Redskins rock the second round
The following is Sloppy Potatoes look at what to think about the 2008 Draft class once they start suiting up on Sundays. First, how the NFC East rookies will fare:
New York Giants
The Super Bowl champs selected only two skill players in the draft, Michigan WR Mario Manningham and Kentucky QB Andre Woodson. Manningham, a playmaker in college, will be groomed to replace Amani Toomer. With Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith and Jeremy Shockey helping to draw defenders and Eli Manning throwing the passes, Manningham doesn’t deserve many chances. He should boost this championship offense, worth a pick. Woodson is a project, but it wasn’t like the Giants picked him to unseat Manning in the next couple years anyway. No need to pick him early.
Dallas Cowboys
Added Arkansas RB Felix Jones, Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett and Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice. The last skill guy picked, Choice, was an interesting selection. The ‘Boys wasted two of their first four picks on the same position. Is there a lack of confidence in Jones or Barber or both? Jones should improve the offense and replace new Seahawk Julius Jones easily, worth an early flier pick. Bennett is a former basketball player, so that means he’s got basketball hands, making him more of a pass-catching TE than a blocking TE. It’s not like Terrell Owens or Jason Witten are going to lose many touches. The player most affected by this pick should be former Notre Dame TE Anthony Fasano. Only pick Bennett as a late backup. Choice is worth watching only because he may earn a spot somewhere in one of the best fantasy offenses in the NFL. He’s a rookie RB in the NFL, he’ll get picked, probably too early. Gamble if you must.
Washington Redskins
QB Jason Campbell should be ecstatic and nervous at the same time with this draft. The team gave him everything he should need to prove (or disprove) his worth in the NFl. Campbell was gifted Michigan State WR Devin Thomas (arguably the best receiver in the draft) and Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly (a WR that earned a lot of buzz early). They also added USC TE Fred Davis as another receiver, and then, just to spice things up Hawaii QB, Colt Brennan. The ‘Skins had and used all three on the receivers. Thomas is big and has drawn some comparisons to Plaxico Burress, so yeah, he’ll probably be the first rookie WR picked in most drafts. Kelly’s buzz subsided as the combine and pre-draft festivities rolled on, but he is a physical specimen and will definitely be worth a flier pick. Davis, like Bennett for the Cowboys, will have to compete with Chris Cooley (and Santana Moss, Thomas, Kelly, Davis, Clinton Portis, etc…) for catches. He’ll really have to impress to make a standout impact in an offense that suddenly is stacked. The Brennan pick is intriguing. He’s not supposed to be able to make it in the NFL. He’s a system QB who is small, but some small QBs have done well in the NFL. If Campbell falters, it shouldn’t be a surprise if the fans start calling for Brennan.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia only took one skill player, California WR DeSean Jackson, who was discussed in an here at Sloppy Potatoes. He was an NCAA superspeedster, but he’s small and will get thrown around like a pinball in the NFL. As a huge Donovan McNabb fan, I hope he works out. I just have a bad feeling we’re looking at Freddie Mitchell Part II. You would think the Eagles brass would have figured out they need less Freddie Mitchell and more Terrell Owens — yes, he was a jerk in Philly, but when he was playing well how unstoppable was McNabb-to-Owens? Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed were all on the board when the Eagles picked Jackson.
Who to bank on for this year: Devin Thomas, WR, Redskins
Long term hopes: Mario Manningham, WR, Giants
What?: Tashard Choice, RB, Cowboys
I was a little taken back by the “bank on” pick for the coming year, Devin Thomas. He only produced for one year, plus it was in the NCAA’s minor league The Big Ten. I’d prefer to place my bets on Malcolm Kelly, a guy who performed time-and-time again in big games and comes from an offense that has proven to translate well in the pros with the exception of quarterback. Plus, he’ll get more looks from Campbell because he’ll get open crossing the middle. Thomas will be stuck running flair routes.
Long term hopes on Mario Manningham was a good choice, although I would lean more on Fred Davis. Cooley will end up in GB when he is a free agent, and Davis will seamlessly fall into place. Plus, the dude can fly, which is much better suited for Campbell’s gun, a key pattern in the West Cost offense for TEs.
What?: Tashard Choice, I totally disagree. In fact, I’ll go on record in saying he will outproduce Felix Jones. Jones benefitted from a RB-friendly offense that won’t cut it in the NFL. He won’t have time to stutter in the backfield and choose his lanes. He will get smothered in the line. Choice is bruiser who can bust it, ala, Willie Parker. Remember, Choice was an early Heisman hopeful before he ran into The U’s defensive line and lost confidence, as most RBs have done for the past 25 years.
I await your next division!
Tashard Choice? You’re defending Tashard Choice?
