Arizona Sports Panel: Which rookie makes greatest impact?
Jul 23, 2016, 2:01 PM | Updated: Jul 26, 2016, 11:10 am
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
July 28.
On that day, the Arizona Cardinals will report to training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium.
July 29.
On that day, the team will take part in its first training camp practice.
At that point, the 2016 season will officially begin, as the Cardinals put on the pads and put in the work in an effort to reach Super Bowl LI in Houston.
Until then, however, Cardinals fans will have to fill the void left in their life with…actually, we have no idea what they’ll do.
In an effort to help, we here at ArizonaSports.com decided to put together a series that will see one Cardinals-related question be answered by our esteemed panel of personalities.
Earlier, we asked if Carson Palmer was bound for regression in 2016 and also wondered what the team’s greatest strength was heading into 2016.
This week’s question:
Which member of the Cardinals’ 2016 draft class do you see making the greatest impact as a rookie?
Doug Franz, co-host of Doug & Wolf
Too easy…Robert, Robert, Robert. I thought Nkemdiche was the 2nd most talented player in the NFL Draft. His issues will be taken care of easily by Bruce Arians and the locker room.
Dave Burns, co-host of Burns & Gambo
Since every other answer seems so flawed at this point how could it be anyone but Robert Nkemdiche? Brandon Williams is too inexperienced. Evan Boehm might not be ready and faces decent competition. Nkemdiche just brings too much to the table so I’ll go with him.
Bertrand Berry, host of Off the Edge
Evan Boehm. I think he’s going to be the starter at center and I think manning that position, being the closest to Carson Palmer, is going to be critical. But if there is a guy that can do it, I think he is the guy that’s good for it. Because he’s going to play every down, by default he will have the biggest impact.
Vince Marotta, co-host of Bickley & Marotta
The easy answer is Robert Nkemdiche. While he think he will make a big contribution in 2016, he’s part of a very deep rotation on the D-line. So with that, I’m going to pick Marqui Christian, the fifth-round pick out of Midwestern State. Christian, who won the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s top small college defensive player last year, has the mindset (and skill set) to excel defensively and on special teams.
Ron Wolfley, co-host of Doug and Wolf
Robert Nkemdiche. He will be highly motivated to show the world how good he is, like he has everywhere he’s been. This should bring his freakish talents to the fore and those talents will help the Cardinals become better in the one weakness they had last year: pass rush. What he does in year two or three will determine how great this kid will be, but if he’s Rookie of the Year in 2016 I will not be surprised.
Criag Grialou, Arizona Sports reporter
It’s easy to say defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, perhaps the best player in the draft and he fell all the way to the Cardinals at No. 29. He comes in with a chip on his shoulder and should see immediate action. But also pay attention to safety Marqui Christian, the fifth-round pick. One, there is a need at safety with Rashad Johnson departing and Tyrann Mathieu recovering from knee surgery. Two, Adrian Wilson, scout and Ring of Honor member, was impressed by Christian, which was then backed up by Christian’s play in OTAs and mini-camp. The kid can play.
Adam Green, Arizona Sports reporter, co-host of Arizona Sports Saturday
I would not be surprised if Marqui Christian finds his way onto the field and makes a bigger impact than anyone imagined he would make. An explosive athlete with a small school background, he seemed to do well during OTAs and mini-camp in picking up the system and learning from his teammates. With the way the Cardinals deploy defensive backs it would not be a shock to see him on the field when the games start to count.
Paige Dimakos, Arizona Sports social media
Evan Boehm. I think this kid can win the starting role. He was the talk of rookie camp and definitely made an impression on the coaching staff. He is big, strong, extremely intelligent and was a mainstay for the Missouri Tigers at the center position. It’s a big responsibility to protect Carson Palmer and I think he is up for the challenge.
Steve Zinsmeister, producer for Doug & Wolf
I believe Brandon Williams will make the greatest impact for the Cardinals in 2016. Robert Nkemdiche is joining a defensive line unit that is already stacked with talent. They won’t need him to be on the field for the majority of snaps early in the season. Evan Boehm may be the starting center of the future, but hearing the way Carson Palmer talks about A.Q. Shipley stepping up after being a career backup, it seems to me like Shipley might take a certain amount of snaps away from Boehm.
Andrew Greenberg, producer for Off the Edge with B-Train
Evan Boehm may end up as the starting center at some point in the season and play more snaps but Robert Nkemdiche will be a brawling bull-rusher for James Bettcher to unleash against opposing offensive lines. Don’t be surprised to see “Deech” (can we call him that?) lead NFL rookies in sacks but at the same time, don’t be surprised to see speedy running backs and mobile QB’s escape his grasp because he’s being too aggressive. He’ll learn how to contain himself and his power in due time but in 2016 he’ll be a rabid junkyard dog with a taste for pocket quarterbacks.