Contents

FEATURES

Current Highlights

Rumors & Innuendo

Depth Chart

Roster

Player Evaluations

2008 DRAFT ISSUE

Draft Summary Page

OTHER TOPICS

History of the Cardinals

About the Big Red Sheet

Welcome From the Editor

About the Editor

Memory of a True Card Fan

Order Cardinal Tickets

Links to  Cardinal Related Sites

Quarterback
Charted comments are mostly drawn from NFL Draft Scouts.com narratives (shown in black) with comments from additional sources shown in different colors. BRS = Red Sporting News War Room = Orange. USA Today = Green. Surefire Scouting = Purple
The addition of St. Pierre as our #3 solidifies our positions. There are also reports that the club may re-sign Hasselbeck. While there is no pressing urgency to add more QB depth, adding a raw athletic type with tremendous potential (like a Josh Johnson) if available after round 4 might make a lot of sense.
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
1 Josh Johnson, San Diego 6-2 214 4.56 -- 1.57 2.64 34 9-3 4.43 -- 7.57 --
Pro Day - Ran position drills only and stuck with all of his numbers from the combine

BRS (Gollin) - A radical upgrade up to #1, but really not when you consider what Cardinals might look for in a young QB to develop. Smart kid with Vince Young athleticism and potential who can be groomed to emerge as something really special. Cards don't need a high profile rookie QB at this time, but would be well advised to groom a high-upside QB as a #3 or #4.

Sporting News War Room - an elite athlete, however there is much to be done to refine his skills. He has a good release but needs the footwork to match it in order to become a legitimate NFL passer

Surefire Scouting - Johnson may be a small school product but he played in a pro-style west coast offense under a former NFL QB and is advanced in the mental aspects of the game. He lacks bulk and does not have terrific arm-strength but his positives far outweigh his negatives. He possesses the accuracy, decision-making and leadership to become a starter, preferably in a west coast system.

PFW - Johnson's 43 to 1 TD to Interception ratio is rare, but could be misleading given the low level of competition he's faced. Will need at least several years to develop.

Physical Lean, angular frame. Must add bulk. Lost no quickness adding 10 lbs a year ago. Tight gut. Toned calfs and thighs. Minimum body fat. Just average height for dropback thrower
Leadership Vocal on field (reminds some scouts of Brett Favre)
Reading Defense Good vision. Makes all the required reads and checks.
Pocket Presence Cool under pressure. Has feet to step up to avoid outside pressure
Game Mgt No info
Setup Footwork Sets up quickly and smoothly
Release Point 3/4 delivery with compact motion
Gen'l Accuracy Good overall but ball will wobble when he fails to set feet properly
Arm Strength Excellent
Short Throws Must work on timing
Deep Balls More comfortable airing it out in vertical game than he is dinking and dunking. Throws 40-yard ropes with ease.
Deep Out No info - our assumption is that he has the arm strength to make this throw
Mobility Quick, mobile and can throw on the move. Has second gear. Slides and adjusts well. Will lower head and bull for extra yardage rather than head for the sidelines
Resembles: Randall Cunningham

 
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
2  Joe Flacco, Deleware 6-6 237 4.87 -- 1.72 2.80 29 9-2 4.28 -- 6.83 --
Pro Day - Flacco measured in at 6-6 ¼, 237 and ran position drills, but stuck with the rest of his numbers from the combine.

Senior Bowl: (Despite following comments by Pro Football Scouts, I liked what I saw - big kid with a strong arm and quick release). PFS: "Flacco struggled throughout 's practice. He was very deliberate in his throwing motion and stared down his primary receiver, which allowed defenders to break on passes and led to a number of his passes being off-target."

BRS (Gollin) - Huge physical upside. Different types of QB's succeed (or fail) based on a wide variety of factors, ranging from athleticism and mobility to decision-making and reads. Flacco is a very big man who can throw the ball through a barn door. This alone has earned him this rating; however it will be up to him to prove he has the right stuff between the ears and shoulder blades to make it big in the pros.

Sporting News War Room - Flacco flew under the radar until the Senior Bow. However the first NFL GM who realizes Flacco's starting potential could get his team a steal.

Surefire Scouting - Scouts will drool over his size and arm strength; however, he will need some time to transition before he can be expected to contribute.

PFW - Best trait is his exceptional arm strength. Will always need a strong offensive line and supporting cast to function.

