Realistic expectations for 2007 season

[blindseyed]

K9 got me thinking (that's scary...lol) What are your REALISTIC expectaions for this season?

 

[blindseyed]

By the way, I'm actually expecting 4 to 6 wins, this is a new team, new coach. I just don't see us gettin to .500 this year although I would be ecstatic if we did

 

[mjb21aztd]

I think this team has the talent to reach the playoffs this year with Leinart, Edge, Boldin, Fritzgearld granted our oline is still a little weak but with Grimm as the oline coach I think we will see a great improvment. We have also been in rebuild mode forever its time to change that RIGHT NOW THIS SEASON

 

[blindseyed]

I think this team has the talent to reach the playoffs this year with Leinart, Edge, Boldin, Fritzgearld granted our oline is still a little weak but with Grimm as the oline coach I think we will see a great improvment. We have also been in rebuild mode forever its time to change that RIGHT NOW THIS SEASON

I agree that we have the talent and Grimm will be coach up this O-Line, I just don't see a miracle this year. Now, like I said, if we do go to .500 or better I will be giddy but I'm not gettin my hopes up this year

 

[Shane]

By the way, I'm actually expecting 4 to 6 wins, this is a new team, new coach. I just don't see us gettin to .500 this year although I would be ecstatic if we did

Sorry but that really is just an excuse. Teams do it all the time. The Bengals did it with their new coach, The Bears with theirs, The Saints with theirs, The Jets with theirs!

Lets not make excuses to justify another shiddy season because there arent any.

 

[blindseyed]

Sorry but that really is just an excuse. Teams do it all the time. The Bengals did it with their new coach, The Bears with theirs, The Saints with theirs, The Jets with theirs!

Lets not make excuses to justify another shiddy season because there arent any.

I'm not makin an excuse Shane. If you bothered to read my other post, you'd know that.I'm not gettin my hopes up like years past but since you bring it up along with 1st year successes you also have the Sabans, Kotites, and Spurriers. And what 1st year coaches have the Cards brought in the past few years to give you this abundant optimism?
So let me say t again so you don't have to go back and re-read, I would be happy beyond belief if we go over .500 BUT do not EXPECT it this year

 

[joeshmo]

I think the 2nd half of the season we go 6-2, but the first half is going to be pretty grueling at a 1-7 or 2-6 mark. And here is my reasoning.

4 new starting OL = first part of the season looking for cohesion, identity as a unit, and learning curve.

7 defensive starters playing brand new positions (Dockett, Watson, Smith, Hayes, Dansby, Okeafer, Berry) = learning curve, growing pains and possible not even being suited for their new roles.

So I think 7-9 is pretty realistic.

 

[abomb]

7 or 8 wins.

 

[Cheesebeef]

six wins, most of which where we'll already have been eliminated from serious playoff contention and at least 4 agonizing, board-meltdown losses.

 

[BigRedRage]

Cowboys suck.

800 would be nice, I expect playoffs and 10-6 or better but can settle with par knowing things are moving up.

I think our team is better than the steelers bowl team except our line sucks so we dont win.

 

[Gambit]

six wins, most of which where we'll already have been eliminated from serious playoff contention and at least 4 agonizing, board-meltdown losses.

"History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Then umpteenth as Cardinals-esque."

 

[kerouac9]

I think the 2nd half of the season we go 6-2, but the first half is going to be pretty grueling at a 1-7 or 2-6 mark. And here is my reasoning.

4 new starting OL = first part of the season looking for cohesion, identity as a unit, and learning curve.

7 defensive starters playing brand new positions (Dockett, Watson, Smith, Hayes, Dansby, Okeafer, Berry) = learning curve, growing pains and possible not even being suited for their new roles.

So I think 7-9 is pretty realistic.

I really think that a 6-2 record to end the season is tough. That's when injuries tend to set in, and this team still doesn't have the depth to withstand them. I think that 1-7 or 2-6 is a likely start, but 4-4 is closer, but with a 3-1 December, I think we could be pretty happy going into next season.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to the team if/when they go into the tank early in the season.

 

[JS22]

7-9, possibly 8-8.

Realistically this is a fairly decent team, but it's a matter of putting it all together, which the Cardinals have trouble doing. Though I do like the coaching change.

Good luck this season Cardinal fans!

 

[Shane]

I'm not makin an excuse Shane.

Sure you are. I bolded the excuses for not expecting anything better than 4-6 wins in your other post above the one I quoted in my first response. Thats certainly how it reads.

No cards fan in their right mind expects better than .500 ball any given year. We would all be ecstatic if we achieved that wouldnt we?

 

[English on tour]

i really think we go .500 this year if we stay fit, this 3-4 D will win us as many games as it loses us early on.

 

[BACH]

I think this team has the talent to reach the playoffs this year with Leinart, Edge, Boldin, Fritzgearld granted our oline is still a little weak but with Grimm as the oline coach I think we will see a great improvment. We have also been in rebuild mode forever its time to change that RIGHT NOW THIS SEASON

I agree. The talent is there, but it will take some time to get everything clicking. I'm thinking a type of season like the 49'ers last season, where the team is in every game in the second half of the season. But perhaps a game or two better because of better talent. I'm optimisticly expecting a 9 - 7 season.

 

[Bobcat]

7 or 8 wins.

I am the first one to say that we will win 10+ games this year. We really have so much talent on this team for the first time in many years; and this includes our new coaching staff. What a find in Lott, Whiz, Russ, Landry, Prendy, et al. It is about time that we start believing in our team. I know that for some of us it is going to be hard, but heck, why not start now.


BOBCAT

 

[Stout]

I think we manage to make it to 9-7 this time around, in the same manner we did the last time we made the playoffs. We're going to win some close ones. Let's just hope the front office doesn't screw the team up like it did in '99!

 

[JeffGollin]

"Realistic?" Realistic! You kidding me?

Seriously, I don't believe there's such a thing as realistic expectations in pro football, and this cuts both ways (any NFL team could do better than expected. Or worse).

This goes double or triple for the Cardinals since we are a fairly young team that seems to be perennially in flux. Based on previous track record, we should suck once again. On paper, we're a playoff team. Based on trend, we're on the uptick. Add to this the the whimsical nature of the injury gods and the pluses and minuses of other teams in our division (and then throw in an oblong shaped ball that bounces funny) and your guess is as good as mine.

But realistic? Realistic!....

 

[seesred]

If we can stay close in our games we will win our share. IMO we have great things going for us.

A new improved O-line we have upgraded center LT, and at least one spot on the right + Grimm

An improved defense with some very good players. Improved CB(Hood or Green) and a years worth of expierance for Rolle.

I like the 3-4 it plays IMO to our strenghts. A few very good pass rushers and a good combination on the line.

Very active linebackers, and potentially great Safetys, well at least one.

A QB who is beyond his one years expierance and came on strong at years end, great WR's and a RB with a blocking FB.

Special teams that will be special with great new additions.

Coaches, coaches, coaches. No matter what they do they will be heads and shoulders above what we had!


I honestly believe that 8-10 wins if we stay healthy at key positions is in the Cards.

GBR
40

 

[slanidrac16]

For us to win 9 games just about EVERYTHING would have to go right. A good start, no injuries, and the right bounces will have to happen.....and that just doesn't happen to this organization.

We will struggle early with a new system, especially the major changes on defense going to a 3-4 set.
I'm afraid of a bit of a slow start as we play it a little close to the vest much like the Steelers do every year. September could turn out to be 1-3 or 0-4 month. I see us struggling to a 2-5 going into November. We will play close to .500 over the last 9 games (4-5) to end up at 6-10.
I think we will be in most of our games and we will look back on 3 or 4 games that were winnable and the reason we did not make the playoffs in 2007.
The improved coaching and game management will be a pleasant thing to watch but not enough to get us over the hump this year.

 

[Ryanwb]

5-11 baby!!

 

[football karma]

I am not buying the "new coach automatically equals poor record"

I am not saying its not a factor, but there have been lots of brand new coaches that improved their teams prospects in their first year. Set aside the now overused Jets and Saints examples -- how bout:

1. The Rams in Scott Linehan's first year went 8-8 after Mike Martz's 6-10 final campaign. Better offensive continuity, but offensive line questions and a horrific defense.

2. The Bills went 7-9 in a pretty tough division and conference after 5-11 in 2005. Brand new Qb and offense that year.

3. Mike Malarkey and the Packers went 8-8 after 4-12 the year before. Totally new offense, wide outs and a very young defense.

All those teams had some pretty serious question marks as well as lots of offseason changes. Granted, none made the playoffs, but it wasnt a disaster either.

I basing my optimism on two things:

1. I beleive that this team will be much better coached than last year,
2. It seems that the Cards will finally have a QB they can count on to make far more good plays than bad.

 

[lobo]

I just don't buy into our losing games because of stupid decisions by the sideline generals...yeah we will lose our share of games but the comments we will see won't start with "so and so sucks and is an idiot" If we lose tough close games so be it, not because someone forgot to bring the bullets as we are stuck in a foxhole! 8 game minimum, 10 game maximum

 

[Mitch]

Right now...the only focus should be beating the 49ers in game one, to go 1-0. One game at a time.