Rush Linebacker 

Texas A&M

6-3 246

Draft board overall prospect rank: #8

Draft board rush linebacker rank: #2

Overall rating: 93 (Top 10 Pick) 

40 time: 4.46

2/28/11: Miller has been called the fastest prospect off the edge in years and this is why, a 4.46 40 at 6-3 246. To put that in context, that would have tied for the 7^th best running back time if Miller were a running back. The scary part, I think he might actually be faster in games. He also had a 37 inch vertical…for what that matters. 

2/26/11:  Good job getting from 237 to 246. Again, we’ll have to see how he carries throughout the week, but this could continue to raise his stock.

2/15/11: I had a fairly low grade on Von Miller going into his senior season, like a mid 2nd round grade. That all changed this season. He helped himself in so many ways. I didn’t like him because I thought he only had one pass rush move, he was a one dimensional player, pass rush only, his college team even took him out on running plays, how was he going to be an every down player in the NFL, and that he was a one year wonder. He proved that all wrong.

Miller had 17 sacks in 2009 and only 11 in 2010, but the 11 was more impressive for me. Not only did it destroy the myth that he was a one year wonder, he didn’t even have a sack until his 5th game because of an injury. That means he had 11 sacks in 8 games, including a “KILL ALL QUARTERBACKS” rampage he went on with 9 sacks in his final 6 games.

He also became a more well rounded player. He played outside linebacker in addition to defensive end, which will help him translate to the NFL because he’s too small to play standing up. He really impressed in coverage as a linebacker and even improved against the run at 240 pounds. In addition to this, he developed secondary pass rush moves, into addition to his fierce speed rush. He is one of the fastest players off the edge I’ve ever seen and he also drops into coverage and stuffs the run well, especially for his size.

He’s a competitive kid, playing through injury, and going to The Senior Bowl even when he was already proven as a 1st round pick lock. He won’t fall past Houston at 11 and could go as high as #3 to Buffalo, whose coaching staff coached him at The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. 

NFL Comparison: Cameron Wake 

I wanted to see Vince Young get a starting job somewhere. The #s don’t lie, in his career with the Titans, he was a winner. He went 31-17 as starter and the Titans were 15-18 when he didn’t start, 3-15 if you exclude what was obviously a fluke 12-3 by Kerry Collins in 2008. He had his share of problems, but in all fairness, I think Vince Young deserves a chance somewhere where he’s wanted. Jeff Fisher never wanted to draft him and he was constantly benching him every time he did anything wrong.

He didn’t get a starting job, but the next best thing for him is going to Philadelphia. Andy Reid has made quarterbacks like Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, AJ Feeley, and probably Kevin Kolb look better than they actually are. He’s great with quarterbacks. Vick almost never makes it through a full season without missing a start so he’ll get playing time and the Eagles won’t lose nearly as much going from Vick to Young as they would have going from Vick to Mike Kafka. This is only a one year deal, which means that hopefully Young can get a shot at a starting job next offseason.

Grade: A

Wilfork had been slapped with the franchise tag, which he didn’t like, but the Pats stayed true to their word by resigning Wilfork after slapping him with the tag, giving him a 40 million dollar contract over 5 years. The Patriots had been letting too much talent leave through free agency after the past few years so I’m glad they decided to actually resign their guys this year, not just Wilfork, but also top rush linebacker Tully Banta Cain and guard Stephen Neal. Wilfork is one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL and is a perfect fit for the Patriots 3-4 defense. He can play both nose tackle and end.

Grade: A

Defensive Tackle/3-4 defensive end 

Duke

6-5 303

40 time: 5.43

Draft board overall prospect rank: #98

Draft board defensive tackle rank: #10

Overall rating: 69*

4/2/10: A 5.29 forty was just the start, after a 5.43 at The Combine, but Oghobaase looked much healthier today than he did a month ago. He’s a first round talent when healthy, the issue is, with his injuries, past and present, he’s probably a 4th rounder.

1/20/10: I loved him before the season, but injuries and inconsistencies on the field have brought him back down my board after I called him a 1^st round prospect last year. If he can put it all together, he’s a fierce intimidating force on the defensive line as a 315 pound pass rusher who can control multiple blockers and may the edge rushers even better. He can play in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes.

Update (11/2/09): Completely different player this year in a bad way. It may be injuries that are plaguing him but, he’s hurting his draft stock.