If the dude couldn’t even excel at Georgia Tech, how can he be expected to be good in the NFL?
And to rip Felix Jones? He may not dominate in the NFL, but he’s not expected to. He just has to be a counterpoint to Marion Barber. They’re not going to use all three backs, Jones will get first crack at it because he’s making the big money and he’s from Arkansas He’ll be perfect for the role.
As for Thomas and Kelly, I guess it’s a pickem in my opinion. I think they’re both great additions. You need to curb that Big Ten bias a little. Going back to 2000, Plaxico Burress, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and, ahem, Ted Ginn Jr. were all drafted in the first round. They’re all Big Ten alums, and most of them have significant roles in the NFL.
Thomas has been compared to Michigan State alum Burress. That’s enough for me to peg him.
Oklahoma’s receivers? What crack you on?
Travis Wilson (2006, Browns), Mark Bradley (2005, Bears), Brandon Jones (2005, Titans) all busts. Mark Clayton (2005, Ravens) is the only one who’s really been a consistent NFL threat. No Sooners wideouts were picked in 2007, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001… In fact, when Clayton was picked in 2005 it broke a 20-year streak of no Oklahoma receivers being picked since Buster Rhymes was picked by the Vikings in 1985.
So, what part of the Oklahoma offense “translates” to the NFL?
One thing to edit from my post, Devin Thomas was not available when the Eagles picked DeSean Jackson. I still think Kelly and Sweed were better options.
Yes, I’ll defend Tashard Choice even though he played in a weaker conference and on a weaker team, but he did excell producing 1,379 yards, 1,473 yards and 513 yards in his career with little support outside of Calvin Johnson. I’m not saying Felix Jones is a bust, just saying Choice will outproduce him. Call it a feeling based on the style of running each of them have.
Plus, Choice is a much better pass blocker which will earn him more playing time early on.
I feel my Big Ten bias is legit. I wasn’t saying Oklahoma receivers are stars but play in an offense that translates well … Without stating the obvious in Adrian Peterson, which could become an one-hit wonder, but Quentin Griffin was productive and several offensive lineman have become starters, Davin Joseph in TB, Chris Chester in Balt, Jammal Brown in NO and Stockar McDougle in Det, I know offensive lineman don’t score points but do play in the same offense. I wouldn’t be shocked if Allen Patrick makes a few ESPN highlights in the coming year or two.
Also, add Choice in the mix, since he started his career at Oklahoma before transferring because of Peterson and Patrick.
How many Michigan State guys have remained starters on offense in the past decade, and I’ll even give you T.J. Duckett? That’s where the comparison was being made.
With the exception of Plaxico Burress; Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and, Ted “Speed Lightning” Ginn Jr. all basically have had one good year, albeit Gonzalez and Ginn were rookies, also three of them come from the same school, which has dominated the NCAA minor league for the past eight years, no comparison. One college does not make a whole conference, no matter how much Notre Dame claims.
Plus, we shouldn’t weigh on where players are drafted to determine their value in the pros. I believe Steve Smith was a rather late pick and played special teams for a few years before taking off.
My knock on Devin Thomas is that he produced for just one year, although he came from junior college, I’m still a little weary on picking him over Malcolm Kelly, who has been steady for three years on a very competiive team.
“In fact, when Clayton was picked in 2005 it broke a 20-year streak of no Oklahoma receivers being picked since Buster Rhymes was picked by the Vikings in 1985.” is a classic misleading ESPN stat-nugget since Oklahoma didn’t start using a passing offense until the late the 1990s, no wonder there weren’t any wide receivers picked. All they did was block. I’m sure there were four times as many Nebraska running backs picked over their wide receivers too over that time span.
Again, I await your next division review!
Here is a quick hit on legitimizing my BIg Ten bias:
A look at the NFL’s main statistical leaders reveal only one Big Ten alum in the top five in any of the six major categories, passing, tackles, rushing, receiving, sacks and interceptions.
Interestingly enough, there were eight ACC alums. I believe that’s eight times as many ACC stars as Big Ten studs … hmm
I could further prove how much the Big Ten is overrated upon request. I’m sure I can even make a case for the MAC, possibly?
Jay-Mo, yer my boy, but I have to beg to differ with your Big-10 bias. Take a look at the post on the front page about the top five statistical leaders in the NFL for the last 10 years and what college conferences they played for. Clearly your Miami Hurricane’s ACC is the best, but the overall results are very interesting.
Oh, by the way, you blasted my comment about Oklahoma’s draft drought calling it an “ESPN nugget,” but if Oklahoma didn’t start really flinging it until the mid-90s, that still leaves 12 or 13 years of cruddy skill players not getting picked until Clayton in 2005 and Peterson in 2006.