Clayton Tune: The Fateful Path of an NFL Legacy by Walter Mitchell photo: @azcardinals.com via Instagram During the second night of the 2023 NFL Draft, Clayton Tune received a call from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers wanted to assure Clayton of their interest in drafting the University of Houston quarterback at some point on day three. When the Arizona Cardinals selected Clayton Tune with the #139 pick a day later, he was surprised, given that the Cardinals had not expressed any significant interest in him during the pre-draft process. The Cardinals were not one of the six teams that brought him in for 30 visits (Texans, Saints, Browns, Steelers, Bucs, Giants). Tune had also been given a private workout by the Rams. The eventual link the Cardinals had to Clayton Tune was that Israel Woolfork was one of his coaches at the Senior Bowl. At that time, Woolfork had just finished his second year of a Bill Walsh/Bill Willis coaching fellowship with the Cleveland Browns. A...
At this point I'm not sure what we can hope for from an organizational standpoint. It's very difficult not to be pessimistic. Even bright spots like the revelation that Michael Wilson is a WR1 is overshadowed by the fact we spent a #4 pick on MHJ, likely blocking his development (not saying it's a bust situation but c'mon). This is where better/more independent coaching and scouting should have intervened earlier.
ReplyDeleteWe know Bidwill isn't likely to step aside. He's either going to try running this disaster back, or we keep spinning the carousel of unproven, inexperienced leadership and hope eventually we hit on a McVay-level talent.
I still remember Walter talking about Brock Bowers and pairing him alongside Trey McBride back in that Draft. Imagine how things would look right now with those two, PLUS Michael Wilson at the X Receiver, and then Dortch or another slot guy
DeleteI understand the difficulty in selling something like that to the fans versus taking a guy already HOF-crowned by the media. But that’s why you need a real football guy in charge. To Walter’s point, it certainly would have been a better fit, and 2 years in who thinks that we’re better off with the pick we made?
DeleteOnly hope for Cardinal fans is either Bidwill sells franchise or takes his hands off the football operations. Barring one of those two things we will continue to remain one of the poorest run football operations in NFL. I would give likelihood to one of those events at less than 1% of occurring.
ReplyDeleteWhat is obvious of this coaching staff is their complete lack of development. We have regressed in every aspect. We have a defensive minded HC who does not get involved in decisions of his 1st time DC or his 1st time OC. We are ranked at or near bottom of both DEF and OFF statistics. The team as a whole looks gassed, out-of-position. We lack in basics of blocking & tackling! This coaching staff doesn't get more from its players - they get LESS (players who leave the Cardinals typically see an improvement in their level of play when they leave).
This coaching staff has created more excuses for their failures than my short-term memory will allow. Excuses: Kyler, Injuries, Lack of talent, etc., etc.... they've had 3 yrs to turn around this team, after 3yrs the team is no better than first year. Every other team who entered rebuild in same year as Cardinals are doing far better (ie. Texans, Broncos).
I think I sound like a broken record album repeating the same thing season after season. And a fool for ever becoming a fan of a team I know will never break free from its losing mentality. So glad I stopped spending cash money on this franchise.
I suppose I will get excited again for possible coaching changes and new personnel, only to repeat same story line again in years/decades to come (assuming I live that long).
We feel your pain.
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