Hillel @ HCA 2008 Highlights

The Knights improved to 3-2 with a 14-6 win over Hillel. The torrential downpour, that lasted throughout the game, limited both team's offensive output. The win was the third in a row for Highlands Christian.

Westwood @ HCA Highlights 2008

Highlands Christian @ Northwest Highlights 9/19/08

HCA 41
NW Chr. 0

Stay tuned for highlights of the Knights (2-2) 19-6 victory over Westwood Christian last Friday.

Making the Grade: Colts Draft Recap

Rd 1: No Pick
Rd 2: Mike Pollak (59th Overall)
Center, Arizona State

Pollak gives the Colts depth and a much needed backup behind Jeff Saturday. Pollak will be ready to contribute in 1 or 2 years.
Grade: B-

Rd 3: Phillip Wheeler (93rd Overall)
ILB, Georgia Tech

Wheeler's a decent athlete, but I don't see him being an NFL LB. He can help the Colts on special teams immediately.
Grade: C+

Rd 4: Jacob Tamme (127th Overall)
TE, Kentucky

I love this pickup! Scouts say he's not a great run blocker, but Tamme's an immediate threat in the passing game. I can envision Indy using him in goal line/short yardage passing situations.
Grade: B+

Rd 5: Marcus Howard (161st Overall)
OLB, Georgia

Marcus Howard is small for the position, but has great speed (sounds like the entire Colts D). On a unit built around quickness, Howard will be a great fit.
Grade: B

Rd 6: Tom Santi (196th Overall)
TE, Virginia
Santi will be a special teams player, perhaps being utilized in short yardage situations (to take advantage of his above average blocking). I don't see him making headlines, but he could be a solid role player for the Colts
Grade: C

Rd 6: Mike Hart (202nd Overall)
RB, Michigan

Another great pickup by Polian and the Colts. Hart will be a great compliment back to Addai. He's smart, which will help him learn the Colts complex offensive scheme.
Grade: A

Rd 6: Pierre Garcon (205th Overall)
WR, Mount Union

He dominated Division III, but will it translate to NFL success? Only time will tell, but he could see the field as a kick/punt returner this season.
Grade: C

Rd 7: Jamey Richard (236th Overall)
Center, Buffalo
I'm not entirely sold on the idea of picking up 3 centers in the draft. I don't see Richard making the team. This pick could've been better utilized on another position, specifically D-Line depth.
Grade: D-

Day 2 Draft Steals

Jacob Hester RB, LSU (69th, San Diego)
NFL Comp : Heath Evans - Patriots
Hester is a very tough runner who can pick up difficult yardage. He has soft hands, great work ethic, and is an exceptional blocker. Hester will most likely be converted into a fullback with the Chargers.

Dan Connor LB, Penn State (74th, Carolina)
NFL Comp : Keith Bulluck - Titans
Connor is the prototypical linebacker. He is a hard hitting, mean, instinctive, and physical player who is tougher than grandma's pot roast. Connor will be one of the top defender's to come out of the 2008 draft.

Mario Manningham WR, Michigan (95th, Michigan)
NFL Comp : Reggie Wayne - Colts
Manningham is an extremely talented receiver who has great vision, speed, and hands. He runs good routes and is also a good red zone threat as he possesses a great vertical leap that allows him to go above corners and come down with the ball. The only blemish on his record would be a knee injury he suffered in '06.

Anthony Collins OT, Kansas (112th, Cincinatti)
NFL Comp : Levi Brown - Cardinals
Collins is a big bruising right tackle, who is a stallwart in pass protection. He can open up huge holes in the run game and is very strong and athletic.

Josh Sitton OT, UCF (135th, Green Bay)
NFL Comp: Edwin Mulitalo - Detroit
Sitton's wide body and drive blocking skills are more suited for an interior position. He might have been born 20 years too late, as he would have been an ideal "Hog" next to Joe Jacoby on the Redskins' front line. Sitton plays with a mauler's mentality. He doesn't look pretty on the move, but has a knack for leveling second-level defenders. Just look at the success of the UCF ground game behind him.

John David Booty QB, USC (137th, Minnesota)
NFL Comp : Trent Green - Dolphins
Booty is a gunslinging signal caller who has put up big numbers in USC's pro-style offense. His arm strength and accuracy are both well above average and he isn't afraid to take a hit in the pocket.

