Gerald Hayes?

[SeattleCard]

Don't we have enough linebackers??

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by SeattleCardsFan
Don't we have enough linebackers??

Well this will fill the wish of some Cardinals fans for a "true" middle linebacker. He is very stout against the run and is a pretty good player.

 

[vince56]

If he can start in a year or two here's a perfect replacement for McKinnon.

 

[Pariah]

I think he's an upgrade over McKinnon, or will be by next year...but, Ugh, how do we pass on Kenny Peterson who is a better defensive lineman that Pace and Wakefield??

I do like the upgrade to MLB, though. I was hoping we'd take Peirce in the 2nd if not Doss. Hayes is the next best on the board. To be fair though, I've never been a big fan of McKinnon.

 

[Harry]

He's too short, doesn't drop back into a zone well and he has trouble getting through traffic. He's a duplicate of McKinnon. What's the point?

 

[CardinalChris]

Can he play nickel????

 

[dmoney]

Decent but what about Peterson????????????

 

[jmr667]

ESPN and CNNSI had him projected as a mid to late second. Cards picked him up in the early 3rd. Not bad compared to the first round fiasco.

I agree with you guys though, McKinnon's got to retire some day. This kid might be able to take over in a couple years.

 

[jmr667]

Guess the Cards are really planning on Bell and Bryant to improve over last year.

Sounds like lots of hoping and wishing going on for next season.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by jmr667
McKinnon's got to retire some day.

McKinnon isn't near retirement, is he? I thought he was in the middle of his career for some reason.

I'm not even refering to retirement, though. I've just never thought he was a playmaker. Seems to me the play always comes to him.

Hayes seems to have a nose for the play (I have a friend who is from Pittsburgh and makes me watch some Pitt games with him). I like him, I just think there were better picks here.

 

[jmr667]

Originally posted by Pariah
McKinnon isn't near retirement, is he? I thought he was in the middle of his career for some reason.

I'm not even refering to retirement, though. I've just never thought he was a playmaker. Seems to me the play always comes to him.

Hayes seems to have a nose for the play (I have a friend who is from Pittsburgh and makes me watch some Pitt games with him). I like him, I just think there were better picks here.

I don't know when he's going to retire. But it sounds like this kid needs some time to develop, so its ok if he plays backup for a couple seasons.

I agree there were better picks for the Cards. They are still hurting for DT unless Marcus Bell or someone has a major breakthrough.

 

[CardinalChris]

And our third corner is......

 

[jmr667]

Originally posted by CardinalChris
And our third corner is......

Michael Stone!

...



Thanks for bringing up the CB's. Now I gotta go have another beer to cheer me up. mmmmm..... beeeerrrr.

 

[Pariah]

I'm drunk.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Harry
He's too short, doesn't drop back into a zone well and he has trouble getting through traffic. He's a duplicate of McKinnon. What's the point?

I take it you will not be writing a glowing draft report of the Cardinals first day of the draft.

Joe

 

[Stout]

This was a great pickup. They snagged a late-first to mid-second round talent and did it in the third. This was a 'best available athlete' pick. Excellent.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Pariah
I think he's an upgrade over McKinnon, or will be by next year...but, Ugh, how do we pass on Kenny Peterson who is a better defensive lineman that Pace and Wakefield??

To be honest I don't think so, and the Cards sure don't. Peterson is a lot like another Card lineman....Russell Davis.

He is a player without a true position....too slow to play end, too small to play tackle.

I think he MIGHT be better than Wakefield, but not Pace. Pace was an absolute monster throughout his career, while Peterson didn't start until his senior year. Peterson is one of those guys that people like Kiper and other draft "gurus" get us excited about, but NFL people aren't too fond on early.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

Looks like the following was written up in late 2002. I have never seen this guy play but after reading this I got a little more excited about the selection.



Quick Hits on All-America Candidate Gerald Hayes



ESPN’s Mel Kiper calls Hayes “the best middle linebacker in college football” and “one of the elite defensive players in the entire nation.” Kiper has Hayes ranked as the No. 11 senior prospect for this year's draft. “The guy is a heck of a player. He deserves All-America honors," Kiper said.



Hayes is the heart and soul of one of the nation’s most devastating defenses. Pittsburgh ranks eighth in total defense, yielding just 285.6 yards per game.



With every game, from coast-to-coast, Hayes has impressed. Says NBC’s Pat Haden "I have watched Gerald Hayes for the past two years play at an incredibly high level for the University of Pittsburgh. He combines great instincts with raw power and an apparent love for the game that makes him very unique. Without question, he is one of the best linebackers in the country."

"Gerald Hayes is perfect example of what you want out of a middle linebacker in college football," says ESPN's Dave Sims. "He plays the run hard, hitting you like a two-by-four upside the head. Then, he has fabulous sideline-to-sideline speed that you need to cut off the edge and get into the backfield for losses. It's difficult to believe that there are many other players who can measure up to the standards Gerald Hayes has established in 2002."


Pittsburgh is one of the biggest surprise teams in all of college football. The Panthers are 8-3 overall, 5-1 in the Big East and looking at a possible New Year's Day bowl game.



The Panthers are in the national polls for the first time since 1991. Pittsburgh is 17th in the Associated Press poll and 18th in the USA Today/ESPN poll (week of Nov. 25).



