Gillis was right

Before Nonis got canned, it did feel nice to hear him say how close the Canucks were to being an elite contender in the league, as long as everyone was healthy. And I believed him, too.

Last season they did look like a contender, winning the division, winning a tight series against Dallas and amounting the most points in team history. But then, they faced a real contender, and got killed.

So when the new boss Mike Gillis said they weren’t even close to being an elite team, it sounded shocking. But why?

Well, watch a playoff game. Watch the intensity. Watch the grit, the speed, the talent. None of which the Canucks have right now.

It would actually be humorous watching the twins coast in through the blue line playing they’re usual game oh hot potato with the puck, and getting punished by the D-man.

Sure, there were the hopes of Luongo catching fire if the Canucks could maybe squeak in to eighth place and maybe stealing a couple games. But seriously, there ain’t no off and on switch that Bobby was gonna turn on for a playoff game.

If anything, the playoffs would of messed with his head even more.

So hopefully Gillis can keep his word and pick up some hard-nosed, skilled players that are clearly needed on this team. Especially since he’s got the money to do so.

 

Wide Receivers finally come off the board in Round 2

So the first round was entirely devoid of wide receivers, the second round should be filled with them. 

With the 33rd pick, the St. Louis Rams took:

Donnie Avery, Wide Receiver, Houston.

Avery is 5’11” 192 lbs. and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash. 

This might be a reach, I like DeSean Jackson better but the Rams need WR help however they can get it and he’ll definitely give Torry Holt some help. 

With the 34th pick the Washington Redskins took:

Devin Thomas, Wide Receiver, Michigan State University.

Thomas is 6’1” 216 lbs. and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash. 

They needed a big physical WR to go along with their undersized deep threats and Thomas is the perfect fit. 

With the 36th pick in the draft the Green Bay Packers took:

Jordy Nelson, Wide Receiver, Kansas State

Nelson is 6’2” 217 lbs. and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. 

The Packers are getting a special player here. Aaron Rodgers will love the game speed Nelson has.

With the 41st pick in the draft the Buffalo Bills took:

James Hardy, WR, Indiana.

Hardy is 6’5” 217 lbs. and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash.

They needed a tall receiver to complement Price and that’s what they got. If they can motivate Hardy to play he’ll be a difficult matchup for any corner in goal line situations. 

With the 42nd pick in the draft, the Denver Broncos took:

Eddie Royal, WR, Virginia Tech.

Royal is 5’9” 184 lbs. and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash.

Jay Cutler has a speed demon to unload his arm on. You could see a lot of balls lofted his way this season.

Phillips to the Giants with the last pick of the 1st round

With the 31st pick in the draft

The New York Giants select…

Kenny Phillips, Safety, Miami

Phillips is 6’2” 212 lbs. and ran a 4.55 40-yard dash.

I like how the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock described him, “He won’t be Ed Reed or Sean Taylor those are unfair comparisons but he will be a good safety.”

Phillips is going to be all over the field for the Giants. He immediately improves their secondary and in a few years he could be a pro-bowler. Phillips is ball hawk, I think he can be a special player but like Mayock said, don’t expect this guy to be Ed Reed right out of the shoot. 

The first round came and went without a wide receiver. 

Jets trade back into 1st round to get Dustin Keller

With the 30th overall pick

The New York Jets select…

Dustin Keller, Tight End, Purdue

Keller is 6’2 242 lbs. and ran a 4.55 40-yard dash.

I’m not sure about this. He’s very athletic and will give whoever’s playing QB for the Jets another option on the outside but if the Jets ever want to run the football they’re going to need some blocking help from the tight end position and Keller doesn’t offer that. The Jets don’t have the weapons to be a passing team and should be trying to improve the WR position. The value available at WR right now is amazing. This is the first time in history a WR hasn’t been taken in the first 30 picks. I disagree with the Jets pick and trading up was a terrible idea.

Trade details… to come.

Balmer to the 49er’s at 29

WIth the 29th overall pick

The San Francisco 49er’s select…

Kentwan Balmer, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina

Balmer is 6’4” 308 lbs. and ran a 5.28 40-yard dash.

The 49′ers continue to improve defensively, but they really need help on offense. They’ll never make the playoffs until they sort things out on the offensive side of the ball. Is Alex Smith the guy? Who’s he throwing to anyways? They have too many holes.

Jackson to the Seahawks at 28

With the 28th overall pick

The Seattle Seahawks select…

Lawrence Jackson, Defensive End, Southern Cal.

Jackson is 6’4” 271 lbs. and ran a 4.76 40-yard dash.

Since there are no tight end’s that are worth taking in the first round of this year’s draft I love this pick. Jackson might be the best player available. He’s a very solid and capable defensive end in both the running game and rushing the passer. He’s the fourth Southern Cal player taken in the first round of this draft. 

Cason to the Chargers at 27

WIth the 27th pick in the draft

The San Diego Chargers select…

Antoine Cason, Cornerback, Arizona.

Cason is 6’0” 191 lbs. and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash.

The Bolts don’t have a ton of needs in this draft so it looks like they made getting a corner a priority and since they are starting to run of the board there was no time like the present. Cason is a nice player. He should make plays in this defense. They way San Diego gets after the quarterback Cason will have plenty of chances to undercut passes and make interceptions on poorly thrown balls. He should be a nice addition to the Charger defense. 

