The Pendulum sports desk, made up of Zachary Horner, Adam Lawson, Andrew Wilson and Kyle Maher, gathered in The Pendulum office to live-blog the 2012 NFL Draft. Read below for their commentary throughout the evening.
Post-Draft Thoughts
ZACHARY: What a fast draft. The picks flew by, which was different than we've ever seen. To be honest though, I'm more interested in seeing who gets picked later. I've mentioned my love for Kellen Moore, but Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Appalachian State wide receiver Brian Quick will probably go tomorrow. They're two guys I'm really high on. I was impressed with Wilson, especially in his Gruden QB Camp on ESPN, and Quick is the only guy I've seen in person. The best picks other than the obvious? I think Richardson and Weeden to the Browns. With Colt McCoy struggling, Weeden will be somebody to push him. Also, Michael Floyd to the Arizona Cardinals will also be a FANTASTIC player for Kevin Kolb. They just need to get him to play well. On the present side, I enjoyed the time with the other Pendulum sports guys. There was some great banter and commentary, some appropriate "What?"s and "Who?"s. Now it's back to the grind of school and I have to leave this office. Wonderful. Hope you guys enjoyed it! I sure did.
KYLE: What a great draft. The picks that really surprised me was four quarterbacks going in the first round. I wasn't surprised to see Luck, RG III or Ryan Tannehill go in the first round, but Weeden to the Browns was a shocker. Does that mean Cleveland has already given up on Colt McCoy? Will Ryan Tannehill start right away for the Dolphins? Questions linger, and there are still six rounds to go.
ANDREW: One of the more entertaining drafts I've seen. All the trades really made it that much more worth watching for me! San Diego finally did something right in a draft, and Alabama was incredibly well represented. I love it! Roll Tide!
ADAM: The thing about the draft is after you hear the picks you want to see what they can do. But you have to wait at least (at minimum) a few months before you see their ability. On the bright side, the end of the first day of the draft means the end of me listening to Mel Kiper and that's never bad news.
32. David Wilson | RB | Virginia Tech | NEW YORK GIANTS
KYLE: As a Giants fan, I'm glad the Giants decided to draft a running back to replace Brandon Jacobs, who decided to bolt to the 49ers. Wilson is a physical back who can also catch balls out of the backfield. Overall a great selection.
ANDREW: I love the ACC. I love David Wilson (Also my Dad's name). He's going to run wild if Ahmad Bradshaw ever needs a break, and judging by what Brandon Jacobs did for New York, it's going to be often. More good news for Giants fans, Wilson doesn't hurt his ankle as much as Bradshaw. Major upside!
11:00 p.m. ZACHARY: The anticipation for the Super Bowl champion Giants' pick is killing New York fan Kyle Maher. It's great.
31. Doug Martin | RB | Boise State University | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
ZACHARY: I love seeing Boise State guys get taken. I keep saying here in the office that Kellen Moore needs to be taken. A solid complement to LaGarrette Blounte. But we'll see how the two cooperate, considering Blounte's Boise State incident a couple years ago. First time Boise State has had two first round selections.
30. A.J. Jenkins | WR | University of Illinois | SAN FRANSISCO 49ERS
ZACHARY: I'm not entirely shocked the 49ers took a WR. But we here in the office were saying, "Who?" A thought here could have been Alshon Jeffrey from South Carolina. He's a little small, but Gruden says he's fast.
ANDREW: Interesting...They've got Crabtree, Manningham, Ginn Jr. and the newest addition, Randy Moss. So why do they need another receiver? Personally, I would've gone quarterback. Alex Smith is nothing to brag about, and never will be.
29. Harrison Smith | DB | University of Notre Dame | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
ZACHARY: Smith gets air in that picture. He has showed some athleticism in the highlights they showed on ESPN. First time with two Notre Dame picks in the first round in a while.
28. Nick Perry | DE | University of Southern California | GREEN BAY PACKERS
ZACHARY: The Packers need a stronger defense. Tops in interceptions, but a pretty bad defense. Picking D here is a no-brainer. Kind of embarrassed themselves after starting 13-0 last season. Packers tight end Jermichael Finley tweeted, "Who????"
