Key Roster Decisions (Offense)

[Buckybird]

I think arians tipped his hand in his interview this week that Ross will not make the team. I assume golden has the last spot. I think they are pretty equal so I think that is ok. They are not putting John brown on IR if there is any chance of him playing like his old self, he provides a spark no other reciever on the roster can.

Also, gabbert is going nowhere. Nobody is going to trade enough for him for the cards to let him go.

At ol I hope they keep John, but fear they will keep Holden instead because he is a draft pick. Don't know what is going on with Dorian, but I say cut him if he can't make second team, we need a reliable backup as last year proved.

At rb, I think this weeks game will determine it, but right now I think it will be David, kerwyn, cj, and Ellington. Arians also hinted penny is a long shot.

I agree with what you say about Golden, plus I think he's more explosive as a WR instead of Ross & the continued injuries with Smoke might play into that decision.

Btw John struggled last season & I don't think he's that good despite his years in the NFL.

cutting Holden & DoJ would be a huge mistake IMO given the uncertain futures of Veldheer & Iupati past 2017

 

[Mitch]

I think arians tipped his hand in his interview this week that Ross will not make the team. I assume golden has the last spot. I think they are pretty equal so I think that is ok. They are not putting John brown on IR if there is any chance of him playing like his old self, he provides a spark no other reciever on the roster can.

Also, gabbert is going nowhere. Nobody is going to trade enough for him for the cards to let him go.

At ol I hope they keep John, but fear they will keep Holden instead because he is a draft pick. Don't know what is going on with Dorian, but I say cut him if he can't make second team, we need a reliable backup as last year proved.

At rb, I think this weeks game will determine it, but right now I think it will be David, kerwyn, cj, and Ellington. Arians also hinted penny is a long shot.

What did BA say that tipped his hand about Ross? What did he say about Penny? I've been listening to all his press conferences and did;t pick up on either of these hints. Please inform, thanks, Proximo.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, you knew there was zero chance that Gabbert was going to supplant Stanton. Gabbert was in a battle with himself to make the roster. He was either going to be 3rd string QB or he was going to be doing shampoo commercials in September.

I mean, how often have we seen the 3rd or 4th QB in preseason light it up? A lot. I don't think Palmer has ever been the most productive or best looking QB in any preseason I've seen him in. It's hard to look at these three preseason games and not think that there is a lot of actual NFL tape on him, which carries more weight when it comes to evaluation.

Trust me, I want CP3's replacement on the roster yesterday; however, Gabbert is not it. He's a clipboard carrier. Nothing more, nothing less.

TJ, the Cardinals coaches want to groom Gabbert and don't feel like they have to appoint him as the #2. There is no question that the coaches, the GM and the organization are fascinated with Gabbert.

Carson Palmer said yesterday about Gabbert: "He's as talented as they come throwing the ball." This means a lot, particularly because we know how fond Palmer is of Stanton.

It appears that Gabbert has all of the intangibles that BA wants: size, arm strength, intelligence, mobility, ability to go through progressions....what Steve Keim has been saying is that they have been trying to improve Gabbert's poise under pressure and his previous tendency to bolt the pocket too soon. Keim said that they have been extremely impressed with his improvement in those two focus areas.

 

[Garthshort]

One WR I have to give props to, is JJ Nelson. And I'm basing it on his 'availability'. Seems to me that he is always on the field, with no days off. Of our top four WR's, JJ gets the most work.

 

[Proximo]

What did BA say that tipped his hand about Ross? What did he say about Penny? I've been listening to all his press conferences and did;t pick up on either of these hints. Please inform, thanks, Proximo.

Well it was just the way he responded when asked about them. it is my interpretation, but I have heard enough interviews with ba that I think I can tell when he likes a player. He basically downplayed Ross's performance.

Plus I know he has favorites and golden is one, and so is Ellington to a lesser extent.

This favoritism is the same reason I knew that gabbert could play like tom Brady this preseason - and he has played very well, and yet still know it would be impossible for him to beat out Stanton. Stanton is ba's favorite guy, maybe other than the badger on the team. With that said it is also clear ba is really impressed with gabbert, and has no intention of cutting him or trading him unless a really good offer came in, which isn't going to happen with kapernick still a free agent.

 

[Mitch]

Well it was just the way he responded when asked about them. it is my interpretation, but I have heard enough interviews with ba that I think I can tell when he likes a player. He basically downplayed Ross's performance.

Plus I know he has favorites and golden is one, and so is Ellington to a lesser extent.

This favoritism is the same reason I knew that gabbert could play like tom Brady this preseason - and he has played very well, and yet still know it would be impossible for him to beat out Stanton. Stanton is ba's favorite guy, maybe other than the badger on the team. With that said it is also clear ba is really impressed with gabbert, and has no intention of cutting him or trading him unless a really good offer came in, which isn't going to happen with kapernick still a free agent.

