Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Head coaching change:
My Top Choices:
1. Chip Kelly, HC Oregon. I firmly believe he will be a big success in the NFL. He will modifying his spread offense somewhat---but the principles will remain exactly the same: draft for speed at the skill positions, line up quickly to keep the defensive personnel on the field, go uptempo from start to finish, and play the numbers game, as in run when the numbers are to the team's advantage and pass when the opponents try to outnumber the box. What I love about him is his hunger---not for just wins but for scoring points and putting up big numbers---and not feeling good about kicking field goals.
2. Jay Gruden, OC Cincinnati. While his brother Jon will be getting a good deal of buzz about his return to coaching, Jay Gruden and his ability to groom QBs and run a good, well-balanced offense is quietly and quickly becoming a hot HC candidate. he's not as fickle as his brother when it comes to QBs---he has a set idea of what he wants skill-wise and mental-toughness-wise. The Cardinals have to contend with 3 of the top 10 defenses in the NFL in the NFC West and they need an offensive minded coach who can find ways to crack those defenses.
3. Mike McCoy, OC, Denver. We may not have been able to sign Peyton Manning, but what better way to get a Manning-type offense in Arizona than to hire his current OC. What's great about McCoy is that he adapts his offense to the strengths of the personnel, as he did last year when Tebow took the reins. McCoy is all for balance---strong running game and play action galore.
Offensive Changes:
Will very much depend on who the head coach is---but---in looking at the available free agents and the draft choices here's a sampling of what I would like to see:
1. Signing FA LT Jeff Backus, Detroit. I've been watching him closely this year and there's a very good reason why he has staved off rookie 1st round pick, Riley Reiff. Backus has been doing a very good job of protecting the QB versus the likes of divisional foes Jared Allen, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. Despite his age and 12 years of NFL experience, he looks like he has another two good years left in him...which gives the Cardinals the time to groom Nate Potter.
2. Move Levi Brown to LG. We desperately need a running game and Brown can maul with the best of them. I like him matched up against DTs Justin Smith, Alan Branch and Michael Brockers.
3. Trade up into the late first, early second round to draft G Chance Warmack, 6-3, 320, Alabama. This guy is explosive and tenacious.
4. Sign RT Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots, 6-8, 315. When healthy he's very good. He's had some back issues and is 29, so he should come at a reasonable salary.
5. Have Nate Potter and Bobbie Massie back up Backus and Vollmer until they are ready to play consistently well.
6. Use the 4th round pick on C Braxton Cave, Notre Dame, 6-3, 303. Give him the opportunity to beat out Sendlein...if not this year, next.
7. Sign WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh. The speed dimension at WR we need. Won't come cheaply---but what his speed will do for this offense will be worth every penny.
8. Draft QB Geno Smith, West Virginia with the first round pick. Smith has good size and accuracy and is mobile. It's time to re-invest in a QB.
9. Sign QB David Garrard. Can start until Smith is ready, which as with Ryan Tannehill could be from as early as week one. Would be a great mentor for Smith as they are very much in the same mold.
10. Draft RB Stepfan Taylor, Stanford in the 3rd round. Very good, slashing type of RB who plays tough and can catch the ball too.
Defensive Changes:
I would like to see us change back to a 43---mostly because it would allow Darnell Dockett to be the under-tackle where he can get back to wreaking havoc. Play Dan Williams and his strength as the over-tackle and kick Calais Campbell out to LDE, where he could be a beast---and imo it would prolong his career.
1. Sign RDE Dwight Freeney. It's about time we had a good edge rusher...not only to harrass Smith, Wilson and Bradford, but to give our tackles an explosive player to practice against.
2. Sign MLB Ray Maualuga, Cincinnati. I don't think the bengals will tag him and signing him would allow us to play Sam Acho at SOLB and Daryl Washington at WOLB...with O'Brien Schofield, Stewart Bradley and Quentin Groves as backups.
3. Sign S Dashon Goldson, San Francisco. Outbid the 49ers---who will be having cap issues. This guy is nails. We should have signed him two years ago as I and other were imploring the Cardinals to do---when Goldson was out there twisting in the wind.
