SB Nation - Cody Brown

Exclusive Interview with the Arizona Cardinals Second Round Pick, Cody Brown

Hawkwind — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:11:52 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2009 NFL draft with a significant need at outside linebacker and after selecting Chris "Beanie" Wells in the first round, they entered the second round looking for the best avaliable pass rusher. Luckily, Cody Brown of the University of Connecticut fell to them at the 63rd overall pick and he provides an infusion of youth and athleticism to a position that was in dire need of both. Brown was a three year starter at defensive end and he improved each year, finally topping out at 56 tackles, 16.5 for loss and eleven sacks as a senior. His burst off the edge and natural pass rush skills should allow him to make an immediate impact on the Cardinals defense but before he steps onto the field, Cody Brown sat down with us here at ROTB to answer a few questions:

ROTB - Cody, I'm sure the past three months or so have been quite a whirlwind from U-Conn's bowl game to the Senior Bowl to the Combine and finally to draft weekend. Was it relief when you heard your name called in the second round and how does it feel now that you're settling in as a Cardinal?

Cody Brown - Yeah it was a great feeling when I got the call from the Cardinals. I basically assumed that I was going to end up in the third round because the second round was coming to an end. But I'm glad it happened that way because I think I'm going to fit in real well in Arizona.

ROTB - I'm sure you flew all over the country for workouts with various teams after the draft as well as interviewed with more than a handful of teams at the combine. How much interest did the Cardinals show in you before the draft and did you have a pretty good feeling that you were their guy when their second round pick came around?

CB - Not really. I really didn't know what to expect. Some reporters asked me if I had contact with them before the draft, and I told them no, but I did meet with them at the Combine. When the reporter asked me, it was right after the draft, and my mind was just spinning. But I still didn't have a great indication that I was their guy.

ROTB - You enter the NFL with plenty of starting experience and you seemed to improve each year while at U-Conn. You've certainly got a tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage and have a made quite a name for yourself wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks while also playing well against the run. What areas of your game, if any, have scouts or other teams that you visited said you'd need to improve upon?

CB - Pretty much just continuing to learn new rush moves and working on my technique.

ROTB - I'm sure you've heard plenty of talk about how difficult the transition can be for some players to move college defensive end to a 3-4 OLB, but you've had some experience playing linebacker in college. Do you think that experience will help you make the transition quicker than some of your counterparts? How much were you asked to drop back in coverage while playing linebacker?

CB - All the teams know I can rush the passer, but also can drop in coverage, which is why the Cardinals drafted me to play on the outside. I played mostly with my hand to the ground at UConn, but I have no problem dropping back in coverage. Everyone saw my athleticism in workouts. The coaches here told me they expect it to be an easy transition.

ROTB - You've got two veteran guys at outside linebacker who both made the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker in Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafor. What have those guys said said to you so far about learning the position or adjusting life in the NFL in general?

CB - Well I haven't had much time yet to really talk in depth about all that with these guys. Chike is represented by the same agency as me, so I'm excited to learn more from him and get to know him.

ROTB - According to your bio, you were a 215 freshman and you added about 15 pounds before your sophomore season. What was your playing weight during your senior season and have the Cardinals coaches asked you gain or lose any weight before training camp?

CB - I played around 240 pounds last year. I'll probably be in the 255 pound range here.

ROTB - Ok, we'll let you get out of here with a couple of easy, light hearted questions, I know you've only had one weekend of mini-camps but I'm sure some of the veteran guys have a had chance to pull some rookie pranks on you young guys. Care to share any funny stories or let us know who's the hardest on the rooks?

CB - Hmm, it really hasn't been a whole lot of that yet. We were only there for one weekend last week. I heard it'll pick up though in training camp (laughs).

ROTB - The University of Connecticut had never had a player drafted before the third round heading into this year's draft but this year, you and three of your teammates were all selected in the first two rounds. Only USC had more players selected in the first two rounds of the draft this year. What exactly were they feeding you guys at U-Conn?

CB - Wheaties.

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Revenge of the Birds can not thank Cody Brown enough for taking the time. Hopefully we'll be talking about his stellar play for years to come. Brown certainly has a bright future and should be harassing NFC West QB's for years to come. Thoughts?

Clark Haggans Will Be a Starting OLB for the Arizona Cardinals This Season

Hawkwind — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:09:47 -0000

When the Arizona Cardinals signed Clark Haggans to a three year contract earlier this off season, we were a bit surprised by the length of the contract considering Haggans' age. Well their master plan is starting to become more clear. Darren Urban reported yesterday that the defense will look more like a traditional 3-4 this year with the outside linebackers assuming more well rounded roles. In Clancy Pendergast's hybrid defense, one OLB would be primarily responsible for dropping into coverage (think Chike Okeafor) and the other OLB/DE would be primarily a pass rusher (think Bertrand Berry and Travis LaBoy), but that will no longer be the case. Under new defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, the Cardinals outside linebackers will look and act much more like the linebackers of traditional 3-4 squads like the Steelers and Patriots.

That wasn't the only news nugget that Urban had though as he also said that Clark Haggans will be the starter opposite of Chike Okeafor. Haggans has plenty of experience in the traditional 3-4 (61 starts with the Steelers) and that's a big reason why Ken Whisenhunt wanted to bring him him as a free agent last season, but Haggans didn't play much with the regular defense last year though and it'll be interesting to see how he responds with a return to the starting lineup. One thing worth watching though will be how Haggans (32 years old) and Okeafor (33 years old) hold up over the course of a full season as starters. Are you concerned with Haggans and Okeafor as starters or is this a good sign that we're moving to a traditional 3-4 defense? Does this also put more pressure on Cody Brown, who would presumably be the top backup on both sides?

