My Top 3 Quarterback Picks in the NFL Draft:
1. Matt Ryan, Boston College
Matt Ryan has a great NFL body at 6’5, 224 lbs and has tremendous accuracy. His throwing power needs a little work, but not much. The other thing that I really like about Matt Ryan is that he is a lot more mobile than he looks. He had a 40-yd dash time of 4.9s, which isn’t that bad, and he always gets the pass off. He led BC in all-time touchdowns with 54. This guy is the classic QB.
2. Joe Flacco, Delaware
Shocked? When I said Matt has a great NFL body, Joe Flacco has the PERFECT NFL body. He is also built! Matt Ryan is kind of scrawny for 6-5, but Joe Flacco is ripped! He also has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen! HE can chuck the ball 90 whompin’ yards. Watch for this guy to have a star-studded career.
3. Brain Brohm, Louisville
He has nice tall frame (6-3) and has deadly accuracy. The bottom line is, he should have left college last year for the NFL (which is not something I advocate very often). However, I think this guy has a bright future because of his accuracy. He is one of the most accurate QBs ever. I think he will have a career similar to Kurt Warner.
My Top 3 Running Back Picks:
1. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
OMG! Before everyone jumps on me, consider these things. All elite RBs in the NFL are 5-10/225 as is Mendenhall. Mcfadden is 6-1. In the NFL, you must be able to get yards after contact. Rashard does that very well, and that is one of McFadden’s weak points. Rashard is almost as fast as McFadden. Finally, Mendenhall doesn’t fumble 23times in college like McFadden. Rashard is the NFL player to watch.
2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
One of fastest players in the draft, but he is a little too tall, and is weak and a bit too easily taken down, like Reggie Bush. Now I know everybody says Adrian Peterson is a little too tall. Yes, Peterson is, but Peterson eats screws and bolts for breakfast, he is as tough as nails. Peterson also has a passion to score that hasn’t been seen in a long time. McFadden will be a good, but not great, RB in the NFL. He will have a similar career to Reggie Bush.
3. Kevin Smith, Central Florida
Kevin Smith is a huge sleeper who has that Adrian Peterson spirit. I think he is the Next AP. He definitely has the potential. He is fast and TOUGH. He just does not go down. Simple as that.
My Top 3 WR Draft Picks:
1. Devin Thomas, Michigan State
He is quick, explosive, has great hands. He has a little height, which I really like, but still has great speed. I would compare Devin Thomas to Terrell Owens. He has a great future. He is the best wideout in the draft no question.
2. DeSean Jackson, Cal
Easily the fastest player in the draft. He is so explosive it scares me. He is duel threat, which is very good. He returned 6 TDs in his career. His hands and his toughness are a little bit iffy, but I think he is a great sleeper in the draft. I would compare him to Steve Smith.
3. Limas Sweed, Texas
Sweed has a big frame and could become a great receiver in the NFL. I know he will be a great jump ball catcher. He also must have glue on his hands. He is a stud. I would compare Sweed to Plaxico Burress.
My Top 3 Defensive Linemen:
1. Chris Long, Virginia
Three words describe this stud--strong, tough and powerful. This guy sheds tackles, never stops driving his feet, and never gives up. He is the Tyler Hansborough of football. The thing that I love about Long is his excellent fundamentals. Watch for this guy to have a long, heavily-decorated, career.
2. Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
He ran a 4.65 40-yard dash! He also tied Jake Long with the most reps at 37. This guy explodes off the line and just goes after the QB. He is a lean mean tackling machine. He is off-the-charts good. Watch out for this kid.
3. Glen Dorsey, LSU
Glen is an amazing player. He wreaks havoc in the backfield, dominating. My only problem is that he won’t flourish in a 3-4 defense. Without question he is the best defensive tackle in the draft.
My Top 3 OT’s in the Draft:
1. Jake Long, Michigan
Jake has already signed with Dolphins, and the Dolphins finally made a good choice credit Bill Parcells). This guy is a BEAST in the true meaning of it. He just out-powers his opponents with his HUGE frame. The thing that I love most is that he is versatile. He can play LT or RT. Best player in the draft.
2. Ryan Clady, Boise State
This is a big boy we are talking about. He is 6-6 and 310 lbs, a dude not to be messed with. As a great pass blocker and a decent run blocker, this guy has a future. He is probably the most athletic and quickest OT on his feet in the draft.
