RugbyMuffin
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From Urbans Article:
http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...Solution/7b284aba-1b64-48c6-982b-7896620b42c3
“You go and watch practice, you won’t see many mistakes, you won’t see many balls on the ground, you won’t see blown assignments,” Fitzgerald said. “Every week, I come off the practice field thinking, as a team, we worked hard and we executed our game plans, but for some reason on Sunday, we’re not executing the plays.”
Coming from a media savy person like Fitzgerald, I believe this to be true.
So, I think I might have the answer to the question, "What is wrong with the Arizona Cardinals ?"
I have heard the talk about how the players are just not good enough, so save it. That isn't the problem since the roster has Superbowl potential and proven Superbowl potential. There are weakness in the roster but those weakness can be hidden if our gameplan is implemented right.
The problems with the Cardinals right now are 90% mental, 5% chemistry, and 5% coaching problems.
90% Mental:
Why ? Because we as fans watched this team last year. We know the potential they have, we know they can play better. Fitzgerald, and Coach Whiz have now gone on record to say that the team is practicing very well, but once game day comes it falls apart.
Is it the pressure of the expectation getting to the team ? Is it a lack of composure that clouds there thinking when it comes to game time ? There is surely a lack of discipline as well.
What can you do as a coach (and we will get to that) if you players doing everything they are supposed to in practice and it doesn't translate onto the field ? When all signs point to "this team knows the game plan, what they are doing" how can you not have confidence in the situation.
As for a solution......I only said I knew what the problem is.
5% Chemistry:
OK, I was wrong, and many others were right. The loss of our defensive and offensive coordinators is a huge hit. Sorry, but all signs point to it. The problem has nothing to do with X's, and O's or playcalling. The leadership that Haley, and Pendergast possessed is what seems to be lacking right now.
I would say that the Cardinals need more film sessions where players are called out, and asked to explain why they screwed up. If Fitzgerald, and Whiz say they look great in practice, well then hang the pads up in the locker and sit down and look at where the problems are, which is game day. A player who does everything right in practice, and then screws up the same EXACT situation in a game has to explain himself to the team and coaches. How can you rely on players who practice a certain way all week and then change 180 degrees on game day. That is unacceptable, and unfair to the entire team. That guy needs to be put on the spot and explain himself. These are men, not children, part of that is taking responsibility and dealing with tough questions and situaitons. I remember reading about these kinds of film sessions going on last year, and I haven't heard about it happening this year.
Finally, when it comes to chemistry our leaders need to step it up. Our "heart and soul" of the team is doing his part. People gotta start feeding off Anquan Boldin, and Darnell Dockett they have come into this season 120% as leaders, players, and producers. Yet, even Boldin has a dropped pass or two, and Dockett has a penalty or two on his head. Yet, guys like Wilson, Warner, Wells, and Dansby are only talking. There examples on the field are nothing to be followed. Poor play, poor decisions, and lack of impact makes it hard for them to say "You gotta step it up" to anyone on the team since the same thing can be said right back at them. The core of the team has to play like the core of the team. Once again, let's not kid ourselves and say they all suck. We have seen how these players can produce, they have to look inward and solve their own personal problems so they can produce, have confidence and earn back there respect as leaders.
5% Coaching:
The are at the most important part of the 2009 season. The Texans game is make or break for this season. At least in my opinion it is. The game is more about how the coaches are responding to the situation before them. There are problems on the offensive line in regards to assignments and technique (again more mental than physical). There are problems with the passing game and route running. There are problems in the run game with holding onto the ball. There are problems with the personell on the LB's core, and serious mental problems in the secondary.
We as fans have been told about how "this is unacceptable", and "we are going to need to fix that". Well, it is now or never. The coaches have to solve the blocking problems on the O-Line, the coaches have to work with the Running backs on holding onto the ball, and finally the coaches have to lead this team. They have to start tearing into this team a little bit. They gotta really put players on the spot for accountability. Not to be a hard ass but to insure the biggest problem that the Cardinals are having doesn't keep happing. That is making sure practice translates to game day.
The Cardinals have two weeks to figure this all out. When they play against the Texans it is a now or never game for a lot of players futures with the Caridnals.**** Guys like Warner, Boldin, Dansby, Rolle, Gandy, Levi Brown, Tim Hightower, and Okeafor are playing to insure they get 2 years to try to get back the Superbowl with the current squad and philosophy.
Not only that it is a now or never game for the season. They either solve the problems right now, or they won't. This is the only time during the season that the players can look inward and take the time to change thier routine. Cause once the season starts up again the demands of the weekly game will now allow for there to be time to fix the situation.
****NOTE: Realize Whiz is a believer in the Gibbs/Cowher football strategy. Whiz will adapt his ideals to fit his team, but if the situation he adapts to becomes useless they he will scrap it and replace the situation with what he wants. Clancy Pendergast did a decent job here in the desert, and Whiz was "forced" to keep him around as a defensive coordinator. Whiz adapted to the situation, but once it became evident that the situation was not going to work he ditched it and went with his beleifs.
Unless he is proved other wise, Whiz is going to want a team that can run the ball effectively and play great defense. It is a proven recipe for winning (see current Niners squad, and Steelers squads over the last few decades), and Whiz buys into it. It is not possible to have this phenominon when you are paying for Warner, Boldin, Fitzgerald, etc., etc.
The air attack faulters this year, and you can expect to see BIG changes next offseason.
http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...Solution/7b284aba-1b64-48c6-982b-7896620b42c3
“You go and watch practice, you won’t see many mistakes, you won’t see many balls on the ground, you won’t see blown assignments,” Fitzgerald said. “Every week, I come off the practice field thinking, as a team, we worked hard and we executed our game plans, but for some reason on Sunday, we’re not executing the plays.”
Coming from a media savy person like Fitzgerald, I believe this to be true.
So, I think I might have the answer to the question, "What is wrong with the Arizona Cardinals ?"
I have heard the talk about how the players are just not good enough, so save it. That isn't the problem since the roster has Superbowl potential and proven Superbowl potential. There are weakness in the roster but those weakness can be hidden if our gameplan is implemented right.
The problems with the Cardinals right now are 90% mental, 5% chemistry, and 5% coaching problems.
90% Mental:
Why ? Because we as fans watched this team last year. We know the potential they have, we know they can play better. Fitzgerald, and Coach Whiz have now gone on record to say that the team is practicing very well, but once game day comes it falls apart.
Is it the pressure of the expectation getting to the team ? Is it a lack of composure that clouds there thinking when it comes to game time ? There is surely a lack of discipline as well.
What can you do as a coach (and we will get to that) if you players doing everything they are supposed to in practice and it doesn't translate onto the field ? When all signs point to "this team knows the game plan, what they are doing" how can you not have confidence in the situation.
As for a solution......I only said I knew what the problem is.
5% Chemistry:
OK, I was wrong, and many others were right. The loss of our defensive and offensive coordinators is a huge hit. Sorry, but all signs point to it. The problem has nothing to do with X's, and O's or playcalling. The leadership that Haley, and Pendergast possessed is what seems to be lacking right now.
I would say that the Cardinals need more film sessions where players are called out, and asked to explain why they screwed up. If Fitzgerald, and Whiz say they look great in practice, well then hang the pads up in the locker and sit down and look at where the problems are, which is game day. A player who does everything right in practice, and then screws up the same EXACT situation in a game has to explain himself to the team and coaches. How can you rely on players who practice a certain way all week and then change 180 degrees on game day. That is unacceptable, and unfair to the entire team. That guy needs to be put on the spot and explain himself. These are men, not children, part of that is taking responsibility and dealing with tough questions and situaitons. I remember reading about these kinds of film sessions going on last year, and I haven't heard about it happening this year.
Finally, when it comes to chemistry our leaders need to step it up. Our "heart and soul" of the team is doing his part. People gotta start feeding off Anquan Boldin, and Darnell Dockett they have come into this season 120% as leaders, players, and producers. Yet, even Boldin has a dropped pass or two, and Dockett has a penalty or two on his head. Yet, guys like Wilson, Warner, Wells, and Dansby are only talking. There examples on the field are nothing to be followed. Poor play, poor decisions, and lack of impact makes it hard for them to say "You gotta step it up" to anyone on the team since the same thing can be said right back at them. The core of the team has to play like the core of the team. Once again, let's not kid ourselves and say they all suck. We have seen how these players can produce, they have to look inward and solve their own personal problems so they can produce, have confidence and earn back there respect as leaders.
5% Coaching:
The are at the most important part of the 2009 season. The Texans game is make or break for this season. At least in my opinion it is. The game is more about how the coaches are responding to the situation before them. There are problems on the offensive line in regards to assignments and technique (again more mental than physical). There are problems with the passing game and route running. There are problems in the run game with holding onto the ball. There are problems with the personell on the LB's core, and serious mental problems in the secondary.
We as fans have been told about how "this is unacceptable", and "we are going to need to fix that". Well, it is now or never. The coaches have to solve the blocking problems on the O-Line, the coaches have to work with the Running backs on holding onto the ball, and finally the coaches have to lead this team. They have to start tearing into this team a little bit. They gotta really put players on the spot for accountability. Not to be a hard ass but to insure the biggest problem that the Cardinals are having doesn't keep happing. That is making sure practice translates to game day.
The Cardinals have two weeks to figure this all out. When they play against the Texans it is a now or never game for a lot of players futures with the Caridnals.**** Guys like Warner, Boldin, Dansby, Rolle, Gandy, Levi Brown, Tim Hightower, and Okeafor are playing to insure they get 2 years to try to get back the Superbowl with the current squad and philosophy.
Not only that it is a now or never game for the season. They either solve the problems right now, or they won't. This is the only time during the season that the players can look inward and take the time to change thier routine. Cause once the season starts up again the demands of the weekly game will now allow for there to be time to fix the situation.
****NOTE: Realize Whiz is a believer in the Gibbs/Cowher football strategy. Whiz will adapt his ideals to fit his team, but if the situation he adapts to becomes useless they he will scrap it and replace the situation with what he wants. Clancy Pendergast did a decent job here in the desert, and Whiz was "forced" to keep him around as a defensive coordinator. Whiz adapted to the situation, but once it became evident that the situation was not going to work he ditched it and went with his beleifs.
Unless he is proved other wise, Whiz is going to want a team that can run the ball effectively and play great defense. It is a proven recipe for winning (see current Niners squad, and Steelers squads over the last few decades), and Whiz buys into it. It is not possible to have this phenominon when you are paying for Warner, Boldin, Fitzgerald, etc., etc.
The air attack faulters this year, and you can expect to see BIG changes next offseason.
