2015 Draft / LBs / For my fellow draft nerds

[Finito]

The Broncos play a hybrid defense. Just depends on the situation. They do bring Miller and Ware off the edge a lot neither guy plays with his hand in the dirt.

Beasley might be there when we draft, I'd be happy with that pick.

The Falcons gave up 5 picks for Julio Jones swapped 1s, 2nd, 4th and a 1 and 4 the next year. That's way to much for a guy who wasn't even considered the best WR in the draft( A.J Green went two picks earlier). They robbed ATL that night.

 

[GatorAZ]

The Broncos play a hybrid defense. Just depends on the situation. They do bring Miller and Ware off the edge a lot neither guy plays with his hand in the dirt.

Beasley might be there when we draft, I'd be happy with that pick.

The Falcons gave up 5 picks for Julio Jones swapped 1s, 2nd, 4th and a 1 and 4 the next year. That's way to much for a guy who wasn't even considered the best WR in the draft( A.J Green went two picks earlier). They robbed ATL that night.

Julio is a star. Who did the Browns take with those picks?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

von miller had the same size of beasley in his last year at college.
we need speed very bad from the edge.
getting a player like beasley and daryl washington back could make this defense dominate like the last season.
i hope we can get also a taller and faster free safety

Miller was 6'3 246 at the combine. That's a bigger frame and already 10 pounds heavier. It will be interesting to see what Beasley checks in at the combine.

Beasley will face the same size issues as a 3-4 OLB that Shazier faced last year. Even though Beasley is bigger than Shazier.

 

[Chopper0080]

Nate Orchard - Utah got another sack. I'm really starting to like this kid.

Shane Ray - Missouri (who I was late on but others have mentioned) had 3 sacks vs Florida. A really nice, explosive player off the edge, but doesn't show a bunch of moves.

Shilique Calhoun and Taiwan Jones both had sacks for MIchigan St.

Odig and Eric Kendricks both had sacks for UCLA. I really like Odig for the elephant backer role on this team.

Zach Hodges - Harvard is another guy who has potential for this defense at ILB. He had 1.5 sacks this weekend. Solid athlete, but undersized. PLays all over so you would think he is pretty football smart.

I've already talked up the Washington guys, who I really like for what we do. The more I think about Shelton the NT in this defense, the more I think it would be a really good idea if Williams prices himself out of AZ. His ability to get up the field and make plays is impressive.

That is all.

 

[Finito]

Kikaha is a stud. Add two more sacks to his total bringing him to 14.5 on the season. His hands are great. Back to back sacks tonight one from the right one from the left and on that Kelly concussion he was giving chase.


Man so many good pass rushers this year

 

[GatorAZ]

Kikaha is a stud. Add two more sacks to his total bringing him to 14.5 on the season. His hands are great. Back to back sacks tonight one from the right one from the left and on that Kelly concussion he was giving chase.


Man so many good pass rushers this year

I've been on board for a while but the reconstructed knee scares me a bit. That's a ticking time bomb for most guys but he still looks explosive and fluid. If the Cards are picking somewhere in the 20's it wouldn't be that much of a reach.

I think Leonard Floyd will be in that area as well.

 

[Chopper0080]

So I watched only a coupe games, but did record USC vs Utah and Wash vs Az st. and I will let you guys know what I see when I get to them monday.

re: Miss St vs Kentucky.

-Ive talked a bunch about Alvin Dupree, and last night gave me a bit of pause. Big games normally bring out the best in star players, and so I wanted to see how Dupree did when he should be showing his best. Honestly, not real impressive. Looks the part. Has nice speed. Just didn't play with much of a motor. Looked a bit lackadaisical at times. Not a great trait for an edge rusher. I still like him, but more of a 2nd round guy than a 1st for me.

-Benardrick McKinney had another solid but not sexy game. Looks like a KJ Wright type of player when I watch him and less like a physical freak of nature which some claim. It could be the scheme, but I am starting to wonder. I keep waiting for him to flash on the field and have yet to see it.

 

[Chopper0080]

Shilique Calhoun - sack
Taiwan Jones - sack and a pick

Eric Kendricks - pick

 

[Finito]

Matt Miller mid season mock on bleacher report.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2246000-2015-nfl-mock-draft-matt-millers-midseason-predictions

Arizona Cardinals picking #32
The Pick: OLB Hauoli Kikaha, Washington

The Arizona Cardinals have an impressive amount of talent on defense, and yet after Week 8 they are ranked No. 32 in the NFL in passing yards allowed. With Patrick Peterson, Antonio Cromartie, Jerraud Powers, Tyrann Mathieu, Tony Jefferson and Deone Bucannon in the secondary, how is that possible?

