My All-Star Team

This is pretty self explanatory--I am "drafting" a team based on who I believe are the best players currently active in the NFL. The roster is the same set-up as the Pro Bowl rosters and the defense is for a 3-4 base.

Offense

QB1: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

QB2: Drew Brees (New Orlean Saints)

QB3: Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

RB1: Arian Foster (Houston Texans)

RB2: Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens)

RB3: LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles)

FB: Vonta Leach (Baltimore Ravens)

WR1: Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

WR2: Gregg Jennings (Green Bay Packers)

WR3: Wes Welker (New England Patriots)

WR4: Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)

TE1: Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots)

TE2: Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints)

T1: Matt Light (New England Patriots)

T2: Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns)

T3: Jake Long (Miami Dolphins)

T4: Andrew Whitworth (Cincinnati Bengals)

G1: Jahri Evans (New Orleans Saints)

G2: Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens)

G3: Logan Mankins (New England Patriots)

G4: Brian Waters (New England Patriots)

C1: Scott Wells (Green Bay Packers)

C2: Matt Birk (Baltimore Ravens)

Defense:

DT1: B.J. Raji (Green Bay Packers)

DT2: Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots)

DT3: Barry Cofield (Washington Redskins)

DE1: Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Packers)

DE2: Jason Babin (Philadelphia Eagles)

DE3: Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings)

OLB1: DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys)

OLB2: Von Miller (Denver Broncos)

OLB3: Aldon Smith (San Francisco 49ers)

ILB1: Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers)

ILB2: Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)

ILB3: London Fletcher (Washington Redskins)

CB1: Darrelle Revis (New York Jets)

CB2: Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)

CB3: Brandon Browner (Seattle Seahawks)

S1: Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers)

S2: Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers)

S3: Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens)

Special Teams:

K: Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders)

P: Shane Lechler (Oakland Raiders)

KR: Devin Hester (Chicago Bears)

PR*: Brandon Banks (Washington Redskins)

ST: Jarrett Bush (Green Bay Packers)

LS: Brian Jennings (San Francisco 49ers)

There are many players missing who I really wish I could have put on, as well as some who did not make it because they fit a 4-3 formation and not a 3-4. Also, there are some I chose not to include because of penalties, issues with maturity, and risk of suspensions. I stand tall in my view that players should conduct themselves in a mature and professional manner on and off of the field, as well as follow the rules of the game despite their opinion of the rules.

* Punt Returner is not a position recognized by the Pro Bowl but I believe that the differences of how punts and kickoffs are returned are large enough to recognize separate positions.

Week 2 Prediction

Cardinals @ Redskins

I am no fan of Grossman, but I think he is infinitely better than Beck. Last week I saw Grossman making throws on time and his accuracy improved as he got into a rhythm. That will not happen this week. Grossman will be running for his life. The Skins' o-line has been very poor and looked bad against a very beat up Giants d-line. The Cardinals have a good front 7 that will limit Grossman to dump-offs and bring him back to his old just-chuck-it-deep style. Pat Peterson has the ability to physically match Santana Moss, so if the Redskins want to be successful on offense, they will have to go in wide sets and spread the defense to force the Cards to play nickel and dime formations.

On defense, the Redskins' d-line impressed me against a solid Giants' o-line. If the Redskins can shut down Larry Fitzgerald, then I believe the front 7 is enough to stop Beanie Wells. I am still no fan of Kevin Kolb. If the Redskins can get pressure on him, he will throw check-downs all game.

I give the Cardinals defense the advantage over the Redskins offense.
The Redskins defense (although injured) has the advantage over a simple Cardinals offense.

My prediction:
Redskins 27, Cardinals 20

Top 10 Active WR

You saw may or may not have seen my list of the top pass rushers, but this is similar--the top active wide receivers in the league. Again, I am willing to argue for my list and listen to arguments as well (in a friendly manner of course).

1. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)
2. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
3. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)
4. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons)
5. Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers)
6. Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts)
7. Desean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles)
8. Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
9. Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants)
10. Brandon Marshall (Miami Dolphins)

Arthur Moats on the Lockout and more

As I sat there waiting for Arthur Moats to arrive, a woman working for JMU dining services approached me. With a contagious smile on her face, she asked for a donation to go towards curing cancer. I gave her some cash and she moved on. I reflected on what I was going to ask Moats during our interview. I was in awe that I was about to sit down with somebody who I had seen all over ESPN. My nerves were soon calmed--I see Moats walk in and give the woman a giant hug as she asks him how his NFL year was and he answers with happiness in his voice and an accompanying smile. I was no longer intimidated and felt very comfortable, but on to the questions.

As many know, a heated issue between the NFL and the players is the NFL's wish to impose a rookie wage scale. Moats, a sixth-round draft pick by the Bills in the 2010 NFL Draft, did not earn a receive a major contract and would have received less under a wage scale. That, however, did not impact how he felt. “I feel that it is necessary," Moats said. "If you look throughout history, the majority of those first-round guys that get paid all of those millions don’t ever pan out to be worth those millions. They are getting millions before they play on an NFL field." He was not against high draft picks receiving larger contract though. “Because they have great college careers, they should have a larger sum of money than everybody else, but not on the major scale it’s been.”

