BY ROB REATH

Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren had indicated he wasn’t happy with the number of draft picks the Flyers had so he did what a GM does best in such a situation and he dealt a slew of picks for other picks and players and, at the end of the day the Philadelphia came out looking pretty good considering how things appeared the day before.

Luca Sbisa, D, Lethbridge, WHL (19th overall)

Philly used the pick they acquired in the deal that sent R.J. Umberger to Columbus to select Sbisa 19th overall. A steady defender with Lethbridge of the WHL, Sbisa is Italian born and played most of his hockey in the Swiss League. He is considered something of an offensive defenseman, but is quite poised in his own end as well. He is a bit lean and while he’s tagged with the typical knock of having played in the Swiss league (many times such players are deemed “soft”), Sbisa may appear soft on the surface, but he can deal out a big hit and back it up with his fists when called upon. However, that’s not how he usually plays the game; he is a finesse player first and foremost.

Sbisa’s weaknesses are that he doesn’t play physical enough or at least when he does show a bit of toughness, he needs to remember to do so in the next three games as well. Developing more consistency with that aspect of his game will go a long way towards determining his success in the NHL. It’s inaccurate to suggest that he coughs up the puck prematurely or makes poor reads because, while this happened occasionally, Sbisa is very much the thinking man’s hockey player and shows good judgment in those same situations most of the time.

Sbisa is strong on his skates and fluid in stride with very good lateral movement to either side. His skating will likely give him an edge over other young players in training camp. While the NHL is still a few years away, there is a lot to like about Sbisa’s chances as smart, fluid defenders with a flare for offense are always in demand.

Marc Andre Bourdon, D, Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL (67th overall)

Philly’s third round pick came as the second part of the Columbus package for Umberger, and the Flyers used it wisely. Having done their homework and scouted the entire crop, the club selected Bourdon, who may turn out be something of a gem for a host of reasons.

The Captain of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies was voted the league’s most valuable defenseman, providing leadership, offense and plenty of grit. In fact, the only question mark about Bourdon’s game is his skating, but it sure didn’t interfere with his ability to produce.

He scored 12 goals and 59 points while spending 114 minutes in the penalty box during 69 games.

If this combination of all purpose skills isn’t enough to get one’s attention, Bourdon posseses some intangibles that could add to his appeal. Some say Philly is a tough town on its athletes (really?), and hockey is no exception, but judging by the way Bourdon handled the press, it wasn’t surprising to see full articles on him in the sports pages the day after he was drafted. He has that unpretentious and self-effacing honesty to go along with a blue colour charisma that Philadelphia fans often rally around. It’s the reason that players like Ron Hextall and Steve Downie are favoured over more polished players. They play hard and don’t hide from criticism.

Bourdon has that quality in spades. On draft day he said, “I think I had a good year, maybe not too much, but I don’t think I could have done more than what I did.” He also told the truth, saying there was one team in particualr he wanted to go to, but he felt he fit the pattern in Philly becasue of his physical play and added that he liked the enthusiastic crowd when they get into the spirit of things with the all of the orange shirts in the playoffs.

If there is a such thing as a born Flyer, Bourdon might that guy.

Jacob DeSerres, G, Seattle, WHL (87th overall)

DeSerres is a confident goalie who doesn’t quite fit into the mold of the typical butterfly goaltender. There are plenty of elements of that to his game, but he has moments of blending it with a bit of a stand up game as well. While drafting goaltenders is an especially tricky business, the Flyers show signs of great diligence here as many of this year’s crop of puckstoppers were quite highly touted. DeSerres, much like Bourdon, may slipped under the radar a bit despite putting up strong numbers. There were several experts who quietly acknowledged the upside of Deserres, and while every player is a gamble to an extent, finding the ones with the upside are why one goes to the table. With a .922 save percentage and 2.28 GAA in 34 games, DeSerres will have to get in a few more games and establish that this year was not a fluke. But given his confidence level and reaction time to shooters, there is no reason to think he won’t be able to continue to improve and raise a few eyebrows doing so. He has displayed a bit of a fiery, competitive streak, which will suit the Flyers just fine.

Zac Rinaldo, C, Mississaugaga, OHL (178th overall)

Rinaldo is an intense role player, an agitator who brings some grit and intangibles to the table. While not especially offensively gifted, he could be the sort of player that embraces and thrives in the role of checking forward while stirring things up to aid his team. However, he would have a long road to the NHL and he would have to refine his game in several of the finesse areas. Before one writes him off, though, consider the Sutters, players whose drive carried them through any other shortcomings and cast long shadows on the ice for years because of it. Rinaldo could develop into such a player with increased dedication to rounding his game.

Joacim Eriksson, G, Brynas Jr., Swedish Junior League (196th overall)

Some say the Flyers had targeted a goalie with 19th pick and fell one pick short when Chet Pickard was taken 18th overall by Nashville. Instead, the Flyers opted for a highly touted defender. If that’s true, then the Flyers once again proved they comb the leagues for lesser-known talents that most other NHL team miss. Philly scout Ilkka Sinisalo brought Eriksson to the Flyers attention and seemingly with very good reason. His stats are startling to say the least: Boasting an eye-poping 1.25 GAA and .961 save percentage at the Under 17 tournament, Eriksson still has a lot to prove during the regular season, but he definitely looks like a prospect.

He plays a compact style of netminding and drops down frequently, but without unneccesary theatrics. He’s somewhat of a dark horse gamble this late in the draft, but with goalies it is much tougher to project their futures, and Eriksson has shown flashes of sheer brilliance in net so he may be well worth keeping an eye on.

July 19th, 2008
Categories: Draft report, HOCKEY, RotoRob correspondent report . Author: RotoRob . Comments: No Comments

Major League Baseball held its annual First Year Player draft this week, so let’s take a quick look at the first round results. Many of these names are ones you’re going to be hearing a lot about from a fantasy perspective, some sooner than others. So it’s never too early to familiarize yourself with them, especially in keeper leagues.

1. Tampa Bay Rays – Timothy Beckham, SS, Griffin HS (Georgia): This five-tool player was atop pretty much every pre-draft list, so this selection shocked exactly no one. As if the Rays didn’t have enough young talent already, within two or three years, this 18-year-old will be manning shortstop for this team. Beckham is a superb athlete who was the clear cut best available high school player this year.

2. Pittsburgh Pirates – Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt U.: Alvarez is another good athlete, and his bat is his best tool. From a very young age, this kid differentiated himself with his powerhouse tendencies. Considered the best third baseman in college ball, Alvarez is a good runner, and described by his coach as a real leader. The 21-year-old New York native was drafted by Boston in the 14th round in 2005 out of high school. Obviously, opting for college did him and his draft status wonders.

3. Kansas City Royals – Eric Hosmer, 1B, American Heritage School (Florida): This guy’s got some serious pop, even to the opposite field, and small wonder with a 6’4â€, 215-pound frame that still has filling out to do at his tender age of 18. He’s blessed with a very natural left-handed swing that will probably require very little tinkering, so Hosmer has a chance to move through the Royals’ system quickly. He’s been lauded for owning a very advanced bat for a high school player.

4. Baltimore Orioles – Brian Matusz, LHP, U of San Diego: This 21-year-old southpaw, the first pitcher taken in the draft, has long been a fixture on the various pre-season college award watch lists. He’s reached 94 mph, but tends to comfortably pitch in the high 80s, low 90s. Matusz’s delivery seems fairly low-effort, so he should maintain the good health he’s experienced up until now. Matusz was a big-time high school prospect, but because of his salary demands, he slipped until the fourth round when he was first drafted, opting to go to USD when negotiations broke down with the Angels.

5. San Francisco Giants – Gerald Posey, C, Florida St. U: More commonly known as “Buster,†Posey is an All-American who has a chance to become the Giants’ starting catcher in the not-too-distant future. Certainly, there’s plenty of opportunity in this organization, still fairly barren, although on the rebound after years of being unable to produce position players. The 21-year-old not only can hit, but he has a chance to stay behind the plate, and that’s a rare commodity.

6. Florida Marlins – Kyle Skipworth, C, Patriot HS (California): The Giants started a mini run on catchers here, with the Marlins grabbing the first high school backstop in Skipworth. This continues a trend for Florida of selecting power hitting high school prospects in the first round, something the team also did last season. This 18-year-old has a nice line-drive stroke from the left side of the plate. Skipworth will face what most young catchers – especially from the high school ranks – have to deal with, specifically, questions about his ability to hit enough while also remaining behind the plate. However, Skipworth really opened eyes at the prospect showcases in the last year, soaring up the rankings in the process. At one point this season, he set a new state record with 18 consecutive hits, reaching base in 25 straight plate appearances along the way. I guess that’ll do.

7. Cincinnati Reds – Yonder Alonso, 1B, U of Miami: Alonso arrived in the U.S. from Cuba at the age of seven. Now 21, he’s coming off a season with the Hurricanes in which he was a Louisville Slugger Pre-season Second Team All-American, bagging a couple ACC Player of the Week Awards along the way. Alonso has good bloodlines, as his father was a professional catcher and first baseman in Cuba. He’s adept at driving the ball the other way, and projects as a tremendous run producer.

8. Chicago White Sox – James Beckham, SS, U of Georgia: The second Beckham taken (no relation) is also a middle infielder, an area the Sox have lacked depth at for some time. The A’s were said to be after him, hoping to convert Beckham into a second baseman, something that’s likely to happen to him in any organization. Apparently, he isn’t the type of prospect that will jump out at you at first blush, but he does a lot of things well, including hitting with some surprising power.

9. Washington Nationals – Aaron Crow, RHP, U of Missouri Columbia: This 21-year-old righty was another pre-season All-American. Crow first gained national attention by being named the top prospect of the Cape Code Summer League in 2007. Some have questioned how durable he’ll be as a pro, but he set a Missouri school record for starts in a season in 2007. Crow is able to crank it up to 96 mph – fast enough to become the first righty taken off the draft board this year.

10. Houston Astros – Jason Castro, C, Stanford: Castro, not to be confused with the American Idol contestant, believes he’ll sign with the Astros shortly after Stanford’s season ends, and you’ve got to believe Houston will be motivated to get his name on the dotted line after failing to sign its top pick last year. The third catcher taken in the top ten picks, Castro is enjoying a breakout year for the Cardinal, leading the team in hitting. Last month, he was named a semifinalist for the 2008 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given to the top collegiate catcher in the game. Houston surprised some by grabbing Castro this soon, especially considering he has shown himself to be vulnerable to change-ups.

11. Texas Rangers – Justin Smoak, 1B, U of South Carolina: The Rangers have done a great job restocking their farm system with recent trades. The selection of Smoak continues that process. Another pre-season All-American, Smoak was considered the third best college prospect heading into the season, but he slipped in the rankings. Regardless, Texas may have landed itself a steal in this 21-year-old, who was the 2006 Cade Cod League MVP. He certainly excited plenty of Gamecock fans with his power. Lauded for his swing mechanics, Smoak is a powerful switch-hitter in the Mark Teixeira/Chipper Jones mold. For the Rangers, it’s the ideal acquisition after they dealt away Teixeira last season.

12. Oakland A’s – Jemile Weeks, 2B, U of Miami: Like many first rounders, Weeks was a pre-season All-American. The 21-year-old is the younger brother of Rickie, currently manning second for the Brew Crew. A prototypical lead-off man, Weeks will add a dimension to the A’s they aren’t exactly known for in recent years – blazing speed. Here’s a closer look at the kid, who gained great big game experience in this year’s College World Series. The second of three Hurricanes to hear their name called in the first round, Weeks was originally selected by Milwaukee in the eighth round of the 2005 draft. But just like it did for his older brother, going to college really helped improve Jemile’s draft stock.

13. St. Louis Cardinals – Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona St. U: The Cards were very intrigued with the bat this 21-year-old wields. The 2007 Pac 10 Player of the Year (and Triple Crown winner), Wallace is considered among the best hitters in college ball, known for his fantastic patience. Originally drafted in the 42nd round by the Jays in 2005, Wallace opted to go to college instead as he always wanted to be a Sun Devil. Smart call, as he’s now among the top power prospects in the game. He projects as a first baseman as a pro.

14. Minnesota Twins – Aaron Hicks, OF, Woodrow Wilson HS (California): This 18-year-old is considered a premium athlete and was lauded as the best two-way star in his draft class. His future is as an outfielder, however, not on the mound. Hicks was a run machine this year, scoring 50 times in just 34 games. He’s quite small right now, but some think he projects to have five-tool potential because of his incredible athleticism. For a high school player, this pick is a tremendously safe one for the Twinkies.

15. Los Angeles Dodgers – Ethan Martin, RHP, Stephens County School (Georgia): Martin, who turned 19 Friday, is all about power. He has a fantastic arm and can smack the hell out of the ball at the plate. Originally considered a two-way possibility, Martin’s maturation on the mound has dictated that his future will be as a pitcher. He was reaching 95 mph over a year ago, and has been clocked up to 96 more recently. Martin has the athleticism and confidence to rise quickly through a Dodgers system known for developing high school pitchers.

16. Milwaukee Brewers – Brett Lawrie, C, Brookswood SS (British Columbia): The fourth catcher taken in the first 16 picks – sensing a trend yet? – was the first Canadian taken off the board. Catcher is a position the Brewers have struggled to find consistent offense from for many years. Jason Kendall is obviously on his way out, and backup Mike Rivera, at 31, isn’t much younger. The team does have a couple of catching prospects in the pipeline, but Lawrie immediately takes the mantle as the catcher of the future. The highest Canadian position player taken in the draft since 1985, Lawrie could be part of the nation’s baseball entry at the Olympics this summer. This 18-year-old has strong hands and was the MVP of the Canadian National Junior Team, attracting plenty of media attention for his efforts.

17. Toronto Blue Jays – David Cooper, 1B, UC Berkeley: The Jays were said to be interested in Lawrie, but once he was taken off the board, they opted for the best available player remaining on their list in Cooper. The 2007 All-Pac 10 selection also took home the California Student-Athlete of the Week honour on March 31 of this year. Not only did he lead the Bears in home runs, but he also paced the team in walks – a very nice combination of power and patience. Cooper is known for his quiet and easy left-handed swing, but he’s capable of making plenty of noise on the stat sheet. His advanced bat is exactly what this team needs as it struggles on offense. Cooper should be able to move very quickly — the sooner, the better as far as Toronto is concerned.

18. New York Mets – Isaac Davis, 1B, Arizona St. U: Isaac Davis, the son of former Yankee pitcher Ron Davis, became the fifth first baseman taken. Adding a blue chip prospect like Davis is huge for the Mets, who have dealt away much of their system depth in recent years. Tampa Bay picked this now 21-year-old in the 19th round in 2005, but like many youngsters taken out of high school, opting for college was a wise move for Davis. He is projected to be able to hit for more power as he matures.

19. Chicago Cubs – Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian U: For the second straight season, the Cubs selected this 6’6†right-handed hurler. Last year, they took him in the 29th round, but he opted to head back to college. The year before, the Rox picked him in the 18th round. Apparently, the Cubs don’t believe signing the 21-year-old this time around will be problematic. The reliever has come a long way in the past year, upping his velocity to the 97-98 mph range, so surely the Cubbies will be falling over themselves to get Cashner’s John Hancock on a contract. College closers have made it to the majors very quickly in recent years, with mixed results. The Cubs seem content with Kerry Wood at closer for the time being, and have Carlos Marmol at the ready should he be needed when Wood breaks down again, so there’s no reason to rush Cashner. Of course, they have to sign him first.

20. Seattle Mariners – Joshua Fields, RHP, U of Georgia: Let the run on college closers begin! Taken by the Braves in the second round last year, Fields, who had a sos-so junior season, opted to head back for his senior season. Of course, the fact that he was represented by Scott Boras and negotiations didn’t go his way didn’t help matters. Now, Fields says he hopes to be in the majors by 2009. Here’s a look at him.

21. Detroit Tigers – Ryan Perry, RHP, U of Arizona: Perry, who can bring it at up to 100 mph, marks yet another college reliever plucked in this first round. This 6’4†21-year-old has decent sink on his fastball when he keeps it down. Perry’s classic delivery allows him to generate serious heat. The selection of Perry continues Detroit’s trend of taking pitching in the opening round – this is the fifth time in the past six years the Tigers have taken an arm over a bat to start the draft. There’s still some debate about whether Perry will wind up as a reliever or possibly a top starter. The former option would be a quicker way to get him to the Show, but if Detroit opts to make him a starter, it will take some time before it sees the fruit of that labour.

22. New York Mets – David Havens, SS, U of South Carolina Columbia: Havens, 21, has shown nice improvement at the plate thanks to his patient approach. He doesn’t project as a serious power threat, but with his bat speed, he should be a modest source of double-digit dingers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t even rank out as an average runner, speed-wise, so don’t be looking to Havens as a source of steals. Boston almost grabbed this kid as a first-rounder three years ago when he was a very productive high school prospect, but even if the Sox had wanted him again, he was long gone by the time they picked at No. 30. The fact that the Mets, with their second first round pick, grabbed him this early is a surprise, especially given that Havens is projected to have to move to third, a position the Mets have sewn up pretty nicely these days.

23. San Diego Padres – Allan Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest U: Dykstra, who turned 21 last month, is a powerful behemoth, standing 6’5†and weighing 240. He’s an advanced hitter who was among the top power bats in college baseball this year. That the Padres – desperately in need of pop – picked him wasn’t a shock. Except, of course, for the fact that they already have a pretty darned good young first baseman in Adrian Gonzalez. And don’t think for a second that Dykstra – the sixth first baseman taken in the opening round – is capable of handling another defensive assignment with his size, unless it’s with an AL team as a DH, of course. Oh, and by the way, in case you were wondering: he is not related to Lenny, despite the relative scarcity of that surname.

24. Philadelphia Phillies – Anthony Hewitt, SS, Salisbury School (New York): This Brooklyn native hit .496 for his undefeated high school team this season. Check out his sweet right-handed swing, lauded for becoming much cleaner and more efficient this season, here. The 19-year-old, expected to develop power as he matures, is currently blocked by Jimmy Rollins, but he’s got plenty of development time ahead of him either way, so I’m not immediately worried by that. I’m a bit surprised the Phils didn’t grab someone a bit more major-league ready, given their paucity of top prospects at higher levels, but Hewitt has some tremendous upside.

25. Colorado Rockies – Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky U: This 6’3†southpaw, despite some control problems in 2007, was on the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award watch list this season. I’m not overly worried about the walks, as long as he can continue to chalk up the Ks as he did in college (307 in 232 IP, including summer league play). Last summer, thanks to his tremendous curveball, Friedrich ranked fourth among Cape Cod League prospects.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks – Daniel Schlereth, LHP, U of Arizona: Schlereth, a 6’1†southpaw, is yet another college closer, one who set the Arizona record for saves in a season by a freshman back in 2006. He comes from a sports family (father Mark won three Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and Redskins). Daniel, who turned 22 last month, has been clocked as high as 97 mph with his fastball, which is complimented by a strong curve. Confidence isn’t his weakness; Schlereth thinks he can be in the majors by September; a lofty goal considering his college season hasn’t even ended yet.