The biggest area that hurts the defense is a lack of a pass rush from the linebackers. Alex Okafor and Sam Acho are good, young players, but they're not John Abraham and the defense has suffered because of their inability to put pressure on the quarterback. And in this 3-4 hybrid defense, the Cardinals need several quality pass rushers instead of two players learning on the job.

Washington's Hauoli Kikaha is on pace to break tackle for a loss records in college football, and his pass rush is pretty dang good too. He's built to stand up and play off the edge and has shown quickness, toughness and a violent finish as he attacks Pac-12 quarterbacks.
-----------------------------------

If be more than happy with that pick

 

[Chopper0080]

Watched Nate Orchard vs USC last night, and he looked good, not great. I definitely think he is more explosive on his feet which is good for the Cards, and is not shy taking on blockers. However, i didn't see that sudden burst that you look for in top pass rushers. I/m not saying it isn't there, but I didn't see anything that made me say WOW. I still think he is on par with Alvin Dupree of Kentucky.

I will watch the Washington vs Az St. game tonight. I want to focus on Shaq and Kikaha.

 

[Chopper0080]

I could see our first three rounds looking like this...

1 - Hauoli Kikaha - DE (OLB in our defense) - Washington
2 - Zach Hodges - OLB (ILB in our defense) - Harvard
3 - Steven Nelson - CB - Oregon St.

 

[MadCardDisease]

This thread brings back bad memories of those years where the Cardinals were already out of the running by mid season and all we had to look forward to was the Draft.

 

[Chopper0080]

This thread brings back bad memories of those years where the Cardinals were already out of the running by mid season and all we had to look forward to was the Draft.

I always like to look forward even when I am enjoying the season. There is nothing we can do to change what we are working with this season, so I just hang on and see where the ride takes us. What I feel are real talking points are where holes are currently, and what ways they can be filled going forward.

Next year is one of the few things to really discuss in season. We can talk usage a little, a little regarding performance, but we have the team that we are heading forward with, regardless of the holes.

I'm not interested in talking about play calling, because no one on this board understands it as well as Bruce Arians. I have faith in his competency vs arguing the need for more "creative" plays.

I'm not interested in talking about our lack of pass rush, because it isn't gonna change. Players aren't going to suddenly become pass rushing threats. We blitz more than any other team in the NFL, and still struggle to get pressure. That speaks to the pass rushing talent we have.

I'm not interested in talking about our OG play because other than Cooper, if we had better, they would be playing. And regarding Cooper, either the coaches are serious about favoring continuity or Cooper just really sucks. That is the beginning and end of that conversation.

I'm not interested in talking about Patrick Peterson, and how people on this board believe he is a disappointment when people in the industry call him one of the best in the league. Can he be better? Yes. Does that keep him from being one of the best CBs in the NFL? No. End of discussion.

Like I said, to me it is more interesting to discuss how we might plug some of the holes we are seeing in our roster in the offseason, rather than these other topics which I feel don't warrant much discussion. But, that is just my opinion, and you are more than welcome to yours.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I've been on board for a while but the reconstructed knee scares me a bit. That's a ticking time bomb for most guys but he still looks explosive and fluid. If the Cards are picking somewhere in the 20's it wouldn't be that much of a reach.

I think Leonard Floyd will be in that area as well.

How about another Louisville Cardinal sneaking in to the bottom

of the first round? Lorenzo Mauldin? Or is he viewed as a second rounder?

I could talk about the draft 365 days a year.

 

[Chopper0080]

How about another Louisville Cardinal sneaking in to the bottom

of the first round? Lorenzo Mauldin? Or is he viewed as a second rounder?

I could talk about the draft 365 days a year.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but I believe Maudlin is in that late round 1 to early round 3 group. A conversion prospect that doesn't have a true home right now, but will develop more clarity as the draft process plays out. Hauoli Kikaha, Nate Orchard, Alvin Dupree, and some others are in that group. Clear first round edge guys right now seem to be Randy Gregory, Shaq Thompson, Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler, Shane Ray, and Shilique Calhoun. Some of those guys translate to ILB in our system, but are considered edge players.

