- Joined
- Nov 26, 2007
- Posts
- 1,718
- Reaction score
- 0
I laid out a slightly different scenario in this one. I tried to rig it so that (as has been the case in the past) the Cards are forced with making the most difficult decision they can in the first round. Actually, once I completed the seven round mock, I was pretty happy with what came out.
People need to get used to the fact that our defense stinks right now. The system isn't going to change, so it has to be the personnel that are replaced or added to. The Cards did a fantastic job of taking care of their weakness at linebacker. I'm happy with the starters and the depth in that unit right now. While this draft is deep at RB and CB, it also has depth at undersized DTs that will help the Cards by backing up Dockett and Antonio Smith. Addressing depth at DE and cornerback is the Cards' primary concern coming into the draft.
FIRST-ROUND PROJECTION
1. Miami Dolphins – Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia. Parcells knows Al Grohl. The Cavaliers’ head coach compares Long’s drive to greatness to Lawrence Taylor’s. That got the attention of the Big Tuna. When no one is willing to pay the price to move into the #1 spot, he pulls the trigger.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jake Long, OT, Michigan. The OG situation in St. Louis is currently a mess. Long is a top player on their board, and he’ll be able to fill the OLG position until Orlando Pace decides to hang it up.
3. Atlanta Falcons – Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State. Fans boo that QB Matt Ryan is still on the board after this pick, but the Falcons (like the Chargers several years before) aren’t yet willing to put all their eggs in the QB basket.
4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. The Raiders are thrilled with this pick, because it gives short-term HC Lane Kniffin the chance to use a weapon similar to Reggie Bush, whom he utilized to the tune of two National Championship appearances at Southern Cal.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal. Herm Edwards really wants to build his offensive line with this pick, but he also understands from his days in Tampa Bay the value of a disruptive interior presence. Look for the Chiefs to build their offense with the next two picks.
6. New York Jets – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State. Vernon Gholston is sitting right there, but the Jets know that Victor Hobson is now 30 and that they are going to need 3 strong cornerbacks to contain the New England Patriots.
7. New England Patriots (through San Francisco 49ers) – Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida. Bill Belicheck knows that he needs to add talent to the secondary, as well as youth. Jenkins will be a physical presence on the outside. New England will take a below-market offer to trade out of this pick.
8. Baltimore Ravens – Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State. Ozzie Newsome cannot believe his luck. They have concerns at QB and along the offensive line, but it is the defense that makes the Ravens run. They cannot pass on this player.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers, LB, Southern Cal.The Bengal defense is in dire need of leadership and playmaking ability. Rivers will provide both.
10. New Orleans Saints – Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St. The Saints, surprisingly, go into the draft with very few glaring needs. After adding FA Randall Gay (Patriots) to still-effective CB Mike McKenzie, they can develop Rogers-Cromartie as slowly as they want to.
11. Buffalo Bills – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt. The Bills are very interested in trading out of this position. Williams can get his feet wet at the RG position this season, but will press current starter on the right side Langston Walker from training camp onward.
12. Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State. Clady is not going to help the Broncos with their biggest problem (stopping the run), but he will help solidify their offensive line. Clady is ideal for the zone-blocking schemes the Broncos prefer.
13. Carolina Panthers – Matt Ryan, QB, BostonCollege. He’s not going to help John Fox keep his job the way that Derrick Harvey might have, but he gives the Panthers hope for the future after Jake Delhomme. Fantastic value at this position.
14. Chicago Bears – Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh. General Manager Jerry Angelo calls Cedric Benson (who is crying at home) and says that this year really is his last chance. The massive Otah will compete with Fred Miller for the starting Right Tackle job, but may start on the inside his rookie season.
15. Detroit Lions – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois. The Lions featured the 9th-best passing game in the NFL last season, but the 31st-ranked rushing offense. Dan Connor and Derrick Harvey are also heavy possibilities for this pick.
16. Arizona Cardinals – Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. What has played out is essentially the Cards’ nightmare scenario. All offensive tackles are off the board, and the best player available (DE/OLB Derrick Harvey) is at the one position they studiously upgraded in the offseason. The Cards would love to trade down in this situation, but if there are no takers, they’ll ultimately be happy with this decision. Talib excels when the play is in front of him, and the coverages that Arizona DC Clancy Pendergast prefers will keep that happening. Talib will remind many fans of Ty Law.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida. The Vikings may trade their third-round pick for QB Sage Rosenfels. They’re going to be thrilled that Harvey fell to them, when their primary need remains their pass rush.
18. Houston Texans – Dan Connor, OLB, Penn St. HC Gary Kubiak knows that he can get 1000 yards from any running back. He also knows the power of a strong LB corps for a defense.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma. Andy Reid loathes using first-round picks on skill-position players, but he knows that he has to add weapons for Donovan McNabb.
20. TampaBay Buccaneers – DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal. If Jackson can somehow muster the intestinal fortitude to run routes over the middle, Jon Gruden will make him a star in the NFL.
21. Washington Redskins – Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson. Andre Carter grew into a double-digit sack thread on one side of the Redskins’ defensive line. Merling will give them a pass rush threat from the other side.
22. Dallas Cowboys (through Cleveland Browns) – Devin Thomas, WR, MichiganState. Dallas is old at the WR position. Thomas will infuse some youth into the unit.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Branden Albert, OG, Virginia. Albert will continue the line of productive offensive choices for the Steelers.
24. Tennessee Titans – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina. Balmer will add another threat to an impressive Titans defense. The combination of Haynesworth, Vanden Bosch, and Balmer will keep opposing coordinators and OL coaches up at night.
25. Seattle Seahawks – Fred Davis, TE, Southern Cal. Holmgren loves tight ends. He doesn’t want to leave the franchise without finding a solution at the position.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn. The Panthers love linebackers. Groves gives them an intriguing player at the position.
27. San Diego Chargers – Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. Sweed gives Phillip Rivers another outside threat, and the Chargers feel like they got tremendous value at the position.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones, RB, Arkanas. Jerry Jones gets an Arkansas runningback who will help the Cowboys in several phases of the game.
29. San Francisco 49ers (through Indianapolis Colts) – Early Doucet, WR, LouisianaState. San Francisco would like to trade out of this position to a team who wants Louisville QB Brian Brohm. If they’re forced to exercise the pick, they’ll take a player who they think might be able to help them. Doucet will be able to understand Martz’s complicated defense.
30. Green Bay Packers – CalaisCampbell, DE, Miami. The Packers go for the Best Available Player, but they believe that he can play in the inside or the outside of their offensive line.
31. New England Patriots - Forfeited for being cheaters.
32. New York Giants – Kenny Phillips, S, Miami. The Super Bowl champions have some holes to fill following being raided in free agency. Phillips will help.
People need to get used to the fact that our defense stinks right now. The system isn't going to change, so it has to be the personnel that are replaced or added to. The Cards did a fantastic job of taking care of their weakness at linebacker. I'm happy with the starters and the depth in that unit right now. While this draft is deep at RB and CB, it also has depth at undersized DTs that will help the Cards by backing up Dockett and Antonio Smith. Addressing depth at DE and cornerback is the Cards' primary concern coming into the draft.
FIRST-ROUND PROJECTION
1. Miami Dolphins – Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia. Parcells knows Al Grohl. The Cavaliers’ head coach compares Long’s drive to greatness to Lawrence Taylor’s. That got the attention of the Big Tuna. When no one is willing to pay the price to move into the #1 spot, he pulls the trigger.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jake Long, OT, Michigan. The OG situation in St. Louis is currently a mess. Long is a top player on their board, and he’ll be able to fill the OLG position until Orlando Pace decides to hang it up.
3. Atlanta Falcons – Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State. Fans boo that QB Matt Ryan is still on the board after this pick, but the Falcons (like the Chargers several years before) aren’t yet willing to put all their eggs in the QB basket.
4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. The Raiders are thrilled with this pick, because it gives short-term HC Lane Kniffin the chance to use a weapon similar to Reggie Bush, whom he utilized to the tune of two National Championship appearances at Southern Cal.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal. Herm Edwards really wants to build his offensive line with this pick, but he also understands from his days in Tampa Bay the value of a disruptive interior presence. Look for the Chiefs to build their offense with the next two picks.
6. New York Jets – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State. Vernon Gholston is sitting right there, but the Jets know that Victor Hobson is now 30 and that they are going to need 3 strong cornerbacks to contain the New England Patriots.
7. New England Patriots (through San Francisco 49ers) – Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida. Bill Belicheck knows that he needs to add talent to the secondary, as well as youth. Jenkins will be a physical presence on the outside. New England will take a below-market offer to trade out of this pick.
8. Baltimore Ravens – Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State. Ozzie Newsome cannot believe his luck. They have concerns at QB and along the offensive line, but it is the defense that makes the Ravens run. They cannot pass on this player.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers, LB, Southern Cal.The Bengal defense is in dire need of leadership and playmaking ability. Rivers will provide both.
