Not overly impressed with his tape. He seems to be stalemated more than anything. Two things he seems to succeed at, rushing up the middle and he has decent coverage ability (some are saying he can't cover).

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Yerko, I went to ASU and have followed this guy for a while. He is a good player, but I'm right with you on your concerns.

It will be interesting to see what happens with him and how they choose to use him. I'm confused by this pick, unless they want to use him at ILB. I think he could do well there. We have a ton of OLB players, but the thought of adding another on the left to platoon with Neal, then shifting Perry over to his more effective side on the right platooning with Matthews may make some sense.

But then, what happens with Peppers?

How many will they keep?

I thought, as great of a projection steal he might have been in the draft lasting to the middle of R4, it was still a pick loaded with uncertainty. Even more so when you have McCarthy stating he will be used outside. Not particularly fast, but loaded with energy in getting after the QB. Good in coverage. He is versatile. He has some decent instincts for the game. He is a better pass rusher than your video indicates (21.5 sacks, 43 TFL). But, I did want more raw speed and size. Bradford is 6-1 and 250. Maybe he has tools they like and they think they can coach him up. I'm thinking this was a driving factor in their selecting him. IMO, a shift inside would make the most sense, but who knows what they are thinking up there?

Honestly, that is a component of this defense I find more than a bit troubling. Few clearly defined roles. Especially in our front seven. Maybe they like it that way, so that they can morph into different fronts without changing personnel between downs. My guess is the pick is probably geared more towards this aspect of how Capers likes to call his D. That is the only thing that makes sense to me with their selection of Carl Bradford, aside from just ramping up competition at the position. Maybe it works.

We've got Malumba and Palmer on the outside too.

This is a better video of what he can bring from a highlight perspective:

Carl Bradford Highlights 

Here's another one:

Bradford Highlights 

His playing style is really unique. I'll give him that. Unlike any I've seen...

Does he get stonewalled? Sure, who doesn't? He can get blocked away from a play. But, he is ALWAYS ON. Goes 100% all the time and doesn't take plays off. Figure, he may fare well with Peppers, Daniels, Jones and Matthews...

I like this pick.
He may not turn into a star player that they will want to keep in the long term but I think he will help us on the short term as we continue to turn this defense around.
This guy has some get up and go.

Plus he is a former Sun Devil. I got a soft spot in my heart for ASU players.

You know what yoops? He raises competition in our LB corp. That's for sure. He has a Tasmanian Devil kind of style to his play.

Figure, with all the different pass rush combinations we now have, someone's gonna be getting home!

Excellent, we'll just bring up the middle with with Daniels while Peppers and Matthews come from the outside.

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I want him to roam. I want Clay to roam. I want this defense to be more multiple and versatile. The tape above shows a lot of plays where he makes mistakes to show both sides. That's what the scouts use. The fans watch the highlights.

Imagine if this guy really comes on and we get him opposite Clay. That could really be something.

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I really think this guy could helpful on the edge and in the middle. Even if they want to try him at OLB, if he proves athletic enough to roam the middle on passing downs it could be a boon to our passing defense and hard to keep him off the field.

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Presuming we see everyone stay healthy, do you think some brand of the psycho package makes its way back this year?

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It is really starting to look like we are getting some serious talent in our front 7. This could be a very good group. And, who knows how far that can take us, and the positive impact that will have on our secondary? I cannot wait for that pick machine to start cranking'!

I'm imagining Bradford and Hubbard on the left, Matthews and Perry on the right in rotation. This could be big.

Add to that our two tweeners Peppers and Neal. If everyone is healthy, Dom Capers might finally be able to work some of his magic he has rarely been able to use.

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