybin, John McCargo, J.P. Losman, Willis McGahee). I think this year will be no different. Every season players with physical tools, like Gabbert, shoot up draft boards during their post season workouts. At 6’5” 234 lbs. and a 4.62 in the 40 yard dash, Gabbert impressed scouts with his athleticism and ability can make all the throws. If the Bills are smart they will would try and trade down, because many teams are looking to

land a big name quarterback, and the Bills have a lot of needs.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - WR A.J. Green, Georgia - The biggest concern for the Bengals is obviously the trade demands of starting QB Carson Palmer. It looks like the Bengals, however, are going to stand firm and not trade the star quarterback. Drafting a top receiver may help pursued Palmer back on to the team. Green is probably the best receiver to come out since Calvin Johnson in 2007. Green has great size, speed and route running ability and will probably be a ROY favorite from day one.

5. Arizona Cardinals - OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M - Since switching to the 3-4 defense, the Cardinals have been searching for that dominate pass rushing OLB. They brought in a number of players but have not had great production. The perfect scenario for the Cardinals is to have Miller drop to them at 5. Miller has skyrocketed up draft boards because of his amazing athleticism and ability to get after the quarterback. Over the last two years Miller registered 39 TFL, and 27.5 sacks. He would be the perfect fit in Arizona.

6. Cleveland Browns - DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama - The Browns did not have a wide receiver last year that had over 500 yards receiving or over 3 touchdown catches, so they may be targeting A.J. Green or Julio

Jones with this pick. If Green is not available they will probably try and bring in some help for the defensive line. Dareus is one of the top prospects in this draft because of his great size and athleticism. Dareus' talents may best be summed up by his play in the national championship game.

7. San Francisco 49ers - CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska - Although the 49ers had a terrible record, they probably have the most talented team in the NFC West. I would not be surprised to see new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh come in and make the 49ers a playoff team in his first year. The one position that Coach Harbaugh has to be taking a long look at is cornerback. CB Nate Clements has lost a step, and they need to add a playmaker in the secondary. Amukamara has tons of potential and is a guy that is some what under the radar, he would be a great addition for the 49ers.

8. Tennessee Titans - DT Nick Fairley, Auburn - The Titans have been looking to bolster the middle of their defensive line ever since they lost DT Albert Haynesworth. Fairley was considered the top prospect in the draft

for a long time, but his stock dropped because of concerns about him beingh a one-year-wonder and after weighing in smaller (if 6-foot-4, 291-pounds is small) than most expected. Fairley would be a great fit for the Titans, he knows how to get up field and cause havoc in the backfield.

9. Dallas Cowboys - DE Cameron Jordon, California - The biggest concern for the Cowboys has to be adding talent and depth to the offensive and defensive lines. With Jerry Jones running things you never know what direction they will go in, but drafting Jordan may be the best move. Jordan posses great size and strength and would be a perfect fit for the Cowboys 3-4 scheme. Jordan has been shooting up the boards since his performance at the senior bowl and combine, it would not be surprising to see him end up in the top 10.

10. Washington Redskins - QB Jake Locker, Washington - Its been a long fall for Locker, who most believed would be the first overall pick in the draft had he come out last year. Locker is now considered by many to be a late first -second round pick. With so many teams needing quarterbacks this year, I think a team like the Redskins may reach to get their quarterback. Locker has tons of potential, and I think would be a great quarterback in Mike Shanahan's offense. Locker is a great athlete that throws well on the run, and I think he will develop into the best quarterback in this years class. This would be my surprise pick of the first round.

11. Houston Texans - DE/OLB Robert Quinn, North Carolina - The Texans secondary got torched once again last year even after they spending their 2010 first round pick on CB Kareem Jackson. They may once again target cornerback, but a bigger concern may be bringing in another guy that can get after the quarterback. Quinn is a great athlete, that can put pressure on the quarterback. Even though he sat out all last year, his 19 TFL, and 11 sack season as a sophomore are all some GM's will need to watch.

12. Minnesota Vikings - DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson - The Vikings had a big decision on who to franchise tag this off-season. Instead of paying the ridiculous one year salary to DE Ray Edwards or the injury prone WR Sidney Rice, the Vikings decided to franchise OLB Chad Greenway. This was probably the right move, but leaves Edwards and Rice as possible free agents. If that is the case then Da'Quan Bowers would be a perfect fit. Bowers is the complete defensive end, he can rush the quarterback, stop the run and he has the physical tools to start right away. The knee injury has really hurt his stock, but Bowers is a definite top 5 talent and would look awfully good opposite of DE Jared Allen.

13. Detroit Lions - OT Tyron Smith, USC - It seems like every year people are talking about the Lions finally drafting a franchise left tackle. This may be the year the Lions finally bring a tackle in. The draft does not have an elite tackles like in the previous years, but it has some great guys that are probably being over looked. The Lions will probably have a chance at pick 13 to choose from a number of guys. Smith is a great athlete at tackle who almost looks more like a tight end. He probably has the most upside of the tackles in the draft and could come in and play either right or left tackle for the Lions.

