SI.com: Sleepers for the 2014 Draft

[RugbyMuffin]

http://nfl.si.com/2014/03/24/2014-nfl-draft-sleepers-nfc/

Arizona Cardinals – Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville

First-year defensive coordinator Todd Bowles did an amazing job putting together one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2013, and the pass rush was part of that. 35-year-old John Abraham registered 11.5 sacks, and 32-year-old Darnell Dockett added 4.5 of his own. But it’s clear that the Cards need new blood to go after quarterbacks and add to Calais Campbell’s excellence.

Smith is an under-the-radar pass rusher who amassed 14.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2013, and he’s an interesting combination of outside linebacker and defensive end at 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds. In Bowles’ defense, Smith could stand up in different pressure packages and cover tight ends on short and intermediate routes while moving inside in nickel and dime sets. Some see Smith as a tweener, but it only takes one team to find the right space for him.

 

[WildBB]

http://nfl.si.com/2014/03/24/2014-nfl-draft-sleepers-nfc/

Arizona Cardinals – Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville

First-year defensive coordinator Todd Bowles did an amazing job putting together one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2013, and the pass rush was part of that. 35-year-old John Abraham registered 11.5 sacks, and 32-year-old Darnell Dockett added 4.5 of his own. But it’s clear that the Cards need new blood to go after quarterbacks and add to Calais Campbell’s excellence.

Smith is an under-the-radar pass rusher who amassed 14.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2013, and he’s an interesting combination of outside linebacker and defensive end at 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds. In Bowles’ defense, Smith could stand up in different pressure packages and cover tight ends on short and intermediate routes while moving inside in nickel and dime sets. Some see Smith as a tweener, but it only takes one team to find the right space for him.

Wasn't he strictly a DE at Louisville? Maybe he's athletically gifted enough to be utilized that way. His shuttle times would tell a lot if he could.

 

[BW52]

He floated around a bit at times at UL.He not a super fast burst guy IMHO.He`s a high effort type pass rusher.He won`t beat the offense around the edge all the time.He`s quick but not elite quick.Would I draft him as a OLB? Yes in RD 4-5.As a Louisville fan it was a pleasure to watch him,Bridgewater,Pryor and Preston Brown.

 

[WildBB]

He floated around a bit at times at UL.He not a super fast burst guy IMHO.He`s a high effort type pass rusher.He won`t beat the offense around the edge all the time.He`s quick but not elite quick.Would I draft him as a OLB? Yes in RD 4-5.As a Louisville fan it was a pleasure to watch him,Bridgewater,Pryor and Preston Brown.

I think we already drafted that guy a couple times. Last yr. Okafor and his mate Acho a couple yrs. back. And we still have Alexander. Don't think we need their clones, mtl.

Another OLB who has good instincts and effort is Attouchou out of Ga. Tech. We'll see what they value. We def. need a pass rusher (OLB or DE), S, and TE or RT/G in the first 3-5 Rd's, mtl. After that you factor in CB, QB, RB and OLB, mtl. But need will be a big determining factor on value at what Rd. FA still has to play out some.

 

[Jetstream Green]

There are some guys who might not be that athletic but have instincts which just make them successful, a good football player. Honey Badger just knows where the pass is coming for example, and even though his size is not ideal, knows how to form tackle well. Be it also a WR who knows how to find a soft spot and get open or a guy that just knows how to get to the QB... Marcus Smith could be one of those guys

 

[BW52]

There are some guys who might not be that athletic but have instincts which just make them successful, a good football player. Honey Badger just knows where the pass is coming for example, and even though his size is not ideal, knows how to form tackle well. Be it also a WR who knows how to find a soft spot and get open or a guy that just knows how to get to the QB... Marcus Smith could be one of those guys

I think you might be right.Marcus Smith just has to be better than Adrien Tracy,Marcus Benard,or Demens and Rowe.

 

[Chopper0080]

There are ton of these type of OLB types in this draft

Marcus Smith - Louisville
Chris Smith - Arkansas
James Gayle - Virginia Tech
Trevor Reilly - Utah
Adrian Hubbard - Alabama
Shaquil Barrett - Colorado St.
Ethan Westbrooks - West TExas A&M
Larry Webster - Bloomsburg
Aaron Lynch - South Florida (personal issues)
Carl Bradford - Arizona St.
Jerimiah Attacochu - Georgia Tech.
Demarcus Lawrence - Boise St. (has been projected in round 3, though I believe he is likely to go late 1 or early 2)

LOADED draft for hybrid OLB/DE if you can develop one.

 

[BW52]

I think we already drafted that guy a couple times. Last yr. Okafor and his mate Acho a couple yrs. back. And we still have Alexander. Don't think we need their clones, mtl.

Another OLB who has good instincts and effort is Attouchou out of Ga. Tech. We'll see what they value. We def. need a pass rusher (OLB or DE), S, and TE or RT/G in the first 3-5 Rd's, mtl. After that you factor in CB, QB, RB and OLB, mtl. But need will be a big determining factor on value at what Rd. FA still has to play out some.

I don`t recall Okafor ever being thought of as a big pass rushing threat.He has some rushing skills but wasn`t a lack of edge quickness his main weakness? Acho has done okay WHEN he can stay healthy and he is a FA after this season.

 

[juza76]

I don`t recall Okafor ever being thought of as a big pass rushing threat.He has some rushing skills but wasn`t a lack of edge quickness his main weakness? Acho has done okay WHEN he can stay healthy and he is a FA after this season.

I think okafor is better suited to play de in 3-4 defense,is not quick but he excel using his hands to disingage block,he is 6'5 265'' now,he could add 20 lb

 

[Duckjake]

I don`t recall Okafor ever being thought of as a big pass rushing threat.He has some rushing skills but wasn`t a lack of edge quickness his main weakness? Acho has done okay WHEN he can stay healthy and he is a FA after this season.

What got people thinking of Acho as a pass rusher was the fact that he had 7 sacks as a rookie while only starting 10 games. As for staying healthy, last year was the first time he's ever missed any significant number of games as a result of injury.

However, I've always thought of him as better suited to being a strong side OLB in the mode of Clark Haggans. Still can't understand why the Cards drafted his clone in Alex Okafor.

 

[PitchShifter]

Not sure if this was posted elsewhere, but here are some further Cards Draft observations from NFL.COM

Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama
March 12: Cardinals coach gets close look
Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner took a particular interest in Hubbard at Alabama's pro day, putting the linebacker through position drills. The Cardinals boasted a strong defense in 2013, but could look to add depth at certain positions.

Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner took a particular interest in UA linebacker Adrian Hubbard, putting the early-entry junior through position drills. At one point during a drill requiring Hubbard to lock out his arms to shed a block, Buckner proved too strong, drawing a laugh from Hubbard. Buckner, in turn, cracked a joke that Hubbard wouldn't be playing against Vanderbilt anymore.

Mike Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest
March 10: Campanaro had formal meeting with Cardinals
Campanaro said he held a formal meeting at the NFL Scouting Combine with the Cardinals. Campanaro -- who set a school record with 229 career receptions -- figures to be a third-day pick in the 2014 NFL Draft after running faster than expected at the combine.

Doesn't mean much, but beats reading mock drafts every day LoL.