Cardinals' Management Still Clueless

[Mitch]

Warning: Kool Aid drinkers...flip to another thread. Why get flustered?

Once again, the Cardinals' management shows its ineptitude in its feeble attempts to build a winner in Arizona. With ample cap room going into the off-season, oceans of cap room available in 2007 and a brand new state-of-the-art stadium to stir tremendous excitement for the much beleaguered Cardinal fans...team management performs its traditional off-season belly flop.

What's immediately clear is that the people in the front office do not know how to evaluate and address the vulnerabilities of its football team...nor do they have any instincts as to how to learn from the shortcomings of a disappointing 5-11 season.

Yeah, management makes moves...but...and it's a big but....they never ever finish the job. Nor do they make the attempt to prioritize their acquisitions.

Let's analyze the key personnel moves of this off-season. Before we get into the specific signings, let's remind ourselves that the Cardinals' greatest needs going into free agency were at QB, LG, RG, RT, NT, WLB and FS.

1. Signing QB Kurt Warner. The postiives: (a) he brings continuity; (b) he showed last season he can move the ball in the air between the 20s pretty well still; (c) he still has a solid arm, when healthy; (d) he has the potential to be a good, veteran leader.

The negatives: (a) he is injury prone; (b) $5M plus a year at his age and history of injuries is risky; (c) he is not the QBOF; he is a short-term stop-gap; (d) he was ineffective in the red zone....yeah, yeah, blame it on the running game...but look at his decision making in the red zone...; (e) the Cardinals could have been major players in the Daunte Culpepper/Drew Brees sweepstakes...both young QBs coming off injuries, but scheduled to be healthy by September...and both, QBsOF.

This signing behooves the Cardinals to bring in a veteran backup...yet, as Rod Graves avowed today, the team won't consider a veteran backup until after the draft. So, what does that mean? The backup could be a rookie? And yeah...go ahead...let all the viable backups get signed by other teams now.

What about John Navarre and Rohan Davey? Realistic starters when Warner gets hurt?

2. DT Kendrick Clancy. The team needs a run-stuffing NT. Clancy is an undersized, but effectively quick UT, who could form a prolific rotation with Darnell Dockett...but, unless the Cardinals change their d-line scheme/philosophy, what will they do with Clancy? Who will play NT?

Meanwhile, why doesn't team management even entertain the thought of adding a Ted Washington (gone) or Sam Adams (still available) widebody who could fill the NT role...and groom a successor (to be taken in the draft)?

The Cardinals may get lucky with Langston Moore and/or Tim Bulman...both have potential to be adequate in the NT role...but, at this point, it's like hoping that Navarre and/or Davey are legitimate backup QBs.

3. G Milford Brown. He's a run blocking guard...has upside, but is not a proven commodity. However, this is the most reasonable signing the Cardinals have made this off-season...especially seeing as the Cardinals did not have a guard on the roster last year who could get any push as a run blocker.

Yet, to think that Brown is the ONLY outside free agent o-lineman acquired this off-season is about as mind-boggling as punting from the 42 yard line with 5 minutes left down 14 points.

4. RB Edgerrin James. Great player...noone can deny....but, how effective can he be behind the league's worst run blocking offensive line (and no proven free agents added to the mix)? Also, it seems this one signing broke the bank...ever since Edge was signed, the front office went on vacation...which is the WORST thing this front office could do right now.

5. G Reggie Wells. Remember Matt Joyce? The Cardinals loved his versatility and paid him handsomely...and he never settled down at a position, and he never really played all that well. Why? Matt Joyce was a decent pass blocker, but he couldn't get any formidible push in the running game...so he wasn't really a guard, and he was a fill-in tackle. This is Reggie Wells to date. Watch him on tape on running plays. He gets ZERO push...because he does not match up physically against the league's DTs. And the team opts to pay him 5/$18M???

Even worse...far stronger run blockers like Larry Allen and even Stephen Neal are out there, and the Cardinals have NO interest? Larry Allen at 50% is better than any guard on the current roster, including Milford Brown.

