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AFC NORTH Draft Grade: Baltimore Ravens
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Front Office, NFL,
2005 Record: 6-10
Points For: 265
Points Against: 299
Rushing Yards PG: 100.3
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 99.4
Passing Yards PG: 193.0
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 184.9
Drafted:
1.12 (12) - Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (from Cleveland)
2.24 (56) - Chris Chester, OL, Oklahoma (from N.Y. Giants)
3.23 (87) - David Pittman, CB, Northwestern St. (from N.Y. Giants)
4.14 (111) - Demetrius Williams, WR, Oregon
4.35 (132) - P.J. Daniels, RB, Georgia Tech (Compensatory Selection)
5.13 (146) - Dawan Landry, S, Georgia Tech
5.34 (166) - Quinn Sypniewski, TE, Colorado (Compensatory Selection)
6.34 (203) - Sam Koch, P, Nebraska (Compensatory Selection)
6.39 (208) - Derrick Martin, CB, Wyoming (Compensatory Selection)
7.11 (219) - Ryan LaCasse, DE, Syracuse
Comments:
Ray Lewis, ask and ye shall receive. Lewis asked the organization to get him a big defensive lineman to free him up and contain blockers and the Ravens accommodated. Naturally, the decision wasn’t going to be based solely on Lewis’ wishes, but because Ngata is pretty good AKA pretty huge. While Ngata lacks explosion off the snap, he does have some speed, which allow him to put some legit pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Chester is a converted tight end that is athletic and fast. However, he is still inexperienced at the offensive line position and will need time to grow there. So, don’t expect him to be starting any time soon. However, don’t be surprised to see him lined up as an eligible receiver at the line as part of some trickery and getting the pass thrown to him.
Pittman has very good coverage skills and will probably play the nickel for the
Ravens. Williams is largely being heralded as a steal in the fourth for the Ravens due to his size and the production he had at Oregon. Daniels did lead the ACC in rushing in 2004, so that’s saying something about his ability to run. Add the fact that he has the ability to catch balls out of the backfield and we might have something here. Too bad Daniels won’t get any chances this season with both Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson on the team.
Landry is a decent defensive back that should be a steady NFL player when he gets on the field. A lack of speed is what’s keeping him off it on the regular. Sypniewski will only see the field as a blocker, not a pass-catching tight end. Koch is a kicker… no need to explain, right? Martin is a work in progress, although he does have some good upside. LaCaase has good speed and athletic ability, but may only be the one that gets everyone elses bags on road hames.
ENDSCORE GRADE: B
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Damon Jones: Basketball Jesus
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Kudos, NBA, Playoffs, Scoreboard,
One word… Wow.
Damon Jones, he of very limited minutes during this outstanding series versus the Washington Wizards, came in for the first time in tonight’s Game Six for the Cleveland Cavaliers with 14 seconds remaining in the game. At first a dubious choice to bring in since he was cold off the bench, it actually made sense considering Jones’ ability to shoot from the outside. Still, one would be justified to question Jones’ participation in a game that found the Cavaliers down 113-112 and, in all likelihood, with only one chance to score.
In Game One, Jones played three minutes without a shot attempt. In Game Two, he played six minutes, again, without attempting a shot. In Game Three, Jones hit his lone shot - a three point field goal - in seven minutes of play. In Game Four, he played five minutes, missing his only shot attempt. In Game Five, Jones played less than a minute and statistically, registered a zero in all categories.
So, what does Jones do in Game Six - as critical a game as you can have aside from a series deciding Game Seven? A chance to be a savior of sorts for a whole city that has not seen its basketball team advance in a playoff series since 1993?
Jones comes in cold and hits a jumper from the corner to put the Cavs up by one, 114-113, with four seconds left to play. It was a shot that would be the last one in a very dramatic, nail-biting series. From Damon Jones. Not LeBron James. Not Gilbert Arenas.
Damon Jones… Basketball Jesus.
Cory Lidle isn’t playa-hatin’ - seriously. Lidle is just concerned about high school players and college players having the temptation of taking steroids, thinking they don’t have a shot in making the big leagues.
