NFL Draft
The 2006 NFL Draft has come to a close any many interesting things happened. Obviously I am going to let you know what I think about the Cowboys’ draft first. In the first round the Cowboys selected Bobby Carpenter, a linebacker from Ohio State. I think this was a good choice for them. Carpenter has a great work ethic and has a legacy with Bill Parcells (his father played for the Giants when Parcells was the coach). I think Carpenter, Ware, and James will anchor the Cowboys linebacker core for a lone time. In the second round they chose Anthony Fassano, a tight end from Notre Dame. I had a little bit of trouble understanding this pick at first. They all ready have a pro bowl caliber tight end in Jason Witten. However, they lost Dan Campbell in the off season and didn’t really have a back up. Also, they only plan on keeping one fullback and using a lot of double tight end sets, so I guess this was a necessary pick. In the third round they chose Jason Hatcher, a defensive end from Grambling State. This one I can’t seem to figure out. I know that Hatcher is supposed to be a project with a huge upside. He recorded 11 sacks last year. But, the Cowboys have two second year starters at defensive end in Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. They also have Greg Ellis, who has been solid for the Cowboys for quite some time. I just don’t see the need. I the fourth round they selected Skyler Green, a wide receiver from LSU. He is a bit undersized and we be used primarily as a return specialist. I just think this was too early for a return specialist. The fifth and sixth round I was very happy with. In the fifth they picked safety Pat Watkins. A lot of mock drafts had the boys picking him in the second round, so this is a blatant steal. In the sixth they picked a monster defensive tackle, Montavious Stanley. Stanley will most likely back up Jason Ferguson at nose tackle. Ferguson can’t be in every play, so Stanley will see some game action this year. If they picked this guy in the sixth round and expect him to take ten to fifteen snaps a game, they are obviously very high on him. The seventh round was spent getting deeper at offensive tackle, a position they don’t really need to get deeper in. So, although some questionable moves I think this draft worked out pretty well.
The Jets passed on Matt Leinart, just in case you were not on this planet and missed that. My friends Gerry and Flaster think this is a huge mistake, but I think it is the right move. Ferguson is a guarantee at offensive tackle. He will anchor that line for many years. I just don’t think Leinart is that talented. He came from a great system and had a lot of talent around him. I really don’t see him becoming much of anything in the NFL. Nick Mangold is also a great pick. He was the best center in the draft, what better way to replace Kevin Mawae. I don’t know much about the rest of the guys they got, but Kellen Clemens might have been a reach. Marcus Vick didn’t even get taken. I was surprised the Jets didn’t use a sixth rounder on him instead of Clemens. Other then that I would say the Jets did the right thing.
The team that I thought had the best draft was the Philadelphia, which makes me sad. They were able to get a sold defensive tackle in the first round and the traded up to get Winston Justice in the second round. They got two great players there. I was a little disappointed that Detroit didn’t take Santonio Holmes in the first round, they seemed to stick with a lot defense in this one, so I guess that is good for them. I know that the Texans passed on Reggie Bush and I think this a good move as well. They have a young offense with a quarterback and a running back. Mario Williams has the potential to be a cross between Peppers and LT. You can’t pass on a guy like that for an undersized running back. Although I like Vince Young a lot more then Leinart, I think that the Titans should have taken Leinart because he could have stepped into Chow’s system quickly and performed. However, for the long run Young is probably going to be very very good. So, I guess that concludes my thoughts on the NFL Draft.
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May 1st, 2006 at 1:45 am
Once upon a time, there was a championship-winning college QB. His record as a collegiate starter was 38-2. He owned nearly every passing record at his school. He is considered one of the greatest college QBs ever. His name is Ken Dorsey, and he sucks in the NFL.
That sounds a little like our friend Matt Leinart.
In all honesty, I think Leinart will do well in AZ. However, since they’re the Cardinals, they’ll still be a terrible team. It’s just one of those natural laws of the universe.
I am glad that he will not be on my team because I wouldn’t have rooted for him.
Oh, and who cares that the Jets passed on him anyway? A QB is useless if he’s on his back all game. Leinart is not a mobile QB. He would have become the next David Carr, setting sack records left and right. The Jets had no O-line. Now, they have a pretty young group with Ferguson, Mangold, Adrian Jones, and Brandon Moore.
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:30 am
I agree the Jets could have taken Leinart if they also got Ferguson and Mangold. However, that was obviously not possible. You need people to protect the quarterback. Any quarterback can perform at a much higher level when he has people to protect him. I think Jet fans will see that this year.
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:16 am
Of course, Pennington tends to go down for six weeks whenever he has a finger laid on him.