3 most important positions on the field: Franchise QB/LT/Pass Rusher. Do we have any?

[Lomax to Green 84]

Most GM's will say that in order to have sustained success in the NFL, a team needs a long term answer at quarterback, a solid to elite Left Tackle, and a pass rusher who can consistently get pressure.

My question: If the season started today, do we really have any of these positions filled.

Quarterback: Carson Palmer was solid to above average last year, but to suggest he is the long term answer beyond the next couple of years is not realistic.

Left Tackle: Bradley Sowell hardly fits the bill of a solid to elite Left Tackle.

Pass Rusher: We struck gold getting a great year out of an old John Abraham, but just like with Carson Palmer, to expect long term production out of Abraham is not realistic.

Is it possible to address all 3 positions this offseason? Free Agency appears to be the most logical avenue to fill the LT need. Maybe we get a shot at getting Brandon Albert, Eugene Monroe, or more realistically Roger Saffold. The long term quarterback solution would most likely need to be filled with a draft pick. Would a 2nd or 3rd round pick on either Jimmy Garrapalo or Zach Mettenberger fill that need?

I would be happy if we could fill 2 of the 3 this off season. If we can land the LT in free agency, I think going after the pass rusher in round 1 would make the most sense. Dee Ford appears to be gaining steam as a solid mid 1st round pick. My wildcard pick would be for the Cards to move up to grad Kalil Mack if he falls past Atlanta at #6. Not sure what it would take, but Steve Keim did say that if an impact player was targeted, the team would be willing to sacrifice picks to make it happen.

Just my thoughts on this incredibly cold, dreary day in good old Central Illinois.

 

[oaken1]

....LT via FA....pass rusher round 1......QB round two or three.......

very doable as long as the staff is willing to draft a QB to sit for a year or two.....IMO this is the year to draft one as we sure aint getting a QB with pick 32 next year....

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I dont think we have any of them. It is amazing to me that we won 10 games without one. Kudos to BA and the front office. Well exceeded my expectations.

 

[desertdawg]

I don't think you have to have a single elite pass rusher on this defense, as our pressure comes from multiple places. We have a complete defensive unit if Dansby comes back, I'm more worried about the back field once we get Dansby back. It would be nice to get one in the draft so the pay isn't so hardcore.

I think we plan on addressing LT soon, who knows who we land but it will be an improvement and Carson did make it the whole year last year. The LT will buy us time not only on the field, but real time too if we can keep Palmer upright. Carson may not be a franchise QB but he is above average and should improve this year. He's had a full year. the protection should be better, and if we get a speedster target out on the sidelines he might look the part... maybe.

I quit putting labels on this stuff a while ago, now it's just whether you hurt the team or help the team now.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I dont think we have any of them. It is amazing to me that we won 10 games without one. Kudos to BA and the front office. Well exceeded my expectations.

We won 10 games because we:

1. The Cardinals had, and currently have a good enough QB. Please, please, please, everyone who feels the need, stop saying we don't have a QB. We have a QB. Not a great one, just a borderline good one. In 2012, and 2011 we didn't have a QB. Seriously.

Do I want a QBOF ? YES! Do the Cardinals need one ? YES! But, lets not downplay the improvement in the QB area.


2. At left tackle the Cardinals FINALLY, realized Levi Brown does more harm than good out on the football field. Just by getting rid of Brown, the offensive line as a whole improved. Bradley Sowell get absolutely worked over in the final 3 games of the season, and showed he is a good band aid, but once the band aid's stickiness wears off, the wound is still there. Sowell played well enough (because he tried, and made an effort unlike the player he replaced) to get us 10 wins.

The Cardinals do NOT have a LT, and need one badly......like they always have.


3. As for pass rushing? Uh, yeah, 10 wins because John Abraham is insanely good, and you add the pass rush you get from the interior line and there was all the pressure you need to win 10 games in the NFL.

Of course we need a pass rusher for the future, but just like QBs, and LTs they are hard to come by. When Greg Hardy was franchised, it took the only real opportunity in free agency to fill this position off the board. If the Cardinals draft one in the 1st round that would be great, and there is at least 2 to 3 thousand OLBers ( ) going into camp next year.

Yes, there are needs, but the cup board is not bare at this current moment, but the expiration dates are too close for comfort, that I do agree with.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I don't think you have to have a single elite pass rusher on this defense, as our pressure comes from multiple places.

Really ?

So your expectations are for someone to come in and do a better job than Abraham did last year ?

That is a extremely small talent pool you are widdling it down to, IMO.

 

[desertdawg]

Really ?

So your expectations are for someone to come in and do a better job than Abraham did last year ?

That is a extremely small talent pool you are widdling it down to, IMO.

No man, I'm saying Abraham was not only talented in his production, I'm saying the system also was a part of it. I think it was a team effort and Abraham did a great job. Widdle down now, it's all good.

 

[Buckybird]

We won 10 games because we:

1. The Cardinals had, and currently have a good enough QB. Please, please, please, everyone who feels the need, stop saying we don't have a QB. We have a QB. Not a great one, just a borderline good one. In 2012, and 2011 we didn't have a QB. Seriously.

Do I want a QBOF ? YES! Do the Cardinals need one ? YES! But, lets not downplay the improvement in the QB area.


