In what was a relatively quiet offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers will need shooting guard Will Barton and C.J. McCollum to continue their development for the upcoming season.
This past year saw Will Barton emerge from exciting bench warmer to a more under-control role player. There were glimpses of Barton's talent as a rookie, but too often his desire to play one-on-one and spotty decision-making held him back. While he still plays a bit too "hero ball", Barton started playing more under-control, which led to him seeing more regular playing time towards the end of the regular season.
A lanky wing, Barton's long wingspan can make him a pest on the defensive end. While there was talk of Barton potentially playing some point guard in the second unit, his performance in the 2014 Summer League in that role was inconsistent. Barton will almost assuredly see most of his time spelling Wesley Matthews this season, with the potential to earn some additional playing time at the '3' if the team wants to play small.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Monday, October 21, 2013
Grading the Deal: Dophins trade for Ravens' Bryant McKinnie
The Miami Dolphins, apparently tired of seeing their second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill continually battered, have reportedly acquired Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. McKinnie, who was replaced as the starting left tackle after Baltimore traded for Eugene Monroe a couple of weeks ago, will get another opportunity to become a starter. The move was first reported by Fox Sports' Jay Glazer:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Miami Dolphins, who've been dealing w o-line trouble, have traded with the Ravens for Bryant McKinnie according to Ravens sources</p>— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/statuses/392353859969884161">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Dolphins have surrendered 26 sacks through six games, including two late in their last-minute loss on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills, the second one which led to a Tannehill lost fumble. Buffalo ate up the next three minutes before making the deciding 31-yard field goal with just over 30 seconds left in the game.
While McKinnie is still no longer the Pro Bowl-caliber player he was for Minnesota during the early-to-mid 2000's, he will likely see he field soon. Tyson Clabo has been beaten regularly at right tackle, while Jonathan Martin has shown improvement but still has a ways to go.
Grade for Miami: B-. Taking a chance on a former Pro Bowler is a fairly low-risk proposition for the Dolphins, who desperately need better play from their offensive line if they want to compete for a playoff spot this season. Perhaps a move to his old collegiate stomping grounds and a warm-weather city could give McKinnie's play a boost.
Grade for Baltimore: B. After acquiring a new offensive tackle in Eugene Monroe, the team clearly had no plans to keep McKinnie after this season. Getting what will likely be a late-round pick for an aging veteran is a solid haul.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Miami Dolphins, who've been dealing w o-line trouble, have traded with the Ravens for Bryant McKinnie according to Ravens sources</p>— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/statuses/392353859969884161">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Dolphins have surrendered 26 sacks through six games, including two late in their last-minute loss on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills, the second one which led to a Tannehill lost fumble. Buffalo ate up the next three minutes before making the deciding 31-yard field goal with just over 30 seconds left in the game.
While McKinnie is still no longer the Pro Bowl-caliber player he was for Minnesota during the early-to-mid 2000's, he will likely see he field soon. Tyson Clabo has been beaten regularly at right tackle, while Jonathan Martin has shown improvement but still has a ways to go.
Grade for Miami: B-. Taking a chance on a former Pro Bowler is a fairly low-risk proposition for the Dolphins, who desperately need better play from their offensive line if they want to compete for a playoff spot this season. Perhaps a move to his old collegiate stomping grounds and a warm-weather city could give McKinnie's play a boost.
Grade for Baltimore: B. After acquiring a new offensive tackle in Eugene Monroe, the team clearly had no plans to keep McKinnie after this season. Getting what will likely be a late-round pick for an aging veteran is a solid haul.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Grading the Deal: Jazz re-signing Derrick Favors
The Utah Jazz decided to lock up power forward Derrick Favors to a reported 4 year, $49 million contract extension this week. Favors, 22, was part of a productive duo of young big men that were lodged behind veterans Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap the past two seasons. With both players signing elsewhere this offseason, Favors will see a significant uptick in both minutes and responsibility.
Favors was the main piece in the Deron Williams to New Jersey (now Brooklyn) deal in February of 2011, which also sent Devin Harris (no longer with the team) and two first round picks to Utah. While he hasn't quite developed as quickly as hoped offensively, Favors has shown a propensity for blocking shots (1.7 per game, 12th in NBA last season), and is a strong finisher near the rim. He's also a solid rebounder, and is an above-average athlete for the position.
