How did RG do in this draft?

[CtCardinals78]

I satrted a prediction thread last week mostly it was in the B category. Well how DID RG do with this draft?

 

[kerouac9]

C. He plugged holes that he created by neglecting free agency concerns. Is the roster significantly better now than it was when the season ended? Hard to say so. At best, Levi Brown's rookie season will be as good as Leonard Davis's final as a Cardinal (which would be a monumental undertaking).

After that, we either just don't know (DL) or are likely worse (LB). A "C" grade means average. That's how this worked out.

 

[ThunderCard]

C. He plugged holes that he created by neglecting free agency concerns. Is the roster significantly better now than it was when the season ended? Hard to say so. At best, Levi Brown's rookie season will be as good as Leonard Davis's final as a Cardinal (which would be a monumental undertaking).

After that, we either just don't know (DL) or are likely worse (LB). A "C" grade means average. That's how this worked out.

If I just rated the off-season I would have given RG a C-D like Kerouac. If it was just based on the draft I would give him a B.

I wanted AP, but Brown was not that bad of a choice plus there other pics seem to have real potential. Picking for need in the draft is disaster especially when you have AP listed on the board higher then Brown. Still Brown was a decent choice and he is now anointed our savior for the O-Line. I feel like we have done this before ?? So I give the grade a B- to a C+ ..

 

[Mitch]

It was a TEAM effort...not all on Rod's shoulders.

I give the team an A.

They had their priorities firmly in mind and applied the philosophies to the picks. The Cardinals are much stronger up front and may finally have a legitimate punt returning threat.

Levi Brown: best run blocking tackle in the draft.

Alan Branch: best space eating, run clogging DT in the draft.

Buster Davis: as good a tackling LB as there is in this draft, save perhaps Partick Willis and Paul Posluszny.

Steve Breaston: one of the top three punt returners in the draft.

Ben Patrick: ranked by many as the third best TE prospect in the draft...great value for a 7th round pick.

 

[vinnymac]

B- at best.

 

[NMCard]

I think he has done all right so far. Of course it will have to translate into wins this season.
I'm really stoked about the upgrades done to special teams. No more blown lane assignments by Femi in the cards future.
Hopefully with the upgrades to the ol they can build a cohisive unit that will help get the run game going.

 

[RonF]

I give him an A, not only did he draft well for our needs, but he has greatly upgraded our coaching staff. I believe we will no longer be the "same old cards" that everyone loves to make fun of, but a team that can run the ball and stop the run.

 

[D-Dogg]

B plus.

 

[Totally_Red]

If I just rated the off-season I would have given RG a C-D like Kerouac. If it was just based on the draft I would give him a B.

I wanted AP, but Brown was not that bad of a choice plus there other pics seem to have real potential. Picking for need in the draft is disaster especially when you have AP listed on the board higher then Brown. Still Brown was a decent choice and he is now anointed our savior for the O-Line. I feel like we have done this before ?? So I give the grade a B- to a C+ ..

B- to C+ is about right. Didn't like the trade up in the 2nd. Was forced into taking Levi Brown by the Leonard Davis fiasco. He did much better in the draft than in free agency. He was prepared for the draft, free agency seemed to catch him off guard.

 

[cardsfanmd]

It was a TEAM effort...not all on Rod's shoulders.

I give the team an A.

They had their priorities firmly in mind and applied the philosophies to the picks. The Cardinals are much stronger up front and may finally have a legitimate punt returning threat.

Levi Brown: best run blocking tackle in the draft.

Alan Branch: best space eating, run clogging DT in the draft.

Buster Davis: as good a tackling LB as there is in this draft, save perhaps Partick Willis and Paul Posluszny.

Steve Breaston: one of the top three punt returners in the draft.

Ben Patrick: ranked by many as the third best TE prospect in the draft...great value for a 7th round pick.

absolutely

 

[joeshmo]

I will say a C+. That will go up to a B+ depending on how Branch shows up to OTA's, camp, and how he takes to Lotts program. Same with Patrick who dropped to the 7th becuase of his lax ho-hum attitude, he dropped for a reason people and I am far from saying he is a steal. Highly ranked players by the media that drop and we call steals no longer get my attention anymore. I learned my lesson with Elton Brown, Blackstock, and various other players under Greens tenure.

