Bleacher Report - Articles by New England Sports

Frank Spaziani: Still a Staple of Boston College Football

New England Sports — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:13:42 -0400

This off-season has been a rocky, and often interesting, one for the Boston College Eagles football fans.

The talent lost on the defensive end with Busari "BJ" Raji, and Ron Brace both making the leap to the NFL, as well as last seasons starting QB, Chris Crane, joining the dark side and signing with the Indianapolis Colts is going to be tough for the Eagles to deal with. Combined with what is expected to be a season ending injury to senior linebacker Mike McLaughlin, the loss of talent for the Eagles will be evident coming into the 2009-2010 college season.

However the loss of talent is just a small piece of what has made this off season so interesting for the Eagles.

On January 7, 2009, it was announced that Boston College would fire head coach Jeff Jagodzinski shortly after it was found out that he had in turn broken the terms of his contract by interviewing for the then-vacant New York Jets head coaching position. After just two seasons with the Eagles, and a 20-8 record, coach "Jags" was gone.

But it didn't end there.

Following the firing of Coach Jagodzinski, former Eagles head coach (1981-1990), and then Offensive Line coach and assistant head coach, Jack Bicknell, quickly jumped ship. Offensive Coordinator Steve Logan resigned, opening up the job for former Navy Head Coach, Gary Tranquill to take over the position. However with all the coaching changes aside, one constant remained, Boston College defensive coordinator, Frank "The Mad Scientist" Spaziani.

Staying true to the Eagles, after 11 years with the school's football program, starting as the teams Running Back Coach, then being promoted in 1999 to Defensive Coordinator, Spaziani, on January 13, 2009 was announced as the new Eagles head coach. After 11 years with the Eagles, and 6 seasons coaching in the CFL before that, Spaziani's commitment to the game of football has finally paid off.

Spaziani made his presence known almost immediately with the hiring of new offensive line coach Sean Devine, as well as bringing in former Kansas State offensive assistant, and 20 year coaching veteran. Dave Brock, as the teams new Tight Ends coach. In fact with the exception of linebackers coach Bill McGovern, who has spent nine seasons with the Eagles, the entire coaching staff has been revamped over at Chestnut Hill.

Now that Spaziani has hired his staff, his first recruiting period is well underway, and the 2010 class is looking bright for Eagles fans, with early verbal commitments from four star QB, Joe Boisture, four Star Offensive Tackle, Seth Betancourt, as well as yet another four star recruit, Kevin Pierre-Louis, all of which are rated within the top 150 on both Scouts Inc. & ESPN recruiting databases.

Taking into account the fact that Jeff Jagodzinski failed to recruit a single top 150 player in his two years with the Eagles, it certainly seems as though Frank Spaziani is well on his way to continuing to cement himself as the staple of Boston College Football.

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Don't Worry Eagles Fans, Joe Boisture Is Here

New England Sports — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:29:02 -0400

The most memorable Boston College Eagles quarterback to make they’re way to Chapel Hill in recent times is, without a doubt, Matt Ryan.

Leading the Eagles to as high as No. 2 in the nation, and making a major splash at the NFL level, Ryan set the bar for quarterbacks at the heights.

The one quarterback that makes Eagles fans cringe? Without a doubt, Boston College’s starting QB, Dominique Davis. But don’t worry Eagles fans, the Dominique Davis era won’t last much longer. Why? Well because Joe Boisture is coming to town.

So, who is Joe Boisture? Boisture is a four star prospect, rated as high as the 10th best QB prospect in the country, as well as the top junior, and will be part of the 2010 college recruiting class.

He is a 6′ 6", 205 lbs, pro style QB, with tools that recruits have compared to the likes of Drew Bledsoe. A prototypical three step drop QB, who will play with his face to the offense, but can also make things happen with his feet, showcased by what was reported as a 4.8 40.

The guys over at ESPN’s Midwest Recruiting Blog, offered up this report on Boisture:

"Joe Boisture (Saline, Mich./Saline) is a 6' 6" and 190-pounder who is more out of the classic dropback quarterback mold. Boisture has a strong and accurate arm. He sees the field well and makes good decisions.

Boisture threw for close to 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns during his junior season when he led Goodrich to a 10-1 record. Boisture has transferred to Saline where he will play his senior season.

Boisture has scholarship offers on the table from Pitt, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, and Boston College. Michigan State is just one of the many other schools showing interest."

Now as a former Eagles alum, whenever the news of a top tier QB prospect committing to our program comes along, naturally I become excited. But I’m doing my best to try not to get my hopes up here.

As of yesterday (5/11) Joe Boisture was still verbally committed to Boston College; however, he has offers on the table from Kansas State, UCLA, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pitt.

Between his senior year and the 2010 signing day anything could happen, but Eagles fans, keep your fingers crossed on this one, because nothing will help a new coaching stuff look good like a top tier QB.

New England Patriots: A Draft In Review

New England Sports — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:24:15 -0400

Patrick Chung, SS, Oregon - With the 34th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Patrick Chung. A big, strong safety with experience at SS, FS, and CB, Chung could be making an impact with the Patriots by week one. A big hitter, Chung racked up 90 tackles last season, two sacks, forced a fumble, and returned an interception for a TD while helping to lead the Oregon Ducks to a win over Oklahoma State in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, where he had 10 tackles. On a safety-thin roster playing in the secondary with Brandon Meriweather, the Patriots went with need and most talented at the position here by picking up Chung. With Rodney Harrison possibly out of the mix, Pats fans could see Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather roaming the field this season for the Patriots.
Grade: B

Ron Brace, DT, Boston College - Are the Patriots switching to a 4-3?, Are they comfortable playing a 3-4 with the team's current corps of LB?, All these questions came to front when the Patriot selected Boston College defensive tackle, Ron Brace, with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Playing alongside B.J. Raji, Brace’s numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, but at NT, he’s a true space-filler with an excellent initial push. He’ll have the luxury of playing beside Vince Wilfork, similar to his situation at Boston College, where he was never expected to be the best tackle on his line. Brace excels at stuffing the run and bumping backs out of the gap. I love the talent, but I'm not thrilled about going with a DT so early.
Grade: C-

Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut - Here’s a pick that was probably expected by just about every Patriots fan on the planet. Between attending his pro day, to the interviews and pro workouts, it seemed like a given that Darius Butler would be taking the two hour ride from Connecticut to come play in Foxboro. Having seen Butler, I’ve always been impressed with his coverage ability, but on a man-on-man assignment, he still leaves much to be desired. At one point, Butler was a two-way player, playing wide out as well as defensive back, so he can make things happen with his hands, although his numbers at DB in college wouldn’t show that. With Ellis Hobbs traded to the Eagles, Butler could find himself playing quite a bit this season behind Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs.
Grade: B-

Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston - A huge OT at 6’7’’, 312 pounds, this pick has me a bit baffled, but this would begin an infusion of youth along the Patriots' offensive line. With very little football experience and coming off of back surgery, Vollmer is a project with tremendous upside. I’ve seen him ranked as highly as the seventh to ninth best offensive tackle and within the top 100 talent in this year's draft. But then I’ve also seen him ranked out of the top 10 OT’s and barely cracking the 150 overall talent. So the verdict is still out on Vollmer. But with 90 percent of the Patriots' O-Line on the final year of their contracts, the Pats rolled the dice on Vollmer and went with need, maybe even more so than overall value.
Grade: C+

Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina - With the 83rd overall pick, the Patriots went with the second UNC receiver, Brandon Tate. Before Tate tore up his knee, he was projecting as high as the first round and a look at some tape will show you why. He possesses excellent hands, a great first cut, and is a major asset on special teams. However, Tate does come with some red flags. He’ll be entering the league in the NFL’s substance abuse policy, he’s coming off a major injury right now, and his route-running capability has come under fire as of late. Still, at this position, to get a talent like Tate, even if it isn’t so much a need, it warrants a high grade.
Grade: B+

Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida - At 97th overall, McKenzie is my favorite selection this year; just watching his tape and watching him play last season, he seems like a prototypical Patriot. Not the most gifted athlete by any means, but a non-stop motor, pure effort guy who will give you 100 percent on every play. McKenzie finished up last season with 116 tackles and over 350 total tackles in his time as a Bull. Looks like a natural born leader on the field, and could play right away as a SAM linebacker with the Pats. Great value at 97th overall as a LB who was not only ranked within the top 100 overall talent, but can contribute immediately.
Grade: A-

Rich Ohrnberger, OG, Penn State - And the infusion of youth along the O-Line continues, this time with former Nittany Lion, Rich Ohrnberger. I don’t know much about Ohrnberger other than the fact that his size seems to be his biggest knock. Jamon Meredith was still on the board, who projects to be able to play both OT or shift over and play OG, and after watching some tape on Ohrnberger, well, I’m not impressed. I understand trying to restock the offensive line, but I just don’t see the value here.
Grade: D+

George Bussey, OT, Louisville - Another OG who has concerns over his size and strength...great! Here’s another spot where Jamon Meredith was available and we pass to go with the 6’3, 301 pound George Bussey out of Louisville. This pick would officially finish off the Patriots' attempt at retooling the offensive line and thank god, because this pick, along with Ohrnberger, left me scratching my head. However, to Bussey’s credit, after watching some film, I was more impressed with him than I was Ohrnberger. He played on a line that was a bit spread and he seemed to be able to close the gaps fairly well. On the strong side, he looked like a major liability and his footwork didn’t impress, but he looked a fair share better then Ohrenberger did on tape.
Grade: C-

Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky - Pryor has shown the ability to move from NT to the outside, and after watching the tape on him, I was pleasantly surprised with Myron Pryor. He has a great push on the front line and showed the ability to open up gaps for his LB to get through on the rush. He’ll struggle against most NFL centers, simply due to his size and lack of upper body strength. But again, a spot where I felt there was overall better talent to be had here, and I didn’t quite understand the decision to go DT here, which brings down my overall grade for the selection.
Grade: C+

Julian Edelman, WR/QB/HB, Kent State - Patriots couldn’t get Pat White, so they wait for Julian Edelman to fall to 232nd overall. Out of the late round selections (207-234), I like Edelamn’s chances to make the team more than anyone else selected within those picks. A spread option QB in college, Edelman’s value ultimately lies as a WR or special teams player at the NFL level. Edelman ran a reported 4.48 second 40-meter at pro day and has recorded a 4.41, so the vertical speed is there. He may ultimately pan out as a strict special teams player or, at best, a fourth option in a four-receiver set, but there is some good value in this selection this late in the draft.
Grade: B-

Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech - And Mr. Irrelevant for the Patriots is (drum roll please)…Darryl Richard out of Georgia Tech! Now at this point in the draft, I began throwing half-eaten pizza crust and empty soda cans at my television, cursing the Patriots organization for passing on Rashad Jennings. A third DT for the Patriots, although each differs a bit in skill set; I just don’t get it. It just brings us back to the question, will the Patriots be playing a 4-3 defense in 2009?
Grade: F

Overall Grade: B-

I'm tempted to give the Patriots a bit lower grade here, but I have to take into account the $2.2 million that comes off the books with the Ellis Hobbs deal. I also had to consider the fact that we were able to parlay two third round picks and two fifth round picks in this year's draft into an extra seventh rounder, two 2010 second rounders, and two 2010 fifth rounders. I think we are looking at 5-6 sure-fire players out of this draft that will make the team in Chung, Brace, Tate, Butler, McKenzie, and Vollmer. And knowing the Patriots, don't be shocked to see Julian Edelman make the team's roster.

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The NFL All Decade Team For The 2000's

New England Sports — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:26:17 -0400

New England Sports 24/7 Presents:
The NFL All Decade Team For the 2000's

The Offense:

QB: Tom Brady
26,446 Career Passing Yards, 197 Career TD Passes, 86 Career INT, 234 Passing Yards Per Game
4-Time Pro Bowler & 1-Time First-Team All-Pro

HB: LaDainian Tomlinson
11760 Career Rushing Yards, 2,657 Career Carries, 126 Career Rushing TD's, 92.6 Rushing Yards Per Game
5-time Pro Bowler & 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

FB: Mike Alstott
5,088 Career Rushing Yards, 1,359 Career Rushing Attempts, 58 Career Rushing TD's, 32.2 Rushing Yards Per Game
6-Time Pro Bowler & 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

WR: Terrell Owens
951 Career Receptions, 14,122 Career Receiving Yards, 139 TD Receptions, 74.7 Receiving Yards Per Game
6-Time Pro Bowler & 5-Time First-Team All-Pro

WR: Randy Moss
843 Career Receptions, 13,201 Career Receiving Yards, 135 TD Receptions, 77.7 Receiving Yards Per Game
6-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

TE: Tony Gonzalez
916 Career Receptions, 10,940 Career Receiving Yards, 76 Career TD Receptions, 57.6 Receiving Yards Per Game
10-Time Pro Bowler & 5-Time First-Team All-Pro

OT: Jonathan Ogden
11-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

OG: Alan Faneca
8-Time Pro Bowler & 6-Time First-Team All-Pro

C: Kevin Mawae
7-Time Pro Bowler & 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

OG: Steve Hutchinson
6-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

OT: Walter Jones
9-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

The Defense:

DE: Jason Taylor
120.5 Career Sacks, 459 Career Tackles, 7 Career INT's, 40 Career FF, 26 Career FR
6-Time Pro Bowler & 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

DT: Kevin Williams
45.5 Career Sacks, 223 Career Tackles, 4 Career INT's, 5 Career FF, 9 Career FR
4-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

DT: Bryant Young
89.5 Career Sacks, 512 Career Tackles, 12 Career FF, 7 Career FR
4-Time Pro Bowler & 1-Time First-Team All-Pro