The Jazz have a lot of young talent, but would have been woefully thin up front if the team elected to have him play out the fourth year of his contract and enter restricted free agency. While a little over $12 million a year might be over-paying for the 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds he provided last season, the Jazz would have risked losing one of their best young players on a team that's clearly in transition.
Favors' representation could have elected to take the riskier approach and abandon the opportunity for an extension by playing out the season in hopes of getting a richer deal elsewhere. While there could have been a team or two out there willing to spend more than the $12+ million annually he's now set to receive, the risk of injury would hardly be worth it.
Grade for Utah: B. Despite over-paying slightly, the team was able to keep a player they likely view as a core piece in their rebuilding efforts. There is risk with that kind of investment in a player that's still relatively unproven, but it was a calculated risk in this instance.
Grade for Favors: A. There likely wouldn't have been a team to offer much more than Utah had, and the risk of injury in playing out the final year of his rookie deal ultimately wouldn't have been worth it. His contract is also favorable in comparison to other promising young big men like Serge Ibaka ($12.5 million average annual salary) and Javale McGee ($11 million AAS).
Favors was the main piece in the Deron Williams to New Jersey (now Brooklyn) deal in February of 2011, which also sent Devin Harris (no longer with the team) and two first round picks to Utah. While he hasn't quite developed as quickly as hoped offensively, Favors has shown a propensity for blocking shots (1.7 per game, 12th in NBA last season), and is a strong finisher near the rim. He's also a solid rebounder, and is an above-average athlete for the position.
The Jazz have a lot of young talent, but would have been woefully thin up front if the team elected to have him play out the fourth year of his contract and enter restricted free agency. While a little over $12 million a year might be over-paying for the 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds he provided last season, the Jazz would have risked losing one of their best young players on a team that's clearly in transition.
Favors' representation could have elected to take the riskier approach and abandon the opportunity for an extension by playing out the season in hopes of getting a richer deal elsewhere. While there could have been a team or two out there willing to spend more than the $12+ million annually he's now set to receive, the risk of injury would hardly be worth it.
Grade for Utah: B. Despite over-paying slightly, the team was able to keep a player they likely view as a core piece in their rebuilding efforts. There is risk with that kind of investment in a player that's still relatively unproven, but it was a calculated risk in this instance.
Grade for Favors: A. There likely wouldn't have been a team to offer much more than Utah had, and the risk of injury in playing out the final year of his rookie deal ultimately wouldn't have been worth it. His contract is also favorable in comparison to other promising young big men like Serge Ibaka ($12.5 million average annual salary) and Javale McGee ($11 million AAS).
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Buffalo Bills report card vs. Baltimore Ravens
In what was a sloppy game that featured seven total interceptions and four fumbles (1 lost), the Buffalo Bills were able to eke out a home win against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Here are the grades for the Bills' performance in all phases of the game.
Quarterback: D
E.J. Manuel's decision-making looked spotty again, and his fourth quarter interception deep inside Baltimore territory cost the team at least three points. Manuel was somewhat loose with the football today, and also lost a fumble on a second quarter sack. There will be growing pains with a rookie quarterback, but Manuel should be able to learn from his struggles against a still-scrappy Baltimore defense.
Running backs: B-
All three of Buffalo's halfbacks saw playing time today, and did a very good job of taking what they could against a very stingy Baltimore run defense. Fred Jackson did fumble twice in the game, but thankfully Buffalo was able to recover both. The injury to starter C.J. Spiller is a concern going forward, as is his surprisingly low per-carry average on the season. The second part of that could be due to the odd play-calling tendencies of coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Receivers: C-
The Ravens secondary did a tremendous job of locking down Stevie Johnson, who was held to one catch (which actually lost a yard). Robert Woods was the star of the show today, reeling in a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and nearly coming up with another score in the fourth were it not for a great play by Jimmy Smith. T.J. Graham and Scott Chandler both had respectable games in what was a very run-heavy gameplan this week.
Offensive Line: C
The line was able to hold it's own against Baltimore's front seven against the run, and while Buffalo's 3.7 yards per carry wasn't spectacular, it was over 4.0 prior to Manuel taking five kneel-downs to end the game. In total, Buffalo was able to amass 203 yards on the ground, which is quite a sum no matter how many times a team runs the football. The pass rush was able to get to Manuel early, and he never looked fully settled in afterwards, but the team did do a decent job of holding Baltimore's pass rushers to two sacks.
