3-year plan...

[NeverSayDieFan]

I've always believed that you can "turn" a franchise, ANY franchise, in 3-years. IF you don't then mgmt. isn't serious about winning. The "elements" you need are a good head coach & staff/ (3) years of solid drafts, and a few "key" free agent signings. I don't count the players in this equation because EVERY team has some talent on its' roster. OK...

Year #1- EVALUATION. Coach & staff evaluate 1st-hand their talent, or lack thereof. Usually, a "new" system is brought in and players are thinking MORE than reacting. The goal is change the mind-set of the players & fans. YES! Fans. Our role in this is HUGE! It's been said, NOTHING GREAT is ever accomplished with-out ENTHUSIASM!

Year #2-PROGRESS. Hopefully, there's been a taste of winning in the 1st year. Year #2 is approached with some-what guarded optimism. Hopefully the team will "gell" enough to make some noise. Maybe even find its' way to the play-offs. NOW, players, coaches, mgmt., fans, and even the jaded media say, Hey, something's going on with that team.

Year #3-CHALLENGE. OK. (2) years of moving in the right direction. There have been many positive changes. Now, it's time to make some serious noise. ALOT of hard work went into getting to this point but now that you're here it feels....GREAT!


OK! I ask you, my friends, aren't we about where we're supposed to be?? We're a team with strengths & weaknesses. The question is how quickly can we increase our strengths and lessen the weaknesses. As for the play-offs? That's why the word "upset" exists. It doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. GO CARDS!

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Very good post.

I went into this season hoping for 9-7, given that the win-loss record of our opponents was superior to last season. While sharing the frustration with others of a few missed opportunities and a few poorly played games, my optimism about the future of this team is intact.

Once had a dream of the Cards in the Super Bowl, and the one thing clearly remembered was that the QB was left-handed.

 

[Stronso]

Excellent points

I've always believed that you can "turn" a franchise, ANY franchise, in 3-years. IF you don't then mgmt. isn't serious about winning. The "elements" you need are a good head coach & staff/ (3) years of solid drafts, and a few "key" free agent signings. I don't count the players in this equation because EVERY team has some talent on its' roster. OK...

Year #1- EVALUATION. Coach & staff evaluate 1st-hand their talent, or lack thereof. Usually, a "new" system is brought in and players are thinking MORE than reacting. The goal is change the mind-set of the players & fans. YES! Fans. Our role in this is HUGE! It's been said, NOTHING GREAT is ever accomplished with-out ENTHUSIASM!

Year #2-PROGRESS. Hopefully, there's been a taste of winning in the 1st year. Year #2 is approached with some-what guarded optimism. Hopefully the team will "gell" enough to make some noise. Maybe even find its' way to the play-offs. NOW, players, coaches, mgmt., fans, and even the jaded media say, Hey, something's going on with that team.

Year #3-CHALLENGE. OK. (2) years of moving in the right direction. There have been many positive changes. Now, it's time to make some serious noise. ALOT of hard work went into getting to this point but now that you're here it feels....GREAT!


OK! I ask you, my friends, aren't we about where we're supposed to be?? We're a team with strengths & weaknesses. The question is how quickly can we increase our strengths and lessen the weaknesses. As for the play-offs? That's why the word "upset" exists. It doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. GO CARDS!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I agree NDSF...the NFL, moreso then anyother league, is judged on a week by week basis. You go from Super Bowl team to doghouse from week to week. Hell look at the Giants and Tennessee after what they have done all season.

This offseason is the most critical in franchise history. Its likely we will have some losses but we need to supplement those with depth and other good players to be a factor for years to come.

We have needs but I think for the most part we have the right people in place. Just need to bring in a couple guys of DRC and Haggans/Laboy level impact in the draft and FA and retain most of the guys around them.

I fear going after a new DC will hurt at least initally but its probably the right move at this point.

I'm more excited for this offseason then anyother. Going from chump to playoff contender is nice. Going from playoff team to contender is a whole other leap.

Wiz's tenure in AZ wil be defined by what happens this offseason.

