Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
The signing of Joey Porter is a real boost to our defense from a psychological standpoint and from a production standpoint. Porter brings a swagger and ferocity that our defense needs. Now we have six players, IMO, who bring high-end energy, moxie and passion: Wilson, Dockett, Rhodes, Haggans, Campbell and Porter. With that many on board, others are bound to follow, especially now that we have a DB coach who insists on full-time aggression.
As for the rest of FA, I am still hoping that the Cardinals will sign another Steeler, NT/DE Nick Eason. His versatility would be a real plus. I haven't given up at all on Gabe Watson as the team's NT. He should be even stronger and in better shape this year and he will be in a contract year with much to prove. I also haven't given up on Alan Branch as a NT. I know he likes DE better, but he has the size and strength to be a first-rate NT who can kick out to DE when Watson or Eason is in the game.
I have debated this about the NT before and I stand by my convictions, to me when I coached offense I worried far more about handling an athletic, high-motor type NT than a wide-body plugger. With the wide-body plugger I didn't have to worry about him spoiling and blowing up plays in my backfield, and thus what I was always able to do with a wide-body plugger is stand him up with the guard and center and then release my guard to the second level. Against better athletes I could not count on doing that and I realized that I had to fully commit to the double team.
Arguably, the most dangerous NT in the NFC right now is The Cowboys' Jay Ratliff who is 6-4, 302. When teams have to worry about the combination of strength and quickness up the middle, combined with worrying about the Cowboys' sheer quickness off the edge, it presents major problems for opposing OCs.
This is why the player I am most intrigued with is Penn St.'s Jared Odrick. He's 6-5 1/8 and 301 pounds, and has very good strength and the kind of quick feet and hands that make it difficult for him to be blocked, even in double teams. You put his aggressiveness and combativeness next to Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell and the interior of the Cardinals' line would be extraordinarily athletic and aggressive. Odrick does not settle for being blocked, he fights like a madman to get to the ball.
Watching Dan Williams...he's very strong at the point of attack, but once he's engaged he sinks his head and he doesn't fight with his hands or his leverage well or often enough to make enough plays on the ball, or rip his way into the backfield. He's a classic hole plugger. Terrence Cody is not nearly a strong and does not initiate contract off the snap the way Williams does. Instead he sits on his haunches to absorb the contact and simply tries to maintain his position, which at his weight he was very capable of doing in college. Occasionally, he will flash short area lateral ability, which at his size makes him an interesting prospect. But, forget about him getting into the backfield or getting even remotely close to the QB...unless a team find a way to get him in tip-top shape.
What will be interesting to see is whether the Cardinals will still take one of the top OLB/DEs at #26. The talent there may be too good to pass up, especially if the one 3-4 WILB who makes the most sense, Sean Weatherspoon is opff the board. It would be very hard to pass on players like Sergio Kindle, Jerry Hughes, or Carlos Dunlap.
What about a CB at #26? Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourty, or Kareem Jackson have tremendous upside...and could be great assets as return men annd STs. My guess is that the Cardinals have other CBs they are looking at for later picks (such as Chris Cook, Dominque Franks, Amari Spivey, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Javier Arenas) and that they won't use the #26 on a CB.
If LB Sean Weatherspoon is taken before #26, it actually might present a possiblitity to trade down, if the player the Cardinals want most, say ILB Sean Lee of Penn. St., could be had a few picks later. Lee is looking more and more like a top 50 pick, which puts the Cardinals in a tough spot. It's a reach to take him at #26, but unless they trade down that may be their only chance to take him.
At #58 there will likely still be some good ILB candidates such as Daryl Washington of TCU, Donald Butler of Washington and possibly Brandon Spikes of Florida.
With the two 3rd rounders I was thinking a WR like Eric Decker (Minnesota) and a CB/S like Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana, PA)...or, more likely...WR Damian Williams (USC) and CB Javier Arenas (Alabama)...Williams plays with talent, aggression and discipline and despite being a junior is NFL ready, and Arenas is one tough cookie who can be the nickel back and punt returner deluxe.
In the 4th round, I think this is where the Cardinals take their QB...either John Skelton, Jarrett Brown, Levi Brown or Mike Kafka. As you know i like Kafka the best and the Cardinals' QB coach Mike Miller was in attendance at his Pro Day, which was impressive enough to garner an article on NFL.com.
Skelton has the big arm and needs to work on his touch. There are questions as to whether he is a take charge type, as well. But the arm is big.
