By: Chuck Hilston
Team Needs: Pass Rush/OLB, RB, CB
Analysis: Coming off a heart wrenching Super Bowl XLVI
loss, there are question marks about age all around their roster. However,
fortunately for many in this fan base, this isn’t reason to panic. Being one of
the most savvy organizations in all of professional sports, they are no
strangers to bringing in young blood. Eli Manning consistently had time to get
rid of the ball throughout the big game this year, and that ultimately did them
in. Therefore, I think that they’ll be searching for some pass rush here.
However, it wouldn’t be a shock if they took a CB either, particularly if they
fell further than expected
Who they could draft: Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State; Nick Perry,
LB, USC; Stephone Gilmore, CB, South Carolina; Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati
Team Needs: DEFENSE! (DL, CB), RB
Analysis: As much as
Aaron Rodgers and the Pack were floating on clouds for most of the year, it
really began with an omen. They were torched by Drew Brees and the Saints on
opening night. While people can say “Everyone was torched by the Saints” and
that is absolutely right, there were concerns about this area that popped up
all year long. It culminated in an upset loss on the Frozen Tundra in an NFC
Divisional Playoff game against Eli and the Giants. After that, everyone is
clamoring for defense, and they need it. In a very big way, in fact it wouldn’t
even shock me if they attempted to trade up get Dre Kirkpatrick, or took a
chance on Janoris Jenkins.
Who they could draft: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU; Derek Wolfe, DL,
Cincinnati; Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama; Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Team Needs: WR, Safety, LB
Analysis: This is a team that I really feel might have
been the best in the NFL this past year, and I see no reason that Ball So Hard
University can’t contend for a title again this year. As much flak (pun
intended) as Joe Flacco has taken for his comments that he feels he is the best
QB in the league, I have to give him this. He fully gave his team the best
chance to win he could in the AFC Championship, so why not get the man more
throwing options? That’s definitely something the Ravens should look at this
year, as there is a good quantity of them in this draft. Also though, the
mainstays of the team, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, are getting to an age where it
wouldn’t hurt to groom a potential replacement, or at least a temporary
apprentice. Who better to learn from?
Who they could draft: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech; Harrison
Smith, S, Notre Dame; A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois; Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
Team Needs: The trenches OL/DL
Analysis: The 49ers were another team who came within a
whisker (or a muffed punt, too soon?) of potentially hoisting the Vince
Lombardi trophy. After flirting with Peyton Manning, they at least appear to
have made nice with entrenched starter Alex Smith who finally lived up to his
number one pick status. They’ve made some big free agent splashes, most notably
landing Mario Manningham and Randy Moss in what is now probably one of the
better WR corps in all of football. This team looks very good, however with
defections and age playing a factor on the OL and DL it wouldn’t hurt to find
an addition here. However, they have more leeway here with their pick than
almost any team in the draft.
Who they could pick: Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati; Mike Adams, OT,
Ohio State; Andre Branch, DE, Clemson; Devon Still, DT, Penn State
31- New England Patriots
Pass Rush/OLB, RB, CB
Team Needs:
Analysis: With the loss of the law firm (BenJarvus
Green-Ellis) to the Bengals, this might be the time when they decide to take a
replacement RB. However, what the Patriots know is that they may be over
drafting someone if they take an RB right here, so this might be kind of a wild
card pick. Knowing the team that is making this pick, it wouldn’t be surprising
if they end up being a five time all-pro. They still have a CB need, so that’s
another possibility.
Who they could take: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford; Brandon Weeden,
QB, Oklahoma State; Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska; Janoris Jenkins, CB, North
Alabama; A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
Team Needs: WR, RB, CB
Analysis: This team lacks the typical feel of
invincibility that a Super Bowl champion should have coming into the following
season. They didn’t do too much during free agency, other than watching Mario
Manningham, Brandon Jacobs, and Aaron Ross all walk. Also, they have a long
road ahead of them as the NFL scheduling committee didn’t do them any favors.
Still though, with a great ownership, you have to feel pretty optimistic in the
Big Apple.
Who they could take: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor; A.J. Jenkins, WR,
Illinois; Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State; Doug Martin, RB, Boise State;
Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Cory Luebke is a very good pitcher in his own right, posting
a sub 3.5 E.R.A. over the last 3 seasons, but surprisingly has an E.R.A. a
point lower on the road than at home over that span. Luebke has also struggled in April posting an
E.R.A. over 5, and when it comes down to it, unless he plans on hitting a
couple home runs himself, the run support probably won’t be there.
If you’ve been paying any kind of attention to the baseball
season, you know how the highly touted Red Sox have gotten off to another
sizzling hot start to the season. It’s
either that or they are performing like the overhyped team that they are, and
losing bettors money left and right. The
Sox have gotten off to a 4-8 start, and that offensive explosion in the first 2
games against a series vs. the Rays is starting to look more like an early
season anomaly. 
The Braves bats have finally woken up after a very slow
start to the season. They have now
scored 43 runs over their last 2 series, and have won 7 of their last 8 games
overall. On the other side of the coin
when it comes to being hot as of late are the D’Backs. They have lost 4 of their last 6 games, and
it has a lot to do with injuries. Chris
Young is on the DL now, and was a big reason the D’Backs were doing so well. Since he left with an injury in the 4th
2 games ago, they have scored 2 runs over the last 14 innings. The lack of Justin Upton (most likely out for
tonight’s game as well) along with CY means the D’Backs offense is a shell of
itself right now.
Bobby questioned Youilis’ commitment to the
game saying, “I
don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in
the past for some reason. But [on Saturday] it seemed, you know, he's seeing
the ball well, got those two walks, his on-base percentage up higher than his
batting average, which is always a good thing, and he'll move on from
there." Why say anything to the media? Youkilis has gotten off to a slow
start this season going 2-for-20 through the team’s first six games. But is
that a reason to out him? All the greats
go through slumps. He just went 4-for-10
in the series against Tampa. Maybe, Bobby should worry about getting W’s, not
outing his players in front of the limelight. .jpeg)
