Newton to go #1, Really?

Listen, I get it.  He is a big, athletic, charming and even good looking.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I am talking about Cam Newton.  There is a potential for tremendous upside, but aren't there enough character questions about this guy to not make him the number one overall pick.  Now, I am not stating that he is terrible and should not be drafted, but there are enough question marks that should drop him down in the draft to a lower first round pick.
I find it funny that every major analyst has him behind Blaine Gabbert for quarterbacks and somewhere in the teens as overall talent, yet he will most likely be the number one pick come draft night.  Good luck Carolina, as you are taking a chance considering you already wasted a second round pick(Jimmy Clausen) last year on a quarterback, who will probably be sent packing if Newton is picked.  Why not go and pick up an almost sure defensive guy, which there are a few out there, and get a veteran quarterback and have Clausen back up for the time being.  Another major problem was watching Julius Peppers go bye-bye last year and the Panthers need something to fill that void as well.  In my eyes, this is Marty Hurney, the Carolina GM making the decision and not the sensible coach Ron Rivera.  The NFL has become all about business and this is about putting fans in the seats, which to me seems the only reason to draft Newton first overall.  He could be great, but there are too many question marks to make him number one.

Draft Prediction I Hope I am Wrong About

2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram Jr. with Greg McElroy(#12)

Sometimes the analytical and emotional parts of me like to do battle and this blog is one of those times.  Mark Ingram Jr., the 2009 Heisman trophy winning running back from the Alabama Crimson Tide is considered by many to be the number one running back in this year's draft, I am not one of those many.  Ingram, was a great college running back that as good as he was played for a team and a system that highlights the running back despite having one of the best wide receivers in this year's draft, Julio Jones.  Terrence Richardson, the other Alabama running back was able to carve up defenses just as much as Ingram did.  They are both solid running backs, but were able to excel on a much better team, it is not like he was doing this at Vanderbilt.  Ingram reminds me a lot of Mike Hart, who was great at the University of Michigan and a running back I loved watching on Saturday afternoons.  Hart, who does not have great NFL speed has been playing for the Colts the past couple of years not causing much of a stir.
Now the emotional side of me is pulling for Ingram, as  he seems to be a class act and very humble for that matter.  His dad has been in jail for the past couple of years and Ingram never shies away from that fact.  He was very emotional when he won the Heisman trophy and it struck me as a guy who I didn't feel deserved it from a football standpoint, he deserved it as a human being.  So depending on how fast he runs his forty this weekend, Ingram could be looking at a first round draft status.  A part of me thinks that is ludicrous, but a big part of me hopes for the best for this kid, who unlike many of these college divas is a class act and deserves good things to happen.

If Prince Amukamara Runs Good, he will be Great

Prince Amukamara, a cornerback for the University of Nebraska is my favorite cornerback in this year's draft.  The only thing that needs to be seen is if he can run with NFL wide receivers.  You might be able to get by at the college level with 4.5 speed, but that won't work at this level no matter how good your hips are.  The draft experts like Patrick Peterson, who I think is solid, but I think he is too tall to be a great cornerback.  Much like Antonio Cromartie, tall cornerbacks have the speed and height to cover taller receivers with more straight line speed such as Randy Moss or Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but have trouble covering shifty guys such as Desean Jackson of the Eagles.  One of the main reasons for this is the rapid shift in what the NFL was looking for in wide receivers.  Just a few years ago, it seemed that unless you were 6'5" and ran at least a 4.4, you weren't getting a look in the draft.  Now, with the success of guys like Wes Welker and Steve Smith of the Panthers, teams have been shifting back to these types, which has been a problem for taller cornerbacks.  Prince Amukamara, who is close to 6 feet, does not play as tall as Patrick Peterson and has better hips.  Peterson seems to rely mostly on his speed, which with out proper coaching could hurt at the next level.  Mark my words, if Prince can run a good forty, he could become an instant starter much like Devin McCourty of the Patriots did this past season.  Any coach would be happy to have that kind of result.