FROM: Tony (Tampa, FL)

Looking at how Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree has played over the last couple of games, he’s been struggling. Do you think he will be good in the NFL? I say that because against Ole Miss he had 4 catches for only 30 yards & he struggled some, slipping & falling on a play that turned into an interception returned for a TD. I know he had a TD in every game, but his yards per catch really dropped down the stretch this season.

There is no doubt in my mind that Michael Crabtree is the best wideout in this draft and one of the best to come out in recent years. It really surprises me that so many people have changed their mind on this guy.

Crabtree has been battling a nagging ankle injury which has obviously affected his production over the past few games, but it isn't an injury that should alter his draft status. Crabtree has everything you look for with size and speed, but his best attributes are his focus and hands (a la Larry Fitzgerald). He catches everything with his hands and rarely drops a ball (I saw only one drop this past season). He has that special concentration that allows the speed of the game to slow down for him and attack the ball in the air.

In my opinion, there are only a few "elite" players in this draft and Crabtree is one of them. He is comparable to an Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald hybrid with zero character issues. Very few wideouts are worth top five money, but Crabtree is worth millions. Don't buy into a poor game here or there, rather look at the entire body of work. Anquan Boldin ran a 4.7 at the combine with several other questions marks and fell in the draft, how did that one work out?

                                                                                                                                                                   

FROM: Gerald (Cleveland, OH)

With a dozen underclassmen already declaring for the draft, how many more do you expect to come out? How much longer do juniors have to decide?

As of Wednesday morning, 20 underclassmen have announced their intentions to forego any remaining college eligibility to enter the 2009 NFL Draft. Of course this isn’t set in stone as DE/OLB Eric Norwood of South Carolina has already showed us as players tend to change their minds as they don’t always have people with their best intentions in mind advising them.

The record for underclassmen was set in 2006 when 62 players declared early for the NFL Draft. Although we are only a third of the way there, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this year’s class surpasses the record with several more declarations expected. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it a point to assure underclassmen that the rookie salary pool won’t take into affect until 2010 at the earliest, if at all, so the underclassmen exodus isn’t expected to be as severe. Any player who is three years removed from high school has until January 15 to announce their intentions to enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

So who do I expect to declare? This is a tougher question because it is easy to say who “should” and who “shouldn’t”, but players have different priorities when it comes to their NFL future. But if I had to predict who will come out:

Some of the more notable names I see coming out: QB Matthew Stafford, QB Nate Davis, RB Knowshon Moreno, RB Chris Wells, WR Michael Crabtree, WR Jeremy Maclin, WR Percy Harvin, TE Jermaine Gresham, TE Jared Cook, OT Russell Okung, DE Everette Brown, DE Greg Hardy, LB Brandon Spikes, LB Sergio Kindle, CB Sean Smith, CB Trevard Lindley, S Taylor Mays.

Some of the more notable names I see going back: QB Tim Tebow, QB Mark Sanchez, QB Colt McCoy, RB CJ Spiller, RB Glen Coffee, RB Charles Scott, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Brandon LaFell, WR Jacoby Ford, OT Trent Williams, OT Ciron Black, DE Brandon Graham, DE Aaron Maybin, DE George Selvie, DE Corey Wootton, DE Jerry Hughes, DE Auston English, DE Paul Kruger, DT Terrance Cody, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Ndamukong Suh, LB Sean Weatherspoon, LB Mark Herzlich, CB Asher Allen, CB Syd’Quan Thompson, S Kam Chancellor

                                                                                                                                                                  

FROM: Jim (Mobile, AL)

I remember in last year’s draft that the offensive tackle position seemed to be more popular than in previous drafts. Was this a one-year wonder or will we see the same trend in the 2009 NFL Draft?

There is no doubt that offensive tackle has become much more of a priority position with very few teams in the NFL that are satisfied with both of their starting tackles. With so much money being invested into the quarterback, protecting that investment, especially left tackle who protects the blind side of a right-handed quarterback, is extremely important to the formula of winning.

Last year eight offensive tackles were selected in the first round, including the #1 overall draft pick Jake Long. While there won’t be eight tackles selected among the first 32 picks in 2009, we could see as many as six. Alabama’s Andre Smith, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Mississippi’s Michael Oher, and Baylor’s Jason Smith are all locks in the top 20 selections. Arizona’s Eben Britton is a fringe first rounder as well as a few other underclassmen who might also declare early including Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung and LSU’s Ciron Black.

Andre Smith is the best of the bunch and might be the first pick overall if the Lions decide to go with a franchise tackle over their quarterback of the future. If that does happen, Smith would be just the fourth offensive tackle to be the #1 overall draft choice and the first time in NFL history a tackle was selected first in back-to-back years.

A player to keep an eye on is Baylor’s Jason Smith. While he isn’t NFL-ready right now, he has the athleticism to develop into the best offensive tackle from this draft class.

                                                                                                                                                                  

FROM: Teddy (San Diego, CA)

I know the BCS National Championship Game hasn’t been played yet, but my USC Trojans looked like the #1 team in the Nation regardless of what happens between Florida and Oklahoma. I know Southern Cal is losing the core of their team to the NFL, especially if Mark Sanchez decides to make the jump, but what are your predictions for 2009?

It is hard to disagree with USC as the most talented team in all of college football for this past year, unfortunately because of one hiccup against an inspired and well-coached Oregon State squad and no playoff system, the mighty Trojans will have to be happy with a Rose Bowl victory as their legacy for 2008.

Assuming Sanchez returns for his senior season, USC’s offense won’t lose a step. However, the defense will and that will be the huge unknown for next year’s Trojan team with so many new starters. Sure Southern Cal will plug in a few more five-star recruits, but an untested defense in the Pac-10 could cause some problems for a title run for USC.

As for Florida, if QB Tim Tebow returns, Florida has to be the early favorite for next year as they don’t lose too many key pieces. While I wouldn’t count on it, underclassmen WR Percy Harvin and/or LB Brandon Spikes could also return next season, but even if they don’t Florida is still stacked.

Texas looks very talented for next year, led by QB Colt McCoy and several returning stars. It is debatable as to which team will be better: the 2008 version or 2009. The ‘Horns will lose DE Brian Orakpo and WR Quan Cosby.

At the same time, Oklahoma has to be in the conversation if Heisman QB Sam Bradford returns, however, the Sooners will lose much more than the Gators and Longhorns with the left side of Oklahoma’s offensive line (i.e. Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson) and several other key senior pieces (i.e. Juaquin Iglesias, Nic Harris). Plus several underclassmen could exit via the NFL Draft like TE Jermaine Gresham, DT Gerald McCoy, and/or OT Trent Williams.

Nick Saban and Alabama will have to replace John Parker Wilson at QB and a few places along their offensive line, but the nucleus of the team will be back. A few other SEC teams could be in the mix including Georgia and LSU. If Virginia Tech can build on the momentum from their Orange Bowl win, the Hokies could make the ACC look not like the “Average Coastal Conference”. Penn State and Ohio State will be the favorites for the Big 10 with a wildcard in Northwestern. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh will be favored to lead the Big East, but that conference will be wide open next season. Utah and Boise State will also be in the mix.

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