Whispers Around the NFL

[clif]

Far from thrilled with the play of third-round rookie Darryl Blackstock this season, the Cardinals will look for another outside linebacker in the upcoming draft, the way we hear it.

 

[stewdog1]

Huh?

 

[conraddobler]

Sometimes I wonder if these people hear their own whispers, you know like as in imaginary friends and stuff.

I guess it could be true but I thought he did well.

 

[Shane]

Well considering he only got about 1 game to really play in for any length of time it would be hard to judge.

However the coaches could be very unhappy with what they see in practice.

 

[Faithful]

Sometimes I wonder if these people hear their own whispers, you know like as in imaginary friends and stuff.

 

[football karma]

I have heard that the physical ability is there, but has real trouble grasping the scheme.

 

[Shane]

I have heard that the physical ability is there, but has real trouble grasping the scheme.

That could be a major problem.

 

[Russ Smith]

I have heard that the physical ability is there, but has real trouble grasping the scheme.

Also he's a pass rusher and we like to use Dansby in that role, so Blackstock really needs to improve against the run and in coverage because I doubt we're going to tell Dansby stop rushing the QB.

 

[JasonKGME]

Well considering he only got about 1 game to really play in for any length of time it would be hard to judge.

However the coaches could be very unhappy with what they see in practice.

Maybe, but hardly think LB is a major issue with the following on the roster for next year:

Blackstock, Dansby, Darling, Hayes, Huff, & Mitchell.

Dansby, Hayes and Huff should be the locks for OLB right now tith Blackstock, Darling & Mitchell all being backups. I could see a mid-late round LB or even an UDFA coming in to help with competition, but since Blackstock isn't going to be pencilled in as a starter I can't see us pushing LB high in the draft. Now mind you if AJ Hawk fell to us at #10 Green will use BPA and snag him right up regardless of how well/poorly Blackstock or any of the other LB's are doing.

 

[Shane]

Maybe, but hardly think LB is a major issue with the following on the roster for next year:

Blackstock, Dansby, Darling, Hayes, Huff, & Mitchell.

Dansby, Hayes and Huff should be the locks for OLB right now tith Blackstock, Darling & Mitchell all being backups. I could see a mid-late round LB or even an UDFA coming in to help with competition, but since Blackstock isn't going to be pencilled in as a starter I can't see us pushing LB high in the draft. Now mind you if AJ Hawk fell to us at #10 Green will use BPA and snag him right up regardless of how well/poorly Blackstock or any of the other LB's are doing.

I agree.

 

[conraddobler]

Do you really worry that much about a rookie who can't grasp the schemes?

Seems to me a rookies job is to terrorize people on special teams and to be a dunder head everywhere else.

3 round rookies do approximately that most of the time.

Now if he still can't grasp stuff next camp then yeah we may have a problem.

 

[joeshmo]

They may be dissapionted in his special teams play, and then Whispers just took this tidbit of info to another level.

Blackstock was in on most special teams and had little to Zero impact.

 

[1DS]

I have heard that the physical ability is there, but has real trouble grasping the scheme.

I know of another LB who was "lost" his rookie season. I believe he was a third rounder (like Blackstock) who had all the physical potential but couldn't put it together. He came back the next year with a better understanding of the game and he is now in the pro-bowl. This LB is Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears.

My point is you never know when the light is going to turn on for some of these guys. It's a fact that forming an opinion of a Rookie player (especially a non 1st rounder) is foolish. Give him some more time to develope. When he was drafted, it was well know that he is extremely talented but also very raw. This is why he slipped to the end of the 3rd.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Well considering he only got about 1 game to really play in for any length of time it would be hard to judge.

However the coaches could be very unhappy with what they see in practice.

maybe the fact that he only got about 1 game to really play says all we need to support the whisper . . .

 

[conraddobler]

I know of another LB who was "lost" his rookie season. I believe he was a third rounder (like Blackstock) who had all the physical potential but couldn't put it together. He came back the next year with a better understanding of the game and he is now in the pro-bowl. This LB is Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears.

My point is you never know when the light is going to turn on for some of these guys. It's a fact that forming an opinion of a Rookie player (especially a non 1st rounder) is foolish. Give him some more time to develope. When he was drafted, it was well know that he is extremely talented but also very raw. This is why he slipped to the end of the 3rd.

I agree.

I mean by that standard you'd be highly pissed at Brown for his failures at RG.

It seems they made plenty of excuses for him there, I agree with them about that, he's a rookie. Aren't all rookies lost?

 

[Ryanwb]

Blackstock was pretty much only used as a rushing LB in college, so I would expect him to be lost at times having to grasp this defense

 

[CardinalChris]

I agree.

I mean by that standard you'd be highly pissed at Brown for his failures at RG.

It seems they made plenty of excuses for him there, I agree with them about that, he's a rookie. Aren't all rookies lost?

Especially one that is essentially switching from a rush backer to one who has to play in space. Everyone knew it would take the kid a year or two.

 

[ajcardfan]

It's not like Johnny Rutledge who didn't even play on special teams his first season. He can't be scary bad to that level. When he played, he didn't completely embarass himself.

But, I would not be surprised if we drafted a LB. I won't be surprised by any position we choose to draft. Even WR (although not in Rd. 1).

 

[Shane]

maybe the fact that he only got about 1 game to really play says all we need to support the whisper . . .

Good point

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It's not like Johnny Rutledge who didn't even play on special teams his first season. He can't be scary bad to that level. When he played, he didn't completely embarass himself.

But, I would not be surprised if we drafted a LB. I won't be surprised by any position we choose to draft. Even WR (although not in Rd. 1).

um, our special teams stunk. and he was a part of that. who knows if he was the one who embarrassed himself on each of those td returns?

 

[Pariah]

It's interesting to that the BPA at #10 may very well be a LB. Could be that the Cards floated this whisper for a number of reasons.

 

[JeffGollin]

Cards can only play 3 LB's at a time. They love Dansby. They didn't bring in Huff to ride the bench. They wanted Darling's smarts in the middle in the absence of Hayes.

The rook would have to play at a level as good as Dansby's (or close to it) to break into the lineup.

Some guys take longer to learn defensive systems & schemes than do others (particularly one as complex as Clancy's).

Kid's got physical ability. Let's see where he's at when we break camp this coming summer.

And I agree with regard to Hawk (or Carpenter). If Rod and Dennis feel either one is clearly the best on their board and worth the #10 pick, I think they'll grab him.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I know of another LB who was "lost" his rookie season. I believe he was a third rounder (like Blackstock) who had all the physical potential but couldn't put it together. He came back the next year with a better understanding of the game and he is now in the pro-bowl. This LB is Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears

Paul Harvey?????

 

[GreenCard]

Don't draft another LB because Keys will be on the street again.

 

[duckfallas]

Cards can only play 3 LB's at a time. They love Dansby. They didn't bring in Huff to ride the bench. They wanted Darling's smarts in the middle in the absence of Hayes.

The rook would have to play at a level as good as Dansby's (or close to it) to break into the lineup.

Some guys take longer to learn defensive systems & schemes than do others (particularly one as complex as Clancy's).

Kid's got physical ability. Let's see where he's at when we break camp this coming summer.

And I agree with regard to Hawk (or Carpenter). If Rod and Dennis feel either one is clearly the best on their board and worth the #10 pick, I think they'll grab him.

I wasn't impressed with Huff and I can see the Cards drafting a LB like Hawk to replace him.