Really Unpopular Offseason Plan

[kerouac9]

Since people are putting together their offseason plans, I thought I'd put mine out there before we find out what are the initial dominoes to fall. This is a reasonable expectation of what the Cards should do, without (too many?) flights of fancy of what I hope they do.

1. Move Rod Graves to Asst. VP Football Operations. It's a lateral move/demotion that gives Graves a role in the organization on the business side, but removes him from input on the on-field product.

2. Promote Steve Keim to General Manager. I don't think there's anyone outside the organization that I'd want to bring in right now. Reportedly, Keim was a voice in the wilderness calling for Jay Cutler ahead of Matt Leinart, and for Adrian Peterson ahead of Levi Brown. Mike Jurecki says that Keim is firmly committed to BPA uber alles in the draft, which means that it's more important than ever that we hit good single and doubles in free agnecy.

3. Announce the pickup of Ken Whisenhunt's team option year on 2014 as part of a two-year extension through 2016. This isn't going to be very popular, but I think that it's important for two reasons: it gives players certainty over whom they're playing for and accountable to for the near future, and it allows us to recruit good and experienced coordinators knowing that there's continuity at the head coaching position. A new contract for Whis would allow him to have some security in return for giving up some contractual personnel authority; the team also agrees to put up a practice bubble by 2015 on the Cards' training facility--it's surprising that the Cards haven't bothered to do this while money has been really cheap the last three years.

Ken Whisenhunt is a good football coach. He took the talent of Denny Green and lead them to the Super Bowl with the anchor of Clancy Pendergast hanging around his neck. I don't get the indication that he's in over his head, or that he doesn't have structural answers to the problems this team faces. Because there isn't a clearly superior alternative to Whisenhunt out there right now, I'm happy moving forward with him.

4. Pending Arizona Cardinals Free Agents:

Michael Adams, CB - Re-sign, 2 years, $1.75 million
D'Anthony Batiste, OL
Nick Eason, DL - Re-sign, 2 years, $2.25 million
Mike Gibson, OG
Quentin Groves, OLB - Re-sign, 2 years, $5 million, $2.5 guaranteed
Vonnie Holliday, DL - Retired
Brian Hoyer, QB - Re-sign, 1 year, $1 million
Rashad Johnson, DB - Re-sign, 4 years, $6 million, $2.5 million guaranteed (Johnson has quitely played himself into a core member of this roster)
Paris Lenon, ILB - Re-sign, 1 year, $2 million
Pat McQuistan, OL
William Powell, RB (RFA) - Minimum tender
James Sanders, DB
Alfonso Smith, RB
LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB - Re-sign, 3 years, $3.25 million, $1 million guaranteed
Greg Toler, CB - Re-sign 3 years, $4 million, $2 million guaranteed​

5. Other current roster management:

Stewart Bradley, LB - Released, $2 million cap savings ($3 million dead money)
Kevin Kolb, QB - 2013 Salary Reduced to $4 million (from $9 million), 2013 roster bonus paid, 2013 Salary Cap value $9.9 million (from $14.9 million)
John Skelton, QB - Released, $650K cap savings ($45K dead money)​

6. Free Agency Needs & Wish List:

Offensive Guard - Love Andy Levitre (BUF), Like Eben Britton (JAX), Would Settle For Chris Spencer (CHI)
Outside Linebacker - Love Paul Kruger (BAL), Like Manny Lawson, Would Settle For Niko Koutovides (NE)
Inside Linebacker - Love Daryl Smith (JAX), Like Chase Blackburn (NYG), Would Settle For Dannell Ellerbe (BAL)
Defensive Line - Love Issac Sopoaga (SF), Like Shaun Cody (HOU), Would Settle For Maake Kemoeatu (BAL)
Tight End - Love Martellus Bennett (NYG), Like Delanie Walker (SF), Would Settle For Anthony Fasano (MIA)
​

7. 2013 NFL Draft

1 (9) - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas - Actually lines up with The Huddle Report's 12/1 value board ranking (which I use for evaluating who should go where). Wilson may not be great value here, but will sell some tickets and give fans something to hope for the future.
2 (41) - Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky - Massive (6'3", 343 lbs) offensive guard should fit right in on the right side next to Massie and allow more effective interior OL play and personnel flexibility.
3 (73) - Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M - Cards have to continue to add talent and players in the hope of finding some answers at the tailback position.​

So... I don't expect this plan to make a lot of people very happy, but I think this is a realistic path back to contention.

 

[az jam]

The Cardinals are a conservative organization so many of your choices might actually happen. I don't think they would give Whiz the option year at this time, that would cause too much negative reaction. Not saying they won't do it but perhaps wait till the summer.

Additionally what are your thoughts on the rest of the Cards coaching staff?

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Cardinals are a conservative organization so many of your choices might actually happen. I don't think they would give Whiz the option year at this time, that would cause too much negative reaction. Not saying they won't do it but perhaps wait till the summer.

Additionally what are your thoughts on the rest of the Cards coaching staff?

I don't think firing Whiz is a bad idea nor do I think keeping him is necessarily a bad idea. But, keeping him without extending him is a horrible idea for the very reasons K9 mentions. When has a lame duck coach ever succeeded? I'm sure it's happened a few times but it's stacking the deck for failure.

Steve

 

[az jam]

I don't think firing Whiz is a bad idea nor do I think keeping him is necessarily a bad idea. But, keeping him without extending him is a horrible idea for the very reasons K9 mentions. When has a lame duck coach ever succeeded? I'm sure it's happened a few times but it's stacking the deck for failure.

Steve

I could be wrong but I just don't see Michael Bidwill announcing that he is going to exercise Whiz's option year (2014) for $5.5 million dollars after this horrendous season. I'm not saying what is right or wrong just that I don't see it happening.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I could be wrong but I just don't see Michael Bidwill announcing that he is going to exercise Whiz's option year (2014) for $5.5 million dollars after this horrendous season. I'm not saying what is right or wrong just that I don't see it happening.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I knew you were just offering an opinion about what they would do not what they should do. I think they'd be much better off firing Whiz if they aren't willing to extend him and I'd be willing to bet that Mike knows this too. I think we've seen Mike drive this organization to the right decision before but unfortunately this is still the Bidwills we're talking about.

Steve

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I would like to see your opinions on offensive coaching? Would you force Whiz to make any changes? To me, that is the second biggest issue outside of personnel...

 

[jefftheshark]

I could see all of this happening, and I wouldn't have much of a problem with it either.

If I'm reading the Cardinal tea leaves correctly (a high risk/low reward proposition at best) then I think that they are trying to emulate the Steelers in more ways than just signing their cast-offs. The fact that Pittsburgh has had only 3 head coaches in like forever is very appealing to them. As has been pointed out, the Cards are a conservative organization - it's in their DNA to keep people around that they feel "comfortable" with. Moving Graves into lateral position just seems like something they would do.

Chopper, among others, made the point that the Cards are just a good QB away from being competitive. Maybe so. If the Bidwill family thinks similarly then I think this scenario is more probable than "unpopular".

Of course, I'm always wrong on this stuff so I hope that CKW hasn't purchased a lot of major appliances on installment.

JTS

 

[PDXChris]

Make James Campen from the Packers the OC and I love every part of this plan.

 

[kerouac9]

The Cardinals are a conservative organization so many of your choices might actually happen. I don't think they would give Whiz the option year at this time, that would cause too much negative reaction. Not saying they won't do it but perhaps wait till the summer.

Additionally what are your thoughts on the rest of the Cards coaching staff?

I would like to see your opinions on offensive coaching? Would you force Whiz to make any changes? To me, that is the second biggest issue outside of personnel...

Hard to say. I actually don't think that Horton is going to leave. I think that he might be a lifetime coordinator although he'll get a ton of interviews based on the Rooney Rule. There are going to be a grip of experienced head coaches on the open market; I expect that we're going to see a coaching carousel with only a couple of guys left standing when the music ends.

I think that the biggest conflict is going to be over firing Mike Miller, who has been awful at pretty much every aspect of his job, but has been shielded up to now by Whis. He has to go.

As for his replacement, I really don't have any ideas. I kind of want to see who gets fired first, and then be proactive and opportunistic with the opporuntities that arrive. The best thing that we could do is, IMO, see Lovie Smith get fired in Chicago and then hire Mike Tice as OC, and let Whis call the plays--which I kind of think he's good at.

The next question is "What about Russ Grimm?" The complaint about Russ Grimm is that our guys suck, and he's not making them better. Well, Batiste got better, and so did Potter. It may be a talent problem. We're dealing with the talent problem by bringing in a new general manager.

Grimm is under contract. I'd have him stay and give him some help in the form of Mike Tice or maybe Mike Munchak when he gets fired in Tennessee.

 

[Goldfield]

Since people are putting together their offseason plans, I thought I'd put mine out there before we find out what are the initial dominoes to fall. This is a reasonable expectation of what the Cards should do, without (too many?) flights of fancy of what I hope they do.

1. Move Rod Graves to Asst. VP Football Operations. It's a lateral move/demotion that gives Graves a role in the organization on the business side, but removes him from input on the on-field product.

2. Promote Steve Keim to General Manager. I don't think there's anyone outside the organization that I'd want to bring in right now. Reportedly, Keim was a voice in the wilderness calling for Jay Cutler ahead of Matt Leinart, and for Adrian Peterson ahead of Levi Brown. Mike Jurecki says that Keim is firmly committed to BPA uber alles in the draft, which means that it's more important than ever that we hit good single and doubles in free agnecy.

3. Announce the pickup of Ken Whisenhunt's team option year on 2014 as part of a two-year extension through 2016. This isn't going to be very popular, but I think that it's important for two reasons: it gives players certainty over whom they're playing for and accountable to for the near future, and it allows us to recruit good and experienced coordinators knowing that there's continuity at the head coaching position. A new contract for Whis would allow him to have some security in return for giving up some contractual personnel authority; the team also agrees to put up a practice bubble by 2015 on the Cards' training facility--it's surprising that the Cards haven't bothered to do this while money has been really cheap the last three years.

Ken Whisenhunt is a good football coach. He took the talent of Denny Green and lead them to the Super Bowl with the anchor of Clancy Pendergast hanging around his neck. I don't get the indication that he's in over his head, or that he doesn't have structural answers to the problems this team faces. Because there isn't a clearly superior alternative to Whisenhunt out there right now, I'm happy moving forward with him.

4. Pending Arizona Cardinals Free Agents:

Michael Adams, CB - Re-sign, 2 years, $1.75 million
D'Anthony Batiste, OL
Nick Eason, DL - Re-sign, 2 years, $2.25 million
Mike Gibson, OG
Quentin Groves, OLB - Re-sign, 2 years, $5 million, $2.5 guaranteed
Vonnie Holliday, DL - Retired
Brian Hoyer, QB - Re-sign, 1 year, $1 million
Rashad Johnson, DB - Re-sign, 4 years, $6 million, $2.5 million guaranteed (Johnson has quitely played himself into a core member of this roster)
Paris Lenon, ILB - Re-sign, 1 year, $2 million
Pat McQuistan, OL
William Powell, RB (RFA) - Minimum tender
James Sanders, DB
Alfonso Smith, RB
LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB - Re-sign, 3 years, $3.25 million, $1 million guaranteed
Greg Toler, CB - Re-sign 3 years, $4 million, $2 million guaranteed​

5. Other current roster management:

Stewart Bradley, LB - Released, $2 million cap savings ($3 million dead money)
Kevin Kolb, QB - 2013 Salary Reduced to $4 million (from $9 million), 2013 roster bonus paid, 2013 Salary Cap value $9.9 million (from $14.9 million)
John Skelton, QB - Released, $650K cap savings ($45K dead money)​

6. Free Agency Needs & Wish List:

Offensive Guard - Love Andy Levitre (BUF), Like Eben Britton (JAX), Would Settle For Chris Spencer (CHI)
Outside Linebacker - Love Paul Kruger (BAL), Like Manny Lawson, Would Settle For Niko Koutovides (NE)
Inside Linebacker - Love Daryl Smith (JAX), Like Chase Blackburn (NYG), Would Settle For Dannell Ellerbe (BAL)
Defensive Line - Love Issac Sopoaga (SF), Like Shaun Cody (HOU), Would Settle For Maake Kemoeatu (BAL)
Tight End - Love Martellus Bennett (NYG), Like Delanie Walker (SF), Would Settle For Anthony Fasano (MIA)
​

7. 2013 NFL Draft

1 (9) - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas - Actually lines up with The Huddle Report's 12/1 value board ranking (which I use for evaluating who should go where). Wilson may not be great value here, but will sell some tickets and give fans something to hope for the future.
2 (41) - Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky - Massive (6'3", 343 lbs) offensive guard should fit right in on the right side next to Massie and allow more effective interior OL play and personnel flexibility.
3 (73) - Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M - Cards have to continue to add talent and players in the hope of finding some answers at the tailback position.​

So... I don't expect this plan to make a lot of people very happy, but I think this is a realistic path back to contention.

I think this would be a very good start. If we sing a good guard, and draft another I am pretty happy.

Keeping Kolb at a lower price is fine, as long as we draft a QB to learn behind him because you know Kolb won't play a full season.. Having Kolb and a talented rookie gives us the best chance of winning.

Two talented guards would be a huge upgrade. But I don't see them replacing BOTH guards. Snyder looked good at center.

You put a lot of work into this and I think this is a legit off-season plan. I like it.

 

[Duckjake]

Hard to say. I actually don't think that Horton is going to leave. I think that he might be a lifetime coordinator although he'll get a ton of interviews based on the Rooney Rule. There are going to be a grip of experienced head coaches on the open market; I expect that we're going to see a coaching carousel with only a couple of guys left standing when the music ends.

I think that the biggest conflict is going to be over firing Mike Miller, who has been awful at pretty much every aspect of his job, but has been shielded up to now by Whis. He has to go.

As for his replacement, I really don't have any ideas. I kind of want to see who gets fired first, and then be proactive and opportunistic with the opporuntities that arrive. The best thing that we could do is, IMO, see Lovie Smith get fired in Chicago and then hire Mike Tice as OC, and let Whis call the plays--which I kind of think he's good at.

The next question is "What about Russ Grimm?" The complaint about Russ Grimm is that our guys suck, and he's not making them better. Well, Batiste got better, and so did Potter. It may be a talent problem. We're dealing with the talent problem by bringing in a new general manager.

Grimm is under contract. I'd have him stay and give him some help in the form of Mike Tice or maybe Mike Munchak when he gets fired in Tennessee.

You mean Massie?

Is the offensive line really getting any better? The Cards still can't run the ball and the sacks are down because the Cards have gone completely to mini dink and dunk passes* and still were sacked 4 times vs the Bears.

I just can't agree that it's just talent when the Cards had 4 of the 5 guys that blocked for the 2009 team in the playoffs vs Green Bay still on the roster and only one of them was playing the same position and two were on the bench behind Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith. Or when you see the exact same problems with the offensive line after numerous personnel changes.

*Yards per completion last 5 games: 6.3, 10.1, 7.0, 7.2, 8.7 (10 or more is what you should be getting.)

 

[b8rtm8nn]

You mean Massie?

Is the offensive line really getting any better? The Cards still can't run the ball and the sacks are down because the Cards have gone completely to mini dink and dunk passes* and still were sacked 4 times vs the Bears.

I just can't agree that it's just talent when the Cards had 4 of the 5 guys that blocked for the 2009 team in the playoffs vs Green Bay still on the roster and only one of them was playing the same position and two were on the bench behind Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith. Or when you see the exact same problems with the offensive line after numerous personnel changes.

*Yards per completion last 5 games: 6.3, 10.1, 7.0, 7.2, 8.7 (10 or more is what you should be getting.)

You could argue that the low YPC is a result of terrible QB play. You could also argue that there may be an issue with having a separate run game coordinator (Grimm) causing issues with the blocking schemes. If we were taking an incremental approach, I would like to see a 'real' OC installed and seeing if some of the OLine problems can be fixed through better personnel and schemes, removing Grimm of the run game coordinator responsibility (and getting rid of the Offensive QC coaches that do not seem to be working).

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Any plan that entails retaining Whisenhunt is a very bad plan,

 

[binkar]

Since people are putting together their offseason plans, I thought I'd put mine out there before we find out what are the initial dominoes to fall. This is a reasonable expectation of what the Cards should do, without (too many?) flights of fancy of what I hope they do.

1. Move Rod Graves to Asst. VP Football Operations. It's a lateral move/demotion that gives Graves a role in the organization on the business side, but removes him from input on the on-field product.

2. Promote Steve Keim to General Manager. I don't think there's anyone outside the organization that I'd want to bring in right now. Reportedly, Keim was a voice in the wilderness calling for Jay Cutler ahead of Matt Leinart, and for Adrian Peterson ahead of Levi Brown. Mike Jurecki says that Keim is firmly committed to BPA uber alles in the draft, which means that it's more important than ever that we hit good single and doubles in free agnecy.

3. Announce the pickup of Ken Whisenhunt's team option year on 2014 as part of a two-year extension through 2016. This isn't going to be very popular, but I think that it's important for two reasons: it gives players certainty over whom they're playing for and accountable to for the near future, and it allows us to recruit good and experienced coordinators knowing that there's continuity at the head coaching position. A new contract for Whis would allow him to have some security in return for giving up some contractual personnel authority; the team also agrees to put up a practice bubble by 2015 on the Cards' training facility--it's surprising that the Cards haven't bothered to do this while money has been really cheap the last three years.

Ken Whisenhunt is a good football coach. He took the talent of Denny Green and lead them to the Super Bowl with the anchor of Clancy Pendergast hanging around his neck. I don't get the indication that he's in over his head, or that he doesn't have structural answers to the problems this team faces. Because there isn't a clearly superior alternative to Whisenhunt out there right now, I'm happy moving forward with him.

4. Pending Arizona Cardinals Free Agents:

Michael Adams, CB - Re-sign, 2 years, $1.75 million
D'Anthony Batiste, OL
Nick Eason, DL - Re-sign, 2 years, $2.25 million
Mike Gibson, OG
Quentin Groves, OLB - Re-sign, 2 years, $5 million, $2.5 guaranteed
Vonnie Holliday, DL - Retired
Brian Hoyer, QB - Re-sign, 1 year, $1 million
Rashad Johnson, DB - Re-sign, 4 years, $6 million, $2.5 million guaranteed (Johnson has quitely played himself into a core member of this roster)
Paris Lenon, ILB - Re-sign, 1 year, $2 million
Pat McQuistan, OL
William Powell, RB (RFA) - Minimum tender
James Sanders, DB
Alfonso Smith, RB
LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB - Re-sign, 3 years, $3.25 million, $1 million guaranteed
Greg Toler, CB - Re-sign 3 years, $4 million, $2 million guaranteed​

5. Other current roster management:

Stewart Bradley, LB - Released, $2 million cap savings ($3 million dead money)
Kevin Kolb, QB - 2013 Salary Reduced to $4 million (from $9 million), 2013 roster bonus paid, 2013 Salary Cap value $9.9 million (from $14.9 million)
John Skelton, QB - Released, $650K cap savings ($45K dead money)​

