Last Week v. The Rest of the Season

[Cheesebeef]

you know, while watching the morning games I started to wonder to myself if last week should really just be chalked up as a mulligan. We started the season with a solid road win, beat the crap out of what looks like at least an average Fins squad and played a pretty good Skins tough on the road. Then, everything that could go wrong did go wrong last week.

And this week... wow. Warner was incredibly sharp, the O-line gave him all day and the D was wreaking havoc on what had been a solid 4-0 team. And yes, they didn't have their QB for the majority of the game, but we literally knocked him out of it and that's what the D is supposed to do, so credit goes where it's deserved there.

I mean, when have we ever seen a sequence of events like the forced fumble, which led to a TD and then saw an absolute knockout tackle on the kickoff followed up by back to back sacks? That looked like DOMINATION.

This team needed to come up big this week and they did in every way shape or form. That's a rarity for our boys. So, was last week a mulligan? I don't know for sure, but I feel a hell of a lot better about the rest of the season after watching the way this team regrouped and just kicked the ever living snot out of a good team.

BRING ON THE BOYS!

 

[az1965]

If only CP keeps his defense aggressive...

Bring on the Turds!

 

[artp]

I think there was some question about the D after the last 2 losses. They have some guys who can make big plays. That one stretch, including Highsmith's hit was exciting. Good to be Home.

 

[red desert]

aren't you supposed to be strollling the beach at sunset and outlining the first act of your next script in lovely socal?

Just kidding.

I agree last week should be tossed aside as a mulligan. Kurt will lead us to the NFC West championship, which means a first round home game, doesn't it?

If so, we win.

And all of sudden we are in the second round of the playoffs. From there, anything can happen.

Go Cards!!

 

[imaCafan]

And remember, our leader on D (Wilson) was out last week.......so I say YES, last week is a Mulligan!!!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

aren't you supposed to be strollling the beach at sunset and outlining the first act of your next script in lovely socal?

if I wasn't recovering from back surgery in Phoenix, you bet your butt I would be!

Just kidding.

I agree last week should be tossed aside as a mulligan.

I didn't it say it "should" be tossed aside. I said maybe it should. Next week will tell us more but at least I haven't written off the year yet.

Another big barometer game coming up. Pressure's on, at home with a high profile club coming to town. These are the games good teams win. Are we that team? I don't know but I can't wait to find out.

 

[moklerman]

The Card's D is starting to remind me of the Colt's D. When Sanders is out, they are a completely different team and it seems that when Wilson's out, the Card's are pretty ineffective. The deep ball is continuing to be a problem also.

I'm glad Warner was able to bounce back and I think a lot of the credit has to go to Whis for leaving him in the game last week. Something that was really encouraging about today, perhaps simply due to necessity, Warner and the offense were playing small ball in the passing game. A lot of underneath stuff and crossing routes.

I really like the 3-headed attack from the RB position and would like to see James used this way much more often. Start fast with JJ and Hightower, grind it out at the end with James.

The only real criticism I have is that Leinart didn't get to play. The last 2 drives of the game and the kneel down should have been his when the score was 41-17. Warner bleeding all over the place but staying in the game and having a good game will re-solidify his leadership and faith of his teammates after last week's debacle.

Is Rackers' lucky bounce an omen?

 

[az1965]

Our secondary is just bad except for Wilson. DRC is just a rookie, so gets a pass for now. That long TD pass was not pretty.

 

[IL CARDS FAN]

GREAT WIN complete domination. Only concern I got is the secondary againist Dallas could be a shoot out.

 

[bg7brd]

Other than the big play our DBs weren't horrible. It helps when the line is getting consistant pressure.

 

[slanidrac16]

We cannot go into next weeks game thinking the Cowboys are larger than life. Play our game and we have a chance to beat just about anybody on any given day.

 

[DoTheDew]

I agree last week should be tossed aside as a mulligan. Kurt will lead us to the NFC West championship, which means a first round home game, doesn't it?

If so, we win.

And all of sudden we are in the second round of the playoffs. From there, anything can happen.

