How attractive is the Cards job vs the other openings?

[TRW]

No QB is valid.

O-Line? I disagree here. It's not great, but with a healthy Humphries, Boone/Iupati, and Veldheer, we're solid enough. Operative words "when healthy" not a high percentage bet on that happening.

TE: Ricky Seals-Jones has potential and frankly Arians just didn't use his TE much at all. Potential? Maybe. Other than that, nothing.

WR: WRs can be found quickly. Why haven't they found them then?

CB: Again, can be fixed with the right draft pick or signing. Again, why haven't they?

LB: Two top pass rushers at OLB. Not terrible - better than most teams have it. We do need to work at ILB. Still a weak group IMO.

AARP - we should have like 6 draft picks in the top four rounds. That's a quick infusion of young talent. Probably make them the 2nd oldest team in the league

I appreciate your responses and agree that improvements COULD be made but I have lost a bit of confidence that Keim knows what the heck he's doing. He has really maneuvered this team into the gutter fairly quickly at that. He better get this draft and off season right or MB should find someone who can do the job.

I was mostly responding to how attractive AZ really is compared to the other job openings. I think that we, as fans, probably make it out to be better than it is, as it currently stands. The roster is a mess at some very key positions for the "in demand" guy to chance it if there are preferable options and there obviously are. But the "in demand" guys don't seem that attractive to me anyway.

Thanks again Solar for your responses and your reasonable tone in making them.

 

[Solar7]

The Positives:

1. Excellent President/CEO in Michael Bidwill.
2. Past two hires have taken the Cardinals to 2 NFC Championships and 1 Super Bowl.
3. Rabid fan base.
4. Attractive warm weather locale.
5. First rate facilities.
6. Talented defense.
7. A potential chance to coach a first ballot HOF WR #11.
8. A chance to pick your own QBs.
9. A diligent and humble GM in Steve Keim who will try to get you the players you want.
10. A salary cap pro in Mike Disner.

Yes, all of this. An extra bonus in that you're walking into a team with few character issues or internal locker room issues. Very few headcases on the team too, unlike, say, the Giants.

 

[JeffGollin]

It's hard to say. Personnel wise, we have some real nice pieces, but also some big glaring holes. Still it's hard to find a top CB and pass rusher. David Johnson and All Day in the backfield isn't too shabby as well. But no QB on roster, crap line, and we need a #1 and #2 receiver, possibly a #3 if Fitz retires.

So its important to realize that guys that sign first doesn't mean we're a bad choice or lower ranked. The Cards could of gone out there and signed any coach with a pulse, that doesn't mean we're desirable. This isn't the year to judge that question really.

We're assuming every franchise was trying to sign a guy immediately. Some were, we weren't.

Maybe we could of gotten some of these other coaches if we made offers right away. Just because guys choose elsewhere, doesn't mean they wouldn't want us more if we offered. But if one team is offering the job and the other isn't, bird in the hand. In other cases, you have ties to people on other teams. Go with someone you know, or someone new?

I don't see Munchak declining as a sign of us not being desirable. I see it as he is going to get promoted 1 or 2 notches in a familiar situation he likes.

Meanwhile those teams that do move quickly, miss out on late openings (like if Tomlin is fired, or any of the assistants on teams still in playoffs).

It also may mean they didn't do their due diligence, which could come back and bite them in the butt.

5 years from now there will be a few guys who are position coaches or coordinators who are the young up and coming star coaches. It could turn out that one or all of these guys, DeFilippo, Wilks, or Flores might turn out better in the long run then a Shurmur, Schwartz, Munchak, McDaniels.

It's all a crapshoot, and the Cardinals need to follow their plan, otherwise they are flying blind, and not much good usually comes of that. If you sabotage your own process to be quick, an even darker path might unfold.

It may be frustrating to see other teams scooping coaches up, but for better or worse, rushing our process or ditching it would be the worst thing for us to do. We did start the process very quickly and had what about 7-8 interview requests about 24-48 hours after Arians retired?

We just need to follow through and get the best coach by the metrics we've been creating to judge them this century.

+1

 

[Mitch]

Yes, all of this. An extra bonus in that you're walking into a team with few character issues or internal locker room issues. Very few headcases on the team too, unlike, say, the Giants.

Excellent point.

 

[Mainstreet]

sadly...

I think Palmer retiring makes Arizona a better destination. The new coach will get to pick his guy and build his offense in Az..

Lack of a QB buys a coach a couple extra years in the long haul... nobody will expect playoffs with no QB and even a rookie will be given time to develop...makes us a safer destination.

