Does it feel Like we are on something special?

[MastersofCombat]

After reading the pronosticators and watching some of the NFL shows. Does it not like everyone is missing the boat on how well we could be this coming season?
I feel like we are on the verge of something special here in Phoenix for the coming year. No glaring weaknesses, the strongest running and passing attack potential that this franchise has ever had and we have them both in one coming season!
Its not about bandwagoneers this season for the reason the new stadium has sold out. Its for once real optimism, and enough of it to where it didnt add an extra 10,000 fans. It sold out the new stadium!
Yea I know some reporters are giving us the token their offense will be good their defense will be good but they dont know how to win. I think this unit is ready ffor something special and we are in for a treat of a year

 

[AZ Shocker]

I sure hope so!

 

[HooverDam]

No glaring weakness? Let me introduce you to our offensive line. Or our aging QB. Not to mention our DB situation (Rolle could be great, but its still a question mark).

I think the Cards will be VASTLY improved, but "something special" to me means going deep into the playoffs, and I don't see that for us this year. Just getting to the playoffs would be a big success.

 

[stewdog1]

Hoover,
Name one team that doesn't have a weakness. Depth is a problem for almost every team in the league.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Hoover,
Name one team that doesn't have a weakness. Depth is a problem for almost every team in the league.

I think he was just pointing out that our team is far from perfect. Can you honestly tell me that you are not concerned at least a little bit about our O-Line? MastorofCombat made it sound like we have nothing to worry about.

 

[slanidrac16]

Just getting to the playoffs would be a big success.

Hey, that WOULD be something special!

 

[CardNots]

I think he was just pointing out that our team is far from perfect. Can you honestly tell me that you are not concerned at least a little bit about our O-Line? MastorofCombat made it sound like we have nothing to worry about.

Funny, I didn't get that at all. MastorofCombat was simply saying there is something in the wind this year. Something like when the first fall or spring breeze blows. Yes, I feel it too. But my common sense still tugs the other way.

The Cards had twice as many people on the IR at the end of the year as the next highest team. Turn that around, and things will change. This year there are just too many positives weighing on the negatives to ignore.

 

[RobbleRobble]

Chatting with a guy last weekend when I was on line to meet Edge. He asked if I was optimistic. I told him I'm always optimistic until about halftime of the first regular season game. (see sig)

I think we caught about every bad break we could've got last year, but that's not to say we're immune in 2006. I'd like to see:
- Our key guys stay healthy. (Thinking in particular of Warner, Edge, Dansby and Rolle.)
- The offensive line gel.
- An effective linebacking core. (After Dansby, who would you pay to see play at LB for the Cards?)
- The Cards not dig themselves a big hole in terms of wins and losses early on. (Tired of being 0-2 or 1-3 and trying to figure out the plan to respectability. We need to blow the doors off of the Niners in week 1.)
- A home field advantage. (Been thinking a lot about a full stadium of rabid Cards fans and the affect it will have on our play.)

Bottom line: My best case scenario is that we have a year like the super bowl rams. (Lots of similarities, they had just acquired a veteran RB, had Kurt Warner, had been the league laughing stock for years on end). Worst case scenario would be (say it with me): "Same old Cards"

 

[MastersofCombat]

Ok....
Sorry I posted this on the wrong website...

2 Seasoned WRs
1 QB that now believes he can be successful again, because of his on field performance
1 ALL-World RB that wants to show he was a bigger reason for the success in INDY then they want to believe.
-An offensiveLine Unit that is healthy with its most important member in a contract year
- A kicker that is better than any we have ever had, and quite possibly the best in the NFL.
Just on the positives alone we have one of the top 5 running backs in the league. We have the best core of recievers in the league, We have a 2time SuperBowl QB and by far the most consensus stud rookie this franchise has ever drafted (he wouldve went 1 the year before).

Defense was ranked I think 10th last season and more than likely has gotten better. I dont get nor see the gapping problems you speak of.


Am I guilty of actually making preseason Kool-aid in the desert?
I wouldnt want to be forcing many of you to drink it. Heck far as Im concerned if your in this forum summer of 2006 and not aboard the Kool-aid truck then troll out of here!

 

[MadCardDisease]

Hey I am just as excited as you are for this season. I think we have something very special with our skill players on offense. However I think the following statement is completely false.

No glaring weaknesses,

That just reaks of extra strong coolaid! Have we improved this year? YES! Are there glaring weaknesses on this team? Yes!

You mentioned our kicker, but you forgot the other part of special teams, kick coverage. Last year we gave up too many big plays with poor kick coverage. To me that is a glaring weakness.

We still don't have a proven TE on the Roster. Bergen showed flashes last year that he could catch the ball. However his blocking left much to be desired. Pope has potential but he is also totally unproven and has struggled with blocking so far. So I think TE is another glaring weakness.

