Draft open thread

(I moved this to the top of the page)

Been busy lately and didn't have the time to do the usual draft prediction post. But here is a post to comment on the Eagles picks.

First round pick: Brandon Graham DE
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Brandon is a short thickly-built player with good athleticism. He has very good initial quickness as an edge rusher but doesn't have elite speed or range in pursuit. Brandon uses his hands well to control and leverage blockers versus the run as well as to counter as a pass rusher. Graham is the Wolverines' most disruptive defender and plays with a high motor. He doesn't have enough burst and lateral agility to excel as a stand up player in the NFL but may be effective in zone blitz schemes in limited coverage responsibilities. Brandon is a good football player who should be productive at the next level in the right defensive scheme.

Note that a seven years ago the Eagles traded up to 15 to draft Jerome McDougal and Troy Polamalu was picked one pick later. This year the Eagles traded up to 13 to pick Graham and one pick later the Seahawks took safety, Earl Thomas.

Second round pick: Nate Allen S
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Allen has been an excellent safety for the Bulls. He has a good combination of size and athleticism. He isn’t a consistent physical open field tackler and needs to finish better at the next level. Allen has good balance, foot agility and quickness for his size. He shows good range in pursuit but needs to be more consistent taking angles to the ball. Allen understands leverage and is rarely out of position when defending both the run and the pass. He can re-route receivers with his long arms and is technique sound in combination man and zone coverages. Allen is a good football player that has the mental toughness, size and athleticism to work into a starting position in his rookie season.

Word is this guy is "NFL ready" and his faults are all correctable via coaching. He is a "ball hawk" but isn't a devastating hitter. Eagles did address a need - a safety that can cover.

Third round pick: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim DE
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Te'o-Nesheim has been a productive four-year starter for the Huskies defense. Te'o-Nesheim is an undersized defensive end that wins with toughness, effort, instincts and technique. He lacks great quickness, burst and agility as a pass rusher but does a nice job using his hands to counter effectively. Te'o-Nesheim will have a tough time anchoring effectively versus the run and doesn't possess the speed, quickness and agility to project to an outside backer in a 3-4 defensive scheme. His high motor, leadership skills, toughness and instincts gives him a chance but he clearly overachieved in college and is not likely to transition well at the next level.

According to the write up, this doesn't look like a good pick. Should have kept trading down.

Fourth round pick (1): Trevard Lindley CB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Lindley was banged up some in his senior season (therefore production is down) but for the most part has been a durable defender for the University of Kentucky over his career. Lindley is a slender built player with great athleticism that was the Wildcats most active coverage defender. Not a physical run support player but is a willing tackler and leverages the ball well. Solid reactor in zone and man schemes to jump patterns and make plays on the ball. Lindley isn’t an elite corner but has the tools to develop into a solid contributor as a corner in sub packages (nickel back) as well as special teams.

The Eagles continue the trend this draft of picking fast, smart, "high motor," guys that are not big hitters or even big. I guess they think speed will kill. Of course fans want hits that kill.

Fourth round pick (2): Keenan Clayton LB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Clayton was a productive two-year starter for the Sooners' defense. He lacks great size for the position but is a good athlete who shows quickness and range in pursuit. He is a solid open-field tackler, keeping good body positioning and level in space. He is a competitive linebacker but isn't great to take on and shed effectively (especially versus interior power run schemes). He has the lateral agility and quickness to be an effective zone coverage defender but is inconsistent with his angles to the ball as well as biting on run fakes, which gets him out of position. Clayton is a good football player but is limited due to his size, which likely will relegate him to a back-up role and special teams duty.

Looks like they're drafting for special teams now.

Fourth round pick (3): Mike Kafka QB
(Info stolen from nfl.com)

Kafka rebounded for a nice senior season after being bounced around and showing a lot of inconsistencies during his first three years. He is a touch passer that relies on timing and accuracy with the short throws to get the job done. He has marginal arm strength and needs room to step into his throws in order to get any zip on the ball. He generally takes the snap from the shotgun formation and will need his share of time to learn how to go under center, take the snap and drop to the pocket. He is a smart quarterback that can read coverages and go through his progressions but has too many physical limitations to be considered more than a backup.

Let the "Kafka-esque" jokes begin.

Fourth round pick (4): Clay Harbor TE
(nfl.com doesn't have anything on him in terms of a write up.)I guess this guy is insurance in case that Ingram guy they picked last year, who is a walking injury, never heals up.

