It Really Is This Bad: Projected Starters 2023

[kerouac9]

Contract signing is way different than feeling like you don't need to practice with the team.

Dennis "selected by the prior regime" Gardeck

Yeah but Gardeck is being promoted by the current regime, at least on the marketing and media side. That doesn't happen if you're on your way out the door.

These players can get waivers from the teams so they can practice if they want to. Ojulari claimed an unknown injury.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Yeah but Gardeck is being promoted by the current regime, at least on the marketing and media side. That doesn't happen if you're on your way out the door.

These players can get waivers from the teams so they can practice if they want to. Ojulari claimed an unknown injury.

I'm not saying Gardeck should be cut. I think he is a fine backup. I just don't think he is a starter. I would rather see one of the younger guy with a higher ceiling getting starting reps.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Contract signing is way different than feeling like you don't need to practice with the team.

Dennis "selected by the prior regime" Gardeck

So much this. With the new CBA, early 2nd round picks have been the hardest to sign as there are variables like signing bonuses in play. With the player just above BJ signed, we would expect BJ to be signed soon. If he isn't signed within the next 10 days or so, I'll come back around and agree with you.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm not saying Gardeck should be cut. I think he is a fine backup. I just don't think he is a starter. I would rather see one of the younger guy with a higher ceiling getting starting reps.

I don't think that with this edge group being the starter will matter much. I project Gardeck as a starter because he's senior and has more experience than anyone else. I'd be surprised to see any one player having +80% of the snaps this year.

I think that all of our guys are backups.

 

[Chopper0080]

AFAIK Ojulari hasn't participated in the offseason program at all from a combination of contract situation (which shouldn't matter) and injury.

People complaining about DHop not practicing is fine with handing Ojulari getting handed a starting job because of draft status alone?

Seventh-round draft pick Marquis Hayes, selected by the prior regime, over a guy who's started three dozen NFL games? Who was a priority free agency by all indications? Okay.

Daley is absolutely the odds on favorite to be the starting LG heading into camp.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't think that with this edge group being the starter will matter much. I project Gardeck as a starter because he's senior and has more experience than anyone else. I'd be surprised to see any one player having +80% of the snaps this year.

I think that all of our guys are backups.

You mean this year, or long term? Do you not think that BJ can turn into the starter?

 

[kerouac9]

You mean this year, or long term? Do you not think that BJ can turn into the starter?

I think the ceiling for all of them except maybe Cam Thomas are high-level rotational players. Including Ojulari.

Generally edge prospects come out of college with productivity driven by exceptional athleticism at that level that then gets elevated in the NFL by focusing and refining technique. The book on BJ is that he has extremely refined technique coming in, which makes me wonder where can he significantly improve?

Someone has to start, but if I'm a GM I'd rather have six guys who I think can get you 6-10 sacks per year and pay them around the league minimum and collect comp picks if they leave than one guy who can get 12-16 sacks every year but you have to pay $30 million. I'm just not sure that we have a group of guys who can get 6-8 sacks with 40-60% of the snaps (especially when I don't anticipate anyone having more than 8 sacks from this group).

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think the ceiling for all of them except maybe Cam Thomas are high-level rotational players. Including Ojulari.

Generally edge prospects come out of college with productivity driven by exceptional athleticism at that level that then gets elevated in the NFL by focusing and refining technique. The book on BJ is that he has extremely refined technique coming in, which makes me wonder where can he significantly improve?

Someone has to start, but if I'm a GM I'd rather have six guys who I think can get you 6-10 sacks per year and pay them around the league minimum and collect comp picks if they leave than one guy who can get 12-16 sacks every year but you have to pay $30 million. I'm just not sure that we have a group of guys who can get 6-8 sacks with 40-60% of the snaps (especially when I don't anticipate anyone having more than 8 sacks from this group).

I hope you're wrong. LOL

 

[Chopper0080]

I feel like Ojulari was more in the Golden level range of talent and projected production. Now, Shaq Barrett and Alex Highsmith can happen for sure, but I am not banking on it. Probably the most interesting thing about this season will be which fringe starter vets will be bale to hold onto their jobs and for how long.

 

[cardncubfan]

Bob McManaman has the starting defense listed as such.

DE - LJ Collier
NT - Rashard Lawrence

OLB - Cam Thomas
ILB - Kyzir White
ILB - Krys Barnes
OLB - Zaven Collins

CB - Marco Wilson
CB - Antonio Hamilton

Safety - Isaiah Simmons
Safety - Budda Baker
Safety - Jalen Thompson

 

[Chopper0080]

Bob McManaman has the starting defense listed as such.

DE - LJ Collier
NT - Rashard Lawrence

OLB - Cam Thomas
ILB - Kyzir White
ILB - Krys Barnes
OLB - Zaven Collins

CB - Marco Wilson
CB - Antonio Hamilton

Safety - Isaiah Simmons
Safety - Budda Baker
Safety - Jalen Thompson

The old 2-4 defense. What could go wrong?

 

[kerouac9]

The old 2-4 defense. What could go wrong?

If you don't even have 2 good defensive linemen, you don't have to play more.

 

[Chopper0080]

If you don't even have 2 good defensive linemen, you don't have to play more.

Yeah...I have no idea what this is going to look like. I will say I am more hopeful regarding Rallis than Petzing.

 

[Proximo]

This team is going to go down as one of the worst ever.

They are probably going to be bad but one of the worst ever? Ridiculous.

Just the combination of Murray with Hollywood, Ertz, and Rondale Moore will keep them from being awful on offense.

 

[kerouac9]

They are probably going to be bad but one of the worst ever? Ridiculous.

