Get Your Hate Mail Ready

[Harry]

You know how they tell you never to go shopping when your hungry. Well I have that feeling about some of this activity. There is good news. Blake is a solid choice and far superior to Stewart in Mac's system. He was probably the best choice available. Give the Cards points for acting decisively and getting the right guy. He is greatly underrated.

Hodgins can't help but make the running game and the short yardage plays better. However, he is only a blocker. He's a poor receiver and not much of a runner even for short yardage. I would have signed him, but the price looks a little high and I sure don't like him and McKinley as the two options, as McKinley's game is the same as Hodgins, but much weaker.

We seriously start parting company with Jackson's signing. Past Super Bowl heroes have not fared well in post free agency performance. Let me quote what Pro Football Weekly had to say about Jackson in their 2002 preview, "Dexter Jackson was a major disappointment at free safety. His angles were off and his judgment was shaky." Living in Florida I watch him play probably 12 times and I would say he benefited greatly from his surrounding cast. Keep in mind the Bucs made little effort to keep him. I still think a lower priced veteran would have been a better choice and I would think with all the holes the Cards have, I would have chanced starting Lucas and Wilson. Several publication have already mentioned the glut of safeties on the market. In my mind this was a bad investment of limited funds.

I have no problem with Darling's skills as a backup, I just feel that linebacker is one of the Cards' strongest positions and again I would put the money elsewhere. By the way, that elsewhere would not be Mr. Smith.

So let's see. The Cards still need a starting center, at least 2 wide receivers who are serious threats, a starting corner and probably two pass rushers. One spot could be filled in the draft, but that still leaves 5 more starting players to be signed. I'm not sure you can sign that many starters for the $18 mil or so the Cards will have left after you take out the draft pool. I think the Cards were so anxious to change the tide of publicity that they put too much of their money in the wrong places. Of the top 5 needs on this team, these signing addressed only one.

 

[jw7]

Originally posted by Harry
Of the top 5 needs on this team, these signing addressed only one.

Well, while I don't disagree, its not like they haven't thrown the checkbook at everyone else. At FB, that's an upgrade. Blake is an upgrade. Dexter Jackson...I don't know...could be good, could be a "product of the system".

At least the signings are an improvement or a wash.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I disagree with so much that you said, that I won't even write it...

 

[PJ1]

Haven't seen enough of Jackson to dispute what you say but agree that one game does not justify that kind of money.

Hodgins is a devastating blocker but very one dimensional as you say. Martz wants someone who can catch the ball a little and block. Huge upgrade over Joel M. who had no dimension.

The Darling signing is puzzling as a guy of this caliber would be available later and much cheaper.

Blake is better than Plummer and the most important of today's signings.

 

[MrY]

Personally, I really didn't know who Jackson was before the Super Bowl, but I remember Madden making a comment during the telecast to the effect that his MVP performance in the game was very suprising as his career had been unremarkable prior to the game.

 

[pinnacle]

fair enough for now.. jackson we will find out about this season.. I disagree on darling - mckinnon needs a backup on passing downs and fisher is not a guaranteed starter - and our special teams play needed an upgrade..we kind of fill a few needs with darling.

Your comment: The Cards still need a starting center, at least 2 wide receivers who are serious threats, a starting corner and probably two pass rushers. One spot could be filled in the draft, but that still leaves 5 more starting players to be signed.

So..if we have $18 million - I think the draft pool will be for - what - $4 or $5 million..assume we have $14 million after the draft pool (cannot find out if grutts and jones (very minor) are included in the cap we have left - but it is probably more like $19 million..we had $28.5 million before today.

A starting center - appears they are moving kendall over (for better or worse) and may move shelton to guard (big and clement at tackles). so.. only another $1 million for an oline player.
I suggested Bober of the giants - he could be had for $1million and would be a good backup.

So..we have $13 million left. receivers. Martay is probably one of the two - and would have a $2 mil cap hit. $11 million left. need 3 players (from 4 needs - one will be filled in draft - cost already taken out) for $11 million - average of $3.7 million per player. Still doable..a little tight..but a $4 mil guy and two guys from $2.5 to $3.0 mil wold work.. I still think we should somehow trade down and get our hands on 2 very late 1st round picks and do offer sheets on KGB from green bay and a receiver (seattle or san francisco). then do holliday..you could fit these three guys (KGB, holliday and a tendered receiver) for less than $11 million.. All we would be missing is a corner and a defensive lineman..I am ok with Barrett..if we did offer sheets and had no pick in round 1 or 2..rookie pool would be like $2.5 million..so we would have funds to do something. KGB is scheduled to make $1.3 mill..offer him a deal at $2.5. Use him for passing downs and holliday for rushing..

