Clutch Encounters: Another Exquisite Fourth Quarter, Master Bruce

[kerouac9]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/clutch-encounters/2014/clutch-encounters-week-9

Instead of writing well-crafted pieces to highlight the under-appreciation of Tony Romo, we just needed to wait for Brandon Weeden to start in his place. To be clear, I liked Arizona's chances all week and the game was going to be difficult for Dallas regardless of who was behind center. However, Weeden gave the Cowboys very little in a winnable game, which was a de facto battle for first place in the NFC. Dallas led 10-0 early thanks in no part to Weeden, but Arizona led 14-10 to start the fourth quarter.

 

[Russ Smith]

Very cool read thanks for posting. They have a valid point when you look at ARizona and the Colts when they lead in the 4th under Arians, they essentially almost always win.

 

[Brak]

What a difference from the Whis era. If we were nursing a lead heading into the 4th quarter, you could count on a steady diet of deep handoffs to Beanie Wells, resulting in a 2-yard loss after he trips over a blade of grass, followed by some low-percentage incompletion on a difficult route, followed by a 7-yard out falling incomplete, that would have been short of the sticks anyways. All this followed by a ****ty punt putting the opponent in good field position, and a defense that drops 8 back into coverage in "prevent" mode. The other team marches down the field in big chunks, and BOOM, lead is gone. What do we get today? Exactly the opposite. Aggressive on offense and defense, as if we need to score to win the game (which may ultimately be true).

Damn I love the 2014 Cardinals.

 

[Cardiac]

Great read and thanks for sharing K9. Maybe Bullheadcardfan will finally feel more comfortable we will win a game with a 14 pt lead with 1:30 left in the game.

 

[Darkside]

Lol you know the dude has watched too many Cards games when he's like "They only need two onside kick recovers and two point conversions to come back on us and tie."

Haha [emoji16]

 

[Cardiac]

Lol you know the dude has watched too many Cards games when he's like "They only need two onside kick recovers and two point conversions to come back on us and tie."

Haha [emoji16]

That's for sure and that was me 4 years ago. The cure started with Horton and now I believe it's in full remission with BA and Bowles calling the shots.

 

[seesred]

They definitely have become a fourth quarter team. Maybe the best in the league. Our coaching staff has everyone on the field believing. This team is exciting and fun to watch.

GBR
40

 

[Darkside]

That's for sure and that was me 4 years ago. The cure started with Horton and now I believe it's in full remission with BA and Bowles calling the shots.

Yep, same here basically. I haven't been bad this year but it's only been the last few games that I've relaxed.

 

[Capital Card]

Arizona has only allowed one 100-yard rusher in 24 games under Bruce Arians.

I knew we've gone 18 without allowing a 100 yard rusher, but assumed we allowed a few as we struggled to learn BA's system at the beginning of last year.

Nice work by Bowles and the defense!!!

Go Cards!!!

 

[Chopper0080]

Thanks for posting this.

 

[gmabel830]

Jesus, Arians is 19-1 with a 4th quarter lead since 2012, with his only loss being his first as our head coach. That's damn impressive!!

 

[Santiago]

Great read... thx for posting.

 

[Darkside]

Good read, thanks for posting.

I still want to add though, and I've been harping on it, that the 4th down stop changed the entire momentum of the game, but none of it is possible without Mathieu making the previous play, where he stoned Witten right after catching it, making it 4th down.

It's easy to give up inches and most teams do. Mathieu worked Witten like a chump all game. He gives up so much poundage and height but he owned him. Got the INT off a pass intended for Witten and then the biggest play in the game, IMO, when he stopped him short of the 1st, creating that 4th down opportunity.

I know we all love Badger but the dude played lights out against one of the toughest TE's in the league and won his match up. I remember last year people complaining we had him covering TEs. No more of that I guess.

I was so skeptical of Mathieu but man, what a special player.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Great read and thanks for sharing K9. Maybe Bullheadcardfan will finally feel more comfortable we will win a game with a 14 pt lead with 1:30 left in the game.

I'm not sure that will ever happen. Been burnt too many times.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

I just love Arians' calls to go for the win. He will almost always throw the ball to give us a guaranteed win, rather than run the ball into a stacked defense and giving the other team another chance. I think he has the ultimate killer instinct and that inspires confidence in our team. It has worked out really well this year. I am sure we will have a game or two where it will fail, but I don't think anyone can doubt Arians' playcalling.

 

[Darkside]

I just love Arians' calls to go for the win. He will almost always throw the ball to give us a guaranteed win, rather than run the ball into a stacked defense and giving the other team another chance. I think he has the ultimate killer instinct and that inspires confidence in our team. It has worked out really well this year. I am sure we will have a game or two where it will fail, but I don't think anyone can doubt Arians' playcalling.

Weird thing to me is that it's his conservative calls, IMO, that have backfired. Not letting Cat kick the 53 yarder, not calling TO last game before the FG attempt, as the most recent examples.

And some of his play calls in the 3rd quarter last game, I don't know where that comes from. All the sudden with the reverses and trickeration. No worky. Punt. Sometimes I think he just wants to give weird film to other coaches for later in the year, while he dissects it and improves on it. Just watch, some of the utter crap we've seen will be lights out later in the year, off design, going to other dudes than originally planned.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Darkside... Seems like we've seem that WR reverse play about 5 times now with a net of -20 yards. Not sure why they keep running it.

 

[Darkside]

Darkside... Seems like we've seem that WR reverse play about 5 times now with a net of -20 yards. Not sure why they keep running it.

Yep. They did have the one wrinkle where he threw the ball though I believe? I have to think it's BA setting stuff up for later.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Weird thing to me is that it's his conservative calls, IMO, that have backfired. Not letting Cat kick the 53 yarder, not calling TO last game before the FG attempt, as the most recent examples.

And some of his play calls in the 3rd quarter last game, I don't know where that comes from. All the sudden with the reverses and trickeration. No worky. Punt. Sometimes I think he just wants to give weird film to other coaches for later in the year, while he dissects it and improves on it. Just watch, some of the utter crap we've seen will be lights out later in the year, off design, going to other dudes than originally planned.

Agreed the trick plays have not worked all year. Almost reminds me of someone that is not funny trying to tell a joke.

But the aggressive playcalling, honesty to the players/fans, and leadership have been off the charts. I wanted Mike McCoy and Chip Kelly ahead of Arians, no way I would take either now. I probably wouldn't take a single other coach over Arians.

 

[kerouac9]

Darkside... Seems like we've seem that WR reverse play about 5 times now with a net of -20 yards. Not sure why they keep running it.

Maybe, but we use that action pretty consistently on a middle handoff to Ellington that pretty consistently gives positive yards.

I think from a structural stand point you create a better cutback lane when you drag a defensive back across the formation to track that wide receiver.

 

[Chopper0080]

Maybe, but we use that action pretty consistently on a middle handoff to Ellington that pretty consistently gives positive yards.

I think from a structural stand point you create a better cutback lane when you drag a defensive back across the formation to track that wide receiver.

HA, I was just about to post this. This prevents the off side DE from crashing down. Almost a necessity in zone runs that rely on cutback lanes.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Maybe, but we use that action pretty consistently on a middle handoff to Ellington that pretty consistently gives positive yards.

I think from a structural stand point you create a better cutback lane when you drag a defensive back across the formation to track that wide receiver.

Ok, I get what you're saying from a strategy standpoint, but it probably would help if it worked once in a while.... the reverse I mean.



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