SB Nation Arizona: All Posts by Jack Cassidyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2013-03-13T17:49:24-07:00https://arizona.sbnation.com/authors/jack-cassidy/rss2013-03-13T17:49:24-07:002013-03-13T17:49:24-07:00Barkley to Cardinals in CBS' mock
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<p>CBS Sports' NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang believes the Cardinals will finally draft their franchise quarterback this season in USC's Matt Barkley.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> have been searching for a new franchise quarterback since the departure of <span>Kurt Warner</span>. In that time period (three seasons) the Cardinals have floundered under Derek Anderson, <span>John Skelton</span>, Kevin Kolb and, most recently, <span>Ryan Lindley</span> and <span>Brian Hoyer</span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/11/4088974/2013-nfl-mock-draft-free-agency"><i>Visit Mocking the Draft for all the latest NFL Draft news and analysis </i></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/11/4088974/2013-nfl-mock-draft-free-agency"></a>Needless to say, it's time for a permanent solution in Arizona. Also needless to say, and unluckily for the Cardinals, this draft touts one of the weakest quarterback classes in years. At one point, mock drafts showed one or zero quarterbacks taken in the first round. Much has changed since then -- the combine, free agency -- but the crop of passers remains thin.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-RobRang">Rob Rang of CBS Sports</a>, however, still believes the Cardinals will attempt to find their franchise quarterback this year. In his latest mock draft, at pick No. 7, Rang projects USC quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78123/matt-barkley">Matt Barkley</a> to Arizona.</p>
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<p>Barkley's stock fell a bit in 2012 but he remains the safest of this year's quarterback class in the eyes of many scouts. The knock on Barkley is, of course, that he relied upon terrific receivers while at USC. He'd be able to do the same with <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> in Arizona. Furthermore, his mobility, intelligence and underrated arm make him a nice fit in new head coach Bruce Arian's offense.</p>
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<p>Barkley, who passed for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns last season for the Trojans, has been mocked anywhere from the top ten to out of the first round, but rarely is he projected in front of West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. That was the case following the 2011 season, but not the 2012 season.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/11/4088974/2013-nfl-mock-draft-free-agency">Dan Kadar of SB Nation's Mocking the Draft</a> also believes that the Cardinals will draft their quarterback of the future, but his selection is not Barkley. With the No. 7 pick, Kadar projects Smith to Arizona.</p>
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<p>Which is more important to an offense, a left tackle or a quarterback? That's the issue the Cardinals will face in the first round. For now, we say Smith if he's available. Unless the Cardinals decide they want to roll with <span>Kevin Kolb</span>, or they like Matt Barkley of Southern California, this is probably the first round ceiling for Smith.</p>
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<p>Kadar lists Oklahoma offensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87274/lane-johnson">Lane Johnson</a> as another possibility for Arizona, if they do indeed decide to shore up their offensive line.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/3/13/4101374/nfl-mock-draft-2013Jack Cassidy2013-02-28T07:00:10-07:002013-02-28T07:00:10-07:00SI's Don Banks projects OT Johnson to Cardinals
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<p>Sports Illustrated's Don Banks has the Arizona Cardinals addressing their weak offensive line in his latest mock draft with Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson.</p> <p>After an exciting 4-0 start, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> went 1-11 in their final twelve games and finished last in the NFC West. Needless to say, they need drastic improvement if they plan on competing in the division.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft"><i>For all news and analysis on the NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.</i></a></p>
<p>Many mock drafts believe that the Cardinals will look at a quarterback in the first round to replace the duo of <span>Kevin Kolb</span> and <span>John Skelton</span>. That notion has became slightly more plausible following Wednesday's report of a trade that will send Alex Smith from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a>. The Chiefs are now highly unlikely to draft a quarterback with the top pick, and if West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is available at No. 7, Arizona may take him.</p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130227/nfl-mock-draft-2/">Sports Illustrated's Don Banks</a> thinks differently. In his first mock draft, Banks projected the Cardinals to take USC quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78123/matt-barkley">Matt Barkley</a>. But in his latest mock, he advises the Cardinals to overlook Barkley and Geno Smith and address a much bigger hole on their roster — the offensive line. With the seventh selection, Banks predicted offensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87274/lane-johnson">Lane Johnson</a> from Oklahoma.</p>
