R. Rich
06-15-2005, 10:32 AM
Assassins Trade Quantity For Quality
By: Staff
The Erie Assassins made the move to trade back into the first round, giving up their second and third round picks in the process. They later moved back into a second pick in the fifth round by giving up their sixth through eighth round picks. Here’s what they did with the picks they had:
Round 1(#2): Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
Round 1(#19): Thomas Davis, S/LB, Georgia
Round 4(#19): Craphonso Thorpe, WR, Florida State
Round 5(#2): Marion Barber III, RB, Minnesota
Round 5(#4): Chris Canty, DE, Virginia
Assassins owner/president R. Rich reportedly wanted to continue to build a young, dominant defense, so the focus of the first pick went there. Some thought once they found out the Assassins had the #2 overall pick that it would be used on a WR, in particular Mike Williams of USC, a player the Assassins were high on. Director of Player Personnel Phil Savage explained that, “We want to continue to build a strong foundation here. We realize, like the old saying goes, that defense wins championships. That being the case, we will continue to put into place the personnel that reflect our defensive focus. That was the strategy we used successfully when I was in Baltimore, and we will use that same strategy here.”
The move to get Thomas Davis was one that many insiders saw coming. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Davis shot up the Assassins’ draft board. He should fit in somewhere on this defense, either at safety or at linebacker. Whichever position he settles in, he will be an impact player. Sources have said that Bryan Scott, who is penciled in as the starter at strong safety, is happy to have Davis aboard, as it will force him to sharpen his own skills to keep him as the starter. Scott reportedly has no animosity towards Davis and also is not threatened by him. According to sources, Scott has said that he, “..is the starter and will remain the starter.”
Thorpe is not who the Assassins had targeted as a receiver (they were hoping for Hampton’s Jerome Mathis), but he does have good speed, decent size, and can leap for jump balls in the red zone. The team is really hoping that Thorpe pans out for them.
The other trade to move back into a high fifth round pick was done in order to draft DE Chris Canty plus another player they targeted, RB Eric Shelton. Shelton was taken before their fifth round picks came up, so the Assassins went to an alternative and drafted Minnesota’s Marion Barber III, a good receiver out of the backfield who has good speed and runs well between the tackles, a good fit for the Assassins’ power running game.
Canty was the guy they really wanted to land in the fifth, and they did. A big (6-7, 290) DE w/ a large wingspan and good athletic ability, Canty is a solid value pick in the fifth. He will have to recover from his leg and eye injuries, but, to date, he is recovering very well. If he can come back to form, he will be a tremendous steal for Erie.
Overall, the Assassins focused on acquiring more depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball and to also add a couple weapons for their offense. It appears that they may have succeeded in both attempts.
Assassins’ Rookie Draft 2005: Stocking The D, Neglecting The O
By: Editor
The Erie Assassins had the opportunity to land a superstar player for their star-challenged offense. There was some nice firepower that Byron Leftwich could’ve used and Julius Jones would also appreciate as it would take the heat off of him. WRs like Mike Williams of USC, Troy Williamson of South Carolina, and Mark Clayton of Oklahoma would have been nice moves to make in the first round. They would give the team the playmaker they so desperately need on offense. Alas, not this time. The offense will continue to have to rely on Jones’ running and Leftwich’s ability to make clutch plays without the benefit of a proven go-to receiver. Kelley Washington, Brandon Lloyd, and Tyrone Calico have loads of potential, but that’s all they have to date: potential. No results. Where’s the beef, Erie?
The Assassins now know they need to have a monstrous effort defensively to keep them into games and give them a chance to win. To that end, they spent their 2nd pick overall on Derrick Johnson of Texas, a gifted playmaking LB who is as good in pass coverage as he is in run support as he is in rushing the passer. Johnson is a phenomenal sideline-to-sideline talent who will disrupt opposing offenses a great deal. He will probably be used at ROLB, where his overall athleticism will be of most use. One thing he will need to do there is to improve his strength, so that he can shed his blockers and get into the backfield quicker. Once he’s there, as Dennis Hopper’s referee character would say, there will be “bad things, man. Bad things...” for the offense. Once ready, I could see the following starting group of LBs (from LOLB to ROLB): Jason Babin, Jonathan Vilma, Nick Barnett, and Johnson. Man, that’s a great group!
Erie moved back into the first round by giving up their 2nd and 3rd round picks. This was done to take a shot at one of three players, whoever was available: WR Mark Clayton of Oklahoma, DE Marcus Spears of LSU, and the player they chose, S/LB Thomas Davis of Georgia. Davis is a player on the rise, and he went from being an afterthought to being the #3 guy on the Assassins’ draft board behind Johnson and Clayton. He is an incredible talent, one who is a very physical player near the line of scrimmage and a hard hitter who intimidates receivers and running backs alike. It is unclear as to whether or not he’ll end up at safety or linebacker, but my guess is safety, as the linebacker position for the Assassins is so loaded right now, he’d never see the field. For the Assassins to get the top 2 defensive players on their draft board in the first round was a nice coup.
