15 thoughts - Vikings game

[Gandhi]

1 - Well, well, J. J. Nelson actually got involved in this game. Anyone ready to call McCoy a genius for setting it up?

2 - I understand that it takes time for new coaches to settle in and for the players to learn the systems and for them to find out what the coaches want, but this is the NFL and it shouldn’t take this long. It doesn’t work that way.

3 - A couple of days ago I wrote in another post that it was rubbish to call out David Johnson, and I mostly stand by it, but I have to admit that he doesn’t look like David Johnson. He also makes way too many mental mistakes.

4 - Kendall Wright was with the Vikings throughout training camp, and he was inactive on gameday though he trained with the team all week. Shortly after they had signed Wright, they still went through with a scheduled workout with receiver Rishard Matthews. Maybe they only signed Wright to pick his brain, yet want to go forward with Matthews.

5 - I liked the decision to go for it on 4th and 1 at the Vikings’ goal line down 10-3. After the start to this game and season the team needed to get this. They needed to show themselves that they could do it. Now, they couldn’t, but the Vikings got the ball on their own one yard line. It wasn’t the end of the world.

6 - I couldn’t listen to the interview with Bob McManaman regarding the unrest in the locker room, because I couldn’t get it to work on my computer. I consider McManaman a trustworthy reporter, and thus I tend to believe the report. If true, it is bad. It is really, really bad. Some will argue that it is the logic response that there is unrest in the locker room after starting 1-4, and now this game will increase the unhappiness. No. These players are professionals. They are paid to shut up and do what the coaches tell them no matter the record. Yes, they are humans and they react to circumstances like we do, but they are also trained to play the games and move on. If there is any kind of movement against the coaches building, and Steve Keim and Michael Bidwill knows about it (which they definitely should) they have to act on it, and they have to act on it right now (no, I am not saying they definitely have to fire everyone). Such things can affect the culture in the building negatively for years.

7 - I find it strange that five supposedly good run blocking offensive linemen suddenly can’t run block to save their life.

8 - Welcome to the season, Larry! Now, throw the ball to him. Always trust Fitzgerald.

9 - During the games I take notes to remember what I will say in these posts. All six weeks I have wrote on my pad how good Budda Baker is, so now I will just go ahead and say it. He is so much fun to watch, and if the Cards were winning, everyone would be talking about him. What a great move by Keim to trade up in the draft to get him.

10 - Since the game got so depressing, I instead began to think about different things concerning the Cardinals, and one of them was how they have a lot of players starting in the secondary who’s name starts with the letter B. Bene’ Benwikere, Antoine Bethea, Bubba Baker, Tre Boston. “Want to know a DB? Meet PP, AB, BB, TB and BB”.

11 - I like what Mike Jurecki said during the week about getting David Johnson the ball in favorable positions. Find a way. It might be hard and difficult, but just find a way.

12 - Going back five years, not including this year (so really, it’s four years) there have been 27 coaching changes in the NFL. 14 of those resulted in losing record in the new head coaches’ first season, and in only two of those occasions the head coach was fired after just one season (and both were the Niners). Six of the times the team only won four or fewer games in the first season, but only once the head coach got fired. The average number of wins in new head coaches’ first season are 4.5. I think you know where I am going with this. Get ready for another season with Wilks as the head coach.

13 – Corey Peters leads primarily be example. He is not a guy who declines his own responsibilities, and actually, he rarely says much of anything, so when he does, you listen carefully. That’s why I found two quotes from him after the game highly interesting. 1: “The run defense has been a problem all year. At some point it’s like, do guys care? At the end of the day, everybody’s got a responsibility and everybody’s got to take a look in the mirror and say “Did I do what I was supposed to do on this play?” That’s the reality of it. Run defense is fairly simple. Everybody has a gap”. 2: “It’s fairly simple to figure out who is making the mistakes each week when we watch tape.”

14 - I thought we saw the offense playing pretty well in the drive at the end of the third-, start of the fourth quarter when they went to a hurry up-, no huddle offense. Was that drive a sign of progress? I don’t know. Maybe.

15 - 9 - Can they recover in time for Thursday?

 

[Garthshort]

Of your 15 things, the one word I came away with is depressing. However, I knew this would be a bad year, and I'm already thinking about next year. Even though at age 81, I know I'm running out of next years. But I really believe that with a great draft and having a lot of money to spend in free agency, we should be MUCH better next year. And, while suffering through this season, I'll hold on to the positives, such as the greatness of Chandler Jones, PP, Budda and Larry, and the hope for Rosen, Kirk, Cole, Nkemdiche, Golden, and someone else, who will surprise and emerge. This season is bleak, but for me, the future is bright.

 

[Kerry Olson]

For years McCoy has been known throughout the NFL as a RB killer and he is not doing David Johnson any good here. Does DJ look like the same RB he was 2 years ago no, but the play calling this year does not use his talents well. Never does he get to pop the ball outside as he is constantly asked to go up the middle even with 8 in the box. Run some counters or something to get him outside to see if his burst is still there. When it comes to our passing game or lack of it, I do not think Rosen is our problem but rather the calls that made. Larry is still a great receiver, but his use in slot is a far cry from the last couple of years. I hate even saying this but I wish the team would do him a favor and if we are mailing it in trade him to a team that would use him properly and gives him a chance to play in a SB. Like GB, KC, NE, or NO all of those teams use the slot receiver properly, have better talent across the board, and have offensive coordinators that understand how to call a game. Mike McCoy has lost the offensive teams in his last 2 years and it is no surprise to me that Larry Sr called him out. Our defense though not as good as it was with Belcher running it still has some bright spots and is asked to do way to much to often. Going back to the Minnesota game why in the $%^# do you run the ball at the on first and second, then throw on 3rd from the 1 then decide to run it on 4th. If you are going to pass do it on 2nd down, and run 3rd and 4th. Also try to run to the weak side once in awhile. Mix it up with the runs, a bootleg even with Rosen who is actually athletic would throw a team off that has 22 eyes on DJ. Sorry I am a die hard Cardinal fan from their years in St Louis and this year frustrates me like no other after the years we have had in the desert recently.

 

[Snakester]

I did see improvement this game from most of the team and even the play calling. If we would have scored on that fourth and one this game might have been a win for us. My biggest take is Rosen looked better this week and already looks like an NFL quarterback. I think we have a bright future with Rosen. Reddick also seems to be improving and that is huge for the defense next year. We have alot of pieces together and it won't take much to make this a playoff team next year.

If Al Holcomb would make sure one linebacker stays back on every play instead of charging the line I think a lot of these long runs would stop. Marcus Golden looks like he's not far from being his old self and that will be huge for the line. Jones and Peters both played well and Nkemdiche seems to be improving week to week. Add in PP and Budda and this defense can be solid again very quickly. I don't know if Al Holcomb sucks as a DC or if the players just haven't got his defense down yet. I know watching football over the years it seems like when you bring in new coordinators it usually takes half the season before the team picks up whatever offense or defense has been installed.

Now Holcomb is not an experienced DC and much of this could just be coaching and him learning on the job, but you would think that Wilks would be helping him if he was having problems. Because this is a new coaching staff I would pay close attention to how the team does the second half of the year. If we don't go at least 4-4 then I think we need to start over with a new coaching staff. One that has experience. Even if they keep Wilks at least be willing to change the coordinators if these two don't turn things around the second half of the year.This team has way too much talent on it to be a 3-13 team.

 

[CFLredzoned]

13 – Corey Peters leads primarily be example. He is not a guy who declines his own responsibilities, and actually, he rarely says much of anything, so when he does, you listen carefully. That’s why I found two quotes from him after the game highly interesting. 1: “The run defense has been a problem all year. At some point it’s like, do guys care? At the end of the day, everybody’s got a responsibility and everybody’s got to take a look in the mirror and say “Did I do what I was supposed to do on this play?” That’s the reality of it. Run defense is fairly simple. Everybody has a gap”. 2: “It’s fairly simple to figure out who is making the mistakes each week when we watch tape.”

Wow. Those are really strong words. It sounds like there's one guy he's pointing the finger at.

14 - I thought we saw the offense playing pretty well in the drive at the end of the third-, start of the fourth quarter when they went to a hurry up-, no huddle offense. Was that drive a sign of progress? I don’t know. Maybe.

Yeah I was actually really encouraged by this. It looks like they found something Rosen is comfortable with.

 

[football karma]

I like what Mike Jurecki said during the week about getting David Johnson the ball in favorable positions. Find a way. It might be hard and difficult, but just find a way.

it seems like of the passes to DJ now, nearly all involve him catching the ball with his back to the defense

watching the Pats offense (as an example), they do such a good job of getting their RBs in some space, and passing them the ball in stride while running north/south. Simple, quick hitting passes that net them 6 yards if a tackle is made, more if it isn't.

 

[moklerman]

Things that I imagine. DJ is disgruntled and it's showing in his lack of production. Larry is frustrated...worse, it's showing. It was an odd sight to see him looking to the sky and fed up looking after a catch yesterday. Rosen, like DJ and Larry, et al are being misused. As mentioned during the broadcast, Rosen has shown that he's comfortable and productive in more up-tempo/hurry-up offense. Yet, they rarely go to it.

Broken record here but, I feel like I'm watching the Fisher led Rams with this Cardinals teams. Bad clock management, predictable, unimaginative play calling, frustrated players, obvious ways to improve things that aren't being done, previously productive players not producing, grasping at straws by the staff...does not bode well for Wilks. If he's as in over his head as Fisher was then there isn't much hope for the future.

 

[Chopper0080]

Things that I imagine. DJ is disgruntled and it's showing in his lack of production. Larry is frustrated...worse, it's showing. It was an odd sight to see him looking to the sky and fed up looking after a catch yesterday. Rosen, like DJ and Larry, et al are being misused. As mentioned during the broadcast, Rosen has shown that he's comfortable and productive in more up-tempo/hurry-up offense. Yet, they rarely go to it.

Broken record here but, I feel like I'm watching the Fisher led Rams with this Cardinals teams. Bad clock management, predictable, unimaginative play calling, frustrated players, obvious ways to improve things that aren't being done, previously productive players not producing, grasping at straws by the staff...does not bode well for Wilks. If he's as in over his head as Fisher was then there isn't much hope for the future.

Jeff Fisher is probably the top end of what Wilks can develop into.

 

[moklerman]

it seems like of the passes to DJ now, nearly all involve him catching the ball with his back to the defense

watching the Pats offense (as an example), they do such a good job of getting their RBs in some space, and passing them the ball in stride while running north/south. Simple, quick hitting passes that net them 6 yards if a tackle is made, more if it isn't.

Yeah, I don't know what it is about some coaches. There must be some benefit to running stop routes and sitting in zones but it drives me bonkers. Especially with an offense that's struggling. The more you sit down like that, the more the defense creeps up. The more they creep up, the more stacked the box gets and smaller the rushing lanes become. The harder it is to run, the faster you have to get rid of the ball and then you start shortening your routes and sitting down even closer to the line and the cycle starts shrinking everything again.

Conservative, predictable play calling only works when you've got the Hogs just steam rolling over people. Why is it coaches seem to forget that those Redskins teams had really efficient passing games though?

Was watching a game not too long ago where an offense needed to get down the field with time running out and all 4 receivers ran stop routes within 10 yards of the LOS. I couldn't believe it and would have fired the OC on the spot. This wasn't a 4th down where they needed 2 yards or something. Not one single receiver was going deep, stretching the defense, challenging them over the top.

 

[Harry]

Often players coming back from injuries are overly self-protective regardless of the injury. It’s the shock of finding out your not invulnerable. Golden finally started to play with a little more abandon. Also the old offensive line opened holes irregularly, which was perfect for DJ. His jump cut allowed him to make a quick change of direction into these holes, leaving would be tacklers grabbing air. This line gets no push. It’s literally a wall. DJ’s running style is not based on power, so he’s not effective. Get some blockers he’ll be fine. I don’t know why they signed a FB, then didn’t use him.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I don’t know why they signed a FB, then didn’t use him.

McCoy

 

[moklerman]

Often players coming back from injuries are overly self-protective regardless of the injury. It’s the shock of finding out your not invulnerable. Golden finally started to play with a little more abandon. Also the old offensive line opened holes irregularly, which was perfect for DJ. His jump cut allowed him to make a quick change of direction into these holes, leaving would be tacklers grabbing air. This line gets no push. It’s literally a wall. DJ’s running style is not based on power, so he’s not effective. Get some blockers he’ll be fine. I don’t know why they signed a FB, then didn’t use him.

It's about more than that, though. When you run at predictable times in predictable ways, it doesn't matter how talented you are at the NFL level. When you don't have a passing game that is aggressive and unpredictable the defense doesn't have to respect it and can stack against the running game.

It all comes down to coaching/scheme. Bring in a good OC and the Cardinals are back to .500 right away.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Jeff Fisher is probably the top end of what Wilks can develop into.

Ouch!

 

[cardncubfan]

Very predictable offense. No misdirection plays whatsoever.

 

[Russ Smith]

I did see improvement this game from most of the team and even the play calling. If we would have scored on that fourth and one this game might have been a win for us. My biggest take is Rosen looked better this week and already looks like an NFL quarterback. I think we have a bright future with Rosen. Reddick also seems to be improving and that is huge for the defense next year. We have alot of pieces together and it won't take much to make this a playoff team next year.

If Al Holcomb would make sure one linebacker stays back on every play instead of charging the line I think a lot of these long runs would stop. Marcus Golden looks like he's not far from being his old self and that will be huge for the line. Jones and Peters both played well and Nkemdiche seems to be improving week to week. Add in PP and Budda and this defense can be solid again very quickly. I don't know if Al Holcomb sucks as a DC or if the players just haven't got his defense down yet. I know watching football over the years it seems like when you bring in new coordinators it usually takes half the season before the team picks up whatever offense or defense has been installed.

Now Holcomb is not an experienced DC and much of this could just be coaching and him learning on the job, but you would think that Wilks would be helping him if he was having problems. Because this is a new coaching staff I would pay close attention to how the team does the second half of the year. If we don't go at least 4-4 then I think we need to start over with a new coaching staff. One that has experience. Even if they keep Wilks at least be willing to change the coordinators if these two don't turn things around the second half of the year.This team has way too much talent on it to be a 3-13 team.

Not sure I agree on reddick, on at least 2 of the big runs he got completely engulfed opening the hole. One was by their 13th string undrafted rookie RB, when they showed the replay not only was Reddick picking the wrong gap, he ran into an OL and then turned his back like he thought the OL would stop blocking and let him turn and run. I wouldn't call it giving up I think he legitimately picked the wrong gap to fill but man was it bad. One of the big runs he just completely overran it and a big RB with almost no wiggle made a simple cutback and left him in the dust. He's playing better because he's in the games now, but he's really lost in the run game IMO.

 

[Gandhi]

Of your 15 things, the one word I came away with is depressing. However, I knew this would be a bad year, and I'm already thinking about next year. Even though at age 81, I know I'm running out of next years. But I really believe that with a great draft and having a lot of money to spend in free agency, we should be MUCH better next year. And, while suffering through this season, I'll hold on to the positives, such as the greatness of Chandler Jones, PP, Budda and Larry, and the hope for Rosen, Kirk, Cole, Nkemdiche, Golden, and someone else, who will surprise and emerge. This season is bleak, but for me, the future is bright.

Thanks for replying, Garth!. I agree with you that it is a depressing season, and I too am looking forward to next year, and even though none of us know about the draft prospects and free agents yet, there is always some good ones.

I can also understand your positivity toward the players already on the roster. I have this thought that you could say there is 22 “best players” throughout the NFL at the positions on defense and offense, and you could argue that the Cardinals has two of them in Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson. Not many teams can say the same of their roster. I think the problem with this squad is the depth.

 

[Gandhi]

For years McCoy has been known throughout the NFL as a RB killer and he is not doing David Johnson any good here. Does DJ look like the same RB he was 2 years ago no, but the play calling this year does not use his talents well. Never does he get to pop the ball outside as he is constantly asked to go up the middle even with 8 in the box. Run some counters or something to get him outside to see if his burst is still there. When it comes to our passing game or lack of it, I do not think Rosen is our problem but rather the calls that made. Larry is still a great receiver, but his use in slot is a far cry from the last couple of years. I hate even saying this but I wish the team would do him a favor and if we are mailing it in trade him to a team that would use him properly and gives him a chance to play in a SB. Like GB, KC, NE, or NO all of those teams use the slot receiver properly, have better talent across the board, and have offensive coordinators that understand how to call a game. Mike McCoy has lost the offensive teams in his last 2 years and it is no surprise to me that Larry Sr called him out. Our defense though not as good as it was with Belcher running it still has some bright spots and is asked to do way to much to often. Going back to the Minnesota game why in the $%^# do you run the ball at the on first and second, then throw on 3rd from the 1 then decide to run it on 4th. If you are going to pass do it on 2nd down, and run 3rd and 4th. Also try to run to the weak side once in awhile. Mix it up with the runs, a bootleg even with Rosen who is actually athletic would throw a team off that has 22 eyes on DJ. Sorry I am a die hard Cardinal fan from their years in St Louis and this year frustrates me like no other after the years we have had in the desert recently.

Kerry, thanks for the post!

My reasoning for saying it wasn’t fair to call out David Johnson was the exact same as your thinking, that the playcall doesn’t do him any favors, and it was why I thought it was a good point by Mike Jurecki that the coaches simply needs to find a way. They are supposed to be the smart ones. Find a way.

I must say, though, that I don’t understand the idea that they should trade Fitzgerald out of mercy at all. First, no team are mailing it in. It might look that way because a team is bad, but it just does not happen in the NFL. The players’ jobs are on the line, the coaches’ job is on the line and the personnel guys’ job are on the line, and the majority of those guys has families to take care of. Families that it some cases relies on said players income from playing in the NFL. If anyone – coach, personnel guy or even the owner – so much as suggest that losing might be an idea, the players will lose all respect for that person, quit on him and that person would be done in the organization. Us fans can sometimes think – probably out of frustration – that a team has thrown in the towel, but I am sure it doesn’t ever happen. So why would anyone inside the organization think it is a great idea to trade an asset like Fitzgerald? Second, Fitzgerald has chosen to be in Arizona. Nobody has forced him. He could have turned down any contract offers and left in free agency, or he could have retired. He wants to be with the team, so who are you doing a favor by sending him away?