2011 NFL Mock Draft by David Larkin

This is the only instalment of my very own mock draft. The picks I make are based on what I think the team will do, not what I would do myself. I am an avid college football fan and have watched most of the prospects in the first round, so I will be able to give my unique viewpoint throughout.

The commissioner walks to the podium in a packed Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the fans' cheers reaching a crescendo as he prepares to utter the famous first words of the NFL Draft.

The Carolina Panthers are on the clock...

1. Carolina Panthers – DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

The sexy pick here is to take the quarterback but when it comes down to it on draft day, after much deliberation amongst the coaching staff and GM Marty Hurney I can’t see them endorsing the pick of a QB number one overall. I believe the Panthers would love to trade back a couple of spots and recoup the second round pick they used to get Armanti Edwards last year. The Panthers have an excellent history of hitting on their first round picks and none is more important for the future of the franchise than this one. Dareus is an instant upgrade and gives new head coach Ron Rivera a scheme versatile player who comes from a pro style defense at Alabama to plug into his defensive line. Dareus is widely regarded by draft analysts as the best player in the draft, including the highly respected Mike Mayock. He can be an impact player for the Carolina defense from day one. I also think that Hurney wants to give Clausen another chance, and hence will take a pass on QB since there isn’t really a standout one (Bradford, Stafford) in this class.

2. Denver Broncos – DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

A pick you won’t see in many mock drafts, I realise, but a very good one for the Denver Broncos. Robert Quinn is a prototypical 4-3 defensive end with very few character concerns. Missing the 2010 season due to the agent scandal at North Carolina hurt his stock early in the pre-draft process, but after a terrific showing at his pro day Quinn launched himself into consideration for the Broncos at #2. Denver also considered Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers, but his pro day caused his stock to plummet. Overall, Quinn provides more impact as a day one starter for the new regime in Colorado. Quinn makes a ton of sense as the Broncos switch to the 4-3. Another consideration here was CB Patrick Peterson, but I have a feeling the need for defensive line talent will override the urge to take possibly the best player on the board.

3. Buffalo Bills – LB Von Miller, Texas A&M

After the questionable picks the Bills have made in the first round in recent drafts (Spiller, Maybin, Lynch) they cannot afford to miss on this pick. The Bills have plenty of options here. Quarterback has to be a consideration but I am going to give Ryan Fitzpatrick the helm in 2011. He would be starting anyway and the Bills can address the QB position later in the draft. Von Miller is a stud at the OLB position and will fit right in as the Bills make the transition to a 3-4. Miller is an explosive pass rusher with the skill set and speed to win off the snap and get to the passer. GM Buddy Nix will be pleased if he can make this pick on draft day.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – WR A.J. Green, Georgia

This is a tough pick to make prior to the start of free agency. We still don’t know what will become of Carson Palmer. All signs point to him getting out of town one way or the other, but my hunch tells me that no matter what happens, owner Mike Brown won’t budge and will continue as normal. A.J. Green fills a need at #4 and not only that, but you also get yourself a true blue chip wide receiver. Green has the ability to be a special player in this league in the mould of a Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson. There are some rumours that the Bengals like Julio Jones more than Green, but I ain’t buying it.

5. Arizona Cardinals – QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

This is the landing spot for the first signal caller to come off the board and Arizona get what is the most surefire QB pick in this draft. Gabbert has some work to do in the transition from a shotgun Missouri offense to a pro style NFL offense, but he has the tools and the work ethic to make it happen. Gabbert has the combination of tools necessary to be a solid starter in the NFL. The Cardinals were good QB play away from winning this division last year. They’ll be happy to get Gabbert in the fold as they please Larry Fitzgerald and fix their QB issues.

6. Cleveland Browns – DE Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson

The Browns have plenty of options here. They have a need at defensive line in the worst way. Only Ahtyba Rubin is assured of his starting spot next season as the team switches to a 4-3. Bowers may have had a poor pro day according to most scouts, but as they say if you turn on the tape the kid can play. Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert will know what Bowers can do and although he only had one year of great production, they take the chance of him here at #6 overall. I think this would be a good time for the Browns to trade down a few spots.

