An Alternate Reading of the Cards Offense

[kerouac9]

It's the preseason; I understand the strum and drang about the lack of firepower from the Cards offense. But I want you all to think back to January and what we thought would happen to the Cards' offense once Matt Leinart took over. It was the consensus opinion at the time:

• The Kurt Warner Era was over.
• Ken Whisenhunt would be unshackled from a pass-first offense.
• Matt Leinart would not be forced to make big plays, but instead use his athleticism to protect an offensive line in transition.
• The power running game would take precedence.

When we watch the tape from the first two preseason games, what do we see? A pass-first offense. That deep-in route that Larry Fitzgerald tweaked his knee on? That's a staple of the Mike Martz offensive system the Kurt Warner preferred once he'd taken the reins of the Cards' offense. Matt Leinart has been seen playing out of shotgun formations with multiple receivers or taking three- and five-step drops.

There are two possibilities here: one is that Whisenhunt abandoned his core offensive values while Kurt Warner was here and has not returned to them. He now believes that a quarterback can only be successful when dropping straight back and moving as may receivers as possible into patterns. He believes that every quarterback must fit into this role or else he will cast them aside and move on. Whisenhunt doesn't like what he has in Matt Leinart but knows that the front office has an investment in him, and so he is determined to make him fail so that Whis can start over with his own hand-picked QB. The Whis believes that the 2010 season is a wash from jump street.

Or Whisenhunt knows what he has in Matt Leinart after coaching him for three seasons, but he doesn't know what he has in Andre Roberts, Steven Spach, and Stephen Williams. Whis knows what he has physically in Leinart, but doesn't know necessarily what he has in him mentally. If Leinart is put in a position where he can't succeed, will he maintain his composure, keep executing the offense, and not complain or pout? Can Leinart take multiple hits during and after his release and keep getting up?

How do you protect an inexperienced quarterback and an offensive line that is still developing chemistry?

• Bootlegs
• Play Action
• Roll outs
• Waggles
• Screens

Have we seen these plays at all in the preseason? Do you think that they're just not in the playbook? Do you believe that Whis is philosophically opposed to moving the pocket to give the offensive line some breathing room and protect his quarterback? Do you think that Whis burned the pages of the playbook that Kurt Warner just didn't like to run?

I submit that the Cardinals offense that we're seeing right now is the Kurt Warner offense that there's three years of tape on. The offense that Matt Leinart posted a 64.6 QB rating running last season. The offense that shows nothing of what the Cards are running in practices, or will run once the games start counting.

I submit that the offense that we'll see September 12 (if we need it) or September 19 (more likely) is not the offense that you have seen the last two games or will see in the next two. That offense will feature 2 TEs (as much of the offense that Derek Anderson has been running has), but much less passing. The offense will move the pocket and work to force defenses into zone coverage (which Leinart has shown he can pick apart) or freeze safeties and/or outside linebackers.

When you watch the Chicago Bears game this weekend, don't only interrogate what you see; ask yourself what you're not seeing. What are we hiding? What are we allowing Derek Anderson to run that Matt Leinart isn't running with the ones? I think you'll be surprised.

 

[conraddobler]

It's the preseason; I understand the strum and drang about the lack of firepower from the Cards offense. But I want you all to think back to January and what we thought would happen to the Cards' offense once Matt Leinart took over. It was the consensus opinion at the time:

• The Kurt Warner Era was over.
• Ken Whisenhunt would be unshackled from a pass-first offense.
• Matt Leinart would not be forced to make big plays, but instead use his athleticism to protect an offensive line in transition.
• The power running game would take precedence.

When we watch the tape from the first two preseason games, what do we see? A pass-first offense. That deep-in route that Larry Fitzgerald tweaked his knee on? That's a staple of the Mike Martz offensive system the Kurt Warner preferred once he'd taken the reins of the Cards' offense. Matt Leinart has been seen playing out of shotgun formations with multiple receivers or taking three- and five-step drops.

