50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's: #36

36.Arch Enemy-Khaos Legions (2011)

Sweedish melodic death metal act Arch Enemy is an act that has a discography full of under-appreciated records. However, none gets glossed over more than their 2011 record Khaos Legions. Khaos Legions is the most melodic and wild musical attack the band has released over their nearly 20-year career. The Amott Brothers paid closer attention to writing riffs on Khaos Legions than just simply soloing their asses off the entire time like their earlier records. The use of acoustic guitars and subtle interludes into most of the tracks have a calm before the strom type of effect, making the explosions of musical chaos that much more satisfying. Khaos Legions will also go down as the swansong for vocalist Angela Gossow, who left the band earlier this year. Gossow's imposing and electric presence is surely going to be missed, but at least she went out on top with one of the strongest vocal performances of her career. Khaos Legions is the type of flashy yet beautifully layered melodic death metal that is incredibly satisfying to listen to. Hopefully the loss of Gossow and founding guitarist Christopher Amott won't have a serious effect on the next chapter of Arch Enemy.

Standout Tracks

1.City of the Dead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZhx9kBo0Q

2.Cult of Chaos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS25j6lNWsA

3.Cruelty Without Beauty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF3td-_vcGU 

Movie Review: Neighbors

Seth Rogen has made a career off of being the "party guy". In Neighbors, Rogen is on the other side as he plays Mac Radner, a young father trying to deal with the nightmare of having a hard-partying fraternity move in next door to him and his family.

Neighbors is pretty par for the course for what you would except from a Rogen film: It's vulgar, over-the-top and god damn hilarious. Neighbors' central conflict of "fraternity vs. family" is the perfect background for Rogen's brand of improv-heavy comedy. Everyone involved with the film knows crazy shit happens in fraternities happen all the time, which allows them to just run wild with the gags. The film takes a little bit to fully find its footing, but once the Radners and Delta PSI start really clashing, the laughs keep coming and it's a total joy to watch.

Neighbors makes a lot of bold casting choices that work well. Aside from Rogen, none of the other lead actors primarily do comedies. Rose Byrne plays Rogen's wife Kelly and is responsible for some of the biggest laughs of the entire movie. Byrne's appeared in a couple of comedies the past few years (Bridesmaids and The Internship) as the straight character, but not since Get Him to the Greek has she been given a chance to really shine in a comedic role. Her unhinged, whacky performance here reenforces that she's a natural at comedy and really needs to be given more comedic roles in the future.

The most bizarre casting choice on-paper is without question Zac Efron- who has made a career of playing the heartthrob in films aimed at adolescent girls- as Delta PSI leader Teddy. Much like Channing Tatum in 21 Jump Street, Efron proves doubters (myself included) wrong by showing some legitimate comedy chops here. Efron manages to easily hold his own with comedy veterans like Rogen, Ike Barinholtz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse- which is no small accomplishment. Efron's work in Neighbors should be enough to finally earn him some respect outside of the teenage girl demographic that has embraced him for his entire career. 

Where Neighbors surprises is with just how much of a soul it actually has. Amidst all the alcohol, drugs and destruction, this film is really about the struggle of growing up. The Radners are having a hard time letting go of their youth after having a child, while Teddy has no idea what his future holds and just wants to stay in college forever. It's a relateable and relevant struggle for a lot of people in their 20's and 30's. While this film may portray the issue in a bit of an exaggerated fashion at times, it doesn't take away from the poignancy of its message of growing older and living up to your responsibilities, no matter how difficult they may be. Neighbors is a great start to what will hopefully be a summer full of spectacular comedies.

4/5 Stars

2014 NFL Draft Recap

3 days of bedlam otherwise known as the NFL Draft finished up on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall. Now that dust has settled, here my picks for the best/worst overall team hauls, biggest steals, reaches, sleepers, potential busts, and, my updated list of top 50 prospects from the 2014 draft class.

Biggest Steal: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Round 1, 24th overall, Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals got an absolute gift when Darqueze Dennard fell into their laps in the latter stages of the first round. Dennard is a physical corner that can do anything that's asked of him on the football field. He should be an immediate starter and sure up one of the very few weaknesses the Bengals have.

