With the #5 Pick In the 2011 MHR Community Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals Select LB Von Miller, Texas A&M

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 1, 2011 5:30 PM MST in 2011 MHR Community Mock Draft

From General Manager droom: Arizona has been looking for its premier pass rusher ever since they made the switch the the 3-4. With the failed experiment with Joey Porter, the Cardinals wanted to make sure they got their defensive playmaker early in the draft. Enter Von Miller.

As all players that make it to the draft, Von Miller had a stellar college career. In his freshman and sophomore years he flashed potential, earning the starting spot in his sophomore year. As a junior he was the nations leader in sacks for 2009 with 17 sacks, also accumulating 21 tackles for loss. His total tackle count was 43 for that year, meaning a staggering 88% of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage. Von Miller started of his senior year slow, hampered by an injury early in the year. However he was able to come back and win the Butkus award, which is given to the nations top linebacker. While his stat line, 10.5 sacks 17.5 tfl, was not as great as his junior year, his tenacity in coming back from his injury was definitely noticed. He isn't the greatest in pass coverage or run defense, however he has shown improvement in both areas every year he has played. The Cardinals will focus on him rushing the passer, however they would like to develop him like Green Bay did with Clay Matthews and have an overall stud LB.

At 6'2' and 246 pounds, Von Miller fills the body type that Whisenhunt likes to employ in the OLB position. After the combine results, the Cardinals only felt more sure in their pick. Von Miller ran a 4.53 40 yard with a 4.46 unofficial time. While showing amazing speed for his size, he also demonstrated elite agility. The Cardinals did not have a very good pass rush last season. While better than some *coughbroncoscough*, no one player ever shined in the Cardinals front 7. Calais Campbell, DE, lead the Cardinals in sacks with 6, with two OLBs reaching 5 (Porter/Haggans). Some might question why the Cardinals did not go for a QB. The plan is to sign a veteran QB and develop John Skelton into their future starting QB. If some QBs drop far enough, the Cardinals may be forced to adjust their outlook in their QB situation. However, the Cardinals were desperate for an elite pass rusher, and Von Miller will fill that void for the team.

Cardinals_medium

From the Commish

Sayre: I am very intrigued by Von Miller, and he would certainly provide some pop to the pass rush department for the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was pictured talking to Miller at the Senior Bowl, and I'm sure their interest hasn't wavered. With his numbers at the combine and consistency at Texas A&M, there is no reason he can't be a top five pick. The Cards are getting a guy here who could start for them for a decade.

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Comments

Good

now let’s draft OT Joseph Barksdale LSU mocked by AlbertaBronc to stop him like he did in the Cotton Bowl.

You can be dumb... that's ok! There are many dumb people.
You can be an %&*hole... that's ok! There are many of these as well.
Unfortunately you cannot be both...
Ok... prove me wrong.

by BeachBronco on Mar 1, 2011 5:42 PM MST reply actions

While I think it was a bit of a reach

It’s hard to trade those early picks, and Miller is possibly the best LB in this draft, and is a huge help to a depleted Cardinals defense. I like his good combination of solid speed an strength, and while in a stronger overall draft, he might have slipped into the late teens, he’s a selection that fills a big hole, and that is exactly what the Cards need.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on Mar 1, 2011 6:03 PM MST reply actions

That was the dilemma I ran into

It proved difficult to trade the 5th pick and stay in the top 10. All the offers I got went too far back that the top players on my board would have been gone. The Cardinals need to draft starting talent, and Miller is about as guaranteed a starting spot on AZ roster as any rookie could be. Unfortunately the LB class is not that strong this year, which also played into the decision.

Thanks for the comments sir

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 6:23 PM MST up reply actions

Who were your top players?

by coloradosportsfan55 on Mar 1, 2011 6:27 PM MST up reply actions

Cant say yet

draft is still going ;)

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 6:39 PM MST up reply actions

Not even the ones that got picked already?

I think that at the end of the first or something like that the owners should post their top five targets that have been picked already. I think it would be interesting to see how teams veiwed the players

by coloradosportsfan55 on Mar 1, 2011 6:44 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Mine haven't been picked yet

I knew Bowers and PP were going early. Those are the only others in the top 5 I would have picked if they had fallen to me, but I was sure that wasn’t going to happen.

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 6:50 PM MST up reply actions

Oh sorry

You were saying if you moved back then your players would be gone. I thought you ment as the number 5 pick and they were gone already. I wouldn’t tell, either, my bad

by coloradosportsfan55 on Mar 1, 2011 6:51 PM MST up reply actions

Np

and I think you have a good idea with stating top prospects after the round is over

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 6:53 PM MST up reply actions

that is a good idea

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by KaptainKirk on Mar 1, 2011 7:51 PM MST up reply actions

No problem

And good choice to fill a need.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on Mar 1, 2011 11:45 PM MST up reply actions

No problem

And good choice to fill a need.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on Mar 1, 2011 11:46 PM MST up reply actions

Off subject... Any help would be great..

I have a simple bet with my friend, so sorry that I put it off topic on a great article. I don’t mean to be disrespectful. I had a hard time pulling up the answer and we both drank today, non-working day… so trivia time…

Undercooked chicken v undercooked pork.

