IMHO: The Housler pick was a stroke of genius.

[Lomax to Green 84]

What coverage have teams employed the last 2 years against Larry Fitzgerald?

Answer: Bracket coverage (cornerback with safety help over the top)

Purpose of the bracket coverage: To keep Fitz from burning teams with the deep jump ball bombs. Since 2008, you can probably count on one hand the number of wow plays from Fitz. Teams game plan to take his vertical game away from him by bracketing him with a corner and safety and rolling coverage his way.

What is the best way to burn a bracket coverage?

Answer: Find a speedy tight end who can run the deep seam route and consistently beat the coverage against the inside linebacker or strong safety.

I think the Cards had this in mind when selecting Housler. Look at what guys like Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, and Jamarcus Finley do to teams who decide to focus most of their corner and free safety help to the wide recievers. They get terrific one on one match ups with either inside linebackers or strong safeties and toast them all day long. Go ahead 49ers and bracket Fitz because we are going to send our 6' 5" 246 pound Tight End who runs a 4.46 40 right down the seam all day long and you can try and defend him with your linebackers. You do that to us all the time with Vernon Davis.

Payback is a b$#$%!

 

[joeshmo]

Without a doubt a deep threat. Over 16 yards a catch his last two season he played.

He also did very well against FAU's top competition last year.

Michigan State - 7 catches for 75 yards
Texas - 2 Catches for 65 yards both for TD's.

It will be interesting to see if his deep seam threat transfers to the NFL.

 

[TJ]

Good analysis! Agree 100%

 

[Captain Matt]

Yep. I like the pick. A lot of folks thought elite pass rush, QB, and OL "should" have been the focus of the draft. But if you look at PFW's Draft Preview most of our picks were in the top 5 at their respective positions - including our new TE and FB. Mayock actually called us out as a team which did very well this week. If you care what Mayock says....

 

[Goldfield]

A good way to improve the D is to keep the O on the field. Housler might help us do that...

 

[anks106]

You can watch a pretty extended reel of film on Housler in the Michigan State game here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2A03ArPPbo

Including some highlights of his blocking (which at times, you might as well just state as his creating a gap for the defense).. but the kid has speed from what I saw, and also did a pretty good job of providing an outlet for his QB when his qb was in trouble.. definitey played the role of the TE. Also his QB missed a couple possible big throws to him that highlight that woulda made the numbers even better.

Reports are he has quite suspect hands though (not as much in that clip), if he can hold onto the ball.. I think we have a really good football player on our hands. Also, he didn't seem to me like a guy who wasn't trying to block, moreso like a guy who just wasn't good at it, if the guy is willing to put in the effort, he can certainly improve in that aspect (and reports are he added significant weight recently, which will help in that matter.)

 

[Chopper0080]

It addresses a serious need that the Cardinals have had over the past few years, and that is the ability to stretch the field. The Cardinals have not been able to generate big plays over the past couple years which has forced us to drive down the field. This has been tough because we don't have the offensive personnel to do so.

TE's like Housler keep safeties in the middle of the field and explosive backs like Williams keep safeties up in the box. Both of these things help Fitz get open for big plays.

 

[Duckjake]

It addresses a serious need that the Cardinals have had over the past few years, and that is the ability to stretch the field. The Cardinals have not been able to generate big plays over the past couple years which has forced us to drive down the field. This has been tough because we don't have the offensive personnel to do so.

TE's like Housler keep safeties in the middle of the field and explosive backs like Williams keep safeties up in the box. Both of these things help Fitz get open for big plays.

Well let's hope the Cardinals took them because they actually plan to use them.

It obviously doesn't make any sense to use a first round pick in 2009 and then a high second in 2011 on RBs if you are going to be dead last in rushing attempts every year.

Having a RB and a TE who can actually catch the ball when thrown to them will make a big difference though. Didn't our TEs drop a lot of passes last season? It seems like they did but I'm not positive.

 

[NashDishesDimes]

Good analysis, thanks. the only problem i have with it is the fact that many think he would have been there in the 4th or maybe 5th.

And that he is white and has a goofy name which may be irrelevant...

 

[artp]

who's going to throw him the ball?

 

[Chopper0080]

Well let's hope the Cardinals took them because they actually plan to use them.

It obviously doesn't make any sense to use a first round pick in 2009 and then a high second in 2011 on RBs if you are going to be dead last in rushing attempts every year.

Having a RB and a TE who can actually catch the ball when thrown to them will make a big difference though. Didn't our TEs drop a lot of passes last season? It seems like they did but I'm not positive.

The problem that I had with Wells when they picked him, and is the same problem that I have with any big back, is that they need a bunch of carries throughout the game. They also generally have a difficult time catching the ball which can really limit the amount of snaps that they get because of the importance of spreading defenses out wide. This severely limits their value and production, andwas why I liked Williams over LeShoure.

I thought the TE pick was high, but this is the type of TE that I thought we have needed for so long that I can't stay too bitter about it.

 

[ARZCardinals]

You got me excited!

 

[Cardiac]

Good analysis, thanks. the only problem i have with it is the fact that many think he would have been there in the 4th or maybe 5th.

And that he is white and has a goofy name which may be irrelevant...

Way to focus on the important stuff.

You got me excited!

Good post Holian. If the pick had been the kid from Tennesee then people wouldn't be up in arms about value but Housler is the fastest TE in this draft.