Ian Johnson undrafted—My faith in humanity dashed

This is my 300th post on FFBSU. Seems odd that my 300th post milestone is to announce Ian Johnson, the "face" of the Broncos for the last 3 years, went undrafted in this weekends NFL draft and I'm not happy about it. You wanna know why I'm not happy about it? Look at who was drafted. Tom freakin' Brandstater was drafted (!). Two Mountain West running backs were drafted that had fewer TDs in their career than Johnson's sophomore season alone—one of them had fewer career yards than Johnson's sophomore campaign as well. You are telling me that Ian Johnson, the very definition of a character player...who scored 58 rushing TDs in his career and finished 8th in Heisman voting as a sophomore isn't a better pick than UNLV's Frank Summers? Really, NFL? A guy who posted the second fastest time among running backs at the NFL combine and showed versatility and character throughout his career can't even make it 10-deep on the "top remaining players" list hours into day 2 of the draft? Really, "Scouts Inc."? What a slap in the face to a kid who played through injuries, always talked to the media and never complained about diminished touches in the backfield. Say what you will—I know that free agents can and do flourish in the league...but a player as decorated and talented as Ian Johnson should NOT be drafted behind two (!) players from 1-AA. A player as valuable to a team and as committed as Ian Johnson should not be drafted after a quarterback from Nebraska-Omaha or a running back from Abilene Christian. The all-time leader in rushing TDs and face of the WAC just got wacked...10 conference mates were picked up by NFL squads—none could take a "chance" on Ian?

Oh sure, Ian will get his shot somewhere...and he has his "foot-in-the-door" so to speak, but the NFL's system of evaluation leaves much to be desired...and Ian deserved better than what he got. Oh, and I'll go ahead and throw this out there: Jeremy Childs might have made a "slight" miscalculation.

Somewhat less disappointing update: Friends gotta stick together. Vinny and Ian heading to the Vikings as free agents. Ian chose the Vikings from 12-15 suitors (the team with Adrian Peterson as an RB...really?) Good luck to both. Also, Julian Hawkins to Dallas to say hello to O. Scandrick.

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Spend some time in the Big Apple with IJ...

Childs' Combine invite was apparently lost in the mail

*Yoink

So about that article a couple of days ago...nevermind. It turns out that Jeremy Childs will be attending the NFL Combine in Indy next month, but nobody knew about it. The Statesman is reporting this morning that Childs is working out at Athletes' Performance in L.A. and prepping for the combine, one of only about 40 receivers on the list. KBCI reported a week or so ago that Childs had not been on the list of attendees and that Ian Johnson would be the lone Bronco participant. Furthermore, ESPN's Graham Watson corroborated the story saying that Childs' name was conspicuously absent among the list of non-BCS participants. Well, they were both wrong or simply jumped the gun, leaving me holding the bag as it were. J Bates, I curse your name.

Scouts will be particularly interested in Childs' 40 time which has been clocked previously as "fast enough"...but will need to increased to "faster than Brian Dawkins" by the time the Combine rolls around.

Childs gets his invite [Statesman]

Childs a no-go for the combine

Be the ball, Jeremy.

Jeremy Childs winding road to the NFL may have just gotten a wee bit more complicated. Whereas last years early departures, Orlando Scandrick and Ryan Clady, had a chance to show their wares at the meat market known as the NFL combine...Childs will have to hope that he draws a big crowd on Pro Day. The official invite list, out today, shows only one Bronco making the trip to Indianapolis, and that Bronco is Ian Johnson. Oddly enough, Johnson may have more to prove to the scouts than Childs...at least physically. The combine runs between February 18th and the 24th.

Story [KBCI]

Childs on graduation promise: "Never mind"

You'll never have it this easy again.

About a month ago, Jeremy Childs said that he would return for his senior season at Boise State. You remember, it went something like this:

...yadda yadda my mom, blah blah blah diploma...

Well, like goings-on in Las Vegas...Childs believes that 'things that happen in December, stay in December' and has promptly spun an athletic 180 and decided to depart for the NFL. Rumors to this effect started swirling last week from J Bates' general direction...but now it appears confirmed—Childs is taking his 10-yard outs to the big show, and Orlando Scandrick's senioritis has infected another big time Bronco player. Sadly, Childs was only 1 yard from jersey retirement.

In other news, Kirby Moore will start next year.

Semi-full story [Statesman]

Wilson will not follow in Scandrick's footsteps

Now now...it's not polite to point.

All-WAC/All-American cornerback Kyle Wilson is staying put. That mighty wind you just heard was Bronco fans exhaling. After a couple of weeks of speculation that the talented Bronco DB may go pro...Wilson's brother Gerry says he's on the blue for the long haul.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a tough call, but I wouldn’t say it was easy,” said Gerry Wilson, the oldest of three Wilson boys. “… It was a matter of evaluating what’s best for Kyle and what’s best for the team.”

Gerry, who played college ball at Princeton and is the CEO of yoonew, an online sports ticket trading company, obviously knows the importance of education and might have helped sway his little brother's decision. If this is the case, Bronco Nation thanks you. Wilson may be on track to be another first or second-round draft pick in the 2010 draft and will be a key cog on a Bronco D that should be amazing next season. Now, go and have a chat with Jeremy Childs, won't ya?!

Full Story [Statesman]

This one time, at band camp...

Today is ultra-special video day—and after bringing you two interview-tastic gems earlier today—I painstakingly scoured the internet for a full 10 minutes to find this shining beacon of awesomeness. Move over, Mel Kiper, there are two 12th level paladins in town.



