How IMportant is the Preseason

[nidan]

It seems if we appear to do well, then everybody screams "Its just preseason if means nothing". This implies the preseaon is meaningless.

It also seems if we appear to do poorly, then "The sky is falling, we are going to suck this year". This implies the preseason has meaning.

I suscribe the later, regardless of how well/bad we do.

Which is it ? Certainly the Replusive thinks its whichever paints the Cardinals in the worst light. Even Kent is jumping on that bandwagon.

 

[Second Deck]

I certainly hope we use the preseason to evaluate talent. That said I would hope Josh would work on staying in the pocket a little longer and try to pick up a Receiver. I thought the O-Line looked better than I expected, I have not seen holes open up so large in a long time.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

You have been to training camps - if some of these players from years past are actually getting some detailed coaching - then that is going to slow them down for a period of time until they correct their mistakes.

You know martial arts, imagine if someone corrected one of your favorite throws after 3 years, the delay for it to become just as effective is substantial, correlating to the amount of adjustment to be made.

At least that's my theory as why we suck in the preseason this year and were 4-0 last.

Superbowl 2005!

 

[jerryp]

Article on the subject.

http://www.twominutewarning.com/preseason2004.htm

Enjoy.

 

[Scott MS]

I think pre-season tells something, but maybe we should wait until week 3 or 4. I went to a game last year and watched the Cardinals shut out the Cowboys at Sun Devil Stadium in pre-season 13-0. We thought the Cards defense was really going to be something.

Cowboys ended up winning their last pre-season game 52-13 over the Raiders and went to the playoffs. Cards defense was worrst in the league.

Give them a couple more games.

 

[who_me?]

I couldn't agree more nidan!

There are 2 things that I try to keep in mind during this preseason.

1. there have been alot of changes this year. New coaches, players, injuries, schemes, etc. So it may take some time for everyone to jelly in game-like situations. and

2. last year we were 4 - 0 and look how we ended up.

I will be very disappointed if, by the time the season starts, we don't see a huge differance from what happened last night and last year.

 

[seesred]

I thought the tempo of the game was good. Josh or was it King had a delay of the game flag. Last year that happened every other play. All these players have to play together as a team and that takes time to know one another. The lines are both totally changed. Corners new, saftey has changed, o=line changed qb changed, running back now has changed, wide recievers only Poole right now. It is going to take time. Talking about recievers where is Mccadley? I saw him late nothing coming his way. He is healthy as far as I know.

Another question where was Dockett? Was he in the game at all, and if not why>?

GBR
40

 

[nidan]

You have been to training camps - if some of these players from years past are actually getting some detailed coaching - then that is going to slow them down for a period of time until they correct their mistakes.

You know martial arts, imagine if someone corrected one of your favorite throws after 3 years, the delay for it to become just as effective is substantial, correlating to the amount of adjustment to be made.

At least that's my theory as why we suck in the preseason this year and were 4-0 last.

Superbowl 2005!

I agree completly. In fact to me its obvious that with a new coaching staff, playbooks and many new players, while need for more practice than the Vikings who are essentialy unchanged.

Once they get it we should improve dramaticly, however the final score in preseason is irrelevant

 

[AZCB34]

I agree completly. In fact to me its obvious that with a new coaching staff, playbooks and many new players, while need for more practice than the Vikings who are essentialy unchanged.

Once they get it we should improve dramaticly, however the final score in preseason is irrelevant

I don't believe the score is irrelevant but it isn't end all, be all either. They are digesting alot but I still want them to win and I believe they still have the drive to win even in preseason.

Having said that though, preseason record isn't a tell on how the season will play out. Forget the Vikings didn't have the change the Cards have...the Vikings are just better right now than the Cards...and that showed.

 

[nidan]

Did it really show that ? I agree it certainly appeared that way but appearances can be deceptive.

For example they had 4 out their 1st string OL in for the whole 1st half. Also its was well reported that the Vikes wanted to win this game, somebody fogot to tell Mike Tice that these ones don't count. How did this stack up for thre rest of the game, do you know, I don't but it sure looked like the Vikes really wanted to win this one.

Did Denny want to win this game ? I'm sure that like us he would rather win it but where was winning on his priorities for this game ?

Lastly, I don't think we can forget the changes, what that menas is that right now most teams who have not had significant changes are ahead of us. That's what preseason is for, practice, nothing more.

 

[AZCB34]

Did it really show that ? I agree it certainly appeared that way but appearances can be deceptive.

For example they had 4 out their 1st string OL in for the whole 1st half. Also its was well reported that the Vikes wanted to win this game, somebody fogot to tell Mike Tice that these ones don't count. How did this stack up for thre rest of the game, do you know, I don't but it sure looked like the Vikes really wanted to win this one.

Did Denny want to win this game ? I'm sure that like us he would rather win it but where was winning on his priorities for this game ?

