azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
ST. LOUIS - After months of proclamations and predictions, and plenty of sifting and sorting, the moment has arrived.
Whether you believe Dennis Green to be a savior or a charlatan, your opinion of the Cardinals coach will be either confirmed or questioned after today, when the Cardinals open the regular season against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
Since taking the Cardinals coaching job, Green has proclaimed this a playoff-caliber team, a belief he reiterated this week.
"I'm 55 years old, I don't have to be shy about my feelings," he said. "I think there is sufficient talent on this team to be a playoff team."
But he knows there are fans who are tired of the predictions and want to see performance. The Cardinals, after all, have had one winning season since moving to Arizona in 1988, went 4-12 last year and have a 13-game losing streak on the road.
Most prognosticators picked them to finish about the same this season, and no one is thinking any better of them after a 1-3 preseason.
"I saw a power ranking that had us 32," Green said. "That's just a prediction. I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince people of anything. We get to play."
Green has made over this roster - there are 21 new players - and he's moved around several of the ones who did return. He cut his starting center, Pete Kendall, on the eve of training camp. He demoted the starting left tackle, L.J. Shelton, and promoted 35-year-old Emmitt Smith ahead of much younger backs.
In the locker room, several of the names above the cubicles remain written on masking tape, because there hasn't been time to produce permanent tags. And given Green's nature, all names might be up there temporarily, anyway.
"I think Coach Green is trying to find the right chemistry," said starting free safety Ifeanyi Ohalete, who was claimed off waivers from Washington during training camp. "With him being a new coach, players come and players go. That's the way it is around the league. If players don't respond and do what they're supposed to, there are going to be some tape names up there."
With the Cardinals there is only one way, Green's way, and he's proved he'll show the door to anyone he perceives as not buying into his program.
"If you're not buying into mine, which one are you buying into?" Green said. "You can only have one program. If a guy doesn't want to be on that program, he should come talk to me. I'll try to help him out and get him on somebody else's program."
Green has predicted 10 wins and a playoff berth, and he hasn't backed off it, even though his top three receivers missed most of training camp, his offense had trouble scoring touchdowns and his defense struggled to stop the run.
But if Green says 10 wins and the playoffs, put quarterback Josh McCown down for that, too.
"That's what Coach Green has put out there in front of us, so my expectations haven't changed from that," McCown said.
It will be curious to see if all of Green's moves work. Replacing Kendall is a rookie, Alex Stepanovich, who played guard, not center, last year at Ohio State. He was overpowered at times in the preseason.
Replacing Shelton is Leonard Davis, a potentially devastating guard adjusting to a new position.
Some players still cast a wary eye Green's way. They don't ask questions publicly because Green frowns upon that, but they haven't figured out the motivation for some of Green's moves.
There is only one motivation, Green said. Winning. Why, Green asked, would he make any move that he doesn't think would help that cause?
"We know this: The Cardinals have not played nearly good enough to be a factor in the National Football League for a long time," he said.
"It's up to us now to try and change that."
Scouting Report
Cardinals on Offense
Advantage:
Rams
Run: The idea today is to control the clock, but the Cardinals will need a better running attack than they showed in preseason when they averaged 3.5 yards a carry. Emmitt Smith, at 35, will get the brunt of the work today and likely this season. He hasn't rushed for 1,000 yards in a season since 2001, but then he's been playing for bad teams. The Cardinals have reworked their offensive line but it's hardly a finished product.
Pass: Receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson will play, but they're probably not 100 percent. Quarterback Josh McCown needs them to make some big plays, which were lacking in the preseason. McCown also needs time to throw. That means right tackle Anthony Clement must control Rams defensive end Leonard Little. And McCown has to be smart enough not to let Rams safety Aeneas Williams bait him into bad decisions. Look for the Cardinals to test cornerback Kevin Garrett.
