RM's Top 5 Camp Battles

[RugbyMuffin]

1. Wide Receiver:

1. Larry Fitzgerald
2. Michael Floyd
3. Andre Roberts

That is a solid 3 receiver set, IF the Michael Floyd hype is true.

It is the 4th and 5th spots that are going to be a lot of fun to watch this offseason. I am a big LaRon Byrd fan. Big bodied receivers that can catch, and make a play are always something I am looking for on the football team I support.

That being said there is some hype around Jaron Brown, whom is another big bodied wide receiver who comes with some good endorsements from his time at college. It will be interesting come the first preseason game to see where he is on the depth chart.

Speed is speed. Robert Gill has serious, serious speed. Can he catch ? Run routes ? AKA play football ? We will see. I cannot see how Gill doesn't have the inside track on the 5th wide receiver position.

Now those three names are the hyped up talked about players. Charles Hawkins is another whom has had some attention but he has to be on the outside looking in, as well as the rest of the receivers on the current roster.

With receiver being one of the more fun positions to watch in the offseason it should be a good battle.


2. Outside Linebacker:

1. Sam Acho
2. Lorenzo Alexander
3. Matt Shaughnessy
4. Alex Okafor
5. O'Brien Schofield
6. Dan Giordano

I dunno. None jump out and say, "I can get you 8+ sacks". I have no idea how Alexander and Shaughnessey are going to perform, Okafor is a rookie whom slipped in the draft for one reason or another. O'Brien Schofield seems to be a risk that ended up not going the way we needed it to, and Dan Giordano is only on the list because I liked what I saw from him in college.

Now Giordano is a safe bet to get on the practice squad if he shows anything at all. Leaving one odd man out, and Schofield may be that odd man out unless he has a tremendous offseason, and coming off yet another injury that is going to be an uphill climb.

As for competition, it probably will be a two man fight between Alexander and Shaughnessy, IMO. And I think it will be fun to watch. If Okafor gets it in his head that he can compete with these two players, then all the more better.

The Cardinals need a surprise at this position, desperately. If the offensive line wasn't in such horrid shape this would be the #2 priority on the team (QBOF being the #1).


3. Offensive line:

1. Levi Brown
2. Daryn College
3. Lyle Sendlein
4. Jonathan Cooper
5. Bobby Massie
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1.
2.
3.
4.

It would be irregular for the Cardinals to take 4 offensive lineman for depth, but with the state of the line I can see it happening. Yet, the question on the table is who to keep ?

Earl Watford - would have to play pretty poorly to not make the final 53.

Nate Potter - would have to play pretty poorly to not make the final 53, but one of the events coming from OTA's is that Bobby Massie is our backup LT, not Nate Potter. I know it has not been stated out right but the depth chart, and practice routine is dictating as much right now. If Potter shows he can play guard, he makes the roster.

Not matter what there is going to be another offensive lineman that is kept on the roster, maybe two. Is it going to be Senio Kelemete, Chilo Rachal, Jamaal Johnson-Webb, or someone else ? I dunno, but it will be something to watch.

When you are in the position the Cardinals are in, which is looking to better your starting 5, then you are looking for two things. The answer at the starting position AND who is going to backup that position.

For example, say Earl Watford takes over at guard next year for Daryn College. Well, the starting guard position is taken care of but who backs up Watford is the next question.

Lot of work to do on the offensive line still.

4. Tight End:

Do we have one ?

Jeff King was horrible last year, and one would hope he comes back from his injury and plays like what is expected of him.

Rob Housler instills no confidence in me. Can't block, and his pass catching ability is hype and potential for me right now.

Jim Dray. Solid, and versatile player. I would not be worried about Dray being a starting TE, but if he is a starter then tight end becomes a big need next offseason.

Are Kory Sperry, DC Jefferson, or Kyle Auffray any where near NFL quality ?

We will see because this position is WIDE OPEN. I still cannot believe the Cardinals didn't bring in anyone else for this position. I would not be surprise, however, if King and Dray are starting week 1.

5. Running back:

This is going to be fun to watch in the preseason. It is literally make or break for Ryan Williams. If Williams goes into camp conservatively and worries about his shoulder, and knee, he is gone. If he gets hurt, he is gone. Thus, he has no choice but to play with 100% effort and let the chips fall where they may.

Ryan Williams ? IMO, is currently fighting with William Powell, and Alfonso Smith for the 4th RB position. Also, Williams better learn to play some special teams. He is no longer a 2nd round pick, he is a guy who is barely hanging on to his NFL career. Either he plays like it, or he will be sent on his way. We don't need another Beanie Wells, or Early Doucet.

Will the starting position be interesting ? You betcha. Mendenhall is the obvious favorite, and we will see if he makes a statement early on in the preseason.

Stepfan Taylor is going to be a guy that I am interested in watching this preseason. A lot of hype around this kid, A LOT. The worry is that he is not a big play rusher in college, which in the NFL that makes me think, "Will he even get past the line of scrimmage ?" Then there are the intangibles, which are nice to have but if Taylor is going to be one of this running backs that can do everything but rush the football, then he should be looked at as the 4th string running back, IMO. The preseason will tell all.

Andre Ellington is going to be THAT GUY. Who knows, but he just may be the running back that makes us all spend all preseason arguing about who should start at running back this season. All you need is a solid camp and a couple nice runs in the preseason, and the debate will be going strong.

