Thanks for the heads up, Cindy.

leonard davis - 6'6
alan faneca - 6'5
steve hutchinson - 6'5

i'm not really sure how much height has to do with ability to play guard. i think it's more of an athleticism issue, being quicker than you're opponent to get leverage.

Posted by: psps23 | March 20, 2008 01:53 PM

Cindy, a word of caution... if you post something that almost looks like news, someone reading the blog might get the impression that someone is actually working on the Skins beat.

And that can be problematic down the line, as far as managing expectations and so forth. The more we get, the more we want. With beer.

Speaking of which, Today in RI History:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2007/03/does_the_arch_trade_make_sense.html

Quite a discussion we had in the wake of Adam Archuleta's departure. And looky there at the comments, where a fellow named "Jason La Canfora" was participating in the conversation. Good stuff.

Posted by: NateinthePDX | March 20, 2008 01:18 PM

I remember this well.....

No tourney pool, Cindy, but plenty of salty trash talk, I imagine, yes?

" ... Mitchell poked his head into the press room and I'm the only guy here ...."

Cindy, for this one, the editorial staff should pitch in and get Jason Reid a T-shirt that says, "I moved all the way from L.A. and all I got was this lousy pity interview"

Now, Stump Mitchell and I have the exact same dilemma: "It's a challenge not to put too much in, but it's also a challenge not to put enough in." Sort of like how much salt should you put into the soup? How much tabasco in the chile? How many words into the post? If Stump figures it out, I hope he'll explain it to the rest of us.

greg,

You should think about giving SETH a big cyber hug. Even I, who have no sense of humor, could see that he was just funning with us.

So I guess you guys are saving "Stump Speech" then?

The Cyndy:

I just anted to say I love the new bloprovements:

- Double beat writers contributing has been great. More new opinion and perspectives

- Love the multiple editors (no offense...just like that more people minding the store!)

- I love the old stringer mentality of having the reporters in the field call in reports that than get posted

- I love the expansion of mixed media into the posts

- I love that we get left over tidbits and clippings from what will run in the Paper Proper

Come on, you Vikings!

I love a happy chRIs LaRry!

It cannot be a good sign that I just pulled up my bracket for the RI tourney pool and the website laughed at me.

How about "I moved all the way from L.A. and all I got was this lousy pithy interview"?

i'm not really sure how much height has to do with ability to play guard. i think it's more of an athleticism issue, being quicker than you're opponent to get leverage.

Posted by: psps23 | March 20, 2008 01:53 PM

It's a lot easier for a defensive tackle to get below your pad level if he is 6" shorter.

seth, I'm a salty bostonian, I didn't catch your funning, so I'd like to retract my calling you a tool.

taf, Nicks did get into some trouble, but I'm not 100 percent that he got arrested, perhaps issued a summons. There is a character issue, but a rather small one, I'd think.

I love a happy chRIs LaRry!

Posted by: NateinthePDX | March 20, 2008 02:06 PM

Ditto, of course, F chRIs Larry

Gregmarino - FYI

"03/19/08 - Draft Scout Fallers: Nicks was barred from his own Pro Day by new head coach Bo Pelini after being arrested at a house party in Lincoln. Nicks, arrested for being an inmate of a disorderly house and failure to disperse, had previously drawn concerns from NFL teams for character issues. Nicks, 6-5, 341 pounds, remains one of the more intriguing prospects at tackle despite only starting one season for Nebraska after transferring from Hartnell Junior College."

Thanks, Chrislarry! We want to keep doing all of those things!

chrislarry would like leftovers...

I'm not really sure what that means, but... you know, just trying to start something up here.

I love leftovers!!!!!!!!!
F CHRIS larry

taf, I stand corrected.

I'd still like to take a shot at a guy like that. Maybe in the 5th round?

I found a way to watch the games on my computer ... it was through the ESPN site ... if you go down to the box scores, there is a button for "live game" (or something like that), which opens up a box at cbssports. At first, I was "in line" behind 114 people, but I got in after about 30 seconds ... and watched Drew Neitzel foul the guy from Temple right before the end of the half.

ANYONE CALL ME ????????? JUST TALKED TO JZ AND WE WILL DRAFT A DE IN THE 1ST ROUND. EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS.

ANYONE CALL ME ????????? JUST TALKED TO JZ AND WE WILL DRAFT A DE IN THE 1ST ROUND. EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS.

