Top 5 Preseason/Training Camp Battles

[DaisyCutter]

1. Starting Cornerback - Incumbent Eric Green v. rookie first-round choice Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. Green is slightly more seasoned, but he will hopefully face a serious battle for the starting job. Competition will hopefully make both players better, but it would be a bad sign if Green can't secure the starting job through the preseason.

2. Rush Linebacker - Incumbent Bertrand Berry v. free agent signee Travis LaBoy. Berry holds the early edge because of his history with the franchise and his leadership role in the huddle and in the lockerroom. But he'll get all he can handle from LaBoy, who has had success in a part-time role with the Tennessee Titans. The winner will likely be the player that's most able and willing to contain the outside run and bootleg, as well as the player who is able to drop most smoothly into the short zones.

3. Nose Tackle - Incumbent Gabe Watson v. second-year DT Alan Branch. The Cards traded up to get Alan Branch in the 2007 NFL draft. Each game that Watson starts as a fourth-round choice must become more embarrassing for the brain trust that passed on other players. Watson suffered a postseason knee injury that may keep him out of camp. Can Spongebob Squareback keep his conditioning enough so that he has a starting job on his return?

4. Defensive End - Incumbent Antonio Smith v. rookie second-round choice
Calais Campbell. Smith holds the clear advantage here; he is in a contract year and was a contributor last season. He's also carrying a first-round tender contract. But he may quickly be pressed by Campbell, who is a superior pass rusher, especially when motivated.

5. Slot WR - Sean Morey v. Early Doucet v. Jamacia Rector v. Jerehme Urban v. Steve Breaston. Doucet and Breaston have assured roster spots, and Morey's special teams contributions give him the edge for the 5th WR spot. But Rector and Urban are playing for their jobs, and may respond to the lack of faith that the organization showed in their progress. The prize is the slot WR role on Sundays, an NFL paycheck, and the chance to catch 40-55 passes in 2008.

 

[football karma]

dc -- good stuff.

I am looking forward to training camp for those battles, as well as just to see how the later round guys look

one question: what do you mean by this: "Each game that Watson starts as a fourth-round choice must become more embarrassing for the brain trust that passed on other players."

 

[Capital Card]

Pretty rare for a rookie CB to oust an incumbent, no matter how high they were drafted. DRC is definately our future #1, but I think he is a 3 this year barring something truely remarkable or horrific (injury).

I don't think Urban has a chance to make this roster. Just my opinion.

I also think the Leinart/Warner battle will garner most of the media attention, although you didn't mention it in your list.

I'm curios to see how Rolle does at S. The one think he has going for him is that the bar wasn't exactly set too high with Holt last year. Let's see how badly Francisco want's the job.

Finally, I wish we had a couple more Guards on the roster to push Wells and Deuce, neither of which have proven to be more than adequate to this point.

Man, I love training camp. This year should be a great one, barring any major injurys.

Go Cards!!!

 

[DaisyCutter]

dc -- good stuff.

I am looking forward to training camp for those battles, as well as just to see how the later round guys look

one question: what do you mean by this: "Each game that Watson starts as a fourth-round choice must become more embarrassing for the brain trust that passed on other players."

The Cards passed on Paul Posluzny, Zach Miller, Eric Weddle, Chris Houston, Tony Ugoh, Lamar Woodley, and a number of other players who have contributed far more than Alan Branch did. Having Branch show up to OTAs in less than ideal shape couldn't have helped, either.

Branch suffered an injury in training camp that kept him out of the competition, but when you draft a guy 33rd overall, you expect him to compete for a starting job in his second year.

I'm not ready to close the door on Branch, but you have to believe that the franchise expected more out of him than a guy who was so clearly outplayed by a 4th year pick.

Pretty rare for a rookie CB to oust an incumbent, no matter how high they were drafted. DRC is definately our future #1, but I think he is a 3 this year barring something truely remarkable or horrific (injury).

I don't think Urban has a chance to make this roster. Just my opinion.

I also think the Leinart/Warner battle will garner most of the media attention, although you didn't mention it in your list.

I'm curios to see how Rolle does at S. The one think he has going for him is that the bar wasn't exactly set too high with Holt last year. Let's see how badly Francisco want's the job.

Finally, I wish we had a couple more Guards on the roster to push Wells and Deuce, neither of which have proven to be more than adequate to this point.

Man, I love training camp. This year should be a great one, barring any major injurys.

Go Cards!!!

I don't think that there is a "battle" between Warner and Leinart. Maybe that'll be played up in the media, but Leinart will have the position coming out of training camp, and will have to fall flat on his face in the first three games to lose the job. Whis does not want to play the style of offense that Warner can execute.

I'd forgotten about Rolle/Francisco until after I'd posted this. I think I would revise the list to put Francisco v. Rolle as the #2 battle going in to camp, with Francisco with the slight edge.

Finally, I agree that it's difficult to oust a starting cornerback, but Eric Green was not very good when he was on the field. If the competition brings out the best in both players, I think that DRC's best is better than Green's. I think it'll be an interesting battle, but Green holds a clear advantage.

 

[Shane]

1. Starting Cornerback - Incumbent Eric Green v. rookie first-round choice Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. Green is slightly more seasoned, but he will hopefully face a serious battle for the starting job. Competition will hopefully make both players better, but it would be a bad sign if Green can't secure the starting job through the preseason.