I agree with you about BA's favorites...which often is mind-boggling.

Brittan Golden is very well liked by the coaches and the players. He's competitive and has shown this camp, prior to his injury, that he's improved as a receiver. BA does like Ellington, you are absolutely correct. But, this is where and why BA has done a lousy job of catering the roster to STs. A prime example is keeping 9 defensive linemen last year which is why due to injury a guy like K. Williams winds up blocking for the punter. Ellington is not going to help at all on STs...which renders him inactive for most games unless one of the top 3 RBs gets injured. If BA keep Chris Johnson, there's another guy who will not contribute at all on STs. Elijhaa Penny has been one of the best STs players in the pre-season. He's making tackles and he's a key blocker on the punt team. Keeping 2 RBs who do not play STs in favor of cutting Penny would add extra proof that BA does not properly value STs.

The problem I have with all of this, Proximo, and I wonder how you and others feel about it, is that BA has made it clear that he tolerates mediocrity and even plain old ineptitude. Like with Drew Butler. Like with Ellington as return man who took a dive every time he was breathed on. Like with Stanton who has had trouble throwing for 50% completion rates, and yes he is 6-3 as a starter when called on, which is good if you accept ugly wins, but none of Stanton's 6 wins came against winning teams over .500.

It bothers me too that Steve Keim called out Honey Badger for missing a couple of tackles versus the Bears and says nothing about Patrick peterson who repeatedly ran away from tackles, save for one tackle he made when no one was blocking him. It's these double standards and the organization's willingness to accept mediocrity that (imo) is holding the team back.

 

[Cardiac]

I agree with you about BA's favorites...which often is mind-boggling.

Brittan Golden is very well liked by the coaches and the players. He's competitive and has shown this camp, prior to his injury, that he's improved as a receiver. BA does like Ellington, you are absolutely correct. But, this is where and why BA has done a lousy job of catering the roster to STs. A prime example is keeping 9 defensive linemen last year which is why due to injury a guy like K. Williams winds up blocking for the punter. Ellington is not going to help at all on STs...which renders him inactive for most games unless one of the top 3 RBs gets injured. If BA keep Chris Johnson, there's another guy who will not contribute at all on STs. Elijhaa Penny has been one of the best STs players in the pre-season. He's making tackles and he's a key blocker on the punt team. Keeping 2 RBs who do not play STs in favor of cutting Penny would add extra proof that BA does not properly value STs.

The problem I have with all of this, Proximo, and I wonder how you and others feel about it, is that BA has made it clear that he tolerates mediocrity and even plain old ineptitude. Like with Drew Butler. Like with Ellington as return man who took a dive every time he was breathed on. Like with Stanton who has had trouble throwing for 50% completion rates, and yes he is 6-3 as a starter when called on, which is good if you accept ugly wins, but none of Stanton's 6 wins came against winning teams over .500.

It bothers me too that Steve Keim called out Honey Badger for missing a couple of tackles versus the Bears and says nothing about Patrick peterson who repeatedly ran away from tackles, save for one tackle he made when no one was blocking him. It's these double standards and the organization's willingness to accept mediocrity that (imo) is holding the team back.

I agree with some of this but none of us have the insight to know the dynamics of the locker room or the unit rooms and how that impacts decisions made on roster moves. Butler performed very well in practice but struggled at times during games. He did have some good games but we don't always remember that.

I for one would rather have another quality Dlineman on the roster than a solid ST's player. I expect we will all appreciate that decision this year without CC on the roster.

BASK seem to have over valued Juke's skills and talent because of how well he did in his first year and then the flashes he showed at times in the seasons after that. He does have dynamic skills but injuries and the subsequent mental issues from those injuries have negatively impacted those skills.

K Williams has proven to be a good football player and the blocked punt he gave up was a mental error, not a lack of physical ability. Most players have a mental error at some point and every coach misses occasionally on giving a player too much responsibility. K Williams simply keeps proving he can do a lot of very good things for the team save a one time blip on punt protection.

I really don't want PP2 sticking his head in the scrum in a preseason game, especially when safeties should have made the play. HB did get sloppy with his two missed tackles and it's not the first time either. At times he relies too much on being the HB and loses focus on fundamentals. Deon Sanders made business decisions his entire career and I guarantee he wouldn't be fighting through a scrum in the preseason to make a tackle and it didn't prohibit him or his teams from winning super bowls. And yes PP2 is the equivalent version of Sanders in todays NFL at CB.

There are times that BA's style seems a bit to Rex Ryanish and I think he over values himself but I can't think of another HC I would want for the Cardinals.

