Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
My first impression of this season is that much of it will hinge on the training staff’s ability to tape up the players and keep them going. The Cap has made depth in the NFL a luxury, so a few injuries in the wrong places can doom most any team. The Cards would seem to have less margin for error at key positions than a typical playoff bound team.
Before turning to the Cards it’s worth considering the NFC West competition. There isn’t much. The only legitimate threat comes from the somewhat recently successful Seahawks. Injuries killed them off last year, but mostly they just got too old. Their offensive line hasn’t been effective since Hutchison left and they may soon have to wheel Jones out to his spot. He can’t be happy about the switch to a new blocking scheme (modified zone), so if they get to 8-8, they’ve done a good job. If Hasselbeck goes down, this could well be another totally lost year. Mora is better than he gets credit for being, but he’s no miracle worker.
The Niners told us what they thought about the upcoming season when they traded away a draft pick for a next year’s number one. They see themselves as at least a year away and who am I to argue. St, Louis will continue its history of NFL season ticket holders being abused by the resident team. Can a threatened move back to LA be far away? Perhaps they could play half their games in each city and rip-off both of them at once.
By now it’s clear that I think a winning season will put the Cards in the playoffs. Keep in mind the Cards made last year’s playoffs by default. There is no discounting their impressive run in those playoffs, but can they sustain that level of play for a season? Historically teams coming out of the Super Bowl struggle. They typically lose key players to free agency and have mediocre drafts due to a low draft position. The Cards lost a couple of good players but they didn’t lose key players to free agency. The draft, while helpful, leaves several positions very vulnerable.
On offense I tend to discount Warner’s pre-season struggles. The hip may be bothering him, but if the line can protect him; he will be good enough to get the job done. He has the best wide receiver group in the league and the Cards would put points on the board if Jerry Jones called the plays. They’ll make some painful turnovers, but hopefully they will be in non-win situations. Where you’ll see the biggest improvement is at running back. I think Wells will stay relatively healthy and he will be a huge upgrade over Hightower and the departed Mr. James. Hightower will still get most of the goal line carries. Wells is the best (prime years of a career) back the Cards have had since Otis Anderson. He will take the pressure off Warner and force teams to play straight-up defense. Keep an eye on Dominique Byrd. I liked him coming out of college and until Patrick comes back he may be the best receiving tight end the Cards have. I expect they will also use him at fullback in a similar safety valve role.
The line looks better inside and massive Mount Johnson could well prove a 5th round steal. He’s amazingly mobile for his size. My concern remains at tackle. Gandy’s losing speed and Keith did not step up to challenge him. Brown still looks vulnerable to speed rushers. Overall the line still struggles too much with blitzes, especially when you consider how long they’ve played as a unit.
The defense presents issues at several positions. It’s disappointing that Watson couldn’t take the nose tackle spot away from Bryan Robinson. It’s not that Robinson is poor, but that no one offers an impact player at that slot. At end I think Campbell will be an upgrade offering more versatility and move geographic coverage. He may develop into a player who takes some of the heat off Dockett.
The inside linebackers might be the best duo in the league, but the outside linebackers are getting long in the tooth and guile is rarely effective for 16 games. Before his season-ending injury Cody Brown was expected to help and the absence of youth is a major concern at this spot. Collectively this group must get to the passer and I have my doubts. It did look like they finally recalled the Dansby is an outstanding rusher, so that may help with the options.
You could see in the pre-season how the lack of a decent rush impacted the corners. Of course the Cards didn’t show everything, but it would be a disaster if this team goes back to the old mode of ruining corners by constantly asking them to cover with no rush. DRC is just learning the game and has an impressive upside. Setting him up for failure should not be an option. Beyond that there is little depth at corner. If they lose a starter, I see no viable option at corner for a prolonged absence.
Safety play should be improved. Rolle showed steady improvement last season and Johnson offers potential.
Special teams look solid, but thing would have been better had the Cards acquired a versatile return specialist.
The Cards played their typical close-to-the-vest pre-season showing little of their offense or blitz packages, so there is no reason for the doom and gloom I've been seeing.
Still looking back at vulnerabilities, an injury to Wells, a starting CB or a starting tackle could make this a very disappointing season.
I see some publication putting the Cards at 11-5. Sorry, but I don’t see things as that rosy. I think they hover around a .500 record for most of the season. They should finish by winning 3 or 4 of their last 4 games. That would leave them at 9-7 or 10-6. Either record should win the West.
