Cardinals' OTAs 2010: The Positives

[Mitch]

1. Coach Whiz and the coaching staff in unison with Strength and Conditioning Coach John Lott have set an exceptional tempo for the team. Participation is nearly 100%...and...get this...one gets the sense that the players are actually enjoying the work and the opportunity to bond as a team. Plus, Whiz's annual bowling venture is a great idea.

2. Matt Leinart had drawn high praise from Whiz...which sets a very positive tone heading into training camp. Whiz has reportedly told some media members that he really likes Anderson too, and that he's high on Skelton as a prospect. Seeing as the QB situation was precarious at best a couple of months ago when only Matt Leinart was on the active roster, to hear Whiz's praise for what the unit looks like now is particularly encouraging.

3. RBs Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells are getting themselves into tremendous shape and are embracing the auspices of running a dynamic rushing attack. Their cause is aided and abetted by the fact that the Cardinals have added a couple of maulers up front in Alan Faneca and Rex Hadnot. The mentality of the Cardinals' offensive line is getting stronger and stronger with each year of Whiz's/Grimm's tenure.

4. At WR the Cardinals look very deep and talented. The trio of Fitz-Stevie-Early is formidible...and the depth behind is growing fast, with messers Roberts, Jones, Gant, Williams and Mougey fighting for roster spots. To hear that Onrea Jones is getting high praise from Whiz was nice. Whiz also praised him for his work on the PS last year, which is always a positive sign. The TEs are a year bigger and stronger and healthier...and suspension free. There is talent there and versatility.

5. It's great that Darnell Dockett is not only participating in the OTAs but is without question becoming the leader of the "Birdgang." To hear John Lott gush about him...and to hear that "The Shiek", Dean Muhtadi is there to weight train with him and challenge him to lift the heaviest of weights, is fantastic. Lott is so invested in these players. You have to love how invested he already is in The Shiek, praising his ability, his work ethic and his "motor." Lott said that he believes that Muhtadi has a good chance to "scrape and claw" his way onto the roster.

6. Then, you hear things like 1st round draft pick, NT Dan Williams, is making a habit of sprinting from the practice feild into the lockerroom each day and you have to feel good about this kid's attitude.

7. Same thing with OLB O'Brien Schofield, who has vowed to make the Cardinals elated over picking him...and better yet, to hear from Schofield that he is so impressed with the work of the veterans such as Joey Porter and Clark Haggans that he remarked that "the veterans are working harder than the young guys." What a standard this is!

8. As for Gerald Hayes, if he's right that he is going to be fine this year, that's a real coup. It seems the coaches very much believe this as well. Time will tell, but the situation at SILB may be brighter that we've been thinking.

9. It was also very positive to hear Whiz offer such praise for CB Trumaine McBride and S Hamza Abdullah. McBride is still only 24 and has some starting experience. His signing may have been one of the more brilliant unheralded moves the Cardinals have made in recent years. Abdullah is quite a physical specimen at 6-2 215...and the creative way that Bill Davis is going to use his safeties by bringing them on blitzes and disguising coverages, the depth he needs at safety to be able to do this is important.

10. According to the reports from the OTAs...if the Cardinals had to choose the 53 man roster today...perhaps this is what it would look like:

QB (3): Leinart, Anderson, Skelton
RB (3): Hightower, Wells, Stephens-Howling
FB (1) : Broughton
WR (5): Fitzgerald, Breaston, Doucet, Roberts, Jones
TE (3): Patrick, Becht, Spach
OL (9): Brown, Faneca, Sendelin, Wells, Keith, Bridges, Hadnot, Lutui, Johnson
NT (3): Williams, Robinson/Muhtadi, Watson/Muhtadi
DE (4): Dockett, Campbell, Iwebema, Branch
ILB (4): Hayes, Lenon, Walker, Washington
OLB (5): Haggans, Porter, Brown, Davis, Baggs/Washington
CB (5): Rodgers-Cromartie, Toler, McBride, Adams, Miller
S (5): Wilson, Rhodes, Johnson, Ware, Abdullah
ST (3): Feely, Graham, Leach

I think the last roster spot is going to come down to a decision between RB Jason Wright or CB Justin Miller...and if so, it may be Miller's KR prowess that wins him the spot. Ali Highsmith may be a factor here too.

PS (8): QB Hall, WR Williams/WR Gant, TE Dray, G Palmer/T Tyler/T Knips, OLB Washington, CB Colvin, CB Green/CB Jefferson

PUP (1): Schofield...possibly to be activated after the bye week.

 

[Buckybird]

Good stuff Mitch. Thanks for making an "OTA appearance" on the board!!! I'm sooooooooo ready for some football!!!

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

Your thoughts are 99% in line with mine....at this early stage. Curious to see that you have a "competition" between Watson and Muhtadi. While I like the leadership Robinson brings, I'm more inclined to see a Robinson Muhtadi "competition". I must admit however, I know virtually "zip" about Muhtadi.

Do you think we'll keep 3 TE's....my roster "mock" has us with only 2, with Spach being the odd man out?

 

[Mitch]

Good stuff Mitch. Thanks for making an "OTA appearance" on the board!!! I'm sooooooooo ready for some football!!!

Yes, Bucky! Go Cards!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

QB (3): Leinart, Anderson, Skelton
RB (3): Hightower, Wells, Stephens-Howling
FB (1) : Broughton
WR (5): Fitzgerald, Breaston, Doucet, Roberts, Jones
TE (3): Patrick, Becht, [Dray]
OL (9): Brown, Faneca, Sendelin, Wells, Keith, Bridges, Hadnot, Lutui, Johnson
NT (3): Williams, Robinson,[Watson]
DE (4): Dockett, Campbell, Iwebema, Branch
ILB (4): Hayes, Lenon, Walker, Washington
OLB (5): Haggans, Porter, Brown, Davis, [Baggs]
CB (5): Rodgers-Cromartie, Toler, McBride, Adams, Miller
S (5): Wilson, Rhodes, Ware, [Abdullah/Johnson]
ST (3): Feely, Graham, Leach

[Jason Wright]

PS (8):
1. QB - Hall (Injury)
2. WR - S.Williams
3. G - Palmer
4. T - C.Knips
5. OLB - Washington,
6. CB - Colvin,
7. CB - Jefferson
8. DT - Dan Mutahdi

IR (1): O.Schofield

Mitch, awesome job.

Here is my take at trimming down your roster.

I think Whiz will go with four backs. We will be "running the ball more" and an extra back who is a decent 3rd down back in concerns to blocking and catching, he also plays special teams well, and can play/willing to play fullback in a pinch. Though he needs A LOT of work at FB cause it was an A for effort last year, and a D on effectiveness.

Speaking of fullbacks. I just going to repeat that Broughton is going to be a great pick up for this team.

I think Jim Dray, from Bergen Catholic High School in NJ :represent:, is going to be our 3rd string TE. He is a blocker first, with decent hands.

Also, concerning the offensive line, I was very interested in hearing Brandon Keith was given some time at LT with the first group. VERY interesting indeed. Our staff must be very high on Brandon Keith, and happy with Herman Johnson's development as well since he moves into the RT position when Keith moves to LT. Very very interesting indeed. That would be one of the biggest lines in the NFL.....at least I would assume.

Watson will be our 3rd NT. The Sheik will be on the practice squad over Dykes and Banks.

I think Stevie Baggs will beat out Washington because he has more on field experience. For Baggs it is all about getting to the QB.

Rashad Johnson and Abdullah will be an interesting battle. If Johnson gets cut that is a justifiable blemesh on our drafting record, but alas you can't hit on every draft pick.

The practice squad guys are pure opinion. Knips is HUGE so I would imagine he would be kept as a "project". I would also be surprised if AJ Jefferson is not kept around. He has speed, and KR/PR abilty.

Finally, just shut O'Brien Scholfield down for the year. Let the kid heal, and come back 100%.

 

[JeffGollin]

An interesting analysis, Mitch.

I'd be a bit reluctant to go overboard with either positives or negatives at this early stage, though, for a few reasons:

- The "hitting" component is often missing from OTA's.

- Most (if not all) observers don't get to see for themselves everything that's happening on the practice field or behind the scenes in the weight room, eating room or meeting room. We have to rely on hearsay and are likely to make the occasional anecdotes in the media more important than they may actually be.

- It's still early - some guys will have made great impressions early only to do little or nothing for the rest of preseason. And other guys who haven't shown much yet may perform Herculian feats between now and the final cut.

I do think the few things we do find out from OTA's, minis and training camp do represent indicators or markers - "red" and "green" flags that should raise hope or concern (i.e. stuff to keep an eye on as the preseason follows its course), but not much more than that - at least at this stage.

What makes preseason so much fun is watching things unfold - one player meeting our expectations; another falling short; still another coming out of nowhere. And, of course, the early pheenom who continues to keep the pedal to the floor and actually turns out to be as good as he was hyped to be.

(Note - For those of you who occasionally check out the BRS - I've set up a "Camp Battles" page which tracks every roster player by position and logs anything positive, negative or significant said about him from day to day).

