Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
One has to be excited about the Cardinals' acquisition of LB Buster Davis. This kid has an uncanny ability to snuff plays out and he's a first-rate finisher...a.k.a. a cleaner upper.
The pick makes even more sense now that the Cardinals drafted DT Alan Branch. Davis is the perfect compliment to Branch and vice versa. Diminutive linebackers need space eaters in front of them to allow them clean shots at the running backs and the freedom to move laterally to make plays off-tackle and in the flats.
Smaller inside linebackers are very much in vogue in the NFL and there's a good reason for it. Their pad level is better suited for getting underneath ball carriers and taking out their legs. They are also more difficult to block for bigger offensive linemen because they are smaller targets and the bigger linemen have to dip down and lose their bases in order to get a good shot on the linebacker.
Buster Davis brings focus, confidence and energy to this defense. He's a playmaker and a leader. And, not only is he one of the surest and most reliable tacklers in this draft, he's a swift blitzer up the middle. Davis packs a lot of power into his frame...and when he's in tip-top shape he is a dynamic player.
At his size, he needs to react quickly and decisively in pass coverage...but when you watch him on tape, his ability to recognize pass, even on play action, is, as I previously said, uncanny. This kid does his homework.
The pick makes even more sense now that the Cardinals drafted DT Alan Branch. Davis is the perfect compliment to Branch and vice versa. Diminutive linebackers need space eaters in front of them to allow them clean shots at the running backs and the freedom to move laterally to make plays off-tackle and in the flats.
Smaller inside linebackers are very much in vogue in the NFL and there's a good reason for it. Their pad level is better suited for getting underneath ball carriers and taking out their legs. They are also more difficult to block for bigger offensive linemen because they are smaller targets and the bigger linemen have to dip down and lose their bases in order to get a good shot on the linebacker.
Buster Davis brings focus, confidence and energy to this defense. He's a playmaker and a leader. And, not only is he one of the surest and most reliable tacklers in this draft, he's a swift blitzer up the middle. Davis packs a lot of power into his frame...and when he's in tip-top shape he is a dynamic player.
At his size, he needs to react quickly and decisively in pass coverage...but when you watch him on tape, his ability to recognize pass, even on play action, is, as I previously said, uncanny. This kid does his homework.