Hayes is “a pain.” When asked which defensive player in the Big East is his biggest pain, West Virginia’s Avon Cobourne, one of the nation’s leading rushers, said: “Gerald Hayes, the linebacker from Pitt. He’s big. Pretty good.”



TFY Draft Preview describes Hayes as a player who “explodes onto the scene, displaying pursuit skills, viciously attacking opposing ball carriers.” It is an apt description of Hayes’ playing style over the last four seasons.



Hayes is on track to become the first three-time All-Big East Conference linebacker in Pittsburgh history. He has earned All-Big East each of the last two years and has his sights set on higher honors this year.



Hayes has Pittsburgh bowling. The Panthers have gone to bowl games each year Hayes has been a starter. They are headed for their third consecutive postseason berth, a feat Pittsburgh has not accomplished since going to nine straight bowls from 1975-83.





Hayes' Career Bio (games played through Nov. 21)



2002: Is the heart of one of the nation's elite defenses...viable All-America candidate...leads team with 113 tackles...is the first Pittsburgh defender to record three straight 100-tackle seasons since All-America linebacker Jerry Olsavsky accomplished the feat from 1986-88...logged 104 tackles in both his sophomore and junior seasons...ranks fourth all-time at Pittsburgh with 382 career tackles (including bowls)...is tied for the team lead with 15 TFLs this year...is second (tied) with two INTs and is third with two forced fumbles...had a career-high 18 tackles with two TFLs in the win over Temple...finished with a game-high 12 tackles versus Notre Dame...named coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game against the Irish...tallied a game-high 10 tackles in the win over Boston College...also added a pass deflection against the Eagles...had 10 tackles at Miami...finished with seven tackles, including two TFLs, and a QB hurry in the upset over Virginia Tech...had seven stops and a caused fumble against Syracuse despite only playing three quarters...recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble versus Toledo...recorded his first career touchdown on an eight-yard fumble return against Rutgers...finished with a team-high nine tackles, including two TFLs versus the Scarlet Knights...at UAB, registered his second career interception and finished with five tackles...added two passes defended and a quarterback hurry against the Blazers...against Texas A&M, registered seven tackles, including two for losses...in the opener versus Ohio, finished with a then- career-high 17 tackles, including two for losses, a 12-yard sack and his first career interception...named a preseason All-American by numerous publications...two-time All-Big East honoree.

2001: Earned All-Big East for the second straight season, receiving first-team honors from the conference coaches…also named All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)…started every game at middle linebacker after playing the Sam position as a sophomore…finished second on the team with 104 tackles (62 solo)...his 15 tackles for losses and 6.5 sacks also ranked second…recorded double-figure tackle totals in seven games…against West Virginia, Hayes notched 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and three total tackles for losses as he earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors…Hayes helped hold WVU running back Avon Cobourne to just 64 yards rushing, almost 60 below his average…in a return to his native New Jersey to play Rutgers, Hayes tied for team-high honors with seven tackles, including two sacks…he also helped lead Pittsburgh's impressive defensive effort versus Virginia Tech with a game-high 11 tackles…his play helped shut down the Hokies' offense, limiting it to 15 yards rushing and 151 total yards…in Pittsburgh’s victory over NC State in the Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl, Hayes logged nine tackles (eight solo) and a sack…had a season-high 14 tackles (11 solo) with two sacks against East Tennessee State…lauded as the coaching staff’s Defensive Player of the Game for the Syracuse and West Virginia games…named the staff’s Special Teams Player of the Game for the East Tennessee State and Rutgers contests.

2000: Blossomed into one of the top young defensive performers in the Big East…earned All-Big East honors (second team)…was one of just four sophomores to receive All-Big East accolades in 2000…led Pittsburgh with 104 total tackles (59 solo) in just 10 regular-season games…his tackle total was 23 more than the team’s second-leading tackler, Amir Purifoy, who had 81 in 11 games... Hayes’ 10.4 tackles per game ranked third among Big East defenders and 29th nationally… had 10 tackles for losses to rank second on the team...also had three sacks...logged five double-figure tackle performances, including a season-high 16 versus Syracuse...his 16 stops marked the most by a Panther in 2000 (tied with Gary Urschler, who also had 16 against North Carolina)...was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Pittsburgh’s victory over Rutgers...against the Scarlet Knights he registered 11 tackles (six solo), two tackles for losses and a quarterback sack...his performance helped Pittsburgh hold Rutgers to minus 13 yards rushing...named the Pittsburgh coaching staff’s Defensive Player of the Game for the Miami and Syracuse contests…after missing the season opener versus Kent State, returned for the Bowling Green game and came off the bench to make eight tackles, including two for losses…started the next nine regular-season games as well as the Insight.com Bowl.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by Pariah
I'm drunk.

gotta love self medication! God knows we cardinal fans need it!

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Hayes

He's also apparently a decent pass rusher from the outside....do we need a pass rusher?

 

[Joe Mama]

Re: Hayes

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
He's also apparently a decent pass rusher from the outside....do we need a pass rusher?

Why? Surely you aren't implying that blitzing linebackers should actually get to the quarterback? That just doesn't happen in the NFL.

Joe Mama