We went into the draft wanting an impact player. Does anyone feel we got one?

[Ed B]

The sad defense of Pace mostly consists of "He might turn out OK!", which sounds a lot like the kind of player you should take in the middle rounds.

Does anyone feel that we were better off to take Calvin Pace than to stay at #6 and select Marcus Trufant, Byron Leftwich, Kevin Williams, Jimmy Kennedy, Terrell Suggs, or some other player among the top 15?

Basically we went into this draft hoping for a difference maker, and we emerged with a B+ receiver and a nobody DE in the first round.

Who woke up yesterday morning saying "*******, I hope we take Calvin Pace in the first round!"???

 

[arthurracoon]

We got some GOOD guys

We did not get any GREAT guys.

Hopefully Pace or Johnson become GREAT.

 

[jw7]

Nope.

Pace is ranked like #12 just among ends in TSN draft guide.

We passed on Leftwich and Suggs.

No #4 pick.

Ack!

 

[jmr667]

The good thing about not drafting an impact player in Round #1 is that if they hold out there is no impact on the team.

See? There is a method to their madness. They just got tired of getting blasted for having 1st round hold outs.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Exactly Ed

I just said the same thing on another thread.

This draft is good for this team how?

We STILL don't have a pass rush.

We STILL don't have a #2 Corner (Barrett is a great nickel guy)

We STILL don't have our QB of the future (McClown ?)

We STILL don't have a dominating interior lineman to put next to Bryant

We STILL don't have that final piece to the offensive line



The only thing we did is tread water. We got a couple receivers because we lost a couple receivers.

This team will struggle to be 5-11 next year.

 

[Northern Card]

Here is a list of some of the "quote" impact players projected by the "know-it-all" for round 1 - which, the whole league passed on:

Henderson, Long, Whitten, Jacobs, Kelsay, Weathersby, Peterson, Bailey and Doss

One can only conclude that just about every team in the league is staffed with idiots...

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
We got some GOOD guys

We did not get any GREAT guys.

Hopefully Pace or Johnson become GREAT.

Sorry but that's just nonsense. TSN had 11 DE's rated ahead of Pace, PFW had 16 DE's rated ahead of him. TSN tabbed him the most likely bust of the DE's. He broke his fibula last year, and prior to the injury was said to lack the necessary burst. Solid role player not a first rounder, 2 rounds early. Johnson most had rated 5-7 at WR, TSN said he might get up the top of the 2nd round, took him about 15-20 picks early.

I mistakenly confused Boldin with Talman Gardner yesterday so at least there is no drug concern, but he went from 4.4 to 4.7 after tearing his ACL and FSU was so enamored with his WR skills that they were going to shift him back to QB until he tore his ACL. HAs talent no question maybe he'll be another Marty Booker, maybe not. We passed on Kelley Washington, if we're taking an injury risk why not take him?

Our 3rd round pick was pretty good, 4th oh yea we gave that away in addition to moving down in the 2nd. If this wasn't financially motivated someone needs to explain? My one thought, we're going to pick Drew Henson today and decided to pick players too high so that we can offer them less money and give the excess rookie cap money to Henson to lure him out of baseball, otherwise this is Bidwillian thinking again do it on the cheap.

Right now I'm furious. On local tv last night they were talking to Artie Gigantino about the Raider first rounders(neither projected into round one) and he said "least it wasn't Calvin Pace, the Raiders had him rated a 4th rounder with a medical asterisk because of his leg, I can't believe the Cards took him in round one."

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

Russ

If it makes you feel any better, when I did my NFL Mock draft two weeks before the draft...Johnson went like #20.

He actually was a pretty solid pick.

As for Pace,

I would have been happier with Faine, Bailey, Woolfork, or McGahee.

Man if they would have taken McGahee, I think people would be a lot happier here.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Sorry but that's just nonsense. TSN had 11 DE's rated ahead of Pace, PFW had 16 DE's rated ahead of him. TSN tabbed him the most likely bust of the DE's. He broke his fibula last year, and prior to the injury was said to lack the necessary burst. Solid role player not a first rounder, 2 rounds early. Johnson most had rated 5-7 at WR, TSN said he might get up the top of the 2nd round, took him about 15-20 picks early.

