Do we start a draft thread now?

[Cbus cardsfan]

I love Steve Slaton...I hope he translates to the next level..but he's a stud.

Man, the 2 guys i don't want in round 1 are Slaton and Cason. Slaton, i don't think projects well at all to the pro level. Cason, i'm not sure why i have my doubts about him.They may be totally unfounded,but, i have them.I think Antonio Pittman was a much better pro prospect than Slaton and he went on day 2. I see Slaton as a slightly bigger version of Garret Wolfe and those type of players rarely make major impacts that you would want from a 1st round pick. But, then again, we have Graves in charge of drafting. So, who knows who we'll be getting. We drafted a 5'6 LB in round 3 that couldn't make it so we may draft a 5'6 RB in round who i don't think will make it.

 

[Southpaw]

BPA.

Hopefully it is a RB. No more fat DTs from the Big Ten. Trade one of those slow WRs. This is a strong QB class. Take one in the 2nd/3rd.

 

[DaisyCutter]

If the draft were held today, apparently the Cards would be picking between 10 and 15. We could get players like Sam Baker (OT, Southern Cal), Gosder Cherlius (OT, Boston College), Frank Okam (DT, Texas--Would replace Antonio Smith at DE), or Terrell Thomas (CB, Southern Cal).

What we should do is cross our fingers that Quentin Groves (DE, Auburn) falls to the Cardinals. At 6'3", 250, he'd be ideal for the Bert Berry/Calvin Pace position in the defense.

DE/OLB is a situation that has to be addressed as a top priority. The team will likely keep Okeafor and Pace, but a third player with high value is a necessity.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

If the draft were held today, apparently the Cards would be picking between 10 and 15. We could get players like Sam Baker (OT, Southern Cal), Gosder Cherlius (OT, Boston College), Frank Okam (DT, Texas--Would replace Antonio Smith at DE), or Terrell Thomas (CB, Southern Cal).

What we should do is cross our fingers that Quentin Groves (DE, Auburn) falls to the Cardinals. At 6'3", 250, he'd be ideal for the Bert Berry/Calvin Pace position in the defense.

DE/OLB is a situation that has to be addressed as a top priority. The team will likely keep Okeafor and Pace, but a third player with high value is a necessity.

With Green out for the rest of the season, and a FA next year, I bet that CB will be the first position addressed in the offseason.

 

[cardsfanmd]

If the draft were held today, apparently the Cards would be picking between 10 and 15. We could get players like Sam Baker (OT, Southern Cal), Gosder Cherlius (OT, Boston College), Frank Okam (DT, Texas--Would replace Antonio Smith at DE), or Terrell Thomas (CB, Southern Cal).

What we should do is cross our fingers that Quentin Groves (DE, Auburn) falls to the Cardinals. At 6'3", 250, he'd be ideal for the Bert Berry/Calvin Pace position in the defense.

DE/OLB is a situation that has to be addressed as a top priority. The team will likely keep Okeafor and Pace, but a third player with high value is a necessity.

I am not sure what permabanned retread you are yet, but you have had some good posts lately. Dont mean to sound rude, you just seem to know more than 99.9% of our newbies.

Anywho, I will have a buffalo chicken and mozzarella bagelwich w/ a tall glass of milk w/ice.

 

[Southpaw]

rb

But there are none after McFadden.

 

[DaisyCutter]

With Green out for the rest of the season, and a FA next year, I bet that CB will be the first position addressed in the offseason.

Maybe, but a cornerback is only as good as the pass rush in front of him. At least that's what they always say on Inside the NFL. Great mid-round cornerbacks seem to be unearthed all the time. Pass rushing DEs? Not so often.

Really, I think anyone here should be happy if the Cards picked up someone like Kentwan Balmer (DE, UNC), Groves, or Okam in the first and someone like Leodis McKelvin (CB, Troy), Charles Godfrey (CB, Iowa) or Tracy Porter (CB, Indiana) in the second. Corners seem like they're de-valued with the new passing rules, so the guys you get in the mid-rounds are often just as good as the ones you get early. Just IMO, of course.

I totally agree that there has to be attention paid to the secondary next year. Hopefully it'll be in free agency, though. Does anyone know who will be available?

