Some stories behind draft stories...
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 3:26 pm
Some background on some decisions:
--JAX took Alualu because they strongly believed Miami was taking him at #12. They got screwed when OAK took McClain because that took away a deal they had worked out with the Giants to drop back. Then JAX was going to take Spiller but BUF jumped on that one pick before them. I know two other teams--CIN and ATL--were looking at moving up to take Alualu. So cool it on the "they reached" talk...he would not have lasted past about 15.
--HOU took Kareem Jackson over Kyle Wilson because of Nick Saban. Don't forget Saban cut his teeth as a secondary coach and they run complex coverages, whereas Wilson has played almost exclusively press man. They would have taken Ryan Mathews and also wanted to trade up to get him, but they wouldn't pay the price SD did to move up so far.
--DET traded up to get Best because they believed New Orleans was taking him at #32. They were also concerned that STL would trade #33 to someone who wanted him and didn't want to have to worry about it overnight. MIN wanted Robinson more than Cook but was more than happy to fall back and still get Cook--whom I strongly believe will be a much better pro than Robinson.
--Two different people who would know have said that SEA would have taken Clausen at #14 if Earl Thomas had not been there. SEA was apparently convinced the Eagles were trading up to get Thomas and not Graham. Cleveland passed because they rated McCoy higher.
--JAX took Alualu because they strongly believed Miami was taking him at #12. They got screwed when OAK took McClain because that took away a deal they had worked out with the Giants to drop back. Then JAX was going to take Spiller but BUF jumped on that one pick before them. I know two other teams--CIN and ATL--were looking at moving up to take Alualu. So cool it on the "they reached" talk...he would not have lasted past about 15.
--HOU took Kareem Jackson over Kyle Wilson because of Nick Saban. Don't forget Saban cut his teeth as a secondary coach and they run complex coverages, whereas Wilson has played almost exclusively press man. They would have taken Ryan Mathews and also wanted to trade up to get him, but they wouldn't pay the price SD did to move up so far.
--DET traded up to get Best because they believed New Orleans was taking him at #32. They were also concerned that STL would trade #33 to someone who wanted him and didn't want to have to worry about it overnight. MIN wanted Robinson more than Cook but was more than happy to fall back and still get Cook--whom I strongly believe will be a much better pro than Robinson.
--Two different people who would know have said that SEA would have taken Clausen at #14 if Earl Thomas had not been there. SEA was apparently convinced the Eagles were trading up to get Thomas and not Graham. Cleveland passed because they rated McCoy higher.
