FP Article: What Will Whiz Do?

[Mitch]

A discussion of what offensive moves may be made. Enjoy. And Happy MLK Jr. Day to all! Let Freedom Ring!

BTW---if you want to see an inspiration song about Freedom, go to YouTube.com and type in "Freedom," by Josh Garrels.

 

[Gee!]

Wheres the article?

 

[Gee!]

Oh.. FP means Front Page and not Free Press.. Got it..

 

[football karma]

Good stuff Mitch--

I thought you did a good job in identifying several "second tier" f/a types that the Cards could target.

I think Starks and Smiley are strong candidates -- unless somebody desperate for a starting o-linemen throw big dollars at them, they could be added for reasonable dollars and provide solid competition and depth on the l-line. I also like the defensive guys you identified.

I disagree with the thought the Cards take a third WR in the second round. I think Wis' preferred formation is two WRs, a TE and two backs. I just dont know how much Wis values three and four WR sets.

Now, if the Cards dont go RB in round 1, they could come back and take Chris Johnson of E. Carolina in round 2. A ultra quick RB in the Willie Parker mold who has spent time at WR as well. Alternatively, we could see a replay of 2007 where the Cards trade up into upper part of round 2 if a guy like Felix Jones slips due to the glut of RBs in the draft.

 

[WildBB]

Good stuff Mitch--

I thought you did a good job in identifying several "second tier" f/a types that the Cards could target.

I think Starks and Smiley are strong candidates -- unless somebody desperate for a starting o-linemen throw big dollars at them, they could be added for reasonable dollars and provide solid competition and depth on the l-line. I also like the defensive guys you identified.

I disagree with the thought the Cards take a third WR in the second round. I think Wis' preferred formation is two WRs, a TE and two backs. I just dont know how much Wis values three and four WR sets.

Now, if the Cards dont go RB in round 1, they could come back and take Chris Johnson of E. Carolina in round 2. A ultra quick RB in the Willie Parker mold who has spent time at WR as well. Alternatively, we could see a replay of 2007 where the Cards trade up into upper part of round 2 if a guy like Felix Jones slips due to the glut of RBs in the draft.

Who do you like at 16 if it isn't a RB? Which CB/S , OLB or OT?

 

[football karma]

Who do you like at 16 if it isn't a RB? Which CB/S , OLB or OT?

In general, at this point I know the players I really like for the Cards -- Gholston, Stewart, Sedrick Ellis (DT USC)-- but havent thought about who should the pick be if all three are gone--

it seems every write up I read has a different ranking of the CBs -- some love the Jenkins kid from South Florida and have Cason a second rounder -- and others vice/versa, so who knows.

I think Keith Rivers is a really good player, but dont know if he is a 3/4 olb on the weakside or not. Havent seen Dan Connor, so I dont know.

As for OTs -- Ryan Clady of Boise St gets good grades, but I havent seen him. I am not crazy about Sam Baker of USC at #16.

 

[Shogun]

Who do you like at 16 if it isn't a RB? Which CB/S , OLB or OT?

DE Phillip Merling, Clemson
DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
OT Jeff Otah, Pitt
DB Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)

 

[DaisyCutter]

Who do you like at 16 if it isn't a RB? Which CB/S , OLB or OT?

CB Aqib Talib, Kansas would also be a tremendous pickup at 16.

Personally, Graves and Whis are off their rockers if they draft 2 offensive players on the first day of the draft when their defense obviously needs an infusion of talent.

 

[football karma]

CB Aqib Talib, Kansas would also be a tremendous pickup at 16.

dc-- I cant disagree, but like I noted above, Talib is another one of the corners where I read very mixed reviews.

My watching of the Orange bowl kinda matched that -- one play he returns a pick for 7, then on the next gets beaten on double move by a run of the mill VTech receiver (who then drops the easy TD).

I like the fact that Talib is a long armed, super athletic guy who seems like he can track the ball in the air and make a play on it -- also dynamite with the ball in his hands.

 

[joeshmo]

CB Aqib Talib, Kansas would also be a tremendous pickup at 16.

Personally, Graves and Whis are off their rockers if they draft 2 offensive players on the first day of the draft when their defense obviously needs an infusion of talent.

Solid talent. I just want more speed at the CB spot this year. We already have average to below average speed CB's in Rolle, Green and Hood. We need an influx of some more speed in our DB core IMO. It could be all a non-point though if we improve pass rush in free agency or are committed to getting more then just one pass rusher after the first round.

 

[WildBB]

DE Phillip Merling, Clemson
DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
OT Jeff Otah, Pitt
DB Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)

So say Phillips is gone, but the top RB's are there (besides McFadden). Who do you take at 16? I wouldn't cry if it was Otah, but that would put you in a predicament in the 2nd when there would be gobs of good RB's and CB's available.

I think they need to go RB or CB first, provided Phillips is gone.

