How times have changed

[Cbus cardsfan]

I was thinking during the game last night how nice it finally is. The Cards are beating up the big boys in prime time,about to clinch their 2nd straight division title, and getting ready for another playoff run. Just a few years ago all of us would have been talking draft picks and been like Seahawks fans, just happy to get a last second home win over a mediocre 49ers team(not bagging on Seattle fans,just using them as an example). Now the team has elite players scattered throughout the roster and is about as fun to watch as any team in the NFL. How sweet it is.

 

[Totally_Red]

This franchise has really turned things around. It obviously started with the Ken Whisenhunt hiring, actually before that when they started bringing in outstanding competitors like Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald.

We can probably trace the actual start of the turnaround to the stadium initiative. With that the fan base started building and the financial assets to be competitve weren't far behind.

Now, PAY THE Q!!!

 

[PACardsFan]

This franchise has really turned things around. It obviously started with the Ken Whisenhunt hiring, actually before that when they started bringing in outstanding competitors like Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald.

We can probably trace the actual start of the turnaround to the stadium initiative. With that the fan base started building and the financial assets to be competitve weren't far behind.

Now, PAY THE Q!!!

You're pretty much dead on. I would say it was the combination of the Stadium, Michael Bidwill, Kurt Warner & most importantly, Ken Whisenhunt. Look at any great football team & they are very good in 3 areas: 1. Ownership, 2. HC, 3. QB. With all 3, you're a great team. With 2, you're a good team. Anything less than that & you're a bad franchise. We had many years, where we were a "0" in this calculation. I give Whiz a "1", Warner a "1" & Bidwill a ".5". If Bidwill eventually gets us a better GM, then I'd have to give him a "1" also.

 

[Totally_Red]

You're pretty much dead on. I would say it was the combination of the Stadium, Michael Bidwill, Kurt Warner & most importantly, Ken Whisenhunt. Look at any great football team & they are very good in 3 areas: 1. Ownership, 2. HC, 3. QB. With all 3, you're a great team. With 2, you're a good team. Anything less than that & you're a bad franchise. We had many years, where we were a "0" in this calculation. I give Whiz a "1", Warner a "1" & Bidwill a ".5". If Bidwill eventually gets us a better GM, then I'd have to give him a "1" also.

Agree! On the GM they have to tread carefully with the whole Rooney rule minority hiring NFL policy. Probably have to kick Rod Graves upstairs into some kind of an oversight role, while bringing in a hands-on GM to make the personnel decisions and do the contracts.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You're pretty much dead on. I would say it was the combination of the Stadium, Michael Bidwill, Kurt Warner & most importantly, Ken Whisenhunt. Look at any great football team & they are very good in 3 areas: 1. Ownership, 2. HC, 3. QB. With all 3, you're a great team. With 2, you're a good team. Anything less than that & you're a bad franchise. We had many years, where we were a "0" in this calculation. I give Whiz a "1", Warner a "1" & Bidwill a ".5". If Bidwill eventually gets us a better GM, then I'd have to give him a "1" also.

i agree with you about the GM,but Graves is here to stay. Heck ,he was getting promoted when they were winning 4 games a year.Now that they're going to win in double figures he may be the most secure GM in the league.

 

[Cardiac]

Very Sweet feeling.

I'm almost to the point where I don't think about how the Cards are going to blow the lead. Titans game keeps that door open.

Time Line is Micahel Bidwill getting involved. He got the stadium completed. He has spent money to upgrade the coaches and Scouts and etc.

At some point we will stop bashing our GM.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It's pretty simple - we started drafting good players and found a coach that allowed them to succeed.

 

[football karma]

Graves isnt perfect -- but an organization could do worse. He is a consensus guy -- and what is working is that he has Keim and Whis making major contributions to consensus.

As much as the fans would like the Cards to be more aggressive in free agency, trades, etc --- that isnt so much Graves as it is a reflection of ownership. Ownership under Michael is far, far better -- but the reality is that the Cardinals are a middle of the road revenue team that has to manage its books relatively conservatively.

That doesn't mean the team cant win -- and its a perfect fit that Whis was the choice for coach, as he has operated in a similar situation in Pittsburgh.

 

[football karma]

and BTW--

I still think about the draft. The difference is that now I wonder - "Who will be there between #25 and #32?."

 

[az jam]

and BTW--

I still think about the draft. The difference is that now I wonder - "Who will be there between #25 and #32?."

Agree was going to post the same thing. Hope its #32!!!

 

[Totally_Red]

and BTW--

I still think about the draft. The difference is that now I wonder - "Who will be there between #25 and #32?."

