Announcement

Collapse

The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.

Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
See more
See less

OT - Insider NFL Mock Draft

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • OT - Insider NFL Mock Draft

    'Skins could turn to Harris; Rivers rising

    By Scouts, Inc.
    For ESPN Insider
    Wednesday, March 24
    Updated: March 24
    3:29 PM ET

    Editor's Note: Each week Scouts, Inc., takes a fresh look at projecting the draft's first two rounds. This week's update reflects the rising status of QB Philip Rivers and a potential change-up by the Washington Redskins at No. 5.

    * = underclassman

    First Round

    1. San Diego Chargers
    Eli Manning | QB | Ole Miss

    Manning
    Manning likely will go No. 1 overall, but it may not be to the Chargers. The Chargers will first look to shop this pick to the highest bidder in an attempt to secure extra picks and better address their many needs. If they can't trade out of this pick, they will have a difficult decision between Manning, Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald and Iowa OT Robert Gallery. In our opinion, Miami-Ohio's Ben Roethlisberger is the better overall quarterback prospect, but after the Ryan Leaf disaster, the Chargers would likely take Manning, who is widely considered the safer of the two. Trading David Boston makes the decision even tougher.

    2. Oakland Raiders

    Fitzgerald
    Larry Fitzgerald* | WR | Pittsburgh
    After Fitzgerald ran a 4.47 at 221 pounds at his recent Pro Day, the Raiders now have to be crossing their fingers in hopes that he gets past the first overall pick and falls to them at pick No. 2. If Fitzgerald does happen to be taken first, the Raiders would have to chose between Manning, USC WR Mike Williams or possibly even trading down to a team interested in drafting Manning.

    3. Arizona Cardinals
    Mike Williams* | WR | USC
    Coach Dennis Green thinks enough of quarterback Josh McCown's physical tools that the team won't hesitate to trade down if given the right offer. While Roethlisberger would be an upgrade over McCown and is worth drafting this high, Green feels the team would be much better off drafting a top receiver or defensive lineman with this pick. Green would love Fitzgerald, his former ball boy with the Vikings, but if Fitzgerald goes in the top two picks, Green's choice will come down to Williams and Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris. If Williams runs in the 4.5s in his upcoming individual workout (April 6), he should be a top-five selection. If not, the Cardinals will either go with Harris or trade down a few spots in order to stockpile picks and still get a top receiver like Reggie Williams or defensive lineman like Kenechi Udeze.

    4. New York Giants

    Gallery
    Robert Gallery | OT | Iowa
    The Giants would have an extremely difficult decision to make between Roethlisberger and Gallery. While Roethlisberger would be a terrific replacement for Kerry Collins, who recently turned 31 and is only under contract for next season, the Giants have a more pressing need along their offensive line, and Gallery is the "cleanest" player in the draft. Because Gallery's workouts were so impressive, and also because there's a big drop-off between him and other tackle prospects, such as Arkansas' Shawn Andrews and USC's Jacob Rogers, don't be surprised if a team like the Browns or Falcons try to jump ahead of the Giants in order to secure him. If that's the case, Roethlisberger would then make the most sense here.

    5. Washington Redskins
    Tommie Harris* | DT | Oklahoma
    The Redskins should have their choice between three excellent players -- Harris, DS Sean Taylor and TE Kellen Winslow Jr. -- at three positions of need. We get the strong impression they are struggling between Harris and Winslow. Even after they signed Cornelius Griffin via free agency, the Redskins are still short a starting defensive tackle, and Harris is the best this class has to offer. Harris' effort and production were hit-and-miss for much of his sophomore and junior seasons, but he has Warren Sapp-like quickness and playmaking potential.

    6. Detroit Lions
    Sean Taylor* | S | Miami (Fla.)
    The Lions would be content with either Taylor or Kellen Winslow Jr., and in our opinion, they'd get a steal if Taylor fell to them at the sixth overall pick. Taylor has the size of an outside linebacker and the coverage skills of a cornerback. He is exactly what an NFL team is looking for in terms of versatility, and he could have the biggest impact of any rookie in the 2004 NFL season. With the additions of DCs Dre Bly and Fernando Bryant the last two offseasons, the Lions would have one of the best secondaries in the NFL if they were to draft Taylor with this pick.

    7. Cleveland Browns

    Winslow
    Kellen Winslow Jr.* | TE | Miami (Fla.)
    The Browns' biggest need lies on the offensive line; so don't be surprised if they trade up to secure Gallery. Their other two big needs are safety and tight end, so if either Taylor or Winslow Jr. fell to them with the seventh pick, they would be elated. Winslow Jr. has some obvious character and maturity concerns, but Butch Davis has a history with him after recruiting him out of high school, and the Browns certainly would be willing to take a chance on him considering their need to add a playmaking receiver at the position. Winslow Jr. would immediately become a favorite target for Jeff Garcia and would help free things up for WRs Andre Davis and Quincy Morgan.

    8. Atlanta Falcons
    Roy Williams | WR | Texas
    Everyone seems to assume the Falcons would pass on Williams in order to draft the best available defensive lineman, but that might not be a wise assumption. The Falcons were able to address their defensive tackle need by signing free agent Rod Coleman, and they can definitely live with Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith as their starting ends in the new 4-3 scheme. Because it's entirely too high to draft OT Shawn Andrews, the Falcons likely will have to chose between Williams, DC DeAngelo Hall and DE Kenechi Udeze with this pick. In our opinion, Williams is the best value and would make the biggest impact as a rookie. Williams is just a notch below Mike Williams and Fitzgerald in terms of overall potential, and he is clearly the fastest of the three prospects, which would make him a great complement to Peerless Price.

    9. Jacksonville Jaguars
    Kenechi Udeze | DE | USC
    The Jaguars would like to draft a receiver with this pick, but if Fitzgerald, Mike Williams and Roy Williams are all taken, Udeze would make a lot of sense considering he's the top player at the Jaguars' second-highest position of need. Udeze, who has an excellent combination of size, quickness and burst, shows the potential to develop into an every-down starter in the NFL sooner than later. He would be a terrific complement to Hugh Douglas and would help improve the overall pass-rushing production of the Jaguars' front-four.

    10. Houston Texans
    Vince Wilfork* | DT | Miami (Fla.)
    The Texans addressed their need at defensive end by re-signing Gary Walker and adding Robaire Smith via free agency. However, Seth Payne has undergone three surgeries to repair the torn ACL that caused him to miss most of '03. Wilfork is a player on the rise right now after he showing terrific dedication in taking off and keeping off unnecessary weight in the past year. He would fit well with the Texans as a massive, two-gap nose tackle who not only excels at taking up space against the run but also shows enough quickness and athleticism to collapse the pocket from time to time as a pass rusher.

    11. Pittsburgh Steelers
    Ben Roethlisberger* | QB | Miami-Ohio
    Cornerback, offensive tackle and quarterback are the Steelers' three top positions of need, and they'll likely have a choice between quality players at each of the three. If Roethlisberger is gone by the time they pick, we'd be surprised if the Steelers did not draft Virginia Tech DC DeAngelo Hall. However, it's starting to look like Roethlisberger could be the odd man out in the top-10 picks, and we can't imagine the Steelers passing on him if that's the case. Roethlisberger has the most complete set of physical tools of any quarterback in this year's draft class, and he also is a proven winner and leader. He would be a perfect long-term replacement for the aging Tommy Maddox.

    12. New York Jets
    DeAngelo Hall* | CB | Virginia Tech
    The Jets are in great position to draft a top player at their biggest positions of need, including Hall at cornerback, Jonathan Vilma at linebacker and Reggie Williams at wide receiver. Of those three players, Hall is the highest-rated prospect, and after Antoine Winfield turned them down in free agency, the Jets seem to be most inclined to draft a cornerback here. The Jets are looking to play more man-to-man coverage next season, and Hall is the perfect fit because of his speed, playmaking skills and confidence.

    13. Buffalo Bills

    Rivers
    Philip Rivers | QB | North Carolina State
    The Bills could draft a receiver such as Reggie Williams, a defensive end such as Will Smith or a cornerback such as Chris Gamble with this pick, but Rivers' draft status is skyrocketing, and now might be the right time to think about Drew Bledsoe's eventual replacement. With a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and at his recent individual workout, which simply helped cap a brilliant four-year college career, Rivers has overcome concerns about his funky throwing motion and has won over the hearts of several general managers and head coaches in the NFL. The gap between him, Manning and Roethlisberger seemingly shrinks with every passing day.

