Mason Cole

[TheCardFan]

The one spot on the OL most of felt was going to be consistent from last year to this year was C/Mason Cole.

Now it is suggested that he may be moved to G. Well, we already have 2 starting G's (Pugh and Sweezy) with 2 younger back-ups and Max Garcia.

Cole was ranked #34 C by PFF...not exactly what we are looking for though.

Is this motivation for Cole to improve or are we looking at another Evan Boehm situation?

https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/07/az-arizona-cardinals-mason-cole-guard-center/

 

[juza76]

The one spot on the OL most of felt was going to be consistent from last year to this year was C/Mason Cole.

Now it is suggested that he may be moved to G. Well, we already have 2 starting G's (Pugh and Sweezy) with 2 younger back-ups and Max Garcia.

Cole was ranked #34 C by PFF...not exactly what we are looking for though.

Is this motivation for Cole to improve or are we looking at another Evan Boehm situation?

https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/07/az-arizona-cardinals-mason-cole-guard-center/

boehm never got a chance despite the lack of talent in our offensive line
then he moved to the colts and was quite adequate
cole wasnt good at all, i mean our line especially the inner part collapsed most of the time

 

[GuernseyCard]

boehm never got a chance despite the lack of talent in our offensive line
then he moved to the colts and was quite adequate
cole wasnt good at all, i mean our line especially on the middle collapsed most of the time

There isn't a day in a career where I'd trade Cole for Boehm

 

[BigRedRage]

article wont even load for me.

Rooting big time for him, we will see. I wouldnt worry about anything at this point. He will get his chance to win the job I am sure.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

boehm never got a chance despite the lack of talent in our offensive line
then he moved to the colts and was quite adequate
cole wasnt good at all, i mean our line especially the inner part collapsed most of the time

This is nonsense, Cole as a rookie with terrible guards on both sides was better than Boehm at any position on any team the past two years. Both can certainly improve as OL need time to season and build strength, but nothing about Cole was 'bad' last year.

 

[TheCardFan]

article wont even load for me.

Rooting big time for him, we will see. I wouldnt worry about anything at this point. He will get his chance to win the job I am sure.

With Shipley coming back from his injury, Kingsbury was unsure how the starting center job will go.

“A.Q. has done a great job rehabbing, seeing him in there every day working hard to get back and he’s been a tremendous player for a lot of years in this league,” Kingsbury told reporters at the league meeting in Phoenix last month. “Mason, obviously very excited for what he did last year and we feel like he can play a number of positions, as well. So, we’ll see how that competition goes.”

That makes one reference to Cole’s versatility.

He was asked again later in the meeting with reporters about the position and he reiterated what he said before.

“We don’t know yet,” he said. “We’re going to get back, circle up and see where everybody’s at. Make sure everybody is healthy and go from there. The good thing about Mason is he can play guard. He played all five positions in college, so he gives you that versatility.”

That is multiple references to his ability to play other positions. Plus, the Cardinals have interest in Texas A&M center Erik McCoy in the draft. McCoy is a solid center and played center three seasons. He lined up at guard twice, while Cole played one season at center and multiple seasons at tackle as a starter.

The Cardinals signed J.R. Sweezy and have Justin Pugh already slated to be the team’s two starting guards.

However, Cole’s present and future might not end up being at center, despite his playing every snap there last season.

Obviously, he very well could continue to be the starter at center, but no one is ready to commit to that quite yet, whether it be out of respect for Shipley’s place on the team or because they wonder if Cole is the best fit in the new offense.

 

[BigRedRage]

With Shipley coming back from his injury, Kingsbury was unsure how the starting center job will go.

“A.Q. has done a great job rehabbing, seeing him in there every day working hard to get back and he’s been a tremendous player for a lot of years in this league,” Kingsbury told reporters at the league meeting in Phoenix last month. “Mason, obviously very excited for what he did last year and we feel like he can play a number of positions, as well. So, we’ll see how that competition goes.”

That makes one reference to Cole’s versatility.

He was asked again later in the meeting with reporters about the position and he reiterated what he said before.

“We don’t know yet,” he said. “We’re going to get back, circle up and see where everybody’s at. Make sure everybody is healthy and go from there. The good thing about Mason is he can play guard. He played all five positions in college, so he gives you that versatility.”

That is multiple references to his ability to play other positions. Plus, the Cardinals have interest in Texas A&M center Erik McCoy in the draft. McCoy is a solid center and played center three seasons. He lined up at guard twice, while Cole played one season at center and multiple seasons at tackle as a starter.

The Cardinals signed J.R. Sweezy and have Justin Pugh already slated to be the team’s two starting guards.

