Keep the Cellar Door Open

[Vermont Maverick]

There's a lot of people on this board who don't pay any attention to the rest of the league. Everyone gets injuries. Many teams have significant issues on the offensive line.

Take a look at NFL.com: Texans fear Cushing tore ACL. Injury woes continue for Jets with Ellis, Mangold (not to meniton Revis and Holmes). Titans hoping for Locker return by Week 7.

We went 4 and 0 with a "two-headed monster" averaging 2.7 yards per carry, and we lose "all that production" and people panic? I'm willing to bet the tandem of WiPo and Alphonzo can match that astounding output. And WiPo was playing in the hurry up Week 4 because Williams can't handle it.

We lose one game. One game. Yeah, it was not well played and we have some issues. Big deal.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It's a mindset that this coaching staff doesn't seem capable of maintaining, and probably doesn't have the personnel to support.

Without Beanie, how do we stay ahead of down and distance? You're one play away from being in 2nd and 10 (or worse).

I know that the Cards radio network is talking up the 17 play drive that we opened up the Rams game with. The problem with that 17 play drive isn't that it only resulted in 3 points--well, that's not the MAIN problem. The real problem with that drive is that it was 17 plays long. This offense really has no vertical element, and we had to convert on a handful of 3rd-and-6+ downs to get that drive put together.

I'm interested in having one of WiPo's fans explain why they think he might be good. Through two preseasons, I haven't seen anything that he's done well as a runner. Not against actual NFL players.

I wouldn't say they have no vertical element, I can't count on one hand the amount of long pass plays were just a little off from being completed. The timing was just a little off and when they get that together they will make some big plays.

 

[Mulli]

In the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, it's not about the Xs and Os, it's about the Jimmies and Joes. Any given Sunday you got to go out there and execute and win one-on-one battles. Every game is really just a handful of plays that can go one way or another, and you have to have enough playmakers to go out and make those plays for you. If you can make more plays than the other team, and limit the amount of plays that the other team can make, then you give yourself a great chance to win in today's NFL.

Good job by you!

 

[kerouac9]

I wouldn't say they have no vertical element, I can't count on one hand the amount of long pass plays were just a little off from being completed. The timing was just a little off and when they get that together they will make some big plays.

It wasn't the timing; it was the ball placement. That doesn't suddenly get better because your quarterback is sacked 17 times in two weeks.

 

[desertdawg]

It wasn't the timing; it was the ball placement. That doesn't suddenly get better because your quarterback is sacked 17 times in two weeks.

17 sacks in 5 days, and knocked down more than I care to count. I am surprised at Kolb's durability this year.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

17 sacks in 5 days, and knocked down more than I care to count. I am surprised at Kolb's durability this year.

Some of it may have been ball placement, but some of it was certainly timing. Most of it was definitely affected by being hit so much, but part of it seemed to be lack of prep time prior to the game considering he came out of the gates just a little off.

 

[kerouac9]

Some of it may have been ball placement, but some of it was certainly timing. Most of it was definitely affected by being hit so much, but part of it seemed to be lack of prep time prior to the game considering he came out of the gates just a little off.

Yup. A 17 play drive right out of the gate. Pretty off.

 

[THESMEL]

It will depend on beating the Niners. We can do it

 

[Chopper0080]

It's a mindset that this coaching staff doesn't seem capable of maintaining, and probably doesn't have the personnel to support.

Without Beanie, how do we stay ahead of down and distance? You're one play away from being in 2nd and 10 (or worse).

I know that the Cards radio network is talking up the 17 play drive that we opened up the Rams game with. The problem with that 17 play drive isn't that it only resulted in 3 points--well, that's not the MAIN problem. The real problem with that drive is that it was 17 plays long. This offense really has no vertical element, and we had to convert on a handful of 3rd-and-6+ downs to get that drive put together.

I'm interested in having one of WiPo's fans explain why they think he might be good. Through two preseasons, I haven't seen anything that he's done well as a runner. Not against actual NFL players.

This, I totally agree with. It is one reason I have always been confused in the Cardinals unwillingness to get a vertical passing threat. We are so redundant is how our teams are assembled it is rediculous. Fitz, Floyd and Byrd are all pratically the same player as are Roberts and Doucet. Where we have stepped outside the mold in players like LSH and Housler, we can't figure out ways to make use of their unique talents. This was my biggest concern in drafting Michael Floyd. What does he do that Fitzgerald doesn't already do? My answer then and now is, nothing. Say what you want, but trade back and draft AJ Jenkins or Stephen Hill who at least brings more of a vertical threat.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

There's a lot of people on this board who don't pay any attention to the rest of the league. Everyone gets injuries. Many teams have significant issues on the offensive line.

Take a look at NFL.com: Texans fear Cushing tore ACL. Injury woes continue for Jets with Ellis, Mangold (not to meniton Revis and Holmes). Titans hoping for Locker return by Week 7.

We went 4 and 0 with a "two-headed monster" averaging 2.7 yards per carry, and we lose "all that production" and people panic? I'm willing to bet the tandem of WiPo and Alphonzo can match that astounding output. And WiPo was playing in the hurry up Week 4 because Williams can't handle it.

We lose one game. One game. Yeah, it was not well played and we have some issues. Big deal.

+1
good post

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Yup. A 17 play drive right out of the gate. Pretty off.

I don't think he completed a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage on that drive. I believe he attempted one and it was the long incompletion to Housler. When I say he was off I am mostly talking about his passes down the field, all of which seemed to be just a little off. A foot or two one way or another and most of those are completions.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't think he completed a pass more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage on that drive. I believe he attempted one and it was the long incompletion to Housler. When I say he was off I am mostly talking about his passes down the field, all of which seemed to be just a little off. A foot or two one way or another and most of those are completions.

