SB Nation - Travis LaBoy

Arizona Cardinals Players and Coaches Facing a Critical Season

Hawkwind — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:01:39 -0000

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals will report to training camp later today, although the first actual practice will not take place until Friday morning. When the team takes the field, most of last year's squad will be intact but several players will be facing critical seasons in their career. Some veterans are trying to prove that they still have enough gas in the tank for another great season while some young players are trying to turn potential into production. The team can always count on solid, if not downright spectacular, production from the likes of Warner, Fitzgerald, Boldin and Adrian Wilson, but the following five players could be the difference between another successful playoff run or a January spent watching other teams run to glory.

Chike Okeafor: The Cardinals have Pro Bowl caliber talent at every level of the defense (A-dub, Dansby and Dockett) but Okeafor might just be the difference between a top 10 defense or a unit that struggles to support a high powered offense. Okeafor is entering his third season as a stand up outside linebacker (if you count the 2007 season in which a triceps injury in training camp landed him on IR), but there will be a major change this year. During the 2008 season, Okeafor played on the opposite side of the defense mirroring the 'predator' position created by Clancy Pendergast. In his scheme the 'predator' (Travis Laboy and/or Bertrand Berry) was essentially a pass rusher on almost every down while Okeafor often dropped into coverage, playing a role similar to a 4-3 outside backer. While this new role did lead to a career high in tackles, it also neutralized Okeafor's best asset as a defender, rushing the passer. His 4.5 sacks were his lowest total since 2001 and, rightly so, left a feeling among some that Clancy Pendergast's 'hybrid' system never quite utilized Okeafor's attacking skill set. The defense is reportedly going to look and act much more like a traditional 3-4 unit this season and that should result in Okeafor returning to an attacking role, but at the age of 33 can Okeafor still be an effective pass rusher? Not only are the Cardinals banking on the fact that Okeafor can still turn the corner against more offensive tackles, the rest of his career might hinging on the answer to that question. Entering the final year of contract, Okeafor needs prove that he can still perform at a high level. The Cardinals secondary, on paper, looks much improved from a year ago but they'll need Okeafor lead a consistent pass rush.

Lyle Sendlein: Sendlein is entering his third season as a pro and his second season as a starter so it might seem premature to call this a critical season in his career, but 2009 could be a turning point for young Lyle. After being thrust into the starting lineup after an injury to Al Johnson and suffering an early season shoulder injury, Sendlein struggled with larger defensive tackles and even got manhandled in several games. After a rough season most 'outsiders' considered the center position to be one of the team's biggest needs but Coach Whisenhunt spent most of the off season singing the praises of his young center and backed it up by not selecting an interior lineman until late in the seventh round. With the team's goal of becoming more balanced on offense in 2009, Sendlein will be one of the guys in the trenches that must improve in order for the ground game to be more effective. It's way to early in his career to say that this is a 'make or break' season for Sendlein but how much he improves could just make or break the Cardinals' plans to become a balanced offense.

Gabe Watson: At the end of the 2007 season, Watson looked like a player who was ready to have a breakout season. He started all 16 games in his sophomore season with the Cards and most thought that he'd have a breakout season in 2008, cementing himself as the Cardinals nose tackle of the future. All of that hope was quickly dashed by a freak treadmill accident that left Watson with a fractured knee cap. Off season surgery and rehab left him with numerous pins and screws in a knee that was right in 2008. The resulting pain and discomfort caused Watson to miss the first four games of the season and he didn't start a game all season until the Super Bowl. Shortly after the season ended Watson underwent a second operation on the knee to remove some of the pins that were causing his discomfort. The new hope is that Watson can return to his 2007 form and again reclaim the starting nose tackle job. That would not only solidify the middle of a defense that struggled against opposing running games last year but also set Watson up for a lucrative contract next off season. A true nose tackle in a 3-4 defense is a hard position to fill and if Watson can prove that he's a wide-bodied run stuffer, his future could be filled with plenty of dollar signs and the Cardinals defense could be quite formidable.

