Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
NT:
Williams didn't make any splashes.
Lumpkin played hard and got some good pushes. He's more athletic than I thought. He has a chance.
DE:
Campbell showed up.
Dockett---DNP.
Holliday (starting in place of Dockett)---so-so
Carter---looks like a budding star at this position, and he's actually a better fit for Horton's defense at DE than Dockett.
Talley---the guy makes plays---nice tip on a screen pass.
Cohen---very active, good chaser.
ILB:
Washington---solid. Stepped up through the iso hole and tripped up Ingram for a zero yard gain, on one of the few good stops of the night.
Lenon---he likely would have come back and played if this were a regular season game, even though he got dinged up pretty good.
Bradley---defensive star of the night---and the reason why his development was slow last year is becoming more clear. Not only did he have to learn a new position, the new position required him to make the huddle and on the field calls. Without a regular off-season, that is a very tall order. Looks like this year, now that he knows his job and the calls, he can play rather than think.
Walker---tough night. late reacting to everything that came his way. Badly beaten in coverage on a few occasions.
Parker---made one nice tackle. Would have liked ot have seen more of him.
OLB:
Schofield was active.
Acho was quiet.
Haggans worked hard---still doesn't bring enough heat off the edge.
Groves---brought the heat and his jarring tackle picked up the whole defense as others followed with good hits.
Williams---didn't make a splash.
CB
Peterson---great interview.
Gay---disappointing start. One good tackle, a few whiffs. Loose coverage.
Jefferson and Toler---too much cushion. Jefferson had nice closing speed on the out pass, but got turned around.
Adams---poor coverage---surprisingly soft effort from him, except he made one of the top ST plays of the night, per usual. His ST value is so high, he is going to stick. And look for him to be more aggressive as the nickel CB as the pre-season progresses.
Butler & Green---DNP.
Fleming---he will be starting at RCB sooner rather than later---yup "Sooner"!
Parker---best cover play of the night. I have been raving about this kid, since the day we signed him. He has a legitimate shot of making the roster. With all the depth at CB you might think that's crazy---but---this kid is a gamer and he's a sticky cover who has a nose for the ball (interception in Red & White game).
Nixon---god fumble recovery. This kid has talent.
S
Wilson---DNP
Rhodes---was mediocre again. Unless he starts getting with the program, he will be traded or released.
Johnson---mediocre in this game.
Sanders---made some good tackles.
Bethel---this kid brings it at SS and on STs (FG block---gunner highlight reel tackle).
Gideon---played an excellent game. Had the score saving interception in the end zone and some good hits. He's more physical than advertised.
Elder---hit of the night for the Cardinals. Exactly what the Cardinals have not been getting from the other FSs. Horton LOVES and THRIVES on these type of statement hits. Just ask Troy Polamalu.
The youth in this secondary is very very impressive. I believe the Cardinals will try to trade Rhodes---Wilson will be give a specialty/hybrid role and Bethel could be on the field just as much if not more.
STILL can't defend a screen pass. Awful in that regard---and the tackling was pitiful. This is why we can't count on this defense being dominant---not when they show bad habits like this. Plus---they still haven't played big games during the first half of a season when those games can set the tempo for the whole season.
Roster Update (25)
NT (2): WILLIAMS, Carter
DE (5): DOCKETT, CAMPBELL, Eason, Holliday, Talley
ILB (4): WASHINGTON, LENON, BRADLEY, C. Parker
OLB (4): SCHOFIELD, ACHO, Haggans, Groves
CB (6): PETERSON, FLEMING, Gay, Adams, L. Parker, Jefferson
S (4): BETHEL, JOHNSON, WILSON, Elder
PS (5): NT-Lumpkin, ILB-Vassallo, OLB-Nash, CB-Nixon, S-Gideon
ST (3): Feely, Leach, Zastudil
Trade Possibilities:
S Rhodes
CB Toler
GO CARDINALS!