DE: Michael Strahan
141.5 Career Sacks, 667 Career Tackles, 4 Career INT's, 24 Career FF, 15 Career FR
7-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

OLB: Derrick Brooks
13.5 Career Sacks, 1,301 Career Tackles, 25 Career INT's, 24 Career FF, 4 Career FR
11-Time Pro Bowler & 5-Time First-Team All-Pro

MLB: Ray Lewis
33.5 Career Sacks, 1,255 Career Tackles, 28 Career INT's, 12 Career FF, 15 Career FR
10-Time Pro Bowler & 6-Time First-Team All-Pro

OLB: Joey Porter
83 Career Sacks, 420 Career Tackles, 12 Career INT's, 22 Career FF, 9 Career FR
4-Time Pro Bowler & 1-Time First-Team All-Pro

CB: Ty Law
5 Career Sacks, 704 Career Tackles, 52 Career INT's, 7 Career FF, 5 Career FR
5-Time Pro Bowler & 2-Time First-Team All-Pro

FS: Ed Reed
5 Career Sacks, 342 Career Tackles, 43 Career INT's, 6 Career FF, 6 Career FR
5-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

SS: Brian Dawkins
21 Career Sacks, 723 Career Tackles, 34 Career INT's, 32 Career FF, 16 Career FR
7-Time Pro Bowler & 4-Time First-Team All-Pro

CB: Champ Bailey
2 Career Sacks, 601 Career Tackles, 43 Career INT, 5 Career FF, 6 Career FR
8-Time Pro Bowler & 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

Special Teams:

K: Adam Vinatieri
403 Field Goal Attempts, 331 Field Goals Made 82.1% Career FG%
2-Time Pro Bowler & 2-Time First-Team All-Pro

P: Shane Lechler
682 Career Punts, 31,902 Career Punt Yards, 46.8 Yards Per Punts, Career Long Of 73 Yards
4-time Pro Bowler & 4-time first-team All-Pro

KR: Dante Hall
641 Career Returns, 12,397 Career Return Yards, 17.1 Yards Per Return, 12 Career Return TD's
2-Time Pro Bowler & 1-Time First-Team All-Pro
* Kick & Punt Returns Combined For, All Stats Reflect Both

Coaching Staff:

HC: Bill Belichick
OC: Mike Martz
DC: Dick LeBeau

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The Boston Celtics Keeping a Glimmer of Hope Alive

New England Sports — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:55:05 -0400

You know the story. Kevin Garnett is out for the playoffs, and therefore we will not be winning another NBA title. That's a fact, it's already been written in stone. Or maybe it hasn't.

Every NBA analyst in the country has predicted that the reigning champs will lose in the 2nd round, or if their lucky, in the eastern conference finals. That's understandable. Without KG, the Celtics have gone from a great team to a good team, to a team that is not as talented or as deep as both the Cavaliers and the Lakers.

Globe writers Bob Ryan and Dan Shaugnessy haven't just predicted that the Celtics will lose in the playoffs, they've declared it as a fact. These Boston writers have given up all their hope, but Celtics fans need to keep it alive.

Think about all the good playoffs teams who remain a level below the elites-teams like the Blazers, Magic, Hawks, Nuggets, Hornets etc. Do you think their sportswriters' opened up their playoff coverage by declaring that their team won't be winning the NBA finals?

Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure the Celtics won't win another championship this year, I'd be stupid to say I thought that.

But maybe there's still a chance that they will. Celtics fans aren't keeping their hopes up this year because we know we will lose, we keep them up because there's always a chance that we can win.

You never know with the NBA, and no team is so far above of Boston that I can't imagine us beating them with some luck on our side. So here it is: we will probably not win another title this year. Probably not. But don't give up yet, have faith, and it might surprise you have far your Celtics can go.

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New England Patriots Mock Draft (Rounds 1-4)

New England Sports — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:03:40 -0400

Round 1, Pick No. 23 Overall: Clint Sintim, Virginia, DE/OLB

Sintim is the prototypical Bill Belichick defensive player. He is versatile and quick enough to play offensive linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, as well as having the size—at 6’3, 254 pounds—to play and excel at defensive end.

Sintim is wrapping up his four-year career with Virginia averaging 6.5 sacks a season, topped off by a stellar senior season in which he racked up 10 sacks, 69 tackles, and a forced fumble.

With experience in a 3-4 defense and the ability to move to the outside, as well as playing on the end, Sintim seems like the perfect fit for a Bill Belichick defense.

Round 2, Pick No. 34 Overall: Connor Barwin, Cincinnati, OLB/DE

It might be a bit of a reach to think that the Patriots would take two DE/OLB with they’re first two selections in the draft, but from a pure value standpoint, Barwin is worth the selection here.

That is, of course, if he doesn’t slip into the first round of the draft.

While Sintim could just as easily fit into the DE role, Barwin has drawn comparisions to Mike Vrabe. After an incredible pro-day in which he put up 41.5-inch vertical while running a 4.47, Barwin would be a welcomed addition to any team's core of linebackers.

Round 2, Pick No. 58 Overall: William Moore, Missouri, SS

While not exactly a jaw-dropping athlete, as evidenced in his workouts, Moore is a true ball hawk who seems to be in on just about every play.

Moore's senior season was quite a bit of a drop off from his junior year, in which he grabbed eight interceptions and cracked the 100-tackle mark.

He has shown tremendous upside, and if the Patriots could find Moore on the board here, they could walk away with a real steal.

Round 3, Pick No. 89 Overall: Pat White, West Virginia, QB/WR/HB

It might be a pure pipe dream for me to think that Pat White will last on the board until the 89th pick, but after being worked out by New England, and the tremendous potential he’s shown at quarterback and wide receive, it would be tough to pass on a player of his potential.

A dual threat QB in college who has been worked out at WR, half back, and even defensive back, White ultimately projects at WR at the NFL level.

But no matter where you put him, he’s going to make plays and has an uncanny ability to make tacklers miss in the open field.

Round 4, Pick No. 97 Overall: Nic Harris, Oklahoma, SS/LB

A bit of a tweener, Harris could ultimately play either linebacker, strong safety, or both depending on the defensive scheme.

Harris is a hard hitter, forcing three fumbles last season, while grabbing one interception and compiling 65 tackles in his senior year as a Sooner.

Stay tuned for Rounds 4-7, coming soon...

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The 2009 Boston Red Sox: The Passion Has Returned

New England Sports — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:33:13 -0400

About a year ago, I had written an article prior to the start of the 2008 Red Sox season dealing with my feelings towards my passion for the Red Sox and how it appeared to be dwindling.

My fan-hood wasn’t twiddling; however, it something seemed to be missing. I hadn’t anticipated the Sox like I had in the past and the start of the new season simply did not excite me.

