Potential Mid Round Nose Tackles For the Cardinals

by mbn on Apr 5, 2009 6:31 PM MDT

If we think about positions where a potential starter will be needed this year or next, it may give a clue as to where the Cards may spend some of thier early drafts. Obviously RB, and likely OLB, will be needed this and next year. I am starting to think that NT might be one of those positions as well. With the Cards wanting to be more true to "3-4 principles" as Whiz said it, they need a presence in the middle. Branch is a well documented disappointment, and Watson's knee still isn't right. He may need to go in for surgury again in order to be ready for training camp. A solid NT would provide flexibility elsewhere along the DL as well. Looking at the draft there are some options at this position but not a lot. Raji will be long gone by 31. Brace could be a good 63 pick but he may also be gone. Here are 3 other options that may be attractive. They all come from small schools.

Chris Baker (Hampton. 6'2" 326.) Ran a 5.02 and had a 35.5 verticle at the combine! That is a lot of weight getting off the ground.

Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman. 6'4" 329.) Ran 5.11. Great summary of him on the home page.

Terrance Knighton (Temple. 6'3" 317.) 4.93 at his pro day. Good talent but is right on the edge of looking like a DE/DT instead of NT.

Just some more names to throw into the mix as we try and read the tea leaves in order to predict the draft. I am ready for the draft to be over so we can quick speculating about what might be and start analyzing what is.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.

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Lee Hill

From what I read on the home page of him I am not that impressed. Under the negatives it says he was ineffective when he was double teamed. We need someone that can shed the blocks up the middle when double teamed especially since we are implementing even more of the 3-4 defense than we have in the past 2 seasons.

by Pyromnc on Apr 6, 2009 9:20 AM MDT reply actions

I disagree.

We don’t necessarily need someone who can shed a double team. We need someone good enough to command a double team to free up one of the LBs to do their thing. 3-4 lineman don’t get much hype because they lay the foundation for the LBs to wreak havoc. Don’t get me wrong though. Pressure from every angle is always a good thing for a great D.

by hevchv on Apr 6, 2009 8:52 PM MDT up reply actions

+1

How many DTs have double digit sacks. They are there to clog up the lane.

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by Andrew602 on Apr 7, 2009 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions

Plus he was the only force on D where he went to school. I think some of the reason he played outside sometimes was his coaches efforts to maximize his impact because there was no one else on D. Drawing a double team is desired in a 3-4. I like Baker as well. Big kid who is athletic.

MBN

by mbn on Apr 7, 2009 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions