After starting fullback Nehemiah Broughton blew out his knee in Saturday's win over the Chicago Bears, the Cardinals frantically made a move to fix the situation. With Reagan Ma'ui as the only active fullback, they sent sixth round draft pick Jorrick Calvin to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their sixth round pick, fullback Charles Scott . The move was surprising considering the Cardinals are in desperate need of good play in the secondary.
Was the move right? Will it have implications in the secondary? Is a fullback needed that much to deal a draft pick away? All of those questions come to mind -- my mind at least. Calvin possessed the same potential that star cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie did entering the league, as well as corner Greg Toler. Apparently after three preseason games, the team had witnessed enough.
Calvin will continue his career in Philadelphia. He could become a star, a solid role-player, or eventually turn into a nobody. That's not the part that bothers me. I am concerned, seeing how a player that was expected to make the 53-man roster is no longer with the team. This could however, suggest that the front office and coaching staff isn't as worried about the secondary as we all are.
Rodgers-Cromartie and Toler are the inevitable starters -- at least I still believe. That leaves Justin Miller, Trumaine McBride, Michael Adams, and Marshay Green as the most-likely depth behind the starters. Miller has proven to be a solid return man, which may just seal his roster spot. McBride and Adams provide quality depth, but I would be worried if they had to start at any point during the regular season. Green has shown flashes of brilliance and he also can return the football. The same weakness along the roster could come to surprise many.
Charles Scott will provide relief at fullback, and he's versatile enough to take snaps at running back as well. At 6-1, 234-pounds, Scott was a running back at LSU where he compiled 2,317 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns during his collegiate career. Scott was picked one slot before Calvin in this years draft and has only carried the ball once this preseason.
Seeing how the fullback is a dying position, it is interesting that the Cardinals scrambled to find one shortly after Broughton went down on Saturday. It does suggest what we've all thought so far -- that the offense will be more run-oriented. It also suggests that former Cardinals' fullbacks Terrelle Smith and Dan Kreider were not in the Cardinals future plans. Regardless of my thoughts, I will however continue to support the decisions made by the Cardinals front office and hope that Calvin truly was not needed.