14. St. Louis Rams - WR Julio Jones, Alabama - Rookie QB Sam Bradford had a great first season, but

what made it so impressive was who he did it with. Other than RB Steven Jackson, it is hard for even the most die-hard football fan to name other players on the Rams offense. The Rams really need a go to weapon at receiver. Many people believe the Rams are targeting Alabama standout Julio Jones. At 6'3" 220 lbs. Jones is a big physical playmaker. The one question teams had about him was his top end speed, he answered those questions with a blazing 4.39 in the 40. It will be hard for teams to pass up a reciver with all the physical talents that Jones posses.

15. Miami Dolphins - C/OG Mike Pouncey, Florida - For a team that went 7-9 last year in the talented AFC East, the Dolphins have a lot of questions. They could lose both running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and there are concerns with QB, O-line, and safety. The Dolphins could look at a number of guys with this pick, but I think Pouncey may be their best option at 15. Pouncey is a great player in his own right, but he is really benefiting from his twin brother Maurkice's success. Pouncey will be a guy that can come in right away and start with no problems, and even though some may think that it is a reach to draft a guard at 15, a lot of teams wished they did not pass up on Maurkice last year.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue - The Jaguars never really had anyone that could consistently get after the quarterback last year. They were in the bottom of the league in sacks and the team leader only had 5. There are plenty of defensive lineman to choose from in this years draft, Kerrigan may not be the flashiest, but he is a great all around player. The Jaguars made the mistake of drafting a flashy defensive end, Derrick Harvey, with their 8th pick in 2008 and he has ended up being a bust so they may shy away and go with the safer pick in Kerrigan.

17. New England Patriots (from: OAK) - DE/OLB Aldon Smith - The Patriots, per usual, are stacked with draft picks, this year they have two in each of the first three rounds. With so many picks, look for to possibly move up and get a top pass rusher like Von Miller or even WR AJ Green. If the Patriots stay at 17, they would love to see Aldon Smith fall to them. Smith is exactly the type of player the Patriots are looking for because he is so versitle. He can rush the passer standing up, he can drop back in coverage, put a hand down and rush as a defensive tackle or defensive end. He is a guy that is similar in many ways to former Patriot Willie McGinest.

18. San Diego Chargers - DE J.J. Watts, Wisconsin - It is still hard to fathom how a team that was statistically the best in the NFL on offense and defense did not make the playoffs. It will be tough for the Chargers to get any better in the off-season, and there are not many holes on the roster. One spot they will be looking to add depth is the defensive line. Watts would be a perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end for the Chargers. At 6-foot-6, 292-pounds, Watts has excellent size and strength and would help make the stout Charger defense even better.

19. New York Giants - OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College - The offensive line was not a real problem last year for the Giants, but it is a position that they need to instill some youth. 4 of the 5 starting offensive lineman are over 30. The Giants have showed they can win as long as they can run the ball and protect QB Eli Manning, so it is never a bad thing to have too many offensive lineman. Castonzo comes from a school known for producing top lineman. He is 4-year starter, that is big, tough, smart player that should have no problem transitioning to the NFL.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DE Adrian Clayborn - The Bucs have one of the youngest, and most exciting teams in the NFL. They seemingly came out of no where last year and got production from young guys like QB Josh Freeman, WR Mike Williams, and RB LeGarrette Blount. They added a lot of depth to the interior of their defensive line, but they will definitely be targeting defensive ends in this draft. Look for the Bucs, who ranked 2nd to last in getting to the quarterback last year, to possibly move up and nab a top defensive end. If they stay at 20, then Clayborn may be a guy they target. Clayborn is a big, strong, versitile defensive end. He is not a pure pass rusher, but he will make plays because of great instincts and high football IQ.

21. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin - The Chiefs had an unbelievable season last year. They really found a lott of great pieces on both sides of the ball, and as long as QB Matt Cassel continues to play well (after the departure of OC Charlie Weis) they should be a playoff team for many years to come. The one glaring need for the Chiefs for the last couple of years has been offensive lineman. This may finally be the year they bring some guys to help protect their franchise quarterback. Carimi comes from another school known for producing top end offensive lineman. He is a typical Wisconsin lineman, big, strong, blue-collar attitude. He should be an big upgrade on the Chiefs offensive line.

22. Indianapolis Colts -DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple - It is hard to evaluate the Colts needs for this year because they are coming off a season that was riddled with injuries. I am going to stick with a position they have need for a very long time, defensive tackle. I have predicted that the Colts would draft a DT in the first round for a long time now. Every year they seem to avoid the defensive tackle position I think this may finally be the year. Wilkerson is shooting up draft boards because teams see the unlimited upside in the 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman. He is someone that could help the Colts 25th ranked rush defense and help get after the quarterback.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Brandon Harris, Miami - The Eagles may be hurt the most by the lockout. There are many teams in need of a quarterback and would give up a lot of picks to acquire QB Kevin Kolb. If

they stay at spot 23, look for them to draft a CB or offensive/defensive lineman. They place a very high value on the men in the trenches and are not afraid to use high picks on them. Harris is a complete corner, he has great covers skills, and is not afraid to come up and hit. I think he is a very underrated prospect because of his size.

24. New Orleans Saints - RB Mark Ingram, Alabama - The Saints had a very good team last year and probably were talented enough to repeat as champions if they had a dependable running back. The Saints had a slew of injuries and really had to rely on veterans and career back ups. Their offense became very one dimensional and that is one reason you saw Drew Brees throw a career high 22 interceptions, while attempting a career high 448 passes. Ingram is just a good football player. Nothing about him jumps off the page, but he has great vision, balance, and awareness. He would really help stabilize the Saints offense.

25. Seattle Seahawks - QB Christian Ponder, Florida St. - The Seahawks were in the bottom of the league in almost every statistical category, yet they were still able to defeat the reigning super bowl champions in the playoffs. Their biggest problem has to be consistency, especially from the quarterback position. I think with this pick the Seahawks have to be targeting a quarterback for the future. Ponder would fit well in a west-coast offense, he is accurate, has a quick release and is a good athlete.

26. Baltimore Ravens - CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado - The Ravens may have been the most talented and complete team last year. But they may only go as far as QB Joe Flacco will take them. So with this pick they may try to add some depth on offense. But if Smith is still available I would be surprised if the Ravens do not jump at the opportunity to get him. There are only a few people with Smith's physical skill set that can play cornerback. Smith is 6'2" 211 lbs. and can run in the mid 4.4's. He would be a great fit in Baltimore.

27. Atlanta Falcons - WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh - WR Roddy White has really emerged as one of the top receivers in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Falcons and QB Matt Ryan, White is really the only playmaker they have at receiver. Baldwin is a guy that has been compared to Randy Moss at times. He is 6'4 1/2" and ran a 4.50 at the combine. He has great ball skills and leaping ability and would present a big target for any quarterback.

28. New England Patriots - OG Danny Watkins, Baylor - You can never be certain about anything that the Patriots will do on draft day, but my guess is that at some point in the first three rounds they will target some offensive linemen. There are a lot of questions marks on their offensive line with both OG Logan Mankins and OT Matt Light possibly becoming free agents. Watkins is a proto-typical Patriot, he is hard working, smart, and plays with a mean steak. The one negative about him is his age, he is 27, but I think most teams are worried about the here and now, rather than if he will be able to produce in ten years.

29. Chicago Bears - DT Corey Liuget, Syracuse - The Bears have not had a first round draft pick since 2008, so look for them to make a splash with this pick. The biggest need may be offensive line, but I think the Bears may look else where. With their franchise defensive tackle Tommie Harris recently being released Liuget may be the move. Liget is another guy that has really jumped up draft boards, he could end up any where from in the top 15 to late second round. He could come in and help fill the void left by Harris.

30. New York Jets - Justin Houston, Georgia - The Jets and Rex Ryan are known for putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Last year without a true pass rusher that meant a lot of all out blitzes. The biggest need for the Jets in this draft is a guy that can put up sack numbers. Houston really came on strong last year notching 10 sacks and 18.5 TFL. He has the physical tools to produce in the Jets system and could immediately help them out.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB/S Aaron Williams, Texas - The Steelers secondary was really exposed by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl. I think the Steelers will be targeting defensive backs early and often in the draft. With this pick they have to go with the best guy corner or safety available and that is probably Aaron Williams. Williams would be a great fit at corner for the Steelers. He is an aggressive, physical corner that would fit well in their defensive scheme.

32. Green Bay Packers - OT Nate Solder, Colorado - Even if the Packers did not add one player in the off-season they would once again be Super Bowl favorites. The players coming back from injuries alone make the Packers an even scarier team. This is really a luxury pick for the Packers and in typical Ted Thompson fashion they will go after the best player on their board. Solder has a lot of upside at tackle and will probably be gone by this point. If he is still available this would be a great fit for the Packers. Solder is a guy that could eventually become the Packers franchise left tackle.

Brooks Reed Scouting Report

The following scouting report by;

Guest Contributor and NFL Draft writer, Fernando Stepensky

Brooks Reed, 3-4 OLB/4-3 DE, Arizona, 6’3 257 lbs

SKILLS:

Strengths: The defensive linemen out of Arizona first burst onto the scene during the 2008-2009 season. He racked up 33 total tackles with 25 of them being solo in that season alone. The season after that (2009-2010), he went downhill, only racking up a total of 20 tackles. In fairness he was plagued with injury during that season and had trouble starting, let alone performing. Logically, he decided to return for his senior season and he made the most of it. He had 47 total tackles, 26 of them solo. The hard work he put in coming into the 2010 season showed, and resulted in another breakout year. He also had scouts everywhere buzzing.

One attribute to his breakout season was his quick explosiveness off the line. Reed posted a solid 1.54 10 yard split and 4.65 40 yard dash. Times snap well and doesn’t get caught offside’s very often. His quick agility off the line gave him time to whip out his favorite weapon, the bull rush!

Brooks' excellent bull rush was tough to contain for many offensive lineman. Even with that, the bull rush isn’t as easy to control as it seems. You need to have excellent positioning, get a great hit on the lineman, and have straight line speed in order to tackle the quarterback or running back. Brooks Reed's bull rush contributed a great deal to his seven sacks this past season.

