Alan Branch

[Goldfield]

Hate to say this in a contract year. But he needs to be given a new contract. He has been pretty good this year and he gives us a good rotational guy at any position on the line.

I would love to see a 4-3 D line of 90-Williams-Branch-Cambell

 

[Snakester]

He's done well enough to bring him back. Hopefully he can be signed to a reasonable contract.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Meh I wouldn't play 90 at D END. Draft Daquan Bowers with our pick and have a line of: Bowers RE, Williams NT, Dockett UT, and Campbell LE. That's a pretty strong defensive line, with size and pass rush ability. Then you would have Branch to sub at multiple line positions and play NT on pass rushing downs.

Move Washington to the Will backer, draft/sign a MLB, and platoon Haggans/Lenon or draft/sign a guy for the SLB. Not a bad front seven.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Meh I wouldn't play 90 at D END. Draft Daquan Bowers with our pick and have a line of: Bowers RE, Williams NT, Dockett UT, and Campbell LE. That's a pretty strong defensive line, with size and pass rush ability. Then you would have Branch to sub at multiple line positions and play NT on pass rushing downs.

Move Washington to the Will backer, draft/sign a MLB, and platoon Haggans/Lenon or draft/sign a guy for the SLB. Not a bad front seven.

I see your 4-3 and raise you a 3-4.


LB: Campbell <--- Oh yeah, you all know this would work.
DE: Branch
NT: Williams
DE: Dockett
LB: Miller <---draft

Rotation:
DE/NT - "draft pick"
OLB - Schofield


ILB: David Harris <--- FA pipedream
ILB: Daryl Washington

Rotation: Paris Lenon

CB: DRC
CB: Toler
FS: Rhodes
SS: Wilson

Rotation:
NB: AJ Jefferson
3S: Chinedum Ndukwe another FA possibil .... I mean pipedream



I love the offseason. So many hopeless, never going to happen possibilities.

 

[juza76]

Meh I wouldn't play 90 at D END. Draft Daquan Bowers with our pick and have a line of: Bowers RE, Williams NT, Dockett UT, and Campbell LE. That's a pretty strong defensive line, with size and pass rush ability. Then you would have Branch to sub at multiple line positions and play NT on pass rushing downs.

Move Washington to the Will backer, draft/sign a MLB, and platoon Haggans/Lenon or draft/sign a guy for the SLB. Not a bad front seven.

yes is the best option..RE bowers NTwilliams DT dockett LE campbell
branch davis iwabenma sub

we sign david harris(free agent) and we trade up to get von miller
so our linabacker corp is von miller-harris-washington ((talent+ speed))
our fron seven will be amazing

 

[cardpa]

yes is the best option..RE bowers NTwilliams DT dockett LE campbell
branch davis iwabenma sub

we sign david harris(free agent) and we trade up to get von miller
so our linabacker corp is von miller-harris-washington ((talent+ speed))
our fron seven will be amazing

Yes our front 7 would be pretty darn good but only if we get a real DC otherwise all bets are off.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

yes is the best option..RE bowers NTwilliams DT dockett LE campbell
branch davis iwabenma sub

we sign david harris(free agent) and we trade up to get von miller
so our linabacker corp is von miller-harris-washington ((talent+ speed))
our fron seven will be amazing

David Harris should be target 1A,B,C, and D for the off season. We won't have to trade up for Von Miller if we want him. He'll likely go in the twenties,unless you're talking about trading up from round 2.
I think taking a guy like Bowers, Fairley, or Dareus is going to be a wasted pick, especially if Branch is re-signed. They're excellent prospects but do we use a top 5 pick on a guy who will likely be our # 5-6 DL behind CC, Williams, DD, Branch, and possibly Iwebema. Stranger things have happened but I don't think Whiz has any intention of playing a 4-3. If we're drafting in the top 5, and Luck isn't available, I would go with Peterson in round 1 and the OLB Houston, from UGA, in round 2. He's Von Miller with a little more size but a little less speed.

 

[Goldfield]

^^^ Sounds good to me

 

[seesred]

I like the way Branch has come along. Even this year with so many bad defensive games he has stood out. I hope we sign him if the $$ are not to crazy.

GBR
40

 

[SuperSpck]

I'm always worried when a player shins brightest in a contract year.
If he walks I won't sweat bullets, but if he resigns and the production isn't there I wouldn't be shocked.
If he resigns and plays well then it's all hearts and rainbows.

I just don't get why the league is so hung up on the 3-4.
It makes sense schematically, but you have to have such excellent and rare players at NT and OLB that it seems unlikely. Combine that with the fact that half the teams run it and you're already diminishing a finite resource.

I like Krang's lineup.

 

[Chopper0080]

I also can't see us switching to a 4-3 even though I prefer the 4-3 and think our personnel fits it better. As is, here is my pipe dream if we don't get Lucky.