Physical Tall, rangy frame. Losing 10 lbs would improve mobity. Marginal muscle definition. Thin thighs
Leadership Has teammates' respect but needs to improve here
Reading Defense May have more than a few blind spots. Has improved presnap reads
Pocket Presence Does not always sense pressure - especially from backside
Game Mgt Self taught QB from poor HS program. Has much to learn.
Setup Footwork Shotgun type. Must improve setup. Sets feet well when making throws
Release Point High.
Gen'l Accuracy Tends to spray ball when under pressure.
Arm Strength Excellent
Short Throws Good zip and accuracy when he sets feet. Most interceptions come from sideline throws and tipped balls.
Deep Balls Great deep
Deep Out Very accurate
Mobility Awkward on move. May lack foot-speed to escape pressure
Resembles: Derek Anderson

 
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
3 Matt Ryan, Boston Coll. 6-4 222 4.96 -- 1.68 2.87     4.52 -- 7.41 --
Pro Day -  Stuck with all his numbers from the combine. Ran position workout

BRS (Gollin) - The flip side of Flacco. Reminds us of Joe Montana; however lots of brainy and gutty QB prospects who lack elite athleticism wind up being marginal. You just never know.

Sporting News War Room - He has the physical skills, intelligence and confidence to become a great NFL starter

Surefire Scouting - While he lacks overall strength, Ryan is comparable to Ben Roethlisberger in many areas and will likely continue his development into a championship caliber QB.

PFW - Should develop into a franchise QB who could easily be the first player drafted.

Physical Tall, lean (room to add 10 lbs), good muscle tone
Leadership Very Good
Reading Defense Very Good
Pocket Presence Very Good
Game Mgt Very Good
Setup Footwork Improved but must plant feet better
Release Point High enough
Gen'l Accuracy Very Good - especially on move
Arm Strength Long throws tend to flutter
Short Throws Good zip. Accurate
Deep Balls Most of his mistakes here. Balls tend to flutter.
Deep Out Can make throw
Mobility Good
Resembles: Rich Gannon
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
4 Brian Brohm, Louisville 6-3 232 4.69 -- 1.68 2.77 30 9-6 4.41 -- 7.14 --
Pro Day - Ran the 40 in 4.69 and 4.70, had a 4.41 short shuttle, ran position drills and kept everything else from the combine. Looked good in passing workouts -- threw 75 passes, lining up in 5-receivers sets as well as two-TE sets

BRS (Gollin) - Considered by many to be the most "ready on day one" prospect in this draft

Sporting News War Room - In addition to his strong accurate arm, he has both the mental and athletic acumen to become a terrific starting QB early in his NFL career.

Surefire Scouting - He will likely be overdrafted. That aside, he would be a good fit for a team such as the Rams.

PFW - Has been very productive in a high-profile successful program and has shown he can function in 2 different offenses. Could develop into a functional starter with a lot of talent around him but will always leave teams wanting more.
Physical Tall, well-proportioned frame. Adequate muscle tone in upper body. Strong enough to absorb punishment
Leadership Knows the offense as well as the coaches. Quick to grasp most complex of systems. Could be more vocal on the field.
Reading Defense Can make all the reads and progressions. Picks up presnap reads immediately as he settles under center. Excels at going through progressions and hitting secondary targets
Pocket Presence Good judgment in pocket. Shows patience but seldom holds ball too long.  Spreads ball around well.
Game Mgt Has total confidence of coaches in setting up & executing game plans
Setup Footwork Very good feet and balance. Good mechanics setting up after the snap, planting his feet and setting up quickly.
Release Point Inconsistent - he's most effective when he releases high. Needs to refine release point. Tends to lower the ball  to his chest and wind up when attempting long throws.
Gen'l Accuracy Nothing specific said
Arm Strength Decent, but does not have a cannon.
Short Throws Good zip to sidelines. Can throw across body. Sometimes will hurry his throws
Deep Balls Pretty accurate (very accurate at laying the ball over the top or down the seam)  but does not have a cannon.
Deep Out Nothing specific said
Mobility Lacks foot speed. Good COD to escape pressure. Not much of a running threat, but can scramble for yardage when needed to
Intangibles Very coachable. Doesn't want preferential treatment (wants to be one of the guys)
Resembles: Drew Brees
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
5 Colt Brennan, Hawaii 6-2 218 4.90 -- -- --     -- -- -- --

Pro Day -  Brennan injured his hip during a Senior Bowl practice, and it was recently announced that he would have labrum surgery on April 7. It will be about eight weeks before he can run and 12 weeks until he can work out. Still, he did throw 88 passes at this workout.

BRS (Gollin) - The talent plateau drops off about right before here.

Sporting News War Room - NFL stock is hurt by his small frame and poor performance at the Senior Bowl. He must also overcome the stigma that is attached to run & shoot quarterbacks who tend to flame out quickly in the pros. Still, Brennan has enough athleticism, poise and accuracy to develop into a productive NFL quarterback.

Surefire Scouting - Several unknowns - such as Brennan's ability to adapt to a pro-style offense, take snaps from under center and make NFL reads - limits his overall value.

PFW - An overrated product of June Jones' spread offense has been spoiled in the system and will struggle to adapt to an NFL playbook that requires him to do more than hit underneath zones and let the receivers run with the ball.

Physical Tall lanky frame with good muscle def. Could add 20 more pounds without losing quickness. Overall core strength is marginal.
Leadership Respected leader. Doesn't rattle.
Reading Defense Adjusts well to defensive coverage. Good at progressions and check downs.
Pocket Presence Good huddle presence. Makes quick decisions. Slides and adjusts to pocket pressure with ease. But can be patient in pocket when he needs to.
Game Mgt Good at taking plays from chalkboard to the field
Setup Footwork Quick to set up into a position to drive the ball despite working more from shotgun than under center. Footwork must become more consistent (Balls wobble when he throws off wrong foot).
Release Point Quick release. Will vary his release point from over the top (when in the pocket)  to 3/4 (when on the move). When release point is too low, he gets too many balls batted down.
Gen'l Accuracy "One of the most accurate passers in the history of college football."
Arm Strength Good enough to stretch defenses & strong enough to air it out.
Short Throws Better timing and accuracy when he's throwing short to intermediate.
Deep Balls Good trajectory, but needs to step into them better.
Deep Out No specific comments
Mobility Enough valid speed to keep defenses honest. Very mobile out of pocket - rollout threat. Can throw on the move
Resembles: Alex Smith
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
8 Erik Ainge, Tennessee 6-5 225 4.99 -- 1.72 2.85 22 8-11 4.61 -- 7.52 --

Pro Day - Kept everything from the combine. Ran position drills.

BRS (Gollin) - Maybe it's just the famous family name, but I just get the feeling there's something lacking that undermines his bonafides..

Sporting News War Room - He's not flashy but he doesn't make many mistakes either, which gives him an upside as a game-managing passer.

Surefire Scouting - If Ainge can remain healthy, he has an intriguing upside. He has the tools to become a solid starter in the future, but that will take some time to develop.

PFW - His feet, delivery and velocity seem slow for the pro game but his experience will still pique interest.

Physical Frame is more "basketball" than "football."Can carry an additional 10 lbs but needs to improve muscle tone. Big hands.
Leadership Smart instinctive athlete with good grasp of playbook. Puts in the extra hours. Not real vocal, but has earned the respect of his teammates. Good program player with easy-going personality
Reading Defense Good job of scanning the field and attacking the soft spots and making progression reads.
Pocket Presence Classic pocket passer with a tendency to get too creative. Not good at sensing back side pressure.
Game Mgt Has too much confidence in arm strength and will force throws
Setup Footwork Adequate. Has been known to throw off wrong foot (causing ball to float)
Release Point Quick over-the-top release.
Gen'l Accuracy Throws too many picks due to low trajectory.
Arm Strength Good enough to make deep throws
Short Throws Lacks consistency - doesn't always establish rhythm.
Deep Balls Can vary his speed while accurate enough to squeeze ball into tight spaces. Lacks consistency on fades and deep routes - not all that accurate.
Deep Out N
Mobility Classic pocket passer who lacks speed to escape pressure. 
Intangibles Not adept at playing thru pain - some question his mental toughness.
Resembles: Ken Dorsey, Elvis Grbac
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
7 John David Booty, USC 6-2 216 4.83 -- 1.68 2.77 22 8-2 4.59 -- -- --

Pro Day - Had a position workout only, kept everything else from the combine.

BRS (Gollin) - Is he too much of a system passer and not enough of a playmaker?

Sporting News War Room - Shows the arm, accuracy and athleticism to become a good NFL starter. But to do so, Booty must improve his footwork and technique.

Surefire Scouting - Booty did not enjoy a stellar senior season. His injury history and lack of ideal size and arm strength will initially limit him to a back up role. He is a hard worker and may eventually work his way into a line up. He is more of a game manager at this point.

PFW - A pure pocket passer with functional arm strength. Booty is a west coast rhythm passer who will need to play in an offense that features a lot of short crossers and slants to be effective.

Physical Linear build with adequate muscle thickness. Good size for position.
Leadership Take charge attitude in huddle and his teammates respect him.
Reading Defense Not all that quick at decision-making. Will lapse into streaks where he locks on primary target
Pocket Presence Adequate toughness but will look a bit confused when flushed. Decent blitz and stunt awareness and knows how to adjust to these.
Game Mgt Nothing specific mentioned.
Setup Footwork Sluggish and inconsistent.
Release Point Decent release but mostly 3/4. Will drop down and wind up too frequently
Gen'l Accuracy Might be better suited to play in a west coast system than in a vertical attack.
Arm Strength Can make all the throws
Short Throws Nice zip but lacks consistency. Good accuracy and timing. More effective throwing inside the hashmarks than toward the sidelines. Better throwing from the right hash.
Deep Balls Lacks explosive release to consistently air it out. Ball tends to float. Lacks consistent touch.
Deep Out Better throwing over the middle than to the sidelines
Mobility Good acceleration, balance and agility but won't scare anyone with his foot speed or cutback skills. At best throwing out of pocket.
Intangibles Comes from football family and great college program at USC. Takes businesslike approach to managing the game and has been tutored well. Needs more than a few reps to retain play info. More a functional passer who lacks creativity.
Resembles: Patrick Ramsay, Matt Schaub
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
8 Andre' Woodson, Kentucky 6-4 227 4.86 -- -- -- 27 9-1 4.33 -- 7.28 --