 

[HoodieBets]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I disagree with so much that you said, that I won't even write it...

Just out of curiousity what is it you disagree with? He is pretty much right on all accounts. I watch jackson frequently and he is of the same level as lassiter maybe even a little lower. Hodgins is very one dimensional and if you wanted that why not persue jon ritchie? Darling will never start for this team unless injuries arise. He is a good ST man but that is all. Blake is a bright spot but time will only tell how he does with the lack of talent and expierence at WR. Jackson reminds me of the MVP from Dallas when they played pitt. in the SB. I have never heard from him since the SB.

 

[JeffGollin]

Thoughtful post, Harry. But you know what? Practically every NFL team has at least a couple of holes in its rosters.

(The problem with the Cardinals is that - thru the combination of injuries and lack of talent - had more holes).

The team has gotten better. It still has the resources to plug up all but one or two roster holes. And what you hope for with regard to those is that things will break just average and a couple of players at key positions will surprise you.

My hope is that McAddley, Kasper and/or Gilmore will surprise you pleasantly at WR and Starkey, Grace and/or Wragge or even Kendall will turn out to be fine at center.

And if they don't play to Pro Bowl levels, they still could turn out to be good enough for us to hang in there, be OK and contend.

 

[pinnacle]

On the holes.. I am more worried about getting 2 pass rushers and a defensive tackle than anything else. I am ok with barrett - but if we draft newman it is an upgrade. I would get pass rushers and another tackle and then do the best we can on the rest.. I assume jenkins will be back (especially if it is true we get last look). I know I know.. I am way too optimistic on our totally unproven receivers..we will get at least one vet free agent .. as long as a guy can figure out how to fly down the field and get pas the dbacks and catch the ball..it will keep defenses more honest. I fill pass rush first. Not sure what the plan is - it was obviously some combination of colvin and holliday...new plan needed. since the middle of last season I have been on my "you win by not turning the ball over" kick..and we helped my type of game today..but we need a pass rusher or two to create errors/turnovers..or my plan goes out the window.

 

[Ryanwb]

I would look at a team like the Patriots of 2001. They filled their lineup with solid veterans and had no stars at WR, no over dominant O-lineman, a decent pass rush and a good secondary. They won the SB with those guys, the Cardinals could be well on their way to putting together the same team the next 2 seasons

 

[BW52]

Jeff said it best.Is this team better with these signings? Yes it has.
Blake -vet QB who is supposed to be the Anti-Jake.
Dexter Jackson-younger than Kwame Lassiter and has a upside,where as Lassiter was declining,
Hodgins FB-Agree with the signing.Would have rather had Makovicka back instead of McKinley.Maybe McKinley is back for depth and Special Teams abilities.
Darling LB-solid depth,Special teams and maybe Cards are looking ahead since Ray Thompson is a FA next season and having a vet LB will help.

3 probable starters and a solid backup.Not a Giant step up but a step up.

 

[CardsFan88]

personlally I like barret. If we were to get newman, then we would have imo 3 quality cbs...to handle 3 wrs sets. If not, maybe another vet on the horizon, or we make do.

If kendall moves to center...rountree to starting guard...pickup a cheap vet, or draft someone...

wr's...there are people such as kevin dyson availble...there is jenkins and sanders...in the draft we could take one high...like andre johnson...or maybe rogers...or we could take a sleeper like kassim osgood from san diego state in 3rd round or lower..

Most fb's in the nfl aren't much more than blockers anyways...I will miss missablocka's pass catching from the past year...but he overacheived...whats not to think that hodgins can't do what missablocka did. Hodgins is a superior run blocker..I like the move.

rb???I wouldn't mind emmitt, I would mind mcgahee in the 2nd...I wouldn't mind staying with who we have in shipp,prentice, scobey, anderson, and ????Jones????

defensive lineman...holliday #1...sam adams #2, okefor #3, suggs???, redding??? any other of the 11 guys to go in the first round that may drop to us???PLENTY OF OPTIONS...PLENTY..

