Positive thinking

[Chris_Sanders]

Right now I feel like we are neutral to slightly above last year.

We have improved at TE, LT, LG, WR, CB, and S

We have REALLY lost at ILB

Our run defense will suffer It is just a fact.

Our pass defense will improve and our offense should be much improved

It is more than a Wash...literally and figuratively. I still expect 9 wins and I hope to compete for a wild card.

 

[gmabel830]

How long it takes Ta'amu and especially Honey Badger to get back from their injuries is also something that needs to be factored in, as well.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I am thinking positively...positively disheartened by the upcoming season.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

That is why I actually like the early bye week. I would expect both after that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Right now I feel like we are neutral to slightly above last year.

We have improved at TE, LT, LG, WR, CB, and S

We have REALLY lost at ILB

Our run defense will suffer It is just a fact.

Our pass defense will improve and our offense should be much improved

It is more than a Wash...literally and figuratively. I still expect 9 wins and I hope to compete for a wild card.

This is where I'm at. If Carson looks like he did the second half of last season, with these weapons and upgrades on the line, I think we can be a top 5 offense, with our D falling to the middle of the pack. Basically a switcheroo from last year. We'll still challenge for a playoff birth and it will be a fun season, but a Super Bowl doesn't look like it's in the cards (man, I'm using lots of puns today).

 

[Goldfield]

Yea MLB got gutted pretty quickly. I believe we improved most everywhere else. It will be interesting.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Right now I feel like we are neutral to slightly above last year.

We have improved at TE, LT, LG, WR, CB, and S

We have REALLY lost at ILB

Our run defense will suffer It is just a fact.

Our pass defense will improve and our offense should be much improved

It is more than a Wash...literally and figuratively. I still expect 9 wins and I hope to compete for a wild card.

I'm not too concerned about our run 'D' as it's predicated on the play of our front 3 and our OLB's holding the edge.

It's the short passing over the middle that concerns me.

 

[kerouac9]

Right now I feel like we are neutral to slightly above last year.

We have improved at TE, LT, LG, WR, CB, and S

We have REALLY lost at ILB

Our run defense will suffer It is just a fact.

Our pass defense will improve and our offense should be much improved

It is more than a Wash...literally and figuratively. I still expect 9 wins and I hope to compete for a wild card.

Hm... I don't know how much losing Washington is going to hurt our run defense. I think our run defense is going to suffer because Dansby's gone and Ta'amu is hurting. It's going to be a problem; I think you're right about that.

As for the pass defense... I don't know. Having a Top 5 ILB is a only slightly larger impact as having a Top 5 punter on your team. Losing Washington is a problem because we lose a top player at any position, and perhaps our best pass rusher.

I think we're counting chickens on offensive improvement. I think we can expect better production from QB and RB because we'll have known quantities there, but TE and WR? Arians said at the start of OTAs that he was surprised how little Ginn has practiced at wide receiver, even as a veteran. Brown is a completely unknown quantity at this point. At tight end, Housler is known to be mediocre, Carlson didn't see 50% of Minnesota's snaps when they were starting QBs who were begging to get rid of the ball quickly, and Niklas isn't going to have an offseason program.

The basement for this team should remain 8-8 from a fan's expectations perspective, though.

 

[D-Dogg]

Run D will be fine IMO, no worries there at all. In fact, Minter is good at run D but not much else.. Maybe not best in the league again, but not middle of the pack either.

What we lose is the short passing coverage and ability to cover that intermediate route and jump the routes, causing picks in great position. Wash and Dansby were both excellent at that aspect. Speed to the edge was Wash's other strength, with amazing lateral quickness that helped box in the outside running plays, but we'll be able to overcome that loss. Middle of the field coverage is going to be tough though...thought you didn't like TEs burning us before?

 

[DoTheDew]

The real question is how much can we get away with using packages that don't have 2 ILBs? Our OLBs aren't great either, but once TM comes back from injury, we'll have great depth at safety and Buchanon is the type of heavy hitting, athletic safety who might be able to play the "monster" a little.

It's obvious at this point that the base 3-4 isn't going to be our ideal package.

 

[Buckybird]

I don't think you can take off 3 of its best players on the strongest part of your team & call it a wash. Yeah we've improved offensively in 2 spots IMO, but as of today we've lost ground on everyone within our division.

 

[SeattleCard]

DWash and Dansby were an incredible combo. Now that both are gone I think we are slightly below last year. That said, the gains we have on the OL with Jared and Coop give reason for hope. If Minter plays lights out and we find someone to fill DWash's role that is halfway decent, we might be OK, but losing him hurts big time.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Middle of the field coverage is going to be tough though...thought you didn't like TEs burning us before?

I'd like to think Cro and Buchanon will help with that, but maybe I'm rationalizing.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Our pass defense will suffer as a result of DW gone from the team. We saw that last year when he missed 4 games at the beginning of the year. Results with and without DW last year:

https://www.numberfire.com/nfl/news/2301/the-impact-of-daryl-washington-s-suspension-the-arizona-cardinals-won-t-be-the-same

I still have hopes that Bowles and the rest of the coaching staff will take what we have and come up with an effective scheme. They have a better grasp on what DW brought to the Bowles defense---and will have a better understanding on how to make up the slack. We are getting Okafor back at DE to improve the pass rush, can bring DBuc up into the back for pass protection. A couple of other LBs are coming back---remember last year we lost two OLB in one game which brought in Shan and JA. We have enough situational role players to still field a good pass defense.

Our run D should be OK. Minter was a run-stopping beast in college and was rated #1-or-#2 at the ILB. Foote is a vet who will fit right in with the run D.

I've talked myself into acceptance (what else can you do? LOL)

 

[GimmedaBall]

Let's hope that both the Seahags and the Whiners come back to the pack. The Hags lost a lot of their rotational players at CB/DL and also Tate at WR. Whiners are having to rebuild their entire DB group.

Next man up for the Cards. We have improved over last year's roster---even with the loss of Dansby and DW.

 

[seesred]

I agree with most we have many improved areas. Offensive line.Te ,wr,defensive backfield. Yes we are going to have to see Minor and Foote in pre season and there will be some drop off. We have a good team IMO that will take us to the playoffs. We must be at this years super bowl.

GBR
40

 

[Finito]

Oh yes we are better than last year we've improved everywhere else on the field. Our secondary will be much improved with Bucannon and Cromartie we still have CC, Dockett and Williams up front our linebackers will have to step up I do have faith in Kevin Minter I know some dont but he was a flat out stud at LSU and no rookie would have cracked that lineup. We get Acho and Okafor back jurecki says they are very happy with Okafor and I loved that pick when it was made.

Our offense should improve by leaps and bounds. Another year of learning the system. The continued evolution of Micheal Floyd. I expect Ellington to have a Marshal Faulk type role in this offense. The offensive line is improved greatly with a legit LT and the return of Cooper we got better at tight end.

And the player I really really have my eye on John Brown that pick got nothing but love from all those draft gurus Kiper, Mayock, McShay all loved the pick and I know it's early but your hearing nothing but good things

I have faith

 

[CT Card Fan]

More Positive Thinking

Here's to hoping that if there was any chance that HB would slip and not stay clean, at least there is a perfect example, up close and personal, of what can happen if you don't.

Can't find many football positives on this so I'll reach for this.

 

[Jim Otis]

This could have happened in late August , after DWash used up all those first team reps , but it happened now so the next man up can set his priorities now. I see that as a positive .

 

[Bert]

Our pass defense will suffer as a result of DW gone from the team. We saw that last year when he missed 4 games at the beginning of the year. Results with and without DW last year:

https://www.numberfire.com/nfl/news/2301/the-impact-of-daryl-washington-s-suspension-the-arizona-cardinals-won-t-be-the-same

I still have hopes that Bowles and the rest of the coaching staff will take what we have and come up with an effective scheme. They have a better grasp on what DW brought to the Bowles defense---and will have a better understanding on how to make up the slack. We are getting Okafor back at DE to improve the pass rush, can bring DBuc up into the back for pass protection. A couple of other LBs are coming back---remember last year we lost two OLB in one game which brought in Shan and JA. We have enough situational role players to still field a good pass defense.

Our run D should be OK. Minter was a run-stopping beast in college and was rated #1-or-#2 at the ILB. Foote is a vet who will fit right in with the run D.

I've talked myself into acceptance (what else can you do? LOL)

Hard to accept those numbers at face value. DWaste is huge in our defense no doubt, but I think those numbers are skewed by the fact that we had a new DC, the defense was still adjusting to the new system.

The entire defense looked worlds better when you compare week 1-4 to week 12-16.

See, I will talk myself into acceptance here at some point too!

 

[WildBB]

Right now I feel like we are neutral to slightly above last year.

We have improved at TE, LT, LG, WR, CB, and S

We have REALLY lost at ILB

Our run defense will suffer It is just a fact.

Our pass defense will improve and our offense should be much improved

It is more than a Wash...literally and figuratively. I still expect 9 wins and I hope to compete for a wild card.

We have no reason but to think positive right now.

Players will step up, especially when your dealing with a situation right from the get go.

ILB is probably one of the more easy positons to grab a hold of a fill adaquately in a 3/4.

We usually run multiple D alignments anyhow.

Keep the O-line in tact and we have a good chance to do some damage again.

 

[TJ]

The o-line on paper appears to be improved from last season and we have a dynamic RB in Ellington. With all of the weapons and more time for Palmer to make decisions, there's a good chance the offense can offset the deficits on defense.

 

[desertdawg]

The o-line on paper appears to be improved from last season and we have a dynamic RB in Ellington. With all of the weapons and more time for Palmer to make decisions, there's a good chance the offense can offset the deficits on defense.

Word.

 

[Cardiac]

Good thread and OP Chris.

D-Weed will be missed but I agree with the roster improvements you listed that were made this offseason.

Just having a real LT is HUGE. K-9 has posted that the ILBer position is incredibly easy to fill so Minter and whoever will fill in and Bowles will scheme accordingly.

I do have a concern that our LBer position has been reduced to one proven playmaker and Old Abe is like 35 yrs old. Shaughnessy is great against the run but not a playmaker IMHO. Acho is solid and that's the most we can expect from Foote at this point in his career. No LBer drafted this year (well maybe Martin) so a team that runs a 3-4 D has gone from 3 playmakers on the unit to 1 old one.

 

[82CardsGrad]

We lose Dansby and D-weed and our run game isn't gonna suffer?? Don't get that logic at all...
Opposing teams will figure out quickly how to get mismatches against our LB's with their TE's and RB's slipping out if the backfield. It won't be pretty. I see us having to blitz way more than we would like in order to get pressure and move the.QB around, as well as to help against the run.. Which will create opportunities for the opposing offense...

Our offense better be improved...


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