Best and Worst Offseason Moves... Cards Included

[SECTION 11]

The best and worst offseason movesBy Phil Barber - SportingNews
We're at least seven months away from knowing the true impact of this offseason's moves.But it's not too early to guess at which will be the most -- and least -- effective.
Best moves
Redskins hire Joe Gibbs. On a team with loads of talent but little discipline after two years under Steve Spurrier, Gibbs could enact a swift turnaround.

Eagles trade for Terrell Owens. No one ever has questioned his explosiveness or work ethic, two things Philadelphia has lacked at wide receiver. The Eagles got him cheap, too.

Patriots trade for Corey Dillon. For a late second-round draft choice, the defending champions got a running back who is capable of putting up spectacular numbers when happy.

Broncos trade for Champ Bailey. Maybe we're overstating the Broncos' ability to find another every-down running back. But before Clinton Portis, they unearthed Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson. They'll probably locate another (Garrison Hearst? Tatum Bell?), and in the meantime gain one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks.

Bills retain defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. It's almost a given that a new coach will install his own offensive and defensive coordinators. But Mike Mularkey recognized the fine job Gray did in 2003 and left him in place.
Worst moves
49ers release Derrick Deese and Ron Stone. San Francisco's decision to look toward the future is sound. But the 49ers have a pair of inexperienced quarterbacks -- the injured Tim Rattay and second-year man Ken Dorsey -- who desperately need pass protection.

Jets dump Ted Cottrell. Coach Herman Edwards is a man of few faults, but he shouldn't have caved in to pressure and fired Cottrell as defensive coordinator. Even in a down year, New York generated a decent pass rush and ranked eighth in points allowed.

Buccaneers sign Darrell Russell. What was Jon Gruden thinking? Just when he cuts bait on one head case from Southern Cal (Keyshawn Johnson), Gruden saddles himself with another.

Cardinals go with Josh McCown. Arizona's gifted trio of receivers -- Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald -- is frightfully young and could have benefited from Jeff Blake's experience.

Chiefs stand pat on defense. This move is really a non-move. Kansas City, which was exposed for its poor defense in the second half of 2003, did not sign a single noteworthy defender. Instead, the Chiefs handed a mess to new (old) coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Phil Barber covers the Raiders for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

 

[CardLogic]

Cardinals go with Josh McCown. Arizona's gifted trio of receivers -- Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald -- is frightfully young and could have benefited from Jeff Blake's experience.

I think they meant to put this in the "Best Moves" column...

 

[azdad1978]

Cardinals go with Josh McCown. Arizona's gifted trio of receivers -- Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald -- is frightfully young and could have benefited from Jeff Blake's experience.

I sure hope that Josh suceeds this year so all this non believers can eat their words.

 

[jerryp]

Wow, they couldn't even give us a slight tumbs up for getting Green at head coach. And of course his hometown team can do no wrong (Hambrick!?!, Norv Turner!?!).

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Phil, that was tad on weak side. But thanks anyway.

 

[MastersofCombat]

Again Josh has proven nothing to be named the starter, and all of you shame for buying into the fact DG named him starter without seeing him play in minicamp or anything to do with DGs system.
DG said he has the size and speed, that may all be true but he doesnt know how to look off a wr and hit the next one very well.
Ive watched alot on him and he is very good at his initial read, even maybe a planned play where he is more than likely going to his second read.
BUT if the primary target isnt available he usually over threw him on deep patterns and simply through death balls for the WR on short patterns causing our wrs to succumb to some nasty hits.

THis is the Cardinals biggest weakness and I am not one that wanted a high pick for a QB. I think theres a chance that King will produce very nice this year after McCown fails.


Again,'
DG named McCown the starter without "EARNING" it!!! He got it because they cut Blake. DG then kept the Fans and Media off his back by naming McCown his starter..

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Again Josh has proven nothing to be named the starter, and all of you shame for buying into the fact DG named him starter without seeing him play in minicamp or anything to do with DGs system.
DG said he has the size and speed, that may all be true but he doesnt know how to look off a wr and hit the next one very well.
Ive watched alot on him and he is very good at his initial read, even maybe a planned play where he is more than likely going to his second read.
BUT if the primary target isnt available he usually over threw him on deep patterns and simply through death balls for the WR on short patterns causing our wrs to succumb to some nasty hits.

