Crucial Decisions This Week and Beyond

[Mitch]

1. When Whiz was last calling the plays he used Leinart as the base offense QB and Warner as the hurry-up QB. (Note: when Warner took over as full-time starting QB, Whiz turned the play calling over to the then passing game coordinator, Todd Haley.)

With Hightower and Wells, the Cardinals now have the makings of a legitimate running game. The problem is Warner has to be the worst handoff QB in the NFL. He practically has to dive horizontally to get the bal to a RB on th stretch play. We need CRISP ballhandling and handoffs because Wells can take it to the house off crisp quick hitters. If the handoff is slow, as they say in Jersey, fugget about it.

What has to give here is one of two things: (1) Either you hand the offense off to Warner to run the way he was accustomed to with Haley as OC; (2) Or, you revert back to Whiz's system and platoon the running game offense led by Leinart and the passing game offense led by Warner.

Whiz needs to make a major decision here. I think it would be great if went back to the platoon...because, I think Leinart can be a good play action passer and a much better running game QB, and I think that Warner needs to be challenged, and needs to play to his strengths...and he needs to regain his health (he looked to me like a beaten man out there today...not much fun at all going on with him...and certainly not the crisp, accurate passer we were wonderfully accustomed to last year).

2. Kudos to Bill Davis for his game planning versus SF. He and his players stonewalled Frank Gore...and any semblance of a SF running game..(great call to run blitz Hayes and Dansby whenver the 49ers went into their power running formations!) and, they even stopped the reverses in their tracks. That's a new and exciting improvement.

What Davis has to figure out---which Clancy Pendergast was unable to---is why his defense can play lights-out when behind---BUT---then with a lead, makes it far too easy for the other team to score and win the game.

The blown assignment on 3rd and goal from the 3 was embarrassing. That was as gift wrapped a TD as there can possibly be. One must imagine that instead of rushing Hill, Chike Okeafor was supposed to pick up Frank Gore. If not Chike, who else? One would think that after the blown assignments in the Super Bowl FAR more attention would have bene paid to this inexcusable flaw.

3. Personnel. The Cardinals can sign some veterans now and there is still a glaring need for another Cover 2 FS...as we saw when Matt Ware was caught in cement shoes on Isaac Bruce's bomb on the post. Has anyone ever seen Matt Ware make a play as a Cover FS? Even Aaron Francisco would occasionally make a play. Ware now has injury concerns. The Cardinals need a fifth safety anyway...someone who can keep the plays in front of him, like safeties are supposed to do.

Offensive Tackle Play. WHY dop the Cardinals still believe that Mike Gandy and Levi Brown can survive on islands versus good speed rushers? Either the pass protection schemes have to change or the personnel has to change. Something needs to be determined here. Some have been imploring the Cardinals to sign FA T Levi Jones. That may be one answer if Jones is healthy and in shape.

Defensive Line Depth. Kenny Iwebema is now injured, weakening the depth on an already thin defensive line (in terms of depth). The great news is that Alan Branch played his best game as a Cardinal today. But, the coaches need to keep Dockett and Campbell fresh and need depth there.

Cornerback. Does anyone else agree with me that Greg Toler will be the starting RCB by Week 10? Brian Mcfadden is a good zone CB, but he's not a good man cover CB. Just the same, the depth behind him is raw (Toler) and extremely questionable (R. Brown). The Cardinals need a #3 CB until Toler is ready to supplant McFadden.

Pass Rusher. The Cardinals blitzed very well today...but they still need another pass rusher, especially late in the games where the defense seems to be gassed and is starting to choke.

Tight End. GET DOMINIQUE BYRD in the lineup asap. Whiz, you started the game with trick motion (LSH) to then try to pass to Stephen Pach and Anthony Becht. Anyone lese find this strategy curious? Wrong guys to throw to. Byrd is the guy...get him in there now.

 

[CtCardinals78]

1. When Whiz was last calling the plays he used Leinart as the base offense QB and Warner as the hurry-up QB. (Note: when Warner took over as full-time starting QB, Whiz turned the play calling over to the then passing game coordinator, Todd Haley.)

