The Quarterback Redemption

[Harry]

I think this “throwing short of the sticks” is overstated. Since most of us only see TV coverage maybe those are the only people open. Even watching at the game usually you’re focused on the ball. Plus with this line deep routes or double moves are unlikely to be completed before Gabbert is running for his life. Also, for all we know, the call from the bench may be to throw short and let the receiver run for it. If that’s the primary receiver and he’s open, it is supposed to be the throw regardless of the sticks. Finally if this is a problem, it’s easy to fix. Have all receiver patterns go at least to the sticks. It doesn’t look to me like Gabbert’s panicking and throwing early. I think this is mostly on BA. As an aside I can remember tons of passes to Fitz short of the sticks long before Gabbert got here.

 

[Mitch]

I think this “throwing short of the sticks” is overstated. Since most of us only see TV coverage maybe those are the only people open. Even watching at the game usually you’re focused on the ball. Plus with this line deep routes or double moves are unlikely to be completed before Gabbert is running for his life. Also, for all we know, the call from the bench may be to throw short and let the receiver run for it. If that’s the primary receiver and he’s open, it is supposed to be the throw regardless of the sticks. Finally if this is a problem, it’s easy to fix. Have all receiver patterns go at least to the sticks. It doesn’t look to me like Gabbert’s panicking and throwing early. I think this is mostly on BA. As an aside I can remember tons of passes to Fitz short of the sticks long before Gabbert got here.

Kurt Warner was a master of waiting until the WR got the exact amount of separation he needed to catch and advance the ball beyond the sticks and then sticking the passes on them. In a few cases versus the Texans and Jaguars, Gabbert threw the ball too early (where there was minimal to no separation), which gave the WR or RB no chance of advancing the ball. BA always talks about getting rid of the ball quickly---thus I tend to agree with you that some of this certainly is on BA---and BA loves the quick WR screens, which the Jaguars sniffed out every time. At times, it looks like the Cardinals' QB are playing "hot potato" and that is just asking for trouble. But, trying to play hot potato is where the Cardinals' personnel at WR hurts them---other than Fitz, none of the WRs are effective slot guys and/or quick separation types. What Gabbert is doing well, however, is hitting the TEs who can out-leverage and box out the defenders over the middle. To see a Cardinals' QB finally employ the TEs more on passing downs is refreshing.

 

[Mitch]

Gabbert has been good so far but lets see how he does against the Rams front 7. This line dominated the Cards in London and knocked out Palmer. Aaron Donald is arguably one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL today. He will be a force to reckon with.

Any QB is going to have his hands full versus the Rams' defense. But, this week hopefully BA has some wrinkle plays that with Gabbert's mobility will keep the Rams' defense off-balance. This is the week to make the play-calling unpredictable.

 

[PJ1]

Any QB is going to have his hands full versus the Rams' defense. But, this week hopefully BA has some wrinkle plays that with Gabbert's mobility will keep the Rams' defense off-balance. This is the week to make the play-calling unpredictable.

I am even more worried about the Rams offense. They made us look real bad in the last game. We don't handle the misdirection plays and the speed they have very well.

 

[Mitch]

I am even more worried about the Rams offense. They made us look real bad in the last game. We don't handle the misdirection plays and the speed they have very well.

Good point. This time around the Cardinals have to stay disciplined on the edge and they have to get pressure up the middle. The biggest worry is our inside linebackers and whether they can make the plays they are supposed to make.

Conversely, the Rams' inside linebackers know we are going to have to double team Aaron Donald and will be trying to exploit the guard/center gaps. The protection broke down big-time in London.

 

[DVontel]

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[oaken1]

If BA is back, then Lamar Jackson will not be drafted no matter how far down he will fall.

It also means Josh Allen will be the protypical QB that BA will go to war with

or Rudolph....Darnold also fits the prototype.... but Rudolph so far has been the guy on the outside looking in,..may change by draft day

 

[Vacard]

or Rudolph....Darnold also fits the prototype.... but Rudolph so far has been the guy on the outside looking in,..may change by draft day

I’ll take Rudolph over Allen and maybe Mayfield. His stats are very strong.

 

[cardpa]

Any QB is going to have his hands full versus the Rams' defense. But, this week hopefully BA has some wrinkle plays that with Gabbert's mobility will keep the Rams' defense off-balance. This is the week to make the play-calling unpredictable.

Mitch, we're talking about BA, Bruce Arians, you know the guy who stated we don't change for anyone. You do remember him, don't you?

 

[pmacLean]

Gabbert has been good so far but lets see how he does against the Rams front 7. This line dominated the Cards in London and knocked out Palmer. Aaron Donald is arguably one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL today. He will be a force to reckon with.

