SB Nation - Al Johnson

Arizona Cardinals Players and Coaches Facing a Critical Season

Hawkwind — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:01:39 -0000

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals will report to training camp later today, although the first actual practice will not take place until Friday morning. When the team takes the field, most of last year's squad will be intact but several players will be facing critical seasons in their career. Some veterans are trying to prove that they still have enough gas in the tank for another great season while some young players are trying to turn potential into production. The team can always count on solid, if not downright spectacular, production from the likes of Warner, Fitzgerald, Boldin and Adrian Wilson, but the following five players could be the difference between another successful playoff run or a January spent watching other teams run to glory.

Chike Okeafor: The Cardinals have Pro Bowl caliber talent at every level of the defense (A-dub, Dansby and Dockett) but Okeafor might just be the difference between a top 10 defense or a unit that struggles to support a high powered offense. Okeafor is entering his third season as a stand up outside linebacker (if you count the 2007 season in which a triceps injury in training camp landed him on IR), but there will be a major change this year. During the 2008 season, Okeafor played on the opposite side of the defense mirroring the 'predator' position created by Clancy Pendergast. In his scheme the 'predator' (Travis Laboy and/or Bertrand Berry) was essentially a pass rusher on almost every down while Okeafor often dropped into coverage, playing a role similar to a 4-3 outside backer. While this new role did lead to a career high in tackles, it also neutralized Okeafor's best asset as a defender, rushing the passer. His 4.5 sacks were his lowest total since 2001 and, rightly so, left a feeling among some that Clancy Pendergast's 'hybrid' system never quite utilized Okeafor's attacking skill set. The defense is reportedly going to look and act much more like a traditional 3-4 unit this season and that should result in Okeafor returning to an attacking role, but at the age of 33 can Okeafor still be an effective pass rusher? Not only are the Cardinals banking on the fact that Okeafor can still turn the corner against more offensive tackles, the rest of his career might hinging on the answer to that question. Entering the final year of contract, Okeafor needs prove that he can still perform at a high level. The Cardinals secondary, on paper, looks much improved from a year ago but they'll need Okeafor lead a consistent pass rush.

Lyle Sendlein: Sendlein is entering his third season as a pro and his second season as a starter so it might seem premature to call this a critical season in his career, but 2009 could be a turning point for young Lyle. After being thrust into the starting lineup after an injury to Al Johnson and suffering an early season shoulder injury, Sendlein struggled with larger defensive tackles and even got manhandled in several games. After a rough season most 'outsiders' considered the center position to be one of the team's biggest needs but Coach Whisenhunt spent most of the off season singing the praises of his young center and backed it up by not selecting an interior lineman until late in the seventh round. With the team's goal of becoming more balanced on offense in 2009, Sendlein will be one of the guys in the trenches that must improve in order for the ground game to be more effective. It's way to early in his career to say that this is a 'make or break' season for Sendlein but how much he improves could just make or break the Cardinals' plans to become a balanced offense.

Gabe Watson: At the end of the 2007 season, Watson looked like a player who was ready to have a breakout season. He started all 16 games in his sophomore season with the Cards and most thought that he'd have a breakout season in 2008, cementing himself as the Cardinals nose tackle of the future. All of that hope was quickly dashed by a freak treadmill accident that left Watson with a fractured knee cap. Off season surgery and rehab left him with numerous pins and screws in a knee that was right in 2008. The resulting pain and discomfort caused Watson to miss the first four games of the season and he didn't start a game all season until the Super Bowl. Shortly after the season ended Watson underwent a second operation on the knee to remove some of the pins that were causing his discomfort. The new hope is that Watson can return to his 2007 form and again reclaim the starting nose tackle job. That would not only solidify the middle of a defense that struggled against opposing running games last year but also set Watson up for a lucrative contract next off season. A true nose tackle in a 3-4 defense is a hard position to fill and if Watson can prove that he's a wide-bodied run stuffer, his future could be filled with plenty of dollar signs and the Cardinals defense could be quite formidable.

Co-Offensive Coordinators: The co-offensive coordinator title is a rare sight in the NFL but that's what the Cardinals will employ in 2008. With the loss of Todd Haley in the off season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt decided that the best way to fill that void was to look in-house. The result was assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm adding the title 'running game coordinator' to his door and former wide receivers coach Mike Miller now wears the 'passing game coordinator hat. To top that a third coach, Whisenhunt himself will call plays. That's quite a few voices trying to form a cohesive vision on the offensive side of the ball, but everyone has plenty of incentive to make this work. Whisenhunt is looking to follow up the most successful season in franchise history and quite possibly solidify himself as the most successful coach in franchise history (in a mere three seasons). Russ Grimm will certainly be watched by any team that could be looking for a new head coach next off season. Grimm, a long time highly regarded assistant coach, will get a shot at head coaching in the near future and another effective season with the co-coordinator title could be enough to push him over the top. Miller is hoping that a season as the co-coordinator leads to him stepping into the lone offensive coordinator next season, complete with play calling duties. While everyone is motivated to make this three-way work, it'll be an interesting dynamic to watch as the season progresses.

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The Cardinals, as a whole, enter the season with unprecedented expectations and it will take a concerted effort from 53 players and an entire coaching staff to return to the sacred ground of January football in the NFL, but this group of players and coaches will go a long way to deciding the fate of the 2009 Arizona Cardinals. How do you see these guys performing? Who would you add to this list?

