NCAAF

Chris McGlynn’s NFL Mock Draft

Chris McGlynn Draft, Football, NCAAF, NFL ,

It is the season of lying in the NFL. Yes, the NFL draft is tomorrow night and the rumors are flying like never before. Brian Mandel and Matt Luppino are back with me to break down who should be going where. We each put ourselves in the position of NFL general managers and came up with a player that we think each team should select. That does not mean that they will tomorrow, but they would be wise to. Also another note is that we each had one trade to execute during the draft, which is not only fun but is probably reasonable. We obviously cannot predict every trade, but we can identify one we think should go down. With all of that said, it’s time to put some teams on the clock.

#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State
This team needs a franchise quarterback in the worst way and has for some time. He might be a liability off the field, but Winston has a great football background and should be a solid starter for Tampa from Day 1.

#2 Tennessee Titans
Leonard Williams, Defensive End, USC
What no trade? The Titans also have no business trading for Philip Rivers, as they are much more than just a quarterback away from contending. Instead, they make a safe pick that will help them get after division rival Andrew Luck.

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars
Dante Fowler Jr., Pass Rusher, Florida
He is not a perfect fit but much like the Titans, the Jaguars need to find a way to get after Andrew Luck. With such a deep receiver draft, the Jags can afford to wait until round two to fill that need.

#4 Oakland Raiders
Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Alabama
I have a higher grade on Cooper than I do on counterpart Kevin White. Give David Carr a reliable, talented weapon who is pro-ready and will grow as Oakland’s young quarterback does as well.

#5 Washington Redskins
Trae Waynes, Cornerback, Michigan State
The Redskins have plenty of needs and one pick won’t make them a contender in the crazy NFC East. Rather, Waynes gives Washington a good-sized defensive back who will take a lot of the pressure off DeAngelo Hall.

#6 New York Jets
Brandon Scherff, Guard, Iowa
Mariota needs time to develop and wide receiver is deep this year. Willie Colon needs to be replaced at right guard and Scherff can do that right away.

#7 Chicago Bears
Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon
The Jay Cutler era is nearing an end in Chicago. There is no doubt the Bears want to move on and now they would be able to with a viable option to take over for him.

#8 Atlanta Falcons
Shane Ray, Defensive End, Missouri
Forget the off the field issues, Ray is a talented player with a ton of upside. I think Dan Quinn could get the best out of this kid and he would be a major help to a Falcons team that finished tied for second-worst when it came to sacks last season.

#9 New York Giants
Marcus Peters, Cornerback, Washington
Another guy with off the field issues here but Tom Coughlin is the right coach to handle that. The Giants were awful against the pass last season and with Scherff heading to the other New York club, this makes a lot of sense.

#10 St. Louis Rams
Kevin White, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
The Rams need a big target to go to in the red zone. At 6’3”, White will provide new Rams quarterback Nick Foles a new weapon that should jump-start this Rams offense.

#11 Minnesota Vikings
DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver, Louisville
The Vikings added Mike Wallace this offseason but Parker already has a rapport with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. If Adrian Peterson returns like he is supposed to, this Vikings offense could be a lot better next season.

TRADE
#12 San Diego Chargers
Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle, Washington
Here is where my trade comes in. The Browns send both their first round picks and a third rounder to the Chargers in exchange for Philip Rivers. The Browns get their franchise passer and the Chargers get a safety net. This is the fresh start the Chargers are looking for as they head to Los Angeles. Shelton immediately makes the Chargers’ run defense better.

#13 New Orleans Saints
Vic Beasley, Pass Rusher, Clemson
I don’t like Beasley as much as a lot of people do but with his speed he will make an impact. Give Rob Ryan a bullet like Beasley to move around and blitz from random spots on the field.

#14 Miami Dolphins
Bud Dupree, Outside Linebacker, Kentucky
Might not be the most natural position fit as Dupree seems more ready for a 3-4 style defense, but with a ton of athleticism, he can develop. He certainly feels a need at linebacker though.

