The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

NOTABLE FCS PERFORMERS WEEK 1

QB Brad Sorensen (Southern Utah) 31/46 340yds 3tds/3ints

QB Bo Levi Mitchell (Eastern Washington) 36/69 473yds 3tds/2ints

QB Chris Walley (Norfolk State) 25/29 255yds 2tds

QB Lewis Kindle (North Carolina A&T): 14/23 341yds 4tds

RB Jewel Hampton (Southern Illinois) 14 carries, 67yds 3tds

WR Brandon Kaufman (Eastern Washington) 10 receptions 140yds

KR Trevor Coston (Maine) 74-yd punt return td

ILB Jeremy Pruitt (Virginia State) 15 tackles/1TFL

Statement from Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis regarding Big 12 Conference discussions:

“We want to be clear that we worked actively to encourage Texas A&M to remain in the Big 12 Conference and regret they decided to leave.  We are moving ahead.  Oklahoma State University's athletic program has never been stronger from top to bottom, putting us in a position to explore and pursue options, including the possible expansion of our current conference.  We are in close communications with our colleagues at the University of Oklahoma and expect a decision soon that will be in the best interest of our institutions and the state of Oklahoma.”

The Mid-America Football Conference (MAC) has for years served first-time head coaches the opportunity to succeed before leaving for some of the biggest college programs in the country.

In 1963, a coach by the name of Bo Schembechler spent five years coaching at Miami (OH), his alma-mater where he played his college football, before taking over for the Michigan Wolverines posting a 234-65-8 record with only Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne reaching 200 career wins in fewer games.

Ex-Florida head coach Urban Meyer’s first job at Bowling Green in the MAC was his foundation to go to Utah and then to Gainsville, where he would win two of the schools three National Championships in only six seasons with the Gators. Turner Gill (Kansas State), Brady Hoke (Ball State), Butch Jones (Cincinnati Bearcats) and Al Golden (Miami Hurricanes) are a few more noteworthy college coaches who began their head coaching careers in the MAC. Brian Kelly (Notre Dame) jumped into FBS coaching (then Division I-AA) in the MAC after starting his head coaching career at Grand Valley State.

“Broken Windows” theory was developed by Professors Wilson and Kelling nearly 25 years ago and I became aware of it when I read Rudy Giuliani’s book ‘Leadership’. The mayor of New York City used ‘Broken Windows’ ideas to aid in him in decreasing crime in the Big Apple.

The piece from the book ‘Leadership’ I’m referring to is this:

"Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside. Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars."

Are you wondering – what does a first-time head coach from the MAC have anything to do with the ‘Broken Window’ theory?

The Field House on campus at Kent State is where they hold their Pro Day and two years ago the atmosphere was short of ideal. Not much separated the players from on-lookers. Not necessarily how one would envision the assortment of prospects showcase their skills in front of the watchful eye of NFL scouts. Jump forward to this past March, the Field House shared nothing in common with the previous memory. Right off the bat, media in attendance needed to sign-in, this wasn’t open to the public and any Tom, Dick or Harry. There was a fence acting as a partition for athletes and coaches from the crowd. Similar to the ‘Broken Window’ theory of fixing the small things that build into finer things, this was my first impression of Kent State’s new football coach Darrell Hazell. Taking care of those little things changes how players, students, alumni and opponents view the Golden Flashers moving forward.

On December 20^th the Kent State Golden Flashes may have struck gold on another coach given his first head coaching opportunity in the MAC in Darrell Hazell. Hazell, 46, spent the past seven seasons as a member of the Ohio State University coaching staff and has accumulated 25 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level. Most recently Hazell was an assistant head coach and also coached the Buckeyes' wide receivers. During his time in Columbus, Hazell developed a number of All-Big Ten players, including six of whom currently play in the NFL.

Two years ago that pro day reminded me of a building with broken windows leaving any first time visited to look at this program as not up to snuff as the saying goes. Hazell changed that in nearly four months on the job there were no broken windows on this last Pro Day in fact it looked reminiscent of the way former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel ran his Pro Day in Columbus for the Buckeyes. The day is important and Coach Hazell addressed that to players by the way he handled the event and I can tell you by speaking to players that in fact they agreed that Coach Hazell was doing it right.

This all leads us to Saturday when the Golden Flashes take on Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide and are ranked number two in the country in the preseason polls. Odds aren’t in the favor or Kent State returning home victorious but the same could have been said for James Madison over Virginia Tech last season and not many people in 2007 had Appalachian State beating Michigan.

“We’re going down to win a football game,” Hazell address the media on Monday during the Kent State press conference for the season opener. Who am I to argue?

”I don’t see it that way,” Hazell responded when asked about the likelihood they may return from down south with a 0-1 record adding, “we are more concerned with what we do.”

“At some point and time they believed.”

Hazell has been there, he knows from being on the winning side, how hungry underdogs would creep up on Ohio State when they were considered heavy favorites.

“Your teams play on different emotional levels depending on your opponent. Sometimes they don’t reach that peak,” Hazell added. The head coach knows that his staff and his players must adjust to the adversity early in the game if they plan on competing in the forth quarter.

Many milestones await this young, energetic, well-versed coach from Cinnaminson, New Jersey having yet to give his team its first half-time pep talk. Hazell has is taking his first steps towards making a name for himself and provide Kent State with an identity.

Spartans Coach High on Max Bullough

Michigan State head coach Mark D’Antonio showed no hesitation in promoting his new starting middle linebacker Max Bullough as the heir apparent to Greg Jones, who was an all-out tackling machine during his time in East Lansing.

The Spartan head man told reporters that he was most impressed both with the sophomore’s physical tools and mental approach. “Max has a good understanding of our offense. He gets us lined up very effectively. He’s a communicator on defense, which I think you have to be at the Mike linebacker. If you come to one of our workouts and watch athletically who are some of our best athletes…he’s one of the guys who shows out,” said the veteran coach who’s entering his fifth year at Michigan State.

The third generation Spartan has dazzled onlookers during recent scrimmages by using his size and technique to get off blocks. In a recent interview, the 6’3”, 240-pound Bullough credited both Jones and former teammate Eric Gordon for showing him the ropes during his freshman season.

D’Antonio acknowledged the fact that a bit of playing time last year has truly helped the Traverse City native in his development. “He was waiting in the gate. He was sitting there. He came here with the idea that he would be an understudy for one year and he played a lot on special teams last year. [Bullough] had some time in nickel situations, so he has game experience under his belt,” added the Spartan leader.

“The expectations are very high, which they should be, and I think he’s going to do a great job trying to fulfill those.”

The coach went on to praise converted running back TyQuan Hammock who has put on a remarkable showing during recent practices even though he was initially  “a little behind the curve in terms of knowing what to do.” Steve Gardiner was another linebacker he touched on for his versatility along with Chris Norman who similarly has enjoyed a positive camp.

When asked about the defensive line, D’Antonio stressed the importance of being able to apply pressure without being overly dependent on the blitz. While he recognized junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy as one of the top players in the country, he stated how important it is for him to continue translating the accolades into making plays on the field.  But overall, he was pleased with the efforts of his front four and singled out ends Tyler Hoover, Corey Freeman, as well as interior lineman Kevin Pickelman among other others.

On the offensive side of the ball, the one-time college defensive back indicated that he would continue to utilize a rotation of running backs. “Normally, the way you do it is you end up going with the guys who are hot. But we’ll try to get the ball into certain guys’ hands x-number of times. [Edwin] Baker is going to have touches---that goes without saying. Le’Veon Bell and Larry Capers have had great summers, so you watch for the guy who’s hot; you watch for the guy who’s making plays and makes people miss and runs through tacklers,” he said.

“We’ve been able to play three guys. I would anticipate doing much of the same this year and you’ll see (freshman running back) Nick Hill on occasion as well.”

D’Antonio also took time to weigh in on the importance of the oft-overlooked guard position. Although some may view the interior blockers as fat guys with limited mobility, the defensive-minded strategist dispelled that notion. “You look for a tough guy. They don’t quite have the length of a tackle, but they gotta have great feet; they gotta have the ability to run I believe…at least in our offense. They have to have the ability to be an athlete. You have to know when to turn on [an opponent], get in on them and stay on them,” he explained.

“They’re really no less important than anybody. The left tackle, obviously, is very important; center is very critical. But if you don’t have good guards, you can’t play---you can’t get it done.”

BAYLOR FB ADDS GONZAGA TRANSFER DEMETRI GOODSON

Goodson will have two years of football eligibility and play immediately.

WACO, Texas – Former Gonzaga starting point guard Demetri Goodson has enrolled at Baylor University for the fall semester and will join head coach Art Briles’ football program. Goodson will have two years of football eligibility and can play immediately since Gonzaga does not offer football.

Goodson, a 6-foot, 175-pound guard, started 35 games for Gonzaga last season, averaging 5.2 points and 2.6 points to help the Zags to an 11th consecutive West Coast Conference championship. The Spring, Texas, native hasn’t played football since starting as an all-district cornerback for Klein Collins High School as a sophomore. The younger brother of Carolina Panthers running back Mike Goodson, Demetri started 68 of 69 games in the last two seasons in the Gonzaga backcourt.

In December, Goodson was the starting point guard in Gonzaga’s 68-64 upset win over then-No. 9 Baylor at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Goodson finished with six points, two assists and three steals in 31 minutes.

The former college point guard is expected to play defensive back for Baylor. He becomes the fifth Division I transfer on Baylor’s 2011 roster, joining RB Terrance Ganaway (Houston), LB Cordarius Golston (Arizona), TE Jordan Najvar (Stanford) and RB Lache Seastrunk (Oregon).

With the 2011 NFL Draft in the books, the question on everybody’s mind is now; “How will this impact my dynasty draft?”

Rookie Draft is here to help you with your fantasy football needs with our “FF Top-50″, the top Fantasy Football players that you need to know. This is a two part project that is conducted both before and after the NFL Draft. You can read our Pre-Draft edition of the FF Rookie Top-50 here: LINKAGE and now that these guys have their own NFL teams, it’s time for part 2 of the Top-50.

These rankings are based on a PPR Dynasty/Keeper format with a focus on a player’s impact for the next 2-3 years kept in mind.

1. AJ GREEN - WR - BENGALS: The Bengals locked down an instant star in AJ Green and they even filled a need at the same time. Green will lead this offense in receiving his first year and he’ll make the quarterback throwing him the ball fantasy relevant. He was born to play the position with his prototype length, coordination and phenomenal ball skills. Green is a once every few years type of prospect that will be playing in a pro bowl before too long.

2. MARK INGRAM - RB - SAINTS: The Saints traded back into the first round just to get the Heisman Trophy winner on their roster and it makes a lot of sense, especially after what they went through in the playoffs last year. Ingram will be a valued runner between the tackles and in short yardage situations. He might be splitting carries with Pierre Thomas to start out but it’s to be expected that Ingram will eventually take control of this backfield.

3. JULIO JONES - WR - FALCONS: Jones is a physically imposing receiver that not only has tremendous size and strength to run through defensive backs, but he also possesses the elusiveness and speed to run right by them as well. He enters a terrific situation in Atlanta with an established receiver opposite him, a solid running game and one of the better young quarterbacks in the league. Jones should develop into the go-to option in a year or two but he’ll certainly produce in the short-term as well.

4. RYAN WILLIAMS - RB - CARDINALS: The Cardinals sent a message to Beanie Wells and that was “it’s now or never”. Williams is a dynamic runner that is a big play waiting to happen with his ability to accelerate and get up to his top gear instantly but he’s also a very tough runner between the tackles as well. Arizona is doing a great job of creating competition here but you can expect Ryan Williams to take a majority of the carries this year, solidify himself as the man and never look back. Williams has star potential written all over him.

5. GREG LITTLE - WR - BROWNS: Little is an exciting player that has the potential to be the Browns unquestioned number one receiver from day one. This converted runningback is still a bit of a project as far as running routes and diagnosing defenses but he has the talent to be great in this aspect. He’s extremely difficult to bring down in the open field because of his arsenal of moves and tackle breaking ability which should make him an ideal fit in Pat Shurmur’s west coast offense, where he can take short passes and break them for long gains.

6. KENDALL HUNTER - RB - 49ERS: Kendall Hunter is an explosive runner capable of taking any play the distance with his quickness and running instincts. He can string moves together and make multiple defenders miss with his excellent footwork but he also has great ball skills to make plays out of the backfield. While Hunter will most certainly be stuck behind Frank Gore for the next year or two, he will be worked into a 3rd down role this season and could take this backfield over in the event of another Gore injury.

7. DANIEL THOMAS - RB - DOLPHINS: Thomas fell into a great situation in Miami with both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams likely out of the picture, making him an immediate starter. The Dolphins have every intention of giving Thomas the ball early and often in games but the icing on the cake here is that Miami also added Mike Pouncey to an already talented offensive line. Thomas isn’t the most talented back in this class but he’s definitey capable of producing early in his career as well as in the future.

8. DELONE CARTER - RB - COLTS: Carter will be added to an underachieving runningback corps and has an opportunity to take a hold of this backfield as early as this year. Former first rounder Donald Brown has been a disappointment and Joseph Addai is scheduled to be a free agent but even if both remain on the roster, Carter is a much better interior runner than any current Colts’ back. This offense will always be an intriguing fit for any runningback because of the presence of Peyton Manning. Even Bill Polian noted that adding Carter will help the running back because “he brings a much-needed skill set that we’ve been lacking.”

9. DEMARCO MURRAY - RB - COWBOYS: Murray is an extremely versatile runner who has the speed to run right by defenders but he also has the power to run through would be tacklers and grind out the tough yards. He has elite receiving skills with the ability to line up in the slot and execute very precise routes. He’ll get on the field in 3rd down situations because he’s also an excellent pass blocker but could emerge as the best runner in this backfield by the end of this season and eventually become the Cowboys’ featured runner.

10. MIKEL LESHOURE - RB - LIONS: Leshoure is an extremely talented player with deceptive speed that defies his prototype size and he shows off tremendous acceleration to take the edge on most defenders. He runs a bit upright but has great receiving skills and is capable of standing up to a number of carries, shedding tacklers with his natural lower body strength. It’s going to be difficult to unseat second year pro Jahvid Best and it’s highly likely that both backs will harm each others fantasy value but Leshoure has too much talent to leave him out of the first round.

11. LEONARD HANKERSON - WR - REDSKINS: The Redskins did a lot of trading down in this draft, garnering more mid round and late round picks in the process. Hankerson fills a very large need for Washington, as they currently do not have a possession, move the chains type player which is exactly what kind of role this Miami Hurricane can fill. He has excellent route running ability, long arms and great big hands to catch the ball away from his frame and away from the defender. Not only will Hankerson develop into a playmaker for Washington in future years, he also has a chance to lead the team in receiving during his rookie season.

12. SHANE VEREEN - RB - PATRIOTS: Vereen is a great talent with an excellent top gear, very good receiving skills and route running ability but he is also a fabulous kick returner. With his track speed, Vereen should bring another dimension to the Patriots backfield but it’s a very crowded corps of backs and the offense has been much more geared toward the pass as of late, even in short yardage situations. The drafting of Stevan Ridley will also muddle things even more with the Patriots duplicating last year’s strategy of stacking a need with multiple picks at the same position in the hopes of one or two of the players developing into a starer.

