Early Season Disappointments

[kerouac9]

Hey they were all free agents. But it was all in jest. Thought you'd see that.

What I think Cheese was saying, and I don't want to put words in his mouth, is it's not so much who they brought in but how they brought them in. Leaving us with the potential to have to again make major changes to the roster next year.

I know I'm not alone in being puzzled by the massive changes to the Defense other than that the new coaches thought they needed to wipe the slate clean from Horton. Yeah I know the run defense was bad last year. Who cares! At one point in the game Sunday New Orleans had thrown 32 passes and run the ball 8 times.

Run the ball. Stop the Run. Finish last.

Not even that, but the system that was brought in created really massive roster churn among the players who STAYED on the defensive roster.

Sam Acho went from playing 90% plus snaps in 2012 (for a very good defense) to playing about 50% of snaps (for a pretty middling defense). Lorenzo Alexander, who was one of our top 5 free agent targets, hadn't seen half the defensive snaps even before he got hurt.

Just weird.

 

[Dayman]

I would like to nominate Michael Floyd. His run blocking has been impressive, but that's about it, outside of his one circus catch. Like I said when he was drafted, the guy just doesn't look like a first-round talent.

 

[D-Dogg]

Improvement from Levi. I think what this proves is he truly is a total bust. Grimm didn't help, but he's atrocious. Losing Cooper might be a blessing in disguise, because I think coop would have hidden how bad Levi really is. I think now it is crystal clear to everyone on the staff that he ain't going to be coached up.

I am not surprised at the old roster; it is what happens when you have to fill FA voids with vets. Winston and Abraham and Palmer all raise that bar.

The draft will come down to Minter, IMO. TM and Cooper are studs; and if Minter can be a solid run-stopper type of backer, we are in great shape hitting on the first three picks. Add in Ellington who I think is a solid back, and the hope I still have for Stephan Taylor and the draft was very good.

FAs, I'm not worried about the production here; bunch of one years and such, just to keep us semi competitive.

Again though, like always, it comes down to the lines. Oline can't protect a QB who is pretty good with protection, pretty scattershot without, and we can't generate a pass rush with the Dline forcing our corners and safeties to defend too long in a passing league.

Since my prediction at the start of the season was "oh no, we suck again" I'm not really disappointed. I like some things; I don't like other things. If we don't address the line next season though, the wheels will fall completely off. Elite tackles and pass rushers are what the Dr. orders, and we haven't filled the prescription....ever.

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm not sticking up for BASK... However, who did you want them to bring in? Who did they miss??


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Desmond Bryant DE frm Oakland, Cleveland signed him.
-5 tackles, 3.5 sacks in 3 games. 6'6, 310lbs. He was expensive (6.8/yr), but he could have opened the door for a Dockett exit.

Martellus Bennett TE frm NY Giants, Chicago signed him.
-12 for 135 and 3tds isn't great but he has held up well in their run game and is 26 years old. Far and away better than what we have. 5.1 mil per year isn't cheap, but we have wasted that money anyway.

Brandon Myers TE frm Oakland, NY Giants signed him.
-16 for 173 and 1td from a 28 year old. Cheap at 3.5 per year.

 

[Chopper0080]

Not even that, but the system that was brought in created really massive roster churn among the players who STAYED on the defensive roster.

Sam Acho went from playing 90% plus snaps in 2012 (for a very good defense) to playing about 50% of snaps (for a pretty middling defense). Lorenzo Alexander, who was one of our top 5 free agent targets, hadn't seen half the defensive snaps even before he got hurt.

Just weird.

Very weird.

I just don't see how anyone could be sold on Bowles' defensive scheme, but when I listen to Arians, I guess I can. It just seems very naive to think you can assemble a defense that can consistently win one-on-one matchups with very little deception. The more I see of the Cardinals defense, the more I can see why the Eagles were so terrible on defense last year. I really wonder how committed Arians is to Bowles because this is going to be a long year and Keim is going to need someone to hold responsible. It seems like Mike is becoming less and less patient in turnign this ship around.

 

[Chopper0080]

My disappointments so far...

1-Jonathan Cooper - He was supposed to change our offensive line and he got hurt. Not his fault, but still disappointing.

2-Todd Bowles - His defense is so unimaginative it is depressing. It is amazing Mathieu and Peterson have made as many plays as they have. My expectations weren't super high, but I expected better than this.

