We're going to be pulling guards like a mother.....
We look to be good at it. I wouldn't be surprised if this added 500 yards to our total when compared to last year.
Our run schemes have been fairly vanilla. You 'hadnot' better be in the way when this guard is pulling. Faneca should do better as well, and I did see him on the 2nd level a time or two. We all know Lutui can do it.
I expect us to be a guard pulling machine this year. I'm still excited about our much improved run game. (we just haven't seen much of it). It might not show up as much as we like to of course, but I believe it will show up and be noticed. Seeing how well our guards are pulling gives me hope. We have 3 guys on this team that can pull, two of them are very good, the other one, still might be. Best pulling trio in the league? I'm not one to judge that, but I am hard pressed to find a team that has that.
Seeing some of our ol guys having rough starts last year and still finishing as one of the best run blocking cardinal teams in at least Arizona history, I feel we'll be fine.
We couldn't change our offense to ML, because we can't run the ball 0-3 yards and throw 5 yard passes and be successful. NO offense can do that and even be 6-10.
Our run game is going to be beastly this year. I'm not concerned about preseason with vanilla calls and ML in. I DO believe ML was a major part of our run game troubles. It's also tough when you consider our rb's were going up against fresh players throughout the game. That significantly changes once the season begins.
The OL has got to also play better at pass blocking, which is where I feel most of our trouble has been. But again, was that ML problem as well? Hall had few problems, Skelton, and Anderson as well. It was ML who had the most. (check downs, weak arm - yes, and lack of changing things at the line had a lot to do with it. But even then, ML wouldn't have 100 percent charged defenders working against him 60 minutes a game, so I believe that problem is a little overblown.
Should we worry about our run game. Yes/no. Yes that it might fail. But NO because it probably won't. We've got stud running backs, some studly ol-men, and a great ol coach. Plus with ML not starting, every pass going forward will have an extra time cushion in it, allowing the line a couple of tenths extra. In other words, without ML at QB, our ol has more leeway to screw up and not destroy the play.
I do think we'll run more than in the past. I also think we'll keep the quick strike. But overall our drives should consume more time averaged out than in previous years. Our improved run game will do it.
I seriously can't wait to see our run game blow up. Hightower has taken another step this year. Wells is ready to explode. Throw in more, better pulling guards, and no kurt warner, and I think we achieve that.
I would not be surprised to see DA get CPOY award (comeback player). 3td/10int to a very possible 25/17 might get it done. That said, I somehow think DA has a chance to do better than that, or less of a chance, possibly worse.
It's going to be good either way. If we keep 4 qb's, it's for injury reasons. Have ML in case one of our qb's get's injured, on the way to trading him when someone else's qb goes down. If ML isn't cut or traded today, I think he's traded during the season for some team's injury replacement (starter or backing up the backup).
