Tough Draft Review

[Harry]

This is sort of a sabermetric site if you don't know Pro Football Focus. I don't always agree but they are always interesting.

Arizona Cardinals, C-
1 (29) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3 (92) Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
4 (128) Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
5 (167) Marqui Christian, S, Midwest State
5 (170) Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
6 (205) Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Day 1: Nkemdiche has interior pass-rush potential after grading at +23.4 as a rusher, ninth in the class. He’s not great against the run, but if he can line up over tight ends on early downs before kicking inside to rush the passer, the Cardinals can maximize his value.

Day 2: A pure projection pick, Williams is an athletic former running back who graded at -5.5 overall last season, 117th in among the cornerbacks in the draft class. His production simply didn’t match his athletic reputation.

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class. Arizona rounded out the class with two small-schoolers who struggled at the Senior Bowl in Toner (-2.6) and Miller (-1.0).

 

[Jetstream Green]

This is sort of a sabermetric site if you don't know Pro Football Focus. I don't always agree but they are always interesting.

Arizona Cardinals, C-
1 (29) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3 (92) Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
4 (128) Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
5 (167) Marqui Christian, S, Midwest State
5 (170) Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
6 (205) Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Day 1: Nkemdiche has interior pass-rush potential after grading at +23.4 as a rusher, ninth in the class. He’s not great against the run, but if he can line up over tight ends on early downs before kicking inside to rush the passer, the Cardinals can maximize his value.

Day 2: A pure projection pick, Williams is an athletic former running back who graded at -5.5 overall last season, 117th in among the cornerbacks in the draft class. His production simply didn’t match his athletic reputation.

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class. Arizona rounded out the class with two small-schoolers who struggled at the Senior Bowl in Toner (-2.6) and Miller (-1.0).

I believe they also stated one of our needs was WR... I get the whole Floyd/Fitz situation next season but that kind of made me roll my eyes regarding their judgment of the Cardinals

 

[Chopper0080]

If I was using a full A-F draft scale, I would give the Cardinals a C grade, as their draft was average. Not a ton of picks, and a bunch of small school players.

In the current A-D draft scale, I give it a B-/C+. It could be a good class, but a ton of unknowns with good athletes w/ limited production.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

I may be in a distinct minority but I do not like the Cards first round pick. Great talent but too many red flags for me. Feel the risk factor was too great to take in the 1st round. People keep trying to compare him to Honey Badger but remember Honey Badger already had a support system in place here of former teammates to keep him straight. He stayed with Peterson's father and worked out with him. Peterson and his family were acting like a second family to him to keep him on the right path. To his credit Honey Badger is a true professional.

Hope I am wrong but I have my doubts about Nkemdiche.

 

[Dan H]

We go through this every year.

Why even assign grades until a couple of years out?

I remember Rod Graves' drafts were consistently well regarded, and for the most part the players stunk save for some gems.

Keim has had more hits than misses. Dude merits the benefit of the doubt until he's shown he doesn't deserve it.

 

[iRobot]

I am always curious in draft grades if they account for draft position.

Generally speaking, the teams that pick in the latter part of the round don't necessarily have the best options available to them and, at times, may reach for a player that would otherwise go later.

I don't care for grades until 3-4 years later anyways.

 

[Southpaw]

This is sort of a sabermetric site if you don't know Pro Football Focus. I don't always agree but they are always interesting.

Arizona Cardinals, C-
1 (29) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3 (92) Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
4 (128) Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
5 (167) Marqui Christian, S, Midwest State
5 (170) Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
6 (205) Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Day 1: Nkemdiche has interior pass-rush potential after grading at +23.4 as a rusher, ninth in the class. He’s not great against the run, but if he can line up over tight ends on early downs before kicking inside to rush the passer, the Cardinals can maximize his value.

Day 2: A pure projection pick, Williams is an athletic former running back who graded at -5.5 overall last season, 117th in among the cornerbacks in the draft class. His production simply didn’t match his athletic reputation.

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class. Arizona rounded out the class with two small-schoolers who struggled at the Senior Bowl in Toner (-2.6) and Miller (-1.0).

Agree.

One thing I considered because of Card's draft position in each rd. Every player drafted was very close to being the next round pick. i.e. Nkemdiche @ #29 was 2 picks removed from 2nd rd #1. Williams was close to being a 4th rd. Don't know if the Cards entertained trading down a few slots in any rd to get better salary value. No trade ups or trade downs. Lazy, complacent or smart?

 

[Garthshort]

Remember Chandler Jones. If we sign Freeney or if Golden develops, our front four with those two plus CC and Nkemdiche, is the best we've had in a long time. And naturally that makes our DB's better.

 

[az jam]

The media guys giving the grades are the same that put out mock drafts that ended up being a joke in term of what actually happened.

 

[football karma]

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class.

this one puzzled me -- as it seems completely at odds with other scouting reports out there. It makes Boehm sound like a turnstyle

 

[conraddobler]

They didn't have a lot of picks.

You know honestly after watching the endless draft recaps it struck me seeing the video of our 1st round pick celebrating over and over again with his posse who were all dressed alike that maybe there are some danger signs and those worried about them might be right here?

