1.05 Tennessee Taz Devils — RB David Wilson

	In the real world: Great athlete, has burst, 4.40 speed, can be a game-breaker, first-round-caliber talent and ability. Mike Mayock of NFL Network listed him as his #2 RB—a one-cut back he likens to LeSean McCoy. Greg Cosell also ranked him #2, and so did the team that selected him at the end of Round 1, the New York Giants. His job situation has loads of potential as well: Wilson went to the Giants with the 32nd overall pick. By coincidence, the Giants' running attack ranked 32nd in the league. The Giants jettisoned Brandon Jacobs earlier this year. Ahmad Bradshaw, their current lead RB, has seen his yards-per-carry average decline in each year he's been in the NFL. On top of that, Bradshaw has also had a history of foot injuries. I have two concerns about Wilson, however: He fumbled seven times out of 290 carries in 2011, losing four. That makes Wilson a dicey pick—consider two 2008 draftees: Jamaal Charles overcame his fumbling issues, but Steve Slaton did not.  Maybe the Giants' coaching staff can fix that. Then there's the matter of performance in short-yardage and goal-line situations. This scouting report says: “Still very raw as an inside runner, running too indecisive and struggling to find running room at the (line of scrimmage) ... wavers and hesitates too much when the clear opening isn't there and ends up going east/west for a loss.” If you don't believe that, here's the statistical breakdown for 2011 on ESPN.com. Add up his first-and-goal, second-and-goal, third-and-short and fourth-and-short numbers, and you get 35 carries for 49 yards and 2 TDs. Trent Richardson, LaMichael James and Ronnie Hillman all did way better in those situations. In fairness to Wilson, he only started at running back for one year (he had played behind Ryan Williams previously), whereas Richardson, James and Hillman had been starting for much longer.
	In the TUFF world: I give Tennessee credit for moving up to make this pick. They came so close to returning to the TUFF playoffs for the first time in years last year, and the credit for their resurgence goes to Lonnie Daniel for the last two drafts (WR Demaryius Thomas, TE Jermaine Gresham and RB LeGarrette Blount two years ago; then WR A.J. Green and QB Jake Locker last year). But two of their top three RBs went from being potentially every-down backs to runners stuck in "timeshare" situations (Michael Bush going to Chicago, and Blount benched for Doug Martin in Tampa Bay). Even if Bush and Shonn Greene do get plenty of touches, they still have bye weeks like everybody else, and it's nice to be able to rely on Wilson instead of Blount on those bye weeks. Lonnie must have seen plenty of Wilson to like what he saw, being that Wilson's from Virginia Tech and Lonnie went to an ACC rival, Georgia Tech.
	Pick traded: On May 5, the opening day of the TUFF Draft, Pittsburgh dealt this pick to Tennessee for Tennessee's own first-rounder (1.09) and Minnesota's (1.16). Tennessee had to move up because there was no way Wilson was going to fall to 1.09.

2.02 Tennessee Taz Devils — RB Robert Turbin

In the real world: From Utah State, Turbin gave his draft stock bit of a boost with his performance at the Combine. Huge arms, bench-pressed 225 lb. 28 times (tied for best at the Combine with Doug Martin), sub-4.5 speed—he weighed in at 222 but looks more like he weighs 245 with those guns. He's been hurt a couple times, though—he sat out 2007 with an injured foot (at which time he got a medical redshirt) and missed 2010 because of a torn ACL. But if he stays healthy in the pros, watch out. With the Seahawks, he could be "Backup Beast Mode" as Marshawn Lynch's running style leaves him open to getting dinged-up; Turbin runs in a similar fashion himself.

In the TUFF world: The Taz take another running back, and I like Turbin's blend of size, speed and strength. Wide receivers can be a crapshoot, so I can't really blame Lonnie for passing up higher-rated wideouts like Alshon Jeffery and A.J. Jenkins for Turbin, who was easily the best RB still on the board. Besides, the Taz look to be building a surplus there and could always deal from that surplus for a more proven wideout if they need depth there (although, with A.J. Green, Mike Wallace, Miles Austin, Santonio Holmes and Demaryius Thomas, they may not need help there the way, say, Houston does).

