Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Kudos to the Cardinals for playing their best game of the year...the offense was balanced and effective (featuring Edgerrin James' 94 yards on the ground, Matt Leinart's 233 yard passing yards, and some nifty highlight reel catches from Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald...and a nice audibled TD pass from Leinart to Bryant Johnson...and, oh, let's not forget Leinart's awesome 8 yard TD scramble!)...but credit all of that to the improved play of the offensive line...they stayed on side, opened good holes for James (especially on the left side where Milford Brown looks like the right combo with Leonard Davis--as long as Brown doesn't pull many whiffs on pass protection the way he did early on the game allowing Jared Devries a straight line shot at Leinart)...they pass protected reasonably well (on plays where C Nick Leckey wasn't getting knocked backward into Leinart's feet!), and they did something a Cardinal offense has rarely done, they allowed the team to run out the clock with the game still on the line.
Equally prepared and effective, the Cardinal defense pressured the Lions' offense into playing like the usual Cardinal offense...the Lions were sluggish, stayed too long in the huddle, wasted valuable timeouts, looked confused in the red zone and didn't play will real urgency in the 4th quarter...this was thanks to a stellar performance from the Cardinal defensive line...Bertrand Berry recorded two big sacks and a goaline stuff for a three yard loss on first and goal (which led to a nice goaline stand), Chike Okeafor turned in his best game of the season and was wreaking havoc on Jon Kitna from the edge, while messers Clancy and Watson were cleaning up the middle running game. Karlos Dansby had his best game of the season, chasing plays down like his days of old (one chase led to Kevin Jones' injury...which may have been the most important development in the game), and making a great break on a Kitna pass late in the game which he almost intercepted...Gerald Hayes' solid day was highlighted by his tip of a Kitna pass early in the game that Aaron Francisco intercepted (what a momentum turner this was follwing Scott Player's bobbled snap and ensuing punt block)...David Macklin and Antrel Rolle had their best games, as they were aggressive all day (actually bumping the Lions' WRs and disrutping Kitna's timing...and staying at home on misdirection plays)...Adrian Wilson made some fine pressure plays and Robert Griffith turned in his best game...showed exemplary leadership...and delivered the best hit of the year...jacking up Arlen Harris on the one inch line and knocking him backward while Griffith's helmet popped off like a champagne cork!
Both coordinators deserve game balls. Mike Kruczek called a great game...he really did a great job baiting the Lions' defense early in the game so that when he turned Leinart loose on the some deep shots, the WRs were open and Leinart was by then in rhythm and was precise...Krucz also threw in a flea flicker...and his third down fake dive flip lateral to Marcel Shipp fooled the Lions and allowed the Cardinals to run out the clock. As for Clancy Pendergast, his defense played with far better purpose today...and were finally coached to bump and run with Rolle and Macklin...and, just as commendable, double teaming Roy Williams on some key third down stops (something this defense has rarely done in the past). Save for some wide open passes to Mike Furrey...the pass defense was much improved and much more aggressive. As a final kudo, give CP a lot of credit for shutting WR Josh McCown out!
The most curious aspect of the afternoon was learning from the FOX team of Ron Pitts and Terry Donohue that Dennis Green wants to return next year only if he gets a contract extension. How any 1-8 (12-29) coach could even form the words "contract extension" on his lips is beyond belief...but...perhaps this statement was just another clear signal that Green is doing all he can to get run out of town...just as long as he can carry the cool $2.5M for next year's salary with him.
Equally prepared and effective, the Cardinal defense pressured the Lions' offense into playing like the usual Cardinal offense...the Lions were sluggish, stayed too long in the huddle, wasted valuable timeouts, looked confused in the red zone and didn't play will real urgency in the 4th quarter...this was thanks to a stellar performance from the Cardinal defensive line...Bertrand Berry recorded two big sacks and a goaline stuff for a three yard loss on first and goal (which led to a nice goaline stand), Chike Okeafor turned in his best game of the season and was wreaking havoc on Jon Kitna from the edge, while messers Clancy and Watson were cleaning up the middle running game. Karlos Dansby had his best game of the season, chasing plays down like his days of old (one chase led to Kevin Jones' injury...which may have been the most important development in the game), and making a great break on a Kitna pass late in the game which he almost intercepted...Gerald Hayes' solid day was highlighted by his tip of a Kitna pass early in the game that Aaron Francisco intercepted (what a momentum turner this was follwing Scott Player's bobbled snap and ensuing punt block)...David Macklin and Antrel Rolle had their best games, as they were aggressive all day (actually bumping the Lions' WRs and disrutping Kitna's timing...and staying at home on misdirection plays)...Adrian Wilson made some fine pressure plays and Robert Griffith turned in his best game...showed exemplary leadership...and delivered the best hit of the year...jacking up Arlen Harris on the one inch line and knocking him backward while Griffith's helmet popped off like a champagne cork!
Both coordinators deserve game balls. Mike Kruczek called a great game...he really did a great job baiting the Lions' defense early in the game so that when he turned Leinart loose on the some deep shots, the WRs were open and Leinart was by then in rhythm and was precise...Krucz also threw in a flea flicker...and his third down fake dive flip lateral to Marcel Shipp fooled the Lions and allowed the Cardinals to run out the clock. As for Clancy Pendergast, his defense played with far better purpose today...and were finally coached to bump and run with Rolle and Macklin...and, just as commendable, double teaming Roy Williams on some key third down stops (something this defense has rarely done in the past). Save for some wide open passes to Mike Furrey...the pass defense was much improved and much more aggressive. As a final kudo, give CP a lot of credit for shutting WR Josh McCown out!
The most curious aspect of the afternoon was learning from the FOX team of Ron Pitts and Terry Donohue that Dennis Green wants to return next year only if he gets a contract extension. How any 1-8 (12-29) coach could even form the words "contract extension" on his lips is beyond belief...but...perhaps this statement was just another clear signal that Green is doing all he can to get run out of town...just as long as he can carry the cool $2.5M for next year's salary with him.
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