Dream Off-Season
January 14, 2008 by Walter Mitchell
Yeah, yeah, I know that Rod Graves has stated that the Cardinals won’t be all that active in free agency this off-season, as they focus their energies and cap space on re-signing their current players. But…there HAS to be a way to put all the puzzle pieces together this off-season. So, we Cardinal fans can start doing what we are all accustomed to doing this time of year: we can dream. Thus, this is my dream, position by position.QB: I want an open competition between Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart and Tim Rattay. May the best man win. I very much like the way Warner moved the team and the way he thrived in the red zone. Give him an improved defense, and thus the leeway to make a mistake or two a game, and I believe the Cardinals could go 11-5 or 10-6 next year. I fear that the offense will be more conservative and less productive, points-wise, under Leinart. Of course it would be great if he proves this wrong.
RB: While I have gained a profound respect for Edgerrin James’ tough and resilient rushing…I think it’s time to usher out the old and bring in the new. The Cards passed on Adrian Peterson in last year’s draft and this year they need to make up for it. While Jonathan Stewart (5-11, 230, Oregon) may not quite have AP’s overall talent, he’s a dandy. He’s my pick at #16. I like Arrington as the change-of-pace back. And, while Marcel Shipp was basically relegated to special teams this year, I think he will prove his worth as a tough inside runner once again this off-season.
FB: In my wildest dream, I have Owen Schmitt (6-3, 260, West Virginia) available for the Cards in the middle of round two…but that’s not going to happen because Schmitt is too talented and sexy a pick to last beyond pick #34. I was even dreaming of a scenario where we sign UFA RB Michael Turner (Chargers) and then select Schmitt at #16, but that too seems like a spurious reverie. Thus, I am sticking with hard-nosed FB Terrelle Smith and also like the prospects of the versatile 2nd year player, Tim Castille of Alabama.
OL: There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that All-Pro LG Alan Faneca (6-5, 307, Steelers) is one of the two UFAs outside the organization the Cards really need to sign. Faneca’s leadership and toughness could help turn Arizona’s young offensive line into a juggernaut. If the Cardinals need to let go of Mike Gandy and Oliver Ross in order to sign Faneca, I think they need to do it. Gandy played well, no question, but I would prefer that the team move 2nd year T Levi Brown back to his natural LT spot. What would facilitate such a move would be to slide Reggie Wells back to RT, his natural spot. Wells played very hard this past season and is developing a mean streak. Plus, he has the feet to excel in edge pass protection. At C and RG the team is in very good shape, with Al Johnson and Deuce Lutui manning those spots. I like the depth on the line with G/T Elton Brown and C/G Lyle Sendlein…and would like it even more if the team re-signs G/T Keydrick Vincent.
TE: I am actually happy with the young trio of  Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick and Troy Bienemann. I believe that all three, after another off-season with John Lott, will be significantly improved next year.
WR: There’s absolutely no way I would trade Larry Fitzgerald. The front office has to be creative and sign him to a lucrative, yet cap-manageable extension, so that Fitzgerald, one of the game’s elite WRs, will be a Cardinal for the duration of his sparkling career. The same holds true for Anquan Boldin. There’s no way I would let go of either one of these superstars. While I would like to see Bryant Johnson re-signed, I don’t think there will be enough money under the cap to do it. Thus, I am going to draft a WR in round 3 and the guy I am hoping will be there is Sammie Stroughter (6-0, 188, Oregon St.). I like Jerheme Urban (who developed some chemistry with Kurt Warner as the season progressed) and think that he could be a solid #3 until Steve Breaston (good looking slot WR prospect) and Stroughter are ready. Sean Morey, by virtue of his special team prowess, deserves a roster spot, but hopefully won’t have to see much action at WR next year.
NT: The future looks bright for the Cards with the current tandem of former Wolverines, Gabe Watson and Alan Branch.
DE: Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith are a prolific duo. The question is the team’s depth. Hopefully, Chris Cooper, who shined in the pre-season, will provide the team with quality rotation depth. Rodney Bailey is good in short yardage situations. Just the same, I am going to draft DE/DT Jason Jones (6-5, 282, Eastern Michigan) in Round 4.
ILB: All set with Gerald Hayes at Mike and Karlos Dansby at Will. I like Monty Beisel as the #3 guy and special teams’ stalwart…and I think David Hollway may win himself a roster spot…but, just in case, I am going to draft Mike Klinkenborg (6-2, 240, Iowa) in round 7. Klinkenborg is a high effort guy who could be of immediate help on special teams.
