Sporting News 2008 rankings:
1. Pete Carroll, USC.
2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State.
3. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan.
4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma.
5. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest.
6. Mark Richt, Georgia.
7. Mack Brown, Texas.
8. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech.
9. Mark Mangino, Kansas.
10. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State.
11. Mike Leach, Texas Tech.
12. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina.
13. Randy Edsall, UConn.
14. Urban Meyer, Florida.
15. Mike Bellotti, Oregon.
16. Greg Schiano, Rutgers.
17. Nick Saban, Alabama.
18. Joe Tiller, Purdue.
19. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati.
20. Les Miles, LSU.
21. Mike Riley, Oregon State.
22. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn.
23. Jeff Tedford, Cal.
24. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville.
25. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee.
26. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa.
27. Jim Leavitt, South Florida.
28. Bobby Bowden, Florida State.
29. Dan Hawkins, Colorado.
30. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss.
31. Tom O'Brien, N.C. State.
32. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt.
33. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech.
34. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas.
35. Gary Pinkel, Missouri.
36. Rich Brooks, Kentucky.
37. Al Groh, Virginia.
38. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA.
39. Art Briles, Baylor.
40. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin.
41. Tommy Bowden, Clemson.
42. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford.
43. Ron Zook, Illinois.
44. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State.
45. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State.
46. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M.
47. Tyrone Willingham, Washington.
48. Joe Paterno, Penn State.
49. Butch Davis, North Carolina.
50. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State.
51. David Cutcliffe, Duke.
52. Dave Wannstedt, Pitt.
53. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland.
54. Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College.
55. Paul Wulff, Washington State.
56. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame.
57. Bo Pelini, Nebraska.
58. Greg Robinson, Syracuse.
59. Gene Chizik, Iowa State.
60. Ron Prince, Kansas State.
61. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern.
62. Tim Brewster, Minnesota.
63. Mike Stoops, Arizona.
64. Bill Stewart, West Virginia.
65. Bill Lynch, Indiana.
66. Randy Shannon, Miami.
I wanted to take a closer look at these rankings, as they seemed fairly arbitrary and subjective. They are more of an approval rating than an analysis of the respective coach's ability.
Consider these tidbits I pulled from the rankings:
Ty Willingham moved up 7 spots in the rankings from last year, despite his fourth straight losing season, and losing two more games this year than last.
Comparably, despite back-to-back BCS appearances in his first two seasons, Weis was ranked only 42nd last year. His tumble to 56th is understandable considering the 3-9 record last year, but it was his first losing season. Willingham was ranked nearly 8 spots ahead, despite the string of losing. Weis' biggest black mark? He led the nation in the % change in winning percentage from last year to this year, a drop of 51.9%. That's almost identical to Ron Zook's 52.6% increase in win %.
Zook's impressive turnaround bought him only a 6 spot increase from last year (49th to 43rd). Comparatively, a decent (9-4) season in the Big East launched Randy Edsall up the rankings, with a staggering 42-spot jump from 55th to 13th.
And that Missouri-Kansas matchup? Missouri's coach, who led them to an impressive 12-2 record, jumped 8 spots. Kansas' coach jumped 26 for their 12-1 record.
Some other head scratchers include:
Butch Davis' similar 30 spot drop, despite improving his record from last year.
Tom O'Brien dropping 18 spots, despite improving his record by two games from last year.
Al Groh dropped from last year (5-7) to this year (9-4). So he goes from no bowl game to the Gator Bowl, and that makes him a worse coach.
On the other side of the coin, Greg Robinson managed to make Syracuse even worse this year, dropping them from 4-8 to 2-10. His reward was a 7-spot jump UP in the rankings.
Also rewarded for a backslide was Greg Schiano, who despite a 23% drop in winning percentage moved up an astounding 17 spots in the rankings. Steve Kragthorpe's dismantling of the once impressive Louisville program (dropped 42.3% in winning percentage) earned him a nice 3 spot jump up.
And as much as I love what Terry Hoeppner built at Indiana, I think it is unfair to Bill Lynch to rank him 19 spots below his predecessor, when he led the team to it
s first bowl berth since 1993.
From the "They are too old to coach" file: Joe Paterno slpped 30 spots, and Bobby Bowden slipped 14. Their records from last year to this year? No change. Oh, and the #1 and #2 guys in all time wins don't even crack the top 25 among current coaches, apparently.
Another note from these rankings? According to them, Bill Stewart was a horible choice for the West Virginia Mountaineers - he ranks a staggering 61 spots behind his predecessor. The best hire? Houston Nutt over at Ole Miss - ranking 33 spots ahead of Ed Orgeron last year.
So take these rankings with a grain of salt, as they are extremely subjective.
But I would take this from the rankings: Coach Weis' seat is starting to warm up a bt.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
TAH-NOO-TAH!!!
This video clip is a thing of beauty.
Football coaching at its finest - Tenuta being Tenuta. Uncensored. Uncut. All real.
Beware, this video may be unsuitable for young children and not safe for work.
It may also result in you headbutting your dog.
You want nasty? This man brings the nasty. If this doesn't bing Charlie's oft-quoted nasty to the defense, I don't know what will.
