Cardinals Draft Tight End Jim Dray With Final Pick In 2010 NFL Draft
by Andrew602 on Apr 24, 2010 3:14 PM MDT
in NFL Draft/Combine
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After a long day of trades and questionable picks, the Arizona Cardinals rounded out the 2010 NFL draft by selecting tight end Jim Dray out of Stanford.
Tight end was always a position of need heading into the draft, with multiple mock drafts predicting the Cardinals would select a the position as early as the first round. However, tight end wasn't the first priority for the Cardinals and that was evident when they waited to draft one in the seventh round.
Dray is coming off of a serious knee injury that he suffered on a special teams back in 2008 against TCU. He worked extremely hard to rehab the injured knee last season and played in several games, even earning second-team All Pac 10 accolades. Last year he caught 11 passes for 149 yards and three scores, but made a name for himself by his aggressive and superb blocking skills.
Dray has a wide base and uses it to his advantage when blocking along the offensive line. He's very active with his hands and will aggressively seal off the edge or wall off linebackers at the second level. He understands his routes and will make defenders pay for not bumping him at the line of scrimmage. Dray possesses excellent hands and runs in a bullish nature to pick up extra yards after the catch.
He does need to work on controlling himself when blocking. He can sometimes over extend himself and allow defenders to blow past him as a result. He doesn't have the quickest first step and physical defenders will give him problems. Overall Dray is an intelligent player that gives a 100% effort every time he's on the field. His knee is a concern but he's clearly a Ken Whisenhunt-type tight end. Do you believe Dray stands a chance to make the roster for 2010?
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We only waited til the 7th for a TE because the Broncos swooped down and stole Tebow in the first from us.
by hadrarius on Apr 24, 2010 3:19 PM MDT reply actions 3 recs
haha nice
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
I'm not sure about this one.
But overall I’m happy with the draft.
By the way Andrew, can you do a writeup of how you think the rest of the NFC West did in the Draft?
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
I kind of feel like we have to agree with this pick.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
A nice blocking TE for depth is always important.
This guy looks like a slightly better blocker/slightly lesser catcher than Heath Miller type.
Section 102, Row 18
A couple of the current TE's are on 1 year deals I believe.
It makes sense to get a guy in this year to learn the offense before they are gone. Then if he works out he can contribute in 2011.
Don’t we already have 4 TE on the roster? Just what we need another blocking TE.
by lorenzothedog on Apr 24, 2010 4:27 PM MDT up reply actions
4+1 now
At least 2 have only a loose hold on their roster spot. There won’t be 5 come the season opener, that’s for sure.
I think Patrick is under rated.
I was hoping they’d get someone like Dorin Dickerson. A big guy that can split out and cause match up problems in the red zone, even in a 4 wideout set. When it comes to the 7th round I don’t hold out much expectation.
by hadrarius on Apr 24, 2010 5:12 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree wholeheartedly
I would like to see the team use Patrick all over the field instead of just in the red zone. I like this draft. We filled needs everywhere with players who we wanted. Someone willing to wait on O’Brien S. was going to get a good player and I doubt he would have still been there much after we picked him. He is a 2nd round talent who fits nicely into our scheme. Skelton is a project, but there is no rush geting him on the field(Irregardless of what that moron J.Dukes has to say). The only problem I have is that we could have probably gotten CB Jorrick in the 7th and Dray as a FA. Dorin Dickerson should have been picked up. He will be a weapon if used properly.
Did Dukes say that he should be the new starter?
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Patrick has great hands
But he’s not particularly quick. He makes an effective zone receiver and red zone threat, and will benefit, presumably, from Leinart checkdowns. Byrd is basically a big WR.
I love this draft.
Great job to everyone involved.
I look forward to seeing what this defense can do.
by CardsDefense on Apr 24, 2010 3:41 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
I thought we did pretty well in the draft hated giving up that 3rd to move up 10 spots to grab Washington. I thought Seattle and SF had great drafts. SF is going to be a smash mouth team we could not beat them last year I do not see how we can beat them this year. I think SF is a much better from last year while we are not as good as last year without Warner – Dansby – Rolle – Boldin plus the retirments.
Seahawks look much better today than a week ago too.