Jarrett Brown looks a lot like David Garrard. He has that nice snappy over the top quick release.
And Levi Brown has been kind of flying under the radar because he played in a spread offense. But this kid has an excellent release and is very smart and competitive.
As for the rest of FA, I am still hoping that the Cardinals will sign another Steeler, NT/DE Nick Eason. His versatility would be a real plus. I haven't given up at all on Gabe Watson as the team's NT. He should be even stronger and in better shape this year and he will be in a contract year with much to prove. I also haven't given up on Alan Branch as a NT. I know he likes DE better, but he has the size and strength to be a first-rate NT who can kick out to DE when Watson or Eason is in the game.
I have debated this about the NT before and I stand by my convictions, to me when I coached offense I worried far more about handling an athletic, high-motor type NT than a wide-body plugger. With the wide-body plugger I didn't have to worry about him spoiling and blowing up plays in my backfield, and thus what I was always able to do with a wide-body plugger is stand him up with the guard and center and then release my guard to the second level. Against better athletes I could not count on doing that and I realized that I had to fully commit to the double team.
Arguably, the most dangerous NT in the NFC right now is The Cowboys' Jay Ratliff who is 6-4, 302. When teams have to worry about the combination of strength and quickness up the middle, combined with worrying about the Cowboys' sheer quickness off the edge, it presents major problems for opposing OCs.
This is why the player I am most intrigued with is Penn St.'s Jared Odrick. He's 6-5 1/8 and 301 pounds, and has very good strength and the kind of quick feet and hands that make it difficult for him to be blocked, even in double teams. You put his aggressiveness and combativeness next to Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell and the interior of the Cardinals' line would be extraordinarily athletic and aggressive. Odrick does not settle for being blocked, he fights like a madman to get to the ball.
Watching Dan Williams...he's very strong at the point of attack, but once he's engaged he sinks his head and he doesn't fight with his hands or his leverage well or often enough to make enough plays on the ball, or rip his way into the backfield. He's a classic hole plugger. Terrence Cody is not nearly a strong and does not initiate contract off the snap the way Williams does. Instead he sits on his haunches to absorb the contact and simply tries to maintain his position, which at his weight he was very capable of doing in college. Occasionally, he will flash short area lateral ability, which at his size makes him an interesting prospect. But, forget about him getting into the backfield or getting even remotely close to the QB...unless a team find a way to get him in tip-top shape.
What will be interesting to see is whether the Cardinals will still take one of the top OLB/DEs at #26. The talent there may be too good to pass up, especially if the one 3-4 WILB who makes the most sense, Sean Weatherspoon is opff the board. It would be very hard to pass on players like Sergio Kindle, Jerry Hughes, or Carlos Dunlap.
What about a CB at #26? Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourty, or Kareem Jackson have tremendous upside...and could be great assets as return men annd STs. My guess is that the Cardinals have other CBs they are looking at for later picks (such as Chris Cook, Dominque Franks, Amari Spivey, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Javier Arenas) and that they won't use the #26 on a CB.
If LB Sean Weatherspoon is taken before #26, it actually might present a possiblitity to trade down, if the player the Cardinals want most, say ILB Sean Lee of Penn. St., could be had a few picks later. Lee is looking more and more like a top 50 pick, which puts the Cardinals in a tough spot. It's a reach to take him at #26, but unless they trade down that may be their only chance to take him.
At #58 there will likely still be some good ILB candidates such as Daryl Washington of TCU, Donald Butler of Washington and possibly Brandon Spikes of Florida.
With the two 3rd rounders I was thinking a WR like Eric Decker (Minnesota) and a CB/S like Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana, PA)...or, more likely...WR Damian Williams (USC) and CB Javier Arenas (Alabama)...Williams plays with talent, aggression and discipline and despite being a junior is NFL ready, and Arenas is one tough cookie who can be the nickel back and punt returner deluxe.
In the 4th round, I think this is where the Cardinals take their QB...either John Skelton, Jarrett Brown, Levi Brown or Mike Kafka. As you know i like Kafka the best and the Cardinals' QB coach Mike Miller was in attendance at his Pro Day, which was impressive enough to garner an article on NFL.com.
Skelton has the big arm and needs to work on his touch. There are questions as to whether he is a take charge type, as well. But the arm is big.
Jarrett Brown looks a lot like David Garrard. He has that nice snappy over the top quick release.
And Levi Brown has been kind of flying under the radar because he played in a spread offense. But this kid has an excellent release and is very smart and competitive.
Last edited:
.