13. JONATHAN BALDWIN - WR - CHIEFS: The Chiefs wanted to set the table for quarterback Matt Cassel, giving him another big target that can win in jump ball situations and take over in possession situations because of his strength and size. Baldwin is very explosive and has the ability to take short passes the distance but he also can beat defenders deep with his straight line speed. The only issues with Baldwin are his character and desire to play, as he has been labelled as immature at times with some questionable effort this past season.

14. ALEX GREEN - RB - PACKERS: The Packers raised a few eye brows with this pick but Green fits their scheme extremely well and he flashes the ability to be a bruising back that punishes would be tacklers. The Packers were looking at Brandon Jackson’s free agent situation and they appear to have found a potential replacement in Green who also has excellent receiving skills. Green is a powerful back that can break multiple tackles and bounce off of defenders but he also has the speed to take the edge. He is certain to be a favorite of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as both players spent time at Butte Community College.

15. ROY HELU - RB - REDSKINS: Roy Helu is certainly not the most talented back in this draft class but he is a no nonsense type of runner that is capable of getting downhill in an instant and that should make him an ideal fit in Mike Shanahan’s one cut and go running scheme. The Redskins certainly don’t have a lot of quality backs in his way with only Ryan Torain, James Davis and Keiland Williams in front of Helu on the depth chart. Mike Shanahan has turned lesser talents into great runners at the next level which makes Helu an intriguing dynasty pick if he can seize the job in Washington.

16. JACQUIZZ RODGERS - RB - FALCONS: The “Quizz Show” is headed to Atlanta and he’ll be used to not only spell Michael Turner but also on third downs, as well as being a unique dimension to Atlanta’s already solid offense. Rodgers is extremely low to the ground and has excellent change of direction ability, making him a dangerous receiving threat out of the backfield. Rodgers has a lot of future upside because he’s a very durable runner that carried the mail for Oregon State and he has the chance to develop into the Falcons’ featured runner in a few years.

17. CHRISTIAN PONDER - QB - VIKINGS: Ponder is a very accurate quarterback that is capable of stepping right in and leading an offense because he comes from pro style offense. The Vikings didn’t want any question marks at the position and they clearly think that Ponder can be their franchise passer because of his great intangibles and football intelligence. He definitely landed in a great situation with a lot of talent around him and depending on what the team does with potential free agent Sidney Rice, Ponder could be one of the most productive rookies this season but regardless of 2011, his future is certainly looking very bright.

18. JERREL JERNIGAN - WR - GIANTS: Jernigan is dynamic playmaker capable of taking a short pass the distance and getting on top of a secondary with his deep speed. The versatile Jernigan is an ace kick returner and while he doesn’t run precise routes yet, he clearly has the talent to master the craft with his excellent quickness and phenomenal running instincts. The Giants were noticeably less effective on third downs as well as key short yardage situations when Steve Smith was lost for the year due to knee injury and Jerrel Jernigan could potentially fill that role if Smith can’t fully recover from micro fracture surgery.

19. KYLE RUDOLPH - TE - VIKINGS: Rudolph is one of the best pass catchers in this draft regardless of position and it’s because of his imposing size and natural length. He has huge hands that engulf the football and he comes from a pro style offense that will give him the ability to make a smooth transition to the next level. He was an instant impact type player as a true freshman and it’s highly likely that Rudolph will make a similar splash in the pro ranks with the upside to be one of the better players from this entire draft class a few years from now.

20. JAKE LOCKER - QB - TITANS: Locker has a cannon for an arm to go along with his excellent mobility running the football, prompting the Titans to tab him as their quarterback of the future. While he does have a ton of athletic ability, Locker still struggles with accuracy at times and will need to make a lot of improvement in his footwork before he can become more consistent with his throws. The Titans have a nice young group of playmakers to work with and Locker’s upside is simply too great to ignore with this pick.

21. RANDALL COBB - WR - PACKERS: Kentucky had a package specifically designed for this guy to lineup at option quarterback and give defenses fits running, pitching and throwing the football. The “Wild-Cobb” formation might show up again in Green Bay, as Cobb will give the Packers a Josh Cribbs type player who’s a much more polished route runner and receiver at this point. Cobb will fit right into the slot for Green Bay with Mike McCarthy designing plays to get the ball into Cobb’s hands quickly and let him create big plays after the catch.

22. LANCE KENDRICKS - TE - RAMS: While Josh McDaniels’ offenses haven’t incorporated much of the tight end position, Sam Bradford has always looked at the tight end as more than a secondary or relief option but as the primary in the Oklahoma offenses he used to run. Kendricks certainly won’t be mistaken for Jermaine Gresham anytime soon but he’s got the receiving skills and the football intelligence to be a very effective pass catching tight end. McDaniels was reportedly a huge supporter of Kendricks during the draft process and has plans to incorporate heavy usage of the rookie in the Rams’ new look offense.

23. DENARIUS MOORE - WR - RAIDERS: As per usual, the Raiders took a vertical deep threat with dynamic speed but the good news here is that Moore can actually play the game of football. He has great hands and receiving instincts with the ability to high point the ball and make the tough catches in traffic. Moore instantly upgrades the Raiders’ receiving corps and he will give Oakland a much more consistent option outside of Jacoby Ford and Zach Miller in the passing game.

