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**Mcnair-to-Calico** · 01-07-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bobo@Jan 7th '06 @ 12:50 am
I think MLB Kevin Simon may be there in the 4th.

I hope Bing could help our pass coverage....which I'm sure can't get any worse ops:" class="inlineimg" />

I like Bing and hope we draft him i think he would help the secondary a whole lot

DJ Boyer · 01-07-2006, 03:13 PM

Only problem with writeup on ferguson...saying that he and Butler are the only ones to start every game the last two years...that is not true....ferguson has not and Butler had a 1 game suspension after his illegal block on Kiwanuka against BC.

**Mcnair-to-Calico** · 01-07-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DJ Boyer@Jan 7th '06 @ 3:13 pm
Only problem with writeup on ferguson...saying that he and Butler are the only ones to start every game the last two years...that is not true....ferguson has not and Butler had a 1 game suspension after his illegal block on Kiwanuka against BC.

still missed 1 game thats fine with me if we cant get Young or Bush D'brick i think will be a BEAST

Bulluck53 · 01-18-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Wednesday, 01/18/06

Titans' Reese likes draft options

Impressed with USC stars Bush, Leinart and Texas' Young

By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer

Titans General Manager Floyd Reese could probably talk for days about the talent at the top of this year's draft class. Until yesterday, however, he was tight-lipped — but for a reason.

While waiting for juniors to make themselves eligible — and then wanting to give the process an extra 48 hours just in case — the NFL asked team officials to steer clear of discussing underclassmen publicly.

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Now that USC running back Reggie Bush and Texas quarterback Vince Young are officially NFL-bound, Reese no longer has to hide his feelings.

He has reasons to shout. Putting those juniors with USC quarterback Matt Leinart, the Titans look to be in a great spot. They're scheduled to pick third, behind only the Texans and Saints, when the NFL Draft begins on April 29.

"I think at this point, those guys are probably as highly rated as a top group that has come out in a while. They all look to be great players,'' Reese said yesterday. "Now what happens two or three years from now, of course we don't know.

"But you have two Heisman Trophy winners, and all three have won a national championship. You start listing all the things that would classify you as a 'star' and probably those three guys have more of those than any three have come out in a while.''

So which of the three do the Titans want most?

At the beginning of a three-and-a-half month stretch that will be filled with secrecy and deception around the NFL, Reese isn't about to give that away.

In fact, while most figure the Titans would take the one still remaining of the Bush, Young, Leinart trio at pick No. 3, Reese didn't offer any guarantees there either.

Plenty of teams will likely tempt the Titans, Texans and Saints with trade offers.

"That is way out there, but the (third) pick is going to have value. Of course, if someone is willing to pay, then of course there is a price. Those spots can always be bought, it just depends on how much you want to pay,'' said Reese, before bringing up the 1999 trade when the Saints traded all their draft picks — and two more in '00 — to pick running back Ricky Williams.

"You get a Ricky Williams kind of trade or something like that. … I imagine you have to move down and take a look at those things.''

As Reese strolled the sidelines at practices for the East-West Shrine game in San Antonio, he was surrounded by dozens of prospects.

It's safe to say none of them has the credentials of the Big Three.

Young was the big question mark in this year's draft class. Most expected him to return for his senior season at Texas. But after a dazzling performance in the Rose Bowl, when he put up 467 yards of total offense in a win over USC, he opted to come out while his value is sky high.

"I think athletically he has a ton of ability. We've all seen what he can do,'' Reese said. "Now does that project into an NFL star? We've seen the history of young quarterbacks who've gone out and played in the NFL, so we'll see. … He certainly in this draft looks like one of the young guys that has the tools to have a shot at being a great NFL quarterback. He can do some special things, that's for sure.''

When compared to Young, Leinart is regarded as the more polished of the two players. The USC quarterback is more of a pocket passer, one who threw for 3,450 yards and 27 TDs as a senior.

He also led the Trojans to a 37-2 mark in his three years as a starter.

"He's a winner,'' Reese said of Leinart. "He's very, very accurate. He's big. He's smart. You look at the (Tom) Bradys and (Peyton) Mannings and (Carson) Palmers and guys like that, I think he fits in that mold.''

Then there's Bush, this year's Heisman Trophy winner who racked up 6,338 all-purpose yards in his three years at USC, including 1,658 rushing yards last season. In a single game last season against Fresno State, he compiled 513 all-purpose yards.

Many expect the Texans to take Bush first, which would leave the QBs for the Titans. Of the three, Bush figures to make the most immediate impact in the NFL.

"He's a special player. He has talent to do a number of things,'' Reese said. "He has talent to score touchdowns a number of ways. He is probably a cross between a receiver, a running back, a returner, and whatever other star player you want to put in.''

One other player being talked about locally is Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler.

While most draft experts don't have Cutler in their top 10 right now, ESPN's Mel Kiper has Cutler going to the Lions at No. 9 in his first mock draft, released yesterday. NFL officials agree, however, Cutler has a chance to improve his stock beginning next week at the Senior Bowl, and in February at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Cutler made a big jump in the eyes of scouts during his senior season at Vandy, when he was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year.

"I think before the workouts, I think he is probably projected about the third (QB) in the draft,'' Reese said of Cutler. "Now what happens after workouts is of course a different story. He is probably a pretty good blend between Young and Leinart. I think he will (climb).''

Time will tell.

Reese and the Titans got their wish when such a large group of juniors made themselves eligible, which upgraded the draft class significantly. What happens between now and April 29-30 remains to be seen, but if nothing else there's at least reason for optimism for draft fanatics. Some outstanding players are available. At No. 3, the Titans will be within reach.

"I think if you look at what's happened in the draft the last few years, the juniors coming out have affected the upper part of the draft almost every year. I think this year was no exception. Those two guys coming out added depth to the upper part of the round,'' Reese said.

"It bolsters the third position. Even if you don't use it, the value of the position jumps.''