 

[CFLredzoned]

It bothers me too that Steve Keim called out Honey Badger for missing a couple of tackles versus the Bears and says nothing about Patrick peterson who repeatedly ran away from tackles, save for one tackle he made when no one was blocking him. It's these double standards and the organization's willingness to accept mediocrity that (imo) is holding the team back.

Well Mitch, he was asked specifically about Honey Badger's performance. The question was "Is the Badger back?" - A terrible question to ask a GM or head coach. You can't say "Yeah baby, he's back!" That never goes well. Leave that stuff to the media. Your only option with a silly question like that is a measured response. He probably did go a little too far though and would like the part back where he said "... and that can't happen." That struck me as a little weird and that's probably what made you bristle as well. I'm sure he would take that back if he had the chance.

 

[MrYeahBut]

One WR I have to give props to, is JJ Nelson. And I'm basing it on his 'availability'. Seems to me that he is always on the field, with no days off. Of our top four WR's, JJ gets the most work.

I'll be forever grateful to JJ for this catch. It's one of the games I came over to watch. I was sure the Cards were going to lose that game until I saw this....

.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Trust me, I want CP3's replacement on the roster yesterday; however, Gabbert is not it. He's a clipboard carrier. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think you're vastly underselling the Cardinals view of Gabbert.

I think the team views him as a future eventual replacement for Palmer because all of the teams optimism points to that.

Gabbert was wretched in Jacksonville, but I've been pleasantly surprised by his performance since then. I think he was dreadfully equipped to succeed in the NFL coming out of Mizzou. That offense was no where close to an NFL offense and Gabbert wasnt asked to make NFL throws or NFL reads at all.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think you're vastly underselling the Cardinals view of Gabbert.

I think the team views him as a future eventual replacement for Palmer because all of the teams optimism points to that.

Gabbert was wretched in Jacksonville, but I've been pleasantly surprised by his performance since then. I think he was dreadfully equipped to succeed in the NFL coming out of Mizzou. That offense was no where close to an NFL offense and Gabbert wasnt asked to make NFL throws or NFL reads at all.

If all the above was really the case, he'd be the number 2 QB.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'll be forever grateful to JJ for this catch. It's one of the games I came over to watch. I was sure the Cards were going to lose that game until I saw this....

.

That offense was so damn good. I mean... just look at the MASSIVE pocket Palmer has there.

 

[Krangodnzr]

If all the above was really the case, he'd be the number 2 QB.

Why? He doesnt know the offense as well. Thats the only edge Stanton has.

 

[Garthshort]

Two things:
1. The sixth WR is reportedly down to Golden, Ross and Dobson. Like most, I haven't seen much of AD, and I do like Jeremy Ross. However, we all know that BA loves speed, and if Dobson doesn't do much, this week, we'll probably keep Golden since he's faster than Ross. But for me Ross is our best WR of these three.
2. I would love to hear Tom Moore's opinion as to whether Blaine Gabbert should be considered our QBOTF.

 

[Mitch]

Two things:
1. The sixth WR is reportedly down to Golden, Ross and Dobson. Like most, I haven't seen much of AD, and I do like Jeremy Ross. However, we all know that BA loves speed, and if Dobson doesn't do much, this week, we'll probably keep Golden since he's faster than Ross. But for me Ross is our best WR of these three.
2. I would love to hear Tom Moore's opinion as to whether Blaine Gabbert should be considered our QBOTF.

BA said that Dobson was consistently getting behind the Cardinals' defense until he got injured. BA loves deep threats. Recently that deep threat has been Chris Hubert. I think that Hubert is in the conversation as well.

B. Golden and J. Ross are possession types and, like you Garth, I believe that Ross is the stronger, more productive WR of the two (BA said that Ross "has been solid all camp"), but I acknowledge that BA really likes Golden and Golden, up until his injury, was one of the best camp and pre-season performers.

Much depends on the status and health of John Brown. It wouldn't surprise me if BA found a way to keep 7 WRs at least until he knows what John brown can do and until BA thinks Chad Williams is ready to contribute.

I too would love to know what Tom Moore thinks about Blaine Gabbert. I bet Moore likes him, not only for his size, arm strength and mobility, but most especially for his intelligence and how quickly he has picked up the offense.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, I loved some of the moves that Hubert flashed in the first two PS games. My ONLY problem with him is that we already have two smurf like WR's. Now if John Brown is a "no go" for health reasons, then I'd keep CH.

Also, hope your correct about Moore and JB.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Mitch, I loved some of the moves that Hubert flashed in the first two PS games. My ONLY problem with him is that we already have two smurf like WR's. Now if John Brown is a "no go" for health reasons, then I'd keep CH.

Also, hope your correct about Moore and JB.

The Dolphins and Redskins once prospered with smurfs... "la la la lala la, la la la la laa"