Krang's "no smoke screen" Mock Draft

[Krangodnzr]

Krang's "no smoke screen" Mock Draft. This is based on who I would take + SportingNews projections + comments from Graves and Mac. Flame away if you disagree.

1. Terrell Suggs, DE Arizona State-
His terrible workout scares away all of the top five teams, but the Cards know this guy better than any other NFL team. Though he didn't run well, watching tape of him shows that he plays at least at a 4.5 40 time. He will add instant pass rush, though he will need to get a feel for the NFL to become a good run defender. It took Suggs a few years to learn how to play the run in college, and I expect the same for him in the NFL. Has the potential to be an overall dominant defender, since he shows the ability to learn technique and the motor and heart that is requisite to becoming a great NFL defender.

2. Bryant Johnson, Wr Penn State-
A big receiver with big play ability, he might not be available here, but there are numerous options. Brandon Lloyd or Anquan Boldin might work at this spot also, but I like Bryant better. Bryant really came on last year, and looks like he could be a pretty good #2 NFL receiver. I think that he will become a Frank Sanders type in the NFL: a steady receiver that will be big on third downs.

3. Sammy Davis, CB Texas A&M-
David Barrett, while pretty good, is not a great #2 corner. Sammy Davis has number 2 written all over him. He is aggressive, shows fluid hips (very important), and is strong. He would be a steal right here, as he could go in the 2nd round.

4. Antwan Peek, DE Cincinnatti
I honestly believe he will go higher, but I'm basing my projections on the Sportingnews projections. If he is available here, the Cards pass rush all of a sudden doesn't look so bad. Though smallish, Peek is the fastest DE in the draft. Suggs+Peek+Dennis Johnson+ Bryant+Bell on the field in 3rd an long situations looks pretty good.

5. Bethel Johnson, Wr Texas A&M
Joins teammate Sammy Davis as a Cardinal. Sporting News projects him to be a 7th rounder, but I think he will go a little earlier. He is one of the faster receivers in the draft, and would potentially be our kick returner next year. A very talented player, but needs a lot of work. Jerry Sullivan and Tyke Tolbert believe he can be a gamebreaking 3rd receiver in this league with proper coaching.

6. Austin King, C Northwestern
The Cards were tempted to answer center early in the draft, but decide that they already have a few options at center on the roster. King is a tough, smart player and is in the mold of what the Cards look for in a center. A good pick at this point, and he should be a starter within 3 years.

6. Langston Moore, DT South Carolina
I've watched this guy for a few years now thanks to my brother, ASFN newbie Redrage. A tough, strong but undersized tackle. He plays with great leverage and is decently quick. A lunch pal dirt worker, I honestly believe he could make our roster and be a decent backup.

7, Khalid Abdullah, Mars Hill College
A player from a sleepy college in the mountains of North Carolina (and it happens to be my parents Alma Mater). He ran very well, though he is undersized. SportingNews compared him to Raynoch and it doesn't sound that far off, since he is 6'2, 220 and runs a 4.59. Sounds like a good special teams player, and this team needs a few special teams only players.

 

[BACH]

I love it, Krang. I really hope the draft turns out like this, BUT I think you're being a bit urealistic. This scenario could have been possible three months ago, but IMO not anymore. Besides QB Boller, no one in the draft have probably risen as much as Johnson and Davis. Both have had exellent work-outs. Jacobs is dropping which means Johnson have moved up to the #4 WR (Roger; Johnson & Washington). It's the same with Davis. He's moved to #4 CB (Newman, Trufant & Woolfolk), because Weathersby is dropping. I would be surprised if either one was there at #37.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by BACH
I love it, Krang. I really hope the draft turns out like this, BUT I think you're being a bit urealistic. This scenario could have been possible three months ago, but IMO not anymore. Besides QB Boller, no one in the draft have probably risen as much as Johnson and Davis. Both have had exellent work-outs. Jacobs is dropping which means Johnson have moved up to the #4 WR (Roger; Johnson & Washington). It's the same with Davis. He's moved to #4 CB (Newman, Trufant & Woolfolk), because Weathersby is dropping. I would be surprised if either one was there at #37.

I don't think that Davis' stock has risen THAT much, and but I do think that Johnson possibly could go in round one. Davis as I said, will probably go in round 2. If he does it changes everything.

 

[spanky]

I agree with each of your picks as to position (pretty well all....I go DT in RD. 5 and C in RD 6), but have other selections......just my bias' versus yours......no biggy. Krang, am I crazy for looking at Peek as a OLB versus a DE

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by spanky
I agree with each of your picks as to position (pretty well all....I go DT in RD. 5 and C in RD 6), but have other selections......just my bias' versus yours......no biggy. Krang, am I crazy for looking at Peek as a OLB versus a DE

Not really. He certainly has the size and speed to play OLB, but he is more ready to be a pass rush specialist right now.

Adding Suggs AND Peek would be a stroke of genius, or it could be redundant, and I clearly can see that. Two of my picks, as Bach stated might not be there when we pick (Johnson and Davis), but there are comparable players that could fill those slots instead.

