Bradford tops Mel Kiper’s Big Board
Sam Bradford has found himself atop Mel Kiper’s 2010 NFL Draft Big Board. Considering Bradford turned down a chance to be a top five pick in 2009, it’s no real surprise, but Kiper’s comments are a little puzzling.
1. *Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma: Has underrated arm and great feel for position and is super-accurate.
I’m not too sure who’s underrating Bradford’s arm, but he should get comfortable looking down at the rest of the prospects for next year’s draft.
Worth noting: No. 4 on Kiper’s board? Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who also could have been a top 10 pick in 2009.
UPDATE (4:31 p.m.): Here’s video of Kiper revealing his board on ESPN earlier today.
Practice Report (8-12-09)
The Sooners went late tonight, wrapping up practice well after 8:30 p.m.
The first person to talk with the media DE coach Chris Wilson. Wilson was really high on Jeremy Beal, said he’s outperforming the other defensive ends. Not surprising. Beal is a star and will be even better this year. But what was surprising was Wilson talking up former blue-chip recruit R.J. Washington, who had fallen to the No. 5 DE during the spring.
“He had that label of being the top player a couple of years ago and that’s a lot of pressure for a young guy,” Wilson said. “Now with some reps and some time in the weight room, he’s turning into a good football player.”
Washington is battling fellow redshirt freshman David King for the fifth defensive end spot.
Wilson also said that Frank Alexander and Auston English are competing this fall for the other starting DE position opposite Beal.
* Veteran cornerback Dom Franks said safety Marcus Trice was the freshman impressing the most right now. Said he is picking up the defense well for a position that is fairly complicated to play. Franks also mentioned freshman cornerback Demontre Hurst, who Bob Stoops singled out in a positive way Monday.
* DeMarcus Granger said he continues to feel better, and that it’s just a matter of getting back into shape. Granger also needs to lose some weight, which should come with more practice time.
* By all accounts, wide receiver Adron Tennell has carried over his solid spring into the fall, and looks to be the man-to-beat for one of the vacant starting spots. He’ll have to produce to keep it, but right now, expect Tennell, Madu and Broyles to be OU’s starting wideouts come Sept. 5.
* The defensive players showed up for interviews much later than the offensive players. According to some of the defensive players, the offense had the better day, and as a result, the defense was kept around for some extra conditioning.
* Ryan Reynolds said he tweaked his hamstring recently and is being careful with it. He says it’s no big deal though. Something else interesting the middle linebacker said was that he doesn’t plan to wear a knee brace in games. Reynolds, coming off his third knee surgery, is wearing one in practice, but as a precaution. Reynolds not wearing a brace in games is really good news.
* Injury report: DeMarco Murray wasn’t in pads coming off the field today. He’s out for the next 2 weeks with a hamstring pull, but has done some light drills. Reserve defensive end Pryce Macon is out with some kind of knee injury. Wore a brace tonight, and was hobbling.
* For tomorrow, I wrote about Big-Game Jermaine Gresham, who has dominated on the biggest stages.
* Finally, join me tomorrow at 11 a.m. on NewsOK.com for an online Sooner football chat.
-JT
Practice report (8-10-09)
A lot of good tidbits came from Monday’s practice, the first in full pads this preseason.
The biggest story line was tight end Brody Eldridge being forced to play first-team center with starter Ben Habern and top reserve Brian Lepak both battling injuries. Eldridge is the team’s emergency center, though Habern should be back in practice later this week. Lepak is out for the next 1-2 weeks with a high ankle sprain.
The other most interesting nugget was offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson basically saying that Cameron Kenney and freshman Jaz Reynolds would be ahead of sophomores Jameel Owens and Dejuan Miller if he had to fill out the depth chart at wide receiver today. Kenney is not too shocking, but Reynolds has been a pleasant surprise. Reynolds apparently has blazing speed, which has the Sooner coaches salivating. He could carve out a decent role for himself this season. Owens and Miller, meanwhile, were supposed to have breakout seasons this year. That won’t happen if they don’t make it onto the field. Remember, the Sooners also have Mossis Madu, Ryan Broyles, Brandon Caleb and Adron Tennell at receiver as well, not to mention running back DeMarco Murray and tight end Jermaine Gresham, who will be flexed out or placed in the slot often.
Other notes:
* As customary with all football teams the first day of pads, the Sooners ran the “Oklahoma Drill.” Among the players who impressed Bob Stoops were Auston English, Jeremy Beal, Trent Williams, Gerald McCoy and backup right tackle Jarvis Jones.
Said Stoops, “The Oklahoma Drill was wild. Guys were getting after it, which you like. It carried right into our inside drill where we did a lot of short yardage. It was really physical.”
* Stoops really praised cornerback Demontre Hurst, which has got to kill OSU fans. Hurst, remember, was committed to OSU for a long time, but switched his verbal late to OU before signing with the Sooners. Stoops said Hurst is “as good a young guy as we’ve ever brought in here.”
* Off. coordinator Kevin Wilson admitted the o-line “struggled” Monday against the Sooner def. line. Not surprising. OU’s d-line will make a lot of teams struggle.
* Safety Kevin Brent is out with a shoulder injury. He was, however, doing fairly well before getting hurt, and should be back on the field before too long, Stoops said.
-JT
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- Dejuan Miller
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- Brody Eldridge
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- Auston English
Former Sooner still alive in reality show
Former Sooner Moses Washington, whom I wrote about here earlier this year, is still alive and kicking in Michael Irvin’s reality show “4th and Long” on Spike TV, where the winner will earn a tryout at training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
Washington, as you remember, was a track star at OU, but did walk-on to the football squad during the Sooners’ national title team in 2000 as a defensive back.
Check him out here in this photo getting yelled at by former Sooner defensive coordinator Mike Stoops.
There are nine players still left competing for a spot. To watch the latest episode, click here.
On a semi-related note, three people are suing Irvin, claiming the former Dallas WR stole the concept of the show from them.
By Jake Trotter
Bradford talks Iglesias
The Chicago Tribune caught up with Sooner QB Sam Bradford to discuss the Bears’ third-round draft pick, former Sooner wideout Juaquin Iglesias.
Bradford tells the Tribune that he thinks it will be an easy transition to the NFL for Iglesias because his knowledge for the game is a lot greater than most people coming out of college.
To read more, go here.
By Jake Trotter
Catching up with former Sooners in the NFL
Wondering how former Sooners are doing in the NFL? Well, I’ve tracked down links to almost every player who was drafted or signed as a rookie free agent over the last two years.
Phil Loadholt, offensive tackle, Vikings
In this Q&A with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Loadholt (or Leadholt as the headline reads) reveals his affinity for the Wild West and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Juaquin Iglesias, wide receiver, Bears
Iglesias was lauded by the Chicago Sun Times for his quickness. According to the Times, he stood out at minicamp.
Nic Harris, outside linebacker, Bills
We’ve done this story before, but most people outside the state of Oklahoma haven’t read about Harris’ tough upbringing and eventual college success. BuffaloBills.com details Harris’ inspirational plight.
Jon Cooper, center, Vikings
Cooper’s name wasn’t called on draft day, but his phone was ringing off the hook, according to this report done by the Coloradoan, Cooper’s hometown paper.
Brandon Walker, guard, Texans
This was a pre-draft story, but Scout.com talks to Walker in this article about his versatility and consistency.
Duke Robinson, guard, Panthers
Panthers.com interviews the mammoth former Sooner lineman after Carolina drafted him in the fifth round.
Manny Johnson, wide receiver, Cowboys
Johnson had the most eventful rookie minicamp of any Sooner, as he was in Dallas when the Bubble collapsed last weekend. SoonerSports.com reports that Johnson was not hurt during the storm.
Lendy Holmes, safety, Redskins
Couldn’t find anything on Holmes, so I’ll just repost a story I wrote about him signing with Washington after not being drafted.
Curtis Lofton, linebacker, Falcons
The Bleacher Report examines Atlanta’s linebackers, led by Lofton, who is coming off an outstanding rookie season.
Reggie Smith, safety, 49ers
Despite speculation that he was going to move to cornerback this year, the 49ers have decided to leave Smith at safety, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Allen Patrick, running back, Giants
Patrick was recently released by the Browns, had a tryout with the Jets, and is now trying to make the other squad in NYC, according to the Star-Ledger. Interestingly, Patrick recently took a hand off in minicamp from a familiar face.
Malcolm Kelly, wide receiver, Redskins
Kelly, who battled knee problems last season, is hoping to return from microfracture surgery, according to the Washington Post.