There are two possibilities here: one is that Whisenhunt abandoned his core offensive values while Kurt Warner was here and has not returned to them. He now believes that a quarterback can only be successful when dropping straight back and moving as may receivers as possible into patterns. He believes that every quarterback must fit into this role or else he will cast them aside and move on. Whisenhunt doesn't like what he has in Matt Leinart but knows that the front office has an investment in him, and so he is determined to make him fail so that Whis can start over with his own hand-picked QB. The Whis believes that the 2010 season is a wash from jump street.

Or Whisenhunt knows what he has in Matt Leinart after coaching him for three seasons, but he doesn't know what he has in Andre Roberts, Steven Spach, and Stephen Williams. Whis knows what he has physically in Leinart, but doesn't know necessarily what he has in him mentally. If Leinart is put in a position where he can't succeed, will he maintain his composure, keep executing the offense, and not complain or pout? Can Leinart take multiple hits during and after his release and keep getting up?

How do you protect an inexperienced quarterback and an offensive line that is still developing chemistry?

• Bootlegs
• Play Action
• Roll outs
• Waggles
• Screens

Have we seen these plays at all in the preseason? Do you think that they're just not in the playbook? Do you believe that Whis is philosophically opposed to moving the pocket to give the offensive line some breathing room and protect his quarterback? Do you think that Whis burned the pages of the playbook that Kurt Warner just didn't like to run?

I submit that the Cardinals offense that we're seeing right now is the Kurt Warner offense that there's three years of tape on. The offense that Matt Leinart posted a 64.6 QB rating running last season. The offense that shows nothing of what the Cards are running in practices, or will run once the games start counting.

I submit that the offense that we'll see September 12 (if we need it) or September 19 (more likely) is not the offense that you have seen the last two games or will see in the next two. That offense will feature 2 TEs (as much of the offense that Derek Anderson has been running has), but much less passing. The offense will move the pocket and work to force defenses into zone coverage (which Leinart has shown he can pick apart) or freeze safeties and/or outside linebackers.

When you watch the Chicago Bears game this weekend, don't only interrogate what you see; ask yourself what you're not seeing. What are we hiding? What are we allowing Derek Anderson to run that Matt Leinart isn't running with the ones? I think you'll be surprised.

This actually makes a lot of sense, not that it will really change anyone's mind but honestly Whiz never shows much in preseason.

So whatever we are running, I doubt it has much to do with what we're going to do.

You don't massively restructure the line if you're going to have the same offense, that's the key everyone should focus on, if we were going to run the old offense, the starters would of largely remained the same on the oline.

 

[DoTheDew]

Agree 100%. I've maintained all along that what we are seeing in pre-season is all smoke and mirrors. You'd think after the last 3 pre-seasons with Whiz people would learn to take everything with a grain of salt.

Interesting that you mention Leinart and pouting. I've noticed this pre-season that while he doesn't seem poised, he also hasn't been pouting. I feel that if it were true that the coaches didn't like him, the pouting would show.

 

[dogpoo32]

Lots of good thoughts K9. Thanks for the refreshing ideas!

 

[O]

I agree 100 %.

 

[Stout]

Excellent post, K9. We never game plan in the pre-season and we never show our hand, offensively or defensively. People just figured we were being vanilla, but they at least figured we were being vanilla in our actual offense. It would be just the kind of sneaky trick for Whiz to make people think we're sticking with what I'll call the Warner offense, and then pull the rug out and trot out our real offense in the regular season.

It isn't often that someone brings an original and completely unheard of idea onto the board. You've just done so.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Lots of good thoughts K9. Thanks for the refreshing ideas!

Yeah I agree. There are some good ideas that K9 brings up.

I agree with Whiz trying to see what he has with Matt mentally. I think it's clear that Whiz is constantly testing Matt. Whiz likes to put Matt in situations where Matt is out of his comfort zone.

Has Matt passed these tests so far? It's hard to tell at this point. Matt's body language doesn't make me comfortable to say yes at this point of the preseason.

 

[seesred]

Good interesting post. I think you are right on many fronts. What troubles me a bit, is what they are practicing, is not that far different then what they are doing. Unless there is someplace underground everyone can see what they are runnning. Of course the next few weeks will be done without the crowds.

