LaDainian Tomlinson is a step slower than he used to be and not as durable as earlier in his career. That said, the San Diego Chargers running back should notch another milestone or two (or three or four) during Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tomlinson needs just 29 yards against the Chiefs to move into the Top 10 on the NFL’s career rushing-yardage list. He enters the contest with 12,218 yards and needs 26 yards to pass 11th-place Marcus Allen and 29 to pass 10th-place Edgerrin James.

But he could very well pass more than just those two prolific runners. Tomlinson needs 62 yards to pass former San Diego State standout Marshall Faulk, and 95 yards to pass legendary Jim Brown, one of the standard bearers when it comes to elite running backs.

Tomlinson had 71 yards in the Chargers’ first meeting with the Chiefs but 36 of them came on one play. But he’s been running the ball better in recent weeks and is coming off games of 96 yards (vs. the Philadelphia Eagles) and 73 yards (against the Denver Broncos).

The Chiefs are soft against the run so Tomlinson’s first 100-yard rushing game isn’t out of the question. The Chargers are a pass-first team behind Philip Rivers these days but another convincing victory over Kansas City — the Chargers beat the Chiefs 37-7 last month — might give Tomlinson ample attempts to run the ball.

The Chargers (7-3) are looking for their sixth consecutive victory while the Chiefs (3-7) are hoping for a respectable finish in coach Todd Haley’s first season.

One thing to watch closely is the play of Chiefs receiver Chris Chambers, whom the Chargers cut last month. Chambers will certainly be extra motivated and he’s done well since joining the Chiefs, averaging 24.9 yards per catch on 10 receptions.

Chambers knows the tendencies of Chargers cornerbacks Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie, Steve Gregory and Antoine Cason very well after practicing against the quartet over the past two years. On the other hand, the San Diego secondary knows what Chambers likes to do too.

The saddest thing about the game is that the Chargers needed two extensions from the NFL to sell enough tickets to lift the blackout. You have to assume that the team now understands that the economy isn’t good and that Qualcomm Stadium tickets are overpriced (especially by NFL standards when you consider the facility).

Next season, the team is going to need to cut ticket prices or there will definitely be some local television blackouts.

There’s another show ready to compete with “Desperate Housewives.” It’s called “Desperate Chargers.”

After the San Diego Chargers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in early October, safety Clinton Hart was given the heave-ho, making him the scapegoat for the poor play of the defense. Then 15 days later, the Chargers lost to the Denver Broncos so it’s time to make an example of somebody else.

You’ll never find Chargers coach Norv Turner pointing a finger at himself — oh no, he’s not secure enough to do that — or defensive coordinator Ron Rivera (whose star has fallen rapidly ever since the Super Bowl Sunday in which the Indianapolis Colts shredded the Chicago Bears’ defense he was in charge of) so this week’s man-at-fault is second-year cornerback Antoine Cason.

According to a pro football Web site that always seems to know more about what’s going on with the Chargers than the San Diego media, Cason was demoted from the team’s nickel back role and will be replaced by safety Steve Gregory. (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/22/chargers-yank-cason-out-of-nickel-role/)

That is an interesting decision in that in means rookie Kevin Ellison is now the starting strong safety (in Hart’s old role) and that Cason is being sent a stern message. Though he has two interceptions (the rest of the Chargers’ defense has combined for tw0), Cason apparently isn’t playing at a high enough level for the Chargers’ brass.

Cason was the team’s first-round pick in 2008 so you would figure he would receive multiple opportunities to grow on the job (um, why is 2007 first-round bust Craig Davis still drawing Chargers’ paychecks?) But Cason being replaced by Gregory is odd because Gregory — who earned the nickname “Silent Assassin” for his special teams play — doesn’t have the skill set to cover NFL slot receivers one-on-one.

Gregory is a good run-support player but not strong in coverage. Since the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders the next two Sundays, perhaps the belief is neither the Chiefs nor Raiders have enough wideouts to pose a threat and now is the time to challenge Cason and see how he responds.

Moving Gregory to the nickel prompts this question too — why is Paul Oliver on the Chargers’ roster? Dude has done absolutely nothing since the Chargers tabbed him in the 2007 supplemental draft and he was a cornerback in college at Georgia.

If Oliver was progressing at all, wouldn’t he be the guy moving to nickel back and not Gregory, a guy who won’t be able to cover NFL wide receivers over the long haul?

Regardless, the Chargers’ defense is a mess. Antonio Cromartie has proven to be an average cornerback, Shawne Merriman couldn’t locate a quarterback if his Silver Mercedes SUV was equipped with a GPS tracking system, and the defensive line is in complete chaos.

You could throw out Lester Hayes and Lem Barney at cornerback with Mike Haynes serving as the nickel back and the Chargers still wouldn’t be better than an average defense. No pressure on the quarterback equals no pass defense (Denver Broncos pass-rushing dynamo Elvis Dumervil has 10 sacks by himself, three more than the Chargers have as a team) and the Chargers are destined to be beat up on all season long.

So Cason’s this week’s scapegoat, huh? Hmmmm, what happens if the Chargers lose to the sad-sack Chiefs?

We”ll have to wait and see how the game plays out first. But know this, you won’t find Turner or general manager A.J. Smith accepting blame.

Oh no, we can only have two shows with desperate in the name — Desperate Housewives and Desperate Chargers. There’s no audience willing to watch a show called “Desperate Management.”

2008 Record: 9-9, 2008 TABRank: 11, Tentative 2009 AFC West Projection: 1st
Late-game failures marred most of the Chargers’ 2008 season.  All the Super Bowl hype seemed misguided, and the momentum from the 2007’s playoff run was immediately halted by a season-ending injury to Shawne Merriman and a last-second loss to the Carolina Panthers.  The Chargers suffered another late-game defeat the next week in Denver, thanks to a blown call on a fumble and a touchdown-plus-two that gave the Broncos a one-point victory.  San Diego failed late again against Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, and the Chargers saw themselves at 4-8 with seven defeats by seven points or less (and the ninth by just nine points).  That terrible start didn’t eliminate the Chargers, as they won their last four while the Broncos suffered a monumental collapse.  The Week 17 walloping of Denver gave San Diego the AFC West title with an 8-8 record.  Even with the disadvantage in record, the Bolts defeated the Colts at home.  With 2008’s stories (Philip Rivers’ great play, LaDainian Tomlinson’s injury struggles, Darren Sproles’ emergence, the defense’s weaknesses), the 2009 season comes with many questions.  None of those questions will matter if San Diego returns to Super Bowl contention.

