Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
I say guess, because I am expecting a number of surprises. BA said recently that if a younger player at a lower salary is close to being as good as a veteran, he would go with the young player, because the coaches get to have him in the system longer, and obviously it helps the salary cap.
QB (3):
3 Carson Palmer
5 Drew Stanton
6 Caleb TerBush*
TerBush is a bigger, stronger athlete than Ryan Lindley---he's a project, but BA loves projects. I wrote an asterisk next to TerBush's name because it would not surprise me if BA&SK at some point sign Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch, especially if either Palmer or Stanton becomes somewhat limited due to an injury.
RB (3):
28 Rashard Mendenhall
30 Stepfan Taylor
38 Andre Ellington
Ryan Williams is likely to be traded. BA has said he might keep 4 RBs, but Williams isn't a good all-around fit in the offense and there are other stronger ST players, including rookies Taylor and Ellington. A 4th RB in a system that loves 3 down RBs isn't roster smart.
TE (5):
87 Jeff King
84 Rob Housler
86 D.C. Jefferson
46 Kyle Auffray
80 Alex Gottlieb*
Jefferson, Auffray and Gottlieb all bring STs ability and all are very good ahtletes. Jim Dray is too slow, and Kory Sperry fits BA's description of a veteran who can't separate from younger players. Gottlieb could overtake Mike Leach as the long snapper, thus allowing BA to keep 5 TEs.
OL (9):
75 Levi Brown
61 Jonathan Cooper
63 Lyle Sendlein
71 Daryn Colledge*
70 Bobbie Massey
76 Nate Potter
64 Senio Kelemete
73 Chilo Rachal
78 Earl Watford
While it not might be right away, it's very likely that Daryn Colledge will be replaced in the starting lineup and when he is he will be released. It's surprising to me that SK hasn't insisted on Colledge agreeing to cut his salary in half, much the way T Doug Free just had to do with the Cowboys. But if Colledge continues on at his current salary he will be released sooner than later. As soon as Earl Watford is ready---he's the starting RG. It will also be interesting to see if Senio Kelemete gets time at center and whether he can oust Lyle Sendlein at some point. If not, I expect the Cardinals to draft a center next year.
WR (6)
11 Larry Fitzgerald
12 Andre Roberts
15 Michael Floyd
19 Ryan Swope
10 Robert Gill
13 Jaron Brown
Swope, Gill and Brown are speed compliments to Fitzgerald, Roberts and Floyd and the goal is for all the WRs to play faster and emerge and big-time deep threats. Swope assumes the role that T.Y. Hilton played in Indy last year and Gill becomes the Donnie Avery vertical speed threat. Jaron Brown's ability to split the seams gives him the slight edge over LaRon Byrd, Dan Bucker and Michael Rios---and keep an eye on Tyler Shaw who has the speed and playmaking ability BA loves.
It wouldn't surprise me if BA keeps 7 WRs if he decided to go with 3 RBs and 4 TEs (instead of 5). While BA will use double TE formations from time to time, his WR talent is so promising that in my opinion BA will lean heavily toward 3 WR/1 TE sets---and, of course, 4 WR sets.
DL (7)
90 Darnell Dockett
93 Calais Campbell
92 Dan Williams
98 Frostee Rucker
79 David Carter
48 Dan Giordano
67 Padric Scott
While Ricky Lumpkin, Ronald Talley and Everette Thompson have legitimate chances here I think BA&TB are going to love the motors of Carter, Giordano and Scott. If they sign Sedric Ellis, then Scott may have to wait his turn on the PS.
ILB (5)
58 Daryl Washington
51 Kevin Minter
55 Karlos Dansby
54 Jasper Brinkley
56 Reggie Walker
Dansby, Brinkley and Walker might be used at OLB at times, especially Dansby, once Daryl Washington returns. Minter has an excellent chance to start at SILB, although Brinkley is going to be very solid on running downs. I think Brinkley and Walker have edge rush ability---so it will be interesting if they will be used in that capacity.
