Experimental Nonsense Returns! by Experimental Nonsense

Experimental Nonsense Returns! by Experimental Nonsense

Thursday Night Football

New York Jets at New England Patriots

So far this season Thursday Night Football has been pretty boring.  Every week has been a blowout with the exception of last week's Colts win over the Texans.  But even in that game the first half was decidedly one-sided.  Unfortunately, this week has the makings of another blowout.  The struggling 1-5 Jets travel to New England to take on the 4-2 Patriots.  

The first 4 games of the season the Patriots did not look good.  The offense was horrendous, and the defense was not nearly as stout as originally predicted.  There was even chatter around the league that Tom Brady was in decline.  However, the last two weeks have been great for the Patriots.  Brady has been efficient again, and Rob Gronkowski looks healthier.  

The Jets have been the opposite.  They started the season with a win, and even though they lost the next two games their young QB, Geno Smith, was showing some promise.  However, he has become a turnover machine, and overall the Jets have lost 5 straight games.  The Jets are not any easy team to get a read on, but things are not looking good for Rex Ryan.

The Jets can be scrappy, but their secondary is horrible.  This is the type of match-up tailor made for Brady to look like a 3 time Super Bowl winner.  I expect it to start out slow and kind of boring before the Patriots take over and cruise to victory.

Patriots 33  Jets 13

NFL Week 4 Picks

It is already Week 4 of the NFL Season.  As always this season has been full of surprises.  So far the Thursday Night games have been complete blowouts.  This week was no exception as the Giants throttled the Redskins, I mean, the team  from Washington.  I am going to give you my Week 4 picks in this post along with a brief write up on some of the more intriguing match ups.

Green Bay Packers At Chicago Bears

So far the Packers have been a huge disappointment.  Many people thought they were a realistic threat to win the Super Bowl this season.  Their offense has looked pedestrian, and their defense is the same porous unit it has always been.  

The Bears look a bit better on defense this year, and they have a ton of weapons on offense.  However, they are a hard team to get a read on.  I am not sure what to think of them so far. 

That being said, I think the Bears pull an upset over the Packers today.  Then we will see if Aaron Rodgers is still telling us to R E L A X. 

Bears 31    Packers 23

Philadelphia Eagles At San Francisco 49ers

The Eagles are 3-0, but they have gotten off to sluggish starts in all three games and had to make 2nd half comebacks.  LeSean McCoy is struggling this year, and Nick Foles has only looked good in one game.  Is it just a matter of time until this Chip Kelly offense is firing on all cylinders?

The 49ers are plagued by injuries and suspensions on defense.  Their offense has also been hard to predict.  Frank Gore is not getting nearly the touches he is used to.   This is as close to a must win game as you can have in September.

I like the Eagles in this game, but it is a tough one to predict.

Eagles 34    49ers 19

The Rest of the Picks

Texans 24  Bills 10

Colts 31  Titans 13

Panthers 20  Ravens 14

Lions 30  Jets 13

Steelers 38  Buccaneers 9

Dolphins 10  Raiders 9

Chargers 27  Jaguars 20

Falcons 35  Vikings 17

Saints 52  Cowboys 45

Patriots 20  Chiefs  17

NFL In Crisis

The NFL is way too big to fail, but the last few weeks have been a trying time for the Shield.  The Ray Rice incident was tough to watch, and there are many questions about a cover up, or why the NFL did not act more appropriately given that Rice told Goodell he hit his wife.  The Adrian Peterson issue is also a problem.  Some will say that he just disciplined his child.  The problem is, Child Abuse Statutes were adopted to protect kids from abusive PARENTS!!!!!!!!! There is a line.  One side is discipline, the other is abuse.  Whether Peterson knew it or not, what he did is definitely abusive.
The NFL, despite being considered a nonprofit, has limitless money and resources.  I am sure they will rectify this situation quickly, but it has definitely been a rough few weeks for the United States' most popular league.

Ronda Rousey vs Alexis Davis

UFC 175

Wow! Ronda Rousey left no doubt in her title defense last night.  Of course, the UFC does not have a single female in the same league with her, so she continues to fight fighters that are far less skilled than her.  Going into the fight nobody expected this fight to last long.  

