Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. Thus far the thing that has impressed me the most about Ken Whisenhunt is that with him the words and the music seem to match...in other words, he says that he wants to employ a physcial smashmouth running game, and then he goes and signs two interior linemen in Al Johnson and Mike Gandy who have the ability to be physical run blockers, and then he goes and signs a hard-nosed blocking FB in Terrell Smith.
Whiz said that the free agent signings would be to create depth and competition for starting jobs...and one must concur that this is exactly what he's done...and in the process he's helped make the special teams, a long-time Cardinal weakness, a potential strength this year by adding Sean Morey to a group that includes Aaron Francisco, Hanik Milligan, Marcel Shipp, Monty Beisel and Roderick Hood. Great stuff there.
However...if what was reported on the radio this morning is accurate...that the starting offensive line heading into minicamp is LT-Ross, LG-Wells, C-Johnson, RG-Lutui and RT Gandy...Whiz's credibility must now fall into serious question. Had Whiz deemed Gandy the starting LG and kept Wells as the starting RT, fine. But...to return the team's weakest interior run blocker to the all-important position of LG is simply asinine---there's no better way to put it, really.
We saw first hand that Milford Brown played the left guard postion with far more pop and power than the way Wells did. We also saw first hand that Wells was by far the best RT the Cardinals have tried there in recent memory (which isn't saying all that much---but still, Wells was solid there). So, what is up with all of this?
Whiz should know the importance of the LG position, especially for teams that want to run the ball. For years, Whiz had his best and most physical interior blocker at LG in Alan Faneca---just the mere thought of Whiz coming to the conclusion that Reggie Wells belongs at LG is preposterous.
I am feeling shocked and, quite frankly, disillusioned...and I echo the sentiments of my fellow posters who said: "same ol' same ol'---some things never seem to change."
Also, has Whiz watched any of the Buffalo films to see that Gandy is stronger inside than out? Has he watched the last five game tapes on Milford Brown? Did he watch the first four game tapes of Reggie Wells at LG? Don't try to con us with excuses like, the players were missing assignments. Anyone could see that Reggie Wells was getting overpowered at LG. Anyone.
2. Draft Updates:
#1. Oakland quietly brought local QB prospect Trent Edwards (Stanford) in for a visit this past week and is thinking about taking Edwards at #33, thus giving them the go-ahead to take WR Calvin Johnson. Edwards told the local media following his visit that he feels he is "very much in the mix" in Oakland. Oakland has been in conversations with the Lions about acquiring Josh McCown. Both situations would indicate that Johnson is their #1 pick.
#2. Detroit has indicated that T Joe Thomas is their pick, but that they would like to trade down with Tampa Bay should Oakland go with Russell. What's somewhat curious about Detroit wanting Thomas is that they would appear to be set at the tackles positions already having Jeff Backus (a player they franchised last year--who is only heading into his 7th year and has been about as durable as they come)...and having acquired RT George Foster from the Broncos to solidify their greatest need at RT.
Because QB's Russell and Quinn may both be on the board at #2...the Lions may have some suitors for their #2 pick...but it won't be Tampa Bay.
If the Lions do stay and take Joe Thomas...might the Cardinals try to trade for Jeff Backus or George Foster? Backus is certainly the more physical and he's a LT, which is what they need most. But Foster is a 5th year player with pretty solid talent.
Or--will the Cardinals decide to go after T Levi Brown instead, either by reaching for him at #5 or trading down a few spots and taking him there? With the chance that one of the two QBs may be still on the board when the Cardinals pick, they might get a taker for a trade down.
#3. The Browns are saying that they don't want to draft a QB here. It's likely that they will decide between RB Adrian Peterson and DE Gaines Adams. With RB Jamal Lewis signed for only one year (and Droughns traded away)--Peterson will be the pick here. Count on it.
#4. Tampa Bay, in this scenario, would have its phones rining because both QBs are still on the board. Gruden loves drafting QBs...but...he's got some major holes to fill on his defense. If he stays put and doesn't draft a QB...the Cardinals would be sitting at #5 with--in all likelihood--a few offers to trade down with teams that would want to hop on Russell or Quinn.
So...here's the question of the day...if the scenario plays out that this is the way the first four picks go...and you have to stay put at #5 because the trade offers aren't good enough, who do you pick if you are the Cardinals?
#1. OAK: Johnson, WR
#2. DET: Thomas, T
#3. CLE: Peterson, RB
#4. TB: Adams, DE
#5 ARI: Options:
The stay put options to take:
a) Brown, T
b) Landry, S
c) Okoye, DT
d) Anderson, DT
e) Branch, DT
f) Ginn, WR
g) Willis, LB
I'll offer my pick and the rationale in a few minutes.
