Kiper's New 4 Round Mock

[binkar]

I am not enamored with Mel's selections: the only one I like is if Shonn Greene is available at #63. That pick I like.

I don't see Larry English being the pass rushing specialist the Cardinals need next year...and they had better get one or we will continue to see 4th quarter defensive meltdowns.

Down the road I think English will be a good solid player...but not right away.

Greene is tough...and will run hard. I have no doubt whatsoever about that.

Chase Coffman? We already have a more talented player at TE in Ben Patrick and we have far greater needs. If James Casey was available at #95, I would feel differently. This guy is remarkable.

Corvey Irvin...real risk. Was so inconsistent at Georgia...really had the coaches scrathing their heads there. IMO, Jason Banks is a better player and he's going to have to have a great camp to make the team.

Mel's doing what he always does...he's reaching on players that he perceives as needs. At least he sees a pass rusher at #31. But his picks are weak.

I disagree with your assessment of Larry English and think he will be a far better player and pass rusher than you are stating. He has a very quick first step, uses his body and strength well to gain leverage and get under blocks, and has shown polished pass rush moves at times.

 

[WildBB]

What's with the English critisism Walter, you were one of the one's very high on him early in the evaluations? You even wanted to trade up to land him or take him with a possible early Boldin pick.

 

[FrustratedFan04]

Greene and English are both question marks on and off the field. English MAY be an NFL player but Greene strikes me as a one hit wonder. The problem is the whole draft's a crap shoot so what the heck is there to lose?

 

[Mitch]

I disagree with your assessment of Larry English and think he will be a far better player and pass rusher than you are stating. He has a very quick first step, uses his body and strength well to gain leverage and get under blocks, and has shown polished pass rush moves at times.

I think he will need some time to develop...that he won't be an immediate factor as a pass rusher (in time I think he'll be good)...Michael Johnson, IMO, would.

We need a guy who can get us more than 5 sacks next year.

And I never had the Cardinals trading up to get English. I was very disappointed in English's performance at the Senior Bowl. Robert Ayers of Tennessee was the only good edge rusher in the game. English was stifled play after play.

I didn't watch a lot of NIU games...did any of you? I've watched his highlight tapes...but let's face it, he played in a weak league.

I did watch the Senior Bowl. Go back and watch it yourself. Not once did English even get close to the QB.

Like I said, we need a guy who can get us more than five sacks THIS year. We didn't sign any free agent pass rushers. The Cardinals are putting it all up on the draft.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Johnson is probably still my first choice at 31 if the RB's are gone.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Greene and English are both question marks on and off the field. English MAY be an NFL player but Greene strikes me as a one hit wonder. The problem is the whole draft's a crap shoot so what the heck is there to lose?

How is English questionable off the field, he is one of the highest character guys in this draft...

 

[binkar]

I think he will need some time to develop...that he won't be an immediate factor as a pass rusher (in time I think he'll be good)...Michael Johnson, IMO, would.

We need a guy who can get us more than 5 sacks next year.

And I never had the Cardinals trading up to get English. I was very disappointed in English's performance at the Senior Bowl. Robert Ayers of Tennessee was the only good edge rusher in the game. English was stifled play after play.

I didn't watch a lot of NIU games...did any of you? I've watched his highlight tapes...but let's face it, he played in a weak league.

I did watch the Senior Bowl. Go back and watch it yourself. Not once did English even get close to the QB.

Like I said, we need a guy who can get us more than five sacks THIS year. We didn't sign any free agent pass rushers. The Cardinals are putting it all up on the draft.

When all is said and done Michael Johnson could be hands down the best defensive player in this draft, but he could also be a career backup and the next Alan Branch. After our experience with Branch I am simply nervous to spend our first rounder on a guy with amazing physical tools who has a reputation for being soft and lazy at times.

Look at Johnson's statistics last season...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=173983

He only had 1 game with more than one sack last year and that was the bowl game (which is good that his best game was a big game), but he barely had 5 sacks last year in college so I would be cautious to expect him to get more than five in his first year in the NFL (even though he will have more games to do so). He didn't show much improvement in rushing the passer from year to year. The fact that Johnson skipped the Senior Bowl is another concern to me. The guy has a chance to silence his critics and show that he can be great amongst some of the best in college football and he chooses to not even show up? That concerns me.

Like I said, Johnson could be the best defensive player in this entire draft, but he simply lacks that killer instinct and the drive to be dominant.

Because he could be such a great player I wouldn't be upset if we drafted him, but I would be really, really nervous and anxious to see how he turns out.

I have a couple questions for you Mitch...

1) What do you see Michael Johnson's role as in a 3-4 defense? And if you would explain how you think he would fair in the different areas of importance to that role. for example... against the run, as a pass rusher, DE or OLB, in coverage (if he is ever asked to drop back in coverage) etc... (I will also check back in some of your older posts to see if you have already covered this elsewhere.
2) Why do you think Johnson chose not to participate in the Senior Bowl and is that anything to read into in your opinion?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Just say no to Shonn Greene.

 

[joeshmo]

I don't see Larry English being the pass rushing specialist the Cardinals need next year...and they had better get one or we will continue to see 4th quarter defensive meltdowns.

You just havent watched English play or watched his break downs on the NFL network then. I suggest looking for some torrents to download. Youtube or your one and only time you saw him in a meaningless senior bowl game that scouts dont even stay to watch doesnt count as having seen him play. English is the only player in the draft who has multiple pass rush moves. He has the pass rush moves that a 3 year veteran should have, where as the other pass rushers in this draft only have one move, a bull rush or a speed rush. He is a legit pass rusher right out of the box because of his repertoire of veteran like pass rush moves.

Corvey Irvin...real risk. Was so inconsistent at Georgia...really had the coaches scrathing their heads there. IMO, Jason Banks is a better player and he's going to have to have a great camp to make the team.

The guy the coaches voted to make the defensive captian even though his senior year was his first year starting, had them scratching their heads? The guy the coaches where telling scouts at the combine was their hardest worker on the field and off the field, had them scratching their heads? The Georgia coaches love this kid, its a fact. We arent talking about a 4th rounder here, we arent talking about a beast or a right out of the box difference maker.

 

[joeshmo]

Still, with Pope, Patrick, Becht, and Spach already on the roster, i wouldn't really look at TE until later.

When I see that list I see Quantity but not Quality. Becht is old and on his 3rd team in 3 years, Spach was just the best of a bad bunch, and Pope and Patrick havent been healthy since they got into the league.

 

[joeshmo]

I did watch the Senior Bowl. Go back and watch it yourself. Not once did English even get close to the QB.

90% of what your saying about the guy is based mostly on 20 snaps of football in a meaningless game the scouts dont even bother to stay for and watch?