ARI@SF: Heroes and Goats

[kerouac9]

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1. Michael Floyd, WR. 8 receptions for 153 yards and 2 TDs only begins to illustrate Michael Floyd's contribution in this game. The rising Arizona star also contributed at least two essential INT breakups deep in San Francisco territory that would have changed the game.

2. Darren Fells, TE. Fells contributed some nice receiving skills that may help push tight end into a secondary concern in the 2015 NFL draft for the Cardinals to go along with exceptional blocking that has really contributed to the resurgence of the Arizona running attack late in the year.

3. Jared Veldheer, OT. Veldheer's contributions to anchoring the Arizona offensive line have been under-praised this season because the offense has struggled. Veldheer contained a possible Hall of Fame defensive end in Justin Smith for more or less the entire game.

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1. Ryan Lindley, QB. If last week, Lindley's play resembled a dumpster fire, this week he just looked like a guy who deserves to exist on the fringes of a lot of NFL rosters. The problem remains that Lindley can't give his teams a non-zero chance to win if he's playing more than a quarter of football.

2. Marcus Bernard, OLB. Yikes, was Bernard terrible in containing Colin Kaepernick and closing the deal when he had opportunities to do so. I would have loved to put Kevin Minter in this position, but Bernard's inability to finish plays jumped out.

3. Jerroud Powers, CB. Anytime the 49ers needed a big completion on 3rd and long, it seemed like Powers lost track of his man and allowed the conversion

 

[82CardsGrad]

I know you only limit your selections to three, but if you went to more, I'd add Minter and Carson to the Goat list. And it seemed to me that Rashad Johnson didn't have one of his better games as well.

 

[NJCardFan]

I think you're being unfair to Lindley here. 3 INT's aside, he had his best game as a pro. That TD pass to Floyd at the end of the first half was beautiful. He was leaps and bounds better than last week. If you want a goat, John Brown for dropping that sure 1st down catch in the middle of the 4th quarter. Lindley put it in his hands and he simply dropped it. Would have put us in 49er territory. A group goat goes to the defense in the 3rd quarter. Leading 17-13 with the 49ers on their own 11 yard line, they allow them to go 89 yards to score the lead TD.

 

[kerouac9]

I think you're being unfair to Lindley here. 3 INT's aside, he had his best game as a pro. That TD pass to Floyd at the end of the first half was beautiful. He was leaps and bounds better than last week. If you want a goat, John Brown for dropping that sure 1st down catch in the middle of the 4th quarter. Lindley put it in his hands and he simply dropped it. Would have put us in 49er territory. A group goat goes to the defense in the 3rd quarter. Leading 17-13 with the 49ers on their own 11 yard line, they allow them to go 89 yards to score the lead TD.

I like to deal in absolute value and not value relative to expectations or discounted to previous performance. One thing I'd like to do sometime this week is maybe look at the average performance of all the #3 QBs who have played this season and compare that to Lindley.

Yes, Lindley was better than the dumpster fire that he was last week--and I said that--but he wasn't good. I'd expect that he was sub-average compared to the other #3 quarterbacks in the NFL. I'll check it out and get back to you.

If Lindley had played 15% better--or just not thrown a pick on third down deep in San Francisco territory--the Cards probably win this game.

 

[TJ]

Floyd had a great game, and Fells is starting to really impress me and give hope for the future at the tight end position. Also, for all the flack that Peterson gets, he only allowed one catch for 5 yards yesterday. He shut down his side of the field.

Another goat would be Cromartie as he was beat on many plays including the Bolding 76 yard TD scamper (didnt help that there was no safety help). Also, the play of Carson and Minter was really disappointing and speaks to the need of more athleticism at linebacker. I was also surprised to see that Acho got his first sack of the season in Week 17. Sheesh....

I give Lindley a pass because he moved the ball down field despite the picks. We had 26 first downs and 400 yards of offense, which is the most in a game in a very long time.

 

[kerouac9]

Floyd had a great game, and Fells is starting to really impress me and give hope for the future at the tight end position. Also, for all the flack that Peterson gets, he only allowed one catch for 5 yards yesterday. He shut down his side of the field.

