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.