In Light of Recent Developments... (draft convo)

[Duckjake]

Duck I think Acho will somehow make it in the 1st rd despite a down year on a poor Texas D...he's a freak just like Orakpo

He could but I'm hoping he slips because of Texas sub par season and the Cards can grab him in the 2nd or 3rd. Smart, Fast, Strong and tough everything you'd want in a football player.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Duck I think Acho will somehow make it in the 1st rd despite a down year on a poor Texas D...he's a freak just like Orakpo

he'd have to have a Mike Mamula type combine for that to happen. Just about everyplace i've seen has him as 3rd-4th rounder. Which is good, the lower the Cards draft him, the better chance has at being a good player . If we could get him in rounds 5-7 he may be a pro-bowler.

 

[Matt L]

I would take Dontay Moch in the third round (maybe 2nd depending on his combine)

 

[Duckjake]

he'd have to have a Mike Mamula type combine for that to happen. Just about everyplace i've seen has him as 3rd-4th rounder. Which is good, the lower the Cards draft him, the better chance has at being a good player . If we could get him in rounds 5-7 he may be a pro-bowler.

I've been sending emails to Whiz telling him Acho played at TEXAS Permian Basin.

 

[Catfish]

While I hate to see us returning to drafting for need, it is more than likely inevitable that this will be the case this upcoming off-season. That being said, I would prefer not to draft two players for any position. I believe we will need multiple replacements for two critical positions, QB and Rush Linebacker. These two positions is where I would target the most of our available money.

Since we will undoubtedly need two rush linebackers, I would prefer finding one in FA, and using the draft for the other. At least we should fill one solid need of the two.

The same goes for QB. However here I would really concentrate on FA to get at least one solid starter. Hopefully a decent backup would also be available, and we have considerable space under the cap available. That would allow us to keep the Skeletor in a learning mode a little longer, provided he doesn't suddenly blossom into a full blown NFL QB. Given our current QB situation, I would not look to the draft for help. We will probably need to pay for sure help in FA.

I think we need to re-sign Lutui right now, and try to find a replacement for Faneca in FA. A decent journeyman guard shoud be available there, and we could use the draft to develop some O-line depth, say at OT.

I would also look to the draft to find another CB to sub. with DRC/Toler for depth. We should also be able to find help there for another ILB to work with D-Wash and Schoefield. We should resign Watson at nose to back up Williams. An athletic TE should be a fairly high priority, both in the draft and in FA. I can't see us passing on this critical position again.

I am not yet searching for names, just identifying areas of need, and the direction that I would look to find the help we will be needing there. There will be plenty of time to decide upon names later on.

 

[LarryStalling]

With the mess going on at Iowa, care should be given to taking anyone very high in the draft from there.

 

[WildBB]

We are already at #6 and if we win a few more we will be in the 8-12 range. I would trade back no lower then 15-18 and go after Akeem Ayers, UCLA. 255 lbs SILB/OLB. Another SILB/OLB is Martez Wilson from Ill, 6-4 250, 4.60 40. He is a Junior but if he comes out the cards should strongly look at this kid. He hurt his neck in game 1 against MO and set out the rest of the season. He had a monster season this year. Wilson reminds me so much of Dansby its not funny. Another late 1st /early 2nd is OLB Justin Houston Georgia, 6-3 259.

Wilson sounds intruiging, maybe as a 2nd? I saw Justin Houston play and he impressed me. Strong, ,mobile, the leader of the Ga. D. He'd be a good fit too.

 

[WildBB]

They're too small, especially if we're going to one-gap with our DEs.

Do you mean we're going to a 4-3 again?

 

[kerouac9]

Do you mean we're going to a 4-3 again?

I don't expect us to. But we play one-gap assignments with our DL all the time. What happened Sunday was that DD and CC were one-gapping and getting pressure on the QB or disrupting the backfield. The issue that I've seen is that when our DEs are asked to two-gap, they tend to get pushed back 2-3 yards and opposing RBs have room to find holes.

