The NFL Draft’s first three rounds get almost all of the attention, but the teams that win consistently do a good job of finding starters in later rounds. Here are 10 likely late-round picks or undrafted free agents who could eventually become quality starters.
Offensive prospects
Levi Brown, QB, Troy
An athletic quarterback who played in a wide-open spread attack, Brown must adjust to playing under center. He has a strong arm and can make every NFL throw with zip and accuracy when his footwork is sound. He is poised under pressure and will not force throws into bad spots to avoid sacks.
He has a very quick release with good zip — even when there is pressure in his face and he can’t stride into his throws. Brown is a bit raw and will need a season or two as a backup to develop, but he should become a good starting quarterback.
Chris Campbell, T, Eastern Illinois
Campbell has the talent to become a good starting left tackle, but he has a lot of work to do first. He is a tall, well-built prospect with the long arms, quickness and athleticism to slide out and block edge pass rushers. He also has the agility to move outside and block effectively in space.
Despite these positives, Campbell won’t be a high pick because his technique is very raw and he gets beaten too often. He won’t be able to contribute any time soon, which is why he’ll most likely be a seventh-round pick or a free agent.
Otis Hudson, T, Eastern Illinois
Not only does Hudson have good size and athletic ability, but he has adjusted well to a position change after beginning his career as a defensive lineman at Minnesota. He is a thickly built prospect, with good athleticism and natural strength. Though his technique needs much improvement, he is a very competitive blocker who is able to control his man if he can lock up on him.
Hudson won’t be drafted before the seventh round, but he has the talent and competitiveness to become a quality starter after a season or two on the practice squad.
Defensive prospects
Travis Ivey, NT, Maryland
Ivey is a big, thick-bodied prospect who has the natural strength to be dominant at the point of attack. He can hold his ground against double-teams, clogging the inside and allowing linebackers to make plays. But he did not always play with passion and intensity at Maryland and was ridden out of plays too often.
Ivey will likely be a sixth- or seventh-round pick who may get cut once or twice if his intensity doesn’t improve. If the light goes on, however, he has the talent to be a good starting nose tackle in the NFL.
Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
Because Te’o-Nesheim lacks the explosiveness be a top edge rusher, it’s easy to overlook him. But he has quick feet and good speed, which enable him to consistently chase down running plays in pursuit. Though he can’t blow by offensive tackles as a pass rusher, his quickness, hand use and excellent intensity allow him to be effective.
He isn’t likely to be chosen before the sixth round, but he has the ability to develop into a starter if he can bulk up to 270 pounds. At that weight, he could be a solid strongside end in a 4-3 scheme. If he can bulk up to 290, he could become a good starting end in a 3-4.
Want more? We’ve posted an expanded file on late-round prospects who could become starters. Click here and read it in the War Room Draft Dish.
For more than 660 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
The NFL Draft’s first three rounds get almost all of the attention, but the teams that win consistently do a good job of finding starters in later rounds. Here are 10 likely late-round picks or undrafted free agents who could eventually become quality starters.
Offensive prospects
Levi Brown, QB, Troy
An athletic quarterback who played in a wide-open spread attack, Brown must adjust to playing under center. He has a strong arm and can make every NFL throw with zip and accuracy when his footwork is sound. He is poised under pressure and will not force throws into bad spots to avoid sacks.
He has a very quick release with good zip — even when there is pressure in his face and he can’t stride into his throws. Brown is a bit raw and will need a season or two as a backup to develop, but he should become a good starting quarterback.
Chris Campbell, T, Eastern Illinois
Campbell has the talent to become a good starting left tackle, but he has a lot of work to do first. He is a tall, well-built prospect with the long arms, quickness and athleticism to slide out and block edge pass rushers. He also has the agility to move outside and block effectively in space.
Despite these positives, Campbell won’t be a high pick because his technique is very raw and he gets beaten too often. He won’t be able to contribute any time soon, which is why he’ll most likely be a seventh-round pick or a free agent.
Otis Hudson, T, Eastern Illinois
Not only does Hudson have good size and athletic ability, but he has adjusted well to a position change after beginning his career as a defensive lineman at Minnesota. He is a thickly built prospect, with good athleticism and natural strength. Though his technique needs much improvement, he is a very competitive blocker who is able to control his man if he can lock up on him.
Hudson won’t be drafted before the seventh round, but he has the talent and competitiveness to become a quality starter after a season or two on the practice squad.
Defensive prospects
Travis Ivey, NT, Maryland
Ivey is a big, thick-bodied prospect who has the natural strength to be dominant at the point of attack. He can hold his ground against double-teams, clogging the inside and allowing linebackers to make plays. But he did not always play with passion and intensity at Maryland and was ridden out of plays too often.
Ivey will likely be a sixth- or seventh-round pick who may get cut once or twice if his intensity doesn’t improve. If the light goes on, however, he has the talent to be a good starting nose tackle in the NFL.
Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
Because Te’o-Nesheim lacks the explosiveness be a top edge rusher, it’s easy to overlook him. But he has quick feet and good speed, which enable him to consistently chase down running plays in pursuit. Though he can’t blow by offensive tackles as a pass rusher, his quickness, hand use and excellent intensity allow him to be effective.
He isn’t likely to be chosen before the sixth round, but he has the ability to develop into a starter if he can bulk up to 270 pounds. At that weight, he could be a solid strongside end in a 4-3 scheme. If he can bulk up to 290, he could become a good starting end in a 3-4.
Want more? We’ve posted an expanded file on late-round prospects who could become starters. Click here and read it in the War Room Draft Dish.
For more than 660 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
A look back at the best and worst picks of the 1996 draft 14 years ago:
Steals
Ray Lewis remains a keystone in the Ravens defense with his play and passion.
Ray Lewis, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
Baltimore Ravens: Round 1, Pick 26
Lewis continues to intimidate ball carriers as the familiar face and motivating force of Baltimore’s defense, which has taken all different shapes over the past 14 years. Every team would love to draft a player who would compete so passionately and well for so long.
Terrell Owens, WR, Tennessee-Chattanooga
San Francisco 49ers: Round 3, Pick 89
It was a great draft for wideouts — from Keyshawn Johnson at No. 1 to Marvin Harrison at No. 19 to well beyond the first round. But Owens has proved to be the most productive in the class, as he ranks third all-time in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Brian Dawkins, S, Clemson
Philadelphia Eagles: Round 2, Pick 61
Dawkins was the 11th defensive back chosen, but he has been the best of the group. An eight-time Pro Bowl player, Dawkins was the standout playmaker in the Eagles’ secondary for 13 seasons before leaving to become a vital leader for a young Broncos defense in ’09.
Zach Thomas, ILB, Texas Tech
Miami Dolphins: Round 5, Pick 154
At 5-11, 230 pounds, Thomasremains the inspiration for all undersized linebackers. He was a tackling machine who consistently ranked with Lewis in AFC honors. His quickness, heart and determination made his lack of height a non-issue.
La’Roi Glover, DT, San Diego State
Oakland Raiders: Round 5, Pick 166
He was named to the all-decade team on the strength of six Pro Bowls and 83.5 career sacks. Unfortunately for Oakland, all those sacks came after his rookie year during productive stints in New Orleans, Dallas and St. Louis. In his prime, Glover repeatedly burned opposing linemen with great quickness.
Stinkers
Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska
St. Louis Rams: Round 1, Pick 6
Phillips was loaded with the talent to become an explosive superstar, but his off-field explosions cost him. His life has been marred by numerous arrests for assault, including domestic abuse. He also was lacking as a team player and was cut by St. Louis after a season and a half. He found brief success in the CFL, but last year he started serving a prison sentence of more than 31 years.