Lastly, I don't think we can forget the changes, what that menas is that right now most teams who have not had significant changes are ahead of us. That's what preseason is for, practice, nothing more.

The Vikings are flat out better regardless of how long they played starters. The score didn't make them better. Do a matchup:

OL - edge Vikes
QB - edge Vikes
RB - edge probably Vikes but we can call it a draw
WR - edge Vikes mostly due to injury
DL - edge Vikes
LB - even (I really like the Cards LB corp)
DB - edge Vikes

Flat out the Vikings were more talented team and that is expected since it will take time to overhaul this roster.

Denny really wanted to win this one bad but was playing it down as it was preseason. Personally I am glad he didn't get caught up in the nonsensical hype surrounding this August game. Disaster could have resulted.

All I am saying is, the score does matter just not to the extent it does in the regular season. I want them to win every game they play and I believe the players and coaches do as well but there isn't the sense of urgency to win preseason games.

The sky is not falling yet. Growth as a team is the operative word now and we will see how far they have come next week.

 

[CardNots]

How important is the preseason?

Well, as a Cardinal football fan...

My football season begins at game 12 of the regular season as we jockey for draft position. My football season ends at halftime of the first regular season game(most years).

Based on this, the preseason is extremely important as it is the last part of my enjoyable football season.

 

[Harpo]

How important is the preseason?

Well, as a Cardinal football fan...

My football season begins at game 12 of the regular season as we jockey for draft position. My football season ends at halftime of the first regular season game(most years).

Based on this, the preseason is extremely important as it is the last part of my enjoyable football season.

Oh how true

 

[JeffGollin]

From a W & L standpoint, preseason games don't mean anything unless the coaches and management feel that the state of the team makes it crucial "to give the players the positive reinforcement of winning." (Some coaches place a higher priority on this than others. No one philosophy is necessarily the correct one. It depends on the circumstances).

I do think preseason is an important gauge of how well the team is playing together in various aspects of the game. Is our offensive timing crisp? Are missed assignments kept to a minimum? Is our red zone attack clicking? Are we stopping the run? Are we tough against the pass? Are there any leaks on special teams? Is our kicking game sound?

It also is an important gauge of how well individual players are doing - which unsung ones are worth keeping an eye on and which guys are really hurting us.

Finally, something struck me that Bert Berry said about the reason for our anemic pass rush having to do with "not getting our timing down." I'm not sure I agree with this. It seemed to me that there were few if any times on either side of the ball where our guys cleanly whipped their man on the LOS. I think one of our main problems on both sides of the ball was that we weren't winning the one-on-one battles. So that's another thing preseason games can tell you.

That said; I think each preseason game is a "snapshot" of where we are right now. Compared to several teams I watched in preseason play over the weekend, we're currently hovering close to #32. Various players are saying all the right things about how we'll review tape, learn from our mistakes and get better. If they're correct, we'll play much better next week and move nicely up the charts. But until we do, we are what we are.

 

[conraddobler]

How important is the preseason?

Well, as a Cardinal football fan...

My football season begins at game 12 of the regular season as we jockey for draft position. My football season ends at halftime of the first regular season game(most years).

Based on this, the preseason is extremely important as it is the last part of my enjoyable football season.

 

[Pariah]

It depends on what you mean by "do well" in your original post. If you simply mean the score--I think that's irrelevant, so win or lose I would fall into the "it's just preseason and it doesn't mean anything" camp.

But, I think you can look at the game and see how the team played. I missed the first qtr, so I can't comment on the first team, but the 2nd and 3rd team looked at best ill-prepared, IMO.

 

[conraddobler]

The whole idea of how much pre-season means is pretty hard to define.

The game itself means nothing but again as others have stated you can get a feel for how your team stacks up as to preperation, athletic ability and overall team chemistry.

We stank but then again it's all new schemes so you really are down to just ability in this game and trying to judge individuals.

I didn't see the first quarter either like everyone not in town but what I did see wasn't pretty.

 

[justAndy]

....

the missed tackles bothered me - that's a question of EFFORT.
What the hell is the problem w/ Rackers? He missed a 30 yd chip - the 50 yarder i can understand.
The end arounds that didn't fool the Vikes make me wonder if THAT play will work for us.
I didn't take notes, but I'll probably remember more...

 

[john h]

It seems if we appear to do well, then everybody screams "Its just preseason if means nothing". This implies the preseaon is meaningless.

It also seems if we appear to do poorly, then "The sky is falling, we are going to suck this year". This implies the preseason has meaning.

I suscribe the later, regardless of how well/bad we do.

Which is it ? Certainly the Replusive thinks its whichever paints the Cardinals in the worst light. Even Kent is jumping on that bandwagon.

I think it means something when you cannot score a TD or stop the other team from scoring.