Astrobot

My choices: RD#1 Dwayne Jarrett 6'5", 215 USCJarrett A very fluid receiver with great size and more than enough speed to be a number one at the next level. Jarrett will make the spectacular grab in traffic and as a red zone threat he has the ideal skills. I see so much in this kid that I like. I compare Jarrett to former Wisconsin Badger and New York Jet Al Toon and that is saying a whole bunch. As of now Jarrett appears to be a top fifteen selection in the 2007 draft. RD#2 Dwayne Bowe 6-3 220 LSU Bowe Gifted receiver who possesses great natural ability ... Perhaps the most talented player among LSU's receiving corps ... Big-bodied receiver with great hands ... Has tremendous wingspan ... Still relatively new at the game of football, having played the sport for the first time just four years ago (first year came as a junior in high school) ... At 6-3 has a tremendous stride that contributes to his breakaway speed. Overall: Bowe played in all 13 games for LSU as a true freshman in 2003 as the team's fourth wide receiver and made nine catches for 106 yards. In 2004, Bowe played in all 12 games and had 10 starts. He finished the year with 39 receptions for 597 yards (15.3 average) and five touchdowns. Bowe missed the 2005 opener against ASU with an ankle injury and then played in the remaining 12 games, making nine starts. He led the Tigers in receptions (41), receiving yards (710), and touchdown catches (nine), while averaging 17.3 yards per receptions. Bowe is one of the most naturally gifted wide receiver prospects in this class. He still has room to improve in terms of his route running and recognition skills, but Bowe is a late-bloomer who continues to make noticeable strides with more playing experience. He projects as a good No. 2 receiver ... RD#3 Jason Hill 6-2 210 Washington St. Hill Hill - Scout.com With 32 career TD catches, he is Washington State's all time leader in touchdown receptions and the No. 2 scoring receiver in Pac-10 history. He also owns the WSU record for career receiving yards with 2,704 yards. Had 1,000-yard plus seasons in 2004 and 2005 and was on pace for another in 2006 before going down with a leg injury. In his first season as a Cougar starter, Hill grabbed 12 TDs in 2004 to set the all-time season mark. As a junior, he bettered the mark by one, catching 13 scoring passes. Hill led the Cougar receivers with 62 catches for 1,097 yards in 2005. RD#3 Jarrett Hicks 6-3 210 Texas Tec Hicks Hicks - Scout East-West Shrine, West Team Tuesday Practice Report - The Texas Tech wideouts, Jarrett Hicks and Joel Filani, each flashed ability, but also struggled a bit with consistency. Hicks caught the ball well, but was a little sloppy in his route-running and didn't always play with the required physicality when blocking. Considering he is listed at 6-3, 208 pounds, that is an obvious concern. 11/28/06 - WR Jarrett Hicks missed his third straight game with what is believed to be a back or rib injury, though Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell still managed to distribute the ball to nine receivers. RD#4 Joel Filani 6-3 215 Texas Tech Filani Info East-West Shrine, West Team Tuesday Practice Report - Filani, dropped a few passes early, but improved as the day went on. He also showed surprising burst coming out of his breaks, gaining separation against the best corners the West defense could throw his way. 11/29/06 - Coaches All-Big 12 First Team: Senior WR Joel Filani joined Oklahoma State's Adarius Bowman and UT's Limas Sweed as the top three receivers selected by the conference to the first team. Filani garnered his second consecutive first-team all-conference honor after leading the Big 12 in receptions (80), yards (1,138), yards per game (94.8) and receiving touchdowns (12) during the regular season. His 12 receiving scores are the second highest single-season total in school history and he joined former Red Raider Wes Welker as the only two players to record 1,000 yards receiving in two different seasons after racking up 1,048 in 2005. 11/09/06 - The national player of the week nominations are in and the polls are open. Red Raider fans can cast their votes for Texas Tech wide receiver Joel Filani for the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week, the only major college football honor determined exclusively by fans. Filani was nominated for the award after recording 212 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the Red Raiders' 55-21 win against Baylor. Filani, who ranks in the top 10 nationally in receiving, recorded his third career three touchdown game and second of the season (Iowa State). RD#4 Matt Trannon 6-6 235 Michigan St. Trannon Scout 12/02/06 - There won't be a second Senior Day introduction for Matt Trannon at the end of Michigan State's basketball season. The four-year football wide receiver stopped the insanity that ruled his athletic life at Michigan State since 2003 by telling coach Tom Izzo Friday afternoon he doesn't intend to re-join the basketball Spartans for a fourth time. Trannon will instead concentrate on getting healthy in preparation for the NFL draft in April. "After going three years around the clock, I sort of understand it," Izzo said after practice. "I still think basketball would have helped him (for the NFL), I really do. But he's got a life and whatever he thinks, is what's most important to getting him where he wants to get." If Trannon wasn't still recovering from hamstring, groin and ankle injuries sustained during the football season, the chances of him returning might have been better. "I still think in his heart he wants to play, but in his mind . . ." Izzo said trailing off. "But I also respect and appreciate what he's given us over the couple years he's been with us." Trannon was instrumental in the Spartans' run to the 2005 Final Four, and was honored with MSU seniors Maurice Ager and Paul Davis before the final home game of last season. - Steve Grinczel, Michigan Live 11/20/06 - PRO PROSPECTS: WR Matt Trannon - Another season of basketball might showcase his athletic ability for NFL scouts. Trannon is undecided if he's playing basketball or not. His size and hands will get him a look in the NFL. 11/14/06 - LOOKING GOOD: WR Matt Trannon - Flashing the form that has been missing since early in the season, caught seven passes for 129 yards. He also caught the only touchdown of the day produced by the offense.