 

[D-Dogg]

Man, the 2 guys i don't want in round 1 are Slaton and Cason. Slaton, i don't think projects well at all to the pro level. Cason, i'm not sure why i have my doubts about him.They may be totally unfounded,but, i have them.I think Antonio Pittman was a much better pro prospect than Slaton and he went on day 2. I see Slaton as a slightly bigger version of Garret Wolfe and those type of players rarely make major impacts that you would want from a 1st round pick. But, then again, we have Graves in charge of drafting. So, who knows who we'll be getting. We drafted a 5'6 LB in round 3 that couldn't make it so we may draft a 5'6 RB in round who i don't think will make it.

While you may be right about Slaton, and that worries me too (I even mentioned I don't know how he'll translate, but he's a stud in college) I can assure you that your worries about Cason are unfounded. I make a point to watch UofA games ONLY to see this guy play. He is bonafide.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

BPA.

Hopefully it is a RB. No more fat DTs from the Big Ten. Trade one of those slow WRs. This is a strong QB class. Take one in the 2nd/3rd.

At this point you are 100% correct.

There is no position of such great need on this team that we can't go BPA in our upcomming draft.


Sidenote: It would be REALLY cool if we got Ray Rice...RU baby.

 

[Mainstreet]

rb

But there are none after McFadden.

I have no idea where Ryan Torain of ASU will go in the draft (as he is coming off a foot injury) but he is a big fast running back that seems to wear down defenses as the game goes on. I always like backs that are big, fast and powerful. I hope the Cardinals will keep an eye on him.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I have no idea where Ryan Torain of ASU will go in the draft (as he is coming off a foot injury) but he is a big fast running back that seems to wear down defenses as the game goes on. I always like backs that are big, fast and powerful. I hope the Cardinals will keep an eye on him.

People were calling him a late 1st/early 2nd before the injury. I say he slips to day 2.

 

[PrescottLooie]

I agree with Rugby, B P A.

There are enough good ball players for us.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I agree with Rugby, B P A.

There are enough good ball players for us.

BPA except for WR. It is the only position on this team where i feel that we have adequate depth that we don't have to use a 1st rounder on.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

BPA except for WR. It is the only position on this team where i feel that we have adequate depth that we don't have to use a 1st rounder on.

Oh yeah....it works the other way too. I am so used the Cardinals needing everything I forget they are good at few positions.

I'd throw DT in that list as well since I like Watson, Branch, and Bailey as our DT's

Another 3-4 DE would be nice tho, and OLB is gonna be huge for us next season. Okeafor and Pace are solid but we need a little depth and youth at the position.

Talking Cardinal needs (in order of priority):

1. TE
2. OLB
3. K

The rest would be "looking towards the future"

4. HB
5. FS
6. DE
7. CB
8. OT

 

[Southpaw]

By eliminating certain positions from the BPA list, that dismisses the point of taking BPA.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Oh yeah....it works the other way too. I am so used the Cardinals needing everything I forget they are good at few positions.

I'd throw DT in that list as well since I like Watson, Branch, and Bailey as our DT's

Another 3-4 DE would be nice tho, and OLB is gonna be huge for us next season. Okeafor and Pace are solid but we need a little depth and youth at the position.

Talking Cardinal needs (in order of priority):

1. TE
2. OLB
3. K

The rest would be "looking towards the future"

4. HB
5. FS
6. DE
7. CB
8. OT

You really think that CB is the 7th in the list of priority this season. I put it at #1.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

BPA except for WR. It is the only position on this team where i feel that we have adequate depth that we don't have to use a 1st rounder on.

I don't know about that. Johnson is gone and that would make Morey the #3 WR as it stands now. I know i wouldn't be complaining if we tabbed Desean Jackson in round 1. A speedy playmaker is what this offense needs. Plus Jackson wouldn't get caught from behind by Willis .

 

[Cheesebeef]

i still can't believe we reached for the second best T prospect in the draft at tyhe 5th pick over taking complete studs like Peterson or Landry. I eamn, you want to take the highest ranked T? Okay - that's one thing. To take a 2nd rated T with question marks while there's still impact players out there? I just don't get it.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

i still can't believe we reached for the second best T prospect in the draft at tyhe 5th pick over taking complete studs like Peterson or Landry. I eamn, you want to take the highest ranked T? Okay - that's one thing. To take a 2nd rated T with question marks while there's still impact players out there? I just don't get it.