27. Kevin Zeitler | OG | University of Wisconsin | CINCINNATI BENGALS
ZACHARY: Apparently Jon Gruden knew this was happening, because there's a lack of guards on the Bengals football team. Dalton needs protection like every other team with a quarterback. Because without offensive lineman on your roster, it's hard to protect your QB. Protected an underrated Russell Wilson, who I'd like to see go high.
26. Whitney Mercilus | DE | University of Illinois | HOUSTON TEXANS
ZACHARY: Mario Williams needs replacing. With a guy named Mercilus, you can't go wrong.
KYLE: Mercilus is the by far the best name for a defensive tackle I've ever heard. He knew early on that his calling was football. Seriously though, great pick by the Texans to replace Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans.
25. Dont'a Hightower | LB | University of Alabama | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
KYLE: Great pick for the team with one of the worst defenses in the league last year. Hightower is a physical linebacker with a nose for the ball. He can be inserted right away and will make an immediate impact.
ADAM: He spells his name wrong. Oh, and once again he brings help to a Patriots defense that desperately needs it.
ANDREW: New England is really loading up on defense. Hmm I wonder why? By the way, Alabama is really representing in this year's first round. Roll Tide!
24. David DeCastro | OT | Stanford University | PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ZACHARY: Great piece on ESPN on the Stanford four who could go in the first round. Luck and DeCastro among them. Protecting for the No. 1 pick that's a QB has to mean something. Not a glamourous pick, but with Big Ben's injury issues, any O-linemen will help.
23. Riley Reiff | OT | University of Iowa | DETROIT LIONS
ZACHARY: Matthew Stafford needs protection. He just threw for the fifth-highest total passing yards in the NFL ever. Calvin Johnson making the pick, promoting Madden NFL 13.
22. Brandon Weeden | QB | Oklahoma State University | CLEVELAND BROWNS
ADAM: Cleveland has drafted the first redheaded quarterback since Andy Dalton last year. Also, Colt McCoy's job is in serious, serious trouble.
ANDREW: Hey Colt McCoy, nervous? Weeden is 28 years old, so it's not like they've got a lot of time to get him ready. But who's he going to throw to? Ask Colt, guarantee his answer is an emphatic NOBODY!!
ZACHARY: I don't know if Cleveland shouldn't have gone with a wideout here. Or a running back. What happened to Peyton Hillis? Why not give Colt some more time?
21. Chandler Jones | DE | Syracuse University | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
ADAM: The Patriots defense reached a point last year where they were calling on fans from the stands to step in. Okay, that's a lie. But it was pretty horrible. So Chandler Jones really can't do anything but help the Patriots.
20. Kendall Wright | WR | Baylor University | TENNESSEE TITANS
ZACHARY: Tennessee is in need of a solid wide receiver for Matt Hasselback and then Jake Locker. RG3's main target ran a nasty 4.4 40 in a pre-draft workout. Jon Gruden says it's a surprise. We'll see.
10:05 p.m. ZACH: Following the draft on Twitter makes it much easier to prepare for each pick.
19. Shea McClellin | DE | Boise State University | CHICAGO BEARS
ZACHARY: Looks like the Bears defensive front 7 is going to be nasty. McClellin featuring with Julius Peppers is going to make scary sights for NFC North QBs off the ends. I'm always of the view that whoever has Jay Cutler needs a good offensive lineman. But I want Kellen Moore off the board! Now!
18. Melvin Ingram | LB | University of South Carolina | SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
ANDREW: I love it! As a Charger fan, watching their defense has been painful. Ingram adds a punch that is desperately needed. Athletic, quick, and runs people over. Sounds good to me. Welcome to San Diego Melvin. Now can you go take out Peyton Manning?
17. Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | University of Alabama | CINCINNATI BENGALS
KYLE: Dre Kirkpatrick is a great pick for the Bengals. He's a physical specimen who has a great nose for the ball. He'll be able to be inserted at corner right away, solidifying the Cincinnati defense.
ZACHARY: That's six picks from the 2012 national championship game. Solid. The Bengals are on a resurgence with Andy Dalton and AJ Green. Adding to the defense is just part of the puzzle. Too bad they're in a division with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Covering Mike Wallace and Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin is going to be fun for him.