Maybe this is a great place to make a guess on this year's. I'll guess RD#1 WR and RD#2 OG.

Steve Breaston, the Michigan WR. Doesn't have the height of Calvin or Jarrett, the size of Ginn, Meachem or Rice, and the speed of any of them. I'd rather see Sam Aiken or George Wilson on this team than Breaston.

My choices: RD#1 Dwayne Jarrett 6'5", 215 USC RD#2 Dwayne Bowe 6-3 220 LSU RD#3 Jason Hill 6-2 210 Washington St. or Jarrett Hicks 6-3 210 Texas Tec RD#4 Joel Filano 6-3 215 Texas Tech or Matt Tranon 6-6 235 Michigan St.

You have to wonder if, had we taken Hawk, what we would have done if Whitner fell to us in RD#2! LOL Also, would Fletcher have been traded (Crowell-Hawk-Spikes would have been a good LB corps, although Briggs-Crowell-Spikes with Ellison-Haggan-Stamer in the wings looks good to me, too...)

Don't forget Levy wanted to sign a LB LAST year by the name of Hawk.

Good draft. Kalil is a great trade-down pick in the 1st, and I have no problem with 2 picks in the 2nd! The Saints' prime need is CB, although I suspect they'll make a bid in FA for their starter. I think we could trade down AGAIN and still get Ramirez in the 3rd, obtaining a late 4th or early 5th. This would net us Paul Williams, the Fresno State WR, Matt Spaeth TE, or (in this draft!) get Brian Leonard FB, who fell 86 positions down the board!

We have a winnah!

Meachem will go 22-25 in RD#1. The bad news is, this is where New England and NYJ are.

No, they have us taking one OLB. I was suggesting that we draft an ILB with our first pick. I think Pitcock's fall from RD#1 is to our benefit because I see him as another Larry Tripplett, so we'd have Tripplett, Pitcock, Williams and McCargo, plus FA Ian Scott if I had my way. Actually, the most Ted Washington-type of DT in the draft is Louis Leonard from Fresno State. I'm thinking 3rd Round for him.

