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NFL Draft Show - Penn State student radio content

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Frank Stallone

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As some of you may know from last year, I am a part of the Penn State student radio team that attends the NFL Draft/covers all of the picks live. We do some incredible interviews with prospects, NFL players, writers, analysts, etc.

We were credentialed for the NFL Combine, but can't go scheduling reasons (still have to attend class SOMETIMES haha).

Anyways - I am going to link to the front of our site - http://www.psucomradio.com/special-coverage/topic/nfl-draft - but will also post articles in here. Should be a 1-2 articles a day. However, we launched with 7, so I will post them all.

Make Penn State jokes, Sandusky jokes, Paterno jokes, jokes on the writing...whatever. But I am here to share content and that is it. Not all articles will be as high quality as others - but that comes with the fact you have various levels of journalism students.

Enjoy!
 
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What Is Weighing Down Alshon Jeffery’s Draft Stock?



Jeffery, on the left, appeared in this mobile phone photo looking a little overweight.​

Former University of South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery decided to forgo his senior season just three days after an MVP performance in the 2012 Capital One Bowl. Jeffery capped off his preseason All-American campaign with 148 receiving yards on four catches and one touchdown en route to his team's 30-13 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

After helping to lead the Gamecocks to a school-record 11 wins in 2011, Jeffery turns his sights on the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 229-pound receiver brings a unique blend of size, speed and quickness with him, which is what makes him such a coveted prospect. He joins a deep crop of talented receivers, and will have to excel at the NFL Combine in order to solidify a first round grade.

The “biggest” question remaining for Jeffery is whether he can keep his weight down. Entering the 2011 season, a Sports Illustrated cover revealed some extra baggage being carried by the star wide-out. Despite being lauded for his strong work ethic, the cover quickly sparked questions about his conditioning and speed.

Despite some lofty expectations entering his junior season, Jeffery failed to live up to the hype and finished second-team All-SEC. Although he was still honored for his performance, Jeffery saw his production decrease by 39 receptions and 755 receiving yards in his final season before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Jeffery has a near identical physical makeup to current New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston. The Saints’ big threat weighs in at 225-pounds, just four pounds less than the SEC product. San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson is listed as an inch taller than Jeffery and a pound heavier. If Jeffery can enter the NFL and find similar success like these big men at their position, then he can put the naysayers in their place.

However, there are always weight concerns with larger receivers. It seems relatively easier for them to pack on unnecessary pounds, which can result in losing a step and decreased quickness. Route running, quickness, and straight-line speed are essentials for all NFL-caliber receivers. Despite possessing great size, Jeffery needs to continue improving his conditioning and watch his weight.

Jeffery took a risk leaving school early, especially after a disappointing season in terms of expectations. All too often, large receivers leave school early because they have the size to compete in the NFL, but they do not have the polished skill set they could’ve acquired in college.

One popular name that comes up in this discussion is that of former University of Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams. The former Trojan star attempted to leave school for the NFL after his sophomore season. However, the NCAA requires three years of school after high school before being eligible to leave for the draft. Williams had to sit out the 2004 season after being handcuffed by his inability to return to school due to declaring for the draft. In 2005, the Detroit Lions drafted Williams 10th overall despite needing to shake off the rust and a few added pounds.

Standing 6-foot-5, Williams, who admitted to playing around 240-pounds, was hampered by lack of activity. He was ushered out of the league after a horrible 2007 campaign with the Oakland Raiders. After two years of refocusing and controlling his weight, Williams made a comeback with the Seattle Seahawks and has flourished.

Although Jeffery does not have to sit out before entering the NFL Draft, he will have to watch his weight before his Pro Day and the NFL Combine. The downtime after the bowl game will define who Jeffery will be when he enters the league, and whether he is committed to controlling his weight.

The potential is limitless for the former SEC star as he eyes the first round in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. Many projections have Jeffery currently slotted in the late first round range. In order for these predictions to come true, Jeffery will have to improve his route running, explosiveness, and overall 40-yard dash time. If the Gamecocks all-time leader in receiving yards, with 3,042, can prove to scouts his weaknesses can become strengths, “big” things will be on the horizon for Jeffery.



