NFL
Small Titans Draft
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Tennessee Titans made their first playoff appearance since 2008 last season. They had a 9-7 record and finished second in the AFC South behind Jacksonville. They also won in the first round of the playoffs against Kansas City.
The biggest team weakness was on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked 13th in total defense, which is not bad but they ranked 25th in pass defense. They tried to address some of those needs in the draft.
Draft picks: Alabama LB Rashaan Evans (No. 22), Boston College EDGE Harold Landry (No. 41), Arizona S Dane Cruikshank (No. 152), Washington State QB Luke Falk (No. 199)
The Titans did not have a lot of draft picks but they addressed needs with the first two picks. This was the smallest draft class in Titans history so that was an understatement.
Avery Williamson departed in free agency (Jets). Evans is an attacker that played in a complex pro style scheme at Alabama so he should contribute immediately.
Evans made the All-SEC team in 2017 and he won two national championships. He had 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks last year. A lot will be asked of him in Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Dean Pees’s system.
In the second round, Tennessee traded up to get late first-round projected edge rusher Harold Landry. He will have this year to develop because Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are both in the final years of their contracts.
2016 second-rounder Kevin Dodd has not developed because he fits a classic 4-3, not a flexible 3-4, like Tennessee ran under Dick LeBeau and will run in a slightly different way under first-time head coach Mike Vrabel.
Landry’s best season was his junior year in 2016. He had 50 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and an interception. He was drastically less productive as a senior with only 8.5 TFL’s and 5 sacks.
Landry has some good measurable, standing 6’2 and 252 pounds. He ran a 4.64 40 yard-dash and he benched 24 reps at the combine.
Dane Cruikshank was picked in the fifth round. He primarily played cornerback in college but will probably play safety in the NFL.
“Whatever they need me to play, I’m willing to play,” Cruikshank said. “I feel like I can do it all, so I don’t think I’ll have trouble playing free safety or strong safety. I can tackle, I can play in the box, I can roll to the post, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
As a senior in 2017 he recorded 75 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 games. Two of those picks were against Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold, two of the four quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 in the first round.
The final pick was a head scratcher, Washington State QB Luke Falk. Tennessee is set at the position with Marcus Mariota as the franchise quarterback. I thought they should have tried to add a weapon on offense instead of drafting a back up QB.
Grade: B-
Matty Ice Cool Dollars
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Recently I wrote an article about the Falcons draft, suggesting that with their first-round pick of talented wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the rich got richer.
The rich being the offense in this scenario. Flash forward a few days and for one key member of that offense, it became literally true as Matt Ryan inked a five-year contract extension with Atlanta that includes a whopping $100 million guaranteed.
I’ll save you the research and tell you that this is the richest NFL contract in history and that Ryan will be the first quarterback to earn $30 million annually.
Matty Ice won’t be complaining, but neither should anyone else. Ten years into his career, Ryan has shown that he is the right guy to lead this Falcons team and the best chance they have of securing a Super Bowl win anytime soon.
Is he worth all that money?
Yes, it’s a lot of money and there are always going to be some concerns with a contract as huge as this one but here the benefits outweigh the literal costs.
There is, of course, some concern that devoting so much money to one player will handicap a team’s ability to spend on other areas of need in the future.
Let’s dig at that a little. Cap space is a much more complicated situation that simply looking at what the players on your team are being paid in any given year.
Teams move money around all the time, paying big bucks up front or deferring payments until later and cuts are being made constantly. Plus, that cap never remains the same – it rises. One big contract for a player like Ryan is not going to debilitate the Falcons’ spending ability. The process is too fluid to allow for that.
Besides, paying Ryan his market value is better than any alternative. Picture the Falcons resetting at QB with a draft pick; while maintaining the talented receiving core that they already have in place.
How many wins have they sacrificed because they didn’t want to pay up for established QB?
Building off of that, how would the Falcons even begin pitching an extension to the likes of Julio Jones if he’s faced with catching passes from an unproven rookie instead of recent MVP Matt Ryan? How much more difficult would it be to sign free agents?
Let’s also not overlook what Ryan has done for this franchise. He was drafted 10 years ago when the Falcons needed a PR win after Michael Vick’s legal woes.
In fact, you might argue that drafting this admittedly talented but pretty bland character out of Boston College was little more than just that; a PR move. But he took the reins of a team in turmoil and led the charge into relevancy.
The Falcons made the playoffs with him as a rookie QB and while they didn’t make the postseason the following year, Ryan led them to a 9-7 record which was the first time in franchise history that the Falcons posted back-to-back winning seasons. Then he led them to three more.
Think about that. Consider how important this guy has been to a Falcons team that in 43 years had never strung together two winning seasons before Matt Ryan showed up and put up five in a row.
The Falcons are as legit a team as there is in the NFL and it is thanks in large part to the league’s new $30 million man.
We’re ten years into the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta, with at least six more on the horizon. Is he worth the money?
Without a doubt.
Making The Grade
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The AFC South Champions are now a Super Bowl contender. Let’s take a look at the Jags 2018 Draft.
Round 1: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida: With Calvin Ridley going to the Falcons, which nobody saw, the Jaguars selected Bryan out of Florida.
Bryan has Pro Bowl talent, but is raw. He will come in and get some reps in 2018 and will be a future starter at the position.
Try this on for size, Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Malik Jackson, Marcell Dareus, Abry Jones, Dawaune Smoot, Eli Ankou, and now Taven Bryan opposing teams better get a back-up QB some reps during Jags week. This is a sick unit. The best defensive line position group in all of football. Grade: A as the rich get richer.
Round 2: DJ Chark, WR, LSU: Chark is a burner and will be a vertical threat in this offense.
With the addition of Chark the Jags have two receivers with 4.3 speed. Chark could win a starting job, he is that talented. LSU did not have a QB who could get him the ball consistently.
Chark joins Marquise Lee, Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole, and Dede Westbrook in a solid receiving unit, even after losing the Allen’s to free agency. Grade: B+. Can Bortles get him the ball?
Round 3: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: I think Harrison is the steal of the Jags draft. He will come in and contribute in 2018 and will be a full time starter in 2019.
He can play either safety spot. I love this pick. He joins a deep unit that includes Tashaun Gipson, Barry Church, and Cody Davis. Harrison will be a Pro Bowl safety one day. Grade A+. Great pick in the third round.
Round 4: Will Richardson, T, NC State: with this selection A. J. Cann is officially put on notice. Pick up your play or Richardson will take your spot at right guard.
If Richardson can come in and compete the OL unit becomes one of the better ones in the NFL. Grade: B+. You can never have enough offensive lineman. Two words here: Leonard Fournette.
Round 6: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska: I’m not sure about this pick, but Missouri QB Drew Lock would look great in a Jag uniform in 2019 if QB play struggles. Grade: C. Lee could push Cody Kessler, but who knows.
Round 7: The Jaguars selected outside linebacker Leon Jacobs out of Wisconsin and punter Logan Cooke out of Mississippi State. Jacobs will come in and push Blair Brown and will provide some depth. I like the pick. Grade: B.
Logan Cooke averaged 41.7 yards per kick at Mississippi State. Jags cut Brian Nortman so we will see if Cooke is the answer. Grade B. Anytime you use a draft pick on a kicker they better deliver.
Below are the Jaguars undrafted free agent signings:
Tony Adams, OL, NC State
Dee Delany, DB, Miami (FL)
Tre Herndon, DB, Vanderbilt
Michael Hughes, DT, UNLV
Reggie Hunter, LB, North Carolina
Darius Jackson, LB, Jacksonville State
Lyndon Johnson, DE, Cincinnati
Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State
KC McDermott, OL, Miami (FL)
Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
Dorren Miller, WR, Carson-Newman
Andrew Motuapuaka, LB, Virginia Tech
C.J. Reavis, S, Marshall
Malik Zaire, QB, Florida
Two from this list have a great shot of playing next year. Lazard should crack the Jags receiving rotation as he has a big frame and could be a great red zone target.
