No. 50

by The Big Red Sheet Roy Scheuning Offensive Guard Oregon State

With the 50th overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals have selected Oregon State guard Roy Scheuning.  Our guest Cardinals GM, Jeff Gollin of The Big Red Sheet, made the selection and explains his decision below:

  This is a "fit the system" pick more than anything else. While our current LG, Reggie Wells has arguably the best feet on the O-line, his run blocking is less than satisfactory, and he might be better suited at (backup or starting) LT where his nimbleness would pay off better.  Coach Whisenhunt has publicly stated his intention to build the Cardinal offense around a power running game. Alan Faneca would have fit in beautifully but we couldn't afford him.

The Cards have depth problems on their offensive line.  While technically, they are deeper at guard and thinner at tackle, top backup guard, Elton Brown is being groomed as a backup tackle anyway - and Wells is a former tackle as well. Drafting Schuening sets up a domino-effect which will leverage the versatility of the current Cardinal O-line unit and provide much needed depth.

Schuening is described by PFW as follows: "There may not be a tougher player in this draft. A road grater (sic)...." He may lack the quicks or agility to be a great pass protector or puller but "...he is going to be a solid starter on a team that employs a pure power running game."

In determining the selection, I also considered the RB position where Whisenhunt has expressed a desire to add a RB with home run potential. Jamaal Charles (a definite home run hitter) and Ray Rice (less a home run type and more a complete smaller but tougher back) were also options but I rated Schuening higher overall.

I also considered a depth-need at NT (where Gabe Watson will be healing from a fractured kneecap suffered on (bleep!) a treadmill of all places and Alan Branch represents his only legit backup. We could have reached for Ahtyba Rubin, Frank Okam or Red Bryant here, but I'm not positive they represented good value at #50.

So the decision was to go: Schuening.
 
Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

Schuening isn't my highest rated guard left, that would be Chilo Rachal, but I like this pick. He's more of a mauling road-grader type guard, not the finesse blocker that Rachal can be at times. Roy will add to a left side of the line that is becoming very solid. The Arizona front five is looking much better.

Grade: B+  ::  Roy Schuening Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Shawn Crable, 2.  RB Jamaal Charles, 3.  WR Earl Bennett, 4.  TE Fred Davis, 5.  QB Chad Henne

The Washington Redskins, once again represented by the fine folks at Hogs Haven, are on the clock.  Their pick will be posted tomorrow at noon eastern.  Stay tuned!