NFL.com - Cardinals Rise Didn't Happen Overnight

[crisper57]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...ight-nflwide-notes?module=HP11_content_stream

The brilliance of the Cardinals' stunning 4-0 start is in the details. They won in Foxborough. They crushed an otherwise unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles team. Most recently, they surmounted a 13-0 deficit to win on a day that wasn't their best.

Aesthetically, it looks considerably uglier than it did when Warner was the triggerman. Which, in fact, is kind of the idea.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Good read.

 

[Darkside]

Awesome read, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[DeAnna]

Most of those core players on defense were already here when Kurt Warner was playing. Why couldn't they have this defense then? Has Horton made that much of a difference?

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Most of those core players on defense were already here when Kurt Warner was playing. Why couldn't they have this defense then? Has Horton made that much of a difference?

Yes. Keep in mind that almost from day one, Whiz wanted to recruit a head of his "D" from Pittsburgh.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's a nice article, thanks for the link.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

Most of those core players on defense were already here when Kurt Warner was playing. Why couldn't they have this defense then? Has Horton made that much of a difference?

i beg to differ on this. Dock and Wilson were here for the Warner years, but otherwise, it's really an entirely new D. Campbell was only a first year starter in Warner's last year and outside of him, Washington, Acho, Peterson, Rhodes, Lennon, Scho/Groves, Dan Williams were all huge upgrades to this team, not to mention depth pretty much everywhere.

Horton has definitely made a HUGE difference, but the talent on this defense has also gotten HUGE upgrades at almost every position.

 

[red desert]

Great read, thanks P

 

[A fan who cares]

Good read, and a good video to go with it. This is the kind of reporting of the Cardinals I like. They praise the team a little, and then give unbiased news about the team and what they've done.

 

[D-Dogg]

Most of those core players on defense were already here when Kurt Warner was playing. Why couldn't they have this defense then? Has Horton made that much of a difference?

Yes. But DWash, Campbell, Williams, Rhodes and Peterson are core that was not there. Acho and Obscho are depth we did not have. Wash is better than Dansby. Rhodes better than Rolle. Peterson better than DRC. CC was a rookie.

So the talent is better, much more ferocious and knowledgeable. But Horton is the straw that stirs the drink, for sure. The secret ingredient.

With THIS D alone, we win that Super Bowl. With Horton added, it's a laugher. This D, Horton and KURT?? Gnight.

 

[Zeno]

With THIS D alone, we win that Super Bowl. With Horton added, it's a laugher. This D, Horton and KURT?? Gnight.

We likely would have won 2 Super Bowls those playoff years. We searched for a defense to match the offense now we are searching for an offense to match our defense...please let us get a complete team in my lifetime.

 

[JeffGollin]

Funny, we obviously had to do something right to go 4 & 0, but I'm still not ready to be sold on media comments that we've "happened."

Things can unravel as fast as they've developed.

 

[jmt]

Funny, we obviously had to do something right to go 4 & 0, but I'm still not ready to be sold on media comments that we've "happened."

Things can unravel as fast as they've developed.

Obviously you've been a Cardinal fan a long time. Folks forget that '74 team finished 10-4 after starting 7-0.

 

[52brandon]

i beg to differ on this. Dock and Wilson were here for the Warner years, but otherwise, it's really an entirely new D. Campbell was only a first year starter in Warner's last year and outside of him, Washington, Acho, Peterson, Rhodes, Lennon, Scho/Groves, Dan Williams were all huge upgrades to this team, not to mention depth pretty much everywhere.

Horton has definitely made a HUGE difference, but the talent on this defense has also gotten HUGE upgrades at almost every position.

agreed. Defenses don't win with 2-3 players. It takes 11 guys, and a coach. Which we have now

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Over the past year or so I have read a lot of posts on multiple sites about how bad coach Whiz is. Even amongst the the current 13 game stretch in which we have won 11 there are still plenty of people out there that want Whiz fired and believe that he has nothing to do with this run that this team is on. The problem I have with that thought process is that a team is always a reflection of the head coach. When a you have a team that has a never say die mentality that is absolutely a reflection of the head coach.

