It's 5 past 12, and barely ninety minutes ago, reigning World and European champions Spain were knocked out of the World Cup after just two games. My mind hasn't come to terms with it yet, but I'm sure it will, given time. I, amongst many of my friends, am pleased to see the back of Spain and I'll tell you why.
For far too long now, Vicente del Bosque and his band of merry compadres have waltzed through competitions, laying waste in the most nonchalant of fashions to any lesser team who dared to have the temerity to challenge their superiority. Racking up thousands of passes a game, the Spain of 2010 would wait for their opponents to have a lapse in concentration before stringing together 3 or 4 perfectly placed one-touch passes, resulting in David Villa or Fernando Torres walking the ball into the back of the net.
Sure, in 2008, tiki-taka football at both Barcelona and Spain was great to watch. It was new, it was exciting. Like anything, though, after 6 years, it all becomes a bit same-old same-old. By the Euros two years ago, I was shouting at the screen as Spain tried and failed to find a way past the mighty John O'Shea for them to give it to Xabi Alonso to just "have a pop". Admittedly they eventually won 4-0, but still...variation is nice.
The only man I feel sorry for. Plus Xabi Alonso.
So 2014 rolls around. I finish my university exams, and become increasingly excited for the impending World Cup. No matter how hard I try, though, I can't help but get a feeling that I want Spain to fall flat on their faces. Having won so often, you could see the swagger in their step from space. Their demeanour was similar to that of Roger Federer at Wimbledon, when he came onto Centre Court wearing a blazer pre-empting his own victory.
The way Holland went through Spain like a hot knife through butter, exposing their questionable defence, was a joy to behold. One of my friends even tweeted "As a semi-professional despiser of Spain, this is porn to me.", and I find it hard to disagree. Ramos has never been the most disciplined centre-back, Pique isn't the player he was two or three years ago, and Jordi Alba is the Spanish Kyle Walker, using blazing speed to make up for defensive incapabilities. Seemingly, the only solid defensive muchacho is César "Dave" Azpilicueta.
"Yeah, ok Vicente. Good luck without me!"
Up front, Fernando Torres is the biggest joke on the internet since John Terry missed that penalty in Moscow. The thought of Torres getting into the squad ahead of Alvaro Negredo, and on the pitch ahead of David Villa, is upsetting. Sure, Negredo dropped off the second half of last season, but he's still more willing
to work for the team than Torres is, and he'll get physical with whoever he's up against, which is more than Diego Costa or Torres seem to do.
Tactically, del Bosque seems at a loss to explain what's been happening. Understandably, against Holland, damage limitation was the order of the day. However, against Chile, and 2-0 just before half time, you'd have thought that the Spaniard at the helm of the footballing armada would have sacrificed a defensive player for the sake of an attacking threat, but no. Here are the subs he made:
Alonso -> Koke Costa -> Torres Pedro -> Cazorla
I don't know about you, but they don't look like game changing substitutions. Not only that, but as the game wore on, so did Spain's boring tactics. Their willingness to take potshots and test the Chilean keeper never grew, and their insistence on a passing game that so clearly didn't work was embarrassing to watch. Del Boy should have thrown on an extra forward and started pumping the ball long against the CB pairing of Jara and Medel, neither of whom are taller than 5'9". But he didn't. And I, for one, am glad.
Adios Spain, and RIP tiki-taka, and good riddance!
Group C: Colombia: The Colombians bring to the table two very different kits for this World Cup. The home kit looks very nice. From a distance. The unsightly blue diagonal stripes across the shirt are ugly, aside from the bold one across the shoulder. As for the away kit, the fact that I'm not a huge fan of red isn't a great help, but there's nothing offensive about the shirt. In all, the away kit looks nicer than the home, but neither are particularly stunning.
Japan: This home kit actually looks really good, especially on the players. The contrast of the blue from the bright pink piping on the arms and across the shoulders looks so nice when the kit is on, and the colour of the away kit, although aggressive, is also good when combined with the piping. The use of lighter blue on the home kit around the badge represent the "rising sun" of the Japanese flag.
Côte d'Ivoire: Similar to the Cameroon kits showcased in yesterdays blog, the Ivory Coast team come in to the tournament boasting kits with tribal patterns. Both the home and away kits have the patterning on the shoulders, as well as under the arms. I assume this is made of a mesh kind of material to allow sweat to be wicked away on the warm Brazilian afternoons. The colours of orange and green are what we've come to expect from les éléphants, and they look quite good. A nice pair of kits.
