15 thoughts - training camp

Gandhi

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Posts
1,810
Reaction score
2,329
Location
Denmark
I could not limit myself to only ten thoughts, so this will be an extended version of the normal column.

Happy training camp, everyone!

-----------------

1 – Kyler Murray’s progress. Du’h, that’s what everyone is looking for, but I mean, that is also why it is listed here.

2 – Who will step up at edge rusher? My money is on Cameron Thomas, but as long as someone does it.

3 – I think that Brentson Buckner is a great defensive line-coach. What can Matt Burke do in that role?

4 – Will the connection between Zach Ertz and Murray continue to get better and better?

5 – Outside the obvious unfair tragedy that the world is now without Jeff Gladney, there is the fact that it leaves the Cards without a cornerback. Who will fill the void?

6 – Over/under on Keim time signings? I am setting it at 1.5, and I am going under (but wishes for over).

7 – In general the runningback position, where there are many interesting players, but especially Darrel Williams could be an underrated signing.

8 – There are always rookie surprises. Who?

9 – Hollywood Brown… (see thought #1).

10 – Will Zach Allen continue his positive development?

11 – Will Hernandez might not be the most sexy signing, but I am excited to see what he can do back under Sean Kugler’s tutelage.

12 – This is it for the duo of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins together. Now they need to show that they were chosen high in the draft for a reason.

13 – From the day they brought in Dennis Gardeck as an undrafted guy I have been talking him up in these columns, and now there might actually be a realistic chance that he will have a somewhat expanded role of defense. I am very excited to see what he can do.

14 – Take a step up, Rondale Moore, please.

15 – Will be interesting if they can ship out a fringe player or two for low round draft compensation.
 

oaken1

Stone Cold
Supporting Member
Banned from P+R
Joined
Mar 13, 2004
Posts
16,227
Reaction score
12,458
Location
Modesto, California
12.

This is it? Wtaf?

Zaven is entering his second year right???
....and you wanna pull the plug on him if he doesnt light it up??


News...for somebody....

The reason there is a fifth year option for first round picks...the owners insisted, you see... they were tired of investing in developing a player for THREE years, only to get one good season before he bailed in free agency...

The nflpa countered with," okay, but you have to make that decision after three years of develop.ent"

This is why teams have to exercise the option after three seasons.

What do we learn from this?

It generally takes 3 seasons for a player to develop..... of course there are exceptions who step on the field and light it up from day one....and you really hope your first round picks are gonna be those guys.

But you cant count on it.

Realistically, we can expect to see Simmons start to come into his own towards the end of this season..... but the dynamic duo of Simmons/Collins wont fully come online until about the 2024 season.


And thats assuming we stop moving them around.
 

slanidrac16

ASFN Icon
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2002
Posts
15,002
Reaction score
14,417
Location
Plainfield, Il.
The pass rush is going to be the downfall of this team. The only way we will pressure is by blitzing. Good defenses have two guys that can pressure WITHOUT blitzing.
Live by the sword and I predict we will die by the sword.
 
OP
OP
Gandhi

Gandhi

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Posts
1,810
Reaction score
2,329
Location
Denmark
12.

This is it? Wtaf?

Zaven is entering his second year right???
....and you wanna pull the plug on him if he doesnt light it up??
No, Oaken, then I have written it wrong. I meant that it was it for the duo of Collins and Simmons, but not necessarily for any of them individually. I just think that they will bring in someone else if that duo doesn’t deliver enough, partly because they need them to be good. They need them to provide pass rush, and they need them to cover for some of the – in my estimation – deficiencies from the secondary.
 

Harry

ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Posts
10,743
Reaction score
22,497
Location
Orlando, FL
I could not limit myself to only ten thoughts, so this will be an extended version of the normal column.

Happy training camp, everyone!

-----------------

1 – Kyler Murray’s progress. Du’h, that’s what everyone is looking for, but I mean, that is also why it is listed here.

2 – Who will step up at edge rusher? My money is on Cameron Thomas, but as long as someone does it.

3 – I think that Brentson Buckner is a great defensive line-coach. What can Matt Burke do in that role?

4 – Will the connection between Zach Ertz and Murray continue to get better and better?

5 – Outside the obvious unfair tragedy that the world is now without Jeff Gladney, there is the fact that it leaves the Cards without a cornerback. Who will fill the void?

6 – Over/under on Keim time signings? I am setting it at 1.5, and I am going under (but wishes for over).

7 – In general the runningback position, where there are many interesting players, but especially Darrel Williams could be an underrated signing.

8 – There are always rookie surprises. Who?

9 – Hollywood Brown… (see thought #1).

10 – Will Zach Allen continue his positive development?

11 – Will Hernandez might not be the most sexy signing, but I am excited to see what he can do back under Sean Kugler’s tutelage.

12 – This is it for the duo of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins together. Now they need to show that they were chosen high in the draft for a reason.

13 – From the day they brought in Dennis Gardeck as an undrafted guy I have been talking him up in these columns, and now there might actually be a realistic chance that he will have a somewhat expanded role of defense. I am very excited to see what he can do.

14 – Take a step up, Rondale Moore, please.

15 – Will be interesting if they can ship out a fringe player or two for low round draft compensation.
4, 7, 9, 11 & 14 seem likely to be positives. I’m confident about Simmons. Collins is a huge question mark. I don’t think they’re deep enough to cut anyone that would get them a draft pick.
 
OP
OP
Gandhi

Gandhi

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Posts
1,810
Reaction score
2,329
Location
Denmark
I'm going Over with the Keim Time signings. I predict that he brings in at least 3 new players before the season starts. With 2 of them sticking on the team when the regular season starts.

Cornerback and edge rusher, MCD? At least those are the two spots I would strengthen. Probably even with two additions on both positions.
 

juza76

ASFN Icon
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Posts
13,672
Reaction score
9,384
Location
milan-italy
He may have a chance as a punt returner to fight for a roster spot with Dortch
Moore seems to lack field vision to be effective in that role
 
OP
OP
Gandhi

Gandhi

Hall of Famer
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Posts
1,810
Reaction score
2,329
Location
Denmark
He may have a chance as a punt returner to fight for a roster spot with Dortch
Moore seems to lack field vision to be effective in that role

Who are you refering to, Juza? Victor Bolden? If so, I think you could be right. I would be surprised if he has a role on the offense, but yes, as a specialist it could be.
 

juza76

ASFN Icon
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Posts
13,672
Reaction score
9,384
Location
milan-italy
Who are you refering to, Juza? Victor Bolden? If so, I think you could be right. I would be surprised if he has a role on the offense, but yes, as a specialist it could be.
Yes Bolden Jr
We don't have an above average returner yet so he may have a chance
The only one adequate is Dortch, if im spelling his name correctly
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
534,767
Posts
5,246,074
Members
6,273
Latest member
sarahmoose
Top