NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 3: Darqueze Dennard

Darqueze Dennard: 5'11" 197 Cornerback, Michigan State

Darqueze Dennard is another name that might not be very high on people's draft boards but could very well be a steal in the upcoming draft. Dennard has average size for a corner but is a very physical one. In college, his coaches had confidence in his ability so much that they essentially put him on his own island and matched him up with the opposing teams best receiver and more times than none Dennard came away with the one on one victory. The tape will show that. The tape will also show that he isn't afraid to set the edge on the corner, come up and make the tackle. He can jam the receiver at the line which disrupts the rout and he has good footwork, and has fluid hips which allows him to flip and run with the receiver while also staying low. He has the ability to play both man coverage or zone coverage, however he isn't significantly better at one or the other. When at the next level, he'll be able to jam the receiver but could lose the battle after that since be doesn't have the elite speed to stay with the best of the best. He has great recognition of what routes receivers are running in terms of situational football. He also does a great job of locating the football and making a play on the ball. Dennard is also very physical and isn't afraid to use his hand which in college he could get away with, at the next level he won't be as lucky when dealing with bigger and more physical receivers. He will also need to work on his hands while fighting down field. Overall, the All Big Ten, All America, and Thorpe Award winner can be a top-tier corner if he can polish up some of his techniques. Look for Dennard to be off the board mid to late first round.

Prediction: 22nd overall to the Eagles 

NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 2: Blake Bortles

Blake Bortles: 6'3" 227 Quarterback, Central Florida 
Bortles might not be a household name to the average fan but in due time he will become one. The junior quarterback, who led Central Florida to a 12-1 record and a birth in the Fiesta Bowl beating Baylor 52-42, finished this season with 3,580 yards and 25 touchdowns. The BCS game was the first in the schools history. Potentially the first quarterback taken off the board in April, the 6'3" Bortles has the build of an NFL ready quarterback and has above average arm strength to make all the throws and can fit it in a tight window if he has to. He doesn't have an elite arm however, but he can deliver the ball down the field with some accuracy. He also has the ability to escape the the pocket and keep the play alive while also keeping his eyes down field. He can pick up the necessary yards to get a first down and doesn't always go down easy because he is such a big quarterback. He led the Golden Nights into Happy Valley in the third week of the season and came out with a 34-31 victory over Penn State. Then two weeks later he led his team into Louisville and beat another potential top ten pick in Teddy Bridgewater and his then undefeated Louisville Cardinals. At the next level he's going to have to better his accuracy to make all the throws. He also has the tendency to stare down the receiver and allow the defensive backs to make a play on the ball. The comparisons have been made to former number one overall pick Andrew Luck with his size and ability to escape from the pocket. The Houston Texans hold the top pick in the draft and with Bill O'Brien taking over and having seen Bortles in person, he might look at the Central Florida product and see a franchise type quarterback. Bortles has the NFL Combine and his pro day to show scouts he is worthy of a top ten pick. 

Prediction: 4th overall to the Cleveland Browns 

NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 1: Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney: 6'6" 275 Defensive End, South Carolina
Since coming to South Carolina, the name Jadeveon Clowney has been synonymous with the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Clowney has an unbelievable combination of size, speed, strength, and pure athleticism. It seems that he can use any of those tools to get by his man and cause havoc in the backfield. He demands double and sometimes triple teams because when he is matched one on one with a tackle or tight end, more times than none it won't go well for the offense. If you watch tape of him or watch a game you'll notice that one of his most impressive attributes is his first step. He gets off the line and is in the backfield before the tackle can get out of his stance. He is primarily a 4-3 defensive end and that's where I see him playing at the next level but he can transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker as a primary pass rusher. He does have flaws in his game however, he tends to play high and at 6'6" that will cause him to get knocked off balance which will take him out of the play. He also has been known to take plays off and labeled at "lazy" which some think outweighs all the dominance he has. At the next level he will get one on one match ups a majority of the time which will allow him to use his arsenal of natural abilities to rush the passer or make plays in the backfield. Of course it's hard to say how his game will translate at the next level but if he is put in the right system he could flourish and be one of the all time greats. Clowney finished his career as a Gamecock with 47 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. Comparisons have been made to Buffalo Bills defensive end and former number one overall pick, Mario Williams, Clowney is a much better athlete than Williams but it remains to be seen how good he can be. He's a special type of athlete that you don't always see and whoever drafts him is getting a very rare talent. Look for Clowney to be off the board before in the first five picks. 

