If Potter was a third or second round pick

[Jetstream Green]

I think this is a question worth asking. If Nate Potter was thought of more highly before the draft and we selected him in a early round, what would your perception be of him right now after his play as a rookie. He needs to get stronger but he really did play well. I think perception of where a guy is taken sometimes defeats the actual judgement of a player.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I think this is a question worth asking. If Nate Potter was thought of more highly before the draft and we selected him in a early round, what would your perception be of him right now after his play as a rookie. He needs to get stronger but he really did play well. I think perception of where a guy is taken sometimes defeats the actual judgement of a player.

And, I think that's one of the points Arians is making when assessing the O-line.

Both Potter and Massie were thrown into it and learned from the "hard knocks' experience.

Massie gave up 13 sacks in the first 8 games and NONE the rest of the way.

 

[red desert]

Great post. Agree that we may already have our starting tackles in place. Quit crying, folks. Offseason should be a the season of hope in Cardinal Land.

 

[Jetstream Green]

If by some chance Joeckel would be there at 7, I would be overjoyed to get such a talent but I think people are not giving a guy like Potter any credit because of where he was selected and yes Massie played extremely well the later part of the season. I will tell you where our problem is, the interior with two overpayed worthless guys in Synder and Colledge.

 

[Quinn McCollum]

I believe Guard is a much bigger problem then Tackle.

 

[MadCardDisease]

My perception is that the Cardinals had one of the worst if not worst O-lines last year and should look to improve it.

Potter and Massie gives me hope that we now have depth at the OT position. However I think we can upgrade the Position with a better player to be the starter.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I also believe Levi Brown is a average OT and is payed accordingly and even average OTs are hard to find. He does not have the value of where he was selected but that was not his fault and we can complain we should have drafted another but not what he is on his own behalf because he is payed accordingly now to his value in my opinion.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't think that Potter's draft status really matters at this point. If he were a second-round pick, it'd probably be more disappointing that he couldn't beat out D'Anthony Batiste earlier in the year.

Potter required a lot of help in pass pro, and was consistently overpowered in the run game. If he's been working all offseason on getting stronger, then he'll out-perform his draft status and maybe push Levi Brown for his starting job.

I don't really expect that to happen. I think that Potter has the most value as a swing OT/OG who can be your sixth-best OL.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I don't think that Potter's draft status really matters at this point. If he were a second-round pick, it'd probably be more disappointing that he couldn't beat out D'Anthony Batiste earlier in the year.

Potter required a lot of help in pass pro, and was consistently overpowered in the run game. If he's been working all offseason on getting stronger, then he'll out-perform his draft status and maybe push Levi Brown for his starting job.

I don't really expect that to happen. I think that Potter has the most value as a swing OT/OG who can be your sixth-best OL.

I like your evaluation of Potter and think it is very accurate except for one part, using the judgement and favortism of the past coaching staff for Batiste as a knock against Potter because I think any other coaching staff with half a brain would have seen Potter as better than Batiste. Hell, I think almost anyone would be better than Batiste LOL

 

[JeffGollin]

Props to Potter and to Massie, but can we afford to roll all the dice on two 2nd-year tackles "who showed improvement" plus one veteran tackle with (at best) mixed reviews coming off rehab?

Until we demonstrate we're rock solid across the board with starting and backup offensive linemen, we need to treat the tackle position the same as CB's (i.e. you can never have too many of them).

 

[GatorAZ]

Potter will be an excellent depth tackle next year. It's hard to believe Levi and Massie will play all 32 games.

 

[NashDishesDimes]

I agree with the poster. Great post. Had Potter been a first round pick everyone would probably be saying he can be the LT of the future. Im okay with Potter, Levi, and Massie. In theory, they will only improve.

I think Warmack has far more value to us than Joeckel. Warmack would improve our pass pro and run game. Joeckel would improve pass pro marginally and run game marginally.

 

[Reddog]

Massie gave up 13 sacks in the first 8 games and NONE the rest of the way.

It felt like it was 13 sacks in each of his first 8 games.

