RookieBlitz.com

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Team Report

Bryan Fontaine — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:02:04 +0000

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 3-13 | Offense: 28^th | Defense: 27^th

2009 Wrap-Up:

The retro orange and white uniforms worn for several games in 2009 were a reminder of how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in the early years of their existence.

Several questionable front office and coaching change decisions resulted in a 3-13 record for the Buccaneers. Head coach Jon Gruden was shown the door in January and was replaced by the 33-year-old Raheem Morris. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was replaced by quarterbacks coach Greg Olson before the start of the season. The Buccaneers also allowed defensive coordinator Jim Bates to run a scheme that did not fit their personnel.

First round pick Josh Freeman was named the starting quarterback after a 0-7 start to the season. Freeman showed flashes of potential and won three starts down the stretch. Tampa Bay needs to surround Freeman with offensive weapons if there is any hope for him becoming a franchise quarterback.

Positions of Need:

1. Defensive Tackle – Roy Miller showed promise in his limited action as a rookie, but the Buccaneers had the worst run defense in the league allowing 158.2 yards per game. It is rare that you can fill your biggest area of need with one of the best prospects in the draft. However, if St. Louis selects a quarterback with the first overall selection the Buccaneers will have their choice of either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy.

2. Wide Receiver – It has been reported that Antonio Bryant will not return to Tampa Bay. The current depth chart is lacking any big-play options. Seventh round steal Sammie Stroughter could develop into a top slot receiver, but the Buccaneers still need to draft at least two receivers. Several excellent options could be available at the top of the second round: Demaryius Thomas, Arrelious Benn, or Damian Williams.

3. Cornerback – Ronde Barber is not getting any younger and they need to find a replacement to pair with Aqib Talib in the secondary. If Tampa Bay goes with a receiver in the second round, they will have to take a risk on a player like Perrish Cox later in the draft.

4. Safety – Tanard Jackson missed the first four games with a suspension and Sabby Piscitelli has been a huge disappointment. Chad Jones from LSU or Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle could be late round steals and eventually step into the starting lineup.

5. Defensive End – The Buccaneers lack the players to consistently put pressure on the quarterback, but there are far greater needs on the roster. Greg Hardy and George Selvie have slid down draft boards and could be options.

6. Running Back – Cadillac Williams made a miraculous recovery from tearing the patellar tendon in both knees in the last two seasons. They lack a game-breaker in the backfield rotation; Derrick Ward was a huge disappointment and needs to bounce back.

7. Quarterback – Josh Freeman is entrenched as the starting quarterback. Josh Johnson will back up Freeman, but the Buccaneers may be wise to trade Johnson to a team in need of a quarterback, like the Rams. Freeman could use a veteran mentor to help him learn the NFL game, and he would not have to look over his shoulder and wonder if Johnson could take his job.

2010 Outlook:

General manager Mark Dominik will continue to rebuild the franchise through the draft. The Buccaneers are not expected to make any big splashes in free agency, but landing a blue chip player like Suh, McCoy or Eric Berry will be important for the future.

Tampa Bay should improve next season, but there are too many holes on the roster to become a playoff contender in 2010.

RookieDraft.com

Kansas City Chiefs – Team Report

Bryan Fontaine — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:36:56 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 4-12 | Offense: 25^th | Defense: 30^th

2009 Wrap-Up:

It was a long first season for head coach Todd Haley in Kansas City. Haley fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey 10 days before the regular season, and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast struggled to get the defense to transition to the 3-4 base scheme without the proper personnel on the roster.

Matt Cassel struggled because he lacked the offensive weapons he had on the Patriots, and Dwayne Bowe repeatedly clashed with Haley. The offensive line provided inconsistent pass protection and needs a serious upgrade in the offseason.

The one bright spot for the Chiefs in 2009 was the breakthrough season for running back Jamaal Charles. Charles showed game-breaking speed and ran for 1,120 yards on 190 carries after Larry Johnson was released.