Jamain Stephens, OT, North Carolina A&T
Pittsburgh Steelers: Round 1, Pick 29
Pittsburgh has a habit of finding stars from smaller schools, but Stephens never put in enough work or rounded himself into shape to take advantage of his raw physical gifts. He was cut in 1999 and became a short-lived Bengals backup.
Andre Johnson, OT, Penn State
Washington Redskins: Round 1, Pick 30
Don’t worry: No one will ever confuse him with the Texans wide receiver of the same name. His Nittany Lions pedigree didn’t help one bit in the NFL, as Johnson flamed out in Washington after only one season. He ended up playing in three career games — all with the Lions, his third team.
Alex Van Dyke, WR, Nevada-Reno
New York Jets: Round 2, Pick 31
Somehow, the Jets whiffed on what turned out to be a very deep and productive wide receiver class. Van Dyke ended up with 26 career
receptions. He was taken between Eric Moulds and Amani Toomer, and both
Muhsin Muhammad and Bobby Engram went later in Round 2.
Bryant Mix, DE, Alcorn State
Houston Oilers: Round 2, Pick 38
After hitting on Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair with the third
overall pick in 1995, the Oilers made a mistake by going back to that well. Mix played in seven games for Houston/Tennessee, registering one sack. After Simeon Rice went third overall, it was a bad end class.
First Round
1. New York Jets, Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Southern Cal
2. Jacksonville, Kevin Hardy, OLB, Illinois
3. Arizona, Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois
4. Baltimore, Jonathan Ogden, OT, UCLA
5. New York Giants, Cedric Jones, DE, Oklahoma
6. St. Louis, Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska
7. New England, Terry Glenn, WR, Ohio State
8. Carolina, Tim Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan
9. Oakland, Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State
10. Cincinnati, Willie Anderson, OT, Auburn
11. New Orleans, Alex Molden, CB, Oregon
12. Tampa Bay, Regan Upshaw, DE, California
13. Chicago, Walt Harris, CB, Mississippi State
14. Houston, Eddie George, RB, Ohio State
15. Denver, John Mobley, OLB, Kutztown
16. Minnesota, Duane Clemons, DE, California
17. Detroit, Reggie Brown, LB, Texas A&M
18. St. Louis, Eddie Kennison, WR, LSU
19. Indianapolis, Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse
20. Miami, Daryl Gardener, DT, Baylor
21. Seattle, Pete Kendall, G, Boston College
22. Tampa Bay, Marcus Jones, DE, North Carolina
23. Detroit, Jeff Hartings, C, Penn State
24. Buffalo, Eric Moulds, WR, Mississippi State
25. Philadelphia, Jermane Mayberry, G, Texas A&M-Kingsville
26. Baltimore, Ray Lewis, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
27. Green Bay, John Michels, OT, Southern Cal
28. Kansas City, Jerome Woods, S, Memphis
29. Pittsburgh, Jamain Stephens, OT, North Carolina A&T
30. Washington, Andre Johnson, OT, Penn State
Second round
31. New York Jets, Alex Van Dyke, WR, Nevada
32. Arizona, Leeland McElroy, RB, Texas A&M
33. Jacksonville, Tony Brackens, DE, Texas
34. New York Giants, Amani Toomer, WR, Michigan
35. Tampa Bay, Mike Alstott, FB, Purdue
36. New England, Lawyer Milloy, S, Washington
37. Dallas, Kavika Pittman, DE, McNeese State
38. Houston, Bryant Mix, DE, Alcorn State
39. Cincinnati, Marco Battaglia, TE, Rutgers
40. New Orleans, Je’Rod Cherry, S, California
41. San Diego, Bryan Still, WR, Virginia Tech
42. St. Louis, Tony Banks, QB, Michigan State
43. Carolina, Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Michigan State
44. Denver, Tory James, CB, LSU
45. Minnesota, James Manley, DT, Vanderbilt
46. San Francisco, Israel Ifeanyi, DE, Southern Cal
47. Seattle, Fred Thomas, CB Tennessee-Martin
48. Houston, Jason Layman, OT, Tennessee
49. Dallas, Randall Godfrey, ILB, Georgia
50. San Diego, Patrick Sapp, LB, Clemson
51. Indianapolis, Dedric Mathis, DB, Houston
52. Chicago, Bobby Engram, WR, Penn State
53. Buffalo, Gabe Northern, DE, LSU
54. Philadelphia, Jason Dunn, TE, Eastern Kentucky
55. Baltimore, DeRon Jenkins, CB, Tennessee
56. Green Bay, Derrick Mayes, WR, Notre Dame
57. Oakland, Lance Johnstone, DE, Temple
58. Kansas City , Reggie Tongue, S, Oregon State
59. St. Louis, Ernie Conwell, TE, Washington
60. Jacksonville, Michael Cheever, C, Georgia Tech
61. Philadelphia, Brian Dawkins, S, Clemson
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
A look back at the best and worst picks of the 1996 draft 14 years ago:
Steals
Ray Lewis remains a keystone in the Ravens defense with his play and passion.
Ray Lewis, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
Baltimore Ravens: Round 1, Pick 26
Lewis continues to intimidate ball carriers as the familiar face and motivating force of Baltimore’s defense, which has taken all different shapes over the past 14 years. Every team would love to draft a player who would compete so passionately and well for so long.
Terrell Owens, WR, Tennessee-Chattanooga
San Francisco 49ers: Round 3, Pick 89
It was a great draft for wideouts — from Keyshawn Johnson at No. 1 to Marvin Harrison at No. 19 to well beyond the first round. But Owens has proved to be the most productive in the class, as he ranks third all-time in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Brian Dawkins, S, Clemson
Philadelphia Eagles: Round 2, Pick 61
Dawkins was the 11th defensive back chosen, but he has been the best of the group. An eight-time Pro Bowl player, Dawkins was the standout playmaker in the Eagles’ secondary for 13 seasons before leaving to become a vital leader for a young Broncos defense in ’09.
Zach Thomas, ILB, Texas Tech
Miami Dolphins: Round 5, Pick 154
At 5-11, 230 pounds, Thomasremains the inspiration for all undersized linebackers. He was a tackling machine who consistently ranked with Lewis in AFC honors. His quickness, heart and determination made his lack of height a non-issue.
La’Roi Glover, DT, San Diego State
Oakland Raiders: Round 5, Pick 166
He was named to the all-decade team on the strength of six Pro Bowls and 83.5 career sacks. Unfortunately for Oakland, all those sacks came after his rookie year during productive stints in New Orleans, Dallas and St. Louis. In his prime, Glover repeatedly burned opposing linemen with great quickness.
Stinkers
Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska
St. Louis Rams: Round 1, Pick 6
Phillips was loaded with the talent to become an explosive superstar, but his off-field explosions cost him. His life has been marred by numerous arrests for assault, including domestic abuse. He also was lacking as a team player and was cut by St. Louis after a season and a half. He found brief success in the CFL, but last year he started serving a prison sentence of more than 31 years.
Jamain Stephens, OT, North Carolina A&T
Pittsburgh Steelers: Round 1, Pick 29
Pittsburgh has a habit of finding stars from smaller schools, but Stephens never put in enough work or rounded himself into shape to take advantage of his raw physical gifts. He was cut in 1999 and became a short-lived Bengals backup.
