2006 Cardinals: What I Hope For

[Mitch]

1. I hope that QB Kurt Warner plays well and leads the team to wins. If he does not, I hope that Matt Leinart gets his shot, earlier, rather than later. I have never been a believer that players are better off sitting...not players of Leinart's caliber. And when Leinart does get his shot, I hope that he becomes the starting QB for good. It's time we had a QBOF in place.

2. I hope that Edgerrin James is the leader this offense needs. I hope that he puts the right amount of pressure on the offensive linemen to do their jobs, by encouraging them when they do well and by getting in their facemasks when they do not. Ultimately, I hope that Edge runs for well over 1200 yards and is a dynamo in the red zone to the tune of 14+ TDs.

3. I hope that Reggie Wells will be moved to RT where he will start and play well, particularly when Leinart is playing, seeing as Wells would be protecting Leinart's backside. My hope for the starting offensive line: LT Davis; LG Lutui; C Leckey; RG Brown; RT Wells.

4. I hope that Fitz and Q stay healthy and confirm to the rest of the league that they are now the best WR tandem in football. I hope that BJ and LeRon have productive years behind LF and Q.

5. I hope that the team finds a way to keep Todd Watkins, Carlyle Holiday and Greg Lee...I believe all three players have the talent to be very good eventually.

6. I hope that UCFA Michael Spurlock is the playmaker the team's been looking for as a PR/KR/WR.

7. I hope that the team gets excellent production from the TE trio of Bergen, Edwards and Pope...especially in the red zone.

8. I hope that the defensive line becomes galvanized with the return of Bertrand Berry, to become the NFL's most feared pass rush. I hope that Chike Okeafor plays like a man possessed on the left side and that the DT rotation of Dockett-Clancy-Watson-Lewis is surprisingly good.

9. I hope that Gerald Hayes gets healthy, remains healthy and plays like a monster in the middle.

10. I hope that Karlos Dansby earns his first Pro Bowl invitation and garners All-Pro consideration.

11. I hope that the eventual winner of the starting job at WLB is #59 Brandon Johnson. I believe his speed and athelticism is just what the team needs.

12. I hope that Calvin Pace and Daryl Blackstock offer the team dynamic options on the edge throughout the season.

13. I hope that Antrel Rolle regains his health and plays with tremendous confidence at LCB.

14. I hope that Eric Green wins the RCB job and leads the team in INTs.

15. I hope that SS Adrian Wilson is Pro Bowl bound this year...as CP continues to take full advantage of Wilson's strengths.

16. I hope that the team finds the ballhawking FS it so desperately needs.

17. I hope that the trio of Rackers-Hodel-Player remains what I consider to be the best overall PK-LS-P trio in the NFL.

18. I hope that special teams this year are just that...special.

19. I hope that Dennis Green starts to manage games well this year. I hope that this time around, the players will emerge form the locker room with confidence in the game plan and each other. I hope that they will be well prepared for crucial game situations, especially where clock management is required.

20. I hope that the Cardinals make the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

 

[40yearfan]

I hope Mitch's wishes come true.

 

[Krangodnzr]

4. I hope that Fitz and Q stay healthy and confirm to the rest of the league that they are now the best WR tandem in football. I hope that BJ and LeRon have productive years behind LF and Q.

5. I hope that the team finds a way to keep Todd Watkins, Carlyle Holiday and Greg Lee...I believe all three players have the talent to be very good eventually.

6. I hope that UCFA Michael Spurlock is the playmaker the team's been looking for as a PR/KR/WR.

Huh?
1/2. Boldin/Fitz, Fitz/Boldin (I don't like to put one ahead of the other)
3. BJ
4. McCoy
5. Watkins
6. Spurlock
7. Holiday
8. Lee

Do you see any problem here? 8 wrs. We can't keep that many, especially considering the fact that we have a plethora of DL to keep. Also we'll need to keep a few extra OL and DBs.

I see Watkins, Holiday and Lee on the practice squad.

 

[CardFan67]

I hope Mitch's wishes come true.

I hope Mitch's wish comes true and that 40's hopes happen...

 

[Garthshort]

Questions

Walter, thanks. On the OL, you have Brown at RG. Which Brown? As for Wells at RT, it doesn't seem like a good fit. I agree that if Leinart was the QB, then Reggie would make sense at RT, but not with Kurt. We have to hope that Ross improves with better coaching and better schemes. Johnson at WLB would be a major surprise, what with being under sized and inexperienced. Also, doubt if there is a ball hawking safety out there. There is a starting CB, Ty Law, available, which would allow Rolle to move to safety. Don't we have enough money, under the cap, to sign Law, even with the money set aside for rookies? Spurlock is someone we're all waiting to see in the preseason, returning kicks and punts(his audition probably starts next week when the vets report). As for the TE position, I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards was cut and replaced by Bronson, who reportedly is a better blocker and better on Special Teams. But that's just a guess. All-in-all a very nice wish list. My advice is that we each take one of your "wishes" and ask for that for a birthday present. Hopefully, we don't all ask for the same thing.

