NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Legendary senior writer jclombardi reviews reactions to 1st round Sherrod pick.

Mark Ingram is officially a New Orleans Saint, and that could mean the end of the Saints career for former first-round pick Reggie Bush.

The USC back didn’t seem too happy when the Saints drafted Ingram, throwing up the following comment on Twitter after the pick was made.

“It’s been fun New Orleans.”

Bush could use the pick of Ingram for a reason to force his way out of New Orleans, even though the Saints have said they would like to keep the kick returner and running back.

The Saints would owe Bush $11.3 million in 2011, but there’s no way he will make that. He could force the team to release him instead of taking a pay cut. Sounds like Bush is trying to pave the way to not be in the Big Easy in the near future.

Aaron Rodgers Can’t Complain

NFL Draft Countdown’s Scouting Report on Derek Sherrod:

Strengths:
• Ideal height and good bulk with large hands
• Quick and agile with above average athleticism
• Light on feet. Able to slide and mirror laterally
• Good footwork, balance and body control
• Technically sound and uses his hands well
• Understands positioning and angles
• Great pass blocker and can protect the edge
• Does a solid job in the run game as a drive blocker
• Effective in space and can get to the second level
• Smart with excellent instincts and awareness
• Mature, hard working and a leader
• Is tough and has proven to be durable
• Tons of experience versus top competition

Weaknesses:
• Just average strength and overall power
• Doesn’t have real long arms but adequate
• Will get tall and lose leverage at times
• Not overly stout at the point of attack
• Has some trouble anchoring and sustaining
• Isn’t a dominant road grading run blocker
• Not overly aggressive and may lack a killer instinct

Notes:
Was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Bulldogs and served as a team captain — Brother, Dezmond, also played at Mississippi State as a tight end (2003-2007), spent some time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is currently with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL — Also had scholarship offers from schools like Florida, Miami (FL), Notre Dame and Michigan — Saw extensive action in a backup capacity as a true freshman in ’07 — Missed one game with a foot infection in ’08 — Was named 1st Team All-SEC in 2010 — Also excelled in the classroom, graduating Cum Laude with a degree in business and receiving the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award — The type who does everything well but nothing great — Possesses both the physical tools and intangibles that you look for in a left tackle prospect — Not particularly flashy but very consistent and arguably the best all - around blocker in this class.

Russ’ Take: Packers follow up Bears with an offensive tackle of their own.  Smart move when you’re going against Julius Peppers.  Plus, you see what the Lions are doing?  Also, you have to keep Aaron Rodgers upright.  Green Bay is an excellent draft team and they continue their ways with Sherrod.

The Steelers addressed a need with the 31st pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, taking the son of former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward in Ohio State DT Cameron Heyward.

Here’s the scouting report on Heyward from FFToolbox:

Heyward is the son of former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. In 2010, he played every position on Ohio State’s defensive line depending upon the situation. Given his size, he has a good athletic frame. He is fast, has good balance and does a good job controlling his body.

The problems with Heyward stem from what appears to be a very inconsistent motor. If he doesn’t get a good jump on the snap (or if he doesn’t get his hands where he wants to off the line of scrimmage), he can be thrown off and become one-dimensional. He will simply lunge forward, push and not really attack with any awareness of where he is going or reading the play. Furthermore, he does not have any finesse with regard to moves to pass-rush and he’s content to bull rush his opponent all game long. He needs to work on his hips and use his athleticism to his advantage more often. Some scouts may even go so far as to say he simply doesn’t have that instinct to go all-out and attack his opponents.

Heyward would be best suited as a 3-4 DE. He is a great tackler, holds the edge for containment, works hard to get through double teams and create pressure in the backfield.

At the 2011 NFL Combine, Heyward was unable to perform in any of the drills due to an elbow injury he sustained at the Sugar Bowl. He underwent reconstructive surgery on his torn ulnar collateral ligament, also known as Tommy John surgery, in early January. He will participate in a pro day workout on March 30.

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The Jets added some serious size to their D-line in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, going with Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple.