On that topic, I was curious as to if he believed NFL players receive too much in general. "It is entertainment," he explained. "Do you think George Clooney gets paid too much for a movie? His body isn’t getting banged up. He has a stunt double. You pay actors millions of dollars, but we are out here actually putting our bodies on the lines. I definitely think that the pay is fair. If you are fortunate enough to get a big contract like the Peyton Mannings and the Michael Vicks then that means you deserve it. If you don’t get that, then you don’t deserve it. It’s all about earning your pay."

We all know that the NFL is a business and it all comes down to money. But that doesn't mean the NFL and its employees are the only ones who are be hurt in the lockout. The NFLPA estimated 150,000 jobs negatively affected by the lockout.  Moats offered a bit of perspective on the issue:

“I feel that in a way both sides are being stern. But if you feel that what you offer is best, you have to fight for it. Both sides think they are offering the best. But really, it is childish in a sense of how much money [the owners and players] are arguing over."

One of the topics that the union has not budged on is an increase in benefits for retired players. It is definitely a need. Former players are now being more public about the health problems their NFL careers have caused them. Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson committed suicide, shooting himself in the chest so that his brain may be studied. Steelers Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw recently discussed the problems he is having with his brain, blaming his many concussions during his NFL career. “If you talk to retired players, they don’t even get half of a rookie’s game check," Moats told me. "The health insurance you get while on the roster ends once you retire. Players are causing permanent damage to their bodies."

The NFL has also expressed a wish to add two regular season games, expanding it to an 18-game season, while cutting two preseason games. Moats took the common, but justified, response of an NFL player. “I disagree with it. You have four preseason players, 16 regular season games, and potentially more playoff games. The league talks about players’ safety, but they want to add two more games? Plus offseason workouts? That’d be too much for a person’s body."

Without all four preseason games, Arthur Moats might not have made to Bills' roster. Moats finished the season as a starter and one of the defense's top play-makers. When asked about cutting two preseason games he said this: "That will hurt a lot of the rookies. I needed all of the OTA’s, minicamps, all the training camp, preseason games to make my mark. I needed it to make the final cuts. I was in a new position (Moats moved from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 inside linebacker, then outside backer), a new defense, a new scheme, so getting adjusted to that and getting comfortable is going to take time. I feel two games of evaluation is going to be pressing a lot of the guys. My first time playing in an NFL stadium was my first preseason game. You get all the nerves out on that one so you can't count that one. Then the second game, if it cuts down to 2 preseason games, that’s where you have to really make your money."

"My first preseason game, I was terrible. The second game I felt a bit more comfortable and made more plays. The third and fourth is where I really made my mark and said to myself, ‘Hey, I can play in this league,’ and feeling that I made that impression on my coaches as well. Training camp--it's like practice. It’s not a game. If you cut to two preseason games, it'll affect the young guys negatively.”

It may only be mid April, but the season is closer than it seems. In two weeks, the NFL Draft will be held. At some point, Free Agency will have to be held, and OTA's will have to be held as well. But Moats does not believe that the lockout will take away games from the 2011 season.

"Overall, the owners aren’t stupid and we aren’t stupid either. We know it’d be a huge loss of money if the season was delayed. It is not that serious now, but come August—if it gets that late—you’ll see decisions being made.” If there is not an NFL season, Moats will be taking an internship with Bank of America, all while staying prepared to play football.

Arthur Moats is currently spending his time working out at his college, James Madison University, as well as attending some extra classes. When he gets the call that the lockout is over, he said he will be ready to play. He was a very polite and kind person with great talent. Classy would be the word to describe him, much like Donovan McNabb throughout his career. Look out for this guy to be making plays for the Bills next season--if there is one!

More questions and answers from the interview are below. These are unrelated to the lockout, I just figured I would make the most of my time sitting across from an NFL player.


Q: Does the verasitility of being able to play 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB and ILB give you an edge?
A: The more you can do, the more valuable you are to a team. It definitely gives me an advantage.

Q: Many project the Bills drafting OLB Von Miller. Do you feel threatened by that?
A: That’s fine with me. We want competition at every spot. If he can help our team, then bring him on.

Q: There has also been talk of the Bills looking at quarterbacks in this draft. Ryan Fitzpatrick was a big part of your teams turn-around after starting 0-8. How comfortable are you with Ryan Fitzpatrick leading your offense?
A: I am very comfortable. Everybody saw the change and the spark that he brought to our offense. He’s a seasoned guy. He is a smart guy—he went to Harvard—so as far as putting extra time in, he’s going to be dedicated. He is mobile and he is a gunslinger—he takes chances with the ball. In this league you have to take chances. Even if you draft a young guy, I feel like he can come in and learn from Fitzpatrick on how to be a professional. It is a huge difference going from the collegic level to the NFL level.

Q: Describe what was going through your mind after the Brett Favre hit.
A: After the fact, it felt good. During the play, he is just the quarterback. I knew it was a good hit, but after the game I’m thinking ‘that is Brett Favre!’ It was crazy--a lot of fun, a lot of fun. It was the highlight of my season. It established me as a big hitter, the next week I made my debut as a starter. It definitely got me respect in the locker room. It showed that I can make plays and I’m not afraid of anybody.

