Note to CBus---I find it curious that you post your "Where's Everybody?" post and then you single me out---so if you really want to know where I was---I was doing exactly what I have done all season long (save my two week hiatus when I was dealing with a conflict on the board)---which is because I live on the East Coast and the West Coast games run late, I do not have time to write my usual posts because I have to be up by 5:30AM the next morning. Thus, for those games I write when I return from work on Monday afternoons, as I am doing now and just as I did last week when you were claiming that I was one of the first to jump in during last week's debacle. Go check for yourself.
When the Cardinals win---no one is happier than I---I am right in step with everyone else in terms of feeling happy.
Yesterday in particular I was elated to see the defense dominate the game from start to finish and do what they have been trying to do for 10 weeks---which was to win the game virtually all on their own.
That's what they did yesterday---versus one of the top offenses in the NFL.
In this 5-9 season we have seen Ray Horton, his coaches and the players confound the likes of Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and now Matthew Stafford.
What we have going on here in Arizona with the defense is something rare and supremely special.
This defense is a pure joy to watch---
I mean how many times did Matthew Stafford have to be peeled off the turf following a play?
I have to give Stafford a great deal of credit and a badge of courage---because he took a pounding that usually Cardinal QBs have to take.
To watch a not even 100% healthy Calais Campbell dominate his position was pure joy.
To watch Patrick Peterson work so hard and often effectively versus Megatron was pure joy---especially his outstanding interception and return to the 5 yard line---which was the play of the game, imo.
To watch team MVP Daryl Washington continue to play with such passion and deliver yet again a bone crushing block heading the convoy for Greg Toler was pure joy.
Toler's 102 yard pick six---pure joy.
Rashad Johnson's pick six---pure joy.
Even Williams Gay's TD saving shoestring tackle of RB Michael Leshoure---pure joy.
Adrian Wilson's record sack---pure joy.
All this occurred, imo, because of the preparation Ray Horton did during the weeks---the highlights of which were:
1. Telling his defense he would never let them forget the 58-0 debacle in Seattle.
2. Informing the media that Darnell Dockett had come to him saying the defense as ready to return to form this week---to which Horton commented: "We are all on the same page." It would appear in light of this that Dockett's animosity is not toward Horton.
3. Telling Patrick Peterson that it was ok to talk the talk...as long as he walks the walk. Horton understands the mentality that a top CB has to have---and even though he knows that Peterson is not the top CB in the game just yet, Horton knows---it all starts with believing and is furthered by effort.
4. Horton's explanation of why Jamell Fleming was a "healthy scratch" the week before---that Fleming had become "complacent"---and while Fleming beat around the bush a little when he was asked about his complacency, Fleming concluded, "I guess you could say that" and that "I just want to do what coach Horton tells me to do."
In my opinion, what yesterday meant more than ever is---the Cardinals cannot lose Ray Horton and all the buzz he has created---and all that smart coaching with it. They simply cannot.
Last week, even thought it was once again supremely tempting and fitting to pile it on Ken Whisenhunt, I tried to ease up because even if the Cardinals' offense was even somewhat respectable, for the kind of special defense we are seeing on the other side of the ball, the Cardinals should still do everything in their power to keep him on board, even if it means letting Whisenhunt go.
Here is my fear, however: (based on how the Bidwills have traditionally done business)---
What the Bidwills will try to do is hold on to Whisenhunt and hope that Horton does not land one of the new NFL HC jobs this off-season. They might even ask Horton to give them the right to match any HC offer he gets---
But---we know how that goes---
Ray Horton isn't tied to the Phoenix area the way Kurt Warner was.
If another team---and I think it's quite likely that the Browns, for one, will be very interested in Horton---makes Horton a strong offer, why should he then ask the Cardinals to match? Why would he?
It would mean the Cardinals would be pulling the plug on the HC who hired him---that wouldn't sit well with a loyal guy like Horton.
However, if the Bidwills make it clear to Horton that they were going to let Whisenhunt go anyway and that Horton is their man, hands down---if it is to happen---that's the way they should make this happen---not by the half-assed waiting game methods they often employ.
Either do it with alacrity and conviction---or don't do it.
The Bidwills nearly did the unthinkable by screwing things up with Kurt Warner---will they lose Horton by virtue of the same procrastination?
As for Whisenhunt---it was good to see him actually yucking it up with the players yesterday. That's a side of him that we ararely see on the sidelines and it was great.
And in terms of winning the game Whisenhunt deserves credit for playing super conservatively on offense this time, because this time the defense was not going to relent.
Ryan Lindley threw a great first fade pass to Michael Floyd and was very accurate on his four yard passes on 3rd and 9's.
What I didn't understand about his poor interception is why that play wasn't called off of play-action---it's not typically a play you call on a straight five step drop because the linebackers would have plenty of time to drop into coverage. if you make the LBers step up to stop the run, then you can pass it to the TE right in behind them.
How many times has that play failed Kolb, Skelton and now Lindley?
Happy for Beanie that he got some of his mojo back---he needed that.
Liked the switch of Snyder to C and McQuistan to G---kudos to Whisenhunt and Grimm there. That was a very smart move. McQuistan's brother is a heckuva guard in Seattle---maybe he can follow suit if the Cardinals re-sign him. Save for one bad whiff, McQuistan was solid and got good puch in the running game. He's a presence in there for sure.
Kudos too to the further development of rookie tackles Nate Potter and Bobbie Massie.
Interesting having two Boise State Cowboys side by side on the left side of the line: Nate Potter and Daryn Colledge (from North Pole Alaska, to boot!).
Kudos the Kevin Spencer and the STs---all went very well this week---Hyphen---Powell, Peterson---Michael Adams and Justin Bethel---which is why you just don't cut a guy like Michael Adams. Zastudil (MVP #2?) and Feely both were very good.
As for the draft---I wish it was like the NBA and there was a lottery, because it does make fans a little less excited about winning...which never should happen.
This win may have cost us a shot at the two players I have rated #1 & #2 for the Cardinals: OLB Jarvis Jones and OLB Bjorn Werner. As Tim Ryan said yesterday and he's right---put an elite edge rusher on this team so Horton doesn't always have to manufacture the pressure through schemes, and wow---this defense could be elite itself!
