Benchings, Challengings for Positions and Roster Moves

[RugbyMuffin]

The more I look at this year and reading all these negative posts[sorry], the more I think this may be a 9-7 rebuilding year for us...

Nope. If we don't make the playoffs then we close the book on the Warner Air Attack Era, and re-build next year.

Unless things improve dramatically, we won't even sniff 9-7. Right now, we look like a legit 6-10 team. Horrible OL & no pass rush = double digit losses.

Well yeah, but our average offensive line and pass rush are not the reason we would do worse than 9-7. The OL and Pass rush problems are nothing new. It is the fact our passing game is not executing and not producing like it needs to in order for the Cardinals to press its advantage.

Not to mention if we continually play like horse-poop in the redzone on both offense and defense all the fixing in the world is not going to matter.

 

[Duckjake]

Nope. If we don't make the playoffs then we close the book on the Warner Air Attack Era, and re-build next year.

Have to agree.

But we're in a better position than a lot of teams if we make a change. At least we already have Leinart and BWells so it won't be as much a rebuilding, having to get several new players, as a restructuring of the offensive scheme which you would hope an NFL coaching staff could do in one off season.

The defense is quite another story. Who knows what we'll have next season.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The defense is quite another story. Who knows what we'll have next season.

Hopefully some outside linebackers.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Hopefully some outside linebackers.

... and another inside one.

Good post Mitch. I'm sad to say that you are leaning on my side in regards to Levi. I wish I could have been proven wrong about this one.

 

[lauraw]

Also Mr Gollin a new OL...

 

[Duckjake]

Also Mr Gollin a new OL...

The biggest problem with our offensive line is that a different guy messes up. I don't know how many replays I've watched where 4 guys make good blocks and one misses and the play goes nowhere. More inconsistency.

I look at the offensive lines of other teams and don't know who the majority of them are but they block effectively.

So maybe we don't need a new offensive line but a new offensive line coach instead.

 

[JeffGollin]

Our gut primal instinct is to make a number of radical changes - bench guys, fire guys, trade guys, bench some more guys.

I don't think that's gonna happen.

We're going to have to play with the hand we were dealt, though perhaps there's some stuff that can be done without totally blowing up the team.

• 
  More straight ahead hat-on-hat run blocking and less of the horizontal, stretch stuff (except to surprise the defense).
  
  Our D-Line getting their hands up rushing the passer (Manning was able to dump the ball over the top to crossing receivers all night Sunday).
  
  Soul searching re shaking up the O-line. I understand the blessings of continuity but our two OT's have been badly exposed. Are there any different combinations of players who will do a better job of (a) run blocking and (b) pass blocking than what we've got now? (i.e. are we better staying with what we've got and reaching for the duct tape or do we have to make wholesale changes now)?
  
  Regaining an obsession with gap-discipline and outside contain. Just fixing that can work wonders.
  
  If - as one person pointed out (a) McFadden is a zone guy and (b) as many people pointed out (b) DRC isn't getting it done one-on-one, maybe we should scheme for more zone coverage and less man-to-man.

I think that, if we just do these 4 or 5 things, we can be OK.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Good post Mitch.

I, too, was disgusted when I saw the clip of Grimm out watching Springsteen. You want to hear his music? Buy a goldang CD. Now I'm wondering what's been going on (or not going on) in the locker room at halftime this year. Which brings me back to wondering if Fitz was indeed using his phone to message his brother. Everyone, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, needs to get it in gear. Come on people! You are playing professional football!! This is inexcusable.

 

[lauraw]

Duckjake great point about it being on Grimm! And Mr.Gollin, I agree with what you said though i don't understand all of it..

 

[az jam]

Some excellent points as usual, Mitch. I have three concerns with the coaching.
1. Grimm. Very highly paid offensive line and assistant Head Coach. We all were excited when Whisenhunt hired him. This is his offensive line, these are his players, it's his third year here. They should be better. I agree with you Mitch that he will not be a real candidate for an HC job at this time. He needs to get this unit playing effectively.

2. The triumvernt of coaches running the offense. We have Whisenhunt calling the plays, Miller setting up the passing game plan and Grimm setting up the running game plan. Additionally you have a 38 yr head strong Warner wanting total control during the game. We miss Haley, no doubt about it. The 3 headed monster that has taken his place is doomed. This was a dumb idea from the beginning. Not sure if anything can be done with this during the season.

3. Our DC Davis. Let's be candid, none of us wanted him to be promoted.We were hoping the Whis would obtain and promote Steeler LB coach Keith Butler or bring in someone else strong from outside the organization. So far he has been a disappointment. It's still early so I hope he can turn this unit around.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I am not sure why anyone here would ever be suprised about what to expect from a Bill Davis defense. All that had to be done was to watch tape of the 49ers from a couple of years ago to see what to expect.

I agree the 3 dreaded offensive coordinator set up is lame and may account for why the Oline has not progressed considering it would take away some of Grimm's strength and focus as a coach.

