Syracusecards
DA's pass went that way
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
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Inside Slant
If the Cardinals were to come away with running back Travis Henry in a trade and cornerback Antrel Rolle of Miami or Adam Jones of West Virginia in the draft to complement what they've accomplished already in free agency, then talk of their revival would have to be taken seriously.
The key position, quarterback, figures to be upgraded with Kurt Warner, although it would be stunning if he comes to the desert and plays like the MVP he once was while leading the Rams to the Super Bowl twice, winning once.
Having a veteran like Warner to show Josh McCown how it's done, and possibly even win the job from him can only help them.
Defensive end Chike Okeafor joins Pro Bowl end Bertrand Berry, giving the Cardinals the best pair of bookends in the NFC West.
They represent a significant upgrade of what only two years ago was one of the league's lamest pass rushes.
Right tackle Oliver Ross is expected to move in immediately as the starter. He should upgrade the toughness of the right side of the line.
In the process, Ross has made tackles L.J. Shelton and Anthony Clement trade bait.
But maybe the biggest acquisition of them all was middle linebacker Orlando Huff, who will replace veteran Ron McKinnon. When combined with the ends and tackle Kenny King, a first-teamer last year before a fractured wrist ended his season, the team should be much better equipped to deal with the rush.
There have been so many false starts and hollow claims that success will have to be seen to be believed.
But with each move, the Cardinals appear to be gaining on respectability.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Water activities in the desert seem to be the theme this week. But a more serious aspect of it is being addressed by OLB James Darling. He was at South Mountain College for "Water Safety Day." With the triple-digit summer temperatures in the area, swimming pools are prevalent in Phoenix. Child drowning is a huge concern each year in a place known for its lack of water, yet where the child-drowning rate in among the highest in the country.
—The Cardinals and team mascot Big Red are hosting the 2005 NFL Mascot Convention. The mascots visited children at Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Medical Center, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Sun Health.
—And finally in a week in which off-season events were the news during a lack of action on team news, the Cardinals participated at the Chicanos Por La Causa "Cesar Chavez Unity Celebration" to commemorate the birthday and legacy of Cesar Chavez and promote education by motivating children to stay in school.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think when you don't get to play when you are a competitor, it is like being a little kid and feeling left out of things. You want to play so bad. You want to be out there because you feel like you can have an effect on the game. That really fueled my fire and has continued to do so because I don't ever want to feel like that again." — QB Josh McCown, who signed a one-year restricted free-gent tender offer and will compete with Kurt Warner for the Cardinals starting position after losing the job for three games in 2004.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NEEDS/DRAFT PRIORITIES
1. Running back. The starter in 2004, Emmitt Smith retired after just missing a 1,000-yard season. The team rushing leader in 2002-03, Marcel Shipp, is coming off a surgically repaired leg fracture and his status is unknown. So it could be argued that the team needs two backs. It definitely needs at least one. The Cardinals could be tempted by what's left in the draft among Cedric Benson of Texas, Ronnie Brown of Auburn or Cadillac Williams of Auburn. At least two of them likely will be off the board before the Cards pick at No. 8.
2. Cornerback. Duane Starks simply hasn't panned out and was traded, while David Macklin, despite having a junkyard-dog demeanor, is limited. No. 3 corner Renaldo Hill is unrestricted and could land elsewhere. And name a team that would tell you it has enough cover corners. It would be great if the Cardinals could land a starter and make Macklin the nickel back and/or Hill the fourth corner. That turn of events would upgrade the look of a suspect secondary considerably.
3. Offensive line. If Kurt Warner does indeed start next season, the Cardinals are going to need to improve their pass blocking. Josh McCown was on the run much of last season, and at 33, Warner is one of the slower moving quarterbacks in the league. Oliver Ross was the first step.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Renaldo Hill; TE Freddie Jones; MLB Ron McKinnon; WR Nate Poole (not tendered as RFA); OG Cameron Spikes; CB Robert Tate; DE Kyle Vanden Bosch.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Quentin Harris.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: OT Jeremy Bridges.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: RB Damien Anderson; RB Troy Hambrick; DT Ross Kolodziej; QB Josh McCown; DE Peppi Zellner.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: S Robert Griffith; LB Orlando Huff; DE Chike Okeafor; OT Oliver Ross; QB Kurt Warner.
PLAYERS LOST: QB Shaun King; RB Emmitt Smith; CB Duane Starks; CB Michael Stone; WR Karl Williams.
If the Cardinals were to come away with running back Travis Henry in a trade and cornerback Antrel Rolle of Miami or Adam Jones of West Virginia in the draft to complement what they've accomplished already in free agency, then talk of their revival would have to be taken seriously.
The key position, quarterback, figures to be upgraded with Kurt Warner, although it would be stunning if he comes to the desert and plays like the MVP he once was while leading the Rams to the Super Bowl twice, winning once.
Having a veteran like Warner to show Josh McCown how it's done, and possibly even win the job from him can only help them.
Defensive end Chike Okeafor joins Pro Bowl end Bertrand Berry, giving the Cardinals the best pair of bookends in the NFC West.
They represent a significant upgrade of what only two years ago was one of the league's lamest pass rushes.
Right tackle Oliver Ross is expected to move in immediately as the starter. He should upgrade the toughness of the right side of the line.
In the process, Ross has made tackles L.J. Shelton and Anthony Clement trade bait.
But maybe the biggest acquisition of them all was middle linebacker Orlando Huff, who will replace veteran Ron McKinnon. When combined with the ends and tackle Kenny King, a first-teamer last year before a fractured wrist ended his season, the team should be much better equipped to deal with the rush.
There have been so many false starts and hollow claims that success will have to be seen to be believed.
But with each move, the Cardinals appear to be gaining on respectability.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Water activities in the desert seem to be the theme this week. But a more serious aspect of it is being addressed by OLB James Darling. He was at South Mountain College for "Water Safety Day." With the triple-digit summer temperatures in the area, swimming pools are prevalent in Phoenix. Child drowning is a huge concern each year in a place known for its lack of water, yet where the child-drowning rate in among the highest in the country.
—The Cardinals and team mascot Big Red are hosting the 2005 NFL Mascot Convention. The mascots visited children at Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Medical Center, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Sun Health.
—And finally in a week in which off-season events were the news during a lack of action on team news, the Cardinals participated at the Chicanos Por La Causa "Cesar Chavez Unity Celebration" to commemorate the birthday and legacy of Cesar Chavez and promote education by motivating children to stay in school.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think when you don't get to play when you are a competitor, it is like being a little kid and feeling left out of things. You want to play so bad. You want to be out there because you feel like you can have an effect on the game. That really fueled my fire and has continued to do so because I don't ever want to feel like that again." — QB Josh McCown, who signed a one-year restricted free-gent tender offer and will compete with Kurt Warner for the Cardinals starting position after losing the job for three games in 2004.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NEEDS/DRAFT PRIORITIES
1. Running back. The starter in 2004, Emmitt Smith retired after just missing a 1,000-yard season. The team rushing leader in 2002-03, Marcel Shipp, is coming off a surgically repaired leg fracture and his status is unknown. So it could be argued that the team needs two backs. It definitely needs at least one. The Cardinals could be tempted by what's left in the draft among Cedric Benson of Texas, Ronnie Brown of Auburn or Cadillac Williams of Auburn. At least two of them likely will be off the board before the Cards pick at No. 8.
2. Cornerback. Duane Starks simply hasn't panned out and was traded, while David Macklin, despite having a junkyard-dog demeanor, is limited. No. 3 corner Renaldo Hill is unrestricted and could land elsewhere. And name a team that would tell you it has enough cover corners. It would be great if the Cardinals could land a starter and make Macklin the nickel back and/or Hill the fourth corner. That turn of events would upgrade the look of a suspect secondary considerably.
3. Offensive line. If Kurt Warner does indeed start next season, the Cardinals are going to need to improve their pass blocking. Josh McCown was on the run much of last season, and at 33, Warner is one of the slower moving quarterbacks in the league. Oliver Ross was the first step.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: CB Renaldo Hill; TE Freddie Jones; MLB Ron McKinnon; WR Nate Poole (not tendered as RFA); OG Cameron Spikes; CB Robert Tate; DE Kyle Vanden Bosch.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: S Quentin Harris.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: OT Jeremy Bridges.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: RB Damien Anderson; RB Troy Hambrick; DT Ross Kolodziej; QB Josh McCown; DE Peppi Zellner.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: S Robert Griffith; LB Orlando Huff; DE Chike Okeafor; OT Oliver Ross; QB Kurt Warner.
PLAYERS LOST: QB Shaun King; RB Emmitt Smith; CB Duane Starks; CB Michael Stone; WR Karl Williams.
can't wait to get the show going!! This year will be fun no matter what. What i do find weird about the article though is the mention of Orlando Huff and maybe the best acquisition. I am sure it is an upgrade in Run defense, but I am not really convinced his presence allow while mean much