Favorite quote:
"I want you to punch him right in the face."
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Crean & Crimson
The following post is my first in a long while on my Hoosiers blog. I had stopped blogging about the team in shame over there recent scandals, but have now resumed writing. Just thought I'd let y'all know.
*****
Just as I started this blog, and began to get excited again about IU basketball, the coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, Kelvin Sampson, was discovered to have betrayed the trust that Hoosier Nation placed in him. Never in my life as a fan of sports have been more ashamed and disappointed in an individual in sports. As a fan, I have always taken pride in the integrity of the programs that I love.
Notre Dame is, in my mind, the pinnacle of collegiate athletics. Their viewpoint on collegiate athletics was summed up in the following quote from former President Theodore Hesburgh:
This commitment to excellence has been the cornerstone of the cleanest and winningest program in the history of college football.
As an alumnus and fan of Indiana University, I also took pride in their commitment to this same kind of excellence. Say what you will about Bobby Knight, but he always ran a clean program at Indiana. And when his behavior violated the standards that Indiana had set for him, they had the courage to fire a hall-of-fame coach who was revered in the state.
But the hiring of Kelvin Sampson was a disgrace to the University. Hiring a coach who had already violated NCAA rules, with only a promise that he would never do it again. I was upset at the hiring, but I tried to give Sampson the benefit of the doubt. When he violated NCAA guidelines again, he robbed the Hoosier Nation of their best chance in decades to contend for a national championship.
I stopped blogging about Indiana basketball as a protest of sorts (weak as it was, as I had probably one reader at the time - thanks, Mom). But I couldn't in good faith promote a program that had cheated.
With today's press conference announcing the hiring of Coach Crean, formerly of Marquette, I am willing now to forgive the program and the athletic director that hired Sampson in the first place. But I, much like the rest of the country, will never forget. This hire, worthy as it was, was the hire they should have made a couple years ago.
Coach Crean is as forthright and ethical a coach as there is in the game, and he's no slouch when it comes to coaching them up on the hardwood as well. He is a Big Ten product, having coached under Tom Izzo (and had been widely believed to be waiting in the wings as Izzo's eventual replacement). He has a respect and understanding for the tradition and history of Indiana basketball.
And, for the first time in a long while, I am proud to say on this day that I am a proud supporter of the Indiana basketball program.
Welcome to the Hoosier State, Coach Crean.
*****
Just as I started this blog, and began to get excited again about IU basketball, the coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, Kelvin Sampson, was discovered to have betrayed the trust that Hoosier Nation placed in him. Never in my life as a fan of sports have been more ashamed and disappointed in an individual in sports. As a fan, I have always taken pride in the integrity of the programs that I love.
Notre Dame is, in my mind, the pinnacle of collegiate athletics. Their viewpoint on collegiate athletics was summed up in the following quote from former President Theodore Hesburgh:
There is no academic virtue in playing mediocre football and no academic vice in winning a game that by all odds one should lose. ... There has been a surrender at Notre Dame, but it is a surrender to excellence on all fronts, and in this we hope to rise above ourselves with the help of God.
This commitment to excellence has been the cornerstone of the cleanest and winningest program in the history of college football.
As an alumnus and fan of Indiana University, I also took pride in their commitment to this same kind of excellence. Say what you will about Bobby Knight, but he always ran a clean program at Indiana. And when his behavior violated the standards that Indiana had set for him, they had the courage to fire a hall-of-fame coach who was revered in the state.
But the hiring of Kelvin Sampson was a disgrace to the University. Hiring a coach who had already violated NCAA rules, with only a promise that he would never do it again. I was upset at the hiring, but I tried to give Sampson the benefit of the doubt. When he violated NCAA guidelines again, he robbed the Hoosier Nation of their best chance in decades to contend for a national championship.
I stopped blogging about Indiana basketball as a protest of sorts (weak as it was, as I had probably one reader at the time - thanks, Mom). But I couldn't in good faith promote a program that had cheated.
With today's press conference announcing the hiring of Coach Crean, formerly of Marquette, I am willing now to forgive the program and the athletic director that hired Sampson in the first place. But I, much like the rest of the country, will never forget. This hire, worthy as it was, was the hire they should have made a couple years ago.
Coach Crean is as forthright and ethical a coach as there is in the game, and he's no slouch when it comes to coaching them up on the hardwood as well. He is a Big Ten product, having coached under Tom Izzo (and had been widely believed to be waiting in the wings as Izzo's eventual replacement). He has a respect and understanding for the tradition and history of Indiana basketball.
And, for the first time in a long while, I am proud to say on this day that I am a proud supporter of the Indiana basketball program.
Welcome to the Hoosier State, Coach Crean.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Let's go drafting!
With the NFL draft less than a month away, I thought I'd get moving on a mock draft of the first round, and projections of the futures of ND prospects. Here goes.
1. Miami
Jake Long, OT, Michigan
They've cleaned house at their tackle position, paving the way for drafting this Long, although the other Long is a better prospect, and fills a need.
2. St. Louis
Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Rams will be ecstatic to pick up Chris Long here, as he fills a big need for them, and is the best player in the draft.
