Porter to visit Thursday

[Evil Ash]

I know there is a lot ot talk about Porter and his mouth and the headaches he can cause, but how bad of a headache does he actually cause? I ask becuase Porter has not one but two former coaches trying to sign the guy - Wiz and his former Dolphins position coach who is now with the Bills.

Also like someone already said Wiz and Haggans(who was also Porters College teammate) had Dinner with Porter in Pitt over the weekend. This may mean that a deal could get done even before his visit on Thursday or his visit with the Bills.

FA has certainly evolved over the years. It used to be that players used to like to make the full tour of teams that were interested in them and then choose the best option after that.

Now it seems players will only travel to teams when a deal is basically already in place.

I hope that isn't the case with Foote since he's visiting the Redskins first but it seems that way generally speaking

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I would like to think that with Whiz and Haggans we are in the front seat for Porter. If Whiz and Porter can agree on what his role is going to be here and both be on the same page it will work. I think Porter has respect for Whiz and that will go a long ways on what kind of attitude he brings with him.

I am very excited that the Cards are making these kinds of moves and thankful that players recognize what we have going here and want to take a look. Now let's see if we can close the deal.

 

[Duckjake]

True but I see him as an effective stop gap until McClain or Witherspoon is ready.

And after year one I think either of those guys on this team would be better then Dansby, yes. Thier ceilings are sure quite a bit higher.

If we get a top prospect in the draft we should be fine as historically the best young linebackers can play from day one.

But, just getting some run of the mill guy as a stop gap won't improve the defense it will make it worse.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

I'm with Syracuse on this one...

A DEFENSE needs to have an ATTITUDE and Joey porter will DEFINITELY add to what we already have. For all the talk about losing Dansby & Rolle, I think we're forgetting that THIS Defense allowed the LIONS to have us on the ropes last year! In a game that we NEEDED! Changes were necessary! GO CARDS!

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I hope that isn't the case with Foote since he's visiting the Redskins first but it seems that way generally speaking

Hopefully Foote gives us a chance to talk to him. I know that the Skins had a player in the other day and let them walk. With Shanahan there they may not be throwing big money away.

 

[TJ]

I think he would just bring a buzz to the whole defensive side of the team, him and Dockett would have so much fun out there and raise the level of both games. I'm really excited about this potential move.

This

Both Dockett and Porter are high octane guys. The rest of the defense can feed off their energy and charisma.

Plus, at least we'll have one pass rusher on the payroll who is capable of 10+ sacks in a season.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

True but I see him as an effective stop gap until McClain or Witherspoon is ready.

Read somewhere that McClain ranked #80 in total tackles last year.

That sounds really low for an MLB. I know he played on real good Alabama defense, but does that throw up a red flag or has everyone seen enough of him to overlook this?

 

[kerouac9]

I agree with everything you mentioned. Foote will be better against the run and I'm more worried about LB's stuffing the run rather than being great in coverage. It'd be great to have a guy that can do both well, but beggars can't be choosers right?

Really? Because the Cards were 23rd in the NFL in pass defense last year, but 17th in the NFL in rush defense. It would certainly seem like the Cards should be worried about losing their second-best coverage player (after DRC) in Dansby and replacing him with someone who helped Ray Rice total 166 rushing yards in Week 14.

 

[chickenhead]

If he produces I can deal with a big mouth. Frankly, we've seen some big mouths NOT produce at the level they talk in the past couple years.

 

[Duckjake]

Really? Because the Cards were 23rd in the NFL in pass defense last year, but 17th in the NFL in rush defense. It would certainly seem like the Cards should be worried about losing their second-best coverage player (after DRC) in Dansby and replacing him with someone who helped Ray Rice total 166 rushing yards in Week 14.

I was thinking the same thing when reading the posts about how Foote being better against the run will more than make up for losing Dansby's coverage skills in a league everyone knows is a passing league now.

That's why to me a guy like Porter makes sense but Foote doesn't.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Really? Because the Cards were 23rd in the NFL in pass defense last year, but 17th in the NFL in rush defense. It would certainly seem like the Cards should be worried about losing their second-best coverage player (after DRC) in Dansby and replacing him with someone who helped Ray Rice total 166 rushing yards in Week 14.

