Playing GM: Pick the Cardinals' Draft

[Mitch]

Make two picks...in case one is off the board. Here are mine:

1. T Winston Justice, USC. I like him even more than D'Brickashaw because he's a better run blocker. If he's taken...DT Haloti Ngata of Oregon...too much upside and need to pass up...if both are taken, I go with S Michael Huff of Texas or CB Tye Hill of Clemson.

2. G Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia. He and C Nick Mangold of Ohio St. are the best interior blockers in the draft. It's possible both will be off the board at #42...although sometimes when a draft is deep in o-linemen, teams snag skill guys first. If both Jean-Gilles and Mangold are taken, the guy I want in this spot is DT Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford...or...if I was unable to take Justice in Round 1...I take one of the good Ts...Jonathan Scott of Texas, Jeremy Trueblood of Boston College or Daryn Colledge of Boise St.

3. PR/WR/DB Will Blackmon, Boston College. Forget his sub par performance in the Senior Bowl. This guy is electric...and he can contribute to the team in a variety of ways. In fact, it would be very interesting to see what he looks like at FS. If he's not there...although I would be surprised if he wasn't, CB Cedric Griffin of Texas or FS Nate Salley of Ohio St. would make the most sense.

4. C Patrick Ross, Boston College. May well be the most underrated player in the draft. He's just as good if not better than Dan Koppen, the Pats' starter and Ross' predecessor at BC. Smart and tough...can start right away if he can beat out Leckey and Step.

5. QB Tarvaris Jackson, Alabama St. I love this guy's arm strength and thought he was very accurate in the Senior Bowl...but the WRs weren't used to the ball getting there so quickly. With Warner signed for 3 years, Jackson could be brought along well in that interim.

6. CB Dominique Morris, Vanderbilt. Has been somewhat injury prone in college, which may cause him to slide...but he's an aggressive corner who gets his hands on a lot of passes.

7. FS Anthony Smith, Syracuse. Has the range and hands to be the kind of cover 2 safety the Cardinals need.

Recap of 1st Choices:

1. T Winston Justice, USC.
2. G Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
3. PR/WR/DB Will Blackmon, Boston College
4. C Patrick Ross, Boston College
5. QB Tarvaris Jackson, Alabama St.
6. CB Dominique Morris, Vanderbilt
7. FS Anthony Smith, Syracuse

Recap of 2nd Choices (Day 1):

1. DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon
2. T Daryn Colledge, Boise St.
3. CB Cedric Griffin, Texas

Recap of 3rd Choices (Day 1):

1. S Michael Huff, Texas
2. T Jonanthan Scott, Texas
3. FS Nate Salley, Ohio St.

Your turn! Go Cards!

 

[Shogun]

LB Ernie Sims, FSU
FS Ko Simpson, SC
TE Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado
OT Guy Whimper, East Carolina
DT Barry Cofield, Northwestern or Kedric Golston, Georgia
DB Antoine Bethea, Hampton
KR Willie Reid, FSU

Want an explanation? Go here:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=70018

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Preach..... only 1 lineman, and not until the 4th round?

 

[Shogun]

Preach..... only 1 lineman, and not until the 4th round?

Denny usually wants impact skill players first day and he seems to be putting faith in Loney to rebuild the line since he (DG) is chalking it up to injuries and whatnot instead of non-talented players.

I'm going against the grain yet making some solid choices IMO. It's just what I do to break up the monotony of bandwagon/flavor of the month/etc - type players.

 

[kerouac9]

Wow. 4 O-linemen in the first 5 picks, and the other one a guy that doesn't even have a position? AND two of the O-linemen are going to be depended on to start from Day one, with another 2nd year O-lineman who played in only 9 games last season?

Sounds like a recipe for playoffs!

Oh, that sound was just me throwing up all over my keyboard. I swear, Walter, your football acumen comes more into question every day. Daryn Colledge isn't even a first-day pick, much less a high second-rounder.

 

[TheCardFan]

I swear, Walter, your football acumen comes more into question every day.