            8/24/09: Very few people have heard of Oghobaase, mostly because Duke is known for basketball and education, rather than football. However, he’s the real deal as a football player. He’s big at 310 and has a low body fat percentage for someone of that weight, but his size isn’t even his best attribute. He’s a great interior pass rusher. He had 6 sacks last season at 4-3 nose tackle for the Blue Devils. One of my favorite things in football is a big pass rushing 4-3 nose tackle, because he can free up one on one matchups in pass rush for everyone else on the defense because you almost have to double team him. That’s the reason why Albert Haynesworth, 7.5 sacks at 317 pounds last year, was so valuable and why the Titans were so good. It has been proven that other defensive lineman have struggled after leaving Haynesworth in Tennessee, while other’s have emerged as pass rushers once going to Tennessee. Tennessee will learn this year Haynesworth’s value as he is now in Washington. This is not to say that Oghobaase is as good as Haynesworth, but he’s built in the mold of Haynesworth. He’s a big interior rush presence that isn’t a liability against the run. His timed speed is average for his size, but his quickness is amazing for his size. He is a tough run stopper as well and could play 3-4 nose tackle. However, 3-4 nose tackle is not right for him because it wouldn’t optimize his pass rushing ability. He can play 4-3 under tackle, 4-3 nose tackle, and 3-4 defensive end. The only concerns would be his motor which is not always 100%. His stats last year and the impact he had on the team were good, but not great and he’s shown flashes of brilliance which lead me to believe that if is motor is on 100% more he could do some amazing things in the NFL. In his defense, it is hard to have your motor on 100% when you’re that big, even Haynesworth has hustle problems, but for some scouts that is a big red flag. I think that scouts will start to take more notice to the impact Oghobaase can have on a football field this season and I think he will wind up a first round prospect because of his versatility. However, he will be more valuable to an NFL team longterm than the average first rounder because of his unique skill set.

NFL Comparison: Tommy Kelly

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the free agency period with more cap space than any team in the league and they are expected to be big players in free agency to patch holes on a team that was a mere 4-12 last season. They’ve started out by signing arguably the best free agent not named “Peyton” or “Mario,” signing Vincent Jackson to be their #1 wide receiver and much needed deep threat (career 17.5 YPC). Jackson will start opposite Mike Williams, more of a possession receiver. If new Head Coach Greg Schiano can get Williams into shape, Josh Freeman has a pretty solid receiving corps to work with in Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, and Kellen Winslow.

Did the Buccaneers overpay by giving Jackson 55.5 million over 5 years with 26 million guaranteed? Maybe a little, but not as much as the Redskins did giving Pierre Garcon 42.5 million with 21 million guaranteed over the same time period. Garcon has never had 1000 yards in a season. Jackson has done that 3 times, including 60 catches for 1106 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. Besides, the Buccaneers had the money to spend.

There are a few concerns here. How will Jackson do without Philip Rivers, ones of the game’s best? Secondly, free agent wide receivers never seem to do as well in their new venue as their old. Thirdly, Jackson is 29 so this contract (assuming he plays the entirety of it out) takes him into his age 33 season.

Finally, how will Jackson respond to a large amount of money? He’s been wanting to get paid for years and rightfully so. He deserves it. However, he held out for most of the 2010 season after not being given a long term deal. There was also some speculation that he would hold up the lockout by demanding the Chargers couldn’t franchise tag him. Combine those 2 things with the fact that Jackson had no problem leaving San Diego for 4 win Tampa Bay and you’ve got a guy who may just be chasing the money. For a Buccaneer team with a lot of money and a lot of help needed, I think Jackson is worth the risk.

Grade: B

Vince is a journalist with a video production and print media background. He has two B.A.’s, one in film and digital media and the other in journalism & promotional communication from Cleveland State University (’10). 

His most recently high profile positions have included executive producer and secondary host of the CSU Basketball Insider on STO and as editor-in-chief of The Cleveland Stater, CSU’s campus newspaper.

Vince is fresh off of completing a fellowship at WKYC, Channel 3 in Cleveland—working alongside several of the city’s best broadcast professionals.

By Cormac Eklof 

Well now, if it isn’t Sports Karma, slapping Randy Moss gleefully in the face. Let’s see. Moss fulfil his ‘it’s all about winning!’ mantra now, with Tavaris Jackson or a one legged Brett Favre throwing wobbly passes his way the next few weeks. If Randy Moss ever offers you a horse racing tip, take the field instead. He doesn’t seem very good at picking winners. Joking aside, no need to look too deep into this one, for one reason specifically. The Patriots are 3-0 at home this season. The Vikings on the road? 0-3. Hopefully Moss enjoys his afternoon watching Brady march the Patriots into the end zone a few times, as he chases haplessly after misplaced passes.

The pick: Patriots 31-17

Go back to Patriots Fan Spot

http://irishbaseballseason.blogspot.com/

By Jason Hannah 

Last year the Minnesota Vikings were this close (imagine me holding up my thumb and forefinger VERY close together) from making it to the Super Bowl.  Brett Favre had joined the team and was having an amazing season… even in Brett Favre standards.  The team went 12-4 in the regular season and mowed through a tough Dallas Cowboys team in the NFC Divisional round.  Unfortunately the Vikings managed to beat themselves in a very close and very tough NFC Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Saints.

As we look on to the quickly approaching 2010 NFL season, the Vikings have the potential to be even more successful than they were last year, but they also have the potential to struggle through out the year.

Will Brett Favre Come Back?

Of course the biggest question in the minds of Vikings fans is whether or not Brett Favre will return to the Vikings by week one.  Many people feel that if he returns this season, the Vikings are one of the favorites to win the NFC.  If he doesn’t return, the Vikings stock drops considerably.