3-Michael Floyd & Rob Housler - Bringing in Arians, i figured they would have to be productive and they haven't. They both are completely replaceable players right now and are quickly becoming two more failed draft picks. This will be even more compounded if the Cardinals let Roberts go in free agency because they are committed financially to Floyd. Our recent drafting literally makes me sick to my stomach when I think that people are making hundreds of thousands of dollars to make these decisions. We cut the head off the front office that made these moves in Graves, but did we fix the overall philosophy of the front office as well. I really hope so.

 

[sundevil04]

Rome wasn't built in a day. We're a better team this year than last and I believe with a few holes filled again next offseason, well be a better team next year than this.

With a draft that has 3 top 10 talent LT's and Brandon Albert as a FA I feel very comfortable that well fill that hole.

If we go the Brandon Albert route that opens is up for Anthony Barr in the draft or Brian Orakpo in FA.

If we fill the holes at LT and Pass rusher along with Jonathan Cooper returning, I think we're looking at a playoff contending team next year

There's also a very nice crop of FA tight ends this off season

 

[clif]

I would like to nominate Michael Floyd. His run blocking has been impressive, but that's about it, outside of his one circus catch. Like I said when he was drafted, the guy just doesn't look like a first-round talent.

I will say that I think Michael Floyd is open more than the times he is being targeted. I saw a play from last week's game on the NFL live show. They were talking about how the Saints defense was hurrying the QB and it showed Floyd open in the middle of the field, but because Palmer was getting his brains beat in he rushed a throw to the RB in the flat.

 

[Cardiac]

The question that keeps running through my mind is how much of this years FA signings have to do with SK's 3 year plan to get the salary CAP cleaned up? I do believe that M Bidwill does want to have a good competitive team and that BA definitely wants the same. I highly doubt SK pitched to MB during his interview that the Cards will not be a good team for the next couple of years so I'm sure he's working on putting a winning product on the field as well.

My hope is that SK is able to plug holes that will allow the team to compete while keeping the CAP plan in place. Does this plan include signing players for 4 to 8 mil a year, no way. So giving up draft pick(s) for B Albert and taking on the CAP hit probably isn't the way to go. Spending big bucks on a FA TE probably not doable at this point, and yes 3.5 mil per season is relatively expensive at this time.

So cutting 10 million devoted to Safety's does make sense to me. Not going for pricey FA's does make sense to me. The one exception would be getting Dumerville because the void at OLBer is scary bad at this point. Thing is do we know that SK didn't try to get him?

Powers for what, half the cost of Toler looks like a good deal. I realize Powers got burned in PS but is that really the case during the regular season. Anyone have one of the stat geek websites rankings of how he has played this season.

Acho is a good guy and has some talent. Fretting over his reduction in playing time when we all know the pass rush isn't where it needs to be and Acho isn't the answer is a bit puzzling to me. How about we let Bowles rotate in his D talent and get a better feel for who can do what in different situations. It's not like Bowles is sitting Lawrence Taylor or Von Miller.

While we are on the Bowles topic, didn't he devise a pretty kick but scheme against the Lions? Many DB's with Bell playing a LBer on many occasions. Seems pretty imaginative to me. Holding the Saints in check for basically 3 Qtr's doesn't scream suckage, IMHO.

Just to be clear I could probably type twice as much negative about BASK than this post but I'm in a koolaide frame of mind.

 

[Duckjake]

But your whole take is based on pay instead of play. We've gone from 5th in pass defense to 26th! But hey our salary cap situation is better and we might win 23 years from now.

As for Sam Acho. He had 7 sacks in half a season as a rookie. What happened? Why does it seem like our guys get worse the more experience they have instead of better? I'd say there must be something in the water but there isn't any water in Arizona.

 

[Cardiac]

But your whole take is based on pay instead of play. We've gone from 5th in pass defense to 26th! But hey our salary cap situation is better and we might win 23 years from now.

As for Sam Acho. He had 7 sacks in half a season as a rookie. What happened? Why does it seem like our guys get worse the more experience they have instead of better? I'd say there must be something in the water but there isn't any water in Arizona.

The pay vs play is todays NFL with the salary CAP. The amount of dead money is staggering and can't be ignored. SK is in a pick your poison position right now. I feel he does have a big picture mentality and plan that Graves did not possess and with Licht and Disner brought in to improve Free Agency and CAP mgmt. process does give me some hope that all the one year signings and cuts that was this offseason weren't just throwing things against the wall and hoping something, anything sticks.

