Way-too-early Monti Ossenfort Performance Review

[kerouac9]

Interesting you feel this way. I was skeptical before the season but we should be 2-1 at worst. When Murray gets back, we *should* be better.

You don't think we will win 3 of our next 14? I think it would be a big disappointment if we only won 2 games the rest of the season.

We should be better if the rest of the roster stays the same, but we're likely to have a couple more guys go on IR, maybe for the season, on both sides of the ball. Kyler will likely return to a deteriorated roster from the one we have now. Preparing for that is probably why we had Colon (?) rotating in at guard last week.

Plus, teams will see what we're doing and the strengths and weaknesses of these players in this system, and they'll focus on picking that stuff apart.

 

[PACardsFan]

I posted the quotes below back in June and I still believe it is what we are seeing today. Monti appears to be following the Belichick model. So far I like what I'm seeing. The Cards have been more competitive than I expected them to be at this point and I think a lot of that falls on the relationship between Monti and JG. They clearly had a vision of what they wanted this team to look like and turned over the majority of the roster on their way to building on that vision.

What I'm most excited about right now is the culture change. It's way ahead of where I expected it to be at this point. I absolutely love the gritty physicality that this team has brought each week so far. I love how this team is playing like a team and there a no me first premadonnas on this team. This team still is lacking talent from a depth standpoint. That lack of depth will eventually start to catch up to them this season as injuries start to stack up. However this coaching staff has already proven that they can do more with less. Where as the previous regime did less with more, if that is even a saying.

I still don't believe that they will win more than 3 games this season. However I think they will be competitive in the majority of them. What I'm most interested in seeing in the coming weeks is how Kyler fits into this new team.

Very good post & I agree entirely. Too many on this board were critical of our FA signings, or lack thereof. The fact remains that the Cardinals were very picky about who they brought in as they made the cultural changes necessary. For this offseason, attitude and football character was far more important in this process than sheer talent. Do I think that a general lack of depth will catch up to this team? Like you stated, yes I do. But, even if we spent money on bigger names, those bigger names may not have helped create the team first attitude needed to start the ball rolling towards sustainable success. And, as we all have seen over the years, the big name FA’s get hurt just as much & maybe even more so.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

We should be better if the rest of the roster stays the same, but we're likely to have a couple more guys go on IR, maybe for the season, on both sides of the ball. Kyler will likely return to a deteriorated roster from the one we have now. Preparing for that is probably why we had Colon (?) rotating in at guard last week.

Plus, teams will see what we're doing and the strengths and weaknesses of these players in this system, and they'll focus on picking that stuff apart.

So you don't think we'll take 3 of our next 14?

I see a couple really good teams and a whole lot of meh. I think our meh/execution will win out at least 4-5 times over the next 14. Maybe I'm just an optimist!

 

[ASUCHRIS]

For this offseason, attitude and football character was far more important in this process than sheer talent.

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[Garthshort]

We should be better if the rest of the roster stays the same, but we're likely to have a couple more guys go on IR, maybe for the season, on both sides of the ball. Kyler will likely return to a deteriorated roster from the one we have now. Preparing for that is probably why we had Colon (?) rotating in at guard last week.

Plus, teams will see what we're doing and the strengths and weaknesses of these players in this system, and they'll focus on picking that stuff apart.

Injuries will happen, but I'm hopeful that as the season goes on many of our young players will improve with more game experience. So that MIGHT offset the injuries.

 

[kerouac9]

Injuries will happen, but I'm hopeful that as the season goes on many of our young players will improve with more game experience. So that MIGHT offset the injuries.

Who are you thinking?

 

[BritCard]

We have kind of shown we can move on without him.

This was why I thought he should be traded. I get why not, with his attitude, leadership etc and that's valuable to a new coaching staff but safeties are an easy position to replace.

The additional value of a guy on $15m vs a guy on $6m is minor.

If you were building a "dream roster" for fun probably the last position you would look at is safety because you just know deep down it's least important.

 

[PACardsFan]

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Maybe you should have read the entire post. Btw, they did bring in both. They brought in talent that fit their system schematically, while also possessing a team first attitude. If you haven’t already seen that the last 3 weeks, then you’re not looking.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Maybe you should have read the entire post. Btw, they did bring in both. They brought in talent that fit their system schematically, while also possessing a team first attitude. If you haven’t already seen that the last 3 weeks, then you’re not looking.

You were actually right on your first post - they brought in system guys with the right attitude, and nearly all of them were on minimum/near minimum deals. That's mainly a focus on attitude over talent, as you first indicated. To be a playoff contender, we need better players! This shouldn't be controversial.

 

[Garthshort]

Who are you thinking?

Wilson, Williams, Clark, Stills, Vic D., Thomas, Stille, Paris, Ojulari, Pappoe, Wallace, Collins, plus the guys I'm missing.

P.S. Also the third round CB, now on IR.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Interesting you feel this way. I was skeptical before the season but we should be 2-1 at worst. When Murray gets back, we *should* be better.

You don't think we will win 3 of our next 14? I think it would be a big disappointment if we only won 2 games the rest of the season.

After speaking with my friend who coaches with the Cards I'm concerned that Budda may be out longer than 4 games. Andre Chachere is just not good. I think the 49ers will expose him.

Barnes played better against the cowgirls but he looked terrible against the Giants. I'd be a lot more confident at ILB if Woods was in there.

Clark is playing well considering he is a 6th round rookie. However Marco hasn't looked great and the Cards are facing some elite WRs in the next few games. It's asking a lot for a 6th round rookie to cover the likes of Jamar Chase. Clark will take some lumps this year. I mentioned that in my training camp report. Long term however the experience is more valuable.

