Andy Barch NFL Interview
He used to be of the West Virginia Power, now he's of Notre Dame College. Congratulations on the new job, AB.

1. As of right now, the top pick in next year's draft likely is to be ...
Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska. If you havent seen this guy play, then do yourself a favor and check him out in Nebraska's bowl game against Arizona on December 30th. He's different than a lot of other defensive linemen that have gotten all the hype and been selected in the top five, and become busts. His versatility is what makes him so special. Not only is he big, and quick, but he can drop back in a zone blitz package and bat passes down 5-10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He's got an endless motor, he's constantly in pursuit to the ball, and ontop of all that, he's EXTREMELY smart. He's got the instincts you just cant teach. He can be great as a tackle in a 4-3, and he'd be a great end in a 3-4 defense. Personally, I dont see how any team drafting first overall could overlook him. I think it's a no brainer.


2. Between the Saints and Colts, who is more likely to go undefeated?
Indy has Jacksonville, the Jets, and the Bills left on their slate while the Saints entertain the Cowboys, Bucs and Carolina. Indy's road is a little bit tougher, but for both teams, this isnt exactly a tough stretch. However, the Saints are hosting the Cowboys this coming week, and we all know just how great the Cowboys are in December. Jacksonville always seems to give Indy a tough game, and the Jaguars are fighting for their playoff lives right now. I think the Jags are going to give Indy an extremely tough test this Thursday, and the Jets aren't out of the playoff picture either. I'll go with the Saints for the time being. It also appears as though the Saints want that undefeated accomplishment more, as they've discussed it a little and talked about how they do not want to rest any of their starters in the coming weeks.

3. Am I crazy, or are the Chargers maybe better than the Colts right now?
I dont see that right now. I think the Chargers are very good, but they're not as good as the Colts. The Colts have been stout on defense, even with out the remarkable Bob Sanders. Offensively, I'll take Manning over Rivers any day of the week. Dallas Clark has a slight edge on Antonio Gates, and I think Indy's receivers are a little better than San Diego's. Defensively, their numbers are pretty close across the board. However, Indy is 13-0, and they've won both blowouts, and close games. Both teams are battle tested, and I'd have a hard time picking anyone over these two to compete in the AFC Championship, even though that game is over a month away.

4. Mangini: Do you expect him to be back? Should he?
I expect Eric Mangini to be back. I think he'll have an extremely short leash once Randy Lerner hires a GM, who obviously will want his guy, or guys in place, however, you cant expect a guy to come in and change things in one year. Especially not in Cleveland where nothing ever seems to go right in the football world. This team caught lightning in a bottle in 2007, and that year, they played a lot better than they actually were. Call it a mirage, or whatever you'd like, but they played over their heads that season. What I'm getting at is that the cupboard wasn't bare, but it was close when Mangini took over. He has a lot of draft picks to play with in 2010, and I think we need to see what he does with those picks. Personally, I like Mangini as a head coach, but not as a personnel guy. They need to find an identity for that offense though. Whenever they have the ball its tough for me to watch. I'd rather watch paint dry or watch poker on TV....they're essentially the same thing.

5. What can Tim Tebow do in the NFL?
He can be a good special teams player and he can be a big part of somebody's wildcat formation. Other than that, I dont see him doing a whole lot. I dont want to bash the guy, he's one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, and like him or hate him, you have to admit, he was a lot of fun to watch. I think he can be the holder for field goals (which always presents that element of surprise) and the up-back in a punt formation (see my last statement). He's a guy that plays with a lot of emotion, and he's a gifted athlete. However, I think he's strictly a situational player at the next level, not an every down threat.