NFL Mock Draft-Part 1

As I told you guys, I'm the Sports Editor at my school newspaper The Bottom Line. This week, I had my writers compile mock draft of the top ten picks of the NFL Draft for tomorrow. As I believe they did an unbelievable job with this, I wanted to go ahead and share what they came up with. My writers names are Christopher Evans, Brad Kroner, and Antonio Mancuso Enjoy Part 1!!



Kansas City Cheifs 


 








Chris-OT Luke Joeckel
Texas A&M
6-6 306 lbs

The Kansas City Chiefs look like a completely different team this year. With the acquisition of former longtime head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles Andy Reid and former San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith, the Chiefs have a lot to prove this season. Joeckel was a first team All-American during his time with Texas A&M and could be the perfect fit for this team, especially with a new quarterback.

Brad- OT Eric Fisher
Central Michigan
6-7 306 lbs

With the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select OT Eric Fisher from Central Michigan. There are rumors that current left tackle Brandon Albert may be traded, and there are question marks at RT following the release of veteran RT Eric Winston, so it makes sense for the Chiefs to draft a LT number one overall.

Antonio- OT-Luke Joeckel
 Texas A&M
6-6 306 lbs

 Joeckel does not struggle in any part of his game. He has the ability to be effective in pass protection as well as run blocking.

 2.) Jacksonville Jaguars




Chris-WR Tavon Austin
West Virginia
5-9 174 lbs

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the victim of a horrible season filled with injuries on both sides of the ball. Tavon Austin could be the perfect fit for this team which has no stand out wide receivers. Finishing eighth in the Heisman trophy ballot, Austin had a phenomenal 2012 season with the Mountaineers having racked up 1289 receiving yards and twelve touchdowns as well as 2 touchdowns and 978 yards on kick/punt returns. Tavon Austin could be the blasting cap that the Jaguars need to make the playoffs.


Brad-QB Geno Smith
West Virginia
6-3 208 lbs

The Jacksonville Jaguars select QB Geno Smith from West Virginia University. 2011 first round pick Blaine Gabbert has not played up to expectations and the new regime in Jacksonville may look to find a new signal-caller in the draft. WVU QB Geno Smith shattered school records and is touted as the best QB in the class.


Antonio- OLB Dion Jordan
Oregon
6-6 248 lbs

Jordan averaged .42 sacks per game in his senior season at Oregon. He has already garnered comparisons to All-Pro pass rusher Aldon Smith from the San Francisco 49ers from many draft analysts. These pre-draft comparisons include draft guru Mike Mayock from NFL Network.

 Oakland Raiders



 
Chris- OLB Dion Jordan
Oregon
6-6 248 lbs
 
At 6’6”, 248lbs Dion Jordan may be a big question in the draft this year since he only played 11 full games and had to undergo shoulder surgery at the end of the season, but he is still a huge boost to any team in the NFL. Finishing 4-12, the team needs an answer on the defensive side of the ball seeing as their only wins came against teams that did not make the playoffs or even finished with a respectable record last season. Dion Jordan recorded 44 tackles, three forced fumbles, and had an interception last season with the Ducks, a healthy Jordan could be a definite additive to the Raiders.

Brad- DT Sharrif Floyd

Florida

6-3 297 lbs

The Oakland Raiders select Florida DT Sharrif Floyd. Oakland has a hole in the middle of their defense that must be filled. Floyd can fit in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. His interior pass rush skillscould improve Oakland’s 31^st ranked sack total.

Antonio-DT Sherrif Floyd

Florida

6-3 297 lbs

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has Floyd ranked as the best player in this draft. He is a disruptive force against the run and can plug in holes effectively and efficiently. His play helped the Gators to be ranked 4th overall in rushing defense and 5th in total defense among all Division I-A schools.

 
Philadelphia Eagles

Chris-OT Eric Fisher

Central Michigan

6-7 306 lbs

Michael Vick took heavy blows last season and played hurt most of the season, this may still be his team, but the fact remains that one bad hit could end his career. This is where Eric Fisher comes into play. At 6’7” and 306lbs, this tall but quick offensive tackle received first team All-MAC honors last season and was the catalyst to Central Michigan’s offensive line last season and could help stretch out Michael Vick’s career for a little while longer.

Brad-OLB Dion Joradan
Oregon
6-6 248 lbs

The Philadelphia Eagles select OLB/DE Dion Jordan from Oregon. Former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is very familiar with Jordan, and that may influence the decision to select Jordan with the fourth overall pick. The Eagles are switching to a 3-4 defense and could use an edge rusher like Jordan.

Antonio-QB Geno Smith

West Virginia

6-3 208lbs

Geno Smith had a big year at West Virginia. He threw 42 touchdowns, six interceptions, while completing 71.2 percent of his passes.

Detroit Lions









  
Chris-OT Lane Johnson

Oklahoma

6-6 306 lbs

The safest pick this season for some teams in the draft is to pick an offensive lineman. Teams like the Detroit Lions who have a franchise quarterback to build their team around, just need some linemen to help protect him. At 6’6” and 303lbs, Lane Johnson is the fastest and most athletic lineman in the draft this year as evidenced by his 4.75 40 yard dash time (best by any offensive lineman). He can create problems for the defense with his ability to generate some push on run plays. The Lions could be a serious contender in the playoff hunt with Lane Johnson.

 Brad-  OT Luke Joeckel

Texas A&M

6-6 306 lbs

The Detroit Lions select OT Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M. Matt Stafford has weapons, but in order to effectively use them, he needs protection. The team only allowed the ninth most sacks last season, but considering the retirement of long time OT Jeff Backus and the position change of 2011 first round pick Riley Reiff from tackle to guard, the team might want to draft a tackle early in the draft. Joeckel may be the best on the board at fifth overall.

Antonio- OT Eric Fisher

Central Michigan

6-7 306 lbs

Fisher has the ability to be effective in pass protection as well as run blocking. He helped pave the way for running back Zirlon Tipton to rush for 1492 yards and 19 touchdowns .To some experts he, as well as Joeckel could both be taken first overall.

That's it for part 1, stay tuned for Part 2!!!

Watch Elle Shine: Why I Love Legally Blonde

Many people (including you right now) often are surprised or shocked when they find out that Legally Blonde is one of my favorite movies. Now, I agree, it probably is not the most manly of all the movie options out there. But I certainly have my reasons as to why I love this movie so much.

1.) It shows that you do not have to live up to stereotypes- When the movie starts, you are led to think that Elle Woods (played by Reese Whiterspoon),  is your prototypical California, rich girl blonde with a banging body, but nothing to speak of in her head. She dispells this notion very early on when she goes dress shopping with her friends for her big date with her boyfriend Warner (played by Matthew Davis). Thinking that Elle is just a stupid blonde with daddy's credit card, the salesperson attempts to overcharge her on a old dress by telling her it's brand new. Elle, using her fashion knowledge, then asks the salesperson a series of questions about the dress that she should know automatically. When Elle catches the salesperson in the lie she essentially tells her that she saw the dress a year ago and the she "picked the wrong girl", if she was attempting to sell it to her at full price. So very early on we see that Ms. Elle Woods is not your stereotypical "dumb blonde."

2.) Having a Heart- While it is clear that Elle is very bubbly and  a social butterfly, it also very apparent that she has a heart, and a good one at that. She treats those around her with kindness and compassion. When she sees her classmate, David Kidney (played by Oz Perkins), being harshly rejected and ridiculed by a girl he's trying to ask out and her friend, Elle cannot simply walk away. She goes up to him, slaps him in the face, and asks why he never called her after giving her the "greatest pleasure" she's ever known. When David, totally confused at this point, apologizes Elle tells him that it is too late as she has spent too many hours crying over him. Elle leaves with a giggle, while the girl who was rejecting David at first is now asking him when he wanted to go out.

3.) Give everyone a chance- When Elle first meets Vivian Kinsington (played by Selma Blair) in class, it isn't a pleasant experience as Vivian basically gets Elle kicked out of her first Harvard class for not reading before class. Their second counter is even worse as it is revealed that Vivian is the woman who stole her ex-boyfriend Warner from her.    Despite these facts, Elle tries to be semi-friendly to her. But a person can only take so much. Not being one to just take verbal barbs sitting down, Elle returns a number of Vivian's insults and condescending remarks right back at her. When Elle is supposedly invited to a costume party by Vivian, she quickly finds out upon arrival that Vivian blatantly lied to her. When the two come face to face this humorous exchange happens:


Vivian: Nice outfit. (Laughs)
Elle (dressed as a Playboy Bunny): Oh, I like your outfit too. Except when I dress up as a frigid b@#$%? I try not to look so constipated.

Later on, Elle and Vivian are both brought on as interns with Professor Callahan's (played by Victor Garber)
law firm to assist with a court case. Now on the same team, Elle, again tries to be friendly towards Vivian. This time, Vivian is a bit more receptive. Things really start to change when Warner (also brought onto the firm as an intern) tells Elle to give up the alibi of the woman (Brooke Whyndam) who Mr. Callahan was trying to protect. Elle responds by telling him that she gave Brooke her word that would not give up the alibi. Warner tells her to basically forget about her word and think about herself. Vivian is visibily disgusted by this.

Elle and Vivian finally become friends when Vivan visits Elle in her room to pick up the deposition for the court case. They end up connecting over the story that Warner was wait-listed by Harvard before his dad made a call. Elle even lets Vivian play with her chihuahua Bruiser Woods. Despite all that had occured between them, Elle kept the door open to Vivian, and they eventually connected. This is acknowledged in Elle's graduation speech when she says (looking at Vivian), "First impressions are not always correct."

4.) Determination is the name of the game- Elle Woods does not give up easily. If there is something she wants she is more than ambitious enough to go after it. My favorite example of this is when she is attempting to get into Harvard Law School to chase after Warner following their dramatic break-up. When she presents this idea to her academic adviser and even her parents, they both try to push her away from choosing that path. The reasons they give range from her not being "boring", to having a 4.0 as a Fashion Merchandising major. Despite the odds that stand in her way, Elle works her butt off to provide the best package she can to Harvard. In addition to doing a heavy amount of studying for her LSAT's she goes through the trouble of making an admissions video for the committee at Harvard to see. Being impressed with her extra-curricular activities, a 179 or LSAT's, and her impecable 4.0 GPA from CULA, she is admitted into Harvard. Who knows what happens to our favorite blonde if she never attempts to even apply to Harvard?

If you haven't seen Legally Blonde, please do so. For these reasons, and many more, this is one of my all time favorite movies.

A Better Shooter than James (Bond)

Being a college senior is a weird thing. When you were a freshman, all you could think about were your firsts. My first class, my first college shower, my first all-nighter, my first time seeing a foot of snow in the middle of April (this is for you my fellow Frostburg Staters!). As your time dwindles down as a senior, you start seeing your "lasts." This is especially true for college athletes as they play their last games in their collegiate careers.

Bond uses her expert court vision make her
next move.

Instead of me trying to figure out what it must be like to finish a college sports career, I sought out someone who knows about this first hand. This person is none other than guard/forward Candace Bond of the Hofstra University Pride.

Bond, a native of Prince George's County, Maryland, played all four years of her college career at Hofstra. In this, her final year as a member of the Pride, Bond turned in a award winning performance. She averaged 7.8 ppg (4th on the team), 5.1 rpg (3rd on the team), and led the Pride in FT percentage by shooting 75% from the charity stripe.

On the defensive side of the ball, Bond was a constant pest in her opponent's side. She was a true ball-hawk as she led the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) in steals with 80 and was second in steals per game with 2.6. Bond also developed a habit of being the Pride's foremost heart-breaker for shots as she would lead  the team leading 31 blocks (good for 8th in the CAA). These outstanding numbers earned her the 2012-2013 CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Although she was a defensive stalwart, there was one player who Bond says had her "working the whole game." That player is the 2012-2013 CAA Player of the Year Elena Delle-Donne. "She's long, but she plays like a guard." Bond stated. Anytime Bond and her Pride played Dell-Donne and her Blue Hens, Bond had "no plays off." She described her offensive abulity as "Just crazy!"While the majority of people around the country think that Baylor's Britney Griner will be the #1 overall pick in the draft, Bond says that she would not be suprised of Dell-Donne were to go #1.

When Bond began her college career back in 2009 vs the University of Buffalo, Bond admits that she was both anxious and excited for her first game. She also says that she did not know what to expect out of this new experience. One of the things she had to get used to was the constant travel schedule of a Division 1 athlete. "In the beginning it is really exciting, (but as you go on) it gets annoying." This annoyance is due in large part to something we all secretly or openly loathe, airport security. Some of her more "exciting" trips were voyages to Cancun, Mexico and California.

Like most college students, Bond also enjoyed playing in front of her friends and family when she played at destinations close to her hometown of Fort Washington, Maryland. Games at Towson, George Mason, Old Dominion and James Madison meant that much more to Bond and the other players who hailed from the DMV area. "You don't want to play bad in front of family" Bond notes.

When playing in those road arenas, Bond says that, "It's great to see people in Blue and Gold." This was especially true when the Pride had to travel to the Bob Carpenter Center to play Delaware or to the Convocation Center to play the Lady Dukes of James Madison. Bond says that these two venues were her toughest places to play. She described both sets of fans as really supportive of their respective teams.