Q: Who do you model your play after?
A: As for as intensity and professionalism, it’s Ray Lewis. That’s who I’ve always been a fan of since highschool. That’s the reason I wear the number 52. I try to emulate my style after two people—James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clay Matthews for the Green Bay Packers.

Q: No love for Brian Orakpo?

A: Funny story--During predaft, when I was at the combine, a Redskins guy asks me a question—this was during my evaluation to see what type of person I am. He asks me “say we draft you, you’re sitting in a chair during our first meeting, Brian Orakpo comes up to you and says that’s my chair. Are you going to move, or are you going to fight him for the chair?” I said “I’m not going to fight him for a chair” and he says “so you’re scared of Orakpo, you’re just going to let him take your chair?!” he was serious, but I got a good laugh out of that.

Q: Were you hoping to switch to linebacker or stay at end?
A: I was interested in switching to linebacker. I played D end my whole life. But as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, you have the ability to rush as a D end, but you also get to cover. I always felt that I was able to cover—I have the talent and the speed—so I looked at the switch as a challenge. The switch was fun. Looking back I said, “Wow, I did all of this at a position I had never played before.”

Q: Does being in a tough division push you to be even better?
A: “Anytime you’re playing against the best competition, that’s a plus. This isn’t the NFC West—10 and 6 might not get you into the playoffs. But winning in this division really gets you respect throughout the league. Being able to do well when you’re playing the best of the best says a lot.

Top 32 Prospects

This is not a mock draft. This is a list of draft prospects in order of NFL potential.

1. A.J. Green (WR, Georgia)
2. Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU)
3. Marcell Dareus (DT, Alabama)
4. Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M)
5. Robert Quinn (DE, North Carolina)
6. Julio Jones (WR, Alabama)
7. Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska)
8. Nick Fairley (DT, Auburn)
9. Aldon Smith (DE, Missouri)
10. Colin Kaepernick (QB, Nevada)
11. J.J. Watt (DE, Wisconsin)
12.  Mike Pouncey (G/C, Florida)
13. Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama)
14. Tyron Smith (OT, Southern California)
15. Blaine Gabbert (QB, Missouri)
16. Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College)
17. Ryan Kerrigan (DE, Purdue)
18. Corey Liuget (DT, Illinois)
19. Cam Newton (QB, Auburn)
20. Cameron Jordan (DE, California)
21. Justin Houston (OLB, Georgia)
22. Gabe Carimi (OT, Wisconsin)
23. Danny Watkins (G, Baylor)
24. Akeem Ayers (OLB, UCLA)
25. Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa)
26. Sam Acho (DE, Texas) 
27. Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor)
28. Derek Sherrod (OT, Mississippi State)
29. Muhammad Wilkerson (DT, Temple)
30. Aaron Williams (CB, Texas)
31. Rahim Moore (S, UCLA)
32. Nate Solder (OT, Colorado)

That's right. Da'Quan Bowers is not on this list. Send me questions on twitter (@nealsweeney) if you want to know more or even just to debate.

Edit 9/8/13: I noticed that I had accidentally listed Aldon Smith as a cornerback.

Mock Draft with Big Yous

Me and my friend Yousef made a mock draft, alternating picks. I did the evens, he did the odds. This way forces us to adjust to surprising picks like a real draft.

1. Carolina Panthers--Cam Newton (QB, Auburn)

At first, I was skeptical that Newton would go #1 but the closer we get to draft day, it seems increasingly likely that he is going to be the guy. I don't think the Panthers are sold on Jimmy Clausen at all and in order to compete in the NFC South, you need a QB. The Panthers are severely lacking in star power (unless you still consider Steve Smith to be a star) and I believe that they take the biggest star in college football with their number one pick.

2. Denver Broncos--Marcell Dareus (DL, Alabama)

Denver couldn't stop anybody in the running game. John Fox is switching to a 4-3 defense and the team has already released its former nose tackles, so Dareus comes in to stop the run and provide a pass rush with pure power up the middle. Elvis Dumervil will be returning, so getting a pass rush will become easy. They could go cornerback here, but Champ Bailey was resigned and they cannot ignore their huge need at the defensive tackle position.

3. Buffalo Bills--Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M)

I was REALLY tempted to take Peterson here. I think he is the best football player in the draft but the Bills don't really have a glaring need at CB. So instead, I'm going to steal your pick from your last mock and take Von Miller. While I think comparing him to DeMarcus Ware is a little strong, he is a perfect fit for their 3-4 defense as an OLB and will drastically improve their defense. Side note: Aaron Maybin is officially on BUST ALERT.

4. Cincinnati Bengals--Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU)

Cam Newton is gone so they won't hit the reset button to have Gabbert take over where Palmer left off. They need help on defense. Patrick Peterson has the potential to be a shutdown corner from day one. He also has the skills to pick the ball of and take it all the way back. The defense is average all over, but Peterson makes it one to fear.

5. Arizona Cardinals--Blaine Gabbert (QB, Missouri)

This is a no-brainer. Cardinals fans are thrilled to have Blaine Gabbert fall into their laps after having to endure the terrible trio of Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton last year. In Gabbert, the Cardinals get a QB with prototypical size, 4.6 speed and a big arm. Ken Whisenhunt played a key role in Ben Roethlisberger's development as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh and I believe that he can have a similar effect on Gabbert's career.

