There've been a number of noteworthy album releases by some big name artists of late and it's time to give them each their respective reviews. Hopefully you can find a choice that suits you amongst the four albums below. No better time to check out some new tuneage than when you're headed out on the roadways for holiday travel, right? Make sure and drive safe.
Bruce Springsteen: The Seeger Sessions
The Boss is maybe my favorite musical artist of all time, yet his last two albums have left me a little hungry for the ol' E Street Band. Last year's Devils and Dust saw Jersey's hero acoustic and low key as he ruminated on political themes like the war in Iraq and illegal immigration. There wasn't a lot to get excited about it on that release. This time around Bruce has decided to release his first covers album, with not a single new tune on The Seeger Sessions disc. Instead, Springsteen shows his love and affinity for old school folk artist Pete Seeger by rocking out with what sounds like a full country band (not an E Streeter among them). "Ol' Dan Tucker" and "Pay Me Money Down" are kinda fun on the first listen or two (and Bruce sure sounds like he's having a blast) but this isn't going to keep the average rock fan coming back for more. "Buffalo Gals" won't ya come out tonight? Are you serious, Bruce? I'm glad you're enjoying yourself these days, but at some point soon, please give your diehards something to really take to heart. Here's hoping the eagerly awaited E Street finale disc is coming up next....
(2.5 stars outta 5)
Paul Simon: Surprise
It's been five years since Simon dropped the elegant and underrated You're the One. In the interim, he toured with Bob Dylan and teamed up with Brian Eno in the studio. This album is the result, as Simon's smooth voice and poetic lyrics get a cool musical lift from the electronica wizard. As always, Simon's lyrics are filled with irony, as in the openly questioning lead track "How Can You Live in the Northeast?" and "Another Galaxy". The former tackling terrorism phobias with the second focusing on destiny and fate. Alas, the themes remain basically the same for Simon---love, fear, purpose, personal identity---but there's nothing wrong with that. Eno's quirky beats lift Simon's lyrics into a different realm, and it's more than worthwhile hearing the results. Not Graceland or Hearts and Bones by any stretch of the imagination, you have to respect the decision to try something new by one of pop music's all-time greats. This is a quality release by another Jersey native.
(3.5 stars outta 5)
Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam
The Seattle grunge rockers keep it rolling with an eponymous release that's as pure rock 'n roll as anything they've put out in their career. Eddie Vedder's lyrics remain sharp and pointed as he goes after war mongers in cuts like "Worldwide Suicide" and "Marker in the Sand". Mike McCready's guitar expands the group's sonic base once again, as he rises to the challenge and drives it home on tracks about the difficulties facing today's youth like "Life Wasted" and "Comatose". In all honesty, Pearl Jam hasn't sounded this relevant in over a decade. You have to give these rocksters kudos for refinding their swagger after a pretty long hiatus. (The last album of theirs that really mattered was probably 1994's Vitalogy.) Of course, despite its early demise, Nirvana remains the most famous and popular of the Grungester groups, but Pearl Jam has proven to have the best survival skills and just might be the one that matters the most.
(3.5 stars outta 5)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium
The Peppers continue their smooth transition from hip-hop funksters to mellow guitar rockers with this release. Stadium Arcadium makes three straight albums of strong tuneage and great melody from the California crew. 1999's Californication and 2002's By the Way were high quality releases in their own rights, but this album shows Anthony Kiedis and Flea taking their band to new levels of output---the double disc clocks in at 28 tracks. Guitarist John Frusciante continues to lead the group's new sound with his virtuoso guitar playing front and center. Undoubtedly it's Frusciante's sobriety that has clarified the group's sound during the last eight years and it continues in full effect hear. Standout cuts "Dani California" (with its impressive geographical name checks), "Hey" ( a beautiful sequel to "Under the Bridge") and "C'mon Girl" hang in your head long after the two hours' worth of music has run out. The album has a silly title, no question about that, but the real point here is that the Chili Peppers have solidified their place as one of the most important surviving bands of the past two decades.
(4 stars outta 5)
-JAB
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
NBA Playoff Field Down to Four
Late May means conference finals time in the NBA playoffs and the narrowing of the field is down to the final four clubs. Surely, the NBA's Final Four isn't nearly as big a deal as the NCAA's elite quartet, perhaps because in college hoops the Final Four decides a champion with just three more games, while in the NBA it takes three best of sevens to close the deal, but regardless, the best of the bunch have clearly emerged.
In the East, as expected, it's going to be the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat, a rematch of last year's conference finale. The Heat dispatched of New Jersey's feisty Nets in a five game series that saw Miami win the last four in a row. Dwyane Wade is unquestionably the best player in the league at driving the basket, drawing contact and finishing, while Shaq and Zo are a two-headed beast in the middle, even in their advancing years. It was too much for New Jersey to handle down low, but it probably won't be the same against the Pistons.
Detroit comes in after engaging in a surprisingly ferocious seven game battle with Lebron James and the young Cavaliers. Still Detroit brings its experienced legions to the table after a tremendous regular and post-season run, all in all. I think the rematch of last year's East Finals will be another seven game war. In the end, I'll take Pistons to bring the home the bacon, just as I did at the start of the year.
