If the Cardinals go Lane Johnson

[dreamcastrocks]

This team has won ten games exactly once in the last forty years. But you decide to pick 2013 to say year, " hey, if we catch a couple of breaks, we might get to double digits in the win column"?

Hmmmmm.

Here's what got us nine wins in 2008:

1. Our QB throwing the occasional perfect game.
2. Two HOF wide receivers on the roster, playing most of the year.
3. A respectable, capable offensive line.
4. Credible running back play.
5. Very good, perhaps even great, offensive play calling.
6. A slightly above average, opportunistic defense.
7. Playing in a down NFC West

I could be wrong, but we'll be lucky to cobble together three or four of the above elements for 2013

I get that you said ten wins with tongue in cheek, but at the same time, I would caution you (and everyone else) not to get your hopes up this year. Ten wins went out the window with that tough-ass schedule we drew.

We'll be more competitive than last year though. We'll at least be watchable (if that's any consolation).

:imwithstupid:

If I squint hard, I can see 6 wins from this team as constructed, not 10.

 

[kerouac9]

:imwithstupid:

If I squint hard, I can see 6 wins from this team as constructed, not 10.

So, your POV is that the move from Kolb/Skelton/Lindley/Hoyer to Carson Palmer is the equivalent of...


...1 win?

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Getting hung up on one specific player probably isn't particularly good for your digestive system. It's time to put away our favorite son banners, set up and trust the Cardinal board and hopefully be happy with and support whatever Keim's decision turns out to be.

Otherwise this draft IMO will set most of us up for disappointment.

Those of us crossing our fingers that Fisher will fall to us are likely to hang our heads if he 's gone by #7. Same thing could very well happen with Warmack, Jordan or even Johnson.

I'll be happy if we draft any of the five offensive linemen or Jordan. All we need is for one of these 6 guys to fall to us to achieve this goal. (I know I'll be pulling for Milliner, Geno, Floyd &/or Lotuleilei to be picked before us). And if it doesn't happen, I could live with the 2 DT's or Milliner as my pick at #7.

The only player that would make me throw up in my mouth a little

would be Ziggy " I am 32 hehe" Ansah " He is raw and Scott Pioli

claims he has no instincts

 

[Chopper0080]

Johnson was a second round prospect... now all of a sudden he's a top 10 pick? He's all hype because of the combine.

Technically, Lane Johnson was considered a 3rd/4th round pick prior to this college season.

He rose in the eyes of scouts because of his level of play this season, specifically games against Texas and Texas A&M where he played vs. top edge rushing talent (Jeffcoat, Okafer, D Moore). At the end of the season he was considered a fringe 1st rounder because of his LACK of game film.

Once he dominated this offseason, he showed he had the most athleticism of any top OT in this draft. Remember the draft is a mix between production vs. potential. Lane Johnson is considered the 3rd best OT in this draft because of a lack of production, but he is the 3rd best OT in this draft because despite this, he has great film and elite athleticism.

That is Lane Johnson. For those who are against taking him, that is fine, but please do not then talk up Eric Fisher, Ezekiel Ansah, and Dion Jordan who all come with a lack of experience at their respective positions and will be drafted on their potential more than their actual production. All three were also late risers in the draft process and have as many question marks as Lane Johnson does.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I think if the Jags pass on Jordan and take Fisher the Eagles take Lane

Johnson and we either take Jordan or trade down. I think he is a Jason

Taylor clone

 

[GuernseyCard]

I think if the Jags pass on Jordan and take Fisher the Eagles take Lane

Johnson and we either take Jordan or trade down. I think he is a Jason

Taylor clone

Watch the NFL Network much?

 

[crisper57]

Doesn't matter if your third best at your position if the top two might go 1 & 2.

3rd best is prob. better than a bunch of 1st bests in other positions. Has no bearing on this draft other than they def. need at least one OL.

Yep. Johnson is light years ahead of the next guy behind him, but the top two LT's aren't that much better than him. That's what we need to keep in mind. The dropoff is huge. It's the difference between an instant starter and a project.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think if the Jags pass on Jordan and take Fisher the Eagles take Lane

Johnson and we either take Jordan or trade down. I think he is a Jason

Taylor clone

I would laugh if the Jags drafted an OT at #2. What a stupid move IMO. They are either admitting they won't be able to re-sign Eugene Monroe, or are taking one of the easiest positons to fill, RT, with the #2 pick.

I could be wrong, but I just can't see another option for the Jags at #2 other than Dion Jordan.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Watch the NFL Network much?

Lol I dont even have NFL Network

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I would laugh if the Jags drafted an OT at #2. What a stupid move IMO. They are either admitting they won't be able to re-sign Eugene Monroe, or are taking one of the easiest positons to fill, RT, with the #2 pick.

I could be wrong, but I just can't see another option for the Jags at #2 other than Dion Jordan.

