BACH
Superbowl, Homeboy!
Draft Dish: Coming down the stretch
March 29, 2006 Print it
By War Room scouts
As teams enter the final month before the draft, it's still too early for trade talk at the top of the first round. But there still is plenty to report.
It appears Houston's front office will stay intact after the draft, and top capologist and contract negotiator Dan Ferens recently was promoted to vice president of football operations. GM Charley Casserly also is expected to survive, but there could be a shakeup on his scouting staff, one of the most experienced in the league.
If Casserly does have security beyond this year, he will be more comfortable with the selection of running back Reggie Bush, a pick that will pay off more in the long run as the coaches learn how to make the best use of all of his outstanding skills.
It also appears that there is some long-term thinking going on in New Orleans. Recent rumblings are that the team might be leaning toward selecting quarterback Matt Leinart. With Drew Brees coming off shoulder surgery, the Saints are concerned about putting too much of a load on him in training camp. The team would give Leinart plenty of reps in camp and preseason games, then let him learn for a year while watching from the sideline. That tells us the Saints are willing to be patient and develop a franchise QB.
Many thought Green Bay might be an ideal spot for Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, but it appears the team is looking for a more athletic one-gap defensive tackle to fit in coordinator Bob Sanders' new scheme. Look for the Packers to pass on Ngata and try to add Ohio State outside linebacker A.J. Hawk, who would make an immediate impact in Green Bay's front seven.
Expect the Raiders to jump on Ngata as a replacement for Ted Washington next to Warren Sapp. Combine those two players with 2005 NFL sacks leader Derrick Burgess, and the Raiders will have gone a long way towards addressing their problems on defense.
As cornerback Jimmy Williams' stock slides on most draft boards around the NFL, the Cardinals, who tend to fall in love with players who earn high preseason grades, look to be very interested in Williams despite his disappointing performance in postseason workouts. He's big, physical and athletic, and his cockiness gives him a swagger that Dennis Green has been trying to create in Arizona for three years.
And finally, one of the fastest risers in the first round is Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who is now positioned firmly in the top 15, with the Ravens being a likely destination at selection No. 13. Early on, Bunkley was no more than a second-round consideration because of a perceived lack of size, but he has added bulk and is up to 306 pounds.
Scouts have been most impressed by Bunkley's raw strength and explosiveness. At the Combine, he posted 44 reps in the bench press, ran a 4.91 40 and recorded a 32-1/2 inch vertical jump and a 9-5 broad jump. He's a big run stuffer who can also collapse the pocket on passing downs and would provide ideal protection for aging linebacker Ray Lewis.
War Room scouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams for the Sporting News.
March 29, 2006 Print it
By War Room scouts
As teams enter the final month before the draft, it's still too early for trade talk at the top of the first round. But there still is plenty to report.
It appears Houston's front office will stay intact after the draft, and top capologist and contract negotiator Dan Ferens recently was promoted to vice president of football operations. GM Charley Casserly also is expected to survive, but there could be a shakeup on his scouting staff, one of the most experienced in the league.
If Casserly does have security beyond this year, he will be more comfortable with the selection of running back Reggie Bush, a pick that will pay off more in the long run as the coaches learn how to make the best use of all of his outstanding skills.
It also appears that there is some long-term thinking going on in New Orleans. Recent rumblings are that the team might be leaning toward selecting quarterback Matt Leinart. With Drew Brees coming off shoulder surgery, the Saints are concerned about putting too much of a load on him in training camp. The team would give Leinart plenty of reps in camp and preseason games, then let him learn for a year while watching from the sideline. That tells us the Saints are willing to be patient and develop a franchise QB.
Many thought Green Bay might be an ideal spot for Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, but it appears the team is looking for a more athletic one-gap defensive tackle to fit in coordinator Bob Sanders' new scheme. Look for the Packers to pass on Ngata and try to add Ohio State outside linebacker A.J. Hawk, who would make an immediate impact in Green Bay's front seven.
Expect the Raiders to jump on Ngata as a replacement for Ted Washington next to Warren Sapp. Combine those two players with 2005 NFL sacks leader Derrick Burgess, and the Raiders will have gone a long way towards addressing their problems on defense.
As cornerback Jimmy Williams' stock slides on most draft boards around the NFL, the Cardinals, who tend to fall in love with players who earn high preseason grades, look to be very interested in Williams despite his disappointing performance in postseason workouts. He's big, physical and athletic, and his cockiness gives him a swagger that Dennis Green has been trying to create in Arizona for three years.
And finally, one of the fastest risers in the first round is Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who is now positioned firmly in the top 15, with the Ravens being a likely destination at selection No. 13. Early on, Bunkley was no more than a second-round consideration because of a perceived lack of size, but he has added bulk and is up to 306 pounds.
Scouts have been most impressed by Bunkley's raw strength and explosiveness. At the Combine, he posted 44 reps in the bench press, ran a 4.91 40 and recorded a 32-1/2 inch vertical jump and a 9-5 broad jump. He's a big run stuffer who can also collapse the pocket on passing downs and would provide ideal protection for aging linebacker Ray Lewis.
War Room scouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams for the Sporting News.
(I'm 7 years older than him) but Jimmy Williams would give us a top 5 defensive backfield.