Ronda is a legitimate MMA star, but can she continue to ascend with no real competition.  She is a fighter fighting fitness models and other women that were just more athletic than other girls growing up.  No woman in the UFC right now is a legit contender.  

Now, if the UFC can somehow sign Cris "Cyborg" Justino, Ronda will finally have someone on her level.  Hopefully we will see a contract worked out.  I am getting pretty tired of seeing Ronda walk through the current women fighters.  

The man that beat the legend pushed his record to 12-0 last night.  After two straight wins over Anderson Silva, Chris Weidman defended his title against Lyota Machida last night.  Machida made it interesting in the 4th and 5th rounds, but it was a clear cut victory for Mr. Weidman. 

It will be interesting to see what the final PPV numbers are on this UFC card.  The popularity of the sport has been waning the last few years for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps the biggest reason is the UFC completely over saturated the market with their fights.  There are fights on 2 to 3 times a month now, but they lack the star power to consistently draw viewers to the screen.  It will be interesting to see where the sport is in about 5 years.  

Wimbledon

The Men's Singles Final is on today.  It will feature Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.  I would love to see Federer get one more Slam title, but he will have his hands full with Djokovic.  Grass is Federer's best surface, and maybe that is enough to steal a victory today.  If Federer can win one more Grand Slam tournament, it will be hard to say he is NOT the greatest tennis player of all time.  

Beer Cast by Experimental Nonsense

Beer Cast by Experimental Nonsense

Taste Test Beer Podcast

Beer Taste Test

We just recorded a beer taste test podcast.  It will be uploaded shortly.  Here is a list of the beers we sampled and links to their pages:

Coors Original

Budweiser

Miller Lite

Natty Greene's Southern Pale Ale

Flagship IPA

Scrimshaw Pilsner

The beers were delicious, and the podcast was fun.  Enjoy!

Family Vacation by Experimental Nonsense

Family Vacation by Experimental Nonsense

Random Musings

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals are underway, and the Miami Heat are matching up against the San Antonio Spurs.  This is a rematch of last year's Finals where the Spurs were 30 seconds and free throw away from clinching the title.  However, they missed that free throw, and Ray Allen hit a clutch 3 pointer, and the next thing you know the Heat are walking away with the title.  This year's series is shaping up to be another good one.  

Through three games the Spurs are up 2-1.  The Spurs have been dominant in their two wins, but one win came while the league's best player, LeBron James, sat on the bench with cramps.  The second win, which happened to come on the road, featured an unprecedented 1st quarter shooting performance providing them with a comfortable lead.  In the Heat's lone win, so far, LeBron James showed what a transcendent player he has become.  He put the team on his back and carried them to a close victory.  

While the Heat are probably a little disheartened at losing their first home playoff game since last year's finals, they have to realize San Antonio can't shoot lights out every night.  Also, LeBron has had two subpar games already in this series.  Chances are those will be his only two underwhelming performances.  Much has been made of this statistic, 83% of the teams that take a 2-1 lead end up winning the series, but Miami was down 2-1 last year and still came away with the title.  

With fresh memories of last year's Finals in their heads, the Spurs are unlikely to have a letdown.  They seem motivated, and they are by far the best coached team in the NBA.  The ball movement that allows them to find the open man is exactly how basketball should be played.  If they continue to knock down their open jumpers, the Spurs can win this series in 5 games.  

Game 4 will be an exciting game.  My gut is telling me San Antonio will win this series in 6 games.  

NHL Stanley Cup Finals

I am not a hockey fan, but a Stanley cup consisting of the US's two biggest markets has to help the league.  Unfortunately, the LA Kings have a 3-0 lead over the NY Rangers.  It could be a short series.

World Cup Soccer

The World Cup kicks off this week.  The United States made headlines by leaving Landon Donovan off the squad, and with some curious comments from their head coach.  The US's group is pretty talented, so it will be a tough road for them.  Hopefully we will have some exciting games just like this one.

