What To Do At Center?

by mbn on May 10, 2009 8:50 PM MDT

With Gandy, Vallejo, R. Wells, Sendelin, Lutui, L. Brown, B. Keith, and H. Johnson all likely to make the final 53 (8 OL) what will the Cards do at Center? Will they sign Claxton just for depth sake instead of signing Elton Brown (6'5" 338) or Canfield (6'5 307)? Will they teach E. Brown or Canfield center? (Canfield has already realized his increased value if he can play center, declairing that he has practiced center at Cincinnati.) Or will they stockpile guards and have R. Wells serve as the emergency back-up center and hope nothing long term happens to Sendlein?

How many OL can the Cardinals afford to have on the final 53?

And what makes a good center? I know what to look for in a tackle or guard, but centers have always seemed like guards who somehow got stuck playing center. Surly there is more involved than that?

So what will the Cards do regarding depth at center and what will they look for in a potential back-up?

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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My personal opinion...

…is that they try to develop Canfield as a utility OL with Center skills. If they don’t feel like he is decent enough then they try to bring in a FA to spell Sendlein.

Centers are the QB of the OL and they have to be able to read what is going on with blitz packages and various gap sets. Due to the added duty of snapping the ball, footwork is key for Centers. Thats why you don’t see guys the size of Leonard Davis playing Center.

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by Red Reign on May 10, 2009 11:58 PM MDT reply actions

+1, Right on the head...

Reading blitzes (intelligence) and great feet are key to a succesful C. They also have to be able to get to the next level in the run game.

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by boogatt66 on May 11, 2009 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Elton was resigned earlier in the offseason.

by hevchv on May 11, 2009 4:08 AM MDT reply actions

True, but that doesn’t mean he makes the team. They resigned him after he had jumped into the FA market and found a less than warm reception. I actually think they will keep E. Brown which puts them at 9 OL (and I don’t see them going 10) so then Canfield, Claxton, Medders move to practice squad and they still haven’t resolved the back up center issue for this year. Wells as the back up seems like a very short term solution.

MBN

by mbn on May 11, 2009 10:41 AM MDT up reply actions

Wells would have to be the primary backup right now

I know they’ve got Claxton running with the second team right now but he’s a 28 year old guy (soon to be 29 year old) with two NFL games worth of experience. I have hard time seeing them hand over the starting reigns to a guy like that. Wells is probably the backup this season with the hope that Canfield can develop into a guard/center backup in the future.

by Bezekira on May 11, 2009 6:32 AM MDT reply actions

Not a big Canfield fan

Canfield is feisty and is bound to get in a couple of fights with Iwebema during camp but he isn’t that good, in my opinion, at least not better than the other 9 who will probably make the final 53. He gets too high too often and loses leverage. Medders may even b better. I don’t think he will make the team as a guard or a center and is destined for the practice squad. If there was a way to have Lewis, Vallejo, H. Johnson, and E. Brown and have one of them be a solid back up center, that would be ideal. Don’t know how you do that unless you just decide Wells is the backup center.

MBN

by mbn on May 11, 2009 3:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh yea, I wasn't expecting him to fill that role this year

I thought of him as more of a future option. He’s certainly not in my top 9 to make the final 53.

by Bezekira on May 11, 2009 3:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Canfield

has the ability to play at center. He practiced it at Cincinnati but played OG instead. He will need more time to be able to play there on his own. Right now if he was at center he may rely too much on using the guards to work combo and double team moves. Canfield may have dropped in the draft because he had some off the field issue but it can be looked past. He was ranked pretty much the same as the other OGs in the draft. He is capable of being a pro but he may just be on the practice squad and be a reserve for Sendlein or one of the guards for the time being. Whisenhunt and Grimm must have seen something in him to try him out. I think this is going to be a great battle to watch and see which linemen really want to start. I bet it is going to be a slightly different looking line this year at OG and maybe OT.

by kj197728 on May 11, 2009 5:31 PM MDT reply actions

Upgrade

Given the fact that this was considered one of the best Center classes in years, I was surprised Graves/Whisenhunt didn’t place more of premium on the position in the draft. I guess there thinking is that they can make it work with what they have. Drafting a center to push Sendlein would have created competition and kept the guy on his toes. I view Sendlein as more of a pass blocking/finess pivot. He tends to get overpowered and give ground to the big powerful DT’s in the league. If, the transition to a more run oreinted attack is to take place short term the Center position will need to be adressed.

I do have tremendous confidence in Russ Grimm to coach guys up. Natural talet is always better. Maybe the thinking is after or near the end of camp a veteran released can come in and contribute.

by Cardsfan81 on May 15, 2009 3:32 PM MDT reply actions

Agreed.

I don’t know if Mack and Woods coming off the board so early threw things off. They passed on Luigs for R. Johnson. If they do pick up a vet center, who do you cut to make room for him? Vallejo? B. Lewis? H. Johnson? E. Brown? or have 10 OL and lose a player somplace else? Or do they go with Wells as the back up? I think that is what they have decided and hope to ungrade the center next year.

MBN

by mbn on May 15, 2009 10:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Pittsburgh thinking

Seems to be coach up linemen and spend money at skill positions. SB win aside IMO our Oline isn’t good enough to repeat or let Ben have a play into old age like Kurt.

IMO that thinking is correct if the line coach is Grimm

by steelerstyle on May 16, 2009 5:52 AM MDT up reply actions