Draft Day On The Horizon

With less than a week away teams are finalizing their draft selections as well as manipulating their draft strategy.

Each team has a different way of tackling their personnel needs, but none are as efficient as draft day. The Indianapolis Colts are a perfect example of building a team around the draft.

The 2007 Super Bowl champions pay a majority of their players a minimal amount and sign their stars to large, long-term contracts such as Manning and Harrison.

The Colts also have exercised the ability to let players go when they are past their prime.

Three years ago they released All-Pro running back Edgerrin James. After an off-season of evaluating talent, they took a chance on a back out of LSU Joseph Addai.

Addai is now one of NFL’s elite backs who has an itch for the end zone.

“Draft day is where good teams make a run at the championship, says Mark Anderson football reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal said in an interview.”

The defending world champion New York Giants utilized all of their draft picks in their magical season.

The draft single handedly propeled the Giants from being a playoff contender to winning the super bowl championship.

Each round is important because players that make an immediate impact can also be found in the later rounds.

“Marques Colston was a seventh round draft pick out of Hofstra and had a fine rookie season, says Anderson.”

The NFLs most valuable player for last season was also a late round pick out of Michigan.

“Tom Brady could go down as the best quarterback of all time, says Mike Abbate who is a diehard NFL fan.”

The most important characteristic of a player is deciding how far they will push themself to make an impact in the league.

“The NFL draft is like Christmas day for the fans because its like getting a new toy to play with, says Garrett Simpson local television personality says.”

Getting one of your favorite college athletes of the year on your team is what the ceremony is about.

Several acquisitions are made the day of the draft because teams trade players, picks, and location in the draft to benefit their team.

“The draft is also a glimpse into the future of what your favorite team is going to be like, says Abbate.”

Whatever your reason is for tuning into the draft it is sure to be packed with excitement.

This Saturday Roger Goodell the league’s commissioner will finally announce who is going where. Until then all we can do is wait.

Talks With Picks Have Begun

The Miami Dolphins who hold the number one pick in this years draft have begun contract negotiations with three different players.

Michigan’s Jake Long, Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston, and Virginia’s Chris Long.  A mishap happened in Dolphins General Manager Jeff Irelands press conference.

While talking with the media Ireland slipped saying “we hope the player that we pick will be pillar in our defense for a long time.”

Many critics have said the surefire number one pick should be the Offensive Tackle Jake Long, but after Irelands conference Chris Long has rocketed up many big boards.

Dixon Workout

Former University of Oregon Quarterback Dennis Dixon, who was once a Heisman hopeful worked out for NFL scouts yesterday.  The workout took place in the Oregon indoor facility where Dixon spent hours of his college career perfecting his multi-option offense.

Following his quick rehabilitation, he participated in a workout that entailed a series of short to long throws and showed off his mobility.

At the peak of Oregon’s triumphant run to the title, Dixon tore his ACL in the national spotlight.  As the speedy Quarterback fell to the ground, the Ducks national championship dreams crumbled as well.

Dixon hopes to make an impact in the next level and here his name called April 26th.

McFadden Ran For Miles (Toolbox)

The All SEC Running Back Darren McFadden is a sure first round pick in this years NFL draft. McFadden has the ability to make defenders miss and touch the end zone on every possession.

The former Arkansas back ran for 4590 yards in his three year career as a Razorback. The winner of the Walter Camp Award (best overall player in the nation) ran for more than 2.6 miles between the lines with the football in his hands.

He was complemented perfectly with a more of a power back in Felix Jones, who is also projected to be a first round pick.

The former Arkansas backs look to sprint onto the scene in the NFL.

SC Football Doesn’t Always Produce Superstar Pros

Although USC Football annually sends the most players from one school to the draft, the program doesn’t always pan out the most productive pro football players.

Pete Carroll’s program has been the most successful team in recent history, but his players don’t transcend well to the NFL.

Other than Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer, Pittsburgh Steeler Safety Troy Polamalu, and Seattle Seahawk Linebacker Lofa Tatupu no other former Trojan has caused a sixteen week splash in the big show.

Because of the immediate success the university has had scouts feel that the players talent has made the impact, rather the coaching of Carroll’s staff.

NFL teams should keep this fact in mind when evaluating a Trojan.