Round 2, Pick 64 - New Orleans Saints - Charles Brown

Charles Brown, OT, USC

Ht: 6’ 5 3/8” Wt: 303

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  An extremely athletic tackle, Brown can fill in as a reserve player next season but could develop into a starting left tackle in the near future.  The Saints did not need a tackle but chose to go with value instead.  

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: A long-armed converted tight end in need of continued physical and technical development, Brown improved as a senior, interviewed well at the Combine and has the arm length, athletic ability and bend to start at left tackle. However, his lack of functional strength, grit and toughness are concerns that could keep him from ever reaching his potential. Best fit will likely come in a zone scheme similar to the one used by the Packers, Seahawks or Redskins. Upside will bring him off draft boards considerably higher than he grades out on tape.

NFL projection: Top-50 pick

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  NFL scouts are more frequently looking to converted tight ends as potential left tackles.  Former Baylor standout Jason Smith, the No. 2 overall pick by St. Louis in 2009, is one such example period.  With only two starting seasons under his belt, Brown may not be at the same level as Smith or many of the 2010 elite tackle prospects, but his size and athletic upside will likely earn him a first- or second-round selection come April.

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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Hotel Checkout

The Dallas Cowboys released Flozell "The Hotel" Adams yesterday. The former second round pick had been Dallas' starting left tackle since his rookie year in 1998.


Adams has struggled in pass coverage the last few seasons and sometimes had problems getting out of the huddle. He had become notorious for his false starts with diehard Cowboys fans. He even had issues with his celebrations, as witnessed in this video.


The move was a bit of a shocker since the Cowboys don't really have an experienced replacement. Doug Free is now the probable starter.

 Adams was also released with safety Ken Hamlin. Hamlin had made the Pro Bowl in 2007. The move did not come as a shock because Hamlin has struggled in pass coverage the last two seasons.

The NFL Draft features a deep class of incoming  tackles.Charles 

Brown of USC, Bruce Campbell of Maryland, Roger Saffold of Indiana, Mike Iupati of Idaho, and Vladimir Ducasse of UMass are some of the prospects that could possibly be available when the Cowboys pick at number twenty-seven overall in the first round.

I hope Adams signs with another team. Not being able to write about a guy nicknamed "Flozell the Hotel" - who has such an extensive selection of entertaining YouTube videos - could get very boring.



 


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The Trojan Duck

When Pete Carroll was last an NFL Head Coach, he was known as a bright young defensive coach who couldn't hack it as the "big man on campus". Now Carroll re-enters the NFL as a college coaching legend with the expectations of success already firmly attached to his new job.

The team that he had his last job with, USC, is holding their pro day today in Los Angeles. While Carroll's Seahawks are holding the 6th and 14th overall picks in next month's NFL Draft, my advice for Carroll is stay away from picking former Trojans with those picks.


While Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, and Everson Griffin are all possible first round picks, Carroll needs to think about more than just winning media coverage. If he selected one of his players, it would make for a great story and fill airtime during what sometimes feels like never ending draft coverage. 


The problem is what could possibly come next. The jokes about the players having to take pay cuts going from USC to the Seahawks. Pete Carroll being a biased talent evaluator and only liking his former players. And if one or more of them end up not living up to expectations, his old head can find itself on the coach's chopping block. Just ask Steve Spurrier how having a bunch of Florida Gators on his Washington Redskins' squads worked out.

If one of his former players happens to slip to the 2nd round and Carroll has a chance to select one of his former star players, there the expectations would probably be manageable. Carroll just has to be careful of the perception around his draft picks. If anyone in the media or fan base even thinks he is reaching to select a USC player, it starts the discussion going in a negative direction. 


These talented football players need to make their own mark on the NFL, too. Nobody wants to enter an NFL locker room with the "coach's pet" label attached to them. It is difficult enough to get respect as an NFL rookie, and each of these players surely want to make their own name.


So, Pete Carroll, when it comes to the temptation of selecting a Trojan with one of your first round picks: don't, just duck.




 


Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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