My C.J. Spiller Blog

#19 - Atlanta Falcons - C.J. Spiller - Clemson

Taking a RB in the first round seems a little risky, when this team could probably use more help at defense to go against the New Orleans Saints. CJ Spiller could provide the speed to complement the power of Michael Turner. Jerious Norwood hasn't played as well as the team expected in 2009 when his average dipped below 5 yards/carry for the first time. The team needs a two headed monster at RB to try to keep up with the Saints offense. Matt Ryan and his receivers should be able to put up some offense, but the RBs need to help as well.

The team could also use a pass rusher because Jamaal Anderson turned out to be a huge bust. They will definitely have to address that in the second round. The Falcons need to be able to get to the QB better if they want to overtake the Saints and win the NFC South next year. Peria Jerry was hurt for most of last year, and if he can make an impact, it will be a huge help for this team that needs better DT play. The team was ranked 10th rushing defense last year, giving up 106.9 yards per game. The team needs to be dominant up front to stop the Saints Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush and the Panthers DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Atlanta had a horrible pass defense last year, but they have been addressing it during free agency. Tye Hill and Chris Houston are gone, and in comes the top free agent CB, Dunta Robinson. The team was 28th in passing defense last year, giving up 242 yards/game. A rookie CB next year will not make the difference, so the team decided it needed to go get a #1 CB in Robinson to try to stop the Saints in 2010. The team should draft a CB in an early round to start developing more talent and depth at the position because two or three quality CBs are now needed in the pass-heavy NFL.

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The Buffalo Bills finished the 2009 season at 6-10, and that mark relegated them to last place in the AFC East division. The season was such a disappointment that the Bills decided to cut ties with Dick Jauron. Chan Gailey was brought in as the new head man, and the organization is hoping he can succeed where Jauron failed. While Buffalo will put better talent on the field this season, most notably C.J. Spiller, Gailey's first season on the job will be a rebuilding year. It usually always takes players time to adjust to new coaching staffs and new schemes, and I expect no different in Buffalo. I'm optimistic the Bills can improve by at least a game, but it won't be easy playing in such a tough division.

Offense: Buffalo's offense was atrocious last season, scoring only 16.1 points per game. It was especially bad through the air, only averaging 157.2 passing yards per game. With Terrell Owens gone and with holes remaining in the offensive line, it's hard to think the passing game will be much better. Plus, it is still up in the air if likely starting quarterback Trent Edwards is a long term solution. Lee Evans will continue to be Buffalo's biggest weapon in the wide receiver unit. The running game is in much better shape with Spiller teaming up with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch to form a very strong trio. The addition of Spiller should help both the running and passing games. Spiller is a rare home run threat that the defense must account for on every play, and I expect Gailey to take advantage of his versatility as a ball carrier and receiver.

Defense: Buffalo was terrific against the pass in 2009, ranking No. 2 in the league in pass defense. However, it was awful against the run, ranking No. 30 in run defense. With talented defensive backs like Donte Whitner, Jarius Byrd and Terrance McGee back, pass defense will remain Buffalo's strength. The Bills are hoping that their switch to a 3-4 scheme will help them improve in both of the aforementioned areas. Paul Posluszny is an animal, and Buffalo's new scheme should free him up to really wreak havoc. There are many more effective blitz packages in the 3-4, and Posluszny has the athleticism to excel in them. This side of the football did well to add Dwan Edwards, Andra Davis, Torrell Troup and Alex Carrington. It will take some time for the Bills to adjust to this new scheme, but I think it will suit them well in the years to come.

Prediction: 4th AFC East - At this point, it's hard for me to imagine a scenario in which the Bills don't finish last in the East. That's the bad news. The good news is Buffalo should be a lot more exciting to watch in 2010 with the addition of Spiller. Another sub.500 season is very likely, but I like the direction this team is moving in as Gailey starts his rebuilding project. Be sure to check out my 2010 NFL predictions to see which team I like to win the division.

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CJ Spiller set the NCAA record for most kick returns for touchdowns while playing his college career at Clemson University in South Carolina. He has 4.2 speed and can break away from any defenders that are chasing him. As a running back he is very allusive and can take it to the end zone any time he touches the football. I think he could be a star on kick returns and be a starting running back in the NFL.

