McPancake, McBlocker, & McDonald

This next under the radar guy is a D-2 player from the great state of Michigan. There are 2 really good D-2 OL from Michigan. 6'8"/320 Jared Veldheer from Hillsdale College is one and he gets the well deserved accolades and publicity. The other is Nick McDonald from Grand Valley State in Allendale. Who is Nick McDonald? He is a 6'4 1/2"312 OT/OG who is on the rise. This kid is a legit"Rip Van Winkle" along the lines of Philly Eagles Todd Herremans who came from Saginaw Valley State. McDonald is a real good athlete with excellent body control. He has a powerful punch and can display the ability to pass protect. He can block into the 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense. Being a D-2 guy he may slip into the late rounds, but he could be a steal for someone late in the draft. He is a proto-type New England Patriots O-lineman. Let's see what happens come 2010 draft days and onward.

Holliday Special

"It's the Holliday Season" for this guy. Even though he is a diminutive type player, Trindon Holliday from Louisiana State is as explosive as they come. He did not start a game during the 2009 football season, but 5'5"/162 Trindon Holliday is a definite Pro Prospect. He turned a lot of heads at the Texas vs. Nation All Star Game. He smallish size can be overlooked by the fact that his speed and burst are phenominal, his balance is out-standing, and his hands are excellent. He will be a special teams guy(kickoff and punt returner)along the lines of a Devin Hester (Bears)type player plus a slot receiver. When he gets the ball in space, he is capable of going the distance any time. A later round pick that can create havoc on the football field.

Under the radar guys for 2010 draft

Number one under the radar player. DE/OLB Arthur Moats from James Madison the same school that produced infamous 49ers DT Charles Haley. I know numerous teams like this guy because he is so much like James Harrison. At 6-0 1/2"/ 248 he is a premier pass rusher with speed and great power in his lower body. Coming out of the talented 1AA C.A.A. league(old Atlantic 10), Moats will be a steal for someone later in the draft. The Steelers have 3 picks in the 5th round and if he is available, they should take him to be the future James Harrison. He can contribute on special teams right away and actually is considered a potential 3rd rounder by some teams. This guy can play in a very deep draft.

Joe Butler Metro Index

As the 2010 NFL draft approaches on April 22, the talent pool for this draft is outstanding. The top end players are really good as usual for a normal year, but the depth in this draft is outstanding. My philosophy is, the more draft picks, the better off a team is. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up an additional 2 choices in the 5th round and an additional 7th round selection. This gives them 10 draft picks in a very strong year. Mid round selections in this draft can and will be really good players/prospects. As the old theory resounds in the chambers of the war rooms at each teams headquarters, the best philosophy is to build, re-build, or stabilize a program through the draft. Look at the Chuck Noll era when the Steelers in the 1974 draft had 4 players make the NFL Hall of Fame. That is incredible. If it was accomplished once, it can be accomplished again. This could be the year. Evaluations are almost completed right now for the Scouting Combine is completed and the scouts are at the tail end of the individual school's pro days. In my next blog, I will look at some under the radar guys that teams should look at in mid to late rounds that could be steals in the draft.