The whole division did well in the draft. Unfortunately we had to make up ground on our losses. Seahawks also picked up Lendale White and Leon Washington. I don’t think we’re any worse off than last year with the possible exception of missing Warner. Still believe we are the team to beat. I’m not crowning San Francisco. They need to prove they can win more than 8 games. The way people were going on about them possibly taking Clausen shows that critics have as little faith in Smith as they do in Leinart.
Agreed, but now Seattle has four #2 RBs...
…still don’t have a lead guy.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
Say what you want about Smith for SF but he had a better year than Leinhart in fact he did not have a bad year at all and this will be his second year under this OC. SF’s biggest deficiency last year was thier OL they addressed this in the first round with two highly rated OL plus they have a new OL coach this year. Add Taylor Mayes he may not be the best cover guy but he can cover alot of ground and hits like a ton of bricks. It will be rock’m sock’m smash mouth football with SF a la Singletary.
by lorenzothedog on Apr 24, 2010 9:04 PM MDT up reply actions
Don't under estimate how these draftees will fit into the system or the evolution of our team.
I think we will be a force next year. Our chemistry will be superb. Year four Whiz should have all the players he needs for his system to work. Even with the retirements and defections. Just wait and see
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
by hevchv on Apr 24, 2010 5:34 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
every team has a weakness
if our defensive philosophy is correct we can use their smouth mouth style of play against them. it’s all about matchups and scheme.
by CardsDefense on Apr 24, 2010 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions
Is there a reason Ciron Black, OT from LSU went undrafted?
Why have we not signed him yet? Lol.
It must be that time of day, the time to focus on sports.
He will move to guard
I rather see us sign Micah Johnson
Another ILB would be a good move for depth.
With it being such a deep draft quality guys were bound to not be picked. Was a little surprised Micah Johnson was not drafted though. Been watching for Cardinals signings.
Wouldn't mind signing Vince Oghobaase, too
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
Draft Improvement
Every year teams go through the draft and feel they are the team to beat. All of these players still have to prove themselves in the NFL and I think Whiz does it right. We picked up players with great ability but we won"t play them until they are ready. We filled in most of our holes so I think we start the year very close to where we left off. We had improvements in some positions (RB and CB) and brought in vets to fill others vacancies. Matt will be good with a full preseason behind him and Beanie will be coming on full force. WE ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE NFC WEST!!
"The true test of a person's intellligence is how much they agree with you."
Not a ton to complain about here
He may have gone undrafted, but then we might not have gotten a shot at him. That’s kind of what the 7th round picks are for. He’ll learn how to block from Becht and bulk up his frame a little bit and be ready to go next year. Sounds good to me.
Undrafteds signed so far (unofficial)
Max Hall, QB, BYU
Alfonso Smith, RB, Kentucky
Max Komar, WR, Idaho
Casey Knips, OT, SDSU
AJ Jefferson, CB, Fresno State
Devin Tyler, OT, Temple
http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/p/2010-nfl-undrafted-free-agents.html
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
don't agree with the beginning statement of questionable in the draft!
I think it was a great draft, might end up being one of whiz’s best!
i would bet this guy makes the roster over Spach & Byrd
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
So basically, our UFA
2 developmental OT’s (Knips & Tyler), a C/G (David Moosman), a small QB (Hall), RB (Smith), WR x 2 (Stephen Williams & Komar), and CB (Jefferson).. so far.
Whiz said something about planning on 10 UFA’s..
It must be that time of day, the time to focus on sports.
A.J. Jefferson
Is one of the guys Andrew had a write-up on. Said he was potentially a 4th round talent. Sounds like a pretty good steal as an undrafted free agent.
nice pick
If he blocked for the nations top running back in rushing yards then he must be a good blocker
The Devil Birds just got cha
by DaCards on Apr 25, 2010 10:03 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
nice pick
If he blocked for the nations top running back in rushing yards then he must be a good blocker
The Devil Birds just got cha
by DaCards on Apr 25, 2010 10:04 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
Another undrafted CB I don't see signed...
… that I wouldn’t mind the Cards giving a shot. Devin Ross from the U of A. Seemed to be pretty good most of the time, maybe there’s some potential there.
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