Perhaps it was the Patriots' recent failure, or the Celtics recent success, or maybe even it was the fact that the Sox winning ways had grown so predictable that I was losing interest.

Maybe things had become too easy for the Boston Red Sox and therefore it became a hassle to watch the games.

That feeling is gone my friends. In fact, it’s almost flipped.

At the beginning of the Red Sox 2008 season, my head was in the clouds. I couldn’t care less about the Red Sox early on. For once, all my attention was focused on the Celtics, and some of my thoughts were still trapped by 18-1.

For the first time in my life, the Boston Red Sox had become a second thought. However, with the arrival of the 2009 season, I find this is no longer the case. For the most part, the Celtics just have not seemed to keep me entertained this year.

Whether it be the nagging injury problems, or the inconsistent bench that made watching the games frustrating, it simply wasn’t holding my interest. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I’ve watched more than two Celtics games all the way through this season; much like the 2008 Red Sox.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t often sit down and watch a full nine innings of play.

But this year feels different, and unlike last year, I know exactly why I’m more excited about this years Red Sox team.

1.) The Yankees are back. Last year just seemed empty with them. The Yankees had not made any large moves in the offseason and even when they were hanging with the Sox and Rays throughout the season, they still did not feel like a threat.

I have to admit that it felt odd not hating the guts of every single one of them throughout the season; in fact, the Yankees seemed so out of it last year that I found myself defending them more and even finding my hate for them less than that of the Rays.

Talk about an alternate universe.

I even found myself saying things like: “I really like Mariano Rivera. He seems like a good guy and he’s as classy as they come.” And “I know a lot of people hate on Alex Rodriguez, but the man is just so god damn great!” All of this just felt so wrong and I hated myself for it.

I hated the possibility that there were a group of twenty-five players that I disliked more than those on the Yankees. And when the playoffs rolled around...it just didn’t seem right to have the Yanks watching from home.

Of course, as a Sox fan, I loved seeing the Yankees out of the playoffs, but I had become so accustomed to seeing the Yanks play in October that it seemed unjustified.

This season is different. The Yankees damn near signed up every big name on the market and are destined to make a fierce charge for the division title. The Yankees are back...and it almost feels good.

2.) The Rays emergence. Before the start of the 2008 season, it seemed like the same old stories. Red Sox and Yankees fighting for the division crown while the Blue Jays continue to look up in envy and the Orioles and Rays play the role of the lovable losers.

Well, it was anything but that. For months I wondered when the Rays would fade, claiming that this team was not for real and that they were a team of inexperienced young players who would eventually crumble, while the veteran and experienced Red Sox dashed towards another division title.

As I began to realize that this wasn’t going to happen, a fiery rage filled up my stomach. That rage and hatred became official when Coco charged the mound and pulled a move out of “The Matrix,” only to be gang tackled by several players who were about four hundred pounds heavier than himself.

It reminded me of the Sox/Rays brawls from earlier this decade and reminded me of how much I truly hated the Rays. Not even I can deny that that brawl was the defining moment of the Rays season—the moment when they truly became “real.”

This season, I know the Rays are for real, and I want revenge.

And I still hate them. So much. Pena. Navarro. Iwamura. Longoria. Garza. ALL of them. The competition in the AL East has pulled me back into things.

3.) The loss in the ALCS and knowing that you have something to play for. I’m not a spoiled Red Sox fan; in fact, I’m not sure quite how to describe my fan-hood. Many fans become too greedy and expect to be the greatest every year; they expect to walk into the World Series and come out victorious.

Other fans love the idea of having their team defend a World Series title. Personally, I’ve never had either feeling. Knowing that the Red Sox had won the 2007 World Series, I enter the 2008 season with a sense of relaxation. To be honest, I was satisfied with having won the year previous and I wasn’t too anxious to win another one.

I guess the best adjective to describe my feeling was patient. It was almost like I wouldn’t mind if the Sox didn’t win the World Series, but at the same time, I had that “greedy fan” feeling, like I expected the Sox to waltz right into the playoffs and win the World Series.

The ending to the 2008 season changed my perspective. Seeing Iwamura step on second and celebrate made my heart sink and left a very poor taste in my mouth. It made my eagerness for 2009 that much more powerful. As foolish as it sounds, it made me feel like the Red Sox actually had something to play for.

4.) I love not having to be the “Negative Nancy.” For years I’ve thought of myself as a negative person when it comes to sports. I’ve been known to panic and overreact when things aren’t going the Red Sox way; however, that’s probably because I’ve always expected them to be the best team in the MLB. (That’s what being a 19-year-old Sox fan will do to you.)

The 2009 season has a lot more competition in the East as the Yankees are back, the Rays are for real, and even the Jays look strong early on. Yet, the Sox offense has started out slow and it’s caught some flak for it. For the first time in my life, I’ve found myself playing the role of a positive thinking fan.

I’ve spent too many seasons panicking over certain player's play early on; it’s gotten to the point where I know that, in the end, the Sox will turn out alright. It’s not a fact, it’s just how the team has been built. The Red Sox often start off seasons slow and turn things around as the season progresses.

Many of the Sox players have been known to start off the season slow. I find these early struggles are only making the games more interesting and more entertaining.

I enjoy tuning into a game daily and not quite knowing what Sox team I’ll end up seeing and I enjoy being one of the fans who’s not concerned with the slow start. As previously stated, it makes the games worth watching.

And so the passion has returned. The competition has returned. The drive and fire has returned. The rivals have returned. Most importantly, my love for the game and for this team has returned. I’m being pulled in by this 2009 Red Sox team.

I haven’t missed an inning yet, and I expect that to continue as this “season full of question marks” continues.

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B.J. Raji, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews Cleared, NFLDraftBible in Hot Water

New England Sports — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:01:57 -0400

B.J. Raji claimed to have failed a drug test, but the speculation was that this was due to marijuana use.

Open and shut, right? Professionals making millions of dollars to accurately read drug tests couldn't possibly mix up drug tests results, right?

Apparently, I'm wrong.

Now, I don't claim to be a drug test expert by a long-shot, but at the same time, it's a pretty big screw up.

And yet, not as big of a screw up as the one that NFLDraftBible has on their hands at the moment.

They've recently retracted the story that claimed Raji had indeed failed a drug test. They've yet to offer an apology, and in my eyes, they really, really need to.

NFLDraftBible is shaking in their boots at the moment, after "reliable sources" allowed them to break the story, and now they could possibly face charges for defamation, since there are still going to be some people out there that will attest to the fact that Raji has a drug problem.

This isn't even an isolated incident. NFLDraftBible also said that University of Southern California linebackers Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing had tested positive for steroids, which also proved to be false.

Just another case of "open mouth, insert foot."

On that note, I'd like to extend warm tidings of good luck to all three of the young men hoping to be high first round selections.