The Raiders for example, with the players they have in position...expect to win right now...expect an afcWest title right now,...expect playoffs right now,...anybody coaching the Cardinals will have more time to produce a winner regardless of how much we will all bitch

I tend to agree, the right coach for the Cardinals should look at this as an opportunity. The Cardinals should want an aggressive coach who sees this as an opportunity to build his own team.

IMO, the Cardinals should be looking for a hungry head coach candidate who is willing to put in the time and effort to get the job done. Allowing the new coach to pick his QB should be an enticement as well as good ownership, a great stadium and living in the valley.

 

[Solar7]

I appreciate your responses and agree that improvements COULD be made but I have lost a bit of confidence that Keim knows what the heck he's doing. He has really maneuvered this team into the gutter fairly quickly at that. He better get this draft and off season right or MB should find someone who can do the job.

I was mostly responding to how attractive AZ really is compared to the other job openings. I think that we, as fans, probably make it out to be better than it is, as it currently stands. The roster is a mess at some very key positions for the "in demand" guy to chance it if there are preferable options and there obviously are. But the "in demand" guys don't seem that attractive to me anyway.

Thanks again Solar for your responses and your reasonable tone in making them.

Yeah, no problem. Just a couple of followups:

WR: We have a ton of expiring contracts this year. In all honesty, it looked like we had a real stud in John Brown and he just petered out. JJ Nelson is kind of the same thing. Let's not pretend we weren't super happy with our WR room two years ago, but unfortunate circumstances knocked out two of those key players. (Floyd and Brown.)

CB: Marcus Peters and Tramon Williams played decently for us. Some misfires here though, that the team is to blame for.

AARP: We had 8 starters over 30 last year and only maybe 2-3 of them project to be back. We'll be a lot younger in 2018.

 

[gimpy]

Well, I guess/am glad that I have a different outlook than you do. I sure don't see this team in the gutter.

 

[oaken1]

Yes, all of this. An extra bonus in that you're walking into a team with few character issues or internal locker room issues. Very few headcases on the team too, unlike, say, the Giants.

expectations may play in to it as well.

we have been a .500 team the last couple years but the prevailing thought is,...that barring injuries and some special teams gaffs,...this is a playoff team as it sits.

if well coached I would agree. But not every player blends with every coach...and whoever takes this job will be expected to produce a playoff run rather quickly.

we rolled out drew stanton and blaine gabbert and stayed competitive...without the best RB in the league on the field.

This job comes with very high expectations...considering the lack of QB and WR's that may scare some of the candidates

generally, a team like the gints would have high expectations as well...but a coach going there can post 5 wins and be considered an improvement...any coach coming here needs to be at least 8-8 in his first season.

 

[Chopper0080]

We are at the bottom in terms of how we are viewed. It has been that way from day 1. If you are a defensive candidate, then we are easily the worst. They don't want their progress on defense dependent on a NFL OC who, if successful, will leave in a year. That is why we are no where close on Matt Patricia.

McDaniels saw what happens when you don't have a QB when he was in Denver. We are nowhere near his radar.

Shurmur is still up in the air IMO, but comparing no QBs to Eli and the #2 pick, Eli and the #2 pick get the nod. Especially when ownership is a wash.

Where we are is selecting from the leftovers. Rolling the dice on a guy with limited to zero experience at the job and who is a prove-it projection at best. We just have to find the needle in the hay stack.

 

[TRW]

Yeah, no problem. Just a couple of followups:

WR: We have a ton of expiring contracts this year. In all honesty, it looked like we had a real stud in John Brown and he just petered out. JJ Nelson is kind of the same thing. Let's not pretend we weren't super happy with our WR room two years ago, but unfortunate circumstances knocked out two of those key players. (Floyd and Brown.)

CB: Marcus Peters and Tramon Williams played decently for us. Some misfires here though, that the team is to blame for.

AARP: We had 8 starters over 30 last year and only maybe 2-3 of them project to be back. We'll be a lot younger in 2018.

I hope you are right, that the “fix” is that easy. I am not so sure.

 

[Solar7]

I hope you are right, that the “fix” is that easy. I am not so sure.

I don't know that we're suddenly "fixed," but it's a step in the right direction.

And I think we'll at least be a better team than the Seahawks next year.

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't know that we're suddenly "fixed," but it's a step in the right direction.

And I think we'll at least be a better team than the Seahawks next year.

Not unless some miraculous happens with our QB situation we aren't.

