AP: New coordinator brings emotion, eyes less conservative approach

[Goldfield]

I don't think he's incompetent at all-just that his style doesn't work with what the cards have. Almost every OC would run to eat up the clock--the problem is with our O-line the Cards can't sustain drives via the run.

QUOTE]I approve this message

 

[JeffGollin]

I think Rowen got caught in the changes - i.e. (a) his background was as an O-line coach, (b) his key mission was to fix the running game, (c) then the Cards (appropriately) added Warner and Fitz to the offense and decided to "go airborne" perhaps a bit earlier than anticipated and then (d) (again appropriately) added Edge James, and along with him, the stretch-play/zone blocking approach to the running game.

He became the wrong guy for the wrong job.

Regarding more aggressive play calling, I think a key watchword should be "unpredictability." For awhile, I've been intrigued by the Mike Martz approach to play calling (one that would appear to be in synch with what Dennis is looking for). Martz's team could be 3rd and a foot on his own 10 yard line, and he'd dial up a skinny post or deep sideline pattern. Or he could be 3rd & 25 at midfield, and he'd call a draw play. (He just didn't care).

I'd be tempted, on every offensive down, to favor Kruczek pulling a slip of paper from a hat with a play on it, and let the chips fall where they may.

I also am optimistic about the anticipated move to more of a downhill approach to the running game - at least until we can get guys who can block effectively on stretch plays.

At this point in the season, the objective should be not be about "process" (i.e. learning how to zone block) but "results" - (i.e. gaining freakin' yardage).

 

[vinnymac]

i like to see what kruczek going to dail up for the offense this game. i am in a wait and watch mode right now.

 

[D-Dogg]

So far, the run game has been comprised of many "stretch" plays, which allow James to hunt and peck in search of a crease. The frequency of those plays will diminish under Kruczek, who called the team's run game "disjointed." Look for more quick-hitting run plays where James makes a cut and goes.

LESS STRETCH PLAY???? YES!!!!!!! We don't have the team to pull it off.

 

[MadCardDisease]

LESS STRETCH PLAY???? YES!!!!!!! We don't have the team to pull it off.

Exactly! Our O-Line is not built to be running sideline to sideline. They are big guys that need to be moving forward.

 

[football karma]

Well, Coach K certainly has the freedom now to throw almost whenever he wants --

after last Monday, unless it is totally ridiculous, I dont thing anybody will second guess him for throwing if the Cards are protecting a lead.

 

[Russ Smith]

Right now the Cards are 4th in the NFL in pass attempts per game and Boldin leads the NFL in number of receptions with 40.

Pass attempts per game avg. 34.8 Rushing attempts per game 27.5.

Predictable play calling? Probably. Conservative? I don't think so.

The plan to run the ball is highly suspect. The passing can't be because they are getting the ball to THE man.

And last year we led the NFL in passing.

I think what I'm saying is people are taking one game and extrapolating it over 22 games with Rowen. All last year people complained we gave up on the run too quickly. Even this year people not named Edge were complaining we threw too much. But this one disaster and suddenly Rowen is obsessed with running?

I do agree that maybe he never fully got our OL sucked and KC's style won't work here but we weren't playing like KC did at all.

I'm not saying Rowen is great or even that he should still be the OC, I'm just saying if the playcalling monday night was entirely his fault, there is something wrong with our coaching structure if one guy can screw things up that badly and not be overruled by someone?

 

[lobo]

The article says Rowen stays on the staff. kruczek will be on the sideline, Rowen upstairs feeding him information.

It sounds good but I was pretty excited when we hired Rowen too, said all the right things, knew the offense, highly successful with the Chiefs, Vermeil talked him up, great TE coach, and now if we're being told the truth, it seems all those people were wrong and Rowen was a complete incompetent?

we have tried and tried to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear....and when we do the results are highly predictable....i expect better results with kruczek and of course easy to say now but i did not expect to see anything great with rowen running things....8/8 at this point would be terrific

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I saw a highlight somewhere of Leinart talking to Kruczek on the sideline and telling him a play(i think he called it run and gun,something like that) was open all night but they only called it once. It's not all Rowen's fault but i think where he was lacking the most was that he is poor at in game adjustments. He has a game plan for that game and sticks with no matter what the defense is doing and you can't do that. I also don't buy that Green should be overruling him very much during the game. He's your OC and responsible for the play calling. You can't undercut him mid game. That's the same reason Billick let go of Fassell after the game and assumed play calling. The thing i like most about Kruczek is that he's a former QB and can probably make adjustments on the fly to seeing what the defense is doing much better than Rowen.

 

[D-Dogg]

I saw a highlight somewhere of Leinart talking to Kruczek on the sideline and telling him a play(i think he called it run and gun,something like that) was open all night but they only called it once. It's not all Rowen's fault but i think where he was lacking the most was that he is poor at in game adjustments. He has a game plan for that game and sticks with no matter what the defense is doing and you can't do that. I also don't buy that Green should be overruling him very much during the game. He's your OC and responsible for the play calling. You can't undercut him mid game. That's the same reason Billick let go of Fassell after the game and assumed play calling. The thing i like most about Kruczek is that he's a former QB and can probably make adjustments on the fly to seeing what the defense is doing much better than Rowen.

Good post.

I do think Kruczek's QB background will really lend to him making in-game adjustments and his rapport with Leinart will mean a ton. I'm very optimistic about this move on a ton of levels.

Could be the exact right move at the exact right time.