Arizona Cardinals Pre-Training Camp Roster Projections: Center

Hawkwind — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:55:05 -0000

With the defensive side of the ball wrapped up, we're going offensive and today the centers of the Arizona Cardinals will be under the microscope. Going into last year the Red birds felt like they had a solid veteran starter and the starter of the future in place but things quickly changed. Al Johnson's knee didn't improve after off season knee surgery and the team was forced to remove the "of the future" label from Lyle Sendlein's title. The results were mixed, at best, but quite a bit was asked from Sendlein, a second year player who wasn't even drafted a year before. We learned of a shoulder injury that he sustained early during the 2008 season and hopes are high that he'll improve greatly during his second season in the starting lineup. Ken Whisenhunt proclaimed his trust in Sendlein shortly before April's draft and he backed up his word by not selecting a possible backup candidate until the 254th overall pick. With Sendlein in place as the present and future starter the center position looks solid at the top but who else will win a roster spot?

Locks

Lyle Sendlein

On the Bubble

Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola

Bubble Poppped

Pat Ross

Our three 'bubble' candidates are basically fighting for one job on the 53 man roster and one might find his way onto the practice squad. This years seventh round pick, Trevor Canfield, could also get into the mix but he's got very little experience at the position given that he played guard in college. It might be a total shock to the see the Cardinals pick up a veteran backup center considering that Ross, Claxton, Railoa and Canfield have a combined two games of NFL experience.

Ben Claxton: Claxton spent most of last season on the Detriot Lions practice squad and was signed to the future's contract a couple of days after the Super Bowl. He (6'2 301) was originally drafted by the Broncos in the 5th round of the 2003 draft but he's since bounced all over the league, including Browns, Dolphins, Bucs, Steelers, Falcons, Raiders, Seahawks and Lions. He's played in just two NFL games back in 2005, with the Falcons. Just about the only bullet point on his pro resume is that he spent two seasons with the Berlin Thunder in 2004 & 2005 (NFL Europe) where he earned All-League honors both seasons. His biggest advantage would be actual game experience, if you count the NFL Europe, but his age (28) has to be a factor as well.

Donovan Raiola: Raiola was signed in March after finishing the season on the practice squad of the Seahawks, although he was also a Ram for part of the season. He was undrafted in 2006 and has never appeared in an NFL game. Railoa (6'2 293) was a three year starter at Wisconsin where scouts described him as nasty, mobile blocker who didn't play with the power that he displayed in the weight room. His biggest advantage would have to be that Ross and Claxton haven't done anything to seperate themselves from the pack.

Pat Ross: Ross would be the front runner to win the backup job considering that he won the job last year...except he isn't on the roster anymore! Doh! The 26 year old has never appeared in an NFL game since being undrafted in 2006 despite spending time with the Colts, Seahawks, Patriots and Panthers. He has decent size (6'3 305) and is considered a smart player but a marginal athlete. Ross' biggest advantage is that's he's the incumbent backup.

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The Arizona Cardinals' starting center spot is solidified but the battle for backup center could be an interesting competition that comes down to the final week of camp. One of the spots we'll have to keep an eye on during training camp and preseason is which center is running with the second team. Who should make the cut and would you keep another center on the practice squad? Would you be interested in a veteran backup if one is cut during camp?

Centered: NFC West position review of centers

VanRam — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:28:58 -0000

The Rams may not get much respect within the division, conference or the league - yet - but when I sat down with my SBN NFC West colleagues for a position review, we came out on top at the center position. The addition of Jason Brown without a doubt gives the Rams the top player in the division (and maybe the conference) to anchor the middle of their line. But what about the other teams? Grades and reviews after the jump

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals opened training camp last year with what most assumed to be a decent veteran starter at center and the 'center of the future' as his primary backup. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the veteran starting center, Al Johnson, never recovered from off season surgery and was placed on IR in early September. That move pushed young Lyle Sendlein, an undrafted second year player, into the starting lineup and left virtually no one to back him up. Luckily for the Cardinals, Sendlein stayed healthy, at least enough to play, all season long although most would say that his play was average at best. As with most undersized centers, Sendlein excelled at getting to the next level and picking up linebackers but he struggled with facing larger nose tackles either in the running game or passing game. Of course we know now that he played most of the season with a bum shoulder that required surgery in the off season but questions still remained about his future as a starter.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sendlein a vote of confidence shortly before the draft, saying that he had the potential to be a great center in the league, and he backed it up by not addressing the position in the draft until late in the seventh round. Sendlein enters this season as the unquestioned starter and with a surgically repaired shoulder and more strength than he's had in years, there are hopes that he'll take the next step in his third season.

The depth behind Sendlein is still shaky, at best. There are three other 'true centers' on the current roster (Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola and Patt Ross) and their respective careers have consisted of two games during the 2005 season. Trevor Canfield, the 254th overall selection this April is capable of playing guard and he's got a chance to be the primary backup if he performs well in camp. There's a good possibility though that if Sendlein were to go down for any length of time the interior of the line would get shuffled around with right guard, Reggie Wells, sliding over to center and someone stepping into his guard spot. Basically, the Cardinals need to have Sendlein healthy if they want anything close to average performance from the center position. Overall grade: C

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle gets a "B". Chris Spencer is decent to average but has good potential and the team drafted Max Unger, so there's further good potential and exceptional depth.

Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was just the thirteenth center selected in the first round since the merger. Spencer was a great athlete and considered a safe pick. Fans envisioned a future star. Upon further inspection, that was an unreasonable expectation. Of the sixteen centers since 1970 selected in the first round, only three were ever elected to a Pro Bowl and only one was elected to multiple Pro Bowls: Don Mosebar.

Instead, investing in a first round center is investing in a starting center. Only one of the thirteen was a true bust, Robert Shaw, and Shaw blew out his knee and was forced into retirement. That’s what Chris Spencer is, a starting center. He started 29 games in 2006 and 2007 after apprenticing under Robbie Tobeck, and was shut down in 2008 only after the season was lost. He’s a steady center that sometimes shows flashes of great athleticism and physical dominance, but hasn’t developed into a consistent or technically sound blocker. His footwork is unrefined, though he’s improved enough to not trip over himself. Spencer is derided for few reasons. Mike Holmgren was critical of his play. He reportedly was slow to pick up line calls. He is wont to the big gaffe. He’s not Robbie Tobeck, and the memory of Tobeck has grown well beyond the man. Spencer is physically gifted. He’s a former record setting power-lifter and rare- quick and agile for a center. So there’s still chance of breakout in a big way.

