Draft Leftovers, and the NBA Playoffs start.

First of all, just a quick recap of the chargers, and their draft picks.  Why the chargers draft picks?  Because that's my team... and that's really the only team I look into in depth.

Round 1.  Melvin Ingram DE/OLB South Carolina
-I really like this pick.  In fact, I like it more today than I did on Thursday night.  Now, if in a year or two I still like it alot, that will mean something.

Round 2.  Kendall Reyes DT Connecticut
-Another solid pick.  He'll play a DE in the chargers 3-4.  As I went looking through the draft boards, and draft sites, and yes looking at the message boards of a few of their division rivals... teams were pretty unhappy that the Bolts ended up with him, so a good pick.

Round 3.  Brandon Taylor SS LSU
- Chargers had a need at safety, and tried to fill it with Taylor.  Not sure if he's ready to step on the field yet, and they need someone to do that.  But, they didn't reach for him in the 2nd round.  They held their ground, and he fell to them in the 3rd (although they had to move up to get him).  Most analysts felt he was the 3rd or 4th best safety in the draft, so it looks good on paper.  Now, can he play?

Round 4.  Ladarious Green  TE  Louisiana-Lafayette
-I actually had my eye on this guy as a possible draft pick not long after the season ended.  I liked his athleticism and speed.  However, then the chargers re-signed Randy Micmichael, Kory Sperry, and then signed FA TE Dante Rosario.... and then all TE's fell of my draft radar.

Round 5.  Johnnie Troutman OG Penn State
-The only real "head scratcher" of the Chargers draft.  Troutman is noted as being really talented, but unmotivated and overweight.  (He also had the slowest time of all players at this year's draft combine).  However, with all that said... He was a 3 year starter at Penn State, and according to their stats, never given up a sack.  That's pretty impressive in the Big 10.  He's a real wait and see kind of guy.

Round 6.  -traded away the rights to this pick to the dolphins to trade up and grab Brandon Taylor in Round 3.

Round 7.  David Molk C Michigan
-Outstanding pick.  Maybe the best pick in the draft, after Ingram.  In Molk you have a guy who, was the four year starter at Michigan.  All Big 10 First Team, All American First Team (depending on which award list you look at), and Rimington Award Winner (the award given annually to the nation's top center).  How did this guy last to the 7th round?  Well, he had an injury or two, and he's small for a center... he also put up the most reps of any offensive lineman at the combine.  And he has an attitude.  I love this kid.  Remember him in a year or two, when he takes over for Nick Hardwick as the starting Center.

Round 7. (Compensatory pick)  Edwin Baker RB Michigan State.
-To be honest, I could take or leave this pick.  He had a great Sophomore season, but last year, his junior year, he lost carries to a freshman who was a better prospect.  The chargers have a need at the back-up running back position, and 7th round picks rarely make the squad anyway... so it's a roll of the dice.  I got a feeling they'll pick up a FA running back, and Baker will get a year on the practice squad.

Also, just wanted to give a quick shout-out to my boys at TheNFLForum.com.  My favorite Chargers message board, and the place to go if you want to talk Chargers football.

NBA Playoffs - Kickoff

- Quick glance at each of the 8 first round playoff series.

Bulls Lead the Sixers 1-0
-to be honest, the real story here is Derrick Rose tearing his ACL late in game 1.  The Bulls won alot of games without Rose in the lineup this season.  But the playoffs aren't the regular season, and you have to think this put a serious dent in Chicago's playoff hopes.

Heat Lead the Knicks 1-0
-It's not like the Knicks had that much of a shot anyway.  But losing Iman Shumpert to and ACL injury in the first game of the series sounded the death knoll for the Knicks.  This went from possibly being a 6 game series, to a potential sweep.

Magic Lead the Pacers 1-0
-The Magic should not be leading the Pacers.  The Pacers are a team that is fun to watch, and fun to cheer for, however Stan Van Gundy is doing a great job of embellishing his resume just in case Orlando management decides to side with Dwight Howard and let him go at the end of the season.  I'm thinking this one could go 7 games.

