Dated: March 17, 1990
With three rounds of the draft now in the books, and franchise players already selected, the philosophies of the individual teams and coaches seem to be getting clearer. We can now get a better view of the inner mind of each of the general managers, and what they feel the ideal team and ideal style is for their franchise. As with any draft there have been some surprises, some sleepers, some studs that slipped way down because of certain question marks, but for the most part it has been very balanced. Very few teams stand out as dominant, and very few as a basement team. With fifty spots yet to fill on each roster, these four picks are only a small part of the overall equation, but they are expected to be the stars for their respective team, and their nucleus for success.
1. Tampa Bay Blazers
QB Dick Dinkins was the perfect #1 overall pick. He is a top of the line quarterback; young and with a small long term contract. It's the perfect ratio of salary vs. performance and position. Tampa Bay had the shocker in the draft in their follow up pick, grabbing a FB in Randy Barton. While a quality player, he does not fit the prototypical FB, as his blocking is very mediocre. He is however a good receiver and if utilized correctly should lead all FB's in receptions. One of the riskiest picks of the draft was WR Gary Thompson. On the field he is a top notch star, and a perfect target for their start QB to throw to. The downside of course is the size of his contract and his many off the field issues, which scared so many away in the early rounds. Still, despite the risk, this is a great 3rd round selection. With the first overall pick being a franchise quarterback, Tampa Bay has instantly set to work giving him weapons to throw to. With a solid DE to anchor the defensive line, they could afford to turn their eyes to offense in the early rounds. They are in good shape early.
2. Indianapolis Royals
Indy made a bit of a surprise pick grabbing QB Cyril Wyche with the 2nd overall pick because of his age (32). But there is no doubting his ability: he is a solid player at an important position and will not break down. His lack of leadership is of concern to some. He will have a great weapon to throw to in WR D.D. Downing. Soft on the cap, his downside is he is very slow for a receiver, so he won't be a deep threat. But with such incredible hands and good size, he'll still make a good number of catches. OLB Brent Tyler is a solid player, not great, but solid all around and a very good cover in man defense. With a top free safety to take away the deep threat, and a solid tackler in OLB Brent Tyler, Indianapolis has gotten a very solid start on both sides of the ball.
3. Houston Oilers
Steve Banks is the AFL's version of Rich Gannon, at 37 still a very potent threat. He has all the tools of a franchise player, but his age makes him a questionable cornerstone for a new franchise. While having a quality TE to throw to, Houston will have to find Banks some more weapons in the wideout department. Guy Davis is a force in the middle, in what seems a fairly shallow field of defensive tackles. An established veteran, CB Tommy Wand will solidify the backfield. He is however a very weak tackler and weak against the run. Based on the first three rounds, Houston is not waiting for rookies to develop, instead trying to win now.
4. Seattle Tritons
While the fans may not have been crazy with their first pick, Seattle hit the jackpot with rookie QB Monte Meier. A great clutch player with a super accurate arm and incredible mobility, he will be the foundation of this team for the next decade. The best part of all is just how cheaply they got him, money wise he is clearly the bargain of the draft. To protect his valuable blind side, Seattle drafted veteran pass blocker OT Mike Beam. On the defensive side of the ball Seattle is looking very good, with a star OLB to anchor the team and one of the best defensive ends in the game in John Croom. Seattle was one team not afraid to chance his big 1 year contract. If they can resign him, this will look like a brilliant move. If Seattle can get a star receiver for Meier, it might be lights out for the rest of the Frontier Division.