The DL is already thin with Watkins and Collier out and Fotu dinged up. This Cardinals defense is now 1 or 2 big injuries away from being in some serious trouble. They just don't have the depth to compete with the elite teams in the NFL yet. The fact that the Defense has played as well as it has is a testament to the Cards coaching staff.

The offensive side of the ball has stayed healthy for the most part. However whenever Kyler does come back he won't just instantly be able to turn it on. He hasn't been able to practice at all with his teammates and is learning a new offense. It will probably take a couple of games before he feels comfortable with the new players on the team and the new offense he is learning. Kyler is an elite athlete but I just can't see him coming in and instantly play at an elite level without some rust to shake off.

By the time Kyler has kicked the rust off I'm guessing the defense will be pretty depleted due to injury. That's just the way of the NFL. Injuries happen. IMO the Cardinals don't have the depth to compensate for a bunch of injuries this season. Hence why I don't think that they will win many more games. Although if somehow the Cardinals avoid the injury bug there is a path to a couple more wins maybe.

 

[JosiahLee]

Not gonna lie, it’s refreshing to not have me-first divas on the team like Hopkins & Simmons. Perhaps Monti & JG know what they are doing after all.

If we can become the tough, physical 2.0 Lions I will be thrilled.

The way the team is competing right now has me pumped about 2024.

Side note, I saw the Cardinals are 1 of only 4 teams who have covered the spread all 3 weeks this season.

 

[DVontel]

have me-first divas on the team like Hopkins & Simmons.

I mean, I disliked Simmons on the field more than anyone here, but what made him a “me-first diva”?

 

[SunsTzu]

I mean, I disliked Simmons on the field more than anyone here, but what made him a “me-first diva”?

Yeah, that's the first implication I've seen.

 

[JosiahLee]

I mean, I disliked Simmons on the field more than anyone here, but what made him a “me-first diva”?

Around the time there were rumors about Hop being let go he posted something to the effect of this organization being clowns. I also think seeing him not hustle whatsoever in his last preseason game was also a me-first move, similar to Hop never practicing then sitting himself the last couple of games last year once the playoffs were out of sight.

 

[DVontel]

Hop being let go he posted something to the effect of this organization being clowns

Did he really? I feel like that would’ve caught a lot more traction if he did.

I also think seeing him not hustle whatsoever in his last preseason game

I just think that was him not being good at the game of football more than a lack of hustle tbh, lol.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Not gonna lie, it’s refreshing to not have me-first divas on the team like Hopkins & Simmons. Perhaps Monti & JG know what they are doing after all.

If we can become the tough, physical 2.0 Lions I will be thrilled.

The way the team is competing right now has me pumped about 2024.

Side note, I saw the Cardinals are 1 of only 4 teams who have covered the spread all 3 weeks this season.

Simmons is now a “me first diva?” I love the narratives that come out after a player leaves.

 

[Krangodnzr]

This was why I thought he should be traded. I get why not, with his attitude, leadership etc and that's valuable to a new coaching staff but safeties are an easy position to replace.

The additional value of a guy on $15m vs a guy on $6m is minor.

If you were building a "dream roster" for fun probably the last position you would look at is safety because you just know deep down it's least important.

One guy who is being used a lot and in an important position is Jalen Thompson. They've been using him a lot as a nickel I've noticed. At this juncture, I'm probably more interested in keeping him long term than Baker.

 

[Yuma]

One guy who is being used a lot and in an important position is Jalen Thompson. They've been using him a lot as a nickel I've noticed. At this juncture, I'm probably more interested in keeping him long term than Baker.

I like Thompson too. I noticed him flying around making plays last game. I wouldn't be surprised if some name guys like Baker, Ertz, etc. may get traded at/before trade deadline. It really looks like we are building through the draft. I like what Monti is doing.

 

[PACardsFan]

You were actually right on your first post - they brought in system guys with the right attitude, and nearly all of them were on minimum/near minimum deals. That's mainly a focus on attitude over talent, as you first indicated. To be a playoff contender, we need better players! This shouldn't be controversial.

By now, we as Cardinal fans should realize that what this organization needs is SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS. In our entire history, we have NEVER attained that. That’s because we resorted to bandaids so that we could hopefully be a “playoff contender “ for a year or two. If you’re going to rebuild, then rebuild. What MOJG are currently doing has never been attempted in their long history of ineptitude.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

By now, we as Cardinal fans should realize that what this organization needs is SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS. In our entire history, we have NEVER attained that. That’s because we resorted to bandaids so that we could hopefully be a “playoff contender “ for a year or two. If you’re going to rebuild, then rebuild. What MOJG are currently doing has never been attempted in their long history of ineptitude.

I hope you're right!

 

[Garthshort]

I hope you're right!

We all do.

 

[TheCardFan]

Would you rather?

Both DL players.

Player A (6-5/285) is 26 years old (top row) and getting paid $15m/year
Payer B (6-4/286) is 23 years old (bottom row) and getting paid 993k/year

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Spoiler

Player A is Zach Allen. Player B is Dante Stills

 

[kerouac9]

Would you rather?

Both DL players.

Player A (6-5/285) is 26 years old (top row) and getting paid $15m/year
Payer B (6-4/286) is 23 years old (bottom row) and getting paid 993k/year

You must be registered for see images attach

Spoiler

Player A is Zach Allen. Player B is Dante Stills

Could've had both. Now do Jonathan Ledbetter.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I still don't believe that they will win more than 3 games this season.

How are we feeling about this prediction?