 

[spanky]

Krang.......Peek was origionally an OLB who was converted to a DE......wasn't Colvin going to be used as an OLB in Mac's thinking.....to go along with a pass rush oriented DE?

 

[ajcardfan]

All of your rounds 3-6a picks are one to two rounds later than they will probably go. It'd be a fabulous draft. Sammy Davis in round three would be the best pick of the whole deal.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
All of your rounds 3-6a picks are one to two rounds later than they will probably go. It'd be a fabulous draft. Sammy Davis in round three would be the best pick of the whole deal.

If the Cardinals did draft Sammy Davis, does that mean Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Joey Bishop would perform during the pre-game every Sunday?

 

[Snakester]

Nice draft Krang, I think your 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks should all move up one round. If we get Suggs everything else to me will be gravy.

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree with all picks except Peek, since we'll already have drafted Suggs. How about Matt Wilhelm instead?

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by spanky
Krang.......Peek was origionally an OLB who was converted to a DE......wasn't Colvin going to be used as an OLB in Mac's thinking.....to go along with a pass rush oriented DE?

No, not according to what I could find:

2002 SEASON
All-America third-team choice by The NFL Draft Report … All-Conference USA first-team selection … Started all year at strongside defensive end … Led the team with 98 tackles (48 solos) in 14 games … Had 6.5 sacks for minus-38 yards, 22 stops for losses of 70 yards and 35 quarterback pressures … Recovered 5 fumbles for 75 yards in returns and a pair of touchdowns … Set the school's single-season record with 7 forced fumbles … Blocked a pair of kicks and deflected 3 passes

2001 SEASON
First team All-Conference USA selection … Received the team's John Pease Award for the second straight year as Cincinnati's top defensive lineman … Manned the strongside defensive end position in 10 games, starting eight … Recorded 60 tackles (37 solo) while appearing in 521 plays … Set the school's single-season record with 12.5 sacks for minus-102 yards, topping the old mark of 9 sacks by Andrew Stewart in 1987 … Led the team with 22 stops for losses of 133 yards … Only Mike Gates (28 in 1980) had more stops behind the line of scrimmage in a season for the Bearcats … Also paced the squad with 30 quarterback pressures and 26 quarterback hits … Blocked 2 kicks and deflected 4 passes … Led the defense with 5 forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries.

2000 SEASON
Recipient of the team's John Pease Award, given to the top defensive lineman … Moved to strongside defensive end, starting every game … Second among the down linemen with 37 tackles (28 solo) … Led the team with 8.5 sacks for minus-73 yards, 13 stops for losses of 80 yards, 17 quarterback hits, 9 quarterback pressures and 3 blocked field goals … His 8.5 sacks rank third on the school's single-season list … Second on the team with 6 pass deflections … Returned an interception 21 yards, forced 2 fumbles and recovered another.

He was originally recruited as a receiver ....but kept growing. I think they moved him to LB briefly, but his entire playing career he was a defensive end.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
All of your rounds 3-6a picks are one to two rounds later than they will probably go. It'd be a fabulous draft. Sammy Davis in round three would be the best pick of the whole deal.

Oh I know, but prospects fall all the time.

I did this all with the SportingNews projections, which sometimes are right, sometimes are wrong.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
I agree with all picks except Peek, since we'll already have drafted Suggs. How about Matt Wilhelm instead?

I picked him based on the info that Mac and Graves gave us: two defensive ends and two wide receivers. Wilhelm is a boom or bust in my view. He has all the tangibles, but he is a little too stiff.

 

[spanky]

Krang, You're right......he did play as a LB initially and not OLB. My mistake. Not being a former football player myself, is it easy or impossible to convert a smallish DE into a awesome OLB?

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by spanky
Krang, You're right......he did play as a LB initially and not OLB. My mistake. Not being a former football player myself, is it easy or impossible to convert a smallish DE into a awesome OLB?

It's not impossible, but it is fairly difficult, and might be counterproductive. IMO, if I had Colvin I would just play him at DE, not OLB. His biggest strength is rushing the passer, and he is somewhat defiecient at other aspects of linebacker play.

 

[BACH]

I like Peeks, but Jeff has a point. If we get Suggs in the first I think we should go for a DT in the 4th instead. The DT position is so deep that you could pick up very good quality in the 4th. Players like Rashad Moore or Anthony Adams could fall to #102.

 

[BW52]

Pretty good mock draft.Two points of disagreement IMHO-Austin King C and Abdullah LB.Cards have 3 centers on the roster now{Garcia,Grace,Starkey} and a 4th {Dishman} who can play it in a pinch so don`t use a draft pick on a Center.If you want another sign a UDFA.On Abdullah OLB don`t the Cards have 9 Lbs now and UDFA can be signed after the draft.
In place of Austin King pick fast CB to develop.
For the 7th round pick a player to groom as a LEFT TACKLE to bavk up Shelton.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by BW52
Pretty good mock draft.Two points of disagreement IMHO-Austin King C and Abdullah LB.Cards have 3 centers on the roster now{Garcia,Grace,Starkey} and a 4th {Dishman} who can play it in a pinch so don`t use a draft pick on a Center.If you want another sign a UDFA.On Abdullah OLB don`t the Cards have 9 Lbs now and UDFA can be signed after the draft.
In place of Austin King pick fast CB to develop.
For the 7th round pick a player to groom as a LEFT TACKLE to bavk up Shelton.