Bond goes fearlessly into the teeth of the defense!

Bond is looking to go overseas to continue playing the game she loves. As for what she will miss the most from her college days she says: "I will miss my teammates the most. They were like my sisters." In support of one of her "sisters", Bond will be tuning in prime time on April 15 to see where center Shante Evans is drafted to.


When it comes to the game that she will never forget, she points to a clash with CAA rival JMU. On February 27, 2011, the Pride were down early in the second half at home to the Lady Dukes (#1 in the CAA at the time). Instead of packing it in, Hofstra roared back and gave their CAA rival all that they could handle as they roared back into the game. With 1.9 seconds left, Bond (then a Sophomore), sealed the deal with two nail-in-the-coffin free throws to give her Pride the 75-73 win. In the game, Bond finished the game in her true stat-sheet filling fashion with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 rejections and 3 pilfers.

This blogger hopes nothing but the best for Bond in her future as a international star!

AJ's Sports and other Thoughts: Ladies of the Hardwood Moving Up- 2013 WNBA Draft ...

AJ's Sports and other Thoughts: Ladies of the Hardwood Moving Up- 2013 WNBA Draft ...: This year's WNBA Draft may be the most star studded draft in WNBA history.

Ladies of the Hardwood Moving Up- 2013 WNBA Draft prospects

This year's WNBA Draft may be the most star studded draft in WNBA history. As a matter of fact, with the names that will be involved, ESPN should put this on PRIME TIME, and give it all of the fanfare that the NBA and NFL drafts get. And they will! For the first time in WNBA history, the draft will be televised in prime time! So, in honor of what should be a awesome event, I want to discuss a few prospects who should be taken off of the boards pretty early.

Brittney Griner-Baylor University-6'8" Center

Unless you've been living under some rock in the middle of  nowhere, you should know all about this young woman. She has lived up to her hype 100% since the day she came to Waco, Texas. You want statistical proof? Here it is. This is her stat line for her four years at Baylor- PPG 22.2, RPG 8.8, BPG 5, FG% 57. Can you say dominate post force? There may be no player in the history of women's college hoops who impacted how each game was played more than her .Griner and future Hall of Fame Guard-Forward Diana Taurasi  should be a dynamic duo down in Phoenix once the Mercury take her #1 overall.

Skylar Diggins-Notre Dame-5'9" Guard

Sky-Sky, one of the most accomplished and decorated players in WNBA history is now preparing to take her leadership and dynamic game to the next level. As a member of the Fighting Irish, Diggins put up averages of 15.3 points, 4.6 assists. While the numbers look great, so much of what Diggins does cannot be documented on a stat sheet. She is the undisputed leader and heart of that Notre Dame team. In each her three yrs. Notre Dame has made the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. But whether it was Danielle Adams and her Texas A&M Aggies, or Ms. Griner and her Lady Bears, the Irish were not able to overcome the opposition to win the title. In this, her final year, Diggins will give it her all for a National Title.

Tianna Hawkins-Maryland-6'3" Forward

The Riverdale Baptist product improved each year she played as a member of the Lady Terps. Last year, she would make the scouts and pundits take notice of her as she finished the year leading the entire country in field goal percentage (62.3%). She finished off her collegiate run this season by averagin
g 18 points (career high), grabbing 9.7 rpg (career high), shooting 54% from the field, and 79% from the charity stripe. This stat line earned her a spot on the All-ACC First Team. Many Washington Mystics fans, including the one writing this article, hope that she sticks around long enough for the Mystics to take her with the 4th pick in the draft.

Elena Dell-Donne-Delaware-6"5' Forward

Talk about an impact player. Dell-Donne, with the help of her fellow Lady Blue Hens turned the University of Delaware from no name mid-major, to National Title contender. Dell-Donne is Delaware's all time leader in points (2,258), points per game (26.9), free-throws made and percentage (586 and 90.7% respectively), three pointers made and percentage (154 and 39% respectively), scoring average for a season (26.7 ppg), and points in a game (54 vs James Madison). The now two time AP All-American first teamer should not expect to be waiting in the green room for her selection very long on April 15th.


I don't know about you, but I cannot wait until April 15th. Even better than the draft should be the debut and careers of these young ladies. Be sure to tune in to ESPN 2 at 8 PM for the first round, and ESPN U at 9 PM for rounds two and three.