Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, May 02, 2008
Tom Oates: NFC foes swing for the fences in draft
 Tom Oates |
While the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers used the NFL draft to hit solid singles, the rest of the division's teams were swinging for the fences.
Minnesota, Chicago and Detroit connected a few times, too. In fact, Green Bay's rivals closed the gap significantly on the Brett Favre-less Packers with some creative work over the weekend.
The Vikings gave up three high draft picks in a trade for defensive end Jared Allen, who led the NFL in sacks in 2007. Some Twin Cities reporters are saying the bold move, which adds an instant pass rush to the league's best run-stopping defense, makes Minnesota the team to beat in the division.
That's a stretch because the Vikings still have unproven Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. At least they backed themselves up there by using a fifth-round pick on John David Booty, who played in an offense at Southern Cal that is similar to the one used by coach Brad Childress.
Somehow, the Vikings also added Tyrell Johnson, considered by many the best safety in the draft, in the second round.
The Bears had 12 picks and turned them into a potential draft bonanza - with one huge exception. They forgot to take a quarterback. Forgot? There is no other way to explain how a team with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton at quarterback could pass on Brian Brohm and Chad Henne in the second round.
Apparently, the Bears are going to pound the ball, which is why they drafted offensive tackle Chris Williams in the first round and running back Matt Forte in the second. Williams allows John Tait to move from left to right tackle, making Chicago better at two positions. Ditto for Forte, who will be better than Cedric Benson or force him to finally live up to his potential.
Later on, the Bears made some risky picks on players with issues. Fourth-round defensive tackle Marcus Harrison (character) and fifth-round cornerback Zack Bowman (injuries) have first-round talent and fifth-round tight end Kellen Davis (character) and seventh-round wide receiver Marcus Monk (injuries) have second-round talent. If three of those four play up to their ability, general manager Jerry Angelo's draft could turn out to be brilliant.
Regardless, the Bears look like the Vikings, a potential division champion with a major question mark at the most important position.
After years of head-scratching drafts from the Lions, this one looked like the work of coach Rod Marinelli and not general manager Matt Millen. For a change, Detroit took only tough-minded, aggressive, productive players.
First-rounder Gosder Cherilus will start immediately at right tackle in the power running game favored by Jim Colletto, who replaced pass-happy Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. The Lions shrewdly traded up to get the first pick of the second day, where they landed 2,500-yard rusher Kevin Smith.
Second-round linebacker Jordon Dizon and two third-rounders - defensive tackle Andre Fluellen and edge-rusher Cliff Avril - are the type of undersized yet fast players that Marinelli's Tampa 2 defense needs.
Detroit isn't there yet, but it has the most proven quarterback in the division (John Kitna) and, finally, some players who fit Marinelli's style.
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