Positions of Need:

1. Offensive Tackle: Branden Albert struggled in his sophomore season at left tackle and may need to shift to the right side or kick inside to play guard. Ryan O’Callaghan is better suited as a backup and Barry Richardson has not developed as expected. The Chiefs need to give some consideration to Russell Okung or Trent Williams at the 5^th overall pick.

2. Wide Receiver: Dwayne Bowe regressed in his third season and needs to bounce back. Midseason acquisition Chris Chambers showed he had something left in the tank, but this position needs an upgrade. The Chiefs should target this position with one of their 2^nd round selections. Damien Williams or Mardy Gilyard would be a good complement to Bowe.

3. Inside Linebacker: Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays are better suited as backups and struggled against the run. This isn’t a great draft class for inside linebackers, but Daryl Washington should be a target in the 2^nd round because of his versatility.

4. Outside Linebacker: The Chiefs do not have any edge rushers that can put pressure on the quarterback. Thaddeus Gibson from Ohio State could provide the athleticism that they are sorely lacking.

5. Defensive Tackle: Ron Edwards proved to be serviceable at nose tackle. Glenn Dorsey was shifted to defensive end with mixed results. A younger influx of talent here is a must in the later rounds.

6. Offensive Guard: Brian Waters is not getting any younger and there are no other options currently on the roster. Sergio Render could be a late round steal if he checks out medically.

7. Center: Rudy Niswanger is just an average starting option. There are more pressing needs, but Weis could recommend they take his former player Eric Olsen as a developmental prospect.

2010 Outlook:

The Kansas City Chiefs are beginning to look like Foxboro West with Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and Scott Pioli all reuniting. The Chiefs have one of the worst rosters in the NFL and they need help at most every position. They will be quiet in free agency, and will focus on building through the draft. The second round pick acquired for tight end Tony Gonzalez should net them a strong player in this deep draft.

The foundation is now in place to begin restoring the franchise to prominence, but Chiefs fans should expect another long season in 2010.

RookieDraft.com

FantasyLion.com – NFL Free Agency

John Gustafson — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:07:06 +0000

It’s my favorite time of the football offseason, free agency!

I could give two you-know-whats about the scouting combine, because most of that is hype. But I digress, this offseason should be a crazy one so I wanted to started a diary of my thoughts on the free agency period and how it relates to fantasy football. Check back here throughout the next few weeks to get my take on what’s going on.

Chester Taylor to the Bears, boo.

Sorry for you Charger fans, he would have been a great pick up, but not all hope is lost. There are still some quality backs out there (Fred Jackson, Jerome Harrison, Thomas Jones, Pierre Thomas). The Bears also paid him $12.5 million which could have gone towards reuniting Marshall and Cutler. Big mistake if you let Marshall slip away Chicago.

Furthermore, Seattle is now interested in Brandon Marshall. Marshall will be a great pickup wherever he goes, but Seattle’s subpar QB situation has me wishing Marshall went somewhere with a good to great QB. Then Marshall could continue to put up beastly numbers. He’ll still get his, but with the likes of Seneca Wallace or the oft-injured Matt Hassleback throwing him the ball, he may be inconsistent, but then again it may be just what Matt the Hassle needs. Before I get into my 49ers dream player, I want to get back to the Chargers.

I like that they re-signed Darren Sproles. $7 million is too much to pay a 3rd down back but Sproles is also a great special teams player and hey it’s not my money so what do I care? The Chargers still need a 1st & 2nd down back to get 15-20 carries or so with Sproles getting 5-10 carries and 3rd down duties.

However, what no one is talking about is the other Chargers RB, Mike Tolbert. Tolbert will be a 3rd year player out of Coastal Carolina. He flew under the radar last year, but managed to grab my attention around week 11. Should the Chargers not sign another back and promote Tolbert, Tolbert could become a household fantasy football name if he produces like he did this year in 2010. Tolbert quietly amassed 4 touchdowns, 17 catches, and averaged almost 6 yards a carry in very part-time work. I’m not going to go out on a limb and call him the next big thing, but he’s definitely a guy I will have my eye on this offseason.

