it is too early to talk Super Bowl, right?

[poptart]

Players say stupid shit all the time, Jsc, and in the day and age we're living in, it seems everything anyone says gets played up.

It's just one guy being a m0ron.


That said, I'd say it's about a 50/50 that Oakland goes 19-0.

[Dinsdale]

As far as JSC goes, it's never too early to talk Super Bowl... since one of the 29 teams that his hairdresser's neighbor's cousin knew a guy who played for will inevitably be in it.

[ChargerMike]

"it is too early to talk Super Bowl, right?"


...not really, the Bolt's got to the AFC championship game, went into Indy and upset the Colt's and had it not been that they had to play he Pat's minus their best player and their QB playing on one leg......

25-7 over the past two years...the seventh youngest team in the NFL (2007) one of the toughest defenses in the NFL....yeah, I like our chances to go all the way.

[Diogenes]

"it is too early to talk Super Bowl, right?"


...not really, the Bolt's got to the AFC championship game, went into Indy and upset the Colt's and had it not been that they had to play he Pat's minus their best player and their QB playing on one leg......

25-7 over the past two years...the seventh youngest team in the NFL (2007) one of the toughest defenses in the NFL....yeah, I like our chances to go all the way.

Time for reality to set in.

10-6, out in the first round (if they make the playoffs) at best.

They're still the Dolts, get over it.

[Diogenes]

You'll be 2-0 by week 2.

FTFY.

[Diogenes]

Q) What could possibly be worse that having your team mocked by a Cardinal fan?

A) Having a Cardinal fan who lives in your team's city mock them.

Melt, Doltfan, melt.

[Diogenes]

Q) What could possibly be worse that having your team mocked by a Cardinal fan?

I would've gone with being a Cardinal fan.

You'd have been wrong. Trust me, the local yokels here have a brand of pathos reminicent of Cubfan (although this may be insulting Cubfan).
It's going to be this year, every year...

Until they either choke in the playoffs or go 3-5, at which point the overwhelming bitterness exibited could stop a Rhino out of sheer depression.

And at least the Cards won a NFL championship. 60 years ago, but it still beats the Dolts.

[Diogenes]

Beware the Mighty Cards, Motherfuckers... :twisted:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Kurt Warner threw more touchdown passes per attempt last season than Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck, David Garrard, Derek Anderson and Philip Rivers.

His reward was a spot on the Arizona Cardinals' bench heading into 2008.

The decision to restore unproven Matt Leinart as the starting quarterback in Arizona doesn't add up on the stat sheet. Warner tossed 27 touchdown passes last season as well as 17 interceptions. Leinart had two touchdowns with four interceptions when a shoulder injury ended his season after five starts.

"Yes, Kurt did a great job for us and he played well," second-year Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "But when Matt got hurt, he was our starter and he was making progress."

Whisenhunt saw enough from Leinart during a 23-20 victory over Seattle in Week 2 last season to feel good about the decision. Leinart completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Cardinals know what Warner can do. They obviously think Leinart has the potential to do more, particularly over the long term. Warner is 37 years old. Leinart is 25 and heading into his third season.

"The third year is a critical year for any player," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. "It's the make-or-break or year -- I don't care where you are drafted at. He is starting to become a pro.

"We are now in our second year [as a staff], so we are giving him a lot more technique stuff, stuff that I don't think he was getting early on at all."

Whisenhunt sees a new player emerging as Leinart becomes more comfortable.

"You see it in his body language, you see how he handles himself in the huddle and then you also see it in the confidence when he takes a step and he throws the football, or even when he makes the checks in the run game," Whisenhunt said. "There is not the hesitation that there used to be."

Key questions

1. Is Whisenhunt making the right choice at quarterback?

Ken Whisenhunt was 8-8 in his first season as Cardinals head coach.
Yes. The Cardinals can always hand the offense back to Warner if Leinart falters. In the meantime, they need to find out if the progress Leinart has shown this offseason can carry over.

The organization has too much invested in Leinart, the 10th overall choice in the 2006 draft, to give up on him now. Young quarterbacks are more likely to achieve their potential when backed by the full support of their organizations.

The Cardinals have seen enough from Leinart since his season-ending injury to give him another chance. Leinart became more serious as a student of the game, breaking down opponents' tendencies when Warner was the starter. He has worked to become more consistent in the depth of his drops, a key to facilitating pass protection. And the staff has implemented drills designed to speed Leinart's decision-making.