You can bet that teams will be looking at Reed’s explosiveness and bull rush when deciding whether or not to select him on Draft Day. However, they will be weighing those strengths against the following weaknesses as well.

Weaknesses: Brooks' main weakness that scouts, coaches, and writers alike all agree on is his poor change of direction. The NFL thrives on great running backs who know how to change directions in the blink of an eye, and if Brooks doesn’t work on his change of direction, he is going to be fooled on those run plays. The problem with being weak in change of direction for a defensive lineman is that it contributes to ultimately everything they do. It affects his moves, his ability to fight off blocks, and mainly the ability to have sixty tackles in a season.

One of the main reasons he has a poor change of direction is because of his basic lineman footwork. When he needs to stutter step, he takes long strides, and vise versa. The thing that is effected most by his lack of direction is his ability to simply tackle on run plays. The main way that a runner gets away from you is faking one way and going the other. I feel as though the second Brooks is paired up against someone like Chris Johnson, it's going to result in a touchdown, untouched. One of the sure ways to have a successful career as a defensive lineman is to have a good change of direction, and I feel that if Brooks' works on his footwork, his change of direction will be heavily improved.

Brooks Reed needs to develop a wider arsenal of moves. At the moment, he really only has two: the bull rush and his spin move, which is over-used. Also, as I depicted above, a bull rush is much less effective in the NFL than in the NCAA. Along with his bull rush, his spin move needs to be paranormal to get him passed someone such as Michael Oher. The thing that would get Brooks more sacks and give him more total tackles is expanding his arsenal of moves. With a greater variety, you are less predictable and more likely to get into open space.

ANALYSIS:

Best Fit: The talk with most d-linemen coming out of college is, should they be in a 3-4 or a 4-3. I feel that Brooks Reed will fit better in a 3-4, playing linebacker, than in a 4-3 (which he played in college) at the outside linemen position. Brooks main problem is against bigger offensive linemen and you can bet that the ones in the NFL are much bigger than the ones in the NCAA. He will have much more trouble getting through these linemen unless he works on his weaknesses I depicted above. Changing all those things takes a long time and doesn’t happen overnight. I feel the coaches will see that and try him out at linebacker. Also, the coaches are well aware that he adjusts to a new position quickly, because he changed from full back to linemen in his Freshmen year. I feel the 49ers would be a great fit for the Senior out of Arizona.

X-Factor: Their will be three things that will make or break Brooks. One, his ability to adjust in the case that he is switched to a 3-4 and is put at linebacker. Two, can he improve on his change of direction? Three, will he add a wider arsenal of moves if he remains at the 4-3 outside linemen position? These things ultimately will decide his fate and how successful he will be in the NFL.

Where he will be drafted: Late 1^st to beginning fourth round.

Where he should be drafted: Truly depends on the defense that is being run on the team and whether they feel he can adjust to a new scheme. Not much has been said by the defensive coaches on whether they see him playing linebacker in a 3-4. He should be drafted in the late first purely because he can play more than one position and is a great leader.

NFL Comparison: Clay Matthews, Linebacker, Green Bay Packers. I am not saying he will turn out like him, but he plays very similar to how Clay played coming out of college.

Brooks Reed highlights

Anthony Castonzo Scouting Report

OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, 6'7" 311 lbs.

Positives: Prototypical size, weight and height... Long arms...A good athlete who has quick feet and could move inside to guard if needed... Tons of experience started all four years never missing a game... Smart, tough blue-collar type mentality... Team captain... All the intangibles you look for in an offensive lineman... Comes from a school with a track record of producing top talent at the offensive line.

Negatives: Not a dominate run blocker... Started out playing at 250-260 pounds and put weight on every year but can still stand to add some more weight and strength... Not a flashy guy... May end up being better suited for right tackle.

Best Fit: I think he is smart enough and a good enough player to play for any team in any system. Any team would love to have a guy like Castonzo. But he may be a better fit at right tackle.

X-Factor: When will the tackles start being drafted. Generally when one tackle is drafted there is a run on tackles after that. This year there is no real elite prospects at the tackle position but a team reaching for a Castonzo or Tyson Smith early could set off a run of picks and be good news for Castonzo and company.

Where will he be picked: Top 15 -20. Castonzo maybe one of the safest picks in the draft. No red flags in terms of character. Plenty of time to analyze what he has done on the field as a four year starter, and he comes from a system known for producing NFL talent. He will probably end up in the 15-20 range depending on teams needs.

Where he should be picked: Top 15-20. Castonzo may not have the physical talents of some tackles in past drafts but you know that your going to get a starter from day one, and a guy that will probably come in and be a productive offensive lineman for 10+ years.

NFL Comparison: Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers)

Video:

Marcell Dareus Scouting Report

Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama, 6'3 319 lbs

SKILLS

Marcell Dareus, The 3-4's Top D-Lineman in the 2011 NFL draft

Strengths: One of the most complete prospects heading into the 2011 draft, Dareus provides schematic versatility, elite physical attributes, refined technique, and exceptional intangibles. A 2 year starter and 3 year contributor at Alabama, Dareus began his college career playing mainly nose tackle on third down situations. It was this season in which Dareus developed a solid pass rush ability from the interior defensive line position, as he was counted upon to pressure the quarterback. 

