Colts vs. Saints Live Blog: 2007 NFL Season Kickoff

The NFL season is finally back, and tonight it starts with the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts will try to defend their NFL Championship in 2007, but they’re missing a lot of key players on defense (Nick Harper, Cato June, Corey Simon, Anthony McFarland). As the playoffs proved, however, is that their key to their defense is safety Bob Sanders. Will he be able to keep his defense, and in turn, the Colts afloat this season?

Meanwhile, the Saints had a magical year in 2006, reaching the NFC Championship for the first time in franchise history behind the conference’s best offense. This year they need to prove that they can maintain that level of success.

It should be a lot of fun tonight…except for the NBC coverage. And Roger Goodell.

8:38 pm: Ahhh, nothing says “NFL” quite like forced humor between Peyton Manning and the star running back of the moment.

8:39 pm: AND THE NFL SEASON IS UNDERWAY! kickoff, and the Colts get the ball to start the game.

8:40 pm: One play into the season, and we already have a decleater. Just as he takes in the pass from Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai is just run over by Saints corner Mike McKenzie. He stays on the ground for a few minutes, but he’s gotten up and it looks like he’ll be okay. The Colts cannot afford to lose him.

8:44 pm: Indy is forced into a three and out as Peyton’s pas on third and 8 is just out of Marvin Harrison’s reach.

Left tackle Tony Ugoh is going to have a very busy night.

8:46 pm: The Saints convert on their third down, as Drew Brees find an open Marques Colston in the middle. Looks like the linebackers weren’t staying at home.

8:48 pm: Reggie Bush SO had a first down on that screen play, but he was dancing a little too much.

8:49 pm: Bush gets the ball again on the end-around. This time he gets the first and more.

8:51 pm: Wow. New Orleans is 3/3 so far on third down. This doesn’t bode well for the Colts defense, who could get tired early in this game. Some very good playcalling by the Saints to start this game.

8:53 pm: The Saints run a HB delay on third and long, and it backfires. Bush is tackled in the backfield for a loss, which puts them back to the 35 yard line, setting up a very long field goal. Olindo mare’s kick is long, but it’s wide left. The game is still scoreless. After 9 or 10 good calls for the Saints offense, it only took one bad call to ruin their scoring chances.

8:57 pm: The Colts begin with very good field position. They finally get a first down on a pass in the flat to Dallas Clark, and suddenly Indy is close to scoring position.

8:59 pm, (2:53 left in the first quarter): Marvin Harrison makes a nice catch to bring up 3rd and 1, adn Joseph Addai gets some nice blocking, runs to the 30, and brings the Colts into field goal range.

9:00 pm, 1:36 left: TOUCHDOWN! Marvin Harrison burns Jason David on the slant, and he catches a Manning pass in the back of the endzone. The Colts now lead 7-0 off the great catch, and suddenly that botched draw play by New Orleans is looking a lot more costly.

9:08 pm: Great awareness by Raheem Brock to knock down the pass on third and long. Brees manages to catch his own pass, but he can’t get the first down and the Saints have to punt.

9:10 pm: And the first quarter ends, with the Colts leading 7-0.

9:14 pm, 13:40 left in the 2nd quarter: Joseph Addai is running the ball well so far in this drive. That’s 3 straight long runs up the middle, and the Saints have not adjusted to it. Nice to see Addai back in the game after that huge hit.

9:15 pm, 12:15 in the 2nd: Peyton Manning knows that there are 40 seconds on the play clock. And he will use every last one.

9:16 pm, 11:32 in the 2nd: TOUCHDOWN! Reggie Waynes catches the ball, but it;s stripped clean out of his hands by Jason David. He teaks the fumble and return 55 yards back for the touchdowns, redeeming himself after getting burned on the Harrison touchdown. The game is tied, 7-7.

9:23 pm, 10:37 in the 2nd: Manning overthrows the pass for a three-and-out, as now Saints DE Will Smith shows that he’s the most versatile man in show business.

The Saints get a great punt return and very good field position.

9:25 pm: Oh yes…what would the NFL be without a Peyton Manning commercial every 2 minutes? It just wouldn’t be the NFL, would it?

9:27 pm, 9:45 in the 2nd: OH! Bob Sanders nearly gets the interception, as Bress got completely fooled on that play. If Sanders is two inches taller, it’s 14-7 Colts right now.