Go Cards!!

It is looking like that game will be against one of the NFC East teams. Wouldn't it be great to beat Dallas in the Wild Card round again? They have been chokers in the playoffs so I would actually have hope for such a matchup.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think the team will be sky-high for next week's game. My main concern will be that we are TOO excited, and make dumb mistakes early and dig a hole.

I'm telling ya, that stadium is going to be ELECTRIC next week. We started talking Dallas late in the 4th and I heard a lot of mentions about that game on the way out.

 

[TJ]

Whether we should take a mulligan for last week or not, this team needs to play better on the road. I hate this Dr. Jeckel Mr. Hyde thing we have going on right now

 

[az1965]

I wish I could be there to see the game but can't. I hope its all red in the stadium next week and not several Cowturds blue and sliver.

 

[overseascardfan]

What I want to know is how we get blown away by the Jets and destroy a team like the Bills this week. I know the Jets aren't as good as the Bills, hopefully we can keep the momentum going against Dallas.

 

[Stout]

What I want to know is how we get blown away by the Jets and destroy a team like the Bills this week. I know the Jets aren't as good as the Bills, hopefully we can keep the momentum going against Dallas.

Simple. We were at home. If we were in Buffalo, chances are they beat us hands-down. We still haven't figured out the road all the way. I hope we do, but we haven't yet.

 

[Kablansky]

Can anyone recall any point in time where the Cardinals have dominated 2 games in 1 season? The Dophins game made me think long and hard about the last time we had a blow out win, this win makes it twice in 4 weeks. This team takes the NFC West and hosts a home playoff game. That doesn't say much with a weak division, but it does say one thing.... It's our turn!

 

[moklerman]

Something I'd like an opinion on, especially from any who get to see the games live, is the release and recognition by the receivers. I have seen it at least a couple of times each game where Warner ***** his arm and wants to release the ball very quickly but has to pull it back down because the receiver isn't in position or hasn't even looked for the ball.

If I'm catching it on the tv broadcast I would assume it's more prevalent for those that can see the whole field since, even in HD, the camera doesn't start scrolling until the ball is in the air.

Warner said in his post-game interview that he was basically just now starting to trust Breaston to be on the same page and it concerns me that in general, the receivers(RB, TE, WR, etc.) aren't recognizing and/or executing quickly enough in blitz situations.

We've all seen the offense operate smoothly when defenses don't risk blitzing against the spread sets but those teams that can get pressure with their front four and then blitz have shown to drastically disrupt the offense. We've also all seen that it's generally not a good idea to leave Warner back in the pocket. Drop, stop, throw is crucial. I don't think the Cardinals can combat the blitz with speed, pressing the defense down the field, so the underneath stuff is going to have to happen VERY quickly against good teams. So is anyone else seeing Warner waiting on receivers? Double-clutching and having to go to a secondary option when he's actually trying to get it to the hot read? It sure seems like it's happening but I'd appreciate more points of view.

 

[Duckjake]

Can anyone recall any point in time where the Cardinals have dominated 2 games in 1 season? The Dophins game made me think long and hard about the last time we had a blow out win, this win makes it twice in 4 weeks. This team takes the NFC West and hosts a home playoff game. That doesn't say much with a weak division, but it does say one thing.... It's our turn!

You have to go back a long way.

I know Buddy Ryan's 1994 team beat Houston 30-12 and then the Bengals two weeks later 28-7.

Best ever? 1970. Cards 44 Oilers 0. Cards 31 Patriots 0. Cards 38 Cowboys 0.
In consecutive weeks no less.

 

[joeshmo]

It wasnt a Mulligan. It was a game that showed clearly the teams problems magnified. Learning experiance.

Examples,

1. We found that our OT's cant pass block on their own. This game every time a TE or RB went into a pattern they always made sure to chip block a guy on the edge on their way to their pattern.
2. Warner holds onto the ball to long. This game there was a clear game plan for Warner to count to 3 then throw underneath no matter what.
3. We needed more of a presense in the middle. This game Watson was back.

And so on.