RM's Way Too Early & Pencilled in 53 prediction

[RugbyMuffin]

Yes, it is way to early to put the final 53 in ink and sign off on it.

Yet, you can pencil in the final 53. How I would look at it is, if I were the Cardinals Owner/GM/Head Coach, this is how I would want things to shake out.

All starters in bold, and psuedo starters (nickel package and 3 WR sets) in Italics.

** = Bubble players
^^ = Will start season on PUP list


QB:
Carson Palmer
Drew Stanton
Logan Thomas

RB:
Andre Ellington
Jonathan Dwyer
Stephan Taylor
Tim Cornett **

WR:
Larry Fitzgerald
Michael Floyd
Ted Ginn, Jr.
John Brown
Jaron Brown **
Walt Powell **

TE:
Rob Housler
Troy Niklas
John Carlson
Jake Ballard

OT:
Jared Veldheer
Bradley Sowell
Bobby Massie
Nate Potter **

OG:
Jonathan Cooper
Earl Watford
Paul Fanaika

OC:
Lyle Sendlein
Ted Larson

NT:
Dan Williams
Alameda Ta'amu ^^

DE:
Calias Campbell
Darnell Dockett
Frostee Rucker
Kareem Martin
Ed Stinson

OLB:
John Abraham
Matt Shaughnessey
Sam Acho
Alex Okafor

ILB:
Daryl Washington
Kevin Minter
Lorenzo Alexander
Larry Foote

CB:
Patrick Peterson
Antonio Cromartie
Jerraud Powers
Justin Bethel
Bryan McCann **

S:
Tyrann Mathieu ^^
Deone Bucannon
Rashad Johnson
Tony Jefferson

K:
Jay Feely **

P:
Dave Zastudil

LS:
Mike Leach



Outside looking in::

Note: We have two players that are going to start the year on the PUP list, and that means two of the players on the list have a good shot and spending the 1st half of next season on the roster.


Robert Hughes, HB/FB
Arians knows Hughes from his time in Indy. A big back whom was also used as a fullback from time to time, just like how Stephan Taylor was used last year. The 4th RB spot is wide open and if Tim Cornett doesn't live up to his measurables I could see Hughes being kept as the 4th RB.


Zach Bauman, HB
I don't see Bauman having much of a chance, but since the 4th RB spot is wide open, maybe he plays better than he looks via paper.


Brittan Golden, WR
Can you ever have too much speed ? Walt Powell may make this club as a 6th WR strictly on special teams. The real question is how much do the Cardinals like Jaron Brown whom I feel is the better player to keep for depth purposes, but the Cardinals do like speed, and Golden has plenty of it. He could be a surprise.


Marcus Bernard, OLB
Sam Acho, and Alex Okafor are two guys that have to beat out Bernard, IMO. Bernard played well for the Cardinals in his depth role at OLBer. You would expect Acho and Okafor to run away with the job, but you never know, and Bernard is going to demand that the two younger OLBers bring their A game or Bernard may just take their job.


Teddy Williams, CB
What Williams has going for him is size, and speed. Between Jerraud Powers, Tyrann Mathieu, Rashad Johnson, and Justin Bethel, there are not many roles on the defensive side of the ball left. Thus the 5th CB position is going to be about special teams. Williams could very well beat out Bryan McCann at gunner.


Danny Hrapmann, K & Chandler Catanzaro, K
It comes down to the fact that the Cardinals want to replace Jay Feely. What I like the best is that the coaches are up front about it, but they do concede if Jay Feely beats out the competition, then he keeps his job. It is kind of a weird situation but Feely doesn't seem to care. Thus the best man wins.

Thats it. I am sure this will drastically change within the up coming months, and that someone on this list gets cut in the next week. LOL

 

[Garthshort]

Rugby, nice job. I read good things about the rookie UDFA CB from SE La. I think he might earn bubble consideration. The Alabama OG, Steen is another bubble candidate, and it seems that most years a UDFA or two makes the team. I see you have Cornett as our only one.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Not sure I see them having 6 WRs on the 53 man roster this year. Last year they started the season with only 4, but who knows every year is different. My guess would be 5 WRs and 10 DBs are on the 53 man roster at the start of the season.

 

[BW52]

Yes, it is way to early to put the final 53 in ink and sign off on it.

Yet, you can pencil in the final 53. How I would look at it is, if I were the Cardinals Owner/GM/Head Coach, this is how I would want things to shake out.

All starters in bold, and psuedo starters (nickel package and 3 WR sets) in Italics.