3. Atlanta
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
They need a quarteback like the desert needs the rain, but does anybody really want any of the QB's in this year's draft? Matt Ryan is the best prospect, but he doesn't blow you away. Dorsey's hype machine will get him ovedrafted here, sending Atlanta on a continued downhill spiral.
4. Oakland
Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
The only person more impressive than Trevor Laws at the combine was Vernon Gholston. Although the smart money here is on McFadden, who many feel is a rare breed of athlete, the need on the D-line of Oakland is too great.
5. Kansas City
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
I'm thinking that Kansas City will trade the privilege of drafting Darren McFadden away for some extra picks in the early rounds to rebuild their offensive line. But, I don't see Darren McFadden slipping past the 5th pick, even if they don't really need him. Call it a "best player available" pick.
6. New York Jets
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
A need pick, McKelvin is the best corner in the draft, and the Jets need to stop the bleeding.
7. New England (from San Francisco)
Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Not many needs on this team right now, but they are aging a bit on the liinebacking corps.
8. Baltimore
Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Baltimore is searching for an answer at quarterback, and at the bottom of the top 10, Ryan is a solid pick.
9. Cincinnati
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Another team with needs on the defensive line, Ellis is the popular pick here, although I'm not that impressed. n fact, I have yet to see a single measurable in which Sedrick Ellis beats Trevor Laws. Not one. He's a 1/4" shorter, had fewer reps on the bench, ran a slower 40, had fewer tackles and there is only 5 pounds difference between their weight. If I were a GM, I'd draft Laws ahead of Ellis 10 times out of
10. But, Ellis played on a top 10 USC squad, while Laws' team went 3-9. So the pundits have him ranked much higher.
10. New Orleans
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
Drafting Laws here is too risky if you believe all of the media, although he fills their biggest need. Accepting begrudgingly that the best Laws can hope for is end of the 1st, a corner is the pick here.
11. Buffalo
Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Buffalo's receiving corps could use an upgrade, and Sweed is the popular pick. This is the first team that I could see considering John Carlson, although I think uncertainty over his combine numbers keep him from shooting this high.
12. Denver
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami(FL)
Another team in need of a defensive tackle, Laws is still going to wait this one out, as they take the top safety in the draft. Trust me, as a Redskins fan I can tell you a great safety out of Miami is never a bad pick.
13. Carolina
Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
A solid lineman is Carolina's best bet, as they need someone to play opposite Jordan Gross.
14. Chicago
Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Chicago fans will let out a collective groan as Matt Ryan is selected by the Ravens, as they desperately need a new signal caller. It's too early to take Brohm here, so they'll shore up their offensive line with a lineman with a very high ceiling.
15. Detroit
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Despite a deep running back class, Detoit will take Jonathan Stewart here rather than take their chances in a later round.
16. Arizona
Philip Merling, DE, Clemson
Arizona needs an elite pass rusher, and this guy has a lot of potential. They could also take a flyer on running back by drafting Rashard Mendenhall, but it seems unlikely.
17. Minnesota
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
With the run on linemen thus far in the draft, and ALL of the Vikes needs being on the line of scrimmage, Minnesota is in a tough place. They'll probably take the best available pass rusher here.
18. Houston
Dan Connor, OLB, Penn State
With all of their first round offensive tackle prospects gone, the Texans will fill a need in their OTHER gaping hole - the linebackng corps.
19. Philadelphia
DeSean Jackson, WR, California
The Eagles haven't had a decent receiver since TO left town, and their rivals the 'Skins are looking at receiver in this draft as well - only two picks behind them. They'll snatch up Jackson here.
20. Tampa Bay
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
This is an interesting pick. Tampa needs interior defensive linemen, but the much-hyped prospects have been taken. There are too many questions about Malcolm Kelly. I think they go with a solid corner - you can never have too many of those.
21. Washington
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
The first-round defensive end prospects are gone. It's too early to take James Hardy, the tall, rangy receiver they really need. The safety prospect from the U is gone. Mendenhall is the best player on the board, but running back is a strength. By process of elimination, a good corner prospect is the pick here, but don't be surprised if we see a trade down in hopes of getting more picks and eventually snagging Hardy.
22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
They need another runnng back, but Mendenhall is not the right fit with Marion Barber. Without a good corner or receiver prospect available, Jones grabs the running back and then hopes for the best. Look for the possibility of Jones grabbing Felix Jones here though, him being a Razorback and all. Or maybe trading up to grab McFadden.
23. Pittsburgh
Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
Pittsburgh has always been a disciplined, team-need driven drafter, and their chance to take the year's best offensive guard fits right into their needs. No hesitation here.
24. Tennessee
Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
Tennessee needs a target for Vince Young, and Kelly is the best available at this point in the draft. Carlson has an outside shot at this spot as well.
25. Seattle
John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame
Seattle is in need of a tight end, and they are picking late in the first round, where I was projecting him to go. I think this would be a great fit for him. Most mock drafts have Carlson going sometime in the 2nd, but I think that NFL GMs are higher on Carlson than the media pundits.
26. Jacksonville
Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma
Jacksonville is looking for a safety in this draft, and Reggie Smith is the best one out there not from Miami.