U.S. Open Golf

Tigers Woods is still nursing an injury, but believe it or not, the U.S. Open will still be played this week in Pinehurst, NC.  Can Phil Mickelson win this tournament he covets so much?  He is quickly running out of time.  Are there any players out there that can galvanize the sport the way Tiger did?  We will have to tune in and see.  One thing we know for sure, the course will be ridiculously hard.  

NBA

Heat Rises

Well, Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals has been a complete blowout through 3 quarters.  The Miami Heat are clearly the better team.  I was glad to see LeBron James respond to Lance Stephenson's childish antics with an incredible game.  Sometimes B players need to be reminded who the A+ players are.  

The Heat winning will set up a match-up against one of the two teams they have played in the past two years.  So far the home team has won each game in the San Antonio Spurs-Oklahoma City Thunder series.  Each of these teams has intimate experience with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. The Spurs lost to the Heat last year, and the Thunder lost to them two years ago.  I believe the Spurs will advance, but either way, the NBA Finals should be extremely entertaining.  

Epic Podcasts

We are planning some incredible podcasts in the near future.  While we are all together for vacation, we have decided to finally do a Beer-centric podcast.  We have tentative plans to sample a different style and brand of beer and give our thoughts on a live podcast.  It should be extremely entertaining.  

Where to Find Our Podcasts

We have our podcasts on iTunes(just search for Experimental Nonsense).  We also just added them to Stitcher.com.  You can also search for Experimental Nonsense on there, or just go here, or download the Stitcher app and search us, or just go to threekbros.blogspot.com and listen to it through our Stitcher widget on the site.  

Amazon

We are excited to announce our partnership with Amazon.  We are officially a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program.  If you want to support us, simply go to our site and click on any of our Amazon banners.  This helps us pay the bills and keep the lights on at Experimental Nonsense.  All of your support is greatly appreciated.  

Random

So, I mentioned at the bottom of a post some time ago that I am addicted to Game of Thrones on HBO. This past week's episode has set up and epic battle between two entirely different styles of fighting.  I wish I could say more, but my partners(brothers) on this site have not watched the series, so I will not play Spoiler.  However, I am incredibly anxious to see the next episode even though HBO is making us wait an extra week for it.

Donald Sterling
There is a lot in the media right now about the Donald Sterling situation in Los Angeles.  The best piece I have read is this LA Times piece by James Rainey.  It provides us with some insight into the craziness of those first few days.

Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban made some controversial statements on race the other day.  Originally, I did not see too much of a problem with his statements, but after talking to a close African American friend I have changed my mind a bit.  I thought he was being honest about his fears, which is laudable.  However, my friend informed me that he could be paving the way for any insensitive/racist remarks he may make in the future.  He wants us to know he may be racist, but doesn't deserve negative consequences. This, of course, plays into the Sterling dilemma in L.A.  He also pointed out that while a hooded black man is routinely profiled, a white guy with tattoos is not generally harassed or vilified to the same extent. While it is great to hear an owner speak honestly about prejudice, it is only in analyzing it further that we can realize that his statements are not nearly as benign as we wish to believe they are.
Mark Cuban may not have meant to offend anyone, and maybe he was trying to speak honestly about his own personal fears. However, in a league dominated by young black men that may have tattoos, is it really appropriate to pass judgement on them?

NFL Draft

Steven
Experimental Nonsense Opinionist

The NFL Draft has its First Round tonight.  While the endless hyperbole and hype associated with the draft has grated on my nerves, I am excited to see how it all shakes out.  The nonstop speculation, and the constant smokescreens from teams add to the intrigue.  It is almost impossible to predict who will go where and when.  Teams almost always get scared and reach for a quarterback.  One team always seems to draft a player that nobody was expecting.  And, while some teams will improve their team immediately, others will doom their team to another 2 to 3 years of ineptitude.
The media hype machine was in overdrive this year because the draft was later than normal, apparently due to Radio City Music Hall wanting to host an Easter show similar to their Christmas show.  NFL media really had nothing to report on so the draft was all they could talk about.  While Mock Drafts can be exhausting, and none are without flaws, they are always entertaining.  We also posted one from a friend of ours.
Long story short, the Draft starts tonight.  Let's hope it provides the entertainment that the Draft experts have been forecasting form months.
With this I bid adieu, but I leave you with this from one of the greatest actors of all time...

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Man vs. Wife Prediction Update

Man vs. Wife Prediction Competition UPDATE

So my wife and I were talking the other evening while enjoying the NBA Playoffs.  We were watching Oklahoma City and Memphis go back and forth in an exciting game.  This lead to her asking how our 2014 Man vs. Wife Predictions were going.  And with me being on top of all things replied, "Huh, I forgot about that."  But it served as a reminder that I really should check the predictions and make sure I'm winning.  The original post with the "rules" can be found here.  You can see our predictions below and the results so far.

NCAA Football BCS National Championship
Justin: Auburn vs. Florida State for all the marbles. I made my prediction on this game in a previous post, so I need to stay the course. Auburn 45, FSU 39. The Tigers win the title.

Cathy: Auburn

RESULT:  Both of us missed this one.  We felt the SEC would continue their dominance.  But in the end, it was a great game and that's all that really matters.

NFL
Justin: Denver and Carolina in the Super Bowl. Winner: Denver. Peyton matches his brother's ring total in Eli's backyard.

Cathy: Denver Broncos

RESULT:  Strike two.  We both went with the safe play and at least got the AFC representative correct.  But Denver got smoked by Seattle.  Off to another rousing start.

Sochi Winter Olympics
Justin: Predictions for the Sochi games: 
Shaun White will win the gold medal in Snowboarding and will once again be the U.S. team's star. 
Lindsey Vonn will not have as much luck and her knee injuries prove too hard to overcome. She will not finish on the podium in 2014. 
Ratings for the games will be lower than 2010. Technology has made it hard for people to sit around in primetime to watch events that they already know the outcome of. Of course for people that do care, watch on your cell phone or tablets live at work. Take my advice, your boss won't care.

Cathy: Lindsey Vonn most hype...won't medal. Sarah Hendrickson has a better shot.

RESULT:  This is a little tough to evaluate.  If you look at my predictions:

Shaun White: NOPE

Lindsey Vonn:  CORRECT (it was her knee that prevented finishing on the podium)

Ratings:  Ratings started off promising but decreased as the games went on.  Check it out here.  I give myself a CORRECT on this one.

As for Cathy's prediction, unfortunately Sarah did not medal in 2014, but her appearance had huge historical significance.

NCAA Basketball
Justin:  My Mens Final Four teams: Syracuse, Arizona, Michigan State, and Ohio State. It's tough to predict, but I'll go with these four for now. Michigan State wins it all.

My Womens Final Four teams: UConn, doesn't matter, doesn't matter, and doesn't matter. UConn will win no matter who is in the Final Four.

Cathy: Mens - Kansas State, Kentucky, NC State, Arizona...Champ - Kansas State

Womens: UConn

RESULT:  This was a tough one for me.  I whiffed on all four of my mens Final Four teams.  In theory, I had a chance with Arizona and Michigan State, but I go 0 for 4 there.  On a bright note, I nailed the womens side of the tourney.  Overall one for me.

Cathy got Kentucky right and UConn so two for her.

So, through April 2014, the score is:

JUSTIN:  3 (Lindsey Vonn, Olympic TV Ratings, and UConn women)

CATHY:  2 (Kentuck men in the Final Four, UConn women)

I need to take pride in winning so far.  I'll take what I can get.

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Enjoy The Journey

While sitting outside this morning I observed some breathtaking scenery.  We live in a fast paced world filled with a need for instant gratification.  The internet and cell phones have added convenience and the ability to access information to our lives that most never would have imagined.  It is a blessing, but it can also be a curse.  Recently on a podcast, we discussed the value of silence in our lives.  Sometimes it is best to take a step back and realize Earth is offering us WAY more than we realize.  It is nice to remember that the destination is nice, but it is the JOURNEY that makes us who we are.  Here are some pics of my morning.  I hope they provide you with the same sense of peace and transcendence they did for me.   

Best Weekend Getaway by Experimental Nonsense

Best Weekend Getaway by Experimental Nonsense

NBA Playoffs

Well the NBA Playoffs have started with First Round action. We had expressed concerns with the Indiana Pacers due to some recent on the court struggles as well as some locker room issues.  However, Indiana split their first two games, but the Chicago Bulls lost both of their home games to the Washington Wizards. While Chicago is not the most exciting team in the league, their tough style of play seems perfect for the playoffs. Needless to say, they have their work cut out for them now.
Please check us out here and on twitter @exp_nonsense for additional information. We also have podcasts available on iTunes and Soundcloud.

Mock Draft from a Guest Contributor

A friend of ours worked up a Mock NFL Draft and was kind enough to share it with us.  We will be providing our own analysis and comments, and we encourage any of our readers to comment as well. Thanks Craig for the use of your Mock Draft as a starting point for our Draft analysis.   

2014 NFL Mock Draft

I am in no way an expert. I am a fan of everything offseason related. These are my opinions based on months of looking at mock drafts, big boards, game tape, and listening to podcasts and NFL radio. I have no connections to insider info related to what teams are thinking or who is on their big boards. Now go ahead and rip me for being stupid and not sharing your opinions or thinking the way you think.

Also, I did not take any trades into consideration for this mock. I believe there will be several moves made but I just left teams in their designated spots.

1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

Clowney is the most athletic player in the draft this year. The potential and freak athleticism he possesses should be enough to make this kid the #1 pick, especially for a team that has to face Andrew Luck twice a year. The Texans could go QB with the first overall selection but they don’t need to. There isn’t much separation (if any) between the 1st tier and 2nd tier QB’s in this draft, plus they have 2 serviceable QB’s on the roster now in Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick, so why take a QB #1 overall when there is no Andrew Luck type QB’s in this draft? If they do decide to take a signal caller, look for it to be Blake Bortles. In my view, he is the second coming of Ben Roethlisberger and the Texans could afford to sit him and develop him for a year or two.

2. St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

Robinson has been described as the most athletic OT in this years draft. Some have even compared him to the likes of Orlando Pace which is huge praise. He isn’t the most polished tackle and has room for improvement, but the Rams need to look O-line if the Texans take Clowney and they can’t trade out of the 2nd pick. Alternatively, the could take Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M. Jeff Fischer apparently has ties to the Matthews family, and Jake has been described as the most NFL ready tackle by many experts. Personally, I think the pick is one of these two guys, but Robinson’s size, speed, and upside win out here.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Yes, I know they need a QB in the worst way, but take a look at the roster and tell me they couldn’t use help EVERYWHERE. Again, there is no standout QB and even if they do take one (I’m looking at you Johnny Manziel) who the hell is he going to throw the ball too? I like Cecil Shorts, and yea they have Justin Blackmon who is serving an indefinite suspension for his third violation of the league substance abuse policy, but they don’t have anybody who scares a defense. What good is a QB if he has no weapons? Peyton Manning isn’t in this draft, but a WR who has the potential to be the next A.J. Green or dare I say, Calvin Johnson, is. Sammy Watkins is a special player. He has size (6’1’’), speed (4.43, 40), hands, and a killer work ethic. The Jags have a long way to go, but this is a player who can draw attention from opposing defenses and would be great for the Jags.

4. Cleveland Browns: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Here is where I’m going to buck the trends of other mocks. If Sammy Watkins is on the board, he’s the pick. If he’s not, the popular thing to do is plug in a QB here. Why? Mike Evans has climbed up draft boards and he was already a top 10 pick. If Watkins is compared to Green and Johnson (either Johnson), then Evans should be compared to receivers like Brandon Marshall. Couple that with the fact that many experts don’t see a lot of separation between Watkins and Evans and you get why I’m choosing Evans over the QB’s. The Browns have two picks in the first round and they need to make a splash with both of them. Taking a special talent like Evans to pair with Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron here and waiting on the QB until pick 26 or 35 is the smart move for the Browns. That’s a scary pass catching trio.

5. Oakland Raiders: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

With both receivers off the board and Matt Schaub taking over the offense look for the Raiders to take the best lineman on their board. Jake Matthews is a day 1 starter on a struggling O-line. He immediately makes a difference and adds both protection for Schaub and someone for 2 running backs who are trying to revive their careers someone to run behind. The Raiders spent money in free agency to bolster the Defense, so adding a playmaker in the trenches only makes sense. Alternatively, they could take Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo. He would be a centerpiece for their defense for years to come, but let’s face it, games are won and lost in the trenches, and the Raiders need to start winning.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

Small school prospects are starting to make people look twice at waiting for them. Khalil Mack is a reason why. Just watch this guy on tape and he is clearly the #1 linebacker in the draft. The kid is all over the field, he does well in every aspect of the position. He drops back in coverage, he’s explosive, he has great pursuit, great instincts, and he has a talent for knocking the ball loose. Watch the Ohio St. game and tell me this kid can’t compete with the big schools and I’ll call you a moron. Mack can go anywhere from #1 overall to #10 but I highly doubt he makes it past #6 to the Falcons. The Falcons would love to get their hands on Robinson or Matthews here, but Mack is in no way a consolation prize.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida

The Bucs would love to get their hands on Watkins or Evans but fail to get either. Mack is off the board and so are the two OL worth drafting inside the top 10. Trading back could be an option, but as I said, I’m not taking trades into consideration for this draft. So, Bortles is the pick. He needs time to develop and he would get that time with the Bucs. They have to serviceable QB’s on the roster and Bortles would be a guy you hand the keys to the franchise to in a year or two.

8. Minnesota Vikings: CJ Mosley, LB, Alabama

The Vikings need a QB but I think they might be a little gun shy after reaching and missing on Christian Ponder a few years ago. Bortles would be a good pick but he’s off the board. HC Mike Zimmer didn’t have very nice things to say about Johnny Football and Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t had a good time in showing off his skills. The Vikings need help on defense S, CB, DT, and LB are all needs. I think 8 is a little soon to be taking any of the S or CB in this draft. Aaron Donald would be a good fit at DT to replace an aging Kevin Williams, but CJ Mosley is clearly the best player available and at a position of need at that. He’s the 2nd best linebacker in the draft and was extremely productive at Alabama.

9. Buffalo Bills: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA

Barr is a raw talent and has plenty of room for improvement. The kid was a RB and only played the last two seasons at LB and was a First Team All-American. Eventhough he is a raw talent, he is a day 1 starter and he’s only going to get better...Theoretically.

10. Detroit Lions: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St.

The Lions need S and CB real bad. Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix could be the pick here but the Lions are in a division with some scary receivers and need someone that can take those receivers out of plays. Justin Gilbert is the man to do it.

11. Tennessee Titans: Darqueze Denard, CB, Michigan St.

The titans are in dire need of a CB and Denard is the 2nd best CB on the board and has good size and great ball skills. Don’t be surprised if they snag one of the top QB’s though.

12. NY Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

Taylor Lewan could end up being the best tackle to come out of this draft. He has all of the tools to be a pro-bowler and would have been in the discussion of best tackle last year if he decided to come out early. The Giants had a terrible O-line last year and look to protect Eli with this pick.

13. St. Louis Rams: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Yea, I said it. Johnny Football is a better QB than Sam Bradford everyday of the week. How many years are the Rams going to add pieces around Bradford only to be sniffing the bottom of the NFC West? Yes, it sucks for them to be in a division with 3 of the better teams in the NFC (2 of the best in the NFL) but it’s time to start competing with those teams. Manziel might be just as much of a bust as Bradford, but the Rams should take him just on his playmaking ability alone. S is a position of need, but it’s a deep position.

14. Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt

The Bears have had a great offseason and they finally get the big man to anchor their much improved D-line. Aaron Donald is the perfect replacement for Henry Melton who went down with a season ending knee injury last season and left for the Cowboys this season. S is again a position of need, but the Bears were gashed with the run game last season, and that’s just not Chicago Bears football. Calvin Pryor should be the safety here if they would decide to take one. He’s phenomenal in the box, but Aaron Donald is a monster in the middle.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio St.

The Steelers need to replace Ike Taylor. Roby is the best available and has the size, speed, and aggressiveness to fit the Steeler D.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida St.