I was at the OSU/Ncarolina bball game last night with a friend of mine ,who's a coach, and he said almost the exact same thing. There would've been no complaining if Thomas would've been available and chosen but you have to get the top player when he's available. And, before people chime in and say the Cards had Brown rated higher than Thomas or Peterson, if that's the case, the whole scouting dept. should be canned. Because that would be 1 out of 32 teams that had it that way.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't know about that. Johnson is gone and that would make Morey the #3 WR as it stands now. I know i wouldn't be complaining if we tabbed Desean Jackson in round 1. A speedy playmaker is what this offense needs. Plus Jackson wouldn't get caught from behind by Willis .

Again, I said we had enough depth to not use a 1st round pick. I wouldn't mind using another pick on a WR in later rounds.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I was at the OSU/Ncarolina bball game last night with a friend of mine ,who's a coach, and he said almost the exact same thing. There would've been no complaining if Thomas would've been available and chosen but you have to get the top player when he's available. And, before people chime in and say the Cards had Brown rated higher than Thomas or Peterson, if that's the case, the whole scouting dept. should be canned. Because that would be 1 out of 32 teams that had it that way.

i agree. can you imagine if we had the 2nd pick and we had taken Levi instead of Thomas? We would have been DESTROYED unmercifully by everyone and they would have been right. Our rushing game is STILL pathetic... 6th worst rushing attack in the league, 3.5 ypc and 87 ypg. Ugh.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

i agree. can you imagine if we had the 2nd pick and we had taken Levi instead of Thomas? We would have been DESTROYED unmercifully by everyone and they would have been right. Our rushing game is STILL pathetic... 6th worst rushing attack in the league, 3.5 ypc and 87 ypg. Ugh.

I 3rd.

 

[joeshmo]

Priority #1 -

Kicker, Punter, Special Teamers - We are dead last in the league Field Goal %, Punt Average/net, Punt coverage, and ranked 25th in Kickoff coverage. We are also ranked below average in kickoff return coverage. What that tells me is that we need is a better Punter, Kicker, Wedge busters, gunners, and kickoff return blockers.

Priority #2 -

Run game - First some info and rankings......

Total run yards = 27th
Run Average = 27th
Run TD's = 15th
Runs of 20+ = 20th

Rankings in the NFL of Rush yards per hole ran to -

8 Hole (Left End) - 16th
6 Hole (Left Tackle) - 21st
Hole 4 to 3 (Gaurd to Gaurd) - 9th
5 Hole (Right Tackle) - 3rd
7 Hole (Right End)- 14th

My conclusions - We have pretty horrid rankings overall and looking at how it breaks down along the OL I would gather that we need improved LT run blocking and better TE blocking. We need to upgrade the left side of the OL. If we want to be a better run team we cannot be ranked 21st running off left tackle. I respect Gandy for proving me wrong and becoming a much better pass blocker then I thought he would be but his run blocking leaves something to be desired which is the complete opposite I thought he would be. Our interior is very respectable as is our Right tackle run blocking and should only get better with continued growth from the youngsters and chemistry. So I would say we need improved LT, blocking TE, and speedy RB/RB of the future.

Priority #3 -

Secondary/Pass rush - dont need to elaborate.

 

[CardLogic]

Priority #1 -

Kicker, Punter, Special Teamers - We are dead last in the league Field Goal %, Punt Average/net, Punt coverage, and ranked 25th in Kickoff coverage. We are also ranked below average in kickoff return coverage. What that tells me is that we need is a better Punter, Kicker, Wedge busters, gunners, and kickoff return blockers.

You can't cover all of this in one draft (K, P, gunners, blocker, wedge busters - that's six positions).

One solution for this would be to play more starters on special teams. Yes, there is the risk of injury to your starters, but the reward/risk ratio is acceptable, IMO.

 

[Goober Man]

You can't cover all of this in one draft (K, P, gunners, blocker, wedge busters - that's six positions).

One solution for this would be to play more starters on special teams. Yes, there is the risk of injury to your starters, but the reward/risk ratio is acceptable, IMO.

or actually play the postion players on special teams..and not have strickly ST'ers for example Celestin...since now Wilson is done for the year we have a special teamer playing in his place..it just goes hand in hand