Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
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.
The MVP LB this past year was MLB Gerald Hayes. Hayes returned from the IR like a man on a mission. He possesses the total package...he's quick enough and rangy enough to chase plays down laterally...strong and stout enough to blow inside running plays up (although he tends to align himself a little too far back from the line of scrimmage...probably because he worries about getting into pass coverage quickly enough...yet, in pass coverage Hayes is decisive and instinctive...he gets his hands on a fair number of passes...and may have the best hands of any Cardinal defender...in addition, Hayes, because of his aggressiveness and straight line speed, is a formidible blitzer. Hayes held up physically for most of the season, but didn't last the whole 16 games...which should give the Cardinals some concern, seeing as Hayes hasn't turned in a full season in the past three years. He was signed to a lucrative extension...the hope is that Hayes will be able to lead this defense on the field for years to come.
WLB Orlando Huff played lights out during the pre-season...but once the real games started he was a non-factor for most of them. He did make somwhat of a charge late in the season around the time the Cardinals were renewing contracts...but it was far too little--too late. Huff is a good athlete...but lacks the focus and grit to be a consistent force...and he's not the kind of WLB the Cardinals need because Huff isn't a prolific pass rusher.
SLB Calvin Pace never really warmed up to the position and was returned to his spot as a backup DE. Pace is an aggressive edge player, but needs simplified responsibilities (such as no pass coverage duties) to be effective. Such is also the case with 3rd year 3rd round enigma, Darryl Blackstock. If Blackstock's role was to charge hard off the edge every play as he was urged to do at Virginia...he's be pretty good...but, when asked to cope with the nuances of stunts and coverage responsibilities, Blackstock falters.
James Darling never was able to get rolling this past year due to injuries. He's a cagey veteran...a bit of a slow starter who tends to come on strong as the season progresses. At this point Darling's versatility may still be attractive to the Cardinals...yet, it may be time for the club to bring in a younger option.
The Cardinals found a good one late in the year in MLB Monty Beisel. Beisel had some solid years as a backup and special teams performer in New England. In place of Gerald Hayes at starting MLB, Beisel was more than up to the challenge and established himself as a playmaker. It would seem wise for the Cardinals, especially in light of Gerald Hayes' history of injuries, to hold on to Beisel. He shows good range and instincts...and started to show good angles and reads on the passing lanes in coverage.
The potential sleeper and wild card of the returnees is last year's 5th round pick, Brandon Johnson. Johnson has rare speed for an OLB...he's tall and matches up well with the tall, athletic TEs within the division (Jeremy Stevens, Vernon Davis and Joe Klopfenstein)...and we all saw in the Colts win over the Patriots how important it is to have linebackers who can cover TEs, as the Colts exploited the Pats' LBers to the tune of nearly 170 yards. Johnson needs to build strength so that he can be physical at the point of attack...and he needs to show some pass rushing ability as an edge rusher if he is going to have a shot at WLB. Otherwise, Johnson may just be relegated to nickle and dime packages.
In free agency, it would be a major coup for the Cardinals to sign Lance Briggs or Adalius Thomas. Both players will want blue chip contracts...and the Cardinals have plenty of blue chips in their piles to ante up for one of them.
The one LB in this draft to keep an eye on: MLB John Abate of Wake Forest. Whiz says he wants to play tough, physical football and this guy brings it...he's not the proto-typical MLB size-wise, but he fills the holes like a pitbull whose been thrown a T-bone...and with the Cardinals looking to add aspects of the 3-4 to their defensive repertoire, Abate would fit the bill.
LBers in the draft to consider in rounds 2-4: (1) Paul Posluszny, Penn. St. Lacks stopwatch speed, but has great instincts (could wind up to be a Mike Vrabel-type); (2) Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma...a speed OLB who plays well in coverage, but is not the edge-type of WLB the Cardinals are looking for...plus they already have a cover guy in Brandon Johnson; (3) Buster Davis, Florida St...this guy is small but very productive...a real finisher...although his history of injuries are a red flag; (4) Sleeper: Justin Warren, Texas A&M...has the size to speed ratio that teams covet...but lacks experience.
In the secondary...questions abound at LCB, RCB and FS. The team's defensive MVP, Adrian Wilson is the only lock to start in 2007...and Clancy Pendergast knows how to utilize Wilson's significant talents, although CP didn't seem to blitz Wilson nearly enough to my liking, a role that AW absolutely thrives in. In coverage, Wilson is better playing underneath, which is why the Cardinals need to add speedy cover 2 safeties this off-season.
Aaron Francisco is not a blazer, but he's a very aggreesive and instinctive player who certainly will figure into the team's plans. He could very weel be the starting FS if the Cardinals do not add one early in the draft or through free agency.
I think that the Cardinals will take a good long look at the two best defensive backs in this draft...and they are both free safeties: Reggie Nelson and Laron Landry. Both look like future Pro Bowlers...which makes them enticing at #5...or gives the Cardinals a reason to trade down a few spots to pick up an extra draft pick and snag one of these ballhawking centerfielders. Nelson is so athletic that he could also be tried at CB, if need be.