#15 San Francisco 49ers
Arik Armstead, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
The 49ers lost a good chunk of their defense this offseason to retirement or free agency. Adding Armstead will be the first step in rebuilding it.

#16 Houston Texans
Dorial Beckham-Green, Wide Receiver, LSU
Rumor has it that the Texans are in the market for a receiver after Andre Johnson’s departure. Beckham-Green has a bit of a checkered past but a ton of talent. He and DeAndre Hopkins could be a scary combination.

#17 San Diego Chargers
Todd Gurley, Running Back, Georgia
Ryan Matthews is gone. Most of the other running backs on this team made the injury report at one point last year. The Chargers should get a bonafide franchise rusher to ease the loss of Philip Rivers.

#18 Kansas City Chiefs
Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas
Versatile player who can move along the defensive line. Brown will be another piece in Andy Reid’s defense and should help Kansas City’s 28th ranked run defense.

#19 San Diego Chargers
Andrus Peat, Offensive Tackle, Stanford
Peat is a big, strong bully on the offensive line. This move would allow D.J. Fluker to move inside and the Chargers could turn their offensive line into a strength of their team.

#20 Philadelphia Eagles
Landon Collins, Strong Safety, Alabama
The Eagles have a couple of different needs but they a vast improvement over their 28th ranked pass defense from a year ago. Collins will do just that.

#21 Cincinnati Bengals
Eddie Goldman, Defensive Tackle, Florida State
The Bengals ranked last in the NFL a season ago when it came to bringing down the quarterback. Eddie Goldman may not come in and tally a ton of sacks, but he should definitely eat up some blockers and provide a nice punch along the defensive line.

#22 Pittsburgh Steelers
Randy Gregory, Pass Rusher, Nebraska
Concerns about his mental game and an incident involving marijuana dropped Gregory out of the top five. The Steelers are desperate for a pass rusher though with Lamarr Woodley retiring. Gregory should fill that need.

#23 Detroit Lions
Jordan Phillips, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma
Defensive line is a need with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley gone. Phillips is a massive two-gap tackle who can fit either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

#24 Arizona Cardinals
D.J Humphries, Offensive Tackle, Florida
Humphries is massive and should improve the Cardinals’ ground game immediately. Not to mention that keeping Carson Palmer healthy will be a huge priority.

#25 Carolina Panthers
Ereck Flowers, Offensive Guard, Miami
The Panthers need offensive line help in the worst way. With a lot of receivers still on the board as well, Carolina should wait on adding someone else to their receiving core.

#26 Baltimore Ravens
Jalen Collins, Cornerback, LSU
The Ravens finished 23rd in the league at defending the pass last season. Adding a big, lanky corner like Collins should give the Ravens some immediate help with a chance for him to become a star.

#27 Dallas Cowboys
Melvin Gordon, Running Back, Wisconsin
It is probably only a matter of time before Darren McFadden gets hurt so having Gordon will be big at that point. Either way, Gordon should become an every down back Dallas can rely on.

#28 Denver Broncos
Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
Peyton Manning can be great but that is mitigated if he has no one to throw too. With Julius Thomas and Wes Welker gone, the Broncos would be wise to add the rangy and explosive Strong.

#29 Indianapolis Colts
Jake Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Oregon
Indy needs to keep Andrew Luck upright. Not to mention that the running game was not overly strong last season either. Adding Fisher should aid both of those causes right away.

#30 Green Bay Packers
Eric Kendricks, Inside Linebacker, UCLA
A.J. Hawk was cut following the 2014 season, which means the Packers have an opening at middle linebacker. Kendricks should be an upgrade over Hawk, who’s production slipped down the stretch.

#31 New Orleans Saints (From Seattle)
Breshad Perriman, Wide Receiver, UCF
After selecting a pass rusher, the Saints need to bolster their receiving corps. Could fill the same role as Kenny Hill but potentially do it better.

#32 New England Patriots
Byron Jones, Cornerback, Connecticut
Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner will be wearing new uniforms this year. That means that the Patriots have a glaring need at corner and Jones should step in to ease those losses.