24. BLAINE GABBERT - QB - JAGUARS: Gabbert has shown the ability to be hyper accurate during his Missouri career and he has the toughness to play through injuries, leading a team on the field. He doesn’t come from a traditional offense and will need some time to develop his footwork but he certainly has the talent to be a franchise passer with his natural size to see the field. Gabbert doesn’t have a lot to work with in Jacksonville but should eventually be a starter level quarterback with time.

25. TORREY SMITH - WR - RAVENS: The Ravens got one of the better fits for their offense in Smith who will stretch the field deep and help Baltimore in the return game as well. He has elite speed and great size to be a downfield threat capable of blowing the top off of a secondary and creating plays after the catch. The Ravens still have a lot of established pass catchers on the roster but it’s not out of the question that Smith could eventually develop into a go-to player for them because of his skill set and great intangibles.

26. GREG SALAS - WR - RAMS: The Rams really wanted to add more weapons around franchise quarterback Sam Bradford and the selection of Salas should prove to be a perfect fit for the team. Salas is a very good route runner who has extremely reliable hands and he also brings ideal size to the table as well. He made defensive backs look foolish during practices at the Senior Bowl and all throughout his Hawaii tenure but it’s playing with Sam Bradford that could help ensure that Salas continues his high level of play in the NFL.

27. BILAL POWELL - RB - JETS: Powell enters a very crowded situation in New York behind Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson and Joe McKnight but it isn’t necessarily as tenuous as it might first appear. Tomlinson won’t be around for much longer and Joe McKnight was a disappointment last season that by rights should have been a camp cut in favor of Danny Woodhead but the drafting of Powell sends a clear message to Shonn Greene, which is shape up or you may be out of a job. Powell will push Greene and create some healthy competition in year one but he has the potential to be the feature runner for the Jets because of how well he fits the scheme with his downhill hard charging style.

28. VINCENT BROWN - WR - CHARGERS: Brown enters into a great situation in San Diego with an established quarterback, a proven number one wide receiver and one of the best tight ends in the league. Brown’s skill set is an ideal fit because he’s such a precise route runner with very consistent hands and the recognition to see the holes in an opposing secondary. The Chargers will likely use Brown out of the slot and opposite Jackson in some situations but while he may only be playing a supporting role in the offense, he could have a lot of added value in PPR leagues with his ability to separate from defenders in the intermediate passing game.

29. JAMIE HARPER - RB - TITANS: Harper has prototype size and explosion from the runningback position with the strength to shed would be tacklers between the tackles but also the speed to run by them on the outside. He has excellent hands out of the backfield and will be used not only to spell Chris Johnson but he will be used as a weapon in the passing game as well. The Titans wanted a bigger physical back with a pro skill set and that’s exactly what Harper brings to the table.

30. TITUS YOUNG - WR - LIONS: Young is a speed demon with the ability to stretch a defense deep and run away from defensive backs. He is still a bit raw as a route runner and might take a while before he can fully absorb a playbook but he’ll do exactly what the Lions want, namely take pressure off of Calvin Johnson and open up the football field for the rest of the offense. Detroit already has a potent offense and Young gives it even more firepower with his elite quickness.

31. TAIWAN JONES - RB - RAIDERS: Jones is an unbelievable athlete with game changing speed and great moves in the open field. He has eye popping acceleration to go along his phenomenal top gear, giving him the ability to take the edge on a defense outside and run right by would be tacklers. Jones has an injury history that reads like a novel and might not have what it takes to last in the NFL with injury issues against lesser competition. This a converted defensive back is a classic boom or bust type player that has explosive potential but could also be out of the league in a year or two.

32. EDMUND GATES - WR - DOLPHINS: The Dolphins are looking for more complimentary receivers to help take attention off of Brandon Marshall in the passing game and the elite speed that Edmund Gates possesses just might give Miami the deep threat it has been lacking all this time. Gates is still a very raw player that needs to refine his route running and work at perfecting the little things but his talent is undeniable. The cousin of Bernard Scott, Gates is another failed basketball player that has done an excellent job translating his natural physical ability to the football field and he still has yet to scratch the surface of his potential.

33. JORDAN CAMERON - TE - BROWNS: This former basketball player has a great combination of athletic ability and ball skills that will give him the chance to be Cleveland’s primary receiving tight end. He was a forward on BYU’s basketball team before transferring to junior college, then eventually landing on USC’s football team. He’s a very raw prospect and he still has a lot to learn about the position, meaning he might take a while to start producing. Regardless, Browns offense is devoid of playmakers outside of Peyton Hillis and Greg Little so Cameron will have an opportunity to establish himself as one of the go to receivers for young signal caller Colt McCoy.

34. TANDON DOSS - WR - RAVENS: Doss is a very good route runner and an extremely reliable pass catcher that brings some kick returning experience to the table. He’s got the size and speed combination to play at the next level but he also has injury concerns that caused him to slip all the way to the fourth round. Doss is a pro ready player that not only runs great routes but has the intelligence to work his way open and find the holes in coverage, which gives him the ability to be an early producer.