I'm not sure how you can think that "timing" is less important on short routes than it is on deep ones.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I'm not sure how you can think that "timing" is less important on short routes than it is on deep ones.

It's not as obvious. A throw that is a foot off at 5 yards could 4-5 feet off at 20 yards. I also didn't say it was all timing and it probably would be better to say that he was just a little off with his accuracy on deeper throws. My original point still holds true that there were a lot of plays to be made but the passing game was just a little off pretty much from the get go.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

+1
good post

Thank you.

 

[SeattleCard]

The last time the sky was falling for this team was just before week one after our crappy pre-season. Then we won 4 in a row. I think Whiz and Horton will figure something out and we'll continue to do well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The last time the sky was falling for this team was just before week one after our crappy pre-season. Then we won 4 in a row. I think Whiz and Horton will figure something out and we'll continue to do well.

I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. I was wrong then, I hope my streak continues. I'm really trying to not make a big deal out of our Rams loss. I think we all realize that between injuries and the Thursday factor, a Rams victory is really no big deal. Unfortunately, it starts to get a little scary if you add in our game against Miami. It's hard to call two games a trend but right now, we really appear to be trending downward.

Steve

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. I was wrong then, I hope my streak continues. I'm really trying to not make a big deal out of our Rams loss. I think we all realize that between injuries and the Thursday factor, a Rams victory is really no big deal. Unfortunately, it starts to get a little scary if you add in our game against Miami. It's hard to call two games a trend but right now, we really appear to be trending downward.

Steve

But... Miami followed up with a good win in Cinci...

 

[Duckjake]

+1
good post

But it wasn't just one game. The Cards gave up 8 sacks and ran for 28 yards on 15 carries against Miami and needed a miracle TD at the end to win the game. At home. Then they give up 9 sacks and run for 45 yards on 17 carries vs the Rams.

It's like the Texas fans who are defending their defense after giving up 200+ yards rushing to WV's back up RB saying its only one game ignoring the fact that they gave up 200+ yards to John Randle of Ok State the week before.

I'm very concerned it is a trend. Sure 17-45 is an improvement over 15-28 but now we don't even have the threat of Ryan Williams.

 

[AzStevenCal]

But... Miami followed up with a good win in Cinci...

I never thought Miami was a bad team. It wasn't that we struggled against them, it was the way we struggled. I really think we've been exposed to the rest of the league and I have no confidence that Grimm will be able to keep the other guys out of our backfield. We've lost our best blocking backs and our best blocking TE is out more often than not. I really don't know how we fix this in the short run.

Steve

 

[conraddobler]

There were plays to be made on offense, yeah we only scored 3 points but we should of scored a lot more, nothing, and I mean NOTHING went well.

The passes that were there didn't hit we had our chances we didn't convert any, we had several trips to the red zone, got no points but the score is misleading, there was a missed field goal in there, there were a couple of times we'd of gotten another one but we were down enough late enough we had to go for a TD.

The offense moved the ball enough but nothing happened when it needed to happen in terms of TD's or they got called back.

Stuff happens people, if we had never moved the ball if we showed no signs of life, never sniffed the Red Zone, yeah maybe panic but this was a short week on the road people it's just not that bad yet.

 

[kerouac9]

There were plays to be made on offense, yeah we only scored 3 points but we should of scored a lot more, nothing, and I mean NOTHING went well.

The passes that were there didn't hit we had our chances we didn't convert any, we had several trips to the red zone, got no points but the score is misleading, there was a missed field goal in there, there were a couple of times we'd of gotten another one but we were down enough late enough we had to go for a TD.

The offense moved the ball enough but nothing happened when it needed to happen in terms of TD's or they got called back.

Stuff happens people, if we had never moved the ball if we showed no signs of life, never sniffed the Red Zone, yeah maybe panic but this was a short week on the road people it's just not that bad yet.

237 passing yards at 5.8 YPA and 45 rushing yards for the game. Funny definition of "moved the ball enough." St. Louis had total of 242 yards gained from scrimmage. 1 turnover to end the game.

 

[conraddobler]

237 passing yards at 5.8 YPA and 45 rushing yards for the game. Funny definition of "moved the ball enough." St. Louis had total of 242 yards gained from scrimmage. 1 turnover to end the game.

There's some neat stat places one of my favorite goofy stats is yards per point.

This stat so far on the Cardinals runs at 14.8 yards per point.

If we just hit that mark then 242+45 equal 287 / 14.8 = 19.66 points or enough if we just hit our average points per yard to win the game = moved the ball enough to win.

More evidence is 4 trips into the red zone, which means we got there 4 times, one missed field goal, one time down to almost the goal line.

We left 10 points on the board there and had we had them in our pocket then the game changes a lot from that point on but let's get real here, by and large the defense gave up two huge passing plays that broke our back, one of wich was a total fluke, every game hinges on who makes plays, they made them, we didn't it's no more mysterious than that.

I'm not blaming this on the defense at all but if it's 10 to 3 not 17 then we play things differently, the Rams scored more points then they should have by how our defense really played, they got two HUGE plays that changed the game, it wasn't anyone's fault really that first deep pass on Peterson was a fluke, he heaved that ball, Peterson should of turned around if he does it's a pick right there, he didn't, the guy made a great catch, it happened but it's not like we just got beat down, we did not make any key plays, they did.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I never thought Miami was a bad team. It wasn't that we struggled against them, it was the way we struggled. I really think we've been exposed to the rest of the league and I have no confidence that Grimm will be able to keep the other guys out of our backfield. We've lost our best blocking backs and our best blocking TE is out more often than not. I really don't know how we fix this in the short run.

Steve

Grimm can only do so much. In the end, players must execute the plam.