5. Los Angeles Marshalls
Los Angeles is in great shape thus far, getting out of the blocks in fine shape by landing a franchise Quarterback. From there it was merely building a team around him. Rookie HB Sammy Hoambrecker is an absolute monster at 265 lbs. And can run the ball inside or out with equal effectiveness. His all star running game will counter their great passing game. While some question the 2nd round pick of TE Lenvil White, it makes perfect sense for this team, as he acts as both a blocker for Hoambrecker and a pass blocker for their franchise QB. The only thing better perhaps would have been a big lineman in this slot. To get the defense started they took DE Marcus Milne, a high priced star with some character issues, but his play on the field is well worth the risk. The Marshalls are off to a good start in the Pacific Division
6. Miami Blitz
Miami has made a concerted effort to build an established veteran offense, picking the three key offensive positions in the first three rounds, backed up by a franchise guard. QB Darrell Hickerson is an established veteran, his main detriment is a weak arm, and he doesn't really stand out in any one category. His main target will be WR Scotty Kliensasser, a youthful 27 on a club of veterans, whose main asset is his clutch 3rd down reception ability. Kliensasser lacks breakaway speed and suffers from mediocrity in other areas. To anchor the ground game, Halfback Ahmad Davis is another over 30 selection, and like Hickerson, while a good all around player doesn't really stand out in any one category. Miami has been consistent in its picks thus far, picking veterans at key positions, who all fail to grab the headlines in anyone thing. While its unlikely any of them will make it to the Hall, it will be interesting to see how they work together as a team, which of course is all that matters in the end game. Whether this formula will work or not, some Miami fans are grumbling to call-in shows of missed opportunities. But then it was on call-in shows that they were looking for Donovan McNabb's head earlier this year. Coaches should ignore radio shows completely.
7. Boston Patriots
If LA's Sammy Hoambrecker isn't the leagues best RB, Brian Barrett will be. He can do it all and run any which way; if there is one chink in his armor, its ball handling. Still he is an instant key for the defense and will likely bear the brunt of the offensive assault. Down the road Boston will have to deal with his salary, doomed to grow to 8 million in four years. To counter defenses keying the run, they drafted veteran QB Russell Stock. This seems like the one bad pick for them as he looks mediocre on paper, and has never been too good in the clutch. On the defensive side of the ball they are off to a very fine start, with a great ILB to lead the linebackers and Tommy Dale stuffing the middle of the line. Look for Boston to force the running game down the defense's throat.
8. Atlanta Locomotives
With a franchise WR to build around, Atlanta took a 36 yr old legend in Tyler Farmer to get him the ball. While his name alone should sell tickets, the question is, has his age caught up with him yet? Never too great in the clutch, in recent years some say his skills have slipped. Still, with a star receiver to throw to, that can take a year or two off any QB's arm. On the defensive side of the ball, CB Quincy Johnson, while a great clutch player with incredible catchup speed, lacks the overall shut down capacity they might have hoped for. While probably not an all-star, ILB Adam Alstott will anchor the linebacking corps nicely. Overall, the passing game will be the key to Atlanta's success.
9. Carolina Cougars
Carolina has set to work filling up the big 3 positions on offense with quality players. With a solid running back to build an offense around, they built a quality passing game around it to keep the defense unbalanced. WR Buck Cunningham is a good young wide receiver who despite his expensive salary should prove to be worth every penny of it. A great clutch player that will spend very little time on the sideline, he's a threat anywhere on the field. His one weak spot might be his lack of ability to come back for the ball. Getting him the ball will be Rob "Happy" Gilmore. The downside here is that Rod is a rookie QB throwing to another rookie so this connection might take a few years to develop properly. Not a standout at any one thing, with a few noticeable flaws, some question the selection of Gilmore here, but when you have a receiver like Cunningham to throw to, it will improve any QB's confidence. With the 3 big positions filled on offense, Carolina set to work on the defense in grand style, surprised to see ILB Steve Mason still around. This established veteran will be the leader of the defense, and rarely lets one slip by. The weak point in the equation is Gilmore, but with other stars already in the offense, he only needs to be part of the supporting cast.