Williams didn't make any splashes.
Lumpkin played hard and got some good pushes. He's more athletic than I thought. He has a chance.
DE:
Campbell showed up.
Dockett---DNP.
Holliday (starting in place of Dockett)---so-so
Carter---looks like a budding star at this position, and he's actually a better fit for Horton's defense at DE than Dockett.
Talley---the guy makes plays---nice tip on a screen pass.
Cohen---very active, good chaser.
ILB:
Washington---solid. Stepped up through the iso hole and tripped up Ingram for a zero yard gain, on one of the few good stops of the night.
Lenon---he likely would have come back and played if this were a regular season game, even though he got dinged up pretty good.
Bradley---defensive star of the night---and the reason why his development was slow last year is becoming more clear. Not only did he have to learn a new position, the new position required him to make the huddle and on the field calls. Without a regular off-season, that is a very tall order. Looks like this year, now that he knows his job and the calls, he can play rather than think.
Walker---tough night. late reacting to everything that came his way. Badly beaten in coverage on a few occasions.
Parker---made one nice tackle. Would have liked ot have seen more of him.
OLB:
Schofield was active.
Acho was quiet.
Haggans worked hard---still doesn't bring enough heat off the edge.
Groves---brought the heat and his jarring tackle picked up the whole defense as others followed with good hits.
Williams---didn't make a splash.
CB
Peterson---great interview.
Gay---disappointing start. One good tackle, a few whiffs. Loose coverage.
Jefferson and Toler---too much cushion. Jefferson had nice closing speed on the out pass, but got turned around.
Adams---poor coverage---surprisingly soft effort from him, except he made one of the top ST plays of the night, per usual. His ST value is so high, he is going to stick. And look for him to be more aggressive as the nickel CB as the pre-season progresses.
Butler & Green---DNP.
Fleming---he will be starting at RCB sooner rather than later---yup "Sooner"!
Parker---best cover play of the night. I have been raving about this kid, since the day we signed him. He has a legitimate shot of making the roster. With all the depth at CB you might think that's crazy---but---this kid is a gamer and he's a sticky cover who has a nose for the ball (interception in Red & White game).
Nixon---god fumble recovery. This kid has talent.
S
Wilson---DNP
Rhodes---was mediocre again. Unless he starts getting with the program, he will be traded or released.
Johnson---mediocre in this game.
Sanders---made some good tackles.
Bethel---this kid brings it at SS and on STs (FG block---gunner highlight reel tackle).
Gideon---played an excellent game. Had the score saving interception in the end zone and some good hits. He's more physical than advertised.
Elder---hit of the night for the Cardinals. Exactly what the Cardinals have not been getting from the other FSs. Horton LOVES and THRIVES on these type of statement hits. Just ask Troy Polamalu.
The youth in this secondary is very very impressive. I believe the Cardinals will try to trade Rhodes---Wilson will be give a specialty/hybrid role and Bethel could be on the field just as much if not more.
STILL can't defend a screen pass. Awful in that regard---and the tackling was pitiful. This is why we can't count on this defense being dominant---not when they show bad habits like this. Plus---they still haven't played big games during the first half of a season when those games can set the tempo for the whole season.
Roster Update (25)
NT (2): WILLIAMS, Carter
DE (5): DOCKETT, CAMPBELL, Eason, Holliday, Talley
ILB (4): WASHINGTON, LENON, BRADLEY, C. Parker
OLB (4): SCHOFIELD, ACHO, Haggans, Groves
CB (6): PETERSON, FLEMING, Gay, Adams, L. Parker, Jefferson
S (4): BETHEL, JOHNSON, WILSON, Elder
PS (5): NT-Lumpkin, ILB-Vassallo, OLB-Nash, CB-Nixon, S-Gideon
ST (3): Feely, Leach, Zastudil
Trade Possibilities:
S Rhodes
CB Toler
GO CARDINALS!
Last edited:
