I don’t think a kicking competition would be a good indicator of Rackers being able to handle clutch situations any better than currently does as the kicking would be much less stressful. I don’t think the Cards can afford to take a chance on another season with a kicker who can’t kick in the clutch.

I hope they sign an undrafted punter or use the final pick on him or sign a good FA.

Anyways, still hoping for a 8-8 season, which is big progress. Big wins over Pittsburgh, Seattle, Cincinnati on the road and competitive in every game but the Second Seattle game. How often did you say that about the Cardinals in the past? Most road games we were never in them, but this year we had a chance to win 7 of them. That’s progress.

I won’t even bother with Warner. He’s history.

Leinart seems to be buying into the program, but I have to see it to believe it and I too think he will be forever soft and injury-prone.

All I need to know about Edge was in the Republic last week: He loves victory Mondays off so he can rush back to Florida where he feels “comfortable.” At $4 million per year, we need to let him feel comfortable all year.

As far as the defense quitting, I say nonsense. And I’ll predict Pendergast will be extended.

Dead right on Dockett. He hasn’t had a sack in six games and I predicted Jeff Faine would eat him up.

Thanks for the write-ups all year.

I hoped for 8-8 at the begining of the season but the last 2 games aren’t gimme’s. i like the coaching staff as is. I think the Cards still need to upgrade the talent in some critical positions. That is something you can’t coach. Next year will be a challenge with the AFC and NFC East on the schedule. But the players will have a years worth of bad plays and could haves to dwell on over the winter.

As far as the comment that we need a speed receiver, my hope is that Breaston will step into that roll. He could be that guy. I don’t think we should keep Johnson, he’s not big and has hands of stone. He’s the reincarnation of Michael Carbajal Jr.

I used to be a Clancy supporter, but the thing that frustrates me about Clancy is that he doesn’t blitz enough, and when he does, it’s a simplified blitz that almost always gets picked up. It’s third and 4 and he rushes 3 when we need a sack in the worst way. He knows our secondary sucks and can’t cover anybody, so his main focus should be blitz packages on most downs. I would like to see a new defensive coordinator next year.

I’d like to see Whiz institute a new policy next year, penalties for getting penalties. How about running one gutbuster for every 5 yards in stupid penalties that you get? Those would be false starts, offsides, late hit out of bounds and any other preventable penalty. Sometimes a hold to protect the QB or defensive hold to prevent a WR from getting wide open for a score is necessary, so those wouldn’t count. Something needs to be done. I’m sure the Raiders are happy they weren’t the most penalized team for the first time in 30 years.

I just hope this is a very active off-season. I do want to see them win the last 2 to finish on a good note though. It’s an extreme long shot, but if everyone loses their last 2 games (3 for minnesota) and we win the last two, don’t we still have an outside shot at the playoffs? Pipe dreams, but an 8-8 record was what a lot of us had hoped we’d finish this year before it started. This year will now be known as the what could have been year, if not for the slew of injuries to key players.

I’m not sure how accountability is or will be addressed. That includes coaches. But penalties and clock management MUST BE improved or we will continue to have close losses.

Reggie Wells MUST BE replaced. That was a big Graves blunder.

I agree with Dansby, Pace, BJ resign and that Berry should be waived and replaced probably by Chike with a draftee backing up.

That being said, this is a pretty good analysis. As I said numerous times, Reggie Wells makes a great swing lineman who can sub at all 5 line positions, but he’s never going to be an adequate starter. Is Russ Grimm the answer as an OL coach? It’s really hard to say that right now, considering that 4 of the 5 positions seem to be in place with solid talent.

I think the pleasant surprise has been the TEs that we have. They don’t block well, but there’s good depth there. Does this team need an All-Pro player at TE? I don’t think so, but there’s an adequate group here.

The Cards have to address the pass rush this offseason. Pace may be a keeper–but only at a certain price. I think that Pace may test the free agent waters, and he’ll be bought away at a price above what he’s worth. Hopefully Chike Okeafor can come back from his injury and hit the ground running. Daryl Blackstock has improved this offseason and represents good depth.

It’s hard for this coaching staff to demand accountability from the players w/r/t penalties when they’re not accountable when getting plays in on time. This coaching staff can’t stop learning this offseason, and I have no idea how they’ll get it done. Perhaps in training camp they can operate scrimmages with a 20-second playclock so that they’ll be able to increase the pace?

Leinart and improved discipline are going to be the keys to the 2008 season.