Synergy

[Harry]

Thanks for all the emails and the questions about why I haven't been very active on draft issues. I'm flattered anyone still remembers previous years. I will simply restate that I just wanted more time to spend on the rest of my life. My health is fine, but thanks for asking.

As to the draft, I think the Cards feel that their position for greatest need, DE, will be hard to fill in this draft unless Suggs falls to them. He won't unless their is another off-the-field incident. He has not dropped on anyone's board I can check on. So, I doubt he has dropped. The Cards also need a #1 WR, but they are counting on Sullivan and free agency to at least make them competitive with their recievers. They like Newman a great deal, but feel he will be gone as well. They have Johnson high on their board, but not at 6 from what I hear. I don't believe their is any chance they would take a DT at 6 and I don't believe Kennedy is that high on anyone's board at this point, though I haven't really inquired. His post-season performance was terrible.

I expect the Cards to sit tight until draft day, simply because no one is certain who will drop and three teams ahead of the Cards would like to move down. Unless a miracle occurs and Suggs or maybe Newman falls, the Cards will try to move down. If they can't they will take the BPA, simply because he will either be at a need position for them or a top quarterback. The like McCown, but they would take Leftwich and maybe try to move McCown.

I think five of the top 6 are easy to identify, though the order may surprise many. In no certain order they are Leftwich, Palmer, Rogers, Suggs and Newman. It's picking the sixth member of the group that is a challenge. Though I don't expect the Cards to go this way if they are there, if for no other reason that the trade options will be good, I believe Johnson is the other player to go in the top 6. He stands out far more at his position at that point of the draft than does any other player. There are equal or better options for Gross and Kennedy. Trufant and Boller will go early, but not this early.

So, while the order is unpredictable, the players are a little easier to sort. Look for the Cards to get their wish to trade down or to draft a player they can use. Even the Cards seem to have this one figured out pretty well. The tough part is, once you move down, the choices become far murkier.

 

[Walter Mitchell]

Harry: Good to see you on the board again. I always look forward to your posts. If you have the time, would you provide us with a Cardinal mock draft? It would be very interesting to see what you think the Cardinals will do, rounds 1-7. Thanks, Harry.

One comment: You said you didn't think the Cardinals would draft a DT at #6. I was surprised to hear you say that. What is your reasoning?

If Suggs is there at #6, he would seem to be the choice. But, if Suggs is gone, the two defensive linemen that I believe the Cardinals covet are Dewayne Robertson, Dennis Johnson's linemate at Kentucky and Kevin Williams, an athletic DT who has the speed to play DE.

Coach Mac was indicating to the media that the Cardinals would adress the defensive line needs early and perhaps often in the draft. Since the best defensive line prospects are primarily DTs other than Suggs, it would appear more likely the Cardinals would tab one of the DTs first and then take a DE in round two or three.

If you had the power to make the decision on the #6 pick...what would you do?

If I had the power and QB Byron Leftwich is there at #6, I would take him, regardless of whether Suggs or Newman or Johnson are there. In the long run, I believe Leftwich would give the Cardinals the best chance of getting to a Super Bowl.

 

[mdamien13]

With a running back crew of Emmitt Smith, Marcel Shipp, Damian Anderson, and Josh Scobey, I will be very upset if we draft Larry Johnson in the first two rounds. We have way too many holes that need to be and can be addressed in the draft to waste a high pick on a position we're already (relatively) deep in.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by mdamien13
With a running back crew of Emmitt Smith, Marcel Shipp, Damian Anderson, and Josh Scobey, I will be very upset if we draft Larry Johnson in the first two rounds. We have way too many holes that need to be and can be addressed in the draft to waste a high pick on a position we're already (relatively) deep in.

I believe he was talking about Andre Johnson WR Miami

 

[Stout]

Not sure why a lot of folks are so high on Scobey...I wouldn't even add him to the mix at this point. Maybe he can play, but there are exactly zero indicators of that at this point. At least Anderson showed in one game he might be good. Scobey doesn't yet deserve to be on that list. Right now we have Shipp and Smith, two starters, and Anderson, who may be starter material. Everyone else on contract is just hoping to do well and make it.

 

[slanidrac16]

In this order...

I think the Cards "must" pick list should be this order.
1. Suggs
2. Rogers
3. Leftwich
4. Palmer
5. Newman
6. trade

If we can't get 1 of these 5 guys then we should trade down.

If Suggs is gone lets hope White or Peeks is still there in the 2nd.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by Stout
Not sure why a lot of folks are so high on Scobey...I wouldn't even add him to the mix at this point. Maybe he can play, but there are exactly zero indicators of that at this point. At least Anderson showed in one game he might be good. Scobey doesn't yet deserve to be on that list. Right now we have Shipp and Smith, two starters, and Anderson, who may be starter material. Everyone else on contract is just hoping to do well and make it.

Sorry stout but I watched Scobey for over a week at training camp last year and in practice and actual contact reps he was far and away better than Anderson in every aspect of the game!

He was very impressive no only physically but in talent as well. The guy was very smooth and strong!

If it wasnt for his injury he would have been the RB on the practice squad not Anderson!

Why do you think the team kept him on the Injured reserve instead of reaching an injury settlement and cutting him? Because they didnt want another team picking him up!

The guy has talent and from what I have seen regardless of Andersons one game he is head and shoulders above him in talent!

 

[AZCB34]

Sorry Shane but who cares what you saw in camp. Anderson performied well when called upon and Scobey was hurt. Anderson is a better back than Scobey overall IMO and I watched a boatload of Anderson's games while he was at NW. While I admit I didn't watch alot of Scobey, I saw enough to believe more in Anderson. The whole this guy was better in camp thing is ridiculous because while it is fun to speculate, it doesn;t tell the whole story...especially considering you only saw a week and who knows what forces were at work...ie dinged up, coaches purposefully giving one guy more work than another or more work with first team.

Just don't buy the camp argument because unless you are there evryday there is no way to say one player is better than another.

Now, I don't argue that Scobey is talented and he is a reason why I was somewhat against signing Smith (overall I was indifferent if he was signed since I could see good reasons and bad reasons). I thought a RB corp of Shipp Anderson and Scobey had promise. Adding Smith will likely mean either Scobey or Anderson will be cut and I think that is a huge error.

 

[Young Gun]

If the Cardinals do not draft Suggs, it would be one of the greatest blunders by front office ever.

 

[Harry]

This is one of the deepest DT drafts in recent years. I do think the Cards have Robertson high as a DT, but there will be decent DTs in round two. If they can drop and depending on how far, I look for McDougle (I know he's short), Haynes or even Peek to be the potential pick. Both have limitations, but they also offer potential as situational rushers. For my money if Trufant, dropped, I'd take him.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Sorry Shane but who cares what you saw in camp. Anderson performied well when called upon and Scobey was hurt. Anderson is a better back than Scobey overall IMO and I watched a boatload of Anderson's games while he was at NW. While I admit I didn't watch alot of Scobey, I saw enough to believe more in Anderson. The whole this guy was better in camp thing is ridiculous because while it is fun to speculate, it doesn;t tell the whole story...especially considering you only saw a week and who knows what forces were at work...ie dinged up, coaches purposefully giving one guy more work than another or more work with first team.

Just don't buy the camp argument because unless you are there evryday there is no way to say one player is better than another.

Now, I don't argue that Scobey is talented and he is a reason why I was somewhat against signing Smith (overall I was indifferent if he was signed since I could see good reasons and bad reasons). I thought a RB corp of Shipp Anderson and Scobey had promise. Adding Smith will likely mean either Scobey or Anderson will be cut and I think that is a huge error.

Say what you will CB but many posters on here could probably attest to the fact that during camp two years ago when I watched Shipp for a week I stated that he was head and shoulders above the rest of the RBs in camp including Jones and Pittman. Myself and Tyrestud(posts here) walked away from camp scratching our heads and saying damn that guys good!

You could just see the way he ran, how he hit the holes, basically just how comfortable he looked carrying the ball. I was right and those were all training camp observations! Its not hard to see talent in a RB in a camp setting!

