Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. Reports are that QB Kurt Warner would be looking for a 2 year deal in the area of $18M. The numbers are fair. More than fair. This contract would ensure that Warner would finally go into training camp as the undisputed #1, therefore it would be all the more ironic if Warner would now decide to retire just when he has earned the vote of confidence that he has aspired for for years now.
2. Todd Haley does love his job in Arizona and he's just had one year of calling plays...which is what he craves. If he takes the Chiefs' HC job, he could do what Whiz did and run the offense his first year...but he would likely have to relinquish that role as Whiz did in year two...which may not be completely to his liking. How about the Bidwills stepping up and sweetening the pot for Haley?
Haley seemed to overthink his gameplan yesterday...by over-estimating the Steeler defense, which he didn't do versus Atlanta, carolina and Philadelphia.
There's an old coaching mantra: you do what you do and make people beat it.
The one thing Haley underestimated was how hard it was going to be to expect Gandy and Brown to hold up on islands versus Harrison and Woodley.
The thing is..."chipping" versus the Steelers with the TE or slot WR is made to order against then because the "chipper" can slow the DE down and then run a delay route into the flat (the area they have had the hardest problem defending) or run a delay drag route over the middle...
The three things that are hardest to understand about Haley's offense: (1) the refusal to offer help on premier pass rushers; (2) the decision at times to make Warner take direct snaps in sure passing situations; (3) the propensity to run the ball on first and 20s...when what the team really needs is two 6-7 yard passes to create manageable third and 5 or 6s.
That said, Haley's passing schemes with all the rub offs and crossing patterns, short, intermediate and long, are as fine as any I've ever seen at any level and cater perfectly to this team's strengths.
Haley gets a mulligan for the first quarter and a half...it was his first Super Bowl as an OC and there is a tendency to over-think and over-prepare over the excruciatingly long two week period, rather than just dance with the girl that brung you, as they say.
This is why...the Bidwills must give serious consideration to rewarding Whiz first and foremost with a more lucrative contract extension and at the same time offering Haley a highly competitive salary that would make it even more attractive to stay in Arizona with Whiz and with this dynamic offense.
3. Anquan Boldin's situation is likley going to get worse...while Q deserves a healthy raise, he should realize especially after this post-season why Fitz deserves what he got and why Q doesn't quite deserve Fitz money. Q will likley think that he will get Fitz money elsewhere where he can be the top dog...but, Q's history of injuries and his style of play (which seems to contribute to the injuries) may be perceived as red flags for teams that would have to think about offering Q the top money he wants. Plus, Q is not fast...nor does he catch in a crowd a la Fitz...he's a consummate slot WR and teams tend to pay slot WRs less than marquis wideouts.
Q will try once again to force the team to trade him. This is obvious. He wants elsewhere. When this happens it will be very interesting to see what offers he and Rosenhaus can drum up. If they can find an attractive one (not like the Philly offer of Q for Lito Sheppard...or Q for a 2nd rounder)...otherwise, the Cardinals can once again stand pat and ask Q to play out his contract. The thing is...Q remains a valued teammate and his rantings were not as much of a distraction to the rest of the team...as players are getting al the more enured to the business aspects of their profession.
Seeing as the Cardinals are drafting 31st...if they are offered a mid-range #1 for Q, they'd probably take it to get the rookie RB they want.
4. The biggest off-season need: 2 pass rushers. If Terrell Suggs becomes available, he would be the #2 player signing priority behind Warner. The Cardinals needed edge rushers last night and got nothing. Bertrand Berry has been a real leader...but he led the team with only five sacks. To re-sign him as a situational rusher would be fine, but the team needs a double figure sack artist and a burst of youth at the position.
Chike Okeafor came on strong in the playoffs and was much more active and productive...perhaps the Cardinals may decide that they will be able to get a great year from him next year...and hope that Travis LaBoy will come back strong. But Okeafor's salary is exhorbitant at this point.
DE Antonio Smith is a tough call. He was ineffective last night....but real good in spots in the playoffs...his counterpart Darnell Dockett was head and shoulders the best interior d-lineman on the field last night...and the Cardinals almost always won games where both Dockett and Smith were making plays. Last night Dockett was and Smith wasn't. Wonder what Smith will be asking for. Might overprice himself out of the market. The question is: are Calais Campbell and Kenny Iwebema the long and short-term answers? Campbell showed some flashes but little in the playoffs...but with another year under John Lott's supervision, Campbell could be a unique talent...and Iwebema could also be better tan average at some point.