7. San Francisco 49ers – CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

The 49ers almost fall over themselves as they grab the phone to communicate to their guy in Radio City Music Hall. Patrick Peterson is still on the board? It’s a slam dunk pick at #7 for Jim Harbaugh in his first draft with the team. The Niners have 11 more picks as well, so they have plenty more talent to add. Peterson is amongst the best players in this entire draft, if not the best. He runs like a corner, hits like a safety and makes a ton of plays. I don’t know if he will be a true “shutdown” corner, but he’ll give the Niners a chance to take guys like Fitzgerald out of the game.

8. Tennessee Titans – DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

Tennessee wanted to take Gabbert if he had been available and doesn’t want to take the chance on a guy like Cam Newton so they go with Nick Fairley, a unique talent who has the ability to completely take over ball games with his mix of physicality, power and agility. Fairley will be a great 4-3 DT for this team from day one. He comes with a little bit of baggage and his coaches will have to keep him motivated, but if they do I see no reason why he can’t become an Albert Haynesworth-like presence for Tennessee.

9. Dallas Cowboys – CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Jerry Jones has never taken an offensive tackle in the first round before, preferring to take a developmental guy later. With CB such a pressing need for the Cowboys and with the best man to man cover corner in the draft staring right at them, the Cowboys pull the trigger on Amukamara. The Nebraska product fits perfectly in Dallas’ predominantly man defense and will do a lot of favours for Newman and Jenkins in the secondary. In the NFC East, you need to have good cornerbacks. Dallas have their man.

10. Washington Redskins – WR Julio Jones, Alabama

One of the easier picks to make in this mock draft, the Redskins simply have to address their wide receiver position in the worst way. Shanahan can address the QB position later and knowing how aggressive the Redskins are with their draft picks, it wouldn’t surprise me if they traded back up in the first round or early second to grab a guy like Ponder. For now the Skins get a weapon for their future QB to throw to. Julio Jones is a physical freak who despite having a broken bone in his foot did all the drills at the Combine and not only did them, but excelled at them. Jones is a willing blocker and has all the tools you look for in a big wide out.

11. Houston Texans – OLB Aldon Smith, Missouri

Wade Phillips forged his good defense in Dallas on the talents of DeMarcus Ware. In Houston, he has a new toy to play with. Aldon Smith projects to be an outside linebacker in the Texans new 3-4 scheme. Although raw, Smith has tremendous upside and his physical gifts are off the charts. Many have compared him to Ware. He has great versatility too and lined up in several spots on Missouri’s defensive front. On third down, Smith can put his hand down opposite Mario Williams and wreak havoc on Peyton Manning and the rest of the AFC South passers.

12. Minnesota Vikings – QB Cam Newton, Auburn

The most talked about player in this draft class comes off the board at #12 overall to the Vikings. The value is too good to pass up for Leslie Frazier and co. and the Vikings are happy to have such a talented kid on their team. Newton’s skills will fit well in the dome in Minnesota and he will be surrounded with a good supporting cast. It will also excite the Vikings fan base after a poor 2010 campaign. Newton won’t be an immediate starter. I expect the Vikes to add a QB in free agency (whenever it begins) as a stop gap measure, but for all intents and purposes Newton is the face of the franchise.

13. Detroit Lions – OT Tyron Smith, USC

I think if things played out this way there would be a few teams calling the Lions to trade up to get a chance at Tyron Smith, who has fallen a few spots further than expected. For Detroit, this is a dream scenario and one that would be greeted with jubilation by their coaching staff and GM. After a very solid draft the last two seasons the Lions solidify the left side of their offensive line for the foreseeable future with the most athletic tackle in the draft. Smith played the right side at USC, but I expect the Lions to plug him in at left tackle and finally protect Matthew Stafford so that this team can accomplish what their talent level is capable of.

14. St. Louis – DT Corey Liuget, Illinois

Since Julio Jones is off the board, the Rams decide to bolster their defensive line with a player they have been rumoured to be enamoured with for quite some time. Liuget is a perfect 3-technique DT for Steve Spagnuolo and will be an asset on that defensive line in St. Louis. Liuget is a nimble foot athlete and has room to grow into his frame. I believe this is a good team for him to land on as Spags knows how to get the best out of his defensive linemen.

15. Miami – RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

This is a prime trading down spot for the Dolphins. I think they would be more than happy to drop down eight or ten spots, pick up an extra couple of picks and go from there, addressing their RB need later. Since this is a mock draft and trades just complicate matters, the Dolphins are taking the best RB prospect in the draft in Mark Ingram. I love to watch this guy play; he’s powerful, shifty, elusive and mature in his running style. He knows how to press the hole and make defenders miss in the open field. If I were Miami, I would be thrilled to have him. Somehow I don’t see it playing out this way on draft day though.

16. Jacksonville – DE Cameron Jordan, Cal

The Jags recorded only 26 sacks last season, one of the worst totals in the league. Their pass rush seems to be a constant source of frustration. They invested in Aaron Kampman last year and he ended up on IR with a torn ACL. Therefore they have to address DE in the worst way. Cameron Jordan is a former teammate of current Jaguar Tyson Alualu. Alualu will have told the Jags brass (if he was allowed talk to them) that Jordan is a player he knows would be a good fit in Jacksonville. Jordan is a tremendous player with a great deal of versatility. Ideally he would be a 3-4 five technique but the Jags believe he can be both a 4-3 DE and a 4-3 DT on passing downs.

17. New England – OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

Current LT Matt Light is 33 years old and scheduled to become a free agent. The Patriots are set on one side of their line with the impressive Sebastian Vollmer. Normally New England wouldn’t take a tackle in the first round, and indeed they haven’t done that for the past few years, but they know that the DL talent is good in this draft. Belichick knows how to play the draft and get the best value and they do have two more premium picks upcoming. Gabe Carimi is the best OT on the board and presents good value here. He has a great deal of experience and is one of the most complete offensive line prospects in this class.

18. San Diego – DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

It’s back to back Badgers in the NFL Draft as the Chargers take the best 3-4 five technique DE on their board in J.J. Watt. Watt is a former tight end who grew into his role at DE and still has a lot of upside at the position. The Chargers need a player of his tenacity, power and high motor to bolster their front seven. Watt is a slam dunk pick here for A.J. Smith.

19. New York Giants – OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

The Giants have made very good picks in the first round under GM Jerry Reese and hope to continue the trend with the selection of Anthony Castonzo, perhaps the most solid left tackle prospect in the draft. Castonzo can be a solid starting player for the Giants for eight to ten years. New York also considered the kid from Colorado, Nate Solder, but opted to go with Castonzo who they had rated slightly higher. Giants fans in Radio City may not be thrilled, but they’ll come to like their new LT.

20. Tampa Bay – DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

Tampa Bay needs help at DE in the worst way. After addressing the interior of their defensive front four last year with Brian Price and Gerald McCoy, the Bucs take a player who will be a leader for them on and off the field. Kerrigan has a high motor, a fantastic work ethic and will provide a consistent pass rush for the Bucs. It’s not a difficult pick for a team on the up.

21. Kansas City – OG Mike Pouncey, Florida

Although Mike Pouncey would be “shocked” if he didn’t end up as a Dallas Cowboy, I’m going to be realistic here and have him be picked by the Chiefs. Kansas City has a need at interior offensive line with C Casey Wiegmann turning 37 and scheduled to become a free agent and stalwart Brian Waters getting long in the tooth as well. Pouncey is the perfect player to take at this juncture for a Chiefs team who really turned it around last year and dominated up front. Jamaal Charles is entering the prime of his career and will enjoy running behind Pouncey.

