Gearing Up the Propaganda Machine: Urban Reaching for Good News

[kerouac9]

Pretty interesting lede in Darren Urban's effort today: http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...at-Works/4619b54e-893b-4f28-b8e7-6ed3cdfb5987

When new Cardinals running backs coach Stump Mitchell was with the Seahawks earlier in his career, he had a young but highly-touted player who wasn’t used as much as was first expected because of his inability to pass block.

Shaun Alexander figured it out, though, enough that by 2005 he was NFL MVP with his 1,880 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns on the ground. It helped he could stay on the field.

“He wanted to be a featured back, and he worked extremely hard,” Mitchell said.

That didn't seem to sit right with me. Shaun Alexander was a terrible pass protector in my memory. So I thought I'd do 45 seconds worth of research:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3070228

Alexander was never known for pass protection, either. He was more likely to get his own quarterback hurt than to knock out an opponent with a stiff-arm to the chops.

I don't necessarily blame Urban. It's apparently the week when we talk about RBs, and he has to say something. But it's difficult to trust a reporter that is re-casting reality like this.

I'm sorry to put Urban on blast on this board, but AZCardinals.com is requiring registration to post on their articles now, and I'm not going to register.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Pretty interesting lede in Darren Urban's effort today: http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...at-Works/4619b54e-893b-4f28-b8e7-6ed3cdfb5987



That didn't seem to sit right with me. Shaun Alexander was a terrible pass protector in my memory. So I thought I'd do 45 seconds worth of research:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3070228



I don't necessarily blame Urban. It's apparently the week when we talk about RBs, and he has to say something. But it's difficult to trust a reporter that is re-casting reality like this.

I'm sorry to put Urban on blast on this board, but AZCardinals.com is requiring registration to post on their articles now, and I'm not going to register.

What's really sad is I come here for Cardinals talk before I go to the official site. Just can't stand it. The only thing I ever go to the site for anymore is videos/press conferences/etc. Urbans articles are nothing but propaganda and his comments to other Cardinals fans is that of a guy pissing on those around him. Now, I know a lot of questions he gets would be very frustrating, but that's the job he chose to take. He insults fans every chance he gets, especially when fans are critical of the organization.

 

[Russ Smith]

It's nit picking but wasn't he right? Didn't he get good enough to get on the field and put up those great stats?

Doesn't mean he didn't still suck at pass blocking he probably did, but he did work hard and get on the field and become a very productive runner.

now did Stump Mitchell make him productive, I doubt it.

I am thrilled to have Stump on the Cards though, loved him as a player.

 

[ARZCardinals]

true - I come here before i goto the main website

 

[kerouac9]

It's nit picking but wasn't he right? Didn't he get good enough to get on the field and put up those great stats?

Doesn't mean he didn't still suck at pass blocking he probably did, but he did work hard and get on the field and become a very productive runner.

now did Stump Mitchell make him productive, I doubt it.

I am thrilled to have Stump on the Cards though, loved him as a player.

Not really. The Seahawks had Ricky Watters in 2000 (Alexander's rookie season) who rushed for 1400 yards but was 31 years old. The next year Alexander and Watters essentially flipped roles, where Alexander had 309 rushing attempts and Watters only had 72.

Alexander was the 17th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft. He was going to see the field. He was Mike Holmgren's 2nd 1st round pick.

I mean, I guess it's awesome that Alexander went from downright terrible in pass pro to merely awful, but mostly it's the fact that Alexander was the next in line. 2002 Maurice Morris comes in and becomes the 3rd down back.

Early in his career, Alexander was a fine receiver, as well. He had 168 receptions between 2001 and 2005. His receiving numbers suddenly dropped off because Morris started coming in on 3rd downs.

The Seahawks were a team in the early 2000s that we'll never see again: A team with 2 fullbacks active on Sundays. Mack Strong and Heath Evans not only played games, but had rushing attempts.

 

[JeffGollin]

What's really sad is I come here for Cardinals talk before I go to the official site. Just can't stand it. The only thing I ever go to the site for anymore is videos/press conferences/etc. Urbans articles are nothing but propaganda and his comments to other Cardinals fans is that of a guy pissing on those around him. Now, I know a lot of questions he gets would be very frustrating, but that's the job he chose to take. He insults fans every chance he gets, especially when fans are critical of the organization.

Add to this, the logical pressure of being "staff" - (part of the old guard) - only to have to deal with a brand new coaching staff and reorganized FO. The natural instinct would be to avoid making waves.

That said - while there hasn't been much in the way of real news about the Cardinals, Darren has remained pretty up-front and candid in his remarks, and IMO continues to write most of his material from a fan's perspective (often indicating that Cardinal fans may not be totally on-board with the actions of the coaching staff or FO).

I don't know more that we can ask.

But I agree that, as a fan, I'd like to have more of an insiders' view about what goes down & why - but (to steal a phrase from David Letterman): "That's not gonna happen."

 

[MadCardDisease]

Pretty interesting lede in Darren Urban's effort today: http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...at-Works/4619b54e-893b-4f28-b8e7-6ed3cdfb5987



That didn't seem to sit right with me. Shaun Alexander was a terrible pass protector in my memory. So I thought I'd do 45 seconds worth of research:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3070228



I don't necessarily blame Urban. It's apparently the week when we talk about RBs, and he has to say something. But it's difficult to trust a reporter that is re-casting reality like this.

I'm sorry to put Urban on blast on this board, but AZCardinals.com is requiring registration to post on their articles now, and I'm not going to register.

Meh. He has to put something out and it needs to be more than a paragraph. The parts you referenced were mostly fluff. The meat of the article came in the last sentence.

But that doesn’t change what kind of player the Cards would like to have in the backfield.

“That position is different because they take a lot of shots, they take a lot of abuse, there are going to be some injuries,” Keim said. “Our mindset I think the pieces of the puzzle we want to add, I think you are looking at the bigger, more durable back to compliment some of the guys we already have on our roster we like.”

 

[kerouac9]

Meh. He has to put something out and it needs to be more than a paragraph. The parts you referenced were mostly fluff. The meat of the article came in the last sentence.

I don't know. As propaganda whoppers go, this one is pretty hard to swallow:

That’s where Mitchell’s background weaves in with Arians’ outlook. That year Alexander dominated on the ground, he caught just 15 passes. It was about Alexander’s ability to protect quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that kept him on the field.

Utter hokum.

As for the last sentence, you're talking about (one of) the guy(s) who identified Ryan Williams and fed Ken Whisenhunt the talking point that he never fumbled in college. You'll forgive me if I don't give Keim the benefit of the doubt on identifying quality NFL runners.

Also, it's diametrically opposed to what Arians says earlier in that same piece:

“Backs by committee, one of them gets hurt you’ve lost half your committee or a third of your committee,” Arians said. “I like guys who can play every down.”

So, are we looking for a complimentary back who can help share the load, or a bell-cow back who is going to be on the field all three downs?

This staff is going to be a disaster.

 

[Chopper0080]

That is what you get when you have a reporter that essentially works for the team.

I haven't seen many reporters regarding the Cardinals who are willing to make waves to put out a solid piece. It would be nice to have a reporter who would call it like it is, but of course if they did, we wouldn't be hearing it for long.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Wasn't saying I agreed with Kiem. Merely saying that most of that article was fluff and the only thing of interest was what Keim said. Was it a clue as to what the Cardinals are looking for at RB or a smoke screen for the draft? Clearly it doesn't jive with what Bruce said earlier.

Personally I like the every down type of RB. However it's not like these guys grow on trees. Rarely do you get a shot at a Adrian Peterson. Doh!!!

 

[MrYeahBut]

This staff is going to be a disaster.

I'm so feeling like this is the way it's going to go down. Has me depressed and the draft isn't even here yet.


.

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm so feeling like this is the way it's going to go down. Has me depressed and the draft isn't even here yet.


.

Give them free agency and the draft, THEN go jump off the cliff

 

[kerouac9]

Give them free agency and the draft, THEN go jump off the cliff

We should probably wait for June 1 cuts, too.

And then judge the team by what we bring to week 1 of the regular season.

But then, it's a young team, so we should probably judge by the team that shows up at the end of the season.

But we're going to experience a lot of turnover in 2014, so we should probably write off this season altogether and withhold judgement until Week 1 of the 2014 season.

Or maybe Week 16.

 

[Duckjake]

That is what you get when you have a reporter that essentially works for the team.

I haven't seen many reporters regarding the Cardinals who are willing to make waves to put out a solid piece. It would be nice to have a reporter who would call it like it is, but of course if they did, we wouldn't be hearing it for long.

We used to have that. He was a reporter for the East Valley Tribune. Guy named Darren Urban. The Cardinals couldn't beat him so they joined him.

 

[Chopper0080]

We should probably wait for June 1 cuts, too.

And then judge the team by what we bring to week 1 of the regular season.

But then, it's a young team, so we should probably judge by the team that shows up at the end of the season.

But we're going to experience a lot of turnover in 2014, so we should probably write off this season altogether and withhold judgement until Week 1 of the 2014 season.

Or maybe Week 16.

This is made me laugh.

 

[Mulli]

We should probably wait for June 1 cuts, too.

And then judge the team by what we bring to week 1 of the regular season.

But then, it's a young team, so we should probably judge by the team that shows up at the end of the season.

But we're going to experience a lot of turnover in 2014, so we should probably write off this season altogether and withhold judgement until Week 1 of the 2014 season.

Or maybe Week 16.

Excuse me, sir. They have "done a much better job the last ten years."

 

[kerouac9]

Excuse me, sir. They have "done a much better job the last ten years."

Record the last 10 years (2003-2013): 65-95 (.406)
Record the prior 10 years (1993-2002): 60-100 (.375)

An improvement of 5 victories in 160 tries is practically a rounding error.

5-11 with 'em; 5'11 without 'em.

 

[Chopper0080]

Excuse me, sir. They have "done a much better job the last ten years."

More goodness. You crack me up.

 

[Chopper0080]

Record the last 10 years (2003-2013): 65-95 (.406)
Record the prior 10 years (1993-2002): 60-100 (.375)

An improvement of 5 victories in 160 tries is practically a rounding error.

5-11 with 'em; 5'11 without 'em.

This is starting to become a complilation of ASFN homerism myths.

 

[Chopper0080]

Record the last 10 years (2003-2013): 65-95 (.406)
Record the prior 10 years (1993-2002): 60-100 (.375)

An improvement of 5 victories in 160 tries is practically a rounding error.

5-11 with 'em; 5'11 without 'em.

K9's new thread, ASFN Mythbusters.

 

[Totally_Red]

Record the last 10 years (2003-2013): 65-95 (.406)
Record the prior 10 years (1993-2002): 60-100 (.375)

An improvement of 5 victories in 160 tries is practically a rounding error.

5-11 with 'em; 5'11 without 'em.

But playoff appearances doubled from 1 to 2.

 

[Mulli]

Ya, but remember the salary cap hell created by Buddy Ryan, Graves and Co. Got out of that just in time to get back in it.