Andre Johnson, OT, Penn State
Washington Redskins: Round 1, Pick 30
Don’t worry: No one will ever confuse him with the Texans wide receiver of the same name. His Nittany Lions pedigree didn’t help one bit in the NFL, as Johnson flamed out in Washington after only one season. He ended up playing in three career games — all with the Lions, his third team.
Alex Van Dyke, WR, Nevada-Reno
New York Jets: Round 2, Pick 31
Somehow, the Jets whiffed on what turned out to be a very deep and productive wide receiver class. Van Dyke ended up with 26 career
receptions. He was taken between Eric Moulds and Amani Toomer, and both
Muhsin Muhammad and Bobby Engram went later in Round 2.
Bryant Mix, DE, Alcorn State
Houston Oilers: Round 2, Pick 38
After hitting on Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair with the third
overall pick in 1995, the Oilers made a mistake by going back to that well. Mix played in seven games for Houston/Tennessee, registering one sack. After Simeon Rice went third overall, it was a bad end class.
First Round
1. New York Jets, Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Southern Cal
2. Jacksonville, Kevin Hardy, OLB, Illinois
3. Arizona, Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois
4. Baltimore, Jonathan Ogden, OT, UCLA
5. New York Giants, Cedric Jones, DE, Oklahoma
6. St. Louis, Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska
7. New England, Terry Glenn, WR, Ohio State
8. Carolina, Tim Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan
9. Oakland, Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State
10. Cincinnati, Willie Anderson, OT, Auburn
11. New Orleans, Alex Molden, CB, Oregon
12. Tampa Bay, Regan Upshaw, DE, California
13. Chicago, Walt Harris, CB, Mississippi State
14. Houston, Eddie George, RB, Ohio State
15. Denver, John Mobley, OLB, Kutztown
16. Minnesota, Duane Clemons, DE, California
17. Detroit, Reggie Brown, LB, Texas A&M
18. St. Louis, Eddie Kennison, WR, LSU
19. Indianapolis, Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse
20. Miami, Daryl Gardener, DT, Baylor
21. Seattle, Pete Kendall, G, Boston College
22. Tampa Bay, Marcus Jones, DE, North Carolina
23. Detroit, Jeff Hartings, C, Penn State
24. Buffalo, Eric Moulds, WR, Mississippi State
25. Philadelphia, Jermane Mayberry, G, Texas A&M-Kingsville
26. Baltimore, Ray Lewis, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
27. Green Bay, John Michels, OT, Southern Cal
28. Kansas City, Jerome Woods, S, Memphis
29. Pittsburgh, Jamain Stephens, OT, North Carolina A&T
30. Washington, Andre Johnson, OT, Penn State
Second round
31. New York Jets, Alex Van Dyke, WR, Nevada
32. Arizona, Leeland McElroy, RB, Texas A&M
33. Jacksonville, Tony Brackens, DE, Texas
34. New York Giants, Amani Toomer, WR, Michigan
35. Tampa Bay, Mike Alstott, FB, Purdue
36. New England, Lawyer Milloy, S, Washington
37. Dallas, Kavika Pittman, DE, McNeese State
38. Houston, Bryant Mix, DE, Alcorn State
39. Cincinnati, Marco Battaglia, TE, Rutgers
40. New Orleans, Je’Rod Cherry, S, California
41. San Diego, Bryan Still, WR, Virginia Tech
42. St. Louis, Tony Banks, QB, Michigan State
43. Carolina, Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Michigan State
44. Denver, Tory James, CB, LSU
45. Minnesota, James Manley, DT, Vanderbilt
46. San Francisco, Israel Ifeanyi, DE, Southern Cal
47. Seattle, Fred Thomas, CB Tennessee-Martin
48. Houston, Jason Layman, OT, Tennessee
49. Dallas, Randall Godfrey, ILB, Georgia
50. San Diego, Patrick Sapp, LB, Clemson
51. Indianapolis, Dedric Mathis, DB, Houston
52. Chicago, Bobby Engram, WR, Penn State
53. Buffalo, Gabe Northern, DE, LSU
54. Philadelphia, Jason Dunn, TE, Eastern Kentucky
55. Baltimore, DeRon Jenkins, CB, Tennessee
56. Green Bay, Derrick Mayes, WR, Notre Dame
57. Oakland, Lance Johnstone, DE, Temple
58. Kansas City , Reggie Tongue, S, Oregon State
59. St. Louis, Ernie Conwell, TE, Washington
60. Jacksonville, Michael Cheever, C, Georgia Tech
61. Philadelphia, Brian Dawkins, S, Clemson
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
Santonio Holmes changed the look of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. Without him, the Steelers might have to change the look of their draft board.
Speedy Mike Wallace needs a complement to keep the Steelers’ passing game going.
Before Pittsburgh shipped its Super Bowl 43 MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick late Sunday, you could have made a case that its No. 1 target in next week’s draft would have been an interior offensive lineman, such as Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey; a safety, such as Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays; or a cornerback, such as Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson.
Now, the Steelers might be looking in another direction with the 18th overall pick.
"Now, I think you have to look at (Dez) Bryant or (Demaryius) Thomas or one of these other (wide receivers) in the first round," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.
Putting his character issues aside — and that’s something the Steelers decided they no longer could do — Holmes has developed into one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is fast, he is a deep threat, and, at 26, he is just moving into his prime. And no one will ever forget his balletic reception of Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning pass in the Super Bowl 14 months ago.
The Holmes trade takes away more than just big numbers from the Steelers’ offense (he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season). It also removes a key component in the passing game. Holmes and Mike Wallace, a speedster who made a big contribution as a rookie last season, gave defenses double trouble.
"When you had Holmes on one side and Wallace on the other," Baldinger said, "either one of them could get behind the defense on any given play."
It might seem strange to see Pittsburgh and passing in the same sentence.
For years, running the ball was the Steelers’ hallmark. But with Bruce Arians as the coordinator and Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the philosophy has changed.
Last season, Pittsburgh attempted 108 more passes than runs (536-428), and only six other teams threw more touchdown passes than the Steelers’ 28. In recent seasons, the Steelers used more four-receiver sets and bunch formations. With Roethlisberger surrounded by playmaking weapons, they caught up to the rest of the NFL.
"If you’ve watched how they’ve evolved under Ben, they’ve become a pass-happy team in what is now a pass-happy NFL," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "It is about throwing the ball."
And the Steelers will continue to throw it. Hines Ward caught a team-high 95 passes for 1,167 yards and six touchdowns in ’09 … but he is 34 and mostly a possession receiver. Wallace had 39 catches for 756 yards and six TDs … but he doesn’t always play as big as his size (6 feet). This offseason, Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El (50 catches for 530 yards for the Redskins in ’09) … but he no longer is the playmaker he used to be.
Then there is Limas Sweed, who was disappointing — and that’s being generous — in his first two seasons; Arnaz Battle, who rarely distinguished himself during seven seasons in San Francisco; and a handful of young but unproven receivers.
"They have a lot of bodies, some with experience," Baldinger said. "But I don’t see anybody replacing what Santonio Holmes brought to that team."
And that’s why the Steelers may have to change their draft board.
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
Santonio Holmes changed the look of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. Without him, the Steelers might have to change the look of their draft board.
Speedy Mike Wallace needs a complement to keep the Steelers’ passing game going.
Before Pittsburgh shipped its Super Bowl 43 MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick late Sunday, you could have made a case that its No. 1 target in next week’s draft would have been an interior offensive lineman, such as Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey; a safety, such as Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays; or a cornerback, such as Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson.
Now, the Steelers might be looking in another direction with the 18th overall pick.