ANYONE CALL ME ????????? JUST TALKED TO JZ AND WE WILL DRAFT A DE IN THE 1ST ROUND. EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS.

now I'm #878 in line ...

I'd still like to take a shot at a guy like that. Maybe in the 5th round?

Posted by: gregmarino88 | March 20, 2008 02:16 PM

Remember there were "character issues" about Smoot that let Marty take him in the second round. Those proved to be completely unfounded, right?

Greg, I think it depends on how Zorn feels. Z-Man doesn't seem like the type of person to select a player with character issues. (That whole very straight/very religious persona, like Gibbs.) I think Nicks will get drafted somewhere, but he will get lots of scrutiny and probably drop down, which will make him a bargain. The problem is whether he will straighten up or be another PacMan-type.

Can't we block poolman? I kno he can create a new login or whatever, but it would still feel like a small victory if I never had to see that name poolman again.

At first, I was "in line" behind 114 people, but I got in after about 30 seconds ...

Posted by: dcsween | March 20, 2008 02:17 PM

How many of the 114 do you think worked in your company and gave up their space when your boss walked by?

Sween,

"Zebu" - from the previous post??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebu

Pooley, is this going to be like your last no-show prediction? Why not spend some time practicing how to post properly instead?

Remember there were "character issues" about Smoot that let Marty take him in the second round. Those proved to be completely unfounded, right?

Posted by: talent_evaluator | March 20, 2008 02:20 PM

Sure, if you don't count the voyages of the S.S. Smoot.

now I'm #878 in line ...

Posted by: dcsween | March 20, 2008 02:19 PM

You silly old fool. You shouldn't have posted the trick on RI. Now Poolman is occupying 843 spaces in line. And I've got the other 34.

"JUST TALKED TO JZ"

Hang around here and you can claim you just talked to P Diddy also.

I'm against block poolman, or anyone else. Poolman gets the blog count up really quickly which puts a smile on Cindy's face.

And it's my impression that most of the really annoying posters (except me) burn themselves out and disappear.

Mark(future), dodecahedron and zebu were words that Lisa Simpson tried to teach Maggie using flash cards.

now I'm #878 in line ...

Posted by: dcsween | March 20, 2008 02:19 PM

I had my IT guy install a tv tuner card on my desk top. Along w/this 22" HD screen, I am doing just fine and not waiting in line. But I do owe some big favors. Sometimes my job is not too bad.

Hey, Smoot just got caught with a little weed in college; let us get a 1st rounder in the 2nd.....
So this new guy got busted at a party....who didn't have that happen in college?

i like brandon albert with our first pick. He would be an upgrade at guard now and then move to the tackle position and replace jansen in a year or two.

taf, I hear what you're saying about character. Hopefully they do their due diligence on this cat. He seems like he could be molded into the road-grader type of guard that you want on the line.

EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS.

Posted by: poolman | March 20, 2008 02:18 PM

that would be: lman.poo@CAPSLOCK.NET

Watching my pick Xavier come from behind to overtake Georgia w/50 sec left.

Sometimes some teams will overlook character issues:

STEELERS EXPLAIN WILSON RELEASE
Posted by Mike Florio on March 20, 2008, 2:10 p.m.
The Steelers dumped receiver Cedrick Wilson the morning after he was arrested for allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend in a Mexican restaurant. Steelers chairman Dan Rooney has explained the move.

"We're extremely disappointed with this incident," Rooney said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women."

Except when the guy committing the violence against women is, you know, a starter.

To his credit, Rooney attempted to distinguish the cases of Wilson and Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison, who was voted team MVP in 2007 despite the presence on the roster of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Unfortunately, the explanation doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

"I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept," Rooney said. "The circumstances -- I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In fact, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have to look at the circumstances that are involved with other players and things like that, so they're not all the same.

"What Jimmy Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it. He was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."

But why not just say that Harrison got a pass because he's such a good player? Justifying the differences in treatment by describing as honorable the root of the fracas that led to the fisticuffs doesn't fly.

Also, to the extent that some are attempting to justify the disparity by explaining that this is Wilson's second incident, that's incorrect. Sure, Wilson had a prior issue with his ex. But he wasn't arrested or charged with any crime; she was.

And though we agree with the team's decision to dump Wilson, it'll be interesting to see what happens the next time a Steelers player (allegedly) cold cocks a female acquaintance. If the punishment depends on the player's placement on the depth chart, then we'll conclude that the Steelers refuse to condone violence only when they can live without the guy who perpetrated it.

That would be the X-men.
In other news, Kornheiser made it over the bridge and...the Nats have released John Patterson. Truly!

greg(b), Joe Bugel is a great coach, but I think it asks a lot of a coach to get a guy to re-sculpt his body (other than Tyler Ecker) to look like this:

http://www.wefindequipment.com/images/img30.jpg

Don't forget, Lisa also tried to teach Maggie the word "Lemur"

"leeeeee - mur"

FYI:

Free agents from Washington visit Rams
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/20/2008

Looking for depth at wide receiver and cornerback, the Rams were scheduled to meet Thursday with two free agents from the Washington Redskins -- Reche Caldwell and David Macklin.

Caldwell, 28, was a second-round draft pick by San Diego in 2002 out of Florida. His best season came in 2006 when he lead New England in receptions (61), reception yards (760) and scored four touchdowns.

But after an offseason in which the Patriots added Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte' Stallworth to their receiver corps, Caldwell was released last Sept. 3. He subsequently signed with the Redskins, appearing in eight games and catching 15 passes for 141 yards.

Macklin, 29, entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2000 out of Penn State. In four seasons with the Colts and three with Arizona, Macklin started 75 games at cornerback. He was a full-time starter for two years in Indy and two years with the Big Red.

He signed with Washington last season and appeared in only six games, with no starts. Macklin has 14 career interceptions. One of his best stretches of play came in the 2003 playoffs with Indianapolis, when he had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in three postseason games.

good point talent_evaluator:

i hate to say it, but a certain part of me is always curious what poolman is going to do next. you never know when the doctors at the mental institute will remove his restraints, let him get online, or what drugs he will be on when he posts next... it adds a bit of excitement to the day.

just don't take him seriosly. he gets to have his jollies, i get to have mine, and the post count goes up. unless he starts "attacking" fellow posters here, he's harmless.

unless he starts "attacking" fellow posters here, he's harmless.

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | March 20, 2008 02:42 PM

He's harmless when he attacks fellow posters, too. It's only words. It's when he attacks me that he's dangerous.

Mark(future) and Dorf ... I just clicked on Mark's link, and they HAVE it! I love the wikipedia's!:

The Zebu is mentioned in a 1991 episode of The Simpsons, "Blood Feud," when Lisa teaches Maggie about more obscure animals, wanting to give Maggie "all the advantages that [she] didn't have." Lisa describes it as "an ox, only it has a hump and a dewlap."

dc, you just need to start thinking outside the box. Getting that body type just requires some hard work. And a lot of yellow paint...

It's a lot easier for a defensive tackle to get below your pad level if he is 6" shorter.

Posted by: tafka | March 20, 2008 02:09 PM

true. but IF you're athletic enough to get under the DT, the added size (most of the time correlated with strength) gives you the advantage. i guess that's why these guys are considered the elite.

Anyway, would anybody here be upset with a G drafted 1st for us?

Nate,

3 for 3 good start for me. Probably down hill from here.

Yeah, kerzon, I was just going to brag about my spotless bracket, but I don't want to jinx it any more than I have already (by making my picks for all 63 games).

Anyway, would anybody here be upset with a G drafted 1st for us?

Posted by: psps23 | March 20, 2008 02:54 PM

Because we have two good guards. It is not as great a need as WR, DE, or CB. That said, I'm a "best available player" guy. That means I can criticize any pick on the grounds that he wasn't the best avaiable. But if a G is best available at #21, I will have an open mind.

He's harmless when he attacks fellow posters, too. It's only words.

Posted by: talent_evaluator | March 20, 2008 02:45 PM

unless he's hannibal lecter. just make sure to protect your tongue when "he" is around.

This is what I would like to see the skins do with our first round pick, in decending order from what I think would be our best option to absolute worst:

1)Trade down and pick up a 2nd and 3rd rounder.

2) Draft Albert if he's still there.

3)Draft best available player who is not "a reach" at WR, DT, DE, or CB.

4) "Reach" for a DT/DE... there is better depth in the 2nd and 3rd rounds at WR and CB.

5) Forfiet pick

6) Trade the 21st pick and laron landry to the cowboys for one nose-bleeder seat and a half-price hot dog at the next skins game in dallas.

7) Keep the pick and let poolman make the selection.

The 2008 Commissioner (Nate) has landed 37 chumps (er, players) to compete for (?) the high honor of RI bragtastic NCAA Tourney Champ.

