Gandy still on Cards' radar .. Whiz names Ross starter at LT ..

[Crazy Canuck]

Whisenhunt just lost all credibility with me saying he is going to start Ross at left tackle. The guy must be a complete idiot. God help our upcoming season. Whisenhunt might as well start Stepanovich at LT because he couldn't be any worse. And yes I know Stepanovich isn't with the team anymore. This is one of the dumbest moves that I have seen. If he can't tell that Ross sucks and has no business starting as a tackle then he won't last long as a headcoach.

Well, I can only guess that Whis didn't have much 'cred' with you to start. Whis and Grimm know Ross, having worked with him before and whether it's Ross, Gorin or a rookie that starts at LT come September, all they have to do is commit less than 11 penalties and give us less than 8 sacks to be up on Big.

 

[ajcardfan]

Somehow that got by me. I know he was as slow as a turtle. Rackers is far from a problem for us based on the "problem list."

I sure thought he was a problem in the Bears and Chiefs games. If he shanks all the pressure kicks again this year, he has to go.

 

[ajcardfan]

Well, I can only guess that Whis didn't have much 'cred' with you to start. Whis and Grimm know Ross, having worked with him before and whether it's Ross, Gorin or a rookie that starts at LT come September, all they have to do is commit less than 11 penalties and give us less than 8 sacks to be up on Big.

Wrong. They also need to make blocks too. Especially since we want to run the ball so much.

 

[Duckjake]

I sure thought he was a problem in the Bears and Chiefs games. If he shanks all the pressure kicks again this year, he has to go.

That is exactly what I was talking about. Rackers had a great year kicking 48 yd FGs to make the score 17-6 in '05. He wasn't so hot last year when the money was on the table. So I am hoping that is not a recurring problem because no matter who you bring in to coach or play, in the NFL you are going to have games that your FG kicker is going to have to win.

 

[kerouac9]

Sorry, that reference was a little obscure. Zeile got the reputation of getting his big hits only when his team was either way ahead or way behind. For instance hitting a 2 run HR in the 8th with his team already up 6-2. But supposedly seldom hit well in pressure situations.

So you're comparing Rackers to A-Rod. Based on the stupid contract that Graves gave Rackers for a bunch of kicks in pressure-free situations, I'd agree with that comparison.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Wrong. They also need to make blocks too. Especially since we want to run the ball so much.

Yup... thanks for reminding me. I would never have worked it out on my own that run blocking (Ross' strength) was part of the LT duties.

 

[Duckjake]

So you're comparing Rackers to A-Rod. Based on the stupid contract that Graves gave Rackers for a bunch of kicks in pressure-free situations, I'd agree with that comparison.

 

[kerouac9]

Yup... thanks for reminding me. I would never have worked it out on my own that run blocking (Ross' strength) was part of the LT duties.

Ross has strengths? Because he stunk as a run blocker in the games where he palyed the last two seasons, which was usually why we had to immediately go to the passing game.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Ross has strengths? Because he stunk as a run blocker in the games where he palyed the last two seasons, which was usually why we had to immediately go to the passing game.

Ross' lack of run blocking skills is why we became pass happy. All on him, right?

So, I can only conclude that he was both a run blocking and pass blocking liability in Pitts 15 and 1 season, and the Cards didn't spot this on tape before they signed him.

 

[Duckjake]

So, I can only conclude that he was both a run blocking and pass blocking liability in Pitts 15 and 1 season, and the Cards didn't spot this on tape before they signed him.

Happens a lot with guys who are signed to play for the Cardinals.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

So, I can only conclude that he was both a run blocking and pass blocking liability in Pitts 15 and 1 season, and the Cards didn't spot this on tape before they signed him.

Did Denny actually watch any tape of guys we signed .. ??

He sure must have not looked at any before signing Ross .. all he heard was that he was a starter for the Steelers and that was all he needed ..