Jared Abbott is a junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Psychology. To contact him, email: jda5104@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-cove...-is-weighing-down-alshon-jefferys-draft-stock
 
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Luke Kuechly: A Tackling Machine

He led the nation in tackles over the last two seasons. He was twice named a First Team All-American. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Butkus, Lombardi and Nagurski trophies. And despite all of this, he has gone largely unnoticed in the college football landscape.

That will all change in a few months for Luke Kuechly.

The Boston College linebacker has played his football over the last three years tucked away in the northeast, away from the storylines found in the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12. Without significant recognition, he has been a defensive stalwart for the Eagles. As a freshman in 2009, he led his team in tackles with 158 (87 solo), good for second in the country. During his sophomore campaign, he was first in the nation with 183 (110 solo). He maintained his top spot in 2011, racking up 191 tackles (102 solo) in his junior year.

That means that during Boston College's 4-8 season in 2011, Kuechly averaged 16 tackles per game, setting the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record.

In terms of attributes, Kuechly has a good frame. Standing at 6-foot-3, he should be able to add to his 237 pounds once he is working in an NFL strength program. Kuechly has great instincts and is a very fundamentally sound tackler. He also defends the pass well.

One of the only knocks on him is his lack of great speed. For this reason, he usually is not a part of the pass rush and rarely picks up sacks. While he may not be the best athlete or the flashiest player, his hardnosed style of play and tremendous work ethic separates him from others.

Kuechly decided to forego his senior season in early January, and since then he has been predicted to be chosen in the middle of the first round of the draft. And while several teams in the league could use his production, the ideal fit for Kuechly may be the Philadelphia Eagles. Many critics have pointed to the team's poor production at the linebacker position as a big reason why the team struggled defensively in 2011. Tackling in particular seemed to be a weakness: Jamar Chaney led the team's linebackers with 92 tackles on the season for an average of about six per game.

While mock drafts have him going in the middle or late first round for the most part, many teams are keeping their eye on Kuechly. He will have to wait until April to find out where he will land, but he is poised to finally get out from under the radar.


Troy Weller is a junior majoring in Journalism. To contact him, email tnw5044@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/story/nfl-draft/luke-kuechly-a-tackling-machine
 
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Rebuilding the Dream in Philadelphia

After a flurry of additions in the wake of the NFL's lockout, the Philadelphia Eagles were one of the favorites for the Super Bowl in 2011. Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie seemed to fill in big holes in the secondary, while defensive end Jason Babin and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins would build up a defensive line that needed to put more pressure on the quarterback.

But the team faltered in the early going, burying themselves in a 1-4 hole from which they could not recover. The lack of preparation in the offseason particularly hurt the Eagles as they attempted to install a new scheme with many new players under coordinator Juan Castillo. Head coach Andy Reid received heavy criticism for making Castillo, the team's longtime offensive line coach, a defensive coordinator despite no coaching experience on that side of the ball.

Despite a host of problems, the team has potential to build upon. The offense boasts one of the league's top running backs in LeSean McCoy, a solid group of wide receivers and an improving offensive line. Quarterback Michael Vick has flashes of brilliance when he is healthy. And the defense has some of the best defensive ends and cornerbacks in football. With some adjustments in 2012, Philadelphia could easily return to the playoffs.

With defense as a focus, the Eagles will look to the draft to try to rebuild the "dream team" in 2012. There are several positions that desperately need to add talent.

Linebacker

Philadelphia's linebackers were nothing short of terrible in 2011. Fourth round pick Casey Matthews was a disappointment after being named the starting middle linebacker in the preseason. This forced outside linebacker Jamar Chaney into the middle, a position he is much less comfortable with. Outside, the team started Akeem Jordan and Brian Rolle in the later part of the season. Both are backups at best. The team needs to address the linebacker issue in the offseason, and the draft would be a good way to set the unit up for the future. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly may fit right into the team's plans, as he is projected to be selected right around the Eagles' 15th overall pick.