27. San Diego
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
With Reggie Smith off the board, San Diego is going to play it safe with a quality offensive tackle.
28. Dallas
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
With a running back in the fold, and the top corners off the board, Dalls will take a receiver with their second pick, trying to add some weapons to an already potent offense.
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)
Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
A deep offensive line class in this draft continues to show up in the first round, as the 49ers look to add depth to their offensive line.
30. Green Bay
Sam Baker, OT, USC
The cheeseheads continue the trend of drafting offensive linemen in the first round. Also look for the possibility of them picking up Patrick Lee, the corner out of Auburn.
* New England (pick forfeited)
31. New York Giants
Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn
Finishing out the first round is a corner, someone to shadow R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison as they near the end of their careers.
ROUND TWO
1. (32) Miami - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
2. (33) St. Louis - Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
3. (34) Atlanta (from Oakland) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
4. (35) Kansas City - Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
5. (36) New York Jets - James Hardy, WR, Indiana
6. (37) Atlanta
Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
Trevor did slip into the second round, but I wouldn't be completely shocked to see him go earlier. Atlanta is the highest team in the second round with a need for a DT, and I think he goes ahead of Balmer and Sims.
I'm not going to go any further, as I don't have all of the time in the world. However, I would like to postulate on the teams to watch for each of Notre Dame's draft prospects:
John Carlson, TE
Seattle
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Trevor Laws, DT
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Denver
Jacksonville
Minnesota
Oakland
San Diego
Tampa Bay
Tennessee
Washington
Tom Zbikowski, S
Carolina
Denver
Green Bay
Houston
Jacksonville
New York (Jets and Giants)
San Diego
Washington
John Sullivan, C
New Orleans
Pittsburgh
J.J. Jansen should find a place on someone's roster with his long-snapping abilities, and Travis Thomas' work ethic, athleticism, and unselfishness should get him into somebody's camp after going undrafted.
1. Miami
Jake Long, OT, Michigan
They've cleaned house at their tackle position, paving the way for drafting this Long, although the other Long is a better prospect, and fills a need.
2. St. Louis
Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Rams will be ecstatic to pick up Chris Long here, as he fills a big need for them, and is the best player in the draft.
3. Atlanta
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
They need a quarteback like the desert needs the rain, but does anybody really want any of the QB's in this year's draft? Matt Ryan is the best prospect, but he doesn't blow you away. Dorsey's hype machine will get him ovedrafted here, sending Atlanta on a continued downhill spiral.
4. Oakland
Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
The only person more impressive than Trevor Laws at the combine was Vernon Gholston. Although the smart money here is on McFadden, who many feel is a rare breed of athlete, the need on the D-line of Oakland is too great.
5. Kansas City
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
I'm thinking that Kansas City will trade the privilege of drafting Darren McFadden away for some extra picks in the early rounds to rebuild their offensive line. But, I don't see Darren McFadden slipping past the 5th pick, even if they don't really need him. Call it a "best player available" pick.
6. New York Jets
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
A need pick, McKelvin is the best corner in the draft, and the Jets need to stop the bleeding.
7. New England (from San Francisco)
Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Not many needs on this team right now, but they are aging a bit on the liinebacking corps.
8. Baltimore
Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Baltimore is searching for an answer at quarterback, and at the bottom of the top 10, Ryan is a solid pick.
9. Cincinnati
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Another team with needs on the defensive line, Ellis is the popular pick here, although I'm not that impressed. n fact, I have yet to see a single measurable in which Sedrick Ellis beats Trevor Laws. Not one. He's a 1/4" shorter, had fewer reps on the bench, ran a slower 40, had fewer tackles and there is only 5 pounds difference between their weight. If I were a GM, I'd draft Laws ahead of Ellis 10 times out of
10. But, Ellis played on a top 10 USC squad, while Laws' team went 3-9. So the pundits have him ranked much higher.
10. New Orleans
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
Drafting Laws here is too risky if you believe all of the media, although he fills their biggest need. Accepting begrudgingly that the best Laws can hope for is end of the 1st, a corner is the pick here.
11. Buffalo
Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Buffalo's receiving corps could use an upgrade, and Sweed is the popular pick. This is the first team that I could see considering John Carlson, although I think uncertainty over his combine numbers keep him from shooting this high.
12. Denver
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami(FL)
Another team in need of a defensive tackle, Laws is still going to wait this one out, as they take the top safety in the draft. Trust me, as a Redskins fan I can tell you a great safety out of Miami is never a bad pick.
13. Carolina
Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
A solid lineman is Carolina's best bet, as they need someone to play opposite Jordan Gross.
14. Chicago
Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Chicago fans will let out a collective groan as Matt Ryan is selected by the Ravens, as they desperately need a new signal caller. It's too early to take Brohm here, so they'll shore up their offensive line with a lineman with a very high ceiling.
15. Detroit
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Despite a deep running back class, Detoit will take Jonathan Stewart here rather than take their chances in a later round.
16. Arizona
Philip Merling, DE, Clemson
Arizona needs an elite pass rusher, and this guy has a lot of potential. They could also take a flyer on running back by drafting Rashard Mendenhall, but it seems unlikely.
