Mitch, do you think the Cardinals have a chance Sunday vs. the Giants?
This is a very intriguing game from an intangibles standpoint, TR. One would think most of the intangibles point in the Giants' favor: (1) coming off an embarrassing loss Tom Coughlin will be surly and demonstrative all week in preparation; (2) they are home at the stadium where Q was pummeled when last the Cardinals played there; (3) there likely will be more urgency on the Giants' part and that usually works in a team's favor especially this time of year.
But...maybe some of you are sensing it, but having won 3 of the last 4 games, Whiz is gently massaging the Cardinals' ego and imploring his team to play loose, and it looks ike they are doing just that.
Both teams must feel pretty good about their chances in their own divisions...the Giants have to stave off the Cowboys and Eagles, although both those teams seem more vulnerable...and the Cardinals have to overtake the 49ers, a team that may have already peaked after a grueling training camp and some recent meltdowns.
The Cardinals have a blueprint by just scrutinizing the game tape of the Saints' relatively easy victory over the Giants. Having watched a good part of that game, it was amazing how easily the Saints schooled the Ginats' secondary...Marques Colston could not be covered and he isn't exactly a blazer, but he was physically dominating and just imposed his size and strength on the Giants' CBs. It make one wonder how they could possibly handle Fitz, Q, Stevie and JerUbe.
No question they will load the wagon to get to Warner...which is why, if the Cardinals do not make some adjustments in their protection schemes, they won't stand much of a chance.
On the flip side, the Cardinals have to pester EM and pester him regularly and often...but, the interior of the Giants' o-line is their strength, their weakness, like the Cardinals', is on the edge...but the Cardinals don't have edge threats, save AW...so, somehow, the trio of Dockett, Robinson and Campbell have to continue to bottle up the run and, better yet, get to EM.
My gut feeling is that the Giants will run the ball better than anyone has on the Cardinals...and it will neutralize the front 3 on D, which will make it easier for EM to complete passes downfield. If I were Bill Davis, I would insist that the front three rush the passer every play and defend the run in doing so...for it's penetration, more than anything else that thwarts the running plays. If the front three has this mentality, I think the Cardinals have a chance...that and if the Cardinals chip on the Giants DEs. If they don't do both things, the score will be lopsided in the Giants' favor.
The encouraging thing this year is that Whiz is taking the ball off the coin flip. We may have to pray that the Cardinals win the toss and do what they did last week, run a textbook opening drive and grab the lead...that could keep them loose and confident.