** = Bubble players
^^ = Will start season on PUP list


QB:
Carson Palmer
Drew Stanton
Logan Thomas

RB:
Andre Ellington
Jonathan Dwyer
Stephan Taylor
Tim Cornett **

WR:
Larry Fitzgerald
Michael Floyd
Ted Ginn, Jr.
John Brown
Jaron Brown **
Walt Powell **

TE:
Rob Housler
Troy Niklas
John Carlson
Jake Ballard

OT:
Jared Veldheer
Bradley Sowell
Bobby Massie
Nate Potter **

OG:
Jonathan Cooper
Earl Watford
Paul Fanaika

OC:
Lyle Sendlein
Ted Larson

NT:
Dan Williams
Alameda Ta'amu ^^

DE:
Calias Campbell
Darnell Dockett
Frostee Rucker
Kareem Martin
Ed Stinson

OLB:
John Abraham
Matt Shaughnessey
Sam Acho
Alex Okafor

ILB:
Daryl Washington
Kevin Minter
Lorenzo Alexander
Larry Foote

CB:
Patrick Peterson
Antonio Cromartie
Jerraud Powers
Justin Bethel
Bryan McCann **

S:
Tyrann Mathieu ^^
Deone Bucannon
Rashad Johnson
Tony Jefferson

K:
Jay Feely **

P:
Dave Zastudil

LS:
Mike Leach



Outside looking in::

Note: We have two players that are going to start the year on the PUP list, and that means two of the players on the list have a good shot and spending the 1st half of next season on the roster.


Robert Hughes, HB/FB
Arians knows Hughes from his time in Indy. A big back whom was also used as a fullback from time to time, just like how Stephan Taylor was used last year. The 4th RB spot is wide open and if Tim Cornett doesn't live up to his measurables I could see Hughes being kept as the 4th RB.


Zach Bauman, HB
I don't see Bauman having much of a chance, but since the 4th RB spot is wide open, maybe he plays better than he looks via paper.


Brittan Golden, WR
Can you ever have too much speed ? Walt Powell may make this club as a 6th WR strictly on special teams. The real question is how much do the Cardinals like Jaron Brown whom I feel is the better player to keep for depth purposes, but the Cardinals do like speed, and Golden has plenty of it. He could be a surprise.


Marcus Bernard, OLB
Sam Acho, and Alex Okafor are two guys that have to beat out Bernard, IMO. Bernard played well for the Cardinals in his depth role at OLBer. You would expect Acho and Okafor to run away with the job, but you never know, and Bernard is going to demand that the two younger OLBers bring their A game or Bernard may just take their job.


Teddy Williams, CB
What Williams has going for him is size, and speed. Between Jerraud Powers, Tyrann Mathieu, Rashad Johnson, and Justin Bethel, there are not many roles on the defensive side of the ball left. Thus the 5th CB position is going to be about special teams. Williams could very well beat out Bryan McCann at gunner.


Danny Hrapmann, K & Chandler Catanzaro, K
It comes down to the fact that the Cardinals want to replace Jay Feely. What I like the best is that the coaches are up front about it, but they do concede if Jay Feely beats out the competition, then he keeps his job. It is kind of a weird situation but Feely doesn't seem to care. Thus the best man wins.

Thats it. I am sure this will drastically change within the up coming months, and that someone on this list gets cut in the next week. LOL

Lorenzo alexander and Acho both coming off injuries.Both could be slowed by their injury and might be bubble guys.Pls Ta`Amu big man coming off knee injury..................maybe PUP list also.There are several guys who seem to be constantly dinged up (Ballard,Alexander,Acho,) plus nobody knows how Carlson and his concussion issue will be.

 

[Goldfield]

I think Housler is on the bubble. With the two new TEs Carlson and Niklas bumping him out.

 

[Mulli]

Good job Rugby. Lack of depth at RB is killing me!

 

[52brandon]

Lorenzo alexander and Acho both coming off injuries.Both could be slowed by their injury and might be bubble guys.Pls Ta`Amu big man coming off knee injury..................maybe PUP list also.There are several guys who seem to be constantly dinged up (Ballard,Alexander,Acho,) plus nobody knows how Carlson and his concussion issue will be.

Okafor too. But Ach is in no way a "bubble" guy

 

[GuernseyCard]

I think that Steen the UDFA from Alabama has to be factored in as a swing guard and possible centre of the future.

 

[Duckjake]

The big question for me is why suddenly ASFN doesn't think Acho is any good. 4 sacks, 2 FF and 2 Interceptions isn't too shabby. Maybe it is because of the sack #s Abraham put up.

Constantly dinged up? Acho started 35 games in a row before getting hurt.