Pro Day - Ran the 40 in 4.86 and 4.88, had a 27½-inch vertical jump (disappointing), 9-foot, 1-inch long jump, 4.33 short shuttle, and 7.28 cone drill.

BRS (Gollin) - Some guys improve their fundamentals and develop into solid QB's. For others, the light bulbs never seem to go on. Fundamentals translate to good mechanics which, in turn translate to consistency which can take an NFL quarterback a long way..

Sporting News War Room - A frustrating QB to evaluate. He has all the physical tools to be a good NFL signal caller but must greatly improve his mechanics and accuracy...on occasions he does  everything right and becomes a game breaking QB, but must significantly improve his fundamentals.

Surefire Scouting - His biggest drawback may be lack of mobility, which is partially offset by his outstanding pocket presence  and footwork. His accuracy and decision-making are advanced, and he could compete for a starting role immediately.

PFW - A bigger, thicker version of Jason Campbell. He'll need a clean pocket to function in the pros because of his lack of mobility. Could be good in time/never great.

Physical More of a basketball than QB frame. Tall, athletic with long limbs, large hands and smooth muscled tone, but tends to add weight too readily
Leadership Leads by example more than by decibel. Could afford to be more vocal but not comfortable assuming that role
Reading Defense Field vision has improved. Quick to make presnap reads and call audibles. (Coaches give him that freedom). No longer locks onto primary target.
Pocket Presence One of the toughest guys in the pocket you'll ever see. Would rather eat the ball than throw into tight spaces. Knows how to move around to buy time on busted plays. Must learn to throw ball away rather than take sacks. Fumble issues.
Game Mgt Good clock manager. Has mental make-up to call his own game and pick up stunts and blitzes
Setup Footwork Sets up quickly with good throwing mechanics and  precision in the intermediate game. Footwork is inconsistent (will throw off back foot too often)
Release Point Throws too often with a windup motion
Gen'l Accuracy Inconsistent
Arm Strength Can throw the ball downfield effortless. Strong enough to make throws from the opposite hash.
Short Throws Lacks consistent accuracy in short game (mainly when throwing toward sidelines)
Deep Balls Has the velocity to throw deep on the move. Has developed better touch on deep throws. Most effective deep vs. Cover 2 defenses
Deep Out Can make throw with good consistency.
Mobility Can buy time scrambling and can throw on the move. Good balance. But runs too straight up.
Resembles: Jason Campbell
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ BJ 20S 60S 3C Wun
9 Paul Smith, Tulsa 6-1 208 4.98 -- 1.65 2.88 27 9-3 4.31 -- 7.03 --
Pro Day - Had a very good workout throwing the football. Stuck with all his numbers from the combine

BRS (Gollin) - Another Montana-type (i.e. poor man's Matt Ryan). The next Joe Cool? Or the next Rich Mirer?

Sporting News War Room - Smith has shown the productivity and rare intangibles to give him a shot at being an NFL starter. He isn't impressive in terms of physique or arm strength, but consistently makes plays..

Surefire Scouting - Smith had a solid showing at both the Hula Bowl and Shrine games. He is an ideal fit for a west coast scheme. In spite of his physical shortcomings, Smith will have a long and productive NFL career as a situational starter and top-notch backup.

PFW - Might be the next Jeff Garcia in six or seven years.
Physical Short and slight frame. ... Not impressive physically
Leadership Natural playmaker. ... Coach's son and plays with the instincts to prove it. ... Better player than his skill set would lead you to believe
Reading Defense Understands the offense and will check down to secondary receivers if his first option is covered.
Pocket Presence Poised even when pressured. Elusive in the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield
Game Mgt No comments
Setup Footwork Quick in his drop back, set-up and delivery.
Release Point Extends his wind-up for longer throws
Gen'l Accuracy No comments
Arm Strength Lacks the preferred arm strength
Short Throws Possesses good zip on his underneath routes.
Deep Balls s and can float deep passes
Deep Out No comments
Mobility No comments   
Misc. Perfectly suited to Tulsa's offense and his statistics are greatly inflated. ... . ... . ... . ... Marginal level of competition.
Resembles: No comments 
Rnk Player Ht Wt 40