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Whoever wrote this completely blew it when it came to the DL and LB... Berry and Smith as ends??? Dockett at tackle???
Homers and Haters - Arizona Edition
by Ben Ellington
The Carolina Panthers travel to the big pink dome in the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals this week. Like the Panthers, the Cards are 3-2 and tied for first in their division. Unlike the Panthers, Arizona fans are largely happy with their record right now.
Arizona is one of those teams that always seems to start out saying, “This is finally the year!” and go out saying “Wait until next year!” There are signs though, that this may indeed be the year for them, although some injuries may be starting to interfere with their goal of the playoffs.
In 2006 the Cardinals completed rebuilding their offense by signing Edgerrin James to complement their strong receiving corps. Unfortunately, the running game never materialized and the defense couldn’t stop the pass. The Cardinals finished 5-11, and the front office reacted by firing coach Dennis Green and bringing in former Steeler offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt also hired Russ Grimm, one of the best at his position, to coach the offensive line.
So far, Arizona’s results have been encouraging, but more because of the emergence of their defense. Their 30th ranked 2006 pass defense is now giving up 218 yards per game, which is good for 18th in 2007. The Cardinal rush defense, which was 16th in 2006 at 119 yards per game, is now 13th in the league at 101 yards. Overall, the defense has improved from the 29th ranked unit in 2006 to the 14th in 2007. On offense the running game has started to emerge, which has helped the Cards improve from 14th in the league to 10th.
The Cardinals are taking all the right steps to get to the playoffs. They have a young quarterback in place for the long haul, their star receivers Boldin and Fitzgerald are also young, and the club has a head coach in place that brings discipline and faith to the organization. However, the Cardinals have suffered injuries and still a have a work to do on the defensive side of the ball.
Unless Kurt Warner rediscovers his MVP form, the club and its fans may have to go through another season of rebuilding. Here’s what you can count on seeing this Sunday.
Quarterback
Kurt Warner is once again the Cardinals’ starter, the result of a season-ending injury to Matt Leinart. The former two-time MVP has performed well so far this season, with 43 for 69 passing, four touchdowns, and only one interception. His rating of 102.3 is his highest since 1999 with the Rams. This past week the Cardinals signed former 49ers QB Tim Rattay as a backup.
Homer says: “Warner is a great quarterback if you’re playing in the 20th century. Since his knees went, he spends way too much time in the pocket and makes Drew Bledsoe look mobile. If Peppers can’t break out of his sack slump against the Cardinals, well…”
Hater says: “What is it with our luck this year? Instead of Matt Leinart and his four interceptions, once again we get to face a veteran who knows how to exploit our weaknesses. Warner’s made a living with the quick pass, and has two outstanding receivers to throw to in Arizona. He won’t get sacked because he won’t have to hold the ball long enough. Maybe we can stall him in the red zone, but he won’t have a big challenge marching down the field against our soft middle.”
Running Backs
Edgerrin James had a shaky start with the Cardinals, playing behind a poor line and putting up some of the worst numbers of his career. With Grimm’s coaching though, the offensive line is giving James time to find the holes this year and he’s starting to produce the kind of games that management hoped for when they signed him away from the Colts. Edgerrin’s yards per carry are up from 3.4 to 4.1, and more importantly he’s getting into the end zone more. James has gotten three touchdowns already, compared to six for all of last year. A contributing factor to that is the increased use of the lead blocker in Whisenhunt’s schemes. Fullback Terrelle Smith is a six foot, 250 pound back that rarely carries and is not a receiving threat.
Homer says: “James is a good back when he has a great QB to keep the attention off of him, and Warner no longer qualifies. Without Peyton Manning, he’s become rather ordinary and can be handled. He’s fast and hits the hole well, but the offensive line won’t find too many against Jenks and Kemo, and our speed at linebacker should neutralize his game here.”
Hater says: “Where James is going to kill us is in his skill in sustaining drives. Last year he couldn’t manage four first downs per game, this year he’s over five. The Panthers have had trouble getting the opposing offense off the field all season, and James will do his part to keep that streak alive. He’s getting almost 90 yards a game, and when the Panthers give up 100 it doesn’t bode well.”