Prediction: 1st overall to Texans 

Jordan Hill: Part 3, The Finale

          You don't have to go undefeated, have a Heisman Trophy winner, or win a National Championship for your team to be remembered. You just have to stick together, and that's exactly what the 2012 Penn State football team did. Which is why they will go down as one of the best, if not the best, Penn State teams ever. They had the leaders that other teams wish the had, leaders such as; Michael Mauti, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Michael Zordich and Stephon Morris just to name a few. They had a whole community behind them when no one else was. They had 100,000 strong cheering when they ran onto the field at Beaver Stadium. They never listened to the media, who said they would win a maximum of 3-4 games. They had 8. They blocked out the negativity surrounding their situation. They went out every Saturday and gave 100% every snap. They went out every Saturday and did whatever they could to put on a show for the fans. I can't remember coming into a season anticipating that first kick off, the energy was felt on every snap. For 60 minutes on fall Saturday's, you could escape what was happening outside, come into Beaver Stadium and watch those who stayed give everything they could to show why we are still Penn State. This team was lead by a group of seniors who had a choice, either let the obstacles put in front of them keep them down or rise up and show those who doubted them what Penn State was really about. I had the opportunity to get to know one of those senior leaders, Jordan Hill. I not only got to know him and the person he was, but in the process got a learning experience on how to overcome anything. 
          A native of Steelton, Pennsylvania, Hill is a very humble individual which stems from the way he was raised. You won't see him asking for the spotlight, but what will you see is an individual who is quiet, humble, and just loves to play football. You'll also see someone who gives 100% on every snap, and has a non stop motor, which because of that and his play this season he earned All Big Ten and All American honors. He also accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this coming January. Off the field he is like any other college student, he hangs with friends, he plays video games, watches TV, and just has a good time. He has a great group of people surrounding him who will no doubt support him through everything he does. 
          On the field he was a terror to opposing offensive lines, quarterbacks, and running backs. Just ask Wisconsin. On senior day, Hill saved his best for last and had the game of his life. ESPN announcers who called the game said they had never seen a defensive lineman dominate a game the way Hill did. In that game he ended with a career high 12 tackles (8 solo), 2 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. It seemed that #47 was in the backfield on every play. On the season the All American accumulated 64 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and fumble recovery. I sat down with him and asked him some questions about the season, his future, and Penn State:

Looking back on the season, how did you do compared to how you wanted to do?
"I compared pretty good to the numbers I wanted. Missed the sacks by 1 and tackles for loss by 1 but overall I was happy."
What was the hardest part of the past year?
"Those first two loses, didn't want to come out like that." 
What are you most looking forward to in the next few months leading up to the NFL Draft?
"The draft workouts and meeting all the people."
What was the best part or your favorite part of the season?
"The best part was the Wisconsin game because of how we went out. My favorite part was the locker room after Northwestern, that was crazy."
If you were a coach out recruiting, how would you sell Penn State?
"You're getting a great coach, a great education, a great place to play football, and a chance to go to the NFL. Easy as that." 

I speak for all Penn Staters when I say this Jordan, thank you. 

My Top 5: Beaver Stadium Games

If you grow up in State College you only know one thing, Penn State football. It takes over your life at a very young age, and if you're lucky enough you can start going to games at that young age. If its professional football you want you'll have to travel to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Going to a game at Beaver Stadium is as close as you'll get to a professional atmosphere, sometimes it's better. I've been going to games since I was about 5 years old and since then there have been many memorable games at Beaver Stadium, here are my top 5 most memorable games:

1) September 1st, 2001: The #2 ranked Miami Hurricanes come to Happy Valley. 
         If you're a Penn State fan you all ready know where this is going. Penn State lost the game to the eventual National Champions 33-7. That Hurricanes team lead by many potential NFL stand out players, was on of the most dominant teams to step foot on a college field, but the story line behind the game meant more to the Penn State community. Just a year prior to the game, Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury against Ohio State. Doctors gave him a 3% chance of walking again. A year later in front of 109,313 people, on national television, Taliaferro ran onto the field prior to the game. If you were at the game it's a moment you will never forget. A moment so powerful, so moving, so motivational, it inspired a book to be written about Adam Taliaferro's journey. (Miracle in the Making, a must read). When he ran onto the field, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Taliaferro leads the Nittany Lions