22. Indianapolis – OT Nate Solder, Colorado

In one of the more nailed on picks in the first round, Bill Polian addresses the gaping need at tackle the Colts have. Polian said he regretted his decision to take DE Jerry Hughes at the end of round one last year instead of a tackle. Peyton Manning desperately need a steadier offensive line and Solder, although raw in some areas and not the most complete OT, he has a great deal of upside and is a huge mammoth of a man. He’ll be a fixture at LT for many years.

23. Philadelphia – OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

The Eagles could go a few ways here. Danny Watkins and Rodney Hudson, both offensive guards, are attractive options here at #23. In the end, Andy Reid decides it is time to address the tackle position. They have Jason Peters manning the left tackle position, so why not shore up the other side? Sherrod has plenty of experience at LT having played it for three years in college. He is a fluid athlete for his size, displays good hand use at the point of attack and is very intelligent. One knock on him is a lack of a mean streak, but that is very coachable.

24. New Orleans – DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

The New Orleans Saints defense under Gregg Williams is all about pressure, but more than that it is about players filling different roles and being multiple in their alignments and fronts. Linebacker is a need for the Saints too, but they plan to address that later. Cameron Heyward presents a very solid pick here. He is a very versatile player who lacks an elite skill set but is good at everything and has a tremendous work ethic. Heyward is a stout run defender, has a scary bull rush move and his quickness and agility are great for a player his size. This is a low risk pick for the Saints and another chess piece to add to their defense.

25. Seattle – QB Jake Locker, Washington

The perfect match comes to fruition and the Seahawks get their man. The Hawks had the most staff at Locker’s pro day and clearly have a keen interest in the UW passer. Locker is the classic enigma of a player. He has all the physical tools to make it happen on the field except for accuracy and he is a squeaky clean character kid. Matt Hasselbeck may not be back and Pete Carroll knows Locker very well from his time in the Pac-10. The team that takes the chance on Locker will have to be very patient with him and really work with him to improve his accuracy. It’s the classic boom-bust pick here.

26. Baltimore – WR Torrey Smith, Maryland

The Ravens get themselves a speedy playmaking wide receiver at the 26^th pick. Smith gets compared to DHB often only because they come from the same school, but they are not the same player by any means. Smith has a perfect blend of size, length and athleticism for a WR prospect. He has great ball skills and can track a deep ball downfield and locate it in flight. He is a fantastic return specialist too and that translates to his run after the catch abilities too.

27. Atlanta – TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

The Falcons are looking at the last season with Tony Gonzalez at the tight end position, the end of an era. So if that is the case, why not prepare yourself for the future and draft the best tight end prospect this year in Kyle Rudolph? After a strong pro day, Rudolph quashed any lingering concerns about his injured hamstring. Rudolph will be Matt Ryan’s best friend for the foreseeable future. The tight end has the straight line speed to threaten defenses down the seam, the catch radius to look like a wide out and the burst/acceleration to separate from defenders.

28. New England – RB Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

The odds are that New England trades out of this pick as they always do, but in the event that they do not, I think the Patriots finally grab themselves a running back here. Reports have emerged recently that the Patriots are meeting with Leshoure and have some interest in him. They could get him at the 2.01 pick but decide to pull the trigger here. Green-Ellis and Woodhead are solid and contribute in different ways to the offense, but the Patriots could really use a “bellcow” like Leshoure. He has a physical, downhill running style with surprising quickness, patience and breakaway speed. I see no downside to this pick.

29. Chicago – DT Stephen Paea, Oregon State

I think Stephen Paea fits the Bears defense really well and that is why they took him over Phil Taylor, who is more a 3-4 NT or Muhammad Wilkerson who is more of a five technique in the 3-4. Paea fills a big need for the Bears on the defensive line. With a NT already in place in Matt Toeina, Stephen Paea will fit in Tommie Harris’ old spot as the 4-3 UT, the penetrating force. Paea is one of the strongest prospects in the draft (49 reps?!) and has an uncanny ability to disrupt plays and use his lack of height to gain leverage and get under the offensive lineman’s pads. Paea is a great player to acquire here for the Bears.

