Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. The Senior Bowl. Five of the Cardinals' eight draft picks played in the Senior Bowl: LB Cody Brown, FS Rashad Johnson, G Herman Johnson, LB Will Davis and G Trevor Canfield. All of these players struggled at times in the practices, especially Davis who had a tough week generating any semblance of a pass rush. Brown, R. Johnson, H. Johnson and Canfield each got a little stronger as the week went on and each showed some good things in the game. But, their stocks were not exactly improved during that All-Star experience, and it likely caused each of them to slip 20-35 picks lower than where they were originally projected.
It seems the Senior Bowl has become a boon for small school prospects who can come in and prove they can play with the nation's best, but a detriment to many of the higher profile players from big schools.
The one player who was likely affected the most was FS Rashad Johnson, whom Nick Saban called one of the smartest players he's ever coached. Johnson is a system player...by that he is a player who thrives in a structured system where his assignments are mapped out for him and repped in practice.
Thrown into a far more unstructured environment planning-wise, Rashad Johnson was put at a disadvantage in showcasing his best skills. That said, Johnson played a good, solid game anyway. A safety who did not was Will Moore...who really struggled in the game...but the same allowances shoulld be made for him because all you have to do is go watch tape of him during his junior year to see the kind of potential he has.
The player I was the most impressed with in the game was 7th round pick G Trevor Canfield. They way the elite three of Mack, Unger and Caldwell were being switched between center and guard and showing good promise wherever they were lined up, I looked at Canfield to stack him up against the elite three and quite frankly I did not see much of a dropoff at all. This is why I took him in the 5th round in one of my mocks and considered him for the 4th round. I will bet that Canfield can play center as well, which will only add to his value as a future roster player.
As for the roster, I think only the first five of the draftees will make it. I thought that perhaps G Herman Johnson might not, but I think the Cardinas will find themselves in the same position they were last year with Brandon Keith. Even though Keith was taken in the 7th round, there was a buzz around him by many teams, and had he been waived, the Cardinals realized very smartly that he could have easily been claimed. The same this year with Johnson, whom everyone knows is a project, but can't help but see the great potential he has. Plus, Johnson will be an asset on STs while he improves his craft at guard (while they say they are going to look at him at tackle, I don;t think there is any question he will be a guard in the NFL, for the same reason why he was a guard at LSU).
2. The Cardinals are Putting the Special Back into Special Teams. Wow...last year there were times, especially after Ali Highsmith got hurt, that it was very difficult to name three real good ST players. Now look at the list: Sean Morey, Aaron Francisco, DRC, Ali Highsmith, Calais Campbell, Steve Breaston, Pago Togafau, Kenny Iwebema, Michael Adams, Dan Kreider, Keith Lewis, Jason Wright, Cody Brown, Rashad Johnson, Greg Toler, Herman Johnson, Will Davis, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Trevor Canfield,and the newly signed flash of lightning KR Michael Ray Garvin.
The thing is...the ST prowess of some of these players is going to make roster spots even harder to select. Yup, this is going to be one tough roster to make. Thus, I will try my best...but I realize this is going to be almost impossible at this point.
3. 53 Man Roster Prediction (4/28/09):
QB (3): Warner, Leinart, St. Pierre.
Competition to Watch: the battle for #2 between Leinart and St. Pierre.
RB (3): Hightower, Wells, Wright.
Wild Card: If LaRod Stephen-Howling wins the KR job...but I think he spends a year or two on the PS.
FB (1): Kreider.
Wild Card: If Tim Castille shows significant improvement on STs, he has a chance, otherwise the Cardinals now do not have the uxury of keeping two FBs.
TE (3): Patrick, Spach, Pope.
The Major Question: Health. if any of these players can't stay healthy, especially Stephen Spach coming of knee surgery, Anthony Becht makes the team. The coaches love Spach, so if he's back and strong, he may even be the starter.
WR (6): Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston, Urban, Doucet, Morey.
