Thoughts on Night 1

[Mitch]

1. I thought the pace was brisk...NBA style...which is what they wanted. But, I also thought there was great momentum at the end of the first round and, like the NBA, I think a second round right then (with even faster picks--5 mins) would have been excellent (and far more exciting). To do this they would have to start the draft at 6 EST instead of 7:30 and it would essentially go from 6-11:30. Do it on a Friday or Saturday night and have Rounds 3-7 the next day.

2. It's amazing to me how the same old manipulators (Patriots and Eagles) of the draft are able to do it year after year. And now Belichick Jr. (Josh B'gosh McDaniels) is following Belichick's lead.

In the Patriots' and Eagles' case its no wonder they are in the playoffs and conference championships as often as they are...they work the draft like no others.

I think that the Brandon Graham pick was the best pick of the night.

Conversely, and I think Belichick is a victim of his own cunning at times, I thought the Patriots selection of CB Devin McCourty over 34SOLB Jerry Highes and 34DE Jared Odrick was one of the more mystifying choices of the night...

That and the Jaguars reaching for DT Tyson Alualu at #10...although, I will give them this, they don't have a 2nd rounder, and Alualu was not going to be on the board in the 3rd round, so if this is the guy you like and you know you can't get him later, you make the pick. Unless, there were options to trade down...and it would seem they would have been able to make the Philly deal that Denver did two picks later at #12. I don't think they would have had to worry about Alualu being off the board at #24 and they would have added two third rounders.

As much as I like Tim Tebow, it's absurd what McDaniels gave up to get him...especially in such a deep draft as this one.

3. As for the Cardinals, the player they picked, DT Dan Williams is a very good choice. What's not ideal is the context of the pick...a.k.a. Alan Branch.

As we know, Branch was basically a no-show for two years thus allowing a journeyman veteran in Bryan Robinson to start, and this past year finally lost some weight, and started to contribute, but only to his liking as a backup 34DE.

Apparently the Cardinals are fine keeping Branch as a backup DE...and he heads into a contract year...and likely he will be playing somewhere else next year because he will peddle himself as a starting caliber 34DE. You don't think he will take a backup's salary to stay do you?

What the Cardinals should do, IMO, is see if they can recover the 5th round pick they gave up in the Boldin trade for Branch. They are likely going to draft another 34DE this year, like Earl Mitchell, anyway and he and Kenny Iwebema can be the backups.

But...and this is the real drawback of the pick...whenever a team has to draft at a position they already addressed early in a draft three years previously, it's a step backward.

And, as loathe as Bill Davis is to playing rookies, let alone start them, isn't it going to sting when yes Bryan Robinson is re-signed and will remain this year's starter?

What I am most curious about is whether the Cardinals called Monty Kiffin for his assessment of Dan Williams. I have a hunch that Bill Parcells did and find it curious that Parcells elected to trade all the way down to #28. One thing is for sure, Parcells wasn't high enough on Williams to make Williams his pick in his #1 need area, and he made a trade that likely was going to put him out of range to draft Williams later.

What I want to know is, would Monty Kiffin, if he were still with the Bucs, have drafted Dan Williams in the first round?

Watching Williams on tape...both in regular season games and in the Senior Bowl, he exhibits terrific lower body strength and short area quickness, as advertised. However, he frequently nullifies that strength by coming straight up out of his stance on the snap, instead of driving hard off the snap and swinging his off hand like a demolition ball into the midsection of his blocker to rock him backward and establish leverage. As a result, he is often a step or two late in being able to bust up a running play or sack the QB. Once he gets his feet moving and has his leverage set, he's good...real good. But, I am surprised that with Monty Kiffin and Chester McGlockton coaching him, he was repeatedly still making the worst fundamental mistake a DT can make: coming straight up out of his stance at the snap. The only time you do that is on a loop stunt.

