My pal Allen Kenney over at Blatant Homerism has crafted quite a nice article on why he feels his quarterback, Sam Bradford should be the first quarterback selected in the NFL draft. However, lets get one thing straight, he's an Oklahoma guy and it is quite easy for a Boomer Sooner supporter to throw on the Crimson and Cream glasses and tout Bradford.

It is another thing to take a guy who is apathetic towards a school and hear him defend Jimmy Clausen. A guy who despised Charlie Weis, was appalled at Clausen's limo-ridin' ceremony and enjoyed seeing his Heels pick off Jimmy and pound on the poorly protected quarterback. In short folks, I'm far from a Clausen supporter, in fact I'm by all accounts a Sooner fringe fan but I cannot let folks sit back and look at Bradford as the best selection when, to me, there is such a glaring potential for abject failure.

To put it another way, Clausen isn't my favorite quarterback, he didn't even make my Top 10 Prospects List for the upcoming draft. If I had my druthers the idea of taking either of these would be stowed away for pondering in the second round.

But alas it is my duty to inform why Clausen is my guy and Bradford is a no-no for us here at In The Bleachers.

Case for Clausen

There's no real need to use Clausen's stats as a justification for drafting him over Bradford, the Sooner truly blows him out of the water. However, Graham Harrell and Timmy Chang also hold that incredible distinction as well. Throw in Andre Ware and you've got a veritable round touble on no shot NFL quarterbacks.

Instead when I look for the pluses on Clausen, I center that argument on Clausen's toughness and his mastery of a proven NFL system. The kid truly owns those belts over Bradford and it is not even close.

Clausen's freshman season saw the spiky haired brat get tossed around like a rag doll behind a shoddy offensive line full of undersized, underexperienced and at times under talented players. He had no proven weapons and when weapons emerged he had no time to find them. The Irish, under Weis had zero rushing game and Clausen, operating from under center, got bashed as teams pinned back their ears to physically abuse the frosh.

Jimmy took a shot. Jimmy got back up. Jimmy called the play. Jimmy took another shot. Repeat the cycle.

He gained a lot of respect in my eyes for playing through the beatings. Not throwing a fit, not going down easy and not quitting. He worked to win every single play.

As Notre Dame got better so too did Clausen's numbers (and his hair). With the improvement we got a chance to notice what made the last (thank God) of the Clausen Bros the most heralded quarterback in the nation. He exhibited an understanding of the game and the arm strength that must be possessed by an NFL quarterback.

Clausen ran a similar offense to Tom Brady. The reads, the check downs, the progressions and the route-sight adjusts that guys like Drew Bledsoe and Vinny Testaverde used successfully in the NFL. Jimmy is ready to step right in and run one of the NFL's more complicated systems from the mental aspect. He's mastered reading defenses; both pre-snap and during his drop backs.

What separates Clausen is not just his mastery of the mental angle but also his ability to put this mental progress into practice. He has a great NFL arm, the type of arm that, without question is capable of NFL throws.

How do I know?

Because Clausen has already thrown the dig route to Golden Tate. He's already hit Kyle Rudolph on the deep come back route. Jimmy's already tossed the corner route between the safety and the cornerback to Michael Floyd. The kid has already thrown the deep out from the hash to Robby Parris.

While we're speculating about Snead, Bradford, Pike and Tebow's ability to make NFL throws the fact is only one quarterback in the draft of note has already proved this in game situations, Jimmy Clausen.

That is tangible. That is real. That isn't throwing the ball in a drill over air. That's not a pro day work out. That is a quarterback, with defenses bearing down on him standing in the pocket and throwing the ball with power to a target down field.

That can be seen on film.

And as football guys like to tell you, film don't lie.

Allen Kenney from Bloguin Partner "Blatant Homerism" stops by the show for a little spirited debate about the two highest rated quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft. Kenney takes the side of man who quarterbacked his Sooners, the Heisman winning Sam Bradford while your host Michael Felder fires the shots for Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen.

There are plenty of salvos launched from both side as Kenney uses one of Felder's NFL guru's criteria to downgrade Clausen as he champions for Bradford. Michael brings up his favorite argument against Bradford; we'll call it the Heupel, Hybl and White effect.

This debate will rage until the draft in April and this is just the first in a series of battles over which matters more for NFL success; comfort in running a pro system or prolific college statistics.

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Thursday I had the pleasure of being a guest on The Afternoon Blitz on The Fan 790 and 1350 in Southeast Georgia. Host Kevin Thomas and I got into both the SEC and ACC early pictures during my appearance on the show. We talk about the quarterback pictures in the SEC East and though it is tough to believe South Carolina's Stephen Garcia is the best returning quarterback in the division.

