The Buck Stops at Ossenfort’s Desk

Harry

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Well I have to admit that, though I was skeptical, Murray held up his end. He said the Cards should go beat Miami and then they should expect the front office to trade for help. The Cards have the money and enough teams are now reassessing their playoff chances that it will create opportunities. The question in part is if Ossenfort tries to build it will they come.

There seems to be an assumption on the board that Ossenfort can just pick the players he likes and add them to the team. Like you could just get them up at the supermarket. He is trying to fix what historically might be the most incompetent team in the history of the NFL. Many available players will be loaner, future free agents. Can we assume competent future free agents would want come to AZ? Have the Cards demonstrated enough competence to convince other teams’ players the AZ future is bright? The only way to know is to try.

Some say to keep them, then just pay them more than other teams. Except if they get hurt like Williams then they won’t win games for the Cards. The Cards would be short of money to buy a replacement. More and more teams are willing to guarantee money to the top free agents, which makes the gamble even riskier. That’s not the Cards’ typical style. To make major progress the Cards will need to convince multiple players to stay if they come. To do that the Cards may first need to get the team in better shape. Maybe Ossenfort thinks if he can first brighten the teams’ future through the draft, then he can attract a better level of free agent instead of settling for mediocre guys he can get now.

Then there’s style of play. Potential free agents want to go where the system maximizes their ability to succeed. Sadly at this point it’s not clear how the Cards want to attack on either side of the ball. Some guys are better in a 4-3 defense, others are better suited to a 3-4. Do they want to play in a zone or man style of secondary? Do they use press corners? On offense do they want to run first? Will the team use a zone blocking scheme for the O- line? Will the D-line use a one gap or 2 gap D-line system of responsibility? I’m not sure a free agent could be certain he was signing up for which system looking at today’s Cards. If they don’t like the system, will they still play hard?

How good are the Cards’ scouts? Is Ossenfort sure of them yet? You need to get guys on the way up. Do they have an injury that’s hard to detect in a physical? Even good teams have been fooled before. Every team gambles as they pick loaner potential free agents, but how confident are the Cards on making those choices?

Then there’s the question of how greatly the Cards are willing to diminish their upcoming drafts? The game plan seems to be to build through the draft. Is Ossenfort willing to shift direction? Finally, it’s unlikely they swap players. The Cards only real position of depth is safety and it seems unlikely they’d match up as even top safeties are of limited value.

For my money I’d make a move just because the players earned the right to expect help. Even if it’s not a game changer, it’s an important gesture.
 

Cardinal88

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Thanks Harry! A lot of great questions and identifying how challenging it is to get into the thought process.

Based on everything you typed out, do you think there is room for Chase Young? He still hasn't materialized his talent but maybe he would like to work with fellow OSU players and for maximize his talents in the Gannon/Rallis defense.
 

daves

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Harry

Harry

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Thanks Harry! A lot of great questions and identifying how challenging it is to get into the thought process.

Based on everything you typed out, do you think there is room for Chase Young? He still hasn't materialized his talent but maybe he would like to work with fellow OSU players and for maximize his talents in the Gannon/Rallis defense.
I fear Young is Iron Pyrite, better known as Fools’ Gold. He makes to many mistakes that compromise his athletic ability. His price is low, probably a 4th or 5th.
 

Shane

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MadCardDisease

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Murray if you’re serious.
See Shanes post above. It was Kyle Odegard who made the suggestion. Not Murray.

Kyle Odegard
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I still don’t think the Cardinals are in position to be buyers at the deadline. No. 20 in DVOA and a negative-28 point-differential does not scream playoff contender. Beat the Dolphins and then it can be considered.

Blame @Ronin for the confusing thread title. I read Kyler the first time as well.
 
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Zeem_Freeze

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the original thread says Kyle Kyle Kyle like 3 times across the title and first post but I could see the confusion.

Furthermore, if one doesn't follow Kyle Odergaard on twitter, they should. He is one of the top analysts that covers the team and valuably, a former employee so he can provide a lot of insight and frankness that current employees cannot.
 

Stout

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Chase Young doesn't have the DNA for this team.

Major lack of effort.
I'm not advocating for or against young with this post, but you can't build a team of choir boys. At some point or another, we will have to bring in guys that aren't considered good characters and trust that our culture can shape them or keep them in line.
 

WisconsinCard

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I'm not advocating for or against young with this post, but you can't build a team of choir boys. At some point or another, we will have to bring in guys that aren't considered good characters and trust that our culture can shape them or keep them in line.
I couldn't agree more with you @Stout. I've often said I didn't need a huddle full of choir boys. I was want some bad attitudes in the there.
 

TheCardFan

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I'm not advocating for or against young with this post, but you can't build a team of choir boys. At some point or another, we will have to bring in guys that aren't considered good characters and trust that our culture can shape them or keep them in line.

Totally agree on choir boy comment.

My comment is based on effort and results (lack thereof).

This guy is a JAG

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football karma

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Chase Young doesn't have the DNA for this team.

Major lack of effort.
i had put his name out there -- but agreed on the fools gold comment, and, the super inconsistent effort.

its speaks to the level of desperation on this position: both when the season started and the injuries since then
 

Chopper0080

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If the big names are truly not available, Cam Jordan and ZaDarius Smith would go a long way to start improving the defensive front for the Cardinals. Both under contract for 2025. Neither should cost much. Both are on decent deals for the team trading for them. Both are veteran guys who should acclimate quickly.
 

BirdGangThing

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if we're going to get someone - for playoff purposes we shouldn't settle - start at the very top and try to make it happen
 

Cardsfaninlouky

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He may not be ideal but he's probably better than anyone else we can get. The only other realistic option to me is Ojulari's brother who is always injured.
If his brother is the Ojulari that plays for the Giants, he looked pretty good last night. He had 2 sacks I believe.
 

MadCardDisease

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If his brother is the Ojulari that plays for the Giants, he looked pretty good last night. He had 2 sacks I believe.
Ojulari is the one player that I would be interested in. I'd consider giving up a 3rd rounder for him if the Giants are willing to move him. Not sure why they would want to move him though. He is young and still has a ton of potential.
 

HairZach

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Ojulari is the one player that I would be interested in. I'd consider giving up a 3rd rounder for him if the Giants are willing to move him. Not sure why they would want to move him though. He is young and still has a ton of potential.
They might, between 2022 and 2023 he missed 16 games to injury. He also has the benefit of Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence taking most of the blocking attention.
 

oaken1

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I'm not advocating for or against young with this post, but you can't build a team of choir boys. At some point or another, we will have to bring in guys that aren't considered good characters and trust that our culture can shape them or keep them in line.
I semi agree with this position... but effort usually isnt coached in to guys...but often it can be installed via peer pressure.
Do you think we have strong enough personalities to coax/dog/force a guy like Young to go 100 percent until the whistle on every snap?
I fear our strongest examples are a bit young and not ready to exert their will onto veteran teammates just yet...and some guys will blow off input from guys like J Jones and B Nichols simply because they are less talented and "Have to go all out to even be effective"

But Young is young enough and moved around enough that the approach of "maybe this is why you have not stuck with a team" might finally sink in.

but if not... its only nine games to free agancy
 

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