Off-Season Moves 2012

[Mitch]

It's going to be a relatively quiet off-season for the Cardinals.

Why?

Going 7-2 in the last 9 games has assured the FO that there is already enough talent on the roster to win with.

The FO--after it gives QB Kevin Kolb his $7M bonus---after it re-signs DE Calais Campbell to a deal quite similar to the 6/$56M deal that Darnell Dockett signed (if not, they will franchise tag him)---after it re-signs CB Richard Marshall to a 4/$14M deal---after it restructures T Levi Brown's deal at 3/$25M---will stand pat.

Gone?

LB Stewart Bradley---didn't fit.
WR Early Doucet---didn't do enough.
RB Chester Taylor---one year rental.
LB Joey Porter---lost his edge.
LB Clark Haggans---should retire.
K Jay Feely---not enough love from the coaches.
G Deuce Lutui---out of favor.

Back (new contracts---near or at the minimum)?

LS Mike Leach
P Dave Zastudil
T D'Anthony Batiste
T Brandon Keith
CB Greg Toler
S Hamza Abdullah
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (3/$7.5M)
S Rashad Johnson
QB Rich Bartel
WR Stephen Williams
DE Ronald Talley
DE Vonnie Holliday? (1/$1.5M? if he doesn't retire)

Free Agents?

No big splashes.

Draft?

Likely 1 of these 4:

David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Jonathon Martin, T, Stanford
Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Sleeper: SS Mark Barron, Alabama (in a trade down scenario)

Coaching Staff Changes?

None.

Your thoughts? Are these moves in line with what YOU would do?

 

[sportznutt]

I'm depressed.

 

[thephoenixson28]

I say we go after Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning

 

[cardpa]

It's going to be a relatively quiet off-season for the Cardinals.

Why?

Going 7-2 in the last 9 games has assured the FO that there is already enough talent on the roster to win with.

The FO--after it gives QB Kevin Kolb his $7M bonus---after it re-signs DE Calais Campbell to a deal quite similar to the 6/$56M deal that Darnell Dockett signed (if not, they will franchise tag him)---after it re-signs CB Richard Marshall to a 4/$14M deal---after it restructures T Levi Brown's deal at 3/$25M---will stand pat.

Gone?

LB Stewart Bradley---didn't fit.
WR Early Doucet---didn't do enough.
RB Chester Taylor---one year rental.
LB Joey Porter---lost his edge.
LB Clark Haggans---should retire.
K Jay Feely---not enough love from the coaches.
G Deuce Lutui---out of favor.

Back (new contracts---near or at the minimum)?

LS Mike Leach
P Dave Zastudil
T D'Anthony Batiste
T Brandon Keith
CB Greg Toler
S Hamza Abdullah
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (3/$7.5M)
S Rashad Johnson
QB Rich Bartel
WR Stephen Williams
DE Ronald Talley
DE Vonnie Holliday? (1/$1.5M? if he doesn't retire)

Free Agents?

No big splashes.

Draft?

Likely 1 of these 4:

David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Jonathon Martin, T, Stanford
Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Sleeper: SS Mark Barron, Alabama (in a trade down scenario)

Coaching Staff Changes?

None.

Your thoughts? Are these moves in line with what YOU would do?

Mitch I hope you are wrong unfortunately I think you are right with a couple of exceptions. I think they keep Bradley. The rest are gone.

Everyone you listed as coming back I agree with you. They may not be the best ones to keep but I agree I can see the team keeping them based on what you said.

No top names in FA and maybe two signings at best. I noticed you said nothing about Levi. What are your thought s on him?

Sadly this is not going to be enough to get this team over the hump and into the playoffs or if they squeak in it will be a first round exit.

 

[Dr. Jones]

We should never let up when it comes to adding talent to our roster. Especially in the O and D Line + Lbers.

 

[sportznutt]

I say we go after Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning

I like it.........

 

[PJ1]

With Doucet not coming back I believe we go after a receiver in FA. Other than that I agree we won't be very active.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Need help on the o-line - particularly the entire right side. Really hope they find a way to make some progres there. Not sure how I feel about Levi being here for more years...
Another major need is in the secondary. Hopefully Rhodes will come back and play well. Not sold on Jefferson and Tolar.

Bradley hardly saw the field... not sure what to make of that and wouldn't be shocked if he were gone. However, that leaves a huge hole as Lenon is aging.

