Game Thoughts: Cardinals 31 Rams 10

[imaCafan]

Question about Levi brown. Gonna tie it to an observation of myself. When riding my Harley I've found that turning one direction (don't recall which is which) I can do it with the greatest of ease, yet while turning the opposite direction I don't feel quite in control and am a bit shaky. I worked on it and worked on it but still have that issue. Now, could it be that Levi will be much better at LT because it's his "natural" position, or am I just dreaming? I would much rather find a new RT than LT........

 

[JeffGollin]

What I was thinking about as I cruised through this thread was a possible refinement in Cardinal drafting philosophy that placed more emphasis on pure athleticism.

By this I mean stuff like: "Fastest dude", "biggest dude", "strongest dude", "quickest dude."

A rookie prospect may not have all the conventional necessary attributes but, if he has one of them, Coach Wiz and his staff seem able to exploit it.

I think it all started when we traded up to grab Alan Branch (a "planet person"). Other examples DRC and Toler (freakishly fast, high leapers). LSH (small but very quick. hits low like a bullet). Calais (very very tall. very agile). Beanie (a load to bring down. Size/speed combo). Brandon Keith (quickest feet in the west).

In other words: "Give us something special we can work with and we'll find a way to exploit it."

In the past, we'd draft guys high that either prototypically filled a need or whom the front office felt would "build the belly" of the roster with solid, unspectacular hard-working guys.

Now we're beginning to pepper the roster with great athletes and rags-to-riches over-achievers with something to prove. Seems to be working.

 

[bg7brd]

Just a note about the play, (and the health), of Dansby and Hayes. For some weeks now, there have been rumors about both of these guys playing hurt. I believe that, as I have seen a marked increase in rushing allowed by our middle defense in recent games. (Gore had 169 yards against us), after only having 37 in the season opener. Some have said that Hayes is playing with a disk problem, and it is believed that Dansby is playing with 2 partially separated shoulders. I believe this to be true, and I am so very proud of how they have continued to man the bastion, even though normal men wouldn't try. I can't imagine the effort that this must take on their parts to continue to show up on game day and accept the pain and punishment that they are suffering. God bless them both.

I completely agree. I think both will step up their game in the playoffs. There is a big difference in Hayes' game from the beginning of the year when he was healthy to how he's played as of late.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, I wasn't able to watch the game (but I had it taped), but my understanding, from Somers' blog, was that Levi Brown didn't have a good game. You felt differently. Why?

Here are the reasons, Garth:

1. The Cardinals put up over 400 yards of offense: 300 passing, 110 rushing. They scored 4 TDs...two passing, two rushing....for 31 points.

2. Levi Brown's run blocking was excellent, especially on the power plays.

3. His man Victor Adeyanju...made 1 tackle in the game...0 sacks and had 2 QB hits.

4. Brown committed 0 penalties.

With as many times as the Cardinals passed, it's unrealistic to think the Ts can prevent Warner from being hit all game. Basically giving up 2 hits the whole game and 0 sacks while committing 0 penalties is mighty efficient, and one of the major reasons why the Cardinals gained 400 yards.

Sometimes I think we can get a little caught up in style points. The key is, Brown was doing much of the time what he's supposed to do: steer his man wide of the pocket.

 

[cardpa]

I only got to see highlights and what they showed of the game on the Redzone but I keyed on Levi and Mitch is right most of the time he rode his guy well to the outside and pass Warner. Warner needs to do what he did yesterday step up into the pocket once the tackles ride their man pass him.

 

[conraddobler]

What I was thinking about as I cruised through this thread was a possible refinement in Cardinal drafting philosophy that placed more emphasis on pure athleticism.

By this I mean stuff like: "Fastest dude", "biggest dude", "strongest dude", "quickest dude."

A rookie prospect may not have all the conventional necessary attributes but, if he has one of them, Coach Wiz and his staff seem able to exploit it.

I think it all started when we traded up to grab Alan Branch (a "planet person"). Other examples DRC and Toler (freakishly fast, high leapers). LSH (small but very quick. hits low like a bullet). Calais (very very tall. very agile). Beanie (a load to bring down. Size/speed combo). Brandon Keith (quickest feet in the west).

In other words: "Give us something special we can work with and we'll find a way to exploit it."

In the past, we'd draft guys high that either prototypically filled a need or whom the front office felt would "build the belly" of the roster with solid, unspectacular hard-working guys.

Now we're beginning to pepper the roster with great athletes and rags-to-riches over-achievers with something to prove. Seems to be working.

This started when DG was here.

That's almost exactly his philosophy and that's why we have Fitz, because Fitz isn't really that fast, he's not really what most people would say is an elite WR in terms of anything other than of course he's other worldly in respects to catching the ball.

Which is exactly how he's evolved into the premier WR in the league because although he's not exactly what you'd want he has evolved in terms of what he can do to become dominant.

I think Rod Graves learned some things from DG.

DG always said, don't tell me what a player can't do, tell me what he can do and I'll work with that.

Dockett is another example of this.

Dansby too.

Breaston too.

 

[ajcardfan]

This started when DG was here.

That's almost exactly his philosophy and that's why we have Fitz, because Fitz isn't really that fast, he's not really what most people would say is an elite WR in terms of anything other than of course he's other worldly in respects to catching the ball.