Here’s the report on Wilkerson from NFL Draft Countdown:

Was a two-year starter and team captain for the Owls — Named 1st Team All-MAC in 2009 and 2010 — Could project to defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme or defensive end in a 3-4 scheme — Was also a star basketball player in high school and drew significant interest from college recruiters — Attended Hargrave Military Academy for a year to get grades in order prior to college — Better pro prospect than former teammate Terrance Knighton of the Jacksonville Jaguars — Best fit at the next level may come as a five-technique in an odd front — A talented player who flew under the radar while wreaking havoc for a downtrodden program outside of the BCS — Underrated prospect with an extremely intriguing blend of athleticism, size and movement skills .

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Jay Cutler Takes A Huge Sigh Of Relief

NFL Draft Countdown’s Scouting Report on Gabe Carimi:

Strengths:
• Prototypical size with long arms and large hands
• Solid in pass pro with nimble feet to slide / mirror
• Fairly stout at point and gets good push in run game
• Decent strength and delivers a violent initial punch
• Polished technician with great hand use and footwork
• Intelligent with excellent instincts and awareness
• Very tough and willingly plays through pain / injuries
• Mature, hard working and is respected by teammates
• A ton of experience against top-notch competition

Weaknesses:
• Merely average athleticism, agility and balance
• Issues with speed and struggles to protect edge
• Not a knee bender, plays tall and leverage suffers
• Will too often gets caught reaching and leaning
• Falls off of blocks and does not sustain very well
• Has some trouble in space and at the second level
• Is not a finisher and may lack a killer instinct
• A history of injuries and durability is a concern

Notes:
Nicknamed “The Jewish Hammer”. Last name is pronounced “kuh-REE-mee” — A four-year starter and team captain for the Badgers — Named 1st Team All-Big Ten in 2009 and 2010 — 1st Team All-American in 2010 — Won the 2010 Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman — The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2010 — A civil and environmental engineering major who was named Academic All-Big Ten four straight years — Very committed to Jewish faith and fasts during Yom Kippur — Missed three games with a right knee injury in 2008 — Missed half of fall camp in 2009 with a right knee injury — Suffered left shoulder (AC joint) injury in 2009 — Actually replaced Joe Thomas, the #3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, at left tackle in Madison — Overrated blocker with all the tools to be a starter at the next level but is not the elite blindside protector and early first rounder  that  some  have made him out to be

Russ’ Take: It’s not the entertaining pick.  As unexciting as it is, Carimi does fill a pressing need.  I was surprised he was available at 29.  Mike Tice can do wonders with this kid.  You have to protect your investment and franchise [Jay Cutler] so it makes all the sense in the world.  Oh, and they play in the vaunted NFC North, where fierce pass rushers abound.

The Saints were beat up at the RB spot last sack eason, and they went out and made a deal with the Pats to move back in the first round and with the 28th pick grabbed Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

Here’s our Scouting Report on Ingram:

5-10, 215 pounds, Junior

Projected 40 time:

4.41 I've seen this reported a lot.

Walterfootball.com projects a 4.44

a 4.41 40 time.. Timed speed is overrated, but teams want to know if Ingram has enough speed to break away from the crowd and run away and I think for sure he does. Ingram has been very productive in Alabama, although he was much more productive in 2009 then he was in 2010 (hence the heisman trophy), but he got knicked up early in the year this year and still played well at times. After he had some time off for the bowl game he responded by having a huge bowl game vs Michigan State, a team that has at least one defensive player in the first two rounds.

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An Absolute Theft, A Highway Robbery For Baltimore

Here’s our scouting report on Smith:

Strengths: Very good size, ideal for the position. Shows a short and smooth backpedal with good bend and balanced technique in his pass drop. Very physical press cover corner. Has the light feet to bounce quickly into the route; no trouble with bump and run coverage. Consistently able to extend arms at the snap and get inside of the receiver, re-directing or slowing up his route timing.