Wild Card: if Lance Long wins the KR job...but he has another year's eligibilty on the PS, so I think that's where he stays and will be activated if and when there is a need, as was the case with Michael Adams.
OL (9): Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui, L. Brown, Keith, E. Brown, Vallejo, H. Johnson.
Wild Cards: if the Cardinals are not comfortable with Wells being the #2 C, Donovan Raiola or Trevor Canfield may be kept...which would mean making a tough choice of waiving one of the nine above.
NT (2): Watson, Branch.
Wild Card: Bryan Robinson...if Branch falters again, Robinson sticks.
DE (4): Dockett, Campbell, Iwebema, Dykes.
Wild Card: Jason Banks...he, Robinson and Dykes will slug it out for the #4 DE spot. Banks has real upside and could win this thing outright.
ILB (4): Hayes, Dansby, Highsmith, TBA.
Wild Cards: Victor Hobson who will need to show versatility. Pago Togafau has to prove he can be a legit backup at SILB.
And...Adrian Wilson who will be moved up into a hybrid as a LB at times.
OLB (4): Okeafor, Haggans, Berry, C. Brown.
CB (5): Rodgers-Cromartie, McFadden, Brown, Adams, Toler
S (5): Wilson, Rolle, Francisco, Lewis, R. Johnson.
Wild Card: Dennis Keyes...don't count this kid out...but he has another PS year left, so his roster spot isn't pressing at this time.
ST (4): Rackers, Graham, Leach, Garvin.
In Garvin the Cardinals get their own poor man's version of Devin Hester. This year Garvin will be asked to focus on STs...but may make cameo appearances as a speed burner WR and nickel/dime S.
4. Speed Thrills. The first thing Whiz might want to do at TC is fire everyone up by lining up DRC, Garvin, Toler and Wells to run the 40. What a spectacle that would be! Winner gets to be first in line at the buffet table! Then sign the four of them up to be the Arizona Cardinals' entry in the World Relay Champioships!
5. Practice Squad:
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling
G/C Trevor Canfield
T Brandon Pearce (excellent pass bocker)
WR Lance Long
DE Jason Banks
LB Will Davis
LB Chase Bullock or Reggie Walker
S Dennis Keyes
It seems the Senior Bowl has become a boon for small school prospects who can come in and prove they can play with the nation's best, but a detriment to many of the higher profile players from big schools.
The one player who was likely affected the most was FS Rashad Johnson, whom Nick Saban called one of the smartest players he's ever coached. Johnson is a system player...by that he is a player who thrives in a structured system where his assignments are mapped out for him and repped in practice.
Thrown into a far more unstructured environment planning-wise, Rashad Johnson was put at a disadvantage in showcasing his best skills. That said, Johnson played a good, solid game anyway. A safety who did not was Will Moore...who really struggled in the game...but the same allowances shoulld be made for him because all you have to do is go watch tape of him during his junior year to see the kind of potential he has.
The player I was the most impressed with in the game was 7th round pick G Trevor Canfield. They way the elite three of Mack, Unger and Caldwell were being switched between center and guard and showing good promise wherever they were lined up, I looked at Canfield to stack him up against the elite three and quite frankly I did not see much of a dropoff at all. This is why I took him in the 5th round in one of my mocks and considered him for the 4th round. I will bet that Canfield can play center as well, which will only add to his value as a future roster player.
As for the roster, I think only the first five of the draftees will make it. I thought that perhaps G Herman Johnson might not, but I think the Cardinas will find themselves in the same position they were last year with Brandon Keith. Even though Keith was taken in the 7th round, there was a buzz around him by many teams, and had he been waived, the Cardinals realized very smartly that he could have easily been claimed. The same this year with Johnson, whom everyone knows is a project, but can't help but see the great potential he has. Plus, Johnson will be an asset on STs while he improves his craft at guard (while they say they are going to look at him at tackle, I don;t think there is any question he will be a guard in the NFL, for the same reason why he was a guard at LSU).