Whisenhunt has shown he isn't afraid to make a change if warranted, so Leinart must make strides.

2. Where are the Cardinals most vulnerable from a depth standpoint?

Offensive line and cornerback. An injury to workhorse running back Edgerrin James might also prove devastating. The team has yet to identify an alternative to James.

Quarterback and receiver remain positions of strength. The team also thinks 2008 draft choices Calais Campbell and Kenny Iwebema will restore needed depth to the defensive line. Iwebema's power is impressive for a rookie.

3. Who will replace Bryant Johnson as the third receiver?

Steve Breaston, a fifth-round choice from Michigan in 2007, is the early leader. He was the star of the Cardinals' offseason workouts and minicamps. Rookie third-round choice Early Doucet provides competition, but rookie receivers usually aren't ready to produce right away.

"Steve Breaston is a second-year guy who can make the jump from reserve to potential in-the-mix guy," Haley said. "He has shown flashes and now it is just a matter of showing the consistency. Early Doucet is a young guy who has shown signs of potentially getting in the mix."

Market watch

Haley and offensive line coach Russ Grimm could be trending upward as potential head coaching candidates if the Cardinals continue their improvement under Whisenhunt.

Grimm nearly landed the Pittsburgh job in January 2007, only to have Mike Tomlin emerge as the Steelers' last-minute choice. Haley, a former Bill Parcells assistant in Dallas, turned down a chance to interview with the Miami Dolphins. He'll take over more of the play-calling duties under Whisenhunt.

Warner's career could be in decline if Leinart plays well enough to remain the starter. The former Super Bowl MVP is in the final year of his contract. He hasn't been able to land an extension, and his age could complicate efforts to secure the type of deal he has earned through his strong play.

Former cornerback Antrel Rolle might finally realize more of his potential now that the Cardinals have moved him to free safety, a position that might suit him better. Rolle has talent -- he was the eighth player chosen in the 2005 draft -- but so far he has shown only occasional flashes.

Newcomer to watch

First-round draft choice Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will play extensively as a rookie even if Rod Hood remains the starter heading into the season.

The proliferation of three- and four-receiver sets favored by NFL teams will give Rodgers-Cromartie a chance to employ his speed and overall ranginess right away. The rookie has the reach and closing speed to get his hands on the football.

Arizona lacks depth at corner behind Hood, Eric Green and Rodgers-Cromartie.

Observation deck

Arizona has the talent to contend in the NFC West. The Cardinals finished 8-8 last season even though they ran low on healthy bodies late in the year. Injuries might again be a key factor in determining whether the Cardinals break through this season. ... In their second year under Whisenhunt, continuity on offense is a huge priority for the Cardinals. Coaches expect more consistency since players have known the system for a full season. Every offensive starter returns this season. All but tight end Leonard Pope appear entrenched in their positions. Ben Patrick is getting every opportunity to bump Pope from the lineup. ... The offensive staff wants Edgerrin James to become more involved in the receiving game through screens and outlet passes. Arizona ranked fifth in passing yards last season even though James caught only 24 passes, by far his lowest output for a 16-game season. Continuity is particularly important for the screen game, which relies heavily on timing. ... The Cardinals have become more efficient in coaching their quarterbacks, who no longer stand around during special-teams drills and other lulls. ... Rolle's position change gives Arizona good depth at safety, where Adrian Wilson remains one of the game's more hard-nosed enforcers. ... Outside linebacker Chike Okeafor leads the NFL in roughing-the-passer penalties since 2001. Coaches prevent players from hitting quarterbacks in practice, but Okeafor bends the rules in other ways. Whisenhunt wasn't pleased Sunday when Okeafor dragged down Doucet with a borderline horse-collar tackle in the open field. Okeafor also dislodged Levi Brown's helmet during the same practice. Remember, the Cardinals weren't even in pads. ... Travis LaBoy's speed could help the pass rush. Signed as a free agent from Tennessee, LaBoy proved disruptive in pass-rush drills over the weekend.

Mike Sando covers the NFL for ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingc ... id=3508208" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Diogenes]

The decision to restore unproven Matt Leinart as the starting quarterback in Arizona doesn't add up on the stat sheet.

