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Player Profiles:

Antwan Odom/Alabama (junior)

(6-5, 277, estimated 4.93 40 time)

2003 Season Stats: 13 games, 40 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles

2002 Season Stats: 13 games, 42 tackles, 14 total tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles

Positives: Has a nice frame, long arms, and good overall defensive end size. Has agility and quickness and can beat an offensive lineman with his first move. Was a productive player in the SEC and has good upside potential.

Negatives: Doesn’t play to his size and can be neutralized if an offensive lineman gets his hands on him. Needs to do a better job of using his arms to keep blockers off of him. Is still raw in his techniques and may have been better off using all of his college eligibility. Does not have great timed speed and individual workouts could hurt him unless he runs better than expected.

Overall analysis: Antwan Odom is a good defensive end prospect with considerable upside potential; however, he may have jumped the gun by entering the 2004 NFL Draft. Odom originally saw playing time in 2000 for Alabama, appearing in every game and earning the starting assignment in two contests. Odom only appeared in two games in 2001 before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of the year (Odom received a medical redshirt for the season). He returned in 2002 and led the team with 10 sacks, despite only starting in about half of the team’s games. Odom started all 13 games in 2003 and had a good season, but was unable to duplicate the stats he posted in 2002. Odom has great defensive end size. He’s tall, has a good frame, has long arms and is well built. He also shows some explosive ability on the field and can quickly penetrate and get into the offensive backfield. And most importantly, Odom was a productive player in the SEC and he has room to improve and become a better player. However, Odom still needs to improve on his techniques and fundamentals. He doesn’t get off blocks well and really needs to do a better job in using his arms to keep linemen off of him. And even though he shows some quickness on the football field, it’s been reported that he runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.9 to 5.0 second range. If that is the case, Odom could see his draft stock fall during the individual workout process. Odom is a good player with nice upside potential, but he may have been better off returning to Alabama and refining the weak areas in his game. It currently looks like Odom is grading out as a second rounder, but he’ll need to run well in workouts to maintain that type of grade.
 

Player Rankings:

Running Back Rankings

Specific Categories:

Top Power Runners	Best Hands	Top Breakaway Threats	Best Vision
1) Greg Jones 2) Steven Jackson 3) Quincy Wilson 4) Maurice Clarett 5) Brandon Miree	1) Chris Perry 2) Steven Jackson 3) Mewelde Moore 4) Bruce Perry 5) Tatum Bell	1) Kevin Jones 2) Fred Russell 3) Cedric Cobbs 4) Tatum Bell 5) Steven Jackson	1) Quincy Wilson 2) Maurice Clarett 3) Chris Perry 4) Julius Jones 5) Michael Turner

Overview:

The Prize:	Steven Jackson - Oregon State
The Question Mark:	Maurice Clarett - Ohio State
The Media Darling:	Chris Perry - Michigan
The Sleeper:	Quincy Wilson - West Virginia
The Future:	Demetris Summers - South Carolina (Freshman)

Top Overall Prospects:

1. Steven Jackson - Oregon State  (Junior)
2. Kevin Jones - Virginia Tech  (Junior)
3. Chris Perry - Michigan 
4. Cedric Cobbs - Arkansas
5. Greg Jones - Florida State 
6. Julius Jones - Notre Dame 
7. Maurice Clarett - Ohio State  (Sophomore)
8. Michael Turner - Northern Illinois 
9. Mewelde Moore - Tulane 
10. Tatum Bell - Oklahoma State 
11.Derek Knight - Boston College 
12.A. Echamandu - California 
13.Quincy Wilson - West Virginia 
14.Fred Russell - Iowa 
15.Shaud Williams - Alabama 
16.Brandon Miree - Pittsburgh 
17.Terrence Jackson - Central Michigan 
18.Bruce Perry - Maryland
19.Clarence Farmer - Arizona 
20.Ran Carthon - Florida
21.Renaldo Works - Oklahoma 
22.Gary Jones - Albany (NY) 
23.Brandon Warfield - Utah 
24.Jarrett Payton - Miami (Fla.) 
25.Jason Wright - Northwestern 

Others Receiving Consideration

Rich Alexis - Washington 
Jermaine Green - Washington State 
Larry Croom - UNLV 
Butchie Wallace - Marshall 
Kirwin Watson - Fordham 
Cortlandt Florence - Tuskegee 
Jamaal Lord - Nebraska 
Rod Malone - North Dakota State 
Duron Croson - Fort Valley State 
Ricky Madison - TCU 
Derek Armah - Wyoming 
Fred Boateng - Mars Hill 
David Mikell - Boise State 
Akil Harris - UCLA 

Team Overviews:

Pittsburgh Steelers Team Overview

2003 Record: 6-10

2003 Overview: This past season proved to be a very disappointing with the Steelers falling far short of reaching the playoffs even though they had one of the highest payrolls in the NFL.  Some of my comments might be viewed as overly critical even to the point of harsh but when a team spends the kind of money the Steelers did on the players on the roster you expect them to perform better than a 6-10 team.  The Steelers began their offseason with changes to their coordinators and a number of positional coaches on both sides of the football.  Mike Mularkey shuffled off to Buffalo to become the Bills new head coach and Tim Lewis contract wasn't renewed as defensive coordinator and he is now the defensive coordinator for the Giants.  Former tight end coach Ken Whisenhunt becomes the Steelers new offensive coordinator and with his promotion comes talk of the Steelers returning to a smash mouth running football team.  Former Steelers defensive coordinator and Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau returns as the new defensive coordinator with talk of returning to the days of Blitzburgh.  During the next few months players will leave due to salary cap issues, free agents will be signed and players will be drafted in the hopes that the remolded coaching staff can turn the 2004 Steelers into a playoff caliber football team.  Please keep in mind that this article is being written in the middle of February before any moves have been made to get the Steelers under the salary cap.


Positional Analysis

Quarterback - Considering the Steelers were 31st in rushing, Tommy Maddox faced mainly cover 2 schemes and had an offensive line that resulted in Maddox being sacked 41 times Maddox still completed over 57% of his passes, passed for over 3400 yards and had 18 touchdown passes.  Maddox salary cap number for next season is $850k which ranks him at or near the bottom of pay for NFL starting quarterbacks.  I think it would be fair for the Steelers to give Maddox a one time bonus of $3 million which would count over the next three seasons and an additional $1 million in incentive money which could be earned each season that was tied to both his individual performance and the performance of the team.  Charlie Batch hasn't seen much action in his couple of seasons with the Steelers but has NFL starting experience.  Batch has looked impressive during the preseason and could run the offense if called upon.  Batch's salary cap number for next season is $1.255 million which is a fair amount considering his NFL experience as a starter and the fact that he is a backup.  Brian St. Pierre really didn't impress much during his rookie season.  The Steelers will most likely attempt to bring in a rookie free agent or a second day draft pick who can give St. Pierre some legitimate competition for the clip board carrying duty for next season.  St. Pierre's salary cap number is $341,666 which is fair money for a clipboard carrying third string quarterback.

Running Back - Jerome Bettis had 811 yards rushing, averaged 3.3 yards per carry, had 7 rushing touchdowns, 86 receiving yards, averaged 6.6 yards per reception and had 0 touchdown receptions in earning $3.89 million for the 2003 season.  The Steelers made Bruener agree to a salary cut prior to last season knowing he would have a reduced role and should have done the same with Bettis.  Bettis salary cap number for next season is $4.757 million and there is no way the Steelers can justify continuing to pay that kind of money for his decreasing production on the football field.  My guess is that Bettis will return for his final NFL season but only after agreeing to a substantial pay cut that would include incentives.  Amos Zereoue had 433 yards rushing, averaged 3.3 yards per carry, had 2 rushing touchdowns, 310 receiving yards, averaged 7.8 yards per reception and had 0 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Zereoue salary cap number is $2.7375 million for next season and it will be hard justifying him staying as a 3rd down/long yardage back earning that type of money in the event the Steelers are able to Draft a running back or Verron Haynes continues to develop in this role.  My guess is that Zereoue will be cut if Bettis agrees to a pay cut and the Steelers are able to select a running back early in the upcoming Draft.  Verron Haynes had 63 yards rushing, averaged 3.2 yards per carry, had 0 rushing touchdowns, 57 receiving yards, averaged 8.1 yards per reception and had 0 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Haynes was a valuable special teams performer in addition to seeing time on the field with the offense.  Haynes salary cap number is $413,333 for next season and he figures to see an increasing role with the offense depending upon what happens in the Draft and with Bettis or Zeroue this off-season.  Dante Brown spent most of the season on the practice squad and was placed on the active roster after Haynes was injured late in the season.  Brown was the Steelers leading rusher during the season which seems to be a distinction held by the last running back on the roster or one on the practice squad.  Brown's salary cap number is anticipated to be the minimum for a second year player which should be around $300,000 for the next season.  Brown will most likely compete against Dee Brown and any other undrafted rookie free agents for the final roster spot for a running back if the Steelers decide to keep four of them on the 53 man roster.  Dee Brown was signed late in the season to the Steelers roster due to injuries at the running back position and because of his ability to play special teams.  Brown's salary cap number will most likely be that of a player entering his fourth year in the NFL which should be around $425,000.  Brown will most likely compete against Dante Brown and any other undrafted rookie free agents for the final roster spot for a running back if the Steelers decide to keep four of them on the 53 man roster.

Fullback - Dan Kreider had 29 yards rushing, averaged 4.1 yards per carry, had 1 rushing touchdowns, 107 receiving yards, averaged 11.9 yards per reception and had 0 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Kreider is a solid lead blocker and catches the ball well out of the backfield.  The Steelers attempted to sign him to a longterm deal prior to the 2003 season but were unable to due to Kreider and his agent's demands.  The Steelers will most likely make a token offer to facilitate negotiations but won't break the bank attempting to sign Kreider to a longterm deal.  J.T. Wall spent the season on the practice squad and figures to get a shot at the starting fullback spot after a competition against possibly a day 2 draft pick and one or two rookie free agents.  Wall's salary cap number is anticipated to be the minimum for a second year player which should be around $300,000 for the next season. 

