[NU Sports] free agent Cats in the draft

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> The draft always amazes me.
> Missouri had 2 1st rounders and I believe a 2nd and 3rd.

True. What interests me about the draft recently is that the school that has won a couple (albeit phony) national titles the past few years - Florida - isn't necessarily the draft stud.

While Florida will always have some dominant athletes that get taken - their use of a spread offense has kind of hurt their NFL draft rep in finding people who will fit in with pro systems - same for OU to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, USC, OSU and Texas are just filling the draft boards.

> were owned.  I am definitely not an tOSU fan, but anybody
> who picks them not to win the conference EVERY year has a
> screw loose.  They are the DOMINATE team until somebody
> proves otherwise.  I don't believe anybody in the Big
> Ten has beaten tOSU in consecutive years under Tressel.

Well, they are clearly the dominant team talentwise, but I don't think the mountain is that insurmountable. It's certainly not the light years ahead that SC is in the Pac 10 or that OU/UT are in the Big XII. Penn State has beat them for the league title 2 of the last 4 years, and Michigan will not be down too much longer.

Watching the spring game highlights on the Big Ten Network, I think we're in for a heck of a year in the league - it may be like this year in basketball, where no one really respects the league and downplays it, but where we surprise with a load of good teams and maybe one great one (guess who:) ) who can make it to the title game.

I liked the look of Kafka in the spring game with those long strides and more confidence throwing. Our O-line has to step up on the short yardage game, but I think we're going to have a solid season with the potential to be a special one if we get the running game going and Wootten comes back near full strength.

But the bad news is that the league is gonna be loaded - MSU in particular looks like they're ready to step into that Michigan void with that transfer QB ... and don't forget what PSU has coming back (and with the Buckeyes visiting Happy Valley, they could make it 2 straight on Tressel). Plus I don't think Minny will have much of a setback after the big leap last year (they kinda got the setback part out of the way last year, too), and Illinois and Iowa are still dangerous.

The only real question marks are the Hoosier State teams - can Lynch get IU back on track and how mich will Purdooooo miss Wily Joe? And while Wisconsin's cupboard ain't exactly bare, I think the hottest seat in Big Ten country is Bielema's, so that could put some pressure on Bucky.

I'm PUMPED - let's kick it off!!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT