Hardy Brown
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- May 6, 2006
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I thought I'd pass along a few humble observations in regard to Cardinals training camp:
1) The defensive-line is the deepest position on the team and, if healthy, might be the strength of this team. The starting four look good but it's the back-ups that caught my eye!
Kenny King is a football player. His "freak" injuries have set him back but he's a football player. Before it's all said and done, he may replace Okeafor as the LDE.
After three-days, Langston Moore is the most impressive lineman in camp. He's a little butterball and reminds me of Warren Sapp - quick feet, good hands and has the motor of a '57 Chevy. This guy is killin' folks right now.
Antonio Smith is playing like his very life depends on it and people are noticing. Along with Moore, he is routinely ruining people and looks like the real deal when rushing the passer. The Cards will use him in 3rd and Obvious situations, replacing a defensive-tackle, to rush the passer.
The young guns, Gabe Watson and Jonathan Lewis, have done some good things as well. Watson won't help the Cards increase their sack total but he is a load to move - a real-life space-eater. Lewis rushes the passer better but has had some mental lapses, jumping offsides fairly often. He'll learn.
Although the Cards say they're going to simplify their running game, only using a few running plays, they installed a counter-trap (using their stretch-play action) and a toss (blocked the same as their outside-zone play). It is my sincere hope they stick to their original plan and don't make the same mistake they did last year: trying to combine zone-schemes with power-schemes. Why don't people see the beauty Alex Gibbs has created in Denver and Atlanta? Simply amazing...
Calvin Pace looks great, making plays all over the field, holding up at the point-of-attack. The Cardinals defensive coaches are ecstatic with what they've seen from him. Moving Dansby to WLB may happen sooner than I thought. Clancy believes offenses will not be able to block him with a back which makes him, from the offensive point-of-view, a down-lineman. The Cards can call their defense of 4-3, but it's really a five-down if the offense blocks Pace with an OT. And this creates problems for the center, placing him on an island in most protections. Not good...
Gerald Hayes may be the best tackler on the team in terms of delivering a blow. James Darling is a valuable reserve and I think it's only a matter of time before he's demoted.
Leonard Pope blocked better this morning than he has the last couple of days but he's going to struggle here. He needs to fill out a little more and get in the weight-room.
Deuce Lutui is not ready. His set is poor and he misses often on the stab which gets his feet all messed up. Do not panic, but unless something happens over the next couple of weeks he will not be ready to contribute this year.
Milford Brown is strong, powerful and has a good, strong stab. His feet look a tad slow but he's locked down a couple of solid lineman more than once. In my opinion, he needs a solid offensive-tackle playing next to him. Will this happen? One can only guess. But I am encouraged...
Marcel Shipp has to be number two...
Fred Wakefield was having a very good camp until defenders started to bull-rush him. He must play lower.
The Edge looks great, of course. If you have a chance to see him up close, look at the thickness of his lower body. It is no mystery why he breaks tackles.
All-in-all, not bad right now...not bad.
1) The defensive-line is the deepest position on the team and, if healthy, might be the strength of this team. The starting four look good but it's the back-ups that caught my eye!
Kenny King is a football player. His "freak" injuries have set him back but he's a football player. Before it's all said and done, he may replace Okeafor as the LDE.
After three-days, Langston Moore is the most impressive lineman in camp. He's a little butterball and reminds me of Warren Sapp - quick feet, good hands and has the motor of a '57 Chevy. This guy is killin' folks right now.
Antonio Smith is playing like his very life depends on it and people are noticing. Along with Moore, he is routinely ruining people and looks like the real deal when rushing the passer. The Cards will use him in 3rd and Obvious situations, replacing a defensive-tackle, to rush the passer.
The young guns, Gabe Watson and Jonathan Lewis, have done some good things as well. Watson won't help the Cards increase their sack total but he is a load to move - a real-life space-eater. Lewis rushes the passer better but has had some mental lapses, jumping offsides fairly often. He'll learn.
Although the Cards say they're going to simplify their running game, only using a few running plays, they installed a counter-trap (using their stretch-play action) and a toss (blocked the same as their outside-zone play). It is my sincere hope they stick to their original plan and don't make the same mistake they did last year: trying to combine zone-schemes with power-schemes. Why don't people see the beauty Alex Gibbs has created in Denver and Atlanta? Simply amazing...
Calvin Pace looks great, making plays all over the field, holding up at the point-of-attack. The Cardinals defensive coaches are ecstatic with what they've seen from him. Moving Dansby to WLB may happen sooner than I thought. Clancy believes offenses will not be able to block him with a back which makes him, from the offensive point-of-view, a down-lineman. The Cards can call their defense of 4-3, but it's really a five-down if the offense blocks Pace with an OT. And this creates problems for the center, placing him on an island in most protections. Not good...
Gerald Hayes may be the best tackler on the team in terms of delivering a blow. James Darling is a valuable reserve and I think it's only a matter of time before he's demoted.
Leonard Pope blocked better this morning than he has the last couple of days but he's going to struggle here. He needs to fill out a little more and get in the weight-room.
Deuce Lutui is not ready. His set is poor and he misses often on the stab which gets his feet all messed up. Do not panic, but unless something happens over the next couple of weeks he will not be ready to contribute this year.
Milford Brown is strong, powerful and has a good, strong stab. His feet look a tad slow but he's locked down a couple of solid lineman more than once. In my opinion, he needs a solid offensive-tackle playing next to him. Will this happen? One can only guess. But I am encouraged...
Marcel Shipp has to be number two...
Fred Wakefield was having a very good camp until defenders started to bull-rush him. He must play lower.
The Edge looks great, of course. If you have a chance to see him up close, look at the thickness of his lower body. It is no mystery why he breaks tackles.
All-in-all, not bad right now...not bad.
