Offensive Changes After Week 1

[Mitch]

1. Start Leckey at C.

2. Start Stepanovich at LG.

3. Sign David Dixon at RG. (if not...Big to LG, Wells to LT, Leckey to C, Stepanovich to RG).

4. Have Reggie Wells battle it out with Oliver Ross for RT. (I still believe that Wells is potentially the most talented offensive tackle on the roster...and Leonard Davis is, without question, the most talented guard). Wells matches up well with defensive ends...but is not stalwart enough to get a push on defensive tackles...whereas Davis can get a push (when he wants to) on any DT in the league. If the Cardinals REALLY want to run the ball...flip-flopping Wells and Davis would be the smartest option).

5. Pass on all running downs if the running game continues to struggle.

6. Make a concerted effort to hit Anquan Boldin on crossing and Z-out patterns from the slot.

7. Keep chipping the backs on the DEs and have them slide out as safety valves.

8. Run 4 WR sets with Lee and Swinton taking turns at the #4.

9. Run Arrington in the slot as a 4th WR. Get him the ball in space and he will be scary good.

10. Line Warner up in the shotgun as much as possible...and certainly on all passing downs...to buy him as much time and field vision as possible.

11. Keep throwing deep to Fitz and BJ...this is what I liked best about yesterday...Warner threw more vertically than any Cardinal QB we've seen in years. How about the deep post pass to Fitz? Wow!

12. Run a middle screen this week...the Rams' DTs will be firing the gaps as much as possible, especially after looking at the Giants' tape. Draws would keep them honest...but a middle screen could go for 20-30 yards against this defense.

13. Practice play calling with Rowen and Warner this week in practice...play situations...make a decision to give Warner the green light to call his own play, if the play hasn't been sent in on time. Give him a handful of plays he can choose from...have him wear a wristband if necessary.

14. Against their man-to-man pass coverage...isolate JJ Arrington on their LBs...have the receivers to Arrington's side run post patterns to clear the side and run Arrington up the sideline...he'll blow past their LBs and be wide open.

 

[spanky1]

Mitch,

Neither Step or Leckey (at 305 and 300 LBS respectively) are big enough to realistically be effective OG's, IMO. I'm not giving up on Brown this early in the game. He was operating on an island what with the play of Lynch and Ross.

I'd love BIG at LOG.....too bad it ain't going to happen.

 

[Grand Canon]

Wells Davis Switch

:notworthy Love the Switch of Davis and Wells- I thought Wells was a solid Tackle...

 

[ajcardfan]

:notworthy Love the Switch of Davis and Wells- I thought Wells was a solid Tackle...

Based on his two career starts?

1. Game 16, 2003, against Minnesota. Wells is abused by Lance Johnstone (not exactly in the "feared" category of DEs) and gives up three sacks. In addition to McCown getting clobbered for 3 and a 1/2 quarters we can't run the ball either.


2. Game 16, 2004, against Tampa. This time he does play a "feared" DE in Simeon Rice. But, Rice decides to dog it and avoid injury in a meaningless game. Sometimes, as I watch this matchup from the stands, Wells is two or three steps into his drop before Rice takes a step.


I'm all for tweaking the game plan. I just don't think saying, "You know everything we've practiced for six months? Chuck it. We're changing all five starters on the oline." is the way to get competitive sooner.

And, don't say "Well, it can't get any worse." Oh yes it can, we're talking about the Cardinals!

 

[Pariah]

We need to sign Marcus Spears to a one-year contract, too. Imagine if one of our T gets hurt, too....



Also, along the lines of replacing Wells at G--we could still do that even if we don't move Step. We could move Ross inside and Wells outside.

 

[Pariah]

...I wouldn't mess with the line like that until at least after game 4, though...

 

[joeshmo]

I dont think we will see to many changes besides maybe a healthy Step and/or vet FA such as Dixon and/or Spears to take the spot of Wells or Brown.

 

[CardinalChris]

Mitch,

Neither Step or Leckey (at 305 and 300 LBS respectively) are big enough to realistically be effective OG's, IMO. I'm not giving up on Brown this early in the game. He was operating on an island what with the play of Lynch and Ross.