 

[DoTheDew]

I'll never understand why people want to get rid of Edge in favor of inferior/less proven backs. Replacing one old FA back with a slightly younger and much less proven one ala Fargas or Turner isn't going to help much, in fact it will probably weaken the team short term. With the way Edge's contract is structured it gets significantly smaller in the last two years so you really aren't saving that much money by cutting him and signing someone who is going to want 3-4 million this year probably. I can see the argument for drafting a RB but signing Turner or Fargas and cutting Edge is just foolish.

 

[WildBB]

In general, at this point I know the players I really like for the Cards -- Gholston, Stewart, Sedrick Ellis (DT USC)-- but havent thought about who should the pick be if all three are gone--

it seems every write up I read has a different ranking of the CBs -- some love the Jenkins kid from South Florida and have Cason a second rounder -- and others vice/versa, so who knows.

I think Keith Rivers is a really good player, but dont know if he is a 3/4 olb on the weakside or not. Havent seen Dan Connor, so I dont know.

As for OTs -- Ryan Clady of Boise St gets good grades, but I havent seen him. I am not crazy about Sam Baker of USC at #16.

Out of all the guys you mention, they are top tier (15) picks, except for probobly Stewart, Jenkins and Cason. Connor is more an ILB prospect.

Jenkins will burn up the track , but Talib might well wind up being the top CB off the board when all is said and done. That might be the direction we head.

Otah out of Pitt would give us bookend OT's however, and that's tempting too. He would make the Brown pick of last year more viable too, with two young studs on the ends for a decade. No worrys there. You could then concentrate everywhere else for years.

 

[WildBB]

CB Aqib Talib, Kansas would also be a tremendous pickup at 16.

Personally, Graves and Whis are off their rockers if they draft 2 offensive players on the first day of the draft when their defense obviously needs an infusion of talent.

I agree. The DB's have to be addressed again this year, 1st or 2nd round.

 

[football karma]

Out of all the guys you mention, they are top tier (15) picks, except for probobly Stewart, Jenkins and Cason. Connor is more an ILB prospect.

Jenkins will burn up the track , but Talib might well wind up being the top CB off the board when all is said and done. That might be the direction we head.

yeah -- I understand that the players on my wishlist will quite possibly be all gone by 16 --- but I also think that one of them will drop. All it takes is for a DE looking team to conclude that (for example) Calais Campbell is a better fit than Gholston and he could start sliding.

on the corner backs -- my POV is that the 7th rated guy might be just as good a prospect at the 1st rated guy. The guy I like is Tracy Porter out of Indiana. He isnt worth #16, but definately a 2nd rounder (#50 I think).

 

[WildBB]

yeah -- I understand that the players on my wishlist will quite possibly be all gone by 16 --- but I also think that one of them will drop. All it takes is for a DE looking team to conclude that (for example) Calais Campbell is a better fit than Gholston and he could start sliding.

on the corner backs -- my POV is that the 7th rated guy might be just as good a prospect at the 1st rated guy. The guy I like is Tracy Porter out of Indiana. He isnt worth #16, but definately a 2nd rounder (#50 I think).

The way the talent lines up this year, I'd look to go CB, S or OT first and RB in the 2nd. There should be some good ones left, IMO, or trade up/down. Shut down CB's are hard to come by. Waiting till later only dissapates your chances.

 

[Skkorpion]

DotheDew, yumpin yimminy, for the gazillionth time, dumping Edge is not a certainty but a highly likely probability, if the signals emanating from Whisenhunt and various team beat writers are to be believed.

 

[Goodyear Card]

Solid talent. I just want more speed at the CB spot this year. We already have average to below average speed CB's in Rolle, Green and Hood. We need an influx of some more speed in our DB core IMO. It could be all a non-point though if we improve pass rush in free agency or are committed to getting more then just one pass rusher after the first round.

Joeshmo,

I am glad to see you want to improve our CBs. Although a great pass rush does help the secondary, I don't want to rely on the pass rush to solve our secondary problems. A good #1 CB and Rolle at safety would greatly improve our secondary.

 

[Goodyear Card]

The way the talent lines up this year, I'd look to go CB, S or OT first and RB in the 2nd. There should be some good ones left, IMO, or trade up/down. Shut down CB's are hard to come by. Waiting till later only dissapates your chances.

I agree WildBB. Someone will slip if always happens. Hopefully one of the better CB or OT will fall in our lap. I don't really want to select a RB in day one unless an incredible pick falls in our lap.

 

[slanidrac16]

So much will change before the draft. Free agency should give us a clearer picture.
Edge will still be a Cardinal.
Dansby will get tagged and be dealt with again before the season is over.
Pace will be allowed to test the water of free agency and will give us a crack to match the offer....and we will.
Fitz's contract will be re-worked sooner or later. Sooner if we go out and sign a guy like Faneca. Later if we just sign a few second tier free agents.
Gandy will be cut or asked to re-do his contract. He may be the odd man out if the Faneca fantasy comes true.

We should all remember the draft is for the future. We should not draft for need or expect a rookie to fill a major hole on the team. Thats why i contend even if we draft a running back, Edge will still be here. If we draft an OLB it will be to eventually replace Okeafor.

One more thing about the draft. Remember what the players did during their college career and not what they do at the combine.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Solid talent. I just want more speed at the CB spot this year. We already have average to below average speed CB's in Rolle, Green and Hood. We need an influx of some more speed in our DB core IMO. It could be all a non-point though if we improve pass rush in free agency or are committed to getting more then just one pass rusher after the first round.

I agree with you. I'd probably rather have the guy from South Florida, but I don't think it's going to happen. Considering how much off-man coverage and three-deep looks that Pendergast uses, I think the team could use a solid zone-coverage CB like Cason. It's likely though that we'll take the top CB on our board regardless of fit--like we did with Rolle.

I'll wait a little while before burying Talib for being too slow, though. With the return of Okeafor and getting Pace back we'll hopefully have a pass rush that only needs to be augmented with a developmental mid-round specialist.

Right now, I'm leaning toward going OT/CB in the first two rounds to get in on the depth of talent in the draft class there.

 

[WildBB]

So much will change before the draft. Free agency should give us a clearer picture.
Edge will still be a Cardinal.
Dansby will get tagged and be dealt with again before the season is over.
Pace will be allowed to test the water of free agency and will give us a crack to match the offer....and we will.
Fitz's contract will be re-worked sooner or later. Sooner if we go out and sign a guy like Faneca. Later if we just sign a few second tier free agents.
Gandy will be cut or asked to re-do his contract. He may be the odd man out if the Faneca fantasy comes true.

We should all remember the draft is for the future. We should not draft for need or expect a rookie to fill a major hole on the team. Thats why i contend even if we draft a running back, Edge will still be here. If we draft an OLB it will be to eventually replace Okeafor.

One more thing about the draft. Remember what the players did during their college career and not what they do at the combine.

A few things... First, teams drafting in the top half of the 1st Round do expect pretty immediate contributions from their top draft picks. It's the way of todays NFL. Thats reality. You draft for immediate results and need initially. Many times to replace older, higher paid, becomming less productive vets. The CAP insures this trend. The teams have so much invested in a few CORE GROUP of players, that replacement rookies are a necessity now. They need to step in quicker now.

Yes Edge will be the starter another year, maybe two. If that's the case we won't have drafted right THIS year, MTL. We need to have at least one candidate ready to step in, and we don't have that as of yet. I'm pretty sure that's going to be addressed early.

FA is a BIG IF this year. I don't expect much. Maybe Faneca if we sign 1 big one, or two lesser tier players. It won't be much.

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree WildBB. Someone will slip if always happens. Hopefully one of the better CB or OT will fall in our lap. I don't really want to select a RB in day one unless an incredible pick falls in our lap.

I saw Cerilus (of BC) in Senior Bowl drills yesterday, going up against Sedric Ellis on one on ones. Awesome. Big, nice balance, mean as a snake. I didn't orginally have him in my top 16. I do now. Assuming the Cards don't like someone better when they pick at #16, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll drop to us).

I know offensive line may not be considered as high a priority as CB, S or even maybe TE or OLB - but I come from a school that believes that winning consistently starts with having a dominating O-line, and - although there's been some progress - we have a way to go in that dept.

 

[football karma]

I saw Cerilus (of BC) in Senior Bowl drills yesterday, going up against Sedric Ellis on one on ones. Awesome. Big, nice balance, mean as a snake. I didn't orginally have him in my top 16. I do now. Assuming the Cards don't like someone better when they pick at #16, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll drop to us).

I know offensive line may not be considered as high a priority as CB, S or even maybe TE or OLB - but I come from a school that believes that winning consistently starts with having a dominating O-line, and - although there's been some progress - we have a way to go in that dept.

BTW--

if somehow Sedrick Ellis drops because a few teams decide that 6' is too short for a DT, the Cards better run to the podium

 

[WildBB]

I saw Cerilus (of BC) in Senior Bowl drills yesterday, going up against Sedric Ellis on one on ones. Awesome. Big, nice balance, mean as a snake. I didn't orginally have him in my top 16. I do now. Assuming the Cards don't like someone better when they pick at #16, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll drop to us).

I know offensive line may not be considered as high a priority as CB, S or even maybe TE or OLB - but I come from a school that believes that winning consistently starts with having a dominating O-line, and - although there's been some progress - we have a way to go in that dept.

Word.. Jeff... Word. I come from the same school. While I wasn't enamored with the Brown pick last year, I do understand it.

i stated earlier I said , I wouldn't cry if the pick was Jeff Otah out of Pitt. That would give us bookends for a decade, at least and free us up to put resources in other area's and pave the way for our RB's and QB's to stay healthy. It makes alot of sense.

We do need to invest in our future there some more. We could probobly get another year or two out of Gandy, but he's limited. Get it taken care of sooner than later. I agree, it's still an issue (OL).

That's good news on Cerilus BTW, it gives us another option. He isn't mentioned yet anywhere as a 1st rounder. If they look into him a see a gem they might just get him as a 2nd pick. Or move down some.