Greece: Two very nice, clean kits from the Greek team at this World Cup. There's no messing about with these shirts. Blue and white, and white and blue. Watching Georgios Samaras light up Group C in these kits will be more of a pleasure than usual when he's wearing these kits.
Group D:
Italy: The Azzurri come into the tournament with a relatively un-Italian pair of shirts. Generally, the Italians arrive wearing sharp suits (which they did) and sporting even sharper kits (which they don't). The home kit looks ok, but the overall design isn't quite what we have come to expect. I think the away kit is really quite bland. The stripes down the middle of the shirt look dated, and there's nothing exciting about the way the shirt is cut, or the features of the piping. Overall, a pretty poor showing, especially after the high they hit in 2006 with both their kits, and their performances.
Uruguay: These Uruguayan shirts are nice and simple, and all respect to them for that. The blue in the collar of the away shirt looks really good, and the cut out collar on the home shirt is equally nice. Uncomplicated shirts and nice designs make these quite appealing.
Costa Rica: Nope. Don't like these shirts at all. The design across the shirt combined with the badge makes it look like a goalkeeper diving despairingly for a ball, which is something that, in this group, he could well be doing often. The collar looks nice, but the design on the shoulders is unsightly. In all, not a particularly good showing from the Costa Ricans.
England: Once again, Nike show why they are the manufacturer to beat when it comes to World Cup kits. This England pairing is much better than almost anything they ever had under Umbro. The cut of the kit looks great on the players, and the red is an ideal shade to represent the English fighting spirit. The lack of piping and detail on the shirts is also a throwback to England's more famous kits. Anyone remember anything happening in the summer of '66?
Round of 16 Matches:
Greece v Uruguay
England v Côte d'Ivoire
Well, it's been about 3 weeks since I last published anything about the NFL, so I guess now is as good a time as any to get back to business having finished my second year university exams.
Better late than never, I'll be reviewing the first round of the NFL Draft. You know, that blog I did aaaaages ago, of which you only understood about 40%? Yeah, a follow-up on that. Like I said; better late than never!
Best Value Pick: HaHa Clinton-Dix
When Clinton-Dix dropped past the Ravens at 17, and then the Jets took Calvin Pryor at 18, the obvious landing spot for him was Green Bay at 21. In the former Alabama man, the Packers are getting an NFL-ready Free Safety who can cover the field quickly, which will be key in the pass-happy NFC North, especially with the Lions receiving corps now boasting Eric Ebron as well as All-Pro WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. Not only that, but check out his get up on the night of the Draft. This is one sharp-dressed man. Special Mention: CJ Mosley to Baltimore. (Ozzie Newsome hinted that Mosley was a Top 10 player on the Ravens' draft boards, maybe even Top 5. To pick him up at 17 is, quite frankly, a steal.)
Worst Value Pick: Kyle Fuller Although no doubt a very good CB, Kyle Fuller was not a Top 15 pick. Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert were the top 2 cornerbacks in this class, and Fuller should realistically have been taken nearer the bottom of the first round. Chicago would have got good value in a trade in this draft class, with a lot of teams eager to jump up the board to grab their man. They could have traded back to the mid-20 range and still picked him up. Special Mention: Sammy Watkins to Buffalo. (Undoubtedly a Top 5 pick, but the Bills were thinking of trading up to no.1 to grab him. Just stop, Buffalo.)
The "How Did He Fall THAT Far" Pick: Teddy Bridgewater Not even a week from the draft, people were talking about the former Louisville QB as a potential 1st overall pick, but Bridgewater showed how badly a sub-par Pro Day can affect draft position. He eventually fell to no.32 and the Minnesota Vikings, who had traded back up into the first round to grab him. He should perform well in the NFL under Mike Zimmer's tutelage, and with Adrian Peterson as his RB to take some pressure off. Special Mention: Johnny Manziel to Cleveland. (The most hyped player coming into the draft falling to no.22? Come on.)
Inspired by a certain Mr Tom Perkins doing the National Anthem World Cup, I decided to turn my hand to a similarly themed knockout tournament by looking at the kits of each team and ranking them by group, and forming a competition around the kits. Early favourites include France, Holland, and Brazil's efforts put forward by Nike, but we'll see as the tournament progresses.
