Cards have Sims in sights
Cards have Sims in sights
By Darren Urban, Tribune
April 24, 2006
Perhaps he’s just loyal to the Florida State football fraternity, but Anquan Boldin is among those who think linebacker Ernie Sims will leave an early imprint once he gets in the NFL.
“I remember, when he was a freshman, they had to tell him to slow down,” said the Cardinals receiver, who was going through his rookie NFL campaign during Sims’ first year at Florida State. “He was just wide-open. But that’s how he plays, and how he practices, too. The same way all the time.”
Coach Dennis Green already has a pair of Seminoles as key parts to his team in Boldin and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the explosive Sims targeted as well, a potential pick with the 10th overall pick in Saturday’s draft.
The Cards have long liked Sims, who is a tad undersized (5-foot-11, 231 pounds) but whom NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said has the most upside of any linebacker in the draft.
He is a playmaker, a guy who could come in and start as a weakside version of what the Cardinals have on the strong side with Karlos Dansby. And his always-full-speed approach seems to fit perfectly in Green’s desired defensive makeup.
“I don’t think you can be taught that,” Sims said. “It’s just in me. When I get on that field, my intentions are to just go out there and try to punish people. Not in a bad way, but that’s how I play football.”
The Cardinals are looking to upgrade at the weakside linebacker spot and need to look long term at the position anyway. Orlando Huff, who started last season on the weakside, veteran James Darling and current starting middle linebacker Gerald Hayes — who has never proven he can be a full-time starter after suffering a season-ending knee injury last season — all will be free agents after the season.
Last year’s top linebacker draftee, Darryl Blackstock, didn’t make the impact the Cardinals had hoped for either, casting some doubt on his long-term production.
“It’s a position where a lot of times they say they don’t want to draft people too high because they think ‘How much impact can a linebacker have?’ ” said Ohio State’s A.J. Hawk, the top linebacker prospect. “(But) guys like (San Diego’s) Shawne Merriman and (Seattle’s) Lofa Tatupu had huge years.
“I think the linebacker position, with all the defenses they’re playing and with the offenses you have to face, one week you’re facing a spread offense and the next week a team is trying to pound the ball on you, you have to be able to do a little bit of everything.”
Even if the Cards don’t take a linebacker first, Green said the draft is deep at the position. The Cards will look longingly at Hawk, but he will surely be taken before Arizona makes its first choice. Having Sims as a possible first-round fallback isn’t bad.
“I really believe Ernie Sims is the most explosive linebacker available,” Mayock said. “Will he get exposed as a rookie? Yes, with play action and that sort of thing. But he will make plays. I think his impact early can be as great as (the Buccaneers’) Derrick Brooks or (the Jets’) Jonathan Vilma.”
Sims has critics. Most draft publications say he freelances too much, that he needs to be more disciplined in working within a scheme. He can be overly emotional. He has been banged up in the past with a broken leg and concussions.
But if he can turn into anything close to his idol Brooks, a one-time Florida State star himself, Sims will be an excellent pro.
“He should be (good), if he keeps his head on straight,” Boldin said. “He loves contact. He’ll hit anything moving. He just loves to play football.”
Contact Darren Urban by email, or phone (480) 898-6525
