It's Keim Time

[Mitch]

Let this guy do the job.

There are many chefs in the Cardinals' kitchen---

But let this guy call the shots.

He is THE football guy.

Let him hire the HC.

Let him listen to the panel---

But let him make the salary cap decisions---

Let him---with the input from the new HC---pick the QBs---

And let him make the picks in the draft.

Give him 3-4 years and let's see what happens.

I like Keim---I think he's a grass roots, lunch pail kind of guy....

This organization needs leadership and direction.

Yes, it's a team effort and I get that---but, at the end of the day, what we really need is a leader at the top.

We've hired him---he's earned it and paid the dues.

He said, "Arizona is my home."

I believe him through and through.

He pushed for Adrian Wilson and Anquan Boldin.

That's enough right there to satisfy me.

Let him go to work---

Just as he asked the media to let him do...

Loved that!

We have to stop waffling and wasting time---we need an aggressive and committed plan.

Go get us back into NFL relevance...

It's Keim Time---let him call the shots.

 

[Reddog]

Let this guy do the job.

There are many chefs in the Cardinals' kitchen---

But let this guy call the shots.

He is THE football guy.

Let him hire the HC.

Let him listen to the panel---

But let him make the salary cap decisions---

Let him---with the input from the new HC---pick the QBs---

And let him make the picks in the draft.

Give him 3-4 years and let's see what happens.

I like Keim---I think he's a grass roots, lunch pail kind of guy....

This organization needs leadership and direction.

Yes, it's a team effort and I get that---but, at the end of the day, what we really need is a leader at the top.

We've hired him---he's earned it and paid the dues.

He said, "Arizona is my home."

I believe him through and through.

He pushed for Adrian Wilson and Anquan Boldin.

That's enough right there to satisfy me.

Let him go to work---

Just as he asked the media to let him do...

Loved that!

We have to stop waffling and wasting time---we need an aggressive and committed plan.

Go get us back into NFL relevance...

It's Keim Time---let him call the shots.

Should this be read or song to music ala a Les Mis number? It has an anthem feel to it.

 

[ajcardfan]

That's a nice sentiment, but I feel more strongly than ever that Mike Bidwill is now the ultimate shot caller.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That's a nice sentiment, but I feel more strongly than ever that Mike Bidwill is now the ultimate shot caller.

i'm with ya here... and that doesn't make me feel overly confident.

 

[Catfish]

That's a nice sentiment, but I feel more strongly than ever that Mike Bidwill is now the ultimate shot caller.

I somewhat fear that too. In truth, one can't help but feel for him, after what Whiz and Grimm did after he gave Whiz the control. Perhaps he just wants to remain in a position to have the deciding vote should the consensus building process not come up with a solid agreeable conclusion on a given personnel move or football decision. Can't blame him for wanting that say.

Mitch-----I really like your heading of Keim Time. It has a nice ring to it.

 

[WildBB]

Awsome!

 

[WildBB]

That's a nice sentiment, but I feel more strongly than ever that Mike Bidwill is now the ultimate shot caller.

No Keim is. That was Mikes call.

Mike isn't Jerry.

 

[Buckybird]

Mitch, I agree it's Keim time! I think Steve will bring a toughness & hard nose approach that's necessary to get back to compete with the tough & strong willed teams in our division, the Niners & Hawks. IMO if you can't be competitive in own your division in the NFL , you don't stand a chance!!!

My favorite thing he said was he wanted this team to have an "identity"! Keim & Bidwill can take a big step in establishing that identity in hiring Ray Horton by this Friday. Tough, bright new HC; tough, bright new GM. IMO both are what the Cards need to win big in the next 2-3 years.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

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Steve Keim: Cardinals need to be retooled, not rebuilt

Keim, who had been the team’s vice president of player personnel, said that two days stick out for him above any other during his time are the day they won the NFC Championship Game over the Eagles and the day they lost to the Seahawks 58-0 during the 2012 season. Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ website reports that Keim promised himself that he would never let anything like the latter day happen again and now he’s got a job that will allow him to make sure it doesn’t.

“I truly believe this is a retool and not rebuild,” Keim said.

Keim has been involved in the team’s coaching interviews, which will continue with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Thursday. Once they’ve settled on a coach, Keim’s expected to tackle those offensive issues early on in the “retooling” process in the desert

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Two things I liked hearing today:

His talking about winning the NFC Championship.

And his mentioning the butt-kicking in Seattle. That's the guy I want. Someone who was on the field on OUR side and remembers the humiliation of it. He'll have that in his head when he's making choices to BUILD this team.

 

[az jam]

There is a major difference between Keim's management style and Graves.

Graves was an appeaser. Mr Nice Guy, a bridge between the Bidwills and the Head Coach and his staff. Smiling and touting the company line. Watching the bottom line and bringing name players that will sell tickets. A very non-agreessvie approach.

