Game Thoughts: Panthers 34 Cardinals 21

[RugbyMuffin]

My biggest gripes: (1) Calais Campbell jumping off-sides on 3rd and 7 on the first drive, then briefly quitting on the play, which caused him to miss a key tackle on the play;

I thought to myself after that play:

"Maybe I should turn this off and go for a run"

Unfortunately, I thought that was just me being ridiculous, and it was too early in the game.

But in reality, I knew what I was seeing, I had seen it before when the Cardinals don't show up for the game.

That one play set the tone for the entire day. Just a pathetic effort, and a lack of discipline.

Yesterday's game where definitions of doing the bare minimum, and for mailing it in.

 

[SuperSpck]

All things considered yesterday wasn't as bad as you'd think.

Let's talk about a game where the turnover margin is 6-0.
What'd you guess the final score is?

Cardinals @ Jets bad?
Cardinals @ Pats bad?

Nope. 34-21. All things considered, that's a pleasant surprise. It shows growth in the team that despite all that happened things didn't go nuclear.
Add in a stop and go freeze by a gambling CB in a sophomore slump and a pick-six that only a precious few DE's in the league can make and you've got an even more interesting game.

My biggest concern at this point in the season is getting the offensive line to fire better and keeping guys healthy.
Especially the last item.
The Cardinals were blessed last season to be as healthy as they were.
This season, not so much.

Don't overlook the contributions by the guys the media doesn't mention. Walking wounded like Rolle and Breaston are important to the production of the team.

Defenses are playing so much pass coverage that the rushing lanes are starting to become very apparent. That's a very good thing. The Cards need to evolve or they will not make the postseason.

 

[Russ Smith]

I've laid off blaming the playcalling so much as blaming Warner. There have been documented and undocumented examples of Warner missing his reads and missing wide open receivers. He has been locking in on his target this year more than ever and forcing things. He just doesn't look right.

Agreed, my point is who Kurt throws to and who the playcall was made for are not always the same. Kurt and Whiz pointed it out too, we wanted to throw deep but they took that away so we checked down. People don't seem to grasp that what 4 of those turnovers were the direct result of Kurt trying to force the ball downfield? The one on Urban is iffy, there was 3 guys there, but Kurt DID get the ball in, Urban just didn't hang on and it led to a pick. The fumble just as Sando said, Kurt had time to throw it, but rather than get rid of it he held on trying to force it and he gets hit and fumbled. Even Breaston said we should have ran the ball there based on the defense. Kurt has the option to audible but he didn't, it was only 10 points at that point, we had time then to run the ball against a defense geared to stop the pass.

When people start saying it's the playcalling I don't understand how they even know what's being called.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Another great analysis Mitch. I always appreciate your thoughts even when I don't agree with everything you say. But today you are spot-on.

One line going through my head this morning: "It's the blocking you Blockheads!!"