Co-Offensive Coordinators: The co-offensive coordinator title is a rare sight in the NFL but that's what the Cardinals will employ in 2008. With the loss of Todd Haley in the off season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt decided that the best way to fill that void was to look in-house. The result was assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm adding the title 'running game coordinator' to his door and former wide receivers coach Mike Miller now wears the 'passing game coordinator hat. To top that a third coach, Whisenhunt himself will call plays. That's quite a few voices trying to form a cohesive vision on the offensive side of the ball, but everyone has plenty of incentive to make this work. Whisenhunt is looking to follow up the most successful season in franchise history and quite possibly solidify himself as the most successful coach in franchise history (in a mere three seasons). Russ Grimm will certainly be watched by any team that could be looking for a new head coach next off season. Grimm, a long time highly regarded assistant coach, will get a shot at head coaching in the near future and another effective season with the co-coordinator title could be enough to push him over the top. Miller is hoping that a season as the co-coordinator leads to him stepping into the lone offensive coordinator next season, complete with play calling duties. While everyone is motivated to make this three-way work, it'll be an interesting dynamic to watch as the season progresses.

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The Cardinals, as a whole, enter the season with unprecedented expectations and it will take a concerted effort from 53 players and an entire coaching staff to return to the sacred ground of January football in the NFL, but this group of players and coaches will go a long way to deciding the fate of the 2009 Arizona Cardinals. How do you see these guys performing? Who would you add to this list?

A Look at the Arizona Cardinals New (and Hopefully Improved) 2009 Defense

Hawkwind — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:00:15 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals defense has been in a state of flux since Ken Whisenhunt took over as the head coach two seasons ago. The transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 look is never an easy move and it normally takes a couple of years. In 2008 the Cardinals employed a hybrid look that produced varying levels of success. In some areas the defense excelled (5th in takeaways) but in most categories the defense was average at best (in the bottom half of the NFL in passing and rushing yards allowed as well as bottom five in points per game). The defensive struggles led to the Cardinals not bringing back Clancy Pendergast, some turnover on that side of the ball and a renewed sense of urgency in implementing more concepts of the traditional 3-4. New defensive coordinator, Bill Davis has already spelled out some of the changes in store for 2009 and the most noticeable will be at outside linebacker.

In Clancy's hybrid defense the outside linbackers, depending on which side they were on, had completely different roles in which one was basically a pass rushing defensive end (LaBoy and Berry) and the other side was primarily for coverage (Okeafor). That alignment not only did not utilize Okeafor's strengths but it also made it easier for opposing offenses to game plan for their defense. Davis' changes have led to Clark Haggans, a guy with plenty of experieince in a 3-4, being named the starter opposite of Okeafor and the Cardinals defense looks poised to finally complete the transition, but what can we expect in 2009?

New Starters: For a team that played in the Super Bowl just three months ago, the Cardinals defense has experienced quite a bit of turnover. If we look back to the starting eleven from week one in 2008, there should be five new starters when the Cardinals take the field against the Niners on September 13th. Turnover in case though might not be a bad thing. Both starting corners from 2008 are gone but the combo of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Bryant McFadden should be a drastic upgrade from Roderick Hood and Eric Green. A healthy and motivated Gabe Watson should be better than Bryan Robinson who played well at nose tackle last year but was simply too small to be a force in the middle of the trenches. Travis LaBoy was the week one starter and looked very good at the beginning of the season but injuries derailed his season and after failing a physical he was released shortly after the draft. Clark Haggans takes his spot and, if healthy, should provide a well rounded presence at outside linebacker. The biggest loss of this off season has been Antonio Smith signing with the Texans but young and promising Calais Campbell takes his spot.

New and Improved Rolle: After spending all of last off season talking about how great Antrel Rolle would be at free safety, most of us were very disappointed with his play early last season. By season's end though Rolle was playing well and garnered some interest as the most improved player of the year. After being hobbled by an ankle injury during most of training camp and preseason last year Rolle got off to a slow start. He was taking bad angles, missing tackles and looking like anything but the answer at free safety. As the season wore on though and Rolle got more and more comfortable at his new position, we started to see the play making, dynamic Rolle that we'd all hoped for last summer. With a full off season and hopefully a healthy training camp this year, we can again expect big things from Rolle. His presence as the 'centerfielder' of the defense allows Adrian Wilson to roam free and create havoc around the line of scrimmage.

Veteran Outside Linebackers Must Perform: One key aspect of any respectable 3-4 defense is a pair of outside linebackers who carry the defense. They are the ones responsible for putting pressure on the quarterback and creating havoc in the backfield. In Pittsburgh and Dallas their starting OLB's combined for 28 sacks and in Miami they combined for 23 but last year the quartet of outside linebackers in Arizona combined for just 14 sacks. The pressure will be on Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafor to produce a pass rush or the Cardinals secondary will be in trouble. Okeafor has had as many as 8.5 sacks (2006) while Haggans career high was nine (2005), but the Cardinals are expecting that kind of production this season. With rookie Cody Brown and the unproven Victor Hobson running with the second team in this weekend's mini camp, the defense will likely only go as far as Haggans and Okeafor can take it.