Whiz said that the free agent signings would be to create depth and competition for starting jobs...and one must concur that this is exactly what he's done...and in the process he's helped make the special teams, a long-time Cardinal weakness, a potential strength this year by adding Sean Morey to a group that includes Aaron Francisco, Hanik Milligan, Marcel Shipp, Monty Beisel and Roderick Hood. Great stuff there.
However...if what was reported on the radio this morning is accurate...that the starting offensive line heading into minicamp is LT-Ross, LG-Wells, C-Johnson, RG-Lutui and RT Gandy...Whiz's credibility must now fall into serious question. Had Whiz deemed Gandy the starting LG and kept Wells as the starting RT, fine. But...to return the team's weakest interior run blocker to the all-important position of LG is simply asinine---there's no better way to put it, really.
We saw first hand that Milford Brown played the left guard postion with far more pop and power than the way Wells did. We also saw first hand that Wells was by far the best RT the Cardinals have tried there in recent memory (which isn't saying all that much---but still, Wells was solid there). So, what is up with all of this?
Whiz should know the importance of the LG position, especially for teams that want to run the ball. For years, Whiz had his best and most physical interior blocker at LG in Alan Faneca---just the mere thought of Whiz coming to the conclusion that Reggie Wells belongs at LG is preposterous.
I am feeling shocked and, quite frankly, disillusioned...and I echo the sentiments of my fellow posters who said: "same ol' same ol'---some things never seem to change."
Also, has Whiz watched any of the Buffalo films to see that Gandy is stronger inside than out? Has he watched the last five game tapes on Milford Brown? Did he watch the first four game tapes of Reggie Wells at LG? Don't try to con us with excuses like, the players were missing assignments. Anyone could see that Reggie Wells was getting overpowered at LG. Anyone.
2. Draft Updates:
#1. Oakland quietly brought local QB prospect Trent Edwards (Stanford) in for a visit this past week and is thinking about taking Edwards at #33, thus giving them the go-ahead to take WR Calvin Johnson. Edwards told the local media following his visit that he feels he is "very much in the mix" in Oakland. Oakland has been in conversations with the Lions about acquiring Josh McCown. Both situations would indicate that Johnson is their #1 pick.
#2. Detroit has indicated that T Joe Thomas is their pick, but that they would like to trade down with Tampa Bay should Oakland go with Russell. What's somewhat curious about Detroit wanting Thomas is that they would appear to be set at the tackles positions already having Jeff Backus (a player they franchised last year--who is only heading into his 7th year and has been about as durable as they come)...and having acquired RT George Foster from the Broncos to solidify their greatest need at RT.
Because QB's Russell and Quinn may both be on the board at #2...the Lions may have some suitors for their #2 pick...but it won't be Tampa Bay.
If the Lions do stay and take Joe Thomas...might the Cardinals try to trade for Jeff Backus or George Foster? Backus is certainly the more physical and he's a LT, which is what they need most. But Foster is a 5th year player with pretty solid talent.
Or--will the Cardinals decide to go after T Levi Brown instead, either by reaching for him at #5 or trading down a few spots and taking him there? With the chance that one of the two QBs may be still on the board when the Cardinals pick, they might get a taker for a trade down.
#3. The Browns are saying that they don't want to draft a QB here. It's likely that they will decide between RB Adrian Peterson and DE Gaines Adams. With RB Jamal Lewis signed for only one year (and Droughns traded away)--Peterson will be the pick here. Count on it.
#4. Tampa Bay, in this scenario, would have its phones rining because both QBs are still on the board. Gruden loves drafting QBs...but...he's got some major holes to fill on his defense. If he stays put and doesn't draft a QB...the Cardinals would be sitting at #5 with--in all likelihood--a few offers to trade down with teams that would want to hop on Russell or Quinn.
So...here's the question of the day...if the scenario plays out that this is the way the first four picks go...and you have to stay put at #5 because the trade offers aren't good enough, who do you pick if you are the Cardinals?
#1. OAK: Johnson, WR
#2. DET: Thomas, T
#3. CLE: Peterson, RB
#4. TB: Adams, DE
#5 ARI: Options:
The stay put options to take:
a) Brown, T
b) Landry, S
c) Okoye, DT
d) Anderson, DT
e) Branch, DT
f) Ginn, WR
g) Willis, LB
I'll offer my pick and the rationale in a few minutes.