Keim is an ex-football player, an offensive lineman. A blue collar worker. He will argue his point. He wants to win. The most telling thing to me in the press conference was when he said that he never wants to experience a 58 - 0 loss like the Seattle game. That was all I needed to hear.

Michael Bidwill does not want yes men in his organization. He wants guys who want to win. He is not an interfering owner like Jerry Jones. He wants a trifecta management arrangement where key decisions are jointly reached between the GM the HC and him. Keim will need to learn how to sell his recommendations to MB. Winning will make all the difference.

 

[perivolaki]

My favorite thing he said was he wanted this team to have an "identity"! Keim & Bidwill can take a big step in establishing that identity in hiring Ray Horton by this Friday. Tough, bright new HC; tough, bright new GM. IMO both are what the Cards need to win big in the next 2-3 years.

I agree. That impressed me too.

I want this team to have an identity. We have to stand for something.

Are we gonna be Oregon and have speed all over and be flashy or are we gonna be Alabama and come out and hit you in the mouth.

It seems in the last few years we can't make up our mind what we want to do.

At the games half the fans want the team to run it up the gut on 3rd and 1 and the other half wants to go to a spread and throw the ball because we as fans don't even know what this team is trying to be.

I'm sick of it.

Lets figure out what we are going to be.

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree. That impressed me too.

I want this team to have an identity. We have to stand for something.

Are we gonna be Oregon and have speed all over and be flashy or are we gonna be Alabama and come out and hit you in the mouth.

It seems in the last few years we can't make up our mind what we want to do.

At the games half the fans want the team to run it up the gut on 3rd and 1 and the other half wants to go to a spread and throw the ball because we as fans don't even know what this team is trying to be.

I'm sick of it.

Lets figure out what we are going to be.

I think our defense already has a "take no prisoners" personality. We have no personality on offense, but Steve pointed to our being strong at the perimeters but having QB issues and lacking physicality up front - especially in run blocking. Those issues will have to be addressed with the offensive talent we wind up with logically dictating the system we run and the personality we decide to adopt.

The new OC will have to figure out what our system should be and what must be done in the way of developing existing young talent, bringing in new talent, jettisoning non-performing talent and organizing the available talent into a cohesive unit that can work together to execute the system.

In short: Organize better talent to execute the offensive system that works best for us.

 

[THESMEL]

Not my first choice- but i don't have a vote! I think we need fresh eyes- He remains a part of the current problem until He proves otherwise! Talks cheap!

I like that he mentioned the run game and the softness in the Card site press story.

If we stay last in everything rushing- the QB and Oline haven't got a shot!

 

[Catfish]

Thee is a major difference between Keim's management style and Graves.

Graves was an appeaser. Mr Nice Guy, a bridge between the Bidwills and the Head Coach and his staff. Smiling and touting the company line. Watching the bottom line and bringing name players that will sell tickets. A very non-agreessvie approach.

Keim is an ex-football player, an offensive lineman. A blue collar worker. He will argue his point. He wants to win. The most telling thing to me in the press conference was when he said that he never wants to experience a 58 - 0 loss like the Seattle game. That was all I needed to hear.

Michael Bidwill does not want yes men in his organization. He wants guys who want to win. He is not an interfering owner like Jerry Jones. He wants a trifecta management arrangement where key decisions are jointly reached between the GM the HC and him. Keim will need to learn how to sell his recommendations to MB. Winning will make all the difference.

Really nice post AzJam. I know that Michael has complete faith and trust in Keim, because he has promoted him each of the last three years. I believe that Keim is in the right place at the right time to oversee the 're-tooling' of this team. With some clear and consentual agreement on new hires on the Coaching Staff, some cost cutting on dead weight, (or at least overpaid weight), on the roster during free agency, and a solid draft, can fix most, (if not all the roster slots that need fixing). QB will be a problem, but it can get better quickly in my opinion. At least this year, we don't need a HOF'r at QB, just someone to manage the game so that we don't throw it away. That is possible, maybe even probable.

 

[RedViper]

Kind of scary that they went with a guy who has been with the organization for years and years. Like they just can't let go of the idea they have been right all along and now that we have moved out Denny Green and Ken Whisenhunt's regimes this boy genius that the Bidwills (or at least Rod Graves) groomed from jump street will have all the answers. At best its a far fetched notion.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Kind of scary that they went with a guy who has been with the organization for years and years. Like they just can't let go of the idea they have been right all along and now that we have moved out Denny Green and Ken Whisenhunt's regimes this boy genius that the Bidwills (or at least Rod Graves) groomed from jump street will have all the answers. At best its a far fetched notion.

Have you considered the very real possibility that he has learned from a lot of the bad things that has plagued this team for quite some time now? He did say in his press conference that the line needs more toughness and that their run blocking needs to be much more consistent. He also said that he has learned how important it is to bring in at least one QB every year until you have your guy.

