Sporting News: Cardinals Team Report (3-22)

[Evil Ash]

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2252058

Cardinals Team Report
Kent Somers
Posted: 1 day ago

Coach Dennis Green reportedly has given the starting running back job to Marcel Shipp, but his grip on it isn't firm. Backup Emmitt Smith seems willing to accept his role, at least for now, but don't discount Smith's shot at winning the job. Shipp is younger and probably quicker than Smith, but Shipp needs to improve picking up the blitz, something at which Smith excels. Shipp didn't make many big plays last season. The team desperately needs someone who can gain big chunks of yardage, and Shipp must prove he can do that.

LB Levar Fisher must prove he can handle the strongside duties. Team officials are still trying to bring in a free agent to challenge him for the position. Fisher was slowed by injuries in 2002 and was inconsistent last season.

DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS

Green will retain the 4-3 alignment, but there will be some subtle changes. He'll use what he calls the Jet system. A lineman will line up at an angle to one side of the center. The best pass rusher--Bertrand Berry--will line up on the right side. Clancy Pendergast, a defensive coordinator in the NFL for the first time, likely will bring some wrinkles of his own, too. He has worked for Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Dave Campo, two of the better defensive minds in the game.

 

[joeshmo]

LB Levar Fisher must prove he can handle the strongside duties. Team officials are still trying to bring in a free agent to challenge him for the position. Fisher was slowed by injuries in 2002 and was inconsistent last season.

We havent brought in any other FA LB's, so does this mean we are still talking to LB - Brandon Short? Havent heard from him in a long time.

Clancy Pendergast, a defensive coordinator in the NFL for the first time, likely will bring some wrinkles of his own, too. He has worked for Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Dave Campo, two of the better defensive minds in the game.

I didnt not know he worked with Fisher and Campo. Raises my confidence in Clancy Pendergast a little bit knowing this.

 

[Snakester]

If there is one position on this team that doesn't need any immediate attention it is at linebacker. With Raynoch Thompson at weakside, Ron McKinnon at the MLB spot and Levar Fisher at strongside I think we are fine, plus the Cardinals need to find a spot for Gerald Hayes who I think will be better than any of them. James Darling is a good backup as well.

 

[Tangodnzr]

If there is one position on this team that doesn't need any immediate attention it is at linebacker. With Raynoch Thompson at weakside, Ron McKinnon at the MLB spot and Levar Fisher at strongside I think we are fine, plus the Cardinals need to find a spot for Gerald Hayes who I think will be better than any of them. James Darling is a good backup as well.

Actually, at the end of the year, I thought LaVar Woods was playing as well as any linebacker. He also was doing a great job on special teams. So far, he seems to back up Ray on the weakside, but I'd also like to see him be given a shot on the strong side challengeing LaVar Fisher.
Woods reminds me a lot of Rod Fredrickson, whom I thought did a great job for the Cards while he was here....no one has played up too his level since, in my opinion.

 

[Wildman©]

an observation....

FWIW: The Cards did not have Sam and Will backers last season when in their base DEFENSIVE package. Their OLB's were simply left and right OLBs.... no changing of sides... check your tapes if you have them.

 

[JeffGollin]

With Raynoch Thompson at weakside, Ron McKinnon at the MLB spot and Levar Fisher at strongside I think we are fine,
I'm not sure if Fisher is big enough or strong enough to anchor the strong side. I tend to view him as almost a clone of Ray and better suited to push Thompson or provide depth on the weakside.

Hayes - if he's definitely ruled out on the inside - might be best suited to start on the strong side. Or maybe it's true we'll bring someone like Short in from the outside.

And I remain a bit nervous about McKinnon in the middle in the JETS scheme. The key to this defense, according to Denny, is the LDE being able to "trust" the Mike backer to plug the B-gap. If Mac-Dawg takes the wrong angle or fails to fill that gap (as I believe he's done somewhat in the past), the trust will break down pretty quickly.

 

[Wildman©]

LB sizes....

According to the Cardinal home website:

Darling 6' 1" 247
Fisher 6' 1" 239
Hayes 6' 1" 238
McKinnon 6' 0" 245
Thompson 6' 3" 224
Woods 6' 3" 244
Young 6' 2" 245

What would be the ideal weight/position for these guys?
BTW: I would love to see combine-like speed and strength tests given to the LBs.... I think that there would be several surprises.