Safety

The team has great talent at the cornerback position with Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Rodgers-Cromartie, and even if one is traded in the offseason, Joselio Hanson is very serviceable as a slot corner. But the play at the safety position was brutal this past season. Part of the problem was the slow recovery of free safety Nate Allen from knee surgery, and the team hopes that a full offseason will bring him back to full strength. But Kurt Coleman was completely outmatched at strong safety, and 2011 second round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett barely saw the field due to his struggles in pass coverage. The team may be reluctant to admit they wasted a high pick on Jarrett, but they need safety help in 2012. If they decide to pass on Kuechly or cannot get him, Mark Barron of Alabama could get a look. Markelle Martin from Oklahoma State or Harrison Smith from Notre Dame could be on the board for the Eagles' two second round picks.

Defensive Tackle

The Eagles' pass rush was solid in 2011, with ends Jason Babin and Trent Cole performing very well in the wide-nine scheme of defensive line coach Jim Washburn. The scheme puts more pressure on the tackles and linebackers to defend the run, however, and the Eagles' run defense performed very poorly. The linebackers were a big problem, but Philadelphia could use help at the tackle position as well. Jenkins played well, and Patterson held his own, but more depth in the middle would definitely help the Eagles. Josh Chapman from Alabama could be an option if the Eagles want to use one of their two second round picks on a defensive lineman.

Offensive Line


Eagle’s RB LeSean McCoy could benefit from a more stout offensive line​

Philadelphia's offensive line has been a concern for years now, but surprised some by outperforming expectations in 2011. While Michael Vick did suffer injuries, they resulted more from his playing style than they did from poor protection. And Shady McCoy's breakout season was aided by a solid push up front. Tackles Jason Peters and Todd Herremans have been very strong. But like the defensive tackle position, depth is important. The Eagles suffered greatly when their starters were injured, and there are still question marks at guard with Evan Mathis and second year man Danny Watkins. A couple of extra linemen would give Andy Reid and offensive line coach Howard Mudd options up front. Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler could be a second round option.

Quarterback


The fan favorite – Vick – won’t be around forever in Philadelphia​

Andy Reid may opt to look for a veteran backup to replace Michael Vick, but if the Eagles see talent on the board, a quarterback is not out of the question. The guaranteed portion of Vick's contract ends after this coming season, and Mike Kafka does not appear to be considered the quarterback of the future. This leaves the Eagles potentially changing things up within a couple of years, and Reid may start to look for his next quarterback now. Russell Wilson of Wisconsin may fit the Eagles scheme and could be available in the middle rounds.

The Eagles have the advantage of having two second round picks and two fourth round picks, giving them the flexibility to fill in big holes while adding depth. They also will have potential trade pieces in wide receiver DeSean Jackson (should they franchise him) and cornerback Asante Samuel, both of whom could bring in more picks. A few crafty moves in the draft and free agency could put the Eagles right back into contention.

Dan Smith is a junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism and is the Executive Editor of ComRadio. To contact him, email des5249@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/story/nfl-draft/rebuilding-the-dream-in-philadelphia
 
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Potential Destinations for Peyton Manning​



Less than a year ago, Peyton Manning signed a five-year, $90 million deal to remain the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, and more than likely retire with them. Now, despite being one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, it seems that Manning will not return to the Colts for his 15th season with the team.

Manning missed the entire 2011 season while recovering from three neck surgeries. While he has been cleared to play next season, questions remain about how limited his recovery will be.

Without Manning this year, the Colts posted an abysmal 2-14 record while securing the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Colts owner Jim Irsay has begun a rebuilding project this offseason, firing head coach Jim Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian. He also appears to be ready to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in the draft.

If Manning is indeed shipped out of Indianapolis, there are a number of teams that could make good trade partners for the Colts.

