http://www.azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=135
Jurecki's Observations on Cards Draft
When it comes to grading each team’s draft, it is so unpredictable because it’s only a matter of time before it all shakes out. The only analogy I can compare it to is bringing home that special someone to meet the parents and they aren’t as excited as you are. We all know that people put stock in first impressions but in time things can always change. Now that the 68th National Football League draft has come to an end, let’s get into the 2003 draft class.
For weeks, the Arizona Cardinals discussed the possibility of trading down to acquire additional draft picks. This was the case on Saturday when they swung a deal with the New Orleans Saints. According to my sources, the Cardinals would have stayed put at number six if the following players were on the board: defensive tackle Dwayne Robertson, wide receivers Andre Johnson and Charles Rogers. At that time, these players were not on the board. If they were forced to make a pick at six, they would have chosen defensive lineman Kevin Williams, defensive tackles Johnathan Sullivan or Jimmy Kennedy. Since the targeted players were not on the board, the Cardinals decided to go a different route and so they made the deal with the Saints.
Here’s where it gets interesting. As I mentioned before I really didn’t have a problem with them moving down but I felt they gave up too much. By switching second round picks going from 37th overall to 54th the overall, they really changed the dynamics of the draft. Keep in mind, Arizona tried to trade running back Thomas Jones or cornerback Michael Stone but the Saints weren’t interested. They wanted a 4th round pick in this year’s draft and in the end that’s what they got. My concerns are not the 4th round pick but switching their second round picks came back to hurt them. They were forced to reach in order to fill a need at the 18th overall pick in the first round after they had just drafted wide receiver Bryant Johnson. The Cardinals wanted defensive end Jerome McDougle, but Philadelphia moved up and took him at 15. They miscalculated because there was a run on defensive linemen and the player they wanted didn’t fall to them. The Redbirds were thinking about drafting two receivers with their two first round picks but felt they couldn’t wait till the second round to fill their biggest need. Looking at their draft board, here’s where the reach came into play--because they didn’t have that early second round pick they went with the best defensive end on their board at the time --Calvin Pace from Wake Forest. At that point, defensive end Chris Kelsay was ranked close to Pace, but they felt Pace had had a bigger upside as a pass rusher. Regardless of whether Pace was projected to go late in the first round or early in the second this is what transpired. This is no knock on Pace who could eventually turn out to be a quality football player who has a big upside. I know hind sight is 20/20 but by switching second round picks they were forced to go this route.
Bird Seed...
All week the fans have been questioning why the Cardinals didn’t draft Terrell Suggs. First of all, Mr. Suggs wasn’t ranked in the top 15 when it came to the Arizona draft board. If you get a chance to put down the Suggs kool – aid, try to look at the facts. The Cardinals and ten other teams passed on him. It wasn’t ironic that the only two teams that showed interest in picking Suggs in the top ten were the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. Both of these teams play 3-4 defenses, where Suggs would be better suited to play at outside linebacker. Personally, I think he landed in a great situation that will allow him to use his strengths to rush the passer off the edge from the linebacker spot. The word out of Baltimore is that they would like him to get down to 240 lbs. in order to utilize the speed he has. Suggs will be playing alongside former MVP Ray Lewis and his position coach Hall of Famer Mike Singletary. Could he be in a better situation to flourish?
Looking at the numbers pertaining to the Cardinals draft, they filled some holes especially at the wide receiver spot and on the defensive line. Surprisingly, the Cardinals actually drafted two linebackers giving them eleven on the current roster. That’s the number they would like to take to training camp in Flagstaff. This should be good competition at an area where they could use some immediate help putting pressure on the quarterback.
June 1st should be interesting when it comes to some of the cap casualties because once again the Redbirds will have the most money to spend in a couple of areas where they can upgrade. The team could use a couple of veteran defensive linemen and a seasoned veteran corner that can push for the nickel corner spot.
Memo to all draft guru’s … How many Wake Forest football games did you watch last year?