"Now, I think you have to look at (Dez) Bryant or (Demaryius) Thomas or one of these other (wide receivers) in the first round," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.
Putting his character issues aside — and that’s something the Steelers decided they no longer could do — Holmes has developed into one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is fast, he is a deep threat, and, at 26, he is just moving into his prime. And no one will ever forget his balletic reception of Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning pass in the Super Bowl 14 months ago.
The Holmes trade takes away more than just big numbers from the Steelers’ offense (he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season). It also removes a key component in the passing game. Holmes and Mike Wallace, a speedster who made a big contribution as a rookie last season, gave defenses double trouble.
"When you had Holmes on one side and Wallace on the other," Baldinger said, "either one of them could get behind the defense on any given play."
It might seem strange to see Pittsburgh and passing in the same sentence.
For years, running the ball was the Steelers’ hallmark. But with Bruce Arians as the coordinator and Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the philosophy has changed.
Last season, Pittsburgh attempted 108 more passes than runs (536-428), and only six other teams threw more touchdown passes than the Steelers’ 28. In recent seasons, the Steelers used more four-receiver sets and bunch formations. With Roethlisberger surrounded by playmaking weapons, they caught up to the rest of the NFL.
"If you’ve watched how they’ve evolved under Ben, they’ve become a pass-happy team in what is now a pass-happy NFL," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "It is about throwing the ball."
And the Steelers will continue to throw it. Hines Ward caught a team-high 95 passes for 1,167 yards and six touchdowns in ’09 … but he is 34 and mostly a possession receiver. Wallace had 39 catches for 756 yards and six TDs … but he doesn’t always play as big as his size (6 feet). This offseason, Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El (50 catches for 530 yards for the Redskins in ’09) … but he no longer is the playmaker he used to be.
Then there is Limas Sweed, who was disappointing — and that’s being generous — in his first two seasons; Arnaz Battle, who rarely distinguished himself during seven seasons in San Francisco; and a handful of young but unproven receivers.
"They have a lot of bodies, some with experience," Baldinger said. "But I don’t see anybody replacing what Santonio Holmes brought to that team."
And that’s why the Steelers may have to change their draft board.
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
The New York Jets completed a major trade on Monday when they acquired wide receiver Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth round draft pick. Holmes had fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh after being accused of assaulting a woman at a Florida night club, and then subsequently being suspended by the league four games for violating its substance abuse policy.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum joined ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay to talk about trading for Holmes and the Jets’ situation moving forward. To listen to the interview with Tannenbaum, go to Sports Radio Interviews.
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes led the Steelers in receiving yards in 2009.
How much did Holmes’ off-field troubles concern the Jets?
Tannenbaum: He’s had a number of indiscretions and we’re going to work with Santonio, hopefully from a standpoint of him learning from what he did, and then him getting a fresh start here in New York. He can do a lot of great things on the field, but he needs to take care of what needs to be done off the field so he can have the best chance at being successful moving forward.
How talented do the Jets think Holmes is, and did they weigh that against his baggage?
Tannenbaum: Well, we know there are issues here, Mike. It’s a little bit like a guy like Cromartie – a guy who’s 26 years old and has ball skills at corner. There’s reasons these guys are available and there’s risks involved, and in this case, the risk is significant. But with that said, the risk for us is manageable because we think the upside is great, and as [Jets head coach] Rex [Ryan] has said, specifically, Holmes cost him a ring.
Going back two years ago to the Steelers-Ravens games and the playoff game, that was the one player they couldn’t stop. And he makes those two to three plays a game that can make the difference between winning and losing. So with that said, knowing that there was the suspension and only one year left on his contract, we felt like the risk and the price was reasonable.
Did the Jets feel more comfortable making this move because Rex Ryan has the ability to manage all sorts of personalities?
Tannenbaum: He certainly feels that way. He’s a dynamic person and he has a unique ability to relate to all different types of people. So with that said, it does give us some latitude to look into these types of opportunities.
But again, it’s not about Rex. It’s about the New York Jets organization, led by Rex, and we think we have a lot of great people to give him a chance to be successful. But Rex was completely on board and we feel good about it.
How much of a concern was Holmes’ upcoming four game suspension?
Tannenbaum: It was a huge concern, Mike, and where we came out on that was, you go back a year ago, Shaun Ellis missed our first game, Calvin Pace missed the first four games, and over the 16 game season, they still helped us quite a bit.
In baseball, you know, that would be missing the first 40 games – it’s 25% of the season. But you still have 75% of it to go, and hopefully those will be 12 really important and meaningful games, and what better shot in the arm than to add a guy of his caliber in the fifth game of the season.
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The New York Jets completed a major trade on Monday when they acquired wide receiver Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth round draft pick. Holmes had fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh after being accused of assaulting a woman at a Florida night club, and then subsequently being suspended by the league four games for violating its substance abuse policy.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum joined ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay to talk about trading for Holmes and the Jets’ situation moving forward. To listen to the interview with Tannenbaum, go to Sports Radio Interviews.
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes led the Steelers in receiving yards in 2009.
How much did Holmes’ off-field troubles concern the Jets?
Tannenbaum: He’s had a number of indiscretions and we’re going to work with Santonio, hopefully from a standpoint of him learning from what he did, and then him getting a fresh start here in New York. He can do a lot of great things on the field, but he needs to take care of what needs to be done off the field so he can have the best chance at being successful moving forward.
How talented do the Jets think Holmes is, and did they weigh that against his baggage?
Tannenbaum: Well, we know there are issues here, Mike. It’s a little bit like a guy like Cromartie – a guy who’s 26 years old and has ball skills at corner. There’s reasons these guys are available and there’s risks involved, and in this case, the risk is significant. But with that said, the risk for us is manageable because we think the upside is great, and as [Jets head coach] Rex [Ryan] has said, specifically, Holmes cost him a ring.
Going back two years ago to the Steelers-Ravens games and the playoff game, that was the one player they couldn’t stop. And he makes those two to three plays a game that can make the difference between winning and losing. So with that said, knowing that there was the suspension and only one year left on his contract, we felt like the risk and the price was reasonable.
Did the Jets feel more comfortable making this move because Rex Ryan has the ability to manage all sorts of personalities?
Tannenbaum: He certainly feels that way. He’s a dynamic person and he has a unique ability to relate to all different types of people. So with that said, it does give us some latitude to look into these types of opportunities.
But again, it’s not about Rex. It’s about the New York Jets organization, led by Rex, and we think we have a lot of great people to give him a chance to be successful. But Rex was completely on board and we feel good about it.
How much of a concern was Holmes’ upcoming four game suspension?
Tannenbaum: It was a huge concern, Mike, and where we came out on that was, you go back a year ago, Shaun Ellis missed our first game, Calvin Pace missed the first four games, and over the 16 game season, they still helped us quite a bit.
In baseball, you know, that would be missing the first 40 games – it’s 25% of the season. But you still have 75% of it to go, and hopefully those will be 12 really important and meaningful games, and what better shot in the arm than to add a guy of his caliber in the fifth game of the season.
More from SRI
Ndamukong Suh talks about where he might be drafted
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When it comes to defensive prospects in the 2010 draft class, disruptive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy have dominated the conversation. Both have the power and quickness and get to the quarterback, but most sacks some off the edge. A look at a quartet of elite pass rushers available outside of the top five:
South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul could become the next ‘Freak’ of the NFL.