2. At left tackle the Cardinals FINALLY, realized Levi Brown does more harm than good out on the football field. Just by getting rid of Brown, the offensive line as a whole improved. Bradley Sowell get absolutely worked over in the final 3 games of the season, and showed he is a good band aid, but once the band aid's stickiness wears off, the wound is still there. Sowell played well enough (because he tried, and made an effort unlike the player he replaced) to get us 10 wins.

The Cardinals do NOT have a LT, and need one badly......like they always have.


3. As for pass rushing? Uh, yeah, 10 wins because John Abraham is insanely good, and you add the pass rush you get from the interior line and there was all the pressure you need to win 10 games in the NFL.

Of course we need a pass rusher for the future, but just like QBs, and LTs they are hard to come by. When Greg Hardy was franchised, it took the only real opportunity in free agency to fill this position off the board. If the Cardinals draft one in the 1st round that would be great, and there is at least 2 to 3 thousand OLBers ( ) going into camp next year.

Yes, there are needs, but the cup board is not bare at this current moment, but the expiration dates are too close for comfort, that I do agree with.

Rugby this post is dead on!!!

My biggest problem is...according to BA, we won't draft a potential high round QB unless he's gonna play. I know sometimes it's coachspeak, but this team needs to plan ahead for Carson's departure or were stuck just like the Kolb/DA/Skelton fiasco. I hope Carson plays 2-3 more productive years, but he's also a FA after this year I believe.

 

[desertdawg]

Rugby this post is dead on!!!

My biggest problem is...according to BA, we won't draft a potential high round QB unless he's gonna play. I know sometimes it's coachspeak, but this team needs to plan ahead for Carson's departure or were stuck just like the Kolb/DA/Skelton fiasco. I hope Carson plays 2-3 more productive years, but he's also a FA after this year I believe.

I would love to draft a QB if it plays out. 100% about it. Keim has the say so, and as I hope their relationship continues (BASK), it's the GM's job to do the planning and the shopping. I realize I am teeter tottering on a bad metaphor there, but they are both imprtant in every fashion. Arians does have the say on the field, aka Mendy starting a lot because he feels comfortable with Mendy.

I believe Bruce has a lot of pull with Steve, but it's Steve's job to look down the road and draft wisely. If someone is there that he thinks is pimp while we have a chance, I do see him going for it.

Drafts like this, there's no telling who is going to pan out. The midget and the krapper are just 2 of the latest examples. I am a fan of drafting waaaayyyy high when it comes to QBs, but I can't pick the star out of this Brady Bunch. I like johnny, the florida guy, and the injured dude.

 

[WildBB]

No i in TEAM.

They would be all good to have and some less successful teams have one or two of them!

 

[DoTheDew]

Quarterback: Carson Palmer was solid to above average last year, but to suggest he is the long term answer beyond the next couple of years is not realistic.

I don't see any reason why Palmer can't play at or above the level he played last year for another 3-4 years. Warner played great for us at the same age. Peyton had arguably his best year ever as a 37 year old. Farve had a couple great years that late too.

Obviously we'll need someone in 2017 or 2018 but if we drafted that guy this year he'd be on the end of his contract by the time Palmer retires.

 

[desertdawg]

I don't see any reason why Palmer can't play at or above the level he played last year for another 3-4 years. Warner played great for us at the same age. Peyton had arguably his best year ever as a 37 year old. Farve had a couple great years that late too.

Obviously we'll need someone in 2017 or 2018 but if we drafted that guy this year he'd be on the end of his contract by the time Palmer retires.

I totally agree but it does depend on who we draft and when, and if they can take the job.

 

[Catfish]

BA&SK have been here but one year. I believe that they will do what is necessary to field a team that can win now, (while they work on getting franchise type players at the positions that were mentioned). Gotta have faith that they can execute their plan.

 

[PitchShifter]

Rugby this post is dead on!!!

My biggest problem is...according to BA, we won't draft a potential high round QB unless he's gonna play. I know sometimes it's coachspeak, but this team needs to plan ahead for Carson's departure or were stuck just like the Kolb/DA/Skelton fiasco. I hope Carson plays 2-3 more productive years, but he's also a FA after this year I believe.

This is what I have an issue with as well. Unless you're picking top 2 or 3, you've got no chance of getting a top ranked rookie QB.

It seems a waste to have a guy like Tom Moore on staff if there's no long-term prospect to develop with that knowledge. Or is that were Stanton and Lindley come in? *shiver*

 

[Buckybird]

Or is that were Stanton and Lindley come in? *shiver*

Ugh

If BA feels either of those pieces of trash are NFL caliber a starters, then he really believed Levi was elite

 

[RugbyMuffin]

. Or is that were Stanton and Lindley come in? *shiver*

No cursing on the board !

 

[Chopper0080]

Looking at the big 3, the Cardinals have 0. But, what they do have, is some partials.

QB - Carson Palmer is not young nor a top 10 QB. But he is good enough to be successful. He will require a bit more help, but he is good enough to lead the Cardinals to wins for the next 2 or 3 years.

LT - Nada, but the Cards are in a position to add one FA.

OLB (Pass Rusher) - Similar situation to Palmer in that Abaraham is neither young or a top 10 pass rusher, but he can provide some production. Personally, I believe Abraham's sacks where a bit misleading in 2013. They came in bunches and rarely vs. top teams. That being said, 8 sacks is doable and the Cards are in a position to add a young player in the draft who can possibly get 8 sacks as well this year and then take the leap in 2015.