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With a dynamic offense that shouldn't have problems scoring points, it will be very interesting to see how well the Cardinals defense can perform in 2009. With a solid mix of veteran leadership and play making youth, they've got the potential to be very good, but there are still question marks. How do you see this defense playing in 2009? What's the biggest concern and biggest strength?

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 finally cut Edgerrin James and Travis LaBoy

BigBlueShoe — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:59:00 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this July 27, 2008 file photo, Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James arrives for practice during the team's football training camp Sunday, July 27, 2008 in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Cardinals released James on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, with one year remaining on his contract, a development expected since late in the season. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

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Less than two weeks after the mother of his children died of leukemia, the Arizona Cardinals finally granted Edgerrin James his wish and cut him. Of course, they did this after the 2009 NFL Draft, which saw them grab Beanie Wells in the first round. Why these spineless turds in 'Zona didn't grant Edge his wish while his longtime girlfriend was dying in a hospital bed, I don't know.

Yes, football is a business, but there was no business reason to keep Edge on the roster. They clearly didn't want him. Edge knew it, and wanted out. Why Arizona didn't want him, I don't know. Their offense was crap after they benched him in favor of rejects like JJ Arrington and Tim Hightower. When they re-inserted Edge into the starting lineup, they ran the table through the playoffs and played Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. Indeed, during the first half of the Super Bowl, Edge was the only Cardinal offensive player worth a damn.

But whatever. It's the Cardinals. They want to cut their best running back? Fine. They also parted with the defensive end they signed last year: Travis LaBoy. Last year the Cards signed LaBoy to a 5 year, $22 million dollar contract last year with $7.5 million guaranteed. LaBoy started 13 games in 2008, battling injuries all throughout the season. He had 31 tackles and 4 sacks in 2008, but apparently "did nothing" last year according to Cardinals fans.

You may recall that Indianapolis had a strong interest in LaBoy last year prior to him signing with Arizona. If he is healthy, the Colts might try and offer him something.

As far as Edge is concerned, he'll likely find a new team soon. I'm hopeful he lands in a place like New Orleans. He would provide what Reggie Bush doesn't: Toughness and intelligence.

Regardless of where Edge, LaBoy, and Rod Hood (also cut by the Cardinals) land, they should consider themselves fortunate. Arizona's success last year was a fluke. Cards fans might not like hearing that, but that is how things look. Their QB is old as dirt and throws stupid INTs during crucial plays. The fact that Kurt Warner and his fat ass were even considered for MVP was an insult to the collective intelligence of fans. Ken Whisenhunt is a spineless jerk, and their owner is still a cheap bastard. Just ask Anquan Boldin.

You'll have to excuse my venom towards the Cardinals. Edgerrin James is one of the best people this league has ever known, and to treat him like that (string him along) was classless on the part of the Cardinals. Yes, I know this is a business, but the Colts also work in this same business, and I've never seen them do this kind of crap to their players. And, unlike the Cardinals, the Colts have had a helluva lot more success. So yes, it's business, but that doesn't give Arizona a free pass to act like douchbags.

Picking Up the Pieces After the Arizona Cardinals Cut Three Key Veterans

Hawkwind — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:51:46 -0000

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

FILE - Edgerrin James finally got his much anticipated release from the Arizona Cardinals yesterday but that wasn't the only move the Cardinals made. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, File)

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As Andrew reported, the Arizona Cardinals parted ways with three key veterans yesterday afternoon who had combined to start 33 games for the Cardinals last year and 81 games overall during their time in the desert. Edgerrin James has been anxiously awaiting his release since the Super Bowl ended so his release wasn't a surprise to anyone, but the same can not be said for Travis LaBoy and Roderick Hood. The Cardinals basically got caught in a numbers game after drafting two outside linebackers, a safety and a corner back, but the salaries of LaBoy and Hood also played a smaller role. In an clear reminder that today's NFL is still driven by balance sheets and income statements, we take a look at what each player's departure means to the Cardinals and his position.

Over the next week or so we'll take a look back at each players' time with the Cardinals and remember their best games. It's also worth remembering that we're talking about the team's biggest off season acquisition for each of the past three seasons (Edge in '06, Hood in '07 and LaBoy in '08), but for now here's a quick look at the thought process behind each cut.

