The Patriots really need interior line help. Brian Waters is 35, Dan Connolly is mediocre and Logan Mankins had ACL surgery after the Super Bowl and is no sure thing going forward. Koppen, their starting center in 2010, will definitely help fill the need. He should be an upgrade over Connolly at center and Connolly will be freed up to provide much needed depth at guard, his natural position.

However, considering Koppen missed all of last season and turns 33 in September, they slightly overpaid. 6 million over 2 years doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you compare it to what other centers have been getting this offseason: Todd McClure (1 year, 1 million at age 35 for the 6^th ranked center on ProFootballFocus in 2011), Jeff Saturday (2 years, 8 million at age 36 for the 5^th ranked center in 2011), Matt Birk (3 years, 8.5 million at age 35 for the 9^th ranked center in 2011), it’s a slightly overpaid for someone who missed all of last season. Though the 10^th ranked center in 2010 could definitely regain his old form and the long time veteran adds needed continuity and leadership on the Patriots line.

Grade: B

 

 

Daniel has been a passionate Browns and NFL fan since he was born in the late 1970’s.

His discontent of unoriginal Browns coverage, opinions and subpar information online are what led him to the idea of starting up a Browns blog and he began building a site for his idea in early to mid-July of 2009. That site is now Dawg Scooper.

Currently living in Lakewood, OH, with his girlfriend and two cats that love to play fetch—Daniel is the Team Leader and Assignment Desk Editor for the AFC on the site Bleacher Report, along with being a Featured Columnist for both the NFL and the Browns on the site too.

He was a guest writer/contributor on the site National Football Post until the site dissolved having freelance writers in July 2010.

Daniel is a double-major in digital media and journalism at Cleveland State University (’11) and in August of 2010 he will be the Editor-in-Chief and Sports Editor for CSU’s newspaper,The Cleveland Stater.

Daniel also runs and writes for another blog called Batman 3 Film Blog. 

 

 

Running Back

Kansas State

6-0 230

Draft board overall prospect rank: #52

Draft board overall running back rank: #4

Overall rating: 77 (2nd round)

40 time: 4.60

4/12/10: Daniel Thomas is one of the few running backs in this draft class I could see being a legitimate feature back at the next level. Mark Ingram and Mikel Leshoure are the top 2, along with Ryan Williams if he can stay healthy. DeMarco Murray could be a Matt Forte type lead back and then there’s Daniel Thomas.

Thomas is a load to bring down at 230 pounds. He was extremely productive in Kansas State over the last two years with 545 carries for 2850 yards and 30 touchdowns, as well as 47 catches, in a tough Big 12 conference. He still has a lot of upside as a running back because he was a quarterback just 3 or so years ago.

He came to Kansas State after playing in Junior College as a mobile running quarterback. He also was a quarterback in college. Kansas State converted him full time to a running back in 2009 and it certainly paid off as Thomas became the school’s #2 all time leading rusher in just 2 years at the program.

His biggest flaw is that he has a very upright running style and we’ve seen guys struggle in the NFL with upright running styles before. Upright runners tend to be more injury prone, break less tackles, and have more fumble problems. Fumbles were a particular problem for him as he fumbled 11 times in 2 years, and 7 times in 2009. Of all the running backs in this draft class, he is one of the more fumble prone.

His upright running style and fumble problems are probably left over from his quarterback days. I think he can improve on both of these as a pro, with proper coaching and more experience at the position. Speed is another issue of his. At 230 pounds, speed is not necessarily needed, but he doesn’t have a great initial burst like Mark Ingram and he’s not someone who is going to beat you on the outside. His 4.60 40 is not ideal.

In the end, there are few major flaws with Thomas, but he’s been incredibly productive in 2 years at Kansas State and he’s still learning the position and he’s very tough to bring down in the open field, often requiring 2 tacklers to stop him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he were a feature back by year 2 or 3 of his career.