GBR
40

 

[football karma]

I think that is pretty insightful for a few reasons:

1. Whisenhunt places high priority in the preseason on evaluating players over "game results". I submit that not only is he evaluating receivers, he is finding out what Matt can do. Can he throw that skinny post?

2. Whisenhunt places a high priority on not showing stuff in meaningless games. Case in point: last regular game of the year. Rather than showing the Packers anything, they came out very bland -- to the point of allowing themselves to be beat up on.


btw: nice to see you stay true to your contrarian roots.

 

[D-Dogg]

Interesting angle K9...nice post.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Whis knows what he has physically in Leinart, but doesn't know necessarily what he has in him mentally. If Leinart is put in a position where he can't succeed, will he maintain his composure, keep executing the offense, and not complain or pout? Can Leinart take multiple hits during and after his release and keep getting up?

Good points.

Seem to recall that Whiz called back a long TD by Leinart in practice awhile back, just to see how he would react. Whiz said that he reacted well.

 

[Mulli]

Threads like these are why I am glad K9 is not permabanned. Thanks superfan.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Great post K9 !! I think you are probably on the money with this idea. I have said it the last two pre-seasons. Whis is a master manipulator. He also is very good at studying situations. It always seems like in meaninless games he does alot of things that make you scratch your head. But in the end he has a plan and he is doing those things for a reason.

Remember week 17 against Green Bay. Cardinal Nation was on the edge of the cliff ready to jump (ok not all of us, but alot). I remember not feeling one bit upset, other than the injuries. I kept telling that Packer fans in my section " I sure hope your team feels as good about this win as you do. Because next week they are gonna get punched right in the mouth because they are gonna expect this team they played today to show up."

There has to be a reason our first unit has never looked good in preseason under Whis!

 

[Duckjake]

You don't massively restructure the line if you're going to have the same offense, that's the key everyone should focus on, if we were going to run the old offense, the starters would of largely remained the same on the oline.

Good point. And to add to the possibility of Whisenhunt trickery they try to make it seem like it was done simply because Matt is left handed.

 

[Redheart]

It's the preseason;... .

K-9, really good, insightful post. Sometimes you really impress me.

 

[Catfish]

K-9-----very interesting reading. I certainly hope that you are correct with your assessment. If you are, then this would be something like Whiz pulled during the last regular season game with Green Bay last year, then busting out the game plan that he used in the playoffs the next week against the same team. He was very successful with that strategy-----not showing anything to GB the first game so that they had a leg up in the second.

What makes me wonder about this however, is that we have a ton of different personnel than we did last year, (especially key personnel). None of them have played this new type of offense together,-----nor would it seem that we have practiced that type of game plan this entire off season. It is one thing to take a team that has intimately familiar with the game plan they hope to execute, and simply play vanilla one week, and then turn on the jets the next with what you know better than anyone, to surprise and overwhelm the opponent. It is yet another to change out a full quarter of your KEY personnel, (both offensively and defensively), then, (without practicing it), totally institute a whole new system.

Right now, I don't have the answer to this situation. I would like to believe that you are right in your assessment. It would just seem to me that if Whiz intended to do so, he would have spent a great deal of time this off season incorporating the new plan into our practice habits-----especially considering that we have retooled nearly out entire offensive line. Could it be that the entire organization has decided to: 1. save a bunch of money on salaries this year and, 2. continue that pattern for next year by cutting even more big salaries, (Leinart?), and then start anew with a new QB. Of course that would mean taking this year pretty much off, and hoping for a more or less break even season in wins and losses to keep fan interest decently high, while preparing the bank and the roster for a return to play-off ball next year with a new beginning.

 

[kerouac9]

K-9-----very interesting reading. I certainly hope that you are correct with your assessment. If you are, then this would be something like Whiz pulled during the last regular season game with Green Bay last year, then busting out the game plan that he used in the playoffs the next week against the same team. He was very successful with that strategy-----not showing anything to GB the first game so that they had a leg up in the second.