Another question is where the Cards will use Matt S. I believe he was originally signed as depth at DE and moved to OLB only out of necessity due to injuries to 3 OLBs.

Did he play well enough to earn a starting job at OLB over Acho or Okafor?

 

[52brandon]

The big question for me is why suddenly ASFN doesn't think Acho is any good. 4 sacks, 2 FF and 2 Interceptions isn't too shabby. Maybe it is because of the sack #s Abraham put up.

Constantly dinged up? Acho started 35 games in a row before getting hurt.

Another question is where the Cards will use Matt S. I believe he was originally signed as depth at DE and moved to OLB only out of necessity due to injuries to 3 OLBs.

Did he play well enough to earn a starting job at OLB over Acho or Okafor?

I thought Shaunessy did pretty well last year. Not Abraham well, but good enough that I'm comfortable with him on the field. Though I do expect Acho to be the starter. Okafor is a huge y mm unknown. I hope he can develop into a beast. But he will be a backup/situational guy. Even Martin may see some time at OLB this season

 

[Catfish]

Nice work Muffin. For such an early compilation, this was well considered and very close to likely scenario. I appreciate the time and the thought you have given to compiling this list of 53. Even more appreciated is the work you did on the additional list of possible players who may be on the verge of cracking the top 53 in some way. You seem to have a very good feel for this roster and its needs and pairings.

 

[Cardiac]

Yes, it is way to early to put the final 53 in ink and sign off on it.

Yet, you can pencil in the final 53. How I would look at it is, if I were the Cardinals Owner/GM/Head Coach, this is how I would want things to shake out.

All starters in bold, and psuedo starters (nickel package and 3 WR sets) in Italics.

** = Bubble players
^^ = Will start season on PUP list


WR:
Larry Fitzgerald
Michael Floyd
Ted Ginn, Jr.
John Brown
Jaron Brown **
Walt Powell **

This will be an interesting battle and I do expect 5 WR's to make the squad this year.

TE:
Rob Housler
Troy Niklas
John Carlson
Jake Ballard

I actually think Niklas and Carson with be the "starters" since both can block better then Housler and are adequate receivers.

OT:
Jared Veldheer
Bradley Sowell
Bobby Massie
Nate Potter **

I hope it's Massie that wins the starting RT position because he has more athletic ability and played better than Sowell (albeit at the easier RT position) but it was mental errors that kept him from starting at RT. Plus I like Sowell has the back up at several Oline positions.

The depth at LT scares the crap out of me because Sowell is our best option and we saw how he needed plenty of help.

To be clear, I'm glad Sowell is on the team and I'm a fan of his because of how hard he fights and gives it everything he has.


OLB:
John Abraham
Matt Shaughnessey
Sam Acho
Alex Okafor

Man oh man I wish the Cards could have drafted a pure pass rusher this year. Having said that I love what Shaughnessey brings to the table, hopefully he can improve his pass rush skills some.

ILB:
Daryl Washington
Kevin Minter
Lorenzo Alexander
Larry Foote

I wouldn't be shocked if Demens beats Alexander or Foote out for a roster spot.

CB:
Patrick Peterson
Antonio Cromartie
Jerraud Powers
Justin Bethel
Bryan McCann **

I would move Teddy Williams ahead of McCann and I am a McCann fan.

S:
Tyrann Mathieu ^^
Deone Bucannon
Rashad Johnson
Tony Jefferson

With HB starting the season on PUP I expect an extra DB to be carried, maybe an extra CB instead of Safety?

Excellent post and coverage on the team roster as always. Just a couple of thoughts that are a bit different from my perspective.

 

[az jam]

Good first crack it this, I like your thought process. Don't be surprised if OT Eric Winston is resigned.

 

[HoodieBets]

Only thing I doubt is that HB goes on PUP the rest of the list is pretty spot on well done

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[Garthshort]

I disagree with 1616, and think that the HB and Ta'Amu start the season on the PUP list. Therefore you need:
1. A safety, would it be a WW pickup?
2. A NT, do we start the season with Frostee Rucker as our 2nd string NT?
3. I think that, with the guys on the 90 man roster, Hughes is our 4th RB.
4. I think we'll go with five OLB's, with Bernard being that guy.
5. Looks like Simms is our fourth ILB.
6. If we go five CB's, I agree with your five. But is it possible we go with six? If so who?
7. At the WR position, we seem to have Fitz, Floyd and a bunch of slot guys. At the rookie camp the WR coach was having the former Az/ASU? wideout (I forget his name) demonstrate the drills, and some one pointed out that Powell was making too many mental mistakes. The former Az/ASU guy is tall and plays on the outside, and to me that gives him a chance to make the roster.