Wide Receiver - Hines Ward had 1163 receiving yards, 12.2 average yards per reception, 10 touchdown receptions, 61 rushing yards, 5.5 average yards per rushing attempt and 0 rushing touchdowns for the 2003 season.  Ward was named to the Pro Bowl again this season and is considered to be one of the most complete wide receivers in the NFL.  Ward's salary cap number for next season is approximately $2.169 million which makes him an excellent value at the wide receiver position given his production and recognition as a Pro Bowl caliber player.  Plaxico Burress had 860 receiving yards, 14.3 average yards per reception and 4 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Burress is able to make plays down the field due to his combination of size and speed plus draws attention away from other receivers which then allow them to make plays.  Burress enters the final year of his original contract at a salary cap number of approximately $1.946 million.  The Steelers should make an effort to sign him to an extension prior to next season, consider any trade offers made for him or determine they are going to tag him prior the following off-season.  In my opinion Burress is a dimension the Steelers offense needs in order to be successful or they need to get something for losing him even if it means tagging him.  Antwan Randle El had 364 receiving yards, 9.8 average yards per reception, 1 touchdown receptions, 75 rushing yards, averaged 5 yards per carry, 466 kickoff return yards, averaged 19.4 yards per kickoff return, 542 punt return yards, averaged 12 yards per punt return and returned 2 punts for touchdowns for the 2003 season. Randle El gives the Steelers a player capable of making big plays catching the ball, running the ball or in the return game.  Randle El's salary cap number for next season is $613,750 and he has two years remaining on his contract.  Definitely a player that should be resigned before the end of his current contract.  Chris Doering had 240 receiving yards, averaged 13.3 yards per reception and had 1 touchdown reception during the 2003 season.  Doering proved to be a good acquisition as a 4th receiver because almost every one of his catches was for a first down or touchdown.  Doering might be back with the Steelers in training camp but it will most likely be only if he can be signed to the veteran minimum with him competing against Mays and Milons for the #4 receiver spot.  Freddie Milons was acquired from the Eagles in a deal late during training camp which offered the Eagles a conditional pick.  It is my understanding that the Steelers owe the Eagles no compensation for the pick because Milons did not play or make the active roster for any one of the Steelers games during the season.  Milons salary cap number for next season is $380,000 and he will most likely earn his pay as the 4th or 5th receiver on the roster and for his contribution to special teams.  Lee Mays had 17 receiving yards, averaged 8.5 yards per reception, 79 kickoff return yards and averaged 19.8 yards per kickoff return.  Mays salary cap number for next season is $398,334 and he will most likely earn his pay as the 4th or 5th receiver on the roster and for his contribution to special teams.  It is time for players like Mays and Milons to make their mark on a team's roster or be replaced by younger possibly cheaper talent that eventually might have a chance to work their way into the starting lineup.  Brian Robinson has a good combination of size and speed as a receiver.  Robinson will have a chance to develop his skills as a receiver playing in NFL Europe this offseason.  From what I understand this will be his 3rd season in the NFL which would qualify him to earn the minimum of $380k if he made the 53 man roster.

Tight End - Jay Reimersma had 138 receiving yards, 13.8 average yards per reception and 1 touchdown reception for the 2003 season while missing five games with various injuries.  Hopefully Reimersma will remain healthy and the Steelers will continue to find ways to involve the tight end in their offensive game plan next season.  Reimersma's salary cap number for next season is just over $1.378 million.  Jerame Tuman had 113 receiving yards, 9.4 average yards per reception and 0 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Tuman has developed into a solid run blocker under the guidance of Bruener and should continue to develop as a weapon under the guidance of Reimersma.  Tuman's salary cap number for next season is $1.12 million.  Mark Bruener had 12 pass receptions, 6 average yards per reception and 0 touchdown receptions for the 2003 season.  Bruener provided solid run blocking when called upon and has been very professional in realizing his days as a player are nearing an end.  Bruener's salary cap number for next season is $2.995 million and the writing was on the wall prior to the 2003 season that this would probably be his last year in Pittsburgh.  I anticipate Bruener to be cut after June 1st so that they can spread his prorated signing bonus over the next two seasons.  Matt Cushing saw time on special teams and provided blocking but little else.  Cushing will most likely not be back on the 53 man roster to start next season due to him being an unrestricted free agent.  I have to give Cushing some credit in that he is always ready to change hats from being a substitute teacher to a football player with just a phone call.

Offensive Tackle - Marvel Smith spent approximately two thirds of the 2003 season inactive with a pinch nerve in his neck after signing a contract that placed him amongst the top compensated offensive tackles in the NFL.  I find it hard accepting the fact that he was unable to play with a pinched nerve after Gandy was able to play with a torn rotator cuff.  Smith's salary cap number for next season is $2.95 million and he will have to start performing like one of the top NFL tackles in order to justify the contract he was given.  Oliver Ross initially was penciled in as the starting right tackle, looked average at best in the preseason losing the job to Fordham, worked his way back into the starting lineup after Fordham faltered and then eventually became a decent starter at the right tackle spot during the 2003 season.  Ross's salary cap number for next season is approximately $2.117 million and in my honest opinion that money can be better spent on a good right tackle versus spending it on a tackle that will never be more than a marginal NFL starter at the right tackle spot.  Mathias Nkwenti eventually saw playing time during the 2003 season due to Smith's injury and was able to show he was a solid pass blocker.  Unfortunately his 2003 season was cut short by a back injury which required surgery.  Nkwenti enters the 2004 season as a restricted free agent and should be tendered an offer which would compensate the Steelers with a draft pick in the round he was selected if the Steelers do not match an offer by another team.  My guess is this salary cap number should be around $620,000 for the 2004 season.  Todd Fordham looked solid during the preseason actually winning the starting right tackle spot after his performance against Julius Peppers only to play his way out of the starting lineup in short order during the regular season.  Fordham's salary cap number for the 2004 season is scheduled to be $650,000 and based upon his performance this past season I would hope the Steelers would attempt to replace him with a player with more upside potential even if it is at a slightly higher cost.  Barrett Brooks was brought on late in the season due to injuries to Smith and Nkwenti.  Brooks is a player I had actually plugged to be brought in during each of the last two seasons due to his veteran experience, his run blocking skills and because of Colbert's familiarity with him as a player.  Brooks should only find his way back into the Steelers training camp if they decide to part ways with Ross and Fordham this off-season.  Josh Burr has spent each of the past two seasons on the practice squad.  This is another player who could benefit from playing in NFL Europe and possibly develop into a solid backup for the Steelers at the right tackle and guard positions.  I'd expect to see Burr in the Steelers training camp competing for a backup role signed to the minimum salary for a third year player this coming season.

Offensive Guard - Alan Faneca is considered one of the top guards in the NFL and when he played his left guard position this season continued to perform at a Pro Bowl level.  Due to an injury to Marvel Smith the Steelers moved Faneca to left tackle and he continued to perform well at a position he hadn't played since his days in high school.  Faneca's salary cap number for next season is $5.14 million and he will need to continue to be a Pro Bowl level performer every season at the guard position in order to justify the salary cap numbers he has over the term of his contract.  Kendall Simmons had a rough time during preseason last year due to recent elbow surgery and his newly diagnosed diabetic condition.  In my opinion it took Simmons almost two thirds of the season to get back to the form he showed towards the end of his first season.  Simmons salary cap number for next season is approximately $1.336 million and hopefully he will be performing at the level he performed towards the end of each of his first two seasons in order to justify his compensation.  Keydrick Vincent saw much time this past season due to injuries along the offensive line and spent much time on the left side at guard when Faneca moved out to left tackle.  Vincent continues to develop as a solid offensive lineman and should be tendered an offer of $620,000 or much consideration should be given to signing him to a longer term deal due to him originally being signed as a rookie free agent.  The Steelers will have to think long and hard about matching any offers Vincent receives if they tender an offer as a restricted free agent because he was originally signed by the Steelers as a rookie free agent which means they would not receive any compensation should another team sign him.  Jim Jones graduated from Notre Dame which is one of the schools known for producing solid offensive linemen.  The only problem is Jones has limited physical size and room to develop further at 6'2" 310 lbs.  He could also use playing time to further develop but unfortunately Jones was not one of the players allocated to NFL Europe.  Jones would receive the league minimum for 2nd year players if he makes the 53 man roster which is approximately $305k.  Morgan Pears was signed to the roster late in the season due to injuries along the offensive line.  Pears has the size and speed to play the right tackle spot or either guard position.  Pears will spend the offseason developing his talent in NFL Europe.  Pears would receive the league minimum for 2nd year players if he makes the 53 man roster which is approximately $305k.

Center - Jeff Hartings level of play is still above average but certainly not worth the over $4.2 million in salary cap number allocated to him this past season.  Hartings knees have degenerated to the point that he must miss practice time during the week and this impacts his level of play to the point that he is no longer amongst the top linemen in the NFL.  Harting's salary cap number for next season is almost $5 million and personally I can't see that kind of salary cap money allocated to a player that is definitely on the downside of his career.  Hartings has pretty much said he wants to play just one more season so hopefully some type of deal can be worked out in the offseason to lower his salary cap number for the coming season to a more appropriate level.  Chukky Okobi is able to play either guard or center and saw some time this past season due to injuries.  Okobi enters the 2004 season as a restricted free agent and should be tendered an offer which would compensate the Steelers with a draft pick in the round he was selected if the Steelers do not match an offer by another team.  My guess is this salary cap number should be around $620,000 for the 2004 season.  Jimond Pugh spent the season on the practice squad and figures to receive an invite to training camp.  Making it on a team's practice squad is a huge accomplishment for a player with his next hurdle being that of making a team's 53 man roster.  Pugh could benefit from an off-season spent in NFL Europe and hopefully the Steelers will encourage him to take that step.