9:28 pm, 9:15 in the 2nd: A huge run by Aaron Stecker, and he gets inside the Colts 35 yard line. Hard to believe that he’s getting a lot of touches behind Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.

9:31 pm, 6:30 in the 2nd: 3rd down in the redzone…and Bush drops the pass. Just a lack of concentration, and the Saints have settle for a field goal. Mare makes the kick, and the Saints take a 10-7 lead.

9:37 pm, 5:47 in the 2nd: I knew there was something missing! The one thing that the NFL delivers more than anything else…insane levels of hyperbole. Don’t get me wrong; Tony Dungy winning the Super Bowl is a tremendous achievement. But comparable to the civil rights movement?

9:40 pm: Now THAT was a good commercial. Football fans know Jerry Jones is a control freak; it’s actually pretty cool to see him embrace that side of his personality.

9:41 pm, 4:31 in the 2nd: That’s the second straight possession that ends quickly for Indy. The Saints D-line has been doing a good job of keeping Peyton under pressure in the 2nd quarter.

9:44 pm, 3:05 in the 2nd: How did Eric Johnson manage to recover tha fumble and maintain possession for the saints? He had to battle 5 Colts defenders in that scrum.

9:46 pm, 2:24 in the 2nd: What a play by Kieaho. He was being blocked by n offensive lineman at least 70 pounds heavier than him, and he just plowed through the guy to get to Reggie Bush behind the line and force a punt. As we approach halftime, two of the NFL’s best offenses have combined for one touchdown.

9:49 pm: Bob Costas: “In case you haven’t heard, Sunday night is football night.” Really? No s— Sherlock!

9:50 pm, 1:46 in the 2nd: Dallas Clark is wide open in the middle of the field, and Peyton hits him in stride. Clark runs for a 30+ yard gain inside the Saints 35 yard line.

9:52 pm, :49 in the 2nd: Joseph Addai gets a few nice carries to take the Cols into the Red Zone.

Wait a minute…why is New Orleans calling a timeout?

9:54 pm, :45 in the 2nd: Take a good look at that 3rd down play, you won’t see it often. What you just witnessed was a complete miscommunication between Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, and it leads to a 4th down.

Adam Vinatieri’s kick goes right down the middle to tie the game, 10-10.

9:57 pm, :24 in the 2nd: Just as it looks like the Saints might drive up the field and get a scoring chance before halftime, Dwight Freeney completely beats the offensive line and nearly sacks Brees, who’s forced to shovel pass behind his back to an offensive lineman.

10:00 pm: We’re at halftime, and the Colts and Saints are tied, 10-10. Everyone thought that this game would be an offensive shootout, but both defenses have been impressive tonight.

10:19 pm, 13:07 left in the 3rd quarter: The Saints get the ball to start the second half and almost immediately relinquish it on a 3 and out.

10:21 pm, 12:11 in the 3rd: Dallas Clark takes the end-around for the first down. The Colts offense line did a great job of pulling and blocking on the outside to spring the run on 3rd and long.

10:23 pm, 10:00 in the 3rd: Marvin Harrison absolute burns Mike McKenzie, and he’s open for a near perfect pass from Peyton Manning, and he takes it down to the 2.

10:25 pm, 9:45 in the 3rd: TOUCHDOWN! Jpseph Addai finishes the drive with a run on the right side into the end zone. The Colts lead 17-10 after the extra point. Hunter Smith does a great job of controlling the snap for the extra point. Never underestimate the importance of the kick holder.

10:30 pm, 9:39 in the 3rd: How is that not an interception? Bress forces a pass, ans it nearly gets picked off–twice! Bryan Bethea should have had that one.

10:32 pm, 8:05 in 3rd: Another 3-and-out for the Saints. Brees is having a rough night.

10:36 pm, 6:41 in 3rd: Addai gets a huge run up the middle, taking the Colts again within striking distance.

10:37 pm, 6:11 in 3rd: TOUCHDOWN! Jason David gets burned again, as Reggie Wayne slants at just the right moment for Manning to hit him wide open in the end zone. It’s 24-10 Colts, as the Saints may have a big problem at cornerback this season. Where were the safeties?