Jurecki's Observations on Cards Draft
When it comes to grading each team’s draft, it is so unpredictable because it’s only a matter of time before it all shakes out. The only analogy I can compare it to is bringing home that special someone to meet the parents and they aren’t as excited as you are. We all know that people put stock in first impressions but in time things can always change. Now that the 68th National Football League draft has come to an end, let’s get into the 2003 draft class.
For weeks, the Arizona Cardinals discussed the possibility of trading down to acquire additional draft picks. This was the case on Saturday when they swung a deal with the New Orleans Saints. According to my sources, the Cardinals would have stayed put at number six if the following players were on the board: defensive tackle Dwayne Robertson, wide receivers Andre Johnson and Charles Rogers. At that time, these players were not on the board. If they were forced to make a pick at six, they would have chosen defensive lineman Kevin Williams, defensive tackles Johnathan Sullivan or Jimmy Kennedy. Since the targeted players were not on the board, the Cardinals decided to go a different route and so they made the deal with the Saints.
Here’s where it gets interesting. As I mentioned before I really didn’t have a problem with them moving down but I felt they gave up too much. By switching second round picks going from 37th overall to 54th the overall, they really changed the dynamics of the draft. Keep in mind, Arizona tried to trade running back Thomas Jones or cornerback Michael Stone but the Saints weren’t interested. They wanted a 4th round pick in this year’s draft and in the end that’s what they got. My concerns are not the 4th round pick but switching their second round picks came back to hurt them. They were forced to reach in order to fill a need at the 18th overall pick in the first round after they had just drafted wide receiver Bryant Johnson. The Cardinals wanted defensive end Jerome McDougle, but Philadelphia moved up and took him at 15. They miscalculated because there was a run on defensive linemen and the player they wanted didn’t fall to them. The Redbirds were thinking about drafting two receivers with their two first round picks but felt they couldn’t wait till the second round to fill their biggest need. Looking at their draft board, here’s where the reach came into play--because they didn’t have that early second round pick they went with the best defensive end on their board at the time --Calvin Pace from Wake Forest. At that point, defensive end Chris Kelsay was ranked close to Pace, but they felt Pace had had a bigger upside as a pass rusher. Regardless of whether Pace was projected to go late in the first round or early in the second this is what transpired. This is no knock on Pace who could eventually turn out to be a quality football player who has a big upside. I know hind sight is 20/20 but by switching second round picks they were forced to go this route.
Bird Seed...
All week the fans have been questioning why the Cardinals didn’t draft Terrell Suggs. First of all, Mr. Suggs wasn’t ranked in the top 15 when it came to the Arizona draft board. If you get a chance to put down the Suggs kool – aid, try to look at the facts. The Cardinals and ten other teams passed on him. It wasn’t ironic that the only two teams that showed interest in picking Suggs in the top ten were the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. Both of these teams play 3-4 defenses, where Suggs would be better suited to play at outside linebacker. Personally, I think he landed in a great situation that will allow him to use his strengths to rush the passer off the edge from the linebacker spot. The word out of Baltimore is that they would like him to get down to 240 lbs. in order to utilize the speed he has. Suggs will be playing alongside former MVP Ray Lewis and his position coach Hall of Famer Mike Singletary. Could he be in a better situation to flourish?
Looking at the numbers pertaining to the Cardinals draft, they filled some holes especially at the wide receiver spot and on the defensive line. Surprisingly, the Cardinals actually drafted two linebackers giving them eleven on the current roster. That’s the number they would like to take to training camp in Flagstaff. This should be good competition at an area where they could use some immediate help putting pressure on the quarterback.
June 1st should be interesting when it comes to some of the cap casualties because once again the Redbirds will have the most money to spend in a couple of areas where they can upgrade. The team could use a couple of veteran defensive linemen and a seasoned veteran corner that can push for the nickel corner spot.
Memo to all draft guru’s … How many Wake Forest football games did you watch last year?
