Cardinals sign Faneca

[Renz]

Love the signing but want Lutui signed also. What a loaded camp that would be. Competition on the OL like we have never seen. Good job Cards.

There's really no downside to this signing, IMO. There's no cap so all this does is create more competition for playing time and Whiz has shown in the past that the best players are going to play. Good move.

 

[BigDavis75]

How come Mougey gets a spot but there's no sign of my man Andre Roberts? Roberts was better two years ago than Mougey will ever be.

I'm really excited for Roberts after hearing you talk about him. Has there been any news on whether the Cards had him rated ahead of Decker and Shipley?

 

[BigDavis75]

patience is a virtue my friends

Thats excellent. You should put a huge red X over them as they get cut.

 

[binkar]

I am excited for having Faneca this year. However, I worry that this was a bit of an emotional, short-sited move. Duece is one of our best, young lineman and it would be a shame to let him go for one year of Faneca.

 

[Evil Ash]

I am excited for having Faneca this year. However, I worry that this was a bit of an emotional, short-sited move. Duece is one of our best, young lineman and it would be a shame to let him go for one year of Faneca.

Deuce is our RG. Faneca is now our LG. If this signals the end for anyone, it would be Wells

Love this signing

 

[binkar]

Deuce is our RG. Faneca is now our LG. If this signals the end for anyone, it would be Wells

Love this signing

The difference is that Wells is under contract, and Deuce isn't (as of now). Urban seems to think that Deuce will be the odd man out. I really hope that's not the case.

 

[Dayman]

What are the chances that somethings in the works....Lutui for some CB. He'll have to sign his tender obviously. I remember how happy Lutui was when he was drafted by the Cards, his favorite childhood team, had tears in his eyes, blah, blah. Somebody is in his ear.

Somers mentioned this possibility today. He also said that the Cards won't pull the qualifying offer, which is good.

I like the signing. He obviously wants to play here, he'll open up holes for Beanie and he won't be as prone to mental mistakes as our current guards. He might make Levi look a lot better, as well. A surprising move, but a quality one.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Thats excellent. You should put a huge red X over them as they get cut.

LOL!

 

[binkar]

Somers mentioned this possibility today. He also said that the Cards won't pull the qualifying offer, which is good.

I like the signing. He obviously wants to play here, he'll open up holes for Beanie and he won't be as prone to mental mistakes as our current guards. He might make Levi look a lot better, as well. A surprising move, but a quality one.

That's one thing I am really excited about. I read multiple places that he brought D'Brickashaw Ferguson's game to an entirely new level. If he can do that for Levi, that would be incredible.

 

[CardsFan88]

Awesome signing, great price. Somewhere Pavlov's got a bell ringing, and Beanie Wells is licking his chops.

I think the moves made are clear, we're going to run more like Forrest Gump. Executing play action will be key. I can't wait to see all the effects of these off-season moves fleshed out.

The range of our offense I believe has taken the next step. We'll still have our mainstay passing ways, but it should be drastically reduced in favor of smash mouth, and I suspect we're going to be good at it. I think we're going to be surprised. We'll be run first, pass second, but if we want we'll still throw it 40 times on you. Great teams have offenses that can do both.


I haven't watched Browns tape, except for when they were playing or highlights. Someone or group of people were opening up some good holes for Cribbs, and in a physical fashion if memory serves correct. If my assumption is right that hadnot was a critical factor in that, him and faneca being added could make a synergistic improvement in the physicality and effectiveness of our line. I feel we're going to really notice how physical our line is this year and wells/hightower should be primed to explode on some big runs.

But we'll have to see. It sure looks good on paper though. We already were good imo. But this I suspect will be on a whole other level.

 

[BACH]

What you say makes sense to a certain extent, because of the money im not as down on the deal as i normally would be but i just dont feel he really adds much if anything to what we already have. His only strength is that he used to be good in run blocking and the problem with that is that most of our o-line are pretty good blocking for runners as it is we need better pass protecting lineman.

I'm sorry, but that's just incorrect.

The O-line ranked #19 of 32 in yards per run, while ranking #6 of 32 in sacks per attempt.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

To be fair he was blocking for a rookie QB, and rookie QBs tend to take more sacks than a veteran would. I honestly didn't watch more than 2 Jets games last year so I don't know for sure but I bet at least half of those sacks can be placed at the foot of the QB.

I agree, and look at his Steeler sack totals... I wonder if that had ANYTHING at all to do with Ben I-hold-the-ball-till-the-cows-come-home Rothlisberger.

The one that doesn't pan out is Favre.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Why would anyone be upset if this meant Wells was let go. The guy has had 1 decent,mediocre year in his entire career. Graves should have let Buffalo have him when they wanted him. I always found it hard to comprehend why, back in the day, people always liked Wells over Big. There was no contest who the better OL was but Wells got all the love. Two years ago was the only time he's been a servicable OL. I'd love to see a run blocking OL of Brown, Faneca, Hadnot/Sendlein, Lutui(needs to be re-signed to a long term deal) ,and Keith. Wells, Bridges, and Johnson can be kept as reserves.

 

[English on tour]

competition and experience, plus if he plays at anywehere near the level he has done before we have a one year steel.

Really want Duece to get it done and if he does he will learn a lot in a year with a 9 time pro bowl player. for 2.5 i can only see the upsides

 

[Garthshort]

I see all the "half empty" guys are talking about the sacks AF gave up. Well as a "half full" guy, living in NY, I'll say two things:
1. When AF arrived and was plugged into the spot next to LT, D'Bickasaw Ferguson, Ferguson's play improved considerably.
2. The past two years the Jets had a GREAT running game.

