Do the Denver Broncos have a title run in the tank?

Trading Tim Tebow and picking up Peyton Manning were great franchise moves by John Elway & Co.

     For a team that won 11 straight to end the season, the Denver Broncos sure didn't look like the dominant team in the playoffs. Their defense let them down horribly and the offense relied on 2 special teams TDs just to keep the game close with Baltimore. Overall, it provided just a glimpse of what Peyton Manning and the Broncos are capable of while he is at the helm. And there is no reason to believe that they won't be right back in the thick of things next year, possibly hosting another playoff game. I don't believe Denver will go 13-3 again this year but they should still win the lowly AFC West Division.

Von Miller will have another big season barring injury

    So what does Denver have to improve on in order to be a more complete team than they were in 2012? I mean, the offense finished 6th overall in passing and 2nd in scoring. They even beat the Ravens during the regular season in a 34-17 rout. The Broncos outrushed the Super Bowl champs 163-56 and the defense came though with a great performance. Although the secondary gave up 2 td's(which would be exposed in the playoffs), they also got a pick 6 when Chris Harris took a Joe Flacco pass 98 yard for a TD. The Broncos D picked up 3 sacks and it seemed as if they were going to be the Super Bowl favorites afterwards.  Then, Knowshon Moreno got nicked up and Denver's RB woes eventually led to their demise. During the season Willis McGahee ran the rock with authority and averaged 4.4 yards a carry before getting injured. Moreno picked up the slack by rushing for 115 against the Ravens but he then caught the injury bug, too.


    A group of healthy, talented RBs and upgrades in the secondary are obviously that the Broncos have to improve on. After losing Elvis Dumervil to the Ravens a couple of days ago, I still expect the pass rush to be potent. Not because Elvis is gone, but because I believe Denver will address this issue by signing Dwight Freeney or another veteran DE free agent. Overall I expect Peyton Manning to lead his team to an 11-5 record as long as he stays healthy. He has a great receiving core and the offense will only be more dangerous for opponents in year two. Mike McCoy may be gone but the sheriff is still in town, and it doesn't matter what offense you give him to run. Should Denver not make it to the AFC Championship this year, it would be a terrible disappointment for the franchise. The window is closing fast because Peyton Manning isn't going to get younger anytime soon...

Will Tony Romo ever win Dallas a Super Bowl?

Tony Romo is actually a pretty good QB despite the criticism

     I will go ahead and tell you that the answer is no. There won't be any suspense here. The Cowboys front office knows this is true as well, but we keep hearing Jerry Jones babble about getting back to the big game anyway.  Make no mistake about it...I believe that Tony Romo is a damn good player but the Cowboys simply don't have the option of getting a better QB for a little bit. The dilemma: when you finish with a record at or near .500 every year, you draft in the middle of the 1st round. You won't find a better QB than Tony Romo with the 16th pick of the draft. The Andrew Lucks, RGIIIs and Cam Newtons are already gone and you are stuck with the Ryan Tannehill type prospects(don't get me started on Ryan Tanehill). There also aren't going to be any free agent QBs worthy of supplanting Romo as the starter...or even being groomed to be the next starter. This shows you the true value of Tony Romo as a player with his overall skillset. He can throw accurately on the run, sidestep properly in the pocket, and honestly shine when he has a supporting run game.

This was the first of many unclutch moments in Tony Romo's career

    The Cowboys are more than capable of finishing the season with a record of 12-4 if they have a consistent running game but that remains to be seen. Dallas can even win a playoff game if they make the postseason but you can surely count on one thing; Tony Romo will choke at some point in a big game. In the playoffs your QB has to be the one to lead your team into the opponent's territory. He has to be the one who commands the huddle, leads the team down the field and put them in position to win the game. Romo has failed miserably when his number is called down the stretch and it's unpleasant to the human eye. You know how the Falcons had the monkey on their back for not winning a playoff game? And they were able to get rid of it by squeaking by Seattle in the Georgia Dome...Tony Romo doesn't have it that easy. He doesn't have to win one playoff game, he needs to win 3. I am saying this because I don't think the Boys will win the NFC East this year so they will be a Wild Card (if) they make the playoffs. All this Super Bowl talk that Jerry Jones has been talking needs to be backed up. But don't expect it to happen under Tony Romo's watch

Will Cam Newton lead the Panthers to the playoffs?

