A Quick Look at the Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Draft Picks

Here’s a quick breakdown of the Cardinals’ eight 2009 Draft Picks and their possible impact:

RB Chris “Beanie” Wells – The big, bruising Ohio State running back has had some injury problems through college, but if stays healthy, he could be the next great back in the NFL.

OLB Cody Brown – Brown is a solid outside pass rusher, which is exactly what the Cardinals were looking for with this pick. If he works on his mobility and getting around blocks, he could have an impact earlier than expected.

S Rashad Johnson – This Alabama Safety could definitely see playing time this year if he bulks up. His ability is unmatched at the position, but he needs to get bigger to compete with NFL wide receivers.

CB Gregory Toler – This little-known player out of tiny St. Paul’s College was overlooked by everyone in the draft, but his story is one of overcoming obstacles and he could end up being a great cornerback. Give Toler a year or two.

OG Herman Johnson – If Johnson keeps his weight in check (he is on record as the biggest player in LSU football history) and works on his mobility (I repeat, he is a BIG boy), he could be a very solid blocker for a sometimes-lacking Cardinals offensive line.

DE Will Davis – With the Cardinals' depth at this position, look for Davis to be more of a developmental project. Good upside, but needs work.

RB LaRod Stephens-Howling – The sleeper of the entire draft, the Cardinals love LaRod’s upside (and his speed) – look for him to make an immediate impact on special teams.

OG Trevor Canfield – A pick-and-pray draft pick, Canfield will be a total bust or an amazing value. Then again, the offensive line can use anyone at this point.

Days until First Game of College Football Season

80

Days until First Game of College Football Season

97

NCAA Graduation Success Rates by Sport

While reading an as-usual-funny article by ESPN's TMQ (Tuesday Morning Quarterback), I stumbled upon a link to the NCAA's athletic GSR's (Graduation Success Rates) . I thought, for fun, I'd publish the men's graduation rates here, from top sport to last:

Sport GSR
Lacrosse 88
Water Polo 87
Fencing 86
Gymnastics 86
Ice Hockey 83
Swimming 83
Tennis 83
Volleyball 83
Skiing 82
Rifle 80
Golf 79
Soccer 79
CC/Track 74
Wrestling 72
Baseball 68
Football(FBS) 67
Football(FCS) 65
Basketball 62

Not so surprisingly, Baseball, football, and basketball are dead last, I think mainly because so many of these athletes graduate early to go into the professional realms. What did surprise me was that the FCS colleges, formerly Division II, had such a low rate since most of these players do not go into the NFL. I would be curious to hear what people think of that anomaly.

A little surprising, on the positive side, was that the ice hockey GSR's were so high. Different from the powerhouse counterparts, hockey players obviously are staying in school longer. This may have something to do with the level of competition and how difficult it is to make it into the NHL.

Any other thoughts from people are certainly welcomed. And sorry I haven't posted in so long.

What Should the Super Bowl Cardinals Do Next?

Okay, so the Cardinals have signed Warner...Check. They have gotten a new shut-down cornerback in McFadden from the Steelers...Check. So what should happen next? What is the future of Boldin? Who should they go after in the draft?

Here's what they OUGHT to do:

1. The Kansas City Chiefs filled a HUGE need at quarterback by paying for Matt Cassel (smart move, KC), so the next logical step is to get Cassel a receiver to throw to.

Anquan Boldin enter stage right.

The Cardinals should trade the unhappy Boldin to the Chiefs for this year's first AND third round picks. Now, the Cardinals' first three rounds looks like this:

Round 1 - #3 Pick
Round 1 - #31 Pick
Round 2 - #63 Pick
Round 3 - #67 Pick
Round 3 - #95 Pick

2. They can get TWO huge needs in the first round instead of settling for later, less-worthy draft-picks. My suggestions would be to take Aaron Curry, DB from Wake Forest with the #3 pick and Donald Brown, RB from Connecticut with the #31 pick.

Get a not-so-bad tight-end with #63 or #67 and grab value-players with the other two. Done.