Group A: Brazil: Produced by Nike, this offering is the classic yellow with green trim that we have come to expect. Very smart and clean cut, the green collar looks great on the players. I'm marginally less impressed with the blue away kit, but the dark green alternate kit really pleases me. The kit's colour contrasts beautifully with the Brazilian crest, and would look great on the pitch. Unfortunately, Brazil will probably only wear yellow or blue.
Croatia: It's hard to extol the virtues of a kit that looks even more like a tablecloth than Man Utd's 2012/13 home kit, but I'm gonna have to give it a go, aren't I? Well, the plain red sleeves on the home kit are a nice change from previous versions, and the way the numbers fit perfectly into a 4 square section is appealing to the eye. The white shorts, blue socks combo also works really well with the red on the shirt. As for the away kit, the checked trim is surprisingly nice, and the red collar also looks good against the all-blue kit. Not much bad to say about the away kit, but the home kit leaves a lot to be desired. I realise it's a traditional design, but please, Croatia, stop.
Mexico: A really poor effort from the Mexican FA and Adidas here. The striped green below the crest doesn't look good at all, and the electric look of the red and white across the chest would probably look better if it were solid colour. The green above the crest would be more appealing as a block colour all over, but overall this is a terrible showing from Mexico. The away kit isn't much better, with a reddy-orange shade covering the majority of the kit, and black stripey mountains ranging across the chest. Terrible. I think we can safely say that Mexico won't be progressing in this tournament.
Cameroon: A typically Cameroonian approach from the African giants, the tribal patterns on the kits are surprisingly pleasing to the eye, and from what I saw against Mexico the other day, the yellow tribal patterns don't show that much on the pitch, so this kit is actually pretty nice and will battle it out with the Croatian kit for a place in the last 16.
Group B:
Spain: Another classic look for Spain's home kit is hard to bash, although the red could be slightly lighter to give a more traditional look. That said, the away kit A) doesn't look very nice and B) is black, and will make the team sweat buckets. Realistically, not a great showing from the reigning World Champions.
Holland: A universally recognisable kit with regards to international football, the Dutch always provide great kits, normally in orange and blue. This year is no exception. The orange home kit is a brilliant look, and the subtlety of the badge really brings the shirt full circle. As for the away shirt, the blue look is good, although I would prefer the same colour throughout, rather than the change from blue to navy from the chest out to the shoulders. Overall, though, a great look for the Dutch this summer.
Chile: Two good looking kits representing Chile's charge through the competition, the contrasting collar on the home kit looks really nice, and the trim on both kits is appealing. The fact that the design is practically the same for both is, however, a little disappointing.
Australia: Another classic home kit, Australia's green and gold is traditional for all their sports teams, and this offering is no exception. The collar sets it apart from the Brazil kit. The away kit is also nice, with a nice colour combo between the deep blue representing the sea, and the gold representing the outback. A good combination from the Aussies rounds off a very strong Group B.
Round of 16 Matches:
Brazil v Australia
Holland v Croatia
This series will feature the ups and downs every few days throughout the World Cup, highlighting all that is good, and all that needs improvement to make the greatest show on turf exactly that. Considering I've been glued to the television for all but 45 minutes of the games so far, I think I'm fairly well qualified to give my two centavos.
GOOD: The Games: So far in Brazil, we've seen 3.41 goals per game (as of the end of Germany v Portugal), which I'm sure many of you will agree sounds like a festival of football worthy of the name. In particular, games involving lesser known countries such as Switzerland v Ecuador, and Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, have
really brought the tournament to life. Even larger teams are going out on the sun-kissed pitches of Brazil's largest cities and playing football that is pleasing to everyone. Long may it continue!
The Minnows: Teams like Ecuador and Costa Rica, and even to some extent Australia have really shown some great flashes of football. Costa Rica's surprise victory over Uruguay delighted England fans across the
world, and no doubt relieved the pain of a defeat to Italy, as well as blowing Group D wide open. Look out for Matthew Leckie in Group B to cause Spain and Holland some trouble in Australia's next two games, he could be a real bright spark.
The Biggest Players: All the talk before the World Cup was about Messi, Neymar et al. being able to perform on the biggest stage of them all, and they have not let their many admirers down. Neymar showed up in the first game of the tournament with a penalty and well placed, albeit scuffed, shot past "The Octopus" Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal. Not to be outdone, Andrea Pirlo completed 103 out of 108 passes, and ran the entire show in Manaus in Italy's victory over England. Then, last night, in the Maracana, one of the most famous stadia in the world, Messi came alive in the second half. Jinking past a number of Bosnian defenders, Messi knocked the ball with consummate ease past a hapless Asmir Begovic. Let's hope these guys keep it up.
England: As a "neutral" supporter, this England team has the potential to be really exciting. With the likes of Sterling, Barkley, Sturridge and Lallana, the Three Lions have a group of young playmakers who have the potential to light up the world for years to come. Whether Roy Hodgson uses them wisely or not remains to be seen, but I believe that England should make it at least as far as the Quarter Finals, although I think the Final would be a massive over-achievement. However, we all know how prone England are to choking in the big games.
BAD The Referees: The first few days of the World Cup saw numerous bad refereeing decisions. The Brazilian penalty on the first night, as well as the "foul" on Diego Costa against Holland were both poor decisions. The game that stands out for me, though is the Mexico-Cameroon match, which saw two genuine goals clocked off for various reasons. Those decision, had they gone the other way, could have seen the game well and truly over before the 61st minute winner that eventually saw Cameroon off. With 2 extra goals under their belts, Mexico could have rested key players before tomorrow's game against the hosts.
The Coverage: For the most part, the commentary teams have been relatively good. Lawrenson's sparkling wit often pulls his partner along, but over on ITV, Tyldesley and Townsend provide commentary so banal that I'm surprised I haven't fallen asleep listening to them. The BBC's coverage team includes Thierry Henry and Clarence Seedorf, two world class footballers in their time. Meanwhile, ITV have gone closer to home with the likes of Lee Dixon and Ian Wright, both of whom provide little insight outside of the obvious, whereas the team on the BBC, including Shearer and Ferdinand, give viewers a taste of life in the camp, and indeed explain the complexities of international football to a far greater extent than the ITV crew ever have.
Anti-Government Protesters: Brazil has been a melting pot of political and social problems for years now, and no more so than the last 6 months in the build-up to the World Cup. Whilst I believe that there are problems that need sorting in one of the most financially diverse countries in the world, I don't think that violent protests during the World Cup is the way to do it. Keep the protests until after the tournament, when the government can see that FIFA have stripped away any possible revenue outside tourism, and they can begin to restore parity before the Olympics arrive in Rio in 2016. That said, if a stray missile hit Adrian Chiles, I probably wouldn't shed a tear.
This article will focus on the defensive side of the ball. Those large men charged with stopping the other large men from getting into the endzone, whilst at the same time, trying to get into the opposition endzone themselves. Defenders have the unique ability to turn defense into attack by forcing turnovers through fumbles or interceptions, at which point there is on opportunity to take the ball back the other way, either to score a touchdown, or to improve the field position of the offense which is to come. The following are the positions that make up the defense, and their responsibilities within the team:
The man is practically bionic.
Defensive End/DE: Defensive ends are quick, powerful, flexible, and versatile. Their primary job is to get to the QB and bring him down for a "sack", or just strip the ball from his hands, however, they must also stop the RB on running plays by breaking through the O-Line. Generally all-around scary men, who you probably wouldn't want to run into in a darkened alley.
Big man can dance!
Defensive Tackle/DT: These men are HUGE. I'm talking 6'3"+ and at least 300lbs. Haloti Ngata of the Ravens, for example is 6'4" and 340lbs. I'm sure we can all agree that these men are behemoths. Their main job is to stop the run, plugging gaps between offensive linemen to get their hands on the RB. However, they are also very useful in pushing the O-Line back towards the quarterback on passing plays. Some of them also have moves, see left.
Outside Linebacker/OLB: Speed, size, strength. They're the three major words one would use to describe outside linebackers. There are two types of player at this position: run-stopping OLBs and pass-rushing OLBs. The pass rushers rush the passer (QB), and the run stoppers stop the run (RB). Fairly self-explanatory, really. They've also been known to drop into coverage when necessary so that they can prevent a first down with more players in coverage.
Ray Lewis: The Greatest.
Inside Linebacker/ILB: The captain of the defense, inside linebackers are normally shorter and lighter than their outside linebacker counteparts. Generally charged with telling people where to be, they're incredibly mentally agile, and physically very robust, making over 100 tackles a season. Indeed, to prove how versatile they are, here are Luke Kuechly's stats for last year: 156 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions and 7 pass deflections. Versatility of the highest order.
Cornerback/CB: Cornerbacks have the unenviable task of covering opposing receivers. They're supposed to be physical, but not too physical, otherwise they'll be penalised. At the same time, they're expected to be able to come in and stop the run. Primarily, though, they're on the field to get interceptions and stop the offense advancing the ball downfield.
Safety/FS/SS: Safeties are the last line of defense, and generally speaking, there are 2 on the field at any one time. Free Safeties are often better in coverage, racking up multiple interceptions each year. Meanwhile, Strong Safeties are the harder hitters, who come down and stop running backs should they get through the first two banks of defenders. Together, though, they are what teams rely on to stop opposing offenses from scoring.
It's time to step up to the big leagues for the college athletes
The NFL Draft, a once-a-year spectacular where all teams converge on Radio City Music Hall, New York City. Each team is allocated at least 7 picks in the Draft. They may do with those picks what they wish, which includes: picking players, trading them to other teams for some of their players, or trading them for a better draft pick. Other picks can be acquired by letting important players leave during Free Agency (which I will explain in a later blog). The first round of the draft is obviously the most important, as teams look to address their most pressing needs with the most impressive players. The players coming "off the board" in the first round are usually those who were the best at college level, generally from the most well known universities. I'll be recording who is picked where, and what they're likely to bring to their new teams.
Pick 1 - Houston Texans: JaDeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
An explosive edge rusher, who is capable of getting to the QB and stopping the run. Easily the most electrifying player in the draft, except possibly Johnny Manziel. Definitely deserves to be the first overall pick in the draft.
Pick 2- St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
A large man, capable of filling a hole on the Rams O-Line either at Tackle or at Guard. He will be able to blow holes open at the line of scrimmage, which is important, especially in the NFC West, where the battle is won and lost in the trenches.
Pick 3 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
At 6'5", Bortles is a QB who shows prototypical size, along with good arm strength. Expect Bortles to become a solid starter in his first two years before developing beyond that depending on what the Jaguars manage to do in the next few years in terms of recruitment in the draft and free agency. Pick 4 - Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland Browns): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
An electric WR capable of coming across the middle and not afraid of taking a hit. Shows incredible speed and mobility, as well as brilliant hands. Rarely drops a catch, and is able to take any sort of throw for a touchdown. Pick 5 - Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Some people argue that Mack is a better defender than Clowney. A very fast player, good in coverage and exceptional at rushing the passer and setting the edge against the run. Also produced what NFL Expert Mike Mayock described as "the best game tape against Ohio State by any defensive player I've ever seen." Pick 6 - Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Just the latest in a long line of Matthews to come into the NFL, including cousin Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers. His pass protection is arguably better than Robinson's, and he will be a pivotal player in keeping Matt Ryan upright. Fills one of the only holes on a very strong Falcons offensive roster. According to a Falcons fan friend of mine "A safe pick that shores up the O-Line for years to come!" Pick 7 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
At the start of the pre-draft process, this man was scheduled to drop as far as the Ravens at no.17, however a ridiculous Pro Day, and size and speed to boot, this man is capable of going up and getting any ball thrown in his direction, regardless of who is throwing it. Personally, I think he will be better than Sammy Watkins as a pro. Pick 8 - Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota Vikings): Justin Gilbert, DB, Oklahoma State
The first of the picks from the AFC North, having traded back to no.9 and then back up to 8, the Browns got Justin Gilbert, a 6'0" cornerback. The sort of man who you would draw up on paper if you were asked to draw your prototypical CB. His return game is also a big plus as the Browns have struggled to do much on special teams since Josh Cribbs left. My only question would be if he is physical enough to play in the AFC North. Teaming him with Joe Haden, however, could prove interesting, potentially throwing a blanket over the top 2 receivers of each team they face. Pick 9 - Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills & Cleveland Browns): Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
