NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Before the NFL Lockout crashed down, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to persuade and sign defensive end standout Philip Hunt from the CFL, in hopes of bringing a rejuvenated and energetic presence off of the bench.

Hunt led the CFL last season with 16 sacks, and was one of the most looked into free agency targets for other NFL teams. Hunt showed excellent technique as he simply obliterated opposing offensive lines and proved to be a constant force when given the starting role for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Strangely enough, Hunt is another University of Houston alumni, and was teammates with Kevin Kolb when they were in college.

As far as the role of Hunt on the Eagles defense, he will strictly be a player that comes in to spell the starters. Whether that be Trent Cole, or another one of Philadelphia's carousel of defensive ends, he will be coming off of the bench. It's possible that after training camp, or even the pre-season, Jim Washburn quickly finds that Hunt is a better alternative than Brandon Graham, (who may not be ready for the 2011 season following an ACL tear), and Juqua Parker, who both have underachieved greatly last season.

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With the retirement of Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Patriots coach Bill Belichick is now the highest paid coach in North America according to Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com

In 11 seasons on the New England Patriots’ sideline, Bill Belichick has won 72% of his games, made eight postseason appearances and taken three Super Bowl titles.

The Patriots have never publicly confirmed Belichick’s contract details, but industry pundits have little doubt that the long-term extension he signed in 2007 is north of the roughly $7 million annually that Mike Holmgren was getting from the Seattle Seahawks.

Two current NFL coaches, Washington’s Mike Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll, are pulling in $7 million a season, while Chicago’s Lovie Smith just re-upped for $6 million a year after leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.

Sure we cover the NFL with the best of them, but we stray away for some breaking “sports entertainment” news as former World Wrestling Federation champion Randy “Macho Man” Savage has died tragically today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida this morning.

TMZ.com reports that Savage, who was 58 years old, had just celebrated his one-year wedding anniversary.

Here’s the story from our WWE site – Let’s Talk Wrestling.

Richard Justice continues to speak it as he hears it.  Justice, a well known Houston Chronicle columnist and radio personality, has always shed his opinions, even in regards to the Houston Texans during the Major League season.  This time, Justice wrote

"Word is (FA CB Nnamdi) Asomugha doesn't want any part of our little corner of paradise.  Really? Well, buddy boy, I've got about 30 million reasons you might just change your mind."

The Chronicle's NFL beat and Texans guru, John McClain has his doubts that Asomugha would choose the Texans, no matter how much the team was willing to spend or do for him.    However, no official word has come from Asomugha or his agent regarding his possible options; however, it is likely any team could use him.

Asomugha is a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time First Team All Pro selection and a two-time Second Team All Pro selection.  In 2009, he won the "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year award.  The most speculated options other than the Texans currently include the Jets, Packers, Bucs, Falcons, Lions, Eagles, Cowboys, Redskins and Ravens.  For one, the 49ers reportedly will not pursue Asomugha.

The Jaguars haven’t reached the playoffs since 2007 and drafted QB Blaine Gabbert last month in a move that may signal a changing of the guard under center. But Pro Bowl TE Marcedes Lewis thinks the Jags are headed back to the postseason — with veteran QB David Garrard at the helm. “The Jaguars will make the playoffs, and Dave will be our quarterback,” Lewis said on NFL Network’s NFL Total Access on Wednesday.

Jacksonville has contended late into the regular season the past two years but lost the last three games in 2010 — Garrard missed Week 17 with a finger injury — after losing the final four in 2009. “I’m not gonna say we’re a young team anymore, I think that’s an excuse — we’re all grown men. I think with us, it’s having greater attention to detail where it matters the most. And I think, obviously in previous years, that’s something that’s plagued us. We start out well, then towards the middle of the season we’ll be right there on the cusp, and then we’ll have a bad string of games,” said Lewis. “I think subconsciously, we think about that and letting outside things get in the way of our goals and our aspirations as a team, and I think we have to get better in that area.” But it’s an area he believes will improve.