27. Minnesota Twins – Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, U of Miami: Another trend has definitely emerged here with the Twins taking college closer Gutierrez, who returned this season from Tommy John surgery, a procedure that caused him to be redshirted in 2007. The third of a school-record three Miami players taken in the first round, Gutierrez was a surprise pick in this high a slot given his lack of a secondary pitch. He can bring the heat with his fastball, but doesn’t really have a second go-to pitch, and even as a reliever that’s a stretch. You certainly can’t argue with his college results, however; Gutierrez’s command at Miami was impeccable.

28. New York Yankees – Gerrit Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (California): This 17-year-old is gifted with an ideal pitcher’s frame (6’3â€, 190) and an arm capable of reaching as high as 98 mph, but with a comfort zone in the 92 to 94 mph range. He has a commitment to UCLA, but given that he’s a lifetime Yankee fan, convincing him to turn pro shouldn’t be took difficult (assuming the right amount of zeros are tossed his way). Cole is considered the top right-handed pitching prospect to come out of Southern California since Phil Hughes. And now the Yankees have both of them as they continue to add young arms to the organization.

29. Cleveland Indians – Lonnie Chisenhall, SS, Pitt CC: Chisenhall comes with baggage, having been sent packing from the University of South Carolina after burglary/grand larceny charges last year. He was a high profile recruit for the Gamecocks, so the story made big news. Chisenhall wound up pleading guilty and getting six months of probation. Of course, this isn’t the first time Cleveland has brought in a player with a history. Remember Kaz Tadano and the gay porn scandal? At any rate, Chisenhall isn’t likely to stay at short, projecting at a third baseman as a pro. Let’s hope he sticks to stealing bases from this point on.

30. Boston Red Sox – Casey Kelly, SS, Sarasota HS (Florida): The son of former major leaguer Pat Kelly, Casey Kelly is a hell of an athlete, not only starring as a two-way talent in baseball, but also being a good enough quarterback to be ranked as the 31st best QB prospect by ESPN. Even as a junior at high school, the scouts were already drooling over Kelly. He enjoyed a productive senior year at the plate, and on the mound was dominating. It’s going to cost some bucks to lure him away from a football career, but assuming the Sox can do so, it will be interesting to see if they plan to use him as a shortstop or a pitcher. You can see him hit and pitch here.

June 7th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, Draft report, Prospects, RotoRob . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 32 Comments

We’re back with the second half of our rookie report. You can see our AFC report here.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys - The big news on draft day for Dallas was the selection of Arkansas running back Felix Jones. Every fantasy owner should have groaned with the selection, because it negatively affects Marion Barber and ensures that Jones won’t be nearly as valuable as he would have been elsewhere. The Cowboys also nabbed Georgia Tech back Tashard Choice, who could have been a deep sleeper with other teams. Here, he’s third on the depth chart.

New York Giants - The Super Bowl champion Giants waited until the third round to select an offensive player. Mario Manningham adds depth to a receiving corps that features the aging Amani Toomer, but do not expect big things. Apparently, the Giants dig quarterbacks from the SEC. Eli Manning, Jared Lorenzen and fellow Wildcat Andre Woodson all played in the conference. Manning obviously doesn’t need to worry about Woodson’s selection. Lorenzen, who was shocked at the Woodson pick, is another story. Woodson will compete for the back-up job.

Philadelphia Eagles - The only skill player Philly added through the draft was California wide out DeSean Jackson. Jackson will need time to grow as an NFL receiver, but he’ll surely show some flashes along the way this season. Actually, his biggest early impact should come on special teams, where he stands to make a few big returns. If your league awards points for return yardage, he’s a sneaky spot starter option.

Washington Redskins - Lacking significant pass catching threats, the Redskins grabbed two receivers in two of the first three rounds. Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly should add playmaking ability to a rather average group. Under new head coach Jim Zorn expect the Redskins to run a lot, but these receivers help the passing game. A bad performance in the combine and a poor Sugar Bowl landed quarterback Colt Brennan in the draft’s sixth round. He will not contribute.

NFC North

Chicago Bears - With the Bears’ defense in a bit of turmoil, (where are you Brian!?) Chicago rolled the dice by selecting offensive players with its first three selections. Chris Williams, an offensive tackle from Vanderbilt, will be expected to anchor the Bears’ line. Matt Forte, a second-round half back from Tulane, is my pick for “rookie runner in the best situation.” He should beat out Cedric Benson for the starting job by, oh, Week Two. Finally, another Vanderbilt stand out, wide receiver Early Bennett, fell to Chicago in round three. He will have some adjustment issues, especially with the physical NFL corners, so don’t expect too much this season.

