Harry Green draft article on front page

[Skkorpion]

http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=556&Category=cardinals

 

[JeffGollin]

One of the best pieces you've written, Harry.

I pretty much agree with your odds by position; though I think Dennis will stick to his "best player" MO and this could skew the odds somewhat.

Having said that, the three positions I'm zeroing in on at #8 are:

OLB - I know Johnson is the top-rated guy here and that he'd pair up nicely with Dansby, but I have this gut feeling that Ware is going to skyrocket up the boards (i.e. small college guy with great athleticism and tremendous upside - 6-4 232 before the Senior Bowl, but weighed in at about 247).

RB - Benson, Brown or Williams in that order; though the addition of the more explosive and "jukey" Williams would better compliment our pounders (Shipp and Hambrick).

CB - Either Rolle or PacMan. (The other 3 or 4 guys all seem to meet our needs, but figure to be rated a peg lower).

If Dennis is true to his principles, you can't overlook the wideout position(Edwards, Mike Williams, Clayton) but I fervently hope that the Best Available Athlete at #8 turns out to be a non-receiver. I also agree with you about QB (though Alex Smith might conceivably be rated that high by some scouts; and if we can't land a FA, we're going to have to do something).

With regard to "need", we can use help in the interior of both lines, but I don't think any OG's or NT's deserve to be rated as high as #8. Besides: Reading the Coach Green Tea Leaves, he's talking a lot about how the presence of two tackles rated high in the draft will "cause more skilled prospects to drop down further."

 

[MadCardDisease]

Great Article Harry!

I really believe that the Cardinals should go after either of the following guys if they are available with the 8th pick. Both will be instant starters.

#1 CB - Antrel Rolle

or

#2 OT - Alex Barron

If not I'd snag one of the RBs like Brown or Fason.

Mike Williams sure sounds tempting. You never know with Green at the helm. Boldin, Fitzgerald and Williams Oh My!

 

[joeshmo]

To not even bring up the best TE in the draft Heath Miller and put Alex Smith in his place to be picked at #8 is either a big mistake, or you just forgot about him.

Miller is not only just as good of a reciever, reportedly faster as well(not sure about that until they run), and he is a far better blocker something I think you have given Smith far to much credit for in this article. I have watch him play 4 games this year and thehuddlereport says it best in their scouting report on him, "Alex doesn’t like to block. Alex doesn’t want to block. Alex will not block even if his mama is running the ball and she needs a yard to score a touchdown." He even showed that in the senior bowl.

Other then that good article.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[40yearfan]

Thanks Harry. I always enjoy you articles and feel much more informed after reading them. And to top it all off, it's free.

 

[Russ Smith]

To not even bring up the best TE in the draft Heath Miller and put Alex Smith in his place to be picked at #8 is either a big mistake, or you just forgot about him.

Miller is not only just as good of a reciever, reportedly faster as well(not sure about that until they run), and he is a far better blocker something I think you have given Smith far to much credit for in this article. I have watch him play 4 games this year and thehuddlereport says it best in their scouting report on him, "Alex doesn’t like to block. Alex doesn’t want to block. Alex will not block even if his mama is running the ball and she needs a yard to score a touchdown." He even showed that in the senior bowl.

Other then that good article.

Either CNNSI or ESPN reported last week that smith had impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl with his blocking, much better than expected him to be.

NFL draftblitz has Miller rated ahead of Smith, they compare Miller to Todd Heap and say he needs to work on his run blocking but has the best hands in the draft (including WR's). They compare Smith to Tony Gonzalez(disagree) and say he needs to work on his blocking and get stronger.

I will say this, if for some reason Green is picking a TE at 8(and I don't think he will be), Green has shown a distinct affinity for picking Stanford players.

 

[Rocco]

Yup, everybody seems to want that tightend that can run and catch since the linebackers can't mug them all the way down the field anymore.

Agree with Harry about how difficult it is to evaluate a college TE though. There are probably as many first round TE busts as QB's over the years.

 

[Red Dawn]

Nice job Harry. I also hope we dont select a WR at #8, WR is not a weakness on this team. I hope we go RB or OL.

 

[black]

WOW!! IDUNNO either! Great post and thanks or the link.

 

[O]

I agree Harry, I think Carlos Rogers would be a great pick.

 

[conraddobler]

Rowen will want a TE and if he dosen't feel there is one on the roster he will lobby for one.

I suspect he could turn Freddie Jones right around. TG was asked to block but within the schemes and it usually made more sense than having a TE try and block a DE.

That BTW isn't real smart.

Rowen will feature the TE heavily.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

what happened to the article? i can't find it anymore.

 

[EndZone]

what happened to the article? i can't find it anymore.

Neither can I

 

[artp]

I don't see an article

 

[john h]

http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=556&Category=cardinals

As always Harry you put out a well written informative article that makes a lot of sense. Of course there will be the usual naysayers but well done. You are one guy I tend to lend a lot of credability to.

