Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
I‘m not too concerned. I didn’t expect the Cards to go 17-0. They lost to a good team (not great) and it took several factors for it to happen. A rookie made rookie mistakes. He’s still an impact factor I’m glad the Cards have. An unfortunate audible caused the Cards to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but as bad as they played for most of the game it’s amazing they got that close. Edmonds had a heck of a game. His best this season. Kyler had a medium game for him. He got little help from his line and the play calling. I did like the trick Wildcat for the TD.
I thought they really lost the game based on coaching. I’m very concerned about how slowly Kingsbury adapts to what the defense is trying to do. It appeared to me the Pack wanted to sell out (not just blitzing as much as stunting) to keep Murray from getting to the outside. They clearly knew how disruptive it is when Murray gets to the edge, threatens to run and pulls up throwing. It was also clear the Pack also stayed in tight lanes and collapsed the pocket to where there was little room for Murray to go forward into a pocket. Hudson’s presence might have stopped that. IMO the Cards needed to show more pre-snap motion, run some screens, a few swing passes and quick slants. The short middle of the field was open the entire game. They could have thrown short to Ertz on almost every play. Kingsbury doesn’t seem to know how valuable a TE can be. The Cards needed to burn the rush by slowing it but Kingsbury just ran his favorites again regardless of the defense he’s facing. Kingsbury puts too much pressure on Murray by constantly forcing him to personally handle the rush with his feet rather than penalizing the Pack pay for abandoning the line.
On defense my choice would have been to pull the secondary closer to the line and force Rodgers to beat them through the air. Against this receiver group I’d play more man defense except against Cobb. I’d go with one deep safety aimed at providing over the top support on Cobb’s side. I disagree with those who say you can’t blitz Rodgers. You’d have to account for the TEs & Cobb on hot reads but Rodgers is not as agile as he once was and this group of receivers wouldn’t likely peel back to help Rodgers. The defense played better than the offense but they should have been even more dominant. The Pack wanted to dominate time of possession and the Cards let them.
Several posters have noted this was reminiscent of playoff football and the Cards will have to step up their game. That’s an accurate observation. The Cards have the talent. Do they have the coaching?
I‘m thankful Watt gave the Cards such a huge start. They should make the playoffs with just solid, average play. They will face several beatable teams but the coaches must be more aware of how the Cards‘ opponents are attempting to play the game on their terms and not let that happen. This teams has a decent defense and the best array of weapons in the league. Games shouldn’t be this hard.
on almost every play.
I thought they really lost the game based on coaching. I’m very concerned about how slowly Kingsbury adapts to what the defense is trying to do. It appeared to me the Pack wanted to sell out (not just blitzing as much as stunting) to keep Murray from getting to the outside. They clearly knew how disruptive it is when Murray gets to the edge, threatens to run and pulls up throwing. It was also clear the Pack also stayed in tight lanes and collapsed the pocket to where there was little room for Murray to go forward into a pocket. Hudson’s presence might have stopped that. IMO the Cards needed to show more pre-snap motion, run some screens, a few swing passes and quick slants. The short middle of the field was open the entire game. They could have thrown short to Ertz on almost every play. Kingsbury doesn’t seem to know how valuable a TE can be. The Cards needed to burn the rush by slowing it but Kingsbury just ran his favorites again regardless of the defense he’s facing. Kingsbury puts too much pressure on Murray by constantly forcing him to personally handle the rush with his feet rather than penalizing the Pack pay for abandoning the line.
On defense my choice would have been to pull the secondary closer to the line and force Rodgers to beat them through the air. Against this receiver group I’d play more man defense except against Cobb. I’d go with one deep safety aimed at providing over the top support on Cobb’s side. I disagree with those who say you can’t blitz Rodgers. You’d have to account for the TEs & Cobb on hot reads but Rodgers is not as agile as he once was and this group of receivers wouldn’t likely peel back to help Rodgers. The defense played better than the offense but they should have been even more dominant. The Pack wanted to dominate time of possession and the Cards let them.
Several posters have noted this was reminiscent of playoff football and the Cards will have to step up their game. That’s an accurate observation. The Cards have the talent. Do they have the coaching?
I‘m thankful Watt gave the Cards such a huge start. They should make the playoffs with just solid, average play. They will face several beatable teams but the coaches must be more aware of how the Cards‘ opponents are attempting to play the game on their terms and not let that happen. This teams has a decent defense and the best array of weapons in the league. Games shouldn’t be this hard.