35. STEVAN RIDLEY - RB - PATRIOTS: The Pats went with a big bruising back to compliment their previous selection of Shane Vereen and while Ridley isn’t near as talented as Vereen, he does bring the size and hard charging style the Pats want for their interior running game. Ridley doesn’t possess the open field moves that other backs do but he does have receiving skills despite not being used in that capacity at LSU. He should carve out a role for himself as a goal-line back and short yardage specialist in New England’s crowded backfield.

36. DA’REL SCOTT - RB - GIANTS: The Giants have hit pay dirt with late round runningbacks before and Da’Rel Scott could be their next runner to emerge from the woodwork in New York. He enters a situation with two established runners ahead of him in Bradshaw and Jacobs but one of the two backs might not be in town much longer. While he has had difficulty staying healthy, Scott has elite speed with the ability to break defenders down in the open field and leave them in the dust.

37. RYAN MALLETT - QB - PATRIOTS: Mallett is an elite passer with prototype size, arm strength and accuracy but his off the field concerns and character issues caused his stock to plummet. As a result, the Patriots were able to get excellent value and draft Mallett as a long term project behind franchise quarterback Tom Brady. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to see Tom Brady leaving the game of football or the Patriots roster anytime in the near future, which absolutely hamstrings Mallett’s dynasty value at this point in time.

38. JORDAN TODMAN - RB - CHARGERS: Todman is try hard overachiever that flat out carried the mail for the Huskies last season but he’s now stuck behind fullback sensation Mike Tolbert and last year’s first rounder Ryan Mathews. While Todman is a very explosive ball carrier with great receiving skills, he’s not going to unseat Mathews or Tolbert anytime soon and he might not get an opportunity at extended playing time unless there’s an injury to one of the two aforementioned runners.

39. CECIL SHORTS - WR - JAGUARS: The Jaguars have a passion for drafting highly talented non-FBS players and Shorts certainly fits the bill here. He was an outstanding playmaker for Mount Union who produced insane statistics during his collegiate career because of his versatility and speed. While he did not jump out during his brief practice appearances at the East-West Shrine Game, he has a great opportunity to fight for a starting spot on this Jacksonville offense.

40. JOHNNY WHITE - RB - BILLS: White is a very explosive back that has an excellent all around game with the ability to plow through the line and line up as a receiver, running very precise routes for a back his size. He has some injury concerns but gives the Bills a very exciting replacement option for when Fred Jackson leaves town. White might not blow up right away but he has the talent to be a feature runner if he ever gets that chance.

41. CAM NEWTON - QB - PANTHERS: Newton was a superstar for the National Champion Auburn Tigers but he enters a vastly different world in the NFL, where the talent around him will be poor and the level of competition will be far greater. The Panthers are likely to be parting ways with veteran wide receiver Steve Smith and they don’t have much outside of him in the pass catching department which will make Newton’s pro transition a very difficult one. Regardless, there’s still upside considering what Newton has accomplished up to this point.

42. DION LEWIS - RB - EAGLES: Lewis joins his Pittsburgh Panther brethren, LeSean McCoy, on the Eagles’ roster and he will give Philadelphia a similar skill set to his former teammate. He is a shifty back that runs behind his pads well and has a knack for shaking tacklers with his great sense of leverage and balance. He isn’t likely to get many carries early in his career but he’s now a mandatory handcuff for all McCoy dynasty owners.

43. DJ WILLIAMS - TE - PACKERS: Williams enters a situation that is full of receiving options but he’s a very intriguing fit for the Packers’ west coast attack and due to the injury history of Jermichael Finley, he might have a chance at early production in the event of another Finley injury. Williams has outstanding ball skills with his soft hands and he shows excellent football intelligence, finding the weakness in a secondary and working his way open. The John Mackey award winner is an undersized H-Back with limited speed that succeeds because of his understanding of the game and his passion to be a great player.

44. JEREMY KERLEY - WR - JETS: The Jets have a number of free agency issues at the wide receiver position so it was to be expected that the team would bring in a receiver or two in this draft and they added a legitimate deep threat in Jeremy Kerley, a playmaker from TCU. He has the explosiveness and change of direction ability to make defenders miss in the open field. His top gear is questionable but his moves after the catch and kick returning ability will be a welcomed addition in the Big Apple, especially with Brad Smith likely out of the picture.

45. LUKE STOCKER - TE - BUCCANEERS: The Buccaneers know they’re living on borrowed time with Kellen Winslow and they may have found their tight end of the future in Luke Stocker. He’s a very assignment sound blocker who understands how to wall off defenders in the running game and he also shows the soft hands to be a reliable receiving threat. He’s a pro ready player that will be eased into the scheme but should be a regular starter by the end of year two at the latest.

46. DARREN EVANS - RB - UDFA: Evans is a hard charging no-nonsense type of runner that gets going downhill instantly and has the ability to deliver punishing blows to would be tacklers. He has an excellent sense of timing and anticipation, hitting the hole as it opens and exploding through it at top speed. While Evans has great vision, he lacks an elite top gear and he currently has no home after going undrafted. Regardless, Evans will eventually earn a roster spot with an NFL team because of his high football IQ and powerful running style that will make him an ideal complimentary goal-line back in today’s committee driven league.

