2017 1st round pick is Haason Reddick

[ajcardfan]

I will admit, I am somewhat surprised we did not take Hooker. He fit our needs a little better. So, they must think Reddick is more talented for the long run.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Keim implied that the whole QB thing at 13 was a ruse

I knew it had to be a ruse. There is no way any of those QBs were worth a high round pick IMO.

 

[Chopper0080]

I guess my struggle is this...I can envision a world where Reuben Foster, OJ Howard and Malik Hooker are the best players at their positions in the NFL. I can't seem to get there with Reddick.

 

[football karma]

I knew it had to be a ruse. There is no way any of those QBs were worth a high round pick IMO.

maybe

could just be spin as well -- "we totally meant to have it work this way"

who knows

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat for a second on this one...easy to say that QB in round 1 was a ruse when the ones you were connected to the most went before your pick.

 

[TheCardFan]

I agree... funny how a guy like McCaffrey gets praise for being able to do multiple things but a defender gets bashed for it.

McAffrey is not being projected as a good RB, WR, or returner...he has proven it.

Reddick is a small DE in college who is being projected to play a position (ILB) he hasn't even played before. Instincts, fighting through blocks, shooting the gap, reading plays from the 2nd level, etc. He doesn't have that experience nor has he proven he can do multiple things. Could it happen? Sure, but it's a big risk at #13.

 

[football karma]

I'm going to put on my tinfoil hat for a second on this one...easy to say that QB in round 1 was a ruse when the ones you were connected to the most went before your pick.

supporting the ruse theory:

why would a team that really needs three or four QB needy teams ahead of them to pass on their preferred prospect(s) tell the entire world over and over that they want a QB this year, it would ideal to have a QB this year, and, there are some really good QBs in the draft this year?

because they are stunningly naive? I dont think that is it.

Against the ruse theory:

Arians is a talker who cant help himself. Quite possible.

 

[TheCardFan]

I knew it had to be a ruse. There is no way any of those QBs were worth a high round pick IMO.

Tell that to the Bears. LOL

 

[Bodha]

Has nothing to do with Reddick. Great guy, great player.



But with Allen and Hooker available, both much bigger needs, I cant help but feel disappointed.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I will admit, I am somewhat surprised we did not take Hooker. He fit our needs a little better. So, they must think Reddick is more talented for the long run.

Yeah I was thinking Hooker as well. However when the Colts took him and they started showing his wild angles and missed tackles that he has had, I can see why the Cardinals went with a pass rusher instead. If you are going to draft a safety in the first round he have better be a sure tackler.

I have never been a fan of taking a Safety early in the draft unless they were Very Very Special. Additionally, I think the big run on Offensive players early means that most likely a quality DB will be there for the Cardinals in the second or third round. So that is a factor as well.

IMO, I go for an elite pass rusher over a safety every time, but that has always been my draft preference. For me in the first round if available you snag: #1 Franchise QB #2 Elite Pass Rusher #3 Elite LT #4 Shutdown Corner, #5 Special Talent (at another position) in that order. IMO those are the hardest positions to fill and should always be a priority if one is available and of course if there is a special once in a life time talent you snag them as well. There wasn't a Franchise QB or Elite LT in this years draft. I think Corey Davis was a Special talent but he was long gone.

Reddick was arguably the best pass rusher on the board. I still can't believe that the Bungles took John Ross that early. Or all of the teams that traded up for QBs. It was like a Defensive gift for the Cardinals.

 

[Bodha]

IMO, I go for an elite pass rusher over a safety every time

Reddick was arguably the best pass rusher on the board.

Where is he going to play with Golden & Chandler? And ILB is not a pass rusher. He can pass rush from the inside, but Reddicks experience is only on the outside.

You cant spend 1st round picks on depth guys. And Chan+Goldy arent going anywhere. They are all here long term.

 

[187]

Where is he going to play with Golden & Chandler? And ILB is not a pass rusher. He can pass rush from the inside, but Reddicks experience is only on the outside.

You cant spend 1st round picks on depth guys. And Chan+Goldy arent going anywhere. They are all here long term.

I believe the saying is "you can never have too many pass rushers". They'll find a way to get his talent on the field.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We are taking a big chance that he can convert to ILB

Dansby will have to school him.

This kid played safety in HS and D-Line in college. Somehow I think ILB should not be a problem.

 

[Stout]

McAffrey is not being projected as a good RB, WR, or returner...he has proven it.

Reddick is a small DE in college who is being projected to play a position (ILB) he hasn't even played before. Instincts, fighting through blocks, shooting the gap, reading plays from the 2nd level, etc. He doesn't have that experience nor has he proven he can do multiple things. Could it happen? Sure, but it's a big risk at #13.

Yep. We took a project, not a plug-and-play star.

Being able to play on special teams is not a negative. Especially when your special teams unit ranked #32 overall the season before.

"without a position?"... You are stuck in the past. This game is starting to leave you behind. Players with positional flexibility is where Defenses like the Cardinals have been moving over the last decade. A pass rusher who can me moved around like Reddick is not a player without a position.

It's not a negative, but when I hear 'special teams' and 'quality depth at multiple positions' as some of the MAIN positives for a #13 overall pick, I want to freaking puke. I'd have had no problem with Reddick if there weren't obvious picks that would likely have helped us more available. I have a BIG problem learning that our FO thought he was top FIVE in this draft. Really? REALLY?

The game's not leaving me behind, and I'm not stuck in the past. I get that positional flexibility is great, and having players like this on the roster is a good thing. But when faced with a choice between a stud plug-and-play prospect or a tweener/flex/HOPE he can play where we want him player, give me the stud plug-and-play 10 times out of 10. This is the kind of player you take LATER in the draft, or if your draft board has been savaged by the time you get to pick.

We're not going to agree.

I guess my struggle is this...I can envision a world where Reuben Foster, OJ Howard and Malik Hooker are the best players at their positions in the NFL. I can't seem to get there with Reddick.

YES!!!

 

[kerouac9]

I think that saying that Haason Riddick is an elite pass rusher is premature at this point. Very few elite pass rushers fall into the middle third of the draft if they're this clean. Von Miller had 27.5 sacks his last two years playing in the SEC.

Haason Riddick had 14.5 sacks his last two years playing in the AAC. His best game of the year by far was against Memphis, and he was a non-factor until the second half.

 

[TJ]

Being able to play on special teams is not a negative. Especially when your special teams unit ranked #32 overall the season before.

"without a position?"... You are stuck in the past. This game is starting to leave you behind. Players with positional flexibility is where Defenses like the Cardinals have been moving over the last decade. A pass rusher who can me moved around like Reddick is not a player without a position.

Yeah, position is just a formality at this point. Arians has moved a corner to safety, a safety to LB, and a RB to WR while he's been here. Positional flexibility is important on this team.

 

[Bodha]

I believe the saying is "you can never have too many pass rushers". They'll find a way to get his talent on the field.

I disagree, thats a very cliche way of looking at it.

He plays X position, and all X positions or similar-to-X positions are all filled.

Thats like saying you can never have too many QBs. Yes you can, because only 1 is on the field at any one time, your 9 backup QBs are irrelevant.

 

[Stout]

This kid played safety in HS and D-Line in college. Somehow I think ILB should not be a problem.

So, you're saying you don't know football? TONS of kids play TONS of positions in HS, then play a different position in college. It happens all the time. It doesn't mean they'll be able to play yet a DIFFERENT position in the pros. What does RB and DL have to do with ILBer? Nothing. He's not transitioning from DE to OLBer, which is often a projected change. He's not transitioning from CB to S, or OT to OG. DE's don't usually become ILBers, which is why this is a big project.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I believe the saying is "you can never have too many pass rushers". They'll find a way to get his talent on the field.

Correct. The Cardinals have a very creative defense. In Reddick's rookie year I see him as a pass rush specialist. He will come in on obvious passing downs. His primary job in his rookie season will be to get the QB. Similar to how the 49ers used Aldon Smith as a pass rush specialist in his rookie season. Obviously they will also use him a lot on special teams as well.

As he get more comfortable in the Defense, the Cardinals will be able to move him around more and use him more outside of 3rd and longs. However for this season I see him primarily as a pass rush specialist and special teamer.

 

[Stout]

Correct. The Cardinals have a very creative defense. In Reddick's rookie year I see him as a pass rush specialist. He will come in on obvious passing downs. His primary job in his rookie season will be to get the QB. Similar to how the 49ers used Aldon Smith as a pass rush specialist in his rookie season. Obviously they will also use him a lot on special teams as well.

As he get more comfortable in the Defense, the Cardinals will be able to move him around more and use him more outside of 3rd and longs. However for this season I see him primarily as a pass rush specialist and special teamer.

Whereas Hooker or Howard would have stepped right into the starting lineup and solidified those positions on every down.

 

[187]

I disagree, thats a very cliche way of looking at it.

He plays X position, and all X positions or similar-to-X positions are all filled.

Thats like saying you can never have too many QBs. Yes you can, because only 1 is on the field at any one time, your 9 backup QBs are irrelevant.

QBs play QB and they don't get subbed out unless injured or your QB situation is a mess. Sounds like he can play inside or outside in our 3-4 packages and potentially put a hand in the dirt in a 4 man front. Apples and oranges, he will find his way on the field.

 

[Russ Smith]

Yeah I was thinking Hooker as well. However when the Colts took him and they started showing his wild angles and missed tackles that he has had, I can see why the Cardinals went with a pass rusher instead. If you are going to draft a safety in the first round he have better be a sure tackler.

I have never been a fan of taking a Safety early in the draft unless they were Very Very Special. Additionally, I think the big run on Offensive players early means that most likely a quality DB will be there for the Cardinals in the second or third round. So that is a factor as well.

IMO, I go for an elite pass rusher over a safety every time, but that has always been my draft preference. For me in the first round if available you snag: #1 Franchise QB #2 Elite Pass Rusher #3 Elite LT #4 Shutdown Corner, #5 Special Talent (at another position) in that order. IMO those are the hardest positions to fill and should always be a priority if one is available and of course if there is a special once in a life time talent you snag them as well. There wasn't a Franchise QB or Elite LT in this years draft. I think Corey Davis was a Special talent but he was long gone.

Reddick was arguably the best pass rusher on the board. I still can't believe that the Bungles took John Ross that early. Or all of the teams that traded up for QBs. It was like a Defensive gift for the Cardinals.

ESPN had a former NFL front office guy in with them Wed morning, blanking on the name. He loved Hooker he said he probably saved 3 games for them this year alone with plays that turned sure TD's into deflections or interceptions with his range. But he did say then it was possible Hooker would fall due to injury concerns.

I don't recall him being asked at all about Reddick

 

[Bodha]

he will find his way on the field.

You know football, you should be able to tell me some options of where to play him.

 

[football karma]

the Cards D had (iirc) "the Joker" set -- where on passing downs it was Golden, Jones and Okafor with just Calais as the D lineman in the game

doesnt Reddick slot into that Joker set right away?

 

[MadCardDisease]

Whereas Hooker or Howard would have stepped right into the starting lineup and solidified those positions on every down.

Howard would have been nice but I'm glad that they went Defense. I kind of hope they go defense again in round 2. So many quality DBs still out there.