XFL DRAFT GRADES.........

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Notes and thoughts from from both the Draft and pre-training camp analysis:

Birmingham Bolts
1. Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (FL)
2. Vernon Davis, TE, Georgia
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College
4. Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
5. Jason Allen, S, Tennessee
6. Tautusi Lutui, OG, USC
7. Connor Hughes, K, Virginia
8. Rashon Powers-Neal, FB, Notre Dame

Draft grade: A, if everyone stays, C+ if they 'bolt'
In a word, SPEED. The Bolts went for it and got, ....in spades. Only they might have done too good a job. Vernon Davis, who at the combine just blew everyone away, has probably played himself into the top 7-8 of the NFL. The chances of the Bolts signing him are slim and none (is that slim sneaking off to the exit?). Otherwise, Moss, Allen, Dumervil, and Kiwanuka were as advertised, with Allen's stock moving up as well. All in all, 3 or 4 players may decide that the NFL has more to offer, so stay tuned.

Carolina Colonels
1. Manny Lawson, DE, North Carolina State
2. Claude Wroten, DT, LSU
3. Daryn Colledge, OT, Boise State
4. Dusty Dvoracek, DT, Oklahoma
5. Kevin Boothe, OG, Cornell
6. Jeremy Trueblood, OT, Boston College
7. Derek Morris, OT, North Carolina State
8. Patrick Ross, C, Boston College

Draft grade: B
Hmmm, I'm guessing the Colonels need line help on both sides, cause that's all they went for:O-line and D-line. Big time rusher landed in Lawson, who ran much faster than advertised (4.43). Mixed bag with the tackles, but Colledge looks like a keeper. both DT's also came in heavier (too much holiday food?), and it affected their times. They picked up a very good C with the last pick in Ross.

Chicago Enforcers
1. Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP
2. Roger McIntosh, LB, Miami (FL)
3. Cedric Griffin, CB, Texas
4. Maurice Stovall, WR, Notre Dame
5. Darryl Tapp, DE, Virginia Tech
6. Joe Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado
7. Matt Bernstein, FB, Wisconsin
8. Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State

Draft grade: B+
Must have known that they'd be losing linebackers, and the two they picked are studs. Howard could be this year's DeMarcus Ware and end up starting right away. Griffin, Tapp and Stovall should pan out. Bernstein and Klopfenstein were so-so, and if they think Wimbley is staying, especially after the Steelers looked long and hard at him, think again.

Dallas Vipers
1a. Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas
1b. Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
2. A.J. Nicholson, LB, Florida State
3. Brad Smith, QB, Missouri
4. Will Allen, OG, Texas
5. Travis Leffew, OT, Louisville
6. Ben Obomanu, WR, Auburn
7. Darrell Hunter, CB, Miami (OH)
8. Tyrone Culver, S, Fresno State

Draft grade: B-
Houston Texans take note: this is what happens when you draft with your heart, not your head. On paper, the first 3 picks all look like studs. But the game is not played on paper. Both Scott and Nicholson, looked VERY sluggish at the combine. Not to say that they won't pan out, but these two guys have to be downgraded at least a notch. Santonio Holmes is all but destined to go in the NFL top 15 so, what will Dallas have to show for themselves when the season starts? With the drafting of Brad Smith, will he be the XFL's Randle El? They did get a lot of value with their late round picks, so this draft is not as bad as it seems.

More teams to follow later on........

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Detroit Mustangs
1. Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan
2. Travis Wilson, WR, Oklahoma
3. Stephen Tulloch, LB, North Carolina State
4. Jarvis Herring, S, Florida
5. Marvin Philip, C, California
6. Josh Betts, QB, Miami (OH)
7. Jeremy Bloom, WR, Colorado
8. Will Montgomery, OG, Virginia Tech

Draft grade: C
Watson is a monster. Period. Day 1 starter for years to come. Wilson needs to live up to his pre-2005 billing (or was he exposed when Mark Clayton left for the NFL?). Tulloch is a speedy LB who WILL light up a unsuspecting WR or RB. Herring was a MAJOR reach in the fourth round. Betts will need time to develop. As for the rest of the draft, there are some major questions that hope to be answered by the start of the season.