     There is no doubt that Cam Newton can lead an NFL team to the playoffs. But can he lead the lowly Panthers there after two straight disappointing seasons? Carolina won 5 of their last 6 in 2012 and 4 of their last 6 in 2011 so it's not out of the question. Can the Panthers put together a solid first half of the season this year? I highly doubt it, and I have to say that unless the Carolina magically becomes elite they will be watching the playoffs from home AGAIN. They actually have the league's toughest schedule according to CBSsports.com and simply have to step up on defense to finish at .500 this Fall.

     Everyone is quick to say that most of the problems were on the defense last season in Charlotte. However, per NFL.com here are the defensive rankings per category:

Passing YPG - 14th
Rushing YPG - 14th
Total YPG - 10th
Touchdowns Given Up - 11th
Sacks - 9th
Interceptions - 23rd

Luke Kuechly has the Panthers D on the rise

Ok. So now how do you feel about the Panthers defense? I'd say it's clearly headed in the right direction with Luke Kuechly as the new young leader. Obviously you should expect the Panthers to pick up some defensive backs in the draft along with defensive line depth. But don't be surprised to see them draft another wideout because of their situation. Brandon LaFell is a good NFL receiver but he is a #3 at best. Carolina lacks a legitimate #2 behind Steve Smith the stretch the field and demand more attention. The Panthers absolutely HAVE to get Cam Newton 1-2 more playmakers on offense in order to make the playoffs this year. Will they do it? We will find out by the end of the draft and free agency...

Will the Giants rebound and make another Super Bowl run?

     Here is a legitimate question. Why is it that every year people are quick to put the Patriots in the title hunt faster than the New York Football Giants? Has anyone else seen the same two Super Bowls that I have seen in 2008 and 2012? Those are the last two championship appearances for New England, and they lost BOTH to the Giants. I know...I know...Bill Bellichick is a Hall of Fame coach and the Pats make the playoffs every year. So what. Show me a ring, because Eli Manning has two and they are both against Tom Brady's Pats. So while the talk of title contenders for 2014 begins, I am thinking about the Giants while you are probably thinking about the Patriots.

Eli Manning may be the face of the franchise, but Hakeem Nicks is the key to the Giants getting back to the Super Bowl

     The Giants are a punch you in the mouth type of football team, right? Exactly. They have the same team structure as the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. New York drafts players who can perform in coldest conditions and who are mostly "giants" in their own right. They look to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and simply wear you out with the ground and pound. What makes the Giants more dangerous, though, is their ability to create the "big" play on offense. A few yards here, a few yards there and BOOM...Victor Cruz takes it 70 yards to the house. And, honestly he isn't even the most talented receiver on the roster. When Hakeem Nicks is healthy, you can tell Eli Manning is in a whole different class when it comes to quarterbacks. This tandem has almost 4,000 yards to go along with the 27 touchdowns between them. Simply put, Eli Manning and the Giants are one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. Jerry Reese's ability to draft quality players and continue to win championships just tells me that the Giants will be back this Fall. I know that the immenent loss of Osi Umenyiora may sound bad but New York won a Super Bowl with AND without Michael Strahan. They will be JUST fine. Trust me

Who do the Cowboys draft with their 1st pick?

    

     Analysts on NFL.COM have no idea what Jerry Jones will do with the 18th pick of the 2013 draft. They have the Cowboys drafting either Sheldon Richardson, Jonathan Cooper, Kenny Vaccaro, or DJ Fluker. I would say that Fluker has to be the only one on this list who doesn't fit. He will get whooped by NFL pass rushers on a consistent basis. As much as I would like to agree with the experts I have to go with the Cowboys selecting an explosive playmaker. If there was a RB worthy of the 18th pick I believe they would go in that direction, but there isn't. Look for Jerry Jones to throw in a wildcard pick at WR because of Miles Austin's inability to stay healthy or go with Kenny Vaccaro at safety. A nice OG would be nice but I think this position is a bit deeper than most believe it to be. If Vaccaro is gone then getting Matt Elam wouldn't be considered a drop off, so he's another candidate to be drafted here. Either way, it's going to be an interesting pick once Jerry Jones makes his decision

What are Chip Kelly's realistic expectations with the Eagles? Wins/Losses?