 

[WisconsinCard]

The Positives:

1. Excellent President/CEO in Michael Bidwill.
2. Past two hires have taken the Cardinals to 2 NFC Championships and 1 Super Bowl.
3. Rabid fan base.
4. Attractive warm weather locale.
5. First rate facilities.
6. Talented defense.
7. A potential chance to coach a first ballot HOF WR #11.
8. A chance to pick your own QBs.
9. A diligent and humble GM in Steve Keim who will try to get you the players you want.
10. A salary cap pro in Mike Disner.

I don't get that from him, he plays the role well. I have been around him and introduced to him on three occasions, not once has he taken the time to acknowledge me. The last time I met him I didn't even look his way. I would not give him the honor of speaking to me as it is now.

 

[GatorAZ]

Hoping for a out-of-the-blue college coach or someone from TV. These current candidates suck ass.

 

[Jasper]

Out of 7 job openings we’re about 6th or 7th choice it seems.

 

[unseenaz]

Hoping for a out-of-the-blue college coach or someone from TV. These current candidates suck ass.

Maybe ASU will admit their Herm mistake and let the Cards have him

 

[Mitch]

I don't get that from him, he plays the role well. I have been around him and introduced to him on three occasions, not once has he taken the time to acknowledge me. The last time I met him I didn't even look his way. I would not give him the honor of speaking to me as it is now.

Wow, that's classless of Keim. I would have thought the opposite. In his interviews he is always talking about learning from his mistakes, which I found refreshing in juxtaposition with BA's constant finger pointing at the players.

Thank you for sharing this. What a freaking irony---Keim's always talking about "what's fair to the fans" and yet when introduced to a great fan like you he acts like you don't even exist. F him.

 

[Southpaw]

I don't get that from him, he plays the role well. I have been around him and introduced to him on three occasions, not once has he taken the time to acknowledge me. The last time I met him I didn't even look his way. I would not give him the honor of speaking to me as it is now.

Maybe you were blocking his path to the desert table in the buffet line.

 

[overseascardfan]

Obviously there are HUGE question marks with the offense, so an offensive coach may be apprehensive unless he thinks Keim will get him the guys he wants for his system. There are immediate help options at QB available: Taylor, Smith, MIN QBs. The issue is the OL and how to go about fixing it. Do you cut / restructure Iupati & Veldheer? Who replaces them? Gambo mentioned they can save money by going with Holden at RT but it will cost us a QB when Holden gets him killed because he is more of a depth guy than starting material IMO. Draft & FA need to be used to fix this OL.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Wow, that's classless of Keim. I would have thought the opposite. In his interviews he is always talking about learning from his mistakes, which I found refreshing in juxtaposition with BA's constant finger pointing at the players.

Thank you for sharing this. What a freaking irony---Keim's always talking about "what's fair to the fans" and yet when introduced to a great fan like you he acts like you don't even exist. F him.

The only thing I will say the last time Bucky was talking to him before that so maybe he had had enough...

And yes this is a dig at Buckybird.

He has always acted very arrogant to me, but Michael sat and talked with my wife and I like we were old friends, and said he was very impressed in the fact that we live in Wisconsin and still follow and travel to represent the Cards. Michael even introduced us to Ron Minegar the COO and EVP of the Cards because he is from Wi. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'm from AZ and only now reside in WI, but hey it's all good.

PS and for the record Mad Jack wasn't hitting on Nicole Bidwill either...

 

[Chopper0080]

Out of 7 job openings we’re about 6th or 7th choice it seems.

This is true. But that also doesn't mean that we can't get a good coach. We just have to look harder. That is why for me, Flores, Wilks and DeFilippo are all about the same guy.

 

[Arz101]

If I understand correctly.

Card need a better GM
More cap space
High Draft picks
Established QB

If we had all of those, why do cards need a new head coach?

 

[Chopper0080]

If I understand correctly.

Card need a better GM
More cap space
High Draft picks
Established QB

If we had all of those, why do cards need a new head coach?

We have a league average GM.

We have average cap space.

We have a mid range draft pick.

We don't have a single QB under contract.

That is the situation in a nutshell.

 

[TRW]

Is there any other team with NO QB under contract? Of course with Stanton and Gabbert they pretty much would have anyway

Guess Minnesota will once their season is done. That's as close as I can think of.

 

[Chopper0080]

Is there any other team with NO QB under contract? Of course with Stanton and Gabbert they pretty much would have anyway

Guess Minnesota will once their season is done. That's as close as I can think of.

Just Minnesota and us as far as I know.