Say what you will but I have witnessed the two of them side by side taking reps with the same talent across the board and doing the same drills day after day. Playing against the same Cards D and Scobey was HEAD AND SHOULDERS better than Anderson in everything that I saw!

Yes Anderson had VERY limited game action and he looked OK. But IMO Scobey impressed me much the way Shipp did two years ago. In fact they were very similar! I would bet that barring injury the one looking for a job come september will be Anderson!

 

[Stout]

Thank you, CB, for the reply. Shane, what you saw was almost next to nothing. He looked great. To you. Not to be mean, but so what? There are so many factors as to why he possibly looked good (playing against 5th team, had a good week, the defense was playing aweful, etc), that it makes your point pretty moot.

Also saying you're right about Scobey because you say you were right about Shipp is asinine. You aren't an NFL scout. You're a fan like me. Your opinion doesn't make anything fact. No one else has to say anything positive about Scobey, or think he's good, because you say he looked good. I mean, hey, don't get me wrong. If you like the guy you like the guy. Don't try to push it off that he's a good NFL player, though, because it makes you look bad. He was on IR. He's done nothing.

At this moment, he's pond scum with a roster spot. If he shows something in camp we'll keep him. If not, we'll either cut him or send him to the practice squad. Finito.

 

[Garthshort]

Scobey vs. Anderson

I'm just a fan and have no opinion which of the two is better. However, as far as the Cardinals are concerned it's probably Scobey because he was the one they drafted. Anderson was an UFA.

 

[mizzoucardfan]

I watched Scobey at the Univ. of Kansas for 2 yrs. and was very unimpressed. He always had talent and his Sr. yrear he was on a pretty talented team. But it seemed that he always underachieved. Against Mom & Pop U. he would look great but in games against legitimate competition he just kind of disappeared. I personally hope that I am wrong in my assessment, but it just seemed that he played uninspired football.
Also beginning the year he was being touted as a high draft choice, maybe late 1 or a 2. & look how far he fell before we drafted him.

 

[pinnacle]

mizzoucardfan: Assume you meant to type k state instead of univ. of kansas...

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by Stout
Thank you, CB, for the reply. Shane, what you saw was almost next to nothing. He looked great. To you. Not to be mean, but so what? There are so many factors as to why he possibly looked good (playing against 5th team, had a good week, the defense was playing aweful, etc), that it makes your point pretty moot.

Also saying you're right about Scobey because you say you were right about Shipp is asinine. You aren't an NFL scout. You're a fan like me. Your opinion doesn't make anything fact. No one else has to say anything positive about Scobey, or think he's good, because you say he looked good. I mean, hey, don't get me wrong. If you like the guy you like the guy. Don't try to push it off that he's a good NFL player, though, because it makes you look bad. He was on IR. He's done nothing.

At this moment, he's pond scum with a roster spot. If he shows something in camp we'll keep him. If not, we'll either cut him or send him to the practice squad. Finito.

Sorry stout but I was there you werent and they were getting the same reps against the same players. If the D was playing bad then it was playing bad for both of them since they were playing against the same people so your point there isnt a point at all.

One RB during same scrimmages and drills looked lost and slow. The other looked confident, smooth, and quick to the hole everytime! The difference was quite apparent! You dont need to be an NFL scout to see that if you think you do you must be smoking something!

Oh and I never passed it off as fact that Scobey is an NFL player Im merely stating my opinion that come Sept. Anderson will be looking for a job and Scobey wont!

By the way I can make comparisons much like you. I remember a certain guy comparing a certain WR in Washington to David Boston after attending one Redskins camp last season. So please dont try to say me using comparisons makes me look bad when you do the same damn thing!

 

[mdamien13]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
I believe he was talking about Andre Johnson WR Miami

Two words, MadCard: Brain Fart.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Once again you all overlook the fact that Travis Prentice is also on the team, and in spite of what a couple of people have said in dissing him, I wouldn't write him out of the mix just yet.
He may actually fit the Cards needs now better than a couple of the others.

 

[CardinalChris]

Great to hear from you, Harry!!

