Fixing the Pass Rush via the Draft

[DaisyCutter]

What do people think about picking Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU, 6'5", 289) and Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech, 6'6.5", 255) in the second and third rounds? I'll be looking at Jackson during the BCS Championship game, but I missed Johnson.

Also, who wouldn't be excited to pick up a prospect like Ryan Clady (OT, Boise State) or Phil Loadhold (OT, Oklahoma) or Duke Robinson (G, Oklahoma) to staunch the OL? While I think that the Cards will be looking at RBs in this draft, it's looking like this draft will be deep in them.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i don't know who he was, but #55 for the georgia bulldogs looked like he knew the snap count against hawaii he was so fast off the snap. i mean he was usually past the OT before the OT was outta his stance. whoever that guy was, draft HIM.

 

[DaisyCutter]

i don't know who he was, but #55 for the georgia bulldogs looked like he knew the snap count against hawaii he was so fast off the snap. i mean he was usually past the OT before the OT was outta his stance. whoever that guy was, draft HIM.

According to ESPN.com, his name is Jeremy Lomax, and he's a junior. Haven't heard of him. 6'2", 247. I didn't see the game. Maybe he'll come out early.

 

[DoTheDew]

If he declares I like Derrick Harvey of Florida in the first round. He is the type that can be a 3-4 rush LB or a 4-3 end ala Berry and Okeafor, and is projected in the top 20 in most mocks I have seen.

 

[sundevil04]

Go

I think the best thing we can do for our pass rush is to get healthy, namely Okeafor. Dockett and Watson/Branch are a GREAT tantem up front. Smith is a high motor guy, could be upgraded but I see him as a starter in this league although a very average one. Dansby (assuming he re-signs) and Hayes are very solid in the middle.

The question marks forme begin and end with the OLB's. Pace (assuming he re-signs) had a statistically better year than Suggs especiall in the pass-rush dept, he seems like a budding young player recording 98 tackles & 6.5 sacks with NO help opposite him for the last half of the season. I think the weak side LB spot is the most interesting and easily upgraded. We lost the starter (Okeafor) in the pre-season to a bicep tear and were able to fit Berry in with a fare amount of success. Look at Dockett's pass rush stats before and after Berry went down. I think it's very likely that Berry will not be with this team next season. However, the step up from Tafoya to Okeafor is a VERY significant one and will improve the pass rush significantly since defenders will have to very seriously account for Okeafor the way they did with Berry in the first half of the season. In the first half of the season Dockett had 8 sacks with Berry having to be accounted for by blockers, after Berry went down to a season ending injury Dockett had 1 sack in the last half of the season...NOT a coincidence. Let's also not forgt that Okeafor had 8,9,8 & 9 sacks in the past for seasons respectively.

I strongly believe Okeafor's injury this year was a freak thing since he's widely regarded as a workout warrior and has only missed 3 games due to injury in his 8 year career. That being said Okeafor will be 32 next season and while he'll be back at 100% next year and will be a force for another year or 2 the bottom line is he is aging and nearing the end of a contract. A young pass rusher to groom would be nice a Vernon Gholston/D.Harvey or Q.Groves woule nice in rd.1 but is it a better option than a RB to replace Edge (this year or next)?
________
Wendie 99

 

[football karma]

some random notes on bowl game scouting:

Quentin Groves, Auburn. yuck. Absolutely invisible. I didnt expect 5 sacks, but looking for some impact in the game. Saw zero. I am off the bandwagon (and I was in the front seat on the darn thing).

Chris Ellis, Va Tech. Decent showing. Played at d end, got some decent pressure that led to sacks for others. More of an all around linebacker type rather than a guy who can come in and boost the pass rush immediately. Seemed like a heady player and hustled. Net/net -- a decent addition, not sure he is worth #16, and wont come in and be an impact pass rusher early in his career.

 

[john h]

some random notes on bowl game scouting:

Quentin Groves, Auburn. yuck. Absolutely invisible. I didnt expect 5 sacks, but looking for some impact in the game. Saw zero. I am off the bandwagon (and I was in the front seat on the darn thing).

Chris Ellis, Va Tech. Decent showing. Played at d end, got some decent pressure that led to sacks for others. More of an all around linebacker type rather than a guy who can come in and boost the pass rush immediately. Seemed like a heady player and hustled. Net/net -- a decent addition, not sure he is worth #16, and wont come in and be an impact pass rusher early in his career.

