Looking at Last Sunday & next Sunday

[Harry]

Here’s a little about the last game based on distance and some of the board writings. First, a number of people asked why the Cards didn’t move their linebackers up and cutoff the slants. The answer is the lack of a pass rush. With a fast, veteran receiver corps like the Rams’ receivers, the tight end and even a back could easily blow by the linebackers if they overplayed that route. You can play up if you can get to the quarterback quickly and force a less than perfect throw or a quick throw, but if you don’t get to the QB, those receivers like Holt would have a field day with catch and run-type plays.

I thought Spikes had a better, but still an inferior game. He is the most surprising starter to me. Jones wasn’t the factor I expected him to be. Johnson must still be hurt, as he showed virtually no “speed” routes. Like past years, the safeties were late on over-the-top coverage. The lack of experience and being up to speed with the Pro game showed in Harris’ play, but largely went unnoticed due to the turnovers.

Also this entire business about overrunning plays is silly. That’s what Faulk makes people do and he’s done it to much better defense’s than this one. As to general run defense, the absence of a true anchor tackle makes it almost impossible to be consistent against a decent running team.

The best thing about the Pats game is that the young Cardinal players will see how a disciplined team plays. The Rams probably have as much talent as the Pats, but they aren’t half the team the Pats are. Effort won’t be enough to keep the game close. The Cards must elevate their game even more.

It’s another game that can’t be won, but here’s what I am hoping to see. By the way, they won’t all be impossible to win.

1. The Pats can be run against, so it’s important that the Cards do so to eat the clock and keep the tempo under control. Hopefully the offensive line will show improved cohesiveness.

2. Another solid game by the special teams mean discipline is building.

3. McCown again should play under control and let the game come to him. The pass rush figures to be stronger, so he needs to play smart and not get hurt trying to do too much.

4. The other receivers beyond Fitzgerald must contribute more than 5 yard catches. I would love to see Poole play more. I can’t believe Green can’t see the chemistry he and McCown have.

5. The Cards need to blitz more and health permitting; I’d like to see more of Dansby on passing downs, maybe at DE.

Hopefully, the Cards won’t get blown out. If they do, try not to get discouraged. A loss is just a loss regardless of the score. Maybe the Pats will show up overconfident and have trouble getting it going. Sadly, if the Cards hit like they did in game one, the Pats won’t stay asleep for long.

 

[JeffGollin]

Nice analysis.

I see the key to our success as keeping things close and bringing an even or 3 point game well into the 4th quarter.

It then would boil down to whether our own team is disciplined enough not to make a fatal blunder, and we won't know about this until we're put in a crunch position.

One other intangible - the nearly full house (with a significant percentage there because of Pat Tillman). At the very least, these additional people figure to be neutral. If they happen to get caught up in the moment and get behind the Cardinals, we may actually enjoy a rare 12th man advantage that could tip the scales our way in a close contest.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

4. The other receivers beyond Fitzgerald must contribute more than 5 yard catches. I would love to see Poole play more. I can’t believe Green can’t see the chemistry he and McCown have.

This has been one of those things that I have thought about all week. When Poole was in the game Josh went to him, or at least looked for him when things broke down. Poole needs to be in the game more.

 

[Agnt42]

Good Post HARRY !!

WHat I see with the Patriots is
1. They have moved the short passing game to a mediocre passing game, by that I am refering to the 8-12 yard routes. They used to run the 3-5 very often.
So, coverage needs to be there for 12 yards to keep the receivers honest.
2. Dillon is playing very well...The downfall for the Pats is Faulk being out again for the second week in a row due to personal reasons. This makes for a fairly certain 18-20 carries on the ground. Patrick pass as a full back makes this very interesting. For the most part he blocks well.
3. Watson is not going to play. So that puts Fauria back in the Line up at Tight End with Graham. Both good ends. And both thrive in the no huddle.
4. The Patriots have extreme speed outside with Bethel Johnson. This kid burned the colts receivers for many many yards only to have them negated by penalty.
If I was your Cards. I would run a 4 - 3 with my SS in tight to Brady's right side. Of course if you havent noticed Brady likes to roll right. He is accurate from any spot on the field but seems to be most happy going right.
Your LBs are going to be very busy with Fauria and Graham so keep the SS at home if possible.
Well I hope my Patriots win. And I hope there are few injuries and fewer penalties.
Good Luck

 

[Agnt42]

Harry....Yes the Pats can be run against. I am willing to bet that with a quarterback like Manning running the show any back could do well.

How would you game plan the Colts? Would you give up some run defense to prevent the Manning to Harrison deep passes? or would you just stop the run and let Paytoilet pick and chose.
I guess it worked out fine in the end. Oh and did you notice how many yards and catches Harrison got? If teams shut down James......See what Harrison does to them. Of course this is IMO

 

[slanidrac16]

With all due respect Harry....

I don't think we will even come close to running the ball as effectively as the colts. The Pats HAD to respect the passing game of Indy which had to loosen up the box a bit.
We don't pose nearly the same threat(at this point) that Indy does offensively. I think the Pats will allow us to run only as much as they want. They could very well plan on shutting down the run entirely , knowing if Emmitt "breaks" one it will only be for 15 yds or so. They will be able to force 3rd and long which will ultimately be our demise. I believe most of our rushing yards will come from meaningless draws and delays because of those 3rd and long situations.
Our only hope is to take what they give us early in the game and if they play up to dominate our run game we burn them early and play with a lead.
On the defensive side of the ball....well thats a whole other story. We play up..they'll go deep. We play run...they will pass. We go right..they will go left.
They are that good. Pats 23- Cards 9

 

[Agnt42]

Slanidriac

You are being very realistic about the obvious attack the Colts offer. And thats what makes them easily plannable.
And thats exactly what makes the Cardinals so hard to plan for. If you have two people step it up on offense. (dont drop passes) And two step up on Defense (tight coverage) This game is up for grabs.

I see myself on this board all over the place. Being a Patriots fan has only been great these last few years.
Its been mostly unpleasent before that. I admire you Card fans.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[KingofCards]

Slanidriac

You are being very realistic about the obvious attack the Colts offer. And thats what makes them easily plannable.
And thats exactly what makes the Cardinals so hard to plan for. If you have two people step it up on offense. (dont drop passes) And two step up on Defense (tight coverage) This game is up for grabs.

I see myself on this board all over the place. Being a Patriots fan has only been great these last few years.
Its been mostly unpleasent before that. I admire you Card fans.

This is how a fan should act when they come over here.

Thanks man for the insight!

 

[Agnt42]

Easy there KING im still the troll remember.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Great thread, with some nice insight by several people.

Starting with Harry!
See Harry, other than one specific subject matter, we often can agree.

And it sure is nice to see threads like this, for a change.

 

[Agnt42]

I will be trolling around daily so if anyone wishes to keep me in the thread let me know.

 

[KingofCards]

And it sure is nice to see threads like this, for a change.

Yup I agree.

I have grown tired of worthless threads asking trivia questions and such.

 

[artp]

The Cardinals were blown out 6 or 7 times last year. Blown out by some bad teams (Chicago and Cleveland). This is a better team. We all know it. But, nothing has been proven yet. New England is going to lose some games. Why not tomorrow?
Sometimes a moral victory is OK. I want the Cardinals to give NE a good game.
But, how great would an upset be?

 

[Harry]

Hey Tango, I know we agree often, which should scare both of us. By the way, I don't think I said we could run like the Colts, I just think that's the place to attack them.

Game-planning against the Colts is like Custer game-planning against the Indians. Even if you have a plan, it will be hard to execute. However, I like a challenge.

First I would simplify the running game and go mostly with drive blocking. I would pull linemen until they dropped to try to concentrate as much impact as I could at one spot trying to beat down the right side of the Pats' line. It would help quite a bit if Shelton could give us even a few downs. Maybe put his in at left tackle for a couple of plays, move Big back to right guard and pull him to the left. Shelton, Wells and Davis should be able to pound pretty hard. This is complicated by the lack of depth on the line, but go as hard for as long as you can. I'd also use some 2 back sets. Rotate Hambrick or Scobey and Smith often. I might throw Shelton in as a fullback to lead block. He's quick enough, but I doubt they have practiced anything like that. You want 3 yards a play and go on 4 & 1, regardless of the field position. Hope for a miracle and to keep the game close as long as you can, then take you chances.

Once you move the safety up, I'd go deep to Fitzgerald even if Law is covering. I like his chances in single coverage. I would have Poole in the game as much as possible and work him on 5-6 yard routes (I like them on first and second down, just not 3 & 10). Jones would play if he blocked, if not he would sit.

Would this work? Sadly, I doubt it. I just think smash-mouth football is the way to attack them. The Cards just lack the depth and weapons. If Boldin were here, the plan would be different.

 

[black]

One key to this game is the combo of Macklin and Starks.

 

[Agnt42]

I really like the idea of the two back set. I have not seen your Cardinals play this year so im not sure what to expect.
I am like all of you and want to see a good Game. I kinda feel like the 10 day prep work Belichick has had is of little importance due to the lack of experiance we have with your team. On the other hand it is still nice for the players to get fresh.
The Patriots are going to be rotating their players very frequently. So, if the Cards run a 2 min drill for three or four drives, Especially when they feel they have an offensive advantage with the defensive line up on the field, they would really be tough to handle.
Its odd to me that teams dont utilize that advantage when it arises this way.
It does alot of things IMO, It forces the defense to play on its heals and can force the opponent into burning timeouts for substitutions, Now that would get coachs goat.

 

[Wild Card]

Would this work? Sadly, I doubt it. I just think smash-mouth football is the way to attack them. The Cards just lack the depth and weapons.

Harry:

The Patriots have seen "smash-mouth football" before. The Dolphins tried running Ricky Williams at 'em last year and got swept, 19-13 and 12-0. Williams had 97 and 68 yards, respectively. The only thing that kept the home OT loss close for the Fins was Fiedler throwing for 230 (and, unfortunately, 2 INTs).

The Pats ended their 2003 season by holding Stephen Davis to 49 yards in the Super Bowl. Again, Delhomme's 323 passing yards made that game a contest.

The only question in my mind is whether the loss of Ted Washington alone has made the Pats run defense significantly less effective. And I'm not comfortable making that judgment on the basis of a single good game against by Edgerrin James, one of the NFL's premier RBs--a game the Pats won anyway.

I agree with you that injuries and lack of depth have limited the Cards' options in today's game. But I doubt that a simple smash-mouth gameplan would work against the Pats, even if the Cards were healthier and deeper.

WC