Calvin Pace to LB?

[SeattleCard]

What the heck... ?

 

[Shane]

What the heck... ?

Whats wrong with it? I think its fabulous. Hes big and quick and would be a perfect fit physically for it IMO. If he playes well enough and wins the job outright it would be an awesome bonus. He can even back up at DE if needed.

 

[BACH]

Pace goes to outside linebacker

Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
May. 6, 2006 12:00 AM


Calvin Pace's three years with the Cardinals have been full of twists and turns, and it doesn't look as if he'll hit a straightaway any time soon.

The latest curve is his move this spring from defensive end to outside linebacker. With decent depth at end and hardly any at outside linebacker, coaches approached Pace with the idea. He was receptive but wanted some reassurance.

"My biggest thing is, if you want me to play it, I just want an opportunity," Pace said. "I didn't want to just be doing it for numbers' sake." advertisement

Pace will contend to be the backup to Karlos Dansby, who is out with a hamstring injury. And with Pace's pass-rushing skills, he could play in certain defensive packages.

"We have big fronts, we have 3-4 type schemes. It's really up to coach Pendergast," Pace said, referring to defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. "You never really know what he's going to come with."

A first-round draft pick in 2003, Pace faced immediate pressure because the Cardinals passed on a chance to take Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs to trade down and take Pace and receiver Bryant Johnson.

After starting as a rookie, Pace has been a backup the past two years. Last season, he missed the final 11 games after suffering a cut arm in a household accident.

Now comes the position change, which is in the experimental stage.


A tough ticket
Cardinals players were thrilled with the news Thursday that the team has sold out its season tickets. That should mean playing in front of sellout crowds at Cardinals Stadium and that home games will be televised.

"I can finally TiVo my home games now," receiver Larry Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said people are talking about the Cardinals wherever he goes.

"Dinners, any outings, people are talking about it," he said. "There is a positive buzz around the team right now."


Role call
Rookie free agent A.J. Schable played defensive end in college South Dakota, but the Cardinals want to look at him as a blocking fullback.

So he was given a fullback's number, 37, when he arrived at minicamp, but he practiced Friday with the defensive linemen.

So Schable's not really sure how the Cardinals will use him.

"It's kind of confusing sometimes," he said. "I think we'll find out later in this camp."

From the republic...

I like the idea. If Blackstock is making the transformation from back-up SOLB to WOLB, then this is the logical move.

Pace is going to back-up Berry AND Dansby as well as playing OLB in certain packages. It all comes down to having your best players on the fieldat the same time.

And on another note. If this experiment works, then Pace would get some trade value. The rush OLB in the 3 - 4 is the most popular player in the NFL right now

 

[Billy Flynt]

"My biggest thing is, if you want me to play it, I just want an opportunity," Pace said. "I didn't want to just be doing it for numbers' sake." advertisement

Well, he's making money on the side adding advertisements into his interview.

 

[Mitch]

I think it's great CP is expanding Calvin Pace's role. CP employs a version of the 3-4 from time to time...and the players on the Cardinals who are suited to play OLBs in the 3-4 are Karlos Dansby, Chike Okeafor, Calvin Pace, Daryl Blackstock and Brandon Johnson. All are very good edge rushers and are atheltic enough to handle the pass coverage responsibilties.

I think it would be very interesting to see if Calvin Pace can challenge Orlando Huff and Daryl Blackstock for the starting WLB spot. Pace is one of the best run defenders on the team and he and Bertrand Berry could form an awesome tandem rushing the passer together from the weak side. That would be extremely difficult for teams to block...and might do more to isolate Berry one on one.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Pace will contend to be the backup to Karlos Dansby, who is out with a hamstring injury.

??????????????

 

[clif]

I suggested this idea last year and people nearly ripped my head off.

 

[JeffGollin]

Clancy hasn't made many personnel mistakes in the past, so we've got to assume he knows what he's doing.

Pace weighs 270 lbs. May we assume that he may shed a few pounds and thus possibly gain a bit more speed and agility?

Also - the shift to SLB suggests that the Cards must be happy about the progress of Antonio Smith and rehab progress of Ken King.

Mitch wrote - I think it would be very interesting to see if Calvin Pace can challenge Orlando Huff and Daryl Blackstock for the starting WLB spot.
I believe Calvin's been penciled in as backup to Dansby at SLB. He's going to have to learn coverages and demonstrate all that "flip your hips" COD stuff they talk about at Senior Bowl practices and the Combine.