Clady better than Battlestar Galactica? Only the Durtybirdz can judge. Draft pick uber-pwnage.

First-rounder Ryan Clady imagines...

Dangit, Ryan, you opened your eyes!

Tadman slips under the radar

OBNUG has finally cracked the Marty Tadman case as they tracked him down at Jets' minicamp. Officially, this looks like a tryout for Tadman, but this is more info than the Statesman dragged out, so kudos to Kevan and the gang (not affiliated with Kool and the gang) for giving us the valuable 411. All Marty was looking for was a shot...now he's got one. We're sure he'll make the most of it and then one day memorialize it in a sweet forearm tattoo.

Bronco football podcast #7

April 28th Talking Points podcast with JT Ray of Bronco Nation N.O.W. and Kevan Lee of OBNUG. Oh...and me.

Talking Points Podcast Episode 7 - Talking The 2008 Draft : Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Boise State 2008 Draft Recap

Ryan Clady just loves the Orange and Blue
Orlando Scandrick will have an opportunity to play ghost to Dallas' Pacman
Dan Gore's a dolphin...be very careful when punctuating that statement
Taylor Tharp inks a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers

Tad Miller, Jeff Cavender, Marty Tadman and Nick Schlekeway are still looking for camps or free agent gigs—I'll keep you posted on those developments as they happen.

Scandrick a Cowboy

It may not have been as high as he could have gone, but Orlando Scandrick apparently made a fairly wise decision coming out early as the Dallas Cowboys made him their 8th pick of the 5th round on Sunday. Scandrick was the 143rd pick overall. Scandrick, who ran a 4.3 40 for scouts will be missed in the Bronco secondary and on special teams since he has started in those roles since his true freshman year. BSU fans might not miss the penalties, but we will miss this:





Conference call to Scandrick courtesy of Cowboys' Website:
boomp3.com

Clady is still a Bronco...

With the 12th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...the Denver Broncos drafted Boise State Junior O-lineman Ryan Clady making him the highest draft pick ever from Boise State and first player in school history to leave early for the NFL. Clady was the 2nd Offensive Tackle taken in the draft behind overall first pick Jake Long of Michigan. All of Bronco Nation wishes Ryan Clady the best with his new career...now you'll be part of another Bronco Nation and still close enough for some of us to come watch you play again.



OBNUG tracked down some video of Clady's pick

Be back tomorrow to blog about other Bronco draftees (hopefully).

Ryan Clady not memorable...

Some fellow who calls himself the "Sports Curmudgeon" doesn't think too highly of Ryan Clady. He recently wrote an article breaking down the upcoming NFL draft, and after watching one Boise State game (UNR at Boise State) last year he came up with the following thoughtful analysis:

By the way, I mentioned above that I watched the Nevada/Boise State game last season. I made no notes about Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. Some now think he is one of the top two or three offensive linemen in the entire draft. Sorry, but I just didn’t notice him…

Oh no! An anonymous blogger with no credentials watched the Nevada/Boise State game last year and didn't notice Ryan Clady! I'm sure that Clady's draft stock just plummeted.

Hey, Sports Curmudgeon...do you think that Clady's All-America honors were based on one game of his career? Do you think that the fact that you didn't make any notes on Clady mean he wasn't doing his job on the field? Most coaches would tell you that you don't want to "notice" an O-lineman during the game...this generally means that they are blocking their assignments and not jumping off-sides. Real analysts break down a LOT of tape to determine the quality of a player, then NFL teams hold a little thing called a combine, where said players are put through other rigorous tests. But you know best, right? I'm sure in a few weeks Ryan Clady will be browsing the internet and come across your draft insight about him and a solitary tear will run down his face...which he will promptly wipe away with a wad of $100 bills.

Sports Curmudgeon the next Kiper?

Broncos in the draft

In the wake of the epic Fiesta Bowl win, BSU sent a record 6 players to the NFL combine...those players were: QB Jared Zabransky, TE Derek Schouman, WR Drisan James, S Gerald Alexander, WR Jerard Rabb and WR Legadu Naanee. Noticeably absent from the combine was all-everything linebacker and WAC defensive player-of-the-year Korey Hall. Hall did work out for scouts at the Caven-WIlliams sports complex during BSU's pro day and was joined by other notable seniors Colt Brooks, Brad Lau and others. Ideally, BSU would have all of these guys drafted—all combine invitees performed very well and all led their group in at least one test...however, I realistically see 3 or possibly 4 getting drafted, with others settling for Free Agent contracts. The most "draftable" Broncos are probably Alexander, Zabransky, Schouman (who is being projected as a possible fullback) and Naanee. I truly believe that these guys are going to get a shot and have an even stronger belief that the others will land free agent contracts and work their ways onto rosters.

Zabransky is the most intriguing draftee of the bunch. Considered a draft longshot a few months back...he now has several teams interested in his services and may be taken relatively early (4-6th round). Z's appearance as the cover boy of NCAA 08 has surely helped his notoriety, but showing his athleticism and speed at the combine has no doubt turned some heads as well. Zabransky had one of the top shuttle times at the combine out of EVERY position, ran among the fastest 40s and was very accurate with his throws. I believe that Z will be a steal if he is drafted because of his intelligence (top 10 Wonderlic score), escapability and "S" cape ability (remember the 85 yard scamper against Hawaii in '04)

It will be an interesting draft day and by the end, will probably have the most Broncos taken ever. These guys know how to win and are hard-workers...every one of them could make a GM very happy. Good luck to all outgoing seniors...make us proud in the NFL!