Report: Terrell Suggs out for the season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/03/2012 @ 9:18 am) Perhaps the Ravens didn’t select Alabama defender Courtney Upshaw just because he was a value in the second round. As it turns out, they’re going to need him to be a major contributor this season. According to 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, Terrell Suggs is out of the 2012 season with a torn Achilles’ tendon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has already confirmed the news (so you know it’s true) and reported that Suggs injured himself playing basketball. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year will apparently have surgery sometime next week. This is a massive blow for a team that has had Super Bowl aspirations the last couple of seasons. Suggs is coming off his best season as a pro while recording career highs in both sacks (14) and forced fumbles (7). He was part of a Baltimore defense that finished third in both yards (4,622) and points allowed (16.6). Heading into the draft it didn’t appear as though linebacker was that big of a need for the Ravens, even after Jarrett Johnson signed a four-year deal with the Chargers in free agency. But with Suggs on the shelf, the Ravens were fortunate that a first-round talent like Upshaw fell to them in the second round. (Although GM Ozzie Newsome clearly wasn’t desperate to add marquee defensive help since he traded out of the first round entirely. Still, he was fortunate that Upshaw slid out of the first round.) The Ravens will now rely on Upshaw, Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee to pressure the quarterback next season. 2011 second round pick Sergio Kindle was reportedly on the roster bubble (or would be heading into training camp), but his job appears to be safe for now. The Ravens are going to need bodies after the injury to Suggs. The Scores Report’s 2010 NFL Mock Draft Posted by Anthony Stalter (04/22/2010 @ 5:30 pm) This is it – this one is for all the marbles. The two previous mock drafts I put together mean nothing, unless of course one of those is better than the one below. In that case, please consider that to be my final mock so I can save some face. We’re just days away from the 2010 NFL Draft and as usual, the uncertainty surrounding which player will be drafted by which team is at an all-time high. Teams are sending out smokescreens, it’s hard to figure out which GM is telling the truth (probably roughly around none of them) and all the while, the media is trying to keep up with all the rumors. But here it is – my final crack at predicting the first round. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section, but remember that they’re only valid when you make predictions before the draft. Don’t be the tool that comes back here a week from now boasting that you knew that Team A would take Player X, or else you will be made fun of mercilessly by your peers. Let the games begin and once again, Happy NFL Draft time fellow draftnits. Originally posted: Monday, April 19 1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Ndamukong Suh is the best player in the 2010 draft and if teams only drafted based on talent, then the Nebraska defensive tackle would be the first player selected in round one. But Suh plays a position that most teams can’t justify investing a truckload of guaranteed money in. That’s why Bradford will be the No. 1 pick, along with the fact that the Rams desperately need a quarterback to help revitalize their morbid franchise. I’ve never wavered with this pick – I’ve believed that Bradford was going to be the Rams’ selection at No. 1 all along. If they believe that he’s a franchise quarterback, then Suh and every other prospect in this draft becomes inconsequential in the Rams’ eyes. There’s no more important position on a football field than the one that lines up under center every week. Is taking a quarterback this high a risk? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, a franchise can’t function without a good QB. That’s why St. Louis won’t hesitate to take Bradford here. 2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska The Lions want everyone to believe that they’ll take an offensive tackle like Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung with this pick and they may very well might. But if Suh is still on the board when the Lions are on the clock in the first round, then they’d be nuts to pass on him. Suh is the best player in the draft on either side of the ball and could be the player current Lions (and former Titans’ DC) head coach Jim Schwartz builds his defense around, a la Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee. 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma McCoy has kind of become the forgotten top 5 prospect in this draft because he’s overshadowed by Suh. But he’s a difference maker and a force against the run. If the Rams take Bradford at No. 1, one of the two defensive tackles will fall to Tampa here, which is exactly what it wants. The Bucs need an interior presence in the middle of their line that can be effective both against the run and pass. McCoy can potentially be that player. 4. Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma As long as Mike Shanahan’s claims that the Redskins will take a quarterback with this pick are untrue, then Williams could very well be the third Sooner to come off the board in the first four picks this year. Okung is regarded as the best offensive tackle in the draft, but Williams is a better fit for Washington’s new zone-blocking scheme, making him the choice here. He’s an excellent all-around blocker and has the potential to immediately fill the void left by Chris Samuels on the Redskins’ O-line. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: NFL, NFL Draft Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, Anthony Davis, Anthony Stalter, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Graham, Brandon Spikes, Bruce Campbell, Bryan Bulaga, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Spiller, Carlos Dunlap, Chris Cook, Cincinnati Bengals, Daryl Washington, Denver Broncos, Derrick Morgan, Detroit Lions, Dez Bryant, eric berry, Gerald McCoy, Gerald McCoy Bucs, Golden Tate, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jared Odrick, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jermaine Gresham, Jerry Hughes, Jimmy Clausen, Kansas City Chiefs., Kyle Williams, Miami Dolphins, Mike Iupati, Ndamukong Suh, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL Mock Draft, NFL Mock Drafts, Oakland Raiders, Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rolando McClain, Russell Okung, Sam Bradford, Sam Bradford Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Sean Weatherspoon, Seattle Seahawks, Sergio Kindle, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Taylor Mays, Tennessee Titans, Trent Williams, Vladimir Ducasse, Washington Redskins
2010 NFL Mock Draft Version 2.0 Posted by Anthony Stalter (04/12/2010 @ 4:38 pm) With the Redskins’ acquisition of Donovan McNabb, it’s a perfect time to update my mock draft. In my first mock, I had the Redskins taking Jimmy Clausen at No. 4, but with their need at quarterback being filled with the trade for McNabb, the dynamics in the top 10 have changed. Here’s my second crack at predicting the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. (Side note: If I have the team selecting the same player as I did in my first mock, then my explanation of the pick will be the same in most occasions.) 1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma I have Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh rated as the unquestioned best player in this year’s draft. (Well, I don’t have an official ranking per se, but in my head he’s No. 1.) But that doesn’t mean I think the Rams will take him. Teams usually get quirky about the No. 1 overall pick. They feel as though they have to match the contract with the position in order to justify the player they’re taking, which is completely backwards when you think about it. A team should mostly be concerned with taking the right player that matches their scheme. But I digress. Bradford is the top rated quarterback and the Rams have a major need at the position now that the ultra-brutal Marc Bulger has been released. The Rams feel as though they need to breathe some excitement into their dull franchise and taking Bradford should do the trick. Is he the right player? That’s debatable. 2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Their trade for DT Corey Williams kind of throws me off a little, but I still think that if Suh is available the Lions won’t pass on him. Jim Schwartz built one hell of a defense in Tennessee centered around Albert Haynesworth and he could view Suh the same way. He’s a difference-maker up front and regardless of whether or not he and Williams play the same position, if Suh is as good as I think he is then Schwartz will find a way to utilize him. Offensive tackle Russell Okung has been mentioned at this pick but again, if Suh is available I can’t see the Lions leaving him on the board. 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma If the Rams wind up taking Bradford with the top pick, you might be able to hear the sounds of screams and jubilation coming from Tampa. That’s because the Bucs would love to land one of the two stud defensive tackles in this draft and if Bradford goes No. 1, then either Suh or McCoy would slip to Tampa here. Some people are down on McCoy after he only benched 225 pounds 23 times at the combine, but that’s not a justifiable reason for his stock to slip. A lot of defensive tackles are forced to shed weight for the combine and when they do, they lose strength in the process. Besides, not taking a player because of how he performed on the bench at the combine is ridiculous notion anyway. McCoy would be a great fit for the Bucs. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: College Football, NFL, NFL Draft Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, Anthony Davis, Anthony Stalter, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Graham, Brandon Spikes, Bruce Campbell, Bryan Bulaga, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Spiller, Carlos Dunlap, Chris Cook, Cincinnati Bengals, Daryl Washington, Denver Broncos, Derrick Morgan, Detroit Lions, Dez Bryant, eric berry, Gerald McCoy, Gerald McCoy Bucs, Golden Tate, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jared Odrick, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jermaine Gresham, Jerry Hughes, Jimmy Clausen, Kansas City Chiefs., Kyle Williams, Miami Dolphins, Mike Iupati, Ndamukong Suh, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL Mock Draft, NFL Mock Drafts, Oakland Raiders, Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rolando McClain, Russell Okung, Sam Bradford, Sam Bradford Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Sean Weatherspoon, Seattle Seahawks, Sergio Kindle, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Taylor Mays, Tennessee Titans, Trent Williams, Vladimir Ducasse, Washington Redskins
