CHIEFS' DRAFT: ME VS. THE KC STAR ROUND V, PART II & LUCK IS THE MAN
Had to wait over the weekend for Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star to make his 2nd 5th round prediction. My knee was so painful, I couldn't sit here & pound out a post, so I was thankful to get the three days off. My truly excellent orthopedist stuck my knee full of needles this morning & right now...........it feels dramatically better, thank you very much. Now the question is, how long will this treatment last? If the pain doesn't return for 12-16 weeks, We'll repeat the injections, keep your fingers crossed, the only other alternatives are to "live with the pain" or have the knee joint replaced. I'll eventually opt for the replacement, but putting that procedure off for a time, as long as I'm not in great pain, seems like the right choice to me. Anyway, back to the draft debate.
With Teicher's selection today, he has now picked 6 players:
1. Stefan Wisniewski-center-Penn State
2. Leonard hankerson-wide receiver-Miami
3. Sam Acho-outside linebacker-Texas
4. Marcus Gilbert-offensive tackle-Florida
5A. Ricky Stanzi-quarterback-Iowa
5B. Ross Homan-inside linebacker-Ohio State
I have chosen:
1. Phil Taylor-nose tackle-Baylor
2. Rodney Hudson-center/guard-Florida State
3. James Brewer-offensive tackle-Indiana
4. Dwayne Harris-wide receiver-East Carlina
5A. Stevan Ridley-running back-LSU
5B. Stephen Burton-wide receiver-West Texas A&M
I'm not a fan of Homan or many of the other Ohio State draft eligible prospects this year. The school produces a number of draft prospects, but over the last few years, very few of them transition into excellent starting players in the league. Homan's undersized & underpowered but has decent instincts. Problem is, the Chiefs are shopping for a bigger, stronger player to replace Jovan Belcher, not a smaller prospect. I think much of Homan's stats were a product of Ohio State's scheme not individual ability. Homan could be a decent backup, but I don't see him being better than Belcher, so what's the point?
I know I'll get my share of criticism regarding the selection of WR Stephen Burton, the 2nd wideout I've tabbed in my Chief's mock draft. Burton has the potential to be a game-changing offensive weapon, Ross Homan's upside is nearly non-existent. Just because linebacker is on the "Need List" doesn't mean the Chiefs have to draft one. What they need is more impact players, regardless of position. Realistically they need at least 2 wide receivers, Chris Chamber, Kevin Curtis, Quinten Lawrence, Verran Tucker & Jerheme Urban are not championship caliber building blocks. Only practice squader Jeremy Horne has realistic potential. That leaves a bunch of openings. Yes, I'd love to able to draft a pair of linebackers who could crack the starting lineup within 1 season & be cogs in a championship defense. The way the draft unfolds, Scott Pioli could go in a different direction & a pair of linebackers could be selected early on in the first four rounds. But drafting a guy, say Ross Homan, just because he's a linebacker, when you could select a potential game-changer, I honestly don't see where there's a choice. Pick the potential impact player at a position your team needs. Round six selections come on Tuesday, so the debate will continue tomorrow.
My old buddy Art Schlichter finally had a bond hearing & it was set at a cool one million bucks. The judge set the bond artificially high because one million is the amount he's accused of bilking from 68-year old Anita Barney, widow of former Wendy's Chairman of the Board. I honestly believe Schlichter won't see the outside of a cell for the next decade, maybe two. He's been incarcerated multiple times over the past 25-years & proven repeatedly he can't be trusted. No one & I mean no one will risk their financial well-being to bond this guy out of jail prior to trial.
When Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck decided to stay in school for his senior year, the decision sent shock waves thruout college football as well as to the teams at the top of the NFL draft. Luck would have been the one sure thing in this draft, a slam dunk. But he decided to return to Stanford, even without his coach, Jim Harbaugh, who went to the San Francisco 49ers. The Stanford faithful were reminded just how great this young man is with a football in his hands over the weekend during the Cardinal spring game. Luck completed 16 of 22 for 165-yards, 3 touchdowns & no turnovers. A typical Luck performance. The Carolina Panthers are kicking themselves that Luck decided to wait until next year to turn pro. The Panthers hold the #1 overall selection which surely would have been used to select Luck had he made himself available for the upcoming draft.
Andrew Luck-QB-Stanford
With Teicher's selection today, he has now picked 6 players:
1. Stefan Wisniewski-center-Penn State
2. Leonard hankerson-wide receiver-Miami
3. Sam Acho-outside linebacker-Texas
4. Marcus Gilbert-offensive tackle-Florida
5A. Ricky Stanzi-quarterback-Iowa
5B. Ross Homan-inside linebacker-Ohio State
I have chosen:
1. Phil Taylor-nose tackle-Baylor
2. Rodney Hudson-center/guard-Florida State
3. James Brewer-offensive tackle-Indiana
4. Dwayne Harris-wide receiver-East Carlina
5A. Stevan Ridley-running back-LSU
5B. Stephen Burton-wide receiver-West Texas A&M
I'm not a fan of Homan or many of the other Ohio State draft eligible prospects this year. The school produces a number of draft prospects, but over the last few years, very few of them transition into excellent starting players in the league. Homan's undersized & underpowered but has decent instincts. Problem is, the Chiefs are shopping for a bigger, stronger player to replace Jovan Belcher, not a smaller prospect. I think much of Homan's stats were a product of Ohio State's scheme not individual ability. Homan could be a decent backup, but I don't see him being better than Belcher, so what's the point?
I know I'll get my share of criticism regarding the selection of WR Stephen Burton, the 2nd wideout I've tabbed in my Chief's mock draft. Burton has the potential to be a game-changing offensive weapon, Ross Homan's upside is nearly non-existent. Just because linebacker is on the "Need List" doesn't mean the Chiefs have to draft one. What they need is more impact players, regardless of position. Realistically they need at least 2 wide receivers, Chris Chamber, Kevin Curtis, Quinten Lawrence, Verran Tucker & Jerheme Urban are not championship caliber building blocks. Only practice squader Jeremy Horne has realistic potential. That leaves a bunch of openings. Yes, I'd love to able to draft a pair of linebackers who could crack the starting lineup within 1 season & be cogs in a championship defense. The way the draft unfolds, Scott Pioli could go in a different direction & a pair of linebackers could be selected early on in the first four rounds. But drafting a guy, say Ross Homan, just because he's a linebacker, when you could select a potential game-changer, I honestly don't see where there's a choice. Pick the potential impact player at a position your team needs. Round six selections come on Tuesday, so the debate will continue tomorrow.
My old buddy Art Schlichter finally had a bond hearing & it was set at a cool one million bucks. The judge set the bond artificially high because one million is the amount he's accused of bilking from 68-year old Anita Barney, widow of former Wendy's Chairman of the Board. I honestly believe Schlichter won't see the outside of a cell for the next decade, maybe two. He's been incarcerated multiple times over the past 25-years & proven repeatedly he can't be trusted. No one & I mean no one will risk their financial well-being to bond this guy out of jail prior to trial.
When Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck decided to stay in school for his senior year, the decision sent shock waves thruout college football as well as to the teams at the top of the NFL draft. Luck would have been the one sure thing in this draft, a slam dunk. But he decided to return to Stanford, even without his coach, Jim Harbaugh, who went to the San Francisco 49ers. The Stanford faithful were reminded just how great this young man is with a football in his hands over the weekend during the Cardinal spring game. Luck completed 16 of 22 for 165-yards, 3 touchdowns & no turnovers. A typical Luck performance. The Carolina Panthers are kicking themselves that Luck decided to wait until next year to turn pro. The Panthers hold the #1 overall selection which surely would have been used to select Luck had he made himself available for the upcoming draft.
Andrew Luck-QB-Stanford
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