OLB: Re-signing Calvin Pace as the team’s SOLB is a must. Down the stretch he was the team’s most consistent and reliable player on defense. At WOLB, the guy I want is Terrell Suggs, and if it means dumping some salaries to get him, I would do it. The Cardinals MUST improve their pass rush this off-season and Suggs would be a perfect fit. The Cards can sign him by offering him good guaranteed money and a solid package of incentives. As I say, if it means releasing both Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor, due to their age and recent health concerns, it would behoove the Cardinals to do it. If the team cannot sign Suggs, Okeafor must return to top form…and, based on his track record of impressive off-season weight training and conditioning, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back at full strength. Any way to add another good pass rushing WOLB and retain Okeafor would be ideal. Darryl Blackstock showed a couple of flashes as an edge rusher this year…but he needs to get stronger (mentally and physcially) and more tenacious.
CB: The Cards are pretty solid with Rod Hood at LCB and a healthy Eric Green at RCB…but the team absolutely needs talent behind them, which is why I am going to take CB Simeon Castille (6-1, 189, Alabama) in Round 2. Holding onto Ralph Brown for insurance would be wise…but I think either the diminutive, but feisty Michael Adams and/or the physically gifted Travarous Bain will surprise this year. The good news is that we now know that Antrel Rolle can thrive as a nickel back…and, if the team can remain versatile with Rolle, all the better.
SS: Adrian Wilson needs to return on a mission. He’s the kingpin of this defense. Behind him, there’s a significant dropoff in talent, unless Antrel Rolle is used there, if and when needed. Thus, I am going to draft Jamie Silva (5-11, 205, Boston College) in Round 5. Silva, in my opinion, is a smarter and more fluid version of Adam Archuletta…and is just as gritty…but, because he lacks height and pure speed, he will likely be available in the middle of day two.Â
FS: The team needs to try Antrel Rolle here…and do it quickly enough in minicamps to know whether this is a good spot for Rolle. Rolle became a good ballhawker this year…but the question is whether he is a reliable enough tackler in space. While I haven’t yet given up on Aaron Francisco, who is a hard-nosed and sudden tackler, he needs to get in tip-top shape and develop stronger ballhawking instincts. Terrence Holt needs to find his game somewhere else next year. Matt Ware has been solid on special teams, but he lacks the range to be a good FS. Silva was impressive at FS for the BC Eagles this past season…and intercepted 8 passes, many at key times…so maybe he can make up for a lack of blazing speed with pure feel and instincts.
P: Mitch Berger was clearly rusty. But, given an off-season to prepare, may be fine. He was a good holder for Neil Rackers, which is a plus, seeing as Kevin Spencer seems intent on having the punter double as the holder on placekicks. Just the same, if Durant Brooks (6-1, 202, Georgia Tech) is on the board in round 6, I will take him. I would also like to see the club try to bring Fred Capshaw back into the mix, if that’s possible.
K: I am sticking with Rackers, but I am sending him to sports psychologist this off-season to get his head straightened out and I am going to have him work with an experienced pro on his mechanics. His booming leg on kickoffs is a very good asset, and let’s not forget he was, what?, a perfect 4-4 in converting on-side kicks this season, including the beauty he dribbled to himself.
LS: Nathan Hodel must be re-signed. Give this guy a bonus. He’s one of the very best.
KR/PR: Steve Breaston is a real gamer. Gotta love this kid. But, I would also back him up with…Antrel Rolle on punt returns. Rolle has great vision in the open field, as we saw on his interception returns. Adding Stroughter would be a boon as well.
Coaching: In my dream, everyone stays except…Dick LeBeau takes over for Clancy Pendergast as DC. If LeBeau becomes available, he is too savvy to pass up, even if it means reaching a settlement with Pendergast, who would likely get scooped up rather quickly somewhere else. In my dream the Cardinal defense becomes pressure and attack oriented up front and sticky all over field in coverage. The current philosophy of defense has too many holes in it, especially in terms of generating consistent pressure and tight coverage.
53 Man Roster:
QB (3): Warner, Leinart, Rattay.
RB (3): Stewart (1st Rd.), Arrington, Shipp.
FB (2): Smith, Castille.
OL (9): Brown, L., Faneca (UFA), Johnson, Lutui, Wells, Brown, E., Sendlein, Vincent, Vallejo.
TE (3): Pope, Patrick, Beinemann.
WR (6): Boldin, Fitzgerald, Urban, Breaston, Stroughter (3rd Rd.), Morey.
NT (2): Watson, Branch.
DE (5): Dockett, Smith, Cooper, Jones (4th Rd.), Bailey
ILB (4): Hayes, Dansby, Beisel, Holloway or Klinkenborg (7th Rd.)
OLB (4): Pace, Suggs (UFA), Okeafor, Blackstock
CB (5): Hood, Green, Castille (2nd Rd.), Adams, Brown
S (4): Wilson, Rolle, Francisco, Silva (5th Rd.)
ST (3): Rackers, Durant (6th rd.), Hodel
OK…this was my dream..what is yours? Â Â
Posted in football
subscribe to our full feed!
content rss
My dream?
Beautiful cars and fast women——or is it the other way around?
