2007 Cardinals: LB & DB Analysis and Team Needs

[kerouac9]

Nnamdi Asomugha of the Raiders was considered to be a first round bust, but this year he played like a top five cornerback in the league. It isn't absurd to say Rolle (who is very similar to Asomugha) could develop into a good number one corner given proper coaching (although I'm not completely sold on Teryl Austin, he's worlds ahead of Solomon). If we can get Rolle a better pass rush, a FS who can actually cover (not Francisco or Griffith), and a decent enough defensive system that works better towards his skills then I think he'd have an excellent chance to succeed.

But there is a difference between what you expect from the 6th overall pick in the draft and the 31st overall pick in the draft, and when you expect to get it. It's not fair to compare them, nor is it accurate. Asomugha also played behind some really good cornerbacks in Oakland in Renaldo Hill and Charles Woodson. Rolle's had a lot more time to get aquainted with on-field speed than Asomugha has. Also, Asomugha went to Cal; Rolle went to the U. The expectations for each player was entirely different.

 

[earthsci]

But there is a difference between what you expect from the 6th overall pick in the draft and the 31st overall pick in the draft, and when you expect to get it. It's not fair to compare them, nor is it accurate. Asomugha also played behind some really good cornerbacks in Oakland in Renaldo Hill and Charles Woodson. Rolle's had a lot more time to get aquainted with on-field speed than Asomugha has. Also, Asomugha went to Cal; Rolle went to the U. The expectations for each player was entirely different.

I think that that OldDirtMcGirt was saying that we may not need to go into full blown CB rebuilding modeand that Rolle would have an "excellent chance to succeed" if we play our cards right. Not that we should be satisfied with the results of the draft pick. We need to look at the players that we have and make it work, not their draft slots and kick them to the curb if they don't live up to their billing, e.g., Leonard Davis.

 

[spanky1]

The comment that Francisco is "rawer" than Rolle doesn't hold water with me. He's played for two years (versus effectively only one for Rolle) and BYU, while not UM, isn't exactly like playing in Div 2.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

If we trade down to the 10-15 range the two guys I like are Levi Brown or Landry. Merriweather also had an incident earlier at Miami involving a gun. No charges were pressed against him cuz he had the legal right to protect him and his property. He could also possibly play some corner. He is my favorite second round option for the Cardinals

 

[Totally_Red]

Nnamdi Asomugha of the Raiders was considered to be a first round bust, but this year he played like a top five cornerback in the league. It isn't absurd to say Rolle (who is very similar to Asomugha) could develop into a good number one corner given proper coaching (although I'm not completely sold on Teryl Austin, he's worlds ahead of Solomon). If we can get Rolle a better pass rush, a FS who can actually cover (not Francisco or Griffith), and a decent enough defensive system that works better towards his skills then I think he'd have an excellent chance to succeed.

I hope you're right on Rolle, but I've been very disappointed thus far. Besides all the other flaws in his game, he doesn't seem to be able to get off blocks worth a hoot, and his tackling ability is suspect (he seems to either dive at the legs or grab the face mask). Hopefully this new DB coach can teach all the CBs Tackling101. Or maybe they can watch Adrian Wilson or Karlos Dansby.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Great article Mitch! I agree that defensive back needs to be priority #1 ahead of even the offensive line. I love the idea of getting Asante Samuel and then being able to go after one of those great FS's (Nelson or Landry) with the first pick.

 

[CardLogic]

and his tackling ability is suspect (he seems to either dive at the legs or grab the face mask).

I totally disagree with this comment. Being the corner position, Rolle like all CB's will occasionally get isolated in the open and have a move put on him, but on a scale relative to other corners it doesn't happen often. (Keep in mind I am talking about tackling ability not coverage.) In the 21 games he has played, I can count on one hand the number of times someone got away from Rolle once he put a hand on them. He may not be the best at classic tackling technique, but if Rolle get his hands on them, they're going down...