With Hightower and Wells, the Cardinals now have the makings of a legitimate running game. The problem is Warner has to be the worst handoff QB in the NFL.

What has to give here is one of two things: (1) Either you hand the offense off to Warner to run the way he was accustomed to with Haley as OC; (2) Or, you revert back to Whiz's system and platoon the running game offense led by Leinart and the passing game offense led by Warner.

Whiz needs to make a major decision here. I think it would be great if went back to the platoon...because, I think Leinart can be a good play action passer and a much better running game QB, and I think that Warner needs to be challenged, and needs to play to his strengths...and regain his health (he looked to me like a beaten man out there today...not much fun at all going on with him...and certainly not the crisp, accurate passer we were wonderfully accustomed to last year.

2. Kudos to Bill Davis for his game planning versus SF. He and his players stonewalled Frank Gore...and any semblance of a SF running game..(great call to run blitz Hayes and dansby whenver the 49ers went into their power running formations!) and, they even stopped the reverses in their tracks. That's a new and exciting improvement.

What Davis has to figure out---which Clancy Pendergast was unable to---is why his defense can play lights-out when behind and then with a lead, makes it far too easy for the other team to score and win the game.

The blown assignment on 3rd and goal from the 3 was embarrassing. That was as gift wrapped a TD as there can possibly be. One must imagine that instead of rushing Hill, Chike Okeafor was supposed to pick up Frank Gore. If not Chike, who else?

3. Personnel. The Cardinals can sign some veterans now and there is still a glaring need for another Cover 2 FS...as we saw when Matt Ware was caught in cement shoes on Isaac Bruce's bomb on the post. Has anyone ever seen Matt Ware make a play as a Cover FS? Even Aaron Francisco would occasionally make a play. Ware now has injury concerns. The Cardinals need a fifth safety anyway...someone who can keep the plays in front of him, like safeties are supposed to do.

Offensive Tackle Play. WHY dop the Cardinals still believe that Mike Gandy and Levi Brown can survive on islands versus good speed rushers? Either the pass protection schemes have to change or the personnel has to change. Something needs to be determined here. Some have been imploring the Cardinals to sign FA T Levi Jones. That may be one answer if Jones is healthy and in shape.

Defensive Line Depth. Kenny Iwebema is now injured, weakening the depth on an already thin defensive line (in terms of depth). The great news is that Alan Branch played his best game as a Cardinal today. But, the coaches need to keep Dockett and Campbell fresh and need depth there.

Cornerback. Does anyone else agree with me that Greg Toler will be the starting RCB by Week 10? Brian Mcfadden is a good zone CB, but he's not a good man cover CB. Just the same, the depth behind him is raw (Toler) and extremely questionable (R. Brown). The Cardinals need a #3 CB until Toler is ready to supplant McFadden.

Pass Rusher. The Cardinals blitzed very well today...but they still need another pass rusher, especially late in the games where the defense seems to be gassed and is starting to choke.

Tight End. GET DOMINIQUE BYRD in the lineup asap. Whiz, you started the game with trick motion (LSH) to then try to pass to Stephen Pach and Anthony Becht. Anyone lese find this strategy curious? Wrong guys to throw to. Byrd is the guy...get him in there now.

Nice write up Mitch, but I respectfully disagree with the platoon system. It's time for these QB's to crap or get off the pot in Arizona. This is ML's fourth year in the league, he is up to the task. I would go crazy if this team went back to the platoon system, it's confusing, and cumbersome. If Warner can't get it together by the bye week AZ should come to grips with the fact that they will have a $25 million back-up in Kurt Warner.

 

[Buckybird]

Mitch I agree with everything you have to say except the platooning QB's. Sure it worked 2 years ago, but if Leinart is inserted into the lineup its time to give him the reigns. Doing anything else with #7 would destroy his confidence at this point of his career and would all but end his tenure in AZ.

I tried to warn people on earlier posts about McFadden, but because he played for the Steelers people think he's the second coming. He's never really produced in this league because of his talent or injuries.