Wasn't this thread started by Mitch? I mean Walter....uh

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[kerouac9]

#10 - Michael Huff, DB, Texas. The Cardinals would have their pick of any two playmakers in Huff, TE Vernon Davis, or CB Jimmy Williams, but they like Huff. Denny liked what he saw in Sean Taylor and the impact that he's had with the Redskins defense. Huff isn't that caliber of player, but he'll be able to cover a lot of ground and direct the young Arizona defense the way that Lofa Tatupu did for the NFC champion Seahawks. I don't expect to see Vince Young on the board at this point. #2 Option - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
#41 - Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa. The Cards have no idea what they have in Gerald Hayes at this point. Huff has been solid, and James Darling is both aging and a pending free agent. Hodge will be an excellent special teams player as a rookie and above-average depth at a position where Clancy Pendergast likes to keep his players fresh. Another possibility is that Denny Green may trade back into the first round with Denver to pick up a falling OT like Marcus McNeill. #2 Option - Eric Winston, OT, Miami
#72 - Babatunde Oshwino, DT, Stanford. The Cards understand that they need another slant-DT who can contribute and keep Kenderick Clancy fresh for four quarters. Baba can do that now, and become a dominating run-stopper later. #2 Option - Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU
#106 - Tim Jennings, CB, Georgia. A little sparkplug that every team needs at cornerback and KR. #2 Option - Jon Alston, LB, Stanford
#137 - Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB. He's like Josh McCown, only he will be picker where Josh McCown should have been. #2 Option, Mark Setterstrom, OG, Minnesota
#167 - Marcus Hudson, S, NC State. The Cards hit it big on another NC State safety. Hudson has good size at 6'1", and room to grow bigger. #2 Option - Brad Smith, QB/WR, Missouri
#201 - Derrick Ross, RB, Tarlton State. Officially ends the career of Marcel Shipp. #2 Option - Henry Anderson, DT, Oregon State

 

[kerouac9]

Wasn't this thread started by Mitch? I mean Walter....uh

You must be registered for see images attach

Walter Mitchell.

 

[TheCardFan]

Wasn't this thread started by Mitch? I mean Walter....uh

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images

 

[lobo]

gotta' say all very thoughtful suggestions with good rationale...appreciate the time you guys put in..after work i will dust off some of my books and see what they look like....thanks.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

This is tough....so many if's: if already picked, if not already picked etc. etc.

I've been working on my most recent wish list in light of what we've done in FA and have come to the conclusion that we need an extra round two pick, which means a trade down. That in itself would impact my thinking. But let us assume we stay put.

My sense of the critical position decisions for day 1 are: FS, NT, OT. What happens on day 2 is impacted so much by what happens on day 1 that this becomes mind boggling.

Let me deal with day 1 for the time being:

Round 1:a) Michael Huff (FS). He is one of those "rare" athletes that can be descibed as a game changer. This has to be Griffith's last hurrah and Aaron Francisco, who I think has solid potential as a FS, might be a career back up at best. Adrian Wilson's role is evolving into a hybrid LB and any team that employs their SS in this way is exposed in the deep secondary. Huff gives us ball hawking skills, speed, non stop work ethic and hits hard. The prototype FS. With Wilson (Shazor as his back up) and Huff (with Francisco to back him up), we are set in the deep secondary and with talent to spare:

Round 1:b) Winston Justice Justice (RT). The jury is most definitely out on Oliver Ross as "the solution" at RT. I'm very happy thinking of him "in the pinch", but we need to address this position. We do not have adequate depth here at all. He is the perfect RT....has ideal size strength and mobility, is athletic and has benefited from 3 years of pro style offensive line starting experience. If Huff is gone, I'm happy with him. If we get Huff, we have to continue to consider RT's in round 2/3.

Round 2: a) Gabe Watson (NT). Kendrick Clancey was a great FA pick up. He is coming into his own and has the combination of talent to function in both a run stuffing as well as pass rush capability. He will be sorely missed in New York and to my way of thinking, is an upgrade over Russell Davis.....but we are weak in terms of depth at his position as a result of losing Davis. Langston Moore is a solid number 3 with an upside but as teams deploy more of a rotation at the NT position to avoid the heavy wear and tear, we are vunerable to say the least. Gabe Watson fills this need to a tee.

Round 2:b) Here is the $64MM question. Did we get Huff or Justice? I'll assume we got Huff, so if Watson is already off the board, I'm targeting Eric Winston at RT. He might have the best technique of any of the T's and is fundamentally sound. He has a great attitude, is a good athlete and has excellent feet.

Round 3: a) Let's assume again that we got Huff and Watson. This still means we need a RT. My choice here is Andrew Whitworth (RT). This might be the steal of the draft at #71. He comes out of a school (LSU) that faces top competition and he has been superbly coached. He is simply "battle tested". He's extremely quick, has protypical size and top intangibles.

Round 3: b) With the Milford Brown and Reggie Wells signing, along with Elton Brown, I am happy at OG for this year....well, enough to pass on anyone for this position at least for day 1. Here's where I make my move for a QB. Alot of teams (Green Bay for one) take a QB every year it seems until they find the one that sticks through trial and error. Perhaps we could defer this move until day 2 but I like Omar Jacobs as a fall back, in the event that Whitwoth is gone. He's been extremely productive in the pass happy MAC and although he has the Phillip River's funky passing motion, h can throw all the passes and is very very accurate. He has great size and mobility and doesn't make mistakes.

 

[TheCardFan]

Round 2: a) Gabe Watson (NT).

Love that pick. Gabe is the perfect definition of BOOM or BUST athlete.

 

[kerouac9]

Scary that despite everything, we have so many picks in common, spanky. I don't think that Gabe Watson lasts into the second round, though.

 

[Redsz]

#10 - Michael Huff, DB, Texas.
#41 - Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa.
#72 - Babatunde Oshwino, DT, Stanford.

Michael Huff (FS)
Gabe Watson (NT).
Andrew Whitworth (RT).

I would LOVE our first day to look like what K9 or Spank have put out there.

 

[BigDavis75]

1) Michael Huff
2) Charles Spencer
3) Andrew Witworth
4) Dale Robinson
5) John Jolley
6) DJ Shockley
7) Jeff King

 

[Doc Cardinal]

#10 - Michael Huff, DB, Texas. The Cardinals would have their pick of any two playmakers in Huff, TE Vernon Davis, or CB Jimmy Williams, but they like Huff. Denny liked what he saw in Sean Taylor and the impact that he's had with the Redskins defense. Huff isn't that caliber of player, but he'll be able to cover a lot of ground and direct the young Arizona defense the way that Lofa Tatupu did for the NFC champion Seahawks. I don't expect to see Vince Young on the board at this point. #2 Option - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
#41 - Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa. The Cards have no idea what they have in Gerald Hayes at this point. Huff has been solid, and James Darling is both aging and a pending free agent. Hodge will be an excellent special teams player as a rookie and above-average depth at a position where Clancy Pendergast likes to keep his players fresh. Another possibility is that Denny Green may trade back into the first round with Denver to pick up a falling OT like Marcus McNeill. #2 Option - Eric Winston, OT, Miami
#72 - Babatunde Oshwino, DT, Stanford. The Cards understand that they need another slant-DT who can contribute and keep Kenderick Clancy fresh for four quarters. Baba can do that now, and become a dominating run-stopper later. #2 Option - Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU
#106 - Tim Jennings, CB, Georgia. A little sparkplug that every team needs at cornerback and KR. #2 Option - Jon Alston, LB, Stanford
#137 - Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB. He's like Josh McCown, only he will be picker where Josh McCown should have been. #2 Option, Mark Setterstrom, OG, Minnesota
#167 - Marcus Hudson, S, NC State. The Cards hit it big on another NC State safety. Hudson has good size at 6'1", and room to grow bigger. #2 Option - Brad Smith, QB/WR, Missouri
#201 - Derrick Ross, RB, Tarlton State. Officially ends the career of Marcel Shipp. #2 Option - Henry Anderson, DT, Oregon State

Like these picks except for QB at #137 I'd take Bruce Gradkowski from Toledo:

Pros: Very accurate throwing for over 70% completion in his junior campaign; strong armed, very athletic; can beat teams running and throwing; tight spirals, strong armed; good leader, good holding point and release, can stretch the field vertically
Cons: Needs to bulk up from 210 lbs.; does not have the best height at 6'2; has not faced the best defenses playing in the MAC, but neither did Roethlisberger.