Wide Receivers
This is where the Cardinals shine. It’s rare for a team to have a receiving tandem as scary as Anquan Boldin (22/286, 3 TDs) and Larry Fitzgerald (34/448, 1 TD). Boldin is a playmaker with tons of quickness and an ability to pick up yards after the catch. Fitzgerald is a tough matchup, and his 6-foot-3 frame makes him and a solid possession receiver. Bryant Johnson is a a solid number three for this unit. Standing at 6-foot-8, tight end Leonard Pope (5/57, 1 TD) is also a big red zone target on the Cardinals.
Homer says: “Meh, I got nothing here…”
Hater says: “There’s no way to put a positive spin on our matchups here. If Warner gets any time to throw, we’re going to give up tons of yards in the air.”
Offensive Line
Last year the Cardinals were never able to get things going on the ground mainly because of poor offensive line play. To help remedy that they used the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft on Penn State tackle Levi Brown. Buffalo Bill free agent Mike Gandy holds down the left tackle spot. Lastly, center Al Johnson was another free agent pickup, giving the Cardinals three new players on their line. The Guards are returning starters Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutui. Brown has been out with an ankle injury, but may play this weekend. If he can’t go then recently signed Keydrick Vincent will take his place.
Homer says: “Panther fans know all about injuries on the offensive line. Holes don’t open, assignments are missed, quarterbacks get sacked, and the offense just can’t get in a rhythm. The Cards have to deal with a backup Quarterback and a starting tackle who wasn’t even on the squad last week. What’s worse, it’s on the side that Peppers attacks from. It’s going to be a long day in Arizona.”
Hater says: “Their line’s shaken up, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting a running game going. Russ Grimm is the kind of coach the Panthers need–he has the Cardinals actually opening holes in the running game, and they’ve only given up six sacks. Given how well the Panthers have been rushing the passer so far, the Cards have no worries in this area.”
Defensive Line
This has become a strength of the Arizona defense. They’re the fifth best unit in the league where sacks are concerned, and they’re doing a fair job against the run, allowing only four yards per carry. Antonio Smith (18 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks) and Bertrand Berry (11 tackles, 2 sacks) play the left and right end spots, respectively. Darnell Dockett (20 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) returns to play one of the tackle positions and Gabe Watson (13 tackles) will line up along side of Dockett.
Homer says: “They’ve done a good job getting after the quarterback, but if you look at the teams they’ve played, then their numbers suddenly don’t look so hot. Arizona’s gotten 14 sacks but their opponents have given up 58. The Panthers have given up only 6, so don’t think that Arizona is going to continue their party here. They can be run on too, and the Panthers will take advantage of that.”
Hater says: “This is how a defensive line plays when the coach lights a fire under them. Maybe the Panthers will finally get a clue as they watch their offensive line get crushed beneath a real pass rush.”
Linebackers
Calvin Pace (21 tackles, 1 sack), Gerald Hayes (31 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) and Karlos Dansby (43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble) start at the linebacker spots. This is a fairly young group without a lot of depth. As a unit, they’re decent versus the run but soft in coverage.
Homer says: “This is where having David Carr or Vinny Testaverde will work out for the Panthers. Passing underneath the coverage will be available, and Davidson will game plan for that. The advantage there, of course, is that short passes don’t take a long time to develop, and those plays won’t give the defensive line time to bring pressure.”
Hater says: “The Panthers can go with a QB who can’t get the ball to their playmaker, or one that has just as much rhythm with the Arizona defense as he does with the Panther receivers. Short passes take timing, and the Panthers don’t have it. That leaves the running game, which is where this group shines. Too bad for our running backs that they force fumbles too…”
Defensive Backs
This unit has really improved under the new coaching staff. The defensive backs are anchored by pro-bowl safety Adrian Wilson. Wilson (34 tackles, 2 INT) is a strong blitzer, can stop the run, delivers hard hits and is by far the best defensive player for the Cards. He’s lining up next to a new partner in free safety Terrence Holt (19 tackles, one forced fumble). Corners are where the Cardinals suffered last year, and although Eric Green (20 tackles) has returned newcomer Rod Hood (16 tackles, 2 INT) has won the other starting spot.
Homer says: “The secondary does well against the run, but it’s job is defending the pass. Neither corner can cover Steve Smith, and he’ll draw enough attention that Colbert and King will find themselves open regularly. Assuming the running game keeps the safeties honest, the pass will still be open.”
Hater says: “Just pray that they don’t blitz…”
Prognosis
Homer says: “Ok, we have a matchup against two teams that are tied for first, and there are other similarities. Both teams have lost their starting quarterbacks, and that’s going to be very disruptive to each offense. Both teams can play defense, and both have receiving corps that scare opposing defensive coordinators. The difference is in their recent history. Arizona is used to losing, the Panthers expect to win. The Cardinals are in new territory and excited to be there, while the Panthers are annoyed that they haven’t been dominant.