 

[Mitch]

Walter, thanks. On the OL, you have Brown at RG. Which Brown? As for Wells at RT, it doesn't seem like a good fit. I agree that if Leinart was the QB, then Reggie would make sense at RT, but not with Kurt. We have to hope that Ross improves with better coaching and better schemes. Johnson at WLB would be a major surprise, what with being under sized and inexperienced. Also, doubt if there is a ball hawking safety out there. There is a starting CB, Ty Law, available, which would allow Rolle to move to safety. Don't we have enough money, under the cap, to sign Law, even with the money set aside for rookies? Spurlock is someone we're all waiting to see in the preseason, returning kicks and punts(his audition probably starts next week when the vets report). As for the TE position, I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards was cut and replaced by Bronson, who reportedly is a better blocker and better on Special Teams. But that's just a guess. All-in-all a very nice wish list. My advice is that we each take one of your "wishes" and ask for that for a birthday present. Hopefully, we don't all ask for the same thing.

Garth: Milford Brown, although I think Elton Brown will be a solid contributor this year. Oliver Ross is too slow footed and top heavy to be a decent pass protector...which is why I like Wells. He has the feet and athleticism to cover the edge...and I think he can be an effective run blocker, blocking DEs instead of DTs (who have overpowered him at guard).

As for Brandon Johnson...have you seen this kid play? Every Louisville game I watched, he jumped out at me...he's incredibly athletic for a player his size, and...get this...he is a good tackler...he breaks down properly and wraps up. Put a few more pounds of muscle on him and he could be Julian Peterson-esque. Where they are most similar is in pass coverage...Peterson is one of the best coverage OLBers I have ever seen, and Johnson has the same ability because of his speed and instincts. In a division that now sports the likes of TEs Vernon Davis, Jeremy Stevens and Joe Klopfenstein. having a player as tall, fast and instinctive as Brandon Johnson is a real asset.

Antrel Rolle would be a punishing hitter at FS, but is he fast enough to be an effective ballhawk back there? I must admit I have thought a lot about Rolle switching to FS, but when I saw what a potential dynamo he is at LCB, I quickly changed my mind. Physical corners like Rolle are hard to come by...and once he gets more and more comfortable in the system, CP is going to emphasize the physical aspects of Rolle's play in the schemes.

Ty Law's price tag? It would seem he would price himself out of consideration for the Cardinals.

Yes, I am very much looking forward to watching Michael Spurlock. Like Denny Green said, it's hard to believe that he wasn't used as a WR at Ole Miss, especially when he was sitting behind Eli Manning.

I agree that Jon Bronson's blocking and special teams ability give him a good chance to make the 53 man roster. However, Eric Edwards is such a good competitor...and really started coming into his own last year once he beat the injury bug, that it will be hard to let him go. I think there's a chance that Bronson could be kept as an H-back/FB type.

Thanks for the thoughts, Garth...all good ones...

 

[Cardsmasochist]

My advice is that we each take one of your "wishes" and ask for that for a birthday present. Hopefully, we don't all ask for the same thing.

I hope the Cardinals win the Super Bowl

 

[lobo]

merry christmas

i hope HALF your hopes come true!!!

 

[Second Deck]

Great input as always. I also worry about the right tackle spot. I certainly would give Wells a look at RT. I cannot believe Ross is as bad as he played last year and hopefully he had nagging injuries and will have a great year this season.

 

[joeshmo]

There is a starting CB, Ty Law, available, which would allow Rolle to move to safety. Don't we have enough money, under the cap, to sign Law, even with the money set aside for rookies?

We dont have nearly enough to sign Law. He would have to lower his demands by more then half for us to have enough cap space.

 

[blindseyed]

18. I hope that special teams this year are just that...special.
.

I just hope it's not like last year when they were special...Little Yellow Bus Special!

 

[BACH]

We dont have nearly enough to sign Law. He would have to lower his demands by more then half for us to have enough cap space.

He won't.

Rumors say that the Titans are ready to pay close to his asking price once they have cut McNair and cleared about $11M.

 

[Doc Cardinal]

If we stay healthy most of Mitch's hopes and dreams should come true.