Their next pick, their 4th round pick, went to address the receiver position. The guy they had in mind here, Hampton’s Jerome Mathis, was long gone, so Florida State speedster Craphonso Thorpe was the pick. Thorpe has the tools: speed, hands, and good leaping ability, but is coming off a lackluster senior year and didn’t impress many in postseason games/workouts. This is a reach for Erie, and one they’d better pray works out in their favor. Their receiving corps is very inexperienced and not talent-laden by any means. They need for Thorpe to be the real deal.
Another trade brought the Assassins a second pick in round five, which they used to get a player they were very interested in: DE Chris Canty of Virginia. Canty is a big guy with good athleticism who can, if healthy, challenge Anthony Weaver or Randy Starks for a starting positon. He is a good fit for a 3-4 defense and played for Assassins’ Defensive Coordinator Al Golden at Virginia. He injured a knee that ended his senior year prematurely, a senior year that was going quite well. In addition to the knee, he sustained an eye injury in January that requied recent surgery. The surgery went well and Canty is on the mend. He should be in training camp on time. If he comes back strong from these injuries, this move could be the steal of the draft.
Before picking Canty, the Assassins lost out on another offensive player they coveted when RB Eric Shelton of Louisville was drafted in the 4th round. He is a younger version of Jerome Bettis: a big back with great power who would’ve been the perfect fit for their running game. Since Shelton was gone, the team drafted smaller, speedier Marion Barber III out of Minnesota. Barber has good hands and will be used as a receiver out of the backfield, probably on third downs. Barber will challenge Jonathan Wells for the backup RB position.
What do I think of this draft? It’s okay. Defensively, the Assassins did very well in getting talent and possible depth, just as they did in the stocking draft. Unfortunately, just like the stocking draft, they also did very little to upgrade their offensive backfield. This could help them, as they seem intent on mirroring the moves the Baltimore Ravens made that got them a Super Bowl championship: a good offensive line, a strong running game, and a shutdown defense. But, if the moves don’t pan out, this could be a long, frustrating season for the Assassins.
By: Staff
The Erie Assassins made the move to trade back into the first round, giving up their second and third round picks in the process. They later moved back into a second pick in the fifth round by giving up their sixth through eighth round picks. Here’s what they did with the picks they had:
Round 1(#2): Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
Round 1(#19): Thomas Davis, S/LB, Georgia
Round 4(#19): Craphonso Thorpe, WR, Florida State
Round 5(#2): Marion Barber III, RB, Minnesota
Round 5(#4): Chris Canty, DE, Virginia
Assassins owner/president R. Rich reportedly wanted to continue to build a young, dominant defense, so the focus of the first pick went there. Some thought once they found out the Assassins had the #2 overall pick that it would be used on a WR, in particular Mike Williams of USC, a player the Assassins were high on. Director of Player Personnel Phil Savage explained that, “We want to continue to build a strong foundation here. We realize, like the old saying goes, that defense wins championships. That being the case, we will continue to put into place the personnel that reflect our defensive focus. That was the strategy we used successfully when I was in Baltimore, and we will use that same strategy here.”
The move to get Thomas Davis was one that many insiders saw coming. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Davis shot up the Assassins’ draft board. He should fit in somewhere on this defense, either at safety or at linebacker. Whichever position he settles in, he will be an impact player. Sources have said that Bryan Scott, who is penciled in as the starter at strong safety, is happy to have Davis aboard, as it will force him to sharpen his own skills to keep him as the starter. Scott reportedly has no animosity towards Davis and also is not threatened by him. According to sources, Scott has said that he, “..is the starter and will remain the starter.”
Thorpe is not who the Assassins had targeted as a receiver (they were hoping for Hampton’s Jerome Mathis), but he does have good speed, decent size, and can leap for jump balls in the red zone. The team is really hoping that Thorpe pans out for them.
The other trade to move back into a high fifth round pick was done in order to draft DE Chris Canty plus another player they targeted, RB Eric Shelton. Shelton was taken before their fifth round picks came up, so the Assassins went to an alternative and drafted Minnesota’s Marion Barber III, a good receiver out of the backfield who has good speed and runs well between the tackles, a good fit for the Assassins’ power running game.
