This week versus the Rams

[RugbyMuffin]

As a fan, I see this game as "starting over".

No not the season, the season is three games in, and this team is what it is.

By starting over I mean that the Cardinals have to re-assess their goals as a team.

Super Bowl ? ......... Please, lets get over that ridiculousness.

Home Field Advantage ? ........... Not gonna happen.

Playoffs ? .......... That would be the new goal this team has to circle, but from what has been shown on the field ? This is not a playoff team, at least not yet.

Competitive Football ? ........... We can stop right here. This team has shown it can at least be competitive. They got their collective butt's handed to them last week but they were threatening all game long.

This team has to work on its focus, professionalism, and resolve. No playoff team is going to win anything if they do not show up EVERY WEEK to play at the highest level.

Based on the first 3 weeks of the season, if the Cardinals continue to play how they have been, they are going to get their doors blown off by the Rams this weekend, Gurley may go for 200 yards on them.

But, that is up to the players, either they have a team goal, in which I can easily see the team turn things around and make the playoffs, or they have individual goals, in which I can easily see the team hovering around .500 for the season.

Thus this team has to start over, reassess what it wants to do, and then play out the season upon that mindset.

I will say this, if this team goes .500, there will be some big time changes in the offseason. There is a lot of money given to a few players that are not getting the job done, not to mention it seems like this version of the roster churn players, the depth players, is the worse since Arians and Keim have been together.

Lots of work to do on this roster, and this team. For the sake of the 2016 season, I hope the work ends up being more of a change in mindset and resolve, and not so much waiting till January to trim the fat off the roster.

We will see. If the Cardinals play how they can, they just may be able to beat the Rams, but right now, I do not see who the Cardinals pull it off without a substantial effort, and disparate play.

 

[LoyalRam]

It will be a case of which team has the most mental toughness not to quit. It will be an old fashioned kick @ss game.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

Gurley Gurley and Gurley. Have to stop Gurley. He has hurt the team badly the last 2 times they played. Stop him and Cards win this

 

[LoyalRam]

This time, Gurley won't be wearing a knee brace like on this run, and Honey Badger won't be able to catch him.

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[Reddog]

I will say this, if this team goes .500, there will be some big time changes in the offseason. There is a lot of money given to a few players that are not getting the job done, not to mention it seems like this version of the roster churn players, the depth players, is the worse since Arians and Keim have been together.

Not to mention some serious coaching changes. A 500 season might be the beginning of the end to the BASK marriage bliss as BA will likely want to remain loyal to his coaches while SKs job would be to force the issue.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Not to mention some serious coaching changes. A 500 season might be the beginning of the end to the BASK marriage bliss as BA will likely want to remain loyal to his coaches while SKs job would be to force the issue.

That very well may be the case.

Yet, I am not 100% ready to blame coaching over the players.

Coaches are not dropping passes hitting them in the hands.

Coaches are not getting blown off the ball because of lack of talent/technique.

Coaches are not making "business decisions" in the run game.

Not to mention, Keim may not want to "push issues" since his first and second round picks are leaving MUCH to be desired on the football field, and that includes Chandler "Softy" Jones.

 

[BigRedRage]

This time, Gurley won't be wearing a knee brace like on this run, and Honey Badger won't be able to catch him.

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your gloating makes me want your team to be utterly destroyed. Normally I just want to win but you are making it where I want to win convincingly and send you back into the hole you came from.

 

[BigRedRage]

That very well may be the case.

Yet, I am not 100% ready to blame coaching over the players.

Coaches are not dropping passes hitting them in the hands.

Coaches are not getting blown off the ball because of lack of talent/technique.

Coaches are not making "business decisions" in the run game.

Not to mention, Keim may not want to "push issues" since his first and second round picks are leaving MUCH to be desired on the football field, and that includes Chandler "Softy" Jones.

