MAILBAG: Oct. 25
Q: Do you think Miami (Fla.) will produce just as many first-round picks in the 2002 draft as Florida State did a year ago? How many Round 1 and 2 picks do you think Miami will have in April? It's evident that the 'Canes have a lot of size and speed that scouts just love. -- Joe Rolling, Indianapolis
MEL -- In the 2001 draft, Miami placed four players in the first round: Dan Morgan (11th), Damione Lewis (12th), Santana Moss (16th) and Reggie Wayne (30th). Florida State had two in the 2001 first round: Jamal Reynolds (10th) and Derrick Gibson (28th). For the 2002 draft, Miami has one lock and one possibility for the first round: the lock is OT Bryant McKinnie (a likely top-5 pick), while safety Edward Reed could go as high as the mid-first round. In addition, if two juniors -- TE Jeremy Shockey and CB Phillip Buchanon -- leave school early, Miami has the potential for as many first-rounders as last year (four). Shockey is one of the elite tight ends in the country. Florida State, meanwhile, has two potential first-rounders in 2002: WR Javon Walker and MLB Bradley Jennings.
Q: If Lee Suggs were to declare for the draft, where would he go? -- Jason, Blacksburg, Va.
MEL -- Suggs' injury makes him a question mark. I think he should return to Virginia Tech for the 2002 season and reestablish himself, getting back into the Heisman mix. When a player suffers a serious injury like that, you don't expect him to leave school early.
Q: Do you see Division II Eastern Washington RB Jesse Chatman in the draft picture somewhere? He leads D-II in yards per game and total yards rushing. He is 5-foot-8 and listed at 232 pounds. Chatman was supposed to go to Michigan but didn't have the grades. -- Tyson, Washington (the state)
MEL -- Chatman is certainly a productive player. In six games, he has rushed for 1,113 yards (185 per game, 7.1 per carry) and 14 TDs, plus 16 receptions. He's talented, quick and decisive. By the way, his weight is down from 232 to about 216. Also, if he's on schedule to graduate, he can return to Eastern Washington for another season in 2002.
Q: Florida State QB Chris Rix hasn't been steady this year and is prone to mistakes when the pressure is on. I know he's young, but is he the long-term answer for Florida State or should freshman Adrian McPherson get a chance to play? My boss' son, FSU WR Craphonso Thorpe, seems to think McPherson is the answer. -- Christian A., Jacksonville, Fla.
MEL -- In the spring, you can expect a three-way battle for next year's starting job between Rix, McPherson and Fabian Walker. The Seminoles have three young QBs, and all of them can start at this level. It will be an interesting competition in the spring.
Q: How can you not rate Michigan WR Marquise Walker in your top 25 senior prospects? He has size and strength and shows up for the big game. He was overshadowed by David Terrell last year, but he never complained. You've had Ron Johnson in your top 25; I can't wait until Nov. 10 when Minnesota comes to town and Walker puts a hurting on them. -- Phil, Sandusky, Ohio
MEL -- Walker is an outstanding college receiver. He has good size (6-3, 208); he lacks explosive speed and is a possession-type receiver. In the NFL, he'll likely be a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver. Remember, Ed McCaffrey was viewed as a possession receiver when he came into the NFL as a third-round pick of the Giants, and look at the success he has had; Antonio Freeman was also a third-round draft choice. Sometimes solid receivers like Walker can drop into the second or third round and then become marquee NFL players.
Q: Shouldn't the Redskins pick a defensive lineman in the first round next April? Even if Tony Banks is not the answer at QB, how can they consider a QB in the top five picks before they play the QB they picked this year, Sage Rosenfels? -- Bill, Bethesda, Md.
MEL -- Tony Banks is not the answer, as you suggest, but Sage Rosenfels is not a guarantee, either; he was a fourth-round pick for a reason. The Redskins have to consider Fresno State QB David Carr in the first round or Illinois QB Kurt Kittner in the second -- QB has to be a consideration for Washington. But the defensive line is the strongest position in the 2002 draft. If North Carolina's Julius Peppers goes first, Tennessee's John Henderson or Wisconsin's Wendell Bryant could help the Redskins.
Q: What do you think of the performance of Tennessee RB Travis Stephens? -- a fan in Tennessee
MEL -- Travis Stephens has had a great year. He's a decisive, explosive, cut-back runner with great vision. Stephens is averaging 5 yards per carry and an amazing 30.4 carries per game. He's only about 5-9 and 190 pounds, but he has been a big-time back and carried the load for the Vols. Running back was supposed to be a questionable position for the Vols after Travis Henry moved on to the NFL (in the second round to the Bills). But Stephens has picked up the slack and then some.
Q: Where in the draft do you see Georgia safety Jermaine Phillips projecting? A consistent play-maker on defense, he's well-known around the SEC for his bone-jarring style, and as a former receiver he also has a knack for being where the ball is. He's also an excellent special-teams player, with a propensity for downing punts around the 1-yard line. What do you think of the guy, and in what part of what round do you think he'll be taken (at this early juncture)? -- Justin Michels, Tallahassee, Fla.
MEL -- Jermaine Phillips is among the top 10 safeties available -- and safety is one of the deepest positions in the draft, with Oklahoma's Roy Williams a potential high first-rounder if he comes out early. Then the list includes Miami's Edward Reed, Colorado's Michael Lewis, Mississippi State's Pig Prather, Texas Tech's Kevin Curtis, Florida State's Chris Hope, Stanford's Coy Wire, UCLA's Marcus Anderson and Florida's Marquand Manuel. Jermaine Phillips is in that group, anywhere from third to seventh on the list. Phillips has good size (6-1, 210) and is a big-play defender. I expect him to be drafted in the second or third round.
Q: Why in the world would Oklahoma LB Rocky Calmus drop off your top senior list? All he ever does is make plays and win games. -- Marc, Norman, Okla.
MEL -- I agree that Calmus makes plays and win games. But to be a first-round pick, the NFL is looking for certain computer numbers. Remember Ohio State's Chris Spielman? He made plays, but he didn't go in the first round. Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas is another example. Calmus will likely be drafted in the first two rounds, but whether he goes in the first round will depend on his numbers.
Q: Is this the year the Steelers finally get a good QB in the draft? I'm sick of seeing QB wannabe Kordell Stewart under center. I know they won't get David Carr, but what about Joey Harrington or Kurt Kittner? -- Dwight Cale, Dillsburg, Pa.
MEL -- I've been saying for years that the Steelers should address the QB situation, but they feel they can win with Stewart. They've been effective this year and proving the doubters wrong again. They're running the ball well, with Kordell almost like an extra running back with his ability to scramble and frustrate a defense on third down. He makes plays in the passing game periodically. And, of course, Pittsburgh plays good defense -- a 3-4 scheme that's effective because it isn't used much today. The Steelers are trying to win games the way the Ravens won last year -- and so far it's working (after all, their record is 4-1).
Q: I saw you had Lamar Gordon of North Dakota State as your No. 2 senior running back. I agree. With such a high rating, where do you think he will go in the draft and what NFL running back would you compare him to? -- Scott Ritter, Bismarck, N.D.
MEL -- Gordon is currently just off my top 25 board, in the 29-35 range. Running backs tend to drop in the draft, but he has a chance to be the second-highest rated back behind DeShaun Foster. Gordon is strong, aggressive and solid (6-1, 210-215). He dominates a lower level of competition and has a chance to be a second-round draft pick.
