A Simple Way to Decide What's Real

[Harry]

I have always taught my kids to pay attention to what someone does, not what they say and to take responsibility for their actions.

I read this board and see apologists constantly trying to justify the last few weeks. I see people criticizing critics of the Cards play, like being critical was wholly unjustified. I have to ask myself if we’re watching the same games. Last Sunday was simply embarassing and the previous weeks not much better.

Gang, it is a duck.

 

[Redheart]

LOL!

Quack. Quack.

 

[dogpoo32]

Well put.

 

[O]

When does it become a Goose?

 

[LVG]

Thanks for the reality check, Harry.

Fact is, we've played horribly the last several games. No argument about it.

 

[football karma]

Here is what I am wrestling with:

How does a defense play the run so well the first 11 weeks of the season, and then get totally blown off the ball the last three of four? Same personnel, no injuries of note.

How does an offensive line that pass protected pretty well for 11 weeks is suddenly making the Mike Wrights of the world look like Reggie White?

 

[red desert]

I have always taught my kids to pay attention to what someone does, not what they say and to take responsibility for their actions.

I read this board and see apologists constantly trying to justify the last few weeks. I see people criticizing critics of the Cards play, like being critical was wholly unjustified. I have to ask myself if we’re watching the same games. Last Sunday was simply embarassing and the previous weeks not much better.

Gang, it is a duck.

And a lame one at that.

I was caught up in the moment, like so many, but yeah, it is a duck.

 

[Sandan]

Who are thee apologists ?

I haven't noticed one poster who isn't disgusted

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who are thee apologists ?

I haven't noticed one poster who isn't disgusted

this doesn't often happen, but I was just going to post the exact same thing.

 

[conraddobler]

I know some told me to put the rope down and after the Eagles game they told me the team was tired, that it was a reason not an excuse etc.

It's not that they weren't disgusted it's that they were playing the part of enablers and not judge and jury.

Of course there's the optimists too who say well if we just.......

Ok it's like this, if we do by some miracle beat a playoff team at home and I will grant you that's possible, not likely but possible.

The next game against a much tougher opponent better be in perfect conditions or we're going to get skewered.

Then it looks like our coaching staff is going to take a long hard look at this and decide to bring back Warner because of course we're so close and all.

That's when I'm going to hurl for real.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

No, this is a duck.

You must be registered for see images attach

A rubber ducky!

 

[cardsfanmd]

Who are thee apologists ?

I haven't noticed one poster who isn't disgusted

this doesn't often happen, but I was just going to post the exact same thing.

This really must be this week's sign of the apocolypse, because I agree with both of you.

 

[D-Dogg]

Who are thee apologists ?

I haven't noticed one poster who isn't disgusted

this doesn't often happen, but I was just going to post the exact same thing.

Exactly what I was thinking. I don't think anyone is happy or justifying anything of late. We've flat out stunk. Unmotivated when there was still something worth playing for, and once the Minny game was over, we completely gave up any fight at all. As bad as the Minny game was, at least they half-assed it. They left all their ass at home when they went to NE.

 

[D-Dogg]

Then it looks like our coaching staff is going to take a long hard look at this and decide to bring back Warner because of course we're so close and all.

I just don't see that happening. I think Warner has sealed his fate with his awful play of late. They can't be blind to the fact that he's old and tired, and they don't want to put the chips behind him again and push all in with one more year of age on him. They will use the money they would have gave Warner to build the kind of team Whis wants.

This is the last hurrah of the gimmick offense, and hopefully it gets us a playoff win.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Oh goody! Is this going to become another bash Warner thread?
I better go out and buy some more popcorn.

 

[arthurracoon]

hopefully the ugly duckling turns into a swan...

 

[D-Dogg]

Oh goody! Is this going to become another bash Warner thread?
I better go out and buy some more popcorn.

It shouldn't. But we've got some tough decisions to make in the offseason with Warner, JJ, Dansby, Edge, Boldin and only so much money to go around.

Kurt has played great at times this year, but he's feeling the long season and it should be clear to everyone.

Ideally, I'd love to see Warner remain with the team but as a QB coach. I think he would be a damn good coach given the way he's dealt with Leinart and their battles, and the way he has freely given knowledge and helped Matt with defense reading tips.

As I've said before, Warner the man is top notch...just a stellar human being. As a QB, he's been amazing at times, and dreadful at times. He's been both this season at times too. Age isn't something to take lightly, either. I know you love him, and he's earned that love in spades. But I really feel that Whis will want to mold this team into HIS kind of team. This offense right now is not what he wants. He's a Pittsburgh smashmouth kind of guy. He wisely saw we couldn't play that way this year, and gave the reigns to Kurt who has done some wonderful things and is primarily responsible for a home game in the playoffs for this franchise. But we aren't going further with this team as it stands...it will need serious reworking and there is only so much money to be thrown around.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

I'm not going to defend him, but would you at least reconsider if he went out and played a couple solid games to end the year? Or is it bye, bye, Kurt no matter how he plays?

 

[D-Dogg]

I'm not going to defend him, but would you at least reconsider if he went out and played a couple solid games to end the year? Or is it bye, bye, Kurt no matter how he plays?