If the Cardinals pass on Nelson and Landry...they may take a run in later rounds at Michael Griffin (Texas), Josh Gattis (Wake Forest), Eric Weddle (Utah) or Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame), who also excels as a punt returner.
One of the biggest decisions the Cardinals have to make this off-season is figuring out whether Antrel Rolle should stay at starting LCB or be move over to safety. Rolle has struggled mightliy for two years now at CB...he gives up way too much cushion and, when he doesn't, he lacks recovery speed. His footwork is poor and he doesn't play the ball. Yet. he's a punishing tackler...who forces the run with aplomb...which means that he is best utilized as a "roll up" CB who plays the flat, while the FS covers his deep third.
The free agent who makes the most sense for the Cardinals is CB Assante Samuel...who is everything that Antrel Rolle is not...a guy who can shadow with the best of them or hide in waiting to jump in on passes thrown his way...and a player who has great hands, something all the Cardinal CBs on the current roster lack.
Eric Green has the feet and the speed to be a solid RCB...and for a while he was forcing the run with a bang (which was supposed to be the question mark on him coming out of Va. Tech). The question mark now is whether Green has the head and/or the confidence to be a good NFL CB. My gut feeling is that he will start to blossom in his third season and that his talents will be on full display this season.
David Macklin is now a free agent and will likely sign elsewhere. He had a good first year with the Cards...but the past two years was toast in coverage...rarely if ever looking back for the ball as the good corners do.
Matt Ware has great size...but limited quickness...he really needs to put the pedal to the metal this year if he is going to make it as an NFL CB. He's a competitor...thus, it's possible Ware could make a good bid to stick.
The player to watch is CB Darryl Hunter, because of Hunter's rare speed...the book on him was that he was soft and unmotivated...but there were times this year on special teams where Hunter was very fast and physical.
This draft for CBs is a weak one. Even the most highly touted CB in this draft, Michigan's Leon Hall, has question marks about his speed. The best pro prospect of the group, IMO, is Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis...but he's not a top 5 pick and he'll be well off the board by the time the second round rolls along. If Cal's Daymeion Hughes slides to the early picks in round two, he may be very tempting to take. While his recovery speed is a question mark, he's an instinctive gamer who plays with tremendous confidence...with a speedy saftey behind him, he could be another Assante Samuel.
The CB I like a lot for round 3 is Maryland's Josh Wilson...this guy has Ty Law written all over him...he's a smart, clever player who jumps routes at the right times...some players just always seem to be around the ball and Wilson has that knack...he's also a good return man, strong on his feet and shifty in the open field.
The MVP LB this past year was MLB Gerald Hayes. Hayes returned from the IR like a man on a mission. He possesses the total package...he's quick enough and rangy enough to chase plays down laterally...strong and stout enough to blow inside running plays up (although he tends to align himself a little too far back from the line of scrimmage...probably because he worries about getting into pass coverage quickly enough...yet, in pass coverage Hayes is decisive and instinctive...he gets his hands on a fair number of passes...and may have the best hands of any Cardinal defender...in addition, Hayes, because of his aggressiveness and straight line speed, is a formidible blitzer. Hayes held up physically for most of the season, but didn't last the whole 16 games...which should give the Cardinals some concern, seeing as Hayes hasn't turned in a full season in the past three years. He was signed to a lucrative extension...the hope is that Hayes will be able to lead this defense on the field for years to come.
WLB Orlando Huff played lights out during the pre-season...but once the real games started he was a non-factor for most of them. He did make somwhat of a charge late in the season around the time the Cardinals were renewing contracts...but it was far too little--too late. Huff is a good athlete...but lacks the focus and grit to be a consistent force...and he's not the kind of WLB the Cardinals need because Huff isn't a prolific pass rusher.
SLB Calvin Pace never really warmed up to the position and was returned to his spot as a backup DE. Pace is an aggressive edge player, but needs simplified responsibilities (such as no pass coverage duties) to be effective. Such is also the case with 3rd year 3rd round enigma, Darryl Blackstock. If Blackstock's role was to charge hard off the edge every play as he was urged to do at Virginia...he's be pretty good...but, when asked to cope with the nuances of stunts and coverage responsibilities, Blackstock falters.
James Darling never was able to get rolling this past year due to injuries. He's a cagey veteran...a bit of a slow starter who tends to come on strong as the season progresses. At this point Darling's versatility may still be attractive to the Cardinals...yet, it may be time for the club to bring in a younger option.
The Cardinals found a good one late in the year in MLB Monty Beisel. Beisel had some solid years as a backup and special teams performer in New England. In place of Gerald Hayes at starting MLB, Beisel was more than up to the challenge and established himself as a playmaker. It would seem wise for the Cardinals, especially in light of Gerald Hayes' history of injuries, to hold on to Beisel. He shows good range and instincts...and started to show good angles and reads on the passing lanes in coverage.