2) October 8th, 2005: #6 Ohio State rolls into State College under the lights.
          This seemed to be "the year" for Penn State. Following 3 straight losing seasons Penn State started off 5-0 heading into this clash against a Troy Smith lead Ohio State Buckeyes team. It was the teams first big test of the season, two weeks prior they got over their first speed bump by beating Northwestern in the final minutes. The season saw Joe Paterno start 4 true freshman: Derrick Williams, Justin King, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler. Williams was the cornerstone of the recruiting class that year as he was the number one recruit coming out of high school that year. He brought along King (both 5-star recruits), along with other highly talented players. It seemed to be the "swagger" they were missing to compete with the top teams in the nation. ESPN's College Gameday came to town for the game, which added more anticipation. When Kirk Herbstreit, (Ohio State alum and co-host of College Gameday) said at halftime; "that's the best student section in the country", people really took notice of the students. He hasn't been wrong since then. The Nittany Lions went on beat the Buckeyes 17-10 in front of 109,839. They would finish the season 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State. 

3) November 6th, 2010: Joe Paterno gets win 400. 
          Penn State trailed 21-7 going into halftime. Lead by quarterback Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions came from behind in the second half and scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-21. The game was more than that, Joe Paterno became the first head coach in FBS history to get 400 wins. It would have been one thing if they had won without coming from behind, but the fact they were down by 14, and just kept scoring made it that much more memorable. Anyone who was at the game will tell you how loud it was when they tied it up, then took the lead. Linebacker Michael Mauti ended the game by sacking Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa. 400 Wins

4) October 29th, 2011: JoePa goes for 409 against Illinois in the snow.
         The game wasn't exciting until the final minutes. Coach Joe Paterno was looking to pass Grambling State's Eddie Robinson to become the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Wide receiver Derek Moye, who had injured his foot earlier in the week, was not expected to play unless it was an emergency situation. The situation called for Moye in the final minutes, as he caught 2 passes and had drew a pass interference on a 4th down late in the game which gave Penn State a first down. Running back Silas Redd scored from three yards out to give Penn State a 10-7 lead. Illinois drove down to the field to attempt what would have been a game-timing field goal. What happened next was one of the most incredible things I've ever been apart of at Beaver Stadium. As Illinois was getting set up for their field goal, the student section at that end of the stadium moved to the center of the stadium behind the goal post and in direct line of the kicker. He missed the 42 yard attempt and Beaver Stadium exploded with excited, by far one of the loudest moments ever at Beaver Stadium. He missed it!

5) September 8th, 2007: Notre Dame comes to the White House.
          As soon as you walked into Beaver Stadium you couldn't help but think to yourself, "wow, where am I?". In 2005 there was the student White Out, but in 2007, it became the full stadium White Out. Easily one of the if not the greatest scenes in college football. In front of 110,078 Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 31-10. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Derrick Williams field a punt, made one cut, a juke, and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. In what was one if not the loudest moments to ever happen at Beaver Stadium. 

Jordan Hill: Part 2, Mid Season

After a 0-2 start, the Nittany Lions stormed into Iowa City with a level of confidence that we haven't seen from a Penn State team in a while. They cruised by the Hawkeyes 38-14, the offense looked flawless and the defense looked very much the same as it has all season, fast and dominating. They have a certain swagger about them now, guys are all over the field making plays and it has shown with Lions now having a 5-2 record going into next weeks highly anticipated match up with an Urban Meyer led Ohio State Buckeyes team who is 8-0 and could be without it's Heisman Candidate quarterback Braxton Miller. One of those players who's been making plays is defensive tackle Jordan Hill. I sat down with him for a mid season report on his season and where he thinks the team is.
*The questions were prior to the Iowa game

-Where are you in terms of where you thought you'd be? Stats and overall play?
I started off slow but I'm gaining momentum, I'm two tackles behind where I wanted to be. (He has 28 and wanted to be at 30)
-You guys started off 0-2, what clicked and started this 4 game win streak?
Just not getting down on ourselves and knowing we could do it. 
-What are your goals for the rest of the season individually?
Just continuing to be a vocal leader and play the best I can possibly play
-You play next to DaQuan Jones, he's in the same position you were in last year when you played next to Devon Still. What are you trying to teach him in terms of becoming the leader next season?
Just gotta keep passing the torch down, easy as that. 
-What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?
Winning out. 
-If you had to tell the fans one thing for these final 6 games, what would it be?
Sit back and watch.

