Off-season needs article on front page

[Cardiac]

That pre-supposes that (1) we need to upgrade the RT position and (2) that Winston Justice or a free agent would present an immediate upgrade. I disagree with both points.

The first one is mainly because we have a player in Ross who has played the position for good running teams at a playoff level, and who has been practicing with the personnel next to him for a full season now.

But we are not a running team and as long as we have Q and Fitz we won't be. Ross will never be the answer at the OT position on this team, he simply can't pass block.

You seem to forget that continuity and coaching are as--if not more--important to success along the offensive line as talent/personnel.

No, not more important. Good coaching and continuity obviously helps and can create a good Oline but better talent is the quickest way to achieve this. No Oline can achieve continuity if they can't stay healthy. Not one player on the current roster has proven they can do this in the past 2 years.

I don't believe that we have a talent problem at right tackle when the coaching has been so bad and Ross has had to worry about a rookie RG next to him most of the season.

A bit of a contradiction if you ask me. First of all at some point Ross has to own his performance. Blaming a lack of talent around him or his injuries can only explain some of why he SUCKED. He has feet of lead and simply isn't quick enough to block even marginal DE's.
The Oline coaching needed upgraded but does this mean Ross forgot how to block in just about every situation. He has been in the league for several years now.
Brown may start to improve with better coaching and more experience, if he can stay healthy, which he hasn't been able to do so far. Ross should stop worrying about the rookie RG next to him and pay some attention to the DE across from him.


For the second point, rookie offensive linemen rarely make an impact, regardless of their draft status.

It is just not about this year. Will we be able to re-sign BIG and is he truly the answer at LT. If BIG gets hurt again this year who plays LT... Ross certainly isn't the answer, Wells? well no, and you obviously don't think so.

Highly-touted Robert Gallery hasn't done anything of note in two seasons.

I can't imagine Gallery has played worse then Ross.

I've posted the list before, but only Levi Jones has proved a big success among the first-round OTs in the past several years developing into solid starters. The Cardinals have to compete for a playoff spot this season, both in order to keep the lights on in the Glendale Stadium for another year as well as to keep Denny Green's job. Putting a rookie in at the position or even a mid-tier free agent would represent a serious step back, not a step forward.

How can this Oline take a step back, it truly isn't possible. A rookie in the 1st or 2nd round will be an immediate upgrade at the RT position. Drafting Justice would not only be a short time answer for RT but potentially the long term answer at LT, at least someone to fill in for BIG when he gets hurt again this year.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

How can this Oline take a step back, it truly isn't possible. A rookie in the 1st or 2nd round will be an immediate upgrade at the RT position. Drafting Justice would not only be a short time answer for RT but potentially the long term answer at LT, at least someone to fill in for BIG when he gets hurt again this year.

I disagree with drafting any type of an OL w/a 1st round pick (especially in the top 10)....

My mantra has always been that it takes roughly 3-4 years for an OL to develop into an NFL calibre one (case in point would be Leonard Davis, who still hasnt lived-up to his Pro-Bowl billing whatsoever)......

Only exceptions over the past 10-15 years would be Willie Roaf, Walter Jones, and perhaps Jonathan Ogden....Whereas, most of the others pretty much didnt last too long in the league......

The key is for the Cardinals to construct the OL via FA by adding someone like Jeff Backus (true he was a 1st round pick himself, which is another exception to the rule) or any veteran OL who could suit any scheme.... They need to finally establish continuity, stabilily, and accountability, which might all be finally realized with the recent hiring of Loney....

The Cardinals must draft someone who will make an immediate impact which obviously typically happens in the highly-skilled position players... of course that would suggests that they must draft the best RB available at #10 and I'm indeed pulling for Lendale White.......

 

[CardinalChris]

Wells is the type of swingman every line needs. But we should look to upgrading our LG and RT. The key is that moving Ross to G means we need a RT, and a few RTs will be there in the second. Moving Big inside will mean we need a LT, and those are few and far between.

 

[Ed Burmila]

Great work, Gary. Wish I could write'em up like you do.

Justice is a great looking athlete, but I question whether Green makes a "need" pick at #10. Good O-Linemen are often found lower down in the draft. That said, if they were to draft Justice I doubt too many people would shed a tear.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Agree with K9 that wells is a depth guy and not a starter.

Also, I would feel pretty comfortable going into 06' with Leckey as the starter. He'll fill out a bit more as the years go by if you're worried about his size. And, C is more about being savvy than brute force. Leckey instantly improved the oline performance the minute he stepped on the field.

That means that LG and RT are question marks. Ross was pretty bad last year. No two ways around it.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

One always has to wonder just how much of our CAP money we will spend? We are still the Cardinals. You would think with a new stadium we would spend most of it but the Bidwills have a lot of money to pay out. Saving money on players may be good for the Bidwills but in no way helps us as fans. Time will tell. Seems like every year we start by talking about all the CAP money we have available and then nothing really big happens.

Don't you ever get tired of "cutting and pasting" this same old "the Bidwill's are cheap" crap?

 

[Snakester]

Great work, Gary. Wish I could write'em up like you do.

Justice is a great looking athlete, but I question whether Green makes a "need" pick at #10. Good O-Linemen are often found lower down in the draft. That said, if they were to draft Justice I doubt too many people would shed a tear.

Thanks Ed. I thought the same thing last year and Green drafted need picks with his first four picks. He got rid of almost all of our CBs and then drafted Rolle and Eric Green. This is a very good draft for offensive linemen and i'm sure Green knows that. Where we had problems last season was at controlling the line of scrimmage. I think we go after 0-lineman and DTs. Now whether we get them in the draft or free agency is still to be determined.

We really have a nice set up this year in the draft. We can take guys like Lendale White or Winston Justice in the first round or pick up a RB in free agency and draft a tackle in the second round instead. We also have some nice defensive picks at number ten as well. Jimmy Williams would fill a huge need if we were to put him at free safety as well as Micheal Huff. One of the two will be sitting there at number ten for us. We also have alot of money to pick up some players in free agency and a nice spot at number ten to draft from. The next few months are the most exciting times of the year for me. It's where I have a chance to get excited about the Cardinals again. And to look forward to the new season.

 

[Snakester]

Agree with K9 that wells is a depth guy and not a starter.

Also, I would feel pretty comfortable going into 06' with Leckey as the starter. He'll fill out a bit more as the years go by if you're worried about his size. And, C is more about being savvy than brute force. Leckey instantly improved the oline performance the minute he stepped on the field.

That means that LG and RT are question marks. Ross was pretty bad last year. No two ways around it.

I think Wells best position would be at center. I agree with you that Leckey did a good job for us last year and will get better with more experience. Don't count out Stepanovich just yet. I'm sure he is going to do every thing he can to get better and reclaim his starting job. It should be one of the better battles in training camp this year to see which one wins out.

I think we need a road grader type at LG and I hope the Cardinals don't plan on starting Ross at RT again because he was terrible in pass protection last year. I think RT should be the number one priority for the offensive line.

 

[spanky1]

Great work, Gary. Wish I could write'em up like you do.

Justice is a great looking athlete, but I question whether Green makes a "need" pick at #10. Good O-Linemen are often found lower down in the draft. That said, if they were to draft Justice I doubt too many people would shed a tear.

I sure as hell would....at #10....with all the question marks surrounding him.

 

[Duckjake]

Thanks Ed. I thought the same thing last year and Green drafted need picks with his first four picks. He got rid of almost all of our CBs and then drafted Rolle and Eric Green. This is a very good draft for offensive linemen and i'm sure Green knows that. Where we had problems last season was at controlling the line of scrimmage. I think we go after 0-lineman and DTs. Now whether we get them in the draft or free agency is still to be determined.

We really have a nice set up this year in the draft. We can take guys like Lendale White or Winston Justice in the first round or pick up a RB in free agency and draft a tackle in the second round instead. We also have some nice defensive picks at number ten as well. Jimmy Williams would fill a huge need if we were to put him at free safety as well as Micheal Huff. One of the two will be sitting there at number ten for us. We also have alot of money to pick up some players in free agency and a nice spot at number ten to draft from. The next few months are the most exciting times of the year for me. It's where I have a chance to get excited about the Cardinals again. And to look forward to the new season.

Great post. This offseason there is no more losing attitude to cut out. The silver lining in all the injuries is that depth players got valuable playing time. There are no glaring holes like when Ryan left the team win no Centers other than Larry and only one Safety on the roster. (There are holes but not the HUGE ones of offseasons past.)

