Have the Cardinals had a successful FA season?

[CardLogic]

Cardinals sign Gandy to three-year deal

April 2, 2007

Darren Urban, Tribune

The Cardinals said before free agency started they would pursue no flashy names, but promised a handful of new players who would fortify the roster.

How those acquisitions perform has yet to play out. But after Monday, when the Cards finally signed offensive lineman Mike Gandy to a three-year contract, no one can argue the team didn’t deliver on its promise.

Six new free agents — center Al Johnson, safety Terrence Holt, cornerback Rod Hood, fullback Terrelle Smith and special teamer Sean Morey, in addition to Gandy — are here.

The only position the Cardinals targeted in free agency and didn’t fill was tight end, and that was after visitor Reggie Kelly turned down a more lucrative offer from Arizona to return to Cincinnati.

Both coach Ken Whisenhunt and vice president of football operations Rod Graves were unavailable Monday with the team’s draft meetings underway, but even Gandy came away impressed with the way the Cardinals stayed after him after his initial visit March 4.

“We never stopped talking and that is a credit to the front office,” Gandy said. “That was one of my (big factors), the interest they had in me and that they stayed on it.”

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Gandy can play either guard or tackle and has started 62 of 64 games during four years in Chicago and the past two seasons in Buffalo.

Gandy started all 16 games for the Bills last year, splitting time at left tackle and then left guard. He said the Cardinals’ coaches have not yet decided on his role, although he is admittedly more comfortable at left tackle.

Arizona’s current starter on the left side — Oliver Ross, switching from the right side — is, at best, tenuous.

The Cards would have liked to have signed Gandy sooner, but he held out hope for a bigger contract. The Cardinals see him as a depth signing and did not want to overspend.

Gandy’s financial terms were not available, but like the signing of Smith recently — Smith’s salaries are only $750,000 and $850,000 over the next two seasons — the Cards waited out the player to get a contract that fit their budget.

“Things happen for a reason,” Gandy said when asked if he was disappointed about his deal. “That’s the past and I am just looking forward now.”

The Cardinals are expected to have another smaller signing or two; Graves spoke to at least two agents during the recent NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore about clients.

The Cards have also re-signed three of their own free agents — running back Marcel Shipp, special teamer Hanik Milligan and linebacker Monty Beisel.

Linebacker James Darling remains a possibility to return.

There are many posters who seem to be dissappointed with the Cardinals FA season this year. The absence of any big name, star caliber FA signing might be to blame for that. But taking a closer look one should see that the Cardinals were very successful in the FA period.

Graves, Whisenhunt, et al, established a plan for the free agency period and they have executed upon that plan. The Cardinals have signed every FA they targeted with only a single exception, tight end Reggie Kelly who accepted a less lucrative offer to remain with Cincinnati.

It appears the the Cardinals are not done yet, based upon activities with agents during the NFL meetings in Phoenix.

There remains a great deal of concern among Cardinals fans, at least among the hardcores such as on this forum, regarding the make-up of the Cardinals offensive line and their plans for the upcoming NFL draft.

Some anxiety is understandable, the OL has been the Cardinals "Achilles heel" for more than a few seasons, and the Cardinals have made often enumerated gaffs with past draft selections.

Yet some solace ought to be had in the fact that the current Cardinals FO and coaching staff have developed a coherent plan of action and are executing upon that plan.

I am certain the come draft day(s) the Cardinals selections will be in accordance with their overall plan. I am just as certain there will be numerous outcries regarding the Cardinals selections, no matter who they pick.

Since the end of last season every step the Cardinals organization have made has been the result of executing upon a well founded and reasonable plan. Until proven otherwise, I believe that with Ken Whisenhunt the Cardinals plans will come to fruition .

 

[lobo]

Cardinals sign Gandy to three-year deal

April 2, 2007

Darren Urban, Tribune



Since the end of last season every step the Cardinals organization have made has been the result of executing upon a well founded and reasonable plan. Until proven otherwise, I believe that with Ken Whisenhunt the Cardinals plans will come to fruition .

In contention for Post of the Year Award.

 

[ajcardfan]

If we make the playoffs it will look friggin' brilliant. If we go 5-11, then this free agent group will look like a pile of doo.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The Cardinals are expected to have another smaller signing or two; Graves spoke to at least two agents during the recent NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore about clients.

Curious on who they are targeting .. ???

I do like the way the FO waited out both Smith and Gandy (even though the numbers have not been released) .. signed them on the teams terms and stuck to their guns ..

 

[lobo]

If we make the playoffs it will look friggin' brilliant. If we go 5-11, then this free agent group will look like a pile of doo.

The f/a stuff is just a piece of the puzzle. Considering who was available and maintaining some sanity, they did great. Wait for draft, late cuts in pre-season etc. It is all part of picture. Those of us who can take a non-emotional look should agree that it appears they are doing everything they said they would

Excellent asst hires (spent the money for real ones!)
Solid "need" f/a hirings
They did what they said they would do and were very open about it.

So far this has not been the "Manhattan Project" just some good common sense and making it happen.

 

[seesred]

We had a lot of talent last year and we didn't win the close ones. 1 reason is quality depth. Between the FA signings and the draft IMO we will have improved our quality depth a sizable amount. Yes, of course the numbers will tell us truly how we did, but we are giving ourselves a much better chance when late in the game a guy goes down and another steps in and doesn't lose the game for us. See Back up corners from last year!

GBR
40

 

[Stout]

Yet some solace ought to be had in the fact that the current Cardinals FO and coaching staff have developed a coherent plan of action and are executing upon that plan.

No, I do not take solace in it, as it concerns the LT and OLB positions. I think that maybe they had or have a plan for these positions, but I think it's a friggin' awful plan. That plan would seem to be to pray for the talent to fall to us in the draft at positions that are slim in this draft, and if that doesn't work, then plug in Ross and Blackstock and damn the torpedoes as regards depth (Gandy is NOT tackle depth!). So no, I take no solace in that.

 

[az jam]

Thanks for posting Urban's article and your analysis, Cardlogic. I'm very pleased with the signings made during the free agency period. Most knew that it would be a poor year for free agency and with all the cap money there would be overbidding. I too like the depth added and am looking forward to the draft where I really think we will get some good talent.

 

[CardLogic]

No, I do not take solace in it, as it concerns the LT and OLB positions. I think that maybe they had or have a plan for these positions, but I think it's a friggin' awful plan. That plan would seem to be to pray for the talent to fall to us in the draft at positions that are slim in this draft, and if that doesn't work, then plug in Ross and Blackstock and damn the torpedoes as regards depth (Gandy is NOT tackle depth!). So no, I take no solace in that.

Fact is you don't really know what the whole plan looks like with respect to LT and OLB, none of us do. Further you assume that the current staff knows less than you with regards to evaluation of the existing talent on the club.

One thing the most of us agree upon, Denny Green knew how to find talent, but he just didn't know how to employ it! I think the current staff will do a much better job at utilizing the talent already on the team.

 

[kerouac9]

No. Without a doubt this team is worse today than it was at the end of the season. This team still has no starting-caliber LT or OLB. Depth at LB which was absent last season is still non-existent. We replaced some players with others that may or may not turn out to be better.

There's still the draft, but without having someone to plug in to replace our Pro Bowl alternate LT and at least a warm body to play OLB, this free agency period has been a disaster.

I wrote in my free agency preview that the goal of free agency should be to position the team so that it can draft the best players available in April. As of this moment, they're forced to draft for need in at least the first two rounds. That's a mark of failure.

 

[CardLogic]

No. Without a doubt this team is worse today than it was at the end of the season.

The only significant loss of talent (talent that never reached it's potential) from the Cardinals has been Leonard Davis. So your argument hinges on the evaluation that the six players acquired don't equal the loss of Leonard Davis.

Sorry, but Davis wasn't that valuable!

That and I feel the they can take BPA if they choose, and choose wisely.

 

[joeshmo]

All things being equal, they exceeded my expectations, as my expectations were low from mid season to now after seeing the FA market and the money that each team would have.

As for the whole success thing. I think you can only say the implementation of their plan is without question successfull in the fact that they seemed to have signed everyone they have targeted except for one and they seemed to be following and executing their plan to a T. So yes, they are succesful in their plan but will their plan bring success?

As for being succesfull in the grand scheme, not sure anyone can say that yet.

 

[Duckjake]

One thing the most of us agree upon, Denny Green knew how to find talent, but he just didn't know how to employ it!

We're not smart enough to evaluate the talent on the team but we are smart enough to know that Green didn't know how to employ it?

