Media Alert: Friday Radio Appearance

A friendly notice that Vince Mullins will appear Friday April 25 at 9am EDT on 1310AM KXAN Radio in Phoenix and on the web at The Positive Side of Sports.

Vince will discuss the NFL Draft with a focus on the Arizona teams both pro and collegiate. Listen or call in with questions, and check out host Ray Garibaldi and his star-studded staff like Charles Barkley and Dave Kreig.

NFL Draft preview with Brady Ackerman

Brady Ackerman is a Florida football institution - the former Gator RB has progressed through coaching to host talk radio around the state while settling in Orlando the last few years.

While he calls it a sports talk radio show, the diehard listeners to ESPN 1080 in Orlando Florida revel in a “football talk radio show” that talks pro, college and even Florida prep ball.

Ack sat down with me via email and brought his point of view to the Sunshine State pro teams and the rest of the talent in general.

Vince Mullins: Starting with your Florida focus, let us dig in to the Dolphins first - who is their first pick? Since they need so much help and should trade down, what teams may work a deal?

Ack: I think the Dolphins take Chris Long (right, Icon SMI) from Virginia. He will be a flex-type defensive end that can play in a 3-4 system…

(continued at Fantasy College Blitz)

NFL Draft: Best and worst NFL offenses in 2008

In preparing our NFL Draft coverage at Fantasy College Blitz I again looked at the current depth charts in the NFL for weaknesses and then to the stats to see what NFL teams needed immediate help moving the ball.

I knew that the San Francisco 49ers stunk (right, in own end zone, Icon SMI) up the joint last year, but this bad?

• 32nd in yards per play (4.36, tops was New England Patriots at 6.35),
• last in red zone possessions (only 29 - Jacksonville Jaguars had double and came in 3rd), and
• last with only 5.3 yards per passing attempt (get JAMES HARDY!!!!)

I thought I would share the spartan Google Spreadsheet with everyone - here is the link.

Adarius Bowman: Q and A with PFW

Pro Football Weekly interviewed Oklahoma State WR Adarius Bowman about his professional expectations - and they don’t seem to include bulking up to play tight end…

My favorite excerpt (I am a sucker for anyone displaying passion about their craft…):

PFW: What is the thing you’re most looking forward to heading into the draft?

Bowman: … You see these guys on TV growing up and to actually be out there playing with them, that’s gonna be a trip. I can’t wait to see what that’s gonna be like. It’s kind of hard to sit here and talk about all this stuff. You’ve got all these feelings and all these emotions and you want to just sit back and wait for it to be done but at the same time you can’t wait for it to get here. It’s hard not to be excited.

NFL Draft Preview: WRs

For clarity, THESE ARE MY RANKINGS!

I am not trying to project the order that these wideouts will be drafted. I prefer to project how they will rank in a couple years and who has the most upside. I also extended the list to include some unique names that have made some noise on the workout circuit.

1) James Hardy, Indiana - JR - 6-5.5/220/4.50
I will admit he is still a raw talent with a couple off-field issues, but I think he has a lot of upside based on his hands, height and hoops athleticism. Disappeared in some games but can be excused since he was the only receiving threat.

2) Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma - JR - 6-4/215/4.50
Most polished of the WR prospects, could step in to any team as WR2 except Indy or NE. Height, speed an hands are all there but I am not sure he will get much better. Issues exist about his knees which kept him out of a couple games in 2007.

3) Limas Sweed, Texas - SR - 6-5/220/4.50
Wrist Injuries slowed him in 2007, but his athleticism is undeniable so it is valid for him to be higher on many boards. Few Texas WRs put up big numbers in school, so a first-round pick may be a risky situation.

4) Jordy Nelson, Kansas State - SR - 6-2.5/217/4.63
It seems Nelson (right) is not getting the love he deserves in most draft boards, and I just don’t see why not. Plus-size, big digits but average speed.

5) Early Doucet, LSU - SR - 6-0/213/4.53
Battled injuries this year and never put up huge numbers.

6) Devin Thomas, Michigan State - JR - 6-2/215/4.50
Devin was on NO radar at this time last year and exploded on the scene with 79-1260-T8. I have seen him at the top of a couple boards but there are just too many well-heeled prospects with good CVs…

more….(on Fantasy College Blitz)

2008 Running Back NFL Draft Class Best ever?

With a flurry of stars declaring early for the NFL Draft only four of the Top 20 rushers return for the 2008 college football season. This could be the deepest RB crop in a decade.

The top returning rusher for the 2008 season will be junior Kent State RB Eugene Jarvis (5th, 1669 yards, 10 TD), followed by junior Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells (11-1609-15) (right, Icon SMI),  junior Southern Mississipi RB Damion Fletcher (13th-1586-15) and senior Javon Ringer of Michigan State (20th-1447-6). Of course this assumes that none of these declare by the tomorrow’s Tuesday January 15 deadline.

A quick roll call of the junior RB dashing for cash making the 2008 NFL Draft one of the strongest RB classes ever, and the heir apparents:

Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Arkansas - Many have Run DMc as their top prospect, and Felix Jones is probably a first-day pick also. Razorbacks gutted by their departure plus the FB/HB hybrid senior Peyton Hillis. New head coach Bobby Petrino will be building from the ground up with WR Marcus Monk and two offensive linemen graduating. Drew pointed to there being a rebuilding year in his Cotton Bowl wrapup, but I have a gut feeling that RB Michael Smith and maybe even QB Casey Dick wll do fine under the Petrino system - at least for the two years Petrino will stay at Arkansas.

