2006 Cardinals: Game 15 (ARI 26 SF 20) Analysis

[ajcardfan]

Cato looked plenty fast and got himself into position to make plays but his tackling was horrible. He was too high on the RBs on just about every tackle. They ended up running through his tackles or over him most of the time.

This means he fits in perfectly with our scheme. I expect him to be our #1 target in free agency.

 

[RonF]

Walter, IYO, what do you think about Green and the coaching staff? Do they stay or go?

 

[ajcardfan]

Walter, IYO, what do you think about Green and the coaching staff? Do they stay or go?

:notworthy


I don't think you intended it that way, but that is the funniest thing I've read on this board in quite a while RonF!!!!!!!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

:notworthy


I don't think you intended it that way, but that is the funniest thing I've read on this board in quite a while RonF!!!!!!!

Very nice.

 

[D-Dogg]

While clearly true take into account 2 things, Matt was starting his first 2 games in KC and Chicago, we were limited in what we trusted him to do, especially after he threw the pick against KC that helped them. In both games Matt led us downfield when he had to, and Rackers missed.

Secondly, the playcalling is always good when we play SF, that's because they have a TERRIBLE defense to matchup with us, they just can't cover our WR's. It's much easier to be creative when you know you have a huge mismatch in the first place. that last drive was excellent, the run by Shipp on 3rd and 4 was a great call, but that stuff worked because SF was already back on their heels because they can't cover.

I agree, but even in Matt's first two games there is a clear difference in the playcalling after the early passing success (remember, we rocked both teams early on, scoring twice in the first quarters). Then, we turtled...then, when we LOST the leads, we allowed Matt to move the ball and he put us in position to win/tie (I consider the KC game just as much a winning kick because without Priest and Hall in OT, we had a huge advantage). It's that playcalling between the 3rd quarter and 2 minute warning that is highly suspect.

And it isn't just using clock, which is correct to do with a lead...but the complete lack of agression WHILE using clock. Throwing the ball to Wakefield and picking up a key first down last week was amazing not because it worked, but because it wasn't a weak run up the gut, yet again. Heck, even the draw to JJ I didn't have a problem with because it was a good time to go with a draw given the field position and the clock. For practically the first time, I was suprised by the playcalling (in a good way) and didn't see what was coming...and if I see it coming, the Defense sure as hell does.

The hesitancy and unsure playcalling of this season has really, really hurt us. I hope new coach (or Green, if he stays) doesn't treat Matt with baby gloves again by getting ultra-conservative after he drops two TDs in a first quarter.

How many third and fourth quarter TDs vs 1st and 2nd quarter TDs has Matt thrown? And of those, how many were in the Minnesota game in that furious comeback attempt? I think only one was in that game, with a minute left.

Perhaps we can rig the scoreboards so we are always down 3 points, even if we are up 20. Then they won't pull back on the reins.

 

[BigDavis75]

I agree with you. I watched most of a Colts game a week or two ago. Cato looked plenty fast and got himself into position to make plays but his tackling was horrible. He was too high on the RBs on just about every tackle. They ended up running through his tackles or over him most of the time. The complete opposite of the good technique shown by Monty subbing for Hayes last week.

I agree, he looks to be about 220 pounds. I liked what I saw from him last year, but he is really weak in run D and is nonexistant as a pass-rusher (I realize he is dropping a lot of the time). Also, he has a rep as being pretty good in coverage but he barely has and PDs this year and has two picks which were both off of tips this year. As far as his PDs, he has 3 this year and what makes that worse is a PD is also rewarded for a pick, so he has one PD on his own. The only thing he is good at is chasing plays down from the weakside.

 

[az1965]

If we drafted Calvin Johnson and moved Boldin to H-back, this would be me seconds after the pick....

You must be registered for see images

Is that good or bad?

 

[az1965]

10. This whole Boldin @ H-Back, Draft Calvin Johnson, talk is crazy talk. I will leave it at that.

I second that....

Also, top priority needs for us

CB, possibly two (high draft pick or free agency), agree on moving Rolle to safety.

OT to replace Davis (I agree to let him walk), also get rid of Lewinski, Ross, & Brown, so we need to sign / draft for depth.

DE - Chike's emergence during the second half was encouraging but Berry's injuries last two years is concering, plus he was not playing that well this year when he was healthy. What has Pace done? Seriously?

WLB - Huff needs to be replaced... simple.

