Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. Rustling Up Russell Wilson.
The Cardinals did their best to pressure him from all angles---kudos in particular to big efforts from messers Abraham, Washington, Campbell and Shaughnessy.
Problem is---
a.) the guy is a Houdini with the football.
b.) the way the refs called the game is like giving Justin Verlander a wider strike zone (which umps often do---as if he needs it, right?---which makes him practically unhittable)---well same thing for Wilson---you should be able to tackle him the way Abraham did because you never know whether he will fake the pass and tuck it---and just as disconcerting were the three non-calls on intentional downing which allowed the Seahawks to maintain their drives---and all three, imo, were clearly intentional. So, if you can't hit him and you can't get a flag when he intentionally grounds the ball---you don't stand a good chance of beating him.
c). it's like he has an extra pair of eyes, especially on the run---his three TDs were picture perfect throws, two of which were where he bought seemingly 5-7 seconds of time---and in the NFL if a QB like Wilson or anyone good can buy that amount of time, you are going to get toasted.
d). the falling down pass on 3rd and 3 was truly amazing---just that he even knew where his TE was under that kind of pressure and while going downward.
The Seahawks are going to be very good for a very long time. That's what's most disconcerting. They had a vision as to how to build their roster and the personality of their team and they have done it superbly.
2. Whiz Ball is Back.
Like Led Zeppelin sang: The song remains the same.
The Ol' Dink and Dunk Ad Nauseum with the oh btw every now and then we will try running the ball.
To me this development is not at all what i expected from BA---and it is the most dispiriting aspect about BA's version of the Cardinals.
No mea culpa from me or anyone else who bought into BA's rhetoric---because BA can talk a cat down from a tuna truck.
When he said his RBs need to be blockers in order to play for him, I thought, man, this guy gets it.
Only---BAs RBs are actually not even lined up to block in key situations---or---when they are, they quickly release as receivers...just as an interior DT has broken free up the middle or an edge rusher has a straight shot at the QB.
Wasn't it BA who claimed that in his offense his RBs are not featured as receivers---they are blockers first and foremost?
That---my friends---was an egregious lie.
The empty backfields on virtually every third down---is Whisenhunt all the way---pure Whisenhunt.
Not helping a struggling LT when he is getting manhandled? Pure Whisenhunt.
You know these recent Steeler OCs---they sure talk a good game about establishing a physical running attack---but it's pure cow dung.
Now we know why Bill Cowher was often at odds with Whisenhunt and Arians. It was Cowher who insisted on the smashmouth running attack. It was Cowher who instilled and insisted upon developing a smashmouth mentality. Whisenhunt was the trick play guy who wanted to reinvent the Steelers' passing game---which Arians eventually did---but like the way the Cardinals' o-lines were built, the Steelers were trying to run a high octane passing attack with a bunch of beefy run blockers---and guess what?
The QB in that system needs full body armor and a stretcher with and IV and a box of splints ready at all times on the sidelines.
Look at the Seahawks---do they just happen to run the ball?
Running the ball for the Seahawks is an event in and of itself!
The 49ers can go into Gore Mode.
The Seahawks can go into Beast Mode.
What can the Cardinals go into?
Pumpkin Pie a la Mode?
3. New Nickname for BA...it's NBA.
As in---just what lazy teams do in the NBA:
a.) go through the motions for the first half just to try to keep things close enough.
b.) make half-time adjustments
c). decide to start mounting a comeback in the second half
d.) hope to sneak a win out at the last minute
4. The 3 Second Rule---NBA Style:
Empty backfield---shotgun formation---5 short distance options---and 3 seconds to throw the ball or you turn the ball over.
The thing is: ANY defense can play hard for three seconds.
ANY defense can switch on picks and dog the passing lanes if it means knowing all you have to do is take it away for three seconds.
5. Life in the Fast Lane.
They should play this song each time Carson Palmer breaks the huddle on third down.
Because every time hie will stand in the DEs Fast Lane and rather than step inside of the shoulder, he just stands there right in the path.
It doesn't matter who is playing LT---if your QB doesn't step up into the pocket---the DE will have straight shots all game long.
As for having a pocket to step into---this is why you keep a RB in close---so he can step up and keep the pocket secure when a DT gets a good push toward the QB.
6. Separation Anxiety.
Not only was it hard for any of the 5 receivers to gain separation in 3 seconds---how come when Palmer managed on 3-4 occasions to run wide of the pocket last night, he couldn't find any open WRs?
The closest he cam to completing a pass in that situation was when he got the ball stripped by the sideline and was nearly tipped up into the hands of a hard-charging Seahawk.
7. Spam Blocker.
One could make the case that the Cardinals' best two blocks of the night came from Fitz on one leg!
How sweet it was to see Fitz pop Sherman on a nifty crack back block.
Funny though, that Fitz went over to say he was sorry to Richard Sherman. At least that;s what it looked like.
Classy, perhaps---but kind of the way this offense is---an excuse me offense.
8. On-Side Note.
Has Jay Feely ever kicked a decent on-side kick? You know, the ten yard kind with tumble and slippery juice?
9. What's the Two Point?
For a team that supposedly practices situations---the two point plays the past two weeks have been the best the team can come up with?
10. 4-Gone Conclusion?
Ist and Goal from the 4 yard line---and not even a threat of a running play?
The Cardinals did their best to pressure him from all angles---kudos in particular to big efforts from messers Abraham, Washington, Campbell and Shaughnessy.
Problem is---
a.) the guy is a Houdini with the football.
b.) the way the refs called the game is like giving Justin Verlander a wider strike zone (which umps often do---as if he needs it, right?---which makes him practically unhittable)---well same thing for Wilson---you should be able to tackle him the way Abraham did because you never know whether he will fake the pass and tuck it---and just as disconcerting were the three non-calls on intentional downing which allowed the Seahawks to maintain their drives---and all three, imo, were clearly intentional. So, if you can't hit him and you can't get a flag when he intentionally grounds the ball---you don't stand a good chance of beating him.
c). it's like he has an extra pair of eyes, especially on the run---his three TDs were picture perfect throws, two of which were where he bought seemingly 5-7 seconds of time---and in the NFL if a QB like Wilson or anyone good can buy that amount of time, you are going to get toasted.
d). the falling down pass on 3rd and 3 was truly amazing---just that he even knew where his TE was under that kind of pressure and while going downward.
The Seahawks are going to be very good for a very long time. That's what's most disconcerting. They had a vision as to how to build their roster and the personality of their team and they have done it superbly.
2. Whiz Ball is Back.
Like Led Zeppelin sang: The song remains the same.
The Ol' Dink and Dunk Ad Nauseum with the oh btw every now and then we will try running the ball.
To me this development is not at all what i expected from BA---and it is the most dispiriting aspect about BA's version of the Cardinals.
No mea culpa from me or anyone else who bought into BA's rhetoric---because BA can talk a cat down from a tuna truck.
When he said his RBs need to be blockers in order to play for him, I thought, man, this guy gets it.
Only---BAs RBs are actually not even lined up to block in key situations---or---when they are, they quickly release as receivers...just as an interior DT has broken free up the middle or an edge rusher has a straight shot at the QB.
Wasn't it BA who claimed that in his offense his RBs are not featured as receivers---they are blockers first and foremost?
That---my friends---was an egregious lie.
The empty backfields on virtually every third down---is Whisenhunt all the way---pure Whisenhunt.
Not helping a struggling LT when he is getting manhandled? Pure Whisenhunt.
You know these recent Steeler OCs---they sure talk a good game about establishing a physical running attack---but it's pure cow dung.
Now we know why Bill Cowher was often at odds with Whisenhunt and Arians. It was Cowher who insisted on the smashmouth running attack. It was Cowher who instilled and insisted upon developing a smashmouth mentality. Whisenhunt was the trick play guy who wanted to reinvent the Steelers' passing game---which Arians eventually did---but like the way the Cardinals' o-lines were built, the Steelers were trying to run a high octane passing attack with a bunch of beefy run blockers---and guess what?
The QB in that system needs full body armor and a stretcher with and IV and a box of splints ready at all times on the sidelines.
Look at the Seahawks---do they just happen to run the ball?
Running the ball for the Seahawks is an event in and of itself!
The 49ers can go into Gore Mode.
The Seahawks can go into Beast Mode.
What can the Cardinals go into?
Pumpkin Pie a la Mode?
3. New Nickname for BA...it's NBA.
As in---just what lazy teams do in the NBA:
a.) go through the motions for the first half just to try to keep things close enough.
b.) make half-time adjustments
c). decide to start mounting a comeback in the second half
d.) hope to sneak a win out at the last minute
4. The 3 Second Rule---NBA Style:
Empty backfield---shotgun formation---5 short distance options---and 3 seconds to throw the ball or you turn the ball over.
The thing is: ANY defense can play hard for three seconds.
ANY defense can switch on picks and dog the passing lanes if it means knowing all you have to do is take it away for three seconds.
5. Life in the Fast Lane.
They should play this song each time Carson Palmer breaks the huddle on third down.
Because every time hie will stand in the DEs Fast Lane and rather than step inside of the shoulder, he just stands there right in the path.
It doesn't matter who is playing LT---if your QB doesn't step up into the pocket---the DE will have straight shots all game long.
As for having a pocket to step into---this is why you keep a RB in close---so he can step up and keep the pocket secure when a DT gets a good push toward the QB.
6. Separation Anxiety.
Not only was it hard for any of the 5 receivers to gain separation in 3 seconds---how come when Palmer managed on 3-4 occasions to run wide of the pocket last night, he couldn't find any open WRs?
The closest he cam to completing a pass in that situation was when he got the ball stripped by the sideline and was nearly tipped up into the hands of a hard-charging Seahawk.
7. Spam Blocker.
One could make the case that the Cardinals' best two blocks of the night came from Fitz on one leg!
How sweet it was to see Fitz pop Sherman on a nifty crack back block.
Funny though, that Fitz went over to say he was sorry to Richard Sherman. At least that;s what it looked like.
Classy, perhaps---but kind of the way this offense is---an excuse me offense.
8. On-Side Note.
Has Jay Feely ever kicked a decent on-side kick? You know, the ten yard kind with tumble and slippery juice?
9. What's the Two Point?
For a team that supposedly practices situations---the two point plays the past two weeks have been the best the team can come up with?
10. 4-Gone Conclusion?
Ist and Goal from the 4 yard line---and not even a threat of a running play?
