Cardinals' 53: The Mitch Keim Report

[bojack]

I don't think we even consider trading Stanton until we know what we have in Sims for sure. I too like the little I've seen from Sims that I would want him on the 53, especially instead of LT, but we he is still an unknown quantity, but does appear to have promise.

On the flip side Stanton's value will probably never be higher, especially if he is relegated to 3rd string if Sims outperforms over time. But I think his value to us right now is much higher than the value we would get in return for him.

I really believe that our 2nd string QB should the one that will eventually become our starter in the seasons to come. Stanton is not that guy but until we know who that guy is we can't deal Stanton. Sims just doesn't have enough film yet to put all our eggs in that basket.

The only way we will find out if Sims can potentially be starting QB this season is if Stanton has to come in for relief and he doing terrible or gets injured as well.

 

[az jam]

If you are going to trade Stanton then trade for a QBOF such as Zach Mettenburgh at Tennesse or Mike Glennon at Tampa Bay. Neither of them are going to see the field as long as Mariata and Winston play. They sit behind Palmer for a year or 2 to be groomed. Maybe in addition to Stanton you throw in mid round pick also.

Would love to have Glennon. Good fit for BA's offense.

 

[bojack]

As I've indicated, the calls for Sims are not because they know who Sims is as a quarterback, it's more of an indication of how they feel about Thomas. I could say to many here that I'm going to dig up a random corpse at the cemetery and put him behind center and many of you would say, "he has tremendous potential, he should be on the roster."

Totally agree that a lot of the interest in Sims is because of just how much we don't like the idea of relying on LT. But I don't think anything is saying Sims is starting QB material already, just that compared to the alternatives we've had to watch fill that role (Lindley and Logan) that he initially seems like someone who *may possibly* have more promise than those.

I just want to start there and have the question answered... "Can he be our number 3?", and then from there see what happens over time... backup? starter? All has to be proven over seasons.

I think we have to stay vigilant and be prepared for when Carson is gone by having someone in the wings that can become a starter that can carry their own weight. I don't know if Sims is that guy and no else does after 2 preseason games but the tiny sample of work I've seen from him makes me curious enough to see more. At this point I don't really want to see any more snaps from LT because I just don't think he the answer in the short term (backup) or long term (starter).

 

[cardncubfan]

Maybe, but they're imminently replaceable. Guys like that come out every year, and it's not like we're hurting for WR talent now or in the near future. Or safeties.



Stanton has a $4M cap number because of playing time incentives he hit last year. Why would teams trade cost-controlled rookie contracts for a guy with a high cap number entering free agency next year?

Further, Stanton hasn't worked with Chan Gailey before, so he'd have to adapt to an entirely new offense in a week.

True that we are not hurting for receivers or safeties but the statement was that they wouldn't be on an NFL roster. Sims I can agree with but I think Shipley & HJQ would be picked up by someone.

 

[cardncubfan]

Because they suck.

Nice reply....

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Because they suck.

In a rush for another ban?

 

[Mitch]

Fun write up Mitch. I would keep Massie and Stanton though. Massie is the only good right tackle we have. I think its going to be at least a year before Humphries might be able to play RT for us. Would love to see us bring in Freeney. I think he can still produce if he is used properly.

I am not quite as convinced about Stanton and Massie as you are, Gary. I would be surprised if either one of them is on the Cardinals' roster next year, which is why I went with younger options. I am probably in the minority, but I think Bradley Sowell is just as good and even a little better in the running game than Massie---and I think it is matter of time before D. J. Humphries runs away with the position. However, I think you are making safe choices, and I respect that.

The question I asked myself is---could the Cardinals win the Super Bowl with Stanton at QB? First of all, like last year, it's unsure whether he can hold up physically over the span of a few games (injured twice) and secondly BA's play-calling with Stanton in the game tells me very clearly that he has very little confidence in him as a passer. BA will say otherwise, but his actions speak volumes.

Sims has better feel and touch on his passes, and he is more elusive in and out of the pocket. With more and more of BA's and TM's coaching, I think Sims could be dynamic. I sense a higher ceiling for him than with Stanton. And I think the Cardinals can get a good player in return for Stanton this year, if they elect to make a trade.

 

[Mitch]

Sure, but realize this is relative to NFL talent, all three are great football players, but just not NFL talent.

Phillip Sims
He is slow to read defenses, and it cause him to get Kevin Kolb feet and start back pedalling out of the pocket to extend plays. Not good in the NFL when you are playing against the 1's and 2's, and even worse he is not that quick, NFL starters will track him down easily. He also throw a nice ball but his arm strength is very average. If he doesn't get a perfect spiral on the ball it flutters and dies. I would be hard pressed to even put Sims on the practice squad, personally. Nothing against the kid either, heard him on KTAR and he seems like a very bright kid, with a great attitude. But, he is going to need to either improve his accuracy or his poise in the pocket to stay in the NFL.


Jaxson Shipley
He is too slow for the NFL. His straight line speed for someone who is returning kicks and punts is no where near where it needs to be. He has great quickness, and good jukes but that amounts to nothing if you cannot pull away from the defender or even make some yardage before they track you down. As a receiver he is very much average. I would have Brittan Golden on my team before having Shipley, and Golden is not making this roster either in my opinion. Thus I would imagine that Golden would find a NFL team before Shipley. Not to mention the ridiculous number of wider receivers in the NFL right now, there is a glut of talent at the position. Thus I cannot see why a NFL takes a slow, and average wide receiver.


Harold Jones-Quartey
No matter how much Ron Wolfley talks about this guy, he is not very good. He may lay big hits, and sacrifice his body, but I would be more impressed if he wrapped up when tackling and did so near the line of scrimmage, not 5 yards off of it. His coverage skills are quite poor, and he is playing against 3 stringers and guys that won't be playing in the NFL this year. I personally think the secondary for this team is a work in progress. C.Brooks, Roberts, Legree, Richardson, Jones-Quartey, are just a few players that have looked quite unimpressive so far. Maybe it is the scheme they are playing, or something but once Justin Bethel leaves the field in these preseason games the secondary looks lost. But, maybe I should re-think HJQ, because there is a lack of good safeties in this league, so he many latch on with some team, but that would be more of a case of lack of talent.


The good news is that none of these three players are very important to the upcoming season, so really this doesn't matter.

The 53 spots come week 1 are going to be filled with starters, backup and a few jackasses that either are playing like they have been shot with a tranquilizer dart (DJ Humphries) or are just plain stupid and unmotivated (Bobbie Massie). So, I doubt there will be any room for project players.

Even if there is an extra spot, would you keep any of the 3 players above over having an extra defensive lineman ? Why cut NFL quality talent for guys that are having trouble standing out against 3rd stingers ?

Thus ends my elaboration.

Maybe I have rose-colored glasses on, but Sims, Shipley and Jones-Quartey are three of my top surprises in TC. I like them so much, I don't want to lose them and I want to make sure we keep them for 4 years.

Sims throws a beautiful spiral (how about the flick of the wrist out pass he threw on a frozen rope last week?...and that perfect strike rope he threw up the left hash marks to Ryan Spadola?)---he has poise and is a fluid athlete. I don't see Kolb feet at all. His college tape too---the kid hangs in there very well.

Shipley has great hands and great feet---he reminds me of Julian Edelman---it took Edelman a little while to develop, but when the hands and feet are that good, the player is worth keeping. There was a lot of interest in Shipley as a UDFA and the Cardinals had to offer him a healthy bonus to sign him---that's for very good reasons. He will be claimed off waivers. Plus, I think Shipley is better punt returner already than Brittan Golden---Shipley has better vision and moves. And I have wanted Golden to shine, but, imo, Shipley has outperformed him.

The hit that HJQ put on the Chargers' RB at the pylon was eye and ear-popping---the fact that he came all the way over from the other side of the field to make that play taking a textbook pursuit angle is exemplary---and that's not a play where it is even possible to wrap up because he is knocking the player OB. If you watch his college tape---which is why i was touting him even before TC---he is a textbook tackler---pop, lift, drive and finish. We need hitters like HJQ if we are ever going to develop a culture for hitting in AZ. Plus, he picked up a nice interception in coverage. This kid is a dude.

 

[jbeecham]

Sims, J. Shipley & Quartey have all had flashes & these last 2 pre-season games will determine their fate.

I like Sims play, but I want to see him do it against better competition & I agree with K9 that it bugs me that he didn't fix his eye sight. He definitely throws a more catchable ball than LT, but he's lacking arm strength. He has good elusiveness & improved his pocket presence in game 2... hopefully that's a sign of growth, coach-ability & maybe the game slowing down for him a little bit.

