The Final 53, Which WR's Will Make It?

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 16, 2011 7:54 PM MDT in NFL Preseason/Training Camp

Much of the talk this off season was about who will replace Steven Breaston and play opposite of Larry Fitzgerald. Many fans were concerned considering Doucet and Roberts as too unproven to start. Rumors flew about mentioning names such as Braylon Edwards and Malcolm Floyd, but as the shortened off season progressed it became apparent that the FO and coaching staff were happy with the WR's on the roster.

As the preseason progresses, one of the most interesting roster position battles is the four or so guys coming after number 11. After the break, a look at the depth chart.

The current Cardinals depth chart has our WR depth as so:

WR1: 11 Larry Fitzgerald 18 Stephen Williams 89 DeMarco Sampson 80 Isaiah Williams 15 Sean Jeffcoat

WR 2: 12 Andre Roberts 85 Early Doucet 10 Max Komar 17 Chansi Stuckey 13 Aaron Nichols 16 D. Curry-Chapman

Assuming we only keep five WR's on the roster, it is looking like will have to cut (or PS for those eligible) 6 WR's

So far it seems that Doucet and Roberts are a lock for the roster leaving two, or possibly 3, WR's positions available. I will stick with 5 because I believe we will keep 4 TE's this season due to the increased ability to catch from the position.

Throughout camp and one preseason game it appears that DeMarco Sampson, Stephen Williams and Isaiah Williams have all impressed. Max Komar is also in the picture as a UDFA from last season. And of course, let's not forget our only WR FA acquisition, Chansi Stuckey, who at 27 is a veteran player and known as semi-productive slot WR. Even with the pass anemic Browns (185 YPG, ranked 29th), he collected 40 receptions and had a 8.7 YPC.

Selecting the WR's for this year will be a very difficult task. As we have only seen one preseason game it will be hard to assess who will make it and who won't. From NFL.com our first preseason WR stats are so:

Isaiah Williams	3	50	16.7	28	1
Larry Fitzgerald	2	60	30.0	43	0
DeMarco Sampson	2	47	23.5	41	0
Stephen Williams	2	39	19.5	21	1
Todd Heap	2	21	10.5	13	0
Rob Housler	2	18	9.0	10	1
Early Doucet	2	10	5.0	10	0
Ryan Williams	1	23	23.0	23	0
Chansi Stuckey	1	20	20.0	20	0
Andre Roberts	1	9	9.0	9	0

My early preseason guess will be that Sean Jeffcoat, Aaron Nichols, D. Curry-Chapman, and Max Komar will be cut. Isaiah Williams and DeMarco Sampson will find themselves on the PS. I believe Stuckey will make Komar expendable and Stephen Williams size, speed and extra year in the system will give him the edge over 7th round pick Sampson.

Again, I know it's early but it is fun to speculate.

Other interesting position battles that I will write about is LB, CB, and G.

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Tough question. Good series idea.

Fitz, Roberts and Doucet all are in.

Steven Williams will make the team imo. He has the speed to stretch the field. His height (6’5), hands and jumping ability make him an excellent target. Even the obscenely biased Oakland commentators likened him favorably to Fitz.

Demarco Sampson and Isaiah Williams are both reportedly having good camps. I question how much they can distinguish themselves from each other and Steven Williams. So far they seem much in the same mold. Both of these guys are practice squad eligible. At least one of them is headed there.

Max Komar is not going to make it. He was on the bubble imo to start with. Now he has an injury. Too much competition for him to overcome, I think.

Chansi Stuckey has a good chance of taking Komar’s place but I’m not sure at this point he will make the team. If they keep six receivers his chances are much better. If they do go with only five then he will have a harder time.

Of the rest of the wide receivers there isn’t anyone that has a realistic shot at making the team.

My best guess as of right now is that our receiver group will be the following;

Fitz, Roberts, Doucet, S. Williams, Stuckey, Sampson.
I. Williams to practice squad.

by hadrarius on Aug 16, 2011 8:31 PM MDT reply actions

Tight Ends

Heap, King, Housler. I don’t see them keeping four. I could be wrong. If they go that way I think Dray beats out Spach.

by hadrarius on Aug 16, 2011 8:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Same here

Fitz, Roberts, Doucet, S. Williams, Sampson, Stuckey

Williams will go to the PS, don’t know if Komar can go on the PS too but if there are injuries they could bring him back too.

As for the TEs wouldn’t be surprised if they kept Heap, King, House, and Dray.

Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/ Arizona Diamondbacks/Phoenix Coyotes/ Arizona Rattlers/Chicago Bears fan

[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on Aug 16, 2011 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions

Komar is not eligible.

by hadrarius on Aug 16, 2011 8:39 PM MDT up reply actions

Thats what I thought

I bet that he would still be available as a FA during the season if he had to come in as an injury replacement though.

Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/ Arizona Diamondbacks/Phoenix Coyotes/ Arizona Rattlers/Chicago Bears fan

[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on Aug 16, 2011 8:50 PM MDT up reply actions

If you like the series idea

Grab the CB’s or another position.
Maybe we can keep them updated from game to game.

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 16, 2011 9:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Sure

The next couple days I won’t have any time so it will have to happen after the next game.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:37 PM MDT up reply actions

A great article from Sando's blog that states how Whiz asses WR's

I think it plays into the whole number 2 WR issue.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/42969/why-cardinals-passed-on-lee-evans

It may change who we keep.

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 16, 2011 9:08 PM MDT reply actions

"how Whiz asses WR's"

I tried that once….. got arrested for indecent exposure after I got my ass kicked.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Aug 17, 2011 1:45 AM MDT up reply actions

Hahaha

Nice catch. Missed and ‘s’ there.

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 17, 2011 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions

And added a 'd' there.... oy vey

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 17, 2011 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions

i really like Stephen Williams

I’ve said it time n time again his potential is thru the roof and plays wit a chip on his shoulder I’d take him over anybody but fitz I thought he’d get more playing time last year but whiz isn’t big on rookies , any thoughts??

by tucson cards fan on Aug 16, 2011 9:37 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Williams was not kept off the field due to his being a rookie

He was kept off the field due to an injury

Faith Focus Finish

by b0rd3rline on Aug 16, 2011 11:34 PM MDT up reply actions

He had some rookie growing pains.

He was not as effective in games going against starting DBs as he was in the preseason last year. Also, the quarterback carousel didn’t help him out much. I agree that his potential looks bigger than the others. I hope we see a lot more of him this season.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:44 PM MDT up reply actions

Sampson will make this team...

Fitz Robert Doucet Williams and Sampson

by Punisher3190 on Aug 16, 2011 11:41 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

I doubt Chansi will make the team.

I really like Komar. Hopefully we see him more during the next game, but he’s already had a year to learn the system so he’s ahead of Chansi in that aspect. Hard to tell however. This would’ve been a great article if you waited until after the Greenbay game or later.

by Googles on Aug 17, 2011 12:34 AM MDT reply actions

It's a topic that will be revisited, I am sure

Whether in an update of this thread or elsewhere.

by tw3kr on Aug 17, 2011 3:01 AM MDT up reply actions

I am thinking we keep 6 right now

Same list as hadarius.

by tw3kr on Aug 17, 2011 3:03 AM MDT reply actions

I like Sampson

Especially with his blocking ability, etc. I feel like I.Williams and Chansi are on the bubble, will be interesting to see where the team goes – should have a little better idea after the GB game.

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 8:06 AM MDT reply actions

Chansi was a FA pickup and not a trade right?

With all the moves, I can’t remember.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Aug 17, 2011 8:11 AM MDT up reply actions

exactly

FA pickup, was a 3rd option guy in Cleveland, shiftier type guy, we picked him up with a 2-year $3.5 mil deal, so kind of interesting to see that we went out and got him and he’s not a lock to make the squad, and ineligible to go PS. Do you think he’ll make it?

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 8:28 AM MDT up reply actions

I think he will only because..

when a team goes out and gets someone they feel llike he can add something.

But not being a trade means you don’t have anything but guaranteed money (if any) locked up in him so maybe not.

I’m guessing he gets a spot though, or they wouldn’t have gone through the trouble.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Aug 17, 2011 8:35 AM MDT up reply actions

So Then That Only Leaves...

a few spots….

Say you put Fitz, Roberts, Doucet and Stuckey in….

then you have one or two more spots max….

S.Williams? Sampson? Both or somebody else?

Depends, we know we’ll have King, Heap and Houslet – do you take Dray or Spach? Or stay with 3 TEs and 6 WRs??

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 8:53 AM MDT up reply actions

Well I guess it depends on what system Whiz wants to go with....

is he committed to the run and more blocking? then maybe 3 TEs. Or is he confident in the passing attack and the run as a secondary to the pass as he has been (probably more from necessity than anything else lately) and maybe he goes with 6 WR’s.

I don’t think both Williams and Sampson make the 53 but I could be wrong. That’s a LOT of young talent to rely on. Chansi at least provides a known commodity.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Aug 17, 2011 9:15 AM MDT up reply actions

I agree with that line of thought

Chansi has shown he can produce.
I went with 5 WR’s though because both Housler and Heap can split out. Offers variety in packages.

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 17, 2011 12:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Agree about Chansi

Has showed he can play in the NFL, so am inclined to think he’ll make the roster. Also not sure they’re going to want to get rid of Dray + Spach so could definitely see 5 WOs / 4 TEs, either way, feel like Whiz has some nice options to choose from….

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 1:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Good point about Housler and Heap.

On the other hand, they have six tight ends in camp and eleven wide receivers. Keeping only one receiver more than they keep tight ends doesn’t appear to connect with that math.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Less young talent to rely on than last season.

Chansi Stuckey is about as experienced as Breaston so that’s a wash. S. Williams and Roberts are a year more advanced than they were. Only rookie would be Sampson. Last season we had three rookies out of six receivers, two of them undrafted.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:58 PM MDT up reply actions

So Then That Only Leaves.....

a few spots….

Say you put Fitz, Roberts, Doucet and Stuckey in….

then you have one or two more spots max….

S.Williams? Sampson? Both or somebody else?

Depends, we know we’ll have King, Heap and Houslet – do you take Dray or Spach? Or stay with 3 TEs and 6 WRs??

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 8:53 AM MDT reply actions

Anyone else see Housler being used like a Wide Receiver in some packages too?

Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/ Arizona Diamondbacks/Phoenix Coyotes/ Arizona Rattlers/Chicago Bears fan

[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on Aug 17, 2011 9:32 AM MDT reply actions

+1

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions

It works in Indie

Section 103, Row 19

by CardsFan08 on Aug 17, 2011 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Already did against Oakland.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Can Early Doucet.....

stay healthy enough to actually make a contribution this season? I know he’s got a new number and is ready for a fresh start, but will that translate to catches / TDs this season??

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 17, 2011 11:02 AM MDT reply actions

Well there's a good question.

Concern about that may have been a significant factor in signing Chansi Stuckey.

by hadrarius on Aug 17, 2011 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions

At least he has some history of playing a full season.

Unlike our young / oft-injured receivers. I’m high on the talent we have, but do think it’s nice to have Stuckey as an option who has been there, done that before. Think Early has potential but if he has another down season I may be done, this is a big year for him!

by CardsRepInChile on Aug 18, 2011 7:02 AM MDT up reply actions