Over in the West, it's the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns getting together. The Mavs surprised many NBA watchers, including myself, by playing a defensive-minded game against San Antonio. (And talk about a gutsy performance in overtime on the road in the Game Seven win over San Antonio.) Indeed Avery Johnson deserved his Coach of the Year award this season as his Dallas club showed more speed and effort on the 'D' side of the floor than I've ever seen them show before. It clearly took the Spurs by surprise as well. Dirk's getting all the calls in and around the basket, which is a very scary prospect for the Suns.
Surely, with Amare Stoudemire injured for the year, Phoenix has met and exceeded any expectations from when the season started. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw are greatly improved, Shawn Marion and Steven Nash are just plain great, but Dallas is playing with tremendous confidence and poise. Look for the Mavericks to reach the NBA Finals, beating the Suns in six games.
Finals Prediction: Detroit over Dallas in six
Finals MVP: Chauncey Billups
-JAB
In the East, as expected, it's going to be the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat, a rematch of last year's conference finale. The Heat dispatched of New Jersey's feisty Nets in a five game series that saw Miami win the last four in a row. Dwyane Wade is unquestionably the best player in the league at driving the basket, drawing contact and finishing, while Shaq and Zo are a two-headed beast in the middle, even in their advancing years. It was too much for New Jersey to handle down low, but it probably won't be the same against the Pistons.
Detroit comes in after engaging in a surprisingly ferocious seven game battle with Lebron James and the young Cavaliers. Still Detroit brings its experienced legions to the table after a tremendous regular and post-season run, all in all. I think the rematch of last year's East Finals will be another seven game war. In the end, I'll take Pistons to bring the home the bacon, just as I did at the start of the year.
Over in the West, it's the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns getting together. The Mavs surprised many NBA watchers, including myself, by playing a defensive-minded game against San Antonio. (And talk about a gutsy performance in overtime on the road in the Game Seven win over San Antonio.) Indeed Avery Johnson deserved his Coach of the Year award this season as his Dallas club showed more speed and effort on the 'D' side of the floor than I've ever seen them show before. It clearly took the Spurs by surprise as well. Dirk's getting all the calls in and around the basket, which is a very scary prospect for the Suns.
Surely, with Amare Stoudemire injured for the year, Phoenix has met and exceeded any expectations from when the season started. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw are greatly improved, Shawn Marion and Steven Nash are just plain great, but Dallas is playing with tremendous confidence and poise. Look for the Mavericks to reach the NBA Finals, beating the Suns in six games.
Finals Prediction: Detroit over Dallas in six
Finals MVP: Chauncey Billups
-JAB
Monday, May 08, 2006
The Flyers Fall Early: Philly's Title Drought Continues
Another spring arrives and another NHL season ends with the Philadelphia Flyers falling short in their run at a Stanley Cup. It's been 31 years now since the team from the Cheesteak Capital of the World last hoisted Stanley's Silver goblet atop their collective shoulders. Worse yet is the fact that the city of Philadelphia---as diehard a USA sports town as there is---has not won a championship in any of the major professional North American sports leagues since the 76ers in 1983.
The Eagles have been close of late, what with four straight NFC Championship game appearances culminating in a Super Bowl loss to the Patriots in '05; the 76ers have been less close, though they did make it to the NBA finals in '01 thanks to Allen Iverson's superhuman playoff run; the Phillies, well, they're the Phillies . . . They haven't made it to the postseason since a trip to the World Series in 1993.
But the Flyers! They have remained the most consistent contender of all the major Philadelphia sports clubs over the past few decades. Year in, year out, they begin their campaigns with as much hope and expectation as any club in the NHL, and for myriad reasons, each year they fall short. Which is not to say they haven't been close: in 1987, the Flyers took the Gretzky/Messier-led Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the Finals before falling; in 1997, the Lindros-led Flyers rolled to the Final round before getting routed by the Detroit Red Wings; and in 2004, the Flyers took the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning to seven games before succumbing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
This year was supposed to be different. After a year-long hiatus from any NHL action due to the lockout, the Flyers signed center Peter Forsberg, a star with plenty of championship experience from his time in Colorado. Also signed for his grit and experience was veteran defenseman Derian Hatcher. Mix in young up and comers like Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger, and it looked like Philly finally had just the right mix of youth and experience. With Robert Esche and Antero Nittymaki providing solid play in net, everything was in place for a legitimate championship run. Could this finally be the year the Flyers ended the drought for themselves and their city? It seemed so, for a while, at least: halfway through the year the Flyers had 60 points and the best record in hockey.
Then, the harshness of reality set in all over again . . . Philly was devastated by injuries, with star players Peter Forsberg, Simon Gagne, Joni Pitkanen and Robert Esche all missing significant chunks of time with various injuries. Coach Ken Hitchcock did his best to keep the team afloat with constant line shuffles and changes: the Flyers would rally late in the season and come just one point short of winning the Atlantic Division in spite of it all, but instead Philly got a five seed and a tough first round draw in the Buffalo Sabres.
This is the new NHL we are watching now (or not, depending upon your television package). It's a more wide open league where there is more speed, more scoring and more penalties called, even in the playoffs . . . For the Flyers, though, it seemed like the old problems had sprung up all over again: not enough defensive mobility, not enough playmakers, and too many stupid penalties, sending devoted owner Ed Snider (the founder of the franchise) and long-time General Manager Bob Clarke back to the retooling room once again.
And so, the tinkering of the roster is set to to begin anew. The Flyers will do their best to come back deeper, stronger, faster and better able to deal with the new NHL next year, hoping to bring that elusive Cup back to the town that hasn't had it since back-to-back titles in the 1970s. For now though, with the 76ers not even making the playoffs, the city of Philadelphia continues another long summer's wait for a crown.
It's of minor consolation to Philly sports fans, but as the old saying goes, "There's always next year!" I know, I know: straight yuck.
The Eagles have been close of late, what with four straight NFC Championship game appearances culminating in a Super Bowl loss to the Patriots in '05; the 76ers have been less close, though they did make it to the NBA finals in '01 thanks to Allen Iverson's superhuman playoff run; the Phillies, well, they're the Phillies . . . They haven't made it to the postseason since a trip to the World Series in 1993.
But the Flyers! They have remained the most consistent contender of all the major Philadelphia sports clubs over the past few decades. Year in, year out, they begin their campaigns with as much hope and expectation as any club in the NHL, and for myriad reasons, each year they fall short. Which is not to say they haven't been close: in 1987, the Flyers took the Gretzky/Messier-led Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the Finals before falling; in 1997, the Lindros-led Flyers rolled to the Final round before getting routed by the Detroit Red Wings; and in 2004, the Flyers took the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning to seven games before succumbing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
This year was supposed to be different. After a year-long hiatus from any NHL action due to the lockout, the Flyers signed center Peter Forsberg, a star with plenty of championship experience from his time in Colorado. Also signed for his grit and experience was veteran defenseman Derian Hatcher. Mix in young up and comers like Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger, and it looked like Philly finally had just the right mix of youth and experience. With Robert Esche and Antero Nittymaki providing solid play in net, everything was in place for a legitimate championship run. Could this finally be the year the Flyers ended the drought for themselves and their city? It seemed so, for a while, at least: halfway through the year the Flyers had 60 points and the best record in hockey.
Then, the harshness of reality set in all over again . . . Philly was devastated by injuries, with star players Peter Forsberg, Simon Gagne, Joni Pitkanen and Robert Esche all missing significant chunks of time with various injuries. Coach Ken Hitchcock did his best to keep the team afloat with constant line shuffles and changes: the Flyers would rally late in the season and come just one point short of winning the Atlantic Division in spite of it all, but instead Philly got a five seed and a tough first round draw in the Buffalo Sabres.
This is the new NHL we are watching now (or not, depending upon your television package). It's a more wide open league where there is more speed, more scoring and more penalties called, even in the playoffs . . . For the Flyers, though, it seemed like the old problems had sprung up all over again: not enough defensive mobility, not enough playmakers, and too many stupid penalties, sending devoted owner Ed Snider (the founder of the franchise) and long-time General Manager Bob Clarke back to the retooling room once again.
And so, the tinkering of the roster is set to to begin anew. The Flyers will do their best to come back deeper, stronger, faster and better able to deal with the new NHL next year, hoping to bring that elusive Cup back to the town that hasn't had it since back-to-back titles in the 1970s. For now though, with the 76ers not even making the playoffs, the city of Philadelphia continues another long summer's wait for a crown.
It's of minor consolation to Philly sports fans, but as the old saying goes, "There's always next year!" I know, I know: straight yuck.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Grading the NFL Teams' Draft Performances
The draft’s in the bag and all certainly did not go as expected at the top. Friday night's stunning news that Houston was passing on tailback Reggie Bush (maybe the greatest college footballer ever) at #1 for the relatively-unproven DE Mario Williams obliterated most mock draft boards the eve of the Draft; it also led to plenty of questions about the sanity of Houston GM Charlie Casserly. I can't help thinking that the Texans missed the boat on this one, but Houston was far from the only club that made some strange draft-day decisions. On an 'A' through 'F' scale, below is my rating of the draft day performances of all 32 NFL teams (in order of first round picks):
1- Houston selects DE Mario Williams from NC State. You know, I understand the Texans want to strengthen their defense, and Williams may prove to be an NFL star---he certainly has all the size at 6’7, 300 pounds plus---but you don’t pass on Michael Jordan (unless you're the Portland Trailblazers). This is just an historic mistake by the Texans, in my opinion. I can’t believe Charlie Casserly and company convinced themselves not to take Reggie, with all of the potential lucrative jersey and merchandising money staring them right in the face. Alabama linebacker Demeco Ryans is a solid choice in the second, but Houston gets a straight 'D' grade in my opinion.
2- New Orleans gets some tremendous luck, for a change, and watches as USC tailback Reggie Bush falls in its proverbial lap. The Saints don’t have to throw him to the wolves right away either, as Deuce McAllister can still carry the rock 20 times a game. Even as an alternate feature back, add up the 10-15 carries, 5-10 receptions and 5 or so kick returns and you get the 25-30 touches per game range: Bush is going to get the ball enough to make the Saints completely relevant for perhaps the first time in franchise history. Barring injuries, he will be an unquestioned star at the next level for a decade. I like ‘Bama safety Roman Harper a lot in the second round as well. Give the Saints an 'A'.
3- Tennessee makes a gut choice in the three slot, taking Texas QB Vince Young over Matt Leinart. And honestly, who can fault the Titans for that? I thought the connection to former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow would make them lean toward Leinart, but Young clearly struck the Titans like he does me: a truly rare and scintillating physical prospect who thrives under pressure and won’t struggle too much to make the leap to the NFL. Lendale White in the second round could be a tremendous steal for the offense too. I mean, the guy had more touchdowns than Reggie Bush last year and they were on the same team! Some defensive tinkering in the later rounds makes it an unquestioned 'A' draft for the Titans in my book.
