Teams Arizona Cardinals - The Buzzsaw

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Sep 6, 2005
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Cardinals fired OC Mike McCoy.

The Cardinals had to make this move. Once viewed as an up-and-coming offensive mind after his work in Denver with Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, McCoy got a head-coaching gig in San Diego, lasting four years there before then going back to Denver last year as their OC. He was fired mid-season, and has now been canned the second-straight year in the middle of the year. McCoy has about run his course as a play-caller. QBs coach Byron Leftwich is Arizona's new OC.
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Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Cardinals promoted QBs coach Byron Leftwich to offensive coordinator.

It's been a fast rise for Leftwich, who was last a player in 2012. He began his coaching career under ex-Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and was a holdover for new coach Steve Wilks. With OC Mike McCoy getting fired after Thursday night's Week 7 loss to the Broncos, Leftwich now gets his time to put his mark on the offense. First order of business should be getting David Johnson the ball in space. Leftwich played and learned under the aggressive Arians. It's a no-risk move.
 

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Yeh I am.

He was the next big thing when he was drafted, now, like you said, he just doesn't fit the system, which sucks because he's still a really good player.

Given we could well see a 1 and done coaching regime here i hope we can salvage him.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals will reassess their "entire football operation" after the season.

Steve Wilks' debut season in Arizona has been an unmitigated disaster as the Cardinals have struggled miserably in all facets. Josh Rosen has developed slower than expected while the Cardinals also caught flak for misusing David Johnson early in the year (OC Mike McCoy lost his job for this very reason), though he's been much better recently. Per Rapsheet, the Cardinals could be headed for sweeping changes if things don't improve quickly. In addition to Wilks, Rapoport implied GM Steve Keim may also be on the hot seat in Arizona.


Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Patrick Peterson joins Barry Sanders as youngest players to eight Pro Bowls
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 19, 2018, 4:42 PM EST
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Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was named to his eighth Pro Bowl on Tuesday, putting him in some very elite company.

Peterson is 28 years, 5 months old, the same age Barry Sanders was when he was named to his eighth Pro Bowl. The two of them are the two youngest players ever to be named to eight Pro Bowls.

Jim Brown, who was 28 years, 10 months old when named to his eighth Pro Bowl, is the only other player to be named to eight Pro Bowl teams before turning 29. Peterson, Sanders and Brown were already the only players to get to seven Pro Bowls before turning 28, and the three of them plus Emmitt Smith were the only players to get to six Pro Bowls before turning 27.

Although it’s been a down year for the Cardinals, one that had Peterson acknowledging he considered seeking a trade. But Peterson has more recently said he wants to be part of a rebuilding effort in Arizona. Perhaps one that sees him get to the next three Pro Bowls, which would make him the first player ever to reach 11 Pro Bowls by age 31.
 
Nov 9, 2012
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According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals will reassess their "entire football operation" after the season.

Steve Wilks' debut season in Arizona has been an unmitigated disaster as the Cardinals have struggled miserably in all facets. Josh Rosen has developed slower than expected while the Cardinals also caught flak for misusing David Johnson early in the year (OC Mike McCoy lost his job for this very reason), though he's been much better recently. Per Rapsheet, the Cardinals could be headed for sweeping changes if things don't improve quickly. In addition to Wilks, Rapoport implied GM Steve Keim may also be on the hot seat in Arizona.


Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

They need to fix the offensive line before they mention Rosen's development.

Rosen will be good if he's not running for his life on every play... kid has no chance.
 
They need to fix the offensive line before they mention Rosen's development.

Rosen will be good if he's not running for his life on every play... kid has no chance.

100%. And they can say injuries all they like, but the line was trash before all of the injuries anyway.

We are very likely to have pick 1 plus in the realm of 70 mill cap space. Its the perfect opportunity to strengthen up both lines.
 
Nov 9, 2012
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100%. And they can say injuries all they like, but the line was trash before all of the injuries anyway.

We are very likely to have pick 1 plus in the realm of 70 mill cap space. Its the perfect opportunity to strengthen up both lines.

Trade down from 1 and accumulate more picks then take the best OL guy available
 
Sep 6, 2005
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id draft offensive weapons for rosen early and grab OL mid and late rounds where gems can be found.

you need like 2 WRs and a TE
I do like me some DK Metcalf, AJ Brown and N'Keal Harry.

I'd still take Jonah Williams or someone first though.
There are many OL who can be had later, and if you have a good OL coach can develop them much quicker than trying to develop an offensive skill position. Rosen needs weapons.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2019OT.php
 
Sep 6, 2005
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NBC Sports' Peter King reports there is mutual interest between Mike McCarthy and the Cardinals.

Arizona is fully expected to fire Steve Wilks after just one season, thrusting them back onto the coaching carousel for the second year in a row. Fired for good reason by the Packers earlier this month, McCarthy is sure to draw interest in a league committed to retreads. He has already been linked with the Jets' potential opening as well.
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Source: Football Morning in America
 

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Sep 6, 2005
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Cardinals claimed S D.J. Swearinger off waivers from the Redskins.

It means Swearinger made it by zero teams, as the Cardinals had the No. 1 waiver claim. That's not something you usually want to see when waiving a player. Swearinger is returning to Arizona after spending 2015-16 in the desert. Although prone to creating headaches for coaches, Swearinger has become a much more consistent player in recent years. He could be a 2019 starter for the Cardinals. That is the final year of his contract.
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Source: Darren Urban on Twitter
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Typically, Jon Gruden is possibly going to hire Steve Keim as GM :rolleyes:

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If Fox 10 Report is True, Bidwill is the Cardinals’ #1 Problem

By Walter Mitchell Dec 27, 2018, 7:27am MST



Last night Fox 10 in Arizona reported that the Cardinals intend to fire highly embattled rookie head coach Steve Willis, yet Michael Bidwill has decided to give GM Steve Keim another year to try to piece back the Cardinals’ current wreckage.

If this report is true—-it leaves no doubt whatsoever that Michael Bidwill is the #1 reason why the Cardinals are incompetent.

First of all, firing Steve Wilks without firing Steve Keim is unconscionable.

Not only was Keim serving his DUI suspension during the first 5 weeks of training camp—-which for a rookie head coach is a major liability—-Keim spent the 2018 off-season supposedly “retooling” the Cardinals’ offense through free agency and using 5 of the 6 draft picks on offensive players.

Even though Keim was well aware that Wilks would likely change the Cardinals’ base defense from a 34 to a 43, Keim’s personnel decisions on the defensive side of the ball were misguided and/or negligent.

If ever there was a recipe for a rookie head coach to fall flat on his face—-this was it.

But, before we move the argument forward, let’s examine Steve Keim’s consistent failures as a GM the past three off-seasons.

Keim’s 2016 Off-Season Moves (in reaction to losing the NFCCG to Carolina, 49-15):

With a year remaining on Tyrann Mathieu’s contract, with Mathieu coming off his 2nd major knee injury, Keim awards Mathieu a 5 year $60M contract with $40M guaranteed.

Trade: DE Chandler Jones obtained for the Cardinals’ 2016 2nd round pick and G Jonathan Cooper.

UFA signings: S Tyvon Branch, CB Asa Jackson, G Evan Mathis

Key Free Agent Lost: LB/DE Dwight Freeney.

Analysis: The Jones trade was a coup. Mathieu struggled and looked sluggish. Branch struggled with injuries (per his history). Jackson was cut. Mathis, coming off a back injury, lasted 4 games, before going on IR. Keim projected Justin Bethel as the starting CB, but Bethel was still coping with a foot injury and 3rd round project CB Brandon Williams was torched and then benched. Keim decided to go with an undrafted rookie long snapper, whose errant snap contributed to Chandler Catanzaro’s missed FG at the end of the opening night loss to the Patriots—-which Bruce Arians said demoralized and dispirited the team so badly that they never recovered from it. From “All or Nothing” to “0-1 and Done.”

Keim’s 2017 Off-Season Moves:

Biggest in-house reward contract went to DE Chandler Jones—-5 years at $82.5M with $53M guaranteed.
Keim’s 2nd big in-house reward contract went to volatile TE Jermaine Gresham— 4 years at $28M with $16.5M guaranteed.
FA signings: K Phil Dawson, C Tony Bergstrom, S Antoine Bethea, LB Karlos Dasnby, QB Blaine Gabbert, LB Jarvis Jones, CB Jumal Rolle.

Key Free Agents Lost: DE Calais Campbell, CB Marcus Cooper, S Tony Jefferson, S D.J. Swearinger, OLB/DE Alex Okafor.

Analysis: Jones was outstanding. Gresham struggled and remained penalty prone. Dawson was uncharacteristically erratic. Bergstrom was traded for a conditional pick (but was cut by the Ravens). Bethea was the lone bright spot, though not the intimidator at FS that D.J. Swearinger was. Dansby tried to play through injuries but was only a shell of his old self. Gabbert took over when Palmer and Stanton were injured and seemed to regress with each start. Jarvis Jones was injured and never played a snap. Rolle was cut.

Keim’s 2018 Off-Season Moves:

Biggest in-house regard contract: David Johnson, 3 years at $39M (with incentives up to $45M) and $30M guaranteed. Johnson had one year remaining on his rookie deal.
2nd biggest in-house contract: picking up Deone Bucannon’s $8.7M 5th year option.
Biggest FA signing: QB Sam Bradford to a 2 year, $40M contract (with games played incentives) with $15M guaranteed.

FA signings: CB Bene Benwikere, WR Brice Butler, LB Jeremy Cash, FB Derrick Coleman, QB Mike Glennon, WR Cobi Hamilton, DE Benson Mayowa, G Justin Pugh, T Andre Smith, CB Marcus Williams.

Trade: 2020 6th round pick to the Browns for CB Jamar Taylor
Key Players Lost: S Tyrann Mathieu, WR John Brown, RB Adrian Peterson, CB Tramon Williams, WR Jaron Brown, T Jared Veldheer (traded), G Earl Watford, DE Kareem Martin, DT Xavier Williams.

Analysis: Johnson has not run as hard or as explosively as he did in 2016. Bradford was an immediate bust. Bucannon has remained injury-prone and highly unreliable. Bewikere was cut, despite being 4th on the team in tackles for a team with tackling issues. His replacements don’t tackle anyone. Butler was cut. Cash was off to a great start in PS game 1, but tore an ACL. Coleman isn’t being used. Glennon has been supportive of Josh Rosen and has played well in mop-up duty. Hamilton was cut. Mayowa has been a bright spot at DE. Pugh was inconsistent and like last year, succumbed to injuries. Andre Smith was inconsistent and was cut a few weeks ago. Marcus Williams was cut. Jamar Taylor was a bust at RCB and was cut during the season.

Throughout Steve Keim’s 6 Years:

Didn’t draft a QBOF until 2018. But, didn’t pair the rookie QB with a competent OC and intended to sit the young QB for 1-2 years.
His offensive lines have been the worst or near the worst in the NFL.
Has never signed or drafted an impact TE.
Has never signed or drafted an impact ILB.
Has never settled on a reliable RCB opposite Patrick Peterson.
Has never been able to settle on a reliable kicker.
Has only signed two of his draft picks, Tyrann Mathieu and David Johnson, to 2nd contracts—-and now Mathieu has been cut (costing the team $40M) and Johnson is looking as tentative as Mathieu did after he got his money.
None of Keim’s 1st round draft picks to date have signed 2nd contracts or have warranted them.
Over the past 3 years, Keim has only signed one outside 5th year UFA to a long-term deal: G Justin Pugh.
Has relied heavily on signing veteran free agents in their 30s.
The holes that Steve Keim leaves in his rosters year after year are costing the team wins.