His sophomore season in 2009, Dareus really burst onto the national scene with 33 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 7 quarterback hurries. Dareus showcased an ability to not only rush the quarterback, but also hold the point of attack effectively and anchor versus the run. Dareus' emergence as a dominating d-lineman helped propel the Alabama Crimson Tide to a BCS National Championship victory over Texas. In the game, Marcell Dareus knocked star quarterback Colt Mccoy out for the entirety of the game on the first drive, and went on to win defensive MVP honors for his dominating play. The most memorable moment of the game was Dareus' interception return for a touchdown that displayed a powerful stiff arm and a slick spin move. 

That's a stiff arm if I ever saw one

In 2010, Dareus' junior year, Marcell maintained nearly identical numbers production wise with 33 tackles, 5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hurries. This comes despite being suspended for the first two games of the season, and dealing with a nagging high ankle sprain. Albeit the Crimson Tide did not win the National Championship as the year before, Marcell Dareus showed all the tools necessary to be successful at the NFL level. 

For a 6'3 319 lbs man, Dareus has good explosion off the line of scrimmage and tremendous athleticism. A high intensity player, Dareus can get out in the open field and chase down ball carriers. Plays with a fighter mentality and has heavy hands at the point of attack. Powerful arms provide for an effective swim or rip move off the edge. Has variety of pass rush moves because of his arm and hand usage. Added with his low pad level and leg drive, the skill set of Marcell Dareus will intrigue talent evaluators looking for 3-4 DEs (1 gap and 2 gap), as well as 4-3 teams looking for a 3 technique.

His ability to bend on the edge, combined with his speed and explosiveness, makes Dareus an effective speed rusher as well. When placed in a wide 7 technique in Nick Saban's 3-4 defense, Dareus showed an impressive ability to disrupt the backfield. The short area explosiveness, quick feet, athleticism, and hand usage allow Dareus to beat his man easily and continuously. Placing Marcell Dareus into a 1 gap, 3-4 scheme, an NFL team will fully utilize his athletic and physical attributes. Dareus adds a pass rushing threat from the 5 tech position, and can kick inside on nickel or third down situations as well. Although he does not stunt effectively, Dareus is best matched up on his own (1 on 1), on the outside at DE or on the inside at DT.

As a 2-gap defensive end, Dareus has the ability to hold edge, read, and react to the play. His excellent hand placement helps him shed blocks consistently. Active hands and a strong anchor, afford Dareus time to read and react to the flow of the play. Stout at the point of attack, Dareus even showed a willingness to simply eat up blocks in order to free up other teammates. Rather than running himself out of plays, Dareus maintains gap discipline. Another subtle improvement from his sophomore to junior year, Dareus seemed to "grow up" in terms of football character. By that I mean that Dareus hardly took any plays off, played through injuries, and understood his role and the concepts of Nick Saban's intricate defensive scheme.

Dareus is finally, an impressive specimen at the 3 tech position in a 4-3 defense. With the formerly stated abilities of reading and reacting to flow, active and heavy hands, strong anchor and powerful arms, quick feet and athleticism, followed by short area burst and speed, Dareus makes a compelling case to be the most well rounded player at not only defensive line, but at any position in the 2011 draft. As a 3 technique, Dareus provides a formidable interior pass rushing foe, whose quickness is a matchup problem with guards and centers. He has the size and strength to hold his own inside, but also has the quickness and explosion to take it to a whole new level. Dareus experienced great success in high school likely as a 4-3 DT his senior season, racking up 110 tackles and 20 sacks, so it may not be too far fetched to see him most successful as a 4-3 3 tech. His skill set suggest the ability to kick inside and dominate, and his high school production backs up that claim. 

However violent a player Dareus may be, he is characterized by those around him as a humble, nice guy. Marcell told Pro Football Talk at NBC, "I would describe myself as a nice guy." Nick Saban said on College Football Live on ESPN that as good a player as Dareus is, he's an even better person. Saban's solid resume of producing successful NFL players goes back to how he prepares them mentally on and off the field. Saban stresses the importance of how you need to carry yourself around your peers, but also teaches a complex NFL styled defensive scheme that truly develops young college players' football IQ and knowledge of the game. Dareus' growth on and off the field, as well as understanding of NFL schemes, makes for a smooth transition to the next level.

Weaknesses: Not many holes to Dareus' game, but there are a few concerns I will nitpick at. One, he has a tendency to disappear in games, and two, he lacks the in game stamina you would like out of a game changing defensive lineman. 

The two issues run hand in hand, as his disappearance could be literal (as he played in a rotational defensive front his entire career at Alabama) or just a result of tiring out during the game. At any rate, Dareus needs to show improved stamina or else he could be nothing more than a glorified third down weapon. That would be the worst case scenario and I just cannot imagine that happening. 