“We have a team with character as opposed to a team with a bunch of characters,” said Lewis. “And this is a new year coming up, and we’re excited about the opportunity.” Admitting surprise that Gabbert was drafted, Lewis has little worry that Garrard will be ready to go after making the Pro Bowl in 2009 while playing extremely well for long stretches of 2010. “Dave is one of those guys that, when his back is against the wall, he’s coming out fighting. And for those that don’t really know Dave, he’s a great guy,” said Lewis.

“Dave is going to accept the competition, take Blaine under his wing and continue to be our quarterback and do exactly what he’s been doing since I’ve been here: that’s continue to be a leader on and off the field, in the community and doing his thing. Dave is in good spirits.”

Police were investigating whether drugs had a role in the death Thursday of Oklahoma senior linebacker Austin Box, and a witness told authorities he believed his friend had overdosed.

Authorities didn't immediately release an official cause of death, and Box's body was sent to the state Medical Examiner's office. Box was 22.

"We're all shocked and heartbroken," Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "Austin was a great young man, a great young man to coach, and a great teammate."

Stoops' defensive coordinator, Brent Venables, fought back tears and said he was "numb" while talking about Box during an evening news conference at the Switzer Center, adjacent to the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

"You can't plan for this," Venables said. "There's no blueprint for it. I just know that a young man was tragically taken from us today."

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Zach Brown of North Carolina

1. Quinton Coples, Sr, North Carolina, 6'6 275- Has the prototype size, length, and strength for a base end in any alignment. He can line up on both sides and was also used inside at tackle. Shows power to drive down the pocket and length to close off throwing lanes.

2. Jared Crick, Sr, Nebraska, 6'6 285- Lined up almost exclusively inside for the Cornhuskers, but has the size and strength to play the end spot in a 3-4 at the next level. Very Similar to first round pick J.J. Watt of Wisconsin.

3. Vinny Curry, Sr, Marshall, 6'4 255- Looks and plays bigger than his listed weight. Curry played both end spots in a base 4-3, and also lined up at the 5-technique on 3-4 installments. Very disruptive pass rusher who chases the ball to the opposite side. Great stamina.

4. Jake Bequette, Sr, Arkansas, 6'5 271- A hustle player who knows how to leverage the edge in his pass rush, Bequette is stout in containment and gives maximum effort. He has 12 sacks the past two seasons. I could see him duplicating that number in 2011.

5. Donte Paige-Moss, Jr, North Carolina, 6'4 242- Moss lines up in a three-point stance for North Carolina but would probably best suited as a two-point rush linebacker at the next level. He's a very good athlete with good rush skills; flashes excellent closing burst.

Players to Watch: Devin Taylor, Jr, South Carolina, 6'6 250, Andre Branch, Sr, Clemson 6'4 258, Vince Browne, Sr, Northwestern 6'5 265, Alex Okafor, Sr, Texas 6'4 260

Comments: Every year it seems a few lesser known players emerge throughout the season at both defensive end and defensive tackle. The end position is a bit harder to read because of the different fronts the NFL employs, making players more system specific than in the past with half the teams in the NFL now utilizing a 3-4 alignment. Quinton Coples and Jared Crick are standout prospects who can fit any system and be productive.

Defensive Tackle

1. Josh Chapman, Sr, Alabama, 6'1 310- The anchor of a very talented Crimson Tide defense, Chapman is stout against the run and shows good pad level in his release. A strong and reliable nose tackle who can push the pocket and hold two gaps in run support; plays taller than his 6'1 height.

2. Alameda Ta'amu, Sr, Washington, 6'3 330- The prototype nose tackle for the NFL level. Ta'amu has uncommon quickness for his size to loop and stunt effectively. Shows very good strength in his upper body.

3. Kheeston Randall, Sr, Texas, 6'2 295- Despite his lack of pure size Randall often lines up across from center in the Longhorns front. Plays with good aggressiveness and balance; effective in run support and disruptive in the backfield.

4. Jerel Worthy, Jr, Michigan State, 6'3 305- A good athlete who often wins leverage off the snap. Worthy shows good pad level and lower body strength to hold the point and drive the pocket. A first round talent.

5. Tydreke Powell, Sr, North Carolina, 6'1 310- Powell shows good gap containment in run support. He uses his size well and can be extremely effective when he sinks his hips. A possible early round pick with better consistency in 2011.

Players to Watch: Marcus Forston, Jr, Miami (FL), 6'3 300, Kendall Reyes, Sr, Connecticut, 6'4 300, Jaye Howard, Sr, Florida, 6'3 302, Armond Armstead, Sr, USC, 6'5 295

Comments: My early impression of this class is that it lacks a sure top ten pick going into 2011. Josh Chapman and Alameda Ta'amu look like first round picks but could polish up their technique this season. Based purely on talent, Marcus Forston of Miami could be the best tackle available, but injuries and inconsistency haven't allowed his potential to develop into production. A solid class but no dominant presence yet.

Outside Linebacker

1. Brandon Jenkins, Jr, Florida State, 6'3 234- Jenkins lines up in a three-point stance for the Seminoles but projects best as a rush linebacker at the next level. He shows good power off the snap with a smooth transition to flatten down and close on the quarterback. Produced 13.5 sacks in 2010.

2. Zach Brown, Sr, North Carolina, 6'2 225- An ideal fit for a Cover 2 scheme. Brown shows good range, instincts, and tackling ability; a well rounded skill set with upside as an outside pass rusher in pressure packages.

3. Nigel Bradham, Sr, Florida State, 6'2 241 – A three year starter, Bradham can play the weak side in either alignment. He does a good job reading his keys and using his arms to scrape and untie off blockers. Very consistent.

4. Travis Lewis, Sr, Oklahoma, 6'2 233 - A tackling machine at Oklahoma; Lewis has racked up over 300 tackles in three seasons. He shows good instincts and discipline both in run support and in coverage. Best fit would be outside in a 4-3 front at the next level.

5. Bruce Irvin, Sr, West Virginia, 6'2 235 - Irvin registered 14 sacks last season for the Mountaineers at defensive end. His skills translate best as a rush linebacker in the NFL. He shows good closing burst and plays with good functional strength for his size; has the frame to add 15 pounds.

Players to Watch: Sean Spence, Sr, Miami (FL), 5'11 225, Adrian Robinson, Sr, Temple, 6'2 250, Nico Johnson, Jr, Alabama 6'2 240, Tank Carder, Sr, TCU, 6'2 237

Comments: Much like the defensive end position, outside linebacker has become more system specific, with many college ends transitioning to outside linebacker in 3-4 alignments. It's a solid crop of linebackers for each scheme with talented prospects available into the middle rounds.

Inside Linebacker

1. Vontaze Burfict, Jr, Arizona State, 6'3 252 – The prototype middle linebacker; can do it all. Shows excellent instincts, range, aggression, toughness, power, coverage depth, and strength to handle lineman. One of the top players in this draft class, but can still improve his game.

2. Courtney Upshaw, Sr, Alabama, 6'2 263 – A versatile linebacker who can line up anywhere on the field, including defensive end. Played inside and out for Alabama; shows a complete skill set with very good athleticism. Upshaw shows up to play in big games.

3. Luke Kuechly, Jr, Boston College, 6'2 235 – An exceptional football player. Kuechly is almost never out of position, shows textbook technique, intelligence, instincts, and toughness. Posted more than 100 solo tackles last season. Can play the weak side in a 3-4 but could be a Pro Bowler if he stays in a 4-3.

4. Don'ta Hightower, Jr, Alabama, 6'4 260 - A powerful player with a good combination of size and quickness. Hightower moves twenty pounds lighter than he's listed. He had a solid season last year, but is only scratching the surface.

5. Manti Te'o, Jr, Notre Dame, 6'2 255 – The best player on the Notre Dame defense. Te'o posted 133 tackles last season and has played every game since his freshman year. Instinctive and physical, Te'o only has a few things to improve on in 2011.

