Brace Yourselves: Eve of Draft Thoughts

[Mitch]

1. I say brace yourselves because if the Cardinals do not take Newton or Gabbert at #5 (assuming one is available)---and I feel 99.9% certain they won't---no matter who they pick at #5---they are going to get blasted---I can see Mel going on another QB rant the way he did when the Colts took OLB/DE Trev Albert over QB Trent Dilfer when the Colts did not have a franchise QB---do you remember?---it caused the now infamous "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?" query from the Colts' GM.

Note: in retrospect...Trent Dilfer did win a Super Bowl, but not with Tampa Bay, the team that drafted him---and Dilfer was never what one would call a franchise caliber QB---he won the Super Bowl because he did not turn the ball over and thus allowed Baltimore's defense to dominate the game and the score. As for Trev Albert---he did not have a good career due to injuries.

If the Cardinals trade down from #5 with Gabbert still on the board---Mel may even lose some hair. No matter what the rest of the Cardinals' draft looks like, they will get an F from Mel in his Team Grades.

Now---do we or the Cardinals really care what Mel and Todd think?

We shouldn't...and Whiz certainly won't.

But---to be honest---it will be a slightly painful reminder of the yearly scrutiny the Cardinals seemed to attract when they were the same old Cardinals---especially coming off this past year's embarrassment, when they looked very much like, yup, the same old Cardinals.

There are two scenarios where the Cardinals will be able to avoid getting publicly berated:

A. If both Newton and Gabbert are taken prior to #5.

B. If Von Miller is somehow on the board at #5---which will mitigate the situation---because the Cardinals are so void of edge pass rushers and Miller is so highy touted---and because Mel can't question "why Peterson when you already used a 1st round pick on DRC?"...or..."Why A.J. Green when you already have Fitz, and you have NO ONE to throw them the ball?"

If the Cardinals trade down...you just know we will have to hear about the last trade down debacle..so, again, brace yourself.

But...

2. If the Cardinals can trade down and acquire 3 top 105 picks in doing so...like Houston's #11, #73 and #105 picks (and possibly a 7th rounder added in)...they SHOULD DO IT THIS YEAR!

If the Cardinals can acquire the #11 and #42 picks...even better.

But...both scenarios work.

Of all years to do it, this year is the one. The real value picks of this draft are in picks 33-120.

The extra picks will also allow the Cardinals the flexibility to move back up in rounds as they did for Daryl Washington last year.

Yet, the best scenario may be to stay put where the extra picks are because the Cardinals with 6 of the forst 105 picks could come out of this draft with 4-5 starters and 1-2 key backups...and STILL have 4 picks to work with in the second half of the draft.

3. Examining How This Draft Shapes UP for the Cardinals' Needs:

The best thing to focus the early part of this draft on?

Adding significant young talent to the defense.

Use free agency or later trades (after the CBA is reached) to add key veterans to the offense, which the Cardinals are already planning to do at QB, TE and possibly in the offensive line.

Therefore---watch how this draft shapes up:

Round 1: Loaded with edge rushers---and they are going to go quickly.

Round 2: A run of QBs early---which will leave a host of very good 34DE or 34NT options---how good would Cameron Heyward look in Cardinal red?

Round 3: Good offensive line talent here---and good LB options.


Which is why...

4. My Dream Draft:

11. Ryan Kerrigan, SOLB/DE, Purdue.

38. Cameron Heyward, 34DE, Ohio St., Stephen Paea, 34NT/DE, Oregon St., or Phil Taylor, Baylor

69. Dontay Moch, OLB/SS, Nevada or Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina or Mark Herzlich, Boston College

