How It Looked to Me: Game 3

[Harry]

Let's all hope everyone who says to ignore the preseason is correct. Starting at the top, Palmer continues to look shaky. I'd go against history and have him run a couple of series in game 4. I put no stock in the missing players. Enough players were on that field Palmer knew well. He just looks out of rhythm. Poor thinking is worrisome even in preseason. That's why you saw BA concerned. Barkley may have played better than Stanton. Neither inspired confidence.

On the good news side the running back unit is likely the best I've seen in recent years. Sad they can't keep them all and that none of them is impressive as a returner. Can BA's play calling be disciplined enough to establish the run first and then use play action to pull in the defenders?

Receivers also looked deep including the tight ends. Floyd appears to be focused on injury avoidance but that should change when the games count. JJ might have been expected to take a step forward but he hasn't.

The kickers look okay but the return game was a disaster. They finally gave Hubert a shot. Like JJ he's small, but historically more durable. He had success as a returner in college but was judged too valuable to be used there regularly. I still think the Cards should have prioritized this spot in the off-season.

The DL and the LB's played better. Both Gabe & Kareem Martin showed well. NK was a non-factor, but it was his first game. The safeties looked okay but may have been a little late to the party on a few plays. Branch looks like he's still learning the drill.

CB is extremely concerning. Bethel got abused, but it was his first game. Of the rest things looked grim. The Cards may need to sacrifice a pick to fill that hole if they can shake up the cap.

This team still has as much talent as any in the league. They just need to play like they do.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Still hard to get a firm grasp on this team when Fitz, Smoke, PP21 and the Badger were all out... and as you said, Floyd was not at all playing at full speed when he was in there.
That said, by far the biggest concerns have to be Palmer, who looks extremely shaky, unsure and frankly, just plain bad, as well as our secondary, our inside Linebackers when covering, and arguably most of all - our punt and kick return game which flat out sucks and will no doubt cost us in the regular season.
I thought our starting o-line played pretty well. Hump looked solid to me. I think our d-line looked solid as well. And of course, our running back contingent and WR corp are very deep and solid.
Stanton looks like he's on another planet. Clueless. Totally lost and out of sync. Barkley did play better than Drew, but against lower-tier talent and most like much more vanilla play-calling.
Gotta believe BA is going to rip this team hard. Should be interesting to see if there are any lingering effects on Palmer after that BLAST he took to the head. I like Devon Still, but damn that was a total illegal and unnecessary hit.
Real bummer to see Jenkins go down with what looked like a major, career ending ACL/MCL...

 

[Cheesebeef]

My biggest fear after Palmer's meltdown in the NFC Title game was that he got Delhomme'd. In previous years, with the way he's looked in preseason, this Cheese would have turned bad already, but because we have SO much ridiculous talent, I'm throwing away pre-season.

And I'm starting to think even if he does go Delhomme, Arians is smart enough to recognize it and lean HEAVILY on what is easily the best stable of of running backs in the league (and possibly one of the best groups of all time). I know it's not what Bruce wants to do, but if we can go smash mouth and Palmer sucks, I don't think Bruce is too stubborn to do what he needs to do.

 

[GuernseyCard]

All this Palmer angst over a tipped ball and a superb defensive play on a screen - too funny!

I've seen Aaron Rogers suffer the same thing. Guess GB should go 'smash mouth'.

 

[Shaggy]

All this Palmer angst over a tipped ball and a superb defensive play on a screen - too funny!

I've seen Aaron Rogers suffer the same thing. Guess GB should go 'smash mouth'.

Its not just the play. Over this preseason, he has been way out of sync.

 

[Cheesebeef]

All this Palmer angst over a tipped ball and a superb defensive play on a screen - too funny!

I've seen Aaron Rogers suffer the same thing. Guess GB should go 'smash mouth'.

The angst isn't coming from the vaccuum of today's game. We're talking about a QB who has never played well in the playoffs, coming off one of the worst playoff performances in NFL history continuing to look shaky the next three times we've seen him play so far in the pre-season. And "the great play" by the defender shouldn't have even happened because Palmer threw a bad pass, which was Arians was bitching Palmer out after the screen. And since you quoted my smash mouth comment (and it's beyond me, why you would quote that), did you completely ignore that I only said we could go that route if Palmer sucked if the reg season, which I didn't think would happen?

As for your Aaron Rodgers comment, have You you've seen Rodgers have 6 turnovers in the biggest game of the season, consistently suck in the playoffs and then look really shaky in his next pre-season? Because that's where the angst comes from... Not just one play. The last time I looked, Rodgers has consistently been one of the top 3 QBs in the league, played well in the playoffs, WON a Super Bowl and never had a playoff meltdown like Palmer did. So making any comparison between the players seems to end with the fact that both players play the same position.

