Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
I know that Dan Bickley has been focusing on the Diamondbacks the past few weeks---but I have been anxiously awaiting his response to the recent Minnesota debacle and the shortcomings of this so-called "All-In" Cardinals' team---
And usually I like what Bickley has to say and what he focuses on (perhaps if I listened to him every day like many of you do, I wouldn't be as approving of him)---
But this recent Bickley Blog, imo, is about as disappointing and egregious as the Minnesota debacle itself. And yet, I think it speaks volumes as to how wrong the NFL football culture is in Arizona, especially including the media's contributions to how wrong it is.
Has Larry Fitzgerald become the Jerry Jones of the Arizona Cardinals? I mean to quote Tom Jackson, "C'MON MAN!"
Today Bickley focuses a central portion of the Cardinals' woes on Larry Fitzgerald's frustration of not having the #2 WR to take "the pressure" off of him. Repeat after me: "C'MON MAN!"
Here's how misguided this whole abomination of a blog is:
1. There are FAR worse problems with the Cardinals right now than the #2 WR position.
2. Yet, in Arizona---that's where the focus is, not only by the media, but by focusing so much on Fitzgerald and what he's thinking and feeling---and by Ken Whisenhunt, Rod Graves and the entire organization who hoard WRs likes it's always the top item on their agendas.
Put it this way---1/8 of the current Cardinal personnel are WRs (6 on the roster and 2 on the PS). Of those players---draft picks or free agent were spent in the following manner:
1-1st (Fitzgerald)
2-3rds (Doucet, Roberts)
1-7th (Sampson)
1-UFA (Stuckey)
3-UCFAs (Williams, 2 PS additions)
Keep this in perspective now---the team runs a 34 defense they keys to which are having a good NT and great OLBers.
Right now, conversely to what the organization has done to hoard WRs---here's what the organization has done to build its OLB unit:
As apposed to 8 WRs---we are looking at 4 OLBers:
2-UFA (35 year old way past their prime OLBers in Haggans and Porter)
2-4th rounders (Schofield, Acho)
Guess how many OLBers the coaches are grooming on the PS?
ZERO.
We habe 2 WRs and 0 OLBers---wow.
Now---if that wasn't persuasive enough for you---how about the offensive tackle situation? There are 4 on the roster and 1 on the PS.
1-1st rounder (Brown---who has never shown the ability to be a tackle)
1-7th rounder (Keith)
2-UFAs (Bridges, Batiste)
YET---POOR LARRY!
OK---let's get back to Larry. First of all, it was regrettable that Larry talked about having a good #2 WR in the PAST tense and was lamenting about not having Q or Breaston. Seems that Early Doucet is having a pretty good year---but sorry Early, in Fitz's mind you can't hold Q's or Breastie's jock.
THEN---let's talk about what the real problems are with this team:
1. The defense is soft.
2. No edge pressure in the pass rush whatsoever---not even respectable.
2. The pass protection on the edges is poor.
4. The new QB gets happy feet when he doesn't need to---and, worst of all, he doesn't define the pocket or come anywhere close to defining and/or commanding the pocket....which...isn't going to allow the offense to excel with any consistency.
And BTW Larry---the HC that you so love and adore---well, how come when you are being pressed and he doesn't put you in motion? Why does he LET you get taken away? Jerry Rice never let any team take him away, neither did Cris Carter. But they played for coaches who knew how to get them open versus any coverages...especially in the red zone.
How come you dropped the first pass in the Minnesota game?
How come you didn't shield off Corey Brewster on the 4th and 2 that ended the Giants' game?
And how come you are not the same player you were when Haley was here?
POOR POOR LARRY!
Oh---and another thing---this year you have TEs who can occupy the safety---which you conveniently omitted from your candid discussion with Bickley.
Sure---in Arizona it's all about Larry---isn't it? POOR POOR LARRY, BOO HOO!
And usually I like what Bickley has to say and what he focuses on (perhaps if I listened to him every day like many of you do, I wouldn't be as approving of him)---
But this recent Bickley Blog, imo, is about as disappointing and egregious as the Minnesota debacle itself. And yet, I think it speaks volumes as to how wrong the NFL football culture is in Arizona, especially including the media's contributions to how wrong it is.
Has Larry Fitzgerald become the Jerry Jones of the Arizona Cardinals? I mean to quote Tom Jackson, "C'MON MAN!"
Today Bickley focuses a central portion of the Cardinals' woes on Larry Fitzgerald's frustration of not having the #2 WR to take "the pressure" off of him. Repeat after me: "C'MON MAN!"
Here's how misguided this whole abomination of a blog is:
1. There are FAR worse problems with the Cardinals right now than the #2 WR position.
2. Yet, in Arizona---that's where the focus is, not only by the media, but by focusing so much on Fitzgerald and what he's thinking and feeling---and by Ken Whisenhunt, Rod Graves and the entire organization who hoard WRs likes it's always the top item on their agendas.
Put it this way---1/8 of the current Cardinal personnel are WRs (6 on the roster and 2 on the PS). Of those players---draft picks or free agent were spent in the following manner:
1-1st (Fitzgerald)
2-3rds (Doucet, Roberts)
1-7th (Sampson)
1-UFA (Stuckey)
3-UCFAs (Williams, 2 PS additions)
Keep this in perspective now---the team runs a 34 defense they keys to which are having a good NT and great OLBers.
Right now, conversely to what the organization has done to hoard WRs---here's what the organization has done to build its OLB unit:
As apposed to 8 WRs---we are looking at 4 OLBers:
2-UFA (35 year old way past their prime OLBers in Haggans and Porter)
2-4th rounders (Schofield, Acho)
Guess how many OLBers the coaches are grooming on the PS?
ZERO.
We habe 2 WRs and 0 OLBers---wow.
Now---if that wasn't persuasive enough for you---how about the offensive tackle situation? There are 4 on the roster and 1 on the PS.
1-1st rounder (Brown---who has never shown the ability to be a tackle)
1-7th rounder (Keith)
2-UFAs (Bridges, Batiste)
YET---POOR LARRY!
OK---let's get back to Larry. First of all, it was regrettable that Larry talked about having a good #2 WR in the PAST tense and was lamenting about not having Q or Breaston. Seems that Early Doucet is having a pretty good year---but sorry Early, in Fitz's mind you can't hold Q's or Breastie's jock.
THEN---let's talk about what the real problems are with this team:
1. The defense is soft.
2. No edge pressure in the pass rush whatsoever---not even respectable.
2. The pass protection on the edges is poor.
4. The new QB gets happy feet when he doesn't need to---and, worst of all, he doesn't define the pocket or come anywhere close to defining and/or commanding the pocket....which...isn't going to allow the offense to excel with any consistency.
And BTW Larry---the HC that you so love and adore---well, how come when you are being pressed and he doesn't put you in motion? Why does he LET you get taken away? Jerry Rice never let any team take him away, neither did Cris Carter. But they played for coaches who knew how to get them open versus any coverages...especially in the red zone.
How come you dropped the first pass in the Minnesota game?
How come you didn't shield off Corey Brewster on the 4th and 2 that ended the Giants' game?
And how come you are not the same player you were when Haley was here?
POOR POOR LARRY!
Oh---and another thing---this year you have TEs who can occupy the safety---which you conveniently omitted from your candid discussion with Bickley.
Sure---in Arizona it's all about Larry---isn't it? POOR POOR LARRY, BOO HOO!
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