What Should The Arizona Cardinals Do With Levi Brown?
by Jess Root on Dec 30, 2011 11:00 AM MST
in General Arizona Cardinals News
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If there is one player that has caused more frustration than any other on the Arizona Cardinals fans, it is most likely Levi Brown this season and over the past several seasons. He has been known in most circles of those that follow football as possibly the worst pass blocking tackle in the NFL.
However, on more than one occasion, coach Ken Whisenhunt has defended the player that was his first draft pick. He did it again on Thursday.
Said Whisenhunt:
"From what you hear or see, people don't think he's lived up to the reputation of where he was drafted. I will speak on this year. He's done the job we drafted him to do. Whatever has happened to get him to this point really doesn't matter. He's playing good football for us now and I respect that."
Is he playing good football now? PFF agrees.
He was recognized recently as one of the highest rated offensive tackles against the Cleveland Browns.
His pass protection has truly improved. According to PFF stats, he has not allowed a sack in five weeks. He has not allowed a QB hit in that time and only seven pressures. Based on the number of pass plays in that period, that equates a paltry 3.4 percent pressure allowed rate.
Since he started roughly, his overall numbers are 10 sacks allowed, five hits and 39 pressures, which is an 8.9 percent pressure allowed rate. That is a big improvement from a year ago in his first year as left tackle. In 2010, his pressure allowed rate was 10.9 percent.
Now, we know about his contract status. He is due a huge jump in salary next season -- a $16.9 million cap hit. But that was a year that was never going to happen, based on rookie contracts. He will not see that money.
However, if they let him go, there is a lot of uncertainty at the tackle position. If he is released (which will happen) and not brought back, only Jeremy Bridges will be under contract and the team will have the rights to undrafted rookie D.J. Young. Brandon Keith and backup D'Anthony Batiste will be free agents.
While many, including Arizona Republic writer Kent Somers, believe that in the end Brown will be let go and not re-signed, would bringing him back at a lower salary (he's not getting $16.9 million anywhere) be such a bad thing?
He could go back to right tackle, where he was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2009. Now, as much as it pains Cardinals fans, considering the improvement he has made between the start of last season and the end of this season, is it not reasonable to think his improvement could and would continue, and if so, would his returning to play left tackle be that bad?
After all, he does love it here.
"I'm just going to let it play out and what happens, happens. I would love to be here for the remainder of my career. I love the organization. But if I'm not, that's just how the cards played out."
He understands the business of football. He is a smart man, probably smarter than most of us that are reading this. After all, he did earn two degrees at Penn State while playing football (not an easy task, and not easy degrees -- Labor and Industrial Studies and Psychology) and worked on a master's degree during the lockout while players like Lyle Sendlein were focused on video games.
So, what should Arizona do?
The easy answer is to say goodbye and not feel bad, but it is more complicated than that.
Can they bring in someone who will do a better job, having to learn the offense, calls and protection schemes? After all, the guy he replaced at left tackle was Mike Gandy. Gandy was blocking for Kurt Warner, who made his line look so much better because he was able to read defenses and make quick throws. Brown has been blocking for guys that have struggled with throws and decisions. Gandy's pressure rates? 8.3 percent in 2008 and 9.3 percent in 2009.
Goodbye, RT or LT (lower salary in any returning case)...what do you think the Cards should do?
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Brown is nearly everyone's favorite scapegoa
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
by INSOMAN1ATIC on Dec 30, 2011 11:05 AM MST via mobile reply actions
T
Bring him back at left tackle, anyone else we bring in is going to need half of next season to get a grasp on how Grimm and Miller want them to play anyways. Now who keeps saying we could have had Adrian Peterson? Im calling it now, he will never finish in the top 10 from here on out in his career
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
by INSOMAN1ATIC on Dec 30, 2011 11:10 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
It would be absolutely thrilling if Brown returns, keeps up his recent level of play, and mysteriously turns into a franchise LT
After like seven years he could finally escape the Peterson stigma. Funny.
