Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
With each successive draft in Ken Whisenhunt's tenure, it appears the Cardinals are making it a priority to select smart, tough players who "fit their systems."
The key development?
The Cardinals seem to have a stronger concept of what their offensive, defensive and special team systems are.
On offense---the short to intermediate passing game is the top feature. Say what you will about the running game---it still is not a priority in Ken Whisenhunt's offense. And that's OK. In New England the running game is not the priority either.
I believe that Whisenhunt and Mike Miller are starting to pattern their offense around Bill Belichick's in New England. This is one of the major reasons why last off-season the Cardinals added three tight ends, Todd Heap, Jeff King and 3rd round draft pick Rob Housler. Heap and Housler are good TE targets---and King, while he was touted as more of a blocking TE, was a pleasant surprise as a reciever.
Then there was the Chansi Stuckey signing---which seemed somewhat curious in that Stuckey wasn't the so-called speed threat the Cardinals have wanted and needed for quite some time now. But, in Stuckey, the Cardinals belived they had a potentially prolific slot WR threat. As it turned out, Stuckey coughed up a very untimely fumble which may have cost the Cardinals an early come from behind win---and subsequently fell out of favor with the coaches.
However, the coaches turned a good deal of attention to Early Doucet and what he could give them out of the slot. And it paid off, as Doucet became their chain mover and second leading receiver. Unfortunately, Doucet faded some in the last two games and had some costly drops.
The point is---the Cardinals are starting to realize the same thing that Bill Belichick realized when he gave up a 2nd round pick to their division rival Dolphins for slot WR Wes Welker. At the time, many fans and pundits thought that trade was a head scratcher---when in fact, it set the stage for the over the middle passing assault that the Patriots have relentlessly waged on their opponents for the past 5-6 years.
The other aspect of the attack the middle passing philosophy that may be overlooked is that Belichick creates a three layered attack---one with the TEs, one with the slot WR and then---here's the key---the third is with chasing the slot with the RB out of the backfield---for many year it was Kevin Faulk...now it's Danny Whitehead.
A couple of years ago---the Patriots got 111 catches for 1165 yards and 58 catches for 486 yards from just the Welker/Faulk tandem. In that same year an aging Randy Moss, who benefitted greatly from the Patriots' ability to keep the opponent's safeties occupied in defending the middle of the field, caught 69 balls for 1008 yards and 11 TDs.
Therefore---what Whisenhunt and Miller may be realizing is that by focusing much of their attack over the middle to the TEs, slot WR and RB, they can stop teams from bracketing Larry Fitzgerald.
Now---if the Cardinals are going to pattern their version of the dink and dunk after the Patriots, they have to keep adding the right type of personnel and they need to start prioritizing their draft in order to acquire the right personnel.
Priority #1: Offensive Line
Belichick has said this and his draft habit have proved it---"my top priority on offense is to protect Tom Brady."
In the past three drafts Belichick has used 1st and a 2nd round picks to acquire his two starters at tackle: Nate Solder (2011--1st Round) and Sebastian Vollmer (2009---2nd round).
Now take a look at what Solder and Vollmer have in common: Solder is 6-8, 319 and Vollmer is 6-8, 315. Both are strong, smart and athletic "enough."
And that's exactly what Belichick preaches about what his offensive tackles have to be: "They have to be smart, tough and athletic enough...smarts, toughness, if you don't have those two things, I think you have a hard time playing."
Interesting that one of the tackles the Cardinals have been showing a good deal of interest in this year's draft is Dennis Kelly from Purdue. Kelly is 6-8, 306. Was a captain and offensive MVP at Purdue and has a 3.75 GPA. You won't find Kelly written up in many of the draft guides, as he has not received much attention from the draft gurus---but he has been receiving some solid attention from the scouts...and may have solidified his chances of being drafted when he ran well at his Pro Day and put up 30 reps at 225.
In the past Belichick has used a first rounder on a guard---Logan Mankins---who is now a perennial All-Pro.
Perhaps the Cardinals get their version of Mankins in David Decastro?
Priority #2: Tight End
The Cardinals appear to be well stocked with the trio of Todd Heap, Jeff King and Rob Housler---and there is some depth with Jim Dray and Steven Skelton.
