Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
<h2 align="center">Rushing the Cards</h2>
<p>It's been a long time since Simeon Rice, Mark Smith, Andre Wadsworth and Eric
Swann provided a reasonable assault on the opposing passer. Since that
time, the Cards have rarely had even a game where they appeared to be capable of
mounting an attack. Cornerbacks have come and gone after constantly being
derided for their inability to cover receivers who were being given all the time in the world
to make double moves. The smart ones, like Aeneas Williams forced the
issue and got out while the getting was good. </p>
<p>Throughout this period the Cards management drafted defensive lineman after
defensive lineman to no avail. One has to wonder about the coaching
considering the success of Darwin Walker after the Cards dumped him.
However no one
had to wonder about the performance of the line. It was awful. Ferguson was
fired. Graves took over the draft and free agency, but the result remained
unchanged. Much of the failure could have been attributed to
reaches. Pace and Vanden Bosch were both moved up by the Cards, based on
most draft evaluations and desperation. However, even players taken in normal order, like
Bryant, continued the pattern of non-productivity. </p>
<p>Now a new coach enters, but unless the Cards show progress in this area, he
will fail as well. So what are the Cards options? The best ones this
year will lie in free agency.</p>
<p>Free agency has been an exercise in futility for the Cardinals. They
make offers to pass rushers, but like a jilted bride, they are always left at
the altar. This year impact players are likely available, if the Cards are
willing to overpay, they will get yet another opportunity to make an difference. </p>
<p>Taking the unrestricted free agents first, </p>
<p><b>Bertrand (Bert) Berry</b> had a breakout season in 2003. After
registering a career high 6 sacks in 2002, his total grew to 11.5 in 2003.
He is on the light side and that could be an issue with the Cards' undersized
linebackers, but he would provide the needed push. </p>
<p><b>Eric Hicks</b> is not a great pass rusher, but he is a balanced player who
could upgrade the Cards' rush without sacrificing run stoppage. Hicks only
scored 5 sacks in 2003, but has posted 9 and 14 in previous seasons. He is
young enough to have good productive years ahead and has been exceptionally
durable.</p>
<p><b>Jevon Kearse</b> is everyone's fantasy, but the reality is that he will be
tagged if they can't simply re-sign him. I like him a great deal, but no
enough to give up two first round choices and distort the payroll that much.</p>
<p><b>Grant Wistrom</b> will likely be the most sought after pass rusher in this
group. The Jets financial situation and the existence of alternatives,
make it likely he will hit the market. He would be the impact player the
Cards desire, but it is hard to picture him ignoring all his suitors who will
likely offer better playoff opportunities, if not more money. </p>
<p>There are also a couple of restricted free agents who are worth attention
this off-season. </p>
<p><b>Adewale Ogunleye</b> has been a pass rushing force for both of the last
two years. The Dolphins will enter the off-season with major cap problems
and though they will make a qualifying offer, they won't have the money to match
other teams. To play in this signing war, the Cards would start by trading
their first round pick for a much lower selection, as they will have to
surrender it if they sign him. They will also have to surrender plenty of
cash. It is true he is helped by a strong surrounding cast, but it is also true
he may be the best pass rusher within the Cards' reach.</p>
<p><b>Reggie Hayward</b> has also blossomed this season in Denver. After
two relatively unimpressive seasons, he burst onto everyone notebooks with a
solid season that included 8.5 sacks. His best may be yet to come.