At the same time I'm not trying to take anything away from Horton because I believe he has brought in a great system and seems to dial up the right plays at the right time, but without the mentality that this team has with Whiz at the helm they wouldn't quite be the same team. They might still be pretty good, but a team that lacks mental toughness would never win that Miami game last week.

 

[52brandon]

Over the past year or so I have read a lot of posts on multiple sites about how bad coach Whiz is. Even amongst the the current 13 game stretch in which we have won 11 there are still plenty of people out there that want Whiz fired and believe that he has nothing to do with this run that this team is on. The problem I have with that thought process is that a team is always a reflection of the head coach. When a you have a team that has a never say die mentality that is absolutely a reflection of the head coach.

At the same time I'm not trying to take anything away from Horton because I believe he has brought in a great system and seems to dial up the right plays at the right time, but without the mentality that this team has with Whiz at the helm they wouldn't quite be the same team. They might still be pretty good, but a team that lacks mental toughness would never win that Miami game last week.

the thing that makes that hard to say really (which in reality is a great thing) is that both Whiz and Horton have that mentality. That's why they work so well together

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

the thing that makes that hard to say really (which in reality is a great thing) is that both Whiz and Horton have that mentality. That's why they work so well together

What I love about these 2 coaches is that they both seem to be pretty easy going and don't seem like they lose their cool very often or very easily. You see some of the coaches around the league that look like their about to give themselves a heart attack after seemingly every bad call and I think that can have a negative effect on their players.

 

[52brandon]

What I love about these 2 coaches is that they both seem to be pretty easy going and don't seem like they lose their cool very often or very easily. You see some of the coaches around the league that look like their about to give themselves a heart attack after seemingly every bad call and I think that can have a negative effect on their players.

the emotional coaches could go either way. Players could think "wow, he really cares. I like that and want to win for him". Or they may think "wow, this dude is a bitch. My wife isn't that emotional on the rag"


lol

 

[Catfish]

Over the past year or so I have read a lot of posts on multiple sites about how bad coach Whiz is. Even amongst the the current 13 game stretch in which we have won 11 there are still plenty of people out there that want Whiz fired and believe that he has nothing to do with this run that this team is on. The problem I have with that thought process is that a team is always a reflection of the head coach. When a you have a team that has a never say die mentality that is absolutely a reflection of the head coach.

At the same time I'm not trying to take anything away from Horton because I believe he has brought in a great system and seems to dial up the right plays at the right time, but without the mentality that this team has with Whiz at the helm they wouldn't quite be the same team. They might still be pretty good, but a team that lacks mental toughness would never win that Miami game last week.

While I have never been on the fire Whiz as coach team-----I can probably explain why some posters have been on him from time to time.

Whis had a superior offense (only) during the time that Warner was our QB. That did not carry over after Warner retired, and was missing before Warner got here. During all that time, Whiz was the playcaller in all but one year, (the year we went to the SB), until last year when he allowed Miller to call plays.

Also during that time, we never had better than a mediocre defense, and that remained so until the 8th game last year, the first year Horton was allowed to put the defense together. While it would look like the defense has taken on Whiz' personality, the likelihood is that it has taken on Horton and Darnell Dockett's personalities. Horton devised the scheme, and Docket provides the attitude. It was clear that it took Horton time to, (first analyze our players to determine their capabilities), then (fit them to a scheme that worked for us). ALL other DC's tried to fit our players into their scheme. After the players finally caught on, (the game in Philly last year), this defense has been among the best in the league. You can't really take that away from Horton.

Please do not say that I am dissing Whiz. I am only saying that he was not a great play caller. In the two years, (plus the 4 games this year), that he has given up play calling, we have a better record than we ever did when he called the plays. Whiz has been a pretty good head coach, (and is a better one when he does not have his head in the playbook during games). His realtime decisions on the field have been better since Miller is calling plays for us. One example of that is the play, late in the game where he threw a red flag calling for a replay, instead of costing us a time-out, when our defense needed a rest.