For more mock drafts, click here.

Who are the next three up?

Chris McGlynn Football, NCAAF, NFL , ,

We get it. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the top two quarterbacks in this draft. It has been overanalyzed and, at this point, just taken as a fact. The topic that has been mostly skated over is the next three quarterbacks in this draft after them. For the most part, experts have agreed that the prospects in play are Garrett Grayson, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley. No one can seem to agree on how to rank them though. None of these guys have very similar backgrounds nor do they seem to have like skill sets. It’s time to get to know the other quarterbacks in this draft.

Bryce Petty, Baylor
Height/Weight: 6’3”/230
Age: 23
The red-shirt senior had another successful year at Baylor. Petty led his team to a bowl game against Michigan State and looked set to win before a stunning comeback by the Spartans. The only other game that Baylor lost was to West Virginia. Petty demonstrated that he has a reliable arm, throwing over 400 passes in two years as Baylor’s starter. He is a talented player with enough mobility to extend plays. He demonstrates good zip on his on most of his short to intermediate throws. He doesn’t possess a cannon so that he can hit receivers on a line, but he leads his receivers well, allowing for them to run onto the ball.

Some concerns can be raised about his consistency. Petty aired out the ball with over 325 yards in two straight contests before he turned in a 111-yard, 31.8 completion percentage outing at Texas. Petty also seemed to throw his interceptions in clusters. He would go weeks without tossing one before getting picked off twice against TCU and Oklahoma State. Some other concerns rise when you look and see his yards per attempt and touchdowns fell while his interception total rose. Another major knock is the system he played in college. He used only a one-read system that never really required him to run through his progressions, something he will desperately need to do at the next level.

Overall, I think Petty is a solid player who has the right physical tools to succeed in the NFL. He needs a year or two to polish his mechanics and learn a pro system but he could prove to be a fringe starter one day. If nothing else, he will be a solid backup for a number of years in the league.

Predicted Round: Fourth
Ideal team: San Diego. Petty would get to learn from Philip Rivers for at least a year before the veteran potentially left town. Mike McCoy, as a former quarterback, would likely be a good coach for Petty as he learns to adjust

Brett Hundley, UCLA
Height/Weight: 6’3”/226
Age: 21
There is a lot of potential for this kid. He is tough, determined and athletic. Hundley is a dual-threat quarterback but that does not mean that he cannot throw. Hundley has already shown plenty of development as the quarterback of UCLA. He is a three-year starter and improved his completion percentage every year while cutting down on his interceptions. What was impressive too was that Hundley managed to avoid making multiple mistakes in games. He never threw more than one interception in a game all season. Most importantly, Hundley has shown that he is willing to take a hit when he makes a throw.

Some concerns can be raised about how much he throws the ball, falling below 400 attempts in each of the last two season. He also never even came close to matching his yardage total from his first season. His touchdown passes fell every year as well, dropping to a middling 22 in 2014. Hundley also has a lot of criticism for his lack of an internal clock. He took 125 sacks in 3 seasons, which can’t all be on him but that is a really high number for it to be all on the offensive line. Hundley will also need to improve his velocity on throws and find a way to avoid short arming them.

Hundley has a lot of developing left but he has already shown he is capable of being coached. It shows in his stats. Hundley could be a very difficult player to stop if he takes time to work on his mechanics. He needs to improve his release and body movement. Hundley is a lot like Colin Kaepernick, just without as strong an arm.

Predicted round: third
Ideal team: Denver Broncos. Hundley would obviously be able to learn from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. On top of that, he would be in a system that relies heavily on plays from the gun and lots of play-action, which is what Hundley did a lot of at UCLA. 

Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
Height/Weight: 6’2”/216
Age: 23
One of the more unknown prospects in this year’s draft, Grayson has been a bit of a late riser. He spent the last two years as the starting quarterback for Colorado State, showing vast improvements from his first to second year. Grayson tossed 32 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions with just over 4,000 passing yards. He wasn’t always consistent but Grayson managed to post absurd completion percentages at times this season, going above 70 percent on 5 separate occasions. Grayson displayed his amazing deep ball touch throughout the season. Grayson has worked in multiple offensive sets and demonstrated great poise in the pocket.