I mistakenly confused Boldin with Talman Gardner yesterday so at least there is no drug concern, but he went from 4.4 to 4.7 after tearing his ACL and FSU was so enamored with his WR skills that they were going to shift him back to QB until he tore his ACL. HAs talent no question maybe he'll be another Marty Booker, maybe not. We passed on Kelley Washington, if we're taking an injury risk why not take him?

Our 3rd round pick was pretty good, 4th oh yea we gave that away in addition to moving down in the 2nd. If this wasn't financially motivated someone needs to explain? My one thought, we're going to pick Drew Henson today and decided to pick players too high so that we can offer them less money and give the excess rookie cap money to Henson to lure him out of baseball, otherwise this is Bidwillian thinking again do it on the cheap.

Right now I'm furious. On local tv last night they were talking to Artie Gigantino about the Raider first rounders(neither projected into round one) and he said "least it wasn't Calvin Pace, the Raiders had him rated a 4th rounder with a medical asterisk because of his leg, I can't believe the Cards took him in round one."

That's funny Russ. I know that you hold Gil Brandt in high regard, as do I....He was on the Chet Coppock show yesterday. Chet was bashing our draft, and he asked Brandt if he thought it was terrible. Brandt said the opposite. He said he liked all our picks.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
That's funny Russ. I know that you hold Gil Brandt in high regard, as do I....He was on the Chet Coppock show yesterday. Chet was bashing our draft, and he asked Brandt if he thought it was terrible. Brandt said the opposite. He said he liked all our picks.

Hmm, I think Brandt knows his stuff so I'll take that as a good thing. I just don't buy the concept that even if Pace IS good, we did the right thing. If he's good but we picked him 2 rounds early, then we got terrible "value". Johnson had 10 TD catches in his career)-: That scares me for a guy taken that high.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Hmm, I think Brandt knows his stuff so I'll take that as a good thing. I just don't buy the concept that even if Pace IS good, we did the right thing. If he's good but we picked him 2 rounds early, then we got terrible "value". Johnson had 10 TD catches in his career)-: That scares me for a guy taken that high.

No Pace was taken THAT early, he might've been taken 20 picks too high. Johnson, you have to remember, played at PSU which isn't exactly a big play passing team.

 

[Krangodnzr]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9439

 

[Snakester]

Originally posted by Ed B
The sad defense of Pace mostly consists of "He might turn out OK!", which sounds a lot like the kind of player you should take in the middle rounds.

Does anyone feel that we were better off to take Calvin Pace than to stay at #6 and select Marcus Trufant, Byron Leftwich, Kevin Williams, Jimmy Kennedy, Terrell Suggs, or some other player among the top 15?

Basically we went into this draft hoping for a difference maker, and we emerged with a B+ receiver and a nobody DE in the first round.

Who woke up yesterday morning saying "*******, I hope we take Calvin Pace in the first round!"???

I don't think much of the pace pick. He's not gonna make much of an impact in the NFL, reminds me of Thomas Burke, good college player but will get manhandled by NFL offensive lineman. Bryant Johnson was an ok pick. If we had not let Boston go we would have not had to reach for Johnson in the first place. I think he should have been a round two guy. Anquan Boldin and Gerald Hayes I thought were good picks but then again we should have not had to draft Boldin period. Hayes I think will be groomed to take McKinnon's job in a couple of years. The trade we made with the Saints was so stupid I just don't understand how Rod Graves has the job he does. The trade should not have been made period with Suggs still on the board. But to give away our fourth round pick and to move down in the second round as well, come on, please tell me that no one in their right mind could think that that was a good trade. As far as a difference maker, Boldin has the best chance in my opinion but if he does it wont be for several years.

 

[Harry]

I think they got their impact player in Boldin. Seperation is far more important than speed and Boldin gets it. FSU did toy briefly with moving Boldin back to QB (he actually did play some there at year's end) but they needed to have a receiver and wanted a QB who would still be with the program in 2003.

Boldin will drop some easy ones, but he will catch more than his share of big ones. He racked up 1000 yards being thrown to by lousy QBs. He played his best games in FSUs biggest games. He can block downfield better than any wideout in the draft and the Cards scheme that way. He will pick off some safeties and corners to help the running game. He is strong, uses good leverage and is aggressive.

I posted earlier he is not Jerry Rice, but he will be an impact player with Sullivan's guidance. Johnson is decent. He was taken too early. He also has careless drops. Most of the scouts I talked to liked him and think he could be a solid NFL receiver.

Both he and Boldin will surprise people with their ability to get deep and have seperation. Johnson will do it with speed and finesse. Boldin will do it with power. Both players fight for the ball, can catch well in a crowd and aren't afraid to go over the middle.

Don't read this as my liking this draft. Pace and King will do nothing to provide a pass rush and no team can compete without one.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Re: Exactly Ed

This draft is good for this team how?

We STILL don't have a pass rush.
So DJ.....Pace and maybe King will have zero sacks?

We STILL don't have a #2 Corner (Barrett is a great nickel guy)
Barrett will do just fine.

We STILL don't have our QB of the future (McClown ?)
How do you know the future...are you Miss Cleo?

We STILL don't have a dominating interior lineman to put next to Bryant
Bryant IS or is supposed to be the dominant one....somebody else can be the non-dominant one.

We STILL don't have that final piece to the offensive line
So you think our offensive line sucks eh.

 

[Second Deck]

We should have had suggs and whatever WR fell to us. My sleeper at WR will be Gage who went to Chicago.

 

[az643dp]

Even though we didn't pick up an "blue chip" player, we adressed many needs with quality players.

Johnson gives us a big target down the field, someone who can out muscle DB's in traffic, and an accomplished returner.

Boldin gives us a slot guy who can catch in traffic, he loves to block downfield, and put up 13 TD's and 1,000 yards coming off an ACL injury. That shows that he has a great work ethic and heart along with the stats.

In essence, we took care of three roster spots with two guys. (WR, WR, and PR)

Pace and Hayes are solid players as well. Both of them have one stat that sticks out at me. Tackles for losses. That means they are great against the run. In the case of Pace, if you combine the tackles for losses along with eight sacks, it shows that he is not one dimensional like Simeon Rice was when he was here.

Certainly, the Pace pick is not the "sexy" pick that we wanted, however we received a guy who is a multi-dimensional talent.

I don't mind what we ended up with, it is how we arrived there that burns me. If you trade down, you need to make sure that you get your guy. They didn't, but I think it will work out in terms of improving our team greatly.

 

[Ed B]

I didn't mean this thread to imply we had a horrid, worthless draft.

I simply meant what was stated.....we were all hoping for a big impact player of some sort - a Newman, Leftwich, whatever - and what we got was a serious projection at #18 who may not contribute much immediately, if at all.

 

[JeffGollin]

The only impact I saw was the ashtray hitting my window when they announced the Pace selection.

 

[BW52]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
The only impact I saw was the ashtray hitting my window when they announced the Pace selection.

LOL.Good one Jeff.Fight the Darkside Jeff.Don`t give in to it.

 

[john h]

Originally posted by jmr667
The good thing about not drafting an impact player in Round #1 is that if they hold out there is no impact on the team.

See? There is a method to their madness. They just got tired of getting blasted for having 1st round hold outs.

Any chance this could be about money? You pay #6 more than your pay 17 and 18. One teams #4 got shot after the draft. We only shot our self in the foot.

 

[artp]

The draft is over. Most of us are disappointed. We reached for picks, got poor value for our selections, and were outfoxed by New Orleans. But, we need to turn our attention to what the draft is all about and that is improving our football team. The question becomes, "How much better will the Cardinals be this season as a result of our draft this weekend?" IMO, not a lot. I like the WR's we got. I think that position was greatly improved. When we break training camp, I expect to be confident in our WR corp. Past that, I don't think we will get much help from our rookies. I just don't see any of the rest giving us quality minutes as rookies. I was hoping for more immediate impact from this draft. I don't think we'll get it.