Making the grade...or not...
Have you ever noticed how after the NFL Draft we have the sports writers "grading" the draft?
What they seem to do is decide what teams "shoulda-woulda-coulda " done, and then base their whole grade on whether the teams did that...or not. I will admit, some of that may be valid. But entirely so? I don't think so. For instance:
49ers:
General Manager for the 49ers, Scot McCloughan, explained what he thought the 49ers had accomplished with the draft after Day #1. He stated, very candidly, that the team isn't "good enough" to have "dealt" a draft pick for position. So they had their draft board set up with the list of the best 10-15 players in the draft for the positions they were looking to fill, and they simply waited their turn and drafted according to the best player that was left at the top of their draft research when their turn came around. They were thrilled to get Balmer when they did, because they figured he'd go much earlier, but as it turned out, he was still sitting there for them when their turn came. Now that makes sense to me for the 49ers. They were realistic and focused on what needed to be done to build their team from the inside-out. Some day, maybe they'll be at the point where they can afford to "deal" for a better spot on the draft. I wouldn't give them an "A" - since there were no "Wow" factor drafts - but certainly they deserve a solid "B", in My opinion.
After the draft, the Yahoo sports writer "expert" gave them a "C". Well with memories of that old song, I give him a "D".
Seahawks:
Same with the Seahawks. He gave them a "C" because they drafted off the USC line. That is a pretty incredible statement. I don't think I'd want to argue that Mike Holmgren can't recognize what talent fits his team. Again - I give Mike Holmgren a solid "B" and the Yahoo Sports guy a "D"
Cowboys:
Regarding the Dallas Cowboys, Yahoo gave them a "B+". They were graded down for taking Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall and he dismissed as not being valid that Jones had played in a two back system. Well, let's see ... Dallas plays a two back system. Barber is outstanding, but he does not play a whole game. Mendenhall is great also, but very similiar to Barber in style. Felix Jones brings speed and the willingness to play in a two back system, and has already shown his value as the fast back for those types of situation. And the Cowboys get down-graded for this reasoning? So the 49ers got graded down for taking the "best player" at the spot approach, and now apparently the Cowboys get graded down by the same writer for drafting for position and type of play the the player plays best. Go figure. Well, no doubt you'd be surprised to know that I give the Cowboys a solid "A" and the Yahoo guy a "D". I think the Cowboys did very well. I am very happy with their choices.
Atlanta:
I also congratulate Atlanta for making the choice to go in a different direction. Hopefully for them, their QB pick's style of not scrambling won't be an issue. In any event, I wish them the best as they try to recover from the Michael Vick fiasco.
Oakland:
And for my friends who are Raiders fans, it looks like good choices here also. If they can only get their offensive line in order, they could well be on the road to repeating some of their past success. I wish them well (well, within limits).