By Jake Trotter
Sooners in the NFL
Ran across several photos of former Sooners working out with their new NFL teams over the weekend. Most of the teams have rookie minicamps going on. Here are a few of the pics:
– Asst. Sports Editor Ryan Sharp
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- There were actually a few photos of the Bears’ Juaquin Iglesias dropping passes, but here’s one of him catching the ball during one of the team’s minicamp workout at Halas Hall on Friday, May. (AP PHOTO/Nam Y. Huh)
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- Ok, so he’s not new to the NFL, but here’s the Jets’ Allen Patrick pulling in a pass during minicamp in Florham Park, N.J. on Friday, May 1. (AP PHOTO/BILL KOSTROUN)
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- Duke Robinson is still sportin’ the dreds. Robinson worked out with the rest of the Panthers rookies in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday, May 1. (AP PHOTO/RICK HAVNER)
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- Check out Jake Trotter’s post below on Phil Loadholt and the Vikings. (AP PHOTO/JIM MONE)
Mocking the NFL — 2010
By John Helsley
You want ‘em, and yes, you know you do, so you’re getting them: more NFL mock drafts, not even a week removed from this year’s player grabfest, with the first mocks for 2010 already flowing out.
As if we didn’t already know, 2010’s NFL Draft is going to be one to monitor very closely, Sooner fans. Your boys are all over it.
At foxsports.com, Peter Schrager’s early exercise projects OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy as the No. 1 pick , once again going to the lowly Lions. Right behind McCoy, Sam Bradford goes at No. 2 to the Rams.
And the rest of the first round is dotted with Sooners.
Offensive tackle Trent Williams at No. 6, to the Raiders, which would seem all too sensible for Al Davis to pull off.
Tight end Jermaine Gresham at No. 10 to the Packers.
Over at SI.com, Andrew Perloff has more fun, plotting trades in his first round, which leads to Bradford going off the board first, although still to the Rams, who move up from the fourth spot in a deal with the Lions (yes, they’re still going to be really bad, they just don’t need a QB and plenty of teams that do could come calling for a shot at Sammy B.)
Perloff has McCoy going No. 3 to the Buccaneers, Williams going 10th to the Packers, Gresham going 24th to the Titans and running back DeMarco Murray going No. 32 to the Chargers, his pick to win it all.
Yeah, it’s early. Way early.
But it’s fun.
3 sign FA contracts
At least three Oklahoma Sooners who weren’t selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend have agreed to terms as free agents.
Center Jon Cooper (Minnesota Vikings), free safety Lendy Holmes (Washington Redskins) and guard Brandon Walker (Houston Texans) are all expected to sign rookie contracts with their respective teams.
By Jake Trotter
Sooners could surge in the NFL Draft
By John Helsley
For Oklahoma’s NFL draft hopefuls, there’s nothing certain about what will happen come Saturday and Sunday.
No certain first rounders, although it’s possible.
No certain take on any of the prospects, with varying opinions attached to all.
No certain way to handle the agony of waiting around to hear your name called.
And yet, it’s worth staying tuned for at least three hopeful former Sooners: Duke Robinson, Phil Loadholt and Juaquin Iglesias. Any and each of the three could be gone by the early stages of the second round.
That’s the glass-half-full scenario, for sure.
The glass-half-empty version: Nobody goes until Day 2.
And either scenario is possible. That’s how clouded the crystal ball appears entering this year’s draft for the Sooners. Some teams like OU’s prospects, some not at all. So depending on who’s choosing and who’s available at that slot, there’s no telling when they’ll go off the board.
Over at ESPN, Todd McShay has Loadholt going first among the Sooners, with the 22nd pick in the second round and No. 54 overall, to Minnesota. He’s got Robinson going midway through Round 3 and Iglesias going in Round 5, just ahead of teammate Nic Harris. And get this, McShay has Lendy Holmes going in the seventh round — last overall, as Mr. Irrelevent.
Still, while McShay is sharp, it’s just one man’s take on a draft that may be as difficult to project as any in recent memory.
Loadholt is a great example. There are teams that don’t like him at all, fearing his pro career will resemble the Fiesta Bowl loss to West Virginia, when he was beaten regularly by the speed rush. And there are teams that get a load of the big man’s size and athleticism and believe he can be a fixture at offensive tackle for years to come.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the kind of team that loves linemen like Robinson, a power-blocking force in the running game. And they’re getting old along their front. There’s some thought he could go to the Steelers with the last pick in Round 1.
Iglesias isn’t a deep burner, which hurts him in some eyes. But he’s a disciplined route runner who isn’t afraid to go across the middle, making him an ideal slot receiver. And those guys — thanks to Wes Welker — are enjoying an elevated status of late. So the 5th round may be too late for Iglesias.
But who knows?
The only thing certain about this NFL Draft is that nothing’s certain, especially when it comes to the Sooners.
