Prisco Article: Calais Campbell is the Headliner.

[Shane]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11483202

 

[Goldfield]

McFadden also at the bottom...

Steelers starting corner spot

Leaving: Bryant McFadden
Taking over: Deshea Townsend or William Gay

The skinny: Losing McFadden is a tough one because he was a young, improving player. Townsend has been a starter in the past, but I think the Steelers prefer him as a nickel corner. Gay has potential, and he's improved the past couple of years, but is he ready? The Steelers might be forced to draft a corner early now.

Rate the replacement: Not so good. Townsend shouldn't be asked to start this late in his career and Gay is raw. They need to get a corner early in the draft.

 

[Shzm13]

Bahaha i love hearing that the Steelers' replacement wont be good

 

[Buckybird]

I like Calais a player, the kid has some great upside. To think he will step in at year 2 and replace Antonio at the level he played is asking alot from him. Right now, Campbell has big shoes to fill.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

And just like A. Smith, Campbell is a good guy who has connected with us (the fans).

Sorry to see A. Smith go though; I wish him the best

 

[lauraw]

calais c always gives a beast of an effort on special teams..I expect him to rotate in and kick some enemy butt this year with an offseason under john lott and in knowing the system. 6'8" 282 and he could comfortably put on 15lbs with no loss in speed. can you imagine year 3 calais campbell, 6'8", 297-grown all the way into his body DE-DT moving with the grace of a linebacker? Would whizz let him loose this year? he may just break out! Do it CC!!!!

 

[ajcardfan]

Prisco is really not even masking, at all, the fact that he is a Cardinals fan anymore.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I really think Campbell could be this year's Breaston.

 

[AntSports Steve]

I still think this years Breston is Watson!

 

[CardsFan88]

GO CC

I liked A. Smith, but CC is the man. All the tools to make us forget whoever (sarcasm) A. Smith was.

It's nice for a change that when someone leaves us, we might have a replacement better than the original. I think he can be much better than the original. He's the guy I want to watch the most on defense (for growth). We know how good some of our other defenders are, CC might only be a season or two away from being in the same sentence as Dockett, Wilson, Dansby, DRC, CC

I think he has that type of talent, and will be watching to see if he realizes it as soon as he may be able to.

 

[dogpoo32]

I really think Campbell could be this year's Breaston.

I hope this year's Breaston is Breaston and this year's Fitz is Fitz and this year's Q is QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ!

 

[binkar]

GO CC

I liked A. Smith, but CC is the man. All the tools to make us forget whoever (sarcasm) A. Smith was.

It's nice for a change that when someone leaves us, we might have a replacement better than the original. I think he can be much better than the original. He's the guy I want to watch the most on defense (for growth). We know how good some of our other defenders are, CC might only be a season or two away from being in the same sentence as Dockett, Wilson, Dansby, DRC, CC

I think he has that type of talent, and will be watching to see if he realizes it as soon as he may be able to.

I agree. I am excited to see what he can do. He obviously has the tools to be a very productive, disruptive player. If he can develop into even a decent pass rusher, imagine how frustrating it would be to try to throw over a 6'8" lineman who is in your face. He has some work to do to get to that point, but the potential is obviously there.

What I would give for Alan Branch to do well. Unfortunately that one I am not as confident about.

 

[perivolaki]

6'8" 282 and he could comfortably put on 15lbs with no loss in speed. can you imagine year 3 calais campbell, 6'8", 297-grown all the way into his body DE-DT moving with the grace of a linebacker? Would whizz let him loose this year? he may just break out! Do it CC!!!!

I hope your right. I seem to remember some scouting reports that mentioned added weight gain as a reason for not performing as well as a senior.

 

[Perfectionist]

Prisco is really not even masking, at all, the fact that he is a Cardinals fan anymore.

Every team deserves at least one media guy on their side.

 

[Duckjake]

GO CC

I liked A. Smith, but CC is the man. All the tools to make us forget whoever (sarcasm) A. Smith was.

It's nice for a change that when someone leaves us, we might have a replacement better than the original. I think he can be much better than the original. He's the guy I want to watch the most on defense (for growth). We know how good some of our other defenders are, CC might only be a season or two away from being in the same sentence as Dockett, Wilson, Dansby, DRC, CC

I think he has that type of talent, and will be watching to see if he realizes it as soon as he may be able to.

