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NFL Draft 2012 Selection Order -
The Colts are ‘On the Clock’!
The Colts hold the first overall choice of the NFL Draft 2012 this April after a terrible season that saw them win only two games all year. Their poor performance may cost head coach Jim Caldwell his job as NFL teams begin to make big changes with the regular season now completed. The final selection order is complete except for the playoff and Super Bowl teams, in addition to two coin flips for tied positions.
Photo - QB Andrew Luck - Stanford
* Playoff team / y - coin flip to determine order / Playoffs - Super Bowl determines final positions
Team - W-L - Opp W-L %
1 Indianapolis - 2-14 .539
2 St. Louis - 2-14 .590
3 Minnesota - 3-13 .559
4 Cleveland - 4-12 .531
5 Tampa Bay - 4-12 .551
6 Washington - 5-11 .477
7 Jacksonville - 5-11 .500
y 8/9 Carolina - 6-10 .504
y 8/9 Miami - 6-10 .504
10 Buffalo - 6-10 .520
y 11/12 Kansas City - 7-9 .512
y 11/12 Seattle - 7-9 .512
13 Arizona - 8-8 .469
14 Dallas - 8-8 .473
15 Philadelphia - 8-8 .488
16 NY Jets - 8-8 .500
17 Cincinnati (Oakland) - 8-8 .504
18 San Diego - 8-8 .516
19 Chicago - 8-8 .527
20 Tennessee - 9-7 .461
21 * Denver - 8-8 .520
22 * Cincinnati - 9-7 .492
23 * NY Giants - 9-7 .520
24 * Houston - 10-6 .453
25 * Cleveland (Atlanta) - 10-6 .480
26 * Detroit -10-6 .535
27 * Baltimore - 12-4 .477
28 * Pittsburgh - 12-4 .492
29 * New England (New Orleans) - 13-3 .441
30 * San Francisco - 13-3 .449
31 * New England - 13-3 .449
32 * Green Bay - 15-1 .457
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.
DraftInsiders.com 2011 All-American Team
Offensive Player of the Year
QB Andrew Luck – Stanford - Jr
Defensive Player of the Year
CB Tyrann Mathieu – LSU – Soph
Photo - WR Michael Floyd - Notre Dame
Offensive Freshman of the Year
WR Sammy Watkins – Clemson
Defensive Freshman of the Year
DE Jadeveon Clowney – South Carolina
Coach of the Year
Brady Hoke – Michigan (1st season)
DraftInsiders.com All- American Team
Offensive Team
QB Andrew Luck - Jr. - Stanford
RB Trent Richardson - Jr. - Alabama
RB Montee Ball - Jr. - Wisconsin
WR Justin Blackmon - Jr. - Oklahoma St
WR Michael Floyd - Sr. - Notre Dame
WR Robert Woods - Soph. - Southern Cal
TE Coby Fleener - Sr. - Stanford
OT Matt Kalil - Jr. - USC
OT Jonathan Martin - Jr. - Stanford
OG David DeCastro - Jr. - Stanford
OG Barrett Jones - Jr. - Alabama
OC Peter Konz - Jr. - Wisconsin
PK - Carson Wiggs - Sr. - Purdue
KOR - T.Y. Hilton - Sr. - Florida International
Frank Coyle's Individual Player Voting 2011 Season
Heisman Trophy Vote - QB Andrew Luck - Stanford
Jim Thorpe Vote - CB Morris Claiborne - LSU
Nagurski Vote - CB Morris Claiborne - LSU
Lombardi Vote - OT Matt Kalil - Southern Cal
Outland Vote - OT Jonathan Martin - Stanford
Defensive Team
DE Melvin Ingram - Sr. - South Carolina
DT Brandon Thompson - Sr. - Clemson
DT Fletcher Cox - Jr. - Mississippi St.
DE Whitney Mercilus - Jr. - Illinois
LB Brandon Lindsey - Sr. - Pittsburgh
LB Jarvis Jones - Soph. - Georgia
LB Luke Kuechly - Jr. - Boston College
LB Courtney Upshaw - Sr. - Alabama
CB Tyrann Mathieu - Soph. - LSU
CB Morris Claiborne - Jr. - LSU
CB Brandon Boykin - Jr. - Georgia
S Mark Barron - Sr. - Alabama
S T.J. McDonald - Jr. - Southern Cal
P Drew Butler - Sr. - Georgia
PR Joe Adams - Sr. Arkansas
Raiders Deal for QB Carson Palmer At Trading Deadline
Photo - QB Carson Palmer
In the true spirit of former Oakland owner/ GM Al Davis, the Raiders made a bold trade at the NFL deadline to acquire veteran QB Carson Palmer. The Bengals and Raiders completed a major trade for Palmer before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline that could have major impact on the AFC playoff picture especially the overcome in the Western division. The Bengals get the Raider’s first-round choice in the 2012 NFL Draft and either their first or second-round choice in the 2013 NFL Draft according to any postseason Raiders wins this year.
Go to NFL News on Navigation Bar for all Traded Picks for the NFL Draft 2012 and 2013
Ironically, Al Davis passed away last weekend after decades at the helm for the Raiders as one of the NFL’s most controversial leaders. The major deal is the type of trade that Davis made repeatedly over his GM career especially during the Raider’s heydays of the ‘70s and ‘80s. He had a trade theory that if a team felt it was one player away from making a run at the NFL title, it was worth the price paid to acquire that right veteran. Palmer cost the Raiders a high price for the two time Pro Bowl passer, but he is a fine fit for their big play vertical passing game. With starting QB Jason Campbell out with a broken collarbone for six weeks from last weekend’s game, the efforts of the Oakland front office to trade for Palmer intensified this week.
Palmer has thus far sat out the 2011 season in a move to force the Bengals to trade him. He announced his retirement last spring in hopes of forcing Bengals GM Mike Brown to trade the disgruntled 31 year old veteran passer.
The Bengals have surprised this season with a 4-2 start that has them in playoff contention at the midseason point. The two high draft choices will be bumper selections for the young developing club that has started rookie QB Andy Dalton this fall. The future 2013 second-round selection will escalate to a first-rounder if the Raiders (4-2) win a divisional playoff game this postseason. Over his eight playing seasons, Palmer never won a playoff game during his Bengal career.
Bengals president Mike Brown changed his mind over recent weeks as a few NFL clubs inquired about the strong-armed veteran. With the emergence of rookie QB Dalton. getting two additional prime selections over the next two NFL Drafts was too enticing to refuse.
"Several factors made us believe that trading Carson to Oakland was the best move for the Bengals at this time," said Brown. "The principal development has been Andy Dalton, who has shown himself to be one of the best and most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL.
"We also find ourselves rather suddenly in position of being able to receive real value for Carson that can measurably improve our team... When this opportunity arose, we felt we could not let it pass."
Palmer has the big arm and a blue-chip pedigree that has always been the Raider trademark going back to the Daryle Lamonica era by the Bay. In fact, the Raiders have already announced that Palmer will wear #3, the number Lamonica made famous in Oakland during the 1970s. Palmer was the #1 over pick of the 2003 NFL Draft after a highly publicized career at Southern Cal that ended with winning the Heisman Trophy award. He returns to the West Coast with a club in the middle of the AFC West race at 4-2 right behind the Chargers at 4-1.
Palmer is still in the prime of his career with a contract that runs through 2014 season. He could be their long sought answer here for the trigger man with the big arm to get the ball down the field. He reunites with Oakland HC Hue Jackson, who was the Cincinnati wide receivers coach recently during his Pro Bowl performances.
Palmer started every game during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, putting up big numbers annually. Over the 2010 season, he passed for 3,970 yards with 26 TDs and 20 picks for a 4-12 club and an aging receiving corps. He lead the club to AFC North titles in both 2005 and 2009, the only times Cincinnati made the playoffs over a 20-year period.
Oakland plays five of their eight AFC West games going forward including two with both Kansas City and San Diego. They also play struggling clubs like Minnesota and Miami over the soft second half schedule.
Palmer is reportedly in good shape, but has not thrown a pass in action in almost a year. With Kansas City coming to town this Sunday and a bye week the following weekend, Palmer will probably wait to start until the Nov 6th game at home vs the Denver Broncos. Veteran Kyle Boller will most likly get the starting assignment this week with rookie Terrelle Pryor as the backup.
The Raiders have not made the NFL playoffs since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Bucs following the 2002 season. The Raiders have only their 5fth and 6th-round draft choices for the NFL Draft 2012 before any compensatory picks for losing veterans especially All-Pro corner Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency in August.
DraftInsiders.com NFL 2011 Predictions
Saints Top Chargers in Super Bowl Matchup
Photo - QB Drew Brees - Saints
Player of the Year –
QB Drew Brees - Saints
Defensive Player of the Year –
CB Darrelle Revis - Jets
Rookies of the Year
Offense - RB Mark Ingram - Saints
Defense – CB Patrick Peterson - Cardinals
Breakout Player of the Year
QB Alex Smith - 49ers
Comeback Player of the Year
WR Chad Ochocinco - Patriots
NFL 2011Forecast
Frank Coyle
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles - 12-4 –
Eagles are among the best in the NFC after strong FA class. They are capable of winning the East and going deep into the playoffs behind Michael Vick.
New York Giants - 11-5 –
Giants can play with anyone on the league, but must stay healthy and play more consistently. They have a potent attack and tough veteran defense, though roster is thin after a few key injuries.
Dallas Cowboys - 8-8 –
QB Tony Romo returns after an injury marred 2010 season. They must prove they can run the ball consistently to balance this offense. Their defense is good, but not near the top two clubs in this division.
Washington Redskins - 6-10 –
Skins start another new QB this season in Rex Grossman. Their defense looks to return to their 2009 form mainly behind improved secondary play. Skins might again struggle to make .500 in the best division in the game.
NORTH
Green Bay Packers -10-5 -
Aaron Rodgers is the hottest QB in the game and Packers may be the best club in the league again. The play of both lines will determine if they can repeat.
Chicago Bears - 11-5 -
Bears can win this division behind veteran QB Jay Cutler. The defense is one of the best in this league that could spell the difference over the course of the season.
Detroit Lions - 9- 7 –
Lions will in the playoff hunt if they keep QB Matt Stafford healthy for 16 games.
Minnesota Vikings - 10-5 -
Vikes look to veteran Donovan McNabb to be the difference maker on an erratic club that is capable of big wins or total self destruction.
SOUTH
New Orleans Saints - 12-4 –
The Saints organizations have improved on defense that gives them the edge in one of the toughest divisions in football. QB Drew Brees is capable of leading this club to the Show again.
Atlanta Falcons - 10-6 –
Falcons are thinking title but they face a very tough schedule that might be the equalizer. They could struggle at .500 through midseason. Defense is suspect.
Tampa Bay Bucs - 8-8 –
Bucs began a turnaround last season with a 10-6, though vs a soft schedule. They will regress this fall and will be not better than a young .500 club that needs maturity.
Carolina Panthers - 6-10 –
Panthers begin the Cam Newton era, but will rely on a strong ground game to win games. They face a very tough schedule and will go through some painful growing pains in 2011.
WEST
Arizona Cardinals – 10-6 –
Cards look to return to the top of the weakest division in the NFL after adding QB Kevin
Kolb. There young defense is at playoff levels currently.
San Francisco 49ers - 8-8 –
New HC Jim Harbaugh will give this club an identity. He will turn QB Alex Smith into a solid
reliable starter. There defense is a solid group, but this club might struggle to get past the .500 mark.
St. Louis Rams - 6-10 –
Rams look to build off an improved offense directed by QB Sam Bradford. There changing defense is still not up to playoff levels at this point, though HC Steve Spagnuolo is a master leader.
Seattle Seahawks - 5-11 –
Seahawks won the divisional title with a 7-9 record, the first sub .500 team to ever accomplish that feat. This club will struggle to play above the .500 mark and challenge for the playoffs.
Divisional Champs
Eagles, Packers, Saints and Cardinals
Wild Card Clubs
Giants & Falcons
NFC Championship
Saint over Packers – Saints march back to the Big Show.
AFC EAST
New York Jets – 12-4 –
Jets look to young QB Mark Sanchez to take another step up. That would put them over the top in a tough division. They defense ranks among the top five in the game.
New England Patriots - 11-5 –
Pats look to premier QB Tom Brady to direct this changing potent offense. The new ground game and receivers could rank them at the top of the league. Their suspect changing defense will determine their final fate in key games.
Miami Dolphins - 7-9 –
Dolphins will be hard pressed to improve off back to back 7-9 seasons. QB Chad Henne is better than advertised and needs new vet Reggie Bush to become everything Ted Ginn did not become.
Buffalo Bills - 4-12 –
Bills are still rebuilding and will look to their young players to establish themselves as top NFL players. Their development will determine any improvement beyond a 4 to 6 win season.
NORTH
Baltimore Ravens - 11-5 –
The Ravens will look to young QB Joe Flacco to join the upper echelon of NFL passers. The defense is still capable of ranking with the best in the game and able to win this division.
Pittsburgh Steelers - 10-6 –
Big Ben makes big plays and the Steel defense is still among best in the game. They are a threat to win any critical game.
Cleveland Browns - 7-9 –
Browns continue to rebuild behind young QB Colt McCoy hoping to get them to respectability. Only one winning season in past six seasons may continue this fall.
Cincinnati Bengals - 5-11 –
With star QB Carson Palmer on the retirement list, the Bengals look to rookie QB Andy Dalton and top pick wideout
A.J. Green to begin a new era. Their defense has never improved under HC Marvin Lewis.
SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts - 10-6 –
QB Peyton Manning starts the season on the bench healing from neck surgery. This club is aging and faces but still dangerous to win big games in the playoffs. Whether the aging defense plays up to those levels remain to be seen.
Houston Texans - 10-6 –
A .500 record won’t get it done this season. Only a playoff berth will keep this club from facing major changes after the season.
Tennessee Titans - 8-8 –
The Titans look to veteran Matt Hasselbeck to keep this club respectable until top pick QB Jake Locker can take the reins. They might surprise and press for a playoff berth.
Jacksonville Jaguars - 6-10 –
Jaguars turned the page with the release of veteran QB David Garrard. They have taken a few steps back recently and a sub .500 record appears likely unless many questions are answered positively.
WEST
San Diego Chargers - 12-4 –
The Chargers are a loaded club with QB Philip Rivers directing a veteran club.
They can win the NFL title behind a veteran defense but needs their troubled special teams to improve significantly.
Kansas City Chiefs - 10-6 –
Chiefs won the division behind QB Matt Cassel and runner Jamaal Charles. The young defense is quietly improving and capable of helping them to compete for a playoff berth.
Oakland Raiders - 7-9 –
Raiders are a franchise in disarray and have not won more than 5 games since the 2002 season and this year looks like another repeat disaster.
Denver Broncos - 5-11 –
Broncos made huge changes this offseason under new HC Josh McDaniel. They should face difficult growing pains that will push them to the bottom of the AFC.
Divisional Champs
Jets, Ravens, Colts & Chargers
Wild Card Clubs
Patriots & Texans
AFC Championship
San Diego over Indianapolis
Chargers show a top defense can stop a potent offense in big
games.
Super Bowl Matchup
New Orleans Saints over San Diego Chargers
Saints win a wild Super Bowl showdown with Chargers.
Giants Grade Top NFL Draft Class
The NFL Draft 2011 has been consummated with 254 prospects chosen over the three-day seven round event. The postseason leaves many key questions though, with the lockout in place until a new CBA contract is signed. The NFL postseason places both veteran and rookie free agency in limbo and areas that clubs can address only when open. At this point, mini camps are in jeopardy and almost certain not to occur. NFL training camps are only three months away and the regular season slightly over four months from now. Free agency will be a great unknown until key questions are answered related to salary gap and number of years of service needed to become eligible. The current NFL lockout makes it very difficult for clubs to evaluate new players, injured veterans or to institute new systems under first year head coaches.
Photo - CB Prince Amukamara - Nebraska
Our NFL Team 2011 Report in April had 45 direct hits with the team matched with the exact player chosen and that included only up through the middle rounds. No other publication, web site or analyst had half that total. Clubs our NFL Team Report matched three prospects selected were the Giants, Dolphins, Titans Ravens and Chiefs on our detailed team by team evaluation.
Best NFL Draft 2011 Classes
The Giants got incredible value from top to bottom and had Prince Amukamara fall in their flap at the 19th overall selection. The Saints also were able to get excellent value with their six selections, but did surrender their #1 pick next April on runner Mark Ingram. Obviously, any evaluation of draft classes takes a few seasons, though the eight clubs below graded out high on selecting value pro prospects.
#1 Giants - A
#2 Saints - A
#3 Lions - A
#4 Patriots - B+
#5 Cardinals - B+
#6 Ravens - B
#7 Texans - B
#8 Chiefs - B
NFL Draft 2011 Facts
North Carolina and Southern Cal led the nation’s schools in overall selections with 9 picks each and one first round choice. North Carolina had 5 players chosen, 4 of them defenders in in the top 100 selections. Southern Cal saw five of their 9 players chosen after the top 180 overall selections. Miami had 8 and Nebraska 7 players chosen over the seven round event. Miami had no first round player but five of the top 86 and six of the top 109 prospects chosen. Nebraska had Prince Amukamara selected as their first round and 19th overall selection, though their second player Roy Helu was not chosen until the 105th overall selected.
The SEC was once again the leader among conferences with 38 players chosen.
SEC 38
ACC - 35
Pac 10 - 31
Big 12 – 30
Big Ten – 29
Big East – 22
WAC – 16
MWC – 10
CUSA - 7
Sun Belt – 5
Underclassmen Scoreboard
The group of underclassmen who declared in January for the NFL Draft 2011 had the expected huge impact on the selection process, especially the top rounds. Overall, 42 of the 55 underclassmen who declared in this year's group were selected over the seven rounds, including 15 in the first round. In particular, underclassmen totally dominated the early part of the first round with 6 of the first seven prospects and 8 of the top 10 picks from this group. The offensive line led all positions with 40 prospects selected with the defensive line and cornerback positions close behind with 38 players chosen overall.
Monmouth U's Wideout Chris Hogan Impresses At Workouts
Photo - WR Chris Hogan - Monmouth U
‘Trust Your Eyes’
The third day of the NFL Draft 2011 begins at noon today and has always been a day I call ‘Scouts Day.’ This is the pro prospect group that falls beyond the Top 100 players that teams have to do extensive work on to evaluate for the NFL game. There have been countless gems among the 4th through the 7th rounds. The endless Pro Days finally terminated at some point this week. They have taken on a nature all their own over recent years. Web site has the Top Small College Prospects - ‘The Dirty Dozen posted on Friday. Three prospects OL Ben Ijalana (2nd) and OL Will Rackley and NT Kendric Ellis (3rd) were selected on the 2nd day of the NFL Draft 2011. Annually, about 25-30 prospects from the lower level get selected in the NFL Draft.