But at then end of the day you look at what they got...and how much cap room they took off...hmm about 6.5 mill a year from the four (550+2.4 for jackson..500+2.0 for blake....I can't imagine a cap hit of more than 2million combined per year for hodgins and darling)...So add it up and 6.45 million per year of cap hit...assuming even #'s for signing bonus and base salary..if they escalate, less this year.

So for 6.45 million we have
1) An upgrade at qb...or at least status quo (probably the first.imo)
2)An upgrade at fb
3)A possible probowl upgrade at fs..or the level of lassiter...or larry brown (but at 25...and from what I've heard about his coverage skills...more like the first than the last)
4)A great special teams player. Backup lb

All for roughly 2.2 million LESS than plummer was paid last year...throw in another mill and you have holliday..So then you have those 5 guys for 1mill + plummers contract..A STEAL IN MY BOOK.

I think the cards have set themselves up so that all they need is a little luck in the draft, and a couple of signing of mid-top tier players, and god willing....we'll have a good team...how good??Well lets just wait and see..It'll be fun though. But we still need a couple of more good players..

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by azcardsfan1616
Just out of curiousity what is it you disagree with? He is pretty much right on all accounts. I watch jackson frequently and he is of the same level as lassiter maybe even a little lower. Hodgins is very one dimensional and if you wanted that why not persue jon ritchie? Darling will never start for this team unless injuries arise. He is a good ST man but that is all. Blake is a bright spot but time will only tell how he does with the lack of talent and expierence at WR. Jackson reminds me of the MVP from Dallas when they played pitt. in the SB. I have never heard from him since the SB.

I guess that I should have said I disagree with a few points he made.

1. I don't think we "overpaid" for Hodgins. He is a damn good blocker, and Lorenzo Neal got about as much (Neal is older and I think Hodgins is a better blocker.

2. I've watched Dexter Jackson, and I was impressed with him, not just his Super Bowl performance....notice how he quotes an article from BEFORE the season. Dexter struggled his first year a little, but really came on this season, and became a good pass defender. He has very good range, and is a heady, smart player. He was a good player, at a good college program (Florida State), though he really never was as good as some thought he could be.

3. I think that he vastly overrates our backup linebackers. Darling is a MUCH better player than Young, Trev Faulk, Woods (they all have some potential though). Darling at worst will be a damn good special teamer and a situational player (like Mark Maddox), but at best could be a decent starter. He is not just filler, like I suspect Young, Faulk Woods might be.

4. We don't need another starting corner. David Barrett is a more than adequate starter, and will get a decent contract next year. He is an aggressive young corner with decent speed (ran a 4.45 at the combine), tackling ability, and pretty good ball skills. He is a little streaky in his tackling ability, but things like that improve as a player gets older. I do think, however, that we should seriously think about adding a nickel back (or someone who could push Barrett). Using a first rounder on a corner should only be considered if we think that Newman (or Trufant) are that much better.



I like Harry's style of writing and the fact that he writes his opinion in a convincing manner, but I don't agree.

By-the-way Harry: Good job on your takes! At least a lot of thought was put into it!

 

[az643dp]

Originally posted by Harry
Of the top 5 needs on this team, these signing addressed only one.

In your opinion.

They certainly upgraded a couple of positions and bolstered the depth of the special teams unit.

I would not question nor complain about any of these new guys.

And who cares if some Super Bowl MVP's have not panned out. Each one is a different situation and are related in no way. Just because some of the MVP's have been duds, does not mean that Jackson will be.

 

[stlouiecard]

Just the facts

Here are Dexter's numbers from last year

TOT SOLO AST SACK STF STFY FF BK INT YDS AVG LNG TD PD
2002 71 57 14 0 3 9 0 0 3 101 33.7 58 0 6


NOT bad numbers. I don't share Harry's opinion and I think that Jackson was well worth the less than 3 mil. per season. Blake is the man and he will prove it! He is underpaid at less than 3 million and Hodgins is the blocking fullback that this team has needed for decades. Jim Otis was the last decent FB this team had 30 years ago - so these 3 for 6 mil. a year is a steal. And I do think that 18 mil. can plug many holes,however, not all holes will be filled. It never is with this team. But, some of the lesser role players have to step up - that's what happens on the good teams in this league. The lower tier role players sometimes can make or break a team.