However, Cole’s present and future might not end up being at center, despite his playing every snap there last season.

Obviously, he very well could continue to be the starter at center, but no one is ready to commit to that quite yet, whether it be out of respect for Shipley’s place on the team or because they wonder if Cole is the best fit in the new offense.

Thanks. not sure why it wouldnt load. Sounds to me like he is just leaving everything open for now, which he should, rather than dubbing Levi Brown elite before even being at workouts and etc.

 

[Zeno]

Listening to the Cards podcast they speculate that since the KK offense will operate mostly from the shotgun the team must feel that shotgun snapping is a weakness is Coles game...which explains why they are reportedly interested in the C from TX A&M.

If he ends up not panning out, or riding the bench and they ship off Rosen for peanuts last seasons draft will go from looking solid to a typical blah Cardinal draft.

 

[Kai]

I think Cole was shoved into a starting role too early for him, but I don’t think he had much choice. He’s athletic enough to develop into a quality starter

 

[Veer]

Cole didn't look very good as a rookie, but at least he was durable through all 16 games, played hard, showed his athleticism. Entering year two his functional strength will be improved as well, which was his biggest flaw. Many Pro Bowl caliber centers are relatively weak compared to other OL. Kelce the Eagles C is one of the lightest OL but plays with great technique and quickness. I can't remember a rookie C that looked great in recent memory. Maybe the guy from the Cowboys who was plugged into an already great OL. Colts got Kelly, who was deemed a generational C prospect, and didn't look special in his rookie season.

Don't forget: Cole was the anchor of an abysmal OL, that got even worse due to multiple injuries and therefore didn't have the much needed time to build chemistry throughout the OL unit. Moving him to guard for the sake of Shipley, who is coming off major injury and is a known below-average but not too bad commodity, isn't a good idea at all. Remember Cole has been playing C basically his whole career without missing a start. Let him battle with Shipley if you think the vet is ahead of him, rather than derail his career with another lousy position switch. We had too many of these in recent years. Versatility is great, but the most important thing is to excel in your natural position. Versatility can't be forced. Either you are versatile or not. Versatility can't be achieved through hard work and learning alone, you need the talent of versatility. If you are just decent at one position, it's fine by me. I'd rather have an average C for a decade we can rely on, than a versatile OL who never finds his home.

 

[Zeno]

. Remember Cole has been playing C basically his whole career without missing a start. Let him battle with Shipley if you think the vet is ahead of him, rather than derail his career with another lousy position switch. We had too many of these in recent years. Versatility is great, but the most important thing is to excel in your natural position. Versatility can't be forced. Either you are versatile or not. Versatility can't be achieved through hard work and learning alone, you need the talent of versatility. If you are just decent at one position, it's fine by me. I'd rather have an average C for a decade we can rely on, than a versatile OL who never finds his home.

Cole only played 1 season at Michigan at Center, his last season there he was actually the LT.

I just wish for once we'd draft the long term answer at Center--if Cole isn't it that sucks.

 

[Chopper0080]

When your offensive line is as bad as ours was, you just need to add good players and figure who plays where.

Cole will hang around. He is a 10 year guy. I have always thought his best position was C. If they move him, I think he isn't going to be as good. However, if you think Bradbury or McCoy are significantly better, you add them and find something else for Cole to do.

 

[JeffGollin]

Al during the off-season, my impression was that Cole was one of the only bright spots on the Card OL. Now all of a sudden on this board, he sucks.

What's up?

 

[BigRedRage]

Cole didn't look very good as a rookie, but at least he was durable through all 16 games, played hard, showed his athleticism. Entering year two his functional strength will be improved as well, which was his biggest flaw. Many Pro Bowl caliber centers are relatively weak compared to other OL. Kelce the Eagles C is one of the lightest OL but plays with great technique and quickness. I can't remember a rookie C that looked great in recent memory. Maybe the guy from the Cowboys who was plugged into an already great OL. Colts got Kelly, who was deemed a generational C prospect, and didn't look special in his rookie season.

Don't forget: Cole was the anchor of an abysmal OL, that got even worse due to multiple injuries and therefore didn't have the much needed time to build chemistry throughout the OL unit. Moving him to guard for the sake of Shipley, who is coming off major injury and is a known below-average but not too bad commodity, isn't a good idea at all. Remember Cole has been playing C basically his whole career without missing a start. Let him battle with Shipley if you think the vet is ahead of him, rather than derail his career with another lousy position switch. We had too many of these in recent years. Versatility is great, but the most important thing is to excel in your natural position. Versatility can't be forced. Either you are versatile or not. Versatility can't be achieved through hard work and learning alone, you need the talent of versatility. If you are just decent at one position, it's fine by me. I'd rather have an average C for a decade we can rely on, than a versatile OL who never finds his home.

