Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Defections:
None
Additions:
None
Scheduled UFA Visits:
None
UFAs Tied to rumored Cardinals' Interest Signed:
CB Brandon Carr---signs with the Ravens (4/$24M) to complete a secondary of CB Jimmy Smith, SS Tony Jefferson and FS Eric Weddle.
CB Morris Claiborne---reportedly signing with the Jets, thus eliminating the romantic thought of an LSU DB trio of Pat P. Honey Badger and Mo C.
UFAs Tied to rumored Cardinals' Interest:
CB Jerraud Powers---Powers, who turns 30 in July, fits right in line with the Cardinals' off-season signings as a low budget, veteran returnee. He is coming off a season as one of the Ravens' nickel CBs who played in 13 games (ankle injury) and recorder 33 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 passes defended. The main issue with Powers has been his durability---he broke down at the end of his last two seasons with the Cardinals and was ineffective in the playoffs, much like teammate FS Rashad Johnson (who all is available at a position that currently is unmanned).
Here we are 8 days in a free agency where Steve Keim vowed "to be aggressive"---and unthinkably the #2 CB situation has not been addressed, nor has the RG situation, nor the #2 WR and #2 TE situations, nor the FS situation (left vacant by the departure of D.J. Swearinger), nor the kickoff and punt returner situation, nor the STs upgrade situation (aside from the best signing of all, K Phil Dawson).
Adding veterans in their 30s does little to nothing to help STs.
Making matters worse, because of Keim's passive approach to free agency, it now behooves the Cardinals to take a CB and a FS in two of its top three picks. This in a draft where many feel the Cardinals need to select their QBOF. But, with Karlos Dansby on a one year deal, it also behooves the Cardinals to draft one of the better ILBs in this draft.
All this compounded by BA's avowal that rookies the days are better off spending a year or two on the bench while learning the Cardinals' uber-complex systems.
Imagine how it is going to feel if the Cardinals draft ILB Reuben Foster at #13 and he sits idly on the sidelines all year while Dansby gets all the reps.
Rookie CB Search:
How many of the CBs in this year's draft are savvy and talented enough to come in and start right away at the designated attack position opposite Patrick Peterson?
Some of us, including myself, felt that the niftiest fit at CB at #13 was Sidney Jones of Washington. Alas, Jones tore his Achilles on the last drill of his Pro Day workout.
The most gifted CB in the draft is Marshon Lattimore of Ohio St. He is likely to be the first CB taken and should be off the board at #13.
Many pundits now, including ESPN's Todd McShay, have the Cardinals taking Tre-Davious White of LSU at #13. While White is an excellent prospect, he is not, imo, one of the top 15 talents in this draft. And i wonder if he can come right in and start. He certainly can come right in and be the punt returner, an area in which he excels. But, White lacks the physical style of CB play and a press corner that the Cardinals like to covet. He has some similar traits to Marcus Cooper, as he tends to be better off playing with cushion and coming up to make plays on the ball. But, similarly to Cooper, White is not a very good tackler in run support. But he flies around and he is a fluid athlete. **** Tabor of Florida also fits this mold and he is better ballhawk than White, but not quite as fast.
Two of the more physical CBs in this draft are Marlon Humphrey of Alabama and Quincy Wilson of Florida. In terms of overall fit, they would seem like stronger options than White.
Perhaps the most complete CB all the way around is Gareon Conley of Ohio St. He can press and he can shadow, and he's a willing and able tackler.
In the second round, two CBs who could fit the bill are Kevin King of Washington and Rasul Douglas of West Virginia. They each bring a tenacity and physical presence to the position.
At FS...the plum of the draft is Malik Hooker of Ohio St. He has the total package. But the Cardinals would have to trade up for him and likely have to give up the #77 pick and possibly more to do so. Because so many needs have not been addressed in FA, this may preclude the Cardinals from doing so.
I have been wondering whether Jabrill Peppers' (Michigan) skills could translate well to the role of FS. Some liken him to Troy Polamalu because of his hard charging bursts and tackling ability. But, could Peppers develop the requisite instincts and anticipation to be a good over the top cover FS?
In the second round, two FSs are very intriguing. Budda Baker of Washington and Marcus Williams of Utah. Baker is on the smaller side, but he plays big. He has outstanding instincts and football toughness, Williams is taller and has good range, but is not the enforcer over the middle that Baker is.
The good news is that this draft is deep and very talented at CB and S.
The not so good news is that the Cardinals, having drafted 2 CBs and a FS in rounds 3, 5, 6 last year, are now in the position of having to place a priority on drafting a CB and FS in the first three picks this year. Ideally, this exactly what teams try to avoid---having to stockpile at one or two positions in consecutive drafts, at the expense of neglecting other need areas and/or the BPA philosophy.
None
Additions:
None
Scheduled UFA Visits:
None
UFAs Tied to rumored Cardinals' Interest Signed:
CB Brandon Carr---signs with the Ravens (4/$24M) to complete a secondary of CB Jimmy Smith, SS Tony Jefferson and FS Eric Weddle.
CB Morris Claiborne---reportedly signing with the Jets, thus eliminating the romantic thought of an LSU DB trio of Pat P. Honey Badger and Mo C.
UFAs Tied to rumored Cardinals' Interest:
CB Jerraud Powers---Powers, who turns 30 in July, fits right in line with the Cardinals' off-season signings as a low budget, veteran returnee. He is coming off a season as one of the Ravens' nickel CBs who played in 13 games (ankle injury) and recorder 33 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 passes defended. The main issue with Powers has been his durability---he broke down at the end of his last two seasons with the Cardinals and was ineffective in the playoffs, much like teammate FS Rashad Johnson (who all is available at a position that currently is unmanned).
Here we are 8 days in a free agency where Steve Keim vowed "to be aggressive"---and unthinkably the #2 CB situation has not been addressed, nor has the RG situation, nor the #2 WR and #2 TE situations, nor the FS situation (left vacant by the departure of D.J. Swearinger), nor the kickoff and punt returner situation, nor the STs upgrade situation (aside from the best signing of all, K Phil Dawson).
Adding veterans in their 30s does little to nothing to help STs.
Making matters worse, because of Keim's passive approach to free agency, it now behooves the Cardinals to take a CB and a FS in two of its top three picks. This in a draft where many feel the Cardinals need to select their QBOF. But, with Karlos Dansby on a one year deal, it also behooves the Cardinals to draft one of the better ILBs in this draft.
All this compounded by BA's avowal that rookies the days are better off spending a year or two on the bench while learning the Cardinals' uber-complex systems.
Imagine how it is going to feel if the Cardinals draft ILB Reuben Foster at #13 and he sits idly on the sidelines all year while Dansby gets all the reps.
Rookie CB Search:
How many of the CBs in this year's draft are savvy and talented enough to come in and start right away at the designated attack position opposite Patrick Peterson?
Some of us, including myself, felt that the niftiest fit at CB at #13 was Sidney Jones of Washington. Alas, Jones tore his Achilles on the last drill of his Pro Day workout.
The most gifted CB in the draft is Marshon Lattimore of Ohio St. He is likely to be the first CB taken and should be off the board at #13.
Many pundits now, including ESPN's Todd McShay, have the Cardinals taking Tre-Davious White of LSU at #13. While White is an excellent prospect, he is not, imo, one of the top 15 talents in this draft. And i wonder if he can come right in and start. He certainly can come right in and be the punt returner, an area in which he excels. But, White lacks the physical style of CB play and a press corner that the Cardinals like to covet. He has some similar traits to Marcus Cooper, as he tends to be better off playing with cushion and coming up to make plays on the ball. But, similarly to Cooper, White is not a very good tackler in run support. But he flies around and he is a fluid athlete. **** Tabor of Florida also fits this mold and he is better ballhawk than White, but not quite as fast.
Two of the more physical CBs in this draft are Marlon Humphrey of Alabama and Quincy Wilson of Florida. In terms of overall fit, they would seem like stronger options than White.
Perhaps the most complete CB all the way around is Gareon Conley of Ohio St. He can press and he can shadow, and he's a willing and able tackler.
In the second round, two CBs who could fit the bill are Kevin King of Washington and Rasul Douglas of West Virginia. They each bring a tenacity and physical presence to the position.
At FS...the plum of the draft is Malik Hooker of Ohio St. He has the total package. But the Cardinals would have to trade up for him and likely have to give up the #77 pick and possibly more to do so. Because so many needs have not been addressed in FA, this may preclude the Cardinals from doing so.
I have been wondering whether Jabrill Peppers' (Michigan) skills could translate well to the role of FS. Some liken him to Troy Polamalu because of his hard charging bursts and tackling ability. But, could Peppers develop the requisite instincts and anticipation to be a good over the top cover FS?
In the second round, two FSs are very intriguing. Budda Baker of Washington and Marcus Williams of Utah. Baker is on the smaller side, but he plays big. He has outstanding instincts and football toughness, Williams is taller and has good range, but is not the enforcer over the middle that Baker is.
The good news is that this draft is deep and very talented at CB and S.
The not so good news is that the Cardinals, having drafted 2 CBs and a FS in rounds 3, 5, 6 last year, are now in the position of having to place a priority on drafting a CB and FS in the first three picks this year. Ideally, this exactly what teams try to avoid---having to stockpile at one or two positions in consecutive drafts, at the expense of neglecting other need areas and/or the BPA philosophy.
