2007 Cardinals: The Whisard of AZ

[Shogun]

Way to steal my news title.

 

[red desert]

I hope your drinking a cold one, Mitch.

go cards!!

 

[az jam]

Well Mitch you and I are in agreement on this hiring. I also never really considered him as I thought he would get the Steeler job or the Falcons would grab him. He is really the right man at the right time for the Cards. I think he will work fine with Graves and there won't be an issue of egos. I'm looking forward to the press conference on Tuesday.

 

[WildBB]

I must admit that I was hoping that Whisenhunt would bring the Steelers' vaunted 3-4 defense to Arizona by hiring one of the Steeler defensive coaches. The Cardinals have 3-4 personnel in place if they ever decided to make the switch. They could plug the massive Gabe Watson in at NT, play Dockett and Clancy at DTs, Dansby, Okeafor and perhaps Adalius Thomas (UFA) at OLB and Gerald Hayes and Monte Beisel at ILB. Perhaps Whis can discuss this option with CP...and CP has toyed with the 3-4 the past couple of years anyway.

It will be interesting to see how the staff takes shape in the days and weeks ahead....and what coaches Whis will be able to have join him from the staff in Pittsburgh.

That will be freaking awsome , running a 3-4 package. With the personell we have it would be real hard to stop the blitz by the opposing Offense. We'd need another ILB and Thomas at ROLB.

 

[Assface]

7. The excitement just thinking about the way Whis will use Anquan Boldin in Hines Ward's role. Now we need a Randle-El-like slot buster on the other side.

Although we're used to compairing Anquan's game to Hines Ward I think Fitz is Ward and Boldin the Randl-El role. I think our best 3WR formation is Fitz and BJ on the outside with Boldin in the slot (preferable on Fitz's side so if they roll both safeties to cover them BJ has 1 CB between him and the endzone with no deep help.) Remember, Anquan also played QB in college (pretty well, too) and can be very effective in that slash role. I'm looking forward to seeing him on endarounds, reverses and fakes.

 

[WildBB]

4. He has a Super Bowl ring...and called great games during the Steelers' stretch as #6 seed to Super Bowl Champions (all road wins). And he called a great game in the Super Bowl, which, to me, means that he can deliver when the pressure is the highest.

As you know, I was hoping for Norm Chow, but...like I said, I didn't think the Cardinals had that great a shot at Whisenhunt...and because of Whisenhunt's youth, NFL playing experience and success as an NFL OC, I have to applaud the Bidwills and Rod Graves for this choice. The process certainly frustrated me...so I want to thank of all you who remained far more patient with the process than I. The key thing is...the Cardinals signed a first-rate talent and the kind of coach who can make football in Arizona very exciting for years to come.

Yes - we have alot to be excited about - for real , not just blather...ie Buddy and DG ect.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Although we're used to compairing Anquan's game to Hines Ward I think Fitz is Ward and Boldin the Randl-El role. I think our best 3WR formation is Fitz and BJ on the outside with Boldin in the slot (preferable on Fitz's side so if they roll both safeties to cover them BJ has 1 CB between him and the endzone with no deep help.) Remember, Anquan also played QB in college (pretty well, too) and can be very effective in that slash role. I'm looking forward to seeing him on endarounds, reverses and fakes.

I think he only played 1 game at QB and that was his senior year in their bowl game out of necessity. But, i remember him almost single handedly winning that game for them.

 

[JeffGollin]

One thing that occurred to me was that, under Whisenhut's supervision, the Steelers ran the ball effectively with big backs like the Bus and the Deuce. Then - when Staley and Bettis weren't available - they ran the ball effectively with a smaller homerun hitter like Willie Parker.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The amazing part of the Cardinals' hiring of Ken Whisenhunt as their head coach is that the Bidwills weren't Bidwill-like in the way they did business.

John Clayton ESPN.com

 

[BigDavis75]

I really like the pickup of Wisenhunt, he seems like a young, hungry coach.

 

[PAQ77]

Great hire... I'm aboard the Whiz-train, baby!

 

[Wild Card]

Whisenhunt worked with Bill Cowher who used the following criteria in building the Steeler team:

• Don’t sign big-name and big-price free agents.
  
• Build your talent base through the draft.
  
• Sign your own talent to long-term contracts when you still have control of them before they become free agents.
  
• Let players go one year early rather than one year late.
  
• Sign mid-level free agents to fill holes i.e. Kimo von Oehlhoffen, James Farrior, Cedrick Wilson.

It will be interesting to see if he will apply that same rationale here in Phoenix.

Ron:

I'm not sure how much of the above list you can credit to Bill Cowher, or can expect Ken Whisenhunt to control in Arizona. Although the HC may have input in some/all of these areas, the GM (or equivalent position) normally has greater responsibility for free agency, the draft, and player contracts. And we've been led to believe that the guy in charge of those matters for the Cardinals is Rod Graves. Unless Rod has recently begun taking extension classes from the Pittsburgh front office, I wouldn't expect the Cardinals to emulate the Steelers in terms of personnel management anytime soon, simply as a result of hiring that team's OC as their new head coach.

WC