2007 Cardinals: The High Hope Plan

[Mitch]

The good news about the Bengals slapping the franchise tag on DE Justin Smith...the Cardinals may have a great chance at signing the best free agent offensive lineman in this class, Eric Steinbach.

The Cardinals should make signing Steinbach their number one priority. He's a fine player, he's versatile and he's the leader this offensive line needs. If he has to play a year or two at tackle, fine. We need him for his leadership, wherever he lines up. Ideally, he starts at LG...and Milford Brown and Deuce Lutui can vie for the starting RG spot.

While Nick Leckey has been good at center, snagging C Ryan Kalil at #39 would be an excellent move.

The third move is to sign UFA T Tony Pashos. Pashos is a big, mauling tackle who Russ Grimm can develop the way he started to develop Max Starks.

The team needs to release T Oliver Ross who does not warrant $2.5M to be a backup.

Drafting RT James Marten of Boston College in the 4th round would be wise.

Here then is the depth chart on the offensive line:

LT PASHOS (Gorin)

LG STEINBACH (M. Brown)

C LECKEY (Kalil)

RG LUTUI (M. Brown)

RT WELLS (Marten)

Other UFA Additions on Offense:

1. TE Eric Johnson (SF). Whiz wants a veteran to lead the way for Leonard Pope. Johnson, when healthy, is a first-rate receiver and someone who will command the attention of the safeties.

2. RB Adrian Peterson (CHI). The sleeper of this class. Excellent special teams player who is a hole hitter deluxe as a 2nd back.

3. WR/PR Shaun MacDonald (STL). Arizona St. alum who would upgrade the return game and be a nifty slot receiver in 4 WR sets.

Other Draft Additions on Offense:

1. FB Bryson Davis (6-2, 263, Mississippi St.) 7th round. Big, bruising FB...made to order for power running game.

UFA Additions on Defense:

1. CB Nate Clemens (BUF). The Cards win the bidding on Clemens. He becomes the starter at LCB and the best CB in Cardinal red since Aeneas Williams.

2. LB Donnie Edwards (SD). Tackling machine can be used at SAM and ILB. Veteran leader, which this defense needs at LB. At his age, he won't command a lucrative salary...$3.5/per should be enough to satisfy him and his agent.

Draft Additions on Defense:

1. DT Alan Branch (6-6, 330, Michigan). Best player on board at #5. Fortifies the middle of the Cardinal defense.

2. CB Tarrell Brown (6-0, 200, Texas). Cards are happy to see Brown on the board at #69. He will compete with Eric Green for the starting RCB and nickelback positions.

3. LB Stephen Nicholas (6-3, 225, South Florida). SAM LB prospect...highly under-rated. A fifth round coup.

First Year Cap Hits:

CB Clements: $8.5M
G Steinbach: $7.5M
LB Edwards: $3.5M
T Pashos: $3.5M
TE Johnson: $2.5M
WR MacDonald: $1.5M
RB Peterson: $1.5M

TOTAL: $28.5M

 

[The Edge]

The Cardinals should make signing Steinbach their number one priority. He's a fine player, he's versatile and he's the leader this offensive line needs. If he has to play a year or two at tackle, fine. We need him for his leadership, wherever he lines up. Ideally, he starts at LG...and Milford Brown and Deuce Lutui can vie for the starting RG spot.

Steinbach wants to play tackle and is looking for a team that wants him to do that (+ pay him tackle-money)

2. RB Adrian Peterson (CHI). The sleeper of this class. Excellent special teams player who is a hole hitter deluxe as a 2nd back.

Peterson was signed by the Bears throu the 2009 season.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

I'm on board with Clements, Steinbach and Pashos as priority targets in FA.....not too sure that we need D. Edwards at this point in his career. Having said this, it would give us some time to see if Blackstock has anything to offer longer term.

Would rather have Joe Staley in the 2nd over the USC center and with an eye to Ryan Young as C in the 3rd/4th.

Martens is a sleeper to be sure and I agree that he has real upside what with his BC lineage....will he slide into the 5th?

S. McDonald would also be a quality snag.

My guess is that Shipp is gone and a combo of Petersen and JJ mitigates losing Marcel. I need another year to assess JJ before determining if giving up on him altogether is wise.

 

[Mitch]

Steinbach wants to play tackle and is looking for a team that wants him to do that (+ pay him tackle-money)




Peterson was signed by the Bears throu the 2009 season.

I just checked the Bears' site and it says Peterson was signed through 2006. Where did you get the 2009 signing?

