Arizona Cardinals: Which rookie will make an impact in 2009?

The Cardinals had some pre draft issues that were outlined in the general team synopsis. In this installment I aim to explore which rookies I think will have an impact on the team, and those who will fall into the cracks. On average, only 40% of a team’s draft class ends up contributing or even on an active roster within 3 years. I just wish to get ahead of the curve and explore who those contributors will be going into the 2009 season. I will highlight players that I think will make a contribution in 2009, or need to, for the team to have another successful season.

This is a fun exercise as it asks fans to examine the draft in real world terms. Every player just drafted will not make an impact on the team this upcoming season, no matter the hopes and dreams of fans and front office personnel alike.

Possible Contributors:

Trevor Canfield

Canfield could very easily come in and take over for Duece Lutui at right guard. Duece Lutui is not a very physical player despite his size and does not move defenders off the ball a great deal at the point of attack.  Canfield is very much a brawler, who likes to physically control his man at the point of attack. Canfield was not blessed with a great deal of lateral quickness, but he can move well in a straight line; allowing to get to the second level effectively. The former Bearcat can still have difficulty consistently hitting his target on the second level, but he can get there.

The Cardinals running game was a weak spot throughout the 2008 season as the team was putrid; averaging 73.6 yards per game. Often times, when the running game goes south, fans automatically look to blame the running back for the down fall in production. Whilst Edgerrin James was hardly lighting the world on fire in 2008, the lack of production was not all his fault. The Cardinals offensive line, in particular the interior, is not filled with very physical players. Lyle Sendlein is a former UDFA (Undrafted Free Agent), and both Reggie Wells and Duece Lutui are not ever going to be considered “road graders”.  One factor in taking some of the blame away from the aging, but still productive James is the production of Tim Hightower. Hightower averaged 2.8 ypc last season (James averaged 3.9 ypc), which is hardly a ringing endorsement for the blocking of the offensive linemen.

If Canfield can come in and bring a physical presence to the offensive line, the whole team could be better off, as the offense could run the ball more effectively; securing wins and time of possession. But, an even more important aspect of Canfield cracking the starting lineup is that Beanie Wells is not very good at making lateral cuts whilst gaining yardage. If Wells is forced to stop and start in the backfield, he will not be very successful in my opinion. Providing Wells with the best opportunity to succeed is an obvious desire, but it depends on the ability of someone supplanting one of the starters along the interior.

Beanie Wells

I have mixed feelings regarding Wells’ effectiveness this season. I believe a great deal depends on who is blocking in front of him in 2009. If the same five offensive linemen are starting as in 2008, Wells could very well struggle in his rookie season.

Wells is not very adept at sliding laterally; he must turn his whole body rather than simply being able to bounce a run outside.  This inability to shift and slide laterally, whilst parallel to the line of scrimmage means that he can have trouble making his own hole along the offensive front. Wells is best when he can attack the line of scrimmage moving forward. If he is forced to gear down and then restart his momentum, he can be easily contained for little yardage. The former Buckeye does have decent feet in the hole and he can change directions – so long as he is still moving forward. He can shift his line a bit, but is never going to make many players miss in the hole, or in the open field on a consistent basis.

As mentioned, the interior of the Cardinals offensive line is not the best at generating movement at the point of attack; meaning the runner may need to pick and chose his way through the trash. Wells’ running style may not be the best fit for the players they currently have along the offensive front. Wells has shown that defenders can bring him down by attacking his feet – he simply does not run through contact in this area all that well, and can be brought down easily. Wells is best when he can find a lane along the front rather than picking and shifting his way through the line. The Cardinals may just not have the players up front to get the job done effectively at the moment, which in turn affects Wells ability to produce.

These issues are the basis of my mixed feelings regarding Wells’ ability to make an impact in his rookie season. I think that he will have every opportunity and will be fed the ball, but will he be provided the blocking necessary for him to succeed? If the interior of the line blocks the same way as last year, he may never get the chance to prove his true worth.
Wells does have very good balance, and can break tackles, but he is not a classic lower the shoulder runner who runs over defenders. Wells seems to bounce off more tackles than anything else, and it speaks to his balance. But as mentioned, he is not a power back in the truest sense of the word. He runs rather upright and without body lean at times; lessening his ability to run through contact and carry defenders. I do not wish to portray Wells in the wrong light, but he does have limitations on his game; elusiveness, lateral agility and the ability to run through contact. Wells does give good effort and when he does get his pads down he can sustain his leg drive, but his upright running style does hamper his ability to do so.