A Look Into The 2009 NBA Draft: The Top Five Big Men

New England Sports — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:54:12 -0400

1. Blake Griffin, Sophomore, Oklahoma, PF

Just yesterday, Blake Griffin was named the AP College Player Of The Year, and rightfully so, finishing his sophomore campaign with just under 23 ppg (22.7), and 14 rpg, all while shooting 65.4 percent from the field.

Granted, a good portion of his points by way of the dunk, Griffin has shown steady improvement on his outside game, shooting 37.5% from behind the arch.

An explosive player with a legitimate power forward frame for the NBA level at 6'10, 250, and the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Griffin is already a household name.

Add in a continually improving outside game to go along with a surprisingly polished back-to-the basket game, and ability to explode to the net, and you'll see he has all the tools necessary to succeed at the NBA level.

But of course, with all the positives, there must be some negatives.

For Griffin, the positives outweigh the negatives, but there are some slights against Griffin and his ability to hang tough in the post. Even at 6'10, 250 pounds, smaller players have been able to take Griffin out of his game with overly physical play.

Not to say that Griffin is soft, but he's certainly not someone whose going to be banging down low in the post.

He has shown also some hesitation this season while running the break, often trying to make routine plays more difficult then they need to be. Rather than going in for what could be an easy two points, Griffin has been known to try and get his teammates involved on the break.

While getting your teammates involved is never a bad thing, it often leads to Griffin making ill advised passes. However, overall, Griffin is certainly this year's top big man, and likely the top overall pick come draft day.

2. Jordan Hill, Junior, Arizona, PF

And here come the hate comments and criticism of how I don't have Hasheem Thabeet as my No. 2 big man, but hear me out.

Jordan Hill brings a freakish combination of size, speed and athletic ability that is a rarity in today's game. Not an incredible defender by any means, but his freakish leaping ability, combined with his length and 6'10" frame, helped Hill to average nearly 2 bpg (1.7) and made him an intricate part of Arizona's run in this years tournament.

He finished off his junior year with an impressive 18 ppg, and 11rpg, and his extended time in college (by today's NCAA basketball standards) have allowed him the time needed to develop a nicely polished face-up game while adding some solid bulk to his frame.

Hill, however, could still stand to muscle up a bit and add some bulk to his frame.

He seemed to do so in his time in Arizona, but he's still a bit frail compared to NBA forwards. He'll often put the ball on the floor trying to make something out of nothing by passing on the 15-footer and trying to get to the rim.

Hill could struggle at the NBA level due to his overall lack of strength, and while his length should greatly benefit him, he'll likely have a tough time backing down NBA power forwards.

It also doesn't help that Jordan Hill will be a year older than most of this year's junior class, which can often hurt a player's stock, but as we saw with O.J. Mayo last season, it doesn't always hurt the player development and transition into the NBA.

3. Hasheem Thabeet, Junior, Connecticut, C

One of what I consider to be two pure centers expected to enter this year's NBA Draft (BJ Mullens out of OSU being the other), Hasheem Thabeet has all the tools needed to be an absolute defensive monster.

He anticipates shot blocks better then any other player I've seen in the last 20 years, rarely falling for shot fakes, and almost never leaves the floor until his opponent has put up the shot.

He's not an overly athletic big man like Griffin or Hill, but has shown tremendous ability to gain rebounding position. At 7'3", he's an excellent candidate for center on a fast-paced, up tempo team, as he seems to be able to run the floor with ease, showing no alarming stamina issues.

Offensively, Thabeet is extremely limited and raw right now. Throughout his years as a Huskie he has shown some improvement on his inside game, notably his short-range hook shot, but it's not yet a consistent enough weapon to fall back on.

Thabeet also needs to become more aggressive, even at his 7'3 frame, he seems to be pushed around quite easily by smaller big men, often leading to him losing his post position.

A final year in college might do him well, but at this juncture, it seems unlikely that he will be returning.

Footwork in the post could also stand to improve.

4. Cole Aldrich, Sophomore, Kansas, PF

At this point in his college career, Cole Aldrich may be smart to declare as soon as possible. After his strong showing in the tournament, his stock has nowhere to go but down right now.

He's a good shot blocker, he anticipates the shot well, and has overall good footwork in the post.

A real hustle player, Aldrich will battle for offensive rebounds, and has shown soft touch around the basket. He's great at gaining low-post position and boxing out. May very well be the most fundamentally sound player on this list.

However, he's not an overly athletic player, and lacks the ideal burst to the rim that you typically like to see out of your strong forwards. At this point, his offense is somewhat limited to offensive put backs.

He can be too aggressive on the boards at times, often leading to early foul trouble—a problem which could follow him into the NBA.

Although Aldrich excels at gaining post position, he needs some work on his low-block moves. He showed flashes of a developing up fake this season, but has yet to show that he can fully take advantage when he gets his defender in the air.

Aldrich could ultimately prove to be a major project player at the next level.

5. DeJuan Blair, Sophomore, Pittsburgh, PF

There are several players that could have made the cut here at No. 5, but Blair is an intriguing prospect at the power forward position.

For what Blair lacks in size, he makes up for with pure muscle and length (287 lbs., 7'3" wingspan).

Blair has a great touch on his shot, and excels when banging down low in the post.

He's the type of player who can really anchor a team's interior defense. Think a much stronger Leon Powe with a far more polished offensive game. He will step in and take a charge, and then draw contact at the other end, getting himself to the line.

The ultimate hustle player, and has always been praised on his leadership ability.

For his size, Blair has a surprisingly quick first step, but ala Glen "Big Baby" Davis, has been criticized this year for some weight issues. He does have some room to trim down a bit.

Some slight improvement on his face-up game would greatly benefit him at the next level, as his size may prevent him from fully utilizing his back-to-the basket game.

Blair is a true hustle player and is very fundamentally sound, and while it may be tough to find any specific part of his game that will dazzle you, there is no particular area where Blair has proved to be weak.

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Boston College Eagles To Keep An Eye On (Defense)

New England Sports — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:38:54 -0400

1. Mark Herzlich, LB, Senior – So it’s no secret that Mark Herzlich is among the top linebackers in Division 1 college football. Setting career highs in tackles (101), Sacks (2) and interceptions (6), Herzlich would likely have been a first round draft selection this year, however he has opted to remain in school and play out his senior year.

With fellow linebacker Mike McLaughlin expected to miss the year with a torn Achilles, there is going to be even more attention on Herzlich this season to match last seasons production.

And if he can do so without McLaughlin helping him hold down the Eagles linebacking core, but as well as the loss of Defensive Tackles Busari “BJ” Raji, and Ron Brace, the spotlight will once again be on Mark Herzlich to hold down what has been a top notch Eagles defense over the last couple of season.

2) Damik Scafe, DT, Junior – With Raji and Brace both heading the the NFL, what was once the Eagles strength on the defensive line, now seems like more of a weakness. While Scafe hasn’t played any significant time, or any time at all for that matter, he seems like the logical choice to be put into a significant role at Defensive Tackle this season for the Eagles.