Philip Rivers is the quarterback of the present and the future, and he recently signed a six-year extension for $92 million.  He’s an accurate and efficient quarterback, leading the league in passer rating.  Rivers did this less than a year after suffering an ACL tear.  If he can avoid the late-game letdowns the Chargers suffered early in the season, Rivers could have an even better season in ’09.  Tomlinson leads the backfield, but he enters the season at age 30 with 2657 regular season carries on his belt.  Sproles may need to continue to pick up the slack so LDT can stay fresh and at an elite level come December and beyond.  The receiving corps, which is on the rise, could also pick up the slack.  Vincent Jackson had a 1000-plus yard season in ’08.  The tall target with impressive body control in jump ball situations adds a vertical element to the passing game.  Tight end Antonio Gates still presents major mismatches, which has made him the most dangerous tight end for a couple of years.  WR Chris Chambers hasn’t been impressive statistically the past three seasons, but he’s still talented and reliable enough to be a starter.  There is some talented and promising depth, so San Diego can spread it out if necessary.  The offensive line played at a pretty good level last year, but not at the quality the unit had the previous two seasons.  LT Marcus McNeill needs to bounce back after his play diminished a bit in 2008, which shouldn’t be much of a problem for a player entering just his fourth season.  LG Kris Dielman and C Nick Hardwick join McNeill to make one of the best left sides in the league.  The right side could play much better than they have in recent seasons.  It’ll be interesting to see how this dynamic offense pans out under head coach Norv Turner, who prefers a more run-oriented offense and can stretch it deep on the play action.

The defense looks to improve now that the aggressive Ron Rivera enters his second season as the defensive coordinator and OLB Shawn Merriman returns from a knee injury that took away all but one game for the elite pass rusher in ‘08.  Merriman isn’t a complete player yet, but he’s so disruptive that he changes how opponents attack on offense.  With Shaun Phillips as the other starter and Jyles Tucker and rookie Larry English as the backup outside linebackers, the edge pass rush could be devastating.  Stephen Cooper makes his presence known inside, and Tim Dobbins and Kevin Burnett will fight for the other starting spot.  The defensive line isn’t as good as it used to be, but it should still be able to get the job done and open up holes for the linebackers.  NT Jamal Williams dropped down to 323 pounds, but the lighter frame should keep him healthier as he enters the twilight of his career.  DE Luis Castillo is a fantastic player in the 3-4, but it didn’t show entirely last season.  A rebound should be in store.  The secondary has major talent, especially at cornerback, but the consistency lacked big time last year.  The Chargers’ top corner, Quentin Jammer, did an impressive job, but fellow starter Antonio Cromartie was a virtual sieve to receivers.  Though a revelation, it was no surprise to learn that Cromartie played with a broken hip in 2008.  Hopes are that with him back in tip-top shape, he’ll be an effective corner again.  Don’t forget sophomore CB Antoine Cason, who’s on the rise.  Safety Eric Weddle also has high expectations entering the 2009 season.

The special teams have the promise to be a top five unit once again.  P Mike Scifres had perhaps the greatest punting performance in NFL history in the Chargers’ wild card victory for Indianapolis.  He can pin the ball inside the 10 better than anybody else, and he can also pin it deep.  Sproles remains a threat as a kick and punt returner.  LS David Binn is extremely consistent and reliable.

Once again, it looks like the Chargers have the capability to make the Super Bowl.  The pass rush should be back at a dominant level, and Cromartie’s health could go a long way.  A rebound by McNeill and Castillo, among others, should also help San Diego.  The championship-level talent hasn’t panned out to championship-level cohesion yet, and there’s no telling when exactly that’ll happen.  The best bet for Chargers fans is to expect a divisional title and hope that lucky breaks fall San Diego’s way in the playoffs.

Burning Question: How much does LDT have left in the tank to be an elite back in the NFL?
Tomlinson enters the season at age 30 with some nagging late-season injuries in recent seasons.  Meanwhile, most running backs begin to decline at age 28.  Then again, LDT isn’t just any ol’ running back.  Though his speed and quickness may begin to fail him, his amazing vision and anticipation shouldn’t fade.  He may not reach or surpassing the running back with the greatest vision ever, all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, but 15000 career rushing yards doesn’t seem to be out of the question.  That means Tomlinson should have another three good seasons left in his tank.

Sputtered Pass Rush
Without Merriman out for the final 15 games, the Chargers amassed just 28 sacks in the 2008 season, 14 less than they had in 2007.  That was good for the third-worst sack total drop from ‘07 to ‘08.  Now comes the hope that the pass rush can be rekindled and the Chargers can improve on last season’s record.  For now, here’s a list of teams who had at least 10 fewer sacks from the previous season:

*-won Super Bowl

Darren McFadden, Oakland – McFadden had a breakout game this week piling up 164 yards on 21 carries against the hapless Chiefs.  McFadden showed everyone why he was considered the top talent available in the draft.  The only real knock on his performance is that he put the ball on the ground twice which was main knock on his game coming out of Arkansas.  McFadden’s performance made him the second leading rusher amongst rookie backs this year with 210 yards and 5th in the NFL.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee – Continued to shine for the TItans posting his first 100 yard game of his career piling up 109 yards on 19 carries.  Johnson’s 202 yards rank him third amongst rookie runners.

Johnathan Stewart, Carolina – Stewart came up big for the Panthers scoring two second half touchdowns to go with a career high 77 yards.  Stewarts 130 yards rank 4th amongst rookies and his two touchdowns are the most amongst all rookie running backs.

