AZ CUTS - As they come in.

[crisper57]

I think Zastudil held for three FG's last night and they were all dead bang center.

Oh I didn't notice that. Well that should have been a good clue of the direction they were heading, huh?

 

[Buckybird]

Everyone gets blamed. Things aren't going to change around here until we start hitting on our draft picks and keeping them around for more than four years.

 

[kerouac9]

Think you could probably say this of @ least half the teams, if not more, in the league.

Nearly half of the players in the last four years off the roster? I challenge you to back that up. Especially for the teams that are good and on the rise in the NFL.

Check it out for the:

Falcons
Bucs
Chargers
Bucs
Jets

The Cards have exactly 4 starters in the 2011 season from the 2007-2009 drafts. Do you really think that's the case for half the NFL?

 

[Mainstreet]

Cutting Graham was a surprise to me. I just don't remember him hurting the team. A bad punter usually sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[Duckjake]

Not sure why so many are surprised. all three Cards beat writters have been talking about this guy being on the bubble since the end of last year.

The guy has zero hang time and wasnt even close to be as prolific with his inside the 20 punts as he was in 2009. He was punting it inside the 20 50% of the time in 2009 then is dropped down to 30% last year. Combined with his horrid hang time, the writing should have been on the wall for everyone IMO.

I remember Urban inserting it at the bottom of an article back in January. Even asked the question on the board as to what might be wrong with Graham. But the hang time problem was evident last night in comparing the Broncos punts to Grahams.

I have to say that it is a good sign when the Cards cut 25 players and put two more on Injured lists and almost no one is disagreeing with the decisions and there are almost no surprises. Sorry to see Marshay Green go but it was obvious he hasn't the skills.

Loved the press conference: Reporter: "Why did you do this?" CKW: "I can't get into that." For about 30 minutes.

I don't know why they even bother as the coachspeak has gotten so ridiculous because the attacks on the coaches when they slip up and get away from coachspeak are so bad.

 

[kerouac9]

If that were true then his touchbacks wouldn't have increased greatly last year.

Don't know what to tell you. According to FootballOutsiders, Graham was in the Top 10 of Gross Punt Value Over Average (9th).

I know that the coaching staff was unhappy with Graham for some reason. He definitely wasn't as good in 2010 as a lot of people here thought. But something more must've been going on.

 

[Duckjake]

Cutting Graham was a surprise to me. I just don't remember him hurting the team. A bad punter usually sticks out like a sore thumb.

I don't think it was because Graham was a bad punter as much as it was the other guy is simply better.

Same for Will Davis he wasn't great but he wasn't that bad either. Acho and Schofield are just better and Haggans and Porter are former Steelers so Davis was the odd man out.

 

[Dayman]

I watched every preseason game, and this is the first time I can remember hearing Ronald Talley's name. The FO really must not think much of Iwebema.

It's also kind of strange that Horton only kept 8 DBs. I suspect that will change.

Zastudil was a very good punter before he got injured. I have no problem with him staying over Graham.

 

[joeshmo]

Don't know what to tell you. According to FootballOutsiders, Graham was in the Top 10 of Gross Punt Value Over Average (9th).

I know that the coaching staff was unhappy with Graham for some reason. He definitely wasn't as good in 2010 as a lot of people here thought. But something more must've been going on.

Isn't it safe to assume that because of the offense forcing to kick further away then his touch backs would be the same as or even lower then his 2009 season. If he weren't getting the same opportunities to kick the ball inside the 20 then his touch backs should not have increased greatly like they did. So even if he did have fewer opportunities, then his performance went further down then I thought if he had fewer opportunities yet still kicked a ton of touch backs.

Plus without having access to practices, we have no idea who out performed who. Sure the punt ratio in preseason was what 12 to 2 in favor of Graham, but that is discounting the 100+ punts they have probably competed on in practice.

