Fitz will be fine. He was as open as he's typically been. Palmer had some timing & precision issues.
Speaking of Palmer, the lousy O-line play was a significant part of the problem. It was clear he almost always had to forego his progressions and throw to the primary receiver even when that receiver was covered. He could have eaten a few more and taken a sack, but that's not his mentality. What he does appear to have lost is his ability to throw on the move. If you look at the overthrow down the middle he had a rusher coming straight in and couldn't step into the throw. Another interception bounced off Ellington. I actually was encouraged to see Palmer move in the pocket. In 2015 he often frustrated the rush by shifting position in the pocket. Last year he was a statue. I think he can still win games if given time to throw. I am a little concerned about arm strength. He did look short often on quick outs. On the other hand he was on the money on the play JJ dropped.
The receivers likely were open more than the network view showed. Again every playmaker looks bad when the O-line fails.
That brings us to the play calling. It was bad. I thought the offense looked best just before the half when they went essentially no huddle. Yet, they never used that strategy again until the game was out of reach. Even before he was hurt Johnson got too few touches. The Cards hardly ever ran a screen or run delay even with a furious rush. They simply did little to slow it. Some quick crossing routes to others beside Fitz would have helped. Note how much better John Brown looked on these quick short throws. There were just too few of them.
As to the defense the push rush looked weak up the middle, letting Stafford escape continuously. The run defense was better than I expected. I didn't feel any of the safeties had a good game. At CB Bethel looked better but inconsistent. Even Peterson lost focus at times. This was a team loss. It's hard to believe they could draft a receiver who could be plan B on kick returns. I will concede coverage was better on kickoffs. However on punts the gunners were consistently out kicked.
Can this team win 9 games? They must fix the O-line to do so. The fix starts there.
Speaking of Palmer, the lousy O-line play was a significant part of the problem. It was clear he almost always had to forego his progressions and throw to the primary receiver even when that receiver was covered. He could have eaten a few more and taken a sack, but that's not his mentality. What he does appear to have lost is his ability to throw on the move. If you look at the overthrow down the middle he had a rusher coming straight in and couldn't step into the throw. Another interception bounced off Ellington. I actually was encouraged to see Palmer move in the pocket. In 2015 he often frustrated the rush by shifting position in the pocket. Last year he was a statue. I think he can still win games if given time to throw. I am a little concerned about arm strength. He did look short often on quick outs. On the other hand he was on the money on the play JJ dropped.
The receivers likely were open more than the network view showed. Again every playmaker looks bad when the O-line fails.
That brings us to the play calling. It was bad. I thought the offense looked best just before the half when they went essentially no huddle. Yet, they never used that strategy again until the game was out of reach. Even before he was hurt Johnson got too few touches. The Cards hardly ever ran a screen or run delay even with a furious rush. They simply did little to slow it. Some quick crossing routes to others beside Fitz would have helped. Note how much better John Brown looked on these quick short throws. There were just too few of them.
As to the defense the push rush looked weak up the middle, letting Stafford escape continuously. The run defense was better than I expected. I didn't feel any of the safeties had a good game. At CB Bethel looked better but inconsistent. Even Peterson lost focus at times. This was a team loss. It's hard to believe they could draft a receiver who could be plan B on kick returns. I will concede coverage was better on kickoffs. However on punts the gunners were consistently out kicked.
Can this team win 9 games? They must fix the O-line to do so. The fix starts there.
I think Warmer and his relationship with God seemed to overcome the jinxed part.