Not the gap filler that Raji was, but Scafe has good size for DT at 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, and has worked under now head coach, Frank Spaziani, and current defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong for three seasons now, and knows the Eagles system. Kaleb Ramsey will surely see some time at Defensive Tackle as well for the Eagles.

3.) Roderick Rollins, CB, Junior – Without a doubt, the Eagles most polished corner back, Roderick Rollins, will have his hands full leading an unusually young secondary this season.

Rollins made the team as a true freshman, and has seen his playing time increase every year, and the improvement he’s shown on that year to year basis has been encouraging for the young CB.

Set a career high in tackles last season with 43, nearly doubling his previous season high, and showed improvement in his coverage ability recording his first NCAA interceptions (2).

With the way that Rollins has progressed throughout his career, it would be surprising to see him not thrust into a significant role with the Eagles this season.

4) Dan Mulrooney, DB, Sophomore – Mulrooney is an interesting and extremely intriguing player to say the least. He has experience playing not only corner back and safety, but has played on both sides of the ball taking snaps at running back as well.

Ultimately though, under Spaziani, and on a roster full of true freshman defensive backs, don’t be surprised to see Mulrooney converted into a full time DB for the Eagles this season.

At 6-foot-1 he has good size to match up with most ACC receivers, and the speed to go along with the size, as he ran two low 4.5’s in summer camps just a year ago.

5) Dominick LeGrande, DB/LB, Sophomore – It’s not often I’d put a sophomore player with not true natural position on a list like this, but Dominick LeGrande is a player I think we’ll see make tremendous strides this season.

Used last year as a strict special teams player, LeGrande, similar to Mulrooney, is a versatile player who has played the free safety position, corner back, outside linebacker, and even has some experience at QB.

However, with Mike McLaughlin out, I’d expect to see LeGrande transitioned into a full time Linebacker. While he might lack ideal size for the position, he has the speed and explosive first step to be an asset in the Eagles pass rush.

Kevin Distaso could get the nod here, he does have a better frame, and we finally saw Will Thompson begin to get some time with the defense last season, but I’d keep my eye on Dominick LeGrande, his pure speed and raw talent could make him the perfect candidate for Frank Spaziani’s next “project” player.

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Tyrese Rice: NBA Draft Profile

New England Sports — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:35:31 -0400

"In the four years since he left his hometown of Chesterfield, Virginia, Tyrese Rice has grown from an unheralded prospect into one of the most feared scorers in the ACC.

As his offensive game has developed and become more advanced, his scoring numbers have increased drastically in each of the last two seasons.

What made last season so impressive for Rice was the fact that he averaged over 20 points per game as his Boston College team's only viable scoring option. Teams would key in on him, yet he would still put on a show on an almost nightly basis.

Yes, Rice’s frame is certainly a knock against him. At 6’0”, and 190 pounds, he is built solidly but is short even for the point guard position at the next level.

But what he lacks in size and length he certainly makes up for in speed and explosiveness. He has a tremendous first step and a great deal of creativity when he gets into the lane. He shows good leaping ability, though it is usually overlooked because he is so much shorter than the defenders he faces.

He can elevate with most players, but is already giving up so much as it is, he often has to take difficult shots.

The majority of Rice’s game is built around his outside shooting prowess. He has an excellent stroke and is deadly from the outside when he is able to get his feet set. While his 35.8 percent clip from beyond the arc may not jump off the page, that number doesn’t really reflect how good of a bomber Rice is.

According to Synergy Sports Technology, when Rice spots up and shoots without putting the ball on the floor, he shoots over 50 percent from the field; when he is forced to shoot coming off of screens or off the dribble, his percentages drop considerably. He has continued to develop his ability to shoot on the move, though, and is now incorporating a very good-looking left-handed floater that he can get off in the lane from almost any angle."

After watching Tyrese Rice during his career as an Eagle, I'm more upset about Tyrese's departure from the program than I have been about another player leaving in a long time. Yes, it was hard to swallow when Jared Dudley left. Sean Williams, not so much; in fact Eagles fans threw one giant party at Chapel Hill when Williams finally left.

But with Rice, things just seem different.

Maybe it’s the fact that no matter who he was playing with or against, there never seemed to be a more energetic player on the floor. Or maybe it’s the fact that as he was coming into his own as a player, the Eagles were losing other key players, and beginning a transition period.

But for whatever reason, Rice will always strike me as the perfect example of what it means to be a true Eagles basketball player. The never-give-up mentality and his fearless ability to drive to the rim against much bigger competition exhibited the most respected of BC qualities.

For me, that sort of determination is what has always defined Eagles basketball. It's all about heart, and Tyrese Rice displayed plenty of that in his time at the Heights.

As a projected second-round pick, Rice is going to have quite a bit to work on at the next level. At his listed stature (which, in my estimate, is probably a bit generous), Rice is going to have to polish his playmaking abilities a bit more and put less emphasis on his offense.

That's something that he never quite had the luxury of doing in his time with the Eagles.

As a BC Alum, and an Eagle until I die, I want to wish Tyrese the best of luck at the next level. Whichever team decides to take a chance on him in the second round will be getting 100 percent pure heart on the court.

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NFL Mock Draft by New England Sports, Ver. 2.0

New England Sports — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:39:24 -0400

1. Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB
2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT
3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB
4. Seattle Seahawks - Mark Sanchez, QB
5. Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, OT
7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Crabtree, WR
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Oher, OT
9. Green Bay Packers - Everette Brown, DE/OLB
10. San Francisco 49ers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB
11. Buffalo Bills - Andre Smith, OT
12. Denver Broncos - BJ Raji, DT
13. Washington Redskins - Aaron Maybin, DE
14. New Orleans Saints - Vontae Davis, CB
15. Houston Texans - Brian Cushing, OLB
16. San Deigo Chargers - Tyson Jackson, DE
17. New York Jets - Jeremy Maclin, WR
18. Chicago Bears - Larry English, DE
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
20. Detroit Lions - Michael Johnson, DE
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Pettigrew, TE
22. Minnesota Vikings - Eben Britton, OT
23. New England Patriots - Clint Sintim, OLB
24. Atlanta Falcons - Jared Cook, TE
25. Miami Dolphins - Clay Matthews, LB
26. Baltimore Ravens - Percy Harvin, WR
27. Indianapolis Colts - Peria Jerry, DT
28. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB
29. New York Giants - Hakeem Nicks, WR
30. Tennessee Titans - Robert Ayers, DE
31. Arizona Cardinals - Knowhson Moreno, RB
32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Alex Mack, C

When you are done, feel free to check out the rest of New England Sports 24/7

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Boston College's Rising Stars: Mark Herzlich

New England Sports — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:37:50 -0400

The departure of defensive tackle, B.J. Raji, has left many Eagles fans worried about the team's defense coming into the 2009 season.

But if there is one player that should help BC fans sleep better at night, that player is linebacker Mark Herzlich, who despite being a projected first-round draft selection in this year's class, has opted to remain in school to play out his senior year at the heights.

Herzlich, who was honored as the ACC Defensive Player Of The Year, helped lead the Eagles in becoming one of the nations top defensive squads along side a defense that included Raji, Ron Brace, Kevin Akins, Robert Francois, and Brian Toal.

Herzlich has made strides each season with Boston College in becoming a better player since seeing significant playing time his freshmen year.

In his freshman year, Herzlich totaled 32 solo tackles, 42 total tackles, and a forced fumble. He followed that up with an impressive sophomore year in which the Eagles topped out as high as No. 2 in the nation that season, racking up 97 total tackles, while forcing two fumbles, and snagging his first career interception.

And while his numbers during his sophomore season are impressive, what Herzlich was able to do last season makes his sophomore campaign pale in comparison. Herzlich entered his junior season as a preseason all-star candidate.

He was named to the Lott Trophy and Butkus Award watchlists prior to the season, and lived up to every bit of the hype. Herzlich saw his draft stock skyrocket as he led the team in tackles with 110, 81 of which were recorded as solo tackles. Herzlich also set a career high in sacks with two, as well as interceptions with six, two of which were run back for touchdowns, one being a school record 60-yard return, as he averaged over 20 yards on his INT returns.

Herzlich continued to hit hard, also forcing two fumbles in the 2008 season.

With his draft stock as high as it was, Eagles fans were rightfully nervous that they would not only be losing Raji, but that they would be losing one of the nations top linebackers as well.

But in a move that is refreshing for NCAA sports in today’s era, Herzlich announced that he would be returning for his senior year. Expected to be a top 25 selection in the 2010 NFL draft, Herzlich is a player to keep an eye on this season, as he seems to be well on his way to establishing himself as the most talented linebacker in the nation.

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NFL Draft Preview: Busari "BJ" Raji

New England Sports — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:34:52 -0400

Regarded by NFL scouts as the premier nose tackle prospect to enter this years NFL Draft, former Boston College Eagle, BJ Raji, is quickly moving up NFL Mock Drafts everywhere. And deservedly so.

After abusing opposing centers and tackles at the Senior Bowl, and a strong showing at the NFL combine, BJ Raji is showing the world what Boston College Eagles fans have known all along.

After four years of football and two years of basketball at Westwood Regional High School in New Jersey, Raji was labeled as just a two star prospect by recruiting sites such as Scouts Inc. & Rivals. However he received offers from not only Boston College, but Rutgers as well as Wisconsin.

Ultimately Raji chose the Eagles, and proved to everyone that recruiting ratings don’t always mean much. You simply cannot measure the heart of a player on a five star ratings system.

In a somewhat unorthodox decision for the Eagles given their past, Raji made the team as a true freshman. He saw limited playing time, racking up just 13 tackles while playing behind starter Tim Bulman.

However even in that limited time, the flashes of what could be a great defensive player were definitely there. And the hype surrounding Raji at the heights only grew as he entered his sophomore season.

Starting in all 12 games as a sophomore, Raji continued to improve. Showing no signs of a sophomore slump, Raiji finished off the year with 27 tackles, 6.5 of them being tackles for loss, and recording his first sack as an Eagle.

However when things were beginning to look great for Raji, due to academic reasons, he was forced to sit out the 2007 season.

In his return to the Eagles, Raji looked like a completely different player and was well on his way to establishing himself as one of the top defensive tackles in college football.

As a junior Raji saw his best year at the college level with 16.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a total of 67 tackles on the year. Starting in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Navy for the Eagles, Raji totaled three solo tackles, two of which where tackles for loss.

He was a key piece to what was one of the top defense’s in the country, earning himself All-ACC second team honors and had officially cemented himself as the top 3-4 DT in the country. Along with Mark Herzlich, Raji helped to form what I consider to be one of the most potent Eagles run defense’s I’ve seen in the last decade.

Now with the draft right around the corner, BJ Raji will be joining a club that includes Matt Ryan & Gosder Cherilus as Eagles who have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft over the last couple of years.

Some mock drafts have Raji going as high as fifth overall to the Cleveland Browns. But regardless of where Raji ends up on draft day, you can count on one thing—You will be hearing his name called during the first round. Likely within the top 10 selections of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Fun Facts:

- BJ Raji’s younger brother Corey is a shooting guard for the Boston College Eagles, and a projected second round pick in the 2010-2011 NBA Draft.

- BJ Raji himself played two years of high school basketball.

- During his high school playing days, Raji earned All-State, All-Conference, and All-County honors as a senior. Raji was also a two-time All-Bergen County Scholastic League choice.

- Raji received full offers to attend Rutgers, as well as Wisconsin, and was also highly recruited by Michigan State, as well as Iowa.

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New England Sports 2009 NFL Mock Draft

New England Sports — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:04:43 -0400

First Round Draft Picks

Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB Georgia
St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT Baylor
Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
Seattle Seahawks - Mark Sanchez, QB USC
Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE Texas
Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
Oakland Raiders - Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Oher, OT Mississippi
Green Bay Packers - Everette Brown, DE/OLB Florida State
San Francisco 49ers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State
Buffalo Bills - Andre Smith, OT Alabama
Denver Broncos - BJ Raji, DT Boston College
Washington Redskins - Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
New Orleans Saints - Brian Cushing, OLB USC
Houston Texans - Aaron Maybin, DE Penn State
San Deigo Chargers - Rey Maualuga, ILB USC
New York Jets - Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
Chicago Bears - Larry English, DE Northern Illinois
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
Detroit Lions - DJ Moore, CB Vanderbilt
Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State
Minnesota Vikings - Eben Britton, OT Arizona
New England Patriots - Alphonso Smith, CB Wake Forest
Atlanta Falcons - Jared Cook, TE South Carolina
Miami Dolphins - Clay Matthews, LB USC
Baltimore Ravens - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
Indianapolis Colts - Peria Jerry, DT Mississippi
Philadelphia Eagles - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB Ohio State
New York Giants - Clint Sintim, OLB Virginia
Tennessee Titans - Percy Harvin, WR Florida
Arizona Cardinals - Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
Pittsburgh Steelers - Jarron Gilbert, DE San Jose State

One more update is in the works as we speak. If you have any disagreements at all, let us know.

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NFL's Top Defensive Draft Prospects in 2009

New England Sports — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:53:43 -0400

Earlier this month, I showcased what I believed to be this year's top five offensive prospects; this time around, we will take a look at the top five NFL defensive prospects who will be making an impact in the NFL next season.

1.) Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State: The 21-year-old Everette Brown really raised some heads this season showing his versatility to move between DE, as well as playing the outside linebacker.

At 6'4", barely tipping the scales at 250, Brown may lack ideal size for an NFL Defensive End, but he makes up for brute strength with his agility and uncanny speed for a player of his frame.