There’s an answer there. Which one is worse and why? I can’t lead the witness, so that’s all I can say. Why is one worse than the other? Thanks for any help and no problems if you just choose to ignore it!

Depth isn't everything; not having it is. DE before the third or we're DOOMed to repeat past mistakes.

by Rodney A on Mar 1, 2011 6:10 PM MST reply actions

equal

You can be dumb... that's ok! There are many dumb people.
You can be an %&*hole... that's ok! There are many of these as well.
Unfortunately you cannot be both...
Ok... prove me wrong.

by BeachBronco on Mar 1, 2011 6:15 PM MST up reply actions

pork, because it has more nasty stuff like worms, bacteria and other junk, where as with chicken you need to really only worry about cooking it properly.

"To all the critiques, thank you for the motivation… because it has been an edge for me and will continue to be an edge for me" - Tim 'the Mile High Messiah' Tebow

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by David G. Little on Mar 1, 2011 7:34 PM MST up reply actions

Like BB says

equal

"It's all over fat man!"
-Tom Jackson
"Leadership is like porn, you know it when you see it. In this case, Tebow is a pornstar."
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by Calikula on Mar 1, 2011 7:49 PM MST up reply actions

trick question

an undercooked piece of chork is both…

Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 1, 2011 8:07 PM MST up reply actions

I hate you! Just kidding...

This is the best LB/DE/DT draft in a while where OL has pedominated a few of them of late…Nice pick and his draft status went up after the Combine plus his game tape…Good job in my book…

by bfree2bronc on Mar 1, 2011 6:26 PM MST reply actions

i was expecting a QB on this pick.

"I always believe there's a reason why you go through everything." - John Elway

by Pmoreno95 on Mar 1, 2011 7:38 PM MST via mobile reply actions

Miller's work other than rushing the QB would scare me but he seems to work hard and have the physical skills to be great...

I wouldn’t have trusted any of the QBs here no matter how much the Cards need one!!

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. DA

by Whidbey Bronco on Mar 1, 2011 8:01 PM MST reply actions

The Cards will want veteran leadership

a proven starter, not any has beens like Anderson. It worked great with Warner, and the first round QB pick was the polar opposite. I don’t expect Max Hall to do much, and thats if he makes it to next years roster. Skelton needs to learn from a solid QB, they don’t need another rookie that has to learn how to play in the NFL.

This offseason is chock full of proven veteran talent. The timing will depend on when the CBA goes in to place, but AZ will be one of the top players for the best QBs.

Right now, they needed a disrupter on defense, someone thats a gamechanger and can start from day one. Ken Whisenhunt knows what a player like Miller can do for his team. I guarantee this would be the “obvious” pick to most AZ fans, and its for a reason.

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 8:38 PM MST up reply actions

“Right now, needed…”

Im claiming the exhaustion card for this one.

by droom on Mar 1, 2011 8:40 PM MST up reply actions

Is there a list of what team has who?

by bfree2bronc on Mar 1, 2011 8:20 PM MST reply actions

bfree

If you look in your email there is a link you can click on that will bring you to a MHR page that shows who has been picked and who all the gm’s are. I believe only gm’s have access to that page.

"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak "

Ted Nugent

by Idaho Nate on Mar 1, 2011 10:30 PM MST up reply actions

http://www.milehighreport.com/pages/2011-mhr-community-mock-draft

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by BroncosNL on Mar 1, 2011 11:06 PM MST up reply actions

I just don't see Miller going this early.

maybe..

Bring back the Orange!

I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me.~Zig Ziglar

by timmaybronco on Mar 1, 2011 10:55 PM MST reply actions

If many MHR folks have their wish, Miller will go #2 overall to Denver.

But I agree. #5 is the very earliest this player should be drafted and I think it’s too high with Darues, Prince A and Gabbert on the board.

No one wants to read your 19th attempt at a mock draft and it's only February for goodness sakes.

by McGeorge on Mar 2, 2011 7:27 AM MST up reply actions

So what's the scoop on cleveland at #6 then?

Le Mock Draft est mort, vive le Mock Draft!

by Ed McCutcheon on Mar 2, 2011 7:41 AM MST reply actions

Cleveland GM: The #6 pick has been traded to the Vikings

This was completed yesterday, but I think the Vikings GM is having serious email issues. I know he has made his pick and submitted it, but I’m not sure if his emails are getting through.

"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak "

Ted Nugent

by Idaho Nate on Mar 2, 2011 8:45 AM MST reply actions

Thanks. I have not gotten any updates, and haven’t found anything on the site for updates.

by Ed McCutcheon on Mar 2, 2011 9:39 AM MST up reply actions

I live in AZ and they are my #2 team

He made a great pick. After Peterson, who will be gone, this is the guy the Cards need. Everyone down here is excited about him once they realize they shouldn’t draft a QB (they should trade for Kolb) and Peterson will not be there. Nice work, droom. Please start fixing the OL with the next pick.

This is not as clever as you might have thought it would be.

by ricola22 on Mar 2, 2011 1:22 PM MST reply actions