RM's Final 53 Prediction

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RugbyMuffin

RugbyMuffin

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Watching the game now:

Obviously wrong on R.Williams.

Looks like Watford, Richal & Gibson over Kelemete


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RugbyMuffin

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I will take 87% every time.

The last few guys were pretty hard, and then there were major surprises for me. I have no idea why the Cardinals kept Kenny Demens, ILB, or Bryan McCann, CB.

Those two must have been practice monsters because I didn't catch much from either during the games.

So, below is what I got wrong:

1. Earl Watford, OG - Makes the roster over Senio Kelemete. This is a case, where what I personally wanted to see happen, did happen, and what I thought would happen I was completely wrong in thinking. To be clear, I am happy to be wrong here. Watford is raw, but clearly has some ability, and potential. I didn't think he would clear waivers, so I am glad he sticks on the team. Even though there were times this offseason he was "behind" Kelemete on the game day depth chart, one would hope your 4th round pick makes the team over the vet he is competing against. I would be nice to see Watford get some live game action this season, but I would imagine he will be inactive for 16 games, and the first guard in is Mike Gibson.

2. Mike Gibson, OC/OG - Bruce Arians pulled the bait and switch so I really had no chance on this one. At first Jonathan Cooper was going to be on the 53 and then put on the "special" IR that allows for a player to come back later in the season. The Cardinals quickly changed that and ended Cooper's season by putting him on the IR. This allowed the Cardinals to keep Mike Gibson. Gibson was very very solid for this team in the offseason. You have to remember the Cardinals at one point brought in 3 to 4 centers this offseason, and Gibson not only beat all those players out, but Kelemete, and Rachal for a roster spot. He will be the first guard in or first center in on game day. Again, another decision I was very happy to be wrong about.

3. Ryan Williams, RB - Chosen over Mike Thomas. I didn't think much of Mike Thomas. Speed is one thing, but you have to know how to play football as well. Thomas looked, to use Madden as a reference, to have a 5 rating in the awareness department. As for Ryan Williams - http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/ryan-williams-197667.html

4. D.C. Jefferson, TE - With Jeff King going to IR, that may be it as his tenure as a Cardinal.....at least as a player. He may not play in the NFL again, and has dreams of being a scout, and someday GM....just sayin' Anyway if King's injury is as bad as it caused him to play last year (and you have to remember King before his injury played well for this team) then he just might be done. Too bad. As for D.C. Jefferson, anyone that reads my posts habitually (should have their head checked LOL!) knows I didn't like Jefferson at Rutgers, I didn't like that we drafted him, and I don't like the player now. If Jeff King is not hurt, then Jefferson is on the practice squad. He could easily clear waivers. I mean, what value is there in a tight end that cannot block, and cannot catch. He makes Rob Housler's blocking look like the second coming of Heath Miller. I have no idea why a roster spot was wasted on Jefferson. Some may see potential in Jefferson, but I have never seen the guy improve in college, and don't expect to see him do that in the pros. Hopefully someone on the waiver wire put him on the practice squad where he belongs.....if even that.

5. Kenny Demens, ILB Chosen over Reggie Walker. Kenny who? Yeah, I am with you there. Got nothing on Demens, and don't know why he is on the roster other than being a place keeper for the future waiver wire player coming in. Reggie Walker ? He was on his way to being the type of player he needed to be, and then got the concussion last year, and it derailed all that improvement, and he has been the Reggie Walker we all know. He is expendable. Maybe it is that Demens is faster, and will purely be on special teams ? I dunno. Just seems odd to get rid of a player that, while he would have been cut once Washington came back, has the ability to play more than just special teams. This one I have nothing to really go by. I have ZERO chance of every seeing this coming.

6. Bryan McCann, CB Yeah, I know the coaches talked this up. And yes, David Carter has regressed from where he was two years ago, and I agree with Arians that Talley played much better for the Cardinals this offseason. But Bryan McCann ? I didn't see too much from him, and I don't know where he would be used, and why he would EVER be used over Javier Arenas, Tyrann Mathieu or even Tony Jefferson. Again, I can't really say anything about McCann since I really didn't see him do much.

7. Tony Jefferson, SS Over Curtis Taylor. Taylor played A LOT this offseason, I mean A LOT. But, who is not happy to see Tony Jefferson make this team. After doing this for about a decade (meaning posting about the Cardinals) I try not to set myself up for disappointment, since there is usually enough disappointment during the season to get my fill. I was psyched when we picked up Tony Jefferson as a UDFA. I was psyched to see Jefferson play well in the preseason. I had Jefferson as a bubble player since day one, but I would be kidding if I didn't start getting a little P.O.'d when he didn't see the field in the 3rd preseason game, and then started to think he was one of those guys that seems to be a lock and then gets cut. Thus I am extremely happen to wrong here, and I think Jefferson is going to be playing on the field for the Cardinals sooner than we all think. With Jefferson and Mathieu as our safeties is will look like we have hobbits in our secondary but both make plays, so I don't care.

Obviously the rest of the roster seems to have very logical reasons to be what it is.

BTW - I have updated the roster I keep in my signature. So the current 53 can be found there.
 

BullheadCardFan

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1. Earl Watford, OG - Watford is raw, but clearly has some ability, and potential.

4. D.C. Jefferson, TE - Hopefully someone on the waiver wire put him on the practice squad where he belongs.....if even that.

7. Tony Jefferson, SS - But, who is not happy to see Tony Jefferson make this team.

I am glad to see Big Earl make the roster. The guy is so raw, but reeks of potential. I like Big Earl a lot and hope he can fight his way to the starting lineup.

DC just drives me crazy. The guy is a stud in size but seems to lack the ability to catch the ball. He looks uncoordinated when the ball hits his hands. Coaches should have him play handball to get those hands working.

Jefferson looked like a real play maker against the 2's and 3's. Can he do this against the 1's? Or will the speed difference make him mute?
 

Mitch

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I am glad to see Big Earl make the roster. The guy is so raw, but reeks of potential. I like Big Earl a lot and hope he can fight his way to the starting lineup.

DC just drives me crazy. The guy is a stud in size but seems to lack the ability to catch the ball. He looks uncoordinated when the ball hits his hands. Coaches should have him play handball to get those hands working.

Jefferson looked like a real play maker against the 2's and 3's. Can he do this against the 1's? Or will the speed difference make him mute?

It looked to me, BCF, that DC showed solid improvement catching the ball---like the one he caught Thursday night over the middle following one of his two holding calls (which can be corrected with experience and stronger technique).

The young man is learning the position and adjusting to the speed & strength of the NFL at the same time. He's been working after practice with Fitz---so the desire is there, as is the physical talent.
 

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Good stuff Rugby.

The Cowboy draft board that was leaked had a 3rd rd grade on DC. I disagree with your assessment on his blocking ability but he is obviously very raw.

He very well may still be cut and BASK are hoping to sneak him on the PS. Waiting until the first round of WW claims and seeing which teams would consider snagging him is probably the chess game BASK is playing now.

First PS game McCann was making plays on ST's. IIRC he is in his 4th year so BASK probably has plenty of film on him and of course what he did in practice. Having said all that I think he is insurance in case we do pull off a trade involving one of our other CB's. If no trade happens then McCann very well could be cut.

You watch Oline play far more than I do so I'll take your word on Gibson. Thing is you don't like Sendlein much so I have to ask if your assessment might be a bit tainted. ;)

As long as Ryan Williams showed anything in PS game 4 he was going to make the roster. Keim has his back big time.

I'm excited about Watford and as all Card fans have been trained I'm already looking forward to next year with Coop at LG and Watford at RG.

I think BA was giving Taylor every chance to prove himself and he showed who he was, at best a fringe player. Thrilled Jefferson made the team and I agree he has a bright future. Dude made as many plays as the Honey Badger.

Demens flashed in the first PS game, I didn't notice him much after that. I think you are right he is a place holder for a WW pick up and if that happens expect to see him on the PS. DWash could see even more suspension time for his abuse case still looming and he is pretty far along in the substance abuse policy violations. Next misstep is what, 8 games or a full season?
 

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It looked to me, BCF, that DC showed solid improvement catching the ball---like the one he caught Thursday night over the middle following one of his two holding calls (which can be corrected with experience and stronger technique).

The young man is learning the position and adjusting to the speed & strength of the NFL at the same time. He's been working after practice with Fitz---so the desire is there, as is the physical talent.
Football Hippocratic Oath: "Do no harm."

DC was flagged three times in one game, and he let a pass bounce off his chest for an interception.

At what point do you say "Enough!" We can't afford to have this guy around to hurt us! And what do you say to the other guys on the team who are supposed to live by the gospel of no penalties/no turnovers?

If we want to have guys around "who look the part", I suggest we rent a couple of Oscars.
 

Mitch

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Football Hippocratic Oath: "Do no harm."

DC was flagged three times in one game, and he let a pass bounce off his chest for an interception.

