Cardinals at Rams (London) Preview

[Mitch]

Team Stats:

PTS FOR: AZ (19.6--20th); LA (29.8--1st)
PASS: AZ (286.2--3rd); LA (243.8--10th)
RUSH: AZ (69.8--32nd); LA (116.0-13th)
PTS AGAINST: AZ (26.3-30th); LA (23.0--20th)


PFF Player Grades Comparisons:

QB: AZ Palmer (76.5); LA Goff (75.7)
RB: AZ Peterson (84.2); LA Gurley (74.8)
WR: AZ Fitzgerald (81.8); LA Watkins (74.5)
WR: AZ Jaron Brown (75.2); LA Woods (72.6)
WR: AZ John Brown (75.0); LA Kupp (79.3)
TE: AZ Gresham (43.6); LA Higbee (70.1)
TE: AZ Niklas (42.9); LA Everett (67.6)
LT: AZ Humphries (77.3); LA Whitworth (82.4)
LG: AZ Boone (39.7); LA Saffold (77.9)
C: AZ Shipley (50.6); LA Sullivan (75.5)
RG: AZ Watford (32.9): LA Brown (42.9)
RT: AZ Veldheer (40.4); LA Havenstein (70.9)

NT: AZ Peters (82.0); LA Smart (43.5)
DT: AZ Rucker (48.2); LA Donald (95.6)
DT: AZ Mauro (45.6); LA Brockers (85.9)
DE: AZ Jones (85.5); LA Quinn (62.4)
LB: AZ Dansby (46.2); LA Ogletree (33.0)
LB: AZ Bucannon (35.6); LA Barron (80.9)
LB: AZ Reddick (47.0); LA Barwin (45.0)
CB: AZ Peterson (82.0);LA T. Johnson (43.7)
CB: AZ Bethel (46.0); LA Webster (80.5)
S: AZ: Mathieu (42.5); LA Johnson (82.7)
S: AZ: Branch (88.1); LA Davis (77.5)


Special Teams:

K AZ Dawson (10/14 FG, 11/11 XPT); LA Zeurlein (17/18 FG, 18/18 XPT)
P AZ Lee (47.3 ave., 38.2 net); LA Hekker (46.9 ave., 44.7 net)
KR AZ Williams (20.3 ave.); LA Cooper (31.7 ave.)
PR AZ Williams (3.4 ave.); LA Cooper (5.7 ave.)

Cardinals' Advantage: QB, WR, OLB, CB, S
Rams' Advantage: T, G, C, TE, DT, ILB, K, P, KR, PR

What the Cardinals Need To Do:

On Offense:

1---Run Off-Tackle: Deuce Blocks on Brockers and Donald, Angle and Kick Out Blocks on Quinn and Barwin
2---Wall the Middle on Pass Plays, keep a RB in to take first penetration, A gap blitzes
3---Help on DE Quinn---chips, double teams
4---Win WR/CB matchups
5---Isolate RB in passing game on Ogletree

On Defense:

1---Swarm tackle on Gurley
2---Pressure Goff, collapse pocket, get him to throw off back foot---make blitzes count
3---DL get hands up in passing lanes to stifle short passing game---get 3rd down stops
4---Do a quicker job reading and blowing up screens---get a big game from Buc and Dansby
5---Abandon the zones---play tight man exclusively---Peterson (Watkins), Bethel/T.Williams (Woods); Mathieu (Kupp); Branch (Higbee); Dansby (Everett), Bethea deep help opposite Peterson and at times sneak up to jump Kupp or Higbee.

On STs:

1---Limit Pharoh Cooper's touches on returns with touchbacks and hang-time on punts
2---Pressure Hekker and Zeurlein, disturb their timing and rhythm
3---Put Bethel back as one of the gunners, pair him with Baker
4---Don't let STC John Fassel and the Rams' very good STs be the difference maker in this game
5---Get Scooby Wright going---play these teams with passion

 

[crisper57]

I have been checked out of most Cards games this year, with it up on the TV, but not living and dying with each play. I guess you could say the same about the players on the team, as they limped out to a 2-3 record. The AP signing piqued my interest and 31-0 reignited that old spark. The second half of the game was when I knew the fire had returned for me because I was yelling at the TV.

Now I can't wait for Sunday. Up until now, I feel the wife has been taking advantage of my blah feelings about this team, trying to schedule stuff during the games or talking my ear off.

THAT. STOPS. NOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WildBB]

Not comfortable with TM on Kupp. He's Goffs go to guy. Get a CB covering Kupp.

They should even consider Peterson on 3rd down.

 

[Mitch]

Not comfortable with TM on Kupp. He's Goffs go to guy. Get a CB covering Kupp.

They should even consider Peterson on 3rd down.

I can understand your thought, WBB, in light of his recent struggles, but I think Honey Badger will do a superb job on Kupp. It's time for him to step up and he is pretty fired up for this London trip.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Lol @ the entire rams o- line being ranked better... guess that shouldn't be a surprise.

 

[JeffGollin]

Just did a quick snap shot of the stats. What they suggest is:

Rams have huge advantages in Sacks and Interceptions.

Gurley performs for them similar to the way AP performed for us.

Their ST's do better than our ST's.

They spread the ball around to several receivers in the passing game.

But they tend to play things close to the vest passing-wise and then beat you with Gurley.