Defensive line: B
Marcell Dareus notched two sacks, Mario Williams added one, and the front was able to get fairly consistent pressure on Joe Flacco. While Baltimore's equally questionable play-calling saw them only call two runs the entire second half, the line did a good job of eating up blockers while surrendering just 24 yards on nine carries.
Linebackers: A
The only two linebackers who saw consistent playing time were Manny Lawson and rookie Kiko Alonso. Lawson was able to register a sack in the third quarter, while Alonso was able to add two interceptions, including a diving pick in the last minute of the game that just about sealed the win for the Bills. Pass coverage was also respectable throughout the game, as they were able to hold Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson to six catches and 46 yards total. Lawson in particular did a good job of setting the edge against the run as well.
Secondary: B
While Torrey Smith was able to haul in a 72-yard catch, the banged-up secondary actually did a reasonably good job of limiting Baltimore through the air, holding the Ravens to 6.9 yards per attempt. Safety Aaron Williams actually slid over to his old cornerback role due to the injuries to Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin, and registered two of Buffalo's five interceptions on the day. Jim Leonhard also recorded an interception. Not a bad performance considering the team was missing an All-Pro safety and their top three cornerbacks.
Special teams: B+
Dan Carpenter made all three of his field goal attempts (27.27,22) and had half of his six kickoffs go for touchbacks. Shawn Powell had three punts that went inside the 20, but also had one go through the end zone for a touchback. The coverage units gave up a couple of decent returns (34 yard kick return, 17 yard punt return), but were otherwise solid, as Marcus Easley notched four special teams tackles.
Coaching: C+
While I've been less than impressed with Nathaniel Hackett's play-design and calls, he was smart to try and run the ball against the Ravens, as his offensive line had surrendered eight sacks against the Jets last game. Mike Pettine did a very good job of dialing up blitzes at the right times, which kept the Ravens a bit off-balance at points throughout the game.
Final Grade: B
While the ball security was questionable, this was a big win for a young team and it's coaching staff. Even though the Ravens aren't the same team that won the Super Bowl last season, there are encouraging signs, particularly in the play of the defense. Once the team starts getting some key players like All-Pro safety Jairus Byrd and promising second-year cornerback Stephon Gilmore back from injury, the pass rush could produce even more consistently. While the season is now just one-quarter over, being at .500 with a win over the playoff-minded Ravens is a good way to head into their Thursday night matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Quarterback: D
E.J. Manuel's decision-making looked spotty again, and his fourth quarter interception deep inside Baltimore territory cost the team at least three points. Manuel was somewhat loose with the football today, and also lost a fumble on a second quarter sack. There will be growing pains with a rookie quarterback, but Manuel should be able to learn from his struggles against a still-scrappy Baltimore defense.
Running backs: B-
All three of Buffalo's halfbacks saw playing time today, and did a very good job of taking what they could against a very stingy Baltimore run defense. Fred Jackson did fumble twice in the game, but thankfully Buffalo was able to recover both. The injury to starter C.J. Spiller is a concern going forward, as is his surprisingly low per-carry average on the season. The second part of that could be due to the odd play-calling tendencies of coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Receivers: C-
The Ravens secondary did a tremendous job of locking down Stevie Johnson, who was held to one catch (which actually lost a yard). Robert Woods was the star of the show today, reeling in a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and nearly coming up with another score in the fourth were it not for a great play by Jimmy Smith. T.J. Graham and Scott Chandler both had respectable games in what was a very run-heavy gameplan this week.
Offensive Line: C
The line was able to hold it's own against Baltimore's front seven against the run, and while Buffalo's 3.7 yards per carry wasn't spectacular, it was over 4.0 prior to Manuel taking five kneel-downs to end the game. In total, Buffalo was able to amass 203 yards on the ground, which is quite a sum no matter how many times a team runs the football. The pass rush was able to get to Manuel early, and he never looked fully settled in afterwards, but the team did do a decent job of holding Baltimore's pass rushers to two sacks.