While there is many other talented players in the draft, I think Spiller is the best running back. Best and Gerhart from the PAC 10 could go ahead of him, but I would not count on it. Spiller has more potential as a kick returner which makes him more valuable. You can see how valuable Josh Cribbs is to the Browns, so a good return guy is essential to special teams.

Normally backs are not taken with the first few picks as teams like to focus on quarterbacks and linemen with those picks. Spiller could slip into the top 10 if he has a good combine and can really impress the scouts. I think he will go around 15th or so and could be a big impact player in his rookie year. Many backs take a year or so to get really good, but others like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson are great from day 1.

It will be interesting to see how the first round of the draft plays out but it sure should be exciting.

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The 49ers have no need for a running back. They have a Pro-Bowl running back in Frank Gore, and they drafted Glen Coffee in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, C.J. Spiller would be a great addition to the San Francisco 49ers.

C.J. Spiller brings his ability not only to the run game, but to the passing game and the return game. After making the switch to Alex Smith in the 2009 season, the 49ers began to run a more "spread like" offense. C.J. Spiller is a speed back that would excel in an open offense like that. He is an exceptional receiver coming out of the backfield. In addition, the 49ers really lack a true home-run threat. Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, and Frank Gore are all threats but do not possess the elite speed that a C.J. Spiller does. C.J. would provide the Niners with another weapon on a young, up and coming offense. He has 50+ touchdowns in his career at Clemson, and over 20 of those were plays of 50 or more yards. Remind you of Chris Johnson?

Not only can he impact the 49ers offense, but C.J. Spiller would also fill arguably the 49ers weakest position, kick returner. Turn on the game film and it is clear what kind of talent he brings to the return game. He had seven returns for touchdowns in his career at Clemson, and four in his senior season alone.

Spiller can impact the 49ers in many ways but based on their recent draft history and quotes by their front office, it is unclear whether they will draft C.J. Spiller because of his lack of size. There may be concerns that he is not a three-down running back in the NFL, however, he will undoubtedly make an impact at the next level. The San Francisco 49ers should not reach on C.J. Spiller. They should put a higher value on players such as: Joe Haden, Trent Williams, and Bryan Bulaga. However, at the 17th overall selection, after already taking one of those players and filling a bigger need... the 49ers should draft C.J. Spiller. It would clearly be a luxury pick for the 49ers and they may not end up drafting C.J. but if he is on the board and they are selecting 17th overall, they should pull the trigger on C.J. Spiller in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Here Is A Full 2010 Draft Projection:
NFL Mock Draft

Yeah, Yeah... C.J. Spiller. But who is else will be drafted?
NFL Draft Prospects

This article was written by Daniel McGunnigle. Draft Guru and co-creator of the KDraft sites published on Squidoo.

The Clemson Tigers went 9-5 on College Football Picks in 2009 and the team will not be as nearly as talented as they were at the skilled positions in the C.J. Spiller era but the team stall has a chance to return to the ACC championship game. Second year coach Dabo Sweeney had a nice coaching debut last year but has his work cut out for him this season. Clemson went 9-5 in 2009, losing the ACC title game 39-34 to Georgia Tech but ended the season by beating Kentucky in the Music City Bowl 21-13. The tigers were 9-5 against the spread, going over the betting total odds 8 times and under 6 times. The Clemson offense scored a little over 31 points per game and that was 28th in the nation. The offense as a whole ranked 74th in College football averaging 362.4 yards per game but a lot of that production will be missing now that spiller is gone. The defense ranked 20th nationally giving up 314.3 yards per contest and allowed 20.4 points per game. The pass defense was exceptionally good ranking 7th in the country.

In addition to replacing Spiller the Tigers may also be without the quarterback who led them to the ACC Atlantic division title last season. Kyle parker had a great baseball season and there is a strong possibility he could call it quits on the gridiron to concentrate on a pro baseball career. If Parker does return he will have 7 returning starters who made at least 6 starts in 2009, four of them offensive lineman, if Parker decides to pursue his baseball career, redshirt freshman Taj Boyd will probably be under center. Running Back Andre Ellington showed flashes last season rushing for 491 yards on just 68 carries and Jamie Harper had 418 yards on 80 carries. Wide receiver Jacoby Ford will also be missed and Clemson will be counting on Xavier Dye and Terrance Ashe at that position.