2.09 Tennessee Taz Devils — QB Brock Osweiler

	In the real world: The Denver Broncos took Osweiler with the 57th overall pick, most likely with the idea that he could be groomed to be Peyton Manning's long-term successor. In 2011, Osweiler became the first Arizona State quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards. He didn't play much prior to that, so inexperience (just 15 starts with ASU) could be a concern. Todd McShay says, “His mechanics are awful, he's falling off at the end of his throws, but the more I watch, the more I love him. He's a competitor, he does move well, he's accurate despite unusual mechanics and an unusual release. Greg Cosell of NFL Films did a podcast with Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports about several QB's, and in it, he said he was not high on Osweiler, citing a "tendency to push the ball... not enough big throws that transition to the NFL." "I've got issues with his ball placement, because ... he's throwing passes where his receivers are getting killed," says Cecil Lammey of footballguys.com in this podcast. "His whole body mechanics have to be re-mastered and re-worked."
	In the TUFF world: Consider the Taz Devils' top two QBs: Mark Sanchez has got Tim Tebow looking over his shoulder, and while Jake Locker should be the Titans' starting QB this year, he still has to compete with Matt Hasselbeck for that job. So adding Osweiler to hedge their bets on Sanchez and Locker makes sense. Or he could be a future "trade chip" (a division rival, the Denver Devils, own Peyton Manning).
	Whither Jimmy Clausen? Now that Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden and Osweiler have all been selected here in this TUFF Draft, I just want to rant about NFL teams using high draft picks on these guys instead of giving Jimmy Clausen a second look. He's got more pro-style offense experience than Tannehill, he's obviously younger than Weeden, and he's far more mechanically sound than Osweiler. People seem to be judging him by a rough rookie season on a bad team, but why? He's not the first QB whose career got off to a bad start on a bad team: In addition to Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning, there's Jim Plunkett in the early 1970s with New England; that QB went on to win two Super Bowls with the Raiders. Or Steve Young's first two years with a horrible Tampa Bay Bucs team (1985-86); after learning under Joe Montana for four years, he went on the win a Super Bowl with the 49ers. Point being, they got second chances with other NFL teams; so should Clausen. Granted, I'm ranting because I'm the one who drafted him, but it bugs the hell out of me. Thanks for listening.

3.09 Tennessee Taz Devils — WR Tommy Streeter

In the real world: Kevin Weidl: "Flashes ability to win with size, but stiff and does not appear to catch the ball naturally." Steve Muench wrote on February 1: "Streeter caught just six passes in the first two years of his career, but he had a breakout season in 2011 with 46 catches, 811 yards and 8 TDs. However, his lack of experience will be a concern. Streeter also lacks ideal ball skills and the quick-twitch burst to get away with sloppy footwork as a route-runner, and that's why he projects as a Day 3 pick. However, he also has upside with the length, speed and athletic ability to develop into a legitimate vertical threat at the next level." He should have stayed another year, but this way, he can learn from playing behind Torrey Smith, Anquan Boldin and Tandon Doss, so give him three years to see if he can rise above Boldin or Doss.

In the TUFF world: Tennessee has the luxury of waiting that long, if they so desire. They've got plenty of depth between Austin, Green, Holmes, Demaryius Thomas, and Wallace.

4.09 Tennessee Taz Devils — RB Daniel "Boom" Herron

In the real world: Herron, a physical runner but with no breakaway speed, was part of the same Ohio State memorabilia sales scandal that also involved DeVier Posey and three other Buckeyes. He, too, could have just turned pro, but as this story says, he put a higher priority on repairing his own image and helping the Buckeyes, regardless of his draft stock, and that speaks positively about his character. In 2010, he easily overtook Brandon Saine to become OSU's leading rusher, rushing for 1,155 yards and 16 TDs and capping off the season with monster games against Penn State and Michigan. He fell to Round 6, where he went to the Cincinnati Bengals.

In the TUFF world: Tennessee handcuffs Herron to Bernard Scott. The supply of RBs in this year's TUFF Draft is dwindling...