Just the combination of Murray with Hollywood, Ertz, and Rondale Moore will keep them from being awful on offense.

This is legit hilarious. Also, Ertz is 33 and coming off a severe knee injury.

IMO, Hollywood, Conner, and the OL put a floor on the offense above absolute Rosen-level futility, but this is still a unit that anonymously stuggles in the bottom third of the league.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm just going to enjoy my Sundays. Good food, good drink and the Cardinals on my TV. That's really where I'm at this year. Not going to get too mad over losses like in the past because expectations are as low as I can ever remember in my 46 years of fandom.

Yeah I’ll actually be in rooting for draft position mode this year. But I’d like to see an absence of stupidity and some growth by young players.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm confident a bunch of those players don't start.

First I don't expect Kyler is going to miss as many games as we though. So while McCoy may start a few it won't be a lot.

I expect the O line to be

Hump, Hayes, Froholdt, Hernandez Johnson.

Daley wouldn't he be top 3 for LG. I'd expect Jones, Gaines and Wilkinson to get looks at LG over Daley. But I think Hayes will win the job due to his age, contract status and ultimately I think he's the best player in that group. He's a big long armed unit I think will suit their game.

McBride and Ertz are obvious. Conner and a rotation at RB too.

At WR I don't expect anyone to play more than 70% of snap except Brown. Not sure there will be a starter as such, more a rotation. I think Wilson might ultimately play the most as it makes sense to blood him in a down year.

On defense, no way Gardeck is starting and no way Thomas plays inside.

I expect the 3 are likely to be Lawrence, Watkins and Fotu.

Edge is hard to pin down but I expect Ojulari will start. I don't see this staff holding back top 50 picks. I think Sanders may win the other side, but I think there will be a lot of situation rotation as that's what the Eagles did. Horses for courses.

At CB there's a lot up in the air. I'd expect Wilson and Fenton to start outside. And Clark to start in the slot. But Matthew might also come on in year 2 and I'd expect Garrett Williams to take a job when healthy.

I don't think Simmons starts.

I still think Collins will mainly play ILB with White and the OTA stuff was just working on some things for how they plan to move him around a little.


I don't think we will be "one of the worst teams ever". It depends when Kyler comes back but those teams generally have bad QB's and bad coaches. There are more factors in play than how a roster looks on paper. The 2008 team was the 21st ranked pre season team.

But it likely won't be great. New coach. Hobbled QB etc.

Interesting that you don’t expect cam Thomas to start. I think he might be our most talented front 7 guy now.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Interesting that you don’t expect cam Thomas to start. I think he might be our most talented front 7 guy now.

Yeah I really think Cam is a starter this year. I see him being used as a DE like the Eagles used Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham.

 

[MadCardDisease]

So the defense is still kind of a mystery but here is my guess as to what it may look like:

EDGE - Cameron Thomas
DL - Rashard Lawrence
NT - Leki Fotu
DL - Carlos Watkins
EDGE - Zaven Collins
LB - Kyzir White
CB - Marco Wilson
CB - Antonio Hamilton
DB - Isiah Simmons
S - Budda Baker
S - Jalen Thompson

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The old 2-4 defense. What could go wrong?

I’d say it’s more a 3-4. Essentially Thomas is the third dlinemen and they’re just moving Simmons back. But same personnel as we’d have if we went 3-4.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

They are probably going to be bad but one of the worst ever? Ridiculous.

Just the combination of Murray with Hollywood, Ertz, and Rondale Moore will keep them from being awful on offense.

How many games do you think the cards get with all 4 of those guys on the field at the same time?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Yeah I’ll actually be in rooting for draft position mode this year. But I’d like to see an absence of stupidity and some growth by young players.

I can see that. It will be weird debate and fun to watch and see which path for the Cards could get them out of the dredges the quickest. (Assuming both ours and Houston picks are top 5)

1. Draft Marvin Harrison Jr and the other best player non QB that you want, pair them with Kyler and go. (maybe even getting some real draft capital by trading one of the picks if both picks are top 3)
2. Draft Caleb/Maye and Marvin if both picks are top 3.
3. Draft Caleb/Maye, possibly miss out on Marvin (unless both of the picks are top 3) and draft the other best player available.

There's some real debate to any of them.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

How many games do you think the cards get with all 4 of those guys on the field at the same time?

I'd set the line at 1.5.

 

[Chopper0080]

- It's really hard to envision what Rondale Moore's role in the offense will be. You'd prefer to kick Pascal or Brown inside in 3WR sets to bring Wilson on the field. I know @Chopper0080 feels like he's going to be a running back in this offense, and that's his closest path to playing time.

I know people think I am a bit delusional on this but you highlight that it is tough to see what Moore's role in this offense is as a WR. Much easier to see him splitting pass-down RB reps with Conner (ala Michael Carter) instead of someone like Clement/Ty'Son or other guy whose name I can't remember. It is not a large role but at least it is a role.

 

[kerouac9]

I know people think I am a bit delusional on this but you highlight that it is tough to see what Moore's role in this offense is as a WR. Much easier to see him splitting pass-down RB reps with Conner (ala Michael Carter) instead of someone like Clement/Ty'Son or other guy whose name I can't remember. It is not a large role but at least it is a role.

The challenge is that Conner is also a good receiver out of the backfield. One assumes the Cards won't see a lot of 3rd-and-short situations where you need a legitimate running threat in the backfield.

Petzing is gonna have to dust off his old Vikings-Dalvin Cook playbook. The 2022 Cleveland Browns targeted running backs just 88 times.