Rugby, any second thoughts? And thanks for the effort.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I disagree with 1616, and think that the HB and Ta'Amu start the season on the PUP list. Therefore you need:
1. A safety, would it be a WW pickup?
2. A NT, do we start the season with Frostee Rucker as our 2nd string NT?
3. I think that, with the guys on the 90 man roster, Hughes is our 4th RB.
4. I think we'll go with five OLB's, with Bernard being that guy.
5. Looks like Simms is our fourth ILB.
6. If we go five CB's, I agree with your five. But is it possible we go with six? If so who?
7. At the WR position, we seem to have Fitz, Floyd and a bunch of slot guys. At the rookie camp the WR coach was having the former Az/ASU? wideout (I forget his name) demonstrate the drills, and some one pointed out that Powell was making too many mental mistakes. The former Az/ASU guy is tall and plays on the outside, and to me that gives him a chance to make the roster.

Rugby, any second thoughts? And thanks for the effort.

1st off, I must apologize to Tim Cornett. I knew the minute I put him on this list he would be cut within a weeks time......and he was.

I should state all of my answers are of my opinion, and a heck of a lot of "educated speculating".

#1 - Curtis Taylor is currently on the roster, and the Cardinals have used him before when safety depth became an issue. I believe he was brought in last year after Mathieu went down. Thus I would suspect Taylor to be in the lead to make the 53 and keep Mathieu's roster spot warm. But, we are talking about a fringe NFL player, so he (Taylor) could be beat out in camp.

#2 - The Cardinals have two NT on the roster in Anthony McCloud, and Christian Tupou. I would suspect one of the two, probably McCloud, plays until Alameda Ta'amu is healthy.

#3 - Poor, Tim Cornett. LOL. Anyway, Hughes looks to be a lock for the 4th RB spot at this point.

#4 - I would not be surprised in the least if that happened.

#5 - For now he is. I thought about this last night, and ILB is not a glamor position and on defense it is a bit like what is happening at running back on offense, not to the degree of the RB position but none the less. Point is, I think the Cardinals will find some value at ILB off waivers at the end of preseason. Keep in mind that a WLB in a 4-3 defense can usually translate really well to a WILB position in a 3-4, so it is no just strictly ILB that we should keep an eye on. A guy like Craig Robertson in Cleveland is a player to keep an eye on.

#6 - Teddy Williams. A 6th CB would be mostly a special teams player and since Williams has experience in offense, defense, and special teams he would hold the most value, IMO. Not to mention they just hired a track star as a conditioning coach. That should play to Williams' advantage.

#7 - IMO, the top five WR are:

- Fitzgerald: Big Bodied WR
- Floyd: Big Bodied WR
- Ted Ginn, Jr: Pure speed threat
- John Brown: Slot/speed threat
- Jaron Brown: Big Bodied WR

Thus if there is a 6th WR, he will be a slot guy, and a good special teams player.

And don't sleep on Jaron Brown. I know he was used sparingly last year, but when he got out on the field he made clutch catches for this team, and showed really good hands. After years of dealing with Housler, Doucet, Roberts, and Jehreme Urban, I enjoyed that our 4th WR could make the catch when asked to do so.

I would say the same thing about Jake Ballard, too. The guy may not be an athletic dynamo, but when the Cardinals needed a big catch from a depth player he stepped up and got the job done time after time.

In a league with the parity we all see, it is those small plays from depth guys that move the chains that make the difference in a lot of NFL games.

 

[HoodieBets]

I disagree with 1616, and think that the HB and Ta'Amu start the season on the PUP list. Therefore you need:
1. A safety, would it be a WW pickup?
2. A NT, do we start the season with Frostee Rucker as our 2nd string NT?
3. I think that, with the guys on the 90 man roster, Hughes is our 4th RB.
4. I think we'll go with five OLB's, with Bernard being that guy.
5. Looks like Simms is our fourth ILB.
6. If we go five CB's, I agree with your five. But is it possible we go with six? If so who?
7. At the WR position, we seem to have Fitz, Floyd and a bunch of slot guys. At the rookie camp the WR coach was having the former Az/ASU? wideout (I forget his name) demonstrate the drills, and some one pointed out that Powell was making too many mental mistakes. The former Az/ASU guy is tall and plays on the outside, and to me that gives him a chance to make the roster.

Rugby, any second thoughts? And thanks for the effort.

A month ago HB was running, backpedaling and getting in and out of breaks without a brace on. By the time sept rolls around no way the cards will sit him the first 6 weeks. I'm not saying he will start game 1 but I'd bet he will by week 3

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