73. Clint Boling, G, Georgia or Will Rackley, G/T, Lehigh

103. Mario Harvey, ILB, Marshall

105. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama

136. Da'Norris Searcy, S, North Carolina

171. Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida

184. Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn

249. Preston Dial, FB/TE/HB, Alabama

5. My QB Predictions:

#1. CAR: Newton---GM loves him---games will sell out
#7. SF: Locker---best kept secret of the draft. Harbaugh loves this kid.
#10. WASH: Gabbert---where Matt Leinart fell
#25. SEA: Ponder---fits their style
#28. CIN (from NE): Dalton---Jay Gruden gets his man
#34. BUF: Kaepernick---Chan Gailey loves ahtletic gunslingers
#43. MIN: Mallett---they love taking fallers with talent---see Randy Moss

 

[CtCardinals78]

1. I say brace yourselves because if the Cardinals do not take Newton or Gabbert at #5 (assuming one is available)---and I feel 99.9% certain they won't---no matter who they pick at #5---they are going to get blasted---I can see Mel going on another QB rant the way he did when the Colts took OLB/DE Trev Albert over QB Trent Dilfer when the Colts did not have a franchise QB---do you remember?---it caused the now infamous "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?" query from the Colts' GM.

Note: in retrospect...Trent Dilfer did win a Super Bowl, but not with Tampa Bay, the team that drafted him---and Dilfer was never what one would call a franchise caliber QB---he won the Super Bowl because he did not turn the ball over and thus allowed Baltimore's defense to dominate the game and the score. As for Trev Albert---he did not have a good career due to injuries.

If the Cardinals trade down from #5 with Gabbert still on the board---Mel may even lose some hair. No matter what the rest of the Cardinals' draft looks like, they will get an F from Mel in his Team Grades.

Now---do we or the Cardinals really care what Mel and Todd think?

We shouldn't...and Whiz certainly won't.

But---to be honest---it will be a slightly painful reminder of the yearly scrutiny the Cardinals seemed to attract when they were the same old Cardinals---especially coming off this past year's embarrassment, when they looked very much like, yup, the same old Cardinals.

There are two scenarios where the Cardinals will be able to avoid getting publicly berated:

A. If both Newton and Gabbert are taken prior to #5.

B. If Von Miller is somehow on the board at #5---which will mitigate the situation---because the Cardinals are so void of edge pass rushers and Miller is so highy touted---and because Mel can't question "why Peterson when you already used a 1st round pick on DRC?"...or..."Why A.J. Green when you already have Fitz, and you have NO ONE to throw them the ball?"

If the Cardinals trade down...you just know we will have to hear about the last trade down debacle..so, again, brace yourself.

But...

2. If the Cardinals can trade down and acquire 3 top 105 picks in doing so...like Houston's #11, #73 and #105 picks (and possibly a 7th rounder added in)...they SHOULD DO IT THIS YEAR!

If the Cardinals can acquire the #11 and #42 picks...even better.

But...both scenarios work.

Of all years to do it, this year is the one. The real value picks of this draft are in picks 33-120.

The extra picks will also allow the Cardinals the flexibility to move back up in rounds as they did for Daryl Washington last year.

Yet, the best scenario may be to stay put where the extra picks are because the Cardinals with 6 of the forst 105 picks could come out of this draft with 4-5 starters and 1-2 key backups...and STILL have 4 picks to work with in the second half of the draft.

3. Examining How This Draft Shapes UP for the Cardinals' Needs:

The best thing to focus the early part of this draft on?

Adding significant young talent to the defense.

Use free agency or later trades (after the CBA is reached) to add key veterans to the offense, which the Cardinals are already planning to do at QB, TE and possibly in the offensive line.

Therefore---watch how this draft shapes up:

Round 1: Loaded with edge rushers---and they are going to go quickly.

Round 2: A run of QBs early---which will leave a host of very good 34DE or 34NT options---how good would Cameron Heyward look in Cardinal red?

Round 3: Good offensive line talent here---and good LB options.


Which is why...

