53 Man Roster and 8 Man PS Assessments

[Mitch]

Week 1 Assessments

QB (3): SKELTON, Kolb, Lindley.

While the media is making a big deal out of Kolb being listed #1 on the depth chart and being named this week's starter----the fact that this is a rare 5 game pre-season means that if Kolb and Skelton keep flip-flopping, it would be Skelton who gets the most important start in the pre-season, the one on August 23rd at Tennessee on ESPN. That's the game where teams play the starters for the whole first half.

If the Cardinals were that high on Rich Bartel they could have felt better about not keeping Kolb---or---they wouldn't have drafted a young QB. Then, the other night it was reported that Lindley received more snaps with the second team than Bartel.

RB (3): WELLS, Williams, Stephens-Howling.

All three of them will be used sparingly during the pre-season. The Cardinals can not afford to keep a 4th RB---there are too many other important roster decisions to make.

If the Cardinals do keep a 4th RB it will either be Alfonso Smith or a waiver wire pickup.

Look for William Powell to be a strong candidate for the PS. He rushed well on the goal-line last week---very quick and sneaky getting over the goal-line.

FB (1): SHERMAN.

The backup Jared Crank has a chance for the PS---

Funny aside: the FB unit is "Sherman Crank."

TE (3): HOUSLER, Heap, Dray.

This will change once King comes off the PUP---but, again, it would not be a good decision to keep 4 TEs this year---not with the key decisions that need to be made at OL and DB.

Steve Skelton and Martell Webb have huge opportunities to impress. They are both still PS eligible.

OL (9): BROWN, COLLEDGE, SENDLEIN, SNYDER, BRIDGES, Massie, Kelemete, Hochstein, Potter.

The pick is Hochstein over Batiste and Stewart, because he is a more polished and versatile veteran---and the other three keepers are rookies.

Bridges (T, G) and Snyder(G, C, T) give the unit flexibility---which is why the coaches can keep the three rookies.

Potter over D.J. Young is a very close call. Young is still PS eligible---and because Potter is a little more athletic and versatile, he gets the nod.

Scott Wedige will likely be the new PS center. He looks solid.

WR (6): FITZGERALD, ROBERTS, Doucet, Floyd, Sampson, Byrd.

The Cardinals like to keep 6 WRs. Sampson and Byrd can be factors on STs, which is what the team needs with its #5 and #6 WRs.

Jaymar Johnson, Steven Williams, Isaiah Williams, Tre Gray and Gino Crump have great chances to turn heads.

NT (2): WILLIAMS, Cohen.

Carter plays some here occasionally, but he is going to spend a good deal of time at DE. Cohen is a solid addition.

Ricky Lumpkin may keep his PS spot another year.

DE (5): DOCKETT, CAMPBELL, Carter, Eason, Holliday.

Ronald Talley has to beat out Eason or Cohen, and he can if he rises up as a 4 man pass rusher and ST contributor.

ILB (4): WASHINGTON, LENON, Bradley, Walker.

A youngster such as Quan Sturdivant, Paul Vassalo, Marcus McGraw or Colin Parker could sneak in here---but it's a long shot.

OLB (4): ACHO, SCHOFIELD, Haggans, B. Williams.

Too bad Zach Nash has a sprained ankle. Coaches have liked what they saw from him in OTAs.

Quentin Groves makes the roster of he can show a strong edge rush.

CB (6): PETERSON, GAY, Fleming, Adams, Toler, Jefferson.

Crezdon Butler may make this decision even more difficult---and there could well be the possibility of a CB trade toward the end of the pre-season, because there is trade value here.

Larry Parker looks like a PS lock---and James Nixon could be a PS consideration as well.

S (4): WILSON, RHODES, Johnson, Bethel.

If a CB trade is made, S James Sanders or CB/S Crezdon Butler makes the roster.

ST (3): FEELY, LEACH, ZASTUDIL.

PS (8): Powell-RB, Webb-TE, Young-T, Wedige-C, Nash-OLB, C. Parker-LB, L. Parker-CB, Elder-S.

First Edits: After the game tonight or tomorrow morning! GO CARDINALS!

Post yours!

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Can't really add anything. Solid piece.

Tell me more about "Cohen"

* you may want to delete the very last line in your post.

 

[dylanbw]

Great analysis Mitch. I keep waiting for Stephen Williams to live up to his potential.....hopefully the lightbulb goes on for him real soon. Agreed that a CB trade is likely, given our depth.

It's a good roster, but as we all know it's really going to come down to getting good QB play.

 

[Catfish]

Nice work Mitch. I think you have done your homework very well. I'm not ready to concede the QB slot to Skeletor just yet though. I don't believe we have seen the best of Kolb as yet. I am starting to feel somewhat better about our QB situation, though at this point it is just a feeling, (not anything more substantial).

