Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
No I’m not talking about trying to win with Stanton. This season is already a disaster so there’s nothing impending about this season. The impending disaster refers to trying to fix this roster in one offseason.
Let’s start with what can’t be changed regardless of player evaluation. These are the contracts that are so bad or so recent cutting these players would devastate the salary cap. So even if you wanted to cut a guy like Gresham (and boy do I) the contract is so toxic the Cards can’t cut him without hurting their rebuild efforts. This contract still astonishes me. I remember slamming it at the time though several on the board actually defended it. I can’t allow myself to believe SK is that bad a judge of talent so I presume this was to appease Palmer. Ironic that next year he’ll likely be gone but the Cards are stuck with Gresham. Other non-cuttable contracts include TM, Nkemdiche, Jones (I know no one would cut him)and Chad Williams who would cost a small amount. The other recent signees with non-cuttable contracts are Reddick and Baker.
Everyone else has to earn their keep. What scares me most is the total number of positions underperforming or heading for free agency. Starting at the back of the defense. Branch would likely stay but he’d want at least the $2 million he’s making this year. This brings us to the TM/Baker conundrum. I was confused by his selection. Since you can’t cut TM, where does Baker play? He’s too light to replace Branch and though a willing tackler he’d wear down quickly playing regularly in the box. He’s also shorter & lighter than Bethea. The Cards would save $2 mil if you think he can replace Bethea. He likely would have an adjustment period to being the last line of defense. The Cards have several now meaningless games to try out Baker if they want to know what they’ve got.
Looking next at the CBs, beyond Peterson does anyone get you excited? Assuming Bethel is old news and T Williams is too old, what’s left? Does anyone think B Williams is still a developing CB? Make that 3 more to be acquired unless you think Ford is one of them. Ironically the only one of the dead weight CBs under contract is B Williams. At least they’ll gain 150K cap space when he’s cut.
Moving to linebacker. Dansby’s contract is up and he won’t be re-signed. Buc’s contract for 2018 could be and should be cut, adding nearly $9 mil of cap space. At his size I think Reddick is better suited to the $LB spot, but that position may not even exist if Bettcher is gone. Reddick seems better suited to some sort of outside LB position. I can’t believe he holds up inside unless he bulks up. Martin is a serviceable spot player. Markus Golden is big enough to play inside. I know others have a higher opinion of his rush capabilities, I’d rather see him inside. I would at least want to experiment with him. Wright & Bynes are the 2 designated remaining LBs. Neither is an impact player, so if the names change there will likely be marginal impact.
Turning to the line I guess we can all hope Nkemdiche becomes more of an impact player. Just being routinely available would be a good start. I won’t waste time on I told you so, but the idea he can replace CC should now be set aside. If the above change wasn’t enough consider this. For the 2018 season the only other signed defensive linemen are Mauro and Gunter. I don’t know about the Cards impression but while Mauro was a good standout last year, his play has been mediocre in my opinion this season. This year he’s the highest paid member of that line beside Nkemdiche. The rest of the line is made up of SK’s acquired castoffs. It’s amazing they held up this long. They can likely thank the departed Mr. Campbell for that. Some of them can be re-signed, but none of them brings Campbell’s presence or leadership. That is what SK must find if he wants to fix this line. Until they get that leader, either by word or example, that line doesn’t get better. This franchise has always undervalued leadership.
It’s possible if there is a major coaching change this relatively clean slate could allow the new DC to select his own unit. Still if I’m right without even performance based changes the Cards need 2 safeties (1 just a backup), 3 CBs, 2-3 LBs and at least 3 DLs. If your thinking that’s most of the defense, you’re right. Scared yet?
Just for the fun of it you’d better add in a place kicker which will add 2.5 mil to the working capital.
I’ll look at the offense next, but I must add this is the largest rebuild I’ve ever seen.
Let’s start with what can’t be changed regardless of player evaluation. These are the contracts that are so bad or so recent cutting these players would devastate the salary cap. So even if you wanted to cut a guy like Gresham (and boy do I) the contract is so toxic the Cards can’t cut him without hurting their rebuild efforts. This contract still astonishes me. I remember slamming it at the time though several on the board actually defended it. I can’t allow myself to believe SK is that bad a judge of talent so I presume this was to appease Palmer. Ironic that next year he’ll likely be gone but the Cards are stuck with Gresham. Other non-cuttable contracts include TM, Nkemdiche, Jones (I know no one would cut him)and Chad Williams who would cost a small amount. The other recent signees with non-cuttable contracts are Reddick and Baker.
Everyone else has to earn their keep. What scares me most is the total number of positions underperforming or heading for free agency. Starting at the back of the defense. Branch would likely stay but he’d want at least the $2 million he’s making this year. This brings us to the TM/Baker conundrum. I was confused by his selection. Since you can’t cut TM, where does Baker play? He’s too light to replace Branch and though a willing tackler he’d wear down quickly playing regularly in the box. He’s also shorter & lighter than Bethea. The Cards would save $2 mil if you think he can replace Bethea. He likely would have an adjustment period to being the last line of defense. The Cards have several now meaningless games to try out Baker if they want to know what they’ve got.
Looking next at the CBs, beyond Peterson does anyone get you excited? Assuming Bethel is old news and T Williams is too old, what’s left? Does anyone think B Williams is still a developing CB? Make that 3 more to be acquired unless you think Ford is one of them. Ironically the only one of the dead weight CBs under contract is B Williams. At least they’ll gain 150K cap space when he’s cut.
Moving to linebacker. Dansby’s contract is up and he won’t be re-signed. Buc’s contract for 2018 could be and should be cut, adding nearly $9 mil of cap space. At his size I think Reddick is better suited to the $LB spot, but that position may not even exist if Bettcher is gone. Reddick seems better suited to some sort of outside LB position. I can’t believe he holds up inside unless he bulks up. Martin is a serviceable spot player. Markus Golden is big enough to play inside. I know others have a higher opinion of his rush capabilities, I’d rather see him inside. I would at least want to experiment with him. Wright & Bynes are the 2 designated remaining LBs. Neither is an impact player, so if the names change there will likely be marginal impact.
Turning to the line I guess we can all hope Nkemdiche becomes more of an impact player. Just being routinely available would be a good start. I won’t waste time on I told you so, but the idea he can replace CC should now be set aside. If the above change wasn’t enough consider this. For the 2018 season the only other signed defensive linemen are Mauro and Gunter. I don’t know about the Cards impression but while Mauro was a good standout last year, his play has been mediocre in my opinion this season. This year he’s the highest paid member of that line beside Nkemdiche. The rest of the line is made up of SK’s acquired castoffs. It’s amazing they held up this long. They can likely thank the departed Mr. Campbell for that. Some of them can be re-signed, but none of them brings Campbell’s presence or leadership. That is what SK must find if he wants to fix this line. Until they get that leader, either by word or example, that line doesn’t get better. This franchise has always undervalued leadership.
It’s possible if there is a major coaching change this relatively clean slate could allow the new DC to select his own unit. Still if I’m right without even performance based changes the Cards need 2 safeties (1 just a backup), 3 CBs, 2-3 LBs and at least 3 DLs. If your thinking that’s most of the defense, you’re right. Scared yet?
Just for the fun of it you’d better add in a place kicker which will add 2.5 mil to the working capital.
I’ll look at the offense next, but I must add this is the largest rebuild I’ve ever seen.