Biggest Reach: Ja'wuan James, tackle (Round 1, 19th overall, Miami Dolphins)
There were a lot of picks that came out of left field in the first round of this draft, but none was more puzzling than the Dolphins selecting Ja'wuan James with the 19th overall pick. Tackle was an obvious need for them after their abysmal offensive line play in 2013, but taking an average player who would've easily been there when they picked in the second round simply because of a need at the position doesn't make any sense. 

Best Team Overall in Draft: St. Louis Rams
The Rams cleaned house once again. They used their two top 15 picks to draft elite players (tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald) made their already talented lines on both sides of the ball that much better. Their later round picks were equally savvy as they got steals in cornerback/safety LaMarcus Joyner (round 2), running back Tre Mason (round 3) and defensive end/outside linebacker Michael Sam (round 7). Les Snead and Jeff Fisher have drafted about as good as anyone in football over the last few years and in the tough NFC West, the development of that young talent will eventually lead to a playoff berth.

Worst Team Overall in Draft: Kansas City Chiefs
I don't what the hell was going through the head of general manager Jeff Dorsey during this draft. The Chiefs had limited picks in this draft because of the Alex Smith trade and did not use then wisely. The team lost three starting offensive lineman this offseason (including both guards), but didn't draft any lineman until the sixth round. They also did nothing to address their lack of a number two wideout behind Dwayne Bowe. Instead, the Chiefs spent their only two picks in the first three rounds reaching on a pass-rusher they don't need (Dee Ford) and a raw cornerback that is going to need a whole of developing before getting a shot at starting (Phillip Gaines)  Even a potential steal in quarterback Aaron Murray couldn't salvage just how awful the Chiefs draft was.

Top 5 Sleepers:
1.Gabe Jackson, guard (Round 3, 81st overall, Oakland Raiders)
2.C.J. Fiedorwicz, tight end (Round 3, 65th overall, Houston Texans)
3.Aaron Murray, quarterback (Round 5, 163rd overall, Kansas City Chiefs)
4.Lache Seastrunk, running back (Round 6, 186th overall, Washington Redskins)
5.Kevin Pierre-Louis, outside linebacker (Round 4, 132nd overall, Seattle Seahawks)

Top 5 Most Likely Busts:
1.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Round 1, 22nd overall, Cleveland Browns)
2.Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver (Round 1, 28th overall, Carolina Panthers)
3.Ja'wuan James, tackle (Round 1, 19th overall, Miami Dolphins)
4.Marcus Smith, outside linebacker (Round 1, 26th overall, Philadelphia Eagles)
5.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Round 2, 34th overall, Dallas Cowboys)