FA:
David Harris - ILB


Draft:
1-Patrick Peterson - CB
2-I would love Von Miller to drop, but I might have to settle for a project like Dontay Moch, Jeremy Beal or Wayne Daniels. Not familiar with Houston out of Georgia.
3-Mark Herzlich or Casey Matthews. (attitude backers)

 

[Assface]

I'm always worried when a player shines brightest in a contract year.

Since the "contract year" is the last year in a player's contract, if it's not their best year then they've either regressed or stopped improving.

In the case of Alan Branch he's playing better this year then he did last year, and last year played better than he did the year before that. Although he didn't make the immediate impact that many wanted and expected, he has shown steady improvement each year.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I'm always worried when a player shins brightest in a contract year.
If he walks I won't sweat bullets, but if he resigns and the production isn't there I wouldn't be shocked.
If he resigns and plays well then it's all hearts and rainbows.

I just don't get why the league is so hung up on the 3-4.
It makes sense schematically, but you have to have such excellent and rare players at NT and OLB that it seems unlikely. Combine that with the fact that half the teams run it and you're already diminishing a finite resource.

I like Krang's lineup.

If we were to go 4-3.

Then I put Dockett at DE.

Dockett
Branch
Williams
Campbell

It is at LB where I get nervous. MLB ? SOLB? Who ?

WILB - Daryl Washington
MLB - ?
SOLB - ?

But this move would make players like Will Davis, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, O'Brien Schofield, Paris Lenon, and Kenny Iwebema useless IMO.

Maybe try O'Brien Schofield at DE, and bump Dockett inside on certain rotations ?

 

[Krangodnzr]

I see your 4-3 and raise you a 3-4.


LB: Campbell <--- Oh yeah, you all know this would work.
DE: Branch
NT: Williams
DE: Dockett
LB: Miller <---draft

Rotation:
DE/NT - "draft pick"
OLB - Schofield


ILB: David Harris <--- FA pipedream
ILB: Daryl Washington

Rotation: Paris Lenon

CB: DRC
CB: Toler
FS: Rhodes
SS: Wilson

Rotation:
NB: AJ Jefferson
3S: Chinedum Ndukwe another FA possibil .... I mean pipedream



I love the offseason. So many hopeless, never going to happen possibilities.

I disagree. Campbell doesn't move well enough to play OLB in a 3-4, but he's also miscast having to hold the edge/rush the passer as a 3-4 DE as well. He'd be best suited as a LE, since he'd take on less blockers and be able to use his lateral quickness better.

I've watched some film on Miller, and while he's put up great numbers, teams consistently gain big yardage running right at him and he's consistently out of position. He's also not he biggest guy in the world and would have to add some size to play the 3-4 OLB in the NFL.

Bowers is a beast in the Julius Peppers mold, a guy you can build a defense around. He moves well enough that even if we didn't switch back to a 4-3, he could still play a rush backer position in the 3-4. Much better prospect than Miller IMO.

 

[Mulli]

I disagree. Campbell doesn't move well enough to play OLB in a 3-4, but he's also miscast having to hold the edge/rush the passer as a 3-4 DE as well. He'd be best suited as a LE, since he'd take on less blockers and be able to use his lateral quickness better.

I've watched some film on Miller, and while he's put up great numbers, teams consistently gain big yardage running right at him and he's consistently out of position. He's also not he biggest guy in the world and would have to add some size to play the 3-4 OLB in the NFL.

Bowers is a beast in the Julius Peppers mold, a guy you can build a defense around. He moves well enough that even if we didn't switch back to a 4-3, he could still play a rush backer position in the 3-4. Much better prospect than Miller IMO.

I thought the same thing about Bowers and the 3-4.

 

[Krangodnzr]

If we were to go 4-3.

Then I put Dockett at DE.

Dockett
Branch
Williams
Campbell

It is at LB where I get nervous. MLB ? SOLB? Who ?

WILB - Daryl Washington
MLB - ?
SOLB - ?

But this move would make players like Will Davis, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, O'Brien Schofield, Paris Lenon, and Kenny Iwebema useless IMO.

Maybe try O'Brien Schofield at DE, and bump Dockett inside on certain rotations ?

That defense would consistently struggle to get an outside rush. Dockett would likely get no more than 5 sacks playing a traditional 4-3 DE. And I'm not sold on Branch. He's had his moments, but he's looked more like a super sub and occasional spot starter than frontline starter.

Clark Haggans would play quite well as a SOLB IMO. He sets the edge very well and he can cover a bit. Paris Lenon has earned a spot on this defense IMO, but I'd like him more as a sub rotating between the 3 backer positions since he's kind of a jack of all trades, master of none.

We'll likely have a high enough draft pick to have a shot a Bowers and it would be pure folly for the Cards to NOT draft the elite pass rusher this defense could use. If we don't get him, we'll just have to wait 3-4 years for Ja'Daveon Clowney (sp?) to come out. That kid is going to be a beast, has a chance to dominate.

 

[SuperSpck]

If we were to go 4-3.

Then I put Dockett at DE.