10:41 pm, 5:56 in 3rd: Deuce Mcallister gets a big run up the middle for New Orleans’ first 1st down of the second half.

The Colts have done a good job on defense tonight. It’s becoming pretty clear that Bob Sanders is the piece that holds the Colts’ defensive unit together.

10:46 pm, 2:02 in 3rd: The Saints offense seems to be back on track, committing almost entirely on the running game. It’s working against Indy’s deep safeties, and it take the pressure off of Brees to force passes.

10:48, :30 in 3rd: Yeah, it’s definitely Brees who has been the weak spot for the Saints in this game. Once again he forces a pass, and he finally pays dearly for it, as Keiaho picks the ball off at the Indy 45.

10:49, end of 3rd: Manning hits on a deep pass to Reggie Wayne, beating Jason David AGAIN! and the Colts will be back inside the red zone to start the 4th quarter. With the Colts leading 24-10 and the New Orleans offense struggling mightily, this game could be over very soon.

10:54 pm, 14:12 left in the 4th quarter: The Colts have to settle for a field goal. Indy leads 27-10. It’s now a three score game, and keep in mind that the Saints have yet to score an offensive touchdown.

10:57 pm, 13:49 in 4th: Just great. The one time that Brees’ pass is on target, and his receiver drops it. Has to be disheartening.

10:58 pm, 13:00 in 4th: It’s 4th and 1, and the Saints, down 17, are punting.

11:04 pm, 10:05 in 4th: Another play action fake, and Reggie Wayne burns David again, and the Colts get the touchdown to take a 34-10 lead. This game, for all intents and purposes, is over. Jason David is having the worst night of his football life.

11:06 pm: What do you know? Another Peyton Manning commercial.

11:12 pm, 8:05 in 4th: Drew Brees is stripped of the ball, and the Colts recover. It’s pretty much insult to injury at this point. I don’t think anyone expected this kind of a blowout.

11:30 pm: A microcosm of the night: Brees forces a pass, the ball is intercepted by Matt Giordano, and he returns it almost 90 yards back for a touchdown, as he outunrs everyone, and the Saints aren’t there to make the tackle. Colts 41, Saints 10.

11:35 pm: The Colts win 41-10, as the game mercifully comes to an end. The Colts dominated every aspect of the game tonight. Brees could not get anything done, and the Saints defense had no answer for Peyton Manning and his receivers in the second half.

100 Most “Influential”: Lorenzo Neal

Ted Bauer’s 100 Most “Influential” Series is winding down over at A Price Above Bip Roberts, and this week he offered me the chance to write an article about an “important” figure in the NFL. I chose to write about one of my favorite players ever. Lorenzo Neal doesn’t pile up a lot of stats, but he’s a halfback’s best friend, and possbliy the greatest pure blocking fullback in NFL history.

“Lorenzo Neal has been the fullback for the San Diego Chargers since 2003, where he blocks for LaDanian Tomlinson, arguably the best back in the NFL today. For Lorenzo, his most impressive stats have been compiled by others. The halfbacks for which he’s blocked have had 1,000 yard seasons every year since 1997. Five running backs (Adrian Murrell, Warrick Dunn, George, Corey Dillon, and LDT), ten seasons, and they all had 1,000 yard seasons behind Neal. If you include the years when he blocked for Mario Bates in the mid-1990s, the halfbacks behind him rushed for 15,922 yards. That’s good enough for 3rd on the all-time rushing list…”

Think about that. You know you’ve accomplished something when you helped Adrian Murrell rush for 1,000 yards, for the Jets, in the mid-90s.

Read the full article, “100 Most ‘Influential’: Lorenzo Neal”

Update on Domain Names

Earlier this month I posted a few unclaimed sports-related domain names, partly as a fun exercise and partly to help inspire a few new sports bloggers, as coming up with a cool name can be difficult. After nearly two weeks, I am sad to report that if you were interested in buying the following three domain names, they have already been taken off the market:

ronmexicosdogfights.com/ (for obvious reasons)

ghostofbarbaro.com/ (ditto)

firevincelombardi.com/

Too bad. Those were three of my favorites, although I didn’t expect Fire Vince Lombardi to get taken ahead of a few others. However, the following domain names are still available for the taking:

bodybylendale.com/

theschrutebag.com/

kirilenkosgroupies.com/

thisisfootbaw.com/

missjoakimnoah.com/

hog-vs-kolb.com/

cowherspitshield.com/

I’ll have another list of domain names for you in June.

