General Chaos
Gronko = Man Beast
Rookie makes early impression on defensive line
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
August 13, 2003
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- So far, Calvin Pace is looking like he deserved to be a first-round draft pick after all.
The draft gurus of the NFL shook their heads in disbelief when the Arizona Cardinals made Pace the No. 18 pick overall. Most forecasters had Pace going in the second round, or even the third.
But the defensive end from Wake Forest has made a big early impression in practice and in the team's first preseason game.
``Outstanding,'' Hall of Famer Joe Greene, the Cardinals' defensive line coach, said Tuesday. ``Just his athletic ability and his willingness to learn. It's early, but he hasn't disappointed. He's still a pup and he's got a long way to go, but the promise is there.''
The 6-foot-4, 262-pound Pace plays the right edge on the Cardinals' first-string nickel defense because of his quickness at getting to the quarterback. He had two sacks in Arizona's 13-0 victory over Dallas on Saturday night.
Pace downplays his big early splash on that sweltering night in Tempe.
``Those big plays came up, but I still had my downs, too,'' Pace said. ``But that was my first pro game and I was going against a pretty good tackle. Week in, week out, if I keep getting better, it will come.''
Coach Dave McGinnis, the Cardinals' defensive coordinator before he became head coach, also was impressed.
``I love guys who make plays,'' he said. ``He's got more than quickness. He's got a little fork-lift to him. He can jack those big guys up. He's got good strength, he's got leverage. He's got power.
``He needs to develop some more on his rush, but this is a very, very hardworking individual, a very diligent guy. I like him a lot.''
The Cardinals finished last in the NFL with 21 sacks a year ago. The individual leader was Kyle Vanden Bosch with 3 1/2 . The only way the team could get significant pressure on the quarterback was to blitz, and that led to big plays by the opponents.
There was no more glaringly obvious need in the draft.
Arizona had the No. 6 pick overall and could have selected Arizona State's Terrell Suggs, a local favorite who set the sack NCAA record last season. Instead, vice president for football operations Rod Graves opted to trade down with Green Bay to get the No. 17 and 18 selections.
The Cardinals chose wide receiver Bryant Johnson at 17 and Pace at 18. Across the NFL, pundits consistently rated Arizona's draft as one of the league's worst.
From the day he arrived in camp, Pace's aim has been to show that drafting him so high was no mistake.
``I'm trying my best,'' he said. ``I think we're going to be good. Whether I get 10 or 12 sacks, it's all irrelevant.''
Pace has his eye on the starting right end spot currently occupied by Fred Wakefield.
``That's what he's here for, and when he gets to that point, then he'll be there,'' McGinnis said. ``But he's got to continue to work for it.''
Good to hear!!!!!!
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
August 13, 2003
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- So far, Calvin Pace is looking like he deserved to be a first-round draft pick after all.
The draft gurus of the NFL shook their heads in disbelief when the Arizona Cardinals made Pace the No. 18 pick overall. Most forecasters had Pace going in the second round, or even the third.
But the defensive end from Wake Forest has made a big early impression in practice and in the team's first preseason game.
``Outstanding,'' Hall of Famer Joe Greene, the Cardinals' defensive line coach, said Tuesday. ``Just his athletic ability and his willingness to learn. It's early, but he hasn't disappointed. He's still a pup and he's got a long way to go, but the promise is there.''
The 6-foot-4, 262-pound Pace plays the right edge on the Cardinals' first-string nickel defense because of his quickness at getting to the quarterback. He had two sacks in Arizona's 13-0 victory over Dallas on Saturday night.
Pace downplays his big early splash on that sweltering night in Tempe.
``Those big plays came up, but I still had my downs, too,'' Pace said. ``But that was my first pro game and I was going against a pretty good tackle. Week in, week out, if I keep getting better, it will come.''
Coach Dave McGinnis, the Cardinals' defensive coordinator before he became head coach, also was impressed.
``I love guys who make plays,'' he said. ``He's got more than quickness. He's got a little fork-lift to him. He can jack those big guys up. He's got good strength, he's got leverage. He's got power.
``He needs to develop some more on his rush, but this is a very, very hardworking individual, a very diligent guy. I like him a lot.''
The Cardinals finished last in the NFL with 21 sacks a year ago. The individual leader was Kyle Vanden Bosch with 3 1/2 . The only way the team could get significant pressure on the quarterback was to blitz, and that led to big plays by the opponents.
There was no more glaringly obvious need in the draft.
Arizona had the No. 6 pick overall and could have selected Arizona State's Terrell Suggs, a local favorite who set the sack NCAA record last season. Instead, vice president for football operations Rod Graves opted to trade down with Green Bay to get the No. 17 and 18 selections.
The Cardinals chose wide receiver Bryant Johnson at 17 and Pace at 18. Across the NFL, pundits consistently rated Arizona's draft as one of the league's worst.
From the day he arrived in camp, Pace's aim has been to show that drafting him so high was no mistake.
``I'm trying my best,'' he said. ``I think we're going to be good. Whether I get 10 or 12 sacks, it's all irrelevant.''
Pace has his eye on the starting right end spot currently occupied by Fred Wakefield.
``That's what he's here for, and when he gets to that point, then he'll be there,'' McGinnis said. ``But he's got to continue to work for it.''
Good to hear!!!!!!
