4/27 5 Cards Drafted, 3 Signed over NFL Draft Weekend
Five Louisville Cardinals were drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft. That is more than perennial powerhouses Miami, Alabama, and Florida combined. The program has come a long way from the days of Old Cardinal Stadium and this weekend proved that the talent is there to be successful for years to come. Although having NFL talent doesn't guarantee victories, the draft further proves that the coaching regime change had a lot more to do with the team's record that the players did. The adjustment in both on and off field philosophies was too much for this talent rich team to overcome. The five that were drafted all landed in spots where they could stay and contribute within the next few years. 4-5 other players also have the capability to make a team as undrafted free agents. I thought it would be easier to break them down individually.
QB Brian Brohm- Green Bay Packers- 2nd round, Pick #56
According to Packers GM Ted Thompson, Green Bay was trying to trade up to get the Louisville legend, but were unable to and he thankfully fell in their lap. Both head coach Mike McCarthy and Thompson told the media and Brohm that the QB position is solidly held by incumbent Aaron Rodgers and this was a case of taking the best player available. Some would think the move was made to put a little pressure on Rodgers, so he comes into camp focused with the realization that the team has drafted a back-up/replacement. Ideally, Brohm would sit and observe for a year, but if Rogers falters, Brohm could be asked to take the reins for the Pack year one A.F (After Favre). The fact that predraft workouts took a kid that came back to school to improve and chewed him up and spit him out into the second round. Jod Flacco over Brian Brohm? The Baltimore Ravens will be picking around the same spot (#8) because of stupid decisions like that. Flacco couldn't even beat out Tyler Palko for a starting job at PITT and he transfers to Delaware and becomes a first round pick. Some things will forever baffle me.
WR Harry Douglas- Atlanta Falcons- 3rd round, Pick #84
“Harry was a pick for us in the middle of the third round. We were looking to work on the passing game and he has inside/outside ability as well. I stress the versatility of Harry Douglas. He has good speed and an ability to stick his foot in the dirt, make a cut and separate. That is a very big key for this offense. We think Harry will help add to our depth in the offensive game".
High praise from new Falcons GM Tom Dimitroff about HDTV, who grew up in Atlanta as a huge Falcons fan. He talks about taking a trip to Miami to see the "Dirty Birds" play in the 99 Super Bowl against the Broncos to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Atlanta has always had a shortage of receivers and Harry should be a breath of fresh air for the Falcons. Douglas, who averaged over 20 ppg for his HS basketball team, will love the extra pressure that comes with playing in front of his hometown fans. A local reporter asked Dimitroff, a former Patriots exec, if Douglas was reminicent of Pro bowl slot receiver Wes Welker.
"Wes was under the radar screen when he came out. Harry made a big push this year, and as I mentioned on the radio recently, Harry was getting a lot of buzz down the stretch. His ability to move inside or be outside and also move inside was a big value for him. A lot of teams were hoping they could get this kid in the third round. I felt very fortunate and I know Mike did as well. We had everyone on the offense looking at this guy, and we were focused in on a guy that we thought would come in here and help shore up our passing game and provide us some versatility. Regarding Wes Welker, a lot of teams are looking at that (comparison between Harry Douglas and Wes Welker). You have a guy inside who can stick his foot in the dirt, separate and that’s big. It doesn’t matter that a guy may not run a 4.4 or a 4.3. When Wes he came out, he might’ve been a 4.6 guy, but he had the uncanny ability to shake people, and that’s very important.”
I'm sure that Harry would love to lead the NFL in receptions and play in a Super Bowl, both of which Welker did this year. Great fit for Harry.
TE Gary Barnidge- Carolina Panthers- 5th round, Pick #141
Carolina doesn't have a legitimate tight end on the roster, with Jeff King and Dante Rosario sitting 1-2 on the depth chart currently. If Barnidge can put on about 10 pounds and hone his blocking skills, it looks like the job has been handed to him. The way Barnidge improved all 4 years at Louisville, its not hard to see that happening. He has great hands, an excellent work ethic, and has a great combination of both size and speed. The Panthers are very excited to have Barnidge, who adds depth at TE to a team that needs it. He was interviewed by the official Panthers website soon after the draft.
OT Breno Giacomini- Green Bay Packers- 5th round, Pick #150
Giacomini spent part of his first three years at Louisville playing tight end which proves he has excellent coordination, footwork and athleticism. Technique will be a factor in the development of the 6-7 303 lb convert. Packers GM Ted Thompson said Breno is a project who will need some time to get used to the NFL game. Thompson spotted him while he was scouting Brohm and "liked his competitiveness". He has never seen Louisville play live, but feels like Breno wil be utilized on both sides of the ball (left and right). Giacomini joins former Louisville teammates Jason Spitz and Brian Brohm in Green Bay would should help ease the transition from college to the pros.
