A Critique on the Latest TMQ (4/30/13)

http://espn.go.com/espn/playbook/story/_/id/9222713/tmq-celebrates-everyman-epic-eric-fisher-rise-no-1-nfl-draft

Another week, another critique column from me (since it looks like Deadspin is done doing it).

"Eric Fisher of Central Michigan became the third first-round NFL draft pick in recent years from below the testosterone-pumped level of the BCS conferences, joining David Carr of Fresno State in 2002 and Alex Smith of Utah in 2005."

The first sentence? Really? This is gonna take a while.

Also, just want to point out that many teams have been extensively (even exclusively) using four- and five-receiver sets for a while now, so the decline of the running back isn't anything new.


Dallas: Easterbrook wants to talk about the 2007 draft? Here's a few quotes from the last time he did. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=ea...

"The Ravens have won 17 of their past 24 games, and seem a likely monster team for 2007. Too bad this organization just cannot seem to find the answer at quarterback. Oh, look at the bottom of the Baltimore draft -- Troy Smith!"

"I'll reiterate my contention that the most important move of the 2007 offseason is David Carr to the Panthers."

"As the third hour of the draft passed and the Notre Dame quarterback still was not chosen, TMQ thought: 'The longer this lasts the more valuable Quinn becomes, because he's proving he can handle intense stress.'"

"In the 2006 offseason, the Texans made a huge quarterback blunder by passing on hometown hero Vince Young. This offseason, they traded two second-round choices for Atlanta backup quarterback Matt Schaub. Last week, I used Rob Johnson as an example of the dangers of trading high picks for untested backups...suppose they'd done nothing leading up to the draft. They could have chosen Brady Quinn at pick 10 and thrilled their fan base, plus retained second-round choices this year and next. Time will tell, but to me it appears Houston has fumbled a major quarterback decision two years in a row."

"'How come Marty Schottenheimer was fired and Tom Coughlin kept his job?' asked my 12-year-old, Spenser, during the draft. I explained that some questions, such as the origin of the universe, might never have answers."

"They booed at Radio City, they groaned along South Beach, they dropped their test tubes at the National Academy of Sciences as the Dolphins passed on Brady Quinn -- and they clapped in Foxborough, Orchard Park and Florham Park. New Marine Mammals' coach Cam Cameron turned up his nose at Quinn, and the Patriots, Bills and Jets are glad he did." Somebody was a Quinn fan...

"Nobody drafted Dave Ball of New Hampshire, because he doesn't have a flashy 40 time -- all he did in college was break Jerry Rice's I-AA touchdown records. Rice never had a great 40 time, either. Something tells me (Chris) Leak and Ball will end up as successful pros, despite the best efforts of the zillion-dollar football scouting establishment to scoff at them."

"Lawrence Timmons looked good at Florida State in 2006, but he's a one-year wonder, only starting as a senior." GG then goes on to say that the Florida State defensive strategy would be the reason Timmons (and Brodrick Bunckley, taken a year earlier) would be busts.


Denver: Somebody's forgetting that they signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.


Detroit: See the Timmons section.


Jacksonville: Robinson got picked as a RB/KR, not a WR.


New Orleans: Vaccaro is just one guy, it isn't his fault his defense blew. In fact, GG gives this as a reason why Barkley dropped to the 4th round.


Tampa: As pointed out in other comments, Atlanta played their starters...and they lost John Abraham to an ankle injury for the playoffs. He might've come in useful against Kaepernick, just saying.


Tennessee: Ah, the old "taxpayer-subsidized stadium" chestnut. The Nashville case was dependent on a ballot measure that passed with 59% of the vote. Owners can't be held responsible for the stupidity of the people.


Animadversion: Nathan Sass is a Tea Party blogger. That's all I really need to say about that. http://www.teapartyperspective.com/author/nsass/



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Buckybone