How many of you saw Chris Mortensen's interview with Emmitt Smith last night? I love the way Emmitt answered the questions. First he said that Arizona was a better situation for him than the Cowboys because of the Cardinals talented offensive line and experienced QB. Then when Mortensen asked Emmitt about the likelihood of winning with the much beleaguered Cardinals, Emmitt said with a smile, "Just wait and see." It was the warmest feeling I have felt in a long, long time.
When the Cardinals were expressing interest in Emmitt a few weeks back, my first instinct was that if the Cardinals were to sign Emmitt, the offensive line would become all the more motivated to get off the ball and open big running lanes. And last night when I was listening to Emmitt, I started to feel as if his arrival brings a sense of urgency that this team and franchise so desperately needs. Emmitt has a two year window in Arizona. Coach Mac, virtually the same. Every team needs a sense of urgency and now the Cardinals have a far greater sense of urgency than they has three days ago. Like Coach Mac has been saying all along, "We need to win football games."
Didn't you just love the way Mac took charge of the press conferences? Mac was at his ever-loving best. This guy just exudes excitement and energy, which is what every team wants in a head coach. If Mac has learned from his game management errors the past couple of years, and if he has learned how to prepare the team more thoroughly to give them that much needed edge in playing each opponent, he could be a keeper for a long, long time. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. What a tremndous spokesperson he is for the organization.
Today's signing of * Cameron Spikes (6-2, 323) is another great move. Kudos to Rod Graves and team management. Spikes is a strong and tenacious drive blocker who is just starting to enter his prime. He needs to keep improving his feet and leverege in pass protection, but he's a load to try to swim around. If Spikes is as motivated as I think he is, don't be surprised to see him challenge for a starting role this year. His signing too, enables the Cardinals to entertain thoughts of trading L.J. Shelton if they can't get Shelton to agree on a contract extension. Lindy of Lindy's magazine wrote about Spikes last year" "Very tough and talented...but simply better players (Nutten and Timmerman) in front of him." For a young player that's high praise. It will be interesting to see what new offensive line coach Pete Hoerner can get out him.
As for the WR openings...and there are two or three of them depending on whether the Cardinals keep five or six on the 53 man roster, it remains a mystery as to why the Cardinals haven't made any overtures to any of the current free agents. It's hard to figure. One veteran addition would seem mandatory. Two would be advisable. Frank Sanders is likely to be one of the two if he can accept a rather significant pay reduction. I have always liked Sanders. I like his versatility...his work ethic and his spirit. With a calmer and more confident presence at QB, Sanders may thrive more than ever within the system. The other wild card may be Marcus Robinson who will most likely be released after June 1st. Robinson has struggled through injuries the past two years, but is a big time player when healthy...with the depth the Cardinals have at WR, he would be worth the risk assuming he doesn't overprice himself. It's kind of surprising that Jerry Sullivan hasn't called on Germane Crowell who thrived under Sully's leadership in Detroit. And I wonder if the Cardinals will trade for a WR as they did years back for Rob Moore. It would be shocking to see the Cardinals draft a WR at #6. Don't see it happening at all. The likely choice remains a defensive lineman, although the opportunity to draft QB Byron Leftwich would be extremely difficult to pass up if Leftwich is still on the board at #6.
Terrell Suggs' disappointing workout yesterday will make the decision to select him in the top five a more difficult one...without question. Not only will teams be leery of his weight as a bona fide pass rusher (only 252 lbs.), now they will be leery of his speed. He still will be a tantalizing pick, but there appear to be safer top five choices, the two potential franchise QBs (Palmer and Leftwich) and the two stellar CBs (Newman and Trufant) among them. If the Cardinals can land two first rounders from the Jets, Patriots or Saints for the #6 pick, I would bet they would hop on the opportunity, because I think they like DTs Kevin Williams and Dewayne Robertson as much as any players in the draft and adding a DE such as Jerome McDougal or Michael Haynes with pick 1B would be gravy.
The #37 pick, the Cardinals' second rounder, is most likely going to be their most difficult decision in the draft. At #37 there are always projected first rounders who are still on the board. It would be excellent if the Cardinals could remain flexible with that pick and not feel like they have to draft by need at that spot. Hopefully this year the player and the need will match for the Cardinals at that pick. Who knows? Maybe a Corey Redding is still there...or a Ty Warren...or a Kelley Washington...or...?