10. Kansas City Gamblers
QB Marc Hamdan is considered by some to be a questionable pick at the 10th spot overall, both because of his average stats and inclination for throwing the pick as well as trying to resign him after dishing out 6 bills this year. Still, it's a solid player at the most important position. Bobby Morris is a punishing fullback, and at 21 year old, he's just a diamond in the rough with lots of room to grow. Give him a few years and he'll be making waves on the field. On the defensive side, K.C. has filled the middle nicely with a top ILB. CB Travis Barnett is a great prospect with much potential, but he is very raw, and like FB Morris will take his lumps the first few years before he pays dividends. Based on these picks so far, I look for Kansas City to struggle the first two years until their core develops and gains experience.
11. Denver Stallions
Denver has taken an unusual approach thus far, as one of the few teams not to draft a RB or a QB. With a great Center to bolster the offensive line, they turned their attention to defense. CB Tom Tuitele is a very solid pick. While not a blitzing threat, he is a top of the line tackler, there won't be many yards after the catch against him. He also has a great penchant for the big pickoff. Turnovers win games, and this is what Denver is hoping for. They made a questionable pick on DE James Barber. A 21yr old rookie, he was never a big name in college, and is very raw. The defensive line field had been depleted this deep into the draft, but Denver must know something about Barber that the scouts haven't been telling us. WR Leon Hill is another rookie, and unlike Barber, he was a big name in college. He is still extremely raw and has to really work hard to fulfill the potential in his body, but detractors point to his low work ethic from keeping him from being all he can be. Denver with a young inexperienced core should struggle early on until they mature. Who they can land at quaterback and runningback in the later rounds will determine how good they are.
12. Dallas Outlaws
Let the other teams scramble like madmen to fight over the QB's in the first round, the Dallas Outlaws went their own way, instead picking the best defensive player in the game in ILB M.L. Donald. He can stop the run dead, blitz the QB till he has nightmares, grab the pick, and shut down in man defense. I'm frankly shocked that M.L. slipped this far down, especially considering his salary is very moderate for what he gives in return. Did I mention I like this guy? With a franchise player to shut down the opponent's best receivers, Dallas then turned to their defensive line with DE Emile Zimmerman. While not the best player on the board, he compliments their earlier selections to have one solid player in each of the key defensive positions. Turning to offense, they picked up RB Horace Armstrong. Concerns over character as well as his painfully low endurance and durability caused this otherwise promising runner to slip this far. Like many players, he comes with risk, but his great all around talent and his ability to break the big one will have defensive coordinators building their strategy around him. All in all, Dallas has hit a homerun with their picks thus far and look like the early favorites in the Grid Division.
13. Arizona Rattlers
In looking at the name of their division (Pacific) and their current location in the desert, GM Billings quipped he had some ocean front property in Arizona. Not afraid to spend the big bucks, Arizona joined the QB raffles, with their first pick gobbling up QB Lamar "Jordie" Burton. The fans argued he was too old at 32, and the owner argued he cost too much at 9 mil, but he can throw the ball anywhere on the field with great accuracy, and can get out of hot spots with his legs. He will however throw more than his share of picks during the season. Rookie Glenn Thomas is a fine addition at cornerback, with a very friendly salary and good potential for pickoffs. Like other rookies he will need a few seasons to mature fully. To protect their high priced QB, Arizona has secured both a stout OG in Vince Ohlmiter as their franchise player, and selected rookie OT Rulon Serwanga. Rulon has potential to be a star at his position, and signed for 7 years isn't going anywhere. Aside from their veteran Quarterback, Arizona seems to be looking toward building for the future with this young team.
14. Philadelphia Shamrocks
Philly started off with a bang taking 21 yr. old rookie HB Dan Moss. Moss has a ton of potential, breaks a lot of tackles and almost never fumbles. He is a great chip blocker and should get lots of christmas cards from QB Armstead because of it. He's also a lights out kick returner. His one flaw, and it's a dubious one, he's not a particularly good inside or outside runner, which is odd because that is what running backs do. Still he does so much so well, this shouldn't be an issue. At 28, QB Michael Armstead has never reached the potential he had in college, but he still has a cannon of an arm. His main weakness is an inability to read defenses and throwing the big pick. But he is a clutch player, and like Moss has enough tools that he should overcome his deficiencies. Phillies' defensive strategy is a clear one: they believe in a strong last line of defense, singing a franchise strong safety and drafting FS Jim Behrman. Berhman is another with a ton of potential and with a great work ethic should see his potential. In a few seasons, this safety combination should be the fiercest in the league. Your typical Philly defensive backfield.