I'd love BIG at LOG.....too bad it ain't going to happen.

Neither is that big and that is accented when they play next to each other. Usually a small C can be helped on either side by the guard....

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Based on his two career starts?

1. Game 16, 2003, against Minnesota. Wells is abused by Lance Johnstone (not exactly in the "feared" category of DEs) and gives up three sacks. In addition to McCown getting clobbered for 3 and a 1/2 quarters we can't run the ball either.


2. Game 16, 2004, against Tampa. This time he does play a "feared" DE in Simeon Rice. But, Rice decides to dog it and avoid injury in a meaningless game. Sometimes, as I watch this matchup from the stands, Wells is two or three steps into his drop before Rice takes a step.


I'm all for tweaking the game plan. I just don't think saying, "You know everything we've practiced for six months? Chuck it. We're changing all five starters on the oline." is the way to get competitive sooner.

And, don't say "Well, it can't get any worse." Oh yes it can, we're talking about the Cardinals!

 

[Russ Smith]

Based on his two career starts?

1. Game 16, 2003, against Minnesota. Wells is abused by Lance Johnstone (not exactly in the "feared" category of DEs) and gives up three sacks. In addition to McCown getting clobbered for 3 and a 1/2 quarters we can't run the ball either.


2. Game 16, 2004, against Tampa. This time he does play a "feared" DE in Simeon Rice. But, Rice decides to dog it and avoid injury in a meaningless game. Sometimes, as I watch this matchup from the stands, Wells is two or three steps into his drop before Rice takes a step.


I'm all for tweaking the game plan. I just don't think saying, "You know everything we've practiced for six months? Chuck it. We're changing all five starters on the oline." is the way to get competitive sooner.

And, don't say "Well, it can't get any worse." Oh yes it can, we're talking about the Cardinals!

Come on let's just blow up the OL and move everyone to new positions.

I like Walt a lot but you don't change starters all along the OL after one loss especially when you know the C will be bagging groceries as soon as Step and Leckey can play again.

 

[phillycard]

7. Keep chipping the backs on the DEs and have them slide out as safety valves.

Did you see how well the Giants did that to us?? My God you'd think we might learn something from that.

 

[john h]

1. Start Leckey at C.

2. Start Stepanovich at LG.

3. Sign David Dixon at RG. (if not...Big to LG, Wells to LT, Leckey to C, Stepanovich to RG).

4. Have Reggie Wells battle it out with Oliver Ross for RT. (I still believe that Wells is potentially the most talented offensive tackle on the roster...and Leonard Davis is, without question, the most talented guard). Wells matches up well with defensive ends...but is not stalwart enough to get a push on defensive tackles...whereas Davis can get a push (when he wants to) on any DT in the league. If the Cardinals REALLY want to run the ball...flip-flopping Wells and Davis would be the smartest option).

5. Pass on all running downs if the running game continues to struggle.

6. Make a concerted effort to hit Anquan Boldin on crossing and Z-out patterns from the slot.

7. Keep chipping the backs on the DEs and have them slide out as safety valves.

8. Run 4 WR sets with Lee and Swinton taking turns at the #4.

9. Run Arrington in the slot as a 4th WR. Get him the ball in space and he will be scary good.

10. Line Warner up in the shotgun as much as possible...and certainly on all passing downs...to buy him as much time and field vision as possible.

11. Keep throwing deep to Fitz and BJ...this is what I liked best about yesterday...Warner threw more vertically than any Cardinal QB we've seen in years. How about the deep post pass to Fitz? Wow!

12. Run a middle screen this week...the Rams' DTs will be firing the gaps as much as possible, especially after looking at the Giants' tape. Draws would keep them honest...but a middle screen could go for 20-30 yards against this defense.

13. Practice play calling with Rowen and Warner this week in practice...play situations...make a decision to give Warner the green light to call his own play, if the play hasn't been sent in on time. Give him a handful of plays he can choose from...have him wear a wristband if necessary.