The Antonio Smith/Calais Campbell situation is a very good example of how things have changed for the Cards the last 3-4 years. Smith was a 5th round selection, a practice squad player who was sent to NFL Europe and then developed into a solid starter for Arizona.

Campbell is a first day draft pick who had a season to watch, play some, and learn instead of having to start as a rookie and, as you say, is there to replace a veteran who left for more money.

Those are things that almost never happened in years past.

 

[ajcardfan]

The Antonio Smith/Calais Campbell situation is a very good example of how things have changed for the Cards the last 3-4 years. Smith was a 5th round selection, a practice squad player who was sent to NFL Europe and then developed into a solid starter for Arizona.

Campbell is a first day draft pick who had a season to watch, play some, and learn instead of having to start as a rookie and, as you say, is there to replace a veteran who left for more money.

Those are things that almost never happened in years past.

Yep. We used to lose a guy and then try to draft his replacement in the NEXT draft.

 

[jaguarpaw81]

I really think Campbell could be this year's Breaston.

You want Campbell to be our 3rd wideout?
I think he'd make a much better TE.

 

[WildBB]

The Antonio Smith/Calais Campbell situation is a very good example of how things have changed for the Cards the last 3-4 years.

Campbell is a first day draft pick who had a season to watch, play some, and learn instead of having to start as a rookie and, as you say, is there to replace a veteran who left for more money.

Those are things that almost never happened in years past.

Yup,exactly.
That's how your supposed to use the draft. Preferably to find an EVENTUAL replacement for a starter who may not be with the team any longer in the immediate future.

Even 1st rounders should be given the luxury of being groomed in slowly. Unless your Anquan Boldin.

Other than that RB's may be the exception to that rule. Or a top 10 selection.

 

[lobo]

Yup,exactly.
That's how your supposed to use the draft. Preferably to find an EVENTUAL replacement for a starter who may not be with the team any longer in the immediate future.

Even 1st rounders should be given the luxury of being groomed in slowly. Unless your Anquan Boldin.

Other than that RB's may be the exception to that rule. Or a top 10 selection.

Well put. There are certain positions that you can put a guy out there and tell relatively quickly if he has it or not..or has it somewhere down the road. RB is certainly one of them as yo said..interestingly Joe Montana said (sic) he can tell in five minutes of watching if a qb is going to make it...five minutes!! WR usually is a position you can consider, OL prety much no....notice that many of the OL stay in school an extra year for that reason.

 

[Unsterblich856]

You want Campbell to be our 3rd wideout?
I think he'd make a much better TE.

He played TE in High School, I heard he has soft hands. He could kill two birds with one stone as our TE and DE

 

[Perfectionist]

The Antonio Smith/Calais Campbell situation is a very good example of how things have changed for the Cards the last 3-4 years. Smith was a 5th round selection, a practice squad player who was sent to NFL Europe and then developed into a solid starter for Arizona.

Campbell is a first day draft pick who had a season to watch, play some, and learn instead of having to start as a rookie and, as you say, is there to replace a veteran who left for more money.

Those are things that almost never happened in years past.

One more quoting Duckjake. Amazing what Whiz has done in just two seasons.

 

[jaguarpaw81]

He played TE in High School, I heard he has soft hands. He could kill two birds with one stone as our TE and DE

 

[Dr. Jones]

Man.... you guys are relentless! lol

I can see CC having 8 to 10 sacks this year. And Big Gabe Watson will be a big reason why he gets to those numbers.

 

[cgolden]

Man.... you guys are relentless! lol

I can see CC having 8 to 10 sacks this year. And Big Gabe Watson will be a big reason why he gets to those numbers.

If he's a 3-4 defensive end with 8 sacks, he'll instantly become the best DE in the league.

We've got to remember that 3-4 defensive ends are not pass rushers, even on third downs. Five sacks for these kind of defensive ends is amazing, ten would be record setting. (And yes I know we're not a true 3-4 but we're going to be closer this season.)

 

[JeffGollin]

Breaston was the poster boy for the Cardinal off-season weight and conditioning program last off-season. (In addition to becoming a better receiver, he became bigger and stronger).

It will be interesting to see whether this same formula can be applied to Campbell, Doucet and Hightower during this offseason. All of them have room on their frames to add muscle. All of them have the potential to become beasts with a little more bulk, upper & lower body strength and technique work.

I believe this will turn out to be a pivotal factor in determining whether or not we once again reach the Super Bowl (and this time win it).