Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Completely Unqualified Draft Coverage


I don't pretend to be some kind of draft expert. I don't watch/follow the college football game at all. I see the prospects, most of them, for the first time when I watch the Combine coverage on the NFL network. It's my reading week right now, and I can tell you I have actually watched almost 100% of the Combine. I've been watching the QBs this morning, and let me tell you, I really like Andre Woodson. Joe Flacco has a big arm, but he really lacks instincts. Woodson looks to me like the best pick at the QB class of this draft. I'm not saying Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan are going to be bad players, they'll probably play more/have better stats in their first couple years than Woodson. But taking them in the first round is a gamble, and for every Eli Manning (after 4 to 5 years of development) and Peyton Manning, there's going to be some Ryan Leafs (huge bust) or Alex Smith/Matt Leinart (guys with uncertain futures). Woodson isn't going to go in the first round. He's a 2nd or maybe even 3rd round pick. This means the team that gets him will have gotten, hopefully, a good player with their first and most important pick and gotten a QB with their 2nd. This, which is what I think the Bears will do, is a good move. Woodson played some tough schools and players, he's coming out of Kentucky, and he has some great throws, but also some bad ones caused  by poor footwork. But this guy, when he gets his footwork right (which a good coach can fix), can throw some nice balls on some NFL-calibre routes. He's been dealing with some of the best pass rushers out of this combine for the last four years of his careers, and he hasn't always come on top, but he looks good sometimes. I'm putting my money on this one, Andre Woodson will develop into a good NFL starter in 2 to 3 years. Watch him. 

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