30. New York Jets – NT Phil Taylor, Baylor

Plenty of mock drafts agree that this would be an almost ideal landing spot for Phil Taylor. Current Jets NT Sione Pouha only has one year left on his contract and the whole defensive front could do with young blood. Taylor is a classic two gapper who takes up blockers and anchors on the line. He has a good ability to stack and shed when being run at. He doesn’t offer much in terms of pass rush, but that isn’t the kind of player he has to be. Rather, his job is to allow the rest of his defensive teammates to get after the QB by clogging up the middle and occupying blockers.

31. Pittsburgh – DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

The Steelers get excellent value here as Clayborn falls to them at the 31^st pick. Not only does Clayborn fit well in the Steelers defense at a 3-4 five technique but he fills a need for the team. Cornerback was also a consideration here, but the Steelers are good at finding later round gems. Clayborn fits the Steeler mould as a tenacious, feisty run defender and has a big, strong frame to challenge offenses.

32. Green Bay – OLB Brooks Reed, Arizona

Brooks Reed is eerily similar to current Packer Clay Matthews in terms of his hair, his size, his non-stop motor and his relentlessness as a pass rusher. Reed would fit in instantly in the Packers attacking style of 3-4 defense opposite Matthews. Dom Capers and his defensive staff will work with Reed to improve his pass rushing repertoire, which is limited to an outside arc move right now. An outside pass rushing duo of Reed and Matthews could be devastating for many years to come in the NFC North.

Carolina Panthers Spoiled For Choice at #1

The moment I heard the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers Ron Rivera speak at his introductory press conference, I knew we were on to a winner. I know that sounds strange, but it is how I feel. Normally you can almost mouth the words a head coach says along with them because, let's face it, we've heard it all before. In Rivera's case, it was less about what he said and more about how he said it.

Confidently, with conviction and belief.

We are going to turn this ship around for the better.

That was the message I got from the press conference. Slowly but surely, Rivera's coaching staff is beginning to come together. Offensively, Rivera hired former San Diego buddy Rob Chudzinski who not only played tight end in college, but also coached some of the best tight ends the NFL has seen in recent years in Kellen Winslow and the inimitable Antonio Gates. Chudzinski's philosophy revolves around the vertical passing game, something that the Carolina offense lacked (or simply couldn't execute) in what was the poorest offensive year in the franchise's history last season.

Sean McDermott, after being abruptly dismissed by the Eagles brass, was offered the position of defensive coordinator in Carolina. This hire definitely got my attention. Rivera preaches a strong defensive mentality which employs aggressive, attacking defensive schemes. He has coached both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses, and while he claims that the Panthers' 4-3 scheme will remain in place, including some 3-4 looks would certainly make things more difficult for opposing offenses on game day. McDermott meshes perfectly with Rivera philosophically and should be a good fit on this coaching staff.

We can jabber on about which coaches have been hired all day and what their potential effect will be on this young team, but ultimately it rests on the player's shoulders to win games on the field. The first big decision facing this new staff and GM Marty Hurney is the #1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. After the unfortunate news of Andrew Luck opting to return to Stanford instead of declaring for the draft as a redshirt sophomore, the Panthers organisation have been forced to reshuffle their deck and a previous comment by owner Jerry Richardson intimating that Carolina would not trade down from the #1 pick is now moot.

The good news is that the number of impact players on both sides of the football is plentiful in this draft, aided by a strong group of underclassmen. Here are a few of the players that Carolina could consider taking #1 overall.

CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

LSU's Patrick Peterson is rated by many scouts as the best player from a talent standpoint in this draft. The Panthers held interviews with Peterson at the Senior Bowl a few days ago and should have a keen interest in this very charismatic playmaker from the CB position. Peterson isn't as legitimate a shutdown corner as his fellow 2011 draftee and likely top 10 pick Prince Amukamara, but the kind of return ability and athleticism offered by Peterson in all facets of the game is tough to pass up on. Some may argue that our interest in him is just covering all the bases, but with Richard Marshall more than likely heading out of town and Captain Munnerlyn suited to more of a nickel corner role, Peterson could be the perfect compliment and eventual replacement for Chris Gamble.

DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

The "fairley good" pun has been made far too many times for my liking, but let's just say I wouldn't get tired of hearing this guy's name mentioned in Carolina for the next ten years. Nick Fairley is a defensive lineman who simply takes over football games. Some scouts criticise him for getting too high and losing his leverage at the point of attack, but that is only a minor concern. Fairley, like Ndamukong Suh, is a difference maker from the interior defensive line. The Panthers have lacked a presence of his caliber for a long, long time. Defensive tackle is probably, besides QB, the biggest need the team has. Of course, need shouldn't dictate who you pick #1 overall, but in this case an exception may have to be made. Fairley has all the hype right now after a dominating game in the National Championship against Oregon. I have never come away from an Auburn game without being thoroughly impressed by what I saw from him.

DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

Marcell Dareus is another player who can make a difference from the interior defensive line. He has scheme versatility and was coached by one of the great defensive minds in football, Nick Saban. Another feather in his cap is that he had the dominant college career he had in the SEC playing 3-4 defensive end for the most part. Dareus is all man and wreaks havoc on seemingly every play. His presence alone dictates to the offense which way they have to scheme their blocks, motion and run their plays. That is exactly the kind of player we desperately need on our defensive front. One thing that stands in Dareus' favour right now is his lack of any character issues unlike Fairley, who has had some immaturity issues in the past. Fairley's past is nothing to be overly concerned with, but I give Dareus the slight edge right now and I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear his name called first by Roger Goodell when April 28th comes around.

WR A.J. Green, Georgia
A.J. Green doesn't strike you as an all-world talent at wide receiver when you first lay eyes on him. He appears skinny, frail and more like a beanpole than a pass catcher. Turn on the tape and you see just how unbelievable a talent he is. I am disappointed to say that I have only been able to watch Green play two or three games this season, but I came away impressed every time. Green has legitimate ability to take over a game and can be a No. 1 target in the NFL. Wide receivers have a high bust rate in the NFL, but Green has been lauded by scouts as the surest thing at wideout since Calvin Johnson. The Panthers need playmakers on the offensive side and offense is definitely the problem of the team. Steve Smith won't be around forever and if the CBA gets a quick resolution then we could see Smitty going packing. From that point of view, the pick makes perfect sense. However, I would like to see the Panthers trade down a couple of spots to take Green. I think we could still select him #3 overall. He would be a very exciting talent to have on our roster, but it is the QB position that needs addressing first, otherwise why have the ammo if you ain't got the gun?

These four players are my choices for the most likely selections for the Carolina Panthers at #1 overall based on everything I know about my team and their tendencies on draft day. Some tendencies will be broken with a new coaching staff, but some will remain the same. I just hope Hurney doesn't trade away any more future picks. We could really use that #33 pick right now.

Whatever happens, it will be a very exciting lead up to the NFL Draft and I think the mystery surrounding who we pick will be one of the more anticipated ones in our draft history. You may notice I didn't mention a QB above. I think Rivera will bring in a veteran presence. I don't know who yet, but Clausen needs some mentoring this offseason. I don't doubt Clausen's work ethic for a second; he just needs more time to develop and learn.

Thank you for reading!

Movie Review: Black Swan

I'm just back from the cinema where I took in the new movie "Black Swan" starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Here are my thoughts on the film.

Prior to leaving for the movie tonight, I went to the old reliable amongst movie review sites. That's right, I enlisted the knowledge of RottenTomatoes.com. In case you haven't heard of it, RT is a place for movie enthusiasts and movie critics alike to share their insights. It covers almost every piece of cinema ever created and is definitely the place to be for up to the minute news and reviews of the world of film.

Black Swan scored 88% i.e. not too shabby and actually quite good. A good friend of mine has a rule that he follows closely: If Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie 70% or over, then you have to see it. End of story.

I did exactly that.

Black Swan (or is it "The Black Swan"... or is it even important?) is labeled a psychological thriller and I believe it fit that bill quite well. I won't claim to be a movie connaisseur who can tell you all about the very best thrillers of all time because, quite frankly, I haven't seen many. I like to think I have a wide knowledge of cinema and the genres that are contained therein, but this movie made me reconsider my stance.

From the beginning, the movie draws you in to the dark and disturbed world of professional ballet through the eyes of protagonist Nina (Natalie Portman). Now, we're not talking girls between the ages of ten and sixteen looking at themselves in the mirror and twirling, only to be floored with gleeful applause from their way too enthusiastic parents. No, no. We're talking hardcore competitive girls in their mid twenties looking to make it in this cutthroat business. It's about stage shows. It's about making your mark.

Above all, it's about being perfect in the eyes of the audience, a point I will touch on later.

Hint: the italics mean it's significant.

I've only seen Natalie Portman before in supporting roles, the worst of which was the terribly written Star Wars Episodes I through III, but let's not get into that. In this, one of her first true lead roles, she was simply fantastic from start to finish. Portman's character endures a struggle within herself and her own psyche to live up to the expectations of the choreographer of the show and her boss, Thomas. It is how she sells the internal battle that grabbed me. I have never seen her pull off such an emotional role before, and it was quite impressive to watch.

In watching this movie initially, or perhaps even before you even go, you may have the incorrect impression that this will be a rather uninventive "girly" film just because you associate ballet with femininity. That couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, you are taken on the journey of Portman's character and feel the pain she feels, go through the same hallucinations and get a sneak peek into her disturbed world. There is no spoonfeeding for you in this movie - it is simply raw, passionate acting at its best.

More than anything else, this movie tells a compelling story of how the search for perfection in life is often a fruitless one fraught with peril and inevitably, heartbreak or worse. Portman's character learns this the hard way in the dancing business which, although glamorous and sparkly on the outside reeks of backstabbing, countless hours of labour and a lack of wholeness in life. Like all good films, it takes you on a whirlwind of a journey that you won't soon forget.

Ladies and gentlemen, my scores are in...

8.9/10

Black Swan was a terrific piece of cinema that I would recommend to anyone. It keeps you entertained throughout and also challenges you to empathise with this Nina character in her search for the perfect performance as the Swan Queen. I won't go into any details to spoil the movie. Just go to a showing. You won't regret it.

Boogie Night for Dave

What was supposed to be a quiet night in on the sofa probably playing a bit too much Call of Duty: Black Ops turned into an evening of entertainment courtesy of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour. Held in the O2 here in Dublin, I actually bought two tickets for my parents as a Christmas present. When the day finally arrived and I had no plans to speak of, they kindly asked me to come along. I figured, what the hell. I wasn't exactly going to be having a riveting time at home alone.

Well, I'll tell you something folks: it turned out to be one of the most entertaining shows I've ever been to. Going to see Chicago in the West End of London was a treat, but this show tonight was something special. The arena was buzzing with somewhere in the region of 9,500 fans of the fancy footwork displays on show from both the professional dancers and the celebrities, all of whom could be called veterans of the dancefloor after several months of intense training courtesy of their professional courterparts.

The show itself lasted about two and a half hours, with Zoe Ball hosting the event. I must say, Ms. Ball (or is it Mrs. Ball?) looked rather lovely although her sparkling dresses - she changed her dress at least a couple of times - were slightly blinding at times. I'm no dancing expert, but it's the kind of show that is easy to enjoy to those with an untrained eye. Entertainment was the name of the game, with contestants continuously commenting on how amazing the crowd here in Dublin was. Sometimes it's hard to know where sincerity ends and playing to the audience begins. Nevertheless, I can't take anything away from them after all the hard work that went into putting on such a great spectacle.

A favourite of mine is Aliona Vilani, a hot Russian seductress who has basically a perfect body. Seriously, I couldn't design a woman better. And you know, that segues nicely into my next point. The glitz and glamour of the dancing is what the women go for, but for us red blooded males it's all about the ladies. Oh yes, gentlemen. If you want to get involved with a hot chica, look no further than dance classes. I know not every woman you dance with is going to be a looker, but the crew on this tour were all hotties. Aliona is the highlight for me, and here is a picture of her to convince you of my point.

