Mark Herzlich

bg7brd · May 8th, 2011, 08:48 AM

Why wouldn't we want this guy as an UDFA? He seems perfect for the SILB position. He's probably a year away from getting back to playing strength but he could be the steal of the draft. I heard he's working out here in the valley and fortunately for us, Whiz has shown that he doesn't care where you were selected in the draft. I also heard that we pay UDFAs more than most. A ton of teams will be after him but I hope he really considers us. I think Az would be a perfect fit for him and he has a good shot to make the team.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1243115

Seandonic · May 8th, 2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bg7brd

Why wouldn't we want this guy as an UDFA? He seems perfect for the SILB position. He's probably a year away from getting back to playing strength but he could be the steal of the draft. I heard he's working out here in the valley and fortunately for us, Whiz has shown that he doesn't care where you were selected in the draft. I also heard that we pay UDFAs more than most. A ton of teams will be after him but I hope he really considers us. I think Az would be a perfect fit for him and he has a good shot to make the team.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1243115

Could not agree more. This kid would be a great addition and infusion of character to this team of quitters. (not you Adrian Wilson and a few others)

Plus it's not like he plays a position that the Cards don't need. Even if he was to never be a starter, he would make a huge contribution to this team as a back-up and/or special teams player. IMHO.

Bring him in and let these spoiled money grubbing wannabe's see what real character looks like.

Sorry if that sounds pretty harsh towards my team the Cards but I'm tired of them having little to no real character or heart. Just look what having a high character guy like Warner did for them.

Krangthebrain · May 8th, 2011, 09:46 AM

I like the idea, and Herzlich brings the versatility to back up multiple spots.

A LB corps of:

SOLB: Haggans, Acho, Davis
SILB: Studivant, Herzlich
WILB: Washington, Lenon
WOLB: Schofield, FA?, Acho?

Looks bettter than last year, and Herzlich could back up the SOLB spot as well. IMO we should bring a guy like Matt Roth or Kamerion Wimbley to start at the SOLB spot and have Haggans be a multiple position backup or cut Davis.

Mitch · May 8th, 2011, 09:47 AM

Great post, bg7brd!

Herzlich is one of the smartest, strong-willed and versatile football players I have ever seen. As a Boston College alum and fan, I had the privilege of watching every game he played...and I must say, he was as Johnny-on-the-spot as any BC defender I've ever seen---even this past year when he was still trying to recover from his illness, he was making play after play.

I've likened him to Mike Vrable---because of his versatality and his playmaking abiity. Plus, you just know Whiz would have him play TE in the red zone.

It woud be a dream come true to see Herzlich don the Cardinal red. I hope they have him on their radar.

Duckjake · May 8th, 2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bg7brd

Why wouldn't we want this guy as an UDFA? He seems perfect for the SILB position. He's probably a year away from getting back to playing strength but he could be the steal of the draft. I heard he's working out here in the valley and fortunately for us, Whiz has shown that he doesn't care where you were selected in the draft. I also heard that we pay UDFAs more than most. A ton of teams will be after him but I hope he really considers us. I think Az would be a perfect fit for him and he has a good shot to make the team.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1243115

I'm all for it. Looks like he'd fit right in with some of the other guys we just picked up like Acho.

He was rated the 217th prospect overall by CBSsports.com, which would put him in 7th round area, so would be a solid pickup.

Sendlein, and Money Mike have been great acquisitions as UDFAs. What other UDFAs originally signed by Arizona were on the roster that have made significant contributions?

Cardinals 7th round draft picks:
Jim Dray started 3 games in 2011
LSHowling: outstanding return man. Won a fan a HOUSE!
Brandon Keith: starter at RT in 2011 before getting hurt
Ben Patrick: On the roster for 4 years, scored a TD in the SB. Had trouble staying on the field.

Not bad for 7th round guys.

Krangthebrain · May 8th, 2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckjake

I'm all for it. Looks like he'd fit right in with some of the other guys we just picked up like Acho.

He was rated the 217th prospect overall by CBSsports.com, which would put him in 7th round area, so would be a solid pickup.

Sendlein, and Money Mike have been great acquisitions as UDFAs. What other UDFAs originally signed by Arizona were on the roster that have made significant contributions?

Cardinals 7th round draft picks:
Jim Dray started 3 games in 2011
LSHowling: outstanding return man. Won a fan a HOUSE!
Brandon Keith: starter at RT in 2011 before getting hurt
Ben Patrick: On the roster for 4 years, scored a TD in the SB. Had trouble staying on the field.

Not bad for 7th round guys.

LOL I forgot Sam Acho....

Duckjake · May 8th, 2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krangthebrain

LOL I forgot Sam Acho....

Fit in like this:

Quote:

(Herzlich)Highly respected on and off the field by the coaching staff, teammates and fans. Was a fixture on the BC sideline throughout the 2009-10 season while battling cancer. Helped raise over $200,000 for cancer research. Earned numerous honors for his courage and outreach, including the Disney Spirit Award, an honorary Lott Trophy and the ACC Commissioner's Cup. Won the Rudy Award and the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award …

Quote:

Acho won the 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy, formerly known as the Draddy Trophy and commonly referred to as the "Academic Heisman." He excelled in three sports in high school, tested out of 26 class hours before attending UT, and won multiple Academic All-American awards for his production and academic prowess. Intelligent, hard-working player who puts in the time in the weight and film rooms. Received multiple National ARA Sportsmanship Awards. A member of the 2010 AFCA Good Works Team …
active in UT's community service program ... is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Dell Children's Medical Center ... joins his brother, Emmanuel, and father among others on a medical mission trip to Nigeria each summer ... a member of UT's Student Advisory Council ... served as one of UT's representatives at the Big 12's Conference on Black Student Government ... was UT's representative at the 2009 NCAA Leadership Conference ... volunteers time to special events for local homeless shelters ... participated in UT's Orange Santa program ... was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the Intercultural Club and the student government as a prepster ... was a class representative as a senior and class vice president as a sophomore ... spent time at the Jubilee Community Center helping teach adults English as a second language.

My kind of guys.

jf-08 · May 8th, 2011, 11:11 AM

I would pick him up in a heartbeat!

bg7brd · May 8th, 2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger_Goodell

There have been rumors that the Patriots will offer him a deal when the lockout is lifted.

I'm sure that many teams will offer a deal.

Early · May 8th, 2011, 12:42 PM

Before he got cancer, i rated him as top 5 player in the draft. He is not as athletic as before, and maybe he will be eventually. There are many plays he can't make now that he would before, because of agility and speed.

But speaking of toughness, football intelligence and and love for the game, he is up there with Ryan Kerrigan IMO.

He is everything you want in a leader of the defense.

NashDishesDimes · May 8th, 2011, 12:47 PM

I read somewhere that he got drafted by the UFL. Im not sure if that means he is no longer eligable for the 2011 NFL season or not...

Monty · May 8th, 2011, 04:50 PM

Ive been a big fan of this kid for a while now. Here is a post I made in January before the senior bowl highlighting exactly why I thought he could fit in well as a SILB for us and as an all round good character to have around at the club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monty

I actually really like Herzlich as a potential SILB. His current reported size of 6'4 250 plays reasonably well at the position .He is very good in coverage and in particular at sticking to his gap assignments. When you watch tape of him you will see he almost never gets fooled on misdirections or bootlegs. When tackling he doesnt have the greatest technique in that he tackles a bit too high and needs to learn to lower his pads to hit lower as well as using his feet to drive through the ballcarrier, but he wraps up the ball carrier well and currently his immense upper body strength means more often than not he is able to take the ballcarrier down. Furthermore, the guy just loves to lay the wood and makes good contact which goes very well with his fearless and instinctive style of play, to create a good combination of SILB skillsets.

I do not see him as an 3-4 OLB because he neither has the speed or an adequate enough number of pass rush moves. Becuase of his very good upper body strenght it can seem like he can shed blocks well becuase he just overpowers offensive lineman but in reality that will never work in the NFL.

That said, he is a fighter and has an incredible strong willpower. He survived a terrible cancer a year ago and his ability to come back from that shows his tenacity and willpower. He is a vocal and instinctice player and leader on the field and for me he overall represents a very good SILB candidate.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/...-162904-3.html

kerouac9 · May 8th, 2011, 04:55 PM

Herzlich, despite being an amazing story, was the Mr. Irrelevant of the United Football League Draft.

Fans don't want to face it, but there's something wrong with the guy if everyone and their grandmother are shying away from him.

Krangthebrain · May 8th, 2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerouac9

Herzlich, despite being an amazing story, was the Mr. Irrelevant of the United Football League Draft.

Fans don't want to face it, but there's something wrong with the guy if everyone and their grandmother are shying away from him.

Sounds like a great undrafted free agent to me.

IMO the guy is intriguing enough to give him a shot, and the team isn't exactly overflowing with LB talent.

kerouac9 · May 8th, 2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krangthebrain

Sounds like a great undrafted free agent to me.

IMO the guy is intriguing enough to give him a shot, and the team isn't exactly overflowing with LB talent.

So you want a guy who could barely get drafted by the UFL as an undrafted free agent? I mean, he'll come at virtually no cost and will be a great story for training camp, but it's a little early to start pencilling him onto the depth chart. I certainly wouldn't pass over guys who I think can actually play in the NFL for this guy.

If Herzlich signs with the UFL, I'm not sure if he'll even be available to sign as a UDFA. Pat Devlin was supposed to be the #1 pick in the UFL draft, but he declined a contract in hopes of getting a UDFA deal once the labor issue is settled.

I fully expect at least one and maybe two veteran FAs to come to camp at the SILB position.