Positions in question.

[RugbyMuffin]

Feel free to add any positions. I see these four positions being the ones that are both the most questionable AND have the biggest mystery of who the start will be. I know there are plenty of other "questionable" positions but at least in those other positions we know who the starter will be.

Here are my four

TE:

DE: - The opposite DE from Dockett

FS:

CB: - Opposite of Rod Hood, and 3rd stringer

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think all but about 7 or 8 positions are in question.

QB, RB, WR, WR, SS, MLB, RG, RT.
The rest are up in the air.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

TE: I have no idea. I hope L.Pope comes out of no where and makes HUGE strides toward becoming a complete player at TE. What worries me is that Fred Wakefield needed to play yet another position because our TE's were so bad. Plus Ben "My leg hurts" Patrick has not been able to show us anything and there has to be a reason he went in the 7th round. Guys like Breinemen and Euhus are vets with little experience. This position, especially with questionable talent at tackle (at least for now), has me the most worried. And after that long ramble, I still don't have a clue who is going to be out there opening day.

DE: I personally like Antonio Smith. He is a hard worker and that has been proven by his climb from practice squad to 2nd string. I also like the fact he is a play maker, and the only knock I got on him is he can be inconsistant. But this is strictly a personal preference. Many say Alan Branch can play here, but I like him better at NT. Then there is C.Cooper, Ross K., and a host of NFL vets that can challenge him for the job.

FS: I know a lot of ASFN'ers like Aaron Fransisco. I do too, but I would rather have Terrence Holt out on the field. I like having a player who is a little faster, quicker, and better in coverage as our center fielder. Truth be told in fantasy land I would want a 27 year old Robert Griffith out there, but that is just crazy talk. Fransisco will get his reps in when the Cardinals are in the 3 saftey nickel package, but he makes me nervous is coverage, especially deep coverage.

CB: Our corner back positions are full of Denny Green players. I don't think there is a CB on this team that doesn't make me nervous. Rolle hasn't shown he is a first round talent is has been getting beat up consistantly. Eric Green has been beaten pillar to post. Rod Hood is promising. He has been given mixed reviews in Philly so we will have to wait and see. Many are high on Patrick Hunter but to me he is a mystery. Then there is Ralph Brown who sounds like a depth signing. The only thing I am certain about when it comes to the CB position is that I will not be upset if Antrel Rolle is not starting at CB at the start of the season.

---------------------------------------------------- Put in after post #11-------------------------------------------------------

LT - Gandy may be assigned as the start but it was for OTA's. Let's put the pads on and see what happens. The biggest problem with Levi Brown is that he cannot play both tackle positions at once. Thus we are left with the "pick yout poison" situation of choosing between Gandy, Ross or some other guy that comes out of no where. I still will take any of these guys over Anthony Clement.

KR/PR - I know Breaston was drafted for this gig but his struggles are become very public. The organization is still talking about Mike Spurlock but I have yet to see anything that proves that this guy can do the job. Thus we are back to square one with JJ Arrington returning kicks and ????? returning punts.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think all but about 7 or 8 positions are in question.

QB, RB, WR, WR, SS, MLB, RG, RT.
The rest are up in the air.

Agreed.

But I think for most you can at least put a starter next to the position.

For example:

FB - T.Smith

Eventhough the talent level is questionable, it is a pretty sure bet Reggie Wells will be at LG and M.Gandy will be at LT.

The positions I lists, at least to me, are a mystery to who is starting and who is the best talent at the position.

 

[kerouac9]

Are you talking about where the best training camp competition is going to be, or where the Cards have the greatest questionmarks? I think the interesting training camp battles will be at:

ORT
LDE
FS
RCB (Across from Rolle, who I think still has the #1 job)

If you're talking about the positions where the Cards are the weakest and have the biggest question marks, it's probably easier to ask where they're settled:

RB
FB
QB
SR (Split Receiver)
FL (Flanker)
WR3
C
RG
NT
RILB
LILB
LOLB
SS
K
P
LS

 

[Pariah]

it's probably easier to ask where they're settled:

RB
FB
QB
SR (Split Receiver)
FL (Flanker)
WR3
C
RG
NT
RILB
LILB
LOLB
SS
K
P
LS

Just splitting hairs, but why is it easier to ask where they're settled? You've listed 13 O & D positions...more than half of the starting slots.

It would technically be easier to ask where they're in need.

 

[ajcardfan]

I don't think there is any doubt that they are 100%, absoutely, counting on Rolle to be one starting CB. Every story about the CB competition has said it's Green and Hood battling it out for the other slot.

 

[kerouac9]

Just splitting hairs, but why is it easier to ask where they're settled? You've listed 13 O & D positions...more than half of the starting slots.

It would technically be easier to ask where they're in need.

Um... I'm not really sure. Mostly because I think I'm tired of writing OLT, OLG, ORT, all 3 CB, etc., etc. I'm trying to keep it positive here.

But for those playing at home, of the starting positions in the base offense that we're likely to run (some sort of I-form with FB and 1 TE), we have 4 of 11 spots unsettled, and all 4 of them block most of the time (I'm counting the TE since we'll be running 55% of the downs, not counting Max Protect passing schemes.

On defense (I hope we can drop the "We're running a hybrid 4-3/3-4" nonsense at this point), we have 1 of 3 positions on the DL settled (we know that Branch/Watson are going to trade off at NT), 3 of 4 positions in the LB corps (I think we can be comfortable with Hayes, Dansby, and Okeafor), and 1 of 4 positions in the secondary (Wilson).

 

[football karma]

If you really boil it down to essentials:

1. Can Levi Brown play at an acceptable level? If so, things will probably work out. We know (or at least I beleive) that Wells can play tackle, and that Gandy can play guard -- so that switch is always available. If Brown isnt ready -- then Ross is at tackle. Not good.

2. Can the CBs cover? Was last year the product of bad technique/coaching, youth, late free safety help, etc -- or the product of having two CBs who arent very good?

If the Cards get positive answers to those two, then I think they can be a pretty good football team.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Are you talking about where the best training camp competition is going to be, or where the Cards have the greatest questionmarks? I think the interesting training camp battles will be at:

ORT
LDE
FS
RCB (Across from Rolle, who I think still has the #1 job)

The top half of your post is what I am talking about.

Yes, the best training camp competition. I kind of equate that with our positions with the biggest question marks.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think all but about 7 or 8 positions are in question.

QB, RB, WR, WR, SS, MLB, RG, RT.
The rest are up in the air.

Cool.

Let's see where we disagree on a few of these. Remember I am talking about positions where we don't know who is gonna start not how good the talent it a the position.

FB - Terrel Smith.
C - Al Johnson.
LG - Wells

LT - hmm, You know this is still debatable. I know Gandy is penciled in but that is OTA's. I think you could throw this position on the list

TE - already on the list

LDE - already on the list

NT - Branch/Watson
RDE - Dockett
OLB - B-Train
OLB - Okeafor
WILB - Dansby
SILB - Hayes

CB 1,2,3 &4 - on the list

SS- A.Wilson

FS- already on the list.

While were at it, throw KR/PR on the list since Breaston is "struggling"

You know looking at the starting line-up the team doesn't look to bad. Not great but not pathetically awful either.

 

[Skkorpion]

The one that still worries me is QB. Again, in this morning's paper, Whisenhunt and Leinart both admitted Matt is throwing the ball very poorly because his shoulder still is not healed.

Yet, Matt is going back to LA to veg out for the next two months and not do any throwing or weight lifting.

I harped on the severity of his injuries last year, his lack of weight lifting work at USC, and his propensity to injure easily. At USC he was hardly ever touched.

Our biggest problem is at the QB position.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Am I the only one that thinks that having both Berry and Okefor as the starting OLB's is just off?

 

[BigWatson]

DE: - The opposite DE from Dockett

Branch. Answered.

 

[kerouac9]

Branch. Answered.

I agree, but who backs up you on the 40% of defensive downs (conservatively) while you're catching wind?

 

[BigWatson]

You mean 15%. I'm in better shape now.

It should look like this:

---DE Dockett----NT Watson---DE Branch
---DE Lewis------NT Branch----DE Smith

 

[Buckybird]

Am I the only one that thinks that having both Berry and Okefor as the starting OLB's is just off?

I with you on this. I'm more worried about Berry than Chike. What happens the first time Frank Gore or Stephen Alexander catch a swing pass in the flat?

 

[Buckybird]

And if Dansby plays inside doesn't that keep Buster on the bench? If we are going to a full time play Berry at DE, Karlos on the outside and move Buster to the inside. Putting dansy in the middle reduces what he does best...blitz!!!

 

[kerouac9]

You mean 15%. I'm in better shape now.

It should look like this:

---DE Dockett----NT Watson---DE Branch
---DE Lewis------NT Branch----DE Smith

Ugh. Do Branch is going to be on the field for 80% of the offensive downs? You might be in better shape, but Branch hasn't had as much time to spend with Lott. The whole reason that he fell into the second round was because (according to our coaches) Branch was on the field too often.

Really, I'd like to see Watson and Branch on the field about half the time, except for Big packages like on the goal line. Ideally, we'd have Branch as an 80% of the time DE and Watson and Clancy rotating in at NT. Maybe Lewis will show more than I expect in training camp and we can still do that.

Lewis--I heard somewhere--put on some 30 lbs. I don't think that he's playing much DE at 6', 335. That's classic NT size.

 

[kerouac9]

And if Dansby plays inside doesn't that keep Buster on the bench? If we are going to a full time play Berry at DE, Karlos on the outside and move Buster to the inside. Putting dansy in the middle reduces what he does best...blitz!!!

