If there was a tincture of a doubt that Ray Horton might not get a HC gig next year---that was eliminated today. check
Not only did he turn a once hapless defense around last year---this year he has given the two toughest teams in the AFC and NFC to beat at home (Patriots and Falcons) as hard and hellish a 60 minutes as they have seen from any defense. Don't think Ryan will miss seeing Cards D any time soon.
The only real question is---will the Cardinal players go lobby for Horton as HC? Some on the D side definitely will.
The Cardinals' FO seems to listen to the players (see Larry Fitzgerald)---and---let's face it---what Horton is doing is special and when you have something special, you don't want to lose it.
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The only two concerns I can think of regarding the defense is that players like Rhodes, Wilson and Gay still try to tackle too high---that, and down in the red zone on 3rd downs, they play a soft zone in the middle where TEs can just run, turn and sit in the soft areas for easy conversions. Haven't been overly impressed with Gay so far overall. Wilson always has struggled in coverage.
And I haven't heard about Patrick Peterson...did he get hurt? Why wasn't he out there in the 4th quarter? dk
Interesting too that Horton is now taking Wilson out of the nickel in 3rd and longs. It shows that Horton wants to give his coverage team the best chance---and that he has the cajones to make such a move involving such a high profile player. Yup
This is why---as much as the special things he brings to the defense---Ray Horton might wind up being a very good HC. Very possible.
This week I've been touting offensive minded HCs---but after what I saw today, I am convinced Horton is the man---and I trust that he will have a plan to put the offense in the right hands. He's in Red, we could keep it that way.
As for the offense---the question of the day is---obviously---is 7 throws too early to give the starting QB the hook, for a rookie who has never played a snap, and, by the way, you are ahead by 13-3. Should have been more. Wiz isn't gonna give him any more slack. At least with Linley you have some upside. Skelton has played enough not to keep making so many errant throws.
When the move was made all I thought was---it had better work.
What the move ultimately proved is that Lindley is just the same as any QB we have seen in this offense the past three years: he plays in a hurry, he locks on to his primary target and he is generally inconsistent with his throws.
At least after this his initial baptism.
He did throw two nice long balls that I think surprised both WRs Fitz and Roberts because he didn't underthrow wither one of them. And with the game on the line his throw on the fade to Fitz was picture perfect.
As for Fitz---you can tell---his spirit is broken. Too bad because his drop on the fade could have led to a stunning win.
But---Lindley deserves a mulligan. yes
I do not think that even he thought he would be playing three quarters today without there being an injury to Skelton. That, and having to play the best team in NFC who never loses at home, and having to work with two rookie tackles, whom, once again were sitting on islands in key passing situations with John Abraham licking his chops. Well Wiz was clear that there would be changes if problem area's weren't cleaned up.
As for those situations---I will key on two plays that made the biggest difference:
1. Lindley's first series---3rd and long from deep in the Cardinals' own end---the play call was a pass to the right as we saw---but go back and watch Hyphen on the play---on that pass to the right, he runs left, right past John Abraham who already has the corner because like Batiste and most of the time with Levi Brown, Nate Potter "opened the swinging gate."
If Hyphen just chips him for a mini-second, the Cardinals save 7 points and possibly get a first down. Yeah for the 400th time this season, the announcers are saying you have to attempt to get another body on the DE. It's maddening sometimes that it continues to be ignored by and large.
2. On Lindley's best drive which was fueled by great runs by Hyphen---the play that ruined it on a Kolb-esque sack for 12 yards---did you see the blocking scheme on that play?
The TE over the Falcons' left side rusher (Stephen Nicholas), Jeff King, releases, RT Bobbie Massie blocks down, allowing Nicholas to get a running start at the QB with FB Anthony Sherman assigned to block him...Nicholas was in the backfield so fast that Lindley couldn't help but panic and flush.disagree on this one...announcer said and I saw too that he should have just stepped up into the pocket. But he made a bad choice. It takes time though. King's got to get a block before releasing there too.
These plays were called for a rookie QB following a bye week---and quite frankly the thinking on the coaches' part just by the flaw in the design reveals how poor their preparation for the offense is. This is exactly why---this offense is a QB's nightmare. well I see it as more poor execution and blocking issues.
Take those two plays away, which cost the Cardinals 10 points and the defense that did everything humanly possible to win the game would have most likely prevailed---and would have felt the joy and satisfaction that come with a well-earned win. They definately deserved better today. But face it, we're still an OL and QB short of a legit team. Hyphen played great early then was stuffed repeatedly. Couldn't get 2 yrds. on two straight running plays in the 2nd half. That killed us again.
Instead---all that effort and all those great plays go for naught.
As for the special teams---the kicking game was excellent---and Wm. Powell's kickoff return was fantastic---other than that the ST play was a costly flag or missed tackle waiting to happen. Very surprised Kevin Spencer hasn't corrected this by now this far along in the season. Seems like a lot of big plays being made there this yr. and less by us. Been watching the Sunday Night game and J. Jones has three TD's returns already. Where's ours?
This game was what it was because Ray Horton had the defense prepared, totally psyched and ready.
We fans are being treated to something special.
Knowing the way things usually go---like with Kurt Warner---it will be two very good years---and goodbye. We'll see. If the streak continues anything is possible, injuries or not, you've got to play through it and overcome in this league..
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