Breaking Down the Arizona Cardinals 1st Two Rounds

by Andrew602 on Apr 25, 2009 11:47 PM MDT in 2009 Draft Comment 21 comments

The Cardinals finished Saturday with what would appear to be a very good first 2 rounds of the draft. They established needs in running back and outside linebacker. Chris "Beanie" Wells was taken 31st overall, and Cody Brown, a potential draft pick of ours, was indeed taken in the 2nd round. Lets dive into how this affects the Arizona Cardinals.

Chris "Beanie" Wells, Running Back, Ohio State

Wells joins one of the most explosive offenses in the league that features the best wide receiver tandem. He also joins sides with fellow running back, Tim Hightower. Wells is your typical North and South runner, who shows exceptional burst up the middle. He's got a fierce stiff-arm and great power. He compares to running back Steven Jackson, with the size (235 lbs), and speed. When the season begins, Wells may very well be the starting running back for the Arizona Cardinals. He may not get a great deal of carries, but he's sure to make an immediate impact. Most teams will be loading their secondaries on Larry Fitzgerald after his playoff performance last year. Then throw in fellow Pro Bowl Receiver Anquan Boldin, and 1,000 yard receiver Steve Breaston. Oh and don't forget the 2-time MVP in Kurt Warner who had one of his best seasons in his career last year. This offense could very well be 1st in the league in 2009 and that is a scary thought considering they were top ranked in '08 with the worst rushing attack. With the addition of Beanie Wells and a likely threat in the running attack, you can truly tell opponents to, 'pick your poison'.

Beanie Wells interview post draft pick.

Wellsjersey_medium

Cody Brown, OLB, University of Connecticut

If Alex Wood wasn't available in our ROTB community mock draft, we would've been right on the money so far because Cody Brown would've been the pick. Either way, the Cardinals got their man on the defensive side of the ball. They may have gone BPA, but linebacker was a very strong need this off-season. They currently have a good amount of aging veterans in the line backing corps, and still have to fix the Karlos Dansby contract situation. Brown gives them a great addition, as he will provide the pass rush they missed last season. Don't forget that it was the defense that blew the game winning drive of the Steelers in the Super Bowl. He's a very explosive defender and won't be needed at defensive end with Calais filling that void. He's got a great burst off of the side and may end up being a steal at 63rd overall. If he can learn a thing or two from the veterans, he can be a force on the defensive side of the ball for years to come.

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Overall, you can't be upset with the Cardinals 1st day draft picks. They didn't come away with any head-scratchers, or reaches, and both picks may be steals at their landing spots. Tomorrow should be sure to fill a few more holes on the team, including offensive lineman, tight end, and linebacker. Tune in for an open thread and draft coverage of who is taken.

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Are you happy with the Cardinals 1st two draft picks?

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No

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Comments

Disappointing Draft

Cards could have gotten a better player than Wells.If 30 teams passed on this guy,kind of makes you wonder why.Couldnt believe they passed on Ziggy Hood or Ron Brace.I hope they do better in the second day of the draft.

by RowdyReno on Apr 26, 2009 9:32 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking Ziggy as well

After they took Wells my thought was similar to yours. I thought about it long and hard and decided that Watson is solid as long as he is healthy & Robinson (even though old) is also solid. Maybe the coaches arent ready to give up on Branch. I think I was mostly dissapointed with the 31st pick because I was so excited to get Brown. Wells at least wont be a bust.

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by sc464 on Apr 26, 2009 10:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch Pittsburgh

Wow what an amazing draft so far for this team,shows why they are always a great team.Great first three rounds,all players taken by the Steelers were on my list of players ,that I wanted the Cards to choose.

by RowdyReno on Apr 26, 2009 9:38 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Clearly your dissappointment is in the minority

There will always be someone that woulda/coulda/shoulda been a better pick at any given selection, but the Cardinals addressed two needs adequately (on paper) with the first two picks and the third pick has assured that consensus scapegoat Aaron Francisco will be playing in the UFL for Denny Green’s SF/Sac franchise this fall.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Apr 26, 2009 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah seriously

30 teams didn’t pass on him, 2 teams did. The Broncos (not sure why they took a RB anyway), and Colts (Brown fits what they are doing). Besides the Eagles(who already have Westbrook), I dont see any other teams in need of a RB. Wasn’t McCoy the only back taken in the 2nd round? This is just a draft where RB wasn’t a major need. It seems so far that the Cards are going BPA, which is smart and fine with me.

