NFL Preview: New York Jets

The final team in my look at the 2013 NFL season in the AFC East is the New York Jets. Possessing what is in my opinion the worst roster talent-wise in the entire NFL, it's hard for me to imagine the Jets being anything but a cellar-dweller this year in the division. It will be a pretty big surprise to me if they don't end up with a top 5 pick in next year's draft. Their only competition for "league's worst roster" is the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, and at least both of those teams have at least one stand-out player (for Oakland it's Darren McFadden, and in Jacksonville it's Maurice Jones-Drew), which is more than I can say for the Jets now that they've traded away their clear-cut best player, Darelle Revis, to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Let's take a look at the breakdown for the 2013 New York Jets:Key Additions: You know your team is either in a really bad situation or a really good one when your only key additions come via the draft. In the case of the Jets, it's the former. While they did address two key issues in the draft with their additions of Dee Milliner and Geno Smith, there were certainly more pressing issues that they could have addressed with these picks, and in my opinion, better players that they could have drafted if those were the positions they wanted to address. When I watched the combine, all I saw from Dee Milliner was some stiffness in his hips and an inability to catch the ball. Add to that the fact that he'd had a shoulder surgery prior to the draft that should keep him out of training camp, led me to believe (and I still do) that their were better options for the Jets at the cornerback position. Milliner will have to come in and be a contributor right away, and a spectacular one at that, if he's going to get Jets fans off his case about being the replacement to Revis. It's no small task for a rookie, and I have my doubts about whether Milliner is up to the challenge. When it comes to Geno Smith, he may have been the best of the quarterbacks in the draft, but I was never very high on him to begin with. Being a Big 12 fan, I watched a lot of Smith at West Virginia, and I never liked what I saw from him. I thought the only reason he was a first round pick was because of a relatively weak class of QB's this season, and as it turns out, he wasn't even a first rounder, falling to the top part of the second. I do not think that the Bills made a wise choice in taking E.J. Manuel over Smith, but if I had been a team looking for a quarterback, I would not have filled that position in the draft.Key Losses: The biggest loss that the Jets had this off-season was one that ultimately needed to happen. Darelle Revis was never happy with the Jets organization, and while being the best cover corner in the league, it never seemed like the organization was happy with him either. They never tried to negotiate a long-term deal with Revis, and while Revis' constant hold-outs may have alienated himself from the team and the front office, his play on the field certainly warranted being treated better than the organization did. It was time for Revis to move on from the Jets, and now that he's in Tampa with a nice new deal, I expect him to be much happier than he was in New York. The loss of Revis means that the Jets are left with a pretty bare cupboard both in the secondary and on the overall roster. Revis was clearly their best player, and with his departure, I don't even know who would hold that title now. Unless some of these rookies pan out far better than expected, the Jets are going to be a laughing-stock for years to come with this roster.What it means: As I alluded to in the introduction, I don't see any scenario in which the Jets are not the last place team in this division. Obviously I'm not going to pick my Dolphins to finish behind them. With all their recent struggles, I still think that the Bills have a much more talented roster overall than the Jets, and even with the recent arrest of Aaron Hernandez further depleting the Patriots pass-catchers, there's no way that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick let this team fall that far. I see the Jets finishing no better than 5-11 this season, securing themselves at least a top 10 pick, if not top 5, in next year's draft.Well, that's it for my look at the AFC East for next season. Come back for my next installment, as I switch both division and conference and take a look at the NFC North division, team by team.
Source:http://aspoonfulofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/nfl-preview-new-york-jets.html

NFL Preview: New York Jets Images

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Team by Team Full Grades for the 2013 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys

You probably don't know this. But, I am a Cowboys fan. So I have many opinions on the way my team drafted in this draft.A wild weekend full of excitement has ended. Scouts, general mangers, and player personnel guys may now relax. Today in this segment, we will be talking about the Dallas Cowboys.NOTE: The Cowboys traded their first round pick (#18) to the San Fransisco 49ers for their first round pick (#31) and their third round pick (#80). This trade kind of made sense for Dallas because the Cowboys didn't have anyone they really wanted to select at the 18th pick. Kenny Vaccaro, Star Lotulelei, and Sheldon Richardson were all off the board. But the reason I give the Cowboys a bad grade here is because they value they got in this trade. Dallas could've definitely got the 49ers second round pick. But instead, they settled for a third round pick.Now, let's get to the draft picks!1 (#31). Travis Frederick, C/OG, WisconsinAnalysis:Travis FrederickWhen I first heard this pick, I was absolutely disgusted. I couldn't believe Jerry Jones selected a center in the first round. After watching tape and reading about him, I started to really like this pick. The first thing I noticed about Frederick is his brain. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin after his junior year with an engineering major. To be a center in today's NFL, you need to have a high football IQ. Frederick can improve the offensive line's play because of his ability to read the defense. He is a mauler. He is absolutely excellent in short yardage scenarios. He is experienced and his arms/hands are absolutely terrific. Some weaknesses are his speed and his ability to get to the second level. Frederick ran a 5.58 in his 40. To me, speed isn't a big necessity for a center. But this could really hurt his ability to get to the second level. Wisconsin is known for producing elite NFL linemen. Frederick has the ability to become an elite NFL offensive linemen. Frederick's versatility also gives him the chance to play guard.FINAL GRADE: B-2 (#47). Gavin Escobar, TE, San Jose State UniversityGavin EscobarAnalysis:I disliked this pick because it makes no sense to draft a tight end. You have Jason Witten, an all-world tight end starting, and you have James Hanna who you selected in the sixth round last year. Hanna was supposed to be the successor to Witten. Now, it is uncertain who will succeed Witten as the starting tight end. Escobar doesn't have elite speed and he isn't the best run blocker. But his hands are crazy. He can reel in every pass you throw to him. Escobar is 6"6'. Escobar is the best pass catcher in the draft. I like Escobar as a player. But it really makes no sense why Dallas drafted him. If Dallas wanted a tight end they should've waited till the later rounds to select a guy like Ryan Griffin. With so many needs, this shouldn't have been Dallas' second round pick. Escobar is going to excel in the red-zone.Having an elite red-zone target is nice to have for Dallas, but Escobar was the wrong pick here.FINAL GRADE: C3a (#74). Terrance Williams, WR, BaylorTerrance WilliamsAnalysis:Wide Receiver might not have been the biggest need for the Cowboys. But selecting Williams, really benefits them. Seeing Miles Austin is becoming an annual thing for Cowboy fans. Dez Bryant also has some injury concerns. If Austin or Bryant is injured, there isn't one receiver on the Cowboys that can play the outside. Dwayne Harris, Danny Coale, and Cole Beasley are best fitted inside in the slot. Williams can play either/or. Williams is 6"2'. This makes him a matchup nightmares for opposing secondaries. Williams is a burner. He ran a 4.52 in his 40. His ability to play the slot or on the outside really makes me like this kid. Williams has excellent hands. He is a good route runner. He is good at running after the catch. He is a polished receiver and he is a good red-zone target. His weakness is fighting off cornerbacks who are pressing him. Also, he isn't the best run-blocker. Williams was a good get in the third round.FINAL GRADE: B+3b (#80). J.J. Wilcox, FS/SS, Georgia SouthernAnalysis:J.J. WilcoxI really like this kid. He is a high character guy who speaks well. Just listening to this guy, you get the feeling he is a future leader. Wilcox used to play wide receiver and he is a dynamic athlete. He has excellent on ball skills and also has the ability to come up from the secondary and make the tackle. He is the ultimate team player. Due to his versatility, Wilcox has the flexibility to play free safety or strong safety.  