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia – Jackson posted another 100 yard recieving against Dallas hauling in 6 balls for 110 yards.  Jackson’s 12 catches rate second amongst rookies and his 216 yards are tops amongst rookies and 4th in the NFL.  He is quickly emerging as the top wideout in the 2008 rookie class.

Chris Horton, Washington – The rookie safety had his best day as a pro snaring two interceptions and knocking away two others against the Saints.

Lawrence Jackson, Seattle – Had a strong outing this week recording two sacks amongst his five tackles.

Matt Forte, Chicago – Posted another solid outing against Carolina on Sunday rolling up 92 yards on 23 carries and caught 3 balls for 21 yards.  After two games Forte still stands atop the league’s rookies with 215 rushing yards and 4th amongst all running backs in the league.

Eddie Royal, Denver – Royal was held in check for most of the game until catching the touchdown and 2-point conversion that led to Denver’s win over San Diego.  Royal’s 14 catches are tops amongst rookies and his 183 yards rank second.

Antoine Cason, San Diego – Continues to make plays in the Chargers secondary collecting an interception and two passes defensed.  For the season Cason has an interception, a recovered fumble, and 3 passes defensed.

John Carlson, Seattle – The rookie tight end from Notre Dame continued his solid play catching six passes for 78 yards.  Carlson’s 10 catches and 130 yards rank third amongst all rookies.

Felix Jones, Dallas – After posting a solid debut against the Browns Jones contributed very little to the Dallas ground attack on Monday night.  However he managed to make his mark on the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Kendall Langford, Miami – The rookie defensive end out of Hampton has been one of the lone bright spots for the Dolphins this year recording sacks in each of his first two games.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta – After a strong performance in week one Ryan came tumblling back to Earth as the Falcons faced a more formidable opponent in Tampa Bay.  There is not a whole lot of positive things to say about Ryan’s performance.  He completed just 39.4% of his passes, threw 2 picks, and got sacked four times.  Bottom line is Ryan looked like a rookie QB making just his second start in the NFL this week.  No reason to give up on him at all just yet.

Chad Henne, Miami – Henne made his pro debut getting mopup duty in a blow out loss to Arizona and looked fairly competent while out there.  He completed 7 of 12 passes for 67 yards and led the ‘Phins to their only touchdown.  However, no need to get to revved up about Henne just yet this is still Pennington’s team as Miami likely just wanted to get Henne some snaps in an actual game.  The Dolphins are likely wanting Henne to sit and watch this year and compete for the starting job next summer.

The first week of the NFL season featured some impressive debuts from the class of ‘08.  We saw two rookie quarterbacks, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, win their pro debuts for the first time since 1971 when Archie Manning and Jim Plunkett won their debut games.  We also saw a back go for 100 yards rushing a reciever catch over 100 yards worth of passes, and another back compile 100 yards of total offense.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta – Ryan played about as well as could be expected for a rookie making his first start in the NFL.  The Falcons game planned this one perfectly to a tee relying heavily on the running game which has plenty of quality depth with Micheal Turner and Jerious Norwood toting the ball for the Falcons.  Ryan simply delivered when asked to.  His ability to complete passes downfield kept the defense honest allowing Micheal Turner to rack up 220 yards on the ground.  Ryan looked sharp completing 9 of his 13 passes for 161 yards and no interceptions.  He made a couple of big time throws and did not make any of the dumbs ones that rookies are wont to do.  

Joe Flacco, Baltimore – Flacco was essentially good enough to get the job done.  The positives are that he did not turn the ball over and showed some wheels in taking a 38 yard scramble to the house.  The negatives are he only completed 51.7% of his passes against a bad defensive team in the Bengals and did not complete one throw over 15 yards.  Basically he did not do anything to screw it up and Coach Harbaugh was willing to utilize a dominant running game to monopolize the ball.

Matt Forte, Chicago – Forte was the league’s top rookie rusher piling up 123 yards, including a 50 yard romp to the end zone, leading the Bears to a 29-13 blowout of the Colts.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee – Some folks snickered when the Titans selected Johnson in the first round, especially when they desparately needed to find someone for Vince Young to throw the ball to.  Johnson proved his crtics wrong yesterday by racking up 127 yards of offense (93 rush, 34 rec) and a touchdown.  Johnson was one of the lone brights spots on offense in what was an otherwise pedestrian game.  Ultimately the Titans needed to get a playmaker on offense and it appears as though they have one in Chris Johnson.

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia – The lone rookie wideout to catch more than 2 balls and had about as good of a debut as one could have expected catching 6 balls for 106 yards including two that went for over 20 yards.  He also gave the return game a shot in the arm with a 60 yard punt return.

Ray Rice, Baltimore – A rather lackluster debut of 64 yards on 22 carries including a fumble.

Felix Jones, Dallas – Scampered his way to 62 yards on 9 carries including a TD run the first time he touched the ball.

Jonathan Stewart, Carolina – Gave the Panthers exactly what they wanted with 53 yards on 10 carries in relief of DeAngelo Williams. 

Steve Slaton, Houston – A so-so debut of 43 yards on 13 carries in a game that Houston was never really in from the start.

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh – Mendenhall managed just 28 yards on 10 carries in a game that saw teammate Willie Parker go for 138 yards and 3 scores.

John Carlson, Seattle – The rookie tight end caught four passes for 52 yards in a solid debut outing.

Keith Rivers, Cincinnati – The top rookie tackler of the week recording 10 tackles against the Ravens.

Antoine Cason, San Diego – The rookie corner recorded six tackles including a forced fumble that led to a Chargers touchdown.

Derrick Harvey, Jacksonville – Drafted by the Jaguars to bolster the pass rush the rookie defensive end was ironically the only rookie to record an interception this week.  He also managed to knock down two other passes but failed to record even a tackle.

With under three months to go until the San Diego Chargers take on the New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium, in the second regular season NFL game to take place in Europe, I felt now is a good time to look at the prospects of the Saints and the Chargers first round 2008 rookie picks.