15. Portland Breakers
Kamil Jones is a star, and great choice to get the defensive line started. Youthful, good on the wallet, and a good all around player, he will be double teamed by offenses. He comes with some character issues and is not a very good leader, but all in all this is a great pick at this spot and a great way to start off a new defense. Portland grabbed OLB Mike Kozier to back him up, another young stud with much potential. This is a nice 1-2 punch to build a team around. While also carrying some off the field baggage, Kosier brings a great work ethic, and should accel to his potential in a few years. On the offensive side of the ball, they are also in fine shape, with a star receiver to get it to, as well as HB Max Lewis to run the ball. Lewis is the absolute team leader, and plays the game just as hard on the sidelines inspiring the team as he does on the field. While only an average runner, he has great hands and will double as a safety valve on 3rd down. Portland has a fine start, but I see them falling just short of Seattle in the Frontier in the early going.
16. Baltimore Colts
On the offensive side of the ball, Baltimore grabbed up a solid young running back in Chick Watkins. Great on the sweep, if he gets daylight he's gone. His ability as a receiver makes him a double threat. His attitude may get him into some trouble and he needs to work on his inside running, but he is a fine start for a new club. Defensively, Baltimore has a franchise DT to build around, probably the best way to start a defense. In support ILB Jeff Kunz is a tackling machine. While a bit slow on the pass rush, if given time he's got the moves to get the quarterback. This one-two punch will make offenses tend to run to the outside on them. In the backfield they took FS Cecil Hall. It was a definite risk taking a one year 5.5 mil contract on, trying to resign him without blowing the cap will be a task. He is however a very solid player, a dead tackler with great blitz ability and catchup speed. This is a solid defensive core to build from.
17. Pittsburgh Pride
Pittsburgh is off to a great defensive start, with a franchise CB to shut down the deep threat, and the youthful DE Jason Molden to stop the run. With room to grow, a great work ethic and a 7 year cap friendly contract, Jason should develop into a force into the league. He needs a little work on the pass rush yet, but that should come in time. HB Drew Anderson is a pure risk. With a ton of potential, he lacks the work ethic to fulfill it, with an attitude to back up his poor work ethic. For a running back he is very poor at finding the holes on inside and outside runs. Bottom line is that if the Pittsburgh's coaching staff devote enough time into developing him properly, he will pay big dividends. If not, this is a wasted pick. OG Michael Crockett is a mountain of a man and while needing work on holding blocks and run blocking is a force just on his size alone. He also doubles as an excellent long snapper. This far down, it's a positive pickup. Pittsburgh's success hinges on how their wildcard performs at halfback. They have a great core, they just need to make it work.
18. Louisville Colonels
Louisville looks to be shaping up as a run oriented team, landing veteran running back Bryce Cross. His big question mark is his 1 year 5.5 mil payout, and his low team loyalty for resigning him. As a player though, he's a very solid choice. At 245 lbs. He will punish the secondary when he gets there. He doubles as a very good route runner and excellent chip blocker, and to boot is an awesome kick returner. He is clearly multi-versatile, and a nice addition. To open the holes for him, the Colonels have a franchise Center and OG Alfred McKeller, an all star juggernaut that slipped this far merely because of his salary. Once he's got a hold, he never lets go of a block and is equally effective with run and pass blocking. Their one defensive pick, DE Gordon Rehberg is a rookie with much potential. Easy on the cap on an otherwise overburdened team, Gordon has a knack for forcing the turnover, and excels at pass blocking. Unfortunately he is horrid at stopping the run, so don't look for him on short yardage plays. Talent wise Lousiville has won out here, but victory at what price? They will be cash strapped the rest of the way trying to fit under budget.