Defensive End - Aaron Smith is considered amongst the best defensive ends in the NFL even though he plays more like a defensive tackle in the Steelers 3-4 defense.  Smith signed a huge contract a short time ago and hasn't quite produce the numbers he had the prior to signing the contract although part of that had to be due to the fact that teams finally figured out that he was a player.  Smith had 54 tackles and 2 sacks last season.  Smith has four years remaining on that contract with an average cap figure of between $5-$6 million per season.  Kimo von Oelhoffen enjoyed one of his best seasons in football last season producing 43 tackles and 8 sacks.  Von Oelhoffen is signed for an additional two seasons with a salary cap number of just under $3 million per season.  Unless Keisel or Bailey show they can produce better keeping von Oelhoffen with his current production and contract makes sense.  Rodney Bailey has his moments and appears at times like he could possibly replace von Oelhoffen but has never done enough to wrestle the starting job from him.  Bailey had 11 tackles and 2 sacks last season in a reserve role.  The Steelers will most likely tender a restricted free agent offer to Bailey which would require compensation of a draft pick in the round he was originally drafted.  Brett Keisel had worked hard during the offseason building muscle and adding weight after showing some promise the prior season on special teams and when he got a chance playing defense.  Unfortunately Keisel sustained an injury which caused him to have surgery and miss all of last season.  Keisel enters the final year of his original contract at a salary cap number of just under $390k with hopes of seeing more playing time on special teams and with the defense.  The Steelers will most likely retain him as a restricted free agent next offseason cause many in the organization compare him to Aaron Smith.

Defensive/Nose Tackle - Casey Hampton: Hampton is amongst the best defensive linemen in the NFL and finally received recognition by being selected for the Pro Bowl.  Hampton had 51 tackles and 1 sack even though he faced two blockers on almost every snap.  Hampton has two years remaining on his original contract and it might be in the Steelers best interest to extend him another five years beyond that contract for the job he does this off-season.  Kendrick Clancy has looked good in the preseason for years but has never emerged as the type of player the Steelers envisioned.  I think the biggest problem is Clancy is a tackle that will earn his living penetrating defenses vs. occupying defenders which is what is required in the 3-4 defense by defensive linemen.  Clancy had 3 tackles and 0 sacks last season in what will most likely be his last year wearing a Steelers uniform unless they would make a switch to the 4-3 defense which I personally don't see happening.  Chris Hoke hasn't suited up for a regular season game in the three years he has been in the NFL to the best of my memory.  Hoke has the talent and versatility to be the last defensive lineman a team keeps on their roster but personally I don't think he is worth the money the Steelers would have to pay him as an unrestricted free agent.  I doubt the Steelers extend him an offer as an unrestricted free agent cause the Steelers have Upchurch and can bring a number of rookies in next season who could fill this last roster spot role at less money.  David Upchurch spent last season on the Steelers practice squad and has a chance to make the roster next season either filling the shoes of Kendrick Clancy or Chris Hoke.  If Upchurch makes the roster he will earn the minimum for second year players which is around $305k.  The year spent on the practice squad gaining knowledge and size should help Upchurch in his quest to make the 53 man roster unless the Steelers decide to add a defensive linemen via the draft and free agency.

Outside Linebacker - Jason Gildon's contribution as a player has decreased every season since he signed the huge contract extension with the Steelers.  Gildon had 80 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery last season making him the least productive of the Steelers four starters even though he made the most money.  Gildon's salary cap number for the next two seasons is almost $5 million per season and then jumps to almost $7 million in the final year of his contract.  Rumor has it that Gildon was unapproachable after his end of the season meeting with Coach Cowher so one can only assume Gildon didn't hear what he wanted to hear during that meeting.  Personally I'd rather see the Steelers cut Gildon after June 1st to free up some salary cap dollars then resign Clark Haggans to let him compete against Alonzo Jackson and a middle round pick for Gildon's job.  Joey Porter missed the first two games of last season and took a little time getting up to speed last season due to an unfortunate incident that resulted with him having a bullet in his buttocks happening prior to last season.  Porter finished last season with 82 tackles and 5 sacks which all things considered was a pretty good year but not quite up to the numbers he had the previous season.  Porter's salary cap number for next season is approximately $3.583 million and I would expect Porter to go into next season determined to return to his level of performance he had during the 2002 season in order to justify that salary cap number.  In two games as a starter Clark Haggans had 11 tackles, 4 assists and 1 sack.  Using those statistics and projecting over the course of a full season Haggans would have had 88 tackles, 32 assists and 8 sacks which would have placed him 2nd on the team in tackles and tied for 1st in sacks.  For the season Haggans had 21 tackles and 1 sack.  Haggans is an unrestricted free agent and in my opinion a cheaper better alternative to an overpriced Jason Gildon.  Haggans attracted little attention last year as a restricted free agent and the Steelers should be the frontrunner for his services if they make him a reasonable offer to stay.  Alonzo Jackson spent last season learning how to convert from a college defensive end to an outside linebacker in the Steelers 3-4 defense.  Flashed lots of potential during the preseason but got little chance to even dress for regular season games last year.  Jackson's salary cap number for next season is approximately $566k and I would hope the Steelers cut Gildon then allow Jackson to compete against a veteran and a draft pick for Gildon's vacant job.

Middle/Inside Linebacker - Kendrell Bell finished last season with 119 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.  Unless a deal is completed prior to this season Bell will be in the final year of his contract with the Steelers at a salary cap number of approximately $861k.  I doubt Bell will be given Gildon or Porter kind of money but I think it is also in the Steelers best interests to do what it takes to sign Bell to a contract extension prior to next season.  James Farrior finished last season with 180 tackles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.  Farrior is excellent in pass coverage plus his speed allows him to make plays all over the field.  Farrior also enters the final year of his contract with a salary cap number of approximately $2.242 million which given his production and versatility as a defender the Steelers should seriously consider offering him an extension prior to next season.  Larry Foote is slightly undersized and slow for the inside position in the Steelers defense which results in him being nothing more than a special teamer with no future as a starter in my opinion.  Foote enters the final year of his contract at a salary cap number of approximately $470k.  I hope the Steelers draft a player with the size and speed to replace one of the two career special teamers the Steelers have as backups on the inside.  Klint Kriewaldt is an excellent special teams player but like Foote is slightly undersized and slow for the inside position in the Steelers defense which results in him being nothing more than a career backup and special teamer.  Kriewaldt's salary cap numbers for the next two years are $770k and $940k which are a little on the high side for a special teams player but he is considered one of the better ones in the NFL.  I'd prefer seeing Foote replaced first but the Steelers should give serious consideration to finding a cheaper alternative for Kriewaldt before the following season.

Cornerback - Chad Scott has been somewhat of an enigma to me ever since the Steelers have drafted him.  He has the combination of size and speed one loves in a corner plus flashes the potential of being a Probowler at times.  Problem is Scott gets burned in coverage cause he bites on moves by the receiver or quarterback and he gets penalized way too often.  Scott has 68 tackles and 3 interceptions last season.  Scott's salary cap number for each of the next two seasons is close to $5 million which then rises to $6 million in the final year of his contract.  Not exactly top money for a cornerback but certainly more than what he deserves to earn for his production up to this point.  It's time for Scott to start justifying the kind of money the Steelers are paying him by his performance on the football field.  Dewayne Washington never fully recovered in his head from his role in the loss to the Titans in the playoff last year.  An NFL cornerback has to be long on confidence and short on remembering bad things if they want to be successful at this level.  Washington had 60 tackles and 1 interception last season which will most likely be his last in a Steelers uniform.  Washington is scheduled to count $4.8 million against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons and given the fact that he was replaced late in the season by Townsend and the emergence of Ike Taylor it is highly probable he will be cut after June 1st.  Deshea Townsend played as the third corner on the field before replacing Washington in the starting lineup two thirds of the way through the season.  Townsend had 49 tackles, 1 sack and 3 interceptions for last season.  Townsend is a little short and not the fastest defensive back but he makes up for these deficiencies with excellent coverage skills.  Townsend's salary cap number for the next two seasons is approximately $1.231 million which is good for a #3 corner and excellent for a guy who has starting ability.  Ike Taylor found his way into defensive sets late in the season due to his athletic abilities and because of his solid play as a special teams player.  Taylor contributed 17 tackles on defense in addition to averaging 22.3 yards per return on the 37 kickoffs he returned last season.  Taylor's salary cap number for next season is $305k.  Taylor will most likely compete with Townsend and newly signed free agent Terry Fair for Washington's starting spot going into next season.  Chidi Iwuoma is a great special teams player but that will probably be his only ticket to playing in the NFL if his career is to continue.  Iwuoma offers little as a defensive back and it is doubtful the Steelers will tender him an offer as a restricted free agent given that he could be replaced as a special teams player with someone cheaper that might have more upside potential.  B.J. Tucker is more of a track star trying to become a football player.  Ran a 4.32 40 with a 35" vertical leap at Wisconsin's campus drills.  Had 115 tackles, 21 pass break ups and 5 interceptions during his college career.  Was drafted by the Cowboys in the 6th round of 2003 Draft and spent much of his first season on a number of teams practice squads.  His combination of size at 5'11" 188 lbs. and sub 4.4 40 speed should earn him an invite to camp for preseason.  Tucker will most likely compete for the final corner spot on the roster provided he can show a contribution to special teams.  Terry Fair has been out of football much of the past two seasons due to ankle and foot injuries which required surgery.  It is my understanding that his rehabilitation has him to the point where he can do everything but not quite at the speed that he will have to reach in order to be an above average NFL cornerback.  Fair signed for the minimum of $535k with no signing bonus so that translates into him counting nothing against the salary cap unless he makes the 53 man roster.  It's also my understanding that figure will be even less cause of Fair being a veteran.  Based upon last year's figures that amount should be approximately $450k which isn't bad money for the 4th or 5th cornerback on the depth chart.  Nashville Dyer was amongst the final cuts from the Steelers the previous preseason and will have a chance to better himself in his trade in NFL Europe this offseason.  Dyer should receive an invite to compete for a roster spot for this coming season if he performs decently in his NFL Europe experience.