4 & 29- The New York Jets' new regime showed a lot of poise in the fourth slot by staying put, not moving up for Bush and selecting offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson out of Virginia. That’s right, D’Brickashaw---it’s a tremendous name. At 6’6, 315 pounds, with a 7’3 inch wingspan, Ferguson should be a dominant anchor on the left side of the Jets line for a long time. New head coach Eric Mangini continued the offensive line rebuilding in the 29th slot, taking Ohio State Center Nick Mangold. The Jets were still able to grab Oregon QB Kellen Clemens in the second round, their possible QB of the future. And Missouri QB turned WR Brad Smith could be a Randle El type, if all goes well . . . You have to give Gang Green a sturdy 'A' for the line work.
5- Green Bay continues to overhaul its defense with OSU LB A.J. Hawk in the fifth slot. A deceptively-fast, instinctive kinda player, Hawk will give the Green Bay defense a horse to rally around. The Packers stayed active in this draft in the trade department as well, dealing disgruntled WR Javon Walker to Denver for a 2nd round pick, then taking tackle Daryn Colledge outta Boise in the second round. But who's gonna replace Mr. Walker for Mr. Favre? Make it a 'B-' for the Pack.
6 & 22- San Francisco finally had itself an effective draft with its two first round selections both creating big splashes. In the sixth slot, Maryland TE Vernon Davis was a perfect fit, a 6’5, 270 pound pass-catching force who should develop a nice chemistry with last year’s #1 overrall choice Alex Smith. At twenty-two, the 49ers grabbed N.C. State defensive end/linebacker Manny Lawson, a speedy outside rusher who should also be a star at the next level. Help on the offensive line would've been nice too, but you can't get everything all at once. Both of the first rounders should make impacts for San Fran in a hurry, giving the Niners a strong 'A-' grade in this draft.
7- Oakland bolsters its secondary with Texas safety Michael Huff. Al Davis always thinks he knows something everyone else doesn’t. Whether or not that's true and/or a good thing are the real questions. Now let me see, Ken Stabler was a pretty good left-handed QB for the Raiders, wasn’t he? Apparently, Matt Leinart didn’t strike Oaktown’s crew as the same kinda guy. Not that Michael Huff won’t be a great player; he was unquestionably the best secondary athlete in college football last year. But is Aaron Brooks really the answer for the Raiders? Or Andrew Walters, for that matter? Weber State G Paul McQuistan is a huge reach in the second. At least they didn’t take Marcus Vick with the last pick in the draft---Maine wideout Kevin McMahan is Mr. Irrelevant. Oakland gets a 'C-'.
8 & 25- Buffalo gets defensive with its first round choices. The truth is, Marv Levy knows exponentially more about football than I do. But the fact remains that Levy’s Bills took OSU safety Donte Whitner way too high. In the eight slot? With Leinart and Cutler on the board? Don’t tell me you believe in J.P. Losman now. Trading up with Chicago to get John McCargo, DT outta N.C. State at 25 was a reach as well. (The Bears would then use their second round pick on CB Danieal Manning from Division II Abilene Christian.) On that note, Buffalo may have had the worst draft of anyone this side of Washington or Chicago, teams that barely showed at the draft. Even with the second round addition of LB Rocky McIntosh from Miami, I'll give Washington an 'F', Chicago a straight 'D' and, oh yeah, the bumbling Bills a confusing 'D+'.
9- Detroit drafts all those wideouts in the first round over the past few years and still doesn’t have a good young QB to get them the ball. (The Joey Harrington era now mericfully being over in Motown...) So why Matt Millen passed on Leinart at nine I have no idea, but then, I have no idea how he’s still in charge of the team either. First round pick FSU LB Ernie Sims could be a monster on the edge (and at least he's not another WR!) while Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun will be a nice change of pace guy, but with Harrington already having flopped, don’t you have to find a young franchise QB at some point? Josh McCown and Jon Kitna do not qualify. The Lions get another 'C-'.
10- Arizona is a team on the rise, no doubt about it. Getting USC QB Matt Leinart at ten was probably the steal of the first round: he’s a tremendous pro-scheme passer who’s basically NFL ready right now. With Edge in the backfield and wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on the perimeter, the Cardinals offense could be ready to explode with just a little more help on the line. Guard Tatusi Lutui was a nice second round addition as well. Dennis Green’s crew gets a strong 'A' for the draft. Watch out for the Cardinals, folks.
11- Denver gets itself a poor man's Elway clone. Mike Shanahan’s Broncos were very aggressive in this draft, moving up to snare Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler with the eleventh pick from the Rams. With a big, powerful arm, Cutler should be able to combat thost Mile High winds and will be a nice option for the franchise whenever Jake the Snake finally wears out his welcome. (I'm guessing that happens sooner rather than later.) Grabbing Javon Walker from Green Bay for a second round pick, while not a draft selection, was still a strong offensive move. Walker will be a great complement to Rod Smith and/or Ashley Lelie. Denver glides its way to an 'A'.
12- Baltimore wanted Oregon DT Haloti Ngata bad enough to trade up just one slot to get him. For the Ravens, EN-gotta have him . . . sorry, but I had to use that at least once. Joking aside, Ngata is a behemoth who should swallow up some blockers to free Ray Lewis for more plays. Oklahoma Center Chris Chester was a nice second round addition as well. Give the Ravens a 'B'.
