Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Imagine what adding LB Keith Bulluck (6-3, 235, 11) would do to the defense? Bulluck is out there twisting in the wind right now after having torn his ACL in December. The Titans have already signed a replacement for him in Will Weatherspoon (3/$11M contract). And they have not discussed a contract with KBull. The Colts have shown some interest in signing him to a one year incentive laden deal.
Last year Bulluck recorded nearly 100 tackles and had 3 interceptions and 7 passes defended. He is one tough cookie. Imagine too how bad he feels about tearing his ACL just as he was heading into free agency.
This is a special kind of player who is worth signing. Pair him with DRC this off-season with the hope of having them ready for training camp. He's 32 and if he bounces back well from the injury he could have another good two to three years left in him, which would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a rookie behind him in that interim. Give him a contract with high incentives. Pay him the respect he deserves and the Cardinals could suddenly have the most talented defense in years.
Another UFA to consider is CB DeShea Townsend (5-10, 190, Alabama, 13). He's one of those tenacious cover corners who gets better with age. He'd be great in Ralph Brown's role.
If the Cardinals could sign these two veterans, they can focus even more on taking the best player available in the draft.
As for BPA, here's a Cardinals' Mock at the respective spots:
#26: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame, 5-11, 195, 4.44. Wow. We lose Q, but in this kid we could get a combination of Hines Ward and Lee Evans. Whiz sure knew what to do with Ward, didn't he? This would be a match made in heaven. Also, he could run out of a Wildcat, which he did so well at Notre Dame. The best RAC WR in the draft and is also a deep threat at all times.
2009 Stats: 93/1,496/16.1/15
TSN: "Tate, a junior, deveoped into an elite receiver in three years at ND after playing RB in high school. He is a big-play WR and KR who could be a first round pick."
#58: Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma St., 6-0, 195, 4.44. Want a press corner who is physcial and relentless? He would be the perfect compliment to DRC and Toler. He's a big hitter in run support, and has the speed and long arms to get his hands on a lot of balls. Pus, like Tate, is an explosive kick returner (6 TDs at Oklamoma St.).
2009 Stats: 36/4/8 (tackles/ints/pd).
TSN: "Cox plays the CB position with the tough, aggressive attitude that is hard to find and he has the ahtleticism, instincts and playmaking skills to become a good starting CB. He will likely establish himself as productive starting CB and dangerous kickoff-return man in the coming years."
#88. Donald Butler, WILB, Washington, 6-1, 244, 4.72. His game is perfectly suited to playing 34 WILB. This kid is quick to plug and is a chaser/finisher deluxe. His cover skills are very good as well, where he shows good natural skills.
2009 Stats: 72/22/1/2 (tackles/assists/sacks/ints.)
TSN: "Butler is a consistent player who makes plays all over the field. he laso shined at the Senior Bowl, where he was the best LB in our scouts' views. Butler won't be drafted as highly as he's rated here, but will prove his worth to teams by becoming a solid NFL starter."
#89. Rodger Saffold, T, Indiana, 6-5, 312, 5.23. I hadn't seen much of him until the East-West Shrine Game, but I noticed him right away and he was playing so well at LT I started watching him exclusively. I did not see one flaw in his game on this occasion versus All-Star DEs. He held the edge with great balance and strength and fired off the ball with a burst, rolling his hips in textbook fashion into his blocks.
TSN: "Prior to the East-West Shrine Game, Saffold was viewed as a 4th or 5th rounder because of his inconsistent production. But after an excellent week of practice, he showed the atheticism and consistency to be drafted in the third round and should become a starting left tackle in time."
#123. Jonathan Crompton, QB, Tennessee, 6-3, 222, 4.80. Gets rid of the ball very fast, which is what helped make Kurt Warner so good. Has a very good arm and can make all the throws. Looks a little like Aaron Rodgers in his delivery and zip. After adjusting to a learning a new scheme under Lane Kiffen, he made great strides his senior year, especially in reading defenses.
2009 Stats: 58.3%/2,800/27/13.
TSN: Crompton made a major turnaround in his senior season. He has an exciting future because of improvement in his mechanics, accuracy, consistency, decision-making and overall production, showing he can learn and be able to continue to improve. Crompton will be drafted later than we have him rated, but should develop into a good starter. It is important for him to go to a team with a QB coach who teaches fundamentals. Crompton stepped up when he got his chance in practices at the Texas versus The Nation Game. He showed a live arm and was by far the best QB there all week. He was quick getting rid of the ball and accurate on all types of throws."
#197. Arthur Moats, OLB, James Madison, 6-0, 246, 4.57. Was a college DE and all-out hustler who plays with a flair. Makes big plays in the other team's backfield.
TSN: "Moats will be a small-school pick who could shine at the next level if he can make the transistion from DE to OLB."
#236. Boris Lee, ILB, Troy, 6-0, 238, 4.76. Should slide due his lack of preferred size, but this kid is worth devloping on the PS and in John Lott's program.
2009 Stats: 41 tackles/47 assists/3 sacks/1 int.
TSN: "Lee is a smooth and athletic LB who moves well in space and has the instincts to chase down plays all over the field. he is a better athlete than many of the top LBers in this draft."
