1. Sammy Davis/CB Generally considered either the 3rd or 4th best corner available, Davis will likely be starting by mid-season. He's got great speed
and very good coverage skills but he'll need to bulk up a bit. Could be a solid starter for years opposite Jammer. Solid choice.
2. Drayton Florence/CB Surprisingly, the Bolts went right back to the DB well and snagged Florence--a small college guy with good measurables but
limited big game experience. Could emerge as the better of the two drafted CB's but I wouldn't expect that to happen for 2-3 years. Solid choice.
3. Terrence Kiel/S OK, apparently Schottenheimer was a little pissed off at his d-backs last year. Making it three in a row, Kiel was Sammy Davis'
partner in crime at Texas A&M. Another speedster who isn't afraid to mix it up. Instantly, there's lots of top shelf speed in the deep zone--but it may take
a while to develop. The player is a solid choice but I give the three straight DB thing a thumbs down. Highly-rated WR Kelley Washington was still
available here.
4. Courtney Van Buren/OG A massive small-college prospect who wasn't well scouted by the regular guys. But at least we drafted one OL and I'm
guessing our OL coach extraordinaire must have seen something special in this guy. Decent pick.
5. Matt Wilhelm/LB Very nice mid-round pick. Wilhelm is one of those guys who doesn't have the measurables but does nothing but deliver on the
field. Anchoring NCAA champion Ohio St.'s defense, Wilhelm will definitely make the team and should contribute on special teams.
6. Mike Scifres/P The first kicker selected in the draft, Scifres is already slated in to handle kickoffs and could take over the Punter slot from Darren
Bennett. But I hate drafting punters and kickers--they often don't work out at the next level. Crappy pick.
7. Hannick Milligan/S Hey, why not draft a DB? Hell, we've only dedicated half the draft to them so far. That snipe aside, Milligan is a hard-hitter who
could stick. Marginal pick.
8. Andrew Pinnock/RB Half running back, half fullback, Pinnock is a Natrone Means lookalike. 265 pounds of sprinting beef. Since we have nobody
behind LT, he should stick with ease. Good pick.
Final Analysis A little heavy against the defensive backfield, but I'm just happy that the Bolts are finally completely past the Bethard years and have some
draft choices to make. With last year's pick of Quentin Jammer, the defensive backfield should be in pretty good shape for years to come. But I would
have like to see them snag a top WR early and they didn't even take one throughout the draft. Nothing too thrilling here--just a basic, decent draft. I'll
give it a B-.
and very good coverage skills but he'll need to bulk up a bit. Could be a solid starter for years opposite Jammer. Solid choice.
2. Drayton Florence/CB Surprisingly, the Bolts went right back to the DB well and snagged Florence--a small college guy with good measurables but
limited big game experience. Could emerge as the better of the two drafted CB's but I wouldn't expect that to happen for 2-3 years. Solid choice.
3. Terrence Kiel/S OK, apparently Schottenheimer was a little pissed off at his d-backs last year. Making it three in a row, Kiel was Sammy Davis'
partner in crime at Texas A&M. Another speedster who isn't afraid to mix it up. Instantly, there's lots of top shelf speed in the deep zone--but it may take
a while to develop. The player is a solid choice but I give the three straight DB thing a thumbs down. Highly-rated WR Kelley Washington was still
available here.
4. Courtney Van Buren/OG A massive small-college prospect who wasn't well scouted by the regular guys. But at least we drafted one OL and I'm
guessing our OL coach extraordinaire must have seen something special in this guy. Decent pick.
5. Matt Wilhelm/LB Very nice mid-round pick. Wilhelm is one of those guys who doesn't have the measurables but does nothing but deliver on the
field. Anchoring NCAA champion Ohio St.'s defense, Wilhelm will definitely make the team and should contribute on special teams.
6. Mike Scifres/P The first kicker selected in the draft, Scifres is already slated in to handle kickoffs and could take over the Punter slot from Darren
Bennett. But I hate drafting punters and kickers--they often don't work out at the next level. Crappy pick.
7. Hannick Milligan/S Hey, why not draft a DB? Hell, we've only dedicated half the draft to them so far. That snipe aside, Milligan is a hard-hitter who
could stick. Marginal pick.
8. Andrew Pinnock/RB Half running back, half fullback, Pinnock is a Natrone Means lookalike. 265 pounds of sprinting beef. Since we have nobody
behind LT, he should stick with ease. Good pick.
Final Analysis A little heavy against the defensive backfield, but I'm just happy that the Bolts are finally completely past the Bethard years and have some
draft choices to make. With last year's pick of Quentin Jammer, the defensive backfield should be in pretty good shape for years to come. But I would
have like to see them snag a top WR early and they didn't even take one throughout the draft. Nothing too thrilling here--just a basic, decent draft. I'll
give it a B-.
| Jacko's Original 2003 Draft Analysis |