I have kept my fingers crossed that some Anquan Boldin to the 49ers talk will arise, but I doubt it will happen.

I fell in love with Boldin because of his toughness. The dude broke his jaw on this hit (if I remember correctly) only to return weeks later. I can’t remember if his jaw was completely healed when he returned but I doubt it as broken jaws don’t heal overnight. It doesn’t really matter, the point is the guy is tough as nails and severely underrated. If he were the #1 on any other team, he’d probably get more credit, but playing along Larry Fitzgerald, it’s easy to see why he isn’t in the spotlight like he should.

I think my pipe dream of Boldin going to the Niners will soon deflate as ESPN’s Adam Schefter (who is the best in the business) is reporting that Baltimore and Kansas City are the leading candidates. As a fantasy footballer, I would love to see him go to either place. In Baltimore he would be the true #1 WR they have been needing. Current #1 Derrick Mason has been solid, but he’s more of a #2 WR playing a #1 by default. As far as KC, their O really turned it on the 2nd half of the year. Add Boldin to the mix with Bowe and Charles and they have themselves a nice little 3-headed monster.

Finally, in a move that has me scratching my head, my 49ers brought in David Carr.

Why?

Now I went to Fresno St and was there for the Carr glory days and am by no means a Carr-hater, but the guy has not been a good pro at all. He’s not better than Alex Smith and probably not even better than Shaun Hill. I’ve only seen a little bit out of the 49ers other QB, Nate Davis, but what I did see out of him, I liked. I would rather take my chances with Davis over Carr. Carr, if signed, will probably be too expensive and do very little.

I share the same sentiments as 49ers LB Patrick Willis who tweeted this earlier today about the situation, “for real for what. we have 3 qb’s that are better then him. That’s a waste of his time.” Well said P-Willy, well said.

FantasyLion.com

Toby Gerhart: NFL Draft Profile

Brandon LaClair — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:56:40 +0000

We’ll take a look at Stanford running back Toby Gerhart as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft. We’ll examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths
• Physicality: Gerhart is 237 pounds and his power rushing style bullies smaller defenders into submission
• Speed: Surprising speed (4.55 forty-yard dash) for a bruiser such as Gerhart, yet to be successful at the next level, he must be able to beat the defender to the corner in the league and with his bulk, that may be an issue
• Balance: Gerhart has an upright rushing style, which would make you think he’d be susceptible to tackles that are low, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He runs straight through defenders trying for the low tackle, which speaks to his exceptional balance

Weaknesses
• Receiving: He has respectable receiving skills with 39 receptions in his career at Stanford. In the pro game, his proficiency as a receiver will have to improve because he will be consistently fighting for playing time
• Agility: Gerhart doesn’t possess the athleticism to fake out a defender. He relies on his one cut rushing style that simply targets a defender and attempts to run in him down. While that may be an effective style in college, that may not be a worthwhile strategy in the league. That technique will be effective against a smaller player, but can you imagine Gerhart taking on Ray Lewis in the trenches?
• Blocking: Limited technique as a blocker and tends to throw his body into defenders, which will get his quarterback into trouble quickly in the NFL.

(All statistical information obtained from ESPN.com and cdsdraft.com)

Toby Gerhart’s college career had its positives and negatives. His 2007 season was cut short do to a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury that ended his season after 12 carries. He came back in his junior year with something to prove.
During his breakout ’08 season, Gerhart ran for 100+ yards eight times including four straight games mid-season. He finally was able to display his aggressive, hard running style that put opposing defensive backs on notice. His great junior year produced a solid 1,136 yards on 210 carries.

Expectations became increasingly high for Gerhart coming into his senior season after an outstanding junior year.

In Gerhart’s final season at Stanford, he went from a very good player to a player that ingrained thoughts of greatness into the minds of every fan that was granted to privilege to watch him perform. He proved to the world that nothing would stop him from achieving greatness while taking the pounding of a strenuous college football season where he ran for 1,836 yards on 346 carries and 27 touchdowns.

