Is OT Lane Johnson a reach at #7 for Cards?

[az jam]

Lane Johnson is the 3rd rated OT behind Joeckel and Fisher. He has moved up the draft charts as he had a good Senior Bowl week along with a terrific Combine. Many of the draft web sits have the Cards taking him ahead of Warmack at #7. I like him but not sure if he is be a top ten pick. Any thoughts on this?

 

[MWOOD92]

Lane Johnson is the 3rd rated OT behind Joeckel and Fisher. He has moved up the draft charts as he had a good Senior Bowl week along with a terrific Combine. Many of the draft web sits have the Cards taking him ahead of Warmack at #7. I like him but not sure if he is be a top ten pick. Any thoughts on this?

Mega reach.

 

[Garthshort]

No, he isn't. At least according to Mike Mayock, who has him ranked at #5 on his big board. And really what is the difference between #5, 6 or 7? I've only heard good things about him from Kiper, McShay and Mayock. And from all/most of the so called experts, for that matter. I'm guessing that he's in the top ten on the Cards' board. But who knows. I will guess (if there's a contest) that he'll be the Cards' first round pick if he's available.

 

[Mitch]

What I don't understand is why the coaches or anyone would want to move Bobby Massie out of RT. Even though the Cardinals got him in the 4th round last year, he started to play like a late 1st/early 2nd rounder during the second half of the season. He gave up ZERO sack the last 8 weeks.

Drafting another tackle is over-drafting at the position.

PLUS---we have Nate Potter as the third tackle already.

 

[az jam]

What I don't understand is why the coaches or anyone would want to move Bobby Massie out of RT. Even though the Cardinals got him in the 4th round last year, he started to play like a late 1st/early 2nd rounder during the second half of the season. He gave up ZERO sack the last 8 weeks.

Drafting another tackle is over-drafting at the position.

PLUS---we have Nate Potter as the third tackle already.

I guess we really don't know what BA & Keim are going to do because its draft season and you can't believe anything that is said. Everyone knows that the Cards need to improve the offensive line as they led the league in sacks. I'm just not sure how they are going to address the problem.

 

[JeffGollin]

Lane Johnson is the 3rd rated OT behind Joeckel and Fisher. He has moved up the draft charts as he had a good Senior Bowl week along with a terrific Combine. Many of the draft web sits have the Cards taking him ahead of Warmack at #7. I like him but not sure if he is be a top ten pick. Any thoughts on this?

That's why they pay the scouts big bucks for.

It's the age old question of the risk of rolling the dice on raw talent vs. passing up a huge upside.

On this board, we no doubt will find as many passionate "he sucks" comments about Johnson as we do favorable ones. Either watch a lot of tape, flip a coin or trust the scouts.

 

[JeffGollin]

Drafting another tackle is over-drafting at the position....PLUS---we have Nate Potter as the third tackle already.

Mitch - Once upon a time, we were loaded at tackle with Levi Brown, Jeremy Bridges, Young, Batiste and two rooks (Massie and Potter). Man! We were overloaded with a plethora (love that word) of offensive tackles.

Guess what happened? Levi and Jeremy got injured, Batiste and Young sucked, the entire offense went south and we had to hope and pray that Massie and Potter would improve enough to somehow get us through that nightmare. (And may I remind us all that we only one one of those last 8 games).

So here we are today - except that there's no Bridges (& thankfully) Young or Batiste. We're down to Levi, Massie and Potter.

Could lightning strike again and injuries leave our offensive line in shambles? Sure it could (after all, we is the Cardinals).

If we drafted L Johnson or Fisher, the worst that could happen is that he'd push Levi for the starting LT job and be available to step in should there be another rash of injuries. I agree with you that we shouldn't screw around with Massie at guard if he's settled in at RT. We've got enough unknowns as it is.

Does this mean we should pass on Warmack in order to draft Fisher or Johnson (or Jordan)? That's for the Cardinal scouting dept. to determine - we're not solid at OG or edge pass rusher either).