The freakish athlete
Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida. Remember when Jevon Kearse burst on the scene in 1999 as "The Freak" with 14.5 sacks as a rookie? More than a decade later, here’s a potential sequel. Many draft analysts, including former Cowboys general manager Gil Brandt, see Pierre-Paul as a high-risk, high-reward prospect with the raw speed to become a premium pass rusher.
"At the Combine, he was unbelievable as far as first-step quickness," Brandt said.
NFL comparison: Calvin Pace, Jets. Pace came into the league as exceptional athlete, and once he moved to outside linebacker where he could use his speed in more open field, he developed into a solid pass rusher. Pierre-Paul might need to start as a third-down specialist until he refines the other part of his game, but he can have an immediate impact in that role. He might, like Pace, have his best success in an aggressive 3-4 scheme.
Draft projection: Tennessee Titans (No. 16). They drafted Kearse, and he helped them get to a Super Bowl right away. Now they need pass-rush help right away in the wake of losing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch as a free agent. Coach Jeff Fisher, like the Jets’ Rex Ryan, comes with the Buddy Ryan attack mentality, and he would put a speedster such as Pierre-Paul in the right position to succeed off the edge.
Michigan Brandon Graham could wind up moving off the end in the NFL.
The undersized overachiever
Brandon Graham, Michigan. He was a productive end in college but doesn’t quite have the ideal frame (6-1 3/8, 268) to play that position as a pro. He might fit best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, a la the Broncos’ Elvis Dumervil, who led the NFL with 17 sacks last year.
Losing some weight the past few years has made Graham a sleeker defender. "My body is in the best shape now, and it’s allowed me to play faster," Graham said.
NFL comparison: LaMarr Woodley, Steelers. It’s not just that, like Woodley, Graham is a Wolverine. Graham credits much of his growth as a pass rusher to learning from Woodley early in his career at Michigan, and some, including Brandt, think Graham can be better than Woodley, who has 25 sacks over the past two seasons. Like Woodley, Graham would benefit greatly by lining up opposite a pass rusher as dangerous as James Harrison.
Draft projection: Seattle Seahawks (No. 14). Seattle isn’t a 3-4 team, but it already has one promising young pass rusher in Lawrence Jackson. Jackson figures to be more productive in reuniting with his college coach, Pete Carroll, and Graham would be a nice complement on the other side. Darryl Tapp was traded to the Eagles, and Patrick Kerney is retiring. The Seahawks need more youth at end, and it would keep Graham from making a position transition.
Sergio Kindle would be a good fit for the Bills’ new 3-4 defensive scheme.
The explosive swingman
Sergio Kindle, Texas. Kindle comes equipped with the quickness to have an immediate impact as a rush linebacker who also can make big plays all over the field. Kindle should follow nicely in the footsteps of former Longhorn Brian Orakpo.
"(Kindle) can play with his hand on the ground and also jump into space," Brandt said.
NFL comparison: Brian Cushing, Texans. One word could best describe what Cushing was for Houston as a rookie: disruptive. He proved what he could do with five sacks, 134 total tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Kindle comes into the league with a little more bulk than Cushing, a little less than Orakpo. Kindle figures to be a frequent pass rusher from the left, or strong (tight end) side.
Draft projection: Buffalo Bills (No. 9). Buffalo couldn’t resist the 3-4 trend that has taken over every other team in the AFC East. The Patriots, Jets and Dolphins all have success with the scheme, and now the Bills are trying to put the pieces together for their version. Kindle would be a nice start.
Derrick Morgan might be the most well-rounded pass rusher in the draft.
The complete package
Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech. For teams looking for the prototypical pass-rushing 4-3 end who also is a force against the run, Morgan is their man. He might not be the flashiest off the edge, but his game has the fewest holes. That has allowed him to shoot up draft boards. "I just feel like I’m the most complete and consistent defensive end," Morgan said.
NFL comparison: Julius Peppers, Bears. Morgan (6-3, 266) gives up considerable size to Peppers (6-7, 283) but they are similar players in that they’re well-rounded. The team that drafts Morgan can expect to have a durable end on whom it can rely for years.
Draft projection: Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 10). For some reason, the Jags have had trouble hitting on pass-rushing ends. First-round picks Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves come to mind as recent disappointments.
Jacksonville is trying to change that, without changing to a 3-4 look. The first step was landing a hard-working veteran, former Packer Aaron Kampman. Kampman is happy going back to end, and Morgan would maximize his skills staying at end.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
When it comes to defensive prospects in the 2010 draft class, disruptive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy have dominated the conversation. Both have the power and quickness and get to the quarterback, but most sacks some off the edge. A look at a quartet of elite pass rushers available outside of the top five:
South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul could become the next ‘Freak’ of the NFL.
The freakish athlete
Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida. Remember when Jevon Kearse burst on the scene in 1999 as "The Freak" with 14.5 sacks as a rookie? More than a decade later, here’s a potential sequel. Many draft analysts, including former Cowboys general manager Gil Brandt, see Pierre-Paul as a high-risk, high-reward prospect with the raw speed to become a premium pass rusher.
"At the Combine, he was unbelievable as far as first-step quickness," Brandt said.
NFL comparison: Calvin Pace, Jets. Pace came into the league as exceptional athlete, and once he moved to outside linebacker where he could use his speed in more open field, he developed into a solid pass rusher. Pierre-Paul might need to start as a third-down specialist until he refines the other part of his game, but he can have an immediate impact in that role. He might, like Pace, have his best success in an aggressive 3-4 scheme.
Draft projection: Tennessee Titans (No. 16). They drafted Kearse, and he helped them get to a Super Bowl right away. Now they need pass-rush help right away in the wake of losing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch as a free agent. Coach Jeff Fisher, like the Jets’ Rex Ryan, comes with the Buddy Ryan attack mentality, and he would put a speedster such as Pierre-Paul in the right position to succeed off the edge.
Michigan Brandon Graham could wind up moving off the end in the NFL.
The undersized overachiever
Brandon Graham, Michigan. He was a productive end in college but doesn’t quite have the ideal frame (6-1 3/8, 268) to play that position as a pro. He might fit best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, a la the Broncos’ Elvis Dumervil, who led the NFL with 17 sacks last year.
Losing some weight the past few years has made Graham a sleeker defender. "My body is in the best shape now, and it’s allowed me to play faster," Graham said.
NFL comparison: LaMarr Woodley, Steelers. It’s not just that, like Woodley, Graham is a Wolverine. Graham credits much of his growth as a pass rusher to learning from Woodley early in his career at Michigan, and some, including Brandt, think Graham can be better than Woodley, who has 25 sacks over the past two seasons. Like Woodley, Graham would benefit greatly by lining up opposite a pass rusher as dangerous as James Harrison.
Draft projection: Seattle Seahawks (No. 14). Seattle isn’t a 3-4 team, but it already has one promising young pass rusher in Lawrence Jackson. Jackson figures to be more productive in reuniting with his college coach, Pete Carroll, and Graham would be a nice complement on the other side. Darryl Tapp was traded to the Eagles, and Patrick Kerney is retiring. The Seahawks need more youth at end, and it would keep Graham from making a position transition.
Sergio Kindle would be a good fit for the Bills’ new 3-4 defensive scheme.
The explosive swingman
Sergio Kindle, Texas. Kindle comes equipped with the quickness to have an immediate impact as a rush linebacker who also can make big plays all over the field. Kindle should follow nicely in the footsteps of former Longhorn Brian Orakpo.
"(Kindle) can play with his hand on the ground and also jump into space," Brandt said.
NFL comparison: Brian Cushing, Texans. One word could best describe what Cushing was for Houston as a rookie: disruptive. He proved what he could do with five sacks, 134 total tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Kindle comes into the league with a little more bulk than Cushing, a little less than Orakpo. Kindle figures to be a frequent pass rusher from the left, or strong (tight end) side.
Draft projection: Buffalo Bills (No. 9). Buffalo couldn’t resist the 3-4 trend that has taken over every other team in the AFC East. The Patriots, Jets and Dolphins all have success with the scheme, and now the Bills are trying to put the pieces together for their version. Kindle would be a nice start.
Derrick Morgan might be the most well-rounded pass rusher in the draft.
The complete package
Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech. For teams looking for the prototypical pass-rushing 4-3 end who also is a force against the run, Morgan is their man. He might not be the flashiest off the edge, but his game has the fewest holes. That has allowed him to shoot up draft boards. "I just feel like I’m the most complete and consistent defensive end," Morgan said.
NFL comparison: Julius Peppers, Bears. Morgan (6-3, 266) gives up considerable size to Peppers (6-7, 283) but they are similar players in that they’re well-rounded. The team that drafts Morgan can expect to have a durable end on whom it can rely for years.
Draft projection: Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 10). For some reason, the Jags have had trouble hitting on pass-rushing ends. First-round picks Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves come to mind as recent disappointments.
Jacksonville is trying to change that, without changing to a 3-4 look. The first step was landing a hard-working veteran, former Packer Aaron Kampman. Kampman is happy going back to end, and Morgan would maximize his skills staying at end.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
Ralph Kiner was on the phone a few weeks ago, telling stories about his contract negotiations with then-Pirates general manager Branch Rickey. The Hall of Fame outfielder pointed out that he was forced to take a pay cut because his team had finished in last place in 1952 — despite the fact that he led the National Leagues with 37 home runs.
Unthinkable now, right? "That’s the way it was in those days," Kiner said.
These days — as in, the first week of the season — some pretty unthinkable things have transpired, too. The Blue Jays and A’s are first-place teams. Alex Gonzalez entered the week tied for the major league lead in home runs. Martin Prado and Edgar Renteria entered the week ranked 1-2 in the majors with .542 and .524 batting averages, respectively.
That’s the way it is these days.
Which is why this first power poll of the season won’t resemble the one we see when September rolls around. This poll is mostly concerned with a team’s production so far this year, with preseason expectations used to split hairs.
1. Phillies. Two starts, two wins, two walks, 16 innings, 17 strikeouts. So much for the thought that there might be an adjustment period as Roy Halladay joins the National League. The 0.56 ERA and 0.938 WHIP are shiny, too.
2. Giants. In the least shocking start to the season, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first two games. In a more surprising development, the revamped San Francisco offense averaged 5.2 runs in the first six games. The Giants averaged 4.1 runs all of last year.
Alex Gonzalez comes out swinging and helps the Jays get off to a surprising start.
3. Blue Jays. There were so many bright spots in the opening week — Gonzalez and his homers, Vernon Wells and his homers, Shaun Marcum’s return to the rotation, the outstanding starts by Dana Eveland and Ricky Romero. Hard to choose just one.
4. Twins. Apparently the Twins can turn any reliever into a rock-solid closer. When Joe Nathan, who held various roles with the Giants but flourished when he arrived in Minnesota, went down this spring, the Twins gave the job to Jon Rauch, who had held various roles with his three previous teams. Rauch is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this year.
5. Yankees. Some teams started with easy schedules — we’ll get to the Tigers in a minute — but not the Yankees. They opened with three games in Boston and three games at Tampa Bay, which makes their 4-2 record pretty impressive.
6. Athletics. Speaking of rough openings, the A’s hosted the Mariners — the "it" team of the offseason — for four games, then played three road games against the Angels. Tough slate for a team predicted by most to finish last in the AL West, which makes their 5-2 start pretty impressive.
7. Cardinals. When Matt Holliday signed a long-term deal this offseason, Cardinals fans had visions of the damage the 3-4 combo of Holliday and Albert Pujols could do against the NL. So far, those visions have come true — Holliday entered the week hitting .423 with three homers; Pujols was at .375 with four homers.
8. Marlins. The Marlins finished the opening week with a 4-2 record despite two very mediocre starts from ace Josh Johnson. The 10 RBIs from Jorge Cantu and 3 1/3 scoreless innings from new closer Leo Nunez have been huge.
9. Tigers. The scheduling folks did their best to give the Tigers a gentle nudge into the season, scheduling Detroit’s first seven games against the Indians and Royals, the two teams expected to battle for last place in the AL Central.
10. Red Sox. Entering the week, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury had yet to draw a walk; his average of 3.40 pitches per at-bat was 183rd in the majors. Last year, he saw 3.77 pitches per at-bat.
11. Rays. New closer Rafael Soriano has a win and a save in his first two appearances, but he also has allowed five baserunners in those two innings.
12. Diamondbacks. After their forgettable 70-win campaign in 2009, the D-backs will gladly take their 4-2 start to the season, even if it came against the Padres and Pirates. The much-maligned Chris Young is hitting .292 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
13. Braves. Derek Lowe is 2-0 this season despite allowing 10 walks and nine hits in 12 innings covering two starts. (Don’t worry; there will be plenty of time to talk about Jason Heyward …)
14. Rockies. Catchers Miguel Olivo and Chris Iannetta split the first six games. Olivo hit .455 with a 1.500 OPS; Iannetta hit .083 with a .583 OPS.
15. Rangers. Nelson Cruz is angling for a return trip to the home run derby. Cruz, who was the derby runner-up last year, hit four homers in the opening week to go with nine RBIs and a .450 batting average.
16. Brewers. The 42-year-old closer (Trevor Hoffman) has given up three homers and six runs in four appearances. The catcher (Gregg Zaun), who turns 39 on Wednesday, has started the season 0-for-14. The 40-year-old outfielder (Jim Edmonds) has a measly .610 OPS through his first five games. Aside from that, the Brewers are doing just fine.
17. Reds. Cincinnati starting pitchers are a combined 4-for-8 at the plate this season. On a completely unrelated note, don’t be surprised if this team finishes second in the NL Central this season.
Lack of contact plagues Matt Kemp’s first week.
18. Dodgers. Catcher Russell Martin and second baseman Blake DeWitt have combined to walk 11 times this season and strike out only twice. Martin’s on-base percentage is a Bonds-esque .611 so far. Matt Kemp, on the other hand, has walked once and struck out nine times.
19. Pirates. Starting pitchers Zach Duke (3.00 ERA) and Ross Ohlendorf (3.60) have been good; starters Paul Maholm (6.00), Daniel McCutchen (24.30) and Charlie Morton (21.60) haven’t.
20. Nationals. The Nationals won their first road series of the season, taking two of three from the Mets. Last season, the Nationals only won two road series before the All-Star break.
21. Cubs. Coming off poor seasons, Geovany Soto (1-for-11) and Alfonso Soriano (3-for-21) struggled again in 2010’s opening week.
22. Mariners. Speaking of players who struggled for the Cubs in 2009, Milton Bradley was just 1-for-21 in his first six games with the Mariners.
23. Angels. Brandon Wood, who has an opportunity to secure the third base job with Chone Figgins now in Seattle, was 1-for-19 in the season’s opening week.
24. Orioles. That 1-5 record in the first week wasn’t indicative of the way the Orioles played in the first week. Three of those losses were by one run, and in the fifth loss, they had a lead with two outs in the eighth. They expected better than an 18.00 ERA from Mike Gonzalez when they signed the lefty to close games.