Top 50 Prospects:
1.Khalil Mack, defensive end/outside linebacker (Buffalo) Selected 5th overall (Oakland Raiders)
2.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M) Selected 7th overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
3.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina) Selected 1st overall (Houston Texans)
4.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn) Selected 2nd overall (St. Louis Rams)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson) Selected 4th overall (Buffalo Bills)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M) Selected 6th overall (Atlanta Falcons)
7.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh) Selected 13th overall (St.Louis Rams)
8.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina) Selected 10th overall (Detroit Lions)
9.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan) Selected 11th overall (Tennessee Titans)
10.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State) Selected 8th overall (Cleveland Browns)
11.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama) Selected 21st overall (Green Bay Packers)
12.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville) Selected 18th overall (New York Jets)
13.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State) Selected 20th overall (New Orleans Saints)
14.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State) Selected 24th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
15.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida) Selected 3rd overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
16.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech) Selected 14th overall (Chicago Bears)
17.Zack Martin, tackle/guard/center (Notre Dame) Selected 16th overall (Dallas Cowboys)
18.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA) Selected 9th overall (Minnesota Vikings)
19.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State) Selected 36th overall (Oakland Raiders)
20.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU) Selected 12th overall (New York Giants)
21.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State) Selected 31st overall (Denver Broncos)
22.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA) Selected 33rd overall (Houston Texans)
23.Ryan Shaizer, outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 15th overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
24.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama) Selected 17th overall (Baltimore Ravens)
25.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU) Selected 25th overall (San Diego Chargers)
26.Kyle Van Noy, outside linebacker (BYU) Selected 40th overall (Detroit Lions)
27.Jeremy Hill, running back (LSU) Selected 55th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
28.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana) Selected 56th overall (Denver Broncos)
29.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota) Selected 37th overall (Atlanta Falcons)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive/outside linebacker (Missouri) Selected 60th overall (Carolina Panthers)
31.LaMarcus Joyner, safety/cornerback (Florida State) Selected 41st overall (St. Louis Rams)
32.Carlos Hyde, running back (Ohio State) Selected 57th overall (San Francisco 49ers)
33.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC) Selected 39th overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
34.Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (Eastern Illinois) Selected 62nd overall (New England Patriots)
35.Dee Ford, defensive end/outside linebacker (Auburn) Selected 23rd overall (Kansas City Chiefs)
36.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame) Selected 83rd overall (Houston Texans)
37.Weston Richburg, center (Colorado State) Selected 43rd overall (New York Giants)
38.Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois) Selected 30th overall (San Francisco 49ers)
39.Stephon Tuitt, defensive end (Notre Dame) Selected 46th overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
40.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State) Selected 48th overall (Baltimore Ravens)
41.Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end (Washington) Selected 38th overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
42.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville) Selected 32nd overall (Minnesota Vikings)
43.Davante Adams, wide receiver (Fresno State) Selected 53rd overall (Green Bay Packers)
44.Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech) Selected 49th overall (New York Jets)
45.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia) Selected 66th overall (Washington Redskins)
46.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center Selected 35th overall (Cleveland Browns)
47.Allen Robinson, wide receiver (Penn State) Selected 61st overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
48.Dominique Easley, defensive tackle (Florida) Selected 29th overall (New England Patriots)
49.Deone Buccannon, safety (Washington State) Selected 27th overall (Arizona Cardinals)
50.Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama) Selected 44th overall (Buffalo Bills)


Team Grades (Here is a link to each team's individual draft hauls http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker/by-round#dt-tabs:dt-by-team):
Arizona Cardinals: B
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Baltimore Ravens: B
Buffalo Bills: B+
Carolina Panthers: B-
Chicago Bears: A-
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cleveland Browns: B
Dallas Cowboys: C
Denver Broncos: A-
Detroit Lions:A-
Green Bay Packers: B+
Houston Texans: A
Indianapolis Colts: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars: A-
Kansas City Chiefs: D+
Miami Dolphins: C-
Minnesota Vikings: B+
New England Patriots: B+
New Orleans Saints: B
New York Giants: B+
New York Jets: A-
Oakland Raiders: A
Philadelphia Eagles: C
Pittsburgh Steelers: A-
San Diego Chargers: B-
San Fransisco 49ers: A-
Seattle Seahawks: B-
St. Louis Rams: A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
Tennessee Titans: A-
Washington Redskins: B
 

Update

Hello all!,
I apologize for the lack of new content over the past couple weeks. I'm winding down with finals at school and haven't really had the time write anything on here. I'm just about done now so you can expect an influx of posts starting this Monday or Tuesday. I have reviews of Neighbors, a few new records and a continuation of my long dragged-out 50 most underrated albums of the '2000s countdown in the works at the moment. Please check back later in the week for all that stuff, and a big thank you to anyone who anyone who checks out the site!

Chris Maitland 

Footbal Anonymous: 2014 NFL Mock Drafts

Here are the first-round mock drafts from myself and my colleagues over at the Football Anonymous podcast. Enjoy! 


Carson
1.Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Cleveland Browns: Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
5.Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
6.Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
8.Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
9.Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
10.Detroit Lions: HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
11.Tennessee Titans: Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
12.New York Giants: Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.St.Louis Rams: Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
14.Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
16.Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
17.Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
18.New York Jets: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
19.Miami Dolphins: Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
20.Arizona Cardinals: Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
21.Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
22.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
23.Kansas City Chiefs: Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
25.San Diego Chargers: Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
26.Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
27.New Orleans Saints: Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
28.Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
29.New England Patriots: Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech)
30.San Fransisco 49ers: Stanley-Jean Baptiste, cornerback (Nebraska)
31.Denver Broncos: Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
32.Seattle Seahawks: Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)