Of course, we HAVE to find a legit #2 wideout...

The most interesting battle will be at the QB position. After paying Kolb his roster bonus, the pressure will be HUGE on him to show he's worth it!

 

[Goodyear Card]

It's going to be a relatively quiet off-season for the Cardinals.

after it restructures T Levi Brown's deal at 3/$25M---will stand pat.

Mitch, there is no way Levi is worth $8 per year. Let him go. I would like to replace the whole offensive line. I know that is not possible but we need better results from the offensive line. It is the weakest part of the team. If you want to improve the team, take the weakest part and make it a strength.

I want an offensive lineman with the first pick. If an OT is not available then pick Decastro. If we cant get good value with our 1st round pick, trade down and get additional picks.

 

[PJ1]

Mitch, there is no way Levi is worth $8 per year. Let him go. I would like to replace the whole offensive line. I know that is not possible but we need better results from the offensive line. It is the weakest part of the team. If you want to improve the team, take the weakest part and make it a strength.

I want an offensive lineman with the first pick. If an OT is not available then pick Decastro. If we cant get good value with our 1st round pick, trade down and get additional picks.

Be careful what you ask for. We could end up with Bridges, Keith and Batiste as our tackles next year. Kolb would have another concussion before the ball was snapped.

 

[ActingWild]

I would like to see them bring back Todd Haley. Granted, a lot of our previous success had Warner at QB but at least Whiz might actually let someone else run the offense, who's proven to be a great offensive mind, so he can focus on being a HC.

 

[BillsCarnage]

With Doucet not coming back I believe we go after a receiver in FA. Other than that I agree we won't be very active.

Agreed, but i'd like to see them maybe sign a top player.. mainly a #2 WR or secondary help even though Tohler should be back.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1005506-nfl-free-agents-2012-top-10-players-on-the-market

 

[Shane]

actually let someone else run the offense, who's proven to be a great offensive mind, so he can focus on being a HC.

already doing it

 

[Russ Smith]

Not sure if you have to draft him but I'd be interested in Cal punter Bryan Anger.

Well over 40 per punt all 4 years at Cal including 45.6 as a junior. Seems to get good hangtime, has been good at the coffin corner and drawing fair catches in the open field. Also a pretty good athlete which is sometimes valuable.

Wasn't overly thrilled with Zastudil.

 

[THESMEL]

Levi Brown is worth way more, i know I'm the rare fan that see him as the tackle that has protected more passing attempts over his career than any ther tackle in the history of earth. He ran block one year for a first ballot HOF RB that is top 10 rushing and yards from scrimmage all time. you know 1222 yards that was not enough for many Cards fans and Coaches. He had 326 carries that year, but was way off his 50+ recieving average for one of the best offenses of all time.

Sorry smelled that one up, basically Levi Brown has defended over 3000 pass attempts for the Cardinals in the last 5 ears, enough to get us to 2 NFCW titles and our first SB, I concentrate on the 1000's of times he won instead of the handlful of times he lost, While our OC and QB dared defenses to blitz every down! Come on you pukes all you have to do is get around ole Levi to kill our QB.

Kurt Warner averaged over 600 throws a year daring defenses to blitz our oline , levi and our Oline gave up 26 sacks each year. Joe Thomas couldn't do that, No coach in their right mind would ask Joe thomas to do that!

Deuce might be better than Levi? He seems to be on the black list like most Cards star players under whisenhunt, If He played a year for the stupid steelers He might get to play, good or not?

We need QB, CB, OLB, MLB,

 

[LarryStalling]

I like the left tackle from Iowa State, Kelechi Osemele. 6'6" and 347 lbs. They say he has the wing span of a 747. He played against some top flight quality people this year and responded very well. I think he will be available when the Cards draft.

 

[THESMEL]

good call

good call

I like the left tackle from Iowa State, Kelechi Osemele. 6'6" and 347 lbs. They say he has the wing span of a 747. He played against some top flight quality people this year and responded very well. I think he will be available when the Cards draft.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

I'm in the minority here, but I think they keep Bradley.

I agree with your draft picks....one of these four will likely be taken.

Doucet....it depends if we go after and land a FA WR.

While I can't see us taking a WR at #1, I'm watching the Capital One Bowl Game.....man oh man, is Alson Jeffrey (WR for S. Carolina something else ?).

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, there is no way Levi is worth $8 per year. Let him go. I would like to replace the whole offensive line. I know that is not possible but we need better results from the offensive line. It is the weakest part of the team. If you want to improve the team, take the weakest part and make it a strength.

I want an offensive lineman with the first pick. If an OT is not available then pick Decastro. If we cant get good value with our 1st round pick, trade down and get additional picks.

I agree, Goodyear. But, this is what I think the Cardinals will do---not what I would do.

 

[Cardiac]

Part of me likes the idea of keeping as many players as possible from this currnet team. Draft BPA the entire draft which will upgrade the overall talent on the team.

I think most of us agree the the O-line & LBers are where we need to focus some extra attention. I doubt we invest much more at the QB position because we simply don't know that what we have won't work. It's a roll of the dice but I do believe Kolb and Skelton will improve with a real offseason this year.

 

[Shane]

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2012/01/02/news-and-notes-to-wrap-up-the-season/

Whisenhunt said he told the team he doesn’t anticipate a lot of changes this offseason. Obviously, that doesn’t mean there will be none. But compared to last year, this team isn’t going to be overhauled.

 

[CtCardinals78]

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2012/01/02/news-and-notes-to-wrap-up-the-season/

Whisenhunt said he told the team he doesn’t anticipate a lot of changes this offseason. Obviously, that doesn’t mean there will be none. But compared to last year, this team isn’t going to be overhauled.

I agree with this. Ryan Williams will be back and take the burden of Wells. Toler will be back and Peterson will have a full year under his belt, Marshall should be brought back that will solidify the CB's. The LB position is much better than I thought it'd be. Sign Campbell and the D line is set. The only position on D that needs to be addressed is SS and that is not even an emergency. The Cards need an OT, OG and #2 WR and the offense should be set. They are in a much better place than they were a year ago.

 

[Shane]

I agree with this. Ryan Williams will be back and take the burden of Wells. Toler will be back and Peterson will have a full year under his belt, Marshall should be brought back that will solidify the CB's. The LB position is much better than I thought it'd be. Sign Campbell and the D line is set. The only position on D that needs to be addressed is SS and that is not even an emergency. The Cards need an OT, OG and #2 WR and the offense should be set. They are in a much better place than they were a year ago.

We do need another ILBer in a BIG way. Lenon gonna be 36 i think.

 

[az jam]

OT will be a prime need.Brown will get more in free agency than the Cards will be willing to pay on a new contract. He will be let go as his cap figure for 2012 will be nearly $17 million -- $8.3 million in salary and $9.675M in a roster bonus. Once he is let go he will test the market and sign elsewhere.
This is not a good year for OT free agents and with the 13th pick in the draft the top 3 OTs will be gone. Cards are in a tough spot for an OT.

I can see them getting a #2 WR in free agency as there are many good ones available.

DC Ray Horton will have a big say in what players are kept and who is let go for the defense. He has turned that around and IMO Whiz will listen to him.

like OG Castro and OLB Upshaw with the 13th pick at this time. Lets of time before the draft with the bowl games, Senior Bowl and the Combine.

 

[THESMEL]

agree

Yea I think Levi is great like other teams and Jaws does too, Just most AZ fans thinks Levi Stinks. I wish He would sign at 5 years 40 million with 20 million guarenteed. This new CBA dropped player prices, who knows.

But mot star players want to get away from whisenhunt ASAP.

You put him in a balanced offense, he is probowl every year. Money in the bank, So He'll go as high as 5 years for 50 million.

OT will be a prime need.Brown will get more in free agency than the Cards will be willing to pay on a new contract. He will be let go as his cap figure for 2012 will be nearly $17 million -- $8.3 million in salary and $9.675M in a roster bonus. Once he is let go he will test the market and sign elsewhere.
This is not a good year for OT free agents and with the 13th pick in the draft the top 3 OTs will be gone. Cards are in a tough spot for an OT.

I can see them getting a #2 WR in free agency as there are many good ones available.

DC Ray Horton will have a big say in what players are kept and who is let go for the defense. He has turned that around and IMO Whiz will listen to him.

like OG Castro and OLB Upshaw with the 13th pick at this time. Lets of time before the draft with the bowl games, Senior Bowl and the Combine.