Monte Kiffin is going to love this kid.  Playing for Georgia Southern might've hurt his draft stock, but Dallas knows what they are getting in this kid. I expect Wilcox to beat out Matt Johnson and win the starting free safety job for the Dallas secondary.FINAL GRADE: A-4 (#114). B.W. Webb, CB, William & MaryAnalysis:B.W. WebbWebb is a great player from a small school. But just like Gavin Escobar, this is a position that Dallas should've felt comfortable with. Once again, Dallas has many needs. Selecting a cornerback didn't fill a need. Webb has excellent on ball skills. Webb has good potential and he has an excellent head on his shoulders. But, his body does not translate well in the NFL. Webb is 5"10' and he only weighs 184 pounds. Webb might be nothing more than a slot cornerback in the NFL, and that's what really scares me.FINAL GRADE: C+5 (#151). Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma StateAnalysis:Joseph RandleRandle is the perfect complement. He may not have the best speed, but he has complete vision. He has a high football IQ. The most like-able thing about Randle, is his pass catching ability. Randle would be an excellent third down back for the Cowboys. Like Miles Austin, seeing DeMarco Murray injured is becoming an annual thing to watch for Cowboy fans. If Murray goes down, Randle can come in and become an excellent playmaker for the Cowboys' offense. Randle needs to work on his pass protection. But with become a dynamic threat for opposing defenses.FINAL GRADE: B+6 (#185). DeVonte Holloman, OLB, South CarolinaAnalysis:DeVonte HollomanThis pick could be the steal of the draft. Holloman used to play cornerback and safety. His athleticism is undeniable. The Cowboys switched to a 4-3 defense in the offseason. In a 4-3, you have three linebackers. The three linebacker spots are the "mike", "sam", and the "will" position. Sean Lee is going to man the "mike" position. Bruce Carter is going to man the "sam" position. But, the "will" position has not been settled yet. For that linebacker position, you need to be quick, strong, and athletic. Basically, you need to be a hybrid linebacker. Good news for Holloman, because that is exactly what he is. Holloman is a beast. I had him as a second round grade. Dallas got him in the sixth round. For Holloman to start, he will have to turn heads in preseason. He will becompeting with Justin Durant, Alex Albright, and Brandon Magee for the last linebacker position. I really like Holloman and his upside.FINAL GRADE: AALL IN ALL:The Cowboys drafted guys who can immediately help the franchise while also build for the future. Their draft could've been better, but it wasn't. In order, these are the players I liked most: Terrance Williams, DeVonte Holloman, Travis Frederick, and Joseph Randle, Gavin Escobar, and B.W. Webb. PREDICTIONS:All could be major contributors this year. I expect Williams to be the third receiver on the roster. I see Holloman becoming an instant special teams stud. I think Holloman will start at the will linebacker position next year. I believe Frederick will play right guard, that's only if Phil Costa can stay healthy. Randle will complement Murray in many ways. Escobar will become a good red-zone target. Last, B.W. Webb will be the fourth cornerback on the roster.FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-Thanks for reading!
Source:http://therishabreport.blogspot.com/2013/04/team-by-team-full-grades-for-2013-nfl.html