 

[Mitch]

Clancy hasn't made many personnel mistakes in the past, so we've got to assume he knows what he's doing.

Pace weighs 270 lbs. May we assume that he may shed a few pounds and thus possibly gain a bit more speed and agility?

Also - the shift to SLB suggests that the Cards must be happy about the progress of Antonio Smith and rehab progress of Ken King.

What's interesting, Jeff & co., is that DG said after drafting Brandon Johnson that he would back up Dansby at SLB...which was rather curious, seeing as with Johnson's slight build and sheer speed he would seem a more natural fit at WLB.

The only rationale I could think of for DG's reasoning to play Johnson at SLB...was for man-to-man coverage on the TEs like Vernon Davis, Jeremy Stevens and Joe Klopfenstein...seeing as the strength of formation usually is dictated by what side the TE lines up...sometimes it's dictated by the wide side of the field, but in the NFL the hash marks are much closer together than in the college game that wide side of the field is far less of a factor in dictating stength of formation...sometimes too the strength of the formation is dictated by the two receiver side...but usually the SAM LB follows the TE, regardless.

 

[Mitch]

Clancy hasn't made many personnel mistakes in the past, so we've got to assume he knows what he's doing.

Pace weighs 270 lbs. May we assume that he may shed a few pounds and thus possibly gain a bit more speed and agility?

Also - the shift to SLB suggests that the Cards must be happy about the progress of Antonio Smith and rehab progress of Ken King.

Mitch wrote - I think it would be very interesting to see if Calvin Pace can challenge Orlando Huff and Daryl Blackstock for the starting WLB spot.
I believe Calvin's been penciled in as backup to Dansby at SLB. He's going to have to learn coverages and demonstrate all that "flip your hips" COD stuff they talk about at Senior Bowl practices and the Combine.

The two starting spots on the defense that are up in the air are WLB and FS. If Calvin Pace is good at SLB...and I don't believe it's a reach to think he will be...perhaps CP can switch Dansby over to WLB where he can wreak havoc from the edge.

At FS...Robert Griffith was a real liablility in coverage (lack of range, anticipation and instincts)...and his open field tackling was erratic. Newcomer Jack Brewer may be the upgrade the team needs...but he isn't very experienced as a starter in the league.

Sghould be interesting to see how these two spots are addressed...and it's great that CP is exploring his full hand of Cards.

 

[JeffGollin]

What's interesting, Jeff & co., is that DG said after drafting Brandon Johnson that he would back up Dansby at SLB...which was rather curious, seeing as with Johnson's slight build and sheer speed he would seem a more natural fit at WLB.

The only rationale I could think of for DG's reasoning to play Johnson at SLB...was for man-to-man coverage on the TEs like Vernon Davis, Jeremy Stevens and Joe Klopfenstein -but usually the SAM LB follows the TE, regardless.

I noticed the same thing you noticed, Mitch. The only thing I can figure is "it's early" - time for experimenting with position change - Johnson at WILL, Pace at SAM, a DE with 19 sacks last season moved to FB.

I think it's better than even money that, by the early part of regular season, you'll see Calvin back at DE and Johnson and Schable (if they make the cut) returning to WILL and DE respectively. But what the heck. If we strike gold and any of these guys are elevated to Pro Bowl status (a la the Roy Green shift from DB to WR) - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The other (pardon the pun) wild card in all this is Pendergast's tendency to move all 11 defensive guys on the field around like interchangeable chess pieces regardless of their "normal" positions.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

After we had signed K. Clancy, I suggested a 3-4 formation with a D line of Berry-Clancy-Dockett and dropping Pace and/or Okeafor back into the LB position with Dansby and Darling, but I was told that was a ridiculous idea. I guess it wasn't so far-fetched after all....

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Oh, and now that we have Watson, we could run a 5-2 in spots with a D line of Berry-Clancy-Watson-Dockett-Okeafor and Dansby and Pace (this would be a great formation for him to be on the field with Dansby) at LB....

Try running on that D!!!

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I hate to bring up the sooners, but stoops has made a living out moving guys who were #3 or #4 on the depth chart to other positions where they shined. It's smart.

And don't tell me pace hasn't shown anything. He's got some game.

The thought of him getting matched up against an RB in pass protection is pretty exciting.

 

[POISON]

I hate to bring up the sooners, but stoops has made a living out moving guys who were #3 or #4 on the depth chart to other positions where they shined. It's smart.

And don't tell me pace hasn't shown anything. He's got some game.

The thought of him getting matched up against an RB in pass protection is pretty exciting.

I hate it when you bring up the squatters too!!
Bomar better watch where he pounds his next beer in public or third time may be the last!! lance Mitchell is looking better, maybe he will excel this year. Who knows, maybe Pinson will give him a run.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

At about 270lbs wouldn't you want to try him at MLB ?

Peace

 

[Shane]

At about 270lbs wouldn't you want to try him at MLB ?

Peace

Heck if he can nail down MLD or SSLB Would be a huge bonus and add depth.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Heck if he can nail down MLD or SSLB Would be a huge bonus and add depth.

Would you then be moving Dansby to the WS??

 

[Shane]

Would you then be moving Dansby to the WS??

Yup.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Yup.

I liked Dansby's play, at Sam, a lot, last year. Don't know how Pace would be in coverage. The Will play was terrible last year, and has still yet to be addressed. At least this is a thought.

 

[vince56]

When Dansby came in a few years ago, he said in the paper (I'm paraphrasing of course) "Just put me over the TE and leave me there for the next 10 years."

The dude wants to be a SSLB, he's played very well there, don't mess with it!

 

[Shane]

When Dansby came in a few years ago, he said in the paper (I'm paraphrasing of course) "Just put me over the TE and leave me there for the next 10 years."

The dude wants to be a SSLB, he's played very well there, don't mess with it!

Hell even so Pace physically could play MLB and has the speed and athleticism to play WLB as well. If he could nail down one of those spots it would be huge for depth.

 

[vince56]

Pace doesn't have the mind to be a MLB, IMO.

The dude lost a fight in his own house and was put through a window, ending his season and almost getting him cut. He's not too bright IMO.

A position change for a defensive player can sometimes be the coaching staff trying to salvage a dying career. Remember Michael Stone's shift to Safety? How'd that work out?

The MLB is the QB of the defense. For the time being, I'd rather have the savvy vet James Darling back there than anyone else. I'm still not sold on Hayes (is anybody?), but with Hayes' athleticism I'm intrigued by what he could do at MLB if healthy.

 

[Shane]

Pace doesn't have the mind to be a MLB, IMO.

The dude lost a fight in his own house and was put through a window, ending his season and almost getting him cut. He's not too bright IMO.

A position change for a defensive player can sometimes be the coaching staff trying to salvage a dying career. Remember Michael Stone's shift to Safety? How'd that work out?

The MLB is the QB of the defense. For the time being, I'd rather have the savvy vet James Darling back there than anyone else. I'm still not sold on Hayes (is anybody?), but with Hayes' athleticism I'm intrigued by what he could do at MLB if healthy.

First of all what happened in his house is no measure of his football smarts in any way shape or form. It was a freak accident. If you were to base hie mental prowess on his grades at Wake Forest then he is very intelligent.

HArd to say they are salvaging a dying career when he was playing VERY WELL last season prior to injury. The bottom line is that we are very thin at LBer and PAce has the athleticism and size to play the position. I for one wouldnt bet against him.

 

[vince56]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you. I'm in the mode of "show me" when it comes to players like Calvin Pace. IMO, he was a poor choice in that draft, and he hasn't lived up to billing since. He's been replaced by two very very good free agents in Bert and Chike, mainly because the coaching staff doesn't have confidence in him.

Check it out, Denny arrives, immediately upgrades the DE position with Berry. Pace gets moved to LE. Pace has 4 early sacks in 2004, getting all our hopes up, then basically tanks the rest of the season.

2005, Denny again replaces Pace with a FA DE and Pace is relegated to the bench. He barely sees action, then stupidly hurts himself, Thomas Jones-style, and the team considers withholding his pay for the non-football injury and possibly cutting him. He's lucky to still be on the team.

IMO, the bet against Calvin is the most likely one. He hasn't shown anything at the pro level, and his coaches constantly replace him for underperforming. Couple that with idiocy off the field, and he doesn't appear to be a very valuable player.

Of course I could be wrong, and I hope I am because I'd love to see him do well.

I just don't see it happening.