I’m comparing Draft Tek’s current Bills picks with a player selected later by their computer mock draft. RD#1 Draft Tek’s Leon Hall CB or Patrick Willis ILB? Willis. Hall lacks speed, which was exposed in his matchup versus Ginn. Re-sign Fletcher and have him teach the draft’s best ILB in Willis, then offer Fletcher a coaching job. RD#2 Draft Tek’s Quinn Pitcock DT or Justin Blalock OG? Pitcock. Pitcock has been described as “strong as a bull, quick as a cat and tough as they come” and a “blue collar player who scraps and claws on every play”. Add this 4th DT to the platoon. Would still like a huge DT out of free agency to compete in camp. RD#3 Draft Tek’s Stewart Bradley LB or RB Darius Walker? Walker. Bradley had a season-ending injury in 2005. We already have an outside linebacker who had one of them season-ending injuries. Walker just had a career best rushing total -- 1,267 yards—for the 3rd straight year. He averaged 115.6 yards per game over the last nine contests, and broke the ND record for receptions this year. He set it last year. He hits the hole faster than McGahee, but isn’t as big or strong. Both would be a 2-headed monster similar to the Colts (Addai-Rhodes) and Bears (Jones-Benson). RD#4 Draft Tek’s Chansi Stuckey WR Clemson or ILB Justin Durant or ILB Jonathan Abbate? Abbate. Stuckey is just another 6’0” receiver. I still expect a FA or Day2 WR. Durant is a three-time winner of Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year but it’s in the MEAC conference. Abbate is faster at diagnosing plays—vital in the Tampa2—and a very heady player, great in the box and in pass coverage. RD#6 Draft Tek’s Dan Santucci OG Notre Dame or DE Mkristo Bruce? Bruce. – Santucci’s an experienced RG (51 games), a former DT, and a noted scholar-athlete. “Bruuuuuce 2” led Washington State in sacks (11) and tackles-for-loss (16) in recording 67 stops despite playing much of the season in a 3-4 defense. I’d rather the OG come from FA. DraftTek's choices will change tomorrow or Monday, and we'll check these out again. Astro

Totally agree. We'll move Crowell to the middle spot and have Spikes-Ellison on the edges. We'll sign Briggs if he isn't franchised, and, if he isn't available, draft one on Day 1...

RD1 Darrelle Revis CB RD2 Quinn Pitcock DT RD3 Stewart Bradley OLB RD4 Andy Alleman OG RD6 Jarrett Hicks WR As you may know, DraftTek uses a computer model (VBA on MS Excel) to take team needs into account. The Team Needs are listed 1-9, with 1 meaning definitely will draft with high priority. They are here. Round 1 begins here.

I was just looking over that list of WAC players. Samson Satele (guard/center) of Hawaii and Kyle Young (OC) of Fresno State are the best. From DraftDaddy: OC Kyle Young ~ Fresno State -- Regarded by many as the top center prospect in the nation. When the Bulldogs have needed to gain the important yards in the rushing game the last few seasons, they've followed big Kyle up the middle and results were usually positive....Young is big for a center (6' 5", 330 pounds), but is uniquely agile and athletic for his size. Very intelligent player, who is pound per pound very strong. If "tall center" Ryan Cook could be drafted in round 2 by the Vikings recently, there is no reason an athlete like Young can't go as high or higher. Don't Forget two others--Paul Williams WR Fresno St. and Jeff Rowe QB Nevada. WR Paul Williams ~ Fresno State -- Very athletic 6' 2", 200 pound receiver, who has long arms and possesses terrific leaping ability. We've seen Williams make a lot of acrobatic catches, so he's a wide out with excellent body control and improving hands....Williams is very highly regarded as an athlete within the Fresno State program. Only had 5 receptions for 70 yards as a sophomore in 2004, but broke out last season with 43 receptions for 729 yards and 7 TD's. Needs a good senior season, followed by solid workouts, to get squarely on the NFL's Day 1 radar. QB Jeff Rowe ~ Nevada -- Exciting 6' 5", 220 pound quarterback with a fairly strong and accurate arm and surprising mobility (rushed for 6 TD's as a junior). Had a great season in 2005 for the Wolfpack, completing 62% of his attempts for 2,925 yards and 21 TD's. Has thrown 22 interceptions the last 2 seasons (10 in 2005), so cutting down on mistakes will help him. Also, a little added bulk to his frame would be beneficial. Overall, he's a very good quarterback with a lot skills. Sort of reminds us of former Utah star Alex Smith, currently with the 49ers.

The Bills have improved measurably from the 1047 yards worth of penalties they sustained in 2004. Last year, the Bills reduced that figure by 15%, and were penalized 897 yards. In 2006, they took that yardage and reduced it by 30%, down to 629. Of course, Ruben Brown accounted for most of it, but that's still pretty good.

One could argue that LB was Levy's #1 priority last year, and AJ Hawk was taken right before our pick by the Packers. Some think taking an OLB is in the cards. I disagree. The performance of Ellison and Crowell, the rehab of Takeo, and the re-signing of Coy Wire make this less likely. The offensive line is a priority at Guard (read: Blalock or Grubbs in the 2nd Round), and the Defensive Line is a big question mark. A lot depends on whether Branch and Okoye are still on the board. If they aren't, Pitcock is in play in RD#2 and Ryan McBean is a trade down possibility in RD#3. After that, we're probably better off with who we have.

Daryn Colledge, 6-5, 299, Boise State Matched likely first round pass rusher Mathias Kiwanuka of Boston College in the MPC Computers Bowl and held Kiwanuka without a tackle for the first half.

"Kugler joined the Broncos after five years as an assistant with the Detroit Lions. He turned down NFL job offers with Detroit and Buffalo a year ago, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family — a perk made possible by the less-strenuous college schedule. However, he grew up near Buffalo and he considers Bills coach Dick Jauron a friend — ties that pulled him back to the NFL." Jauron is as connected as they come. Maybe he was asked before Larry Zierlein.

If they take their team's top priority, and not what Kiper says, it'll be 1. Oakland takes Calvin Johnson WR 2. Detroit takes Jamarcus Russell QB 3. Tampa Bay takes Brady Quinn QB 4. Cleveland takes Joe Thomas OT 5. Arizona takes Leon Hall CB 6. Denver takes Jamaal Anderson DE 7. Minnesota takes Dwayne Jarrett WR 8. Houston takes Darrelle Revis CB 9. Miami takes Levi Brown OT 10. Atlanta takes Gaines Adams DE 11. San Francisco takes DT Alan Branch This would leave us with these players on the board at each position: Amobi Okoye DT Lawrence Timmons / Paul Posluzny / Rufus Alexander OLB Patrick Willis / Buster Davis ILB Reggie Nelson S Darrelle Revis CB Justin Blalock OG Sidney Rice WR Adrian Peterson / Michael Bush RB In this scenario I would take Amobi Okoye DT as having the most upside, with Blalock OG as my second choice. Okoye is now ranked as high as 9th on some mock drafts, and represents the most value at the 12 pick. Blalock is my idea of a Guard, and Gandy-Preston-Merz aren't. My third choice is Patrick Willis ILB, as we have DiGiorgio backing up Fletcher on our depth chart, and Wire was just re-signed. Astro

I'd agree with the OL. They were the difference-makers for Peyton, Addai, and Rhodes combined.

