The Bloom is off the Rose

[Duckjake]

After the last two games it becomes apparent why Oakland let Palmer go for basically nothing. Carson looks like an older version of Skelton. Airmailing passes all over creation for two consecutive games. Our #1 Guard is out. Our #1 RB has a nagging injury. Our #2 RB has a nagging injury. Our secondary is a patchwork of castoffs save for Peterson. Our WRs still can't get separation. We have no pass rush. The left side of the line couldn't pass protect before Cooper got hurt. It will be a disaster now.

We'll be lucky to get to our traditional 5-11.

 

[Buckybird]

It's just preseason, what we've witnessed means nothing

 

[Darkside]

I approve of the reverse Duckjinx.

That being said, Palmer had 2 beautiful passes right down the middle of the field last game. One to Floyd (caught) and one to Rob-hands-of-stone-Housler. It kills me that we don't have a legit TE to occupy the middle of the field and take pressure off Fitz and the other WR's. Our lack of TE play is going to loom larger and larger as the season wears on and players leak to the hashes to cover the WR's.

 

[CardNots]

After the last two games it becomes apparent why Oakland let Palmer go for basically nothing. Carson looks like an older version of Skelton. Airmailing passes all over creation for two consecutive games. Our #1 Guard is out. Our #1 RB has a nagging injury. Our #2 RB has a nagging injury. Our secondary is a patchwork of castoffs save for Peterson. Our WRs still can't get separation. We have no pass rush. The left side of the line couldn't pass protect before Cooper got hurt. It will be a disaster now.

We'll be lucky to get to our traditional 5-11.

I agree with the 5-11 record but man talking about a swan dive off the cliff.

 

[Duckjake]

I approve of the reverse Duckjinx.

That being said, Palmer had 2 beautiful passes right down the middle of the field last game. One to Floyd (caught) and one to Rob-hands-of-stone-Housler. It kills me that we don't have a legit TE to occupy the middle of the field and take pressure off Fitz and the other WR's. Our lack of TE play is going to loom larger and larger as the season wears on and players leak to the hashes to cover the WR's.

Excellent analysis. Arians has to be pulling his hair out (pun intended) after calling great plays to get his TE's open only to watch them drop the ball.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I approve of the reverse Duckjinx.

That being said, Palmer had 2 beautiful passes right down the middle of the field last game. One to Floyd (caught) and one to Rob-hands-of-stone-Housler. It kills me that we don't have a legit TE to occupy the middle of the field and take pressure off Fitz and the other WR's. Our lack of TE play is going to loom larger and larger as the season wears on and players leak to the hashes to cover the WR's.

You said it. But it's not like we didn't know that our new coaching staff was going to want to use tight ends more. And it's not like we haven't known for several years that our tight ends were sub-par. It makes you wonder.

Steve

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I think 5-11 is being gracious, I expect 3-13 with a terrible defense and injuries galore.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I think 5-11 is being gracious, I expect 3-13 with a terrible defense and injuries galore.

That would probably be just good enough for the third pick, just missing out on Clowney and Bridgewater.

 

[JeffGollin]

That was quick.

We overreacted to the first 2 preseason wins.

We're probably overreacting to our first preseason loss.

Just play it as it lays and enjoy the wild ride - for better or worse.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I'll reverse the Duckjake jinx by jinxing his jinx. The Cards will not be lucky to make it to 5-11 as he stated, they will get there by their karma and the universe will right itself.

 

[Garthshort]

I think that if our OL can hold up in pass pro, that our offense will be pretty good (middle of the pack), and it's our defense that I'm worried about. Most of the people who complain about our pass rush point to the guys coming off the edge. And while I feel they have a point, I see a lack of pressure from DD and CC. EVERY time that I think to watch (and that includes some plays from all three games) DD seems very slow getting off the ball, and CC is always ahead of him. My past impression of DD was how quickly he got into the OL. But not anymore if my eyes aren't deceiving me. I'd appreciate it if someone would look at DD and CC and let me know if I'm correct. Thanks.

 

[JeffGollin]

I think that if our OL can hold up in pass pro, that our offense will be pretty good (middle of the pack), and it's our defense that I'm worried about. Most of the people who complain about our pass rush point to the guys coming off the edge. And while I feel they have a point, I see a lack of pressure from DD and CC. EVERY time that I think to watch (and that includes some plays from all three games) DD seems very slow getting off the ball, and CC is always ahead of him. My past impression of DD was how quickly he got into the OL. But not anymore if my eyes aren't deceiving me. I'd appreciate it if someone would look at DD and CC and let me know if I'm correct. Thanks.

Garth - Assuming you're correct that DD always follows CC off the ball, you still have to ask yourself: Is this a chronic problem physically or mentally with DD? Or is it more a function of scheming? Further: Is this something that can (& will) be cleaned up or is it unfixable?

Two other things that concern me about our defense: (1) we give up too many yards after initial contact and (2) our pass rushers aren't getting their hands up to mess up passing lanes.

 

[kerouac9]

I approve of the reverse Duckjinx.

That being said, Palmer had 2 beautiful passes right down the middle of the field last game. One to Floyd (caught) and one to Rob-hands-of-stone-Housler. It kills me that we don't have a legit TE to occupy the middle of the field and take pressure off Fitz and the other WR's. Our lack of TE play is going to loom larger and larger as the season wears on and players leak to the hashes to cover the WR's.