 

[john h]

It was a TEAM effort...not all on Rod's shoulders.

I give the team an A.

They had their priorities firmly in mind and applied the philosophies to the picks. The Cardinals are much stronger up front and may finally have a legitimate punt returning threat.

Levi Brown: best run blocking tackle in the draft.

Alan Branch: best space eating, run clogging DT in the draft.

Buster Davis: as good a tackling LB as there is in this draft, save perhaps Partick Willis and Paul Posluszny.

Steve Breaston: one of the top three punt returners in the draft.

Ben Patrick: ranked by many as the third best TE prospect in the draft...great value for a 7th round pick.

I had them at a solid B no knowing anything about the last three picks. After reading their bios I will bump them to A-. The true test will come in September. Everything is conjecture at this point.

 

[WildBB]

I liked the Branch pick in the 2nd the best. They saw their man , moved up and made their choice. Everyone I talked to thought it was going to be Pusluzny , but the Branch pick is great. He'll make that 3-4 work at LDE, IMO.

It was hard giving up our high 2nd day pick, but that's what it took.

Antonio Pittman in the 4th would have sealed the day for me. But alas...not meant to be.

In the 3rd we passed on McCauley and Hughes. That might be a mistake. I hope Davis can play right off. Because we passed on some legit talent there. All indications are that he's a leader, high character and will make an immediate impact however. I hope he'll stay healthy.

Levi Brown is hard to knock. Because he basically let us get Branch falling to the 2nd. If we hadn't taken Brown we couldn't have pulled that off. Filled our biggest need.

B+

 

[40yearfan]

I had them at a solid B no knowing anything about the last three picks. After reading their bios I will bump them to A-. The true test will come in September. Everything is conjecture at this point.

 

[Redrage]

I give him an Incomplete.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

If we're judging just the draft, then it's an A. Every player that we got is going to contribute to the football team, and I see three guys (Brown, Davis, and Branch) who will start from day one.

 

[football karma]

C+

met the key needs, overpaid for some (Brown), got good value in others (Branch) and picked the right guy at the right spot for others (Buster Davis)

In the draft guide I have, Branch is compared to Shaun Rodgers -- if the Cards get that kind of play from Branch, the draft goes to A+.

My only complaint is not getting a young corner to add to the mix.

 

[kerouac9]

If we're judging just the draft, then it's an A. Every player that we got is going to contribute to the football team, and I see three guys (Brown, Davis, and Branch) who will start from day one.

Just because they start from day one doesn't mean that they're good. It just means that whomever was there before was really, really bad.

Exhibit A: Fred Wakefield.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I like the Branch pick a lot. I'll say B.

 

[Scot1]

It was a TEAM effort...not all on Rod's shoulders.

I give the team an A.

They had their priorities firmly in mind and applied the philosophies to the picks. The Cardinals are much stronger up front and may finally have a legitimate punt returning threat.

Levi Brown: best run blocking tackle in the draft.

Alan Branch: best space eating, run clogging DT in the draft.

Buster Davis: as good a tackling LB as there is in this draft, save perhaps Partick Willis and Paul Posluszny.

Steve Breaston: one of the top three punt returners in the draft.

Ben Patrick: ranked by many as the third best TE prospect in the draft...great value for a 7th round pick.

I agree with a lot of this. I'm reluctant to give Graves, with his past record, a lot of credit. Team, with individual inputs unknown, yes.

I'd say a B. I'd agree with you fully on Brown. Branch, while often rated top-10, is a question mark, and I wish I had definitive info about Clancy/Watson to know how much of an upgrade to predict, even tentatively. Davis, I agree with the predictable question marks, plus Gil Brandt says in NFL.com that Davis has trouble wrapping--short arms. Breaston, OK. Patrick, I'm confused about. He is not described as a great or even good blocker, and that's what I thought we needed. If we have to coach someone up, why not Pope, the 2nd-rated TE last year? Or for that matter, why not keep Bergen, seemingly a teachable guy?

So because of excess uncertainties, plus only 5 picks in a situation where I'd rather have a lot, a B is all I can give. In a year, if Brown, Branch, and one other fulfill their promise, I'll give extra credit.

 

[vinnymac]

I believe Clancy played some DE for the Steelers. He wasn't strickly DT.