4. Therefore, if Alan Branch was the NT the Cardinals drafted him for, the Cardinals would have taken a better player and fit in 34OLB Jerry Hughes at #26.

Having Hughes opposite Joey Porter this year would have been huge. And with Clark Haggans and Porter getting older, Hughes would have been one OLB fixture with the hope that Cody Brown or Will Davis would develop into the other.

While I still have huge hopes for Brown and Davis and Baggs, none of them have ever attacked the edge the way Hughes does.

The problem is too that the elite type pass rushers in this draft will all be gone by the time the Cardinals pick again...whereas solid NT propspects like Linval Joseph, Cam Thomas and Torrell Troup will likely be available at #58 and quite possibly at #88.

I hate to say it but I strongly believe the Cardinals will regret passing on Jerry Hughes.

4. I think it's curious too that the Cardinals elected to pass on QB Jimmy Clausen. Had Charlie Weis not been fired and Clausen remained at Notre Dame, he would have been the #1 pick in the 2011 draft. As a junior to pass for 29 TDs and only 4 interceptions was remarkable.

QB remains the most important position and if you have an opportunity to draft a franchise type QB, especially at a bargain price late in the first round, you have to do it.

I think the scrutiny surrounding Clausen is absurd. When all is said and done, he will likely be the most productive and efficient QB in this class.

If the Cardinals believe Clausen is better than any QB they could find in the first round next year, they should offer next year's #1 in a package to try to trade up and get him. I imagine the Rams' phones are ringing off the hook this morning and I cannot imagine the Rams wanting to strike a deal with the Cardinals...especially after watching their beloved Kurt Warner toast them up for the past few years.

The one scenario where it makes sense for the Cardinals to try to trade up in this second round is for Clausen. Otherwise they should keep their picks and even try to add one or two more. The Cardinals just lost ground by having to cover for a recent draft failure at NT, so they have a good deal of ground to make up in this draft.

5. While I think the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers' choices were all good value picks, I am delighted we dodged having to face these players twice a year:

Ndamukon Suh
Brandon Graham
Jerry Hughes
C.J. Spiller
Ryan Mathews
Demaryious Thomas
Dez Bryant
Jermain Gresham
Jahvid Best

phew...the one I was most worried about was Spiller...and then the thought of having to defend the SF 2 TE sets with Davis and Gresham: nightnmare averted. They are expecting to start both T Anthony Davis and G Mike Iupati this year. Hmmm...this makes the division, for the present, even more up for grabs.

 

[kerouac9]

I thought the Colts getting Jerry Hughes was the best pick of the night. Hughes could not have found himself in a better position.

Also, it's "Monte Kiffin".

The Cards passed on Jimmy Clausen because they don't feel like they need a QB who will start in the next two years. They did need a nose tackle.

The Cards aren't going to carry 3 nose tackles into the season. They have a full complement of DL now in Dockett, Campbell, Branch, Watson, Iwebema and Williams. You'll likely see Jason Banks take over the Bryan Robinson roster spot this season.

Bill Davis isn't afraid of playing rookie. He's afraid of starting rookies.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

You don't think he (Alan Branch) will take a backup's salary to stay do you?

Nope. I personally can care less. I love that the Cardinals will cut their losses on a bad pick. Yes, we can rake them over the coals for making the bad pick, and the Cardinals except it. But, at least the organization is not trying to justify a bad pick by turning a blind eye to the situation. It is what it is, and they respond to the truth how they deem fit.

If only Alan Branch was as good as he thinks he is. The biggest warning sign I have ever heard from the guy is that he never thought twice he would not be on the roster last year. REALLY ? What the hell did our costly second round pick think he accomplished before becoming content with his back up DE role ?

Right now Alan Branch is a "depth-guy", a backup DE. He should be expected to be paid as such, and if he balks at that kind of offer then let him walk. Good riddance, IMO. The guy is a prototypical NT, and he can't get his mind right to realize that. I guess it would be too much work for him to become one.