If the Cardinals get lucky and G Max Jean-Gilles slips to them at #42...Jean-Gilles and Milford Brown will be the starting guards...which means Wells may not even start...unless he wins the center or tackle jobs, and right now who knows if Wells can be a good starter at center or tackle? His most natural position...IMO...is at RT. Let's hope he gets tried there and he replaces the inept Oliver Ross.

The Seahawks go out and sign T Tom Ashworth...which means, even though their o-line (even without Hutch) is five times as good as the Cardinals'...the Seahawks have done MORE to upgrade their o-line than the Cardinals have. UNTHINKABLE.

The Seahawks have their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy. Obviously, the Cardinals do not.

This is deja-vu all over again. Last year Green signs Ross and announces that the team is set with Wells and Bridges at guard. L.J. Shelton is cut. When asked if he has done enough, he said the team will wait for June 1st cuts. You know the rest. And let's avoid rewinding back another year to you know who.

The fact remains...now that the front office is dormant until the draft....the team still has major needs at QB, LG, RT, NT and FS....not to even mention special teams (horrible last year) and a starting punt returner (equally horrible last year).

Are we really going to watch Robert Griffith get torched at FS another year?

Just as the Cardinals on the field can't finish out games and are poorly managed to do so...the Cardinal front office can't finish out an off-season. This year is the epitome of that notion.

 

[Pariah]

let's remind ourselves that the Cardinals' greatest needs going into free agency were at QB, LG, RG, RT, NT, WLB and FS.

This is certainly a matter of opinion. There are many that thought RB was near the top of that list, too.

And, clearly (though I don't really agree), the Cards think they're golden at LG with Wells.

 

[abomb]

Yawn.

A-Bomb

 

[Russ Smith]

Some fair points but at least give green and graves the draft before you blast them. Some of those problems may be resolved on draft day.

 

[Ryanwb]

I didn't realize the off season was over and the roster is set for 2006

:roll:

 

[Mitch]

Some fair points but at least give green and graves the draft before you blast them. Some of those problems may be resolved on draft day.

Don't we say that every year, Russ? Is is reasonable to assume that the Cardinals can get 4-5 effective starters as rookies out of this draft?

 

[BACH]

Your points have some merit, Walter, BUT you're forgetting cap strategy.

The off-season moves were in perfect correlation with the long-term cap strategy. (The Philly-Model). Graves went out and signed players that would fit with team long-term and doesn't want to overspend on older players on the downslope of their career.

True, it sucks that there probably aren't enough money to add Runyan for depth, but it gives the team more cap room in the future. It's really a very simple trade-off - Do you want to add old players that can help your team this and possibly the next season, or you you want save the money in order to afford extenting your young stars, when their rookie deal expire.

I also think you're way too early with this criticism. You complain about help at FS. Well, it would suck if we had signed McCree and Huff was sitting there at #10 as clearly the BAP on draft day, wouldn't it? The same goes for QB, TE and OLB positions. All position were we are solid (but not great) and all positions that are very likely to be our 1st round pick. Wait until after the draft to rip Graves.

Finally, I think you are way off on Clancy. Clancy is NOT a one-gap DT. He backed up Hampton at Pittsburgh and played the exact same position, as we're asking him to do, with the Giants. He was very good with NY playing next to their UT Joseph.

 

[Mrh182]

I thought I heard (i think it was Xtra 910) that our new OC has a problem with starting rookies on the OL...anyone else heard this?

 

[Russ Smith]

Don't we say that every year, Russ? Is is reasonable to assume that the Cardinals can get 4-5 effective starters as rookies out of this draft?

not all this draft but remember there's guys from the last 2 drafts that can compete too.

I agree that paying Edge that much shut off FA a bit, but I think Edge can be a real difference maker.

And I really think Loney was a huge get, we go from having a complete novice OL coach to having a very well respected one. If our OL's aren't all injured again I think we see a huge improvement.

I think the constant delays in the CBA put us off a bit, we had a plan assuming that wasn't going to happen and then when it did, we made a quick decision to go after Edge. the problem is everyone else did the same thing and my guess is some of the guys we targetted suddenly got much higher offers due to the extra caproom.

I'm no green fan but I think clueless is a bit too far to go at this point.

 

[joeshmo]

Let's analyze the key personnel moves of this off-season. Before we get into the specific signings, let's remind ourselves that the Cardinals' greatest needs going into free agency were at QB, LG, RG, RT, NT, WLB and FS.

To not have RB on the top of that list let alone off the list completely is insane and shows you as well are not prioritizing the needs of the team, just as you proclaim the Cards are not.

But I do agree with most of the rest of it to a point..

$5M plus a year at his age and history of injuries is risky; the Cardinals could have been major players in the Daunte Culpepper/Drew Brees sweepstakes...both young QBs coming off injuries, but scheduled to be healthy by September...and both, QBsOF.

I agree with the whole QBOF thing and not having Navarre or Davey being the backups, but Pinning your hopes on either QB who we or anyone else has any idea just how healthy either will be or if either will be ready for the season even for double the price tag is just as risky as Warner IMO.

This signing behooves the Cardinals to bring in a veteran backup...yet, as Rod Graves avowed today, the team won't consider a veteran backup until after the draft. So, what does that mean? The backup could be a rookie? And yeah...go ahead...let all the viable backups get signed by other teams now.

This I agree with completely as well.

2. DT Kendrick Clancy. The team needs a run-stuffing NT. Clancy is an undersized, but effectively quick UT, who could form a prolific rotation with Darnell Dockett...but, unless the Cardinals change their d-line scheme/philosophy, what will they do with Clancy? Who will play NT?

Meanwhile, why doesn't team management even entertain the thought of adding a Ted Washington (gone) or Sam Adams (still available) widebody who could fill the NT role...and groom a successor (to be taken in the draft)?

The Cardinals may get lucky with Langston Moore and/or Tim Bulman...both have potential to be adequate in the NT role...but, at this point, it's like hoping that Navarre and/or Davey are legitimate backup QBs.

Clancy is not an UT. What more scouting reports or info from the Giants or Pitt do you need on the guy for that to be understood. You dont have to be 350 Lbs to be a NT in a 4-3 D. Ted Washington got paid way to much and stunk his way out of Raider land, same with Sam Adams.

I do agree with grooming a successor in the draft though, and add to the rotation.

3. G Milford Brown. He's a run blocking guard...has upside, but is not a proven commodity. However, this is the most reasonable signing the Cardinals have made this off-season...especially seeing as the Cardinals did not have a guard on the roster last year who could get any push as a run blocker.

Actually he is a proven commodity and a proven road grader. He just isnt a house hold name. He was in Taxas though as their best run blocker on the team, and they were a good running team. They would ahve re-signed him but the new coach brings with him the Denver lighter faster blocking scheme. I think he is going to surprise a lot of people this year.

5. G Reggie Wells. Remember Matt Joyce? The Cardinals loved his versatility and paid him handsomely...and he never settled down at a position, and he never really played all that well. Why? Matt Joyce was a decent pass blocker, but he couldn't get any formidible push in the running game...so he wasn't really a guard, and he was a fill-in tackle. This is Reggie Wells to date. Watch him on tape on running plays. He gets ZERO push...because he does not match up physically against the league's DTs. And the team opts to pay him 5/$18M???

First we paid him 16 Mill. The 17.6 number wasnt actually correct. It was Summers or Urban who actually got it correct in one of their articles.

The Team also does know how Wells projects to RT and OC some what as he has player both positions during a real live game.

But I do agree we cannot make him a jack of all trades type of guy. Put him at a postition and stick with it. Only to be moved if there is an injury.