 

[Mitch]

Mitch,

I'm on board with Clements, Steinbach and Pashos as priority targets in FA.....not too sure that we need D. Edwards at this point in his career. Having said this, it would give us some time to see if Blackstock has anything to offer longer term.

Would rather have Joe Staley in the 2nd over the USC center and with an eye to Ryan Young as C in the 3rd/4th.

Martens is a sleeper to be sure and I agree that he has real upside what with his BC lineage....will he slide into the 5th?

S. McDonald would also be a quality snag.

My guess is that Shipp is gone and a combo of Petersen and JJ mitigates losing Marcel. I need another year to assess JJ before determining if giving up on him altogether is wise.

Good post, Spanky.

As for Donnie Edwards...the Cards have said they are going to switch Karlos Dansby to WLB, so they need a SLB...and a ILB to team with Gerald Hayes when they go into their 5-2 formations (3-4 modified). Edwards would be great in that role, IMO. He's still very good.

The thing about Blackstock is that he's not a SLB, he's a WLB (backside pass rusher)...he'll probably back up Dansby at WLB this year.

That's why I have the Cardinals drafting a SLB in Stephen Nicholas...because the Cardinals need depth at SLB and someone to groom as Edwards' successor if he does sign with Arizona.

I have no problem with Joe Staley at #39...but...did you watch the one on one drills at the Senior Bowl? Ryan Kalil was so good in those drills...he even neutralized Tank Tyler, who is, IMO, as strong as any DT in this class. Given the choice I would go with Kalil.

 

[Twist18]

I think the best quality of Edwards is his leadership and he could help Hayes calling the plays.

I really like the Pashos signing and would like Steinbach as well, but if we get the chance to sign Andre Gurode, I would do it.

 

[Chopper0080]

A couple of points

1-Donnie Edwards is the type of player that we need on defense. I don't know how he best fits in a 4-3 base d but his leadership on a very young defense would be ideal.

2-Pashos and Steinbach should be our number 1 priorities. I haven't heard that Seinbach wanted to play tackle but if he does than Pashos might be a bit of a dream unless he can beat out Wells.

3-I like Kalil in the second as well as Staley. If we get the opportunity to trade back in round one to the right spot and pick up another 2nd it would be a dream to take both. Say Landry/Nelson in round 1 and Kalil and Staley in the 2nd. Not going to happen but would be nice.

4-My only concern is that we would have no veteran depth on the offensive line which would kill us if we got injuries which always seem to happen. We would have rookies either starting or backing up three lin positions.

5-Alan Branch at 5 is starting to become doable. I really believe that we should go with J Anderson with our age and lack of depth at DE but if Branch is the best player go for it.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

What are your thoughts on the Calvin Pace experiment at SLB? Is he, in reality, a situational DE only?

I have read of the possibility of Dansby moving over to the WILL....but is he fast enough to really produce as he has at the SAM?

Monty Beisel was a pleasant surprise late last year....he plays a role going forward, albeit not at either of the OLB spots.

What role does James Darling play for us this year....backup only at the WILL?

My guess is that our eyes will be on Gaines Adams or Alan Branch with our #5 (I've got to believe that Joe Thomas will be gone by the time we pick). Of these two, who really fills the greatest need? I lean towards Adams, believing that the combo of Clancy, Dockett, Watson and Lewis is more than just serviceable.

 

[1usctrojan]

Ryan Kalil

I would love to see us draft Ryan Kalil at #39.....he is already familiar with Matt and Deuce and was part of that great offense in college.

How often do you have an opportunity to reunite 3 offensive players who were highly successful and played exceptional as a unit?

 

[joeshmo]

http://www.nflpa.org/Resources/ActivePlayerSearch.aspx?id=33176

Peterson was Extended through the 2009 season. The Bears did so becuse they are rumored to be trying to trade Thomas Jones this offseason. Sp they now have a long term backup plan at RB if they do trade him.

I like your draft, except for the 5th rounder, but complaining about a 5th rounder is hard to do.

On Shaun McDonald I havent really followed his career all that much so I just assumed that he was a really good return man becuase that is the definition he gets when people talk about him. Then I looked up his stats and he doesnt return kickoffs, and he is a below average punt returner. I think we can find a much better return man latter in the draft or FA then Shaun. Also Shaun isnt the speed guy I thought he couldbe in the slot as well, not a very good YPC at all. I think we would be better suited in trying for Dennis Northcut who is a 10 times better return man(punts only) and just as good of a WR.