At what point do you say "Enough!" We can't afford to have this guy around to hurt us! And what do you say to the other guys on the team who are supposed to live by the gospel of no penalties/no turnovers?

If we want to have guys around "who look the part", I suggest we rent a couple of Oscars.

Steve Breaston couldn't catch a cold his first year. In his 2nd year, he caught everything in sight. Some players are worth waiting for. Right, Jeff?

They aren't going to play him in real games until he's good and ready. But seeing as the Cowboys (who know how to develop TEs) had him rated as a 3rd rounder on their draft board, the coaches may have felt he wouldn't sneak by waivers.

Plus, the Jags at #2 in the WW order just snagged TEs D.J. Williams and Clay Harbor. The TE market is big and the pickings are slim.
 
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RugbyMuffin

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You watch Oline play far more than I do so I'll take your word on Gibson. Thing is you don't like Sendlein much so I have to ask if your assessment might be a bit tainted. ;)

An extremely fair question because there is no doubt that I do not like Sendlien as our OC.

When it comes to Mike Gibson, I never thought he would/could replace Sendlein but he was playing so much in the preseason and always with at least the 2nd teamers, that I started to key in on him. Guy is just a solid depth guy, IMO. Happy to see him make it over Richal & Kelemete.

Yet if Cooper doesn't get hurt I don't think Gibson makes this team.

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RugbyMuffin

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Steve Breaston couldn't catch a cold his first year. In his 2nd year, he caught everything in sight. Some players are worth waiting for. Right, Jeff?

They aren't going to play him in real games until he's good and ready. But seeing as the Cowboys (who know how to develop TEs) had him rated as a 3rd rounder on their draft board, the coaches may have felt he wouldn't sneak by waivers.

Plus, the Jags at #2 in the WW order just snagged TEs D.J. Williams and Clay Harbor. The TE market is big and the pickings are slim.

Good points.

My problem is that I don't see Jefferson ever being ready for the NFL

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Cardiac

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An extremely fair question because there is no doubt that I do not like Sendlien as our OC.

When it comes to Mike Gibson, I never thought he would/could replace Sendlein but he was playing so much in the preseason and always with at least the 2nd teamers, that I started to key in on him. Guy is just a solid depth guy, IMO. Happy to see him make it over Richal & Kelemete.

Yet if Cooper doesn't get hurt I don't think Gibson makes this team.

Sent from my intergalactic transmorgapher

Thanks and agree with your assessment of Gibson. I don't want Sendlein replaced as badly as you do but would like to see a true competition next off season.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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I find it funny that so many people are down on D.C. Jefferson when we all knew that he was a very raw project player. He is still learning how to play his position and trying to adjust to the NFL level of play all at the same time. It sure seems to me like we aren't going to have any real idea as to how good he can be for at least another year or 2 from now.
 

Duckjake

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The Cowboy draft board that was leaked had a 3rd rd grade on DC. I disagree with your assessment on his blocking ability but he is obviously very raw.

I agree Cardiac. Jefferson is a devastating blocker. That is why he is still on the roster. He was absolutely blowing up the 2's and 3's which is what you look for in a preseason game. Is the guy dominating the spares. For example DWash was having a great time making the other teams 2's look bad.

Sure he missed a couple of blocks the most glaring one in the redzone but as hard core fans we tend to forget the other team's guys are getting paid too. It's not like Texas A&M playing Sam Houston State or Alabama playing Chattanooga. The guys on the other NFL teams can play a little.

I don't think Arians cares as much as we do if his TE's can catch as how well they can block.
 

Cardiac

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I agree Cardiac. Jefferson is a devastating blocker. That is why he is still on the roster. He was absolutely blowing up the 2's and 3's which is what you look for in a preseason game. Is the guy dominating the spares. For example DWash was having a great time making the other teams 2's look bad.

Sure he missed a couple of blocks the most glaring one in the redzone but as hard core fans we tend to forget the other team's guys are getting paid too. It's not like Texas A&M playing Sam Houston State or Alabama playing Chattanooga. The guys on the other NFL teams can play a little.

I don't think Arians cares as much as we do if his TE's can catch as how well they can block.

Yep, dude is big and strong like bull. He also stopped dropping everything thrown to him. He isn't a natural pass catcher at this point but he is improving weekly right in front of our eyes.

Interesting point about BA's expectations of his TE's. I think is a valid point, especially with how much help Levi will need in Pass Pro some games.

The TE's will have to be able to catch some passes and make plays to keep the opposing D hones and not stuff the box but I agree blocking ability comes first.
 

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