 

[joeshmo]

While I agree about every given sunday and the theme of the post, I got to completely disagree with the term 3 year plan. That idea has gone completely by the wayside for years now. It is a win now league, and with free agency these days with each team having the ability to change their team a lot every year teams can easily go from zero to hero or hero to zero in seconds flat. There is no such thing as a 3 year plan anymore. Especially since the previous coach didnt leave us completely devoid of talent.

But I will say this I think it is John Madden who said this, "It is easy for a team to go from 3-13 to 9-7, but it is hard for a team to from 9-7 to a 10-6 legit playoff contender team." So true that is. That hump is the hardest part to get over, and Wiz is smack dab in the middle that task. This offseason will be his most important yet.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Very good post. You made a lot of points I am in total agreement with. I think we're at the beginning of a three year plan that could make this team real champions. I cannot understand people who see nothing but gloom and doom because of our losses this year. We are a team that is growing and building.

Nothing good comes easily. We learn from our mistakes and I think Choach Whiz is a man who will do just that.

The very fact that we won the first division championsip in more than 30 years speaks volumes. We've done it with rookies and veterans. We've won a few by the skin of our teeth but, Dang, how exciting is that?

Personally, I look forward to every remaining game. We've gone farther than most thought we would. Being in the playoffs lays a foundation for the team we will be next year.

I'm looking forward to the ride!

 

[Chopper0080]

I agree with Joe that it is totally a "win now, no excuse league." Atlanta and Miami have shown that with a unified focus and some solid personell moves you can move up in a hurry. I also agree that with the amount of turn over in this league it is simple to be a 9-7 pretender and very difficult to be a 10-6 contender.

This is where Arizona is. We are a pretender no matter what we want to believe. We do, however, have the opportunity to take a huge step this offseason to being a contender. Making this step will be determined by a couple organizational decisions that we have to make.

1-Warner or Leinart in 2009?
2-Warner or Leinart in 2011?
3-What is our offensive identity now, and what will it be without Warner?
4-How do we run the ball?
5-Sign Boldin to a new contract or trade him?
6-Who is our defensive coordinator in 2009?
7-What defensive scheme do we run in 2009?
8-What do we do with Dansby and Antonio Smith?
9-How do we get more of a pass rush?
10-How do we get more consistent as a team?
9-As a team

 

[conraddobler]

No we are not where we should be IMO.

Look I realize it takes a while to put a stamp on a team and that we're not the same old 4-12 Cardinals and for that I'm thankfull.

However I'd like to be able to see through the fog and see that the pain now will get me over the hump sometime soon and I see none of that.

I see our rungame going into reverse, I see our head coach holding onto Warner like a life jacket in a hurricane.

I see our defense degrading before my eyes and going backwards.

So no we're not where we need to be nor are we really heading the right way at the moment IMO.

 

[Chopper0080]

I hear what you are saying Conrad and you are right, we can't stay this course and have long term success.

So what do we do? Well first and foremost, we have to fix the running game, which also means we can't resign Warner. The reason here is obvious. Secondly we have to dedicate this offseason to improving our personel that impact the running game. Draft Alex Mack in the first round to give us a physical center, draft Brandon Pettigrew to give us a physical TE who can also catch the ball. This may not be the answer, but we have committ early draft picks and free-agent dollars to getting personel.

As far as the defense goes, the Cardinals are at another crossroads. In my opinion Clancy has had the opportunity to develop a consistent defense and he has failed to do that with his hybrid scheme. I believe that the Cardinals will sign a veteran DCoordinator (Marvin Lewis) who has an established scheme to make the most out of the Cardinals athleticsm on defense.

I think that we should make these changes in this offseason due to the fact that our division is so bad that we can commit to making this change, and still be competitive.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Good Responses, Guys!

Looks like Greg Williams will be available as a DC as well. To be a successful team you CANNOT fall behind by (14) points early. You can blame the Offense for the TO's that cause the problem in the 1st place, but the "D' has to limit the damage to FG's. (ie; The Mon. nite Redskin/Steelers' game) The 'skins had opportunities early but couldn't cash in. The other thing is if you do fall behind by (14), and you can't run with any success, you know their "D" will just pin its' ears back and rush. It's just too much to over-come. This will be a very interesting off-season in Arizona, and I think CP will be gone. GO CARDS!

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Totally agree! Next year the Cardinals should be able to make serious noise. It all start with making improvement up front. Also, resign Warner and keep him as starter.

 

[Stout]

I have to agree with Joe. In this salary-cap, FA era, you don't get huge windows any more. Teams can and have turned it around in one season, and they will do so again.

 

[john h]

I've always believed that you can "turn" a franchise, ANY franchise, in 3-years. IF you don't then mgmt. isn't serious about winning. The "elements" you need are a good head coach & staff/ (3) years of solid drafts, and a few "key" free agent signings. I don't count the players in this equation because EVERY team has some talent on its' roster. OK...

Year #1- EVALUATION. Coach & staff evaluate 1st-hand their talent, or lack thereof. Usually, a "new" system is brought in and players are thinking MORE than reacting. The goal is change the mind-set of the players & fans. YES! Fans. Our role in this is HUGE! It's been said, NOTHING GREAT is ever accomplished with-out ENTHUSIASM!

Year #2-PROGRESS. Hopefully, there's been a taste of winning in the 1st year. Year #2 is approached with some-what guarded optimism. Hopefully the team will "gell" enough to make some noise. Maybe even find its' way to the play-offs. NOW, players, coaches, mgmt., fans, and even the jaded media say, Hey, something's going on with that team.

Year #3-CHALLENGE. OK. (2) years of moving in the right direction. There have been many positive changes. Now, it's time to make some serious noise. ALOT of hard work went into getting to this point but now that you're here it feels....GREAT!


OK! I ask you, my friends, aren't we about where we're supposed to be?? We're a team with strengths & weaknesses. The question is how quickly can we increase our strengths and lessen the weaknesses. As for the play-offs? That's why the word "upset" exists. It doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. GO CARDS!

One thing you might add is to retain your good players and not lose them immediately when they become free agents. If we had the guys who are still playing in the NFL on the Cards team today we would likely be a pro bowl contender. It is absolutely amazing the good players we let go for one reason or another. A lot of it is our past history and a lot of it was stupidity on our part. Perhaps to save money? Who knows?

 

[Savage58]

I thought we'd be better at running the football by now tbh.

 

[CardLogic]

1-Warner or Leinart in 2009?
2-Warner or Leinart in 2011?

Your kidding right? Warner... in 2011??? That's three season's away. There is no freakin' way...

 

[Duckjake]

Your kidding right? Warner... in 2011??? That's three season's away. There is no freakin' way...

Maybe he was talking about kw working with Pasch and Wolfley.

 

[Chopper0080]

Basically from what I've heard is that Warner is looking for a 2 year deal after this season. So that would expire at the end of the 2010 season and we would have the decision to make in 2011 of who to start. My point was that we have to aknowledge that Warner won't play forever and if we signed him to a 2 year deal we would be up the creek in 2011.

My edit would be

2. Who QB's in 2011?

 

[CardLogic]

Basically from what I've heard is that Warner is looking for a 2 year deal after this season. So that would expire at the end of the 2010 season and we would have the decision to make in 2011 of who to start. My point was that we have to aknowledge that Warner won't play forever and if we signed him to a 2 year deal we would be up the creek in 2011.

My edit would be

2. Who QB's in 2011?

That's it. Part of the equation that Whis and the others will have to struggle with is if they continue to roll with Warner next season, what will they do the following season. It is to a lesser degree the dilemma that the Packers faced for several seasons with Farve.

Reports indicated the competition between Warner and Leinart was very close this past season in training camp. They should once again face open competition next year. Should that occur, hopefully Leinart will move up, thus settling the issue for the forseeable future.

Note: I say this not due to any favor of Leinart over Warner, but I feel that it would be best for the team.