Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
How in the world do the Cardinals start this pivotal NFC West game short-kicking the kickoff to the number 1 KO returner in the NFL, Pharoh Cooper?
Why in the world does Bruce Arians challenge that there was a fumble on the kickoff when no replay known to mankind can show it? (BA later confessed that Budda Baker talked him into it)
Why in the world on the first run from scrimmage does All-Pro CB Patrick Peterson make no attempt whatsoever to shed his block and try to make a play on Todd Gurley who is running free to his side?
How in the world during the Rams' first drive on a key 3rd down conversion is WR Cooper Kupp left wide open?
How in the world on the first offensive play, on a perfectly executed bootleg does the QB, Blaine Gabbert try to throw the ball deep when (a) he had two open receivers within reasonable throwing distance and (b) he could have run for 12 yards easily (which could have made a statement to the Rams that they had better expect the unexpected0?
How in the world does Lamarcus Joyner intercept the deep pass right in front of WR J.J. Nelson and all Nelson has to do is reach out and bear hug Joyner and pull him to the turf and Nelson makes no effort at all to tackle him?
This is how the Cardinals treated this critical game versus the Rams from the outset---and it epitomizes how inept the coaches are and how soft and undisciplined the players are.
BA said after the game "I never question the guys' effort---we just didn't execute."
Huh?
BTW---if you saw BA's press conference after the game---he didn't look phased in the least that the Cardinals got whooped---and the reporters? Unreal. No tough questions. It almost felt like a love fest.
The toughest question BA faced was "did you try to correct the blocking up the middle after the PAT was blocked?"
BA's answer: "Oh, we had it coached up beautifully, but we didn't execute it."
Hmmm.
Have we heard something like that before?
In 2 games versus the Rams---the young and aggressive team that now has a winning record (9-3) for the first time in 14 years (the franchise that BA publicly branded in 2015 as a perennial 8-8 team) while the Cardinals are sinking to their 2nd consecutive losing season---the Cardinals were outscored 65-16, and neither game was played in LA.
In 2 games versus the Rams, the Cardinals attempted 3 FGs: 1 shanked to start the game in London, 1 made from 54 yards and 1 blocked right up the middle that would have brought the Cardinals within one score of the lead (after a PAT earlier was blocked right up the middle).
The toughest Cardinals on the field today were two of its smallest players: RB Kerwynn Williams (16/97 yes.) who sparked the team back into the game despite playing with sore ribs and S Budda Baker who is coming out of nowhere to make tackles that others around him aren't sure they want to make.
When you look at how tough and physical the Rams are---and you look at how soft, in comparison some of the Cardinals are---the disparity is galling.
Go back and look at Pharoh Cooper return kickoffs and then watch Brittan Golden. Golden crawled his way half-heartedly two times when they kicked it short to him and on the third time he didn't even want to pick up the bouncing ball.
Go back and watch CB Trumaine Johnson make physical plays left and right (7 tackles, 1 pass defended) and then watch Patrick Peterson make zero effort to make even a routine tackle versus the run or a screen. Gurley ran his best runs to Peterson's side. And the 33 yard, backbreaking screen pass in the 4th quarter to Gurley---which CB's side was that run to? You got it. Patrick Peterson's. And watch how Peterson refused to react to the play---in fact, once Gurley got loose and cut back over the middle and the side to side chase was on, Peterson, with all his world class speed never even enters the screen.
When Pharoh Cooper is lined up to field a punt---is Cooper (twice in a row) shouting over to the sideline in a panic to know what the hell is going on?
Go back and look at Jared Goff hang in the pocket---and then go and watch Blaine Gabbert.
Goff stayed poised 85% of the time... Gabbert is about 50/50. He looked way more poised last week---and the Jags' pass rush is better than the Rams'. So, why?
At all too many positions---the Cardinals play like scaredy cats. But the head coach doesn't question their effort and he keeps trotting them back out there. This coaching staff does a lot of tough talking to the media and the head coach is often calling out players to the media, but, for far too many of these players---it makes no difference. Nothing ever happens. And nothing ever changes.
And as for STs? Every team in the league knows it's a big STs day when you play Arizona---like you can kick 70 yard punts from your own goal-line and flip the field. Sh--- like that. You can block 2 kicks on the same strategy. You can find a crease in the punt coverage and exploit it for 30 yards. You can pooch kickoffs down to the 5 yard line and the return man won't even run hard to the point where will barelly get the ball back to the 20, if that.
Kudos to ballers like WR Larry Fitzgerald, LT Jared Veldheer, LG Alex Boone, RT John Wetzel, RB Kerwynn Williams, RB Elijah Penny, FB Evan Boehm, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, TE Troy Niklas, DE Chandler Jones, DE Kareem Martin, LB Josh Bynes, S Budda Baker, S Antoine Bethea and P Andy Lee...they all showed up today...too bad they didn't get more help from their coaches and teammates.