Short answers, but straight to the point. Should be a fun final 5 games.

There are 5 games left on the season and Hill knows that, making the most of each game is what he has been doing the whole year. Through 7 games he has 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss. His play on the field has been great but it's what he does off the field that is more important. He has been one of the main leaders on this team. Coach Bill O'Brien turns to guys like Hill, Michael Mauti, Michael Zordich, and Gerald Hodges on defense to keep things together and make sure people realize Penn State hasn't gone anywhere. People were upset a few weeks ago when teammates Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, along with Hill, didn't get national recognition for their play and were left off a few award list's. They don't seem to care, they just seem to use it as fuel for a fire that's been burning since last November. Next weekend with the Buckeyes coming to town, all eyes will be on Beaver Stadium as they have been all season. The lights will be bright for the 5:30 kick off, but this team has been ready all season.

Reminder for everyone: Largest crowd ever; 110,753
*FULL STADIUM WHITEOUT*

Replacement Refs vs The Actual Game

It was nice to see that the NFL didn't have a lockout this season, well the players at least. There is now the lockout of the officials, which for all of us who have bashed them in the past (I've been on that train a lot) this season has been much worse than recent years, and we've only had two weeks. Mike Tirico of ESPN's Monday Night Football compared the officials to a substitute teacher and the players were doing things they wouldn't normally do with regular officials because they could get away with it. I couldn't agree more with him. Some of these officials seem like guys who have been pulled out of the crowd or as I saw someone say on Twitter last night "I'm pretty sure I saw that guy at Footlocker today". Which also seems like a reasonable assumption. Last nights game between the Falcons and Broncos took 3 hours and 27 minutes, 30 minutes longer than a regular overtime length game. Atlanta held on for the 27-21 win. The story of the game shouldn't have been the officials and how awful they were but how good the Falcons looked offensively and defensive against a Broncos team that had beaten a pretty decent Steelers team the previous week (Pittsburgh beat the Jets 27-10 this week). Denver had four turnovers in the 1st quarter, Peyton Manning throwing 3 interceptions and Knoshon Moreno fumbled, Manning wasn't putting the blame on anyone but himself after the game which he normally does; "I've just got to take care of the ball better". Matt Ryan on the other hand had a good all-around game going 24/36 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns. His favorite target was Roddy White who had 102 of those 219 yards and one touchdown. 

Those are side stories compared to officiating which like I said before was awful. There were flags thrown then pick up and not even mentioned why they were thrown in the first place, there were officials shoved, players getting into scuffles (which happened in the Eagles-Ravens game), missed calls, and the amount of time it took them to actually give the call was absolutely ridiculous. The best part might have been when the officials would call the Falcons "Red" instead of Atlanta. 

It's most likely going to be a week to week process for these guys, let's just hope it doesn't take them to the Super Bowl to figure things out. I give them some credit because they were just kind of thrown into this situation but still, these officials are slowing the game down and making it very hard to watch sometimes. It'll be interesting to see how things go in the next few weeks because if things keep going like they are, the regular officials will have leverage in making a deal and will hopefully get back on the field soon. We need you Ed Hochuli! 