Where I really disagree with you Mitch is the Dan Williams pick is a step back. I think, in hindsight, Alan Branch was a step back. Dan Williams is a step forward, and a glaring statement that the Cardinals were not happy with the nose tackle prospects they had, and NEEDED to fix the situation. Well, situation is fixed to the best of the abilities offered to the Caridnals. Of course that hinges on Dan Williams' production, but for now this is the best the Cardinals can do at that position, IMO.

Yet, no doubt, that the need for a NT cost us the oppourtunity to get another pass rusher.

I think it's curious too that the Cardinals elected to pass on QB Jimmy Clausen.

Matt Leinart > Jimmy Clausen

 

[lauraw]

Great views, Mitch!

 

[Mulli]

Drafting Clausen would have been a step backward as well.

 

[Lagerfilled]

Whiz even mentioned it in the presser when asked about starting rookies. His response and I'm paraphrasing was, "I'm not opposed to starting rookies if they've earned the starting job." That's a whole lot different than playing rookies, which he will do in limited action if they haven't proven themselves. Honestly, Beanie looked great early on in 2009, but the lack of training camp reps and fumbles caused Whiz to think twice.

 

[joeshmo]

Drafting Clausen would have been a step backward as well.

As would drafting Hughes. Because if you use the same logic Mitch used Drafting Hughes would mean you wasted two picks last year, which would have been far worse to picking Williams who makes up for a pick 3 years ago.

So using Mitch's logic drafting Clausen, Hughes, and Williams would have all been step backwards.

 

[CaptTurbo]

In Whiz I trust...

 

[Mitch]

Nope. I personally can care less. I love that the Cardinals will cut their losses on a bad pick. Yes, we can rake them over the coals for making the bad pick, and the Cardinals except it. But, at least the organization is not trying to justify a bad pick by turning a blind eye to the situation. It is what it is, and they respond to the truth how they deem fit.

If only Alan Branch was as good as he thinks he is. The biggest warning sign I have ever heard from the guy is that he never thought twice he would not be on the roster last year. REALLY ? What the hell did our costly second round pick think he accomplished before becoming content with his back up DE role ?

Right now Alan Branch is a "depth-guy", a backup DE. He should be expected to be paid as such, and if he balks at that kind of offer then let him walk. Good riddance, IMO. The guy is a prototypical NT, and he can't get his mind right to realize that. I guess it would be too much work for him to become one.

Where I really disagree with you Mitch is the Dan Williams pick is a step back. I think, in hindsight, Alan Branch was a step back. Dan Williams is a step forward, and a glaring statement that the Cardinals were not happy with the nose tackle prospects they had, and NEEDED to fix the situation. Well, situation is fixed to the best of the abilities offered to the Caridnals. Of course that hinges on Dan Williams' production, but for now this is the best the Cardinals can do at that position, IMO.

Yet, no doubt, that the need for a NT cost us the oppourtunity to get another pass rusher.



Matt Leinart > Jimmy Clausen

I like the way you phrased the Williams pick as a step forward, Rugby. I sure hope you are right.

Here are some other concerns I didn't mention:

1. When asked if the Cardinals had showed interest in him, Williams said no, he was surprised.

Last year the Cardinals had Beanie in. The year before the Cardinals showed considerable interest in DRC and interviewed him.

Making first round picks like this without extensive pre-draft efforts to get to know the player often spells trouble.

The old Cardinals were infamous for this.

With the picks near the Cardinals, Josh McDaniels had spent a significant amount of time with Tebow...and I read this morning that Bill Belichick actually spent time with Devin McCourty at Rutgers going over film.

2. When Williams sees Branch loving it up at DE, is he going to feel the same way about playing NT?

This is another eason why I try to trade Branch.

In DC Albert Haynesworth is making a stink about playing NT.