Safety - Mike Logan entered the preseason last season competing against 1st round selection Troy Polamalu and needing to prove he had recovered from major reconstructive surgery to repair his knee damaged in the playoff loss to the Browns last season.  Logan finished last season with 116 tackles and 1 sacks in the final year of his contract.  My personal belief is the Steelers were unsure of whether Logan would fully recover and if Polamalu could take over as starter thus putting them in a position not to extend his contract before it expired.  Logan can play both safety positions, has shown he is a willing special teams player and has helped in special defensive sets therefore I would hope the Steelers would attempt to resign him as a free agent.  Brent Alexander is amongst the slowest safeties in the NFL but is a player who has lasted as long as he has with his intelligence and knowing where everyone should be in the secondary.  Problem is you can know where to be and no longer have the physical skills to get there to make plays and that is pretty much where things are at for Alexander.  Alexander had 102 tackles, 1 sack and 4 interceptions last season.  Alexander's salary cap number for next season is approximately $1.162 million and the only way I would keep him on the roster is as depth behind Polamalu and Hope is if Logan can't be resigned.  I'll be the first to admit I had my reservations about the Steelers trading up for him in last year's Draft to select Troy Polamalu in the 1st round.  For most of the season I felt my feelings were justified and then about the last couple of games it was almost as if the light bulb finally went off in Polamalu's head.  Polamalu had 29 tackles and 2 sacks last season playing mainly as a part-time defender and playing on many of the Steelers special teams units.  Polamalu's salary cap number for next season is approximately $1.558 million and this should prove to be the season he works his way into the starting lineup.  Polamalu doesn't really have the size to match up against bigger tight ends and receivers but he does have the speed and coverage skills to match up against running backs or smaller wide receivers.  Chris Hope finally found his way onto the field in the secondary towards the later part of last season and showed he is finally understanding the Steelers complex defense.  Hope has the intelligence and athleticism to unseat Alexander as the starter.  The athleticism that Hope displayed when he ran the fake punt off of a Josh Miller pass proved to me that the Steelers need to find a way to get him on to the football field.  Hope enters the final year of his original contract at a salary cap number of approximately $513k and it is highly likely the Steelers will tender him as a restricted free agent next offseason especially if he proves his worth as a starter.  Russell Stuvaints spent last season on the practice squad and enters his second season with a chance to earn the second year minimum of $305k if he makes the 53 man roster.  Stuvaints will most likely compete with a middle round draft pick and rookie free agent for the last safety position and regular special teams player on the 53 man roster.

 

Specialists- Mike Schneck was a solid long snapper throughout the 2003 season consistently placing his snaps quickly and accurately.  Schneck rarely gets down field to make a play, plays no other position and the only thing he still can do is be a consistent long snapper.  I wouldn't be shocked seeing the Steelers sign him to a deal similar to his last one which paid him minimal salaries and a $50k bonus over two seasons.  Jeff Reed converted on 23 of 31 field goal attempts and 31 of 32 extra point attempts during the 2003 season.  Reed is a restricted free agent and should be tendered an offer of $620,000 or much consideration should be given to signing him to a longer term deal due to him originally being signed as a rookie free agent.  The Steelers will have to think long and hard about matching any offers Reed receives if they tender an offer as a restricted free agent because he was originally signed by the Steelers as a rookie free agent which means they would not receive any compensation should another team sign him.  Josh Miller averaged 41.9 yards on 84 punts placing 27 of his punts inside the 20 yard line for the 2003 season.  Miller ranked 13th among all NFL punters while being amongst the top echelon in respects to compensation.  Miller's salary cap number for next season is approximately $1.183 million and he will have to perform slightly better than the 2003 season in order to justify his compensation.  Miller will be back but as time goes along I would expect the Steelers to attempt to bring in a punter who will seriously challenge Miller for his job.  Mike Barr barely averaged over 40 yards per punt and had problems with his hang time as a college punter which resulted in teams getting good punt returns against Rutgers.  Barr is a good directional kicker and possibly with some improvements in his mechanics could improve on both his distance and hangtime.  Barr will spend the offseason attempting to better himself as a punter in NFL Europe.  Chance Pearce Long Snapper: Pearce was a 7th round draft pick by the Texans in the 2003 NFL Draft and had a college career spanning four years where he had only one errant long snap in 490 attempts.  At 6'1" 250 lbs. with 5.5 40 speed he is a younger and cheaper version of Mike Schneck which translates into him being nothing more than a longsnapper on the 53 man roster.


Future Stars

- Troy Polamalu; Polamalu has excellent speed and instincts which help him find his way to where the football is on the field.  Polamalu may never match up well with tight ends due to his lack of height but he has the speed to keep up with most receivers and running backs in pass coverage which is rare for a safety.  Polamalu is hardworking and is his own biggest critic which will serve him well in his development as a football player.

 

- Ike Taylor; Taylor has the size and speed to match up with just about any NFL receiver.  At this point his coverage skills are still developing and he may need another year before he could be anything more than a special teams player and a cornerback on passing downs.  What impressed me most with Taylor is he found his way onto the football field as a cornerback during his rookie season and actually looked good even though he only had one year experience there during his college career.

- Brett Keisel; Keisel was poised to start making contributions to the Steelers defense after looking solid on special teams his rookie season.  Offseason workouts had pushed him close to 290 lbs. without losing the speed he had as a rookie according to reports I had heard.  Unfortunately an injury kept him off the football field last season and missing last season should make him even more determined to contribute this coming season.  The Steelers coaching staff see many similarities between Keisel and Aaron Smith so hopefully their beliefs come to pass for Keisel like they did for Smith.


Over the Hill

- Jason Gildon; Gildon's production has decreased in each of the last two seasons after signing a huge contract with the Steelers to the point that he had the lowest production of the Steelers four starting linebackers.  Considering Gildon's salary cap number for the next three seasons is $5 million, $5 million and $7 million it goes without saying that his days as a Steeler might be numbered.  My guess is that he is amongst the players cut after June 1st unless he would agree to some type of contract restructuring.

- Jerome Bettis; Bettis was included in my list of over the hill players last offseason and my thoughts haven't changed.  Bettis is definitely not at the point in his career where he can be a feature back nor is he worth the salary cap number of $4.757 million for next season.  Bettis has expressed a desire to finish his career with the Steelers and has already let it be known that he'd be willing to discuss doing so for less money.  Based upon his value as a team leader, his ability at mentoring younger players, his ability to get the job done on a limited basis and his willingness to remain with the team next season for less money it would be in the Steelers best interests to see if something can be worked out with Bettis.

- Brent Alexander and Mark Bruener; Alexander and Bruener were both on my list last season.  Alexander has played football for years with marginal physical skills because of his brains.  Unfortunately at this point there are NFL lineman that run faster than Alexander.  Alexander has a bright future in coaching and this offseason is the time that he should be pointed in that direction.  Bruener's contributions on the football field reached a career low last season and he would enter this season as the highest salary cap figure of any tight end on the roster.  Bruener is another player whose career will be cut short due to salary cap issues but he could move into the coaching ranks in a very short period of time much like Brent Alexander.


Team Strengths

1. Linebackers: James Farrior, Kendrell Bell and Joey Porter gives the Steelers three fast linebackers that can make plays all over the football field.  These three players work well in the Steelers 3-4 defense but could even thrive if the Steelers decided to run a 4-3 defense.  All three players should be signed to deals that keep this trio intact for the next 3-4 seasons.

2. Wide Receivers: Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwan Randle El formed the best receiver tandem in the NFL in 2002 when the Steelers had a decent running attack.  If the Steelers can reestablish their running attack I'd expect this trio to be even more potent due to their added level of experience.

 

3. Guards: Alan Faneca, Kendall Simmons and Keydrick Vincent give the Steelers three solid guards with Faneca being a Probowl level performer.  Simmons had a rough year last year due to offseason elbow surgery and onset of diabetes but those shouldn't be issues going into this season.  Vincent gained additional starting experience last season and was solid filling in.

 

4. Nose Tackle: Casey Hampton finally got recognition for what he does for the Steelers defense by gaining his first Probowl experience.  From what I caught of the game he was even more disruptive working from a four man front.  The nose tackle position is not a stats position in the 3-4 defense but Hampton still puts up some stats while still being the best nose tackle in the NFL.

5. Experience of front office and coaching staff: As an organization the Steelers front office and coaching staff is one of the most experienced in the NFL.  The Steelers obviously needed some fresh blood and hopefully the offseason changes in their coaching staff and the wake up call served by a 6-10 record helps them make the necessary moves to return the Steelers to being a playoff caliber football team.


Team Weaknesses

1. Running game: Jerome Bettis has seen his better days, Amos Zereoue hasn't produced and the other running backs on the depth chart are unproven.  Bettis will most likely be retained as a leader and veteran presence at a much lower salary cap number, Zereoue will be cut or traded and the other guys on the depth chart will be competing for playing time against draft picks and or free agents.

2. Offensive tackles: Marvel Smith is an unproven entity at the left tackle spot, Mathias Nkwenti has not developed into the tackle prospect that was envisioned, Oliver Ross is nothing more than a journeyman backup and Todd Fordham is an NFL Europe caliber offensive lineman in my opinion.  The Steelers need to draft a young tackle that can develop into a starter and sign a veteran tackle that can start if they want to improve offensively.

