Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
In terms of the format, I found that the excellent momentum that was generated at the end of the first round Thursday night was not carried over into the second night. The whole night, coverage-wise, seemed anti-climatic. The crowd did not have it's usual fervor, and it was disappointing to see a small parade of NFL luminaries such as Dan Marino and Deion Sanders announce picks amidst a smattering of small applause and boos.
What does it say about the format that ESPN actually forced its viewers to switch over to ESPN2 after one mere hour in order to telecast an NBA playoff game? This caught me by surprise, as I had the telecast paused and when I returned to the action I lost about 10 minutes of the coverage when I realized that it had been switched to ESPN2.
As I suggested yesterday, I think the way to compromise is have Rounds 1-2 on a Friday night and Rounds 3-7 the following day.
Even though Mike Mayock sounded like Tom Izzo after screaming above the crowd during a Final 4 game, I think he has emerged to equal Mel as the most independent and well-informed analyst in the biz. But, Jon Gruden is the difference maker---he's da bomb. Much more entertaining to listen to than Brian Billick. How does Billick get these gigs anyway? And is it just me, because I cannot stand listening to Steve Young. His perspectives are annoying and rarely insightful. I'd much prefer Chris Mortenson or Adam Schefter....or even Sal Pal.
Now that the dust has settled a little on what the Cardinals have accomplished in the first two nights, I feel very good about the decisions they made, even though they bypassed my favorites and had me cussing when they gave away the #89 pick.
What I would have preferred:
1. Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
2. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
3. Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia
3. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
And I would have sat Alan Branch down and told him to put on a triple chin strap and give the team what we drafted you to do....and that there would be a nifty sized multi-year contract waiting for you at the end of the year if you played up to the team's expecations.
However...here's why the Cardinals' plan is better:
1. Alan Branch is undependable and has basically been calling his own shots since he arrived. I sincerely hope the team gets something in return for him, cause he's going to walk next year.
2. Dan Williams is a better player anyway. In fact, he's most likely going to be SIGNIFICANTLY better.
3. Daryl Washington is the fastest LB in this class and the Cardinals love a fast athlete at WILB. I think they got the best fit for what they want. And I believe, without a doubt, that they preferred him over Sean Weatherspoon. Plus, he's an outstanding ST player (what 4 blocked kicks at TCU?). In Williams and Washington they were able to draft the players rated #11 and #12 on their boards. That's an unusual and serendipitous accomplishment.
4. Andre Roberts is an extraordinary WR/PR in that not only does he have track speed, he's solidly built and he has unbelievable hands and after the catch an innate ability to make people miss. His combination of skills is extremely impressive. This kid is not just a flashy track guy. He's tough and loves to go over the middle. He might wind up being nearly as productive a RAC guy as Q was, but in a different way---through speed and juke-ability.
Hopefully the Cardinals will sign Steve Breaston to a multi-year contract extension...and that the quartet of Fitzgerald, Breaston, Doucet and Roberts will be together for years to come. This keeps the Cardinals' WR unit elite.
Today we will see what player the Ravens take with the Cardinals' 5th round pick...so add that to Anquan Boldin and what the Cardinals essentially got in return was FS Kerry Rhodes, WR Andre Roberts, and the added flexibility to draft Daryl Washington, the much awaited heir to the starting WILB spot.
I continue to be amazed by the Patriots---who maneuver the draft every year with such incredible skill. This year has been their best, IMO. Imagine how we would be feeling if our draft to this point was:
1. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
2. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
2. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
3. Jermaine Cunningham, OLB/DE, Florida
3. Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
PLUS: a 2nd Round pick in the 2011 draft (and they already have the Raiders' 1st rounder next year via the Richard Seymour trade).
BUT...all this said, I think we are stronger up front than they are with the addition of Dan Williams to slide between Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell...and our WR quartet is stronger, younger and deeper.
AND...what surprises me is that the Patriots got abused up front by the Ravens in the playoffs and yet they haven't added any DTs. Was trading Richard Seymour a good thing after all?
The only thing about our trade with the Patriots I wished the Cardinals had been able to finagle adding one of the Patriots' 5 7th rounders.
Imagine that: 5 7th rounders...they can basically pick most of their practice squad with those picks...if they don't trade them for 2011 6th rounders!
As for today, the talk has been adding a QB, CB and OL, although Whiz did say it would depend on what payers are on the board.