Although maybe a touch below Clowney and Mack, Barr is still an electric pass rusher, who is as raw as they come, having only played OLB/DE for 2 years. He's still good enough to warrant this selection, and will be an interesting pick for the staff of the Minnesota Vikings to develop into what could well become a very good edge rusher. However, don't be surprised if his skills don't translate to the NFL. Pick 10 - Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Another of the players I was hoping would fall to the Ravens, Ebron provides Matthew Stafford with another massive target as well as Calvin Johnson. These two together could in the future be capable of putting up 3,000 yards between them. Realistically, teams can only choose to double cover one of the two, it's just up to the teams against the Lions who they target. Expectation is that Ebron becomes a very talented Tight End in the NFL, although his blocking needs to be worked on, for sure. Pick 11 - Tennessee Titans: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Lewan comes in to a franchise that is built on having a strong O-Line. Michael Roos is 32 now, and probably coming in to his last few years in the league. Lewan will probably either play inside at guard, or at RT for the first year or two, before kicking across to his more natural LT position. Pick 12 - New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
A typical size wide receiver who knows how to run routes, and how to run them fast. Compares farvourably to Reggie Wayne, an all-time great who plays for the Indianapolis Colts. His route running is accomplished, as is his catching. Teams up with Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and Mario Manningham to form a formidable receiving corps in the Big Apple, capable of scaring every secondary in the NFC East. Pick 13 - St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
A slightly undersized DT who is capable of shooting gaps on the O-Line to either get to the QB or stop the run. Mike Mayock compared him to Gino Atkins of the Bengals in terms of speed. Certainly, the Rams will be hoping that Donald becomes even half the player that Atkins is. By picking Donald, they've managed to strengthen both sides of the line of scrimmage, which, as I said earlier, is pivotal in the NFC West. Pick 14 - Chicago Bears: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
The Browns, uncharacteristically, were straight up AWFUL on defense last season, and by putting Fuller in the secondary with Jennings and Tillman, especially against the receiving corps of the Lions and Packers, the Bears immediately get better on the defensive side of the ball. One thing you can be sure of is that Fuller is going to learn a lot, very quickly in that division. Pick 15 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Shazier, ILB, Ohio State
An aging Pittsburgh defense gets quicker with a versatile linebacker who is capable of doing everything necessary to succeed at the next level. A man capable of playing inside and outside, playing in coverage and rushing the passer, Shazier has been flying up draft boards in the last few weeks, and with good reason. Maybe slightly undersized, but still more than good enough to make it in the NFL. Pick 16 - Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
A very safe pick as a tackle, capable of starting at all 5 positions on the O-Line. Not only that, but this man is incredibly durable, having played over 50 games in his college career. Keeping Tony Romo upright in the NFC East is going to be key for the Cowboys who are looking to make the playoffs, and make a push as one of the biggest franchises in the NFL. Pick 17 - Baltimore Ravens: CJ Mosley, ILB, Alabama
Unsurprisingly, Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens General Manager, goes for a man from his alma mater. Mosley can play inside and outside, which points to the fact that Daryl Smith doesn't have many years left, or that Courtney Upshaw isn't developing as well as they would have hoped. Either way, Mosley makes the linebacker position a lot safer for the Ravens, which is important in the smash-mouth AFC North. That said, I'm very surprised that the Ravens chose not to address a glaring need at Free Safety in Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix. Pick 18 - New York Jets: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
A big hitting safety, the Louisville Slugger is not afraid to lay the timber on anyone coming towards him. Somewhat of a combo safety, in that he can play in the box as a strong safety, or further back in the secondary as a rangy free safety, Pryor will be given the unenviable task of stopping Tom Brady from wreaking havoc against the usually defensively stout Jets. Pick 19 - Miami Dolphins: JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee
A tackle capable of playing guard, James is a stout run blocker, and a good pass blocker, although generally considered to be a bit of a reach at no.19, as most teams had him down as a 2nd round selection. Miami have, however, ensured that their O-Line is good enough to open up holes for Knowshon Moreno, as well as giving Ryan Tannehill time to find the right pass. Pick 20 - New Orleans Saints (from Arizona Cardinals): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Cooks is a small guy, but he has wheels and moves. He's able to come across the middle of the field, and with Sean Payton and Drew Brees working with him, he'll no doubt come good early in his career in that gunslinging offense in New Orleans. Cooks could be that slot receiver that the Saints have been missing for a while, and with advanced route running and great hands, he could well develop into a 1,000 yard receiver. Pick 21 - Green Bay Packers: Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