Devils Exorcised

History did not repeat itself as the Flyers easily eliminated the Devils, winning the game 3-0 and the series 4-1. The Flyers finally played like a team when the playoffs started and the Devils barely showed up. And it didn't matter how many stupid penalties the Flyers took, the NJ power play sucked and the Flyers penalty kill was great. There were multiple stars in the series but the 2 that stood out, maybe because they played way above what was expected, aka "stepping up," were Giroux and Boucher, who were the difference in the clinching game as well.

Errortype: 11

If the Philadelphia Union could just eliminate the massive mistakes they've been prone to make in this young MLS season, they could be going places. At the least, they could be going into their next game with a 2-1 record instead of the 1-2 mark they take from Thursday's defeat at Toronto.

As they did in their win over DC United, the Union dominated play (at least until making their first substitution, which I'll get back to). But, as with the win over United, the 2-1 loss to Toronto featured at least one gobsmacking screw up — maybe two depending on the level of mercy in your soul.

The gobsmacker of the game went to Union defender and captain Danny Califf — he of the first minute, off-the-ball yellow card against Seattle — who in the 34th minute received the ball in the center of the pitch just outside the penalty box. He decided to swivel 180 degrees and kick it back to goalkeeper Chris Seitz, but put way too little steam on the pass.

Realizing his error, and seeing Toronto's Julian de Guzman about to streak past him, Califf threw his elbow in the way of de Guzman's face. The Toronto flew to the ground, and made a bit of a meal of it on arriving. But it was clearly a penalty, and a stupid one at that. The referee pulled his red card, and Philly was down to 10 men.

The resulting free kick saw Toronto striker, captain and cornrows advocate Dwayne De Rosario put a hard, low shot on goal, but Seitz played it perfectly. Until the point he let it go right through his hands and into the net.

Setiz's play thus far this season could best be described as "nervous." Or at least that's what I feel when he's asked to make a play. He's been able to respond to adversity in-game, which is a good trait, especially for a goalkeeper. But this is soccer, not basketball, and one bad mistake could cost you a game, even when your team was the stronger.

That looked to be the way this game was heading, but the Union responded with a stellar piece of soccer to tie the game during first-half injury time. What I would refer to at this point as the core of the team — Fred, Sebastien Le Toux, Alejandro Moreno and Roger Torres — all touched the ball in a nice bit of passing that saw Torres finish with a perfect ball into the box for defender Jordan Harvey, who put home the goal.

Which brings us to the second half, which Toronto started with two offensive-minded players subbed into their lineup. Cut to 10 minutes later, and with Philly still controlling play despite being a man down, the Union coaches subbed out Torres — the best player for either side up to that point — in what the announcers called a defensive move meant to help insure a draw.

With 35 minutes left in the game.

::sigh::

The move, for me, seemed more than a bad idea, and the game indeed flipped on its head at that point as Toronto began dominating possession and creating chances.

Maybe I was expecting too much of a 10-man squad. And yes, a draw under those circumstances would have been a good result. But taking out the game's best player — and dropping your offensive pressure to next to nothing — didn't seem the best way to achieve it.

A Toronto goal, then, seemed imminent. And sure enough one came, again off the foot of De Rosario, this time on a penalty kick after Seitz dove for a ball in the box but got a Toronto leg instead.

All in all it was a game effort by the Union, who probably deserved a better result. And they might have had it if not for a few bad errors on the field and the sidelines.

NOTES:

— All tuckered out from doing taxes the previous night, I slept through the game broadcast and had to watch a replay on ESPN3.com (formerly ESPN360). The full-screen picture was blurry, pixelated and headache-inducing much of the time, and I don't recommend watching a game this way unless you have to. Not sure why they couldn't throw the HD broadcast online. I might not expect it for stuff coming from overseas, but not for a game you had on American TV just hours earlier.

— After previously playing on field turf, Toronto's stadium now features grass. The fans like it (see below).

Flyers vs. Devils, Round 1

Flyers have owned the Devils during the regular season, crushing them a few times and twice chasing Brodeur to the bench. This regular season success seems to have made the Flyers a popular underdog pick in the first round of the playoffs among some hockey experts.

TSN's Bob McKenzie: Predictions, for what they are worth: Washington, Philly, Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the East; SJ, Chicago, LA and Detroit in the West.

The Hockey News: PREDICTION
Outside of goaltending, The Flyers are a healthy bunch for the first time all season. Statistical down-seasons aside, Philly boats a murderers row of forwards that will go at the Devils in waves. Boucher gained oodles of confidence in besting Henrik Lundqvist on the final day of the season when it mattered most. Pronger will eliminate Kovalchuk, leaving the scoring primarily in Parise’s hands, which is too much for him to do on his own. Despite goaltending questions, Philly upsets New Jersey. Philadelphia in seven

The Globe and Mail's Eric Duhatschek: If the goaltending in the Devils-Flyers’ series turns out be to a wash, maybe Philadelphia - for all of its consistencies and struggles - might be the one series to produce an upset. After all, a No. 7 takes out a No. 2 every couple of years...