The show also delves into the ACC Coastal Division and how the league needs a team like Miami or Virginia Tech to step up and be a national contender. Although coaches such as John Bunting, Chan Gailey, Chuck Amato and Larry Coker have been replaced with Butch Davis, Paul Johnson, Tom O'Brien and Randy Shannon it is going to take a nationally respected team for the league to improve their standing.

Download the show by clicking here and be sure to let us get your thoughts on the appearance.

That's right I went "y'all" on you folks out there. In this edition of Hoot & Holler live we're throwing in a little extra dose of southern flavor as Rob Harley and Michael Felder are joined by Felder's fellow Tar Heel Nick Starcevic, not the one from Big Brother 8. We're going to do some quick draft recap and hit on the combine's significance as well as give our favorite drills.

Here's a hint the speed drills are not the favorite of your host.

After hitting the combine we'll roll right into spring football. Within a week some 29 FBS schools will have spring ball underway and that means position battles, fights and juggling school, meetings and popping pads 15 times.

To listen to the show live just click here or if you've got a comment feel free to call in at 724-444-7444 and use code 27329#.

If you've got questions be sure to email them in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Or tweet in your comments and questions to us here @InTheBleachers!

It never fails as the combine comes to a close. No this is something that can be counted on like the sun rising in the east, setting in the west. It is as reliable as death and taxes. "It" is the proverbial naysayer. More specifically the droves out countless tweeters, bloggers, columnists, sports radio hosts, college football fans and school specific fanatics that scream, almost in unison:

"THE COMBINE DOESN'T EVEN MATTER"

Sometimes it comes after their players don't do so hot on the track. Sometimes it comes after a player from a rival school elevates his stock. Sometimes it comes out of spite and disgust with all the hype surrounding the biggest job interview in America.

No matter where it comes from the fact is it comes. You'll hear it rained down from former players who weren't elite combine invites. Trumpeted by sports radio personalities who like to think they've got some clue as to what it takes to play in the league. Recited like a mantra by fans who are looking for a way to validate their All-American corner who just ran a 4.7-40 yard dash.

Its frustrating, annoying and more than anything ridiculous. The fact that twitter has exploded with people saying "it doesn't matter" is just another reason to add to the recklessly penned columns about how "the combine isn't important." Here's a fact folks:

LIKE IT OR NOT THE COMBINE IS A GREAT TOOL THAT COMPLETES THE HOLY TRINITY OF PLAYER EVALUATION

That holy trinity of course being film evaluation, personality assessment and finally combine production.

Read more for why the combine does matter and ITB's official stance on the NFL Draft Combine's importance...

On this edition of the ITB Podcast we have a special guest; Sam McKewon from the Nebraska State Paper and the site Husker Locker. Sam wrote an interesting article this past week discussing the advent of a General Manager position in the college football world. It is an innovative concept that would lower college football coaching salaries by reducing their duties as well as working to ensure compliance, maintain media relations, hire personnel and handle the front of end of recruiting.

McKewon discusses the Michigan situation as a prime example of where a GM would not only be the record keeper for the documentation process but also work with the AD to guide him in hiring decisions. He sites Bo Pelini's relationship with Tom Osborne as a prime example of how a person above the head coach could help steer the ship in the right direction.

Obviously with the exception of Mike Belotti, Barry Alvarez and Osborne a person would need to be hired for this position, hence the creation of the GM position. It is a great argument that would free up head coaches to coach, stop the skyrocketing salaries and help keep programs compliant.

As an added bonus the GM would be a great advocate for the football program to the AD and act as a buffer between the football side of things and the academia-business world of the campus.

McKewon also sheds some light on Ndamukong Suh's draft status as well as tells us why he thinks THERE WILL BE NO EXPANSION!

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

Eric Galko from NFL House and the Optimum Scouting Department stops by to rehash all the action from the mega event known at the NFL Draft Combine. We talk about the biggest winners and the biggest losers at the combine as well as hit on some ITB favorites and how they performed during the event.

Galko breaks out the term "Raider Prospect" to describe the workout warriors like Bruce Campbell and spends some time talking about guys who helped themselves by performing well in Indy. Names on that list include the trio Ben Tate, Anthony Dixon and Montario Hardesty, three SEC running backs. We also talk about Golden Tate, Sean Weatherspoon, Eric Olsen and Jarret Brown, all guys who helped boost their standings.

