Recent #55 Picks

[Mitch]

What I am trying to do is to view the recent history at the picks the Cardinals have in Rounds 1-3 to see if I can detect some sort of a pattern or feel for what kind of value teams have gotten at that point in the draft.

What I discovered about the #24 pick was that the home run picks were skill players at RB and WR. Even though I feel as desperate as everyone else about finally drafting an edge rusher at #24, if there are star players to be had at #24 who are not the #6 or #7 edge rusher talents in the draft, then I think it behooves the Cardinals to shoot for the stars.

Today, let's take a look at the recent picks at #55 and assess what we see:

2008 BAL: RB Ray Rice (3 Pro Bowls, 2-time 2nd Team All-Pro)
2009 ATL: S William Moore (Pro Bowl--2012)
2010 DAL: LB Sean Lee
2011 KC: C/G Rodney Hudson
2012 ATL: C/G Peter Konz
2013 SF: TE Vance McDonald
2014 CIN: RB Jeremy Hill (1,124 yards, 9 TDs as a rookie)

First of all, the #55 pick is a hot spot in the draft, particularly for RBs and C/G types.

Potential RBs at #55:

Tevin Coleman, Indiana---Check out his game versus a tough Missouri defense led by Shane Ray---very impressive---check the screen pass at the 5:20 mark with the game on the line.

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Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska---To me he is the Tre Mason of this draft---not great size, but has great feet, hits the hole on a dime and plays with a low center of gravity---fights for every yard:

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Jay Ajayi, Boise St.---This guy is Ray Rice with speed:

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Duke Johnson, Miami---If the Cardinals want to go RB by committee with The Juke in the lead, Johnson could be an electrifying 2nd RB:

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T.J. Yeldon, Alabama---What stands out about Yeldon is how good he is in the red zone and short yardage and how effective he is as a receiver:

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Javorius Allen, USC---Here is a big back, tough runner inside the tackles:

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C/G Prospects at #55

Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M---Massive interior mauler, with weight concerns, but All-Pro type talent:

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A.J. Cann, South Carolina---4 year stater and SEC All-Star:

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Laken Tomlinson, Duke---He too was a 4 year starter and was All-ACC and is about as solid as they come:

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Ali Marpet, Hobart---I think next to Cameron Erving, Marpet is the most intriguing and talented C/G prospect in this draft:

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Conclusion: Even though the Cardinals have not fared well with drafting RBs in the 2nd round, these are the new Cardinals under BA&SK, and the way this draft is set up talent-wise, there are a group of RBs who can make an instant impact like Ray Rice and Jeremy Hill. if the Cardinals take a RB in Round 1 (Gurley, Gordon or a trade down to take Tevin Coleman)---it might be very tempting for them to take Ali Marpet at #55 with the thought of having him command the center spot or take over at RG if Jonathan Cooper falters.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Last year Laurent Duvernay-Tardif from McGill was the 'small school' darling, and was selected in the sixth round. This year it's Marpet. LDF was a superior athlete by every measure from what I gather.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Good write up.

With the bevy of pass rushers, and wide receivers going in the 1st round, I think the 2nd round will be a chance to get a very high potential cornerback prospect in the 2nd round, or inside linebacker prospect.

JMHO.

Offensive linemen are an absolute wild card for the Cardinals in this draft, again, in my humble opinion. There are greater needs, and not that much talent on the line in this draft, but if the Cardinals pick one, I would hope it would be a high value player.

Laken Tomlinson is really the only player I like in the 2nd round, and later on I like Mitch Morse, and Andy Gallik.

 

[WildBB]

There will be some legitimate starters available as this is a very good 2nd and 3rd Rd. draft.

Concerned about Ajayi's Mountain West competition which he ran roughshod over. He'll have a much tougher time at the next level.

I've been all over Abdullah in the 2nd. I agree that he can get tough yards.

But if they deem they want the "bigger back" they can get one later on.

Cobb, Allen and Yeldon may all come into play in the 3rd Rd.

But I'd like to get Lockett there IF available.

Like Rugby I'd take Tomlinson , Perryman, Rowe or Williams if available as well.

 

[oaken1]

hmmmmm,.... everyone else drafts a RB or G in this spot,...so we must do so as well??