The question is whether or not he knows how to fix these issues or if he just knows what the problems are and can't figure out how to make them right. My point being that we will just have to take a wait and see approach to see how it works out, but at least he does seem to have a very good understanding of what needs to be fixed.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Kind of scary that they went with a guy who has been with the organization for years and years. Like they just can't let go of the idea they have been right all along and now that we have moved out Denny Green and Ken Whisenhunt's regimes this boy genius that the Bidwills (or at least Rod Graves) groomed from jump street will have all the answers. At best its a far fetched notion.

It is equally far fetched that everyone that has worked for the Cardinals for the last few years isn't bright, talented, or capable.

I would prefer to judge each person, rather than indict a large mass of people by association.

 

[conraddobler]

It is equally far fetched that everyone that has worked for the Cardinals for the last few years isn't bright, talented, or capable.

I would prefer to judge each person, rather than indict a large mass of people by association.

It is fair though to wonder how a former offensive lineman in charge of scouting or at least a big factor in it has allowed the creation of argueably one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

That scares the tar out of me.

It's possible he was fighting it tooth and nail all the way and thus now he's proven right and got the job, it's also possible he was complicit in it's creation.

There's really no way for most of us to know and I'm not going to judge him one way or the other which means that I'll just fall back to the old saw of being highly leary of promoting from within in a losing organization, almost always IMO a bad idea.

 

[TruColor]

It is equally far fetched that everyone that has worked for the Cardinals for the last few years isn't bright, talented, or capable.

I would prefer to judge each person, rather than indict a large mass of people by association.

Where's the 'Like' button? I'd click it.

 

[conraddobler]

On another thread I just read Chris Sanders perfect explanation of the problem I was worried about, ie how in the name of Batman did this guy have the job he had and did we still build the line we had.

Apparently he was continously overruled by Whiz, which means he wasn't a complete idiot, that is comforting.

Still leary of promoting within.

 

[JeffGollin]

Kind of scary that they went with a guy who has been with the organization for years and years.....

Years and years? Keim is only 40 years old. He spent most of the past 13 years or so paying his dues doing the rental car/motel room gig, going from school to school in the Southeast.

There are reports suggesting that his was an independent voice sometimes overruled by Graves and Wiz.

When he made the move to HQ, I viewed him as an outsider bringing fresh thinking to the organization. There's no reason to assume he's a company man (although time will tell)/

Will he be the answers to all our prayers? Dunno. I'd be cautious to avoid painting a one-dimensional, resume-driven characateur of the man. (In addition to paying his dues in the field, advocating for Boldin and A-Dub etc. etc., Like all of us, he's also an individual with his own personality-traits, likes, dislikes, management strengths/weaknesses etc. etc.). We don't know how he'll interact with ownership or new coaches. (I've seen additional power will go to a person's head. And, at other times, I've seen individuals rise to the occasion and become great leaders).

On paper, I love the hire. In reality, we'll see.

 

[PACardsFan]

Michael was gushing about how the rest of the league was in love with the guy & how qualified and intelligent he was. That may all be true, but I certainly didn't come away from that interview overly impressed with ANYONE'S intellect. I know it's not fair to judge based on 1 interview, but he sounded rather doofus like for the first 10 minutes. I've hired/fired sales personnel for 30 years, so I know the interview process well. Keim looked as nervous & uncomfortable as a 22 yr old conducting his 1st interview out of college. Exactly why I interview someone 3 times before I hire them!

 

[JeffGollin]

Michael was gushing about how the rest of the league was in love with the guy & how qualified and intelligent he was. That may all be true, but I certainly didn't come away from that interview overly impressed with ANYONE'S intellect. I know it's not fair to judge based on 1 interview, but he sounded rather doofus like for the first 10 minutes. I've hired/fired sales personnel for 30 years, so I know the interview process well. Keim looked as nervous & uncomfortable as a 22 yr old conducting his 1st interview out of college.

I'm less concerned about whether or not Mr. Keim "gives good presser" and more concerned about how he'll produce in his new role as GM.

I had no problem with the presser in general and how Michael B and Steve came across. Check out some of the other teams' press conferences to announce new coaching or management hires. They're pretty much the same. They all follow the same basic script - "The new guy he good. The old guy he not so good but 'really tried hard.' Decisions will be for the good of the team. We face a big challenge All decisions will be on the basis of "will it help our football team.' We expect our new guy to put us on the road to success. He's respected throughout the league." Cool.

But actions speak louder than words.

 

[az jam]

Michael was gushing about how the rest of the league was in love with the guy & how qualified and intelligent he was. That may all be true, but I certainly didn't come away from that interview overly impressed with ANYONE'S intellect. I know it's not fair to judge based on 1 interview, but he sounded rather doofus like for the first 10 minutes. I've hired/fired sales personnel for 30 years, so I know the interview process well. Keim looked as nervous & uncomfortable as a 22 yr old conducting his 1st interview out of college. Exactly why I interview someone 3 times before I hire them!

This was a press conference not a job interview. Big difference.