azdad1978
Championship!!!!
by: Mike Jurecki
Observation
The time has finally come…the regular season, where it all really counts. After all the preparation, personnel moves, and strategic planning, we’ll get a better gage as to where this Arizona Cardinal team stands. In a league that sells parity, it’s imperative that this team is competitive from start to finish. On paper they have the second toughest schedule in the league. Currently, they are riding a thirteen game losing streak on the road, but they’ve got at least twenty new faces on the roster from a year ago. If this team can somehow be .500 going into the month of December, well, it’s really all we can ask for. In the end, there aren’t any moral victories in the National Football League. It’s all about wins and loses. However, I don’t know if that’s the case with team right now. The good news, it’s a long season and the key is to make improvements from week to week. As one of my favorite coaches Herman Edwards pointed out last year, “that’s why you play the game.”
Let’s get ready to fasten our seatbelts.
Birdseed:
Keys to the Rams game
Offense:
Josh McCown and Alex Stepanovich must pick up on the blitz, Rams will bring guys early and often. Need to be effective on 1st down, get positive yards, and stay out of the 2nd and 3rd and long. Must show a commitment to the running game.
Defense:
Contain the running game of the Rams. Put pressure or a hand in Marc Bulger’sface; try to flush him outside the pocket. (Last year 22-TDS and 22-INTs)Defensive backs need to play physical on the line of scrimmage and disrupt the Rams receivers in their route running, avoid YAC (yards after catch).
Intangibles:
Score early, that’s a quick way of taking the crowd out of the game, it can get very loud once it gets cranking in the dome. Silent count?
Inside the opponent:
Since moving to St. Louis prior to the start of the 1995 season, the Rams are 32-0 (including postseason) when they have a 100 yard rusher in a game.
Current Roster:
Of the 53 man roster, 20 are new players that have been acquired through free agency, drafting and trades. Expect Head Coach Dennis Green to continue to reshuffle the deck and search the waiver wire until he finds the players that fit into his system.
Offense: 26
QB-3-Josh McCown, Shaun King, John Navarre
RB-4-Emmitt Smith, Troy Hambrick, Josh Scobey, Larry Croom
FB-1-Obafemi Ayanbadejo
TE-3-Freddie Jones, Lorenzo Diamond, Eric Edwards
WR-6-Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson, Karl Williams, Nate Poole, Reggie Newhouse
OL-9-Leonard Davis, Reggie Wells, Alex Stepanovich, Cameron Spikes, Anthony Clement, L.J. Shelton, Nick Leckey, Alan Reuber, Jeremy Bridges
Defense: 24
DL-8-Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, Russell Davis, Peppi Zellner, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Calvin Pace, Ross Kolodziej, Eddie Freeman
LB-7-Ray Thompson, Ronald McKinnon, Karlos Dansby, LeVar Woods, James Darling, Gerald Hayes, Levar Fisher
DB-9-Duane Starks, David Macklin, Renaldo Hill, Robert Tate, Adrian Wilson, Quentin Harris, Ifeanyi Ohalete, Michael Stone
Special Teams: 3
LS-1-Nathan Hodel
P-1-Scott Player
K-1-Neil Rackers
Starters
There could be as many as twelve new starters on both sides of the ball from week seventeen just a year ago. Depending on injury, we could see seven on defense including Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, Peppi Zellnar, LeVar Woods or Karlos Dansby, James Darling (if Thompson doesn’t play), Quentin Harris and David Macklin. On the offensive side of the ball there could be as many as five. They are Alex Stepanovich, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Reggie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald and Karl Williams. There could be more as the season rolls along.
What happens first…?
Cardinals win a road game, or Emmitt gains 100 yards rushing in a game? The last time Smith has rushed for over 100 yards, you have to go back to November 28 of 2002 (23 carries for 144 yards). As for the Redbirds, the last time they won away from Sun Devil Stadium was October 6, of 2002 (the battle against the Carolina Panthers, 16-13).
Did you know?
The Redbirds will go into the season with two rookie centers on the roster. Let’s go a step further. With veteran offensive lineman L.J. Shelton suffering from lower back spasms, the depth on the offensive line is really raw. Take a look at Nick Leckey, Alan Reuber and Jeremy Bridges, they have yet to play a single down in the National Football League. These players are the depth going into the season…risky.
Insider’s Predictions
DIVISION WINNERS
AFC- NEW ENGLAND- BALTIMORE- TENNESSEE-KANSAS CITY
NFC- PHILADELPHIA- MINNESOTA- CAROLINA- SEATTLE
WILDCARDS
AFC- NY JETS- INDY
NFC- GREEN BAY- N.O. SAINTS
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
AFC- KANSAS CITY OVER INDY
NFC- MINNESOTA OVER SEATTLE
SUPER BOWL XXXIX
MINNESOTA - KANSAS CITY
Check back at the end of January for the winner… Just in time for the Superbowl!