Chip Kelly? From Oregon? Wait a minute, the college coach

Eagles fans, you can thank your GM for bringing in the best available coach

     If you don't think that Chip Kelly's success will translate to the NFL then you have another thing coming. He basically ran a college franchise at Oregon without having to shell out dollars to who he wanted. And succeeded...every single year.  Eagles fans you have just hired the savior for your franchise. The man is simply a genius and even has the endorsement of new Browns GM, Michael Lombardi. Kelly actually interviewed with the Browns but decided that he Eagles would be a better fit for success. If you see how good RGIII did with Mike Shanahan, you should wait until Kelly hand picks his QB of the future. It's going to be a sight worth seeing, I'll tell you that. The most impressive stat, however is the amount of wins and losses his Oregon squad were able to achieve year in - year out

2012: 12-1   Fiesta Bowl Victory
2011: 12-2   Rose Bowl Victory
2010: 12-1   BCS National Championship Loss
2009: 10-3   Rose Bowl Loss

     After losing two straight bowl games, Chip got his Ducks back on track and led them to success at the end of two straight seasons. And here is who Chip Kelly has to work with while waiting on his franchise QB:

Lesean McCoy



     The most dangerous back in the NFC East isn't on the Redskins roster, he plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. Lesean McCoy has become a complete back in the NFL after many analysts say him as a change of pace runner. He still struggles a big against pass rushers but he at least puts forth the effort. And while his injury history might be a little worrisome, McCoy still has the explosion to be a difference maker in Kelly's offense. McCoy can catch the ball out of the backfield while also pose as a home-run threat outside the tackles. I am sure that Philly will have some plays with McCoy lined up all over the field because of his versatility. Teams will need to watch for him every play that he is in the game.

Desean Jackson

 

     Desean, Lesean, who cares as long as their name ends in Sean. It's all the same...they both offer speed. Well, except for the fact that Desean's speed is down right ridiculous. Even though he's a smaller framed player Jackson has proven that he can get to the endzone frequently in the NFL. Just check out his contract. Jackson is best when used outside but will be given the chance to run sweeps in Kelly's offense. Just thinking about how fast Desean Jackson is with the ball in his hands should make any NFC East Fan sick to their stomach. Remember his game winning punt return against the Giants in Jersey? What about the 91 yard touchdown against the Cowboys when he fell backwards into the endzone? Disrespectful, but entertaining to say the least.

     Jeremy Maclin, Michael Vick, and Brent Celek won't make this list because they were all inconsistent last year. Though all have talent, I don't see the need to write on people who "might" benefit from the hiring of Kelly. Only people who WILL benefit. Look for the Eagles to go 9-7 under Chip Kelly and be on the fence of making the playoffs this year.

2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Top 5 LBs

1. Jarvis Jones



The overly elusive athlete shows up on tape constantly and wreaks havoc on opposing QB's. Looks like the next Von Miller hybrid except a little stronger in the upper body. Jarvis projects to be an outside linebacker at the next level and plays with a mean streak when he motor is really going. One weakness is that he can easily get blocked out of a play with a double team, meaning that he will have to get stronger to be effective at the next level. Look for Jones to be a great 3rd down pass rusher in one on one opportunities. He isn't necessarily the biggest person on the field but he certainly plays like it at the point of attack.


2. Manti Teo



Yea I know...it's kind of funny to imagine that someone who lied about having a girlfriend is going to get drafted in the 1st round. But you have to put all of this behind the young man and look at his play on the field. Teo is a combination of size and football intelligence as the jury is still out on his speed. He might have game speed but he will get smashed around in training camp this summer...I guarantee it. More importantly I fully expect Manti to be a solid 12 year pro in the NFL as his football instincts and toughness overshadow any weakness that his overall game may have. 7 interceptions as a middle linebacker? That is no fluke, this kid can play.


3. Arthur Brown



An undersized and underrated linebacker who I call "feisty" on tape. Mr. Brown reminds me a little of London Fletcher of the Redskins as he has he tenacity to go up against pulling guards and fullbacks. Sometimes he gets his pad level a little high which is dangerous when going up against NFL RBs. Fortunately, this problem is fixable by good coaching. One of the best positives about Brown's game is that he has a high motor. He is obviously in very good shape and might be the most productive linebacker of the 5 on this list when it's all said and done.

