Remember 2002?

[Stout]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye. We hadn't played very well at all, we didn't have good QB play, but gosh darn it, we had a winning record.

Anyone remember what happened after that? I'll refresh your memory. 6 straight losses and only 1 more win, to finish up at 5-11.

Now, why should I bring this up? We're definitely a better all-around team and we've had success. No, I don't think we'll only win 1 more game all season. Yes, I think a lot of the blind optimism then was just wishful thinking, and I do think we as fans of the team have a better perspective on the fact that we're just not as good as our record now versus then.

Still and all, I remember getting absolutely trashed on this board when I said that we weren't that good, that the 4-2 record was a mirage. I hated being right, because that meant that we sucked, but I knew reality when I saw it, and I said so.

What is reality for the Arizona Cardinals right now? We're garbage, that's what reality is. We're 2-1 but we suck. Not as bad as we did in 2002, but we still stink. We don't have a QB and we don't have a defense. That is a recipe for sucking and sucking some more. We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit. Heck, I didn't want to admit it but the truth is plainly visible by now. We miss Warner (duh!), but there wasn't anything to be done about that. We still should have done better at the QB position.

What's my point in putting up this doom and gloom post? Prepare yourselves for a rough season, my compadres, because we're in for some pain.

 

[BigRedRage]

isnt that the year we had like 12 players on IR? started dropping like flies after going 4-2

 

[Duckjake]

Actually this season is more like 2003. After that 2002 season the Cards changed personnel at numerous positions including QB and RB and WR. I think they had 6 new starters on offense and replaced Plummer with a DA like QB in Jeff Blake. They also had some young players with real talent just like we do now. Guys that later would be instrumental in the SB run.

Fortunately the remaining talent on this year's team and the coaching staff are far better than that 2003 group

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye. We hadn't played very well at all, we didn't have good QB play, but gosh darn it, we had a winning record.

Anyone remember what happened after that? I'll refresh your memory. 6 straight losses and only 1 more win, to finish up at 5-11.

Now, why should I bring this up? We're definitely a better all-around team and we've had success. No, I don't think we'll only win 1 more game all season. Yes, I think a lot of the blind optimism then was just wishful thinking, and I do think we as fans of the team have a better perspective on the fact that we're just not as good as our record now versus then.

Still and all, I remember getting absolutely trashed on this board when I said that we weren't that good, that the 4-2 record was a mirage. I hated being right, because that meant that we sucked, but I knew reality when I saw it, and I said so. (not saying you do, but some are doing this and it is ridiculous. Make your point and move on.)

What is reality for the Arizona Cardinals right now? We're garbage, that's what reality is. We're 2-1 but we suck. Not as bad as we did in 2002, but we still stink. We don't have a QB and we don't have a defense. That is a recipe for sucking and sucking some more. We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit. Heck, I didn't want to admit it but the truth is plainly visible by now. We miss Warner (duh!), but there wasn't anything to be done about that. We still should have done better at the QB position.

What's my point in putting up this doom and gloom post? Prepare yourselves for a rough season, my compadres, because we're in for some pain.

Uhhh...... so, what are you saying ?

That you are late to the party ?

Yes, this team is not good, but I feel will improve. By how much I don't know.

Some of us have accepted the team for what it is. We just don't need over-dramatic, woah-is-me, posts on every single thread, and don't need to rain on the parade of every single positive post made on this board.

 

[Cardiac]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye. We hadn't played very well at all, we didn't have good QB play, but gosh darn it, we had a winning record.

Anyone remember what happened after that? I'll refresh your memory. 6 straight losses and only 1 more win, to finish up at 5-11.

Now, why should I bring this up? We're definitely a better all-around team and we've had success. No, I don't think we'll only win 1 more game all season. Yes, I think a lot of the blind optimism then was just wishful thinking, and I do think we as fans of the team have a better perspective on the fact that we're just not as good as our record now versus then.

Still and all, I remember getting absolutely trashed on this board when I said that we weren't that good, that the 4-2 record was a mirage. I hated being right, because that meant that we sucked, but I knew reality when I saw it, and I said so.

What is reality for the Arizona Cardinals right now? We're garbage, that's what reality is. We're 2-1 but we suck. Not as bad as we did in 2002, but we still stink. We don't have a QB and we don't have a defense. That is a recipe for sucking and sucking some more. We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit. Heck, I didn't want to admit it but the truth is plainly visible by now. We miss Warner (duh!), but there wasn't anything to be done about that. We still should have done better at the QB position.

What's my point in putting up this doom and gloom post? Prepare yourselves for a rough season, my compadres, because we're in for some pain.

Painful memory. Terry Bradshaw did a piece on the Cards when we went 4 -2 and wheels fell off. Keep Bradshaw away and we will be fine.

I share your concern Stout. The glimmer of hope I have for a decent to good season is first and foremost Whiz. The 2nd is that we won 2 games while shooting ourselves in the foot during those games. I expect that penalties and TO's etc will improve.

DA can't continue to suck this bad, can he?