Rashad Johnson

Johnson is a safety in a corner’s body in many ways. He has slender, fairly loose hips making him adept in coverage as a result. Johnson has good range and instincts for the position, although he is not always the physical hitter the position can demand. Johnson is much more in the mold of a Brock Marion as opposed to Adrian Wilson; a rangy ball hawking safety who is best when asked to sit back and react. Johnson will make plays whilst the ball is in the air; an asset in any secondary. Rarely is he simply lost when in coverage and he does have the speed and range to cover a receiver in the slot or down the field. Johnson’s ability to cover ground may get him on the field earlier than expected, especially if Greg Toler struggles to make an impact in his rookie year.

Johnson is not an in the box type of a player, and if the Cardinals find themselves in a position that calls for him to be one, he will struggle with the assignment in my opinion. The former Alabama star does have experience and savvy, making up for his lack of all out physical play.

Johnson could very easily see the field if the defense features a 3 safety look with Adrian Wilson in the box. His ability to operate in space and cover receivers fairly well could make him a valuable contributor in the secondary; which does lack depth. Johnson also brings the ability to play on special teams, which should help improve that unit’s effectiveness. The former Alabama star could prove to be a very versatile and valued member of the secondary this season. He will still have to beat out Matt Ware to see playing time, but I think Johnson will end up proving that he indeed can handle more responsibilities in terms of coverage than Ware.

Possible Disappointments:
Cody Brown

Brown is a somewhat undersized defensive end who at this stage will struggle to handle the position full time on the next level. The former UCONN Huskie was considered as a potential outside linebacker conversion by 3-4 teams in the pre draft process which speaks to his athleticism and versatility. With Clancy Pendergast now in Kansas City, I wonder how much of the 4-3 bubble look the defense used at times in 2008 will be seen in 2009. But, Brown has some issues that he must address on the next level before he may make an impact.

Cody Brown is not a quintessential pass rusher either; he does not always flash an ability to run the arc effectively. He does fail to chase the ball when the play flows away from him at times; which can be concerning. Brown does not have a great deal of base strength at the point of attack and will need to become much stronger if he is to take over the starter’s role in the future. The former Huskie can bull rush an opponent, but he needs to have a head of steam to do so, he does not have the ability to simply use power to push his man backwards.

The Cardinals will need Brown to provide some pass rush in his rookie season or the Cardinal defense will have issues slowing down opposing offenses. A possible obstacle to Brown providing pressure is that he is not a very refined pass rusher. He does not show a great variety of pass rushing moves, and many times relies on jerking his man’s pads laterally to break free rather than using his hands effectively to defeat the block. If Brown does not learn to improve his hand use – arm overs, swims etc., he could very easily become a player that creates little impact on the field.

The problem for the Cardinals is that there are very few alternatives on the roster to Brown should he fail to produce. Chike Okeafor and Karlos Dansby do provide some pressure, but neither is a truly great pass rusher and the team needs to improve in this area regardless. The team garnered only 31 sacks last season, with Bertrand Berry leading the way with 5. There were 5 other players with 4 sacks, but the team really could use to bring in a younger presence moving forward. Coupled with the loss of Antonio Smith in Free Agency, it is clear that there is a void that needs to be filled.

The problem is that Brown just does not have the pass rushing repertoire necessary to reach the quarterback consistently. His ability to adapt and grow will be key; as he does need to become more competent using an arm over or rip to disengage and defeat blocks. In my opinion, a defensive front seven player must have the ability to make plays off of blocks. The ability of the defender to defeat a block is key, as defenders are not afforded the same space in the pro game as in college; enabling them to rely on sheer athleticism to make plays. Players who can disengage quickly have the advantage in the pro game, and will be more likely to make plays. Brown does not do that frequently enough at the moment, and he may not factor in as much as the team would like in his rookie season.

Greg Toler

The Cardinals have tried to fill in their secondary this off season with the signing of Bryant McFadden from Pittsburgh, but the depth at the position is still thin. Eric Green left via Free Agency, making McFadden signing more of a replacement of talent than an upgrade in overall depth of the unit as well. The Cardinals still had a need at corner coming into the 2009 Draft. Given the lack of a great deal of quality players at the position Toler will in all likelihood be forced into action early on this season. Toler does have some experience, having played on the semi pro level before enrolling at St. Pauls. But, he must still refine his technique a great deal.

Chances are, Toler will be the team’s nickel back initially, and his size could prove to be valuable at that position as he can jam receivers at the line. Toler has decent feet, but he does lack a great deal of refinement in his footwork and technique. Toler impressed with his workout numbers, but he must prove that he can translate it to the field on the pro level. Toler excelled at the small school level, but that is far from the NFL, and he often relied on his physical gifts to win matchups against lesser competition.