Even worse...far stronger run blockers like Larry Allen and even Stephen Neal are out there, and the Cardinals have NO interest? Larry Allen at 50% is better than any guard on the current roster, including Milford Brown.

Neal has been negotiating with NE the whole time. His first and only choice is to play for NE and has not taken any serious looks to go elsewhere.

Larry Allen today, I think we will just have to disagree on his talent level right now. He was replace by Kyle Kosier, and no the Cowboys did not cut him for cap reasons, as they have the cap in place to keep him and only saved 3 mill by cuting him of which they used more on to pay for Kyle Kosier his replacement.

The Seahawks go out and sign T Tom Ashworth...which means, even though their o-line (even without Hutch) is five times as good as the Cardinals'...the Seahawks have done MORE to upgrade their o-line than the Cardinals have. UNTHINKABLE.

Dont not understand the love affair some have had with Ashworth this offseason. Myself included from the beginning. After doing some research, Ashworth is not a pass blocker and was benched for really bad play more then a few games while in NE. He was used mostly as a blocking TE or FB in the redzone. He might be a slightly better pass blocker but Ross is the better run blocker and what some dont know is that the right side of our OL last year produced a 4.6 YPC average. Check it out on cnnsi.com if you dont believe me.

The fact remains...now that the front office is dormant until the draft....the team still has major needs at QB, LG, RT, NT and FS....not to even mention special teams (horrible last year) and a starting punt returner (equally horrible last year).

I would like to agument that list a little.

Backup QB/QBOF, RT, NT Rotational guy, FS, Return man, special teamers.

Are we really going to watch Robert Griffith get torched at FS another year?

For being the lone man in the secondary with Wilson at the line of scrimmage a lot the job Griffith did does not get nearly enough credit IMO.

6th in the league in Passing TD's allowed.
8th in the league in passing 1st dowsn allowed.
9th in the league in average per catch.
14th in the league in 20+ yard pass plays.
10th in the league in 40+ yard pass plays.

Those are not numbers of a FS getting torched. But yes we do need a youngin to bring in and bring in right away.

All in all I agree with a lot of what you are saying and the basic principle of the thought behind a lot of it. But there are somethings I disagree with as I have pointed out.

I would also like to point out to management, that while we are starting to do a very little bit of back loading of contracts we are still way to nonaggressive with them in taht we can still backload a little more. There is a happy medium ground that can be had while still keeping in mind the future cap and sign more players now. We havent found that medium ground yet.

For example we signed 3 players, granted one was really big, but we should ahve more cap space after only signing 3 players (and Wells) then what we have right now.

 

[Dan H]

I didn't realize the off season was over and the roster is set for 2006

:roll:

Exactly.

Mitch, I brought this up in another thread but you didn't respond.

Great player...noone can deny....but, how effective can he be behind the league's worst run blocking offensive line (and no proven free agents added to the mix)?

I think you're severely underestimating Edge's talent. On a talent basis, the Cards are just as good, if not better, than the Colts, on every offensive line position other than center. Better coaching and they will do just fine.

 

[abomb]

The best thing about Cardinals' Management not being able to read is that if they ever came to the board they wouldn't be subjected to your X.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=954198&postcount=20



A-Bomb

 

[joeshmo]

Don't we say that every year, Russ? Is is reasonable to assume that the Cardinals can get 4-5 effective starters as rookies out of this draft?

I think his point was that you can get 1-2 more starters, immidiate special teamers/return men and DT depth in the draft. That along with rookies from last year or the year before that may be able to step up.

That along with FA still not over yet.

I think his point is that it may be a little to early for the hand wringing, no matter how much merit it may have at this point in time.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

I love reading your posts. Thank goodness you gave advance warning to everyone that what you were about to write might be "hard to swallow".

This is the first time that I choose to take exception to your tirade.

Time will either prove you are right or that you are are like most of us......armchair amateurs or worn out high school coaches.

I see us as playoff bound with the moves we have made......you do not.

Vive la differance

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

For the last time...

A DT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE RUN.

