TigToad
Hall of Famer
I'm a season ticket holder.
I went to all the games last year, and even when we lost, I was impressed. Last year, we had a great deal more pass protection. Sure, we couldn't run, but really we didn't try. The defense was intense. I almost never just felt out of a game. It was obvious we were >< close to something special. We lost some heartbreakers and I thought we'd turn the corner.
Even walking about of the first game win against the 49ers, I thought we played sloppy and got lucky. Week 3 when we lost that unspeakable game to the Rams, it wasn't the intense struggle with a mistake, it was bad football on both sides and we out-badded them.
I can see how our team has more talent, not less. There is no one player we lost that makes me wonder what changed.. but something in the intensity on the field has changed.
Its obvious we are a few talented players short (cough - offensive linemen - cough) of being a very good team... but we just feel more short this year than last year.
Now its come to me. Its our pass rush. We don't have the amazing pass rush that we had last year, the led to the feeling that any play, something great can happen for the Cardinals. Okeafor has looked pretty good from my perspective, getting to the ball, making tackles even off his play... but my favorite Cardinal, the one whose jersey I usually wear every game, Bertrand Berry has looked... absent. I think we need to do whatever it takes to get his mind and body focused back on that pro-bowl level because our intensity seems to have gone away with his sacks.
Just my .02
I went to all the games last year, and even when we lost, I was impressed. Last year, we had a great deal more pass protection. Sure, we couldn't run, but really we didn't try. The defense was intense. I almost never just felt out of a game. It was obvious we were >< close to something special. We lost some heartbreakers and I thought we'd turn the corner.
Even walking about of the first game win against the 49ers, I thought we played sloppy and got lucky. Week 3 when we lost that unspeakable game to the Rams, it wasn't the intense struggle with a mistake, it was bad football on both sides and we out-badded them.
I can see how our team has more talent, not less. There is no one player we lost that makes me wonder what changed.. but something in the intensity on the field has changed.
Its obvious we are a few talented players short (cough - offensive linemen - cough) of being a very good team... but we just feel more short this year than last year.
Now its come to me. Its our pass rush. We don't have the amazing pass rush that we had last year, the led to the feeling that any play, something great can happen for the Cardinals. Okeafor has looked pretty good from my perspective, getting to the ball, making tackles even off his play... but my favorite Cardinal, the one whose jersey I usually wear every game, Bertrand Berry has looked... absent. I think we need to do whatever it takes to get his mind and body focused back on that pro-bowl level because our intensity seems to have gone away with his sacks.
Just my .02