Locker vs. Luck

Jake Locker has a name that makes him sound like the perfect character in a soapbox spy drama. His counterpart just south of him down the West Coast, Andrew Luck, sounds like he belongs more behind the bar at an Irish pub then on the gridiron. Remember these names, because either one could be the potential number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft come next April. Locker, the 6'3" 238 pound quarterback from the University of Washington, could have declared for this past year's draft but chose to forgo a potential top 5 overall selection to return to the Huskies for another year and play in coach Steve Sarkisian's pro-style offense. Luck, just a redshirt freshman under center this past season, showed great poise under pressure for his age and led a fairly mediocre Stanford team to a bowl appearance (along with the help of All-American Toby Gerhart taking handoffs as the tailback in his backfield). Both these young signal callers represent a potential shift of powers in the Pac 10, with USC coming off a down year and Oregon losing much talent through suspensions and the draft, and are the headliners for a not-to-miss quarterback class in 2011. Some other QB's who could be first round picks next year: Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), and Pat Devlin (Delaware).

Jake Locker led Washington to upset wins over USC and Cal Berkeley this past season in a very successful junior campaign. He threw for 2800 yards and 21 touchdowns with no talented playmakers to help him out, and rushed for 400 yards and 7 touchdowns to help his own case. Locker is a dual-threat quarterback in every sense of the word: he can hurt you with his feet and improvise when the play breaks down. He has a punishing runnings style much like that of Tim Tebow. Unlike many running signal callers before him, Locker has an NFL-ready arm that has incredible strength and fairly good accuracy as well. On occasion Locker misses wide open receivers, but for every one of those instances there is a time where he squeezes the ball with pinpoint accuracy to a heavily covered man. Another year in college to grow in the West Coast offense the Huskies play will smooth out most kinks Locker has in his game. When watching Locker play, one can't help but compare him to Ben Roethlisberger, with his large frame and strong pocket presence. Both have winner's mentalities and natural football instinct that few possess. Like Big Ben, Locker is rather injury prone because of his relentless style of play, and to solidify the top overall spot in the draft he will have to stay healthy his senior campaign.

Andrew Luck, at 6'4" 225 pounds, has the ideal height and size for a quarterback. Under coach Jim Harbaugh, Luck led his Stanford team to an unprecedented 8 and 5 final record and a spot in the top 25. He was instrumental in their beat downs of USC, Oregon, and Locker's Washington. With Luck, one must analyze his potential over what he has accomplished because last year was his first at the helm of the Cardinal's offense (He threw for 2575 yards, 13 scores, and only 4 picks). His incredibly quick release and refined footwork make Luck hard to reach in the pocket, and it showed with him being sacked only 6 times all of 2009. Luck is a very polished and complete passer overall, and makes any throw with ease. His playing style is reminiscent to Sam Bradford's, except unlike the former Oklahoma star, Luck plays in an offense that will make the transition the NFL seamless. In college, where most quarterbacks play in a spread offense, taking shotgun snaps from center, Luck is asked to drop back regularly (which is why his footwork is so precise). This reason is why Andrew Luck could possibly challenge the more seasoned Jake Locker for the number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Both of these aforementioned Pac 10 signal callers are great NFL prospects and will go in the top 5 picks for next year (unless Luck chooses to return for his junior year). Locker and Luck are better quarterback prospects than some of the highly touted ones in the past few years like Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Stafford, and Mark Sanchez. Locker is a complete dual-threat and Luck is a refined passer already at the ripe age of 21. On the next level, I believe that Luck will be the better player than Locker. Andrew Luck is as NFL ready of a quarterback there has been since *gulp* Peyton Manning, and has the footwork and release to match the Tennessee alum. To truly see who the best quarterback is, tune in October 30th for the matchup between Washington and Stanford at the Huskies home stadium. This game will be one not to miss, and potential looking glass into the future of the quarterback position in the NFL.

-JS

Road to the NBA, part 2

Surprising news out of the NBA Combine in Chicago: Xavier guard Jordan Crawford, instrumental in his team's deep run through the NCAA tournament by scoring well over 20 points per game, is turning heads...but for the wrong reasons. Scouts describe Crawford's performance as sub-par, at best. His shooting was clearly inconsistent, and the former Indiana recruit looked hesitant throughout the cone dribbling drills. Once believed to be a combo-guard in the NBA and potential mid first rounder, Crawford's suspect ball handling is leading teams to envision him as an undersized shooting guard.

That being said, I would not expect Crawford to completely plummet in the draft. One suspect workout will not make teams forget his performance in the NCAA Tournament, carrying Xavier within seconds of the Elite Eight.

With Crawford out of the question for the time being, the discussion of the draft class's best pure shooting guard now centers around four prospects: Cincinnati guard Lance Stephenson, Kansas star and fellow freshman Xavier Henry, Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson, and junior swingman Darrington Hobson of New Mexico.

According to reports, both Anderson and Henry turned the most heads from team officials. Each looked capable of immediately contributing at shooting guard in the NBA. I give the slight edge to the junior Anderson. He seemed more consistent throughout the entire college basketball season, carrying Oklahoma State into the NCAA Tournament. Henry, on the other hand, exploded in his college debut with 27 points but struggled down the stretch, often deferring to senior guard Sherron Collins.

Shooting was a bit of a problem for Lance Stephenson. Coupled with reports criticizing his lack of maturity, teams are wary about the former Cincinnati standout. Nevertheless, Stephenson has the ideal NBA body, and with the right coach in the right system, I would not be surprised to see Stephenson emerge as the class' best shooting guard down the road.

Most surprising was Hobson. Initially viewed to be a hybrid between small forward and shooting guard at the next level, the New Mexico product impressed with his versatility. One report suggest that Hobson is perhaps a less polished albeit more athletic version of potential #2 pick Evan Turner. Personally, I think that is bit of a stretch. Look for Hobson to go at the end of round one to a team with an already established shooting guard.

Other shooting guards that participated in the NBA combine include South Florida's Dominique Jones, Michigan guard Manny Harris and Syracuse senior Andy Rautins. Neither player really turned heads in front of scouts. Of this trio, Jones should be selected the highest, likely towards the back of the first round. His production in college, averaging almost 22 points per contest, has impressed many teams.

Borderline first round prospect and former Washington standout Quincy Pondexter was absent from the Combine. Given no reports on any injuries or personal matters, it is surprising that he would not participate.

-DR

Who's Next? ... CJ Spiller

CJ Spiller

Height/Weight: 5'11"/195 lbs.

Running Back

Hometown: Lake Butler, Florida

School: Clemson University

Pro Team: Buffalo Bills

When Clemson tailback James Davis graduated after his senior season and went to the NFL Draft, many thought his backfield mate, CJ Spiller would suffer in his absence. After all, Davis was the "Thunder" to Spiller's "Lightning", the guy who would split carries with the scat back and soften up the defense on certain downs and goal line situations. The doubters asked how would Spiller, a back under 200 pounds who had never handled the full load of an offense suddenly become the fulcrum of Clemson's attack? Furthermore, it was said he would not be able to produce running behind a fairly mediocre Clemson offensive line. They were wrong. In his senior season, CJ Spiller ran for 1212 yards on 201 attempts, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. He accumulated 21 touchdowns during the year, between kick and punt return duties, along with carries and receiving. Spiller proved to the nation that he was the most electric college player since Reggie Bush's days at USC. He became the the only player this season to score a touchdown in five different ways (rushing, passing, receiving, kick return, and punt return). Awards began to mount after Spiller's season ended: ACC Player of the Year, a unanimous AP All-American selection, and sixth in the Heisman trophy balloting. On April 22nd, as everyone had predicted, Spiller was selected in the top half of the first round by the Buffalo Bills. He is expected to compete with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch for carries, and Spiller will complement last year's first round pick CB Leodis McKelvin on punts and kickoffs right away for the 2010 season.