 

[kerouac9]

Isn't it safe to assume that because of the offense forcing to kick further away then his touch backs would be the same as or even lower then his 2009 season. If he weren't getting the same opportunities to kick the ball inside the 20 then his touch backs should not have increased greatly like they did. So even if he did have fewer opportunities, then his performance went further down then I thought if he had fewer opportunities yet still kicked a ton of touch backs.

I don't know. I was wondering if he felt that the special teams units were so much worse last year that he was line-driving punts into the end zone to prevent return opportunities.

Graham only had 8 more punts in 2010 than he did in 2009 (how is this possible?). But there were 12 fewer returns in 2010 than there were in 2009. How does that make logical sense?

 

[Shane]

3 OLB's? Maybe Bradley will play there some.

Schofield, acho, porter, and Haggans?

 

[crisper57]

Schofield, acho, porter, and Haggans?

I wanted Davis to play the Will and Acho to play the Sam position. Oh well, it was a nice dream.

 

[RedRob]

Cutting Graham is a mistake IMO, dude puts backspin on the leatherskin like Jack Nicklaus hitting a balata ball. Yes his hang time dropped however I've never seen a punter consistently hit the 3 yard line and not have it go into the end zone.

 

[Rats]

I was at the game last night and watched Graham and I felt also that his body language was one of resignation. He did punt well last night but I think he felt that this was it.

 

[Mitch]

My initial reaction is this is just plain foolishness, Whiz style.

4 OLBers---not a bona fide pass rusher among them.

4 CBs---one coming off an injury

4 Ss---one trying to play with a torn bicep

10 healthy OLBers, CBs and Ss...and

11 TEs and WRs combined.

Way to take care of your new DC, Whiz. Way to go.

No wonder he can't get into the reasons.

This is why we need an assertive GM who understands how to build a roster.

There had better be 4-5 additions, 4 of which are defensive players---or this is going to take the cake.

 

[RedRob]

My initial reaction is this is just plain foolishness, Whiz style.

4 OLBers---not a bona fide pass rusher among them.

4 CBs---one coming off an injury

4 Ss---one trying to play with a torn bicep

10 healthy OLBers, CBs and Ss...and

11 TEs and WRs combined.

Way to take care of your new DC, Whiz. Way to go.

No wonder he can't get into the reasons.

This is why we need an assertive GM who understands how to build a roster.

There had better be 4-5 additions, 4 of which are defensive players---or this is going to take the cake.

Don't disagree Mitch, curious to see what, if any actions are taken. Unfortunately I see little done on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[BleedRed]

Nearly half of the players in the last four years off the roster? I challenge you to back that up. Especially for the teams that are good and on the rise in the NFL.

Check it out for the:

Falcons
Bucs
Chargers
Bucs
Jets

The Cards have exactly 4 starters in the 2011 season from the 2007-2009 drafts. Do you really think that's the case for half the NFL?

2010 1 Dan Williams (Starter)
2 Daryl Washington (Starter)
3 Andre Roberts (Starter)
4 O'Brien Schofield (Starter)
5 John Skelton (Back-up)
6 Jorrick Calvin (Traded)
7 Jim Dray (Back-up)
2009 1 Chris Wells (Starter)
2 Cody Brown (Bust)
3 Rashad Johnson (Back-up)
4 Greg Toler (Would be Starter)
5 Herman Johnson (No longer with team)
6 Will Davis (Cut today)
7 LaRod Stephens-Howling (3rd down back)
8 Trevor Canfield (No longer with team)
2008 1 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Traded for our possible QBOF)
2 Calais Campbell (Starter)
3 Early Doucet (Starter)
4 Kenny Iwebema (Cut today)
5 Timothy Hightower (Traded)
6 Christopher Harrington (No longer with team)
7 Brandon Keith (Starter)
2007 1 Levi Brown (Starter)
2 Alan Branch (No longer with team)
3 Buster Davis (Bust)
4 Steve Breaston (Lost in free agency)
5 Ben Patrick (No longer with team)



I personally don't feel terrible about this. Obviously there are a few questionable picks, but there are also some greats ones. And I count 6 starters from the 07-09 drafts, Wells, Toler (hurt), Campbell, Doucet, Keith and Brown. Obviously considering Doucet our #3 wide out a starter. As well as DRC being traded away this yr for our possible QBOF.