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Camp starts this week! Football is back.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Really looking forward to the RB battle and who steps up and shows they belong.

Williams is definitely on the hot seat.

Looking for big things from Taylor and Ellington.

Will Mendenhall be 100% healthy and be able to run like he did with the Steelers?

I still think that Sendlein is our weak link on the Oline. Maybe one of the rooks will put pressure on him. He is a big concern for me as he got blown up on so many occasions that the plays we were running never had a chance to develop.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nice writeup. I'd feel a lot better about those battles if Sendlein wasn't a presumed starter. Also, that's a somewhat depressing group battling for Outside Linebacker spots. It's hard to believe this is Schofield's fourth season. Hope he has better luck with this defense, isn't he the one that had to wear a cheat sheet to handle Horton's?

Steve

 

[WildBB]

1. Wide Receiver:

1. Larry Fitzgerald
2. Michael Floyd
3. Andre Roberts

That is a solid 3 receiver set, IF the Michael Floyd hype is true.

It is the 4th and 5th spots that are going to be a lot of fun to watch this offseason. I am a big LaRon Byrd fan. Big bodied receivers that can catch, and make a play are always something I am looking for on the football team I support.

That being said there is some hype around Jaron Brown, whom is another big bodied wide receiver who comes with some good endorsements from his time at college. It will be interesting come the first preseason game to see where he is on the depth chart.

Speed is speed. Robert Gill has serious, serious speed. Can he catch ? Run routes ? AKA play football ? We will see. I cannot see how Gill doesn't have the inside track on the 5th wide receiver position.

Now those three names are the hyped up talked about players. Charles Hawkins is another whom has had some attention but he has to be on the outside looking in, as well as the rest of the receivers on the current roster.

With receiver being one of the more fun positions to watch in the offseason it should be a good battle.

Funny how no one mentions Ryan Swoop anymore. Is he done for the pre-season already due to concussions? Too bad they even made that pick now.


At least one of the 6ths, Ellington looks like a steal right now. Hope he turns some heads and can be the anti-Williams. Become a durable back.

 

[Buckybird]

Funny how no one mentions Ryan Swoop anymore. Is he done for the pre-season already due to concussions? Too bad they even made that pick now.


At least one of the 6ths, Ellington looks like a steal right now. Hope he turns some heads and can be the anti-Williams. Become a durable back.

I think Swope is done for 2013...I also watched a lot of A&M games & I never saw the game speed equal his timed speed.

IMO Ellington is too small & gets brought down by phantom tacklers to be a differance maker. Hopefully he can add some skills in the passing game.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Mendenhall is the starter and it is written in pen, maybe even permanent marker unless he gets injured. Mendenhall and Arians have a history dating back to the Super Bowl for them.

I wish he wasn't; I hated the signing personally. It is what it is though.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Funny how no one mentions Ryan Swoop anymore. Is he done for the pre-season already due to concussions? Too bad they even made that pick now.

No way. 5th round selections should be gambles and he is a low risk high reward type of guy. Hopefully we can stash Swoop for a year, much like the 49ers can stash LaMichael James.

Good teams don't need their 5th round picks to pan out immediately, or even be on their active roster the following year in order to be successful. Maybe we are trying to be one of those teams......

 

[Garthshort]

Two things:
1. TE-If we had to go with King and Dray as our starters, I'm guessing we'd pick someone up off the waiver wire or make a trade. I can't see BA, who values TE's, being satisfied with King and Dray.
2. WR-I think that Dillard is a possible slot receiver, assuming Swope is unable to play. Dillard has NFL experience and is pretty quick.

 

[Cardiac]

Good write up Rugby, I always look forward to your threads.

I am far less of a fan of Dray than you & K9. I liked his story and an rooting for him but he looks like our worse blocking TE to me. Housler will be one of our starting TE's unless King reverts to his play of a couple years ago and DC Jefferson or another youngin steps up big time.

I agree with your Oline assessment and believe this will be College's last year as a Card (if he makes it this year).

I'm good with Mendenhall starting for now and I'm chugging koolaide, wearing red glasses and going full blown homer and predicting Ryan Williams has a break out year.

OLBer will be interesting. K9 posted in his FO's thread about the high number of hurries that Alexander had so I'm leaning towards him being the starter opposite Acho. I think hurries and QB hits don't get enough press/attention and we should track those more closely. Sacks are sexy but hurries lead to incompletions and getting off the field on 3rd down.

WR's battle for the 4th & 5th roster spots will be fun to watch. I think Swopes goes on IR this year because we appear to have enough talented youngins and Gill to fill the bottom slots.

Let's get it started.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think Williams will be the #2 RB. I'm not ready to get on the Taylor badnwagon like so many. I like Ellington better, but I think Mendenhall and Williams are the clear #1 and 2 RB's. At least until Williams gets hurt again.

I'm interested to see how the CB's shake out. The Cards have alot of equally talented players fighting it out. PP and Powers will be the starters but the there's Cason, Arenas, Fleming, Bethel, McCann, and Yell battling for 3, possibly 4 spots.

I think Cason and Arenas are locks but would like to see Bethel and Fleming both step up and make the roster as well. But will the team keep 6 CB's? I'd rather see that then a 5th RB or 6th WR.