If he could just improve to okayish instead of what we have seen so far then we get into the Playoffs.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

DA can't continue to suck this bad, can he?

No, and yes. He is playing how he has played his entire career. Take that as you will.

 

[Mulli]

why bother? Long time ago. Time to move on

 

[Duckjake]

why bother? Long time ago. Time to move on

Tell that to my son's US History teacher will you. She keeps making him study things that happened a long time ago.

 

[Mulli]

Tell that to my son's US History teacher will you. She keeps making him study things that happened a long time ago.

Yes, totally the same thing. Of course. We should all study the craptastic seasons of Cardinal past.

 

[Cardiac]

Tell that to my son's US History teacher will you. She keeps making him study things that happened a long time ago.

Yes, totally the same thing. Of course. We should all study the craptastic seasons of Cardinal past.

Both good points as this is not your fathers Cards but to not see the possibility of this season going south fast is rather hopeful.

 

[Duckjake]

Yes, totally the same thing. Of course. We should all study the craptastic seasons of Cardinal past.

Why not? We study the craptastic US Government policies of the past.

 

[jefftheshark]

Yes, totally the same thing. Of course. We should all study the craptastic seasons of Cardinal past.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to having Jeff Blake as their QB."

George Santayana - famous dead philosopher and Cardinal fan

 

[Cardiac]

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to having Jeff Blake as their QB."

George Santayana - famous dead philosopher and Cardinal fan

 

[Big D]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye.

I remember it well actually. Sitting in the NEZ sweating my ass off watching the Cards beat the Cowboys with like 3 FGs. I remember A-dub picking off Quincy Carter like 3 times and saying to myself damn this kid is going to be a pro-bowler in the not too distant future.

I remember talking massive junk to Cowboys fans leaving the stadium riding high on the kool-aid buzz of the 4-2 record and a showdown with SF the following week for the division lead...

9ers go on to put up like 50 on us and we lose like our top 3 WRs for the season in the process. The losing skid that ensued was brutal but at least it became laughable. The Jake the snake era was officially over. Ah good times.

 

[CardLogic]

2002 vs. 2010? I don't think the seasons compare.

The first and greatest difference - the head coach. Whisenhunt has a plan, we may not agree with it or even understand it, but he has a plan. McGinnis on the other had, as likeable as he was, didn't have a clue!

Second difference - this year's team is not good right now. We can all agree with that; but I believe they will improve. The 2002 team was headed the other direction.

Oh, and that game vs. Dallas in 2002 to get the Cardinals to 4-2, one of the worst played games I have ever witnessed in my life!

A 9-6 overtime win by the Cardinals. Neither team could keep from tripping over their own feet. Bill Grammatica was 3-for-6 kicking field goals, the Dallas kicker missed both his kicks, a field goal and an extra point. The teams only had 2 red-zone possessions each, and all four resulted in zero points. A very ugly game...

 

[mrbyte]

lets just circles the wagons and accept we are what we are, get behind the team we have and get the most out of the season we can.

who knows what will happen lets enjoy the ride

 

[BigRedMO]

why bother? Long time ago. Time to move on

Because patterns repeat with the Cardinals as long as the same owners own the team. If you want to understand the Cardinals you HAVE to know the history. To not study the past would be like saying I am going to start studying world history starting with today and think you can figure out what is going on and what will go on.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye. We hadn't played very well at all, we didn't have good QB play, but gosh darn it, we had a winning record.

Anyone remember what happened after that? I'll refresh your memory. 6 straight losses and only 1 more win, to finish up at 5-11.

Now, why should I bring this up? We're definitely a better all-around team and we've had success. No, I don't think we'll only win 1 more game all season. Yes, I think a lot of the blind optimism then was just wishful thinking, and I do think we as fans of the team have a better perspective on the fact that we're just not as good as our record now versus then.

Still and all, I remember getting absolutely trashed on this board when I said that we weren't that good, that the 4-2 record was a mirage. I hated being right, because that meant that we sucked, but I knew reality when I saw it, and I said so.

What is reality for the Arizona Cardinals right now? We're garbage, that's what reality is. We're 2-1 but we suck. Not as bad as we did in 2002, but we still stink. We don't have a QB and we don't have a defense. That is a recipe for sucking and sucking some more. We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit. Heck, I didn't want to admit it but the truth is plainly visible by now. We miss Warner (duh!), but there wasn't anything to be done about that. We still should have done better at the QB position.

What's my point in putting up this doom and gloom post? Prepare yourselves for a rough season, my compadres, because we're in for some pain.

It's going to be a rough season for sure. But, we are back to back winners of the division, with a near SB shocker tossed in for good measure as well. Very different than what we were dealing with in '02.
Also, while the team today is not what we would want, IMHO, it is head & shoulders above the '02 team in overall talent and coaching.
Players like Fitz, Breaston, Dockett, Campbell, DRC, Rhodes, Beanie, Hyphen, Deuce... they didn't exist on that '02 team.
Our issues today are:

- Crappy QB
- Too much change in personnel (Warner, Q, Dansby, Rolle, Berry, Okeafor, loss of Hayes...).
- Wholesale position changes on the o-line.
- Glaring weakness at Linebacker & Nose Tackle.