Personally I feel like our last 2 drafts should make us even more optimistic as I feel we have continued to improve come draft day and made some solid picks not just on need but value.

Go Cards!

 

[crisper57]

My initial reaction is this is just plain foolishness, Whiz style.

4 OLBers---not a bona fide pass rusher among them.

4 CBs---one coming off an injury

4 Ss---one trying to play with a torn bicep

10 healthy OLBers, CBs and Ss...and

11 TEs and WRs combined.

Way to take care of your new DC, Whiz. Way to go.

No wonder he can't get into the reasons.

This is why we need an assertive GM who understands how to build a roster.

There had better be 4-5 additions, 4 of which are defensive players---or this is going to take the cake.

Gotta believe Spach is around only as long as it takes to get a new DB. If we pick up a #2 RB or WR, I think the corresponding cut comes from that same position.

 

[Duckjake]

Don't disagree Mitch, curious to see what, if any actions are taken. Unfortunately I see little done on the defensive side of the ball.

The Cards are using the Duckjake golf plan for 2011. They're just going to score higher than everyone else.

 

[Mitch]

Don't disagree Mitch, curious to see what, if any actions are taken. Unfortunately I see little done on the defensive side of the ball.

The draft was largely to take offensive players---as well. We traded DRC so drafting Peterson was a wash of sorts.

What sucks most Red Rob is giving some of these poor guys the false security that they've made the team---that is, if someone within the organization realizes that hey, maybe, just maybe, they ought to balance this roster out and address the team's biggest areas of weakness.

But---the Cardinals are very capable of doing what they have done the last few years---con the fans into thinking there will be veteran additions after Week 1.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

The Cards are using the Duckjake golf plan for 2011. They're just going to score higher than everyone else.

good plan Whats the point of getting a new DC when they put no effort whatsoever in improving the personnel. Smart thinking lol

 

[WarnerHOF]

They cut Togafau???

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[TJ]

My initial reaction is this is just plain foolishness, Whiz style.

4 OLBers---not a bona fide pass rusher among them.

4 CBs---one coming off an injury

4 Ss---one trying to play with a torn bicep

10 healthy OLBers, CBs and Ss...and

11 TEs and WRs combined.

Way to take care of your new DC, Whiz. Way to go.

No wonder he can't get into the reasons.

This is why we need an assertive GM who understands how to build a roster.

There had better be 4-5 additions, 4 of which are defensive players---or this is going to take the cake.

Wait until the final cut downs are announced around the league before passing judgement. 4 additional defensive players is unnecessary. One DB and one LB is all we need. IMO, we need another RB more than anything else.

There were a couple of head scratchers (Graham? WTF?), but not too many surprises.

EDIT: We have 9 LBs compared to 7 last season. 5 of which play inside. I can see a guy like Bradley going outside for 5 +/- snaps a game.

 

[crisper57]

Depth Chart

Depth Chart Updated on azcardinals.com, in case you were wondering where there might still be a chance for some movement:

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/depth-chart.html

Skelton is #2 and Bartel is #3, so I guess nothing really changed in the last 2 games.

 

[Duckjake]

Depth Chart Updated on azcardinals.com, in case you were wondering where there might still be a chance for some movement:

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/depth-chart.html

Skelton is #2 and Bartel is #3, so I guess nothing really changed in the last 2 games.

Yeah it looks exactly like the depth chart they've always had on azcardinals.com except for the two guys injured: RWilliams and Toler.

And who the heck is Ronald Talley?