You are not going to find a good left tackle in the 7th, maybe a backup guard or a right tackle.

Abdullah is purely for special teams, and he would add speed to that unit. He is faster than all of our linebackers not named Levar Fisher or maybe Ray Thompson.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by BACH
I like Peeks, but Jeff has a point. If we get Suggs in the first I think we should go for a DT in the 4th instead. The DT position is so deep that you could pick up very good quality in the 4th. Players like Rashad Moore or Anthony Adams could fall to #102.

But I am going on what the Cards have said, which I weigh over anything else. Anthony Adams, imo, is no better than a 7th rounder, though Rashad Moore could be a late round find (but also not in the 4th).

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by BW52
Pretty good mock draft.Two points of disagreement IMHO-Austin King C and Abdullah LB.Cards have 3 centers on the roster now{Garcia,Grace,Starkey} and a 4th {Dishman} who can play it in a pinch so don`t use a draft pick on a Center.If you want another sign a UDFA.On Abdullah OLB don`t the Cards have 9 Lbs now and UDFA can be signed after the draft.
In place of Austin King pick fast CB to develop.
For the 7th round pick a player to groom as a LEFT TACKLE to bavk up Shelton.

Where do you see yourself at linebacker right now?
DM "I think the whole issue with Levar (Fisher) is being healthy. He hurt a knee, tried to play on it, re-hurt it and then lost the year. He has been in here this whole offseason and appears to be healthy. I think Ray (Thompson) had a tremendous year last year, and he has even been in here doing better. Ron McKinnon has been a mainstay. We signed James Darling, we signed Trev Faulk last year who is a kid that I think will be able to work in there. You can never have too many people that can cover and never have too many linebackers that can run because that flows over into your special teams, which you all witnessed from last year when you start losing people at the top it incrementally sifts down through the bottom.

 

[JeffGollin]

I picked him based on the info that Mac and Graves gave us: two defensive ends and two wide receivers.
I didn't hear that. I heard a question posed - "Do you want to draft 2 WRs and a rush DE?

Graves reply - "Yes, we'd like to draft 2 WR's and improve our pass rush."

I didn't hear him say the Cards wanted to draft one rush DE let alone 2.

My interpertation of that was that the Cards would draft to improve their pass rush - this could mean drafting one rush DE, an inside "push the pile" guy like Robertson or a swing guy with good pass rush skills like Kevin Williams - who could either play LDE or pair up with Wendell inside. (Or a rush end and a bigger guy). But not necessarily (or probably) 2 rush-ends.

I only heard the clips posted in the AZR website and the transcripts on the official team website. Perhaps I missed something from the longer audio clips that Jimmy O temporarily posted.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
I picked him based on the info that Mac and Graves gave us: two defensive ends and two wide receivers.
I didn't hear that. I heard a question posed - "Do you want to draft 2 WRs and a rush DE?

Graves reply - "Yes, we'd like to draft 2 WR's and improve our pass rush."

I didn't hear him say the Cards wanted to draft one rush DE let alone 2.

My interpertation of that was that the Cards would draft to improve their pass rush - this could mean drafting one rush DE, an inside "push the pile" guy like Robertson or a swing guy with good pass rush skills like Kevin Williams - who could either play LDE or pair up with Wendell inside. (Or a rush end and a bigger guy). But not necessarily (or probably) 2 rush-ends.

I only heard the clips posted in the AZR website and the transcripts on the official team website. Perhaps I missed something from the longer audio clips that Jimmy O temporarily posted.

Or maybe I misintrepreted what they said...

 

[JeffGollin]

I just finished listening to Graves a day after the Roundtable.

The two things he said today that weren't clear yesterday were -

1. Don't assume we'll take Suggs - even at #6. There are other more multidimensional options.

2. We need additional high talent players and trading down is an attractive option. (he said it with more feeling than he did yesterday when he indicating trading down was one of several options). He also observed that last year, there were lots of good players available lower down - like Napolean Harris and others.

Translation - He's indicating interest in a broader array of players than just Suggs because he really is trying to extort a trade down. (Outside possibility - Cards are genuinely in love with Kevin Williams and rate him higher than Suggs).

Hope I'm wrong - I want Suggs. And if not Suggs, I don't want us to trade far enough down so as not to get a top 10 player.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by JeffGollin


Translation - He's indicating interest in a broader array of players than just Suggs because he really is trying to extort a trade down. (Outside possibility - Cards are genuinely in love with Kevin Williams and rate him higher than Suggs).

Hope I'm wrong - I want Suggs. And if not Suggs, I don't want us to trade far enough down so as not to get a top 10 player.

Recently, I've really started to like Kevin Williams, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Sammy Davis

Davis has been rocketing up the draft charts these last two weeks. He is most likely a 1st round pick now.