Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
K Neil Rackers was going to have a hard time matching his stellar performance in 2005 and did. Rackers faltered at key times in 2006...epitomized by his 43 yard hook on MNF versus the Bears that would have saved the day for the Cardinals.
Kicking well in the NFL involves a very tricky psychology...and, IMO, Rackers' confidence started to take a noticeable dip following an embarrassing miss early in the season when for reasons only known to Dennis Green the team elected to rush the FG team onto the field at the end of a half to attempt a hurried 52 yarder (when there was plenty of time--24 seconds- for the offense to spike the ball to allow the FG unit to set up properly). Rackers hurried the kick and it missed badly to the left...no doubt the most errant miss of Rackers' tenure in Arizona.
On the sidelines Rackers looked like a modern day Hamlet, nervously pacing between the kicking net and the end of the bench...looking about as tense and red in the eyes as one can look...hard to figure why a Pro Bowl kicker in 2005 would be so edgy. Something just wasn't right about him this past year...as his facial expressions and body language would suggest. In 2005, there was a tanglible bounce to his approach...a real cockiness. Injuries played a slight part...but a sudden lack of confidence was the main problem.
Rackers' kickoffs were inconsistent this past year as well...whenever the Cardinals seem to need one of his patented touchback booms...he seemed to short leg the ball...and unfortunately this led to a handful a momentum surrendering kickoff returns.
Rackers was let go by the Bengals because he faltered in the clutch more than the Bengals could stomach. The question is, therefore, was 2005 an abberation? Or, was 2006 more of the norm for Rackers?
Rackers will have a chance to settle those questions once and for all in 2007. I believe that he will bounce back and have a very strong season. It wouldn't hurt him to see a sports psychologist in order to help him regain his confidence and maintain it as he did in 2005.
P Scott Player rebounded from a sub-par first half of the season by turning in several stellar performances down the stretch. The fact that Player struggled in the games that had the most meaning should be a red flag to the new staff...punting well in meaningless games means very little.
When focused, Player is one of the more talented punters in the league...and over the years he has improved his ability to angle the ball to the sidelines or hang the ball up for the purposes of downing it inside the 20.
However, Player has a habit of driving this fan nuts. First of all, he looks about as silly as a football player can look, donning that single bar facemask that hangs down about his Adam's apple. Secondly, when the pressure is on it seems as if he almost always chokes...like the Bears game on MNF where he could not have kicked a more returnable punt to Devin Hester with the game on the line. Thirdly, on the few occasion where he is needed to make a play on the ball, he offers the most feeble and pathetic looking attempts to even get in the punt returner's way...and while one may argue that punters and paid to punt...they are football players and part of their job is to be the safety in coverage...Scott Player takes no pride in this aspect of his responsibilities...he's so embarrassingly pathetic at it that he makes Garo Y. look like Brian Urlacher.
Last summer the Cardinals signed Fred Capshaw to challenge Player and Capshaw clearly showed a stronger leg. Many of us on the board have been hoping that the Cardinals will re-sign Capshaw. This time around Capshaw may win the job that he probably should have won last summer.
LS Nathan Hodel is the best kept secret on the Cardinals. He is about as flawless a snapper as there is in the league. Over the last three years I can only remember one bad snap from Hodel...he is money...and not only that, unlike Player, he takes pride in himself as a football player, often-times getting quickly down the field to make a play on the ball.
KR J.J. Arrington seemed to warm up a little better to the role as the season wore on and had some nice returns during the second half of the season. He still looks a little tentative...but he has good vision and a good little burst when he needs it. He probably will be replaced as KR by a draft pick or free agent next year...but maybe not, not if he keeps progressing.
PR Troy Walters was an upgrade...but provided more value as a #4 WR than as a punt returner. He's relaible catching the ball, but seems to lack great vision or the impetus to really break for the big one...he's just a shifty little waterbug who scrambles for six or seven yards, often laterally at first...and he showed he's a little fumble prone.
The Cardinals need a stronger threat as a punt returner...perhaps UFA Shaun McDonald would be just that for the Cards.
ST ace Hanik Milligan was a nice pickup for the Cardinals. He's the kind of special teams player the team needs...he brings it on every snap...and he adds depth behind AW at SS.
The real ace of the STs this past season was Aaron Francisco...he made more impressive stops than anyone else while showing a nifty blend of suddeness and pop.
The other STers that, IMO, have value:
1. TE Jon Bronson. He can lead a wedge and bust a wedge...good STs have as much to do with physical play as speed...and Bronson is an imposing player...and, he can run.
2. S Jack Brewer. Brewer was, unfortunately, hurt last year...but he's a very good special teamer and backup FS. He was having a good pre-season too. It may be wise for the Cardinals to try him again.
3. CB Daryl Hunter. Hunter's speed came in handy as he chased down a couple of would-be TD returns. Hunter played more physically than expected as well....the rap on him was that he was a little soft mentally and physically. There were occasions when Hunter stuck his nose in there nicely.
4. RB/S Diamond Ferri. This guy has the knack for getting to the football...and he's got the speed and agility to make things happen in a hurry. I think Whiz is going to like this kid a lot...switching him over to safety might be smart, especially if the Cards add another RB via free agency or the draft.
5. RB Marcel Shipp. He says he will do anything to contribute...and with Marcel, the words and the music match. He's a tough, hard-nosed player who wants to win...a consummate team player all the way.
6. TE Fred Wakefield. Same as Shipp...will do anything to contribute...and will do it with 100% commitment.
7. LB Monte Beisel. Has made a living on STs and has a couple rings to prove it.
8. DE A.J. Schable. I think Whiz and company are going to love this kid's motor. He makes things happen whenever he plays.
Players who need to contribute more or better on STs in order to improve their chances of making the 2007 roster:
FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo; WR LeRon McCoy; WR Michael Spurlock (he may be the wild card of this group and could emerge as bona fide return man); WR Greg Lee; TE Adam Bergen; T Brandon Gorin; T Oliver Ross; G Elton Brown; C Alex Stepanovich; DT Jonathan Lewis; DT Gabe Watson; DE Chris Cooper; DE Calvin Pace; DE Antonio Smith; LB Brandon Johnson; LB James Darling; LB Daryl Blackstock; CB Matt Ware (showed flashes on STs last year); CB Antrel Rolle (won't have a hard time sticking, but he should be a factor on STs this year and may be a star there); CB Eric Green (same as Rolle...at Va. Tech he was a ST dynamo).
Kicking well in the NFL involves a very tricky psychology...and, IMO, Rackers' confidence started to take a noticeable dip following an embarrassing miss early in the season when for reasons only known to Dennis Green the team elected to rush the FG team onto the field at the end of a half to attempt a hurried 52 yarder (when there was plenty of time--24 seconds- for the offense to spike the ball to allow the FG unit to set up properly). Rackers hurried the kick and it missed badly to the left...no doubt the most errant miss of Rackers' tenure in Arizona.
On the sidelines Rackers looked like a modern day Hamlet, nervously pacing between the kicking net and the end of the bench...looking about as tense and red in the eyes as one can look...hard to figure why a Pro Bowl kicker in 2005 would be so edgy. Something just wasn't right about him this past year...as his facial expressions and body language would suggest. In 2005, there was a tanglible bounce to his approach...a real cockiness. Injuries played a slight part...but a sudden lack of confidence was the main problem.
Rackers' kickoffs were inconsistent this past year as well...whenever the Cardinals seem to need one of his patented touchback booms...he seemed to short leg the ball...and unfortunately this led to a handful a momentum surrendering kickoff returns.
Rackers was let go by the Bengals because he faltered in the clutch more than the Bengals could stomach. The question is, therefore, was 2005 an abberation? Or, was 2006 more of the norm for Rackers?
Rackers will have a chance to settle those questions once and for all in 2007. I believe that he will bounce back and have a very strong season. It wouldn't hurt him to see a sports psychologist in order to help him regain his confidence and maintain it as he did in 2005.
P Scott Player rebounded from a sub-par first half of the season by turning in several stellar performances down the stretch. The fact that Player struggled in the games that had the most meaning should be a red flag to the new staff...punting well in meaningless games means very little.
When focused, Player is one of the more talented punters in the league...and over the years he has improved his ability to angle the ball to the sidelines or hang the ball up for the purposes of downing it inside the 20.
However, Player has a habit of driving this fan nuts. First of all, he looks about as silly as a football player can look, donning that single bar facemask that hangs down about his Adam's apple. Secondly, when the pressure is on it seems as if he almost always chokes...like the Bears game on MNF where he could not have kicked a more returnable punt to Devin Hester with the game on the line. Thirdly, on the few occasion where he is needed to make a play on the ball, he offers the most feeble and pathetic looking attempts to even get in the punt returner's way...and while one may argue that punters and paid to punt...they are football players and part of their job is to be the safety in coverage...Scott Player takes no pride in this aspect of his responsibilities...he's so embarrassingly pathetic at it that he makes Garo Y. look like Brian Urlacher.
Last summer the Cardinals signed Fred Capshaw to challenge Player and Capshaw clearly showed a stronger leg. Many of us on the board have been hoping that the Cardinals will re-sign Capshaw. This time around Capshaw may win the job that he probably should have won last summer.
LS Nathan Hodel is the best kept secret on the Cardinals. He is about as flawless a snapper as there is in the league. Over the last three years I can only remember one bad snap from Hodel...he is money...and not only that, unlike Player, he takes pride in himself as a football player, often-times getting quickly down the field to make a play on the ball.
KR J.J. Arrington seemed to warm up a little better to the role as the season wore on and had some nice returns during the second half of the season. He still looks a little tentative...but he has good vision and a good little burst when he needs it. He probably will be replaced as KR by a draft pick or free agent next year...but maybe not, not if he keeps progressing.
PR Troy Walters was an upgrade...but provided more value as a #4 WR than as a punt returner. He's relaible catching the ball, but seems to lack great vision or the impetus to really break for the big one...he's just a shifty little waterbug who scrambles for six or seven yards, often laterally at first...and he showed he's a little fumble prone.
The Cardinals need a stronger threat as a punt returner...perhaps UFA Shaun McDonald would be just that for the Cards.
ST ace Hanik Milligan was a nice pickup for the Cardinals. He's the kind of special teams player the team needs...he brings it on every snap...and he adds depth behind AW at SS.
The real ace of the STs this past season was Aaron Francisco...he made more impressive stops than anyone else while showing a nifty blend of suddeness and pop.
The other STers that, IMO, have value:
1. TE Jon Bronson. He can lead a wedge and bust a wedge...good STs have as much to do with physical play as speed...and Bronson is an imposing player...and, he can run.
2. S Jack Brewer. Brewer was, unfortunately, hurt last year...but he's a very good special teamer and backup FS. He was having a good pre-season too. It may be wise for the Cardinals to try him again.
3. CB Daryl Hunter. Hunter's speed came in handy as he chased down a couple of would-be TD returns. Hunter played more physically than expected as well....the rap on him was that he was a little soft mentally and physically. There were occasions when Hunter stuck his nose in there nicely.
4. RB/S Diamond Ferri. This guy has the knack for getting to the football...and he's got the speed and agility to make things happen in a hurry. I think Whiz is going to like this kid a lot...switching him over to safety might be smart, especially if the Cards add another RB via free agency or the draft.
5. RB Marcel Shipp. He says he will do anything to contribute...and with Marcel, the words and the music match. He's a tough, hard-nosed player who wants to win...a consummate team player all the way.
6. TE Fred Wakefield. Same as Shipp...will do anything to contribute...and will do it with 100% commitment.
7. LB Monte Beisel. Has made a living on STs and has a couple rings to prove it.
8. DE A.J. Schable. I think Whiz and company are going to love this kid's motor. He makes things happen whenever he plays.
Players who need to contribute more or better on STs in order to improve their chances of making the 2007 roster:
FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo; WR LeRon McCoy; WR Michael Spurlock (he may be the wild card of this group and could emerge as bona fide return man); WR Greg Lee; TE Adam Bergen; T Brandon Gorin; T Oliver Ross; G Elton Brown; C Alex Stepanovich; DT Jonathan Lewis; DT Gabe Watson; DE Chris Cooper; DE Calvin Pace; DE Antonio Smith; LB Brandon Johnson; LB James Darling; LB Daryl Blackstock; CB Matt Ware (showed flashes on STs last year); CB Antrel Rolle (won't have a hard time sticking, but he should be a factor on STs this year and may be a star there); CB Eric Green (same as Rolle...at Va. Tech he was a ST dynamo).
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