I hope that Acho retires a Card, very quality guy who does have physical talents. I just don't know that he should be starting as your main pass rush threat. Very puzzling he starts off with 7 sacks as a rookie to just another guy afterwards.

 

[Jim Otis]

Early season disappointments ; Coaching staff and team , they need to start a turn around today in Florida .

 

[Chopper0080]

The pay vs play is todays NFL with the salary CAP. The amount of dead money is staggering and can't be ignored. SK is in a pick your poison position right now. I feel he does have a big picture mentality and plan that Graves did not possess and with Licht and Disner brought in to improve Free Agency and CAP mgmt. process does give me some hope that all the one year signings and cuts that was this offseason weren't just throwing things against the wall and hoping something, anything sticks.

I hope that Acho retires a Card, very quality guy who does have physical talents. I just don't know that he should be starting as your main pass rush threat. Very puzzling he starts off with 7 sacks as a rookie to just another guy afterwards.

Consider that Keim created the dead money by cutting players who were already on the roster. I'm not saying that some of those players did not need to be cut, but when you cut a guy, it costs you 1.95 mil, and then you have to sign a replacement, you create your own dead cap issues. Short term pain for hopefully long term gain, and now it is up to Keim to make the most of the situation he has put himself in.

 

[desertdawg]

It's gonna get worse before it gets better, playing Tampa today is pretty funny though. Even if we win it doesn't mean anything.

 

[Seandonic]

Top three disappointments:
1. Levi Brown. I wasn't expecting much but this is ridiculous. He's the number one reason the Cards continue to fail.
2. Carson Palmer. Yes, stand around Brown almost gets him killed every game but...
3. Calais Campbell. Does he even play for the Cardinals?
Just missed the cut. Rob Housler. Many peoples break out player and he's done nothing.

 

[desertdawg]

Our offensive line along with Cooper's injury is very disappointing, but anybody that thought they could fix Levi should have their street cred stripped from them.

 

[Mulli]

Easier to pick out players who are playing well.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Easier to pick out players who are playing well.

...it is?

 

[Mulli]

...it is?

Whole team disappointing.

 

[Cardiac]

Consider that Keim created the dead money by cutting players who were already on the roster. I'm not saying that some of those players did not need to be cut, but when you cut a guy, it costs you 1.95 mil, and then you have to sign a replacement, you create your own dead cap issues. Short term pain for hopefully long term gain, and now it is up to Keim to make the most of the situation he has put himself in.

Mostly agree but cutting Snyder was necessary and so Keim didn't put himself into that situation, just one example.

Having 10 million in salary at the Safety position is not wise, so as you say short tem pain for hopefully so did Keim actually create the situation or is he simply dealing with it the best he can.

 

[40yearfan]

We definitely aren't the best team in the NFL, but we have the same record as the Niners and are a game ahead of the Rams. Since most of you are only results oriented, does it matter how we get there?

 

[Bodha]

Carson. Hes a wash

Bruce Arians. Sure does talk alot to put such a dysfunctional team on the field every sunday

Powers. I thought hed at least be an upgrade over Gay and Mcfadden as the #2. Hes no different than either of them. Terrible.

Pass rush. Thought itd be better with that 'guru' we got

Oline. Thought itd be better with Grimm gone

 

[WildBB]

I'm mainly dissappointed that once again we have no real threat on offense outside of Fitz and frankly he is not racing past anyone. We need weapons to force teams to actually have to cover people.


This team is old and slow. No threat for the big play. That is why they are so desperate to get PP in the lineup.

Yup, but Roberts getting only two throws and one catch for 6 yds?!! That's wrong. He had a big first week. Now you don't use the guy for weeks??!!

 

[crisper57]

Carson. Hes a wash

Bruce Arians. Sure does talk alot to put such a dysfunctional team on the field every sunday

Powers. I thought hed at least be an upgrade over Gay and Mcfadden as the #2. Hes no different than either of them. Terrible.

Pass rush. Thought itd be better with that 'guru' we got

Oline. Thought itd be better with Grimm gone

Maybe Grimm wasn't the problem. Maybe it really was all inferior talent? Seems no matter how much coaching Levi and others get, nothing changes.

 

[Duckjake]

Maybe Grimm wasn't the problem. Maybe it really was all inferior talent? Seems no matter how much coaching Levi and others get, nothing changes.

I agree and it is why the offensive line play is THE #1 disappointment this season.