Detroit Lions - Understandably, Detroit focused most of its attention on its porous defense. However, the Lions did not neglect their mediocre running game, grabbing Central Florida running back Kevin Smith in the third round. Keep an eye on him as he may compete for time with starter Tatum Bell. Not to shy away from their recent roots, the Lions picked up Wake Forest receiver Kenneth Moore. Don’t expect him to be a fantasy factor.

Green Bay Packers - Green Bay didn’t possess a first round selection, but it did spend two second round picks on offensive players. Jordy Nelson, of Kansas State, adds another wide receiver weapon for new starter Aaron Rodgers. Of course, Rodgers will have some pressure on himself with the other second round selection, Louisville’s Brian Brohm. The Packer offense could be very good for fantasy owners or very disappointing, so the two rookies have a chance to make some kind of impact. It’s just very hard to know if they’ll have a chance to.

Minnesota Vikings - Minnesota strayed from concentrating on offense in the draft, which is shocking considering how average it is offensively with one notable exception at running back. The Vikings selected USC quarterback John David Booty, who probably will not see significant time on the field unless Tavaris Jackson goes belly up. The Vikings lack strong receivers and Jaymar Jackson in the sixth round is not the answer.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons - Everybody knows the biggest selection for the Falcons was Matt Ryan. Mel Kiper and ESPN made sure of that. He will probably step in as a starter at some point, but don’t expect it to happen too soon. Even if he is named a starter early on, his fantasy impact will be minimal. Obviously, Ryan is more of a dynasty league prospect. The Falcons also spent an early pick on Louisville wide out Harry Douglas. He’s a smaller receiver, but that fits with the team. Roddy White clearly will attract attention, but Douglas should make plays out of the slot. The Falcons aren’t quite as good as the Patriots (surprise), so Douglas’ fantasy value isn’t very high. Still, he’s worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues.

Carolina Panthers - Carolina struggled with its offensive and defensive line play last season, so the club focused its draft there instead of on the skill positions. However, Carolina used its first round pick on running back Jonathan Stewart. He’ll join DeAngelo Williams in the backfield to form a solid one-two punch. Stewart should be one of the more productive rookie backs. Louisville tight end Gary Barnidge was productive in college, but slid to the fifth round.

New Orleans Saints - The Saints already have a potent offense so they wisely spent their higher picks on defensive players, therefore there’s not much to mention here. Since we have a down moment, I’d like to point out there’s a new kind of scary ant in Texas. I’m very afraid (even if they do taste like raspberries).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Appalachian State receiver Dexter Jackson adds speed and youth to Tampa’s offense. The Bucs don’t throw the ball around a la the ’07 Patriots, so his production will not be overwhelming. The Bucs seemingly have ten quarterbacks on their roster, hence, Josh Johnson, a fifth round selection, has his work cut out for him. Nonetheless, with Jeff Garcia heading into the twilight of his career, stocking up is not a bad idea.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals, who probably should have drafted one of the highly touted running backs, decided to go defense first and then took LSU wide out Early Doucet. In addition to having a kickass name, Doucet is my pick for best rookie receiver. He has similar size to Anquan Boldin, is active after the catch, and showed a natural instinct for going over the middle. Obviously, he will find the looks tough to come by with Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald around, but both of those guys have had injury issues. If one goes down, Doucet could be a big surprise.

San Francisco 49ers - The ‘Niners went with one skill player, which makes little sense considering how badly the offense played last season and that they brought in Mike Martz as the new offensive coordinator. Receiver Josh Morgan has speed, but will not make a major impact offensively. He may be more of a significant factor on special teams. Looking towards 2008, the combo of Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson will not get it done. The ‘Niners should have looked at receivers earlier than the sixth round.

Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawk offense under Mike Holmgren has never really utilized the tight end position, so that might explain why they used a second round selection on Notre Dame tight end John Carlson. He wasn’t a dominating performer in school, but he is adept at receiving and blocking, and was one of the few tight ends in the draft that showed competence at both of those skills. He’s not worth worrying about, however, unless he can string together some effective games.

St. Louis Rams - St. Louis addressed needs on the defensive side of the ball in the first round, then countered in the second by drafting two receivers including Donnie Avery, whom impressed head coach Scott Linehan with his speed. Keenan Burton is also a burner and will be a welcome addition to the Ram passing attack. Torry Holt cannot do it forever and bolstering the group should give it new life.

May 21st, 2008
Categories: Andy Goldstein, Derek Jones, Draft report, FOOTBALL . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 11 Comments

Don’t worry…we haven’t forgetton about the team capsules. We’re going to get back to them after we take a look at the offensive rookies. But for now, let’s check in on the NFL Draft and review some names you need to know heading into the 2008 season.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills - The Bills only spent two of their top five picks on offense, and the only one of those who has potential to make a fantasy impact is second round wide out James Hardy. Hardy played college ball at that noted football powerhouse Indiana and comes into the league with a number of question marks. The most significant issue is whether he is big enough. He is 6’ 5†but was under 200 pounds in school. Hardy is obviously bulking up, but a certain amount of weight room work remains. Another matter is his off the field issues, which include domestic abuse charges. Expect Hardy to show some flashes this season, but unless you’re in a dynasty league, he’s not worth drafting.