My bold prediction: Flyers aren't afraid of the Devils or Brodeur. Flyers sweep unless Boucher has one of his trademark bad games or Flyer's killer Eliass kills them again, then it's in 5.

U-turn

As bad as they looked in their franchise-opening game in Seattle a few weeks previous, that's how good the Philadelphia Union were against DC United at The Linc Saturday.

Well, aside from two egregious mistakes that led directly to United's two goals, that is. The first being a poor pass from one wide defender to another that United's Santino Quaranta easily intercepted and deposited for a goal. Even worse was Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz simply dropping the ball at his feet while lining up a goal kick, allowing United's Jaime Moreno — who was just standing next to Seitz — to take the ball and score as easy a goal as you'll see.

But forgetting those mistakes, which would have been harder had the Union tied or lost, the city's newest team looked markedly improved over their 2-0 opening loss to the Sounders — which could have been a 6-0 loss, really.

Against United, Philly controlled the game pretty much from the opening whistle, and played aggressive, tough soccer while continually pushing for goals.

Three goals came their way off the foot of striker Sebastien Le Toux — the third, decisive goal on a free kick just outside the Seattle box to give Philly a 3-2 lead.

Midfielder Alejandro Moreno was the other standout for Philly. The Union also benefited from arrival of midfielder Fred — back from a red card suspension earned in the final game of last season (wha?). Eighteen-year-old Colombian midfielder Roger Torres — the standout for the team in the Seattle loss — continued his strong play. This kid looks like he's going to be good. Hopefully he's around for a while.

DC United looks to be among the worst teams in MLS this year, so we'll see how the Union does against some of the stronger teams. But the dominance displayed against United was hopeful, especially as this was a team holding open tryouts a couple weeks ago following the Seattle loss.

And, as Andy Reid could tell you, being good — or in the Eagles' case, "competitive" — means beating the bad teams.

NOTE: Fan presence was strong throughout, and should only get stronger after the teams moves into their new, smaller stadium in, ugh, Chester.

Shocking

I was sure the Flyers were going to lose, especially after giving up the first goal. And as they continued to decisively outplay and outshoot the Rangers 100-1, hitting the post 3 or 4 times, and not scoring it seemed more certain. Then finally in the third, Pelle Lindbergh Award for Most Improved Player winner, Matt Carle put one by Lundqvist to tie it. Then the miracle happened - the Flyers actually won the game in fake hockey, with goals by Briere and Giroux, and Boucher making the huge stops.



And not to take anything away from the Flyers, but the Rangers suck.

Open season

I guess if the Phillies score 11 runs a game and/or have Roy Halladay pitching they'll be pretty good.

Both things happened today in the season opener in Washington, as the Phils looked dominant in crushing the Nationals.

New additions Halladay and third baseman Placido Polanco were the clear standouts. Halladay struck out 9 over 7 innings, allowing only a first inning run and inducing grounders in clutch situations with guys on base. He also got his got a hit and an RBI. Not too shabby.

If it was possible, Polanco was even more impressive, slugging a grand slam to go along with two other hits and a sac fly, and knocking in 6 runners on the day.

Ryan Howard also homered, and every batter in the starting nine had at least one hit.

If there was any hiccup, it was the back end of the bullpen looking a little shaky. Bastardo couldn't make it through the eighth, and Rule 5 pickup David Herndon allowed two hits in the ninth before closing it out. The pen did hold the Nationals scoreless, though.

Let's hope the Phillies can spread some runs around for the rest of the rotation this week.

NOTE: President Obama — wearing khakis this year and unfurling the balkiest-looking delivery ever — threw a high and wide pitch before the game, making the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman jump out out of his stance to make the catch. I suspect he muscled up on the throw so as to not bounce it and open himself up to mocking from the right-wing idiot parade. In doing so it was "juuuust a bit outside." Or inside — there wasn't a batter.

McNabb traded to the Redskins

Eagles traded McNabb to the Redskins for the 37th pick in this year's draft and some picks next year. Good trade and I don't care if it's "in the division." I'm not afraid of McNabb beating the Eagles in the least. And if he does, so what? Jason Campbell beat the Eagles twice in the 2008 season. "In the division" actually has benefits - the Redskins game will now be must see instead of boring.

The real value of the trade though will only be known in a year or more. We have to see what the Eagles do with the pick.

You were a good man, Sheldon Brown

Flyers are