Maybe we'll see more plays like this goal line stand against the Niners.

Arizona Cardinals Assign Numbers to Rookie Draft Class

Hawkwind — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:31:27 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals have assigned numbers to their entire rookie class (eight draft picks and 9 undrafted free agents). I'm not sure if this is common practice for the Cardinals but not a single rookie retained the same number that they wore in college, even if the number was avaliable.

Chris "Beanie" Wells #26 (Keith Lewis currently has #28)
Cody Brown #52 (Donovan Raiola currently has #50)
Rashad Johnson #41 (Alex Shor currently has #49)
Greg Toler #32 (He wore #8 in college but that number is avaliable)
Herman Johnson #67 (Jason Banks currently has #79)
Will Davis #59 (Anquan Boldin currently has #81 but an OLB can't wear a receiver number anyways)
LaRod Stephens-Howling #36 (Tim Hightower currently has #34)
Trevor Canfield #60 (Deuce Lutui currently has #76)

It'll be interesting to see if any of the guys switch their number once some guys are cut during training camp. I'd think that Chris Wells, Cody Brown and Rashad Johnson stand a better chance of making the roster than Keith Lewis (although his chances are fairly good), Donovan Raiola and Alex Shor. Toler couldn't wear his collieagate number because defensive backs aren't allowed to wear single digit numbers in the NFL.

Justin Brown #12 (He wore #81 at Hampton)
Chase Bullock #96 (He wore #42 at Maryland but that number is avaliable)
Tony Davis #37 (Larry Fitzgerald currently has #11)
Jameel Dowling #43 (Tyler Palko currently has #3)
Khalil El-Amin #64 (Jason Banks currently has #79)
Shane Morales #10 (Old Grey Beard currently has #13)
Brandon Pearce #65 (He wore #71 at Memphis but that number is avaliable)
Reggie Walker #55 (Clark Haggans currently has #53)
Michael Ray Garvin #18 (DRC currently has #29)

Arizona Cardinals Pre-Draft Needs Combined With Post Draft Thoughts

Hawkwind — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:16:58 -0000

More photos » by Terry Gilliam - AP

Former Ohio State running back Chris Wells shoulders a big load heading to the Arizona Cardinals and their struggling running game, but can he answer the call?. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Browse more photos »

As the dust settles from the circus that is NFL Draft weekend, the Arizona Cardinals added a total of 17 players, eight draft picks and nine undrafted free agents, to their franchise. The diverse group of players ranges from simply massive (6'7, 364) in Herman Johnson to merely tiny (5'7, 180) in LaRod Stephens-Howling. The group was pretty balanced with eight offensive players and nine defensive players with the University of Cincinnati being the only school with multiple players who joined the Cardinals. The defensive secondary got major infusion of young talent with as many as five defensive backs joining the ranks and on the offensive side of the ball the focus was on building depth on the interior of the offensive line. With 17 new bodies you'd have to think that the Cardinals addressed each and every need right?

Earlier in the off season ROTB as a whole identified the biggest needs for the Cardinals heading into the draft. After 194 votes the top needs were clearly evident with running back dominating the poll with 38% of the vote. Outside linebacker was a distant second with 18% of the vote and cornerback (granted this was before Bryant McFadden was added) took home the bronze with 12%. Offensive line, defensive tackle, defensive end and safety rounded out the poll with inside linebacker bringing up the rear with two percent. The tight end position wasn't included in poll although some argued that it should have been added. The addition of Bryant McFadden and the uncertain future of Karlos Dansby most likely would have swayed some of the votes if the poll had been revived shortly before the draft but I think we've got a solid starting point in identifying the needs of the Red Birds heading into draft weekend so lets take a look at how they did....

#1 Need - Running Back: After months of speculation and countless mocks, I think the Cardinals got exactly what they wanted when Beanie Wells fell into their laps. Wells was arguably the top draft and undeniably a top 15 talent. He's a unique blend of size (6'1, 235) and speed (sub 4.5 forty) and the kind of franchise, workhorse back that Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm love to build an offense around. Whether or not he's the day one starter at running, he should lead the Cardinals in carries and yards by seasons end. With the franchise back in place, the Cardinals waited until the seventh round to find their second back. LaRod Stephens-Howling was an unknown to just about everyone outside of the Pittsburgh Panthers but he's got the potential to be solid kick returner and maybe even a dangerous third down, scat back.

Was the need satisfied? Absolutely. Wells is the future of not only the running back position but also the offense as a whole. LSH brings an element of speed to the offense that no other player possesses.

#2 Need - Outside Linebacker: To fill the second biggest need, the Cardinals used their second round pick to nab the best outside linebacker prospect on the board in Cody Brown. Brown was a collegiate defensive end but he's got the size and athleticism to excel as an outside linebacker. It may take a full season for Brown to fully grasp the position change but he should be able to contribute immediately on special teams and as a situational pass rusher. With Okeafor and Berry both likely on the way out after this season, Brown should become a starter in 2010. The Cardinals didn't stop there though because they nabbed another OLB prospect In the sixth round when they selected Will Davis. Davis is intriguing because he's actually a more natural pass rusher than Brown but his game is raw so the learning curve will be greater. It's possible that Davis will end up on the practice squad in 2009 but his ability to rush the passer is unique and with a full season refining his game and learning the position of OLB, he could be a force in a couple seasons.