My bet is on etrod, he's gotta case full of yahoo trophies (and a bad habit, so it seems).

ta, I'm with you, while I'm not overly excited about picking a guard at 21, if guys, like Devin Thomas, Derrick Harvey, are gone, and there isn't anyone left who wouldn't be considered a reach, then guard it is. The problem I could potentially foresee is that if the Redskins take a Guard in the first, and a WR in the second, then the quality of DE in the third is going to be pretty low. Same if they took a DE in the second, the WR quality in the third isn't going to be top notch. I do however think you could get quality guards in the third round, but then I push pencils for a living, and am not employed by the NFL....

way to be seth.

Seth,
Gotta keep the good karma of pick #21.

And, never underestimate what an RI hamster will do for a half price hot dog.

Nate,

Since I am colo(u)r blind, and did not follow college BB this year, I had to pick by what city/state I liked, so if I don't brag now, I won't get the chance later :(

1)Trade down and pick up a 2nd and 3rd rounder.

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | March 20, 2008 03:21 PM

I'd be happier swindling a future 1st rounder if we trade back. Maybe 2nd or 3rd rounder this year and a 1st rounder in '09. Agreed that trading the pick would be the top preference, though.

And I'm wondering how far the "best available" concept actually goes. Like if by some miracle Darren McFadden or Matt Ryan falls, would it be worth it? How about Brohm? At what point does "best available" turn into "best available position of need?"

IMO the "best available" theory only works for the first ten picks or so then it becomes best available to fill a need.

The only WR I would take in the 1st is Hardy, who is probably gone by pick 21. I would then go CB or DE depending on who is available. J Nelson may be available in the 2nd if we can't get Hardy in 1st. Then I would look at OL and see if we can land another CB with the intention of moving Springs to Safety after next season, if we can keep him on the team.

Dream picks for me would be:

1 DE
2 WR
3 CB
3 OG
5 CB
6 OL
7 OL/QB
7 OL/QB

greg,

Lot of luck in the draft. Probably it's more about luck than about cunning, skill, strategy.

Just spent a half hour creating my "avatar" on yahoosports ... and I feel good about myself.

I guess I should have qualified my last remark with "unless someone like Darren McFadden falls to the 21st." Just don't see it happening.

sween.
sweet! LMGO

God, I love March Madness.

So far, I'm 3 for 3. If this trend holds up, I'll win our little Fantasy contest and everyone will have to buy my dog a round of rawhide biscuits.

psp, unless the Redskins have pictures of another team's owner with a 'goat' or something like that, there is no way they could hope for a 2nd and 3rd this year, along with a first next year. I wouldn't turn it down, but that scenario isn't likely to happen.

Kerz, if Nicks has some character issues, then Hardy has cornered the market on them. Cat did time while he was in college...I'd take Devin Thomas in a quick minute over Hardy.

Dream picks for me would be:

1. Thomas/Kelly, Merling, ALbert
2. Laws, Jackson, Hardy, Nelson
3. Moore, Nelson
3. OG, OT
5. Bowman
6. LB, OT
7. OG, S

greg,

I agree with your point that we can find quality guards in the 3rd, but we need more than just a quality guard - our starting Oline has not stayed healthy for an entire season in years. If our Oline is bad, having a "big receiver" isnt going to make a difference. Portis won't be effective. Jason Campbells progress (hopefully) in the WCO will be severly stunted. The reason I like Albert is that he is so versitile - he could start at guard or tackle this year if need be - and if there was an injury, he could switch positions if necessary. Albert is a flexible starting solution now and a permanent replacement for one of the old guys we have on the line now.

Now if one of the top rated defensive linemen falls to us, i might change my tune, but right now, albert is our best pick at #21. Certainly it takes precedence over getting a WR.

Greg,

Sure remind me about those character issues! Damn.

Everyone here is excited, too about being 3 for 3 - I wonder just how much bandwidth is being used watching the tournament on the intergoogles right now?

That RI bracket looks sweet right now ... 28 people tied for first, and 9 people tied for 29th.

Hey Nate. It says my bracket ranking is #1 with 3 out of 3 correct and the part scores all going my way so far.

That's good, isn't it?

"Feel my wrath"

kerz, sorry about that...

seth, I somewhat agree. I think that you could get Rachal in the third, Nicks could be there. You're correct in the Rdskins needing some new blood on OL, and I like that Albert can swing over to T as well.

