Something that I have been thinking about all week.

[DieHardCardFan]

The won the game on a defensive play in OT. But yet the Defense looked pretty bad for the whole second half. But something tells me this team feels a little bit like the Defense almost lost the game for us. And I am betting they are really holding eachother accountable this week in practice. They have yet to have two consecutive bad games this season. s much as I would have rather just won that game straight out in dominating fashion, I wonder if this might have been a good thing. I wonder if the Defense feels like they dodged a bullet and will make damn sure that this week they put forth a much better game.

I mean if we are to win this game they are going to have too. But I wonder if this might be just what theyneeded heading into what is probably the toughest Offense we will face. It just seems like some many of the negatives this year have turned into positives later. This team is really maturing and learning to respond to adversity and bounce back. I hope they see last week as dodging a bullet.

 

[stewdog1]

I expect to see a shut down performance by the defense on Saturday.

Talk about screwing with the heads of the sports media talking heads.

 

[Duckjake]

I wonder if the Defense feels like they dodged a bullet and will make damn sure that this week they put forth a much better game.

But yet the Defense looked pretty bad for the whole second half.

I think they bounce back.

That's just the way our defense plays. They give up tons of yards but make plays like the tip/interception and sack/Dansby TD and get tough in the redzone. When they get toasted is when they start missing tackles in the secondary. That happened a lot Sunday.

So WhisNco work on that all week and they do a better job Saturday.

But that is with the caveat that the Cards pass defense isn't exactly the best in the NFL. Vince Young with 387 yards passing!!! Vince Young!!! Passing!!!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Limit the number of times Brees touches the ball... and score as often as possible when we have the ball... it's our only chance.

 

[Duckjake]

Score as often as possible when we have the ball... it's our only chance.

Just like last week.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Just like last week.

Yup... I think the odds of Brees & Co. going Rogers & Co. on us are pretty high.

 

[Second Deck]

I hate to say it but bring Brown back in place of Adams. He just to short to defend.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Our defense seems to tire out in the second half on a reqular basis... Have they ever played 4qtrs of real defense?

The defense was fantastic the first thirty five minutes of the game an fell apart in the last 25. It seems when they have a big lead, they start taking chances instead of playing fundamental football (in the secondary).

Just think how scary good the Cardinals could be if they had that killer instinct that could put the dagger in teams. There were at least 3 chances to do so in the Packer game and the team found a way to not make it happen.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Just think how scary good the Cardinals could be if they had that killer instinct that could put the dagger in teams. There were at least 3 chances to do so in the Packer game and the team found a way to not make it happen.

We need at least one serious pass-rushing threat from the edge. And a viable compliment to DRC on the other side of the field... Well, I guess we could use a more consistent presence at OLB than Okeafor too...

 

[PJ1]

We need at least one serious pass-rushing threat from the edge. And a viable compliment to DRC on the other side of the field... Well, I guess we could use a more consistent presence at OLB than Okeafor too...

Would make all the difference in the world. McFadden is awful. Worse than Rod hood in my opinion. Hood got burned but at least made some plays.

 

[ThunderCard]

Would make all the difference in the world. McFadden is awful. Worse than Rod hood in my opinion. Hood got burned but at least made some plays.

To bad Hood is not our #2 corner.... He really tore it up in Tennessee to end the season

 

[Perfectionist]

Short week, emotional drain, travel, it does not add up to us having a stellar showing on the defensive side of the ball. That said,

82CardsGrad has it right "

Limit the number of times Brees touches the ball... and score as often as possible when we have the ball... it's our only chance."

A big dose of Beanie running and Kurt using play action will probably be the key to success this week.

 

[Duckjake]

We need at least one serious pass-rushing threat from the edge. And a viable compliment to DRC on the other side of the field... Well, I guess we could use a more consistent presence at OLB than Okeafor too...

With the emergence of Branch at DE this season It would be interesting to see the Cards try Calais at the OLB spot some next year. Berry never plays much pass coverage, zero pdf's in 2009, so that shouldn't be an issue with Campbell and I know CC is quick enough from his play on special teams.

 

[Osbern61]

How big a half time lead would the Cards have to have vs the Saints for anyone to be comfortable and start thinking of the next week's game? I may relax if we are up by 43.
May.

 

[LVG]

Our defense seems to tire out in the second half on a reqular basis... Have they ever played 4qtrs of real defense?

The defense was fantastic the first thirty five minutes of the game an fell apart in the last 25. It seems when they have a big lead, they start taking chances instead of playing fundamental football (in the secondary).

Just think how scary good the Cardinals could be if they had that killer instinct that could put the dagger in teams. There were at least 3 chances to do so in the Packer game and the team found a way to not make it happen.

Duck & I were talking about this at the last game. The trend I noticed is that usually around 5 minutes left in the 3rd, the D gets gassed and lets the other team's O back into it.

Only way to stop this trend is to keep the ball for long periods of time. Dominate the TOP.

 

[LVG]

How big a half time lead would the Cards have to have vs the Saints for anyone to be comfortable and start thinking of the next week's game? I may relax if we are up by 43.
May.

I wouldn't relax if we were up by 60.

 

[D-Dogg]

How big a half time lead would the Cards have to have vs the Saints for anyone to be comfortable and start thinking of the next week's game? I may relax if we are up by 43.
May.

140

 

[chickenhead]

I definitely think the D gets tired and isn't fast enough to be the ballhawks they are at other times. Think of how many crucial defensive series we've won, and how many of them involved turnovers versus stops. We've definitely had a few great stands as well, but it doesn't seem to be something we can rely on.

I mentioned it in another thread, but I really think that onside kick was a killer last week. Our offense really needs to avoid 3-and-outs and turnovers (duh, I know). Heavy doses of Beanie may be the key, not just to keep their offense off the field, but especially to keep our defense off for as much time as possible.

 

[LVG]

I definitely think the D gets tired and isn't fast enough to be the ballhawks they are at other times. Think of how many crucial defensive series we've won, and how many of them involved turnovers versus stops. We've definitely had a few great stands as well, but it doesn't seem to be something we can rely on.

I mentioned it in another thread, but I really think that onside kick was a killer last week. Our offense really needs to avoid 3-and-outs and turnovers (duh, I know). Heavy doses of Beanie may be the key, not just to keep their offense off the field, but especially to keep our defense off for as much time as possible.

Bingo. The trend I've seen this season is that our D, when on the field with an average TOP, tends to tire out around mid way through the 3rd Qtr. That's why we have to jump to such big leads - to compensate for our D tiring out and allowing some points at the end of the game.

The D is good for a big stand or two at the end of a game, but other than that, between the middle of the 3rd qtr and the end of the 4th, they just are plain tired out, and other team's offenses run right over them (Texans / Packers, anyone?)

Now, if you're playing a team that doesn't have a potent O - you're OK. However, against the Packers, and against the Saints, it's critical that we get that big start. Otherwise, the Saints will just come back and surpass us.

Look at the scoring summary from GB/ARI - here's how the scoring broke down:

1st QTR:
ARI TD
ARI TD
ARI FG

2nd QTR:
GB TD
ARI TD
GB FG

3rd QTR:
ARI TD
GB TD
GB TD
ARI TD

4th QTR:
GB TD
GB TD
ARI TD
GB TD

We allowed 10 points in the first half.

And 35 in the second half.

 

[CaptTurbo]

yup. I think the defense plays stellar tomorrow. Everyone forgets the first half and OT was pretty damn good.

 

[Duckjake]

yup. I think the defense plays stellar tomorrow. Everyone forgets the first half and OT was pretty damn good.

The defense always plays stellar in the first half. Its the second half that concerns many of us. Far too many games recently where the D just couldn't hold a lead in the 2nd half. And that includes playoff games.