Max Unger is not the opposite of Chris Spencer; he’s more like the negative. Unger is not nearly as powerful and might struggle against stronger nose tackles. He’s not unrefined and full of potential, but skilled and NFL-ready. He’s a good athlete, but a better offensive lineman. Unger could overtake Spencer or settle in at guard. He’s a natural center and has expressed his desire to play the position.

Between the two, the polished rookie and the veteran full of potential, Seattle should have an above average starting center and the best center depth in the NFL. The grade is tilted towards the starter, but accounting for Spencer’s potential, Unger’s potential, Spencer’s standing level of play, Unger's polish and Seattle’s depth at the position, this is a solid B with a chance to be better.

San Francisco 49ers

Center is a tough position to grade when it comes to the 49ers. They've got a very solid guy starting in Eric Heitmann (underrated in the league), but their depth is questionable at best.

Heitmann is still on the right side of 30 and quietly has been a very impressive center for the 49ers. Last season, Mike Martz actually referred to Heitmann as the best center he's ever coached by far. That can certainly be taken with a grain of salt, but it goes to show what some folks think of him. While the team is developing young talent around him, Heitmann has been the anchor of the line. Heitmann had fallen off the radar a bit due to a broken leg late in 2006. He struggled in 2007 while recovering, but seemed to be completely recovered in 2008. While he's not the most athletic of centers, he is able to stand his ground and anchor the line.

Behind Heitmann, question marks abound. Cody Wallace is listed as the backup center but it's hard to tell if he'll amount to anything in the coming years. He's entering his second year in the league and saw no playing time his rookies season so it's hard to tell what he can provide the 49ers. As a 4th round pick, there's just not a whole lot to work with looking ahead. The 49ers signed Heitmann to an extension through 2011 and if he stays healthy, Wallace might never see more than some backup time. This preseason could be big for determining Wallace's future role.

Although not listed as a center on most depth charts at this point, guard Tony Wragge filled in for Heitmann back in late 2006 after Heitmann broke his leg. If Heitmann went down again, Wallace might get a crack at the lineup, but it wouldn't exactly surprise me to see Wragge moved back over to center. Wragge is not great by any means, but he's a serviceable backup.

Given the lack of backup options, I'm probably grading this a little high, but I am really this happy with Eric Heitmann as the 49ers center this year. Grade: B

St. Louis Rams

The Rams have struggled to find a center since age caught up to Andy McCollum during the 2006 season, and the team parted ways with the then-37-year-old center after an injury riddled 2007 campaign. Heading into 2008, Mark Setterstrom looked like an odds on favorite for the job, but injuries got to him early in camp. The undersized, overmatched dup of Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg started at center for the Rams last season, making the middle of the offensive line by far the weakest link on an already troubled offense. Half of the numerous sacks endured by Rams passers last year came through the middle, which is to say nothing about how much the run game suffered.

Under new management and coaches, the Rams made a huge splash in the free agent market, signing Ravens C Jason Brown, the most coveted offensive lineman to reach free agency this year, to a lucractive five-year, $37 million deal. Whether or not they paid too much is beside the point. The Rams desperately needed to do something at center or risk losing the investments they've made in Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. Brown, just 26, will be a cornerstone of an up and coming offensive line that could be the best in the division, if not this year, then vey soon. Not bad for a unit that was the team's biggest liability just a few months ago.

Depth is a concern, but the Rams have a good situation in regards to their middle linemen. Should Brown not be available, they can plug in the capable Mark Setterstrom, who they would have killed to have at center last year. They also have the option of sliding RG Richie Incognito over to center and replacing him with either Setterstrom or John Greco (more on those names in the guard write-up) and be just fine in the middle. Grade: A

NFC West Position-by-Position: Center

Fooch — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:47:38 -0000

Up to this point we've discussed quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. For the offensive line, we decided to break it up as centers, tackles and guards. At some point we may put together a single unit grade, but for now we're mixing it up a little more. And I'm not one to complain for additional posting material.

The center position is a tough one to grade for anybody, although I'm quite pleased with Eric Heitmann at the helm. The difficulty is in comparing with the rest of the division. We came up with the following rankings:

1. St. Louis Rams
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Arizona Cardinals

St. Louis Rams

Blogger: VanRam
The Rams have struggled to find a center since age caught up to Andy McCollum during the 2006 season, and the team parted ways with the then-37-year-old center after an injury riddled 2007 campaign. Heading into 2008, Mark Setterstrom looked like an odds on favorite for the job, but injuries got to him early in camp. The undersized, overmatched dup of Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg started at center for the Rams last season, making the middle of the offensive line by far the weakest link on an already troubled offense. Half of the numerous sacks endured by Rams passers last year came through the middle, which is to say nothing about how much the run game suffered.

Under new management and coaches, the Rams made a huge splash in the free agent market, signing Ravens C Jason Brown, the most coveted offensive lineman to reach free agency this year, to a lucractive five-year, $37 million deal. Whether or not they paid too much is beside the point. The Rams desperately needed to do something at center or risk losing the investments they've made in Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. Brown, just 26, will be a cornerstone of an up and coming offensive line that could be the best in the division, if not this year, then vey soon. Not bad for a unit that was the team's biggest liability just a few months ago.

Depth is a concern, but the Rams have a good situation in regards to their middle linemen. Should Brown not be available, they can plug in the capable Mark Setterstrom, who they would have killed to have at center last year. They also have the option of sliding RG Richie Incognito over to center and replacing him with either Setterstrom or John Greco (more on those names in the guard write-up) and be just fine in the middle. Grade: A

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch
Center is a tough position to grade when it comes to the 49ers. They've got a very solid guy starting in Eric Heitmann (underrated in the league), but their depth is questionable at best.