Over 90% of the results of Pro Days only confirm what you should have known months earlier. Granted, the medical and injury situations are vital to update for final rankings. Many lesser known prospects benefit from the exposure, though the final rankings should not be changed to any big degree. The old athletic and scouting slogan “Trust your Eyes” applies here more than anywhere. This is not the Olympics, its evaluating football players for a specific skill set for the NFL game. One of the final Pro Day was at Monmouth University (N.J.) on Monday April 25th. The Philadelphia Eagles worked out wideout Chris Hogan in a fog similar to the Fog playoff game years ago. Hogan is a Miles Austin clone (former Monmouth player) that the Eagles wanted to get a final look at the raw developing athlete. Hogan played only one season at Monmouth after a Lacrosse career at Penn St. He is a fine athlete and actually blew the competition away at the Fordham Pro Day a month ago. The Eagles have three #7 picks, so I expect them to use one of them on Hogan as an athlete who can help on coverage units while he develops as a receiver. Though he is similar to the Cowboy’s Miles Austin in athleticism, size and smarts, he is not as developed as a receiver and needs strong coaching on the basics of route running, reading defenses and make adjustments during the play. I actually pounded the table for Miles Austin in 2006 with no takers He has developed into a top tier NFL starter over recent seasons. Hogan has that type of ability, though he will have to earn his stripes on coverage units, and at 220 lbs. and a legitimate sub 4.50 time, he has the athleticism and toughness to win a role on the coverage teams. With time to develop, he could be a major sleeper from the lower level that shocks NFL scouts. Clubs like the Browns, 49ers, Texans and Giants have him on their short list for the late rounds. The final day of the NFL Draft 2011 (rounds 4 thru 7) will probably once again present some future pro stars for the savvy front offices who have done their homework on the hidden gems from college football.
Mike Pouncey Tops Hindu Theory Players 2011
The Hindu Player Theory - This DraftInsiders.com theory is a takeoff on our old friend, George Young former General Manager of the New York Giants who said, "If NFL General Managers and scouts had one common religion, it would be Hinduism because they all believe in reincarnation. They think every new player reminds them of some former NFL performer." This theory takes into account a players' projected NFL ability, size, body type, athleticism, skill set and upside potential as a pro. This year we have a nature Hindu theory player in Mike Pouncey who is only 1 chromosome short of his brother Maurkice Pouncey of the Steelers.
Photo - OL Mike Pouncey - Flordia
Current Player - Reminds of NFL Player
OL Mike Pouncey - Maurkice Pouncey
CB Jimmy Smith - Chris McAlister
QB Blaine Gabbert - Matt Schaub
DL Marcell Dareus - Haloti Ngata
WR Randall Cobb - Percy Harvin
RB Ryan Williams - DeAngelo Williams
DT Kendric Ellis - Shaun Rogers
WR Julio Jones - Hakeem Nicks
RB Mario Fannin - Arian Foster
TE Rob Housler - Jared Cook
RB Jacquizz Rodgers - Dexter McCluster
LB Jabara Williams - Ernie Sims
WR Cecil Shorts - Julian Edelman
NT Phil Taylor - Kris Jenkins
QB Jake Locker - Jay Cutler
WR Jerrel Jernigan - Eddie Royal
DE Robert Quinn - John Abraham
QB Cam Newton - Vince Young
WR Tandon Doss - Brandon Lloyd
RB Jordan Todman - Thomas Jones
QB Ryan Mallett - Drew Bledsoe
LB Von Miller - Terrell Suggs
WR Titus Young - DeSean Jackson
TE Jordan Cameron - James Casey
DT Marvin Austin - Aubrayo Franklin
CB Ras-I Dowling - Corey Webster
LB Aldon Smith - DeMarcus Ware
WR Greg Little - Miles Austin
QB Tyrod Taylor - Tarvaris Jackson
TE Lance Kendricks - Visanthe Shiancoe
DT Nick Fairley - Richard Seymour
WR Edmund Gates - Johnny Knox
S Rahim Moore - Kenny Phillips
WR Jonathan Baldwin - Brandon Marshall
DL Cam Heyward - Cory Redding
LB Mason Foster - Daryl Smith
CB Patrick Peterson - Charles Woodson
DT Martin Parker - Amobi Okoye
LB Bruce Carter - Keith Rivers
TE Lee Smith - Anthony Becht
DE Cam Jordan - Justin Tuck
RB Kendall Hunter - Ahmad Bradshaw
WR Jeremy Kerley - Bobby Engram
LB Justin Houston - LaMarr Woodley
TE Collin Franklin - Kevin Boss
DE Ryan Kerrigan - Jared Allen
CB Brandon Hogan - Brandon McDonald
Click on Next Page for More Hindu Theory Players