Grayson needs to work on some of his underneath throws. He has great arm strength but occasionally will lead his receivers too much, setting them up for big collisions. Grayson’s mechanics need a little bit of refinement as well. His release is a little elongated. He has been known to be a little slow in his progressions and fails to get into his drop back quickly enough. Grayson never really got the chance to play against top competition in the Mountain West Conference. The best teams Grayson faced all season, Boise State and Utah, beat him by a combined total of 48 points.

There is talent there, that is for sure. Refining that talent will be the challenge team will encounter with Grayson. He has a great deep ball, which is something a lot of prospects do not. He has a lot of the makings of a great NFL quarterback. Grayson needs some development, but he definitely has the potential to be a starter one day.

Predicted round: third (before Hundley)
Ideal team: New Orleans Saints. Learning from Drew Brees for a year, another quarterback who is slightly undersized, would be a blessing for Grayson. He has made a career so far out of a deep ball thrower, which the Saints offense does a lot of. It would be a good fit and allows Grayson to develop for a year or two.

What if Matt Barkley didn’t return for his senior year?

Chris McGlynn Draft, Football, NCAAF, NFL , ,

Remember back in 2012, when there was a possibility that we could see one of the best quarterback drafts in NFL history. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were the top prospects with Ryan Tannehill viewed as a nice consolation prize. However, there was a large contingency that believed there was another quarterback worthy of a top ten pick who ended up staying school. Matt Barkley, who some argued would have competed with Luck for the top pick, returned to USC for his senior year. He showed some major relapses and he ended up being a fourth round pick in 2013. But what if the former Trojan decided to head to the NFL a year early? Nothing is for sure but you can imagine a lot would change.

Barkley was highly regarded but I think it is likely that during the pre-draft workouts, Luck and Griffin would put some distance between themselves and the kid from USC. However, I think Barkley would still rate higher than fellow first rounder Ryan Tannehill. On draft day, Luck and Griffin still go one and two. None of the teams from picks three to seven really needed a quarterback. Miami sitting at number eight was ready to move on from Chad Henne and with Barkley still on the board, the Dolphins would gladly draft him. Barkley would join a Fins team with another former USC star in Reggie Bush led by rookie coach Joe Philbin. If Barkley began playing anything like he did during his senior season or how he has in the NFL with Philadelphia, there is a really good chance that veteran signal caller Matt Moore beats out Barkley for the starting job.

So this also means that there is no way for the Dolphins to take Tannehill, who continues to fall down the draft board. He doesn’t fall too long because sitting at number twelve is a team in desperate need of a young quarterback. The Seattle Seahawks had Tavaris Jackson under center the year before and desperately needed an upgrade. Matt Flynn was brought in as a potential replacement but that wouldn’t stop Seattle from picking up the talented Tannehill. Tannehill was viewed as a bit of project and based on how much the team was paying Flynn, the rookie from Texas A&M would probably be given a year to sit on the bench.

The 2012 season looks extremely different as well. Seattle struggles under Flynn and by the end of the season, Tannehill gets some reps as the starter, but the Seahawks miss the playoffs. Green Bay win against Seattle in week 4 with no Fail Mary game. This means that Green Bay finishes the season with the second best record in the NFC. Instead of Seattle and Minnesota in the playoffs, Chicago and Philadelphia make the postseason in their place. The Bears get a major showdown with the third seeded 49ers. The Eagles travel to Washington for a duel of rookie quarterbacks. Robert Griffin III versus Russell Wilson. Oh right, did I forget to mention that the Eagles snag Wilson in the third round because Seattle took Tannehill? Philadelphia falls next week to Atlanta who meets Green Bay in NFC championship game. Green Bay dispatches Atlanta for a matchup with the Ravens in the Super Bowl where Aaron Rodgers outduels Joe Flacco for his second straight Lombardi Trophy.