Which is exactly how he's evolved into the premier WR in the league because although he's not exactly what you'd want he has evolved in terms of what he can do to become dominant.

I think Rod Graves learned some things from DG.

DG always said, don't tell me what a player can't do, tell me what he can do and I'll work with that.

Dockett is another example of this.

Dansby too.

Breaston too.

Plus, during the Tobin and McGinnis eras, we often seemed to draft guys higher than they were projected based on talent, because of their character. Green started us drafting guys who fell from where they were projected based on possible character issues, but had a lot of talent.

I thought we had gone back to the old way with the Brown draft, but I think the last two drafts have shown that Graves did learn from Green.

 

[CardLogic]

Here are the reasons, Garth:

1. The Cardinals put up over 400 yards of offense: 300 passing, 110 rushing. They scored 4 TDs...two passing, two rushing....for 31 points.

2. Levi Brown's run blocking was excellent, especially on the power plays.

3. His man Victor Adeyanju...made 1 tackle in the game...0 sacks and had 2 QB hits.

4. Brown committed 0 penalties.

With as many times as the Cardinals passed, it's unrealistic to think the Ts can prevent Warner from being hit all game. Basically giving up 2 hits the whole game and 0 sacks while committing 0 penalties is mighty efficient, and one of the major reasons why the Cardinals gained 400 yards.

Sometimes I think we can get a little caught up in style points. The key is, Brown was doing much of the time what he's supposed to do: steer his man wide of the pocket.

On target, Mitch.

Brown gets way more crap from this board than is warranted.

 

[conraddobler]

Plus, during the Tobin and McGinnis eras, we often seemed to draft guys higher than they were projected based on talent, because of their character. Green started us drafting guys who fell from where they were projected based on possible character issues, but had a lot of talent.

I thought we had gone back to the old way with the Brown draft, but I think the last two drafts have shown that Graves did learn from Green.

I was worried he didn't learn anything and was going to go backwards but it seems he did learn.

The draft is really simple, you get guys who can play, character is just another factor.

Really with solid coaching and a solid team you can afford a couple questionable character guys just as long as you don't tip the balance.

KC one year tipped over and had too many questionable character guys and spiraled into the dirt.

The key is always to keep a leadership core of guys with both, then you can have a couple with a few character dings as long as they aren't the leaders they'll be fine, if they assume a leadership role you're done.

 

[BigRedArk]

Just a note about the play, (and the health), of Dansby and Hayes. For some weeks now, there have been rumors about both of these guys playing hurt. I believe that, as I have seen a marked increase in rushing allowed by our middle defense in recent games. (Gore had 169 yards against us), after only having 37 in the season opener. Some have said that Hayes is playing with a disk problem, and it is believed that Dansby is playing with 2 partially separated shoulders. I believe this to be true, and I am so very proud of how they have continued to man the bastion, even though normal men wouldn't try. I can't imagine the effort that this must take on their parts to continue to show up on game day and accept the pain and punishment that they are suffering. God bless them both.

I hope Dansby and Hayes sit the bench in this weeks game.

 

[Chopper0080]

My issue with the play of Dansby and Hayes is not about their striking ability at the point of contact, as much as it is about their apparent lack of great football instincts. Playing linebacker in our 3-4 scheme really emphasizes that lack. I just don't see Dansby and Hayes filling holes like real instinctive linebackers do. They always seem to be taking false steps, getting caught in the line and/or overrunning the backs. I feel that Dansby's great athleticism allows him room for error, while Hayes lack of athleticism and instincts exposes him in our scheme.

I understand that both of these guys are warriors, and I am aware that they are doing their best. However, in regards to our scheme, I see Haggens as being the most consistent and productive in regards to his talent. To me Dansby still looks like a WOLB in a 4-3 scheme being forced to play ILB in a 3-4. A true square peg in a round hole. I will give Dansby credit though as he has given us all he has at that ILB position. Hayes just looks even slower than normal as he hasn't shown the ability to identify and scrape though traffic which is the most needed characteristic for an ILB in the 3-4.

 

[Duckjake]

My issue with the play of Dansby and Hayes is not about their striking ability at the point of contact, as much as it is about their apparent lack of great football instincts. Playing linebacker in our 3-4 scheme really emphasizes that lack. I just don't see Dansby and Hayes filling holes like real instinctive linebackers do. They always seem to be taking false steps, getting caught in the line and/or overrunning the backs. I feel that Dansby's great athleticism allows him room for error, while Hayes lack of athleticism and instincts exposes him in our scheme.

I understand that both of these guys are warriors, and I am aware that they are doing their best. However, in regards to our scheme, I see Haggens as being the most consistent and productive in regards to his talent. To me Dansby still looks like a WOLB in a 4-3 scheme being forced to play ILB in a 3-4. A true square peg in a round hole. I will give Dansby credit though as he has given us all he has at that ILB position. Hayes just looks even slower than normal as he hasn't shown the ability to identify and scrape though traffic which is the most needed characteristic for an ILB in the 3-4.

I think Mitch was talking about this earlier this season. Davis apparently has Hayes and Dansby sliding along the los toward the ball carrier rather than attacking the holes like other teams do.