First Minicamp Practice

[Mitch]

Same thing happened in 2005 when Berry went down with injury as well. Okeafer excelled as a stand up DE/OLB in a semi 3-4 type alignments. Thats were he made most of his plays. He has also played LB more then Pace has as well. He was called an elephant LB (what ever that means) when he was with the niners.

I tink Okeafer would do very well in that formation, it is Berry I would be worried about. Gaines Adams would look great opposite of him though. Adams was a man amongst boys during the LB drills at the combine.

Good points, Joe. I think that the Cardinals will add two ILB, one free agent and one draft pick...and eventually Dansby will be moved to OLB, with Beisel, the free agent or draft pick playing inside along side of Hayes.

This is why they tried to acquire Peter Sirmon...and like you predicted Joe, Sirmon may have a change of mind in the next few days. If not there will be a another free agent.

 

[kerouac9]

Some 3-4 OLBs, with heights and weights:

Joey Porter: 6'3", 250
Shawne Merriman: 6'4", 272
Steve Foley: 6'4", 265
Willie McGinest: 6'5", 270
Victor Hobson: 6', 252
Mike Vrabel: 6'4", 261
Demarcus Ware: 6'4", 255

And Karlos Dansby: 6'4", 243

 

[BigRedArk]

Steenking 3-4 defense. I hate it. It's also a three year rebuild.

Me too!!! I hate that crapping formation. The QB can just stand back there all day and wait for someone to get open. It stinks!!!!!!!!!

 

[joeshmo]

Agreed but unfortunately I doubt he'll be available at 5. The Lions and Bucs run the cover 2 and Gaines is a perfect fit for that defense

Anthony Spencer in the 2nd might work as well. He did an excelent job in the LB drills at the combine and pro day as well. Jarvis Moss maybe, Quinten Moses in the 3rd possibly.

They would take a year to develop though.

 

[football karma]

The only positive about Dansby on the inside in a 3-4 is that the scheme is designed to have defensive linemen tie up offensive linemen to free LBs to run to the ball

 

[Sandan]

Man I miss being able to get those photos

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Running back Edgerrin James took part in the entire practice, shrugging off the minor surgery he had this offseason to drain some fluid on his knee.

“It was a scratch. That same night I was hanging out in the clubs,” James said with a huge grin, showing that he had removed his famous gold teeth coverings. “I practiced. Everything was normal.”

James also dismissed the idea he would have any problems running behind a fullback.

Every player except for guard Milford Brown – who is getting married – was at practice.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/87761


I like hearing that everyone was at practice .. I still think M. Brown made a real poor choice by getting married this week of all weeks ..

Edge sounds like he is back healthy after the knee draining episode .. I think he will end up being okay running behind a FB ..

 

[Trey]

Me too!!! I hate that crapping formation. The QB can just stand back there all day and wait for someone to get open. It stinks!!!!!!!!!

Which is exactly why Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New England, Dallas, and San Diego have such crappy defenses...

 

[Goldfield]

You dont need good knees to get a lap dance.

Wait which knee was drained?

 

[JeffGollin]

Me too!!! I hate that crapping formation. The QB can just stand back there all day and wait for someone to get open. It stinks!!!!!!!!!
First of all there apparently are two different 3-4 schemes - I don't know the technicalities of each (someone help me out there) but on SIRIUS radio (which is dominated by the Team Felon Nation) there has been a lot of back and forth about Wade Wilson's 3-4 vs. Bill Parcells' 3-4.

Secondly, just because the Cardinals used to employ a 3-man (prevent) front during the Larry Marmie days, doesn't mean that the Pendergast/Wiz version won't normally rush at least 4 guys - the only uncertainty being "which ones?"

In other words, the one difference between rushing 4 guys out of the 4 -3 and 4 guys out of the 3 - 4 is that, with the 3 - 4, opposing blockers won't know which of the two Cardinal LB's will be coming.

And when you add blitz packages and false looks to either the 3 - 4 or 4 -3, I don't think the QB will be able to "stand back there waiting for someone to get open."

 

[BigRedArk]

Me too!!! I hate that crapping formation. The QB can just stand back there all day and wait for someone to get open. It stinks!!!!!!!!!
First of all there apparently are two different 3-4 schemes - I don't know the technicalities of each (someone help me out there) but on SIRIUS radio (which is dominated by the Team Felon Nation) there has been a lot of back and forth about Wade Wilson's 3-4 vs. Bill Parcells' 3-4.

Secondly, just because the Cardinals used to employ a 3-man (prevent) front during the Larry Marmie days, doesn't mean that the Pendergast/Wiz version won't normally rush at least 4 guys - the only uncertainty being "which ones?"

In other words, the one difference between rushing 4 guys out of the 4 -3 and 4 guys out of the 3 - 4 is that, with the 3 - 4, opposing blockers won't know which of the two Cardinal LB's will be coming.

And when you add blitz packages and false looks to either the 3 - 4 or 4 -3, I don't think the QB will be able to "stand back there waiting for someone to get open."

You have to have outstanding LB's and a bad-ass monster NT that can occupy at least 2 guys consistently, and even better maybe 3, if he is a real manster for it to work though Jeff. All defenses fall into patterns and once the opposing teams figure out which blitz packages you prefer at various times they figure out how to adjust their blocking assignments. You better have some fast and nasty LB's to make it work or your defensive backfield is likely gonna get routinely torched. Unless you have a couple of shut-down corners of course.

Also do we really wanna spend at a minimum 1 and more likely 2 years adjusting our roster and teaching/coaching players how to execute this thing? Add to that you have to allow for them to adjust to it in-game and the pain that will likely ensue during it.

I just think it's foolish to think the 3-4 is gonna be our defensive saviour. This team may be close to becoming competitive every week with just some basic solid coaching. Is this a good time to "throw the baby out with the bathwater?"

 

[ajcardfan]

I know if I'm a OC and I see the Cards in a 3-4 look on first down I'm going to try and force Berry and Okeafor cover in the flat if they are out there. If we roll up a safety or CB, then I'm going over the top. If I run the ball, I'm playing smashmouth right up the middle.

We'd better be really, really flexible in our defensive formations. I just don't see our personnel as adequate for a 3-4. Yeah, I know we did a lot of the old Oklahoma 5-2 under Clancy, but that's not what was done in Pittsburgh.

 

[CardinalChris]

Just me or does Grimm look like Andy Reid's little brother?

 

[vinnymac]

Just me or does Grimm look like Andy Reid's little brother?

More like his big brother.

Nick Saban said that his high school coach told him that sometimes it doesn't matter what plays are called, but who is involed in th plays. I can't see Berry out in coverage. I can see him playing the run standing up. Okeafor is better suited for the 3-4. I do have a feeling that the cardinals are going to be drafting a couple of linebackers. That brings me to my next question. What ever happened to the linebacker the cardinals pick out of louisville last season. I havn't heard anything about him since the draft last season.