AZvsSTL: Offense Match-Up

[iRobot]

http://azbirdgang.com/?p=42

The question marks on our line are going to be at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. We know that Lyle Sendlein at center is generally pretty reliable, not stellar, but reliable. The rookie, Jonathan Cooper, will be manning the left guard position and we have yet to know how his game will translate to the NFL. Daryn Colledge appears to be moving to the right guard spot, which he has been a left guard for almost his entire career except for a small stint when the Packers needed him to play guard around 3-4 years ago. At left tackle, we don't know what Levi Brown we are getting, and that is the biggest question mark of the offensive line. Even more so than the rookie Cooper, because Brown has been known for being a turnstile at left tackle over the years, save for the back half of the 2011 season before he suffered a tricep injury in camp for the 2012 season. One must not forget Nate Potter though and how well he was able to play in his rookie season as a seventh-round draft pick. He could end up stepping in at left tackle eventually if Brown struggles, but I really think Levi will return to his late 2011 form and solidify the left tackle position this season.

During the 2011 season, which was Brown's last full season, he allowed 11.5 sacks per ProFootballWeekly compared to Nate Potter playing in half a season and allowed 7 sacks per ProFootballWeekly. Given a full season, one could argue that Potter would of allowed more sacks compared to Brown, but would he have allowed more QB pressures? ProFootballFocus said that Brown struggled early in 2011 and was on his way to posting the worst score they've ever seen from a left tackle.

"No player had a more two-sided season in 2011 than left tackle Levi Brown. In Weeks 1 through 10 he was on his way to possibly the worst season we’ve ever seen from the position (giving up a quarterback disruption on almost 11% of passing plays), but the game at San Francisco saw an unbelievable turnaround where his standard of play, if extrapolated through a whole season, would have seen him picking up our second-team All-Pro. The highlight of all this was probably holding DeMarcus Ware without a single pressure against the Cowboys in Week 13."

-ProFootballFocus (link)

If either of our tackles turn into the matadors they have been in the past, waving red at these Rams defensive ends will result in pressure on every down. Chris Long and Robert Quinn generate the most pressure for the Rams and they are known for getting home pretty quickly. Both posted double digit sack numbers last season, having 11.5 and 10.5, respectively. If Massie can duplicate the success he had on Chris Long in the last matchup, and Brown can return to his late 2011 form, the Cardinals will win this match-up.

Thoughts?

 

[Cardiac]

My concern with Levi is more about his injury than his pass blocking abilities. Yes he stunk it up when he was first moved to LT but his play improved dramatically as he became accustomed to playing on the left side.

If Levi does struggle I hope BA has a fairly quick hook and puts Potter in.

 

[iRobot]

My concern with Levi is more about his injury than his pass blocking abilities. Yes he stunk it up when he was first moved to LT but his play improved dramatically as he became accustomed to playing on the left side.

If Levi does struggle I hope BA has a fairly quick hook and puts Potter in.

I agree.. Levi stepped up in a big way at the end of 2011 and it was noticed as I found myself yelling at him on the TV less lol.

I expect Arians to be quicker about a few things compared to Whiz, and one would be putting another play in if one isn't getting the job done.. the other is starting rookies earlier than Whiz did.

 

[HotSauce]

New offense featuring deeper drops and longer developing routes vs. a team that tied for the league in sacks last year doesn't sound like too good a combination. Especially, since it will probably take some time for Palmer and crew to get on the same page vs. live bullets.

 

[iRobot]

New offense featuring deeper drops and longer developing routes vs. a team that tied for the league in sacks last year doesn't sound like too good a combination. Especially, since it will probably take some time for Palmer and crew to get on the same page vs. live bullets.

Yes but it's important to note that Palmer behind a porous Oakland line was one of the better QBs against the blitz.

Now the difference between Oakland and the WCO I believe they use and the system here should be noted but I think Palmer will be fine even if the line is only the "NFL average" for the position group.

 

[Seandonic]

If Levi does struggle I hope BA has a fairly quick hook and puts Potter in.

I second this.

 

[mojorizen7]

Dline vs OLine is the one area where St Lou will own the matchup advantage just about every week in 2013.
AZ sent a lot of help to the right side vs C.Long in last years matchups IIRC. Quinn and others got there as a result.

If Fitz can finally get some help on the other side this year,AZ can exploit the Rams young,inexperienced secondary on deep routes and double moves IMO. I'm not sold on TJ McDonald or anyone else at safety for St Lou in terms of coverage.