Contents
FEATURES
Current Highlights
Rumors & Innuendo
Depth Chart
Roster
Player Evaluations
2013 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
|
2013 Draft
Strong Safeties
This page will be a work in
progress and updated frequently. Come back often and watch
it develop. |
39 |
*Matt Elam |
SS |
1 |
Florida |
Jr |
5097 |
208 |
1st-2nd |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Short and it costs him in jump ball situations. A big hitter
who needs to curb some of his aggressiveness and play under
better control. But does make big plays at key moments. Team
captain, but there are off the field issues.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.53.
Combine - Forty: 4.54. Reps:
17. VJ: 35.5. BJ: 9-10. 20S: DNP. 60S: DNP. 3C: DNP.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
He had a good, solid workout.
PFW
Audibles - "I hear the talk about
Matt Elam being one of the top safeties, but I was not
overly enamored with him. He would start looking attractive
to me in the fourth round. That's where I think he belongs.
He plays the ball well but he's more of a box guy to me.
Based on
NFLScouts.com -
Athletic, instinctive and quite
physical - can walk up into the box and be a force near LOS
while also dropping back into coverage as a single-high
safety. Drops down to cover slot receivers, getting a strong
initial jam on them and riding them throughout the first few
yards aggressively. Good vision and anticipation when
fighting through blocks near the LOS and is generally a
reliable, physical tackler. Brings his hips as a hitter,
with the closing speed and raw power to generate
explosiveness.
Savvy complemenst his physical talents - uses his hands to
knock away passes at the last moment and avoids blocks with
patience and vision rather than simply attempting to
out-physical his opponents. High-effort player who seems to
love the game. Quality special teams performer. Voted a team
captain in 2012.
Lacks preferred size for the position. Too often loses jump
ball battles, being forced to attempt to rip away at the
hands of the receiver after he comes down with the catch.
Highly aggressive downhill tackler who can come in too hot
and lose control, leaving open cut-back lanes. Tends to lead
with his shoulder and will leave his feet to make the
lights-out hit, resulting in too many whiffs. Good, not
great lateral agility / can get left grasping at air. Can
lose positioning against slot receivers, though he does have
a nice burst to close quickly. Two run-ins with police
regarding minor in possession offenses involving alcohol
(July 2010, July 2011).
Compared to Charles Godfrey. Elam
has a similar physically aggressive frame, game and
mind-set. Knack of making big plays at critical moments and
could earn some Troy Polamalu comparisons. But must clean up
his open-field tackling skills to earn that kind of lofty
praise.
|
100 |
Robert Lester |
SS |
2 |
Alabama |
Sr |
6012 |
220 |
3rd-4th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Lack of
elite speed a concern, but does play technically sound in
coverage. Lacks agility and quicks to be a true
centerfielder. Needs to work on angles.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.63.
Combine - Forty: 4.66. Reps: DNL. VJ: 33.5. BJ: 9-9.
20S: DNP. 60S: DNP. 3C: DNP.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
Lester ran the 40 in 4.62 and 4.60
seconds. He had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-1
broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.34 seconds and had
a 7.25-second three-cone drill. Lester also went through the
position drills.
Based on
NFLScouts.com -
Long, lean build well-suited to today's pass-happy NFL.
Reads the quarterback's eyes and accelerates smoothly with a
burst to close on underneath routes. Times his leaps well in
jump-ball situations and extends his arms to make a play at
its highest point. Excellent ball skills, including the
ability to track the ball over his shoulder, extend to catch
away from his frame and the ability to sneak his hands under
the ball to corral pass deflections. Athletic enough to to
cover slot receivers. Has the long arms to re-route
receivers and is balanced enough to cover short distances.
Reads run quickly and supports aggressively. Long, strong
arms /can pull-down tackle - occasionally will lower his
shoulder for the big hit. Highly respected by coaching staff
for his work ethic.
Tweener. May lack the athleticism
for deep coverage and the physicality necessary to play well
close to the LOS. Does not have ideal hip fluidity and foot
quickness to operate as a true centerfielder. Loses a step
as he changes directions and lacks great speed to recover.
