Defense: F. No sacks, no turnovers. Nothing. Wide open wide receivers all day, especially in the red zone, showcasing the softest zone coverage this side of a Pop Warner league. The schemes were poor. Aggressiveness was lacking. Leadership was non-existent (where was Dexter Jackson today?). If Rod Graves doesn't add three free agents this week, two defensive linemen and another defensive back, one would really have to question his administrative decision making. If Dave McGinnis and Larry Marmie don't change their defensive preparation and approach, they will be searching for jobs this winter. Absolutely horrible coaching in this one.
Interesting Note: Dave McGinnis must have told color commentator Tim Green over the weekend that his defensive philosophy is to "defend the run while rushing the passer." That's the classic Warren Sapp quote that I and others urged the Cardinals to adopt last year when criticizing Mac's vanilla read and react defense. Green kept emphasizing Mac's supposed philosophy, despite the fact that the defensive line rarely if ever got penetration. Notice how many times Joey Harrington ran the fake hand off, fake reverse play, pass...sitting on a three step drop and was not even breathed on once.
Offense: C-. Good numbers for Blake. Awesome numbers for Boldin. Decent numbers for Emmitt. But, as we all know, numbers don't necessarily win you football games. The fact remains that this offense was out of sync and short on focus all day. Jeff Blake managed the clock like a rookie. Very surprising performance from him...for a veteran of his years. Really lost focus and concentration on numerous occasions...in the first half it was on delay of games and time outs...in the second half, it was on his throws...other than the homerun trail pass to Boldin, Blake was generally way off the mark the rest of the game...perhaps the most frusrating (other than the two inexusable turnovers) was the series he botched, up 21-14, when he missed a wide open Kevin Kasper on second and eight and threw behind an open Anquan Boldin on third down.
The offensive line sputtered and underachieved all day. They should be fined for their performance.
Freddie Jones was a factor. Looks stronger physically and mentally.
The two starters at WR, Foster and Gilmore were complete non-factors. Bryant Johnson's untimely drop on a perfectly thrown fade at the end zone was just what we feared about Johnson coming out of Penn State...great athlete with erratic concentration.
Special Teams: F. Obviously. Horrendous, even Scott Player, who played his worst game in ages.
Coaching: F. Jerry Sullivan called a pretty good game, other than that, the coaching was about as bad as one could imagine. This team looked disorganized and disheveled all afternoon.
Personnel decisions: Sorry, Fred Wakefield and Russell Davis...they just are not NFL quality starters and are questionable backups at best. The team is getting virtually nothing from both of those players...which constitiutes one half of the defensive line...and 2/11ths of the defense.
A WR with experience needs to be added. Of course, we've been saying this all summer.
McCown should have been given the last series. Blake was visibly exhausted and if McCown is really the backup as most of us question, he should at least get any game experience possible.
Silver Lining: Anquan Boldin. Fearless competitor. Great hands and a sixth sense for finding daylight. Emmitt Smith still has plenty in his tank...what a great play he made on the play he turned a near five yard loss into a 19 yard scamper. Coby Rhinehart made a couple of excellent breajups on third downs. Calvin Pace defends the run very well already.
Interesting Note: Dave McGinnis must have told color commentator Tim Green over the weekend that his defensive philosophy is to "defend the run while rushing the passer." That's the classic Warren Sapp quote that I and others urged the Cardinals to adopt last year when criticizing Mac's vanilla read and react defense. Green kept emphasizing Mac's supposed philosophy, despite the fact that the defensive line rarely if ever got penetration. Notice how many times Joey Harrington ran the fake hand off, fake reverse play, pass...sitting on a three step drop and was not even breathed on once.
Offense: C-. Good numbers for Blake. Awesome numbers for Boldin. Decent numbers for Emmitt. But, as we all know, numbers don't necessarily win you football games. The fact remains that this offense was out of sync and short on focus all day. Jeff Blake managed the clock like a rookie. Very surprising performance from him...for a veteran of his years. Really lost focus and concentration on numerous occasions...in the first half it was on delay of games and time outs...in the second half, it was on his throws...other than the homerun trail pass to Boldin, Blake was generally way off the mark the rest of the game...perhaps the most frusrating (other than the two inexusable turnovers) was the series he botched, up 21-14, when he missed a wide open Kevin Kasper on second and eight and threw behind an open Anquan Boldin on third down.
The offensive line sputtered and underachieved all day. They should be fined for their performance.
Freddie Jones was a factor. Looks stronger physically and mentally.
The two starters at WR, Foster and Gilmore were complete non-factors. Bryant Johnson's untimely drop on a perfectly thrown fade at the end zone was just what we feared about Johnson coming out of Penn State...great athlete with erratic concentration.
Special Teams: F. Obviously. Horrendous, even Scott Player, who played his worst game in ages.
Coaching: F. Jerry Sullivan called a pretty good game, other than that, the coaching was about as bad as one could imagine. This team looked disorganized and disheveled all afternoon.
Personnel decisions: Sorry, Fred Wakefield and Russell Davis...they just are not NFL quality starters and are questionable backups at best. The team is getting virtually nothing from both of those players...which constitiutes one half of the defensive line...and 2/11ths of the defense.
A WR with experience needs to be added. Of course, we've been saying this all summer.
McCown should have been given the last series. Blake was visibly exhausted and if McCown is really the backup as most of us question, he should at least get any game experience possible.
Silver Lining: Anquan Boldin. Fearless competitor. Great hands and a sixth sense for finding daylight. Emmitt Smith still has plenty in his tank...what a great play he made on the play he turned a near five yard loss into a 19 yard scamper. Coby Rhinehart made a couple of excellent breajups on third downs. Calvin Pace defends the run very well already.
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