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Matt Leinart reminding Oliver "turnstile" Ross that it isn't against the rules to actually block someone ....

 

[Heucrazy]

Wrong. They also need to make blocks too. Especially since we want to run the ball so much.

Ok, then as long as they don't completly wiff on a block and get Leinart injured then they'll be better than Davis.

 

[vinnymac]

Sounds like to me if the cardinals can't sign gandy they will try to draft joe thomas.

 

[Gandhi]

Sounds like to me if the cardinals can't sign gandy they will try to draft joe thomas.

I highly doubt the Cardinals will pass on Thomas, if he is available, no matter wether or not they sign Gandy.

 

[ThunderCard]

Heh, ThunderCard, that's a great nickname for Clement... in wondering why i hadn't heard that one before, i searched the site and saw that this isn't the first time it's been used, but you introduced it a couple of years ago and for some reason you're the only one who's used it. On the other hand, when he left the team you did promise not to ever use it again... oh well!

oh shoot that is right. I can't use the Cement nickname anymore, because he left. Both are and were bad tackles.

 

[ThunderCard]

You mean the Anthony Clement who started at RT for the Jets last year, and was just re-signed by them???

I watched a few Jet's games just to see if my opinion was wrong, because he started on the Cards O-Line. Yeah he was just as bad with the Jets as he was the Cards. The guy lacked everything you wanted in a O-Lineman.

 

[lobo]

I highly doubt the Cardinals will pass on Thomas, if he is available, no matter wether or not they sign Gandy.[/quote



I disagree with you. Highly doubt is much too mild. Think of a much stronger word and change your post!

 

[kerouac9]

Ross' lack of run blocking skills is why we became pass happy. All on him, right?

So, I can only conclude that he was both a run blocking and pass blocking liability in Pitts 15 and 1 season, and the Cards didn't spot this on tape before they signed him.

Yes, he was a run- and pass-blocking liability in Pitts' 15-1 season. He only made the starting lineup due to inury, and they didn't cry when he left. In fact, they won the Super Bowl after they left.

There's no question that Oliver Ross was the weak link on that offensive line during the Steelers' 15-1 season. Maybe he wasn't solely responsible for the fact that the Cards couldn't run the ball in 2005, but old grades like this one don't really seem to give a lot of promise to what we'll see from him at the more difficult LT position:

RT Oliver Ross was beaten on 5 pass blocks giving up 2 sacks and a QB pressure. Warner fumbled on both of the sacks that he gave up. One of those sacks was called back because of a penalty. Ross had 2 dominating blocks. Grade D.

Or this one:

RT Oliver Ross was beaten on 5 pass blocks, 1 run block, gave up a sack and 2 QB pressures. He had 2 dominating blocks. He was also flagged for a holding penalty. I would really like to see Ross put at guard. I think that is where he is best suited. Grade D+

Or this one:

RT Oliver Ross didn't have a very good game. He was beaten on 9 pass blocks, 2run blocks, gave up a sack and 6 quarterback pressures. I still think he is better suited to play guard than tackle. Grade D.

This one's particularly evocative:

RT Oliver Ross had a horrible overall game. He was beaten 10 times. Four of those were QB pressures and two were sacks. He also had back to back false start penalties in the fourth quarter. I know he has only been back for two weeks from his injury, but if he doesn't start playing better he will be known as " Old revolving door Ross". NY Giant defensive end Michael Strahan didn't just send him back to school. He knocked him clear back to the first grade.

Don't worry, guys. This is all going to get worked out because we have Russ Grimm here. Move along.

 

[Duckjake]

Considering that the Cards haven't had any kind of success for 9 years with two former first round draft picks playing Left Tackle what makes you guys so certain that they're going to be able to do it with another first round rookie?

Ok, then as long as they don't completly wiff on a block and get Leinart injured then they'll be better than Davis.

I still remember the posts about how all the Cards needed was a "caretaker" QB. That all the new QB had to do was not throw 20 INT's and he'd be better than Plummer and the Cards would win.