Rams on Offense
Advantage:
Rams
Run: Marshall Faulk is healthy, but first-round pick Steven Jackson will see some action, too. The Cardinals haven't proved they can stop the run. They don't have a run stuffer in the middle, and if they have to commit a safety, the Rams' passing game will annihilate them. Defensive tackle Russell Davis is the key. He has to hold up to double teams and keep the Rams from making much on runs to the back side. Strong side linebacker LeVar Woods will be tested. Pass: Receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce almost always are on the run when they catch the ball. That leads to big plays. Cardinals cornerbacks David Macklin and Duane Starks face a difficult job. It becomes an impossible one if there's no pass rush. Rams coach Mike Martz likes to use multiple receiver packages, but he'll also go to maximum protection to give quarterback Marc Bulger time. When Bulger's been pressured, he's been known to make mistakes. Cardinals tackle Darnell Dockett could be too quick for guard Chris Dishman.
Special Teams
Advantage:
Rams
The Cardinals were inconsistent in the preseason. Kicker Neil Rackers was great, making 11 of 13 field goals, but he's never been that consistent in the regular season. Punter Scott Player is reliable, but the coverage teams were lacking. Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins led the NFL in scoring last year. He's made 243 consecutive extra points and he made 39 of 42 field goals. Former Arizona State receiver Shaun McDonald returns punts. Cardinals hope they get more out of their punt returns this year with the acquisition of Karl Williams, and kick returner Josh Scobey is a serious threat. The Rams coverage teams struggled last year, giving up four touchdown returns.
The Bottom Line
31
10
The Rams are 34-6 at home over the past five years. The Cardinals have lost 13 straight on the road. So as a wise man once said, nothing has to give. Without receiver Anquan Boldin and with Fitzgerald and Johnson less than 100 percent, the Cardinals' offense just doesn't have the firepower to stay with the Rams. The Cardinals can turn conservative and settle for field goals, but that isn't going to keep them in the game. If they get close to the end zone, McCown must take some chances.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/0912cards0912.html
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
ST. LOUIS - After months of proclamations and predictions, and plenty of sifting and sorting, the moment has arrived.
Whether you believe Dennis Green to be a savior or a charlatan, your opinion of the Cardinals coach will be either confirmed or questioned after today, when the Cardinals open the regular season against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
Since taking the Cardinals coaching job, Green has proclaimed this a playoff-caliber team, a belief he reiterated this week.
"I'm 55 years old, I don't have to be shy about my feelings," he said. "I think there is sufficient talent on this team to be a playoff team."
But he knows there are fans who are tired of the predictions and want to see performance. The Cardinals, after all, have had one winning season since moving to Arizona in 1988, went 4-12 last year and have a 13-game losing streak on the road.
Most prognosticators picked them to finish about the same this season, and no one is thinking any better of them after a 1-3 preseason.
"I saw a power ranking that had us 32," Green said. "That's just a prediction. I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince people of anything. We get to play."
Green has made over this roster - there are 21 new players - and he's moved around several of the ones who did return. He cut his starting center, Pete Kendall, on the eve of training camp. He demoted the starting left tackle, L.J. Shelton, and promoted 35-year-old Emmitt Smith ahead of much younger backs.
In the locker room, several of the names above the cubicles remain written on masking tape, because there hasn't been time to produce permanent tags. And given Green's nature, all names might be up there temporarily, anyway.
"I think Coach Green is trying to find the right chemistry," said starting free safety Ifeanyi Ohalete, who was claimed off waivers from Washington during training camp. "With him being a new coach, players come and players go. That's the way it is around the league. If players don't respond and do what they're supposed to, there are going to be some tape names up there."
With the Cardinals there is only one way, Green's way, and he's proved he'll show the door to anyone he perceives as not buying into his program.
"If you're not buying into mine, which one are you buying into?" Green said. "You can only have one program. If a guy doesn't want to be on that program, he should come talk to me. I'll try to help him out and get him on somebody else's program."
