TEAM NEEDS, DAY 1, PACK, PITT, NYJ & DA' BEARS
It's time to start figuring out who needs what in the upcoming draft. I'm going to start at the bottom of the 1st round & work back toward the #1 overall pick. It will take 8 posts to cover all 32 teams & after that, I will rank the prospects at each position moving into draft week.
Green Bay #32
The defending champs have a number of wants & luckily for them, there's good depth at the positions they're most interested in filling. Being defending champs means they don't have a lot of glaring weaknesses, but they do have a few holes. They won the Super Bowl despite a record number of players placed on injured reserve.
1. Defensive end-lost Justin Harrell & Mike Neal were injured & put on I.R. Cullen Jenkins & Ryan Pickett both missed multiple starts due to injury. Johnny Jolly was suspended for the entire season for drugs & in the past month, he was arrested & charged in another drug bust. I doubt Jolly's chances of playing in 2011 are very good.
2. Running back-Starter Ryan grant was lost in week one. Brandon Jackson wasn't the answer in the backup role & the Packers really didn't run the ball effectively until rookie James Starks came off the PUP list. Grant is back, but more effective depth is needed.
3. Wide receiver-The possibility free agent James Jones might depart for more money now that he has his ring is one question. Donald Driver will be 36-years old before the season begins. A WR in the first three rounds is very likely.
4. Offensive line-The Pack has to be on the lokout for replacements for OLT Chad Clifton & OLG Daryn Colledge. Clifton due to age & injury, Colledge has simply been too inconsistent.
5. Outside linebacker-Mike McCarthy would like a bookend pass rusher to Clay Mathews. Frank Zombo chipped in with 4 sacks in his rookie season, but he's more of a backup.
When GM Ted Thompson is called upon to make that first round pick, look for OG Danny Watkins of Baylor, Arizona OLB Brooks Reed or WR Randall Cobb of Kentucky.
Pittsburgh #31
1. Offensive guard-Frankly the Steelers could use 2 potential starters at this position. Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey made the Pro Bowl, but the remainder of the interior linemen are barely serviceable.
2. Offensive tackle-Injuries really took their toll on Pittsburgh tackles & Willie Colon, expected to be healthy soon, will be a free agent. Like the outlook at guard, I see the Steelers looking for a pair of tackles.
3. Cornerback-Ike Taylor will be a free agent & after him, the cupboard is pretty bare.
4. Defensive linemen-Except for 3rd-year man Ziggy Hood, everybody on the roster is over 30-years of age.
First round pick could be OG Danny Watkins, Mississippi State OT Derrick Sherrod or Miami cornerback Brandon harris.
New York Jets #30
1. Outside linebacker-Rex Ryan needs more pass rush & after the Vernon Gholston experiment finally ended, they need help pressuring the passer off the edge. Calvin Pace needs some assistance, most of their sacks came from a creative scheme & not actual talent.
2. Nose tackle-Kris Jenkins blew out his knee early in the season & the dropoff to backup Sione Pouha was obvious. Ryan wants that run-stuffing space-eater, like Jenkins is when healthy, to anchor his D-line.
3. Offensive tackle-ORT Damien Woody suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last year & at age 33, you wonder how effective he'll be if he returns. They drafted Vladimir Ducasse last season, but I question if he's ready to go yet.
There won't be a high quality edge rusher at #30 unless Brooks Reed is there. I'd look for Ryan to draft either Phil Taylor or an offensive tackle in the first round.
Chicago #29
Da' Bears have quite a few issues, linemen on both sides of the ball & a true #1 wide receiver are needed if Chicago is going to challenge in 2011.
1. Offensive linemen-at every position. A left tackle, center & right guard could all be addressed in this draft. Pro Bowl center Olin Kruetz will be a free agent, RG Roberto Garza is pedestrian at best & LT Frank Omiyale is O.K. but not the stud you look for in a blindside protector.
2. Defensive tackle-Tommie Harris was released & Anthony Adams will be a free agent. These were the Bears' two starters. Nothing in reserve.
3. Wide receiver-Earl Bennett, Rashied Davis, Johnny Knox & Devin Hester is a pretty weak gang of wide receivers. Jay Cutler needs a true #1 pass catcher or at the very least, a reliable possession receiver.
4. Running back-The Chester Taylor signing didn't go as planned, he wasn't the contributor Lovie Smith had envisioned. A paltry 2.4 yards-per-carry & just 20 receptions certainly didn't justify his free agent deal. Beyond starter Matt Forte, there is no quality depth.