A slight worry would be the involvement with an agent during the offseason following Alabama's national championship run, however I feel that Dareus has learned from the mistake and will be much more careful with who he trusts in the future.  

ANALYSIS

Best fit: As stated earlier, I feel he is best suited in a 4-3 scheme as a movable 3 technique. This way you utilize all facets of Dareus' game.

The top 2 teams drafting will both be running 4-3 schemes in 2011 (if there is a season) and the Bills who are drafting third overall, will be running a 4-3/3-4 hybrid scheme. Dareus fits well with the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills who pick 1, 2, and 3; more importantly I would be hard pressed to see him fall out of the top 5. Best fit would be Carolina, who had the speed at defensive end, but lacked the girth inside last season. 

X-Factor: How much of a factor will the character and work ethic issues surrounding Nick Fairley be? Fairley, who was much more dominant on tape than Dareus, has the NFL buzzing in a bady way after having missed team meetings, his flight to the NFL combine, and a dinner with the Miami Dolphins. Will a team still gamble early on Fairley and pass up on Dareus? Or will these concerns push Fairley down the board and move Dareus up to the top?

Where will he be drafted: Top 5

Where should he be drafted: Top 3; There are only 3 players I see with #1 overall pick grades- Patrick Peterson of LSU, A.J. Green of Georgia, and Marcell Dareus. Each 3 players would be great fits in Carolina.

NFL Comparison: Warren Sapp (retired), DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders

Marcell Dareus highlights

Marcell Dareus highlights

Could Indy Be looking for a Successor?

Article courtesy of Guest Contributor and NFL Draft 101 Writer: Jared Counterman

Peyton Manning and the Colts

The 1998 draft didn't know it at the time, but it would go on to change the NFL for the next decade and a half. General manager, Bill Polian, selected Peyton Manning over future bust Ryan Leaf with the first overall selection. Over the time that has passed since, Manning has won an un-parralled 4 MVP awards and has carried an Indianapolis team to 8 straight 10+ win seasons. Polian has enjoyed the luxury of having a HOF player behind center over his time in Indianapolis, which allowed him to habitually hit his first round picks. The selection of Manning was the beginning of an era of consistency for Polian's organization.

The Reality and Future Strategy

Aaron Rodgers after 2005 NFL Draft

As every football fan knows, you can't have your HOF QB forever. Eventually, he is going to hang up the cleats and at 35 years old, Manning hasn't exactly found the fountain of youth. Recent rumors have been swirling around that Mr. Polian may be interested in following the new found blueprint Green Bay Packer general manager Ted Thompson laid  by drafting Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL draft. Rodgers rode the pine for three seasons, holding a clipboard behind Packer great Brett Favre. In his time on the bench, Rodgers was able to develope a deep relationship with HC Mike McCarthy and the offense he deploys. Only a couple seasons into the experiment, Green Bay has already topped the NFL once and seems poised to make frequent runs at the Lombardi trophy. Professional football has been buzzing. Developing a franchise guy over multiple seasons is a trending way to manage the most important position in pro sports; the quarterback.

This is the section of the article where I'm going to blindly make an attempt at cracking into the mind of draft genius, Bill Polian. Polian has been known to be completely unpredictable in April, but there are some constants in his draft strategy. Always look for Bill to get high character guys, Indianapolis has built a special environment around their facilities and they rarely have to deal with off the feild issues. Media clouding has stayed out of Polian's locker rooms and I expect that to stay that way. 


That puts guys like Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, TCU's Andy Dalton, and Washington's Jake Locker into the conversation. Polian's draft history also hints that production is a very important factor when being ranked among Indy's board. So that keeps all three in the coversation, considering all of them have started three or more seasons. Polian has been a frequenter shopper with Big-10 players, but doesn't mind taking guys from smaller schools. Look at it this way, only he knows, but we can use that history to make stabs at it.

The Contenders: Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, and Jake Locker

Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Jake Locker

Now that i've got it down to three guys, this process becomes more of a guess. All three guys are going to go through a learning curve, as does every rookie regardless of position, but I'm going to take Dalton off this list for a few reasons. First being I think his upside is the least out of all three guys I've been rambling about and upside is a big element when developing a guy. Secondly I think Polian likes guys that have distinct skill sets (Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark). Dalton, in my opinion, doesn't have any "wow" abilities. 

Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Jake Locker

Both Kaepernick and Locker bring attributes to the table that aren't seen every day in scouting. The spread that Dalton orchestrated at TCU doesn't translate to the pros at all. With this being said, I'm going to take Dalton out of my speculative running for the Indianapolis throne. Kaepernick is going to need to longest transition time as any QB coming into the NFL in 2011. At Nevada, Colin played in the "pistol" offense, an offense that doesn't deploy any NFL principles. Regardless of the system, Kaepernick is a supreme talent and has a promising career ahead of him. I just don't see Polian shying away from a pro-style guy and going with a wildcard in Kaepernick. 

Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Jake Locker

Jake Locker, the longtime Huskie hero, is the only guy I'm going to put money on if Polian is convinced its time to grab a student. Over Locker's time in college his stock has been bipolar to say it nicely. In early 2010, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper touted Locker as the "future number one selection in the draft". Locker opted to not compete with Sam Bradford and stay at Washington for his senior season. Only a year later, Locker's draft stock varies from team to team, I've heard third round at best and "a sure fire top-10 talent". With Locker's leadership abilities and loyalty, I think Polian would be crazy not to go with him, once again if this is the true thought process.

Who Knows Really?

Theres' truly only one way to find out what the genius is going to do with his QB situation, and that way is to glue yourself to the television from the 28th-30th of April. This could turn out to be an elaborate peice of trade bait, or what most people have grown to call a "smoke screen". Whatever the situation may be, Bill's got it covered and if your a true Indianapolis Colts fan, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

My Top Cornerbacks in 2011 NFL Draft

Patrick Peterson, top CB in 2011 NFL Draft

Top 10 corners

1) Patrick Peterson, LSU

2) Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

3) Jimmy Smith, Colorado

4) Brandon Harris, Miami (Fl)

5) Aaron Williams, Texas

6) Davon House, New Mexico State

7) Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

8) Curtis Brown, Texas
9) Brandon Burton, Utah

10) Johnny Patrick, Louisville

11) Marcus Gilchrist

Chykie Brown is tired of hearing about being the "other cornerback"

12) Jalil Brown, Colorado

13) Rashad Carmichael, Virginia Tech

14) Demarcus Van Dyke, Miami (Fl)

15) Richard Sherman, Stanford

16) Curtis Marsh, Utah State

17) Kendric Burney, North Carolina

18) Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State

19) Buster Skrine, UT-Chattanooga

20) Justin Rogers, Richmond

21) Chykie Brown, Texas

1-3) are consensus in my mind, and the only corners that should be taken in round 1. Only corners 4) and 5) could sneak into the late 1st round range.

Davon House, CB high on my radar

6) Davon House is a wild card I really like; size/speed combo is hard to come by; some of best ball skills in draft, great closing burst, good instincts, no injury history, and only started playing football as a junior in high school so high ceiling. Solid man 2 man corner> would love for him to go to the Cowboys, because his ball skills, overall speed, and man 2 man stick ability fits our scheme well.

Brandon Harris to the Steelers?

4) Brandon Harris could go round 1 to Pitt, as they struggled to cover Green Bay's slot receivers in the last Super Bowl. Adding Harris gives the Steelers an immediate impact as a starting nickel corner. With a pass happy league, nickel formations are so vital in any defense's success and Dick Lebeau knows this better than anybody. Any team needing a strong nickel back to guard slot would jump at the bits. Deion Sanders raved on him at the combine.

5) Aaron Williams would be solid in the right system, needing to be in a cover 2 scheme that utilizes his size and physicality. 

7) Ras-I Dowling KNOWS the position. One of the more polished corners who hardly gets fooled by a double move. Injury questions are huge concern, he slides but if healthy, could be one of better corners in draft.

Johnny Patrick

8) Curtis Brown looks good, plays bigger than his size indicates, and has excellent foot quickness and hip movements. Has the skill set to be a productive corner in a number of systems. 

10) Love Johnny Patrick, lockdown man coverage corner, who is great with getting his hands on receivers, redirecting routes, and bumping his man downfield. Physical in coverage, but also provides a spark in the return game.

17) Kendric Burney is the draft's most underrated cornerback. Evaluators need to realize what he is; which is a cover 2 corner exclusively. Plays with an aggression and instinctive nature required in that cover 2 scheme, reads the quarterback well, and is very physical at the line of scrimmage.

Other notes:

Justin Rogers, small school CB with impressive skills

Marcus Gilchrist, Rashad Carmichael, Demarcus Van Dyke, Chimdi Chekwa, Buster Skrine, and Justin Rogers are just as physically gifted as anybody in the draft, however they all show inconsistency on tape all too often. All these players have ability to outshine a number of other corners in the draft, and all should warrant late day 2 thru day 3 consideration.

Chykie Brown is a player to watch, as he will enter the NFL with a chip on his shoulder. Flashes ability to be best UT corner on tape, but doesn't have same focus from start to finish in games and is very inexperienced. High ceiling with the motivation factor and skill level.

Vincent Brown Scouting Report

The following scouting report by;
Guest Contributor and NFL Draft writer, Fernando Stepensky

Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State, 5’11 187 lbs

SKILLS

Strengths: Vincent Brown is by far the most underrated player in the draft. Whether it is because of his average size (6’0 195 lbs) or because he doesn’t attend a National Championship winning school (SDSU), the receiver just isn’t getting as much attention as he should.

It is no coincidence that he had 69 receptions in his senior year—this guy definitely knows how to get open and catch the ball. Nonetheless, his best attribute is getting the ball. It starts with his burst off the line; once that gunslinger says, “hike” Vincent goes 100% and gets off the line as if it were on fire. Sometimes his excellent bursts catch DBs off guard, which gives him the separation he needs to catch the ball right from the start.

The thing that is so shocking about him is his intelligence in route running. Earlier this year, in a game against TCU, he had a 50 plus yard TD reception. He ran an out and up route to perfection. This is a good sign because double moves are used often in the NFL. Also, usually wide receivers who have mastered the double move are very successful against the leagues top DBs. The quick difference in his speed caught the DB napping and created separation for the senior. He managed to get the diving reception for a touchdown. The one play embodies what Vincent Brown is all about.

The way he creates separation on a regular basis is depicted above with his off the line burst. Brown also changes speeds so quickly and he has this break/juke in the middle of his routes that absolutely baffle opposing cornerbacks; his footwork plays a large role in this.  His footwork helps him get in and out of his cuts quickly and swiftly. Which is common characteristic in good route runners like him.

Sometimes he does alter his route, because he reads the defense so well. His route running intelligence must be emphasized. He just knows where to go and when to go. His instinct gives him a feel of where to go and the majority of the time, his instinct is right. That is also another aspect of his game that deserves praise, his catch in traffic. It is complicated to explain it in its entirety. It is just that his ability to adjust to the ball in traffic is truly impressive. The overlying point is he is tough and he doesn’t care if there is one defender or if there are 11, around him, he will still catch it.

Vincent Brown’s incredible hands and superb footwork combine to create a great sideline receiver. He showed off his great sideline receiving at his pro day (which I attended) and especially in his games like the one against TCU. His specialty route is the slant and the out/in route. When he does a deep out route to the sideline, it is an almost guaranteed catch.

Combining Vincent’s footwork, intelligence, route running, breaks, big reliable hands, and great toughness make him one of the most prolific receivers in the draft. Although, their has never been a prospect without his share of flaws and weaknesses.

Weaknesses: Vincent has very few flaws when it comes to before the catch. Although, after it gets to 0.2 seconds before the catch and after the catch, the flaws begin to show. His running motion is by all means “awkward”. I was at his pro day and was told by a coach and a scout that his running motion is in fact awkward. They told me, “it doesn’t look natural when he is pumping his arms”. This is something that is of concern because it could greatly affect his already weak speed.

He ran a 4.68 at the combine, which is bad for a receiver, and he ran a 4.53 at his pro day, which is average, nothing too impressive.  An NFL free agent that was scheduled to work out at the pro day (didn’t because of the CBA) told me, “It is all his straight line speed, it just isn’t there.” He quite frankly is right and his coaches knew that coming in to his senior year. Very few times did you see him run a pure streak route. Normally he is given a double move route. That gives him time for separation on his excellent breaks and then, sadly, gives the DB time to catch back up once the streak starts. In the game against Utah this year he created separation just like I depicted and once he caught the ball and had 7 yards of separation, the DB started coming up toward him.

Vincent Brown’s run after the catch ability is another concern talent evaluators have to deal with. As I said his straight line speed and his running motion are awkward, but I am talking about his ball carrier vision. Throughout the tapes I have studied on him, I can always see a better opening than the one he decides to take. In the game against Navy this year he was given a screen, there were three defenders on both sides of him and a hole right between them that was quickly closing. I noticed that without having to pause the tape, he noticed it about 10 yards late when the gap was long gone and he was already on the ground. This continues in many of his games. The NFL is becoming very caught up with YAC (yards after catch) and if he doesn’t improve that aspect of his game he will not have much luck in the NFL.

Speaking of important aspects one must perfect at the wide receiver position before going to the NFL, blocking is key.  A trend you are have been exposed to in recent years is multi versatile players. Basically, the more things that you can do, the more likely you are of succeeding. Something that Vincent needs to work on is his blocking. He blocks pretty well for the first half of the play, but once the running back gets close to him he almost always lets his defender get loose and tackle him. I just don’t see the effort there on his blocks. That is definitely something he needs to improve for two reasons. One, to show me he is committed and gives it 100% on every play(counting running plays). Second, it shows the coaches that they can use him every down either as a receiver or an excellent blocker 

ANALYSIS

Best Fit: He would definitely be best suited on a pass first team, at least for the time being.  Due to his poor blocking on run players, he wouldn’t fit very well on a run first team. Although, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be drafted for one. The chances are high that he will go to a run first or balanced team and then he will be expected to learn blocking well!

Personally, I can see him potentially going to the Bengals, the Vikings, but the best fit could be the Arizona Cardinals.

Either the Cardinals could trade back in the third or draft him in the fourth. However, he seems to fit the team perfectly. They ran the ball a great deal last year (due to terrible quarterbacks), but this year they should have a clear-cut starter that would fit right in with Vincent Brown.

X-Factor: His X-Factor will be his blocking and his route running. That is ultimately going to make or break him. If he is on a team and he resembles his great route running and starts working on his blocking, he could be a great receiver. Blocking and route running will ultimately make or break Vincent Brown.

Where he will be drafted: Middle fourth to late fifth. People are saying that it could be in the sixth or even later, but I feel teams will realize his potential and draft him somewhere in the fourth or fifth. He will be one of those “risers” come draft day.

Where he should be drafted: He should be drafted right where I put he will be drafted. Fourth or fifth round is perfect for him. People do notice his tremendous upside, but the worry of his speed and blocking demotes him to these later rounds. 

NFL Comparison: Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Vincent Brown vs. TCU 

Vincent Brown Draft Preview