    14. Chicago Bears
    Reggie Williams* | WR | Washington
    After addressing needs at running back (Thomas Jones) and offensive tackle (John Tait) via free agency, the Bears would like to draft a defensive tackle with this pick. The problem is, Randy Starks might be too much of a risk with the 14th overall pick. There are rumors about Chicago's interest in moving up a few spots to secure Wilfork. However, if they get stuck with their original selection (No. 14), and if Harris and Wilfork are both gone, the Bears could very easily draft a young blue-chip receiving prospect in Williams, who would make Rex Grossman's life as a first-year starter that much easier. After Mike Williams, Fitzgerald and Roy Williams, Reggie is clearly the next best talent at the wide receiver position. He lacks elite speed, but he is big, strong and polished, and he shows the potential to quickly develop into a No. 1 starter in the NFL.

    15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Clayton
    Michael Clayton | WR | LSU
    The Bucs would have a difficult decision between several defensive players, including DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma, but we get the feeling coach Jon Gruden is pushing hard to add a young offensive playmaker at the skill positions, and Clayton is his type of player. The Bucs addressed their need for speed with Joey Galloway, but Gruden needs more receivers with size, hands and toughness. Clayton is a big, polished receiver with adequate speed, good playmaking skills and terrific overall intangibles.

    16. San Francisco 49ers

    Gamble
    Chris Gamble | CB | Ohio State
    After losing Terrell Owens, and with Tai Streets possibly ready to exit via free agency, the 49ers will be looking for a receiver with this pick. But if Fitzgerald, all three Williams' and Clayton are gone, the Niners will have to shift their focus to defense. DE Will Smith would be a strong possibility, but the Niners actually need a defensive tackle more than they do an end. After losing Jason Webster via free agency, the team is presently without a quality nickel cornerback, so if Gamble fell to them at pick No. 16, it would make a whole lot of sense to take a chance on him. Gamble will need a year as a sub-package cornerback to continue to improve his overall coverage ability, and he would get that in San Francisco behind Ahmed Plummer and Mike Rumph. Gamble's recognition skills and overall technique need the most improving, but he has terrific potential because of his rare overall athleticism.

    17. Cincinnati Bengals
    Dunta Robinson | CB | Sout Carolina
    The Bengals will focus on defense, with a special emphasis on tackle, end and corner. After losing both of their starting corners from last season, it seems cornerback has moved to the top of their needs list. Robinson has good size, strength and tackling skills. He moved from safety to corner in '03 and continues to improve in coverage. Robinson is not only one of the most polished cornerbacks in this class, but outside of Hall, he could be the fastest.

    18. New Orleans Saints
    Will Poole | CB | USC
    Fred Thomas, Dale Carter and Ashley Ambrose all are on the downsides of their careers, and the Saints are desperate for speed, youth and playmaking skills at the cornerback position. Poole, a transfer from Boston College, quickly emerged as a premier corner for the Trojans. He has good size, great speed and exceptional ball skills. He also is one of this class' most physical cornerbacks and won't back away from mixing it up vs. the run.

    19. Minnesota Vikings
    Will Smith | DE | Ohio State
    The Vikings addressed their need at cornerback in free agency with Antoine Winfield, so they would be ecstatic if Smith fell to them here. With last year's top pick, Kevin Williams, moving inside to tackle, the Vikings still are in search of a fulltime starter at end, and Smith has the potential to become exactly that. He lacks explosive speed, but he is big, quick, tough, strong and technically sound.

    20. Miami Dolphins
    Shawn Andrews* | OT | Arkansas
    By trading for A.J. Feeley and David Boston, the Dolphins can now address their most glaring need (offensive line) here. If Andrews slips to them at 20, which he could as a result of character and weight concerns, the Dolphins would almost have to take a chance on him.

    21. New England Patriots (from Baltimore)
    Steven Jackson* | RB | Oregon State
    Jackson would be the perfect fit, but after his strong workout the Patriots may need to package a couple of their seven picks in the first four rounds in order to get him. Right now, Jackson grades out as an early- to mid-first-round prospect, so the Patriots likely would need to move up to the 10-15 range in order to secure him. They are looking for a versatile back who not only can carry the load late in the season but also can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield, and Jackson is all of that. He has emerged as the top running back in this year's class and, as a result, there probably will be a bidding war for him in the middle of the first round.