Brown totaled 13 sacks, while forcing three fumbles last season with the Seminoles, and regardless of what defensive scheme he is brought into at the pro level, he should be able to add a boost to any team's pass rush.

2.) Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: At 6'4", 260, Orakpo has legitimate NFL size for a defensive end, and has shown improvement every year playing for the Long Horns. In 2008 Orakpo totaled a career high 11 sacks, and 40 tackles.

Although Orakpo may be the first defensive player selected in the 2009 NFL draft, his inability to move to the Outside Linebacker drops him to No. 2 behind Florida States, Everette Brown.

3.) Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State: Had Jenkins declared last season, he likely would have been the first defensive back to be selected in the draft, yet after another season at Ohio State, he will still likely be the first CB selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Great size for an NFL CB at 6'1", and great speed (4.3), Jenkins should be able to make a smooth transition into the NFL.

Jenkins INT numbers may not jump out at you, but that is more or less a result of opposing QB's avoiding his side of the field. A sure tackler, and could be a major asset for any team that favors a CB blitz.

4.) BJ Raji, DT, Boston College: BJ Raji is an intriguing prospect to say the least. While many feel that a 3-4 defensive scheme would suit him best, due to his size, there has also been talk lately that many 4-3 defensive teams are looking at him as a major asset.

In his time with the Eagles, Raji saw improvement nearly every season, and after being red-shirted, and given some extra time off the field to work out and get conditioned, he became a major threat in Boston College's pass rush, totaling for seven sacks.

At 6'1", and well over 300lbs, Raji is by far the best NT prospect in this years NFL draft, and should be off the board by No. 20.

5.) Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest: Curry possess all the tools to be a successful NFL Linebacker. Size, speed, elusiveness, and the ability to move between the outside and middle Linebacker positions.

Totaled over 100 tackles in 2008, and while he didn't prove to be much of a threat in the pass rush, he was a major asset in stopping the run, and showed a knack for being able to succeed in coverage.

Curry will be fighting it out with Rey Maualuga in terms of which LB is selected first in the 2009 NFL draft, and while Maualuga may have slightly more upside, for my money Curry is the best LB in this years draft class.

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2009 NFL Top Offensive Draft Prospects

New England Sports — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:43:09 -0400

1. Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

As far as quarterbacks go in this year's draft class, Georgia's Matthew Stafford has set the mark.

Although Georgia may have had a down year in some people's eyes, it certainly wasn't due to their offense. Stafford had a 61.4% completion rating, 25 TD passes to 10 INT, passed for over 3,500 yards, and had a QB rating of 153.54, all while playing within Georgia's pro-style offense.

At 6' 3" and 237 lbs, Stafford has good size for an NFL quarterback, and while the Lions seem to be doing everything they can to convince people that they are going in another direction, it would be foolish to pass on a talent like Matthew Stafford.

2. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Michael Crabtree has now declared, and without doubt should be the first wide receiver selected in the 2009 NFL draft.

In the NES 24/7 Mock Draft, we have Crabtree going No. 4 overall, to the Seattle Seahawks, and at this point the former Red Raider is a near lock to be gone in the top five.

At 6' 3", Crabtree has great size for a possession receiver, and amazing hands, which were showcased with his 97 receptions as a Red Raider in 2008. He will really turn some heads at the combine if he can turn out a fast 4.4, which is certainly in his range.

The biggest knock on Crabtree seems to be that he is a product of the Texas Tech system, but Crabtree has remained consistent throughout his college career.

"What Crabtree did as a redshirt freshman last year was downright disgusting. Try 134 receptions, 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns. He had one of his biggest games against Oklahoma, catching 12 balls for 154 yards and a score."

3. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Some people I've talked to are a little higher on Florida's Percy Harvin than they are Maclin, but with a great combination of size (6'1"), and speed (4.33), Jeremy Maclin has all the tools a WR needs to become a serious deep threat.

Maclin finished up last season with over 100 receptions, and proved that he can make things happen after the catch, averaging over 12 yards per reception.

If Maclin can improve on his 40 time at the combine we might easily see his value skyrocket above Percy Harvin, and begin to receive top 15 overall consideration.

Behind Crabtree, and maybe Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland, Jeremy Maclin strikes me as the only other wide out in the draft with real franchise player potential.

Maclin has also shown the potential to be an excellent return man, and should be able to provide an instant boost to any team's return game.

4. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

While many thought that another year at USC would have done Sanchez the world of good, the news that Sam Bradford would remain in school for another season made it the ideal time for a player such as Sanchez to declare.

Coming out of a strong offensive system, Sanchez put up some incredible numbers, throwing for over 3,200 yards on under 400 attempts, with a completion percentage of almost 66%, and 34 TD to 10 INT.

Don't be at all surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs role the dice on Sanchez at No. 3 overall in this year's draft.

5. Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State

As much as I hate to leave Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno, Hakeem Nicks, and Josh Freeman off this list, I think I'd regret it even more if I left out Chris Wells.

At 6' 1", 235 lbs, Wells runs a fast 4.4, and is a very strong downhill runner. Throughout his career as a Buckeye, Wells averaged an impressive 5.7 yards per carry, and while he might not have the speed of fellow backs Knowshon Moreno and LeSean McCoy, he has a great NFL frame, and the uncanny ability to break tackles and absorb contact.

The only true downside to Wells is that he hasn't yet shown he can be a consistent receiving threat out of the backfield, but then again, nor did anyone else on that Ohio State team.

Honorable Mentions & Why They Didn't Make The Cut

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Incredible hands, and great speed, but lacks the ideal frame for a No. 1 go to receiver.

He certainly has a solid upside, and I wouldn't be shocked to see a team take a gamble on him in the first round, but as of right now, I see him as the third or fourth best WR in this draft class trailing behind Darrius Heyward-Bey and Hakeem Nicks.

For Harvin's sake, he had better hope that Kenny Britt out of Rutgers doesn't improve too much upon his 40 time.

Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

We have Freeman going in the first round in the NES 24/7 Mock Draft, and I truly feel like this kid has all the tools necessary to be a starting QB in the NFL.

Incredible size, a great arm, with a good feel on his passes, and a very low TD/INT ratio throughout his career, Freeman has shown that he can perform at the college level.

However, it's not his decision making in the passing game that worries me, it's what he tries to do with his feet that raises the red flag in my eyes.

It's not that Josh Freeman can't make things happen with his feet, as he proved that he can against Texas A&M, where he nearly broke the 100 yard rushing mark on 18 attempts, it's his ability to throw on the run that needs to improve.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

In terms of talent, Moreno isn't too far off from matching up with Chris Wells. He has the speed, he's proven to be a more consistent receiving target, and not once in his college career has Knowshon Moreno fumbled the ball.

The one, and perhaps only thing that worries me about Moreno is that he is coming out of a somewhat pass heavy offense, led by the consensus first overall selection in this years draft, quarterback Matt Stafford.

However, when all is said and done, Moreno could very well be the best back to be drafted in this years class.

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