How important is 10 wins ?

[RugbyMuffin]

With two games left we are 9-5.

I am not one for resting players but Hayes, Okeafor, Dansby, Fitzgerald, Warner, and DRC, just to name a few, are banged up.

The division is clinch, our playoff ticket is stamped......

I say take it easy for the Rams game. There is a good possibility that our team will do this whether the coaches want them to or not.

So, why not rest some guys, and then play them again against GB.

Is 10 wins that important ? It has been since 1976 that the Cardinals have had 10 wins.

Personally, I only care about goals. First goal: Win Division Second Goal: Get to Playoffs Third Goal: Win Superbowl.

 

[Buckybird]

No doubt Hayes, Dansby, DRC & others need rest. Warner should start to try to keep the rust off & some sort of rythm to the offense.

 

[Cardinal Bob]

I take the opposite tack. Play all healthy bodies against StL, get that 10th win, and then rest people vs GB...especially if it looks like we'll match up with GB in RD 1 of the payoffs. Rest the banged up guys and use a very vanilla game plan so as not to show them anything, in a game that probably won't matter to us, but may to them.

 

[Evil Ash]

I take the opposite tack. Play all healthy bodies against StL, get that 10th win, and then rest people vs GB...especially if it looks like we'll match up with GB in RD 1 of the payoffs. Rest the banged up guys and use a very vanilla game plan so as not to show them anything, in a game that probably won't matter to us, but may to them.

The game next week still has meaning in terms of potential playoff seating so you keep playing. If the game against Green Bay means nothing then you treat it like a preseason game.

 

[az jam]

I take the opposite tack. Play all healthy bodies against StL, get that 10th win, and then rest people vs GB...especially if it looks like we'll match up with GB in RD 1 of the payoffs. Rest the banged up guys and use a very vanilla game plan so as not to show them anything, in a game that probably won't matter to us, but may to them.

I agree, The players want to win 10 games. Do it against the Rams next week then rest the players against the Packers in the last game.

 

[SuperSpck]

8-8
9-7
10-6

Pretty important. It would show the team is growing and "buying in".

 

[Early]

The next game is very very important, may be one of the most important games. If we win, we have 10 wins, which give some kind of mental momentum for the whole team heading in the playoffs. Secondly, and much more important, you get the win and put pressure on Minnesota and Philly. Both teams can easy lose, Minny is in a big slump and i can see them losing that game, and Philly plays against Denver that must win that game.

Now if both Philly and Minny lose, we dont rest our starters and play our best game against GB. It can mean a game less in playoffs. Philly has Dallas and Minnesota has Giants. If they come from loses previous weeks and under that pressures playing that tough games... Yes, anything can happen

So you play to win the next game, if the odds are still there to be #2 you dont rest anyone. If there are no odds in last game, you rest the guys that needs the rest

 

[Totally_Red]

This team is waaaaaaay to up and down to afford to rest starters and lose games. We are not Indianapolis. Hopefully the offense can get its act together and whip up on the Rams, and the backups can play the second half. A 35-0 lead at halftime would be nice.

 

[slanidrac16]

I think 10 wins is a sort of benchmark for "good " teams. We need to clean some things up and I don't think sitting players is a good thing unless they are really hurting. That being said i doubt I would play any starter a full 60 minutes.

 

[TJ]

The division is clinched, but we are still playing for seeding. If we win out, which is a distinct possibility, we could possibly earn the #3 seed and if the stars align, the #2 seed.

Furthermore, this team has never had a double digit regular season win total in Arizona. It would mean a lot to all of us fans and would be further validation that this team is legit.

And it makes no sense to rest these guys for weeks and have them develop rust. Only pull them if the game gets out of hand.

 

[PACardsFan]

8-8
9-7
10-6

Pretty important. It would show the team is growing and "buying in".

