Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Improvements on Offense:
1. Continued growth in the running game that will make play action passes all the more dynamic and successful. The Cardinals boast a prolific young trio of RBs in Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling, and a solid run blocking unit up front.
2. Stronger edge pass protection.
3. Making the vertical passing game stronger. Improving the edge protection is critical for this to happen.
4. Integrating well timed and executed screen passes into the game plans.
Personnel Needs:
1. LT. This is obviously a critical spot to solidify. I think it would be very interesting to see what Levi Brown looks like on the left side---his natural side. Mike Gandy and/or Jeremy Bridges could likely be re-signed for a little above the veteran minimum, but, at this point, both Gandy and Bridges are ideal for depth, but not as full-time starters. What may facilitate the move of Brown to LT is the emergence of Herman Johnson or Brandon Keith at RT. Both are big and athletic prospects, but neither would seem to be a fit on the left side. Perhaps the Cardinals could make an offer to one of Tampa Bay's two restricted free agent tackles, Jeremy Trueblood or Donald Penn. Tampa would have the right to match, but, hey, they might decide they can part with one of them. If not, expect the Cardinals to draft a tackle in the first three rounds, possibly even in round one.
2. Speed WR. This would be a luxury for sure, but a sure way to improve the vertical passing game. I think it's more than likely that the Cardinals will trade Anquan Boldin this off-season. Last year the only legitimate offer they received was the #49 from the Bears, which could have allowed the Cardinals to select S Sherrod Martin, T Phil Loadholt, T Sebastian Vollmer, T Will Beatty, RB Shonn Green, DE/OLB Paul Kruger or DE/OLB David Veikune. The Cardinals balked at the #49 pick last year, but this year I think they would take it, especially if a tackle in the mold of Loadholt, Vollmer or Beatty is on the board---or if one of the best LBers is still available---and this draft is loaded with very good LB prospects (more on that in the defense post to follow).
3. FB. Not sure if Dan Kreider will be re-signed or if the team likes what they see in Nehemiah Broughton or the injured Justin Green. It wouldn't surprise me if the Cardinals went after a combo FB/TE type in order to save a roster spot. Don't be surprised if Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach get some looks there from time to time. Patrick was mauling people as a motion lead blocker toward the end of the season.
4. QB (this jumps to #1 if Warner retires). If we see the Cardinals making moves to address the needs at T, ILB, and OLB prior to the draft, I strongly believe that they will be drafting a QB with one of their first three picks. There's simply too much uncertainty with Matt Leinart as he heads toward a $14M payday in 2011. If Warner does retires, the one restricted free agent to keep an eye on is Tarvaris Jackson of Minnesota. Were the Cardinals to offer Jackson a contract in the $3.5-4M range (plus incentives), the Vikings may be loathe to match it. Jackson will garner interest elsewhere, but, let's face it, right now any free agent QB would be drooling over the prospects of playing for the Cardinals. A cheaper option might be restricted free agent Brodie Croyle---a player that Whiz could possibly do wonders for. Brian St. Pierre might accept a similar deal as last year's to return to be in the mix, and he is a valuable scout team QB and mind in the sideline huddles, but did very little this pre-season to show that he could be a legitimate option to start if needed to.
Offensive Players to Re-Sign (the range of what I would offer---if they agree, fine, if not, sign them to one year deals where they would be paid far less for now).
1. RG Deuce Lutui (3 yrs/$8.5M).
2. C Lyle Sendlein (3 yrs/$6M)
3. WR Steve Breaston (4 yrs./$14M)
4. TE Anthony Becht (1 yr./$1M)
5. TE Ben Patrick (3 yrs./$6M)
6. T/G Jeremy Bridges (1 yr./$850K)
The two players on this list who could command RFA offers are Breaston and Lutui. Some team might make a lucrative offer to Breaston, probably in the 4/$14M range I listed above---which I would expect the Cardinals to match. I can't imagine Lutui being offered more than $3M per, so again, I think the Cardinals could match an offer for him. He really had a solid year---his best by far. I know the Cardinals like Brandon Keith, but he might be more in the tackle mix this year.
