Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Hey ASF nation---it's Mitch Keim here coming to you from the east corner of Cardinals' headquarters. Here is an exclusive preview of the deals and roster moves that my fine nephew Steve has in the works. So onward we go with the Keim Quest to do all the Cardinals can to be the best football team on the planet.
QB (3): Carson Palmer; Phillip Sims; Logan Thomas
Trade: QB Drew Stanton to the New York Jets for CB Marcus Williams. Todd Bowles gets some stability at a highly unstable QB spot and the Cardinals get a good, young CB, who would't get much playing time in the Jets' All-Star secondary.
I am not buying into MJ's theory that the Cardinals will and should keep 2 QBs on the 53 Man Roster. In fact, I think both Sims and Thomas would be claimed---my biggest fear being that they would be claimed by the Seahawks and 49ers respectively. Sims has some Russell Wilson like qualities to his game. The same applies to Thomas and Colin Kaepernick. Thus, I think they both would be very good system fits in SEA and SF.
For scout team reasons---I like having Sims to help us prepare for SEA. Same for Thomas to help us prepare for SF.
I have liked what I have seen from Sims so much that I would make him the #2, which would allow Thomas to put some time in at TE. I would also be curious to know if Thomas could rush the edge in passing situations. His size, frame, speed and pure athleticism suggests to me that he could be a good pass rusher. Love the tackle he made two weeks ago on Malik Wilson's interception. It was one of the best tackles I have seen in Cardinal red.
RB (5): Andre Ellington; David Johnson; Chris Johnson; Kerwynn Williams; Stepfan Taylor.
Having the three speed RBs in Juke, DJ and CJ allows BA to keep the pedal on the metal. Williams is my choice for kickoff returner, and for running the ball late in games between the tackles. I am choosing Taylor over Hughes because he is better on STs and he can do all the Hughes can do, rushing, blocking and receiving.
PS: Paul Lasike---keep developing this physical stud RB/FB.
TE (3): Darren Fells; Jermaine Gresham; Luke Stocker;
Trade: TE Troy Niklas, DE Kareem Martin and a conditional 3rd/4th round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to the Browns for OLB Barkevious Mingo.
In a trade of oft-injured players, the Browns think they can tap into Niklas' potential at TE, groom Martin at SOLB behind Paul Kruger and if Mingo plays in more than 10 games for the Cardinals they get a 3rd rounder---if not, a 4th rounder. They like the tandem of Nate Orchard and Scott Solomon on the other side. Mingo, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus three weeks ago, is projected to be ready to play by game one. He gives the Cardinals the kind of instant fit, athletic WOLB that would allow them to switch Alex Okafor to starting SOLB.
Trade: T Bobby Massie to the Bucs for TE Luke Stocker.
The Cardinals can afford to keep 3 TEs because Larry Fitzgerald is often used like a flex TE and they have three good blocking TEs in Fells, Gresham and Stocker.
PS: Gerald Christian---gives him some time to carve his niche as an H-back.
OL (8): Jared Veldheer; Mike Iupati; A.Q. Shipley; Jonathan Cooper; Bradley Sowell; Ted Larsen; Earl Watford; D.J. Humphries.
Bradley Sowell and Ted Larsen fill in until D.J. Humphries and Mike Iupati are ready to take over.
PS: T Rob Crisp; G/C Anthony Steen---coaches are high on both young players and feel if need be they can be called up.
WR (6): Larry Fitzgerald; Michael Floyd; John Brown, Jaron Brown; J.J. Nelson; Jaxson Shipley.
Fitzgerald doubles as a flex-TE. So could Floyd and Jaron Brown if need be. Plenty of speed, quick feet and punt return ability from Smoke, Fire and Shipley (whom I believe will get claimed by the Patriots if he is waived).
NT (2): Rodney Gunter; Xavier Williams.
Two very physical rookies.
DE (5): Frostee Rucker; Calais Campbell; Cory Redding; Josh Mauro; Ed Stinson.
Trade: DE Matt Shaughnessy and NT Alameda Ta'amu to the Ravens for ILB Arthur Brown.
Ravens need run stoppers, Cardinals need speed at WILB.
Solid versatility and depth.
ILB (4): Kevin Minter; Arthur Brown; Sean Weatherspoon, Alani Fua.
if Weatherspoon remains injured---he gets placed on the short-term IR and Kenny Demens takes his place. Fua can be a factor on STs and at nickel LB.
PS: Edwin Jackson; Gabe Martin---future thunder and lightning.
OLB (5): Alex Okafor; Barkevious Mingo; Markus Golden; Dwight Freeney; LaMarr Woodley.
Adding Mingo and Freeney would be a huge boost to the pass rush.
IR: Shaq Riddick; Zach Wagenmann.
CB (4): Patrick Peterson; Jerraud Powers; Justin Bethel; Marcus Williams.
Adding Williams rounds out a talented group.
PS: Cariel Brooks---hopefully he doesn't get claimed off waivers.
S (5): Tyrann Mathieu; Deone Bucannon; Rashad Johnson; Tony Jefferson; Harold Jones-Quartey.
Poised for being the stalwarts and impact players of the defense.
ST (3): Chandler Catanzaro; Mike Leach; Dave Zastudil.
There is potential magic in this group when healthy and focused in.