3. At Tennessee Williams (not the playwright lol) was an under-achiever until this year...so much so that Monty Kiffin said he looked like "an undrafted free agent." Now, Kiffin was likely trying to motivate Williams with this assessment...but one year wonders in college are a risk.

4. NT is a two down position at best in the NFL...and it's important. But, when you can get a 3 down potntially elite edge rusher, to me it's a no brainer...or, a QB who could be the QBOF. I think either of those picks would have been a step forward.

 

[BW52]

1. I thought the pace was brisk...NBA style...which is what they wanted. But, I also thought there was great momentum at the end of the first round and, like the NBA, I think a second round right then (with even faster picks--5 mins) would have been excellent (and far more exciting). To do this they would have to start the draft at 6 EST instead of 7:30 and it would essentially go from 6-11:30. Do it on a Friday or Saturday night and have Rounds 3-7 the next day.

2. It's amazing to me how the same old manipulators (Patriots and Eagles) of the draft are able to do it year after year. And now Belichick Jr. (Josh B'gosh McDaniels) is following Belichick's lead.

In the Patriots' and Eagles' case its no wonder they are in the playoffs and conference championships as often as they are...they work the draft like no others.

I think that the Brandon Graham pick was the best pick of the night.

Conversely, and I think Belichick is a victim of his own cunning at times, I thought the Patriots selection of CB Devin McCourty over 34SOLB Jerry Highes and 34DE Jared Odrick was one of the more mystifying choices of the night...

That and the Jaguars reaching for DT Tyson Alualu at #10...although, I will give them this, they don't have a 2nd rounder, and Alualu was not going to be on the board in the 3rd round, so if this is the guy you like and you know you can't get him later, you make the pick. Unless, there were options to trade down...and it would seem they would have been able to make the Philly deal that Denver did two picks later at #12. I don't think they would have had to worry about Alualu being off the board at #24 and they would have added two third rounders.

As much as I like Tim Tebow, it's absurd what McDaniels gave up to get him...especially in such a deep draft as this one.

3. As for the Cardinals, the player they picked, DT Dan Williams is a very good choice. What's not ideal is the context of the pick...a.k.a. Alan Branch.

As we know, Branch was basically a no-show for two years thus allowing a journeyman veteran in Bryan Robinson to start, and this past year finally lost some weight, and started to contribute, but only to his liking as a backup 34DE.

Apparently the Cardinals are fine keeping Branch as a backup DE...and he heads into a contract year...and likely he will be playing somewhere else next year because he will peddle himself as a starting caliber 34DE. You don't think he will take a backup's salary to stay do you?

What the Cardinals should do, IMO, is see if they can recover the 5th round pick they gave up in the Boldin trade for Branch. They are likely going to draft another 34DE this year, like Earl Mitchell, anyway and he and Kenny Iwebema can be the backups.

But...and this is the real drawback of the pick...whenever a team has to draft at a position they already addressed early in a draft three years previously, it's a step backward.

And, as loathe as Bill Davis is to playing rookies, let alone start them, isn't it going to sting when yes Bryan Robinson is re-signed and will remain this year's starter?

What I am most curious about is whether the Cardinals called Monty Kiffin for his assessment of Dan Williams. I have a hunch that Bill Parcells did and find it curious that Parcells elected to trade all the way down to #28. One thing is for sure, Parcells wasn't high enough on Williams to make Williams his pick in his #1 need area, and he made a trade that likely was going to put him out of range to draft Williams later.

What I want to know is, would Monty Kiffin, if he were still with the Bucs, have drafted Dan Williams in the first round?

Watching Williams on tape...both in regular season games and in the Senior Bowl, he exhibits terrific lower body strength and short area quickness, as advertised. However, he frequently nullifies that strength by coming straight up out of his stance on the snap, instead of driving hard off the snap and swinging his off hand like a demolition ball into the midsection of his blocker to rock him backward and establish leverage. As a result, he is often a step or two late in being able to bust up a running play or sack the QB. Once he gets his feet moving and has his leverage set, he's good...real good. But, I am surprised that with Monty Kiffin and Chester McGlockton coaching him, he was repeatedly still making the worst fundamental mistake a DT can make: coming straight up out of his stance at the snap. The only time you do that is on a loop stunt.

4. Therefore, if Alan Branch was the NT the Cardinals drafted him for, the Cardinals would have taken a better player and fit in 34OLB Jerry Hughes at #26.

Having Hughes opposite Joey Porter this year would have been huge. And with Clark Haggans and Porter getting older, Hughes would have been one OLB fixture with the hope that Cody Brown or Will Davis would develop into the other.

While I still have huge hopes for Brown and Davis and Baggs, none of them have ever attacked the edge the way Hughes does.

The problem is too that the elite type pass rushers in this draft will all be gone by the time the Cardinals pick again...whereas solid NT propspects like Linval Joseph, Cam Thomas and Torrell Troup will likely be available at #58 and quite possibly at #88.

I hate to say it but I strongly believe the Cardinals will regret passing on Jerry Hughes.

4. I think it's curious too that the Cardinals elected to pass on QB Jimmy Clausen. Had Charlie Weis not been fired and Clausen remained at Notre Dame, he would have been the #1 pick in the 2011 draft. As a junior to pass for 29 TDs and only 4 interceptions was remarkable.

QB remains the most important position and if you have an opportunity to draft a franchise type QB, especially at a bargain price late in the first round, you have to do it.

I think the scrutiny surrounding Clausen is absurd. When all is said and done, he will likely be the most productive and efficient QB in this class.

If the Cardinals believe Clausen is better than any QB they could find in the first round next year, they should offer next year's #1 in a package to try to trade up and get him. I imagine the Rams' phones are ringing off the hook this morning and I cannot imagine the Rams wanting to strike a deal with the Cardinals...especially after watching their beloved Kurt Warner toast them up for the past few years.

The one scenario where it makes sense for the Cardinals to try to trade up in this second round is for Clausen. Otherwise they should keep their picks and even try to add one or two more. The Cardinals just lost ground by having to cover for a recent draft failure at NT, so they have a good deal of ground to make up in this draft.

5. While I think the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers' choices were all good value picks, I am delighted we dodged having to face these players twice a year:

Ndamukon Suh
Brandon Graham
Jerry Hughes
C.J. Spiller
Ryan Mathews
Demaryious Thomas
Dez Bryant
Jermain Gresham
Jahvid Best

phew...the one I was most worried about was Spiller...and then the thought of having to defend the SF 2 TE sets with Davis and Gresham: nightnmare averted. They are expecting to start both T Anthony Davis and G Mike Iupati this year. Hmmm...this makes the division, for the present, even more up for grabs.

While you make good points Mitch the Cards apparently wanted Williams more than Hughes.With Porter,Cody Brown,Will Davis and Baggs the Must have felt Williams will fill a role (run-stuffer).
Another Pass-rushing DE or OLB could be picked in RD 2 or 3....who knows?

Why is it curious Cards didn`t jump on Clausen? Nobody obviously thought enough of him to make him a RD 1 pick.Will someone draft him in RD 2? Yes although i doubt its the Cards.

As for losing ground...................i disagree............Williams will be a improvement over Bryan Robinson and Porter can replace Berry.
Leinart just has to be solid at QB and the Cards will be okay.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I like the way you phrased the Williams pick as a step forward, Rugby. I sure hope you are right.

Same here.

I want to see Casey Hampton part II not Alan Branch part II.

 

[Mitch]

Whiz even mentioned it in the presser when asked about starting rookies. His response and I'm paraphrasing was, "I'm not opposed to starting rookies if they've earned the starting job." That's a whole lot different than playing rookies, which he will do in limited action if they haven't proven themselves. Honestly, Beanie looked great early on in 2009, but the lack of training camp reps and fumbles caused Whiz to think twice.

