The madness that is Leonard Davis.

[RugbyMuffin]

Once again I only heard the game on the radio.

But Wolfley made it sound like Davis COMPLETELY whiffed on a cut block and that allowed his man to have a open shot on Leinart thus Leinart was hurt and could not continue to play.

My freshman highschool coach used to say everytime you do something good you get an "atta boy". Yet, one "Oh, S!!!" erased them all.

Davis plays solid for a couple plays here and there then he always seems to have at least 2 or 3 horrendous, game changing, stick out like a sore thumb plays where he brings this bad heat on himself.

Really what a terrible time for Davis to make such a terrible play. From what I heard it was a 3 step quick throw, so Davis must have practically jumped out of the way of his defender and escorted the guy through to the QB. Wolfley mentioned Davis was trying to cut his defender and just based on what I have seen from Big before it sounds like the dancing bear routine was used where he dances for a half second then rolls on the ground like a person instructing a stop, drop and roll class.

If Big doesn't get signed with us then I blame no one but him.

 

[Mrh182]

But Wolfley made it sound like Davis COMPLETELY whiffed on a cut block and that allowed his man to have a open shot on Leinart thus Leinart was hurt and could not continue to play.

Ya.... he got burned pretty bad on the play... kinda turned then fell over. Not good

 

[az1965]

The miss is overblown due to Lienart injury.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

That play was on the WR. If you watch the replay,the WR(couldn't tell who it was) was supposed to just do a quick stop route. It was 3rd and 1. You can see that Leinart was ready to throw it but the WR ran a pattern further up field and Leinart had to pump it instead of throwing it thus allowing the DE to get to him. Big did his job on that play.He could've done it better by getting the guy on the ground but he did get the rushers hands down to complete the play. Too bad the WR wasn't on the same page.

 

[D-Dogg]

That play was on the WR. If you watch the replay,the WR(couldn't tell who it was) was supposed to just do a quick stop route. It was 3rd and 1. You can see that Leinart was ready to throw it but the WR ran a pattern further up field and Leinart had to pump it instead of throwing it thus allowing the DE to get to him. Big did his job on that play.He could've done it better by getting the guy on the ground but he did get the rushers hands down to complete the play. Too bad the WR wasn't on the same page.

Big did NOT do his job on that play. Big got smoked off the line and fell down...he wasn't TRYING to go low to bring the defender's hands down...he just got worked over. Even if that was the ultimate objective (to get the defenders hands lowered to get a completion) Big didn't execute. Instead, he was playing catchup...it looked like a freaking trap play, only there was nobody but Matt back there to get the guy when Big let him through.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Big did NOT do his job on that play. Big got smoked off the line and fell down...he wasn't TRYING to go low to bring the defender's hands down...he just got worked over. Even if that was the ultimate objective (to get the defenders hands lowered to get a completion) Big didn't execute. Instead, he was playing catchup...it looked like a freaking trap play, only there was nobody but Matt back there to get the guy when Big let him through.

You need to watch the play again.It's pretty obvious the pass was supposed to be quick stop pattern. Watch Leinart and it's pretty easy to see. He didn't egt worked over.He went for the cut block and ,i admit, that is his weakest blocking technique.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I think Cbus is right on here. Big clearly did NOT fall down. He probably could have done a better job with the block, but his intent was to get the DEs hands down, as stated.

 

[D-Dogg]

You need to watch the play again.It's pretty obvious the pass was supposed to be quick stop pattern. Watch Leinart and it's pretty easy to see. He didn't egt worked over.He went for the cut block and ,i admit, that is his weakest blocking technique.

Rewatched it just now, and yeah it looks like he's cut blocking. Something that is nearly impossible for him to do. I stand corrected...but he can't cut block to save his life.

 

[Chopper0080]

Actually the play was supposed to be a double move. Leinart pumped on the fake and was trying for the receiver up the field. Big went low to sell the stop pattern and open the passing lane. Unfortunately the guy he was cutting I believe was an OLB playing down and was too athletic for big to cut. Tackles have the same problem with Freeney when they try and cut him. It was a bad matchup and just an awkward landing by Leinart. Big did miss his cut block but 9 out of 10 times thats a hit that does not cause an injury.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Actually the play was supposed to be a double move. Leinart pumped on the fake and was trying for the receiver up the field. Big went low to sell the stop pattern and open the passing lane. Unfortunately the guy he was cutting I believe was an OLB playing down and was too athletic for big to cut. Tackles have the same problem with Freeney when they try and cut him. It was a bad matchup and just an awkward landing by Leinart. Big did miss his cut block but 9 out of 10 times thats a hit that does not cause an injury.

I agree.

Matt's shoulders are cause for concern though, that did not look like much of an impact when they landed.

 

[ajcardfan]

Rewatched it just now, and yeah it looks like he's cut blocking. Something that is nearly impossible for him to do. I stand corrected...but he can't cut block to save his life.

Like I said on the game thread, if you try to cut, it's "all-or-nothing". You either get the guy down, or you look really bad as your QB gets smacked. Leinart did not get the ball off on cue because the DB didn't bite on the fake, so that also played a role in the injury. All of that said, Davis should never cut. It's taking away his biggest asset, which is his strength. He should always try to drive a guy like that up the field.

 

[Stout]

The play was atrocious. Whether or not it was a quick route or not, he did not even slow the defender down. The ONLY play this might be all right for is a screen pass, and even then you're supposed to get a decent chip on the defender. If he just fell down, then balls to him. If he tried a cut block and missed, then how pathetic is that? Lousy play, and not a very good game. Another false start that I saw. And people wonder why he's so polarizing. He can be so good and then be so stupid that he doesn't deserve the huge money. Unfortunately he'll get it, and make more stupid mistakes surrounded by good play. Aaargh. Why can't he just get his head out of his rear and be a stud player? Damn it!

 

[Shane]

The play was atrocious. Whether or not it was a quick route or not, he did not even slow the defender down. The ONLY play this might be all right for is a screen pass, and even then you're supposed to get a decent chip on the defender. If he just fell down, then balls to him. If he tried a cut block and missed, then how pathetic is that? Lousy play, and not a very good game. Another false start that I saw. And people wonder why he's so polarizing. He can be so good and then be so stupid that he doesn't deserve the huge money. Unfortunately he'll get it, and make more stupid mistakes surrounded by good play. Aaargh. Why can't he just get his head out of his rear and be a stud player? Damn it!

Because hes not. He never will be.

 

[football karma]

It sure looked like a quick route to the outside, with Davis trying to cut his man to clear a throwing lane --

Davis cut him and got him down, but only about 2/3s -- so that the defender could regain his feet very quickly and was on Matt

Matt double clutched on the throw -- you couldnt tell from TV if the WR ran the wrong route, the DB had jumped the short route or if it was a double move. I am guessing the likelihood is in the order I listed them--

The sack didnt look bad until you saw it in slo motion -- Matt saw the guy coming a mile away -- but the defender grabbed Matt and pinned MAtts arms to his side, turned him 180, and then picked him up and drove him into the ground right on the "point" of the left shoulder.

 

[Duckjake]

San Diego/Seattle game: Seattle has Jones block down and tries to bring a guard out to block Merriman. QB gets killed. The Cards are not the only ones who put their offensive linemen in no win situations. I'm glad the Cards finally stopped doing that blocking scheme.

The Cards run that cut block quick out too much anyway. That's the second time for sure that Leinart has not gotten the ball off in time and been crushed - I believe it was on a similar play that he separated his shoulder the first time. Just leaves the QB too vulnerable if the defender gets over the cut.

 

[football karma]

On a somewhat different tack--

Note to coaches for next week:

If a nobody called Rod Green can torch Fred Wakefield blocking the edge on third down, imagine what Merriman could do.

This is twice in two weeks that we have tried that with disasterous results -- Elvis Dumervil and Rod Green got two of the easiest sacks they will ever get

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Like I said on the game thread, if you try to cut, it's "all-or-nothing". You either get the guy down, or you look really bad as your QB gets smacked. Leinart did not get the ball off on cue because the DB didn't bite on the fake, so that also played a role in the injury. All of that said, Davis should never cut. It's taking away his biggest asset, which is his strength. He should always try to drive a guy like that up the field.

I disagree.

