Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Having reached their mental and physical peak last week versus Minnesota, the Cardinals were unable to sustain their intensity and confidence last night versus the 49ers. In the span of 8 days we have seen the very best and the very worst of the Cardinals.
Yes, last night's performance was agonizing...but, in some ways, the performance was a true indication of the grueling aspects of the game of NFL football and the pitfalls of a 16 game season.
The Cardinals looked just plain tired.
Normally one would think they would have not lost the battle of the front sevens on both sides of the ball the way they did to the 49ers. recently the Cardinals had won 7 of the last 9 games (and 5 of those wins on the road) because they won the battles up front...and not only that...they won some of those battles up front against teams such as the Giants and Vikings that typical pound and humiliate them.
This is why there need be no panic in Glendale today.
The Cardinals are a much more physcial team than they were a year ago...and look what happened a year ago.
And, until last night, save the excruciating 99 yard TD drive the defense gave up at Tennessee, the Cardinals have been a lot more shaper mentally than last year.
An ample serving of humble pie at this time of year can often be a very good thing. Our Cardinals are at their best when they are humble and hungry. This 49er game will get their attention.
One other thought about the pitfalls of a 16 game season...the grind to win week after week is so intense that for good teams it's often better for them to find their strength through tough losses and even some embarrassing losses.
In a strange way, the Cardinals may actually be better off at this point than the Colts or Saints. It seems every year now that the bye teams in the playoffs have a very hard time even getting past their first playoff game.
Look at the Titans last year...they were 13-3 and cruising...and looking formidible week after week. They go one and done in the playoffs.
Look at the Giants last year: same thing.
As for some notes on last night's game, here are a few:
1. Funny that Tim Hightower was shown cradling the ball over and over on the sidelines prior to the start of the game. Those shots of him were as if the ESPN crew already knew the script, just as Ahmad Brooks already knew the Cardinals' snap count.
2. As for the fumbles and turnovers...you really have to give Goldson the majority of the credit for at least three or four of him. He was the game's MVP, with Patrick Willis a close second and Ahmad Brooks a distant third. These three guys were the difference makers.
3. If you look at the Cardinals' counterparts to Goldson, Willis and Brooks, the only Cardinal that played even close to what these guys did was Adrian Wilson. Karlos Dansby doesn't close on the ball nearly as fast as Willis, and Ahmad Brooks makes the Cardinals RDE/WOLB edge rushers look like Granny Clampett.
4. As for Wilson, his play the last two week is very encouraging. He played TE Vernon Davis about as tightly as he could, and found that he had a better chance playing under him than over him. Too bad he missed taking his nice interception to the house...that might have been a game changer.
5. The Cardinals picked the wrong game to throw deep to Fitz...the 49ers played him under and over all night long (the same thing they did in Week 1, which the Cardinals should have bene prepared for and clearly and curiously weren't), which is why the subpar performances by Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston are disappointing, for they could have had big nights. Boldin was not as nearly dynamic as he was versus the Vikings. Breaston is suddenly a forgotten man in this offense. Kurt Warner looked more for Early Doucet than Breaston...and it was nice to see Doucet make a couple of nifty catches, especialy the deep fade up the right sideline on the third and long. Doucet may have the freshest legs right now of any of the Cardinals' WRs.
6. Another player who is really starting to step up is TE Ben Patrick. He is pounding people and I think he's going to have a breakout game receiving someday soon.
7. You know you are still a pretty good team when you are on the road and you've turned the ball over 5 times and you are still only one score (and a two point conversion) behind in the 4th quarter...and you have the ball with a chance to tie it.
The Cardinals have to learn what the 49ers taught them...teams are so desperate to stop the Cardinals offense that all week they are being taught to tackle the football. They should call Emmitt Smith and have him tutor TH, Beanie and LSH...for no one was better at avoiding the big hits and strip attempts while still managing to dive for the extra yard.
Yes, last night's performance was agonizing...but, in some ways, the performance was a true indication of the grueling aspects of the game of NFL football and the pitfalls of a 16 game season.
The Cardinals looked just plain tired.
Normally one would think they would have not lost the battle of the front sevens on both sides of the ball the way they did to the 49ers. recently the Cardinals had won 7 of the last 9 games (and 5 of those wins on the road) because they won the battles up front...and not only that...they won some of those battles up front against teams such as the Giants and Vikings that typical pound and humiliate them.
This is why there need be no panic in Glendale today.
The Cardinals are a much more physcial team than they were a year ago...and look what happened a year ago.
And, until last night, save the excruciating 99 yard TD drive the defense gave up at Tennessee, the Cardinals have been a lot more shaper mentally than last year.
An ample serving of humble pie at this time of year can often be a very good thing. Our Cardinals are at their best when they are humble and hungry. This 49er game will get their attention.
One other thought about the pitfalls of a 16 game season...the grind to win week after week is so intense that for good teams it's often better for them to find their strength through tough losses and even some embarrassing losses.
In a strange way, the Cardinals may actually be better off at this point than the Colts or Saints. It seems every year now that the bye teams in the playoffs have a very hard time even getting past their first playoff game.
Look at the Titans last year...they were 13-3 and cruising...and looking formidible week after week. They go one and done in the playoffs.
Look at the Giants last year: same thing.
As for some notes on last night's game, here are a few:
1. Funny that Tim Hightower was shown cradling the ball over and over on the sidelines prior to the start of the game. Those shots of him were as if the ESPN crew already knew the script, just as Ahmad Brooks already knew the Cardinals' snap count.
2. As for the fumbles and turnovers...you really have to give Goldson the majority of the credit for at least three or four of him. He was the game's MVP, with Patrick Willis a close second and Ahmad Brooks a distant third. These three guys were the difference makers.
3. If you look at the Cardinals' counterparts to Goldson, Willis and Brooks, the only Cardinal that played even close to what these guys did was Adrian Wilson. Karlos Dansby doesn't close on the ball nearly as fast as Willis, and Ahmad Brooks makes the Cardinals RDE/WOLB edge rushers look like Granny Clampett.
4. As for Wilson, his play the last two week is very encouraging. He played TE Vernon Davis about as tightly as he could, and found that he had a better chance playing under him than over him. Too bad he missed taking his nice interception to the house...that might have been a game changer.
5. The Cardinals picked the wrong game to throw deep to Fitz...the 49ers played him under and over all night long (the same thing they did in Week 1, which the Cardinals should have bene prepared for and clearly and curiously weren't), which is why the subpar performances by Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston are disappointing, for they could have had big nights. Boldin was not as nearly dynamic as he was versus the Vikings. Breaston is suddenly a forgotten man in this offense. Kurt Warner looked more for Early Doucet than Breaston...and it was nice to see Doucet make a couple of nifty catches, especialy the deep fade up the right sideline on the third and long. Doucet may have the freshest legs right now of any of the Cardinals' WRs.
6. Another player who is really starting to step up is TE Ben Patrick. He is pounding people and I think he's going to have a breakout game receiving someday soon.
7. You know you are still a pretty good team when you are on the road and you've turned the ball over 5 times and you are still only one score (and a two point conversion) behind in the 4th quarter...and you have the ball with a chance to tie it.
The Cardinals have to learn what the 49ers taught them...teams are so desperate to stop the Cardinals offense that all week they are being taught to tackle the football. They should call Emmitt Smith and have him tutor TH, Beanie and LSH...for no one was better at avoiding the big hits and strip attempts while still managing to dive for the extra yard.
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i'm knackered