What Dansby does best is run free. At 3-4 OLB, he'll be faced with OLTs, and he's too small to do that. He'll be better protected at RILB than I think you expect. He's also a good coverage player.

What I'll guess is that some times (maybe 20-30 percent of defensive downs), we'll feature Dansby-Buster-Hayes-Okeafor as the LBs.

 

[ajcardfan]

The one that still worries me is QB. Again, in this morning's paper, Whisenhunt and Leinart both admitted Matt is throwing the ball very poorly because his shoulder still is not healed.

Yet, Matt is going back to LA to veg out for the next two months and not do any throwing or weight lifting.

I harped on the severity of his injuries last year, his lack of weight lifting work at USC, and his propensity to injure easily. At USC he was hardly ever touched.

Our biggest problem is at the QB position.

Skkorp,

You didn't read that story very well. You got it almost 100% wrong.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/91101

 

[BigWatson]

Ugh. Do Branch is going to be on the field for 80% of the offensive downs? You might be in better shape, but Branch hasn't had as much time to spend with Lott. The whole reason that he fell into the second round was because (according to our coaches) Branch was on the field too often.

Really, I'd like to see Watson and Branch on the field about half the time, except for Big packages like on the goal line. Ideally, we'd have Branch as an 80% of the time DE and Watson and Clancy rotating in at NT. Maybe Lewis will show more than I expect in training camp and we can still do that.

Lewis--I heard somewhere--put on some 30 lbs. I don't think that he's playing much DE at 6', 335. That's classic NT size.

Branch was not even a "true" NT in college, so i really doubt he will get much playing time at NT. Plus it would be a waste of talent to have both of the guys at the nose. One guy backing up the other one. Doesn't make any sense to me. We need Watson to start at NT and we need Branch to start at DE.

BTW i didn't know Lewis actually gained over 30 pounds. That basically makes him a NT. I guess Rod Bailey could replace him at DE.

 

[Redsz]

I with you on this. I'm more worried about Berry than Chike. What happens the first time Frank Gore or Stephen Alexander catch a swing pass in the flat?

Tackle him for a loss? Chike Okeafor is one of the best run stopping DE's in the NFL and teams regulary get nothing when running off left end.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl2006.php

3.30 YPC off left end in 2006.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl2005.php

2.51 YPC off left end in 2005.

I'm taking a wait and see approach with Berry.

 

[kerouac9]

Branch was not even a "true" NT in college, so i really doubt he will get much playing time at NT. Plus it would be a waste of talent to have both of the guys at the nose. One guy backing up the other one. Doesn't make any sense to me. We need Watson to start at NT and we need Branch to start at DE.

BTW i didn't know Lewis actually gained over 30 pounds. That basically makes him a NT. I guess Rod Bailey could replace him at DE.

No, I agree with you that Branch is better suited to be DE. I said on another thread that I think that Branch could be a poor-man's Richard Seymour at DE. But the fact remains that the Cards aren't using him over there. He's taking all his snaps with 2nd team NT. Although one of the beat writers mentioned that he was memorizing the plays for DE.

Right now, I think that you'll see a rotation of Branch/Watson/Lewis at NT--at least to begin the season. Branch and Watson will probably combine for 90% of the defensive snaps (at least).

At DE, I think you'll see Dockett and Smith as the starters (though I still have severe doubts that Dockett can be happy/effective with two-gap responsibilities, I think he'll be more effective against the [comparitively] weaker OLTs than he would against RTs or OGs), with Cooper and Kolodziej coming in as backups.

I was a little surprised that the team didn't want to try Clancy at DE. I know that he's a little short, but you'd have to think that a front line of Branch-Watson-Clancy would be nearly impossible to run against.

 

[jefftheshark]

No, I agree with you that Branch is better suited to be DE. I said on another thread that I think that Branch could be a poor-man's Richard Seymour at DE. But the fact remains that the Cards aren't using him over there. He's taking all his snaps with 2nd team NT. Although one of the beat writers mentioned that he was memorizing the plays for DE.

Right now, I think that you'll see a rotation of Branch/Watson/Lewis at NT--at least to begin the season. Branch and Watson will probably combine for 90% of the defensive snaps (at least).

At DE, I think you'll see Dockett and Smith as the starters (though I still have severe doubts that Dockett can be happy/effective with two-gap responsibilities, I think he'll be more effective against the [comparitively] weaker OLTs than he would against RTs or OGs), with Cooper and Kolodziej coming in as backups.

I was a little surprised that the team didn't want to try Clancy at DE. I know that he's a little short, but you'd have to think that a front line of Branch-Watson-Clancy would be nearly impossible to run against.

So which guy is going to lined up at a 45 degree angle to the line of scrimmage?









The Shark