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<p>Upon further review, I'm not buying the notion of Arizona investing a first-round pick into Southern Cal quarterback Matt Barkley. Not because of its <span>Matt Leinart</span> experience, because this is a partially new regime in Arizona and head coach Bruce Arians trusts his expertise when it comes to quarterbacks. But nobody helped themselves at the combine more than Johnson, who showed top-10 athleticism and would help shore up the Cardinals' glaring need at tackle. Without a passable offensive line, an Arizona quarterback doesn't have much of a chance anyway.</p>
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<p>At the combine, Johnson proved he was athletic as advertised. He was one of the top performers among offensive lineman in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. He posted a vertical jump of 34 inches and tallied 28 reps on the bench press.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/24/3906004/lane-johnson-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report"><i>Lane Johnson Scouting Report</i></a></p>
<p>Matt Fairburn of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/25/4026530/2013-nfl-mock-draft-combine-star-lotulelei-tank-carradine">SB Nation's Mocking the Draft</a> differs in opinion from Banks. He also believes the Cardinals will address the offensive line, but thinks they will pass on Johnson and instead select offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan.</p>
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<p>The offensive line in Arizona is a mess, and Fisher could be plugged in to prove an immediate upgrade. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Mike Mayock</a> recently noted that the gap between Joeckel (the draft's top tackle) and Fisher isn't as large as some think.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/28/4038022/2013-nfl-mock-draft-arizona-cardinalsJack Cassidy2013-02-06T21:56:02-07:002013-02-06T21:56:02-07:00Arizona, Arizona State recruiting
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<p>Arizona and Arizona State pulled in full recruiting classes on Wednesday and now look ahead to the 2013 season.</p> <p>Rich Rodriguez and the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a> pulled in a full recruiting class on Wednesday, including a surprise commit, quarterback Khari McGee.</p>
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<p>McGee is ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN and chose Arizona over San Jose State, Eastern Washington and Oregon State. At the top of the Wildcats' 2013 class are four four-star recruits, headlined by athlete Samajie Grant. Running back Pierre Cormier, cornerback Derek Babiash and athlete T.J. Johnson also committed to Arizona and are considered four-stars by ESPN. For more on Arizona's recruiting class, visit <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Desert Swarm</a>.</p>
<p>Arizona State also pulled in a solid recruiting class, which includes three four-star recruits. In total, the Sun Devils got commitments from 29 players.</p>
<p>Linebacker Chans Cox, although not a four-star, has generated plenty of excitement among the Arizona State faithful, as he is considered the prospect with the most upside. He is also a local boy, hailing from Lakeside, Arizona. For more on Arizona State's National Signing Day, visit <a href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/">House of Sparky</a>.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/6/3962524/national-signing-day-2013-arizona-state-arizona-recruiting-resultsJack Cassidy2012-10-21T09:32:44-07:002012-10-21T09:32:44-07:00Kevin Kolb inactive for Cardinals
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<p>With Kevin Kolb out for several weeks, John Skelton takes over as the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback. </p> <p>Quarterback <span>Kevin Kolb</span> is inactive for the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> on Sunday as they face the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a>.</p>
<p>The Cardinals will be without Kolb, safety <span>Kerry Rhodes</span>, cornerback <span>Greg Toler</span>, running back <span>Anthony Sherman</span>, linebacker <span>Reggie Walker</span>, guard <span>Senio Kelemete</span> and tight end <span>Todd Heap</span>.</p>
<p>With Kolb out six to eight weeks with injuries to his ribs and shoulder, <span>John Skelton</span> will start at quarterback for Arizona.</p>
<p>Rhodes was forced to leave the game in Week 6 against Buffalo with a back injury. After missing practice last week, he was ruled out of Sunday's game. Heap has not played since Week 2.</p>
<p>The Minnesota Vikings' inactive list for Week 7 is as follows: quarterback <span>McLeod Bethel-Thompson</span>, wide receiver <span>Jarius Wright</span>, cornerback <span>Brandon Burton</span>, safety <span>Mistral Raymond</span>, linebacker <span>Audie Cole</span>, offensive lineman <span>Mark Asper</span> and defensive end <span>D'Aundre Reed</span>.</p>
<p>Notably absent from the Vikings' inactive list is wide receiver <span>Jerome Simpson</span>, who has missed the last two games with a back injury. He will start Sunday against Arizona. Running back <span>Adrian Peterson</span> will also start after missing several practices last week with an ankle injury.</p>
<p><i>This post first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/10/21/3533952/vikings-cardinals-inactives-nfl-week-7">SB Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2012/10/21/3534116/vikings-cardinals-inactives-nfl-week-7Jack Cassidy