Denver can't keep everyone, so the price may be right. </p>
<p>Cap Casualties are never certain predictions. Not to mention that often
teams have deals worked out in advance with players and sign them virtually as
soon as they are released (ARod should be so lucky). Here are two strong
possibilities. </p>
<p><b>Gary Walker</b> was in my sights as soon as Jacksonville let it be known
he would go in the expansion pool. With Texas building with youth, he
could have been lured away even after the draft by some impressive Cardinal
front office work. Sadly, that apparently is not in the Cards' job
description. Instead he went to Houston, posted 6.5 sacks and got to see Hawaii
via the Pro Bowl. He was hurt this year (there is an injury risk) and will
be a huge cap hit, if they don't cut him. He will be there if the Cards can
close the deal. </p>
<p><b>Darren Howard</b> was among my top DEs when he exited KSU for the draft. He has
done nothing to disprove my opinion and the rumor on the street is he will not
be retained by New Orleans due to financial constraints. He dropped off a
little in sacks this season. Of course, his 5 would have led the Cards
line by a wide margin. He is lightening fast and the closest thing to
Kearse. A couple of list show him as a UFA, but my understanding is that
he has an option (bonus clause) that will not be exercised. New Orleans has
cap problems, but with so many issues, he is unlikely to be tagged if the clause
rumor is wrong. </p>
<p>Finally, there one tackle that must be mentioned. </p>
<p><b>Warren Sapp</b> has been a force in this league for several years and is
still young enough to be an impact player. Gruden wants him back, but
probably not at Sapp's price. The grapevine says he may be a "one and
done" player. That's a player who gives you one good year to show up
his previous employer and then phones it in for the rest of the contract.
I have followed Sapp since high school and I still can't read him and neither
can many of his acquaintances. If they Cards don't immediately contend,
his play will likely decline and he will be disruptive. He is too big a risk for the
Cards to take even if he would come to Arizona. He figures to go to a perennial
contender which needs one key player to push them over the top. </p>
<p>No doubt some less predictable cap casualties will occur. There may be
a buried option or two allowing a player to void his contract and become a free
agent. That said, good pass rushers are the NFL's most sought after
commodity. They won't come cheaply, but until the Cards can lure one to
Arizona, the Big Red will never have much credibility as a contender and they
won't have a successful coach.. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</body>
</html>
<p>It's been a long time since Simeon Rice, Mark Smith, Andre Wadsworth and Eric
Swann provided a reasonable assault on the opposing passer. Since that
time, the Cards have rarely had even a game where they appeared to be capable of
mounting an attack. Cornerbacks have come and gone after constantly being
derided for their inability to cover receivers who were being given all the time in the world
to make double moves. The smart ones, like Aeneas Williams forced the
issue and got out while the getting was good. </p>
<p>Throughout this period the Cards management drafted defensive lineman after
defensive lineman to no avail. One has to wonder about the coaching
considering the success of Darwin Walker after the Cards dumped him.
However no one
had to wonder about the performance of the line. It was awful. Ferguson was
fired. Graves took over the draft and free agency, but the result remained
unchanged. Much of the failure could have been attributed to
reaches. Pace and Vanden Bosch were both moved up by the Cards, based on
most draft evaluations and desperation. However, even players taken in normal order, like
Bryant, continued the pattern of non-productivity. </p>
<p>Now a new coach enters, but unless the Cards show progress in this area, he
will fail as well. So what are the Cards options? The best ones this
year will lie in free agency.</p>
<p>Free agency has been an exercise in futility for the Cardinals. They
make offers to pass rushers, but like a jilted bride, they are always left at
the altar. This year impact players are likely available, if the Cards are
willing to overpay, they will get yet another opportunity to make an difference. </p>
<p>Taking the unrestricted free agents first, </p>
<p><b>Bertrand (Bert) Berry</b> had a breakout season in 2003. After
registering a career high 6 sacks in 2002, his total grew to 11.5 in 2003.