Chris.
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
6.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
10.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
11.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
12.Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
14.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
16.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
17.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
18.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
19.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
20.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
21.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
22.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
23.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
24.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
25.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
26.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
27.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
28.Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
29.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
30.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
31.Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
32.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)  

D.J.
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
10.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
13.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
14.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
15.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
16.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
17.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
18.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
19.Zack Martin, tackle (Notre Dame)
20.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker (Boise State)
21.Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
22.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
23.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
26.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
27.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
28.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia)
29.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
31.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)
32.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana) 


Johnny:
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, defensive end/outside linebacker (Buffalo)
4.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
5.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Zack Martin, tackle (Notre Dame)
10.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
13.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
14.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
15.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
16.Kony Ealy, defensive end (Missouri)
17.Ryan Shaizer, outside/insidelinebacker (Ohio State)
18.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
19.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia)
20.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
21.Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois)
22.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
23.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
26.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
27.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker (Boise State)
28.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
29.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
30.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
31.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
32.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)

Steve:
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
3.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
4.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
5.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
10.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
14.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
16.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
17.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
18.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
19.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
20.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
21.Ryan Shaizer, outside linebacker (Ohio State)
22.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
23.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
26.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
27.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
28.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
29.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
31.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
32.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)

2014 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Updated 5/8, Draft Day)

1.Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
With the all the hype around Jadeveon Clowney going into this draft, he kind of has to be the first pick in the draft. Clowney is an absolute freak atheetically and someone with his skill set at defensive end doesn't come around often. Whether it be Houston or someone else holding the pick, it would be an absolute shock if Clowney wasn't selected number one overall.

2.St.Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
I had Jake Matthews penciled into this slot for a long time due to his family connections with Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, but I'm now starting to believe that they will take Greg Robinson with this pick. Robinson reminds me of 2013 top five pick Lane Johnson with his freakish athleticism for his size (6'5, 320 pounds) and polish as a blocker in both the running and passing game. Robinson would be a perfect match alongside talented veteran Jake Long at tackle and bolster the Rams offensive line immensely.

3.Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
The Jaguars selection at number three starts off the most intriguing section of the first round in my opinion. Their pick and the two that follow them (Browns at four and Raiders at five) will dictate the tone of the rest of the first round as all three of them have a lot of needs and players they could feasibly draft  in the top five with elite talent. Personally, I think the Jaguars are going defense with this pick because of head coach Gus Bradley's previous tenure as defensive coordinator in Seattle. The best defensive player available at this juncture is Khalil Mack and, I think he'll pay dividends for this team. The Jaguars are desperate for a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball and Mack provides just that. He is an absolutely explosive edge-rusher, plays the run well and can even drop back a bit in coverage when called upon. I actually have Mack rated above Jadeveon Clowney because he is a more well-rounded player with a higher motor and stronger work ethic. Mack is the type of defensive phenom that Bradley has been looking for since he took over as head coach and should be able to instantly turn around this paltry Jaguars defense.

4.Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
There are a lot more sensible picks to pick at number 4 than Johnny Manziel, but I have a sneaking suspicion the Browns are going to select him anyways. Manziel is a flashy pick that will garner a lot of excitement and attention for a franchise that hasn't had a lot of either in recent years.

5.Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
The Raiders are desperate for an impact player at a skill position with the jobs of head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie on the line. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins would be just what the doctor ordered. Watkins is a great intermediate route-runner with sneaky speed and rare playmaking ability. If anyone is going to bail out the Raiders offense in 2014, it's going to be Watkins.

6.Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
If you watched the Falcons play at all last season, you know that Matt Ryan had essentially no time to check his reads before threw the ball. Luckily for the Falcons, there is lot of top-level talent at tackle available in this draft that could help fix that problem. Taylor Lewan has been rapidly rising up draft boards since his character issues checked out and rightfully so, he's a powerful, technically-sound tackle that has the potential to be one of the best blind-side protectors in the league. Lewan would be a huge upgrade for the Falcons o-line and could ended up being a crucial piece for the Falcons as they look to get back into the playoff hunt after a disastrous 4-12 campaign in 2013.

7.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
I thought the Buccaneers needed Mike Evans before they traded Mike Williams. Now that Williams is a Buffalo Bill, they really need Evans. Evans is the type of imposing physical presence that gives secondaries fits. Put him alongside another big bruiser in Vincent Jackson and the results could be deadly. Evans could be the piece that sends the already much-improved Buccaneers over-the-top and into a serious contender.