Nice guy, smart, self critical BUT
why did it take him 4.5 years to show he can play at a decent, not good, decent level? One top rated game doesn’t make him a good LT, he was and remains the worst left tackle in the league and Whiz needs to take of the ego driven rose colored glasses cause he certainly isn’t watching the same games we are. He can come back at a greatly reduced salary, from current salary, not the impossible final rookie contract year, as a bridge to a real LT or tell him adios. The only FA market for Levi is as a backup.
He was a Pro Bowl alternate at RT in '09
Playing decent football isn’t a new thing for him. He has done it in stretches in the past. The problem with Brown, to me, is consistency. He’ll have a good drive, or a good game, or a good couple of weeks, but always seems to take a tumble afterwards and usually at the worst possible moment. As much as we like to blame him for everything, he’s not as terrible as we all make him out to be. I believe it’s just how you have to grade him as an OT — he’s all right, but he’s not great. He can handle an average defensive player all day but isn’t good enough to deal with top-flight pass rushers.
Indeed,
consistency is his main issue; however it’s no secret he is much better at run blocking than pass blocking so the play calling hasn’t exactly done him any favors either.
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
by INSOMAN1ATIC on Dec 30, 2011 4:56 PM MST up reply actions
To play left tackle in the nfl you have to be good in pass protection.
Play calling is no out. I do think he has suffered from poor chemistry with Faneca and Colledge. There have been numerous obvious failures on the part of the left guard and / or running back that have played into the perception of Levi, whether it has been a lack of communication, not understanding the blocking assignment, or just physically missing the block. Any pressure that comes from the left side seems to automatically get blamed on Levi. He does get beat badly enough at times in his own right. Doesn’t really need to have the failures of others heaped upon him as well.
The situation at right tackle is worse than with Levi at left tackle.
Can the Cardinals fix both positions in one off season? Bringing in two new starting tackles is a rough way to go but may be the best option. Levi will undoubtedly be cut to avoid the pay out. Even if they would like him back it’s nothing they can count on.
+1
If we manage to restructure Levi and use him at LT again next year I will accept it if and only if we address RT. Even though LT is the more critical position, it is as you say — we’re better at LT with Levi than we are at RT with [insert player].
I will continue to figure on getting a nice RT with our first round pick. I don’t know if you’re going to be able to find a stud LT where we’ll be picking in the draft, and I don’t know that Demetrius Bell will be any cheaper than Brown. If we can pull off a Tyron Smith, I will be thrilled — a strong lineman with room to learn the game who can start at RT his rookie year and then move to LT for the duration.
Really depends on his interest in the market
They have to cut him to avoid the $16+ mil, and they will. But I also bet they’ll be interested in re-signing him to a moderate deal to return. If another team pays him well to be their LT, he’s gone, but if he doesn’t get a lot of interest in the FA market I’m betting the Cards re-sign him as at least their starting RT.
I’d re-sign him at a decent deal to be the RT with the idea of getting an LT somewhere else, either FA or the draft, and getting either Keith back or a decent vet backup. If you draft one and he doesn’t work out, you always have the option of moving Levi back to LT in that case.
People LOVE to hate this guy
He’s not a bad player! Look at what he’s dealt with the last two seasons in terms of QB play….DA and KK, two of the worst QB’s in the league. They both hold on to the ball forever!
The guy isn’t too bad. Is he a pro bowler? No. But he is a serviceable LT! He’ll start somewhere next season… You can take that to the bank!
by forget on Dec 30, 2011 12:43 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Your right in that
he is a decent backup tackle but that is it. What about worst left tackle in the league don’t you understand.
He's become such a scapegoat
That people have been overlooking how well he’s been playing lately (Myself included).
I say we bring him back, but as an RT. That’s the position he was drafted to be, that’s the position he went to the Pro Bowl as. My biggest worry is we’ll let him go, another team will sign him, make him an RT, and he’ll end up becoming an All-pro, franchise RT.
Either way, we definitely need to bring him back. If he’s brought back as an LT, then fine, hopefully he can keep improving, but if they decide to make him an RT, then even better.