Last year Bulluck recorded nearly 100 tackles and had 3 interceptions and 7 passes defended. He is one tough cookie. Imagine too how bad he feels about tearing his ACL just as he was heading into free agency.
This is a special kind of player who is worth signing. Pair him with DRC this off-season with the hope of having them ready for training camp. He's 32 and if he bounces back well from the injury he could have another good two to three years left in him, which would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a rookie behind him in that interim. Give him a contract with high incentives. Pay him the respect he deserves and the Cardinals could suddenly have the most talented defense in years.
Another UFA to consider is CB DeShea Townsend (5-10, 190, Alabama, 13). He's one of those tenacious cover corners who gets better with age. He'd be great in Ralph Brown's role.
If the Cardinals could sign these two veterans, they can focus even more on taking the best player available in the draft.
As for BPA, here's a Cardinals' Mock at the respective spots:
#26: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame, 5-11, 195, 4.44. Wow. We lose Q, but in this kid we could get a combination of Hines Ward and Lee Evans. Whiz sure knew what to do with Ward, didn't he? This would be a match made in heaven. Also, he could run out of a Wildcat, which he did so well at Notre Dame. The best RAC WR in the draft and is also a deep threat at all times.
2009 Stats: 93/1,496/16.1/15
TSN: "Tate, a junior, deveoped into an elite receiver in three years at ND after playing RB in high school. He is a big-play WR and KR who could be a first round pick."
#58: Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma St., 6-0, 195, 4.44. Want a press corner who is physcial and relentless? He would be the perfect compliment to DRC and Toler. He's a big hitter in run support, and has the speed and long arms to get his hands on a lot of balls. Pus, like Tate, is an explosive kick returner (6 TDs at Oklamoma St.).
2009 Stats: 36/4/8 (tackles/ints/pd).
TSN: "Cox plays the CB position with the tough, aggressive attitude that is hard to find and he has the ahtleticism, instincts and playmaking skills to become a good starting CB. He will likely establish himself as productive starting CB and dangerous kickoff-return man in the coming years."
#88. Donald Butler, WILB, Washington, 6-1, 244, 4.72. His game is perfectly suited to playing 34 WILB. This kid is quick to plug and is a chaser/finisher deluxe. His cover skills are very good as well, where he shows good natural skills.
2009 Stats: 72/22/1/2 (tackles/assists/sacks/ints.)
TSN: "Butler is a consistent player who makes plays all over the field. he laso shined at the Senior Bowl, where he was the best LB in our scouts' views. Butler won't be drafted as highly as he's rated here, but will prove his worth to teams by becoming a solid NFL starter."
#89. Rodger Saffold, T, Indiana, 6-5, 312, 5.23. I hadn't seen much of him until the East-West Shrine Game, but I noticed him right away and he was playing so well at LT I started watching him exclusively. I did not see one flaw in his game on this occasion versus All-Star DEs. He held the edge with great balance and strength and fired off the ball with a burst, rolling his hips in textbook fashion into his blocks.
TSN: "Prior to the East-West Shrine Game, Saffold was viewed as a 4th or 5th rounder because of his inconsistent production. But after an excellent week of practice, he showed the atheticism and consistency to be drafted in the third round and should become a starting left tackle in time."
#123. Jonathan Crompton, QB, Tennessee, 6-3, 222, 4.80. Gets rid of the ball very fast, which is what helped make Kurt Warner so good. Has a very good arm and can make all the throws. Looks a little like Aaron Rodgers in his delivery and zip. After adjusting to a learning a new scheme under Lane Kiffen, he made great strides his senior year, especially in reading defenses.
2009 Stats: 58.3%/2,800/27/13.
TSN: Crompton made a major turnaround in his senior season. He has an exciting future because of improvement in his mechanics, accuracy, consistency, decision-making and overall production, showing he can learn and be able to continue to improve. Crompton will be drafted later than we have him rated, but should develop into a good starter. It is important for him to go to a team with a QB coach who teaches fundamentals. Crompton stepped up when he got his chance in practices at the Texas versus The Nation Game. He showed a live arm and was by far the best QB there all week. He was quick getting rid of the ball and accurate on all types of throws."
#197. Arthur Moats, OLB, James Madison, 6-0, 246, 4.57. Was a college DE and all-out hustler who plays with a flair. Makes big plays in the other team's backfield.
TSN: "Moats will be a small-school pick who could shine at the next level if he can make the transistion from DE to OLB."
#236. Boris Lee, ILB, Troy, 6-0, 238, 4.76. Should slide due his lack of preferred size, but this kid is worth devloping on the PS and in John Lott's program.
2009 Stats: 41 tackles/47 assists/3 sacks/1 int.
TSN: "Lee is a smooth and athletic LB who moves well in space and has the instincts to chase down plays all over the field. he is a better athlete than many of the top LBers in this draft."
NOT! He has been sucking more and more each season for Pittsburgh, and there's a reason the secondary-challenged Steelers aren't even trying to bring him back--he isn't any good. No thanks.
