Stay Or Walk: Arizona Cardinals Tackle Mike Gandy
by Andrew602 on Feb 16, 2010 9:06 AM MST
in 2010 Offseason
23 comments
Today, the Stay or Walk segment will cover an offensive free agent - tackle Mike Gandy. So far we've already addressed two defenders and determined that Chike Okeafor should walk, and Gabe Watson should stay. Today, Gandy is under the microscope. There's been a lot of talk since the season ended on whether or not he should remain with the team. His poor play and injury problems didn't win over many Cardinal fans, and the team is expected to not re-sign him when free agency begins.
Gandy was signed to a three year contract back in 2007 to fill a void at left tackle that was left when Leonard Davis signed with the Cowboys. Before then, Gandy had spent three seasons in Chicago and two in Buffalo, and was nothing more then a serviceable tackle. Throughout his time in Arizona, Gandy's production was either turned on, or off. If he was playing solid against the pass, he was struggling to move the ball on running plays. In 2009, Gandy allowed eight sacks, committed eight penalties, and he missed action for the first time since being in the desert when he suffered a sports hernia. At the end of the year, he was placed on injured reserve and his future in Arizona was clouded.
Reasons For:
- Behind Gandy, the depth at tackle is thin. The Cardinals are relatively young with Brandon Keith and Herman Johnson(if he moved over to tackle), and drafting a tackle in the later rounds wouldn't be a guaranteed thing.
- He still provides above-average pass blocking and with Matt Leinart at quarterback, he'd no longer need to protect the blind side.
- The Cardinals would be able to sign him to a relatively cheap contract. The market for Gandy would be thin, as most other teams would sign him to a back up role.
Reasons Against:
- At the age of 31-years old, Gandy is becoming an injury risk. He was battered halfway through the season this past year and wound up on injured reserve. The tackle position requires quick speed and movements, meaning Gandy would need to be healthy for the majority of the season to provide the Cardinals with quality pass-blocking.
- The Cardinals are expected to become more run-based with Matt Leinart at quarterback. Gandy has never been a great run-blocker and keeping him on the team could hurt their new offensive scheme.
- Re-signing him wouldn't be a long-term fix. He's already 31 and has started facing injury problems. He's already reached the peak of his abilities and at this point, his production will start to take a dip. The Cardinals would eventually need to fill this hole in the near future.
Stay or Walk: Walk
In the end, the Cardinals need to spend money elsewhere on the roster this offseason. Bringing back an older veteran already past his prime wouldn't be in best interest for the team. They already have two young tackles that could step in and start next season, and this year's draft is filled with potential draft picks the Cardinals could sign. What are your thoughts on Mike Gandy? Should he stay or walk?
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Yeah, what you said.
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
How can you like a player that won't get a hair cut?
Its not like he’s growing dreads. He makes millions per year and can’t afford a decent haircut. Something’s wrong with this guy. Sayonara, Deuces, Kick Rocks, Arrivederci!
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
yeah he always had the lop-sided hair
Didn’t look right half the time.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
Does
no one remember the pics of the goggled-wonder himself, Eric Dickerson? That guys hair was all sorts of out-of-control, of course he produced some valuable numbers, so…the comparison isn’t necessarily ‘equal’.
Walk on, Mr Man…walketh on down thine path
walk hard
right out of town. I think our team will be better served with Keith or Herman Munster at LT. Both enormous young tackles that should be able to keep the left side of our line moving in the right direction.
We all bleed Cardinal Red, but most of us don't recognize it!
Outlook Hazy
My problem is that our backups at tackle right now, the guys that would replace Gandy, are untested. We say they are ready to step in and start, but how do we know that is really the case? We saw Bridges fill in for Gandy for a few games and, while he had a good game against the Vikings, it was due mostly to all of the added tight end help he received. Once he was left on is own to block, he downgraded quickly! You can take Keith or Big Herm and say they are ready to start, but we don’t KNOW just yet how well they will do.