47. ROB HOUSLER - TE - CARDINALS: Housler was considered a bit of a reach by most draft evaluators but this shouldn’t be an indictment on Housler’s talent, as he’s a very rangy prospect with elite speed for the position and wide receiver type ball skills. The Cardinals lack any kind of pass catching threat at tight end and they made it a priority in this draft by selecting the Florida Atlantic product. While Housler isn’t an accomplished blocker, he will give Arizona a reliable underneath threat capable of beating linebackers and safeties on a regular basis.

48. ANDY DALTON - QB - BENGALS: Dalton is a very smart quarterback with an impressive record for winning games and making great decisions in clutch situations. Even though Dalton is a savvy pocket passer, he has below average arm strength and can struggle recognizing the blitz. While he may be a physically limited passer, Dalton will be throwing passes to AJ Green and he might end up getting some early playing time if the Carson Palmer retirement rumors have any merit.

49. NILES PAUL - WR - REDSKINS: Paul is a tough guy that loves to get nasty with his opponents in the running game and runs angry with the football in his hands. He’s got above average top end speed to beat most defensive backs but he still has a lot of work to do on his route running and he also has small hands. The bottom line remains that he is a very athletic receiver who is a smart football player with reliable ball skills and the upside to be a future starter as well as contribute on special teams.

50. TJ YATES - QB - TEXANS: Yates is a very experienced pocket passer with adequate size and enough arm strength to make most NFL throws. He is a pro style quarterback that understands not only how to run an offense but how to break down a defense pre-snap and make adjustments on the fly. He certainly won’t see immediate playing time but the Texans are going to develop him behind starter Matt Schaub as the potential signal caller of the future.

Honorable Mentions

• RONALD JOHNSON - WR - 49ERS: Johnson is a poor man’s Steve Smith which will give him the ability to be a complimentary receiver for the 49ers but the fact that he’s the draft pick of the new coaching staff should say a lot, especially since Harbaugh has coached his fair share of games against “RoJo” in the Pac-10.
• VIRGIL GREEN - TE - BRONCOS: One of my highest rated tight ends pre-draft fell all the way to the last round due to a four year old knee injury that required micro-fracture surgery. While the Denver offense doesn’t utilize a lot of tight end, Green is still a freak of nature that has a chance to develop into a great player in time.
• TORI GURLEY - WR - UDFA: Gurley is a super sized receiver that has great ball skills and an excellent understanding of the game to find openings in coverage. He has the strength to break tackles after the catch and does an excellent job blocking up field which should entice teams to get him in camp and on their roster.
• COLIN KAEPERNICK - QB - 49ERS: Kaepernick landed in a great situation with an excellent combination of skill players awaiting to surround him, namely Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. While Kaepernick is very raw and might struggle at first, Jim Harbaugh’s reputation for developing quarterback talent is too great to ignore.
• TERRENCE TOLIVER - WR - UDFA: Toliver has prototype size with great height and reliable ball skills to consistently win jump ball situations. Even though he went undrafted, he does have the potential to be a very effective possession type receiver because of his big hands and ability to high point the football.
• CHAD SPANN - RB - UDFA: Spann is an explosive back that shows great anticipation when running inside and the speed to run by defenders for long gains, leading both the Colts and Chargers to work him out pre-draft. Spann has great change of direction ability to go along with his natural power and leverage to shed would be tacklers.
• CHARLES CLAY - TE - DOLPHINS: Clay is a classic case of a jack of all trades but master of none, as clay has played a number of different positions throughout his career and his ball skills are second to none. While Clay doesn’t possess ideal speed, he’ll prove to be a reliable target over the middle and on intermediate routes.
• AUSTIN PETTIS - WR - RAMS: Pettis lacks the quickness needed to be a great receiver at the next level but he certainly landed in a favorable situation with an up and coming franchise quarterback. Pettis is a highly intelligent player that can contribute in a number of different roles because of his good attitude and intangibles.
• RICKY STANZI - QB - CHIEFS: Stanzi isn’t very accurate and he struggles to convert on broken plays but he’s a very experienced pro style passer that might have a chance to be developed. Matt Cassel’s contract will be up soon and the Chiefs will hope that Stanzi shows them enough to keep him around as a potential signal caller of the future.
• DWAYNE HARRIS - WR - COWBOYS: Harris is a burner that will give the Cowboys an added dimension on offense and stretch the defense deep with his elite speed. He has an awful lot of talented receivers in his way and that will certainly mean a slow start for Harris. Either way, he has the athletic ability to have a role as a deep threat.
• ALLEN BRADFORD - RB - BUCCANEERS: Bradford is a big bodied back that runs very well on the interior but also has the speed to take the edge on defenders as well. He should give the Buccaneers another option behind Blount that not only shares a similar downhill style, but he also has great blocking skills to contribute on passing downs.
• DEMARCO SAMPSON - WR - CARDINALS: Sampson has ideal speed for the position and is actually much more athletically talented than his teammate Vincent Brown but he has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career that set him back. He’ll have a chance to be a playmaker in in Arizona if he can just stay healthy.
• JEFF MAEHL - WR - UDFA: The “Maehl-Man” is as consistent as it gets when it comes to route running and reliability. He’s always at the right place at the right time but he has less than ideal size and below average speed which caused him to go undrafted. Still, his consistent hands and football intelligence will land him a job somewhere.
• JULIUS THOMAS - TE - BRONCOS: Thomas is another basketballer turned tight end and he shows the natural ball skills and size needed for the position but he is an extremely raw player at this point. Even though Thomas has a long way to go in the aspects of technique, he has a ton of potential because of his tremendous athletic ability.
• MARIO FANNIN - RB - UDFA: Fannin is another jack of trades but master of none. He has great hands out of the backfield and he’s an excellent pass blocker but he doesn’t wow you in any one category outside of his blocking. He’ll make a roster because of his strong intangibles and ability to contribute in a number of different ways.
• KRIS DURHAM - WR - SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks reached for Durham and while he is a fine prospect, he lacks deep speed or moves after the catch and reminds some of Joe Jurevicius with his great size and jump ball ability. He might not ever be elite but he could be a regular if he can avoid the injuries that plagued him during college.
• DONALD BUCKRAM - RB - UDFA: Buckram was a force at Texas El Paso who churned out hundred yard games on a weekly basis but was slowed by injury in 2010. He went undrafted but has the chance to make an impact in the backfield because of his lateral quickness, his natural leverage and the ability to shed would be tackers at will.
• STEPHEN BURTON - WR - VIKINGS: Burton was a small school riser throughout the draft process that has extremely raw athletic ability and the kind of size/speed combination the Vikings want in their receiving corps. He’s going to need a year or two before he can pickup the offense but he has great potential to be a playmaker on this team.
• WESLYE SAUNDERS - TE - UDFA: Saunders is a tremendous athlete that has soft hands, excellent size and great strength after the catch. Unfortunately, he went undrafted because of his 2010 NCAA suspension, his maturity issues and his inability to stay healthy. His situation must be monitored because of his obvious talent.
• BARON BATCH - RB - PITTSBURGH: Batch fits as a third down back for the Steelers and a potential replacement for Mewelde Moore. He’s a diminutive back that has strong receiving skills out of the Texas Tech offense and he has some shiftiness in the open field but he remains a limited runner with not much upside in Pittsburgh.