Given the lack of backup options, I'm probably grading this a little high, but I am really this happy with Eric Heitmann as the 49ers center this year. Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan
Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was just the thirteenth center selected in the first round since the merger. Spencer was a great athlete and considered a safe pick. Fans envisioned a future star. Upon further inspection, that was an unreasonable expectation. Of the sixteen centers since 1970 selected in the first round, only three were ever elected to a Pro Bowl and only one was elected to multiple Pro Bowls: Don Mosebar.

Instead, investing in a first round center is investing in a starting center. Only one of the thirteen was a true bust, Robert Shaw, and Shaw blew out his knee and was forced into retirement. That’s what Chris Spencer is, a starting center. He started 29 games in 2006 and 2007 after apprenticing under Robbie Tobeck, and was shut down in 2008 only after the season was lost. He’s a steady center that shows flashes of great athleticism and physical dominance, but hasn’t developed into a consistent or technically sound blocker. His footwork is unrefined, though he’s improved enough to not trip over himself. Spencer is derided for a few reasons. Mike Holmgren was critical of his play. He reportedly was slow to pick up line calls. He is wont to the big gaffe. Finally, he’s not Robbie Tobeck, and the memory of Tobeck has grown well beyond the man. Spencer is physically gifted. He’s a former record setting power-lifter and rare- quick and agile for a center. So there’s still chance of breakout in a big way.

Max Unger is not the opposite of Chris Spencer; he’s more like the negative. Unger is not nearly as powerful and might struggle against stronger nose tackles. He’s not unrefined and full of potential, but skilled and NFL-ready. He’s a good athlete, but a better offensive lineman. Unger could overtake Spencer or settle in at guard. He’s a natural center and has expressed his desire to play the position.

Between the two, the polished rookie and the veteran full of potential, Seattle should have an above average starting center and the best center depth in the NFL. The grade is tilted towards the starter, but accounting for Spencer’s potential, Unger’s potential, Spencer’s standing level of play, Unger's polish and Seattle’s depth at the position, this is a solid B with a chance to be better.

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden
The Cardinals opened training camp last year with what most assumed to be a decent veteran starter at center and the 'center of the future' as his primary backup. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the veteran starting center, Al Johnson, never recovered from off season surgery and was placed on IR in early September. That move pushed young Lyle Sendlein, an undrafted second year player, into the starting lineup and left virtually no one to back him up. Luckily for the Cardinals, Sendlein stayed healthy, at least enough to play, all season long although most would say that his play was average at best. As with most undersized centers, Sendlein excelled at getting to the next level and picking up linebackers but he struggled with facing larger nose tackles either in the running game or passing game. Of course we know now that he played most of the season with a bum shoulder that required surgery in the off season but questions still remained about his future as a starter.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sendlein a vote of confidence shortly before the draft, saying that he had the potential to be a great center in the league, and he backed it up by not addressing the position in the draft until late in the seventh round. Sendlein enters this season as the unquestioned starter and with a surgically repaired shoulder and more strength than he's had in years, there are hopes that he'll take the next step in his third season.

The depth behind Sendlein is still shaky, at best. There are three other 'true centers' on the current roster (Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola and Patt Ross) and their respective careers have consisted of two games during the 2005 season. Trevor Canfield, the 254th overall selection this April is capable of playing guard and he's got a chance to be the primary backup if he performs well in camp. There's a good possibility though that if Sendlein were to go down for any length of time the interior of the line would get shuffled around with right guard, Reggie Wells, sliding over to center and someone stepping into his guard spot. Basically, the Cardinals need to have Sendlein healthy if they want anything close to average performance from the center position. Overall grade: C

Poll

Who has the best starting center in the NFC West?

St. Louis Rams

84 votes

San Francisco 49ers

350 votes

Seattle Seahawks

15 votes

Arizona Cardinals

11 votes

460 votes | Poll has closed

Breaking Down the Cardinals Center Situation

Andrew602 — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:01:11 -0000

In recent posts, there has been a lot of discussion regarding Cardinals current center, Lyle Sendlein, and if the Cardinals should consider drafting a center in the 2009 draft. One of the main questions is whether or not Lyle is indeed, a starting caliber center in the NFL. He did prove that he could play through a whole season, but most will say he won the position by default, due to Al Johnson's knee injuries. Nevertheless, Sendlein played through some of the 2007 season and all of '08.

The most common criticism towards Sendlein is his size, speed, and aggression. Sendlein currently stands 6'4 inches and weighs about 300 lbs. He's certainly tall enough to play center, but he could stand to add a little weight. As far as speed, he's an offensive lineman and there main job is to protect the quarterback and run-block. So at most, you could knock him for not getting to the secondary quick enough to make blocks. It's hard to judge his aggression, but from what head coach Ken Whisenhunt says, he likes Sendlein, and has stated already that he didn't have plans on replacing him in the draft. Obviously he's doing something right. As far has his skill or effectiveness, lets take a look at his recent stats.

Year	G	GS	Penalties	Yards	False Start	Holding	Sacks Allwd	Yards
2007	16	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	16	16	3	20	1	1	0.50	3.50

Obviously, Lyle didn't play much in 2007, but to come in last minute for Al Johnson and play in '07 was pretty impressive. That play carried over to '08 and it showed, as he was able to handle the pressure of starting. He only committed 3 penalties and allowed half a sack. That was by far the best on the entire offensive line. One thing that stats fail to show is his run-blocking. The center is the core of the offensive line and needs to be an effective run-blocker to make it in the NFL (I'm not going to lie...when the play kicks off, I'm usually looking that the quarterback or running back and not watching how well the line is blocking). The only other complaint I've heard is Lyle's tendency to step on quarterback Kurt Warner's foot. This didn't happen much during the rugular season, but seemed to happen quite often during the playoffs. A possible reason could be Lyle getting overly excited due to the fact that they were in the playoffs, or the level of play from the opponents nose tackles. Either way Kurt was able to make a play out of it, including a touchdown.

