-Larry English (DE/Northern Illinois)

Larry English (NFL.com)

Good organizations tend to learn more from a loss than a win. Well, the Cards lost the big one in February to a team with one of the best defenses in recent memory. What was so great about that defense? Primarily, the pass rush generated by the dynamic duo of James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley.

In the closing moments of the first half, and in the last seconds of the game, those two athletes made plays that sealed the fate of the “new kids on the block.” Harrison intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it for a touchdown, and Woodley forced a premature pass by Kurt Warner on the final play of the game.

But what does this have to do with the Cardinals?

Everything… look for Ken Whisenhunt to grab some pass rushers to upgrade his defense.

The one player available to the Cards in the first round that most closely resembles a Steeler linebacker is Larry English. So long as he is dedicated to learning to read coverages and is willing to play in space, he has all the tools to become an ferocious 3-4 OLB. His strength and explosion off the line of scrimmage are similar to Woodley, and his college production is eerily close, to boot (both had double digit sack counts in their senior seasons).

If Arizona wants to improve their defense, Larry English could be their man.

-Chris Wells (HB/Ohio St)

Chris Wells (NFL.com)

Their Arizona offense was rather one-dimensional especially during the Superbowl. Coincidentally, the lack of confidence in the Cardinals’ run game more or less cost them the championship. Just prior to the end of the first half, Kurt Warner tried to pass the ball in from inside the 5 yard line.  If the team had any semblance of a goal-line run game, they could have punched the ball in before the half.

They owe it to themselves to balance out that awesome passing game with a competent runner.

I’ve seen Chris Wells projected to selected anywhere from 4th overall to early second round. If he is available, the Cardinals must give him strong consideration. He will be able to carry the workload much better than the aging Edgerrin James, and can allow Tim Hightower to resume his role as spell back.

In order to be successful in the Arizona offense, Wells will have to work on his receiving ability, since that is considered his weakness.

For that reason, the team might desire Donald Brown, or they might take advantage of the depth of the class in later rounds.

Next on the clock: Pittsburgh Steelers

See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here

Position: Running back

School: Ohio State

Size: 6’1/ 235 lbs.

Combine Results:

40 yard dash- 4.59 sec

Bench Press- 25 reps

(Video thanks to Lexco44)

Chris Wells Scouting Report

A big runner with better decent straight line speed. Shiftier than most athletes his size, but ever since he injured his foot, he tended to resort to  jukes instead of using his immense power to bulldoze opponents. Strength is running between the tackles, but he has long arms, giving him a brilliant stiff arm to stun oncoming tacklers when trying to reach the edge. Excellent north/south runner. Statistically a very productive HB in a tough power running conference in college.

Only an average receiver and blocker. Injuries hampered his production, bringing into question his desire and overall toughness. Not a vocal leader.

Late first round selection.

Andre Smith (NFL.com)

21. Philadelphia Eagles

-Andre Smith (OT/Alabama)

A month ago, the possibility of Andre Smith falling out of the top 5 would have been quite an absurd notion. Well, proceeding his pro day work out and failure to perform at the Combine, his stock has taken a hit comparable to his immense weight. Smith is still a skilled lineman, but there are so many unanswered questions about his character and fitness that I feel many teams won’t be willing to take the risk.

Currently, the Eagles must fill their LT spot since Tra Thomas was signed by the Jaguars, and RT Jon Runyan (age 35) is no spring chicken. Couple this with Andy Reid’s taste for XXXXL linemen such as  Shawn Andrews (6’4 335 lbs), Jamaal Jackson (6’4 330 lbs), Todd Heremans (6’6 321 lbs), Tra Thomas (6’7 335 lbs), Jon Runyan (6’7 330 lbs), and backup Winston Justice (6’6 320 lbs).

At 6’4 332 lbs, Andre Smith fits the mauling run-blocker physique of other Eagle linemen. It will be interesting to see whether Andy Reid wants to risk making the same mistake with Smith that he did with Winston Justice. Both players may be natural RT. Yet, the Eagles are in most need of a LT.

-Brandon Pettigrew (TE/Oklahoma St)

Brandon Pettigrew (NFL.com)

The failure of L.J. Smith to develop into a reliable pass-catching tight ends led Philadelphia to release him recently. Naturally, the Eagles are looking for a solid replacement for him, and may strike the jackpot by selecting the mammoth from Oklahoma St. Brandon Pettigrew.

