The Horns of the Bull

[Harry]

Pick your analogy. Don't fight a 2 front war. Screwing 2 things up is not the same as multitasking. To do 2 things at once is to do neither. If you chase 2 rabbits at once you will catch neither.

What? I think the Cards have decided on a 2 prong attack to handle their personnel issues. First they will try to make the playoffs in 2017. Their free agent additions are not long term building blocks. It seems more appropriate to label them hole pluggers like what you use to fix a punctured tire rather than replacing it. Bethea & Dansby may give the Cards a one year breather, but those positions are not resolved. Don't be shocked to see a few more. For example, Mitch mentioned Freeney or Mario Williams, who seem possible options if they can't keep Okafor.

At the same time the Cards are stacking up comp picks. Likely they'll collect maybe 2 thirds and a fourth; maybe more. They seem to be stockpiling draft picks for what I believe is an inevitable rebuild. The 2018 draft is shaping up to be deep, but they also provide trading leverage. They appear committed to waiting until the draft to take players with longer lasting value.

I know from the introductory quotes it may seem I think this strategy is doomed. I don't. I do, however, believe Keim will long be remembered as one of the great GMs if he can pull thiss off. Buckle up! It should be quite a ride.

 

[Krangodnzr]

The smart teams build this way.

This board still fosters the loser mentality of wanting quick fixes through free agency.

 

[football karma]

I would add the often stated desire to find the QB of the future this draft.

It sure feels like they want the young QB to have a year to learn and be ready to take over in 2018.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Absolutely correct, Harry. This why Bethea was so attractive. Since he was cut, he doesnt count against the FA formula. Do Catanzaro and Fells count in the formula as FA lost?

 

[Buckybird]

Good post Harry!

Keim & Co have to get better on busting on high draft picks & avoid the total washouts like Cooper, Minter, Niklas etc. I still say #90 is going to join this list.

Big Red needs another draft like 2004 when they hit HRs on Fitz, Los & DD and finding a stud QB as well to guarantee long term success & multiple Super Bowls. It's a must!!!

 

[Finito]

Good post Harry!

Keim & Co have to get better on busting on high draft picks & avoid the total washouts like Cooper, Minter, Niklas etc. I still say #90 is going to join this list.

Big Red needs another draft like 2004 when they hit HRs on Fitz, Los & DD and finding a stud QB as well to guarantee long term success & multiple Super Bowls. It's a must!!!

Your seriously gonna put Kevin Minter in the same class as Cooper and Niklas. Come on now.

 

[GatorAZ]

Agreed. I love picks, cap space and long walks on the beach.

It's all about the marathon. Imagine this franchise being a consistent double-digit win team over the course of decades.

 

[Buckybird]

Your seriously gonna put Kevin Minter in the same class as Cooper and Niklas. Come on now.

When a guy is drafted in RD 2 & doesn't see a 2nd contract he's an underwhelming player. He's been blasted repeatedly on this board & rightfully so. It was a terrible pick taking a pure thumper in the second rounder who couldn't cover my dead grandmother.

 

[Finito]

When a guy is drafted in RD 2 & doesn't see a 2nd contract he's an underwhelming player. He's been blasted repeatedly on this board & rightfully so. It was a terrible pick taking a pure thumper in the second rounder who couldn't cover my dead grandmother.

Your right he was a pure 2 down thumper when he was drafted and that's what you got. He didn't cover guys in college why would you expect him to do it in the NFL. He got the most out of his ability and played hard on every down. His stats actually aren't bad at all.


The other two never even stepped on the field. Let's be realistic here.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Your right he was a pure 2 down thumper when he was drafted and that's what you got. He didn't cover guys in college why would you expect him to do it in the NFL. He got the most out of his ability and played hard on every down. His stats actually aren't bad at all.


The other two never even stepped on the field. Let's be realistic here.

Most of the time he was the one getting "thumped".

 

[Buckybird]

Your right he was a pure 2 down thumper when he was drafted and that's what you got. He didn't cover guys in college why would you expect him to do it in the NFL. He got the most out of his ability and played hard on every down. His stats actually aren't bad at all.


The other two never even stepped on the field. Let's be realistic here.

Exactly why he should've never been drafted in Rd2 or by BigRed in today's NFL when it's a game of matchups. Let's be real here It's a different NFL today

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Pick your analogy. Don't fight a 2 front war. Screwing 2 things up is not the same as multitasking. To do 2 things at once is to do neither. If you chase 2 rabbits at once you will catch neither.

What? I think the Cards have decided on a 2 prong attack to handle their personnel issues. First they will try to make the playoffs in 2017. Their free agent additions are not long term building blocks. It seems more appropriate to label them hole pluggers like what you use to fix a punctured tire rather than replacing it. Bethea & Dansby may give the Cards a one year breather, but those positions are not resolved. Don't be shocked to see a few more. For example, Mitch mentioned Freeney or Mario Williams, who seem possible options if they can't keep Okafor.

At the same time the Cards are stacking up comp picks. Likely they'll collect maybe 2 thirds and a fourth; maybe more. They seem to be stockpiling draft picks for what I believe is an inevitable rebuild. The 2018 draft is shaping up to be deep, but they also provide trading leverage. They appear committed to waiting until the draft to take players with longer lasting value.

I know from the introductory quotes it may seem I think this strategy is doomed. I don't. I do, however, believe Keim will long be remembered as one of the great GMs if he can pull thiss off. Buckle up! It should be quite a ride.

Harry,

I think you nailed the theme of this offseason with this post.

I didn't like the Cardinals trying to keep the window open for 2018, and now, as you stated, it looks like they are trying to do two things at once. Whether that is going to work......we will see.

 

[overseascardfan]

The smart teams build this way.

This board still fosters the loser mentality of wanting quick fixes through free agency.

You don't understand. Bringing back Palmer & Fitzgerald indicate they are making another SB push. You can't do that and let majority of your own FA leave. They might as well have started a rebuild. The draft is going to give us a true indication of where the season is headed. If SK drafts a bunch of projects then next year ain't our year and I feel bad for Fitz who I'm sure came back to try and get to a SB.

 

[MadCardDisease]

You don't understand. Bringing back Palmer & Fitzgerald indicate they are making another SB push. You can't do that and let majority of your own FA leave.

Why not?

The Patriots, Steelers and Packers do it every year. They keep their core young players around but see several of their other mid-level FAs leave and get massive contract from desperate teams. Yet every year the Patriots, Steelers and Packers are contending for a SB.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I think it was KC Joyner who broke it down this way years ago:

Teams get the most out of cost controlled first contracts. Teams that splurge on free agents miss out on comp picks, and thus get less of these cost controlled contracts.

Look at the consistent winners; they sign waiver wire free agents, walk away from high priced older veterans at the right time (Campbell?), let overvalued veterans leave (and replace with cheap cost controlled players), and rinse/repeat.

They sign big free agent unicorns, like Green Bay did with Charles Woodson or NE signing Revis, but outside of that the resign the guys the can and build through the draft.

For this to work for the Cardinals, they need to have a draft class like 2015 and 2016 draft class needs to start producing.

 

[Krangodnzr]

You don't understand. Bringing back Palmer & Fitzgerald indicate they are making another SB push. You can't do that and let majority of your own FA leave. They might as well have started a rebuild. The draft is going to give us a true indication of where the season is headed. If SK drafts a bunch of projects then next year ain't our year and I feel bad for Fitz who I'm sure came back to try and get to a SB.

I do understand. The Cardinals should be competitive this year without TJ and Campbell if the team is healthy and has a decently productive draft class. AND they wont leverage the future doing so.

 

[Camshaft]

We lost Calais Campbell, Cooper, Swearinger, Okafor, Tony, Watford, Fells, and Catanzaro. Of these eight, what compensation will we get.

 

[WildBB]

For CC and TJ possibly 3rd's. For the rest maybe a 4th. Depends if we make a splash in FA market however. This may be the year the Cardinals play the NFL's ridiculous comp system. This seems to be becoming a real trend in the NFL now, imo. Some teams will take the turnover in return for CAP space and more shots in the draft for cheap young labor. Leaving some of the biggest dough for a select few.

 

[Mitch]

For CC and TJ possibly 3rd's. For the rest maybe a 4th. Depends if we make a splash in FA market however. This may be the year the Cardinals play the NFL's ridiculous comp system. This seems to be becoming a real trend in the NFL now, imo. Some teams will take the turnover in return for CAP space and more shots in the draft for cheap young labor. Leaving some of the biggest dough for a select few.

It also has become bigger now that teams can trade comp picks. Gives teams much more flexibility to trade up and to make trades for players.

 

[Harry]

Absolutely correct, Harry. This why Bethea was so attractive. Since he was cut, he doesnt count against the FA formula. Do Catanzaro and Fells count in the formula as FA lost?

Yes, but it's the size of the contract that matters