 

 

Another solid signing by the Texans. They needed a starting caliber free safety. Danieal Manning is a starting caliber free safety. They paid him, 4 years 20 million with 9 million in guarantees, like a starting caliber free safety. On top of that, Manning can contribute as a kick returner if they choose to use him in that capacity.

Grade: A

 

 

 

Connor didn’t have a sure starting job in Carolina, but not for lack of talent. He’s been very good for them with all of the injuries they’ve had at linebackers over the past few years. He’s deserving of a starting job someone. The Cowboys already have 2011 2^nd round pick Bruce Carter to go with Sean Lee, but they don’t have a lot of depth at the position and Connor is a more proven player than Carter, who will likely stay in his reserve/special teams role. It wasn’t their biggest need, but for 6.5 million over 2 years, it almost had to be done.

Grade: A

 

 

Wide Receiver 

USC

6-1 197

40 time: 4.53

Draft board overall prospect rank: #13

Draft board wide receiver rank: #1

Overall rating: 87*

1/17/10: Doesn’t get the big hype of guys like Dez Bryant and Golden Tate, but I think he’s the best overall wide receiver in this draft class because he possesses two traits, in addition to his natural athleticism, that very few wide receivers his age do, good route running, and a humble personality. He really knows how to get open and catch the ball at the best possible point and he’s not one to complain if a quarterback doesn’t throw to him. He’d be a perfect fit for a west coast offense and he can also return punts. He hasn’t been off the charts in terms of production, but he’s led the Trojans in catches and receiving yards in each of the last two years and had 70 catches for 1010 yards and 6 touchdowns this year in a pro style offense, despite having a true freshman at quarterback.

Update (11/2/09): Elite route running, good size, and excellent understanding of the game coupled with his humble nature makes this guy everything you want out of a #1 receiver.

            10/12/09: Damian Williams is in a position to break the recent lack of success USC has had at producing NFL caliber wide receivers. He has the uncanny knack to run good routes, get open, catch the ball at its highest point, and do something with the ball after the catch. His route running and quickness and make him a huge big play threat. He already has 24 catches for 359 yards and a score in 5 games with a freshman quarterback at the helm this season. Yards per reception in college is often indicative of a prospect’s future success in the NFL because its often indication of their intelligence, route running, and quickness. Williams is averaging 15 yards per reception throughout his college career. He doesn’t have great straight line speed and should post a 40 time of a modest 4.45-4.49. However, he is extremely quick and has shown those skills on kick returns. He has great hands and rarely drops passes and is extremely intelligent. His intelligence and experience in a pro style offense at USC means that he could contribute in the NFL right away. He has good height, but needs to bulk up a little. He’s not a good run blocker because of his lack of good blocking form and good size. He’s not very physical and could get out muscled by NFL corners in man coverage. He really excels against zone coverage, running good routes, and finding holes in the coverage. Williams has great potential as a #1 receiver in a west coast style offense and could fit very well into other schemes because of his broad skill set.

NFL Comparison: Greg Jennings

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

() FA Rank 

WR Sam Hurd

OT Doug Free (#31)

Played surprisingly well in 2010, his first year as a starter. He’ll get a lot of money no matter where he goes.

OT Alex Barron

G Kyle Kosier

3-4 DE Stephen Bowen

3-4 DE Marcus Spears

3-4 DE Jason Hatcher

S Gerald Sensabaugh

S Alan Ball

Offseason moves:

Draft

 

Debate the Dallas Cowboys offseason needs in The Football Fan Forum

2010 Preview:

In terms of pure offensive weapons, I don’t think anyone has more to work with than Tony Romo. He has two legitimate starting running backs in Felix Jones and Marion Barber, and Tashard Choice isn’t too bad either. He has one of the best receivers in the league, Miles Austin, a talented rookie in Dez Bryant, a motivated Roy Williams, though it remains to be seen whether or not that motivation will be enough for him, and Patrick Crayton, assuming he doesn’t get traded, isn’t a bad #4 reciever. He also has one of the best receiving tight ends in the game in Jason Witten and young Martellus Bennett isn’t too bad either.