Players to Watch: Jerry Franklin, Sr, Arkansas, 6'1 242, Chris Gallipo, Sr, USC, 6'2 250, Shayne Skov, Jr, Stanford, 6'3 237, D.J. Holt, Sr, California, 6'1 250

Comments: An impressive group of inside linebackers, every player in the top five has the ability to warrant being drafted in the top half of the first round. All of them fit inside in either alignment. The instincts and anticipation score off the charts with this group, without even mentioning the size and speed. The quality of the class will depend largely on whether or not the underclassmen declare.

Cornerback

1. Dre Kirkpatrick, Jr, Alabama, 6'2 190 - Smooth cover corner who shows solid footwork and great length to challenge deep throws and close the cushion quickly in zone coverage. Alabama's system allows him to play a variety of coverage looks.

2. Cliff Harris, Jr, Oregon, 5'11 185 - Fluid cover corner with great hips and quick feet. Harris is a playmaker in the return game, returning 4 punts for scores in 2010. Shows top ten pick athleticism.

3. Alfonzo Dennard, Sr, Nebraska, 5'10 195 - A physical press cover corner, Dennard played as well as teammate Prince Amukamara at times last season. Aggressive in run support and physical challenging receivers downfield.

4. Chase Minnifield, Sr, Virginia, 6'0 185 – A rangy and intelligent zone cornerback who quickly plants and drives on the football produced 6 interceptions in 2010. Good size and straight line speed to challenge big receivers.

5. Janoris Jenkins, Sr, North Alabama, 5'11 185 – Jenkins was dismissed from the University of Florida for a marijuana arrest in April. His skills are first round worthy and he'll have an opportunity to rebound his stock at North Alabama in 2011.

Players to Watch: Stephon Gilmore, Jr, South Carolina, 6'1 192, Coryell Judie, Sr, Texas A&M, 5'11 188, Brandon Boykin Sr, Georgia, 5'10 185, Donnie Fletcher, Sr, Boston College, 6'1 200

Comments: A very good crop of cornerbacks in this year's draft class. It should  rival the seven cornerbacks selected in the first two rounds of last year's draft. There isn't a prospect that possesses the elite size/strength/speed combination of Patrick Petersen, but there are a few who show better lateral agility and easier hips. I could see 4 or 5 prospects taken in the first round of the 2012 draft.

Safety

1. Robert Lester, Jr, Alabama, 6'2 206 – He shows good range and ball skills; able to cover the deep half. Lester is also willing to attack in run support. Had 8 interceptions as a first year starter in 2010.

2. Ray Ray Armstrong, Jr, Miami (FL), 6'4 220 – An aggressive strong safety who plays like a linebacker, Armstrong flashes very good closing burst in his tackling. Has good playing speed for his size, he should be even better this year.

3. T.J. McDonald, Jr, USC, 6'3 205 - McDonald has great size and playing strength for the position. He rarely misses tackles when the play is in front of him. Reliable in the box or in back end coverage.

4. Mark Barron, Sr, Alabama, 6'2 210 – Good size and playing strength, Barron is physical in run support and can cover tight ends underneath when necessary. Has produced 10 interceptions the past two seasons.

5. Janzen Jackson, Jr, Tennessee,  6'0 187 – Jackson has very good speed the cover the field and has made noticeable improvements in coverage the past two seasons. Has the ability to play cornerback effectively; high upside talent.

Players to Watch: Tony Dye, Sr, UCLA, 5'11 205, Eddie Whitley, Sr, Virginia Tech, 6'1 195, Delano Howell, Sr, Stanford 5'11 200, Lance Mitchell, Sr, Oregon State, 6'2 208

Comments: This draft class has the potential to be better than last seasons if every player progresses as expected from last year. There's plenty of talent but most of the top prospects are underclassmen. The value of this class will largely depend on the amount of junior prospects that declare. Lester, Armstrong, and McDonald are underclassmen with first round ability.