It will be interesting to see if Graves can resolve any of the long term contract issues as the season progresses. If not, the next off-season will be the most critical in the history of the franchise in Arizona.
Before turning to the Cards it’s worth considering the NFC West competition. There isn’t much. The only legitimate threat comes from the somewhat recently successful Seahawks. Injuries killed them off last year, but mostly they just got too old. Their offensive line hasn’t been effective since Hutchison left and they may soon have to wheel Jones out to his spot. He can’t be happy about the switch to a new blocking scheme (modified zone), so if they get to 8-8, they’ve done a good job. If Hasselbeck goes down, this could well be another totally lost year. Mora is better than he gets credit for being, but he’s no miracle worker.
The Niners told us what they thought about the upcoming season when they traded away a draft pick for a next year’s number one. They see themselves as at least a year away and who am I to argue. St, Louis will continue its history of NFL season ticket holders being abused by the resident team. Can a threatened move back to LA be far away? Perhaps they could play half their games in each city and rip-off both of them at once.
By now it’s clear that I think a winning season will put the Cards in the playoffs. Keep in mind the Cards made last year’s playoffs by default. There is no discounting their impressive run in those playoffs, but can they sustain that level of play for a season? Historically teams coming out of the Super Bowl struggle. They typically lose key players to free agency and have mediocre drafts due to a low draft position. The Cards lost a couple of good players but they didn’t lose key players to free agency. The draft, while helpful, leaves several positions very vulnerable.
On offense I tend to discount Warner’s pre-season struggles. The hip may be bothering him, but if the line can protect him; he will be good enough to get the job done. He has the best wide receiver group in the league and the Cards would put points on the board if Jerry Jones called the plays. They’ll make some painful turnovers, but hopefully they will be in non-win situations. Where you’ll see the biggest improvement is at running back. I think Wells will stay relatively healthy and he will be a huge upgrade over Hightower and the departed Mr. James. Hightower will still get most of the goal line carries. Wells is the best (prime years of a career) back the Cards have had since Otis Anderson. He will take the pressure off Warner and force teams to play straight-up defense. Keep an eye on Dominique Byrd. I liked him coming out of college and until Patrick comes back he may be the best receiving tight end the Cards have. I expect they will also use him at fullback in a similar safety valve role.
The line looks better inside and massive Mount Johnson could well prove a 5th round steal. He’s amazingly mobile for his size. My concern remains at tackle. Gandy’s losing speed and Keith did not step up to challenge him. Brown still looks vulnerable to speed rushers. Overall the line still struggles too much with blitzes, especially when you consider how long they’ve played as a unit.
The defense presents issues at several positions. It’s disappointing that Watson couldn’t take the nose tackle spot away from Bryan Robinson. It’s not that Robinson is poor, but that no one offers an impact player at that slot. At end I think Campbell will be an upgrade offering more versatility and move geographic coverage. He may develop into a player who takes some of the heat off Dockett.
The inside linebackers might be the best duo in the league, but the outside linebackers are getting long in the tooth and guile is rarely effective for 16 games. Before his season-ending injury Cody Brown was expected to help and the absence of youth is a major concern at this spot. Collectively this group must get to the passer and I have my doubts. It did look like they finally recalled the Dansby is an outstanding rusher, so that may help with the options.
You could see in the pre-season how the lack of a decent rush impacted the corners. Of course the Cards didn’t show everything, but it would be a disaster if this team goes back to the old mode of ruining corners by constantly asking them to cover with no rush. DRC is just learning the game and has an impressive upside. Setting him up for failure should not be an option. Beyond that there is little depth at corner. If they lose a starter, I see no viable option at corner for a prolonged absence.
Safety play should be improved. Rolle showed steady improvement last season and Johnson offers potential.
Special teams look solid, but thing would have been better had the Cards acquired a versatile return specialist.
The Cards played their typical close-to-the-vest pre-season showing little of their offense or blitz packages, so there is no reason for the doom and gloom I've been seeing.
Still looking back at vulnerabilities, an injury to Wells, a starting CB or a starting tackle could make this a very disappointing season.
I see some publication putting the Cards at 11-5. Sorry, but I don’t see things as that rosy. I think they hover around a .500 record for most of the season. They should finish by winning 3 or 4 of their last 4 games. That would leave them at 9-7 or 10-6. Either record should win the West.
It will be interesting to see if Graves can resolve any of the long term contract issues as the season progresses. If not, the next off-season will be the most critical in the history of the franchise in Arizona.