Just awesome, isn't she? (Forgot that guy with her...)

Anyway, it was a simply magnificent night that both my parents thoroughly enjoyed. It kind of makes me want to try this whole dancing thing, but then I remember I have no money and no job and hence taking on new hobbies is a tad difficult.

I'm hoping to apply for the diploma in Sports Journalism at the Independent Colleges in the city centre. That will knock me back a good €900 but I think it'll be worth it, to be honest. You have to get your feet wet in the industry before you can fully commit to it. My path isn't yet determined, but I'm confident that with hard work and dedication - like these dancers showed tonight for the adoring audience - I'll find my niche in this thing we call life and be happy.

After all, being happy is what life is all about. So go now, my readers, and smile. The next stranger you see in the street, shoot them your pearly whites (make sure you've brushed!). I hope you've enjoyed reading about my boogie night experience.

Super Bowl XLV, Life Lessons and Job Hunts

Welcome back to the blog.

We're going to take the blog many directions today. You might say it's going to be a chameleon blog. Since my last entry there have been several interesting developments in my life, none of which incidentally are getting a job. How unfortunate... We start the blog as always with the latest from the world of pro football, quite possibly (ah, let's be honest, definitely) my favourite thing in the whole world.

1. Football News

The 45th Super Bowl is set at last, and man does it look like a tantalising one. The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will contest it. Both teams had very different paths to the dance, the Packers having the tougher road. Green Bay defeated three pretty good football teams (Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago) on the road and made it look comfortable for the most part. Pittsburgh just did what they always do. Success is in their blood. They defeated arch rivals Baltimore and budding rivals New York Jets to reach Dallas.

I want to devote a paragraph to a guy many of you know as Aaron Rodgers because... well, it's his name. Look, Rodgers has had his critics over the past few years since taking over as starter from perhaps the biggest shadow in sports history, Brett "Do Me a Favour" Favre. He had to sit and be patient for a time, but GM Ted Thompson knew what he had in Rodgers and anointed him the starter. It took the former Cal Bear some time, but he has taken the Pack to the Super Bowl after three seasons as a starter. Rodgers will go to more big games, people. He has it in his blood. His performance against Atlanta was simply incredible. He sliced up the Atlanta defense like a surgeon. The game against Chicago wasn't as convincing, but the Bears offense gave the Pack little to be concerned about even when Jay Cutler was in the game.

Let's just say I have a very good feeling about Green Bay in the Super Bowl. I'll have more thoughts on the game as the date approaches, but for now I think we all need to bow down to the greatness that is Aaron Rodgers.

2. The Job Front

The job front is quiet right now. I find that with these things you just have to approach it with the right attitude and then things will flow from there. I went down to a local shopping center today to submit some CVs. Some shops simply didn't take them. In a lot of cases, no staff can be hired because of the current economic climate. I won't claim to understand the nuances of running a country, but clearly we as a nation took some terrible missteps along the way. It will take time to get out of the mess we made ourselves - something I like to compare to soiling sheets in a bed - but we will do it. We may be a little reckless at times, but we're a resilient people.

I'm starting to consider other options, like perhaps doing a Masters here in Dublin. My best friend has managed to secure a Masters that he thinks he will enjoy. I need to find something I will enjoy. That is the great challenge. Until I have more to say on this issue, I'll leave it at that. It goes without saying that I have a long road ahead of me.

3. Life Lessons with Dave

Remember that even when things are difficult, keeping your life in perspective is the most important thing to do. Assignments? No problem. Missed a bus? Come on, quit whining. No credit? It could be a lot worse.

That's kind of my phrase - "It could be a lot worse". I know it appears to a rather general statement, but I believe it and it is all part of my positive makeup as a person. And that is why I will not let this job search get me down, I will rise to the occasion and do the absolute best I can.