2010 Projection:
Kurt Warner's return is critical to the morale and confidence of this high flying offense. Warner has said that a player shouldn't "retire too soon" and when you look at his performances this year, the vast majority of them were masterful. It would have been another thing if his play had faltered at any point. It didn't. In fact, he was more confuident and decisive as he's ever been. The opponents were raving at how quickly and accurately his passes were coming out this year. In the past, the hope was he would hold the ball too long, but Warner is so fluent in this offense and so on track with his receivers and the timing of the offense that he knows exactly where to look and when to snap off his release. When you look back at the variety of passes he threw in the Green Bay game and how much zip or touch he put on the ball, it was a sheer thing of beauty. I still have visions of the sideline fade pass he threw Steve Breaston where Warner released the ball at the perfect moment and arced it beautifully up the right side over the DBs shoulder and into Breaston's arms as Breaston never had to break stride. I believe that Warner himself relishes the sheer art of his craft and hey, when you are painting Rembrandts and there's still plenty of paint, you keep on painting them.
One has to love the skill players in this offense...even without Anquan Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald will come back faster and more determined than ever this year. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet will make strong attempts to surpass the 1,000 yard milestone, as will RBs Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells. Imagine how much stronger, swfiter and more confident RB LaRon Stephens-Howling will be. And this could be the real breakout season for Ben Patrick as an all-purpose TE and downfield receiving threat.
Imagine too a stronger line next season, particularly on the edges. The interior three of Wells, Sendlein and Lutui were remarkably consistent this season and are stepping up in unison. Levi Brown, despite his occasional mistakes, improved steadily throughout the season and at times is an absolute mauler in the running game---one of the reasons why this Cardinal offense has begun to thrive in all aspects.
Add to this group a solid tackle and a deep threat (boy, the Steelers really cashed in in the 5th round last year with Mike Wallace, imagine if the Cardinals do the same)...and we could be watching the most talented, explosive and dynamic Cardinal offense ever.
As for Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays, I think it's great and I do not see this hampering his ability to coach the entire team. In fact, because Whiz is calling the plays, he's even more invested in the games and their outcomes. The thing is: Whiz is an excellent play caller, and honestly, with his penchant for running a rushing attack, combined with his intricate knowledge of the passing game, and the exemplary way in which he caters to the stengths of his personnel and involves everyone into the schemes, he's a better fit for this team than Haley was. We've got the right guy making the calls.
1. Continued growth in the running game that will make play action passes all the more dynamic and successful. The Cardinals boast a prolific young trio of RBs in Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling, and a solid run blocking unit up front.
2. Stronger edge pass protection.
3. Making the vertical passing game stronger. Improving the edge protection is critical for this to happen.
4. Integrating well timed and executed screen passes into the game plans.
Personnel Needs:
1. LT. This is obviously a critical spot to solidify. I think it would be very interesting to see what Levi Brown looks like on the left side---his natural side. Mike Gandy and/or Jeremy Bridges could likely be re-signed for a little above the veteran minimum, but, at this point, both Gandy and Bridges are ideal for depth, but not as full-time starters. What may facilitate the move of Brown to LT is the emergence of Herman Johnson or Brandon Keith at RT. Both are big and athletic prospects, but neither would seem to be a fit on the left side. Perhaps the Cardinals could make an offer to one of Tampa Bay's two restricted free agent tackles, Jeremy Trueblood or Donald Penn. Tampa would have the right to match, but, hey, they might decide they can part with one of them. If not, expect the Cardinals to draft a tackle in the first three rounds, possibly even in round one.
2. Speed WR. This would be a luxury for sure, but a sure way to improve the vertical passing game. I think it's more than likely that the Cardinals will trade Anquan Boldin this off-season. Last year the only legitimate offer they received was the #49 from the Bears, which could have allowed the Cardinals to select S Sherrod Martin, T Phil Loadholt, T Sebastian Vollmer, T Will Beatty, RB Shonn Green, DE/OLB Paul Kruger or DE/OLB David Veikune. The Cardinals balked at the #49 pick last year, but this year I think they would take it, especially if a tackle in the mold of Loadholt, Vollmer or Beatty is on the board---or if one of the best LBers is still available---and this draft is loaded with very good LB prospects (more on that in the defense post to follow).
3. FB. Not sure if Dan Kreider will be re-signed or if the team likes what they see in Nehemiah Broughton or the injured Justin Green. It wouldn't surprise me if the Cardinals went after a combo FB/TE type in order to save a roster spot. Don't be surprised if Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach get some looks there from time to time. Patrick was mauling people as a motion lead blocker toward the end of the season.