Good point, Lagerfilled.

Whiz does a great job using all his talent on offense and creating roles.

On defense we haven't been as quick to do that.

 

[Cardiac]

Mitch,

You wanted the Cards to draft Tebow due to his work ethic and intangibles. One can assume that Clausen has fallen because he lacks one of the most desired skills of a QB which is leadership. This is the main reason you don't like ML as our starter. Why in the world to you now want us to take Clausen? You don't like Denver trading up to take Tebow one pick before you want us to take him? What am I missing on your thought process?

I agree with you on Billacheat out smarting himself at times. The last couple of drafts he trades back and the players taken at that spot have performed incredibly well. One being Clay Mathews. Trading all over the place is fun for the fans and obviously can help your team if done correctly. It just isn't the only way to make the draft work for you.

It was a given that our division opponents were going to have great drafts simply due to how many early 1st rd picks they possessed.

 

[ryanshaug]

I think quite simply, we got BPA and it fit a huge need area. Given our recent draft history, the Cards front office and Whis should have bought themselves a little credibility with their first round selections - so I think I'll trust in them. I was stoked when Williams fell to us, perfect pick IMO. Now lets go get some help at linebacker...remember this is a really deep draft and there is plenty of talent left on the board.

 

[Stout]

I like the way you phrased the Williams pick as a step forward, Rugby. I sure hope you are right.

Here are some other concerns I didn't mention:

1. When asked if the Cardinals had showed interest in him, Williams said no, he was surprised.

Last year the Cardinals had Beanie in. The year before the Cardinals showed considerable interest in DRC and interviewed him.

Making first round picks like this without extensive pre-draft efforts to get to know the player often spells trouble.

The old Cardinals were infamous for this.

With the picks near the Cardinals, Josh McDaniels had spent a significant amount of time with Tebow...and I read this morning that Bill Belichick actually spent time with Devin McCourty at Rutgers going over film.

2. When Williams sees Branch loving it up at DE, is he going to feel the same way about playing NT?

This is another eason why I try to trade Branch.

In DC Albert Haynesworth is making a stink about playing NT.

3. At Tennessee Williams (not the playwright lol) was an under-achiever until this year...so much so that Monty Kiffin said he looked like "an undrafted free agent." Now, Kiffin was likely trying to motivate Williams with this assessment...but one year wonders in college are a risk.

4. NT is a two down position at best in the NFL...and it's important. But, when you can get a 3 down potntially elite edge rusher, to me it's a no brainer...or, a QB who could be the QBOF. I think either of those picks would have been a step forward.

Let's be realistic, Mitch. You wanted the Cards to change the QB situation, and so wanted them to take Clausen. I believe that's why you're typing all this negative info on our pick.


Who cares if the Cards didn't show interest in him, to his knowledge. Hmm, that last part's the key, isn't it? They did their homework on him, just like on every other player on their board, fear not. Why didn't they bring him in? They probably thought there wasn't a chance he'd fall that far. As much as we talk about Beanie's slide last year, it wasn't really too hard to anticipate. RBs usually fall in the 1st round and he had some question marks attached to his name, however unreasonable.

Your first statement is questionable; your second is just bitterness. You don't have to get to know the player when you're sitting at 26. Why? Because you have a limited number of visits you can have with draftees and you're sitting at the end of the first round. Also, like I said, they did their homework. Look, just because they didn't take your guy at your position of choice doesn't make them the 'same old cards' Mitch.

How can a guy who came to a team as an obscurity be an underachiever? Maybe his hard work finally paid off and culminated in him developing into a monster DT?

You don't have to be happy with the pick, Mitch. I'm not the Happy Police or the Happy Nazi (no draft pick for you!). I just feel that you're upset the team didn't go your way, and that's the reason you're trying to suddenly tear Dan Williams apart.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch,

You wanted the Cards to draft Tebow due to his work ethic and intangibles. One can assume that Clausen has fallen because he lacks one of the most desired skills of a QB which is leadership. This is the main reason you don't like ML as our starter. Why in the world to you now want us to take Clausen? You don't like Denver trading up to take Tebow one pick before you want us to take him? What am I missing on your thought process?