Now the next question, is whether or not it would be an upgrade to take a center in the draft. How much of an upgrade would it be to add a rookie to the offensive line that is really starting to gel going into their third year together? The most obvious reason would be a quicker, bigger, more physically gifted center. The only "upgrade" over Sendlein would be Alex Mack out of Cal. Here's a piece from a 'Potential Draft Pick' breakdown we did earlier:

He is very consistent at both pass and run protection. He plays with a low
center of gravity, and shows the proper form when blocking. He doesn't hesitate to put a defender on his back, and won't stop till the whistle blows. He has great hand and feet movement, and will often drive defenders backwards. He is a great guy off the field and is the ideal player for a team, but turns into a beast when on the field. He will often take command of the line and call plays as he sees them. He has great work ethic, and strives to become stronger. In college, he would often stay late in the weight room and as a result, became one of the strongest players on the team.

While Mack will likely be a solid center in the NFL one day, it's not for certain as to whether or not he would be better then Sendlein. Any other centers taken later in the draft would add depth, but wouldn't be ready to start right away. Now's your chance, voice your opinion. What's everybody's take on the center position? Does Sendelein have an upside or is this all he's got? Should the Cardinals consider Mack in the 1st round or add depth later on?

Poll

What should the Cardinals do with their current center situation?

Stay with Lyle Sendlein, he'll be fine

72 votes

Draft Alex Mack, he'll be the future

30 votes

Draft a different center(specify below)

12 votes

114 votes | Poll has closed

Solving the Arizona Cardinals Running Game: Chicken or the Egg Theory

Hawkwind — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:06:58 -0000

The prolific, high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals consisted mostly of Kurt Warner throwing lasers all over the field, and the ground game staggering out a couple of yards at a time. By season's end, the Cardinals had the #2 rated passing offense and the #32 rated rushing attack. In the playoffs, the running game had some success but their production was a bit of a mirage, because they were actually less efficient. During the regular season they ran the ball 21.2 times per game for an average of 3.5 yards per carry, but in the playoffs they rededicated themselves to the running game and ran the ball 28 times per game, for an average of 3.3 yards per game. So even though they averaged nearly 20 rushing yards per game more during the post season, they weren't exactly successful when trying to move the ball on the ground. So the next question, as we look towards the draft, is how do they fix or at least improve the running game?

As with many great debates, fixing a running game is a bit of a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" discussion. What I mean by that is, which position group is more responsible for a productive running game, the offensive line or the running backs? If you've been a Cardinals' fan for any length of time, your very familiar with this argument because it's directly related to the 2007 draft, when the Cardinals entered draft day with needs at offensive tackle and running back. When their fifth overall pick came on the clock, they had to make a decision that's divided fans ever since: Levi Brown or Adrian Peterson. The rest as they say is history. Adrian Peterson, in two seasons, has been voted to two Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams and holds NFL records for most rushing yards in the first eight games of a career, most 200 yard rushing games as rookie and most rushing yards in a single game. Levi Brown on the other hand has started 27 games for the Cardinals at right tackle but hasn't been anywhere near Pro Bowl level or dominating.

One would argue that Peterson's accomplishments with the Vikings are a result of his arguably league-best offensive line, as well as his out-of-this-world physical ability. The Cardinals could face the same dilemna this April. When they step up to the podium there will most likely be at least one franchise back on the board (whether it's Moreno, Wells, McCoy or Brown), and a physically imposing center capable of improving the offense line from the inside out (Mack). So I ask you who came first, the chicken or egg, offensive line or running back?

It's time to find a back that can make everyone fly high: In the past two seasons since Ken Whisenhunt took over as the Cardinals head coach, the franchise has drafted Levi Brown with a top five pick, and signed free agents Mike Gandy and Al Johnson. They also picked up undrafted free agent Lyle Sendlein meaning that three out of the five offensive line starters are 'Whiz guys.' Adding to that is the youth of the offensive line with three starters 25 or younger, and they've got some up and coming younger guys on the depth chart. Overall the offensive line is headed in the right direction and it has the youth to get better with time. The running back position on the other hand, has only been addressed by the fifth round pick Tim Hightower, who had a promising rookie season but still has question marks about his ability to be franchise back. Outside of Hightower is a veteran with one foot out the door and a unheralded free agent signing in Jason Wright. It's time to pick up a back with the ability and potential to be a front-line starter for the next decade.

Build the garage before you buy the sports car: Even the greatest back in the world can look mediocre behind a pourous offensive line. The offensive line is headed in the right direction, but they still need better quality players. Tim Hightower showed promise last year and he was a fifth round pick who will improve in his second season. There are backs every single season who come out of the middle rounds that have productive careers. Keep building a front wall that will open holes and keep Warner upright and the Cardinals offense will continue to flourish.

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The Cardinals could face a similar decision in a month when they take the podium as they did two seasons ago, running back or offensive lineman. Which choice would you make?

Poll

What's the quickest way to fix the Cardinals ground game?

Get a better offensive line

126 votes

Get a better running back

167 votes

293 votes | Poll has closed

Hold On a Second

Jim Vance — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:03:06 -0000

What do Anthony Fasano, Dwayne Goodrich, Quincy Carter, Tony Dixon, Antonio Bryant, Al Johnson, Julius Jones and Jacob Rogers have in common? All were second round draft picks of the Cowboys this decade and none are still with the club. Since the Cowboys first selection in this draft is in the second round I wanted to see how successful the team has been at choosing players in that round.

Martellus Bennett, Andre Gurode and Kevin Burnett are the only second rounders still wearing the star, and that may change this week if Burnett decides to leave. A second round pick should be a contributing player after a couple of years - 3 out of 11 (27%) in nine drafts is a poor average when you consider one of the 3 was selected last year and another may be gone soon, dropping the Cowboys to (18%). This doesn't bode well for the Boys in this draft.

The Giants second rounders for this decade are - Cornelius Griffin, Tim Carter, Osi Umenyiora, Chris Snee, Corey Webster, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith and Terrell Thomas. All but Griffin and Carter are still listed on the team roster giving the Giants 6 out of 8 second rounders for a (75%) success rate in the that round.

The Redskins Taylor Jacobs and Fred Davis are the only second round selections not still on their roster out of the following - Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Rocky McIntosh, LaDell Betts and Fred Smoot. Having 5 out of 7 second round picks still playing for the ‘Skins makes their draft success for that round at (71% ).

Listed on the current Eagles roster from this decades second round draft selections are - Trevor Laws, Desean Jackson, Kevin Kolb, Victor Abiamiri, Winston Justice, Reggie Brown , L.J. Smith and Sheldon Brown. The following were drafted by the Redskins in the second but are no longer with the club - Matt McCoy, Michael Lewis, Quinton Caver, Todd Pinkston, Bobbie Williams. 8 out of 13 second round keepers gives the Eagles a (62%) success rate.

I understand this is not exactly apples to apples and is far from scientific but take a look at the keeper rate. A high percentage of second round players who stay on the roster would indicate better draft research and a better selection process. This should translate into fewer needs at future drafts and an opportunity for the team to draft players for development and not be in a do or die scenario when your QB injures his throwing hand.

Could ranking dead last in your division in this category have anything to do with failing in the playoffs? You bet it does. Is the Cowboys poor history of drafting second round players a cause for concern this year? It is for me. Our top pick is currently in the second round at #51.

Tuesday links and notes; more reaction to Houshmandzadeh's departure; taking a quick look at FA centers

Kirkendall — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:17:04 -0000

+ When MRIs become a formality. Oh how we love this. Now that he signed his deal with the Seattle Seahawks, it's being reported that Houshmandzadeh is getting an MRI as a formality. Joe Reedy makes the point that since he's being paid well, that the MRI could be standard to make sure they are getting a healthy wide receiver. Every player typically receives a physical before they are signed just in case guys like Jim Bowden are dealing undisclosed injured players. But an MRI? We're not sure how many instances we've hard of this being a formality.

What's impressive is that overall reaction around the community of blogs is fairly sided with the Bengals, rather the receiver. Can't place blame | Did it the right way | Not really upset | Blessing in disguise.

James Walker points out that by making a run for Laveranues Coles, that the Bengals have little to no confidence in their younger receivers, which reestablishes the long standing argument. Who the hell are drafting these guys? An alternative point is that the Bengals are positioning themselves to letting Chad Johnson go, either their trade or outright release (the latter will bring Cincinnati into a riot).

C Trent agrees, saying, "now it's time for Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, Chris Henry and Chad Ocho Cinco to step up." His point is that another 31-year old receiver isn't the biggest need.

Carson Palmer says after Houshmandzadeh's departure, "we'll be OK."

+ The Bengals have yet to address center in free agency, a position that's long been underachieving since Rich Braham's retirement after two games in 2006. Matt Birk is expected to visit the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. Other centers available include:

Jeremy Newbery, Chargers
Melvin Fowler, Bills
Tom Nalen, Broncos
Chris Gray, Seahawks
Al Johnson, Dolphins
Nick Leckey, Rams
Chris Morris, Raiders
Rudy Niswanger, Chiefs
Scott Peters, Cardinals
Duke Preston, Bills

Moving on.

The Miami Dolphins signed former Raiders center, Jack Grove, to a five-year deal worth $30 million. Jason Brown signed a five-year deal worth $37.5 million with $20 million guaranteed. Center Eric Ghiaciuc is testing the market, writes Joe Reedy, however, he could be re-signed. Oh, joy.

Any interest for Vonnie Holliday?

While saying that Laveranues Coles would find a fit with Cincinnati more lucrative, Matt Bowen writes, "He would get to play with quarterback Carson Palmer and line up opposite Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson. Receivers always go where they’re going to get the ball and where they see the best option at the quarterback position."

NFP position rankings in the upcoming draft includes the following running backs.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia (5-11, 208)
Chris Wells, Ohio State (6-1, 237)
Shonn Greene, Iowa (5-11, 235)
LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh (5-11, 210)
Donald Brown, Connecticut (5-10, 210)
Rashad Jennings, Liberty (6-1, 232)
Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon (5-9, 208)
Andre Brown, N.C. State (6-0 224)
Glen Coffee, Alabama (6-0, 209)
Javon Ringer, Michigan State (5-9, 205)

Both Ray Lewis and Derrick Brooks are available in free agency. Who would have thought that the market for those two would be so quiet?

Team Needs: Offensive Line

Matty I — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:15:08 -0000

It's now time to begin breaking down what are the most pressing needs of the Miami Dolphins as we head into the offseason. And keep in mind that these are in no particular oder.

So we kick things off with the big guys up front - the offensive line. It was thought that the offensive line would be an upgrade from '07 to '08. But injuries really hindered how effective the line could be.

2008 Key Contributors: Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Samson Satele, Ike Ndukwe, Vernon Carey, Andy Alleman, Al Johnson, Donald Thomas

Key Dolphin Free Agents: Vernon Carey, Ike Ndukwe

We all know about Vernon Carey's impending free agency. And it'll be interesting to see what happens. We all know he loves playing in Miami. But he also struggled at times this season as he moved back to right tackle. And further complicating things is the fact that he played above average in 2007 at left tackle - meaning some desperate team could potentially offer him LT money - which would be tough for Miami to match, if they even want to.

Meanwhile, Ndukwe filled in valiantly at right guard once Donald Thomas went down in week 1. He's an exclusive rights free agent - meaning the Dolphins have until a certain deadline to offer him a contract and should they decide not to, he'd become an unrestricted free agent. I'd look for the Dolphins to bring back Ike with a relatively low contract offer.

2008 Performance
The best way to quantify with statistics how an offensive line performed over the course of a season is to use the stats created by Football Outsiders. You can read the explanations of the stats right here. I'll do my best to explain them "in a nut shell."

In 2008, the Dolphins' offensive line ranked 12th in the NFL in the statistic "adjusted line yards" per carry - with an average of 4.25 yards. So what is "adjusted line yards"? Basically, Football Outsiders assigns a value for every running back carry to the offensive line, attempting to identify how much of the play's success was due to the offensive line. For example, a run for a loss is credited 120% to the offensive line. A run for 0 to 4 yards is credited 100% to the OL. And then these figures are adjusted for things like down and distance, and so on.

While "adjusted line yards" is one key stat, there are others. The Dolphins had a "power success" rate of 76% - which is terrific. Basically, the "power success" rate is the percentage of runs on 3rd down and 4th down with two yards to go or less that resulted in a first down or touchdown. The Dolphins' rate of 76% is good for 5th best in the entire NFL. And I think Lousaka Polite had a lot to do with that - though the offensive line did show that it could line up and pick up a yard or two when it needed to.

The one other interesting run-blocking stat is the "stuffed" percentage. Simply put, this measures how often the team is either stopped for no gain or a loss on 1st down as well as how often a team gains less than one-fourth of the yards to go for a first down (on 2nd through 4th downs). The Fins were stuffed 22% of the time, which ranked them 6th in the NFL.

As far as pass protection goes, the Dolphins allowed 26 sacks, which was the 10th lowest total in the league. Their "adjusted sack rate" - which is another FO stat, placed the Dolphins 12th, with a rate of 5.7%. Just so you know, "adjusted sack rate" is simply the percentage of sacks per pass attempt adjusted for things like down and distance.

But here's the thing. While these figures make you think the Dolphins' offensive line is above average, that is where stats fail. If you watched the Dolphins play, you'd know that they really were unable to run the ball consistently - mainly because the offensive line couldn't open up any holes for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on a regular basis. Hence the need to introduce the 'Wildcat.'

Meanwhile, we all saw on Sunday how the offensive line was also unable to keep Chad Pennington comfortable in the pocket. Sure, the Fins only allowed 26 sacks. But they didn't play that many teams with great pass rushes. And when they did, the results weren't that pretty - as our QB was taking a beating, even if he wasn't officially sacked. In all, too many QB hurries this year.

Questions Abound
There are a ton of question marks for the Dolphins along the offensive line as we enter the offseason. The only spot that isn't a question mark is manned by last year's #1 overall pick, Jake Long. He's solidified the left tackle spot, allowing just 2.5 sacks all season - ranking him in the top 5 among all left tackles.

But outside of Long, there are questions. Justin Smiley is said to be making good progress from his injury, but even if he's ready for camp, will he be as good as he was before the injury?

Samson Satele struggled in 2008. He just might not be big enough to play center in Miami's blocking schemes. He had too much trouble with bigger nose tackles and might even have to transition to guard. Al Johnson, who really isn't much bigger, could potentially be given a shot at the starting center job of the Dolphins aren't sold on Satele and they don't address the position with a free agent or high draft pick.

Over at right guard, promising rookie Donald Thomas saw his season come to an early close. He's close to 100% already and should be given every opportunity to win the starting RG job. But even so, he's still very raw.

And we all know the question of whether or not the Fins will re-sign Vernon Carey. This decision will likely be one of the key decisions all offseason by the front office.

Potential Unrestricted Free Agent Targets
Offensive Tackles: Jordan Gross (Car), Mark Tauscher (GB), Khalif Barnes (Jax), Max Starks (Pit)

Offensive Guards: Mike Goff (SD), Cooper Carlisle (Oak), Chris Kemoeatu (Pit)

Centers: Matt Birk (Min), Jeff Saturday (Ind), Jason Brown (Bal)

My Thoughts
Not many options out there, huh? Jordan Gross is intriguing, but will likely be offered LT money. And is it worth waiting and letting Vernon Carey hit the open market to take a chance on bidding on Gross? Tough call. Tauscher is coming off a knee injury and likely isn't a safe alternative to Carey, either.

I'd just re-sign Carey. I think he'll take a little less to stay in Miami and the alternatives aren't too intriguing. That is, unless the Dolphins want to take a right tackle somewhere in the first 2 rounds on draft day and let him start at RT. Regardless, the Dolphins do need depth at both tackle spots and should look to draft a tackle or two in April.

One intriguing prospect in free agency, though, is Jason Brown. He's a big, physical, mauling center - something this regime likes. He's young (only 25) and is a big boy (weighing 320 pounds). He's also athletic, proven by how he played some guard this year for the Ravens. If the Dolphins could land Brown, I'd be all for it.

Dolphins knock off Rams; get back into playoff race

Matty I — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:15:06 -0000

This time last week, all of us Dolphin fans were sitting here in despair, wondering if the Dolphins had just blown their shot at an improbable playoff birth. One week later, we all feel rejuvenated - even after a classic "ugly" win by the Fins in St. Louis.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU WIN
This seems to be a reoccurring theme for the 2008 Miami Dolphins. Some of their best wins have come in excellent performances against good teams. But others have come in "different" performances against teams in which the Dolphins were actually heavy favorites. The Seahawks and Raiders games come to mind. Well you can also add to that list Sunday's game against the Rams.

