Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
BA has been sticking to a formula of keeping the score close for three quarters and finding a way to win games in the 4th quarter, almost to perfection for the first 10 weeks.
The good news is that BA's Cardinals have been very good at playing situational football and they have shown up big-time in 4th quarters. The one drawback has been that the mentality has not been to put away teams---for every game has been close. What's so curious is that---have you ever known a 9-1 team that didn't at least once win in a lopsided fashion?
Heading into this game, the Cardinals, by virtue of a three game lead in the NFC West standings, had a unique opportunity to stick a fork in the World Champion Seahawks---and the Cardinals had the luxury of playing the game like they were playing with house money.
Therefore, to watch a BA offense and special teams play so utterly soft, predictable and ultra conservative in this game is mystifying.
Having watched the tape of the previous week's Chiefs' win over the Seahawks---in which the Chiefs came from behind to win in the 4th quarter---may have convinced the coach that his Cardinals could match what the Chiefs did---as in---get 159 yards rushing and 2 TDs from Jamaal Charles and therefore only have the QB (Alex Smith) go 11/18 for 108 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions. In addition, only one Chiefs' WR caught a pass---all the other receptions were to RBs and TEs. So, perhaps in BA's mind it wasn't so terrible after all that Larry Fitzgerald couldn't play or that the team could concede that Richard Sherman would have his way blanketing Michael Floyd.
This might account for why BA was running on running downs and passing only when necessary.
But---the Chiefs are bigger and stronger up front---Jamaal Charles is an elite RB who hits small creases in a flash---and---they were playing at home and therefore did not have to snap the ball on silent counts. Plus, the Seahawks were minus their big playmaker in the middle, Bobby Wagner.
In the Cardinals' 14-6 win over the Lions---Drew Stanton's use of the hard count was a significant factor in the outcome.
The silent count really puts offensive tackles manned up versus speed rushers at a distinct disadvantage, as we saw with Bobby Massie and his struggles on the edge. To Massie's credit, he adjusted by riding the cat-quick Bruce Irvin wide of Stanton most of the second half, but, by then Stanton was feeling the pressure and was having to step up into the pocket faster than any QB would want.
Usually BA's offense tries to take 4-5 "deep shots" a game. In this game there was only one deep shot and it came when Stanton was able to flush the pocket to his left and throw deep down the middle to John Brown who was bear hugged on the play for a PI flag by Cam Chancellor.
Why BA elected not to chip on Bruce Irvin is another mystery. The Seahawks' DBs are big and physical, but they are not especially fast. Failing to put deep threat pressure on them in this game played right into Pete Carroll's hands.
But the crux is that teams understand the Cardinals' run blocking schemes and tendencies so well now that everything the offense tries to do between the tackles is null and void. There is not one legitimate run mauler in the starting five. This is an offensive line built for the passing game.
To watch the diminutive and ailing Andre Ellington take his weekly punishment between the tackles over and over again is cringe inducing at this point. Why not put the one rugged RB in Robert Hughes and use him as a Vic Ballard type? Obviously, BA has little to no confidence in Stepfan Taylor or Marion Grice. But why not go Jumbo when need be and try some power isolations with a power type RB? Hughes has gotten good forward push on his FB dives in short yardage situations. How about lining him up as a single RB, motion block with one of the TEs and let him run downhill?
Now---what we saw from Ellington at WR in this game is a hint at his exciting future in this offense. He is practically unstoppable in the slot and a threat for chunk yards if Stanton can throw the ball to him on time and lead him. An offense with Fitz and Floyd wide and Ellington and John Brown in the slots is going to give any defense fits.
As for Floyd---it looked as if BA and Stanton were simply conceding a Sherman blanket---otherwise why didn't they motion him around so as to give him some freedom of movement off the snap?
Jaron Brown could have had a big day---he had some very favorable matchups. On the TD drop, he made the mistake of jumping for the ball when he didn't have to and thus lost his eye concentration.
John Brown made several outstanding catches tightroping the sidelines. Once BA starts running him more on speed drags over the middle, his production may skyrocket.
John Carlson also could have had a big day---and he had a couple of nice catches---but was not targeted enough on play action. Rob Housler? He's another epitome of soft---it's hard to understand what BA sees in him and why he puts up with him. Same as Ted Ginn, Jr., who is about as lackluster, lethargic and undependable a return man as the Cardinals have had in years.
What added to the mystery of the play calling was with very good field position after forcing a three and out on yet the 6th sack of Russell Wilson at the very start the 2nd half (coaches' dream)---is after the perfunctory first down run---the Cardinals calling a read option to Stanton versus a team that practices against it every day...which resulted in a 3 yard loss and yet another unsuccessful 3rd and long---setting up the biggest momentum swing in the game: the blocked punt.
How in the world Stepfan Taylor wasn't out there is mind-boggling---as was the weak effort Rashad Johnson made in blocking the rusher, DeShawn Shead. Taylor and Johnson are typically two ST players the coaches can count on. But, not in this game.
It's very frustrating to see how soft the offense and STs were in light of how hard and ferocious the defense was playing. Boy oh boy did Todd Bowles have his players prepared for this game! How about the job he and they did defending the read option. How about Bowles for starting DE Josh Mauro at LDE with express purpose and crashing down to hammer Marshawn Lynch. Mauro looked like J.J. Watt in this role---BAM. he was hammering Lynch. Talk about taking the romance out of the read option. Then they scissor covered Wilson with the safety---alas, Rashad Johnson blew the first one when he lunged and lost outside contain---but made up for it the next time---as did Tyrann Mathieu who played let Wilson commit first before tossing him down with ease---as did Deone Bucannon who chased Wilson like a cheetah chasing a wildebeast.
Once again Bowles set up the Russell Wilson Corral---funneling Wilson inside wgere Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker, Mauro, Alex Okafor and Tommy Kelly were pinning him down.
Wilson deserves a ton of credit however---he still had the presence to influence FS Johnson on the look-left---throw-deep-right to Ricardo Lockett---and Wilson solved the blitz by lobbing safety valve passes to Marshawn Lynch who was left wide open twice...and when his team has momentum Wilson is super tough and deceptive---great pass he threw to TE Cooper Helfet who turned the play into an acrobatic TD (the only TD of the day). TE Tony Moeaki led the Seahawks with 4 catches for 34 yards---and Luke Wilson had 1 catch for 20 yards---so the Seahawks' TE combined for 6/75/12.5/1 TD. Not so good for the Cardinals on that count. An area that still needs improvement.
Lynch had one 13 yard run---other than that, his other 14 runs went for 26 yards and he took one heckuva pounding in the process.
Aside from the 49 yard Lockett reception the Seahawks' WRs were non-factors in this game.
It's pretty clear that the Cardinals cannot afford to lose Todd Bowles---and would it be out of the realm of possibility to think that Michael Bidwill might pull off an unprecedented move---which is to promote Bowles to co-Head Coach and pay him as a head coach? This would be a dream come true for BA because of his relationship with Bowles and because he will know that the team is in the right hands when he retires.
Honestly---this is the most outstanding defensive coaching from a Cardinals' coach certainly in my 52 years as a fan. This is like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. This is an authentic and thoroughly brilliant masterpiece.
The good news is that BA's Cardinals have been very good at playing situational football and they have shown up big-time in 4th quarters. The one drawback has been that the mentality has not been to put away teams---for every game has been close. What's so curious is that---have you ever known a 9-1 team that didn't at least once win in a lopsided fashion?
Heading into this game, the Cardinals, by virtue of a three game lead in the NFC West standings, had a unique opportunity to stick a fork in the World Champion Seahawks---and the Cardinals had the luxury of playing the game like they were playing with house money.
Therefore, to watch a BA offense and special teams play so utterly soft, predictable and ultra conservative in this game is mystifying.
Having watched the tape of the previous week's Chiefs' win over the Seahawks---in which the Chiefs came from behind to win in the 4th quarter---may have convinced the coach that his Cardinals could match what the Chiefs did---as in---get 159 yards rushing and 2 TDs from Jamaal Charles and therefore only have the QB (Alex Smith) go 11/18 for 108 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions. In addition, only one Chiefs' WR caught a pass---all the other receptions were to RBs and TEs. So, perhaps in BA's mind it wasn't so terrible after all that Larry Fitzgerald couldn't play or that the team could concede that Richard Sherman would have his way blanketing Michael Floyd.
This might account for why BA was running on running downs and passing only when necessary.
But---the Chiefs are bigger and stronger up front---Jamaal Charles is an elite RB who hits small creases in a flash---and---they were playing at home and therefore did not have to snap the ball on silent counts. Plus, the Seahawks were minus their big playmaker in the middle, Bobby Wagner.
In the Cardinals' 14-6 win over the Lions---Drew Stanton's use of the hard count was a significant factor in the outcome.
The silent count really puts offensive tackles manned up versus speed rushers at a distinct disadvantage, as we saw with Bobby Massie and his struggles on the edge. To Massie's credit, he adjusted by riding the cat-quick Bruce Irvin wide of Stanton most of the second half, but, by then Stanton was feeling the pressure and was having to step up into the pocket faster than any QB would want.
Usually BA's offense tries to take 4-5 "deep shots" a game. In this game there was only one deep shot and it came when Stanton was able to flush the pocket to his left and throw deep down the middle to John Brown who was bear hugged on the play for a PI flag by Cam Chancellor.
Why BA elected not to chip on Bruce Irvin is another mystery. The Seahawks' DBs are big and physical, but they are not especially fast. Failing to put deep threat pressure on them in this game played right into Pete Carroll's hands.
But the crux is that teams understand the Cardinals' run blocking schemes and tendencies so well now that everything the offense tries to do between the tackles is null and void. There is not one legitimate run mauler in the starting five. This is an offensive line built for the passing game.
To watch the diminutive and ailing Andre Ellington take his weekly punishment between the tackles over and over again is cringe inducing at this point. Why not put the one rugged RB in Robert Hughes and use him as a Vic Ballard type? Obviously, BA has little to no confidence in Stepfan Taylor or Marion Grice. But why not go Jumbo when need be and try some power isolations with a power type RB? Hughes has gotten good forward push on his FB dives in short yardage situations. How about lining him up as a single RB, motion block with one of the TEs and let him run downhill?
Now---what we saw from Ellington at WR in this game is a hint at his exciting future in this offense. He is practically unstoppable in the slot and a threat for chunk yards if Stanton can throw the ball to him on time and lead him. An offense with Fitz and Floyd wide and Ellington and John Brown in the slots is going to give any defense fits.
As for Floyd---it looked as if BA and Stanton were simply conceding a Sherman blanket---otherwise why didn't they motion him around so as to give him some freedom of movement off the snap?
Jaron Brown could have had a big day---he had some very favorable matchups. On the TD drop, he made the mistake of jumping for the ball when he didn't have to and thus lost his eye concentration.
John Brown made several outstanding catches tightroping the sidelines. Once BA starts running him more on speed drags over the middle, his production may skyrocket.
John Carlson also could have had a big day---and he had a couple of nice catches---but was not targeted enough on play action. Rob Housler? He's another epitome of soft---it's hard to understand what BA sees in him and why he puts up with him. Same as Ted Ginn, Jr., who is about as lackluster, lethargic and undependable a return man as the Cardinals have had in years.
What added to the mystery of the play calling was with very good field position after forcing a three and out on yet the 6th sack of Russell Wilson at the very start the 2nd half (coaches' dream)---is after the perfunctory first down run---the Cardinals calling a read option to Stanton versus a team that practices against it every day...which resulted in a 3 yard loss and yet another unsuccessful 3rd and long---setting up the biggest momentum swing in the game: the blocked punt.
How in the world Stepfan Taylor wasn't out there is mind-boggling---as was the weak effort Rashad Johnson made in blocking the rusher, DeShawn Shead. Taylor and Johnson are typically two ST players the coaches can count on. But, not in this game.
It's very frustrating to see how soft the offense and STs were in light of how hard and ferocious the defense was playing. Boy oh boy did Todd Bowles have his players prepared for this game! How about the job he and they did defending the read option. How about Bowles for starting DE Josh Mauro at LDE with express purpose and crashing down to hammer Marshawn Lynch. Mauro looked like J.J. Watt in this role---BAM. he was hammering Lynch. Talk about taking the romance out of the read option. Then they scissor covered Wilson with the safety---alas, Rashad Johnson blew the first one when he lunged and lost outside contain---but made up for it the next time---as did Tyrann Mathieu who played let Wilson commit first before tossing him down with ease---as did Deone Bucannon who chased Wilson like a cheetah chasing a wildebeast.
Once again Bowles set up the Russell Wilson Corral---funneling Wilson inside wgere Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker, Mauro, Alex Okafor and Tommy Kelly were pinning him down.
Wilson deserves a ton of credit however---he still had the presence to influence FS Johnson on the look-left---throw-deep-right to Ricardo Lockett---and Wilson solved the blitz by lobbing safety valve passes to Marshawn Lynch who was left wide open twice...and when his team has momentum Wilson is super tough and deceptive---great pass he threw to TE Cooper Helfet who turned the play into an acrobatic TD (the only TD of the day). TE Tony Moeaki led the Seahawks with 4 catches for 34 yards---and Luke Wilson had 1 catch for 20 yards---so the Seahawks' TE combined for 6/75/12.5/1 TD. Not so good for the Cardinals on that count. An area that still needs improvement.
Lynch had one 13 yard run---other than that, his other 14 runs went for 26 yards and he took one heckuva pounding in the process.
Aside from the 49 yard Lockett reception the Seahawks' WRs were non-factors in this game.
It's pretty clear that the Cardinals cannot afford to lose Todd Bowles---and would it be out of the realm of possibility to think that Michael Bidwill might pull off an unprecedented move---which is to promote Bowles to co-Head Coach and pay him as a head coach? This would be a dream come true for BA because of his relationship with Bowles and because he will know that the team is in the right hands when he retires.
Honestly---this is the most outstanding defensive coaching from a Cardinals' coach certainly in my 52 years as a fan. This is like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. This is an authentic and thoroughly brilliant masterpiece.
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