Our only hope is that our weaknesses are not nearly as weak as they were back in '02 (which I believe to be the case), and that Whiz & Co possess the leadership power to somehow form an actual cohesive team that can rally enough to win the weakest division in pro football...

 

[Cheesebeef]

I've been thinking the same thing, but there are two HUGE differences between 2002 and 2010: Wiz (versus MAC!) and our schedule. That year, we had been playing patsies and barely squeaking by them with a hellacious gauntlet in front of us. I knew we were terrible and it was gonna get really ugly once we started playing those teams.

This year? Yeah, our schedule is CAKE (for a good team) and you know what that means? I think it means we're still gonna win 7 games this year but every damn one of them is going to be just as horrifically ugly and painful to sit through as were the first two games.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I've been thinking the same thing, but there are two HUGE differences between 2002 and 2010: Wiz (versus MAC!) and our schedule. That year, we had been playing patsies and barely squeaking by them with a hellacious gauntlet in front of us. I knew we were terrible and it was gonna get really ugly once we started playing those teams.

This year? Yeah, our schedule is CAKE (for a good team) and you know what that means? I think it means we're still gonna win 7 games this year but every damn one of them is going to be just as horrifically ugly and painful to sit through as were the first two games.

I dunno... maybe it's just me, but I am thinking longer term - beyond 2010. In '02, there was ZERO hope. None. We sucked then and we all knew in our soul that we were gonna continue to suck for years after.
Can you really say you feel the same this year? Look, I am as critical as anyone, but c'mon guys. Mike B., Rod and Whiz have proven - at least to me, that they will do all they can to ensure we never slip back to the prolonged periods of hell this team habitually inhabited.
Are there questions? Of course... which NFL team doesn't have questions? In the end, you have to trust the leadership of the team and for me, they have earned my trust. As I've said, all teams run thru cycles of ups and downs. The Cards were dealt a tough hand this year due to the massive loss of talent. Coming off of back to back division titles, is it really that uncommon to see a team re-tool and in so doing, slip back a bit??
The real test comes in 2011. Should this team miss the playoffs this year, does the leadership of the team have what it takes to make it a short-term fall from glory and get us back into the post season in 2011?? My bet is on the them to do just that...

 

[Mulli]

Because patterns repeat with the Cardinals as long as the same owners own the team. If you want to understand the Cardinals you HAVE to know the history. To not study the past would be like saying I am going to start studying world history starting with today and think you can figure out what is going on and what will go on.

I KNOW what happened. I still had season tickets. If I relive it now, I am not changing anything the Cards do. I don't even live in AZ.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I dunno... maybe it's just me, but I am thinking longer term - beyond 2010. In '02, there was ZERO hope. None. We sucked then and we all knew in our soul that we were gonna continue to suck for years after.
Can you really say you feel the same this year? Look, I am as critical as anyone, but c'mon guys. Mike B., Rod and Whiz have proven - at least to me, that they will do all they can to ensure we never slip back to the prolonged periods of hell this team habitually inhabited.
Are there questions? Of course... which NFL team doesn't have questions? In the end, you have to trust the leadership of the team and for me, they have earned my trust. As I've said, all teams run thru cycles of ups and downs. The Cards were dealt a tough hand this year due to the massive loss of talent. Coming off of back to back division titles, is it really that uncommon to see a team re-tool and in so doing, slip back a bit??
The real test comes in 2011. Should this team miss the playoffs this year, does the leadership of the team have what it takes to make it a short-term fall from glory and get us back into the post season in 2011?? My bet is on the them to do just that...

oh, I don't think this team is doomed for the future at all. We're a mediocre QB away from being a playoff pretender and a solid QB away from being good again. Getting either of those is easier said than done, but nothing can be worse than the situation at QB we have now. It won't be that way next year... and GASP... if it is, well, THEN I'll start to fear for the future of this team.

 

[chickenhead]

I think in 2002 we didn't remember what it was like to be a contender (the previous playoff appearance was awesome to be sure, but in the end just a blip) and were basically just dreaming of winning 4-5 more games, getting help, and sneaking into the playoffs. The organization didn't know where to begin addressing problems and the fans had no confidence that they could.

It's so much different now. We are more in transition than some of thought we were or hoped we were, but if we miss the postseason this year but are back in 2011 and/or 2012: that's a pretty great 5 years span--especially for us.

But we're 2-1. A lot of teams have come storming back in the second half of the season, so let's not write everything off yet.

 

[desertdawg]

This year? Yeah, our schedule is CAKE (for a good team) and you know what that means? I think it means we're still gonna win 7 games this year but every damn one of them is going to be just as horrifically ugly and painful to sit through as were the first two games.

That is dead on.

 

[MadCardDisease]

This year? Yeah, our schedule is CAKE (for a good team) and you know what that means? I think it means we're still gonna win 7 games this year but every damn one of them is going to be just as horrifically ugly and painful to sit through as were the first two games.

At least we will be getting our moneys worth! Cardiac Cards Live Again!