3. Jeff Oath, Pitt
He has excellent size and long arms. He is one of the most athletic OT’s in the draft. The thing that I like about him the most is that he hits hard the first time with a bang. You then know who the hammer is and who the nail is. The other thing I like about Oath is that he can recover well if he gets beaten. Give him a few years and he will be a star.
So tune in for the NFL Draft on Saturday and let’s see if the NFL scouts are savvy enough to snap up my picks! And hit comment at the end of this post and tell me if you agree or disagree!
--Sports Guru
Friday, April 25, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
UCLA: 0 for 3
Westbrook, Love, Collison: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
As usual in the new era of college basketball, players leave college before they graduate. In most cases, this is stupid. One, because they need a degree, and two, because almost everyone leaves before they are ready. Westbrook, Love and Collison all should have stayed at UCLA and all for different reasons.
Russell Westbrook is a phenomenal athlete, but he is only a sophomore. He only averaged 12 points, 4 assists and 1.6 steal. Granted, he was Pac- 10 Defensive POY but his draft stock is low right now, and if he stayed just one more year, he would have had better numbers and had higher draft stock. He would have been the star of UCLA program that was rebuilding and would have beasted. It was the wrong move.
Kevin Love, Pac-10 Player of the Year, one and done, also left UCLA. Personally, I don’t think it matters when Love leaves for the NBA, because I predict that he will be an NBA bust. He is the latest in the line of left-too-earlies: Joakim Noah, Andrew Bogut, Sean May, and so many others. He will be a 7th or 8th pick and a waste of one in my opinion. He is a college player; he is not a NBA player. UCLA will miss him, and he will miss UCLA, because he will flounder in the NBA.
Darren Collison, is a great on-ball defender and is as quick as lighting. He has a great NBA career ahead of him, but he just should have stayed one more year. This year Darren was a preseason All-American. Then injuries struck and he was limited this year. HIS DRAFT STOCK WOULD BE SO MUCH HIGER IF HE HAD STAYED! However, he didn’t and he probably lost $5 million dollars in the process.
In conclusion, UCLA is dead, the talent has been sucked out of them, unless Jrue Holiday comes in and is the next MJ. Westbrook should’ve stayed, Collison should’ve stayed, and while it makes no difference with Kevin Love in terms of NBA, his presence would have mattered to UCLA.
As usual in the new era of college basketball, players leave college before they graduate. In most cases, this is stupid. One, because they need a degree, and two, because almost everyone leaves before they are ready. Westbrook, Love and Collison all should have stayed at UCLA and all for different reasons.
Russell Westbrook is a phenomenal athlete, but he is only a sophomore. He only averaged 12 points, 4 assists and 1.6 steal. Granted, he was Pac- 10 Defensive POY but his draft stock is low right now, and if he stayed just one more year, he would have had better numbers and had higher draft stock. He would have been the star of UCLA program that was rebuilding and would have beasted. It was the wrong move.
Kevin Love, Pac-10 Player of the Year, one and done, also left UCLA. Personally, I don’t think it matters when Love leaves for the NBA, because I predict that he will be an NBA bust. He is the latest in the line of left-too-earlies: Joakim Noah, Andrew Bogut, Sean May, and so many others. He will be a 7th or 8th pick and a waste of one in my opinion. He is a college player; he is not a NBA player. UCLA will miss him, and he will miss UCLA, because he will flounder in the NBA.
Darren Collison, is a great on-ball defender and is as quick as lighting. He has a great NBA career ahead of him, but he just should have stayed one more year. This year Darren was a preseason All-American. Then injuries struck and he was limited this year. HIS DRAFT STOCK WOULD BE SO MUCH HIGER IF HE HAD STAYED! However, he didn’t and he probably lost $5 million dollars in the process.
In conclusion, UCLA is dead, the talent has been sucked out of them, unless Jrue Holiday comes in and is the next MJ. Westbrook should’ve stayed, Collison should’ve stayed, and while it makes no difference with Kevin Love in terms of NBA, his presence would have mattered to UCLA.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Beasley Gets Snubbed As Player of the Year
TYLER HANSBOROUGH. One of a select few to ever be a three-time, first team All-American. Now he gets player of the year. Is it right the right choice? Honestly, I don’t think it is. Tyler did have impressive numbers (22 points, 10 rebounds, and .9 assists), but they just aren’t impressive as Michael Beasley’s numbers (26 points, 12 rebounds*, 1.2 assists).
