Positional Order of Need

[Capital Card]

1) Pass rushing OLB
2) Offensive tackle
3) Strongside Inside Linebacker

I think we will fail to address #2 in this draft because we'll have to see what we have in Levi Brown before a big roster bonus is due March 2012, and Brandon Keith showed enough development over the course of the year that he can compete for that job (if this coaching staff is legitimately interested in competition--Jeremy Bridges should've been clearly ahead of Keith at the beginning of the year, but for some reason he was on the left side).

I would've added tight end, because I think that whomever we hire as an OC is going to come in and wonder why we have three warm bodies on the roster at TE and no one who can start in the NFL.

This, exactly!

 

[Duckjake]

So you would put Dockett back inside with Williams and draft a DE. Interesting. If a good one is there. You'd have to choose between the DE or QB first though. We will get a high second, so that would help.

In that case you need a thumper at MLB though. Depends on personell available. Turns out collecting pass rushing/every down OLB's is slightly easier said then done.

I'm for drafting based on production and leadership on the field...not so much the measurables. Football PLAYERS. If an outstanding, superior talent lands in our laps, so be it. Adjust.

With the apparent emergence of Dan Williams at NT and the bright future of Daryl Washington the Cards are fairly well entrenched in the 3-4.

I'd be willing to bet a cold one that our 2nd round selection in next year's draft is a guy to play SILB and the Cards spend a ton of money to sign LaMarr Woodley.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

With the apparent emergence of Dan Williams at NT and the bright future of Daryl Washington the Cards are fairly well entrenched in the 3-4.

I'd be willing to bet a cold one that our 2nd round selection in next year's draft is a guy to play SILB and the Cards spend a ton of money to sign LaMarr Woodley.

You could have Williams in a 4-3 defense, very similar to how the Vikings run the 4-3. Washington IMO could move to WLB.

 

[kerouac9]

You could have Williams in a 4-3 defense, very similar to how the Vikings run the 4-3. Washington IMO could move to WLB.

When Dan Williams is just beginning to dominate people as a 3-4 nose tackle, it seems like the perfect time to change schemes and ask him to learn a new position.

This instinct is a pathology among Cardinals fans.

 

[cgolden]

I'd say OLB by a mile followed by OT and OG.

A legit pass rusher covers up so many other deficincies on the defensive side of the ball. Schoefield has promise but even if he turns into a double digit sack guy, you need one more stud coming off the edge.

 

[WildBB]

With the apparent emergence of Dan Williams at NT and the bright future of Daryl Washington the Cards are fairly well entrenched in the 3-4.

I'd be willing to bet a cold one that our 2nd round selection in next year's draft is a guy to play SILB and the Cards spend a ton of money to sign LaMarr Woodley.

That'd be nice. Don't think Pitt East will let him go though.

The thumper LB's can be had in 3-4 range too, where we'll be picking early.

 

[WildBB]

When Dan Williams is just beginning to dominate people as a 3-4 nose tackle, it seems like the perfect time to change schemes and ask him to learn a new position.
This instinct is a pathology among Cardinals fans.

Two rookies. I'm pretty sure they could thrive in any transition. Dockett started at DT, him going back there would improve the pass rush, IF you can get someone like Bowers or Heyward.

Depends who fall where. You don't pass on a 99% sure bet. Remember.

Speaking of Heyward, anyone remember Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, that's his son. He was a RB for NO I believe.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

When Dan Williams is just beginning to dominate people as a 3-4 nose tackle, it seems like the perfect time to change schemes and ask him to learn a new position.

This instinct is a pathology among Cardinals fans.

I understand that. On the flip side, coaches playing their players in the wrong positions (Big at LT, Rolle at S, etc.) is the pathology among coaches.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Speaking of Heyward, anyone remember Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, that's his son. He was a RB for NO I believe.

I remember. Hit like a truck.

 

[187]

1) Pass rushing OLB
2) Offensive tackle
3) Strongside Inside Linebacker

I think we will fail to address #2 in this draft because we'll have to see what we have in Levi Brown before a big roster bonus is due March 2012, and Brandon Keith showed enough development over the course of the year that he can compete for that job (if this coaching staff is legitimately interested in competition--Jeremy Bridges should've been clearly ahead of Keith at the beginning of the year, but for some reason he was on the left side).

I would've added tight end, because I think that whomever we hire as an OC is going to come in and wonder why we have three warm bodies on the roster at TE and no one who can start in the NFL.

And I say this as Jim Dray's earliest and #1 fan. I want to get a Jim Dray #81 jersey and have fans at UPS wonder if that's my last name on a Boldin jersey.

This would be my exact list. I also agree with you on us not drafting an OT because I doubt we cut Levi and Bridges has played pretty well. I would be extremely happy with Quinn in the first round and an ILB in the second. The ILB class seems to pretty weak this year though, if Greg Jones is gone (which he should be) I'm not sure if there's any other ILB I'd want to take with our high second round pick. We just need to find a thumper to play next to DW in the 3rd-4th round, like Hayes.