The Missouri QB did not look very spectacular as they crushed Arkansas but that was because they reverted to a running game. He is likely a first round selection as this was just one game. McFadden probably will drop because he only gained 106 yards against a defense that went with 8 in the box to stop him. These bowl games are only one game and one needs to look at the body of work of a player over his career. The RB from Missouri who ran for around 260 yards will probably not even be drafted if he is elgible. Missouri came with an excellent game plan knowing Arkansas has a terrible QB and could not pass. They used the spread offense to perfection. Missouri sure looked like a team that should have been in a BCS bowl to me. Hawaii was way out of their league. USC beat up an overmatched team in Illinois who should have been playing Arkansas while Missouri played USC.

 

[overseascardfan]

What do people think about picking Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU, 6'5", 289) and Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech, 6'6.5", 255) in the second and third rounds? I'll be looking at Jackson during the BCS Championship game, but I missed Johnson.

Also, who wouldn't be excited to pick up a prospect like Ryan Clady (OT, Boise State) or Phil Loadhold (OT, Oklahoma) or Duke Robinson (G, Oklahoma) to staunch the OL? While I think that the Cards will be looking at RBs in this draft, it's looking like this draft will be deep in them.

If he declares I like Derrick Harvey of Florida in the first round. He is the type that can be a 3-4 rush LB or a 4-3 end ala Berry and Okeafor, and is projected in the top 20 in most mocks I have seen.

Tyson Jackson probably will return to school next year, says guys like Dorsey & Landry chose to come back as seniors and he feels he will do the same. Not to say that a huge game against OSU will change his mind.

Ryan Clady will probably not make it out of the 1st round, some mocks have him as the second OT off the board after Jake Long ahead of Sam Baker.

Derrick Harvey has declared, should be a 1st rounder but he had a disappointing JR year, how big is this guy some draft sites list him at 6'4 some at 6'2 best fit would be at WLB in 3-4 system.

 

[Duckjake]

If we get starters at Berry's OLB/DE position and safety in the 2008 draft we would have 11 of 12 "starters" (nickel corner being the 12th) from our own drafts!

DE Dockett
NT Watson
DE Smith
OLB Pace
ILB Dansby
ILB Hayes
OLB rookie
CB Hood
CBGreen
NCB Rolle
SS Wilson
FS rookie

 

[perivolaki]

I think the best thing we can do for our pass rush is to get healthy, namely Okeafor. Dockett and Watson/Branch are a GREAT tantem up front. Smith is a high motor guy, could be upgraded but I see him as a starter in this league although a very average one. Dansby (assuming he re-signs) and Hayes are very solid in the middle.

The question marks forme begin and end with the OLB's. Pace (assuming he re-signs) had a statistically better year than Suggs especiall in the pass-rush dept, he seems like a budding young player recording 98 tackles & 6.5 sacks with NO help opposite him for the last half of the season. I think the weak side LB spot is the most interesting and easily upgraded. We lost the starter (Okeafor) in the pre-season to a bicep tear and were able to fit Berry in with a fare amount of success. Look at Dockett's pass rush stats before and after Berry went down. I think it's very likely that Berry will not be with this team next season. However, the step up from Tafoya to Okeafor is a VERY significant one and will improve the pass rush significantly since defenders will have to very seriously account for Okeafor the way they did with Berry in the first half of the season. In the first half of the season Dockett had 8 sacks with Berry having to be accounted for by blockers, after Berry went down to a season ending injury Dockett had 1 sack in the last half of the season...NOT a coincidence. Let's also not forgt that Okeafor had 8,9,8 & 9 sacks in the past for seasons respectively.

I strongly believe Okeafor's injury this year was a freak thing since he's widely regarded as a workout warrior and has only missed 3 games due to injury in his 8 year career. That being said Okeafor will be 32 next season and while he'll be back at 100% next year and will be a force for another year or 2 the bottom line is he is aging and nearing the end of a contract. A young pass rusher to groom would be nice a Vernon Gholston/D.Harvey or Q.Groves woule nice in rd.1 but is it a better option than a RB to replace Edge (this year or next)?

Thats a reasoned and thoughtful approach. What are you doing on this message board?