We Need More Talent On Offense

[Russ Smith]

The only thind I'd look to add to the skill positions this offseason is some speed to replace Dortch. A low round WR that can punt return and handle the gadget crap and I'd add a starting calibre Vet WR that Kyler can lean on to replace Pascal.

I'd love Kyler to have an Adam Thielen type player. I can't really see much in FA. Maybe JuJu? Maybe Brandin Cooks if he takes a massive pay cut.

Mentioned it in the other thread if you want a young WR that you can get later in the draft take Nick Nash from San Jose State.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What amazes me is Josh Allen. Maybe I’m remembering incorrectly, but I seem to remember hearing how he wasn’t accurate in college and the Bills were nuts for drafting him so high. KM is light years from the QB Allen is.

He wasn't. He also wasn't accurate his first two years in the league. His rookie year he was a terrible 52% and his sophomore year only 58. He flipped a switch after that.

I was convinced after his 2nd year he would be a bust, seeing lots of Bills games...

 

[Stout]

Yeah...Allen and Rosen were dependent on if the team thought they could mitigate his accuracy issues. Lamar was considered a huge project.

I seem to remember a few teams floated the idea of changing Lamar's position. Didn't a team or two ask him to work out at WR or something?

 

[Harry]

If they Cards really wanted to upgrade the offense, they could pay Trey Smith 20 mil per year to play RG and then sign Valdes Scantling as a large, vertical WR.

Doesn’t look like a great FA pool for guards, so you’re right Smith will be expensive. He’s great but I don’t see the Cards spending enough on him to get him. Tough call. Good draft for linemen. Likely getting one in round 2 or 3. The Cards are in a tough spot for a speed receivers. The best available FA WRs are not top speed receivers. In the draft WRs are getting faster but it’s hard to find one with good hands who can make an over the shoulder catch. Scantling may have lost a step, but he’s still fast. I’m worried about his recent productivity. I might take a shot at Elijah Moore. He has not performed up to expectations. He’s fast; clocked at 4.35. He’s a fine athlete. I just wish the Cards had a better receivers (passing if you insist) coach. He’s played for 2 dysfunctional teams. Moore is young enough he may be salvageable. I don’t know why he’s not the same player I saw in college, but he should be. He will be affordable. Then I’d take a shot on another fast guy late in the draft.

 

[Harry]

I seem to remember a few teams floated the idea of changing Lamar's position. Didn't a team or two ask him to work out at WR or something?

Yes, a couple ask at the combine and he rejected their request.

 

[schutd]

What amazes me is Josh Allen. Maybe I’m remembering incorrectly, but I seem to remember hearing how he wasn’t accurate in college and the Bills were nuts for drafting him so high. KM is light years from the QB Allen is.

I was THRILLED that the Bills jumped us to take him. The book was; superior athlete, smart, couldn't hit the broad side of the barn. Rosen was the best "pure passer" and we really dodged a bullet not drafting Allen, cause you cant teach accuracy.

This is why I generally relegate myself to witticisms, and non football related thoughts on this board. Because obviously, I don't know isht.

 

[kerouac9]

Josh Allen was a laughing stock after his first two seasons as a pro

 

[imaCafan]

Josh Allen was a laughing stock after his first two seasons as a pro

And now in the MVP conversation. Who gets the credit for coaching him up? We could use a QB coach like that!

 

[BullheadCardFan]

And now in the MVP conversation. Who gets the credit for coaching him up? We could use a QB coach like that!

The other part is that the player has to be willing to listen and put in the necessary work

 

[Chopper0080]

Doesn’t look like a great FA pool for guards, so you’re right Smith will be expensive. He’s great but I don’t see the Cards spending enough on him to get him. Tough call. Good draft for linemen. Likely getting one in round 2 or 3. The Cards are in a tough spot for a speed receivers. The best available FA WRs are not top speed receivers. In the draft WRs are getting faster but it’s hard to find one with good hands who can make an over the shoulder catch. Scantling may have lost a step, but he’s still fast. I’m worried about his recent productivity. I might take a shot at Elijah Moore. He has not performed up to expectations. He’s fast; clocked at 4.35. He’s a fine athlete. I just wish the Cards had a better receivers (passing if you insist) coach. He’s played for 2 dysfunctional teams. Moore is young enough he may be salvageable. I don’t know why he’s not the same player I saw in college, but he should be. He will be affordable. Then I’d take a shot on another fast guy late in the draft.

I agree about the lack of vertical options. My thoughts behind MVS is that he shouldn't cost a lot, he has size as well as speed which Kyler does like, he is ok blocking in the run game, and he doesn't necessarily relegate Wilson to the 3rd WR role.

An underrated aspect of gaining a large, vertical WR is that it might encourage Petzing to use more 11 personnel because of the ability to run block. This would open up the offense more IMO.