You're using one game and making a point of it. We lost our second best player in coverage (Dansby) when he 'lead us' to the worst post season ever for a secondary.

Don't use one game to make a point.

 

[Chainthroer]

I guess a lot of you are for the signing. I'm not so sure. If he sign's here, hopefully it's not over a 1 year contract. If he comes in as he was two years ago, then it's an upgrade. But, I have reservations, given his age.

 

[JeffGollin]

Yes.

Or not. (You never know until it plays out over time).

BTW - Chike is still listed on our roster, so I wouldn't write his epitaph just yet. As of a month ago, the buzz was that, if he was willing to renegotiate is contract, he might remain a Cardinal. That would not be a terrible thing. (By contrast, B-Train is off the roster).

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I was thinking the same thing when reading the posts about how Foote being better against the run will more than make up for losing Dansby's coverage skills in a league everyone knows is a passing league now.

That's why to me a guy like Porter makes sense but Foote doesn't.

Well, we are in nickel and dime 60% of the time, and we can certainly devise a way to cover for Foote's shortcomings in pass "D". Further, if we pick an athletic ILB like Weatherspoon, Foote would be a two-down LB.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Or not. (You never know until it plays out over time).

BTW - Chike is still listed on our roster, so I wouldn't write his epitaph just yet. As of a month ago, the buzz was that, if he was willing to renegotiate is contract, he might remain a Cardinal. That would not be a terrible thing. (By contrast, B-Train is off the roster).

f you are going by the official site, it hasn't been updated in a "dog's age".

Okeafor's contract expired at end of season, but, not to say - that they won't try to re-up him.

 

[JeffGollin]

Just bringing in Porter shows how much things have changed. In years past, the Cards would never have brought in a FA as flamboyant and outspoken as Porter. I hope we sign him.

Having watched the outside LB position evolve since the Giants drafted LT instead of George Rogers, I've always felt the job profile for a WILL backer should be "a flamboyant 6-3 235 lb dude who was athletic enough to make plays all over the field."

The closest we've come to that kind of player were possibly Ken Harvey and Jamir Miller. I gather Porter comes pretty close to fitting that description.

I get the feeling that most coaching staffs and front offices have visualized their concept of the ideally configured defense, with job profiles for each of the 11 starting players. (I'll concede that teams seldom reach the point where all eleven players are "ideal", so they make "adjustments" to accomodate the talent they've got; but if they could, they'd move heaven and earth to bring in the right guy for each slot).

We don't know whether or not Wiz and Rod G have job descriptions for all 11 defensive positions or whether their vision of the ideal WILL backer comes close to the Lawrence Taylor/Joey Porter model, but if it does, I could see us bringing Porter in to occupy WLB for 2 or 3 years and establish a standard for the position until we draft someone who can fill his shoes.

Pardon me for just dreaming a little.

 

[Duckjake]

Well, we are in nickel and dime 60% of the time, and we can certainly devise a way to cover for Foote's shortcomings in pass "D". Further, if we pick an athletic ILB like Weatherspoon, Foote would be a two-down LB.

According to advanced statistics Will Witherspoon was 35th in pass coverage amongst all outside linebackers. He possesses a negative rating.
Quarterbacks had a 105.6 passer rating when passing into his coverage. Good riddance...

Posted on an Eagles board Friday.

But then there isn't much out there other than these two guys as UFA's.

Fortunately the draft seems deep at the position.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Posted on an Eagles board Friday.

But then there isn't much out there other than these two guys as UFA's.

Fortunately the draft seems deep at the position.

We are getting our Withers... and Weathers... confused....

I was suggesting the drafting of "Weatherspoon".

 

[JeffGollin]

According to advanced statistics Will Witherspoon was 35th in pass coverage amongst all outside linebackers. He possesses a negative rating.
Quarterbacks had a 105.6 passer rating when passing into his coverage. Good riddance...
Stats can help educate, but they can also be misleading. For example, what kind of defense was Witherspoon in? What kind of players were surrounding him? What system was he playing within? What were the coaches asking him to do?