 

[clif]

Ok before we go off the deep end on Whiz lets reign in the heaping praise that is starting to befall him. First and foremost I took issue in the past with Whiz on a couple of recurring issues that up until the last 13 games was clearly an issue and that was clock management... and the the mental games that he has played with players over the years.

Having said that.. it is obvious that this group of guys it has worked out, but the arguement was valid at the time of the losing. You can't play everyone like a yo-yo and expect the results to be in your favor. I believe he has been playing a mind game with all of the QB's his has come in contact with since he has been with this team.

It just so happened that Warner was so damn good that he overcame it and right now Kolb is so mentally tough that he has overcome it. The guys no longer on the team couldn't cut it either mentally or physically. These guys on the team now will either survive it wilt under the pressure.

It's not my preferred method of dealing with people, but I'm not an NFL coach, but I did stay at a holiday inn last night

 

[52brandon]

the likelihood is that it has taken on Horton and Darnell Dockett's personalities. Horton devised the scheme, and Docket provides the attitude

Please do not say that I am dissing Whiz. I am only saying that he was not a great play caller. In the two years, (plus the 4 games this year), that he has given up play calling, we have a better record than we ever did when he called the plays. Whiz has been a pretty good head coach, (and is a better one when he does not have his head in the playbook during games). His realtime decisions on the field have been better since Miller is calling plays for us. One example of that is the play, late in the game where he threw a red flag calling for a replay, instead of costing us a time-out, when our defense needed a rest.

1st paragraph: As much as I love Dockett, and I do, why does he always get the credit for the D's personality? AW has been doing it for years before DD was even here...

Building a team you want, and can coach is going to take quite some time. All the way up until this year I had said that Green drafted better than Whiz. Not considering that Whiz had a whole different plan drafting. It's finally come together. He finally got the staff he wanted too. He's done an absolutely amazing job. And I am ecstatic Bidwill stuck with him and let him do his thing while fans were calling for his head. I've always been one of the biggest Whiz apologists. I thought he was the best we'd done at HC. But even I didn't expect it to play out this well

 

[nooch]

Good read thanks for posting that article.

I like that they have a direction and model that they are trying to follow. Obviously we don't have the run game yet. But I like that they are building us in power running mold. It would do wonders for the play calling, and take pressure off of Kolb.

I know the O-line is holding its own. But I really would have liked to have seen Levi this year, I think he was putting it all together. I'm not completely sold Sendlien. I don't have anything to back it up, just my gut feeling. Seems he good in the pass game, but not as strong in the run game. Maybe I'm totally wrong. But I think he could use some competition.

I do think they are in need of a different running style. I don't think Grimm is the answer. I'd like to see a new O-line coach in here next year.

 

[52brandon]

I know the O-line is holding its own. But I really would have liked to have seen Levi this year, I think he was putting it all together. I'm not completely sold Sendlien. I don't have anything to back it up, just my gut feeling. Seems he good in the pass game, but not as strong in the run game. Maybe I'm totally wrong. But I think he could use some competition.

I do think they are in need of a different running style. I don't think Grimm is the answer. I'd like to see a new O-line coach in here next year.

I love Sendlein. Hometown hero. But I do agree that he could use competition, I think everybody could. Plus, you can't expect the guy to be bulletproof. A good backup would be very welcome IMO. I also agree on Grimm. He has done nothing to impress me his entire time here

 

[nooch]

I love Sendlein. Hometown hero. But I do agree that he could use competition, I think everybody could. Plus, you can't expect the guy to be bulletproof. A good backup would be very welcome IMO. I also agree on Grimm. He has done nothing to impress me his entire time here

I like Lyle as well. Just seems everyone, myself included wants the O-line improved. Sendlein's name very rarely comes up as being a problem. He might not be a problem at all. I just think its worth discussion.

 

[52brandon]

I like Lyle as well. Just seems everyone, myself included wants the O-line improved. Sendlein's name very rarely comes up as being a problem. He might not be a problem at all. I just think its worth discussion.

totally with you there. And like I said, a solid backup is always a good thing to have as well