Back from the game.. My thoughts:

[82CardsGrad]

1.) Max Hall is simply not ready for the NFL. Love the kid. But he puts the Cards in a terrible quandry. Playing him essentially equates to coughing up the season. Not playing him keeps him from getting the needed game experience he requires in order to learn and grow. At this stage, given that we are only 1 game out of the divisional lead, I think you gotta go with Anderson as, with all his warts, he's the only QB we have that actually provides even the slightest glimmer of hope for success...

2.) Whiz's play-calling is simply amatuerish. Can't sugar-coat this. I can't believe how many times he decides to shun the run. The final interception is simply inexcusable. On the 20. More than 2 mins left in the game down by 3, and you pass???????? WHY?????? After giving up 2 pick 6's and playing just well enough to lose, we still somehow had a decent shot of forging OT and squeezing this game out... But he passes??????? Wow... just wow.....

3.) Dan Williams needs to be our starting NT. He played pretty well today and showed me that he's learning. B-Rob is simply not good enough.

4.) DRC is actually regressing right before our eyes. Amazing to see such rare talent and ability being flushed down the toilet.

5.) Our entire secondary can't stop the long, down the middle bomb. Any opponent of ours needs only to take their shots downfield, and they will succeed more often than not.

6.) Calais Campbell?? Hello??? You home dude?? Though his talent is not on par with DRC, he too is regressing... Strange and frustrating...

7.) Our running game is putrid... it just is. Mainly because our o-line continues to SUCK! But no matter if it's Timmy or Beanie, we just can't sustain any rushing momentum... none. The # of times are backs are totally stuffed and/or dropped for a loss is sickening...

8.) Breaston is such a stud. Man I love the kid...

9.) So, if we don't throw to Fitz or Stevie, we have nothing else... Where are attempts to our TE's, Roberts, Williams?? And I'm still not one bit sold on Doucet. He totally disappears far too often...

10.) Fitz is off... bigtime... Don't think it's just one thing, but rather a combo of: His knee, no Kurt and no Q. All contributing to a very frustrated Fitz who's wings have been clipped... It's actually sad to watch and I have to believe his departure from AZ is now cemented.

11.) Why is it that when our defense has a collapse, it's never just a guy, but rather the entire unit?

We now have to go 6 & 3 the rest of the way in order to have a shot at the post season... as I believe the Hawks and/or Rams will get to 9 wins. I just can't see that happening... Hey, we had a very nice, if not great 2-3 year run. Let's hope we stay healthy the rest of the way and are able to make some solid moves in the draft and FA this off-season...

 

[DoTheDew]

Absolutely agree with #2. Michael B should demand that Whiz hire a real offensive coordinator in the off-season. Our play-calling has regressed each year since Haley left.

 

[Buckybird]

Good thoughts '82.

It might be sad to watch Breatson & Fitz walk. Why hasn't this team resigned the only guy on this offense to stretch a defense. Mind boggling...but this season just appears to be the start of a long rebuilding process IMO.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Absolutely agree with #2. Michael B should demand that Whiz hire a real offensive coordinator in the off-season. Our play-calling has regressed each year since Haley left.

Totally agree...

 

[conraddobler]

I'm going to LMAO if there's no lockout, this team's pants are going to be firmly around their ankles and it couldn't happen to a more deserving group.

It appears to me as if we're managing for one, if there's a last second avoidance of one, "which I doubt" I will laugh and laugh and laugh, then cry.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Good thoughts '82.

It might be sad to watch Breatson & Fitz walk. Why hasn't this team resigned the only guy on this offense to stretch a defense. Mind boggling...but this season just appears to be the start of a long rebuilding process IMO.

I don't get it either Bucky... Breaston, even more so than Fitz, has been money whenever he's on the field. Now, that is no doubt due in large part to the coverage being rolled toward Fitz.. nonetheless, he simply does what he's asked to do -all of the time!
I'm starting to worry about Fitz to be truthful. He's always had issues with getting separation, but now it's not even close. He's blanketed at all times and is rarely, if ever, able to get off his man. He seems slower (the knee is certainly a nagging problem), and he really, REALLY seems pissed off.
I only have 2 jersey's - Tillman and Fitz. I put Fitz in that type of class... However, this season has raised many questions for me about him. I just hope he sticks around and answers these questions with a F-U!!!