Green has predicted 10 wins and a playoff berth, and he hasn't backed off it, even though his top three receivers missed most of training camp, his offense had trouble scoring touchdowns and his defense struggled to stop the run.
But if Green says 10 wins and the playoffs, put quarterback Josh McCown down for that, too.
"That's what Coach Green has put out there in front of us, so my expectations haven't changed from that," McCown said.
It will be curious to see if all of Green's moves work. Replacing Kendall is a rookie, Alex Stepanovich, who played guard, not center, last year at Ohio State. He was overpowered at times in the preseason.
Replacing Shelton is Leonard Davis, a potentially devastating guard adjusting to a new position.
Some players still cast a wary eye Green's way. They don't ask questions publicly because Green frowns upon that, but they haven't figured out the motivation for some of Green's moves.
There is only one motivation, Green said. Winning. Why, Green asked, would he make any move that he doesn't think would help that cause?
"We know this: The Cardinals have not played nearly good enough to be a factor in the National Football League for a long time," he said.
"It's up to us now to try and change that."
Scouting Report
Cardinals on Offense
Advantage:
Rams
Run: The idea today is to control the clock, but the Cardinals will need a better running attack than they showed in preseason when they averaged 3.5 yards a carry. Emmitt Smith, at 35, will get the brunt of the work today and likely this season. He hasn't rushed for 1,000 yards in a season since 2001, but then he's been playing for bad teams. The Cardinals have reworked their offensive line but it's hardly a finished product.
Pass: Receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson will play, but they're probably not 100 percent. Quarterback Josh McCown needs them to make some big plays, which were lacking in the preseason. McCown also needs time to throw. That means right tackle Anthony Clement must control Rams defensive end Leonard Little. And McCown has to be smart enough not to let Rams safety Aeneas Williams bait him into bad decisions. Look for the Cardinals to test cornerback Kevin Garrett.
Rams on Offense
Advantage:
Rams
Run: Marshall Faulk is healthy, but first-round pick Steven Jackson will see some action, too. The Cardinals haven't proved they can stop the run. They don't have a run stuffer in the middle, and if they have to commit a safety, the Rams' passing game will annihilate them. Defensive tackle Russell Davis is the key. He has to hold up to double teams and keep the Rams from making much on runs to the back side. Strong side linebacker LeVar Woods will be tested. Pass: Receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce almost always are on the run when they catch the ball. That leads to big plays. Cardinals cornerbacks David Macklin and Duane Starks face a difficult job. It becomes an impossible one if there's no pass rush. Rams coach Mike Martz likes to use multiple receiver packages, but he'll also go to maximum protection to give quarterback Marc Bulger time. When Bulger's been pressured, he's been known to make mistakes. Cardinals tackle Darnell Dockett could be too quick for guard Chris Dishman.
Special Teams
Advantage:
Rams
The Cardinals were inconsistent in the preseason. Kicker Neil Rackers was great, making 11 of 13 field goals, but he's never been that consistent in the regular season. Punter Scott Player is reliable, but the coverage teams were lacking. Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins led the NFL in scoring last year. He's made 243 consecutive extra points and he made 39 of 42 field goals. Former Arizona State receiver Shaun McDonald returns punts. Cardinals hope they get more out of their punt returns this year with the acquisition of Karl Williams, and kick returner Josh Scobey is a serious threat. The Rams coverage teams struggled last year, giving up four touchdown returns.
The Bottom Line
31
10
The Rams are 34-6 at home over the past five years. The Cardinals have lost 13 straight on the road. So as a wise man once said, nothing has to give. Without receiver Anquan Boldin and with Fitzgerald and Johnson less than 100 percent, the Cardinals' offense just doesn't have the firepower to stay with the Rams. The Cardinals can turn conservative and settle for field goals, but that isn't going to keep them in the game. If they get close to the end zone, McCown must take some chances.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/0912cards0912.html
