Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
Well, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on with the Cards’ player acquisition. Normally a GM comes in, sizes up the holes and targets the best possible players to to fill those spots. Even though the Cards had numerous holes, it was conceivable that with the right acquisitions and a rapid Murray & Ertz recovery the Cards might contend for a playoff spot. This team wasn’t radically different from the team that recently made the playoffs.
Instead the Cards let some of their best players leave with no real effort to retain them. They lost Watt but they could have taken the best pass rusher in the draft. They brought back most of a marginal O-line. What long term openings have they filled with impact players?
On the defense if Baker stays the safeties are fine. The CBs look tragically thin. LB is a bit of a conundrum. Who plays where and what can the LBs offer? I think we’re looking at a 4-3. ESPN has White in the middle flanked by Simmons and Gardeck. I don’t see Gardeck as more than a stop gap. I like Simmons if he’s focused on rushing the passer and TFLs. He will need to improve when it comes to diagnosing plays. If he fails we’ll see Ojulari get his chance. Is Gardeck sturdy enough to handle TEs in the running game? I think this side is the weakest. I wonder if Thomas could play out here. Which one of the Corners can cover a TE? My answer is none! Who even starts at CB?
On the D-line ESPN is projecting Collins and Ledbetter at DE with Lawrence and Fotu inside. Lawrence has been fragile and Fotu easily maneuvered out of the way. Neither collapses the pocket. Stills can collapse a pocket, but needs to be built up to anchor. Sanders can rush the passer at DE and is improving against the run. Thomas played well outside against the pass and the run. He improved consistently as the year progressed. He needs to continue to do so. Both these second year players could take big steps forward, but that’s asking a great deal. The line is a huge question mark and coupled with the weak CBs the defense figures to have trouble getting off the field. Other teams figure to regularly runout the clock if they need to do do. As the defense gets more exhausted, this group likely consistently fails in the second half.
This defense was built to lose (tank). It was constructed with future depth from backups and developmental players. It is designed that with a power offseason next year comprised of impact free agents and a quality draft, it is a playoff level defense with exceptional depth. Instead of an impact offseason in 2023, the Cards will attempt to win in 2024.
Instead the Cards let some of their best players leave with no real effort to retain them. They lost Watt but they could have taken the best pass rusher in the draft. They brought back most of a marginal O-line. What long term openings have they filled with impact players?
On the defense if Baker stays the safeties are fine. The CBs look tragically thin. LB is a bit of a conundrum. Who plays where and what can the LBs offer? I think we’re looking at a 4-3. ESPN has White in the middle flanked by Simmons and Gardeck. I don’t see Gardeck as more than a stop gap. I like Simmons if he’s focused on rushing the passer and TFLs. He will need to improve when it comes to diagnosing plays. If he fails we’ll see Ojulari get his chance. Is Gardeck sturdy enough to handle TEs in the running game? I think this side is the weakest. I wonder if Thomas could play out here. Which one of the Corners can cover a TE? My answer is none! Who even starts at CB?
On the D-line ESPN is projecting Collins and Ledbetter at DE with Lawrence and Fotu inside. Lawrence has been fragile and Fotu easily maneuvered out of the way. Neither collapses the pocket. Stills can collapse a pocket, but needs to be built up to anchor. Sanders can rush the passer at DE and is improving against the run. Thomas played well outside against the pass and the run. He improved consistently as the year progressed. He needs to continue to do so. Both these second year players could take big steps forward, but that’s asking a great deal. The line is a huge question mark and coupled with the weak CBs the defense figures to have trouble getting off the field. Other teams figure to regularly runout the clock if they need to do do. As the defense gets more exhausted, this group likely consistently fails in the second half.
This defense was built to lose (tank). It was constructed with future depth from backups and developmental players. It is designed that with a power offseason next year comprised of impact free agents and a quality draft, it is a playoff level defense with exceptional depth. Instead of an impact offseason in 2023, the Cards will attempt to win in 2024.