The Cowboys defensive front 7 is in shambles. Henry Melton is a great pick up (and cheap) at DT, but the NFC East has some talented RB’s (Lesean McCoy, Alfred Morris) so adding a big body (299 lbs) with a high motor and the ability to play on both passing and running downs next to Melton should be a no brainer.

17. Baltimore Ravens: Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

The Ravens should be excited that Ha Ha fell this far. He could go #10, #13, #15, or #16 if not sooner. The Ravens get a great player at a position of need.

18. NY Jets: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU

I really want to put Zack Martin, OL, ND here. He is a versatile lineman that can be a tackle or guard, but is probably best suited for guard. But the Jets need to bolster their receiving core. Eric Ebron would be a tempting choice here to pair with Jeff Cumberland in the TE ranks but Eric Decker hasn’t proven that he can be THE guy so adding a receiver that can play inside or outside, has good speed, decent size, and is best suited for their West Coast offense is the smart move here.

19. Miami Dolphins: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

The Dolphins need a RT, Cyrus is a RT, and a good one at that. He’s 6’7’’ 320 lbs, and only 21 years old. He’s raw, but has tremendous ability. Zack Martin is the popular pick here, but again, I think he is better suited at the G position. I would not be surprised if he ends up being the pick though.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno St.

I’m drinking the Derek Carr Kool-aid. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings took him at #8 but I think they are afraid of repeating a past mistake. Arizona gets Carson Palmer’s eventual replacement here instead of a pass rusher or safety.

21. Green Bay Packers: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

The Packers get a very productive pass catching TE that falls further than expected to improve a receiving core that has been depleted. Outside of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, Aaron Rodgers is making guys look better than they actually are. In Ebron, he gets a big target (6’4”) to replace Jermichael Finley.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

The Eagles could look to receiver here and take Brandon Cooks or Marquis Lee, but they have sworn to the best player available mentality and have been missing Brian Dawkins since they let him leave for Denver years ago. Pryor is a guy who is good in coverage but even better in the box. He will receive plenty of fines for laying people out in his career, and will fit nicely in Billy Davis’s defense.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Cooks, WR, Oregon St.

He’s small, but he is a playmaker.A Biletnikoff Award winner last season, he’s got the speed to score from anywhere on the field. Andy Reid drafted Desean Jackson several years ago, and drafts a carbon copy of him here.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio St.

The Bengals could look at Kony Ealy or Dee Ford here to replace Michael Johnson, but I think Shazier could be the better pick. He’s a versatile player who can blitz from anywhere as well as cover anywhere. Disruptive is a word often used to describe him.

25. San Diego Chargers: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech.

The Chargers get a position of need and a good player to fit it. Fuller is a great cover corner who can play just as well in zone coverage and is willing to play the run. He will match up well against the receivers in the AFC West.

26. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

The Browns get their QB. Bridgewater has been said to be the most NFL ready QB in the draft and he will get a chance to prove it in Cleveland. The only man on the roster in his way is Brian Hoyer. If he should win the job, he will have plenty of weapons to throw to.

27. New Orleans Saints: Dee Ford, LB, Auburn

Rob Ryan had the Saints defense back in form last season. Aggressive play calling seemed to be the weapon of choice and Dee Ford is just another pass rusher to get after opposing QB’s.

28. Carolina Panthers: Zack Martin, OL, ND

The Panthers need WR’s but they also need to replace Jordan Gross who was one of the best OT in the league. I’ve said that Martin will probably be best suited to play G, but the Panthers can’t pass on him here.

29. New England Patriots: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

Vince Wilfork is getting a little old and has anchored this defense for what seems like forever. It’s time to get a young guy who can learn and play next to one of the best DT’s to ever play the game.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

Verrett is much more talented than being selected at the bottom of the first round. His size (5’9” 189 lbs) is the only thing keeping him from being selected at the top of the round. The 49ers are in desperate need at CB (google Chris Culliver) and they steal one of the best here at 30.