Tar Heels Are #1 In Football! YEEEEAAAHHHH!!!

Okay, not really. But in NFL Europa the Cologne Centurions, who have the League’s only two UNC alumni (tight end Bobby Blizzard and cornerback Cedrick Holt) on their 2007 roster, are in sole possession of first place (at 4-2) as of May 19. They will retain possession of first until at least Week 8 if the Berlin Thunder can beat the Frankfurt Galaxy tomorrow.

The Centurions are led on offense by QB Erik Meyer and RB Derrick Ross, who is under contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ross graduated from Tarleton State in Texas (whose most famous graduate is actor George Kennedy), leads NFL Europa in total offense, and is second only to Berlin Thunder RB and Wake Forest alum Chris Barclay, according to the league’s official statistics page. Ross also had two games rushing for over 100 yards, including a league high 143 yards last week against Berlin. Blizzard (picture below) leads Cologne in receptions and leads the league in touchdowns as of Week 5. The Centurions have a balanced offense, leading the league both in rushing yards per game (127.8) and in completion percentage (61.2).

The biggest reason Cologne has won games, however, has been their top ranked defense.  Through Week 5 they have the most sacks (14), allowed the fewest yards per game (246.2), the fewest passing yards per game (140.4), and the fewest offensive touchdowns (8). P Gardent is NFL Europa’s leading tackler, and J Hall is the leading sacker. However, they seem to make mental mistakes at bad times, having committed a league-high 14 penalties that have led to first downs. This could haunt the Centurions later in the season.

Why throw out all of those statistics? Because I have now become interested in the fate of the 2007 Cologne Centurions if onlybecause they have two Tar Heels on their roster. Fans seem to be taking notice too; their home attendance for this week’s game against the Rhein Fire (22,154) was more than double the attendance than against the Berlin Thunder 2 weeks earlier (10,084).  The toughest part of their schedule may still lie ahead; three of their last four games are against last year’s two best teams, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Still, with luck they should be able to make this year’s World Bowl XV. So if you’re looking for an NFL Europa team to get behind, root for the Centurions…or else their terrible mascot will beat you to a pulp for supporting the Frankfurt Galaxy.

 

 Bonus! Here’s a short video clip of Cologne (in white) playing the Rhein Fire (in red) earlier this year. I think the future is bright for football in Europe when the Rhein fans know to show their displeasure, as the punt team runs onto the field on 4th and 3.

2007 NFL All-Undrafted Team: Defense

This is Part 2 of Digital Headbutt’s 2007 NFL All-Undrafted Team. In Part 1 the Offense was put together, and now it’s the defense’s turn.

We often forget the players who go undrafted, Hell, we forget most of the players who get drafted after the 1st round. But just because a player was passed on 255 times doesn’t mean he is not worthy of being in the NFL.

Many offensive players have gone undrafted and become stars. In addition to the players I mentioned in Part 1, Antonio Gates went undrafted, and is now a Pro Bowl tight end. Rod Smith went undrafted and has become one of the most consistent performers ever at the WR position. Defenders may be even more difficult to predict, as not as many statistics are compiled on defensive players. Still, there are a lot of undrafted defenders who could find themselves on an NFL roster or even eventually become a key player for their team. Somewhere out there, an NFL coach or GM might have developed such an ego that he thinks to himself “You know what? I’m so good at this, I’ll bet I can take an entire team of undrafted players and make a winning team!” I’m looking at you, Bill.

 

So if the coach were to pick 11 undrafted players for his starting lineup (based on a 4-3 scheme), who would he select? I seek to find the answer. This is the 2007 NFL Defensive All-Undrafted Team:

Defensive Ends- Mkristo Bruce, Washington State and Justin Hickman, UCLA.

• Why they weren’t drafted: Neither of these guys is a prototype NFL defensive end. Hickman in particular is small for the position, and the fact that he spent his first two years in community college raises questions about his past, which may have scared suitors in the Roger Goodell era. Bruce posted a bad 40 time (5.03), and most of his stats apparently came against inferior competition.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Both of these players were members of the 2006 All-Pac-10 defensive team, combining for 162 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, and 30.5 sacks in their senior campaigns. A lot of NFL teams could use that kind of help. In a draft without combines, they both may have gone of the board on day 1. Bruce could still be able to gain 20-30 pounds and be able to stand up to most any NFL offensive tackle.
• Other worthy candidates: Victor Degrate, Oklahoma State; Bryan Andrews, Wake Forest.