6. Cleveland Browns--Robert Quinn (DE, North Carolina)

The Browns' defense needs a pass rusher. Many will say a receiver should go here, but Shurmur made a name for himself by making no-name receivers have an impact. So they grab Quinn, assuming his interviews and meetings go well. He missed last season because of a suspension but kept in shape and showed it at the combine, then improved for his pro day. He shows great speed and explosiveness coming off the edge.

7. San Francisco 49ers--Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraka)

I agree with you that Jim Harbaugh will give Alex Smith one more chance to prove that he can be a successful NFL QB. The 49ers need a CB: Nate Clements turns 32 in December and was already getting burned every other week. Amukamara had a stellar career at Nebraska and is the best CB on the board.

8. Tennessee Titans--Nick Fairley (DT, Auburn)

Gabbert is gone so they fill their next biggest need with Fairley. He was nearly as dominant as Suh last year. He is a bit more finesse than most of their linemen which only makes him more attractive.

9. Dallas Cowboys--Da'Quan Bowers (DE/OLB, Clemson)

Bowers' supposed "freefall" in the draft is being highly exaggerated. While he does have some injury concerns, he is one of the premier pass rushers in this draft, which are hard to come by. Bowers will make teams think twice about doubling Ware and as an Eagles fan, I am absolutely terrified of a Ware/Bowers pass rushing duo, especially against our suspect offensive line. I think that Jerry Jones will recognize this and we both know that he won't shy away from taking a talented prospect with a few red flags (see: Dez Bryant). I think Bowers is the pick.

10. Washington Redskins--A.J. Green (WR, Georgia)

The Redskins will look at QB, OLB, and DL here as well. It is too early to pick Locker, and no lineman worth #10. So they basically pick the best player available. Although there are some great pass rushers they can get, the position is deep enough that they can get one in the 2nd round if they want. Green is a beast. He reminds me so much of Calvin Johnson. If he is available here, though, I expect the Redskins to make a deal with someone like New England (they have 2 picks in each of the first three rounds), so they can address 3 of the big 4 needs (QB, DL, OLB, C/G).

11. Houston Texans--J.J. Watt (DE, Wisconsin)

It's obvious that the Texans have holes in the secondary. The disastrous Hail Mary they allowed against Jacksonville was a microcosm of their season. I could see the Texans trying to trade up to get one of the top 2 CBs in the draft or they could trade down and get multiple picks to address their secondary. If they stay at #11, I don't think there is a cornerback or safety they can justify taking with that high of a pick. Aside from Super Mario Williams, the Texans don't really have any pass rushers that scare you. I think they take Watt, a versatile defensive lineman who can play tackle in a 4-3 and end in 3-4. With the Texans reportedly experimenting with a hybrid defense, I think Watt could be a good fit.

12. Minnesota Vikings--Jake Locker (QB, Washington)

The Vikings have so much money in their receivers and can't see them go to waste. They franchised Sidney Rice (which is only for one year) so they need him to have a good year. They need someone to throw it to them. Locker's pro day showed a lot of progress in his footwork so he shoots up to this pick. They could address their either of their lines, but QB is their biggest priority.

13. Detroit Lions--Tyron Smith (OT, USC)

You had it right on in your previous mock. If the Lions are ever going to be contenders in this league, they need to protect their $40 million dollar investment in Stafford. They have a stud WR in Calvin Johnson, they got a talented RB last year in Best. This year, I think they take Smith, the consensus #1 OT in this draft. While he played mostly right tackle at USC, I believe that he has the athleticism to make the transition to left tackle. They can move their longtime starting left tackle Jeff Backus to guard and improve their line in two spots.

14. St. Louis Rams--Julio Jones (WR, Alabama)

The Rams did well last season, but fell short of the playoffs. They want to maximize Bradford's production so they will give him a weapon. Jones reminds me much of Larry Fitzgerald. Remember--Josh McDaniels (their OC) drafted a top WR last season in Denver despite all of their other needs, so I am sure he will lobby for Jones.

15. Miami Dolphins--Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama)

The Dolphins were a disappointing team last year. While many blame Chad Henne for this, (and I agree with you, he is NOT their QB of the future) their running game was lackluster compared to where it was a few years ago. Ronnie Brown is a free agent and turns 30 in December. Ricky Williams turns 34 in May and is probably best suited as a situational back moving forward. Enter Mark Ingram. I know his 40 time was slower you would ideally like but all he did at Alabama was produce. Look for the Dolphins to take the Heisman trophy-winning back in the first round and try to address their QB situation with a guy like Christian Ponder or Colin Kaepernick in a later round.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars--Rahim Moore (S, UCLA)

The Jaguars need a play maker on defense. Rahim Moore reminds me a lot of Ed Reed. I know that's a huge thing to say, but he is a ball hawk and will instantly be making plays for the Jags. They will look at a pass rusher, but they will look later or hope that Kampman can stay healthy.

17. New England Patriots--Aldon Smith (DE/OLB, Missouri)

Smith is probably a better fit in a 4-3 than a 3-4, but the Patriots pass rush was inconsistent last year and was one of the main reasons why they lost to the Jets in the playoffs last season. The Patriots did not record a single sack against their playoff game against the Jets and allowed Mark Sanchez to pick them apart. Smith will juice up their pass rush and Bill Belichick will put him in a position to be successful by occasionally using a hybrid defense, allowing him to rush the QB with a hand in the dirt.