Both teams sensibly went for defensive upgrades in areas of need – all goos so far, so lets look in some more detail;

Saints – Pick Number 7 overall – Selection – Sedrick Ellis - Defensive Tackle – College - USC Trojans – Contract status – 5 year contract signed – 6ft 1 – 307lbs – Shirt #98

Sedrick Ellis - Saints #1 pick

Lawrence Vos’s Position analysis

Ellis comes into a Saints defensive that was 13th overall in the NFL against the run in 2007, but its the pass defense that was awful last season finishing 30th out of 32 teams, giving up a league worst 7.9 yards a pass. The defensive tackles clogging up the running lanes for the Saints in 07 included old warhorse Hollis Thomas (5o tackles and 3 sacks), Brian Young (who made just 18 tackles in 8 starts) and Antwan Lake (whoooo ? – well he started 7 games and had 18 tackles). Not exactly an all-star lineup you must agree. Ellis will be an immediate upgrade and will be pushing to get in the starting lineup from the opening snap of pre-season. Ellis was a monster at USC in 07, with 8.5 sacks and a reinforced shelf full of awards. Whilst his height and weight are not prototypical of a dominating defensive tackle Ellis has the motor of a transatlantic cruise liner, and is an excellent fit for the Saints. I’m not convinced that every fan inside Wembley Stadium in October will fully appreciate the skills of Ellis in the middle of a mud filled trench war, but I will be straining my eyeballs towards number #98 when the game begins. 3 tackles and a sack would be a fantastic day out for Ellis in London.

Chargers – Pick Number 27 overall – Selection – Antoine Cason - Cornerback – College – Arizona Wildcats – Contract status – 5 year contract signed – 6 ft 0 – 191lbs – Shirt #20

Antoine Cason - Chargers #1 pick

Lawrence Vos’s Position analysis

The Chargers were just one game away from the Superbowl, but two Tom Brady touchdown passes were enough to kill San Diego’s prospects of a second Superbowl appearance. What does Coach Norv Turner do to immediately address the problem – he got rid of Drayton Florence and upgraded to Antoine Cason, to go alongside 2007 All World corner Antonio Cromartie. Cason had 253 tackles and 15 interceptions as a Wildcat in the desert, quite impressive stats for a cornerback. At Wembley in October Cason will be going up against the likes of Devery Henderson, David Patten, Robert Meachem or even Jeremy Shockey, which will be a stern test for Cason. Rookie cornerbacks can often be picked on and by mid-season it will become apparent if Cason is going to sink or swim. With a father and two cousins that have already played in the NFL Cason will have the bonus of years of advice and guidance about being a professional athlete. Being a first round pick there will be expectations by coaches and fans that Cason will be game ready from game one. My prediction for his game in London – 2 tackles and one pass defended, and one huge mistake. 

Anyone else got any thoughts on Ellis or Cason ? Feel free to comment……

Chargers first-round draft pick Antoine Cason had to be a little patient, but he will be on the field with his teammates Friday. Just over 24 hours before the Chargers were set to hit the field for their first full-squad practice of training camp, Cason agreed to terms on a five-year contract.

“I had faith that it was going to happen pretty soon,” said Cason, the 27th overall pick in April’s draft. “We all knew I wanted to be in camp early. It just took a little bit to get there. I’m excited about it.”

We haven’t had a ton of NFL Draft coverage here on VFT this year (though Rahim’s Raiders work has been very good). However, I am a huge draft nut and have been following the process, so I’ll try to coalesce my opinions on the Draft into this post. As a general rule, I don’t grade teams’ drafts, but I do rank them, so that serves as a good general idea of where teams fall.

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Simply put, I was blown away by what they did. Instead of getting jumpy and making big moves to dump some of their excess picks, they made smart moves when they had to and produced a very important class for their long-term success. Dorsey was one of my favorite guys in the draft, and Brandon Albert’s versatility on the line will work wonders for a team with as much in flux there as the Chiefs. He can play Guard or Tackle and will be put in the best place to help the team. Beyond the First Round, KC got players I really like in Brandon Flowers, Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam, and a few intriguing guys in Brandon Carr and Barry Richardson. Fantastic, fantastic draft.

2. Cleveland Browns- This will surprise alot of people, considering the Browns didn’t pick until the Fourth. However, it is only fair to consider trades involving their draft picks as relevant to the draft, and their moves were spectacular in that context. In effect, they walk out of the 2008 Draft with Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to go along with their underrated Day 2 haul in Beau Bell, Ahtyba Rubin, and Martin Rucker (among others). Cleveland didn’t need developmental talent as much as they needed ready to roll players and they used the draft to do exactly that.

3. Dallas Cowboys- While I stand by my assertion that they could have gotten Felix Jones with their second First and just picked Mike Jenkins there instead of trading up, Jerry Jones did a very good job. Those two guys will be put in the right situations for them, and Orlando Scandrick could end up being a difference-maker in the long term as well. Guys like Martellus Bennett and Tashard Choice were solid selections as well. Some are criticizing them for not drafting any WR’s, but this year’s class is terrible and I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a few bigger contributor WR’s available down the line who fit the profile a little better….

4. Pittsburgh Steelers- They were put in a fantastic situation because they have the personnel to make taking the Best Player Available a valid strategy, made much easier when guys like Mendenhall and Sweed are up for grabs in R1 and R2. Both should be significant contributors and natural fits, and I really like Bruce Davis, Tony Hils, and taking a flier on Dennis Dixon.

5. Philadelphia Eagles- This starts first and foremost with the Panthers trade. Regardless of how it turns out (my projection: Panthers are one of the best non-playoff teams), having that extra first rounder next year will pay dividends. That could be in the form of the pick itself or possibly as a great piece in a potential WR trade. From there on, they made smart picks from Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson (who fills both the slot WR role and the PR necessity) to the underrated Andrew Studebacker and the risky but talented Jack Ikegwuonu.

6. Denver Broncos- They know what they want and they did a reasonably good job of getting it. Ryan Clady is a perfect fit for their blocking scheme, and while I hate them taking Eddie Royal over DeSean Jackson, players like Josh Barrett and Peyton Hillis drafted late could be cogs in this team for the long term.

7. Tampa Bay Bucs- Similarly to the Broncos, they filled spots with players who seem to be great fits for what they run. Aqib Talib should be a phenomenal Cover 2 corner and I like Jeremy Zuttah considering their O-line woes over the past two years. Also, they took two compelling guys late in my favorite late-round QB (Josh Johnson, a former Jim Harbaugh QB) and Geno Hayes. It would have been nice to get an impact WR, but there simply were not any in this draft class.

8. New England Patriots- I would give them the benefit of the doubt anyway, but I really like what Pioli and Co. did this year. Jerod Mayo is a fantastic LB for what they run, Shawn Crable fills an immediate niche, and Matt Slater will become a fan favorite among Pats fans because of his special teams prowess and effort on the field. They don’t need a ton of players, but who they got should contribute, which makes it a very good draft for them.

9.Baltimore Ravens- I liked Joe Flacco when he was an underrated Round 2 guy, but I’m worried that they put too much into getting him (even though not losing a 2009 pick makes it much better than the Boller deal). The strength of their draft, like so many Ozzie drafts, is getting players like Ray Rice, Oniel Cousins, and Haruki Nakamura beyond the first round. Also, they got Allen Patrick, who was my #1 value (Player Quality / Spot taken) in the entire 2008 Draft- he’s a downright steal in Round 7.

10. New York Jets- Another team which had such a great draft that it buoys them despite a shaky R1 guy. For them to be this high despite my distaste for Vernon Gholston says a ton about the rest of their draft. Dustin Keller and Marcus Henry could both be used very well if their Offensive Coordinator is creative enough with them, and I simply love Dwight Lowery and Erik Ainge, both players I wanted the Niners (my team) to draft.

11. Seattle Seahawks- While I’m still a little puzzled by taking Lawrence Jackson in Round 1 considering the money they’ve put in at that position, he’s a good player and the rest of their draft was simply impressive. John Carlson and Red Bryant will both fill valuable roles, and I simply love taking Owen Schmitt, Justin Forsett, and Brandon Coutu late- all could help this playoff team.

12. St. Louis Rams- I absolutely love Chris Long (my #1 player in this year’s draft) and Justin King, but the rest leaves too much to be desired for them to go higher in this ranking. Don’t get me wrong- the other players (Avery, Greco, et al) aren’t bad, but they weren’t the slam dunks the Rams needed to shore up and make a good run at the division. That said, they got contributors and long-term starters, which is why there are at this slot.

13. Indianapolis Colts- One of the hardest teams to rank because they essentially drafted Tony Ugoh last year with this year’s First. That was a good move, but they don’t get credit for it in my book this year. Still, drafting good depth along the o-line and the unadulterated steal of Mike Hart put them in the top half of teams this time.

14. Chicago Bears- They need a QB more than anything (besides o-line), but they did a great job filling other needs. Guys like Matt Forte, Marcus Harrison, Zack Bowman, and the criminally underrated Marcus Monk could all have significant roles sooner than most think. Don’t sleep on Earl Bennett or Craig Steltz either- both have spots as well.

15. Minnesota Vikings- I think they gave up too much to get Jared Allen (considering KC’s lack of leverage), but he makes their line that much more formidable and was assuredly more valuable than their first rounder would have been. While I would have put the petal to the metal and drafted Brian Brohm to compete with Tavaris Jackson, Tyrell Johnson should be good for them, and John David Booty and John Sullivan could help them out.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Unlike most, I 100% understand their logic on getting Derrick Harvey. He may not be the a top-10 guy in this draft, but he should be important on the line in both the short term and the long term, which makes sense considering the Jags don’t have a ton of needs and should be shooting for both time frames (as opposed to getting a guy like Jason Taylor for the short term). I also really like Quentin Groves and Trae Williams for them, though getting some more depth with the picks they traded would have helped.

17. Green Bay Packers- Let me first say that I LOVE both Jordy Nelson and Brian Brohm for the Packers. Each fits their system very well and should be given a fair shot to contribute. The rest of their draft was solid but unspectacular, with guys like Patrick Lee and Jeremy Thompson hopefully helping out.

18. New Orleans Saints- Sedrick Ellis is a fantastic player (my #3 overall) and Tracy Porter could end up being a great cover corner in the league. I wish they would’ve gotten better value in the middle rounds, especially considering how much some depth could mean for them on the field. However, I did like the Adrian Arrington pick and Carl Nicks could end up paying dividends.

19. San Diego Super Chargers- Sweet sassy molassy I was high on Antoine Cason. I saw a ton of him (he’s a Pac-10 guy) and he consistently impressed. Jacob Hester is a gamer (though he was drafted a little too high), but they really needed to get some o-line depth and possibly a little more d-line help as well. Also, signing Ryan Leaf’s little brother as an undrafted Free Agent was my favorite roster move of the entire two-day period, though that wasn’t for on the field reasons.

20. Washington Redskins- Taking three pass-catchers in the second round sure takes a great amount of guts (and they were all solid to great values), but they completely ignored their DE need, which could come back to haunt them and I don’t like Colt Brennan for the offense they run.

21. Oakland Raiders- I like McFadden as much as most, but this “draft” hinges on how DeAngelo Hall does in silver and black. As an admitted hater of Mr. Hall, I am constitutionally obligated to have them around here, though I like both McFadden and Tyvon Branch. Also, they need a ton more depth at various positions, but gave up the necessary picks previously to do it.

22. Miami Dolphins- Some people have them substantially higher than this, but I think Jake Long was taken far too early for a natural RT that they’ll inevitably try to play out of position, and I’ll never understand why a QB that consistently underwhelmed like Chad Henne got the hype from the media he recieved. However, they did get a number of good players with other picks, with Phillip Merling, Shawn Murphy, and Lionel Dotson being my favorites.

23. New York Giants- Your Super Bowl Champions had a relavitely mundane draft, and it says a lot for how well teams did that a draft like this is in the bottom third. Phillips and Thomas should do fine in the secondary and Manningham was a substantially better college player than his stock would indicate (thanks for lying about drug use!), but the Giants could’ve helped themselves with a legit Day two, and it didn’t come besides Jonathan Goff.

