Training Camp is nearing, as the draft picks are all starting to fly into Arizona. And just like the players, questions are flying in too (Despite the long period of "nothing", also known as "most of the off-season").
Hit the jump to see the ROTB Writing Staff's answers to three of these questions, and don't forget to answer the questions yourself in the comments below!
CardsFan08: Brown/Colledge/Sendlein/
Tyler Nickel: From left to right: Brown, Colledge, Sendlein, Sydner, Massie.
Khodder: Brown - Colledge - Sendlein - Snyder - Massie. This give us the most versatile depth options, however it is all on Massie to prove he is going to be able to start week one as an NFL right tackle. RT is really the only starting OL position that is up for grabs right now and even at this early stage it is a two horse race between Massie and Bridges. The big thing to not about offensive line play is the value of the unit is better than the value of any one individual player. The Cards need their OL to play well as a unit if they want to have sustained offensive success.
CardsFan08: I live in San Diego and listen to a lot of sports talk radio and Lindley has a lot of upside. I don't know if he's going to be the next coming of Tom Brady with his 6th round draft status, but I'd like to see him develop and begin pushing our other two QBs. He's certainly cheaper than Kolb, and is in a good position to groom to be a backup if Kolb is forced to the sideline due to concussion or injury. I think the FO made a move to make a signal to Kolb and Skelton, as well as start to develop for the future if the QB of the future doesn't show up out of the two QBs on the roster. If Kolb has another sideline year then I think he'll be cut and it'll be QB-gate all over again.
Alex Mann: I think so they could develop him. If the Kolb deal doesn't work out, Skelton becomes the starter Kolb will either be released or fight for the number 2 spot with Lindley. If it's not that then they'll play him for a game or 2 just to show his skills and draw some trade offers, similarly to what the Eagles did with Kolb.
JoeCB1991: I'm guessing Whiz wanted another guy to develop and either trade him to a QB needy team later on or use him as a starter down in a couple years if Kolb or Skelton can't get it done. If he is able to develop, he could be a starter, and I know a lot of people who were evaluating the draft QBs were high on him.
Khodder: Value. Not more than a year ago Ryan Lindley had been talked about as a first round selection by many internet draftniks. He has all the tools you could want from a QB, size, arm, good head on his shoulders. But he is a ball of clay he needs to be molded, he needs to have his footwork reworked and that is going to affect the rest of his game too. However what the Cardinals do have with Lindley is time. It is also worth noting that both Greg Cosell and Ron Jaworski see the upside of Lindley, Jaworski remarking that if you looked at the 25 best throws Lindley made you would feel he would be a first round pick, and Cosell saying, If you put together a tape of the 45 best throws of all the QB's in the 2011 draft you come away thinking Lindley was the best QB in the draft. There is no doubt he could be a starter in the NFL in the future, but there is work to be done before he gets there.
3) Mike Shanahan recently announced that Robert Griffin III was the uncontested starter. In your opinion, is it better to guarantee someone the starting job like Shanahan did, or go the Coach Whiz route, and leave everything to argument?
CardsFan08: I agree with Coach Whiz, everyone has to earn their spot on the team. We all hear about how fragile a QBs ego is, but if Cousins shows up in the pre-season and shows up RGIII then it should be Cousins job to lose, and RGIII's job to compete and win the job for himself. It's better for everyone, and every win counts in the NFL. You play to win today, that win is the difference between the playoffs and sitting out of the tournament, and whoever is going to give you the best chance to win should play. Now of course, I'm not a Coach and there is an argument for the Cam Newton affect; name him starter day one, provide them with all the support in the world, and they might just shock you.
Tyler Nickel: In Shanahan's case, I think it was a wise move to make RG3 the guaranteed starter. They traded too much for him not to make him the guy. In most cases, though, I would take Whiz's approach and let my QB's battle it out for the starting job. I think competition is how you end up finding the best player.
Alex Mann: It depends on the person. Leinart should have been told he was the undisputed starter, so that way he had some confidence in him. With guys like Kolb or Skelton, being told they have to scrap it out works for them. They won't lose sleep over the fact that they have to fight with someone for the starting position like Leinart may have.
JoeCB1991: I like competition, besides Griffin might not even be better than Rexy yet. At least have the veteran compete with the rookie.
Khodder: It all depends on the situation. Where the Cardinals are at it makes too much sense to have a competition. Neither Kolb nor Skelton have taken a grip on the job and it needs to be open to competition. If you have an aging vet who has proved his worth in the NFL vs a first round draft choice, again it makes sense to have competition becasue if you get what the aging vet has produced in the past you are in a great spot. However with a highly drafted rookie vs a vet who has proven little but failure in the NFL you have to put all your eggs in the rookie basket, give him as many reps as possible in camp, OTA's and into preseason to make sure he is ready for week one.
Jess Root: I think it depends on the situation and the player. Some players flourish in that setting and some back off. You have to have the lockerroom in mind as well.