I think, IMO, that it is bye bye Kurt. Not because of him alone, but because I don't feel he is the type of QB that would excel in the system that Whis wants to build and that is more pronounced in him getting another year older. Leinart might not be the answer either, and we might need to explore a replacement QB after next season, but I think he fits the mold more than Warner does.

Warner is a gunslinger...and he can sling it when he's on. But we aren't going to be a year-to-year playoff team slinging it. We need to be more traditional. IMO, of course.

 

[Totally_Red]

I think, IMO, that it is bye bye Kurt. Not because of him alone, but because I don't feel he is the type of QB that would excel in the system that Whis wants to build and that is more pronounced in him getting another year older. Leinart might not be the answer either, and we might need to explore a replacement QB after next season, but I think he fits the mold more than Warner does.

Warner is a gunslinger...and he can sling it when he's on. But we aren't going to be a year-to-year playoff team slinging it. We need to be more traditional. IMO, of course.

I tend to agree that a Warner re-signing has become less likely because of the past few weeks and certainly can't disagree with anyone who wants to let him go. But realistically Matt hasn't shown the ability to stay healthy and I'm a little uncomfortable going into next season without Warner. Not that I'd be willing to spend a lot of money on him. It's a real open question what to do with several of these free agents in the offseason. Warner, Dansby, Elton Brown, even RFA's like Leonard Pope.

One thing is certain. The entire TEAM has taken a significant step backward in the last 3-4 weeks. Regardless of what happens in the next two weeks, the poor play of both lines will need to be addressed in the offseason and is THE top priority for upgrade IMO.

I would personally like to see the Cardinals keep their potent passing game intact(meaning no Boldin trade and re-signing Warner to a reasonable contract) and concentrate on upgrading both lines. But they definitely need to become two-dimensional on offense similar to Atlanta, instead of one-dimensional like New Orleans. This year's divergent performance by those two teams graphically illustrates the difference in the won-loss columns that having a balanced attack can do. The Falcons have been able to win some road games(@MN,@FB) because they CAN run the ball when necessary. The Saints haven't.

Most observers will tell you that the Cardinals have good to excellent personnel at the skill positions(except RB), but are sorely lacking up front. That's becoming more and more obvious with each game. So nose tackle, center, offensive guard, even tight end, are the areas that will need to be addressed this offseason IMO.

 

[RonF]

[quoteMost observers will tell you that the Cardinals have good to excellent personnel at the skill positions(except RB), but are sorely lacking up front. That's becoming more and more obvious with each game. So nose tackle, center, offensive guard, even tight end, are the areas that will need to be addressed this offseason IMO.[/quote]

It seems that we try to deal with this area of weakness each and every year. And the drafting for our defensive line hasn't been that successful either. How many years have we drafted near the top of the draft and blew the opportunity. I look at other teams who draft last each year and yet, finish near the top. There is no doubt in my mind that the one who selects the draft picks holds the most important position on the team.

 

[gamebird98]

hopefully the ugly duckling turns into a swan...

We could use another Swann

 

[JeffGollin]

"Getting Real" is a 2-Way Deal

(Note - yesterday - I spent nearly an hour composing a new thread that addressed this exact issue. But for some reason, it wound up in the "ASFN Black Hole" and never appeared here. So I'll try and recap the high and low points).

To deny the Cardinals have problems would be tantamount to denying that Chinese mustard is hot. (Our recent string of L's along with the gazillion-point margins of defeat are proof positive).

But pinpointing precisely what these problems are (and how to fix them) is a bit more difficult.

So we sit up there in the stands or in front of our TV or listening to Sports Talk Radio and - from our distant vantage point - point fingers, take names and call for wholesale firings.

We don't sit on the sideline, hang around in the lockeroom or spend time in team meetings. And pro teams aren't inclined to share inside stuff with the public (especially in times of adversity). To paraphrase Jim Mora Sr.: "We may think we know, but we don't know diddly poo."

Was a player playing hurt? Did we wear different shoes than the Pats? Did our coaches miscalculate how well-prepared our players were to play in a snow game? Did our film study miss stuff the Pats pulled? Was there a lack of concentration mid-week? All kinds of questions - but few, if any answers based on anything but speculation.

Sure there are problems. Big problems. No one's saying there aren't. But I'd just humbly suggest that, before we throw individual players under the bus for gutlessness - or a specific coach for cluelessness, it would be nice if we knew what the facts were.

That's the flip side of "getting real" - not just acknowledging that problems exist but also knowing what the actual facts are.

 

[SuperSpck]

We could use another Swann

True story. I loved me some Swann.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Well, right now it's a "duck" BUT...

it was a "swan" for awhile. ...And it was FUN! Can it be a "swan" again?? Time will tell. BUT honestly, I just don't get it. I'm supposed to feel miserable because we don't win the Super Bowl?? Were there NOT encouraging signs this year? Are we NOT in a play-off game for the 1st time in a kazillion years? Did we NOT win the West for the 1st time ever?? Were NOT Cardinal fans everywhere getting Loud & Proud?? NO! I'm NOT sticking my head in the sand. Clearly, the team needs some fixing to get better. BUT all this Doom & Gloom?? UGH! Life is too short to be miserable over anything. Things can always change. ...And often-times they do. GO CARDS!