18. San Diego Chargers--Cameron Jordan (DE, California)

I am not in love with this pick because the Charger's don't have huge holes. They signed Bob Sanders, so their next biggest holes would be DE and LB. Jordan's workouts have been great and he is a big guy that plays with great power. He can stuff the run and rush the passer as well. He could stay at end or possibly switch to linebacker.

19. New York Giants--Nate Solder (OT, Colorado)

Nate Solder is HUGE. He is a 6'8", 320-pound mammoth of an offensive tackle. While he is a bit raw, the Giants have enough stopgap options to be patient with Solder, allow him to develop and groom him to be their starting left tackle of the future. When Solder is ready to play, they can move Dave Diehl to his more natural position of left guard, strengthening their offensive line in two different spots.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-- Aaron Williams (CB/S, Texas)

Williams may be a better safety than Moore. He is excellent in zone coverage and has good instincts. Barber is getting old, so Williams can play safety or nickelback until he is ready to take over for Barber. He fits their scheme and a need at safety and a future one at cornerback.

21. Kansas City Chiefs--Phil Taylor (NT, Baylor)

At #21, I'm going to piggyback your pick from your previous mock and take Phil Taylor. The Chiefs are solid up front with Glenn Dorsey and while Tyson Jackson has been incredibly disappointing for a #3 overall pick, I think that Taylor is big and powerful enough to occupy double teams, allowing Jackson to face more single teams and play up to his potential.

22. Indianapolis Colts--Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College)

Peyton looked like Eli (not a blow on Eli, but he is not near the level of Peyton) when the protection broke down. Castonzo may have some trouble against speed, but their division doesn't have speed rushers so he will be fine. Plus, the Colts know how to use backs and tight ends to help with their blocking.

23. Philadelphia Eagles--Mike Pouncey (G/C, Florida)

YES!!!!!!!!!! As an Eagles fan, having Pouncey fall to the 23rd pick is a dream scenario for me. I CAN HARDLY CONTAIN MY ENTHUSIASM!!!!! Our offensive line was mostly terrible last season and allowed a whopping 49 sacks. FORTY-NINE! Mike Vick won't make it past Week Three if we don't do something to fix the offensive line. Pouncey has the ability to play three positions and can really solidify the middle of our line, especially since our starting center Jamaal Jackson suffered a second straight season-ending injury. We saw what his brother Maurkice did for Pittsburgh's O-Line last year. Hopefully, Mike can do the same for ours. Besides, you have to love the symmetry of both of the Pouncey brothers playing in Pennsylvania. No-brainer.

24. New Orleans Saints--Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa)

They need to get better at rushing the passer. Especially playing Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman twice each. Will Smith needs some help, plus he is aging. Clayborn can become his eventual replacement and an immediate starter.

25. Seattle Seahawks--Ryan Mallett (QB, Arkansas)

The Seahawks thought they had their QB of the future when they traded a third-round pick for Charlie Whitehurst last season. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Charlie Whitehurst sucks. In Mallett, they get their QB of the future and can have him sit behind Matt Hasselbeck for a year or two until he is ready to play.

Correction: Matt Hasselbeck is a Free Agent. Which means Charlie Whitehurst is their QB of the present. Yikes!

26. Baltimore Ravens--Torrey Smith (WR, Maryland)

The Ravens still need a threat down field and Mason may be playing his last year. Smith has been opening eyes as the draft gets closer. He may just be a downfield threat right now (like Mike Wallace coming into the league) but that's all they need him to be for now. They'd like a corner here, but the pick doesn't match the value so they will wait, trade back, or trade up. REMEMBER: They won't be targeting a pass rusher unless they have already given up on Sergio Kindle who was out all of last year because of a freak accident.

27. Atlanta Falcons--Muhammed Wilkerson (DE/DT, Temple)

I think that Wilkerson is a versatile guy who can play defensive end on rushing downs and defensive tackle on passing downs. John Abraham had a great season last year, but he turns 33 in May. Jamaal Anderson is a former first-round pick who has done absolutely nothing since entering the league in 2006 and could get cut in training camp. Wilkerson is a more than suitable replacement.

28. New England Patriots--Ryan Kerrigan (DE/OLB, Purdue)

This is a steal in my opinion. Kerrigan is incredibly talented and versatile enough to play LB or DE. He plays hard every down and is incredibly talented at forcing fumbles.

29. Chicago Bears--Gabe Carimi (T, Wisconsin)

Gabe Carimi says he's "the best tackle out there". He's going to have to be if the Bears want to keep Jay Cutler upright. Say what you want about Cutler, but he got sacked an insane 56 times last season. That takes some toughness to take all of those hits. If he is ever going to live up to the hype, the Bears HAVE to solidify their offensive line. Taking Carimi is a step in the right direction.