 

[Cardiac]

What I don't understand is why the coaches or anyone would want to move Bobby Massie out of RT. Even though the Cardinals got him in the 4th round last year, he started to play like a late 1st/early 2nd rounder during the second half of the season. He gave up ZERO sack the last 8 weeks.

Drafting another tackle is over-drafting at the position.

PLUS---we have Nate Potter as the third tackle already.

I'm not a fan of moving Massie out of the RT spot. I'm also not a fan of trusting the LT spot to Levi (coming off injury and spotty career) or Potter who did well for a 7th rd pick but hasn't proven he can play at a high level at LT.

Lets say we draft Fisher or Johnson and they come as advertised. Now we have a legit LT on the Oline for the first time in ........ decades.

Now we have Levi and Massie fighting it out for RT, competition is a good thing and we can feel good about both OT positions.

The interior of the line is the problem you say. Well now we have Potter and Levi/Massie to push/replace one or both OG positions.

If we go OT in rd 1 then I can see an OG taken in rd 2 or 3. Let's say the multiple Oline coaches do improve Snyder, College and Sendlein & Kelemente continues to develop then we are finally set on the Oline.

 

[kerouac9]

I think Potter can be an excellent OG in the right system.

 

[joeshmo]

I think Potter can be an excellent OG in the right system.

WHAT? How can a 300 pound athlete be a successful guard.

Only 325 pound bowling balls types can be successful guards.



I think your right but I just wanted to get out of the way the rebuttals you are going to get.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd rather see what our Left Tackle can do playing next to a solid Guard - I'd still rather take Warmack. I won't be devastated if we take Johnson but the interior of our line puts a lot of pressure on our tackles.

Steve

 

[overseascardfan]

I would rather have Warmack at #7 than Johnson and I'm not totally for Warmack at #7 because I would rather ARZ take a pass rusher but this draft is going to be very unpredictable.

 

[juza76]

If they get ansah or jordan then they could select pugh and scwhenke in round 2 and 3.big improvment

 

[ARZCardinals]

Levi brown reach at 7

 

[binkar]

I don't think he's a reach at all. It just depends on your risk appetite. The guy is strong, unbelievably athletic, intelligent, and extremely competitive. He obviously has some work to do with his technique and is less polished than the others.

I think a lot of it depends on the information we don't really have access to: How well does he take to coaching? How quickly can he convert coaching to muscle memory? Does he love his new position after playing more glamorous positions in the past? In other words, how confident are you that he can turn his elite athleticism into elite production? Bruce Campbell was all kinds of athletic, but the other factors have prevented it from translating to production.

 

[Bodha]

Yes, the worst reach imaginable.




We are picking 7th. Theres only 6 teams ahead of us...Lane Johnson is the 3rd best LT. You want to use the #7 overall on the 3rd, THIRD, best player at a single position?

A #1 OLB, or #1 ILB, or #1 RB or #1 CB, or #1 S or #1 G or #1 whatever will be sitting there available, and you use that pick on the #3 guy at one position? And no, the #3 guy will never ever ever be the BPA, EVER, at the #7 spot.

Its a reach because hes not the BPA, and its a reach because its not a huge need. Would you rather move Levi (whos doing ok at LT) for a super project, or take a pro bowl plug and play Chance Warmack who fills a enormous need.


This guys only appeal is "He has upside". Id rather take a guy whos already realized his upside. Considering the history of this team, you want to gamble with that valuable of a pick? Ill be sick if we take him. Hes honestly not that good of a player anyways. Hes just big and fast.

 

[PJ1]

BPA is the third best tackle? Doubtful. Take the best guard available in Warmack and you aren't reaching.

Agree with Mitch. Levi returning and Massie should just get better. Potter fine as tackle depth.

 

[Sunburn]

Yes, the worst reach imaginable.




We are picking 7th. Theres only 6 teams ahead of us...Lane Johnson is the 3rd best LT. You want to use the #7 overall on the 3rd, THIRD, best player at a single position?

A #1 OLB, or #1 ILB, or #1 RB or #1 CB, or #1 S or #1 G or #1 whatever will be sitting there available, and you use that pick on the #3 guy at one position? And no, the #3 guy will never ever ever be the BPA, EVER, at the #7 spot.

Its a reach because hes not the BPA, and its a reach because its not a huge need. Would you rather move Levi (whos doing ok at LT) for a super project, or take a pro bowl plug and play Chance Warmack who fills a enormous need.


This guys only appeal is "He has upside". Id rather take a guy whos already realized his upside. Considering the history of this team, you want to gamble with that valuable of a pick? Ill be sick if we take him. Hes honestly not that good of a player anyways. Hes just big and fast.

RG3 was the second best quarterback in last year's draft. Would you pass him up to take the first best at a position?

 

[NashDishesDimes]

Not a huge reach, but Warmack none the less:

LT: Potter
LG: Warmack
C: Snyder
RG: Levi
RT: Massie

Vs.

LT: Lane Johnson
LG: Colledge
C: Snyder
RG: levi
RT: Massie

First one looks best to me. Worst case scenario, Potter doesnt build on his progress and Cards have to move Levi back over and pencil in Colledge. Cards need a line that can open a few holes, the first one can open a few..l

 

[bg7brd]

Mayock thinks that all 3 tackles could be "as good or better" than Joe Thomas.

Drew Boylhart at the Huddle Report had this to say about Johnson "Lane is one of the best left tackles in this draft; that is what I see on film, which cannot be disputed."

nfldraftscout.com has Johnson ranked 7 overall.

 

[Bodha]

RG3 was the second best quarterback in last year's draft. Would you pass him up to take the first best at a position?

I was curious whether anyone would try to make that quantum leap of a connection between the QBs in last years draft to this siutation.


If RG3 were in this draft, his grade would be a 100, and the 2nd closest BPA would be an 80. That would make LJ probably a 55.

Last years draft class of QBs was a once in a generation type loaded talent. Whereas some are saying this is the weakest draft in a generation, of all positions. The exception being chance warmack.


Lane Johnson wouldnt be the #1 player in any draft ,ever.

 

[Bodha]

Mayock thinks that all 3 tackles could be "as good or better" than Joe Thomas.

"Could be"

Every CB in every draft is always the next Primetime. Ever OLB is the next Ware.

Drew Boylhart at the Huddle Report had this to say about Johnson "Lane is one of the best left tackles in this draft; that is what I see on film, which cannot be disputed."

Who?

and "This is what I see on film, therefore it cannot be disputed".

O rly? Well in that case pack it up guys, Overlord Boylhart, The Seer of the Interwebs has graced us with his undisputable resolve.


Dude sounds like turd nobody

 

[bg7brd]

Somebody sounds like a turd nobody.

 

[Sunburn]

I was curious whether anyone would try to make that quantum leap of a connection between the QBs in last years draft to this siutation.


If RG3 were in this draft, his grade would be a 100, and the 2nd closest BPA would be an 80. That would make LJ probably a 55.

Last years draft class of QBs was a once in a generation type loaded talent. Whereas some are saying this is the weakest draft in a generation, of all positions. The exception being chance warmack.


Lane Johnson wouldnt be the #1 player in any draft ,ever.

The point is being rated second or third best at a position does not necessarily mean a guy is a bum, or not an elite talent.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

For whatever reason there seems to be a lot of history of top 10 OTs being busts. We know the Cards have sure had their share, but we are not alone by any means. Even #1 picks have gone bust at this position.

That is why I feel safer with either Warmack or Cooper at OG. They are a can't miss, no questions, 100% sure thing, if ever there could be. Why gamble again this year? We need an OG and can't miss with either.