 

[Buckybird]

Finally, just shut O'Brien Scholfield down for the year. Let the kid heal, and come back 100%.

No doubt Rugby. He should be IR'ed by the time camp rolls around. Whats it been a couple of months since knee surgery?

 

[Mitch]

Mitch,

Your thoughts are 99% in line with mine....at this early stage. Curious to see that you have a "competition" between Watson and Muhtadi. While I like the leadership Robinson brings, I'm more inclined to see a Robinson Muhtadi "competition". I must admit however, I know virtually "zip" about Muhtadi.

Do you think we'll keep 3 TE's....my roster "mock" has us with only 2, with Spach being the odd man out?

Spanky, Muhtadi has always been a weight room go-getter...he still holds all the lifting records at Maryland. The Shiek has been gushing about how great it's been to come work with John Lott and lifting beside the likes of #90. He's a great attitude guy who will do everything he can to succeed...which is why Lott is already pulling for him to make the team.

To hear John Lott offer such praise about Muhtadi's "motor" is an excellent sign. It's one thing to have massive strength at the point of attack, but it's another to pair such strength with strong, relentless feet.

As crazy as this might sound, in addition to being used in short yardage situations on defense, Whiz may be tempted to use Muhtadi as a short yardage FB. This is another reason why I think so highly of Whiz...he finds ways to create roles for every player on his roster.

As for the TEs...Whiz has been keeping 4...and this may happen again...but this time would seem unlikely.

Whiz will keep 3 TEs at the very least...

Patrick and Becht are locks.

The #3 TE will be the winner of the TC competition between Stephen Spach, Dominique Byrd and Jim Dray.

Today I chose Spach, seeing as Whiz has always liked this kid and his knee is 100% now.

Whiz wants blockers, which reduces Byrd's chances.

However, I think Dray will surprise and give Spach the best challenge...if it's anywhere close, the team goes with Dray. Eventually, I think that's how it shakes out. Jim Dray.

They may figure he can spend a year on the PS, and they can groom him for Becht's spot next year, or a late season call up this year.

 

[WildBB]

Whiz may be tempted to use Muhtadi as a short yardage FB.[/B] This is another reason why I think so highly of Whiz...he finds ways to create roles for every player on his roster.

Awsome With him and the new FB, we are really getting good at bringing in some overlooked talent. Along with Hall making the PS.

What a year to look forward to again! 9ers, gthootw (getthehelloutoftheway)

I think Wright makes it because he's good on ST's as well. CB is the most concern, so if Abdullah has good coverage skills he'll be on the roster. McBride is a big unknown. It's going to be interesting how the secondary shakes out. Rashad Johnson needs to pick it up his soph. yr! Hopefully he's a pleasant surprise. He could be a difference maker out there if his acclaimed ball skills (coming out of Bama) kick into drive.

 

[PoolBoy]

AJ Jefferson will make the 53, and Muhtadi will be practice squad at best, don't let one azcardinals.com article get you so excited. Lott said outside chance he could scratch and crawl.

 

[Doug]

I love all the above exciting posts about competition and the players we'll have going at it for a spot.Thanks Mitch, Rugby and others for great posts.

Most of all myself I'm holding out HOPE for a last pre-season cut "Pickup" at the SILB position.To take out all of the (what ifs) senerio with Hayes as we need a solid player game in and game out at this spot as Lenon and Washington work out the transition at our other WILB spot nextdoor.

I'm probably alone in this hope.

 

[az jam]

I love all the above exciting posts about competition and the players we'll have going at it for a spot.Thanks Mitch, Rugby and others for great posts.

Most of all myself I'm holding out HOPE for a last pre-season cut "Pickup" at the SILB position.To take out all of the (what ifs) senerio with Hayes as we need a solid player game in and game out at this spot as Lenon and Washington work out the transition at our other WILB spot nextdoor.

I'm probably alone in this hope.

Alone in the hope, yes as it just isn't going to happen however not alone in the reality that this is certainly a need.

 

[green machine]

From what I could tell from the time I spend out there talking to people everyone was impressed with the participation and the effort.

Whisenhunt sounded pleased with the play of his receivers and the aggressiveness the defense showed, and nobody said anything bad about the QB play (then again, maybe they wouldn't).

 

[CardLogic]

Most of all myself I'm holding out HOPE for a last pre-season cut "Pickup" at the SILB position.To take out all of the (what ifs) senerio with Hayes as we need a solid player game in and game out at this spot as Lenon and Washington work out the transition at our other WILB spot nextdoor.

I'm probably alone in this hope.

I am not sure of the player that you are referring to Doug?

