2007 Cardinals

[Don Wassall]

For the past dozen years, the Arizona Cardinals being a coal black football team has been as sure a bet as death and taxes. And despite beginning a new coaching era under Ken Whisenhunt, the 2007 Cardinals roster looks much the same as it does every year â€â€￾ overwhelmingly black.


Perhaps the one ray of hope that things will begin to change under Whisenhunt occurred when the team picked up WR Jerheme Urban after he was cut by the Cowboys on Sept. 1. Urban is tall and fast and has averaged over 20 yards per reception in very limited NFL use over the past four seasons. But he was waived a good dozen times or so by Mike Holmgren while with Seattle, perhaps setting the all-time record in the most-kicked-around-white player category, which is always a fiercely contested on-going award in the NFL. According to media reports, Urban will be competing for the fourth receiver slot in Arizona. We'll see.


when Whisenhunt was hired from the Steelers organization, he brought over WR Sean Morey with him. Despite being fast and having great hands (not to mention an Ivy League education), Morey was used solely as a White Special Teams Demon by Pittsburgh. Whether Morey will fulfill that same role with the Cardinals or actually be allowed to play wide receiver remains to be seen. Still, the possibility of the Cardinals having two white receivers on the roster, albeit as backups, almost boggles the mind.


Arizona has once again gone with its time-honored offensive line of obese blacks who occupy a lot of space but whose athleticism leaves much to be desired. Center Al Johnson is the only white starter. In fact, center and quarterback almost always are the only two positions where whites are allowed to start on the Cardinals. G Brad Badger is a backup.


Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart took over from Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback last season and did very well for a rookie. He looks to be the team's franchise player for years to come.


Veteran Kurt Warner is Leinart's backup and also unselfishly acts as Leinart's mentor and supporter.


Tim Euhus and Troy Bieneman are backup TEs.


On defense the pickings are sparse as always. Ross Kolodziej out of Wisconsin again serves as a backup tackle, white sixth-year man Chris Cooper was very impressive during the preseason at the tackle position.


Monty Beisel is a backup at linebacker. Aaron Francisco out of BYU, who is of Hawaiian and white descent, is a safety who plays quite a bit.


NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 2


APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 13


GRADE: F-

 

[jared]

Francisco should be the starter by this point, no doubt about it in my mind, he's earned it. I'm curious to see where Whisenhunt takes us with his hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense. Hopefully next year's draft is a little brighter and whiter.

 

[White Shogun]

Interesting article about Edgerrin James, in which he tells this story:

...James was proud of his 2006 numbers: 337 carries for 1,159 yards. His average per carry, 3.4, was down from his prior career mark of 4.2, and he scored only six touchdowns, though that was partly his doing.

Fantasy players, cover your eyes and skip the rest of this paragraph: In a selfless move, James removed himself from several late-season goal-line situations so that his backup, Marcel Shipp (four TDs in 17 carries), could pad his numbers. "It was Shipp's contract year," James explained. "He needed those touchdowns more than I did."

And the author of this article says nothing, and doesn't call him on it.

One wonders if Denny Green knew this was happening. What does that tell you about 'professional' football, where the 'best players' are always on the field? James complains in this article about a lack of carries and the Cardinals' losing ways, but has no problem taking himself out of the game so his buddy can 'get his.'

 

[jared]

The Cardinals have now have two white WR's locked up again for next season: Sean Morey and Jerheme Urban.

They have also signed DE Travis LaBoy from the Titans and DE Bo Schobel will return for another year.

In addition to the return of Monty Beisel in the linebacking corps, it looks like they may be adding ex-Brown ILB Matt Stewart as well.

Is this the advent of a new era in Cardinals football? Stay tuned for the draft.

 

[forty-four]

Wow! That is pretty significant especially for that team.

 

[Thrashen]

Holy god, the Cardinals have literally tripled their white player total!

Usually they have but one white defensive player(usually a DT who never plays) and 2 white QBs, 1 center and 1 gaurd.

Ever since they foolishly parted ways with Kyle Vanden Bosch (who just made 2 pro-bowls while playing with out-of-this-world dominance), and the death of Pat Tillman....there hasnt been much to root for on Arizona.

I remember Matt Stewart, especially during his days along side Keith Brooking on the Falcons. As for Beisel, all he ever does in make plays the instant he's inserted into the lineup....which for white players means that he'll only play during an emergency. It sucks that the Pats let him go a couple seasons ago.

If Urban finally cracks into a starting NFL lineup as the #3, trust me, not even Arizona will want to get rid of him. Hopefully he can have a couple huge games against the fat-boy Holmgren, the coach who cut him almost 10 times over...

 

[Don Wassall]

I was hoping Whisenhunt might finally change the demographics on the Cardinals, who have been coal black ever since the Buddy Ryan era. It was disappointing when they drafted yet another over-rated,immobile fat black o-lineman in the first round last year, but things now look to be changing, though I'll be surprised if Morey is used other than as a special teams demon, esp. if Urban wins the number three receiving job. And Urban definitely's earned it. He's a great example of perseverance in the face of an absurd number of times being waived and underused.

 

[jared]

Honestly I wouldn't be very comfortable with Morey as anything more than the #4 WR. He really didn't impress when he was on the field last year, dropping a couple passes and getting caught from behind by a LB (albeit a VERY fast one). Urban on the other hand is a great athlete and I think he's going to make some defenses pay next year. I just hope he lands the #3 spot.

My ideal Cardinals draft start look something like:
1 CB Antoine Cason
2 OT Sam Baker to protect his old college QB
3 S like Zibby, Steltz, or Lynch

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Yeah, to be fair Morey is actually great as a special teamer. Morey could contribute as the possession #4 WR this year if it were fair. But Jared FYI Anquan Boldin ran a 4.72 at the NFL combine and I don't think Morey is slower than that. But I do agree that Boldin is the superior route runner, is a little quicker and yes adjusts to the ball and has better hands too. I hope Urban gets the number 3 WR job, he is so talented and could be used as the speed burner for the Cards. Urban is faster than Fitzgerald as well!

 

[jared]

I'm not sure if Boldin's time had anything to do with an injury at the time but regardless, he plays like a 4.6-ish WR. His quickness and hands are better than Fitzgerald though in my opinion. I like Boldin because he plays the game like it should be played. He doesn't shy away from contact like so many other receivers these days.
Morey may have been able to be a force early in his career but at this point he's only been developed as a special teamer and he's lost some of his speed with age.
Urban still has a lot of promise.