Canty was the guy they really wanted to land in the fifth, and they did. A big (6-7, 290) DE w/ a large wingspan and good athletic ability, Canty is a solid value pick in the fifth. He will have to recover from his leg and eye injuries, but, to date, he is recovering very well. If he can come back to form, he will be a tremendous steal for Erie.
Overall, the Assassins focused on acquiring more depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball and to also add a couple weapons for their offense. It appears that they may have succeeded in both attempts.
Assassins’ Rookie Draft 2005: Stocking The D, Neglecting The O
By: Editor
The Erie Assassins had the opportunity to land a superstar player for their star-challenged offense. There was some nice firepower that Byron Leftwich could’ve used and Julius Jones would also appreciate as it would take the heat off of him. WRs like Mike Williams of USC, Troy Williamson of South Carolina, and Mark Clayton of Oklahoma would have been nice moves to make in the first round. They would give the team the playmaker they so desperately need on offense. Alas, not this time. The offense will continue to have to rely on Jones’ running and Leftwich’s ability to make clutch plays without the benefit of a proven go-to receiver. Kelley Washington, Brandon Lloyd, and Tyrone Calico have loads of potential, but that’s all they have to date: potential. No results. Where’s the beef, Erie?
The Assassins now know they need to have a monstrous effort defensively to keep them into games and give them a chance to win. To that end, they spent their 2nd pick overall on Derrick Johnson of Texas, a gifted playmaking LB who is as good in pass coverage as he is in run support as he is in rushing the passer. Johnson is a phenomenal sideline-to-sideline talent who will disrupt opposing offenses a great deal. He will probably be used at ROLB, where his overall athleticism will be of most use. One thing he will need to do there is to improve his strength, so that he can shed his blockers and get into the backfield quicker. Once he’s there, as Dennis Hopper’s referee character would say, there will be “bad things, man. Bad things...” for the offense. Once ready, I could see the following starting group of LBs (from LOLB to ROLB): Jason Babin, Jonathan Vilma, Nick Barnett, and Johnson. Man, that’s a great group!
Erie moved back into the first round by giving up their 2nd and 3rd round picks. This was done to take a shot at one of three players, whoever was available: WR Mark Clayton of Oklahoma, DE Marcus Spears of LSU, and the player they chose, S/LB Thomas Davis of Georgia. Davis is a player on the rise, and he went from being an afterthought to being the #3 guy on the Assassins’ draft board behind Johnson and Clayton. He is an incredible talent, one who is a very physical player near the line of scrimmage and a hard hitter who intimidates receivers and running backs alike. It is unclear as to whether or not he’ll end up at safety or linebacker, but my guess is safety, as the linebacker position for the Assassins is so loaded right now, he’d never see the field. For the Assassins to get the top 2 defensive players on their draft board in the first round was a nice coup.
Their next pick, their 4th round pick, went to address the receiver position. The guy they had in mind here, Hampton’s Jerome Mathis, was long gone, so Florida State speedster Craphonso Thorpe was the pick. Thorpe has the tools: speed, hands, and good leaping ability, but is coming off a lackluster senior year and didn’t impress many in postseason games/workouts. This is a reach for Erie, and one they’d better pray works out in their favor. Their receiving corps is very inexperienced and not talent-laden by any means. They need for Thorpe to be the real deal.
Another trade brought the Assassins a second pick in round five, which they used to get a player they were very interested in: DE Chris Canty of Virginia. Canty is a big guy with good athleticism who can, if healthy, challenge Anthony Weaver or Randy Starks for a starting positon. He is a good fit for a 3-4 defense and played for Assassins’ Defensive Coordinator Al Golden at Virginia. He injured a knee that ended his senior year prematurely, a senior year that was going quite well. In addition to the knee, he sustained an eye injury in January that requied recent surgery. The surgery went well and Canty is on the mend. He should be in training camp on time. If he comes back strong from these injuries, this move could be the steal of the draft.
Before picking Canty, the Assassins lost out on another offensive player they coveted when RB Eric Shelton of Louisville was drafted in the 4th round. He is a younger version of Jerome Bettis: a big back with great power who would’ve been the perfect fit for their running game. Since Shelton was gone, the team drafted smaller, speedier Marion Barber III out of Minnesota. Barber has good hands and will be used as a receiver out of the backfield, probably on third downs. Barber will challenge Jonathan Wells for the backup RB position.
What do I think of this draft? It’s okay. Defensively, the Assassins did very well in getting talent and possible depth, just as they did in the stocking draft. Unfortunately, just like the stocking draft, they also did very little to upgrade their offensive backfield. This could help them, as they seem intent on mirroring the moves the Baltimore Ravens made that got them a Super Bowl championship: a good offensive line, a strong running game, and a shutdown defense. But, if the moves don’t pan out, this could be a long, frustrating season for the Assassins.