19. Iowa Barnstormers
Iowa landed a gem in WR Flipper Bilitnekoff. Probably the best young player in the game, he's a great route runner who rarely drops one and can take off after the catch. There's no serious flaw in his game, except that he's not the smartest player on the field, but Iowa is lucky to have gotten him this far down in the draft. With a franchise OLB to solidify the defense, Iowa continued the defensive improvement with CB Duane Casey. He's a solid defensive back, young with room to grow. When he matures, he will be a great blitzer, jammer and run stopper, but is fairly weak in zone coverage. He has the qualities of a linebacker if he were a little bigger. He comes with quite a bit of risk with his disruptions in the clubhouse and off field situations. If he can keep his nose clean, Iowa has a winner here. Tony Gay is an adequate running back, not really a stand out in any area, and has room to grow. Good on the cap, he comes with some baggage, and is going to need a good offensive line to help him out. All of Iowa's picks thus far suffer from some character issues, if the coaching staff can keep them in tow and out of trouble, Iowa will make some waves on the field. If not they will be making them in the media.
20. Cleveland Blues
Cleveland's emphasis has been mainly on the offensive side of the ball. With a franchise player at OT, they selected Gary Johnson with their first pick. While one of the better backs in the game, and one they will anchor their game around, he comes with a few serious flaws, mainly his horrid open field running and attitude. He is however a large durable back set for 25+ carries a game who rarely fumbles and is equally effective either to the inside or outside. Despite some flaws, all in all he will be a very positive force. QB Aaron Willard is a more questionable selection. He is only mediocre at everything he does, and while a good scrambler, legs are not a quarterback's main asset. Its understandable wanting to fill an important position, but there were many better players available in other positions at this slot. DE Frank Bishop is a nice way to get the defense started. With great leadership and team loyalty, that alone is a guy you want on the team. Plus he just keeps ticking and rarely misses a down. A magnificent run stopper, he needs work on his pass rushing, and may even sit out 3rd down plays. While not one of the best drafts for them, they could have done worse. If Johnson keeps football his main priority and they get a quality reciever to make up for Willard's flaws, they could succeed.
21. San Francisco Generals
The emphasis Philly put on last line of defense apparently pales in comparison to San Francisco. In this arms war of defensive backs the Generals have clearly gone overboard, neglecting the rest of the team. With a franchise Cornerback already on the club, they still drafted CB Ted Chapman with the 21st pick. Chapman is a top notch back, and this will be a hard team to pass against, but his salary will hamper San Fran's maneuverability in personnel. Despite this, he will be an immediate star, with a masterful habit of picking off passes, fantastic blitz ability and great in coverage. If these two shutdown cornerbacks weren't enough, they then went and grabbed FS John White. Another 6 million off the salary cap to pay him tightens their freedom for picking players later in the draft, and while a great player, with 2 good CB's they really didn't need him. Plus his character is highly questionable. Its hard to say negative things about such a standout player who can tackle and cover with the best of them, but it's a matter of addressing the needs of the club, and he wasn't what they needed. Three words: Run on them.
OG Buzz Little is a very stout run blocker who rarely lets one slip by, but for a cash strapped team, there goes another 6 million. San Francisco has drafted some of the best players in the draft, the main concern is that they weren't at the right positions, and they've blown their cap on three guys.