Btw, Antrel Rolle was second highest in tackles for the Cardinals for the 2006 season, only Gerald Hayes made more.

 

[Duckjake]

Btw, Antrel Rolle was second highest in tackles for the Cardinals for the 2006 season, only Gerald Hayes made more.

That's because they kept completing passes on him. You want your CB stats to start as a rookie with a lot of tackles and INT's followed by far fewer tackles and INT's because he's shut basically shut down his side of the field and the opp's don't throw over there anymore.

 

[cardsfanmd]

mitch you should be getting paid for this--even when i disagree with you in the beginning you change my mind by the end-great job

 

[Mitch]

Thanks, Cardfanmd...you've been adding a lot to these threads, man. Keep 'em coming!

What do you think of my boy Josh Wilson? He is high on my Cardinal wish list. That game he had this year versus Florida St. was outstanding.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Thanks, Cardfanmd...you've been adding a lot to these threads, man. Keep 'em coming!

What do you think of my boy Josh Wilson? He is high on my Cardinal wish list. That game he had this year versus Florida St. was outstanding.

Wilson is a definite beast (typical Maryland physical stats) but after running around a 4.3 at the combine I think that he'll go late first out our reach. If he falls to the second it's definitely worth a shot.

 

[BigWatson]

At SLB Karlos Dansby remians somewhat of an enigma. For a while last summer it appeared as if Dansby was AWOL...floating between doctor appointments and mental health breaks. Once the real games began Dansby was suddenly interested in making a charge. At first he seemed very rusty and grossly out of shape. As time wore on he regained some of his old aggressivenes and started to step his game up. When right, Dansby is a monster OLB who can stuff plays at the point of attack and get to the QB as well as any OLB in the NFC. His weakness is in pass coverage...where he lacks the pure speed to shadow TEs and RBs effectively...and he doesn't pick the ball up quickly enough to get his hands on errant passes.

Couldnt disagree more. Dansby has excellent speed and better hands than 99% of the LBs in the NFL. Physically he's the most gifted starting LB in the NFL. He just needs to study cover schemes more often because thats the only knock on him. Hopefully he will do that this offseason so he can be in Hawaii in 08.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Thanks, Cardfanmd...you've been adding a lot to these threads, man. Keep 'em coming!

What do you think of my boy Josh Wilson? He is high on my Cardinal wish list. That game he had this year versus Florida St. was outstanding.

i actually saw him in person at two games and at the mall this year and not only is he great on the field he seems to be a decent guy off of it as well. i think he has the speed and loose hips to start immediately for us

 

[cardsfanmd]

Couldnt disagree more. Dansby has excellent speed and better hands than 99% of the LBs in the NFL. Physically he's the most gifted starting LB in the NFL. He just needs to study cover schemes more often because thats the only knock on him. Hopefully he will do that this offseason so he can be in Hawaii in 08.

dont get me wrong, i firmly believe that when he starts to dedicate himself to the game full time he can be a definite pro bowler. but to call him the most physically gifted lb in the game is a really big stretch

 

[cardsfanmd]

Couldnt disagree more. Dansby has excellent speed and better hands than 99% of the LBs in the NFL. Physically he's the most gifted starting LB in the NFL. He just needs to study cover schemes more often because thats the only knock on him. Hopefully he will do that this offseason so he can be in Hawaii in 08.

dont get me wrong, i firmly believe that when he starts to dedicate himself to the game full time he can be a definite pro bowler. but to call him the most physically gifted lb in the game is a really big stretch

 

[cardsfanmd]

Couldnt disagree more. Dansby has excellent speed and better hands than 99% of the LBs in the NFL. Physically he's the most gifted starting LB in the NFL. He just needs to study cover schemes more often because thats the only knock on him. Hopefully he will do that this offseason so he can be in Hawaii in 08.

dont get me wrong, i firmly believe that if/ when he starts to dedicate himself to the game full time he can be a definite pro bowler. but to call him the most physically gifted lb in the game is a really big stretch.

 

[cardsfanmd]

sorry about the 3-peat, my pc sucks

 

[john h]

Solid write-up as usual. Adibi isn't this draft, but with that said I do like him. Your list other LB candidates are nice and wouldn't hate to pick either of them.

A strong pass rusher like pictured here will do wonders for our CB's. He also is talented at knocking the ball down as well as smashing QB's.

 

[BigWatson]

dont get me wrong, i firmly believe that when he starts to dedicate himself to the game full time he can be a definite pro bowler. but to call him the most physically gifted lb in the game is a really big stretch

nope, i think its a fact. he runs a 4.5 40, he has great leaping ability and excellent hands (played WR in college). i dont know many LB with that kind of speed, height, weight, hands and tackling ability. derrick johnson maybe but thats about it.

 

[Shogun]

nope, i think its a fact. he runs a 4.5 40, he has great leaping ability and excellent hands (played WR in college). i dont know many LB with that kind of speed, height, weight, hands and tackling ability. derrick johnson maybe but thats about it.

Julian Peterson
Brian Urlacher
DJ Williams
Lavar Arrington
Shawne Merriman

All fit your description. These are just off the top of my head. Your comment leans on real homer with that one. I find it blasphemous personally.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Julian Peterson
Brian Urlacher
DJ Williams
Lavar Arrington
Shawne Merriman

All fit your description. These are just off the top of my head. Your comment leans on real homer with that one. I find it blasphemous personally.

Danby is bigger than them though.

 

[BigWatson]

Julian Peterson
Brian Urlacher
DJ Williams
Lavar Arrington
Shawne Merriman

All fit your description. These are just off the top of my head. Your comment leans on real homer with that one. I find it blasphemous personally.

Uh yeah right...

- Urlacher is a great athlete but he's not as fast as Dansby. He's probably somewhere in the 4.7 range. Also he doesnt cover receiver 1 on 1. He cant. He's not athletic enough to stay on tight ends or even slot receivers.
- DJ Williams is way too small. Not great in coverage either. Not even a pass rusher.
- Lavar? You kidding? The guy cant even walk 5 steps without tearing his ACL.
- Merriman is the worst cover LB in the NFL. He runs like a 4.7 and basically he's just a pass rusher. He's worthless against the run. He will make a few bigplys here and there and then he will disappear.

 

[lobo]

Thanks, Cardfanmd...you've been adding a lot to these threads, man. Keep 'em coming!

What do you think of my boy Josh Wilson? He is high on my Cardinal wish list. That game he had this year versus Florida St. was outstanding.

outstanding write up...outstanding....not meant to agree or disagree but i see things for the most part the way you do!! i believe sans thomas we should sit and take nelson...totally agree there...he is a major league hitter...i do believe that austin will give us a major league leg up in the coaching area...are db's were very poorly schooled from what i saw too many times

 

[cardsfanmd]

Danby is bigger than them though.

no he isn't

 

[cardsfanmd]

Uh yeah right...

- Urlacher is a great athlete but he's not as fast as Dansby. He's probably somewhere in the 4.7 range. Also he doesnt cover receiver 1 on 1. He cant. He's not athletic enough to stay on tight ends or even slot receivers.
- DJ Williams is way too small. Not great in coverage either. Not even a pass rusher.
- Lavar? You kidding? The guy cant even walk 5 steps without tearing his ACL.
- Merriman is the worst cover LB in the NFL. He runs like a 4.7 and basically he's just a pass rusher. He's worthless against the run. He will make a few bigplys here and there and then he will disappear.

how about bart scott, adalius thomas, and ray lewis? you didnt comment on peterson, you are absolutely right about lavar and you should watch more of the chargers, cause merriman is an animal

and urlacher is faster than dansby check it out