When the Cardinals have the ball, they’re going to be tentative against our defense. Their tackles can’t stop the pass rush, and it’s coming from the right side where Warner can see it. Expect a lot of passes thrown more to get rid of the ball than to put it in the receivers’ hands. Our linebackers are fast enough to keep James from running wild too. Arizona is going to move the ball, but in money situations it won’t get far.
When the Panthers have the ball it will be more of the same. Depending on who starts, the Panthers will either do a lot of bootlegs and short passes or they’ll give Arizona a heavy dose of the run. When they get close, Kasay will show Racker what reliability means.
Figure on a low scoring game, which will be a surprise given how mediocre both these defenses have been. Once it gets tight and the Cards look at the chances they’ve squandered the old butterflies will return. When it gets tight for the Panthers they’ll ignore their mistakes, look to Kasay, and be comforted.
Panthers win a close one, 13-10″
Hater says: “Kurt Warner vs. Vinny Testaverde? Now THAT inspires confidence…
Warner may not have the mobility he once did but he won’t need much to get the ball out to Boldin and Fitzgerald, and let’s not forget Pope and even James. The Cards have all kinds of players who can catch the ball and they don’t mind using them. They also play with intensity and confidence, which are characteristics the Panthers have lacked lately.
When the Cards have the ball they’ll move it confidently down the field with a series of short runs and passes. No one on that team feels like they need a big play to win, and they’ll have the veteran presence of Warner in the huddle to keep them focused. In the red zone the Panthers have no one who can match up with Pope, and Fitzgerald is money there as well. Racker won’t be kicking anything but extra points.
When the Panthers have the ball expect the Carolina fans to explode in frustration. Outside of a couple decent runs, they’ll do nothing. Three and out will be how it starts, and probably how it ends. The Cardinals will put eight in the box to stop the run and dare Carr to beat the pass rush. If it’s Testaverde, then you want Arizona as your fantasy team on Sunday because he’ll be good for at least two interceptions.
It won’t be pretty this week. Arizona 28, Carolina 6
Whoever wrote this completely blew it when it came to the DL and LB... Berry and Smith as ends??? Dockett at tackle???
Homers and Haters - Arizona Edition
by Ben Ellington
The Carolina Panthers travel to the big pink dome in the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals this week. Like the Panthers, the Cards are 3-2 and tied for first in their division. Unlike the Panthers, Arizona fans are largely happy with their record right now.
Arizona is one of those teams that always seems to start out saying, “This is finally the year!” and go out saying “Wait until next year!” There are signs though, that this may indeed be the year for them, although some injuries may be starting to interfere with their goal of the playoffs.
In 2006 the Cardinals completed rebuilding their offense by signing Edgerrin James to complement their strong receiving corps. Unfortunately, the running game never materialized and the defense couldn’t stop the pass. The Cardinals finished 5-11, and the front office reacted by firing coach Dennis Green and bringing in former Steeler offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt also hired Russ Grimm, one of the best at his position, to coach the offensive line.
So far, Arizona’s results have been encouraging, but more because of the emergence of their defense. Their 30th ranked 2006 pass defense is now giving up 218 yards per game, which is good for 18th in 2007. The Cardinal rush defense, which was 16th in 2006 at 119 yards per game, is now 13th in the league at 101 yards. Overall, the defense has improved from the 29th ranked unit in 2006 to the 14th in 2007. On offense the running game has started to emerge, which has helped the Cards improve from 14th in the league to 10th.
The Cardinals are taking all the right steps to get to the playoffs. They have a young quarterback in place for the long haul, their star receivers Boldin and Fitzgerald are also young, and the club has a head coach in place that brings discipline and faith to the organization. However, the Cardinals have suffered injuries and still a have a work to do on the defensive side of the ball.
Unless Kurt Warner rediscovers his MVP form, the club and its fans may have to go through another season of rebuilding. Here’s what you can count on seeing this Sunday.
Quarterback
Kurt Warner is once again the Cardinals’ starter, the result of a season-ending injury to Matt Leinart. The former two-time MVP has performed well so far this season, with 43 for 69 passing, four touchdowns, and only one interception. His rating of 102.3 is his highest since 1999 with the Rams. This past week the Cardinals signed former 49ers QB Tim Rattay as a backup.
Homer says: “Warner is a great quarterback if you’re playing in the 20th century. Since his knees went, he spends way too much time in the pocket and makes Drew Bledsoe look mobile. If Peppers can’t break out of his sack slump against the Cardinals, well…”
Hater says: “What is it with our luck this year? Instead of Matt Leinart and his four interceptions, once again we get to face a veteran who knows how to exploit our weaknesses. Warner’s made a living with the quick pass, and has two outstanding receivers to throw to in Arizona. He won’t get sacked because he won’t have to hold the ball long enough. Maybe we can stall him in the red zone, but he won’t have a big challenge marching down the field against our soft middle.”
Running Backs
Edgerrin James had a shaky start with the Cardinals, playing behind a poor line and putting up some of the worst numbers of his career. With Grimm’s coaching though, the offensive line is giving James time to find the holes this year and he’s starting to produce the kind of games that management hoped for when they signed him away from the Colts. Edgerrin’s yards per carry are up from 3.4 to 4.1, and more importantly he’s getting into the end zone more. James has gotten three touchdowns already, compared to six for all of last year. A contributing factor to that is the increased use of the lead blocker in Whisenhunt’s schemes. Fullback Terrelle Smith is a six foot, 250 pound back that rarely carries and is not a receiving threat.
Homer says: “James is a good back when he has a great QB to keep the attention off of him, and Warner no longer qualifies. Without Peyton Manning, he’s become rather ordinary and can be handled. He’s fast and hits the hole well, but the offensive line won’t find too many against Jenks and Kemo, and our speed at linebacker should neutralize his game here.”
Hater says: “Where James is going to kill us is in his skill in sustaining drives. Last year he couldn’t manage four first downs per game, this year he’s over five. The Panthers have had trouble getting the opposing offense off the field all season, and James will do his part to keep that streak alive. He’s getting almost 90 yards a game, and when the Panthers give up 100 it doesn’t bode well.”
Wide Receivers
This is where the Cardinals shine. It’s rare for a team to have a receiving tandem as scary as Anquan Boldin (22/286, 3 TDs) and Larry Fitzgerald (34/448, 1 TD). Boldin is a playmaker with tons of quickness and an ability to pick up yards after the catch. Fitzgerald is a tough matchup, and his 6-foot-3 frame makes him and a solid possession receiver. Bryant Johnson is a a solid number three for this unit. Standing at 6-foot-8, tight end Leonard Pope (5/57, 1 TD) is also a big red zone target on the Cardinals.
Homer says: “Meh, I got nothing here…”
Hater says: “There’s no way to put a positive spin on our matchups here. If Warner gets any time to throw, we’re going to give up tons of yards in the air.”
Offensive Line
Last year the Cardinals were never able to get things going on the ground mainly because of poor offensive line play. To help remedy that they used the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft on Penn State tackle Levi Brown. Buffalo Bill free agent Mike Gandy holds down the left tackle spot. Lastly, center Al Johnson was another free agent pickup, giving the Cardinals three new players on their line. The Guards are returning starters Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutui. Brown has been out with an ankle injury, but may play this weekend. If he can’t go then recently signed Keydrick Vincent will take his place.
Homer says: “Panther fans know all about injuries on the offensive line. Holes don’t open, assignments are missed, quarterbacks get sacked, and the offense just can’t get in a rhythm. The Cards have to deal with a backup Quarterback and a starting tackle who wasn’t even on the squad last week. What’s worse, it’s on the side that Peppers attacks from. It’s going to be a long day in Arizona.”
Hater says: “Their line’s shaken up, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting a running game going. Russ Grimm is the kind of coach the Panthers need–he has the Cardinals actually opening holes in the running game, and they’ve only given up six sacks. Given how well the Panthers have been rushing the passer so far, the Cards have no worries in this area.”
Defensive Line
This has become a strength of the Arizona defense. They’re the fifth best unit in the league where sacks are concerned, and they’re doing a fair job against the run, allowing only four yards per carry. Antonio Smith (18 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks) and Bertrand Berry (11 tackles, 2 sacks) play the left and right end spots, respectively. Darnell Dockett (20 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) returns to play one of the tackle positions and Gabe Watson (13 tackles) will line up along side of Dockett.
Homer says: “They’ve done a good job getting after the quarterback, but if you look at the teams they’ve played, then their numbers suddenly don’t look so hot. Arizona’s gotten 14 sacks but their opponents have given up 58. The Panthers have given up only 6, so don’t think that Arizona is going to continue their party here. They can be run on too, and the Panthers will take advantage of that.”
Hater says: “This is how a defensive line plays when the coach lights a fire under them. Maybe the Panthers will finally get a clue as they watch their offensive line get crushed beneath a real pass rush.”
Linebackers
Calvin Pace (21 tackles, 1 sack), Gerald Hayes (31 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) and Karlos Dansby (43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble) start at the linebacker spots. This is a fairly young group without a lot of depth. As a unit, they’re decent versus the run but soft in coverage.
Homer says: “This is where having David Carr or Vinny Testaverde will work out for the Panthers. Passing underneath the coverage will be available, and Davidson will game plan for that. The advantage there, of course, is that short passes don’t take a long time to develop, and those plays won’t give the defensive line time to bring pressure.”
Hater says: “The Panthers can go with a QB who can’t get the ball to their playmaker, or one that has just as much rhythm with the Arizona defense as he does with the Panther receivers. Short passes take timing, and the Panthers don’t have it. That leaves the running game, which is where this group shines. Too bad for our running backs that they force fumbles too…”
Defensive Backs
This unit has really improved under the new coaching staff. The defensive backs are anchored by pro-bowl safety Adrian Wilson. Wilson (34 tackles, 2 INT) is a strong blitzer, can stop the run, delivers hard hits and is by far the best defensive player for the Cards. He’s lining up next to a new partner in free safety Terrence Holt (19 tackles, one forced fumble). Corners are where the Cardinals suffered last year, and although Eric Green (20 tackles) has returned newcomer Rod Hood (16 tackles, 2 INT) has won the other starting spot.
Homer says: “The secondary does well against the run, but it’s job is defending the pass. Neither corner can cover Steve Smith, and he’ll draw enough attention that Colbert and King will find themselves open regularly. Assuming the running game keeps the safeties honest, the pass will still be open.”
Hater says: “Just pray that they don’t blitz…”
Prognosis
Homer says: “Ok, we have a matchup against two teams that are tied for first, and there are other similarities. Both teams have lost their starting quarterbacks, and that’s going to be very disruptive to each offense. Both teams can play defense, and both have receiving corps that scare opposing defensive coordinators. The difference is in their recent history. Arizona is used to losing, the Panthers expect to win. The Cardinals are in new territory and excited to be there, while the Panthers are annoyed that they haven’t been dominant.
When the Cardinals have the ball, they’re going to be tentative against our defense. Their tackles can’t stop the pass rush, and it’s coming from the right side where Warner can see it. Expect a lot of passes thrown more to get rid of the ball than to put it in the receivers’ hands. Our linebackers are fast enough to keep James from running wild too. Arizona is going to move the ball, but in money situations it won’t get far.
When the Panthers have the ball it will be more of the same. Depending on who starts, the Panthers will either do a lot of bootlegs and short passes or they’ll give Arizona a heavy dose of the run. When they get close, Kasay will show Racker what reliability means.
Figure on a low scoring game, which will be a surprise given how mediocre both these defenses have been. Once it gets tight and the Cards look at the chances they’ve squandered the old butterflies will return. When it gets tight for the Panthers they’ll ignore their mistakes, look to Kasay, and be comforted.
Panthers win a close one, 13-10″
Hater says: “Kurt Warner vs. Vinny Testaverde? Now THAT inspires confidence…
Warner may not have the mobility he once did but he won’t need much to get the ball out to Boldin and Fitzgerald, and let’s not forget Pope and even James. The Cards have all kinds of players who can catch the ball and they don’t mind using them. They also play with intensity and confidence, which are characteristics the Panthers have lacked lately.
When the Cards have the ball they’ll move it confidently down the field with a series of short runs and passes. No one on that team feels like they need a big play to win, and they’ll have the veteran presence of Warner in the huddle to keep them focused. In the red zone the Panthers have no one who can match up with Pope, and Fitzgerald is money there as well. Racker won’t be kicking anything but extra points.
When the Panthers have the ball expect the Carolina fans to explode in frustration. Outside of a couple decent runs, they’ll do nothing. Three and out will be how it starts, and probably how it ends. The Cardinals will put eight in the box to stop the run and dare Carr to beat the pass rush. If it’s Testaverde, then you want Arizona as your fantasy team on Sunday because he’ll be good for at least two interceptions.
It won’t be pretty this week. Arizona 28, Carolina 6
