Arizona Cardinals Projected Offensive Depth Chart

by cgolden on Sep 1, 2008 9:24 AM MDT in News Comment 14 comments

With the roster finalized, it's time to figure out exactly where everyone fits into the mix. With the first game just six days away, here's how I see the offensive depth chart playing out:

QB - Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian S. Pierre

We all know the situation at quarterback. Warner's the guy but no one expects him to play all 16 games. Leinart will get on the field at some point.

RB - Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower, JJ Arrington

Edge is still the workhorse but Hightower will see his share of work, especially in short yardage situations and around the goal line. If Arrington continues to impress he'll warrant some carries as well.

FB - Tim Castille, Terrelle Smith

This is the first position that isn't clear yet. Whiz hasn't named a starter but I'd imagine that both would play in different situations.

WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Early Doucet, Sean Morey

The top two are set but the next three are all somewhat close and should see the field. Breaston will start the season as the #3, but given the injury status of both Fitzgerald and Boldin, Urban and Doucet will see playing time.

TE - Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick, Jerame Tuman

Pope won the job by default but when Patrick gets healthy, he could still push him for the job. Either way, they'll both see the field and are decent pass catching options. Tuman's a blocking specailist but could snag some goal line catches on play action passes.

RT - Levi Brown, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith/Elliot Vallejo

Elton Brown is the primary backup at almost every position on the line, but if Brown is already playing a guard position then either Keith or Vallejo would step into the spot.

RG - Deuce Lutui, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

Lutui's on the hot seat but it's still his job for now. Brown was close to winning the job but he'll up on the field at some position. Keith's a promising rookie who's show the versatiilty to play multiple positions.

C - Lyle Sendlein, Al Johnson, Reggie Wells, Elton Brown

Sendlein stepped in when Johnson went down and he may not give the job back when AJ is back. Reggie Wells is the emergency center and primary backup until AJ returns but Brown is also taking snaps at center this week.

LG - Reggie Wells, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

The top three are pretty much set in stone. The only wild card here would be if Elton Brown beats out Lutui, then Lutui would be the primary backup.

LT - Mike Gandy, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

The top three are pretty much the same as left guard. Elliot Vallejo could also figure into the mix if multiple injuries occur.

Thoughts? Agree/Disagree?

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Comments

O-line "depth"

I think it’s pretty clear why Lutui is the starter and not Elton Brown. Elton has nearly played every spot on the line, in particular the right side. Why wear out your multi-positional reserve by starting? When Gandy went out against the Broncos, Vallejo was his substitute, which hints Elliot may be the primary back-up at both tackle positions. Vallejo has been practicing for Coach Grimm for over a year now and ought to get the nod over Brandon Keith…for now. I’m guessing Grimm is going to groom Keith to be the potential Elton Brown replacement if we lose him to FA next year.

Also note, that the Cards had a waiver claim on the cut Saints’ center Andy Alleman. Seven other teams also had a claim so the Phins won out for obvious reasons. I wonder who would have been axed to make room for Alleman…

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Sep 1, 2008 10:07 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point on Vallejo, he could be primary backup LT. I wonder if they’d move Levi over if Gandy were to miss extended time.

I’m not sure who they’d cut b/c it would have to be on OL. My guess would be Vallejo but then they’d be short at tackle instead of Center

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Sep 1, 2008 11:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

you were almost reading my mind.

I wonder how hard it is for the tackles to switch coverage with the different QB’s in the game. With Matt in, Brown covers the blind side. With Kurt in, Gandy covers the blind side. Are they that interchangable or would the tackles need to flip sides for extended circumstances for the different QB’s?

by hevchv on Sep 1, 2008 9:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's a good question

I’ve heard that guys can’t just flip sides without having problems mainly because of muscle memory. Guys get ‘programmed’ to do things one way and then when they switch to the opposite side, their body is thrown off. I’m sure that many players could make the change in time but it might be tough in a week or during a game. Again, that’s just what I’ve read, I obviously didn’t play the game long enough to have to deal with this particular issue. I’m sure someone with more experience would have a better take on it.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Sep 2, 2008 7:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I recall that article last season...

…in regards to Levi being switched to right tackle after playing left tackle in college. He mentioned how he was trying to mirror his muscle memories, in particular the right foot kicking out first rather than the left, to apply his technique to the other side. If Gandy were to go down, I do think they’d Levi over and insert Vallejo on the right side if Warner were playing. If Leinart goes in, Levi would stay on the right and Elton would go in having covered for Levi last year.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Sep 2, 2008 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Err...

…I think I out thunk myself here…Levi stays at right with Leinart, Gandy goes down, Vallejo replaces him. If Levi were to go down on the right, Elton would replace him having played right tackle last year. Yeah, that’s it.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Sep 2, 2008 8:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, I'm glad I wasn't the only person who read that

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Sep 2, 2008 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Switching from one...

side to another is pretty difficult. You get used to taking your kick steps one way, and then you have to do the exact opposite if you switch sides. It can be done, and I think how fast you pick it up depends on the athleticism of the lineman. So much of O-line is technique versus brute strength that if you work on it, it can be done.

by boogatt66 on Sep 2, 2008 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks man, I was hoping you'd weigh in

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Sep 2, 2008 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

vallejo

I actually look at Vallejo as an upgrade over Gandy. I think he has the potential to replace him without any fall off and he is a lot cheaper. But then I thought this last year as well.

by hevchv on Sep 2, 2008 9:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you notice his snap speed?

In the Broncos game, Vallejo was usually the first one up out of his stance and engaging the defender before he could really get going. At first I thought he was false starting he was up so early but with TiVo insight, he was just moving as the ball was snapped. He was called once for that though but I think the ref was really keying in on him as the game went on. Elliot was buried on the bench his freshmen year at UCLA and thus transferred to UCDavis where he dominated for three years. Granted, smaller schools, fewer football scholarships, but he’s maturing quickly. I’m sure if NFLE was still going he would have been allotted this year to help with his game speed.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Sep 2, 2008 10:03 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't have access to watch the games here

but I just had a good feeling about him. He’s big (6’7"), smart and as you just put it, fast. I think he’ll excel and that obviously he wasn’t cut. Someone would have surely snagged him before he could have made it to the practice squad.

by hevchv on Sep 2, 2008 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just thought

I would mention a minor, minor something I found out last night. I have a friend who plays for the Cards and I asked him about the pecking order at WR. He said Doucet’s injury has put him waaaaay behind the rest of the corps and that he doesn’t expect him to be a major factor until much later in the season.

I love the smell of commerce in the morning

by Red Reign on Sep 1, 2008 4:08 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs