Calvin Pace is going to end up what Wadsworth was supposed to be.

[Lomax to Green 84]

The Sporting News draft guide described Pace as a speed rusher that plays bigger then his listed weight. All other draft guides described him as an intriguing talent who dominated as a 3-4 defensive end.

I just got back from 4 days in Flag and during my time there I made a decision to focus my attention squarely on Pace because his development is absolutely paramount to the success or failure of the 2003 Cardinals.

What I saw was a kid who plays the game with tremendous leverage and the more I saw him the more I saw a virtual clone of San Francisco's Andre Carter. Both Carter and Pace are lean, wirery types who play alot bigger than they look. What I saw with Pace was a guy who benefitted a heck of a lot in his run defense from all of those years playing end in the 3-4. He does a great job of getting the jump on the offensive tackle, getting into the body of the tackle and putting the tackle on his heels.

The Cards got a player in Pace. I have a feeling we lucked out by missing out on Jerome McDougal and having to settle with Pace.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Nice Post

I concur Holian.

This past college year I made sure I watched players during the bowl season that could help us and that we may draft. Pace was on my list even though I had him as a 3rd rounder (even that was higher than most).

During Wake Forests bowl game he was my main focus.

The only problem was that he had an injured leg and even limped to the huddle.

It didn't matter....he still got to the opposing QB....it was then I said "what can he do on 2 good legs?".

 

[MadCardDisease]

Thanks for the Report Holian! Very encouraging!

 

[red desert]

Very encouraging indeed. Nice post.

 

[Cardsmasochist]

It sure would be nice to get a GREAT first round pick for a change. I'm tired of the Wendal Bryant instead of Albert Haynseworths picks or the Thomas Jones instead of Brian Urlacher picks.

The Cards need a great draft pick to make up for all the busts. I wont go into the Wadsworths or Swann picks because they were just injured.

Here's hoping that Calvin is a stud. So far I have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone regarding him.

Oh, how I long for a dominating pro bowler! Do I dare wish for a future hall-of-famer?

We are over-due!!

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Cardsmasochist
It sure would be nice to get a GREAT first round pick for a change. I'm tired of the Wendal Bryant instead of Albert Haynseworths picks or the Thomas Jones instead of Brian Urlacher picks.

The Jones-Urlacher thing, I'll buy. But, Bryant and Haynesworth? Not yet, no way.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
The Jones-Urlacher thing, I'll buy. But, Bryant and Haynesworth? Not yet, no way.

I concur!

Haynesworth wasn't any better than Wendell last year.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Re: Nice Post

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
I concur Holian.

This past college year I made sure I watched players during the bowl season that could help us and that we may draft. Pace was on my list even though I had him as a 3rd rounder (even that was higher than most).

During Wake Forests bowl game he was my main focus.

The only problem was that he had an injured leg and even limped to the huddle.

It didn't matter....he still got to the opposing QB....it was then I said "what can he do on 2 good legs?".

I had the Cards drafting him in the third round.

My mock is actually posted on this site...

 

[BACH]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I concur!

Haynesworth wasn't any better than Wendell last year.

Me too.... Haynesworth did nothing last year except in the play-off play against Pittsburgh, where he was awesome.

You could, however, use Michael Stone over Andre Dyson in that sentence.

 

[mdsisquo]

What? Haynesworth was much much better than Bryant last season. Bryant didn't start until week 12, on a bad cardinal defense. What week did Haynesworth get the starting nod? Haynesworth had like 7.5 sacks I think, how many did Bryant have, 1.5? Do we even need to compare tackles?

Now, I'm not saying Haynesworth will be a better pro than Bryant, but there is no debating who had a better rookie season.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by mdsisquo
What? Haynesworth was much much better than Bryant last season. Bryant didn't start until week 12, on a bad cardinal defense. What week did Haynesworth get the starting nod? Haynesworth had like 7.5 sacks I think, how many did Bryant have, 1.5? Do we even need to compare tackles?

Now, I'm not saying Haynesworth will be a better pro than Bryant, but there is no debating who had a better rookie season.

Huh?

Albert Haynesworth 21.0 tackles 19 solo 9 assists 1 sack.

Wendell Bryant 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks.

And Wendell missed all of the preseason. You are confusing Haynesworth with Carlos Hall, who had 7 sacks filling in for Kearse.

 

[kerouac9]

Heck, I'd be happy if Calvin Pace is going to end up what Dwight Freeney was supposed to be.