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by Andrew602 on Apr 26, 2009 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Beanie Will be better than the rest! He only slipped because of “injury concerns” though he never had any injury more serious than a broken finger. Watch footage of this kid on youtube and you will not be dissapointed. The saints tried to jump back into the 1st round ahead of the cards to get him but couldn’t get it done.

by CardsDefense on Apr 27, 2009 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wanted the cards to pick

a OLB such as the buckeyes player that was on the board. Also we could have gotten maualuga as well.

by DKuon on Apr 26, 2009 12:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm very happy, but Maualuga must have been very tempting for them

by CardsFan08 on Apr 27, 2009 12:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coulda and Shoulda

1) DT:Ziggy Hood 2) DE:Jarron Gilbert 3)RB:Andre Brown 4)OLB:Jasper Brinkly 5)RB:Frank Summers 6)CB:Captain Munnerlyn 7)TE: David Johnson.I am not an expert but these men could have been picked by the Cardinals,and this list would have been alot better,because in my humble opinion,this list of players would have addressed every need on our team. Andre Brown went to the Giants and Frank Summers went to the Steelers,these teams are always right about Running Backs.These two players will have good careers.I hope Wells does well for our team, but I just think he runs too upright and doesnt deliver enough punishment on opposing teams.I hope I am wrong about Wells,and I sure hope that this draft of players make an impact for our team.I still would grade the Cardinals draft a C-.We will see what happens

by RowdyReno on Apr 27, 2009 12:12 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely a C-

Clearly these new recruits cannot improve with coaching and will not excel at the professional level. What a waste of a draft. ::sardonic grin::

Aside from Wells, this draft class will not have an immediate impact on the field because for once the Cardinals are a “good” team. They’ve retained talent and the coaching staff has been able to build on the same concepts for two years. Even with the shifting of the coaching staff there won’t be an overhaul of the playbook so these young guys will be surrounded by knowledgeable co-workers that will allow them to mature quickly. The Cards have the luxury of developing talent and watching their investments mature and that’s why some positions weren’t drafted again. Watson has shown himself to be a stuffer (when healthy) and Branch must be showing some contract motivation already. I would have expected an understudy for Hayes/Dansby to be drafted yet the Cards didn’t try to “reach” for one and went BPA for the most part.

To be handing out grades at this point means nothing quantifiably about the actual abilities of the draft class playing professional football as literally they haven’t even put on their first Cardinals jock. I gather your level of satisfaction with the draft rates a “C-” and nothing more and given it was assigned six hours after the draft was over even then I’d say that’s a bit premature. Let’s analyse the draft picks this week, get some feedback from the coaches after next weekend’s mini-camp, follow the OTA’s and catch these youngsters in Flagstaff before throwing out quantifiable grades. That first preseason game against the Steelers will be the first real test and when advantages of Summers vs. Wells can be assessed.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Apr 27, 2009 6:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm more negativity from ROTB's official pessimist

can’t say I’m surprised. Are you sure you’re not a Steelers fan.

Oh and Jasper Brinkley isn’t an outside linebacker so you didn’t address one of the biggest needs of the Cardinals.

by Bezekira on Apr 27, 2009 8:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not pessimist,just Honest

The Cards got 2 players in this draft that might make the team.No help in the run blocking and no help in run stopping,and no help in pass pressure department either. I just think the team could have added more depth in the areas that have plauged the Cards for the past few years. Drafting Young talent on the lines would have created competition which in turn would give the team a better running game and a better rush defense. I believe that if you have a great O-line that controls the line of scrimage,an average back will be great,and if you have a great D-line putting pressure on opposing QB you will have great secondary play. Just think about what would have happened if the Cards would have got some good pressure on Rothlespuker or maybe even sacked his fat ass in the Super Bowl,maybe we would have won the freaking game.I can still see Rothlespuker running around for what seemed like an eternity and finding open recievers,and then making the winning pass to Holmes….STILL PISSED over that.Then watching a 3 man rush harass and sack Warner to end and lose the game. So be honest dont you think that…we need better line play on both sides of the ball .

by RowdyReno on Apr 27, 2009 10:22 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

HUH?......you're making less and less sense

- No help in the run blocking dept? what is Herman Johnson? Your mock didn’t include a single OL so where’s your help in the run blocking dept?