What about Floyd? They may want to keep this Gator in state

 

[Totally_Red]

I would laugh if the Jags drafted an OT at #2. What a stupid move IMO. They are either admitting they won't be able to re-sign Eugene Monroe, or are taking one of the easiest positons to fill, RT, with the #2 pick.

I could be wrong, but I just can't see another option for the Jags at #2 other than Dion Jordan.

I agree that would be a clueless selection by Jacksonville.

Speaking of which, USA Today posted an NFL Network video snap of four warrooms. The Vikings, Titans and Chiefs were a beehive of activity. The Jaguars was desolate. The Jags may be the worst franchise in the NFL. Gus Bradley going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/04/the-jaguars-nfl-draft-war-room-is-an-island-of-despair/

 

[Chopper0080]

What about Floyd? They may want to keep this Gator in state

Jacksonville actually has pretty good depth along their defensive line and it is a pretty deep d-line draft.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Warmack

 

[myrondizzo]

A QB and OT.... Great Value

 

[Totally_Red]

A QB and OT.... Great Value

Quarterback, Tight End, Defensive End, Right Offensive Tackle and Left Offensive Tackle! What's not to like?

Reminds me of the utility baseball player who played all nine positions, one per inning, in a meaningless game many years ago. Good stuff!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So, your POV is that the move from Kolb/Skelton/Lindley/Hoyer to Carson Palmer is the equivalent of...


...1 win?

When you factor in how much of our defense we lost last year, and the 4-0 start kinda skewed our win total. Yep.

 

[kerouac9]

When you factor in how much of our defense we lost last year, and the 4-0 start kinda skewed our win total. Yep.

How did "the 4-0 start kinda skew our win total"? Did we not win those four games? Of course we did. How/why did we win them? Because we had average quarterback play! Once the performance of the guy under center went into the crapper, so did the performance of the team in the W/L column.

IMHO, average performance at QB would have garnered us 3-4 more wins than we got last year. Even if the defense takes two steps back (which is an opinion I share with you), average quarterback play will more than make up for that.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

How did "the 4-0 start kinda skew our win total"? Did we not win those four games? Of course we did. How/why did we win them? Because we had average quarterback play! Once the performance of the guy under center went into the crapper, so did the performance of the team in the W/L column.

IMHO, average performance at QB would have garnered us 3-4 more wins than we got last year. Even if the defense takes two steps back (which is an opinion I share with you), average quarterback play will more than make up for that.

We are a lot closer to a team that will win 1 out of their next 11 than win 4 a row. I see this team struggling to get any wins within our division or more than 2 wins on the road.

 

[Mulli]

How did "the 4-0 start kinda skew our win total"? Did we not win those four games? Of course we did. How/why did we win them? Because we had average quarterback play! Once the performance of the guy under center went into the crapper, so did the performance of the team in the W/L column.

IMHO, average performance at QB would have garnered us 3-4 more wins than we got last year. Even if the defense takes two steps back (which is an opinion I share with you), average quarterback play will more than make up for that.

Replacement refs...

 

[kerouac9]

We are a lot closer to a team that will win 1 out of their next 11 than win 4 a row. I see this team struggling to get any wins within our division or more than 2 wins on the road.

I dunno. Here's the plusses that I see right now for the 2013 Arizona Cardinals
+ Levi Brown is much better than D'Anthony Batiste
+ Carson Palmer is much, much better than Kolb/Skelton/Lindley/Hoyer
+ Season 2 Bobby Massie is much better than Game 1 Bobby Massie
+ Rashard Mendenhall is more consistently productive than Beanie Wells

I don't think those are based on hopes and dreams, the way, say, expecting Michael Floyd to be an 80-reception, 900-yard guy might be (and we'll hear those predictions soon enough). I think those are reasonable assumptions.

It's worth mentioning in its own paragraph that I don't think you can look at the offense and say that it's worse anywhere across the board (and I say this as a huge Early Doucet fan--he'll be in some team's camp and maybe make a roster in 2013).

I expect the defense to take two steps back, but there's a long way for the D to fall. Patrick Peterson is one of the 8 best corners in the NFL, to start with. The non-schematic downgrades that I see on the defensive side of the ball are:
- Rashard Johnson is much, much worse than Kerry Rhodes
- Yeremiah Bell is much, much worse than Adrian Wilson
- Lorenzo Alexander is worse than Quentin Groves

I expect help to come in the draft at OLB and Safety, slightly decreasing the loss of Wilson or Rhodes.

Are we closer to the team that lost 11 of their final 12 games? Really? Because of a defensive coordinator? I don't see it.

The legit argument is that our schedule is harder this year than it was last year, but we had one of the 3 or 4 most difficult schedules in the NFL last year. We were competitive with the Jets and Falcons on the road last year.

The division is good, but St. Louis isn't a juggernaut. They lost their best offensive player to the Falcons. Only 6 of our 16 games are in-division, and 4 of the remaining 10 are against a very suspect AFC West.