When the Cardinals were expressing interest in Emmitt a few weeks back, my first instinct was that if the Cardinals were to sign Emmitt, the offensive line would become all the more motivated to get off the ball and open big running lanes. And last night when I was listening to Emmitt, I started to feel as if his arrival brings a sense of urgency that this team and franchise so desperately needs. Emmitt has a two year window in Arizona. Coach Mac, virtually the same. Every team needs a sense of urgency and now the Cardinals have a far greater sense of urgency than they has three days ago. Like Coach Mac has been saying all along, "We need to win football games."
Didn't you just love the way Mac took charge of the press conferences? Mac was at his ever-loving best. This guy just exudes excitement and energy, which is what every team wants in a head coach. If Mac has learned from his game management errors the past couple of years, and if he has learned how to prepare the team more thoroughly to give them that much needed edge in playing each opponent, he could be a keeper for a long, long time. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. What a tremndous spokesperson he is for the organization.
Today's signing of * Cameron Spikes (6-2, 323) is another great move. Kudos to Rod Graves and team management. Spikes is a strong and tenacious drive blocker who is just starting to enter his prime. He needs to keep improving his feet and leverege in pass protection, but he's a load to try to swim around. If Spikes is as motivated as I think he is, don't be surprised to see him challenge for a starting role this year. His signing too, enables the Cardinals to entertain thoughts of trading L.J. Shelton if they can't get Shelton to agree on a contract extension. Lindy of Lindy's magazine wrote about Spikes last year" "Very tough and talented...but simply better players (Nutten and Timmerman) in front of him." For a young player that's high praise. It will be interesting to see what new offensive line coach Pete Hoerner can get out him.
As for the WR openings...and there are two or three of them depending on whether the Cardinals keep five or six on the 53 man roster, it remains a mystery as to why the Cardinals haven't made any overtures to any of the current free agents. It's hard to figure. One veteran addition would seem mandatory. Two would be advisable. Frank Sanders is likely to be one of the two if he can accept a rather significant pay reduction. I have always liked Sanders. I like his versatility...his work ethic and his spirit. With a calmer and more confident presence at QB, Sanders may thrive more than ever within the system. The other wild card may be Marcus Robinson who will most likely be released after June 1st. Robinson has struggled through injuries the past two years, but is a big time player when healthy...with the depth the Cardinals have at WR, he would be worth the risk assuming he doesn't overprice himself. It's kind of surprising that Jerry Sullivan hasn't called on Germane Crowell who thrived under Sully's leadership in Detroit. And I wonder if the Cardinals will trade for a WR as they did years back for Rob Moore. It would be shocking to see the Cardinals draft a WR at #6. Don't see it happening at all. The likely choice remains a defensive lineman, although the opportunity to draft QB Byron Leftwich would be extremely difficult to pass up if Leftwich is still on the board at #6.
Terrell Suggs' disappointing workout yesterday will make the decision to select him in the top five a more difficult one...without question. Not only will teams be leery of his weight as a bona fide pass rusher (only 252 lbs.), now they will be leery of his speed. He still will be a tantalizing pick, but there appear to be safer top five choices, the two potential franchise QBs (Palmer and Leftwich) and the two stellar CBs (Newman and Trufant) among them. If the Cardinals can land two first rounders from the Jets, Patriots or Saints for the #6 pick, I would bet they would hop on the opportunity, because I think they like DTs Kevin Williams and Dewayne Robertson as much as any players in the draft and adding a DE such as Jerome McDougal or Michael Haynes with pick 1B would be gravy.
The #37 pick, the Cardinals' second rounder, is most likely going to be their most difficult decision in the draft. At #37 there are always projected first rounders who are still on the board. It would be excellent if the Cardinals could remain flexible with that pick and not feel like they have to draft by need at that spot. Hopefully this year the player and the need will match for the Cardinals at that pick. Who knows? Maybe a Corey Redding is still there...or a Ty Warren...or a Kelley Washington...or...?