22. New York Empire
CB Mike Romanik is a very solid selection, though his 8 mil salary in 2 years will smart. He can jam, he can pick off, and needs no help in man to man, leaving the safety free for blitzes. Heck he can even blitz himself, which is one more thing the QB will need to be looking for. FB Jake Brown is not very good running the ball, which makes his being picked this early a surprise. Yes, he has excellent hands for catching the ball, but he will mainly be utilized for his run and pass blocking skills. A little taller and he could have been a tight end. At this point there's probably not many good QB's left, so New York probably could have waited until later rounds to pick Woody Garcia. A rookie, he just is not going to be a game breaker. He has the mobility of a guy with 2 broken legs and has trouble with the short passes. He has a very poor Int/TD ratio. Of all the picks thus far, this one baffles me the most. At least he has a franchise WR to throw to, but even that won't make Garcia a star. Aside from Romanik, I think the later rounds will determine New York's success. Right now they have their work cut out for them.
23. Oakland Immortals
Oakland started off with a bang, acquiring a DT for their franchise player to mess up the middle of the field for the offense. Then they took it one step further by selecting OLB Steve Adamle. At 28 he is the right balance of age and experience to make an immediate impact. Perhaps a small step down from M.L. Donald, Adamle is one of the most dominant LB's in the league who can shut down the run, blitz the QB with great effectiveness and make the big play when it most counts. Perhaps a bit weak in man coverage, he's brilliant in everything else, and coverage shouldn't matter because with a pass rusher this good, he should be blitzing every down. With Line and Backers taken care of, Oakland grabbed up RB Johnny Plunkett. He brings experience and talent to the position. He comes with some negatives that have turned people off: salary, attitude, not good in the clutch and not very good in the openfield, but when weighing the pros and cons, there are many more pros than cons here, and he's a great chip blocker to defend their QB as well. To help him out, OT Byron Forester was brought on board. At 29 Byron probably won't improve much to reach his potential, and is a mediocre blocker. For the most part Oakland has done very well for itself thus far.
24. New Orleans Knights
The Knights, secure in their running game by landing a franchise back, turned their attention to the defensive side. ILB Jeff Miller may have scared some earlier teams off with his extreme character risk and lofty salary. Still though he's a good leader known for causing the big turnover, and is equally effective against the run or pass. If DT Tom Guman can perform at his current level for another 4 or 5 years, this one will be a steal. His sideline cheerleading only improves the morale of the players around him, and his play on the field backs it up. He is a monster at clogging up the run, and a nightmare to quarterbacks everywhere. Aside from his age (31) and contract (7 mil in 2 years), he is a bigtime addition to the defense. With the selection of CB Keith Reid, New Orleans has put the league on notice that they mean to win and win now. Another guy passed over because of a hefty salary and age (32), this former pro-bowler is solid across the board, and still has enough speed to prevent the deep one. New Orleans should come out of the box kicking butt, their 3 draft choices have 25 years of experience between them. But the cost to get them is absolutely staggering, and they will need some younger guys to keep the future of the club bright.
25. St. Louis Pioneers
RB Jay VandenBosch is a great young talent. Still quite a bit raw, he needs to work on his poor inside running and even poorer route running. With an inspiring work ethic he should improve at these things over the years as well as fine tune his outside game. OG Mike McAlister is another rookie with potential. Another young player with great work ethic, Jay and him should improve together as a team. He needs still to work on his mobility, so he can pull more effectively on outside runs, which is where VandenBosch accels, but he's definitely on the right road. A nice pairing on offense. Defensively, the Pioneers have a franchise free safety to take away that deep threat and harry the QB. DE Chris Olds starts the pieces falling in place for the D-line. This far down there aren't many gems at End, and considering his mediocre abilities, the 4.5 mil one year salary is questionable. The Pioneers are off to a great start on offense, but right now stopping the run will be a question mark.
