Agree. We should also acknowledge that the two leaders on both sides of the ball in Fitz and Adub are also throwbacks to prior regimes (McGinnis and Denny Green). Denny Green helped draft most of the talent on our trip to the SB: Boldin, Fitz, Rolle, Smith, Dansby, and others. I always downplayed that before because I think Rolle, Smith, Dansby and Boldin were either replaceable or have been replaced (not in Boldin's case). But facts don't lie and I'm starting to wonder. It's hard to lose that many play-makers--I'm talking each dude being able to totally impact a game and take it for 6--and remain top-notch.
Boldin was drafted during the McGinnis regime.
Green had one outstanding draft which was his in his 1st year with the Cards. Fitz, Dansby and Docket were all home runs. Antonio Smith was a GREAT find in rd 5.
The 2005 draft was basically a total failure. Rolle was drafted to high and for the wrong position. No other players we selected in that draft did anything except JJ Arrington and was basically a bust considering he was a 2nd rd pick.
Greens last draft with the Cards landed us Leinart, Duece and Pope. None with the team and only Duece showed starter ability.
Green and Whis have totally different drafting philosophies: Green always loved drafting big school players while Whis seems hellbent on finding late round gems.
Green gets credit for helping drag Graves and company to a legit format and philosophy on how to run a draft.
I think Keim is hellbent on finding talent wherever possible. The fact that they have found a bunch from small schools is a feather in their caps.
I'm not knocking Whis, I love the dude. I think with Whis we probably have more depth overall and a better football team as a whole (with two huge, glaring weaknesses in our QB and Oline). But with Green you get alot of playmakers. The chemistry is probably much better under Whis and he was able to coach Green's dudes better than Green could.
Agree with most of this. Not so sure Green drafted more "playmakers" then Whiz. DRC, PP, CC, Wash, Hyphen have all proven to be playmakers. Ryan Williams and Bethel appear to be playmakers.
Andre Roberts and Housler are on pace to be playmakers.
I guess I still blame Whis more than most people when it comes to the draft and FA and getting playmakers/gamebreakers. Also still believe Whis has more input to Rod Graves than people want to acknowledge. Look at Floyd, Dan Williams, others. Yes, it takes time, but it didn't take Fitz or Boldin much time at all to start making plays. Pretty much the first game of their rookie season.
Just because Whiz is a very good speaker and gets the most airtime doesn't mean he was the final say so on draft picks. What I mean is when states why the Cards took Dan Williams it's after hours and hours of discussions with Keim and the scouting department and the entire FO. So while Whiz says this is what WE like about Dan Williams much. if not all, of that is based on the previous draft prep conversations.
Still think we have a strong team in every area except QB and Oline, all that being said. Those just happen to be the two most important factors in today's NFL. Point of attack and QB. Can't do anything with a crappy Oline or a bad QB.
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