The guess is Smith moves on.
5. At NT Bryan Robinson was decent and was a good leader...and Gabe Watson came on strong toward the end (his tackle of Big Ben on the QB draw last night was huge)...but the key will be Alan Branch...it will be very interesting to see if the light bulb does finally come on, especially now that the Cardinals are in the national spotlight and he is one year from being tendered and two years from becoming a UFA.
6. At FS the Cardinals need a speedy playmaker and we fans have been screaming this for years...Robert Griffith to Terrence Holt to Aaron Francisco (I feel bad for Francisco because his game isn't suited for FS and he was being played there by default...and before you throw him completely under the bus...how about giving him credit for getting up after slipping and chasing Holmes down at the five to save a TD...and it looked like a busted coverage on the play as Holmes was WIDE open). What coverages were the Cardinals in when the game was on the line? Anyone know? Will Pendy be kept? Whiz is too competitive to allow these breakdowns to continue to happen.
7. The Cardinals need another cover CB to replace #3 CB Eric Green...and the #4 & #5 tandem of Ralph Brown and Michael Adams is solid as Brown was clutch the past several games as was Adams on special teams (get this...the Cardinals' STs OUTPLAYED the Steelers' in the Super Bowl...between Breaston's nifty return and Adams' tackle on Holmes and Adams' awesome play at the goalline corraling Ben Graham's punt).
8. As for LB Karlos Dansby...he's got to be re-signed or given the f-tag again, because the team does need to keep its core... and the public perception that the club is fully committed to its core. Dansby is one of the core, no question. I just wish the DC would move him around more to wreak havoc...because Dansby is oh so good on the edge. The f-tag may make the bets sense as that may keep Dansby motivated...which has been a concern.
9. Two things I heard from the NBC crew last night that rang sweetly: (1) "The Cardinals are finally TOUGH"; (2) Arizona should now be a super atteractive option for free agents.
10. The top priorities:
1. Warner
2. Whiz/Haley
3. Suggs
4. Dansby
5. Free Safety
6. Another edge pass rusher
7. RB
8. CB
9. P (Graham is a real good situational punter...if the could get his hang-time straightened out, he might be fine).
10. Re-signing J.J. Arrington as the speed spread back...he's good at it.
2. Todd Haley does love his job in Arizona and he's just had one year of calling plays...which is what he craves. If he takes the Chiefs' HC job, he could do what Whiz did and run the offense his first year...but he would likely have to relinquish that role as Whiz did in year two...which may not be completely to his liking. How about the Bidwills stepping up and sweetening the pot for Haley?
Haley seemed to overthink his gameplan yesterday...by over-estimating the Steeler defense, which he didn't do versus Atlanta, carolina and Philadelphia.
There's an old coaching mantra: you do what you do and make people beat it.
The one thing Haley underestimated was how hard it was going to be to expect Gandy and Brown to hold up on islands versus Harrison and Woodley.
The thing is..."chipping" versus the Steelers with the TE or slot WR is made to order against then because the "chipper" can slow the DE down and then run a delay route into the flat (the area they have had the hardest problem defending) or run a delay drag route over the middle...
The three things that are hardest to understand about Haley's offense: (1) the refusal to offer help on premier pass rushers; (2) the decision at times to make Warner take direct snaps in sure passing situations; (3) the propensity to run the ball on first and 20s...when what the team really needs is two 6-7 yard passes to create manageable third and 5 or 6s.
That said, Haley's passing schemes with all the rub offs and crossing patterns, short, intermediate and long, are as fine as any I've ever seen at any level and cater perfectly to this team's strengths.
Haley gets a mulligan for the first quarter and a half...it was his first Super Bowl as an OC and there is a tendency to over-think and over-prepare over the excruciatingly long two week period, rather than just dance with the girl that brung you, as they say.
This is why...the Bidwills must give serious consideration to rewarding Whiz first and foremost with a more lucrative contract extension and at the same time offering Haley a highly competitive salary that would make it even more attractive to stay in Arizona with Whiz and with this dynamic offense.
