Do the Arizona Cardinals Still Need to Target an OLB Early in the Draft?

by Hawkwind on Mar 23, 2009 11:04 AM MDT

Earlier in the off season we identified the need for an outside linebacker as the second biggest need for the Arizona Cardinals, coming in a distant second to running back. Given the Cardinals lack of pass rush during the second half of the season and the uncertain status of Bertrand Berry and Clark Haggans, that seemed like a legit weakness. Since then both Berry and Haggans have been re-signed leaving the RedBirds two deep at both outside backer positions. So the question remains, should the Cardinals still be targeting an OLB early in the draft?

OLB is still a significant need: The Cardinals entered last season with a question mark at outside linebacker because they had a couple accomplished veteran pass rushers who had very little experience playing with their hand off the ground (Berry and Okeafor). They also signed another former defensive end with the idea of transitioning him to an outside linebacker (LaBoy). The results though were mixed at best. Those three guys registered about half of the Cardinals sacks on the season and overall the team ranked 14 in terms of sacks. Berry and Okeafor are now and year older and LaBoy has yet to prove that he can stay healthy over a full season. Clark Haggans is the only player on the depth chart with significant experience as an OLB in the 3-4 and his skills are best suited to dropping back in coverage. All of that adds up to a line backing corps that will struggle to pressure the quarterback yet again and to be a dominant 3-4 defense, the pass rush must come from the outside linebackers.

OLB can wait until next year: The Cardinals linebackers have shown the ability to pressure the quarterback and when they're healthy, they are a capable unit. Travis Laboy registered four sacks in the first five games before being hampered by injuries for the remainder of the season. Bertrand Berry remains an effective pass rusher and he shouldn't have any problem picking up a handful of sacks or more in 2009 and Chike Okeafor should be more comfortable with his new role in his second season. The Cardinals have more pressing needs like improving the running game (both RB and OL) and safety depth that should be addressed before looking for a pass rusher. Berry and Okeafor will be free agents after this season and they can look to draft an outside backer late in this draft or very early in the draft next season.

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This should be an interesting draft for the Cardinals considering that they've never picked this late in the draft. There are certain needs that have to be addressed but should they target an OLB early in the draft? If you're looking for a OLB in round one or two, who do you pick?

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I think they are at least in the position where they don’t have to reach. Not just because of the recent Berry/Haggans signings though. I think the addition of McFadden will make the coverage much better. Better coverage will make the QB pressure more effective.

To me the only position that we have to address in the draft is RB. Other than that we can go BPA.

by jallred350 on Mar 23, 2009 11:37 AM MDT reply actions

Orakpo would be nice but he will be gone.

Somebody similar would really help though.

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Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 23, 2009 11:50 AM MDT reply actions

Without a doubt

They need to draft a outside backer in the early rounds. Give the guy a year to groom behind the current vets. Otherwise they may be forced to draft an instant starter in 2010.

by AJ BirdWatcher on Mar 23, 2009 11:52 AM MDT reply actions

+1

A Jerod Mayo or Patrick Willis type would be nice with Dansby.

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Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 23, 2009 11:54 AM MDT reply actions

ILB

The Inside LineBacker position is fine with Hayes and Dansby filling it. I think someone like Clint Sintim or Larry English would be great because they were good pass rushers in college and pass rushing usually is picked up right away when transitioning to the nfl. I still think that the RB and C position could be addressed first over this position but if we went a hybrid DE/OLB route in the 1st round I would not be disappointed.

by Pyromnc on Mar 23, 2009 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions

LineBackers

I think we all may be surprised by the draft.I think Brian Cushing may fall all the way to the Cardinals and if he does I would like to see him on our team.I do not like Larry English,he is too slow off the ball,but Clint Sintim would be a good choice,he showed good speed at his Pro Day workout .However I do think the Cardinals need Offensive players more than defensive players in the early rounds.Center or running back,in the first two rounds.

by RowdyReno on Mar 23, 2009 4:18 PM MDT reply actions

Once again,

I’m going to prop up my man Sintim. Al Groh runs the 3-4 at UVA, so Sintim is already familiar with it.

by cfaddct on Mar 23, 2009 5:25 PM MDT reply actions

+1

I’ve been carrying the Sintim flag for a while and I’d love to see him in Cardinal-red this fall.

by Bezekira on Mar 24, 2009 9:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Defense is a must in the first round.

Our offense is fine as long as conditions are favorable for the passing game. Defense needs additional talent to prevent the all too familiar game winning drive………..snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…………….look no farther than Super Bowl or even the Monday Night near loss to SF. Best talent at D-line or LB available at 31! Maybe a RB if one of the premier guyz fall that far.

by AkVermynking on Mar 23, 2009 7:04 PM MDT reply actions

i like our comment and agree just feel we need OL help (center) and would like to see them take a d-line or lb in the second and then the fastest RB on the board in the 3rd (as long as its not a big reach)

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by sc464 on Mar 23, 2009 7:28 PM MDT up reply actions

I don't think so

There are few great picks in this years draft. The class of rookies just doesn’t seem the greatest to choose from. I personally don’t like the hybrid DE/OLB guys as they are showing to be too slow and not worth the pick at 31. If they need an OLB I think they wait till a later 4-7 round and pick up a true OLB like Morty Ivy. Or even a hybrid DE/OLB later on in the 5-6 rounds like DE Orion Martin. They have guys this year to drop back into OLB slots and really need more depth as just drafting one Rush OLB isn’t going to improve the pass rush they lack. Otherwise at 31,63 I still like to see the best FS/SS or NT and OC/OG come off the board. I know they have depth at the secondary but they still are not strong enough and could use some younger players.

by kj197728 on Mar 23, 2009 9:58 PM MDT reply actions

We could use some safety depth but I think we’re set at corner. There should be some solid safety options in the 3-5 range and I’d wait until then. There won’t be a NT type available at 31 either, although I wouldn’t mind picking up a guy like Chris Baker (Hampton) or Samie Lee Hill (Stillman) in the middle rounds. Hopefully Watson and Branch turn into players and we don’t need another nose but it doesn’t hurt to have an insurance policy.

Why do you think that a rush OLB won’t help the pass rush though? With them implementing more and more 3-4 schemes, we’ll have to get some production from the OLB’s and there’s no guarantee that Okeafor, Berry, LaBoy and Haggans will be any better than they were last year, IMO.

by Bezekira on Mar 24, 2009 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions

James Laurinaitis seems to be falling to the end of the first round..

He played ILB in college, but is projected as an OLB in the NFL. Laurinaitis is pretty close to what A.J. Hawk was for the Buckeyes a few years back. He isn’t the pure athlete that Hawk is, but has better instincts and consistency, I think.

The guy was considered a potential top 10 pick a year ago, and is the most accomplished collegian in this year’s draft, so he figures to be one of, if not the safest pick. Notably the Steelers sent all the top brass, INCLUDING DICK LEBEAU, to the OSU pro day workout, so they may be looking at him one pick later than the Cards.

by robert ethan on Mar 24, 2009 2:47 PM MDT reply actions

where did you read that he's projected as a 3-4 outside backer?

I haven’t read that anywhere and most scouting reports say that he’s average (at best) pass rusher. Doesn’t sound like much of OLB to me unless you’re talking about a 4-3 defense.

I like the fact that his dad was a member of the Legion of Doom but that’s about it.

by Bezekira on Mar 25, 2009 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions