Off season success???

[Shane]

Posts like these got me thinking:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2597615&postcount=11

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2597629&postcount=12

What exactly would you deem as a successful off season?? Would just signing Peyton Manning be enough? What if the team does not lock up Calais Campbell long term and he is destined to be a FA next year? Would you still consider it successful even with Manning in the fold?

What would make you consider it successful if Manning isnt signed and we move forward with what we have at the QB position?? Would signing CC and shoring up other areas with a supposed "decent" draft be enough?

What are you looking for and what is your line in the sand for what you consider off season success?

 

[earthsci]

IMO signing Calais Campbell is much more important to the Cardinals than Manning.

 

[Shane]

IMO signing Calais Campbell is much more important to the Cardinals than Manning.

So you would prefer to run with the current crop of QB's and CC locked up long term??

 

[earthsci]

So you would prefer to run with the current crop of QB's and CC locked up long term??

Yes.

If we don't sign CC, in 3 years we won't have Manning or Campbell.

 

[MadCardDisease]

At a minimum:

We need to sign a Veteran LT that is at least servicable.

We need to sign or draft anothter OT to compete for the RT job.

We need to sign or draft a decent WR. No big name but someone to help take advantage of the Fitzgerald double teams.

 

[Chopper0080]

So you would prefer to run with the current crop of QB's and CC locked up long term??

I think that Campbell is the more likely move, and Manning is the big splash, but both would be necessary in my opinion to be a successful offseason along with addressing our other needs.

 

[earthsci]

I agree with these other posts that other moves need to be made but the most important FA long term for the Cards is CC.

 

[joeshmo]

After all of this speculation I do know if we don't sign Manning a lot of fans will call this off season a failure no matter what else happens.

 

[Shane]

I agree with these other posts that other moves need to be made but the most important FA long term for the Cards is CC.

What if the cards aren thinking long term and are looking at a quick fix to a possible SB?

 

[Shane]

After all of this speculation I do know if we don't sign Manning a lot of fans will call this off season a failure no matter what else happens.

Now that I have no doubt. Although I dont agree with the philosophy at all.

 

[joeshmo]

Now that I have no doubt. Although I dont agree with the philosophy at all.

I don't either, but you know a lot of fans.

They will call it a failure that we didn't sign Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, and Mario Williams as well.

 

[kerouac9]

After all of this speculation I do know if we don't sign Manning a lot of fans will call this off season a failure no matter what else happens.

That's true. But the messaging from Hardy Drive hasn't done much to tamp down on this kind of speculation, either. Compared to the questions about Donnie McNabb the last two offseasons, the Cards media people have basically been sending Valentine's to Peyton Manning the last two months.

For me, the offseason priorities are:

1) Two starting OTs and a developmental player
2) Two outside linebackers capable of contributing immediately to the defensive rotation
3) Two wide receivers capable of competing for a starting job
4) Securing Calais Campbell's services for the foreseeable future
5) Defensive back depth
6) Interior offensive line depth

If the Cards don't add personnel at the quarterback position, Arizona's only hope is to make sure that there are no excuses for poor performance from any other part of the offense, and hope that the QB play can't hold them out of the playoffs.

I do like that the new QB Coach has been emphasizing in the media at least that the QBs don't have to go out there and put up 120 QB ratings every week. They just need to execute inside the system and understand that an incomplete pass isn't the worst possible outcome.

 

[Shane]

That's true. But the messaging from Hardy Drive hasn't done much to tamp down on this kind of speculation, either. Compared to the questions about Donnie McNabb the last two offseasons, the Cards media people have basically been sending Valentine's to Peyton Manning the last two months.

For me, the offseason priorities are:

1) Two starting OTs and a developmental player
2) Two outside linebackers capable of contributing immediately to the defensive rotation
3) Two wide receivers capable of competing for a starting job
4) Securing Calais Campbell's services for the foreseeable future
5) Defensive back depth
6) Interior offensive line depth

If the Cards don't add personnel at the quarterback position, Arizona's only hope is to make sure that there are no excuses for poor performance from any other part of the offense, and hope that the QB play can't hold them out of the playoffs.

I do like that the new QB Coach has been emphasizing in the media at least that the QBs don't have to go out there and put up 120 QB ratings every week. They just need to execute inside the system and understand that an incomplete pass isn't the worst possible outcome.

How many off your list need to be accomplished to be considered a succesful off season?? We all know ALL of that just isnt going to happen??

 

[kerouac9]

How many off your list need to be accomplished to be considered a succesful off season?? We all know ALL of that just isnt going to happen??

I think the first four, but there's no reason that ALL of them can't happen.