Was the need satisfied? Yes. Brown will be able to contribute this season and should project as a starter in 2010 once Okeafor and Berry leave. Davis is a bit of a project but as far as sixth round picks go, he's got the talent to develop into a valuable player.

#3 Need - Secondary Depth: Ok so I took some liberties and lumped corner and safety together but with the addition of Bryant McFadden, I suspect that corner back wouldn't have received near as many votes. With the depth of entire secondary a bit suspect, the Cardinals added a total of five potential players to the mix, including a third and fourth round pick. Third round pick, Rashad Johnson figures to push Aaron Francisco, Keith Lewis and Matt Ware down the depth chart and upgrade the secondary position. He's an intelligent, hard working safety who excels at reading the action in front of him and keeping the play in front of him. He's not an exceptional athlete but neither is any of the trio that he's replacing. To bolster the depth at corner, the Cardinals made a surprising pick of Greg Toler in the fourth. Toler is a from a tiny school and took an unusual path to the NFL but his physical skills and ball hawking tendencies are undeniable. His overall game is raw but the depth ahead of him should allow him to grow at his own pace. The Cardinals added another two guys who have experience to play either safety or corner in the UDFA stages to provide competition in camp.

Was the need satisfied? Absolutely. I don't think anyone expected the Cardinals to add this much new blood to a secondary that already looked fairly solid. Johnson and Toler have the potential to develop into starters during their rookie contracts.

#5 Need - Offensive Line: For the past several months there has been countless discuss here and all over the net about the Cardinals offensive line. Who should be replaced, why couldn't they run the ball and countless others but in the end the coaching staff said multiple times that they were happy with the starting five and nothing that they did on draft day would suggest other wise. They did draft two offensive lineman in Herman Johnson (5th round) and Trevor Canfield (7th round) as well as adding another two prospects as undrafted players. Johnson and Canfield should improve the depth and provide competition on the interior of the line but neither should make serious push for starting time this season.

Was the need satisfied? That depends. The biggest need was depth at center and the Cardinals didn't pick up a center unless you count Canfield. He's practiced at the position but never taken a snap there in an actual game.

#4 Need - Defensive Line: Again I'm lumping two positions together with defensive end and tackle. The Cardinals didn't address either position in the draft or with a UDFA but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The starters across the defensive front are set and appear to be fairly solid with Darnell Dockett, Gabe Watson and Calais Campbell. The depth is what has some people worried but the coaching staff obviously feels comfortable with Bryan Robinson, Alan Branch, Kenny Iwebema and maybe even Keilen Dykes.

Was the need satisfied? No, but whether or not this was actually a need is a point of debate.

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Despite being the NFC Champions (it sounded nice to hear that during the draft didn't it?) the Arizona Cardinals had plenty of needs heading into the draft but did they fill every one?

Arizona Cardinals News: Checking Out the NFL Draft Grades

Hawkwind — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:48:45 -0000

More photos » by Kiichiro Sato - AP

8 months ago: FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2008 file photo, Ohio State tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Minnesota in Columbus, Ohio. Wells is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

Browse more photos »

The biggest weekend in the NFL off season has come to an end but the draft certainly didn't disapoint. After two full days of live coverage and non-stop hoopla we've got just a short week before the first mandatory mini-camps get started (this weekend!!) and before you know it we'll be down in Gledale prepping for training camp. The Arizona Cardinals didn't get involved in any trades over the weekend, yes Boldin still wears red, and for the most part they just patiently waited their turn each round. Over the course of this week we'll take a much deeper look at each pick, look in on how our divisional mates faired this weekend and we'll look at some undrafted free agents who could interest the Red Birds, but for now here's how the 'experts' thought the Cardinals did this weekend:

Disclaimer: As I'm sure we're all aware, these draft grades are less than meaningless because no one truly knows how a group of players will project in the NFL and at the very least you'd have to give a draft class two or even three years to establish themselves before labeling them with a grade. With that being said, where's the fun in that.......

Yahoo (Charles Robinson):

Positive: Landing an explosive running back.
Negative: No defensive line help until sixth round.
Bottom line: B+. Getting Wells with the second-to-last pick in the first round was a coup. He adds exactly the kind of explosion the position needs. Brown should add some pass rushing help, but he'll need to get stronger to be a complete linebacker. Johnson is a good play maker who works hard all the time.

USA Today:

Grade B. Cardinals needed RB to complement Tim Hightower and found Chris Wells still on the board at 31. Durability issues may have dropped him but he's a tough inside runner and can only help the NFL's worst ground game. Rangy DE/LB Cody Brown fits in an area where incumbents Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor are getting up in years. Should give them some flexibility in their 3-4. Ballhawk DB Rashad Johnson will quickly find a role.

ESPN Mel Kiper:

Grade: B+

Chris Wells was a major acquisition for the Cardinals in the first round of this draft. He was a bargain for a team that was in dire need of a running back to rotate in with second-year back Tim Hightower. Wells gives this team the home run threat that the running game was sorely lacking last season. In addition to Wells, I liked the Cody Brown pick in the second round because he should be a good 3-4 rushing end in the Cardinals' system. Bringing in LSU offensive lineman Herman Johnson in the fifth round and Illinois defensive end Will Davis in the sixth were good pickups for this organization. While I thought Johnson was a bit overrated, he is huge and will give the line a big presence when he's on the field.

