Arizona Cardinals Sign Rookie Linebacker Will Davis

by Hawkwind on Jun 16, 2009 2:17 PM MDT

The Arizona Cardinals signed their sixth round draft pick today with Will Davis agreeing to a three year deal. As usual with the Cardinals, ~~financial terms were not disclosed but you can almost guarantee that it's three years at the minimum each year with a small signing bonus~~ the yearly basis are all for the league minimums and his signing bonus was $66,000. Davis, an University of Illinois product, is expected to compete at outside linebacker after playing defensive end in college.

Davis arrived at Illinois as a wide receiver but quickly moved from tight end to defensive end and that's where he played for most of his time at Illinois. He had a breakout junior season in which he totaled 9 1/2 sacks but injuries along the defensive line forced him inside to tackle as a senior and he struggled, recording just 3 1/2 sacks. In total, Davis recorded 15 sacks during his college career but he'll be asked to learn yet another position with the Cardinals. We talked to the head writer at Hail to the Orange (SBNation's Illinois site) about Davis' abilities and he was impressed by Davis' ability to get to the quarterback:

Will Davis was probably the best pure pass rusher on the team last year and the year before.......In pure passing situations his quickness and instincts will result in him getting to the QB more often than not, but he's in trouble when teams run at him.

The Cardinals also released punter Waylon Prather, leaving veteran Ben Graham as the only punter on the team, in order to make room for Davis. Previous rookies who have signed include Trevor Canfield, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Herman Johnson.

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NT?

Interesting note that he played inside last year instead of DE. Nobody ever mentioned that. They only mentioned that his production as a Senior dropped.

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Jun 16, 2009 2:36 PM MDT reply actions

Hawk mentioned it in his story about Davis.....

Here’s a quote and the link:

All in all, that’s honestly about what you’d expect to hear about a guy who is being moved to outside linebacker. Most of them are smaller or weaker defensive ends who are a a liability against the run but excel at coming off the edge and rushing the passer. When you add in the note that he being used inside as a defensive tackle and it’s no wonder that his production fell off in 2008 (there can’t be too many defensive tackles who are former wide receivers).

Granted he didn’t go into too much depth but the Illinois guy also mentioned it.

You are right though about how you don’t hear many national sources talking it. I wonder where he’d have been drafted if he’d have stayed on the outside and gotten close to double digit sacks in back to back years. His injuries also hurt his draft stock but all in all, this guy could be a great find because he sacrificed his draft stock for the good of his team.

by Bezekira on Jun 16, 2009 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions

I guess I need to read more, haha!

It always makes me wonder when someone is an EXCELLANT pass rusher but liability in run support. I think a lot of excelling in stopping the run is willingness to sacrifice and be patient. Hopefully you are right Bezek and he is the type willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team and improves on his run stopping ability. He looks like a freak, hopefully its not just a mirage and he plays like one.

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Jun 16, 2009 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions

Like I said before...

being a former WR and TE I would expect him to be very good in coverage as well. That would be half the battle. Good at rushing the QB, good in coverage and hopefully can be taught to hold up against the run. I think John Lott will have a lot to say about the latter.

by hevchv on Jun 17, 2009 6:35 AM MDT up reply actions

looks like he can play many positions

Wonder how good he can be when a team sets him to a set position and role???

by azcardswinez on Jun 16, 2009 5:34 PM MDT reply actions

I Like Davis alot

If he can get the hang of playing coverage and moving in space I think he is going to be a beast. He has size and quickness. Imagine a 260+ linebacker on kick coverage. Picture him after a year with coach Lott. I am not overly concerned about his sack decline his last year for the reasons Hawk and Bezekira note above. I also don’t worry about the comments about him struggleing stopping the run. At 260 and speed he was a beast outside but at 260 he is a liability inside. I would run right at him as well if I was the other team. That he did as well as he did inside is a positive to me. I think his potential upside is higher than C. Brown’s. I can’t see him pulling a Branch (all talent and no effort) and I don’t think he will pull a Buster Davis(talent but no clue). He is much more talented than Harrington. Will Davis may be the pick that I am most excited about, which sounds stupid since we got him in the 6th but I just think he has the potential to be a real force in the years to come. Anxious to see him in camp.

MBN

by mbn on Jun 16, 2009 10:11 PM MDT reply actions

He is much more talented than Harrington.

Great point in comparing two guys drafted in the same round. Davis is such a better natural athlete than Harrington was and his ceiling is so much higher.

by Bezekira on Jun 17, 2009 6:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Good points.

I feel the same about Davis being my favorite pick for reasons I stated above. But as previously mentioned, he is a liability against the run. As mbn was alluding to, If he was playing DT at 260 and they were running straight at him, I could see this. A 260 DT going up against centers, guards and fullbacks would definately have trouble against the run. Now I’m even more impressed that he held his own and didn’t physically breakdown more against the much bigger competition. I’m sold. I’m actually sold on the entire draft except for Canfield. Not that he isn’t everything you guys have said, I’m just not that familiar with him yet.

by hevchv on Jun 17, 2009 6:46 AM MDT up reply actions

that's pretty typical for a college DE moving to OLB

If you read scouting reports on just about every college DE who’s getting moved to OLB, they almost always have the note that they’re not very strong against the run. That’s essentially why they aren’t drafted by 4-3 teams and it’s big reason why most don’t do much in their first year. His 260-or-so pounds is really good for a OLB so hopefully he gets into Lott’s program and trades some fat for muscle and we see a leaner 260 next year. I agree though he’s a promising player and he might be able to avoid the nagging injuries now that he’s not buried in the trenches.