 

[JeffGollin]

Faneca - Some Random Thoughts

When guys like K9 and JoeShmo raise questions about Faneca's pass blocking and fall-off in play last year, I think - out of respect for them - we owe it to ourselves and them to at least consider the possibility that we may not be getting 100% of what we're hoping for.

But that said - (unlike any other Cardinal regime in the past 50 years) the Cardinal FO and coaching staff have earned our trust to have made the right decision regarding Faneca.

Russ Grimm is likely to move onward & upward one of these days. I like the idea of having veteran ex-All Pro like Faneca (who's worked with Russ and Wiz) providing our O-line with veteran leadership and continuity - even perhaps being phased in as an assistant coach here when his playing career is over.

We now have a logjam at both guards. If the right trade offer comes along (for a veteran CB, ILB or TE), I think it's better than 50% that we'll trade one of our four top guards (with Lutui or Wells most likely to go).

Faneca's upside or downside nothwithstanding - all I know is, here in my home in Central NJ - my step has been bouncier this morning, since hearing the news that we signed him.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm not sure based on past performance that this front office has earned any benefit of the doubt when it comes to veteran free agents. Sorry, Jeff. I won't go through the list of one-year wonder FAs that Rod Graves has brought in.

Oliver Ross worked with Russ Grimm and Coach Whis as well, and that didn't stop him from being embarrassingly terrible.

 

[JeffGollin]

Oliver Ross worked with Russ Grimm and Coach Whis as well, and that didn't stop him from being embarrassingly terrible.

My memory may be playing tricks on me, but wasn't Oliver Ross originally brought in by Dennis Green and inherited by Wiz & Russ?

 

[TJ]

My memory may be playing tricks on me, but wasn't Oliver Ross originally brought in by Dennis Green and inherited by Wiz & Russ?

You are correct! He was brought in 2005

 

[Doug]

He's not. The Jets still have to pay him 5.25 mil thats guaranteed in his original contract. So add the Cardinals 2.5 mil that a total of 7.75 mil. Dam thats alot of money.

I posted this in the very start of this thread but noone commented.The Jets are paying the bill for us to get Faneca for one year on the cheap.Coach Whiz loves his offensive lineman that can pull and seal the edges due to lack of great blocking tight ends here.

Even at his age Faneca is still effective on the pull.Latui is horrible if not even capable at a successfull pull.At least Reggie Wells can pull sometimes with success.Beanie Wells' first NFL touchdown was made on one of these infamous pulling plays were Wells sealed the edge beautiffully.

 

[TJ]

Thats excellent. You should put a huge red X over them as they get cut.

I will take that into consideration

There's really no downside to this signing, IMO. There's no cap so all this does is create more competition for playing time and Whiz has shown in the past that the best players are going to play. Good move.

I agree and really dont understand the upheaval from most people about this signing. 9-time pro bowler who is only 33-years old so he can clearly get it done. He is known for his run blocking abilities, which we have lacked for too long. He is a proven locker room leader and has made players around him better, such as D'Brickashaw Ferguson. And he comes at a bargain rate of $2.5 mil.

 

[Proteus]

I hope Matt enjoys running for his life when he goes back to pass.

 

[CardLogic]

That's one thing I am really excited about. I read multiple places that he brought D'Brickashaw Ferguson's game to an entirely new level. If he can do that for Levi, that would be incredible.

Brown, Wells, Faneca, Bridges, Hadnot, Sendlien, Lutui, Keith, Johnson - this is the most talented group of nine OL the Cardinals have had since the 70's; the depth is phenomenal! Should one guy go down with injury,
plug another in and keep on truckin'!

Per reports, his signing does not imply that one of the other guards will be cut. There is no downside to the signing of Faneca.

 

[Doug]

Trust me from experience Alan Faneca bringing his lunchpail to the weightroom to the practice field to the games will improve every lineman we have more than Coach Grimm could EVER do.Technique across the line will improve greatly.

Maybe Lutui gets into game shape and learns to reach his potential and learn to finally be successfull at pulling in the PRO game.Wells can already do it fairly well and I would'nt count out any combination of lineman starting for us in week one ,especially taking any injury in consideration.

I see Hadnot really giving Sendlien a major run for his money.In only my personal opinion Hadnot can do a better job right now.Especially in the rungame.I've been impressed with what Sendlein doing what he has done though,especially with his playing injured all during our SB run.He just did'nt improve as much last year once he was healthy as I thought he would.

The prescence of Faneca is so special that the Jets are paying for us to get this very talented LEADER of men on the offensive line.JUST WHAT WE NEEDED.

Matt can sleep a little easier now if you ask me.The future is looking very Bright!!!

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Trust me from experience Alan Faneca bringing his lunchpail to the weightroom to the practice field to the games will improve every lineman we have more than Coach Grimm could EVER do.Technique across the line will improve greatly.

Maybe Latui gets into game shape and learns to reach his potential and learn to finally be successfull at pulling in the PRO game.Wells can already do it fairly well and I would'nt count out any combination of lineman starting for us in week one ,especially taking any injury in consideration.

I see Hadnot really giving Sendlien a major run for his money.In only my personal opinion Hadnot can do a better job right now.Especially in the rungame.I've been impressed with what Sendlein doing what he has done though,especially with his playing injured all during our SB run.He just did'nt improve as much last year once he was healthy as I thought he would.

The prescence of Faneca is so special that the Jets are paying for us to get this very talented LEADER of men on the offensive line.JUST WHAT WE NEEDED.

Matt can sleep a little easier now if you ask me.The future is looking very Bright!!!

Good stuff!

And it's LUTUI... and pronounced that way...