9:44 p.m. ZACHARY: I love what Chris Berman does. I may be one of four people in the world that does, but I love him. Case in point: his comparison of Quinton Coples to Fred Couples. I love it.
16. Quinton Coples | DE | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NEW YORK JETS
ZACHARY: As a UNC fan, I like seeing guys in the Carolina blue go early in the draft. Questions about his effort, but on a Tar Heels team that had a bunch of guys out due to different problems, the fact that he managed to stand out is something. He said the talk of him taking plays off is "unwarranted." But of course he's going to say that. The Jets' defense has been heralded as strong since Rex Ryan got there, but it hasn't produced a Super Bowl appearance. That's mostly the fault of the offense, and maybe the Jets should have gone with a wide receiver and traded down to grab Baylor's Kendall Wright. We'll see.
15. Bruce Irvin| DE | West Virginia University | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
ANDREW: Who? I thought he wasn't supposed to go late in the first round if that. I am very confused right now.
ADAM: This is why the Seahawks can't have nice things.
14. Michael Brockers | DT | Louisiana State University | ST. LOUIS RAMS
ANDREW: Yet another player from this year's National Championship game. Man those teams were good I guess...
13. Michael Floyd | WR | University of Notre Dame | ARIZONA CARDINALS
ZACHARY: I like this pick a lot. Floyd made noise despite not have a good QB the last couple of years. And it works well for the Cardinals, who haven't had a solid No. 2 receiver since Anquan Boldin. Then, they went to the Super Bowl. Work it, Kevin Kolb.
ANDREW: I would've loved to be a fly on the wall for the conversation the Cardinals had with Larry Fitzgerald about taking Floyd. My guess, Fitzgerald said "finally you guys got me some help!" Kevin Kolb, you've got two great receivers to go to. Wanna show up for a game soon?
12. Fletcher Cox | DT | Mississippi State University | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
ANDREW: I don't know much about this guy, but his name just sounds like an Eagle name. Am I the only one who thought that before the draft even started?
KYLE: Fletcher Cox is an enormous specimen the Eagle's can play right away. He'll help the Eagles put more pressure on the quarterback, something they were lacking during last year's struggles.
9:10 p.m. ANDREW: I love this! Twitter is beating the ESPN's coverage, so you really could play a friend and clean him out if you wanted to pretend you're guessing what's going to happen. All of the trades are making this even more excited than it usually is.
9:08 p.m. ZACHARY: And we get our first commercial. Philadelphia moves up to No. 12 for a lot of picks. They must really want whoever they want. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the banter here in the office. Debating the trades, the commentators, the picks. It's what sports journalism should be.
11. Dontari Poe | DT | University of Memphis | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ZACHARY: I read an article on ESPN today on Poe and how he has shot up the board. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him because there are so many questions. But he's a big guy who ran quick and could possibly make an impact.
10. Stephon Gilmore | CB | University of South Carolina | BUFFALO BILLS
KYLE: Good pick for the Bills. Buffalo's defense was the weakness of the team last year, but Gilmore will definitely help solidify the secondary. Good corner with great instincts.
9. Luke Kuechly | LB | Boston College | CAROLINA PANTHERS
ADAM: Luke Kuechly is probably tackling somebody as I type. I haven't seen his mug on television, so I assume he's not at Radio City Music Hall.191 tackles in 12 games last year. Try that on for size. Wow. He won the Nagurski and Butkus Awards and will complement Jon Beason perfectly for Carolina. Great pick.
ANDREW: Kuechly is a tackling machine. Mix him in with returning Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, and Carolina's defense will have studs up the middle.
8. Ryan Tannehill | QB | Texas A & M University | MIAMI DOLPHINS
ANDREW: Tannehill already knows Mike Sherman's offense, which is a plus. But is he ready to take the reins? He's only got a handful of starts as a quarterback after converting from wide receiver, but if handled correctly, Tannehill could become the future of the Dolphins.
ZACHARY: The Dolphins take a jump here. We'll see if Matt Moore and David Garrard work out in Miami, but if not, Ryan Tannehill is the answer. If you don't get Luck or RG3, this is where you go. Although I would have gone with Kellen Moore.
7. Mark Barron | DB | University of Alabama | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
ZACHARY: The Buccaneers made a couple splashes on offense, signing San Diego WR Vincent Jackson and New Orleans OL Carl Nicks. Now, they make a splash on defense, getting arguably the best safety in the draft. It's the third player who participated in the national championship game who has been picked.
ANDREW: Good luck passing against Tampa Bay now. Add Barron to Ronde Barber and maybe Aqib Talib, and you've got yourself a tough defense to pass against. That's going to go well in the NFC South, which is full of passing offenses.
6. Morris Claiborne | DB | Louisiana State University | DALLAS COWBOYS
KYLE: Great pick by the Cowboys, great addition to their rebuilt secondary. He seems to make a big play in every game. His addition should make Dallas' defense considerably better next year in year two of Rob Ryan's scheme. Claiborne is exactly the right player for Ryan's defense.
ZACHARY: A lot was said about Claiborne's Wonderlic score. Not going to matter. Being on the No. 1 team in the nation on a pretty solid defense that only gave up one touchdown all season to the national champion in two games helps.
5. Justin Blackmon | WR | Oklahoma State University | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
ANDREW: Huge move for Jacksonville. Blaine Gabbert now has someone to throw to! St. Louis has to be mad. Their response, trade out. Hello Dallas at No. 6.
ZACHARY: So Jacksonville gets a solid target for Gabbert. What they needed. This draft is going by ridiculously fast. The ticker's changing as soon as the pick before it is made as trades are solidified. Watching highlights of Blackmon makes me think this is a great pick. It's anything goes from here on out.
8:31 p.m. ZACHARY: A lot of trades going on here. Jacksonville trades up to No. 5 and Dallas trades up to No. 6. Big moves.
4. Matt Kalil | OT | University of Southern California | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
ADAM- Matt Kalil's an offensive lineman. Therefore, I know little about him. But I do know his beard is scruffy. Shave that, son. I also know he has NFL pedigree. His brother Ryan is a lineman for the Carolina Panthers.
ZACHARY: The Vikings need protection for Christian Ponder, who I think has some potential. This helps, for sure.
3. Trent Richardson | RB | University of Alabama | CLEVELAND BROWNS
ADAM: Make no mistake about it, Trent Richardson is the best running back in this draft. That being said, the shelf life of a running back is very, very temporary. I don't like this move solely because they gave too much up to get him and they probably would have gotten him had they just stayed at the No. 4 pick. They traded up because they were probably wary of somebody else trading with Minnesota. Still a very questionable selection.
KYLE: No doubt Richardson is the best playmaking running back in this draft class. He has great balance and explosion. He's unique because he can also catch passes out of the backfield and is a great blocker. Great selection for the Browns, who were in desperate need of a playmaker on offense.
2. Robert Griffin III | QB | Baylor University | WASHINGTON REDSKINS
ANDREW: Head Coach Mike Shanahan has a track record of adapting to different quarterback's strengths (Evident of Jake Plummer's Pro Bowl season in Denver in 2005.) RG3 has the talent to bring the Redskins back to the top in the NFC East.
KYLE: RG III is taken second overall by the Redskins. Not a surprise, great long term solution for Washington. Griffin III can beat you with a strong arm, world class speed and a great football mind.
1. Andrew Luck | QB | Stanford University | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
KYLE: Andrew Luck was the first pick, not that that should be a surprise to anyone. Luck is the perfect QB for a team in transition. He'll have growing pains as long as he has little playmaking ability around him, but he'll be a good long term solution.
ANDREW: Did they really just pick him? I had no idea that was coming...It was only breaking news on SportsCenter like 10 times that the Colts were going to pick him. No pun intended, Luck got really lucky that the Colts did so bad last year with their three different quarterbacks. If he really is the next Peyton Manning, he'll be able to hide the weaknesses that Manning did for years.
In the Final Minutes
7:55 p.m. KYLE: I wish the draft would just start with the fourth pick, just to make the beginning of the draft coverage a little more interesting. We know the first pick is Andrew Luck, second is RG III and third is apparently Trent Richardson. If nothing else, the first three teams better not take long to send in their picks, since they know EXACTLY who they're taking.
