ARI@DEN: Heroes and Goats

[kerouac9]

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1. Michael Floyd, WR. Yes, he bounced a first-quarter pass off his hands. So did pretty much everyone else. On the other hand, Michael Floyd is one of the most anonymous superstars in the NFL. He blocks like people remember Anquan Boldin blocking, and he'll do anything in his power to help the team win, regardless of whether it shows up on the stat sheet.

2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR. When he has the opportunities to make plays, he can make some spectacular ones. It's going to be a shame if he leaves this offseason.

3. Kareem Martin, DE. Injuries forced the Cards to play a 4-1-6 defense for most of the second half, and Martin really showed that he's developing and has some real potential.

Honorable Mention: The 2014 Schedule. Let's be real: The Arizona Cardinals weren't going 16-0 in the regular season. If there had to be a loss in the first quarter of the schedule, a road loss against an AFC opponent who was the conference champion is about as harmless a loss as you could have hoped for.

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1. John Brown, WR. Maybe some people both inside and outside the Cardinals organization got a little over their skis on Smokey Brown, huh?

2. Smoke and Mirrors. I feel like smoke and mirrors had really been playing over its head for the Arizona Cardinals this season, both on offense and defense. Unfortunately, when the Cards got on the team bus to head to Mile High, they apparently left smoke and mirrors at the team hotel.

3. Bobbie Massie, OT. I expect that Massie is going to come under greater criticism than he deserves here. There are no situations where Massie should be left one-on-one with a pass rusher of Von Miller's caliber. The playcalling in this game was reminiscent of the bad "system works" days of Ken Whisenhunt.

 

[Totally_Red]

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1. Michael Floyd, WR. Yes, he bounced a first-quarter pass off his hands. So did pretty much everyone else. On the other hand, Michael Floyd is one of the most anonymous superstars in the NFL. He blocks like people remember Anquan Boldin blocking, and he'll do anything in his power to help the team win, regardless of whether it shows up on the stat sheet.

2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR. When he has the opportunities to make plays, he can make some spectacular ones. It's going to be a shame if he leaves this offseason.

3. Kareem Martin, DE. Injuries forced the Cards to play a 4-1-6 defense for most of the second half, and Martin really showed that he's developing and has some real potential.

Honorable Mention: The 2014 Schedule. Let's be real: The Arizona Cardinals weren't going 16-0 in the regular season. If there had to be a loss in the first quarter of the schedule, a road loss against an AFC opponent who was the conference champion is about as harmless a loss as you could have hoped for.

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1. John Brown, WR. Maybe some people both inside and outside the Cardinals organization got a little over their skis on Smokey Brown, huh?

2. Smoke and Mirrors. I feel like smoke and mirrors had really been playing over its head for the Arizona Cardinals this season, both on offense and defense. Unfortunately, when the Cards got on the team bus to head to Mile High, they apparently left smoke and mirrors at the team hotel.

3. Bobbie Massie, OT. I expect that Massie is going to come under greater criticism than he deserves here. There are no situations where Massie should be left one-on-one with a pass rusher of Von Miller's caliber. The playcalling in this game was reminiscent of the bad "system works" days of Ken Whisenhunt.

I thought the same thing about Massie. It was quickly apparent that he was no match for Miller, but the Cardinals didn't adjust to that reality and the quarterbacks paid the price for the lack of adjustment.

 

[Finito]

Oh no Floyd and Fitzgerald are not Hero's that was the worst game I have ever seen by a WR group. I'm seeing blame on the coaches the o line but it the WR that really let us down

How many 3rd down we gonna drop. 8 dropped passes in this game. That's unacceptable

 

[BigRedRage]

Oh no Floyd and Fitzgerald are not Hero's that was the worst game I have ever seen by a WR group. I'm seeing blame on the coaches the o line but it the WR that really let us down

How many 3rd down we gonna drop. 8 dropped passes in this game. That's unacceptable

They both had a drop but the drops by john brown were far more crucial.

Massie only got beat bad a few times, he played well for the assignment he was given.

 

[Totally_Red]

They both had a drop but the drops by john brown were far more crucial.

Massie only got beat bad a few times, he played well for the assignment he was given.

With all due respect, Massie was beaten repeatedly. He did not play well, but it was foolish to leave him alone on Von Miller. That is asking to get your quarterback hurt. And that's what eventually happened.

 

[Russ Smith]

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1. Michael Floyd, WR. Yes, he bounced a first-quarter pass off his hands. So did pretty much everyone else. On the other hand, Michael Floyd is one of the most anonymous superstars in the NFL. He blocks like people remember Anquan Boldin blocking, and he'll do anything in his power to help the team win, regardless of whether it shows up on the stat sheet.

2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR. When he has the opportunities to make plays, he can make some spectacular ones. It's going to be a shame if he leaves this offseason.

3. Kareem Martin, DE. Injuries forced the Cards to play a 4-1-6 defense for most of the second half, and Martin really showed that he's developing and has some real potential.

Honorable Mention: The 2014 Schedule. Let's be real: The Arizona Cardinals weren't going 16-0 in the regular season. If there had to be a loss in the first quarter of the schedule, a road loss against an AFC opponent who was the conference champion is about as harmless a loss as you could have hoped for.

You must be registered for see images

1. John Brown, WR. Maybe some people both inside and outside the Cardinals organization got a little over their skis on Smokey Brown, huh?

2. Smoke and Mirrors. I feel like smoke and mirrors had really been playing over its head for the Arizona Cardinals this season, both on offense and defense. Unfortunately, when the Cards got on the team bus to head to Mile High, they apparently left smoke and mirrors at the team hotel.

3. Bobbie Massie, OT. I expect that Massie is going to come under greater criticism than he deserves here. There are no situations where Massie should be left one-on-one with a pass rusher of Von Miller's caliber. The playcalling in this game was reminiscent of the bad "system works" days of Ken Whisenhunt.

The play where Stanton got hurt I'm just baffled on. I suspect Ellington blew the play because there's no other logical explanation. Ellington is in the backfield and on the snap he doesn't go out in the pattern, or block. He drifts over to the left where he eventually "blocks" a defender who's not even rushing he's just sitting there waiting to cover Ellington.

Meanwhile Miller beats Massie and takes out Stanton. I'm assuming Ellington was supposed to go out in the pattern and for whatever reason stopped, they certainly didn't call a play where he was going to help Veldheer when Miller was the guy giving us problems, if they did, terrible play call.

 

[kerouac9]

The play where Stanton got hurt I'm just baffled on. I suspect Ellington blew the play because there's no other logical explanation. Ellington is in the backfield and on the snap he doesn't go out in the pattern, or block. He drifts over to the left where he eventually "blocks" a defender who's not even rushing he's just sitting there waiting to cover Ellington.

Meanwhile Miller beats Massie and takes out Stanton. I'm assuming Ellington was supposed to go out in the pattern and for whatever reason stopped, they certainly didn't call a play where he was going to help Veldheer when Miller was the guy giving us problems, if they did, terrible play call.

I'll he to look at it again when the All-22 becomes available tomorrow or Wednesday. I think/expect that Veldheer was getting significant help on Ware, but on that play, I think you need to put Stepfan Taylor back there if he's going to have to help out in pass pro.

I could see that there was someone in the backfield, but I couldn't figure out what he was supposed to be doing on a couple of watches.

Again, Massie could've done better against Von Miller but not better enough to make a difference.

 

[Matt L]

K9 - Do you subscribe to the "All 22?" I would be interested to read your take on the interior lineman. I thought on some plays there was a pocket to step into for the QB but there seemed like a lot of plays where Sendlein/Fanaika and Sendlein/Larsen were being pushed right into the QB.

I wonder at what point do you give Cooper and Watford some regular seasons snaps?

 

[Iceman]

I personally thought Stanton's play was good. He made the passes he needed in crucial times, but our reliable receivers didn't help him out. 2 Td passes dropped and multiple 3rd down passes dropped. Plus, for the 3rd week in a row- zero turnovers by Stanton.

 

[gmabel830]

HERO - Logan Thomas and his 108.9 passer rating!!!!! THE FUTURE!!!

Seriously, how do you go 1/8 and end up with a 108.9 passer rating -- even if the 1 was a 81 yd TD?!

 

[Catfish]

I commend you for finding some positive things to say about this game. That is refreshing indeed.