13- Cleveland continues a great offseason for head coach Romeo Crennel. After adding center LeCharles Bentley and tackle Kevin Shaffer in free agency, Browns GM Phil Savage turns to defense in the draft, getting DE Kamerrion Wimbley, a strong, swift pass rusher from FSU in the first round and then Maryland LB D’Qwell Jackson in the second, last year’s defensive player of the year in the ACC. Getting Fullback Lawrence Vickers late doesn’t hurt either. The Brownies have hit their targets all offseason long and get an 'A' for the draft. No pluses in my book.
14- Philadelphia stayed put in the first and got itself maybe the best defense tackle in the draft in Florida State’s Broderick Bunkley at fourteen. The Eagles got a deal on USC tackle Winston Justice in the second as well, character issues and missed assignments driving his stock down the board (let's remember in the title game the Trojan coaches specificially told him who to block on a key fourth and two, and Justice still got mixed up). WR/Skiing sensation Jeremy Bloom out of Colorado in the fifth was a nice touch; he should return kicks immediately. The Eagles get another ‘A’ in what’s becoming a pretty well-handled draft for a number of clubs so far.
15- St. Louis trades down with Denver and winds up with CB Tye Hill from Clemson. He’s small but quickand talented. DT Claude Wroten from LSU and USC TE Dominique Byrd are similar picks in terms of talent and character questions. First year coach Scott Linehan has some additional challenges to deal with right away and that's always lotsa fun for new coaches, isn't it?. The Rams pass with a 'C-'.
16- Miami coach Nick Saban says he loves Jason Allen, and rightfully so: the safety from Tennessee has all the athleticism necessary to bolster an NFL secondary right away. The second round pick had already been dealt for QB Dante Culpepper but the Dolphins also got Arizona State receiver Derek Hagan later on. Hagan isn’t a completely bad choice as a backup for Chris Chambers, but he dropped more than a few passes in college. The Dolphins get a ‘C-‘.
17- Minnesota didn’t wow me in this draft, but it wasn’t as bad for the Vikes as some national analysts would have you believe. They got a solid tackler at LB---a position of great need---in round one with the addition of Iowa’s Chad Greenway, a Mt. Vernon, South Dakota native. The first of three second round picks---Texas CB Cedric Griffin should be solid, but fellow second rounders Ryan Cook and Tavaris Jackson were both probably taken too high. Cook could be a backup center right away while Division II standout Jackson will need some time to polish his throwing and scheme reading if he hopes to be a successful NFL QB. Still, if Minnesota really wanted Oregon QB Kellen Clemens, he should have been grabbed in front of the Jets at 49. Give the Vikings a 'C+'.
18- Dallas gets Bill Parcells another defensive piece with OSU LB Bobby Carpenter. TE Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame ain't much to write home about in the second round though. And the Cowboys already have Jason Witten at the position, which makes you wonder what exactly the Tuna was thinking . . . But aren't we always sort of wondering that? The Cowboys snare a 'C'.
19- San Diego takes a wounded knee in CB Antonio Cromartie out of FSU, making it four Seminole defensive players selected in this year's first round. Cromartie missed much of last year with a torn right knee, but he appears to be healthy and showed good speed according to scouts at the combine. Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst was a nice pick in the third as Philip Rivers projected backup. The Chargers get a 'B-'.
20- Kansas City begins the Herm Edwards' era by going after character guys, which won't be a great thing if they fail to pan out as players. Penn State DE Tamba Hali is a great story, but can he stop the run? Meanwhile, Alabama QB Brodie Croyle has a big arm and would definitely have been worthy of a first round pick if had healthy knees, but he doesn't. Some insiders claim he won't even be ready to play at any point this year. The Chiefs reached a bit with both selections and didn't make a huge impact. That's worthy of a 'D+'.
21- New England anticipates a need at RB by grabbing Minnesota's Laurence Maroney. He has phenomenal speed, but is not much of a blocker, or a pass catcher for that matter. I'm tempted to say that Bill Belichik reached with his first rounder, but then, he's Bill Belichik . . . Taking Chad Jackson early in the 2nd round to replace David Givens was keen for sure. The Patriots get offensive and earn themselves a 'B+'.
23- Tampa Bay played it safe in this draft, getting John Gruden a couple more linemen to tinker with. Oklahoma G Davin Joseph can play right now, while Boston College T Jeremy Trueblood needs a lot of work to play at the next level. It was an adequate, if unspectacular draft in Grudenland. The Buccaneers get a 'C-'.
24- Cincinnati didn't have a lot of holes to fill in this draft, but still made a couple of nice additions. CB Jonathan Joseph from South Carolina is speedy and athletic but raw: he only started one year for Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks. Meanwhile, LSU tackle Andrew Whitworth has a lot of size and could be a starting lineman soon. Marvin Lewis gets a 'B-' on the draft, but you feel like his thoughts are probably still with QB Carson Palmer's recuperating knee.
25- Pittsburgh desperately needed to replace Antwan Randle-El in the receiving corps after he departed for Chicago. The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers were able to do just that by trading up with the Giants to get OSU WR Santonio Holmes. He's a a great route runner and well-polished, but the heart of Pittsburgh's offense has always been pounding the pigskin. With the Bus retired, it surprised me that the Steelers didn't move up for LenDale White with him still on the board in the second round. Pittsburgh earns a 'C'.