Chandler has not made the expected impression but I am happy that we have 6 sacks in three games between him and Golden. Too bad we did not bring back Freeney to do rotations, Jones would play better if we didnt make him play 95% of the snaps.

 

[PJ1]

The Rams were crushed by the Niners and if Winston didn't have his head up his ass on the last play of the game would have lost that one also. I am far more concerned about the Cardinals than the Rams. If we play well we win. Simple as that.

 

[LoyalRam]

your gloating makes me want your team to be utterly destroyed. Normally I just want to win but you are making it where I want to win convincingly and send you back into the hole you came from.

Not really...It's what I "hope" will happen. So far Gurley has been contained, mostly due to our inexperienced Oline not opening holes for him. You guys have a great defense, and you have a really good QB and outstanding WR's. Even your RB is pretty darn good. As for my demeanor here, I like a little smack talk because it can be fun, and I can take it (and enjoy it) coming back at me. But one thing I will not do is try to use false humility because I am a Ram's fan in a Card forum, because that is worse to me than being an absolute troll.

 

[LoyalRam]

The Rams were crushed by the Niners and if Winston didn't have his head up his ass on the last play of the game would have lost that one also. I am far more concerned about the Cardinals than the Rams. If we play well we win. Simple as that.

Well, we did beat the Hawks...three times in a row (and four times out of five), and split with you guys last year. Take us lightly, we like that.

 

[BigRedRage]

Not really...It's what I "hope" will happen. So far Gurley has been contained, mostly due to our inexperienced Oline not opening holes for him. You guys have a great defense, and you have a really good QB and outstanding WR's. Even your RB is pretty darn good. As for my demeanor here, I like a little smack talk because it can be fun, and I can take it (and enjoy it) coming back at me. But one thing I will not do is try to use false humility because I am a Ram's fan in a Card forum, because that is worse to me than being an absolute troll.

I'm mostly always humble because I know any given sunday any team can win. I dont like putting my feet in my mouth.

 

[LoyalRam]

I'm mostly always humble because I know any given sunday any team can win. I dont like putting my feet in my mouth.

I think you know what I am talking about, when an opposing fan comes in here all respectful (to a sickening degree), and then bashes you at his own forum. I don't do that, is all that I am saying.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Chandler has not made the expected impression but I am happy that we have 6 sacks in three games between him and Golden. Too bad we did not bring back Freeney to do rotations, Jones would play better if we didnt make him play 95% of the snaps.

Have you seen Freeney's stats for 2016 ?

I am with you with Golden tho, that kid is going to be an asset going forward.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think you know what I am talking about, when an opposing fan comes in here all respectful (to a sickening degree), and then bashes you at his own forum. I don't do that, is all that I am saying.

Your smack talk is 7-9 bulls---. We don’t need it.

 

[LoyalRam]

Your smack talk is 7-9 bulls---. We don’t need it.

Oh well, everybody has an opinion.

 

[Reddog]

That very well may be the case.

Yet, I am not 100% ready to blame coaching over the players.

Coaches are not dropping passes hitting them in the hands.

Coaches are not getting blown off the ball because of lack of talent/technique.

Coaches are not making "business decisions" in the run game.

Not to mention, Keim may not want to "push issues" since his first and second round picks are leaving MUCH to be desired on the football field, and that includes Chandler "Softy" Jones.

I am not blaming them over players but it is their job to get the team ready and that goes from temperament, technique, scheme and even the approach during pre-season. This is an organizational issue and hopefully a very temporary one.

 

[MadCardDisease]

As a fan, I see this game as "starting over".

No not the season, the season is three games in, and this team is what it is.

By starting over I mean that the Cardinals have to re-assess their goals as a team.

Super Bowl ? ......... Please, lets get over that ridiculousness.

Home Field Advantage ? ........... Not gonna happen.

Playoffs ? .......... That would be the new goal this team has to circle, but from what has been shown on the field ? This is not a playoff team, at least not yet.

