Rest For the Weary Please

[Harry]

I’m surprised this is not getting more play, but for my money I’d start resting my starters. All they are playing to achieve is the remote chance of a second home game. It seems far wiser to make certain Warner, et. al. are still in one piece when the playoffs start. Warner has looked in need of rest for the last couple of weeks, though I'm certain he'd deny it.

So I’d handle it like the exhibition games; play the key guys just enough to keep them sharp. This also has the added advantage of getting some reps for the backups in case they really have to play. Leinart has to be both frustrated and rusty.

 

[cardsloco]

I’m surprised this is not getting more play, but for my money I’d start resting my starters. All they are playing to achieve is the remote chance of a second home game. It seems far wiser to make certain Warner, et. al. are still in one piece when the playoffs start. Warner has looked in need of rest for the last couple of weeks, though I'm certain he'd deny it.

So I’d handle it like the exhibition games; play the key guys just enough to keep them sharp. This also has the added advantage of getting some reps for the backups in case they really have to play. Leinart has to be both frustrated and rusty.

Resting players has had the opposite effect in the past few years. Players come in not ready to play and generally start slow. The Giants played all their starters last year and the Titans will be doing the same as well. I hate to compare baseball to football, but the team that finishes early usually has trouble as well. We are a team that needs lots of reps because of our timing in the pass offense. Resting players could hurt us probably more then any other team.

 

[PACardsFan]

I’m surprised this is not getting more play, but for my money I’d start resting my starters. All they are playing to achieve is the remote chance of a second home game. It seems far wiser to make certain Warner, et. al. are still in one piece when the playoffs start. Warner has looked in need of rest for the last couple of weeks, though I'm certain he'd deny it.

So I’d handle it like the exhibition games; play the key guys just enough to keep them sharp. This also has the added advantage of getting some reps for the backups in case they really have to play. Leinart has to be both frustrated and rusty.

I think the Cardinals need to continue creating momentum. Not just for this year, but for the future of this franchise. If they start resting people & finish 8-8, there will be no improvement over last year & our confidence going into the playoffs would be diminished. Our naysayers (there are many) will only attribute our appearance strictly to a weak division. Should we beat the Vikings & Pats, that would add two more wins against either playoff teams or playoff contenders & will add to our legitimacy. That will also create more confidence in our players & help this franchise continue to build for the future.

As excited as I am right now, I still think that this team is a work in progress. We have many areas that need to be improved upon if we are going to create a franchise with lasting power. We cannot expect the rest of our division to be where they are right now. I see the Niners as a 9-10 game winner next year. What would help this franchise out a ton would be a 10 or 11 win season coupled with at least 1 win in the playoffs. That would make this franchise more enticing this offseason to prospective free agents. If we are going to continue on this path to lasting success, we will need to use both the draft & the free agent market. Double digit wins & a playoff win will help tremendously.

Bad, bad idea to rest anyone. Going full tilt & keep winning is always the best option.

 

[imaCafan]

If it's 34-7 by mid 3rd. quarter, maybe give Matt some reps and a few others. Otherwise, no to the rest....

 

[Totally_Red]

IF the Seattle game has no effect on playoff seeding AND the Cardinals are a third or fourth seed, I'd consider resting some starters in the SECOND HALF of that game. It would be more to get Matt Leinart, the tight ends, Monty Beisel, maybe Early Doucet, Elton Brown, Edgerin James, and others some work than actually 'resting' the starters.

 

[RonF]

If Kurt goes down and is hurt prior to the playoffs, what will we say then? I touched on this in an earlier posting and the response indicated that we should try to increase our seeding for the playoffs. A football injury to one or two of our key players near the time of the playoffs could really hamper us because we do not have a deep bench in some areas.

There is, however, no easy answer to resting our starters as we have seen some teams make the playoffs as a wild card, playing each game as must win, and go on to win the Superbowl.

But these teams were forced to do it, we are not. Whiz has indicated that he wants to improve our seeding so it appears we will continue to play the starters. I'm okay with that as he makes the decisions, he should know better than we, what approach makes the team play better.

 

[SuperSpck]

It's looked like the team does better when it's had some down time.

I wouldn't rest everyone, but I'd like to see Dockett and Wilson get a little sitting time at some point in the remaining season for sure.
Add Warner, Boldin, and Fitz to the table on offense.

 

[D-Dogg]

I’m surprised this is not getting more play, but for my money I’d start resting my starters. All they are playing to achieve is the remote chance of a second home game. It seems far wiser to make certain Warner, et. al. are still in one piece when the playoffs start. Warner has looked in need of rest for the last couple of weeks, though I'm certain he'd deny it.

So I’d handle it like the exhibition games; play the key guys just enough to keep them sharp. This also has the added advantage of getting some reps for the backups in case they really have to play. Leinart has to be both frustrated and rusty.

Harry, they are't playing for the remote chance of a second home game. They are playing for the very real chance of NOT playing the Giants in the meadowlands in the second round, and a MUCH better shot at getting to the NFC Championship game.

Also, to build momentum for the playoffs.

I would not take the foot off the gas at all.

 

[D-Dogg]

IF the Seattle game has no effect on playoff seeding AND the Cardinals are a third or fourth seed, I'd consider resting some starters in the SECOND HALF of that game. It would be more to get Matt Leinart, the tight ends, Monty Beisel, maybe Early Doucet, Elton Brown, Edgerin James, and others some work than actually 'resting' the starters.