8.Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)

New Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guru and surely the plethora of intriguing defensive prospects in this draft class is grabbing his attention. That being said, the Vikings top need is a quarterback and I think Zimmer will go against his inkling for defense to select the best available signal-caller. Blake Bortles is the most polished quarterback in this draft class with his combination of arm strength, intelligence and surprising amount of mobility; making him the perfect fit for a Vikings squad that desperately needs someone besides Matt Cassel or Christian Ponder under center in 2014.

9.Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)

Jake Matthews has kind of got lost in the shuffle amongst the top tackle prospects since Taylor Lewan's recent stock surge. The relative lack of attention of late for Matthews should cause him to slip a little bit; which is great news for the Bills picking at number nine. Matthews started all four years at Texas A&M and was never anything less than rock-solid in all areas of the game. Matthews is easily a top-5 talent, so the Bills would be getting a serious steal here.

10.Detroit Lions: Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)

Secondary is clearly the top need for the Lions, but their front office has a lot of faith in the development of 2013 second round pick Darius Slay to emerge as a top corner, so I think they'll go in a different direction at number 10. They desperately need another pass-rusher alongside Ziggy Ansah and, I think Anthony Barr could help them out a lot. Barr is a bit raw since he's only played linebacker for a couple of years now, but his upside is sky-high, and The Lions aren't afraid to take a chance on a guy who could become a premier edge-rusher in the NFL (see Ansah in 2013, who proved to be worth the gamble with a very solid rookie campaign).

11.Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)

The Titans lost an absolute stud at corner this offseason in Alterraun Verner. Justin Gilbert has the cover skills and knack for creating turnovers that should reduce some of the sting of Verner's departure for the Titans.

12.New York Giants: Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)

Top offensive lineman are at a premium in this draft with so many teams having gaping holes in their offensive line. Few teams are more desperate for o-line help than the Giants, who were abysmal across the board in 2013 and lost veteran tackle David Diehl to retirement this offseason. Zack Martin is a very intriguing prospect with his versatility to lineup anywhere on the line and fantastic durability. Martin would be a great piece to have alongside free-agent additions Geoff Schwartz and J.D. Walton in the Giants overhauled offensive line.

13.St. Louis Rams: HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)

If the Rams want to contend in the stacked NFC West, they need more playmakers on defense. HaHa Clinton-Dix not only fills a need at safety for the Rams, but brings a dynamic presence to back-end of the defense with his range, coverage skills and ability to dole out bone-crushing hits.

14.Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
The Bears have a lot of needs on defense going into this draft, but none is of higher precedence than defensive tackle. The 2013 Bears rushing defense was amongst the worst I've ever seen and a lot of that has to do with the lack of quality interior defensive lineman disrupting the line of scrimmage. Because of this need, I think Aaron Donald is a no-brainer pick for the Bears at number 14. Donald may be a bit undersized (6'1, 285 lbs) for a defensive tackle, but he makes for up it with elite speed (he ran the fastest 40 for a defensive tackle in the history of the Combine with a time of 4.68) and power. Donald's knack for exploding off-the-line and stopping the run is exactly what the Bears defense needs to get back on the right track in 2014.  

15.Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
In order for the Steelers talented but seasoned defense to avoid a full-on collapse a la the 2013 Bears, they need to start getting younger on defense now. With longtime reliable starter Ike Taylor showing signs of wear in 2013, cornerback Darqueze Dennard would be the perfect place to start. Dennard fits the traditional Steelers mold of toughness with his physical play and exceptional tackling ability for a corner. Dennard's ability to create turnovers would also be a welcome addition to a Steelers team that has had trouble taking the ball away the past few years.
 

16.Dallas Cowboys: Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
The Cowboys defense is so broken right now that it would be silly for them to use this pick on anything else. Their defensive line especially took a hit this offseason with the loss of Jason Hatcher and DeMarcus Ware. With needs at both defensive tackle and end, I expect them to take the best available defensive lineman with this pick- and that man is Kony Ealy. Ealy is not the most polished edge-rusher right now because of his relative lack of power , but he's got solid quickness and instincts to make up for it. Even the potential for Ealy to become a star is more than enough to justify the Cowboys selecting him with this pick.