As I’ve said before, Pettigrew is a fantastic blocker and a huge target in the red zone. Last season, Donovan McNabb lacked a physical receiver.  Ever since Terrell Owens left the team, McNabb  has been throwing to either undersized or unreliable. Pettigrew is neither of the above.

-Chris Wells (HB/Ohio St)

Chris Wells (NFL.com)

Being from the state of Michigan, I am not at all a Chris Wells fan. I think he is too injury prone, and doesn’t use his power enough, in favor of running around opponents. Even with those shortcomings, he is a good running back, who would take the load off of Brian Westbrook, and bring some youth to the Eagles running game. I’ve seen plenty of mock drafts that have Donald Brown going to Philadelphia with the 28th pick. So, Andy Reid may wait until  or beyond to address the running back situation.  Frankly, this draft provides a lot of depth at running back and the Eagles may be better served to wait til the mid rounds to grab a HB.

If you vote “other,” please comment below on who you chose.

Next on the clock: Minnesota Vikings

See the rest of the hybrid mock draft here

Darrius Heyward-Bey– Maryland/WR

Kory Sheets photo provided by NFL.com

Bench press-16 reps

40 yard dash- 4.30 sec

vertical leap-38.5 in

Percy Harvin–Florida/WR

Bench press- 19 reps

40 yard dash- 4.41 sec

vertical leap- n/a

Jeremy Maclin–Missouri/WR

40 yard dash- 4.44 sec

Chris Wells–Ohio St/HB

Bench press-25 reps

40 yard dash- 4.59 sec

vertical leap-33.5 in

Knowshon Moreno–Georgia/HB

Bench press-25 reps

40 yard dash- 4.60 sec

vertical leap-35.5 in

*Surprise Performance:*

Andre Brown– North Carolina St/HB

Bench press-24 reps

40 yard dash- 4.49 sec

vertical leap-37 in

I like the group of running backs coming out in 2009. I see more than a handful of guys possessing good enough physical tools to fit into a variety of systems. The cream of this crop are sophomore Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) and junior Chris Wells (Ohio St.). Like last year, there are plenty of players who can make an impact as rookies including Rashad Jennings (Liberty), Shonn Greene (Iowa), LeSean McCoy (Pitt), James Davis (Clemson), Javon Ringer (Michigan St.), and Jeremiah Johnson (Oregon).

My favorite of these guys is Moreno. To me, he has everything you look for in a starting running back: excellent vision, hits the hole hard, plays with extreme intensity, gives maximum effort, solid blocking ability, good hands out of the backfield, superb acceleration and agility, and good run power. My only criticism is that he is not the fastest back out there. But don’t get me wrong, although his speed isn’t Adrian Peterson’s, he does have enough speed to worry opposing defenses. I would love to see him prove me wrong at the combine because then he would be the complete package!

Chris Wells is another dangerous running back. But he has way too many minor injuries for a big guy. He is a homerun hitter, but occasionally sits out of the game when his team needs him most (i.e bowl game against Texas). For a guy who weighs 237 lbs. I am always looking for more run power from him. He has the power, but it seems like he enjoys hurdling over or trying to juke his defenders instead. Nevertheless, he possesses speed and athleticism disproportionate to his immense size, and will amaze scouts at the combine with his workout numbers.

As for the rest of the backs I mentioned, LeSean McCoy has the look of a Reggie Bush, and will probably not be an every down back.

Shonn Greene, this year’s Doak Walker winner, is a workhorse back who will might be like Mike Hart (Indiannapolis Colts) in size and speed. He is a powerful north/south runner, but doesn’t move too well laterally because he is tight in the hips.

James Davis suffered from being on a poor Clemson team, but posseses big play ability and should do well in the NFL.

Liberty’s Jennings may be more of a goalline runner. I do like him a lot and hope he becomes more than a situational back.

Ringer showed he can handle being the focal point of an offense, and is very productive.  His physical tools are average, but he has more than enough heart.

And finally, Jeremiah Johnson played a similar role to that of Texans’ Steve Slaton in a spread option offense. And we all remember how pleasant  a surprise Slaton was this year!

But that’s just my take…

Who is your favorite?

Next time: Wide Receivers