Has the speed to run downfield with talented receivers; uses long arms to be disruptive on deeper throws and also when defending the shorter routes. Better quickness than I anticipated when sent on the corner blitz and uses length and size to be disruptive and close on the quarterback- doesn't tip off his blitz. Good tackler, uses arms to wrap and bring down consistently. Wasn't challenged by quarterbacks much, and consistently shut down his side of the field on one-on-one coverage. Throws his body around to make tackles. Doesn't allow a bad play to affect his game, gets right back on the horse.

Needs Improvement: Played mostly man coverage. Aggressiveness works against him as he tends to bite down on initial move, losing leverage and leaving him susceptible to the big play at times. Recovery speed is adequate to good, but won't be able to recover in time to always turn his head or get hands out in front of him at the next level. Has trouble with smaller, quicker receivers on an inside release. Doesn't always play the run with the same intensity, picks and chooses when he wants to be involved. Will lose concentration or misjudge receivers release quickness from time to time, allowing receiver to get square on him in off coverage.

Bottom Line: Overall I was impressed with Smith's ability as a 6'2 cover corner. He moves well for his size and can be a legitimate starting corner in the NFL. Most bigger cornerbacks have trouble flipping their hips and keeping their footwork sound in man coverage, especially when pressing the receiver, not so with Smith. Though Smith doesn't show the easiest hips in his turn, they aren't overly tight and his foot quickness and technique allows him to quickly get established in coverage.

He will need some work if asked to play in a zone dominant scheme as he wasn't asked to do it as much at Colorado. He has good but not great downfield speed and seems to lose a step after about 25 yards, length allows him to stay in the play but he will still have trouble with the top end receivers. Smith has the ability to sneak into the first round if he impresses during workouts and is one of a few very talented cover corners in this draft class.

Russ’ Take: The Ravens know how to draft.  Ozzie Newsome is a mastermind.  What a pick for an already electrifying defense.  Smith is a flat-out athlete with outstanding ball skills.

The Chiefs made a deal with the Ravens to move up to 26 in the 2011 NFL Draft, and grabbed 6-foot-4 WR Jonathan Baldwin from Pittsburgh to help out the teams offense and give Matt Cassel another threat to combine with Dwayne Bowe.

Here’s what NFL Draft Countdown said about Baldwin:

Was a 2½-year starter for the Panthers — Named 1st Team All-Big East in 2009 and 2010 — Father, Jeffrey, was a defensive lineman at Pitt from 1981-84 — Cousin, Charles Fisher, was a standout defensive back at West Virginia (1995-98) and went on to play with the Cincinnati Bengals — Hails from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, which is the same hometown as Mike Ditka, Sean Gilbert and Darrelle Revis — Also a standout basketball and track star in high school — Garnered Big East All-Academic notice in 2009

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The Crimson Tide Product Was A Reach

NFL Draft Countdown’s Scouting Report on James Carpenter:

Strengths:
• Ideal height and bulk with a large frame
• Above average athleticism, agility and quickness
• Has nimble feet to slide laterally and mirror
• Can work in space and get to the second level
• Understands body positioning and angles
• Versatile and could project to multiple positions
• Durable and fared well versus elite competition

Weaknesses:
• Does not have very long arms
• Questionable instincts and awareness
• Doesn’t get a great push in the run game
• Not real stout at the point of attack
• Is not overly strong or powerful
• Not nasty and may lack a killer instinct
• Overall intelligence might be an issue

Notes:
A two-year starter at left tackle for the Crimson Tide — JUCO transfer from Coffeyeville Community College in Kansas, where he was an All-American — Earned All-SEC notice in both 2009 and 2010 — Did not miss a game during time in Tuscaloosa — Could project to either offensive tackle or offensive guard at the next level — Best fit might come in a zone blocking scheme — The type who does everything well but nothing great — Is talented enough  to compete for a starting job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp8wSEAEMP4

Russ’ Take: Developmental project who figures to help sometime in the near future, right?  I don’t understand this selection.  Very raw, inexperienced lineman.  At least they are committed to a plan – something that has to be considered in the mix of things.  Still, why don’t you go for a sure-fire playmaker?  But he’s from Alabama…