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, agree with your "Big Picture" but some of my pieces are different. Here's my take, which along with 50 cents, will get you a senior coffee at McDonald's:
1. QB-Check
2. RB-With the injury issue of Wells and Williams, I'd be shocked if we didn't keep four RB's. Probably Smith with Powell a possibility.
3. FB-A Sherman Crank, a good one.
4. TE-With Whiz being a former TE, this position always seems to benefit at final cut time. I'm expecting the same four as last year.
5. OL-Agree with the number (9) and your starters. Hochstein (Sp?) as a vet seems logical, along with Massie and Kelemete. I'm going with Stewart as my ninth.
6. WR-I'm guessing five, and have no idea who'll be the fifth at this time.
7. DL-I'm saying six with Carter, Eason and Holiday as the reserves. Holiday will have to show in the PS that he still has it.
8. ILB-Check
9. OLB-Groves over Williams. Just a guess. But here in NY I'm hearing a lot of Jets talk of how good Aaron Maybin is since he's changed positions or schemes. I'm hoping the same for Groves.
10.CB-Only five with Adams beating out Jefferson. Jefferson and Butler are trade possibilities.
11.S-I'd go with five and add Sanders.
12.P-Wouldn't be surprised to see Zad replaced by a waiver wire pickup.
13.PS expect about three or four to be off the WW.

 

[joeshmo]

Can't really add anything. Solid piece.

Tell me more about "Cohen"

* you may want to delete the very last line in your post.

Cohen hasn't even taken any snaps at NT, and isn't even on the depth chart for NT. Its Williams, then Carter, then Lumpkin. He is only 25 but is already on his 5th team. With the current depth on the DL, it is going to be tough for anyone outside of the top 6 to make the 53 man roster, that is if we keep more then 6 DL on the top 53, which we didn't keep more then 6 last year. It could happen but I don't see any reason for keeping more then 6 this year either. That Cohen spot would be much better served on a 4th RB, for the same reasons as Garthshrot stated.

 

[Mitch]

CC---Thanks I saw that and corrected it. Cohen was playing NT on the second string d-line at the Red & White with Carter playing LDE. Saw that myself on NFL Network (didn't you, Joe?). Cohen played reasonably well for the Patriots at NT and DE in spot duty---notice that we are now picking up players who were once Patriots (thanks to Jason Licht, the new DOPP)---James Sanders, Ross Hochstein, Rich Ohmberger, etc.

Dylan---Stevie Williams trained at camp Fitzgerald again this year, so I suspect he will be primed to make his move. The problem with him is---his STs value isn't high and he will have a tough time making the roster w/o ST ability.

Fish---I have been reading your thoughts on Kolb, and if you are correct, my hat is off to you. I just don't see him as being good for the psyche of this team. I think we now have a very physical approach in an effort to out-hit the Niners, the Seahawks and the Rams. The Cardinals' players are tired of getting pushed around---and they learned their swagger last season from becoming tough. Did you see the players' reaction at the night practice to Skelton's bootleg TD? Did you notice how they ran over to him? Did you notice too that Lyle Sendlein even head-bumped him (w/o his helmet on---not so smart---but symbolic of what this team is trying to become: tough, hard-nosed and physical).

Garth---You are right that Whisenhunt wants to keep as many TEs and he can, which is ironic considering how little production the Cardinals have gotten from the TE position during Whisenhunt's tenure. Rob Housler can change all that this year---and to a certain extent Jeff King paved the way last year. But---I don't see how they could possibly keep 4 RBs and 4 TEs, unless they decide to cut one or two of the rookie OL-men and go with 8 OL. One thing to remember too is that Whisenhunt has almost always kept 6 WRs, which is fitting in that this offense is more geared toward the WRs than the TEs or RBs. As for A.J. Jefferson---I may be flat-out wrong, but I think he is a lock to make the roster, because he has all the physical ability Horton wants and they believe he will keep improving as he learns the system. I think they would be less inclined to keep Toler because he becomes an UFA next year and with Gay, Fleming and Jefferson returning, Toler wouldn't be offered the kind of $$$ he would command, if healthy. I agree with you on Mike Adams---he's already made the roster.

Interesting, but I read this week that Horton went into camp already knowing who his #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 CBs were in order. I think we will soon have a pretty good sense of what Horton's pecking order is.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Sherman Crank - I, too, think this is good.

I like your analysis of Hochstein with the other 3 rookies. Charlie Casserly was pumping up Potter before the scrimmage. But he still didn't run with the second teamers, so we shall see.

My flier - We sign Cedric Benson. Between Wells and Williams, at least one will not be able to go, unfortunately.

I'm going with Crezdon Butler over Jefferson. And I think we could get a surprising cut in the secondary - that no one sees coming right now. Who it is, I don't know.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, historically you are correct about the six WR's (as well as one or two on the PS). But this year, other than Byrd we don't seem to have an extra WR who would be good for ST's. Keep in mind even with six WR's, one was ALWAYS inactive. And in your TE argument you mentioned Rob Housler. I'm expecting him to contribute more this year, lessening the need for addl WR's. And speaking of TE's, with Heap taking a paycut, I.m guessing they'll keep him. That might change if and when KIng comes back healthy. And Dray, or Webb, or Skelton is also Sherman's backup. Horton has addl power this year, no longer a newbie, and that might translate to one more defender on the final 53. My guess is 25/25/3, which is what you have as well. In the past it seemed offense 26 and defense 24.

 

[joeshmo]

CC---Thanks I saw that and corrected it. Cohen was playing NT on the second string d-line at the Red & White with Carter playing LDE. Saw that myself on NFL Network (didn't you, Joe?).

Cohen was not playing NT or NT technique. He was playing DT like Dockett, Campbell, and Eason do on certain fronts. You saw some clips on TV, I saw 4 days of practices in person.

And there was lots of people going in and out on the second unit, doesn't make them a second stringer, just experimenting, and testing guys. Coaches play with that second, third, and fourth units moving players in and out all the time.

 

[Duckjake]

Cohen was not playing NT or NT technique. He was playing DT like Dockett, Campbell, and Eason do on certain fronts. You saw some clips on TV, I saw 4 days of practices in person.

And there was lots of people going in and out on the second unit, doesn't make them a second stringer, just experimenting, and testing guys. Coaches play with that second, third, and fourth units moving players in and out all the time.

The way Horton moves guys around how can you tell? I've been watching some replays and sometimes I have to pause the video to figure out who is lining up where. I hope Horton confuses offenses like he does me.

 

[27Veer]

Thank you, I always look forward to your analysis.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Dray has stuggled in camp so far and was called out by Whis for drops. Jefferson has been playing well.

 

[Duckjake]

Dray has stuggled in camp so far and was called out by Whis for drops. Jefferson has been playing well.

Dray is the last of the good guys but worthless CKW Tight Ends. Patrick*, Bienemann,Tuman, Becht, Spach...

King, Heap, Housler. What a leap forward at the position for Arizona.

*Patrick wasn't much good but he did get the 2point conversion in the NFC Championship game and is the only Cardinal other than Larry Fitzgerald to catch a TD pass in a SuperBowl.

 

[Mitch]

Best To Worst Performances in Game 1:

QB:

1-Skelton
2-Lindley
3-Bartel
4-Kolb

RB:

1-Stephens-Howling
2-Smith
3-Powell
4-Clayton

FB:

1-Sherman

TE:

1-Housler
2-Skelton
3-Dray

LT:

1-Brown
2-Young
3-Potter

LG:

1-Colledge
2-Kelemete

C:

1-Sendlein
2-Wedige

RG:

1-Batiste
2-Snyder
3-Stewart

RT:

1-Bridges
2-Massie

WR:

1-Fitzgerald
2-Byrd
3-Roberts
4-Floyd
5-Johnson

NT:

1-Williams
2-Lumpkin

DE:

1-Campbell
2-Carter
3-Talley
4-Holliday
5-Cohen

ILB:

1-Washington
2-Bradley
3-Lenon
4-Parker
5-Vassallo
6-Walker

OLB:

1-Acho
2-Schofield
3-Groves
4-Haggans
5-Williams

CB:

1-Peterson
2-Parker
3-Fleming
4-Gay
5-Jefferson
6-Toler
7-Adams

S:

1-Bethel
2-Gideon
3-Elder
4-Rhodes
5-Johnson
6-Sanders

K/P:

1-Zastudil
2-Feely
3-Schmitt


ST:

1-Bethel
2-Adams
3-Sherman
4-Sampson

New Roster Edits Tomorrow

 

[Duckjake]

Bethel takes Mike Adams roster spot. I love the way Money Mike plays but he is just too small at 5'8".

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, here's where I disagree with the guys who played, last night.
1. RB-Smith #1
2. WR-Johnson #5 if there were only five playing. Didn't show me anything.
3. ILB-Bradley #1
4. OLB-Groves #1
5. CB-Jefferson after Toler. Based on the HOF game, I see both Jefferson and Adams being cut, but there is still a lot of PS left.

I can't believe how many posters are forming opinions based on ONE game, Especially the first game. One plus of KK being hurt is that the other three QB's will get more reps this week. B/t/w Mitch, in your evaluation of the positions from last night, I didn't see Fleming, and now he's there. Did I just overlook him? Also, the OL really benefitted from extended PT, last night. I feel it will help down the road.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I can't believe how many posters are forming opinions based on ONE game, Especially the first game.

I can't believe you are surprised. It is most fans' chance to see the team and make assessments.

What did you expect ? One post stating the start time of the next preseason game, and zero posts added since Friday ?

 

[Darkside]

I can't believe how many posters are forming opinions based on ONE game, Especially the first game.

It's one game for a lot of guys, like Massie, Floyd, some others. But when it comes to QB it's not just one game. Either of them should have separated themselves from the other in camp and they didn't, so the only real place to judge is during live football, even if it's merely preseason. Skelton separated himself, wouldn't you say? Massie played like crap. Snyder played like crap. And there's really no excuse for Snyder, he's not a rook and has played in live games many times. Levi Brown got beat and should have been called for holding in the end zone but didn't, then got beat again later.

I agree with the guys on Sirius, who said in camp it's all excused, but in games, even preseason games your tendencies come out. Everyone said Massie looked awesome in camp, but come live games, he got worked, over and over. Skelton looked bad in camp, but come live games, he played better than Kolb. People said our D as a whole looked exceptional in camp, but come live games we can't even tackle.

Live games tell you what you are. It's only one game, sure, but that's what we are right now.