 

[conraddobler]

I don't get it either Bucky... Breaston, even more so than Fitz, has been money whenever he's on the field. Now, that is no doubt due in large part to the coverage being rolled toward Fitz.. nonetheless, he simply does what he's asked to do -all of the time!
I'm starting to worry about Fitz to be truthful. He's always had issues with getting separation, but now it's not even close. He's blanketed at all times and is rarely, if ever, able to get off his man. He seems slower (the knee is certainly a nagging problem), and he really, REALLY seems pissed off.
I only have 2 jersey's - Tillman and Fitz. I put Fitz in that type of class... However, this season has raised many questions for me about him. I just hope he sticks around and answers these questions with a F-U!!!

If Whiz is right and stats aren't everything then I'm going to admit right now, right here that we let the wrong WR go.

Boldin, I miss you man.

I also think IMO that a certain someone wanted rid of a certain QB and contributed to this mess we're in now that has someone so po'd.

 

[Cards_Campos]

I don't get it either Bucky... Breaston, even more so than Fitz, has been money whenever he's on the field. Now, that is no doubt due in large part to the coverage being rolled toward Fitz.. nonetheless, he simply does what he's asked to do -all of the time!
I'm starting to worry about Fitz to be truthful. He's always had issues with getting separation, but now it's not even close. He's blanketed at all times and is rarely, if ever, able to get off his man. He seems slower (the knee is certainly a nagging problem), and he really, REALLY seems pissed off.
I only have 2 jersey's - Tillman and Fitz. I put Fitz in that type of class... However, this season has raised many questions for me about him. I just hope he sticks around and answers these questions with a F-U!!!

Well Just think about this...If Max Hall turned into a QB for 1 play...the first pass Fitz had 3 yards on the defense for a 50+ TD..That would have given him 3TD's for the game and close to 100+ yards...which would have been a nice stat line. Fitz is getting frustrated...He was use to the ball always on target and now he busts his butt and the ball isn't in just 1 bad place its all over the place. He cant even adjust. If we can still win the West which is still possible becuase Seattle's schedule is brutal and the Rams are not there yet.

 

[Cards_Campos]

If Whiz is right and stats aren't everything then I'm going to admit right now, right here that we let the wrong WR go.

Boldin, I miss you man.

I also think IMO that a certain someone wanted rid of a certain QB and contributed to this mess we're in now that has someone so po'd.

Well with WARNER..we put 51 points on the 3rd ranked defense with no BOldin....If we had a Warner we might be the best team in the NFC.

 

[TJ]

Ill just say this right now. We have no real QB on the roster.

As obvious as it sounds, it needs to be said. We are a halfway decent QB away from being tops in our division. Unequivocally, we have the worst QB situation in the league. I would not be the least bit upset if we at some point threw Skelton in there. I mean, how much worse is he than the two schleps we've had in there all season? If not, I would not be opposed to picking up someone off the street, even someone like Culpepper....and this is coming from someone who believes in rhythm and balance with his play callers.

Whatever the case may be, we had better be very aggressive finding a QB either in FA or in the first round of the draft. No more BS or banking on two rookies and a Cleveland castoff to help us do anything.

 

[titan]

i have to totally agree on #4! what the hell happened to him. drc was a player to be feared. they didn't throw his way. now they go out of there way to throw his direction. he always plays so far off the reciever. he thinks he has the speed but he is wrong. he keeps getting burned and he needs a coach to set his ass down and straighten him out or pull him out of a game. when he gets burned it seems it's always be for big yards or for a 1st down.

 

[Mitch]

Excellent thoughts, 82. Well done!

 

[Catfish]

1. Totally agree-----DA should be starting.

2. Also agree-----too many plays being tiipped off by the personnel package and the down-----for instance new set of downs, one back in the lineup, hand off to that back for a run. Two backs in the backfield, (31 and 45), throw to 31 out of the backfield. These instances happen almost every time this way. Also his play calling for Max was not catered to Max's strengths, but to his weakness ie. the pass from the far hash mark to the sideline. Max doesn't have the arm strength for that pass. I am getting real tired of Whiz having fun out there while the team suffers.

3. Disagree-----Gabe Watson needs to be starting at nose, along with Branch at the DE opposite DD. Williams should be spelling him, and Robinson should be inactive. Been saying this all year.