I'm going to withold judgement until I see him against starting OTs like Walter Jones and Orlando Pace. If he can generate 10-13 sacks a season, though, I'll be happy.

 

[BACH]

Originally posted by mdsisquo
What? Haynesworth was much much better than Bryant last season. Bryant didn't start until week 12, on a bad cardinal defense. What week did Haynesworth get the starting nod? Haynesworth had like 7.5 sacks I think, how many did Bryant have, 1.5? Do we even need to compare tackles?

Now, I'm not saying Haynesworth will be a better pro than Bryant, but there is no debating who had a better rookie season.

Are you thinking of Jax' John Henderson instead of Haynesworth? I'm sorry, but Haynesworth didn't do anything last year.

Here are the stats for all of the four tackles in the order they were drafted:

Ryan Sims - 2 starts - 5 tackles - 0 sacks
John Henderson - 13 starts - 45 tackles - 6.5 sacks
Wendell Bryant - 4 starts - 11 tackles - 1.5 sacks
Albert Haynesworth - 3 starts - 21 tackles - 1 sack

Both Bryant and Sims were hold-outs, which affected their performance (stats). Henderson did this without much help around him (Brackens was injured in week two or three). Kearse was injured, but Haynesworth still had Kevin Carter, Thornton, Ford and "the steal of the draft" Carlos Hall around him.

 

[Assface]

Originally posted by kerouac9
I'm going to withold judgement until I see him against starting OTs like Walter Jones and Orlando Pace. If he can generate 10-13 sacks a season, though, I'll be happy.

If either one of them decide to play this year.

 

[Jim O]

What I have noticed about Pace is that he uses his hands very well. He does not let the o-lineman lock him up. He is always moving with his hands.

Another thing is that Calvin gets really low in his stance. He really looks like Simeon Rice out there.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by Floridacard
If either one of them decide to play this year.

Or Kyle Turley. Or Bryant McKinnie. Or Jonathan Ogden. Or Levi Jones. You get the idea.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Don't say the guy is going to be what Wadsowrth was supposed to be - are you saying that Pace - going against our decimated line on a regular basis -is gonna be the next Bruce Smith because that is what people were saying about Wadsworth before the draft. Look, I'm excited about Pace for a couple reasons - the board's Kool-aid has leaked into my brain a little bit and everyone's 180 on him since drfat day has carried me a little bit. Two - he looked like he could be a player during the scrimmage where I atcually saw some nice moves and pressue from him but the proof will be in the puding and I have a hard time putting that much stock into our guys (any of them mind you) looking great against our own guys - I mean Renaldo Hill all over the place?

 

[Jim O]

I saw Calvin the other night and he was weraring a Pirates hat. I asked him if he was a Pirates fan and he said that he bought the hat because it had a "P" on it. "P" for Pace.

He is a nice guy. Very well spoken and he gets his ass to the QB...at least in practice.

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Don't say the guy is going to be what Wadsowrth was supposed to be - are you saying that Pace - going against our decimated line on a regular basis -is gonna be the next Bruce Smith because that is what people were saying about Wadsworth before the draft.

I hope Pace IS the next Bruce Smith

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
I hope Pace IS the next Bruce Smith

We all do, but I don't think that there's any evidence to suggest that Pace is going to be the next Bruce Smith, which is what Holian was basically saying.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

None

Originally posted by kerouac9
We all do, but I don't think that there's any evidence to suggest that Pace is going to be the next Bruce Smith, which is what Holian was basically saying.

Nor is there any evidence that he will play like Bruce Wayne.....although it would be cool if he played like Batman.

 

[azsports]

Originally posted by Jim Omohundro
What I have noticed about Pace is that he uses his hands very well. He does not let the o-lineman lock him up. He is always moving with his hands.

Another thing is that Calvin gets really low in his stance. He really looks like Simeon Rice out there.

I hope he doesn't develope the Simeon Rice attitude. We don't need another one of those.

 

[spanky]

What would our team look like now had we accepted Dallas' offer of their entire eight pick draft for Wadsworth?

 

[Jim O]

Originally posted by azsports
I hope he doesn't develope the Simeon Rice attitude. We don't need another one of those.

Far from it. He is a cool dude.

Simeon can go $#%! himself for all I care. I lost any remaining respect for him when he threw Tillman under the bus.

 

[azsports]

Roger that Jim.