You've nailed it. That is exactly what Whiz is looking at. In order to completely change the culture, this franchise needs consistent growth. Regardless of whether we are better than last year, it will be very hard to reproduce what we did last year. But with 10 wins, we can always say we improved over last years regular season.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Not that important to be honest with you. If you are healthy you play. But I also hate the idea of icing starters on the last game of the year. Let them play only a half, or even a quarter to keep rhythm.

 

[Pariah]

Here's my take:

~Play starters and full playbook vs Rams.
~If it looks like we could have GB in the first round (a very real possibility), then we rest and play vanilla, if we can win like that, great. If we can't so be it. We'll see them the following week when it means something.

 

[earthsci]

Let them play only a half, or even a quarter to keep rhythm.

Why do they need to play to keep rhythm? If we got a first round bye they probably would have minimal, if any, practice during the bye week.

Go out and beat the Rams. If we can't improve our seeding after that, rest everyone for Green Bay. Give them the "Bye Week".

:edit: I know that we are essentially agreeing DCR but I think that giving players a week off would be beneficial.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Why do they need to play to keep rhythm? If we got a first round bye they probably would have minimal, if any, practice during the bye week.

Go out and beat the Rams. If we can't improve our seeding after that, rest everyone for Green Bay. Give them the "Bye Week".

Because KW is the ultimate rhythm QB. Our offense has already had plenty of problems from in Kurt's own words not being in rhythm.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I don't think they're in a position to rest anybody at this point. They need to get their act together.

Maybe things will be settled going into the last game and they can rest their starters in the first half...but then bring them in to play the second half. That way, they can wail on the opponents' backups, gain some momentum, and screw with the Packers' heads.

 

[ajcardfan]

If either Minnesota or Philadelphia lose this week, and we beat the Rams, we'll have a shot at the #3 seed when we play Green Bay. I think we won't "rest" for either game. No way in hell we bench guys this week, for sure.


Also, what is it with all of this "vanilla" crap for week 17? Don't you guys think Whis is smart enough to handle a game plan for an opponent we play two weeks in a row? I do.

 

[Duckjake]

Because KW is the ultimate rhythm QB. Our offense has already had plenty of problems from in Kurt's own words not being in rhythm.

However:

2009 after the bye week Warner 26-38-302 yards and 2 TD
2008 after the bye week Warner 36-51-381 yards and 2 TD

Of course being the Contrary Cardinals they'd probably do the exact opposite with a week off in December.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Run these last 2 like preseason. Starters get the first half, reserves get the second. I'd love double digit wins, but we gotta keep our guys safe for the postseason. Meanwhile, we have to balance keeping them in somewhat of a groove going into the postseason, so sitting the starters outright is a non-starter. Split time and don't go crazy for wins....

 

[earthsci]

Because KW is the ultimate rhythm QB. Our offense has already had plenty of problems from in Kurt's own words not being in rhythm.

2009 after the bye week Warner 26-38-302 yards and 2 TD
2008 after the bye week Warner 36-51-381 yards and 2 TD

We aren't talking about 2 or 3 weeks. Just one.

How about the week after missing the Tennessee game?
MIN W 30-17 22-32-285 yards 68.8 pct 3 TD 0 INT 127.7 QB Rating

 

[LVG]

I really want to get to 10 wins. Really want it. Go get it, Whiz!

 

[TruColor]

The last time the Cardinals won 10 games, I was 13 years old. I want another 10-win season!

 

[crisper57]

8-8
9-7
10-6

Pretty important. It would show the team is growing and "buying in".

Took the words right out of my mouth...

Next year: 11-5!!!

 

[cardpa]

This week against the Rams

Lienart starts
Wells Starts
Keith and Herman see a lot of time
Beisel and Highsmith play a lot
Gandy is inactive
Adams plays a lot in place of DRC
Doucet amd More see lots of time
I would even make Warner inactive for this game.

Week 17 they go back to the regular lineup.

I just believe we need to give these guys some time off in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.

 

[MrYeahBut]

A 35-0 lead at halftime would be nice.

Do you think it would be safe to put Leinart in at that point???