A few comments on players in camp

[Skkorpion]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

 

[azdad1978]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

Damn can't wait till the season starts already.

 

[BACH]

2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

Great, Skkorp!!!! The #3 pick just became even more impossible to predict...

Seriously, best news this off-season.

 

[joeshmo]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

What happened to the Wilson CB experiment. My guess is that Green didnt like the Taylor workout and scrapped the Wilson to CB idea. And man, poor Stone better make a huge jump if he wants to beat out any of the other S's on the roster.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

Hasnt he always played the weakside? This is were I think Hayes will excell at. IMO this might sound bad but I think that Fishers injury is a blessing in disguise as i feel that Hayes will have a break out year at the strong side. Plus correct me if I am wrong becuase of the dline scheme doesnt the LB have to be more stout against blockers and IMO Hayes fits that description better then Fisher. Plus Fisher would be a better backup at the weakside IMO.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

I really hope he plays well there. I liked what I saw from him during practices last year. Was he running with the 1st unit?

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

Great to hear. Another TE does need to be groomed for when Jones contract ends and Jones is getting older. Plus 2 good recieving TE's will give teams fits. And B. Johnson has been hanging around with Boldin far to often to not have some of Boldins toughness and stickums to rub off on him, not to suprised he looked good.

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

this is very good to hear. What where you impressed with the most, footwork, accuracy, arm strength, decision making, confidence, fitness, or WR/TE/RB chemistry?

 

[Ryanwb]

Reggie Wells really wow'd me at trainning camp last year. He is quick enough to play guard, but I think he would be better long term at RT

 

[vince56]

When I think of Reggie Wells, I think of him being pancaked by a LB over and over again. It was either the Carolina game or the Minnesota game. I think Minnesota b/c Shelton wasn't playing and Wells was LT.

 

[spanky1]

Reggie Wells really wow'd me at trainning camp last year. He is quick enough to play guard, but I think he would be better long term at RT

Reggie Wells as a RG............hmmmmm. He's 6'4" and 300 lbs (ideally he could be fifteen lbs heavier for "optimal" NFL size) but he is apparently quick and all hustle. Small school background but All American. Did he play at all last year? I know he was drafted to be a RT, so he might become an interchangeable part along with Clement. Would be nice if we could get away without using a draft pick on the O-Line this year.

 

[Skkorpion]

schmo, I don't feel comfortable reporting who is running first or second unit yet. Wait till next week.

Ray played leftside OLB under McGinnis, the usual strongside because so many NFL teams are right side dominant running teams. Now Ray is on the rightside OLB and we'll have to see if he flipflops according to which side the TE lines up on. My guess is he won't flip.

On Josh McCown - This guy must have been working his ass off the last three months because all his fundamentals look good. Footwork, stamina, accuracy, strength, and command characteristics.

I wanted to say earlier that there appears to be a huge separation between Josh and the other two qbs but I was afraid it would be interpreted as an indictment of the other two. It's not. It's just that Josh appears to have taken a gigantic leap forward.

I'm really torn now on whether to draft a QB or not.

 

[spanky1]

Lorenzo Diamond is someone to keep an eye on, I agree. Question: Does this spell the end of Steve Bush or Mike Banks? Banks is an effective Special Teams player and Bush is versatile (can play FB). I guess with the signing of Ayanbadejo (as a FB), Bush's abilities as a backup FB are redundant. Who survives?

 

[Pariah]

Who survives?

An uneduadted guess:
1. Jones
2. Diamond
3. (gasp) second day draft pick

 

[spanky1]

I'm encouraged to hear skkorp talk so glowingly about McCown.....this is quite something coming from him. As to drafting a QB, I would think this is a complete "non event" what with Shaun King signing as a FA (contrary to public opinion, he'll be an excellent backup).

That McCown's has demonstrated leadership qualities does not surprise me. I think one of the reasons Green "openly promoted" him to the "starting position" when he did was to allow Josh time to understand and become comfortable with his responsibilities as the "offensive captain". This is the missing piece that once mastered, will turn McCown into a bona fide NFL QB.

 

[AZCB34]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

a. No huge surprise there. The Cards were trying to convert Stone before. I wonder if this regime will have better luck with the guy.

b. This is strange because like Schmo, I thought he was always WLB. Anyways, I certainly hope he can kick it up a notch this year.

c. No surprise here. Wiley, himself, said on the radio a couple weeks ago that they were going to try Reggie at G in an effort to slow things down more for him. He had praised Wells' raw ability so this is maybe his first step at an NFL career.

d. Unless Jones' somehow pisses off Green, I cannot see Diamond starting but you never know I guess.

e. No huge surprise, although to hear you call him a "high caliber QB" is a bit startling. I knew the kid had talent and could start in the NFL but my visions were more off simple solid play. Sounds like he has made HUGE strides this offseason. Don't feel torn...the Cards shouldn't draft a QB if McCown is the answer as far as they are concerned and quite frankly, I never anticipated they would draft a QB at #3.

 

[CaliCards]

Good analysis Skkorpion. But in spite of the way Josh looks, I think the Cards should still draft a good Qb in the 2nd round if they decide to pass on Manning.

 

[Brighteyes]

I wish you could have seen Josh's confidence on the second hard count, when the defense jumped offsides again. Just the tiniest little smile -- then right back to work.