14. Against their man-to-man pass coverage...isolate JJ Arrington on their LBs...have the receivers to Arrington's side run post patterns to clear the side and run Arrington up the sideline...he'll blow past their LBs and be wide open.

Putting Warner in the gun is a must. After the Rams look at the film of our game and lack of a run they will be comming more often than not. I wondered why we did not put him in the gun more last weekend. Did we try any screen passes?

 

[Totally_Red]

Putting Warner in the gun is a must. After the Rams look at the film of our game and lack of a run they will be comming more often than not. I wondered why we did not put him in the gun more last weekend. Did we try any screen passes?

Could be they didn't trust Shawn Lynch to snap in the shotgun formation.

 

[Russ Smith]

Could be they didn't trust Shawn Lynch to snap in the shotgun formation.

Given Step's inexperience with the gun(recall last year) and a hand injury, I wonder if we'll be able to shotgun at all this week?

 

[Totally_Red]

Given Step's inexperience with the gun(recall last year) and a hand injury, I wonder if we'll be able to shotgun at all this week?

Good point!

 

[john h]

1. Start Leckey at C.

2. Start Stepanovich at LG.

3. Sign David Dixon at RG. (if not...Big to LG, Wells to LT, Leckey to C, Stepanovich to RG).

4. Have Reggie Wells battle it out with Oliver Ross for RT. (I still believe that Wells is potentially the most talented offensive tackle on the roster...and Leonard Davis is, without question, the most talented guard). Wells matches up well with defensive ends...but is not stalwart enough to get a push on defensive tackles...whereas Davis can get a push (when he wants to) on any DT in the league. If the Cardinals REALLY want to run the ball...flip-flopping Wells and Davis would be the smartest option).

5. Pass on all running downs if the running game continues to struggle.

6. Make a concerted effort to hit Anquan Boldin on crossing and Z-out patterns from the slot.

7. Keep chipping the backs on the DEs and have them slide out as safety valves.

8. Run 4 WR sets with Lee and Swinton taking turns at the #4.

9. Run Arrington in the slot as a 4th WR. Get him the ball in space and he will be scary good.

10. Line Warner up in the shotgun as much as possible...and certainly on all passing downs...to buy him as much time and field vision as possible.

11. Keep throwing deep to Fitz and BJ...this is what I liked best about yesterday...Warner threw more vertically than any Cardinal QB we've seen in years. How about the deep post pass to Fitz? Wow!

12. Run a middle screen this week...the Rams' DTs will be firing the gaps as much as possible, especially after looking at the Giants' tape. Draws would keep them honest...but a middle screen could go for 20-30 yards against this defense.

13. Practice play calling with Rowen and Warner this week in practice...play situations...make a decision to give Warner the green light to call his own play, if the play hasn't been sent in on time. Give him a handful of plays he can choose from...have him wear a wristband if necessary.

14. Against their man-to-man pass coverage...isolate JJ Arrington on their LBs...have the receivers to Arrington's side run post patterns to clear the side and run Arrington up the sideline...he'll blow past their LBs and be wide open.

As far as Boldin goes the QB is going to have to hit the open guy. If the Rams are going to give extra coverage to Boldin then Fitz will probably once again be catching most of the passes. You can bet after reviewing the game film the Rams will be doing a lot of what the Giants did. This really is a key game for the Cards as we looked so horrible last week. We must show some major improvement even if we lose or we will began to erode the confidence of the players and what ever fan base we have. Next year is the year we are supposed to be competitive and at the moment we have to many holes to fill in one more draft and FA period. If Warner does not pan out we really have no long term solution. Lots of holes on the OL. Clearly problems with special teams. We are strong at receiver except a TE. We have a some decent defensive personnel but probably need some more help at DB. I personally think we have some assistant coaching problems if not a head coach problem. DG will get his 5 years and he will probably hire and fire more assistants.

 

[john h]

Good point!

As if we do not have enough problems. Our center can not make a good long snap in the gun???? Gezzz I hope that is not the case. Add to that he is only a 2nd year guy to begin with.