RE: Trey Smith. I get that projecting the Cardinals to spend any big money on a player is not very likely. That said, Trey Smith is a guy who would help the offense and Kyler, and would actually be an upgrade over Will Hernandez.

 

[Stout]

Sorry, but the offense has gotten the lion's share of resources recently. They will simply have to make due, especially when we will only have Kyler Murray at QB next season. You go heavy defense and pray the D keeps the team in the game. We looked at this offense in the offseason as one that would control the ball and bail out the D. Despite much better offensive personnel, it has been the opposite. Go defense, or go home, Monti.

 

[kerouac9]

I agree about the lack of vertical options. My thoughts behind MVS is that he shouldn't cost a lot, he has size as well as speed which Kyler does like, he is ok blocking in the run game, and he doesn't necessarily relegate Wilson to the 3rd WR role.

An underrated aspect of gaining a large, vertical WR is that it might encourage Petzing to use more 11 personnel because of the ability to run block. This would open up the offense more IMO.

RE: Trey Smith. I get that projecting the Cardinals to spend any big money on a player is not very likely. That said, Trey Smith is a guy who would help the offense and Kyler, and would actually be an upgrade over Will Hernandez.

To be fair, isn't this what we hoped we were getting in Zay Jones? Six-foot-two and an career ADOT of 11.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Trey Smith is a guy who would help the offense and Kyler, and would actually be an upgrade over Will Hernandez.

The age old question being whether Smith at twice the cost is worth it over Hernandez. I kind of like the idea of getting Hernandez on the cheap and rolling with Hernandez/Brown/Adams at G. We have plenty of other holes where we could spend the additional 10M...maybe add another stud like Justin Jones or Nichols!

 

[kerouac9]

The age old question being whether Smith at twice the cost is worth it over Hernandez. I kind of like the idea of getting Hernandez on the cheap and rolling with Hernandez/Brown/Adams at G. We have plenty of other holes where we could spend the additional 10M...maybe add another stud like Justin Jones or Nichols!

Biggest difference is that Smith has played 64 games in the past four years and Hernandez has played 52.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Biggest difference is that Smith has played 64 games in the past four years and Hernandez has played 52.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about Hernandez and injuries...this is the first time he's missed significant time in 7 seasons:

Will Hernandez Career Stats | NFL.com

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah, I'm not too worried about Hernandez and injuries...this is the first time he's missed significant time in 7 seasons:

Will Hernandez Career Stats | NFL.com

He finished the last month of the 2022 season on IR.

 

[akg102]

We need a jump-ball artist, doesn't matter what the rest of their game looks like. Could be a FA or later draft pick. It would help support Murray's backfoot lobs on 3rd/4th and 1.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

He finished the last month of the 2022 season on IR.

True, but played 13 out of 16 games...didn't miss significant time.

 

[kerouac9]

True, but played 13 out of 16 games...didn't miss significant time.

What does significant time mean? The Cards played 17 games that season. Hern played fewer than 50% of the snaps in five of them.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

What does significant time mean? The Cards played 17 games that season. Hern played fewer than 50% of the snaps in five of them.

I view it personally as at least half a season. Regardless, I'm not that worried about his reliability is the general point. I think you can still have a good O-line with Hernandez/Adams/Brown and a draft pick and devote additional resources to D.

 

[AZ Native]

The other part is that the player has to be willing to listen and put in the necessary work

.

 

[football karma]

I kind of like the idea of getting Hernandez on the cheap

coming off of an ACL. I dont think the team can count on Will being an answer

 

[ajcardfan]

coming off of an ACL. I dont think the team can count on Will being an answer

I have never seen it clearly stated exactly how his knee was injured. If you google it, you see MCL mentioned but otherwise just "knee injury".

Regardless, by the time free agency comes around it will be coming up on six months since his surgery. The team will have a very good idea about how his rehab is coming along. If they sign him, they won't be "counting" on him as they have Adams and other young OG they have been developing as well.

 

[football karma]

I have never seen it clearly stated exactly how his knee was injured. If you google it, you see MCL mentioned but otherwise just "knee injury".

Regardless, by the time free agency comes around it will be coming up on six months since his surgery. The team will have a very good idea about how his rehab is coming along. If they sign him, they won't be "counting" on him as they have Adams and other young OG they have been developing as well.

im assuming an ACL as MCLs are often 6 -8 week injuries and they could have put him on IR for a while -- ( he was injured in week 5)

instead, the morning after they announced he was done for the season.

 

[Chopper0080]

To be fair, isn't this what we hoped we were getting in Zay Jones? Six-foot-two and an career ADOT of 11.

I guess I never viewed Zay Jones in that role as a player or having a vertical skill set.