1. Miami Dolphins

Just four years ago, Miami selected Michigan quarterback Chad Henne in the second round of the draft to be there franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, due to inconsistent play and injury problems, he was never able to meet their expectations. The Dolphins may be ready to move on after Henne spent most of 2011 on injured reserve. Backup Matt Moore was solid in place of Henne, throwing 16 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions while leading them to a 6-3 record down the stretch. But with former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin being named the new head coach, Miami may be looking elsewhere for quarterback help. The Dolphins have had statistically better defenses in the last two seasons than Indianapolis. Offensively, Manning would be playing with a great left tackle in Jake Long, as well as several weapons like running back Reggie Bush, tight end Anthony Fasano and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. One roadblock in acquiring Manning could be Philbin's interest in Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, but if Manning is available, it could be enough to change Philbin's mind.

2. Arizona Cardinals

It was another disappointing season for Arizona, as they finished 8-8 in 2011. They invested heavily in Kevin Kolb as the quarterback of the future, trading Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick to Philadelphia to acquire him and then signing him to a five-year, $63 million deal. Unfortunately, Kolb could not stay healthy and missed eight games. John Skelton provided a spark in his absence, going 6-2, but is not looked at as a future option. It may not be time to write off Kolb yet, but the possibility of Manning throwing to star receiver Larry Fitzgerald may be too tempting to pass up. It was only three seasons ago that veteran Kurt Warner led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl, and Manning could make them contenders again.

3. Washington Redskins

Washington went 5-11 in 2011, while switching back and forth between quarterbacks Rex Grossman and John Beck. With the 13th-ranked defense in the NFL and promising young players like tight end Fred Davis and running back Roy Helu on the offensive side of the ball, the Redskins could be poised for a run with a steady quarterback situation. Peyton Manning may be the answer they are looking for. Owner Daniel Snyder has a track record of acquiring big names in the offseason. The question now is whether Snyder would prefer to trade for the second pick in the draft in order to select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III or go after Manning. Manning is definitely a possibility if he is on the market, and we could see both Manning brothers in the NFC East.

4. New York Jets

Rex Ryan has predicted Super Bowl runs in each of his three seasons as head coach of the New York Jets, but none of his predictions have come to fruition. After two AFC Championship runs, the 2011 season marked the biggest disappointment yet, as the team finished 8-8 and did not make the postseason. A big reason would have to be the play of quarterback Mark Sanchez. After trading several draft picks and players to move up in the draft and select Sanchez out of Southern California in 2009, the Jets invested $50 million in Sanchez's five-year deal. Sanchez's progress seemed to be stunted in 2011, and 8-8 is not an acceptable finish for a team with the fifth-ranked defense in the league. The team will have some of the same weapons next season, with tight end Dustin Keller and wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress all potentially remaining with the team. Acquiring Manning would make the Jets instant title contenders, and would be huge news in the city of New York where his brother Eli also plays.

5. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are the only team on this list that made the playoffs this year, but it was not because of great quarterback play. Alex Smith was an excellent game manager, throwing for 17 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. San Francisco had the fourth-ranked defense in the league despite being young, and would seem to be only getting better under head coach Jim Harbaugh. With established and emerging stars like Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman and Aldon Smith on defense, that side of the ball seems set for several years to come. And offensively there are several threats, including running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. Despite Smith's improvements, the team failed in the NFC Championship. Smith is now a free agent, which may put the 49ers in position to make a move for Manning without having to deal with another quarterback in the mix. Adding Manning would make San Francisco the favorite to win the Super Bowl in 2012, and are the best option for Manning to win his second title.

Manning would make almost any team in the NFL better instantly, and these five teams in particular would make huge leaps with Manning at the helm. What Indianapolis decides to do with Manning is one of the most intriguing storylines of this offseason.


Joe Garofalo is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email jwg5403@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/story/nfl-draft/potential-destinations-for-peyton-manning
 
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Buyer Beware: Two Prospects with Character Question

With the 2012 NFL Draft less than 80 days away, scouts, experts and fans are starting to look at prospects more seriously with the NFL season over. Two notable prospects on the defensive side of the ball in this year's draft are Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict and Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

Burfict was a three-year starter at Arizona State, averaging 76 tackles (7.5 for a loss), 2.5 sacks and 3.5 pass breakups per season at middle linebacker. In 2010, he was named a Sporting News First-Team All-American, the first Sun Devil to receive that honor since Terrell Suggs in 2002.

Kirkpatrick was a starter on this year's national champions, and may have been the best athlete in the Crimson Tide secondary. He registered nine pass breakups on the season and helped to shut down LSU in the BCS National Championship Game.

Burfict and Kirkpatrick look on paper like stud prospects with bright futures ahead of them. But both players have character issues that raise serious red flags for NFL teams scouting defensive players. Trouble has followed them both on and off the field for the last few months and could do serious damage to their draft stock.

Sporting News called Burfict the "meanest man in college football" this past summer, and he lived up to that title during the 2011 season. He received any flags for personal fouls, and his behavior on the field has been compared to the talented but troubled Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions.

Like Suh, Burfict has had to pay the price for his conduct. In a close game against California this season, Burfict was benched for the final 24 minutes of the game after a pair of personal foul penalties did not sit well with head coach Dennis Erickson.

He has earned his personal fouls through late hits, illegal contacts and even headbutting. During a 2010 game against Oregon State, Burfict headbutted quarterback Ryan Katz after a play in which Katz scrambled out of bounds. When confronted by one of his coaches, Burfict tossed the coach's arm away.

Burfict's on field behavior can be discussed for days on end. But for now, he will have to wow scouts with great interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine this month if he wishes to stay in the first round.

For Kirkpatrick, the issues have mostly been off the field. He was recently arrested for possession of marijuana. Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, the charges were dropped on February 8th.

While many players in recent years have had criminal incidents in the lead up to the draft (including Ryan Mallett, Aqib Talib and Matt Jones), it still has many potential suitors concerned about whether Kirkpatrick will be a liability. His record may technically be clean, but he has given teams reason to have concerns.

These two players are certainly still going to be drafted. They are too talented not to be. But questions about their character and ability to stay out of trouble can have a serious impact on their draft stock. They have given teams reasons to question whether they are talented enough to outweigh the potential headaches their trouble could bring.

Hotheads and criminals are not popular commodities in the pros, and to have them play a starter's role on any roster is always a risk. That is the risk some teams may be willing to take to draft players with great talent like Vontaze Burfict and Dre Kirkpatrick. But many NFL teams will have to be wary of the baggage each may bring. Buyer beware.

Kevin Gallagher is a junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism and is ComRadio's Production Director. To contact him, email kmg5328@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-cove...beware-two-prospects-with-character-questions
 
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How The Impact of Oliver Luck Could Make or Break Andrew Luck’s Future

Interview with Oliver Luck -- go here -- http://www.psucomradio.com/special-...-luck-could-make-or-break-andrew-lucks-future


The 2004 NFL Draft was filled with major controversy. Eli Manning, the clear cut first pick coming out of Ole Miss, was headed to San Diego until his father Archie intervened. After seeing the treatment Ryan Leaf received while playing quarterback for the Chargers six years prior, Manning's father made it clear that he did not want his son to play in San Diego.

Archie Manning's insistence on having a say in his son's team cause a trade to the New York Giants. Eli Manning has now led the Giants to Super Bowl championships. It was his father's influence that allowed him to build a legacy in New York.

In the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, the clear cut top pick is Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Like Manning, Luck has an influential father in West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck. While lacking the influence that a college hall-of-famer and former pro quarterback like Archie Manning may have, Luck is still in a position where he could have some say in what happens to his son in the draft.

With Peyton Manning still in Indianapolis and cleared to play in the 2012 NFL season, there has been a great debate over whether the Colts should keep him with Luck a mortal lock to be their pick with the first overall selection. Luck has said that he wants to start right away wherever he ends up in this draft, but is Indianapolis really the best place for him?

The Colts went 2-14 last season with two subpar backup quarterbacks playing for the injured Manning, but it was apparent that quarterback play was one of many problems. The Indianapolis defense gave up more than 23 points in all but three of their games, including a Monday night game in which they yielded 62 points to the New Orleans Saints. Despite their serious problems on defense, the only conversation was about Manning.

Added to their defensive struggles was a nonexistent running game and an underachieving group of receivers. With this franchise, Andrew Luck will struggle to succeed. The question must be asked: will Oliver Luck attempt to find a better situation for his son as Archie Manning did for his in 2004?

In a recent interview, Oliver Luck told ComRadio's Patrick Woo that he is not going to handle much of his son during draft time. But Archie Manning's influence put both his sons in good situations, and they have won a combined three Super Bowls during their successful careers. Peyton Manning may have found Indianapolis to be the best fit over a decade ago, but this situation is different and Andrew Luck is a long way from being Peyton Manning.

If Andrew Luck decides to allow the chips to fall where they may, he will find himself in Indianapolis with big shoes to fill. Peyton Manning was very successful, bringing a Super Bowl championship and a state-of-the-art stadium to Indianapolis during his time as a Colt. It is impossible to project if Luck will be able to reach that level of success in his NFL career. So when Oliver Luck says that he won't interfere with his son's draft prospects, it is hard to ignore the incentives for him to do so.

On the other hand, without a trade available to compare to the Eli Manning trade, it may not be financially responsible to avoid being the top pick and the face of an NFL franchise. Going to Indianapolis seems likely to ensure Luck an opportunity to be an immediate starter, allowing him to develop along with a rebuilding franchise.

Ironically, this can only be accomplished by Indianapolis deciding to trade or release Eli's brother Peyton. It remains to be seen if Oliver Luck will have any influence on his son's future, or if they will decide to take on the challenge in Indianapolis.

Mike Esse is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email mje5164@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-cove...-luck-could-make-or-break-andrew-lucks-future
 
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Tale of the Tape: Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson


Last year, many if not all NFL teams slated Alabama’s Mark Ingram as the number one running back prospect on their draft boards. With the 28th pick of the first round, the New Orleans Saints hoped to solidify their backfield by selecting the Heisman and National Championship winner.

This year, the number one running back prospect again hails from the Crimson Tide of Alabama: Trent Richardson. Teammate of Ingram for two years at Alabama, this highlight machine is projected to fall somewhere within the first 10-15 picks of the first round.

Ingram and Richardson will soon both be in the NFL on their respective teams. Consequently, the question must be asked: which former Alabama player will translate into a better NFL running back? Which of the two from that once daunting Crimson Tide backfield will be the better pro?

On paper, the pick seems to be somewhat clear. Ingram holds more statistical achievements and overall accolades. Rushing for 3,233 career yards and 42 touchdowns on 572 carries, Ingram was the first Alabama player to win a Heisman Trophy in 2009. In the same year, he won a national championship with Alabama over Texas. Thus far in the NFL, Ingram has rushed for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns on 122 carries in 10 games.

Richardson rushed for 3,130 yards and 35 touchdowns on 540 carries at Alabama. He lost the Heisman Trophy to Robert Griffin III in 2011. Like Ingram, Richardson won a national championship with Alabama over LSU in that same season.

Although Ingram’s résumé may be more impressive, Trent Richardson has more potential to become a stud in the NFL.

At 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds, Richardson possesses the epitome size and physique of a star NFL running back. To complement that size, he has a rare combination of speed, quickness, and strength. Capable of running inside and outside of the tackles, blocking, and catching the ball out of the backfield, Richardson is the full package and should excel at the next level.

While he might not have the Heisman Trophy sitting in his living room, Trent Richardson’s numbers from this past season were better than those that won Mark Ingram the Heisman Trophy in 2009. He also did so with a freshman quarterback handing the ball off to him, and much less experienced running to help carry the season long load.

On the other hand, Mark Ingram measures at 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds. Although quick and strong, Ingram doesn’t possess the vertical speed that smaller running backs can use to their advantage.

Throughout college and his short experience so far in the NFL, Ingram has also been injury prone. At Alabama, he sat out the first few games of his junior season after a knee surgery. At the latter end of his first season in the NFL, the Saints placed him on injured reserve with a sprained toe.

Ingram also plays in a running back-by-committee system in New Orleans where he will not be given the opportunity to become an every-down back. Come late April, an NFL team will draft Trent Richardson and make them their every-down, franchise running back.

When you look closer at in-depth statistics, it becomes clearer which running back to pick between the two.


As you can see from the statistical breakdown above – Ingram and Richardson had very comparable career averages during their times at Alabama. The only glaring difference seems to be the fact that Ingram averaged more attempts per season than Richardson. However, their production rates ended up being the same at the end of the day.

The situation with the two running backs year-by-year involvement is very similar as well. Both had one season as the second option, another season as the feature back and another season sharing the load with the other. This makes it much easier to compare the two based on their ComRadio Draft Show Rating (CDSR). For an explanation of this new statistic click here.

The CDSR comparison for the two should help show which player helped lead a more efficient offensive campaign throughout their career. By looking at the numbers above, a few things stick out. They show that the two played very similar strength defenses, and that they both had virtually identical workloads throughout their careers. The numbers also reveal that the Alabama offenses during Trent Richardson’s career were more efficient than they were during Mark Ingram’s career. These combined elements result in a higher CDSR for Richardson in comparison to Ingram.


It is the efficiency of Richardson that separates the two running backs for me. Mark Ingram was a great collegiate running back, but the numbers show that Richardson is a more desirable prospect based on his elite efficiency and superb statistical output throughout his career.

So, who is the pick? Who will become the better NFL running back? Ingram or Richardson?

Putting money on Richardson seems like the smart thing to do.

Jon Blauvelt is a sophomore majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email jrb5637@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-cove...-of-the-tape-mark-ingram-and-trent-richardson
 
This one is - different - we tried to create something new. We will probably tweak it along the way.

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ComRadio Draft Show Rating: Quarterbacks

This rating takes into account the offensive efficiency, or FEI, of the team the player was on throughout the course of his college career, the strength of the defensive opponents that they face and the percentage of involvement the player had with his offense based on the player’s amount of touches relative to the total amount of completed plays. The initial efficiency numbers are taken from the Football Outsiders website. For a further explanation on how they are calculated, see the bottom of the post.

You first take the percentage of player involvement and convert it to decimals by dividing the percentage by 100. Once this is done, take the now decimal percentage and multiply it by the offensive FEI. Take this solution and subtract the offensive strength of schedule. When you are left with your result, divide it by player involvement to get the ComRadio Draft Show Rating.


FORMULA


([Player Involvement x Offensive Efficiency] – Offensive Strength Of Schedule) / Player Involvement = CDSR

The efficiency of a player and his offense in college can go a long way towards determining if a player is worth drafting. This rating helps simplify the various elements of football efficiency into a base number.

There are two sets of rankings in the following chart – one of them sorts the players by their average CDSR throughout their entire careers, while the other sorts the players by their CDSR from their final collegiate season. For quarterbacks, a player needs to have completed the entire season as either a fulltime starter or one of the main quarterback options in-order for those statistics to count towards the rating.


ComRadio NFL Draft Scout Patrick Woo has his rankings on the far left, and next to those numbers are the players’ respective rankings using the CDSR. With that being said, there are a few things that stick out from looking at these numbers.

- Robert Griffin III is, according to the CDSR, a better NFL prospect than the soon-to-be number one overall pick Andrew Luck. When you compare the two careers of the players, their CDSR is very close, and almost too close to separate. However, what sets Robert Griffin III apart from Luck is the fact he faced significantly better defenses during his career. When you look at their comparative senior seasons, the Heisman Trophy winning Griffin III had an off the charts CDSR that blew away Luck’s and the rest of the field’s respective CDSR.

