Key training camp battles

[Duckjake]

The one's I'll be watching are Powers v Cason and Ryan Williams v the two rookie RB's. Also Kevin Minter v Jasper Brinkley.

Next level will be Alex Okafor v Lorenzo Alexander and TM v Bell or Johnson or maybe nobody depending on who is playing where.

This is going to be a real fun training camp.

 

[Gottalean]

The one's I'll be watching are Powers v Cason and Ryan Williams v the two rookie RB's. Also Kevin Minter v Jasper Brinkley.

Next level will be Alex Okafor v Lorenzo Alexander and TM v Bell or Johnson or maybe nobody depending on who is playing where.

This is going to be a real fun training camp.

Yezir.. I'm excited about the safety and running back battles 2 definitely wondering who comes out on top there.

Also want to see if Floyd will beat out Roberts for the #2 spot at receiver.. Plus who emerges as the starting five lineman and where they end up playing.

And don't sleep on LBs alot going on there, will Scho even make the team? And how does Acho cinco fit in?

 

[Garthshort]

I'll be interested in the TE position. I'm assuming that Rob Housler will step up, but who else. I know that BA likes to play a lot two TE sets.

 

[JeffGollin]

In most "normal" years, We can review the latest depth chart to see where the position-battles will be, within the context of a relatively "set" roster, established offensive and defensive systems and existing coaching philosophies.

This year is different - it is a tough year to project winners and losers of training camp battles because there are so many shifting sands - we have new coaches, new systems, a bigger-than-normal influx of new players and the off-season development of the players we've already got.

That makes me really intrigued by potential "surprises" - i.e. players who come out of nowhere to emerge as a starter or grab a roster spot. For example:

- Could Ellington actually leapfrog Ryan Williams or at least emerge as a scat-back role-player for us?

- We have 10 new wide outs behind Fitz, Floyd and Roberts. Which 2 or 3 guys will turn out to "be the ones?" any potential superstars (especially blazers)?

- Will Jefferson move up to be an integral part of our TE arsenal?

- Could someone like Watford or Johnson-Webb break into our starting OL lineup?

- Is Shaughnessy good enough to push Calais at DE? Will Padric-Scott give Carter or Dumpster Dan a run for their money?

- BA has had nice things to say about Reggie Walker. Will he become a force either inside or outside? We have 15 LB's in camp. Will any of the new guys emerge as a much-needed pass rushing force off the edge?

- We have 15 DB's (only 4 of which were on our roster a year ago). Any superstars among the bevy of CB's (especially Powers, Cason and Arenas)? We're thin at safety - what about Jefferson? Will this be Bethel's break-thru year.

- Yechhh! Injuries: How much will they determine which backups get their chance to shine in the sun?

My prediction - Expect to be surprised.

 

[Duckjake]

This year is different - it is a tough year to project winners and losers of training camp battles because there are so many shifting sands - we have new coaches, new systems, a bigger-than-normal influx of new players and the off-season development of the players we've already got.

Which is exactly why this will be one of the most fun training camps to follow in a long time. You would think 2007 would have been similar but CKW kept a lot of the roster intact. I guess you would have to go back to McGinnis and his "you'll need a program to identify the players". Of course I wish I'd never seen that program.

 

[BigRedRage]

In most "normal" years, We can review the latest depth chart to see where the position-battles will be, within the context of a relatively "set" roster, established offensive and defensive systems and existing coaching philosophies.

This year is different - it is a tough year to project winners and losers of training camp battles because there are so many shifting sands - we have new coaches, new systems, a bigger-than-normal influx of new players and the off-season development of the players we've already got.

That makes me really intrigued by potential "surprises" - i.e. players who come out of nowhere to emerge as a starter or grab a roster spot. For example:

- Could Ellington actually leapfrog Ryan Williams or at least emerge as a scat-back role-player for us?

- We have 10 new wide outs behind Fitz, Floyd and Roberts. Which 2 or 3 guys will turn out to "be the ones?" any potential superstars (especially blazers)?

- Will Jefferson move up to be an integral part of our TE arsenal?

- Could someone like Watford or Johnson-Webb break into our starting OL lineup?

