Sando: Cards' Big Play Offense Yet to Emerge

[Dayman]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/7335/cardinals-big-play-offense-yet-to-emerge

Opponents have taken away the big pass play from the Cardinals this season.

Larry Fitzgerald's record-setting postseason surely caught teams' attention. It's also fair to wonder whether Steve Breaston's knee injury has affected his deep speed. I haven't noticed a drop-off in his athleticism.

Long pass plays aren't everything. Fitzgerald did plenty of damage against Seattle despite his 7.7-yard average per catch. But the difference from last season appears somewhat striking so far.

As the chart shows, Kurt Warner ranked fourth last season with 50 pass plays of at least 20 yards. He ranks tied for 19th with 13 of them so far this season. His rate has fallen from one per 12 attempts to one per 15.4 attempts.

Last season, Warner ranked tied for third in the NFL with 12 pass plays of at least 40 yards. He ranks tied for 25th this season with one. His rate has fallen from one every 49.8 attempts to one every 201 attempts.

From ESPN Stats & Information: The Cardinals and Panthers are tied for last in the league with one pass play of 30-plus yards. Arizona' next opponent, the Giants, ranked tied for second with10 of them.

I knew this team has experienced a drop off in big plays this year, but I didn't realize how far we've fallen. With Fitz and Boldin on the team, there's no reason Urban should be responsible for the only gain over 27 yards five games into the season.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Yeah I just read that article too. Really suprising but I've been noticing it too. When we do throw it deep, it just seems like it goes to far over the recievers head (you see it the most on deep throws to Fitz so far). Kurts gotta work on that accuracy downfield.

 

[green machine]

Yeah, there have been a few times where there has been a receiver open deep but Kurt has missed him.

 

[football karma]

a few thoughts:

I think teams are mimicking what SF did on opening day: rush 4 primarily - drop 7 and dont give up the 20+ yarder. Make Warner be patient.

The Cardinals have now responded by running a ton of underneath stuff.

Lastly -- i think Whis doesnt trust his tackles yet. Not alot of 7 step drops and deeper throws.

 

[Doug]

I know of two of the longest plays we've had called back with penalty.One was Howlers hold on Fitz' catch and run in the texans second half.

Yet I agree we are'nt even testing the waters yet that much deep.Plus many of the longest ones last year were on RAC like Boldins long run with tweeking his hammy.

 

[Jasper]

One reason is I think the play calling has been more conservative and methodical. Whiz is trying to be more of a eat the clock type of offense. If we score to quick that leaves our defense vulnerable especially with our porous pass defense. The last thing we want to do is get into a shootout. We were schooled by the colts, might get schooled by the giants. What really scares me is when we play the saints in the NFC championship game this season.

 

[Buckybird]

If anyone watched the Saints last, we need to attack the Gmen's secondary with some deep ones this weekend because their secondary is really banged up.

 

[slanidrac16]

And yet in our 3 victories we are averaging near 30 pts.

 

[DeAnna]

One reason is I think the play calling has been more conservative and methodical. Whiz is trying to be more of a eat the clock type of offense. If we score to quick that leaves our defense vulnerable especially with our porous pass defense. The last thing we want to do is get into a shootout. We were schooled by the colts, might get schooled by the giants. What really scares me is when we play the saints in the NFC championship game this season.

Yep, I think this is the main reason.

 

[Catfish]

We definitely have not worked at forceing the ball deep, and even if the Gints have a beat-up secondary, I don't look for Whiz to go there a lot this week either.

I do believe that he will try first to get a good mix of run/pass. If that works, I believe he will stick with the small-ball game, and try to keep the Gints offense off the field as much as possible. I think he will emphasize the Quick 3 step drops and hope for yards after the catch. I also think he will go to Timmy and Beanie out of the backfield more in this game, hoping to get them one on one in the secondary. I hope that his run calls are for quick hitters too, rather than so many draws and delays, although those plays are generally designed to slow down a rush. They just don't seem to work too well for us. I would rather we went to more screen passes for that. In any event, I expect Whiz to try to work the clock and keep the ball in Kurt's hands as much as possible. Keep it close, and anything is possible at the end.

 

[anks106]

Yep, I think this is the main reason.

That and to go deep, the line has to protect long enough for receivers to get open deep.. and you don't open running in a straight line often, so that is gonna require at least a move, probably a double move to break free.. I don't trust our line to protect long enough for that to happen, and so we are stuck with the underneath game where they don't have to block as long.

 

[JeffGollin]

The lack of deep success may be due to two factors:

1. Opposing teams are so concerned about our short game that they're not giving Fitz. Q or Breaston much space to manouver on their routes.

2. The O-line (especially both tackles) isn't giving Warner the time he needs for his receivers to get open deep and nor the time to set his feet to throw it deep.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The lack of deep success may be due to two factors:

1. Opposing teams are so concerned about our short game that they're not giving Fitz. Q or Breaston much space to manouver on their routes.

2. The O-line (especially both tackles) isn't giving Warner the time he needs for his receivers to get open deep and nor the time to set his feet to throw it deep.

3. Warner was more willing to throw the ball in a jump ball to Fitz last year and just let him go get it, even in double coverage. This is something that Haley made effort to do last year.

 

[Duckjake]

3. Warner was more willing to throw the ball in a jump ball to Fitz last year and just let him go get it, even in double coverage. This is something that Haley made effort to do last year.

How many of the Cards 40+ yard pass plays last season were short to mid-range passes that turned into long gains? I really don't think the Cards actually throw deep very often at all. In addition to the oline problem we just don't have the guys that can get open deep or a QB that can throw it deep.

That hail mary at the end of the half in Seattle was an indication to me of Warner's limitation as to distance. But then why throw deep when you have receivers that can get good YAC and an extremely accurate short to mid-range passer other than occasionally to keep the D honest?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

How many of the Cards 40+ yard pass plays last season were short to mid-range passes that turned into long gains? I really don't think the Cards actually throw deep very often at all. In addition to the oline problem we just don't have the guys that can get open deep or a QB that can throw it deep.

I would wager a good portion of them. I'm sure that is the same league wide. However, I want to point out that it is those 40 yard bombs in the air that keeps defenses honest, and opens up the run game as they have to rotate their safety giving over the top help. Most teams won't throw into double coverage down the field. Haley said that he had to change his philosophy and just believe that Fitz would just come down with the ball, which he did.

That hail mary at the end of the half in Seattle was an indication to me of Warner's limitation as to distance. But then why throw deep when you have receivers that can get good YAC and an extremely accurate short to mid-range passer other than occasionally to keep the D honest?

Warner has also completed that same hailmary (with approximately the same distance) to Fitz in the past. The biggest travesty on that drive was Whiz not calling a timeout with 25 seconds to go to give himself 2 more shots at getting in field goal range instead.

 

[lauraw]

Kurt is on but the timing with th e receivers on the midrange game is oh so close!!!

 

[Catfish]

That and to go deep, the line has to protect long enough for receivers to get open deep.. and you don't open running in a straight line often, so that is gonna require at least a move, probably a double move to break free.. I don't trust our line to protect long enough for that to happen, and so we are stuck with the underneath game where they don't have to block as long.

Great point------Unless we find a way to give Kurt some time to let our receivers get deep, we will have no deep game. Kurt, and nobody else can throw from his back.