OK, everyone that votes for Walter as new Cardinal GM, vote Ay. - Ay!
Good write up. Edge to the Browns or Cowpokes who have alot of draft picks. (This time we ship them the old guy) We get a pick and some added young depth somewhere. And clear some salary. Edge did a commendable job here the last two years. I doubt anyone could have done better with this line. Grimm worked wionders this year too. But it’s time to move on to better things.
Your picks are dead on. I do like Cason in the first if available, but I doubt he will be. Stewart and Mendenhall are the likely senarios however and that aint bad.
CB in the 2nd, dead on. Speed WR with hands in the 3rd - OK.
We need depth at OLB. I think Okefor will come back OK for another year and Berry is probobly a BU now. Blackstock, I dont know what his deal is, does anyone? Does he need another year in the system? Rushing was supposed to be his forte.
lastly, dont we get a pick from Dallas for the Leonard Davis signing?
Nice stuff, Mitch!
If the draft happened that way I wouldn’t shed a tear, but as a personal “dream offseason” I wouldn’t mind seeing a O-lineman or D-lineman drafted either high or low in middle rounds. As you know, if you’re solid up front everything else gets easier.
My dream is you paying off the bet you made last offseason–the one where Aaron Francisco was a starter and Shane Boyd made the roster.
Welcher.
I’d get Antrel Rolle involved on “O” as a slot receiver or coming out of the backfield on screen passes. Keep him as the nickle on “D”.
I agree with most but there is no way I want to go into next season with a rookie RB. Not even the great AD started, nor did he play all 16 games. Rookie backs are notorius of “hitting the wall” and can get your QB injured in a hurry missing a blitz.
If we followed your dream maybe we would be better of going after Turner and drafting a olb with our first pick.
Walter: My dream? Mama Cass singing “Dream a little dream of me” on the Smothers Brothers show is a perfect fit right here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZPmZ64m3_4
Trip down memory lane.
No way do we draft Cason in the first round, that’d be a terrible pick. We take Malcolm Jenkins or Mike Jenkins. I can’t stress this enough, WE NEED A SHUTDOWN CORNER AS THE #1 PRIORITY THIS OFFSEASON. There won’t be one on the FA market so one of those two will be the pick. They have a terrible pass defense and that’s our #1 priority. I guarantee they will draft one of those two unless Talib’s stock rises dramatically.
Edge sticks around 1 more year, but I hope Whis involves Shipp more. I hope that Faneca comes, it only seems natural that he will come back to Grimm and Whis. Only question is, will the price tag be too high? I hope not. Suggs is a pipedream and asking the Pats safety to choose us over the Pats is unrealistic.
Leinart gets the starting job. He seems more focused now with the baby mama drama behind him. Remember, last year he had half a season to learn the offense, this year it was still a new system for him, his third in three years. That’s pretty tough to overcome. Rattay is a good backup, but he’s much too short to really be a starter. Warner made too many stupid throws into double and triple coverage this year. The fact that they were stupid throws is why he doesn’t get the starting job.
Bye bye Bryant “Los Manos de Piedros” Johnson. I look for Breaston to step up next year with Urban as a great 4th option. Drop Holt and move Rolle there.
My (short) take:
1. The Cards have enough room for improvement among the guys we’ve got (i.e. fewer penalties & turnovers. Better execution) - to make the playoffs next year if the roster not to change at all.
2. That said - I think we’re deeply vulnerable at FS and I’m not sold that the Green-Hood CB tandem is good enough.
3. We play a lot of teams in the Northeast next season. It would be nice to have a really dependible TE to bail out our QB in lousy weather (and I’m not totally confortable Pope or Patrick will develop into the TE we need).
4. A lot of other roster upgrades would be desirable (but not “urgent”) and my guess is that we will only be able to make some of them. Which ones we make will depend on “supply and demand.”
Good thoughts, Mitch. I doubt we pick up two high-ticket FAs, but you never know.
RB is deep this year. I say pick up whoever drops to the second or third. Take best available LB/CB/DE/OT in first round to prepare for the losses next year of Dansby (if he is only tagged this year and can’t agree to long-term deal)/Green. DE/OT could afford upgrades. I like Rey Malu-whatever of USC at ILB.
Keep Ross ( at the right price) to compete for 1st backup OT spot.
Clearing out Gandy, Edge, Berry, possibly Okefor, and obviously Holt might allow for the signing of both Suggs and Fanaca.
I think Wells is best suited for LT, where his feet allow him to work on speed rushers. Especially with Matt at QB.
After reading more about Stewart, I would not be opposed to drafting him since the knock on Edge is that he’s not a homerun back, which does hurt the offense. I would choose him over a CB if the Cards think they can get a good CB in the second round, which you are saying we can.
Whatever it is, I just hope we make a smart draft choice in the first round. I’d like to have a homerun back, but also improve the pass D more.
free lesbo porn clips