Shipley had a great 21 yard catch in game 1 & the great kickoff return after the safety, but he was kind of invisible in game 2... I think he had 1 catch for 9 yards. He is slow for an NFL receiver, but he has a history of being a clutch possession receiver who can gets 1st downs on 3rd & 10. He reminds me a little bit of Keith Poole from ASU in 1996... who played in the NFL a few years but could never really latch on because of size/speed issues.

I haven't keyed in on Quartey or any of the 3rd/4th string CBs & Safetys. He obviously flashed with the interception & return (on a bad overthrow) & the goal-line hit he put on the SD Charger to try to keep him out of the end zone (although the guy had already stepped out on the 3yd line).

Out of these guys, I think Sims has the best chance of making the final 53 just because he's led the team on scoring drives in both games and has been a lot more consistent that LT. Again though, he's playing with & against guys who won't be on NFL rosters in 2 weeks.

 

[Garthshort]

I'm sure Shipley WON'T make our final '53', but will land on someone's PS. He's a slot receiver in the Welker, Edelman, Amendola mold, but might be a year away from a regular roster spot. At least that is how I see him.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm sure Shipley WON'T make our final '53', but will land on someone's PS. He's a slot receiver in the Welker, Edelman, Amendola mold, but might be a year away from a regular roster spot. At least that is how I see him.

Is he in the Jordy Nelson mold? Could he be like Wayne Crebet and Ed McCaffery? How does he compare to Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley?

 

[gmabel830]

Is he in the Jordy Nelson mold? Could he be like Wayne Crebet and Ed McCaffery? How does he compare to Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley?

I hear he also has a high motor, and is quicker than fast.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Is he in the Jordy Nelson mold? Could he be like Wayne Crebet and Ed McCaffery? How does he compare to Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley?

Maybe Keith Poole. But there is potential for Dwight Clark or Steve Largent!

 

[gmabel830]

Ricky Prohel deserves a mention here.

 

[TJ]

Maybe Keith Poole. But there is potential for Dwight Clark or Steve Largent!

Lance Long's tremendous potential merits consideration.

 

[kerouac9]

Lance Long's tremendous potential merits consideration.

How savvy is he? Can he find a hole in the zone and sit down in it? Is he a reliable outlet receiver? Do his dependable hands and feel for the game help make up for less than ideal measurables?

 

[ajcardfan]

Ricky Prohel deserves a mention here.

Where's the damn love for Kevin Kasper?

 

[gmabel830]

Lance Moore is a current white guy All-Pro

 

[Jetstream Green]

If a white guy plays WR, he is either called a Wes Walker or a Julian Edelman called a Wes Walker... I guess that is why he is going to the Patriots lol

 

[TJ]

How savvy is he? Can he find a hole in the zone and sit down in it? Is he a reliable outlet receiver? Do his dependable hands and feel for the game help make up for less than ideal measurables?

Ha!

All I remember is that he is white, had some horsey nickname, and when he was here, was revered by many on this board.

 

[TJ]

Where's the damn love for Kevin Kasper?

Proactiv gave him the love and it helped him with his acne. Too bad it did nothing for his abilities as a WR and his boyband-ish platinum blond hair.

http://kevinkasper.blogspot.com/

"Every time you talk to somebody, you're presenting yourself. When you have acne, sometimes you feel like they're not listening to you; they're kinda just staring at your acne.

One of my best friends swore by Proactiv®; it worked great for him. So I called the 1-800 number and ordered it. Within a week, I really started noticing the difference.

As you can see my face has cleared up and my acne doesn't distract me or other people.....

When you look better, you feel better, and it's a great thing. Proactiv is a great thing!"

 

[Buckybird]

Lance Moore is a current white guy All-Pro

You need to visit the eye doc...ASAP

 

[PACardsFan]

Stanton out and out sucks. God help us if CP goes down again. Logan hasn't given us any indication that he's a 3rd stringer, let alone the backup. Sims is at best a 3rd stringer & will never be anything more. The Cardinals really need to fortify the QB position. Not only for the future, but for right now. I'd much prefer having a Mettenberger or Glennon on our roster than Stanton. They both have a significantly higher ceiling than Stanton. We've seen all that Stanton is. Plus, he can't avoid injuries either.