THis is the Cardinals biggest weakness and I am not one that wanted a high pick for a QB. I think theres a chance that King will produce very nice this year after McCown fails.


Again,'
DG named McCown the starter without "EARNING" it!!! He got it because they cut Blake. DG then kept the Fans and Media off his back by naming McCown his starter..

Josh has done nothing to earn the starting job except,

1) Play his role as a back up his first two years perfectly (granted not hard)
2) Display excellent athletic ability vs. top quality competition
3) Display a will to win on the field
4) Display leadership in the huddle
5) Present himself well to the public and probably coaches
6) Have a passer rating of around 90 in his three starts vs CAR, SEA and MIN
7) Throw a game winning touchdown pass on the last play of a game that the other team would have traded their grandmothers shoes to win.

PLUS, hes got a low cap number.

If you watched the games last year, you would know that Jeff Blake imploded as the season wore on. There is no question in my mind that he was not the answer. IMO, Josh has done way more than enough to be a better option than Kerry Collins or Rothlisberger.

 

[CardinalChris]

Yu can't blame the skeptic, but I think it is funny to label it "the worst moves" when the alternative (Blake's experience) was a BOMB of an experiment last year. How could you claim Blake is just what the group needs?

 

[CardShark]

I wonder how this guy could question us on McCown and then suggest that Blake should be here. McCown may have only started 3 games last year but Blake started the first 13 and looked absolutely horriffic. Only Boldins terriffc play gave him any positives. But he even stopped going to Boldin. He couldn't even hold onto the ball with his tiny hands.

 

[vikesfan]

Again Josh has proven nothing to be named the starter, and all of you shame for buying into the fact DG named him starter without seeing him play in minicamp or anything to do with DGs system.
DG said he has the size and speed, that may all be true but he doesnt know how to look off a wr and hit the next one very well.
Ive watched alot on him and he is very good at his initial read, even maybe a planned play where he is more than likely going to his second read.
BUT if the primary target isnt available he usually over threw him on deep patterns and simply through death balls for the WR on short patterns causing our wrs to succumb to some nasty hits.

THis is the Cardinals biggest weakness and I am not one that wanted a high pick for a QB. I think theres a chance that King will produce very nice this year after McCown fails.


Again,'
DG named McCown the starter without "EARNING" it!!! He got it because they cut Blake. DG then kept the Fans and Media off his back by naming McCown his starter..

Uh what did Kurt Warner do to earn his spot? If Trent Green didn't get hurt Warner is not the starter. What did Bulger do to earn his spot? Warner got hurt. What did Fiedler do to earn his starting spot in MIA? What did Hassleback do? Last year was his first good year.

What did Culpepper do to earn his spot. He sat on the bench for 1 year and never really played at all.

What did Tom Brady do to earn his spot? Bledsoe got hurt.

What did Carson Palmer do? What did Peyton or Elway do to earn their starting spots?

You don't earn your spot on the team by playing great in regular games even an idiot can put you in as a starter then. You earn your spot when the team evaluates you on film, in camp, in the few games you might get into. Steve Young sucked in TB how did he earn to go to SF? Culpepper did NOTHING year one and was a year two starter. You don't earn your spot by playing games as a starter because then you would already BE the starter.

Don't worry about Josh earning his spot. Worry if he can make the throws and read the defenses and be a leader when he is named starter. There is no one process where a QB gets to be a starter. Right now he is way ahead of any QB drafted this year.

 

[azdad1978]

Uh what did Kurt Warner do to earn his spot? If Trent Green didn't get hurt Warner is not the starter. What did Bulger do to earn his spot? Warner got hurt. What did Fiedler do to earn his starting spot in MIA? What did Hassleback do? Last year was his first good year.

What did Culpepper do to earn his spot. He sat on the bench for 1 year and never really played at all.

What did Tom Brady do to earn his spot? Bledsoe got hurt.

What did Carson Palmer do? What did Peyton or Elway do to earn their starting spots?