Enjoy the rest of the draft..and then we can start checking in every hour for the Cardinals' UCFA signings. GO CARDINALS!
What does it say about the format that ESPN actually forced its viewers to switch over to ESPN2 after one mere hour in order to telecast an NBA playoff game? This caught me by surprise, as I had the telecast paused and when I returned to the action I lost about 10 minutes of the coverage when I realized that it had been switched to ESPN2.
As I suggested yesterday, I think the way to compromise is have Rounds 1-2 on a Friday night and Rounds 3-7 the following day.
Even though Mike Mayock sounded like Tom Izzo after screaming above the crowd during a Final 4 game, I think he has emerged to equal Mel as the most independent and well-informed analyst in the biz. But, Jon Gruden is the difference maker---he's da bomb. Much more entertaining to listen to than Brian Billick. How does Billick get these gigs anyway? And is it just me, because I cannot stand listening to Steve Young. His perspectives are annoying and rarely insightful. I'd much prefer Chris Mortenson or Adam Schefter....or even Sal Pal.
Now that the dust has settled a little on what the Cardinals have accomplished in the first two nights, I feel very good about the decisions they made, even though they bypassed my favorites and had me cussing when they gave away the #89 pick.
What I would have preferred:
1. Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
2. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
3. Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia
3. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
And I would have sat Alan Branch down and told him to put on a triple chin strap and give the team what we drafted you to do....and that there would be a nifty sized multi-year contract waiting for you at the end of the year if you played up to the team's expecations.
However...here's why the Cardinals' plan is better:
1. Alan Branch is undependable and has basically been calling his own shots since he arrived. I sincerely hope the team gets something in return for him, cause he's going to walk next year.
2. Dan Williams is a better player anyway. In fact, he's most likely going to be SIGNIFICANTLY better.
3. Daryl Washington is the fastest LB in this class and the Cardinals love a fast athlete at WILB. I think they got the best fit for what they want. And I believe, without a doubt, that they preferred him over Sean Weatherspoon. Plus, he's an outstanding ST player (what 4 blocked kicks at TCU?). In Williams and Washington they were able to draft the players rated #11 and #12 on their boards. That's an unusual and serendipitous accomplishment.
4. Andre Roberts is an extraordinary WR/PR in that not only does he have track speed, he's solidly built and he has unbelievable hands and after the catch an innate ability to make people miss. His combination of skills is extremely impressive. This kid is not just a flashy track guy. He's tough and loves to go over the middle. He might wind up being nearly as productive a RAC guy as Q was, but in a different way---through speed and juke-ability.
Hopefully the Cardinals will sign Steve Breaston to a multi-year contract extension...and that the quartet of Fitzgerald, Breaston, Doucet and Roberts will be together for years to come. This keeps the Cardinals' WR unit elite.
Today we will see what player the Ravens take with the Cardinals' 5th round pick...so add that to Anquan Boldin and what the Cardinals essentially got in return was FS Kerry Rhodes, WR Andre Roberts, and the added flexibility to draft Daryl Washington, the much awaited heir to the starting WILB spot.
I continue to be amazed by the Patriots---who maneuver the draft every year with such incredible skill. This year has been their best, IMO. Imagine how we would be feeling if our draft to this point was:
1. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
2. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
2. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
3. Jermaine Cunningham, OLB/DE, Florida
3. Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
PLUS: a 2nd Round pick in the 2011 draft (and they already have the Raiders' 1st rounder next year via the Richard Seymour trade).
BUT...all this said, I think we are stronger up front than they are with the addition of Dan Williams to slide between Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell...and our WR quartet is stronger, younger and deeper.
AND...what surprises me is that the Patriots got abused up front by the Ravens in the playoffs and yet they haven't added any DTs. Was trading Richard Seymour a good thing after all?
The only thing about our trade with the Patriots I wished the Cardinals had been able to finagle adding one of the Patriots' 5 7th rounders.
Imagine that: 5 7th rounders...they can basically pick most of their practice squad with those picks...if they don't trade them for 2011 6th rounders!
As for today, the talk has been adding a QB, CB and OL, although Whiz did say it would depend on what payers are on the board.
Enjoy the rest of the draft..and then we can start checking in every hour for the Cardinals' UCFA signings. GO CARDINALS!
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