*Leads NCAA
Some people put up the argument that numbers aren’t everything. I completely agree, so lets look: Tyler Hansborough led the number one over all seeded team which included a point guard (Ty Lawson) who averaged 12 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and was considered one of the best defenders in the whole NCAA to the Final Four. Hansborough also had the benefit of a Hall of Fame coach, Roy Williams. Williams has been to multiple Final Fours and has a career winning percentage of .807%! By contrast, Kansas State came into the tournament as a 12 seed, and it was the first time in a while that they have been in the tourney. Then Kansas State upset the number six team, USC! In my opinion, taking Kansas State, a second or third level team, to the second round of the tournament is a lot more impressive than taking North Carolina, a team that is stacked with players and coaches, to the Final Four and losing by 20, when North Carolina is considered the best team in the country. In addition, might I add, Beasley did all of this for Kansas State as a FRESHMAN.
The other argument that people make in support of Hansborough’s POY status is “It was easy for Beasley to get his numbers because he was his team’s only option, and it was harder for Hansborough because he had good players scoring around him, and he had to work harder for his numbers.”
Okay, there are two problems with this:
1. If you watch a Kansas State game, you see Michael isn’t the only option. There is a guy by the name of Bill Walker who is amazing. He puts up 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, and you can tell if you watched a K. St. game he was a very solid option who had the ball in his hands a lot.
2. Hansborough had players around him who were talented and made him better, in the same way Chris Paul makes his teammates better. Therefore, it was easier for Tyler Hansborough to score because his teammates were better, and made him better. I guarantee you if Tyler was on Kansas State, his numbers wouldn’t be as good, both because of what I just mentioned and because the pressure of being the main option and knowing you’re one of the only good players is very hard to deal with.
A third reason I think Michael Beasley should be Player of the Year is his numbers are more impressive than the winner of last year’s POY, Kevin Durant; Beasley averages more points, rebounds, and ties Durant in assists. People say KD was one of the best college players ever. If Beasley has better numbers than KD, shouldn’t he be mentioned in that category, doesn’t he have a claim to Player of the Year?
In conclusion, I think Michael Beasley should have been Player of the Year because:
• his numbers are better, he was more impressive in the tourney,
• he was not the only option on his team (he shared the limelight and stats with Bill Walker),
• Beasley did better in this season than KD did in his season.
Now, I am in no way saying Tyler Hansborough isn’t a great player, because he, is. I am just saying he isn’t as good as Michael Beasley is. I THINK BEASLEY GOT SNUBBED FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
--Sports Guru
*Leads NCAA
Some people put up the argument that numbers aren’t everything. I completely agree, so lets look: Tyler Hansborough led the number one over all seeded team which included a point guard (Ty Lawson) who averaged 12 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and was considered one of the best defenders in the whole NCAA to the Final Four. Hansborough also had the benefit of a Hall of Fame coach, Roy Williams. Williams has been to multiple Final Fours and has a career winning percentage of .807%! By contrast, Kansas State came into the tournament as a 12 seed, and it was the first time in a while that they have been in the tourney. Then Kansas State upset the number six team, USC! In my opinion, taking Kansas State, a second or third level team, to the second round of the tournament is a lot more impressive than taking North Carolina, a team that is stacked with players and coaches, to the Final Four and losing by 20, when North Carolina is considered the best team in the country. In addition, might I add, Beasley did all of this for Kansas State as a FRESHMAN.
The other argument that people make in support of Hansborough’s POY status is “It was easy for Beasley to get his numbers because he was his team’s only option, and it was harder for Hansborough because he had good players scoring around him, and he had to work harder for his numbers.”
Okay, there are two problems with this:
1. If you watch a Kansas State game, you see Michael isn’t the only option. There is a guy by the name of Bill Walker who is amazing. He puts up 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, and you can tell if you watched a K. St. game he was a very solid option who had the ball in his hands a lot.
2. Hansborough had players around him who were talented and made him better, in the same way Chris Paul makes his teammates better. Therefore, it was easier for Tyler Hansborough to score because his teammates were better, and made him better. I guarantee you if Tyler was on Kansas State, his numbers wouldn’t be as good, both because of what I just mentioned and because the pressure of being the main option and knowing you’re one of the only good players is very hard to deal with.
