Arizona Cardinals Top 10 Player Countdown: #10 Bobby Massie
By Baily Deeter
Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals tackle Bobby Massie (70) against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Last year, you would have been laughed out of town for calling Bobby Massie one of the Cardinals’ 10 best players. Now, it’s realistic.
Our staff took a vote, and Massie checked in as our 10th-best Cardinals player. Massie was eaten alive during the first eight weeks of the season, but he ranked third among all tackles from Week 9 to Week 17 (via Pro Football Focus). He is likely to start again on Arizona’s revamped offensive line, which would help the team a lot.
Massie is only entering his second year, but he’s going to be great again in 2013. With more experience and with Levi Brown and Jonathan Cooper eating up good defensive lineman, the 316-pound Massie should have an easier job. Expect Levi Brown to take over at left tackle, and expect Massie to play right tackle.
The massive offensive tackles ran a respectable 5.23 40-yard dash and recorded 22 reps on the 225-pound bench press, so he has decent strength and respectable speed. Massie gained experience in college and has now started 16 NFL games, which should help him entering 2013. It would be shocking if Massie regressed, as he has the tools and the experience to succeed with Arizona.
In his last nine games, Massie allowed a mere 14 quarterback pressures (compared to 47 in his first seven games). Arizona Sports’ article about Massie states that people believe Massie can become one of the league’s best tackles, which is definitely possible. Due to his success to end the 2012 season, a lot of our writers included him in their top 10.
This ranking is well-deserved due to the way Massie ended the season. He is poised for a great 2013 season, and he is poised to become one of the NFL’s best tackles. While Levi Brown and Jonathan Cooper are more talented, Massie will be a solid piece on an offensive line in need of a capable starter. Expect Massie to build on his 2012 season and continue to perform in his second year with the team.
And, next year, expect Massie to be even higher than 10th.