Ain't it the truth? Indy has drafted between 25 and 32 for years and been relatively inactive in free agency. It doesn't seem to have hurt them. The one year they did draft high, they grabbed Dwight Freeney. Not saying the Cardinals are in the same league with Bill Polian, just that you can get good (and cheaper) players at the bottom of the first round.

 

[Brighteyes]

Well, active in free agency used to mean go get Freddie Jones, Emmitt Smith, Edgerrin James. Now it's Jeremy Bridges, Mike Gandy, Sean Morey.

I think I like it better now.

 

[lauraw]

So happy the Cards blew up the Viqueens last night!! not just beat them, dominated them!!

 

[40yearfan]

Sheesh. We go to the SB last year and are 8 - 4 this year and about to clinch our division again and you guys are still beating on the GM. Give it a rest.

The one name no one mentioned in this turn around was Denny Green. He might not be the best coach in the world, but the man has a definite eye for talent. He had a very positive hand in our turn around and deserves some of the credit.

 

[Dr. Jones]

“Yeah, they should [pay him]. Q is our guy. If he wasn’t on our team, that’d be like the Ravens letting Ray Lewis go. You know what I’m saying?”

– Cards safety Adrian Wilson on teammate Anquan Boldin

 

[PACardsFan]

Sheesh. We go to the SB last year and are 8 - 4 this year and about to clinch our division again and you guys are still beating on the GM. Give it a rest.

The one name no one mentioned in this turn around was Denny Green. He might not be the best coach in the world, but the man has a definite eye for talent. He had a very positive hand in our turn around and deserves some of the credit.

I never meant to be overly critical of Graves. My point was that he's not of the same quality as the other contributing factors. We've proven we can win with him. With where the Organization is right now, I'm all for keeping everything & everyone intact.

 

[Shane]

“Yeah, they should [pay him]. Q is our guy. If he wasn’t on our team, that’d be like the Ravens letting Ray Lewis go. You know what I’m saying?”

– Cards safety Adrian Wilson on teammate Anquan Boldin

Nice! Especially coming from a D player and that player being Wilson. That's huge!

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Sheesh. We go to the SB last year and are 8 - 4 this year and about to clinch our division again and you guys are still beating on the GM. Give it a rest.

The one name no one mentioned in this turn around was Denny Green. He might not be the best coach in the world, but the man has a definite eye for talent. He had a very positive hand in our turn around and deserves some of the credit.

C'mon,we haven't had a good Graves bashing thread all year. We're due . I have to admit, it was alot easier when they were 4-12. Kinda like when i rip on Tressel. I do it but, but can't really complain when he's winning 80+% of his games.

 

[phillycard]

Great great post Cbus.

 

[Duckjake]

It's pretty simple - we started drafting good players and found a coach that allowed them to succeed.

The Cards had been drafting a few good players for years. They just didn't have coaches or a culture that would allow them to succeed. Guys wanted out of town before they ever arrived. Now not only do they want to be there they talk to their friends about coming to Arizona.

One of the key ingredients in the current success is that the Cards didn't have the wholesale turnover of players that normally accompanies a coaching change. The Cards currently have 14 players that have started games for the Cards this year that were on the team before the Whisenhunt hire.

Wilson,Warner,Boldin,RWells,GHayes,Fitz,Dansby,Dockett,Rolle,Latui,Watson,Chike Okeafor,Leinart and Rackers. (Matt Ware also but I don't think he's actually started a game has he?)

Kudos to Whisenhunt and staff for recognizing the talent and keeping it.

 

[jaguarpaw81]

The Cards had been drafting a few good players for years. They just didn't have coaches or a culture that would allow them to succeed. Guys wanted out of town before they ever arrived. Now not only do they want to be there they talk to their friends about coming to Arizona.

One of the key ingredients in the current success is that the Cards didn't have the wholesale turnover of players that normally accompanies a coaching change. The Cards currently have 14 players that have started games for the Cards this year that were on the team before the Whisenhunt hire.

Wilson,Warner,Boldin,RWells,GHayes,Fitz,Dansby,Dockett,Rolle,Latui,Watson,Chike Okeafor,Leinart and Rackers. (Matt Ware also but I don't think he's actually started a game has he?)

Kudos to Whisenhunt and staff for recognizing the talent and keeping it.

Don't forget Bert Berry.

 

[Duckjake]

Don't forget Bert Berry.

Good call. I overlooked him. That makes 15. Hard to believe this is Berry's sixth season in Arizona.