Anyway I'm glad to see the Cards have a plan, even if it turns out to be a poor one. It will still be better than just reacting to situations like they have in the past.

 

[joeshmo]

late cuts in pre-season etc.

Oh man I almost agreed with your post until I read this.

June 1st cuts and pre-season cuts havent brought anything good for years now that teams know how to handle the cap. All it brings now is players to put on your PS or inactive list.

 

[jefftheshark]

No. Without a doubt this team is worse today than it was at the end of the season. This team still has no starting-caliber LT or OLB.

If anything, we are exactly the same, because we didn't have a starting-caliber LT or OLB last year either.

The Shark

 

[kerouac9]

I think that even within the Cardinals' standards, by failing to get a rounded TE up to this point, they haven't accomplished everything they wanted to.

But if anyone thinks that right now we don't have to take an OLB and OLT on the first day of this draft (i.e., drafting for need), then they're looking at this roster through some rose-colored Urkel glasses.

 

[Stout]

Fact is you don't really know what the whole plan looks like with respect to LT and OLB, none of us do. Further you assume that the current staff knows less than you with regards to evaluation of the existing talent on the club.

One thing the most of us agree upon, Denny Green knew how to find talent, but he just didn't know how to employ it! I think the current staff will do a much better job at utilizing the talent already on the team.

Translate: the plan is Oliver Ross.

No, I don't know as much as they do, and I don't for sure know what their plan is. It doesn't look good, whatever it is, is all I'm saying. We're entering a draft where we desperately need a few key guys to fall to us at positions that are weak in this draft. That's not good planning, IMO.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

If we make the playoffs it will look friggin' brilliant. If we go 5-11, then this free agent group will look like a pile of doo.

Couldn't that be said of every free agent class?

 

[lobo]

Oh man I almost agreed with your post until I read this.

June 1st cuts and pre-season cuts havent brought anything good for years now that teams know how to handle the cap. All it brings now is players to put on your PS or inactive list.

I'll try harder next time. Actually they do play a minor part in the whole picture. The draft is the thing..and that the way one builds a team from my point of view.

 

[phillycard]

If Rod Hood is the feather in your cap, than hell no. If the goal was to gain depth and have players battle for spots, then I can live with that. But there were better moves left on the table I felt we should have made.

 

[CardinalChris]

I think in past year we would have signed these guys and proclaimed them saviors of the team. This year these guys are being brought in as valuable depth and potential starters. It is slight, but an important distinction. Now, let's hope it pays off.

 

[Goodyear Card]

I would give a C grade to free agency. We did sign some average players but we did not address some key positions. LT and OLB are the two biggest but RT could also use some improvement. Using roster bonuses instead of signing bonuses prevented us from signing additional quality players. We overpaid to sign average starters and backup players. Maybe my C grade is too generous.

 

[JC_AZ]

We're not smart enough to evaluate the talent on the team but we are smart enough to know that Green didn't know how to employ it?

I think it was more obvious last year than in the first two, that DG was not able to capitalize on the team's strengths and coach around the weaknesses...maybe it can be attributed to the weakness of his staff, but nevertheless, DG was unable to make it work with a reasonable level of talent...

 

[Rats]

For the past few seasons the Cardinals could not run the ball effectivly or more importantly stop the run effectivly. We have done nothing to this point in FA to make these areas of huge concern better. We are short a LT (that we had on the roster for at least one year in Davis) and TE on offense and short DE,LB that can stop the run on defense. I would say so far this team is still at the bottem in our own Division ( the weakest in the Nfl) with a 1st year head coach and a shuffled offensive line and Definsive backfield. How anyone can say we have been successful with this awful plan is beyond me. But keep on drinking cool aid, I have sworn it off until the Cardinals actually win consistantly.....I may never get to taste it again....hope I am wrong.

 

[Duckjake]

If anything, we are exactly the same, because we didn't have a starting-caliber LT or OLB last year either.

The Shark

We also didn't have a starting caliber C,RG,LG,RT,QB,FG kicker,DT,FS or CB and one of our DEs hasn't played a full season the last two years.

Our only hope is that Leinart, who wasn't a starting caliber QB last year because almost no rookie is in the NFL, will become one with the experience he gained last season and that the Cards do finally get some starting caliber players in the draft.

Leinart can help improve things tremendously by simply not fumbling the ball in the 4th quarter when our opponents have just gift wrapped a huge win for us.