Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
If anyone had told you that with 1:51 left in the 1st half, behind 7-0 with a QB who was routinely missing passes, that the Cardinals would score 33 points, would you have ever believed it?
At that point I would have called it a miracle.
Credit Chandler Jones for tipping Gabbert's pass at 1:50 and Calais Campbell for intercepting the tip---then Larry Fitzgerald for running a textbook double move and Drew Stanton for slowing his throwing motion down just enough to get the ball to Fitz to make it 7-7.
Then for the first time this year, the Cardinals come out of half-time ready to make a move....and who would have thought that (a) they would pooch kick the kickoff and that (b) Ifeanyi Momah would make the ST play of the year (other than the 60 yard FG) by forcing a fumble and pouncing on it himself.
Then...David Johnson, who was outstanding all night to the tune of 157 rushing yards, bounces off-tackle for a sweet go-ahead TD...followed shortly thereafter by what may be the best pass Drew Stanton has thrown as a Cardinal...a perfectly thrown fade to the end zone for Larry Fitzgerald. 21-7 Cardinals.
Was very frustrating to see the 49ers march the length of the field to make it 21-14...at that point it still was anyone's game.
But the defense regrouped...highlighted by 14 tackles by Deone Bucannon...2 sacks my Markus Golden, 1.5 sacks by Kevin Minter, 2 sacks by Campbell, the last for a safety...some pesky coverage, highlighted by Pat P. keeping T. Smith without a single reception and Marcus Cooper making a sweet interception of Gabbert at a time when the game was still in question and the Cardinals needed a momentum shift.
I would also add that D.J. Swearinger had a very good night coming up to clean up on missed tackles and contains on Gabbert.
Plus---how about the STs? Both Nelson and John Brown had good returns---the cover teams were the best all year---Quigley punted very well and even handled one bad snap to help Catanzaro go perfect on the game.
The offense closed the game out on a 6-7 minute 4th quarter drive behind the legs of Johnson and set up by a hungry offensive line that featured John Wetzel and Earl Watford at the guard spots. Jared Veldheer, A.Q. Shipley and D.J. Humphries played very well...Mike Ipuati was a beast before he got injured...and TE Jermaine Gresham had a much better game this week, making some key blocks to spring Johnson.
I cannot even begin to express how relieved I feel after the near hopeless feeling I had toward the end of the first half. Thus---I would prefer tonight to just be thankful and not get too critical of anything or any coach or player. There were more than enough positives in the last 32 minutes of this game to build on as the team tries to fight back from the 1-3 start.
The only suggestion I have is that the team really needs a #2 RB now. Even though Ellington and Taylor ran hard when they got their carries---the Cardinals need someone tougher than Ellington and more dynamic than Taylor. Because...BA must have felt good tonight to ride that running game as much as the could and not turn the ball over. But---he has to give Johnson some much needed breathers. If BA want to stay with the power game, how about Elijhaa Penny? He seems like another RB the team can ride for some stretches---plus he lowers his shoulder upon contact, something that can wear a defense down.
At that point I would have called it a miracle.
Credit Chandler Jones for tipping Gabbert's pass at 1:50 and Calais Campbell for intercepting the tip---then Larry Fitzgerald for running a textbook double move and Drew Stanton for slowing his throwing motion down just enough to get the ball to Fitz to make it 7-7.
Then for the first time this year, the Cardinals come out of half-time ready to make a move....and who would have thought that (a) they would pooch kick the kickoff and that (b) Ifeanyi Momah would make the ST play of the year (other than the 60 yard FG) by forcing a fumble and pouncing on it himself.
Then...David Johnson, who was outstanding all night to the tune of 157 rushing yards, bounces off-tackle for a sweet go-ahead TD...followed shortly thereafter by what may be the best pass Drew Stanton has thrown as a Cardinal...a perfectly thrown fade to the end zone for Larry Fitzgerald. 21-7 Cardinals.
Was very frustrating to see the 49ers march the length of the field to make it 21-14...at that point it still was anyone's game.
But the defense regrouped...highlighted by 14 tackles by Deone Bucannon...2 sacks my Markus Golden, 1.5 sacks by Kevin Minter, 2 sacks by Campbell, the last for a safety...some pesky coverage, highlighted by Pat P. keeping T. Smith without a single reception and Marcus Cooper making a sweet interception of Gabbert at a time when the game was still in question and the Cardinals needed a momentum shift.
I would also add that D.J. Swearinger had a very good night coming up to clean up on missed tackles and contains on Gabbert.
Plus---how about the STs? Both Nelson and John Brown had good returns---the cover teams were the best all year---Quigley punted very well and even handled one bad snap to help Catanzaro go perfect on the game.
The offense closed the game out on a 6-7 minute 4th quarter drive behind the legs of Johnson and set up by a hungry offensive line that featured John Wetzel and Earl Watford at the guard spots. Jared Veldheer, A.Q. Shipley and D.J. Humphries played very well...Mike Ipuati was a beast before he got injured...and TE Jermaine Gresham had a much better game this week, making some key blocks to spring Johnson.
I cannot even begin to express how relieved I feel after the near hopeless feeling I had toward the end of the first half. Thus---I would prefer tonight to just be thankful and not get too critical of anything or any coach or player. There were more than enough positives in the last 32 minutes of this game to build on as the team tries to fight back from the 1-3 start.
The only suggestion I have is that the team really needs a #2 RB now. Even though Ellington and Taylor ran hard when they got their carries---the Cardinals need someone tougher than Ellington and more dynamic than Taylor. Because...BA must have felt good tonight to ride that running game as much as the could and not turn the ball over. But---he has to give Johnson some much needed breathers. If BA want to stay with the power game, how about Elijhaa Penny? He seems like another RB the team can ride for some stretches---plus he lowers his shoulder upon contact, something that can wear a defense down.
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