 

[Chopper0080]

They way I look at it is we have 3 serviable OTs in Massie, Brown and Potter. None are great at this point and all could be upgraded. I think Massie could develop into a nice RT if he continues to improve, but he is not a top RT yet. Brown is a servicable LT and a better RT, but again, totally upgradable. Potter needs a ton of work but does have good athleticism. I am not banking on his improvement, but I am optimistic.

In the end, I believe we can get more production out of Brown, Massie and Potter than we can from Colledge, Snyder and Sendlein. Because of this, I put a higher priority on drafting Warmack and Cooper over Joeckel, Fisher and Lane Johnson.

What is funny is that if there was ever a draft and a year to scrap our offensive line and just draft young prospects, this would be it. It would suck for the rest of the team, but a draft of Warmack, Armstead and Barrett Jones in the first 3 rounds would give us a very young, developmental, cheap OL corp for the next 3 years. It would allow the Cardinals to scrap some bad contracts in Colledge and Sendlein as well. I am not saying that this is the best draft approach, but it would in theory shore up our offensive line nicely.

Essentially, this could your 2014 starting offensive line...

LT-Terron Armstead
LG-Chance Warmack
C-Barrett Jones
RG-Senio Kelemete
RT-Bobby Massie

with Levi Brown, Adam Snyder, and Nate Potter being your reserves. If you wanted to free up more money, you could also part ways with Brown and Snyder in 2014.

Again, probably not the best draft plan, but one that could possibly set up your team for future success.

 

[GuernseyCard]

If by some chance Joeckel would be there at 7, I would be overjoyed to get such a talent but I think people are not giving a guy like Potter any credit because of where he was selected and yes Massie played extremely well the later part of the season. I will tell you where our problem is, the interior with two overpayed worthless guys in Synder and Colledge.

Watch Snyder at centre, particularly against Detroit (Suh), and you may want to put a value on him.

 

[Totally_Red]

My perception is that the Cardinals had one of the worst if not worst O-lines last year and should look to improve it.

Potter and Massie gives me hope that we now have depth at the OT position. However I think we can upgrade the Position with a better player to be the starter.

Exactly! As Chopper posted, Massie has the potential of developing into a decent RT, but we need better than 'average' performance out of our offensive line.

One of the reasons Baltimore beat the Niners in the Super Bowl was because their offensive line was able to keep Joe Flacco clean when the Niners only rushed four. The Cardinals O-line is nowhere near that capability. That needs to be the goal.

I don't care what Bruce Arians says. Our offensive line may be better than Indy's, but we don't have Andrew Luck pulling the trigger. We need a two-year program to rebuild the offensive line into an elite unit so we are able to compete with SF and Seattle. Our wide receivers can't get open quickly and our running attack has been anemic. Rebuilding the offensive line is taking the first step toward becoming competitive in the NFC West IMO.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Potter will be an excellent depth tackle next year. It's hard to believe Levi and Massie will play all 32 games.

 

[seesred]

IMO Brown before he was hurt and during the prior season last half, was playing exceptional well. Why is it that fans are against him. I admit that the first couple of years he was a project but, he has moved up to a better than average Tackle and would shore up our line if he can play guard. I would rather take a lineman in the 3rd or 4th round.

I like the QB if he falls to us number 1 and then a play maker at defense end. Then the o-line. Our line played very well the second half of the season and would have been better with a RB and a QB.

GBR
40

 

[Cheesebeef]

My perception is that the Cardinals had one of the worst if not worst O-lines last year and should look to improve it.

Potter and Massie gives me hope that we now have depth at the OT position. However I think we can upgrade the Position with a better player to be the starter.

totally agree.

 

[JeffGollin]

IMO Brown before he was hurt and during the prior season last half, was playing exceptional well. Why is it that fans are against him...

May I make the following edit?:

"IMO Brown before he was hurt and during the prior season last half, played well enough not to terribly embarrass us..."

 

[Goldfield]

They way I look at it is we have 3 serviable OTs in Massie, Brown and Potter. None are great at this point and all could be upgraded. I think Massie could develop into a nice RT if he continues to improve, but he is not a top RT yet. Brown is a servicable LT and a better RT, but again, totally upgradable. Potter needs a ton of work but does have good athleticism. I am not banking on his improvement, but I am optimistic.