Defensive Tackles: Ray McDonald, Florida David Patterson, Ohio State and Joe Anoai, Georgia Tech.

• Why they weren’t drafted: It was really difficult to guage a defensive tackle with statistics, because they have the fewest of any defensive players. Both of these players had to battle injuries while in college, and McDonald was considered too small for a tackle. It also didn’t help that teammates Marcus Thomas, Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey stole the spotlight on the Gators D-line.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Anoai has been excellent in penetrating opposing offensive lines, as nearly 25% of his tackles in 2006 were for loss. For his efforts Anoai made 1st team All ACC honors. McDonald is unusually agile for his position, and could play either tackle or end in the NFL. If he were to put on 20-30 pounds without losing speed, he can become a big mismatch. Patterson, along with Quinn Pitcock, helped anchor an otherwise very inexperienced Ohio State defense; they ultimately ranked higher in in total defense overall versus 2005, despite the fact that Patterson and Pitcock were the only returning starters.
• Other worthy candidates: David Patterson, Ohio State; Ramel Meekins, Rutgers.

UPDATE: McDonald DID get drafted-on the first day, no less! So I put Patterson on the D-line instead. He’s still a great player on this team.

Linebackers- Rufus Alexander (OLB), Oklahoma Desmond Sims (OLB), Arkansas, Quinton Culberson (MLB), Mississippi State and Tony Taylor (OLB), Georgia.

• Why they weren’t drafted: All of these players were passed on for different reasons. Alexander Sims is smaller than most linebackers (6′ 228 pounds) and is not great in coverage. Taylor has had to face serious injuries throughout his college career. Culberson played for an SEC doormat, has been in trouble with the law as a teenager, and was overshadowed in his own state by one of the top linebackers in the nation, Patrick Willis.
• Why they could play in the NFL: They have all been top performers in college against top competition. Alexander led the Sooners with 118 tackles en route to becoming the 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Sims is a freak athlete; he weighs 288 pounds but runs a 4.62 40. He can play linebacker or defensive end. Culberson was 1st team All SEC at linebacker with 102 tackles and 9 tackles for loss. Taylor, a second team All SEC winner, may have had the most impressive senior season of all, with 96 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 7 interceptions (5th in the NCAA at any position), and two defensive touchdowns. All could fare well in a Cover 2 scheme.
• Other worthy candidates: Jon Abbate, Wake Forest; Marcus Bacon, Missouri.

UPDATE: I knew I shouldn’t have rushed with compiling the defense. Rufus Alexander was also taken, so Desmond Sims takes his place. Deadspin is like HDTV: all of your flaws are exposed.
Cornerbacks- Kenny Scott, Georgia Tech and Anthony Arline, Baylor.

• Why they weren’t drafted: The case of Kenny Scott hits home for me. I was convinced that he was the caliber of an athlete that would get drafted on the first day. However, scouts were scared off because his play was inconsistent, he was thin for his height at the position (6’1″, 179), and he was declared academically ineligible for the 2007 Gator Bowl, which I did not know before the draft. As if playing at the perennial cupcake that is Baylor didn’t make Arline obscure enough, he had to stand in the shadow of his teammate, C.J. Wilson.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Most of the top receivers in the NFL have an unbelievable combination of size and speed, so having one, let alone two, tall and fast corners is going to be a huge asset. Scott and Arline are 6’1″ and 6’2″ and run a 4.39 and 4.43 40 time, respectively. In addition to his stats (50 tackles in 2006) and ACC play, he has shown his abililty to come through on important plays as evidence by the video below. But beyond everything else, remember this: Kenny Scott has had to spend every day in practice for the last three years defending Calvin Johnson. He is ready to take NFL receivers’ best shots right now.

• Other worthy candidates: DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State; Travarous Bain, Hampton.

Safeties- Eric Wicks, West Virginia Jesse Daniels, LSU and Melvin Bullitt, Texas A&M.