Gerhart eclipsed 200 yards three times in ’09 while only rushing under 100 yards twice. It was an absolutely outstanding season for a player that had to have everlasting redemption on his mind after being hurt in ’07.

Gerhart is a workhorse, a player that has persevered through great odds to be where he’s at right now. He has great intangibles and strength, but lacks route running skills and while he is fast for his size, he lacks a second gear and will struggle to round the corner in the league.

He is predicted to go in the second round and that draft stock suits him well. He doesn’t have a true position, which will make him expendable at the next level. He is not quick enough to be a true #1, but is too small to play the fullback position.

I expect that Gerhart’s will be out of the league within three years. There are far too many question marks in his game and while he was a star at Stanford, it’s highly unlikely that success such as that will transfer over to the league. Unless a player is a special talent that can play a multitude of positions, then a successful career is suspicious at best. Gerhart may prove the cynics wrong and go on to have a great NFL career, but my stance is emphatic, he doesn’t have a chance.

Dexter McCluster: NFL Draft Profile

Brandon LaClair — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:07:31 +0000

We will take a look at Ole Miss running back/wide receiver Dexter McCluster as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft. We will examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths
•       Home run threat: With McCluster’s speed and burst, he is always a threat to take it to the house
•       Versatility: McCluster has the ability to be a running back, wildcat QB, wide receiver and kick/punt returner.
•       Blocking: Despite his size (5-9, 170), is always willing to take on the bigger defensive lineman/linebacker for the benefit of the team

Weaknesses
• Size: At McCluster’s size, it will be hard to place him at a specific position in the league. He will be a significant threat in the kick/punt returning game and great special teams’ play wins football games
• Durability: Injury concerns have dealt McCluster a bad card in the draft. It doesn’t matter who it is, if an athlete has missed 12 games in four years at the college level, it will be difficult for a potential draftee coming into a pro game where the physicality is much more prevalent

(All statistical information obtained from ESPN.com & Wikipedia.com)

Dexter McCluster’s career as a true freshman started out well as he immediately displayed his versatility being a productive running back as well as an effective receiver. His great speed and shifty motion created havoc amongst the defense especially when he was at the receiver position. His freshman season came to a close after he suffered a serious shoulder injury, which caused him to miss the final seven games of the season. He finished with 15 receptions for 232 yards, 68 rushing yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.

McCluster missed the first four games of his sophomore season as he re-injured the same shoulder in the preseason. His sophomore season was made up of Mccluster catching the football as BenJarvus Green-Ellis took the majority of the carries. McCluster finished with 27 receptions for 326 yards and two touchdowns.

McCluster’s junior year is where he went from good player to great. He didn’t have huge individual receiving or running statistics, but his combined effort in all facets of the game officially put him on the map as one of the most electric players in the nation. He made his name known in every game of the season collectively, including a game against Vanderbilt in which he tallied up 176 total yards (132 yards receiving). He finished with 109 carries for 655 yards (6.9 YPC) and 44 receptions for 625 yards and seven touchdowns.

McCluster’s senior year is the season where he went from great to superstar. He rushed for over 100 yards four times including a 282 yard effort (326 total) that sent the nation into all-out hysteria. His season ended with 181 carries for 1,169 yards (6.4 YPC) and made 44 receptions for 520 yards and 11 total touchdowns. He became the first player in SEC history to run for 1,000 yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.

McCluster finished his college football career at Ole Miss with 3,685 yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns.

McCluster is a difficult prospect for NFL teams. He has all the athletic ability that any team is looking for, but his size and injury concerns are a huge detriment to his draft stock. He is multi-faceted athlete with great upside. He has incredible lateral agility to elude the defender at the line and his burst puts him into the secondary instantly.
Mccluster struggles with technique as a receiver and it will be tough for him to hold up against the pounding in the NFL as a running back.

