CARDINALS | Many other teams targetting Cal C, Alex Mack

[Shzm13]

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"I want to play football," Mack said. "I want to play football wherever they take me, whatever round, if they want me to play fullback, I'll play football. I am easy."

The Cardinals, by the way, were one of the teams that made the effort to talk to Mack last night when the players had an informal get-together with teams. The formal interviews are yet to come.

link

 

[cgolden]

Sounds like a solid guy. I wonder who else they talked to last night.

 

[WildBB]

Sounds like a solid guy. I wonder who else they talked to last night.

They don't need to talk to no one else. JK

 

[Shzm13]

His quote reminds me a lot of Levi's.

"I just wanna get out there and play some football!"

 

[MadCardDisease]

If he drops to us at #31 I would take him in a heart beat. We need depth on the interior of the OL. He could compete for the starting C spot from day one.

 

[Shzm13]

If he drops to us at #31 I would take him in a heart beat. We need depth on the interior of the OL. He could compete for the starting C spot from day one.

I dont think itd be much of a competition.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Id be very happy with this pick. Sendelein is a GREAT backup center. Gave up half a sack all year.

 

[Shane]

I wouldnt say the team is "targeting" him based on what I just read.

 

[joeshmo]

I think the title of the thread is misleading. Mack is just 1 of hundreds of players at least one of the coaches or scouts talked to the first informal day of the combine. He might be one of the 60 players they are allowed to officially interview according to Combine rules. Right now the Cards are targeting 60 players and they will interview all of them.

 

[bg7brd]

Do you guys really think we should spend our first pick on a center? How much better is he than some one we can get in the 5th. I admit that Sendlein isn't a pro bowler (yet) but he's not that horrible. We have bigger needs, especially on the defensive side.

 

[Mulli]

I think the title of the thread is misleading. Mack is just 1 of hundreds of players at least one of the coaches or scouts talked to the first informal day of the combine. He might be one of the 60 players they are allowed to officially interview according to Combine rules. Right now the Cards are targeting 60 players and they will interview all of them.

Join.


Also, "I want to play football" is a fairly stupid quote.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Do you guys really think we should spend our first pick on a center? How much better is he than some one we can get in the 5th. I admit that Sendlein isn't a pro bowler (yet) but he's not that horrible. We have bigger needs, especially on the defensive side.

In this case, yes.

Seidlein will never be a probowler.

 

[Mitch]

I think the title of the thread is misleading. Mack is just 1 of hundreds of players at least one of the coaches or scouts talked to the first informal day of the combine. He might be one of the 60 players they are allowed to officially interview according to Combine rules. Right now the Cards are targeting 60 players and they will interview all of them.

You're absolutely right, Joe. However, the Cardinals do have a way of tipping off their hand, because last year the first player at the combine the Cardinals had a reported "interest in" was DRC.

That said, if the Cardinals don't sign any free agent pass rushers...and they don't make any trades that gets them one or enables them to draft one earlier in the first rounder, it would seem imperative that they draft a pass rusher at #31. All the top ones will be taken by #63.

Drafting a center is not even close to one of the top needs and there will be some pretty decent centers available in rounds 3-5.

 

[Mitch]

Do you guys really think we should spend our first pick on a center? How much better is he than some one we can get in the 5th. I admit that Sendlein isn't a pro bowler (yet) but he's not that horrible. We have bigger needs, especially on the defensive side.

I was just writing the same thing at the same time, bg7brd.

 

[football karma]

Join.


Also, "I want to play football" is a fairly stupid quote.

well, it beats:

"yeah, football is okay.....but my real passion is to DANCE!"

 

[Pariah]

Do you guys really think we should spend our first pick on a center? How much better is he than some one we can get in the 5th. I admit that Sendlein isn't a pro bowler (yet) but he's not that horrible. We have bigger needs, especially on the defensive side.

We do have bigger needs elsewhere, but if Mack is on the board at 31, he's likely a better value than say, the 4th CB taken.

Successful teams in the NFL do not draft based solely on need. I'd wager that the most successful teams weigh the value of the players available more so than need.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

However, the Cardinals do have a way of tipping off their hand, because last year the first player at the combine the Cardinals had a reported "interest in" was DRC.

True Mitch, but let's not forget the trickery of 2004 when the team masterfully emloyed "double reverse psychology" by having Denny come out and tell everyone that they were going to select Larry Fitzgerald.

The rest of the League assumed the Cards were practicing the normal methods of misinformation and subterfuge. After all, only an idiot would come out and say exactly what he was going to do before the draft, right? The poor bastards never saw it coming...

 

[Matt L]

I would rather have Fitzgerald than any other player in that draft. I know it is debateable and I am going with the hometown pick but you rarely have the opportunity to draft a guy who could go down as the best player ever to play his position.

 

[bg7brd]

We do have bigger needs elsewhere, but if Mack is on the board at 31, he's likely a better value than say, the 4th CB taken.

Successful teams in the NFL do not draft based solely on need. I'd wager that the most successful teams weigh the value of the players available more so than need.

I don't disagree with you but I'm sure there will be players on the defensive side of the ball that grade out as high as Mack. I just don't think there will be as big of fall off from Mack and another center down futher down.

 

[Pariah]

I don't know...hopefully there will be a defensive player of need that grades out as high as Mack. But, I think it'd be tough to do that when our positions of need tend to go pretty quick and Mack is rated at the top of his position crop.

 

[Perfectionist]

More on Mack, who's interested
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation?tag=09%20combine

 

[az1965]

Do you guys really think we should spend our first pick on a center? How much better is he than some one we can get in the 5th. I admit that Sendlein isn't a pro bowler (yet) but he's not that horrible. We have bigger needs, especially on the defensive side.

I agree... a decent center should be available middle rounds for depth. Sendlein has done a pretty good job so far.

 

[az1965]

That said, if the Cardinals don't sign any free agent pass rushers...and they don't make any trades that gets them one or enables them to draft one earlier in the first rounder, it would seem imperative that they draft a pass rusher at #31. All the top ones will be taken by #63.

Drafting a center is not even close to one of the top needs and there will be some pretty decent centers available in rounds 3-5.

Agree... our pass rush definitely needs addressing perhaps by both FA and draft.

 

[MadCardDisease]

"It's going to be a challenge," Mack said. "Anytime you face a tough opponent, every time there is some tough D-lineman, it's a challenge, and technique is something that I used at Cal to help me get there. Using technique can really help you defeat the really heavy guys, the powerful guys. It's about being a technically sound player that really makes you a good lineman."

I really like this kid!

 

[WildBB]

Agree... our pass rush definitely needs addressing perhaps by both FA and draft.

As for FA, teams are not letting pass rushers go. We were fortunate to sign LaBoy and Haggins, last year at very reasonable rates. We'd do well to re-up Haggins. We do need an influx of young blood there, but as for it being our biggest need, I'm not convinced.

A running game and our secondary remain the biggest area's of concern, IMO. Sacks help a secondary, but it still needs it's own upgrade. So a CB shouldn't be out of the question early, as well as a FS prospect.