Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
* Loved watching ESPN's Beat Writers' Mock Draft last night. It was pure entertainment and enlightenment thank to resident GM Bill Poilian. Polian gave several beat writers an immediate "gong" for their picks. For example, no sooner had the Cowboys' beat writer Todd Archer announced that the Cowboys will be taking DE Taco Charlton, Polian shouted "gong." Polian was adamant that Charlton lacks the requisite metrics (speed, short area quickness) that the Cowboys' defense mandates. Archer still tried to defend the pick and mentioned that Polian ripped his pick of CB Jalen Ramsey last year, to which Polian replied, "Yeah, because I felt Eziekel Elliot should have been your pick." Ouch.
* Polian is adamant that no guard should taken in the 1st round, so he gave Baltimore's pick of Forrest Lamp an immediate gong. When it come to first round edge rushers Polian insists that they have to be able to run in the 4.6 area, as all the best ones do.
* Polian's favorite player in the draft? TE O.J. Howard. "He's the cleanest player on the board in terms of high end talent, work ethic and character."
* Josh Weinfuss did a good job of outlining why the Cardinals should wait to draft a QB later in favor of selecting LB Haason Reddick of Temple. Todd McShay called Weinfuss' presentation "well scripted." Both he and Polian liked the pick, although they both pointed out how meteoric Reddick's ride to the top of the draft has been -- which makes a veteran GM like Polian a little leery.
* Polian calls this draft the "Big If" draft because there are question marks about so many of the top prospects. It certainly seems like this draft, more than ever, is a crap shoot.
* McShay and Polian ripped the Browns for not taking QB Carson Wentz last year -- and rightfully so. Thus, they were pacified a little when the Browns took the first QB off the board at #12 in Mitch Trubisky.
* It's amazing to me that so many QB needy teams are so willing to pass on QBs early on in thinking they can do just as well drafting QBs later on. It reminds me of Langston Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred" and the infamous last line..."or does it explode."
* My own thought about QBs is that it is so rare these days for a QB to be a unanimous slam dunk pick -- the scrutiny is at times overwhelming. There comes a time when a team simply needs to pick the QB whom they feel is the best one on the board and then make a total commitment to him, which means grooming him as well as possible and sticking with him through the early growing pains. The problem is that head coaches often do not have the luxury of being patient with a young QB through a couple of losing seasons and in having to deal with a restless fan base and team ownership. Thus, young QBs often cause their HC's their jobs --- and then the new HC comes in and often doesn't want or like the incumbent young QB. It's a vicious cycle.
* I have to say that last night, with Watson, Mahomes and Kizer all available for the Cardinals at #13, I found myself longing for the Cardinals to make the commitment to one of them and thus end all the uncertainty and speculation. Of the three I am leaning toward Deshaun Watson because he is by far the most accomplished and big-game tested. I am enamored with Mahomes' and Kizers' arm talent and mobility, but the inconsistencies in their games and their footwork give me pause. Thus, if it were up to me, the guy who stands out is Deshaun Watson...and if not him...and the others are gone before pick #45, then I really want Joshua Dobbs, who has Watson's composure and a very good blend of arm strength and mobility.
* With the announcement that LB Daryl Washington is being re-instated by the NFL on a "conditional basis," if the team is willing to give him a third chance after years of unfulfilled promises, it has to affect their draft board. The timing of this announcement is very good in that regard, but also with regard to getting Washington in the conditioning program and having three months to get him in tip-top shape. While like many of you I am feeling skeptical about Washington's potential return, the fact that Fitz is welcoming him back makes me feel as if the Cardinals perhaps should give Washington a chance, but with a modified salary adjustment, one chock-full of conditions.
* What concerns me is how silent Washington has been over the past three years with regard to the Cardinals' fans and organization. One would think that he would have been far more apologetic than he has been. It would be great to hear him apologize and offer to do whatever it takes (paycuts, etc.) to win back the trust of the fans and the organization. Without that, I say get rid of him asap.
* Having spent so many hours watching tapes and evaluating the prospects, I have come to realize and accept that the draft will be fascinating to watch and at times disappointing (especially when I see some of my favorite players getting snatched up before the Cardinals' picks and even worse when I see them going to divisional or NFC rivals).
* But this draft for the Cardinals has added significance (imho) because after what has been a surprisingly low-key free agency period I am eager to see what the plan is. Admittedly, I have been losing some confidence in Bruce Arians and Steve Keim, primarily because it is getting harder and harder to believe in what they say and to trust in their direction. I do not sense the type of urgency that one would expect from a team that aspires to achieve the ultimate goal. Living close enough to Gillette Stadium that i can see the glow from the lights on the near horizon, I feel far more urgency and depth of planning on the Patriots' part than i do on the Cardinals'. They have 5 rings...the Cardinals have 0. Keim was adamant at the Combine that he will never use the word "rebuilding" because "I owe it to the fans to put the best possible product on the field" to win championships. Well, it's time to see what Keim's product is and to see what the total plan is. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, despite all the doubts.
* Polian is adamant that no guard should taken in the 1st round, so he gave Baltimore's pick of Forrest Lamp an immediate gong. When it come to first round edge rushers Polian insists that they have to be able to run in the 4.6 area, as all the best ones do.
* Polian's favorite player in the draft? TE O.J. Howard. "He's the cleanest player on the board in terms of high end talent, work ethic and character."
* Josh Weinfuss did a good job of outlining why the Cardinals should wait to draft a QB later in favor of selecting LB Haason Reddick of Temple. Todd McShay called Weinfuss' presentation "well scripted." Both he and Polian liked the pick, although they both pointed out how meteoric Reddick's ride to the top of the draft has been -- which makes a veteran GM like Polian a little leery.
* Polian calls this draft the "Big If" draft because there are question marks about so many of the top prospects. It certainly seems like this draft, more than ever, is a crap shoot.
* McShay and Polian ripped the Browns for not taking QB Carson Wentz last year -- and rightfully so. Thus, they were pacified a little when the Browns took the first QB off the board at #12 in Mitch Trubisky.
* It's amazing to me that so many QB needy teams are so willing to pass on QBs early on in thinking they can do just as well drafting QBs later on. It reminds me of Langston Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred" and the infamous last line..."or does it explode."
* My own thought about QBs is that it is so rare these days for a QB to be a unanimous slam dunk pick -- the scrutiny is at times overwhelming. There comes a time when a team simply needs to pick the QB whom they feel is the best one on the board and then make a total commitment to him, which means grooming him as well as possible and sticking with him through the early growing pains. The problem is that head coaches often do not have the luxury of being patient with a young QB through a couple of losing seasons and in having to deal with a restless fan base and team ownership. Thus, young QBs often cause their HC's their jobs --- and then the new HC comes in and often doesn't want or like the incumbent young QB. It's a vicious cycle.
* I have to say that last night, with Watson, Mahomes and Kizer all available for the Cardinals at #13, I found myself longing for the Cardinals to make the commitment to one of them and thus end all the uncertainty and speculation. Of the three I am leaning toward Deshaun Watson because he is by far the most accomplished and big-game tested. I am enamored with Mahomes' and Kizers' arm talent and mobility, but the inconsistencies in their games and their footwork give me pause. Thus, if it were up to me, the guy who stands out is Deshaun Watson...and if not him...and the others are gone before pick #45, then I really want Joshua Dobbs, who has Watson's composure and a very good blend of arm strength and mobility.
* With the announcement that LB Daryl Washington is being re-instated by the NFL on a "conditional basis," if the team is willing to give him a third chance after years of unfulfilled promises, it has to affect their draft board. The timing of this announcement is very good in that regard, but also with regard to getting Washington in the conditioning program and having three months to get him in tip-top shape. While like many of you I am feeling skeptical about Washington's potential return, the fact that Fitz is welcoming him back makes me feel as if the Cardinals perhaps should give Washington a chance, but with a modified salary adjustment, one chock-full of conditions.
* What concerns me is how silent Washington has been over the past three years with regard to the Cardinals' fans and organization. One would think that he would have been far more apologetic than he has been. It would be great to hear him apologize and offer to do whatever it takes (paycuts, etc.) to win back the trust of the fans and the organization. Without that, I say get rid of him asap.
* Having spent so many hours watching tapes and evaluating the prospects, I have come to realize and accept that the draft will be fascinating to watch and at times disappointing (especially when I see some of my favorite players getting snatched up before the Cardinals' picks and even worse when I see them going to divisional or NFC rivals).
* But this draft for the Cardinals has added significance (imho) because after what has been a surprisingly low-key free agency period I am eager to see what the plan is. Admittedly, I have been losing some confidence in Bruce Arians and Steve Keim, primarily because it is getting harder and harder to believe in what they say and to trust in their direction. I do not sense the type of urgency that one would expect from a team that aspires to achieve the ultimate goal. Living close enough to Gillette Stadium that i can see the glow from the lights on the near horizon, I feel far more urgency and depth of planning on the Patriots' part than i do on the Cardinals'. They have 5 rings...the Cardinals have 0. Keim was adamant at the Combine that he will never use the word "rebuilding" because "I owe it to the fans to put the best possible product on the field" to win championships. Well, it's time to see what Keim's product is and to see what the total plan is. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, despite all the doubts.
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