Why in the world does Bruce Arians challenge that there was a fumble on the kickoff when no replay known to mankind can show it? (BA later confessed that Budda Baker talked him into it)
Why in the world on the first run from scrimmage does All-Pro CB Patrick Peterson make no attempt whatsoever to shed his block and try to make a play on Todd Gurley who is running free to his side?
How in the world during the Rams' first drive on a key 3rd down conversion is WR Cooper Kupp left wide open?
How in the world on the first offensive play, on a perfectly executed bootleg does the QB, Blaine Gabbert try to throw the ball deep when (a) he had two open receivers within reasonable throwing distance and (b) he could have run for 12 yards easily (which could have made a statement to the Rams that they had better expect the unexpected0?
How in the world does Lamarcus Joyner intercept the deep pass right in front of WR J.J. Nelson and all Nelson has to do is reach out and bear hug Joyner and pull him to the turf and Nelson makes no effort at all to tackle him?
This is how the Cardinals treated this critical game versus the Rams from the outset---and it epitomizes how inept the coaches are and how soft and undisciplined the players are.
BA said after the game "I never question the guys' effort---we just didn't execute."
Huh?
BTW---if you saw BA's press conference after the game---he didn't look phased in the least that the Cardinals got whooped---and the reporters? Unreal. No tough questions. It almost felt like a love fest.
The toughest question BA faced was "did you try to correct the blocking up the middle after the PAT was blocked?"
BA's answer: "Oh, we had it coached up beautifully, but we didn't execute it."
Hmmm.
Have we heard something like that before?
In 2 games versus the Rams---the young and aggressive team that now has a winning record (9-3) for the first time in 14 years (the franchise that BA publicly branded in 2015 as a perennial 8-8 team) while the Cardinals are sinking to their 2nd consecutive losing season---the Cardinals were outscored 65-16, and neither game was played in LA.
In 2 games versus the Rams, the Cardinals attempted 3 FGs: 1 shanked to start the game in London, 1 made from 54 yards and 1 blocked right up the middle that would have brought the Cardinals within one score of the lead (after a PAT earlier was blocked right up the middle).
The toughest Cardinals on the field today were two of its smallest players: RB Kerwynn Williams (16/97 yes.) who sparked the team back into the game despite playing with sore ribs and S Budda Baker who is coming out of nowhere to make tackles that others around him aren't sure they want to make.
When you look at how tough and physical the Rams are---and you look at how soft, in comparison some of the Cardinals are---the disparity is galling.
Go back and look at Pharoh Cooper return kickoffs and then watch Brittan Golden. Golden crawled his way half-heartedly two times when they kicked it short to him and on the third time he didn't even want to pick up the bouncing ball.
Go back and watch CB Trumaine Johnson make physical plays left and right (7 tackles, 1 pass defended) and then watch Patrick Peterson make zero effort to make even a routine tackle versus the run or a screen. Gurley ran his best runs to Peterson's side. And the 33 yard, backbreaking screen pass in the 4th quarter to Gurley---which CB's side was that run to? You got it. Patrick Peterson's. And watch how Peterson refused to react to the play---in fact, once Gurley got loose and cut back over the middle and the side to side chase was on, Peterson, with all his world class speed never even enters the screen.
When Pharoh Cooper is lined up to field a punt---is Cooper (twice in a row) shouting over to the sideline in a panic to know what the hell is going on?
Go back and look at Jared Goff hang in the pocket---and then go and watch Blaine Gabbert.
Goff stayed poised 85% of the time... Gabbert is about 50/50. He looked way more poised last week---and the Jags' pass rush is better than the Rams'. So, why?
At all too many positions---the Cardinals play like scaredy cats. But the head coach doesn't question their effort and he keeps trotting them back out there. This coaching staff does a lot of tough talking to the media and the head coach is often calling out players to the media, but, for far too many of these players---it makes no difference. Nothing ever happens. And nothing ever changes.
And as for STs? Every team in the league knows it's a big STs day when you play Arizona---like you can kick 70 yard punts from your own goal-line and flip the field. Sh--- like that. You can block 2 kicks on the same strategy. You can find a crease in the punt coverage and exploit it for 30 yards. You can pooch kickoffs down to the 5 yard line and the return man won't even run hard to the point where will barelly get the ball back to the 20, if that.
Kudos to ballers like WR Larry Fitzgerald, LT Jared Veldheer, LG Alex Boone, RT John Wetzel, RB Kerwynn Williams, RB Elijah Penny, FB Evan Boehm, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, TE Troy Niklas, DE Chandler Jones, DE Kareem Martin, LB Josh Bynes, S Budda Baker, S Antoine Bethea and P Andy Lee...they all showed up today...too bad they didn't get more help from their coaches and teammates.
