2006 NFL Draft Preview: Picks 11-15

by Jimmy Boyd

As nearly everyone expected, Jay Cutler was the third QB taken in this year's draft, but he has the potential to be a better player than both Leinart and Young because of his powerful right arm. Cutler has as strong an arm as any QB selected in recent years. He reminds me of Brett Favre at times the way his arm allows him to make plays most QB's can't make. He will be a great guy to have on deck in Denver behind Plummer. He will only get better as he set numerous school records at Vanderbilt playing with mediocre talent. Give this kid a good offensive line and a couple wide outs and he has the potential for an outstanding career.

The Ravens' success has been built around a tough defense and after a down year, things should be looking back up with Haloti Ngata from the University of Oregon stepping into Baltimore's offensive front and clogging up lead plays. He has been considered a top 10 pick from day 1 and the Ravens have to be thrilled to get him at 12. He should be a big asset for Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis as Ngata will keep down lineman from firing out and getting to him. With Ray Lewis more free to roam, the Ravens' defense can get back to where they were a few seasons ago. The only knock on this guy is occasional laziness, but I think it stems from him wearing out and his conditioning should improve in the NFL.

Kamerion Wimbley was the second Florida State Seminole and second defensive end taken early on in the 2006 draft. He lacks bulk like some of the great defensive ends such as Reggie White, but the game is increasingly becoming one of speed, and I can see him using his speed off the line like Jason Taylor. He will need to get better at fundamental skills like using his hands to control blockers, and he will need to improve on stringing together a series of moves after his initial move is stopped. I don't think he'll have any problems with these things and would probably already have these skills if he wasn't able to blow by defensive tackles at will in the ACC. The Browns need help on the defensive side of the ball and Wimbley should be a solid start.

The Philadelphia Eagles also went after a Seminole with the 14th pick selecting nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley to give them some push up the middle. His quickness will be a major asset as he will be able to push the pocket in passing situations, but he also has the size to clog up the middle and slow down the run. Add Bunkley to Mike Patterson and Darwin Walker, and the Eagles have themselves a solid front 3. I'm actually a little bit surprised that his college teammate leapfrogged him as he was figured to go in the top 12 and he is a more fundamental football player who already has great technique. The Eagles are glad he was still around. They'll hope he can help them regain their defensive prowess which was tarnished last season.

The St. Louis Rams love speed on both sides of the ball and they got a corner back from Clemson in Tye Hill who can flat out fly. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, but has a listed time of 4.25 seconds. He has the quickness to be a great cover corner in the league for years to come as he is able to react and recover exceptionally if he gets beat. His quickness also allows him to support the run effectively. His only downfall is that his hands are just so-so. He probably won't be a big play interception guy, but as he develops, I think his speed could allow him to give fits to some of the best receivers in the league. Look for Mr. Hill to step right in and get lots of playing time. He will probably be playing every down before the season is over.

About the Author

Jimmy Boyd is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Jimmy_Boyd.htm

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The NFL Draft's Impact on the Upcoming Fantasy Football Season

by Michael Brody

Some of these rookies will come in and make an immediate impact in the league. Others will have a more subtle impact and work their way into the lineup. How much playing time these rookies receive will determine not only their value, but also the value of many other proven veterans who could be high fantasy draft picks. Some of these veterans may lose a lot of value due to rookies stealing precious playing time from them. This is especially troubling in keeper leagues.

Rookie Starters

This was one of the more impressive drafts in recent years. Several skilled players should step right into major roles with their NFL teams. Some of these guys will be well worth having on your fantasy team. If you're in a keeper league, these guys could be very high picks.

Reggie Bush - The Texans might have passed on him, but you shouldn't. Bush will have plenty of chances to score fantasy points for his owners as he is expected to split carries with Deuce McAllister, whose value drops significantly. Bush will be a big target out of the backfield for new Saints QB Drew Brees and at times he'll line up as a wide receiver. Bush may also be able to get on the scoreboard returning punts and kickoffs.