CBS (Pete Prisco):

This is an organization that has turned the corner when it comes to drafting. Grade: B

Best pick: Third-round pick Rashard Johnson is a rangy safety who has good instincts. He won't start, but should be a good special-teams player.
Questionable move: Not trading up to get Donald Brown. He fit their offense better than Beanie Wells.
Second-day gem: Greg Toler. Taken in the fourth round, this corner from St. Paul College has loads of physical skill.

Fox Sports:

After making it to their first Super Bowl, the Cardinals were in an unfamiliar position at the bottom of the first and second round. They came away with Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells and UConn linebacker Cody Brown. Wells, a powerful inside runner, has a chance to be the featured back next season because Tim Hightower is more of a third-down player.

The Cardinals rejected several low offers (no first-round picks) for unhappy receiver Anquan Boldin. Alabama safety Rashad Johnson plays a great center field and has a nose for the ball; he's a play maker. Corner back Gregory Toler flunked out of high school, but found a home at St. Pauls College, a small school in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Toler is a boom-or-bust selection. LSU offensive lineman Herman Johnson once weighed in at 390 pounds and he probably will be used at guard. Grade: B

NBC Sports:

The Cards wanted a speed complement for Tim Hightower at No. 31 and did better than they ever could've imagined. Chris Wells, who cracked 4.4 at Pro Day, is Ken Whisenhunt's new Jerome Bettis. UConn DE Cody Brown was a reach at No. 63, but could push to start at outside linebacker when Chike Okeafor's contract expires in 2010.

Rashad Johnson, who learned under Nick Saban at Alabama, is a pro-ready free safety and LSU G/T Herman Johnson was a value pick in round five. Small-school CB Greg Toler is a project, though, and tiny RB LaRod Stephens-Howling is unlikely to have a career. Most importantly, Anquan Boldin is still a Cardinal. Grade: B

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There's the so-called experts opinions on the Cardinals 2009 draft, but what did you think? Did they address all of the needs or looking back at how the draft played out, who would you have taken? Who's got the best chance to open the season as a starter and who is your sleeper in this draft class?

Poll

How would you grade the Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Draft?

A+

33 votes

A

112 votes

B+

175 votes

B

64 votes

C+

11 votes

C

6 votes

D

2 votes

F

7 votes

410 votes | Poll has closed

Finishing Up the ROTB Community Mock Draft

Andrew602 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:02:08 -0000

First off, we just want to give a big thanks for everybody participating and making this community mock draft so successful. It's currently crunch time and I think I can speak for everybody when I say, thank god the draft his tomorrow because all these mock picks are starting to become deflating. So with that said, I haven't received a response for the Giants, Colts and Titans picks and will therefore, make the selections so we can vote for the Cardinals 2nd round pick.

New York Giants - RB Donald Brown

He's somehow managed to last this long and the Giants would love to add a young multipurpose back to their team. He's current the BPA and would be a great value pick and #59. The Giants had that three headed monster attack last year that was one of the best rushing units in the NFL and was key to their success. Adding Brown would fill the loss of Derrick Ward.

Indianapolis Colts - WR Mohamed Massaquoi

Massaquoi will never fill the void of Marvin Harrison leaving this off-season but the Colts would benefit from acquiring him. He's got a nice frame and would be ideally suited in the slot due to his yards after the catch. He does need some work on holding on to the ball, but aside from that, the Colts do have two good receivers in Wayne and Gonzales that can allow Massaquoi to develop.(Thanks to IrishCardinal for making this pick)

Tennessee Titans - WR Juaquin Iglesias

The best defensive tackles are already off the board and the Titans need to establish a need they've had since Derrick Mason left, wide receiver. Iglesias provides a legitimate threat on offense and an all-around talented receiver. His only drawback is his speed but his natural ability excels in every other category.

And now on to the Cardinals potential second round pick------------------------------->

In the 1st round, the ROTB community voted and decided the Cardinals would take running back Beanie Wells to shore up their inept running game. With that being said, the Cardinals can now establish needs in other areas. At this point the Cardinals can very well go BPA(Best Player Available). Here are the nominees:

Duke Robinson G Oklahoma

Robinson has good straight-line quickness for a player his size, but is a bit stiff and shows just marginal foot speed working into the second level. He has great strength and leg drive to run through defenders and open rush lanes. His frame is also a great asset when he is asked to create movement off the snap. While he might struggle to mirror quicker edge rushers, he uses his arms well to engulf the smaller opponent. When he plays on his feet, he can do a good job mirroring vs. edge rushers.

Jason Williams OLB Western Illinois

Williams has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above-average player in the open field with suddenness to close. He shows good strength at initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes.

Chase Coffman TE Missouri

He is explosive with his initial step off the line of scrimmage and shows the body control to easily adjust on the move. He demonstrates the wingspan and reach to adjust easily to the poorly thrown pass and looks agile and alert running his routes. Coffman has natural hands, above average lateral agility and does a fine job of getting open, displaying the power to break tackles and the leaping ability to hurdle over smaller opponents.

Cody Brown OLB/DE University of Connecticut

Despite the concerns about his size or strength, it's impossible to ignore 33 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including five forced fumbles in 2008. Brown consistently made impact plays and was arguably the most explosive defender in the Big East Conference over the two seasons. He was a three year starter at U-Conn was the first true freshman to start a game on the defensive or offensive line in U-Conn's D1 era. He's got a ton of experience but he still must continue developing his game if he wants to be an every down player.

