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NFL Draft: An Interview With Brady Ackerman |
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Written by Vince Mullins
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
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Brady Ackerman is a Florida football institution - the former Gator RB
has progressed through coaching to host talk radio around the state
while settling in Orlando the last few years.
While he calls it a sports talk radio show, the diehard listeners to
ESPN 1080 in Orlando Florida revel in a "football talk radio show" that
talks pro, college and even Florida prep ball.
Ack sat down with me via email and brought his point of view to the
Sunshine State pro teams and the rest of the talent in general.
Vince Mullins: Starting with your Florida focus, let us dig in to the Dolphins first - who is their first pick? Since they need so much help and should trade down, what teams may work a deal?
Brady Ackerman: The Miami Dolphins have a lot of needs but the area to build a franchise is at the line of scrimmage. This is more important this year with no “franchise-elite” quarterbacks in the draft. A lot of the pre-draft focus has been on Michigan tackle Jake Long. He is very good and will be a good pro, but I think the Dolphins take Chris Long (right, Icon SMI) from Virginia. He will be a flex-type defensive end that can play in a 3-4 system. He has a good pedigree with his father being Howie Long and I just have a hunch that Parcells will go in this direction.
It does not look like anyone will trade up because there is not that “sexy” pick out there that teams have to get this year. The number one pick is a big financial commitment and the Miami Dolphins appear to be stuck with it and I say they take Chris Long.
VM: Buccaneers pick at 20, seems their needs are mostly offensive. Whom should they target there? Would you pick someone differently than Gruden/Allen would?
Ack: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick is harder to gauge because they should be in a position to take the “best player available”. Look for the Bucs to take a skill position player at receiver or cornerback. The only thing that could change between now and draft day is the fact that Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen is on the market and if the Bucs could get him (I think he ends up in Minnesota) then they would give up their first round pick. CB Mike Jenkins out of South Florida is on John Gruden’s radar along with WR DeSean Jackson of California. Malcom Kelly is another possibility from Oklahoma, but his stock is sliding because of a slow 40 time. Again I am going on a hunch that Gruden will go with the big productive receiver out of Oklahoma and take Malcom Kelly. I would pick DeSean Jackson who can help you with kick returns and punt returns as well as give you a young guy with great speed to take over for Joey Galloway in the future.
VM: Jaguars pick 26 - is it possible they go QB to plan ahead? They were in the top five in the league with plays of 20+ and 40+ yards, do they really have any offensive needs?
Ack: The offensive skill positions look pretty solid with maybe Del Rio taking a flyer on a young quarterback in day two. I think the Jacksonville Jaguars will look along the defensive front for their pick. The pass rush wore down last year and they would love to get their hands on Derrick Harvey out of Florida. He should be gone and would require trading up maybe 10 spots. Clemson defensive end Philip Marling, Miami defensive end Calais Campbell and North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer are on Jack Del Rio’s radar. I think the pick is Balmer from North Carolina to stay solid versus the run. Look for the Jaguars to address the offensive line and safety position in the later rounds. The offensive skill positions look pretty solid with maybe Del Rio taking a flyer on a young quarterback in day two.
That wraps up the Sunshine state talk, click here for big picture NFL Draft discussion with the Ack.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 25 April 2008 )
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