Vernon Davis - The huge tight end will instantly become Alex Smith's favorite target in San Francisco. While the 49ers' offense is nothing to write home about, they should improve and they will play against some weaker defenses. Some say Davis may be the next Antonio Gates. That probably won't happen right away, but he could be a top 5 tight end and have numbers similar to Baltimore's Todd Heap.

Joseph Addai - The Colts moved quickly to replace Edgerrin James by drafting the LSU running back in the first round. Addai will step right into the league's most potent offense and could be the feature back. Like James, he's an excellent pass catcher and should have no problem beating out Dominic Rhodes for the majority of the playing time.

Waiting in the Wings

These guys may not start right away, but they will be valuable players for their new teams' offenses.

Laurence Maroney & Chad Jackson - The Patriots' top two picks may not be immediate starters, but it won't be long until they force their way into the lineup. Rated by many as the top wide receiver in the draft, New England was able to grab Florida's Chad Jackson in the second round. Jackson fills an immediate hole for the Pats after they lost David Givens in free agency. Even if he doesn't start, New England loves to run 3-, 4- and 5-receiver sets, and you can bet Tom Brady will find the rookie. The Patriots' No. 1 pick was RB Laurence Maroney. Maroney rushed for more than 1,000 yards three straight seasons at Minnesota. He won't displace incumbent Corey Dillon as the starter right away, but Maroney will get his share of carries and could develop into a very productive NFL running back in no time. He is an excellent mid-round pick - higher in keeper leagues.

DeAngelo Williams - The undersized running back is the NCAA career leader in all-purpose yards. He will have to battle DeShaun Foster and Carolina's 2005 top pick Eric Shelton for playing time. Williams will be part of the backfield rotation from the start. Foster and Shelton have both had trouble staying healthy, so Williams could be in line for even more playing time.

Santonio Holmes - The Steelers, like the Patriots, had an immediate need for a wide receiver and filled it with the impressive Ohio State speedster. He should fit in well with the Super Bowl champs and has a great tutor in Hines Ward. Look for Pittsburgh to ease him into the lineup and for Holmes to make his way into the starting lineup by mid-season.

LenDale White - The other USC running back fell to the middle of the second round after a hamstring injury and character questions have come up in recent weeks. On the field, White has been a powerful runner with a nose for the end zone. Tennessee already has two proven backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry, but both have been susceptible to injuries. Look for White to start the season as the goal-line back and get a chance at the feature back role later in the season.

Best of the Rest

A few other players to keep an eye on this season include: Leonard Pope - The 6-foot-8 tight end will be a huge target for Curt Warner and should get plenty of Red Zone opportunities in the Cardinals' new high-powered offense; Sinorice Moss - The Miami (Fla.) receiver should be an excellent complement to Plaxico Burress for the Giants. Moss will have to fight for catches in an offense that features Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Burress; Anthony Fasano - Bill Parcells hopes Fasano will turn into another Mark Bavaro for the Cowboys. Dallas already has Jason Witten, a solid tight end, but Parcells loves to play two tight ends, and Drew Bledsoe loves to work the middle of the field.

The Quarterbacks

The there's the three high-profile quarterbacks: Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler. I think they will all have productive careers, but just not this season. Young has a chance for playing time with Tennessee now that Steve McNair has left for Baltimore. Billy Volek is ready to step up, however, so Young should be carrying the clipboard this season. Leinart fell to the 10th pick, but he couldn't have asked for a better situation. The Cardinals are loaded on offense with the best young wide receiver duo in the league - Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald - and a stud running back in the newly acquired James. Kurt Warner leads the Arizona attack and still has a good year or two left, but Warner has a history of injuries so Leinart's time could come sooner rather than later. The Broncos drafted Cutler one pick after Leinart was selected. Cutler will back up Jake Plummer in Denver next year as he is groomed for the starting spot once Plummer wears out his welcome.

Keep track of the position battles over the summer and don't be afraid to take a chance on a rookie that could be a difference maker.