Net-Net: Their game is more mistake-free than BA's. We will ned to win the turnover war, neutralize their pass rush advantage, make fewer mistake, rattle Goff and out gut them in the 4Q if we're to have any shot at winning.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Just did a quick snap shot of the stats. What they suggest is:

Rams have huge advantages in Sacks and Interceptions.

Gurley performs for them similar to the way AP performed for us.

Their ST's do better than our ST's.

They spread the ball around to several receivers in the passing game.

But they tend to play things close to the vest passing-wise and then beat you with Gurley.

Net-Net: Their game is more mistake-free than BA's. We will ned to win the turnover war, neutralize their pass rush advantage, make fewer mistake, rattle Goff and out gut them in the 4Q if we're to have any shot at winning.

Sounds like we will need a miracle. Might I suggest we start the game off with an onside kick.

 

[Mitch]

Sounds like we will need a miracle. Might I suggest we start the game off with an onside kick.

Yeah, except BA always takes the ball first.

 

[Mark L]

Kupp has 19 catches in 6 games. Hardly a “go to” guy. They have bigger challenges than containing Kupp.

 

[cardpa]

Just did a quick snap shot of the stats. What they suggest is:

Rams have huge advantages in Sacks and Interceptions.

Gurley performs for them similar to the way AP performed for us.

Their ST's do better than our ST's.

They spread the ball around to several receivers in the passing game.

But they tend to play things close to the vest passing-wise and then beat you with Gurley.

Net-Net: Their game is more mistake-free than BA's. We will ned to win the turnover war, neutralize their pass rush advantage, make fewer mistake, rattle Goff and out gut them in the 4Q if we're to have any shot at winning.

Doesn't sound like Cardinal strong points Jeff.

 

[Russ Smith]

The obvious mismatch is special teams. The rams have among the best ST units in the NFL, we're among the worst. They have been having trouble on punt returns this year, too many dropped punts, but they're good at everything else.

 

[Proximo]

I think the cards have a chance - but really it is all about how the offensive line plays.

If we can make Goff be the one to beat us, and I think we can as we have been pretty good against the run all year, I think we can win.

However, with the game in london, knowing the teams issues with showing up for early road games, it would not surprise me to see them show up like they did in Philly either, and dig too deep a hole to get out of.

So I see the game going one of two ways, a close game with the Cards winning, or the cards getting blown out embarrassingly.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Love this photo

You must be registered for see images

 

[Garthshort]

We have a BIG advantage at the most important position.

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

We have a BIG advantage at the most important position.

Nose tackle?

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

WHY is this game NOT being televised nationally? They've done it for all of the other "London" games.

NOT HAPPY!

Mark in SC

 

[pemory09]

WHY is this game NOT being televised nationally? They've done it for all of the other "London" games.

NOT HAPPY!

Mark in SC

I hear you Mark! What gives NFL?!? There’s even a London game involving the Browns that’ll be nationaly televised.

 

[Metcalf Rules]

We have a BIG advantage at the most important position.

Did we re-sign Leonard Davis?

 

[crisper57]

I have been checked out of most Cards games this year, with it up on the TV, but not living and dying with each play. I guess you could say the same about the players on the team, as they limped out to a 2-3 record. The AP signing piqued my interest and 31-0 reignited that old spark. The second half of the game was when I knew the fire had returned for me because I was yelling at the TV.

Now I can't wait for Sunday. Up until now, I feel the wife has been taking advantage of my blah feelings about this team, trying to schedule stuff during the games or talking my ear off.

THAT. STOPS. NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so hear me out. I got home last night and found out the wife scheduled us for a family outing with the in-laws to the Pumpkin Patch at 10:30 on Sunday. We're taking our one-year-old daughter and she told me that she would rather schedule our outings around her nap schedule than a Cardinals game. She said we can hit a sports bar on the way back to catch the second half of the game. Yay compromise!

So anyway. Next week. Next week is when THIS. STOPS. NOW!!!

 

[CardNots]

Okay, so hear me out. I got home last night and found out the wife scheduled us for a family outing with the in-laws to the Pumpkin Patch at 10:30 on Sunday. We're taking our one-year-old daughter and she told me that she would rather schedule our outings around her nap schedule than a Cardinals game. She said we can hit a sports bar on the way back to catch the second half of the game. Yay compromise!

So anyway. Next week. Next week is when THIS. STOPS. NOW!!!

Ya gotta luv family life! I have to admit, this made me laugh out loud at work...

 

[JeffGollin]

Doesn't sound like Cardinal strong points Jeff.

We have our work cut out.

 

[WisconsinCard]

WHY is this game NOT being televised nationally? They've done it for all of the other "London" games.

NOT HAPPY!

Mark in SC

If you have the NFL ticket its on, and that all that matter to me. Can you stream it?

 

[oaken1]

so. when they play in London...is the beer at the stadium warm or cold?

 

[Southpaw]

Nice comparisons but the subjects don't play against each other.

How does Alex Ogletree get a 33?

Let's compare OCs and DCS. Let's face it Sean McVay is the HC/OC and he is reinventing offensive football and Bruce is stuck in the stone age.

Really want to go there with Bettcher vs Phillips?

I'll take McVay over Bettcher. Phillips vs Arians a draw.

 

[Southpaw]

WHY is this game NOT being televised nationally? They've done it for all of the other "London" games.

NOT HAPPY!

Mark in SC

The Jaguars game was only on Yahoo.