 

[kerouac9]

K9 - Do you subscribe to the "All 22?" I would be interested to read your take on the interior lineman. I thought on some plays there was a pocket to step into for the QB but there seemed like a lot of plays where Sendlein/Fanaika and Sendlein/Larsen were being pushed right into the QB.

I wonder at what point do you give Cooper and Watford some regular seasons snaps?

Particularly when Logan Thomas was on the field, it seemed like there was opportunity for Logan Thomas to "climb the pocket" the way that professional-caliber quarterbacks often do. Thomas passed on those opportunities to continue dropping back like someone does when they're playing Madden or something.

There were other times when the interior pocket collapsed, largely when Stanton was in the game, but it seemed to me like both quarterbacks frequently had time to get rid of the ball if this were a more traditional timing offense. Because we're a deep-passing offense, I wonder if these guys are trained to wait another second longer than is safe to let someone come out.

I think that the fact that the Cards preferred to put Fanika on the field when he hadn't practiced all week instead of Jonathan Cooper speaks volumes. I think that the fact that we considered moving Ted Larsen over to right guard instead of putting in Earl Watford speaks additional volumes. Cooper may get his mind right and turn into a serviceable player, but if that doesn't happen until his third NFL season, it's not a good thing. Watford might just not be an NFL player.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The only Heros of the game were Campbell and (hard to believe I'm saying this) Powers.

edit: Lol: I meant Powers...

 

[DoTheDew]

Only player who deserves to be called a hero is Catanzaro. Everyone else screwed up at least once.

 

[BigRedRage]

who is rhodes?

 

[Russ Smith]

Particularly when Logan Thomas was on the field, it seemed like there was opportunity for Logan Thomas to "climb the pocket" the way that professional-caliber quarterbacks often do. Thomas passed on those opportunities to continue dropping back like someone does when they're playing Madden or something.

There were other times when the interior pocket collapsed, largely when Stanton was in the game, but it seemed to me like both quarterbacks frequently had time to get rid of the ball if this were a more traditional timing offense. Because we're a deep-passing offense, I wonder if these guys are trained to wait another second longer than is safe to let someone come out.

I think that the fact that the Cards preferred to put Fanika on the field when he hadn't practiced all week instead of Jonathan Cooper speaks volumes. I think that the fact that we considered moving Ted Larsen over to right guard instead of putting in Earl Watford speaks additional volumes. Cooper may get his mind right and turn into a serviceable player, but if that doesn't happen until his third NFL season, it's not a good thing. Watford might just not be an NFL player.

Watford did have one great play saving a Ted Ginn fumble

 

[82CardsGrad]

No mention of Bucannon? I thought he may have played his best game yet and showed ALL of the traits that attracted the Cards. Downhill... Sideline to Sideline... I thought both he and Martin had their best games yet actually. Promising glimpse of what may lie ahead for those two.
Or how 'bout Ellington who was essentially a one-man show on offense for us?

John Brown was due to come back to earth... I just hope this is his low-point and he gets back to being the playmaker he can be.

Massie got schooled by Miller and Ware... Ok... Who hasn't? Not excusing Massie, but seriously, is that really a surprise?

Ginn... I think he makes far more boneheaded plays than solid plays.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Aside from the PR TD, Ginn Has been a waste of space.

 

[kerouac9]

No mention of Bucannon? I thought he may have played his best game yet and showed ALL of the traits that attracted the Cards. Downhill... Sideline to Sideline... I thought both he and Martin had their best games yet actually. Promising glimpse of what may lie ahead for those two.
Or how 'bout Ellington who was essentially a one-man show on offense for us?

John Brown was due to come back to earth... I just hope this is his low-point and he gets back to being the playmaker he can be.

Massie got schooled by Miller and Ware... Ok... Who hasn't? Not excusing Massie, but seriously, is that really a surprise?

Ginn... I think he makes far more boneheaded plays than solid plays.

I like Bucannon. He might be Keim's best pick so far as general manager. For me, the complication is that he's playing linebacker, and he's only playing linebacker, and we drafted a safety. Maybe he ends up taking Daryl Washington's job, puts on 8-12 lbs. in the offseason, and ends up changing his number to something in the 40s. But right now he's not playing safety.

I'm similarly not sure that Ellington is a running back right now. Certainly not a starting-caliber running back. There's a role for him in an NFL offense, to be sure, but he had 16 carries for 32 total yards, and we need more than that from a superstar back.