 

[imaCafan]

Man, I feel like a guy who has been on a deserted island eating coconuts and all of a sudden someone has pitched me a prime rib, rare with those little cheese biscuits and some red potatoes! Thanks again for the "glimpses"!!!!!! First rate as always!!!

 

[Russ Smith]

Guys I want to know about, Pace, and Wilson, how do they look?

Fisher had his knee scoped again, is he expected back quickly or is it Hayes' job to lose?

Starks is running per Jim O, glad to hear that I hope we expect him back still?

 

[MadCardDisease]

b. This is strange because like Schmo, I thought he was always WLB. Anyways, I certainly hope he can kick it up a notch this year.

I always thought he was a weak side LB also. When Fredrickson was on the team he played Strong side because he was bigger than Ray. Didn't they put Fisher in at Fredrickson's old spot?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

wow. surprised, and stoked to hear of bj and mccown. thanks for the update skorp.

 

[kerouac9]

I always thought he was a weak side LB also. When Fredrickson was on the team he played Strong side because he was bigger than Ray. Didn't they put Fisher in at Fredrickson's old spot?

Well, you were all always wrong. Raynoch has ALWAYS played on the side of the field that the TE usually lines up on.

 

[40yearfan]

Thanks Skkorp. You're doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

 

[cardsunsfan]

yup, it sounds really good... I guess Kasper is catching every that is thrown to him too.. Still want Mike Williams or Fitz I think.. Where are we hurting the most right now? I'm thinking Corner or two gap DT...

 

[spanky1]

wow. surprised, and stoked to hear of bj and mccown. thanks for the update skorp.

So now you want to jump on the Bryant Johnson bandwagon....ye of so little faith........

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

So now you want to jump on the Bryant Johnson bandwagon....ye of so little faith........

it's not about bandwagons. if i was a bandwagon fan, no one on this board would know me 'cuz other than the '98 season i wouldn't have been around . . . right? that's the definition of a bandwagoner.

i base my opinions on what i've seen. bj was not impressive last year and dropped a lot of passes. unfortunately, i am not privy to minicamp, so i have to rely on others for information. i respect skorp's opinions and thus am happy to have received a positive report from him in regards to bj's development of hands. sheesh, even in his report skorp alludes to his drops last year with the comment that he found stickum. so i must not be alone in that memory.

but whatever, take shots at me, i don't care. i'm happy to hear that he's becoming a better wr. i hope it translates on the field this season as well.

 

[Tangodnzr]

a. Mike Stone was playing as a safety. So was Adrian Wilson.

b. Ray Thompson has been moved to weakside LB. Gerald Hayes is now a strongside LB.

c. Reggie Wells is playing as a RG.

d. Two guys who sure looked to me as having helped themselves (and I saw 4 of 5 sessions):

1. Lorenzo Diamond - don't look back Freddie Jones, someone may be gaining on you;
2. Bryant Johnson - Either this ain't the same guy we saw last year or Bryant took some "toughness" drug and found Lester Hayes' stash of stickum.​

e. Josh McCown. Holy moly. Wow. Denny Green might just be right that there is a high caliber QB ready to emerge in Tempe. I want to watch another camp next week before I say more.

a.) I think it will be interesting to see if Green makes any more moves and tries guys at different places during the upcoming workouts. I wonder why Stone hasn't been tried at CB by him yet? As I see it now, (making the assumption Sean Taylor won't be around), then Wilson and Quentin Harris would be the strong safeties, with Dexter Jackson at free safety. So far Justin Lucas often gets listed at both positions, but I personally feel he is more suited to free safety. Why would they need another safety? Especially with the CB position being one of the overall weakest on the team? ]I would expect that at least Stone gets tried at more than just safety before the season starts.

b.) I, like joeschmo and Cubby, think Ray has been "weakside" LB up to now.
At least that's how that left LB position has been described up until now. I'm not sure, but it seems to me that most teams still tend to line up their TE on the offense's left side most often, or if he starts on the right side, bring him in motion to the left...reason being, the left side is still the "blind" side for a right handed QB, hence why hisorically the pass rush often featured from that side.
I do agree that Ray should be playing the "weakside" because of his size, speed and pass rushing ability....whether that be on the right or left. I don't ever remember the Card's (or any team for that matter) that normally "switches" the right and left LB's according to the offensive set.
To me Hayes should be playing opposite him. In this regard joe schmo's comments in regard to this, I would pretty much agree with. I see Fisher and Thompson having much the same skills, and should be playing the same position with a stronger, bigger LB on the other side. (barring nickel situations, where you then might see both), but i would agree with Skkorp that it would surprise me to see Pendergrast/Green flipping LB's constantly just to adjust to where the TE is.

c.) I, too, like the sound of this.

d.) I'm glad to see Johnson doing well, and to see some of the diss-birds negated. I just haven't seen that much of Diamond, but I am a big Steve Bush fan, so if he beats out Bush....that can only be good.

e.) I told you so. nyah, nyah, nyah.

 

[arthurracoon]

Man, I feel like a guy who has been on a deserted island eating coconuts and all of a sudden someone has pitched me a prime rib, rare with those little cheese biscuits and some red potatoes! Thanks again for the "glimpses"!!!!!! First rate as always!!!