Joe Saunders: "They played a really good game, so hats off to us"
Well don't get that excited
If he’s a rookie, 4 or 5 good games in a row would be significant. With a known quantity like Brown, just enjoy the streak while it lasts.
I say we bring him back as a guard
Believe me, I am no scout, but it appears to me that Levi simply lacks the foot speed and mobility to handle DEs and strong/fast OLBs coming off the edge. If he were a guard, his pass protection skills would increase dramatically and he seems to be athletic enough to be able to pull on run plays. He has always been a strong guy and a good run mauler, so why not highlight his strengths instead of putting him in a position where he simply just doesn’t fit?
There's a lot about Levi that screams Leonard Davis. Where are we going to put him if we sign him as a guard? Colledge is locked up for years and Hadnot has one more cheap year
by cardinalbrown on Dec 30, 2011 8:32 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
Speaking of Hadnot
Why’d Lutui play the second half last week? We looking at a change at RG or was there an injury?
Bring him back IF he is willing to redo his contract
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My take
Restructure his contract to bring him back, draft an OT, AND pick up Bell. Levi and Bell compete for LT, the loser goes to the RT. Draftee is our backup for both left and right side along with bridges who is a cheap, serviceable back up. We keep taking an OT in every draft for the next few years. By the time Bells n Browns contracts are up, our OT from this draft should be ready, we can resign Brown or Bell, whoever they choose, and we have a stable of young guys ready to take over for the future. That’s how u build up a position.
by cgcardzfan on Dec 30, 2011 5:18 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Good plan
Love singing Bell. Not a fan of drafting a 1st rd tackle. Much rather grab a mid round guy from a powerhouse school. Guy like DJ Fluker has all the talent in the world (top tackle coming out of hs) but gets overshadowed by Trent Richatdson’s skill and the quality of defense in the sec
by cardinalbrown on Dec 30, 2011 8:36 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
IDC
Where we draft a Tackle at. 1st, 3rd, 5th. Just whoever they think is a good fit and the guy they want. Definately don’t reach for a your not completely sold on, but definately don’t overlook anybody hoping to find a late round gem. I feel completely confident in whatever moves we make. Our FO has won me over with the way we have been developing our draftees and and with the quality FA we have brought in. The only thing I’m worried about on this team right now is QB. I want to see somebody step up and win the job Idc who it is!
by cgcardzfan on Dec 30, 2011 9:14 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
That'd be good, too
I don’t think we can afford to go into next season without either Brown or Bell. I think a lot of us would be happy if it was Bell — someone different to be mad at, at the very least.
Levi is a better than average Tackle
He is one of the best run blockers in the game, and is average as a pass blocker. He certainly isn’t the worst tackle in the NFL, nor is he an elite Tackle. He is simple middle of the pack. I think he would be better fit as a RT because he woudn’t be going against an elite pass rusher each and every game.
Most of the reason Levi gets a bum rep is because he was drafted 5th overall, and that kind of draft position expects greatness, not middle of the pack. Once again, I will defer to the people who are paid to evaluate NFL players: Coaches, analysts, etc. and heed their opinion that Levi is above average but not elite.
We all bleed Cardinal Red, but most of us don't recognize it!
"It takes no talent to give great effort"--Chris Petersen
Patrick Peterson is the 2nd coming of Deion Sanders. They even wear the same number.
Levi Brown has the polarizing affect of Tim Tebow for the Cardinals
If you mention Levi Brown fans either begin the tirade of “Adrian Peterson!” or “Worst tackle in the game!” or “He’s not the worst”. I love the instant call to arms that is the Levi Brown discussion or the cutting Leinart discussion.
I think Levi would be great back at RT. There is a couple good draft picks out there for LT, not many, but we’ll be drafting in the middle and we might get lucky. Hell, the Cardinals could trade up to get someone good as we really need a LT, and maybe need both. I would actually like to see the Cardinals get two tackles this year and two OLBs. I like what the 49ers did (last year or two years ago?) when they focused on the line.
Section 103, Row 19
Only bring him back if he is at a reasonable price
I want a new LT though.
"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
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