Hawks Lead the Celtics 1-0.
-This wasn't that big of a story, until Rajon Rondo "accidentally" bumped into an official late in last night's game.  The NBA has pretty hard and fast rules that "if you bump into an official, you will sit a game".  They played without Ray Allen last game, who is nursing an ankle injury, and it's possible that game 2 may be played without Allen and Rondo, you've gotta think that leads to a 2-0 Atlanta lead before they head back to Boston.  And I don't care if the Celtics come back to win the series, the last thing this Aging and Undersized team is going to want to do is play more games than necessary... They can't be playing 7 game series each round and expect to make a run, they just can't.

Spurs Lead the Jazz 1-0
-I mentioned this yesterday to my brother, who was at my house.  If the Jazz are the 8th seed in the West, that says something about how tough the Western Conference is.  The Jazz have an advantage in the frontcourt... but their backcourt is going to have to do a much better job than they did in game one if they want to make this a series.... Tony Parker was running around like the fastest kid in school at recess yesterday.

Thunder Lead the Mavericks 1-0
-The Mavericks are 1 bouncing off the rim, Kevin Durant closing moments shot from taking away home court advantage from the Thunder.  Honestly, I could see this going either way.  1.  The Thunder have survived their game one scare, dominate in game two, Split in Dallas, and clinch at home in game 5.  OR... The Mavericks see how close they have come... decide, "we're the defending champs, we ain't going out like this", and stretch the series out over 7 games.  I still see the Thunder winning, but the Mavs have a big advantage in coaching...and adjustments are huge when it comes to the playoffs.

Lakers Lead the Nuggets 1-0
-I'll just come out and admit it early, I'm a Lakers fan, and so I'm biased.  But I really thought the Lakers win in game One was the most impressive game played by any team so far in the first round.  However, what does that mean?  Bupkiss.  I would not be totally shocked to see the Nuggets pull off a game 2 win.  I think game two is going to be close no matter who wins... I have no faith in this current Laker team to dominate a series.  I just don't.  They are good when they play good, but they can play awful.  I'm not sure what to think of Mike Brown yet, I think he's done a decent job managing all the egos he has to handle, but then again he hasn't blown me away either... I mean...you wait until the last week of the season to make Jordyn Hill your 3rd post?  Really?  I think he's been a good player, and I've enjoyed watching his work ethic on the court, but shouldn't he have gotten a shot a bit earlier?

Clippers Lead the Grizzlies 1-0
-I woke up this morning shocked to hear the final results of this game.  I thought for sure the Grizzlies would win.  The Clippers have Chris Paul, and Blake Griffen, and ???   I could see this one going 6-7 games easily, and I can still see either team win it.  I don't trust the Clippers.  I don't trust Vinny Del Negro (who Chris Paul had to beg to get put back into the game last night) over the course of a series to make the right moves.  However, anytime your main hopes for a team to win rely on the name, "Z-Bo"... well, let's just say that's anything but a lock.  Personally, I more inclined the Clippers falling behind by 27 points means more than the comeback win.

Chargers draft: Round One Analysis and Round 2 and 3 Predictions.

OK, after last night's draft frenzy... I withdraw from looking at other teams are doing, and am now concentrating on my chargers.

First Round Pick Melvin Ingram.
-Love this pick.  Quite honestly, I'm still in shock he was on the board when the chargers picked.  I was convinced we were going to end up with Mercilus, Jones, or McClellan as our first round pick.  And there is nothing wrong with any of those guys... It's just that Melvin Ingram is better.

I'd like to personally send a thank you to Pete Carroll for drafting Devine, and to Rex Ryan and Jets for taking Couples.  Who again, I think both are good players... but I like Ingram better than both.

Not sure how the probable best defensive player in the draft fell to the 18th pick, but I'll take it.

2nd and 3rd round predictions.
Boy, this is really tough to do, because the Bolts could go in a number of directions here, and it really is going to depend on who other teams take.

Cordy Glenn the big Guard from Georgia is still on the board, which is surprising, and the Bolts lost OG Kris Deilman in the off-season, but no way he lasts to pick 17... they'd have to trade up to get him.