4. My Dream Draft:

11. Ryan Kerrigan, SOLB/DE, Purdue.

38. Cameron Heyward, 34DE, Ohio St., Stephen Paea, 34NT/DE, Oregon St., or Phil Taylor, Baylor

69. Dontay Moch, OLB/SS, Nevada or Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina or Mark Herzlich, Boston College

73. Clint Boling, G, Georgia or Will Rackley, G/T, Lehigh

103. Mario Harvey, ILB, Marshall

105. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama

136. Da'Norris Searcy, S, North Carolina

171. Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida

184. Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn

249. Preston Dial, FB/TE/HB, Alabama

5. My QB Predictions:

#1. CAR: Newton---GM loves him---games will sell out
#7. SF: Locker---best kept secret of the draft. Harbaugh loves this kid.
#10. WASH: Gabbert---where Matt Leinart fell
#25. SEA: Ponder---fits their style
#28. CIN (from NE): Dalton---Jay Gruden gets his man
#34. BUF: Kaepernick---Chan Gailey loves ahtletic gunslingers
#43. MIN: Mallett---they love taking fallers with talent---see Randy Moss

Harbaugh likes Gabbert too. He tried to recruit him if memory serves.

 

[Pariah]

1. I say brace yourselves because if the Cardinals do not take Newton or Gabbert at #5 (assuming one is available)---and I feel 99.9% certain they won't---no matter who they pick at #5---they are going to get blasted---I can see Mel going on another QB rant the way he did when the Colts took OLB/DE Trev Albert over QB Trent Dilfer when the Colts did not have a franchise QB---do you remember?---it caused the now infamous "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?" query from the Colts' GM.

I don't know. I've been listening to the ESPN draft podcast and Kiper and McShay both readily agree that neither Newton nor Gabbert are in the class of QBs that we've seen and admit that they would be best served going o teams where the pressure isn't there to start right away.

I know you don't like the talking heads, but I don't think you give them enough credit.

 

[Mitch]

I don't know. I've been listening to the ESPN draft podcast and Kiper and McShay both readily agree that neither Newton nor Gabbert are in the class of QBs that we've seen and admit that they would be best served going o teams where the pressure isn't there to start right away.

I know you don't like the talking heads, but I don't think you give them enough credit.

Pariah: I love Mel..and have spoken with him at length on the phone a couple of times. He's GREAT for the draft---and his genius is knowing the backgrounds of 350 players in the draft---he knew exactly who CB Jorrick Calvin was, for example, when we were all scrambling for info.

So it's not that I don't like them---I just know, after all these years, what to expect.

As I am listening to ESPN, the three players Mel is hyping as the top 3 in the draft are 1-Peterson; 2-Miller, 3-Green...and yet, he will likely go off on the Cardinals if they take Peterson instead of Gabbert. It makes for good drama---and Mel always hypes his pet QBs to the extent where teams should ignore the better players on the board to take them.

As for McShay---to me he does bring anything special to the table.

Mayock is a fellow BC Eagle and I regard him as the most accurate evaluator of the bunch...especially early in the draft, where he is not afraid to buck the trends.

 

[Mitch]

Harbaugh likes Gabbert too. He tried to recruit him if memory serves.

Given the choice, CT, I think because of Locker's athleticism and toughness, he gets the nod from Harbaugh. Harbaugh himself tried to thrive on toughness more than anything.

 

[Pariah]

Normally, I don't put a lot of stock in if we get blasted or not...but now I'm curious!

I think we could get a pass if we pick the right player or make the right trade.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Normally, I don't put a lot of stock in if we get blasted or not...but now I'm curious!

I think we could get a pass if we pick the right player or make the right trade.

Agreed, with Peterson/Miller/Green widely considering 1,2,3 respectively in terms of value, I doubt we'd be skewed by going BPA, especially with no overnight fixes at qb.

 

[Duckjake]

Adding significant young talent to the defense.

Agree this is the #1 priority.

Wilson,Haggans,Porter,Lenon,Hayes all over 30. Dockett will be 30 next month. Rhodes 29 in August.

 

[JeffGollin]

Mitch - To clear up one issue - I don't think the Cards will base any draft moves on fear of being criticized by the media (If they did, they'd deserved to be fired if not shot).

Regarding possible trades - evidently, Gabbert has become a hot commodity with as many as three or four teams above #10 in the hunt. Plus - Houston at #11 is said to be trying to move up to get Peterson.

All of this works in the Cardinals' favor:

- If a team leapfrogs us to grab Gabbert, it will probably mean that Newton and Gabbert will be 2 picks out of the top 5, and we'd be guaranteed Dareus, Peterson or Miller.

- Or it's quite possible that no team leapfrogged us at #5 to grab Gabbert and we'd be receiving phone calls from Tennessee at #8 or Washington at #10. Both might be encouraged to deal with us in order to draft ahead of SF (also said to be interested in Gabbert) at #7.

- Or - if Peterson was still undrafted and we weren't in love with him, we might entertain an offer from Houston at #11.

So here's the deal - If the Cards feel there are at least 11 players at the top of their board all close enough in talent (& they can get enough value in return), they could trade down as far as #11 and still get one of those players. Or - if the cutoff were at 10 players or 8 players, they could trade down as far as #10 or #8 and still get one of those top-rated players.

Otherwise they should pass on any deal that drops them out of the elite part of the first round.

Conclusion - I think there's better than a 50% chance that we will trade down.

 

[Doc Cardinal]

Peterson......or Miller.....or Gabbert.....or trade......all 4+'s for the Cards.

 

[Rats]

Peterson or Gabbert, say no to Miller. Any blasting from the media for passing on our biggest need in the draft( A Qb ) will be well deserved if Newton or Gabbert are there. Peterson is the only other pick to be made if Gabbert is gone( Both Qb's will be) and Graves and Whiz will deserve scorn if they take a Miller over any of them IMO. If all three are gone trade down and get extra picks.

 

[ARZCardinals]

If we trade down they'll be looking for Quinn. If he doesnt drop expect the pick to be the tackle from USC and trying to get back onto the 1st for Pouncy.

 

[Cardiac]

If we trade down they'll be looking for Quinn. If he doesnt drop expect the pick to be the tackle from USC and trying to get back onto the 1st for Pouncy.

I hope the Cards see the O-line as a big of a need as you do but I highly doubt it. We NEED a pass rusher and SILB most of all. Spending the first 2 draft picks on O-line ain't gonna happen.

My previous post lost in cyberspace. As Card fans we have proven (for the most part) to have thicker skin then the avg fan. I for one don't worry about what Kiper or McShay or Jamie Dukes or Irvin or Sanders say. If they dis us I just say something innapropriate about them and all is good. Now if Mayock or Lombardi or Casserly say negative things about the Cards then I take those to heart more.

Mayock did his last mock tonight and had us taking PP7. We passed on Gabbert and Mayock said that if we draft PP7 and pick up a FA vet QB we are the favorites to win the west. It appears that more and more "experts" are not sold on Newbert so we won't get blasted for not picking one of them. I would add that I really don't care if Boomer does blast us, he has nothing over the avg Cards fan.

 

[Gee!]

Mitch.. youve thrown enough crap against the wall something is bound to stick.. I think youve covered all the possibilities.. Nice job

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I heard Brian Billick on the radio yesterday and he mentioned the most reknowned guys when it comes to QB's that he knows is Bill Walsh, Jon Gruden, and Mike Holmgren. They all have one thing in common, none of them ever drafted a QB in round 1. He was using them as an example of, do not reach for a QB, i.e. Gabbert.

 

[cardpa]

I am hoping we Miller in the first round and take Christian Ponder in the second. I just have a feeling this kid (Ponder) is the real deal and will be around for quite a few years starting for someone so why not the Cardinals.