Andy Reid still leaves in 2013 and Chip Kelly cannot wait to get his hands on an offense led by Russell Wilson. Seattle is still good but not great with Tannehill under center. They miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year. That means no Legion of Boom and no Super Bowl rout of the Broncos. With the Seahawks out of the picture, the 49ers win the NFC West and the Nick Foles led Cardinals make it as a wildcard. Foles was drafted by the Cardinals when Philadelphia no longer had interest in him in the fourth round in 2012. The Eagles get a boost with Wilson under center to the second seed while the 49ers take the top seed. Green Bay beats New Orleans in the wildcard round while Philadelphia takes down Arizona. The Niners beat the Packers in the divisional round setting up a meeting with Russell Wilson again in the NFC championship game, this time with the Eagles. Philly’s offense of DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin is the Greatest Show on Turf 2.0 and Philadelphia finds itself in the Super Bowl against Peyton Manning’s Broncos. With no incredible defense to haunt him, Manning plays great and narrowly beats Philly in a shootout giving Manning his second ring.

Now some of you might be saying, what about Matt Barkley and the Dolphins? Don’t worry. I’m getting to that. Barkley never develops quite how Miami wants. So in 2014, they are in the market for a new quarterback. Joe Philbin decides to go after a different Texas A&M quarterback with their first round pick by the name of Johnny Manziel. For once, the Cleveland Browns don’t completely lose out because they get Carson Palmer when Arizona no longer wants to sign him with Foles under center, so the Browns don’t want Manziel anyway.

So in short, Russell Wilson is an Eagle, Nick Foles is a Cardinal, Carson Palmer is a Brown, Rodgers has two rings, Manning has two rings and Wilson ends up with none. The Legion of Boom never happens in Seattle and Miami ends up with Manziel. All of this just because Matt Barkley decides to leave school one year sooner.

Are you kidding me Mayock?

Chris McGlynn Draft, Football, NCAAF, NFL ,

Seriously? After all this time now he makes a change. Based on what? For those who are unaware, NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock made a major switch today in his big board rankings. He moved former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota ahead of his Florida State counterpart Jameis Winston. This may seem like no big deal on the surface because both players are still being evaluated but there seems to be no reason for the change. Mayock cited that the new rankings are being released with pro days being wrapped up but that doesn’t provide any answers either. Winston had a stellar pro day workout with only 11 incompletions on over 100 throws. Mariota on the other hand, threw only 7 incompletions but on only 65 throws. The numbers aren’t even what was concerning. The wide consensus following the workouts was that he had nailed it and Mariota was “underwhelming.”

With all of that said, I have no idea why Mariota would get the bump up to the number one positional spot for quarterbacks according to Mayock. He might just be one guy but he is a bit of a draft guru as NFL Network’s answer to Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. What he says usually holds some weight. Now this makes me wonder if Mayock knows something the rest of us don’t. Has he been talking to teams who feel that Winston hasn’t won them over? Whatever the case may be, it raises some concerns, even if they are minor, about Winston.

Another report appeared today, which should also shake some confidence in the Winston camp. Tampa Bay hosted Mariota for a private workout earlier and Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dick Koetter called the workout “outstanding.” They raved about his footwork, athleticism and speed. The workout also came from the Bucs, not from Mariota. All of these signs definitely point to a boost in Mariota’s draft stock. After being considered the lock as the top pick for so long, Winston’s move down comes as almost a shock for fans.

However, I think this might be part of the learning experience from last year. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a very tough pro day last year and that led to him dropping all the way from the first projected overall pick down to being actually selected thirty-second overall. Bridgewater went on to be arguably the best rookie quarterback in the NFL last season. That mistake on many team’s part probably underlines why teams have not made as big a deal this year about Mariota’s lackluster pro day. It doesn’t mean a ton but these trends should be noted at the very least when it comes to projected who might be selected where.