Watching Spiller run is similar to watching Reggie Bush in action. Although he lacks size and strength, he is a dynamic athlete who is blazingly fast and quick. Spiller's speed is proved by medals he received in the 100 and 200 meter dashes as the Florida state champion. He is as multi-faceted as a player in the the draft, and is as adept catching a pass out of the backfield as he is taking a handoff in a one back set. Spiller is tough to bring down and with quick cut moves, can accelerate past defenders. Although the name of the game with Spiller is elusiveness, when called upon he can run between the tackles into contact with fairly good success. With Spiller, think a less physical Chris Johnson, with around the same amount of speed and more versatility. In the NFL, although he may never be a primary back, CJ Spiller is a playmaker who will be a perennial All-Pro for years to come.

-JS

Who's Next? ... Josh Selby

Josh Selby

Height/Weight: 6'2"/187 lbs.

Point Guard

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

School: Lake Clifton High School

AAU: Baltimore Elite

Watch Josh Selby for just several possessions during one of his high school games at Lake Clifton. Watch him play for his Amateur Athletic Union club. Watch him shine among the countries best at the McDonald's All American Game. He slashes through defenses with ease, getting to the basket in seconds. His finishing is impeccable, rarely missing one of his signature tear drop lay ups or thunderous dunks. His tight handles on the ball help him burn by defenders with crossovers, jab steps, and hesitation moves. His jumper is refined, and when hot, he can pull up for threes well beyond the arc. His quick penetration skills make defenses converge on him, giving him opportunities to kick the ball out to wide open teammates. His insane athleticism allows him to play lockdown defense on both guard positions. His competitive nature and natural aggression help will his team to victory. Quite simply, Josh Selby is the best point guard in the country, and reminiscent of former dominant one guards at the college level, John Wall and Rajon Rondo. Like Wall and Rondo, at times Selby looks like he would belong more in an AND 1 Mixtape than in a real basketball game

The Kansas bound high school senior, and possibly best Baltimore basketball product since Carmelo Anthony ruled the court at Towson Catholic, is no ordinary point guard. Selby is an athletic freak with legs that have lift like pogo sticks and a nose for the basket. His prowess was shown this past year at Lake Clifton High School, where he averaged 32 points 7 rebounds and 5 assists a game. On several occasions he outscored opposing teams, exploding for 40 and 55 points.

Selby was highly sought after, to say the least. He was chased by enamored recruiters for months, and following a commitment which then became a decommitment from Tennessee, the 6' 3" guard found a place to land at Kansas with Bill Self. Selby, come winter time and the beginning of a new college basketball season, will propel the Jayhawks to a top ten ranking despite being drained by the losses of Sherron Collins, Xavier Henry and Cole Aldrich to the NBA. Before, being led by Collins and anchored down low by Aldrich, Bill Self ran a more half court oriented game. Look for Selby to speed up the tempo, and create many fast break opportunities. Coupled with speedy sophomore backcourt mate Tyshaun Taylor, Selby's skills will be enhanced by a talented supporting cast. Look for large contributions from Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar, adept shooters from long range, as well as from the lean, athletic brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris. Each should have breakout seasons playing in the post and on the perimeter.

A probably one-and-done player, Josh Selby could potentially be a top five pick in the 2011 NBA draft. For the next Washington Wizards or Chicago Bulls, Selby can immediately shore up the point guard position for years to come.

-JS

French Open Preview

Yes, the French Open begins today at Roland Garros. As an American, I cannot say I am incredibly elated to watch the latter rounds of the tournament dominated by foreigners. This year, however, should prove more successful for the U.S.A. Hard hitting Americans Sam Querrey and John Isner were mainstays throughout the clay court season, and Andy Roddick always comes to play in majors, albeit his worst major championship of the four.