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Follow Joe Everett on Twitter @RookieDraft

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Thursday’s match-up in Pittsburgh marks the second pre-season game for the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, and both starting units will certainly want to impress in this intrastate contest. This isn’t Montana we are talking about; it’s Pennsylvania, a state that prides itself on its rich football history. Heck, George Blanda is from Youngwood, Pennsylvania. Who’s more football than George Blanda?

One of my favorite movie characters is Marcellus Wallace, from Pulp Fiction, and one of my favorite lines in the movie is Wallace’s, “F*&% pride! Pride only hurts, it never helps.” Pride runs deep in the players who suit up in the National Football League. These men are driven to be the best, so when one team is labeled a Dream Team before the season begins, you’d better believe pride becomes a factor, for both teams.

“Obviously the best Olympic team we ever had,” said two time Super Bowl winner and Steelers safety Ryan Clark when asked about how he feels about the hype surrounding the Eagles and all of their free agent signings. “They (Andy Reid) have done an amazing job finding guys who are willing to come to one place to play for a common goal.”

The goal the Eagles are chasing would be the team’s first Super Bowl title. Head coach Andy Reid, entering his 13^th season with the club, has only one head coach ahead of him in the history of football who has taken that long to finally win his first. That would be former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach (and Pennsylvania-born) Bill Cowher, who accomplished his goal after his 14^th season of coaching. The Steelers have been the Super Bowl three of the last six years and know that pride has had to do with every one of those visits to the title game.

It’s pretty easy for both sides to downplay the game by giving the standard, “It’s only pre-season” response or by saying their opponents “have done a wonderful job with what they have.” That’s all polite and politically correct. However, deep down, where the fire burns for each guy to be the best, there is little doubt (at least in my mind) that when those first string guys suit up on Thursday night, it won’t just be a ho-hum preseason affair.

Clark summed it up best saying, “You can’t say it’s a measuring stick because you don’t have four quarters of good on good,” because the starters will only see action for such a short amount of time, adding, “These guys can have the limelight and pressure of calling themselves the Dream Team.” Was that a little bit of pride surfacing?

Marcellus Wallace might have been on the right track, but he missed the point: pride does in fact help, even as it hurts. and that’s why if one of the first-string units goes above and beyond the other in this pre-season battle for the Keystone State, the loser will go home feeling the sting of defeat.

Historically, the Eagles hold the advantage in this match-up (47-26-3). The last time these two met was in 2008, and the Eagles got the better of the Steelers, beating them 15-6. You might remember a swarming Eagles defense forcing nine sacks, a safety, and three turnovers. Pride remembers those things.

Maybe I’m reading between the lines but when talking with Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ike Taylor during the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, I could not help but think to myself, ‘Was he referring to the Eagles?’ when he said, “I don’t know if I’ve seen a Pro Bowl shutdown corner win a Super Bowl. Nine years with three Super Bowls,” Ike said. “We must be doing something right.”

Pride will surface as the players exit the tunnel onto Heinz Field. With all the hype surrounding the Eagles, the Steelers going to be looking to make a statement when they take the field Thursday night, even if the starters have just a few plays to di it, they’ll be cranking up the intensity. Coming out on top in a grudge match like this, even if it “doesn’t count,” could go a long way to bolstering (or deflating) pride as the teams look forward to the regular season.