 

[LarryStalling]

That certainly looked to be the case when the Cards played the Niners. They were playing 2 gap to try and contain Troy Smith and keep him in the pocket and were just getting manhandled by the offensive line. One gapping was so prevelant during our SB run and was largely responsible for the pressure that we were generating during that success.

 

[Cards Czar]

The FA this year is looking really good. The Cardinals will have between 30-33 Mil after they resign our own players that we want to keep. We could even have more if they let go 3-4 older or under preforming players.

Here is what i have come up with as of today.


Est 2011 NFL Cap figure - 130 Mil

2011 signed player total salary - 60.7 Mil

Re sign our FA and RFA's - 25 Mil

Rookies - 5.2 Mil

Contract Excalators -4-6 Mil ??

Total 96.9 Mil

Reserve funds - 3 Mil


That leaves between 30-33 million to possibly use to upgrade our OL , LB, TE, ILB.


IF you let J.Porter, D. Anderson, C. Haggans, G, Hayes and M. Hall go the could also save another 13.6 mil.

 

[CaptTurbo]

If we draft a CB or WR I will be really disappointed.

 

[THESMEL]

BPA is a draft need at every position. We aint got much signed long term?
besides its a lock out! Scrubs own next season and beyond.

Whiz might do pretty well with replacement players? Maybe Gene Hackman is available?

 

[Pariah]

besides its a lock out! Scrubs own next season and beyond.

It's a lockout, not a strike. If the CBA doesn't get resolved, there just won't be football next season.

Personally, I think there will be something hammered out in the offseason, but the clubs are going to miss a lot of workouts.

 

[kerouac9]

It's a lockout, not a strike. If the CBA doesn't get resolved, there just won't be football next season.

Personally, I think there will be something hammered out in the offseason, but the clubs are going to miss a lot of workouts.

That's kind of what I see. I think we may miss almost all of training camp and then we'll see a 12-game season before the first 18-game season. If players start missing game checks, things are going to get pretty bad pretty quick, but I don't think that ownership wants that.

 

[john h]

Looking at the schedule ahead, there are a couple of winnable games, likely taking us out of the top-5 draft picks, IMO. If Skelton continues to play smart, the offense should be able to produce enough points to beat the Panthers and the 9ers game is always a game where it seems records can go out the window. Dallas, admittedly, is probably a loss.

It's my thought that outside of Luck, there's not really a QB worth taking between 5-12. So, let's talk other possibilities.

• Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
• Prince AmukamaraCB, Nebraska
• AJ Green, WR, Georgia
• Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
• Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

The list is by no means meant to be comprehensive.

Here's what I might try to do...trade out of the top-10 for another 2nd rounder and get Mike Pouncey, G, Florida. Seems to me there might be a good DE/OLB tweener that could fit our scheme at the top of the second and then we could use the 2nd second round pick to either take a QB or continue to build the team's lines.

Or, if we stay put, I think I'd likely go with one of the CBs...I think passing on either of them for a 3-4 DE in the top ten would be folly based on their talent. It would be akin to passing on AP for Brown (yes, I'm still caught up on that).

Who do you like?

I am not ready to move us out of the top 5 just yet. Remember Hall looked like our savior for one game. We need to see Skelton for a few more games before we crown him. All of us want a good QB so bad we are ready to jump at anything that looks even close to promising. His performance was OK not great He did not turn the ball over was his major accomplishment. His total yardage was less than average but he did show a good strong arm and an ability to get back up after taking a hit. I hope he is the man but we are probably 4 games or more away from deciding just where he fits into the picture. We desperately need to sign the best QB available in FA in the off season as no matter who we draft he is not going to be the starter. We won this week largely on a dominating defense and some ability to run the ball. Oh yes the OL also showed up to play.

 

[Pariah]

I am not ready to move us out of the top 5 just yet.

If the draft were today aren't we already outside of the top 5?

 

[football karma]

I am not ready to move us out of the top 5 just yet. Remember Hall looked like our savior for one game.

sage advice

the Cardinals defense is anything but predictable. After Sunday, they are just as likely to let Jimmy Clausen throw for 300 yards and 3 TDs.

 

[football karma]

If the draft were today aren't we already outside of the top 5?

I think they are 7 as we speak.

Just looking at standings and remaining schedules -- I am guessing they will draft right around 10th overall

 

[THESMEL]

at #6

det, car, buff, cin, den

We suck. read the bottom line on ESPN.

I would like to see the cBA first. rookie scale or not?

If the draft were today aren't we already outside of the top 5?

 

[kerouac9]

I am not ready to move us out of the top 5 just yet. Remember Hall looked like our savior for one game. We need to see Skelton for a few more games before we crown him. All of us want a good QB so bad we are ready to jump at anything that looks even close to promising. His performance was OK not great He did not turn the ball over was his major accomplishment. His total yardage was less than average but he did show a good strong arm and an ability to get back up after taking a hit. I hope he is the man but we are probably 4 games or more away from deciding just where he fits into the picture. We desperately need to sign the best QB available in FA in the off season as no matter who we draft he is not going to be the starter. We won this week largely on a dominating defense and some ability to run the ball. Oh yes the OL also showed up to play.

You might not be ready to, but the NFL already has.

We'd be drafting 6th overall if the season ended today.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

About the draft, if there is a lockout I know the draft is still being held but will the rookie contract structure be under the old CBA rules or the new CBA,which is likely to have a rookie wage scale? That could have a huge impact on trading up to the #1 pick. If there's a scale in place, the contract is probably not going to be prohibitive like it will be in it's under the old system.

 

[kerouac9]

About the draft, if there is a lockout I know the draft is still being held but will the rookie contract structure be under the old CBA rules or the new CBA,which is likely to have a rookie wage scale? That could have a huge impact on trading up to the #1 pick. If there's a scale in place, the contract is probably not going to be prohibitive like it will be in it's under the old system.

1) There isn't going to be a rookie pay scale. Sorry.
2) Draft picks won't be able to be signed until the lockout is over and there's a new CBA in place. So don't look for any contributions from the 2011 rookie class except at running back and maybe guard and linebacker. No minicamp, probably no training camp.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

1) There isn't going to be a rookie pay scale. Sorry.

You know this how and why are you sorry? I'm curious. Can you also give me the powerball numbers for Saturday because you obvioulsly know the future. I'm willing to give you that there's a 50% chance there's no rookie pay scale but 50% there is as well.

 

[kerouac9]

You know this how and why are you sorry? I'm curious. Can you also give me the powerball numbers for Saturday because you obvioulsly know the future. I'm willing to give you that there's a 50% chance there's no rookie pay scale but 50% there is as well.

I'm putting the odds against a rookie pay scale at more like 80-20. The owners have far more important items to them on their agenda, and so they'll be willing to bargain this away in favor of a greater percentage of revenues or the 18 game season. The Players Union doesn't want a rookie pay scale, either, so they'll happily take that and give up the 16-game schedule.

Even you're revising your estimate of the existence if a rookie pay sale from "likely" (which seems to me to be 70% probable) to 50/50.

As I've said multiple times already, you only hear about a rookie pay scale in April and August. Russell Okung was the last healthy rookie signed, and he was in camp August 7. Teams are probably more protected under the current system (with roster bonuses and voidable years) now than they were in the Leonard Davis/L.J. Shelton years when it was basically just signing bonuses that teams had to live with. The bite of the rookie salaries is only felt by teams drafting in the Top 5, and there are 27 other owners every year who are more than happy to keep a larger percentage of the TV money than bargain away something marginally valuable for the 5 losers at the table.