17.Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
The Ravens did just draft Matt Elam in the first round last year, but with the departure of James Ihedbigo in free agency, the Ravens have a hole to fill at safety. Calvin Pryor would give the Ravens an enforcer safety with solid coverage skills that the team hasn't had since Ed Reed was in his prime. I'm sure Ozzie Newsome will consider other avenues at this pick (offensive line, wide receiver, tight end), but he won't be able to pass on an elite safety prospect that has the tools to be one of the game's best.

18.New York Jets: Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
Rex Ryan could very well go defense yet again here with the Jets having a huge need for a corner after letting go of Antoinio Cromartie this past offseason. While Ryan loves to pick defense early, the depressing performance of his receivers last year should force him to get a top-flight prospect to add to second-year quarterback Geno Smith's arsenal. Eric Ebron is perhaps the most promising tight end prospect since Vernon Davis with his excellent hands and dynamic playmaking ability. Ebron's stock has fallen a bit over concerns about his personality, but that shouldn't really alarm a team like the Jets. Getting Ebron this late in the first round would be a massive success for the Jets, who need an impact vertical threat more than any other team in the 2014 draft.
 

19.Miami Dolphins: C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
With all the top-rated offensive lineman gone by the time they pick (in this mock at least), the Dolphins have to go in a different direction. C.J. Mosley is easily a top 10 level talent, but concerns over his injury history will knock him right into the Dolphins lap at 19.

20.Arizona Cardinals: Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
With all the top pass-rushers off-the-board, the Cardinals decide to go with their quarterback of the future. Derek Carr has shot up draft boards since the Combine thanks to his incredible accuracy, great arm, quick release and decent mobility. Give him a year or two to hone his craft behind Carson Palmer and I think Carr will blossom into something really special.
  

21.Green Bay Packers: Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
The Packers need a lot of help in the middle of their defensive line. B.J. Raji's play has been awful of late and they don't have anyone currently on the roster to take his place if he continues to decline. Ra'Shede Hageman is a big body with a whole lot of power and the versatility to be bounced to the outside of the line in certain packages. Even with his off-the-field problems, Hageman is worth the gamble as the Packers nose tackle of the future.

22.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
Unless you've been purposely avoiding NFL media over the past couple months, you know that the Eagles released their number one wideout DeSean Jackson in late March. On the current roster, there's really no receiver that can live up to Jackson's role of speedster wideout. Enter Brandin Cooks. While Cooks isn't the exact same player as Jackson, he has the combination of speed and excellent hands that make him an ideal player to thrive in Chip Kelly's offense.
 

23.Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
I seem to be the only person that doesn't Odell Beckham Jr. will be a top 15 pick. I honestly think Beckham Jr. will be available for the Chiefs at number 23. Beckham thrives in running intermediate routes and has excellent vision after the catch, making him the perfect fit for the Chiefs' conservative offense.
  

24.Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
The Bengals don't have a whole lot of problems on either side of the ball, but they could use another cornerback alongside Leon Hall to sure up the secondary. Kyle Fuller is a durable, well-rounded corner that would do just that.

25.San Diego Chargers: Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
The only really weakness to the 2013 Chargers was their god awful secondary play, especially at the cornerback position. For a team that lacked physicality and talent at corner last year, Bradley Roby would be a godsend. Roby is a quick, tough corner with all the physical tools to be a number one corner in the NFL.

26.Cleveland Browns: Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
The Browns are hungry for more offensive weapons to put alongside Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron to help get them out of the basement. Marqise Lee-who was once considered a top 10 talent- has the quickness and route-running skills to be something special. Lee is certainly not a sure thing with his shaky hands and average size/strength, but the Browns front office isn't afraid to take risks, so Lee makes a whole lot of sense at this point in the draft.
 

27.New Orleans Saints: Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
The Saints are kind of strapped for a number two corner after cutting ties with Jabari Greer to get under the salary cap prior to the start of free agency. Jason Verrett would be a nice compliment to Keenan Lewis with strong physicality for his relatively small size (5'9', 172 lbs) and outstanding ball skills. Verrett would also be the sole corner picked in the first round that has the benefit of having a future hall-of-famer (Champ Bailey) as a mentor.