3. Cornerbacks: Chad Scott is nothing better than a #2 corner, Deshea Townsend is nothing better than a good #3 corner, Dewayne Washington will be cut this offseason, Ike Taylor needs more time to develop but shows promise, B.J. Tucker needs time to develop, Chidi Iwuoma is nothing more than a special teams player and Terry Fair needs to show that he has shaken off the rust plus is totally healed to the point he can earn a roster spot as a cornerback.  If the Steelers can trade down in the Draft they might go for a cornerback but my guess is that they will bring in a veteran cornerback they can sign at a reasonable price.

4. Quarterbacks: Tommy Maddox is solid but unspectacular if the Steelers offensive line and running game are working.  Charlie Batch is signed for only one more season and hasn't done much since signing with the Steelers.  Brian St. Pierre is short on experience and with Batch entering the final year of his contract it would have been a smart idea to send him to NFL Europe for playing time since after the preseason he will be carrying nothing but a clipboard on game day.

5. Salary Cap room:  The Steelers are one of the few teams that are currently over the salary cap and have some moves to make this offseason to create cap room to sign their draft picks, retain some of their players that fit into their long range plans and to turn the Steelers into a football team that can be competitive again.  This offseason is obviously one where many hard decisions need to be made and hopefully reviewing the failures of the 2003 season will help make those decisions easier.


2003 Draft Overview

First Round: Troy Polamalu S USC; The Steelers sacrificed much for a safety that will never match up well with tight ends and who contributed far less than expected during his rookie season.  The Steelers had a number of options if they stayed with the 27th overall pick instead of moving up to select Polamalu including Larry Johnson RB Penn St., Andre Woolfolk CB Oklahoma and Boss Bailey LB Georgia who I probably would have attempted to convert to him to safety because of his athleticism.  One must also consider the safeties that are available on the first day of the 2004 NFL Draft when evaluating recent drafts.  Sean Taylor, Sean Jones and Matt Ware are all safeties with excellent speed, solid tackling, good pass coverage skills and can match up well with any potential player coming down field to catch a football.  I think Polamalu will prove to be a solid pick but the price that the Steelers paid to move up to select him and his limitations is what rubs me wrong about the pick.

Second Round: Alonzo Jackson DE/LB Florida St.; I still don't quite understand this pick by the Steelers considering Jackson rarely suited up on game day as a rookie.  If Gildon is cut and Jackson competes for his vacated starting job during preseason or the Steelers use Jackson as a rush end in four man defensive fronts the pick starts to make some sense otherwise it was not a good pick in my opinion.

Third Round: Traded to Chiefs in deal for Troy Polamalu; With players like Julian Battle, Chris Simms, Lee Suggs, Onterrio Smith and the possibility of trading up a few picks to select Dave Ragone this was definitely a missed opportunity at a solid draft selection due to trading up for Polamalu.

Fourth Round: Ike Taylor CB Louisiana-Lafayette; Taylor has proven to be a solid pick thus far and should continue to develop into a cornerback at least capable of filling the #3 corner spot on the roster.  He has the size, speed, mentality and work ethics it takes to continue to improve as a cornerback.

Fifth Round: Brian St. Pierre QB Boston College; St. Pierre will have to prove he has progressed to the point that he will be prepared to be the #2 quarterback come the 2005 season.  The Steelers could have easily been the team that was in the Texans shoes with this pick however I think the prospects of him staying with the Steelers would have been a whole lot better than staying with the Texans.  From what I have heard Henson still has what it takes to develop into an NFL starting quarterback which is something I'm not at all convinced about with St. Pierre.

Sixth Round: Traded to Chiefs in deal for Troy Polamalu; There were still lots of players on the board that could have helped the Steelers but the opportunity was missed trading up to select Polamalu.

Seventh Round:  J.T. Wall FB Georgia; Still not sure how Wall will work out for the Steelers.  Wall spent last season on the practice squad but should figure to win the starting fullback spot on the roster if Dan Kreider isn't resigned to a salary cap friendly contract.


Potential First Round Picks

1. Shawn Andrews OT Arkansas; Andrews would give the Steelers a player that could step in immediately and start at the right offensive tackle spot as a rookie.  If Andrews would fall to the Steelers pick expect them to make him their 1st round selection and hope either Greg Jones, Chris Perry or Cedric Cobbs is there for their 2nd round pick.  Andrews has the potential to roadgrade from the right tackle spot for the next decade.

2. Steven Jackson RB Oregon St.; Jackson is well rounded as a runner, receiver, blocker and rarely turns the ball over which are all pluses the Steelers could use at the running back position.  Coach Cowher loves big backs that can pound the football and Jackson rarely is tackled before making positive yards.  Jackson has the potential to be the next big back to carry the Steelers running game for the next 5-10 years.

3. Reggie Williams WR Washington; Williams would give the Steelers options with Plaxico Burress who is now entering the final year of his contract and has already expressed his doubts about resigning with the Steelers.  Williams has all of the physical attributes of Burress without the attitude problems.  Williams stock has dropped somewhat off a junior season which didn't quite equal is outstanding sophomore season and due to the depth of the other players entering the Draft.  I see Williams as a pick who could be their star receiver or allow other players to get single coverage and end up being stars much as Burress has done for Hines Ward.

 

4. Kevin Jones RB Virginia Tech; Jones is the type of runner that can take the play the distance every time he touches the football plus he has good physical size for a feature back.  Not as experienced as a receiver or blocker as Jackson plus he has had a past history of turning the ball over.  Jones is another back who could be the Steelers feature back for the next 5-10 years and help the Steelers reestablish themselves as a team that dominates running the football.

5. Randy Starks DT Maryland; Starks is the type of player that could play either nose tackle or end in the Steelers 3-4 or play tackle in situations when the Steelers used four defensive linemen.  Starks has the potential of being the first defensive tackle selected in the 2004 NFL Draft and is certainly a good option if the other four players are gone.  A defensive front of Hampton, Starks and Smith would give the Steelers one of the most awesome three man fronts in the NFL or would allow the Steelers to plug in Joey Porter,  Alonzo Jackson or Brett Keisel to give them a pretty awesome four man front as well.


What we can expect going into next season: I think the Steelers will make the moves necessary to return the team to being a playoff caliber football team.  The Steelers need to make the right moves in managing the salary cap, during the 2004 NFL Draft, with free agent signings and with retaining their star players in order to regain the form that saw them in the playoffs for a couple of years in a row.  I expect the Steelers to become better running the football which will open up their passing game again and limit the time their defense is on the football field which were all reasons the Steelers were successful in the past.

 

Top 300 Prospects:

 

101. Keith Smith / CB / McNeese State
102. Ricardo Colclough / CB / Tusculum
103. Ben Utecht / TE / Minnesota
104. Maurice Brown / WR / Iowa
105. Keary Colbert / WR / USC
106. Maurice Jones / ILB / South Florida
107. Darius Watts / WR / Marshall
108. Nathaniel Adibi / DE / Virginia Tech
109. Niko Koutouvides / ILB / Purdue
110. Mewelde Moore / RB / Tulane
111. Tony Bua / S / Arkansas
112. Isaac Hilton / DE / Hampton
113. Randy Jordan / CB / Kansas State
114. Robert “Bo” Schobel / DE / Texas Christian University
115. Quincy Wilson / RB / West Virginia
116. Antonio Hall / OT / Kentucky
117. Madieu Williams / S / Maryland
118. Alex Stepanovich / C / Ohio State
119. Rashad Washington / S / Kansas State
120. Shane Olivea / OT / Ohio State
121. Guss Scott / S / Florida
122. Matt Schaub / QB / Virginia
123. Jerricho Cotchery / WR / North Carolina State
124. Brandon “B.J.” Johnson / WR / Texas
125. Terry Johnson / DE / Washington

 

 

Future Mock Drafts:

 

23) Carolina Panthers - Maurice Stovall | WR | Notre Dame

- The Panthers need for a big playmaking wide receiver is well know.  Mushin is more of a possession receiever now and could be let go for salary cap reasons.  Standing 6'5" and weighing 220+ pounds, Stovall is an ideal player to line up opposite Steve Smith.  The two of them would form a receiving corps that would be feared for years.

 

NCAA Conference Overviews:

 

Pac-10 Conference Overview

2003 Recap:

USC Trojans (12-1)

What Went Right: Nearly everything.  To win a shared National Championship with a young team in a ‘rebuilding year’ is a major accomplishment.  To do it outside the BCS system is supposed to be impossible.  Simply put, Pete Carroll’s team came together in tremendous fashion.  They won not simply with talent, but with solid coaching, well-executed schemes, and solid teamwork on the field. The offense found new stars in (sophomore) QB Matt Leinart and in the RB duo of (freshman) Reggie Bush and (freshman) LenDale White.  The defense was aggressive and stingy with the points.  The defensive line was amongst the best in the nation and the offensive backfield is deep in young talent.  Wide receiver (sophomore) Mike Williams was the best receiver in college football not named Larry Fitzgerald.  A tremendous season for a team that looks ready to become a national powerhouse.  If USC does join the likes of Miami and Oklahoma, this will be looked upon as the year they made the step up to the big stage. 

What Went Wrong: an overtime loss to Cal, mainly.  It was really USC’s only close game of the season, and it cost them.  In a fit of irony, USC is a team that is respected for a tendency to have consistently tough schedules, but they were hurt in 2003 by a weak schedule.  That weakness is what kept USC out of the Sugar Bowl.  The defense showed some deficiencies through the season, including the smaller defensive line giving up some yards on the ground and the secondary giving up a lot of passing yards (though not scores).  The offense was fairly solid, though Leinart may need to spread the ball around a bit more in the future.

