QB (3): Kolb, Skelton, Bartel
Kolb has played fairly well, considering he is still learning the offense and has to get the timing down. IMO he's obviously struggling as a result of this, not for a lack of talent.
Skelton is playing better than last year, but he still needs to unload the ball faster, go through his progressions (he misses LOTS of open receivers), and put better touch on his passes. He's improved, but not enough yet.
Bartel is intriguing; He gets rid of the ball quickly, seems to really command the offense, and dare I say, he seems like he understands the offense the best of our 4 QBs. I agree Mitch, he does throw off his back foot a lot, but if he can improve on that, watch out, Bartel is going to have a long career as a backup in the NFL.
Hall is done; I disagree that Stuckey extended his route too far. That will easily explain why Coach Whisenhunt pulled him so fast. Whis just doesn't have the confidence in Hall that he has in Bartel. Hall has a lot of moxie, but he is too small, panics under pressure, and doesn't have the requisite arm strength to make it in the NFL. He's like a famine starved version of Drew Brees.
RB (4): Wells, LSH, Smith, Sherman
I'll include Sherman in the RBs group.
Beanie ran well, but I do agree, their is this awkwardness to his game that I just can't explain. He just doesn't have "it" IMO. "It" being that indescribable quality that great players have. But IMO he's adequate and if given the carries will go for over 1000. But I just don't see him ever being in the class of Peterson, Johnson, and Jones-Drew.
We need to get out of the business of giving traditional RB carries to LSH. He looks horrible in that role. Get him in there to cause mismatches in the passing game, or get him carries that take him off tackle or on sweeps. Don't run him up the middle, he's not effective in that role.
Smith surprised me; he's got plenty of speed, is tough, and can do the little things well. IMO he'll be a nice surprise taking the roster spot of Williams, though he's like Ryan Williams-lite.
WR (5): Fitz, Doucet/Roberts, Williams, Sampson.
This is where I diverge a bit. I see the coaching staff looking at receivers we'll have at TE and RB, and deciding to go light on WR. Isiah Williams will go on the practice squad and Komar will drift into obscurity. Stuckey will be cut, IMO he doesn't have the ability of our top five.
What do I say about Fitz? Nothing, the guy is amazing and is likely the greatest Cardinal of all time. I'll be telling my grandchildren about Fitzgerald some day. IMO he deserves mention among the all time greatest receivers because of his innate ability to beat defenders on jump balls. No other receiver in the history of the game is better than he is on these one-on-one situations.
I list Doucet/Roberts together because I think they are going to be situational dependent #2s. They both bring strengths to the field and are capable #2/#3 guys. Doucet has better size and runs better routes, while Roberts is faster and quicker than Doucet. I'm excited about both (barring Doucet's annual nagging injuries).
Sampson. WOW. Great young, late round prospect. Good size, quicker/faster than advertised, and he fights for the ball when it's in the air. IMO he could be a future starter on this team.
Williams is on the cusp. He's made some plays, but those drops against GB are inexcusable. He HAS to make those catches, and it's not the first time he's made those kind of mistakes. Isiah Williams is on the cusp of pushing Williams, but I think the coaching staff will look at what Stephen brings to the table and will give him one more season to prove himself.
TE (4): Heap, King, Housler, Dray
I think we keep four here, since Housler can be considered Receiver #6. Best group of TEs the Cards have had in a very long time and we haven't played a game yet. I love watching King play; he's that veteran who figured out a long time ago that if he fights on the edge and makes the occasional catch, he'll stick. Dray will benefit from being around King and will develop into the same kind of player. Housler is so smooth and effortless. Three seasons from now, he'll be our starting TE and will be a good one.
OL (8): Brown, Colledge, Sendlein, Lutui, Keith, Bridges, Hadnot, Womack.
I seriously doubt Batiste makes it; Whisenhunt loves having veterans that can play multiple positions across the line and Womack can do that. Batiste likely can't right now. I do like him, he's looked good and IMO he's a likely practice squad candidate.
I would love for Bridges to move in the starting line up....for Brown NOT for Keith. Keith is still recovering from his injury, and it will take him a few more weeks to get back in the swing of things. I also don't see Lutui as an opening day starter, but it will be hard to keep him out of the starting lineup for long.
DL (6): Dockett, Williams, Campbell, Holliday, Eason, Carter
This is group that will be better than last year. That's right I think it's better. Holliday is an upgrade over Branch, and Watson was nearly useless. Carter will be the NT sub for now, but in time will be a DE.
Dockett and Campbell will have near Pro Bowl seasons, but Holiday will be the best player on this line overall. He will be the best runstopper and will get a decent push in the passing game.
OLB (5) Porter, Haggans, Schofield, Acho, Davis
I differ, in that I think we keep Davis around. OLB depth is very important in a 3-4 and Davis is a very capable special teamer and a solid, but unspectacular sub. What needs to be balanced here is the snaps that Porter and Haggans play. Both can be effective if they don't play too much. From what we've seen this preseason, Schofield and Acho have a future on this team, even if it's not as a starter. Both look to be solid players.
ILB (4) Washington, Bradley, Lenon, Walker
I agree on this grouping, but I'm listing Bradley as a starter since I think he will be for most of the year. Lenon becomes the super sub of the group, since he can play most of the LB positions to some level of proficiency. Walker makes the roster again based on special teams play, and for the fact that Sturdivant hasn't shown anything. It may go either way though; don't be surprised if the team has see something from Sturdivant in practices that make them believe that Walker is expendable.
CB (5) Jefferson, Toler, Peterson, Marshall, Adams
I can't make my mind up if we keep Adams or not; he's been injured, and last season was a respectable player. But his limitations will always be huge.
Jefferson so far has been the best of the bunch, and that's not necessarily an insult to the rest, he's played outstanding against pretty good wideouts. Toler seems to improved as well, though Peterson looks overmatched so far and Marshall has been terrible in off coverage (which was the knock on him in Carolina).
Peterson won't start the first eight weeks of the season IMO barring injury.
S (5) Rhodes, Johnson, Wilson, Abdullah, Ware
IMO this is the position you raid a player from if you need an additional roster spot. Ware would be the guy I cut loose if any, since Peterson could play a hybrid role off the bench in a pinch.
I think Johnson is the future at safety unlike most of the board; his poor plays are magnified, but he was solid last season for the most part and should have probably replaced Wilson when he was hurt last year. Too bad we have no good young prospects other than Johnson...
Specialists (3) Feeley, Leach, Graham
Feeley and Leach are solid. Graham is iffy; he was atrocious at times last year and the young kid could push him off the roster. I hope so, because IMO Graham is one of the most overrated players on the roster by hardcore fans. He's terrible.