Competitive Football ? ........... We can stop right here. This team has shown it can at least be competitive. They got their collective butt's handed to them last week but they were threatening all game long.

I disagree. This year should be Super Bowl or bust. They should still have a goal of Home field advantage. Just because you lose 2 games doesn't mean you panic.

The Cardinals have 2 losses and both of them are outside of the NFC. If the Cardinals can beat the Rams they are right back in it with a Divisional and Conference win. Well coached teams can bounce back from early losses and finish the season strong.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I disagree. This year should be Super Bowl or bust. They should still have a goal of Home field advantage. Just because you lose 2 games doesn't mean you panic.

The Cardinals have 2 losses and both of them are outside of the NFC. If the Cardinals can beat the Rams they are right back in it with a Divisional and Conference win. Well coached teams can bounce back from early losses and finish the season strong.

And that is a very fair opinion to have.

Personally, I do not see it with this team, and find the "If" in "If they can beat the Rams" to be a HUGE "If".

I do not see things going well this Sunday. All the coaching and technique in the world is not going to improve this teams G and C issue.

Don't get me wrong, this year should have been Super Bowl or bust, but I do not think the roster is a Super Bowl roster. I think the best chance, unless they Cardinals pull a magical offseason in 2017, was last year and it was stomped out by the Panthers.

Do not get me wrong, I still think the Cardinals are a very good football team, and I am looking forward to watching the rest of the season, but I feel this squad has to take the "get to the playoffs and anything can happen approach" rather than think they are team that "should" go to the Super Bowl.

We will see.

 

[BigRedRage]

I think you know what I am talking about, when an opposing fan comes in here all respectful (to a sickening degree), and then bashes you at his own forum. I don't do that, is all that I am saying.

I dont really view other forums but im all for it, welcome to the board.

 

[BigRedRage]

Have you seen Freeney's stats for 2016 ?

I am with you with Golden tho, that kid is going to be an asset going forward.

I have not but he would be better with us

 

[Bodha]

Hopefully Mathis is back, otherwise Aaron Donald is going to eat Watford alive. Itll be really really bad.

 

[SO91]

I disagree. This year should be Super Bowl or bust. They should still have a goal of Home field advantage. Just because you lose 2 games doesn't mean you panic.

The Cardinals have 2 losses and both of them are outside of the NFC. If the Cardinals can beat the Rams they are right back in it with a Divisional and Conference win. Well coached teams can bounce back from early losses and finish the season strong.

The goal should most definitely be Super Bowl, but I don't want to hear the players talking about this as a Super Bowl team. I want them to walk the walk more than hearing them refer to themselves as a Super Bowl caliber team. Belichick had nice dig at the SB talk around this team after the loss, and I for one am weary of the hype before accomplishing anything.

 

[wa52lz]

Gurley Gurley and Gurley. Have to stop Gurley. He has hurt the team badly the last 2 times they played. Stop him and Cards win this

last time we played him he was 9 for 41 and 34yds came on one run. no receptions

 

[JeffGollin]

Rams are hard to figure. A few observations:

- Gurley is only averaging 2.9 ypc. I'm not sure why - could be the OL whose starters are not very high ranked, according to PFF.

- On defense, LA is downright scary. 5 of their 11 starter are ranked #10 at their position or higher. They also employ a funky base defense that uses only one LB (Ogletree) and 6 DB's. Their only possible weak spots appear to be at CB.

- Judging from their first 2 games, it looked as if they were going to use Keenum to keep the seat warm for Goff. Not so fast - despite only scoring 3 FG's in their first 2 games, Fisher opened things up a bit vs. TB, with 2 TD passes over 43 yards (including one bomb that caught TB napping after Fisher had dialed up 4 straight inside runs).

Bottom line - The Rams are less predictable (& conservative) than many assume. Until the Cards can prove they can sustain their max effort & production, I see this game (with the obligatory 3-point home field advantage already factored in) as a toss-up