 

[CardLogic]

Harry, your contributions to ASFN cannot be overstated!

(and I just don't go givin' these away, like some people do... )

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

excellent article harry. i am wondering about your opinion on heath miller too.

i'm not sure where i WANT the cards to go w/ their first pick this year. i'd love a rb, but it seems we're likely to end up with cadillac outta the 3 touted runners, and he just doesn't excite me.

i'd love d. johnson, but more defense? this offense needs more help. the d needs an anchor tackle and i think the rest of the unit is "fine" (i say that in comparison to the offense which seemingly needs a qb, rb, te, and a couple olineman).

 

[spanky1]

excellent article harry. i am wondering about your opinion on heath miller too.

i'm not sure where i WANT the cards to go w/ their first pick this year. i'd love a rb, but it seems we're likely to end up with cadillac outta the 3 touted runners, and he just doesn't excite me.

i'd love d. johnson, but more defense? this offense needs more help. the d needs an anchor tackle and i think the rest of the unit is "fine" (i say that in comparison to the offense which seemingly needs a qb, rb, te, and a couple olineman).

Ouch,

I am also starting to think on the merits of Heath Miller with the #8. If we went this way, it would put pressure on selecting a CB in FA (Baxter or Lucas will likely be the most doable salary wise). We could then use the #44 on one of Fason, Barber, Morency or Shelton .

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ouch,

I am also starting to think on the merits of Heath Miller with the #8. If we went this way, it would put pressure on selecting a CB in FA (Baxter or Lucas will likely be the most doable salary wise). We could then use the #44 on one of Fason, Barber, Morency or Shelton .

yeah, as much as i've been in the "draft a stud rb in round 1" camp, more and more i think a stud at another position of need (and i know, i know, denny disdains need) like te or oline on offense in round 1 with a rb w/ upside in round 2 may be the most prudent way to truly juice up the offense.

ah hell, i just started typing this two minutes ago, got distracted, came back to type and now visions of emmitt smith sliding midway through round one come creeping back to me and i think cadillac may end up another emmitt.

color me thoroughly confused.

 

[Harry]

No, I didn't forget about Miller. On paper the two are almost identical. However, I believe Smith has more game speed. I think as the two develop Miller will be more an over the field, third down type receiver. He catches the ball better facing the QB. The Cards have plenty of those. Smith will get deeper and uses position better to take advantage of his size. He catches the ball over his shoulder and in stride better. The Cards have an abundance of third down receivers, they need ones who will get deep and can make the big play. Smith is the harder match-up. Miller does block better, but Smith is already a better blocker than Jones and will improve.

However, keep in mind fixing the line is still my priority.

 

[Twist18]

Harry, don't you think that Green will do that in FA? I would like to see them draft OG David Baas with the 2nd pick.

 

[WildBB]

Very nice piece Harry. I've heard recently that the Cards are enthralled with Cadillac Williams, that Green wants him for his speed back.

Your right though if they don't address the right side of the line it won't be a good pick this yr. Kind of like the Fitz pick last yr. with the QB situation and the OL instability. But it may pay off in the long haul.

I would also not be upset at all with the Derrick Johnson pick. Exactly for the reasons you said. "Teams would have a nightmare blocking Dansby and Johnson." Along with Wilson to deal with. Can you say D - Dennis?!

 

[joeshmo]

On paper the two are almost identical. However, I believe Smith has more game speed. I think as the two develop Miller will be more an over the field, third down type receiver. He catches the ball better facing the QB. The Cards have plenty of those. Smith will get deeper and uses position better to take advantage of his size. He catches the ball over his shoulder and in stride better. The Cards have an abundance of third down receivers, they need ones who will get deep and can make the big play. Smith is the harder match-up. .

I see were you are coming from but I just dont buy it. They are almost identical in height and weight and just dont see how Smith has more game speed, they look identical there as well. As for Smith being a better deep threat and Miller only being a 3rd down guy, I just dont buy that as well. There yards per catch are almost identical, 13.2(miller) compared to 13.5(smith). You are right about Smith being a over the shoulder type WR and Miller being a face the QB type reciever but he more then makes up for it in the YPC category by being a lot more physical then Smith and gaining a lot more YAC then Smith will ever get. And speaking of big plays Miller is also much better in the red zone. Although he had 11 less catches he had 2 more TD's then Smith. Just dont see how Smith is the harder matchup over Miller.

 

[Harry]

I don't know enough about Green to predict his targets in free agency. That said, the targets would be DT (little or nothing available in the draft), TE (notoriously hard to accurately draft) and right tackle (little depth in the draft). I would trade for the running back.

I like Baas in Round 2, as an option. There could be a couple of interesting backs, defensive ends or corners at that point also.

There's an MLB in round 3 I like, whom I will cover later. He was injured a lot in 2004.