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Week 3 Roster Prediction Update
QB: Same (WARNER, McCown, Navarre)
RB: Keepers (ARRINGTON, Shipp, Redmond, Ayanbadejo, Anderson, Morrow). The three questions are: (1) Will DG keep a #4 RB? (2) Will DG keep 3 FBs? (3) Are James Jackson and James Hodgins on the outside looking in? IMO, they may be. Jackson has been hurt and didn't play all that great in week one. Anderson has been playing very well, especially on special teams...so he gets the nod right now if DG keeps 4 RBs...and it's possible DG may not...but, I think he will because of Anderson's value as a special teamer. I think Harold Morrow is a lock for the same reason. James Hodgins is still a good player, but he's not blocking nearly as well as he used to...and he's not a factor on special teams the way Morrow is. Just the same, I think he will stick.
WR: Keepers (BOLDIN, JOHNSON, FITZGERALD, Lee). Reggie Newhouse appears to be the #5 WR...but what the team really needs is a speedy slot receiver. Dan Sheldon fits the mold, but he really needs a year on the practice squad to develop. I think DG and RG will be scanning the waiver wires...or they may even contemplate a trade, such as what the Patriots just did trading a 5th rounder for Andre Davis...I would love to see the Cards trade for Troy Brown...the Pats are deep at WR and newly acquired Tim Dwight seems to have supplanted Brown as the main return guy...Troy Brown's leadership, ability to wreak havoc out of the slot and his outstanding punt return skills would fit the Cardinals' needs like a glove...plus he'd be a veteran presence for the young super trio. While I think the Cards like Newhouse...he needs to beat out Charles Lee for #5...because the #4 WR will arrive either through waivers or a trade.
TE: Keepers (GOLLIDAY, Bergen). DG has implied recently that injured Eric Edwards may not make the roster. I think DG will place him on the IR if his torn pec muscle doesn't heal within the next week. My guess is that DG wmay only keep 2 TEs...Bergen will be one of them, for sure. Golliday is likely to stick, and if a good TE like Jed Weaver (Pats) is waived...DG may jump all over him.
OL: Keepers (DAVIS, WELLS, STEPANOVICH, BROWN, ROSS, Leckey). I think DG will keep 9 offensive linemen...and right now it wouldn't surprise me if the three backups in addition to the list above will all be added from the waiver wire. Fred Wakefield is a sentimental choice...but DG isn't about sentiment when picking his team. Jeremy Bridges was only average against the Chiefs' second stringers and needs to get going if he is going to stick. Messers Conaty, Reuber, Haayer, and Allen need to play very well the next two weeks to have a chance of staying. I think DG still has a card up his sleeve...I think Step will be tried at guard...and it's quite possible that free agent guard David Dixon will come out of his brief retirement to join Denny and former teammate Everett Lindsay in Arizona. If Dixon has been getting in shape for this move, this could be the shot in the arm the Cards' offensive line needs.
DL: Keepers (OKEAFOR, DOCKETT, DAVIS, BERRY, Pace). Right now the depth along the defensive line appears to be as thin as the depth on the offensive line. Pepi Zellner will stick if he can get healthy...but, so far, no go. Antonio Smith still doesn't appear to be ready and may be headed to the PS. As for the backup DT spots, while Keith Wright and Tim Bulman played reasonably well versus KC, they don't look roster ready. Ross Kolodziej looked slow at LDE and he's undersized to play the interior with any regular success. My guess is that the Cards will be waiver wire pirates once again to add two DTs. Kenny King will either be waived and receive an injury settlement or he'll be placed on the IR for another year. It's pretty obvious his wrist isn't strong enough yet to allow him to play...and the Cards have to determine whether that wrist will ever be well enough for King to play again.
LB: Keepers (HUFF, DARLING, DANSBY, Blackstock, Hayes (PUP)). Lester Towns has a golden opportunity to make the team, now that Gerald Hayes will be out for 8-10 weeks. Towns may even win the MLB job, if he proves stouter in the middle than Darling. Lance Mitchell hasn't produced the way DG had hoped...and will probably land on the practice squad. The sixth linebacker will be added through waivers. And if Towns falters, another MLB will be added through waivers as well.
DB: Keepers (ROLLE, WILSON, GRIFFITH, MACLIN, Green, Ohalete). While Robert Tate would appear to be a lock...suddenly he is not. With Eric Green emerging as the likely nickel back and young talents like Jermaine Hardy, Rhett Nelson and Lamont Reid in the picture, Tate may need a stellar two weeks to stick. It's likely he will...and likely that Hardy and Reid will wind up on the practice squad. The way Raymond Walls is playing on special teams...he has a decent chance of sticking. Ifeanyi Ohalete solidified his spot on the roster with his performance this week. The backup strong safety spot will be decided between Quentin Harris and fast-rising Ernest Shazor. Shazor's value on the open market, may make DG and RG hesitate about placing him on waivers. Of all the Cardinal backups who may be headed to the waiver wire, Shazor is the one who is most likely to get claimed. He was the most highly sought UCFA for a reason...and teams are always attracted to high-profile Michigan players. Some other team will roll the dice on Shazor...there is no doubt. In fact, the Patriots would claim him as fast as his name would hit the waiver wire...and he would back up Rodney Harrison.
ST: Keepers (RACKERS, HODEL, PLAYER). Rackers missed a short field goal and appeared to roll his ankle on a subsequent kickoff...but his play in general has been strong.
PS Prediction (Updated): WR McCoy or Holliday, WR Sheldon, TE Bronson, DT Bulman, DE Smith, LB Mitchell, CB Hardy, CB Reid. (I still hope for S Aaron Francisco).
Roster Update Summary
QB: (3) WARNER, McCown, Navarre
RB: (7) ARRINGTON, Shipp, Redmond, Anderson, Ayanbadejo, Hodgins, Morrow
WR: (5) BOLDIN, JOHNSON, FITZGERALD, Lee, TBD (speedy slot WR from Waivers)
TE: (3) TBD (Jed Weaver or from Waivers), Golliday, Bergen (Edwards on IR)
OL: (9) DAVIS, WELLS, STEPANOVICH, BROWN, ROSS, Leckey, TBD (G David Dixon), TBD (G/T from Waivers), TBD (T from Waivers)
DL: (8) OKEAFOR, DOCKETT, DAVIS, BERRY, Pace, TBD (DE Zellner, if healthy), TBD (DT from Waivers), TBD (DT from Waivers) (K. King on IR)
LB: (6) HUFF, DARLING, DANSBY, Blackstock, TBD (MLB Towns or from Waivers), TDB (OLB from Waivers)
DB: (9) ROLLE, WILSON, GRIFFITH, MACKLIN, Green, Ohalete, Tate, Walls, Shazor
ST: (3) RACKERS, HODEL, PLAYER
TOTAL: (53)