I would have to agree, no better than a C, this whole C minus thing no one can be that accurate right after the draft but this is an average at best draft could end up being a clunker.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Brian Baldinger, NFL Network: A

 

[Chopper0080]

this one puzzled me -- as it seems completely at odds with other scouting reports out there. It makes Boehm sound like a turnstyle

PFF statistics are created by PFF. They are a tool that should be used to crosscheck information, but mostly are used as the basis of evaluations. Anytime you see something off with a PFF eval, crosscheck it with your eyes.

 

[Southpaw]

They didn't have a lot of picks.

You know honestly after watching the endless draft recaps it struck me seeing the video of our 1st round pick celebrating over and over again with his posse who were all dressed alike that maybe there are some danger signs and those worried about them might be right here?

I would have to agree, no better than a C, this whole C minus thing no one can be that accurate right after the draft but this is an average at best draft could end up being a clunker.

He seems to be one of those guys who needs to have his paychecks held in trust by the team. I can imagine him blowing right through his signing bonus.

 

[kerouac9]

PFF statistics are created by PFF. They are a tool that should be used to crosscheck information, but mostly are used as the basis of evaluations. Anytime you see something off with a PFF eval, crosscheck it with your eyes.

I'll be watching this during my office downtime.



And maybe this before bed:



Breaking down OL film is pretty good.

 

[Shaggy]

He looks good in those videos. Doesn't look like a turnstile to me. I haven't watched all of it, but each play Boehm is dominating the defender.

 

[Dback Jon]

A draft grade that doesn't take into consideration our 2nd Round pick (Chandler Jones) is worthless

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This is sort of a sabermetric site if you don't know Pro Football Focus. I don't always agree but they are always interesting.

Arizona Cardinals, C-
1 (29) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3 (92) Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
4 (128) Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
5 (167) Marqui Christian, S, Midwest State
5 (170) Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
6 (205) Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Day 1: Nkemdiche has interior pass-rush potential after grading at +23.4 as a rusher, ninth in the class. He’s not great against the run, but if he can line up over tight ends on early downs before kicking inside to rush the passer, the Cardinals can maximize his value.

Day 2: A pure projection pick, Williams is an athletic former running back who graded at -5.5 overall last season, 117th in among the cornerbacks in the draft class. His production simply didn’t match his athletic reputation.

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class. Arizona rounded out the class with two small-schoolers who struggled at the Senior Bowl in Toner (-2.6) and Miller (-1.0).

And here we go again....

Pro Football Focus is not a sabermetrics site. Sabermetrics involves real statistics, not a "grading system".

Here is what this site is:

1. They make up their own grading system, based upon the same observations anyone can make.

2. They come to a conclusion based on their grading system.

3. then they internally verify their own conclusion.

It's as stupid and flawed as QBR.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

PFF statistics are created by PFF. They are a tool that should be used to crosscheck information, but mostly are used as the basis of evaluations. Anytime you see something off with a PFF eval, crosscheck it with your eyes.

Correct.

For all you know theSmel could be a member of pro football focus.

 

[iRobot]

I continuously noticed he plays with a nasty streak.. hits first target and moves to find the next. Seems to love contact. And he looked fine vs run and in pass pro.

He looks good in those videos. Doesn't look like a turnstile to me. I haven't watched all of it, but each play Boehm is dominating the defender.

 

[Chopper0080]

Correct.

For all you know theSmel could be a member of pro football focus.

I wouldn't go that far, but people take these football sites and their metrics as the definitive story behind a player, and that is a flawed way to evaluate. Better to use sites like PFF or Football Outsiders as a resource to either evaluate what your eyes have already told you, or to formulate a hypothesis which you then cross check with your eyes and film.

 

[Dan H]

I'll be watching this during my office downtime.



And maybe this before bed:



Breaking down OL film is pretty good.

That first tape is ugly. There's some interesting flashes, though. Boehm isn't getting beaten 1-1 that I'm seeing much, it's usually the rest of the line collapsing.

 

[conraddobler]

That first tape is ugly. There's some interesting flashes, though. Boehm isn't getting beaten 1-1 that I'm seeing much, it's usually the rest of the line collapsing.

As to the first tape.

Mizzou runs the spread offense, and although they have at least put in a goal line package now, "They used to run the spread all the way down to the goal line." they still suck at goal line.

In that tape Boehm does well the rest of the line gets donkey kicked.

As to the 2nd tape meh.

It's impossible to tell until he gets rushed by some premier NFL type players could be over rather quick.

Boehm is very smart, he's a warrior, if he can hold up this is a great pick if he looks like Wylie Coyote under a steam roller then it won't be a great pick.

 

[Dan H]

As to the first tape.

Mizzou runs the spread offense, and although they have at least put in a goal line package now, "They used to run the spread all the way down to the goal line." they still suck at goal line.

In that tape Boehm does well the rest of the line gets donkey kicked.

As to the 2nd tape meh.

It's impossible to tell until he gets rushed by some premier NFL type players could be over rather quick.

Boehm is very smart, he's a warrior, if he can hold up this is a great pick if he looks like Wylie Coyote under a steam roller then it won't be a great pick.

I concur. Interesting look at Leonard Floyd in there, as well.

 

[HeavyB3]

That first tape is ugly. There's some interesting flashes, though. Boehm isn't getting beaten 1-1 that I'm seeing much, it's usually the rest of the line collapsing.

I think its hard to judge O-Line based on a game where players who have never played together thrown into the mix. O-Line is the ultimate team part of football.