Eric Wood C Louisville

Wood would be a solid addition in the second round if he somehow slipped to the Cardinals pick. He's a dependable player who will keep his legs driving and plays with a mean streak. He's a straight line center that does a good job matching what the defender brings. If he can improve on his quickness and lower body strength, he can be an anchor for any teams offensive line.

Sherrod Martin FS Troy

Martin's a versatile player who should be able to help any team that drafts him in a variety of ways. He was a very effective gunner on punt coverage and could be a solid contributor on special teams early in his career. If he's left at his natural position, safety, his transition to the NFL could be a relatively easy one. Overall though he is an underrated prospect with a very intriguing skill set.

Sen'Derrick Marks DT Auburn

Marks has adequate timed speed, good balance and short-area quickness, showing the loose hips needed when changing direction. He can accelerate into the backfield to disrupt the plays and plays at a low center of gravity that he combines with his squat frame to slip under reach blocks, but fails to play with a consistent motor. He uses his hands effectively and gains leverage to jolt and stack blockers. His motor runs hot and cold and he needs to play with more consistent intensity. He is basically a short-area type of player with limited long speed.

Most of breakdowns provided are from Cbssports.

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Again, thanks for everybody who participated and lets hope for a productive real draft tomorrow. I'll be on here for the draft and we'll post the Cardinals second round pick then as well.

Poll

Who should be the Cardinals mock draft 2nd round pick?

Duke Robinson G

14 votes

Jason Williams OLB

20 votes

Chase Coffman TE

14 votes

Cody Brown OLB

38 votes

Eric Wood C

38 votes

Sherrod Martin FS

3 votes

Sen'Derrick Marks DT

13 votes

Other

10 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

And with the #62 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans Select...

Chris Thorman — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:30:10 -0000

Connecticut LB Cody Brown

Lvl.99 with the pick...

The Titans picked a freight train of a linebacker in the 2000 Draft by selecting Keith Bullock with their 1st round pick. My friends and I nicknamed him spinal tap because of the destructive hits he put on opposing players. Well spinal tap is getting up there in age and it looks as though he's lost a step. On a side note Bullock is coming into his contract year and based on Tennessee's willingness to part with aging veterans I don't see Bullock remaining a Titan longer than next year. These facts lead us into why the Titans will select Cody Brown/ LB Connecticut. The word on Cody Brown per WalterFootball.com is:

12/6/08: Cody Brown put up great numbers as a senior - 12.5 TFL, nine sacks and eight passes broken up.

5/16/08: A ton of bricks at linebacker (244 pounds) with a very nice 40 (4.65) to go along with his size. Cody Brown had 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 13 starts his junior year.

Brown will pick up where Bullock has left off making a seamless transition into an already dominating Titan Defense.

On a sidenote TN could have gone with Patrick Chung/SS, BPA according to profootballweekly.com which has him listed as the #41 ranked prospect in this coming draft, but the safety position isn't a need for the Titans. And I suppose an argument could have been made for Derrick Williams/WR, as Wide Receiver is a need for the Titans, but with them signing essentially the same role player in Nate Washington that argument doesn't hold water.

Happy Drafting Chiefs Fans, Cheers from Iraq.

Round 1 is here.

Previous pick: DT Fili Moala

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock: Arizona Cardinals (THE_TRUTH) and Pittsburgh Steelers (McWhirt33).

Click over for the schedule and current draft results.

Pick	Round 2	Selection	Date	Approval Rating
1(33)	Detroit Lions - UCrawford	CB Darius Butler	Weds., April 8th	48%
2(34)	New England Patriots (From Kansas City) - connerman	DE Robert Ayers	Weds., April 8th	67%
3(35)	St. Louis Rams - Lanier63	DT Evander Hood	Thursday, April 9th	55%
4(36)	Cleveland Browns - HIV2Elway	DE Connor Barwin	Thursday, April 9th	68%
5(37)	Seattle Seahawks - mikvogel	OT William Beatty	Friday, April 10th	67%
6(38)	Cincinnati Bengals - mistamic	C Max Unger	Friday, April 10th	68%
7(39)	Jacksonville Jaguars - DThomasReigns	G Duke Robinson	Monday, April 13th	72%
8(40)	Oakland Raiders - mushin	T Phil Loadholt	Monday, April 13th	68%
9(41)	Green Bay Packers - JasonM	DT Ron Brace	Tuesday, April 14th	62%
10(42)	Buffalo Bills - ArrowDread	DE Michael Johnson	Tuesday, April 14th	60%
11(43)	San Francisco 49ers - Harry Feltersnatch	DE/LB Larry English	Weds. April 15th	67%
12(44)	Miami Dolphins (From Washington) - shraggyj	WR Kenny Britt	Weds. April 15th	69%
13(45)	New York Giants (From New Orleans) - ChiefsFan90s	LB Clint Sintim	Thursday, April 16th	64%
14(46)	Houston Texans - ChiefsDude	FS Louis Delmas	Thursday, April 16th	37%
15(47)	New England Patriots (From San Diego) - connerman	DE/OLB Paul Kruger	Friday, April 17th	64%
16(48)	Denver Broncos (From Texans) - Keyser Sose	RB Donald Brown	Friday, April 17th	41%
17(49)	Chicago Bears - Holmeslice	C Jonathan Luigs	Monday, April 20th
18(50)	Cleveland Browns (From Tampa Bay) - HIV2Elway	RB Shonn Green	Monday, April 20th
19(51)	Dallas Cowboys - chiefsfan1384	SS William Moore	Monday, April 20th
20(52)	New York Jets - PSUkegreen	WR Mohamed Massaquoi	Tuesday, April 21st
21(53)	Philadelphia Eagles - Chiefsfan717	RB LeSean McCoy	Tuesday, April 21st
22(54)	Minnesota Vikings - kcsno56	C Eric Wood	Tuesday, April 21st
23(55)	Atlanta Falcons - RedNose	CB Victor Harris	Weds. April 22nd
24(56)	Miami Dolphins - shraggyj	CB Jarius Byrd	Weds. April 22nd
25(57)	Baltimore Ravens - Ben S	WR Brian Robiskie	Weds. April 22nd
26(58)	New England Patriots - connerman	DL Jarron Gilbert	Thursday, April 23rd
27(59)	Carolina Panthers - 808NaNz808	OL Fenuki Tupou	Thursday, April 23rd
28(60)	New York Giants - ChiefsFan90s	OT Herman Johnson	Thursday, April 23rd
29(61)	Indianapolis Colts - saskwatch	DT Fili Moala	Friday, April 24th
30(62)	Tennessee Titans - Lvl.99	LB Cody Brown	Friday, April 24th
31(63)	Arizona Cardinals - THE_TRUTH		Friday, April 24th
32(64)	Pittsburgh Steelers - McWhirt33		Friday, April 24th