It’s sad,” Lidle told the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’m not a player-hater. I like to see players get paid as much as they can. But without friggin’ cheating. What he could have done without performance-enhancing drugs—which he hasn’t been proven guilty of [using], which I’m not buying—you can maybe take what he had done in his prime, before his head started growing at an enormous rate, and just make those projections. Say that, ‘This is what he could have done.’ Maybe it’s 550 home runs. I don’t know. It definitely wouldn’t have been anything close to 700.”
Expect Barry to knock a homer against Cory Lidle, the next time the Giants play the Phillies. Or maybe his line-up protection mate Moises “Pee on my hands” Alou will take offense to these comments.
Read More 
| SI.com
Chris Paul this season was the only unanimous selection for the NBA All-Rookie Team. The selections are made by 29 out of 30 NBA head coaches. A player is not eligible to be voted by their own coach. The first team includes PG Deron Williams, Forwards Charlie Villanueva, Channing Frye and center Andrew Bogut. The second team included Danny Granger, Marvin Williams, Luther Head, Raymond Felton, and Ryan Gomes. Number one overall pick, Andrew Bogut had 26 of 29 first team votes and Charlie Villanueva had 27 of 29 first team votes. The Raptors selecting Villanueva was heavily criticized, but has panned out quite nicely.
Chad Carroll, a fan of the Kansas City Royals for 25 years, sold off his entire life’s worth of Royals memorabilia on eBay for $278.47. Carroll, who originally lived in Iowa, used to listen to Royals games on the radio and is now living in Baltimore. The winner of the auction would also choose which team Carroll would cheer for. Even Yahoo Sports baseball columnist Jeff Passan got into the act and bided for Carroll’s new allegiance. Passan wanted readers to provide the answer of what team Carroll would root for. Carroll has hinted he may become a Cleveland Indians fan. Well my thoughts, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a Royals fan, but it makes me wonder why Carroll hasn’t become an Oriole, or Nationals fan living in the area. Kansas City Royals management should take notice, if they keep planning on the never-ending rebuilding phase they may lose all their fans.
Read More | Sports Illustrated
Long Ass Thread Thursday: Let’s Do It Again
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Kudos, MLB, NBA, NFL,
EndScore Nation, welcome to the second edition of this particular… I don’t know what to call it… feature? Column? How about YOUR chance to actively participate here at EndScore. Let’s make this, whatever you want to call it, a pandemic!!! Spread the word of EndScore to the world!!! Remember, this only works when you comment about anything and everything that is sports (or not sports).
Last week, we got to 35 comments… this week, let’s get to 50. That’s our goal here people. Start a comment yourself or respond to one… just play nice.
So, what can we all talk about?
How about Barry Bonds taking a BP ball off his head? Anyone catch this performance by Bonds? The histrionics equaled that of a dying character in a high school play!!! It was almost goofy. I mean, let’s be real, you know that didn’t hurt Bonds, the owner of a cast-iron forehead. I swear for a brief moment it looked like Bonds didn’t notice he got hit, but then remembered he had to make belive he was human and just went down. The ultimate would have been if Wiliam Shatner could have done a voiceover making belive he was Bonds:
“Ouch. I’ve… been… hit… yes. Help.”
What else? How about some blatant self-promotion on my part. Check out my latest column on SI.com and tell me how awesome I am!!!
OR how long it’s taking me to post all the NFL Draft Grades, having only finished 25% of the teams in the NFL, and tell me how much I actually stink! But, speaking of the NFL Draft, how do you guys think the teams did?
Albert Pujols… would you pitch to him?
Am I the only one that thinks LeBron James can be BETTER than Michael Jordan?
Let’s discuss…
AFC WEST Draft Grade: San Diego Chargers
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Front Office, NFL,
2005 Record: 9-7
Points For: 418
Points Against: 312
Rushing Yards PG: 129.5
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 84.3
Passing Yards PG: 218.4
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 224.9
Drafted:
1.19 (19) - Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida St.
