Two Rookie camp reports on front page

[Skkorpion]

Jo Sparkes: http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=234&Category=cardinals

Jim Skane: http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=235&Category=cardinals

Two different views, overlapping a little but covering different days, except day 1, which we both covered.

 

[Walter Mitchell]

Thanks for the articles, Jo and Skkorp. Very informative. Your recap was excellent Skkorp. Great stuff. Thanks again.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The O-line stuff scares the crap out me. Thanks for the updates guys.

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
The O-line stuff scares the crap out me. Thanks for the updates guys.

No kidding. Maybe we should go after Matt Stinchcomb from Oakland. Read somewhere that he might be available in trade. Would be nice if that were true.

 

[Skkorpion]

One more thing. Writing an article overlapping something Jo Sparkes has already covered is like reheating steak - it just loses something.

She truly is talented. I won't allow myself to read her stuff until I've already done mine, otherwise I'll be fine-tuning it for hours, trying to live up to her standard.

So I just "give you the facts, ma'am" and pat myself on the back for having the sense and good fortune to publish her.

Enjoy. Ed Burmila, Jo Sparkes, Mike Terlizzi and I, backed up by an occasional article by Harry Greene and several others, give you the best we've got.

Several writers I've recruited have turned me down. I'll continue to recruit good writers and I wish Jeff Gollin, Zeno, Walter Mitchell, and a few others would contribute regularly for the front page.

I've got a blitz package planned for camp and I need contributions from any of you planning to go to Flagstaff. AJcardfan and Shane have got to both contribute, please. Anybody else, e-mail me.

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by Skkorpion
Enjoy. Ed Burmila, Jo Sparkes, Mike Terlizzi and I, backed up by an occasional article by Harry Greene and several others, give you the best we've got.

I'll join you guys in two years, sound good?

 

[pinnacle]

I have been harping on rhett nelson since we signed him...I thought he had the best chance of the undrafted rookie free agents to make the roster..sounds like he is gaining some fans!

 

[Tangodnzr]

Speaking for myself, I can only say that reading articles like Jo and Skkorp have done here, is soooooooo nice for someone like me, who can only now wish I was there to see it.
Thank you for making me feel like somehow I did defy time and space and was indeed there watching.
I can't thank you enough.

 

[BW52]

Both articles are excellent.Thank you for the insight.

 

[JeffGollin]

Perception

From what you and Jo are reporting, I come away with a few things to ponder -

1. If injuries to the O-Line continue to be such a concern, why not offer Fina the minimum and bring his butt back in here?

2. Keep an eye on Rhett Nelson. (Lord knows we need another CB we can totally depend on - maybe he'll be "the one.").

3. If Gilmore was our best WR followed by Boldin and (according to the writers) Newhouse - Bryant Johnson becomes conspicuous by his absence. So what's the deal, there? Are the other guys that good? Or is Johnson lagging?

4. Thanks to you, ASFN is establishing a presence among club officials and players. (I particularly like the way Coach Mac appeared to hold you and Jo accountable for being absent for one session - it means he's taking you seriously).

 

[pinnacle]

rhett nelson ran some unbelieveable 40 time at the colorado state workout day for players who were eligible to the drafted. I think this was the 1st time that he came up on everyones radar - he was not invited to the Combine...his time listed in ourlads and the sporting news reflected much higher 40 times than what he supposedly ran at the pro-day - not sure if most scouts took his 40 time seriously..he also did more reps of 225 lbs than most cornerbacks and was right up there with newman and newman on the 40 time, weight lift reps and vertical jump - but it was all based on a campus workout at colorado state...If his times, etc were accurate - then the 2nd question was - if he is such a good athelete - why was his on the field permance marginal? Excuse was that he was injured his junior year (shoulder I think) - and until this year the gallimore twins (one of which we had in training camp) were the stars of the colorado state secondary..personally - I think nelson is a way better athlete than the gallimores (nice guys - but too small).

nelson is also big...he looked at least slightly taller than any of the other dbacks (based on my across the field look at the may minicamp).

Big question marks with rhett - but if he is sticking to bryan gilmore like glue...that is a good start!

 

[vince56]

I just wanted to say thanks to Jo and Jim for taking the time to report for us all ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. Let's remember they're doing this for the love of the game and as fans, not as paid writers for a magazine or newspaper. Jim, Jo, your stuff is much better quality IMO than what the rest of the media is because it comes from fans of the team, people who actually give a damn about the team and players, and are not just looking for a story to fill their column space. Great job, keep 'em coming, and I look forward to hopefully meeting you up in Flagstaff this summer!

 

[Sandan]

What about me, I go out take the photos and occasionaly write something as well

 

[Brighteyes]

Thanks for the kind remarks.

I worry sometimes because I can't go to camps every day, or get the articles done as fast as I'd like. But on a volunteer basis ...

And please don't read much into names missing from the reports such as Bryant Johnson. He's looking very good.

- Jo

 

[WisconsinCard]

Originally posted by nidan
What about me, I go out take the photos and occasionaly write something as well

Thanks Nidan

 

[Russ Smith]

Good articles both. I've been saying for over a month now the OL health is my biggest concern on this team and it appears that's unforutunately coming true.

I hope there's enough time to get all the guys healthy before the season goes on but I wouldn't be surprised if we pursue some OL depth on the assumption we're going to have guys missing games again this year.

Gilmore is going to get every opportunity to play this year so I hope the reports are true about how well he's playing.

Glad to read about Pace I am really pulling for him we need him.

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Good articles both. I've been saying for over a month now the OL health is my biggest concern on this team and it appears that's unforutunately coming true.

I hope there's enough time to get all the guys healthy before the season goes on but I wouldn't be surprised if we pursue some OL depth on the assumption we're going to have guys missing games again this year.

Gilmore is going to get every opportunity to play this year so I hope the reports are true about how well he's playing.

Glad to read about Pace I am really pulling for him we need him.

Any thoughts on who you might think could be available, either by being released or in trade?

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by red desert
Any thoughts on who you might think could be available, either by being released or in trade?

That's the rub, people don't release OL's, so getting help at this time is really a case of lucking out like last year with Fina (local guy) and Roundtree.

It's a concern though it sounds like Big will be ok but I'm very nervous about both AC and LJ, after reading that article about big players and short careers where they mention just how physically beat up Shelton has been in his short career it makes you wonder, maybe these ultra huge guys just can't handle the heat in Arizona. Need that new stadium!

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
That's the rub, people don't release OL's, so getting help at this time is really a case of lucking out like last year with Fina (local guy) and Roundtree.

It's a concern though it sounds like Big will be ok but I'm very nervous about both AC and LJ, after reading that article about big players and short careers where they mention just how physically beat up Shelton has been in his short career it makes you wonder, maybe these ultra huge guys just can't handle the heat in Arizona. Need that new stadium!

I had read somewhere (about a month ago) that Matt Stinchcomb might be available in trade. I think the article mentioned that if Mo Collins was signed (and he was, wasn't he?) that the former could be available.

 

[JeffGollin]

PFW Way We Hear It makes mention that the Cards are concerned about the weight of more than just Leonard D. Also mentioned in their blurb were AC and LJ.

I would have thought the Cards would have figured it out by now, but you cannot leave it up to some players to exercise the necessary discipline to stay in shape and keep their weight down. If you're not in their face day in and day out, they're going to let things slide.

Assuming there is a genuine problem (and within the limits set by NFLPA), I believe the Cards should be monitoring the off-season activities of their players more closely - particularly those players who have a history of not staying in shape.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think they were already trying to address the depth issue since the start of free agency. How else can the Spikes signing be explained? And, Garcia as well. And, don't forget the Roundtree signing. All those guys can play multiple positions along the line. Still, if Whiting and Wells struggle in camp, picking up a true OT would seem to be in order if AC and LJ are still rehabbing more than practicing.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
PFW Way We Hear It makes mention that the Cards are concerned about the weight of more than just Leonard D. Also mentioned in their blurb were AC and LJ.

I would have thought the Cards would have figured it out by now, but you cannot leave it up to some players to exercise the necessary discipline to stay in shape and keep their weight down. If you're not in their face day in and day out, they're going to let things slide.

Assuming there is a genuine problem (and within the limits set by NFLPA), I believe the Cards should be monitoring the off-season activities of their players more closely - particularly those players who have a history of not staying in shape.

I think all 3 guys were injured this offseason and that's probably why they're out of shape. That's always been my concern with bigger guys when they can't run they get overweight quickly.

They get bigger, more weight on their joints, the effect is of course more injuries so it's a cycle.

 

[Duckjake]

Originally posted by pinnacle
I have been harping on rhett nelson since we signed him...I thought he had the best chance of the undrafted rookie free agents to make the roster..sounds like he is gaining some fans!

My brother, who some of you met at the Broncos preseason game last year, is one of the biggest CSU fans around. Goes to all their games home and away. He lives in Loveland Co. So I e-mailed him for info on Nelson. Here is his "in depth" scouting report:

"Rhett Nelson was a real good player for CSU, but he is still a little slow and undersized compared to the upper echelon players. But he will try to take your head off.
I spent time with his parents on the bus of a few roadtrips the last 2 years. His dad (black) is fairly small, and his mom (blonde haired white) is quite passive, for whatever good that is."

Now if I'd asked him about the golf course at We Ko Pa I'd have received 15 paragraphs.

 

[Sandan]

He sure doesn't look slow to me, he can keep up with Gilmore and that is no mean feat

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by Duckjake
My brother, who some of you met at the Broncos preseason game last year, is one of the biggest CSU fans around. Goes to all their games home and away. He lives in Loveland Co. So I e-mailed him for info on Nelson. Here is his "in depth" scouting report:

"Rhett Nelson was a real good player for CSU, but he is still a little slow and undersized compared to the upper echelon players. But he will try to take your head off.
I spent time with his parents on the bus of a few roadtrips the last 2 years. His dad (black) is fairly small, and his mom (blonde haired white) is quite passive, for whatever good that is."

Now if I'd asked him about the golf course at We Ko Pa I'd have received 15 paragraphs.

6'0" 200lbs isn't bad size for a CB.