• Why they weren’t drafted: With the proliferation of the Cover 2 and offenses continuing to spread the field, having a good safety in the NFL is more important now than ever. This was reflected in the teams’ draft strategies, as nearly as many safeties (8) were drafted as cornerbacks (9) or linebackers (11). Yet neither of these two players were drafted. Bullitt (who has a great name for a safety) was a solid starter but did not have good hands, intercepting only 4 passes in his career. Scouts also thought he wasn’t aggressive enough. Daniels, despite his solid career, was playing sidekick to fellow Tiger safety and first round pick Laron Landry. Scouts believe he was too short (5’10″) and too injured to be a defensive back in the NFL.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Both of these players had stellar senior season, winning all-conference awards for their efforts. Daniels had 47 tackles and was helped the Tigers a lot in run support. Bullitt ran a 4.49 40, so he has the speed to keep deep pass plays in front of him. A typical NFL scheme would put Bullit at free safety and Daniels at strong safety.
• Other worthy candidates: Tra Battle, Georgia; C.J. Wallace, Washington.

UPDATE: The eligibility of Eric Wicks on this list has been very, very confusing. This source listed him as a senior in 2006, and this source listed him as draft eligible for 2007, which led me to placing Wicks on this list. Wikipedia says Wicks is returning in 2007, yet lists him as a sophomore in 2004 and a junior in 2005. Only at the Mountaineers website is he clearly listed as a eligible for the 2007 season. Even if he was eligible for the draft, there are enough doubts to take him off this list.
BONUS! Punter- Sean Douglas, Washington.

• Why he didn’t get drafted: It’s a miracle to be drafted as a punter to begin with, but Douglas was not always consistent.
• Why he could play in the NFL: He has a cannon for a leg, and when consistent he is very accurate. He also has had to punt for four Seattle autumns, so he should be able to adapt to bad conditions.
• Other worthy candidates: Kody Bliss, Auburn.

So there you have it: the 2007 NFL All-Undrafted team. Think that any of these players are undeserving of this list or know any blatant snubs? Let me know in the comments. Next, I’ll introduce you a place where all of these players can play, even if they don’t make the NFL-and it isn’t the CFL or “NFL Deustchland.”

2007 NFL All-Undrafted Team: Offense

The draft is now over, and 255 players will now prove their worth in NFL training camps. But what about the players who went undrafted? Sure, they got rejected-255 times-but many of the game’s greats either were drafted late or not at all. The Rams won a Super Bowl on the shoulders of Kurt Warner, a player who went undrafted from 1-AA Northern Iowa. Jake Delhomme, Priest Holmes, and Wayne Chrebet all went undrafted as well, yet all have found success in the league.

This made me wonder: Who could be the next diamond in the rough? Which undrafted players eligible this year may end up on an NFL team eventually? What if some coach/GM were to develop a Bill Belichick-like hubris and compose an entire starting lineup out of undrafted college stars? Who would he pick?

This post seeks to answer that question. I will provide 22 players, 11 on offense (today) and 11 on defense (tomorrow), whom could stand a chance at an NFL career. Presenting the 2007 NFL All-Undrafted Team:

Quarterback-Jared Zabransky, Boise State.

• Why he wasn’t drafted: Zabransky has a throwing motion similar to that of a fish. He also isn’t comfortable in the pocket, and at a mid-major often did not play against good defenses.
• Why he could play in the NFL: Of all the quarterbacks in the draft this year, the southpaw ginger had the highest winning percentage of them all (33-5, 23-1 in the WAC). And while his throwing motion is suspect, Zabransky completed 66.3% of his passes for 2587, 23 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. He had the 6th highest QB efficiency in Division 1-A (sorry, Bowl Subdivision), and the second best of any undrafted quarterback, behind Pittsburgh’s Tyler Palko.
• Other worthy candidates: Palko, Zac Taylor (Nebraska).

Running Backs- Jon Cornish, Kansas and Steve Baylark, UMass.