First round possibilities for Chicago could include Danny Watkins, Derrick Sherrod, Iowa DT Christian Ballard or Florida State center/guard Rodney Hudson.
Next up I'll consider the needs of New England, Atlanta, Baltimore & Seattle.
Green Bay #32
The defending champs have a number of wants & luckily for them, there's good depth at the positions they're most interested in filling. Being defending champs means they don't have a lot of glaring weaknesses, but they do have a few holes. They won the Super Bowl despite a record number of players placed on injured reserve.
1. Defensive end-lost Justin Harrell & Mike Neal were injured & put on I.R. Cullen Jenkins & Ryan Pickett both missed multiple starts due to injury. Johnny Jolly was suspended for the entire season for drugs & in the past month, he was arrested & charged in another drug bust. I doubt Jolly's chances of playing in 2011 are very good.
2. Running back-Starter Ryan grant was lost in week one. Brandon Jackson wasn't the answer in the backup role & the Packers really didn't run the ball effectively until rookie James Starks came off the PUP list. Grant is back, but more effective depth is needed.
3. Wide receiver-The possibility free agent James Jones might depart for more money now that he has his ring is one question. Donald Driver will be 36-years old before the season begins. A WR in the first three rounds is very likely.
4. Offensive line-The Pack has to be on the lokout for replacements for OLT Chad Clifton & OLG Daryn Colledge. Clifton due to age & injury, Colledge has simply been too inconsistent.
5. Outside linebacker-Mike McCarthy would like a bookend pass rusher to Clay Mathews. Frank Zombo chipped in with 4 sacks in his rookie season, but he's more of a backup.
When GM Ted Thompson is called upon to make that first round pick, look for OG Danny Watkins of Baylor, Arizona OLB Brooks Reed or WR Randall Cobb of Kentucky.
Pittsburgh #31
1. Offensive guard-Frankly the Steelers could use 2 potential starters at this position. Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey made the Pro Bowl, but the remainder of the interior linemen are barely serviceable.
2. Offensive tackle-Injuries really took their toll on Pittsburgh tackles & Willie Colon, expected to be healthy soon, will be a free agent. Like the outlook at guard, I see the Steelers looking for a pair of tackles.
3. Cornerback-Ike Taylor will be a free agent & after him, the cupboard is pretty bare.
4. Defensive linemen-Except for 3rd-year man Ziggy Hood, everybody on the roster is over 30-years of age.
First round pick could be OG Danny Watkins, Mississippi State OT Derrick Sherrod or Miami cornerback Brandon harris.
New York Jets #30
1. Outside linebacker-Rex Ryan needs more pass rush & after the Vernon Gholston experiment finally ended, they need help pressuring the passer off the edge. Calvin Pace needs some assistance, most of their sacks came from a creative scheme & not actual talent.
2. Nose tackle-Kris Jenkins blew out his knee early in the season & the dropoff to backup Sione Pouha was obvious. Ryan wants that run-stuffing space-eater, like Jenkins is when healthy, to anchor his D-line.
3. Offensive tackle-ORT Damien Woody suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last year & at age 33, you wonder how effective he'll be if he returns. They drafted Vladimir Ducasse last season, but I question if he's ready to go yet.
There won't be a high quality edge rusher at #30 unless Brooks Reed is there. I'd look for Ryan to draft either Phil Taylor or an offensive tackle in the first round.
Chicago #29
Da' Bears have quite a few issues, linemen on both sides of the ball & a true #1 wide receiver are needed if Chicago is going to challenge in 2011.
1. Offensive linemen-at every position. A left tackle, center & right guard could all be addressed in this draft. Pro Bowl center Olin Kruetz will be a free agent, RG Roberto Garza is pedestrian at best & LT Frank Omiyale is O.K. but not the stud you look for in a blindside protector.
2. Defensive tackle-Tommie Harris was released & Anthony Adams will be a free agent. These were the Bears' two starters. Nothing in reserve.
3. Wide receiver-Earl Bennett, Rashied Davis, Johnny Knox & Devin Hester is a pretty weak gang of wide receivers. Jay Cutler needs a true #1 pass catcher or at the very least, a reliable possession receiver.
4. Running back-The Chester Taylor signing didn't go as planned, he wasn't the contributor Lovie Smith had envisioned. A paltry 2.4 yards-per-carry & just 20 receptions certainly didn't justify his free agent deal. Beyond starter Matt Forte, there is no quality depth.
First round possibilities for Chicago could include Danny Watkins, Derrick Sherrod, Iowa DT Christian Ballard or Florida State center/guard Rodney Hudson.
Next up I'll consider the needs of New England, Atlanta, Baltimore & Seattle.
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