Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
People keep asking me what’s wrong with the Cardinals? The answer is easy; personnel. How fast can you name a top running back either drafted or signed by Graves? How about doing the same with an offensive tackle? Looking for a pass rusher? Well they did sign Bertrand Berry, but you’d be hard pressed to come up with another name. It’s quicker to think of the ones he missed, like Suggs.
Graves has done well drafting receivers, but then traded away one record setter and let another 1000yd (I know only once) receiver leave. Hoping for a top tight end? Well maybe Graves got you one on the downside of his career. That’s when Graves gets his best players. He seems to sign people based on their career stats. Think about Emmitt Smith, Edgerrin James, Vonnie Holliday (this season) and a host of others.
Fitzgerald had to pick out a quarterback for Graves! It’s not like Graves has typically been drafting late in rounds during his tenure. Oh sure he’s hit on a few mid-round selections, but even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. You would be hard pressed to find a more incompetent set of first round choices. Only Fitzgerald stands out. Rolle, DRC and Wells would be classed as serviceable. Wendell Bryant, Bryant Johnson, Pace, Leinart and Brown do not resemble first round quality. The Cards keeping talking about all the picks making the team. The only reason that happens is that those selections keep displacing underachievers from the previous drafts. They are usually not upgrades.
Once again this team will finish with a losing record in a division of teams with losing records. Another 7-9 winner (probably SF) will likely spell the end of teams with losing records going to the playoffs while 10 win teams watch. The Cards can keep bringing in DCs, but little will change. No one can defend with personnel of this quality. Unless the latest generation of Bidwills is seeking to be Dollar Bill the Second, he needs to remold this organization, not just this team. That process starts with Graves!
Graves has done well drafting receivers, but then traded away one record setter and let another 1000yd (I know only once) receiver leave. Hoping for a top tight end? Well maybe Graves got you one on the downside of his career. That’s when Graves gets his best players. He seems to sign people based on their career stats. Think about Emmitt Smith, Edgerrin James, Vonnie Holliday (this season) and a host of others.
Fitzgerald had to pick out a quarterback for Graves! It’s not like Graves has typically been drafting late in rounds during his tenure. Oh sure he’s hit on a few mid-round selections, but even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. You would be hard pressed to find a more incompetent set of first round choices. Only Fitzgerald stands out. Rolle, DRC and Wells would be classed as serviceable. Wendell Bryant, Bryant Johnson, Pace, Leinart and Brown do not resemble first round quality. The Cards keeping talking about all the picks making the team. The only reason that happens is that those selections keep displacing underachievers from the previous drafts. They are usually not upgrades.
Once again this team will finish with a losing record in a division of teams with losing records. Another 7-9 winner (probably SF) will likely spell the end of teams with losing records going to the playoffs while 10 win teams watch. The Cards can keep bringing in DCs, but little will change. No one can defend with personnel of this quality. Unless the latest generation of Bidwills is seeking to be Dollar Bill the Second, he needs to remold this organization, not just this team. That process starts with Graves!