2010 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0 Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/18/2010 @ 4:15 pm) The full mock is finally completed! I waited a lot longer than I normally do to compile my first mock draft of the year. Normally I whip up my first batch of mock draft right after the scouting combine, but this year I wanted to see what happened at the start of free agency before I even remotely considered whom teams would select in April. I get as excited as any true draftnik about mock drafts, but how could anyone venture a guess at what player a team will select without knowing what big free agents signed where? It’s like taking a long road trip to a place you’ve never been before without your GPS. (Wow, have the times changed. A couple of years ago, I would have ended that sentence with “without your map” but that damn technology continues to track us down like a bear preying on an injured deer.) Below is my first crack at predicting the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. As usual, feel free to argue my picks as much as you like but please, debate with some dignity. Don’t be the doucher that ruins the fun of mock drafts by spewing venom in the comments section of a sports blog. There may not be anything more pathetic. 1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma I have Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh rated as the unquestioned best player in this year’s draft. (Well, I don’t have an official ranking per se, but in my head he’s No. 1.) But that doesn’t mean I think the Rams will take him. Teams usually get funny about the No. 1 overall pick. They feel as though they have to match the contract with the position in order to justify the player they’re taking, which is completely backwards when you think about it. A team should be most concerned with taking the right player that matches their scheme. But I digress. Bradford is the top rated quarterback and the Rams have a major need at the position with Marc Bulger proving over the past two years that he’s better suited to run the scout team offense in practice and then the first unit on Sundays. The Rams feel as though they need to breathe some excitement into their dull franchise and taking Bradford should do the trick. Is he the right player? That’s debatable. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: College Football, NFL, NFL Draft Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, Anthony Davis, Anthony Stalter, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Graham, Brandon Spikes, Bruce Campbell, Bryan Bulaga, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Spiller, Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Derrick Morgan, Detroit Lions, Dez Bryant, eric berry, Gerald McCoy, Gerald McCoy Bucs, Golden Tate, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jared Odrick, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jermaine Gresham, Jimmy Clausen, Kansas City Chiefs., Kyle Williams, Miami Dolphins, Mike Iupati, Ndamukong Suh, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL Mock Draft, NFL Mock Drafts, Oakland Raiders, Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rolando McClain, Russell Okung, Sam Bradford, Sam Bradford Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Sean Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks, Sergio Kindle, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Taylor Mays, Tennessee Titans, Trent Williams, Vladimir Ducasse, Washington Redskins
Mandel: Ranking the Bowls 1-34 Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/11/2009 @ 1:45 pm) SI.com’s Stewart Mandel recently ranked all 34 bowl games. Here are his top 5: 1) BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 7): Alabama (13-0) vs. Texas (13-0). It’s the first-ever matchup of two 13-0 teams. Colt McCoy. Mark Ingram. Rolando McClain. Sergio Kindle. Yeah, I’m thinking you might want to tune in. 2) Sugar (Jan. 1): Cincinnati (12-0) vs. Florida (12-1). It’s spread vs. spread, Tim Tebow vs. Tony Pike, Mardy Gilyard vs. Joe Haden. It may be a letdown game for the Gators, but it should still be entertaining. 3) Fiesta (Jan. 4): TCU (12-0) vs. Boise State (13-0). Enough with the outrage, people: You know you’re going to watch. The nation’s No. 1 passer, Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore, goes up against the nation’s top-ranked defense. 4) Rose (Jan. 1): Ohio State (10-2) vs. Oregon (10-2). Dangerous dual-threat star Jeremiah Masoli is what Terrelle Pryor was supposed to be. But the Buckeyes present the toughest defense the Ducks have faced since Boise. 5) Orange (Jan. 5): Georgia Tech (11-2) vs. Iowa (10-2). You remember the Hawkeyes. They love low scores and dramatic finishes. With a month to prepare, can Pat Angerer, Tyler Sash and Co. stifle Josh Nesbitt and the triple-option?
That’s how I would have my top 5, although the Fiesta and Sugar bowls might be interchangeable. I love watching TCU’s defense play and I’m intrigued about how Gary Patterson will game plan to stop Boise’s offense. That said, I’m interested to see how Cincinnati responds after Brian Kelly ditched them for Notre Dame. I know Georgia Tech’s triple-option is exciting to watch and Iowa does have a solid front seven, but that matchup just doesn’t have the same appeal as the other four. Maybe it’ll wind up being the best BCS game of the season, but the matchup offers little sizzle compared to the other top bowls. Photo from fOTOGLIF
Posted in: College Football Tags: 2010 BCS National Championship, 2010 Fiesta Bowl, 2010 Orange Bowl, 2010 Rose Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl, Alabama, Boise State, Brian Kelly, Cincinnati, Colt McCoy, Iowa, Jeremiah Masoli, Joe Haden, Josh Nesbitt, Kellen Moore, Mardy Gilyard, Mark Ingram, Ohio State, Oregon, Pat Angerer, Rolando McClain, Sergio Kindle, TCU, Terrelle Pryor, Texas, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike, Tyler Sash
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