About the Author

We've had a week to digest the NFL draft. While most observers were looking at which teams drafted the best and which teams dropped out, fantasy footballers were wondering which rookies they might like to have on their team.

http://www.bestfootballsource.com

Favre's Back... But Will It Help the Packers?

by Joseph Jackson

Last season was a complete and total disaster for both Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay struggled with injuries and dissention, staggering to a 4-12 record in 2005 while earning the team the fifth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. It was the worst season in Green Bay since the Packers went 4-12 in 1991. In the 15 years between 1991 and 2006, the Packers finished no worse than 8-8 (1999) and missed the playoffs just three times (1992, 1999, and 2000). It was a time of prosperity, rivaled only by the Vince Lombardi-era Packers, and the constant over those 15 seasons of success was the man under center, wearing #4 for the Pack.

Favre will be back in 2006, after practically holding the team hostage since the season wrapped up in December, on the heels of Favre's worst season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. In 2005, Favre threw 20 touchdowns (his lowest total since 2000 and tied for his third lowest total overall) and 29 interceptions (a career high) while throwing for 3881 yards. Though he did complete 61% of his passes, he had a penchant for forcing passes that a younger, stronger Favre traditionally made. For all practical purposes, he was a gunslinger with a lower caliber weapon. His interceptions seemed to come at the worst possible times, and towards the end of the season, Favre looked so bad that experts around the country were calling for Favre to be benched so that Aaron Rodgers could get some experience.

Additionally, Favre seems to have lost his ability to win in the playoffs, in fact, he has cost his team playoff wins since 2000. From 1993-1998, Favre's Packers were 9-5. From 2001-2004, the Packers have gone just 2-4, with Favre throwing 13 interceptions compared to just 9 touchdowns.

The Packers were the definition of a hard-luck team in 2005, with 5 of their 12 losses coming by less than 3 points. In fact, the only blow-out loss of the season was a 48-3 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore in December. Keep in mind that the Packers were without Javon Walker and Ahman Green, who played a combined six games. While Green will be back, Walker (who has become increasingly disgruntled with the Packers and had threatened to hold out for 10 weeks if he wasn't dealt) was traded to the Broncos for a 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft. Walker had racked up nearly 2500 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons with Favre, so his loss is significant. The Packers haven't filled his void, and will rely on Donald Driver, Rod Gardner, Bubba Franks, Robert Ferguson, and the recently drafted Greg Jennings to try to pick up his slack. Driver did catch 86 balls for 1221 yards in 2005 and 84 balls for 1208 yards in 2004, but he isn't the same deep threat or red-zone presence that Walker was. He had only 5 touchdown catches in 2005, and a career-high 9 touchdown receptions in 2004.

It will be the return of Ahman Green that will help Favre the most in 2006, assuming that he can remain healthy. The balance and scoring threat that Green brings, coupled with his ability to bail out the passing game as a safety valve for Favre, will significantly improve the 2006 version of the Packers. However, Green is 29 years old, an age at which running backs traditionally break down. As long as Green stays on the field, the Packers will be a better team. If Green goes down, Sam Gado will become the man again. Gado was a bright spot for the 2005 team, but he still only rushed for 582 yards in 8 games, and can't be relied on to carry the load over the balance of a season. Green Bay's failure to upgrade in this area could come back to haunt them in 2006.

While Favre is back for one last hurrah, the Packers on Opening Day 2006 will look very similar to the Packers from Opening Day in 2005. The defense will be slightly better, with the additions of A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge by way of the draft, but they will need some time to adjust to the NFL game. Assuming the Packers can stay healthy, the team will compete. As it stands now, the Vikings and Bears are both superior to the Packers on paper, and both should finish with better records than the Pack. It will be a struggle for them to make the playoffs, meaning that Favre will go out on a down note. That is, of course, assuming that Favre retires after 2006.

Favre's legacy will always remain. He'll be remembered as the quarterback that brought the Packers back to glory. He's #2 behind Dan Marino in almost every significant all-time passing category. It would've been hard for him to walk away after a 4-12 disastrous season... but what Favre needed to realize was that a terrible season alone wouldn't ruin his legacy. Two or three terrible seasons in a row to close out a career will, however, leave a stain on an otherwise sterling career.

Betting odds on Green Bay Packers to win the Superbowl @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook

About the Author

Contributing Writer

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