26. Nashville Nightmare
At 34, Curtis Hall was a questionable 1st round pick. The coaches believe in a strong defensive line, but for the spot and his age some fans will be unhappy with this one. If he still has it, he is a great pass rusher who can cause the fumble, and while a bit weak against the run can still bring them down when they come his way. They could have taken ILB Justin Strong before him, and were fortunate he was still around for the second pick. A young 29, he's highly effective against the run and rarely lets one slip by. Also a solid pass defender, crossing routes will be risky with him dropping back. With a franchise player at SS, the defense is off to a nice start. The only thing wrong with WR Andre Eisenhauer, is he should be at quarterback so he could be a field marshal, because he's definitely a five star player. Despite his age (30) and salary, its amazing that he fell this far down. Perfect hands, route running, open field running, good body control, able to break a jam in a single bound, he'll be the go to guy on offense this season. Looking at Nashville's picks, you'd think they picked in reverse order, each new pick seems to get better. What started off as a weak draft quickly turned into a winner for them.
27. Cincinnati Royals
With a franchise wide receiver to build around, it makes sense that they'd go offensive line, but the early selection of OT Mark Sowell is questionable, considering there were better ones on the board. A 21 year old rookie, he comes fairly cheap, but his career at Yale was hardly shattering. I don't see him developing into anything more than a solid lineman, particularly against the pass. He still struggles against the run, and at holding blocks, so the QB will take a few too many shots until he matures properly. Perhaps the best name that doesn't need a nickname, TE Hopalong Van Dyke is a very talented rookie TE out of Toledo. Many questioned taking him so early, but for a rookie, is mature beyond his years. An absolute master at blocking he should help cover what Mark Sowell misses, and is a great goal line TE. A tackle in a wide receiver's body, were he a lot larger he would have surely been a tackle. CB Cedric Broyles is an experienced corner who's very durable and who just relishes jamming receivers and getting in their face. Trash talking is a hobby of his during these encounters. A high salary scared many off but with two prior low cost picks, the Royals had plenty of money to spend on him. The Royals success is a question mark, as of yet without a QB or RB, they've built their offense solely on the line of scrimmage. It will depend what they manage to land in later rounds.
28. Minneapolis Bruisers
WR MacArthur Pass is a rookie who's ready to go right out of the box. A great clutch player with fantastic hands, he has the potential to the best receiver in the league, without the attitude so common among wideouts. Considering his talent and potential, he's practically working for free at $225k. With a franchise fullback to chip block, the Bruisers went after a QB to get the ball to Pass. Lance Reynolds however was the wrong choice to go after. Pathetic arm strength, and nearly useless on long throws he hardly compliments Pass's skill. After one season of disappointing play , I would look for the Bruisers to be drafting a QB in the first round of the college draft. Another Florida quarterback that never lived up to his college days in the pros. Defensively the team is a project. DE Mike Hector is an extremely raw rookie with a ton of potential. His killer work ethic should see his rapid improvement, but there will be a few seasons of getting bulled over and outsmarted until he learns the ropes. Pathetic against the run, working with him on this will probably be the defensive line coach's main priority this season. Provided they draft a quality quarterback to replace Reynolds, this is a nice young core which while they will struggle this year, will be very good in a few seasons.
29. Chicago Fire
Despite being a late first rounder, the selection of RB Dennis Zimmerman seems a little weak. With a 1 year 2 mil contract to resign, while his stats will be good, I think there could have been a better selection at this spot. His strong point is he's good either to the inside or outside, and once into the secondary, he's hard to stop. An incredible athletic specimen, Chicago could have done better in this spot, but they could have done a lot worse too. Having a franchise player at Tight End should help in getting him some holes, and to cut off the ends to help him get to the outside. Defensively, OLB Steve Vigorito is a star, and yet another surprise to have lasted this long. They also have to try and resign him after this year, but he is just solid up and down the board. Look for him to get his share of sacks. He's praying for a blitz happy defensive coordinator for Christmas. The one chink in his armor is his zone coverage, so on passing downs it should be either matching up the tight end, or blitzing the QB. On the line, DT Steve Studwell falls well short of being a stud, but this late in the draft was a nice pick at this position. While weak against the run, his pass rushing skills are his strong point. Between him and Vigorito, the offense will want to keep the backs in to chip block. How Chicago does is questionable at this point, a nice start on defense, their offense is a bit suspect at this point.