Finally, I know you call this thread "high hope plan", but do you honeslty think we can come out of Free agency with the #1 DB in FA, #1 OL in FA, another top 5 OL in FA, all considering that 90% of the league will have the cap space to sign any one of them as well? As for the other FA's I think that is do able.

As for the prices I think you may be correct on Steinbach and Edwards(might be a little higher). But Clements IMO will get closer to over 9 Mill., Pashos will get closer to over 5 Mill and maybe even more considering the lack of OL talent in FA.

 

[PJ1]

A good post Mitch and I have to admit I know very little about Pashos. I am still smarting at the loss of LD and although I know you don't agree I like someone presenting an alternative rather than just saying the great and powerful Whiz and Graves have everything under control.

I am really pleased with Brown but adding Steinback for competition and depth would be great.

Edwards is fine and I also wouldn't mind looking at June from Indy if we can't get him.

I would take Gaines or Anderson at #5 as I not only think they are good enough I really believe Bertrand Berry is going to be a situational player at best going forward. I like our DT position as I believe Watson will get better and don't dismiss Lewis as a contributor in the future.

As always good stuff.

 

[spanky1]

A good post Mitch and I have to admit I know very little about Pashos. I am still smarting at the loss of LD and although I know you don't agree I like someone presenting an alternative rather than just saying the great and powerful Whiz and Graves have everything under control.

I am really pleased with Brown but adding Steinback for competition and depth would be great.

Edwards is fine and I also wouldn't mind looking at June from Indy if we can't get him.

I would take Gaines or Anderson at #5 as I not only think they are good enough I really believe Bertrand Berry is going to be a situational player at best going forward. I like our DT position as I believe Watson will get better and don't dismiss Lewis as a contributor in the future.

As always good stuff.

With all due respect, Milford Brown isn't even close to Steinbach in terms of talent....if we can sign him, he starts at LG right away.

 

[PJ1]

With all due respect, Milford Brown isn't even close to Steinbach in terms of talent....if we can sign him, he starts at LG right away.

I know that and I wasn't clear. The depth would end up being Brown. Just saying if we don't get Steinback and Brown is our starter I would be ok with it. We do however have to get a LT.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

A good post Mitch and I have to admit I know very little about Pashos.

Good post Mitch ...

Heres a link with some info on Tony Pashos ...

http://blogs.baltimoresun.com/sports_football_ravens/2007/02/tony_pashos.html

 

[40yearfan]

Mitch, I hope the Cardinal FO reads this board. Thanks.

 

[lobo]

As always good stuff.[/quote]


I mentioned once before the Bears Ol is getting long in the tooth, and they have their eyes on Steinbach. He is a Chicago kid and has said he would like to play for the Bears. But enough $$$ will take care of that. Plus their are enough expatrioited Chicagoans in the Valley to keep him amused!!

 

[Redsz]

The third move is to sign UFA T Tony Pashos. Pashos is a big, mauling tackle who Russ Grimm can develop the way he started to develop Max Starks.

I like the look of Tony Pashos and I think he fit's in nicely with the power scheme Whiz and Grimm will most likely look to implement.

BAL had over 4 YPC off right end and tackle. And he gave up only two sacks with only a couple of penaltys.

 

[az1965]

I would love this plan, if it becomes a reality, Mitch!

 

[Goldfield]

Like allways MITCH, your stuff is great.

I would do backflips if your idea came true...

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I love reading your posts Mitch. You seem to always leave me wanting more.

 

[The Edge]

I just checked the Bears' site and it says Peterson was signed through 2006. Where did you get the 2009 signing?

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CHI/9531252

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=880172

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (June 28, 2006) -- Chicago Bears running back Adrian Peterson agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2009.

 

[Zeno]

I am on record as believing the Cards will not even have Steinbach in for a visit. They will look for depth(not starters) on the interior of the line and 1 starting OT, Steinbach is not an OT and he doesn't fit the "depth" description.

 

[az jam]

I have no problem with Joe Staley at #39...but...did you watch the one on one drills at the Senior Bowl? Ryan Kalil was so good in those drills...he even neutralized Tank Tyler, who is, IMO, as strong as any DT in this class. Given the choice I would go with Kalil.

Unfortunately he did so well that some are now projecting him to be a first round pick. He would be a great poick up for us in the second round. I'm sure that Matt would love to have his college center playing for us. So would Litui.

 

[PJ1]

Unfortunately he did so well that some are now projecting him to be a first round pick. He would be a great poick up for us in the second round. I'm sure that Matt would love to have his college center playing for us. So would Litui.

But do we need a center? I thought Leckey really came into his own last year.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

If we spend $28.5 million we will leave Dansby starving for his pie.