Something also to remember is that draft grades right now are still based mostly on preseason rankings. There are some adjustments made on the fly, but the overall 2014 season doesn't play into rankings until Dec/Jan. That is whe scouts are able to view the season as a whole, and either confirm or contradict what they thought heading into the season. This is especially true for unpolished players, QBs, and conversion players. They are where you normally see the most post draft movement.

 

[Cardiac]

This thread brings back bad memories of those years where the Cardinals were already out of the running by mid season and all we had to look forward to was the Draft.

I get what you are saying but I love these threads because the wannabe GM in me would be looking at what holes to fill just like Chopper does.

 

[Russ Smith]

FYI interesting comment from UCLA LB Myles Jack today, he said that the UCLA coaches asked him if he was interested in moving to RB full time but he declined. Apparently RB coach Kennedy Polamalu asks him all the time and the interesting thing is he's apparently been told NFL people see him as a better RB prospect than a LB prospect.

There is some truth there, he's a very good college player but he was better last year than this year at LB, I think losses on the DL and losing Barr has made it tougher on him. He's not that big as a LB, they are listing him at 230 I hear he's more like 225 and might even be less. So he's a small LB, but he's a big RB. The downside of course is LB's have much longer careers than RB's, the upside is he has shown REAL potential at RB.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

FYI interesting comment from UCLA LB Myles Jack today, he said that the UCLA coaches asked him if he was interested in moving to RB full time but he declined. Apparently RB coach Kennedy Polamalu asks him all the time and the interesting thing is he's apparently been told NFL people see him as a better RB prospect than a LB prospect.

There is some truth there, he's a very good college player but he was better last year than this year at LB, I think losses on the DL and losing Barr has made it tougher on him. He's not that big as a LB, they are listing him at 230 I hear he's more like 225 and might even be less. So he's a small LB, but he's a big RB. The downside of course is LB's have much longer careers than RB's, the upside is he has shown REAL potential at RB.

Speaking of Barr, he is playing very well right now. He has star written all over him. Every time I hear his name I wish Minny would have passed on him and Keim could've executed that trade with Tennessee.

 

[AZCrazy]

How are Shazier and Calvin Pryor doing?

 

[Russ Smith]

Speaking of Barr, he is playing very well right now. He has star written all over him. Every time I hear his name I wish Minny would have passed on him and Keim could've executed that trade with Tennessee.

Barr is having a great year on a bad defense. 2 weeks ago he won their game in OT by reaching in to loosen the ball up from Sefarian-Jenkins, then the safety nailed him the ball pops out and Barr scoops it up and runs it in for a TD.

Having a DROY type of season.

Last year UCLA was a true 3-4 with him playing OLB with Barr, this year they play a hybrid 3-4 and 4-3 and he plays a different position sometimes he's inside sometimes he's outside, and he's in coverage more. Far less impact this year, I don't think he had a tackle in the UA win although that's because they DL did such a great job.

 

[Finito]

How are Shazier and Calvin Pryor doing?

Shazier has been hurt all year just came back Sunday night and got hurt again. Pryor had been as advertised I still would rather have Bucannon

 

[football karma]

Speaking of Barr, he is playing very well right now. He has star written all over him. Every time I hear his name I wish Minny would have passed on him and Keim could've executed that trade with Tennessee.

Cbus: was there a real rumored trade with Tenn, or just something we projected on the board?

 

[Chopper0080]

Cbus: was there a real rumored trade with Tenn, or just something we projected on the board?

That was a real rumor...Jurecki and Urban have commented on it. Same with Ryan Shazier.

 

[Finito]

I would of loved to have gotten Barr. Shazier to prove his body can hold up at the NFL level but I hope he gets healthy seems like a good guy.

Still very happy with the way our draft. Bucannon is the real deal trading back picking up an extra 3rd I think highly of both Martin and Brown.

 

[GatorAZ]

Miller was 6'3 246 at the combine. That's a bigger frame and already 10 pounds heavier. It will be interesting to see what Beasley checks in at the combine.

Beasley will face the same size issues as a 3-4 OLB that Shazier faced last year. Even though Beasley is bigger than Shazier.

Dion Jordan and Berk Mingo also checked in in the 240's when their playing weight was in the 220's. I'm expecting Beasley around the same. I'm more interested in his arm length.