Gridiron Experts

Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 2)

It’s a little early to be predicting the first round of the NFL Draft, yet people love to speculate what teams will do (Mel Kiper 9.0 by March). Every year Gridiron Experts refuses to post a Mock Draft too early, so instead we’re posting a 3 part team needs mock draft, giving an educated guess to what teams might be thinking.

Not every position that is lacking on a NFL squad has to be filled with a first round pick. There are still a ton of free agents that are about to hit the open market, and second year players that can step in now that they have a year under them, and the first few weeks of March should completely change the draft. So here is a look at the NFL Draft based on how teams are sitting at the moment.

Read the First Article: Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 1)

11) Denver Broncos Team Needs: DT | DE | WR | QB

Strange to see Denver this high on the board considering the fast start to the season with new coach Josh McDaniel’s. The Broncos completely fell apart in the final month of the season, losing 4 games in a row, including losses to the Chiefs and Raiders.

The Broncos will likely try to improve their running defense through free agency and could target an offensive playmaker with pick 10. The Brandon Marshall trade rumors have started to fire up, causing many mock draft experts to target the top wide receiver landing in Denver.

Demaryius Thomas is high in our books, but a broken foot could hurt his stock value, making Dez Bryant a strong favorite. There is also a chance that if a top QB is available at 10 the Broncos could fill the shoes left by Jay Cutler. Either way the Broncos are sitting strong at pick 10 to take the best player available without the huge rookie money at the top of the draft.

12) Miami Dolphins Team Needs: WR | LB | SS

The Dolphins had injuries to key players in ’09, but did an amazing job filling position spots. Players stepped up week after week to fill roles unlike any other team. The Dolphins are a diamond in the rough; if they can stay healthy and add a couple playmakers, this team could challenge for the AFC East division title.

This young team is a year older and wiser now, and will try to grow on the accomplishments of the ’09 season. Personally Gridiron Experts would like to see this pick used on the offensive side of the ball, and we’re sure fans would agree. Adding a WR that can stretch the field would be ideal for this running attack, yet the team has enough rookies, and leadership would be nice as well.

We think trading this pick to a team like Arizona for a smart, tough WR like Anquan Boldin would be a great move. At 29 the trade wouldn’t be pick for player, but if a mid round pick came with Boldin, the Dolphins would walk away happy. Gridiron Experts sees pick 12 the first traded away pick of the draft, either down to gain more picks, or to another team for a veteran leader. The Dolphins are already a young team and need to add talent and wisdom now.

13) San Francisco 49er’s Team Needs: OT | WR | SS | KR

The only thing the 49er’s need to do this offseason is cut Takeo Spikes. Why? Because the veteran linebacker is a playoff curse. In the 12 years that Takeo Spikes has been in the NFL he has never been a part of a team that has made the playoffs…wow!

The 49er’s don’t really have any massive needs on the team, despite what some may say about QB Alex Smith.

Alex Smith was solid down the stretch and should have done just enough to have earned another opportunity to start for the 49er’s next season. There is a chance that Smith could succeed and lead this team into the post season if a smart offensive system can be installed that this young club can get behind.  Keep in mind we’re being optimistic, as newly hired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II doesn’t come with an impressive resume. Raye has never run an offense that has ranked high in any category that mattered, and his hiring makes no sense in the direction the …Continue reading Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 2)

Eagles vs. Giants:

Game Of The Year?

Eagles 45 Giants 38

-83 Total Points Scored

-886 Total Yards

-11 Total Touchdowns, 5 passing

-4 TD’s that went for 60+ yards,  including a punt return and DEF score.

-Trick plays, a two point conversion, blocked XP, Turnovers, and so much more…

Weekend too short? Stuck holiday shopping on a Sunday? Either way, Sunday evening usually means an easy going night around the tube, searching for something good on. For us NFL freaks, it means fantasy football playoffs and being glued to the T.V., screaming for big plays, high scores, and touchdowns…and the Eagles at Giants game delivered.

Regardless of the winner of this game, the entertainment factor was huge, Al Davis “Huuuge”. The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants were playing playoff football in December, and in my opinion get the nod for the best NFL game of the year thus far. This will be the one they replay all summer, this will be the one that Eagles fans hang their hat on, this is the one that sees dollar signs with the ratings for NBC.