2.18 (50) - Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
3.17 (81) - Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson
5.19 (151) - Tim Dobbins, ILB, Iowa St.
6.18 (187) - Jeromey Clary, OL, Kansas St.
6.19 (188) - Kurt Smith, K, Virginia (from Miami)
7.17 (225) - Chase Page, DT, North Carolina
7.19 (227) - Jimmy Martin, OT, Virginia Tech (from Minnesota)
Comments:
The Cromartie pick surprised me as he is coming off a bad knee injury, but I guess the Chargers were looking at what Cromartie did beforehand. In that case, I’ll accept this because Cromartie was a playmaker for the Florida State Seminoles, athletic and quick. If he stays healthy, Cromartie has the talent to be one of the better corners in the league for the next several seasons.
McNeill is McHUGE! He definitely had the talent to go in the first round, but injury concerns about his back eliminated that idea. Back at Auburn, he helped open many holes for the running backs and can pass protect. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be All Pro good.
Whitehurst has some injury concerns regarding his shoulder and hasn’t put together a solid string of production the last few years at Clemson. However, he has the talent to do some things. It’ll just probably be as a second-stringer as the Chargers are going to justify that huge Phillip Rivers contract, making Rivers the starter with Drew Brees now gone to the New Orleans Saints.
Dobbins is a very solid linebacker with a good motor and should do well in the 3-4 defensive scheme. Clary is nothing special, but should be a solid producer on the line for the Chargers. Smith is a kicker that hasn’t done anything special enough for me to comment on. Page is big and should make an impact as a pass-rusher if anything at all. Martin is a player that can play in the league for 15 years, but no one will even know this.
ENDSCORE GRADE: B-
AFC WEST Draft Grade: Oakland Raiders
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Front Office, NFL,
2005 Record: 4-12
Points For: 290
Points Against: 383
Rushing Yards PG: 85.6
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 128.1
Passing Yards PG: 223.9
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 202.7
Drafted:
1.7 (7) - Michael Huff, S, Texas
2.6 (38) - Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP
3.5 (69) - Paul McQuistan, OT, Weber St.
4.4 (101) - Darnell Bing, S, USC
6.7 (176) - Kevin Boothe, OL, Cornell
7.6 (214) - Chris Morris, C, Michigan St.
7.47 (255) - Kevin McMahan, WR, Maine (Supplemental Compensatory Selection)
Comments:
Wow, didn’t those Vince Young rumors die almost as quickly as they started. Obviously, they would never had gotten a chance to take Young, but still, it was almost as solid as Reggie Bush going number one overall. But, we all know how that went.
So, with Young off the board, the next logical train of thought was the Raiders going with Matt Leinart with their first rounder. Not so much. Instead, the Raiders went with the best available player, who happened to be the very versatile Huff. Huff has the ability to play anywhere in the secondary and can play both the pass and the run. He’s a hard hitter and should become what Charles Woodson was supposed to.
Howard can fall back into coverage and run very well. But that isn’t a surprise considering he used to play defensive back for UTEP. As solid (definitely not gamebreaking) as Howard is, I think this pick was a little bit of a stretch in this round.
McQuistan was a solid choice and should settle in at the line for the next decade. Bing will be converted to linebacker with the Raiders and he should adapt to the position well. I know this much about Boothe – he’s a smart guy. I mean, he did go to Cornell, right? Other than that, I am dubious to his adjustment from an Ivy League school to the NFL. Morris should be like McQuistan and eventually settle in at the line for a long time. McMahan is this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” a title which may not end here as I don’t know if he’ll make the cut after camp.
ENDSCORE GRADE: C+
AFC WEST Draft Grade: Kansas City Chiefs
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Front Office, NFL,
2005 Record: 10-6
Points For: 403
Points Against: 325
Rushing Yards PG: 148.9
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 98.1
Passing Yards PG: 238.1
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 229.9
Drafted:
1.20 (20) - Tamba Hali, DE, Penn St.