The 2010 Clemson Tigers defense will be strong on the defensive line and in the secondary but the linebackers will be tested often. DeAndrea McDaniel has superstar written all over him and will be a Thorpe award candidate as well as one of the best defensive players in the ACC. T Jarvis Jenkins and Da'Quan Bowers are 2 of 3 starters returning on the defensive line. Brandon Maye had 96 tackles last season but is the only proven linebacker. This sports handicapper believes Clemson will go 7-5 overall in 2010.

Greg C Nelson

Every year, many rookies come into the league and, outside of RBs, very few make much of an impact. Maximum Fantasy Sports has put its collective heads together and has ranked the Top-5 fantasy football relevant rookies at the core skill positions and their projected draft round in standard 12-team fantasy football leagues.

Receivers have a chance to shine in their first year, but tend to be very inconsistent and require a year or two of patience. However, many of us play in deep Keeper leagues, so we need to think about the future as well as the present. Do NOT hang your current season on a rookie QB. Even the great Peyton Manning had an average season. The pro game is much more complex and much faster than any team these fellas played against, or played for, in college. It still amazes me that they get drafted in the NFL so high and get paid so much money before proving they can handle the transition. I think it is a HUGE stretch to imagine Sam Bradford even approaching the skill and success of Tom Brady, yet, the Rams decided that monetarily, he was worth more. Good luck justifying that to your accounting staff! Below is the consensus review from Maximum Fantasy Sports for the current draftable NFL rookies.

Quarterbacks

Sam Bradford (St. Louis): Bradford had a very forgettable 2009 thanks to getting pounded into the turf on two separate occasions and suffering shoulder injuries. Sadly, Oklahoma's OL may be better than St. Louis'. Bradford may be the only rookie QB from this class who has a guaranteed starting position, but the Rams will stack the playbook with running plays and you will be hard-pressed to find a reason to start Bradford for a few years. He is a last round pick at best.
Jimmy Clausen (Carolina): Clausen will be given the chance to win the starting position in Carolina. Should he do it, he has a leg up on Bradford in the name of Steve Smith. Clausen could do well in Carolina if he stays humble since they have a nice RB duo and he comes from a pro-style offense at Notre Dame. Monitor training camp and consider drafting Clausen in rounds 10-12 should he be playing well.
Colt McCoy (Cleveland): Though McCoy dropped a lot farther in the draft than I would have guessed, he ended up in a nice position. Cleveland has very young players at the skill positions that he can easily bond with. With only INT-prone Jake Delhomme in front of him, he could wrestle the job away this year and hold onto it for a very long time. I would consider grabbing him in the last round in Keeper leagues.
John Skelton (Arizona): I admit, I did not see Skelton play in college. My DirecTV College Game Plan did not pick up any Fordham games. Skelton finds himself in an enviable situation in Arizona. He is playing behind Matt Leinart and could be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston. Leinart has not impressed in the opportunities he has had under center since being drafted. It is his job this year, but, if he flounders, I would not be surprised to see the Cardinals give Skelton a shot. Do not draft Skelton but this is definitely a situation to keep an eye on this year.
Tim Tebow (Denver): with Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn ahead of him, he has no chance of playing for a few years and I am not convinced he can do the job. Do not draft!

Running Backs

Ryan Mathews (San Diego): I love this kid as will the Chargers fans. He is big, strong and quick for his size. San Diego needed a power back to complement Darren Sproles and Mathews is that back. He is the first rookie that I would look at. I would consider him late in the 3rd round but shouldn't last long into the fourth round.
Ben Tate (Houston): Steve Slaton was a gold mine for his owners....in 2008. He fell off the map last year and raised many doubts in Houston about his long-term credentials. They grabbed Tate at the end of the second round and will give him the chance to be their franchise back. He has a chance to duplicate Slaton's 2008 numbers and should be considered draftable in late round four.
Jahvid Best (Detroit): If Kevin Smith can be productive in Detroit, Best certainly can. With Smith coming off of a knee injury, Best will get the starting nod. The only concern with Best is that he has already suffered multiple concussions and will be facing bigger, stronger, harder-hitting defenses in the NFL. Grab him in the 4th-5th round. C.J. Spiller (Buffalo): Spiller is electrifying on the field. He is not an every-down back, but will get 8-10 carries a game, catch some passes and return kicks. If your league awards players for TDs on returns, bump Spiller up a round. However, I would not look in his direction until rounds 7-8.
Toby Gerhart (Minnesota): Gerhart is a bruiser. I would love to have him on my team if I had an NFL franchise. From a fantasy standpoint, he is playing behind Adrian Peterson. That keeps him from being the workhorse that he is capable of unless AP gets hurt. He will still get 10 carries a game, but don't overpay for a part-time player. I would not reach in his direction until the 8th round.

Wide Receivers

Demaryius Thomas (Denver): Thomas could be in line for a huge year. Denver has no clear-cut #1 WR. Brandon Marshall is gone and Eddie Royal was a no-show last year. He did not receive much press in college since he played at Georgia Tech and they love their option offense there. However, this kid is good and will be productive. I would consider him late in the 6th round.
Dez Bryant (Dallas): Funny how the Cowboys ended up drafting Bryant after former Cowboy, Deion Sanders, helped end Bryant's college career prematurely. Since Bryant was a first round pick, it is obvious to Cowboys' management that trading for Roy Williams was a bad idea. Should Bryant stay out of trouble, he could do well in the Cowboys' offense with Miles Austin across the field. Look to grab him in rounds 9-10.
Arrelious Benn (Tampa): Benn's talent was wasted at Illinois thanks to poor play of QB Juice Williams. Sadly, he moves to a Tampa team that is eerily similar to the Illini; devoid of talent. I will admit that Bucs' QB Josh Freeman played pretty well under the circumstances that he was thrown into last year. Should these two players click, Benn could have a big season. He is a solid 9th round pick.
Golden Tate (Seattle): Tate was fabulous in college and should easily move into the pro game. He is a little short for the pro game, but will work nicely in the slot and will get good YAC. As long at Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy, Tate will put up good numbers. I would not reach for him before round 12 though.
Eric Decker (Denver): Denver had such little faith in their current receivers that they drafted two receivers this year in the first three rounds! Decker, like Thomas, is a big receiver with good hands. He ended his Gopher career with a foot injury, but that will not hamper him this year. I would grab Decker in the 12th round.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski (New England): The Pats lost their two starting tight ends from 2009 and filled that void nicely in this year's draft. Gronkowski is 6'6" and has great hands. He could revive memories of Ben Coates in New England. With the NFL having so many productive tight ends, you could probably steal him in the 11th round.
Ed Dickson (Baltimore): The Ravens opened up the passing game last year, showing great confidence in QB Joe Flacco. One area that has underperformed in Baltimore the past few years is the tight end position. Todd Heap has been too beat-up to effectively contribute so Dickson was brought in to help him into retirement. I could see taking a flier on Dickson in the 14th round.
Jimmy Graham (New Orleans): The Saints has concerns about Jeremy Shockey's health even before his May seizure. Graham is also 6'6" and has nice "ups", as displayed in his basketball career. Drew Brees likes getting his tight ends involved in the passing game so Graham has nice potential for catching a few passes per game and the occasional TD. I would think about grabbing him with my last pick.
Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati): At 6'5", Gresham has the size to contribute in Cincinnati. However, I am skeptical about the Bengals offense and their ability to use Gresham effectively. The Bengals drafted Chase Coffman last year and failed to utilize him at all. Granted, I am no talent scout, but I saw Coffman played at Missouri and thought he would have fit nicely in Cincinnati. Take a wait-and-see approach with Gresham.
Anthony McCoy (Seattle): Pete Carroll extended an olive branch to USC-grad McCoy in the 6th round of this year's draft. John Carlson is the current pass-catching TE for Seattle, but Carroll is very loyal and may work McCoy into the offense as the season progresses. Do not draft but keep an eye on the Seahawks' box score.

Bill Parsons is the owner of http://www.MaximumFantasySports.com and a rabid fantasy sports participant. He began creating his own football and baseball fantasy leagues at the ripe old age of seven; tracking stats and standings on paper. Bill decided to create a real-time fantasy football league website that includes all of the best features and some of which have never been attempted at any other website. Maximum Fantasy Sports offers Free Fantasy Football leagues, Free Fantasy Football Pools and Public Fantasy Football Leagues with cash payouts.