Money

Did you watch the guy running through the Browns secondary? Beating defenders to the edge? Running all over the place at Auburn, SIU, and the East-West shrine game? Saying the guy isn't fast in pads is simply wrong. He has plenty of speed to play RB in the NFL. It's hard to fully utilize a back-up RB when Tiki Barber is your starting RB. Scoring 7 TDs as a rookie is pretty good, no?

Lewis's status makes it more likely the re-sign Scott. Plus, Tommy Plloey is a UFA as well.

If called correctly, Tam Hopkins would have been flagged for being illegally downfield. That would have offset the defense PI call (which should have been called). Thus, they would have had 1 play with 0:00 on the clock from the previous spot.

I sent out a search party for him. I haven't seen him since I edged him out for 2nd place in our Fantasy Baseball League.

When exactly has had an opportunity to earn more carries? He carried only in short-yardage situations this year. As for his speed, I refer you to preseason games or any of his college games (at Southern Illinois or Auburn) when he played in normal situations. He consistently ran in high 4.4s to low 4.5s during pre-draft workouts ... they guy can move. I also think Derrick Ward's running style is closer to Tiki's than people think.

According to my set-up, you know you are exactly going to pick somewhere between 4 PM and 5:20 PM. And if you submit your list, you get the guy you would have taken should you miss the pick. Look, I appreciate you inout, but as of right now, I'm not going to drastically alter the draft set-up.

Jacobs has good maneuverability...excellent for a player of his size. I would bet he'd beat Tiki in a 50-yard race, and he's got some wiggle to him. Let's see how does outside of short-yardage situations before we conclude that he's a limited player...

No trades, period. I'm somewhat flexible with the time allotted to submit a selection, but are you honestly gonna take issue with a few minutes?

I do not plan on doing the mock until early April. Once I start getting the wheels in motion, you will be one of the first people I contact about taking a team ... I plan on rewarding people I trust and people who helped/participated last year with the first choices of teams. I'll be reprising my role as Giants GM, but don't shriek in horror -- my selections last year (done prior to free agency) included Marion Barber and Lofa Tatupu... I could, in theory, start organizing it now, however, I'd prefer the craze of free agency to die down before getting people focused on the draft.

Got it, Grimey.

I see assigning someone a 1 hour time slot no different than saying "you and other people will be picking within this 60-80 minute" span. It's the same concept.

Cavalry of 1?

If you give athletic TEs free release, they will burn you. Very few LBs and Safeties can guard good TEs one-on-one, so if you stay in your base 3-4 and give a TE free release, he will be difficult to defend in zone coverage or in man. The 3-4 minus a rush a LB is sending just 3 pass rushers against 5 OL. And the down lineman in a 3-4 are usually more run defenders than pass rushers; their primary role is to occupy blockers. The Pats have been able to pull it off. But dropping 8 guys into coverage puts a lot of pressure on the front 3 to generate pressure. Against a spread, having 4-3 personnel is advantageous, because you have 4 DL who can rush the passer (as oppossed to 3 who might be betters suited to be run defenders). So it is easier to generate pressure with the DL while allocating the back 7 to coverage. A lot of teams, including the Steelers, did very well with a 3-4. Top 3 defenses in overall yardage? Tampa, Chicago, and Carolina -- all 4-3 teams. Of the top 10 scoring defenses in football, 9 employed a 4-3 in 2006.

Don't take that guy seriously. He's a joker.

Asking for a minimum of 10 guys if you pick 10th is just a policy to protect against small miscalculation. Sure, you could probably get away with sending a small list. But what happens if something is completely unexpected? Like I said, there have to be strong guidelines in place ... its better to err on the side of caution. The idea of time slotting is nice, however, it means someone has to be around all day to run the thing and monitor picks (make picks on other people's behalf). Also, do you think the Texans GM will want to get up at 8 AM to make a pick in a mock draft? What happens if the Texans make their pick at 8:01 AM? Seems silly if the Saints have to wait 59 minutes before being on the clock. I've seen mock run in that capacity, and they have benefits. I will certainly consider it, and possibly try to develop a better idea.