I still have major questions about this defense regardless of how well they played today. As you said they seem to never are able to hold a lead and thats very alarming and think its due to not having the horses on that side of the ball. Docketts great, Campbell is showing great skills, Robinson is a solid vet, Dansby's great & going to cash in, Hayes is underatted, DRC is good with better potential, AW is a warrior but liablity in coverage and the rest of the guys on defense are average at best players.

The defense played good enough to win, but couldn't get that one stop (again) but still think they are average at best. The Niners played their offense as vanilla as you will ever see in an NFL game until the lead disapeared in the 4th quarter. And then went 80 yards like a light bulb went on. Let's see how good they are when they play 1 of the better offenses in the league and that will happen come week 3 against the Colts. I expect much of the same as last year, lots of points and yards thru the air!!!

Thx for your analysis Mitch

 

[Rats]

If Whis wants his system then Matt should be the guy and Kurt should back up. Agree with your write up 100%. Only thing is that we went to the SUPER BOWL with Kurt and Fitz's high wire act....call me crazy but I would like to do that again. We do not have the Oline to do Whis's offense right now so the only real choice is lose this season(unless the Defense scores alot) or give Kurt the damn ball and let him go Reno Hightower on there ass....he has to be at least as old as Reno and about as mobile.

 

[NMCard]

Mitch I was wondering how good a game Wells could actually have with smooth and quick hand offs. He sure can hit the hole quick. It would be nice to see the cards give him a proper chance do do his job.

 

[Buckybird]

Mitch I was wondering how good a game Wells could actually have with smooth and quick hand offs. He sure can hit the hole quick. It would be nice to see the cards give him a proper chance do do his job.

I heard Wolf & Pasch on the radio saying coaches were concerned how much of the playbook Wells actually knew. That was probably a big factor and those comments were made when he went the wrong way on the blown handoff that Warner had to eat.

 

[Nash2Amare]

A-Dub owned up and said he blew the assignment on Gore.

 

[Russ Smith]

I hate platoons and not just because Kurt is my fantasy QB. Just too hard to get into a good flow week after week.

That said, the reason I think Whiz won't make a change beyond it's game one is despite everything we all saw today, and how bad Kurt looked at times, he still threw for 288 yards. Whiz is going to look at that and say on a bad day he still nearly got 300 yards, without Breaston and with Quan limited.

Like it or not Whiz will give Kurt several games to prove last season wasn't the last hurrah.

If he plays like today consistently, he'll eventually be benched I sure hope he doesn't play that way.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

1. When Whiz was last calling the plays he used Leinart as the base offense QB and Warner as the hurry-up QB. (Note: when Warner took over as full-time starting QB, Whiz turned the play calling over to the then passing game coordinator, Todd Haley.)

With Hightower and Wells, the Cardinals now have the makings of a legitimate running game. The problem is Warner has to be the worst handoff QB in the NFL. He practically has to dive horizontally to get the bal to a RB on th stretch play. We need CRISP ballhandling and handoffs because Wells can take it to the house off crisp quick hitters. If the handoff is slow, as they say in Jersey, fugget about it.

What has to give here is one of two things: (1) Either you hand the offense off to Warner to run the way he was accustomed to with Haley as OC; (2) Or, you revert back to Whiz's system and platoon the running game offense led by Leinart and the passing game offense led by Warner.

Whiz needs to make a major decision here. I think it would be great if went back to the platoon...because, I think Leinart can be a good play action passer and a much better running game QB, and I think that Warner needs to be challenged, and needs to play to his strengths...and he needs to regain his health (he looked to me like a beaten man out there today...not much fun at all going on with him...and certainly not the crisp, accurate passer we were wonderfully accustomed to last year).

2. Kudos to Bill Davis for his game planning versus SF. He and his players stonewalled Frank Gore...and any semblance of a SF running game..(great call to run blitz Hayes and Dansby whenver the 49ers went into their power running formations!) and, they even stopped the reverses in their tracks. That's a new and exciting improvement.

What Davis has to figure out---which Clancy Pendergast was unable to---is why his defense can play lights-out when behind---BUT---then with a lead, makes it far too easy for the other team to score and win the game.