Poll

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

22 votes

No

10 votes

Indifferent

8 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Last Two Rumblings Authors Mock: MARVelous, poz

Brian Galliford — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

8 months ago: FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, right, dives for a touchdown as Kansas State defender Justin McKinney, left, defends during the fourth quarter of a college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Pettigrew is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

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Ed. Note, by Brian Galliford: We know. You're as tired of mock drafts as we are. Eight editors here at Rumblings have provided you their pre-draft thoughts over the past five days; the last two on the schedule, MARVelous and poz, present you 2 this evening. What you see on the front page is a brief overview of their picks. Click on past the jump if you're looking for explanations for the picks - our two guys did a stellar job rationalizing their selections. And when you're done reading/commenting, breathe a sigh of relief - the mock draft season has come to a close. Tomorrow, the real thing begins. End Note

MARVelous	poz
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee	1-20: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
1-22: B. Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State	1-28: Alex Mack, G/C, California
2-42: Max Unger, G/C, Oregon	2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, GA Tech
3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest	2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
4-117: Cody Brown, DE, Connecticut	3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin
5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame	5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, UNC
6-183: R. Allen, OG, Missouri Western	6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
7-220: Samuel Allen, T, Grand Valley St.	7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia

MARVelous explanation
This is my first and only mock draft, as Brian was courteous enough to give me a chance to proclaim my predictions on his super-awesome blog. I know everyone is "mocked-out" but I had to at least give this a whirl as to what I think the Bills will do and a scenario in which I think they get players to make "immediate" impact. In my mock draft I try to predict what the Bills will do, along with a sprinkling of my personal evaluations. The two trades below are predicators to my mock draft. Never has their been a year where the wait for the draft has run my life as much as this one as the eventful off-season for the Bills finalizes with this mega-event. The theme of my mock is physical, toughness, and productive collegiate players. Below I detail the one trade I make for Roscoe, albeit it seems unlikely he gets dealt at this point. Feel free to ridicule and "mock" my predictions below.

Jason Peters was traded. The Eagles gave us their lower first round pick (28) and their fourth round pick. Thank God this dilemma is now over.

I am also trading Roscoe Parrish. I wouldn't trade him if I were the Bills, but my instincts tell me he will be dealt as the Bills have so many holes right now, they need the arsenal of picks and also will need to make a deal with the devil that Leodis McKelvin does not get hurt. The Bills coaches are high on Steve Johnson and he should get the snaps on offense Roscoe would normally get. I have the Bills sending Parrish to the Cowboys, for the Cowboys 4th round pick, #117 overall. The
Cowboys need depth at WR and Roscoe will be a huge addition in the punt return game.

These trades give the Bills 10 picks with two first rounders and three fourths. It gives the Bills flexibility.

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. The growing sense is that OT will fly off the boards in the top 10 this Saturday. Brian says the most likely OT that the Bills would take is Andre Smith and I don't see him slipping past GB or SF. While Michael Oher,
Brian Orakpo and BJ Raji may be available at #11, I'm comfortable if the Bills select Mike Mayock's #1 rated defensive prospect. The need at DE is absurd, and the injection of youth at the position will greatly help out Buffalo's defense and may help get Chris Kelsay on a plane out of town for good.

1-22: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. The Falcons at #24 may be all over Pettigrew if he falls this far as well as the Ravens at #26, so I go to make sure I get my 2nd targeted prospect in Pettigrew. I have to give up 2 4th round picks to do it (#110, #121) but I think it's worth it to ensure we add the best TE in the draft. Pettigrew's run/pass blocking will aid big time in whoever fills in at LT, and his ability to develop as a pass-catcher as the season progresses is a huge upside. Bottom line is to win in the NFL you have to be able to score points consistently. Now, maybe Trent Edwards will prove to not be the guy to lead the Bills, but adding T.O. and Pettigrew will give him every opportunity to succeed and that's the least Dick Jauron can do with 2009 being a make or break season for him.

2-42: Max Unger, OL, Oregon. This 6'5", 309 lb OL is exactly what the Bills need to bolster their OL. Versatility & toughness are the two words we are hearing out of OBD about their next wave of OL. Unger played 2 years at LT and 2 years at Center. Mike Lombardi always states when you draft a guy, a question you have to ask is "if he doesn't work out the way we want, where else could he play." That's called value, and that's exactly what Unger gives Buffalo. He gives Buffalo more flexibility and that is a great thing for the coaching staff to have.

