Sunday, April 09, 2006

Calico Jack's Mock Draft


This is my first official mock draft. I don't watch a lot of college football games besides following the USC program and big bowl games. Most of my picks are based upon what I know about professional football, team needs, and hunches. The 3 keys to my mock draft are the Titans releasing Steve McNair, the Jets & Saints swapping picks, and the Titans taking Vince Young. This is the only conceivable way that the Raiders will have the good fortune of AJ Hawk falling to their spot on the draft board.

Trends: The 2 college programs represented the most in the 1st round will be USC (5) and Ohio St. (5). The 2 positions with the most 1st round selections are running back (5) and cornerback (5).

#1 Houston Texans; This pick is a "no-brainer". Reggie Bush (RB, USC) is an electric, game changing back who has been compared to Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, and LaDainian Tomlinson. It will be very interesting to see how new Head Coach Kubiak deploys Bush.

#2 N.Y. Jets (trade with New Orleans); The J-E-T-S make a splash with "Madison Ave." Matt Leinart (QB, USC). Leinart is a proven winner, excellent game manager, strong leader, and has a star quality presence.

#3 Tennessee Titans; The Titans in preparation for life-after McNair pull the trigger on Vince Young (QB, Texas). Look for the Titans to release McNair within the next 10 days to free up cap space and to start the season with Billy Volek under center. Vince Young will be groomed to be the QB in 2007.

#4 New Orleans (trade with NY Jets); The Saints select D'Brickashaw Ferguson (LT,Virginia) to protect newly minted QB Drew Brees. This is the safest, most sensible choice.

#5 Green Bay Packers; Mario Williams (DE, NC State) will make an immediate impact on improving the Packers' D. Pass rushing defensive ends are one of the highest rated commodities on draft day. Williams is one of the most gifted athlete in the 2006 draft. His combination of strength, power, explosion, agility, and body control had scouts drooling at the combine. He recorded a 40.5 vertical jump, 10.0 broad jump, and 35 reps on the bench press test.

#6 San Francisco 49ers; Niners management throws their QB Alex Smith a bone by picking Vernon Davis (TE, Maryland) with the sixth pick. Davis will provide a good open field target and security blanket for Smith.

#7 Oakland Raiders; The stars align for Mr. Davis. AJ Hawk (LB, Ohio St.) will improve the Raiders rush defense which ranked 25th in the league. All bets are off if the Jets don't exchange picks with the Saints.

#8 Buffalo Bills; Haoli Ngata (DT, Oregon) is a space eater who demands double-teams and is a run-stuffing beast.

#9 Detroit Lions; GM Matt Millen will begin to concentrate on the Lions D after drafting a WR in the 1st round the past 3 drafts and signing QB Jon Kittna & QB Josh McCown in free agency. Look for Michael Huff (S, Texas) to come off the board with this pick.

#10 Arizona Cardinals; Winston Justice's (OT, USC) stock has risen after his pro-day performance. Justice has the ability to play either tackle spot and fills a need for the Cards.

#11 St. Louis Rams; Brodrick Bunkley (DT, Florida St.) is a beast! He will be a rock-solid addition to improving the Rams weak defensive unit.

#12 Cleveland Browns; The Brownies will be torn between Manny Lawson (DE, NC St.) and Ernie Sims (LB, Florida St.) but will give the nod to Lawson who is a better overall fit for their 3-4 defense because of his pass rushing skills.

#13 Baltimore Ravens; If the Ravens don't sign Steve McNair, Jay Cutler will be added to the roster. However I think McNair will find himself in Baltimore which leads to the selection of Ernie Sims (LB, Florida St.)

#14 Philadelphia Eagles; Andy Reid has no history of drafting receivers in the 1st round but he breaks the pattern and takes Chad Jackson (WR, Florida) who will compete for the #2 receiver spot.

#15 Denver Broncos (trade with Atlanta); The Broncos wanted Chad Jackson but settle on the next best available wide receiver who is Santonio Holmes (WR, Ohio St).

#16 Miami Dolphins; Tye Hill (CB, Clemson) ran the fastest 40 yard of any prospect at the combine and is a good fit for the Dolphins D.