To be honest, my assessment of the two is that Winston is more pro ready with a lower ceiling, while Mariota is a little rawer with a much higher ceiling. In the short term, Winston will be a much better pick. He will make a big difference for a team next season but he won’t improve a ton over his time in the league. He will likely become a steady, above average starter if he can work out some of his accuracy issues and ball security. Meanwhile, Mariota has the potential to be a game changer once he fully develops. He will take at least one season to get comfortable in a true pro system but he has enough talent that he could become an elite quarterback if he gets the right coaching and stays healthy. His concerns will be more just grasping the offense gameplan.

If I had to pick though, I think I would go with Mariota. He projects better in the long term and he definitely has shown more maturity off the field. He has demonstrated his ability to buy into a system and he definitely a player that I would feel comfortable leading my team for the next 15 years.

Even as we approach the Sweet 16, many college athletes can be left bitter

Chris McGlynn Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, NCAAF, NCAAM, Soccer, Social Issues ,

The NCAA tournament is in full swing at the moment as the Sweet 16 will take place at the end of this week. However, it seems the NCAA is never safe from scrutiny. President Obama cast his lot into the conversation regarding the corrupt and questionable practices of college athletics’ governing body. He made a couple of different points but the one that rung out the strongest to me was his criticism of players losing scholarships due to injury. The NCAA allows programs to revoke scholarships from players who are injured or who are cut from their respective teams.

What the NCAA continually does to college athletes is something like this. And yes I am looking at you Mark Emmert:

Let’s say that you want to learn how to cook better, so you decide to take some cooking lessons. Upon signing up for the lessons, you discover that the first four months of classes are free. This is a great deal for you, probably all of the classes you might need, and looking at the price, you probably would not be able to afford the classes otherwise. So, you begin taking classes at this local cooking shop and begin learning all sorts of new skills from a chef acting as your teacher. A week or so in, you begin to make your own dishes. The chef continually tells you that you should be researching recipes and practicing on your own time, but you have a full-time job that is meant to take your priority so this is a difficult task.

About a month into your classes, you hurt yourself during one of the sessions. You cut yourself fairly deep on your hand with a knife after you slip up chopping vegetables. An honest mistake but now you cannot go to the cooking classes for the next month due to the stitches in your hand. You take time and heal properly, just as your doctor and teacher tell you, and then return to the class.

Upon your return, someone who works higher up in the corporation that runs the cooking class approaches you. He tells you that because you missed the past month of classes, you are no longer eligible for the discount and you will need to start paying to take the cooking classes now. You complain that you were injured in one of the classes and that the injury was outside of your control. The man insists that there is no other way for you to continue attending the cooking school and you must find a way to pay.

In that story, you are fundamentally wronged and loose out an opportunity to do something you really enjoy because the school turned its back on you. Everyone recognizes that what happened is morally wrong. Yet, this happens to college athletes over and over again. And the scary thing is that there is very little that the NCAA requires colleges to provide regarding healthcare. In fact, most of the healthcare services are optional for schools to provide. So not only are they at risk of losing their scholarships due to the injury, they are not guaranteed to have any medical costs covered. Schools will occasionally cover the fees of surgeries for students but they are not required to and that they are not is what is concerning.

There are many things fundamentally wrong with the NCAA. The amount of money they make while maintaining they are a non-profit is one. The fact that they are exploiting young, college students is another. But pulling away a kid’s hopes and dreams due to an injury sustained while playing for a university under the NCAA is awful. This issue falls on both the school’s and the NCAA’s shoulders to fix, as they are both equally to blame. Schools are not required to honor scholarships; that does not meant they cannot honor them. And the NCAA, does not require schools to honor scholarships, which is sickening. People can talk all they want about how college athletes should be paid (I’m not saying they should or should not) and how the NCAA is exploiting students. Above all else, the NCAA needs to begin protecting the kids who suffer serious injuries playing collegiate athletics. That has got to be the top priority. If you want to maintain that these kids are student-athletes, with the student part coming first, then do not take away their chance to be a student because they got hurt being an athlete.