It's not easy getting a starting quarterback gig in college football, especially at the highest level. There are tens of thousands of high school quarterbacks fighting for just 120 FBS starting spots, and then after that, just 124 FCS starting jobs at quarterback. And for Nate Montana, he's now out of options at quarterback at both spots. So where to next? Division II, and the productive West Virginia Wesleyan program.
If you didn't already know, Nate Montana has some "name recognition": his father is the Hall of Famer Joe Montana. Yet after getting a chance at Notre Dame to follow his father as a walk-on. After a one year stint at a community college to get added playing time, he returned to Notre Dame in 2010 as the 3rd string quarterback, appearing in three games.
What has statistically been one the worst NFC divisions over the last half decade, the NFC West has quickly rebounded from its’ mediocrity with the influx of new coaching staffs for the Seahawks and the 49ers –Pete Carroll (Seattle) won a division title and playoff game versus the then-reigning Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints; and Jim Harbaugh (San Francisco) won a division title and made it to the NFC Championship game against the Saints. The other two remaining teams have struggled to reclaim the storied success of their respective franchises’ past -the Cardinals being unable to make the playoffs ever since the retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner, following a Super Bowl loss to the Steelers; and the Rams bringing up the rear without the talent level to compete for a playoff spot in recent years.
While the Cards and Rams filled numerous needs in each of their respective drafts, the 49ers and Seahawks are clearly the top two teams in this division. With that being said, here’s how the NFC West teams stacked up against one another in the 2012 NFL Draft. no comments
The AFC West may not currently be one of the league's best, but it is one of the most competitive. It will be one of the most fun to watch in 2012: The Broncos are now led by Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer has had an entire offseason to work with the rest of the Raiders, Kansas City gets Jamaal Charles back, and the Chargers always seem to be a game or two away from greatness every season. With this divisional chase set up to be so tight, the addition of difference makers via the draft could prove to be the deciding factor. Was any team in the AFC West able to get a leg up on their competion during the draft? no comments
In Matt Ryan’s rookie year of 2008, the Falcons flew to new heights and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2004. Ryan won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for his efforts in 2008, and despite missing the playoffs in 2009, earned first-round byes in the 2010 and 2011 playoffs for back-to-back double digit win seasons. Since then, however critics have done nothing but point at Ryan’s lack of a single playoff victory and failure to take the team to the next level –the Super Bowl. Similarly to Ryan, Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman experienced early success that was only followed by failure. Fully assuming the starting job as a sophomore, Freeman led one of the NFL’s most impressive single-season turnarounds by flipping the Bucs record in 2009 of 3-13 to the tune of 10-6; even so, Freeman couldn’t overcome the adversity and trials of an atrocious 2011 season, giving way to a 4-12 record. no comments
The reigning Super Bowl champion, New York Giants will be facing some stiffer competition this coming season, as each of their three divisional opponents traded up in the 2012 NFL Draft to add elite, immediate impact starters –the Redskins most notably trading up to the 2nd pick of the draft to select Robert Griffin III, the Cowboys moving up to pick 6 to select Morris Claiborne, and the Eagles jumping up to the 14th slot to select Fletcher Cox.
Which team appears to have had the best draft in the NFC East? Let's find out.
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POST-DRAFT
| 2013 NFL Mock Draft | |
| 2013 Top 5 Seniors at Each Position | |
| Top Available Undrafted Free Agents | |
| NFC Draft Grades | AFC Draft Grades |
| NFC East | AFC East |
| NFC North | AFC North |
| NFC South | AFC South |
| NFC West | AFC West |
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PRE-DRAFT
| FINAL 2012 NFL Mock Draft |
| Top 300 Overall (no QBs) - Final Position Rankings |
| Huddle Report Top 100 "Expected" |
| Alex Brown's Final Mock Draft |
| Final Pre-Draft Notes/Thoughts |
DAY TWO
| Quick Recap of Day One |
| Best Players Available After Day One |
| 2nd-3rd Mock Draft |
DAY THREE
| Best Players Available After Day Two |
| Top Available Undrafted Free Agents |
Early in its history, the AFC South was one of the best divisions in the league. That hasn’t held true recently, as Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Jacksonville all took collective steps backwards. But now, that could be about to change. It’s now a division with three young quarterbacks: Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert, Tennessee’s Jake Locker, and of course Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck.
It’s a division full of young talent and should be interesting to watch over the next several seasons. Indianapolis is just starting it’s rebuilding process, but Tennessee appears to be nearing the end of theirs. Jacksonville’s rebuilding effort is in full swing as well. Did each team perform well enough in the draft to make those efforts a success? Did Houston reload well enough that they’ll stay on top of the division for another season?