His numerous high end misses are costing the Cardinals millions of dollars.

His handling of his own free agents has been a poor PR hit for the Cardinals around the league.

In my opinion, Steve Keim’s early success got to his head. Since then he has been one of the laziest GMs in the NFL. He doesn’t get first cracks at any of the top free agents, so he just goes with easy older veteran signings or players who come with injury histories. Former players are taking swipes at the Cardinals, and with good reason. The national PR fallout of the Tyrann Mathieu situation was damaging, particularly seeing how well Mathieu is playing with the Texans. This—-on the heels of losing Calais Campbell, the prize free agent of the 2017 class. It didn’t help matters either when John Brown exposed the Cardinals for their mistreatment of him last year.

Steve Wilks deserves a lot better than what he got from Steve Keim. Without question, Wilks has made his fair share of mistakes—-as rookie head coaches are wont to do—-especially on teams where the personnel doesn’t fit the coach’s systems and philosophies. But, the one person more than any other who is responsible for the mess that Wilks inherited is Steve Keim.

Thus, if the Fox 10 report is true that Wilks will be fired and Keim will be retained—-then, the blame for this current chapter of Cardinals’ incompetence rests squarely on the shoulders on Michael Bidwill—-because obviously he is enabling it—-and even rewarding it with unwarranted raises and contract extensions.
 
May 24, 2006
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How do rookie coaches usually fare first up?

Wilks has remained dignified. Not made excuses, retained some class despite it all. Seems a solid bloke. But even to my inexperienced eyes the team looks disfunctional and hasn't shown any signs of improvement as the season has gone on.
 
You'll have options. BPA (like Oliver), or trade down and collect picks and fill a number of need positions, grab some O weapons to help Rosen.
Don't get me wrong, we could very easily make all the right moves, just don't think it will happen with Keim still there.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy turned down the Cardinals' interview request for their head-coaching vacancy.

He and Mike McCarthy have now both turned down the Arizona job after Steve Wilks was fired after one season. The bigger problem is this team has very little talent after GM Steve Keim has blown draft pick after draft pick. Bieniemy will interview with the Jets, Bucs, Dolphins, and Bengals this week.

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Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
 
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy turned down the Cardinals' interview request for their head-coaching vacancy.

He and Mike McCarthy have now both turned down the Arizona job after Steve Wilks was fired after one season. The bigger problem is this team has very little talent after GM Steve Keim has blown draft pick after draft pick. Bieniemy will interview with the Jets, Bucs, Dolphins, and Bengals this week.

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Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Do people seriously think the Jets, Dolphins and Bengals are better options? Give me a *ing break!

Other then the fact that the Bengals seem to be loyal to a fault, its an awful situation. Jets.......... really? Darnold, Adams and who else? They have a s**t awful roster.
Dolphins are even worse, they have zero offensive weapons and their best defensive player is about 55 years old.

Cards:
Pick 1 (in every round + waiver claims) - Check
QB of the future on place - Check
Top 5 pass rusher - Check
Top 5 CB - Check
Top 5 RB - Check
Low expectations - Check
 
Oct 18, 2013
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Do people seriously think the Jets, Dolphins and Bengals are better options? Give me a ruddy break!

Other then the fact that the Bengals seem to be loyal to a fault, its an awful situation. Jets.......... really? Darnold, Adams and who else? They have a s**t awful roster.
Dolphins are even worse, they have zero offensive weapons and their best defensive player is about 55 years old.

Cards:
Pick 1 (in every round + waiver claims) - Check
QB of the future on place - Check
Top 5 pass rusher - Check
Top 5 CB - Check
Top 5 RB - Check
Low expectations - Check

Lets even it out and list the cons against the Cards and why a coach would decline an interview:

s**t GM - Check
Chance to be fired after your first year in the job - Check
*ed owner who allows the GM to keep his job while firing the coach the GM appointed last offseason - Check
 

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