Since then NU hasn't really been that close to another title

Mark Sanchez, New York JetsBelieve you me, I am not a Sanchez fan I think he is too inexperienced and erratic at this point. He has a -6 TD-INT ratio, and has one of the worst QB ratings in the league. But the thing about QB's is they take time to develop, and if Sanchez can live up to the New York expectations (doubt it), then he should be a great QB. Eugene Monroe, Jacksonville JaguarsNot much to say here, but Monroe has helped out an up and down Jaguars team that is surprisingly in the Wildcard hunt.

I think if I had a decision to go back in time, I would consider this, but Monroe hasn't even been the best O-Lineman in his class so far this year We'll touch on this next.4. Michael Oher, Baltimore RavensI think this guy was really underrated coming into the draft, because everybody assumed he was dumb as a rock. I think Oher has been the best Offensive Lineman in this year's class so far, and has made a definite impact on a solid Ravens team I'd definitely consider taking him. May not be a LT in the NFL, but has looked very good at RT for the Ravens.5.

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ersI was never really a fan of this pick after T.J Houshmandzadeh was picked up in FA. Not to mention the injury concerns, the mysterious combine, and the recently introduced character issues heading into the latter part of the draft evaluation period drove me away. End result: a holdout that listed past the 1st quarter of the season, and hasn't made the impact everybody thought he could in the NFL as of yet. I still think Crabtree will be an NFL talent and a possible Pro Bowler in the future, but as of now, I don't like him. Well, out of those options, Oher and Orakpo seem like the best to me. And playing the "What If" card, yes, I probably would pick one of the two over Curry, if only because $60 million for a SAM LB is not a good investment, especially when Lofa Tatupu andLeroy Hill also had big bucks coming their way. I think David Hawthorne or Will Herring could have been serviceable, if not solid, without Curry.

$60 million for an OT or a DE is a much better investment than a SAM LB But, time will tell.. Through most of this decade, Northwestern's defense has been as bad as the offense has been good. The 2000 season saw an opportunistic defense and a lights-out offense lead the Wildcats to a Big Ten co-championship. Since then, NU hasn't really been that close to another title. While it may not be true in every conference around the nation, the old adage that "defense wins championships" typically rings true in the Big Ten. And one can definitely point to the lack of a formidable defense as NU's weak point in the 2000s. Despite fielding a defense that ranked near the bottom of the conference and/or nation in most statistical categories between 2001 and 2007, Northwestern produced a number of quality defensive players, including a good number that have gone on to the next level (and a couple first-rounders).