30. New York Jets--Sam Acho (DE/OLB, Texas)

The Jets are in desperate need of a pass rusher. Acho has been flying up draft boards and showed in drills that he can transition to a 3-4 linebacker. Now the Jets can get pressure without going zero coverage, and get pressure on Brady, who they may (again) play 3 times in a season.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers--Corey Liguet (DE/DT, Illinois)

The Steelers would LOVE to get an offensive tackle with their first round pick. Unfortunately, all four tackles with a first round grade have been taken already. So instead, they take Liguet, who can play defensive end in a 3-4 and is the best player on the board. Starting defensive end Aaron Smith has played 11 games in the past two seasons and can no longer be counted on to stay healthy for a 16-game season. BLACK AND YELLOW BLACK AND YELLOW

32. Green Bay Packers--Danny Watkins (G, Baylor)

They would have loved to get Corey Liguet but he just got picked so they address their O-line. I want to get this straight- their line is not even decent. It's crap with an elite QB making them look better than they are. Rodgers was concussed twice last year and the Pack barely made the playoffs. Protecting Aaron Rodgers is the key to securing a division title. Watkins is a guy that blocks with more power than finesse, and the Packers like those types. So he fits a huge need and their prototype lineman.

Here's more on my man Yous:

Yousef Nasser is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan who is currently a student at the University of Connecticut. He also is a big fan of the SIXERS, Phillies, Flyers and of course, the Connecticut Huskies. After college, he aspires to be a radio/TV host for ESPN. You can follow him on Twitter: @thebigyous.

Top 10 Pass Rushers in the League

ESPN recently released a top-ten list of pass rushers currently in the league. I found it to be highly inaccurate, so I decided I would have some fun and make my own.

1. DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (80 sacks in 6 seasons)
2. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (23.5 sacks in 2 seasons)
3. Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs (14.5 sacks in 2010)
4. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings (40 sacks in 3 seasons with the Vikings)
5. LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers (35 sacks since 2008)
6. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers (2008 Defensive MVP)
7. Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins (19.5 sacks, 2 Pro Bowls in 2 seasons) 
8. Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos (17 sacks in 2009)
9. Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts (94 sacks in 9 seasons)
10. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears  (33 sacks since 2008)

You can find the ESPN list here. As you can see, my list is very different. Who would make your top ten list?

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It, Right?

Last year, the Redskins transitioned to a 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. The defense suffered because the Redskins did not have the personnel to play the 3-4 defense. The 4-3 had two tackles in the middle of the line, and two ends who primarily rush the passer. The middle linebacker is a run stopper, while the outside linebackers are better in coverage. One of the OLB is generally a good pass rusher. The 3-4 focuses more on confusing the offense and disguising blitzes. The ideal model is Dick Lebeau's zone blitz scheme that has kept the Steelers' defense at the top for years.

Jim Haslett and players Reed Doughty and Carlos Rogers (both set to become Free Agents)

The secondary remains the same in the switch. The pass rushing ends of a 4-3 become outside linebackers of the 3-4. The defensive tackles or run-stopping ends become 3-4 defensive ends (a.k.a. "5 technique"). The big, stuffing defensive tackle becomes the nose tackle. The middle linebacker (4-3) becomes an inside backer (3-4) and an outside linebacker (4-3) becomes an inside backer (3-4).

• OLB--Andre Carter was a pure pass rusher and was still productive, but he lacked the coverage ability to start opposite Orakpo. Lorenzo Alexander lacks the speed and pass rush ability to threaten opposing teams. Shanahan has made it clear that this is a priority. There was no pass rush since teams would focus on stopping Orakpo.
• ILB--Fletcher was productive, as always, and earned his second consecutive (and second overall) Pro Bowl berth. Rocky McIntosh was showing great improvement as a 4-3 OLB, but struggled when moved inside. McIntosh is set to become a free agent.
• NT--Haynesworth was expected to play nose tackle, but refused to and the Redskins had little other options. This is a huge priority this offseason.
• DE--There are many guys the coaches like on the roster, but none they love for this position. This is not a priority, but definitely a concern. The draft is full of guys that can fill this need.

It seems that, with the personnel, the team would have been smarter to stay as a 4-3, where they ranked 4th in the league, rather than switching to a 3-4, where they ranked 31st. The transition often takes time, but one must wonder why the switch was made in the first place.

Atogwe--Finally a smart move in free agency!

The Redskins signed a 5 year, $26M contract with former Rams Free Safety O.J. Atogwe.  Most probably remember him on the Pete Kendall catch-and-fumble play against the Rams in 2008. He is reunited with his former Defensive Coordinator Jim Hasslet.

Atogwe is an all-around safety that can tackle, cover, and create turnovers. But the part that Redskins fans care most about--he is a classy, hard worker. His teammates in St. Louis enjoyed playing with him and he has never made controversial comments or argued with his coaches. So don't worry--I fully expect this signing to work out for the best!

When Atogwe was signed, I immediately followed him on twitter. His first post that I saw said, "With all due respect, I will not be rocking nor even asking to rock 21..." You rarely see that kind of respect. In all honesty, I doubt the Redskins would oppose him keeping the number 21. The Redskins love Sean Taylor and are forever saddened by his murder, but 21 is just a number. Atogwe's move is in respect for the fans, in my eyes, and Taylor's family. He knows that when we think football and 21, we think of our late safety that played like a Redskin should--with nothing but heart and love for the game. That kind of respect from a player to the fans is rare. You see people like Brandon Jacobs and Vince Young who throw things at fans and make obscene gestures towards them. Respect for fans is rare. Sean Taylor also had it, citing the fans as the reason he loved D.C. Atogwe has shown it in his first move as a Redskin.