The kick would have actually taken place from the same LOS. According to the NFL Director of Officiating, Tam Hopkins was illegally downfield on the play (the refs mistakenly called Seubert as the illegal man downfield). The illegal downfield should have been offset by a defensive pass interference. By rule, a game cannot end on offsetting penalties. The Giants should have had one untimed down from the previous spot...

I always thought this notion that Coughlin would scare away free agents was ridiculous. Money talks ... and Coughlin signed a ton of UFAs when in Jax. Plus, we play in the most visible market in pro sports...

If you're the Cards GM, and 5-6 guys you send me happen to be all off the board, then what? Pick for you? Wait until you return? Is it so difficult to put together a list of anywhere from 1-16 players?! There needs to be guidelines in place, even if they are somewhat extreme. Remember, it's better to err on the side of caution. Last year, we had a 4 round mock where GMs were given 6 hours to make thier picks. Despite my insistance, very few people sent in big boards and I ended up having to make picks for them in order to expedite the draft process. This resulted in complaints, wasted time, and people quitting altogether. And the mock still took way to long. If you miss your pick, but submitted your list (which, again, is at most 16 players), then you will automatically take the highest player on your board. How can that be upsetting? If you put any thought into your list, then you will 100% get the guy you would have taken. Refer to my Bills example and read it carefully. If you don't like the process, that's fine ... you don't have to participate if you don't want to. But I won't take another "give everyone a ton of time and see what happens approach" similar to last year ... that's too much work for me and anyone who helps.

I think he may be partial to the Raiders board ... although from what I understand, he should be a message board free agent quite soon once KC gets the axe in Oakland.

Quality QBs have struggled immensely against the 4-3 as well. For example, Rich Gannon threw 5 INTs in the Super Bowl against the Bucs. A few years earlier, he did nothing against a Ravens team that employed a 4-3. Both years he was in the Pro Bowl.

It's even more difficult to jam a TE in space. Also, I don't buy your theory that 3-4 is more effective against TEs. In any 3-4, chances are that on a normal pass play, the defense is sending 4 players. That leaves the same number of pass defenders that a 4-3 employs. I also don't think that there is that much a 'surprise' factor with regard to where the 4th pass rusher is coming from ... at this level, O-Lineman have the recognition skills to identify the blitzer. Bigger OTs may have a more difficult time defending rush LBs, but then again smaller OTs may struggle against power DEs. In almost every case, it becomes a match-up situation ... the best players in the best position to succeed with win those match-ups. A 3-4 can also be countered with multiple WRs sets. Remember the Rams/Pats Super Bowl? The Rams had Bruce, Holt, Proehl, and Hakim and their plan was to spread the Pats out and create mismatches. The Pats had to alter their scheme altogether (they usually had only 1 LB on the field) and play with multiple DBs. The 4-3 is better equipt to handle that more effectively because they still have 4 DL that can rush the passer and defend the run. A 3-4 probably does not have those same recources (since their DLs is comproised mostly of run stuffers and disrupters, not natural pass rushers), which makes it more difficult for them to pressure the passer with just their DL. Like I said, I don't see a clear superiority between schemes. 3-4 may have more flexibility, but 4-3 generally has better personnel to deal with spread offenses. Almost always, personnel and coaching is the separating factor.

Maybe it's best if we don't communicate with him at all...

That's not necessarily true. It's more difficult to jam a TE off the line in 3-4, because only a LB alone can do so. In a 4-3, both a DE and LB can jam the TE (or the TE may be forced to chip a DE, which delays his route). Take a look at the Super Bowl. Jerramy Stevens would have had a huge game if he could catch...

I think whether or not he starts is completely predicated on Will Peterson's status. If Peterson is healthy, then Webster in the nickel back. If Peterson can't play, then Webster starts. In any scenario, I'm certain the Giants will bring in veteran help at CB (whether it be Will Allen or someone else) as insurance for Peterson.

They should use the 2-9 defense I employ when playing Madden 2006. Never fails on 3rd and long against a pass-happy opponent...