 

[football karma]

What I'm not concerned about:

1. Palmer. Three ints- one a tipped ball. The other two ints the kind you can go a season or two and not see.

2. The record. It felt like of the three games, most of the time the Cards were one level of depth chart below the opponent ( like today-- the entire second quarter)

What I am concerned about:

1. Special teams. Can't return or cover punts or kicks. At least Cat was good.

2. No 2 corner. Bethel wasnt good. Williams is raw. Jenkins sure looks like an serious knee.

 

[DeAnna]

Arians is smart enough to recognize it and lean HEAVILY on what is easily the best stable of of running backs in the league (and possibly one of the best groups of all time). I know it's not what Bruce wants to do, but if we can go smash mouth and Palmer sucks, I don't think Bruce is too stubborn to do what he needs to do.

I kinda assumed after CP's meltdown vs Carolina that BA would turn more to the running game this season. That's why they kept AQ Shipley and let Sendelin go (who was better at pass protection, but AQ was better in the run game). That's why they re-signed CJK2

Hmmm... maybe that's why CP looks out of sorts.

 

[TJ]

Harry would've hated being a fan of the Colts when Peyton was QB. That team went something like four years without a single preseason victory.

I'll get concerned if this is a problem in Week 1.

 

[Harry]

I leave worrying about winning to Charlie Sheen. My concern is with the quality of play and the team's depth. I've seen plenty of teams where the preseason bore little resemblance to the regular season in either direction. I've also seen plenty of teams that thought they could just flip a switch and play better. That's all to often not true. All you had to do was watch BA's reactions to know he doesn't just blow off preseason performance.

 

[HoodieBets]

I worried that no matter who we put in at #2 corner they get abused....I don't know who would be available but I'd call everyone about trading with a team who is stacked at that position or who has a vet that can't crack the top 2


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[NJCardFan]

Any word on Jenkins? The way he went down looked scary.

 

[Buckybird]

Any word on Jenkins? The way he went down looked scary.

I think him slamming his broken hand into the cart should tell you what happened. He's gone for the year

 

[Buckybird]

To be honest I'm not worried about our offense. I have big concerns about our defense & STs.

 

[TJ]

I leave worrying about winning to Charlie Sheen. My concern is with the quality of play and the team's depth. I've seen plenty of teams where the preseason bore little resemblance to the regular season in either direction. I've also seen plenty of teams that thought they could just flip a switch and play better. That's all to often not true. All you had to do was watch BA's reactions to know he doesn't just blow off preseason performance.

Sure, Arians is frustrated. He's a football coach. but he doesn't come off as concerned and he shouldn't.

It'd be nice to see a few nice plays, but I don't need preseason to tell me whether or not this offense can generate points, or that this defense can play well. Arians and Palmer have proven over the past few seasons that together, this offense can dominate and win ball games, and this defense has loads of talent.

If there were a legit game plan in place, more than a fraction of the playbook being used, and players not held out for paper cuts, I'd be worried, but that's simply not the case.

 

[oaken1]

my biggest concern??
When is the coach going to address his diverticulitis?

that poo aint no joke... BA needs to be proactive and get that handled... it is pretty evident he is in pain.

 

[Shaggy]

What I'm not concerned about:

1. Palmer. Three ints- one a tipped ball. The other two ints the kind you can go a season or two and not see.

2. The record. It felt like of the three games, most of the time the Cards were one level of depth chart below the opponent ( like today-- the entire second quarter)

What I am concerned about:

1. Special teams. Can't return or cover punts or kicks. At least Cat was good.

2. No 2 corner. Bethel wasnt good. Williams is raw. Jenkins sure looks like an serious knee.

The first INT in this last game was also tipped. Just slightly but enough to cause it to sail over DJ's head.

 

[D-Dogg]

Stanton has looked like hot garbage all preseason. Everything is super high.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

The first pick 6 was understandable considering they practiced together and it was obvious they knew the play. The second pick 6 should have been a BIG gain for the cards, but Palmer made a bad throw.

I think Palmer and the Cards deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point because of last year. Let's just beat down Jimmy G and the Pats on Sunday night and forget about this preseason nonsense.

 

[CardNots]

I'll worry when its time to worry, otherwise I'm good with the low injury count. I think all starters are still good for opening day.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

Sure, Arians is frustrated. He's a football coach. but he doesn't come off as concerned and he shouldn't.

It'd be nice to see a few nice plays, but I don't need preseason to tell me whether or not this offense can generate points, or that this defense can play well. Arians and Palmer have proven over the past few seasons that together, this offense can dominate and win ball games, and this defense has loads of talent.

If there were a legit game plan in place, more than a fraction of the playbook being used, and players not held out for paper cuts, I'd be worried, but that's simply not the case.

I agree with this post but I also understand the other side. After 50 years of Cards fandom, it's hard for me not be negative.