Edgerrin James: James is the easy guy to analyze because we've all known that this day would come for nearly three months. Edge didn't want to come back and, at his price, the Cardinals didn't necessarily want him back either. Cutting him saved the Cardinals about $5 million in cap space.

Roderick Hood: In hindsight maybe we should have seen this coming, the Cardinals have added three corner backs over the past twelve months including two draft picks and one free agent signing. Hood, who signed a five year deal worth $15 million before the 2007 season, had started 30 games over the past two seasons and led the team with 35 passes defended and six interceptions over that period of time. As recent as early last season he was considered the team's best corner but with the emergence of DRC and the signing of Bryant McFadden, Hood's future as a starter was in jeopardy, if not completely taken away. His departure solidifies McFadden's starting role and leaves Ralph Brown and recent fourth round pick Greg Toler as the the primary backups although second year corner Michael Adams and free safety Antrel Rolle could also play a role in the battle for nickel or dime corner. Ultimately Hood's release saves the Cardinals about two million against the cap in 2009 but you've got to wonder if another team wouldn't have given up something for a decent corner with starting experience, even if the return was as small as a late round pick next year.

Travis LaBoy: LaBoy has endured quite a bit in the past 12 months. This time last year he was the prized acquisition (five year deal worth $22 million) of the Cardinals and he quickly won the starting job during training camp. In the season opener he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble and he followed that up with two more sacks in the fifth game of the season. During the bye week last year everyone at ROTB jumped on the LaBoy bandwagon and we even went as far to say:

The most promising aspect of LaBoy's season to date is that he's still growing in his position and in this new defense. His most productive games should still be ahead of him and as he grows more comfortable he might very well end up being one of the better pass rushers in the NFC.

I think it goes without saying that we're feeling a bit foolish today. Almost as soon as the ink dried on that statement, LaBoy became virtually invisible on the field and could only be found in the training room. After 20 tackles and four sacks in the first six games he'd go on to record just 13 tackles and zero sacks for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. He struggled with various injuries and ended the season as arguably the most disappointing member of the 2008 squad, but that doesn't mean that his release isn't a a surprise. The Cardinals certainly have depth at outside linebacker after drafting two prospects this past weekend, but having three older veterans, all three of which are have a history or injuries, and two completely unproven rookies doesn't seem to inspire much confidence. When you add in the fact that it actually cost the Cardinals money and hurt the salary cap to cut LaBoy, you've got to wonder if there is more to the story. What makes this move even less puzzling is that the Cardinals had already paid out a $1.5 million roster bonus this year to LaBoy. In the end the cap room that it cost to cut LaBoy nearly canceled out the room that they freed up by cutting Hood.

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It's become a common place in today's NFL for veterans to become salary cap casualties and the Cardinals cleaned up some of their veteran presence yesterday when they parted ways with Edgerrin James, Roderick Hood and Travis LaBoy. In total the net effect of the three moves leaves the team roughly $6.7 million under the cap and there is some hope that the free room will be used to extend some combination of Adrian Wilson, Anquan Boldin or Karlos Dansby. How do you feel about the cuts? Are there other players that you'd have rather released and are there any other cuts that should be made?

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Do They Serve Turducken In Football Heaven? Edition

August West — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:57:36 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

With a new arsenal at his command, Kerry Collins is expected to do a lot more than kiss babies for the Titans this year. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Drew Bennett is headed to Cleveland for his first audition with a team since being cut by the Rams several months ago. Early on there was speculation that Bennett may get a chance with the Titans (which would reunite him with the man who taught him to play WR, Mike Heimerdinger), but at this point I'd expect the Titans to see what they're going to get out of Hawk and the other holdovers on the roster.

In the same post, McCormick also lets us know what numbers the rookies will be wearing: Britt (18), Marks (72) and Cook will get Wycheck's old number (89).

The recommendation of Rod Smith went a long way towards helping the Titans pick Kenny Britt, and Smith thinks the pairing of WR and O-coordinator is a match made in football heaven:

"I'd do anything for Mike,'' said Smith, who spent seven seasons under Heimerdinger in Denver. "Trust me, I know for a fact if Mike Heimerdinger didn't come into my career when he did there would be no two Super Bowl rings for me and everything else I had in my career. I tell him that all the time.

"So Kenny couldn't be going to a better spot. I learned everything from Mike, and now Kenny's going to get it first-hand himself. They're going to be great for one another.''