Dennis Dixon QB, Oregon (156th, Pittsburgh)
NFL Comp : Vince Young - Titans
Dixon is a dual threat quarterback who is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arm. He has good pocket awareness, a very strong arm, and is becoming a great leader. Pittsburgh loves gadget plays, and Dixon's ability to run and throw will be utilized.

Marcus Henry WR, Kansas (171st, NY Jets)
NFL Comp: Jeff Webb - Kansas City
He has the long limbs to extend for the ball at its high point and soft hands. He's not a physical receiver, nor does he relish a role blocking. He still needs to refine his route running and will gather and drift in his routes. If used on controlled routes or underneath, he has the size to compete for the jump ball and uses his body control effectively near the sideline.

Colt Brennan QB, Hawaii (186th, Washington)
NFL Comp : Brett Favre - Packers
Brennan is an accurate passer who isn't afraid to distribute the ball to a multitude of targets. He has a good arm and is very comfortable in the pocket. The knock on Brennan is that he is a "system" quarterback and will not find success in the NFL. Fans will be calling for him to start some time in the next 2 seasons (I'm not sold on Campbell as a solid NFL QB).

Mike Hart RB, Michigan (202nd, Indianapolis)
NFL Comp : Warrick Dunn - Falcons
Mike couldn't be more appropriately named because he plays the game with 100% heart. He is a leader on and off the field, and is an exceptional receiver out of the backfield. He is a tough runner who can run inside and out. Addai and Hart will be a solid 1-2 combo.

Peyton Hillis FB, Arkansas (227th, Denver)
NFL Comp: Brian Leonard - St. Louis
Hillis has good value as a short-yardage runner, but to have him carry the ball often would not be beneficial, as he does not have the second gear or speed to make big gains on the ground. He has natural hands for short-area tosses. He's a good blue-collar type who can help in a variety of roles, rather than being utilized strictly as a blocker. Hillis can develop into a key element of the Shanahan run game.

Draft Analysis brought to you by CBS Sportsline and DraftSeason.com

Random 1st Round Observations

What are the odds of two Longs going 1 and 2 in the NFL draft?

How long will it take for Atlanta to live down the Michael Vick fiasco? They take more heat than Vick, which makes absolutely no sense.

Showing Matt Ryan and Glenn Dorsey on the phone grinning ear to ear minutes before the 3rd and 5th picks were announced kinda killed the suspense. Makes me wonder; what's the purpose of the pre-pick phone calls? Is it that important to talk to the player 60 seconds before the pick is announced? Just wait 'till after he has your team hat on, then give him a call. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't get it.

It's only pick 11 and I've already lost interest.

I'm interested (it's back) to see if Joe Flacco pans out in Baltimore. I like to see small school guys have NFL success.

Felix Jones is a nice pickup at #22. In regards to the Dallas having Pacman and Felix as punt and kick returners; Berman says the Cowboys are "pushing the envelope" . . . How?

On ESPN they have fan's comments running on the screen. Why do I care what TheJakester1768 thinks about the Cardinals' pick?

NFL Draft 2008: What's the Big Deal?

Call me crazy, but I don't get too excited over the NFL draft. Before you question my fanhood, hear me out.

First, the NFL Draft is excruciatingly long, 2 days (7 rounds) long to be exact. Even the most die hard draft fanatics don't watch all 7 rounds, do they?

Second, I just can't convince myself to care what the other 31 teams (besides Indy) are doing with their draft selections. Sure, if a big name college star (D-Mac) goes somewhere, I'm interested. But, truth be known, I don't know every college lineman (aside from the 3 or 4 college teams I follow very closely, I actually know very few), and therefore don't give two hoots where they go in the NFL.

And, third, the Colts have the 59th pick. I absolutely refuse to sit through the previous 58 selections, just to see who Indy picks up in the 2nd round. I have no doubts that the Colts will make a solid choice (and I have no problem reading about that choice after day 1 of the Draft has concluded). The Colts have a knack for picking up solid late round picks, and Bill Polian most certainly has a solid track record, when it comes to the draft.

Possible 2nd round selections for Indianapolis include Early Doucet (WR, LSU) and Ray Rice (RB, Rutgers). The Colts need depth at both the WR and RB positions. Marvin Harrison isn't getting any younger, and last year's injury riddled season doesn't exactly instill confidence in his longevity.

