ESPN Depth Chart Ratings: NFC West

[kerouac9]

Call me naive, I am hoping the days of relying on rookies to contribute much are over. If Levi Brown just begins contributing by week 8, I'll be happy.

What do you think we did at OT this season? We know that Oliver Ross can't be RT with a right-handed QB. Two other teams have learned that Mike Gandy can't play LT. We're rolling the dice that Brown will be able to contribute successfully at one of the tackle spots by Week 1, which is why it's essential that he makes it to camp on-time.

 

[ajcardfan]

What do you think we did at OT this season? We know that Oliver Ross can't be RT with a right-handed QB. Two other teams have learned that Mike Gandy can't play LT. We're rolling the dice that Brown will be able to contribute successfully at one of the tackle spots by Week 1, which is why it's essential that he makes it to camp on-time.

You are completely forgetting the "coach-'em-up" factor we have in Russ Grimm.

 

[kerouac9]

You are completely forgetting the "coach-'em-up" factor we have in Russ Grimm.

I can't tell whether this is supposed to be sarcastic, or not...

 

[ajcardfan]

I can't tell whether this is supposed to be sarcastic, or not...

 

[kerouac9]

Levi Brown can't step it up because we dont know who he is yet...

Here is the list...
1. Oliver Ross
2. Antrel Rolle
3. Nick Leckey/Step
4. Edgerrin James
5. Matt Leinart
6. BJ
7. Eric Green
8. Darnell Dockett.

Ideally, Oliver Ross is a backup going into the regular season. I'm not sure how he can be that essential. Alex Stepanovich is a Bengal now, and Nick Leckey isn't a starter. But I like this idea. Here are the guys that I think need to drastically improve on their play for the Cards to be successful in 2007:

1. Mike Gandy
2. Antrel Rolle
3. Reggie Wells
4. Leonard Pope
5. Matt Leinart
6. Darnell Dockett

 

[Duckjake]

Ideally, Oliver Ross is a backup going into the regular season. I'm not sure how he can be that essential. Alex Stepanovich is a Bengal now, and Nick Leckey isn't a starter. But I like this idea. Here are the guys that I think need to drastically improve on their play for the Cards to be successful in 2007:

1. Mike Gandy
2. Antrel Rolle
3. Reggie Wells
4. Leonard Pope
5. Matt Leinart
6. Darnell Dockett

I can see Leinart improving drastically because historically that has happened with good QBs in their 2nd NFL season. Maybe Pope also because he's finished his rookie season. As for the rest of the guys, I don't know. What percentage of players improve drastically over what their usual performance level has been after they've been in the league for more than a couple of years?

 

[kerouac9]

I can see Leinart improving drastically because historically that has happened with good QBs in their 2nd NFL season. Maybe Pope also because he's finished his rookie season. As for the rest of the guys, I don't know. What percentage of players improve drastically over what their usual performance level has been after they've been in the league for more than a couple of years?

Why do you think that I'm so skeptical about the Cards having success this season? We're depending on a lot of guys to suddenly be good. And I didn't even mention that we have to hope that Karlos Dansby stays interested for 16 games and that Gerald Hayes stays healthy for 16 games (which he still hasn't done for his entire career.

 

[Wild Card]

Why do you think that I'm so skeptical about the Cards having success this season? We're depending on a lot of guys to suddenly be good.

K9:

Seems like we do this every season, pretty much.

WC

 

[Mitch]

Yes...the Cardinals are depending on sveral key players to step up this year. The best news is, the coaching (Whiz and Co.) can make a huge difference, as well as the off-season program (John Lott).

The other good news is that the Cardinals' overall depth is stronger, which means that of one player falters maybe another will pick up the slack.

 

[football karma]

I can see Leinart improving drastically because historically that has happened with good QBs in their 2nd NFL season. Maybe Pope also because he's finished his rookie season. As for the rest of the guys, I don't know. What percentage of players improve drastically over what their usual performance level has been after they've been in the league for more than a couple of years?

Just Leinart's improvement alone could improve the teams record--

three fewer ints and three more Tds (which would be a solid but unspectacular 14td/9 int season) is probably worth two more wins (all other things being equal)

 

[Duckjake]

Just Leinart's improvement alone could improve the teams record--

three fewer ints and three more Tds (which would be a solid but unspectacular 14td/9 int season) is probably worth two more wins (all other things being equal)

One less fumble would have meant 5 more wins last season.

But like you I'm basing my hopes for a decent season on Leinart improving drastically. Because there's not much else to go on other than a rookie coaching staff. It will make the early games more interesting because, far more so than usual, I have no idea how competitive the 2007 team will be.