Biggest clue that Rob Housler has had a bad camp? In Week 1 of the preseason Wolfley was predicting that the Cards would use a "high pick" in the 2014 draft on a tight end.

Hey, Wolf, I thought we had the second coming of Jimmy Graham on our roster.

Steve Keim: Super Scout.

Also: Carson Palmer is a league-average QB. Unfortunately, we have a league-average defense and a below-average RB.

So: 5-11.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Excellent analysis. Arians has to be pulling his hair out (pun intended) after calling great plays to get his TE's open only to watch them drop the ball.

Nothing new there.


Been watching Rob Housler drop passes for 3 years now. He is what he is, which is hype, and butter fingers.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Biggest clue that Rob Housler has had a bad camp? In Week 1 of the preseason Wolfley was predicting that the Cards would use a "high pick" in the 2014 draft on a tight end.

Hey, Wolf, I thought we had the second coming of Jimmy Graham on our roster.

Steve Keim: Super Scout.

Also: Carson Palmer is a league-average QB. Unfortunately, we have a league-average defense and a below-average RB.

So: 5-11.

Yep.

Same as its been since March.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

That was quick.

We overreacted to the first 2 preseason wins.

We're probably overreacting to our first preseason loss.

Just play it as it lays and enjoy the wild ride - for better or worse.

+1.

Still going to be a fun season to watch, IMO.

I may be mistaking the tone of this thread, but it seems many were really overrating this team.

The team looks to be right on track with what talent it has, 8-8 tops. Same record as it was in March. I won't lie and say it was looking more promising, maybe topping out at 9-7 when we signed John Abraham to acquire somewhat of a pass rush, but then with Cooper going down it kinda negated that move, and Eric Winston is no savior, heck of a good run blocker, but that is not going to make your team a playoff team.

 

[Garthshort]

Jeff, my biggest concern is that DD is slowing down.

 

[slanidrac16]

After the last two games it becomes apparent why Oakland let Palmer go for basically nothing. Carson looks like an older version of Skelton. Airmailing passes all over creation for two consecutive games. Our #1 Guard is out. Our #1 RB has a nagging injury. Our #2 RB has a nagging injury. Our secondary is a patchwork of castoffs save for Peterson. Our WRs still can't get separation. We have no pass rush. The left side of the line couldn't pass protect before Cooper got hurt. It will be a disaster now.

Yes, but other than that we're in pretty good shape

 

[jmt]

Nothing new here - now that we have lost a preseason game we officially stink! 8-8 would be fantastic.

 

[JeffGollin]

Jeff, my biggest concern is that DD is slowing down.

Maybe. I hope not. But there are a few other possibilities:

1. The scheme has changed & (even though it's supposed to be more "Docket-Friendly"), he might be playing more tentative (i.e. "slow") than CC and other guys on the defensive line. Suggested Remedy - Become more comfortable within the system.

2. "Vanilla." Suggested Remedy - Darnell will shine when we run more complex defensive stuff during regular season.

3. He's playing hurt (& not making it public). Suggested Remedy - Heal.

4. Since DD wasn't battling for a Final 53 roster position (& to avoid injury), he took the game off. Suggested Remedies - Turn up the juice when the regular season begins. Some Arians and Bowles Whoop-ass.

5. He was being double-teamed a lot. (Was he)? Suggested Remedy - Someone else has to make plays to take the heat off Darnell.

6. WAG (Wildassed Guess) - For DD to look good, our other DL's and LB's have to do their jobs and they didn't. Suggested Remedy - The rest of our defense has to play better.

Of course, it could be that Darnell has, indeed, lost a step and, if so, the suggested remedy would either be to play him and suffer or replace him with someone better. (Have anyone in mind)?

 

[BigRedRage]

ours #2 RB has injuries? Stepfan Taylor and Fonzo smith have been playing the #2 role and have had no injuries.

If you mean RW, I dont think he is our #2 if even our #4

 

[Duckjake]

ours #2 RB has injuries? Stepfan Taylor and Fonzo smith have been playing the #2 role and have had no injuries.

If you mean RW, I dont think he is our #2 if even our #4

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/depth-chart.html

And besides Duckjake jinxes don't have to be accurate just opposite.

 

[Paso Fino]

I think 5-11 is being gracious, I expect 3-13 with a terrible defense and injuries galore.

Thats exactly what the ESPN Magazine says. It says our OL is "still in sorry shape."

 

[WildBB]

I approve of the reverse Duckjinx.

That being said, Palmer had 2 beautiful passes right down the middle of the field last game. One to Floyd (caught) and one to Rob-hands-of-stone-Housler. It kills me that we don't have a legit TE to occupy the middle of the field and take pressure off Fitz and the other WR's. Our lack of TE play is going to loom larger and larger as the season wears on and players leak to the hashes to cover the WR's.

I think you'd be wrong to assume the WR's don't get plenty of work up and through the middle.

Housler should make his share of grabs too, but that TD drop can't happen. That's why I don't want to see Jefferson on the field yet either. He's not ready for regular season unless we'd be up by like two TD's already and we could afford to throw him out there.

 

[Duckjake]

I think you'd be wrong to assume the WR's don't get plenty of work up and through the middle.

Housler should make his share of grabs too, but that TD drop can't happen. That's why I don't want to see Jefferson on the field yet either. He's not ready for regular season unless we'd be up by like two TD's already and we could afford to throw him out there.

Housler's a jonah. He is always wide open and either the QB misses him by 10 yards or he drops the ball. He needs to go. As soon as they throw him overboard the entire team will get better.