I agree with you on Billacheat out smarting himself at times. The last couple of drafts he trades back and the players taken at that spot have performed incredibly well. One being Clay Mathews. Trading all over the place is fun for the fans and obviously can help your team if done correctly. It just isn't the only way to make the draft work for you.

It was a given that our division opponents were going to have great drafts simply due to how many early 1st rd picks they possessed.

To be honest, Cardiac, it's not only Leinart's lack of leadership it's more his lack of toughness. It's Tebow's toughness that I think is extraordinary and what makes me think he could be special. In Clausen, I see a tough kid...he played hurt last year the way Warner did in 2007...and yet he played extremely well to the tune of 29 TDs and 4 ints. I think Clausen's throwing delivery is the most Warner-esque of all the QBs in this class. He's a kid who needed to be knocked off his rocking horse and be humbled a little to get the message. But I think he gets it.

 

[Mulli]

So Parcells talked to Kiffen about Williams? I tend to think teams talked to Charlie Weis about Clausen.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

I do not think they will move up in the draft to pick Claussen. If they move up it will be to pick a LB or CB. If Leinart is not the answer at QB then there is a QB I think his name is Locker who I have heard is better than Claussen or McCoy. I even heard he might have been a top 5 pick this year if he would have come out. Cards could try to get him next year.

 

[Buckybird]

Mitch I think the reason the Cards didnt bring Williams in for a visit was because they saw him going in the top 10 & had no desire to trade up that high. I also wanted Hughes, Graham or Kindle at OLB, but the Cards stayed true to their board. We drafted a BPA/need player that is twice the player & 10X the ahtlete that MT Cody is. Not a sexy pick but a smart one.

 

[Russ Smith]

Drafting Clausen would have been a step backward as well.

And I'd be surprised if he went ahead of Locker next year and if Andrew Luck of Stanford comes out(he redshirted his first year) he'd go ahead of Clausen too.

To be frank, Jimmy Clausen is NOT slipping, he's going precisely where NFL teams pegged him to go, it's just all the draft analysts who had him rated too high because he was a QB. It's very apparent that the questions raised about his maturity level and personality are still there. The 49ers said they discussed Clausen at both picks but felt the OL's were better picks, once he got by SF it was pretty likely he'd not be picked until at best late in the first round and Denver surprised us all taking Tebow.

 

[Evil Ash]

Mitch I think the reason the Cards didnt bring Williams in for a visit was because they saw him going in the top 10 & had no desire to trade up that high. I also wanted Hughes, Graham or Kindle at OLB, but the Cards stayed true to their board. We drafted a BPA/need player that is twice the player & 10X the ahtlete that MT Cody is. Not a sexy pick but a smart one.

Bingo

Mitch forgets to mention that Claussen has tiny hands and is a fumble waiting to happen. Questioning Leinart because he didn't play with a seperated shoulder is laughable.

 

[Russ Smith]

Mitch I think the reason the Cards didnt bring Williams in for a visit was because they saw him going in the top 10 & had no desire to trade up that high. I also wanted Hughes, Graham or Kindle at OLB, but the Cards stayed true to their board. We drafted a BPA/need player that is twice the player & 10X the ahtlete that MT Cody is. Not a sexy pick but a smart one.

Exactly, why interview a kid you figure won't be on the board when you pick.

 

[JeffGollin]

Surprises

First biggie was Big Al taking McClain at #8.

Alualo at #10 seemed pretty reachy.

Why did SF trade up one spot to draft Davis? he that highly valued that they were afraid one team would leapfrog to get him?

Ryan Matthews as high as #12 was another shocker.

Graham going at #13 broke my heart.