OLB (4)
97 Lorenzo Alexander
94 Sam Acho
91 Matt Shaughnessy
57 Alex Okafor
It would seem likely that O'Brien Schofield will be traded---that is unless he plays lights-out in camp and can separate himself. It wouldn't appear as if he is physical enough to command the edge, and all the off-season moves indicate that BA&TB want to build a tough, physically imposing defense, especially in the front seven. I think that there could be a surprise here---possibly Zach Nash or Tim Fugger---both are a year stronger and both have intriguing edge rush potential. Matt Shaughnessy is a player to get excited about.
CB (5)
21 Patrick Peterson
25 Jerraud Powers
20 Antoine Cason
35 Javier Arenas
31 Justin Bethel
Jamell Fleming looks to be this year's A.J. Jefferson trade chip. Justin Bethel is a better athlete and has a higher ceiling. Plus, Bethel is a STs star. Another CB that could very well work his way into the mix is Bryan McCann. And I think that Ronnie Yell will be stashed away on the PS and could be called up if and when needed.
S (4)
37 Jeremiah Bell
32 Tyrann Mathieu
49 Rashad Johnson
36 Tony Jefferson
Bell is the wizened veteran here. Johnson is coming into his own, and the young combo of Mathieu and Jefferson is very exciting. The coaches are going to want to try to keep a roster spot open for Jonathan Amaya, especially because of his ST prowess. It is hard to imagine him making it over Jefferson, however. Mathieu and Jefferson are potential stars.
ST (2)
4 Jay Feely
9 Dave Zastudil
Solid combo here. Mike Leach will have to stave off Alex Gottlieb, however. Leach is very good, so I may be wrong about Gottlieb getting the nod.
PS (8)
62 T Jamaal Johnson-Webb
68 C/G Adam Bice or 60 T/G Joe Caprioglio
33 RB William Powell
7 WR Tyler Shaw
1 WR Michael Rios
59 DE/OLB Zach Nash or 53 Tim Fugger
47 LB Korey Jones
43 CB Ronnie Yell
26 S Curtis Taylor
Where the roster may still need upgrades: 3rd QB, TE, NT, Edge rusher, S.
I will update this after each pre-season game or with new signings. It should be very interesting to watch. Wow!
Your thoughts?
QB (3):
3 Carson Palmer
5 Drew Stanton
6 Caleb TerBush*
TerBush is a bigger, stronger athlete than Ryan Lindley---he's a project, but BA loves projects. I wrote an asterisk next to TerBush's name because it would not surprise me if BA&SK at some point sign Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch, especially if either Palmer or Stanton becomes somewhat limited due to an injury.
RB (3):
28 Rashard Mendenhall
30 Stepfan Taylor
38 Andre Ellington
Ryan Williams is likely to be traded. BA has said he might keep 4 RBs, but Williams isn't a good all-around fit in the offense and there are other stronger ST players, including rookies Taylor and Ellington. A 4th RB in a system that loves 3 down RBs isn't roster smart.
TE (5):
87 Jeff King
84 Rob Housler
86 D.C. Jefferson
46 Kyle Auffray
80 Alex Gottlieb*
Jefferson, Auffray and Gottlieb all bring STs ability and all are very good ahtletes. Jim Dray is too slow, and Kory Sperry fits BA's description of a veteran who can't separate from younger players. Gottlieb could overtake Mike Leach as the long snapper, thus allowing BA to keep 5 TEs.
OL (9):
75 Levi Brown
61 Jonathan Cooper
63 Lyle Sendlein
71 Daryn Colledge*
70 Bobbie Massey
76 Nate Potter
64 Senio Kelemete
73 Chilo Rachal
78 Earl Watford
While it not might be right away, it's very likely that Daryn Colledge will be replaced in the starting lineup and when he is he will be released. It's surprising to me that SK hasn't insisted on Colledge agreeing to cut his salary in half, much the way T Doug Free just had to do with the Cowboys. But if Colledge continues on at his current salary he will be released sooner than later. As soon as Earl Watford is ready---he's the starting RG. It will also be interesting to see if Senio Kelemete gets time at center and whether he can oust Lyle Sendlein at some point. If not, I expect the Cardinals to draft a center next year.
