Arizona's Finest
Your My Favorite Mistake
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For what its worth this is my cousins take on our team. Sent me the email and thought he hit it on the head which is unusual because he is the first person to say "Same ol' Cardinals"
To be honest I actually agree with everything he says:
Did some research here is how I see things:
By position first
QB - Maybe the key to the season - If Matty holds onto the starting job then I expect a 9-11 win season because of his decision making and lack of making the big mistake that Warner is prone to. If Warner starts 8 games or more this team is 8-8 at best, he just makes to many mistakes (read TO's)
RB - This might become a big issue for the Cards if teams can play honest against them (meaning only having to have 6-7 players in the box to defend the run) This would allow for teams to be creative on blitz packages and mix up coverages and double Fitz and Boldin.
OL - For the first time I can remember the Cards actually return the entire starting OL unit and playing the same positions. That is a big plus along with the strength of the coaching staff in this area good things are ahead. Keys however are keeping the OL healthy because I see a major lack of depth. Johnson at center is still a question mark for me. I would also say the Brown and Deuce need to improve (which I expect) and Gandy needs to perform against speed pass rushers.
WR - Fitz and Boldin are simply great. Breaston or Ducet need to come on as losing Johnson will hurt this team unless one of those guys steps up. A injury to either Fitz or Boldin will crush this team IMO
TE - I think Pope is the weakest link on the offense and believe that Patrick will take over as the starting TE before the season is over.
Overall offense - If the team stays healthy and Matty performs this might very well be the best offense in the NFC west.
DL - This is interesting because Dockett is a stud but Branch and Watson have not performed to expectations but talent is not a issue. Berry, Smith, Campbell, Laboy will be the key to the DL if they perform this unit is solid and potential deadly if say Berry gets back to double digit sacks and Campbell lives up to his immense talent. - IMO this unit will wear down as the season drags on and teams will run on them later in the season
LB - Again another interesting position as the depth at the LB has been upgraded with Haggans added and Okeafor back healthy. Dansby is a stud and Hayes is an above average MLB. I think the weakness of the crew is the ability to stop the run. With Clancy's schemes and the speed of this crew QB's are going to be on there back side but teams that have guards who can get to the second level or FB/TE's who can block will crush this quick but over pursuing crew
DB - The move of Rolle to Saftey is a great move and the best Saftey in the game is Wilson so I expect a very solid back end of the defense. Wilson does have a tendency to get out of position on the long ball and if Rolle can play that center field position they could be a dangerous duo. Hood, Green, DRC make for very young but talented CB position. At first look I thought this was a pretty weak unit but further analysis shows that they are not half bad and when you have a talent like Wilson it makes the entire unit better so this might just be the strength of the entire defense sans the depth at LB.
Overall Defense - This is a underrated unit and could surprise and become a top 15+ type unit. The key is how Okeafor, Berry, Branch/Watson hold up as the season progresses. Rolle needs to adjust quickly and injuries need to be kept to a minimum. This will be a solid unit but the 49ers and Seahawks both have better Defenses then the Cards
Special teams - Neil needs to get back to pro bowl form or that will cost this team not only a game or two but a playoff berth as well. Breaston is a stud returner so that helps the field position battle and punting is well punting in the NFL - it really doesnt matter unless you can nail the coffen corner more times than not.
Schedule
This is where the rubber hits the road. While I feel a fast start is not only critical I believe it will happen as I think 4-2 or even 5-1 is not out of the question. Anything less and this team could be in trouble to compete for the division and/or playoffs.
The last 7 games are brutal. 3 road games Seattle, New England and Eagles means 3 losses no way around that. Home games against Giants, Rams, Vikings and Seahawks man that is not easy. Vikings will be a difficult match up because they have a solid D but more importantly they can run the ball which I expect to be a problem for the Cards late in the season. Rams should be a W and the Giants and Seahawks will be tough winnable games.
Overall I say 9-7 is about right with upside to 11-5 and downside of 7-9. The key to the season will be Matt and beating the 49ers to start the Season. Lose that game and 3-3 in the first 6 games is likely and ending the season 3-4 is also likely. Which means beating @Pathers, @Rams and 49ers in the middle of the season is a must.
Going to be a fun year for Cards fans 4sure.
To be honest I actually agree with everything he says:
Did some research here is how I see things:
By position first
QB - Maybe the key to the season - If Matty holds onto the starting job then I expect a 9-11 win season because of his decision making and lack of making the big mistake that Warner is prone to. If Warner starts 8 games or more this team is 8-8 at best, he just makes to many mistakes (read TO's)
RB - This might become a big issue for the Cards if teams can play honest against them (meaning only having to have 6-7 players in the box to defend the run) This would allow for teams to be creative on blitz packages and mix up coverages and double Fitz and Boldin.
OL - For the first time I can remember the Cards actually return the entire starting OL unit and playing the same positions. That is a big plus along with the strength of the coaching staff in this area good things are ahead. Keys however are keeping the OL healthy because I see a major lack of depth. Johnson at center is still a question mark for me. I would also say the Brown and Deuce need to improve (which I expect) and Gandy needs to perform against speed pass rushers.
WR - Fitz and Boldin are simply great. Breaston or Ducet need to come on as losing Johnson will hurt this team unless one of those guys steps up. A injury to either Fitz or Boldin will crush this team IMO
TE - I think Pope is the weakest link on the offense and believe that Patrick will take over as the starting TE before the season is over.
Overall offense - If the team stays healthy and Matty performs this might very well be the best offense in the NFC west.
DL - This is interesting because Dockett is a stud but Branch and Watson have not performed to expectations but talent is not a issue. Berry, Smith, Campbell, Laboy will be the key to the DL if they perform this unit is solid and potential deadly if say Berry gets back to double digit sacks and Campbell lives up to his immense talent. - IMO this unit will wear down as the season drags on and teams will run on them later in the season
LB - Again another interesting position as the depth at the LB has been upgraded with Haggans added and Okeafor back healthy. Dansby is a stud and Hayes is an above average MLB. I think the weakness of the crew is the ability to stop the run. With Clancy's schemes and the speed of this crew QB's are going to be on there back side but teams that have guards who can get to the second level or FB/TE's who can block will crush this quick but over pursuing crew
DB - The move of Rolle to Saftey is a great move and the best Saftey in the game is Wilson so I expect a very solid back end of the defense. Wilson does have a tendency to get out of position on the long ball and if Rolle can play that center field position they could be a dangerous duo. Hood, Green, DRC make for very young but talented CB position. At first look I thought this was a pretty weak unit but further analysis shows that they are not half bad and when you have a talent like Wilson it makes the entire unit better so this might just be the strength of the entire defense sans the depth at LB.
Overall Defense - This is a underrated unit and could surprise and become a top 15+ type unit. The key is how Okeafor, Berry, Branch/Watson hold up as the season progresses. Rolle needs to adjust quickly and injuries need to be kept to a minimum. This will be a solid unit but the 49ers and Seahawks both have better Defenses then the Cards
Special teams - Neil needs to get back to pro bowl form or that will cost this team not only a game or two but a playoff berth as well. Breaston is a stud returner so that helps the field position battle and punting is well punting in the NFL - it really doesnt matter unless you can nail the coffen corner more times than not.
Schedule
This is where the rubber hits the road. While I feel a fast start is not only critical I believe it will happen as I think 4-2 or even 5-1 is not out of the question. Anything less and this team could be in trouble to compete for the division and/or playoffs.
The last 7 games are brutal. 3 road games Seattle, New England and Eagles means 3 losses no way around that. Home games against Giants, Rams, Vikings and Seahawks man that is not easy. Vikings will be a difficult match up because they have a solid D but more importantly they can run the ball which I expect to be a problem for the Cards late in the season. Rams should be a W and the Giants and Seahawks will be tough winnable games.
Overall I say 9-7 is about right with upside to 11-5 and downside of 7-9. The key to the season will be Matt and beating the 49ers to start the Season. Lose that game and 3-3 in the first 6 games is likely and ending the season 3-4 is also likely. Which means beating @Pathers, @Rams and 49ers in the middle of the season is a must.
Going to be a fun year for Cards fans 4sure.
