Notes from Steven Keim Interview on Channel 3

[binkar]

I know everything this time of year is vanilla and smokescreens, but I thought I would pass on a few comments Keim made tonight to help hold us over until Thursday.

Reiff- talked about how well he had been coached at Iowa, his high school wrestling career, and said he’s a good kid. His future is bright.

Decastro- Mauler in the run game, pulls well and plays well in space.

Cordy Glenn- Said he thinks he is better suited at guard, but could play RT in a pinch. Mentioned his nifty feet for a big man.

Melvin Ingram- Mentioned that most people talk about not knowing where to play him, but said he views that more as a strength than a weakness. Versatile. Mentioned his unbelievable three-cone drill time a few times.

Courtney Upshaw- Fun player to watch. Probably has the strongest hands at the point of attach of any player in the draft.

Malcolm Floyd- Best suited as an outside receiver. Ability to be a lethal deep threat in the NFL. Great at going up and getting the ball.

Luke Kuechly- Said he’s a sideline linebacker. Mentioned how active he was at BC. Compared him to Keith Brooking and Brian Urlacher.

I may have forgot some stuff, so if anyone else watched it, please add your thoughts. Much of it was very vanilla, but I thought his comments on Glenn, Ingram, Kuechly, and Floyd were pretty interesting.

 

[CardsFan88]

So if true...I'd read it like this.

Reiff should be ready enough to start game one, and the wrestling eases some concerns about holding the point of attack. He'll give up ground, but his technique can slow it enough for a QB to read it. Since our tackles need to stake their ground while our guards pull, they might think he is capable of doing it well enough to not screw that up. If anything wrestling can give to a lineman, (not just a guy who wrestled but a successful one) this ability helps him mitigate some disadvantages with raw strength. Take that with his ability to slide with speed rushers (like a well defending power forward) and maintain positioning and proper leverage, and you have what should be a longtime starter at LT. If he hits the gym hard for a few years he could develop into a helluva tackle. Initially however he'll need to rely off the technique and schooling until the strength, if possible, is added.

Decastro should be good at run blocking in both normal and pulling situations. Again a guy who should be a longtime starter.

Glenn: As a guard first and backup RT, nifty (but not quick) feet is the sort of strong presence for pulling that would place Glenn in a position to succeed. Personally if we used him like this, his value goes up for me. At guard he too could be a longtime starter.

Melvin Ingram: Can be a guy who Horton can move around. A guy who can blitz from a backer position or be up on the line and pull off, or rush. A guy who can help Horton mask his plays.

Courtney Upshaw: Manhandles and disrupts who is across from him. I'd take that as disruptive to what your opponent is doing in the run game and a part of a defense that can keep running games off balance and from finding a groove.

Malcom Floyd: Interesting that they see him as a deep threat. Fitz schooled. Maybe a better comparison is Larry Boldin?

Luke Kuechly: Prototypical linebacker mindset and production who can at the very least be a beast engaging anything that enters the 2nd level. I see that as a license for Horton to blitz Washington, another backer, or even Adub. I feel he'll pair well with Washington on the inside (but not the main downhill), or with certain blitz packages on the outside.

There's so much talent around where we pick, they can talk about most guys in a positive way to this degree, because these players have such talents, and not tip off who they are targeting.

Just my take and guess of 2nd hand info lol.

 

[Totally_Red]

I know everything this time of year is vanilla and smokescreens, but I thought I would pass on a few comments Keim made tonight to help hold us over until Thursday.

Reiff- talked about how well he had been coached at Iowa, his high school wrestling career, and said he’s a good kid. His future is bright.

Decastro- Mauler in the run game, pulls well and plays well in space.

Cordy Glenn- Said he thinks he is better suited at guard, but could play RT in a pinch. Mentioned his nifty feet for a big man.

Melvin Ingram- Mentioned that most people talk about not knowing where to play him, but said he views that more as a strength than a weakness. Versatile. Mentioned his unbelievable three-cone drill time a few times.

Courtney Upshaw- Fun player to watch. Probably has the strongest hands at the point of attach of any player in the draft.

Malcolm Floyd- Best suited as an outside receiver. Ability to be a lethal deep threat in the NFL. Great at going up and getting the ball.

Luke Kuechly- Said he’s a sideline linebacker. Mentioned how active he was at BC. Compared him to Keith Brooking and Brian Urlacher.

I may have forgot some stuff, so if anyone else watched it, please add your thoughts. Much of it was very vanilla, but I thought his comments on Glenn, Ingram, Kuechly, and Floyd were pretty interesting.

Thanks for posting! As tempting as the linebackers [Kuechly & Ingram] are, with their O-line woes the Cardinals probably select Reiff or DeCastro IMO.

Unlike last year where we pretty much knew it was Von Miller or Patrick Peterson, this year a lot will depend on who is there and whether or not we trade down and pick up an extra pick.

 

[PitchShifter]

Unlike last year where we pretty much knew it was Von Miller or Patrick Peterson, this year a lot will depend on who is there and whether or not we trade down and pick up an extra pick.

Amen. I'm finding this year's draft so much more intriguing because of the potential options.

 

[Garthshort]

Binkar, thanks. At least Keim gave out some info on players, which I found interesting. As the draft approaches, like TotallyRed, I'm convinced that we'll go OL with our first pick provided either Reiff or DeCastro are there. It's also possible that we'll be tempted with a trade back from someone who wants to get in front of Dallas to select Barron or one of the DT's.

 

[BurqueCardFan]

Binkar, thanks. At least Keim gave out some info on players, which I found interesting. As the draft approaches, like TotallyRed, I'm convinced that we'll go OL with our first pick provided either Reiff or DeCastro are there. It's also possible that we'll be tempted with a trade back from someone who wants to get in front of Dallas to select Barron or one of the DT's.

The trade back scenario would be the only way I would be excited about drafting one of the OL players. I think if we stay at 13, than BPA should be Floyd or one of the defensive players.

 

[Duckjake]

Melvin Ingram- Mentioned that most people talk about not knowing where to play him, but said he views that more as a strength than a weakness. Versatile. Mentioned his unbelievable three-cone drill time a few times.

More confirmation that the 3 cone drill is very important for OLBs. Acho had the best time in his group at the combine last year at 6.9. Ingram ran a 6.83. Bruce Irvin 6.7!

Some kid named Nathan Stupar from Penn State ran a 6.84. What's the scoop on him Stout? Probably should be on our list of UDFAs to sign.

 

[Dougmo]

Great post.
I wonder if any of it is a smokescreen? It doesn't seem like they've done much of that in the past though.
I'm really fearfull of Glenn. Peter King wrote that we're really high on him also. I'm hoping this is a smokescreen 'cause I don't think he'll make it at RT and he just doens't seem like a pulling guard to me. That said, I'm no expert.
Upshaw vs Ingram - seems like Upshaw would be more of a SOLB, which I think is Acho's position. Ingram seems more of a WOLB, Schofields.
Between the two I have confidence in Acho at this point so it seems like WOLB is more of a need.
What I'm not sure about is if Hortons scheme really needs elite pash rushers (Ingram) or does the scheme itself provide the opportunities (through confusion on who's coming and from where), minimizing the need for the true pass rushers.
This concept is slowly gaining on me and if true, Upshaw might be a better fit for either position.

 

[JeffGollin]

...Some kid named Nathan Stupar from Penn State ran a 6.84. What's the scoop on him...

He's a LB. He's from Penn State. He's apparently agile - that ought to make the hair on the back of your neck go up. Good get (Maybe he got buried amidst all that unfavorable State College PR in a down year).

 

[Stout]

More confirmation that the 3 cone drill is very important for OLBs. Acho had the best time in his group at the combine last year at 6.9. Ingram ran a 6.83. Bruce Irvin 6.7!

Some kid named Nathan Stupar from Penn State ran a 6.84. What's the scoop on him Stout? Probably should be on our list of UDFAs to sign.

I'd grab him in the 6th or 7th, sure. He'll not wow you with overwhelming agility or athleticism on the field, but he was a solid player at Penn State. Will it translate? Huge question marks there, which is why I'd wait so long. If we want him, though, I wouldn't let him hit FA at the end of the draft. Sure, I'd take a late-round flyer on him.

 

[Duckjake]

I'd grab him in the 6th or 7th, sure. He'll not wow you with overwhelming agility or athleticism on the field, but he was a solid player at Penn State. Will it translate? Huge question marks there, which is why I'd wait so long. If we want him, though, I wouldn't let him hit FA at the end of the draft. Sure, I'd take a late-round flyer on him.

Thanks. That 3 cone time really raises his prospects as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Shane]

I'd grab him in the 6th or 7th, sure. He'll not wow you with overwhelming agility or athleticism on the field, but he was a solid player at Penn State. Will it translate? Huge question marks there, which is why I'd wait so long. If we want him, though, I wouldn't let him hit FA at the end of the draft. Sure, I'd take a late-round flyer on him.

Wouldn't a 3 cone drill time like that which pops out at you like Duck states prove that he is pretty damn agile?

 

[JeffGollin]

Wouldn't a 3 cone drill time like that which pops out at you like Duck states prove that he is pretty damn agile?

Careful. It may prove he's agile, agility may be a key attribute and he may come from a good program. But what are his ball skills like? Does he have quick reflexes or is he slow to the ball. Does he or doesn't he relish contact?

By all means, a great 3-cone score could elevate a rating or break a tie, but it's only part of a more complex picture.

Ask Leeland McElroy.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I want the guy who can hit the hell out them cones while running by them, not someone who avoids the trash up front and takes themselves out of the play due to a lack of being physical...hit them dar cones player lol

 

[Stout]

Wouldn't a 3 cone drill time like that which pops out at you like Duck states prove that he is pretty damn agile?

In a 3-cone drill. He is NOT as agile as that on the field. This is why he's currently ranked to be undrafted. If we like him, we should give him a shot with a 6th or 7th round pick. You never know with those OLB types in a 3-4.

 

[CtCardinals78]

I'm really hoping for Kuelchy or Upshaw. Upshaw's background kind of reminds me of Willis' background.

 

[WildBB]

He pretty much gave the synopsis of the seven they'd consider drafting at the #13 spot.