Ross was a bad choice...

[TheCardFan]

I hate to be negative and put a foot over the line into the darkside but I think Oliver Ross was a bad choice. The only thing he brings to the table that Clement doesn't...is the attitude. Attitude is very very important but his skills don't match his attitude.

A couple of notes...I am as big of a DG fan as there is in Cardinal Nation. I love the Warner signing and believe DG has us headed in the right direction but I just don't like this choice...here is why:

Ross was a career back-up until last year. Why?
The Steelers are happy to replace him with a 3rd rd choice from the 2004 draft, who hasn't started an NFL game...Why?
The Steelers were completely un-interested in re-signing either Ross or Vincent (both from the right side of the oline)...Why?

Pass Blocking?

Ross has given up a sack in every 2.33 starts.
Clement (dubbed the human turnstile) has given up a sack every 2.94 starts.

Run Blocking?

Last year, the first year Ross had started 16 games (all on the right side), this was the rushing totals for the two main RB's.

Player_______Rushes_____Yards_____Avg

Bettis
Left__________93________396______4.2
Middle________88________347______3.9
Right_________69________198______2.8

Staley
Left__________62_______274_______4.4
Middle________71_______331_______4.6
Right_________59_______225_______3.8

Total
Left________155________670______4.3
Middle______159________678______4.2
Right_______128________423______3.3

That is a big difference.

I was very interested in Vincent as a FA (.5 sacks all year in 16 starts) but he there is obviously a drop off on the right side and may explain the Steelers not going all out to sign these guys back.

 

[ajcardfan]

Very interesting breakdown.

We've heard nothing but good things about Vincent. And, we've gotten more good reports on Ross than negative. Considering how well Green and his staff did on talent evaluation last year, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. You're entitled to your opinon though.

 

[Jaccoob]

Very interesting....Maybe not a huge upgrade but I think any change on our O-line is positive...I guess we'll see as the year unfolds.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

Got to tell you when I think of the Cardinals signing a FA lineman from the Steelers I can't help but think of Duval Love and Lester Holmes, both were Guards instead of Tackles, but both were signed away from the Steelers.We all know how those two performed in Cardinal uniforms.

I hope Ross turns out to be much better, can't say I know much about him, but the stats you provide doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

 

[GreenCard]

I thought we got Holmes from the Raiders or did the Raiders get him from us?

 

[TheCardFan]

Got to tell you when I think of the Cardinals signing a FA lineman from the Steelers I can't help but think of Duval Love and Lester Holmes, both were Guards instead of Tackles, but both were signed away from the Steelers.We all know how those two performed in Cardinal uniforms.

I hope Ross turns out to be much better, can't say I know much about him, but the stats you provide doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

I would be alot more comfortable with Ross at RG and someone else at RT. Is this another wake up call to Clement? If he is serious about getting on board the DG express, maybe he has committed to getting in shape and getting stronger in the offseason...he has the talent.

Saying the line is set might just be more motivation from DG.

Edit...But if we did sign Ross for RG...why sign Ross? There were plenty of better options at G. Confused!

 

[Jaccoob]

I for one don't see Clement going anywhere....And who knows Shelton may be here when it's all said and done....I still dont think we are done on the O-line.

 

[jf-08]

I just hope Ross isn't the second coming of Spikes. Spikes was noted for his tenacity and run blocking also.

 

[imaCafan]

Doesn't the DE over the RT have the run-stopping abilities while the DE over the LT have the pass-rushing skills? Meaning the DE on the right is more adept at shutting down the run............Yes????? No??????

 

[ajcardfan]

I just hope Ross isn't the second coming of Spikes. Spikes was noted for his tenacity and run blocking also.

Spikes was much lower rated and signed for much less money. Not to mention he played G, not T. Green did a great job picking linemen in Minnesota. He's not perfect, they could've flubbed it on Ross. But, I'm not stressing about it. The team still has many more obvious flaws. If Oliver Ross was our biggest worry going into next season, we'd be sitting pretty.

 

[ajcardfan]

Hey TheCardFan,

Could you do a similar breakdown for our line last year?

 

[john h]

Very interesting breakdown.

We've heard nothing but good things about Vincent. And, we've gotten more good reports on Ross than negative. Considering how well Green and his staff did on talent evaluation last year, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. You're entitled to your opinon though.

I really do not know anything about Ross other than he was a starter for 16 games for a very good Pittsburg team who could run the ball. That said and with Green and his staff wanting him it is good enough for me to fee good about him.

 

[slanidrac16]

So Dennis Green and Rod Graves sit around since the end of the season and evaluate player. They watch film. They read bios. They call fellow coaches and friends for opinions.

Then free agency starts. Could we go out and sign McKenzie ? Sure, but he is going to cost us 30 mil. Well wait a minute. We can sign Jennings. Sure but he is going to cost us 30 mil.

And we still have all these other needs.

So, lets watch the films. Green turns to Graves and says,"HEY, this Oliver Ross guy seems like my type of player" Graves replies,"Okay, lets go get him. WE think he's an upgrade, and we can still go out and get a few more guys."

My point is he is the guy that we wanted. He apparently is capable of doing what Green feels needs to be done.

Why is Pittsburgh willing to let him go? For the same reasons other teams let players go. Salary cap and players currently on rosters ready to step up and step in.
Why are we willing to let Shelton go? There seems to be plenty of other teams that seem to think he's worth it.

I'll turn this around on you. Who in the hell would be willing to give Shelton 3 Million a year when he couldn't even start for a team that won 6 games and was in the bottom half of the league in running and passing for the last 5 years?

This offensive line had been billed as the "Big RED Line" for years. They have lived off a reputation that had never been earned. It's been said that some of these players aren't "mean" enough. That can be interpreted in many ways. Attitude, hunger, drive and a willingness to pay the price to be the best.

If Green and Graves are happy with Ross, so am I.

 

[john h]

I for one don't see Clement going anywhere....And who knows Shelton may be here when it's all said and done....I still dont think we are done on the O-line.

I see us keeping one of these guys.

 

[jf-08]

Spikes was much lower rated and signed for much less money. Not to mention he played G, not T. Green did a great job picking linemen in Minnesota. He's not perfect, they could've flubbed it on Ross. But, I'm not stressing about it. The team still has many more obvious flaws. If Oliver Ross was our biggest worry going into next season, we'd be sitting pretty.

 

[Jaccoob]

I definetely think Shelton is a goner....Just dont know if Clement will garner enough trade value to leave the Cardinals...I really dont think the cards will let him if its not suitable for them.

 

[TheCardFan]

Hey TheCardFan,

Could you do a similar breakdown for our line last year?

Player_______Rushes_____Yards_____Avg

Emmitt
Left_________112________427______3.8
Middle________88________284______3.2
Right_________67________226______3.3

Hambrick
Left__________20________69_______3.4
Middle________28________70_______2.5
Right_________15_______144_______9.6

Total
Left________132________496______3.7
Middle______116________354______3.0
Right________82________370______4.5

 

[az1965]

Player_______Rushes_____Yards_____Avg

Emmitt
Left_________112________427______3.8
Middle________88________284______3.2
Right_________67________226______3.3

Hambrick
Left__________20________69_______3.4
Middle________28________70_______2.5
Right_________15_______144_______9.6

Total
Left________132________496______3.7
Middle______116________354______3.0
Right________82________370______4.5

Ooops... I think we are fixing the wrong side of the line ...

 

[az1965]

My point is stats are nice but do not always show the correct picture especially when taken out of context. I believe Hambrick had one huge run on the right side that tilted the avg but we all know how the right side sucked all year.

 

[Mulli]

How many different right tackles did the Cardinals use last year? Would like to see a breakdown of that chart with the numbers for each player.

 

[TheCardFan]

My point is stats are nice but do not always show the correct picture especially when taken out of context. I believe Hambrick had one huge run on the right side that tilted the avg but we all know how the right side sucked all year.

True but even taking out the 70 rd run...he still had an avg of 5yd on the right side.

Maybe it has to do more with running style...Emmitt the slasher didn't have success on the right side...Hambrick the hammer had much better success on the right side.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I never disliked Clements play because of giving up sacks. That isnt the only thing that makes you a revolving door. His man was consitantly in the backfield causing havoc. Not always a sack, but a pressure or a tackle for a loss or throwing clement around. Ross has to be an upgrade.

 

[jerryp]

This offensive line had been billed as the "Big RED Line" for years. They have lived off a reputation that had never been earned.

I think that the only people who have ever used the term "Big Red Line" are Arizona Cardinals fans. Not once have I seen that term used by a non-Cards fan. I hate to say it, but the "Big Red Line" is a product of Cardinal fan delusion. They don't have a reputation they haven't earned because outside Arizona no one thinks highly of the line as a whole. The actual reputation outside of Arizona is that of a poor offensive line that slowly improved throughout the year to the point where they are mediocre. That's the real reputation of the Cardinals offensive line and I think it's well deserved.

I'm not saying you're wrong when you say the line hasn't performed up to snuff. I just don't think saying they have an unearned reputation is fair to the players because that reputation is 100% a product of Cardinal fan hope and delusion.

Thoughts and feelings?

 

[Ryanwb]

Got to tell you when I think of the Cardinals signing a FA lineman from the Steelers I can't help but think of Duval Love and Lester Holmes, both were Guards instead of Tackles, but both were signed away from the Steelers.We all know how those two performed in Cardinal uniforms.

Lester Holmes was a guard drafted in the 1st round by the Eagles who we signed from the Raiders, he never played tackle for us.....

 

[TRW]

I think that the only people who have ever used the term "Big Red Line" are Arizona Cardinals fans. Not once have I seen that term used by a non-Cards fan. I hate to say it, but the "Big Red Line" is a product of Cardinal fan delusion. They don't have a reputation they haven't earned because outside Arizona no one thinks highly of the line as a whole. The actual reputation outside of Arizona is that of a poor offensive line that slowly improved throughout the year to the point where they are mediocre. That's the real reputation of the Cardinals offensive line and I think it's well deserved.

I'm not saying you're wrong when you say the line hasn't performed up to snuff. I just don't think saying they have an unearned reputation is fair to the players because that reputation is 100% a product of Cardinal fan hope and delusion.

Thoughts and feelings?

"Big Red Line" and "A thousand pounds of ass" were from Mac. He was a better manure salesman than head coach.