M.F.T.F.T.W.(My Fantasy Tip for the weekend)
Until they prove they can stop him, start St. Louis’s wide receiver Torry Holt against the Cardinals defense or San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson versus the Houston Texans defense. Last year Holt had 117 catches for 1,696 yards and twelve touchdowns. As for Tomlinson, it was a joke he didn’t make the Pro Bowl last year after gaining 1,645 yards on 313 carries including 13 rushing touchdowns. Oh by the way, Tomlinson also caught 100 passes for 725 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Are you ready for some football...? Finally!!!!!!!!
http://www.azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=268
Observation
The time has finally come…the regular season, where it all really counts. After all the preparation, personnel moves, and strategic planning, we’ll get a better gage as to where this Arizona Cardinal team stands. In a league that sells parity, it’s imperative that this team is competitive from start to finish. On paper they have the second toughest schedule in the league. Currently, they are riding a thirteen game losing streak on the road, but they’ve got at least twenty new faces on the roster from a year ago. If this team can somehow be .500 going into the month of December, well, it’s really all we can ask for. In the end, there aren’t any moral victories in the National Football League. It’s all about wins and loses. However, I don’t know if that’s the case with team right now. The good news, it’s a long season and the key is to make improvements from week to week. As one of my favorite coaches Herman Edwards pointed out last year, “that’s why you play the game.”
Let’s get ready to fasten our seatbelts.
Birdseed:
Keys to the Rams game
Offense:
Josh McCown and Alex Stepanovich must pick up on the blitz, Rams will bring guys early and often. Need to be effective on 1st down, get positive yards, and stay out of the 2nd and 3rd and long. Must show a commitment to the running game.
Defense:
Contain the running game of the Rams. Put pressure or a hand in Marc Bulger’sface; try to flush him outside the pocket. (Last year 22-TDS and 22-INTs)Defensive backs need to play physical on the line of scrimmage and disrupt the Rams receivers in their route running, avoid YAC (yards after catch).
Intangibles:
Score early, that’s a quick way of taking the crowd out of the game, it can get very loud once it gets cranking in the dome. Silent count?
Inside the opponent:
Since moving to St. Louis prior to the start of the 1995 season, the Rams are 32-0 (including postseason) when they have a 100 yard rusher in a game.
Current Roster:
Of the 53 man roster, 20 are new players that have been acquired through free agency, drafting and trades. Expect Head Coach Dennis Green to continue to reshuffle the deck and search the waiver wire until he finds the players that fit into his system.
Offense: 26
QB-3-Josh McCown, Shaun King, John Navarre
RB-4-Emmitt Smith, Troy Hambrick, Josh Scobey, Larry Croom
FB-1-Obafemi Ayanbadejo
TE-3-Freddie Jones, Lorenzo Diamond, Eric Edwards
WR-6-Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson, Karl Williams, Nate Poole, Reggie Newhouse
OL-9-Leonard Davis, Reggie Wells, Alex Stepanovich, Cameron Spikes, Anthony Clement, L.J. Shelton, Nick Leckey, Alan Reuber, Jeremy Bridges
Defense: 24
DL-8-Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, Russell Davis, Peppi Zellner, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Calvin Pace, Ross Kolodziej, Eddie Freeman
LB-7-Ray Thompson, Ronald McKinnon, Karlos Dansby, LeVar Woods, James Darling, Gerald Hayes, Levar Fisher
DB-9-Duane Starks, David Macklin, Renaldo Hill, Robert Tate, Adrian Wilson, Quentin Harris, Ifeanyi Ohalete, Michael Stone
Special Teams: 3
LS-1-Nathan Hodel
P-1-Scott Player
K-1-Neil Rackers
Starters
There could be as many as twelve new starters on both sides of the ball from week seventeen just a year ago. Depending on injury, we could see seven on defense including Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, Peppi Zellnar, LeVar Woods or Karlos Dansby, James Darling (if Thompson doesn’t play), Quentin Harris and David Macklin. On the offensive side of the ball there could be as many as five. They are Alex Stepanovich, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Reggie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald and Karl Williams. There could be more as the season rolls along.
What happens first…?
Cardinals win a road game, or Emmitt gains 100 yards rushing in a game? The last time Smith has rushed for over 100 yards, you have to go back to November 28 of 2002 (23 carries for 144 yards). As for the Redbirds, the last time they won away from Sun Devil Stadium was October 6, of 2002 (the battle against the Carolina Panthers, 16-13).
Did you know?
The Redbirds will go into the season with two rookie centers on the roster. Let’s go a step further. With veteran offensive lineman L.J. Shelton suffering from lower back spasms, the depth on the offensive line is really raw. Take a look at Nick Leckey, Alan Reuber and Jeremy Bridges, they have yet to play a single down in the National Football League. These players are the depth going into the season…risky.
Insider’s Predictions
DIVISION WINNERS
AFC- NEW ENGLAND- BALTIMORE- TENNESSEE-KANSAS CITY
NFC- PHILADELPHIA- MINNESOTA- CAROLINA- SEATTLE
WILDCARDS
AFC- NY JETS- INDY
NFC- GREEN BAY- N.O. SAINTS
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
AFC- KANSAS CITY OVER INDY
NFC- MINNESOTA OVER SEATTLE
SUPER BOWL XXXIX
MINNESOTA - KANSAS CITY
Check back at the end of January for the winner… Just in time for the Superbowl!
M.F.T.F.T.W.(My Fantasy Tip for the weekend)
Until they prove they can stop him, start St. Louis’s wide receiver Torry Holt against the Cardinals defense or San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson versus the Houston Texans defense. Last year Holt had 117 catches for 1,696 yards and twelve touchdowns. As for Tomlinson, it was a joke he didn’t make the Pro Bowl last year after gaining 1,645 yards on 313 carries including 13 rushing touchdowns. Oh by the way, Tomlinson also caught 100 passes for 725 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Are you ready for some football...? Finally!!!!!!!!
http://www.azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=268