Well they've won all right. 20 of the 64 games since Plummer left.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Yes, he was a run- and pass-blocking liability in Pitts' 15-1 season. He only made the starting lineup due to inury, and they didn't cry when he left. In fact, they won the Super Bowl after they left.

There's no question that Oliver Ross was the weak link on that offensive line during the Steelers' 15-1 season. Maybe he wasn't solely responsible for the fact that the Cards couldn't run the ball in 2005, but old grades like this one don't really seem to give a lot of promise to what we'll see from him at the more difficult LT position:

Or this one:

Or this one:

This one's particularly evocative:

Don't worry, guys. This is all going to get worked out because we have Russ Grimm here. Move along.

All of those reviews came when he was on the Cards. They have nothing to do with what he did on the Steelers under Grimm. I still think that Grimm can do something with Ross.

 

[kerouac9]

All of those reviews came when he was on the Cards. They have nothing to do with what he did on the Steelers under Grimm. I still think that Grimm can do something with Ross.

So your contention is that Oliver Ross just totally forgot everything that made him good in Pittsburgh in less than 10 months. But he'll remember it all again and be the mediocre player he was with the Steelers instead of the horrible one he was with us.

I'm sure that faith is really very comforting to Matt Leinart's shoulder.

 

[lobo]

All of those reviews came when he was on the Cards. They have nothing to do with what he did on the Steelers under Grimm. I still think that Grimm can do something with Ross.

Thanks for the post. If what you are saying is so, I am extremely disappointed in the way this was positioned by the poster. Sort of reminds me of people who claim to have inside info and in their own mind make up stories that are total fairy tales. One of the two of you is telling it like it is.

 

[Duckjake]

Thanks for the post. If what you are saying is so, I am extremely disappointed in the way this was positioned by the poster. Sort of reminds me of people who claim to have inside info and in their own mind make up stories that are total fairy tales. One of the two of you is telling it like it is.

I like to do what Skorp keeps talking about when it comes to players, trust what I see.

That is the one drawback to the new stadium as we had to give up our 7th row seats where we could really see and interact with the players.

Thats why its so hard to judge the draft. Just haven't seen enough of the guys actually playing football other than highlight vids.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

All of those reviews came when he was on the Cards. They have nothing to do with what he did on the Steelers under Grimm. I still think that Grimm can do something with Ross.

Do you truly believe that Grimm can make an apple out of an orange .. ??

This is Denny type favortism .. and I don't like it .. hopefully after the first mini camp they will figure out that Ross has done nothing to improve his play since he left Pitt ...

I think Gorin has a better chance to start than Ross .. who has shown nothing at all ...

 

[daytripper]

For what its worth.
A few weeks ago Ross and Duece were in Pinetop for a meet and greet. I had an opportunity to speak with both of them. I found Duece to be quite gregarious and Ross to be affable and well spoken.
When asked about the problems with the Oline Duece put it squarley on his own shoulders and said "We just didnt get it done" when pressed about schemes he didnt provide an answer. When I asked Ross the same question he also defered but it did seem that I hit a nerve Re: zone blocking.
Duece however did encourage me to tease Ross about his Daddy whom I assumed to be Grimm.
While neither would comment specifically on Bigs departure I read into their replies that they werent happy about him leaving.
When I asked Ross about the new coaching staff his face lit up like a kids at at Xmas. His look alone told me volumes, like a HUGE weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
That said I would like to compliment the team for their efforts.
The meet and greet was well done. Plenty of food a good blues band and ready access to both players and staff. Not to mention free shirts and hats.
Finally I'm going out an a limb and will predict that Ross will revive his career with the new staff and scheme. Why? I Liked his attiude and demeanor and sensed that he is ready to prove himself again.
So I will wear my FREE autograghed Duece and Ross hat for the upcoming season. I may have to eat it before its over but what the Hell! You gotta have faith in something even if its your own gut.