I've also heard safety mentioned with the Chargers a lot, but the Vikings move up to get Harrison Smith from Notre Dame puts that on the back burner, maybe a 3rd rounder, but not in the 2nd.

Courtney Upshaw from Alabama still isn't drafted.  But, the Chargers would need to move up to get him, and he plays the same position basically as Ingram, so I don't see that happening either.

My predictions that don't mean a thing for the chargers are:

2nd Round -Brandon Brooks OG - Miami (Ohio)
-AJ usually avoids offensive linemen early, but the only reason this guy has fallen this far, is that he plays at a small school.  The Chargers have a need at OL, and safety, and this guy is a better prospect than any safety that's available.

3rd Round - Isiah Pead RB - Cincinnati
-I know alot of Chargers fans want LaMichael James with this pick, and I'd be ecstatic if he fell that far, but I don't see it happening.  Isiah Pead is a nice running back, if not a "scat back" like James.  The best thing about Pead, is he has good hands, and is good in pass protection.  This is an area where Ryan Mathews struggles and Pead can come in and be a threat as a 3rd down back.  We'd be set at back with Mathews (starter), Hester (short yardage), and Pead (passing back).

Signing off for now.

Picks 21-32

Pick 21 traded for by the Patriots is in, and has been reported that it's Chandler Jones will be the selection.
-And that is what happens.

Pick 22 is the Browns, and it's reported they are looking at QB Brandon Wheeden from Oklahoma State.
and that is the pick.  Not sure what I think of this.  The Browns have alot of needs...why reach for a qb?  I don't like this pick.  I disagree with Gruden and Kiper.  But, they do know more than I do.

Just got a text from Timmah!  Riley Reiff to the Lions.  Let's see how this plays out.

I may be sappy, but I love this military tribute that they do in the middle of the draft.  Thanks fellas, and ladies, for your service.

Terry Vandrovec from the Argus Leader is tweeting that Riley Reiff is indeed, the selection of the Detroit Lions.  Riley is from Parkston, South Dakota.  I remember watching him play HS Basketball.... a huge man on the court in a HS BB game.

WR Calvin Johnson of the Lions makes the announcement of Riley Reiff OT from Iowa.

Timmah! is 2 for 2.

The 24th pick is the Steelers... Adam Schefter tweeting that they will take David DeCastro.

And the Steelers do pick the Guard from Stanford.  I think this is a really good pick.

8 picks to go.

Patriots trade up again, this time with the Broncos to get the 25th pick.  This time they select Dante Hightower LB from Alabama.  So the Patriots have taken a pass rusher and a linebacker.  Both times by trading up into the first round... which is usually the opposite of what they do.

The Texans are up at 26.  No idea where they go.  A couple Good Olinemen left.  Some good corners still out there.

I find myself riveted to see if anyone else trades up to get back into the first round like the Patriots just did.

DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus from Illinois.  Well, Mario Williams did leave.

At 27, the Bengals make their second first round pick...  they went Cornerback earlier.  I gotta think OG Cordy Glenn from Georgia is going to get picked here pretty soon.  Not saying that's what the Bengals do, but just saying...that was a guy with alot of press and was highly regarded, and not taken yet.

With the 27th pick, the Bengals end up selecting.  Kevin Zeitler G from Wisconsin.  Cordy Glenn still out there?  Oh well, what do I know?

28th selection belongs to the Green Bay Packers.  They could pick anything.
-They pick DE Nick Perry from USC to play OLB opposite Clay Matthews.

at 29, the Vikings have traded back into the first round with a trade with the Ravens.
- I've gotta think they have a cornerback they want here.  Maybe the running back from Boise State? Naw, that can't be.  No tight ends taken yet.  Maybe this is Cordy Glenn?
Vikings give a 2nd and a 4th to move back into the first.
-Harrison Smith S from Notre Dame.  Not a bad pick.  I know the Chargers GM AJ Smith had said complimentary things about him.

30th pick belongs to the 49ers.  - AJ Jenkins WR Illinois.
-Kiper and Boomer think that this was a pretty good pick.

Tampa will trade with Denver to take the 31st pick.  Who are the Bucs looking at?  Maybe the RB from Boise State?  that's my thought.
-and Doug Martin Running Back from Boise State.  I like this pick.  If you give Josh Freeman a quality back, who can run and catch and block...to go with those young WR's and Vincent Jackson.  Seems like a good pick... Plus they are now coached by the dude from Rutgers... and they liked to run the ball.  Just seems like he fits.

And now the Super Bowl Champion Giants of New York (New York Giants!)  (Can a get a Madagascar witness?)
With the 32nd pick of the first round.. The Giants select...
BTW, Chris Berman with the line of the night, "Tom Coughlin sets the record for the guy whos been fired more than anyone when he's never been fired".

And the Giants are using all the time on the clock... did they get a message from espn that they had sold time up until 10:30 pm?  David Wilson Running Back from Virginia Tech.  Brandon Jacobs is gone so in one way, this makes sense.. but this isn't a big power back... more of a scat style back.

And with that pick, the first round of the 2012 NFL draft comes to a close.

Alright... I'm done for the night.  This is exhausting.  If you read all of these, God Gosh, thank you.

Chargers Pick! and others...

Jets at #16 are on the clock.  - gotta figure another pass rusher is gonna go.  I'm thinking Ingram from South Carolina.
- Jets are taking their time.  Meanwhile Rich Eisen is amazed that we're halfway through the first round in an hour and a half.
-down to the last minute here... and the pick is in.  The Jets select Quinton Couples DE from North Carolina.  I actually liked Ingram, Mercilus, and Jones better...

Only the Bengals pick before the chargers.
-I haven't paid much attention to who the Bengals are targeting.  I think I'd heard running back, but I'm doubtful that they will pick a back here.
- and the pick is in CB Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama.  Becoming the third pick from the National Champions defense.

Chargers on the clock!  Chargers on the clock!  Will it be another Alabama defender?  Maybe Melvin Ingram?
-that's my pick!
-and the pick is in... that did NOT take one minute off the clock on the screen.
-With the 18th pick, the San Diego Chargers select... Melvin Ingram  OLB South Carolina.  Excellent pick for me.  Love him. That's the guy.  Never dreamed he fall to the 18th pick!

Kiper thinks Ingram is the best pick from the middle of the first round.

The Bears are at 19, and Brother Rich says they should go Offensive line.  Maybe South Dakota native Riley Reiff?  Shea McClellan OLB from Boise State.  He'll play DE in the Bears 4-3 opposite of Peppers.  Could be an excellent pass rusher.

20th pick The Tennessee Titans .. are up next.  No idea what they'll do.
They just announced the patriots have traded up to the 21st pick...  and will select DE Chandler Jones
Titans selct WR Kendall Wright, WR from Baylor.  I don't know much about him.

Picks 11-15

With the 11th Pick, the Chiefs select... Dontari Poe NT from Memphis.  Pretty good pick.  Have heard rave reviews about Poe from the draft sites I read.  That was my prediction, and Jon Gruden agreed with me right as I said it.

In other news, I've been moved from the living room to the basement TV.  Upsetting 3 boys and ending their PS3 run for the night.

And we're at pick 12 and no pass rushers taken yet...  Will they top 2/3 guys last to my chargers?  I hope so.

At #12 the Philladelphia Eagles select...  my prediction is a pass rusher...because I just jinxed it.
-btw, the Eagles had to trade up to get this pick from the Seahawks.  they put it on the screen but I couldn't type it fast enough.
-Eagles select DT Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State.  Should be a good fit for them.  Saw highlights of that guy, and he looked great on film.  Dominated in the SEC.. which is saying something.

And the pass rushers are still out there.  C'mon Chargers!  AJ if you wanna move up to get the top pass rusher, do it now!

At #13  the Cardinals...  "Timmah" texted in to guess that the Cardinals will take Michael Floyd.  Let's see if he's correct.
(anyone else getting sick of the "Here Wego" commercial?  I mean, it's a good commercial, but c'mon budlight... run a few different commercials)
-and the pick is in... WR Michael Floyd from Notre Dame!  Timmah is one for one on predictions!