What makes me wonder about this however, is that we have a ton of different personnel than we did last year, (especially key personnel). None of them have played this new type of offense together,-----nor would it seem that we have practiced that type of game plan this entire off season. It is one thing to take a team that has intimately familiar with the game plan they hope to execute, and simply play vanilla one week, and then turn on the jets the next with what you know better than anyone, to surprise and overwhelm the opponent. It is yet another to change out a full quarter of your KEY personnel, (both offensively and defensively), then, (without practicing it), totally institute a whole new system.

Right now, I don't have the answer to this situation. I would like to believe that you are right in your assessment. It would just seem to me that if Whiz intended to do so, he would have spent a great deal of time this off season incorporating the new plan into our practice habits-----especially considering that we have retooled nearly out entire offensive line. Could it be that the entire organization has decided to: 1. save a bunch of money on salaries this year and, 2. continue that pattern for next year by cutting even more big salaries, (Leinart?), and then start anew with a new QB. Of course that would mean taking this year pretty much off, and hoping for a more or less break even season in wins and losses to keep fan interest decently high, while preparing the bank and the roster for a return to play-off ball next year with a new beginning.

How can any of us say that they haven't already put these "new" plays into the practices that we're not seeing? Not only do the Cards also have two and a half more weeks of practices before opening day, but they've had more closed practices (between OTAs, closed practices in Flagstaff, and practices once the preseason closes) than open ones. Why do you think Leinart would move the offense effectively in practices, but suddenly not show anything on game day?

Whis isn't going to use the preseason to do what he thinks can work; he's going to use the preseason to put players in positions where they'll be challenged and then give them a chance to learn from that challenge. Why would Whis allow Brandon Keith to go one-on-one with Mario Williams otherwise? Because he hopes that Leinart will break his collarbone again?

Listen to Matt's press conference from yesterday on AZCardinals.com (or off iTunes). He doesn't sound like a kid who's fighting for a roster spot; he sounds like a guy who had a productive practice against a good defense.

As I said, you can see elements of the Cards' "real" offense--just not when Leinart is on the field. Anderson's been playing with more 2TE sets and fewer players out in patterns. That 3rd-and-1 play finally WAS a play-action that worked and Leinart went down the field. Unfortunately, an undrafted free agent rookie was there and maybe ran the wrong pattern but definitely failed to look for the ball.

EDIT: Thanks for all the positive feedback, guys. Honestly, I don't come here to instigate; I come here because there are things that I see and want to share.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

an interesting take. but i'm going to reserve judgment until we actually see it play out. takes quite a few assumptions and mental leaps to fulfill k9's prognostication. hope it's right, but color me skeptical.

 

[BigRedRage]

on my way to work i wondered is whiz is calling coaches and asking them to blitz alot so he can test lienart.

 

[jf-08]

One of the best posts ever.

Nice points, K9.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

an interesting take. but i'm going to reserve judgment until we actually see it play out. takes quite a few assumptions and mental leaps to fulfill k9's prognostication. hope it's right, but color me skeptical.

Agreed...it was very well written and thought out, and I hope that it's right, but I'm still concerned even if it's true. It's one thing to go vanilla when you have an established system and level of comfort like last year. (Essentially same offensive personnel)

Now we have a completely different look and you'd like to at least see this group establish some rhythm and confidence in preseason. If it takes a couple weeks into the regular season for it to happen, the choice to go so vanilla could be a mistake.

 

[Cheesebeef]

K9, that could have been one of the best post-thread-starters I've ever read. I mean, this a thread where EVERYONE has pretty much discussed ONLY football, taking posters personalities out of the equation. That's incredibly rare.

 

[Shane]

This was a great thread and I actually agreed with it till I read this:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/anderson-to-start-saturday-156325.html

 

[MadCardDisease]

This was a great thread and I actually agreed with it till I read this:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/anderson-to-start-saturday-156325.html

Did you even read his last paragraph?

When you watch the Chicago Bears game this weekend, don't only interrogate what you see; ask yourself what you're not seeing. What are we hiding? What are we allowing Derek Anderson to run that Matt Leinart isn't running with the ones? I think you'll be surprised.

 

[Shane]

Did you even read his last paragraph?

Oh yea I read it. Still don't think it applies with today's bombshell.