4. Totally agree-----his head got waaaaay too big last year when they had McFadden to pick on at the other corner.

5. I believe this is a product of playing them up because we can't stop the run up the middle.

6. See #3

7. It's not because of the O-line, but because of the fumbling that has caused Whiz to not rely on either Beanie or Timmy in the clutch. THat has become a 3 headed monseter now, because he can't rely on a QB either. The fumbling problem is mostly due to inaction so far as Timmy is concerned. Perhaps stronger attention getting with him all through last year may have made a bigger impression on him AND on the new guy BEanie as well.

11. Most of our defensive collapses have been right up the middle with our failure to stop the run. It is mostly due to the poor play of Robinson, but it looks like the whole unit fails because it demoralizes the whole defense to constantly give up long runs up the middle on third downs, (6-7-8-9) yards at a crack for a new set of downs just demoralized the whole defense. Our main D-line should be DD, Gabe, Branch.

I seriously doubt that any of this will change unless and until Whiz delegates his game plans and personnel to new, proven OC and DC who will take charge of their units like Haley did when he was OC. Whiz has too much influence at the co-ordinator level, and not enough as a head coach. He needs to tend to his own business.

 

[Capital Card]

Absolutely agree with #2. Michael B should demand that Whiz hire a real offensive coordinator in the off-season. Our play-calling has regressed each year since Haley left.

How much of our success the last couple of years was due to Haley's influence?

 

[john h]

1.) Max Hall is simply not ready for the NFL. Love the kid. But he puts the Cards in a terrible quandry. Playing him essentially equates to coughing up the season. Not playing him keeps him from getting the needed game experience he requires in order to learn and grow. At this stage, given that we are only 1 game out of the divisional lead, I think you gotta go with Anderson as, with all his warts, he's the only QB we have that actually provides even the slightest glimmer of hope for success...

2.) Whiz's play-calling is simply amatuerish. Can't sugar-coat this. I can't believe how many times he decides to shun the run. The final interception is simply inexcusable. On the 20. More than 2 mins left in the game down by 3, and you pass???????? WHY?????? After giving up 2 pick 6's and playing just well enough to lose, we still somehow had a decent shot of forging OT and squeezing this game out... But he passes??????? Wow... just wow.....

3.) Dan Williams needs to be our starting NT. He played pretty well today and showed me that he's learning. B-Rob is simply not good enough.

4.) DRC is actually regressing right before our eyes. Amazing to see such rare talent and ability being flushed down the toilet.

5.) Our entire secondary can't stop the long, down the middle bomb. Any opponent of ours needs only to take their shots downfield, and they will succeed more often than not.

6.) Calais Campbell?? Hello??? You home dude?? Though his talent is not on par with DRC, he too is regressing... Strange and frustrating...

7.) Our running game is putrid... it just is. Mainly because our o-line continues to SUCK! But no matter if it's Timmy or Beanie, we just can't sustain any rushing momentum... none. The # of times are backs are totally stuffed and/or dropped for a loss is sickening...

8.) Breaston is such a stud. Man I love the kid...

9.) So, if we don't throw to Fitz or Stevie, we have nothing else... Where are attempts to our TE's, Roberts, Williams?? And I'm still not one bit sold on Doucet. He totally disappears far too often...

10.) Fitz is off... bigtime... Don't think it's just one thing, but rather a combo of: His knee, no Kurt and no Q. All contributing to a very frustrated Fitz who's wings have been clipped... It's actually sad to watch and I have to believe his departure from AZ is now cemented.

11.) Why is it that when our defense has a collapse, it's never just a guy, but rather the entire unit?

We now have to go 6 & 3 the rest of the way in order to have a shot at the post season... as I believe the Hawks and/or Rams will get to 9 wins. I just can't see that happening... Hey, we had a very nice, if not great 2-3 year run. Let's hope we stay healthy the rest of the way and are able to make some solid moves in the draft and FA this off-season...

I strongly believe that Max Hall just does not have the physical tools to play in the NFL. He is to short, has no real arm strength, and has the smallest hands of any QB in the NFL. You just cannot overcome those deficiencies. He may have a great heart and we all wish he could be the man. No amount of experience is going to overcome these problems. Yesterday he was playing against a QB that was 6'5" and 250 lbs who can throw the ball 60 yards plus. We do not have our QBOTF on our roster. I do not know where we will find him. Once Max got us in the hole we simply were not going to get out of it. We came close and could have won had we had a better start. No matter how bad Anderson is he so should start the rest of the season. He clearly gives us the best chance to win. If we go into next season thinking Max Hall will be our QB we are simply not seeing what our eyes are telling us. Everyone of the TV commentators seem to get it.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I agree 100% on all points.