Actually I take that back. It sounds like Yahoosports is trying to say that EVERYone is 'special'.

Blast.

Being 3:3 is like winning a pre-season game.

I'm one of the 9. (no sour grapes....really.)

greg,

I meant to say 2nd OR 3rd this year, plus 1st next year.

I'll still go with my dream draft being DE/DT and T/G/C drafted throughout, in any random order. I know that'll never happen, but I'm still sticking with my optimistic view that our WRs and DBs are more than good enough to produce, and believing that supplemental help can be found with cheap vets on the FA market. I'd rather take care of depth and age issues around the entire line of scrimmage with this draft.

Actually if 28 of us are tied for first, this is going to be more like one of those 'touch the truck' competitions where we have to see who will be the last unbeaten left....

Sounds like 9 have already 'slipped and fallen'. Sorry stumped, you can go home now son.

SETH--

I see it a little differently. You draft starters in the first two rounds, backups in the next two. Our starting O-Line is just fine, and we need backups -- guys who can start in two or three years. For starters, we need a #2 WR and we need a DE and we need a CB. We don't need a starting guard, so we shouldn't pick one in the first round.

I'd like to compete in a vigenary basketball tournament.

psp, i never considered trading our 1st this year for a 1st in 2009 along with a 3rd this year... i would do that deal if

1) we have reason to beleive that the 1st next year will be a better pick than the one this year (i.e. the team sucks) OR

2) We feel the draft is deep next year in positions we expect to have needs.

However, i really think this is a good draft to have 2nd and 3rd round picks (atleast at the positions we are looking at). Atlanta is in an enviable position with three 2nd rounders.

Redcoat- For some reason, it's got you listed with a possible 240 points, and all the rest of us with a possible 272 points. Something must've gotten lost in the metric translation.

Buges can coach up any O-Lineman we get in the mid rounds. We need a WR, CB, and a DE in that order.

t_e,

you don't think smoot and springs are good enough to start? and it's not like rogers is going to be out the entire season. i think that drafting a cb early will be overload, and in the end (when everybody's healthy) you're going to have a couple very talented, starting-quality players sitting on the sideline when other positions could use more help.

My bracket is about to pull away from the pack. Wait and see. Your basketball knowledge pales in comparison to that of my 19 week old puppy.

Smoot and Springs are good enough to start, for sure. I love 'em both. But who's in the nickel package? True, the nickel guy's not a starter, but he's probably in for a third of the plays.

te, i get your point, but i may not have made myself clear - recent history gives me no confidence that our current "starting" offensive line will be healthy week 1.

While I agree wholeheartedly that we need a true #2 WR, and atleast a nickle-caliber CB; and we need help at DE, i think we can "get by" without a 1st round WR. I think a third rounder will do nicely for our WR need.

I also think another 3rd rounder or a second rounder will do fine at CB - I am "comfortable" with Springs and Smoot starting the season, with torrence and westbrook at nickle.

Assuming we can't trade down and albert is available, i think we get the most "bang for the buck" (i.e. best player available at a position of nead without "reaching") this way:

1st Round: Albert
2nd Round: DE/CB
3rd Round: WR
3rd Round: DE/CB (whichever we didnt get in the 2nd)

5th Round: QB
6th Round: BPA with preference to S
7th Round: BPA with preference to DL
7th Round: BPA with preference to LB

Undrafted FAs: Fully expect atleast 1 OL and 1 DL to make the practice squad at the very least (Skins have had some good luck finding roleplayers along the lines lately)

Something must've gotten lost in the metric translation.

Posted by: 4-12 | March 20, 2008 04:01 PM

You forget I'm British; we gave the Imperial System to the world*, huzzah!!

* and they gave it back, marked "what's this rubbish and what is an 'erg' anyway?"

I saw some people trying to come up with a nickname for Lorenzo Alexander. It seems that his teammates have dubbed him "one man gang."

Your basketball knowledge pales in comparison to that of my 19 week old puppy.

Posted by: PDiddy | March 20, 2008 04:02 PM

Your puppy pales in comparison to CynCyty's bracket-throwing penny.

D'oh!

Hmmmm. Pound sterling? Warm beer? Gotta be something...

Ah ha. You forgot to pick a winner Redcoat!

once again, i have might have the ultimate optimism here, but the nickel package would be the same trio we had last season. unlike most here, i don't think rogers is going to be that bad, and at most, he'll miss a month at the start of the season. that's 4 games. torrence could hold the nickel for that length, or even a vet FA can be brought in as a serviceable player. i don't want to see us draft a CB early, then see rogers come back healthy, and all of a sudden the rookie just ends up sitting for most of the game.

On the topic of dog v. coin ...

I walk my daughter to school every day. On my walk back and into work, I see this bumper sticker that says "My Border Collie is Smarter than Your Honors Student" ... and every day I think about getting a sticker than I can stick next to it that say "But My Honors Student Doesn't Sniff Other Honors Students' Butts."

[I'm not saying they have honors classes in kindergarten, but given how she has my wife's DNA, she is super smart.]

Ah ha. You forgot to pick a winner Redcoat!

Posted by: 4-12 | March 20, 2008 04:17 PM

I did select a winner, it was UNC (I think) something like 87-86. Is there any way to update that?

Paging the commish. Paging the commish....

psps, its more than that ... mostly b/c unless you are a monster who plays safety, many first round picks are not ready to start from the git go, but more importantly, given that Rogers busted both his ACL and his MCL, he may never be the same. The point is about being able to replace Springs (former first round pick, with high salary) with someone read to perform (some day) at Springs' level. I can appreciate the gushiness about the WR position (the sexiest of the skill positions, at least according to most of the divas in that spot throughout the league), but someone has to cover those guys too, hence corner.

That said, sticking with the anti-sexy vibe this offseason, I think guard is just as much a position of need as CB or WR or DE, so I'd be well pleased if the FO underwhelmed us by picking a guard.

Redcoat, you may have picked a winner in your mind, but you failed to tell Yahoo! about it.

Sorry, mate, but it looks like you've entered an incomplete bracket.

Watch, now you'll win anyway.

btw, UNLV is crushing Cindy's bracket penny.

I clicked on the darn team and entered the score.... Oh well, I should expect nothing less.

dc, not to get all political or anything, but the other day I saw a bumper sticker that read:

"My Handgun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car".

You have to kind of live in MA to appreciate it...

We're all hono(u)rable chaps up here, Redcoat. If UNC wins, we'll add the points manually.

Of course, nothing we can do about getting you one of those fantastic yahoo.sports trophies for your profile...

As blog pool commish, I must duty to inform you that I don't seem to have the ability to do anything about this, ah, oversight of Redcoat's.

I can "lock" or "remove/ban" him from the group, but both of those seem rather cruel and unusual given that he has basically shot himself in the foot as far as winning the tournament.

I can't see going OL in rd 1. To me that should be DE or CB. If we go CB in rd 1, then I say DE or WR depending on who is there. OL and DL after that with another CB in there. Oh, and a late rd. QB. I still like Colt Brennan. He would fit Zorn's offense and he is very accurate.

Greg, that would keep me from drafting Hardy.

Thankyou Nate. I throw myself upon the mercies of this court.

I guess that means I'm scrod.

RC,

I almost did not pick a winner either, but caught it when I was reviewing.

Thank You Marquette and UNLV!!

I might just be that girl!

You're scrod, Redcoat? That sounds kind of fishy...

sween,

no doubt that we could use a corner. it's always better to be safe. i just think we have plenty more positions of need. it'd be nice to get another CB, and to find an eventual replacement for springs, but i don't think it's necessary for it to be a top pick this year.

top list of needs IMO:

DE - not only need to find a replacement, but an overall upgrade over daniels. without doubt the one position that we absolutely need a starter for.

G/T/C: Aside from Samuels, every position on the line is suspect. When healthy, this is one of the tops in the league. The problem is every other starter has health problems. Jansen and Thomas have spent a lot of time on injured reserve, including most of last season. Kendall and Rabach both have chronic injuries (knees, back) that threaten their durability. Every player on the o-line is over 30. We need to start finding their replacements soon, as well as provide insurance in case one or more go down again. And there's a good article on espn.com explaining how one hole in the line can affect the play of the other four guys. This needs to be addressed, and with more than one addition.

DT: While Griffin is an impact player, he's no longer season-wide reliable. Montgomery seems to be developing nicely and could take the next step next year. Golston seems like you're standard overachiever, and while we love seeing him bust his hump, he'll probably never turn into a game changer. Finding a dominant DT would allow Griffin to stay fresh throughout the season by allowing him to take breaks, as well as bolster the entire line play in general.