Quenton Meeks will provide depth at corner for the best corner combo in the NFL.
Both Lazard and Meeks were listed in NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock’s Top 100 so getting these two UDFA’s is a real bargain.
Overall Grade: B+. This was a solid draft for Jacksonville. This team is ready to go to the Super Bowl.
NFL Draft Winners and Losers
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2018 NFL Draft is in the books and we have an idea of what teams addressed their biggest needs. I’m going to take a look around the NFL at a couple of the biggest winners and losers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs ranked dead last in total defense in 2017, giving up 378 yards per game. They selected Washington DT Vita Vea (No. 12) to strengthen the interior defensive line.
UNC DB M.J. Stewart was the second-round selection and Auburn CB Carlton Davis was picked in the third round. They will probably compete for the nickel corner since Tampa Bay already has Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.
Doug Martin has moved on to Oakland so they also had a void to fill at running back. USC RB Ronald Jones (No. 38) should be able to step in and contribute from day one.
Humboldt State OG Alex Cappa (No. 94) has the potential to help open holes for Jones. Grade: A
Cleveland Browns: This team needs a complete overhaul after going winless last season. The year before that they were a miserable 1-15. With the first pick they got Heisman Trophy winning QB Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma. He has some off the field red flags you probably already heard of. He also doesn’t have the ‘prototypical’ height for a quarterback but this is a high risk/high reward pick.
Then they selected Ohio State CB Denzel Ward with the fourth pick. Even though they passed stud defensive end Bradley Chubb, I like this pick. I have the most faith in Ward to pan out and be a perennial Pro Bowler. The second-round picks were Nevada OG Austin Corbett (No. 33) and Georgia RB Nick Chubb (No. 35).
I think pairing Chubb with Carlos Hyde could be a potent 1-2 punch. The lone third rounder was Miami DE Chad Thomas. The Browns are trying to get some help for last year’s No. 1 pick Myles Garrett. Grade: B+
Dallas Cowboys: One of the biggest needs was wide receiver, even before Dez Bryant was released. They addressed the need by drafting Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (No. 19). It’s odd because he does not fill any immediate need.
Texas OG Connor Williams was picked in the second round. The Cowboys have perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL so they just added to that strength. They finally selected Colorado State WR Michael Gallup in the third round. Dallas is so thin at receiver that Gallup could start instantly. Grade: C-
Seattle Seahawks: Many of the players that led Seattle to the 2013 Super Bowl are gone. The formula that made them elite was a power running game and great defense led by the secondary.
They selected San Diego St RB Rashaad Penny (No.27) and that was a reach. He might become a decent player but he’s not a game changer.
Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham left in free agency and they picked his replacement in the fourth round (Will Dissly). USC DE Rasheem Green (No. 79) is a pretty good pick and he will help rush the passer. UCF LB Shaquem Griffin (No. 141) is a great feel good story and he will likely contribute on special teams.
In one of the more head scratching moves of the draft the Seahawks drafted Texas punter Michael Dickson three picks later. Yes, you read that right, they drafted a punter.
The last pick also seemed like a waste, FIU QB Alex McGough. Grade: D
The New Dirty Birds
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This is that special time of year when college football and the NFL collide to create the NFL Draft. Fans of both levels of the sport pay close attention; the college fans for validation of their favorite players and pro fans to see how their teams can improve by addition.
Coming off a 10-6 season with a playoff win, the Falcons looked for pieces to help them get over that hump they have struggled with for the past few years and secure that elusive Super Bowl victory. Did they succeed?
