With the fifth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft Lip-Out selects...
Von Miller: LB, Texas A&M
A bit of a depressing selection for the quick fix Cardinals hopeful, as QB is the gaping need of the Red Birds. Heck, the team even acknowledges the need for a "Pursuit of the Quarterback" in the little pamphlets they send the season ticket holders. But Ken Whisenhunt's affect on the structure of this team is not to be underestimated and his "guy" is not on the board for this pick.
Von Miller was not asked to be a jack-of-all trades at at Texas A&M. He was let-loose so to speak, and asked to rush off the edge and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. This manifested itself his Junior year as he compiled 17 sacks and solid tackle for loss numbers. His sacks decreased a bit his Senior year, but still were a respectable 11. He has been clocked in the 4'4 range on his forty yard dash and was able to utilize his speed in the pass rush.
The pass rush is his main draw and he is expected to be an outside blitz player on a 3-4 Defense. This fits perfectly for the Cardinals who have playmakers on both the D-Line and Secondary in Darnell Dockett and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and could use some help in the Linebacking Corps. Miller would also be great to bring up with Darryl Washington, another young promising OLB.
The knock on Miller is his inability to shed blockers and him never being utilized in the pass defense. But what he misses in those he makes up for in speed and insincts, and in the proper Defense he should be a great playmaker off the edge.
Previous picks: 1 - Nick Fairley, 2 - Patrick Peterson, 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton