Game Blog: Cardinals vs. Steelers 8/13/09

[Catfish]

So far so good. Except for BSP's poor performance I was happy with 1st and second team Offense and Defense. O did pretty well pass blocking and run blocking. D shut down the run and contained the passing.

KW was solid. Matt was obviously hyped up, and most throws that were incomplete were overthrown. Appeared to me to have a lot of adrenalin working, but settled down as he went along.

Run game was OK with THT doing well. I thought 31 danced a little too much, but he got mostly positive yardage. LSH danced too much early, but seemed to turn it up late.

Garvin was a surprise in ST's. Looked good with no drops late into the 4th quarter, and a bunch of return yards, both on KO and PR's

Defensive front was strong until Branch came in (3rd team).

Was surprised that Big Herman Johnson displayed enough speed in the open field to run a returner to the sideline, probably preventing a TD. Man can move for 382 lbs.

Was pleased with D-secondary for the first two teams. Good pass contain with little help from the rush. Not so pleased after that though.

 

[lauraw]

Garvin 3 returns, no drops..St pierre looks shaky, just threw an interception returned to inside the 3 to end the 3rd qtr.. Pittsburgh's lower 53 look much stronger than the Cards lower 53.. Breaston still in there.. Pitt scored in 1 play.. 10-3, 4th qtr...Garvin out to the 43... St. pierre's drive stalled, touchback,Pitt's ball on the 20 12:00 left..2:00 left, Pittsburgh up, 17-10, trying to run out the clock.. Cards all 3 timouts..Game over..20-10.

 

[Shogun]

I <3 Palko

 

[lauraw]

27 Michael Adams surprised me..

 

[Shogun]

I've never seen more BSP-related threads in my life.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Palko was awesome, LSH was shifty, Greg Toler was good, and Garvin was good at KR. I'm liking these new additions.

 

[O]

I've never seen more BSP-related threads in my life.

Hopefully after tonight you never will again!

 

[1DS]

Campbell looked really good. He is going to be fine for us.

LSH is shifty. if he can be more decisive, he will be a good change up back. I think he will be similar to Felix Jones, who cowboy fans love.

Leinart started off slow, then came on a bit. He is not nearly as quick with his reads as Warner.

Levi Brown was blown up badly.

I believe Ben Graham is heading to Hawaii this year.

Rolle has butter fingers of returns.

Okeafer was playing, that was good to see.

 

[PitchShifter]

LSH did look good on his feet, he just needs to straighten it up more after the first 2 jinks. He got manhandled a fair bit when blocking, getting knocked back into the QB a number of times, but he didn't shy from the contact.

 

[O]

I believe Ben Graham is heading to Hawaii this year.

The Pro Bowl is in Miami this year.

 

[Duckjake]

This

Defensive front was strong until Branch came in (3rd team).

+ this:

Was surprised that Big Herman Johnson displayed enough speed in the open field to run a returner to the sideline, probably preventing a TD. Man can move for 382 lbs.

Very interesting.

 

[football karma]

overall I am okay --

not surprisingly-- the teams strengths still look like their strengths and the weaknesses still exist.

on offense -- the only downer was that, again, Harrison / Woodley are too much for Gandy and Brown. Fortunately -- they wont face a pair that talented at getting to the passer in the regular season.

on defense -- ugh -- third down remains an issue. The Cardinals are the best 1st and 2nd down defense in the league. I suspect that when the Cards have a team in third and long, the opposing QB in the huddle says "dont worry guys, we have them right where we want them".

 

[lauraw]

Garvin's return ydg was closer to 100+ from my accounting, 3ko's, 2-3 punts. the last kickoff he broke the 40...The scorers gave the Cards only 40 total return yds...