2.22 (54) - Bernard Pollard, S, Purdue
3.21 (85) - Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama
5.22 (154) - Marcus Maxey, CB, Miami (FL)
6.17 (186) - Tre’ Stallings, OL, Mississippi (from Dallas)
6.21 (190) - Jeff Webb, WR, San Diego St.
7.20 (228) - Jarrad Page, S, UCLA
Comments:
Known mostly for their offensive output the past several seasons, the regime coming in with new Head Coach, Herm Edwards, will concentrate a little more on the defensive side of things. And that was displayed with their first round draft choice, going with defensive end, Tamba Hali, and their next pick, safety Bernard Pollard.
Regarding Hali, I’m just not sure if he was the pick at 20, simply because he doesn’t have the tools. A definite positive with him is his motor and explosion off the line. But, he is kind of small at 6’2” for a lineman, needs better recognition skills, and doesn’t have any speed. In other words, he’s not the second coming of the Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney, another short and questionable defensive linemen coming into the pros a few years back.
And as questionable as Hali is, Pollard is just as questionable, if not more. He’s a headcase and has some baggage after getting less playing time his senior season due to run-ins with the coaching staff. I guess Edwards is hoping to turn Pollard around the way he did with another perceived headcase coming out of college, Lavernues Coles back when Edwards was with the New York Jets. It worked out great with Coles, but time will tell with Pollard, who is able to sneak up to the line and play the run or short drops and finish plays.
Croyle was one of the better second tier quarterbacks in the draft, but does have some durability questions, partly because of his thin frame. However, he has the talent to get the job done and this is a definite move for the future when Trent Green eventually retires or his skills have diminished so badly.
Maxey is coming out of “The U,” but is nothing special like most players coming out from there. Stallings will have all the opportunity to learn from a great and veteran offensive line, in hopes that he can eventually replace their excellent production over the years. Webb will be decent, but we all know the offense is going to be all about running back, Larry Johnson, anway. Page is eh… nothing too special, but he does come from a good program.
ENDSCORE GRADE: C
AFC WEST Draft Grade: Denver Broncos
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, Front Office, NFL,
2005 Record: 13-3
Points For: 395
Points Against: 258
Rushing Yards PG: 158.7
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 85.2
Passing Yards PG: 201.7
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 227.7
Drafted:
1.11 (11) - Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (from St. Louis)
2.29 (61) - Tony Scheffler, TE, W. Michigan
4.22 (119) - Brandon Marshall, WR, UCF (from Washington)
4.29 (126) - Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
4.33 (130) - Domenik Hixon, WR, Akron (Compensatory Selection)
5.29 (161) - Chris Kuper, OG, North Dakota
6.29 (198) - Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota
Comments:
The best move during the draft for the Broncos was probably acquiring disgruntled Green Bay Packers WR, Javon Walker, for only a second-round pick. There was speculation that the Pack wanted either a first-rounder or a player for Walker, but the Broncos called the Pack’s bluff and got some much needed WR help, especially considering that the Broncos have their own disgruntled WR in Ashley Lelie.
Moving up a few spots to draft Cutler was a good move as QB Jake Plummer is about to enter his tenth season. Cutler, arguably the best of the Big Three QBs in this draft – along with Matt Leinart and Vince Young – won’t start right away, but will have the opportunity to learn the system and the NFL without any pressures put on him, which is a good thing. Just ask Carson Palmer.
Scheffler is a great receiving TE and is very athletic. Marshall goes both ways… I’m talking about Ironman Football, people! Get your minds out of the gutters! In any case, here’s how athletic Marshall is – he led Central Florida in receptions AND interceptions as he also played safety on top of wide receiver. Look for Marshall and Scheffler to be groomed along with Cutler to be core offensive players for the Bronco’s future.
Dumervil has some upside, but he came out too early as a junior. I guess the Broncos thought they may as well take a chance on the potential because their DT position needed depth and a look to the future. Just not sure it’s with Dumervil. Hixon can flat out burn. Kuper had a good combine, displaying his speed and athleticism. Eslinger could be snapping the ball for the Broncs for the next decade.
ENDSCORE GRADE: A-/B+; including Walker deal/not including Walker deal
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