Along with providing your own impressions and grades of Day 1, if you find an interesting article please post it in this thread too.
Saints- C+ For picking the next good defensive player after Dorsey, should've traded up tho Falcons- F This speaks for itself.
I really like what the Redskins and Packers did. Cowboys and Carolina are interesting & have lotsa potential. I'm not as enamored with what the Chiefs did as the "experts" are. Dorsey. Yes? Albert and Flowers. Boom or Bust. Pats reached. Jville really reached. Phins...B+
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley I just spent several minutes talking by phone with a man who spent his day in the Cowboys' draft room. He said there was some serious debate on whether to choose Felix Jones or Rashard Mendenhall. In the end, scouts thought that Mendenhall was too much like Marion Barber. The Cowboys loved Jones' speed and character. I've talked to some of Jones' coaches at Arkansas, and they couldn't stop talking about him. Sitting at No. 28, the Cowboys figured the Texans (No. 26) or Chargers (No. 27) would take Mike cornerback Mike Jenkins. That's why the Cowboys called the Seahawks to see if they would move out of the No. 25 pick. It helps that Mike Holmgren and Jerry Jones have become good friends over the years. The Cowboys love Jenkins ability to cover the deep ball. He'll be the fourth corner if Pacman Jones is reinstated. But he'll eventually take over for Anthony Henry, who has been hobbled by injuries. The only thing that scares the Cowboys is Jenkins' habit of tackling low. "He needs to learn how to take a charge every now and then," said my source, who was talking about Jenkins' reputation for diving at players' legs. The Cowboys also like Jenkins' size. At a shade under 5-11, he actually plays pretty big. What will the Cowboys do tomorrow? They like a defensive end from Virginia Tech named Chris Ellis, a defensive end from UCLA named Bruce Davis and a cornerback out of Iowa named Charles Godfrey. I would look for Godfrey to possiby go to the Cowboys in the third round. According to my source, the Cowboys were hoping Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed would fall to them at No. 61, but then the Steelers took him at No. 53. The Cowboys ended up taking Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett. One more thing: the league is finally reviewing the Pacman Jones trade. Until today, the teams were actually still finalizing the contract. The teams needed to finish the deal by Sunday since the Titans received a fourth-rounder from the Cowboys
22. Dallas Cowboys The pick: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas | Video ESPN Video What he brings: Jerry Jones may not have gotten Darren McFadden, but he did get an Arkansas running back. Felix Jones is not a power back who is going to consistently push the pile in short-yardage situations, and the fact that he shared carries with McFadden in college and lacks elite size raise concerns about his ability to carry a heavy workload. However, he is a big play waiting to happen; he's quick around the corner, shifty enough to make the first defender miss and turns on the jets in the open field. How he fits: With the loss of Julius Jones the Cowboys needed to find a change-of-pace back opposite Marion Barber. Felix Jones gives them an explosive playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field. He is also an explosive returner in the kicking game. Dallas is a dynamic offensive team and he provides offensive coordinator Jason Garrett another weapon to utilize alongside Barber, TE Jason Witten and WR Terrell Owens.
I'm warming up to Felix Jones, but it'll take a season of highlights for me to forget Mendenhall. I think the Jenkins pick was awesome, and I actually really like the Bennett pick. I look at him and see Antonio Gates Lite, a more athletic form of Jason Witten (I'm impressed that he's also a great blocker). To that end we quite possibly got our receiver at 61. Rounds 3-7 will determine the quality of our draft, since we drafted a pro bowler with our 4th rounder last year (yeahhhh bitchessss), but as for today, I'll give Jerruh a B-
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In the end, scouts thought that Mendenhall was too much like Marion Barber.</div> I saw this quote on another forum and instantly thought "oh, you mean too much like pro bowler, bruiser, takes-what-belongs-to-him, heart of this team Marion Barber?"
It just dawned on me about the Arkansas RB duo. Is this a repeat of the Auburn duo of '05? If so, I see D-Mac as Cadillac and Felix as Ronnie.
Mayock and Faulk on Felix Jones: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80801d52 Scroll to page 2: Jones to Dallas at pick #22 (or something like that)... it wont let me link to it directly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Apr 26 2008, 11:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In the end, scouts thought that Mendenhall was too much like Marion Barber.</div> I saw this quote on another forum and instantly thought "oh, you mean too much like pro bowler, bruiser, takes-what-belongs-to-him, heart of this team Marion Barber?" </div> Its pretty clear that Barber is going to get an extension now. What Garrett, Wade, and Jerruh wanted was a RB to compliment Barber AND be a home run threat. Jones does that. Barber really isn't a home run threat. Jones gives the offense more explosion (or "wow", if you like). Additionally, he has good hands... In an interview, he said Dallas wants to use him to spread offenses out. I think you'll see him line up in the slot a bit next year too a la Brian Westbrook to create mismatches. Felix Jones gives Jason Garrett a lot of flexibility to be creative.... Also worth noting: our special teams got a HUGE boost this draft. Felix Jones is a dynamic KR. Pacman is a dynamic kick returner and punt returner (which we really lacked). Our offense is going to get some field position next year...
