Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
First of all, it was a tough to see CB Mike Jenkins go down with a non-contact knee injury. Then, to see Carson Palmer take a shot to the chops while on the turf after he once again played hot potato and threw the ball where the other team could make a play on it, was especially agonizing seeing as after he led the offense to a nice TD, there was ZERO point of having him go back into the game. Then, after running hard in the second half, apparently Stepfan Taylor suffered some sort of knee injury.
While the coaches and players are saying "it's pre-season" like it really doesn't matter, the problem for the fans is that for four of the five games we have watched the same script of self-destruction and missed opportunities---QBs throwing into crowded areas and getting easily picked off, defense having trouble covering receivers and special teams giving up big plays.
Clearly the coaches haven't addressed these issues emphatically enough, because they eerily persist---as does the national perception that Carson Palmer and the Cardinals are choke artists in games that matter most.
However, I don't know if you did this---but during this period of confusion and frustration, I keep thinking back to that 9 game stretch last year that was the most thrilling 9 game stretch I have ever seen from the Cardinals in my 53 years as a fan. And what made it even sweeter was the 6-0 the Cardinals went in prime-time games during that span, when typically they wilted under the heat of the big-game lights.
What concerns me the most is why other QBs the Cardinals are facing who have been with their teams for a mere matter of months are running their new offenses better than Carson Palmer---4th year in BA's offense) and Drew Stanton (5th year in BA's offense).
Why?
Many fans have been clamoring about not taking Dak Prescott in the 2016 NFL Draft---but---think about this---had the Cardinals taken Prescott, he and Matt Barkley would be splitting time in a so-called "competition" for the #3 QB job. In Arizona, Prescott would not be getting anywhere near the same preparation and playing time as he is in Dallas. It's just the way BA does things. He's all set with Palmer and Stanton and there's no changing that.
After all, BA's offense take a ton of time to learn. Ugh.
Which leads me to the observation that the last two weeks the QB who appeared (ironically) to be the most composed and in command of the offense has been Matt Barkley. Was Barkley light's-out? No. But he hung in there to let plays develop and he was fairly accurate. He MOVED the offense.
One will argue that he wasn't playing versus the 1s. True. But, neither was Drew Stanton all the time. And Stanton has had time with the first team offense. Stanton has not even played respectable football. Not even close.
What come to mind these days is the realization that with all the talent the Cardinals have on offense---the offense should be simplified, because the talent makes it easy. It doesn't need all these double fake screen and bubble passes because (a) they are not fooling anyone; (b) Palmer is not executing them--in fact teams are very conscious of his hot potato throws; and (c) when you can run the ball, you can RUN the ball for those yards.
The passing offense should be as simple as what is our best mismatch against their coverage---go and exploit it. That's what Kurt Warner was a master of. He drew up a 7 TD blueprint of how to win mismatches versus the Packers---all in one week's time.
I will offer individual player thoughts with my 53 projection tomorrow. For right now I just wanted to offer some thoughts on the big picture. I look forward to reading yours.
While the coaches and players are saying "it's pre-season" like it really doesn't matter, the problem for the fans is that for four of the five games we have watched the same script of self-destruction and missed opportunities---QBs throwing into crowded areas and getting easily picked off, defense having trouble covering receivers and special teams giving up big plays.
Clearly the coaches haven't addressed these issues emphatically enough, because they eerily persist---as does the national perception that Carson Palmer and the Cardinals are choke artists in games that matter most.
However, I don't know if you did this---but during this period of confusion and frustration, I keep thinking back to that 9 game stretch last year that was the most thrilling 9 game stretch I have ever seen from the Cardinals in my 53 years as a fan. And what made it even sweeter was the 6-0 the Cardinals went in prime-time games during that span, when typically they wilted under the heat of the big-game lights.
What concerns me the most is why other QBs the Cardinals are facing who have been with their teams for a mere matter of months are running their new offenses better than Carson Palmer---4th year in BA's offense) and Drew Stanton (5th year in BA's offense).
Why?
Many fans have been clamoring about not taking Dak Prescott in the 2016 NFL Draft---but---think about this---had the Cardinals taken Prescott, he and Matt Barkley would be splitting time in a so-called "competition" for the #3 QB job. In Arizona, Prescott would not be getting anywhere near the same preparation and playing time as he is in Dallas. It's just the way BA does things. He's all set with Palmer and Stanton and there's no changing that.
After all, BA's offense take a ton of time to learn. Ugh.
Which leads me to the observation that the last two weeks the QB who appeared (ironically) to be the most composed and in command of the offense has been Matt Barkley. Was Barkley light's-out? No. But he hung in there to let plays develop and he was fairly accurate. He MOVED the offense.
One will argue that he wasn't playing versus the 1s. True. But, neither was Drew Stanton all the time. And Stanton has had time with the first team offense. Stanton has not even played respectable football. Not even close.
What come to mind these days is the realization that with all the talent the Cardinals have on offense---the offense should be simplified, because the talent makes it easy. It doesn't need all these double fake screen and bubble passes because (a) they are not fooling anyone; (b) Palmer is not executing them--in fact teams are very conscious of his hot potato throws; and (c) when you can run the ball, you can RUN the ball for those yards.
The passing offense should be as simple as what is our best mismatch against their coverage---go and exploit it. That's what Kurt Warner was a master of. He drew up a 7 TD blueprint of how to win mismatches versus the Packers---all in one week's time.
I will offer individual player thoughts with my 53 projection tomorrow. For right now I just wanted to offer some thoughts on the big picture. I look forward to reading yours.