    22. Dallas Cowboys

    Jones
    Kevin Jones* | RB | Virginia Tech
    The Cowboys will be looking for the best available player at running back or along the defensive line, and Jones, despite running a couple of pedestrian 40 times at his recent Pro Day, is the highest rated player left on our board at those three positions. Jones needs to continue to improve his hands as a receiver, but he is the most explosive of the three possible first round back prospects -- Steven Jackson and Chris Perry -- and he would be a huge upgrade immediately for the Cowboys.

    23. Seattle Seahawks
    Randy Starks* | DT | Maryland
    The Seahawks would feel like they won the lottery if Starks fell to them at pick No. 23. And because DT is such a glaring need, don't be surprised if they trade up a few spots in order to nab Starks between picks 18-22. Starks' play was inconsistent this past season, which is why his stock has slipped a bit, but he has very good athleticism for a 300-pound defensive tackle, and his value is sure to increase the closer we get to draft day. If Starks is gone by the time Seattle picks, however, the Seahawks likely will draft ILB Jonathan Vilma as their new starting middle linebacker.

    24. Denver Broncos
    Jonathan Vilma | ILB | Miami-Fla.
    TE Ben Troupe and WR Lee Evans would be strong considerations for the Broncos with this pick, but Vilma is the highest rated of the three prospects. He also could make the biggest impact of the three as a first-year starter at "weakside" linebacker if the Broncos do, in fact, allow Ian Gold to get away in free agency. Vilma is the top-rated linebacker in this class with a terrific combination of athleticism, instincts and toughness.

    25. Green Bay Packers
    Antwan Odom* | DE | Alabama
    Unless Rivers happens to fall all the way to this spot, the Packers will go in a different direction. They have needs all throughout their defense that must be addressed in order to seriously contend for a Super Bowl title in Brett Favre's final couple of seasons. The problem the Packers face with this pick is that they can reach for an end like Odom or a defensive back like UCLA's Matt Ware, but they might be better off drafting an outside linebacker such as D.J. Williams. Odom has a lot of upside, because of his pass rushing skills, quickness, athleticism and big frame, but he's a risky pick in the first round, because he hasn't filled out and needs to become stronger and tougher.

    26. St. Louis Rams
    Ben Troupe | TE | Florida
    The Rams would have an extremely difficult decision between reaching for need and drafting for luxury. After letting Grant Wistrom go via free agency, addressing the defensive end position has become the top priority, but the Rams would have to reach for an end such as Marquise Hill or Jason Babin. The Rams will need to think long and hard about not drafting an end, especially considering they don't have a second-round pick, but if they go with Troupe he could add quite a dynamic dimension to their offense. Existing starter Brandon Manumaleuna is an excellent blocker and solid short-to-intermediate pass catcher, but Troupe would provide a deep element at the position that Mike Martz could really use to exploit defenses. Troupe emerged as the nation's top senior tight end after splitting time with Aaron Walker (49ers) the past two seasons. He still has room to bulk up and get stronger, but his athleticism, speed and pass-catching ability should allow him to make an immediate impact in the NFL.

    27. Tennessee Titans
    Darnell Dockett | DT | Florida State
    With Robaire Smith and Jevon Kearse departing via free agency, the Titans are in desperate need of defensive line help and are likely to draft the best available with this pick. Dockett would be a little bit of a reach late in the first round, but he seems to have gotten past his character issues, and his dominating performance at the Senior Bowl could lead to the Titans taking a chance on him here.

    28. Philadelphia Eagles
    Jake Grove | OC | Virginia Tech
    Initially we had the Eagles taking a wide receiver with this pick. Now that the league has come to a settlement that sends Terrell Owens to Philadelphia, the Eagles will shift their focus to the offensive line, where depth and potential starters are needed both at guard and center, or cornerback after losing both Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent via free agency. Grove and Miami OG Vernon Carey carry similar late-first-round grades, but Grove has the potential to start at either center or guard in the NFL, and that type of versatility might make him the smarter pick for the Eagles.

    29. Indianapolis Colts
    D.J. Willliams | OLB | Miami (Fla.)
    The Colts still have several needs on the defensive side of the ball, including cornerback and outside linebacker after letting Marcus Washington go in free agency. Williams is the top outside linebacker prospect in this class, and he would be a solid value if he fell to Indy at the 29th overall pick. His athleticism is a perfect fit for Tony Dungy's scheme, and he has loads of upside if he continues to improve.

