The Once Mighty

[Harry]

NFC West is looking very vulnnerable for next year. No matter how good the off-season goes, it's certainly possible that no powerhouse emerges. I'm still in favor of a major offensive rebuild, but if that doesn't happen the best route to the playoffs appears to be through Seattle. Like the Cards, they probably have too many holes to fix in one year. I can't image this Cards team can get to the Super Bowl, but with Seattle's decline and only a little upward movement from LA & SF, the Cards could lock up their long shot.

 

[az jam]

The off-season will really be important for the Cards. Remember Keim is really calling the shots. He has already started by giving DT Mauro a contract extension and signing the punter (Leone) from Canada.

 

[football karma]

NFC West is looking very vulnnerable for next year. No matter how good the off-season goes, it's certainly possible that no powerhouse emerges. I'm still in favor of a major offensive rebuild, but if that doesn't happen the best route to the playoffs appears to be through Seattle. Like the Cards, they probably have too many holes to fix in one year. I can't image this Cards team can get to the Super Bowl, but with Seattle's decline and only a little upward movement from LA & SF, the Cards could lock up their long shot.

Let me ask: last year at this time, who had Atl and Dall in the NFC Championship this year?

I feel like one of the aspects of parity is not so much all teams are 8-8 -- but rather in any given year, the diff between 8-8 and 12-4 is dictated by injuries, schedule, the year to year variation in player performance and a handful of key plays.

Noted on the telecast-- last year was one of Matt Ryan's worst years stat wise. This year is his best. Is Alex Mack and Mohammed Sanu the reason? Maybe, but I don't know.

 

[Mitch]

Let me ask: last year at this time, who had Atl and Dall in the NFC Championship this year?

I feel like one of the aspects of parity is not so much all teams are 8-8 -- but rather in any given year, the diff between 8-8 and 12-4 is dictated by injuries, schedule, the year to year variation in player performance and a handful of key plays.

Noted on the telecast-- last year was one of Matt Ryan's worst years stat wise. This year is his best. Is Alex Mack and Mohammed Sanu the reason? Maybe, but I don't know.

Many reasons---Dan Quinn has upgraded the ATL defense through very good draft picks who fit his philosophy. Having Kyle Shanahan work the offense has been a coup. I am amazed that the Rams, Colts and Jaguars passed on Shanahan. With their young QBs, Shanahan would be made to order. Sanu and Mack were excellent FA additions---and man signing WR Gabriel with his speed and breakaway ability was a great move. Can't believe Gabriel was cut by the Browns---er, well, I guess I can believe that. And i give them credit for signinbg Dwight Freeney---something the Cardinals should have done. While Freeney might not have double digit sacks, he's given them good depth and has helped groom Vic Beasley as the top sack leader in the NFL.

 

[Southpaw]

Many reasons---Dan Quinn has upgraded the ATL defense through very good draft picks who fit his philosophy. Having Kyle Shanahan work the offense has been a coup. I am amazed that the Rams, Colts and Jaguars passed on Shanahan. With their young QBs, Shanahan would be made to order. Sanu and Mack were excellent FA additions---and man signing WR Gabriel with his speed and breakaway ability was a great move. Can't believe Gabriel was cut by the Browns---er, well, I guess I can believe that. And i give them credit for signinbg Dwight Freeney---something the Cardinals should have done. While Freeney might not have double digit sacks, he's given them good depth and has helped groom Vic Beasley as the top sack leader in the NFL.

Yesterday's game broadcast crew hinted he, Kyle Shanahan comes off chippy and arrogant in the interviews. I think we can name a few HCs who fit that description.

I still can't figure out why Mike Shanahan has not gotten another job or even interview.

 

[JeffGollin]

Off-Season Dynamics:

Which injured players rehabbed successfully? Which didn't? Which are in limbo?

Which high potential players will make that big leap from promise to performance? Which will hold their coaches hostage and disappoint?

Which teams had strong drafts/FA offseasons? Which didn't? Which erratic front ofices got lucky? Which rock solid front offices encountered bad luck?

All of these things set the table for next season and all its uncertainties - both good and bad.

Best we can hope for is that BA/SK make sound football moves and that over time, the percentages will play out in our favor.

 

[TJ]

I still think this team, as presently constructed, is a contender. 2016 was a humbling experience for the coaches, players, and front office. The only way this team falls from the contender ranks is if it bombs free agency and the draft.

The window is still open, but likely for one more year.

 

[GatorAZ]

The Seahawks need to transform from a defensive juggernaut to an offensively led team like the Steelers have done. They have the young QB and a promising pass-catching core plus Rawls looks legit. I think Paul Allen will force Schneider to finally invest in the OL before Wilson gets killed.

Their secondary is aging and got exposed. LB core is still best in the league but their DL shaky. I would easily take our D going forward.

 

[WindCardinal]

The off-season will really be important for the Cards. Remember Keim is really calling the shots. He has already started by giving DT Mauro a contract extension and signing the punter (Leone) from Canada.

We need to go all in this next year. I see 2018 as a complete rebuild year with Palmer and Fitzgerald likely gone. . We definitely need to re-sign Campbell, Jones, Swearinger/Jefferson and Gresham but structure their contracts to all fit under the cap this year, as in 2018 (assuming Palmer is gone) we will have around 100M in cap space. I don't see Iupati coming back in 2018 either

 

[football karma]

Many reasons---Dan Quinn has upgraded the ATL defense through very good draft picks who fit his philosophy. Having Kyle Shanahan work the offense has been a coup. I am amazed that the Rams, Colts and Jaguars passed on Shanahan. With their young QBs, Shanahan would be made to order. Sanu and Mack were excellent FA additions---and man signing WR Gabriel with his speed and breakaway ability was a great move. Can't believe Gabriel was cut by the Browns---er, well, I guess I can believe that. And i give them credit for signinbg Dwight Freeney---something the Cardinals should have done. While Freeney might not have double digit sacks, he's given them good depth and has helped groom Vic Beasley as the top sack leader in the NFL.

It's easy to explain after the fact -- but how about in advance?

The Falcons made one big FA move in Alex Mack - and some nice but unspectacular signings: Sanu, Gabriel. They also got some development from younger players. Very few, if nobody, said that was the difference 8-8 and 12-4. Yet it was.

Diff example: is Josh Norman the diff between 14-2 and 6-10 for the Panthers? Even when you get Kelvin Benjamin back?

I'm at the point where I beleive that if you have a competent QB, you are a contender. Of those teams-- a given year's record is a result of random chance on how a giant variety of things turn out for each team -- And then the next year, you do it again, and likely get a different variety of results.

 

[Paso Fino]

The New York Times ran a very interesting article about special teams.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/...atest&contentPlacement=24&pgtype=sectionfront
The Kansas City Chiefs have Dave Toub as their special teams coach and he believes the punt can be the key to winning many games. The Chiefs field position was second only to the Eagles. Toub devotes enormous time to selecting the right players for special teams and special team practices. This is an area where the Cardinals need to do much better and I do not expect much given the Cardinals are retaining BA's friend.

 

[Jetstream Green]

NFC West is looking very vulnnerable for next year. No matter how good the off-season goes, it's certainly possible that no powerhouse emerges. I'm still in favor of a major offensive rebuild, but if that doesn't happen the best route to the playoffs appears to be through Seattle. Like the Cards, they probably have too many holes to fix in one year. I can't image this Cards team can get to the Super Bowl, but with Seattle's decline and only a little upward movement from LA & SF, the Cards could lock up their long shot.

I have posted before and will post it again now, the NFL is really mediocre. Just look at the Cowboys and the Falcons from the last few years and could just as easily implode again. Look at the Seahawks, Panthers and our Cardinals from last year to this year... anyone with some talent has a chance

 

[DeAnna]

Seattle Times have an interesting article on how the Seahawks have become 'unlikeable'

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/...-the-line-from-brash-to-just-plain-unlikable/

 

[Mitch]

Good article. Thanks, DeAnna.

 

[Reddog]

It's easy to explain after the fact -- but how about in advance?

The Falcons made one big FA move in Alex Mack - and some nice but unspectacular signings: Sanu, Gabriel.

Sanu is a bigger addition than you might think. That receiving crop is very good.

 

[football karma]

Sanu is a bigger addition than you might think. That receiving crop is very good.

yes -- i agree. But what about before the year?

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-nfl-receiving-corps/

its one source, but before a 2016 regular season game had been played, the Falcons WRs were considered average -- even with Julio Jones in the mix. Regarding Sanu:

"Outside of him [Julio Jones], though, there are question marks. The Falcons signed Mohamed Sanu to a fairly sizeable contract, and he has dropped 16 of the past 111 catchable passes thrown his way. "

PFF was clearly wrong -- but nobody really knew that back in August

 

[Chopper0080]

Yesterday's game broadcast crew hinted he, Kyle Shanahan comes off chippy and arrogant in the interviews. I think we can name a few HCs who fit that description.

I still can't figure out why Mike Shanahan has not gotten another job or even interview.

Mike has said that he isn't looking for a head coaching job. he wants to be a front office consultant with his son as the head coach.

 

[NJCardFan]

NFC West is looking very vulnnerable for next year. No matter how good the off-season goes, it's certainly possible that no powerhouse emerges. I'm still in favor of a major offensive rebuild, but if that doesn't happen the best route to the playoffs appears to be through Seattle. Like the Cards, they probably have too many holes to fix in one year. I can't image this Cards team can get to the Super Bowl, but with Seattle's decline and only a little upward movement from LA & SF, the Cards could lock up their long shot.

I don't agree. The Cards and Seahawks barring any major drop off will still be top 5 teams in the NFC next season. In truth, there's no team in the NFC that are true powerhouses. This is why since 2000 there have been 13 different conference champions while in the AFC there have been 6(NE, Balt, Pitt, Indy, Den, Oak).

 

[Bodha]

Seattles decline?


If they spend some FA $ or high picks on Oline, then they are immediately superbowl contenders again.

Russ isnt going anywhere. Dude is elite. Seattle will be tough for the next 10 years