The best placement for McCluster will be in the return game as either a kick or punt returner in the league. He will be able to use his athletic prowess as well as his burst up the field to put his stamp on the NFL in the return game.

We love his game, but if he doesn’t succeed as a returner, he won’t succeed anywhere. His skills are just too raw at the receiver position and he is much too small to play running back. He looks to be a 3rd rounder as it’s doubtful that any team will take a chance on him despite the excellence he displayed in the last two years of his college football career.

Scouting Combine Preview

Bryan Fontaine — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:17:42 +0000

The NFL Scouting Combine has become a phenomenon, thanks to the television coverage provided by the NFL Network.

In large part, it has nothing to do with playing football and has been dubbed by many the Underwear Olympics.

The Scouting Combine can be helpful for seeing some of the small-school prospects in action that eventually become deep sleepers in fantasy football leagues.

Here are a few things we will be on the lookout for as the workouts begin on Saturday morning.

Height/Weight Measurements: In the NFL, size does matter. College teams have traditionally listed the height and weight of their student athletes generously. At the combine, the scale does not lie. Teams are more willing to spend an early round pick if a top prospect meets the generally accepted height/weight requirements in the scouting committee. In recent years, players like Maurice Jones-Drew and DeSean Jackson have slipped to the second round because of size concerns.
Speed: The 40 yard dash gets the majority of the press, but a poor a poor time does not ruin a player’s chances of succeeding in the pro game. Many players have had slow times and gone on to successful NFL careers. The most important thing is to see if they time as fast as they play the game. Many prospects have crashed and burned because they timed well but could not translate it to the field. Exhibit A: Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Passing Drills: There is a difficult transition for the quarterback and wide receiver groups because of an unfamiliarity with each other. The quarterbacks often struggle with timing, but the scouts are more concerned with seeing how their arm strength matches up to what they have seen on game tape. Each quarterback that participates will be asked to throw all the required NFL throws, and this can be a time for some to break away from the rest of the pack. Jarrett Brown of West Virginia will be one to watch and could greatly improve his draft stock.
Hands: The gauntlet drill is an excellent drill for evaluating the hands of a prospect. Often players fight the ball instead of attacking the ball with their hands away from their body. The top prospects will make this drill look effortless, while some prospects will look like they are in a firing range.
Hype: It is easy to get caught up in the hype of the event. The combine is an evaluation tool for scouts, but even Daniel Jeremiah has stated that many teams use the combine to sort out groups of players that are closely graded together on their draft board.

Stay tuned for more because the staff at Rookie Blitz will be providing updates throughout the weekend on the latest news from the combine.

Jonathan Dwyer: NFL Draft Profile

Brandon LaClair — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:54:09 +0000

We’ll take a look at Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft. We’ll examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths
• Workhorse: Dwyer epitomizes the power rushing style that will be so valuable in the NFL. While he is young and his legs still fresh, he will be able to take 25 carries per game taking pressure off the quarterback
• Durability: Since Dwyer came on the scene in 2007, he has not missed a game. Taking the pounding that a running back does, that is a tremendous accomplishment and that resiliency will be rewarded come draft day
• Reliability: In three years and 517 carries at Georgia Tech, Dwyer has never fumbled the football. An attribute such as this will serve him well in the pro game

Weaknesses

• Lack of versatility: At Georgia Tech, Dwyer was never relied upon to be a blocker while only hauling in 20 balls in three years. In the NFL, it is an asset to have a running back that can catch the ball out of the backfield, but it isn’t imperative because teams have at least one other capable running back who can be a respectable receiver. On the contrary, it is vital to be a reputable blocker. With complex defensive schemes, a running back must have the wherewithal to zone in on a linebacker running free to the quarterback

(All statistical information obtained from ESPN.com & NFLDraftScout.com)

Dwyer’s freshman season was very successful while backing up senior Tashard Choice. Dwyer quickly made a name for himself with his hard, tough rushing style as Choice battled leg injuries for part of the ’07 season. For Dwyer’s efforts, he was named to the All ACC freshman team.