WR (6)
11 Larry Fitzgerald
12 Andre Roberts
15 Michael Floyd
19 Ryan Swope
10 Robert Gill
13 Jaron Brown
Swope, Gill and Brown are speed compliments to Fitzgerald, Roberts and Floyd and the goal is for all the WRs to play faster and emerge and big-time deep threats. Swope assumes the role that T.Y. Hilton played in Indy last year and Gill becomes the Donnie Avery vertical speed threat. Jaron Brown's ability to split the seams gives him the slight edge over LaRon Byrd, Dan Bucker and Michael Rios---and keep an eye on Tyler Shaw who has the speed and playmaking ability BA loves.
It wouldn't surprise me if BA keeps 7 WRs if he decided to go with 3 RBs and 4 TEs (instead of 5). While BA will use double TE formations from time to time, his WR talent is so promising that in my opinion BA will lean heavily toward 3 WR/1 TE sets---and, of course, 4 WR sets.
DL (7)
90 Darnell Dockett
93 Calais Campbell
92 Dan Williams
98 Frostee Rucker
79 David Carter
48 Dan Giordano
67 Padric Scott
While Ricky Lumpkin, Ronald Talley and Everette Thompson have legitimate chances here I think BA&TB are going to love the motors of Carter, Giordano and Scott. If they sign Sedric Ellis, then Scott may have to wait his turn on the PS.
ILB (5)
58 Daryl Washington
51 Kevin Minter
55 Karlos Dansby
54 Jasper Brinkley
56 Reggie Walker
Dansby, Brinkley and Walker might be used at OLB at times, especially Dansby, once Daryl Washington returns. Minter has an excellent chance to start at SILB, although Brinkley is going to be very solid on running downs. I think Brinkley and Walker have edge rush ability---so it will be interesting if they will be used in that capacity.
OLB (4)
97 Lorenzo Alexander
94 Sam Acho
91 Matt Shaughnessy
57 Alex Okafor
It would seem likely that O'Brien Schofield will be traded---that is unless he plays lights-out in camp and can separate himself. It wouldn't appear as if he is physical enough to command the edge, and all the off-season moves indicate that BA&TB want to build a tough, physically imposing defense, especially in the front seven. I think that there could be a surprise here---possibly Zach Nash or Tim Fugger---both are a year stronger and both have intriguing edge rush potential. Matt Shaughnessy is a player to get excited about.
CB (5)
21 Patrick Peterson
25 Jerraud Powers
20 Antoine Cason
35 Javier Arenas
31 Justin Bethel
Jamell Fleming looks to be this year's A.J. Jefferson trade chip. Justin Bethel is a better athlete and has a higher ceiling. Plus, Bethel is a STs star. Another CB that could very well work his way into the mix is Bryan McCann. And I think that Ronnie Yell will be stashed away on the PS and could be called up if and when needed.
S (4)
37 Jeremiah Bell
32 Tyrann Mathieu
49 Rashad Johnson
36 Tony Jefferson
Bell is the wizened veteran here. Johnson is coming into his own, and the young combo of Mathieu and Jefferson is very exciting. The coaches are going to want to try to keep a roster spot open for Jonathan Amaya, especially because of his ST prowess. It is hard to imagine him making it over Jefferson, however. Mathieu and Jefferson are potential stars.
ST (2)
4 Jay Feely
9 Dave Zastudil
Solid combo here. Mike Leach will have to stave off Alex Gottlieb, however. Leach is very good, so I may be wrong about Gottlieb getting the nod.
PS (8)
62 T Jamaal Johnson-Webb
68 C/G Adam Bice or 60 T/G Joe Caprioglio
33 RB William Powell
7 WR Tyler Shaw
1 WR Michael Rios
59 DE/OLB Zach Nash or 53 Tim Fugger
47 LB Korey Jones
43 CB Ronnie Yell
26 S Curtis Taylor
Where the roster may still need upgrades: 3rd QB, TE, NT, Edge rusher, S.
I will update this after each pre-season game or with new signings. It should be very interesting to watch. Wow!
Your thoughts?
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