• Why they weren’t drafted: At 5’11” and 106 206 pounds, the Canadian Cornish is slightly undersized for an NFL back. He didn’t compensate with speed, running a 4.62 40 (most top prospects ran in the 4.4 range). He also didn’t play for a collegiate powerhouse, obscured behind Mark Mangino’s fat ass. Had he achieve his same stats playing for a team like USC and the svelte Pete Caroll, He certainly would have been drafted in day 1. Baylark didn’t garner much attention because, well, he played for UMass, and unless you are directly associated with a school, it’s hard to keep track of Division 1-AA (sorry, Championship Subdivision). His 4.7 40 time was another strike against him.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Adrian Peterson’s injury affected this statistic, but Cornish led the Big 12 and all undrafted Bowl Subdivision (yech, that’s a mouthful) players in rushing with 1,457 yards and 8 touchdowns playing for the Big 12 North’s best rushing attack. Baylark led ALL of Division I with 1,960 yards in his senior year, and 5,332 yards over his career at UMass. Since most NFL teams must now resort to a two halfback system, both of these players could make excellent contributions even as secondary backs.
• Other worthy candidates: Darius Walker (Notre Dame), Amir Pinnix (Minnesota) Josh Allen, Maryland.

Wide Receivers- Jerard Rabb, Boise State and David Ball, New Hampshire.

• Why they weren’t drafted: Like Baylark, Ball cut his teeth in 1-AA (that other name is too long). Scouts may also consider him too small (6′) to be an inside receiver and too slow (4.65 40) to be a deep threat. The third and final strike against him in NFL teams’ eyes, as silly as it seems, could be that he’s a white guy playing receiver. Despite having the right physical tools, Rabb began his career in community college before going to Boise State, which could lead to questions about his character, a big no-no in Roger Goodell’s new world order.
• Why they could play in the NFL: Ball set a new Division 1-AA record for career touchdowns with 50, breaking Jerry Rice’s old mark. Over his career he amassed 4,655 yards on 304 receptions. As for Rabb, I could describe his statistics, or his physical prowess, but all you need to see is this video:

 

• Other worthy candidates: Terry Moss (Ball State, highest yards per catch in NCAA).

Tight End- Joe Newton, Oregon State.

• Why he wasn’t drafted: The NFL wasn’t particularly interested in tight ends this year, only drafting three in the first three rounds, one simply by virtue of being a tall, fast TE playing for Miami. Newton missed the entire 2005 season due to injury, so scouts may have had health concerns as well.
• Why he could play in the NFL: The guy is 6’7″, for crying out loud! Even with an average 40 time for his position (4.9), his size makes him an easy target and a quarterback’s dream in the red zone (he had 14 TD catches in two full seasons as a starter). It also could help him develop into a great lead blocker.
• Other worthy candidates: Johnny Harline (BYU), Ben Patrick (Delaware). All of the draft prognosticators have Patrick ranked higher among tight ends, but even though he finished his career at Delaware, he began his career at–and graduated from–Duke. This I cannot forgive.

Offensive Line- Nathan Bennett (G) and Marion Dukes (T), Clemson, Daniel Inman (T), Georgia, Eric Robertson (G, no photo), California, and Lyle Sendlein (C), Texas.

 

• Why they weren’t drafted: Since they don’t accumulate stats (except sacks allowed), very little is known about offensive linemen at first glance (or at all, for that matter).
• Why they could play in the NFL: I chose these linemen for three simple reasons: 1) they played for big programs and thus faced tough defenses; 2) their quarterbacks were among the least sacked in the nation; and 3) in the case of all but one (Inman), their teams had a formidable running game. Those metrics, while simple, are all indicators of a great offensive line.
• Other worthy candidates: Scott Smith (Cal), Matt Spanos (USC), Renardo Foster and Kurt Quarterman (Louisville), Dan Mozes (West Virginia).

BONUS! Kicker- John Vaughn, Auburn.

• Why he wasn’t drafted: Auburn vs. LSU, October 22, 2005. Vaughn was 0-4 on field goals, including a 39 yarder to win.
• Why he could play in the NFL: The rest of his college career. Since that game, he has been one of the best kickers in the nation, becoming a finalist for the 2006 Lou Groza Award.
• Other Worthy candidates: Vaughn’s backup at Auburn, Matt Clark. I base this on absolutely nothing.

There is your 2007 NFL All-Undrafted Team on offense. Do you know any undeserving players on this team or some blaring snubs? Let me know in the comments. Next: the 2007 All-Undrafted Team on defense.

UPDATE: I have now posted the Defensive All-Undrafted team!