Team by Team Full Grades for the 2013 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys Images

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Quick Thoughts on the 2013 NFL Draft

After quarterbacks, there is nothing I love looking at more than pass rushers. There's just a lot to watch, because even on plays where they do nothing, you can still learn things about them. I took a look at guys in no particular order, and it kind of worked out perfectly as we start on a bad note but end on a good one.I wouldn't touch Ezekial Ansah from BYU. I watched his game against Hawaii, and had he not been circled on every play, I would have had no idea he was on the field. He may be a great athlete, but he has a far ways to go before he is a football player. He rushes straight up, is easily blocked because of that and just kind of keeps pushing forward as his only pass rushing move. He does not read plays well which makes him poor in run stopping as well. On top of this, he is not a good tackler, as he just kind of fell off guys multiple times. I would not touch him until the middle rounds where you can gamble on the upside and hope your coaching staff can help him develop.On the bright side for BYU fans, even though he was not circled, number 3 jumps off the screen on defense. I looked it up to make sure I wasn't being an idiot, but no, it was Kyle Van Noy who was a third team All-American. That dude is fun to watch. I am very high on him for next year.Dion Jordan has legit quickness, especially in his ability to change directions. He's got a lot of positive reviews for his ability to cover, and I can see why, because all the athletic gifts are there. He played well against Stanford, but I don't know if this guy is an elite pass rusher. He does a decent job of dipping his shoulder when pass rushing, but he never wowed me in his pass rush skills. I honestly didn't see enough to make a definite decision. I see first round athleticism but not sure if I would want to take him in the top 10 picks.Bjoern Werner definitely doesn't have the athleticism of Dion Jordan. But he's got a motor. He blocked two guys after an interception against Miami. What really stands out are his instincts. He does a good job of reading and reacting to plays. He's not a guy who bit on things and he adjusted quickly to runs and passes. He's gotten grouped in with pass rushers, but this guy is a 4-3 Defensive End that should not be playing linebacker. Where he's got an advantage over the other guys is power, he was basically able to shuck Seantrel Henderson who is a legit offensive line prospect for next year's draft and get a sack. If I am a 3-4 team, I'm not as interested in Werner, but as a 4-3 team looking for a defensive end, this is my guy in this draft.After Werner, I decided to watch another "slow" prospect and check out Jarvis Jones's game against Alabama. I love productive guys in college, because it usually translates pretty well to the next level, especially on things like pass rushing skills. Jarvis Jones has a motor. Honestly, he may not be the best athlete, but he is definitely quick. Straight line speed really doesn't mean shit when it comes to pass rushing. His best pass rushing move was using his quickness to the outside and dipping that inside shoulder. He does a nice job of making himself a small target for offensive linemen, which is a skill that definitely translates to the next level. I think he can be a double-digit sack guy at the next level.Quick side note. Watch this Alec Ogletree play.That's all I need to see from him for me to want the Bears to draft him.I watched Barkevious Mingo's game against Clemson. This guy was the opposite of Jarvis Jones as the numbers never seemed to match the scouting reports. In this case, I am definitely going with the scouting reports. He pops off the screen and shows a rare ability to explode right at the snap. There were a few moments where I just went "Jesus Christ" while watching the film. Although his sack numbers were not there, the production was. He caused a ton of hurries and just faced a lot of teams with quick passing attacks where there wasn't much he could do. He's got a good bend when rushing to the outside and he's quick enough to cause havoc when looping to the inside. He also has the makings of a pretty solid spin move as he keeps his body pretty tight in it. If I'm getting a pass rusher in this draft, Mingo is my guy. He's not a traditional 4-3 defensive end like he played in college, but making him a 3-4 outside linebacker or a Leo in a 4-3, similar to Bruce Irvin, would lead to a ton of production. The only concern is his pass coverage skills, because he never had to in college, but the raw material is there for him to at least be passable from the start.  Some team is going to be very happy to get this guy on their team.In full disclosure, I have to admit that I hated Aldon Smith coming out of college, but I feel I learned from my mistake of hating a guy for only making ankle tackles. If it's effective, there is no need to change, and he found a great scheme for his skillset. Still, I wrote this, and I can't completely ignore it, "I was in the middle of writing about Aldon Smith being the worst pick of the first round when, holy shit, Jake Locker got selected one pick after him." The second half of that comment was at least fine. I will still hold my head high on this one forever and ever. Also, one last note, I am going to try to live blog parts of the draft. Tonight, I am stuck at an event, but I will try to follow along and sneak in Twitter remarks (@HottJoe). Lukewarm Jonah expressed interest in live blogging the later rounds, so we may try and do that. Stay tuned. 
Source:http://uncensoredwriting.blogspot.com/2013/04/quick-thoughts-on-2013-nfl-draft.html

Quick Thoughts on the 2013 NFL Draft Images

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Quarterback Ratings 2013 NFL Draft

I evaluated the 2013 quarterbacks on a scale of 1-10. Here are some recent players drafted to compare them to: Andrew Luck 9.8Nick Foles 7.8Tim Tebow 4.82013Geno Smith 7.6EJ Manuel 7.4Ryan Nassib 7.1Matt Barkley 7.0 Landry Jones 6.8Mike Glennon 6.7 Matt Scott 6.6Zac Dysert 6.2Sean Renfree 6.1Tyler Wilson 6.0Ryan Griffin 5.9Tyler Bray 5.6Jordan Rodgers 5.2Collin Klein 3.6
Source:http://betterthantheexperts.blogspot.com/2013/04/quarterback-ratings-2013-nfl-draft.html

Quarterback Ratings 2013 NFL Draft Images

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