6. Free Agency Needs & Wish List:

Offensive Guard - Love Andy Levitre (BUF), Like Eben Britton (JAX), Would Settle For Chris Spencer (CHI)
Outside Linebacker - Love Paul Kruger (BAL), Like Manny Lawson, Would Settle For Niko Koutovides (NE)
Inside Linebacker - Love Daryl Smith (JAX), Like Chase Blackburn (NYG), Would Settle For Dannell Ellerbe (BAL)
Defensive Line - Love Issac Sopoaga (SF), Like Shaun Cody (HOU), Would Settle For Maake Kemoeatu (BAL)
Tight End - Love Martellus Bennett (NYG), Like Delanie Walker (SF), Would Settle For Anthony Fasano (MIA)
​

7. 2013 NFL Draft

1 (9) - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas - Actually lines up with The Huddle Report's 12/1 value board ranking (which I use for evaluating who should go where). Wilson may not be great value here, but will sell some tickets and give fans something to hope for the future.
2 (41) - Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky - Massive (6'3", 343 lbs) offensive guard should fit right in on the right side next to Massie and allow more effective interior OL play and personnel flexibility.
3 (73) - Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M - Cards have to continue to add talent and players in the hope of finding some answers at the tailback position.​

So... I don't expect this plan to make a lot of people very happy, but I think this is a realistic path back to contention.

Thanks for putting this together. Obviously took some time. I actually quite like it, except for keeping Graves on board. I just think it confuses things and makes for some uncomfortable dynamics in the front office.

I've thought it was interesting this morning seeing that Keim and Licht were mentioned on the short list of nearly every GM opening. I think if we can just keep those two onboard, there is no reason to keep Graves. I'd rather allocate that money to bring a young, accomplished scout from another organization that can come here on a promotion.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I like he plan. Kruger would be my #1 FA target. I don't know about the RB from A&M as the 3rd round pick but that's neither here nor there. I prefer Gillislee in round 4 but that's splitting hairs.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So... The plan after the worst season in about a decade is to promote people and extend the coach's contract. Makes Cardinals sense to me.

 

[HoodieBets]

If we take tyler wilson with the 9th overall pick there should be riots going on at glendale hes not even one of the best 3 QB's in the draft. They would take Glennon over Wilson but unless Geno is there they wont draft a QB, they will go OL or DL.

 

[Duckjake]

You could argue that the low YPC is a result of terrible QB play. You could also argue that there may be an issue with having a separate run game coordinator (Grimm) causing issues with the blocking schemes. If we were taking an incremental approach, I would like to see a 'real' OC installed and seeing if some of the OLine problems can be fixed through better personnel and schemes, removing Grimm of the run game coordinator responsibility (and getting rid of the Offensive QC coaches that do not seem to be working).

Terrible QB play shouldn't affect the yards per completion like it would yards per attempt. It's more an indication of where the passes are being thrown.

 

[kerouac9]

So... The plan after the worst season in about a decade is to promote people and extend the coach's contract. Makes Cardinals sense to me.

IMO, this season is not worse than the 5-11 debacle that featured Max Hall starting multiple games.

But, you're right, that there isn't an ideal option to move forward that is going to appease those hungry for blood alone. I don't think we're in a situation with Whis like we were with McGinnis or Green when it was clear that they were unable to do the job or were unwilling to do so any longer.

If you think there is a coach out there who is a clear upgrade over Ken Whisenhunt, I'd be happy to discuss it.

Whis takes a demotion; Graves doesn't have a hand in football operations anymore--basically becomes Bill Bidwill's hand of the king. Grimm has his duties shared, and Mike Miller is gone.

It's really hard to evaluate either the coaching staff or the roster when the quarterback position is such a black hole. Let's replace the guys who are responsible for picking the QBs and then check back when we get a guy who can play.

 

[Cheesebeef]

IMO, this season is not worse than the 5-11 debacle that featured Max Hall starting multiple games.

But, you're right, that there isn't an ideal option to move forward that is going to appease those hungry for blood alone. I don't think we're in a situation with Whis like we were with McGinnis or Green when it was clear that they were unable to do the job or were unwilling to do so any longer.

The reason this 5-11 debacle of a season is worse then the year of Moxie, for me anyway, is that the year of Moxie was basically year 1 of what essentially was a complete rebuild... And three years later, even with improvements on D, the team is just as awful now as it was then.

1-11 down the stretch of season 3 of rebuilding, combine with a ton of REALLY questionable decisions made that you yourself have highlited, just have left me believing that whatever those major changes this team needs on offense ain't gonna happen with the exact set of eyes within the organization, just shuffled around.

 

[MrYeahBut]

K9, I know you said so, but do you really believe Keim is the best man for the job or just the easiest choice? I know others have said it, but I think it sure couldn't hurt to have someone from outside the org. I mean, Keim has been working for the Cards for, what, 13 years already. He very well could be entrenched in the way Cards have done business forever. Not sure that's a good thing.

As always, appreciate your hard work on your post.


.

 

[kerouac9]

The reason this 5-11 debacle of a season is worse then the year of Moxie, for me anyway, is that the year of Moxie was basically year 1 of what essentially was a complete rebuild... And three years later, even with improvements on D, the team is just as awful now as it was then.

1-11 down the stretch of season 3 of rebuilding, combine with a ton of REALLY questionable decisions made that you yourself have highlited, just have left me believing that whatever those major changes this team needs on offense ain't gonna happen with the exact set of eyes within the organization, just shuffled around.

Fair enough. But if you look at the actual results, we weren't that much worse than last year's 8-8 team. I think we had the same number of games decided by a TD or less; we just had much worse luck in those games. We even managed to have two wins by more than a TD, which I think is two more than we had last year.

I totally get your point of view. I'm just hesitant to shake things up without knowing that we'll be able to replace what we have with someone better. It's a weird position as a Cardinal fan to think that we could do worse, but in this case I think we really can. Do you trust Michael Bidwill or Bill Bidwill to make a better choice than the clowns we have now?

K9, I know you said so, but do you really believe Keim is the best man for the job or just the easiest choice? I know others have said it, but I think it sure couldn't hurt to have someone from outside the org. I mean, Keim has been working for the Cards for, what, 13 years already. He very well could be entrenched in the way Cards have done business forever. Not sure that's a good thing.

As always, appreciate your hard work on your post.


.

I think it's really, really hard to say from outside the organization if he's the best man for the job. If you want a single opinionated voice who is going to think that he knows better than the rest, Keim is probably your man.

I think that these days the Ozzie Newsome approach of being conservative and building consensus is probably better, but that hasn't seemed to work with Graves because, IMO, he's too deferential to the only guy who's been successful in this organization in Whisenhunt.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I think that these days the Ozzie Newsome approach of being conservative and building consensus is probably better, but that hasn't seemed to work with Graves because, IMO, he's too deferential to the only guy who's been successful in this organization in Whisenhunt.

^This^

I am not wanting to fire Whiz because Graves and whomever else tossed him the keys without any real oversight. He gets to chose his own coaches, has final say on his roster and has to have his own players tell him that Bill Davis isn't a good DC (you would think someone in the FO might have pointed this out).

3 years later, we are mad at Whiz for this crap when it is exactly what happens to most head coaches given too much reign, ala Andy Reid.

Fix the FO this year please

 

[artp]

"1 (9) - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas - Actually lines up with The Huddle Report's 12/1 value board ranking (which I use for evaluating who should go where). Wilson may not be great value here, but will sell some tickets and give fans something to hope for the future"

I understand this, but not getting good value with our draft picsk has been what has sunk this team. Never reach!

 

[Shane]

Nice write up K9