Absolutely do not agree that should DCR beat out Green it is a bad sign at all.

In fcat it could mean great things and show rigth away that DCR is going ot be the player this franchise deperately needs. Would also mean we still have a very good nickle CB in Green.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Absolutely do not agree that should DCR beat out Green it is a bad sign at all.

In fcat it could mean great things and show rigth away that DCR is going ot be the player this franchise deperately needs. Would also mean we still have a very good nickle CB in Green.

I don't know. I like DRC and his potential a lot, but he has a lot to learn at this level. Eric Green was not very good last season; I hope that having some better competition will bring out the best in him.

Most rookie corners don't perform all that well--especially ones making the kind of leap that DRC is. I'd much rather have a veteran player on the corner and put less pressure on DRC from the get-go.

We'll have a good nickle corner regardless of who wins the starting job; Green winning it means that he has improved from last year, which is what I'm hoping for.

 

[Shane]

I don't know. I like DRC and his potential a lot, but he has a lot to learn at this level. Eric Green was not very good last season; I hope that having some better competition will bring out the best in him.

Most rookie corners don't perform all that well--especially ones making the kind of leap that DRC is. I'd much rather have a veteran player on the corner and put less pressure on DRC from the get-go.

We'll have a good nickle corner regardless of who wins the starting job; Green winning it means that he has improved from last year, which is what I'm hoping for.

Maybe. Maybe not. I understand the jump in talent. However if the coaches say he wins the job over Green (if it happens) there must be a reason for it. IMO he may get burned a few times. But in the long run it bodes VERY VERY well if he beats out Green.

 

[perivolaki]

Doucet and Breaston have assured roster spots, and Morey's special teams contributions give him the edge for the 5th WR spot.

You mean like like last years third round pick?

 

[Cardiac]

1. Starting Cornerback - Incumbent Eric Green v. rookie first-round choice Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. Green is slightly more seasoned, but he will hopefully face a serious battle for the starting job. Competition will hopefully make both players better, but it would be a bad sign if Green can't secure the starting job through the preseason.

My guess is that we took a CB in Rd1 over a RB because it was the biggest need. RM was close to DCR in player rankings so a big factor was which player would contribute the most this year. If Green isn't the starter let's hope it's because DCR is all that and a bag of chips

2. Rush Linebacker - Incumbent Bertrand Berry v. free agent signee Travis LaBoy. Berry holds the early edge because of his history with the franchise and his leadership role in the huddle and in the lockerroom. But he'll get all he can handle from LaBoy, who has had success in a part-time role with the Tennessee Titans. The winner will likely be the player that's most able and willing to contain the outside run and bootleg, as well as the player who is able to drop most smoothly into the short zones.

I hope Berry is only used on passing downs. It's the only way I see him lasting a full season at this point and he is still (was) our best pass rusher.

3. Nose Tackle - Incumbent Gabe Watson v. second-year DT Alan Branch. The Cards traded up to get Alan Branch in the 2007 NFL draft. Each game that Watson starts as a fourth-round choice must become more embarrassing for the brain trust that passed on other players. Watson suffered a postseason knee injury that may keep him out of camp. Can Spongebob Squareback keep his conditioning enough so that he has a starting job on his return?

Branch needs to step up big time or things could get ugly our run defense. Watson can't get the number of snaps he did last year and be effective, especially coming of the injury.

4. Defensive End - Incumbent Antonio Smith v. rookie second-round choice
Calais Campbell. Smith holds the clear advantage here; he is in a contract year and was a contributor last season. He's also carrying a first-round tender contract. But he may quickly be pressed by Campbell, who is a superior pass rusher, especially when motivated.

Too Tall Campbell needs to get at least 20% of the snaps this year. If it's more (not due to injury) then awesome drafting.

5. Slot WR - Sean Morey v. Early Doucet v. Jamacia Rector v. Jerehme Urban v. Steve Breaston. Doucet and Breaston have assured roster spots, and Morey's special teams contributions give him the edge for the 5th WR spot. But Rector and Urban are playing for their jobs, and may respond to the lack of faith that the organization showed in their progress. The prize is the slot WR role on Sundays, an NFL paycheck, and the chance to catch 40-55 passes in 2008.

I agree. It would be even better if Breaston becomes our deep threat. By this I mean more effective then BJ was in this role.

I also want to see if we have a clear winner at the TE position, at least in the passing game. Both Pope and Patrick showed flashes last year so if one them is the clear leader then we will have a dangerous weapon to utilize.

How about the RB's. Hightower winning the #2 spot is imperative for an improvement in our running game.

It will be fun to see if any other additions to the roster this year create competition as well.

 

[Garthshort]

Drc

He doesn't look very strong to me, and at this point I don't think he'd be a starting CB. His forte, IMO, is pass defense, and I see him as a nickle back. He should excell in pass coverage and will probably be our best pass defender. Just not good against the run. Something like Deion Sanders. JMO.

 

[Cardiac]

He doesn't look very strong to me, and at this point I don't think he'd be a starting CB. His forte, IMO, is pass defense, and I see him as a nickle back. He should excell in pass coverage and will probably be our best pass defender. Just not good against the run. Something like Deion Sanders. JMO.

Can't argue with any of this. Actually I would be thrilled if he does become our best pass defender, 3rd down converstions would drop dramatically.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

DC - good read!