Kent Somers 4/19 interview discussed 4 players at #13

[Snakester]

Reiff and Floyd I like. Ingram and Upshaw would be okay if we trade down to around 20. I would still take Mercilus over Ingram or Upshaw.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Reiff, Upshaw, Ingram, Floyd..... That would be my order or preference.

Honestly, I would want Hightower before Floyd.

 

[52brandon]

Reiff, Upshaw, Ingram, Floyd..... That would be my order or preference.

Honestly, I would want Hightower before Floyd.

why? Out of curiosity. A guy they compare to Fitz would be a great compliment to him. Then the D couldn't focus only on Fitz and we may actually get some completions

 

[D-Dogg]

I think we take Floyd. And I'm ok with that. The FF WR tandem will be brilliant.

 

[JeffGollin]

I keep watching the same footage of Floyd looking a bit stiff and prone to catching closer to his body than you'd think he would. Meanwhile the voice-over keeps talking about how athletic he is and how well he extends his hands to catch away from his body.

I know it goes against the CW, but he just doesn't look all that athletic or explosive to me.

(Paraphrasing what Bill Polian says about RB's that might also apply to WR's), In Floyd, I just don't see the "magic."

 

[Duckjake]

Reiff and Floyd I like. Ingram and Upshaw would be okay if we trade down to around 20. I would still take Mercilus over Ingram or Upshaw.

I think Mercilus is underrated. Of course I'm basing that on nothing more than he just looks like a really good defensive football player. On the other hand Ingram had a terrific 3 cone time. Last year the best 3 cone time among OLB's at the combine was turned in by........ Sam Acho.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

I keep watching the same footage of Floyd looking a bit stiff and prone to catching closer to his body than you'd think he would. Meanwhile the voice-over keeps talking about how athletic he is and how well he extends his hands to catch away from his body.

I know it goes against the CW, but he just doesn't look all that athletic or explosive to me.

(Paraphrasing what Bill Polian says about RB's that might also apply to WR's), In Floyd, I just don't see the "magic."

Jeff, I am with you on your assessment of Floyd. When I watched Notre Dame play the last few years, I never left watching those games saying to myself, "Wow that Michael Floyd is going to be great!"

Maybe it's those horrible Notre Dame uniforms or the high socks Floyd wears that makes him appear alot less explosive than he really is.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I keep watching the same footage of Floyd looking a bit stiff and prone to catching closer to his body than you'd think he would. Meanwhile the voice-over keeps talking about how athletic he is and how well he extends his hands to catch away from his body.

I know it goes against the CW, but he just doesn't look all that athletic or explosive to me.

(Paraphrasing what Bill Polian says about RB's that might also apply to WR's), In Floyd, I just don't see the "magic."

Totally disagree. I have watched a lot of ND over past three years and when he wasn't injured he jumped out on tape. And I wasn't looking for him either. He's 5x better then Golden Tate who went 2nd round 2 years ago. He's big and has elite hands and blocking ability. Watch how much we run to his side of we draft him. He's the best pro prospect on ND in years bar none. Type of player better suited for NFL then college but still did amazing things in South Bend.

More importantly his body control an velcro hands will make us unstoppable In red zone. I was concerned about his speed but when I saw his combine 40 he became my top pick at 13.

 

[D-Dogg]

Great avatar, Finest!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Great avatar, Finest!

Thanks

 

[Dayman]

The more I think about it, the more I want Ingram to be the pick. Acho and Ingram on the edges could be very solid. I also don't have a lot of faith in Schofield being an every-down player.

I wouldn't be too upset with Floyd, but I question if he's good enough to take in the first round of a draft that's very deep at WR.

 

[CardsFan88]

I see Floyd as a guy that can play the WR position like Boldin did. Of course Boldin was Boldin and this is Floyd, but if there was a guy we could draft that we could put in that role (as it was a successful cog in our offense and one which we rode to the SB), I think Floyd is the guy we can do that with.

It's not necessarily that we are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, he legitimately plays physical, can catch, doesn't have top speed but can run after the catch and be physical. Maybe I'm wrong, but to me it's a no brainer.....if that's what we're looking for. Maybe like Mitch said we're looking for more of a traditional slot receiver, but if not, and even if it may be less effective, having a guy play Boldin's role was pretty effective too, and our coaching staff knows how to use it. If they weren't already missing what Boldin brought, the game last year was a forceful reminder.

I also would not mind Kuechly, Hightower, Brockers, Barron, Poe, or one of the linemen besides Glenn and Martin. Ingram or Upshaw? Sure. I could even live with Glenn, until at least a speed rusher blows past him like Levi and like Levi it wouldn't even be close. Of course I could be wrong, but when I see Glenn, I see Levi's speed rusher problems reincarnated in another 1st round pick.

Mercilus? Yeah he made ASU's lineman look like Levi. The tools are there and maybe 2011 was the start of something great with him.

I could even list a few more names like some of the other WR's or the CB's, but I then I'd basically be listing close to the rest of the 1st round.

This is a deep draft in the 1st round. I don't remember a draft where there are a bunch of guys in the 20's that I think aren't much different than the top 10, yet any are worthy of the pick. Lots of variety, and at traditionally sought after positions.

It's a good year to have multiple picks in the 1st. Cincy could very well pull off two studs along with the Browns. Aside from a few guys that will slip in, 5-30 seems pretty equal more or less talent wise. If some slip in, one might even be able to say 2nd rounders close to equal to top 10 talent. That's just crazy. But it seems like it is this year. So yeah, it's also a good year to maybe trade into the top of the 2nd (or conversely trade down and pick up picks until that level for some teams) imo.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

If thos are the choices then Ingram has to be the choice. I don't like Reiff(therefore the likley Cards pick ). Floyd would be okay and Upshaw would be good as well. My order:
Ingram
Upshaw
Floyd
Reiff

 

[Chopper0080]

Exactly. No guard worth that high of a pick. sorry.

Disagree. Setting the front of a pocket in the passing game has become even more important as it allows a QB to extend the play by moving up. How many times last year did Skleton slide up in the pocket only to get engulfed by the DTs. More than that, having an elite pulling OG helps the running game so much especially running the power scheme that we do. RTs are a dime a dozen in this league and LTs have a huge bust rate as we have seen over the years.

I will say it again, to have a really good offensive line you have to have some top talent on the unit, regardless of where. 5 average guys will get you average results. 1 or 2 top talents along with 3 or 4 average guys will give you a needed advantage.

 

[Duckjake]

Disagree. Setting the front of a pocket in the passing game has become even more important as it allows a QB to extend the play by moving up. How many times last year did Skleton slide up in the pocket only to get engulfed by the DTs. More than that, having an elite pulling OG helps the running game so much especially running the power scheme that we do. RTs are a dime a dozen in this league and LTs have a huge bust rate as we have seen over the years.

I will say it again, to have a really good offensive line you have to have some top talent on the unit, regardless of where. 5 average guys will get you average results. 1 or 2 top talents along with 3 or 4 average guys will give you a needed advantage.

Well you know I disagree on the 5 average guys because the Saints produced a prolific offense with 4th,4th,5th,7th,5th,2nd and 2 UDFA linemen.

But I do agree with you on the middle of the pocket. In watching nfl.com highlights of Cardinal games from 2009 you can see that, contrary to conventional wisdom, Warner usually had plenty of time to throw. Because he could step up into the pocket. Watching Kurt do that vs what we've seen from the 6 QBs who have tried to replace him makes you want to

I don't think replacing your Guards every year is the answer. So I'd be fine with drafting DeCastro.

 

[BurqueCardFan]

After watching some you tube clips today to get a refresher on the top names, I came away impressed with Floyd, Hightower and DeCastro. However, I also do not like the idea of drafting a guard very high unless he is the absolute BPA at that point. Especially since guard is in no way a need for us.

 

[Chopper0080]

Well you know I disagree on the 5 average guys because the Saints produced a prolific offense with 4th,4th,5th,7th,5th,2nd and 2 UDFA linemen.

But I do agree with you on the middle of the pocket. In watching nfl.com highlights of Cardinal games from 2009 you can see that, contrary to conventional wisdom, Warner usually had plenty of time to throw. Because he could step up into the pocket. Watching Kurt do that vs what we've seen from the 6 QBs who have tried to replace him makes you want to

I don't think replacing your Guards every year is the answer. So I'd be fine with drafting DeCastro.

I would say the Saints have had two top guys in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks for many years, and once Nicks left they signed Ben Grubbs to replace him to a 7mil/year contract. They weren't drafted high (a testament to the Saints front office), but they were/are top talents.

I agree with you when you say "top OGs can be found later in the draft" but I don't feel that it should prevent you from taking one earlier if you feel he is a top player. You can find really good safeties later in the draft, but it shouldn't prevent you from drafting Ed Reed in round 1. The same should be true with interior linemen.