OK, just to have a little fun, I'm going to PRETEND that SportsLine's Rankings will still reflect reality in late April...
For now, I'm going to use SportsLine's Rankings as a Template. They are, after all, consistently reasonable, even if they are conservative to the point of being comatose, at times. There's no way in HELL that my beloved targets will be available at the indicated numbers in late April, and if they are, that'll probably mean that something's WRONG...But CBS ain't bad for this sort of thing, and after I've digested things for a while, I'll probably take a deep breath and crank out something based on my OWN expectations.
MIND you: They COULD be right, after all...So..why NOT??
Trades
As the Patriots cruise into Week #17 at 13-2, the 1st Seed clinched, a fine Opportunity arises to give Brothers Hoyer and Mallett an Half, each, with which to audition, and they don't disappoint. Time to Cash In on those Chips ~ Hoyer via Sign + Trade RFA, of course ~ and to amass juicy Draft Picks, replacing them with a couple of fresh UFA's...
1 ~ Hoyer ~ 3rd + 7th.
2 ~ Mallett ~ 2nd + 7th.
3 ~ #30 ~ 3rd + 7th + 2013 1st.
4 ~ #32 ~ 2nd + 7th + 2013 3rd.
5 ~ #128 ~ 2013 4th + 2013 5th.
Notes
1 ~ I find myself considerably less enthusiastic about this Draft than last year's, which is astonishing, considering that my enthusiasm for the NOTION of the Draft has SKYROCKETED...Of course, it's only Halloween WeekEnd, and many uncovered Gems are likely to emerge in the months to come...
2 ~ One particular area of less interest to me is Quarter Back. I've staked out two guys that interest me, but they pale in comparison to the Silver and Gold of last year, when my boy Greg McElroy and Ricky Stanzi BOTH came out. It's precisely this sort of thing that compels me to fall all over myself to snatch the special players when they arrive, as they don't come every year at every position.
3 ~ Another such position is O Guard, beyond The Man. There simply isn't anything else BACK there that I see as an Alpha O Guard, nor do I see anything down the PipeLine that's clear at this early point. There are a few intriguing Projects, mind you, and that's good, because I think we need one or two. But while I'd probably let DeCastro roll, at this point, that is by no means a given.
4 ~ Yet another such position is O Tackle, in the sense that there is SQUAT for intriguing Projects on my radar, at this point. If they're not at least 6.6, I keep looking. Willie Smith, I probably would've converted to O Guard or SwingMan. Developmental O Tackles To Be Named. I'd like as many as two, but the only one I like is McCants, who's a 4th Rounder on the rise, and I don't like him as much as I liked either Smith or Mims, last year: I'm looking to keep Trolling, and unearth a couple of Truffles, between now and May Day.
5 ~ Tight End ~ in the narrow sense ~ is not a priority for me: I want to develop a complex of 5 to 6 Flex Ends and Wing Backs: TRUE Dual Threats. I don't suggest that this is likely, until I take over: My Mocks are Dream Mocks, not Prediction Mocks.
6 ~ Flex End is looking pretty dry, frankly, with the far too expensive Dwayne Allen and...nobody else. But as Will Yeatman emerged as a raw recruit, last year ~ remember that guy?? ~ I suspect somebody else will do the same, THIS year...I'll tell ya: One guy who I had my eye on, but who got ACL'd and won't be any good until 2013, even if he comes out next year, as a Flex End or even a Split End ~ his current position ~ is Ifeanyi Momah of BC. Absolutely LOVE this kid, raw as hell though he be.
7 ~ Wing Back ~ the position of Aaron The Navigator ~ has the potential to change this Game DRAMATICALLY, along with Flex End ~ Gronk's position ~ and I want to invest HEAVILY: Split Ends ~ Wide Outs ~ are ONE way threats. Wing Backs ~ and Flex Ends ~ are true, deadly DUAL threats whose virtually undefendable dualities have the capacity to ANNIHILATE Defenses.