I am excited to see this guy play for the Redskins and help improve the defense. Hopefully his passion will spread to the other players as Shanahan tries to mold the culture of the team into that of winners. No longer will players come to D.C. to get paid and retire. They will come here to be part of a franchise full of passion, class, and love for the game of football.

Defense Wins Championships? I'll take the QB

Everyone has heard the myth "defense wins championships." This used to be true, but now it seems that the defense can get you there, but the offense wins in the playoffs--when it matters. I do not argue that a defense is not needed; a Super Bowl team must be balanced. But the offense is what comes through. When was the last time a "nobody special" QB won the Super Bowl? I mean a true nobody. Magical seasons make a somebody (even Brad Johnson had his year). Jeff Hostetler (NYG, XXV) is probably the first of that category to win a Super Bowl. He had a very efficient game, completing 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. To win a Super Bowl, you need a good quarterback.

The playoff teams watching this Super Bowl did not all have that quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck (SEA) is getting older and showing it. Jay Cutler (CHI) fell short, although he is behind a dreadful line. Matt Cassel (KC) looked horrible in the playoffs. The Jets' Mark Sanchez definitely needs to improve if his team wants to get over the hump and advance to the big game.

There are 45 Super Bowls, so obviously there are 45 Super Bowl MVP's. Of those 45, eight are defenders, one a return specialist. Of the 36 offensive players (counting repeats) to win the award, 24 are quarterbacks.

Having a franchise QB cannot be emphasized enough. The Redskins need one and the draft is the perfect time to grab one. Most mock drafts have shown that defenders will fill the top 10 picks, which gives the Redskins their pick at players to improve their offense, with holes at every position but left tackle and tight end.

Kaepernick goes under the radar

Quarterbacks have been the talk of the 2011 draft class. You hear all sorts of names thrown into the mix, but not the name Colin Kaepernick. The multi-talented quarterback of the Nevada Wolf Pack was a four-year starter. He showed steady improvement every year.

Passing Stats
YEAR	TEAM	CMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	INT	RAT
2007	NEV	133	247	53.8	2175	8.8	19	74	3	150.77
2008	NEV	208	383	54.3	2849	7.4	22	75	7	132.10
2009	NEV	166	282	58.9	2052	7.3	20	56	6	139.14
2010	NEV	233	359	64.9	3022	8.4	21	79	8	150.46

Rushing Stats
YEAR	TEAM	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FD	FUM	LOST
2007	NEV	105	593	5.6	55	6	0	0	0
2008	NEV	161	1130	7.0	66	17	0	0	0
2009	NEV	161	1183	7.3	75	16	0	0	0
2010	NEV	173	1206	7.0	59	20	0	0

 stats from ESPN
As you can see, His  completion percentage went up every year. He also tamed his eagerness to scramble, standing in the pocket more often and making the subtle moves required of a pocket passer, but at the same time he was able to use his running more advantageously.

Kaepernick first caught my attention in the Senior Bowl practices. He showed off a strong arm, but that didn't set him aside. When hitting receivers on timing routes, he threw the ball at the right time with perfection. Few rookie QB's can make those throws out of college. Kaepernick can make the tough throws and he has all of the tangibles you desire in a QB. The biggest question was whether or not he could become a pocket passer who possesses the athleticism to scramble. Michael Vick was that QB this season. Can Kaepernick make the same transition? That is what coaches and GM's will be asking themselves come draft day.

Possible picks for #10

The Redskins have the 10th overall pick in April's draft. They can go a number of ways with this pick, having holes at nearly every position.

QB

1. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert is considered the top QB entering the draft. He has accuracy issues but has shown good decision-making, arm strength, and movement in the pocket. If he falls to 10, the Redskins will take a careful look.
2. Cam Newton (Auburn) impressed everyone with his workout for the media. On paper, he has everything you want, but his intangibles have been questioned. He does not fit Shanahan's system, but is still someone to pay attention to draft day.
3. Jake Locker is who everyone is talking about. The senior out of Washington has an incredible arm along with surprising athleticism. He has never thrown above 60% completion percentage, which is troubling. If a coach believes his accuracy can be fixed, then there is no reason not to take him. There have been rumors that Shanahan is very interested in Locker, but Shanahan has done little to show his targets.

WR

1. If A.J. Green of Georgia is still on the board, it will be a no brainer. He has all the talent to step in and become an elite receiver. It is highly unlikely that he will drop to this spot, but so was the case for Brian Orakpo.
2. Julio Jones (Alabama) has the size to be a top receiver, but his route running has been questioned. It may be a bit early for the Redskins to look at him, but they will certainly look.
3. Titus Young has come out of Boise State and is drawing comparisons to Desean Jackson. He impressed everyone at the Senior Bowl practices with his ability to go downfield and make the catch. His speed and concentration are invaluable, but teams question whether or not he can run all routes. Think of how Mike Wallace was--first he was simply a fast deep threat. Now Wallace is one of the top receivers in the league. At pick 10, Young would be a major stretch.