30. Michigan Panthers
At 31, QB Joe Brown is as good as he's going to get, and considering his average qualities vs. his age, is a bit of a surprise at this spot. With so many QB's taken earlier in the round, they probably could have gotten someone equal and younger in the later rounds. Not known as a clutch player, his mediocrity at reading the defense can get him into trouble. Fortunately they have a franchise fullback who will be able to stay back and block for him, affording him an extra second to make the throw. OG Heath Tolbert at 33 is just what the doctor ordered for an unsure QB. His age alone is what let him slip to the third round. He is experienced, and one of the best pass blockers in the game. On defense, DT Vince Beasley is another gem that slipped down.Beasley at 27 has a lot of career left in him, and can stop the run cold. A bit light at 289 for a DT he still lacks the speed, but has incredible moves to outwit centers who over commit to his fakes. He will get his share of QB pressures. Like Nashville, Michigan's best players were taken in reverse order. With Brown being a question mark, I'd say Michigan may struggle a bit, but their lines seem to be shaping up quite nicely.
31. San Diego Express
With a franchise Offensive Tackle to build around, the Express gave him some help landing all pro Center Robert Young. With great footwork he could also double as a pulling guard. With a one two punch like this on the offensive line, halfbacks are standing in line waiting to get a chance to play for this team. Anyone have 12 million I can borrow? That's what it will take to pay WR Patrick Connell this year. An incredibly talented wideout, this 30 year old is just plain hard to stop. Still trying to fit him under the cap and resigning him will be a tough job next year. San Diego furthers their one two punch by also doubling up at receiver, drafting Bo Jackson. If you'll excuse the pun, Bo knows how to get the big bucks. Another 30 year old with a big contract, San Diego will be handicapped trying to fit the team under the cap. Bo is as good at breaking a jam as any receiver in the league, but is only an average route runner. With a stud like Connell already on the team it's a mystery why they drafted another receiver. They've built a nice cast on the offensive side, but... defense? What defense?
32. Washington Braves
At $68k, RB J.T. Lipps is paid so little, some wonder if the Department of Labor knows about this. Lipps was clearly selected because of his salary. While a decent back, he has enough flaws that warrant him slipping deep into the second round. While great at breaking tackles and hanging onto the ball, he is completely lost when he does get into the secondary. A horrid chip blocker, he is also a sub-par receiver, and should probably be benched on 3rd downs. Center Dick Steussie is a fine choice. Young, cheap on the wallet, signed to a long term deal, and with room to grow, he is the perfect man to anchor the Washington O-line for years to come. Still a bit raw as a rookie, he is a bit of a project, but in a few years should be right up there with the best of them. With a defensive end as their franchise player, the Braves have gotten off to a good start defensively. A moderate success is SS Stephen Cooper. He's gotten as good as he's going to get, but is still young and can play the position for many more years. Equally adept in man or zone, he hasn't mastered either, but is quite adequate. There were probably better players on the board at this point, but Washington wanted to make safety a priority. Washington will struggle greatly with the running game I fear. With no wideouts or QB yet, the offense is in a state of flux. Their success this season lies in what they do with the rest of the draft.
By the Numbers
Looking at the numbers, in the first round, 9 QB's were taken, but after 3 rounds only 15 of the 32 teams have selected one. The same numbers apply for running backs. 3 Fullbacks and 2 Tight Ends were taken, along with 10 recievers. A total of only 11 Offensive linemen were taken including only 2 centers. The biggest positions on D were 11 DE's and 10 CB's. Only 1 SS was taken, and a mere 5 DT's. I was a bit surprised that nobody gambled on a kicker in the early rounds as there were quite a few good ones. Its been an interesting draft thus far, and we've begun to see the individual team structures and emphasis of each of the coaches. Some have gone for defense, some for offense, some for defensive backfields, some for offensive lines. It's a long way to go until the rosters are filled, but after 3 rounds, I think we've already been introduced to most of the stars of the game.