Miami Dolphins - Miami’s biggest offensive addition came with the arrival of tackle Jake Long, who will help an underwhelming offensive line. Chad Henne will compete for the starting quarterback job with vets John Beck and Josh McCown. Sixth round pick, running back Jalen Parmele, may be utilized as a fullback, while Lex Hilliard is another big body that has promise but is not likely to be a contributing factor to the Miami running game.

New England Patriots - The Patriots did absolutely nothing to help their offense, but after scoring 55 points a game (or whatever absurd total they put up), I suppose they get a pass. Oh, they did draft San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell in the third round. But that makes sense, because Tom Brady probably only has another five or six years in the starting role. Yeah.

New York Jets - The Jets added some spice to their quarterback situation by drafting Erik Ainge, however, he will not be an immediate answer at quarterback. Tight end Dustin Keller may be a nice pass catching tight end, while receiver Marcus Henry has a chance to press for a roster spot.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens - The big news was, of course, the Ravens’ selection of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco in round one. Flacco will take over for Kyle Boller, and the smart money would be on that happening at some point this season. Flacco isn’t exactly the most mobile of quarterbacks, so offensive line play is very important. Unfortunately, the Ravens have an over-the-hill offensive line and they only picked up fourth rounder David Hale from Weber State to boost that group. Unfortunately, Flacco could find himself in a tough spot when he does take over.

The Ravens also took Rutgers running back Ray Rice, although he’d be lucky to get more than five carries a game this year. Willis McGahee remains the workhorse there. Finally, Baltimore spent a fourth round pick on New Mexico wide out Marcus Smith. Smith is a prospect that dynasty leaguers should watch carefully. The Ravens aren’t exactly loaded at that position and if he shows flashes, Smith could be starting sooner than expected.

Cincinnati Bengals - What happens when a team’s star receiver becomes disgruntled? The employer goes out and drafts three more pass catchers. Jerome Simpson has the best chance to make an immediate impact as the Bengals try to fill Chris Henry’s spot. Andre Caldwell and Mario Urritia will compete at receiver as well. Caldwell is more NFL ready than Urritia. Villanova tight end Matt Sherry performed well in workouts, but the Bengals do not focus on his position with their offense.

Cleveland Browns - The only selection that you or I care about is Martin Rucker, a tight end from Missouri. Rucker won’t really, you know, block, but most of the top receiving tight ends don’t. Unfortunately, the Browns already have one receiving tight end in Kellen Winslow, so the ceiling is relatively low for Rucker. Still, Winslow has had health issues, so keep Rucker in mind if Winslow finds time to get on his motorcycle again.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall adds a potential threat in the backfield and will at worst serve as a backup to Willie Parker at running back. If Parker is slow to return from a broken leg, Mendenhall could be one of the best fantasy rookies. Receiver Limas Sweed is another receiving option for Ben Roethlisberger and will offer up big plays in the Steel City. Quarterback Dennis Dixon is a project that should not be considered a fantasy option.

AFC South

Houston Texans - The Texans made a couple of offensive selections early in their draft. The first was Virginia Tech offensive tackle Duane Brown. The second was West Virginia running back Steve Slaton. Both should get plenty of playing time as early as Week One, assuming the two can get over their intense school rivalry. WVU and VT are rivals, right? Anyway, Slaton doesn’t have a ton of competition for carries, so if he shows any success at all, the job should be his to lose.

Indianapolis Colts - Indy loves its tight ends. Jacob Tamme may be a potential backup for Dallas Clark, who seemingly always gets injured. Tom Santi is another pass catching option who will try to replace Ben Utecht. Michigan’s Mike Hart will have a chance to compete for a job with the Indy’s lack of running back depth. Keep an eye on Mount Union product Pierre Garcon. Garcon dominated at Division III with game-breaking speed and may just latch on as a fourth or fifth receiver.

Jacksonville Jaguars - There’s nothing to see here. The only pick the Jaguars made for the offense was a seventh round running back. Jacksonville has plenty of offensive talent, so this isn’t too surprising. It still would have been nice to bolster the offensive line, but the Jags didn’t consult fantasy owners.

Tennessee Titans - First round pick Chris Johnson is a change of pace running back who offers tremendous speed. He’ll be used in a Reggie Bush role, running and receiving. Johnson, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine with a 4.2, could be a fantasy threat down the road. Receiver Lavelle Hawkins is not the game-breaking threat that the Titans need, while tight end Craig Stevens is best known for his blocking.

