AFC South draft grades

By Lou DiPietro  |   Wednesday, April 29, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

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With the 2009 NFL draft in the books, RealFootball365.com will spend this week analyzing the hauls of all 32 teams and grading them on their weekend moves, one division at a time.

Part 1: AFC East
Part 2: NFC East
Part 3: AFC North
Part 4: NFC North

Next up is the AFC South.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
DAY 1: With the Smiths off the board, Jacksonville got perhaps the most polished tackle in the draft when it snagged Eugene Monroe at No. 8. And then, to top it off, the Jags got a first-round prospect, OT Eben Britton, at No. 39. And together, they fit perfectly; Monroe is a prototypical LT, while Britton’s lesser athleticism -- perhaps the reason he dropped -- makes him a good fit at RT. Given Tony Pashos’ struggles last year and the fact that Tra Thomas will turn 35 this season, it’s safe to say that this could be the Jaguars’ starting tandem within three years. Some may say that taking Britton when they had other needs is risky, but last year proved that Jacksonville’s offense is lost if it can’t run the ball.

DAY 2: Jacksonville immediately addressed its interior defensive line issues, taking Temple DT Terrance Knighton in the third round. Knighton flew under the radar thanks to Temple’s poor record, but he’s a 325-pound bruiser who runs a sub-5.0 40 and can get into the backfield to cause havoc. He’ll be a good rotational DT. They then traded up into the third again -- giving New England a seven and a 2010 second-rounder -- to grab William & Mary CB Derek Cox. While it may seem risky, Cox will most likely be a force in the return game, as he returned five kicks for touchdowns last year.

Jacksonville also got good value on a pair of receivers, Arizona’s Mike Thomas and Rice’s Jarett Dillard, and Liberty RB Rashad Jennings. Thomas has drawn comparison to Wes Welker and can be very effective in the slot, while Dillard is more of a possession receiver with great hands; he also knows how to get open and could become a Keenan McCardell-type. Thomas, meanwhile, was a Pitt transfer who will give the Jags a big, bruising RB to go with Maurice Jones-Drew. Their other picks -- TE Zach Miller and WR Tiquan Underwood -- are projects who probably won’t see the field as rookies.

THE SKINNY: The Jags had a good draft, except for one thing: They didn’t select one linebacker. That’s still a huge position of need, yet they chose to take a couple of offensive projects instead. Fault can also be found with the Britton and Cox picks by some pundits, but both players can be productive within a year or two. GRADE: B


HOUSTON TEXANS
DAY 1: The Texans seriously beefed up their defense, and gave themselves some great flexibility. Fifteenth pick Brian Cushing was the first of four USC linebackers chosen, and he’s a good one. His intensity and ability to play either outside spot ensures he’ll be on the field for every play. In the second round, they snagged Cincinnati DE/LB Connor Barwin, a relentless pass rusher who was a first-round prospect in many mocks. He’s also versatile, as he can potentially line up at 4-3 DE but can also be a force on the weak side as a pass rusher. Adding both will allow Gary Kubiak to institute some hybrid packages into his defense, which could immensely help Mario Williams.

DAY 2: As good as Day 1 was, Sunday could’ve been better. Third-rounder Antoine Caldwell is a mauler who will probably play RG or center at the next level. He’s not the most athletic player, but he moves defenders off the ball and is a good run blocker. The trio of defensive backs the Texans selected -- New Mexico’s Glover Quin, Utah’s Bruce McCain and Arizona State’s Troy Nolan -- are all good players who can help their thin secondary. Quin and McCain are both speedy corners who need a little polish in coverage but can be productive, and Quin has the size to possibly play safety. Nolan, meanwhile, is a ball-hawking safety who was a great value for the seventh round.

Their other picks were a pair of tight ends. Fourth-rounder Anthony Hill was the best blocking tight end in the draft and gives them the mauler to go along with Owen Daniels, while fifth-rounder James Casey is a versatile threat with good hands. That’s great, but with Daniels on board, they could have looked at a bigger need.

THE SKINNY: The Texans got a couple of great defensive players on Saturday, and helped their secondary immensely on Sunday. However, they still need a receiver, which makes the Casey pick a little suspect and thus knocked down slightly. GRADE: B-plus


INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
DAY 1: People scoffed when the Colts took Joseph Addai a few years ago to complement Edgerrin James. That worked out well, so judgment should be reserved on their 2009 selection of Connecticut RB Donald Brown in Round 1. The nation’s leading rusher in 2007, Brown is an explosive back who runs well between the tackles, making him a great fit in Indy’s system. In the second round, they filled their need for a big DT with USC’s Fili Moala; he may have been a first-rounder if not for the glut of DE talent in this draft.

DAY 2: The Colts’ Sunday picks aren’t the best, but fit well in their system. Third-rounder Jerraud Powers is an excellent cover corner who makes up for his lack of size by being a ball hawk; he can be a solid nickel corner as he develops. WR Austin Collie gives them a good special teamer and a guy who can take Anthony Gonzalez’s spot in the slot, while Michigan DT Terrance Taylor is a little undersized but makes up for it with pure strength. Their final pick, Maryland’s Jaimie Thomas, is a smart player who will probably move from OT to OG in the pros.

Their only question marks were in selecting punter Pat McAfee and Purdue QB Curtis Painter. Hunter Smith left in free agency, making punter a need, but there were better ones available; McAfee has average leg strength and struggles with directional kicks and hang time. Painter, meanwhile, has a quick release and good arm strength, but he’s a statue in the pocket and Indy rarely even carries three quarterbacks. Bill Polian likes him, though, so the choice isn’t too surprising.

THE SKINNY: Regardless of what pundits say, the Polian-led Colts always seem to know what they’re doing. They didn’t address their linebacker need, however, which makes the picks of McAfee and Painter a little more questionable, and taking Brown at No. 27 would be a reach if it were any other team that didn’t do something like that every few years. GRADE: B


TENNESSEE TITANS
DAY 1: First-rounder Kenny Britt is big and fast, and the Titans needed a receiver; he might be a selection of status quo, though, so to speak. The Titans liked Brian Robiskie -- who went six picks later to Cleveland -- but because he wasn’t a “first-round talent” and Britt was one who fell, Britt is whom they took. Still, he’s a good player and a big target, so he’ll do OK. Their second-rounder, Auburn DT Sen’Derrick Marks, lacks intensity at times but is a good pass rusher who will fit in will with their rotation.

DAY 2: Sunday was a much better day. For one, the Titans traded up to grab South Carolina TE Jared Cook in the middle of the third; Cook is a player along the lines of what Frank Wycheck used to be, so he will become a favorite target of Kerry Collins. Five picks later, they stole Hawaii CB Ryan Mouton, an underrated cover corner who is aggressive and has great feet. Fourth-rounder Gerald McGrath is a solid MLB who can play all three downs, while their sixth-rounders -- CB Jason McCourty and WR Dominique Edison -- are both burners who can help fill the void left by Chris Carr’s departure. The rest is depth, but seventh-rounder Ryan Durand could push for time at OG.

THE SKINNY: The Titans got a bunch of good players for their system, but the question marks remain about Britt and Marks. If they play well, this draft is a huge success. GRADE: B
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About Lou DiPietro

Lou DiPietro is an accomplished freelance writer who is fascinated with all things sports. In addition to his duties at RealFootball365.com, Lou contributes to TheBleacherReport.com and Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine, and has been featured on "The Sports Buffet with Matt West" on 1080-AM ESPN ...
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