But for what its worth, I spoke directly with one of the Cardinal's players this weekend and questioned him about the ILB position and specifically the SILB position. He said that Reggie Walker (SILB) has been doing well and looks to be a contributor. He also said Daryl Washington has got talent and looks pretty good. Then he said, "and don't forget Paris Lenon."

 

[RugbyMuffin]

And I forgot to mention, that I would be SHOCKED, if Onrea Jones is not our 4th WR.

 

[Buckybird]

And I forgot to mention, that I would be SHOCKED, if Onrea Jones is not our 4th WR.

I would be shocked if Roberts isn't the 4th WR, Rugby. I think this kid has star written all over him & believe he will be a solid contributor to this team this year at WR & dynamic in the return game.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, I'm hoping that McBride and Abdullah are really doing well, and that the praise coming their way isn't Whiz trying to motivate Toler and Johnson.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Not a fan of Abdullah... Period. His play last year made me want to barf.

I think we should give Schofield a shot.... Ligament replacements are 6 to 8 month processes now. That puts him in the September time frame for a return.... I can see him having an impact by November for us. And with his Humility, Pedigree, & Work Ethic, this could be a major story for us by mid-season.

Love the thought of Roberts and OJ making the 4th WR spot a battle.

I am very excited about our return game right now... Hopefully someone becomes a star for us.

I am very proud of Greg Toler.... Where he came from, and what he now means to our defense.

And finally.... I will not trust Gerald's back until I see him actually making a TACKLE.

 

[Dr. Jones]

The problem OJ will have is that he has the same game as Doucet.... Roberts has a different style to his game that reminds us of a Welker, or Hester. That gives Roberts a major edge IMO.

If we release OJ.... I bet the Chiefs are calling him in less than 12 hours.

 

[WildBB]

I would be shocked if Roberts isn't the 4th WR, Rugby. I think this kid has star written all over him & believe he will be a solid contributor to this team this year at WR & dynamic in the return game.

Agreed, I'm looking for some real production from him right frm the get go. I think Leinart is going to use him a lot, because D's will have to focus elsewhere.

 

[CardLogic]

The problem OJ will have is that he has the same game as Doucet.... Roberts has a different style to his game that reminds us of a Welker, or Hester. That gives Roberts a major edge IMO.

If we release OJ.... I bet the Chiefs are calling him in less than 12 hours.[/quote] Even if Roberts nails down the #4 WR spot, Jones has the inside track at the #5 spot, currently. The team will carry at least 5 and maybe 6 WR's on the active 53 list.

 

[Doug]

I am not sure of the player that you are referring to Doug?

But for what its worth, I spoke directly with one of the Cardinal's players this weekend and questioned him about the ILB position and specifically the SILB position. He said that Reggie Walker (SILB) has been doing well and looks to be a contributor. He also said Daryl Washington has got talent and looks pretty good. Then he said, "and don't forget Paris Lenon."

Brother I'm only referring to Hayes & the fact Monty is starting in front of Walker at this time is NOT very promising.

I have no idea of just who may become a cut player or a salary dump player as a rookie steps up on ANY other of the 31 teams and the player could fit ONLY our Strong Inside Linebacker position only.

Lenon & Washington will work itself out as the season progressess at the WEAK ILB position.Much more pass coverage involved in that position especially on third and long.

I'd LOVE it if Gerald hayes' back was reborn with all the rest and Walker becomes his replacement in waiting and his play has improved 10 FOLD.I just DON'T expect or anticipate either of the above things happening without a player to be added later. IF Head Coach Whiz exposes Gerald Hayes to plenty of contact in pre-season games so the not surprise can be addressed sooner rather than later.

I'm not a hater but don't want Monty Beisel in the SILB rotation for THE CARDINALS this very promising season with a very good schedule and a shot for a three year NFC WEST Championship.I personally believe Matt will be just fine.I see the offense being very explosive this year with a struggleing defense again.At least at this point in only my opinion.

 

[CardLogic]

Brother I'm only referring to Hayes & the fact Monty is starting in front of Walker at this time is NOT very promising.

I'm not a hater but don't want Monty Beisel in the SILB rotation for THE CARDINALS this very promising season with a very good schedule and a shot for a three year NFC WEST Championship.I personally believe Matt will be just fine.I see the offense being very explosive this year with a struggleing defense again.At least at this point in only my opinion.

I am with you, Doug.

Beisel seeing any significant playing time this year would be a huge disappointment! Like you I don't wish to be harsh towards Beisel, but he was never top caliber and his best days are several years behind him.

I am nervously hoping for the Cardinal's defense to be a pleasant surprise this season...

 

[Metcalf Rules]

You had me at Coach Whiz.