The is a technique to it. Maybe it is the coaching but many say Looney is one of the best.

Davis has to figure out how to do that better. He is 6'6" 400lbs ! How can he not get in someone's way?

Furthermore, it is just another bad play with a bad result.

BTW - if it is also the WR fault I would like to know who it was that screwed up as well. I would guess it is Boldin since his head has been up his wazoo.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

I disagree.

The is a technique to it. Maybe it is the coaching but many say Looney is one of the best.

Davis has to figure out how to do that better. He is 6'6" 400lbs ! How can he not get in someone's way?

Furthermore, it is just another bad play with a bad result.

BTW - if it is also the WR fault I would like to know who it was that screwed up as well. I would guess it is Boldin since his head has been up his wazoo.

Well I don't agree. The same reason you don't have Edge throw the ball or Dansby line up as a wide receiver. That is not what there are good at. They are not physically built that way. The same reason you dont have your 375 lb lineman cut block. The teams I believe run that well are quick-footed OG/OT and TE/RB where they are clearly over-matched.

I'll give him a mulligan on the missed block and the false start penalty. He has played really well during the second half of the season.

BTW, did you see Davis block he threw on the 5-yard touchdown by Shipp? He took the entire left side of the defense completely out of the screen. He pushed the DT into the DE and LB. Amazing, you could have backed a trailer through that hole. We better sign him, plays like that are going to be reviewed in the offseason and some one is going to give him a ton of cash.

 

[Shane]

I'll give him a mulligan on the missed block and the false start penalty. He has played really well during the second half of the season.

You better give him a whole bunch of Mulligans. He has missed on blocks using precisely that same "cutblock" technique several times this season. SHould maybe be a clue to quit using it.

 

[Duckjake]

You better give him a whole bunch of Mulligans. He has missed on block using precisely that same "cutblock" technique several times this season. SHould maybe be a clue to quit using it.

It took Green and Pendergrast two years to stop using the ridiculous slant tackle set up on defense.

 

[JeffGollin]

I think Cbus is right on here. Big clearly did NOT fall down. He probably could have done a better job with the block, but his intent was to get the DEs hands down, as stated.

That's what it looked to me. Leinart was supposed to release the ball quickly, and Leonard's job was to keep the guy from batting down the pass.

Matt didn't get rid of the ball quickly enough, and Green evaded Big's roll block.

I think that's the first time I ever saw Leonard attempt that manouver and, on hindsight, perhaps maybe that wasn't the best time for Leonard and Loney to try something new.

 

[BigDavis75]

You better give him a whole bunch of Mulligans. He has missed on blocks using precisely that same "cutblock" technique several times this season. SHould maybe be a clue to quit using it.

His cut block sucks but I'm going to have to put that on the coaches, like others have said he is being put in a situation he is uncomfortable with. The design of a cut is to get the defenders hands down on a quick route and that is playing against Big's strengths. It is clear that he is being coached to do it rather than deciding to do it on his own.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That's what it looked to me. Leinart was supposed to release the ball quickly, and Leonard's job was to keep the guy from batting down the pass.

Matt didn't get rid of the ball quickly enough, and Green evaded Big's roll block.

I think that's the first time I ever saw Leonard attempt that manouver and, on hindsight, perhaps maybe that wasn't the best time for Leonard and Loney to try something new.

Big has definitely tried to cutblock in the past, and I only recall it working a couple of times.

Like an above poster stated. No reason a person as big as Davis should be cutblocking. However, if there is a time that he should do it, it should be on an inside move. The defender did a speed rush to the outside. There was a clear throwing lane for Leinart to the left side, if that was the 1st read.

 

[football karma]

Big has definitely tried to cutblock in the past, and I only recall it working a couple of times.

To be fair -- given the way TV shows games -- Big could very well have executed countless cutblocks effectively and we would have never noticed it-

we only see it when there is pressure on the QB

 

[dreamcastrocks]

To be fair -- given the way TV shows games -- Big could very well have executed countless cutblocks effectively and we would have never noticed it-

we only see it when there is pressure on the QB

I think that TV shows a good job of lineplay. The problem is that they suck 5 yards behind the line, or 15 yards in the secondary.