Dan Williams was a stud in there. DRC is done. He may not be in th eleague in 2-3 years at this rate.

I dont know how that bomb down the middle wasnt offensive PI. Guy pushed Rhodes 2 yards off him.

 

[azsouthendzone]

2.) Whiz's play-calling is simply amatuerish. Can't sugar-coat this. I can't believe how many times he decides to shun the run. The final interception is simply inexcusable. On the 20. More than 2 mins left in the game down by 3, and you pass???????? WHY?????? After giving up 2 pick 6's and playing just well enough to lose, we still somehow had a decent shot of forging OT and squeezing this game out... But he passes??????? Wow... just wow.....


7.) Our running game is putrid... it just is. Mainly because our o-line continues to SUCK! But no matter if it's Timmy or Beanie, we just can't sustain any rushing momentum... none. The # of times are backs are totally stuffed and/or dropped for a loss is sickening...

Don't these kind of contradict each other?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Don't these kind of contradict each other?

You can look at it that way. However, specific to the final series, where we were on their 20 with over 2mins to play, crappy or not, YOU RUN THE DAMN BALL!!! Had Kurt still been our QB, you still RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!
I'd give Whiz a break here if it were 3rd and 6. But in first down, you RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Nice post, 82!

I'm beginning to really wonder about DRC. For a lot of reasons. Is it coaching? Something wrong with his thought process? Something isn't copasetic.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I think that because Whiz took us to the Super Bowl he gets a free pass. Anything he does is gold and to question him is just plain wrong.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think that because Whiz took us to the Super Bowl he gets a free pass. Anything he does is gold and to question him is just plain wrong.

Hey man... questioning him here is one thing. Doing what you do - which is essentially making him out to be some sort of narcissistic, ego-driven maniac who is going to drive this team over a cliff, is entirely another. I think Whiz is making the best of a very bad situation. And given all of the talent and experience this team lost this off-season, it really shouldn't be a surprise we are where we are.

I still trust Whiz as a leader and head coach. However, I have always stated my disdain for the head coach also being the OC. We'll see how long that situation remains...

 

[jefftheshark]

essentially making him out to be some sort of narcissistic, ego-driven maniac who is going to drive this team over a cliff, is entirely another.

Uh, is it "Who was Denny Green?" Alex?

JTS

 

[john h]

Hey man... questioning him here is one thing. Doing what you do - which is essentially making him out to be some sort of narcissistic, ego-driven maniac who is going to drive this team over a cliff, is entirely another. I think Whiz is making the best of a very bad situation. And given all of the talent and experience this team lost this off-season, it really shouldn't be a surprise we are where we are.

I still trust Whiz as a leader and head coach. However, I have always stated my disdain for the head coach also being the OC. We'll see how long that situation remains...

I agree with you on the head coach being the OC. I just think in most cases a guy has a better view from up high which gives him more information on making a call. The head coach can always change the call if he does not like it. At ground level there is a lot of things you just cannot see. Of course an OC must be good no matter where he sits or what he does. Watching on TV you usually see several guys sitting around the OC. I guess they just give him input so you have 6 eyes looking and thinking about nothing but the next play. Of course they develop a game plan which the head coach must approve. At Arkansas we have Bobby Petrino as our Head Coach. He also is the OC which some fans do not like. As you may all recall his name was like poison when he resigned at Atlanta. He has become very popular at Arkansas and listening to him on his weekly TV show you learn a lot about football. He shows the film and points out what players are doing wrong and right. He even gives you he name of the play the players use when he is breaking down the film. I have learned more about football listening to him and watching his board on X and O than I have ever learned in my life. Petrino is a very smart man not only in football but in general. He talks very quiet but sure gets on fire during a game. I hope we are able to keep him. He has also very much improved our recruiting. This past week we were listed 9th in the nation for this coming year in our recruits. When Mallet heads to the pros at the end of the year he has an excellent sophomore QB and a big one coming in. We have a couple of receivers that will surely be pros and a big 230 lb running back with speed and power that may or may not come out this year. I think Mallet if he continues like he has been playing will likely be the #2 QB taken in the draft. He is a pure and mobile QB with size, arm, and the smarts. At 6'7" I just hope he is not to tall. I do not know of many QB's with that height. He could even be 6'8".