 

[Matt L]

who is rhodes?

"Rhodes? Where we're going, we don't need Rhodes"

 

[Big Deal]

"Rhodes? Where we're going, we don't need Rhodes"

Well done....

 

[Russ Smith]

I like Bucannon. He might be Keim's best pick so far as general manager. For me, the complication is that he's playing linebacker, and he's only playing linebacker, and we drafted a safety. Maybe he ends up taking Daryl Washington's job, puts on 8-12 lbs. in the offseason, and ends up changing his number to something in the 40s. But right now he's not playing safety.

I'm similarly not sure that Ellington is a running back right now. Certainly not a starting-caliber running back. There's a role for him in an NFL offense, to be sure, but he had 16 carries for 32 total yards, and we need more than that from a superstar back.

hard to say on Ellington I don't think he's nearly healthy but I do agree he's a better receiver than runner right now.

It kills me to watch teams like New Orleans constantly finding good RB's late in the draft or in FA and we can't seem to find another RB Arians trusts enough to play when Ellington isn't in the game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I like Bucannon. He might be Keim's best pick so far as general manager. For me, the complication is that he's playing linebacker, and he's only playing linebacker, and we drafted a safety. Maybe he ends up taking Daryl Washington's job, puts on 8-12 lbs. in the offseason, and ends up changing his number to something in the 40s. But right now he's not playing safety.

I'm similarly not sure that Ellington is a running back right now. Certainly not a starting-caliber running back. There's a role for him in an NFL offense, to be sure, but he had 16 carries for 32 total yards, and we need more than that from a superstar back.

Agree that Bucannon might not be playing the position for which he was drafted... Yet, just think about that for a second... He's a rookie and has been tasked to play out of position thus far in his NFL career - and he's doing an incredibly solid job at it! Personally, I hope he eventually is able to move back to SS as I think he's quick enough to more than adequately handle the cover responsibilities of that position, and his tackling is superb.

As for Ellington, I am not at all gonna hang his performance yesterday on him alone. The line play was putrid!

 

[kerouac9]

Agree that Bucannon might not be playing the position for which he was drafted... Yet, just think about that for a second... He's a rookie and has been tasked to play out of position thus far in his NFL career - and he's doing an incredibly solid job at it! Personally, I hope he eventually is able to move back to SS as I think he's quick enough to more than adequately handle the cover responsibilities of that position, and his tackling is superb.

As for Ellington, I am not at all gonna hang his performance yesterday on him alone. The line play was putrid!

On Bucannon: I don't think it's that challenging a transition for a strong safety to play coverage linebacker. I'm perfectly happy with the job that he's done, but I'm not pretending that his performance through the first four games of his rookie season tells me much about how he'll do if/when he's transitioned to a more complex role (and yes I believe that SS is a more complex role than the ILB role that he's being asked to perform).

On Ellington: It's not just yesterday, although it was a particularly bad example. Ellington is averaging 3.8 yards per carry on the season. He's averaging 2.4 YPC on first down. In the second half he's averaging 3.6 YPC.

 

[Russ Smith]

On Bucannon: I don't think it's that challenging a transition for a strong safety to play coverage linebacker. I'm perfectly happy with the job that he's done, but I'm not pretending that his performance through the first four games of his rookie season tells me much about how he'll do if/when he's transitioned to a more complex role (and yes I believe that SS is a more complex role than the ILB role that he's being asked to perform).

On Ellington: It's not just yesterday, although it was a particularly bad example. Ellington is averaging 3.8 yards per carry on the season. He's averaging 2.4 YPC on first down. In the second half he's averaging 3.6 YPC.

On Ellington my "guess" is it's the foot. For example he had a play yesterday where he was literally a back of the foot tackle away from busting a big run, last year he busted those, this year he's not. I am guessing it's because of the foot he's not as quick. He's a big play RB, his average is down because he's not getting big plays. Last year he had 6 runs of 22 yards or more, this year 22 is his longest.

I am not worried about him in the long run I'm worried about the rest of the RB's because Hughes appears to be not good at all, BA clearly doesn't think Taylor is worth playing more, so if Ellington plays all year with a bum foot I have no idea how the run game gets better. Unless Cooper takes over at LG and starts opening big holes, and he can't even get on the field right now.