25. Mets. What’s more surprising, that Jeff Francoeur hit .476 in the opening week, or that he drew four walks in six games? Considering he walked just 23 times in 157 games last season, we’ll go with the latter.
26. White Sox. As most predicted, the White Sox have been strong in the pitching categories — they had a staff ERA of 2.95 the opening week — and the offense has struggled. Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko are the only two regulars hitting above .227.
27. Royals. Through the first week, the three veteran hitters the Royals signed this offseason have the three highest batting averages: Rick Ankiel was at .391, Scott Podsednik was at .364 and Jason Kendall was at .316.
28. Indians. It’s not hard to see the walk-off wild pitch Chris Perez allowed against the Tigers as a harbinger of things to come in Cleveland.
29. Padres. After his stellar debut to 2010, it had to be frustrating for the Padres to place Chris Young on the disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder. The Padres hope he only misses a couple weeks.
30. Astros. It’s going to be a long season for the Astros.
This story appears in the April 13 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only sports digital daily, sign up today.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Ralph Kiner was on the phone a few weeks ago, telling stories about his contract negotiations with then-Pirates general manager Branch Rickey. The Hall of Fame outfielder pointed out that he was forced to take a pay cut because his team had finished in last place in 1952 — despite the fact that he led the National Leagues with 37 home runs.
Unthinkable now, right? "That’s the way it was in those days," Kiner said.
These days — as in, the first week of the season — some pretty unthinkable things have transpired, too. The Blue Jays and A’s are first-place teams. Alex Gonzalez entered the week tied for the major league lead in home runs. Martin Prado and Edgar Renteria entered the week ranked 1-2 in the majors with .542 and .524 batting averages, respectively.
That’s the way it is these days.
Which is why this first power poll of the season won’t resemble the one we see when September rolls around. This poll is mostly concerned with a team’s production so far this year, with preseason expectations used to split hairs.
1. Phillies. Two starts, two wins, two walks, 16 innings, 17 strikeouts. So much for the thought that there might be an adjustment period as Roy Halladay joins the National League. The 0.56 ERA and 0.938 WHIP are shiny, too.
2. Giants. In the least shocking start to the season, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first two games. In a more surprising development, the revamped San Francisco offense averaged 5.2 runs in the first six games. The Giants averaged 4.1 runs all of last year.
Alex Gonzalez comes out swinging and helps the Jays get off to a surprising start.
3. Blue Jays. There were so many bright spots in the opening week — Gonzalez and his homers, Vernon Wells and his homers, Shaun Marcum’s return to the rotation, the outstanding starts by Dana Eveland and Ricky Romero. Hard to choose just one.
4. Twins. Apparently the Twins can turn any reliever into a rock-solid closer. When Joe Nathan, who held various roles with the Giants but flourished when he arrived in Minnesota, went down this spring, the Twins gave the job to Jon Rauch, who had held various roles with his three previous teams. Rauch is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this year.
5. Yankees. Some teams started with easy schedules — we’ll get to the Tigers in a minute — but not the Yankees. They opened with three games in Boston and three games at Tampa Bay, which makes their 4-2 record pretty impressive.
6. Athletics. Speaking of rough openings, the A’s hosted the Mariners — the "it" team of the offseason — for four games, then played three road games against the Angels. Tough slate for a team predicted by most to finish last in the AL West, which makes their 5-2 start pretty impressive.
7. Cardinals. When Matt Holliday signed a long-term deal this offseason, Cardinals fans had visions of the damage the 3-4 combo of Holliday and Albert Pujols could do against the NL. So far, those visions have come true — Holliday entered the week hitting .423 with three homers; Pujols was at .375 with four homers.
8. Marlins. The Marlins finished the opening week with a 4-2 record despite two very mediocre starts from ace Josh Johnson. The 10 RBIs from Jorge Cantu and 3 1/3 scoreless innings from new closer Leo Nunez have been huge.
9. Tigers. The scheduling folks did their best to give the Tigers a gentle nudge into the season, scheduling Detroit’s first seven games against the Indians and Royals, the two teams expected to battle for last place in the AL Central.
10. Red Sox. Entering the week, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury had yet to draw a walk; his average of 3.40 pitches per at-bat was 183rd in the majors. Last year, he saw 3.77 pitches per at-bat.
11. Rays. New closer Rafael Soriano has a win and a save in his first two appearances, but he also has allowed five baserunners in those two innings.
12. Diamondbacks. After their forgettable 70-win campaign in 2009, the D-backs will gladly take their 4-2 start to the season, even if it came against the Padres and Pirates. The much-maligned Chris Young is hitting .292 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
13. Braves. Derek Lowe is 2-0 this season despite allowing 10 walks and nine hits in 12 innings covering two starts. (Don’t worry; there will be plenty of time to talk about Jason Heyward …)
14. Rockies. Catchers Miguel Olivo and Chris Iannetta split the first six games. Olivo hit .455 with a 1.500 OPS; Iannetta hit .083 with a .583 OPS.
15. Rangers. Nelson Cruz is angling for a return trip to the home run derby. Cruz, who was the derby runner-up last year, hit four homers in the opening week to go with nine RBIs and a .450 batting average.
16. Brewers. The 42-year-old closer (Trevor Hoffman) has given up three homers and six runs in four appearances. The catcher (Gregg Zaun), who turns 39 on Wednesday, has started the season 0-for-14. The 40-year-old outfielder (Jim Edmonds) has a measly .610 OPS through his first five games. Aside from that, the Brewers are doing just fine.
17. Reds. Cincinnati starting pitchers are a combined 4-for-8 at the plate this season. On a completely unrelated note, don’t be surprised if this team finishes second in the NL Central this season.
Lack of contact plagues Matt Kemp’s first week.
18. Dodgers. Catcher Russell Martin and second baseman Blake DeWitt have combined to walk 11 times this season and strike out only twice. Martin’s on-base percentage is a Bonds-esque .611 so far. Matt Kemp, on the other hand, has walked once and struck out nine times.
19. Pirates. Starting pitchers Zach Duke (3.00 ERA) and Ross Ohlendorf (3.60) have been good; starters Paul Maholm (6.00), Daniel McCutchen (24.30) and Charlie Morton (21.60) haven’t.
20. Nationals. The Nationals won their first road series of the season, taking two of three from the Mets. Last season, the Nationals only won two road series before the All-Star break.
21. Cubs. Coming off poor seasons, Geovany Soto (1-for-11) and Alfonso Soriano (3-for-21) struggled again in 2010’s opening week.
22. Mariners. Speaking of players who struggled for the Cubs in 2009, Milton Bradley was just 1-for-21 in his first six games with the Mariners.
23. Angels. Brandon Wood, who has an opportunity to secure the third base job with Chone Figgins now in Seattle, was 1-for-19 in the season’s opening week.
24. Orioles. That 1-5 record in the first week wasn’t indicative of the way the Orioles played in the first week. Three of those losses were by one run, and in the fifth loss, they had a lead with two outs in the eighth. They expected better than an 18.00 ERA from Mike Gonzalez when they signed the lefty to close games.
25. Mets. What’s more surprising, that Jeff Francoeur hit .476 in the opening week, or that he drew four walks in six games? Considering he walked just 23 times in 157 games last season, we’ll go with the latter.
26. White Sox. As most predicted, the White Sox have been strong in the pitching categories — they had a staff ERA of 2.95 the opening week — and the offense has struggled. Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko are the only two regulars hitting above .227.