Jordan Hill: Part 1, off the field

If you know anything about me you know that Penn State is my life, people can say what they want about us and they can write whatever they want about us, but they can't take away the fact that I am Penn State and WE are Penn State. This summer I learned a lot more about what that meant. I had the opportunity to work with Penn State senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill. It's an opportunity I'm very thankful for. I got to know the Jordan outside of football, when the camera's weren't on, when the media wasn't in his face 24/7, and that Jordan is in one word, quiet. I was sitting at home one night and got a call from Jordan, the first thing he said to me was "you wanna move in?". That was when former teammate and roommate Justin Brown decided to transfer to Oklahoma. I quickly said yes because why would I want to pass up an opportunity to better myself by learning from someone who has dealt with so much negativity. To me it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I sat down with Jordan and asked him some questions about everything that's gone on and his mindset going forward. I asked what his initial reaction was to the sanctions, he simply said "here we go again", a reaction he said that many players had. They didn't quite understand what exactly was going on until Head Coach Bill O'Brien broke it down for them. When I asked what he first thought of the hiring of O'Brien he said he didn't know much about him, "once Coach (Larry) Johnson called me and told me who he was I was on board and ready to go". Hill has been on board through and through, asking him why stay at Penn State, "I stayed for my teammates, I stayed to help the University, I stayed because I love Penn State". People have expectations for Penn State this year, some think we might win 8 games, others think we win 5, that's fine with Hill because he has his own expectations for his team and himself; "go out and play as hard as we can, execute our game plan, and win every game. Off the field, graduate. On the field, Big Ten Player of the Year, All Big Ten First Team, and First Team All American". Jordan is poised to have a big year, many project him as a potential first round pick. He isn't worried about that though, he just wants to go out and play. He describes himself as "quiet", "soft spoken, and "humble", which if you didn't know him you might not think it. People give athletes a label that they aren't regular people, I got to hang out with Jordan the night the sanctions were announced and when I came over he was relaxing playing some Playstation, something normal people do. He isn't one to flaunt himself like other athletes, he doesn't care much for the spotlight. Talking to him at work one day he I said "a lot of people don't know who you are, you've kind of been overshadowed in your career", he replied with "that's fine with me, I'll let my game speak for itself". When number 47 runs onto the field I'll be happy to say that's my roommate. Penn State heads into this 2012 season with new things everywhere you turn. This year it's going to matter what the name on the back says because those are the ones who decided to stay and help Penn State get through this beyond difficult time. Bill O'Brien has his hands full this year but Hill said he is the right guy to do it and nothing is going to phase him. The excitement level in Happy Valley is something I've never seen before, the town is standing behind this team every step of the way, and I'm truly honored for have two of these men as roommates. The motto for the season is "One Team" and that will be in full force come Saturday when Ohio University comes to Beaver Stadium. Take a minute and close your eyes, think about what the first "We Are" chant will feel like, got chills? I do.

Penn State: Past, Present, and Future

I wrote what it was like to be from State College, that was before the Freeh Report surfaced, nothing has changed for me. I've lived in State College my entire life, I've been Penn State my entire life, and I've loved every minute of it. I'll admit coming to Penn State wasn't my first choice but when it came down to it I couldn't resist being apart of the Penn State family. Being apart of this family is not just going to football games and having a good time on weekends, but learning how to make an impact. If that sounds familiar, it's because when a young Joe Paterno told his dad he wanted to be a coach instead of a lawyer he was asked if he thought he could make an impact, myself and thousands of Penn Staters will tell you he did. I've heard the negativity about Paterno, I've heard it for quite some time. Could he have done more? Yes. Could Mike McQueary have done more? Yes. What about the others? I'm pretty sure they could have done more. People make mistakes every single day, but when you're Penn State and have the reputation of being "spotless", people will wait for the perfect time to tear you down. This is that time. People have been trying and trying to find the right time to find flaws in Joe Paterno. He was a human being like the rest of us, of course he had flaws. Those people have their moment and they aren't holding back. It's easy to kick someone when they're down though, just ask ESPN. I've stood behind Joe Paterno forever, and will always stand behind him. Am I worried what people think of that? No. Why? because I reflect on the fact that he is one of the most influential people in college sports, I reflect on all the good he did for Penn State, his players, and the community of State College. Most people have erased that from their memory but the fact is you can't erase it. The NCAA can hand out whatever, if any, penalties they want, but you cannot just remove Joe Paterno from existence. For me, his name will forever be associated with making sure his players graduated, making sure Penn State students have the best education (his name is on the library in case you didn't know), and making sure he made an impact. People can spin that last one however they want, but I'm referring to the fact that he wanted his players to leave better men and become great fathers and figures in the community. I'm referring to the fact that he made Penn State what it is today by focusing on the importance of graduating. You can hate Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, and all those involved in this horrific and unthinkable situation, but don't hate Penn State. It's times like this where a school needs to show it's not what the media has portrayed it as. Penn State is not all those negative things you hear, and it's not a place where future students and their families should shy away from. It's a place where a 17-18 year-old can come and get a great education, an education that will lead them to success in the future, it's a place where 110,000 people dressed in blue and white can come together on a fall Saturday and say the one thing that every Penn Stater should hold close to their heart, "We Are, Penn State". The future is bright for Penn State, we're moving forward and not looking back. You can say anything you want and write whatever you want about Penn State now; but there is one thing you can write about for the future and that's WE ARE going to continue to be Penn State.

Penn State Football, Never Leaving

This isn't about the university, this isn't about Jerry Sandusky or Joe Paterno, this is about Penn State football. Moving forward is going to be hard yes, but its' going to happen. Penn State football will always be about plain uniforms, home-field advantage, and having the best fans in the nation. When you come to Beaver Stadium and you're about to enter the gate, think about why you're at Beaver Stadium; you came to this game to see Penn State football put on a show in front of 110,00 people screaming at the top of their lungs for the team they love. You didn't come to talk about Jerry Sandusky, you didn't come to talk about what happened when, you came to watch football. You came to see Silas Redd slash and dash into the endzone, you came to see Jordan Hill rip down the quaterback for a big hit. Coming to Beaver Stadium is about seeing those blue uniforms and plain white helmets, hearing four simple words echo throughout the 110,000 seat stadium, "We Are, Penn State", and when you attend a Penn State football game, you know what that means.
The road ahead for Penn State is a steep one, but none steeper than the one the football team faces. The questions are asked by the hundreds; how will they move on without Joe Paterno? what is the team going to look like? will the fans still come out? Jerry Sandusky this and that. Those questions will be answered starting Saturday September 1, when Ohio comes to Beaver Stadium. Success may or may not come right away, but I've said it before and I'll say it before because it is what I believe in and what I've grown accustom to, WE are Penn State. The football team is Penn State, the 45,000 plus student body is Penn State, the alumni are Penn State, and those who bleed blue and white are Penn State. We will come out every Saturday and show the team that WE still have their back. Every Saturday WE will show the nation, the media, and everyone who doubts us that we aren't down and that we will be back stronger than ever because we are one. It's going to be different, the mood might not be the same, but sometimes change can be a good thing. The old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" isn't more true than it is with Penn State. You don't know what we're about and you don't know who we are, but WE do. We know what Penn State is about, and it's not what you're hearing, and come September 1st we will prove to everyone that no matter what is said or written, we won't be knocked down and we will continue to be Penn State.

LeBron: Worlds #1

Ever since entering the NBA in 2003 LeBron James has been at the forefront of conversation when it comes to being the best. During his high school career at Saint Vincent Saint Mary's everyone who watched him play knew he'd be something special, but no one knew he'd be this special. Over time he has gotten bigger, faster, and stronger, which has made him arguably the best player in the world. Some might argue that Thunder All Star Kevin Durant might be the best, but if you watch both of them play there is a clear difference in who is the best. Sure Durant can score at will and make the difficult shots, but LeBron can do it all, and so much better. For someone who is 6'8" and weighs 265 pounds- some have him at 280, which would be even more incredible, but for someone of that size and to have the leaping ability and speed James has, the things he does are out of this world. His ability to get a rebound at the free throw line and sprint down the floor to the other basket and score in a matter of 3-4 seconds is something to rarely see with someone that big. He doesn't have Magic Johnson vision but his knows where his teammates are and how to get them the ball. When driving to the basket he is nearly unstoppable; he can the contact and still get off a shot, if he misses he has the strength to get the rebound and get off another shot. I haven't even mentioned his defense. A 4-time All Defensive First Team, no one really appreciates how great his defense is. When was the last time you saw someone play both ends of the floor like LeBron James? He gets it done on both ends, with great ease. He can guard position 1-5, and shut them down. Michael Jordan was never asked to guard all positions, Kobe Bryant is never asked to do it, and neither is Kevin Durant. LeBron does it, and does it well. In the 2011 Playoffs against the Bulls, LeBron guarded and locked down guard Derek Rose. In the conferecne semi finals this season against the Celtics he guarded Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, in the same game. His ability to track down the ball in transition and make a play on it, whether it's blocking it or altering the shot, is above everyone else's. He hasn't made all the clutch shots, but did Michael Jordan? did Kobe Bryant? Those guys didn't make every single shot they took and believe it or not, they had bad games too. Just entering the prime of his career at age 27, LeBron has a long way to go in his already amazing career. He is two games away from winning his first championship, which he would be younger than Jordan when he won his first title, and look how he turned out. His focus level is at an all time high and that could spell trouble for the NBA. You have to wait til his career is over to rank him, but for now, you can start placing him in the "All Time" rankings.