He has played C his entire NFL career but only for one year in college IIRC

 

[BigRedRage]

Al during the off-season, my impression was that Cole was one of the only bright spots on the Card OL. Now all of a sudden on this board, he sucks.

What's up?

I still want him to remain at center. He can be better than Sendlein and Shipley and stays healthy. Great pick.

 

[AZCrazy]

He looked like a rookie center on a bad line. He'll get much better this year. We definitely don't need to go wasting another draft pick on a center.
We need to get out of the immature and impatient habit of expecting rookies thrust into place by injury to look like Pro Bowlers right from their first NFL game.

 

[Krangodnzr]

When your offensive line is as bad as ours was, you just need to add good players and figure who plays where.

Cole will hang around. He is a 10 year guy. I have always thought his best position was C. If they move him, I think he isn't going to be as good. However, if you think Bradbury or McCoy are significantly better, you add them and find something else for Cole to do.

McCoy has the look of a future All Pro at center. McCoy has the ability to take on big DTs by himself but he also can get out an block on the second level. I think his upside is quite a bit greater than Coles. I agree, you add as many young players as possible and see how they fit.

 

[oaken1]

Al during the off-season, my impression was that Cole was one of the only bright spots on the Card OL. Now all of a sudden on this board, he sucks.

What's up?

the ones who just dont know always yell the loudest Jeff

 

[Mainstreet]

McCoy has the look of a future All Pro at center. McCoy has the ability to take on big DTs by himself but he also can get out an block on the second level. I think his upside is quite a bit greater than Coles. I agree, you add as many young players as possible and see how they fit.

If Cole can successfully play another position and the Cardinals add McCoy that's not a negative.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

McCoy has the look of a future All Pro at center. McCoy has the ability to take on big DTs by himself but he also can get out an block on the second level. I think his upside is quite a bit greater than Coles. I agree, you add as many young players as possible and see how they fit.

I think we are up to 18 OL on the roster, predraft, so that seems to be the approach.

 

[Chopper0080]

McCoy has the look of a future All Pro at center. McCoy has the ability to take on big DTs by himself but he also can get out an block on the second level. I think his upside is quite a bit greater than Coles. I agree, you add as many young players as possible and see how they fit.

This is the question that we will have to wait to see answered. Mason Cole and Erik McCoy are two very different types of C's. I don't know which Kugler is going to prefer. Kugler coached Matt Paradis in Denver last year who is built and plays more like Cole than McCoy. However, when he was in Pittsburgh, Kugler coached Pouncey who is more of a power C.

 

[Krangodnzr]

This is the question that we will have to wait to see answered. Mason Cole and Erik McCoy are two very different types of C's. I don't know which Kugler is going to prefer. Kugler coached Matt Paradis in Denver last year who is built and plays more like Cole than McCoy. However, when he was in Pittsburgh, Kugler coached Pouncey who is more of a power C.

From what Max Starks said, Kugler likes big brawler types, hence why the team brought in JR Sweezy.

McCoy fits that mold, Cole doesnt seem too.

 

[BurqueCardFan]

If Cole can successfully play another position and the Cardinals add McCoy that's not a negative.

Yeah but just like the Rosen/Murray debate, it would be one step forward and two steps back. If we already have a good option at the position, why go and waste another pick to fill the same position? It's not like he flamed out. Being healthy is 50% of the equation.
If we used a high draft pick last year on these positions and they are not yet deemed complete busts, then why not address a different position to try and fill out the roster (unless of course a center happens to be BPA, which I doubt).

 

[Krangodnzr]

Yeah but just like the Rosen/Murray debate, it would be one step forward and two steps back. If we already have a good option at the position, why go and waste another pick to fill the same position? It's not like he flamed out. Being healthy is 50% of the equation.
If we used a high draft pick last year on these positions and they are not yet deemed complete busts, then why not address a different position to try and fill out the roster (unless of course a center happens to be BPA, which I doubt).

But center isnt like QB. QBs arent likely at all to succeed at RB, but a Center can transition to Guard.

 

[ARZCardinals]

the entire O line last year was GARBAGE, JUNK PILE, WORTHLESS and a danger to every qb standing behind them.

Humphries rated okay - the rest rated dead last in the the league.
Rosen was hit 2 seconds into almost every pass play - he couldn't even set his feet before he was getting touched. It's amazing he made it through the season...AMAZING