The Cardinals' Cultivation of a Mindset

[Mitch]

The Cardinals' poise has been put to the test in recent games and the coaches and players have been passing the poise test with flying colors. It feels as if BA, his staff and the players have mentally conditioned themselves to embrace adversity, to recognize the challenges each adversity presents and then to impose their tenacity, their sheer will to succeed and their situational preparedness in order to climb over each hurdle.

As a Cardinals' fan since 1963, who is normally prone to panic attacks and profanity laced tantrums when the Cardinals squander a command of the game---I am noticing that I too am feeling a certain calmness within the mindset of, "Hey, this is a good test to see how we handle it. No one ever said it was going to be easy. In being aggressive, at times we are going to make mistakes, mistakes that can swing the momentum very quickly the other way. But, do we have what it to rise up to each challenge and to find a way to prevail anyway?"

In short----this season thus far has been a revelation of sorts---because it is so much fun watching this team compete---that the fun trumps the anxiety.

Are you noticing a change in how you are watching the games?

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Cardinals' poise has been put to the test in recent games and the coaches and players have been passing the poise test with flying colors. It feels as if BA, his staff and the players have mentally conditioned themselves to embrace adversity, to recognize the challenges each adversity presents and then to impose their tenacity, their sheer will to succeed and their situational preparedness in order to climb over each hurdle.

As a Cardinals' fan since 1963, who is normally prone to panic attacks and profanity laced tantrums when the Cardinals squander a command of the game---I am noticing that I too am feeling a certain calmness within the mindset of, "Hey, this is a good test to see how we handle it. No one ever said it was going to be easy. In being aggressive, at times we are going to make mistakes, mistakes that can swing the momentum very quickly the other way. But, do we have what it to rise up to each challenge and to find a way to prevail anyway?"

In short----this season thus far has been a revelation of sorts---because it is so much fun watching this team compete---that the fun trumps the anxiety.

Are you noticing a change in how you are watching the games?

I was up until the last game. During the Rams/Steelers games, DURING the games, I was pretty calm and was asking the same question you were about them being good tests. Now, I was assuredly pissed after those games when we failed back to back tests, but the Hawks game was something else entirely. I was screaming like a madman all throughout the last game, for good and bad. That game seemed the season for me... especially once we got up by 19. If we were going to lose that game, I would have kept watching all year long, no doubt, but what little confidence I had in this team to be a contender would have gone completely by the wayside.

That was a massive W. No ifs, and or buts about it and it should set us up for a wild 2nd half of the season.

 

[Catfish]

All year now, I have been sitting back and ENJOYING being able to watch from my Lazy Boy. I still record the games, but I no longer go to the message board in panic when we run into something we haven't seen before. It is fun to watch Palmer and Fitz go to the sideline and talk to a coach, then watch them go over the instant photos of what just happened. If I don't see what was done to correct the problem, (or happen to have one of the telecasters or color coordinators explain it), then I look to see if they have it right or are just filling time. If not, I wait until the game is over and then go to my recorded version and check things out again until I figure out what is different.

I have been so much more comfortable watching the games. So has my family, because I am not cursing or stomping out of the room. Watching the Seattle game that way was so gratifying because, this time when we got punched in the face after half time, we got back up and punched back, and the coaching staff adjusted to Seattle's halftime adjustments and we took the momentum away from Seattle again in the 4th quarter. It was as if the whole team said collectively, "hey we have been here twice before, but were not taking it this time", (and they pulled themselves up and punched back until they once again controlled the momentum). I have been waiting for that all year. It couldn't have come at a better time or in a better game so far as I am concerned.

 

[football karma]

this team is so due to play a "clean" game where they dont turn the ball over or do something that lets a team back into the game:

Bears: fumbled punt and int at the end of H1.
Rams: fumbled kickoff to start, fumble by Fitz to kill another scoring chance
Ravens: blocked punt late lets them back in
Browns: two more fumbles
Seahawks; back to back fumbles in Q4 erases a two score lead

its great that, Rams excepted, they have overcome those, but the team can sure make it easier on themselves

 

[TigToad]

this team is so due to play a "clean" game where they dont turn the ball over or do something that lets a team back into the game:

Bears: fumbled punt and int at the end of H1.
Rams: fumbled kickoff to start, fumble by Fitz to kill another scoring chance
Ravens: blocked punt late lets them back in
Browns: two more fumbles
Seahawks; back to back fumbles in Q4 erases a two score lead

its great that, Rams excepted, they have overcome those, but the team can sure make it easier on themselves

I think it's great to think how much better we can become. We look like a top 5 team in the NFL with the ability to improve.

It gives me a lot of hope.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Going into each game, I expect that we're going to win. The crazy thing is, we continue to make disastrous mistakes in many games and still find a way to win.

As a long time Cards fan, it's kind of hard to believe.

 

[Shaggy]

this team is so due to play a "clean" game where they dont turn the ball over or do something that lets a team back into the game:

Bears: fumbled punt and int at the end of H1.
Rams: fumbled kickoff to start, fumble by Fitz to kill another scoring chance
Ravens: blocked punt late lets them back in
Browns: two more fumbles
Seahawks; back to back fumbles in Q4 erases a two score lead

its great that, Rams excepted, they have overcome those, but the team can sure make it easier on themselves

Exactly my thought. Their only issue on O has been the turnovers. Just think if they had 1/2 the turnovers in each game how different the games would have been.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, good question. I'm much more relaxed, but it might just be old age. But I'll attribute it to how the team is playing.

 

[Skumbag]

What were previous years' playoff contenders' fumble per game stats?

I think teams know we don't protect the ball.

 

[jmt]

I can't say I'm more relaxed but now feel we can win games that we seemingly "squander" away. We have really really good offense!

 

[crisper57]

Fix the turnovers now! Playoff teams won't let us get away with that garbage!

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I was up until the last game. During the Rams/Steelers games, DURING the games, I was pretty calm and was asking the same question you were about them being good tests. Now, I was assuredly pissed after those games when we failed back to back tests, but the Hawks game was something else entirely. I was screaming like a madman all throughout the last game, for good and bad.

That was a massive W. No ifs, and or buts about it and it should set us up for a wild 2nd half of the season.

My sentiments exactly. I was hyped up for that game.

I think Garth makes a good point as well. I have a different approach to watching at 47 years old than I did at 27 years old.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

I learned to put Cardinals football into perspective a long time ago...NFL football actually. Games that used to ruin the first half of the next week, now don't even ruin my afternoon. I'm still a huge fan, but wins and losses are no longer a part of my identity.