If Toler does not prove he is capable of handling the assignment, the Cardinals could be in a dire situation as opposing offenses could pick apart the Cardinals secondary; especially in 3-4 WR sets. However, if the starters stay healthy and allow him to focus solely on the slot to begin with it may help his development. It will be interesting to see how well this small school product plays in his rookie season.

Will Davis

Davis has a decent chance to be out of the league quickly in my opinion. He does not disengage quickly and settles for simply not being blown off the ball a great deal. He routinely does not fight to disengage, or flow to the football. He is athletic and has enough of a burst to press the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle, but he will not simply blow past him. The former Big Ten defender is maddeningly inconsistent and can will only flash his ability to make a play.

One issue Davis will face on the next level is his inability to defeat and disengage from blockers on a consistent basis. Far too often he can be seen not extending his arms or simply allowing his hands to go dead after initial contact. Davis possesses good length and one would expect him to produce more than he does; which is concerning to say the least.

Davis simply does not show a great desire to play the game, and will only tease with his innate talents. If he can somehow become motivated to succeed, he could be a very nice player, but there is a better chance that he makes little or no impact in 2009. During the Senior Bowl, Coach Marvin Lewis was clearly heard demanding that Davis “get to the ball”; a clear indication of the effort Davis displayed whilst trying to impress scouts one last time.

LaRod Stephens -Howling

The former Pitt Panther may find his niche as a punt or kick returner for the Cardinals. If he cannot, there may not be a place for him on the roster as his lack of size will in all likelihood make him a liability in pass protection. Stephens-Howling is quick and elusive, but is not powerful. He may see some time in obvious passing situations; provided he is an option in the route progression. Asking him to block may be a futile exercise on several levels. Pitt did not routinely ask its backs to block to begin with, often using them on flares out of the backfield. This facet of Stephens-Howling’s career may provide some extra value, but is it enough to supplant either Jason Wright or Tim Hightower? I don’t think the answer is unclear.

If Stephens-Howling does not crack the lineup on special teams, he will be hard to activate on game days due to his issues in pass protection. I am not trying to say that Stephens-Howling shies away from contact or does not give effort when asked to block. Just that his lack of size may make him a target for blitzers in much the same way Lorenzo Booker (Philadelphia Eagles) is attacked when he sees the field. Booker is an electric player also, but his lack of size allows defenses to attack him as the weak link in protection. Size does matter when you are only 5’7” 180 lbs, and trying to play running back in the NFL.

Herman Johnson

The former LSU star faces some challenges when making the adjustment to the pro game. Johnson only started his senior season at LSU and was clearly overweight at 372 lbs. His inexperience and lack of a clear position on the next level could see him on the bench in 2009.

Johnson lacks a great deal of explosion and speed in general. The former Bayou Bengal does not move his feet well and can have issue with one gap penetrators due to their speed. If he does get his hands on the defender however, he can generally win the battle as he can simply engulf his man. But, his sheer size can lead to Johnson missing blocks as he can struggle to get himself down to the same level as his defender.

Many times he will need to reach with his hands more than he should and will get them lower than ideal. His inability to get low, and lack of ideal hand placement does affect his ability to cleanly drive a man off the ball. He can engulf many players and overwhelm them, but better players will be able to defeat Johnson at the point of attack more regularly. If he is beaten at the point of attack, he does not have the agility to drop open his hips, sliding laterally; trying to get back into the play. More often than not he is simply beaten.

Johnson’s sheer size may also be an issue as at 6’7” he is too tall to play guard in the pro game as he would clog up the passing lanes with his height. But, he lacks the ideal lateral agility to play tackle full time at this stage. Johnson has been asked to lose weight during the offseason build up to the draft as many teams felt that he needed to become quicker. He had been reported in the 340′s at one stage in the pre draft process. Johnson can handle playing against lesser talent on the edge, but some of pure speed rushers the NFL features will cause him problems as he will struggle to get the necessary depth in his kick slide. Given Johnson’s inability to play left tackle and lack of experience at the position he will likely end up behind Levi Brown at right tackle.

Johnson may well prove to be a good player on the next level, but right now he does not have a real position in my opinion other than at tackle given his sheer size. Although he still has to prove he can play the position as he has little experience on the college level. As mentioned, I think he will clog up the passing lanes inside at guard and he will be learning how to play tackle if my reasoning holds true; something he has never done before. Johnson will be a project to begin his career, but if he can master some technique, he would give the Cardinals options when Brown’s contract comes up.