And still no real pass rushers taken yet.  5 Picks from the chargers pick, and no pass rushers taken yet.  Crazy.  Watch AJ pick a corner.

New google hangout... http://goo.gl/uCpum

Rams are picking at 14.  And the pick is in...DT Michael Brockers LSU.  Makes sense Jeff Fisher has usually made his money with good DT's.

15th pick belongs to the seahawks.  - here the first pass rusher has to go, and the pick is in immediately.
-the Seahawks select - Bruce Irvin DE from West Virginia.  Mayock is having "pickgasm".  He loves him, and calls him the best pure pass rusher in the draft.

OK, up on the next post...  16-20... the jets, bengals, chargers, bears, and titans.

Dallas gave the Rams their second round pick to move up to the 6th pick.

Wow.

Jax, really didn't give up too much then... but I still don't agree with that pick.

at #6 Dallas takes the Honey Badger!  good pick, I guess.  Not sure I'd have traded up for him... particularly at the price.  You mean to tell me the difference between Claiborne and the 2nd corner was worth a 2nd round pick?    I don't get it.

at #7 Tampa Bay selects Mark Barron S from Alabama.
-well there goes my chargers prediction

at #8 Miami takes... Ryan Tannehill QB from Texas A and M.  Good move there, not trading up for him.  I'm not sold on him as a quarterback...but his college coach is now with the Dolphins, so he may know something more than me.

at #9  Carolina picks Luke Kuechly LB from Boston College.  Seems like a good pick.  Mike Mayock is absolutely loving the pick.  I switched over to nfl network... and they immediately cut to commercial.  back to espn.

at #10  the Bills  select Stephon Gilmore, CB from South Carolina.  Actually I heard he had a higher ceiling than Honey Badger.

Ok, I'm going to publish and come back with picks 11-15.

First 5 Picks!

Indy.. Andrew Luck.

Washington... Robert Giffin III

Cleveland ... Richardson

Minnesota ...  Matt Kalil OT USC... seems like a good pick.

Meanwhile @ 5, The Jaguars have traded with the Buccaneers to move into the 5th.  Tampa gains an extra 4th round pick for moving back.  Sheesh...Minnesota absolutely raped the Browns, and got the guy they wanted.

Jacksonville ... the pick is...   Justin Blackmon WR Ok. State.

Wow... #1 I'm surprised Blackmon went that high, and #2 - Why did Jax feel it necessary to move up to get him?

Dallas has moved up to 6.

Google+ Hangout

Click here... http://goo.gl/BDE6L

The Colts are on the clock!

How long until they announce the pick?

I've got 1 minute.

Luck
Griffin
Richardson
Vikes will take Kalil.

NFL draft getting ready!

OK, I've got 5 tabs opened... (Twitter, Google+, Blogger, NFL networks Draft tracker, and espn).

Looks like we've had our first move of the draft, already as the Vikings have swapped spots with the Browns, so the Browns have moved up one spot to grab Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

For the right to move up One Spot, the Browns gave up their 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks.  That's a crazy bounty for the Vikings for one spot.  Good move by the Viking front office (when was the last time that sentence was typed?).

So, we're a half hour away from the start of the draft, and the top 3 picks are decided.
1.  Indianapolis - Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2.  Washington - Robert Griffin QB Baylor
3.  Cleveland - Trent Richardson RB Alabama
4.  Minnesota- ???

The Vikings had the third pick in the draft, were basically already on the clock, traded down, and now are basically back on the clock again.

What do you think the Vikings do here?  Trade Down again?  Make the Pick?  Kalil?  Honey Badger?

And... I have no reason for thinking this, other than a gut feeling... but I'm feeling a trade up move by the Chargers to target Alabama Safety Mark Barron.

I think I'm gonna try to post about every 5 picks or so.

Otherwise, I'll be starting a hangout at Google+ for some chat activity.

Reminder: Live Blog tonight.