Jacksonville Bulls
1. Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
2. Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn
3. Troy Bergeron, WR, Georgia Force (AFL)
4. Dan Stevenson, OG, Notre Dame
5. T.J. Williams, TE, North Carolina State
6. Brian Iwuh, LB, Colorado
7. Anthony Cannon, LB, Tulane
8. Khalid Naziruddin, CB, Texas Tech

Draft grade: A-
Jackson is a bonifide stud. If Santonio Holmes was the number 1A WR in this draft, Jackson proved at the combines that he is 1B, and Moss is 1C. Bergeron has been a pro already in the AFL. The question is, can his game translate to the outdoors? Williams is very underrated as a TE. McGlover could end up as another Simeon Rice. Is Iwuh a LB or a S? Time will tell.

Kansas City Monarchs
1. LenDale White, RB, USC
2a. Darnell Bing, S, USC
2b. Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State
3. Devin Hester, CB, Miami (FL)
4. Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State
5. Garrett Mills, FB, Tulsa
6. Mark Setterstrom, OT, Wisconsin
7. Martin Nance, WR, Miami (OH)
8. Michael Robinson, QB, Penn State

Draft grade: A, no A+ 'cause Carpenter's gone
Ya know, I'd be kinda upset if I knew LenDale White was almost 20 pounds overweight (253) during the National Championship Game due to overeating. But the way he still knocked over Texas for 141 yards and 3 scores, I'd be even more upset as a D. Co-ord. that he still could beat 'em up like that. If Coach Henderson can motivate him like that every week, a LOT of coach are going to need Pepto-Bismol for breakfast. He can be THAT good. The Monarchs' secondary last season had more holes than a sieve. Not any more. Between Bing, Hester and Marshall, Coach Sanders has some major weapons to work with. With the way Carpenter impressed at the combine, more than likely he's gone to the NFL. KC also went the Randle El route with Robinson. Mills and Setterstrom could start by '07.

Las Vegas Outlaws
1. Eric Winston, OT, Miami (FL)
2. Devan Long, DE, Oregon
3. Jerome Harrison, RB, Washington State
4. Tim Day, TE, Oregon
5. Roman Harper, S, Alabama
6. Jeff Webb, WR, San Diego State
7. Nick Mihlhauser, C, Washington State
8. Harrison Smith, CB, California

Draft grade: A-
Winston proved he was fully recovered from his injury. I think he can push to start for '07 for the champs. Long will need some time to develop as a DE. He'll get it too. Day will pan out as a TE, maybe as a Stephen Alexander type. Underrated back in Harrison WILL make some noise in the XFL, mark my words. Smith has good size for a CB. Mihlhauser was great value for his draft spot. Webb may not be a burner but he can make the catch in traffic.

More teams to follow later on........

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Los Angeles Xtreme
1. Maurice Drew, RB, UCLA
2. Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame
3. Kelly Jennings, CB, Miami (FL)
4. Demetrius Williams, WR, Oregon
5. Spencer Havner, LB, UCLA
6. Anwar Phillips, CB, Penn State
7. Hank Baskett, WR, New Mexico
8. Travis Lulay, QB, Montana State

Draft grade: A
With the top four RB's electing NOT to run in Indy, it opened the door a crack to others like Drew. And did he ever kick the door down, running a 4.39 that led the way of all RB's. Williams and Fasano were great choices, especially Fasano, who was coached by Charlie Weis. Baskett will play with a chip on his shoulder thinking he should have gone higher.Philips is a boom or bust pick. Lulay did raise some eye but he's better offsitting for now and soaking it all in.

Memphis Maniax
1. Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU
2. Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina
3. Charles Gordon, CB, Kansas
4. Erik Meyer, QB, Eastern Washington
5. Sean O’Callaghan, OG, California
6. David Pittman, CB, Northwestern State
7. Drouzon Quillen, Louisiana-Monroe
8. Bernard Pollard, S, Purdue

Draft grade: B
Memphis had the league leading rusher year season, now they have another pair of widebodies to protect him in Whitworth and O'Callaghan, thought the jury is still out for the G from Cal. Gordon was one of the few CB who didn't impress at the combines, so he may need more work. The same can not be said for Simpson, as he blew away every S not named Bing or Huff. Pittman was a excellent pick-up in round 6. With half the draft picks being in the secondary, can one of them crack the starting line-up? We'll see.