Brown to the Texans

With the 26th overall pick

The Houston Texans select…

Duane Brown, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech

Brown is 6’4” 315 lbs. and ran a 5.08 40-yard dash.

The Texans moved back after it was clear they couldn’t get one of the top offensive lineman in the draft. Brown is a good player and he could be their starter this season. The huge run on offensive tackles in this draft put them at a disadvantage but they worked the draft and came out with a good player in the first round. 

Jenkins to the Cowboys after trade with Seahawks

With the 25th overall pick in the draft

The Dallas Cowboys select…

Mike Jenkins, Cornerback, South Florida

Jenkins is 5’10” 197 lbs. and ran a 4.40 40-yard dash.

Jenkins was a big reason South Florida had such a good season. Even though the Cowboys got Pacman Jones, there’s not telling whether or not he’ll be reinstated in time to play this season. Getting Jenkins is a perfect insurance policy. Their corner spot opposite Terrance Newman was a real problem last season and when Newman was injured they were in real trouble. Newman is one of the best in the league, but nobody is going to throw his way if there isn’t a decent corner opposite him. 

Details of trade…

Cowboys get No. 25 for the 28th overall pick, 5th and 7th round picks. Not a giving up a whole lot to get their man the Cowboys have worked this draft fairly well. Since the Seahawks are looking for TE, moving down was a good decision here.

Johnson to the Titans at 24

With the 24th pick in the draft

The Tennessee Titans select…

Chris Johnson, Running back, East Carolina

Johnson is 5’11” 197 lbs. and ran a 4.24 40-yard dash. 

There was a lot of talk to Titans would go after a WR to help out Vince Young in the passing game but Johnson is versatile enough to really help VY right away. His speed is absolutely ridiculous. Vince still needs help on the outside but there will be wideouts available in the second round. Obviously they felt this was their guy and with Felix Jones going at 22 they needed to make this move. Johnson adds another element to this offense. I would be very scared to look into a backfield and see Vince Young and Chris Johnson.

Mendenhall to the Steelers at 23

With the 23rd overall pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers select…

Rashard Mendenhall, Running back, University of Illinois.

Mendenhall is 5’10” 225 lbs. and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash.

Just like the Dallas pick of Jones, this is a perfect fit. Mendenhall is a tough runner who can break off big runs and will be a perfect complement to Willie Parker who isn’t as good between the tackles. Mendenhall slipped a little in the first round and has great value at No. 23. I know Roethlisberger expressed his concern for getting a bigger WR but that can be addressed in the second round. Mendenhall will be great for Pittsburgh.

Dallas’ Jones get his Jones with the 22nd pick

With the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys select…

Felix Jones, Running back, Arkansas.

Jones is 5’10” 207 and ran a 4.47

It was said that Jerry Jones loved Felix Jones and he went and got him with the first of his two first rounders. Felix is the home run hitter this team needed to pair with Marion Barber. Jones will be in the same spot he was in at Arkansas spelling Darren McFadden except now he will be counted on more to make plays. I think this is a better fit than Rashard Mendenhall would have been for the Cowboys, probably why they passed on him. Now with the 28th pick they can go after a wide receiver, maybe DeSean Jackson, to make this offense even more explosive.  

After a trade with the Redskins, Falcons take Baker

With the 21st overall pick

The Atlanta Falcons select

Sam Baker, Offensive Tackle, Southern Cal

Baker is 6’4” 309 lbs. and ran a 5.50 40-yard dash.

You go make yourself some lunch and when you come back somebody made a trade to reach for another tackle. I guess that’s the way things go. Baker will be Matt Ryan’s best friend but thanks to all the tackles taken in this draft this is a definite reach.

Details of the trade…

Falcons get No. 21, 3rd and 5th round picks. Redskins get two 2nd rounders and a 4th rounder. The trade looks really balanced but I like what the skins did here. Two second rounders are valuable in this draft. 

Talib to the Bucs at No. 20

With the 20th overall pick

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select…

Aqib Talib, Cornerback, Kansas.

Talib is 6’0” 202 lbs. and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash.

This works for Tampa because they’re a cover 2 team. A lot of teams were scared off by Talib’s character concerns. Talib isn’t all that physical but I feel like he can succeed in the cover 2. He’s also athletic enough to play straight man to man. Talib makes plays and that’s probably why the Bucs are taking him. Eventually, we may be talking about him as one of the top corners in the NFL, he has so much potential. 

Otah to the Panthers after trade with Philly

Withe the 19th overall pick in the draft

The Carolina Panthers select…

Jeff Otah, Offensive Tackle, University of Pittsburgh.

Otah is 6’5” 323 lbs. and ran a 5.23 40-yard dash. 

Some thought Otah would have gone in the front half of the first round. Both teams have done a nice job working the board to get what they need. Their running game in hand, the Panthers are being very proactive to put together their offense. Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme have to be excited with the way this is going. If this works out, Carolina will be set up nicely, if not, they’re screwed. 

Details of the trade… 

The Panthers have given up too much here. For the 19th overall pick. the Panthers gave up 2nd and 4th rounders this year as well as next year’s 1st rounder.

How Philadelphia pulled this off, I’m not exactly sure. They fleeced the crap out of the Panthers. Sure the Panthers got their guy but at what cost? They had better be right with Jeff Otah or they will be in a hole for the next few years. They’re going to be saddled to this pick for better or worse.