Catfish
Registered
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2006
- Posts
- 4,551
- Reaction score
- 64
Well, it's Tuesday after the bye week, and our Cards are 5 up and 4 down. Who would have possibly thought THAT as we began the new season in September?
The fact is that hardly had the final whistle sounded, and people were already on the board posting about how they hate this franchise for never seeming to have a clear cut, (relaxing), win-----or for putting the fans through so much turmoil at the end of games. I find it simply amazing that rather than celebrate the team's good fortune, (and continued progress), people are now complaining about 'how we win'.
I guess that many, many Cardinals fans still revel in the fact that in '07-8-&-9, this team went 8-8, 9-7, and 10-6, and thus have huge expectations of winning Cardinal's football. On the other hand, I recall the quick return to 5-11 ball after the retirement of Kurt Warner, and the absolutely abysmal attempts to fix the QB problem, (all the while sinking further and further into hopelessness during the next three seasons after Warner). I recall a coaching staff that continued efforts to try the same thing, game after game, each time hoping for a different result. It was almost like the shine created by the Warner years caused a glare that overrode the ability of many to notice the almost total devastation wrought on the offensive unit of this franchise. If not for a very good defense, this whole team would have been irrelevant by the end of 2012.
Maybe that is why I can appreciate the efforts of Keim, Licht, and BA to change the culture here, and bring this team back to relevance, while some fans still feel that they are being short-changed. I see slow, but steady, progress with this offensive unit, and a return to football that is fun to watch because the offense, defense, and special teams ALL play hard every play, despite the patchwork offense that is still far behind the other two units. This team is becoming formidable. It is for the most part, winning those games that it should. One needs to look no farther than the first game after the BYE week to see this change. That is one point in each season, where our old Cards would have simply come out flat and stunk up the stadium. They did it almost every year, as if they forgot how to play football after a week off. How refreshing it was to see this effort against the talented Texans.
I still see our offense as one that is very short on talent and is suffering still more from a head coach who places possibly more loyalty to players he has had previously in his fold than he should. I see Rashad Mendenhall as a liability to this offense, and at the very best, the number three running back on this roster. I believe that a dose of Ellington, Taylor, and maybe even Williams, would go far to assist a struggling QB like Palmer, and would contribute more to a better running game than Mendenhall can. After hearing BA not finding fault with Mendenhall's devastating fumble late in the game, (almost as if he was in denial about it), I believe that better help is available than is being utilized at this point. That said, BA has corrected far more than he has failed to correct as this season has progressed. I have no doubt that he will eventually see the opportunity that is presenting itself to the improvement of our running game.
Meanwhile, I am ecstatic about the manner in which our O-line has played. This unit is so lacking in talent that it is amazing how hard they play in order to provide what help they can. Only another off-season of talent influx can change that, and I firmly believe that Keim and Licht have a plan for that. Meanwhile, the weakness in the middle of this line will be noticed, and the lack of experience at LT will continue. The good thing is that there is some youth on this line that is getting needed experience, and they should provide really nice depth when the influx of talent comes. It is quite possible that one more off-season can fix this O-line for years to come.
Best of all, this ENTIRE roster is a very together group. It is easy to see that they have each other's back, and that they help each other to learn. There is a genuine closeness and caring for each other going on in that locker room, as well as on and off the field. There is also a healthy respect for players to coaches, and for coaches to players. They play very hard, and very unselfishly, and I find them extremely refreshing to watch, (even if they don't blow other teams away).
The fact is that hardly had the final whistle sounded, and people were already on the board posting about how they hate this franchise for never seeming to have a clear cut, (relaxing), win-----or for putting the fans through so much turmoil at the end of games. I find it simply amazing that rather than celebrate the team's good fortune, (and continued progress), people are now complaining about 'how we win'.
I guess that many, many Cardinals fans still revel in the fact that in '07-8-&-9, this team went 8-8, 9-7, and 10-6, and thus have huge expectations of winning Cardinal's football. On the other hand, I recall the quick return to 5-11 ball after the retirement of Kurt Warner, and the absolutely abysmal attempts to fix the QB problem, (all the while sinking further and further into hopelessness during the next three seasons after Warner). I recall a coaching staff that continued efforts to try the same thing, game after game, each time hoping for a different result. It was almost like the shine created by the Warner years caused a glare that overrode the ability of many to notice the almost total devastation wrought on the offensive unit of this franchise. If not for a very good defense, this whole team would have been irrelevant by the end of 2012.
Maybe that is why I can appreciate the efforts of Keim, Licht, and BA to change the culture here, and bring this team back to relevance, while some fans still feel that they are being short-changed. I see slow, but steady, progress with this offensive unit, and a return to football that is fun to watch because the offense, defense, and special teams ALL play hard every play, despite the patchwork offense that is still far behind the other two units. This team is becoming formidable. It is for the most part, winning those games that it should. One needs to look no farther than the first game after the BYE week to see this change. That is one point in each season, where our old Cards would have simply come out flat and stunk up the stadium. They did it almost every year, as if they forgot how to play football after a week off. How refreshing it was to see this effort against the talented Texans.
I still see our offense as one that is very short on talent and is suffering still more from a head coach who places possibly more loyalty to players he has had previously in his fold than he should. I see Rashad Mendenhall as a liability to this offense, and at the very best, the number three running back on this roster. I believe that a dose of Ellington, Taylor, and maybe even Williams, would go far to assist a struggling QB like Palmer, and would contribute more to a better running game than Mendenhall can. After hearing BA not finding fault with Mendenhall's devastating fumble late in the game, (almost as if he was in denial about it), I believe that better help is available than is being utilized at this point. That said, BA has corrected far more than he has failed to correct as this season has progressed. I have no doubt that he will eventually see the opportunity that is presenting itself to the improvement of our running game.
Meanwhile, I am ecstatic about the manner in which our O-line has played. This unit is so lacking in talent that it is amazing how hard they play in order to provide what help they can. Only another off-season of talent influx can change that, and I firmly believe that Keim and Licht have a plan for that. Meanwhile, the weakness in the middle of this line will be noticed, and the lack of experience at LT will continue. The good thing is that there is some youth on this line that is getting needed experience, and they should provide really nice depth when the influx of talent comes. It is quite possible that one more off-season can fix this O-line for years to come.
Best of all, this ENTIRE roster is a very together group. It is easy to see that they have each other's back, and that they help each other to learn. There is a genuine closeness and caring for each other going on in that locker room, as well as on and off the field. There is also a healthy respect for players to coaches, and for coaches to players. They play very hard, and very unselfishly, and I find them extremely refreshing to watch, (even if they don't blow other teams away).
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