27- Carolina gets a tremendous value with Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams at twenty-seven. Williams is a little undersized but he has tremendous speed and actually led all of the NCAA in rushing the last two years. He'll be a great replacement for Stephen Davis in the backfield and should share the load with DeShaun Foster. Fresno State CB Richard Marshall will help Carolina replenish its secondary as well. The Panthers get an 'A' grade.
28- Jacksonville continues to build its offense with the addition of UCLA TE Mercedes Lewis. He should be a great over the middle target for QB Byron Leftwich. Coach Jack Del Rio starred at USC, but he goes for a couple of Bruins in this draft, grabbing speedy RB Maurice Drew as well. The Jaguars could have used some more offensive line help to make sure that Leftwich stays healthy this year, but the offensive tinkering cannot be discounted. The Jags grab a 'B' from me.
30- Indianapolis wanted Maroney badly but had to settle for LSU RB Joseph Addai at the tail end of round one after a run on the ball carriers. Addai is versatile and has very good hands, but can he be a 20-30 carries kind of guy? Probably not. Looks like Rhodes and Addai will try to fill Edge James' big shoes by committee. Getting Georgia CB Tim Jennings from Georgie was a nice second round pick though. The Colts stagnate a bit with a 'C-'.
31- Seattle makes a nice late round first round pick with Miami CB Kelly Jennings, although he is a little small. Virginia Tech DE Darryl Tapp could be a steal for the defense as well, in a similar vein to Latusi Tatapu last year. Still, who is going to replace All-World Guard Steve Hutchinson on the offense line? The Seahawks get a 'B-'.
32- The New York Giants close out the first round by getting younger on the defensive line. Boston College DE Mathia Kiwanuka is far from a finished project, but he is 6'7 and the Giants are going to need a replacement for the aging Michael Strahan eventually. Sinorice Moss in the second round was a great decision; Santana's younger brother will be a strong slot option for Eli Manning. The Giants did well for themselves overall and deserve a solid 'B'.
-JAB
1- Houston selects DE Mario Williams from NC State. You know, I understand the Texans want to strengthen their defense, and Williams may prove to be an NFL star---he certainly has all the size at 6’7, 300 pounds plus---but you don’t pass on Michael Jordan (unless you're the Portland Trailblazers). This is just an historic mistake by the Texans, in my opinion. I can’t believe Charlie Casserly and company convinced themselves not to take Reggie, with all of the potential lucrative jersey and merchandising money staring them right in the face. Alabama linebacker Demeco Ryans is a solid choice in the second, but Houston gets a straight 'D' grade in my opinion.
2- New Orleans gets some tremendous luck, for a change, and watches as USC tailback Reggie Bush falls in its proverbial lap. The Saints don’t have to throw him to the wolves right away either, as Deuce McAllister can still carry the rock 20 times a game. Even as an alternate feature back, add up the 10-15 carries, 5-10 receptions and 5 or so kick returns and you get the 25-30 touches per game range: Bush is going to get the ball enough to make the Saints completely relevant for perhaps the first time in franchise history. Barring injuries, he will be an unquestioned star at the next level for a decade. I like ‘Bama safety Roman Harper a lot in the second round as well. Give the Saints an 'A'.
3- Tennessee makes a gut choice in the three slot, taking Texas QB Vince Young over Matt Leinart. And honestly, who can fault the Titans for that? I thought the connection to former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow would make them lean toward Leinart, but Young clearly struck the Titans like he does me: a truly rare and scintillating physical prospect who thrives under pressure and won’t struggle too much to make the leap to the NFL. Lendale White in the second round could be a tremendous steal for the offense too. I mean, the guy had more touchdowns than Reggie Bush last year and they were on the same team! Some defensive tinkering in the later rounds makes it an unquestioned 'A' draft for the Titans in my book.
4 & 29- The New York Jets' new regime showed a lot of poise in the fourth slot by staying put, not moving up for Bush and selecting offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson out of Virginia. That’s right, D’Brickashaw---it’s a tremendous name. At 6’6, 315 pounds, with a 7’3 inch wingspan, Ferguson should be a dominant anchor on the left side of the Jets line for a long time. New head coach Eric Mangini continued the offensive line rebuilding in the 29th slot, taking Ohio State Center Nick Mangold. The Jets were still able to grab Oregon QB Kellen Clemens in the second round, their possible QB of the future. And Missouri QB turned WR Brad Smith could be a Randle El type, if all goes well . . . You have to give Gang Green a sturdy 'A' for the line work.
5- Green Bay continues to overhaul its defense with OSU LB A.J. Hawk in the fifth slot. A deceptively-fast, instinctive kinda player, Hawk will give the Green Bay defense a horse to rally around. The Packers stayed active in this draft in the trade department as well, dealing disgruntled WR Javon Walker to Denver for a 2nd round pick, then taking tackle Daryn Colledge outta Boise in the second round. But who's gonna replace Mr. Walker for Mr. Favre? Make it a 'B-' for the Pack.
6 & 22- San Francisco finally had itself an effective draft with its two first round selections both creating big splashes. In the sixth slot, Maryland TE Vernon Davis was a perfect fit, a 6’5, 270 pound pass-catching force who should develop a nice chemistry with last year’s #1 overrall choice Alex Smith. At twenty-two, the 49ers grabbed N.C. State defensive end/linebacker Manny Lawson, a speedy outside rusher who should also be a star at the next level. Help on the offensive line would've been nice too, but you can't get everything all at once. Both of the first rounders should make impacts for San Fran in a hurry, giving the Niners a strong 'A-' grade in this draft.