#17 Minnesota Vikings; Jay Cutler (QB, Vanderbilt) tumbles down in the draft to the Vikes who snatch him to eventually replace Brad Johnson.

#18 Dallas Cowboys; Jason Allen (CB/S, Tennesse) is a versatile defensive back who can make an impact as a nickel back or free safety.

#19 San Diego Chargers; The Bolts try to find an answer to their secondary woes with Ashton Youboty (CB, Ohio St.).

#20 Kansas City Chiefs; In a 1st round filled with quality cornerbacks, the Chiefs take Jonathan Joseph (CB, South Carolina).

#21 New England Patriots; The Pats address one of their most glaring holes (the secondary) by taking the hard hitting Donte Whitner (S, Ohio St.)

#22 Denver Broncos; Leonard Pope's (TE, Georgia) size will make him an attractive option in the Red Zone and to become a solid blocker in the running game.

#23 Tampa Bay Bucaneers; The stock of Chad Greenway (LB, Iowa) has been plummeting with his poor performance at the combine and pro-day. He is a solid value pick for the Bucs and should fit in nicely with their cover 2 scheme.

#24 Cincinnati Bengals; Another downfield weapon for Carson Palmer comes in the package of Mercedes Lewis (TE, UCLA). Lewis is the 2nd best pass catching TE in the draft but will need to improve his run blocking skills.

#25 NY Giants; Bobby Carpenter (LB, Ohio St) didn't get the pub that fellow buckeye AJ Hawk garnered but is a good all around playmaker who will be able to play inside or outside in the G-Men's 3-4 D.

#26 Chicago Bears; Antonio Cromartie (CB, Florida St.) sat out all of last year with an injury but impressed the scouts with his combine efforts. Don't be surprised if Cromartie is picked off with an earlier pick.

#27 Carolina Panthers; Lendale White (RB, USC) cost himself a big chunk of change by being over-weight and unable to perform at the combine. Projected as a 12-15 pick a few weeks ago, White is a proto-type power running back built for the NFL.

#28 Jacksonville Jaguars; DeAngelo Williams (RB, Memphis) will provide quality depth behind the often injured Fred Taylor.

#29 NY Jets (trade with Denver); Curtis Martin is getting long in the tooth so it will make sense for the Jets to take Laurence Maroney (RB, Minnesota).

#30 Indianapolis Colts; With the departure of Edgerin James, Joseph Addai (RB, LSU) will share some of the load with Dominic Rhodes.

#31 Seattle Seahawks; The Hawks fill a need with the mammoth Deuce Lutui (OG, USC).

#32 Pittsburgh Steelers; Sinorice Moss (WR, Miami) is a playmaker who will help soften the blow of losing Antwan Randle El. Moss should pay immediate dividends as a return man and third receiver.

Other 1st round candidates: Max Jean Gilles (OG, Georgia); Kelly Jennings (CB, Miami); Darvin Joseph (OG, Oklahoma); Mathias Kiwanuka (DE, Boston College); Demeco Ryans (LB, Alabama); Darnell Bing (S, USC); Tamba Hali (DE, Penn St); Darly Tapp (DE; Virginia Tech); Eric Winston (OT, Miami); Nick Managold (C, Ohio St.); Marcus McNeil (OT, Auburn); Kamberion Wimbley (DE/LB, Florida St)

17 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://blogs.foxsports.com/IndoorSportsLuvR

Are you aware someone copied your post?

The Raiders have visits or workouts scheduled with Huff, Leinart & Young. It doesn't appear Hawk is in the picture at this point.

8:31 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Anonymous 8:31 - Thanks for pointing this out. They say "imitation is the highest form of flattery" but in this case it is a complete sham. This is the comment I posted;

"ISLR - According to your blog bio, you claim to be highly educated. What a joke. You copied my blog word for word that I posted 8 days ago. You are a complete FRAUD. You pose as a Raider fan but you don't have the integrity to write your own views and do you own research. All of the readers can see for themselves by visiting my blog at http://silverandblackforever.blogspot.com.
A person who visits my blog pointed this out. You are a complete sham. I would be surprised if completed high school. I guess the only thing we learned today is that you have mastered the technique of cut & paste."

9:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Calico I read that ISLR post you talked about. When I follwed it through I went to the real guys posting site (and it was a really a guy) and he really gives you the credit. I beleive it was a gag he played on the other bloggers. You shouldn't be offened, you should be proud that he liked your work so much that he used it as part of his joke.

Angel of Death

9:01 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Angel of Death & DFA: Thanks for your comments. That guy "Hazmat" or "SLVR" or whatever he calls himself is an idiot. He might have been playing a gag on some of his fellow-bloggers but it was done in poor taste. I have no problem with having some fun but this guy took it too far with some of his comments to me.

7:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

7:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

11:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

7:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Calico, who's comments have you been deleting? Got any new blogs coming out? Like to hear your take on the new season for the Raiders.

DFA

8:37 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

This blog is dedicated to die-hard Raider fans. My intentions are to share my passion for the Raiders with like-minded individuals. Nothing more, nothing less.

Comments were deleted that were deemed inappropriate. Profane language & derogatory comments are not tolerated on this site.

8:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

1:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.

1:18 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

HAZ - It is time to move on. I will leave your comments posted if that makes you happy. Frankly I don't care. You are welcome to keep doing your thing and I will do mine. Life is way too short to waste on this nonsense. BTW, your 1st deleted post was AFTER I had already responded to the Dan not before, if that matters.

2:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everything matters, if you ignore the small, they have a tendency to grow. But alas life goes on. Just answer one question to put my mind at rest and before we both lay down the swords, why did you delete my first comment to you which was nothing short of sincere?

HAZ

6:26 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Your comment was deleted because I was annoyed with this entire ordeal. I was sick & tired of having to defend myself for something I didn't start. As I said in an earlier post, this blog is for true Raider fans. It is not a personal forum. It is not for obscene language. I wish you well but it is time to move on.

7:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Claico, then I lay my sword to the side and declare a truse.

Live long and prosper.

HAZ

10:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Claico, then I lay my sword to the side and declare a truse.

Live long and prosper.

HAZ"


ROTFLMFAO!!!

What are you, a Klingon?

BWAAHHHAAA!!! You're killin' me!

Sorry, the correct term is "Vulcan" isn't it?

Now go back to Starfleet Command or whererever you came from and let the real people discuss football, shall we?

I don't know what a "truse" is, but you don't have any truce with me when you are startin' fights with my friends...Calico is a gentelman, but some of us are not...

and I realllly don't care how big you believe your phaser is, TAZ.

Time for you to leave.

7:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We've all had enough of the mock drafts, but here's how the Top Ten picks would go if folks knew what they were doing,(as if I do -LOL!):

1. Houston Texans — DE Mario Williams, North Carolina State. The philosophy is never pass up a big-time pass rusher for a running back, and I'm sticking to it.

2. New Orleans Saints — RB Reggie Bush, USC. D'Brickashaw may be the actual pick, but anyone notice how narrow he looks to be the supposed next Orlando Pace?

3. Tennessee Titans — QB Vince Young, Texas. A lot of debate about Leinart vs. Young, but Young is too similar to the existing offense with McNair and has too much talent to pass up.

4. New York Jets — OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia. The NY fans will boo, just like always.

5. Green Bay Packers — OLB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State. Hawk has Green Bay written all over him, like Ray Nitschke did.

6. San Francisco 49ers — TE Vernon Davis, Maryland. Can't give up on Alex Smith without some targets.

7. Oakland Raiders — DB Michael Huff, Texas. Instantly makes all the young DBs play better.

8. Buffalo Bills — DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon. Bills need to stuff the run (#32 in the NFL) and Ngata does "stuff" better than Bunkley, though I bet Bunkley is better, baby!

9. Detroit Lions — DT Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State. Pairing him with Shaun Rogers is beyond scary, and may be the only thing that can save Matt Millen's job.

10. Arizona Cardinals — QB Matt Leinart, USC. Not the free fall that Rogers took last year, but Leinart isn't as big a deal as his Hollywood agents think he is.

2:48 PM  

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