San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers finally got their first win in the book and some experts are still predicting that the 49ers could make a run at the playoffs.  I think they dug themselves too deep of a hole and will be picking in the top 10.  With that being said I am sure I wont get much of an argument from 49er fans when I say their biggest need is at the quarterback position.  Alex Smith has not progressed and turns the ball over as if he is a rookie.  So why not get a young guy with a higher ceiling to turn the ball over!  They could be looking at quarterbacks such as Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett.

Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carrol has this team playing with confidence and in a weak division they have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.  I really liked the addition of Marshawn Lynch and without him I would have said that running back would have been a position of need.  Now I think they need to get their quarterback of the future but the issue will come if they make the playoffs and are out of reach for some of the quarterbacks.  However, Locker and Mallett’s stock have been sliding and just might be their for the Seahawks to snatch up.

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Updated Team Needs: NFC West - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings: Never before has two 1-3 teams received so much attention. But these two underachieving franchises are the game to watch for many reasons. The Cowboys had a miserable preseason and followed up with a horrible start to the season. The 1-3 record has forced many around the league to speculate about Coach Wade Phillips job stability. Rookie WR Dez Bryant is has yet to have a breakout game while battling injuries (ankle and ribs) and it is to be determined if he will play against Minnesota. The Vikings 1-3 start has caused many in Minnesota to worry about making the playoffs this season. And with the newest controversy surrounding QB Brett Favre a complete collapse of the Vikings is on the horizon if they don’t win this weekend.  Favre said this week he may sit out against the Cowboys and Packers due to elbow tendinitis. While Favre availability is up in the air the Vikings may have to start Tavaris Jackson in his place. Rookie RB Toby Gerhart is having a rough start to his first NFL season. Coming into the season it was believed he would have a prominent role in the offense taking some pressure off star RB Adrian Peterson. As each week has passed Gerhart’s carries have decreased so much against the SaJets he had only 2 carries for 7-yards. With his carries diminishing he will need to make the most of his opportunities. The Cowboys will beat the Vikings 20-7 as Bryant will rise to the occasion and have his first 100-yard game. Gerhart will not be as lucky as he will have 4 carries for 20 yards and a fumble.

Check out the rest of the Bold Predictions written by new writer Jesse Zamarripa.  You can also see a lot of Jesse’s work at his website Sports Reality.

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NFL Bold Predictions: Week 6 - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

Here is the latest Mock Draft from NFL Mocks site manager Jon Dove.  Its never to early to roll out a mock draft and the staff at NFL Mocks have been hard at work going through the college ranks putting together scouting reports.  We have also did a look at each division and did a team by team needs assessment.  The draft order was developed from our NFL Power Rankings.  Be sure to check our our Big Board to see if another prospect might fit your team better than what we have predicted.  As always we encourage feedback.

1. Buffalo Bills- Jake Locker- QB- Washington- Team Needs

- I don’t think its much of a secret that the Bills will be targeting a quarterback in the upcoming draft.  While we have Andrew Luck rated higher I feel that Locker is a better fit for Chan Gailey’s offensive system, he has always loved mobile quarterbacks.  Locker has a ton of skills and just needs some development but I feel he could be a great NFL quarterback.

2. Carolina Panthers- AJ Green- WR- Georgia- Team Needs

- The Panthers are a team that is rebuilding and I expect there will be a coaching change at the end of the season.  They invested a 2nd round pick on Jimmy Clausen and they need to surround him with playmakers.  They might hesitate to use this pick on a wide receiver because they selected Brandon Lafell and Armanti Edwards last year but it will be tough to pass on a talent like AJ Green.

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3. Arizona Cardinals- Andrew Luck- QB- Stanford- Team Needs

- The Cardinals are one of a few teams that are in desperate need of a quarterback and it just so happens that this draft could be top heavy at the quarterback position.  When you look at what the Arizona offense has done with Warner at the helm you automatically think that is there style but that’s an incorrect assumption.  Whisenhunt went with what his personal allowed him to do so adding adding Luck might change the approach.  Look for the Cards to feature a strong running game to help the young QB.

4. Detroit Lions- Patrick Peterson- CB- LSU- Team Needs

- The Lions secondary is a mess and adding the best player in the draft at a need position is a great spot to find yourself.  The Lions have good weapons on offense and they need to continue to build the defense and adding someone like Peterson would be a great start.  Peterson’s return game ability would also be a welcome addition to this Lions team.

5. San Francisco 49ers- Ryan Mallett- QB- Arkansas- Team Needs

- I am making this selection on the assumption that the 49ers are unable to turn it around this season and it costs Coach Singletary his job.  From early views of this team it seems obvious that Alex Smith isn’t the long term answer at the position and a change is needed.  However, I am not sure that Ryan Mallett is the type of quarterback Singletary would like because he is prone to turnovers.  Singletary would prefer an accurate game manger quarterback and Mallett doesn’t fit that bill.  So again I make this pick assuming Coach Sing is gone.

6. Cleveland Browns- Cameron Heyward- DE/DT- Ohio State- Team Needs

- I think the Browns could target several positions including quarterback but as it stands in this Mock the top 3 quarterbacks are gone so the focus should shift to the defensive side of the ball.  Heyward fits a need for the Browns as they are still searching for steady defensive end in their 3-4 defensive scheme.  Heyward is strong against the run but he is also capable of creating a pass rush, he fits nicely as a 3-4 defensive end.

7. New England Patriots (from Oak.)- Mark Ingram- RB- Alabama- Team Needs

- The running game in New England is a mess and Ingram has the ability to step right in and make a major difference.  I know the Pats just traded Randy Moss but they have another 1st round pick that will allow them to address that position.  Ingram will also help ease the pain of Moss because teams will have to commit players to stop the running game.

8. St. Louis Rams- Julio Jones- WR- Alabama- Team Needs

- The Rams are off to a good start this season and Sam Bradford has fans hopeful for the future.  This team has a lot of needs on defense but its important that the Rams surround their Franchise quarterback with weapons and Jones is a nice weapon.  He is a big bodied receiver and that is something that is helpful to young quarterbacks.

9. Seattle Seahawks- Adrian Clayborn- DE- Iowa- Team Needs

- Chris Clemons has had a nice season thus far but the Seahawks are desperate for a pass rush.  Adding someone like Clayborn would bring instant fear into the offensive coordinators.  I have my questions about Clayborn and his ability to fight through double teams but he is still a very talented player.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Robert Quinn- DE- UNC- Team Needs

- The pass rush has been lacking in Jacksonville for awhile and it doesn’t appear as though Derrick Harvey will ever figure it out.  The offseason addition of Aaron Kampman was a good band-aide but a long term solution is needed.  Quinn is has elite pass rushing skills and a very bright future.

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Mock Draft 3.0- 10/07/10 - NFL Mocks - NFL Mocks - Covering the 2012 NFL draft, Mock Draft Database, Scouting Reports, and Fantasy Football

“Accuracy” Locker completed 58 percent of his passes last year — pretty good, but not special. Yardage? He threw for 2800 last year, 33rd in the FBS. Leadership? Locker has yet to post a winning record.”

All three statements use stats incorrectly to identify qualities in a quarterback. He pits accuracy against completion percentage, pure statistical data to future on field performance, and holds intangible qualities directly effect win/loss records. The worst offense would be linking leadership, an intangible quality, to wins on the field. Leadership can only take talent so far and talent can win without it on the field, but we can save that for another time. Today we are going to start at the beginning of this misguided statement and talk about how Accuracy and Completion Percentage are different.