    30. Kansas City Chiefs
    Matt Ware | DC | UCLA
    The Chiefs must address defense here, preferably with a lineman or cornerback. They could package some picks to move up and get one of the top players at either of those positions. But with multiple needs, their best bet might be to draft the top-rated cornerback on their board, which could be Ware, Tusculum's Ricardo Colclough, Oklahoma's Derrick Strait or Arkansas' Ahmad Carroll. All of the aforementioned carry early second-round grades, but with the 30th pick overall, the Chiefs can afford to reach a little bit with their first pick. Ware is a 'tweener DC/DS prospect who is athletic enough and has enough speed to make it as a press man-to-man cover corner in the NFL. He would benefit from a year as a nickel cornerback with the Chiefs, but we think he eventually can develop into a fine starter in an aggressive scheme like the one the Chiefs want to use.

    31. Carolina Panthers
    Vernon Carey | OG | Miami-Fla.
    The Panthers have needs at cornerback, outside linebacker, guard and wide receiver, and legitimate options at each position may be available here. WR Lee Evans would be tough to pass on with this pick, but if the Panthers are going to continue to dominate the line of scrimmage on the offensive side of the football with a power running attack, drafting a big, mauling guard like Carey might be the wiser decision.

    32. New England Patriots
    Karlos Dansby | OLB | Auburn
    If they take Jackson (or any running back for that matter) with their first pick, the Patriots will turn their attention to linebacker, nose tackle and offensive line. The Patriots also could draft a receiver, but they're looking for one with size, which is why we think they could pass on Evans with this pick. Dansby played outside at Auburn, but he has the size to move inside in the Patriots 3-4 scheme. He still has room to improve in terms of his recognition skills and overall consistency, but his athleticism and speed make him an intriguing late-first round prospect. Dansby and Bruschi would give the Patriots terrific range, toughness and versatility at the position.

    Second Round

    33. Arizona Cardinals
    Marcus Tubbs | DT | Texas
    Don't rule Michigan RB Chris Perry out, especially considering Emmitt Smith is likely on his way out of Arizona. But improving the interior of their defensive line is a much higher priority, and Tubbs would be a solid value in the second round. His impressive combination of size, power and quickness make him a risk worth taking.

    34. N.Y. Giants
    J.P. Losman | QB | Tulane
    The Giants have bigger needs along their defensive line, at safety and at linebacker, but if a possible first-round QB talent fell to them in the second round, they couldn't pass up the opportunity.

    35. San Diego Chargers
    Lee Evans | WR | Wisconsin
    If things play out this way, the Chargers would have to feel pretty good about adding Manning and Evans with their first two picks. Evans likely will be taken in the first round, but if he does slip this far -- due to character and durability concerns -- the Chargers would be crazy not to select him. Evans has the type of explosive speed to stretch defenses and open things up for RB Ladainian Tomlinson.

    36. Detroit Lions

    Perry
    Chris Perry | RB | Michigan
    After solidifying their secondary with Taylor in the first round, the Lions will be in the market for a running back and tight end in the second round. Perry would be an excellent value with the 36th overall pick.

    37. Cleveland Browns
    Jacob Rogers | OT | USC
    Offensive tackle is actually the Browns' No. 1 need, but it will take until the second round to find the right value. Rogers isn't an elite prospect, but he has the all-around tools to develop into a solid starting left tackle.

    38. Atlanta Falcons
    Ricardo Colclough | CB | Tusculum
    After drafting a complement for Peerless Price and a weapon for Michael Vick in WR Roy Williams with their first pick, the Falcons will need to shift their focus to the defensive side of the ball, and Colclough would be a good fit. The D-II standout has a lot of upside and might have been a first-round pick if he didn't pull his hamstring while running the 40 at the combine.

    39. Jacksonville Jaguars

    Woods
    Rashaun Woods | WR | Oklahoma State
    After he ran in the high 4.4s at his individual workout, the Jaguars would be elated if Woods fell to them with the 39th overall selection.