He is on the light side and that could be an issue with the Cards' undersized
linebackers, but he would provide the needed push. </p>
<p><b>Eric Hicks</b> is not a great pass rusher, but he is a balanced player who
could upgrade the Cards' rush without sacrificing run stoppage. Hicks only
scored 5 sacks in 2003, but has posted 9 and 14 in previous seasons. He is
young enough to have good productive years ahead and has been exceptionally
durable.</p>
<p><b>Jevon Kearse</b> is everyone's fantasy, but the reality is that he will be
tagged if they can't simply re-sign him. I like him a great deal, but no
enough to give up two first round choices and distort the payroll that much.</p>
<p><b>Grant Wistrom</b> will likely be the most sought after pass rusher in this
group. The Jets financial situation and the existence of alternatives,
make it likely he will hit the market. He would be the impact player the
Cards desire, but it is hard to picture him ignoring all his suitors who will
likely offer better playoff opportunities, if not more money. </p>
<p>There are also a couple of restricted free agents who are worth attention
this off-season. </p>
<p><b>Adewale Ogunleye</b> has been a pass rushing force for both of the last
two years. The Dolphins will enter the off-season with major cap problems
and though they will make a qualifying offer, they won't have the money to match
other teams. To play in this signing war, the Cards would start by trading
their first round pick for a much lower selection, as they will have to
surrender it if they sign him. They will also have to surrender plenty of
cash. It is true he is helped by a strong surrounding cast, but it is also true
he may be the best pass rusher within the Cards' reach.</p>
<p><b>Reggie Hayward</b> has also blossomed this season in Denver. After
two relatively unimpressive seasons, he burst onto everyone notebooks with a
solid season that included 8.5 sacks. His best may be yet to come.
Denver can't keep everyone, so the price may be right. </p>
<p>Cap Casualties are never certain predictions. Not to mention that often
teams have deals worked out in advance with players and sign them virtually as
soon as they are released (ARod should be so lucky). Here are two strong
possibilities. </p>
<p><b>Gary Walker</b> was in my sights as soon as Jacksonville let it be known
he would go in the expansion pool. With Texas building with youth, he
could have been lured away even after the draft by some impressive Cardinal
front office work. Sadly, that apparently is not in the Cards' job
description. Instead he went to Houston, posted 6.5 sacks and got to see Hawaii
via the Pro Bowl. He was hurt this year (there is an injury risk) and will
be a huge cap hit, if they don't cut him. He will be there if the Cards can
close the deal. </p>
<p><b>Darren Howard</b> was among my top DEs when he exited KSU for the draft. He has
done nothing to disprove my opinion and the rumor on the street is he will not
be retained by New Orleans due to financial constraints. He dropped off a
little in sacks this season. Of course, his 5 would have led the Cards
line by a wide margin. He is lightening fast and the closest thing to
Kearse. A couple of list show him as a UFA, but my understanding is that
he has an option (bonus clause) that will not be exercised. New Orleans has
cap problems, but with so many issues, he is unlikely to be tagged if the clause
rumor is wrong. </p>
<p>Finally, there one tackle that must be mentioned. </p>
<p><b>Warren Sapp</b> has been a force in this league for several years and is
still young enough to be an impact player. Gruden wants him back, but
probably not at Sapp's price. The grapevine says he may be a "one and
done" player. That's a player who gives you one good year to show up
his previous employer and then phones it in for the rest of the contract.
I have followed Sapp since high school and I still can't read him and neither
can many of his acquaintances. If they Cards don't immediately contend,
his play will likely decline and he will be disruptive. He is too big a risk for the
Cards to take even if he would come to Arizona. He figures to go to a perennial
contender which needs one key player to push them over the top. </p>
<p>No doubt some less predictable cap casualties will occur. There may be
a buried option or two allowing a player to void his contract and become a free
agent. That said, good pass rushers are the NFL's most sought after
commodity. They won't come cheaply, but until the Cards can lure one to
Arizona, the Big Red will never have much credibility as a contender and they
won't have a successful coach.. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</body>
</html>
), but I think the lack of a true speed pass-rusher has made our tackles look worse than they actually are. Bell, Davis and Tanner --maybe even Bryant with the right coaching--are all pretty good, IMO, and if we can find a guy to come off the edge they'll show tons of improvement.