Washington State Cougars (10-3)

What Went Right:  The Cougars were a big Pac-10 question mark after the departure of Mike Price.  New Head Coach Bill Doba did a tremendous job this season.  The offense was in the good hands of QB (senior) Matt Kegel and RB (senior) Jonathan Smith.  The defense was also fairly strong, despite lacking star power.  Two of the best the Cougars had were OLB (sophomore) Will Derting and sack-machine DE (senior) D.D. Acholonu.  Derting will be back for 2004.  WSU had some strong conference wins, such as a 55-16 win over Oregon and a 36-30 defeat of Oregon State.  However, no win was bigger than 28-20 Holiday Bowl win over Texas.  Few people gave the Cougars a chance against the loaded Longhorns but they gutted out a nice win.  WSU should enter the season on a lot of Top 25 lists.

What Went Wrong:  The Notre Dame game and the Washington game.  The USC loss is understandable – the Cougars stuck with the Trojans for the 1^st half but simply could not match up for the whole game.  But the early loss to ND is a bit of head scratcher, considering how mediocre the Irish turned out to be.  And losing to rival U-Dub was rough, considering the Huskies had a down season and were manhandled by the likes of California and UCLA.  The Cougars run game was not consistently strong enough throughout the season.  The team has to be concerned by a fairly significant exodus of talent, especially on defense.   

Oregon Ducks (8-4)

What Went Right:  The start of the season.  The Ducks reeled off four wins to start the year, including an impressive win over a Michigan team that was ranked #4 going into the game.  Coach Mike Bellotti’s two-quarterback system of (sophomore) Kellen Clemens and (senior) Jason Fife was surprisingly effective, though Clemens emerged and gained more playtime.  Receiver (sophomore) Demetrius Williams flashed some talent, but tailed off as the season wore on.  The offensive line was a strength.  The defense was pretty solid against the run, despite the loss of the monster in the middle, DT (sophomore) Haloti Ngata, for the season.  LB (senior) Kevin Mitchell and FS (senior) Keith Lewis were all over the field for the Ducks defense.  Oregon managed to finish the season strong.  The Sun Bowl loss to Minnesota was a close, hard-fought contest against well-matched teams.  Despite losses on the offensive line and defense, they look to be one of the conference’s better units for 2004. 

What Went Wrong:  When they lost, they tended to lose big.  The Ducks went down 55-16 to Washington State and 59-14 to Washington.  The Washington game was a pure letdown.  They lost a winnable game to a good Utah team.  The offense was very inconsistent – it would go from explosive to non-existent – especially the ground game.  The secondary remained a concern on defense.  The defense also gave up a lot of rushing TDs.  Bellotti is a good coach and has a talented team, so these blowout losses to decent teams should not happen.  The team was able to avoid another mid-season slide like 2002, but the Ducks need to become more consistent on a game-to-game basis to compete for a Pac-10 title.

Oregon State Beavers (8-5)

What Went Right:  With the return of former coach Mike Riley, the Beaver enjoyed a good but not great season.  The offensive line was barely above average, but the team was still able to rely on the run game due to the presence of powerhouse halfback (junior) Steven Jackson, who rumbled for 1545 yards.  Jackson also helped combine with receivers (senior) James Newson and (sophomore) Mike Haas, plus underrated TE (senior) Tim Euhus, to give the Beavers a productive passing game.  OSU’s defense was very good, statistically amongst the best in the conference.  LB (senior) Richard Seigler was All-Pac-10 1^st team and CB (freshman) Brandon Browner was the conference Freshman of the Year.  It was not a defense that dominated, however. The Beavers did not have a great season within the conference, but it was a solid season from a team that probably could have challenged for the conference title.  The Beavers finished the season with a big Las Vegas Bowl win over New Mexico. 

What Went Wrong:  Quarterback (junior) Derek Anderson.  He led the Pac-10 in passing yards, yet was woefully inefficient, completing just 51.3% of his passes, with 24 TDs offsetting 24 INT.  His mediocre play kept the offense from being as explosive as it should have been, given the talent available.  The defense could not shut down opposing offenses when they were too often provided a short field by turnovers.

California Golden Bears (8-6)

What Went Right:  This is a team fighting its way back to respectability.  Coming from a team that was not expected to compete this year, an 8-win season is a great step in the right direction.  Even better, one of those wins was Southern Cal’s only loss of the season and another was the biggest bowl game upset – a 52-49 shootout over Virginia Tech in the Insight Bowl.  Coach Jeff Tedford has done a great job with Cal.  The offense was potent, finding new stars in quarterback (sophomore) Aaron Rodgers, running back (senior) Adimchinobe Echemandu, and receiver (junior) Geoff McArthur.  Echemandu had the 2^nd best rushing season in the conference.  The offensive line play was also strong, led by LT (senior) Mark Wilson.  The defense was led by rover (sophomore) Donnie McCleskey, a tackling machine who led the conference.    

What Went Wrong:  The team lost some winnable games, to opponents such as UCLA, Colorado State, Oregon, and Utah.  The defense never rose much above mediocre and simply did not seem to have the same level of talent as the offense.  Tedford is considered an offensive coach and it is obvious he is doing some great things on that side of the ball, but the Cal defense needs some work.  This is a team on the right track, but it might not be ready to step up against the big boys just yet.

UCLA Bruins (6-7)

What Went Right:  Less than the record might indicate.  In Karl Dorrell’s first season as Head Coach, the defense carried the team.  Defensive end (senior) Dave Ball was the sackmaster.  Linebackers (senior) Brandon Chillar, (sophomore) Justin London, and (sophomore) Spencer Havner were all over the field.  This was a good but not great defense.  Dorrell and his team showed some heart to get on a winning streak after an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma.

What Went Wrong:  The Bruins had to play offense.  QB (sophomore) Drew Olsen was inexperienced and inconsistent.  The running game was non-existent.  The offensive line was mediocre.  It pretty much came down to the fact the defense was not quite good enough to make up for how bad the offense was.  Even the special teams were not special, evidenced by 3 kicks returned for TDs by the Sooners.  The team certainly has hope for the future because there is talent at UCLA, but the Bruins cannot risk falling too far behind city-rival USC in the conference. 

Washington Huskies (6-6)

What Went Right:  Not nearly enough.  The wins over Oregon and Washington State were impressive but they alone do not make up for a 2^nd consecutive disappointing season for the Huskies.  Wide receiver (junior) Reggie Williams put up big numbers, but he was never really dominant and he’s now gone for the NFL.  New Head Coach Keith Gilbertson did a decent job, considering the circumstances.  UW should be among the Pac-10 elite, at least in terms of talent.  If Gilbertson is truly capable as a coach, the Huskies should be back to contending next season – even with the losses, there is still a great deal of talent there

What Went Wrong:  It started with the firing of Coach Rick Neuheisel and it never seemed to stop.  QB (senior) Cody Pickett was not the same player as the year before.  The run game continued to be stagnant, and it dragged the whole of the offense down.  The offensive line play was down, particularly LT (junior) Khalif Barnes, who is highly regarded but was plain abused in several games.  The defense was pretty good against the pass but not so good against the run.  The Huskies played this season like a team in flux and unsure of itself – which is exactly what it was.  Gilbertson and U-Dub better get things figured out or they will find themselves falling behind the likes of USC, Oregon, and Washington State.

Arizona State Sun Devils (5-7)

What Went Right:  Quarterback (junior) Andrew Walter is still productive even when he isn’t at his best.  The Sun Devils likely found themselves a RB for the future in (freshman) Loren Wade.  FB (senior) Mike Karney was the best as his position in the conference.  The offensive line was solid.  Although the defense was not a huge factor, the Sun Devils did feature a solid tandem of safeties in FS (junior) Jason Shivers and SS (junior) Riccardo Stewart.  It was not a terrible season, but it fell far below expectations. 

What Went Wrong:  Quite a bit, actually.  The offense was not as potent as expected, and simply disappeared in some games.  The run game never became enough of a factor.  The Sun Devils needed Walter to improve from 2002 but he didn’t, and that was a major reason the offense never blossomed.   The defense was average, as expected.  ASU lost some games it probably could have won – Stanford and UCLA come to mind – that would made the difference between a disappointing campaign and a mediocre one. 

Stanford Cardinals (4-7)

What Went Right:  The first two games of the season against BYU and San Jose State.  The Cards also picked up a couple nice conference wins against UCLA and Arizona State.  The defense has young talent available, such as safety (junior) Oshiomogho Atogwe and linebacker (sophomore) Michael Craven.  The top offensive player was LT (senior) Kirk Chambers, who made 2^nd team All Pac-10. 

What Went Wrong:  This is a team that has not recovered from the loss of coach Ty Willingham.  This offense was just plain forgettable in 2003.  Quarterback (senior) Chris Lewis was bad and (freshman) Trent Edwards was worse.  They need more talent to run the type of aggressive passing system that Coach Buddy Teevens wants.  The defense underachieved for the amount of talent it has.  Stanford is a program is danger of becoming a conference bottom-feeder.

Arizona Wildcats (2-10)

What Went Right:  The hiring of new Head Coach Mike Stoops.  This was a tremendous move after all the controversy that John Mackovic wrought.  Stoops returns to Arizona a level of credibility that the 2-win season took away.  The bright spot on offense was RB (sophomore) Mike Bell, who gained 920 yards.  The win over Washington was a big one and it saved the Wildcats from going winless in the Pac-10. 

What Went Wrong:  Everything.  The team was pretty bad on offense.  The run game was not terrible, but the passing game was.  Three quarterbacks – (freshman) Ryan O’Hara, (sophomore) Nic Costa, and (freshman) Kris Heavner – rotated because none were effective, with Heavner ending up with the most work.  Arizona’s best offensive player, RT (senior) Brandon Phillips, missed the majority of the season.  The defense has some players, but Coach Stoops will still have to do a total rebuild on a unit that gave up an average of 460 yards per game.  The Wildcats made only two field goals all season.  This was a team that earned its 10 losses.  It is worth noting that the hiring of Stoops did not have a major positive impact on Arizona’s 2004 recruiting class. 