24. San Francisco 49ers- They made solid picks, but I’ll always ruminate on the ones they didn’t make. Passing on a guy like DeSean Jackson for Chilo Rachal and not adding potential contributors like Erik Ainge, Owen Schmitt, and others at skill positions may end up haunting a team with so little at those spots.

25. Arizona Cardinals- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a good player, but it was simply shocking that they passed on RB’s throughout the draft (Rashard Mendenhall? Ray Rice? Allen Patrick?) and took decent but not great players, though I like Early Doucet if they end up moving Boldin.

26. Detroit Lions- By far the hardest team for me to peg. I like a decent portion of their picks (Jordon Dizon, Cliff Avril, Andre Fluellen to name a few), but there’ just a bitter taste in my mouth because they ended up with Gosder Cherilus while looking Mendenhall in the face with such a glaring need for a RB and so few other opportunities to fill it. I really hope Kevin Smith and Caleb Campbell succeed- both deserve it.

27. Carolina Panthers- Honestly, this all hinges on how well Jeff Otah works out. I’m not a big fan and to me he definately wasn’t worth the dramatic price they paid to get him. What redeems them is a fantastic job getting Dan Connor and Charles Godfrey, both of whom should have been Day 1 players. Johnathan Stewart should do very well for the Panthers and their late round picks could end up playing a part long-term.

28. Buffalo Bills- The type of draft that could work out for them, but I feel like they reached on every early pick besides Leodis McKelvin. Their late guys may work out, but this year that puts them closer to the bottom of the pack.

29. Atlanta Falcons- I’m not remotely sold on either Matt Ryan or Sam Baker for the spots they were taken and the necessary resources given up to procure them, but they made some smart picks in Harry Douglass, Thomas DeCoud, Thomas Brown, and Chevis Jackson later on .

30. Houston Texans- They drafted decent players, but it just feels like they could have done so much more with their picks and made it more competitive with Jacksonville and Indy for the top of that division. That said, I like the potential of Steve Slaton, Xavier Adibi, and Dominique Barber on this squad.

31. Tennessee Titans- There was plenty to like in the later rounds (Lavelle Hawkins and Stanford Kelgar as the two biggest hits), but taking Chris Johnson in the first round given the fact that every WR was on the board was simply baffling. Another team that horribly missed a key opportunity to make up ground.

32. Cincinnati Bengals- Let’s see. We have a team with a terrible defense and a decent offense. What do we do? Oh, I know: let’s take all offensive players! While I do like most of the guys they drafted (though Keith Rivers was notoriously overrated), it is appalling to take a majority of offensive players, especially three WR’s in a terrible WR draft. There’s a reason they underachieve and it starts at the top.

“We got a guy that we think is going to be a terrific football player,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. “Solid character, work ethic, production over the years. Fantastic. (There were) a lot of quality, good football players and we got ourselves one.”

1.)  Miami Dolphins:  OT Jake Long, Michigan;  We already knew this one, as this stud on the O-Line had already been signed to a nice big contract by the ‘Phins.

2.)  St. Louis Rams:  DE Chris Long, Virginia; The Rams add a very strong, powerful, and explosive pass-rusher to their defensive line.

3.)  Atlanta Falcons:  QB Matt Ryan, Boston College;  The Falcons fill their gaping hole at the position with the consensus best quarterback available.

4.)  Oakland Raiders:  HB Darren McFadden, Arkansas;  With this pick and QB Jamarcus Russell, the Raiders now have a very talented, young, and explosive pair of playmakers in the offensive backfield.

5.)  Kansas City Chiefs:  DT Glen Dorsey, LSU; Glen Dorsey didn’t drop on draft boards so much as other players rose.  The Chiefs will be happy to have the defensive monster many had going #1 late last year.

6.)  New York Jets:  DE Vernon Ghoulston, Ohio State; Ghoulston is a quick, athletic end who will be very versatile in the Jets’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

TRADE:  The Patriots trade the #7 pick (from a trade with San Francisco) to the New Orleans Saints for the Saints’ #10 pick and a third-round selection.

7.)  New Orleans Saints:  DT Sedrick Ellis, USC;  The Saints really wanted a defensive tackle, and Ellis was the best one on the board, but probably wouldn’t have made it to the Saints had they stayed at #10.

TRADE:  The Ravens trade the #8 pick to the Jaguars for Jacksonville’s #26 pick, two third round picks, and a fourth round pick.

8.)  Jacksonville Jaguars:  DT Derrick Harvey, Florida;  Last season, the Jaguars had a fierce defensive line, but injuries, free agency, and some offseason trades have decimated Jacksonville’s once feared defensive front.  This pick is a step in the right direction for the Jags.

9.)  Cincinatti Bengals:  LB Keith Rivers, USC;  The Bengals have a need at the linebacker position, and Rivers is a versatile and instinctive player.  Perhaps more importantly, Rivers stays out of trouble.

10.)  New England Patriots:  LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee;  Mayo adds some much-needed youth to the aging Patriots linebacking corps.

11.)  Buffalo Bills:  CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy;  The fast, hard-hitting McKelvin is the first corner taken.

12.)  Denver Broncos:  OT Ryan Clady, Boise State;  This tall, athletic tackle will fit well into Denver’s zone-blocking scheme.

13.)  Carolina Panthers:  HB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon;  Possibly a steal, because Stewart would have been picked even higher if there hadn’t been doubts about an injured toe.

14.)  Chicago Bears:  OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt;  The Bears could have, and probably should have, taken a quarterback such as Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm here, but they chose to solidify their offensive line.  Hey, maybe Grossman will actually be a competent quarterback if he is given more time to throw.  Just kidding.

TRADE:  The Lions trade their #15 pick and a 3rd round pick to the Chiefs for Kansas City’s #17 selection, 3rd round, and 5th round picks.

15.)  Kansas City Chiefs:  G Brandon Albert, Virginia;  The Chiefs move up a tad to ensure that they get a solid offensive lineman here.