 However, that doesn’t necessary translate directly to a Super Bowl. It certainly makes them contenders, but there are still questions on this offense. Doug Free will be their left tackle. Any time you have a guy who is pretty much a complete unknown at the 2^nd most important position on the field, you have to be worried a bit. The rest of their offensive front is older than 30 and really broke down late last year. They also don’t have a ton of depth on the line, which showed when a couple starters went down against the Vikings. They drafted rookie Sam Young, but I think they needed to do a little more in terms of adding depth this offseason. Then there’s the question of Tony Romo. He stepped up last December and led this team to the playoffs and eventually to their first playoff win in 14 years, but there are still a few maturity concerns with him. Another playoff run should alleviate those, but for now, there’s a fairly noticeable difference on that level between him and guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre.

Defensively, they should be fine as a unit again. DeMarcus Ware is still the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the game, hands down, and should rack up a ton of sacks, pressures, and quarterback hits. He and Jay Ratliff will take a lot of pressure off of a secondary that has a few question marks. Like Doug Free, new starting free safety Alan Ball is a relative unknown, but unlike Free, Ball is not playing a position at which inexperience would be worrisome. Talented corners like Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins would be able to decently mask any deficiencies in coverage that Ball would have. They also have a talented rookie safety in Akwasi Owusu-Ansah to step in at safety if they need it. He can also play some corner.

All in all I think this should be one of the better teams in the league this year, but I’m not ready to make them my Super Bowl pick or anything like that just yet. Their regular season win total actually might not completely reflect how talent a team this is, considering how talented their division and their schedule is. Still, expect double digit wins and a playoff appearance and possibly a few playoff wins for this team. At the same time, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they ended up with the Super Bowl trophy when it’s all said and done.

Projection: 11-5 1st in AFC East

Power Ranking: 6 

Last season: 11-5

Draft:

#24 WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)

This is a great pick by the Cowboys and a great move up. Bryant gives their offense another potent weapon across from Miles Austin and sends a huge wake up call to Roy Williams. If the Cowboys can get Roy Williams going, with Bryant, Austin, and Jason Witten in the receiving corps, plus Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice at running back and Tony Romo playing quarterback, in terms of pure offensive weapons, this team may lead the league. That doesn’t necessarily translate to a Super Bowl, but it certainly helps.

Grade: A

#55 MLB Sean Lee (Penn State)

Lee has first round talent, but a questionable bill of health. If his knee holds up, he’s well worth this selection as a young middle linebacker successor for Keith Brooking and a solid character and leadership guy. However, it was also a bit of a risk.

Grade: B

#126 S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (IUPUI)

AOA is certainly a great playmaker, who can pick off a bunch of passes and do good things with the ball in his hands and he’s a dynamic kick returner, but I have a some doubts about his ability in coverage, even as a safety. Plus, he’s never, from what I know, played a lot of safety before at the collegiate level. However, this is a great value pick and makes a lot of sense even if he just ends up as a nickel corner and a return man.

Grade: A-

#179 OT Sam Young (Notre Dame)

Sam Young fits their scheme well. He’s not a player who you want starting for you every week, but he’s a versatile guy who is good against the run, though he has his struggles in pass protection, who can play left guard, right guard, and right tackle for you in a pinch if you need it, and they may very well need it, and that’s all you really want out of this draft range.

Grade: A-

#196 CB Jamar Wall (Texas Tech)

I guess this is a good indication of where they plan to use AOA. Wall is a moderate reach and fills a bit of a need, you never know how much longer Terrence Newman has in the tank, but the Cowboys already had 3 solid cornerbacks, 4 if they have to move AOA to cornerback, so this was not a great pick.

Grade: C+

#234 3-4 DE Sean Lissemore (William & Mary)

Another player who was not one of the 400-450 players I had heard of from this draft class, so the decision to take him was a bit questionable, plus he is only 6-2 and doesn’t appear to have the height to play end in a 3-4. Plus, 3-4 end wasn’t much of a need.

Grade: D

Overall:

The Cowboys didn’t have a lot of picks to begin with, and they had even less after that Dez Bryant trade, but that being said, that Dez Bryant trade was brilliant and makes the Cowboys an extremely dangerous offensive team and when you combine that with their strong pass rush on defense, you can make some good things happen. Assuming they don’t revert to their December choking ways, this team has to be the favorite to win the tough NFC East and a Super Bowl contender. They made every one of their picks count, for the most part and acquired a ton of talent and upside in this draft. They could have gotten 3 future starters in this draft, and AOA is a solid future nickelback and kick returner, and has some upside at safety. Their picks dropped off a bit at the end, in terms of my grades, but those were late round picks anyway and, who knows, maybe I’ll be wrong about one or both of them. The only complaint I have about their draft, is that I don’t think they did enough to get depth on the offensive line, especially with Flozell Adams being cut. That was their biggest need coming into this draft, in my opinion, and they only used one pick there. They could have used one or two of their late round picks on a guard and/or center. However, with the talent they got out of this draft, it’s hard to give them a bad grade.

Grade: A-

Key undrafted free agents

CB Bryan McCann (SMU)

3-4 DE Lorenzo Washington (Alabama)

RB Lonyae Miller (Fresno State)

QB Matt Nichols (Eastern Washington)

OT Mike Tepper (California)

TE Scott Sicko (New Hampshire)

WR Terrell Hudgins (Elon)

S Barry Church (Toledo)

WR Verran Tucker (California)

Positions of need: 

Offensive Tackle:

The Cowboys need depth all along their offensive line. Their lack of depth was shown in the playoffs when Tony Romo was sacked 6 times by the Vikings after the Cowboys suffered a few injuries up front. Also, everyone on their offensive line is over 30 so young depth is clearly necessary. Offensive tackle just happens to be the most important offensive line position. The Cowboys like bigger offensive linemen so guys like Anthony Davis in the first and Vlad Ducasse and Kyle Calloway in the 2^nd could be targeted.

Drafted Sam Young (#179), Traded for Alex Barron

Middle Linebacker:

Keith Brooking had a good year, but he will turn 35 next season. Next to him in the middle of their 3-4 defense, Bradie James could also be upgraded immediately. Sean Weatherspoon and Brandon Spikes could be options in the first round.

Drafted Sean Lee (#55) 

Offensive Guard:

Again, depth is needed all over their offensive line. The Cowboys reportedly love Mike Iupati and likely will take him at 27 if he’s available. He would be an immediate upgrade over Kyle Kosier at left guard.

Nose Tackle:

Jay Ratliff is a great player, but his skill set would be better utilized at 3-4 defensive end rather than nose tackle. If they get a true nose tackle, either Terrence Cody in the first or Cam Thomas in the 2^nd, they can move Ratliff to end and it will make their entire defense that much better. Add a big nose tackle like Cody to the middle of their defense and it opens up more space for what was already one of the best pass rushes in the league.

Safety:

Ken Hamlin could be upgraded and depth overall is needed at the position.

Drafted Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (#126) 

Wide Receiver:

Patrick Crayton could be upgraded in the slot and I am not sure how much longer they want to give Roy Williams before they admit he was a bad trade and start someone else over him. Getting a young receiver this year could solve both of those issues.