7:53 p.m. ZACHARY: Adam Lawson just made the suggestion that Andrew Luck looks like Elon sophomore guard Jack Isenbarger. Anybody agree?
7:41 p.m. ADAM: Apparently you can't get a peaceful dinner without something crazy and stupid happening. But that's the Browns for you. They traded up ONE spot, from No. 4 to No. 3, to take, presumably, running back Trent Richardson. What'd they give up? They gave up their No. 4 pick, along with picks in the 4th, 5th and 7th rounds. This is certifiably insane.
Pre-Draft
ZACHARY: I've always enjoyed the NFL Draft, but not as much as now. I wish there was a little more drama at the top, but with the Colts publicly stating they're taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III all but guaranteed to go No. 2 to the Washington Redskins, there's not much suspense on the docket. But we're going to live-blog the draft anyways because it will be a fun exercise in quick sports analysis. Plus, it gives us a chance to hang out as a crew. Maybe I'm a little more sentimental than most, but I'm okay with that.
I've watched the first round of the NFL Draft several times, and usually the No. 1 pick is set. I remember the first time I watched, the shock of then-Utah quarterback Alex Smith going No. 1 overall and then California QB Aaron Rodgers dropping down to No. 25 to the Green Bay Packers, after guys like South Carolina wide receiver Troy Williamson (No. 7 to Minnesota) and Florida State defensive lineman Travis Johnson (No. 16 to Houston). I felt bad for Aaron, considering he seemed like a nice guy and all.
But the draft is great. My favorites are the late round selections. For instance, Hofstra wide receiver Marques Colston was drafted in the 7th round at No. 252 by the New Orleans Saints and has put up big numbers for the Saints. The San Diego Chargers selected Northern Illinois running back Michael Turner with the 154th pick in the 5th round in the 2004 draft. And Oregon State wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was picked No. 204 overall in the 7th round by the Cincinnati Bengals. All have been to Pro Bowls. Oh yeah, that Tom Brady guy too.
ADAM: I'm as big of an insomniac as your typical college student, but let's get this thing done before midnight. Can that be arranged? The most annoying thing in the world is when a team knows who they are going to pick and waits seven or eight minutes to make their selection because either A) they want to entertain trade offers or B) they want to make me mad. I'll lean towards choice B.
When it comes to the draft, I'm extremely sadistic. I want to see a team make a crippling trade offer or pick a player that will have no positive impact for the team that selects him. The problem with this process is you typically can't know who busted out of the draft until a few years down the line. But last year the Falcons gave up five picks (including this year's first and fourth round selections) to move up and take Alabama's Julio Jones. Giving up, conservatively guessing, three potential franchise starters for a wide receiver that may or may not be a star is unbelievably stupid. Thus, it delighted me.
Anyway, where are these sodas and snacks? I didn't get that memo.
ANDREW: Tonight's NFL Draft might have a lot of trades. The Vikings have already traded down one spot. (I guess Cleveland really wanted to make sure they get Trent Richardson. They really paid a steep price for him.) Before that happened, it was reported that all teams 3-16 were looking into trading down. There could be a lot of trades tonight that could completely change the landscape of the draft.
KYLE: I've been looking forward to this night for awhile now. The NFL draft is like nothing else in sports, which makes it exciting and intriguing. I'm excited to see what happens after the first two picks, which have been known for a few weeks now. There will be trades, surprises and plenty of boos and cheers from the fans in the crowd. I'm tired of seeing all the mock drafts on ESPN, it's time for the picks to become official from Radio City Music Hall. I can't wait to hear the soothing voice of Chris Berman headlining the coverage for ESPN, along with Jon Gruden, who isn't afraid to say anything and everything about any player drafted. Let the madness begin.
The Goal
One night, at The Pendulum's offices on the third floor of the Elon Town Center, the members of The Pendulum sports team gathered to liveblog about the 2012 NFL Draft. They were Zachary Horner (sports editor), Adam Lawson (assistant sports editor), Andrew Wilson and Kyle Maher (senior reporters). Stocked up with sodas and snacks, they were ready to go.
What we're going to do here is follow each pick and then write our analysis. We'll go back and forth and try to fit everyone in. And try not to be horribly cliché like we just were.