    40. Houston Texans
    Daryl Smith | ILB | Georgia Tech
    After bolstering their defensive line in the first round, the Texans will look to draft a linebacker or defensive back with this pick. Smith is an instinctive, athletic, versatile and tough linebacker prospect who could get drafted late in the first round after his solid showing at his recent Pro Day. The Texans likely would move Smith outside in their 3-4 scheme.

    41. Denver Broncos (from Washington)
    Ben Watson | TE | Georgia
    If the Broncos go with Vilma in the first round, they could very easily use their second-round pick on a tight end. Watson, . the fastest of this year's crop, is the next best behind Winslow Jr. and Troupe.

    42. Tennessee Titans (from NY Jets)
    Jason Babin | DE | Western Michigan
    Babin was terrifically productive throughout his career at the mid-major D-I level and his impressive workout numbers have also helped to improve his stock. After losing DE Jevon Kearse, the Titans certainly could use Babin's speed and pass rushing skills.

    43. Buffalo Bills
    Michael Jenkins | WR | Ohio State
    The Bills need to add a receiver who can take attention away from Josh Reed and Eric Moulds in their three-receiver sets, and Jenkins, despite only decent speed, adds a vertical element because of his ability to make plays in jump-ball situations.

    44. Pittsburgh Steelers
    Derrick Strait | DC | Oklahoma
    If the Steelers take a chance on Roethlisberger with their first-round pick, they need to draft a potential starting cornerback in the second round, and Strait, despite his lack of blazing speed, would be a great value with the 44th pick.

    45. Oakland Raiders (from Tampa Bay)
    Teddy Lehman, OLB, Oklahoma
    Considering the team's move to a 3-4 defense, drafting a proven and productive outside linebacker like Lehman would be a smart choice. Lehman could also help bring back some of the toughness that was lost when Bill Romanowski went down last season.

    46. San Francisco 49ers
    Donnell Washington* | DT | Clemson
    After drafting a CB in the first round, the Niners will be looking for defensive line help. Washington is one of the biggest "boom or bust" prospects in this year's draft, but his physical tools are rare, and if he builds on his last season at Clemson, he could be an impact player for a team that still needs to improve its overall quickness and athleticism up front on defense.

    47. Chicago Bears
    Dwan Edwards | DT | Oregon State
    If the Bears go with a receiver in the first round, they will need to draft a potential starting defensive tackle in the second. They'll likely have their choice between Edwards and Oregon's Igor Olshansky. Olshansky has more upside, but Edwards is the safer pick and is ready to play now.

    48. New Orleans Saints
    Michael Boulware | OLB | Florida State
    The Saints are looking to improve the speed and athleticism of their linebacking corps, and while Boulware still needs to get bigger and stronger, he certainly is the right fit to help accomplish that goal.

    49. Cincinnati Bengals
    Igor Olshansky* | DT | Oregon State
    After drafting a cornerback in the first round and failing to sign Warren Sapp, the Bengals need to use this pick on the best available defensive tackle. Olshansky has had as good a postseason as anyone in this draft. He is still unpolished, but his combination of size, speed, strength and athleticism make him worth the risk.

    50. Minnesota Vikings
    Sean Jones* | FS | Georgia
    The Vikings' high interception total at the safety position early last year was an aberration, because Brian Russell is not a solid starter. If they can improve their pass rush with an end like Smith, then draft a ball-hawking centerfielder type like Jones, the Vikings entire defense will be much improved in 2004.

    51. Baltimore Ravens
    Devery Henderson | WR | LSU
    After losing out on Owens, the Ravens are back to the drawing board at the wide receiver position. They were, however, quietly one of the happiest teams in the NFL when Mike Williams decided to enter the draft, because it made their biggest position of need stronger. Henderson is still a work in progress, but he possesses the speed the Ravens are looking for at WR, as well as in their kick-return game.

    52. Dallas Cowboys
    Isaac Sopoaga | DT | Hawaii
    The Cowboys need to draft a big, physical, space-eating defensive tackle in order to better complement La'Roi Glover. The 317-pound Sapoago fits the bill and grades out as a solid second-round prospect.

    53. Seattle Seahawks
    Dontarrious Thomas | ILB | Auburn
    Thomas had somewhat of a disappointing senior season, but he still has a terrific combination of size and speed, which might make him worth the risk for a Seahawks' team that desperately needs to upgrade its middle linebacker position.

