Watch Cunningham from Vandy

[Harry]

I hear the Cards are looking at him, especially if they slide to mid-round in the draft. He's not a pick I like, but I can see why he has admirers.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I don't like the pick at all, especially before the third round. But given how bad we are at scouting linebackers, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[juza76]

I hear the Cards are looking at him, especially if they slide to mid-round in the draft. He's not a pick I like, but I can see why he has admirers.

Heard from who?

 

[Finito]

I don't like the pick at all, especially before the third round. But given how bad we are at scouting linebackers, I wouldn't be surprised.

3rd round? Crazy

 

[TheCardFan]

I hear the Cards are looking at him, especially if they slide to mid-round in the draft. He's not a pick I like, but I can see why he has admirers.

Agreed. He seems to lack the instincts and burst of Foster. Most of the tackles I have seen him make are 2, 3, or 4 yard gains. I don't see him taking on blocks well either. That being said...he will most likely go in 1st round.

Foster is ideal but that win against Seattle probably costs us the opportunity to get him.

We have to walk away with an impact player at a position of need...MLB, CB, or WR.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Lot's of talk on this board, and justifiably so, about Bama linebacker Rueban Foster. The guy is terrific. There is another SEC linebacker from Vandy who will also be on the Cards short list for linebacker help: Zach Cunningham. I see Karlos Dansby when watching Cunningham. He is incredibly athletic and active and is the ultimate sideline to sideline player. Foster is amazing as well, but Cunningham in my opinion will ultimately be at least the equal as Foster in the NFL.

Cunningham plays today in his bowl game.

 

[PJ1]

This guy can play. Not a very good team and he makes plays all over the field.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/forum/threads/watch-cunningham-from-vandy.244633/#post-3442839

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Sorry ! Didn't see the other one.

 

[football karma]

I'll start by acknowledging that I'm no expert on the finer points of player evaluation ( and its why i read every one of Harry's posts)

But I'll defend Cunningham a bit relative to Foster:

He is the best player on a Vandy squad that is regularly a bottom 5 talent pool in the SEC -- especially true on the defensive lines. Offensive game plans vs Vandy start with getting Cunningham blocked.

Foster is regularly covered up by the very talented defensive line in front of him, including a consensus top 3 talent in the upcoming draft. He gets many opportunities to run free to the ball. Arguably, Foster is the fourth or fifth best player on his defense.

 

[JeffGollin]

Warning: Don't fall in love with a single draft prospect. You're likely to be disappointed. There's roughly a 1 in 16 chance he'll be there when we pick as well as a decent chance our scouts will set their sites on some other dude.

Judging by comments here, Foster sounds like "the man" but if he's that good, he could vault into the Top 5 - 10.

Better have a Plan B, C, D etc.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I'm no evaluator either - but I'm just watching his games this year on youtube and he is very athletic and good in coverage - but they talk about how great he is against the run and tackling - I don't see it. A few times he has the runner in his sites and ends up with a spinning tackle versus destroying the guy with authority.

I've got the same feelings I had about Minter - he may be a quality pro player, but I don't see first round talent as a football player (well, second round for Minter). I expect the first round guys to jump off film ESPECIALLY if they play on a bad team, they should look that much better than everyone around him.

I just think we can do better in the first round.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

BTW - here is one of his videos - I only watched the first quarter to experience a few missed tackles - ugh. I don't even want to draft this guy:

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[Redneck Voodoo]

BTW - here is one of his videos - I only watched the first quarter to experience a few missed tackles - ugh. I don't even want to draft this guy:

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Looks light and hits everybody high. I know he has a lot of tackles but doesn't look like he has good leverage. He also over-pursues on a lot of run plays. Very athletic though.

But I'm no scout.

 

[cardpa]

Looks light and hits everybody high. I know he has a lot of tackles but doesn't look like he has good leverage. He also over-pursues on a lot of run plays. Very athletic though.

But I'm no scout.

This!

 

[PJ1]

Well he is not making his case in this game.

 

[juza76]

Strenght:Looks very quick/athletic and is skilled in coverage
Weakness: too light
Horrible at tackling

I think he can be a very good player if works on his fundementals

 

[cardpa]

Strenght:Looks very quick/athletic and is skilled in coverage
Weakness: too light
Horrible at tackling

I think he can be a very good player if works on his fundementals

The last thing the Cardinals need is another 1st round choice who needs to work on fundamentals and ends up sitting a year or two before he can contribute. He would probably be okay as a 3rd round pick but 1st just say no.

 

[juza76]

The last thing the Cardinals need is another 1st round choice who needs to work on fundamentals and ends up sitting a year or two before he can contribute. He would probably be okay as a 3rd round pick but 1st just say no.

I didnt say we should consider him a first rounder option for us
To me he is a second/third rounder

 

[wit3card]

He misses way to many tackles, he chooses way to many wrong angles ...

I see why some people would like him, because he is almost always near the ball and his covarage for a ILB is great, but he can't catch ... the ball he knocked down, a great ILB would have caught it.

3rd round talent for maybe, maybe if he has better games 2nd but no for the 1st round.

 

[JeffGollin]

Anyone watch #7 on Boston College (Landry)?

Has a nose for the ball (reminds me of a more controlled Badger).

 

[Harry]

Juza76. An SEC coach said the Cards scouted their Vandy game and asked him his impressions of Cunningham and several of his team as well. Talkative guy!

 

[Chopper0080]

Cunningham is a Daryl Washington type LB. He is a guy who can run all over the field with any athlete. He doesn't pound the hole, but he runs down plays. You have to block him on the backside of plays. He dips and uses leverage in his rush. Good finish from what I have seen. Doesn't have a ton of coverage experience which shows IMO. He is a different type of LB than Foster, but he is worthy of first round consideration with his skill set. He will never come off the field, and has pass rush potential.

If we decide to trade back in the first round, he is in the mix along with Corey Davis, and a handful of others.

 

[TheCardFan]

Cunningham is a Daryl Washington type LB. He is a guy who can run all over the field with any athlete. He doesn't pound the hole, but he runs down plays. You have to block him on the backside of plays. He dips and uses leverage in his rush. Good finish from what I have seen. Doesn't have a ton of coverage experience which shows IMO. He is a different type of LB than Foster, but he is worthy of first round consideration with his skill set. He will never come off the field, and has pass rush potential.

If we decide to trade back in the first round, he is in the mix along with Corey Davis, and a handful of others.

This guy is not being talked about due to Foster's combine incident and the rise of Reddick.

I went back and watched more tape of him and I am 100% in agreement on the DWash comparison. The good news is this guy is always around the ball. The bad news...he is terrible at tackling. He seems to lack the instincts, angles, and execution on the most basic skill in football (for defenders). Can this be taught at the NFL level? Lack of effort can be improved (not an issue with him) and technique can be improved but this seems like something more.

If it can be fixed...this guy could really be something. He should have had close to 200 tackles.

He would be a trade down target...not sure how high he will go.

 

[WildBB]

Don't think so, not in the first round. They may kick the tires on the Northwestern ILB, Anthony
Walker Jr., who would be a good fit here, imo.