Cardiac
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- Joined
- Jul 21, 2002
- Posts
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I think most of us can agree that the team has it's biggest needs at these positions:
DE : Huge upgrade needed at RDE
DT : Even if Bryant pans out we still need a force in the middle
CB : Starks coming off injuries, Barrett not entirely proven, no depth
WR : A proven #1 would be nice.
QB : Blake isn't the long term answer and the jury is still out on McCown and Parsons.
There are a couple of draft philosophies:
Best Player/Athlete Available
Greatest Need
A melding of BPA and Need
Saturation - which is pick a position of need early and often
Another level to all of this is that many teams feel that Defense wins Championships. Given to this philosophy they may pass on an Offensive player with a grade of 8.9 for a Defensive player with a grade of 8.5 or even less. Add to this that DE's, DT's and CB's are often picked over fairly heavily in rd 1 while OG's, C's are often ignored. The only position on Defense that gets similar treatment is at Safety.
The only position that typically gets over valued on Offense is at QB. Nothing helps turns the fortunes of a struggling team more than a Franchise QB. Sometimes this happens at RB and even WR but rarely on the O-line. Of course LT's are the safest bets in rd 1, fewer busts than any other position, but this is due to the fact that teams are far better at grading this position than any other on the team.
Good news for the Cards is that the DT position is very strong this year. Of course so is the QB position, but this is where most mistakes are made.
There are two "can't miss" CB's in this draft and one of them should be available for the Cards at number 6.
There are also two highly touted WR's and we all know the Cards could use one of them.
Suggs appears to be the only DE with enough value to be taken at 6.
Now we need to factor into the equation that QB's and WR's take at least 1 full year to make an impact. Defensive players usually take far less time to reach their potential.
Many mock drafts have the Cards taking offense (WR & QB) in the first two to three rounds. Many fans feel this should be at least a strong consideration. Others feel that another year of minimal sacks and poor run defense has got to stop.
So what is the plan?
Does the front office truly believe the Cards can contend for a playoff position this year and if so is that realistic? If the answer is no then they should take a Franchise QB in rd 1. Then get their future #1 WR in rd 2. The run on defense will almost insure that a great WR prospect slides to the Cards in rd 2. There is a great deal to be said for the value of picking up a Franchise QB and a potential 1st rd WR in rd 2. Great value and both players will start to emerge when the team is closer to making a true run at the playoffs.
Does the front office have enough faith in McCown and the young WR crew to believe thay only need to improve their defense to be playoff contenders? If so then whoever is left in rd 1 between Suggs, Robertson, Newman, Trufant, or Kennedy should be the pick. Then whatever position wasn't addressed in rd 1 and offers the BPA should be the 2nd rd pick.
I think as the draft unfolds we will all know how the Cards management truly feels about this upcoming season and players like McCown, McAddley and Gilmore.
I know that I want the Defense addressed early and often but my number one belief is that the Cards should take the BPA in almost every circumstance.
DE : Huge upgrade needed at RDE
DT : Even if Bryant pans out we still need a force in the middle
CB : Starks coming off injuries, Barrett not entirely proven, no depth
WR : A proven #1 would be nice.
QB : Blake isn't the long term answer and the jury is still out on McCown and Parsons.
There are a couple of draft philosophies:
Best Player/Athlete Available
Greatest Need
A melding of BPA and Need
Saturation - which is pick a position of need early and often
Another level to all of this is that many teams feel that Defense wins Championships. Given to this philosophy they may pass on an Offensive player with a grade of 8.9 for a Defensive player with a grade of 8.5 or even less. Add to this that DE's, DT's and CB's are often picked over fairly heavily in rd 1 while OG's, C's are often ignored. The only position on Defense that gets similar treatment is at Safety.
The only position that typically gets over valued on Offense is at QB. Nothing helps turns the fortunes of a struggling team more than a Franchise QB. Sometimes this happens at RB and even WR but rarely on the O-line. Of course LT's are the safest bets in rd 1, fewer busts than any other position, but this is due to the fact that teams are far better at grading this position than any other on the team.
Good news for the Cards is that the DT position is very strong this year. Of course so is the QB position, but this is where most mistakes are made.
There are two "can't miss" CB's in this draft and one of them should be available for the Cards at number 6.
There are also two highly touted WR's and we all know the Cards could use one of them.
Suggs appears to be the only DE with enough value to be taken at 6.
Now we need to factor into the equation that QB's and WR's take at least 1 full year to make an impact. Defensive players usually take far less time to reach their potential.
Many mock drafts have the Cards taking offense (WR & QB) in the first two to three rounds. Many fans feel this should be at least a strong consideration. Others feel that another year of minimal sacks and poor run defense has got to stop.
So what is the plan?
Does the front office truly believe the Cards can contend for a playoff position this year and if so is that realistic? If the answer is no then they should take a Franchise QB in rd 1. Then get their future #1 WR in rd 2. The run on defense will almost insure that a great WR prospect slides to the Cards in rd 2. There is a great deal to be said for the value of picking up a Franchise QB and a potential 1st rd WR in rd 2. Great value and both players will start to emerge when the team is closer to making a true run at the playoffs.
Does the front office have enough faith in McCown and the young WR crew to believe thay only need to improve their defense to be playoff contenders? If so then whoever is left in rd 1 between Suggs, Robertson, Newman, Trufant, or Kennedy should be the pick. Then whatever position wasn't addressed in rd 1 and offers the BPA should be the 2nd rd pick.
I think as the draft unfolds we will all know how the Cards management truly feels about this upcoming season and players like McCown, McAddley and Gilmore.
I know that I want the Defense addressed early and often but my number one belief is that the Cards should take the BPA in almost every circumstance.