Nahhh.... nobody has hit a home run here recently apparently....

how about we shy away from the fail area,...go outside the norm,....and find a guy who will go to 8 pro bowls for us..... at 55 we should be getting a player that lots of draft analysts though could go in the first round...

whereas at RB,...there is Gurley & Gordon,......both rd 1 or high rd2 type RB's....... then every other RB in the draft who can go anywhere from early third to late fifth interchangeably .....why waste a pick on one of those in the second round?

 

[Bodha]

You should focus less on whos commonly available at #55, and moreso focus on who the Cards take in the 2nd round:

Troy Niklas- the invisible boy

Minter - the fire hydrant with lips. Not because hes stout, but because hes imobile

Kevin Kolb

Ryan Williams

DWash - GREAT PICK! When hes on the team

Cody Brown

 

[Mitch]

hmmmmm,.... everyone else drafts a RB or G in this spot,...so we must do so as well??

Nahhh.... nobody has hit a home run here recently apparently....

how about we shy away from the fail area,...go outside the norm,....and find a guy who will go to 8 pro bowls for us..... at 55 we should be getting a player that lots of draft analysts though could go in the first round...

whereas at RB,...there is Gurley & Gordon,......both rd 1 or high rd2 type RB's....... then every other RB in the draft who can go anywhere from early third to late fifth interchangeably .....why waste a pick on one of those in the second round?

Two things: (1) Tevin Coleman, Ameer Abdullah and Jay Ajayi will be taken well before pick #86. No chance. (2) To say that they are interchangeable with other RBs in this class, imo, is not accurate---they are a cut above the rest. Watch David Johnson, for example---he's a big RB, but he's a tippy-toe runner who runs too tall and rarely lowers his shoulder.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I texted today who was preferred, Coleman or Yeldon, the scout said he personally prefers Yeldon but could see where teams would prefer Coleman.

 

[Mitch]

I texted today who was preferred, Coleman or Yeldon, the scout said he personally prefers Yeldon but could see where teams would prefer Coleman.

The fact that Coleman ran a 4.35 at his pro day and Yeldon ran a 4.54 at his (after running 4.61 at the Combine) is what separate the two from my perspective---and it shows on tape---but both are gritty and both are versatile in the passing game. I'd give Yeldon the edge at the goal-line---he was fantastic punching the ball into the endzone at Bama.

 

[Buckybird]

I know this is the time of the year rumors about draftable players start to fly, but I read on some website yesterday that some teams & scouts have concerns about Ajai's longevity. Supposedly he has a knee issue, though they don't think it affects him today.

THX for your scouting info Mitch.

 

[Mitch]

I know this is the time of the year rumors about draftable players start to fly, but I read on some website yesterday that some teams & scouts have concerns about Ajai's longevity. Supposedly he has a knee issue, though they don't think it affects him today.

THX for your scouting info Mitch.

Yeah, they thought Ajayi was supposed to get rechecked at the Combine, yet it was a mistake. His knee injury was 4 years ago. Not an issue.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The fact that Coleman ran a 4.35 at his pro day and Yeldon ran a 4.54 at his (after running 4.61 at the Combine) is what separate the two from my perspective---and it shows on tape---but both are gritty and both are versatile in the passing game. I'd give Yeldon the edge at the goal-line---he was fantastic punching the ball into the endzone at Bama.

I like both of them. Yeldon probably fits the Cards better because Arians wants a bigger RB.

I did ask if he thought Yeldon would be there at 55 for the Cards and he said yes.

 

[cardpa]

I like Yeldon and Allen. Both seem to have the ability to make defenders miss and yet have enough power to break the initial tackle. They also both seem to be able to run inside which is something the Cardinals presently miss big time. Both seem to use their blockers well and can slip and slide pass tackles.

 

[Cardiac]

Two things: (1) Tevin Coleman, Ameer Abdullah and Jay Ajayi will be taken well before pick #86. No chance. (2) To say that they are interchangeable with other RBs in this class, imo, is not accurate---they are a cut above the rest. Watch David Johnson, for example---he's a big RB, but he's a tippy-toe runner who runs too tall and rarely lowers his shoulder.

Mitch, how many teams do you think have RB listed as a high need? I don't know the rest of the NFL as well as you but I'm thinking the number is 6.

Cards, Cowboys, Chargers and at least 3 that I can't think of. With the RB position being "devalued" (that might be trending differently now) how many of these teams that need a RB believe they can wait or have even bigger needs at "more important" positions.