16.)  Arizona Cardinals:  CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State;  Rodgers-Cromartie shot up draft boards after an incredibly impressive Senior Bowl and combine.  He has blazing speed and will offset the move of Antrel Rolle to safety for the Cardinals.

17.)  Detroit Lions:  OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College; How many strikes does Matt Millen get?  Goose-der Cheri-who?  With Rashard Mendenhall still available?

TRADE:  The Ravens trade their #26 pick, which they had received earlier in a trade from Jacksonville, and their 3rd and 6th round picks, to the Texans for the #18 pick.

18.)  Baltimore Ravens:  QB Joe Flacco, Delaware;  With McNair gone, the Ravens hope that Flacco lives up to all the hype he’s gotten lately.  Scouts suddenly realized that a 6′6″ QB with a rocket arm might just make it in the NFL.

TRADE:  The Panthers get another first round pick by trading their second-round pick, a fourth round pick, and their ‘09 first round pick to the Eagles for their #19 pick.

19.)  Carolina Panthers:  OT Jeff Otah, Pitt;  Another solid offensive tackle in a draft class full of them.  What’s really amazing here is how much Carolina was willing to give up to draft this guy.

20.)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  CB Aqib Talib, Kansas; Talib may have the best raw talent of any corner in the draft, and the Bucs needed a complement to the aging Ronde Barber.

TRADE:  The Redskins traded the #21 choice to the Atlanta Falcons.  The Redskins also sent one of their third-round picks, the 81st overall, and their fifth-round choice, the 154th overall, in exchange for two of Atlanta’s second round draft choices, the 34th and 48th overall, and Atlanta’s fourth-round draft choice, the 103 choice overall.

21.)  Atlanta Falcons:  OT Sam Baker, USC; This may have been a bit of a reach, but Baker had been rising on draft boards and the Falcons need some protection for Matt Ryan.

22.)  Dallas Cowboys (from a trade last year with Cleveland):  HB Felix Jones, Arkansas;  Everyone knew that Jerry Jones loved the two running backs from Arkansas.  So while this isn’t really a team need, the Cowboys took what they saw to be the best available player.

23.)  Pittsburgh Steelers:  HB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois;  The Steelers should be thrilled that the Lions let Mendenhall slip away.  It’s amazing this bruiser fell into Pittsburgh’s hands.

24.)  Tennesse Titans:  HB Chris Johnson, East Carolina;  This insanely fast back was clocked at an incredible 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  Johnson lit up Conference USA.  Will he light up the NFL?

TRADE:  The Seattle Seahawks traded the #25 pick to the Cowboys in exchange for Dallas’ #28 pick, 5th round pick, and 7th round pick.

25.)  Dallas Cowboys:  CB Mike Jenkins, USF;  Jenkins is a great cover corner, and will help the Cowboys immensely as long as he stays out of trouble off the field.  This is a guy the Packers had an eye on.

26.)  Houston Texans:  OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech;  An underrated tackle who might be better than Sam Baker or even Jeff Otah later in his career.  This will help the Texans’ still-weak offensive line.

27.)  San Diego Chargers:  CB Antoine Cason, Arizona;  After Drayton Florence left in free agency, the Chargers needed some depth at corner.  Meanwhile, this pick all but eliminated any prospect of the Packers taking a corner in the first round.

28.)  Seattle Seahawks:  DE Lawrence Jackson, USC; Southern Cal continues to churn out first round picks.  Jackson is effective against both the run and the pass.

29.)  San Francisco 49ers (from a trade last year with Indianapolis):  DE Kentwan Balmer, UNC;  The 49ers had a choice to make here.  Revitalize an aging D-Line or give QB Alex Smith some offensive weapons to throw to.  They went with defense.

TRADE:  Green Bay traded its #30 pick to the Jets in exchange for the #36 pick in the second round and a fourth round pick.

30.)  New York Jets:  TE Dustin Keller, Purdue:  This guy was overrated.  I’m glad the Packers didn’t waste their first round pick.

31.)  New York Giants:  S Kenny Phillips, Miami:  The Super Bowl champs replace Gibril Wilson with a solid all around free safety.

WIth the 27th pick in the draft

The San Diego Chargers select…

Antoine Cason, Cornerback, Arizona.

Cason is 6′0” 191 lbs. and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash.

The Bolts don’t have a ton of needs in this draft so it looks like they made getting a corner a priority and since they are starting to run of the board there was no time like the present. Cason is a nice player. He should make plays in this defense. They way San Diego gets after the quarterback Cason will have plenty of chances to undercut passes and make interceptions on poorly thrown balls. He should be a nice addition to the Charger defense. 

Over at The Star Ledger, Mike Garafolo writes that if that if the Giants don’t land Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall in a trade they’ll likely take a cornerback with their first round pick.

If the Giants draft a cornerback, it’ll be the third time in the last four season the Giants have taken a cornerback with their first selection in the draft.

Some of the cornerbacks that might be available by the time the Giants pick are Arizona’s Antoine Cason, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin, Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Kansas’ Aqib Talib.

After an unexpectedly successful 2007 campaign, the Packers ended up with the thirtieth pick in the NFL Draft.  With April fast approaching and the NFL combine beginning this weekend, the Packers need to start deciding their strategy for the draft.  We’re getting serious about the draft as well, and we will begin posting our thoughts and expectations of the draft, beginning with this post.

 Green Bay has very few serious needs to address.  The cornerback position is the only obvious need, with a pair of talented but aging corners in Al Harris and Charles Woodson.  Harris in particular choked in big games against the Cowboys and the Giants last season, and while I still think he is a solid starter, it is time to start grooming a replacement.  The top corners in the draft look to be Leodis McKelvin out of Troy State, Mike Jenkins out of USF, Arizona’s Antoine Cason, and Kansas’ Aqib Talib.  Also, a little-known player from the little-known school of Tennessee State has been skyrocketing up the draft boards.  Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was impressive in the Senior Bowl and he is being projected by some as maybe even being the second or third corner taken.  I am of the opinion, however, that Rodgers-Cromartie’s stock will fall closer to its previous level if he fails to match his spectacular Senior Bowl performance in the combine.  Also, Jenkins and McKelvin will probably be gone long before the Packers pick.  That leaves Antoine Cason, Aqib Talib, and maybe Rodgers-Cromartie as potential options when the Pack is on the clock.  To me, there’s not much of a difference between these players, but if forced to choose I’d take Rodgers-Cromartie because of his blazing 4.38 40.

