Addressing the Offensive Line:

[Catfish]

While Lyle Sendlein has been a feisty contender for the Center Position for a goodly number of years, he has ALWAYS been a weak point in this line, (no matter how you try to sugar coat it). Even when he was our best O-lineman, he was still weak at anchoring the center of the line, and was often pushed back into the QB. To his credit, he has become very knowledgeable about reading defenses and calling pre-snap reads. There were many times he was suspect in giving away the snap count, but that has not been a complaint this past year.

Sendlein is due to become a free agent in 2016. One possible fix to this line would be to replace him at center this year, with Oakland's Stefan Wisniewski, 26 years old, who is one of the better centers in the league, and who is a free agent this year. Having successfully garnered both Carson Palmer, and Jared Veldheer from Oakland, we might just have a decent in-road to Wisniewski. This would, (once and for all), stop the weakness in the middle of our O-line, and Sendlein's last year here could put him into competition with Cooper, Larsen, Watford, and Faniaka, for one of the two starting guard positions, all the while being ready to back up Wisniewski in case of injury at center. The club could move on from Sendlein's contract by simply not renewing in 2016. This would make this line a VERY formidable, and deep one. I would opt for this scenario, (though BA has seemed to be very happy with Sendlein's performance).

An alternative solution to this, would be to sign the Bengals guard, Clint Boling, 26 years in free agency, keeping Sendlein at Center. Boling played 2014 starting every game, and showed no ill effects at all from the torn ACL he suffered in 2013. While this would probably be a cheaper solution to the problem, it may not be the best solution, in that it does not address the weakness at the anchor point in our Center position. We are very strong at the tackles now, and it is time to anchor the center with someone like Wisniewski. A physical weakness at Guard, can be covered up with strong anchors at Tackle and Center on each side of him. Not so with center.

These are the only two Offensive Linemen that I would consider in free agency this year, and I would only bring in one of them. All other comparable Centers and Guards in this free agent class are flawed in some way. Franklin, for instance, looks great at guard, but he is terrible at false starting, a habit that we saw in Levi Brown for years that drove both fans and coaches crazy. Iupati is not a good pass blocker, a very strong need for the Cards. The Center from KC is coming off a knee injury, and we don't know if he is up to the task at this point. Most other free agents are in the same category as Daryn Colledge, whom we have already suffered through.

 

[CardLogic]

You read my mind about acquiring Wisniewski! It would be an excellent move! I like Sendlein, but there too you are right on point.

 

[Hypothesis]

I love Stefan Wisniewski and think he'd be a big upgrade. Also think that we would have in signing him with the connection to Palmer and Veldheer. Brian De La Puente from the Bears is another stud at center that I like if we can't land Wisniewski.

I'm just not sure that the organization views Lyle as we do. And with our cap pinch this year is center their priority?

 

[juza76]

Cab we finally uPgrade the center position???

 

[Gandhi]

Are you targeting some kind of consultant role with Keim, Catfish?


Signing Wisniewski would be a major scoop, I think. In addition, great point about the direct relation to the quarterback and left tackle. Not that I am in favor of tampering but I don’t think it is not completely out of the question that Palmer and Veldheer still talks regularly with Wisniewski, and who knows if they have dropped some kind of hint that the Cardinals might like to sign him? That is of course if Oakland does not slap him with their franchise tag, and they don’t have a lot of other major free agents on their roster. Signing Clint Boling would be huge as well. He is really good.


I think you might be selling the center from Kansas City, Rodney Hudson, a little short. He is two years removed from knee injury, and has started 31 of 32 games since then. This last season a lot of people following the team thought he was their best lineman by far, and that is including their first overall, first round selection of offensive tackle Eric Fisher.


Catfish, I would love to hear your thought on outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard from Cleveland. I think he is almost ideal for the position with the Cardinals (if they continue with the same defensive system, that is) as I think he is sort of a faster version of Alex Okafor, and is very good at stopping the run and setting the edge. In fact, I am pretty sure Todd Bowles will pursue him if he doesn’t receive the team’s franchise tag.


To me, Sheard and Wisniewski, Hudson or Boling would all be huge signings, and I don’t think any of them would break the bank. Really good job, Catfish!

 

[Catfish]

Thanks Gandhi-----concerning the tampering, I thought that once the team has let a player hit the open market, it is no longer tampering to initiate conversation with him or his agent. I am not sure of the day that happens, but I believe that we are only about a month or so away from that time. I too, am not good with tampering.

I'm sorry to say, I am not at all familiar with Jabaal Sheard of the Browns. I would have to go back and look at film and reviews of his play.

 

[Chopper0080]

I love Stefan Wisniewski and think he'd be a big upgrade. Also think that we would have in signing him with the connection to Palmer and Veldheer. Brian De La Puente from the Bears is another stud at center that I like if we can't land Wisniewski.

I'm just not sure that the organization views Lyle as we do. And with our cap pinch this year is center their priority?

I like the idea of Wis, but I'm not sure the Raiders are going to let him go. He might be franchised if they can't reach an agreement. They have the money to do so.

 

[don7031]

Here are the tag number from last year: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...eleases-2014-franchise-transition-tag-numbers

Wisniewski won't get tagged, but will still be too pricey for the cap hindered Cardinals.

 

[az jam]

Just draft Reese Dismukes (Center,Auburn) in the 2nd round. He is outstanding and is showing well during Senior Bowl practices. He was a 4 year starter and won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the nation. He can be a 10 year starter and a lot cheaper than free agent Wisniewski.

 

[Chopper0080]

Here are the tag number from last year: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...eleases-2014-franchise-transition-tag-numbers

Wisniewski won't get tagged, but will still be too pricey for the cap hindered Cardinals.

When you will have 60 mil to spend like the Raiders will, and if Wis doesn't want to re-sign, you do what you have to do to keep him. He is that level of player, but the Raiders can't afford to lose any more good players.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I want guards, which brings me to the Copper scenario lol

 

[ARZCardinals]

great write up

I agree

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

great write up

I agree

but I still don't see why you would want to undress the offensive line?

 

[overseascardfan]

Why not use 4th, 5th & 6th Round picks on John Miller, Jamon Brown & Jake Smith?

 

[Catfish]

Why not use 4th, 5th & 6th Round picks on John Miller, Jamon Brown & Jake Smith?

Because we are talking free agents here-----these are proven veterans who have already shown their attributes, not college guys who may or may not be able to cut it as pros, AND, (even it they do cut it, they will need time to develop).