To stay true to our name as profilers of the up-and-coming, I am thinking that Gael Monfils makes a serious run at Roland Garros. He is French, which always helps, and I love his athleticism to adapt to the clay court. In addition, the slower surface should hide his lack of a power on the serve and on the groundstrokes. His toughest opponent in the early round should be Sweden's Robin Soerdling, last year's runner-up. If Monfils behind the homecrowd could get by Soederling, an appearance in the quarterfinals or the semifinals is within reason.

The chances for Monfils are compounded by the inconsistent play of Andy Murray as well as injuries to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro and Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.

I also like Jelena Jankovic to make a nice run in Paris. She hasn't done much since being number one in the world just 2 years ago, but in a tournament lacking an elite women's player on clay, she has as realistic a chance as anyone to contend for her first major.

-DR

Baseball's Best Future Pitching Staffs

When the question is asked, "Who has the Major League's best pitching staff right now?", several teams come to mind right away.

The Yankees: With 220 million dollars wrapped up in hefty left hander CC Sabathia and talented AJ Burnett, along with highly touted free agent pickup Javier Vasquez, it seems on the outside that the Bronx Bombers are heading back to their roots that won them many championships back in the 1990's. Throw young and talented Phil Hughes and crafty veteran Andy Pettitte into the mix to complete the five man staff and you have the most quality arsenal of pitchers in baseball, right? Maybe.

The Red Sox: Another American League East powerhouse, the Red Sox seem to have one of the best, if not THE best, starting five in baseball. Josh Beckett has been the rotation's ace since 2006 and had several Cy Young worthy years in that time period. John Lackey was the offseason's biggest pickup for the team, and looks poised to become possibly the American League's best number two pitcher. Young phenoms Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz round out the 3 and 4 spots. Either of these two could easily be aces on any other major league staffs. Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is the fifth man on the staff.

But, if you don't have the luxury of spending $200 million, the future of your favorite team's pitching staff hinges on the draft and on the minor leagues. With that in mind, here is who we, at Field of Dreamz, think will have the best rotations heading into 2012, several years down the road:

Cincinnati Reds: Are you kidding me? General Manager Walt Jocketty's club has a real chance at a championship down the line with a rotation anchored by rookie wunderkind Mike Leake along with Aroldis Chapman, and Johnny Cueto. Add in lefty Travis Wood, whose change-up is considered to maybe be the best in the entire farm system. If Wood can up the velocity on his fastball to around 94 mph, he will be a solid #4 starter. The five spot would then be between southpaw Matt Maloney (acquired in the Kyle Lohse trade), current ace Aaron Harang, or the talented but inconsistent J.C. Sulbaran. Don't forget former top prospect Homer Bailey as well as suspended pitcher and former All-Star, Edinson Volquez, who was suspended after a failed drug test.

San Francisco Giants: This is not a real surprise. The Giants sport the two-time reigning Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum as well as fellow All-Star Matt Cain. Do not sleep on Jonathan Sanchez, the young lefty who threw a stunning no-hitter last season. His walk to strikeout rate averages out at 9.78 K per 9 innings. So, those three would be enough, right? Yes, well General Manager Brian Sabean has five star prospect Madison Bumgarner. This lefty was the 10th pick in 2007 draft, and he has a potent mid-90s fastball along with an improving curveball and changeup. The back end of the rotation would not be so bad, either. Former Cy Young award winner Barry Zito would fight for the job with 2009 first rounder Zach Wheeler. This righty is only 20 years old, but look for him to be a dominant power pitcher down the road.