3-75: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest. My infatuation with Chip Vaughn continues as I think the need on the back end is a necessity. With Scott/Whitner seemingly entrenched as starters in 2009, depth at this position is needed. Vaughn has a
"toughness" that is themed throughout my mock draft, and would be an ideal candidate at SS to replace Scott in 2010. Plus, Dick Jauron can't go past the 3rd round without taking a DB. Vaughn lacks ball skills, but his tenacity and willingness to run over opponents is a breath of fresh air.

4-117: Cody Brown, OLB, Conneticut. I can't see Elison start another season. Brown at the very least, could be a subpackage player in 2009 as he recorded 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for losses in 2008. He has the top end speed to get after the QB, something Buffalo's defense needs a boost for. At 6'2", 248 lbs, Brown has ideal size. Some will say he is better fitted for a 3-4 OLB, but I can see him lining up as the SAM. Most importantly, Brown is a leader, a player that has through his own hard work developed into a very productive player, and can contribute immediately for the Bills.

5-147: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame. If Bruton falls to round 5, I like this run stuffing S. A guy who could immediately get after it on ST's, and could be a subpackage player as a run support. Extremely physical and has the toughness that I think would be a huge benefit to add to the mix on the back end. At 6'2", 209 he is a big physical specimen who produced 97 tackles last year as well as 2 FF's and 4 INT's.

6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western. Toughness, character, a leader. That sums up this small school prospect. Allen made 36 consecutive starts, and is a project for the Bills to start developing. First offensive lineman to receive MIAA freshman of the year honor. Earned first team All-MIAA honors during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.

7-220: Samuel Allen, OT, Grand Valley State. This small school prospect started 30 games at OT, has great quickness and athleticism and great room to grow into his 6'6" frame. This is an ideal project for the Bills and with this pick the Bills have re-stocked their OL projects.

Alright, let's hear it Bills Nation. I know many of you are not high on Ayers, but the DL cannot be ignored for another off-season. My philosophy was that our defense is in desperate need of a youthful injection of talent. I have no idea what the Bills plan to do at LT, but addin the versatility of Unger, gives me confidence that Sean Kugler has the flexibility to put together a unit that can work in 2009. The addition of Brown provides an extra piece for Perry Fewell to use in blitz packages. Most importantly we got 3 immediate impact players in Ayers, Pettigrew and Unger, and potential impact in Brown and Bruton if at least ST's. Plus I re-stocked the OL cabinet. So let's have at it... what do you think of MARVelous version 1.0?

poz explanation
This mock draft is predicated on a draft day trade which I fully expect to occur. After selecting their QB of the future the Detroit Lions will anxiously hope that Michael Oher will last until pick #20. Jim Schwartz after all, is a firm believer in winning by building in the trenches. Of course, when Andre Smith becomes the 3rd LT off the board to Cincinnati at number 6, images of the 2008 draft will swiftly come to Schwartz' mind. In 2008, Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Brandon Albert, Gosder Cherilus, and Jeff Otah all flew off the board at picks 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19, respectively. Five LT's in 7 picks before #20. Knowing that Buffalo covets many players who would be a reach at #11, Detroit picks up the phone and makes an offer that the Bills can't refuse and which really benefits both teams. Picks #20 and #33 for picks #11, #110, and #121. The Lions complete their offensive re-birth with Stafford, Oher and Calvin Johnson on board while picking up depth picks they desperately need and Buffalo gets the chance to plug as many starting position holes as possible. In the event of a Roscoe Parrish trade for a 4th or 5th (which I do not include in my mock), the exchange is relatively painless for Buffalo and Detroit.

1-20: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. With a rebuilding process along the offensive line, providing Trent Edwards with a complete set of weapons is more vital than ever and he needs a tight end. In addition, Pettigrew's fantastic blocking abilities, which are so good he has held his own against some of the defenders going off the board before him, are a much bigger plus then they were last week when we had Peters.

1-28: Alex Mack, C, California. By receiving pick 28 from the Eagles, monster running lanes creator Alex Mack has to have re-entered the discussion as a potential big time pick up. Mack is the late first round choice and will team up with Brad Butler and Geoff Hangartner to open serious running room for what is now by far the most talented backfield committee in the NFL in Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes.

2-33: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. This year, defensive end is one of those positions that will go fast as only two true, play with their hands on the ground, non-OLB hybrid DEs who are considered 1st round prospects; Robert Ayers and Tyson Jackson. That makes guys like Paul Kruger and Johnson shoot up draft boards into the early second round. At 6'7, 230, Johnson excelled at the combine but still scares teams who think on film there is proof that he has never played up to his potential. With Buffalo in win now mode, they will take a risk an athletic specimen who recorded 17.5 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. Not only that, but a place like Buffalo, which has its top three defensive ends over the age of 30, is the perfect place for a guy like Johnson to finally reach his potential; surrounded by hard working, knowledgeable, and high motor veterans who will push him.

2-42: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. With Chris Brown hinting the Bills are comfortable moving forward with Langston Walker at LT and Demetrius Bell at RT, Loadholt can come into Buffalo and provide healthy competition for Bell and Chambers at RT. Loadholt teamed up with Duke Robinson in Oklahoma to create a terrifyingly effective run blocking duo and a line of Walker, Mack, Hangartner, Butler, Loadholt and Pettigrew blocking for Lynch, Jackson and Rhodes immediately makes us one of the most intimidating rushing attacks in the league.