Dwyer’s sophomore season was where he emerged as one of the nation’s top running backs. He ran for 1,395 yards on 200 carries and 208 receiving yards on eight receptions with 13 total touchdowns. In 13 games, he had nine games with over 100 yards rushing, tying a school record, which made him one of the more feared running backs in the nation.

After his sophomore campaign, Dwyer accumulated a variety of achievements including:
• First Team All ACC
• ACC Player of the Year
• His 1,831 all-purpose yards in 2008 ranked second in school history

After a sophomore season where he dominated the ACC, his time to cement his NFL draft stock would be his junior year and he didn’t disappoint. He ran for 1,395 yards for the second straight year making him a candidate for conference MVP honors, but lost out to C.J. Spiller of Clemson. Dwyer rushed for over 100 yards eight times, including two games in which he exceeded 185 yards. After his junior year, Dwyer announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Dwyer is NFL ready. His large frame (6’0, 235 lbs) will make defenders think twice before trying to tackle him. His nickname “Diesel” is an appropriate moniker considering his hard-nosed running style.

Dwyer is a one-cut runner who takes it to defenders in the trenches, making him the perfect replica of Michael Turner. They are similar in the sense that they both get skinny through the hole and have a great burst for players of their size. His greatest asset as a runner, fittingly, is the ability to break tackles. Dwyer essentially runs through defenders with his legs constantly churning not allowing them to get their arms around him.

Overall, Dwyer is a great running back who will be a star in the league. The combination of durability and reliability makes him arguably the best running back coming out of the draft this year. Where there are many questions marks with Jahvid Best and C.J. Spiller, Dwyer seems to be the most NFL ready out of the three. He would be a great fit in a two back system with a quick running back to complement his power running style.

The rest of the league better take notice, this kid will make an immediate impact in the league and will be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.

Rookie Rankings: Pre-Combine Edition

Bryan Fontaine — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:30:42 +0000

The NFL Scouting Combine will be held February 24 – March 2, 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

For many, it will be the first chance to evaluate the nation’s top college football players eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft.

It is never too early to start ranking the top players for dynasty leagues and rookie drafts.

Here are our initial fantasy football rookie rankings prior to the NFL Scouting Combine:

Dez Bryant, WR – Oklahoma State
Jonathan Dwyer, RB – Georgia Tech
C.J. Spiller, RB – Clemson
Jahvid Best, RB – California
Sam Bradford, QB – Oklahoma
Arrelious Benn, WR – Illinois
Demaryius Thomas, WR – Georgia Tech
Jimmy Clausen, QB – Notre Dame
Brandon LaFell, WR – LSU
Golden Tate, WR – Notre Dame
Ryan Matthews, RB – Fresno State
Mardy Gilyard, WR – Cincinnati

Stay tuned all offseason for the latest fantasy football information regarding the 2010 NFL Draft.

Jermaine Gresham: NFL Draft Profile

Brandon LaClair — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:40:58 +0000

We will take a look at Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft. We’ll examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths
• Size: Gresham is very big (6’6, 261 lbs). He creates a discouraging matchup problem for defensive coordinators league wide
• Speed: He won’t smoke you off the line, but he can stretch the field, which is always a plus for a tight end
• Intelligence: Is adept at finding the soft spot in a zone defense and exploiting the hole for more yardage

Weaknesses
• Durability: Gresham tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in high school, and he just missed the entire 2009 season because of another knee injury. For many NFL franchises, the injury risk will supersede his outstanding ability
• Hands: He isn’t terrible at catching the ball, but you find that he catches more balls with his body than his hands. This habit must change in the pros
• Ball security: Has been known to have “butter fingers” at times, needs to tuck the ball away better, especially in traffic

(All statistical information obtained from ESPN.com and NFLDraftDog.com)

The last two years of college were just an insight into the potential he brings with him to the pros. While his 2009 season was a bust, Gresham still brings a lot of momentum into the league after having a breakout year his junior campaign at OU. He became Sam Bradford’s favorite target as he was seemingly always open to give Bradford a constant outlet in tight situations.