WR: While my position is that this isn't a HUGE need, there's no doubt that we could use help here. Getting a good, dependable receiving threat would give JC a good amount of options, and a #2 receiving threat would allow ARE to move to the slot.

In my opinion, I'd take all these slots before taking a corner.

kerz, it might be a situation where OL is the best option out there. I'd rather we draft the guard Albert, than reach for a DE, say, the cat from Auburn, Groves in the first.

I hear you Greg, but I think that a DE or CB will fall to us. To me this is a greater need, and this draft is heavy on OL players that can be coached up by Buges.

Next up to thank will be Purdue and Pitt! My question is can we stop after these games?

Anyway, good luck to all and sundry!

kerz, I think that given the gap between the de's considered a lock, Long/Gholston/Harvey and the rest, Merling/Campbell/Groves, there's not a lot of options to fall. I'm hesitant about Merling, and now that Harvey has had a good workout, he'll be gone before 21.

Nate,

Sorry I didn't join the pool.

I didn't see Virginia in any of the brackets, so I was pretty sure it was a scam.

"DE - not only need to find a replacement, but an overall upgrade over daniels. without doubt the one position that we absolutely need a starter for."

Posted by: psps23 | March 20, 2008 04:46 PM

Except for your usage of "without doubt" and "absolutely" and "need", I agree with this.

Essentially, I don't get the consensus pooping on Daniels. He's a good end. On passing downs, he moves over to the middle and Marcus slipped in as the end. Yes, an upgrade would be good, but no less good than an upgrade at nickel CB or guard.

I still see 22 starters returning, so for me, use of the word "need" is overstated ... teams like Minnesota and Atlanta and Baltimore NEED a quarterback. Skins have some older guys who are question marks. I say there are some positions of "really want."

That said, sticking with the anti-sexy vibe this offseason, I think guard is just as much a position of need as CB or WR or DE, so I'd be well pleased if the FO underwhelmed us by picking a guard.

Posted by: dcsween | March 20, 2008 04:28 PM

We actually agree on a FO move for the 1st time in a long time....

I guess it is going to be a boring offseason. Which I'll take anyday if that's what it takes to get us back to the SB...

** Second Reminder **

There is a proposed RI get-together on Sunday 4/13 in Arlington. Please email me at usredcoat at gmail dot com for details if you want to attend.

A veritable panoply of RI stars will be there including, er... SMACK, and er... me, and er... maybe 'sween. Anyway, what I can promise you is that you'll have the most fun that's possible with your clothes on* - with beer.

** End of Second Reminder **

*assumes alternate choices are: 1) being gently whipped with a plastic snake, 2) listening to redcoat telling you about "life during the war back in old blighty", or 3) a 3-day weekend locked in a small box with Barno and Periculum.

Greg,

My thought is on needs of other teams. Every year there are teams that surprise with a crazy pick. Or else I am overly optimistic.

4th, glad to hear we agree finally, though I do miss being wrong.

damb, i've slipped into among the ignoble 12 tied for 12th ... curses on that bracket penny! [and UNLV too ...]

"life during the war back in old blighty"

Posted by: Redcoat | March 20, 2008 05:03 PM

The Falklands? Can't wait to hear what you were up to that weekend! You weren't supposed to tell them I'm gonna show, you'll frighten people off.

Don't feel bad about the bracket, RC, I was pretty roasted filling mine out. In predicting the final score, it kept telling me the winning team has to have more points than the loser, but I wasn't having it.

Hey Mark (from the Future)! Any chance you could send me back a copy of this presentation that I'm supposed to have completed yesterday from some time late next week when I will actually have completed it?

this is quite a temporal conundrum I know, but I'm sure it won't violate your 'prime directive' or whatever it is you future people have.

I mean, it would be a fine how-do-you-do if you couldn't ask an occasional favo(u)r of a friend from the future now and then, wouldn't it?

" ... it kept telling me the winning team has to have more points than the loser, but I wasn't having it."

Posted by: SMACK1 | March 20, 2008 05:12 PM

Lemme guess, you used to be on the Supreme Court after the 2000 elections ...

yea, i'm not the biggest fan of the term "need" either. i don't think daniels is a starting quality end anymore, unfortunately. he's solid, he'd still be a good rotational player, but i don't think he's the impact player most DE's are expected to be.

"Yes, an upgrade would be good, but no less good than an upgrade at nickel CB or guard."