Of course, Donald has to catch BG, a task he may find a tad more difficult than catching CP.

 

[pmacLean]

I think this “throwing short of the sticks” is overstated. Since most of us only see TV coverage maybe those are the only people open. Even watching at the game usually you’re focused on the ball. Plus with this line deep routes or double moves are unlikely to be completed before Gabbert is running for his life. Also, for all we know, the call from the bench may be to throw short and let the receiver run for it. If that’s the primary receiver and he’s open, it is supposed to be the throw regardless of the sticks. Finally if this is a problem, it’s easy to fix. Have all receiver patterns go at least to the sticks. It doesn’t look to me like Gabbert’s panicking and throwing early. I think this is mostly on BA. As an aside I can remember tons of passes to Fitz short of the sticks long before Gabbert got here.

Exactly, many of those 'short of the sticks' routes I watched were going perpendicular to the side line. In other words, the route was designed to be short, or, the WR was an idiot. You make the call.

 

[pmacLean]

Mitch, we're talking about BA, Bruce Arians, you know the guy who stated we don't change for anyone. You do remember him, don't you?

Nice one.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, we're talking about BA, Bruce Arians, you know the guy who stated we don't change for anyone. You do remember him, don't you?

Yup. Gotcha.

However, maybe it's just me, but BA is starting to make subtle changes in his m.o. Deferring on the coin toss, for example. Actually saying "if the pocket breaks down, Blaine can use his feet and run." The BA of old would never want his QB to run. I may be wrong but I smell a read option coming with Gabbert and D.J. Foster. I also think we are going to start seeing bootlegs. With Gabbert this offense can be opened up in ways it couldn't before.

 

[daves]

Mitch, we're talking about BA, Bruce Arians, you know the guy who stated we don't change for anyone. You do remember him, don't you?

If you really believe that Arians doesn't change the plays and the game plan every week based on the opponent, who's healthy for the Cardinals, what plays have been successful in practice, and plenty of other factors.... based on some generic quote (and what was that quote exactly, and what was the context?), then you are either extraordinarily naiive, or just willfully hating.

...dbs

 

[Mitch]

If you really believe that Arians doesn't change the plays and the game plan every week based on the opponent, who's healthy for the Cardinals, what plays have been successful in practice, and plenty of other factors.... based on some generic quote (and what was that quote exactly, and what was the context?), then you are either extraordinarily naiive, or just willfully hatin
...dbs

That's a little harsh, daves. BA's offense has become far too predictable, particularly the running plays, which other teams are sniffing out pre-snap due to film prep. BA says that "Goody" calls the run plays---so he deflects some of the blame there. BA does have his 6 deep shot pass plays ready and practiced for each week and occasionally he throws in a wrinkle or two, like he did last year with K. Williams running a read option. But, by and large, the offense is pretty much the same as it have been for the last 5 years. The big difference now is the mobility that BG brings to the offense, so it's possible that BA might try to take more advantage of that mobility, but seeing will be believing, as cardpa rightfully suggests.

 

[daves]

That's a little harsh, daves. BA's offense has become far too predictable

It may be the case that the offense is too predictable - though probably far less than some people believe (e.g. when Catfish complained about "watching the offense go run, run, pass, punt------series after series" and i checked the game logs from the first two games and found that the Cardinals were almost exactly 50/50 run/pass on first down, and that they had gone run-run-pass-punt exactly ONE TIME in the first TWO GAMES!).

That is a far cry from actually believing that the Cardinals do not adapt the offense every game, for every opponent. Not only in terms of the specific plays used and the plays called in various situations, but the entire balance of play types and mix. For example, once David Johnson emerged, we saw the team run a LOT more than they had previously, and install a LOT of plays that featured Johnson catching the ball out of the backfield, or lined up wide. (This, after Arians had previously said that running backs need to run, and receivers catch.) Last year when the O-line was decimated, we saw the "six deep passes per game" philosophy shift, with some success, to much more quick passes over the last six games or so.

I've seen people claim that "every time Fitz motions in to the end of the line, you know it's going to be a run play to that side". Yet i've observed that the Cardinals OFTEN pass out of run formations. No doubt they set up the D to expect a run from certain formations, then pass. You know, like every other team in the league. To think that the Cardinals "don't change for anyone" is naiive.

...dbs

 

[Cardiac]

It may be the case that the offense is too predictable - though probably far less than some people believe (e.g. when Catfish complained about "watching the offense go run, run, pass, punt------series after series" and i checked the game logs from the first two games and found that the Cardinals were almost exactly 50/50 run/pass on first down, and that they had gone run-run-pass-punt exactly ONE TIME in the first TWO GAMES!).