28.Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
It's pretty much a toss-up as to whether or not the Panthers will select a wide receiver or offensive lineman with this pick. With the sheer depth at wide receiver in this draft class, offensive lineman seems to be the more sensible pick here. Cyrus Kouandjio has major health concerns coming off a major knee injury and a failed physical at the Combine. Kouandjio also wasn't exactly the epitome of consistency at Alabama, but with his huge upside and utter dominance at times, The Panthers will be willing to roll the dice on him as the successor to Jordan Gross.
 

29.New England Patriots: Louis Nix III, nose tackle (Notre Dame)
Chances are slim that the Patriots actually keep this pick, but if they do Louis Nix III is the selection they should make. Vince Wilfork is getting up there in age (will be 33 in November) and they need to draft his understudy now. Nix is the perfect fit for this system and if he can work at staying in shape all the time, Nix should end being a similar force as Big Vince in New England.
  

30.San Francisco 49ers: Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
The 49ers have 10 picks in this draft, so it would be far from a shocker if they traded up to get a more coveted player in the top 15 or so. If they stay put at 30, fast-rising Indiana wideout Cody Latimer should be their selection. Jim Harbaugh had Latimer run plays from their playbook after his pro day and Latimer's combination of size, agility and speed make him an ideal number three wideout for the 49ers.

31.Denver Broncos: Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
After the Broncos major free agency haul, there really isn't many holes they need to address in the draft. Ryan Shaizer is an extreme athletic linebacking prospect that the Broncos could consider playing at inside linebacker to replace Wesley Woodyard, who left the team in free agency this offseason. If inside linebacker doesn't work out, Shaizer's top-flight speed and ability to cover the field would still be a nice asset for the Broncos to have as an outside linebacker option.

32.Seattle Seahawks: Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)
The Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks only real need in this draft is offensive line. Joel Bitonio is not the most talented player left on the board, but his ability to play all five positions on the offensive line makes him an excellent fit for the defending champs who value versatility over everything else.

Round 2
33.Houston Texans: Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (Eastern Illinois)
34.Washington Redskins: Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia) 
35.Cleveland Browns: Carlos Hyde, running back (Ohio State)
36.Oakland Raiders: Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
37.Atlanta Falcons: Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia Tech)
38.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
39.Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
40.Minnesota Vikings: DeMarcus Lawerence, defensive end/outside linebacker (Boise State)
41.Buffalo Bills: Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech)
42.Tennessee Titans: Jeremy Hill, running back (LSU)
43.New York Giants: Stephon Tuitt, defensive end (Notre Dame)
44.St.Louis Rams: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, cornerback (Nebraska)
45.Detroit Lions: Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver (Florida State)
46.Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen Robinson, wide receiver (Penn State)
47.Dallas Cowboys: Dominique Easley, defensive tackle (Florida)
48.Baltimore Ravens: Scott Crichton, defensive end (Oregon State)
49.New York Jets: Marcus Roberson, cornerback (Florida)
50.Miami Dolphins: Ja'Wuan James, tackle (Tennessee)
51.Chicago Bears: Pierre Desir, cornerback (Lindenwood)
52.Arizona Cardinals: Kyle Van Noy, outside linebacker (BYU)
53.Green Bay Packers: Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois)
54.Philadelphia Eagles: Deone Buccannon, safety (Washington State)
55.Cincinnati Bengals: Dee Ford, defensive end/outside linebacker (Auburn)
56.San Francisco 49ers: LaMarcus Joyner, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
57.San Diego Chargers: Trent Murphy, outside linebacker/defensive end (Stanford)
58.New Orleans Saints: Marcus Martin, center (USC)
59.Indianapolis Colts: Weston Richburg, center (Colorado State)
60.Carolina Panthers: Jordan Matthews, wide receiver (Vanderbilt)
61.San Francisco 49ers: Ego Ferguson, defensive tackle (LSU)
62.New England Patriots: A.J. McCarron, quarterback (Alabama)
63.Denver Broncos: Bashaud Breeland, cornerback (Clemson)
64.Seattle Seahawks: Davante Adams, wide receiver (Fresno State)     

10 Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2014

The summer movie season officially kicked off with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 this past Friday. Here are the 10 films on the docket for this summer that I'm most excited to see.