4. QB (this jumps to #1 if Warner retires). If we see the Cardinals making moves to address the needs at T, ILB, and OLB prior to the draft, I strongly believe that they will be drafting a QB with one of their first three picks. There's simply too much uncertainty with Matt Leinart as he heads toward a $14M payday in 2011. If Warner does retires, the one restricted free agent to keep an eye on is Tarvaris Jackson of Minnesota. Were the Cardinals to offer Jackson a contract in the $3.5-4M range (plus incentives), the Vikings may be loathe to match it. Jackson will garner interest elsewhere, but, let's face it, right now any free agent QB would be drooling over the prospects of playing for the Cardinals. A cheaper option might be restricted free agent Brodie Croyle---a player that Whiz could possibly do wonders for. Brian St. Pierre might accept a similar deal as last year's to return to be in the mix, and he is a valuable scout team QB and mind in the sideline huddles, but did very little this pre-season to show that he could be a legitimate option to start if needed to.
Offensive Players to Re-Sign (the range of what I would offer---if they agree, fine, if not, sign them to one year deals where they would be paid far less for now).
1. RG Deuce Lutui (3 yrs/$8.5M).
2. C Lyle Sendlein (3 yrs/$6M)
3. WR Steve Breaston (4 yrs./$14M)
4. TE Anthony Becht (1 yr./$1M)
5. TE Ben Patrick (3 yrs./$6M)
6. T/G Jeremy Bridges (1 yr./$850K)
The two players on this list who could command RFA offers are Breaston and Lutui. Some team might make a lucrative offer to Breaston, probably in the 4/$14M range I listed above---which I would expect the Cardinals to match. I can't imagine Lutui being offered more than $3M per, so again, I think the Cardinals could match an offer for him. He really had a solid year---his best by far. I know the Cardinals like Brandon Keith, but he might be more in the tackle mix this year.
2010 Projection:
Kurt Warner's return is critical to the morale and confidence of this high flying offense. Warner has said that a player shouldn't "retire too soon" and when you look at his performances this year, the vast majority of them were masterful. It would have been another thing if his play had faltered at any point. It didn't. In fact, he was more confuident and decisive as he's ever been. The opponents were raving at how quickly and accurately his passes were coming out this year. In the past, the hope was he would hold the ball too long, but Warner is so fluent in this offense and so on track with his receivers and the timing of the offense that he knows exactly where to look and when to snap off his release. When you look back at the variety of passes he threw in the Green Bay game and how much zip or touch he put on the ball, it was a sheer thing of beauty. I still have visions of the sideline fade pass he threw Steve Breaston where Warner released the ball at the perfect moment and arced it beautifully up the right side over the DBs shoulder and into Breaston's arms as Breaston never had to break stride. I believe that Warner himself relishes the sheer art of his craft and hey, when you are painting Rembrandts and there's still plenty of paint, you keep on painting them.
One has to love the skill players in this offense...even without Anquan Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald will come back faster and more determined than ever this year. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet will make strong attempts to surpass the 1,000 yard milestone, as will RBs Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells. Imagine how much stronger, swfiter and more confident RB LaRon Stephens-Howling will be. And this could be the real breakout season for Ben Patrick as an all-purpose TE and downfield receiving threat.
Imagine too a stronger line next season, particularly on the edges. The interior three of Wells, Sendlein and Lutui were remarkably consistent this season and are stepping up in unison. Levi Brown, despite his occasional mistakes, improved steadily throughout the season and at times is an absolute mauler in the running game---one of the reasons why this Cardinal offense has begun to thrive in all aspects.
Add to this group a solid tackle and a deep threat (boy, the Steelers really cashed in in the 5th round last year with Mike Wallace, imagine if the Cardinals do the same)...and we could be watching the most talented, explosive and dynamic Cardinal offense ever.
As for Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays, I think it's great and I do not see this hampering his ability to coach the entire team. In fact, because Whiz is calling the plays, he's even more invested in the games and their outcomes. The thing is: Whiz is an excellent play caller, and honestly, with his penchant for running a rushing attack, combined with his intricate knowledge of the passing game, and the exemplary way in which he caters to the stengths of his personnel and involves everyone into the schemes, he's a better fit for this team than Haley was. We've got the right guy making the calls.
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