You recommend guys like Ted Washington and Sam Adams but conveintently forget their defensive units were 24th and 31st in the NFL against the run last year. Colts, Bucs, Eagles, Bears: all top defenses, all with smaller defensive lines than the current Cardinals. Clancy is the Cardinals' NT. Get over it.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

Walter, contrary to other opinions, I liked your post and you hit on a lot of the concerns I have. The fact is as long as Billy B. owns this team we will never be able to play the free agency game the way it could be played. Can you imagine what a Dan Snyder could have done with our cap room? He probably could have fit half the NFL on our team with his cap management capabilities. Billy B. sell this franchise so us long suffering fans can watch a winner before we die.

I am not in the camp of kool-aid drinkers that think the tweeking we did with the OL this off-season to date is the cure for our inept running game.

 

[Renz]

Walter, contrary to other opinions, I liked your post and you hit on a lot of the concerns I have. The fact is as long as Billy B. owns this team we will never be able to play the free agency game the way it could be played. Can you imagine what a Dan Snyder could have done with our cap room? He probably could have fit half the NFL on our team with his cap management capabilities. Billy B. sell this franchise so us long suffering fans can watch a winner before we die.

I am not in the camp of kool-aid drinkers that think the tweeking we did with the OL this off-season to date is the cure for our inept running game.

Zzzzzzzzzz......

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

Go read Pat Kirwan's post on changing QB's in 2006 over at www.nfl.com

Then come back and tell me re-signing Warner and waiting on making a next step decision regarding a backup QB is so bad.

Sorry bud.....Kirwan makes more sense than you on this point.

 

[Redsz]

For gods sake, this team signs arguably the biggest FA on the market and now we have people bitching that the Cardinals aren't active enough and aren't spending enough money.

Some of you make me want to puke.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

Zzzzzzzzzz......

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Your song and dance is just as old.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

For gods sake, this team signs arguably the biggest FA on the market and now we have people bitching that the Cardinals aren't active enough and aren't spending enough money.

If this was Dave Mac who signed Edge, Clancy, and Brown (not that a moron like McGinnis could ever get good players to sign here) then "Mitch" would be running through the streets talking Super Bowl.

It's funny how "Mitch" could never offer up enough praise for McGinnis' crew of losers (Parsons, Shipp, Damien Anderson, etc) while no player Green acquires ever can live up to Walter's high personnel standards.

 

[Renz]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Your song and dance is just as old.

What exactly is my "song and dance"? We know what yours is, "Bidwills sell the team!" Booooorrrrrinnnng!

PS - It's never gonna happen so please attempt to come up with something fresh.

 

[ajcardfan]

Don't we say that every year, Russ? Is is reasonable to assume that the Cardinals can get 4-5 effective starters as rookies out of this draft?

Why are you worried? You were the guy three offseasons ago claiming we could add three effective starters as late as the training camp cuts.

 

[ajcardfan]

Part of the allure of being a Cards fan, I guess, is second-guessing their personnel decisions. Since they lose almost every year, it can really boost self-esteem because you always appear to be correct.

 

[az jam]

The Cards have resigned Kurt Warner and Reggie Wells. They have signed free agents Milford Brown and Kendrick Clancy. These are solid players. Plus the signing of Edgerrin James is the top free agent signing the Cards ever made. To think that we did not need a quality rb is absurd!

Additionally, we have the draft coming up with the the #10 pick in round one; the #9 pick in round 2 and the #8 pick in round 3. This is one of the best draft years in recent history. I expect we will get 3 very good players.
Plus some surprises on the other rounds.

Finally, listening to Rod Graves this morning he said that we will continue to sign some more free agents to add depth to the team. However, he said that will happen over the next several months.

We all know that Mitch hates Denny Green and vowed never to post again while he was head coach. Unfortunately he changed his mind and we get his latest "glass is always empty" post. He certainly has his right to his own opinion which I do respect but can't he at least wait until June to blast the Cards as we certainly don't have a finished roster??