 

[Ed B]

I think Harry will be proven wrong about Jackson.

The guy has serious range and is entering his prime.

 

[stlouiecard]

I agree

Originally posted by Ed B
I think Harry will be proven wrong about Jackson.

The guy has serious range and is entering his prime.

He's only been in the league what 4 years?? And he has already tasted success and has really put up some solid numbers.

I think that with Adrian Wilson and Duane Starks in the backfied with this guy our secondary is by design what we need in order to be competitive in the nfc west.

Terrance Newman would help also!!!

 

[ajcardfan]

I have a feeling that we will be pleasantly surprised by Darling. In his press conference, he said at the top of his list was the chance to compete for a starting job. He'll get that here, and I don't see where Fisher is a stone cold lock to beat him out. Darling played for the Eagles and Jets, two teams not exactly short on kick butt LBs.

 

[ChiCard]

"Terrance Newman would help also" - couldn't agree more. I think he's a nice fit but we do need those down linemen....

 

[RLakin]

Originally posted by Harry
We seriously start parting company with Jackson's signing. Past Super Bowl heroes have not fared well in post free agency performance. Let me quote what Pro Football Weekly had to say about Jackson in their 2002 preview, "Dexter Jackson was a major disappointment at free safety. His angles were off and his judgment was shaky." Living in Florida I watch him play probably 12 times and I would say he benefited greatly from his surrounding cast.

Larry Brown comes to mind. Like Jackson, his two Super Bowl interceptions netted a big contract in free agency and he was a bust. The "benefiting from the system" charge is nothing new. It followed Jackson's predecessor Damian Robinson to NY when, again like Jackson, he netted a big free agent deal. It turned out Robinson was a product of the system (in TB) and the Jets cut him this off-season. Hopefully Jackson will be better, but I must say that Cards might have done better to look at some options at SS, including Tebucky Jones and Sammy Knight, and moved Adrian Wilson to FS. Jones is probably going to be released from the franchise tag sometime soon, now that Rodney Harrison is in NE.

Jeff Blake was the best available QB option out there, especially since Kordell Stewart's asking price seems to be outlandish for a guy with one good year at the quarterback position. Brian Griese and Byron Leftwich could have been better options, but Leftwich has injury questions and Griese wouldn't have been available until after June 1st. For the record, I think it was the best move that they could make.

Hodgins could be a steal. Several times last season I heard the Rams cite his absence as a main reason for their sluggish running game, which dropped from 5th (in 2001) to 30th this year.

Darling I would consider low risk and high reward. Levar Fisher I think will surprise some in 2003, though. Keep in mind that he came out after his junior year at NC State, and that growth process usually takes awhile for an underclassman linebacker.

 

[Ryanwb]

ZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz get a life Rodney, you posted this dribble like 5 hours ago on a different thread

 

[EndZone]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
I don't see where Fisher is a stone cold lock to beat him out. Darling played for the Eagles and Jets, two teams not exactly short on kick butt LBs.

Be careful Wildman could be around

 

[Wildman©]

1)Wildman© is around....

2)Fisher played all four years in college...he did not enter the draft early...

3)Competition makes a team better... no matter who starts...

4)Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.. no matter how misinformed or wrong...

 

[EndZone]

Originally posted by Wildman©
1)Wildman© is around....

2)Fisher played all four years in college...he did not enter the draft early...

3)Competition makes a team better... no matter who starts...

4)Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.. no matter how misinformed or wrong...

I knew you would show up! Don't be a stranger, quit lurking and start posting your numbers are down....21 posts? Just kidding.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

i agree with Harry.As a matter of fact,i thought the same thing yesterday.I wondered if it was cardinals strategy to let things get so bad that any signing would make the fans happy,and 4 would make them ecstatic.I do like 3 of the signings.Hodgkin will be a major upgrade over Makovicka,who was probably the worst blocking FB in the league, and Jackson i like because he is young and comes from a winning team.I don't know alot about Darling.But he and the Mckinney re-signing are special team signings which badly needed it.And you all know my feelings on Bloke.