Defensive line: B
Marcell Dareus notched two sacks, Mario Williams added one, and the front was able to get fairly consistent pressure on Joe Flacco. While Baltimore's equally questionable play-calling saw them only call two runs the entire second half, the line did a good job of eating up blockers while surrendering just 24 yards on nine carries.
Linebackers: A
The only two linebackers who saw consistent playing time were Manny Lawson and rookie Kiko Alonso. Lawson was able to register a sack in the third quarter, while Alonso was able to add two interceptions, including a diving pick in the last minute of the game that just about sealed the win for the Bills. Pass coverage was also respectable throughout the game, as they were able to hold Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson to six catches and 46 yards total. Lawson in particular did a good job of setting the edge against the run as well.
Secondary: B
While Torrey Smith was able to haul in a 72-yard catch, the banged-up secondary actually did a reasonably good job of limiting Baltimore through the air, holding the Ravens to 6.9 yards per attempt. Safety Aaron Williams actually slid over to his old cornerback role due to the injuries to Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin, and registered two of Buffalo's five interceptions on the day. Jim Leonhard also recorded an interception. Not a bad performance considering the team was missing an All-Pro safety and their top three cornerbacks.
Special teams: B+
Dan Carpenter made all three of his field goal attempts (27.27,22) and had half of his six kickoffs go for touchbacks. Shawn Powell had three punts that went inside the 20, but also had one go through the end zone for a touchback. The coverage units gave up a couple of decent returns (34 yard kick return, 17 yard punt return), but were otherwise solid, as Marcus Easley notched four special teams tackles.
Coaching: C+
While I've been less than impressed with Nathaniel Hackett's play-design and calls, he was smart to try and run the ball against the Ravens, as his offensive line had surrendered eight sacks against the Jets last game. Mike Pettine did a very good job of dialing up blitzes at the right times, which kept the Ravens a bit off-balance at points throughout the game.
Final Grade: B
While the ball security was questionable, this was a big win for a young team and it's coaching staff. Even though the Ravens aren't the same team that won the Super Bowl last season, there are encouraging signs, particularly in the play of the defense. Once the team starts getting some key players like All-Pro safety Jairus Byrd and promising second-year cornerback Stephon Gilmore back from injury, the pass rush could produce even more consistently. While the season is now just one-quarter over, being at .500 with a win over the playoff-minded Ravens is a good way to head into their Thursday night matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
2013 NFL Rookie Rankings: Week Three
1. Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (18 receptions, 243 yards, TD)
Hopkins was able to catch six passes against the Ravens, but was unable to find paydirt to go along with his 60 receiving yards. Still, Hopkins has become the #2 receiving option this team needs going forward.
Last Week: 1st.
2. Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard (22 rushes, 110 yards, 2 TD, 6 receptions, 84 yards, TD)
Bernard has made an impact, as he was able to account for 99 yards from scrimmage and a score against the Packers this past week. It now seems only a matter of time before he supplants BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the Bengals' starting halfback. It also appears that I didn't give enough credence to his performance the previous week.
Last Week: unranked.
3. Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso (27 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR)
Alonso continues to make plays for the Bills' defense, as he intercepted Geno Smith this past week to go along with 8 tackles. Alonso also performed better against the run this week, and has shown above-average cover skills for a linebacker.
Last Week: 4th.
4. Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (689 passing yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 86.5 rating, 76 rush yards)
Manuel struggled mightily against the Jets' aggressive blitz packages, as he was unable to hit any deep balls to his receivers against man coverage. Manuel doesn't turn the ball over, but will need to take more chances downfield to open up the run game more.
Last Week: 2nd.
5. Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (9 tackles, 1 sack)
Lotulelei hasn't put up eye-popping stats, but has helped Carolina's rush defense hold opponents to just 3.7 yards per rush this season. That being said, the sacks will come.
Last Week: unranked.
6. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (18 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD)
Austin caught six more passes, but only accumulated 30 yards on those catches. The Rams will need to use Austin on more than just screens and underneath routes in order to give Austin a better chance to hit the big play.
Last Week: 3rd.
7. Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, FF)
Ansah recorded two sacks this past weekend, and while he's still very raw in terms of his development, his early productivity is a nice boost to a defense that lost pass rushers Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch last offseason.
Last Week: unranked.