For me:

Real impact DE
OLB
ILB

There's really no such thing as a "real impact" DE in a 3-4 scheme. Dockett and CC (last season) got to the QB insanely well for 3-4 DE's. You really just want them to occupy blockers and contain the run, if they are doing their job well you don't notice them.

 

[Hypothesis]

This would be my exact list. I also agree with you on us not drafting an OT because I doubt we cut Levi and Bridges has played pretty well. I would be extremely happy with Quinn in the first round and an ILB in the second. The ILB class seems to pretty weak this year though, if Greg Jones is gone (which he should be) I'm not sure if there's any other ILB I'd want to take with our high second round pick. We just need to find a thumper to play next to DW in the 3rd-4th round, like Hayes.



There's really no such thing as a "real impact" DE in a 3-4 scheme. Dockett and CC (last season) got to the QB insanely well for 3-4 DE's. You really just want them to occupy blockers and contain the run, if they are doing their job well you don't notice them.

The two players I would strongly consider in this year's draft to play SILB for us is Mario Harvey of Marshall and Orie Lemon of Oklahoma State.

Mario Harvey is a 6'0 252 lb tackling machine. He is very good at using his hands to shed blocks and keep blockers away from his legs, he is stout enough to play the run and is surprisingly mobile. He is often called to drop into coverage and has at numerous times covered wr's in man coverage.

Orie Lemon is the heart and soul of OSU's defense. He's listed at 6'1 243 but I call B.S. I've stood next to him and spoken with him and he looks more like 265-270 of rock solid muscle. He is a beast of a man. Very strong yet very mobile. he is accustomed to dropping back into coverage and does a fine job. Did have ACL surgery in '09.

Both of these guys are very intelligent football players with a very strong passion for the game and both are definitely "thumpers".

 

[juza76]

The two players I would strongly consider in this year's draft to play SILB for us is Mario Harvey of Marshall and Orie Lemon of Oklahoma State.

Mario Harvey is a 6'0 252 lb tackling machine. He is very good at using his hands to shed blocks and keep blockers away from his legs, he is stout enough to play the run and is surprisingly mobile. He is often called to drop into coverage and has at numerous times covered wr's in man coverage.

Orie Lemon is the heart and soul of OSU's defense. He's listed at 6'1 243 but I call B.S. I've stood next to him and spoken with him and he looks more like 265-270 of rock solid muscle. He is a beast of a man. Very strong yet very mobile. he is accustomed to dropping back into coverage and does a fine job. Did have ACL surgery in '09.

Both of these guys are very intelligent football players with a very strong passion for the game and both are definitely "thumpers".

mason foster from washington huskies can a be a good choice as well in round 3/4 is a tackle machine..this season he had 150 tackles and 4.5 sacks

 

[Hypothesis]

mason foster from washington huskies can a be a good choice as well in round 3/4 is a tackle machine..this season he had 150 tackles and 4.5 sacks

Mason Foster is an OLB and not really much of the thumper type we need for the SILB position.

 

[TJ]

That's kind of condradictory.

Even with pressure there was very poor coverage going on, plenty.
Assuming that a better pass rush will solve all the problems back there...

Solid coverage also leads to sacks.

Its not contradictory at all. One of the biggest problems on defense is the lack of pressure on the QB and with that comes time to find the open receiver. If we are giving the quarterback 5-7 seconds to find an open receiver, chances are he's going to find one. Eventually, his man is going to get separation.

The secondary is not free from culpability at all; however, when analyzing our deficiencies in pass defense, our primary problem is giving the QB all day to make a decision. I am of the mindset that a great pass rush mitigates deficiencies in the secondary. Ask the New York Giants

 

[TJ]

I understand that. On the flip side, coaches playing their players in the wrong positions (Big at LT, Rolle at S, etc.) is the pathology among coaches.

I disagree with this. The best thing to ever happen to Rolle was Whis moving him to FS. He struggled mightily in coverage as a corner. As a safety, he was able to get away with most of his ball hawking habits, which is his biggest strength.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I disagree with this. The best thing to ever happen to Rolle was Whis moving him to FS. He struggled mightily in coverage as a corner. As a safety, he was able to get away with most of his ball hawking habits, which is his biggest strength.

I misspoke and was going to correct it until I saw this. I meant to say from CB to FS.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[cgolden]

That'd be nice. Don't think Pitt East will let him (Woodley) go though.

The thumper LB's can be had in 3-4 range too, where we'll be picking early.

Are they going to even have a chance at resigning him? I know until now they've been somewhat limited by the "30% rule" but who knows how all that will be effected by the new CBA. They could also just franchise him but that's also up in the air depending on how the CBA plays out.