Gresham’s best quality in college was his ability in the red zone; he would always make himself available for the jump ball and 9 out of 10 times, he would come down with it. Gresham career numbers at OU are quite impressive, especially in his junior year where he caught 66 balls for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns.

His career numbers are as follows: 111 receptions, 1,629 yards and 26 touchdowns

Gresham’s career numbers all come without playing his senior year due to injury. After a huge junior year, it would have been fun to see what kind of numbers the big tight end out of Ardmore, Oklahoma would tally in his senior year.

Gresham will enter the NFL with more questions than answers because of his history of knee injuries. If he remained healthy throughout his career at OU, then it seems obvious that Gresham would have been a top ten pick in this year’s draft. The expectation is that Gresham will be rusty, but that should subside after a year of playing special teams. While Gresham “gets his feet wet” again, he should pack on another 10-15 pounds of muscle so he will be able to withstand the pounding that he will receive at the pro level.

Barring injury, it is our expectation that Gresham will be a fanatical pro with “an ax to grind” after sitting out the entire 2009 season. His game is similar to that of Antonio Gates with his great size and outstanding speed; the advantages of being an immense athlete who can stretch the field for his quarterback along with being a tough cover for a linebacker, safety or cornerback. Watch out for this kid out of Oklahoma, there is a very good chance he could be the next great tight end in the league.

Gerald McCoy: NFL Draft Profile

Brandon LaClair — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:29:20 +0000

We’ll take a look at Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft. We will examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths
• Penetration: McCoy is great at infiltrating blocking schemes specifically designed to stop him
• Aggressive: Ability to break up a play before it develops
• Explosive: Anticipates snap count well; explodes on the offensive lineman immediately

Weaknesses
• Lack of Bulk: Must add muscle mass to maintain equivalency to the strength that an offensive lineman brings to the table

(All statistical information obtained from Wikipedia.com and NFLDraftDog.com)

Throughout McCoy’s college career, he was the central dominant force and his overwhelming presence has led up to this point where McCoy is the second best defensive tackle and a potential top-5 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.

McCoy’s career stats include 83 tackles (49 solo), 33 tackles for loss, 14 ½ sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and 18 quarterback hurries.

McCoy’s accolades: Two Time First Team All-American.
Two Time First Team All Big-12.

While McCoy’s statistics weren’t as prevalent as his draft stock would indicate, his unspoken responsibility on the Oklahoma defense was to push the pocket up the middle, which would lead to the Oklahoma linebackers shooting the gaps to get to the quarterback. A defensive tackle that can command constant double teams is as much an asset to a defense as any position on the defense, and that is what McCoy will bring to an NFL defense.

McCoy will go in the top-5 in this year’s NFL Draft. Along with Ndamukong Suh, NFL teams will be clamoring for the services of these two emerging superstars because the tackle position is the least-talented in the NFL league wide. If the team that drafts McCoy runs a 4-3 defense, McCoy will be an amazing fit as a defensive end because of his speed and aggressiveness; there is no doubt in my mind that he will beat a tackle dependably. Unless he packs on 15-20 more pounds, it’s doubtful that McCoy will be a good fit in the 3-4, because he doesn’t resemble a traditional nose tackle with the size and strength to push the pocket back into the quarterback’s face. A good example of a traditional nose tackle would be Gilbert Brown who was a former Packer anchor in the 90’s. McCoy possesses far too much speed to be wasted on the interior of the line and the team that picks him will realize that fast once he steps foot into camp.

It’s our assertion that McCoy will be a huge success in the NFL. He resembles Julius Peppers in the sense that his speed and length will give offensive coordinators nightmares. As I previously stated, he will surely beat the tackle off the edge constantly and even if he doesn’t get to the quarterback, he will limit the quarterback’s mobility inside the pocket and give other players a chance to make plays. Gerald McCoy has all of the traits to be a superstar in the league; he will surely be a Pro Bowl caliber player for years to come.