8. New England Patriots wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (9 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD)
Thompkins made the most of his three catches, tallying two of those for scores against Tampa Bay last Sunday. While Rob Gronkowski may play next Sunday, Thompkins will still see enough targets to be relevant as long as Danny Amendola is still out.
Last Week: 9th.
9. San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (14 tackles, 2 INT, 3 passes defensed)
In a defense that has looked vulnerable in back-to-back weeks and will now be without troubled pass-rusher Aldon Smith, Reid will have to continue to make an impact for a San Francisco team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Last Week: 6th.
10. New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (16 tackles, 1.5 sacks)
Richardson looked strong against the run, and also notched a sack this past week against Buffalo. Richardson's motor is perhaps his best asset, as he's constantly trying to make a play.
Last Week: unranked.
Honorable Mention:
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marlon Brown (10 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD); Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (7 receptions, 121 yards, TD); New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (801 passing yards, 3 TD, 6 INT, 65.0 rating, 78 rush yards, TD); Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (9 receptions, 120 yards).
Hopkins was able to catch six passes against the Ravens, but was unable to find paydirt to go along with his 60 receiving yards. Still, Hopkins has become the #2 receiving option this team needs going forward.
Last Week: 1st.
2. Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard (22 rushes, 110 yards, 2 TD, 6 receptions, 84 yards, TD)
Bernard has made an impact, as he was able to account for 99 yards from scrimmage and a score against the Packers this past week. It now seems only a matter of time before he supplants BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the Bengals' starting halfback. It also appears that I didn't give enough credence to his performance the previous week.
Last Week: unranked.
3. Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso (27 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR)
Alonso continues to make plays for the Bills' defense, as he intercepted Geno Smith this past week to go along with 8 tackles. Alonso also performed better against the run this week, and has shown above-average cover skills for a linebacker.
Last Week: 4th.
4. Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (689 passing yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 86.5 rating, 76 rush yards)
Manuel struggled mightily against the Jets' aggressive blitz packages, as he was unable to hit any deep balls to his receivers against man coverage. Manuel doesn't turn the ball over, but will need to take more chances downfield to open up the run game more.
Last Week: 2nd.
5. Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (9 tackles, 1 sack)
Lotulelei hasn't put up eye-popping stats, but has helped Carolina's rush defense hold opponents to just 3.7 yards per rush this season. That being said, the sacks will come.
Last Week: unranked.
6. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (18 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD)
Austin caught six more passes, but only accumulated 30 yards on those catches. The Rams will need to use Austin on more than just screens and underneath routes in order to give Austin a better chance to hit the big play.
Last Week: 3rd.
7. Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, FF)
Ansah recorded two sacks this past weekend, and while he's still very raw in terms of his development, his early productivity is a nice boost to a defense that lost pass rushers Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch last offseason.
Last Week: unranked.
8. New England Patriots wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (9 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD)
Thompkins made the most of his three catches, tallying two of those for scores against Tampa Bay last Sunday. While Rob Gronkowski may play next Sunday, Thompkins will still see enough targets to be relevant as long as Danny Amendola is still out.
Last Week: 9th.
9. San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (14 tackles, 2 INT, 3 passes defensed)
In a defense that has looked vulnerable in back-to-back weeks and will now be without troubled pass-rusher Aldon Smith, Reid will have to continue to make an impact for a San Francisco team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Last Week: 6th.
10. New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (16 tackles, 1.5 sacks)
Richardson looked strong against the run, and also notched a sack this past week against Buffalo. Richardson's motor is perhaps his best asset, as he's constantly trying to make a play.
Last Week: unranked.
Honorable Mention:
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marlon Brown (10 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD); Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (7 receptions, 121 yards, TD); New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (801 passing yards, 3 TD, 6 INT, 65.0 rating, 78 rush yards, TD); Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (9 receptions, 120 yards).
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Grading the Deal: Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts
Just over one year into his NFL career, Trent Richardson, the running back out of Alabama taken third overall in the 2012 draft is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts. While Richardson was drafted by the previous regime in Cleveland and his injury history is a concern, the 22 year old running back was still able to rush for nearly 1,000 yards in his first season, despite playing against some stout defenses in the AFC North.