Gary Estwick wants to know: if Collins pulled off 2,676 yard last year with easily the worst WR corps in the leauge, then what are the expectations of him this year with a revamped group that appears much more ready to contribute? Is 3,500 out of the question?

Ever-vigilant commenter joshuaboone points out a surprise move aimed at creating a little cap relief, the Cardinals cut recent Titans DE Travis Laboy. Laboy produced 38 tackles and 4 sacks in 13 games for the Cards, and he'd make a great addition to our DE rotation if he's willing to play here for a cheap price. The Cards also jettisoned CB Rod Hood, who had a down year in 2008 but is just 27 and has been a baller in the past.

The Yahoo! team report for the Titans takes a look at all of our draft picks, offering sober insight on who can help quickly and who is more of a project.

The Football Outsiders worry about Kenny Britt's combination of confidence and attitude, but then again, these guys are great at analyzing what has already happened but HORRIBLE at predicting what will come.

Every time you email me a link the football gods smile upon you, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com! (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

Former Cardinal Travis LaBoy has Chiefs Connection

Joel Thorman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:30:09 -0000

via www.azcardinals.com

A theme that we've noticed developing around the Kansas City Chiefs new regime as far as it's hiring practices goes is " It's who you know, not what you know".

And today the it's head coach Todd Haley, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and assistant head coach Maurice Carthon that know someone - Travis LaBoy.

LaBoy is a former defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals having been released yesterday. He would be considered a solid free agent on February 27th, the start of free agency. But to have an unrestricted shot at him now is excellent news for teams seeking to bulk up their defensive line.

LaBoy is 6'3", 260 pounds and as a six year veteran is 27 years old. He fulfilled the "predator" role on Pendergast's 3-4/4-3 hybrid defense in Arizona, a position the Chiefs might not have solidified on staff already. Here's a piece done on him last year after he sacked Chiefs' quarterbacks twice and tackled four for loss in a preseason game:

LaBoy plays the team's hybrid predator position, a combination defensive end/linebacker. Because he starts from a standing or "up" position, the Cardinals generally refer to this as a linebacker spot. But opponents refer to it as a defensive end, linebackers coach Bill Davis said.

He was so effective in that role that teams rushed at the right end only 34 times - good for 8th best in the NFL.

Davis goes on to say that the biggest difference for LaBoy coming from a 4-3 end position is that he's standing up instead of having a hand on the ground. His biggest job is to rush the passer. Coverage skills are nice but likely don't effect the predator's goal - getting to the passer.

YEAR	TEAM	GAMES	SOLO	ASSIST	TOTAL	SACKS
2004	TEN	13	13	8	21	4
2005	TEN	15	28	13	41	7
2006	TEN	13	21	10	31	4
2007	TEN	13	8	4	12	6
2008	ARZ	13	25	6	31	4

Injury Concerns

Check out a link to his KFFL page. Questionable. Limited in practice. Injured.

Injuries abound. In fact, he's coming off a torn biceps tendon injury. I don't know much about the specifics of the injury but I do know he underwent surgery following the Super Bowl. I do know that it's the same injury that Brett Favre had at the end of last season. I do know it ended the season of Tom Nalen (Broncos '08), Jason Ferguson (Cowboys '07) and Aaron Smith (Steelers '07). It's still a real possibility that LaBoy is nursing an injury.

If he's still seriously injured and unable to practice then I don't see the Chiefs (or anyone else for that matter) signing him. He needs to be 100% for a team to take a chance on him. That said, we still haven't found any sort of update on these concerns.

Chiefs Connection

Todd Haley was the offensive coordinator of the Cardinals in 2008
Clancy Pendergast was his defensive coordinator with the Cardinals in 2008
Maurice Carthon was the running backs coach with the Cardinals in 2008

Todd Haley hasn't shown any hesitation in swiping guys he knows from the Arizona Super Bowl team. Pendergast and Carthon (who holds the distinction of completing all points in the Pioli/Haley/Parcells connection) both followed Haley from Arizona. You've got two offensive coaches that lined up against him in practice and the defensive coach that prepped him every week.

This is a strong Chiefs connection.

Why not the Chiefs?

We're hearing more players say they want to come to Kansas City. It usually comes down to money, but previously at times the Chiefs weren't considered because former GM Carl Peterson was an unpopular negotiator. Not so anymore.

Monty Beisel, a former member of the Cardinals' linebacker crew with LaBoy, said he's excited about what's ahead for the Chiefs with Haley and Pioli running the show. Bobby Engram said he was excited about Matt Cassel and the things the Chiefs had to offer. Zach Thomas chose the Chiefs over the Jets.

Why won't Travis LaBoy choose the Chiefs?

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This pick makes sense for a lot of reasons and would probably be an upgrade for the defense. However, I don't see the Chiefs making a run at LaBoy for two reasons: injuries and the draft.

We talked about his injuries above. He's been consistently dinged up throughout his career. There's an old saying that 80% of life is just showing up - LaBoy's not that guarantee.

The Chiefs didn't select a linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft. Do you really think they banked on a solid veteran free agent option like LaBoy coming up? Not likely. So they added a few ingredients to the oven (Vrabel, Thomas) so they could cook for the 2009 season. I think the chefs are happy with the final product.

LaBoy wasn't in the Chiefs' plans prior to the draft and I think the coaches will feel they're ready without him.

Arizona cuts Travis LaBoy: OLB option for the 49ers?

Fooch — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:59:29 -0000

Earlier today the Arizona Cardinals cut 2008 free agent signee Travis LaBoy. The move was due in large part due to the the injury problems LaBoy has faced ever since being drafted by Tennessee. It's interesting because the Cardinals are willingly taking a decent sized cap hit in releasing a very talented player.

LaBoy played defensive end for the Cardinals, but his size could put him in position to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. Maybe it wouldn't work, but I figured I'd bring it up for discussion. So, should the 49ers look at Travis LaBoy as a possible pass rush specialist? He's recovering from a torn bicep that would keep him out of most pre-training camp workouts. If he waits until close to camp, maybe it's worth kicking the tires.

A look at LaBoy's ESPN scouting report seems to indicate a player who could fit in as a pass rush specialist in the 49ers 3-4, and also their 4-3 nickel as a defensive end:

He lacks the upper-body strength to control and shed blockers and can get engulfed by big offensive tackles. He has a tendency to play out of control and can whiff in space when trying to tackle. As a pass rusher he can be explosive off the ball and has started to develop some counter moves to go with his speed. He can burst off the block to pressure the quarterback once he gets free and has the speed to chase things down from behind. He has become pretty one-dimensional in his play and would really struggle if asked to play both the run as well as rush the passer.

The 49ers have plenty of cap space (don't have the exact dollar figure) so maybe this is a move worth considering. If you don't think LaBoy could work in the 3-4, feel free to say so. If he could work in the 3-4, one other interesting tidbit: LaBoy is represented by Octagon Football, based out here in the Bay Area, in Walnut Creek. Not a huge reason for him to come to the 49ers (or even the Raiders), but one more thing to consider.

So, what do you think? Given the injuries, should the 49ers look into Travis LaBoy? A possible situational pass rush threat?

Arizona Cardinals Cut Edgerrin James, Travis LaBoy and Rod Hood

Andrew602 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:33:02 -0000

In a surprising yet predictable move, the Arizona Cardinals have parted ways with running back Edgerrin James, defensive end Travis LaBoy, and cornerback Roderick Hood. James was the one move we all expected to happen, the other two, not so much. Although LaBoy did absolutely nothing last year, he would just be in his second year with the team and would be returning healthy. Hood is the shocker. The Cardinals had a poor secondary last year and Hood was one of the more solid players. According to NFL.com, this is all salary cap related. Releasing Edge now frees up $5 million in cap room, while the release of Hood will release $3 million, and LaBoy $2 million. The current draft now makes a lot more sense with the additions of Cody Brown and Rashad Johnson/Toler. The moves do however, limit depth, especially on the defense. Obviously coach Whisenhunt and Bill Davis saw something that didn't fit into the defensive scheme the Cardinals were trying to run. What's everybody's take on the situation? Was this the right move for the team?

It's never easy to release veteran players who have contributed to the team's success, and these three individuals certainly fall into that category.
But like every decision we make, it simply comes down to what is in the best interest of our football team and what gives us the best chance for success. We're grateful to all three of them for their contributions and wish them nothing but the best in the future.

Arizona Cardinals Potential Draft Picks: 3-4 Outside Linebackers

Hawkwind — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:42:29 -0000

It's no secret that the Arizona Cardinals will look to add some youth and athleticism at their outside linebacker position. The current group of Chike Okeafor, Clark Haggans, Bertrand Berry and Travis LaBoy are serviceable but age and injuries are getting the best of them. We've spent a great deal of time profiling some 'hybrid' outside backers in the past month or so, but what if none of the highly rated prospects are available when the Cardinals pick at 31 or 63?