Kareem Jackson ahead of K Wilson and McCourty was a mild surprise (although there were rumors he was moving up)

I kind of sensed that (a) Denver would opt for a QB in round one and (b) Tebow would be drafted late in the 1st round - but never put the two possibilities together.

And now for Dan Williams (Mea Culpa time). I will 'fess up to listing him as one of three or four players - Weatherspoon (lack of size), Gresham (injury) and Colt McCoy (more a gut feeling than anything else) being others - I had on my "hope we don't draft him" list.

After re-reading some of his write-ups, listening to what others had to say about him and (most important) watching the ESPN highlight reel, I can understand why they're probably right and I was possibly wrong.

If you TIVO'd it, rewatch the highlight reel. Williams is #55 and looked like a MLB out there in terms of his lateral mobility and the way he ran down RB's before they could get to the corner.

Also - there were reports that he was outstanding during Senior Bowl week.

I suspect the scouting write-ups I went by (including the much-discredited-of-late Sporting news) may have been based on "old material" compiled before the beginning of last season and failed to pick up Williams' mega-improvement in productivity between his junior and senior year. (The impression those early write-ups gave me was: "Typical fat guy guy who plays too high."

Regarding the propensity of nose-guard types to be kind of fat and who tire easily, I'd love to know what kind of input John Lott had on the selection of Williams (I'm betting it was considerable).

All I know is that I keep visualizing that highlight tape and see this guy bouncing around back there like a peppy linebacker.

Looking Forward:

In restacking my 27 to 58 Board (to account for roster/team-need changes, abundance or scarcity of prospects at various positions etc.) the guys who leap to the forefront include:

Kindle, Sean Lee & Clausen (who seem like the best values) plus other guys who intrigue me - like S/CB Chris Cook, ILB's Daryl Washington and Brandon Spikes (at some point, the 5.01 forty-times becomes less and less of a risk-factor), four OT's (Saffold, Brown and Campbell and the small-college dude Vehldeer) and a gaggle of other DE/LB types like Sapp, Gibson, Watson, Bowman, Butler, Chaney. Plus S Taylor Mays. I'm also intrigued about what Dorin Dickerson (whose workout scores suggest enough agility and explosion to go with his 4.40 speed) can do as a "big" WR.

In many ways, I like rounds 2 and 3 better than I do round one.
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[Cardiac]

To be honest, Cardiac, it's not only Leinart's lack of leadership it's more his lack of toughness. It's Tebow's toughness that I think is extraordinary and what makes me think he could be special. In Clausen, I see a tough kid...he played hurt last year the way Warner did in 2007...and yet he played extremely well to the tune of 29 TDs and 4 ints. I think Clausen's throwing delivery is the most Warner-esque of all the QBs in this class. He's a kid who needed to be knocked off his rocking horse and be humbled a little to get the message. But I think he gets it.

Thanks for reminding me, you did a great write up about toughness being a huge factor in KW's greatness.

Maybe ML needs to toughen up, he is trying with the MMA stuff. I don't know that we can truly measure his toughness at this point. Broken collar bone puts every QB on IR. Now if you question his durability that is a fair concern.

Clausen may turn out to be the latest QB who was snubbed to turn into a great NFL QB. I don't really care because he isn't/shouldn't be in our plans.

What I have faith in is that Whis is brilliant and has a plan. If he does have your concerns about ML then he would have or will address that. Is DA part of that? Has he identified a QB in this draft?

Did you watch Whis during his press conference about Dan Williams? He did look like a kid at Christmas. If that doesn't give you hope then I know I can't help.

 

[RonF]

Mitch, I have to believe that Whiz and company have a good game plan regarding the Card team chemistry and its needs, but most importantly, are sticking to their wish list of picks. The problem we fans have is that they can't pick everyone's favorite player for a certain position...are you still bummed out that Brian St. Clair wasn't resigned?

Man, you sure rained on my parade, I thought we made a great selection picking Williams.