Faceoff - DL Chike Okeafor, Arizona Cardinals

Posted 7/30, exclusive to Footballguys.com

Upside - by Jene Bramel

Chike Okeafor has finished among the top 25 defensive linemen in FBG scoring for four consecutive seasons. He has averaged a very steady 41 solo tackles and nine sacks without much season-to-season variability. Although he turned 31 this offseason, he has been durable and still has the skill set to continue to produce solid IDP value.

The upside for Okeafor in 2007 lies in the possibility that he may see a majority of his snaps as an OLB, depending on how often the Cardinals align in a 3-4 front. The extra tackle opportunities he could see could bump Okeafor into elite value if the Cardinals submit a 4-3 depth chart to the NFL. Like Bryan Thomas in 2006, Okeafor could go from a decent bye week replacement to every week stud starter if he remains classified as a DL.

Although prospective owners should be concerned that Okeafor has no experience playing in a two point stance and may struggle to hold the point of attack as a strong side OLB in a 3-4, those concerns are unlikely to put a big enough dent in Okeafor's boxscore production to hurt his value as a DL. It's worth taking the extra risk with Okeafor. If the Cardinals don't play as much 3-4 as is currently rumored, you'll be left with a very solid DL3. If your league website eventually re-classifies him as a LB, he can be cut with little worry. The upside of your DL seeing snaps as a LB in IDP leagues is too valuable to ignore. Look to roster Okeafor cheaply and reap the possible rewards.

Downside - by Bob Magaw

Okeafor has been a steady if not spectacular presence at DE for the Cards. At 31 years old he is coming off a Jekyll and Hyde-type year, with just 1 sack in the first half of the '06 season, followed by 8.5 sacks in the second half.

The expected conversion from a 4-3 base defense to a predominantly 3-4 alignment brings uncertainty for defenders such as Darnell Dockett (ex-DT shunted outside to DE), Karlos Dansby (moves from SLB to ILB), Okeafor and Bertrand Berry (former hand-on-the-ground DEs will work as standup LBs). As rush-backers, the responsibilities will at times be similar to what they were tasked with at DE (though they might be asked to drop into coverage more than in the past).

His bookend/counterpart OLB, the talented but oft-injured Pro Bowler Berry, has missed nearly a full season's worth of games over the past two years. If he continues to spend as much time in the trainer's whirlpool as on the field, offenses will be able to focus more attention on containing Okeafor.

While Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson is one of the top safeties in the NFL, the rest of the secondary lacks star power (that could change in a hurry if this is the season highly regarded Antrel Rolle steps up). A DEs ability to pass rush is complicated by having DBs with pedestrian cover skills (even Wilson is probably best in run support). Secondaries that can cover their man (whether man-on-man or in a zone) for a split second longer can be the difference to the DE between a sack and a QB hurry.

With the addition of new HC Ken Whisenhunt (along with OL guru Russ Grimm), RT Levi Brown (top 5 overall pick in the '07 draft) and the continued maturation of QB Matt Leinart, the Cards could be an ascendant offense. Scheme-wise, they are looking to emphasize a power running game more, and if successful, could sustain more drives, run more plays and see an uptick in time of possession. Ultimately that could lead to less net defensive plays, and scoring opportunities for the defense and Okeafor. Likely to be less valuable if listed as a LB than a DE.