The Cardinals are fortunate enough to have the current depth to allow a draft pick to ease into the transition from college DE to professional OLB and there are plenty of guys who should be avaliable in the middle to later rounds. Here's a look at some prospects who the Cardinals could be interested in during the second day....

Here are the guys that we've already profiled:

But as you might expect, that's just a small sampling of possible 'hybrid' guys that could entice the Cardinals this weekend.

Paul Kruger (6'4, 263): Believe it or not, Kruger is a polarizing figure in this year's draft. Some scouts compare him to LaMarr Woodley or Aaron Kampman (who's expected to move to OLB this year), while other scouts simply don't think he has the athleticism to handle an outside linebacker spot. It's clear that he'd be an awful big OLB and his workout numbers (4.8 forty) haven't helped his case among 3-4 teams. He'll be a 24 year old rookie, one red shirt season and two years on a church mission, but his ability to battle is unquestioned. Projected Round: late 2nd to middle 3rd

Compares to: Aaron Kampman (Green Bay)

Pros - He's got solid frame that still has room to grow, if need be, and he's a decent athlete. His non-stop motor is what sustains him and he's very tough with above average strength. He does well in pursuit and is a reliable tackler. He's comfortable in space and he's a smart player who won't often get fooled by play action or misdirection. He's got some experience playing with his hand off the ground and has looked capable in coverage.

Cons - Kruger's isn't a natural athlete and looks stiff at times. He lacks top end speed and doesn't always play as powerful as his frame would indicate, especially when he plays too tall. His pass rush repertoire is very limited and he too often relies on a bull rush that worked in the Mountain West but might not generate the same results against NFL tackles. A lack of experience is also a concern considering that he only played two years at Utah.

Jason Williams (6'1, 241): Williams is one of the fastest risers in the entire draft right now after blazing the forty at his pro day to the tune of 4.46. Some teams didn't trust the time after hearing that he ran on a basketball surface so Williams responded by running again. The second time he ran on field turf and blazed even more when he turned in a 4.42. Wiliams began his college career as a strong safety before moving to OLB in 2006. Just about every NFL team has kicked the tires on Williams, regardless of defense, but he's certainly showing the athletic ability to excel in a 3-4. In his three seasons as an OLB he averaged 89 tackles, 15 for loss and five sacks per season. Projected Round: middle 3rd to 4th

Compares to: James Harrison (Pittsburgh)

Pros - His athleticism and speed are unmatched as well as his burst off of the line. He's an explosive leaper who will knock down passes at the line and he has a knack for jarring the ball loose (14 career). His experience as a strong safety makes him very comfortable in coverage and he's got the range make plays sideline to sideline. He's got a good motor and will make plays in pursuit.

Cons - His level of competition has some tempering his potential and right now he still plays like a safety against the run. He'll have to get stronger and more physical at the point of attack to be an every down player. He can get out of position when he gets to aggressive as well.

Brandon Williams (6'5 252): Williams comes off a junior season that saw him lead the Big 12 in sacks and earn 1st Team All-Big 12 honors, but most scouts feel that he should have stayed for his senior season. While there is no argument about his ability to rush the passer, his detractors point out that he offers very little against the run (but in the Big 12 what do you expect?). His draft stock took a significant hit at the combine when he ran a 4.96 forty (a 306 pound OT ran faster), but he's since improved his time at his pro day with times as high as 4.69. There's no doubt that he's a raw player who will take some time to develop but the potential is evident. Projected Round: late 3rd to 4th

Compares to: Alex Brown (Chicago)

Pros - Williams' lanky, athletic frame is has the room to add another ten to fifteen pounds with sapping his burst or speed. He's got a tremendous burst off the snap and has a decent set of pass rush moves. He has shown the ability to bend around offensive tackles and close on the quarterback. He tracks down plays in pursuit and chases plays down the line.

Cons - For everything Williams does in getting to the quarterback, he lacks the size, strength and physicality to hold the point of attack against the run. He hasn't been asked to drop into coverage much and looks stiff in space. He's also not a powerful tackler and struggles to disengage from blockers.

Zack Follett (6'2 238): Follet should be an interesting prospect for just about every 3-4 defense in the league for a couple of reasons. He's played every linebacker position after coming to California as a middle linebacker before finally ending up on the outside. He also flourished in his senior season when Cal switched to a 3-4 defense which means he's got more experience than just about every other backer in the draft. He has a history of shoulder problems and won't wow scouts with his athletic feats but he's been solid locker room guy and he's been productive where ever he lined up. He totaled 87 tackles, 23 for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2008 after averaging 63 tackles, 12.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks his previous two seasons.

Compares to: Larry Izzo (Jets)

Pros - Follett has very good strength for his size and his frame has the room add another ten to fifteen pounds. He can hold the point of attack where he's a reliable, punishing tackler. He plays with a reckless abandon when the play is in front of him and his competitive spirit drives him to make plays. He's an intimidating player who is a plus pass rusher who is also capable in coverage.

Cons - His size isn't what you'd expect from an outside backer and he's not a great athlete. He has some durability issues and his aggressiveness can get him into trouble. His lateral quickness isn't great and he doesn't have the ability make up ground when fooled.

Matt Shaughnessy (6'5 263): The report on Shaughnessy is pretty similar to Paul Kruger, except that Shaughnessy isn't very stout at the point of attack. He's a bit faster than Kruger, but not by much, and scouts go both ways on his ability to stand up and play outside linebacker. He's added over 30 pounds since showing up to Wisconsin as a 230 pound freshman so his frame is nearly maxed out but he carries it pretty well. He hasn't been as productive, in terms of sacks, as most of the guys on this (15.5 in 50 career games) but he's tough player who's played through a ton of injuries. One thing that's rather remarkable is that he's missed very little time despite several major injuries including broken fibula in the spring of '08 and tearing his ACL at the end of the 2006 season. Projected Round: late 4th to 5th

Compares to: John Engelberger (Denver)

Pros - Shaughnessy has the size and bulk to play the position and uses his height well to knock passes down. He uses his hands well to disengage from blockers and stave off cut blocks. He uses the bull rush and rip technique well as pass rush moves but the rest of his repertoire is pretty limited. He has some experience playing from a stand-up position and looks comfortable in space. He's a smart player who uses a non-stop motor and good instincts to make plays.

Cons - Shaughnessy lacks the explosive burst off the snap that outside backers need to make a difference in pass rush situations. He also needs to get stronger to hold the point of attack and he'll have to develop more pass rush moves to be effective. Injuries might have robbed him of the explosiveness that he had earlier in his career as he takes a while to get up to speed.

Henry Melton (6'4, 269): Melton was first brought up here at ROTB when he appeared in a mock draft created by one of our very own and he's an interesting yet extremely developmental prospect. He began his college career as a running back and has only been on the defensive side of the ball two seasons. As you might expect being a former running back, Melton has tons of athletic ability but is far from a finished product. He wasn't even considered a 'draftable' prospect after one season as a starter that produced 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks but a forty in the 4.5 range changed all of that. Wherever Melton ends up, patience will be key as he'll take a year or two to learn the position but the athletic ability is unquestioned. Projected Round: late 5th to 6th

Pros - With loads of athletic ability, Melton's speed, quickness and burst make him unique. He's got good balance and agility and is a force in pursuit. He's got more strength that you'd expect from a former running back and he could be a solid special teamer early in his career.

Cons - Raw, raw, raw. Melton got by on his athletic ability during his one season as a starter and his techniques and instincts have to come a long way before he can step on an NFL field. He also has an off the field incident when he was arrested for DWI in May of 2007.

Stryker Sulak (6'5, 251): Sulak's an accomplished player with four years of starting experience and he even thought about going pro after this junior. He's improved each year as at Missouri but most scouts still slap the overachiever label on him
and wonder if he'll have the ability to hold his own in space. He's dealt with some injuries during his four seasons but in 53 games he's still managed 38 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks, including 15.5 & 10.5 respectively his senior year. Projected Round: 7th

Pros - Sulak's a decent athlete with slightly above average speed and quickness but he makes a difference with his non-stop motor and burst to close on the ball carrier. He's got good instincts and awareness and is a hard worker.

Cons - Sulak's not going to blow anyone away with his athletic ability and he'll have to get stronger to maintain the point of attack. He hasn't been asked to drop into coverage very often but he looks uncomfortable and stiff in space.

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The Arizona Cardinals enter this weekend's draft looking for at least one, if not multiple players to help energize their struggling pass rush. In a 3-4 defense, they'll need that pass rush to come from their outside linebackers. While most of these guys won't contribute much in 2009 outside of special teams, they're stacked with potential to be the future of the Arizona Cardinals. Which guy stands out to you guys? Are there any names that we missed?