4. Alec Ogletree



I would have Alec #2 on this list but he recently got a DUI, which screams to me that his ego is a but too high at the moment. He has the best physical tools out of any LB on the list and has more potential than upside. Of you watch the tape of UGA vs Bama you might think Ogletree is an average LB, but there was just better coaching involved. Ogletree is a former safety who has natural coverage skills and offers a nice blend of toughness, block shedding, and football IQ. He would be a perfect fit for a team like the Chicago should they decide to let Urlacher walk. Look for Alec to be drafted in the lower first/upper second round next month.


5. Kevin Minter



A lot of experts have Minter listed as the best ILB coming into the draft and they might be right. I just think that Ogletree and Teo will stay more healthy in the league with their style of play. Minter is the most physically imposing specimen when coming downhill at RBs and can cover TEs in space. Kevin often overpursues good running backs at the hole and led to a few long runs this season. Again, we are dealing with a very coachable athlete who should be able to fix these problems over the course of a season...so don't expect a lack of production. He would be a nice fit for someone like the Chargers or the Giants this offseason. Minter should get his name called in the lower first/upper second round of the draft.

I miss NFL Sundays!!!

After an all day St. Patrick's Day affair in Five Points my body has finally recovered. And I couldn't feel more depressed! Today is Sunday and there wont any NFL Pre-game shows, injury reports, fantasy football, last minute research or trash talk on Facebook. Instead I am limited to write about how much I miss football. So...here are a few questions that will get your mind stirred:

1. Can Tony Romo bring Dallas a Super Bowl?

2. What are Chip Kelly's realistic expectations with the Eagles? Wins/Losses?

3. Who will win the NFC West?

4. Can Danny Amendola stay healthy with the Patriots and does it really matter?

5. Will the Giants rebound and make another Super Bowl run?

6. What if the Packers actually get a running game to help Aaron Rodgers? How scary would that be?

7. Can Brian Cushing return to form following last seasons ACL tear?

8. Who are the Buffalo Bills and what have they done with all these so called good football players?

9. Do the Denver Broncos have a title run in the tank?

10. Will Cam Newton lead the Panthers to the playoffs?

I will be discussing these and more topics in the near future.

Will the Falcons be Super Bowl winners next year?

     The reigning NFC South champs are no slouch when it comes to playoff games...at least not anymore. After lifting the monkey off their backs and finally winning a postseason game the Falcons are looking to improve. What are their team needs after getting exposed by the 49ers? Who should they sign via free agency? Who should Thomas Dimitroff draft next month? How much better can the team really get and are they even capable of being better than the 49ers next year?

How's the Defense?

     I figured I would talk about the "D" first because if I praised the offense for 2 paragraphs you might not read what the team actually needs to fix in the off-season; their dreadful defense. As a football fan, watching an Atlanta Falcons game last year was very gratifying. The offense carried the team all season, providing highlight TDs week in and week out. The problem is that the defense gave up highlight reel plays all year as well, meaning that you got to see entertaining football! Their pass rushers got an abysmal 29 sacks, which put them at 28th in the league. The Falcons also gave up 365 total yards a game and thats good(no it's really not) for 9th worst in the NFL. On the flipside the Falcons still got 20 INTs on the season, without Brent Grimes. But the reality of the situation is that teams weren't afraid to throw it on the Falcons. As a matter of fact, they HAD to with Matt Ryan's offense getting leads early in games. Remember, the Dirty Birds started the season 11-1 while on their way to earning a #1 seed and hosting the NFC Championship. So what about the run defense? 12th worst...averaging 123 yards a game. This puts their defensive needs at the following 5 positions: DE, DT, LB, S, CB. Yes, the Falcons needs help on ALL levels on the defense.

     With free agency in full swing I don't expect the Falcons to make any big splashes on the defensive side. They just extended William Moore's contract 5 more years, which was expected but they don't have a history of spending crazy on defensive free agents. Letting Ray Edwards go for insubordination, then cutting John Abraham and Dunta Robinson shows you the Falcons are trying to get younger. I could see a scenario where they re-sign Brent Grimes but don't be shocked if he ends up elsewhere with a bigger contract. So what do you do? Thomas Dimitroff has history of drafting very talented players and that successful foundation of young players led them to an NFC Championship this year.  So who do you draft? I'll give you a list of incoming rookies who will have a major impact from their 2nd year in the NFL on out...

Margus Hunt will be a 4X Pro Bowler if he can stay healthy in the NFL

1.  Jesse Williams         DT  Alabama             6'3"  323
2.  Johnathan Hankins  DT  Ohio State           6'3" 320
3.  Damontre Moore    DE  Texas A&M        6'4" 250
4.  Margus Hunt           DE  SMU                  6'8" 277
5.  Arthur Brown          LB  Kansas St           6'0" 241
6.  Desmond Trufant    CB  Washington          6'0" 190
7.  Jamar Taylor           CB  Boise St              5'11" 192
8.  Eric Reid                 FS  LSU                    6'1"  213
9.  DJ Swearinger         FS  South Carolina    5'11" 208


     This isn't my list of the only impact players in the draft, just the only players the Falcons have a shot at drafting who will have a major impact within 1-2 years. The most intriguing of the group has to be Margus Hunt who is a field goal blocking, block shedding beast.  The former rugby player has a knack for making plays but is very new to the game and too raw to make an immediate impact. Still, look for the Falcons to land one of these players in the 1st or 2nd round as they all fit the mold of what Atlanta does with their 4-3 scheme.

Mike Wallace is about to get PAID!

You are now looking at a VERY rich man

     This isn't a joke ladies and gentlemen...according to NBCsports.com, Mike Wallace is about to get a whopping $13 million/year deal with the Dolphins or Vikings. Obviously, with Percy Harvin being traded Minnesota will be very desperate to find a replacement and help their passing game. This isn't to say that the Dolphins don't need a receiver as bad as Minnesota does because they really do in all actuality. When it's all said and done in a couple of days I expect the Dolphins to overspend on Mike Wallace and have $19 million/year invested in just TWO of their receivers.

Da'Rick Rogers is the real deal

     So what if the Vikings don't sign Greg Jennings or Mike Wallace? That would lead to the Vikings trading up and getting Tavon Austin in the draft. They don't have time to draft a wide receiver who will develop in 2-3 years like Jarius Wright is currently doing. The Vike's need a playmaker who can get yards after the catch and make the defense take their eyes off Adrian Peterson.  The Vikings will either trade up a couple of spots to select Tavon Austin (I believe there is VERY significant interest in Austin coming from the Rams at the 22nd draft spot) or hope Nuke Hopkins falls into their laps at the 23rd draft spot. Don't be surprised if both receivers are off the board at this point because anything can happen on draft night. So who should their 3rd target be? It obviously has to be a wideout if they want to make the playoffs again this year. The answer...Da'Rick Rogers from Tennessee Tech. He is drawing major interest from teams because of his overall skillset and physicality. His game was built for the NFL from day one and I'm glad that scouts are starting to put aside his troubled past. This young man will be quite productive in the league if he gets drafted by a a team that sets him straight.

3 Most Overrated Free Agents on the Market

1.  Sean Smith - CB, Miami Dolphins


Lord have mercy...since when did a player who gave up the most combined touchdowns and first downs warrant a big contract???  You want to find out who has the dumbest GM in football? Wait to see who bites on his $8-10 million/year deal and you will have answer. I have wanted to believe in Smith since he arrived in the league but he simply has not panned out. As a former cornerback I was so intrigued by the fact that he was 6'3" 218 with 4.5 speed, which is god given to say the least. I know he was a former receiver but that doesn't mean he would be great at the CB position in the NFL. You know who I compare smith to as far as value? Stephon Gilmore of the Buffalo Bills...who consistently showed up on tape getting burned yet Buddy Nix became enamored with Gilmore's combine workout.  If you read my previous posts in this blog you will see how much of a mirage the NFL combine can really be. Just ask the (former) Chiefs GM Scott Pioli after he drafted Dontari Poe in the 1st round last year. WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Stop watching 40 yard dashes and start watching some damn film, GM's...it seriously has me thinking there are plenty of questionable upper-level managers in the NFL.

2. Brian Hartline - WR, Miami Dolphins
 
In all honesty Hartline doesn't shouldn't be on this list because he got signed a couple of days ago but OH MY GOODNESS?!!! What the hell is wrong with Jeff Ireland? So let me get this straight....you pay a #2 receiver $6 million/year for having 3 100-yard games in 2012? And ONE touchdown??? HAHAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this has to be the dumbest move in free agency by a mile so far. I don't care who else gets a crazy contract...you can't go around wasting $6 million/year when you could EASILY get the same production out of a receiver in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2013 draft. The NFL is full of desperate teams anxious to show that they are ready to improve upon last year's record and the Dolphins fit this description perfectly. I will go on record saying that the Dolphins will have the same (or worse) record than last year and Jeff Ireland will be fired. An average running game at best, an average QB, a left tackle that you DON'T want to pay yet you will pay a backup receiver $6 million, etc. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you put someone in charge who doesn't know what the heck they are doing.

