Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Starters:
TE: 84---Rob Housler---will production match talent this year?
LT: 68---Jared Veldheer---number 1 priority addressed
LG: 61---Jonathan Cooper---rehabbed and ready to make splash
OC: 63---Lyle Sendlein---building off solid 2013 season
RG: 78---Earl Watford---has the inside track
RT: 79---Bradley Sowell---2013 experience could serve him well
TE: 89---John Carlson---gifted receiver when healthy
Backups:
TE: 86---Jake Ballard---very good situational TE
LT: 79---Bradley Sowell---would fill in here if needed
LG: 65---Christian Johnson---dominated AFL, could surprise
OC: 62---Ted Larsen---has starting experience, could win RG job
RG: 74---Paul Fanaika---might be better than we realize
RT: 70---Bobby Massie---time to step up, should help as blocking TE again
TE: 85---Darren Fells---gifted athlete, could be dynamic
Bubble:
64---Philip Blake (C/G)---talented, will have to have a great camp
49---Brett Brackett (TE)---needs to show a command of technique
60---Tommie Draheim (C)---has to find a way to turn heads
67---John Estes (C/G)---has to beat out Larsen for swing C/G role
80---Andre Hardy (TE)---highly athletic prospect with upside
76---Nate Potter (T)---ability to play both tackles could help
Draft Considerations:
The Cardinals have enough talent and depth at these positions to stick with what they have. The question is whether one of the highly rated tackles such as Zack Martin (6-4, 305, Notre Dame) or Cyrus Kouandijo (6-5, 310, Alabama) falls to them at #20 and is the highest rated player on the BASK Board.
If the Cardinals do not pick a tackle in the first round, the question then becomes whether any of the second or third round tackles, such as Antonio Richardson (6-6, 327, Tennessee), Jack Mewhort (6-6, 306, Ohio Dt.), Joel Bitonio (6-4, 307, Nevada), Billy Turner (6-5, 316, North Dakota St.) or JaWuan James (6-6, 315, Tennessee) are clear upgrades over Bradley Sowell (6-7, 315, Mississippi) and Bobby Massie (6-6, 316, Mississippi).
My own sense is that what the Cardinals would like to do is draft a project in rounds 4-5, to groom at tackle, such James Hurst (6-6, 305, North Carolina), Coop's line mate at UNC who is coming off a fractured fibula injury, Brandon Thomas (6-4, 315, Clemson), who may drop a round or two after suffering an ACL injury in his pre-draft workout, or Cardinals' pre-draft Canadian prospect invitee Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (6-5, 321, McGill), who appears to have significant talent, but lacks experience.
The other possibility is that BA&SK may decide after the draft to sign Eric Winston for another season in order to ensure some continuity until Sowell and/or Massie is ready.
The Cardinals have been showing a great deal of interest in whom many scouts feel is the draft's top center: Weston Richburg (6-4, 300, Colorado St.). What's curious about this is that Lyle Sendlein is coming off a season where he graded out the highest of all the o-linemen, and that the Cardinals signed UFA C/G Ted Larsen, who has starting experience at center and guard. What i wonder is whether the Cardinals are so high on Richburg that they believe he would be the instant starter at RG?
The bottom line is---it is time for the Cardinals to get the most of out their last two 4th round draft picks: Bobby Massie and Earl Watford. Both are physically talented and both should have a stronger understanding of the offense this year and what it will take to win their respective jobs.
At TE it would not seem imperative that the Cardinals draft one this year, especially if they are as high on Darren Fells and Andre Hardy as they seem. If the Cardinals do draft a TE, it would likely be one of the more physical blockers in this class such as Troy Niklas (6-6, 270, Notre Dame), C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-6, 262, Iowa) or Arthur Lynch (6-5, 258, Georgia). Having a good blocking TE would allow the coaches to let Massie and Sowell stick strictly to tackle play, as BA has used both of them as blocking TEs the past two years, although BA seems to relish in doing that, especially given their added size and strength on the edge.
TE: 84---Rob Housler---will production match talent this year?
LT: 68---Jared Veldheer---number 1 priority addressed
LG: 61---Jonathan Cooper---rehabbed and ready to make splash
OC: 63---Lyle Sendlein---building off solid 2013 season
RG: 78---Earl Watford---has the inside track
RT: 79---Bradley Sowell---2013 experience could serve him well
TE: 89---John Carlson---gifted receiver when healthy
Backups:
TE: 86---Jake Ballard---very good situational TE
LT: 79---Bradley Sowell---would fill in here if needed
LG: 65---Christian Johnson---dominated AFL, could surprise
OC: 62---Ted Larsen---has starting experience, could win RG job
RG: 74---Paul Fanaika---might be better than we realize
RT: 70---Bobby Massie---time to step up, should help as blocking TE again
TE: 85---Darren Fells---gifted athlete, could be dynamic
Bubble:
64---Philip Blake (C/G)---talented, will have to have a great camp
49---Brett Brackett (TE)---needs to show a command of technique
60---Tommie Draheim (C)---has to find a way to turn heads
67---John Estes (C/G)---has to beat out Larsen for swing C/G role
80---Andre Hardy (TE)---highly athletic prospect with upside
76---Nate Potter (T)---ability to play both tackles could help
Draft Considerations:
The Cardinals have enough talent and depth at these positions to stick with what they have. The question is whether one of the highly rated tackles such as Zack Martin (6-4, 305, Notre Dame) or Cyrus Kouandijo (6-5, 310, Alabama) falls to them at #20 and is the highest rated player on the BASK Board.
If the Cardinals do not pick a tackle in the first round, the question then becomes whether any of the second or third round tackles, such as Antonio Richardson (6-6, 327, Tennessee), Jack Mewhort (6-6, 306, Ohio Dt.), Joel Bitonio (6-4, 307, Nevada), Billy Turner (6-5, 316, North Dakota St.) or JaWuan James (6-6, 315, Tennessee) are clear upgrades over Bradley Sowell (6-7, 315, Mississippi) and Bobby Massie (6-6, 316, Mississippi).
My own sense is that what the Cardinals would like to do is draft a project in rounds 4-5, to groom at tackle, such James Hurst (6-6, 305, North Carolina), Coop's line mate at UNC who is coming off a fractured fibula injury, Brandon Thomas (6-4, 315, Clemson), who may drop a round or two after suffering an ACL injury in his pre-draft workout, or Cardinals' pre-draft Canadian prospect invitee Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (6-5, 321, McGill), who appears to have significant talent, but lacks experience.
The other possibility is that BA&SK may decide after the draft to sign Eric Winston for another season in order to ensure some continuity until Sowell and/or Massie is ready.
The Cardinals have been showing a great deal of interest in whom many scouts feel is the draft's top center: Weston Richburg (6-4, 300, Colorado St.). What's curious about this is that Lyle Sendlein is coming off a season where he graded out the highest of all the o-linemen, and that the Cardinals signed UFA C/G Ted Larsen, who has starting experience at center and guard. What i wonder is whether the Cardinals are so high on Richburg that they believe he would be the instant starter at RG?
The bottom line is---it is time for the Cardinals to get the most of out their last two 4th round draft picks: Bobby Massie and Earl Watford. Both are physically talented and both should have a stronger understanding of the offense this year and what it will take to win their respective jobs.
At TE it would not seem imperative that the Cardinals draft one this year, especially if they are as high on Darren Fells and Andre Hardy as they seem. If the Cardinals do draft a TE, it would likely be one of the more physical blockers in this class such as Troy Niklas (6-6, 270, Notre Dame), C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-6, 262, Iowa) or Arthur Lynch (6-5, 258, Georgia). Having a good blocking TE would allow the coaches to let Massie and Sowell stick strictly to tackle play, as BA has used both of them as blocking TEs the past two years, although BA seems to relish in doing that, especially given their added size and strength on the edge.
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