7- Oakland bolsters its secondary with Texas safety Michael Huff. Al Davis always thinks he knows something everyone else doesn’t. Whether or not that's true and/or a good thing are the real questions. Now let me see, Ken Stabler was a pretty good left-handed QB for the Raiders, wasn’t he? Apparently, Matt Leinart didn’t strike Oaktown’s crew as the same kinda guy. Not that Michael Huff won’t be a great player; he was unquestionably the best secondary athlete in college football last year. But is Aaron Brooks really the answer for the Raiders? Or Andrew Walters, for that matter? Weber State G Paul McQuistan is a huge reach in the second. At least they didn’t take Marcus Vick with the last pick in the draft---Maine wideout Kevin McMahan is Mr. Irrelevant. Oakland gets a 'C-'.
8 & 25- Buffalo gets defensive with its first round choices. The truth is, Marv Levy knows exponentially more about football than I do. But the fact remains that Levy’s Bills took OSU safety Donte Whitner way too high. In the eight slot? With Leinart and Cutler on the board? Don’t tell me you believe in J.P. Losman now. Trading up with Chicago to get John McCargo, DT outta N.C. State at 25 was a reach as well. (The Bears would then use their second round pick on CB Danieal Manning from Division II Abilene Christian.) On that note, Buffalo may have had the worst draft of anyone this side of Washington or Chicago, teams that barely showed at the draft. Even with the second round addition of LB Rocky McIntosh from Miami, I'll give Washington an 'F', Chicago a straight 'D' and, oh yeah, the bumbling Bills a confusing 'D+'.
9- Detroit drafts all those wideouts in the first round over the past few years and still doesn’t have a good young QB to get them the ball. (The Joey Harrington era now mericfully being over in Motown...) So why Matt Millen passed on Leinart at nine I have no idea, but then, I have no idea how he’s still in charge of the team either. First round pick FSU LB Ernie Sims could be a monster on the edge (and at least he's not another WR!) while Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun will be a nice change of pace guy, but with Harrington already having flopped, don’t you have to find a young franchise QB at some point? Josh McCown and Jon Kitna do not qualify. The Lions get another 'C-'.
10- Arizona is a team on the rise, no doubt about it. Getting USC QB Matt Leinart at ten was probably the steal of the first round: he’s a tremendous pro-scheme passer who’s basically NFL ready right now. With Edge in the backfield and wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on the perimeter, the Cardinals offense could be ready to explode with just a little more help on the line. Guard Tatusi Lutui was a nice second round addition as well. Dennis Green’s crew gets a strong 'A' for the draft. Watch out for the Cardinals, folks.
11- Denver gets itself a poor man's Elway clone. Mike Shanahan’s Broncos were very aggressive in this draft, moving up to snare Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler with the eleventh pick from the Rams. With a big, powerful arm, Cutler should be able to combat thost Mile High winds and will be a nice option for the franchise whenever Jake the Snake finally wears out his welcome. (I'm guessing that happens sooner rather than later.) Grabbing Javon Walker from Green Bay for a second round pick, while not a draft selection, was still a strong offensive move. Walker will be a great complement to Rod Smith and/or Ashley Lelie. Denver glides its way to an 'A'.
12- Baltimore wanted Oregon DT Haloti Ngata bad enough to trade up just one slot to get him. For the Ravens, EN-gotta have him . . . sorry, but I had to use that at least once. Joking aside, Ngata is a behemoth who should swallow up some blockers to free Ray Lewis for more plays. Oklahoma Center Chris Chester was a nice second round addition as well. Give the Ravens a 'B'.
13- Cleveland continues a great offseason for head coach Romeo Crennel. After adding center LeCharles Bentley and tackle Kevin Shaffer in free agency, Browns GM Phil Savage turns to defense in the draft, getting DE Kamerrion Wimbley, a strong, swift pass rusher from FSU in the first round and then Maryland LB D’Qwell Jackson in the second, last year’s defensive player of the year in the ACC. Getting Fullback Lawrence Vickers late doesn’t hurt either. The Brownies have hit their targets all offseason long and get an 'A' for the draft. No pluses in my book.
14- Philadelphia stayed put in the first and got itself maybe the best defense tackle in the draft in Florida State’s Broderick Bunkley at fourteen. The Eagles got a deal on USC tackle Winston Justice in the second as well, character issues and missed assignments driving his stock down the board (let's remember in the title game the Trojan coaches specificially told him who to block on a key fourth and two, and Justice still got mixed up). WR/Skiing sensation Jeremy Bloom out of Colorado in the fifth was a nice touch; he should return kicks immediately. The Eagles get another ‘A’ in what’s becoming a pretty well-handled draft for a number of clubs so far.
15- St. Louis trades down with Denver and winds up with CB Tye Hill from Clemson. He’s small but quickand talented. DT Claude Wroten from LSU and USC TE Dominique Byrd are similar picks in terms of talent and character questions. First year coach Scott Linehan has some additional challenges to deal with right away and that's always lotsa fun for new coaches, isn't it?. The Rams pass with a 'C-'.
16- Miami coach Nick Saban says he loves Jason Allen, and rightfully so: the safety from Tennessee has all the athleticism necessary to bolster an NFL secondary right away. The second round pick had already been dealt for QB Dante Culpepper but the Dolphins also got Arizona State receiver Derek Hagan later on. Hagan isn’t a completely bad choice as a backup for Chris Chambers, but he dropped more than a few passes in college. The Dolphins get a ‘C-‘.