New York Hitmen
1. Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State
3. Greg Lee, WR, Pittsburgh
4. Kwakou Robinson, DT, Virginia
5. Jahmile Addae, S, West Virginia
6. Josh Lay, CB, Pittsburgh
7. Charles Bennett, CB, Clemson
8. Pierre Woods, LB, Michigan

Draft grade: B+
After taking care of their RB problem with a trade for Shehee, the Hitmen went out and got the best center in the draft to block for him. Greg Lee was something of a disappointment at the combines. Addae is a big hitter in the mold of Adam Archeleta. Pierre Woods is a BIG LB at 6'5", but he's got good range, so he might stick.


Orlando Rage
1. Joseph Addai, RB, LSU
2. Davin Joseph, OG, Oklahoma
3. Rashad Butler, OT, Miami (FL)
4. Mark Anderson, DE, Alabama
5. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State
6. Tre’ Stallings, OT, Mississippi
7. Aaron Harris, LB, Texas
8. Javon Nanton, DE, Miami (FL)

Draft grade: B+
Orlando made a very smart pickup in Addai. He wasn't one of the "Big Four", but at the combines, he was the best back who did all the reps. Butler, Stallings and Anderson were smart pick-ups, and Butler and Anderson can challenge for a starting job this season. Cromartie won't remind anyone of Deion, but he is fully recovered from surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2005 season. Harris and Nanton are speed guys who will need time to develop.

More teams to follow later on.....

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Pittsburgh Ironmen
1. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
2. Charles Spencer, OG, Pittsburgh
3. Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa
4. Orien Harris, DT, Miami (FL)
5. Troy Redd-ck, OT, Auburn
6. Drew Olson, QB, UCLA
7. Frostee Rucker, DE, USC
8. Alan Zemaitis, CB, Penn State

Draft Grade: B-, till we know what happens to Williams, Hodge & Zemaitis
DeAngelo Williams has been a heavily-sought back these past 2 seasons. First, Memphis last season completed a huge draft day trade, hoping he'd come out early, then with the Monarchs' trading Shehee, there was talk that he'd be the number one pick. only problem is, couple of teams in the NFL Draft's top ten were looking at him, especially Arizona. So will he or won't he? Spencer was ok at the combines as far as guards go. With Hodge and Harris, their defensejust gor better - period. Abdul Hodge (if he stays) will make people pay for coming across the middle. Harris was underrated as far as DT's go, but he openned eyes at the combines. Zemaitis will not be there at the seventh round, as he'll be drafted way before that by the NFL.

San Francisco Demons
1. Gerald Riggs Jr., RB, Tennessee
2. Donnie McCleskey, S, California
3. Manase Hopoi, DT, Washington
4. Donovan Raiola, C, Wisconsin
5. David Thomas, TE, Texas
6. Freddie Keiaho, LB, San Diego State
7. John Walker, CB, USC
8. Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State

Draft Grade: B+
Solid draft overall, but no player really stands out. Riggs had some injury problems at Tenn., so the question is -can he overcome them in the pros? McCleskey didn't get the press of Simpson, Allen or Bing, but he's really talented S who could play both spots. Hopoi is just FAST, almost too fast for a DT, and might be shifted to DE. He will be taking up space. Walker got lost in the shuffle with the othe USC hopefuls, but he's actually a decent CB. Schlegel will have his work cut out for him at the next level.

Seattle Reign
2. Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
3. Mike Hass, WR, Oregon State
4. Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State
5. Dominique Byrd, TE, USC
6. Marcus Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
7. Will Derting, LB, Washington State
8. Fred Matua, OG, USC

Draft Grade: B, A- if Vick pans out
Intriguing draft in more ways than one. Hill is a true shut down corner and can start from day 1. Hass and Hagan, like most of the the WR's at the combines failed to really distinguish themselves. Byrd is a VERY solid pass-catching TE. But the biggest question is: can Vick put his troubled past behind him and truly play up to his potential? If so, then Seattle found themselves a gem. If not, we might have a Clarett situation again.

Washington Glory
2. D’Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland
4. Victor Adenjayu, DE, Indiana
5. Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota
6. Rob Sims, OG, Ohio State
7. Barrick Nealy, QB, Texas State
8. Danieal Manning, CB, Abilene Christian

Draft Grade: B+
With no first or third round pick due to trade, the Glory had to work really hard to justify their draft. The top half says they did. Jackson shoud have gone in the first round. Adenjayu is a speed end who needs some refining. Eslinger and Sims are solid O-line choices. The wildcard in this draft is Nealy. Is he a QB or a WR? How good is he at either position? We'll see once the season starts.