Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Positives:
* Best first drive on offense this year---played with good tempo and play calling. Didn't let ATL load up on the run.
* David Johnson---another stellar performance---160 yards total.
* Jefferson & Swearinger---best all-around defensive players on the field for Cardinals.
* Gresham's TD and other catches---too bad PI wasn't called on the key 3rd down try in Q2.
* Golden and Campbell---good effort.
* Chanler Jones' big 3rd down stop
* Peterson on Jones---1st PI was bull----. 2nd one was legit.
* Swearinger's interception---too bad he missed the other one that he perfectly timed on Ryan and Jones.
* The quick toss to Fitz at end of 1st half to set up FG.
* Catanzaro's 54 harder.
* Bettcher's edge blitzes in 2nd half---right on the money---to bad the illegal contact penalty prolonged the first ATL possession.
Negatives:
* Sluggish defense to start having been handed a 7-0 lead.
* DEs/OLBs poor so often losing contain.
* CB Marcus Cooper, passive, running half-speed off WRs breaks.
* LBs Bucannon and Minter---worst players on defense in this game, brutally bad.
* No MLB on one ATL rushing TD---wtf was that? Buccaneer was lined up on edge with no LB in the middle.
* Peterson's tackling effort on Gabriel screen TD, totally lame.
* Campbell doing the unthinkable jumping off-side on punt---turned a close game into a blowout.
* Horrendous effort anf tackling on Gabriel screen (save HB getting held).
* Poor offensive tempo in quarters 2,3,4. Palmer too slow getting unit out of huddle.
* Bad drops by Floyd and Nelson.
* Little to no help for T Ulrich John, making his 1st start. Typical BA negligence.
* Gresham awful as edge blocker. Why have him on the l.o.s against Freeney. Off-set him and have the WR be the man on the line.
* Iupati---man, has he regressed.
* Shipley---Dan Quinn had designated NT hammer him and it led to poor snap and play.
* Ellington in Game 11 not on any kind of page with Carson Palmer.
* Taking a timeout on the 4th and 7 and even worse calling the pass to Floyd---same as on 2 pt. conversion.
The Cardinals have to run the table to go 9-6-1. Right now it doesn't look like a team that is well coached enough or hungry enough to make a push.
Issues Going Forward:
Offensive Scheme and Tempo
BA's offense with Palmer (or anyone statuesque) at QB, "zero protections" and lack of slot WRs. is a recipe for disaster and the coaches refuse to change regardless of personnel and the GM refuses to add the type of personnel to make it work. It won't work when 3 of your 4 WRs (Floyd are not possession slot WRs---they are too frail and shy---same as Ellington.
Plus, with such minimal pass protection in the scheme, Palmer didn't have time to hit Fitz and his deep crossing pattern and Palmer really hasn't hit any deep passes all year.
BA's play calling (slow) and Palmer's tempo (super slow) is agonizing to watch. Look at Matt Ryan's tempo. Look at Kurt Cousins'. Heck, even Scott Tolzein played with tempo for the Colts Thursday night.
There's such little urgency (tempo-wise) in BA's offense---by the QB especially.
Bettcher's defense---issues with contain, covering screens and covering RBs out of backfield---which should not be such an issue in a 34, yet Bettcher has the OLBers crash inside repeatedly and thus become sitting ducks. Both starting CBs, Peterson and Cooper are awful force the run and screen corners. If they get away with a hold on HB and momentarily block Jefferson, it could be a TD every time. Why were Falcon RBs able to run free so often to the outside and go uncovered on passing routes?
Punting Game---there's a good reason why every punter has a field day versus the Cardinals, even a rookie punting for the first time. When they look at the tape they see that the Cardinals put zero pressure on the punter time and time again. One would think then that the Cardinals setting up the punt return blocking would help spring returns, but no, the Cardinals are worst in the NFL on PRs and have been awful for years. Ironically, despite never rushing the punter, Campbell jumps off-side at the worst possible time.
Personnel---Tony Jefferson would be a better ILB than Bucannon or Minter---put Jefferson anywhere in the box and he will thrive---he and Swearinger are the best tacklers on the team and have an excellent chemistry as a safety tandem. Steve Keim has to re-sign both of them. Swearinger is the only legit FS on the roster.
It looks like D.J. Humphries is a better fit at LT than RT. If so, there is one silver lining to this week. Plus, John Wetzelk could develop into a solid RG. He made some good "man over" run and pass pro blocks---but needs to master the footwork and technique of reach blocks (man inside) on running plays---which takes time and game experience.