Top 10 2004 Draft Prospects

1) Steven Jackson (Running Back) Oregon State – A 230-pound battering ram with surprising speed.  The core of the Beavers offense rumbled for 3235 yards and 34 touchdowns over the past two seasons.  He does his best work between the tackles but he has the speed to get outside and he will occasionally rip off a long run.  Will most often run over a defender but capable of a little shake.  Jackson is currently the top back on most draft boards and looks like a fringe top ten prospect.  He could move up as high as #6 with strong workouts.

2) Reggie Williams (Wide Receiver) Washington – The prototype of a big, strong NFL receiver.  He has excellent size at 6’4” and 220 pounds.  Williams is tough, strong, and has great hands.  .  His greatest concerns as a prospect are his route-running and his concentration, neither of which are outstanding.  After two highly productive seasons in the Pac-10, he looks ready to be a #1 receiver in the NFL. 

3) Kenechi Udeze (Defensive End) USC – The Trojans monstrously strong DE has tallied 24 sacks over the past two seasons.  At 285 pounds, he has the size and strength to hold up against the run.  Solid pass-rush skills allow Udeze to go after the quarterback using his speed or his strength.  He should be a solid two-way end in the NFL and could end up being a top ten prospect.

4) Will Poole (Cornerback) USC – A JUCO transfer who was not expected to start became one of the best defensive playmakers on USC’s defense.  He has good size, solid cover skills, and he tackles well.  The greatest concern is that he lacks pure speed to match up one-on-one.  He should make a solid pro, especially if ends up in a cover-2 type defense like he excelled in at USC. 

5) Matt Ware (Cornerback/Safety) UCLA – Ware is experienced at both safety and cornerback.  He has a solid 2003 campaign, though he was generally overlooked.  At 6’2” and 205 pounds, he has excellent size for corner.  The biggest question is whether he has the speed necessary to play CB in the NFL.  If he does, it raises his value because he has solid cover skills.  If not, he becomes a coverage safety and his value drops a bit. 

6) Jacob Rogers (Offensive Tackle) USC – He was the heart of Southern Cal’s offensive line for the past two seasons.  The left tackle is a solid pass blocker and strong enough as a run blocker.  He is tough, strong, and athletic.  Rogers may never be an elite left tackle in the NFL, but he should be a tough and reliable lineman for some team. 

7) Jason Shivers (Safety) Arizona State – A solid, rangy safety who was a tackling machine for the Sun Devils.  Reliable but not exceptional in coverage for a safety and is solid in run defense. 

8) Dwan Edwards (Defensive Tackle) Oregon State – Edwards is a strong, tough interior defender.  The 2^nd team All Pac-10 selection is best against the run.  The 305-pounder has good bulk to hold up in the NFL.  Won’t get consistent pressure but smart enough to make plays. 

9) Rodney Leisle (Defensive Tackle) UCLA – He made some big plays for UCLA this season.  Leisle is strong but not impressively athletic.  He makes up for it with effort and intelligence.  He is also a bit undersized but he is tough and versatile enough to interest some teams.

10) Richard Seigler (Linebacker) Oregon State – He is a hard-nosed linebacker with decent size, adequate speed, and plenty of experience.  The OLB is not a great athlete and he struggles a bit in coverage, but he has room to grow and develop.  Seigler was 1^st team All Pac-10 and recorded nearly 100 tackles for the Beavers.    


2004 Preview

* Teams are listed in their projected order of finish for next season.

USC Trojans:

Top Offensive Prospect:  It is a close contest between quarterback Matt Leinart and wide receiver Mike Williams.  Williams gets the nod, because he already looks like he belongs at the top of the draft.  Leinart could end up there, but still has some questions to answer. 

Top Defensive Prospect:  It is close on defense as well, this time between defensive line-mates Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson.  Both are athletic, undersized defensive tackles.  Cody is a bit quicker and more disruptive, so he gets the title as USC’s best defensive prospect. 

Top Incoming Recruit:   There are almost too many very good recruits to choose from, but among the most likely to make an immediate impact is Jeff Byers.  The top offensive line recruit could end up starting as a true freshman at center to replace the departing Norm Katnik. 

Overview:  USC is loaded on both sides of the ball and brought in a great deal of fresh talent.  It isn’t out of the question for them to run the board next year.  But it won’t be easy – the Trojans will go into every game wearing a bit target. 

Oregon Ducks

Top Offensive Prospect:  Now that he should be the unquestioned starter, QB Kellen Clemens needs to step up near as efficient as he was in the first three games of 2003 (threw 7 touchdowns against zero interceptions).  Clemens won’t as highly rated as former-Ducks QB Joey Harrington, but he has shown good accuracy and intangibles. 

Top Defensive Prospect:  With the loss of defensive leaders Kevin Mitchell and Keith Lewis, big defensive tackle Haloti Ngata needs to become more than just the anchor on the line.  The 340-pounder needs to come back strong from the knee injury that kept out of most of the 2003 season.  Ngata looks like one of the top DT prospects for the 2005 Draft if he wants to leave early.

Top Incoming Recruit:  A fairly strong class for Oregon was lead by wide receiver Cameron Colvin, who has a chance to contribute immediately.  The 6’2”, 195 pound Colvin was one of the top-ranked WR in the nation and the Ducks grabbed him away from USC and Ohio State.

Overview:  While the defense lost some serious contributors, the Ducks are in good shape for 2004.  If Bellotti can keep them from experiencing a third consecutive mid-season swoon, the Ducks could challenge for the Pac-10 title.


Washington State Cougars

Top Offensive Prospect:  Wazzu will be breaking in new starters at both quarterback and running back, so consistent play up front will be essential next season and that has to start with LT Calvin Armstrong. The 6’7”, 315-pounder did not have as good a year in 2003 as 2002, but he was moved from RT to LT.  He should be one of the top offensive linemen in the conference for 2004.  Though not overly athletic, Armstrong is big and strong enough to be a solid right tackle at the pro level.

Top Defensive Prospect:  Outside linebacker Will Derting isn’t particularly big, at 6’ and 235 pounds.  He is quick and athletic, but he is not a pure standout.  He just gets it done on the field.  The sophomore is a bit similar to Packers standout rookie Nick Barnett, during his Oregon State days.  It is probably a reach at this point to project Derting as a 1^st round pick, but he certainly looks like he has a future in the NFL. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  Some people believe that S Randy Estes could be the second coming of Ronnie Lott.  The athletic 6’2”, 200-pound California-native may have the physical ability.  During the season, Estes was considered the top safety recruit in the nation and one of the top overall prospects, but an undisclosed off-field incident dropped his rating somewhat.  Washington State got a coup like landing the talented player – now he just has to qualify, which is a concern.

Overview:  The Cougars are hit as hard as any Pac-10 team by losses, especially on defense.  The entire starting D-line is gone and three-quarters of the secondary.  This looks like a team capable of weathering such losses, but the 2004 season will be a great test of the abilities of Head Coach Bill Doba, who a share of the Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors for 2003.

California Golden Bears

Top Offensive Prospect:  The mad genius of Jeff Tedford, which turned the likes of Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller into first round draft picks, now gives us quarterback Aaron Rodgers.  The JUCO sophomore is a good athlete with solid but not outstanding measurables, such as size and arm strength.  He produces on the field, though.  The Insight Bowl win over Virginia Tech was Rodgers coming out party, but he actually had a very productive season a whole.  If history is any indicator, the NFL should be very interested in Rodgers in a year or two.  Wide receiver Geoff McArthur could also generate some interest. 

Top Defensive Prospect:  The Bears offer several options but none standout overtly.  Junior defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander didn’t put up big numbers this season, but he fought through a lot of double teams.  He won’t be a high pick because he doesn’t have outstanding athleticism but the NFL will like his toughness and strength.  OLB Wendell Hunter is a bit behind Alexander as a prospect, but his is a good on the blitz. Rover Donnie McCleskey is an interesting prospect, but lacks the cover skills to play corner and the size for safety, making him a prospect without a true position. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  Quick linebacker Worrell Williams, one of the top ten OLB recruits in the nation, has a chance to make an impact as a true freshman.  He will join a defense that is not exactly overflowing with top level talent. 

Overview:  Coach Tedford’s rebuilding of Cal has been impressive thus far.  He has added some solid talent and its time for the team to take the next step.  It would be excessive to expect the Bears to compete for the Pac-10 title just yet, but the win over USC showed they could play with the big boys, so anything is possible.

Washington Huskies

Top Offensive Prospect:  The Huskies offensive cupboard isn’t quite bare, but it is certainly far from full.  The losses are heavy.  Junior wide receiver Charles Frederick will try to replace Reggie Williams, who left early for the NFL as expected.  The 6’, 180-pound Frederick doesn’t have the size or strength of Williams.  But he had some good quicks and he’s a sound returner as well.  Won’t be a 1^st round pick unless his senior season is spectacular, but Frederick should make a solid #2 or #3 deep threat WR.

Top Defensive Prospect:  There is talent here, but no one player sticks out.  Cornerback Derrick Johnson has nice size (6’ and 185-pounds), 4.38 speed, and he makes plays (6 INT).  He would interest NFL scouts on measurables alone, but he has talent. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  A family tradition continues, as highly-rated dual-threat QB Matthew Tuiasosopo will join the Huskies.  He is the younger brother of former-Washington QB Marques Tuiasosopo, now a Raider.  Might not be an immediate replacement for Cody Pickett, but should be leading the Huskies in the near future.

Overview:  Coach Keith Gilbertson’s job does not get any easier.  The Huskies should be without controversy hanging over their heads, but they have to replace a lot of departing talent.  RB Kenny James could give Washington the first real running game they’ve had for a few years, and they’ll need it.  This is a team with the talent to surprise but they have a lot of work to do to compete with the likes of USC.