Tampa Bay Rays: Although their offense will take a hit next year with the possible loss of both Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena to free agency, their rotation of youngsters Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, David Price along with vets Matt Garza, and James Shields is elite. Right now, Garza, Shields, and Price are all putting up Cy Young contending numbers, with a combined record of 16 and 4. Price, the former number one overall pick in the Amateur Draft from Purdue, looks to be a perennial All-Star for years to come. Also remember that highly touted minor leaguers Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Colome, and Matt Moore could expand Manager Joe Maddon's rotation to possibly 8 pitchers. That rotation does not include former starter Andy Sonnanstine. All I can say is watch out Boston and New York, because the Rays go five deep.

-JS, DR

A Not So Minor 'Roid Rage

In the wake of the suspension of three Braves' prospects for use of performance-enhancing drugs, I wonder. Is Bud Selig's drug program working? Players are getting suspended, often for 50 games or nearly a third of the baseball season, yet I am unsure if the system is truly persuasive. Now, the number of Major Leaguers caught for drugs since 2003 has severely dropped, luckily. Off the top of my head, I can only name two people caught for drugs in the past two years, Manny Ramirez and Edinson Volquez. So, maybe the system really does shy possible users away, that is at least the case in the Major Leagues, where players live a charmed life. Traveling is great. Charters from city to city, the nicest hotels the town has to offer, and great food, all paid for by the team. For the most part, job are secure, and they are making millions, so why waste it on drugs, right?

The real problem, I hope Bud Selig realizes is in the minor leagues. The money is poor, and jobs are tough to maintain. A player struggles to feed his family, and, as a result, he decides to bend the rules. Find a substance that can increase muscle, and suddenly, he is hitting twice as many home runs. People begin to notice, and, his salary triples, going from Single-A to the Big Leagues.

Since 2003, 25 major league players have been suspended for performance-enhancing drugs. That is less than 1% of MLB players, yet there have been more than double the cases in the minor leagues, not including these three Braves: Gerry Rodriguez, Yoel Campusano and Amadeo Zazueta as well as the Twins' Mike Harrington.

And don't expect these numbers to drop. As we have seen throughout sports, new drugs will come out, seemingly undetectable to urine tests. Perhaps the only solution is to finally switch to blood tests, able to be frozen and then, when the time comes in the future, to determine if the athlete was truly cheating.

-DR

Road to the NBA, part 1

To start, our prayers here at NextGen Sports go out to Texas center Dexter Pittman. He was forced to leave the Draft Combine upon the murder of his 15 year old brother to return to his family in Houston. It is already day 2 at the combine, which saw John Wall possibly pull his hamstring while doing a routine cone drill. The former Kentucky star appears to be, don't worry Wizards fans. In other news, his teammate Eric Bledsoe appears to be shooting up draft boards as we speak. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to play in Wall's shadow for Bledsoe. Could you imagine him leading a team complemented by a skilled big man last year? I'm thinking the next Eric Gordon?

Not to bore people with more Kentucky news, but DeMarcus Cousins and his personal issues have emerged as a talking point between scouts. I don't think, however, it will hurt Cousins' status as a surefire lottery pick. Just look at his complete demolition of possible NBA draftee Jeff Foote of Cornell in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament...

A question to readers: Would the 76ers be tempted to take Derrick Favors second overall? Reports have surfaced that Evan Turner's workouts have been anything but impressive. I cannot say I am surprise. No one denies his NBA potential, yet elite athleticism is clearly lacking from the OSU product. So, back to Favors. He's the class's best NBA big man, sorry DeMarcus Cousins, and he could immediately fill a need for the wing heavy 76ers. They already have Jrue Holiday, Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. In my opinion, I could see Favors in his first season being a 15 and 10 guy, and, more important, he could be the guy in the post that the 76ers always wanted center Samuel Dalembert to be. A possible problem? New coach Doug Collins. He did inherit Kwame Brown in his first year with Washington, but Brown's horrid play cannot be blamed on Collins. I mean even Phil Jackson had Kwame for a couple years in L.A., and he couldn't do anything with him. He was just that bad, I guess.

-DR

Tip Off

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