I've already mentioned our OL. Our OL looks pretty much the same as it did last year. Can a new OL coach and a top 5 RB turn the worst ranked OL into even just a decent one? God I hope so but I'm not holding my breath. We will find out soon enough but again this is another major weakness. I'm not the only one who has questions about our O-Line:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5794000

32. Arizona Cardinals


In Indianapolis, running back Edgerrin James was a treasured part of a virtuoso ensemble. The Colts' offense hit on all cylinders, providing enough blocking acumen to hurtle James and his flashy cohorts to the top of the league. In Arizona, James could find himself a veritable Yo-Yo Ma surrounded by a junior high school band. In 2005, there were no statistics that provided a favorable impression of the Cardinals' run-blocking abilities ... not a single one. Arizona ranked dead last in the NFL in traditional stats: yards per game (71.1), touchdowns (2) and yards per attempt (3.2). They fared no better with Football Outsiders' proprietary numbers: dead stinkin' last in Adjusted Line Yards, Power Success and Run Stuffs. Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington didn't stand a chance. How will James do?
It's hard to say there's reason for encouragement. In 2005, Oliver Ross and Alex Stepanovich struggled through injuries, Elton Brown was a rookie, and left tackle Leonard Davis simply hasn't become the player demanded by his position — he's more of a road-grading guard type. They acquired a free agent guard, Milford Brown, who used to play for the Texans (hmmm ...). They drafted a good guard in Deuce Lutui from USC, who will probably be horrified to find himself in the middle of a line with less ability than he one he was a part of in college. The Cards' line gets the bottom spot here because their pass-blocking was worse than the Texans' run-blocking. Still, that's like praising the 1962 New York Mets because they had a better record than the 1899 Cleveland Spiders

On defense we couldn't stop the run to save our lives. I like the pickup of Clancy and the drafting of Gabe Watson. However, we still have no idea if this will cure our problem. Will we have to bring Wilson up in the box again this year? That remains to be seen.

I realize I'm sounding really negative. I'm just trying to prove that we have weaknesses. I'm very excited about the cards this years. I think this is the best team we have had in years. Although saying this team is better than teams from past years really isn't saying much. I think on paper we are very close to being a good team. Now we just need to see them execute on the field.

 

[CardLogic]

Am I guilty of actually making preseason Kool-aid in the desert?
I wouldnt want to be forcing many of you to drink it. Heck far as Im concerned if your in this forum summer of 2006 and not aboard the Kool-aid truck then troll out of here!

 

[JeffGollin]

I think we have to walk a fine line. By this I mean - this season sure smells, sounds and waddles like a successful season. But bleep happens. The last thing I'd want to do is fall for the hype, talk too much trash and wind up betrayed still again. (i.e. "We are what we were until we prove we're not").

 

[Duckjake]

I think we have to walk a fine line. By this I mean - this season sure smells, sounds and waddles like a successful season. But bleep happens. The last thing I'd want to do is fall for the hype, talk too much trash and wind up betrayed still again. (i.e. "We are what we were until we prove we're not").

The question is what "are we". The talent level since Green arrived is much better. But the problem areas are still the same, offensive line and special teams, two and a half years later.

But since this is just NFL football I'm going with the Kool-Aid gang until proven otherwise rather than them being the same old Cardinals until they show different.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Hey I am just as excited as you are for this season. I think we have something very special with our skill players on offense. However I think the following statement is completely false.



That just reaks of extra strong coolaid! Have we improved this year? YES! Are there glaring weaknesses on this team? Yes!

You mentioned our kicker, but you forgot the other part of special teams, kick coverage. Last year we gave up too many big plays with poor kick coverage. To me that is a glaring weakness.

We still don't have a proven TE on the Roster. Bergen showed flashes last year that he could catch the ball. However his blocking left much to be desired. Pope has potential but he is also totally unproven and has struggled with blocking so far. So I think TE is another glaring weakness.

I've already mentioned our OL. Our OL looks pretty much the same as it did last year. Can a new OL coach and a top 5 RB turn the worst ranked OL into even just a decent one? God I hope so but I'm not holding my breath. We will find out soon enough but again this is another major weakness. I'm not the only one who has questions about our O-Line:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5794000



On defense we couldn't stop the run to save our lives. I like the pickup of Clancy and the drafting of Gabe Watson. However, we still have no idea if this will cure our problem. Will we have to bring Wilson up in the box again this year? That remains to be seen.

I realize I'm sounding really negative. I'm just trying to prove that we have weaknesses. I'm very excited about the cards this years. I think this is the best team we have had in years. Although saying this team is better than teams from past years really isn't saying much. I think on paper we are very close to being a good team. Now we just need to see them execute on the field.

Dont forget about our worn out free safety.

 

[Bobcat]

Once we sign Matt I will start feeling that way.

BOBCAT

 

[arthurracoon]

i just have this bad feeling about this season....