Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
Well, my guys were mostly right. The Cards did trade down and that position board came into play. However, the Cards did botch the trade by not being aware that the itch factor would come into play with the QBs. Clearly a little better smoke screen on taking a QB or maybe even a phone call to a couple of teams would have given the Cards at least the Cleveland round 3 pick. That 8 pick difference in the 3rd round slot is significant, but the later you go in the draft, the less of a factor it becomes. The Cards wanted a deal badly and just blinked. Still, they did end up with an extra pick and an interesting player.
Deone Bucannon might have been available later, but I'm not sure he would have lasted until the Vikings' 40. For those of you who remember Adrian Wilson, well he's back. Okay don't get too excited. Bucannon may never make a Pro Bowl, safeties have become more athletic. Still this guy has value and was higher on my board than most, though not quite this high. Nonetheless I think in you will grow to like this pick.
Clinton-Dix had off the field issues, only some of which were publicized. Keep in mind I live in Orlando. I was also not certain Clinton-Dix was tough enough to be a strong safety. He may do fine, but there were some risks there I would not have taken either. Su'a-Filo and Ealy were the only other options at 27 and neither would start next year. Bucannon might well start by year’s end and will immediately help on special teams and special situations. A Vikings trade would have been interesting, but since the Cards would have needed a 2 and 3, not a 2 and 4 it’s complicated. Cards could have sent pick 120 to the Vikings, but the Cards wouldn’t have netted another player. I do not think Bucannon was a sure thing to last until 40 as he was well ranked on several boards. I had him as the second best safety.
That said, in many ways, like Wilson, he is more of an athlete than a great safety at this stage of his career. The Wilson comparison goes deeper. Bucannon should develop into a force when blitzing, though he must improve his tackling. He hits with tons of authority, but doesn’t always wrap up fully, so sometimes he just bounces a player he doesn’t bring down. He would often whiff on a player like Manziel, but so would many safeties. Still Bucannon is fast and loves contact. He will get his share of highlights. Oddly, his downside is similar to Wilson as well. He is very fast for a safety, but not strong in pass coverage. He is not the answer in taking away a good receiving tight end. He will look even worse covering backs and receivers, though not so much in zone. He lacks fluidity and is not smooth when backpedaling. Receivers will get separation. Bucannon hits hard enough to make receivers think when going over the middle. He has decent hands, like Wilson, and on poorly thrown or tipped balls, he is capable of making a play. He will get his share of interceptions.
Bucannon will look best when playing in the box, though he will misdiagnose some plays.
Overall this guy’s success will, like Wilson’s, depend on how badly he wants it and how hard he works. He is teachable and has excellent character. He is a locker room and community asset. I have always believed that you don’t get so hung up on where a player should go in the draft that you fail to get a player you want. So if he’s the guy I want, I don’t care if may project him in the 40’s. It only takes one team that wants him to mess up waiting. I think Bucannon was as good a choice at 27 as was on the board.
What I like best about the pick is that Keim had the guts to make it. This guy could be special and Keim’s predecessor would not have taken this kind of risk. This is why GM’s make the big money and what makes the great ones great. Bucannon may not make it, but I like the play.
Deone Bucannon might have been available later, but I'm not sure he would have lasted until the Vikings' 40. For those of you who remember Adrian Wilson, well he's back. Okay don't get too excited. Bucannon may never make a Pro Bowl, safeties have become more athletic. Still this guy has value and was higher on my board than most, though not quite this high. Nonetheless I think in you will grow to like this pick.
Clinton-Dix had off the field issues, only some of which were publicized. Keep in mind I live in Orlando. I was also not certain Clinton-Dix was tough enough to be a strong safety. He may do fine, but there were some risks there I would not have taken either. Su'a-Filo and Ealy were the only other options at 27 and neither would start next year. Bucannon might well start by year’s end and will immediately help on special teams and special situations. A Vikings trade would have been interesting, but since the Cards would have needed a 2 and 3, not a 2 and 4 it’s complicated. Cards could have sent pick 120 to the Vikings, but the Cards wouldn’t have netted another player. I do not think Bucannon was a sure thing to last until 40 as he was well ranked on several boards. I had him as the second best safety.
That said, in many ways, like Wilson, he is more of an athlete than a great safety at this stage of his career. The Wilson comparison goes deeper. Bucannon should develop into a force when blitzing, though he must improve his tackling. He hits with tons of authority, but doesn’t always wrap up fully, so sometimes he just bounces a player he doesn’t bring down. He would often whiff on a player like Manziel, but so would many safeties. Still Bucannon is fast and loves contact. He will get his share of highlights. Oddly, his downside is similar to Wilson as well. He is very fast for a safety, but not strong in pass coverage. He is not the answer in taking away a good receiving tight end. He will look even worse covering backs and receivers, though not so much in zone. He lacks fluidity and is not smooth when backpedaling. Receivers will get separation. Bucannon hits hard enough to make receivers think when going over the middle. He has decent hands, like Wilson, and on poorly thrown or tipped balls, he is capable of making a play. He will get his share of interceptions.
Bucannon will look best when playing in the box, though he will misdiagnose some plays.
Overall this guy’s success will, like Wilson’s, depend on how badly he wants it and how hard he works. He is teachable and has excellent character. He is a locker room and community asset. I have always believed that you don’t get so hung up on where a player should go in the draft that you fail to get a player you want. So if he’s the guy I want, I don’t care if may project him in the 40’s. It only takes one team that wants him to mess up waiting. I think Bucannon was as good a choice at 27 as was on the board.
What I like best about the pick is that Keim had the guts to make it. This guy could be special and Keim’s predecessor would not have taken this kind of risk. This is why GM’s make the big money and what makes the great ones great. Bucannon may not make it, but I like the play.
