Game 1 standouts...

[Shane]

You know, Shane, the Cards were taking what the Steelers were giving them. The once FG happy Cardinal offense scored 2 TDs in the first half against a pretty darn good defense. Yeah, it wasn't perfect...but when you watch the tape play after play, the offensive line played with cohesiveness and intensity...and they didn't stall out drives like they used to last year. More than enough good play to give them credit for, IMO.

So the cards were just taking the 1.9 yards per carry the Steelers were giving them? Sorry Mitch I dont see the logic in that? This team can pass on anyone with Warner and our WR talent so the fact that we moved the ball still was no shock. However we had many 3rd and longs and were lucky to keep converting. Through the course of a season that just wont happen on a regular enough basis.

 

[Redsz]

Sorry Mitch I dont see the logic in that?

I'm not for one minute going to say that the run blocking was good...

But PIT is THE best rush defense in the NFL. They took away the run from us and they will do it to most of the teams they play this year too.

I'm really not sure what peoples expectations are here? If we can't run the ball against the 49ers then I will certainly be anxious.

 

[Shane]

I'm not for one minute going to say that the run blocking was good...

But PIT is THE best rush defense in the NFL. They took away the run from us and they will do it to most of the teams they play this year too.

I'm really not sure what peoples expectations are here? If we can't run the ball against the 49ers then I will certainly be anxious.

Dont get me wrong I know the steelers have a good Defense. However a mere 1.9 is unacceptable Steelers or not. Especially a Steelers team that was missing their star Pro Bowl LBer and was playing a vanilla pre-season defense. We should at the very least be able to average 3 to 3.5 yards a carry against them like the entire NFL did last year.

 

[az1965]

I believe the OL played decent considering it was only the first pre-season game. The entire unit will need time to work as a cohesive unit. If anyone was expecting a devastating and stout OL from the first day probably smoking something. We probably will not have one but a decent line who can get the job done most of the time will be a huge improvement over last season.

 

[BACH]

Tell that to Pendy becuase Smith was a DT on some pass rush schemes. Including the one were berry got his sack.

Who still has it recorded?

I believe he's the UT in nickel situations.

On the run game...
No, it certainly wasn't great, but I have to agree that there were signs of improvement on the OL. This was the first game in the new system against the best run team in the league, so I didn't expect us to come out rushing for 150+ yards.

Three things I noticed:

1. The entire OL came out of their stance hard and wasn't blown of the line as we saw many times last year.

2. We ran a trap!!! On Shipp's 4th down Milford pulled around and lead in the hole. I can't remember the last time we were able to do that.

3. The blocking upfield. Perhaps the best thing was to see the blocking up field. The were several plays where the OL were making blocks on the second level. Best play was on Shipp's screen in the 2nd where Milford made two blocks. (Yes, he's is supposed to be upfield, but the aggressive play by the OL on that play shows that there has been a change in mentality)

 

[Garthshort]

Ol

And let's not forget, no false start penalties on LD. Yeah, I know it's early.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

How was JJ Arrington a standout? He had two ok runs. Other than that he averaged 1.9 yards per carry

Well, at least he didn't go down without a fight.

 

[JC_AZ]

JJ is STILL unwilling to give or take a hit...trade him for a RT...let his POTENTIAL develop in another system...3 YEARS FROM NOW

 

[Goldfield]

JJ is STILL unwilling to give or take a hit...trade him for a RT...let his POTENTIAL develop in another system...3 YEARS FROM NOW

You missed the game saterday?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I thought that the biggest standouts were Bronson, Antonio Smith, and Orlando Huff.

Bronson laid a couple of people out yesterday. Smith was frustrating the QB all game, and Huff was a tackling machine.

 

[SMAC]

I also thought Bryant Johnson caught the ball very well and showed he can be a solid threat as a starter.

 

[JC_AZ]

Did not miss a thing...

You missed the game saterday?

I just remained sober and did not partake in the JJ Kool-Aid during the offseason...trade for a RT

 

[devilfan02]

I just remained sober and did not partake in the JJ Kool-Aid during the offseason...trade for a RT

I'm not a JJ fan myself but he did run with a newfound determination on Saturday. It might be good for him to be a backup and learn from a guy like Edge. We'll see but I think he'll progress much better now. Still not my idea of 2nd round production however

 

[Duckjake]

So the cards were just taking the 1.9 yards per carry the Steelers were giving them? Sorry Mitch I dont see the logic in that? This team can pass on anyone with Warner and our WR talent so the fact that we moved the ball still was no shock. However we had many 3rd and longs and were lucky to keep converting. Through the course of a season that just wont happen on a regular enough basis.

What I can't understand is that even with the threat of that passing attack the Cards can't run the ball effectively.

Still a long way to go before they start playing for real so I'm not too concerned...yet.

 

[Goldfield]

I just remained sober and did not partake in the JJ Kool-Aid during the offseason...trade for a RT

Then you might want to review the game tape again...

 

[abomb]

I just remained sober and did not partake in the JJ Kool-Aid during the offseason...trade for a RT

Be sure to catch the replay on TV tonight. JJ took and gave more than a few hits in the game Saturday. I'm not the biggest JJ fan, but at least get the facts before making crazy claims.