Another goat would be Cromartie as he was beat on many plays including the Bolding 76 yard TD scamper (didnt help that there was no safety help). Also, the play of Carson and Minter was really disappointing and speaks to the need of more athleticism at linebacker. I was also surprised to see that Acho got his first sack of the season in Week 17. Sheesh....

I give Lindley a pass because he moved the ball down field despite the picks. We had 26 first downs and 400 yards of offense, which is the most in a game in a very long time.

See, I thought that the Cards were in quarters coverage off the snap there, and it was probably Powers responsibility to cover that interior quarter. In the broadcast, I think they blamed the ILB for not getting a deep enough drop.

I'll take a look at the coaches tape maybe this week for review and see if it's more clear what happened there.

 

[NJCardFan]

I like to deal in absolute value and not value relative to expectations or discounted to previous performance. One thing I'd like to do sometime this week is maybe look at the average performance of all the #3 QBs who have played this season and compare that to Lindley.

Yes, Lindley was better than the dumpster fire that he was last week--and I said that--but he wasn't good. I'd expect that he was sub-average compared to the other #3 quarterbacks in the NFL. I'll check it out and get back to you.

If Lindley had played 15% better--or just not thrown a pick on third down deep in San Francisco territory--the Cards probably win this game.

And if the defense had stepped up on that long drive we definitely would have won that game. Playing the if game is fun but it's also pure speculation. As for 3rd stringers, the only one I can think of is Colt McCoy. I guess Austin Davis does qualify but Bradford was injured pre-season putting Davis as the 2nd string.

 

[Buckybird]

I like to deal in absolute value and not value relative to expectations or discounted to previous performance. One thing I'd like to do sometime this week is maybe look at the average performance of all the #3 QBs who have played this season and compare that to Lindley.

Yes, Lindley was better than the dumpster fire that he was last week--and I said that--but he wasn't good. I'd expect that he was sub-average compared to the other #3 quarterbacks in the NFL. I'll check it out and get back to you.

If Lindley had played 15% better--or just not thrown a pick on third down deep in San Francisco territory--the Cards probably win this game.

I agree totally. Peeps are praising Lindley when he was so-so on his total performance. He played a good 1st half though he left points on the board with a pick when he had Smokey for a TD (FG at worst) then threw for 50 yds & scoreless in the 2nd half. Look at the total picture & he's part of why we lost along with the D.

 

[Buckybird]

Minter definitely deserves goat status

 

[kerouac9]

And if the defense had stepped up on that long drive we definitely would have won that game. Playing the if game is fun but it's also pure speculation. As for 3rd stringers, the only one I can think of is Colt McCoy. I guess Austin Davis does qualify but Bradford was injured pre-season putting Davis as the 2nd string.

I dunno. The defense only gave up 20 points on the road. I guess it's better to ask a hurculean effort from one unit than ask for just-slightly-below-average play from a single guy.

Here are the #3 or worse QBs who have played in and/or started games this season:

Austin Davis (STL)
Zach Mettenberger (TEN)
Colt McCoy (WAS)
Case Keenum (HOU)
Matt Simms (NYJ)
Connor Shaw (CLE)
Christian Ponder (MIN)

Should I count Tom Savage, too? If anyone can think of others, let me know.

 

[TJ]

See, I thought that the Cards were in quarters coverage off the snap there, and it was probably Powers responsibility to cover that interior quarter. In the broadcast, I think they blamed the ILB for not getting a deep enough drop.

I'll take a look at the coaches tape maybe this week for review and see if it's more clear what happened there.

Can't recall the formation, but just my internal dialogue:

"Ohh ****, there goes Boldin, I bet a safety is back th.....ohh wait, he was on the line of scrimmage. He's gone."

 

[CardNots]

Tackling fundamentals, field condition (people high stepping for traction) and getting cute deep in the red zone (keep pounding the ball) were the major contributing factors for the loss. Kelly's face to the helmet call didn't help.

The LB play was terrible. Number 56 needed to be cut before the flight. Let him call a cab for the ride home.

On the other hand, I didn't think we would be in the game in the 4th qtr.