17- Minnesota didn’t wow me in this draft, but it wasn’t as bad for the Vikes as some national analysts would have you believe. They got a solid tackler at LB---a position of great need---in round one with the addition of Iowa’s Chad Greenway, a Mt. Vernon, South Dakota native. The first of three second round picks---Texas CB Cedric Griffin should be solid, but fellow second rounders Ryan Cook and Tavaris Jackson were both probably taken too high. Cook could be a backup center right away while Division II standout Jackson will need some time to polish his throwing and scheme reading if he hopes to be a successful NFL QB. Still, if Minnesota really wanted Oregon QB Kellen Clemens, he should have been grabbed in front of the Jets at 49. Give the Vikings a 'C+'.
18- Dallas gets Bill Parcells another defensive piece with OSU LB Bobby Carpenter. TE Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame ain't much to write home about in the second round though. And the Cowboys already have Jason Witten at the position, which makes you wonder what exactly the Tuna was thinking . . . But aren't we always sort of wondering that? The Cowboys snare a 'C'.
19- San Diego takes a wounded knee in CB Antonio Cromartie out of FSU, making it four Seminole defensive players selected in this year's first round. Cromartie missed much of last year with a torn right knee, but he appears to be healthy and showed good speed according to scouts at the combine. Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst was a nice pick in the third as Philip Rivers projected backup. The Chargers get a 'B-'.
20- Kansas City begins the Herm Edwards' era by going after character guys, which won't be a great thing if they fail to pan out as players. Penn State DE Tamba Hali is a great story, but can he stop the run? Meanwhile, Alabama QB Brodie Croyle has a big arm and would definitely have been worthy of a first round pick if had healthy knees, but he doesn't. Some insiders claim he won't even be ready to play at any point this year. The Chiefs reached a bit with both selections and didn't make a huge impact. That's worthy of a 'D+'.
21- New England anticipates a need at RB by grabbing Minnesota's Laurence Maroney. He has phenomenal speed, but is not much of a blocker, or a pass catcher for that matter. I'm tempted to say that Bill Belichik reached with his first rounder, but then, he's Bill Belichik . . . Taking Chad Jackson early in the 2nd round to replace David Givens was keen for sure. The Patriots get offensive and earn themselves a 'B+'.
23- Tampa Bay played it safe in this draft, getting John Gruden a couple more linemen to tinker with. Oklahoma G Davin Joseph can play right now, while Boston College T Jeremy Trueblood needs a lot of work to play at the next level. It was an adequate, if unspectacular draft in Grudenland. The Buccaneers get a 'C-'.
24- Cincinnati didn't have a lot of holes to fill in this draft, but still made a couple of nice additions. CB Jonathan Joseph from South Carolina is speedy and athletic but raw: he only started one year for Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks. Meanwhile, LSU tackle Andrew Whitworth has a lot of size and could be a starting lineman soon. Marvin Lewis gets a 'B-' on the draft, but you feel like his thoughts are probably still with QB Carson Palmer's recuperating knee.
25- Pittsburgh desperately needed to replace Antwan Randle-El in the receiving corps after he departed for Chicago. The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers were able to do just that by trading up with the Giants to get OSU WR Santonio Holmes. He's a a great route runner and well-polished, but the heart of Pittsburgh's offense has always been pounding the pigskin. With the Bus retired, it surprised me that the Steelers didn't move up for LenDale White with him still on the board in the second round. Pittsburgh earns a 'C'.
27- Carolina gets a tremendous value with Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams at twenty-seven. Williams is a little undersized but he has tremendous speed and actually led all of the NCAA in rushing the last two years. He'll be a great replacement for Stephen Davis in the backfield and should share the load with DeShaun Foster. Fresno State CB Richard Marshall will help Carolina replenish its secondary as well. The Panthers get an 'A' grade.
28- Jacksonville continues to build its offense with the addition of UCLA TE Mercedes Lewis. He should be a great over the middle target for QB Byron Leftwich. Coach Jack Del Rio starred at USC, but he goes for a couple of Bruins in this draft, grabbing speedy RB Maurice Drew as well. The Jaguars could have used some more offensive line help to make sure that Leftwich stays healthy this year, but the offensive tinkering cannot be discounted. The Jags grab a 'B' from me.
30- Indianapolis wanted Maroney badly but had to settle for LSU RB Joseph Addai at the tail end of round one after a run on the ball carriers. Addai is versatile and has very good hands, but can he be a 20-30 carries kind of guy? Probably not. Looks like Rhodes and Addai will try to fill Edge James' big shoes by committee. Getting Georgia CB Tim Jennings from Georgie was a nice second round pick though. The Colts stagnate a bit with a 'C-'.
31- Seattle makes a nice late round first round pick with Miami CB Kelly Jennings, although he is a little small. Virginia Tech DE Darryl Tapp could be a steal for the defense as well, in a similar vein to Latusi Tatapu last year. Still, who is going to replace All-World Guard Steve Hutchinson on the offense line? The Seahawks get a 'B-'.
32- The New York Giants close out the first round by getting younger on the defensive line. Boston College DE Mathia Kiwanuka is far from a finished project, but he is 6'7 and the Giants are going to need a replacement for the aging Michael Strahan eventually. Sinorice Moss in the second round was a great decision; Santana's younger brother will be a strong slot option for Eli Manning. The Giants did well for themselves overall and deserve a solid 'B'.
-JAB
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