3. Anquan Boldin's situation is likley going to get worse...while Q deserves a healthy raise, he should realize especially after this post-season why Fitz deserves what he got and why Q doesn't quite deserve Fitz money. Q will likley think that he will get Fitz money elsewhere where he can be the top dog...but, Q's history of injuries and his style of play (which seems to contribute to the injuries) may be perceived as red flags for teams that would have to think about offering Q the top money he wants. Plus, Q is not fast...nor does he catch in a crowd a la Fitz...he's a consummate slot WR and teams tend to pay slot WRs less than marquis wideouts.
Q will try once again to force the team to trade him. This is obvious. He wants elsewhere. When this happens it will be very interesting to see what offers he and Rosenhaus can drum up. If they can find an attractive one (not like the Philly offer of Q for Lito Sheppard...or Q for a 2nd rounder)...otherwise, the Cardinals can once again stand pat and ask Q to play out his contract. The thing is...Q remains a valued teammate and his rantings were not as much of a distraction to the rest of the team...as players are getting al the more enured to the business aspects of their profession.
Seeing as the Cardinals are drafting 31st...if they are offered a mid-range #1 for Q, they'd probably take it to get the rookie RB they want.
4. The biggest off-season need: 2 pass rushers. If Terrell Suggs becomes available, he would be the #2 player signing priority behind Warner. The Cardinals needed edge rushers last night and got nothing. Bertrand Berry has been a real leader...but he led the team with only five sacks. To re-sign him as a situational rusher would be fine, but the team needs a double figure sack artist and a burst of youth at the position.
Chike Okeafor came on strong in the playoffs and was much more active and productive...perhaps the Cardinals may decide that they will be able to get a great year from him next year...and hope that Travis LaBoy will come back strong. But Okeafor's salary is exhorbitant at this point.
DE Antonio Smith is a tough call. He was ineffective last night....but real good in spots in the playoffs...his counterpart Darnell Dockett was head and shoulders the best interior d-lineman on the field last night...and the Cardinals almost always won games where both Dockett and Smith were making plays. Last night Dockett was and Smith wasn't. Wonder what Smith will be asking for. Might overprice himself out of the market. The question is: are Calais Campbell and Kenny Iwebema the long and short-term answers? Campbell showed some flashes but little in the playoffs...but with another year under John Lott's supervision, Campbell could be a unique talent...and Iwebema could also be better tan average at some point.
The guess is Smith moves on.
5. At NT Bryan Robinson was decent and was a good leader...and Gabe Watson came on strong toward the end (his tackle of Big Ben on the QB draw last night was huge)...but the key will be Alan Branch...it will be very interesting to see if the light bulb does finally come on, especially now that the Cardinals are in the national spotlight and he is one year from being tendered and two years from becoming a UFA.
6. At FS the Cardinals need a speedy playmaker and we fans have been screaming this for years...Robert Griffith to Terrence Holt to Aaron Francisco (I feel bad for Francisco because his game isn't suited for FS and he was being played there by default...and before you throw him completely under the bus...how about giving him credit for getting up after slipping and chasing Holmes down at the five to save a TD...and it looked like a busted coverage on the play as Holmes was WIDE open). What coverages were the Cardinals in when the game was on the line? Anyone know? Will Pendy be kept? Whiz is too competitive to allow these breakdowns to continue to happen.
7. The Cardinals need another cover CB to replace #3 CB Eric Green...and the #4 & #5 tandem of Ralph Brown and Michael Adams is solid as Brown was clutch the past several games as was Adams on special teams (get this...the Cardinals' STs OUTPLAYED the Steelers' in the Super Bowl...between Breaston's nifty return and Adams' tackle on Holmes and Adams' awesome play at the goalline corraling Ben Graham's punt).
8. As for LB Karlos Dansby...he's got to be re-signed or given the f-tag again, because the team does need to keep its core... and the public perception that the club is fully committed to its core. Dansby is one of the core, no question. I just wish the DC would move him around more to wreak havoc...because Dansby is oh so good on the edge. The f-tag may make the bets sense as that may keep Dansby motivated...which has been a concern.
9. Two things I heard from the NBC crew last night that rang sweetly: (1) "The Cardinals are finally TOUGH"; (2) Arizona should now be a super atteractive option for free agents.
10. The top priorities:
1. Warner
2. Whiz/Haley
3. Suggs
4. Dansby
5. Free Safety
6. Another edge pass rusher
7. RB
8. CB
9. P (Graham is a real good situational punter...if the could get his hang-time straightened out, he might be fine).
10. Re-signing J.J. Arrington as the speed spread back...he's good at it.
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