27. Royals. Through the first week, the three veteran hitters the Royals signed this offseason have the three highest batting averages: Rick Ankiel was at .391, Scott Podsednik was at .364 and Jason Kendall was at .316.
28. Indians. It’s not hard to see the walk-off wild pitch Chris Perez allowed against the Tigers as a harbinger of things to come in Cleveland.
29. Padres. After his stellar debut to 2010, it had to be frustrating for the Padres to place Chris Young on the disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder. The Padres hope he only misses a couple weeks.
30. Astros. It’s going to be a long season for the Astros.
This story appears in the April 13 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only sports digital daily, sign up today.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Journalists are sometimes accused of burying the lead, when the most compelling piece of information appears almost as an afterthought in the middle or bottom of a news item.
Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright arguably buried the lead on Monday when announcing that charges would not be pursued against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After discussing the evidence that prompted the decision, Bright added in "oh by the way" fashion that the alleged victim in the sexual assault case had indicated, in a letter written by her lawyer on March 17, that she no longer wished to pursue the matter. As the letter indicates, the alleged victim chose to abandon the matter not because she believed she hadn’t been sexually assaulted, but because she concluded that participating in a public trial with intense media scrutiny conflicted with her long-term best interests.
Most parents of 20-year-old daughters likely would agree with that sentiment. But it created a major problem for Bright. In most criminal cases (except in the event of a murder, where the victim is physically incapable of cooperation), no viable prosecution can proceed if the victim has no desire to participate. Given the very high American standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, a case premised on the star witness being a reluctant victim has no chance of success.
Frankly, Bright should have made that point from the outset of his remarks. It would have made it far easier to understand the situation if Bright merely had said, "Look, there were only two people in that bathroom. One of them isn’t talking. The other one doesn’t wish to proceed. It’s a case no one can win."
Let’s be candid about this. The alleged victim and her family didn’t promptly hire a lawyer with the goal of having someone communicate on their behalf with the prosecutor. They hired a lawyer to advise them as to the alleged victim’s rights — and in turn to represent her interests in conjunction with an eventual civil claim.
Even if the amount of settlement reflects only the expenses that would have been incurred by Roethlisberger if the prosecution had proceeded and/or the costs of defending against a civil suit, the amount would have been sizable. Still, and as suggested in the wake of the initial charges, it would have been very prudent for Roethlisberger to attempt to use his vast financial resources to put this matter behind him.
In 1993, Michael Jackson paid more than $20 million to a boy who accused the late singer of molestation. The boy then refused to testify in the criminal proceeding, and the case went away. More recently, talk of a looming civil settlement seemed to derail the rape prosecution of NBA star Kobe Bryant.
In both of those cases, reports of a settlement created a cloud of guilt. The lesson for lawyers handling similar matters became clear — when striking such deals, ensure complete and total confidentiality.
If done properly, no one would know that a settlement had been negotiated. Sure, some may suspect it. But there wouldn’t be a report in the newspaper or on television. The information would be tightly controlled, and the penalties for disclosure by the alleged victim would include forfeiture of most if not all of the payment.
For Roethlisberger, it would reflect sound business judgment. For the alleged victim, it would provide compensation for whatever she endured, and it would allow her to get on with her life. Though a desire to maintain secrecy implies impropriety, the simple fact is that if Roethlisberger paid any amount of money to resolve the claims, a large chunk of the general population would regard the development as an admission that he did something wrong.
In this case, guilt and innocence are bright lines that don’t mesh with the gray areas of consent and intoxication and reasonable doubt. But alleged victims who hire lawyers rarely decide to walk away with no strings attached. That’s why it would be naive to assume that the alleged victim in this case simply dropped the matter. Few lawyers ever get a $102 million tiger by the tail; when they do, they don’t like to let go easily.
Whether it’s morally right or wrong is irrelevant. If the alleged victim dropped the matter in the wake of a settlement paid by Roethlisberger, the decision will have been the product of two adults making a reasoned decision regarding the resolution of a mutual problem. And it would produce a form of justice no different than the settlement of any other civil claim involving behavior that also potentially violates one or more criminal laws.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
Journalists are sometimes accused of burying the lead, when the most compelling piece of information appears almost as an afterthought in the middle or bottom of a news item.
Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright arguably buried the lead on Monday when announcing that charges would not be pursued against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After discussing the evidence that prompted the decision, Bright added in "oh by the way" fashion that the alleged victim in the sexual assault case had indicated, in a letter written by her lawyer on March 17, that she no longer wished to pursue the matter. As the letter indicates, the alleged victim chose to abandon the matter not because she believed she hadn’t been sexually assaulted, but because she concluded that participating in a public trial with intense media scrutiny conflicted with her long-term best interests.
Most parents of 20-year-old daughters likely would agree with that sentiment. But it created a major problem for Bright. In most criminal cases (except in the event of a murder, where the victim is physically incapable of cooperation), no viable prosecution can proceed if the victim has no desire to participate. Given the very high American standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, a case premised on the star witness being a reluctant victim has no chance of success.
Frankly, Bright should have made that point from the outset of his remarks. It would have made it far easier to understand the situation if Bright merely had said, "Look, there were only two people in that bathroom. One of them isn’t talking. The other one doesn’t wish to proceed. It’s a case no one can win."
Let’s be candid about this. The alleged victim and her family didn’t promptly hire a lawyer with the goal of having someone communicate on their behalf with the prosecutor. They hired a lawyer to advise them as to the alleged victim’s rights — and in turn to represent her interests in conjunction with an eventual civil claim.
Even if the amount of settlement reflects only the expenses that would have been incurred by Roethlisberger if the prosecution had proceeded and/or the costs of defending against a civil suit, the amount would have been sizable. Still, and as suggested in the wake of the initial charges, it would have been very prudent for Roethlisberger to attempt to use his vast financial resources to put this matter behind him.
In 1993, Michael Jackson paid more than $20 million to a boy who accused the late singer of molestation. The boy then refused to testify in the criminal proceeding, and the case went away. More recently, talk of a looming civil settlement seemed to derail the rape prosecution of NBA star Kobe Bryant.
In both of those cases, reports of a settlement created a cloud of guilt. The lesson for lawyers handling similar matters became clear — when striking such deals, ensure complete and total confidentiality.
If done properly, no one would know that a settlement had been negotiated. Sure, some may suspect it. But there wouldn’t be a report in the newspaper or on television. The information would be tightly controlled, and the penalties for disclosure by the alleged victim would include forfeiture of most if not all of the payment.
For Roethlisberger, it would reflect sound business judgment. For the alleged victim, it would provide compensation for whatever she endured, and it would allow her to get on with her life. Though a desire to maintain secrecy implies impropriety, the simple fact is that if Roethlisberger paid any amount of money to resolve the claims, a large chunk of the general population would regard the development as an admission that he did something wrong.
In this case, guilt and innocence are bright lines that don’t mesh with the gray areas of consent and intoxication and reasonable doubt. But alleged victims who hire lawyers rarely decide to walk away with no strings attached. That’s why it would be naive to assume that the alleged victim in this case simply dropped the matter. Few lawyers ever get a $102 million tiger by the tail; when they do, they don’t like to let go easily.
Whether it’s morally right or wrong is irrelevant. If the alleged victim dropped the matter in the wake of a settlement paid by Roethlisberger, the decision will have been the product of two adults making a reasoned decision regarding the resolution of a mutual problem. And it would produce a form of justice no different than the settlement of any other civil claim involving behavior that also potentially violates one or more criminal laws.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