After a quick start, the Philadelphia Eagles found themselves with a 14 point lead that they carried for most of the game, but the Giants refused to give up. In fact on paper the G-Men had 512 total yards in tonight’s grudge match, but mistakes were costly.  Eli and company couldn’t overcome a few miscues from the first half and played catch-up football for most of the game. Their biggest brain fart was punting the ball to Eagles WR DeSean Jackson, a young but talented lethal weapon for the Boo-Birds. D-Jack had a 72 yard punt return for a score along with 172 receiving yards and a touchdown that came from a bomb pass that hushed the New York crowd after a productive offensive drive.

The Giants will hang their heads low after this loss, but they really shouldn’t.  New York had the ability to move the ball up and down the field with ease, and were very impressive despite falling short in the end. Eli Manning was a hair shy of 400 passing yards and had 3 nice TD passes in a smart, productive game. The local media of course will not focus on that, and instead will have catchy headlines like “Slip and Slide” or “Butter Fingers” for an embarrassing fumble and turnover that came from Eli sliding head first and losing  the ball.

Turnovers were a major factor,  but the nail in the coffin had to be the Eagles 91 yard touchdown drive that ate up 7 plus minutes of the clock, which included zero third downs and was capped off by a McNabb two point conversion.

Jerry Jones is so bored with his life that he had to build the biggest monstrosity in sports: the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. This stadium is the largest domed stadium in the world, has the world’s largest column-free interior, and the largest video screen hung from one 20 yard line to to the other 20 yard line. No owner could love his team more than a guy willing to spend 1 billion dollars to create such a monster palace for his team to play. So what’s Jerry’s reaction to an early Tony Romo interception for a touchdown? A nose pick on national television. Even Scrooge McDuck or Mr. Burns would give us an “Oh Shit” look on their face, but Jerry Jones is too busy picking another golden nugget out of his oil tycoon beak to even care.

I cheered when the Giants hit the late last second field goal to win. To me, football is not about getting the biggest stadium, the highest contract players, or the hottest cheerleaders (although they’re so smoking hot) it’s about moving chains, making the big tackles and most importantly winning games. Take that, money bags!

One of Super bowls most memorable catches now belongs to an ex-New York Giant. We all saw the catch, we all remember the play, but the “what have you done for me lately” cut-throat business that is the NFL has no room for David Tyree, at least as a Giant. Granted until you saw that catch nobody even knew who Daivd Tyee was, but if I’m a coach I keep him around…at least for luck.

Profootball.com Talk is reporting that the move was hardly unexpected as Tyree has battled a variety of injuries since pressing the ball to his helmet in the fourth quarter against the Patriots. He didn’t play at all in the preseason which left him low on the depth chart.

Personally I wouldn’t let the guy out of my sight, that one play won the Giants Super Bowl XLII and if I was a coach, I’d create a job for him like team mascot or team psychic. What about team pimp or the guy that can go get sandwiches for everyone.

New York Giants 2009 Preview

As we get ready for Week 1, we take a look at the New York Giants, who have lost in the first round in the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. Of course, the year they went further was capped with an unlikely Super Bowl win. Do the Giants have enough to return to the big game?
Offseason Transactions
The Giants released Plaxico Burress due to his legal troubles (Burress received two years in jail for shooting himself in the leg), while Derrick Ward left for the No.1 running back role in Tampa Bay, or at least that’s what he thinks. There were no new major additions to the Giants through free agency, which may hurt with their inability to land a No.1 receiver to replace Burress.
Offense
Eli Manning signed a massive contract, yet he must be worried about the lack of receiving options. Rookie Hakeem Nicks has all the talent in the world, …Continue reading New York Giants 2009 Preview

Giants And Eagles After Edwards -Mike Rodriguez

Regis Monarch Beach Resort is where the annual league meetings are being held this week. While the NFL expects the coaches to discuss game rules and regulations, rumors are that nothing but rubbing elbows over possible trade deals are what’s getting done. The Giants have been interested in Braylon Edwards for weeks, and while a deal seems to be in the works, Tony Grossi of Cleveland.com is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles are now interested, and have more to offer with extra picks in April’s NFL Draft. Take it for what it’s worth….which is nothing, but with both teams in the same division, this trade becomes more about not letting your rival get a player you want, aside from having to face him twice a year, not to mention the fans that will never let you live it down.

Braylon Edwards had an off year in ’08 but remember…he plays in Cleveland