The offense struggled. Against one of the NFL's worst defenses - statistically speaking, the Fins were only able to find the endzone one time. Chad Pennington was only able to complete 56% of his passes and didn't even top 170 yards through the air. There were some dropped balls by receivers. Running backs simply tripped before the line of scrimmage from time to time. And on one of the most exciting offensive plays, a play that saw Ronnie Brown take a toss, scramble, and throw a completion on the run to David Martin, the end result was a turnover when Martin fumbled the ball away to St. Louis.

Of course, the offense wasn't all bad. The running game really did get going, with the backs combining for 134 yards on 32 carries. We also found out that Davone Bess can indeed be a key part of the offense and help take up some of the slack created by Greg Camarillo's knee injury. Bess made a number of plays, catching 6 balls for 84 yards - including 2 key receptions on 3rd downs. One converted a 3rd & 9 on Miami's only TD drive - with Ronnie Brown taking it into the endzone just 2 plays later. The other was on a 3rd & 2 and kept alive a drive that would end with one of Dan Carpenter's field goals. Let's hope for continued production from Bess.

But it was the defense - despite allowing chunks of yards to Steven Jackson on the ground - that really deserves the credit for Sunday's win. They exemplified the old "bend but don't break" cliche - never allowing the Rams into the endzone - which includes 2 drives that saw the Rams inside Miami's 20 only to have to settle for 2 field goals. It wasn't a dominating performance by any means - no matter what the 3 interceptions and 12 points against would lead you to think. But they did enough in a game where they needed to step up and carry a sluggish offensive unit.

The bottom line? The Dolphins went on the road, committed 10 penalties, converted just 33% of their 3rd downs, allowed the Rams to convert 50% of their 3rd downs, and lost the time-of-possession battle by 3 minutes. But they found a way to win.

REPLACING JUSTIN SMILEY
As you probably heard, Justin Smiley broke his right leg today and his season is over. So now the Dolphins must continue on this stretch run without their best interior lineman and Jake Long's buddy on the left side. Who replaces him?

There are two options right now, though neither will really replace what smiley meant to this unit. Andy Alleman will likely get the first shot. He's been playing some snaps each game over the past few weeks. On Sunday, he played basically 3 quarters in relief of Smiley. And he played well - from what I could tell. The running game didn't seem to suffer and Chad Pennington, though pressured a few times, was never sacked. If I recall correctly, there may have been one time where Alleman's man clearly beat him to force a QB pressure. After the game, Alleman said the only play he wasn't happy about was his false start penalty late in the 4th quarter. But with increased reps, those kinds of mistakes should be minimal.

While Alleman is probably the likely choice to replace Smiley, recently signed veteran Al Johnson could also get a shot. Johnson was signed last week. He's a once promising player who signed a 4 year, $17 million deal back in 2007 with Arizona but has had injury issues for most of his time in Arizona. He has experience with Tony Sparano, though - having spent 2003 to 2006 in Dallas, starting 31 games over those 4 years. He'll likely push Alleman for the starting job once he gets acclimated to the system.

WHAT SUNDAY'S EVENTS MEAN
Incase you missed it, Sunday was a very good day for the Dolphins. And their win was only just the beginning. Two critical 4:00 games broke right for the Dolphins. The Steelers knocked off the Patriots in New England and the Jets fell at home to the Broncos. What does this all mean?

The Jets now sit atop the AFC East with an 8-4 record. The Dolphins and Pats are a game back at 7-5. Now for the good news. If the Dolphins win all of their remaining games, they will win the division. That's right - the Dolphins are 4 wins away from an AFC East crown. Crazy, right?

Here's why. If the Dolphins win out, they'd sit at 11-5. The Patriots, at best, would also be 11-5. And if the Jets won all their games except for their final one against the Dolphins, they would also be 11-5. Onto the tie-breakers.

#1: Head-to-head - Each team would have split with each other. No winner.
#2: Division record - All 3 teams would be at 4-2.
#3: Common games - Other than division games, each team played 8 common games against the teams from the AFC and NFC West. The Dolphins would be 7-1, as would the Patriots. The Jets would only be 5-3. They're out.
#4: Conference record - Dolphins would be 8-4. Pats 7-5. Dolphins are champs.

So even after that tough loss at home to the Pats, the Dolphins do indeed control their own destiny. Not bad. A team that won just 1 game a season ago now controls their own destiny with 4 games left.

QUICK HITS
-I never thought I'd say this, but "get well soon, Jason Allen." Joey Thomas stinks. Period.

-Ten penalties? Really? Damn - this team is going to get ripped into by Sparano this week. Unacceptable.

-Congratulations to Dan Carpenter, or DC$$, on setting a new NFL rookie record for consecutive field goals made. He's hit 11 straight and is now 16 of 18 on the season - including 8/10 from 40+ yards.

-Can we please feed Ronnie Brown the ball? He needs 20+ touches every game.

-Another bad drop by Teddy Ginn. It's got to be his concentration, though, because he looks so smooth catching the ball every other time. He'll come around. He's developing nicely.

-Another Brandon London sighting. You know, for a guy with just 2 catches, he sure has a lot of fans.

-Where the hell was the pass rush today? The Rams are one of the worst at protecting the quarterback, but rarely was Marc Bulger under much pressure. Is Joey Porter running out of gas? Probably not. From what I saw, he's facing a ton of double-teams, meaning those around him have to step up.

-Matt Roth might be better suited as a role player and not a starter at strong-side OLB. An upgrade is needed in the offseason.

FINAL THOUGHT
It's amazing how far this team has come. I know I have said this a lot this year, but I'm just enjoying the ride. I never thought this team could be a playoff contender so quickly. But, all of a sudden, the Dolphins are just 4 games away from doing the unthinkable. Will it happen? I don't know. Its not going to be easy - that's for sure. But to just be in this position is amazing.

It's once again fun to be a Dolphins' fan. That's all you can ask for.