31. Denver Broncos: Marquise Lee, WR, USC

Denver is in need of CB and OL. They got bullied up front in the Super Bowl and could very well go with Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA, but with Eric Decker’s departure they have a hole to fill at WR. Lee can step in on day 1 and benefit from the presence of Peyton Manning and the pass catching crew in Denver.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

Seattle’s defense was absolutely insane last year. Now it’s time for the offense to catch up. Adding Amaro gives Russell Wilson another weapon and a big target in the middle of the field.

Round 2

33. Houston Texans: AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama

It’s going to be a QB. McCarron is a great game manager and will have plenty of weapons just like he did in Alabama.

34. Washington Redskins: Xavier Su’a - Filo, OG, UCLA

A big body to protect RG3 and arguably the best G in the draft

35. Cleveland Browns: Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio St.

A punishing runner to complement Ben Tate.

36. Oakland Raiders: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

The Raiders get a replacement for Lamarr Houston.

37. Atlanta Falcons: Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia

The Falcons missed out on the top two tackles, now they get added protection for Matt Ryan

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida St.

The Bucs finally get their receiver, and he’s a big one who is projected to go in the first round

39. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jimmy Garoppollo, QB, Eastern Illinois

The Jags are in desperate need of a QB and get one here

40. Minnesota Vikings: Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU

Comes from a pro style offense under Cam Cameron, who is buddies with Norv Turner.

41. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Ward, S, Northern Illinois

They lose Jairus Byrd but gain a great center fielder in Jimmy Ward.

42. Tennessee Titans: Tre Mason, RB, Auburn

With the departure of Chris Johnson, Mason provides a suitable replacement.

43. NY Giants: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

Eli misses Kevin Boss and Jeremy Shockey. He gets a big body TE who can catch the ball here.

44. St. Louis Rams: Deone Bucannon, S, Washington St.

The Rams get an extremely physical S at a position of need

45. Detroit Lions: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana

The Lions wanted Sammy Watkins, instead they get a receiver who has terrific size-speed combo

46. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU

The Steelers need to get younger on defense and they continue to do so here.

47. Dallas Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence, DE/OLB, Boise St.

The loss of Demarcus Ware hurts in a big way, but Lawrence could be a big asset in the pass rush department

48. Baltimore Ravens: Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada

A big man to replace Michael Oher at RT

49. NY Jets: Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech

Another pass rushing toy for Rex Ryan to get his defense back to being one of the best in the league

50. Miami Dolphins: Louis Nix III, DT, ND

Nix can fill the void left by Paul Soliai, but can he be used on passing downs?

51. Chicago Bears: Terrance Brooks, S, Florida St.

An underrated safety that can help a defense defend over the top with good ball skills

52. Arizona Cardinals: Stephon Tuitt, DT, ND

Originally projected as a 1st rnd talent, Cardinals improve their pass rush.

53. Green Bay Packers: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin

The Packers need help inside and Borland could be this years Lavonte David.

54. Philadelphia Eagles: Allen Robinson, WR, PSU

The Eagles get another big target for Nick Foles. Lacks top end speed but somehow excels at YAC. Polished route runner but needs to improve catching balls across the middle.

55. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Martin, C, USC

The Bengals want to eat the clock with their run game to help out Andy Dalton. Martin is an athletic center that can provide lanes up the middle.

56. San Francisco 49ers: Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss

Good perimeter speed and deep ball catch ability.

57. San Diego Chargers: Daquan Jones, DT, PSU

The Charges lack a true NT, at 6’4’’ 322 lbs Jones fills the role

58. New Orleans Saints: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno St.

Big and Fast, great hands and goes across the middle. Another weapon for Sean Peyton and Drew Brees. Can replace Lance Moore as possession receiver and Sproles’ speed.

59. Indianapolis Colts: Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida St.

Versatile player with range, blitz ability, and good instincts

60. Carolina Panthers: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt

The Panthers need WR’s even with the signings in the offseason. All Matthews did in college was break records.

61. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford

Aldon Smith might not play this season and his production needs to be addressed.

62. New England Patriots: Troy Niklas, TE, ND

We all know the Patriots love 2 TE sets.

63. Denver Broncos: Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood

Tall corner with great closing speed who fills a need.

64. Seattle Seahawks: Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson

Another weapon for Russell Wilson. Tall Fast receiver who can play outside or inside.