Disagree with this because the DE or G would be on the field for 90%+ of the snaps for their respective sides of the field. A nickel corner is more situational. And I still feel like our guards, when healthy, are capable of being top-notch players. I don't feel the same about Daniels. He can still contribute, but not at the level that you'd expect from a starting DE.

RC,

I wish I could, but alas we have a problem. The delivery systems we have in the future are not compatible with what you have in your time. I guess it will be a late night for you.

The Falklands? Can't wait to hear what you were up to that weekend! You weren't supposed to tell them I'm gonna show, you'll frighten people off.

Posted by: SMACK1 | March 20, 2008 05:12 PM

1. I meant the Crimean.
2. I'm hoping we'll get a good turnout just to play "poke the Cowgrrl fan with a stick"!

"I would have liked you to have been deep-frozen too,
and waiting still as fresh in your flesh for my return to earth.
But your father refused to sign the forms to freeze you.
Let's see you'd be about sixty now, and long dead when I return to earth."

Lemme guess, you used to be on the Supreme Court after the 2000 elections ...

Posted by: dcsween | March 20, 2008 05:14 PM

Yup. I wore nothing under my robe so Sandra and Ruth called me Hanging Chad.

I guess it will be a late night for you.

Posted by: Markin21132 | March 20, 2008 05:20 PM

Blast. Stonewalled by a future-dweller. Oh well, back to powerpoint to 'hunt and peck' my way to creativity....

Coat, never quite got that one. Couldn't she authorize it herself once she turned 18?

Yup. I wore nothing under my robe so Sandra and Ruth called me Hanging Chad.

Posted by: SMACK1 | March 20, 2008 05:23 PM

Could be worse, could be a hung jury.

Imagine the peers!

Coat, never quite got that one. Couldn't she authorize it herself once she turned 18?

Posted by: SMACK1 | March 20, 2008 05:25 PM

Yes, but the answer to that is

"My time-held dreams are full of you as you were when I left; still under age"

So she wasn't old enough to sign anything, hence him being stuck with the android with the unfortunate malfunction.

** Second Reminder **

There is a proposed RI get-together on Sunday 4/13 in Arlington. Please email me at usredcoat at gmail dot com for details if you want to attend.

A veritable panoply of RI stars will be there including, er... SMACK, and er... me, and er... maybe 'sween. Anyway, what I can promise you is that you'll have the most fun that's possible with your clothes on* - with beer.

** End of Second Reminder **

Posted by: Redcoat | March 20, 2008 05:03 PM

I have such fond impressions of the names I read on this blog, I almost feel as if it would be an inevitable letdown to actually meet you all. It would be like watching a new movie based on your favorite book. It never lives up to expectations.

No offense to anyone, of course. I'm actually just afraid of revealing my true identity...

It's okay psps, I'm used to people feeling terribly let-down when they meet me.

To the tune of "Orgone Accumulator"

It's a grave miscalculation
Bulldog prognostication
Big school infatuation
Upset pick trickeration
Smack emasculation
RI humiliation
Mathematic elimination

So she wasn't old enough to sign anything, hence him being stuck with the android with the unfortunate malfunction.

Posted by: Redcoat | March 20, 2008 05:29 PM

Who cares what the android replica moaned, as long as it still did the dishes.

Nice one SMACK but you've just alienated 99.9% of RI bloggers now by mentioning Orgones again!

I think I may have to charge a small fee for the "poke a Cowgrrls fan with a stick" game!

SMACK, LMGO! I bet if I look up the word "unreconstructed" in Webster's there will be a picture of you there.

Does Digger Phelps ever use his highlighter or does he just colo(u)r coordinate them with his tie to be pretentious?

Thank (u) for using the correct spelling Dorf.

I do it to sound pretentious.

I'm crushed.

beep beep. news. i mean it. but it isn't earth-shattering.

Pretentious? Moi?

jeez. Are you people still talking about basketball?

Here's my trivia for the day. I took a cast metal class with J.Zorn in college. It was when we was coaching the UofMinn Golden Gophers and I was an art major. He was super nice. We used to ask him to toss us tools in the foundry and then laugh about that maybe not being such a smart thing to ask.
Anyways, he cast a bronze kayaker in a broiling river. He nice, the Zorn.

I think the Giants proved that strong lines = super bowls. I say, draft for the line. and CB.

Anybody here ever have Eske's Green Chile beer in Taos, NM? It's spicy. The only beer I've ever had that needed a beer chaser.

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