I agree that Gandy is sub-par for a left tackle. He doesn’t provide us with what we need to move this team to the next level. So, all in all, we do need to move in a different direction. The left tackle position is so important, though, that I wish we had a battle-tested player we knew was going to step in and tear it up.
Maybe one of our options will…I just hope whomever we start isn’t a downgrade from Gandy.
by SundayBlitz on Feb 16, 2010 10:00 AM MST reply actions 2 recs
well I'd say this to your question...
Russ Grimm is probably the best coaching talent in the league on the O line to know what will work… I’ve heard Kieth and big Herm have been working all year at “run blocking” and will step in. If we see Gandy or some other FA signed then they weren’t ready yet if not then Whiz and Grimm have faith!
by Punisher3190 on Feb 16, 2010 10:33 AM MST up reply actions
I'll give you that...
Grimm does know his stuff when it comes to the O line and we’ve already seen vast improvement. I’d take his word for it if he says a guy is ready. I’m just hoping they’re ready and, this is a big wish, maybe one of them will turn int pro-bowl caliber tackle. Lord knows we could use one.
by SundayBlitz on Feb 16, 2010 10:38 AM MST up reply actions
Brandon Gorin and Oliver Ross are improvements over Gumby.
Those guys know how to get a haircut. LOL. Couldn’t resist.
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
Bye Gandy you won't be missed
Enjoy your new job as a night club bouncer
by cardsfanforlife24 on Feb 16, 2010 10:41 AM MST reply actions
I see him as a barber.
Most barbers at black shops never have a haircut.
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
Run blockers
I think both Herman Monster and Keith would probably be an upgrade run blocking. Like SundayBitz says, it remains to be seen how they would hold up pass blocking the best DE’s and OLB’s in the league. I don’t think the Cards can count on getting much help in free agency. Especially in this uncapped year. They may sign Gandy as an insurance policy if they aren’t sure the young guys will work out. The fact that they started Bridges when Gandy went down means the coaches don’t have confidence in the young guys yet.
Tight End Help
No matter who we start at tackle whenever we go against an elite pass rusher we need to employ what we did against the Vikings and Jared Allen. Have the tight end help and Hightower block out of the back as well. Jared Allen had 0’s across his stat line and if we can stop him with Bridges and a tight end then we can definitely have success with anyone else at tackle and using tight end help.
GO CARDINALS!!!
by cardsfanforlife24 on Feb 16, 2010 11:47 AM MST reply actions
I think we'll see more of this
with the emergence of a more run focused offense. We’ll probably see more 2 tight end sets so we can stack the line with meat and run it down the defense’s throats. While we have some depth at receiver, I think once we get to Doucet, there’s enough of drop-off that we really won’t see many 5 receiver sets and our 4 receiver sets should be limited (This is all assuming we don’t have Boldin anymore of course). That being said, I’d be happy if we ran more plays with 2 RB sets utilizing both Hightower and Wells together. We could get creative since they are both capable of breaking runs and can both be somewhat punishing runner.
this guy
is last seasons, Rod Hood.
Someone else will sign him then cut him.
Then he wil be a 3rd stringer somewhere.
I wasnt hurt when Rod left, I won’t weep when gandy leaves.
I feel any FA, could suffice the role he played last year.
by fansincejakenrob on Feb 16, 2010 2:53 PM MST reply actions
At least Rod got a couple of picks last year.
Don’t know what Gandy will do.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
2my knowledge
thats what a 3rd string corner is.
I liked rod, he was just too slow.
by fansincejakenrob on Feb 16, 2010 8:14 PM MST up reply actions
I want that young guy Vollmer from NE...
I also tend to think Gandy’s a little better than he gets credit for. It’s a tough job. As mentioned, the drop-off with Bridges was noticeable, and I’d say he qualifies as “any FA.”
He’ll probably be too much to bring back, though, and according to the Whiz formula of learnin’ ‘em, it’s time for Keith to step in.
shoud i stay or should i go yea
The Devil Birds just got cha
by DaCards on Feb 17, 2010 9:34 AM MST via mobile reply actions
If I go there will be trouble...
If I stay it will be double.
Man, this song fits perfectly. At least the chorus.
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