great Somers analysis

[football karma]

as Cardinals fans, we should feel lucky that we have a good beat writer covering the team. Kent's most recent blog post is well worth reading:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/150368


essentially is says that the Cardinals have to be better at the field position game -- and I couldn't agree more.

Against Dallas, the Cardinals suffered most of the first half with terrible field position.

One thing Somers doesn't mention, but I will: The Hyphen has to be better at deciding when to run a kick off out of the end zone.

Far too many times the Cards have started possessions inside their 15 after an opponent scored. With a struggling offense, its just asking to give the ball back to the other team with them at their own 45.

 

[Capital Card]

Somers has become spot on, and he is probably the best, most unbiased local reporter covering the Cardinals out there. (I love Sando, but a lot of his stuff is rehash of points that Kent has already made.)

I was a huge fan of Steve Shoenfield (sp?) for exactly the same reasons I've grown to respect Somers; their honest assessments of the team, without either piling on (Jureki, Bickley & Paula) when things are down or overstating the obvious when times are good (Urban).

Go Cards!!!

 

[Russ Smith]

Yeah we've talked about Hyphen several times on game threads he keeps trying to bring it out and not even getting to the 20. he needs to have better judgement but I'm sure he thinks everytime I'm about to pop one.

 

[WickedKoolFan]

Our field position was terrible against the Cowboys too. I swear the Cowboys were punting from the 50 yard line everytime, and we were punting inside our 20, and in our endzone about 3 times (I believe).
Our offense needs to string together some good drives, and our defense did good at limiting Dallas to 13 points, but they also need to get some early stops to help our field position.

 

[Shane]

That wasnt some great insightful analysis. That was basic football sense.

 

[RedRob]

That wasnt some great insightful analysis. That was basic football sense.

I was going to point out earlier in the week that Kent's gotten better at his job. This particular post of his in and of itself isn't award worthy but his overall body of work has improved.

I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the Cardinals getting better in the last few years, has to make his job more pleasant. Whatever the reason he's providing a high level of insight as to the internal team affiars that wasn't there years ago.

 

[Totally_Red]

as Cardinals fans, we should feel lucky that we have a good beat writer covering the team. Kent's most recent blog post is well worth reading:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/150368


essentially is says that the Cardinals have to be better at the field position game -- and I couldn't agree more.

Against Dallas, the Cardinals suffered most of the first half with terrible field position.

One thing Somers doesn't mention, but I will: The Hyphen has to be better at deciding when to run a kick off out of the end zone.

Far too many times the Cards have started possessions inside their 15 after an opponent scored. With a struggling offense, its just asking to give the ball back to the other team with them at their own 45.

Near as I can tell he does use any judgment. If he catches the ball, he runs it out 95% of the time. The Cardinals special teams aren't good enough to be able to do that against good coverage units. I'm not sure Early Doucet is doing a very good job of advising when and when not to run it out based of what he sees in coverage. In fairness to LSH if he isn't getting the communication to down the ball, it isn't all his fault.

 

[Catfish]

One other crucial point is that the coaching staff NOT have LSH be the single back in the game on third and one. They put themselves in this position once each in the last two games, and LSH was stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage both times. While he is great to throw to on third down, he is far to slight to push the pile for a yard. Beanie needs to be in the backfield in those situations.

 

[Pariah]

The Hyphen has to be better at deciding when to run a kick off out of the end zone.

I don't know that I agree with this. If we want to reap the advantage of an electric kick returner, we have to accept the risk, as well. If Babe Ruth only swung at the "safe" pitches, he wouldn't have hit so many home runs.

JMHO

 

[cardpa]

Could there be some envy by LSH with PP getting so much press for returning punts back that he wants to get some of that glory too and is trying to return KOs back and is trying too hard to take everyone to the bank instead of just trying to get the most out of the returns for the best possible field position..

 

[football karma]

I don't know that I agree with this. If we want to reap the advantage of an electric kick returner, we have to accept the risk, as well. If Babe Ruth only swung at the "safe" pitches, he wouldn't have hit so many home runs.

JMHO

I am not saying "never"

but:

1. how about if you are more than 7 yards deep, you kneel.

2. how about if your team has started its last three drives inside the 15, maybe just taking the ball at the 20 wouldn't be the worst thing.