MKJ's 2188 Draft Preview - Updated

Help For the Offenses!
By "Mel Kiper, Jr."

Pre-Season 2187 (The Great Beyond) - Hello there, sports fans! Mel Kiper back once again, and I'm pleased as punch to throw my repertoire of trite cliches at you once again. Of course, I'm certain you're pleased as punch to be getting the real deal rather than some replacement draft guru that would mess things up worse than a tornado in a trailer park. So rather than waste your time, I'm just going to make like a baby and head out...right into my big board!

#1 - QB Dennis Cotton, University of Mississippi. This is a five-tool guy if there ever was one. With blazing straight-line speed and all of the intangibles you could ask for. He reads coverages, has a cannon for an arm, and doesn't force the ball into bad situations. There has been a real run on quality quarterbacks over the past few years, but Cotton is one who can legitimately start as a rookie and, with the right situation, attack the record books.

. Drafted #2 in the first round by New York.

#2 - DT Mark Fenner, Michigan State University. A solid all-around athlete that has the strength of a bull, Fenner is a mound of clay just primed to be molded at the next level. As a rookie, he approaches average status for a defensive lineman, and the lucky coach that gets him will be able to easily whip him into shape.

. Drafted #1 in the first round by Washington.

#3 - TE Eric Bench, University of Washington. This is one tight end that has all the skills needed. He's fast, agile, and strong. Not only will he stay in for short yardage, he'll be an asset in moving the pile. That's the kind of hog I want in the pits; however, he's not one dimensional. Bench's all-around game hearkens back to the early 21st century when the tight end became a bona fide weapon. A fine add for any offense that just needs a bit of USAFL conditioning.

. Drafted #7 in the first round by Oakland.

#4 - FB Bob Page, Georgia University. If Eric Bench were a running back, he'd be Bob Page. This is one monster of a tailback, bringing contact to any defender who gets in his way. In fact, coaches tried to move him away from such violent collisions, citing his tendency to wear down. Yet Page would have none of it. He wanted to smash defenses and punish them for the tackling attempt. If USAFL coaches can get him to keep a bit in the tank to last the whole game, Page should be a scary prospect to game plan against.

. Drafted #6 in the first round by Miami.

#5 - G Erik Smith, University of Connecticut. This is one savvy lineman. Graduating cum laude, Smith developed a plan during his sophomore year to reach the USAFL. He followed that plan by hitting the weight room, and hitting it hard. His monstrous strength often resulted in defenders finding themselves on their backs. While that dedication resulted in raw power, it didn't translate as well to the cardiovascular areas of his body. He'll need to get off the snap quicker to avoid being beaten by the speed of the league, and he's got to work his endurance. Still, he's a coveted draft choice.

. Drafted #10 in the first round by Miami.

#6 - DT Roman Julian, University of West Virginia. Discipline is the hallmark of Julian. He has taken good care of his body, building his strength and endurance to levels that will allow him to start right away; however, that discipline did not include training his speed or agility, as he relied on bulling his way straight up the middle to be effective. He'll have to expand his tool belt of moves to be consistently effect at the next level.

Drafted #13 in the first round by Pittsburgh.

#7 - K Carlton Brown, Swarthmore College. This former high-school soccer sensation decided to hit the books at the highly selective Swarthmore College. He led the college to a conference soccer title while leading the NCAA in scoring. It was professional agent Pew Schnozenmous that suggested he go after a professional football career, and through his agent's efforts, his talent for kicking the ball has become evident. This kid has game, and he's going to make some nice change putting it through the uprights.

Drafted #6 in the fourth round by Miami.

#8 - DT Carlos Nichols, Arizona State University. Another strong, hulk of a man, Carlos works through lines with fierce determination. He can find the angles to get around offensive linemen and collapse the pocket; however, he doesn't yet have the speed to consistently track down fleeing quarterbacks. That can come, but it will take some time and commitment to technique. He can step in and plug a hole in the line from day one, but he'll need a few years to develop into a playmaker.

. Drafted #3 in the first round by Houston.

#9 - HB Mark Gainer, Ohio State University. Mark Gainer and Bob Page share a the same ability to shift into the right running lane and accelerate through; however where Page relies on brute force, Gainer has learned to avoid contact and keep his consistency higher throughout games. This allowed Gainer to lead the nation in rushing while bringing the Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl. He'll need to work on his handle for whatever team he lands on, as opposing defenses were able to pry the ball out on a semi-consistent basis.

. Drafted #14 in the first round by New Orleans.

#10 - QB Keith Query, Kansas State University. This is one athlete that has the proverbial million dollar body but the five-cent head. Strong, fast, agile, this quarterback makes things happen with his legs and fire the football nearly the length of the field. Unfortunately, the Wildcats never really established a passing attack while Query was there. The times that he did throw, he proved inconsistent. While that may be a lot of downside, this kid just has too much potential to drop out of the top ten. Somebody could make out very well on this pick!

. Drafted #14 in the second round by Cincinnati.

Well, another year down. I hope all is well with you, and remember, help is only a draft away! See you!

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