Kicker - I'm really really concerned with Rackers performance and losing games for us this year. But, probably won't do anything here. Missing or nearly missing 40+ kicks is a HUGE matter of concern, not to mention 1-8 or so 50+ misses which all GOOD kickers (esp pro bowl kickers) should at least make 50%. No confidence in him any more...

Agree on Shipp... I think he believes he can start for a team, although no team may think that way. We may need another short yardage back.

 

[az1965]

some points

1-I think that it is rediculous that we are set with Wells at RT. Here is a guy who is just as inconsistent as Davis and not nearly as physical. If you don't want to franchise Davis, put the transistion tag on him so we can at least get some compensation if someone signs him away. Why let him go and lose the ability to have some quality depth on the o-line. Draft an offensive tackle in the 2nd or third round who can replace him in acouple years. We need to make this a strength.

I can't seem to remember Wells "inconsistencies" since he has been moved to RT. I may be wrong but can you give some examples? I was very critical of Wells when he was used as LG. Obviously, that was a mistake. But he has played real well ever since he was moved to the RT spot.

 

[az1965]

Walter, IYO, what do you think about Green and the coaching staff? Do they stay or go?

 

[Totally_Red]

I can't seem to remember Wells "inconsistencies" since he has been moved to RT. I may be wrong but can you give some examples? I was very critical of Wells when he was used as LG. Obviously, that was a mistake. But he has played real well ever since he was moved to the RT spot.

He had some issues against Denver, including a holding penalty.

 

[Redsz]

Didn't the whole line have protection problems against Denver?

 

[az1965]

He had some issues against Denver, including a holding penalty.

But, generally he has been good...

 

[Evil Ash]

He had some issues against Denver, including a holding penalty.

He also didn't practice until Friday of that week due to illness

 

[Goodyear Card]

I like to see two new OT and put Wells at center. I could live with Ross at LT for one more year and then move him to guard. However, the contract has to be reasonable. The $4 million we are playing Warner to sit on the bench is $4 million dollars less we have to sign other free agents.

 

[BigWatson]

Larry Fitzgerald may have the best hands in all of football

yeah, once he stops dropping passes maybe.

 

[Cardiac]

yeah, once he stops dropping passes maybe.

Just a player hater comment....IMHO

 

[Cardiac]

I like to see two new OT and put Wells at center. I could live with Ross at LT for one more year and then move him to guard. However, the contract has to be reasonable. The $4 million we are playing Warner to sit on the bench is $4 million dollars less we have to sign other free agents.

Ross at LT, that has to be a typo.

 

[Cardiac]

If we drafted Calvin Johnson and moved Boldin to H-back, this would be me seconds after the pick....

You must be registered for see images

You forgot the battery cables to your testicles.

 

[Cardiac]

OK...here's my shopping list and plan...consider the choices yourself and make your own list and plan...

Offense, first, then I'll come back with the defense.

QB: At $4M+ a year, Kurt Warner is too pricey.

With Leinart's durability issues we can't over spend at the backup QB position. Plus Kurt is like a 2nd coach to Matt. Retaining Kurt is a MasterCard commercial that ends with priceless.. you fill in the opening lines.

Note: IMO, I said last week, Anquan Boldin should be used as an H-Back next year...sending him in motion and lining him up in the backfield from time to time would help the Cardinals overcome their weakness at attacking full court press man coverages...and help in the running game. If the Cardinals commit themselves to playing Boldin at H-Back, WR Calvin Johnson could become an exciting option with the first pick (more on this later).

OMG, we don't need another 1st rd WR pick, especially not in the top 10.

OL: LG-Brown, C-Leckey, RG-Lutui and RT-Wells are set. The question is, what about LT Leonard Davis? I have never been comfortable with Davis at LT to begin with and now that the Cardinals have two good starting guards in Milford Brown and Deuce Lutui, I think it's time to let the enigmatic Davis go. There is no way in my thinking that he is worth $11-12M a year. For that kind of money, Davis would need to be a leader...and he simply is not. He makes too many stupid mistakes, like the whiffed cut block attempt that led to Leinart's shoulder injury...not to mention the false starts which tend to stall out drives. Plus, Davis looks like he wants out of Arizona. Let him go. I would also release UFA bust Oliver Ross.

