Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
The Cardinals got some huge breaks in this game. A game ball certainly should go to TE Anthony Becht who was Johnny on the Spot on both of Wells' fumbles, the first saving a TD on the opening drive, the second saving a 37 yard fumble return.
Other huge breaks:
BMF's interference of Tori Holt that was not called, which would have given the jags a crucial first down. Pause your screen on the replay, BMF makes contact before the ball arrives.
Rolle's several punt return gaffes...and the team managing to maintain the lead in all of those scenarios. The irony was the one punt he should have let go was the one right before the half, which could have been the turning point of the game for the Jags if they score right before the half and take momentum into the locker room.
Campbell's HUGE FG block, and for the ball to come right to Antrel Rolle, who is the best player on the team to take it to the house in a jailbreak. He's uncanny in the open field.
Williamson's fumble...was a real momentum breaker in that first half.
The tipped pass that wound up in Q's hands.
The dropped TD pass in the end zone that hit the Jags' WR in the helmet after Rashad Johnson slipped on the play.
Games often turn on plays such as these, and the biggest one of all may have been Becht's fumble recovery right at the start.
There was some good fortune for the Cardinals there and the Cardinals did their part of creating it. They came to play and you could see it in their faces and their composure.
Far less penalties in key situations---this was HUGE.
But, most of all, I think that Ken Whisenhunt, in coordination with Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart called practically an impeccable game. He totally kept the Jaguars off balance. His run calls weren't forced or perfunctory. And how about some of the creative twists we saw in this game with EVERY skill player in Whiz's system making a contribution?
How about the Jason Wright TD call? How clever and unexpected was that?
The WR screens to Q and LSH. The quick fade to Q for a key conversion.
The timiing of the Breaston calls.
How about the 4th and 1 call? Power backfield with a TE motioning into the backfield as well...and he runs a quick flat-pass to Hightower.
How about the first down bootleg pass Whiz called for Leinart? Wide open.
What we saw today is that we may actually be better off with Whiz calling the plays because we NOW HAVE a running game and Whiz has a great sense of when to make those calls. And there is superb creativity and intelligence in the passing game. What the Cardinals have missed were the precision and timing of the routes and throws. Well, this week they got that back in sync. Credit Whiz, the coaches and the players.
As for the defense, what's most impressive is how physical and aggressive the Cardinals are playing. This not only shows in the unprecedented pressure they are generating up the middle, but in the consistently tough hitting this defense is laying on the opponents.
In past years there would have been a letdown by the defense after a close hard fought loss. There was NO letdown today. Yes, there were plenty of mistakes, like DRC's decision to go for the ball instead of just making the tackle on the TD to Sims-Walker. BUT, how about these 3 plays from DRC:
1. His TD saving tackle of Jones-Drew where he not only used the sideline as an added defender in textbook fashion but how hard he pasted him out of bounds. DRC made quite a an early statement there, IMO.
2. The shot-out-of the-cannon stop he made on on the key WR hitch pass to prevent a Jags' first down, where he blew through the block and made the tackle before Sims-Walker could even take a step.
3. The game ending interception where, once again, his speed and aggressiveness were eye opening.
The thing is about this defense under Bill Davis is, they are:
1. Smarter and better coached in the schemes.
2. Getting stronger contributions from their depth, as they did today from Branch, Watson and Rashad Johnson for example. Like Whiz on offense, Davis is getting everyone involved and contributing.
3. More consistently aggressive.
4. Much better tackles---much more physical, mopre fundamental and better finishing---save a few lapses today, like Highsmith's missed tackle on the Jags' first TD. Have you ever seen so many gang tackles as there were today? These players are feeling it.
5. Having far more fun playing it. You can see it in their faces. They are loving the game right now.
This was the type of win the coaches can relish because they can build the team's confidence with this win, but at the same time, use the tape as a real teaching tool, in order to keep the team improving and moving forward.
I'll tell you this...any player would love to play for the Whisenhunt's Cardinals, because they want EVERYONE to contribute. It's a true team effort and expectation. This is excatly why a Steve Breaston gets turned on and turned into one heckuva player.
Other huge breaks:
BMF's interference of Tori Holt that was not called, which would have given the jags a crucial first down. Pause your screen on the replay, BMF makes contact before the ball arrives.
Rolle's several punt return gaffes...and the team managing to maintain the lead in all of those scenarios. The irony was the one punt he should have let go was the one right before the half, which could have been the turning point of the game for the Jags if they score right before the half and take momentum into the locker room.
Campbell's HUGE FG block, and for the ball to come right to Antrel Rolle, who is the best player on the team to take it to the house in a jailbreak. He's uncanny in the open field.
Williamson's fumble...was a real momentum breaker in that first half.
The tipped pass that wound up in Q's hands.
The dropped TD pass in the end zone that hit the Jags' WR in the helmet after Rashad Johnson slipped on the play.
Games often turn on plays such as these, and the biggest one of all may have been Becht's fumble recovery right at the start.
There was some good fortune for the Cardinals there and the Cardinals did their part of creating it. They came to play and you could see it in their faces and their composure.
Far less penalties in key situations---this was HUGE.
But, most of all, I think that Ken Whisenhunt, in coordination with Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart called practically an impeccable game. He totally kept the Jaguars off balance. His run calls weren't forced or perfunctory. And how about some of the creative twists we saw in this game with EVERY skill player in Whiz's system making a contribution?
How about the Jason Wright TD call? How clever and unexpected was that?
The WR screens to Q and LSH. The quick fade to Q for a key conversion.
The timiing of the Breaston calls.
How about the 4th and 1 call? Power backfield with a TE motioning into the backfield as well...and he runs a quick flat-pass to Hightower.
How about the first down bootleg pass Whiz called for Leinart? Wide open.
What we saw today is that we may actually be better off with Whiz calling the plays because we NOW HAVE a running game and Whiz has a great sense of when to make those calls. And there is superb creativity and intelligence in the passing game. What the Cardinals have missed were the precision and timing of the routes and throws. Well, this week they got that back in sync. Credit Whiz, the coaches and the players.
As for the defense, what's most impressive is how physical and aggressive the Cardinals are playing. This not only shows in the unprecedented pressure they are generating up the middle, but in the consistently tough hitting this defense is laying on the opponents.
In past years there would have been a letdown by the defense after a close hard fought loss. There was NO letdown today. Yes, there were plenty of mistakes, like DRC's decision to go for the ball instead of just making the tackle on the TD to Sims-Walker. BUT, how about these 3 plays from DRC:
1. His TD saving tackle of Jones-Drew where he not only used the sideline as an added defender in textbook fashion but how hard he pasted him out of bounds. DRC made quite a an early statement there, IMO.
2. The shot-out-of the-cannon stop he made on on the key WR hitch pass to prevent a Jags' first down, where he blew through the block and made the tackle before Sims-Walker could even take a step.
3. The game ending interception where, once again, his speed and aggressiveness were eye opening.
The thing is about this defense under Bill Davis is, they are:
1. Smarter and better coached in the schemes.
2. Getting stronger contributions from their depth, as they did today from Branch, Watson and Rashad Johnson for example. Like Whiz on offense, Davis is getting everyone involved and contributing.
3. More consistently aggressive.
4. Much better tackles---much more physical, mopre fundamental and better finishing---save a few lapses today, like Highsmith's missed tackle on the Jags' first TD. Have you ever seen so many gang tackles as there were today? These players are feeling it.
5. Having far more fun playing it. You can see it in their faces. They are loving the game right now.
This was the type of win the coaches can relish because they can build the team's confidence with this win, but at the same time, use the tape as a real teaching tool, in order to keep the team improving and moving forward.
I'll tell you this...any player would love to play for the Whisenhunt's Cardinals, because they want EVERYONE to contribute. It's a true team effort and expectation. This is excatly why a Steve Breaston gets turned on and turned into one heckuva player.
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Let me know if you ever need anything to drink.I'll be here in two shakes.