- Darron Thomas and Jarrett Lee might deserve a little more respect due to their re-adjusted rankings from the CDSR. Lee never got a fair shake at LSU, especially during his senior season. Some question why Jarrett Lee did not see ample time in the 2012 BCS National Championship game, and after seeing his CDSR, those people have a legitimate gripe. It is clear that Lee ran a decently efficient offense at LSU, especially for the lower standards that some hold them at. Thomas has a similar position as well, with a CDSR that elevates his ranking into the top ten. The rating, however, is significantly lower than even the player ranked one slot higher than him. Regardless, it might be fair for scouts to hold Thomas in a better light due to the fact he led a more efficient career than some might credit him for.

- Finally, the one glaring revelation from the CDSR rankings has to be Russell Wilson. The former North Carolina State product led an illustrious career and is not receiving as much hype as the Andrew Lucks and Robert Griffins of the draft class. While Griffin III has a higher final season CDSR, Wilson is still the only player even close to matching the Baylor quarterback’s efficiency from this past season. When you take a step back and look at their entire careers – Wilson edges out Griffin III by a fairly wide margin. At North Carolina State, and this past season at Wisconsin, Wilson led a career marked with efficiency and success. The reason his ranking seems to be low across the scouting world mainly boils down to his height. A lot of people, still, compare his potential to that of another shorter statured quarterback: Drew Brees. Is that claim a bit of a stretch? It actually might not be – clearly Wilson was as efficient as they come in terms of quarterbacks in college football. Add that to the fact Wilson did so against the stiffest defenses faced out of the entire 2012 quarterback class, and it appears as those he deserves more of the spotlight the currently shines on Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
Next up for a breakdown of CDSR rankings will be the running backs draft class for 2012. Will anyone come close to the efficiency of Trent Richardson? Which running back will use his efficiency, much like Russell Wilson, to make a case for his draft prospects and NFL potential? Find out the answers in the next set of CDSR rankings.

How statistics are comprised according to FootballOutsiders.com​

Offensive FEI (OFEI) - The FEI considers each of the nearly 20,000 possessions every season in major college football. All drives are filtered to eliminate first-half clock-kills and end-of-game garbage drives and scores. A scoring rate analysis of the remaining possessions then determines the baseline possession efficiency expectations against which each team is measured. A team is rewarded for playing well against good teams, win or lose, and is punished more severely for playing poorly against bad teams than it is rewarded for playing well against bad teams.

Offensive Strength of Schedule (OSOS) - the likelihood that an elite offense (two standard deviations better than average) would have an above-average OE rating against each of the defenses faced by the given team.

http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/story/nfl-draft/comradio-draft-show-rating-quarterbacks
 
Any story ideas, potential interview ideas - anything you wanna see - just post up. Discuss anything too...
 
Any story ideas, potential interview ideas - anything you wanna see - just post up. Discuss anything too...

What cup size do you feel Alshon Jeffery is at this exact moment? :chuckles:

In all seriousness these are excellent and very well done. I'm at work and skimmed these, anything on Vontaze Burfict?
 
Alshon Jeffrey is a certified tub of lard.
 
What cup size do you feel Alshon Jeffery is at this exact moment? :chuckles:

In all seriousness these are excellent and very well done. I'm at work and skimmed these, anything on Vontaze Burfict?

Thanks man! Yeah - there is a character concerns article up there. Got interviews lined up with an Arizona State coach, NFL scout and most likely Burfict or his agent. We really want to dive into why his stock has slipped. Obviously due to character, but as most people just looking at it with a football eye know: the guy is a stud.


Is that a serious question? NFL Draft related stuff.
 
This is really really great stuff, man. That piece on Richardson, as well as the QB rankings, were both pretty eye-opening. I would think most Browns fans would want to see articles about:
-RG3 and his projection into an NFL QB, WCO in particular
-Justin Blackmon vs Kendall Wright vs Joe Adams/Jarius Wright vs B10 WRs (McNutt, Toon)
-A deeper look into the second tier of CBs (Minnifield, Gilmore, Leonard, etc)
-Potential RDEs all over the draft
 

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