Secondly, I say screw it and let Warner call the plays from the field, especially if the team is going to pass the ball 40 to 50 times per game.

Thirdly, it is time to sink or swim with Beanie Wells, enough of the punishment BS! Let him carry the rock 20-25 times per game and see what happens. We can still get Timmy many plays during the game and utilize his stregnth as a pass catching RB.

Our secondary is better than this! Play tighter coverage and bump the receivers at the LOS. DRC has so much speed it would be better to have him bump and run instead of playing 8 to 10 yards off opponent and entice him to "peek" in the backfield.

We need more Blitzing from Wilson...

If we are going to waste Beanie this season, why draft him? The Cards should've drafted a LB and DE in the first round instead then. I advocated that at drafting RB Glen Coffee later...

 

[Duckjake]

Our secondary is better than this! Play tighter coverage and bump the receivers at the LOS. DRC has so much speed it would be better to have him bump and run instead of playing 8 to 10 yards off opponent and entice him to "peek" in the backfield.

Sadly they are not. Neither Rolle nor Wilson can cover anyone and McFadden looks like he should be in the European league. DRC is good but is trying too hard to make plays. Evidenced by his jumping to get to the ball instead of staying on the WR and so got burned for a TD.

In addition they are terrible at tackling.

I'd rank our secondary at the bottom of the NFL

 

[Crazy Canuck]

2. The triumvernt of coaches running the offense. We have Whisenhunt calling the plays, Miller setting up the passing game plan and Grimm setting up the running game plan. Additionally you have a 38 yr head strong Warner wanting total control during the game. We miss Haley, no doubt about it. The 3 headed monster that has taken his place is doomed. This was a dumb idea from the beginning. Not sure if anything can be done with this during the season.

Whiz has explained that there was a triumvirate in place last season (without the specific titles) doing the offensive game planning: Whiz, Haley, Grimm and add input from Warner.

 

[Russ Smith]

The biggest problem with our offensive line is that a different guy messes up. I don't know how many replays I've watched where 4 guys make good blocks and one misses and the play goes nowhere. More inconsistency.

I look at the offensive lines of other teams and don't know who the majority of them are but they block effectively.

So maybe we don't need a new offensive line but a new offensive line coach instead.

it is amazing what a difference a good OL coach can make. the first year Tom Cable was the OL coach of the Raiders they went from having the worst OL in the NFL to having a pretty good run blocking OL. He moved Gallery from T to G, switched starters here and there, changed the blocking schemes etc.


In fact the change was so impressive, when they needed a new coach they mistakenly elevated him to HC and now are finding out he's not a HC.

I'm actually hoping Cable gets fired by the Raiders because he'd make a hell of a good OL coach if Grimm were to leave. Of course that assumes the NFL doesn't suspend him for punching the assistant coach.

 

[az jam]

2. The triumvernt of coaches running the offense. We have Whisenhunt calling the plays, Miller setting up the passing game plan and Grimm setting up the running game plan. Additionally you have a 38 yr head strong Warner wanting total control during the game. We miss Haley, no doubt about it. The 3 headed monster that has taken his place is doomed. This was a dumb idea from the beginning. Not sure if anything can be done with this during the season.

Whiz has explained that there was a triumvirate in place last season (without the specific titles) doing the offensive game planning: Whiz, Haley, Grimm and add input from Warner.

Haley ran the offense. I'm sure he got input but he was the guy. The only override would have been Whisenhunt.

 

[Snakester]

Good thoughts. How about this team not adding a legit FS last offseason? Should have signed Darren Sharper, 1 of the best ever!!! Rolle absoultely blows when playing centerfield and Johnson is a rookie. When is the last time the Cards had a solid FS? Probably, Lonnie Young 20 years ago.

Darren Sharper would have been a nice pickup. I'm not ready to give up on Rolle just yet. He has alot of talent. I think he just needs another year to learn the position. How about this thought. Move Adrian Wilson to outside linebacker, move Rolle to strong safety and make Johnson the starting free safety. Just a thought.

 

[Buckybird]

Sadly they are not. Neither Rolle nor Wilson can cover anyone and McFadden looks like he should be in the European league. DRC is good but is trying too hard to make plays. Evidenced by his jumping to get to the ball instead of staying on the WR and so got burned for a TD.

In addition they are terrible at tackling.

I'd rank our secondary at the bottom of the NFL

Thats reality Duck.

23 games of watching this secondary toasted on a regular basis is as real as it gets. And a lack of pass rush just makes it worse. We have to be pushing 50 TD pases allowed in that 23 game stretch. Putrid!!!

 

[Buckybird]

Move Adrian Wilson to outside linebacker, move Rolle to strong safety and make Johnson the starting free safety. Just a thought.

I like the thought but it aint gonna happen. I think Rolle's best position is SS, but he does miss alot of tackles. I think Rolle will never get better than he is right now because he free lances to often in coverage looking for the big play.