On the down side we hit Arrelious Benn out of Illinois, Jonathan Dwyer from Georgia Tech and Ciron Black of LSU. Among other these guys were a major let down after entering the season as elite talents. Benn appeared disengaged, Dwyer was slow and sloppy and Black was all sorts of stiff and slow-footed.

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner,but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the New RSS Feed.This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers" on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

Yesterday we ran down our top ten list of players that we absolutely are in love with in the upcoming 2010 draft and got some pretty good feedback on our rankings. Some folks were puzzled by McClain's lofty status but as was previously stated if Nick Saban puts his defense in the hands of McClain I fully trust the Alabama backers ability to run and NFL ship in the next season and a half.

Today, on this hump day, we'll shed some light on the elite prospects that In The Bleachers is less than enamored with. Everyone has their big board, top pick and sleepers list but there are always players that talent evaluators aren't firmly sold upon. Here's our list of guys that we wouldn't want our team to touch with a ten foot pole. Guys that we think should be avoided like the plague. Guys that are, in our book, untouchable picks with a high bust potential.

Does this mean they'll all be certified garbage in the NFL? No, of course not. What it means is I'm not willing to commit to these players for fear of investing a ton of money and getting little positive return.

Listed in no particular order here are the five guys that raise the biggest red flags of the projected first rounders in this upcoming draft.

Taylor Mays

I'm fully capable of admitting that I drank the Taylor Mays kool-aid. I fell head over heels for a guy that was bigger, faster, stronger than any safety that I'd ever seen. I thought he was the second best safety in the nation and had elite, top ten, draft potential because of the tremendous blend between size and speed. I fell for it hook, line and sinker folks. However, just like Johnny Nash, "I can see clearly now" and I'm no longer clouded by Mays' herculean body type.

The combine kicks off this week, the draft is now less than two months away and here at ITB we kicked off our draft podcasting with Eric Galko of NFL House and Optimum Scouting Department just a day ago. Everyone has started posting their mock drafts and starting to attempt to speculate on where teams will draft the elite college talent of the year. We're going to hold off until the combine is complete before dropping our first mock draft on you suckers but we will let you in on our 2010 Ten Best Prospects for this upcoming draft.

This is not our mock draft or draft projections, this is simply our ranking of the Top Ten Players in the 2010 NFL draft.

We'll go bottom up and folks, yes I am prepared for the hate mail and negative comments, as your favorite prospect is likely missing from my rankings.

#10 Derrick Morgan

The first of the four Yellow Jackets to be taken in the top two rounds Morgan proved his mettle in a season where he lost his three running mates to the 2009 draft. Morgan was one of two bright spots on the Georgia Tech defense as he showed off his wide array of pass rushing moves when facing double teams, slide protection and being chipped with a back. He uses his hands well, has a high motor and possesses the athleticism to excell at the next level.

Morgan is more polished than Jason Pierre-Paul and other defensive end prospects in this year's draft and while the draft is low on true defensive end talent Morgan is a top end player capable of impacting the game from the start.

#9 Bruce Campbell

The Maryland offensive tackle was a guy that I liked a lot entering the 2009 season but his star has sort of cooled at the Terrapins were absolutely atrocious moving the football through the air or the ground. However, after looking into Maryland's issues it is pretty clear there is more to their woes than Campbell's play. He is still the most athletic offensive lineman prospect in the draft and his size and speed combo are rare for a tackle.

At 6'7" he's got the height and corresponding wingspan that makes coaches, evaluators and fans drool his major question marks revolve around his inexperience. Here at ITB we see Campbell as a true brute that you want on your team even if he is forced to play right tackle early in his career while he gets acclimated to the game speed after only starting 17 games at Maryland.

We're proud to announce a partnership with Notice Software for mobile applications of In The Bleachers and other Bloguin partner sites for the Iphone and Android Smart Phones (read the press release)

Although bloggers probably don't get away from their computers enough, we understand that you do. However that shouldn't hinder your ability to consume some of the great content across Bloguin when you know you're in a boring conversation, waiting for your friend, on the road, procrastinating at work, or stuck at a horrible movie with Channing Tatum in it.

By downloading one of these apps you'll be able to:

- be notified of new content updates
- read and search through all articles
- see relevant content across the network
- and in a future release have the ability to read and leave comments

Below is a list of the sites that have applications as well as a few screenshots of what to expect along with some links on how to get these applications. We'll be updating this list as more sites become available.

In The Bleachers

iPhone App

Android - Just search In The Bleachers in app store

 

 

Bloguin

Info page

Iphone Apps