3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin. Even with the additions of Mack and Loadholt, Buffalo remains woefully thin at depth on the offensive line. Urbik will provide excellent depth as he learns to overcome some his deficiencies, mainly how to play lower to the ground. Urbik could back up at guard and right tackle if needed.

5-147: Trimane Goddard, S, North Carolina. My pick for the most underrated player in the draft, Goddard could probably be had later but more than a few scouts will recognize his talent and grab the undersized safety if Buffalo doesn't here. Despite his size he hits like a ton of bricks, grabbed 7 INTs last season, plays with a high motor, and has plenty of game time experience under his belt.

6-183: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson. Good against the run, perfect size for the position and solid strength are countered by a penchant for not giving his all throughout games. He will need to be motivated, but if he can, there could be value here. Force Scott and McCargo to compete and see who is truly lazy.

7-220: Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia. Strong, athletic, a leader, tough. Unfortunately questions abound regarding missing tackles, speed, and technique. Will provide depth as he gets coached up to hopefully play at the next level.

There you have it. I'm sure it's obvious that my draft is offense heavy at the top but I do think that offensive line will be Buffalo's focal point this weekend. Keith Ellison and Bryan Scott have proven themselves to be the least of our concerns and capable of handling their duties if needed. Meanwhile our offensive line is in shambles. Hopefully, this draft takes care of that.

SB Nation Writers Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick #58

Mocking Dan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:00:15 -0000

No. 58

NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS
Pick by Pats Pulpit

Cody Brown
Outside linebacker
Connecticut

MaPatsFan of Pats Pulpit has taken Vontae Davis, William Moore and Phil Loadholt thus far in the draft. This is his final selection.

Sorry, no analysis was provided for this pick.

MTD thoughts: New England needs to find at least one pass rusher in this draft and that's what Brown can provide them. He'll have to transition from defensive end, but displayed the skills to do so.

Mocking the Draft's Top Five Remaining Prospects - QB Josh Freeman, RB Shonn Greene, CB Victor Harris, DT Jarron Gilbert, RB Javon Ringer

Scouting The Draft: Cody Brown

Matty I — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:15:08 -0000

Brown is a bit of a project, but can still terrorize the quarterback.

This week, we're going to turn our attention very quickly to two players who I would love to see the Dolphins consider drafting in round three. The first player is UConn defensive end Cody Brown - a player who likely projects as an OLB in a 3-4 defense.

And for more on Brown, I present to you Justin Verrier of TheUConnBlog.com. You'll remember that Justin gave us a terrific scouting report on CB Darius Butler last week. Well below are Brown's Combine and Pro Day numbers followed by Justin's thoughts on him.

Cody Brown

Height: 6'2 3/8" / Weight: 245
40: 4.60 / Arm: 34 1/2"" / Vertical: 36" / Broad: 10'4"

The best way to describe Cody Brown is "work-in-progress." He had a breakout senior season for the Huskies in 2008, registering 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles en route to being names first team All-Big East, but projects as a ‘tweener in the NFL.

Strengths

Like most UConn prospects in this year’s draft, Brown’s biggest asset is his raw ability. A former basketball player who didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school, Brown is very agile and quick off the edge, as evidenced by his time of 7.10 on the 3-cone (fourth among DL). Brown showed that he also has straight-line speed when he improved upon his 4.84 forty at the combine by running in the 4.6 range at UConn’s pro day March 25.

Just by looking at him you can tell he’s an athlete. And on the field, his motions are very fluid and he can make the athletic move to get to the ball-carrier.

He was relatively raw coming into UConn, but he was talented enough, and learned quick enough, that he played in 10 games his freshman season. Over the next three seasons, he asserted himself as one of the best edge rushers in the conference, and the coaching staff moved him around a bit, so he has some familiarity with his hand off the ground.

He also blocked a punt in a game against Rutgers last season and, at worse, could be an asset on special teams.

Weaknesses

While Brown has a wealth of talent, he’s vastly undersized, and there’s almost no chance for him to continue his career on the defensive line; most teams have scouted him as a 3-4 rush linebacker, and I’d be shocked if he ended up playing any other position.

He’s only listed at 6-2, 244 pounds, and it showed at time last year. Brown didn’t go up against many NFL offensive line prospects because the Big East didn’t exactly have many elite tackle prospects, but against Virginia’s Eugene Monroe and Baylor’s Jason Smith, Brown had mixed results, recording just one sack against Virginia and just three tackles in each game.

While he’s great rushing the passer, Brown also struggles at time to anchor against the run. His slight base is good to speed past tackles to get to the quarterback, but he can also be manhandled and pushed around by bigger linemen.

And despite his pass-rushing skills, he’s also not the type of player who can take over the game. He can make some plays and he shows flashes at time – like when he had two sacks and two forced fumbles against Cincinnati – but there are also times where he just disappears.

Bottom Line

Brown has great physical ability and with time and coaching, he could develop into a solid pass-rushing linebacker. However, he’s still a project who will have to get bigger and learn how to use leverage more to be effective.

Honestly, I think second round may be a bit high. But Brown would be a solid get any round thereafter.

Great stuff by Justin an another big "thanks" goes out to him for taking the time to put together a second scouting report for us. And seriously, for anything you want to know about UConn sports, I suggest visiting TheUConnBlog.com regularly.