Maybe he should try looking at the balance sheet instead.

In case you didn't notice, he is. Unless and until Matt screws the pooch.

They obviously think Leinart has the potential to do more, particularly over the long term. Warner is 37 years old. Leinart is 25 and heading into his third season.

"The third year is a critical year for any player," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. "It's the make-or-break or year -- I don't care where you are drafted at. He is starting to become a pro.

"We are now in our second year [as a staff], so we are giving him a lot more technique stuff, stuff that I don't think he was getting early on at all."

Whisenhunt sees a new player emerging as Leinart becomes more comfortable.

"You see it in his body language, you see how he handles himself in the huddle and then you also see it in the confidence when he takes a step and he throws the football, or even when he makes the checks in the run game," Whisenhunt said. "There is not the hesitation that there used to be."

[Diogenes]

It looks like they've got a handle on what has been their biggest problem the last decade or so (aside from Bidwell, of course). And having Grimm on the sidelines doesn't suck.


FLAGSTAFF – When Russ Grimm played for the Washington Redskins, he was part of an offensive line that earned a nickname – “The Hogs” – and stayed basically intact for nearly a decade.

The line Grimm now coaches for the Arizona Cardinals doesn’t have a nickname. Its length of service as a unit isn’t impressive either.

But in this day of free agency and frequent player movement, the Cards do have the same line in place for a second straight season. The Cards haven’t had the same linemen start in the same spots the majority of the season for two straight years since 1996-97, and only two other times since 1980.

That continuity is the reason the Cards believe the line can better what was an

Click above for the Cardinals' full training camp schedule.
improvement last season.

“Chemistry,” Grimm said, “has always been a big part of the offensive line.”

It’s not a simple case of plug and play. Already, starting center Al Johnson has missed a few workouts because of a sore knee, going to Phoenix Wednesday for further tests. Coach Ken Whisenhunt also made it clear that right guard Deuce Lutui will have to up his play to hold off backup Elton Brown. Right tackle Levi Brown is only in his second season.

Unlike last year, however, the group has confidence. Along with left guard Reggie Wells and left tackle Mike Gandy, the unit had a learning curve in 2007. Johnson and Gandy were free-agent newcomers. Brown was just drafted. Grimm and Whisenhunt brought in a new system.

None of those barriers remain in 2008.

“Obviously we’re not perfect or where we want to be,” Wells said. “But we have taken fewer steps back in terms of preparation and knowing the scheme.”

The coaches also have a better idea of how to use their line. Whisenhunt came in with the idea the Cards would use a power-blocking scheme. The learning curve for the linemen, along with running back Edgerrin James’ preference to run in zone-blocking schemes, caused a midseason shift.

While the Cards weren’t necessarily starting over, it caused hiccups. The players have a better understanding what will be expected this season.

The Cards could pass protect, allowing just 24 sacks, but they finished 29th in the NFL running the ball.

It didn’t all go directly to the line, but there were problems to fix. Being together for a second straight year will help.

“I spoke a lot of Tongan to (Levi) and he didn’t like that, so I am learning to speak English,” Lutui quipped. “Now, we are on the same page coming from (offseason practices). Communication is the key.”

Keeping the same system in place and the same offensive line coach – Wells, going into his sixth season with Arizona, has never had the same offensive line coach for two years straight until now – provides an important base.

Grimm said in today’s NFL, a line has to expect changes sometimes. Usually, a team has upgraded with a free-agent addition, which would mean it should be easier to bring a new guy in. Professionalism should count for some chemistry.

The idea of trust, however, is frequently broached by linemen who have finally learned about each other.

“We were all trying to get a feel for each other,” Brown said. “At times you could tell we weren’t all sure we were doing the right things. But the longer you stick with the same guys, you know what that other guy is going to do.”

The current Cardinals aren’t likely to last as long as the Hogs. Young Lyle Sendlein waits behind Johnson. Gandy’s salary cap number is more than $6 million. Lutui must keep improving.

“You like to keep as many core guys intact as you can,” Wells said. “Is it ever possible to keep all of them? Rarely. But we feel we have a fairly young group.

“The more guys you keep together the better.”

http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=2446" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RevLimiter]

Beware the Mighty Cards, Motherfuckers... :twisted:

I laughed...