After the first-round, I think the Packers can afford to adopt a best-player-available strategy because there are no other real needs for the Packers (some point to the O-line as a weakness, but the last thing it needs is more young players struggling to learn the system mid-season).

That’s it for this edition of DRAFTwatch.  Check back in March when we will be posting the first of our mock drafts.

By John Rohde, NewsOK.com Staff Writer

In order to win this year’s Jim Thorpe Award, Antoine Cason had to clear three significant hurdles. But it appeared the Arizona cornerback would be too small, too crippled and — oddly enough — too talented to be tabbed as the nation’s top collegiate defensive back.

Cason formally received his award Tuesday night during an awards ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, beating out fellow finalists James Silva of Boston College and LSU’s Craig Steltz for the honor.

Click here to view Antoine’s acceptance speech.

“The race, frankly, was very tight,” Jim Thorpe Association president Lynne Draper said.

Cason nearly didn’t enter the race at all.

When Cason arrived as a freshman at Los Alamitos High School in Long Beach, Calif., he stood 5-foot-5.

“I’d like to say I was 5-6, but it was 5-5,” Cason said. “During Pop Warner football, pee-wee football, I was always told I was too small, wasn’t good enough, wasn’t big enough, wasn’t strong enough. It did kind of wear on me.”

Thankfully, a growth spurt came at age 16. But it left Cason crippled with Osgood-Schlatter Disease, which causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee.

“It hindered me. I couldn’t work out for eight months,” said Cason, who grew five inches that year. “I couldn’t even get out of a chair without help. It was bad. My coaches were pressing me, told me I was babying it, things like that. I told them I just couldn’t do it. It just hurt too much.”

Doctors told Cason the affliction would eventually go away with time. A determined Cason didn’t even miss a season, and there have been no lingering effects of the disease.

Cason’s third hurdle came with a decision after his junior season with the Wildcats.

He already had established himself as one of the nation’s premier cornerbacks and had been a Thorpe semifinalist.

The first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference pick and former freshman All-American gave serious consideration to entering the NFL Draft rather than returning for his senior season.

Cason is the only Thorpe winner never to have played in a bowl or had a winning season, a shortcoming that understandably could have led to an early departure to the pros.

In the end, Antoine Cason stayed true to his school.

“It was tough, and that was definitely when I needed my family the most,” Cason said.

Cason didn’t have to look far for advice.

His father, Wendell, played collegiately at Oregon and later with the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87). Cousins Kenyon Rambo played with the New York Jets and Avieon Cason with the Dallas Cowboys.

The affable Cason has long been a popular interview request for media in Arizona. But an overall record of 17-29 at the UA took its toll.

“It was difficult. I’m a competitive guy, and I really hate losing,” Cason said. “I tried my hardest to try to lead the team to a winning season. I tried to do all I can do. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. But I kept my spirits high, kept my team first and played hard. I was tired of losing. I didn’t want to be known as a loser.”

Cason said he would not have regretted returning to school had he not won the Thorpe.

“Antoine’s been through a lot in his life,” Wendell Cason said. “Everybody overlooked him. He was getting discouraged. It was a hard struggle. He had to prove a lot of people wrong.”

By University of Arizona News

Arizona senior Antoine Cason, the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner, added another accolade to his college career Tuesday with his selection as a first-team All-American by The Associated Press.

Cason also has earned first-team All-America recognition from Walter Camp, The Sporting News, CBSSports.com, SI.com and Rivals.com, and has received All-Pac-10 accolades this postseason.

Cason and safeties Craig Steltz of Louisiana State University and Jamie Silva of Boston College were consensus selections in the defensive secondary, and cornerback Aqib Talib of Kansas also was a unanimous selection.

Cason’s AP All-America honors are the first for an Arizona player since Dennis Northcutt was recognized as a kick return specialist by the news cooperative after the 1999 season. Northcutt was a consensus kick return All-American and chosen as a first-team All-American wide receiver by the American Football Coaches Association.

Cason is one of three players from the Pacific-10 Conference named to the first team, joining University of Southern California defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and Arizona State University place kicker Thomas Webber.

The Big 12 had eight players selected to the first team, leading all conferences. The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference were second with four All-Americans each.

By University of Arizona News

Arizona senior cornerback Antoine Cason was named the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award Thursday night at the 17th Annual ESPN College Awards Show in Orlando, Fla.

Cason, who eschewed an opportunity in the 2006 NFL draft to return to Arizona for his senior season, becomes the second Wildcat to be honored with the award and the third player in Pacific-10 history. Arizona cornerback Darryll Lewis won the award in 1990.

The award, presented annually to the nation’s best college defensive back, is one of college football’s most sought-after and prestigious awards. Thorpe Award winners are selected by the Jim Thorpe Association for performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The association supports a broad range of civic and charity activities in honor of American Indian professional football legend Jim Thorpe.

A two-time team captain, Cason wrapped up his final season in Tucson with a team-high five interceptions, 14 passes broken up and 71 total tackles. He scored two touchdowns on interception returns and two more on punt returns in 2007 to become Arizona’s fourth-leading scorer for the year, despite not playing on offense.

Cason, who also was named the first Walter Camp First-Team All-American at the UA since 1999 on Thursday, wrapped up his four-year Wildcat career fourth all-time in Arizona history with 15 interceptions, including three for touchdowns, 32 passes defended and 253 total tackles. He started all 46 games in his career and missed only a handful of snaps in games that had already been decided.

A strong contributor to the Tucson community, Cason started the Cason Cares campaign this fall and recently presented a check for $5,000 to the American Cancer Society in memory of his grandfather, Royce Rambo, who lost his battle with the disease last February.

A political science major, Cason is scheduled to graduate in May.