10.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (7/11): Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a pleasant surprise back in 2011 and the follow-up look just as promising. The premise of a film mostly driven by the apes led by Ceaser (motion-captured and voiced by the remarkable Andy Serkis),and their continued evolution as a species that has led them to become the most powerful beings in the world sounds very intriguing.

9.Jupiter Ascending (7/18): I'd be lying if I said I fully understood the premise of Jupiter Ascending from the trailers, but it looks cool as hell so I guess it's a moot point. The Wachowskis look to be back in sc-fi visionary mode, which is refreshing after their recent string of flops. Even if the film ends up disappointing, it should at least be fun to see how much of the film Sean Bean can make it through before meeting his inevitable demise. 

8.Neighbors (5/9): To be honest, I'll see anything with Seth Rogen in it, but Neighbors looks like it could be one of his upper-echelon films. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from South by Southwest in March paired with the genius premise of a fraternity moving next door to a young family gives Neighbors a whole lot of potential to be a piece of comic gold. 

7.Guardians of the Galaxy (8/1): Resident Hollywood weirdo James Gunn (Super, Slither) gets the reigns to the weirdest group of superheroes (Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel voice a gun-toting raccoon and giant tree respectively) in the Marvel universe with Guardians of the Galaxy. If the teaser trailer is any indicator, the good times are going to roll.
   
6.Godzilla (5/16): Godzilla is arguably the most hyped movie of the entire summer. The trailers have pulled off quite a feat by capturing a strong aura of dread without showing much of the titular monster. If this doesn't blow the doors off of Roland Emmerich's 1998 reboot, I'll be beside myself.

5.A Million Ways to Die in the West (5/30): Seth MacFarlane's second entry into the world of cinema look to be even stronger than the first (2012's Ted) as he brings his vulgar, twisted humor to the Old West. The sheer strength of the redband trailer and a cast including Charlize Theron, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribsi, Liam Nesson and MacFarlane himself all but assures comedic brilliance from A Million Ways to Die in the West.

4.22 Jump Street (6/13): The sequel to the wildly hysterical 21 Jump Street retains much of the same cast and looks to maintain the same playful tone that made its predecessor so successful. If 22 Jump Street can manage to get anywhere close to as many laughs as the first installment, It's got a good shot of being the funniest film of 2014.

3.The Expendables 3 (8/15): Sylvester Stallone has called the latest entry in his all-star action franchise "bigger and better than ever". With the likes of Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford joining an already stacked cast, and the monumental improvement this series showed from the first to second installment, I can fully believe Stallone's sentiments.
  
2.X-Men: Days of Future Past (5/23): X-Men: Days of Future Past is essentially the X-Men answer to The Avengers. Days of Future Past combines the cast of the original trilogy with the cast of the 2011 prequel First Class for a time-jumping mutant extravaganza. The film also sees such fan favorite mutants Bishop, Warpath and Quicksilver making their long-awaited debut in the X-Men film universe. In my eyes, X-Men: Days of Future Past has all the makings to be the blockbuster event of the summer.

1.Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (8/22): Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is a film that I've been waiting to come out for almost a decade. The sequel to Sin City was announced shortly after the original was released in 2005 and after enduring countless delays, I sincerely didn't even believe it was a real project. Now that a trailer is out and the August release date appears to be firmed up, the dream of a Sin City sequel coming out seems to be coming true. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For features a majority of the (living) original cast returning as well as top Hollywood talents including Josh Brolin, Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Eva Green entering the fold. I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a movie to come out and I really hope Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller don't drop the ball after all this time.

Also Interested In:
Chef (5/9)
Million Dollar Arm (5/16)
Edge of Tomorrow (6/6) 
The Rover (6/13)
The Signal (6/13)
Snowpiercer (6/27)
They Came Together (6/27)
Transformers: Age of Extinction (6/27)
Tammy (7/2)
The Purge: Anarchy (7/18)
Happy Christmas (7/25)
Hercules (7/25)
Magic in the Moonlight (7/25)
Sex Tape (7/25)
Get on Up (8/1)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (8/8)
Lucy (8/8)
The Giver (8/15)