That is a far cry from actually believing that the Cardinals do not adapt the offense every game, for every opponent. Not only in terms of the specific plays used and the plays called in various situations, but the entire balance of play types and mix. For example, once David Johnson emerged, we saw the team run a LOT more than they had previously, and install a LOT of plays that featured Johnson catching the ball out of the backfield, or lined up wide. (This, after Arians had previously said that running backs need to run, and receivers catch.) Last year when the O-line was decimated, we saw the "six deep passes per game" philosophy shift, with some success, to much more quick passes over the last six games or so.

I've seen people claim that "every time Fitz motions in to the end of the line, you know it's going to be a run play to that side". Yet i've observed that the Cardinals OFTEN pass out of run formations. No doubt they set up the D to expect a run from certain formations, then pass. You know, like every other team in the league. To think that the Cardinals "don't change for anyone" is naiive.

...dbs

 

[MrYeahBut]

I've seen people claim that "every time Fitz motions in to the end of the line, you know it's going to be a run play to that side".

I've said this a couple of times, but I liked your post anyway, ha!

.

 

[cardpa]

If you really believe that Arians doesn't change the plays and the game plan every week based on the opponent, who's healthy for the Cardinals, what plays have been successful in practice, and plenty of other factors.... based on some generic quote (and what was that quote exactly, and what was the context?), then you are either extraordinarily naiive, or just willfully hating.

...dbs

So Dave, tell me how unpredictable was Arians play calling today?

 

[daves]

So Dave, tell me how unpredictable was Arians play calling today?

Evidently, a lot less predictable than the last time the Cardinals played the Rams. But i'm sure you were able to call out the play beforehand every time.

...dbs

 

[Cheesebeef]

It may be the case that the offense is too predictable - though probably far less than some people believe (e.g. when Catfish complained about "watching the offense go run, run, pass, punt------series after series" and i checked the game logs from the first two games and found that the Cardinals were almost exactly 50/50 run/pass on first down, and that they had gone run-run-pass-punt exactly ONE TIME in the first TWO GAMES!).

That is a far cry from actually believing that the Cardinals do not adapt the offense every game, for every opponent. Not only in terms of the specific plays used and the plays called in various situations, but the entire balance of play types and mix. For example, once David Johnson emerged, we saw the team run a LOT more than they had previously, and install a LOT of plays that featured Johnson catching the ball out of the backfield, or lined up wide. (This, after Arians had previously said that running backs need to run, and receivers catch.) Last year when the O-line was decimated, we saw the "six deep passes per game" philosophy shift, with some success, to much more quick passes over the last six games or so.

I've seen people claim that "every time Fitz motions in to the end of the line, you know it's going to be a run play to that side". Yet i've observed that the Cardinals OFTEN pass out of run formations. No doubt they set up the D to expect a run from certain formations, then pass. You know, like every other team in the league. To think that the Cardinals "don't change for anyone" is naiive.

...dbs

I’ll never understand how someone as smart as you are can be so stupid about football.

You were arguing with Ouchie and I last season that Amos might not be THAT bad.

For shame Dave. For shame.

 

[daves]

I’ll never understand how someone as smart as you are can be so stupid about football.

You were arguing with Ouchie and I last season that Amos might not be THAT bad.

For shame Dave. For shame.

BS. I never said that. I have ALWAYS been in favor of FIRING AMOS.

I also never said that the offense wasn't predictable. Maybe you should read my posts above to see what I did say before you interject with your drunken replies. Apparently CardPa really believes that the Cardinals "don't change for anyone".

And it's "Ouchie and me".

Sober up, *******!

...dbs

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Dave, I'm with you..

But these internet guys are a lot smarter than NFL coaches.

 

[cardpa]

If you really believe that Arians doesn't change the plays and the game plan every week based on the opponent, who's healthy for the Cardinals, what plays have been successful in practice, and plenty of other factors.... based on some generic quote (and what was that quote exactly, and what was the context?), then you are either extraordinarily naiive, or just willfully hating.

...dbs

Hey Dave, naïve only has one "i", not two.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Dave, I'm with you..

But these internet guys are a lot smarter than NFL coaches.

Lol... you know, you’re an internet guy also and you’ve criticized other coaches before. Just because you’ve been with THESE coaches and refuse to admit what this is team is now for TWO years doesn’t make you any smarter than the rest of us. It actually just makes you look foolish and hypocritical.

Also, Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Amos had to go LAST year. In fact a Rocket scientist (Dave) didn’t even realize that LAST year.