8 ~ Split End looks remarkably weak. Rueben Randle looks intriguing, but is another 4th Rounder on the rise: I prefer to Snuffle For Truffles!!
9 ~ There are some Running Backs that I like, but I'm so completely thrilled with what we have ~ assuming Vereen emerges ~ that I see no need to expend Draft Capital on this position, at this point, though UFA's are always a consideration.
***
10 ~ D Tackle is looking beautifull, absolutely beautifull.
11 ~ Defensive End is looking nightmarish, in the "34" sense, with virtually NOBODY coming down the Pike...But if Mister Poe's FREAKISH Power and Athleticism truly translate into NFL FootBall ~ and I cannot BELIEVE the TONE on that 350 Pound BEHEMOTH!! ~ we could have a SUPER BEAST on our hands of EPIC proportions...Better yet: I have a funny feeling that if HaynesWorth ~ who was the Alpha LineMan in Tennessee, though he had VanDenBosch, of course ~ has a couple of FREAKS like Wilfork and Poe sharing the load with him...he just might EMBRACE playing "34" End at this point...and do so with a VENGEANCE...In other words: If Dontari "Edgar Allen" Poe ~ MIND you: I need to see some freaking GAME TAPE before I'm COMPLETELY sold, obviously ~ is what Brother Mayo and I SUSPECT he is...drafting him could mean effectively adding TWO Super Beasts to our "34" Front...with potentially UNSPEAKABLE results!!
12 ~ "43" End/Flanker/HeffaLump?? I reserve the right to change my mind, of course, if JC and Nink aren't looking good at year's end...but right now I'm liking Carter and Anderson as our "43" Edge Rush, Ninkovich and JC, nominally, as our "34" Flankers, and I'm hesistant to spend heavily on the complex, particularly as there're a few intriguing Late Rounders out there, and as the competing SROI ~ Speed of Return On Investment ~ is SO rapid at THIS position:
13 ~ Mid Fielder.
Once in a Generation.
I HAVE to find room for this guy.
And I do NOT mean HighTower or Teo.
14 ~
I'm content to have Pat Chung be the last Safety this Team ever drafts. That is not a misprint...I think it's about time to
exterminate the "Strong Safety" AND the "Free Safety" in favor of the "Rover"...
and I have little interest in drafting anyone for that position who didn't play Corner in College. In other words: I want 3 to 5 Corners out there, and MAYBE one Rover...And I want DeAndre McDaniel. How the HELL is he unemployed???
15 ~ Yep. Like I said: Corners are a Priority.
The Draft
#36 ~ CB Chase MinniField.
LOVE this guy.
#45 ~ MF Vontaze Burfict.
For me, his Passion TRUMPS his Evil. Our crew WILL keep him in check.
#48 ~ DE Dontari Poe.
What little noise I can find already has him playing the 5. PERFECT.
#64 ~ OC Michael Brewster.
Yeah, right. Well, troubles at O State COULD drop him this far.
#72 ~ WB Coby Fleener.
Looking back at last year's draft, this is actually quite reasonable. Hilarious.
#75 ~ CB Stephon Gilmore.
Hard to imagine, but CBS has'm here, and it's possible, with a deep CB Draft.
#96 ~ WB Michael Egnew.
Unimaginable that he'd go this late, but Aaron went later.
***
#207 ~ OG Jeff Allen.
Developmental O Guard. Played O Tackle.
#208 ~ DF Shea McClellin.
VERY intriguing Flanker Dark Horse Candidate. LOVE him.
#210 ~ DE Dominque Hamilton.
TREMENDOUS 5 Tech Prospect. WAY under the Radar.
#216 ~ OG Manase Foketi.
*Only 10 Images to a Post!!*
Another O Tackle conversion. Like him better'n Allen, in fact.
***
UFA ~ QB BJ Coleman.
UFA ~ QB GJ Kinne.
UFA ~ DF Scotty Smith.
UFA ~ DF Kentrell Lockett.
UFA ~ MF Miles Burris.
UFA ~ CB Desmond Marrow.