Dockett
Branch
Williams
Campbell

It is at LB where I get nervous. MLB ? SOLB? Who ?

WILB - Daryl Washington
MLB - ?
SOLB - ?

But this move would make players like Will Davis, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, O'Brien Schofield, Paris Lenon, and Kenny Iwebema useless IMO.

Maybe try O'Brien Schofield at DE, and bump Dockett inside on certain rotations ?

The 4-3 makes me so much happier. I love two things about it. 1) We saw some of it on Sunday! Yah! Haggans plays hand-on-the-ground in some of 'em, so that answers that.

2) The personnel packages alone you could put together are tremendous. Imagine what a professional could do with it. We've seen ASFNers spitball some terrific possibilities.

FWIW I like
1st/2nd long - Campbell, Branch, Williams, Dockett
3rd down - Scho, Dockett, Campbell, Haggins/young buck.

The LBer situation isn't that bleak. Wash at Will is a smart move. I think that oddly WILB for Lennon is the perfect fit, but I do believe in his previous stops he was a Mike in the 4-3.

Scho could get a look at Sam and Mike, he could do both well, but it's quite possible he does double-duty as a rush end.

Kenny was a DT in college and would be a good UT rusher and reliever.

 

[SuperSpck]

That defense would consistently struggle to get an outside rush.

That's the biggest cause of concern, but they currently change spacing based on down/distance/package, I see no reason that can't continue.
Dockett's still best shooting the gap off the line and can do that as well from the 7/9 as he does from 3/5. I think Campbell could really shine, he's really able to fly when he builds a head of steam (think back to his ST days).
Like Lennon at WILB I do think Branch is at his best as a 3-4 end, but I'd say he'd find his groove now that the light seems to have come on.

 

[SuperSpck]

Since the "contract year" is the last year in a player's contract, if it's not their best year then they've either regressed or stopped improving.

In the case of Alan Branch he's playing better this year then he did last year, and last year played better than he did the year before that. Although he didn't make the immediate impact that many wanted and expected, he has shown steady improvement each year.

I suppose you're right, he's been showing steady improvement, what I do worry about it when a player takes his game to a ridiculous level for one year, cashes in FA and then disappears as the motivation that drove that performance disappears.
I'm not making the phenomenon up, right?

 

[Chopper0080]

If we went to a 4-3 your rotation would have to go

Campbell-DE
Dockett-DT (3 technique)
D Williams-DT (nose)
Bowers-DE (or other edge rusher, though I really like Bowers and would also draft Romeus later)

*This allows Dockett to use his speed and disrupt plays with penetration. Campbell is athletic enough to play end and still get a rush. His length on the end would make for his lack of speed against tackles. Dan holds the middle, while our other end can get up field.

SILB-Lenon (I don't like it, but he can hold up in coverage where guys like Haggens can't.

MILB-?

WILB-D Washington (This makes so much sense as he fits this role perfectly)

 

[LarryStalling]

Draft the Mlb from Illinois named Wilson. Dude is pretty good.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Dockett's still best shooting the gap off the line and can do that as well from the 7/9 as he does from 3/5.

I think Dockett can play DE.

I think people get to caught up on the height and weight of the player and not his skill set.

Reggie White. Best DE I have ever seen.

Then there are the second tear "big" DE's like a Richard Dent or Michael Strahan.

With the quickness off the snap, the power, and the atheletisism of Dockett he could play DE, and I think he could be perenial All-Pro there.

 

[Cards Czar]

Draft the Mlb from Illinois named Wilson. Dude is pretty good.

I have been pimping him for some time now. Martez Wilson is a 4yr Junior due to a new injury last year that keep him out for 09. He is back with a vengance. 6-4, 250, and runs a 4.6 40. Hey does that remined you of somebody we had last year on this team? He plays MLB but also lines ups at SOLB and DE. His plays the run with that attitude you look for in a MLB and is really good hanging with the RB or TE that comes over the middle.
If he comes out which i think he does, I have him rated at middle to high 2nd rounder.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I have been pimping him for some time now. Martez Wilson is a 4yr Junior due to a new injury last year that keep him out for 09. He is back with a vengance. 6-4, 250, and runs a 4.6 40. Hey does that remined you of somebody we had last year on this team? He plays MLB but also lines ups at SOLB and DE. His plays the run with that attitude you look for in a MLB and is really good hanging with the RB or TE that comes over the middle.
If he comes out which i think he does, I have him rated at middle to high 2nd rounder.

Sweet:

1: Bower/Miller
2: M. Wilson
3: OT

Starting to all come together.

 

[SuperSpck]

I think Dockett can play DE.

I think people get to caught up on the height and weight of the player and not his skill set.

Reggie White. Best DE I have ever seen.

Then there are the second tear "big" DE's like a Richard Dent or Michael Strahan.

With the quickness off the snap, the power, and the atheletisism of Dockett he could play DE, and I think he could be perenial All-Pro there.

I agree with you sir!