How legit are we? Will Niners game answer that question?

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I agree with all of this. If we're between 8-12 in total defense (we're 11th in points and 22nd in yards right now) and 5-11 in total offense (1st in points 10th in yards), this is going to be a pretty good team in this division.

I think we'll know in a couple of weeks whether the AFC North is good — I'm not convinced that Baltimore or Cincy are — and the NFC North smells pretty ripe after Green Bay, but that game might not matter for either team when we get to the end of the year.

Or it could be for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Eerily similar to 2008...including the possibility of meeting Steelers in the Superbowl.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree with all of this. If we're between 8-12 in total defense (we're 11th in points and 22nd in yards right now) and 5-11 in total offense (1st in points 10th in yards), this is going to be a pretty good team in this division.

I think we'll know in a couple of weeks whether the AFC North is good — I'm not convinced that Baltimore or Cincy are — and the NFC North smells pretty ripe after Green Bay, but that game might not matter for either team when we get to the end of the year.

Or it could be for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Yep it's not a dominant run to the SB type team but it's a team that if we don't have too much more adversity(injuries, suspensions etc) is going to be in most of the games we play and has a chance to get a good seed in the playoffs and make a run.

I'm not saying we're a SB team, but we can definitely be one of the teams with a chance if things break right for us.

NE obviously looks great right now but like us they're a much better offensive team than defense. Their offense appears to be good enough to repeat, not sure their defense is.

 

[Russ Smith]

The obvious room for improvement on this team is offense which when you consider our offense so far, is a bit scary.

Floyd was arguably our best WR last year, total non factor so far. Clearly his role should increase and improve.

We have played 2 games without Iupati and Massie, clearly Cooper is a work in progress, so clearly it's conceivable the OL gets better all year.

We have a rookie RB in D Johnson who is still learning the offense but has flashed absolute brilliance at times. AS the season goes on we should figure out how to get him even more involved, or used as a decoy to open up other guys.

And eventually we should get Ellington back which would give us the fastest group of RB's in the NFL.

You never know how things are going to turn out but the opportunity is there for this to be easily the best offense we've had since the Warner years, and one of the better ones in Cardinals history.

But way too early to make that call.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Yep it's not a dominant run to the SB type team but it's a team that if we don't have too much more adversity(injuries, suspensions etc) is going to be in most of the games we play and has a chance to get a good seed in the playoffs and make a run.

I'm not saying we're a SB team, but we can definitely be one of the teams with a chance if things break right for us.

NE obviously looks great right now but like us they're a much better offensive team than defense. Their offense appears to be good enough to repeat, not sure their defense is.

We're definitely not a dominant-looking team. Though, our offense has the chance to rank at the very top by seasons' end.
On defense, the fact that we still can't get to the QB, and our LBers are pretty much a non-entity, will keep us from being a truly dominant team.

I think the questions are - can our defense somehow play just well enough, and could our offense emerge into a top 5 offense? If that happens, we should be fighting for a trip to Santa Clara.
I'm most skeptical about our defense though. No pass rush will seriously haunt this team.

 

[kerouac9]

The obvious room for improvement on this team is offense which when you consider our offense so far, is a bit scary.

Floyd was arguably our best WR last year, total non factor so far. Clearly his role should increase and improve.

We have played 2 games without Iupati and Massie, clearly Cooper is a work in progress, so clearly it's conceivable the OL gets better all year.

We have a rookie RB in D Johnson who is still learning the offense but has flashed absolute brilliance at times. AS the season goes on we should figure out how to get him even more involved, or used as a decoy to open up other guys.

And eventually we should get Ellington back which would give us the fastest group of RB's in the NFL.

You never know how things are going to turn out but the opportunity is there for this to be easily the best offense we've had since the Warner years, and one of the better ones in Cardinals history.

But way too early to make that call.

I dunno. I think that the defense is primed to get better more quickly.

1) Bettcher has called all of six games.
2) Kevin Minter has played all of 18 games as a defender
3) Deone Bucannon is in his second season as a linebacker
4) Alex Okafor has played in maybe 20 games
5) Rodney Gunter has played 2 games and is from freaking Delaware State
6) Sean Weatherspoon is rounding into football shape
7) Markus Golden is going to figure out how to manage and set up blockers because he's a rookie

Some of those are a sliding scale — Gunter and Golden will likely get better before they hit the "rookie wall". But there's a certain ceiling to how well and offense can perform. I think this defense might be underperforming their talent level right now.

 

[GatorAZ]

Exactly. if we lose we were overrated, if we win, SF's not that good the Steelers hammered them.

Until we play someone everyone thinks is good, not going to matter, and my guess is Pitt is the first team everyone thinks is good, on our schedule.

That's the standard great teams are held to. Taking care of buisness against bad teams is expected.

 

[pinetopred]

I don't get all the love for the steelers great offense crap defense ino. I see us here worried about a pass rush, they have less of one and no secondary to make up for it

 

[Russ Smith]

I dunno. I think that the defense is primed to get better more quickly.

1) Bettcher has called all of six games.
2) Kevin Minter has played all of 18 games as a defender
3) Deone Bucannon is in his second season as a linebacker
4) Alex Okafor has played in maybe 20 games
5) Rodney Gunter has played 2 games and is from freaking Delaware State
6) Sean Weatherspoon is rounding into football shape
7) Markus Golden is going to figure out how to manage and set up blockers because he's a rookie

Some of those are a sliding scale — Gunter and Golden will likely get better before they hit the "rookie wall". But there's a certain ceiling to how well and offense can perform. I think this defense might be underperforming their talent level right now.

True. I'm just saying Floyd was arguably our best WR last year, Iupati is a former Pro Bowler, Ellington a big threat, Johnson looks like a big threat.

There's probably more guys on the defense who figure to get better, but the guys on the offense have higher ceilings?

Hopefully both get better, then we have something.

 

[Jim Otis]

This team can be really good !! The evidence of that is right n front of us , because we have had a lot of sloppy plays while winning these first two games by double digit margins. When this team hits its stride (gets in sync) we can be lethal , this team is a contender --- not a pretender for the championship .

 

[Russ Smith]

This team can be really good !! The evidence of that is right n front of us , because we have had a lot of sloppy plays while winning these first two games by double digit margins. When this team hits its stride (gets in sync) we can be lethal , this team is a contender --- not a pretender for the championship .

According to Fox we're 1-1. I was setting my DVR to record the game since I might miss the start, and the info for the game says we are 1-1.

 

[MrYeahBut]

in the eyes of the media, the only way this game will saying anything is that we're NOT legit if we lose. Otherwise, people will continue to say jury's out as far as being a Super Bowl contender beating another bad team.

that said, if we PUMMEL the Niners, I'm gonna start feeling even better about our chances.

I like that word PUMMEL.

.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I like that word PUMMEL.

.

i want to see it!

 

[Shaggy]

I like that word PUMMEL.

.

This is what I think of when pummel is mentioned.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Bert]

I reject the notion, even superficially that losing to the Niners makes us Un-legit so we must quit. Division games are NEVER a gimmie. The Niners, Cardinals, Rams and Hawks are all built to beat eachother. Like, from a design and roster building stand point.

It's completely possible that we lose close games to one or both teams. We could also win both. Who knows! Our division is badass, this aint the NFC South.

Look at the Rams. They beat the seahawks then lost to a very mediocre Redskins team. Beat the NFC Champions, lost to the Skins. Even when we're not good in the NFC West, we play eachother tough!

I dont care if we go undefeated this year, win the superbowl and break every record. When I look at the schedule for next season and make my predicitons, the division games will all still be iffy at best.

 

[BigRedRage]

This is what I think of when pummel is mentioned.

You must be registered for see images attach

Best character in final fantasy 3 had a pummel attack. Word always reminds me of that

Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

 

[Harry]

The Cards should handle the Niners decisively. The Rams game continues to concern me. The Cards will see real pressure from the Rams'' front 7. They also have the potential for a balanced attack, especially if Gurley plays. The Cards are likely to win a tough game at home, but it's no lock no matter how they look against the Niners.

 

[iLLmatiC]

Best character in final fantasy 3 had a pummel attack. Word always reminds me of that

Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

Yep, Sabin was bad af.

 

[WisconsinCard]

I just take it one game at a time. I don't worry about what the media says about the team, all in all it doesn't mean a thing. I mean we were well on our way last year when our season took a turn for the worst. It can happen to any team.

 

[Bert]

I just take it one game at a time. I don't worry about what the media says about the team, all in all it doesn't mean a thing. I mean we were well on our way last year when our season took a turn for the worst. It can happen to any team.

Exactly, and I just cant understand people looking past the Niners. Stupid Gambo and Burns all week have been talking on and on about how the Cardinals are going to "handle" the 9ers and just generally stating that this is going to be a pretty easy game because the 9ers are so bad. I dont believe it. It will be the same tough, dogfight it always is when we play the 9ers.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

I just take it one game at a time. I don't worry about what the media says about the team, all in all it doesn't mean a thing. I mean we were well on our way last year when our season took a turn for the worst. It can happen to any team.

Mike,

That is my attitude as well. Why bother with what the media thinks!!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

even though I want us to go out and dominate, I do think this game will be a little tougher then it shoulder be regardless of how much I think the Niners suck. The matchups on O will still give this D problems, as our LB core will have a lot of problems containing Kap if he gets out of the pocket.

In the end, I expect a W at home and will be stoked with a 3-0 record, but I'll definitely be drunk on Kool-Aid if we come out and dominate.

 

[Chaz]

Exactly, and I just cant understand people looking past the Niners. Stupid Gambo and Burns all week have been talking on and on about how the Cardinals are going to "handle" the 9ers and just generally stating that this is going to be a pretty easy game because the 9ers are so bad. I dont believe it. It will be the same tough, dogfight it always is when we play the 9ers.

Your first mistake is listening to Burns and Gambo.

Both of these next two are going to be knock down drag out war in the trenches type games.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Your first mistake is listening to Burns and Gambo.

Both of these next two are going to be knock down drag out war in the trenches type games.

This... Nobody should be fooled by what Pitt did last week to the 9ers. Apparently, SF tried a number of new & different defensive strategies that obviously backfired. They will not make that same mistake 2 weeks in a row.

Kap will still cause fits for our defense. I can already see guys like Okafor, or Calais getting up into the pocket and Kap simply sprinting out for 10 and 20 yards gains...
This will be, as they always are, another war with a team that is still extremely physical. I wonder, seriously, if our offense and defense are ready to match their physicality...

 

[Iceman]

Need to contain Kap from running. If the Cards minimize his rushing yards, I believe the Cards win by double digits. Think the Cards can limit Hyde. Just hope Boldin doesn't have a "take that" game.

 

[Shaggy]

Just hope Boldin doesn't have a "take that" game.

Again....

Just need to get pressure on Kap just as the SF fans are saying they need to get pressure on Palmer. Cards Oline needs to keep the D off Palmer and give him time. If they don't, Palmer will get sketchy back there and make some wrong choices.

The D needs to contain Kap and the Oline needs to protect Palmer. If they do that, its a win.