The Cleveland Browns are seemingly in yet another rebuilding year, and while a first round pick in next year's draft may seem nice on paper, the team likely won't have a pick in the top half of the round due to the Colts potentially contending for a playoff spot again this season. Moreover, they'll be hard-pressed to be able to draft a player that can contribute the way Richardson had to this point in his young career. There was already a promising young corps of skill position players, with emerging tight end Jordan Cameron and second-year wide receiver Josh Gordon (who was suspended for violating the league's drug policy), so subtracting Richardson makes little sense.
For the Colts, this is a win-win scenario. The stable of running backs in Indianapolis was still suspect heading into the 2013 season, and after starter Vick Ballard tore his ACL last week, management obviously didn't feel great about the depth at the position. While a first round pick is a fairly steep price for a running back in what's become a more pass-oriented NFL, the Colts will be getting a player that can make an impact right now for a franchise which struggled to run the ball in 2012.
Grade for Cleveland: C-. Even with a new front office and coaching staff, trading the #3 overall pick just a little bit over one season into their NFL career is a bit of a head-scratcher. The first round pick will bring talent back to Cleveland, but it does nothing to help them this season.
Grade for Indianapolis: B+. The price was a bit high, but with the coaching staff wanting to take some of the pressure off of second-year phenom Andrew Luck and the passing game. A bit of a gamble, but I expect better production from Richardson in Indianapolis, as he will get to play against defenses that are somewhat softer against the run.
The Cleveland Browns are seemingly in yet another rebuilding year, and while a first round pick in next year's draft may seem nice on paper, the team likely won't have a pick in the top half of the round due to the Colts potentially contending for a playoff spot again this season. Moreover, they'll be hard-pressed to be able to draft a player that can contribute the way Richardson had to this point in his young career. There was already a promising young corps of skill position players, with emerging tight end Jordan Cameron and second-year wide receiver Josh Gordon (who was suspended for violating the league's drug policy), so subtracting Richardson makes little sense.
For the Colts, this is a win-win scenario. The stable of running backs in Indianapolis was still suspect heading into the 2013 season, and after starter Vick Ballard tore his ACL last week, management obviously didn't feel great about the depth at the position. While a first round pick is a fairly steep price for a running back in what's become a more pass-oriented NFL, the Colts will be getting a player that can make an impact right now for a franchise which struggled to run the ball in 2012.
Grade for Cleveland: C-. Even with a new front office and coaching staff, trading the #3 overall pick just a little bit over one season into their NFL career is a bit of a head-scratcher. The first round pick will bring talent back to Cleveland, but it does nothing to help them this season.
Grade for Indianapolis: B+. The price was a bit high, but with the coaching staff wanting to take some of the pressure off of second-year phenom Andrew Luck and the passing game. A bit of a gamble, but I expect better production from Richardson in Indianapolis, as he will get to play against defenses that are somewhat softer against the run.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
2013 NFL Rookie Rankings: Week 2
1. Houston Texans wide receiver De'Andre Hopkins (12 receptions, 183 yards, TD)
After Andre Johnson went down with a concussion, Hopkins took over late in the Texans' comeback victory over Tennessee, finishing with 7 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins is already emerging as the #2 option that the Texans have long coveted, and will eventually be a more-than-capable replacement for Johnson down the road.
2. Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (446 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 95.9 rating, 36 rush yards)
Manuel showed tremendous poise on leading the Bills to a game-winning 80-yard touchdown drive with less than two minutes left against the Panthers. While he's still a work-in-progress (see his interception when staring down receiver T.J. Graham), the team may have finally found it's long-desired heir to Jim Kelly.
3. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (12 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD)
Austin has yet to hit the "home run" play that he's capable of, but has proven to be a great underneath option for quarterback Sam Bradford working out of the slot, where he nearly un-coverable.
4. Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso (19 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)
Alonso has been making plays all over the field through two games, and his sack of Cam Newton with no time left sealed the 24-23 victory. Alonso is also tied for 8th in the league in tackles.
5. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marlon Brown (8 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD)
An undrafted free agent, Brown has used his massive 6'5" frame to become an instant red zone threat for Joe Flacco. While Jacoby Jones is ahead of him on the depth chart, Brown is on his way to becoming the Ravens' second-best wide receiver.
6. San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (9 tackles, 2 interceptions)
While Reid left Sunday's game early due to a concussion, he's done a very good job of replacing departed All-Pro Dashon Goldson in the San Francisco secondary. While he's not as strong in run support as Goldson, it's easy to see why the coaching staff thinks so highly of the LSU product.
7. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (5 receptions, 86 yards, TD)
Many believed that Woods was perhaps the second-most NFL-ready receiver in the draft, and he's done little to make people believe otherwise. A solid route-runner with great hands, he's provided fellow rookie E.J. Manuel another solid receiving option alongside Stevie Johnson.
8. Bengals TE Tyler Eifert (8 receptions, 113 yards)
Eifert is the second-leading receiver among rookies, and is more of a big-play threat that starter Jermaine Gresham. Expect Eifert's production to continue, as receiver A.J. Green will still be the primary focus of opposing defenses.
9. New England Patriots wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (6 receptions, 89 yards)
Another undrafted free agent, Thompkins is already ahead of fellow rookies Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson on the depth chart. His targets will see a big decrease when Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski are in the lineup, but he's still shown to be a solid playmaker.
10. New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (470 passing yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, 55.2 rating, 64 rush yards)
Smith struggled in a rain-soaked game against the Patriots (3 interceptions), but with Mark Sanchez placed on designated-to-return injured reserve, this is his team. He'll be hit-and-miss this year, but there is talent there.
Honorable Mention: Packers RB Eddie Lacy (51 rush yards, TD), Jaguars WR Ace Sanders (78 yards), Jets DT Sheldon Richardson (12 tackles, 0.5 sacks)
After Andre Johnson went down with a concussion, Hopkins took over late in the Texans' comeback victory over Tennessee, finishing with 7 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins is already emerging as the #2 option that the Texans have long coveted, and will eventually be a more-than-capable replacement for Johnson down the road.
2. Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (446 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 95.9 rating, 36 rush yards)
Manuel showed tremendous poise on leading the Bills to a game-winning 80-yard touchdown drive with less than two minutes left against the Panthers. While he's still a work-in-progress (see his interception when staring down receiver T.J. Graham), the team may have finally found it's long-desired heir to Jim Kelly.
3. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (12 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD)
Austin has yet to hit the "home run" play that he's capable of, but has proven to be a great underneath option for quarterback Sam Bradford working out of the slot, where he nearly un-coverable.
4. Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso (19 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)
Alonso has been making plays all over the field through two games, and his sack of Cam Newton with no time left sealed the 24-23 victory. Alonso is also tied for 8th in the league in tackles.
5. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marlon Brown (8 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD)
An undrafted free agent, Brown has used his massive 6'5" frame to become an instant red zone threat for Joe Flacco. While Jacoby Jones is ahead of him on the depth chart, Brown is on his way to becoming the Ravens' second-best wide receiver.
6. San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (9 tackles, 2 interceptions)
While Reid left Sunday's game early due to a concussion, he's done a very good job of replacing departed All-Pro Dashon Goldson in the San Francisco secondary. While he's not as strong in run support as Goldson, it's easy to see why the coaching staff thinks so highly of the LSU product.
7. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (5 receptions, 86 yards, TD)
Many believed that Woods was perhaps the second-most NFL-ready receiver in the draft, and he's done little to make people believe otherwise. A solid route-runner with great hands, he's provided fellow rookie E.J. Manuel another solid receiving option alongside Stevie Johnson.
8. Bengals TE Tyler Eifert (8 receptions, 113 yards)
Eifert is the second-leading receiver among rookies, and is more of a big-play threat that starter Jermaine Gresham. Expect Eifert's production to continue, as receiver A.J. Green will still be the primary focus of opposing defenses.
9. New England Patriots wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (6 receptions, 89 yards)
Another undrafted free agent, Thompkins is already ahead of fellow rookies Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson on the depth chart. His targets will see a big decrease when Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski are in the lineup, but he's still shown to be a solid playmaker.
10. New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (470 passing yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, 55.2 rating, 64 rush yards)
Smith struggled in a rain-soaked game against the Patriots (3 interceptions), but with Mark Sanchez placed on designated-to-return injured reserve, this is his team. He'll be hit-and-miss this year, but there is talent there.
Honorable Mention: Packers RB Eddie Lacy (51 rush yards, TD), Jaguars WR Ace Sanders (78 yards), Jets DT Sheldon Richardson (12 tackles, 0.5 sacks)
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