AFC West

Denver Broncos - Interestingly, the Broncos’ top draft pick, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, was a Bronco in college as well. I am pretty sure that factored into the decision for the Denver brass. Clady, who is comfortable being a horse, is a nice addition to a group that was trying to get by on reputation, not talent, last season. This helps the Broncos’ starting back, whoever the hell that might be.

Also, with Brandon Marshall’s 2008 status iffy, the Broncos used their second round pick to grab wide receiver Eddie Royal from Virginia Tech. Now, I don’t like Royal at all. He never had a ton of success in school and seemed to be more of a “combine†guy, but he does have talent. It’s a matter of whether that will come out in the NFL. Don’t draft him unless Marshall is definitely sidelined.

Kansas City Chiefs - Jamaal Charles is likely to replace Kolby Smith as Larry Johnson’s replacement. Johnson is coming off an injury and due to his well-documented heavy workload, he may be hard pressed to stay healthy. Charles could be the beneficiary of Johnson’s overuse. Tight end Brad Cottam is poised to be Tony Gonzalez’s backup, while receiver Will Franklin possesses good speed and size that might help a mediocre receiving corps.

Oakland Raiders - Well, there was the whole Darren McFadden selection. There’s really not much more that can be said about that. Every expert has chimed in, but essentially, he’ll get the chance to succeed in the league. If McFadden makes the most of his carries, he’ll get more of them. If not, there are plenty of interesting guys who will steal some. Other than McFadden, the Raiders took wide out Arman Shields. The Richmond product is in a good situation with a young quarterback and terrible competition for playing time. If he develops a rapport with JaMarcus Russell, there’s no reason he can’t develop into a spot starter at some point in his career.

San Diego Chargers - Remember the name Marcus Thomas. Drafted out of the fifth round from Texas-El Paso, he could be used to spell LaDainian Tomlinson with Michael Turner out of the picture. He has to fend off a competitive backfield siuation behind Tomlinson, though. Fullback Jacob Lester was the only other skill player selected, but he’ll be asked to fill the void left by Lorenzo Neal’s retirement.

May 13th, 2008
Categories: Andy Goldstein, Derek Jones, Draft report, FOOTBALL . Author: Andy Goldstein . Comments: 14 Comments

Even if Andy refuses to acknowledge them, the Colts have another potentially great offensive weapon on their hands in Anthony Gonzalez.

While I was socializing recently, I received a phone call from the formerly esteemed Andy Goldstein. In this memorable phone call, Andy stated, “Derek, I will go the entire year without watching the Colts on television. I can’t stand them. You write this article. I’m not doing it.”

So, here I am to provide you information on the 2007 first round selection of the Indianapolis Colts, former Ohio State Buckeye Anthony Gonzalez, since Andy (aka Larry Johnson, Jr.) is too conflicted with Colts angst to do it. Andy, some of us are professionals or masquerade around as one at the very least.

The game plan for the 2007 Colts looks pretty simple. They are just going to outscore people. After watching their defense lose more depth on the defensive line and in the secondary during the offseason, the Colts decided to do what any other logical team would do in this situation. They decided to add to the offense in the draft.

With the loss of Brandon Stokely, Gonzalez steps in as a legit slot receiving threat. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds and this type of speed was something the Colts lacked whether Stokley was on the field or not at the slot position. Gonzalez possesses good hands and solid route running which certianly is a bonus for a rookie trying to adjust to the NFL. Lord Peyton will also enjoy Gonzalez’s knack of holding onto the ball. During his days as a Buckeye, Gonzalez never fumbled despite catching 87 passes worth 1,286 yards.

Once he gets up to speed on Indy’s offense, Gonzalez will try to alleviate pressure on teammates Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, who’ll draw plenty of attention. This is nothing new for Gonzalez though, who played opposite of the electrifying Ted Ginn, Jr. in college. Suffice to say, with Harrison, Wayne and Dallas Clark roaming the field on passing formations, Gonzalez should get outstanding opportunities to make plays. Most importantly, due to the prolific nature of the Colts offense, he’ll have a chance to produce touchdowns.

From a fantasy standpoint, Gonzalez probably has most value in a touchdown-only league. He did not show the consistent ability to break tackles at Ohio State and that is not necessarily conducive to gaining serious yards after the catch. He’ll have to get a bit stronger to add that dimension to his game.

When you have King Manning firing the football to you, that makes things a lot easier. Certainly, with the number of weapons in Indy, there is a ceiling for Gonzalez’s immediate potential. However, he’ll give Manning a good slot target and could be a solid red-zone threat. If you’re looking to cash in on the Colts’ offensive riches, he would not be a bad guy to have on your roster in larger leagues.

That ends our look at Gonzalez. You see Goldstein, it was just that easy. Get off your high horse and start watching, writing, eating and sweating to the oldies with the Colts. Whether they are good, bad or indifferent, you’ll be a better person for it.

July 15th, 2007
Categories: Draft report, FOOTBALL . Author: Derek Jones . Comments: 1 Comment