you say you stand by your man -- mock draft 2.0.

I was pleased, generally speaking, with my first go-round at mocking this.  I'm still a little torn on whether I want to draft for what I think will happen or what teams need, but I tend towards the latter.  While my approach to the draft isn't unique (I've seen my top five from 1.0 repeated all over the interwebs) I do like to think that my analysis of each player brings something new to the table.

That said, here are some thoughts on my player rankings and the draft in general, accounting for better scouting reports/film availability/general reasoning:

• Bruce Campbell:  The most egregiously bad ranking from the last draft, Campbell was severely overrated because I didn't do my due diligence researching him; he's a ridiculous physical specimen, but the film doesn't justify a high selection (or even one before round four).
• Rolando McClain:  While I'm still very high on McClain, he may be a little stiffer in coverage than I realized, to say nothing of the defensive line talent keeping him clean on the field and the advantages of his coaching.  I still think he's a very safe pick and a three-down player for a 3-4 team, but there's more potential to bust than I acknowledged.
• Jimmy Clausen:  Doug Farrar brought up a very good point when he noted that Clausen's had the best possible coaching at every level, and as a result has very limited upside.  Factor in a surprisingly weak arm and possible leadership issues, and he's even less desirable than when I made my last draft.
• Ndamukong Suh:  If anything I've underrated Suh; I didn't realize just how much upper-body strength he had until I saw this, and the revelation that he was told to read-and-react, rather than go full speed, at Nebraska was really astounding.
• Don't be surprised in the slightest if the Saints or the Jets trade up for a marquee player; Jacksonville and Kansas City are both dying to get out of their draft slots.
• On the whole, this is a particularly good draft for defensive tackles (maybe the best ever), safeties (in contention with 1981 for the best ever), and wide receivers (remarkably deep), while being a poor one for defensive ends (seemingly everyone has question marks), corners (solid, but not much home-run talent), and quarterbacks (underwhelming).

what'll i do when i don't have you, when i finally get what i deserve?

--Sorry for the layoff. Blame it on my research paper (and the rain).

--A few very brief sports notes:

• Les Miles lost me in a complete and abject way on Saturday. The worst display of in-game coaching I have ever, ever witnessed. Gary Crowton, who I was reluctant to turn on earlier in the season, is clearly hurting this team. I could write more about this, and probably will should we lose to Arkansas (something that can't be terribly unlikely after a loss like that).
• In other news, Charlie Weis is toast, and UConn gets a tip of the cap from sentimental old me for it.
  
• Is there any way that the NFC Championship won't be Saints-Vikings or that the AFC Championship won't be Colts-Pats? Belichick was right to go for it on 4th and 2, by the way, but why not run there?
  
• A mock draft will be coming soon.
  
• The Celtics look worn out, plain and simple. I don't know if it makes me sadder to see K.G. losing a step or Glenn Dorsey struggling in Kansas City.
• The Hornets, meanwhile, knocked off the team with the best record with the West, the team with the best record in the East, and nearly the Heat on the road last night, despite having the league MVP sitting on the bench in (admittedly fresh) street clothes.
• Also, boo Lakers. Boo forever.
  

--I caught up on The Office and Community recently. "Murder" is in contention with "Product Recall" for the funniest Office episode I've ever seen. Meanwhile Community is getting better ("Intro to Statistics" was excellent) and that Alison Brie is quite the minx.

--As you may know, there were at least five good movies this year, and they're starting to trickle into the dollar theater. You can expect reviews for movies like The Informant, Inglourious Basterds, and Tyler Perry: I Can Do Bad All by Myself here very soon.

--Which German song is your favorite?

--Bon Iver, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and the Rural Alberta Advantage have been in heavy rotation for me lately, and they're throwing some kinks into my presumed Top 10.

--It's real to me, damn it!