John Clayton's Winners and Losers: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/colu...&id=3369696 I disagree with his take on the Giants. I think they had a good draft. They got probably the best S and at a place where it was good value. And Terrell is a good CB.... McQuarters and Madison are getting old.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Apr 27 2008, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mayock and Faulk on Felix Jones: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80801d52 Scroll to page 2: Jones to Dallas at pick #22 (or something like that)... it wont let me link to it directly.</div> wow im really excited for us!! theyre absolutely right.. defense players are not looking forward to the dallas cowboys. and now that i think about it no WRs should be looking forward to us as well.
I think the Jags did pretty good. I'm somewhat bias but we got 2 DEs that we needed. That's really our only weakness. We should make some noise this season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CLos @ Apr 27 2008, 12:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Jags did pretty good. I'm somewhat bias but we got 2 DEs that we needed. That's really our only weakness. We should make some noise this season.</div> Yeah, I like Harvey and really thought Groves was an excellent value pick for you guys as well....
B+ Raiders only had 1 pick in day 1. DMC would have been the only offensive player that made sense at that point. I really flinched when they had Dorsey sitting there, and passed. Our offense improves. This is going to look a lot like what we were doing with Charlie Garner a few years ago. He's going be one of those "all purpose yards" running short routes - whatever JR can do to get him the ball out in space. He likes to block, which is good because JR will need that. His speed will demand that defenses play a bit honest and contain. Our much maligned offensive line made us 6th in rushing last year with less spectacular backs. Obviously now, Lamont is going to be gone. We must have thought that Michael Bush won't be ready to take the starting job. Justin Fargas is probably not happy, since he had the best games of his career last season, and was declared this years starter during the offseason. Surely we could get both of these backs on the field in the short passing game and create mismatches somewhere. I guess we get a B+ today because we lacked picks, and we drafted the best offensive player available. Had we taken Dorsey, we would get an A. because we needed him and he fell into our lap after getting serious consideration by the Lambs at #2. Would there draft grade have been better had they traded down, grabbed more picks? Perhaps. I would have been satisfied with them trading down just a couple spots and getting Sedrick Ellis and extra pick in some round. We really needed some more picks on day 1. It seems like we wouldn't have gotten a trade partner between New England's #7 and our #4. I don't think any of those 3 desperately wanted to move up. New Orleans was just too aggressive in moving up and the plan may well have backfired on us had we tried that. A downward move with drafting one of the top O-lineman would have been the idea trade down scenario. Branden Albert would have been good for us.
Cowboys drafted perfect. They tipped their hand leading up to the draft and got everything they intended to get. That's impressive, especially considering their picks were on the back half of the first round. No one outmanuvered them to snatch either player they wanted even though we all knew what they would do. I still don't think its all that great of an idea for Jerruh to be revealing everything to a reporter before the draft. Why not keep that stuff closer to the vest? I guess its a moot point now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This week, McFadden's mother, Mini Muhammad, was quoted as saying she thought the Bay Area was too big for her Little Rock, Ark., bred son -- thus she didn't want him to be drafted by the Raiders. What Kiffin and McFadden's mother failed to realize is that Al Davis runs the Oakland Raiders. Davis wanted McFadden and there was no way Davis wasn't going to get him, regardless of the concerns expressed by Kiffin and Muhammad.</div> lol
Im happy that the Lions got someone on the O-Line. I never heard of the guy untell today. Glad they traded down to get him, becouse it was a reach at 17, but I woulda been more upset at 15. The 2nd round pick again, dont know anything about him but in another thread here I read this <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Dizon is too small (5-11½, 229 pounds) and too slow (4.73 speed in the 40) to be the great linebacker in the NFL that he was in college. But Dexter Coakley, Mike Singletary and Zach Thomas shared the same deficiencies and all went on to have Pro Bowl careers. Dizon was a run-stuffing machine in college with 442 career tackles. He was a four-year starter, team captain, All-Big 12 selection and the NCAA's No. 2 tackler in 2007. He's scheduled to graduate in May with honors and a degree in economics. Other than his size, what's not to like? He's another can't-miss prospect.</div> Sounds good to me. I wont grade them untell I know how they play.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Apr 27 2008, 03:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This week, McFadden's mother, Mini Muhammad, was quoted as saying she thought the Bay Area was too big for her Little Rock, Ark., bred son -- thus she didn't want him to be drafted by the Raiders. What Kiffin and McFadden's mother failed to realize is that Al Davis runs the Oakland Raiders. Davis wanted McFadden and there was no way Davis wasn't going to get him, regardless of the concerns expressed by Kiffin and Muhammad.</div> lol </div> As if Ms. Muhammad knows what's best for her son LOL I'll never forget the E:60 spot they did on DMac... ESPN: "So do you think you're crack addiction had an affect on your kids?" Mini Muhammad: "No...because I know my kids." (cut to Dmac's interview) DMC: "Yeah it had a big impact."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Apr 27 2008, 02:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This week, McFadden's mother, Mini Muhammad, was quoted as saying she thought the Bay Area was too big for her Little Rock, Ark., bred son -- thus she didn't want him to be drafted by the Raiders. What Kiffin and McFadden's mother failed to realize is that Al Davis runs the Oakland Raiders. Davis wanted McFadden and there was no way Davis wasn't going to get him, regardless of the concerns expressed by Kiffin and Muhammad.</div> lol </div> What's wrong Bay area to far away for Mama to manipulate him?