(Suppose, for example, DRC played on the worst defense in the history of the NFL and his stats understandably suffered. Would that mean that he sucked? Or simply that he was playing for an awful team and might thrive elsewhere)?

I'll concede that a dude's track record (statistical or otherwise) is a relevant indicator of how he'll do in the future - certainly enough to raise red flags. But only enough to cause a coaching staff or scouting staff to pull out more film or tape on the guy to see how he performs in game situations.

Bottom line - Don't go overboard on Witherspoon, but don't write him off either without first watching a lot more tape.

 

[Duckjake]

According to advanced statistics Will Witherspoon was 35th in pass coverage amongst all outside linebackers. He possesses a negative rating.
Quarterbacks had a 105.6 passer rating when passing into his coverage. Good riddance...
Stats can help educate, but they can also be misleading. For example, what kind of defense was Witherspoon in? What kind of players were surrounding him? What system was he playing within? What were the coaches asking him to do?

(Suppose, for example, DRC played on the worst defense in the history of the NFL and his stats understandably suffered. Would that mean that he sucked? Or simply that he was playing for an awful team and might thrive elsewhere)?

I'll concede that a dude's track record (statistical or otherwise) is a relevant indicator of how he'll do in the future - certainly enough to raise red flags. But only enough to cause a coaching staff or scouting staff to pull out more film or tape on the guy to see how he performs in game situations.

Bottom line - Don't go overboard on Witherspoon, but don't write him off either without first watching a lot more tape.

Check out http://www.advancednflstats.com/ which is where I assume the poster got their information. The appear to take into account things like that. But I don't know if they did in this case however.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I don't like Porter at all. I think he is a me first kind of guy. I guess the big question is, will Bill Davis be able to keep Porter under control and not have him out of position all the time?

Unfortunately for the Cards, beggars can't be choosers. At this point there aren't many more options out there. Porter could be a stopgap until they develop one of the younger guys.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't like Porter at all. I think he is a me first kind of guy. I guess the big question is, will Bill Davis be able to keep Porter under control and not have him out of position all the time?

Unfortunately for the Cards, beggars can't be choosers. At this point there aren't many more options out there. Porter could be a stopgap until they develop one of the younger guys.

We only need Porter to be a one year rental. He'll do just fine in that role.

 

[kerouac9]

I was thinking the same thing when reading the posts about how Foote being better against the run will more than make up for losing Dansby's coverage skills in a league everyone knows is a passing league now.

That's why to me a guy like Porter makes sense but Foote doesn't.

Well, someone has to play WILB during the early OTAs before the draft (I think there's one minicamp, right? Or is that just if teams change HCs?). And if you're depending on an early draft pick to play there, you're begging for Calvin Pace/Levi Brown.

I don't mind bringing Foote in, especially now that Fujita's off the market (I'm guessing that because the Cards didn't make a run at him they're banking on drafting an LB early). But I don't really think posters are being realistic in saying that Foote is an upgrade of Dansby at any situation. Foote could play for free and he'd be a significant downgrade over Dansby.

You're using one game and making a point of it. We lost our second best player in coverage (Dansby) when he 'lead us' to the worst post season ever for a secondary.

Don't use one game to make a point.

Yeah... and Dansby was the guy who got the INT that won the first game. I'm pretty sure he also defensed a pass that opened up the early lead on an INT, right? I don't mind using that one game to make a point. It's not Dansby's fault that Michael Adams is 5'8" and every team in the NFL knew it; it's also not Dansby's fault that two of our starting DBs went down in the Saints game.

Dansby ended up matched up on Marques Colston in that Saints game. Do you think that Larry Foote could match up on Colston?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Read somewhere that McClain ranked #80 in total tackles last year.

That sounds really low for an MLB. I know he played on real good Alabama defense, but does that throw up a red flag or has everyone seen enough of him to overlook this?

Overlook it. He's a flat out stud LB. Whoever(team picking at 26 ) drafts him is getting an impact starter from day 1. He could easily be DROY next year.

 

[kerouac9]

Overlook it. He's a flat out stud LB. Whoever(team picking at 26 ) drafts him is getting an impact starter from day 1. He could easily be DROY next year.

Careful. Is he a better prospect than A.J. Hawk was? Or Derrick Johnson?