 

[Pariah]

I am hoping we Miller in the first round and take Christian Ponder in the second. I just have a feeling this kid (Ponder) is the real deal and will be around for quite a few years starting for someone so why not the Cardinals.

He might be...but if the Cards brass thinks so, they should make a move to get him instead of waiting for him. There's going to be a run on QBs at the end of the first/start of the second as teams start jockeying for kids like Ponder, Dalton and Kaeperneck. (IMO)

 

[conraddobler]

I can promise you this.

There will be no end to my torment of some on this board if Gabbert goes to the 49ers and kicks our ass for 10 years.

I will be happy to eat crow if he sucks, but if he ends up there and kicks our ass, you have been warned.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I am hoping we Miller in the first round and take Christian Ponder in the second. I just have a feeling this kid (Ponder) is the real deal and will be around for quite a few years starting for someone so why not the Cardinals.

99% chance Miller is gone by our #5 pick. Which will likely mean we will have a choice of Peterson, Gabbert or trade. I really can't believe the Cards would pass on Peterson, however, they do have a record of such don't they (Adrian)...

 

[Pariah]

There will be no end to my torment of some on this board if Gabbert goes to the 49ers and kicks our ass for 10 years.
you have been warned.

Yeah, I kind of have that concern, too. But it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't type thing, IMO. Peterson could do the same thing to us and we'll be lamenting that. The Cards just need to pick a direction and run with it.

 

[Doc Cardinal]

Kiper said this morning that Arizona trading down would be a good thing for them.

 

[DoTheDew]

1. I say brace yourselves because if the Cardinals do not take Newton or Gabbert at #5 (assuming one is available)---and I feel 99.9% certain they won't---no matter who they pick at #5---they are going to get blasted---I can see Mel going on another QB rant the way he did when the Colts took OLB/DE Trev Albert over QB Trent Dilfer when the Colts did not have a franchise QB---do you remember?---it caused the now infamous "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?" query from the Colts' GM.

Kiper doesn't like Gabbert. He says he has him as the 14th rated player in the draft and lower than Clausen was last year.

This means two things. First of all, it proves that Kiper's QB evaluations should be taken with a grain of salt if he had Clausen rated as one of the top 13 players in last years draft class. Second, it means that we won't get blasted by him for passing on Gabbert. If we take Peterson or Miller, Kiper will be praising us.

FWIW, Kiper's main knock on Gabbert is that he is going to have to learn to run a pro style offense instead of the spread. Ultimately this means that of all teams we probably are the best fit for him.

 

[azsportsfan01]

If the Cardinals trade down from #5 with Gabbert still on the board---Mel may even lose some hair. No matter what the rest of the Cardinals' draft looks like, they will get an F from Mel in his Team Grades

Considering Mel has the Cards taking Peterson I doubt he will lose any hair if the Cards pass on Gabbert.

 

[joeshmo]

Kiper doesn't like Gabbert. He says he has him as the 14th rated player in the draft and lower than Clausen was last year.

This means two things. First of all, it proves that Kiper's QB evaluations should be taken with a grain of salt if he had Clausen rated as one of the top 13 players in last years draft class. Second, it means that we won't get blasted by him for passing on Gabbert. If we take Peterson or Miller, Kiper will be praising us.

FWIW, Kiper's main knock on Gabbert is that he is going to have to learn to run a pro style offense instead of the spread. Ultimately this means that of all teams we probably are the best fit for him.

Nationalfootballpost doesnt even have him in their top 30. Merrell Hodge was on the radio this morning and was pretty passionate about Gabbert only being a 2nd/3rd round grade max.

 

[Rats]

I can promise you this.

There will be no end to my torment of some on this board if Gabbert goes to the 49ers and kicks our ass for 10 years.

I will be happy to eat crow if he sucks, but if he ends up there and kicks our ass, you have been warned.

I am right there with Conrad. Fair Warning