Get a grip on reality you don't earn your spot on the team by playing great in real time even an idiot can put you in as a starter then. You earn your spot when the team evaluates you on film in camp in the few games you might get into.

Steve Young sucked in TB. Culpepper did NOTHING year one and was a year two starter.

You don't earn your spot by playing games as a starter because then you would already BE the starter.

Winning makes all the non believer eat their words.

 

[azdad1978]

Tim Rattay only had 3 starts on his belt too last time I checked

 

[PAQ77]

Uh what did Kurt Warner do to earn his spot? If Trent Green didn't get hurt Warner is not the starter. What did Bulger do to earn his spot? Warner got hurt. What did Fiedler do to earn his starting spot in MIA? What did Hassleback do? Last year was his first good year.

What did Culpepper do to earn his spot. He sat on the bench for 1 year and never really played at all.

What did Tom Brady do to earn his spot? Bledsoe got hurt.

What did Carson Palmer do? What did Peyton or Elway do to earn their starting spots?

You don't earn your spot on the team by playing great in regular games even an idiot can put you in as a starter then. You earn your spot when the team evaluates you on film, in camp, in the few games you might get into. Steve Young sucked in TB how did he earn to go to SF? Culpepper did NOTHING year one and was a year two starter. You don't earn your spot by playing games as a starter because then you would already BE the starter.

Don't worry about Josh earning his spot. Worry if he can make the throws and read the defenses and be a leader when he is named starter. There is no one process where a QB gets to be a starter. Right now he is way ahead of any QB drafted this year.

Nice!

 

[MastersofCombat]

Uh what did Kurt Warner do to earn his spot? If Trent Green didn't get hurt Warner is not the starter. What did Bulger do to earn his spot? Warner got hurt. What did Fiedler do to earn his starting spot in MIA? What did Hassleback do? Last year was his first good year.

What did Culpepper do to earn his spot. He sat on the bench for 1 year and never really played at all.

What did Tom Brady do to earn his spot? Bledsoe got hurt.

What did Carson Palmer do? What did Peyton or Elway do to earn their starting spots?

#1 Tom Brady, Steve Young, Kurt Warner, Trent Green and Bulger all earned their starting spots through injury. THey kicked butt, and the fans begged and they deserved to be opening day starters. ( not the case here)
#2 Carson, Elway, Peyton, Culpepper all first round draft choices they get to start due to monies being paid. Same as bust like Akili Smith did.


I said he did nothing to earn an opening day starter tag. That is a special tag means you really believe in this guy. look at this
......................................Att/comp ....yds,,........tds/int
AHEAD .............................11/4 ...... 34 ............0/0
BEHIND BY 9-TO-16 POINTS 24/15 .....192 ...........1/1
BEHIND BY 1-TO-8 POINTS 20/15 ......149 .........1/1
BEHIND over 17points 140/82 ......... 871 .......5/5

what kind of defense did he face more often than not? Answer= Prevent ( not all the time) How can you evaluate this? and come to conclusion he is your opening day starter that will lead you to the playoffs?

I am just saying this makes no sense..... if it does explain it as a professional and not as a homer. (homer only after professional then )

Hey I would love to see him do good, and I will be at camp this year comparing him to the last decade of QBs I have been to camp to see.

 

[MastersofCombat]

I love the Cards but I hate this move allowing him to be the starter.
They shouldve came into the camp wide open and let Parsons, Navarro, King, and McCown battle it out.
Hell King has done far more than McCown why not name him starter?

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I love how Denver had one of the best moves, but were given a "D" for their offseason because the guy that Berry beat out in camp and had 8.5 sacks in limited time is now starting at DE, and an overrated Ian Gold left. Oh well, Sporting News is just about the worst sports rag around.

 

[vikesfan]

QUOTE: #1 Tom Brady, Steve Young, Kurt Warner, Trent Green and Bulger all earned their starting spots through injury. They kicked butt and the fans begged to see them as opening day starters. ( not the case here)

RESPONSE: Steve Young sucked in TB how did he deserve to even go to SF?
Your logic is skewed if Josh was a journeyman QB who did nothing much for years in the NFL (like Blake or Young) then he can start. But if he is a young player highly rated in the draft year he came out in then he shouldn't start. Why did Montana ever get to start in SF. What did Hassleback going for him last year except the belief in him by Holmgren? So if the Cards starter was Leon Blake then he got hurt and then Josh started and played well it would be okay? HUH? All the Cards did was skip the vet QB being hurt part and went straight to the replace him with another QB part.

