NFL Draft: NFC South wishes and needs
Posted: April 26th, 2006 | Author: Zim | Filed under: NFL | No Comments »
Ron Mexico…er…Michael “Herpes” Vick of the Falcons runs before making a terrible pass
by Mike Zimmer, Saying Who Dat?
New Orleans Saints…2nd Overall Pick
Boy. Where to begin. The Saints resemble the city they represent: broken, bent, a shambles. The team was unfairly shredded last season by Hurricane Katrina and the league who made them Gypsies. The club was not going to be good going into the season mind you, but the events of last August/September made sure the team would flounder. There is rampant rumors flying around that the team may be Los Angeles bound in a few years and it has added to their draft spot intrigue when it concerns a certain QB from USC. The club jettisoned QB Aaron Brooks in the off-season along with Head Coach Jim Haslett. Enter Sean Payton, A QB guy, and free agent signee QB Drew Brees with a deal that could realistically be cut short after only one season. This has made the Saints a real possibility to take Leinart or maybe even Vince Young with the #2 pick. The team also is more than likely considering or will have to consider a cadre of offers to trade down for the rights to pick #2. From all the experts however, all of the speculation has them staying pat and picking talented Defensive End Mario Williams from N.C.State. Williams who has wowed everyone with his speed and size, garnering comparrisons to Lawrance Taylor. However Williams took some plays off at N.C.State and might be a bust as a work out warrior–you never know. But truth be told, the Saints could use him on their awful defense. The team needs help all over that side of the ball and would do well to address both the defensive line issues and line backing concerns in the first few rounds of the draft. With pick #34, they are going to be in the position to snag a really good LB or perhaps some talent that slips thru and out of round one. In reality, the Saints hold the key to the draft if you install Reggie Bush as the Overall #1 pick to Houston. The team holds the cards for teams that want to jump up and make a block-buster trade to grab one of the Blue Chip Superstars.
Atlanta Falcons…15th Overall Pick
The Falcons need some defensive help after the team fell apart on that side of the ball late in the season and could not be trusted to bail out Michael “Ron Mexico has Herpes” Vick. With their spot in the draft landing them in a prime spot to grab a solid defender, the club is looking to take one of the best DB’s on the board. However, with the rising stock of so many guys–the team may be able to grab one of the sliding LB’s in a talented, deep class. In a perfect world, Michael Huff the talented Texas Safety would still be around, but more than likely a guy like Chad Greenway of Iowa will be available at #15. Tamba Hall the big Defensive End of Penn State would surely be available to address their defensive line problems. The Falcons struggled with their run game at critical points of the season too and Warrick Dunn and T.J. “Big Fat” Duckett are not long term answers. It’s a stretch, but not out of the possibility that they take a swipe at DeAngelo Williams of Memphis.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers…23rd Overall Pick
The Buccs have picked offense the last few seasons and uncharactoristically fell off on the defensive side of the ball last season. Tampa is in a spot where some of the quality defenders may still be on the board and they must take advantage–unless Head Coach Jon Gruden gets his way and snags the best sliding offensive stud. The Offensive line needs to be addressed too, but after Winston Justice of USC and Marcus McNeil of Auburn come off the board–there is a drop off at Tackle which is a need spot. More likely, the Buccs take a LB or Corner with their first pick. Florida State’s Ernie Simms is a nice solid choice if he is still on the board as is DeMarco Ryans of Alabama who is a tweener.
Carolina Panthers…27the Overall Pick
There is wide speculation about what Carolina may do with their pick with them being in the market for a Running Back. With Indianapolis and Pittsburgh behind them surely angling for something similar, the Panthers won’t get a second shot at the top tier guys, hoping they slide. Carolina however needs some help at Defensive Tackle and Offensive line too which makes their pick an important one, setting them up for later rounds. There isn’t an interior line-man worth a first round pick although Max Jean-Giles of Georgia will be available. The speculation is that the Panthers could be the destination of backward sliding RB LenDale “Yummy Yummy Yummy, I got fat in my Tummy” White who would fit nicely into their pounding ground game. However, White has issues, and John Fox isn’t the kind of guy that needs any more issues, especially when the team acquired WR ”Me-Shawn” Johnson as a free agent.
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