So---that's all from Cardinals' headquarters here today. This is Mitch Keim reporting. And, as always Cardinals' fans, stay thirsty my friends.
QB (3): Carson Palmer; Phillip Sims; Logan Thomas
Trade: QB Drew Stanton to the New York Jets for CB Marcus Williams. Todd Bowles gets some stability at a highly unstable QB spot and the Cardinals get a good, young CB, who would't get much playing time in the Jets' All-Star secondary.
I am not buying into MJ's theory that the Cardinals will and should keep 2 QBs on the 53 Man Roster. In fact, I think both Sims and Thomas would be claimed---my biggest fear being that they would be claimed by the Seahawks and 49ers respectively. Sims has some Russell Wilson like qualities to his game. The same applies to Thomas and Colin Kaepernick. Thus, I think they both would be very good system fits in SEA and SF.
For scout team reasons---I like having Sims to help us prepare for SEA. Same for Thomas to help us prepare for SF.
I have liked what I have seen from Sims so much that I would make him the #2, which would allow Thomas to put some time in at TE. I would also be curious to know if Thomas could rush the edge in passing situations. His size, frame, speed and pure athleticism suggests to me that he could be a good pass rusher. Love the tackle he made two weeks ago on Malik Wilson's interception. It was one of the best tackles I have seen in Cardinal red.
RB (5): Andre Ellington; David Johnson; Chris Johnson; Kerwynn Williams; Stepfan Taylor.
Having the three speed RBs in Juke, DJ and CJ allows BA to keep the pedal on the metal. Williams is my choice for kickoff returner, and for running the ball late in games between the tackles. I am choosing Taylor over Hughes because he is better on STs and he can do all the Hughes can do, rushing, blocking and receiving.
PS: Paul Lasike---keep developing this physical stud RB/FB.
TE (3): Darren Fells; Jermaine Gresham; Luke Stocker;
Trade: TE Troy Niklas, DE Kareem Martin and a conditional 3rd/4th round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to the Browns for OLB Barkevious Mingo.
In a trade of oft-injured players, the Browns think they can tap into Niklas' potential at TE, groom Martin at SOLB behind Paul Kruger and if Mingo plays in more than 10 games for the Cardinals they get a 3rd rounder---if not, a 4th rounder. They like the tandem of Nate Orchard and Scott Solomon on the other side. Mingo, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus three weeks ago, is projected to be ready to play by game one. He gives the Cardinals the kind of instant fit, athletic WOLB that would allow them to switch Alex Okafor to starting SOLB.
Trade: T Bobby Massie to the Bucs for TE Luke Stocker.
The Cardinals can afford to keep 3 TEs because Larry Fitzgerald is often used like a flex TE and they have three good blocking TEs in Fells, Gresham and Stocker.
PS: Gerald Christian---gives him some time to carve his niche as an H-back.
OL (8): Jared Veldheer; Mike Iupati; A.Q. Shipley; Jonathan Cooper; Bradley Sowell; Ted Larsen; Earl Watford; D.J. Humphries.
Bradley Sowell and Ted Larsen fill in until D.J. Humphries and Mike Iupati are ready to take over.
PS: T Rob Crisp; G/C Anthony Steen---coaches are high on both young players and feel if need be they can be called up.
WR (6): Larry Fitzgerald; Michael Floyd; John Brown, Jaron Brown; J.J. Nelson; Jaxson Shipley.
Fitzgerald doubles as a flex-TE. So could Floyd and Jaron Brown if need be. Plenty of speed, quick feet and punt return ability from Smoke, Fire and Shipley (whom I believe will get claimed by the Patriots if he is waived).
NT (2): Rodney Gunter; Xavier Williams.
Two very physical rookies.
DE (5): Frostee Rucker; Calais Campbell; Cory Redding; Josh Mauro; Ed Stinson.
Trade: DE Matt Shaughnessy and NT Alameda Ta'amu to the Ravens for ILB Arthur Brown.
Ravens need run stoppers, Cardinals need speed at WILB.
Solid versatility and depth.
ILB (4): Kevin Minter; Arthur Brown; Sean Weatherspoon, Alani Fua.
if Weatherspoon remains injured---he gets placed on the short-term IR and Kenny Demens takes his place. Fua can be a factor on STs and at nickel LB.
PS: Edwin Jackson; Gabe Martin---future thunder and lightning.
OLB (5): Alex Okafor; Barkevious Mingo; Markus Golden; Dwight Freeney; LaMarr Woodley.
Adding Mingo and Freeney would be a huge boost to the pass rush.
IR: Shaq Riddick; Zach Wagenmann.
CB (4): Patrick Peterson; Jerraud Powers; Justin Bethel; Marcus Williams.
Adding Williams rounds out a talented group.
PS: Cariel Brooks---hopefully he doesn't get claimed off waivers.
S (5): Tyrann Mathieu; Deone Bucannon; Rashad Johnson; Tony Jefferson; Harold Jones-Quartey.
Poised for being the stalwarts and impact players of the defense.
ST (3): Chandler Catanzaro; Mike Leach; Dave Zastudil.
There is potential magic in this group when healthy and focused in.
So---that's all from Cardinals' headquarters here today. This is Mitch Keim reporting. And, as always Cardinals' fans, stay thirsty my friends.
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