Four (Plus One) Downs with Revenge of the Birds

by texwestern on Aug 18, 2011 7:00 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Preview

With the Packers and Cardinals playing this Friday evening, I got in touch with Tyler Nickel of Revenge of the Birds to get his take on the Cardinals and their upcoming season. I couldn't limit myself to just four questions though, so like this game in 1990 that helped Colorado to the national championship, I decided to take a 5th down. Enjoy.

APC: Of course, I have to ask about Kevin Kolb. What's the perception of him in the Cardinals' fan base, and what was the general reaction to the trade for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Kolb's ensuing giant contract?

RotB: I would say that the Kolb trade has produced a lot of mixed feelings. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, affectionately known as DRC, had a down year last season, but he is still young and many regarded him as a future shutdown corner. Parting with him, along with a second-round pick definitely was not easy for the Cardinals front office or the fans, but everyone knows that you need a QB to win in this league, so the Cardinals went out and got their #1 guy. The contract was also pretty steep, but after further review of the numbers and how his contract plays out, it occurred to me that he could realistically be cut after this season without a ton of financial loss. He received a $10 million dollar signing bonus and he is only due to make $3 million in base salary over the next two seasons of his 5-year $63 million contract. The team could decide to part ways with him, but this is especially doubtful considering what they gave up to acquire him.

APC: What's the state of the Cardinals' running game? Will Beanie Wells ever turn into the bruising runner that Big Ten defenses feared, or do you see Ryan Williams taking the job?

RotB: As always, it is expected that this will be the year Beanie Wells breaks out. I was up at Cardinals training camp a couple of weeks ago and the guy just looks like he finally gets it. Also, he is healthy now, whereas he has not had favorable health during his career. Aside from a goal line mishap in the first preseason game against the Raiders, Beanie looks ready to grab and retain the starting running back job. I do not foresee Williams taking the starting role from him, but he will still be a big part of the offense for his ability to receive out of the backfield and make dynamic plays.

APC: How have the major new additions to the team (Kolb, Patrick Peterson, Todd Heap, etc) been performing thus far? And just how excited was the fan base about seeing Peterson slip down to the Cardinals with the 5th overall draft pick?

RotB: Kolb has done everything expected of him so far. Coach Ken Whisenhunt repeatedly praises his work ethic and drive to learn and be great, so that's always a good sign. He made some good throws vs. the Raiders, so hopefully he can continue to show his understanding of the offense and thrive throughout the preseason. Patrick Peterson is still working with the second team for now, but many expect him to work his way up to becoming a starter sometime during the season, possibly even by week one. He has to continue to show consistency and he will get there; he's just too talented to be a backup. Also, he could be an option as punt returner with his amazing speed and vision. Todd Heap suffered a sprained left thumb against the Raiders, but being that it is a minor injury he will play through it. He will be a huge safety net for Kolb this season and the offense will flourish with him in the lineup. Expect to see him featured in a lot of two tight end sets for the Cardinals this season. I do not foresee them using the 4 WR sets nearly as often as they did last year and during the Kurt Warner era.

APC: Give me your best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios that could play out for the Cardinals this season.

RotB: Best-case, the Cardinals win the division and make a deep playoff run. Their defense will have to be able to rush the passer and stop the run game (two things they have notoriously struggled with), but it can be done.

Worst-case, they end up with a top 5 draft pick again and select a really good pass rusher or offensive tackle.

Likely scenario: I honestly believe that the Cardinals will win the division and make it back to the playoffs this year. Barring injuries, this team is just too talented and they feature some of the best players in the game (Fitzgerald, Adrian Wilson when healthy, etc.) Once they get to the playoffs, it will depend on matchups, home field advantage, etc. but they could make another Cinderella run.

Bonus question: Obviously, one of our authors is madly in love with O'Brien Schofield from his time at Wisconsin. We're not all as obsessed as he is, but we certainly like to keep up with our former Badgers. What's OB's role expected to be this season, and how has he been perceived in Arizona?

RotB: The Cardinals coaching staff expects O'Brien Schofield to take over the reigns at the ROLB position from Joey Porter. Porter finished the season last year with only 5 sacks, but at the age of 34, he played 99% of the snaps. Obviously, putting that much wear on his body was not beneficial to the team, so the hope is that Schofield can take some if not most of those downs. He is a dominant pass rusher and with Ray Horton's new defensive scheme, the future looks bright for the young playmaker.

Thanks again to Tyler for his gracious interview.

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Comments

one of our authors is madly in love with O’Brien Schofield

This is an uderstatement and does not do his obsession justice in the creepiness dept.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Aug 18, 2011 7:29 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Hey!

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2011 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Financially, yes

The contract was also pretty steep, but after further review of the numbers and how his contract plays out, it occurred to me that he could realistically be cut after this season without a ton of financial loss.

but then you gave up a high 2nd & DRC for one year of inadequate QB play.

13.

Grossman: Sup, you insulin needing bitch! The sex cannon has arrived! Now get the hell out of my locker room, you chinless mother fucker!

by Wiedmann on Aug 18, 2011 8:46 PM CDT reply actions

contracts.

Rodgers had started 6 games in his NFL career when he got an extension from the Packers (5yr/65M IIRC), Kolb had started 7 games in his NFL career when he got a 5yr/63M deal. The contract isn’t really that large when taken into context of Rodgers, Romo and Gerrard. Clearly there were still questions about what kind of QB Rodgers or Kolb would be when they signed, but its the going rate for an inexperienced starting QB. Cards can only hope the Kolb lives up to the contract and becomes a quality starting NFL QB. A risk they had to take… and a contract that was easy to predict. Which I did on ROTB a few months ago.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Aug 18, 2011 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions

sure, but...

Rodgers had started 6 games in his NFL career when he got an extension from the Packers (5yr/65M IIRC), Kolb had started 7 games in his NFL career when he got a 5yr/63M deal

Rodgers was given a huge contract by a team whose system he had already worked in and was familiar with.

by MikeyG76 on Aug 18, 2011 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah,

Thats true… But both were trained by the 2 best QB coaches in the NFL and both showed inconsistencies when they were signed. Sure there is a little more risk w/ Kolb, but thats what happens when you don’t plan ahead. Learning a new system is going to probably keep them out of the playoffs this year, especially due to the lockout. Still alot of similarities. And signing Kolb to that contract, they surely used Rodgers as a template. Which was the point…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Aug 18, 2011 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Fixed that for you

Being the Cardinals ~~Learning a new system~~ is going to probably keep them out of the playoffs this year,

13.

Grossman: Sup, you insulin needing bitch! The sex cannon has arrived! Now get the hell out of my locker room, you chinless mother fucker!

by Wiedmann on Aug 19, 2011 12:47 AM CDT up reply actions

A bit too early

To call him a dominant pass rusher. That would put him in Matthews territory, and I’m sure we can all agree he isn’t nearly that good. I think he has the potential to be a good pass rusher, but I don’t see dominant in his future. I still think the Cards need to find a pass rusher better than Schofield to take the pass rush pressure off him and give him better matchups. Von Miller would have been the ideal OLB to play opposite Schofield. He would have commanded the double teams and allowed Schofield to get one on one blocking.

I hope the Cards can get back to the playoffs but I don’t see it this year. They now have the 2nd best QB in the division and a few other great players, but overall the quality of the team isn’t up to playoff football standards yet. Besides Schofield the OLB aren’t that good, the OL is still bad to flat out poor and the backups aren’t good enough to survive injuries and make the playoffs. My guess is they are a year away from having a realistic shot at making the playoffs.