With the 26th pick, Atlanta took wide receiver Calvin Ridley from Alabama. Ridley certainly improves the already potent Falcons offense and could even be considered a secret weapon of sorts. Defenses across the NFL will focus on sorting out what to do about Julio Jones, Ridley could be deployed to great effect. If he can figure out the game at the pro level, he and Mohamed Sanu will complement each other to make a big-time receiving threat for the Dirty Birds after Jones.
Matt Ryan can do some real magic with those three if Ridley can step up. He’s athletic enough to do so and to his benefit he won’t need to be the Falcons number one option.
In round two Atlanta picked up cornerback Isaiah Oliver from Colorado. A curious choice because while Atlanta’s defense needs improvement, those improvements aren’t needed at cornerback. With Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Brian Poole, the Falcons are more than covered there.
He must have caught Thomas Dimitroff’s and Dan Quinn’s eyes, which isn’t a bad thing.
The real need was at defensive tackle, which the Falcons took care of with their third pick in South Florida’s Deandrin Senat.
He fills a dire need in Atlanta and will be relied on right out of the gate. Quinn has already suggested he’ll be slotted into a rotation at nose tackle. He’s big enough to take care of business against the running game and should be quick enough to stifle the pass. The DT pick came two rounds after I think most people expected, but they ended up with what they wanted nonetheless.
Russell Cage from LSU was taken next and he’s ostensibly a wide receiver but with Ridley going in the first round that is likely to change.
Cage transitioned to WR in 2016 after being recruited as a defensive back but is being looked at to serve as gunner, where he also has experience. A player with a lot of weapons and a solid pick four number four.
So, while the Falcons had a clear need at DT going into the draft, in a way they got to have their cake and eat it too. They waited until their third pick to satisfy that need but still managed to get a serviceable piece.
Instead, they went a different direction for pick number one and the rich offense got richer in Atlanta. It was a gauntlet throw down in a way, as the offense took a step back in 2017 after leading the planet with a potent scoring game the previous year.
Steve Sarkisian has an even bigger embarrassment of riches and he’ll need to utilize them to the best of their abilities. To me, this says that the team expects to be back at the top of the offensive heap in 2018 and anything less might be Sark’s head.
Overall, there weren’t any truly huge gets for Atlanta (thought that’s only because Ridley wasn’t as necessary as a DT was), but it’s a solid draft class for what was already a winning team.
Where Will They Go?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL Draft is upon us. I have had so many people ask me where Sony Michel and Nick Chubb will go in this draft.
The most prolific running back duo in UGA history will make a couple of teams very happy in this draft. So, let us take a look at where these two may be selected.
Nick Chubb: Chubb suffered a major knee injury as a sophomore. However, it looks like he’s moved past that setback.
Chubb is a Frank Gore or Ray Rice type of back who can get you 4-5 yards per carry and then break the 25-yard run in the 4th quarter when a defense is getting worn down.
Chubb is rated in the top 5 in every scout’s review of the RB position. This is a deep draft class at running back. Chubb is the #2 rusher all time in the SEC, which has a rich draft history of churning out elite defensive line talent. Chubb’s game will translate well to the NFL. Look for Chubb to go in the second or third round.
Sony Michel: To me, Sony Michel was the most valuable player on the 2017 Georgia Bulldogs.
Michel made big play after big play in crunch time for the Dawgs magical run in 2017. He can catch out of the backfield, he can make people miss in space, and while he only ran a 4.54 at the combine he plays much faster than that.
Many are saying Michel could be the second back off the board after Saquon Barkley, who many feel is the best prospect in the draft.
Sony Michel is a big-play back and will be a three down back in the NFL. Michel has bulked up and can handle 20 carries per game. Sony Michel could end up being a Pro Bowl type player in the NFL. Look for Sony to be off the board by the mid-second round.
Teams that are in need of help at the running back position:
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs cut Doug Martin loose this offseason and now they need someone who can handle 20-25 carries a game to take some pressure off of Jameis Winston who needs to develop into the QB Tampa invested millions in.
2) New York Giants: This team needs help everywhere and I mean everywhere.
3) Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey is a playmaker in space, but a strong, consistent power back is needed.
4) Miami Dolphins: Signing Frank Gore is great short term. Dolphins need to address the position.
5) Detroit Lions: The Lions have not had a running back rush for over 100 yards in a single game since 2013. Ouch!! Even with signing LeGarrette Blount the Lions need major help at the position.
Who will end up taking this UGA dynamic duo?
The Detroit Lions have pick 51 in the second round and I think the Lions will take Sony Michel. Michel will be the long-term solution at RB in Detroit. The Colts have pick 36 and 37 and could take Michel, but I think the Lions snatch him up at pick 51.
Nick Chubb: The Bucs have pick 38, but I don’t think they select a RB with that pick. The Panthers have pick 55 and 85 and I think if Chubb is still on the board at 85 the Panthers take him.
The New York football Giants have pick 69 and if there was ever a player that fit the traditional mold of a New York Giant it would be Nick Chubb. I think Chubb ends up being in the Big Apple and a year one starter in New York.
One thing is for certain with these two and that is they will bring their lunch to work daily and never cause an organization any trouble.
This duo will be greatly missed in Athens, Georgia.
Offensive Minded
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As sports fans, whenever our teams start to struggle, there’s always someone we blame.
Sometime it’s the star player; sometimes the head coach. When it came to the Carolina Panthers that scapegoat used to be former Offensive Coordinator, Mike Shula. For Falcons fans think Steve Sarkisian type hatred, to the tenth degree.
When Shula was relieved of his duties following the season, you could hear that collected sigh of relief coming from the Panthers fan base.
It’s been a few weeks since Carolina brought in Norv Turner as Shula’s replacement, with tepid excitement.
Turner’s success as an NFL head coach has been less than stellar, to put it politely. His history working with quarterbacks and his reputation as an Offensive Coordinator, has been well earned.
Two accusations that followed Shula during his tenure was mundane play calling, as well as an inability to help Cam Newton realize his full potential. (I was not a huge fan of Shula, but I always thought the latter was a little unfair. I mean, Cam did win a MVP under Shula’s direction).
Turner has never struck me as someone who was an innovative offensive mind but rather someone who was an excellent play caller. It’s kind of like going to a music concert; would you rather hear the hits or songs from their “experimental” album when they were trying to find themselves?
Turner isn’t going to reinvent the plays being run, he’s just going to do a better job of calling them.
As for the part about Cam’s lack of development under Shula, that really shouldn’t be an issue with Turner. The new Carolina OC has a history of getting the most out of his quarterbacks.
His influence on QB’s like Troy Aikman and Philip Rivers are well known, but he has been very successful with those who aren’t current/future Hall of Famers. Take his time in Minnesota; his most recent NFL stop before Carolina.
In his three years with the Vikings he helped turn Teddy Bridgewater in a Pro Bowl Quarterback and was calling plays when Sam Bradford set an NFL record for completion percentage.
Cam has a lot to work on- footwork and accuracy being two of the larger ones- but it’s obvious the talent is there; just look at what he accomplished three years ago. Working with Turner every day, you’d expect to see some of the growth missing over the past few years.
There is some trepidation with the hiring though. For one, outside of his coaching gigs, Turner’s stay with the Vikings, 3 years, has been his longest stop since he was Wise Receivers with the Rams in the late ‘80’s.
Like I mentioned, some of those stops were short lived because of head coaching jobs, but overall he is not someone who stays in one place for an extended period of time. I don’t know if it’s because he wears out his welcome fairly quickly, or if he’s a “grass is always greener on the other side” person. However, for a franchise like Carolina that puts a premium on stability, Turner’s one night stand history is a little worrisome.
There have been a lot of changes to the Panthers organization since the season ended, both on and off the field.
The firing of Shula was one most fans were happy to see. The jury is still out on Turner. If history repeats itself, the Panthers should see some success in the offensive side of the ball. Just don’t get too excited, it may only be for one year.
