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Faneca a Card
April 28, 2010 - As an Easterner, just let me
say that I hate the two-three hour time difference between AZ and the East
Coast. All day yesterday and most of last night, I trolled the Internet and
the TV sports channels in the hope of learning something about the Alan
Faneca situation. Nada. I slept the sleep of the Cardinal-restless. Then,
bingo! This morning - buried on the sports pages of my NY Daily News was the
announcement that former Steeler and Jets guard, Alan Faneca & the Cards had
come to terms on a one-year deal.
Fan-talk about the possibility of
bringing in the former All Pro guard amidst rumors that the Jets planned to
release him was mixed. A couple of ASFN bloggers were passionate and
stat-oriented in slamming Faneca for poor pass-blocking and a general
decline in play during the past year with the Jets. But on the plus-side was
Faneca's resume, his history with Coach Wiz and Russ G and the veteran
presence he'd bring to the Cardinal offensive line.
When Cardinal
die-hard fans raise the red-flag so high on a player, I think we owe it to
them to respect that. We ought to look dig a little deeper and think through
the what-ifs of that player. At the same time (& this has seldom if ever
been true before) the Cardinal coaching staff and FO has earned our trust
for making sound football decisions. If Russ G and Ken W feel Alan Faneca
still can bring it and will add something to our football team, that's good
enough for me.
In making the announcement, Coach Whisenhunt alluded
to "making changes" to the Cardinal offensive line. Mike Gandy evidently
won't be back, leaving an opening at LT. The plan calls for Levi Brown to
move from RT to LT with youngster Brandon Keith the front-runner to become
starting RT. The Cardinals signed FA Rex Hadnot who was expected to
challenge starting guards Deuce Lutui or Reggie Wells (both of whom are said
by some to have had subpar seasons last year).
Deuce hasn't signed
his tender which makes the competition to start at either guard even more
wide-open. If I was a betting man, I'd predict our starting O-line will be:
L Brown - Faneca - Sendlein - Hadnot - Keith with Lutui (whom Wiz is looking
forward to having back) and Wells in reserve and with other backups like
Jeremy Bridges, Herman "House" Johnson and a bunch of other reserves
(including a few mammoth UDFA's) also waiting in the wings. With two former
starters projected (by me) as backups, trading Wells or Lutui is not out of
the question should the Cards feel they can significantly upgrade LB, CB or
TE via a trade.
Thinking outside the lines a little bit, it also
occurred to me that it would be nice to build a little bit of continuity
into the Pittsburgh-related way the Cardinal O-line goes about its business.
It's unlikely Coach Grimm will be with us forever, and it might be very
smart to have someone like Faneca waiting in the wings to perhaps eventually
be phased into some sort of coaching role with the Cards. (Just
sayin').
All I know is - regardless of the positive/not-so-positive
commentary and punditry, I'm walking around my house in Central NJ with a
bouncier spring in my step now that we've got Faneca. Welcome aboard.
Robinson Re's Up:
NT Bryan Robinson has agreed to a
one year deal and will remain a Cardinal. Although not a behometh 330 lb
space-eater, he's always been one of our most effective interior linemen at
stopping the inside run,.
KEY STORIES PRIOR TO 2010
Friday April 23 - Pat Tillman Killed in
Afghanistan
Just found out.
Details are irrelevant. He's gone. I'm crying. We will continue to cover the
draft, but it will be with a heavy, heavy heart.
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