Smashmouth Football League Articles

2005 SFL Mock Draft

#11- OT-Marcus Johnson
I?ve heard many GM?s point out that the Saints have a solid team and I agree. There is an obvious hole at ROLB but unless Merriman were to fall, I think the better option would be to replace LT-Kendall with a stronger player and Johnson would be exactly that. Delhomme was sacked 42 times last season. That?s not good enough for a team that wants to make the playoffs. For sure this is a tough division with the likes of the Panthers and Falcons but an upgrade along the line might be the best way to make progress. Actually on a broader look at the Saints offensive line I think they can use an upgrade at three spots with Turley?s performance at RT being strangely poor.

#12- MLB-Jordan Beck
The Bears are in need at MLB after they decided to rebuild and get rid of one of the best MLB?s in the league. If the draft turns out this way, they luck out and get the third and final stud in Jordan Beck. Now the Bears have several holes to fill including the elephant in the room which is who is going to QB this team. But Beck feels and immediate need plus the Bears have the next pick.

A bigger picture of the Bears is a fascinating look for me. They really burst onto the scene in 2004 and looked like a dominant force in the division that was going to dethrone the Packers. But with some aging the chose to tear it down this offseason. I feel like if they could have hung on a little longer they could have had a good chance at doing it. The Packers are basically dethroned once Favre retires which is likely to happen at the end of the season.

#13- QB-Kyle Orton
The Bears get their QB and the best one in the draft at #13 in Kyle Orton. This to me would be a best case scenario for them as Orton makes the natural Midwest transition from Indiana to Chicago. Orton is likely a starter from week one. He will take his lumps but it will be well worth it in the long run.

#14- WR-Mike Williams
It?s the Gus Frerotte show is San Francisco. I?m not sure that has a great ring to it, but it is what it is. What should be far more concerning than Gus Frerotte at QB is this huge gaping hole at WR. There?s no Terrell Owens to walk through that door. The latter problem can be much more easily addressed in this draft than the former. Mike Williams is a better WR than Charlie Frye or whoever is a QB. That?s why I think the 49ers should go with Williams.

#15- CB-Antrel Rolle
The Chargers have some talent on this team. But when I look at them I see two needs, which works out nice since they have two first round picks to use in meeting those needs. The first of those two needs is a young developmental CB. That?s the one I think they address here. Antrel Rolle has some worrisome agility but everything else looks really good. He can probably play the nickel in year one while Burris takes the #2 spot and then slide in next season. I think it?s important to remember that CB is a premium position in this league and to get the good ones you need to select them in round one.

I still think the Chargers are contenders for this division but the Raiders are really putting their foot on the gas. The Chargers will have to make some additions beyond the draft if they want to get on the Raiders level.

#16- CB-Stanford Routt
The Jets are wanting to go CB here. I think they would prefer Rolle not be taken by the Chargers but if the draft unfolds in the way I am suggesting then I think they will turn to Stanford Routt. Justin Miller would be another possibility but I?m not sure 5?10? is what they are hoping for in terms of height for a CB. Particularly as they just let Donnie Abraham go.

The Jets started out last season without a real good plan at QB but they were shrewdly able to adjust midseason by trading for Jake Plummer. With a few more awareness points he will turn into the QB the Jets need. The important thing is that they did that without having to sacrifice a first round pick. Kevin knows what he?s doing and even when a plan doesn?t work out, he can usually find a plan B that works out well.

#17- CB-Justin Miller
The Cowboys have this huge gaping hole which is by far the most pressing need on the team. You guessed it, they need a starting center. The way I see it, they have two possibilities: 1) They can draft a center here or 2) They should trade the Redskins for Tom Nalen. I?d be willing to be the Redskins would take a 2nd and 3rd for him. OK in all seriousness, the Cowboys have a need at center but they can figure that out in the later rounds.

I think the play here is CB or OLB. CB is more important but OLB has the better players. In the end I have mocked Justin Miller here. I think Miller has the bones to be good, but he?ll need some time to get the awareness up plus he?s a little short.

#18- OLB-Cameron Wake
The Ravens are starting to take some losses on due to cap issues. They are in need of another OLB so Wake makes sense here. I think they would have hoped for a little talent at this point, but it?s what is left. I think it?s conceivable they could go CB here with a guy like Pacman Jones. He?d be better value, but if they stick with position need they go Wake.

#19- OLB-David Pollack
I said earlier there were two clear needs for the Chargers. The first was CB and Rolle is a great fit there. The second is OLB. Wake and Pollack are two similar players at what I would call tier two in this draft. With the Ravens taking Wake at 18, the Chargers can select Pollack at 19. I?m not completely sure the Chargers will settle for his speed/acceleration combo, but if they do, he has high AWR to play immediately.

#20- CB-Carlos Rogers
The Falcons are up next here. They?ve got a good offense which is run through T.J. Duckett, but what was amazing to me was how the Falcons managed to win games with a secondary like they have. Rossum isn?t bad, but he?s not great either, he?s got maximum speed and acceleration but he?s only 5?8? with passable awareness (not great especially for a 30 year old) and he?s got horrible hands and tackling skills. And they there?s Thompson who only has 53 AWR or Edwards. I think the Falcons are really missing an opportunity here. So I?m helping along by choosing a CB. A guy like Carlos Rogers would be a huge help to this team. He?s got great awareness, catch, and tackle for a rookie with a solid 6?0? frame.

It wouldn?t surprise me if the Falcons try to add to their offense. Maybe like the Broncos, the goal is just to outscore their opponents, but as some point you will need a defensive stop and they need to have more talent to be able to do so.