The most dynamic TE in this draft: Coby Fleener, Stanford. Might be in play if the Cardinals trade down and have two first round picks.
However---it would not be a total surprise to see the Cardinals use one of the their late round picks if there's a TE they like.
Priority #3: Slot WR
Early Doucet was re-signed. Andre Roberts has some definite slot ability but needs more experience there. Jaymar Johnson is a wild card. Stuckey has been released.
The most dynamic slot WR in this draft: Kendall Wright, Baylor. Would he be in play with the #13 pick. I don't think there's any question---especially if Kalil and Reiff are off the board.
Would Wright actually be a better pick for the system than Michael Floyd? That's a tough question. If Floyd were more of speed burner and deep threat, I would say no. However, Wright's impact on the offense, especially in commanding the attention of the safeties would be more imminent---so one could make an excellent case for choosing Wright over Floyd.
However there are more than a handful of talented slot WRs who could be taken in in rounds 3-5:
1. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
2. Jarius Wright, Arkansas
3. Joe Adams, Arkansas
4. Keshawn Martin, Michigan St.
5. Devon Wylie, Fresno St.
6. Marquis Maze, Alabama
7. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
8. Danny Coale, Virginia Tech
9. T.J. Graham, North Carolina St.
Priority #4: Receiving RB
Last year when the Cardinals drafted RB Ryan Williams one of the most exciting aspects that he brings to the table is his ability to take a short pass and turn it into a big gain.
In LaRod Stephens-Howling the Cardinals have their version of Kevin Faulk or Danny Whitehead---that is, if the Hyphen can stay healthy.
Beanie Wells need to show significant improvement as a pass receiver---
The most dynamic receiving RB in the draft is Doug Martin of Boise St. who will be taken in the 2nd round---so unless the Cardinals add a 2nd rounder, Martin won't be in play.
later round possibilities:
1. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego St.
2. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
2. Chris Rainey, Florida
3. Adonis Thomas, Toledo
4. Rodney Stewart, Colorado
5. Lance Dunbar, North Texas
The Offensive Priorities at #13:
Based on the system and the top need---I would rate them as follows:
1. Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
2. David DeCastro, G, Stanford
3. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
4. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
The key development?
The Cardinals seem to have a stronger concept of what their offensive, defensive and special team systems are.
On offense---the short to intermediate passing game is the top feature. Say what you will about the running game---it still is not a priority in Ken Whisenhunt's offense. And that's OK. In New England the running game is not the priority either.
I believe that Whisenhunt and Mike Miller are starting to pattern their offense around Bill Belichick's in New England. This is one of the major reasons why last off-season the Cardinals added three tight ends, Todd Heap, Jeff King and 3rd round draft pick Rob Housler. Heap and Housler are good TE targets---and King, while he was touted as more of a blocking TE, was a pleasant surprise as a reciever.
Then there was the Chansi Stuckey signing---which seemed somewhat curious in that Stuckey wasn't the so-called speed threat the Cardinals have wanted and needed for quite some time now. But, in Stuckey, the Cardinals belived they had a potentially prolific slot WR threat. As it turned out, Stuckey coughed up a very untimely fumble which may have cost the Cardinals an early come from behind win---and subsequently fell out of favor with the coaches.
However, the coaches turned a good deal of attention to Early Doucet and what he could give them out of the slot. And it paid off, as Doucet became their chain mover and second leading receiver. Unfortunately, Doucet faded some in the last two games and had some costly drops.
The point is---the Cardinals are starting to realize the same thing that Bill Belichick realized when he gave up a 2nd round pick to their division rival Dolphins for slot WR Wes Welker. At the time, many fans and pundits thought that trade was a head scratcher---when in fact, it set the stage for the over the middle passing assault that the Patriots have relentlessly waged on their opponents for the past 5-6 years.
The other aspect of the attack the middle passing philosophy that may be overlooked is that Belichick creates a three layered attack---one with the TEs, one with the slot WR and then---here's the key---the third is with chasing the slot with the RB out of the backfield---for many year it was Kevin Faulk...now it's Danny Whitehead.