3. Cliff Avril


I have a hard time putting Avril on this list because he played good for my Detroit Lions the past 5 seasons, but let's be honest...He is not a top 10 defensive end in the league yet he will be paid like-so very soon. Evaluators knock on Avril is that he is not good at stopping the run and I have to agree whole heartedly.  In pass rushing situation Cliff is a monster and a very disruptive force against offensive tackles, but he has problems getting his hands on elusive runners. This downfield type of play is missing because he is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker than a 4-3 end, but Avril has still made plays from the DE position. This will be my shortest description because Avril's game only has one hole in it, but he will be highly overpaid this offseason and that's enough him appear on this list.

3 pieces of advice NFL GM's should take before the draft

  I am going to step outside of the box on this post. Before finishing my pre-draft evaluation on players I want to give NFL GMs some good, solid advice. Everyone knows that the NFL really stands for "Not For Long" so teams don't have time to rebuild for more than a year. In order to keep their jobs in the NFL here are 3 interesting facts that they shouldn't ignore when drafting a player:


1. YOUR EYES DON'T LIE, THAT IS...IF YOU HAVE GOOD EYES IN THE FIRST PLACE

Matt Ryan showed plenty of poise at BC

     Make sure that you take a player based off your own eyes, not someone else's. We all know that two heads are better than one but it doesn't necessarily mean that you should take advice. If there is a player you really like, it should be because of his game film or because you've seen him in person. Successful players in the NFL show up on tape on  a consistent level. Stats set aside, you have to like what you see on the field. I'll give you an example...in 2007 I sat in the stands of Death Valley and watched Matt Ryan torch my Clemson Tigers. It was one of the few times in my life where I have watched a game and left with the impression "This guy is going to be a VERY good in the NFL!" Ryan went 31/47, which is not too bad considering you had to throw it FOURTY SEVEN times!!! He had to put the team on his back and he did, delivering a clutch performance on the road while making spectacular throws. From a scouting perspective, I had seen enough highlights to see him as a future starter in the NFL. But after seeing it with my own eyes I knew he had what it took to be the Matty Ice he has become for the Atlanta Falcons. BELIEVE WHAT YOUR EYES SEE!

2. INJURY HISTORY IS VERY OVERLOOKED IN THE DRAFT

The above picture is a statement I tweeted well before the 2012 draft. I was wrong when I said the class was very weak because there were three rookie starters that make the playoffs. But I was right about RGIII not being able to stay healthy in the league. He is a phenomenal athlete when at 100% but its not going to be that way after two ACL tears in 4 years. My favorite team in the NFL is the Detroit Lions, but I have to question why Mark Mayhew would draft players such as Jahvid Best and Ryan Broyles. And this is AFTER seeing your team have problems staying healthy at QB, S, RB, TE, OL and DL. What kind of sense does it make to draft a player who has been severely injured at least once? I'm not saying that you should ONLY draft players who haven't had a single injury, I'm simply stating that it would smarter to spend millions on someone who is more healthy. Injuries are a part of the game which is why depth can make or break a good team. There is a clear difference in the type of players that are drafted by the Detroit Lions than those drafted into the 49ers organization. The season is 17 weeks long so there is no excuse for drafting players who aren't durable.

3. INTERVIEWS SHOULD BE THE ONLY REASON TO INCREASE A PLAYER'S STOCK

The best WR to ever play this game wasn't a blazer

     Tyrann Matthieu just benched pressed 225 lbs 4 times at the NFL Combine! And you know what? Who cares?! Is that the type of player you saw on Saturdays for the LSU Tigers? Not even close...he had five forced fumbles and constantly brought down bigger players with ease. Coming into the combine I had him with a 2nd round grade and I would have to say he did nothing to change that. Other teams might have increased his stock but in the NFL you have to get as many play-makers as possible. His past is the past, you have to take a gamble on talent like this. Look at Jerry Rice's numbers for example. He ran over a 4.6 forty yard dash and still went on to become the best WR of all time. There is no talk of how Jerry Rice looked in workouts or what his vertical jump was. Bill Walsh just needed to see the game tape to believe that he was taking the right guy. And after talking to him I am sure it only made the Niners more confident in grabbing Rice with their 1st pick.