* Best first drive on offense this year---played with good tempo and play calling. Didn't let ATL load up on the run.
* David Johnson---another stellar performance---160 yards total.
* Jefferson & Swearinger---best all-around defensive players on the field for Cardinals.
* Gresham's TD and other catches---too bad PI wasn't called on the key 3rd down try in Q2.
* Golden and Campbell---good effort.
* Chanler Jones' big 3rd down stop
* Peterson on Jones---1st PI was bull----. 2nd one was legit.
* Swearinger's interception---too bad he missed the other one that he perfectly timed on Ryan and Jones.
* The quick toss to Fitz at end of 1st half to set up FG.
* Catanzaro's 54 harder.
* Bettcher's edge blitzes in 2nd half---right on the money---to bad the illegal contact penalty prolonged the first ATL possession.
Negatives:
* Sluggish defense to start having been handed a 7-0 lead.
* DEs/OLBs poor so often losing contain.
* CB Marcus Cooper, passive, running half-speed off WRs breaks.
* LBs Bucannon and Minter---worst players on defense in this game, brutally bad.
* No MLB on one ATL rushing TD---wtf was that? Buccaneer was lined up on edge with no LB in the middle.
* Peterson's tackling effort on Gabriel screen TD, totally lame.
* Campbell doing the unthinkable jumping off-side on punt---turned a close game into a blowout.
* Horrendous effort anf tackling on Gabriel screen (save HB getting held).
* Poor offensive tempo in quarters 2,3,4. Palmer too slow getting unit out of huddle.
* Bad drops by Floyd and Nelson.
* Little to no help for T Ulrich John, making his 1st start. Typical BA negligence.
* Gresham awful as edge blocker. Why have him on the l.o.s against Freeney. Off-set him and have the WR be the man on the line.
* Iupati---man, has he regressed.
* Shipley---Dan Quinn had designated NT hammer him and it led to poor snap and play.
* Ellington in Game 11 not on any kind of page with Carson Palmer.
* Taking a timeout on the 4th and 7 and even worse calling the pass to Floyd---same as on 2 pt. conversion.
The Cardinals have to run the table to go 9-6-1. Right now it doesn't look like a team that is well coached enough or hungry enough to make a push.
Issues Going Forward:
Offensive Scheme and Tempo
BA's offense with Palmer (or anyone statuesque) at QB, "zero protections" and lack of slot WRs. is a recipe for disaster and the coaches refuse to change regardless of personnel and the GM refuses to add the type of personnel to make it work. It won't work when 3 of your 4 WRs (Floyd are not possession slot WRs---they are too frail and shy---same as Ellington.
Plus, with such minimal pass protection in the scheme, Palmer didn't have time to hit Fitz and his deep crossing pattern and Palmer really hasn't hit any deep passes all year.
BA's play calling (slow) and Palmer's tempo (super slow) is agonizing to watch. Look at Matt Ryan's tempo. Look at Kurt Cousins'. Heck, even Scott Tolzein played with tempo for the Colts Thursday night.
There's such little urgency (tempo-wise) in BA's offense---by the QB especially.
Bettcher's defense---issues with contain, covering screens and covering RBs out of backfield---which should not be such an issue in a 34, yet Bettcher has the OLBers crash inside repeatedly and thus become sitting ducks. Both starting CBs, Peterson and Cooper are awful force the run and screen corners. If they get away with a hold on HB and momentarily block Jefferson, it could be a TD every time. Why were Falcon RBs able to run free so often to the outside and go uncovered on passing routes?
Punting Game---there's a good reason why every punter has a field day versus the Cardinals, even a rookie punting for the first time. When they look at the tape they see that the Cardinals put zero pressure on the punter time and time again. One would think then that the Cardinals setting up the punt return blocking would help spring returns, but no, the Cardinals are worst in the NFL on PRs and have been awful for years. Ironically, despite never rushing the punter, Campbell jumps off-side at the worst possible time.
Personnel---Tony Jefferson would be a better ILB than Bucannon or Minter---put Jefferson anywhere in the box and he will thrive---he and Swearinger are the best tacklers on the team and have an excellent chemistry as a safety tandem. Steve Keim has to re-sign both of them. Swearinger is the only legit FS on the roster.
It looks like D.J. Humphries is a better fit at LT than RT. If so, there is one silver lining to this week. Plus, John Wetzelk could develop into a solid RG. He made some good "man over" run and pass pro blocks---but needs to master the footwork and technique of reach blocks (man inside) on running plays---which takes time and game experience.