17. Minnesota
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
With the run on linemen thus far in the draft, and ALL of the Vikes needs being on the line of scrimmage, Minnesota is in a tough place. They'll probably take the best available pass rusher here.
18. Houston
Dan Connor, OLB, Penn State
With all of their first round offensive tackle prospects gone, the Texans will fill a need in their OTHER gaping hole - the linebackng corps.
19. Philadelphia
DeSean Jackson, WR, California
The Eagles haven't had a decent receiver since TO left town, and their rivals the 'Skins are looking at receiver in this draft as well - only two picks behind them. They'll snatch up Jackson here.
20. Tampa Bay
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
This is an interesting pick. Tampa needs interior defensive linemen, but the much-hyped prospects have been taken. There are too many questions about Malcolm Kelly. I think they go with a solid corner - you can never have too many of those.
21. Washington
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
The first-round defensive end prospects are gone. It's too early to take James Hardy, the tall, rangy receiver they really need. The safety prospect from the U is gone. Mendenhall is the best player on the board, but running back is a strength. By process of elimination, a good corner prospect is the pick here, but don't be surprised if we see a trade down in hopes of getting more picks and eventually snagging Hardy.
22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
They need another runnng back, but Mendenhall is not the right fit with Marion Barber. Without a good corner or receiver prospect available, Jones grabs the running back and then hopes for the best. Look for the possibility of Jones grabbing Felix Jones here though, him being a Razorback and all. Or maybe trading up to grab McFadden.
23. Pittsburgh
Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
Pittsburgh has always been a disciplined, team-need driven drafter, and their chance to take the year's best offensive guard fits right into their needs. No hesitation here.
24. Tennessee
Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
Tennessee needs a target for Vince Young, and Kelly is the best available at this point in the draft. Carlson has an outside shot at this spot as well.
25. Seattle
John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame
Seattle is in need of a tight end, and they are picking late in the first round, where I was projecting him to go. I think this would be a great fit for him. Most mock drafts have Carlson going sometime in the 2nd, but I think that NFL GMs are higher on Carlson than the media pundits.
26. Jacksonville
Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma
Jacksonville is looking for a safety in this draft, and Reggie Smith is the best one out there not from Miami.
27. San Diego
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
With Reggie Smith off the board, San Diego is going to play it safe with a quality offensive tackle.
28. Dallas
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
With a running back in the fold, and the top corners off the board, Dalls will take a receiver with their second pick, trying to add some weapons to an already potent offense.
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)
Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
A deep offensive line class in this draft continues to show up in the first round, as the 49ers look to add depth to their offensive line.
30. Green Bay
Sam Baker, OT, USC
The cheeseheads continue the trend of drafting offensive linemen in the first round. Also look for the possibility of them picking up Patrick Lee, the corner out of Auburn.
* New England (pick forfeited)
31. New York Giants
Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn
Finishing out the first round is a corner, someone to shadow R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison as they near the end of their careers.
ROUND TWO
1. (32) Miami - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
2. (33) St. Louis - Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
3. (34) Atlanta (from Oakland) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
4. (35) Kansas City - Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
5. (36) New York Jets - James Hardy, WR, Indiana
6. (37) Atlanta
Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
Trevor did slip into the second round, but I wouldn't be completely shocked to see him go earlier. Atlanta is the highest team in the second round with a need for a DT, and I think he goes ahead of Balmer and Sims.
I'm not going to go any further, as I don't have all of the time in the world. However, I would like to postulate on the teams to watch for each of Notre Dame's draft prospects:
John Carlson, TE
Seattle
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Trevor Laws, DT
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Denver
Jacksonville
Minnesota
Oakland
San Diego
Tampa Bay
Tennessee
Washington
Tom Zbikowski, S
Carolina
Denver
Green Bay
Houston
Jacksonville
New York (Jets and Giants)
San Diego
Washington
John Sullivan, C
New Orleans
Pittsburgh
J.J. Jansen should find a place on someone's roster with his long-snapping abilities, and Travis Thomas' work ethic, athleticism, and unselfishness should get him into somebody's camp after going undrafted.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Spring Practice: First Report
While many of you, my loyal readers, have watched the too-brief spring praactice video on und.com, here's what little I could garner from my first taste of Notre Dame football in far too long:
David Bruton is an All-American. I know, it's a bit premature to say such things after watching a couple of agility drills on a grainy practice video. But between the coaches talking about him, what I saw from him last season, the reports on his offseason conditioning, and my own two eyes, there is much to get excited about. Remember, even a 3-9 season produced the man-beast that is Trevor Laws. All signs point to Bruton having the biggest breakout season next year. His fluidity and speed in the agility drills was impressive.
Darrin Walls is fast. Okay, so we already knew that, but it's another thing entirely to see him smoking the other talented and speedy players in the defensive secondary drills. Gary Gray looks to be a close second in terms of pure speed. Both were also very fluid in their footwork.
James Aldridge looks like the James Aldridge we all expected him to be. He is ripped, and actually looks to have picked up some speed in the offseason. On the drills, he looked to have similar acceleration (not speed - acceleration...) as Armando Allen.
Jimmy Clausen is starting to look like a QB. Last year, Clausen had great mechanics, but always looked like the scrawny kid trying to play with his big brothers on the field. Now, he looks to be stronger and (hopefully) more durable.
All of the linemen have bulked up. Last year, when I watched the O-line practices, Sam Young and Chris Stewart stood out like sore thumbs because of their sheer size. I had to look at numbers to place everyone on the line in this video. And that's impressive for the other guys on the line, considering that Sam put on nearly 40 pounds.
Consider these differences in weights since last year's Blue-Gold game:
Only Eric Olsen and Mike Turkovich had minimal weight gains (3 and 2 pounds, respectively).
The wide receivers have good hands. That's about all I could get from the drill they were running in the video. Hopefully there is something more substantial to look at in the future.
That's all for Practice 1.
David Bruton is an All-American. I know, it's a bit premature to say such things after watching a couple of agility drills on a grainy practice video. But between the coaches talking about him, what I saw from him last season, the reports on his offseason conditioning, and my own two eyes, there is much to get excited about. Remember, even a 3-9 season produced the man-beast that is Trevor Laws. All signs point to Bruton having the biggest breakout season next year. His fluidity and speed in the agility drills was impressive.
Darrin Walls is fast. Okay, so we already knew that, but it's another thing entirely to see him smoking the other talented and speedy players in the defensive secondary drills. Gary Gray looks to be a close second in terms of pure speed. Both were also very fluid in their footwork.
James Aldridge looks like the James Aldridge we all expected him to be. He is ripped, and actually looks to have picked up some speed in the offseason. On the drills, he looked to have similar acceleration (not speed - acceleration...) as Armando Allen.
Jimmy Clausen is starting to look like a QB. Last year, Clausen had great mechanics, but always looked like the scrawny kid trying to play with his big brothers on the field. Now, he looks to be stronger and (hopefully) more durable.
All of the linemen have bulked up. Last year, when I watched the O-line practices, Sam Young and Chris Stewart stood out like sore thumbs because of their sheer size. I had to look at numbers to place everyone on the line in this video. And that's impressive for the other guys on the line, considering that Sam put on nearly 40 pounds.
Consider these differences in weights since last year's Blue-Gold game:
| Name | 2007 Blue Gold Weight | 2008 Pre-Spring Weight | Gain |
| Dan Wenger | 282 lbs. | 300 lbs. | + 18 lbs. |
| Thoma Bemenderfer | 285 lbs. | 300 lbs. | + 15 lbs. |
| Paul Duncan | 291 lbs. | 308 lbs. | + 17 lbs. |
| Sam Young | 315 lbs. | 330 lbs. | + 15 lbs. |
Only Eric Olsen and Mike Turkovich had minimal weight gains (3 and 2 pounds, respectively).
The wide receivers have good hands. That's about all I could get from the drill they were running in the video. Hopefully there is something more substantial to look at in the future.
That's all for Practice 1.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Looking ahead to Spring Practice
I still have a feew movies to watch to judge the baseball films, but I'm working on it.
I've read some reports over the past week that Jimmy Clausen has gained 17 pounds since last season, and that Sam Young has put on over 30 pounds of muscle. If true, these increases in strength should provide some hope for improvement on offense, assuming some other members of the team have had similar gains.
Actually, looking forward to this year I have a lot of optimism that I didn't think I'd have, considering the continued youth of the team. However, I've said time and time and time again that junior year is usually the breakout year for player development. And when I look at the list of rising juniors, I'm very encouraged.
James Aldridge was a 5-star running back when he was signed, but was hobbled by an injury and never seemed to perform up to his potential in the first two years. However, a healthy offseason of conditioning and another year in the system makes me think that, despite the promise of Allen and Hughes, that Aldridge is the man to watch in the Notre Dame backfield this year.
Richard Jackson was a 4-star receiver that looks and runs so much like a prototypical receiver at 6'2". But, Jackson never seemed to make a big impact in his first two years, and most people have all but forgotten about him. He is another player to watch closely this spring for signs of a breakout year. I've loved everything I've seen from him physically in practice, but he never seemed to get the mental aspect of route running. Watch this guy VERY closely...
Robby Parris and George West have a lot of potential, and have actually demonstrated some ability to back it up on the field. If this group makes the leap that so many juniors do in route running and awareness, this could be a very dangerous and scary deep position for the Irish this year - the competition should be fierce up and down the receiving corps.
Toryan Smith is an inside linebacker that has been riding the bench for much of his career, despite having the prototypical skills for a dominant inside linebacker. It seems like the Irish always have a linebacker waiting in the wings for their turn to shine, and Smith seems poised to be that player. Brockington has shown consistency, but none of that breakout potential.
Sam Young is a 5-star prospect preparing to enter his third year as a starter, and will likely be the rock that this new line will be built upon. Of all of the rising juniors, this is the one I'm most excited about. Offensive line, as I've said before, relies more than any other position on physical development. His added 30 pounds have filled out his frame to go with his natural ability, and he can finally be the road grader we need to anchor this line.
Dan Wenger is poised to take over for departing fifth year senior John Sullivan - a sure sign that the development cycle for linemen is starting to come together. Weis raved about his effort and motor all last year, when he was cross training at guard and center. With him likely moving into the spot as the #1 center, he should be able to focus all of that drive on being a rock on the line.
Eric Olsen, Matt Carufel, and Chris Stewart may not have the standout potential of Wenger and Young, but they are all entering their junior years, giving us a solid front line of junior linemen that may be able to gel this year - with a couple of seniors ahead of them, we can finally put together an entire offensive line of upperclassmen, without being forced to dip into the young'uns.
Ryan Burkhart has been horribly inconsistent in his career. Although kickers don't need the physical development that other positions need to be successful, their mental development, discipline and maturity are required for success. Remember our last good kicker, D.J. Fitzpatrick? He had ONE punt in his career before his junior year. Nick Setta broke out as a junior, despite getting the nod as a sophomore. Only Hentrich was outstanding as an underclassman. I'm really hoping I'm right on this one...
Luke Schmidt might be able to push the strong yet thus far ineffective Schwapp, creating some competition that could give us a reliable short down and distance, goal line threat.
Paddy Mullen and Kallen Wade are the biggest keys to our success this year. Our lack of depth on the defensive line has been well documented, and if these two can step up their game to the next level, we could get some much needed insurance if one of our top linemen go down. With the timing of their development, I wouldn't be surprised either or both to perhaps even push Hand and Williams for a starting position. (Nobody's going to displace that crazy son of a bitch Kuntz)
This year's juniors are Weis' first full class, and they were the kids that, at the time, had us all believing that we had found our savior in Coach Weis, and that he would lead us to the promised land. They were our first top 10 class in a long, long time - finishing four spots ahead in Rivals rankings than the 2003 class featuring the following record setters, professional athletes and overall standouts: Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Vic Abiamiri, John Carlson, Ryan Harris, Trevor Laws, John Sullivan, Tommy Zbikowski, and Chinedum Ndukwe.
That 2003 class gave us the boost we needed to right the ship and stop the bleeding in Weis' first year - their junior year.
Consider where those future stars were going into that season:
Brady Quinn: Two year starter that had done well, but hadn't done anything to be remembered for.
Jeff Samardzija: Hadn't started a game until the Oregon State bowl loss, with only a handful of catches in his career.
Vic Abiamiri: Had a disappointing sophomore year after exploding onto the scene as a freshman, logging only 15 total tackles.
John Carlson: Six catches for 31 yards as a sophomore, seeing only spot time to relieve Fasano.
Ryan Harris: Okay, so Harris was a freak of nature, and was already dominant going into his junior year, his third year starting.
Trevor Laws: 17 total tackles, 2 for loss - never started a game.
John Sullivan: Had his first year as a starter his sophomore year, but really broke out his junior year.
Tommy Zbikowski: Started his sophomore year as a strong safety. Hadn't yet returned a punt...
Chinedum Ndukwe: Had just moved from receiver to safety, and only played on special teams.
With a couple of exceptions, these NFL-caliber athletes broke out in their junior year, paving the way for Notre Dame's improbable run to the Fiesta Bowl in Weis' first year.
Sure, there are plenty of question marks going into the season - but the more I look at the player development required to create a championship caliber team, the more I think that this is the year we turn the corner.
I've read some reports over the past week that Jimmy Clausen has gained 17 pounds since last season, and that Sam Young has put on over 30 pounds of muscle. If true, these increases in strength should provide some hope for improvement on offense, assuming some other members of the team have had similar gains.
Actually, looking forward to this year I have a lot of optimism that I didn't think I'd have, considering the continued youth of the team. However, I've said time and time and time again that junior year is usually the breakout year for player development. And when I look at the list of rising juniors, I'm very encouraged.
James Aldridge was a 5-star running back when he was signed, but was hobbled by an injury and never seemed to perform up to his potential in the first two years. However, a healthy offseason of conditioning and another year in the system makes me think that, despite the promise of Allen and Hughes, that Aldridge is the man to watch in the Notre Dame backfield this year.
Richard Jackson was a 4-star receiver that looks and runs so much like a prototypical receiver at 6'2". But, Jackson never seemed to make a big impact in his first two years, and most people have all but forgotten about him. He is another player to watch closely this spring for signs of a breakout year. I've loved everything I've seen from him physically in practice, but he never seemed to get the mental aspect of route running. Watch this guy VERY closely...
Robby Parris and George West have a lot of potential, and have actually demonstrated some ability to back it up on the field. If this group makes the leap that so many juniors do in route running and awareness, this could be a very dangerous and scary deep position for the Irish this year - the competition should be fierce up and down the receiving corps.
Toryan Smith is an inside linebacker that has been riding the bench for much of his career, despite having the prototypical skills for a dominant inside linebacker. It seems like the Irish always have a linebacker waiting in the wings for their turn to shine, and Smith seems poised to be that player. Brockington has shown consistency, but none of that breakout potential.
Sam Young is a 5-star prospect preparing to enter his third year as a starter, and will likely be the rock that this new line will be built upon. Of all of the rising juniors, this is the one I'm most excited about. Offensive line, as I've said before, relies more than any other position on physical development. His added 30 pounds have filled out his frame to go with his natural ability, and he can finally be the road grader we need to anchor this line.