The blown assignment on 3rd and goal from the 3 was embarrassing. That was as gift wrapped a TD as there can possibly be. One must imagine that instead of rushing Hill, Chike Okeafor was supposed to pick up Frank Gore. If not Chike, who else? One would think that after the blown assignments in the Super Bowl FAR more attention would have bene paid to this inexcusable flaw.

3. Personnel. The Cardinals can sign some veterans now and there is still a glaring need for another Cover 2 FS...as we saw when Matt Ware was caught in cement shoes on Isaac Bruce's bomb on the post. Has anyone ever seen Matt Ware make a play as a Cover FS? Even Aaron Francisco would occasionally make a play. Ware now has injury concerns. The Cardinals need a fifth safety anyway...someone who can keep the plays in front of him, like safeties are supposed to do.

Offensive Tackle Play. WHY dop the Cardinals still believe that Mike Gandy and Levi Brown can survive on islands versus good speed rushers? Either the pass protection schemes have to change or the personnel has to change. Something needs to be determined here. Some have been imploring the Cardinals to sign FA T Levi Jones. That may be one answer if Jones is healthy and in shape.

Defensive Line Depth. Kenny Iwebema is now injured, weakening the depth on an already thin defensive line (in terms of depth). The great news is that Alan Branch played his best game as a Cardinal today. But, the coaches need to keep Dockett and Campbell fresh and need depth there.

Cornerback. Does anyone else agree with me that Greg Toler will be the starting RCB by Week 10? Brian Mcfadden is a good zone CB, but he's not a good man cover CB. Just the same, the depth behind him is raw (Toler) and extremely questionable (R. Brown). The Cardinals need a #3 CB until Toler is ready to supplant McFadden.

Pass Rusher. The Cardinals blitzed very well today...but they still need another pass rusher, especially late in the games where the defense seems to be gassed and is starting to choke.

Tight End. GET DOMINIQUE BYRD in the lineup asap. Whiz, you started the game with trick motion (LSH) to then try to pass to Stephen Pach and Anthony Becht. Anyone lese find this strategy curious? Wrong guys to throw to. Byrd is the guy...get him in there now.

Good post Mitch.

I want refrain from overreacting to one close loss (albeit to what appears to be a pretty bad team). So I stand pat with Warner for the moment. I ride the hot hand at RB though.

What your post does a good job of pointing out is that for a team with a few holes, we didn't do much to address them in the offseason. We basically brought the same team back save Hood and A. Smith, for which we substituted McFadden and Campbell. That's fine. Except a lot of our guys were already old last year.

Guys like Warner, Berry, Gandy, O'keefer, Haggins and Robinson are all being expected to make major contributions, and I think it's a little unrealistic.

If Warner ends up getting benched, that 14 million dollar contact is going to look like the worst move since overpaying plummer back in 99.

 

[Assface]

With Hightower and Wells, the Cardinals now have the makings of a legitimate running game. The problem is Warner has to be the worst handoff QB in the NFL. He practically has to dive horizontally to get the bal to a RB on th stretch play. We need CRISP ballhandling and handoffs because Wells can take it to the house off crisp quick hitters. If the handoff is slow, as they say in Jersey, fugget about it.

My personal theory with Warner is that he stands too close under center. As you said, he's practically diving at the RBs for handoffs and we've seen him trip over his center plenty of times. Also, if you watch his feet pre-snap when it's a pass play he sticks his left leg way back so he can get a good drop back and on running plays he has his feet pretty even. Any defender peeking in at his feet has a good idea of what's coming. Look at the difference in his success throughout his career between when he's played in offenses where he was in shotgun a lot (GSOT, last 2 years here) and when he was asked to play in a standard offense, (NY, 1st 3 years here.)

 

[Buckybird]

Good post Mitch.


What your post does a good job of pointing out is that for a team with a few holes, we didn't do much to address them in the offseason. We basically brought the same team back save Hood and A. Smith, for which we substituted McFadden and Campbell. That's fine. Except a lot of our guys were already old last year.

Guys like Warner, Berry, Gandy, O'keefer, Haggins and Robinson are all being expected to make major contributions, and I think it's a little unrealistic.

Crimson, me and Mitch pointed this out several times in the offseason and many on this board just wanted to point out what was accomplished last season and that would lead us back to the promised land. To me the only place this team is better is in the running game. Throw in the problems at the Tackle position and I saw this coming. Last season was last season!!! Then came the games that don't count. "Oh it's preseason, wait until we play the Niners"

All I can say is the warning signs were there and have been there.

 

[conraddobler]

I hate platoons and not just because Kurt is my fantasy QB. Just too hard to get into a good flow week after week.

That said, the reason I think Whiz won't make a change beyond it's game one is despite everything we all saw today, and how bad Kurt looked at times, he still threw for 288 yards. Whiz is going to look at that and say on a bad day he still nearly got 300 yards, without Breaston and with Quan limited.

Like it or not Whiz will give Kurt several games to prove last season wasn't the last hurrah.

If he plays like today consistently, he'll eventually be benched I sure hope he doesn't play that way.

Teams don't come back from 0 and 3 starts very often though, and given we're going to the East coast then playing Indy, that's a very real possibility if the good Warner does not show up soon.

Realistically we're trapped in the Warner trap again, waiting on him to come out of a funk, he's streaky to be sure but long term you don't build a team on a streaky QB, you build one around a consistent stable younger guy.

This is the last hurrah dilema you get into, at some point it's time to turn the page and move on to the future.

The 49ers dumped Joe Montana before he was done, they had a good idea Young could win it all but they didn't know he could, good teams are more proactive than we are, more forward looking, that's the hard truth.

Our goal should be to consistently vie for the championship, counting on something like last year repeating is not a sign of good managment IMO.

 

[ajcardfan]

My personal theory with Warner is that he stands too close under center. As you said, he's practically diving at the RBs for handoffs and we've seen him trip over his center plenty of times. Also, if you watch his feet pre-snap when it's a pass play he sticks his left leg way back so he can get a good drop back and on running plays he has his feet pretty even. Any defender peeking in at his feet has a good idea of what's coming. Look at the difference in his success throughout his career between when he's played in offenses where he was in shotgun a lot (GSOT, last 2 years here) and when he was asked to play in a standard offense, (NY, 1st 3 years here.)

I can pretty much tell whether we are going to run or pass by looking at how Mike Gandy sets up. I get it right about 9 times out of ten.

 

[Catfish]

Good job Mitch, but I doubt that the answer to the poor offensive showing today is to go back to a tandem QB arrangement. I DO believe that Whiz has to either find a way to get Warner into his comfort zone, (with ALL his receivers running their precise routes in time, and adjusting to the defense given), OR, he has to find a QB that is comfortable in the system that exists now. With Breaston out, there is little chance to stretch the field and get the number of defensive men out of the box. Long had been NO HELP, and Urban can apparently be counted on for catching half the balls he gets his hands on. Boldin is obviously not fully healed, but is better than most even at 3/4 speed and strength. I believe that if we go to Leinart now, we have to give him the team. This is going to be a tough decision for Whiz, especially since he can't devote full time to being a HC because of his play-calling duties.

I too feel that Branch had his best game, and that Campbell is going to be a real MONSTER in this line-up. We DO need depth at D-line, CB, and FS. Rolle is NOT the answere there.

Need to get some discipline on the guys committing the repeat penalties. I hope the league doesn't take some sort of drastic action on Wilson for the blow to the head. He has been fined AND suspended before for the same thing, and the Commissioner has played hardball with other players who wouldn't or couldn't learn from their previous mistakes.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Platooning Qbs...maybe one of the silliest, mindless, approaches ever seen by a coach in AZ history, and you want to bring it back. Wow.

 

[lauraw]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Mitch!!!

 

[PJ1]

Mitch, agree on the FS problem and it is the most glaring weakness when I look at our D. Maybe Rashad Johnson will develop but I don't see him as the answer either. We really don't have a legit FS that can provide coverage support deep on this roster. I still don't like Rolle and he chipped in yesterday with multiple missed tackles which is supposed to be his strong point.
I don't like the platoon system either but Warner's lack of mobility handing the ball off will hurt Wells for sure. This guy is the real deal and he can do some serious damage hitting the holes quick.

 

[SuperSpck]

I agree with the notion of a range safety. We've got 2 good SS's at the moment.