Cory Watch (still going)
Posted 03:58 p.m., April 27, 2008
COLA -- We're now late into the sixth round, and Cory Boyd still has not been selected.
I'm very surprised, for the reasons I outlined in the previous blog.
Consider some of the guys who've gone in the past few picks ...
Thomas Brown of UGA went No. 172 overall to the Falcons. Now, Atlanta always has a penchant to take Bulldogs. But, still, Boyd consistently outperformed Brown over the course of his career. He's bigger, tougher and stayed healthy. Those are players I've seen a lot of, and Boyd strikes me as better in college and a better pro prospect.
I know nothing about Toledo's Jalen Parmele (No. 176, Miami) but that proves me point. Who has heard of him? Wouldn't you rather have a 1,000-yard SEC rusher than a 1,000-yard MAC rusher? I would. I saw film of Parmele. Eh. Nothing impressive.
Buffalo just took NW Mizzou State RB Xavier Omon at No. 179. ESPN.com incorrectly listed him as being from Miami (Fla.). Big difference.
A kicker from Wisconsin just went. Taylor Mehlhaff was the first kicker taken in the draft.
Clearly, I could go on about this, but the fact that Boyd hasn't gone underscores a bigger point: South Carolina still hasn't had a pick in this draft.
Some of that is extremely predictable because this is the end of the Holtz era, or very near to it. Many, many guys from that class never made it through school. Those that did weren't ever going to play in the NFL. You're seeing it play out now.
Couple of things to consider:
** Safety Corey Lynch just went in the sixth round, to become Appy State's second pick of the draft. The Mountaineers have won three consecutive I-AA titles, but still ...
** The Titans (who're having an ostensibly blah draft) took a DT from Winston Salem State in the fourth round that wasn't on ANYONE'S draft board.
** No receivers went in the first round this year. Stunning. This is the last time I'll ever mention this, I swear, but what if Sidney Rice had stuck around for his junior year? He was an early second-rounder last year; he would've been a lock first-rounder this year, given an even decent season. That stinks for both Rice and the school. How much would Rice have helped the Gamecocks last year? It's sickening to think about, if you're a USC fan.
** I think I just heard Va Tech has had seven players drafted? Incredible.
Boyd is up to Mel Kiper's top 10 available. He's sure to go soon, depending on what teams' needs are.
This doesn't spell the end of Boyd's career before it starts. ESPN just flashed up guys who've gone this late. Among them ... Tom Brady, Matt Hasselbeck, Terrell Davis ...
Last year, Ahmad Bradshaw very nearly wasn't drafted until the Giants took him in the seventh round. Bradshaw wound up being a godsend after a rash of injuries, and he helped NY to win the Super Bowl. So, chin up, Cory.
Another surprise to me is that Andre Woodson hasn't been selected. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he can play at the pro level. Certainly more so than the QB that just went, Hawaii's Colt Brennan who I have very little regard for.
-- Th
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