The potential sleeper and wild card of the returnees is last year's 5th round pick, Brandon Johnson. Johnson has rare speed for an OLB...he's tall and matches up well with the tall, athletic TEs within the division (Jeremy Stevens, Vernon Davis and Joe Klopfenstein)...and we all saw in the Colts win over the Patriots how important it is to have linebackers who can cover TEs, as the Colts exploited the Pats' LBers to the tune of nearly 170 yards. Johnson needs to build strength so that he can be physical at the point of attack...and he needs to show some pass rushing ability as an edge rusher if he is going to have a shot at WLB. Otherwise, Johnson may just be relegated to nickle and dime packages.
In free agency, it would be a major coup for the Cardinals to sign Lance Briggs or Adalius Thomas. Both players will want blue chip contracts...and the Cardinals have plenty of blue chips in their piles to ante up for one of them.
The one LB in this draft to keep an eye on: MLB John Abate of Wake Forest. Whiz says he wants to play tough, physical football and this guy brings it...he's not the proto-typical MLB size-wise, but he fills the holes like a pitbull whose been thrown a T-bone...and with the Cardinals looking to add aspects of the 3-4 to their defensive repertoire, Abate would fit the bill.
LBers in the draft to consider in rounds 2-4: (1) Paul Posluszny, Penn. St. Lacks stopwatch speed, but has great instincts (could wind up to be a Mike Vrabel-type); (2) Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma...a speed OLB who plays well in coverage, but is not the edge-type of WLB the Cardinals are looking for...plus they already have a cover guy in Brandon Johnson; (3) Buster Davis, Florida St...this guy is small but very productive...a real finisher...although his history of injuries are a red flag; (4) Sleeper: Justin Warren, Texas A&M...has the size to speed ratio that teams covet...but lacks experience.
In the secondary...questions abound at LCB, RCB and FS. The team's defensive MVP, Adrian Wilson is the only lock to start in 2007...and Clancy Pendergast knows how to utilize Wilson's significant talents, although CP didn't seem to blitz Wilson nearly enough to my liking, a role that AW absolutely thrives in. In coverage, Wilson is better playing underneath, which is why the Cardinals need to add speedy cover 2 safeties this off-season.
Aaron Francisco is not a blazer, but he's a very aggreesive and instinctive player who certainly will figure into the team's plans. He could very weel be the starting FS if the Cardinals do not add one early in the draft or through free agency.
I think that the Cardinals will take a good long look at the two best defensive backs in this draft...and they are both free safeties: Reggie Nelson and Laron Landry. Both look like future Pro Bowlers...which makes them enticing at #5...or gives the Cardinals a reason to trade down a few spots to pick up an extra draft pick and snag one of these ballhawking centerfielders. Nelson is so athletic that he could also be tried at CB, if need be.
If the Cardinals pass on Nelson and Landry...they may take a run in later rounds at Michael Griffin (Texas), Josh Gattis (Wake Forest), Eric Weddle (Utah) or Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame), who also excels as a punt returner.
One of the biggest decisions the Cardinals have to make this off-season is figuring out whether Antrel Rolle should stay at starting LCB or be move over to safety. Rolle has struggled mightliy for two years now at CB...he gives up way too much cushion and, when he doesn't, he lacks recovery speed. His footwork is poor and he doesn't play the ball. Yet. he's a punishing tackler...who forces the run with aplomb...which means that he is best utilized as a "roll up" CB who plays the flat, while the FS covers his deep third.
The free agent who makes the most sense for the Cardinals is CB Assante Samuel...who is everything that Antrel Rolle is not...a guy who can shadow with the best of them or hide in waiting to jump in on passes thrown his way...and a player who has great hands, something all the Cardinal CBs on the current roster lack.
Eric Green has the feet and the speed to be a solid RCB...and for a while he was forcing the run with a bang (which was supposed to be the question mark on him coming out of Va. Tech). The question mark now is whether Green has the head and/or the confidence to be a good NFL CB. My gut feeling is that he will start to blossom in his third season and that his talents will be on full display this season.
David Macklin is now a free agent and will likely sign elsewhere. He had a good first year with the Cards...but the past two years was toast in coverage...rarely if ever looking back for the ball as the good corners do.
Matt Ware has great size...but limited quickness...he really needs to put the pedal to the metal this year if he is going to make it as an NFL CB. He's a competitor...thus, it's possible Ware could make a good bid to stick.
The player to watch is CB Darryl Hunter, because of Hunter's rare speed...the book on him was that he was soft and unmotivated...but there were times this year on special teams where Hunter was very fast and physical.
This draft for CBs is a weak one. Even the most highly touted CB in this draft, Michigan's Leon Hall, has question marks about his speed. The best pro prospect of the group, IMO, is Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis...but he's not a top 5 pick and he'll be well off the board by the time the second round rolls along. If Cal's Daymeion Hughes slides to the early picks in round two, he may be very tempting to take. While his recovery speed is a question mark, he's an instinctive gamer who plays with tremendous confidence...with a speedy saftey behind him, he could be another Assante Samuel.
The CB I like a lot for round 3 is Maryland's Josh Wilson...this guy has Ty Law written all over him...he's a smart, clever player who jumps routes at the right times...some players just always seem to be around the ball and Wilson has that knack...he's also a good return man, strong on his feet and shifty in the open field.
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