4. Draft SS Duron Harmon, Rutgers in the 5th round. This kid brings it.
5. Draft CB Terry Hawthorn, Illinois in the 6th round.
Special Teams Changes:
1. Draft K Bret Maher, Nebraska in the 6th round.
My Top Choices:
1. Chip Kelly, HC Oregon. I firmly believe he will be a big success in the NFL. He will modifying his spread offense somewhat---but the principles will remain exactly the same: draft for speed at the skill positions, line up quickly to keep the defensive personnel on the field, go uptempo from start to finish, and play the numbers game, as in run when the numbers are to the team's advantage and pass when the opponents try to outnumber the box. What I love about him is his hunger---not for just wins but for scoring points and putting up big numbers---and not feeling good about kicking field goals.
2. Jay Gruden, OC Cincinnati. While his brother Jon will be getting a good deal of buzz about his return to coaching, Jay Gruden and his ability to groom QBs and run a good, well-balanced offense is quietly and quickly becoming a hot HC candidate. he's not as fickle as his brother when it comes to QBs---he has a set idea of what he wants skill-wise and mental-toughness-wise. The Cardinals have to contend with 3 of the top 10 defenses in the NFL in the NFC West and they need an offensive minded coach who can find ways to crack those defenses.
3. Mike McCoy, OC, Denver. We may not have been able to sign Peyton Manning, but what better way to get a Manning-type offense in Arizona than to hire his current OC. What's great about McCoy is that he adapts his offense to the strengths of the personnel, as he did last year when Tebow took the reins. McCoy is all for balance---strong running game and play action galore.
Offensive Changes:
Will very much depend on who the head coach is---but---in looking at the available free agents and the draft choices here's a sampling of what I would like to see:
1. Signing FA LT Jeff Backus, Detroit. I've been watching him closely this year and there's a very good reason why he has staved off rookie 1st round pick, Riley Reiff. Backus has been doing a very good job of protecting the QB versus the likes of divisional foes Jared Allen, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. Despite his age and 12 years of NFL experience, he looks like he has another two good years left in him...which gives the Cardinals the time to groom Nate Potter.
2. Move Levi Brown to LG. We desperately need a running game and Brown can maul with the best of them. I like him matched up against DTs Justin Smith, Alan Branch and Michael Brockers.
3. Trade up into the late first, early second round to draft G Chance Warmack, 6-3, 320, Alabama. This guy is explosive and tenacious.
4. Sign RT Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots, 6-8, 315. When healthy he's very good. He's had some back issues and is 29, so he should come at a reasonable salary.
5. Have Nate Potter and Bobbie Massie back up Backus and Vollmer until they are ready to play consistently well.
6. Use the 4th round pick on C Braxton Cave, Notre Dame, 6-3, 303. Give him the opportunity to beat out Sendlein...if not this year, next.
7. Sign WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh. The speed dimension at WR we need. Won't come cheaply---but what his speed will do for this offense will be worth every penny.
8. Draft QB Geno Smith, West Virginia with the first round pick. Smith has good size and accuracy and is mobile. It's time to re-invest in a QB.
9. Sign QB David Garrard. Can start until Smith is ready, which as with Ryan Tannehill could be from as early as week one. Would be a great mentor for Smith as they are very much in the same mold.
10. Draft RB Stepfan Taylor, Stanford in the 3rd round. Very good, slashing type of RB who plays tough and can catch the ball too.
Defensive Changes:
I would like to see us change back to a 43---mostly because it would allow Darnell Dockett to be the under-tackle where he can get back to wreaking havoc. Play Dan Williams and his strength as the over-tackle and kick Calais Campbell out to LDE, where he could be a beast---and imo it would prolong his career.
1. Sign RDE Dwight Freeney. It's about time we had a good edge rusher...not only to harrass Smith, Wilson and Bradford, but to give our tackles an explosive player to practice against.
2. Sign MLB Ray Maualuga, Cincinnati. I don't think the bengals will tag him and signing him would allow us to play Sam Acho at SOLB and Daryl Washington at WOLB...with O'Brien Schofield, Stewart Bradley and Quentin Groves as backups.
3. Sign S Dashon Goldson, San Francisco. Outbid the 49ers---who will be having cap issues. This guy is nails. We should have signed him two years ago as I and other were imploring the Cardinals to do---when Goldson was out there twisting in the wind.
4. Draft SS Duron Harmon, Rutgers in the 5th round. This kid brings it.
5. Draft CB Terry Hawthorn, Illinois in the 6th round.
Special Teams Changes:
1. Draft K Bret Maher, Nebraska in the 6th round.
