Cardinals @ Packers 8.9.2013 Game Thread

JeffGollin

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I'm not down on Taylor quite as much as you but I wasn't wowed either. If our Oline becomes a strong run blocking unit then Taylor will be a good fit. Well at least when it's time to burn time off the clock or in short yardage.

I'm not so sure this Oline will become good at run blocking because BA is all about the pass. With BA's mentality and the current structure of our Oline we need a home run hitter type back and that is not who Taylor is.
Realistically, both Smith and Taylor are between-the-tackles RB's without much speed. They were the only RB's we had - which kind of limited our playbook (The GB run defense wasn't exactly quaking in their boots that either dude would break one wide or pop thru the LOS for breakaway yardage).

That's not to trash Smitty or Stepfan - they are what they are and have specific roles to play. But those roles are meant to compliment speedier RB's like KW and Ellington (neither of which were available to provide an outside threat). So our run game was limited, but it wasn't anywhere our complete run package.

I think the most we can expect from either dude are guys who can be trusted to pound away inside and not fumble or otherwise embarrass us. Hopefully, with more time in camp, their YPC average will climb across 3.0, but that's all we can expect within the context of 3 other more productive or explosive guys to make our run-game click.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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Realistically, both Smith and Taylor are between-the-tackles RB's without much speed. They were the only RB's we had - which kind of limited our playbook (The GB run defense wasn't exactly quaking in their boots that either dude would break one wide or pop thru the LOS for breakaway yardage).

That's not to trash Smitty or Stepfan - they are what they are and have specific roles to play. But those roles are meant to compliment speedier RB's like KW and Ellington (neither of which were available to provide an outside threat). So our run game was limited, but it wasn't anywhere our complete run package.

I think the most we can expect from either dude are guys who can be trusted to pound away inside and not fumble or otherwise embarrass us. Hopefully, with more time in camp, their YPC average will climb across 3.0, but that's all we can expect within the context of 3 other more productive or explosive guys to make our run-game click.
Smith is blazing fast, but has no other real attributes.
 

D-Dogg

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Smith is really slow to get into gear, IMO. Was not impressed.

Taylor didn't shine either, but showed a hard nose edge that was good...making yards when hit at the LOS.

Run blocking was suspect.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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Smith is blazing fast? According to who?

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His 4.3 40? His issue isn't speed, but he is utterly incapable of finding the right whole or using the cutback to find seems. Thus his speed goes to waste because he can't get into space. It also doesn't help that the O-line hasn't done much to open lanes and also isn't very elusive either.
 
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AzStevenCal

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Smith might be faster but Taylor hits the hole a lot quicker.

Steve
 

gmabel830

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His 4.3 40? His issue isn't speed, but he is utterly incapable of finding the right whole or using the cutback to find seems. Thus his speed goes to waste because he can't get into space. It also doesn't help that the O-line hasn't done much to open lanes and also isn't very elusive either.

Hmm.. I stand corrected. Sure doesn't play that fast!
 

Big Deal

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His 4.3 40? His issue isn't speed, but he is utterly incapable of finding the right whole or using the cutback to find seems. Thus his speed goes to waste because he can't get into space. It also doesn't help that the O-line hasn't done much to open lanes and also isn't very elusive either.

BIMalicious!
 

Duckjake

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Hmm.. I stand corrected. Sure doesn't play that fast!

Straight line speed only after he gets going maybe? His 3 cone time was slower than Sam Acho's and his 10 yard time was a full tenth of a second slower than Jamaal Charles who also ran a 4.38 at the combine.
 

Russ Smith

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I've only seen part of the game but I thought Taylor was who I thought he was at Stanford. Tough kid, good vision, enough wiggle to where the first guy rarely gets him, but lacks the top end speed.

There were 2-3 plays where he was going to get yards no matter what because it was well blocked. On those plays you might say a faster back gets more. But on the majority of his runs he had to either make someone miss, move the pile, or break a tackle to get extra yards, and he often did.

There were several runs where he got an extra 2 yards.

He's never going to be a take it to the house kind of runner, just not explosive enough, but he can be a productive NFL RB.

Also Arians appears to have been telling the truth about pass blocking, for a rookie who played in a run oriented offense in college, Taylor did pretty well at it.
 

Arizona's Finest

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Read a scout say that Taylor is type of back that will turn a 1 yard run into a 4 yard run and a 20 yard run into a 7 yard one. Pretty spot on.

Which based on what I have seen running the ball last 20 years is a welcome sight. Besides I think Ellington can provide that HR threat.

Anyone see K9 BTW? Too positive a game on Friday for him and needs some time to deal with this????
 

Mulli

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Read a scout say that Taylor is type of back that will turn a 1 yard run into a 4 yard run and a 20 yard run into a 7 yard one. Pretty spot on.

Which based on what I have seen running the ball last 20 years is a welcome sight. Besides I think Ellington can provide that HR threat.

Anyone see K9 BTW? Too positive a game on Friday for him and needs some time to deal with this????

Am I the only one who say Taylor lowering his head and running up the back of the OL? How does that ever work?
 

BullheadCardFan

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Am I the only one who say Taylor lowering his head and running up the back of the OL? How does that ever work?
Yeah I saw him do that also, but he is learning how to play with the big boys and will have adopt his style. It looked like he was trying to drive the pile to make more yards when there were other options. He needs more work before I can truly judge him.
 

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I was impressed that Matthieu was in and out the whole game and on special teams. They showed him on the sidelines late in the 4th quarter and he still had his helmet on. Next thing you know he is back in shagging a punt for 24 yards.
 

Duckjake

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Read a scout say that Taylor is type of back that will turn a 1 yard run into a 4 yard run and a 20 yard run into a 7 yard one. Pretty spot on.

Which based on what I have seen running the ball last 20 years is a welcome sight. Besides I think Ellington can provide that HR threat.

Anyone see K9 BTW? Too positive a game on Friday for him and needs some time to deal with this????

If you need one yard, I'll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I'll get you three yards. - Leroy Hoard Welcome to the club Mr. Taylor. :)

K9's head exploded because now the Cards have two preseason HOF WRs instead of the usual one.
 

TJ

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If you need one yard, I'll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I'll get you three yards. - Leroy Hoard Welcome to the club Mr. Taylor. :)

K9's head exploded because now the Cards have two preseason HOF WRs instead of the usual one.

His name has now been said twice. Like Beetlejuice, don't say it three times and he won't appear.
 

WisconsinCard

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Just got home from the game, we stayed up in Green Bay for another day to go to a car show.

My thoughts

Cason looks slow needs to use better technique or he is a shot player.

Nice to see a QB throwing darts at a dart board instead of skuds into a county.

Need to work on run blocking... Shocker

Now off to watch the replay on TV.

Oh and by the way it was great weather for a football game.
 

Cbus cardsfan

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Taylor reminds me of Joseph Adai a little bit.
Very little. Addai was very fast, like 4.37 fast. Taylor is an upright runner like Addai though.

I think Taylor is going to be a back like Peyton Hillis. He may have a good year, or two, but he's going to need good blocking and is not a long term answer at the RB position.
 

Duckjake

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Because of the length I didn't read all of the game thread. Could someone tell me why Dansby didn't dress for the game? Is he hurt or have a veteran limit on preseason games? Or what?
 

mwanamatapa

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Dansby has been out the past week with a hamstring strain.
 

40yearfan

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Because of the length I didn't read all of the game thread. Could someone tell me why Dansby didn't dress for the game? Is he hurt or have a veteran limit on preseason games? Or what?

He's old and decrepit. BA didn't want to take the chance of having someone kick his cane out from under him.:D
 

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