 

[Redsz]

Like these picks except for QB at #137 I'd take Bruce Gradkowski from Toledo:

Pros: Very accurate throwing for over 70% completion in his junior campaign; strong armed, very athletic; can beat teams running and throwing; tight spirals, strong armed; good leader, good holding point and release, can stretch the field vertically
Cons: Needs to bulk up from 210 lbs.; does not have the best height at 6'2; has not faced the best defenses playing in the MAC, but neither did Roethlisberger.

I have never seen this guy play, but from reading that he sounds similar to our own Kurt Warner.

 

[BigDavis75]

1) Michael Huff
2) Charles Spencer
3) Andrew Witworth
4) Dale Robinson
5) John Jolley
6) DJ Shockley
7) Jeff King


or

Trade Down

1) Marcus McNeil
2a) Bobby Carpenter
2b) Ko Simpsom
3) Dom. Byrd
4) Claude Wroten
5) Anwar Phillips
6) Tarvaris Jackson
7) Donovan Riaola

 

[SuperSpck]

I worry about Winston Justice. He's got maturity issues. He's been on probation for solicitation, misdemeanor exhibition of a firearm and he's been electronically monitored for 60 days for it along with more probation, that stint for 3 years.

He's also had some kind of surgery. Elbow? or was that the QB?

If the team is going to gamble on a tackle on the first round I'd feel more comfortable with Marcus McNeil. He's tall and got good NFL size.

 

[Duckjake]

1. Michael Huff-TX
2. Cedric Griffin-TX-both guys are homer picks of course.
3.Kai Parham MLB Virginia -haven't had a mean dude at MLB in years.
4.Tommy Jackson DT Auburn-this guy looks fat enough to be run stuffer
5. Will Allen G Texas another homer pick
6. Dee Webb cb - could help sell tickets in Sun City
7. Quinn Sypniewski TE Colorado -need someone to room with Ayanbadejo.

BTW: Taitusi Lutui seems to have disappeared from a lot of wish lists. Any reason?

 

[kerouac9]

2) Charles Spencer

I had Charles Spencer on my list, but as a third-round pick, not a 2nd. And the 4th round is way, way too high for Dale Robinson. THR.com has him as the 192nd best prospect.

 

[az jam]

1. Vernon Davis TE Maryland
2. Davin Joseph OG Oklahoma
3. Andrew Whitworth OT LSU
4. Babatunde Oshinowo DT Stanford
5. Danieal Manning CB/KR Abilene Christian
6. Reggie McNeil QB Texas A & M
7. Jonathon Orr WR Wisconsin

 

[kerouac9]

1. Vernon Davis TE Maryland
2. Davin Joseph OG Oklahoma
3. Andrew Whitworth OT LSU
4. Babatunde Oshinowo DT Stanford
5. Danieal Manning CB/KR Abilene Christian
6. Reggie McNeil QB Texas A & M
7. Jonathon Orr WR Wisconsin

#41 is way, way too early for a guy like Davin Joseph. Only Lutui or Jean-Giles grade out as OGs that high in this draft. Honestly, I'd rather have an impact player there, anyway. Abdul Hodge, Bobby Carpenter, even DeMeco Ryans will likely be available at that point in the draft, and it would be really, really hard to pass on those guys who make plays for a 2-3 year OG project in Joseph.

 

[abcard]

1.Vernon Davis t.e./Micheal Huff s/cb
2.Claude Wroten dt/Charles Spencer rt/g
3.Marcus Maxey cb/s/Omar Jacobs qb
4.Gerald Riggs jr. rb/Kamerion Wimberly de/lb
5.Guy Whimper t/Derrick Morris t
6.Clint Ingram lb/Miles Austin wr
7.Jahri Evans g/Jason Hatcher de/dt

 

[NEZCardsfan]

1) Marcus McNeil
2a) Bobby Carpenter
2b) Ko Simpsom
3) Dom. Byrd
4) Claude Wroten
5) Anwar Phillips
6) Tarvaris Jackson
7) Donovan Riaola

I like this mock. Especially the 3rd and 4th round picks.

I hope Byrd is there in the 3rd round.....after the Senior Bowl hype dies down.

Wroten is tough to read. My bet is somebody will take a flyer in him by the end of the 2nd maybe 3rd round. If we want him we may have to burn a 2nd rounder on him. Guy has huge upside.....DG has a rep as being good with tough to coach players.