Drag down open-field tackler who grabs too much. Tends to
duck his head and lunge when he lowers the boom. Takes
questionable angles to the ball, underestimating the speed
of ball-carriers /unreliable last line of defense. Compared
to Kerry Rhodes - has the size, closing speed and ball
skills to develop into a dependable ball-hawk at the next
level.
|
134 |
Shawn Williams |
SS |
3 |
Georgia |
Sr |
5117 |
213 |
4th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Big
hitter who can be trusted in coverage. Faster and more
explosive than expected.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.54.
Combine - Forty: 4.46. Reps: 25. VJ: 36.0. BJ: 10-0.
20S: 4.25. 60S: DNP. 3C: 7.01.
Pro Day (Brandt) - Williams was
measured, stood on his
numbers from the combine and
went through position drills. Williams is not a good-looking
athlete, but the best way to describe him is as a “football
player,” meaning that while he doesn’t work out well he does
shine when it’s 11-on-11 on the field.
Based on NFLScouts.com -
Looks
and tackles like a linebacker but moves well enough to
handle coverage responsibilities. His coaches have compared
him to Thomas Davis.
|
160 |
Duke Williams |
SS |
4 |
Nevada |
Sr |
5110 |
213 |
5th |
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.46.
Combine - Forty: 4.43u. Reps: DNL. VJ:DNJ . BJ: .DNJ
20S: DNP. 60S: DNP. 3C: DNP.
Pro Day (Brandt)- Williams ran the
three-cone drill in 7.19 seconds, and then stood on the rest
of his
numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine.
|
177 |
Shamarko Thomas |
SS |
5 |
Syracuse |
Sr |
5087 |
213 |
5-6th |
BRS (Gollin) –
Not not quite the blazer his
pre-combine forty suggested. Short stature
figures to
be a problem. Good jump scores.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.39.
Combine - Forty: 4.42. Reps: 14. VJ: 35.0. BJ: 11-1.
20S: 4.26. 60S: DNP. 3C: DNP.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
Thomas kept his numbers from the combine, with the exception
of the three-cone drill (6.84 seconds).
Based on NFLScouts.com -
Plays
the game with reckless abandonment and loves to throw his
body around on the field, seeking big hits against the
ballcarrier. Plays too aggressive and bites on fakes,
finding himself constantly playing from behind. Willing and
tough run defender who has a future at the next level if he
can stay loose and disciplined with his coverage
responsibilities.
|
196 |
JJ Wilcox |
SS |
6 |
Georgia Southern |
Sr |
6000 |
213 |
6th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Suddenly
showed up on Mayock's and Kiper's radar. Moving up charts
quickly.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.54.
Combine - Forty: 4.57. Reps: 17. VJ: 35.0. BJ: 10-4.
20S: 4.09. 60S: DNP. 3C: 7.02.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
J.J. Wilcox stands out at Georgia Southern’s pro day.
(6 5/8, 216 pounds) — Wilcox worked out at the NFL Scouting
Combine and was only measured and weighed at the pro day.
|
209 |
Jonathan Cyprien |
SS |
7 |
Florida International |
Sr |
6000 |
217 |
6-7th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Caught
the attention of a few Cardinal draftniks. Nice vertical but
didn't do any other combine drills. High upside.
Tackling techniques could be better. Good Senior Bowl.
Physical and aggressive. Good ball skills. Not very fast.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.56.
Combine - Forty: DNP. Reps: DNL VJ: 38.5. BJ: DNP. 20S:
DNP. 60S: DNP. 3C: DNP. Pro Day Forty: 4.64.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
Cyprien elected not to do the
vertical “for personal reasons” but went on to leap
9-feet-11 in the broad jump. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65
and 4.64 seconds. His time was 4.44 seconds in the short
shuttle and 7.01 seconds for the three-cone drill. He did 18
reps at 225 pounds.
Based on
NFLScouts.com -
Well-built defender who looks the
part. Aggressive playing style and active demeanor. Took
advantage of the Senior Bowl opportunity. Enjoys the
physical nature of the position. Meets the ballcarrier with
a pop and refuses to let up. Good ball skills. Will extend
and snatch the ball out of the air. Consistently played well
"top" competition.
Some concerns about his
straight-line speed. Played a lot of two-deep coverage but
didn’t necessarily operate as a true centerfielder. Takes
highly aggressive angles to the ball and consistently
tackles ballcarriers high (two potential areas of concern
considering the significant jump in competition he'll be
making.) Compares to: Morgan Burnett
Cyprien
could struggle
through similar growing pains. Once acclimated to the speed
of the NFL, however, he also could rise quickly.
|
222 |
Earl Wolff |
SS |
8 |
North Carolina State |
rSr |
5112 |
209 |
6-7th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) -
Underrated. Surprising speed and athleticism. Doesn't have any
apparent glaring weaknesses.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.54.
Combine - Forty: 4.44. Reps: DNL. VJ: 39.0. BJ: 11-2.
20S: 4.07. 60S: DNP. 3C: dnp.
Pro Day (Brandt) -
Wolff notched a 36-inch vertical
and a 6.96-second three-cone drill. He’s a little bit of a
straight-line guy, but he looked good and had a good work
out.
Based on NFLScouts.com -
Good plant-and-drive quickness to attack the play in front
of him/will gain correct body position when lined up in the
slot and make plays in coverage. Better athlete than
expected, not just speed-wise,
but also with respect to his fluidity and footwork to stick
with the tight end or wide receiver down the seam.
|
242 |
Cooper Taylor |
SS |
9 |
Richmond |
rSr |
6-4 |
229 |
7th |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) -
Another sleeper. Built
like an OLB (& hits like one). Brandt compares to
Chancellor. Excellent East-West Shrine
Week. Big, aggressive, hard-hitting, aware. Plays a bit
upright. Durability concern. Could be due for a move up the
charts.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.57. Combine - Not Listed.
Pro Day Forty: 4.49.
Pro Day (Brandt) - Taylor ran 4.58
and 4.49, did 36½” in the vertical, 10-foot-7 in the broad
jump, 4.29 in the short-shuttle, 6.96 in the three-cone and
23 reps on the bench press. The coaches worked Taylor out as
a linebacker. His official position will be strong safety,
but he’s one of those guys who could possibly bulk up and
play outside linebacker. Reminiscent of Kam Chancellor of
the Seattle Seahawks.
Based on
NFLScouts.com -
Plays with excellent aggression
and physicality. Decisive with a good
burst, to arrive at the
play quickly and blow up the ballcarrier. Better than
expected athleticism for size/ flows to the action while
breaking down on the move. Good footwork / can close quickly
on plays in front of him. Has the size and range to be an
enforcer against both the run and the pass, but has also
impressed with his instincts and football awareness.
Excellent job at the Shrine Game of digesting the coaches'
instructions and applying them immediately, - always
appearing focused and zoned in on what is going on around
him. Lacks elite top-end speed for the position. Plays too
upright at times. Injury and medical concerns.
|
265 |
Jahleel Addae |
SS |
10 |
Central Michigan |
rSr |
5-10 |
200 |
7th-FA |
Combine - Not Listed. |
266 |
Jawanza Starling |
SS |
10 |
USC |
Sr |
6006 |
202 |
7th-FA |
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Nice
3-cone and 60-shuttle. Pretty athletic. Pretty good speed.
Pre-Combine Forty - 4.53.
Combine - Forty: 4.64.
Reps: 17. VJ: 36. BJ: 10-2. 20S:
4.34. 60S: 11.62. 3C: 6.68. Pro Day Forty: 4.54.
Pro Day (Brandt) - Starling ran
the 40 in 4.54 and 4.56 seconds, had a 36-inch vertical jump
and he stood on the rest of his
numbers from the combine (he
was a top performer in his position group in the three-cone
drill and 60-yard
shuttle).
|
|
|