Point being, the RB's you have listed as 2nd rd talent may still be available in rd 3 or later. So while BASK are not Graves etc and very well could draft a RB in the 2nd rd who works out well I still maintain that we have bigger needs at more important positions.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, how many teams do you think have RB listed as a high need? I don't know the rest of the NFL as well as you but I'm thinking the number is 6.

Cards, Cowboys, Chargers and at least 3 that I can't think of. With the RB position being "devalued" (that might be trending differently now) how many of these teams that need a RB believe they can wait or have even bigger needs at "more important" positions.

Point being, the RB's you have listed as 2nd rd talent may still be available in rd 3 or later. So while BASK are not Graves etc and very well could draft a RB in the 2nd rd who works out well I still maintain that we have bigger needs at more important positions.

Cardiac, I think that there's a decent chance the Cardinals have a "diamond in the rough" RB they may wait to take on Day 3---such as John "TAZ" Crockett of North Dakota St. But, the way they have expressed interest in the Round 1-2 RBs from Gurley to Gordon to Coleman to Abdullah to Ajayi, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they take a RB in Round 1 or 2.

In this day and age, everyone is looking to stockpile RBs because every team knows the days of the true workhorse RB are a thing of the past.

Same with the Cardinals. They love Sir Juke (but surely realize they can't run him into the ground as they did last year, thanks in part to Jonathan Dwyer's dismissal in Week 2) and they are very intrigued with Kerwynn Williams and even Marion Grice---but they want to add a bona fide starting caliber RB to this mix and use these other RBs in situational roles.

 

[Cardiac]

Mitch, # of RB's taken in each round in 2014. Zero in rd 1. Three in rd 2. Shanky, Hill and Hyde & all at the end of the round. Five RB's taken in rd 3. Six taken in rd 4. Zero in rd 5. Five in rd 6. Three in rd 7.

2013 RB's draft info: Zero in rd 1. Five in rd 2, some big names (Bernard pk 37, Le'Veon Bell pk48, Montee Ball pk 58, Lacy pk 61 & Christine Michael pk 62). One in rd 3. Three in rd 4. Five in rd 5, Cards took Taylor. Eight in rd 6, Cards took Juke. Three in rd 7.

2012 RB's draft info : Three in rd 1. Two in rd 2. Two in rd 3. Three in rd 4. Three in rd 5. Four in rd 6. Four in rd 7.

The three RB's taken were Richardson (BUST), Wilson (has had his moments for the Giants but not worth his draft position) & Doug Martin (was great his rookie year but IIRC has had a huge drop off since).

The overall trend is 6 to 7 RB's taken if the first 3 rounds and you are correct most are taken by the end of rd 2.

 

[Mitch]

Excellent info, Cardiac. Thank you!

As for the Cardinals' priorities, I think BA shows his hand pretty well each year and this is what he's said thus far:

Big, speedy CB
Speed at WR
Impact RB
Speed at LB

I think they bulked up the lines in FA with the thought of adding speed all across the board in the draft. Like my mentor used to say, "I could be wrong, but I could be right."

Interesting too that BA&SK said today that they won't make the decision as to whether to pick up WR Michael Floyd's option until after the draft.

 

[Cardiac]

Excellent info, Cardiac. Thank you!

As for the Cardinals' priorities, I think BA shows his hand pretty well each year and this is what he's said thus far:

Big, speedy CB
Speed at WR
Impact RB
Speed at LB

I think they bulked up the lines in FA with the thought of adding speed all across the board in the draft. Like my mentor used to say, "I could be wrong, but I could be right."

Interesting too that BA&SK said today that they won't make the decision as to whether to pick up WR Michael Floyd's option until after the draft.

This all makes sense but it goes against my mantra of feed the trenches so I can't agree with you.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

No kickers, punters, or longsnappers? Russ is gonna be upset...

We've misfired in the second round in recent years, but I'm sure SKBA will make the right call this year.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Mitch, # of RB's taken in each round in 2014. Zero in rd 1. Three in rd 2. Shanky, Hill and Hyde & all at the end of the round. Five RB's taken in rd 3. Six taken in rd 4. Zero in rd 5. Five in rd 6. Three in rd 7.

Leave my golf game out of this .