A third reason I think Michael Beasley should be Player of the Year is his numbers are more impressive than the winner of last year’s POY, Kevin Durant; Beasley averages more points, rebounds, and ties Durant in assists. People say KD was one of the best college players ever. If Beasley has better numbers than KD, shouldn’t he be mentioned in that category, doesn’t he have a claim to Player of the Year?
In conclusion, I think Michael Beasley should have been Player of the Year because:
• his numbers are better, he was more impressive in the tourney,
• he was not the only option on his team (he shared the limelight and stats with Bill Walker),
• Beasley did better in this season than KD did in his season.
Now, I am in no way saying Tyler Hansborough isn’t a great player, because he, is. I am just saying he isn’t as good as Michael Beasley is. I THINK BEASLEY GOT SNUBBED FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
--Sports Guru
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
IS SELF SMART?
5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Kansas has won the National Championship! Bill Self wins his first national title after going 36-2. They finally pull off the big one! In addition, you’re telling me that Bill Self is going to leave KU, Rush, Chalmers, Arthur, Collins, and Kahn. Yes, he could, and for a team that did not even make the tourney (Oklahoma State). The bigger question is—is that the right move?
Personally, I think it is the right move. Let’s look at the facts here: Self just won a national championship. He has a team I compare to the Michigan Fab 5, and he has recruits coming in. Seems like a pretty good deal, except for a few things. First, one of his starters are not coming back. Mario Chalmers is the MOP, had an amazing tourney and his draft stock has never been higher--he is gone. Rush is also gone, and Kahn graduates. Kansas won’t have the same line up.
Second, a season following this one that ends with anything but a championship is a disappointment for Kansas. Self has raised the bar impossibly high for himself now, because if he doesn’t win the championship, or get close every year, Kansa fans and staff are going to rag on him.
The third consideration is that Oklahoma State is offering him about $10 MILLION guaranteed. In college basketball offers don’t come along like that everyday. Bottom line: that is a lot of money, and honestly, who wouldn’t take that?
Oklahoma State isn’t a premier program, but it has a lot of potential, and that’s when you take on a program--when they are a little down but have lots of potential. If Bill Self comes in, he will be a hero because when he comes, recruits will come, and then Oklahoma State they will have good players and they can really do some damage.
My bottom lines are:
• Its $10 million dollars! That is a lot of money--it’s a $5 million pay raise.
• Self would be taking on the program at the right time, when it is down but has so much potential.
• Finally, Self will get good recruits. because he won the national Championship.
HERE IS A PREDICTION: IF SELF TAKES THE JOB, OKLAHOMA STATE WILL GET TO THE SWEET 16 WITHIN 2 YEARS OF SELF TAKING THE JOB. I think he should go for it. If he fails, he will still have at least $10 mil in his pocket.
--Sports Guru
Personally, I think it is the right move. Let’s look at the facts here: Self just won a national championship. He has a team I compare to the Michigan Fab 5, and he has recruits coming in. Seems like a pretty good deal, except for a few things. First, one of his starters are not coming back. Mario Chalmers is the MOP, had an amazing tourney and his draft stock has never been higher--he is gone. Rush is also gone, and Kahn graduates. Kansas won’t have the same line up.
Second, a season following this one that ends with anything but a championship is a disappointment for Kansas. Self has raised the bar impossibly high for himself now, because if he doesn’t win the championship, or get close every year, Kansa fans and staff are going to rag on him.
The third consideration is that Oklahoma State is offering him about $10 MILLION guaranteed. In college basketball offers don’t come along like that everyday. Bottom line: that is a lot of money, and honestly, who wouldn’t take that?
Oklahoma State isn’t a premier program, but it has a lot of potential, and that’s when you take on a program--when they are a little down but have lots of potential. If Bill Self comes in, he will be a hero because when he comes, recruits will come, and then Oklahoma State they will have good players and they can really do some damage.
My bottom lines are:
• Its $10 million dollars! That is a lot of money--it’s a $5 million pay raise.
• Self would be taking on the program at the right time, when it is down but has so much potential.
• Finally, Self will get good recruits. because he won the national Championship.
HERE IS A PREDICTION: IF SELF TAKES THE JOB, OKLAHOMA STATE WILL GET TO THE SWEET 16 WITHIN 2 YEARS OF SELF TAKING THE JOB. I think he should go for it. If he fails, he will still have at least $10 mil in his pocket.
--Sports Guru
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