1) Re-sign Levi, Keith, and draft an OT in the 1st or 3rd round
2) Re-sign Haggans and draft an OLB in the 1st or 3rd round
3) Re-sign Doucet and sign Robert Meachem/Greg Camarillo/Braylon Edwards/The Other Steve Smith (the market is going to be glutted with WRs--you'll be able to get a solid one for a song)
4) Give Calais a 15% upgrade on Darnell Dockett's two-year-old contract
5) This one's harder if we can't get Richard Marshall back. Maybe sign William Gay from Pittsburgh? Tracy Porter from New Orleans?
6) Draft some mid- to late-round OG

 

[JeffGollin]

In general - wind up with a stronger roster than we ended the season with.

Specifically.

- Upgrade both OTs.

- Add a trustworthy #2 WR.

- Upgrade QB talent (either thru player development or Manning).

- Add beef to our DL (at NT or a DT/DE hybrid)

- Add a pass rusher

- Add beef at ILB opposite DWash

- Keep what we've got in the secondary & also look to bring in a young A-Dub clone.

 

[Cheesebeef]

what makes me scratch my head is something Urban said in his blog, where he didn't expect us to do much in FA. What does that mean? this team still has some pretty ugly holes at both T spots, one OLB spot, WR... and if Marshall leaves, at CB. I get that Peyton may not be in the cards (no pun intended), but there's still a decent amount of work to be done that can be done in FA this year.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Yes.

If we don't sign CC, in 3 years we won't have Manning or Campbell.

But we may have an Lombardi trophey.

To me, then it is worth it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't either, but you know a lot of fans.

They will call it a failure that we didn't sign Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, and Mario Williams as well.

Nice to see you joe.

 

[Shane]

But we may have an Lombardi trophey.

To me, then it is worth it.

Completely agree with that train of thought. If we dont lock up CC and we were able to get a trophy in the mantle. I will say good riddance CC it will have been worth it IMO.

 

[kerouac9]

what makes me scratch my head is something Urban said in his blog, where he didn't expect us to do much in FA. What does that mean? this team still has some pretty ugly holes at both T spots, one OLB spot, WR... and if Marshall leaves, at CB. I get that Peyton may not be in the cards (no pun intended), but there's still a decent amount of work to be done that can be done in FA this year.

What blog post? I haven't seen that. I think by "not much" he's talking to the fans who Joe is mentioning: those who want us to sign Vincent Jackson, Mario Williams, Manning, and Courtland Finnegan (or whatever).

We'll be looking for players, especially when we clear Levi Brown from the payroll.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What blog post? I haven't seen that. I think by "not much" he's talking to the fans who Joe is mentioning: those who want us to sign Vincent Jackson, Mario Williams, Manning, and Courtland Finnegan (or whatever).

We'll be looking for players, especially when we clear Levi Brown from the payroll.

it was in the comments section under one of his blogs.

 

[Catfish]

Sadly, the fact that our FO is once again so slow in acting in a timely fashion, has been detrimental to us being in a position to take quick and decisive action. Will Manning be willing to sign here, knowing that our O-line is depleted and is not very fixable even if we were willing to pay big bucks in free agency. It is from hits that he has taken over the years that his neck problems occurred to begin with, therefore it would seem that we would need to fix the O-line in order to make us a viable destination for him.

Does waiting for the draft seem to be a likely option for Manning to see us fix the O-line. Johnathon Martin seems to be the ONLY likely prospect that will be available to us at 13, and he has had a history of not being able to handle speed rushers.

Sadly, once again, our FO has left us in disarray due to its short sightedness in finding replacements for critical positions on this team in a timely manner. We failed to act in replacing Levi Brown before his contract expired, and now we have also not acted in a very timely fashion with Calais Campbell. These are two huge positions on our team that we have ignored, and they both might have a HUGE negative impact on Manning and his agent. This is truly sad, because we have so very much positive going on with this team via the Stadium, the climate, Fitzgerald etc., that should have made us a slam dunk in the Manning chase-----yet we drag our feet on our own critical players instead of locking them up long term in a timely manner.

 

[MadCardDisease]

and now we have also not acted in a very timely fashion with Calais Campbell.

Actually the Cards got their Franchise request in on time for Campbell.

 

[MadCardDisease]

We failed to act in replacing Levi Brown before his contract expired,

Oh and Levi Brown's contract doesn't expire for another year.

 

[TJ]

After all of this speculation I do know if we don't sign Manning a lot of fans will call this off season a failure no matter what else happens.

Only because fans were given the taste of the possibility of having manning in the fold. I envision that if Manning signs elsewhere, there will be several threads about the front office's ineptitude. While I don't Mae apologies for Graves, if we don't land Zmanning, it won't be because he didn't pursue him. Manning will make the decision based on his level of comfort with the tem, system, etc.

On the flip side, if Campbell isnt re-signed, itll be a black mark for the FO.

To me, Campbell is the necessary move and Manning is a huge bonus or feather in the cap.