Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. The ranking of players in the draft. This is one of the most subjective and difficult endeavors in professional sports. The hype that players receive from being on the top of the pundits' (such as Kiper's, McShay's, Mayock's, Ourlads', TSN's, PFW's, etc.) boards takes on a life of its own, so much so that the average fan gets completely caught up in the popular rankings...and if his/her favorite team dares to ignore the popular choice in favor of selecting a player that the team feels is the best fit, chances are the average fans will be quickly and often profoundly disappointed.
Add to this quandary the buildup that the ESPN crew does on each pick, where the panel arrives at a concensus as to the right player the team should pick...and fans are left in a fog of dismay, disbelief and disillusionment when a surprise selection is made...and all of the fans' negative emotions are quickly exacerbated to a painful climax when the fans watch on as the ESPN crew offer its sometimes scathing criticism of the pick...to the point of having to hear Kiper or someone else proclaim: "This is why the (insert team)_____________ are perennial losers" or..."they (insert team) ____________ have no clue as to how the draft works."
The reality is: the pundits aren't always right. In fact they are often wrong. Even several of the most popular pundits had Ryan Leaf rated ahead of Peyton Manning.
Yet the most profound reality is: No one has a crystal ball and none of the players in the draft has ever competed at the NFL level, which is why the draft is a real crapshoot. Sure some players look like safe bets to be high caliber players. In this draft, I, for example, feel virtually certain that FS LaRon Landry, barring injury, will be a perennial Pro Bowler as soon as his second or third year.
The message is: don't get caught up in the hype or the pundits' rankings.
This is my abstract way of saying: don't get too disappointed bent out of shape if the Cardinals prefer Levi Brown to Joe Thomas. Just because all the pundits have ranked Thomas higher...this does not mean he will be a better pro, or a better fit for the Cardinals.
2. As you know, I am not a big fan of top five picks...I think teams far overpay for these hyped-up players, and unless there's a franchise QB to be had, I would almost always want to trade down from the top five...because I believe in trying to stockpile as many picks as possible to create the most maneuverability in the draft, to be able to trade down and up to get the players I want.
This is why it should come as no surprise that the deal I would prefer the most is a deal with Denver...if reports are true that Denver is offering Detroit the #21, 56 and 70 picks plus a 2008 1st rounder to move up to #2 to take WR Calvin Johnson...if Detroit does not accept that deal, and the rumblings out of Detroit are that they do not want to move that far down in the first round...if there is a player at #5 that the Broncos want badly enough instead, perhaps they would be willing to offer the #12, 56 and 70 picks to move up. (I assume that the Broncos would pull the 2008 first rounder off that deal...and that's OK because I want all three of their first day picks)
To me that is the deal I want the Cardinals to make. That deal would give them five of the top 70 picks in the draft.
Sure, I don't necessarily want to miss out on Joe Thomas or Levi Brown...but...look what the Cardinals could potentially do instead:
1. #21--LB Paul Posluszny, Penn St.
2a. #38--T/G Justin Blalock, Texas
2b. #56--TE Zach Miller, Arizona St.
3a. #69--T James Marten, Boston College
3b. #70--CB Josh Wilson, Maryland
4. #105--DE Jay Moore, Nebraska
5. #142-- LB H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
7. #215--DE/OLB Brian Robison, Texas
The irony is...I believe that T/G Justin Blalock will be the best offensive linemen in this draft when all is said and done. I also believe that the Cardinals would get the toughest defensive player in the draft in Posluszny...the best all around TE in Miller...the most under-rated T in the draft in Marten...a 4.3 speedster at CB and PR in Wilson...and three solid defensive players in Moore, Blades and Robison.
3. I am very disappointed that the Cardinals did not make a deal for WR/PR/KR Dante Hall, especially when all it took was a 5th rounder. To think he's still only 28. The Rams "fleeced" the Chiefs on this one. Dante Hall at half speed is better than 89% of the return men in the NFL. He's got major juke moves and incredible vision...and, oh that burst in the open field.
But, now that Hall is in St. Louis (boy, I am glad we have been addressing special teams this off-season)...I am putting my hopes in Michael Spurlock.
4. Here are my draft suggestions:
1. Do NOT go grocery shopping until the night before the draft. The anxiety of waiting this week will cause you to eat everything you set aside for the draft.
2. This weekend is a holiday...treat it as such...in other words, eat and drink (in the safety of your own den) anything you wish, anytime you wish.
3. My tradition: For Saturday...I go to the local sub shop and hour before the draft and buy 2 large subs: a Meatball Parmagiana (for Sat. lunch) and an Italian (which I will heat up for Sunday lunch).
Saturday noshings: Tostitos Low Fat Tortilla Chips with Mitch's famous dip ( 1/3 Salsa Con Sueso, 1/3 Chunky Salsa, 1/3 Non-Fat Sour Cream). Put the salsas in a bowl and microwave it for 1 minute 20 seconds...add the Sour Cream after. Beverage with this: Barq's Root Beer.
My first drink...after the first round is over...which EST is usually around 6 PM. This year it will either be a Heineken Light or an Absolute and soda.
Saturday Dinner: Chinese (delivered)...General Gau's and Beef Lo Mein.
Saturday Dessert: Brownie (heated) with Vanilla Ice Cream
Sunday Brunch: Egg McMuffin w/ sausage, hash browns
Sunday noshings: A bag of Orville Redenbacker's Lite Butter Popcorn..eaten one kernel at a time. Beverage: Ocean Spray Cranapple.
Sunday Dinner: 3 Chili Dogs (only kidding). Roast Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and plenty of Cranberry sauce.
Sunday Dessert: Cardinal red Jello..w/ Lite Cool Whip.
4. One more thought...for real draft preparation, tune in to CNN and watch the scroller for a half an hour each day this week...this may help to prevent scroller burnout come Sunday afternoon!
Best wishes to all of you for a great draft weekend, Mitch.
GO CARDS GO!!!
Add to this quandary the buildup that the ESPN crew does on each pick, where the panel arrives at a concensus as to the right player the team should pick...and fans are left in a fog of dismay, disbelief and disillusionment when a surprise selection is made...and all of the fans' negative emotions are quickly exacerbated to a painful climax when the fans watch on as the ESPN crew offer its sometimes scathing criticism of the pick...to the point of having to hear Kiper or someone else proclaim: "This is why the (insert team)_____________ are perennial losers" or..."they (insert team) ____________ have no clue as to how the draft works."
The reality is: the pundits aren't always right. In fact they are often wrong. Even several of the most popular pundits had Ryan Leaf rated ahead of Peyton Manning.
Yet the most profound reality is: No one has a crystal ball and none of the players in the draft has ever competed at the NFL level, which is why the draft is a real crapshoot. Sure some players look like safe bets to be high caliber players. In this draft, I, for example, feel virtually certain that FS LaRon Landry, barring injury, will be a perennial Pro Bowler as soon as his second or third year.
The message is: don't get caught up in the hype or the pundits' rankings.
This is my abstract way of saying: don't get too disappointed bent out of shape if the Cardinals prefer Levi Brown to Joe Thomas. Just because all the pundits have ranked Thomas higher...this does not mean he will be a better pro, or a better fit for the Cardinals.
2. As you know, I am not a big fan of top five picks...I think teams far overpay for these hyped-up players, and unless there's a franchise QB to be had, I would almost always want to trade down from the top five...because I believe in trying to stockpile as many picks as possible to create the most maneuverability in the draft, to be able to trade down and up to get the players I want.
This is why it should come as no surprise that the deal I would prefer the most is a deal with Denver...if reports are true that Denver is offering Detroit the #21, 56 and 70 picks plus a 2008 1st rounder to move up to #2 to take WR Calvin Johnson...if Detroit does not accept that deal, and the rumblings out of Detroit are that they do not want to move that far down in the first round...if there is a player at #5 that the Broncos want badly enough instead, perhaps they would be willing to offer the #12, 56 and 70 picks to move up. (I assume that the Broncos would pull the 2008 first rounder off that deal...and that's OK because I want all three of their first day picks)
To me that is the deal I want the Cardinals to make. That deal would give them five of the top 70 picks in the draft.
Sure, I don't necessarily want to miss out on Joe Thomas or Levi Brown...but...look what the Cardinals could potentially do instead:
1. #21--LB Paul Posluszny, Penn St.
2a. #38--T/G Justin Blalock, Texas
2b. #56--TE Zach Miller, Arizona St.
3a. #69--T James Marten, Boston College
3b. #70--CB Josh Wilson, Maryland
4. #105--DE Jay Moore, Nebraska
5. #142-- LB H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
7. #215--DE/OLB Brian Robison, Texas
The irony is...I believe that T/G Justin Blalock will be the best offensive linemen in this draft when all is said and done. I also believe that the Cardinals would get the toughest defensive player in the draft in Posluszny...the best all around TE in Miller...the most under-rated T in the draft in Marten...a 4.3 speedster at CB and PR in Wilson...and three solid defensive players in Moore, Blades and Robison.
3. I am very disappointed that the Cardinals did not make a deal for WR/PR/KR Dante Hall, especially when all it took was a 5th rounder. To think he's still only 28. The Rams "fleeced" the Chiefs on this one. Dante Hall at half speed is better than 89% of the return men in the NFL. He's got major juke moves and incredible vision...and, oh that burst in the open field.
But, now that Hall is in St. Louis (boy, I am glad we have been addressing special teams this off-season)...I am putting my hopes in Michael Spurlock.
4. Here are my draft suggestions:
1. Do NOT go grocery shopping until the night before the draft. The anxiety of waiting this week will cause you to eat everything you set aside for the draft.
2. This weekend is a holiday...treat it as such...in other words, eat and drink (in the safety of your own den) anything you wish, anytime you wish.
3. My tradition: For Saturday...I go to the local sub shop and hour before the draft and buy 2 large subs: a Meatball Parmagiana (for Sat. lunch) and an Italian (which I will heat up for Sunday lunch).
Saturday noshings: Tostitos Low Fat Tortilla Chips with Mitch's famous dip ( 1/3 Salsa Con Sueso, 1/3 Chunky Salsa, 1/3 Non-Fat Sour Cream). Put the salsas in a bowl and microwave it for 1 minute 20 seconds...add the Sour Cream after. Beverage with this: Barq's Root Beer.
My first drink...after the first round is over...which EST is usually around 6 PM. This year it will either be a Heineken Light or an Absolute and soda.
Saturday Dinner: Chinese (delivered)...General Gau's and Beef Lo Mein.
Saturday Dessert: Brownie (heated) with Vanilla Ice Cream
Sunday Brunch: Egg McMuffin w/ sausage, hash browns
Sunday noshings: A bag of Orville Redenbacker's Lite Butter Popcorn..eaten one kernel at a time. Beverage: Ocean Spray Cranapple.
Sunday Dinner: 3 Chili Dogs (only kidding). Roast Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and plenty of Cranberry sauce.
Sunday Dessert: Cardinal red Jello..w/ Lite Cool Whip.
4. One more thought...for real draft preparation, tune in to CNN and watch the scroller for a half an hour each day this week...this may help to prevent scroller burnout come Sunday afternoon!
Best wishes to all of you for a great draft weekend, Mitch.
GO CARDS GO!!!
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