2/18/09
2009 NFL Draft E-mails – AFC East
I have one question on the Jets 1st round pick. If this happens I see the Jets taking a chance on Freeman. He fits the description of Jets next QB (you really need a strong arm). This is not what I would do with Freeman available, here is how it must go down for Freeman to be a Jet.
1. Stafford and Sanchez must already be gone.
2. Malcolm Jenkins must already be gone.
3. Jeremy Maclin/Michael Crabtree must already be gone.
4. The best player available must not be their top need.
I know that doesn’t leave a lot of opportunity in my opinion, but Rex Ryan will look past this and take Freeman anyway.
My Response:
Josh Freeman can definitely be the pick. Personally though, I think when you have a second-round guy who hasn’t been given the proper chance and Brett Ratliff, whom I think has great upside, going quarterback would be a huge mistake. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they chose Freeman.
Cassel had just under 4000 yards combined rush/throwing, 21 TD’s, and 11 picks last year. Yet, you have him ranked as the same star rating as Brett Ratliff. This is just crazy too me. I agree with the majority of users on your site, Cassel was a product of New Englands offense. However, Cassel improved GREATLY as the season went on and was making tougher throws,not just throwing the screen.
I wouldn’t compare him too Derek Andersons 07 season as Anderson started great, and then fell apart. Cassel showed improvment, that can’t be argued, and, more teams in the league are running the spread offense that the pats run. Cassel can play in that system. All Ratliff did was look good in the Pre season!! Yet you rank them the same.
Ratliff may have a bigger arm, but Cassel playing has to count for something. You know nothing about what Ratliff can do in a real game. You do with Cassel.
My Response:
Matt Cassel is a spread shotgun quarterback who is just as talented as Tyler Thigpen and part of New England’s system (which is fine – I gave him 3 stars). But he has no arm strength and will very likely fail elsewhere. I’d rather take a shot on a guy who has an amazing arm and has displayed solid accuracy in his brief action.
To counter something you said, Cassel hadn’t shown improvement. New England had to keep Cassel in the shotgun late in the season because he grew more and more uncomfortable under center. Don’t get me wrong; Cassel played well… but he was just the product of a system. It’s like, he might be a 4-star prospect for the Patriots, but a 2.5- or 3-star prospect for any other team.
I am a big Miami Dolphins fan and I happen to have some questions. First I recognize that You chose Jeremy Maclin to go to the Baltimore Ravens and I understand why. The Dolphins have the 25th pick with the Ravens having the 26th pick and if Maclin is available they will pick him. The Dolphins aren�t in that big of a need for Duke Robinson or Alex Mack. If Maclin isn�t available then the Dolphins would probably pick a DE or an OLB which is what most mock drafts predict.
Another thing this is about the Jets they are for sure not going to go with Knowshon Moreno. Thomas Jones just had the best year of his career and Leon Washington is a powerful weapon. The Jets defense cannot cover Tight Ends They weren�t able to cover Gates Or Anthony Fasano. One thing for sure is if the Jets don�t get someone who can cover Tight Ends the Dolphins will beat them both games because Pennington loves Martin and Fasano.
My Response:
Jeremy Maclin was considered for the Dolphins, and it makes sense from a needs-standpoint, but Bill Parcells usually goes defense/offensive line with his first-round pick. And I disagree that Alex Mack wouldn’t be a big need; center was a big hole for the team last year. Satele will be moved outside. I think the pick is Mack or a DE/OLB/ILB like you said.
Thomas Jones had a great year, but he’s 31. A RB isn’t a big need for the Jets, but they have to take Moreno at No. 17 because he’ll be far and away the top prospect available.
The Bills do NOT need a left tackle. Jason Peters is a pro bowl caliber talent. He gave up so many sacks and had a bad year for 2 reasons. First, he held out the entire offseason, skipping OTAs and training camp because he wanted more money. He missed absolutely all offseason workouts, and just showed up to play during our first regular season game. So obviously, he had a WHOLE lot of catching up to do as he was completely out of football shape. Not only that, but he had to block for JP Losman for several games. In case you didn’t know, JP takes sacks like no other QB in the league. He is absolutely incapable of reading a defense and making a desicion.
Tight end is not nearly as badly a need as everyone seems to think. Dick Jauron loves Robert Royal. He is one of those tight ends that is an exceptional blocker, but has hands of stone. The reason people think we need a new tight end is because we ALWAYS use him in pass situations over our other 2 tight ends in Derek Fine and Derek Schouman.
My Response:
Jason Peters was terrible. Whether he wasn’t in shape or not, he gave up 11.5 sacks – the most in the NFL. Walter Jones used to always miss offseason workouts and he always played on a Pro Bowl level. Peters may have talent, but the motivation isn’t there. That’s huge.
I also disagree with your thoughts that TE isn’t a big need. If the Bills don’t want to address the TE position, that’s fine; their offense can struggle yet again in ’09. Their choice. I know Robert Royal is a good blocker, but you also need a pass-catching TE, and the Bills don’t have that.
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2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:
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Post-Round 1 E-mail - April 29
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Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
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Hate Mail Volume 6 - April 3
Crackhead Mail - April 3
Trade and Prospect Speculation - April 3
Hate Mail Volume 5 - March 28
Cam Newton Mailbag - March 28
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
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Hate Mail Volume 4 - March 13
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
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Random Questions and Comments - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 3 - March 7
Combine Questions and Comments - March 7
Combine Hate Mail - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Quarterbacks - Feb. 15
Hate Mail - Feb. 15
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