Oregon State Beavers

Top Offensive Prospect:  In 2003, the Beavers won despite quarterback Derek Anderson, who seemed to enjoy throwing the ball to the opposite team.  In 2004, they have to figure out a way to win because of him.  In terms of size and arm strength, Anderson is a prototype NFL QB.  Unfortunately, he has some work to do on issues such as accuracy, consistency, and reading the defense.  He will have to do it without the dominate run game of Steven Jackson, top receiver James Newsom, or reliable TE Tim Euhus, though deep threat WR Mike Haas returns.  With a big senior campaign, Anderson could shoot up the draft boards, much as Joey Harrington and Carson Palmer have done in recent years.

Top Defensive Prospect:  Defensive end Bill Swancutt was overshadowed this season by the great production from UCLA’s Dave Ball and USC’s Kenechi Udeze. But Swancutt had a pretty nice season himself, producing 11 sacks and 45 tackles.  He will be the Pac-10’s top returning defensive end and should be among the top in the nation.  He has the physical skills, size, and speed to be a 1^st round prospect. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  The Beavers stole defensive back Bryan Payton out of California.  The 4-star prospect has the size for safety and the speed for corner.  He will probably play corner for Oregon State.  The 6’2” Payton should combine with 6’4” Brandon Browner (Pac-10’s top frosh in 2003) to give OSU a pair of big, talented cornerbacks. 

Overview:  You can mark the Beavers down as a team that could surprise some people in 2004.  But considering the losses they suffer, they could be hard-pressed to repeat 2003’s eight-win season, even if Derek Anderson has a breakout year.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Top Offensive Prospect:  Without question, QB Andrew Walter is the Sun Devils best pro prospect.  He has the size, arm strength, accuracy, intelligence, and intangibles to be a very good NFL passer.  As a senior, he must improve his consistency and his completion ratio.  He should have better talent around him in 2004, which will certainly help.  Walter needs only a good season to elevate himself back up to 1^st round status, and a very good season could place him as the top QB prospect for next season.

Top Defensive Prospect:  Arizona State does not offer a lot of options here.  Safety Riccardo Stewart is not quite the prospect that current draft prospect Jason Shivers looks to be, but he is the best that the Sun Devils have.  Stewart lacks ideal size for an NFL safety but he’s productive and should get some looks from scouts.

Top Incoming Recruit:  Tight end Zach Miller was simply the top TE prospect in the nation.  Given the lack of production the Sun Devils have from the position, he should start immediately. 

Overview:  A keyed-up Walter should win the Sun Devils some games.  But no matter how well the QB plays, ASU’s defense will not be much above average and that will keep them from being highly competitive next season. 

UCLA Bruins

Top Offensive Prospect:  There is a dearth of experienced skill position players at UCLA.  There are talented young players with potential, but none with enough play time to project them as solid NFL prospects.  That leaves OG Eyoseph Efseaff as the top player with NFL potential.  He should be one of the conferences best interior O-linemen.  He doesn’t have great size – 6’2” and 300 pounds – but he is strong and blocks well. 

Top Defensive Prospect:  The Bruins have some solid talent on defense.  The best of the bunch is mike linebacker Justin London.  The 240-pound athlete is quick, explosive, and was 2^nd on the team in tackles.  The fits the NFL’s new mold of faster middle linebackers.

Top Incoming Recruit:  Like Arizona, UCLA disappointed with its recruiting.  The Bruins missed out on a wealth of talent in southern California, much of which was poached away by out-of-state schools.  The best UCLA landed was DE Brigham Harwell, who excels at getting after the quarterback and may need to start immediately. 

Overview:  The Bruins defense should be good in 2004.  The offense?  A different story.  A team already lacking in experience had a couple experienced players (RB Tyler Ebell and WR Craig Bragg) decide to transfer.  It looks as if Karl Dorrell and the Bruins took a step backward, though they have the potential and talent to be a surprise team.  Just don’t count on it.

Arizona Wildcats

Top Offensive Prospect:  Having the conference’s top returning rusher gives the offense some hope.  Mike Bell, a sophomore, certainly has potential.  It is early to be ascertaining his promise as a pro, but the Wildcats do not have many other candidates. 

Top Defensive Prospect:  As on offense, the Wildcats do not offer a wealth of possibilities.  Safety Darrell Brooks will not be a high draft pick in the future, but Arizona’s third-leading tackler does have some talent.  He is an intelligent player who could improve. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  The best of what was a disappointing first recruiting class for Coach Stoops is defensive end McCollins Umeh.  The quick Umeh was brought in from Texas and he should be an immediate contributor on a weak Wildcats defensive line. 

Overview:  Confidence abounds that Mike Stoops is the man to turn Arizona around.  It will not happen quickly.  Unless he works miracles, the team simply does not have the talent to match up to the conferences best teams week to week.  Any improvement over 2003’s two wins is working in the right direction, however.

Stanford Cardinals

Top Offensive Prospect:  Redshirt freshman Trent Edwards is more potential than performance.  He had a forgettable 2003 season (4 touchdowns to 9 interceptions) but he looks like the most talented player on the Cards offense.  He has some long term promise, though it may be awhile before he realizes it.

Top Defensive Prospect:  For having amassed some good defensive talent, Stanford does not look to have a lot of draft prospects.  Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe lacks ideal size but he’s got range and speed.  He was the teams leading tackler and he produced at a higher level than anyone else on the defense. 

Top Incoming Recruit:  In need of some help at wide receiver, the Cards did very well on the offensive line.  Well, they needed some help there, too.  Big 5-star recruit Alex Fletcher came cross-country from New York, and may start as a true for his journey. 

Overview:  Stanford does not appear to be a team heading towards future success.  The Cards entire recruiting class numbered only 12 players and they did poorly in their own talent-rich state.  Coach Teevens needs to show some improvement, but this team looks like 5 wins could be a stretch. 

Top 10 Future Draft Prospects:

1) Mike Williams (Sophomore – Wide Receiver) USC – a possible top ten pick if he had decided to jump early this year with Larry Fitzgerald.  Williams could be the top prospect for the 2005 NFL Draft.  At 6’5” and 230 pounds, he is amazingly strong and physical for a wide receiver.  The only concern is that Williams lacks elite speed.  He is never going to be a true deep threat, but he has enough quickness to create separation at the pro level. 

2) Andrew Walter (Junior – Quarterback) Arizona State – looked like a 1^st round quarterback prospect coming into the 2003 season, but a slightly disappointing year was enough to bring him back for his final campaign.  Walter has the physical tools to succeed as an NFL QB, but he needs to prove that he has all the intangibles it takes.  Should enter the 2004 season as one of the top QB prospects. 

3) Bill Swancutt (Junior – Defensive End) Oregon State – the top returning DE in the conference.  With 22.5 sacks over the past two seasons, Swancutt has been overlooked.  He has the size, strength, and speed to play DE in the NFL.  The biggest question is whether he can still be productive will less talent around him next season.  If he proves that he can be, he should at least be a 2^nd round prospect.

4) Shaun Cody (Junior – Defensive Tackle) USC – Cody was the heart of the defensive line that made USC’s defense tick in 2003.  With DT partner Patterson, Cody is disruptive in the middle of the line.  He has 6 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2003.  While a bit undersized at 285 pounds, Cody is quick, aggressive, athletic and strong.  He is also intelligent and mature.  He will probably need to bulk up a bit for the NFL.  Cody would make a solid DE in a 3-4 defense.

5) Haloti Ngata (Sophomore – Defensive Tackle) Oregon – the 340-pound Ngata missed most of the 2003 with a knee injury.  The big man has surprising athleticism for his size, and the strength expected.  He is sound against the run, plus he is capable of collapsing the pocket.  He joined Texas’ Roderique Wright as the top frosh DTs in 2002.  If Ngata can return from his injury completely, he could once again become one of the best tackles in the nation.  The NFL loves big, run-stuffing interior defenders so Ngata probably won’t last long on draft day.

6) Matt Leinart (Sophomore – Quarterback) USC – Leinart was simply one of the most efficient QBs in the nation as a sophomore.  With the maturation of the talent around him, it will be interesting to see what he can do as a junior.  The left-handed passer was not expected to be the Trojans starter but earned the job.  His arm strength and accuracy are both a bit above average but he does an excellent job of reading the defense and spreading the ball around the field.  He is a pretty good athlete, evidenced by his touchdown catch in the Rose Bowl.  With another excellent season, Leinart may join Andrew Walter at the top of the list of QB prospects. 

7) Mike Patterson (Junior – Defensive Tackle) USC – teams with Shaun Cody to form perhaps the best DT combo in college football.  The 6’, 290-pound Patterson is a bit short but he is strong and disruptive.  He racked up 55 tackles and 7 sacks in 2003.  He may end up as a better NFL prospect than Cody. 

8) Aaron Rodgers (Sophomore – Quarterback) California – a player to watch, if for no better reason than he is coached by QB guru Jeff Tedford.  Rogers is above average in terms of arm and athleticism.  He also has good athleticism.  A prospect for whom the sky is the limit right now. 

9) Will Derting (Sophomore – Linebacker) Washington State – the outside ‘backer should be among the best defenders in the conference next season.  He is quick and athletic enough to move around the field and he tackles well.  His height – 6’ – will be a bit an issue, but he’s solid enough at 235 pounds.  Derting could play his way up to a 1^st round prospect if he stays until the senior season. 

10) Geoff McArthur (Junior - Wide Receiver) California – after enjoying a breakout 2003 season, McArthur is on the draft radar.  He led the conference with 85 catches for 1504 yards and 10 touchdowns.  That puts him in some elite company with the likes of Mike Williams and Reggie Williams.  McArthur is unlikely to be considered as that quality of draft prospect, however.  He has decent size and speed but does not look outstanding in any particular area.  His draft status will increase considerably if he can repeat those impressive numbers for his senior season. 

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