WR Mario Urrutia- Cincinnati Bengals- 7th round, Pick #246
Cincinnati filled a need that they lost when they cut troublemaker Chris Henry. With the recent madness with Chad Johnson, Urrutia could be thrown into the wolves fairly quickly. For a team that has dealt with may off-field issues, Urrutia doesn't seem like the logical choice because of alleged problems outside of football he had at Louisville, but in the salary cap ear of the NFL teams have to take risks based on need. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis commented on Mario following the draft:
"[Mario's] season in 2006 was extremely productive. This last season had a little fall-off in his numbers, but he's a big target.He's a guy who has always been a vertical player and we're really excited about him. I think he's 6-5-plus and almost 230 pounds. A guy to develop and work with. We seem to fall into `can't resist those receivers in the seventh round.' We found another one this year"
Undrafted Free-Agents-
TE Scott Kuhn - Baltimore Ravens
LB Lamar Myles- Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Malik Jackson- Oakland Raiders
PK Art Carmody- hasn't signed with a team yet. I'd find it hard to belive if Art-omatic, the NCAAs all-time leading scorer, didn't find his way onto an NFL team with all the god awful kicking that goes on these days. He'll prove himself if he gets a chance.
2/4 Congratulations Sam Madison: Super Bowl Champ
Congrats to Cardinal great Sam Madison, who helped his NY Giants to shock the world and defeat the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XVII. Madison recorded two tackles and was a part of a Giant secondary that held the most prolific offense in NFL history to only two touchdowns. Madison was a leader in a veteran NY locker room and has to feel vindicated after being cut by the Dolphins in 2005. The 4-time Pro Bowler got another shot from Tom Coughlin and made the most of it, putting some hardware on his hand. Give it up for one of the best defensive players in Red Rage football history.
1/31 Cisco Update
The Cards' own Francisco Garcia is filling up the stat sheet the last month. He is seeing almost 30 minutes a game playing behind one of the surprise players in the league, Kevin Martin. Martin is putting up 25 a night and is becoming the Kings' franchise player. Yet, in his usual fashion, Francisco is finding a way to help his team. The Kings are 20-24 in the treacherous Western conference, not bad for a team who's coach was playing a coach on TV not too long ago. Reggie Theus is learning on the run and hanging on around .500. Building around youngsters like Garcia and Martin and ridding themselves of big contract bums Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, the Kings might have the makings of a playoff team in the next few years. Here's something cool from NBA.com that updates Cisco's stats and news.......
1/2 Cisco Kid Becoming a Man
On Monday Francisco Garcia had his thir game in a row with 22 points. This time in a 122-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Garcia was the 23rd pick in the first round by the Sacramento Kings in 2005 after leading the Louisville Cardinals to the Final Four.
Francisco struggled to adjust in his rookie season. Averaging 5.6 ppg in 67 games, with 11 starts and 19.4 mpg. Garcia fought for playing time on a playoff team loaded with high priced veterens but still found his way onto the court including contributing 6.8 mpg and 2.2 ppg while playing in all six of the Kings playoff games.
Heading into his Sophomore year, Garcia did improve his game. On the court and in the stat book. He played in 79 games , while slightly raising his ppg average up to an even 6 but saw les starts ( 5 ) and mpg ( 17.8 ) and as the Kings declined from 44-38 to 33-49 and no playoffs, the Kings looked to a new coach.
No one could have been happier when the Kings announced the hiring of Reggie Theus as their new head coach. Theus, of course, was an assistant under Pitino at Louisville for two of Garcia's three seasons there. With Sacramento is looking more to the future with youth, players like Cisco have begun to flourish.
In his third season Garcia has started 14 ( already career high ) of 35 games. Dropped 30 ( career high ) on the Suns, put together a double-double ( 22 points 12 rebounds ) against the Pacers and is averaging 13.8 ppg 3.9 rpg and shooting 44% fro the field.
Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, the Kings version of Roger Dorn are all but on their way out the door and with improved play from Garcia as well as Kevin Martin ( 24.6 ppg ) and John Salmons ( 17.1 ppg ) the Kings have shown life despite their 15-21 start in a very tuff Western Conferance.
The Cisco kid though over the last 8 games this season has been the man. Averaging 19 ppg 6.2 rpg 1.6 spg just shy of 1 bpg while playing in 38 mpg as the Kings went 4-4 in the stretch with wins over the Mavs and Orlando.
Go see Francisco Garcia highlights in the Hall of Cards...
1/2 Louisville's Own Nigerian Nightmare
Amobi Okoye was already the youngest player in college football at the age of 16. He was the youngest player ever selected in the NFL Draft at 19 and before his 21st birthday, Okoye had his first NFL sack. Can you say you did the same before you were of drinking age??
The 10th pick by the Houston Texans, the highest of any Cards football player ever, Amobi recorded his first sack in his second start against Carolina on 9/16 in a 34-31 win, finishing the game with 4 solo tackles and 2 sacks.
The Man-child Okoye would finish his rookie season starting 14 of 16 games, playing in all of them. Finishing with 6 sacks ( second on team ) and 32 tackles ( 23 solo ).
While the Texans still struggled in most defensive catagories this season ( 19th in run, 25th in pass ) its not hard to say with the devolopment of Okoye and others the Texans are looking to a bright future.