In the end, I believe we can get more production out of Brown, Massie and Potter than we can from Colledge, Snyder and Sendlein. Because of this, I put a higher priority on drafting Warmack and Cooper over Joeckel, Fisher and Lane Johnson.

What is funny is that if there was ever a draft and a year to scrap our offensive line and just draft young prospects, this would be it. It would suck for the rest of the team, but a draft of Warmack, Armstead and Barrett Jones in the first 3 rounds would give us a very young, developmental, cheap OL corp for the next 3 years. It would allow the Cardinals to scrap some bad contracts in Colledge and Sendlein as well. I am not saying that this is the best draft approach, but it would in theory shore up our offensive line nicely.

Essentially, this could your 2014 starting offensive line...

LT-Terron Armstead
LG-Chance Warmack
C-Barrett Jones
RG-Senio Kelemete
RT-Bobby Massie

with Levi Brown, Adam Snyder, and Nate Potter being your reserves. If you wanted to free up more money, you could also part ways with Brown and Snyder in 2014.

Again, probably not the best draft plan, but one that could possibly set up your team for future success.

This is how I feel.

We aren't going to beable to fix everything in one draft. I feel the guards are the weakest link. We need to upgrade at least one guard spot. Br it in the first second or third round.

 

[nooch]

Something to keep in mind. Next year Tackle class should be good as well, with Matthews and Lewan etc. Although we will probably fixated on one of the QB's.

 

[MadCardDisease]

They way I look at it is we have 3 serviable OTs in Massie, Brown and Potter. None are great at this point and all could be upgraded. I think Massie could develop into a nice RT if he continues to improve, but he is not a top RT yet. Brown is a servicable LT and a better RT, but again, totally upgradable. Potter needs a ton of work but does have good athleticism. I am not banking on his improvement, but I am optimistic.

In the end, I believe we can get more production out of Brown, Massie and Potter than we can from Colledge, Snyder and Sendlein. Because of this, I put a higher priority on drafting Warmack and Cooper over Joeckel, Fisher and Lane Johnson.

What is funny is that if there was ever a draft and a year to scrap our offensive line and just draft young prospects, this would be it. It would suck for the rest of the team, but a draft of Warmack, Armstead and Barrett Jones in the first 3 rounds would give us a very young, developmental, cheap OL corp for the next 3 years. It would allow the Cardinals to scrap some bad contracts in Colledge and Sendlein as well. I am not saying that this is the best draft approach, but it would in theory shore up our offensive line nicely.

Essentially, this could your 2014 starting offensive line...

LT-Terron Armstead
LG-Chance Warmack
C-Barrett Jones
RG-Senio Kelemete
RT-Bobby Massie

with Levi Brown, Adam Snyder, and Nate Potter being your reserves. If you wanted to free up more money, you could also part ways with Brown and Snyder in 2014.

Again, probably not the best draft plan, but one that could possibly set up your team for future success.

Funny I was thinking Warmack/Cooper in the first and Armstead in the second earlier this morning as well. Personally I would try to drop back a few spots (Chargers? Dolphins?) to land extra picks before selecting one of the Guards in the first round. I have a feeling there will be a run on OTs early in this draft that will make some team want to move up to land one.

I like Armstead a lot but would start Levi Brown at LT and let Armstead and Massie duke it out for the RT position. Then I would re-evaluate the OT situation again after the season. If Levi looks good at LT he can stay. If not, you cut bait and move to one of your young OTs to start at LT in 2014.

Though I wouldn't take a third OLineman till much later in the draft if at all. We have way too many other needs.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think Potter has a long way to go. If he's our starting LT, then the Cards are in trouble. I think he can develop into a swing OL, or OG, at best. People's opinion on Potter "playing well" are probably skewed because Batiste was so bad and just about any living, breathing OL would have looked good in comparison.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think Potter has a long way to go. If he's our starting LT, then the Cards are in trouble. I think he can develop into a swing OL, or OG, at best. People's opinion on Potter "playing well" are probably skewed because Batiste was so bad and just about any living, breathing OL would have looked good in comparison.

Meh, he has good feet and that is hard to teach. He has a long ways to go physically, but if he can manage that, he could be a keeper. There is a reason he was once touted as a top prospect in college.