I agree.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I wouldn't sit anyone for extended periods of time. I'd like to see more guys rotated in, especially on defense. In fact I'd like to see at least a 50/50 split on the D-line with Dockett/Smith and Campbell/Iwebema rotating in on every other series.

For the Seattle game I'd let the Starters play for all of the first half. If they look good bring in Lienart to play with the starters in the second half and eventually rotating in some of the younger guys on offense. I would really like to see Brandon Kieth get some playing time. On Defense I'd like to see the Second String Defense for the remainder of the second half.

 

[ajcardfan]

It's not getting more "play" because it's a horrible idea at this point. Maybe the last game, if at all.

 

[CaptTurbo]

We have a better chance of winning in AZ with no starters than we do on the east coast with every starter paying and 100% rested and healed.

 

[conraddobler]

The home and away thing is all confidence and psychology.

IMO it's about how they start the game on the road and I can't see resting as helping that out.

They need to develop a killer mapped out drive against a road opponent and just execute and move the ball down and score right off the bat to set the tone and again resting really dosen't further that goal.

 

[WildBB]

I’m surprised this is not getting more play, but for my money I’d start resting my starters. All they are playing to achieve is the remote chance of a second home game. It seems far wiser to make certain Warner, et. al. are still in one piece when the playoffs start. Warner has looked in need of rest for the last couple of weeks, though I'm certain he'd deny it.

So I’d handle it like the exhibition games; play the key guys just enough to keep them sharp. This also has the added advantage of getting some reps for the backups in case they really have to play. Leinart has to be both frustrated and rusty.

I agree, that more personell need some game reps, especially Leinart because of the obvious impact of the position.

At the same time we need a W at home against another good team (Minnesota) to move this team forward with some big M - (momentum).

 

[Cheesebeef]

Harry, they are't playing for the remote chance of a second home game. They are playing for the very real chance of NOT playing the Giants in the meadowlands in the second round, and a MUCH better shot at getting to the NFC Championship game.

Also, to build momentum for the playoffs.

I would not take the foot off the gas at all.

agreed.

man this year is weird. I usually agree with most everything Harry says but I've been on the other side of the coin with his opinions more often than not this season.

 

[RedViper]

The playoffs are in the bag but I think its massively important to acheive a winning season. If this team goes into the playoffs at 8-8, I think its really going to take the shine off all the fine accomplishments of this year. They need to go all out this week to at least get to 9-5. If they cant win this week, New England is going to be a really tough case. Assuming we lose in NE, maybe there would be an argument you settle for 8-8, if you cant beat the hags with the backups, but its not a very good argument. This team needs to just keep trying to win at all costs, IMO.

 

[MadCardDisease]

agreed.

man this year is weird. I usually agree with most everything Harry says but I've been on the other side of the coin with his opinions more often than not this season.

Yeah same here.

 

[nashman]

We need to win out if possible I don't want anyone resting, this is not a perennial playoff team that can just be resting players. In the last game of the year maybe if you come out and put up a big lead then let the starters sit the second half but thats about all the rest this team needs to be getting.

 

[HeavyB3]

I strongly disagree. The Giants didn't rest starters going into the playoffs and it didn't throw off their chemestry. The Bucs and Cowboys played the resting game and it probably hurt them in the playoffs. Play the starters, but sub in some of the younger guys more on defense and get Matty in if we have a huge lead.

 

[Mitch]

Last year, in a similar scenario, Tom Coughlin had a very tough decision about how to approach their last game, December 29, versus the then undefeated New England Patriots. Whether the Giants won or lost that game had virtually no significance, as the Giants were already a lock for the #5 seed in the playoffs.

As it turned out Coughlin played the game to win and went with his starters the whole game...and what a game it was. The Giants lost 38-35, but the game galvanized their team and gave them the confidence that they could play with anyone.

Thus, if the Cardinals go into the rest the players for the playoffs mold, they are making a huge mistake.

Let's face it, the Cardinals have not played well in games after the bye weeks...and thus, based on that history, giving the starters another bye week (or weeks) in effect, would not seem very auspicious.

As I said on the "What Now?" thread...the Cardinals need to make every effort possible to improve their weaknesses, build on their strengths and go into the playoffs with as much confidence and continuity as possible.

By the way, many of the Giants' coaches and players referred to the December 29th Patriots' game as reason why they ran off four straight wins in the playoffs. It certainly helped them believe they could beat the Patriots if they ever got to them again. And they did.

 

[Harry]

Well guys now that the Cards have made certain everyone wants to play them in the playoffs and have gotten several players even more beaten up, is it time to hoist the “Mission Accomplished” sign yet. Should we wait until Warner gets permanently damaged? BTW, he’s not getting his timing down, he getting sorer and older by the minute. How many hits does he need to take before someone tries to keep him in one piece for the playoffs? At least they should keep a back in the backfield.

 

[SuperSpck]

All of this becomes moo (a cow's opinion) if it's a blizzard out.

 

[Redheart]

I want them to win in NE; but I am with Harry on this. Start Matt for the last two games.

Good for everyone concerned.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I'm also with Harry, especially given the weather - sit Kurt against NE, let him get a few series against Seattle

 

[ajcardfan]

I'm also with Haryy, especially given the weather - sit Kurt against NE, let him get a few series against Seattle

Screw that. Let's forfeit the game and rest everybody.