QUOTE: #2 Carson, Elway, Peyton, Culpepper all first round draft choices they get to start due to monies being paid. Same as bust like Akili Smith did.

RESPONSE: Oh so being drafted number 1 means you can automatically be a starter. Culpepper never starts if Marino comes up to MIN.



QUOTE: You didnt do your homework nor did you pay attention to my post!
I said he did nothing to earn an opening day starter tag. That is a special tag means you really believe in this guy. look at this
......................................Att/comp ....yds,,........tds/int
AHEAD .............................11/4 ...... 34 ............0/0
BEHIND BY 9-TO-16 POINTS 24/15 .....192 ...........1/1
BEHIND BY 1-TO-8 POINTS 20/15 ......149 .........1/1
BEHIND over 17points 140/82 ......... 871 .......5/5

what kind of defense did he face more often than not? Answer= Prevent ( not all the time) How can you evaluate this? and come to conclusion he is your opening day starter that will lead you to the playoffs?

RESPONSE: Huh? He didn't practice with the first team he didn't get the attention a starting QB gets on a team. He was still doing something called learning. How long do you want to wait 5 more years and then he can start?
The QB does not lead a team to the playoffs. The QB is but one cog especially in these days. He just has to do his job as part of the machine.
You are basing everything on where he was drafted (look at Montana Brady Bulger etc) and on 3 games he was thrown into. HUH? Dude come on DG knows QBs he didn't watch Culpepper play live he watched him on film. He watched Josh on film. Sure DG might be wrong but I would bet it is much much much more likely he will be right. DG had to wait 8 years to get his QB in MIN. The dude is already here. He doesn't want to pay musical QBs every year.

QUOTE: I am just saying this makes no sense..... if it does explain it as a professional and not as a homer. (homer only after professional then )
Hey I would love to see him do good, and I will be at camp this year comparing him to the last decade of QBs I have been to camp to see.

RESPONSE: What about Jay Fiedler he was a 3rd QB for years. Now one of the winningest QBs in the NFL. He didn't do anything to earn the right to be a starter. Culpepper might have been a 1st round pick but he wouldn't have started in his second year if Marino had agreed to come to MIA. Using your logic if a player is a 1st round pick he has earned the right to start? But if he is a 3rd round pick looks good on film to a QB expert like DG and was the 3rd rated QB in his draft year then he doesn't deserve to start. HUH? What about Rattay and his 3 starts (like Azdad said). Did you see the deal MIA made for Freely what has he done to earn a shot at starting? Look at Griese what did he do? It took Bradshaw a few years to click. Your QB won't click sitting on the bench. You have a gut feeling Josh will fail. Maybe your gut feeling is right. But you cannot make a case that Josh being named starter by Denny Green is not the correct move at this time. It is a perfectly sound move.
And again look at all the other teams also releasing their older QBs around the NFL he is not the only one who thinks this way.

 

[vikesfan]

I love the Cards but I hate this move allowing him to be the starter.
They shouldve came into the camp wide open and let Parsons, Navarro, King, and McCown battle it out.
Hell King has done far more than McCown why not name him starter?

Because DG knows more about QBing and playing in the NFL then you do.
So far it has worked all the players are saying Josh looks great is taking charge etc. The media have noted the same things. The NFL is not about stats in 3 games it is about the psychology of creating winners and winning.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Because DG knows more about QBing and playing in the NFL then you do.
So far it has worked all the players are saying Josh looks great is taking charge etc. The media have noted the same things. The NFL is not about stats in 3 games it is about the psychology of creating winners and winning.

Quote:
Originally posted by vikesfan
He get his vet QB in King - a proven NFL winner. Not some old retread QB loser.

