|
EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001
CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Video Plus
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages
COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore
|  |
Winners, Losers
Breaking down the 2001 NFL Draft haves, have-nots
Posted: Sunday April 22, 2001 2:52 PM
Instant analysis is what covering the NFL Draft is all about. But in an effort to avoid making snap judgments about players whose names we hardly knew six weeks ago, we decided to take an entire day to let the results roll in and the perceptions to harden.
So, without further ado, here are the weekend's winners and losers:
The Winners
Seattle Seahawks -- According to those who spoke with him last week, Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren was determined to take two defensive players with his two first-round picks. So, of course, he landed two offensive talents and immediate starters in North Carolina State wide receiver Koren Robinson and Michigan guard Steve Hutchinson.
But after adding four veteran starters on defense in free agency -- tackles John Randle and Chad Eaton, linebacker Levon Kirkland and safety Marcus Robertson -- Holmgren could afford to think offense and go for the highest-rated players on his board. Robinson has some detractors because of attitude issues, but by trading with the 49ers and dropping from No. 7 to No. 9, Holmgren was able to recoup the third-round pick he sent to Green Bay in the Matt Hasselbeck deal.
And don't overlook Seattle's stellar second- and third-round work. Some had Mississippi cornerback Ken Lucas rated in the bottom third of the first round, and the Seahawks got him at No. 40. With its third-rounder, Seattle took the draft's highest rated fullback, Auburn's Heath Evans. Holmgren's rebuilding of the Seahawks took a major stride forward during draft weekend.
St. Louis Rams -- Remember the horrid Rams defense last season? Forget about it. That unit has virtually been dismantled. Give the Rams credit for finally giving in and making the Trent Green trade, which gave St. Louis a league-high three first-rounders and the ammunition to complete its defensive overhaul.
The Rams were single-minded in purpose, taking defensive tackle Damione Lewis, safety Adam Archuleta and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett in the first round. Lewis and Archuleta should start right away, and Pickett is a player who rates as at least a slight reach. The Rams got quicker, younger and better.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Let's repeat this again for emphasis: The Bucs are loaded. Everywhere. After a killer run in free agency, their only pressing pre-draft need was at offensive tackle. So what do they do? Swap a second-round pick to Buffalo, move up seven spots and land one of the two premier offensive tackles in the lottery: Florida's Kenyatta Walker. For all intents and purposes, the Bucs could have taken the rest of the weekend off and still considered it a smashing success. More and more, it looks like Tampa Bay's only worry will be falling prey to sky-high expectations, a la Washington in 2000.
Atlanta Falcons -- Forty-eight hours is just not enough time to judge the legacy of the Michael Vick trade. But the Falcons have given their fans and franchise new life, and sometimes that's worth almost everything in this league. Vick's style of play may not be a perfect fit for a Dan Reeves -type of run-oriented offense, but he'll add excitement to the Georgia Dome every time he steps on the field.
All those who believe Chris Chandler will make an excellent mentor for the young Vick, raise a hand. Yes, we see you there in the back, Mr. Doug Flutie.
San Diego Chargers -- Admit it. On Friday afternoon, you thought the Chargers might be crazy. By Saturday night, they looked considerably smarter, didn't they? It's easy to say they went cheap and set themselves up for the biggest second-guess in recent draft history, but if running back LaDainian Tomlinson and quarterback Drew Brees turn out to be very productive 10-year starters for San Diego, how can you rip them for not taking Vick?
And yes, John Butler, it's still better to be lucky than good.
The Losers
Dallas Cowboys -- Dallas has become Reach City. Everyone knew the Troy Aikman -less Cowboys wanted to take a quarterback. But Georgia's Quincy Carter -- in the second round? Ahead of safer picks like Marques Tuiasosopo, Chris Weinke or Mike McMahon? Dallas already didn't have a first-round selection, thanks to last year's Joey Galloway trade with Seattle. It's inevitable that some will say they took the second round off as well.
Maybe the Cowboys used up all of their draft-day magic in those early Jimmy Johnson years. When it comes to quarterbacks, owner Jerry Jones sure hasn't given head coach Dave Campo much ammunition to save his own job.
Minnesota Vikings -- We don't quibble that running back Michael Bennett has world-class speed and was a first-round talent. And with the retirement of Robert Smith, Minnesota had an obvious need at the position. But the pattern with the Vikings remains the same. Head coach Dennis Green's track record of picking offensive players is superb. His record of getting his team the defensive help it needs is something considerably less.
The Vikings, to some degree, were victims of their draft slot. The run of big-time cornerbacks, other than Mississippi's Lucas, came off the board just before their turn at No. 27. After the first round, Stanford defensive end Willie Howard and Kentucky cornerback Eric Kelly were need picks that made solid sense.
But those who have watched the Vikings in recent years will recognize that the trend keeps repeating itself: The offense gets richer and can outscore anyone. The defense gets thinner and can be had by anyone. Does anyone believe that 41-0 NFC title-game gap has been closed considerably?
Cincinnati Bengals -- Once upon a time, every high-round move made by the Tampa Bay Bucs seemed to turn to dust. Broderick Thomas, Keith McCants, Charles McRae, you name it. But somewhere in the mid-1990s the Bengals wrestled that distinction away from the Bucs -- and they've held on tight. Defensive end Justin Smith gets high marks for being a high-motor, dedicated worker who will never embarrass the organization. But it has to be a little disconcerting that folks have mentioned him in the same breath as Eagles workout-freak Mike Mamula, who is about to be released by Philadelphia.
Proving they still have a knack for taking players with off-field issues, the Bengals went for Oregon State speed receiver Chad Johnson in the second round. Johnson has had some legal troubles, and doesn't get straight A's in the attitude department.
The Bengals were desperate to increase their team speed, and with Smith, Johnson and third-round San Jose State tight Sean Brewer, they've done that. But they still don't have a offensive left tackle (Kenyatta Walker, where are you?) and only time will tell if Smith is the next low-impact rookie like Peter Warrick, Ki-Jana Carter, Dan Wilkinson, John Copeland and David Klingler.
Don Banks covers pro football for CNNSI.com.
|
Copyright © 2001
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
