Pre-Season Week 1: Thoughts & Roster

[Mitch]

QB (3): Palmer; Stanton; Thomas

It seems very clear that Ryan Lindley (to this point) is out of the picture.

RB (4): Ellington; Taylor; Dwyer; Hughes

It will be interesting to see if Zach Bauman can challenge for a roster spot.

TE (4): Carlson; Ballard; Niklas; Housler

Darren Fells has been receiving praise---could Housler be a trading chip?

OL (9): Veldheer; Cooper; Sendlein; Fanaika; Massie; Potter; Watford; Larsen; Starks

Adding Starks gives BA and the team a stronger sense of security in terms of depth with Starks' ability to play both tackle spots. Cooper has been called out which seems a little early after just one week...but BA is all about accountability and no one gets a free pass on that accord. Anthony Steen could be gaining some ground and I get the sense that BA & HC like T Kevin Palmer as a PS candidate.

WR (5): Fitzgerald; Floyd; Ginn Jr.; Brown (John); Brown (Juron)

Been hearing good things about Walt Powell and Brittan Golden---either of whom can make a case for keeping 6 WRs. At this point, 5 WR seems more likely, but it's also quite possible that BA will go with 8 OL, especially since Starks can play both tackle spots.

NT (2): Williams; Tupou

Last thing the team need is Williams to have a bad knee, especially now that he appears to be in very good shape. Tupou is banged up some too. Amp McCloud might be charging. Hopefully, Ta'amu can be ready sooner rather than later.

DE (5): Dockett; Campbell; Rucker; Martin; Stinson

Stinson is not a lock just yet and needs to play well in the games.

ILB (4): Minter; Foote; Demens; Alexander

Carson is making some noise, but one gets the sense that another player or even two may be added via trade or waivers. Demens may very well work his way into the starting lineup if he outplays Foote.

OLB (5): Shaughnessy; Abraham; Acho; Benard; Okafor

The situation here is in flux, with Abraham being absent from camp (not sure what kind of shape he's in, to boot). Acho has been very active in camp thus far. Okafor has been so-so. Steve Keim added another speed rusher in claiming Trevardo Williams off waivers. Williams' 30 sacks at UConn is a program record---and he had 3 1/2 sacks for the Texan in pre-season last year before injuring his ankle and being placed on the IR. Curious as to why the Texans released his the day he came off the PUP---it could be they think he will only get injured again. Williams is only 6-1, 237, but he is has the edge speed you can't teach. The other OLB rusher they added, Derrell Johnson of East Carolina, is 6-2, 250, and is a good bull rusher who can shed and get to the QB with a burst---at least at the college level. Haven't heard much about Adrian Tracy and these two new additions would suggest that the coaches are searching for roster talent.

CB (5): Peterson; Cromartie; Powers; Bethel; Williams (Teddy)

Williams gets the nod thus far over McCann---but that could change, especially if McCann proves his value covering the slot.

S (4): Johnson; Jefferson; Bucannon; Taylor (Curtis)

Haven't heard much buzz about Anthony Walters as of yet, and Taylor has been making plays.

ST (3): Catanzaro; Leach; Zastudil

I get the sense that they really like this kid Catanzaro.

Last 5 In:

T Potter
TE Housler
NT Tupou
CB Williams
S Taylor

First 5 Out:

TE Fells
T Sowell
WR Powell
DT Gaston
CB McCann




It will be interesting to see what players make a charge the Saturday night!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Can't argue with any of that.

All I can say, is bring on the 1st preseason game.

 

[dylanbw]

Thanks for these thoughts Mitch. What do you think we could get for Housler? I still have hopes for him, but my 10 year old son recently reminded me, "...last season you cursed a lot when Rob Housler was in the game"....so there's always that too....

 

[Shaggy]

I still think Lindley will play in the 1st preseason game.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Keim obersevations: 8-4-14

– He thought Kevin Minter’s showing Saturday, especially in the live goal line drill, was an example of why Minter’s game will help the Cards so much against the run.

– He likes what he has seen in the growth from running back Andre Ellington and Michael Floyd and is intrigued by the battle for fifth receiver between Jaron Brown and Walt Powell.

– Keim liked how Bobby Massie has looked in practice. The comments around Massie are 180 degrees from what decision-makers were saying about him a year ago.

– He’s excited how physical rookie safety Deone Bucannon has been once the pads went on. “My man looks like he’s possessed out there, to the point where Bruce has had to pull him asisde and remind him he can’t hurt our own players,” Keim said.

 

[Mitch]

The players BA just lauded in his presser for the job they did in the goalline scrimmage on Saturday:

1. TE Darren Fells---said he was knocking defenders backward and is really firing off the ball.

2. DT Bruce Gaston---said he "made a name for himself" and how physical he was in the trenches. BTW---I had reported how good Gaston looked in the college all-star action last January, so this does not surprise so much. What surprises me is why he wasn't drafted. This kid is big and athletic. Plus, playing along side of Kawann Short at Purdue in 2011 and 2012 gave Gaston a role model to inspire him.

3. RB Robert Hughes---again, getting high praise.

4. RB Jonathan Dwyer---said he excelled in the goalline and reiterated that "I knew he would."

So---I am going to go back and add Gaston's name to the First 5 Out---because he now is squarely in the conversation at DT, especially with Williams hurting, Ta'amu still on PUP and no one else getting high praise from the head coach.

I am not going to go as far as putting Fells in for Housler just yet. But---it's situations like the 2 TE formation of the goalline that win TEs in BA's system jobs and Fells is thus far getting it done.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, good thing you added the post above, because I was going to jump all over you for omitting Gaston. I didn't know a thing about him until you hyped him a few months back. And in watching the goal line video on the official Cards' site, he caught my attention, as he played pretty well. I see him backing up Williams until Ta'Amu returns.

 

[AZCrazy]

Presuming they keep Starks, we'll have a one in, one out battle between Potter and Sowell. Sowell looks a little higher in skill set, Potter is more versatile. What do you guys think about these two?

 

[Garthshort]

AZCrazy, that's pretty much how I see it.

 

[Garthshort]

I've watched a lot of snippets from various practices, and must say that I've been impressed with the play of Carson Palmer. He gets the ball out quickly, and seems to know where he wants to go with the ball. I understand this is not game action, but last year, imo, he was a lot more tentative. Have to see how he does against the Texans.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Presuming they keep Starks, we'll have a one in, one out battle between Potter and Sowell. Sowell looks a little higher in skill set, Potter is more versatile. What do you guys think about these two?

If we're going based on the available information, I think the indicators point to Potter in, Sowell out. He (Sowell) has clearly played himself down the depth chart. Arians has at least praised Potter's football intelligence and versatility in the past few months and has beaten up on Sowell's lack of growth.

I think the team expected that Sowell would rise to the challenge to being the combo tackle backup, but he has failed thus far.