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polamalubeast
10-22-2010, 01:23 PM
1. Jake Long, T, Miami

Value: Exceptional. He’s a cornerstone of the Dolphins’ franchise. Good as a rookie. Great as a sophomore. As a junior, he may just be the best left tackle in the league with the sudden regression of Joe Thomas.

Interesting stat: In his last 21 starts Long has averaged out as giving up under one pressure per game. To think some people said he was more suited to being a right tackle.

Grade: A+

Re-do pick: Make the same pick all day Long.


2. Chris Long, DE, St Louis

Value: He’s not all-conquering like Mario Williams, nor does he have the attributes of Julius Peppers, but he’s the best defensive end from this class.

Interesting stat: After picking up 70 combined quarterback pressures in his first two years, Long is on pace to better that figure in this year alone. At his current speed he’ll pick up 85.3 total quarterback pressures.

Grade: B-


Re-do pick: In retrospect, the Rams needed quarterback help, and you had the highly rated Matt Ryan one pick below.

3. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta

Value: Any time you find yourself a franchise quarterback who helps rebuild a broken franchise immediately, you have to be happy. However, he hasn’t really pushed on from his rookie year — in fact, he has regressed. Still, he’s a solid starting QB in the NFL, and those don’t grow on trees.

Interesting Stat: Just nine of Matty Ice’s career interceptions have come when he has been faced with pressure.

Grade: A

Re-do pick: Atlanta would make this pick again, but with the Rams taking Ryan, the Falcons would have been forced into finding another face of the franchise. Joe Flacco has been steadier than Ryan in some respects.



4. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland

Value: Not great. In hindsight, there were better backs on the board, and McFadden has never lived up to the hype as a player who could make an impact similar to that of Adrian Peterson.

Interesting Stat: His nine forced missed tackles in 2010 are just four fewer than he managed in years one and two. Getting better.

Grade: C-

Re-do pick: If you really need some help in the backfield then getting a game-changer like Chris Johnson gives you that help and then some.





18. Joe Flacco, Baltimore

Value: Superb. A true home-run pick, Flacco has been everything the Ravens could have asked for and a little bit more.

Interesting Stat: He’s thrown 61.76 percent of his career touchdown passes when teams have blitzed him, including all of his scores this year.

Grade: A+

Re-do pick: With no Flacco on the board, quarterback would have still been the biggest concern. The Ravens could win with Chad Henne under center.




23. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh

Value: His first year ended on IR, and he was called out for his performance in his second year. But Mendenhall has really turned it around, and he’s the most complete runner the Steelers have had in a while.

Interesting Stat: This year he’s making opponents miss a tackle once every 5.04 carries, one of the best ratios in the league.

Grade: B+

Re-do pick: Given the same choice, it’s probably worth sticking to something that worked so well. Mendenhall, again.

read more

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2010/10/21/class-of-2008-the-first-round-re-focused/

Merchant
10-27-2010, 10:57 PM
Good read. It's interesting to look back at some of the players scouts were drooling over who ended up being complete busts (i.e. Vernon Gholston).