The 2009 draft draws to a close.
And I would have to say the thing that surprised me the most (moreso than Mr. Irrelevant being a kicker, moreso than the abundance of draftees from Cincinnati, and moreso than the Lions drafting a tight end when their defense is a sieve) was the situation with Graham Harrell.
I understand that often those who cruise in college have the wheels come flying off in the pros (Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell come to mind), as the style of play, mentality, and team chemistry are often totally different. Often teams often look for a certain style of play (e.g. traditional vs. "Run and Gun"), a certain degree of versatility, or it's even psychology (no team wants to have an egomaniacal drama queen on the field).
But Graham Harrell. This kid was a Heisman Trophy candidate, with a rating of 160. One-hundred-and-blooming-sixty. As a Bears fan, during most games (where I'm cursing and smacking my face into my coffee table), I'd give my right kidney for a QB who could even make three digits. In 2008, Texas Tech, with Harrell at the helm, was an absolute scoring machine, even managing to black out the Colt McCoy show.* I had watched some of TT's games mid-season, and Graham Harrell's accuracy - even from sixty yards out - was positively staggering. I found myself watching intently for magnets in the football, or invisible wires; it was like watching someone performing open-heart surgery with a pickaxe, for want of better descriptor.
So why didn't anyone pick up Harrell? After a bit of analysis and chitchat, my predominant theory is that while he is intrinsically good, he likely couldn't/wouldn't find a good offensive style match in the NFL. Texas Tech also had an amazingly good offensive line that gave Harrell enough time to connect. These guys erected the Great Wall with split-second precision. If he could play with a line like the Chargers, Steelers, or Colts have, maybe he could do some damage, because I've seen these three teams literally hold the line long enough for the quarterback to:
a) Sight and find his receivers;
b) Gain a read on the defense; see blitzes coming and conduct proper evasive maneuvers;
c) Pull out a lawn chair, read a novel, bake a lasagna, sing an aria in German
A friend of mine believes that, if pressured too much, Harrell would likely become a Rex Grossman character, resorting to the "close your eyes and chuck it" strategy - and this kind of slop is what single-handedly knocks the wind out of offenses. If there's no connection between the offensive line, the quarterbacks, and his intended receivers, nothing gets done. I won't go any further into the the Grossman analogy because it'll just make me eye-crossingly angry.
Perhaps someone will pick him up in the coming weeks. It would be shameful for a talented kid like that to be without a job.
***
There are teams that had good drafts, and teams that had bad drafts, like every year.
Good Drafts:
Chicago. The team is in dire need of wide receivers after injuries and releasing Marty Booker. They drafted three. Also of note are two new additions to their weak secondary, Oregon St's Al Afalava (Safety, 6th) and cornerback DJ Moore from Vandy (4th). It would've been nice to see them take the likes of Brian Hoyer (or Graham Harrell) as a backup, however, if Cutler goes into a diabetic coma on opening weekend or something.
New York Jets. After Chad Pennington came back to bite them in the backside and the end of the Favre experiment, boy, did these guys ever need a quarterback!
Indianapolis. RBs and Receivers. Good work. Harrison's gone and Joseph Addai is getting on in years. I think it's also good they took a kicker in the 7th round as Vinatieri's grown sensitive to everything from the temperature in the stadium to the phase of the moon.
OK Drafts:
Minnesota. If Percy Harvin's hardware can take a NFC-style beating (unlike most of the SEC's receivers), he'll be a fantastic balance to Adrian Peterson. Their later rounds may aid in rebuilding the defense. Or maybe not, because they're the Vikings.
Detroit. The Lions made a good choice in Stafford, and were pretty mediocre in everything else (vide supra.)
San Diego. Two new offensive guards. Wow. They want to give Phil Rivers enough time in the pocket to yell at the fans, the chain gang, and seemingly offensive pieces of exercise equipment in addition to the rest of his offense!
Baltimore. A cornerback and another linebacker? Puh-lease, the Ravens' defense is not where their problems are. Building a better offensive line may give Joe Flacco more time to concentrate, however, and was a decent move.
Bad Drafts:
Cincinnati. I read somewhere that both Andre Smith (1, OT, 'Bama) and USC's tackling machine Ray Maualuga (2nd) both have arrest records already! Way to clean up your act, Bengals! (There used to be a joke that if you want to be in a drug ring, get in the huddle with the Bengals. Or was it the Dallas Cowboys, circa 1995?)
New Orleans. Three defensive players and a punter? Looking at this crew, logic says they'll drop the weight of the world on Drew Brees for yet another season, play defense, and kick it right back. I would have taken a running back myself in the wake of the Deuce McAllister salary cap mess!
Anyway, that's all for now. Remember kids, if there is anything we learned last season: If you squander your time on the clock, 0-and-16's a sure lock.
*Does anyone remember this? They knocked off the 'Horns, stormed the field before the game was even over, and likely got fined into the Stone Age by the NCAA.
