2010 Sophomore Watch Thread

[tjsunstein]

Green Bay Packers:

B.J. Raji has a lot to do with how Clay Matthews is performing right now. He gets constant pressure up the middle and opens up lanes for Matthews after commanding double teams. Keep your eye on Raji (#90).



And again, watch the attention he draws.



Brad Jones has had a shoulder problem so he's been spelled a lot. He hasn't been good or bad but an upgrade would put our pass rush to another level.

No one else starts, if they're even still with the team.

[J-Mike88]

A lot of these are a bit subjective and in the eye of the beholder.

BJ RAJI, NT
Has been okay-good. Played DE last year for us with Pickett stuffing the run so well at NT, but this year we have moved Raji to NT.
Hard to judge because we have not faced a good passing QB yet this year. I want to see some John Randle pass rush from Raji, but it's rare to see so far.

CLAY MATTHEWS, HOF
Any words I type here are a disservice to the man, and don't do him justice.
They've already made his bust in Canton though.

TJ LANG, OG/OT
He's a hit, but because we have the old anchors at OT now, and Bulaga behind them, he's basically a fill-in either at OG or perhaps RT. I like him a lot, except at LT blocking Ware or Jared Allen.

QUINN JOHNSON, FB
Looks great, plays okay to great. Can't catch, but when he makes his block, fuggitabout it.

JAMOMMA MEREDITH, OT
Currently playing in Buffalo somehow. Was the recipient of 1 or 2 of CM3's sacks last week. He has some potential but needs time, and that's why we put him on our practice squad last year, but the Bills needed him and I think he might be starting now. Poor Bills fans.

JARIUS WYNN, DE
Made team last year and played. Was just a guy, never noticed him.
Was beaten out this year and released, but was brought back after former 1st round pick Justin Harrell's ACL was shredded in the opener.
Doesn't seem to possess anything special, but if he can just be one of those solid 3-4 DE anchors against the run, not bad. Stil, he's nothing more than just a guy.

BRANDON UNDERWOOD, CB
Other cheeseheads like him more than I did.
He made the news this summer by getting accused of rape, after he doubled-up on a pair of hookers from Milwaukee. Was being counted on to be our #3 CB to enter the season, but due to both more nagging injuries, and his lack of playmaking, he was beaten out by undrafted rookie Sam I am Shields, who only has one year of CB experience coming out of The U.

BRAD JONES, OLB
Super hit for a 7th round pick.
He's not in the league as Matthews yet, but he's been starting opposite Clay since middway last year when Kampman's ACL was shredded.
So far, I would say Jones is just an average starting OLB. But I know he has the speed to become much better, so we'll see.

Every single guy is on an NFL roster still.

[Unbiased]

Jaguars

1. Eugene Monroe, LT

Slimmed down during the offseason. Looks a lot better this year. Love having a legit blindside protector. Starter

2. Eben Britton RT

Mauler who is just a really solid player. Starter

3. Terrance Knighton NT

Best player from this group. I'm not sure why he was overlooked in the draft process. Starter

3. Derek Cox CB

Started all 16 games last year. Looked really bad against Denver in week 1. Already lost starting job. Doesn't look good. Not sure what happened from last year to this year. Backup

4. Mike Thomas WR

Should put up really good numbers this year as a full time starter. Also is serving as punt returner because Scotty McGee is on the IR. Starter

5. Jarett Dillard WR

Can't stay healthy. Would probably be slot receiver. Backup

6. Zach Miller TE

Same health concerns but not quite as bad. Explosive for a TE. Backup

7. Rashad Jennings RB

Runs a lot harder this year. Very good as a receiver, too. Backup

7. Tiquan Underwood WR

Basically is the slot receiver and is serving as KR until Deji Karim is healthy. Very fast but still needs a lot of polishing as a WR. Backup.


I'm very happy with this class. 4 starters who all look really good. The one that looks like a mistake is Cox.

[BeerBaron]

Bears:

Jarron Gilbert - cut

Juaquin Iglesias - cut, on the practice squad

Henry Melton - Rotational DT/DE

DJ Moore - Beasted last week (ok....he got lucky....but still, 3 turnovers? I'll take it)

Johnny Knox - Beast.

Marcus Freeman - cut

Al Afalava - cut

Lance Louis - So-so....starting RG.

Derek Kinder - cut

[CC.SD]

Originally Posted by Unbiased

Jaguars

1. Eugene Monroe, LT

Slimmed down during the offseason. Looks a lot better this year. Love having a legit blindside protector. Starter

2. Eben Britton RT

Mauler who is just a really solid player. Starter

I still think these back to back picks are the absolute sex. Love that whole Jag draft but this especially.

[tjsunstein]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Bears:

Jarron Gilbert - cut

Juaquin Iglesias - cut, on the practice squad

Henry Melton - Rotational DT/DE

DJ Moore - Beasted last week (ok....he got lucky....but still, 3 turnovers? I'll take it)

Johnny Knox - Beast.

Marcus Freeman - cut

Al Afalava - cut

Lance Louis - So-so....starting RG.

Derek Kinder - cut

So, they had an awesome draft.

[bam bam]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Bears:

Jarron Gilbert - cut

Juaquin Iglesias - cut, on the practice squad

Henry Melton - Rotational DT/DE

DJ Moore - Beasted last week (ok....he got lucky....but still, 3 turnovers? I'll take it)

Johnny Knox - Beast.

Marcus Freeman - cut

Al Afalava - cut

Lance Louis - So-so....starting RG.

Derek Kinder - cut

what a nightbear

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by tjsunstein

So, they had an awesome draft.

Been like that for years now. JA's formerly awesome mid round magic has totally worn off and has become a running joke.

[Shiver]

William Moore got his first start and first interception.

[Gay Ork Wang]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Been like that for years now. JA's formerly awesome mid round magic has totally worn off and has become a running joke.

well to be fair, Knox is the sex and Lance Louis is not that bad.

[yaga]

Texans

1. Brian Cushing - suspended 4 games. Beasting in New Jersey Gym as I type.

2. Conner Barwin - dislocated ankle in 1st game against the colts. Out for the season. Was a situational pass rusher on 3rd downs.

3. Antoine Caldwell - starting right guard.

4. Glover Quinn - starting CB. Best corner on team, but thats not saying much.

4. Anthony Hill - IR

5. James Casey - 3rd string TE. Plays special teams.

6. Brice McCain - nickel corner.

7 Troy Nolan - backup FS

UDFA Arian Foster - starting RB. 4 games as a starter (final 2 games of 2009 season) 516 yards rushing. Jury still out but looks like a franchise back so far.

After Cushing returns from suspension 4 starters from 2009 Draft Class, not bad by GM Rick Smith.

[tjsunstein]

Originally Posted by yaga

Texans

1. Brian Cushing - suspended 4 games. Beasting in New Jersey Gym as I type.

Beasting or "over training"? lol.

[Thecollegedropout]

New York Jets:

1st round- QB Mark Sanchez(Struggled year 1 although he came on strong to end December and January. When given the freedom to roll in the offense, as evident by last week vs NE, he really has shown great ability. He had a conservative game 1 and a very strong game 2 so I can't say what he is thus far in year 2 but he has the potential and promise to make this pick a good one thus far. Besides he led the team to a AFC Title game at QB so considering what we gave up to CLE, not bad Grade B)

3rd round- RB Shonn Greene(Early part of last year he was inactive and very rarely saw time but during the middle of the season and especially at the end of the season, Greene began to feel it. He is a force to try and bring down and is like a bowling ball when raming at defenses. I wish he can pick up blitzes better and also not fumble and can stay durable/catch the ball crisper but that AFC playoff run Greene had vs CIN and SD were game-changers for the team. This year he hasn't exactly lit things up and Tomlinson has been the better back of the two but I am not ready to give up on Greene. I think he is going to be a great 3rd down back on running plays and while he may not be that elite RB that fantasy football had hoped, he can be a quality change of pace back. Maybe 2007 Brandon Jacobs esque. Grade- B)

6th round- OG Matt Slauson(Mostly inactive/depth year 1 but with the shitfest that is Alan Faneca gone, Slauson defeated OT Vlad Ducasse for the starting LG spot and has battled and held his own after 2 games. Game 1 he had his ups and downs....well mainly the down was when Ngata just spanked him and killed Sanchez in the 4th. However, I think Slauson did great vs NE and was strong in the rush blocking part. He is playing between 2 pro bowlers in D'Brick and Mangold though so it might be a big help but anytime you can get a 6th round starter on your team, that kicks ass. Grade- B)

UDFA: LB Jamal Westerman(Been good and respectable when given his chances on the defense. Had a great game week 17 vs CIN even though that game for the Bengals was an essential preseason game. Haven't seen a whole lot of Westerman but he has been a quality rotational/depth player at the LB spot. Grade- B)

3 starters from this class. Not bad at all. All guys get Grade B's from me so it makes this a respectable draft class. Not Revis/Harris godly as we did the same "Quality over Quantity" thought process but still its been good.

[BRAVEHEART]

Detroit Lions

1. Matt Stafford: Legit Franchise QB. Had some ups and downs last year, but he has "IT". He reminds me of Farve alot. Will be one of the best QB's in the league if Detroit does a better job protecting him. A


2. Brandon Pettigrew: Should've picked Oher, but Pettigrew is a good TE, and will be nice weapon for staff once he comes back from his shoulder injury. B

3. Louis Delmas: ******* stud, only thing I don't like has been the nagging injuries he's gotten this year. A+


4. DeAndre Levy : Hated this pick when it happened, but Levy has turned into a starter for this team, and could turn into a good player. Like the last three, he's also been bit with the injury bug this season. B

5.Derrick Williams : This guy is like the anti-levy for me. I loved the pick, but this guy hasn't done ****. F

6. Sammie Lee Hill: Loved this pick, Sammie is raw, but he's started at times. Solid player. B

7. Aaron Brown : Speedy Return guy, still on the team. C-

8. Lydon Murtha : On the Dolphins now, he's a project. F

9. Zack Follett : a Starter this seasom. He's a fan-favorite, but I'm not too high on him. He's a good person and teammate though. B-

10. Dan Gronkowski : on the broncos. D

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by *** Ork Wang

well to be fair, Knox is the sex and Lance Louis is not that bad.

When "not that bad" describes the 2nd best pick of your entire draft class, I think it's a problem....

[J-Mike88]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Bears:

Jarron Gilbert - cut

Juaquin Iglesias - cut, on the practice squad

Henry Melton - Rotational DT/DE

DJ Moore - Beasted last week (ok....he got lucky....but still, 3 turnovers? I'll take it)

Johnny Knox - Beast.

Marcus Freeman - cut

Al Afalava - cut

Lance Louis - So-so....starting RG.

Derek Kinder - cut

Whoops. Gilbert was a cult hero on the boards pre-draft. Has anyone picked him up?
I also liked Iglesias and Marcus Freeman so I can't blame the Bears GM..... these things are crapshoots sometimes.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by J-Mike88

Whoops. Gilbert was a cult hero on the boards pre-draft. Has anyone picked him up?
I also liked Iglesias and Marcus Freeman so I can't blame the Bears GM..... these things are crapshoots sometimes.

I think the Jets pick him up. And it was actually hailed as a pretty good draft by most people I read. Seemed like they just sat back and collected some guys a lot of people projected to go higher......didn't work out.