10. New Orleans Saints – Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St. The Saints, surprisingly, go into the draft with very few glaring needs. After adding FA Randall Gay (Patriots) to still-effective CB Mike McKenzie, they can develop Rogers-Cromartie as slowly as they want to.
11. Buffalo Bills – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt. The Bills are very interested in trading out of this position. Williams can get his feet wet at the RG position this season, but will press current starter on the right side Langston Walker from training camp onward.
12. Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State. Clady is not going to help the Broncos with their biggest problem (stopping the run), but he will help solidify their offensive line. Clady is ideal for the zone-blocking schemes the Broncos prefer.
13. Carolina Panthers – Matt Ryan, QB, BostonCollege. He’s not going to help John Fox keep his job the way that Derrick Harvey might have, but he gives the Panthers hope for the future after Jake Delhomme. Fantastic value at this position.
14. Chicago Bears – Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh. General Manager Jerry Angelo calls Cedric Benson (who is crying at home) and says that this year really is his last chance. The massive Otah will compete with Fred Miller for the starting Right Tackle job, but may start on the inside his rookie season.
15. Detroit Lions – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois. The Lions featured the 9th-best passing game in the NFL last season, but the 31st-ranked rushing offense. Dan Connor and Derrick Harvey are also heavy possibilities for this pick.
16. Arizona Cardinals – Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. What has played out is essentially the Cards’ nightmare scenario. All offensive tackles are off the board, and the best player available (DE/OLB Derrick Harvey) is at the one position they studiously upgraded in the offseason. The Cards would love to trade down in this situation, but if there are no takers, they’ll ultimately be happy with this decision. Talib excels when the play is in front of him, and the coverages that Arizona DC Clancy Pendergast prefers will keep that happening. Talib will remind many fans of Ty Law.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida. The Vikings may trade their third-round pick for QB Sage Rosenfels. They’re going to be thrilled that Harvey fell to them, when their primary need remains their pass rush.
18. Houston Texans – Dan Connor, OLB, Penn St. HC Gary Kubiak knows that he can get 1000 yards from any running back. He also knows the power of a strong LB corps for a defense.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma. Andy Reid loathes using first-round picks on skill-position players, but he knows that he has to add weapons for Donovan McNabb.
20. TampaBay Buccaneers – DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal. If Jackson can somehow muster the intestinal fortitude to run routes over the middle, Jon Gruden will make him a star in the NFL.
21. Washington Redskins – Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson. Andre Carter grew into a double-digit sack thread on one side of the Redskins’ defensive line. Merling will give them a pass rush threat from the other side.
22. Dallas Cowboys (through Cleveland Browns) – Devin Thomas, WR, MichiganState. Dallas is old at the WR position. Thomas will infuse some youth into the unit.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Branden Albert, OG, Virginia. Albert will continue the line of productive offensive choices for the Steelers.
24. Tennessee Titans – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina. Balmer will add another threat to an impressive Titans defense. The combination of Haynesworth, Vanden Bosch, and Balmer will keep opposing coordinators and OL coaches up at night.
25. Seattle Seahawks – Fred Davis, TE, Southern Cal. Holmgren loves tight ends. He doesn’t want to leave the franchise without finding a solution at the position.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn. The Panthers love linebackers. Groves gives them an intriguing player at the position.
27. San Diego Chargers – Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. Sweed gives Phillip Rivers another outside threat, and the Chargers feel like they got tremendous value at the position.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones, RB, Arkanas. Jerry Jones gets an Arkansas runningback who will help the Cowboys in several phases of the game.
29. San Francisco 49ers (through Indianapolis Colts) – Early Doucet, WR, LouisianaState. San Francisco would like to trade out of this position to a team who wants Louisville QB Brian Brohm. If they’re forced to exercise the pick, they’ll take a player who they think might be able to help them. Doucet will be able to understand Martz’s complicated defense.
30. Green Bay Packers – CalaisCampbell, DE, Miami. The Packers go for the Best Available Player, but they believe that he can play in the inside or the outside of their offensive line.
31. New England Patriots - Forfeited for being cheaters.
32. New York Giants – Kenny Phillips, S, Miami. The Super Bowl champions have some holes to fill following being raided in free agency. Phillips will help.
. Every year, i usually pick one guy i would hate the Cards to take and somehow he gets picked.Last year, the last guys i wanted was Levi.