2. The Cardinals are Putting the Special Back into Special Teams. Wow...last year there were times, especially after Ali Highsmith got hurt, that it was very difficult to name three real good ST players. Now look at the list: Sean Morey, Aaron Francisco, DRC, Ali Highsmith, Calais Campbell, Steve Breaston, Pago Togafau, Kenny Iwebema, Michael Adams, Dan Kreider, Keith Lewis, Jason Wright, Cody Brown, Rashad Johnson, Greg Toler, Herman Johnson, Will Davis, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Trevor Canfield,and the newly signed flash of lightning KR Michael Ray Garvin.
The thing is...the ST prowess of some of these players is going to make roster spots even harder to select. Yup, this is going to be one tough roster to make. Thus, I will try my best...but I realize this is going to be almost impossible at this point.
3. 53 Man Roster Prediction (4/28/09):
QB (3): Warner, Leinart, St. Pierre.
Competition to Watch: the battle for #2 between Leinart and St. Pierre.
RB (3): Hightower, Wells, Wright.
Wild Card: If LaRod Stephen-Howling wins the KR job...but I think he spends a year or two on the PS.
FB (1): Kreider.
Wild Card: If Tim Castille shows significant improvement on STs, he has a chance, otherwise the Cardinals now do not have the uxury of keeping two FBs.
TE (3): Patrick, Spach, Pope.
The Major Question: Health. if any of these players can't stay healthy, especially Stephen Spach coming of knee surgery, Anthony Becht makes the team. The coaches love Spach, so if he's back and strong, he may even be the starter.
WR (6): Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston, Urban, Doucet, Morey.
Wild Card: if Lance Long wins the KR job...but he has another year's eligibilty on the PS, so I think that's where he stays and will be activated if and when there is a need, as was the case with Michael Adams.
OL (9): Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui, L. Brown, Keith, E. Brown, Vallejo, H. Johnson.
Wild Cards: if the Cardinals are not comfortable with Wells being the #2 C, Donovan Raiola or Trevor Canfield may be kept...which would mean making a tough choice of waiving one of the nine above.
NT (2): Watson, Branch.
Wild Card: Bryan Robinson...if Branch falters again, Robinson sticks.
DE (4): Dockett, Campbell, Iwebema, Dykes.
Wild Card: Jason Banks...he, Robinson and Dykes will slug it out for the #4 DE spot. Banks has real upside and could win this thing outright.
ILB (4): Hayes, Dansby, Highsmith, TBA.
Wild Cards: Victor Hobson who will need to show versatility. Pago Togafau has to prove he can be a legit backup at SILB.
And...Adrian Wilson who will be moved up into a hybrid as a LB at times.
OLB (4): Okeafor, Haggans, Berry, C. Brown.
CB (5): Rodgers-Cromartie, McFadden, Brown, Adams, Toler
S (5): Wilson, Rolle, Francisco, Lewis, R. Johnson.
Wild Card: Dennis Keyes...don't count this kid out...but he has another PS year left, so his roster spot isn't pressing at this time.
ST (4): Rackers, Graham, Leach, Garvin.
In Garvin the Cardinals get their own poor man's version of Devin Hester. This year Garvin will be asked to focus on STs...but may make cameo appearances as a speed burner WR and nickel/dime S.
4. Speed Thrills. The first thing Whiz might want to do at TC is fire everyone up by lining up DRC, Garvin, Toler and Wells to run the 40. What a spectacle that would be! Winner gets to be first in line at the buffet table! Then sign the four of them up to be the Arizona Cardinals' entry in the World Relay Champioships!
5. Practice Squad:
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling
G/C Trevor Canfield
T Brandon Pearce (excellent pass bocker)
WR Lance Long
DE Jason Banks
LB Will Davis
LB Chase Bullock or Reggie Walker
S Dennis Keyes
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