They've got to address some issues with oline and at RB and with some of the defensive players getting older-Berry and Davis. But there will be no need to desperately grab a CB-Tom Knight or a DT-Wendall Bryant or having to draft an olineman at #2-BIG, because they simply don't have any on the roster. They don't start the offseason with all 3 WR's and the starting QB departing via free agency or with no money under the cap.

For once the Cards go into the offseason with a lot of options to improve the team.

It's not all wine and roses but at least the vinter and the gardner are returning our calls.

 

[Redsz]

I think Wells best position would be at center. I agree with you that Leckey did a good job for us last year and will get better with more experience. Don't count out Stepanovich just yet. I'm sure he is going to do every thing he can to get better and reclaim his starting job. It should be one of the better battles in training camp this year to see which one wins out.

I think we need a road grader type at LG and I hope the Cardinals don't plan on starting Ross at RT again because he was terrible in pass protection last year. I think RT should be the number one priority for the offensive line.

Well, if you believe MJ, Ross is going to be moved to one of the guard spots. Whether that is LG or RG is anyones guess.

 

[Duckjake]

Well, if you believe MJ, Ross is going to be moved to one of the guard spots. Whether that is LG or RG is anyones guess.

And we'll move Leonard Davis to Guard as well. The largest Guard tandem in NFL history. If nothing else it would be funny to look at with Leckey in the middle.

Kind of like when Bergen stood next to BIG in the huddle. Bergen looked like a little kid who had wandered onto the field.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I think Wells best position would be at center. I agree with you that Leckey did a good job for us last year and will get better with more experience. Don't count out Stepanovich just yet. I'm sure he is going to do every thing he can to get better and reclaim his starting job. It should be one of the better battles in training camp this year to see which one wins out.

I think we need a road grader type at LG and I hope the Cardinals don't plan on starting Ross at RT again because he was terrible in pass protection last year. I think RT should be the number one priority for the offensive line.[/QUOTE]

Does it hurt your fingers to type that? because every time I try to, I want to heave my lap top into the garbage.

What a bitter, bitter disappointment Ross was in 05'. He was the anti-Berry.

Not even a little better than clement, and makes LJ look like an all-pro.

I repeat Mao, he makes LJ Shelton look like an all pro.

 

[Cardiac]

I disagree with drafting any type of an OL w/a 1st round pick (especially in the top 10)....

I guess we just disagree, as would many GM's in the league since I can't remember a year where a top ten didn't include at least one Oline.

My mantra has always been that it takes roughly 3-4 years for an OL to develop into an NFL calibre one (case in point would be Leonard Davis, who still hasnt lived-up to his Pro-Bowl billing whatsoever)......

I think 3-4 years may be a bit of a stretch. WR's take 2 - 3 years. QB's take 3-6 years. DB's take 2-4 years. There are always exceptions to the "rule" but generally very few players enter the league playing at NFL calibre.

Only exceptions over the past 10-15 years would be Willie Roaf, Walter Jones, and perhaps Jonathan Ogden....Whereas, most of the others pretty much didnt last too long in the league......

Perhaps Ogden? What about Pace or Bosselli? Both taken in the top 5. Tra Thomas was top 10. There of course several more examples of 1st rounders in general can be listed. Very few if any players taken in rd 1 in the past 10 years are no longer in the league. The Shelton's, Pettiguts that aren't great players are still playing in this league.

The key is for the Cardinals to construct the OL via FA by adding someone like Jeff Backus (true he was a 1st round pick himself, which is another exception to the rule) or any veteran OL who could suit any scheme.... They need to finally establish continuity, stabilily, and accountability, which might all be finally realized with the recent hiring of Loney....

Only if he also knows how to keep them healthy.

The Cardinals must draft someone who will make an immediate impact which obviously typically happens in the highly-skilled position players... of course that would suggests that they must draft the best RB available at #10 and I'm indeed pulling for Lendale White.......

RB's have just as high a bust potential as Oline in rd1.

An immediate impact would be for one of our skill players currently on the roster to be able to take 3 steps without getting hit in the back field. If our WR's are given 3 seconds they are almost always open and that's with a majority of the Defense playing pass defense and ignoring the run.

The success of our passing game was accomplished in spite of the Oline.