MEL'S BIG BOARD Player Class Pos. School Stock 1. Calvin Johnson Jr. WR Georgia Tech Hard worker and team oriented. 2. Joe Thomas Sr. OT Wisconsin Imposing lineman with great quickness. 3. Adrian Peterson Jr. RB Oklahoma Great runner, but durability is a concern. 4. Brady Quinn Sr. QB Notre Dame Poised and at his best under pressure. 5. JaMarcus Russell Jr. QB LSU Big and strong with a powerful arm. 6. Jamaal Anderson Jr. DE Arkansas Gifted athlete and a complete player. 7. Alan Branch Jr. DT Michigan A space-eater along the interior. 8. Ted Ginn Jr. Jr. WR Ohio State Takes a backseat to no one in speed. 9. Amobi Okoye Sr. DT Louisville Quick, strong and gets penetration into the backfield. 10. Gaines Adams Sr. DE Clemson Dominating ability with his athleticism. 11. LaRon Landry Sr. DB LSU Leader on one of the nation's best defenses. 12. Reggie Nelson Jr. S Florida Can hit like a safety and cover like a CB. 13. Dwayne Jarrett Jr. WR USC Can create mismatches against smaller cornerbacks. 14. Levi Brown Sr. OT Penn St. Reliable at protecting his QB's blind side. 15. Charles Johnson Jr. DE Georgia Workout numbers should be eye catching. 16. Adam Carriker Sr. DE Nebraska Runs unbelievably well for 300-pound DE. 17. Leon Hall Sr. CB Michigan Great anticipation and awareness in coverage. 18. Dwayne Bowe Sr. WR LSU Runs great routes and is tough in traffic. 19. Robert Meachem Jr. WR Tennessee Could elevate with a fast time at the combine. 20. Sidney Rice Jr. WR South Carolina Above average hands and nice burst. 21. Lawrence Timmons Jr. LB Florida State Production and consistency are what jump out. 22. Anthony Spencer Sr. DE Purdue Athleticism will make him an ideal OLB in the NFL. 23. Tim Crowder Sr. DE Texas Became a bigger playmaker for Texas in 2006. 24. Marshawn Lynch Jr. RB California A complete back with good size. 25. Aaron Ross Sr. CB Texas

I'll take the trade-down, even realizing that Mozes won't be there in RD#4. If our first pick is OG, we better be trading down.

Colts O-Line. Saturday, Lilja, etc.

ASTRO-FAVES: 1st Qtr. Rock Paper Scissors Bud Lite 1st Place Wedding Auctioneer Bud Lite 2nd Place Tundra Racing Through Iron Door 3rd Place 2nd Qtr. Fist Pump Replaced By Slapping 1st Place Heart Guy vs. Blood Press., Cholest 2nd Place Connectile Dysfunction Sprint Broadband 3rd Place 3rd Qtr. Lions Pronounce Carne Asada Taco Bell 1st Place Axe Murderer Hitchhiker Bud Lite 2nd Place Fantasy Scene Coke 3rd Place 4th Qtr. One Finger E-Trade 1st Place It's Hard To Say Goodbye 1st Place Tie Snapple EGCG "It's on the back of the bottle" 3rd Place

Way Looks like a bad draft using NFL without its permission. If the NFL has shut down local church Super Bowl parties, sure as heck they'd shut down this clown. Worst picks ever at the top of this draft. I'll give it the Poor Picks Award. Other awards: Biggest Reach: HailRedskins.com (Akh & Becky) - Zach Miller TE - Many have Miller as our 2nd rounder; they have him our 1st. Best Place For Video: www.nfldraftforecast.com - Click the now-grey top box. Wonderful list of prospect videos, mainly youtube. Best Explanations For Picks: www.nfldraftdirt.com - "Patrick Willis - Linebacker - Senior - Ole Miss London Fletcher-Baker is a free agent this off-season and is on the wrong side of 30. Takeo Spikes has been devastated by injuries and his status with the team is uncertain. The Bills need to bring in some youth to bolster their linebacker unit. Willis is a versatile linebacker who can slide into any of the linebacker positions. Willis’ toughness, hard hitting, leadership, and speed will make him a valuable contributor to the Bills defense." 2nd-Best Explanations For Picks: Walters Football Site - Patrick Willis ILB - "In my September and October mock drafts, I had the Bills taking a quarterback. Given J.P. Losman's improvement late in the season, I changed this selection to Patrick Willis, who will do a good job replacing London Fletcher, a free agent this offseason. Defensive tackle is also an option, but Willis is the best player available." Longest Loading: Draft Daddy and Consensus Draft services (tie) Draft We Don't Wanna See: www.northwestscouting.com - NE trades their 2 picks to pick Willis right ahead of us at 11. Best Site Layout: Draft Board Insider - Great x's and o's background and clickable profiles, more than one round up already.