DE/OLB

1. Von Miller (Texas A&M) is considered the best outside linebacker in the draft. He has been compared to Clay Matthews and backed the comparisons up with a terrific Senior Bowl, single-handedly disrupting the North team's drives.
2. It is simple--without Orakpo, the Redskins' pass rush is nonexistent. The Redskins need another pass rushing linebacker to help of Orakpo. North Carolina's Robert Quinn is an exceptional pass rusher and is athletic enough to play linebacker. He dominated Castanzo, who is widely considered the top tackle in the draft.
3. Aldon Smith (Missouri) is a raw talent. He is a great athlete who needs to be coached up to the NFL level. He could go this early, but may even drop to the 2nd round. It all depends if the team thinks it can coach up such a raw player, and Shanahan has always shown full confidence in his staff.

Other possibilities here are CB and DL. Brown is likely to stay in D.C. and the 10th pick would be too early for an interior lineman.

NFL offers additional $5K to SB "almost attendees"

Everyone is aware by now that Jerry Jones' greed created a horrible mess, displacing roughly 400 fans in an attempt to set a Super Bowl attendance record.  The NFL originally offered the fans $2,400 (three times the face value their seats) and a ticket to next year's Super Bowl. They then announced another option: a ticket to the Super Bowl of the fan's choosing along with travel and hotel expenses paid. Now they have another option. The fan can take the higher of the two options: $5000 or complete reimbursement of documented Super Bowl expenses.

The situation has caused some fans to file lawsuits against the NFL and Dallas Cowboys. Here is a video of a fan and his attorney, who are involved in the class action suit.

At first it may seem like the NFL was just prioritizing the safety of its fans, but documents released after the game show that the Cowboys were slow to respond to requests for building permits needed to install the seats. This was all caused by Jerry Jones poor preparation and the Cowboys' inability to follow procedure and make deadlines. And after all of the trouble, Jones did not come close to the record.

First tag official, Fat Albert in more trouble, combine boycott

Today, Mankins received the franchise tag from the Patriots. It is unknown whether or not franchise tags will exist with the new CBA, but the NFL encouraged teams to use them. So it is clear-- the Patriots will pay what it takes to keep Mankins.

In other news, Haynesworth, shortly after being charged with assault, has been accused of sexual assault. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt but it's Haynesworth and he's earned his poor reputation. Let's just hope he is soon unaffiliated with the Redskins.

DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, has talked to agents about possibly boycotting the Rookie Combine. It seems that he is working harder to hurt negotiations, rather than help them. Players boycotting the combine is unlikely, but there is also discussion of boycotting April's draft.  This would not do much. The draft would occur as normal, but the players simply would not be at the event in New York.

Mankins to be franchised, Guard still a need.

The Patriots have made it clear that they will place the franchise tag on Pro Bowl Guard Mankins. This means he will not enter free agency and the Redskins cannot sign him. That means we still have an awful interior line. Williams and Brown were solid, so I expect us to resign Brown.  Before going over my plan, let's look at the needs.

QB-- McNabb is simply not the future, and Grossman was nothing special. The Redskins need a franchise QB.
RB-- Who knows if Torrain is special, but he showed promise. No reason not to stick with him.
FB-- Sellers is getting older, but the staff likes Young and will have him split time with Sellers.
WR-- Moss' future is uncertain. He is scheduled to enter free agency and the Redskins have not shown what their plans are.
TE-- Cooley is not going anywhere.
OT-- As I said, Williams and Brown were solid.
OG-- The younger guys stepped up late in the season but they do not have the talent to be long-time starters.
C-- Rabach had a pretty bad season and is getting old.

NT-- The Redskins have nobody to play nose tackle. They are pursuing Shaun Rogers, but so is half the league.
DE-- There are fill-ins but no sure starter at this position.
OLB-- We all know Orakpo is a monster but the Redskins need another pass-rusher on the other side. Chris Wilson could be the answer, but coaches have not shown confidence in him.
ILB-- Fletcher is getting old. McIntosh had a decent year (he switched from outside in the 4-3 to inside in the 3-4) but is scheduled to become a free agent.
CB-- Hall is coming off a Pro Bowl year and Rogers is scheduled for free agency. His future with the Redskins seems dependent on if the coaches believe he can stay healthy.
FS-- Kareem Moore played below expectations, but still has the trust of the coaches.
SS-- Landry was set to start in the Pro Bowl but couldn't because of injury. Before the injury, he was in the Defensive Player of the Year talk.

With the 10th overall pick, the Redskins could select a QB. But at #10, the talent would not be worthy of the pick. With 10, the Redskins could take a pass rusher, a DL, or WR. I suggest trading back for mid-late 1st and 2nd rounders.  This will allow the Redskins to take an interior lineman (perhaps Pounce). Then, with the 2nd rounders, they can take a QB, then a DL. The QB would be Colin Kaepernick. Many people question whether he can be an NFL QB, but I see excellence. He is exceptional at timing routes, which is key in a West Coast offense. He just needs to learn how to move within the pocket and not immediately try to scramble. There are many worthy DT's in the draft, but not many NT's. So grabbing one of these will improve our line and ensure that a defense with so much talent will not put up such pathetic numbers. Later in the draft I see the Redskins grabbing DB's and possibly WR's and ILB's.

On another note, congrats to Jerry Gray! He was recently hired as the Titans' Defensive Coordinator. Gray used to be the DB coach in D.C. He's a great guy and an excellent coach.