Kevin Smith, UCF - our National Player of the Year is a tough inside runner with just enough of a top gear to break off long runs. Sounds like Emmitt Smith but I have a hard time making that comparison despite Kevin breaking Emmitt’s career college rushing yards record. Given UCF personnel expect some JUCO work to be done by head coach George O’Leary.

Ray Rice, Rutgers - Rutgers force fed carries to Rice since the middle of his freshman year, so this is the right move for him since he is a run-up-the-middle type despite his size. When Rice got a breather we did see some flashes from junior to be Kordell Young behind a line with three seniors and wunder-freshman Anthony Davis.

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - we have said it from Day One around here - Stewart will be a better pro than a college player similar to Brandon Jacobs now of the New York Giants. 6-foot and 235 pounds, Calista Flockhart like body fat and sub-4.5 forty times should propel him to early second-round material at worst. Jeremiah Johnson spelled Stewart well between nicks and breathers, and his

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois - Mendenhall owns the multi-talented skill set that the NFL likes, but he may need to add ten to twenty pounds. Mendenhall leaves his brother Walter as the new starter if it is possible to project a Ron Zook lineup before spring practive - I am sure he has put extra effort into texting the top running recruits for the last week.

James Davis, Clemson - I have linked to the article that outlines his meager beginnings - coupled with the crowded backfield this is absolutely the right decision for him, especially if he is a first-day pick. That whooshing sound is CJ Spiller moving up our 2008 Draft Kit.

Steve Slaton, West Virginia - he had to go pro, I will not deny him that. We at FCB have consistently marveled at Slaton’s speed as well as his penchant to disappear in big games. We revelled in his 200-yard and three-TD performances, but moreso were disappointed by his ten carrie and fifty yard yawners. I am not sure whether to blame his fire, his injury-prone nature or simply the offensive QB-read option that allowed Pat White to often look like the better runner. Slaton will have tremendous measurables but I fear will fall short in the NFL.

Oh, did I mention that this mass exodus may make Noel Devine worthy of the #1 RB slot in 2008?

Underclassmen in the NFL Draft, 2008

This will be updated as news comes in over at FCB. To the draft roll:

James Hardy, Indiana WR - leaves the offense in the hands of QB Kellen Lewis, who struggled mightily in games without Hardy or when Hardy has been effectively covered. James Bailey is the heir apparent WR. Hardy is my #1 NFL WR prospect for 2008.

Davone Bess, Hawaii WR - With Colt Brennan graduating this make sense to me even if he has the chance to be one of the most prolific WR in the history of college football. I wonder if this tips the hand of June Jones leaving the islands to take a mainland coaching job? Ryan Grice-Mullin is a junior who will probably stay to hook up with new QB Tyler Graunke about 150 times next year. Jones has called Bess another Andre Rison, and that says nice things about his NFL future.

Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M TE - was also a top hoops recruit, he played a few games with the Aggies a couple years ago before focusing on football. If there is an athlete that can move up the charts with a bullet, it is the ridiculously athletic Bennet. Why? The Aggie offense did not fully explore his Winslow-like potential

Mario Urrutia, Louisville WR - this is the right decision for a player who “passes the swimsuit contest” but never put together the huge year that everyone expected. His workout numbers will amaze and delight scouts but I fear he will be the next Ashley Lelie.

Jamaal Charles, Texas RB - this one surprises me as he was able to put up a huge year with very little competition on the horizon. Granted, if the staff could recruit someone who didn”t fumble Charles (right, Icon SMI) may have been pushed for carries, but Charles does have sprinter speed in a 210 pound frame and will get plenty of attention..

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois RB - Mendenhall going pro now is the stock-market equivalent of selling on a rally - Mendenhall got a lot of love as the season progressed and was the highlight of the Illini team in the ugly Rose Bowl.

Devin Thomas, Michigan State WR - ESPN.com reported this ahead of a formal announcement while a was typing out the story. Good move for Thomas who was top 20 in many receiving categories for a run-based team with a questionable QB situation. Also a plus kick returner.

Kevin Smith, UCF RB - Smith has flip-flopped and decided to go pro after declaring before the Liberty Bowl his intention to stay. I think this was the proper decision for him, but by reading the linked article from the Orlando Sentinel I am concerned about the lack of sources he consulted.

Cornelius Ingram, Florida TE/WR - physically gifted and underused (except in the BCS Championship Game last year), Ingram will either bulk up to play H-back or play wideout with Terrel Owens-type size.

Others

Calais Campbell, Miami DE
Derrick Harvey, Florida DE
Ryan Clady, Boise State LT
Erin Henderson, Maryland LB
Aqib Talib, Kansas CB/WR/PR
Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech, CB

Subtle QB racism, or am I thinking too much?

Background first - So I had two surgeries this week, one for POTENTIAL melanoma on my back (very small) and the other a scheduled procedure to straighten my deviated septum (full gas and good pain meds). Since each requires absolutely sedentary recovery, I have watched a lot of movies, written a lot in my journal, and listened to tons of NFL Draft talk. LOTS of free time…

Color me over-sensitive, but I finally had enough of the insouciant banter when ESPNU began their 11pm Draft Eve coverage comparing QB’s Brady Quinn (right) and JaMarcus Russell. Every positive adjective for Russell mentioned “upside” and “strongest arm”, whereas Quinn was “cerebral” and “seasoned”. I couldn’t help but think two things.

1. Only a select few people can speak with credibility about the mental makeup of either athlete, and they weren’t on this show.
2. The time-honored tradition of applying physical characteristics to African-Americans and mental attributes to the Anglo-Saxon/Caucasian player, especially at the quarterback position.

Question is - am I right on, or are the meds making me overreact?