No, Really?

[Harry]

In an interview with Steve Keim The Athletic asked him how he would define success this season. He said the bottom line was to show “vast improvement” from last year. One of the principles of effective goal setting is to be specific. Of course if my job was on the line I might want to avoid specifics, too.

Since the Cards drafted first last year plus the coach and most of the assistants were fired, improving on last year would not seem an overwhelming accomplishment. I’m okay if he doesn’t want to cite a record, so how about points per game scored or allowed. Maybe cut QB sacks & tackles for a loss in half. Pick something. Otherwise you can subjectively say we developed lots of good players. Our game plans looked good. The team was exciting to watch. You could pick almost any obscure observation and claim improvement. Either he’s afraid to be specific or he’s just a bad leader.

 

[Finito]

In an interview with Steve Keim The Athletic asked him how he would define success this season. He said the bottom line was to show “vast improvement” from last year. One of the principles of effective goal setting is to be specific. Of course if my job was on the line I might want to avoid specifics, too.

Since the Cards drafted first last year plus the coach and most of the assistants were fired, improving on last year would not seem an overwhelming accomplishment. I’m okay if he doesn’t want to cite a record, so how about points per game scored or allowed. Maybe cut QB sacks & tackles for a loss in half. Pick something. Otherwise you can subjectively say we developed lots of good players. Our game plans looked good. The team was exciting to watch. You could pick almost any obscure observation and claim improvement. Either he’s afraid to be specific or he’s just a bad leader.

Have you never heard any Coach, QB or GM speak before? It’s always as vague as possible. Hell the term is even called “coach speak”

One game at a time, both teams played hard...

Your really making something out of nothing.

 

[slanidrac16]

I want to hear our goal is to make the playoffs. I really don’t care if that sounds outlandish. It doesn’t mean the season is a failure if we don’t. I hope that is the goal of K2, every coach and every player. And they shouldn’t be afraid to say it.


Every year there is always one team that goes from worst to first. Just about every year 3 to 5 teams that made the playoffs last year don't make it this year. If it isn’t their goal THAT is the failure.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

In an interview with Steve Keim The Athletic asked him how he would define success this season. He said the bottom line was to show “vast improvement” from last year. One of the principles of effective goal setting is to be specific. Of course if my job was on the line I might want to avoid specifics, too.

Since the Cards drafted first last year plus the coach and most of the assistants were fired, improving on last year would not seem an overwhelming accomplishment. I’m okay if he doesn’t want to cite a record, so how about points per game scored or allowed. Maybe cut QB sacks & tackles for a loss in half. Pick something. Otherwise you can subjectively say we developed lots of good players. Our game plans looked good. The team was exciting to watch. You could pick almost any obscure observation and claim improvement. Either he’s afraid to be specific or he’s just a bad leader.

BAD
LEADER

 

[kerouac9]

I think it should be clear to everyone that based on the way basically every player has left the organization under Steve Keim and Michael Bidwill that the players think these guys are clowns.

Major exception is Carson Palmer, and he’s ending up in the Ring of Honor before his old jockstrap has dried out.

 

[Cheesebeef]

not every thought needs it's own thread...

 

[daves]

It's a pretty interesting interview, and i think Harry's characterization is way off.

...dbs

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's a pretty interesting interview, and i think Harry's characterization is way off.

...dbs

Dave, that fat drunk moron could piss on your head and you'd tell me it was raining.

 

[AZCrazy]

He said the team needs to show improvement, and you're complaining??

What the hell is he supposed to say, that they won't improve, or don't need to?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Keim is being vague because he knows that by drafting Murray he gets a free pass this year

Otherwise he plays it safe and rolls with Rosen and beefs up the defense to save his job

 

[oaken1]

Specific goals would be better.
Say like....top ten offense and top fifteen defense....compete for at least a wild card...be in the discussion for winning the west come december....

Expectations have to be clear for this young team

 

[WildBB]

Vastly improved = at least 2x W's.

Who cares how?!

 

[Cardiac]

Doesn't matter what Keim says in an interview, we will all know if the team improved or he needs to be fired but what we see on the field this year.

 

[Matt L]

I think it should be clear to everyone that based on the way basically every player has left the organization under Steve Keim and Michael Bidwill that the players think these guys are clowns.

Major exception is Carson Palmer, and he’s ending up in the Ring of Honor before his old jockstrap has dried out.

I feel like their egos (probably Bidwill) forced out Arians.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Keim is being vague because he knows that by drafting Murray he gets a free pass this year

Otherwise he plays it safe and rolls with Rosen and beefs up the defense to save his job

Disagree Chris.

We would have to be very bad again for Keim to be fired, but I'm confident his job's on the line this year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Keim is being vague because he knows that by drafting Murray he gets a free pass this year

Otherwise he plays it safe and rolls with Rosen and beefs up the defense to save his job

agree. I think he knows Mike won't saddle a new GM with the previous GM's massive risk at HC and a QB the new GM didn't draft. This is a two year experiment for Keim... unless we are just GODAWFUL, akin to last year's Godawfulness. If that comes to pass again, Keim might get canned... but definitely SHOULD get canned.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

Specific goals would be better.
Say like....top ten offense and top fifteen defense....compete for at least a wild card...be in the discussion for winning the west come december....

Expectations have to be clear for this young team

If we hit both the offensive & defensive goals you listed (top 10 & 15) we would be in the playoffs no doubt.

 

[perivolaki]

Specific goals would be better.
Say like....top ten offense and top fifteen defense....compete for at least a wild card...be in the discussion for winning the west come december....

Expectations have to be clear for this young team

Maybe they are clear to the team. Just because he's vague in an interview doesn't mean he hasn't set goals for the coaches and team.

Hell I set goals for myself but I don't announce them to the world. There are reasons you might not want to set out specific goals or expectations in a public setting.

 

[Garthshort]

Harry, I know you want to make a point, but, in fairness, SK didn't say improvement, he said vast improvement. To me that means more than another one or two wins. At least three or four.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

It's a tough question for him, He's basically being asked where the bar should be for his employment status in 6 months... So it's no surprise he set it ridiculously low.

 

[PACardsFan]

It's a tough question for him, He's basically being asked where the bar should be for his employment status in 6 months... So it's no surprise he set it ridiculously low.

I don't think "VAST" improvement equates to ridiculously low. And I'm sure that whatever his goals are, they have been clearly spelled out to him by Michael Bidwill. That's how the food chain works in the real world.

 

[Dan H]

If we go 3-13 but lose every game on the last play or by 2-3 points, that WOULD be a vast improvement. Last year’s team was THAT bad. There’s more to it than record.

 

[PACardsFan]

If we go 3-13 but lose every game on the last play or by 2-3 points, that WOULD be a vast improvement. Last year’s team was THAT bad. There’s more to it than record.

Agreed. Anytime you give up twice as many points as you score, then 3-13 is meaningless. They set NFL records for the most 3 and outs, and the offense ranked dead last in almost every measured category. Whoever was ranked 31st was significantly better than us. We added a whole new dimension to the term "unwatchable". After 2 games, you absolutely, positively knew that improvement wasn't possible & it was time to hit the restart button. These moron reporters that bitched that we fired Wilks after one season apparently never watched us play last year. I consider myself a fairly patient person, and have managed people for almost 40 years. Wilks was fortunate to last the season.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

If we go 3-13 but lose every game on the last play or by 2-3 points, that WOULD be a vast improvement. Last year’s team was THAT bad. There’s more to it than record.

A fair point, but if you're in that many close games, you're bound to win a decent share, just based on statistical probabilities (e.g. made or missed FGs).

But I get what you're saying, and I agree. The bottom line is the team needs to look much more competitive.

 

[slanidrac16]

agree. I think he knows Mike won't saddle a new GM with the previous GM's massive risk at HC and a QB the new GM didn't draft. This is a two year experiment for Keim... unless we are just GODAWFUL, akin to last year's Godawfulness. If that comes to pass again, Keim might get canned... but definitely SHOULD get canned.

This is right on. Right or wrong I love conviction. Keim threw the baby and the bath water out the window and got a new baby. I’d like to think he recognized that a major change had to be made. Something he should have recognized the previous year. That being said, he took a giant leap of faith and conviction. If we suck anywhere near the train wreck we witnessed last year he probably will be gone. If he is right then we will all be happy and sprinkle ( not shower) but sprinkle him with a little praise.