Always great to see Harry. Even if you don't spend as much time writing articles, scouting, etc... it is nice to see you pop in an give us an opinion or two!!!

I also think if given a chance to take New Orleans or New Yorks 2 #1s, we jump on it if Suggs is gone. We have too many holes and I just am starting to doubt one player can make that much of a difference on this team. Would you rather have Trufant, Robertson or Kennedy or two players like say Weathersby and Joseph or Kelly Washington and Kevin Williams? Rogers is gone before us, Johnson is a risk, Kennedy is a slug, Robertson is good, but is he THAT much better than Joseph?

Of course somebody would have ot offer us those picks, but it would be a nice problem to have!!!

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Tangodnzr
Once again you all overlook the fact that Travis Prentice is also on the team, and in spite of what a couple of people have said in dissing him, I wouldn't write him out of the mix just yet.
He may actually fit the Cards needs now better than a couple of the others.

The tough thing here is that Prentice doesn;t have a roster spot to lose so not only must he play flawlessly, he must also get help for 2-3 other RBS in that they played horrible in order to get a spot. I do like Prentice but I like Anderson and Scobey more so I just think it will be tough for him to make it.

Shane, Maybe we are both somewhat blinded here because we like different RBs. I just dislike the whole concept of "Well I was at camp for a week and (fill in the blank.)". One week is but a relatively small percentage in the big picture. I fully admit I didnt see camp at all this past year however I would personally try to never state one guy was better than another simply by watching one practice or one day or one week. JMHO, but if an analysis is to be made, a person would need to see the entire camp...maybe even the minicamps AND be privy to whatever ailments they may be trying to work through. Only then could a clear decision be made. Who is to say that was the one week where Scobey was actually playing well and the rest of the time he too looked lost.

No offense intended...just shooting the breeze on this subject and I am not trying to make your opinion seem trivial. We just don't see this the same. Sadly, one or the other will be cut loose and that is too bad because I DO like both and again, that was one of the reasons I didn't want Smith signed.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Good to see Harry's thoughts - keep `em coming!!

 

[Russ Smith]

Re: Great to hear from you, Harry!!

Originally posted by CardinalChris
Always great to see Harry. Even if you don't spend as much time writing articles, scouting, etc... it is nice to see you pop in an give us an opinion or two!!!

I also think if given a chance to take New Orleans or New Yorks 2 #1s, we jump on it if Suggs is gone. We have too many holes and I just am starting to doubt one player can make that much of a difference on this team. Would you rather have Trufant, Robertson or Kennedy or two players like say Weathersby and Joseph or Kelly Washington and Kevin Williams? Rogers is gone before us, Johnson is a risk, Kennedy is a slug, Robertson is good, but is he THAT much better than Joseph?

Robertson fits US better than Joseph, Joseph is too similar to Bryant if you play 2 light in the ass DT's together you take the risk of being overpowered inside. Robertson is more of a plugger although he can rush the passer.

I'd have taken Joseph over Bryant last year(I know I'm in the minority there) but I wouldn't take him #6 this year. If he slides to round 2 we might take him just because he can fill out a DT rotation.

 

[BACH]

Re: Great to hear from you, Harry!!

Originally posted by CardinalChris
Always great to see Harry. Even if you don't spend as much time writing articles, scouting, etc... it is nice to see you pop in an give us an opinion or two!!!

I also think if given a chance to take New Orleans or New Yorks 2 #1s, we jump on it if Suggs is gone. We have too many holes and I just am starting to doubt one player can make that much of a difference on this team. Would you rather have Trufant, Robertson or Kennedy or two players like say Weathersby and Joseph or Kelly Washington and Kevin Williams? Rogers is gone before us, Johnson is a risk, Kennedy is a slug, Robertson is good, but is he THAT much better than Joseph?

Of course somebody would have ot offer us those picks, but it would be a nice problem to have!!!

The best fit would be Georgia's Jonathan Sullivan. He the only two-gap DT in the group after Kennedy & Robertson. Both William Joseph and Kevin Williams are "too much" one-gappers to line up next to Bryant, who also is a one-gap DT.