Franchise BIG and let's see what the market bears. Letting him go is just silly. Don't like his false starts on cap hit or occassional missed blocks...think about who we have to replace him....Yep, that's a worse scenario

What I would do is re-sign Brandon Gorin for insurance and use my third round pick to draft one of the real sleepers in the draft, 6-8 318 lb. James Marten of Boston College. The tackle I like the best in the draft is Penn. St.'s Levi Brown...but he's not a top five pick. Another T I like is Notre Dame's Ryan Harris, who will likely be a late 2nd to early 3rd pick. But, James Marten is, IMO, just as promising as Wisconsin's Joe Thomas...and they are the exact same size.

You may be right about the OT prospects but Gorin doesn't seem to be the answer even as a back up. I guess I'm just nitpicking here because you want to let BIG leave without any compensation.

I am hoping that G Elton Brown and C Alex Stepanovich will provide good, solid depth next year...but, for insurance purposes I will draft a C/G combo in the 6th round...my choice: C/G Tyson Swaggert of Minnesota.

E Brown barely made the cuts and we can see how poor a player Step is.

I will also pick up the best free agent bargain T I can find.

Slim pickings. Plus any FA OT you sign would send Gorin to the waiver wire.

TE: Leonard Pope will be a year wiser and stronger. I look for promising improvements from him. Adam Bergen and Fred Wakefield bring depth and versatility...although Jon Bronson may beat one of them out by virtue of his run blocking ability.

Our TE's depend on who our next HC is. If DG stays then who cares about the TE's since he never uses them. I new HC who utilizes TE's means we need to upgrade the position.

Mitch, I always look for your posts and enjoy your input and knowledge more than you can know. It's just at times I think you walk on the wild side, I simply don't know how else to phrase it.

 

[Totally_Red]

I like to see two new OT and put Wells at center. I could live with Ross at LT for one more year and then move him to guard. However, the contract has to be reasonable. The $4 million we are playing Warner to sit on the bench is $4 million dollars less we have to sign other free agents.

I'm ok with the $4 million for Kurt even if it is that much. We've already seen that Matt is less than durable with a pre-season injury and the latest hopefully minor injury.

Leave Wells at ROT. It leaves us with the strongest combination. Continuity is very important with O-lines and now that we have a half-way decent group, I'd like to disturb it as little as possible. I don't really relish Davis as the long-term answer at LT, but he may be the best option there in the short term, like one more season while a draft pick is groomed to take over.

 

[BigRedRage]

Boldin at half back? you guys need to put down the LSD.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Boldin at half back? you guys need to put down the LSD.

Boldin in the backfield 5-10 plays of the game would be genius IMO.

 

[ajcardfan]

Boldin in the backfield 5-10 plays of the game would be genius IMO.

We've done such things in the past, and have started to line him up there again. But, that's not what Walt is pitching. He's saying move him there permanently and draft a WR with our first pick.

 

[Mitch]

We've done such things in the past, and have started to line him up there again. But, that's not what Walt is pitching. He's saying move him there permanently and draft a WR with our first pick.

No. I think Boldin should be used as an H-back (it doesn't mean halfback...it's a term used for hybrid WR/TE types who are moved around for multiple purposes)...where he motions from one side to the opposite slot to avoid press coverage...where he can be used in the blocking schemes on running plays, like cracking back on the DE...and where he can take an occasional handoff...

Part of the reasoning is that the Cardinals are having a very diffucult time handling press man-to-man coverage because their WRs are not very fast and are getting outquicked by aggressive corners (see the Denver game) or their timing is getting spoiled by the run and bump...hence, if the Cardinals motion Boldin into the slot, it will be all the more difficult to bump him...

In my way of thinking...if the Cardinals compliment Fitz and Boldin with a true deep threat, a la Calvin Johnson, they will be able to destroy press man-to-man coverage.

Bryant Johnson was supposed to be the deep threat, but he just doesn't play fast or sudden enough.

The other part of my thinking is that with a top 5 pick in the draft, the Cardinals should take the best and most explosive player on the board.

While T Joe Thomas is an attractive choice...I am not convinced he is one of the top five players in this draft...and if the Cardinals can tab a T like James Marten later in the draft, who is very similar to Joe Thomas (both are 6'8, 318 lbs, srtong and ahtletic), then why not go for one of the draft's elite gamebreakers at #5?

The Patriots took T Ryan O'Callahan of California in the 5th round last year and he has started and played well for them this year. The Pats took a gamebreaker, RB Laurence Maroney in the 1st round, and look what he has done for their offense.

Drafting strictly by need, especially early in the draft, is not the wisest thing to do, particularly when good players slide into the second day.