Free Spending Jags
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The best part of the NFL offseason in my opinion is free agency. I like it better than the draft because these players are proven commodities in the league. The problem with the draft is we really don’t know how the players coming from college will pan out.
One team that’s been extremely active in free agency is Jacksonville. They do what every team is supposed to, address weaknesses. Last season the marquee signing was defensive tackle Calais Campbell.
He set the Jaguars single game sack record (4) in his first game. Campbell helped lead them to their first playoff berth in a decade. Jacksonville advanced to the AFC Championship game and they almost defeated New England. This year’s signings are supposed to make them better than the Patriots.
The franchise played it safe and resigned quarterback Blake Bortles. Bortles isn’t a great QB so he needs a lot of help. They are trying to surround him with talented playmakers.
The best playmaker might be wide receiver Marqise Lee, who re-signed with Jacksonville.
Fellow receiver Allen Robinson signed with Chicago. Allen Hurns is a candidate to be released so Lee is the best returning WR. Lee led the Jags with 56 catches and ranked second in receiving yards (702) playing in 14 regular-season games.
Former Colts WR Donte Moncrief was signed to a one-year deal. Moncrief didn’t have a great 2017 season but some of that was due to poor quarterback play in Indianapolis.
Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins at 6’5, 260 pounds will be a big red zone target. He has not lived up to the hype since being drafted in the second round in 2014. He did have his best statistical season last year with 50 catches, 374 yards and 3 touchdowns.
They also signed another tight end, Niles Paul. The most receptions he has ever had in a season is 39 in 2014. That’s more than double the reception totals for any of his others between 2011-2017.
Guard Andrew Norwell signed a $66.5 million contract over five years. He really provides stability to a weak interior offensive line. His addition will help open holes for Leonard Fournette in the run game and provide pass protection.
The Jags also added some players on defense. Linebacker Lerentee McCray signed a two-year contract. He’s played sparingly in his four-year career. In 2017 he had 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He does help provide depth on defense and he contributes on special teams.
Cornerback D.J. Hayden signed a contract for 3 years and $19 million. Hayden has not had more than one interception in a season. He hasn’t had a pick since 2015. He will also provide depth and likely be the Nickel CB.
They continued with the theme of adding quality depth in the secondary. They signed safeties Cody Davis and Don Carey. The defensive unit was ranked second overall in total defense.
These moves might help improve an already dominant unit. I think the Jags will be the most talented team in the AFC after the draft. Now let’s see how that translates into winning games.
AFC South Draft
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL Combine is currently happening in Indianapolis. Personally, I don’t put too much stock in to the workouts that we see there. I think what we’ve seen on film really gives us an accurate idea of how good a player is.
The AFC South is one of the weaker divisions in the NFL. Jacksonville shocked the world by advancing to the AFC Championship game and they actually played well enough to beat New England. Let’s take a look at each team’s draft needs.
#3 Indianapolis: The Colts (4-12) obviously had a disappointing season. Andrew Luck missed the entire 2017 season with a shoulder injury. He’s supposed to return in 2018 but we will see. There are several positions that can be addressed like running back, offensive line, cornerback, defensive end and outside linebacker.
The Colts need to protect Luck so offensive line is very important. They also need a pass rusher because they finished 31st in sacks (26) and 26th in QB hits (75).
NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb would be a good pick. He’s 6’4, 275 pounds and he’s shown he can cause Havoc in the backfield. He had 10 sacks in 2016 and 2017 with over 20 tackles for loss as well both seasons.
#68 Houston: The Texans (4-12) moved up in the draft last year to draft a franchise quarterback (Deshaun Watson), which paid off. Unfortunately, Watson’s season ended with a torn ACL. Now Houston does not have any picks in the first two rounds. They do have three picks in the third round.
The biggest team needs are defensive back, offensive line, running back and tight end. I’m not sure what players will still be available in the third round so I can’t make a draft prediction for the Texans.
#25 Tennessee: The Titans (9-7) had a pretty good season. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They won in the first round at Kansas City. They have a lot to be proud of.
Tennessee has a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota. He’s the first Titans QB to throw for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons since Steve McNair in 2002-03. Heading into his fourth year Mariota is expected to become a top-10 quarterback.
Team needs are offensive line, cornerback and running back. The running game has been very strong the last two years but the Titans are likely to release DeMarco Murray, saving $6.5 million under the cap. Derrick Henry is probably not going to be handed the feature back role without competition.
Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea might be picked here. He would be a nose tackle in their defense.
#29 Jacksonville: The Jaguars (10-6) had an amazing 2017 season. They got to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. They were ranked 2nd in total defense. Rookie running back Leonard Fournette was 8th in rushing with 1,040 yards and 9 touchdowns.
The formula of good defense and a strong running game can win on the road in the playoffs. That’s why the Jags were able to beat Pittsburgh (again) in the second round of the playoffs. They also led New England for most of the AFC Championship.
Quarterback Blake Bortles is looked at as being a weak link but he just signed a three-year contract. I don’t think he’s an elite level talent but he’s pretty decent.
The biggest team needs are offensive guard and middle linebacker. Ohio State OG/C Billy Price will address that need.
On The Other Hand
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I think we’re all in agreement, except for maybe anyone that actually works for an NFL organization, that the NFL Combine is more show than substance. It’s similar to proclaiming that a particular movie is the greatest piece of cinema ever created, after having only seen the trailer.
Nevertheless, there is always one athlete who tends to steal the show with a quicker than expected 40-yard dash, or impressing the attendees with the amount of reps they do on the bench press. This year was no different, albeit for one minor exception.
Before the Combine, I didn’t know much about Shaquem Griffin. I knew he played for UCF and I was aware that he did not have a left hand; that was it.
I didn’t know if he was a good player or not. I had no idea if he had been born without a left hand, or if it had been amputated. Hell, I didn’t even have a clue as to what position he played, besides defense. I can promise you, I know now.
Besides impressing everyone with his 40 speed (4.38 seconds), or his 20 reps on the bench press using a prosthetic hand, Griffin is coming off two very successful seasons at Central Florida.
In 2016, his junior year, he was 1st team All-AAC and AAC Defensive Player of the Year. He followed that season up with a senior campaign that saw him receive not only 1st team All-AAC honors again, but AFCA 2nd team All- American, as well.
Over the two year span he combined for 166 tackles, 18.5 sacks, and 1 interception.
I’m not saying Griffin is going to be the next Ray Lewis, but he’s good enough to play on Sundays.
Throw in the fact he did all this without the use of a left hand, which was amputated when he was four years old, and it’s pretty incredible.
All that said, the more interesting question to me is, “Where will he get drafted?”
You can always count on two things happening at the draft: 1. A player is drafted higher than their talent level would suggest, based upon the Combine. 2. A player’s stock will drop, below where their talent level warrants, because of same ridiculous, inane reason. I could see either of those two scenarios playing out for Griffin.
Overall, I think he’s a late 2nd round/early 3rd talent, so it’ll be intriguing to see if a team reaches a bit and drafts him earlier than that, or if they are hesitant and he drops into the later rounds.
Like most draft picks, much of his success will depend on where he goes and who his coach will be. In the right situation, he could be a huge asset for whomever drafts him. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing him on the Panthers.
There will be a lot of feel good articles written about Griffin between now and the NFL Draft, and there should be. What he accomplished in his college career, and what he hopes to achieve at the next level, is something that should be applauded; not necessarily because of what he’s done, but because of what it took for him to get to this point.
I don’t normally get too sentimental about these type of things, but his story is certainly inspiring and I’m rooting for him.
At this point I have no idea what type of professional football career Griffin will wind up having, but so far he’s put out one hell of a teaser trailer.