 

[SO91]

Kevin Minter was atrocious yesterday. Crazy that a 2nd rnd pick is as useless as he appeared in the broadcast.

 

[kerouac9]

Can't recall the formation, but just my internal dialogue:

"Ohh ****, there goes Boldin, I bet a safety is back th.....ohh wait, he was on the line of scrimmage. He's gone."

IIRC, the WRs were stacked on the outside. Boldin went to the inside and the receiver behind him went toward the perimeter. I think that Cromartie correctly took the man in the outside zone and passed the interior player to the safety/cornerback.

It looks like I have a play to break down for Coaches' Tape this week.

 

[juza76]

i dont see cooper
rashard johnson and jefferson should be on the list
two of the slower safeties in the nfl
minter is what he is
carson is the lindley of linabacker
campbell was invisible
and tommy kelly cost us a touchdown

 

[Dback Jon]

You put Lindley in there, but not Cromartie, and the entire D?

Ted Ginn was a huge Goat.


Lindley was neither a hero or a Goat - but played well enough for the Cards to win if the D actually learned how to tackle

 

[cardpa]

I think you're being unfair to Lindley here. 3 INT's aside, he had his best game as a pro. That TD pass to Floyd at the end of the first half was beautiful. He was leaps and bounds better than last week. If you want a goat, John Brown for dropping that sure 1st down catch in the middle of the 4th quarter. Lindley put it in his hands and he simply dropped it. Would have put us in 49er territory. A group goat goes to the defense in the 3rd quarter. Leading 17-13 with the 49ers on their own 11 yard line, they allow them to go 89 yards to score the lead TD.

Brown has been dropping passes with regularity of late and it seems like at critical times too.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

Lindley did have his best game but the 2 of the INT's killed us. Both when we were driving. First one when we were in FG range. Second when he missread the WR. Both were bad passes that stopped us from getting points.

One last thing. We also lost points when we were in FG range but then had a penalty and a sack which knocked us out.

 

[Totally_Red]

Lindley is not a goat let alone being in the top three. Where is Cromartie? Where is Minter? The guy played well enough for the team to win.

The defense flunked Tackling 101 yesterday. They looked like they were auditioning for the post-season flag football tournament instead of the playoffs.

 

[NJCardFan]

Lindley did have his best game but the 2 of the INT's killed us. Both when we were driving. First one when we were in FG range. Second when he missread the WR. Both were bad passes that stopped us from getting points.

One last thing. We also lost points when we were in FG range but then had a penalty and a sack which knocked us out.

And the defense giving up the 89 yard drive in the 3rd quarter was acceptable to you? Especially considering SF had a few 20-30 yard gains in that drive. Take that away and we win 17-13 INT's be damned.

 

[Totally_Red]

Lindley did have his best game but the 2 of the INT's killed us. Both when we were driving. First one when we were in FG range. Second when he missread the WR. Both were bad passes that stopped us from getting points.

One last thing. We also lost points when we were in FG range but then had a penalty and a sack which knocked us out.

The interceptions hurt -no question. But what is really hurting the Cardinals is the absence of turnovers from the defense. The had another dropped interception yesterday by Jarraud Powers and they aren't forcing fumbles.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

And the defense giving up the 89 yard drive in the 3rd quarter was acceptable to you? Especially considering SF had a few 20-30 yard gains in that drive. Take that away and we win 17-13 INT's be damned.

NJCard. I was mearly responding to an earlier post and highlighting what I thought was Lindley's mistakes in the game in which I thought hurt us. I never said he deserved Goat status because in my opiion he played his best game.

Now the D needed to step up and did not. Thus they deserve goat status more than Lindley.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

Brown has been dropping passes with regularity of late and it seems like at critical times too.

Brown was also hit on one of his arms on that drop, so it wasn't a complete drop without contact, it was also good defense. I think part of that is learning to play while in a mess of defenders, hopefully an aspect of his game that can improve over time.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

What? No Cooper on the goat list?!?!

 

[splitsecond]

I love tommy kelly, and his play shouldn't be defined by one penalty, but frankly that one was a backbreaker.