Apparently he knows more about QBing then you also because accoring to your post that I pasted you say King is a proven winner. Do you even believe the dribble that spews from your key board? Or do you just post on so many threads that you can't remember one from the next? This is probably why you wear on most people. Its your version or no version! Dude lighten up. It obivous that DG has forgotten more about the game then any of will ever know. HELLO he's a head coach we are just fans with an OPINION. OK

 

[vikesfan]

Quote:
Originally posted by vikesfan
He get his vet QB in King - a proven NFL winner. Not some old retread QB loser.

Apparently he knows more about QBing then you also because accoring to your post that I pasted you say King is a proven winner. Do you even believe the dribble that spews from your key board? Or do you just post on so many threads that you can't remember one from the next? This is probably why you wear on most people. Its your version or no version! Dude lighten up. It obivous that DG has forgotten more about the game then any of will ever know. HELLO he's a head coach we are just fans with an OPINION. OK

King has proved he can win in the NFL he went to an NFC final which a bad ref call was crucial in losing. Some dude here only posts King's stats when anyone attacks him. The stats are pretty good.

Some opinions are more weighted then others. I am making the case for Josh.
Part of that case goes along with DG's track record regarding QBing and winning in the NFL. That adds weight to the arguement I am making. Nothing is set in stone. If someone came here and posted that Josh was going to the probowl and be the best QB in the NFL I wouldn't agree with that either.

 

[WisconsinCard]

King has proved he can win in the NFL he went to an NFC final which a bad ref call was crucial in losing. Some dude here only posts King's stats when anyone attacks him. The stats are pretty good.

Some opinions are more weighted then others. I am making the case for Josh.
Part of that case goes along with DG's track record regarding QBing and winning in the NFL. That adds weight to the arguement I am making. Nothing is set in stone. If someone came here and posted that Josh was going to the probowl and be the best QB in the NFL I wouldn't agree with that either.

The year you are talking about he had a passer rating of around 75. He has started all of 9 games since you would think a "proven winner" would find a starting job somewhere. Or is it that maybe no one believes that he can win games except you. If Josh goes down I hope you are right and I am wrong, but the guy hasn't shown me anything. If DG know QB'S as you say then wouldn't a "proven winner" be the starter of this team?

 

[Redsz]

If the QB's did battle it out...

Based on what was seen at the mini-camps, Josh would of won... By a large margin.

 

[jstadvl]

This all moot

McCown is our QB! He has talent. Will he progressively get better? No doubt!
I like Parsons also, I think he'd be a good #2. Same attitude as Josh, good gun, needs some serious time, takes things too lightly because they've been given to him.
No matter what anyone thinks of our QB situation, imho, we had a good offseason.

 

[Pariah]

I don't for a second think it was a mistake to name Josh the starter--he probably does give the team the best chance to win this year of the QBs on the roster or any rookies that may have come in. I do think it was a mistake not to draft Roethlisberger this year, though. Roethlisberger will be the better NFL QB, IMO.

I hope that's not the case, I hope there is no better QB in the NFL than McCown, I just don't believe that. He'll probably be okay, just not great.

 

[CardLogic]

I love the Cards but I hate this move allowing him to be the starter.
They shouldve came into the camp wide open and let Parsons, Navarro, King, and McCown battle it out.
Hell King has done far more than McCown why not name him starter?

Simple fact: Dennis Green believes he can win with Josh McCown as his starting QB!

It is believed that McCown has a great deal of potential upside. Now granted, until developed, potential doesn't buy anything. But when you have a diamond-in-the-rough, you have got to cut and polish it to discover if you have a true gem. It may turn out to be just a rock... But if you just leave it on the shelf, you will never know!

If McCown fails then we will know, it's not like we haven't been there before. But, my question to MoC and other McCown doubters is how fair of a chance does McCown get??? If he performs poorly in the first two games will you start BOOing and calling for his replacement? Or do you trust the coaches to know who provides the team the best opportunity to win? If you don't allow McCown the time to become polished you'll never know if you are looking at a diamond or just a rock.

This team and this town gave Jake Plummer five years!!! It won't take that long for Green to know with Josh what he has got.

I believe that we Cardinals fans are in for a pleasant surprise!