Early Doucet would give the Colts another deep threat, as well as a solid run blocking wideout (which is key in the Colts stretch running game). Should Ray Rice still be available, he would be a huge addition to the Colts backfield. While Joseph Addai will still get the majority of the workload, Rice provides speed and big play ability that Joseph Addai lacks. I'd be thrilled with either guy at #59.

2008 NFL Schedule

Break out a calendar and a Sharpie, and circle these dates . . . the NFL 2008 schedule was released on Tuesday.

The Cowboys play the Packers at Lambeau in an NBC Sunday night game (Sept. 21). Unless Favre has second thoughts about his retirement, this will be the night John Madden has an emotional breakdown on air. Expect plenty of Frank Caliendo skits leading up to this one.

Another chapter will be written in this growing rivalry, when San Diego hosts the Pats on Sunday, Oct. 12. What are the odds that a key Charger is out due to injury and SD makes more excuses for another loss to NE?

The Saints and Chargers will play on Oct. 26 in London. I'm sure the Brits are thanking their lucky stars that they don't have to watch the Dolphins again.

The defending Super Bowl champs meet the Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 2. The intensity will be at an all time high for this division rivalry (assuming the Giants don't have one of those Carolina-like post Super Bowl hangovers).

And now on to the key matchups on the Colts' schedule. Indy gets five prime time nationally televised games.

Bears at Colts (Sunday, Sept. 7) (NBC)
In a rematch of Super Bowl XLI, Indy will christen their new Lucas Oil Stadium. The crowd will be raucous and I'm expecting a huge offensive performance and a big blowout.

Patriots at Colts (Sunday, Nov. 2) (NBC)
Need I say more?

Colts at San Diego (Sunday, Nov. 23) (NBC)
Playoff rematch will be big for both teams. While I suspect the Chargers win was a fluke, the Colts will have to prove they are truly the better team. If San Diego can pull off another win, it will be huge for their confidence.

Colts at Jags (Thursday, Dec. 18) (NFL Network)
It's always physical and intense when these two teams meet. The Colts have proven their superiority in this rivalry, but each year the Jags get more dangerous. This game could be key in deciding the AFC South.

Petrino's a Pig, "Sooie"

How does a Razorback fan feel about this hire? Well I have mixed emotions. Bobby Petrino brings an exciting brand of offensive football to Arkansas. However, the nature of this hiring brings up question about his character. I always despised what Nick Saban did here in Miami, lying to his players and ownership about the Alabama job. This situation with Petrino reminds me of it in different ways. I don't think an NFL coach should leave in the middle during the season. Not only is Petrino bailing out on his players, but this brings up questions about his dedication during the previous weeks of the season. How long has he been looking for a way out of Atlanta? Only Bobby knows the answer.

I'm glad the Razorbacks landed a big name coach. I think Petrino can do a great job at Arkansas. But I must admit, I don't trust him. If a fan doesn't trust him, will his players?

Interim coach, Reggie Herring will still coach the Hogs in the Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri. The Cotton Bowl is Jan. 1 @ 11:30 AM.

Daily Bodog Pick

bodog.com Pick of the Day
Friday, March 9
NBA Basketball: L.A. Lakers (-1.5) @ Philadelphia 76ers
7:05 PM ET

Overall Record Against the Spread (3-5)

This blog post will be home to my bodog.com daily picks. It will be edited daily with an updated pick and record of previous selections.

Picks not endorsed by bodog.com.
Use at your own risk.
You are fully responsible for any wagers made on the advice of these picks.

Daily Bodog Pick

bodog.com Pick of the Day
Monday, February 26
NBA Basketball: Miami Heat (+3.5) @ New York Knicks
7:35 PM ET

This pick may be a little risky, with Miami's ancient roster going into the 2nd day of a back to back. Include the travel from Miami to New York, and you may think I'm crazy. However, Miami's veteran players are playing with a purpose, now that Dwyane Wade is out (that purpose being to prove they're not completely washed up). Kapono and Williams struggled from the floor against Cleveland, and they still managed to squeak out a win. I expect their defensive effort to be lacking from what it was against the Cavs, but also expect a better offensive performance.


Overall Record Against the Spread (3-2)

This blog post will be home to my bodog.com daily picks. It will be edited daily with an updated pick and record of previous selections.

Picks not endorsed by bodog.com.
Use at your own risk.
You are fully responsible for any wagers made on the advice of these picks.