Revenge of the Birds - All Posts

Do the Arizona Cardinals have enough talent at tight end?

2013-05-22T20:00:04Z

For consecutive years, starting tight end Jeff King is missing the offseason workouts with a leg ailment, a knee being scoped that will probably set him back until minicamp at the earliest and training camp at the latest.(He also had a quadriceps injury in 2012.)

In a Bruce Arians offense, this must be akin to losing his Kangol hat without sunscreen...it has to burn.

Not that King would be the New England Patriots' Aaron Hernandez to Rob Housler's Rob Gronkowski (minus the icky forearm infections and weird Vegas dances, of course) - but that his health has to concern the head coach who's vertical principles are founded on two outside- the- tackle guys that can both block AND catch the rock.

And while I couldn't put it more eloquently than ROTBer RedC with his post about a month ago, I'm still leery about the current roster's ability to be the players that Arians perceives they should be.

While the club currently is holding seven tight ends, other than the incumbents Housler, King and Jim Dray, only vagabond Kory Sperry (he of the eight catches in three seasons) has more than a year experience. And Dray is thought more of a special teamer than anything else. Seventh round pick D.C Jefferson, newcomers Alex Gottlieb and Kyle Auffray offer potential but may be a little green behind the ears.

Would it be wise to find another tight end behind "Door Number 2" as Arians said about the quarterback situation or let it play out? Veteran pass catching ends like Dallas Clark and Kevin Boss are still on the market (and there's an underlying reason why they are) while younger guys like Jake O'Connell and Travis Beckum are still awaiting their gold ticket. (And there's more than likely, also a reason why.) Heck, even former Card and Arians player with the Steelers, Leonard Pope - is looking for employment.

Former GM Rod Graves went the alternate route in signing longtime Baltimore Ravens TE (and homestate hero) Todd Heap to a 2 year contract in 2011 that ended being almost as foolish as the Stewart Bradley one. It wasn't close to working out and casted a pall over the organization.

If King comes back healthy before training camp -which is expected - should the Cardinals still look for help other than the younger players already on the 90? Or with them comfortably under the salary cap pull the trigger on a veteran?

NFL over/under picks: Vegas sets Arizona Cardinals line at 5 wins for 2013

2013-05-22T18:00:08Z

We are still months away from the commencement of the 2013 NFL season, but you can already start betting on how many wins you think your team will get. In 2012, the Arizona Cardinals were a tough bet, with their over/under set at seven games.

This year, Vegas isn't expecting much for the Cardinals. According to RJ Bell at pregame.com, the over/under for Arizona in 2013 is a measly five games. To put that in perspective, that is the lowest betting line for wins in the league, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars...the freaking Jags.

It makes sense. To start with, the Cards are not a widely bet team, so the over/under needs to be a little on the low end to get people to wager something. At the same time, outside of Arizona, there just is little love for the Cards, especially when they play the 49ers and the Seahawks twice each.

What about the rest of the division?

San Fran's line is at 11.5, Seattle is set at 10.5 and the Rams are at seven.

Vegas also has some playoff picks already. In the NFC, they pick the Niners, Packers and the Falcons to win their divisions, with the Seahawks and Saints as the wild cards. However, the NFC East is too close to project. In the AFC, the Patriots, Texans, Broncos and Steelers are picked as division winners, with the Ravens and Colts landing the wild cards spots.

The question is...would you bet the over or the under on the Cards? I am not a betting man, but I think I take the over this year.

Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.

Carson Palmer 'so excited' for offense, thinks Arizona Cardinals 'a good match' for him

2013-05-22T15:00:09Z

With an offseason of change for both the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Carson Palmer, Trey Wingo of ESPN had Palmer to talk about the changes and what lays ahead of him.

Here is a transcription of the interview, followed by some observations:

On why the Cardinals are the right team

"I just think it's a good match. I've had a chance to come and meet a lot with Coach Arians, Coach Moore and the coaching staff, and what they're trying to do offensively fits some of my strengths and what I do well. Larry Fitzgerald doesn't hurt the equation."

What makes Larry Fitzgerald a special WR?

"He's a workhorse. He's a blue collar kind of guy. He's a leader. He leads by example. He does the right things. He says the right things. He's in the right place at the right time. He catches the ball with his hands every single time the ball is thrown to him, and he attackes the football. That's the one thing I've noticed is that he doesn't just let the ball come to him. Whatever route it is, it could be a comeback, it could be a a go route, he goes up and gets the football where the football is."

Assessing his time in Okaland

"It was just wild. It was really bad timing I think. Salary cap-wise, they had a ton of issues. Obviously when Mr. Davis passed, there was a bit of turmoil going on in the organization because basically when you've had a guy that's run it well so long, and then a new regime comes in, there's always some catchup to play. Just really ended up being a bad time for me to be there."

On working with Bruce Arians and Tom Moore

"I am so excited to be in this offense. It's not anything I've ever done. I think Coach Arians likes to attack and throw the ball down the field, which I like to do, and Coach Moore likes to protect the quarterback and create nice pockets and scheme defensive pressures and blitzes and make sure the quarterback is standing upright."

On if he has something to prove

"Absolutely. I've always felt you've got something to prove every year. Especially last year when three or four young quarterbacks come into the league and just take it by storm. Us older guys have a lot to prove this year and myself, especially after a quick year and a half run in Oakland like I had. I'll be here for the entire year, all the OTAs, all that, and be with a bunch of guys that are learning a new system offensively and defensively. We have a long way to go, but I really believe that with team the sky is the limit."

Observations:

There is a common theme with Palmer and what he says about the offense. He is excited. One of the words he used to describe it when the veterans attended their voluntary minicamp was "easy." However, it wasn't about its simplicity. He noted how it was easy to see its success because of the tape there is on it and lots of success. I got from that that it was easy to buy into.

His words about Moore are the first of their sort I have heard or read. I like the fact that he enjoys protecting the quarterback. In fact, that combination of Arians and Moore I think are perfect. Arians' offense means that the quarterback will get hit, but with the work of Moore, that should be mitigated at least some.

We already know how wonderful Fitz is.

Palmer is keenly aware of his situation as a veteran quarterback. he knows he needs to perform to stay in the league.

Does anything stick out to you?

NFL OTAs: Bruce Arians calls out Arizona Cardinals offense

2013-05-22T14:00:08Z

After the start of another week of OTAs, Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is not happy with the offense so far. When he spoke to the media on Tuesday, he made public those sentiments, via the team's official home page.

While the players are giving the expected effort, they aren't executing. "It's just that right now, our defense is way outplaying our offense," said Arians. "The offense needs to pick it up. We are behind where I'd like to be right now."

He explained that the unit just wasn't picking things up quickly enough.

Now, is this not expected? Remember, the offense was terrible a year ago and the defense was very good.

Arians notes that "for the defense it's a little easier, to put in a defense than it is an offense and have some continuity." It is especially so because Todd Bowles is installing a defensive system that, according to players, is not too different than what Ray Horton ran.

Another important fact -- at this point in the offseason, the defense almost always is ahead of the offense,

This doesn't mean that Arians shouldn't be upset. He is an offensive coach by blood and he was hired largely because of the potential he had for turning around the offense.

Apparently, the receivers are a particular point of concern. Again, this does not surprise me. There are 13 on the roster. Only Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts have more than one season under their belt. Michael Floyd and LaRon Byrd are entering their second season, but Byrd only played 11 offensive snaps last year. The rest of the group has yet to play an NFL game. You wonder why there are so many receivers on the roster?

There is nothing wrong with Arians making public this disappointment. It is a calculated move. He is making it public that he expects nothing like 2012. Fans need to hear it, the media loves hearing things like this and the players need to hear it out there so they know how important it is that they pay attention to details.

Arizona Cardinals OTAs: Jeff King missing workouts after knee surgery

2013-05-22T13:00:09Z

For the second year in a row, the Arizona Cardinals will be without tight end Jeff King during OTAs because of an injury. In 2012, he missed time and even started training camp on the preseason PUP list (physically unable to perform) after he had a quadriceps injury that required surgery.

He again is hurt, according to AZcentral reporter Kent Somers. He had knee surgery in the offseason and the coaching staff hopes that he will be available in June.

King played in all 16 games last season, starting 12. He caught 17 passes but did not score a touchdown. 2013 will be his eighth season in the NFL. It will be his third year with the Cardinals. He is in the final year of the three-year contract he signed in 2011.

5/22 Arizona Cardinals news: Sputtering offense in camp, Palmer's weakness

2013-05-22T12:00:13Z

While many writers are toasting the Cardinals for their brilliant offseason, it's a gentle reminder that what matters is how the team plays. According to Bruce Arians, the offense is not playing well. Get ready for a day of bringing the expectations back to earth.

Cardinals:

Bruce Arians dissatisfied with offense’s (lack of) progress | Insiders
It seems not all the offensive woes last season were erased with free agency and the draft.

'He's going to get hit in the chin a bunch' - NFC West Blog - ESPN
While many can't help compare Palmer to Kurt Warner, the weaknesses are set them quite far apart.

Word From the Birds Blog | Staying healthy this time of year
For offseason injuries, team's tend to be more cautious so more damage won't be induced.

Grading Their Offseason
The Arizona Cardinals will win some games, and just might shock the world again. Why? Because of the offseason moves they made.

Should They Run a 3-4 or 4-3 Defense?
A hybrid defense may just be what the Cardinals need to make a good defense into a great one this next season.

Arizona Cardinals: Free Agent Profile Jerraud Powers
A brief rundown of the Arizona Cardinals signing of Jerraud Powers and his impact in 2013

NFL:

NFL selects Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50, Houston for Super Bowl 51 - SBNation.com
Santa Clara has will be hosting Super Bowl 50 in its shiny new stadium in 2016, while Houston has been awarded Super Bowl 51 in 2017.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is 'miles ahead' of last offseason - SBNation.com
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says that Russell Wilson is ahead of the learning curve entering his second year in the league.

Marshawn Lynch skips Seahawks OTAs for personal workouts - SBNation.com
The 2012 All-Pro is in his hometown doing personal workouts instead.

NFLPA Rookie Premiere: Learning the business of playing football - SBNation.com
A group of 40 NFL rookies descended on Los Angeles last week to learn more about the finer points of life in the NFL, the stuff that isn't covered in a playbook.

Chargers sign Max Starks - SBNation.com
The veteran left tackle spent nine season with the Steelers before joining San Diego, where he is expected to start.

Tony Romo injury: Cowboys QB will miss OTAs after cyst removal surgery - SBNation.com
The Cowboys quarterback underwent a minor procedure on his back in April.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank wants Matt Ryan extension 'as soon as possible' - SBNation.com
Arthur Blank would like to get Matt Ryan locked up to an extension before training camp.

Jets could decide between Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith before training camp - SBNation.com
The Jets could already decide their starting QB before training camp even starts.

Melvin Ingram injury: Chargers LB could return in 2013 - SBNation.com
The second-year linebacker tore his ACL last week, but the recovery time could have him ready for a return by November.

Detroit Lions likely to start college football bowl game - SBNation.com
What?

Arizona Cardinals make roster moves with pair of undrafted rookies

2013-05-21T23:13:41Z

The Arizona Cardinals made a couple of roster moves with players that likely no one has heard of. Likely, you won't remember who these players are after the preseason, either. But they are/were Cardinals and they are hoping to make a splash for someone.

The team announced that they waived-injured receiver Javone Lawson, who has an injury to his Achilles tendon.

To replace him, they signed undrafted rookie receiver Charles Hawkins, who has a connection to the coaching staff.

Hawkins (5-8, 180) is a rookie free agent who played collegiately at Southern and had 31 catches for 467 yards (15.1 yard avg.) and seven touchdowns as a senior in 2012. He played at Southern under current Cardinals running backs coach Stump Mitchell, who was the Jaguars head coach from 2010-12. For his career, Hawkins played in 34 games and had 71 receptions for 1,091 yards (15.4 yard avg.) and 10 touchdowns.

NFL proposing regular season schedule changes as well as off season

2013-05-21T20:00:09Z

If you're a regular NFL fan you know by now the NFL commissioner, the owners and for a portion of the deal - the NFL Players Association - has basically agreed to change the offseason schedule to move the collegiate draft back a few weeks to Nielsen sweep ratings time (and the Thursday - Saturday before Mother's Day) next season and then the league starting year shortly after the extinct Pro Bowl in 2015 and '16, with the annual meat market(NFL Combine) following the free agent period.

While this all and good, with teams signing unsigned available veterans who have played the game to larger contracts BEFORE an unproven rookie draft kid that gets more than their worth (CBA slotting not withstanding), the league didn't release a few regular season proposal dates that apparently was missed by TMZ, MJ and TMI.

So, file this into the Lennay Kukua folder of new timelines that will be passed on Tuesday:

Week One -- All optimism for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears must cease and desist. "Nothin' to see here folks. just move along."

Week Two -- ESPN must stop the incessant coverage of Tim Tebow and and the New York Jets - he, like the team, is vastly overexposed for no reason other than being in the largest TV market. Only exception is if Tebow does a "Dennis Rodman" and proposes to Rex Ryan in a wedding dress. Love knows no bounds, even if it's broadcast on ESPN SportsNation.

Week Three -- Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks must comply with the "no more than 6 players on squad being suspended for substance rule". Carroll has been known to bend the rules in at USC and is giving it the "ol' college try" in the Great Northwest. He's already succeeded in getting at least one player free from discipline with the "leaking cup" trick that MLB's Ryan Braun used. (*wink, wink, I'm looking at you Richard Sherman*)

Week Four -- The "read option play" becomes a banned book, much like the "wildcat" in most NFL clubhouses. With injuries to RGIII, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, and Cam Newton - the league sets a deadline for gimmicky offenses - unless Tebow is still with the Jets. Then, it's alright- as long as he and Rex have consummated. (And you don't want to see those New York Minutes.)

Week Five -- New Buffalo Bills QB starter Kevin Kolb takes snap, feels slightest pressure, rolls right and fires a pass out bounds, but not before sneezing - breaking two ribs and ONE casual fan's expectations. (Sorry, couldn't resist and it is on the NFL new schedule, therefore I'm exonerated.)

Week Six -- All Jerry Jones psychobabble about Tony Romo and Jason Garrett shall come to end. Either you're with the guys or you're ain't Jerruh. Either Romo is traded, Garrett is fired or for once in your @#$damn life shut the Daryl Boston up. This is the new schedule change nicknamed "sticking a sock in it, Jerry".

Week Seven -- Arizona Cardinals will start 7-0 and bandwagon fans will join in with the praise. Which is fine as long as Roger Goodell states it - you must get the owners name (that has been with the team since the 1930's), right - Bidwill, not Bidwell - and use "offense" and "defense" correctly as opposed to "offence" and "defence". It seems like correct thinking, right....I mean the Cards starting 7-0, that is.

Week Eight -- While Arizona will technically play the Falcons this week - the league and I are in agreement on this one:

We're both asking for a bye.