- Is Shaughnessy good enough to push Calais at DE? Will Padric-Scott give Carter or Dumpster Dan a run for their money?

- BA has had nice things to say about Reggie Walker. Will he become a force either inside or outside? We have 15 LB's in camp. Will any of the new guys emerge as a much-needed pass rushing force off the edge?

- We have 15 DB's (only 4 of which were on our roster a year ago). Any superstars among the bevy of CB's (especially Powers, Cason and Arenas)? We're thin at safety - what about Jefferson? Will this be Bethel's break-thru year.

- Yechhh! Injuries: How much will they determine which backups get their chance to shine in the sun?

My prediction - Expect to be surprised.

Lol at pushing Calais, hes one of the best in the entire league. Beyond that, Shaughnessy has been playing OLB in practice.

The rest is solid

 

[Chopper0080]

For me the most interesting battles will be as follows...

RB: I am real curious to see where Ryan Williams ends up after training camp.

OLB: San Acho and ???. Shaughnessy, Alezander, Okafor and Schofield, who wins the job or will we start the best loser?

SILB: How long can Brinkley hold off Minter?

CB: After Peterson, how does the rest of the depth chart shake out? Cason and Powers are battling for the #2 CB spot, but the loser might not fit well as a slot CB. Arenas does fit as a slot CB so can he win the #3 CB job. Also, does Flemming take the next step?

S: Will anyone win a starting spot or, like OLB, will it just be the best of a poor group?

The rest of the roster comes down to production IMO. Palmer is set at QB, can he be productive? Our top 3 WRs are set, can Floyd and Roberts be weapons and take advantage of playing opposite of Fitzgerald? Can any of our TE's be consistently productive in any way? Will the offensive line take a significant step forward? I would argue that the talent is there, but that doesn't always lead to better production.

We will see.

 

[oaken1]

this year.....every battle in TC is significant

 

[Duckjake]

this year.....every battle in TC is significant

But there aren't any competitions at some positions. Palmer, Fitz, Floyd, Roberts, Campbell, Peterson, and Dockett and probably Acho, Massie, Brown and Sendlein are fairly well entrenched as starters.

 

[Totally_Red]

For me the most interesting battles will be as follows...

RB: I am real curious to see where Ryan Williams ends up after training camp.

OLB: San Acho and ???. Shaughnessy, Alezander, Okafor and Schofield, who wins the job or will we start the best loser?

SILB: How long can Brinkley hold off Minter?

CB: After Peterson, how does the rest of the depth chart shake out? Cason and Powers are battling for the #2 CB spot, but the loser might not fit well as a slot CB. Arenas does fit as a slot CB so can he win the #3 CB job. Also, does Flemming take the next step?

S: Will anyone win a starting spot or, like OLB, will it just be the best of a poor group?

The rest of the roster comes down to production IMO. Palmer is set at QB, can he be productive? Our top 3 WRs are set, can Floyd and Roberts be weapons and take advantage of playing opposite of Fitzgerald? Can any of our TE's be consistently productive in any way? Will the offensive line take a significant step forward? I would argue that the talent is there, but that doesn't always lead to better production.

We will see.

That's an interesting point. Who is the fifth DB in the nickle? Is it Tyrann Mathieu or Javier Arenas or the Cason/Powers loser? I can never recall the Cardinals having such a stable of cornerback depth. They aren't superstars, but they all bring something to the table. Hopefully Patrick Peterson takes the next step and becomes the best cornerback in the league.

 

[Duckjake]

That's an interesting point. Who is the fifth DB in the nickle? Is it Tyrann Mathieu or Javier Arenas or the Cason/Powers loser? I can never recall the Cardinals having such a stable of cornerback depth. They aren't superstars, but they all bring something to the table. Hopefully Patrick Peterson takes the next step and becomes the best cornerback in the league.

I agree. It seems like we've always had one good CB and the other side was wanting. Now we have Cason who started 45 games the last 3 seasons and Powers who started 30 as opposed to past seasons where we had some bum from Iowa or the most recent Steelers castoff.

That would be a great trivia question. Name all the CBs who started opposite Aeneas Williams in Arizona.