Dan Wenger is poised to take over for departing fifth year senior John Sullivan - a sure sign that the development cycle for linemen is starting to come together. Weis raved about his effort and motor all last year, when he was cross training at guard and center. With him likely moving into the spot as the #1 center, he should be able to focus all of that drive on being a rock on the line.
Eric Olsen, Matt Carufel, and Chris Stewart may not have the standout potential of Wenger and Young, but they are all entering their junior years, giving us a solid front line of junior linemen that may be able to gel this year - with a couple of seniors ahead of them, we can finally put together an entire offensive line of upperclassmen, without being forced to dip into the young'uns.
Ryan Burkhart has been horribly inconsistent in his career. Although kickers don't need the physical development that other positions need to be successful, their mental development, discipline and maturity are required for success. Remember our last good kicker, D.J. Fitzpatrick? He had ONE punt in his career before his junior year. Nick Setta broke out as a junior, despite getting the nod as a sophomore. Only Hentrich was outstanding as an underclassman. I'm really hoping I'm right on this one...
Luke Schmidt might be able to push the strong yet thus far ineffective Schwapp, creating some competition that could give us a reliable short down and distance, goal line threat.
Paddy Mullen and Kallen Wade are the biggest keys to our success this year. Our lack of depth on the defensive line has been well documented, and if these two can step up their game to the next level, we could get some much needed insurance if one of our top linemen go down. With the timing of their development, I wouldn't be surprised either or both to perhaps even push Hand and Williams for a starting position. (Nobody's going to displace that crazy son of a bitch Kuntz)
This year's juniors are Weis' first full class, and they were the kids that, at the time, had us all believing that we had found our savior in Coach Weis, and that he would lead us to the promised land. They were our first top 10 class in a long, long time - finishing four spots ahead in Rivals rankings than the 2003 class featuring the following record setters, professional athletes and overall standouts: Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Vic Abiamiri, John Carlson, Ryan Harris, Trevor Laws, John Sullivan, Tommy Zbikowski, and Chinedum Ndukwe.
That 2003 class gave us the boost we needed to right the ship and stop the bleeding in Weis' first year - their junior year.
Consider where those future stars were going into that season:
Brady Quinn: Two year starter that had done well, but hadn't done anything to be remembered for.
Jeff Samardzija: Hadn't started a game until the Oregon State bowl loss, with only a handful of catches in his career.
Vic Abiamiri: Had a disappointing sophomore year after exploding onto the scene as a freshman, logging only 15 total tackles.
John Carlson: Six catches for 31 yards as a sophomore, seeing only spot time to relieve Fasano.
Ryan Harris: Okay, so Harris was a freak of nature, and was already dominant going into his junior year, his third year starting.
Trevor Laws: 17 total tackles, 2 for loss - never started a game.
John Sullivan: Had his first year as a starter his sophomore year, but really broke out his junior year.
Tommy Zbikowski: Started his sophomore year as a strong safety. Hadn't yet returned a punt...
Chinedum Ndukwe: Had just moved from receiver to safety, and only played on special teams.
With a couple of exceptions, these NFL-caliber athletes broke out in their junior year, paving the way for Notre Dame's improbable run to the Fiesta Bowl in Weis' first year.
Sure, there are plenty of question marks going into the season - but the more I look at the player development required to create a championship caliber team, the more I think that this is the year we turn the corner.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Step 2 continued: Hoops Edition
Basketball
High School
Hoosiers
Basketball Diaries
Finding Forrester
Love & Basketball: This is a great love story not only about the love between the main characters, but also a love story about their love of the game. It's worth watching, but didn't make the cut.
Teen Wolf: One of the campiest films of all time, I almost left it in the top 3 for the memorable cisual of Michael J. Fox in a cheap werewolf costume flying through the air with a basketball. Then I woke up.
Coach Carter*: Too formulaic and straight Hollywood-true-story to really get consideration - it's really a thinly veiled remake of Lean On Me. It's still worht watching, and I can't help but enjoy Samuel L. Jackson, one of the great actors of our day.
College / Amateur
Glory Road
He Got Game
Blue Chips
Semi-Pro*: I hate Will Ferrell with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns. I refuse to include any of his useless sports films in my list.
White Men Can't Jump: The last one out, in tourney lingo, white men can't jump was a very good film, but didn't quite measure up to it's closest rival - He Got Game.
The Air Up There*: A ridiculous premise prevented this film from ever getting off the ground.
The Sixth Man*: Disney didn't capture any magic with this one, falling well short of the bar it set with Remember the Titans. Plus, it got negative points for depicting the school that currently employs the former Notre Dame head football coach that shall not be named.
Pro
Eddie
Celtic Pride
Space Jam
A disappointing list of films for the professional category, I'm not sure I'd include any of them on a great sports movie list. But all three make the cut by default. (I previously had Blue Chips mistakenly categorized as pro, when it is a college b-ball movie)
High School
Hoosiers
Basketball Diaries
Finding Forrester
College / Amateur
Glory Road
He Got Game
Blue Chips
Pro
Eddie
Celtic Pride
Space Jam
A disappointing list of films for the professional category, I'm not sure I'd include any of them on a great sports movie list. But all three make the cut by default. (I previously had Blue Chips mistakenly categorized as pro, when it is a college b-ball movie)
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