A rangy free safety, capable of getting across the field make a hit or get the interception. The man I really wanted the Ravens to take fills a massive hole for the Packers, who need someone playing back there in the secondary to ensure that Jeffrey and Marshall of the Bears don't burn them for too many points or yards, as well as making sure to stop Calvin Johnson and fellow 1st round draft pick Eric Ebron in Detroit. Pick 22 - Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
One of the most polarizing players in this years draft, Johnny Football is the most electrifying player on the offensive side of the ball. If a play breaks down, he has the ability to do absolutely anything necessary to get the ball across the first down line. Playing with Josh Gordon could be very interesting, as Gordon is developing into an elite WR in the NFL. Manziel could struggle in the AFC North, and durability could be an issue if he keeps getting hit. Will undoubtedly improve the morale of the city of Cleveland, as well as the quality of their football team. Pick 23 - Kansas City Chiefs: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
A standard sized defensive end with questions over which scheme he fits into, as well as worries about his run-stopping abilities. Claims to be better than Jadeveon Clowney, but I think that was just talk. Certainly a disruptive pass rusher, but definitely a man to try and develop behind both Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, both very very good edge rushers. Pick 24 - Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
The best press cornerback in the draft at 5'11", Dennard will be pushed straight into battle in the AFC North in an improving Bengals secondary. Will definitely have enough time to develop under some aging defensive backs, and will see good playing time in his first season. Pick 25 - San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Only 5'9", but this man is competitive and willing to fight against anybody he's put up against, even if it means he has to get hands-on with the receiver opposite him. Almost certainly willing to play in the slot, lining up against Wes Welker when the Chargers face the Broncos twice a year. Verrett could well develop into one of the best nickel-package cornerbacks. Pick 26 - Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns): Marcus Smith, OLB, Louisville
I'll be honest, I don't know masses about Smith. He seems to be a developmental pick behind Conor Barwin and Trent Cole, and Smith could be the man to bolster that pass rush, which would force QBs like Manning and Romo to force throws into receivers that aren't open, leading to more opportunities for the Eagles' secondary to force turnovers.
Pick 27 - Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans Saints): Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
Bucannon is bigger and faster than the two safeties selected before him. Teaming him up with last year's 3rd round selection Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary could mean that the Cardinals really mean business in the NFC West, where defense is the order of the day Pick 28 - Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Benjamin brings to a barren Panthers receiving corps an insane catching radius and an unbelievable raw talent capable of developing into Cam Newton's new no.1 receiver. Although he won't have anyone to learn from in Carolina, he'll catch a lot of balls, and probably score a lot of touchdowns as well, as the Panthers aim to get to the top of the very competitive NFC South. For a glimpse of how good Benjamin could be, have a look at his game winning catch in the BCS title game against Auburn.
Pick 29 - New England Patriots: Dominique Easley, DT, Florida
This quick defensive tackle has dropped down draft boards due to a recent ACL injury, raising questions as to his durability, but that won't matter to the Patriots, who run a "next man up" policy. If Wilfork goes down again, expect Easley to step in, and having learnt from Wilfork, he will be very likely to know what's going on when he gets there. Pick 30 - San Francisco 49ers: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
A smaller safety/slot corner who is likely to come up big for the 49ers, who really know how to make the defensive side of the ball work to their advantage. San Francisco will teach Ward to hit, to cover, and will probably ask him to put on some weight and get to 205/210lbs so that he isn't so injury prone. Definitely a developmental pick, who could become a starter towards the end of the first year or maybe even the beginning of the second. Pick 31 - Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
With cornerbacks leaving Denver and getting injured all over the place, Roby brings strength, attitude, and skills, although his football tracking skills do come into question. Physically, he's one of the most talented corners in the draft, but his ball skills leave something to be desired. Pick 32 - Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle Seahawks): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
A month and a half ago, Teddy Bridgewater was being considered a possible no.1 overall pick, however after a number of poor workouts, he fell to the back end of the first round. Bridgewater doesn't have to start in Week 1 because Matt Cassell is a serviceable starter who is capable of managing the game while Bridgewater learns the playbook. Could well develop into at least a decent level NFL quarterback.