I'll be live blogging the draft tonight...  Posting some updates, and whatnot.

I'm not sure actually how I'll do it, I'm going to have to feel my way through the process.

Very possible we will be organizing a "google hangout" as well, for the draft.
I will post a link to it here.

So stop by the blog (if you want some quick takes), or come on by the hangout...if you want to chat and visit for a while.

Why do we love the NFL draft?

Tonight begins the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and for some of us out there... mostly doofuses like me, it's one of their favorite days of the year.

I have friends and family who think I'm crazy to invest as much time and attention in the draft as I do.  I want to know who my team (the Chargers) are considering, I want to know who the prospects are at what positions.  I've participated in "mock" drafts.  I sit and watch the picks in my house and make bold evaluations of team selections like, "that was a reach" and "great pick for them!".  Like I know what I'm talking about.

I mean, I'm not a scout.  I haven't watched very many of these guys on tape  (OK, so actually just a few of the guys I want the chargers to pick.. of whom I've seen YouTube highlights),  I didn't interview them at the combine, I don't have their data for their measurables or the statistics for their college careers.

I admit it.  My opinion means diddly squat.  And it isn't going to change anything.  And when you think of the fact the Real, Actual, NFL Scouts... make mistakes all of the time.  I mean JaMarcus Russell was the first pick of the draft, in this century.  And don't let anyone pull that "but the Raiders stink" crap, either.  Because I remember seeing the talking heads, Kiper, McShay, Charlie Casserly, etc, etc... absolutely RAVING after his pro day.  I mean, not only did JaMarcus fool the Raiders, he fooled pretty much all the talent evaluators.

So why spend so much time looking at and considering college prospects that probably won't even play for your team?  Well, I can't speak for everyone, but for me, I just enjoy it.  I like the process of "finding players" and seeing them pan out.

I'm just one of those people, I guess.  I'm the type of guy who plays Madden, and his favorite part of the season is the draft.  I enjoy seeing my draft picks on Madden pan out, more than I like playing the game.  I've been playing NBA 2K12 with my sons lately, and I'm driving them crazy, because I'm much more into trades and the draft, rather than playing the games.  I'll sim through a month at a time, to get to the trade deadline,.


I enjoy the "building" of teams.  Trying to make the pieces fit together.  Finding a "jewel" in the late rounds who becomes a contributor.  Drafting someone early and watching them become an all star.

I've heard it said that the reason the draft is so popular, is that the common man knows he isn't an elite NFL player, doesn't have the size, the strength, etc...  They know that they will never play.  However, they don't need any special physical skills to be a GM.  Anyone can sit in their armchair and make selections (and yes, I know it's much more complicated than that).

I think it's probably a combination of those two factors... and one other.  The ability to sit and second guess decisions is simple and easy to do.  The joy in watching something being built and accomplished is another.  And the growth of the Internet is the third, and probably the most important part in the tremendous popularity of the NFL draft.  Not that long ago...I'd watch some of the draft, and I'd get excited about future players by their position..."oh, they drafted a safety in the 3rd round!  Nice!".

 However, in this day you are able to google up any player you want.  Read a short prospect report, watch some YouTube clips of them playing, see all their college stats, etc, etc...  We have more information than we possibly need.  Which leads to a lot of people saying a lot of things about a lot of college kids, that they really know nothing about.

Bring it on!  The picks, and the trades, the pre-mature evaluations, the prospects, the GM's, the Coaches... Chris Berman and Mel Kiper, Rich Eisen and Charlie Casserlie...  Bring on the show!

And with the 18th pick, in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select...

NFL Draft - Live Blog!

The self-proclaimed "Sports Doofus" has decided that he is going to "Live Blog" the NFL Draft, well at least the first round this coming Thursday.

Live Blog This Thursday!

So, be sure to check out the blog during the draft, and don't hesitate to make to comments....
We need a little interactivity going on the blog.

Also, I'll have my twitter account open, and I'll post updates from there.

Not sure how this works, really... as every post you make, the previous post moves down... I guess you'll have to start at the bottom and refresh every once in a while.