A couple of years ago---the Patriots got 111 catches for 1165 yards and 58 catches for 486 yards from just the Welker/Faulk tandem. In that same year an aging Randy Moss, who benefitted greatly from the Patriots' ability to keep the opponent's safeties occupied in defending the middle of the field, caught 69 balls for 1008 yards and 11 TDs.
Therefore---what Whisenhunt and Miller may be realizing is that by focusing much of their attack over the middle to the TEs, slot WR and RB, they can stop teams from bracketing Larry Fitzgerald.
Now---if the Cardinals are going to pattern their version of the dink and dunk after the Patriots, they have to keep adding the right type of personnel and they need to start prioritizing their draft in order to acquire the right personnel.
Priority #1: Offensive Line
Belichick has said this and his draft habit have proved it---"my top priority on offense is to protect Tom Brady."
In the past three drafts Belichick has used 1st and a 2nd round picks to acquire his two starters at tackle: Nate Solder (2011--1st Round) and Sebastian Vollmer (2009---2nd round).
Now take a look at what Solder and Vollmer have in common: Solder is 6-8, 319 and Vollmer is 6-8, 315. Both are strong, smart and athletic "enough."
And that's exactly what Belichick preaches about what his offensive tackles have to be: "They have to be smart, tough and athletic enough...smarts, toughness, if you don't have those two things, I think you have a hard time playing."
Interesting that one of the tackles the Cardinals have been showing a good deal of interest in this year's draft is Dennis Kelly from Purdue. Kelly is 6-8, 306. Was a captain and offensive MVP at Purdue and has a 3.75 GPA. You won't find Kelly written up in many of the draft guides, as he has not received much attention from the draft gurus---but he has been receiving some solid attention from the scouts...and may have solidified his chances of being drafted when he ran well at his Pro Day and put up 30 reps at 225.
In the past Belichick has used a first rounder on a guard---Logan Mankins---who is now a perennial All-Pro.
Perhaps the Cardinals get their version of Mankins in David Decastro?
Priority #2: Tight End
The Cardinals appear to be well stocked with the trio of Todd Heap, Jeff King and Rob Housler---and there is some depth with Jim Dray and Steven Skelton.
The most dynamic TE in this draft: Coby Fleener, Stanford. Might be in play if the Cardinals trade down and have two first round picks.
However---it would not be a total surprise to see the Cardinals use one of the their late round picks if there's a TE they like.
Priority #3: Slot WR
Early Doucet was re-signed. Andre Roberts has some definite slot ability but needs more experience there. Jaymar Johnson is a wild card. Stuckey has been released.
The most dynamic slot WR in this draft: Kendall Wright, Baylor. Would he be in play with the #13 pick. I don't think there's any question---especially if Kalil and Reiff are off the board.
Would Wright actually be a better pick for the system than Michael Floyd? That's a tough question. If Floyd were more of speed burner and deep threat, I would say no. However, Wright's impact on the offense, especially in commanding the attention of the safeties would be more imminent---so one could make an excellent case for choosing Wright over Floyd.
However there are more than a handful of talented slot WRs who could be taken in in rounds 3-5:
1. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
2. Jarius Wright, Arkansas
3. Joe Adams, Arkansas
4. Keshawn Martin, Michigan St.
5. Devon Wylie, Fresno St.
6. Marquis Maze, Alabama
7. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
8. Danny Coale, Virginia Tech
9. T.J. Graham, North Carolina St.
Priority #4: Receiving RB
Last year when the Cardinals drafted RB Ryan Williams one of the most exciting aspects that he brings to the table is his ability to take a short pass and turn it into a big gain.
In LaRod Stephens-Howling the Cardinals have their version of Kevin Faulk or Danny Whitehead---that is, if the Hyphen can stay healthy.
Beanie Wells need to show significant improvement as a pass receiver---
The most dynamic receiving RB in the draft is Doug Martin of Boise St. who will be taken in the 2nd round---so unless the Cardinals add a 2nd rounder, Martin won't be in play.
later round possibilities:
1. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego St.
2. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
2. Chris Rainey, Florida
3. Adonis Thomas, Toledo
4. Rodney Stewart, Colorado
5. Lance Dunbar, North Texas
The Offensive Priorities at #13:
Based on the system and the top need---I would rate them as follows:
1. Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
2. David DeCastro, G, Stanford
3. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
4. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
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What dat?