Drafted Dez Bryant (#24) 

 

Free agents:

WR Miles Austin (restricted)- resigned 1 year 3.1 million

WR Sam Hurd (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

OT Flozell Adams- signed with Steelers 2 years

OT Pat McQuistan (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million

G Montrae Holland- 2 years

G Cory Procter (restricted)- signed with Dolphins

C Duke Preston (restricted)

3-4 DE Marcus Spears (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.2 million

3-4 DE Stephen Bowen (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

3-4 DE Jason Hatcher (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

NT Junior Siavii (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.2 million

RLB Steve Octavien (restricted)- resigned

S Ken Hamlin- signed with Baltimore 1 year

S Gerald Sensabaugh (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.8 million

S Pat Watkins (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million

S Alan Ball (exclusive rights)- resigned

K Shaun Suisham (restricted)

Offseason moves:

Cowboys re-sign S Gerald Sensabaugh

Cowboys acquire OT Alex Barron from Rams for OLB Bobby Carpenter

Cowboys announce retirement of C Duke Preston

Cowboys re-sign G Montrae Holland 

Cowboys re-sign S Alan Ball

Cowboys re-sign WR Sam Hurd

Cowboys re-sign S Pat Watkins

Cowboys re-sign 3-4 DE Stephen Bowen

Cowboys re-sign 3-4 DE Jason Hatcher

Cowboys re-sign NT Junior Siavii

Cowboys re-sign OT Pat McQuistan

Cowboys re-sign 3-4 DE Marcus Spears

Cowboys re-sign RLB Steve Octavien

Cowboys cut S Ken Hamlin

Cowboys cut OT Flozell Adams

Cowboys re-sign G Cory Procter

Cowboys tender S Alan Ball

Cowboys tender RLB Steve Octavien

Cowboys tender WR Miles Austin

Cowboys tender S Gerald Sensabaugh

Cowboys tender 3-4 DE Marcus Spears

Cowboys tender 3-4 DE Jason Hatcher

Cowboys tender OT Pat McQuistan

Cowboys tender NT Junior Siavii

Cowboys tender S Pat Watkins

Cowboys tender G Cory Procter

Cowboys tender WR Sam Hurd

Cowboys tender 3-4 DE Stephen Bowen

 

 

A month ago the Saints looked possibly screwed. Marques Colston and Carl Nicks were free agents and the team was far apart in negotiations with Drew Brees. They also had the looming penalty coming down for BountyGate. However, a month later, they might actually be getting an upgrade at coach. I know Sean Payton has a ring, but he’s an offensive coach and Brees has pretty much got that side of the ball taken care of himself. Parcells would greatly help their defense, even at 71 years old.

They resigned Colston to a steal of a deal in an offseason where Pierre Garcon, Laurent Robinson, and Robert Meachem were highly overpaid. They lost Carl Nicks, but they signed the only slightly inferior Ben Grubbs to replace him. They signed Brodrick Bunkley to fill their biggest need at defensive tackle and now they have filled their 2^nd biggest need at linebacker by stealing one of their divisional rivals’ best defensive players for a reasonable deal, 5 years, 33.5 million.

Aside from Nicks, who they replaced, only Tracy Porter was their biggest loss this offseason and Drew Brees and the team look like they’ll get a deal done before the season. They did all this without having to cut Jonathan Vilma or any other key players from 2011. How the hell are they doing this? Weren’t they supposed to be backed up against the cap?

Grade: A

 

By Sean Geddes 

More bad news for Steelers fans on the quarterback front. Dennis Dixon has been diagnosed with torn lateral meniscus cartilage, according to several news outlets. Dixon’s play up until his injury had not been stellar, but he had shown signs of the ability that could have won him the Heisman a few years ago, and was felt by some to be the Steelers best option at signal caller until Ben’s return.

It appears to be Charlie Batch’s job now, for the time being of course. The Steelers also resigned the roster space casualty of last week, Byron Leftwich, who was let go to make room for depth at other positions, while Leftwich was unable to play due to injury. Unless Byron’s knee has healed to the point of confidence from the coaches, I would expect him to be the back up this week to Batch.

Hey, only two more weeks until Ben gets back.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/