    54. Denver Broncos

    Jones
    Greg Jones | RB | Florida State
    The Broncos have an obvious need at the position, and while they don't want to spend their first-round pick on a running back, they certainly could stomach using their second of two second-round picks on Jones.

    55. Green Bay Packers
    Robert Sanders | S | Iowa
    With Antuan Edwards coming off a season-ending injury and Marques Anderson failing to step up, the Packers may be looking for a safety on Day 1. Sanders may look undersized, but he doesn't play like it.

    56. New England Patriots (from Miami)
    Ahmad Carroll* | DC | Arkansas
    If Ty Law is gone, which is looking more and more likely, the need to draft a cornerback -- or a free safety in order to move Eugene Wilson back to cornerback -- increases greatly. Carroll has great toughness and good speed. He would be a terrific value this late in the second round.

    57. Tennessee Titans
    Travelle Wharton | OT | South Carolina
    Wharton is a shorter tackle prospect, but the Titans have never emphasized height. After addressing needs along the defensive line with their first two picks, the Titans will be looking for depth along their offensive line. Wharton might be a perfect fit, because he potentially could play either tackle or guard, and he has the versatility to back up both spots as a rookie.

    58. Philadelphia Eagles
    Jeremy LeSeuer | DC | Michigan
    The Eagles lost both their starting cornerbacks -- Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor -- in free agency. Even though they drafted two young cornerbacks two years ago -- Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard -- they still aren't convinced either is going to become a great full-time starter, and they also have a concern about depth at the position. LeSeuer is a big cornerback, much in the mold of Vincent and Taylor. He would be a great value and fit with the 58th pick overall.

    59. Indianapolis Colts
    Chad Lavalais | DT | LSU
    After drafting an outside linebacker in the first round, the Colts will be looking for a cornerback or defensive lineman in the second. Lavalais is a fringe second-round pick who wouldn't fit in a lot of systems, because of his lack of size. But he is one of the quickest and most athletic defensive tackles in this year's class, and he would fit perfectly in Dungy's scheme.

    60. New Orleans Saints (from St. Louis)
    Stuart Schweigert | DS | Purdue
    The Saints already drafted a cornerback and an outside linebacker in order to address their top two needs, so Schweigert makes a lot of sense with this pick. He may not start as a rookie, but he would play in sub-packages and on special teams. Schweigert eventually could develop into a starter for the Saints, and he also would give them a missing element of playmaking ability on passing downs.

    61. Kansas City Chiefs
    Marquise Hill* | DE | LSU
    After addressing their most glaring need by drafting a cornerback in the first round, the Chiefs will look to add a defensive end in the second. Hill doesn't have the speed to provide the pass-rushing production the Chiefs are missing, but he has the size and strength to upgrade their run defense. He also could help keep Vonnie Holiday fresh, which in turn should lead to more pressure from the veteran end.

    62. Carolina Panthers
    Ernest Wilford | WR | Virginia Tech
    After running poorly at his Pro Day, there's a good chance Wilford will slip to the third round. However, for a team looking for a big possession receiver to upgrade over Muhsin Muhammad in order to better complement the shorter but extremely quick and fast Steve Smith, Wilford is worth taking with this pick.

    63. New England Patriots
    Junior Siavii | DT | Oregon
    There are some other defensive tackles who grade out higher than Siavii, but he is a fast-rising prospect that is the type of wide-bodied nose tackle the Patriots will be looking for as a replacement for departed Ted Washington (Raiders).
    Mickael Pietrus Le site officiel

  • #2
    Re: OT - Insider NFL Mock Draft

    Thanks a lot! As the draft draws nearer, it's interesting to see the very different projections from week to week. Last year I had the feeling Dallas Clark was the Colts' man, but this year I have no clue. Looking forward to finding out soon.

    Take me out to the black, tell 'em I ain't coming back. Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: OT - Insider NFL Mock Draft

      60. New Orleans Saints (from St. Louis)
      Stuart Schweigert | DS | Purdue
      The Saints already drafted a cornerback and an outside linebacker in order to address their top two needs, so Schweigert makes a lot of sense with this pick. He may not start as a rookie, but he would play in sub-packages and on special teams. Schweigert eventually could develop into a starter for the Saints, and he also would give them a missing element of playmaking ability on passing downs.


      (Not that I particularly want him to go to New Orleans, but he deserves to be a second round pick.)
      Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

      Comment

      Working...
      X