- No help in the run stopping dept? You essentially drafted two 3-4 defensive ends so I guess two backups ends greatly help the run stopping dept. Maybe having five guys fill two positions sounds like a good idea but I’d greatly disagree.

- No help in the pass rush dept? What do you think Cody Brown and Will Davis were drafted for? In a 3-4 defense the pass rush comes from outside linebackers, not defensive ends. You didn’t draft a single outside linebacker so your mock didn’t address that need at all.

Take a second look at that Super Bowl tape and tell me who was putting pressure on Warner. It sure as hell wasn’t the Steelers defensive ends (Aaron Smith and Brent Keisel). It was their outside linebackers, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. If you want a pass rush in a 3-4 defense it all starts with drafting OLBs, not defensive ends.

by Bezekira on Apr 27, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be honest I think your a jackass!

The Cards brought it to Roethlisberger and our Secondary are the ones who blew it. Dockett went off all throughout the playoffs and while I do think OLB depth is a must, I think they addressed the need well with Brown. We couldn’t help B. Roethlisberger pulling some play out of his arse against us. The guy can move with the best QB’s in the NFL, throws great on the run and it doesn’t hurt when he’s built like a TE. To say a draft was a bust before anyone has even hit the field is retarded…

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Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
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by boogatt66 on Apr 27, 2009 1:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i didnt say it was a bust

I am not a jackass,try to read carefully.I simply stated that the players on the list I mentioned,were players that I thought would fit the Cards needs better.Brown may indeed turn out to be a good player,I just thought he was a reach at that point in the draft especially when there were so many players rated ahead of him in that round of picks.Yes you are right that Rothlespuker made some great plays,but it happened because the Cards couldnt put enough pressure on him ,and they couldnt sack him when it mattered most.He ran around untouched for what seemed like an eternity until he found an open reciever,and that was why the Cards lost the Super Bowl.

by RowdyReno on Apr 27, 2009 7:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

I didnt post my mock draft,I simply posted players that the Cards passed on that I thought were better fit for the team and made a comment that adding depth to the lines adds competition in turn adding better play.And the Steelers had a 3 man rush that sacked Warner and it really doesnt matter what position the 3 guyswere playing they still beat our O-line.And that still sucks.WE couldnt,get to Rothlespuker when it really mattered and thats what lost the game.

by RowdyReno on Apr 27, 2009 10:59 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

reply button is my friend

so when you listed seven picks above that you said would have been better fits, that wasn’t your mock draft?? What’s the point of listing them then? you said your seven picks addressed every team need, well I guess expect for pass rush and offensive line.

by Bezekira on Apr 27, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't waste your time.

Reno lives by a different creed. He sees nothing wrong with being negative to the Cards. During the last three drafts he probably thought that Boobs was a waste of a pick, Timmy wasn’t even invited to the combine (so why draft him) and we drafted two DEs that we didn’t need. Well let’s see: Boobs was a 1000+ yard receiver and still finding his groove. Timmy had 10 TDs as a rookie and should only improve from the tuteledge of Edge. Yes he lost his position, but he never lost his professionalism and always helped Timmy to improve. Lastly, what were we thinking drafting to 4-3 DEs that project well as 3-4 OLBs. Shame on us for drafting two rush ends that we feel have the capactiy to drop into coverage and to attack the ball carrier. How dare we take those 3-4 OLB when we had needs at 3-4 OLB. I mean really. What are we trying to do? Win the SB or something? How absurd is that? Reno I think I see your logic now. Why be winners when we can revert back to terrible drafts and become perrenial losers again?

by hevchv on Apr 28, 2009 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs