Drafting an OG

[Cbus cardsfan]

With all the talk of DeCastro, I thought I'd look back at the last 10 drafts to see where the first OG was selected. Only 6 of the 10 years have yielded a first round pick used on OG. The average draft spot for the first OG taken was 32.3. Only once was a guard taken in the top 20. Only one has been what I would call a dominant player, and that is Logan Mankins. Ben Grubbs, Davin Joseph, and Eric Steinbach have all been very good players but, to me, they are not game changers, or impact players. Here's the list:
2011: Danny Watkins, 23 by Philadelphia
2010: Mike Iupati, 17 by SF
2009: Andy Levitre, 51 by Buffalo
2008: Chilo Rachal, 39 by SF
2007: Ben Gruubs, 29 by Baltimore
2006: Davin Joseph, 23 by TB
2005: Logan Mankins, 32 by NE
2004: Justin Smiley, 46 by SF
2003: Eric Steinbach, 33 by Cincinnati
2002: Kendall Simmons, 30 by Pittsburgh

Is DeCastro going to be head and shoulders better than those guys? We don't know but he damn well better be if any team takes him in the top 10-15. I'm going by memory, but it seems like Joseph was the highest rated prospect out of that group, probably very comparable to DeCastro, and he was the 23rd pick. But the fact remains, that none of those players have had the impact of a top pass rusher, WR, CB, QB(obviously), or any other position for that matter. Which is why, while I like DeCstro, the Cards can get more help by "hitting" on a player from a more impactful position. The key though, is hitting on the player. DeCastro is probably a safe pick in that you know what you're getting. I'd rather take a chance on a guy, say Ingram, that can have a much more profound impact on the game.

 

[Garthshort]

Cbus, Ingram MIGHT be a VG pick, but is not as SAFE a pick, reportedly, as DeCastro. One post, and you probably read it, was that a poster who had watched the Georgia-South Carolina game, said that in that game Ingram was handled by Cordy Glenn, who I believe the Cards are also considering. And I know the team won't base a decision on one game, so I'll repeat that Ingram MIGHT be a VG pick, but I'm not expecting a Vonn Miller clone.

 

[Goldfield]

I do have a hard time justifying taking a guard that high. It seems serviceable guards are not to hard to find.

But if he is head and shoulder the BPA I think we either take him or trade back some.

 

[Cardiac]

Great post Cbus.

I have debating with myself if DeCastro should be our pick at 13 and now that debate is over. In a draft that is very deep in OG's I say go OT, WR, Barron, OLB or CB before even considering DeCastro.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Some good points here, but whether this is a deep class for guards or not really doesn't matter for us. In free agency, we've picked up 2 solid guards, who are signed for the next 4 plus years. DeCastro will be picked if the team thinks he is the best available player, and Snyder will be moved to RT or the "6th man" because he can play everywhere.

If we don't take Decastro, we will not take a guard, period. We are set UNLESS we take him, because he is good enough to move other pieces around, and he would be the anchor for years to come. If we don't take him, we will take a tackle later in the draft, not a guard.

 

[1DS]

I thnk that if the Cards draft Decastro, it will be to plug him in @ center from day 1.

 

[football karma]

I thnk that if the Cards draft Decastro, it will be to plug him in @ center from day 1.

Has he ever played center? Why would any team do that?

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I thnk that if the Cards draft Decastro, it will be to plug him in @ center from day 1.

I think they do that, but later.

If they do draft DeCastro he will battle Snyder for the RG position, move to LG after 1-2 years, and then take over Sendlein's position when Lyle's contract is up.

 

[overseascardfan]

The only way I would be okay with drafting DeCastro at #13 is if ARZ would have signed Winston, Bell & Wimbley. But we haven't so we need to go impact player at #13 or trade down. What happened to Nick Perry? The guy has a killer combine and pro day but no one is talking about him until mid to late first round. Personally if ARZ doesn't go CB in Round 1 I would be all over Perry.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Has he ever played center? Why would any team do that?

Yes.

Because your Center more times then not is the "QB" of your offensive line.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The only way I would be okay with drafting DeCastro at #13 is if ARZ would have signed Winston, Bell & Wimbley. But we haven't so we need to go impact player at #13 or trade down. What happened to Nick Perry? The guy has a killer combine and pro day but no one is talking about him until mid to late first round. Personally if ARZ doesn't go CB in Round 1 I would be all over Perry.

Perry had a great combine but he's now seen more as a 4-3 DE because he had trouble with change of direction drills and doesn't project all that well to an OLB position. So, I doubt he's in the Cards plans. I have seen him mocked as high as Seattle though.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Yes.

Because your Center more times then not is the "QB" of your offensive line.

He's practiced at centre, from what I gather, but not played. Adds versatility on game day, but - the Cards would not be selecting him with that position in mind. He's a a day one, plug-in, right guard.

 

[Waysouth]

Would like to see Tanneyhill slip to #13 and Cards trade down to Cleveland at #22 and #37. I think Glenn could be the RT and maybe even the LT the Cards are looking for (similarities to Marcus McNeil). Then get Ronnell Lewis at #37.

Glenn and Lewis>DeCastro

 

[JeffGollin]

I am wondering out loud whether we all get so wrapped up in the importance (or lack thereof) of various positions that we tend to overlook pure football talent ; preferring, instead to follow "old rules" and conventional wisdom that say: "You never draft this kind of player or that kind of player - or according to this principle or that principle.

Meanwhile, teams like New England (or Pittsburgh with their OLB's) zig when everyone else prefers to zag - and eat everyone's lunch.

DeCastro is DeCastro (& not just "a guard.")

Keuchly is Keuchly (& not just some big, ol' dumb prototypical MLB).

Just sayin'.

 

[WildBB]

Perry had a great combine but he's now seen more as a 4-3 DE because he had trouble with change of direction drills and doesn't project all that well to an OLB position. So, I doubt he's in the Cards plans. I have seen him mocked as high as Seattle though.

But his strength would be rushing the passer. An impact position/player as you said.

 

[WildBB]

Would like to see Tanneyhill slip to #13 and Cards trade down to Cleveland at #22 and #37. I think Glenn could be the RT and maybe even the LT the Cards are looking for (similarities to Marcus McNeil). Then get Ronnell Lewis at #37.

Glenn and Lewis>DeCastro

I would agree. Might be a bit high for Lewis but doable.

 

[Shane]

I think they do that, but later.

If they do draft DeCastro he will battle Snyder for the RG position, move to LG after 1-2 years, and then take over Sendlein's position when Lyle's contract is up.

Where do you come up with this stuff?

 

[ajcardfan]

He's practiced at centre, from what I gather, but not played. Adds versatility on game day, but - the Cards would not be selecting him with that position in mind. He's a a day one, plug-in, right guard.

Agreed. There is no way DeCastro would be "competing" for a starting spot.

If we draft DeCastro, I predict it's because we do not get Bell. Then, our starting oline would be (left to right) Brown - Colledge - Sendlein - decastro and Snyder. i'd much rather see Bell-Colledge-Sendlein-Snyder and Brown.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

But his strength would be rushing the passer. An impact position/player as you said.

Agree, but that's all he would do. Whereas a guy like Ingram can play every down and still rush the passer.

I'll have to say, this is the toughest year I have had of who I want/think the Cards should draft. It seems like I change my mind everyday. A couple years ago it was Wells. Last year, PP was the obvious choice if he fell. Dan Williams was a no-brainer once he was there. This year, DeCastro, Ingram, Perry, Martin, Adams, Richardson, Barron, Coples, Floyd, Reiff, Upshaw, Kuechly, Kirkpatrick, and Brockers could all be possibilites and I'm not sure who, in my mind, would/should be the Cards pick.

 

[Cardiac]

Some good points here, but whether this is a deep class for guards or not really doesn't matter for us. In free agency, we've picked up 2 solid guards, who are signed for the next 4 plus years. DeCastro will be picked if the team thinks he is the best available player, and Snyder will be moved to RT or the "6th man" because he can play everywhere.

If we don't take Decastro, we will not take a guard, period. We are set UNLESS we take him, because he is good enough to move other pieces around, and he would be the anchor for years to come. If we don't take him, we will take a tackle later in the draft, not a guard.

Who backs up College and Snyder?

 

[Catfish]

Some good points here, but whether this is a deep class for guards or not really doesn't matter for us. In free agency, we've picked up 2 solid guards, who are signed for the next 4 plus years. DeCastro will be picked if the team thinks he is the best available player, and Snyder will be moved to RT or the "6th man" because he can play everywhere.

If we don't take Decastro, we will not take a guard, period. We are set UNLESS we take him, because he is good enough to move other pieces around, and he would be the anchor for years to come. If we don't take him, we will take a tackle later in the draft, not a guard.

I think you are spot-on with your analysis.

 

[Catfish]

Who backs up College and Snyder?

Bridges, G/T

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Who backs up College and Snyder?

Jeremy Bridges. He was a starting guard in Carolina.

 

[Duckjake]

Who backs up Colledge and Snyder?

Chris Stewart

 

[Cardiac]

Bridges, G/T

Jeremy Bridges. He was a starting guard in Carolina.

Chris Stewart

And we also have DJ Young and Batiste. We could also pick up UDFA's and isn't Porkchop Womack still on the team?

All the above is beyond meh and not a long term solution. That's why I think the Cards will draft an OG at some point this year. Need to get younger and better and give us hope that we don't end up with $7 a mil plus cap hit on College in the upcoming years.

If we truly follow a BPA philosophy in the draft then a deep OG pool will most likely at some point allign our pick with an OG.

Vermont stating that we absolutely will not take any OG unless his name is DeCastro is what I disagree with. Now if we take Decastro then I highly doubt we take another OG but never say never.