Thoughts on Edge and Pre-Season

[Mitch]

Many of you are saying, "hey, why get worried, it's the pre-season." While normally your reaction is understandable...in this case, because we are talking about the Cardinals, IMO, there is significant cause to be worried.

Under Dennis Green the Cardinals have fallen into some bad habits...they play hard and reasonably well one week and then play flat the next week. It's like every now and then the team has to prove to itself that it actually can compete and even win in the NFL...but once they prove it to themselves, they lack the hunger and desire to sustain a winning approach and intensity.

The opening of the brand new stadium was a huge success...the facility was sparkling, the crowd was loud and energetic and the team played well in a 21-13 win over Pittsburgh.

This week, after hearing reports that Green was chastizing the players for sloppy practices...we didn't see the same team in action. What we saw was a team unsure of itself...a team far less committed to playing the game fundamentally soundly...a team seemingly disinterested in putting it all on the line the way they did in game one.

This, my friends, is a very bad habit...and bad habits are what cause football teams to lose and/or wallow in mediocrity.

Good blocking has to become a good habit...so that no matter what game or practice the team is playing in, it has to be able to count on good blocking.

Same for good tackling...it has to become a habit.

Look at last year...same kind of start to the pre-season. The Cardinals came out flying against the Cowboys...they looked like a team on a mission...alas, that performance was merely a teaser, as the ensuing pre-season performances were decidedly less inspired...which carried over into an 0-3 start.

You want to say the pre-season games are meaningless?

The final scores may be....

But if a team is NOT developing good habits...that does NOT bode well for the team's prospects.

Right now...do we really know the answers to these key questions?

1. Will the Cardinals block consistently well this season?

Answer: does not look good thus far.

2. Will the Cardinals be able to run the ball effectively this season?

Answer: this does not look at all likely thus far.

3. Will the Cardinals be able to pass the ball effectively this season?

Answer: yes, this aspect of their game looks good, although the TEs have been invisible and two of the top four WRs (Boldin and McCoy) have had the dropsies.

4. Will the Cardinals be able to stop the run?

Answer: they look much improved in the line thus far...the LBers, though, have been inconsistent...Huff has been good, the others?

5. Will the Cardinals be good relaible tacklers on defense?

Answer: Saturday's performance makes one wonder.

6. Will the Cardinals' pass rush be good?

Answer: It's been so-so thus far, but the talent suggests it may be.

7. Will the Cardinals' pass coverage be consistently good?

Answer: Not looking that way at all thus far.

8. Will the Cardinals' special teams be consistently good?

Answer: so far they look drastically improved.
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So, how does Dennis Green and the coaching staff insist on developing good habits? Here's one example. Call the entire defense in for a film session and show them Dyshod Carter's tackle (which was about as textbook as they come) three times. Tell Carter right there: "we are bumping you up on the depth chart this week, because this is the way we want ALL our defenders to tackle." Give Carter a whiff of the 53 man roster and see what he does with it...if he isn't on the punt and kickoff teams, get him in there this week. Sub him in at RCB in the first half at some point, have him play a series.

Moves like this show the players that anyone who shows up the way Carter did will get rewarded. AND...better yet...it sends a message to ALL 80 players, "hey, if Carter can get this quickly into the coachs' favor, so can I."

Yeah, it's only ONE tackle. Some of you might say so what?

We're talking about developing good habits...and good habits have to start with ONE before they can lead to TWO or THREE or FOUR.
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The Edge "don't punish me in pre-season" saga is hurting this football team right now. Again, it's a matter of developing good habits.

Some of you say, "well, Edge never got too many pre-season touches with the Colts, so why should he here?"

In Indy, Edge had already proven that he could run well in their schemes and behind their offensive line.

That has not been established yet in Arizona.

In Indy, Edge was being used by a savvy, veteran OC in Tom Moore, who knew exactly how to spring Edge for big runs...and in a system where Peyton Manning was adept at audibling into the right play to attack where the defense was most vulnerable.

Here, Edge is being coached by a 2nd year play caller in Keith Rowen, who has yet to prove whether he can call the right running plays at the right time.

In addition, Rowen has not been able to establish the running game mentality in Arizona yet. Yes, sub par talent on the offensive line has made such a mentality a pipe dream thus far...but when and where is this going to change? With Edge on the bench?

If the Cardinals do not show any signs of being able to run the ball in the pre-season, why should anyone think they will be able to do it in the regular season?

Again, good habits start with ONE good play call, ONE good block, ONE good run. With Edge...there has been ZERO to date in Arizona.

Edge even said that one of the major reasons why he signed with Arizona was because he would be playing for a player-friendly coach in Dennis Green who wouldn't beat him up in pre-season.

Sure, noone wants to see the team's star running back get pounded in the pre-season. But...again, where do the good habits begin?

In this scenario, how does Green justify playing potential Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry for an entire half, while he plays Edge for four plays?

Every player has to withstand the pounding of a 4 game pre-season, 16 game regular season and possible playoff games to follow.

Every player has to risk getting hurt...it's part of the game.

Sorry, but, the "let me turn it on when the lights are on" mentality is not going to help a perennial loser get out of its rut.

When the mentality is..."but I might get hurt"...something's wrong.

That mentality in itself is a bad habit.
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While Sterling Sharpe was awfully redundant as a color analyst...he did say one thing that was right on the money...he said that with all the hype the Cardinals players are generating...and with all their excitement...if the Cardinals lose at home to the 49ers in game one, the whole bubble will burst right then and there.

Sharpe understands the fragile psyches of a team that is hoping to be good, and depserately believing they will be good...but privately wondering whether it will be the same ol' same ol' all over again.

This 49er game is going to be quite a challenge...emotions should be running high...as will expectations...but the 49ers are a lot better than what people think...and they have, IMO, a first-rate head coach in Mike Nolan. If they scheme better, block better and tackle better, they will win that football game.

Let's just hope that the Cardinals can start developing the good and proper habits this week.

 

[NuttinButTDs]

A good post. While I agree everything you say, Edge has never played pre-season games with passion. In fact, Indy has lost 9 out 10 previous pre-season games since 2004. It is worrying for us as we are not used to a star running back in the team and the previous history. A good note, JJ has improved his stock and that can be inferred as a better (relatively speaking) O-line or we can run the ball.

Having said that, I do agree with the 49er's comment. Do not let the bubble burst.

Lets face it - our history with Cardiac Cards will swing our emotions like a pendulum - europhia (after Pittsburgh game) and despair (NE).

Relax and the let the ride begin -

 

[john h]

A good post. While I agree everything you say, Edge has never played pre-season games with passion. In fact, Indy has lost 9 out 10 previous pre-season games since 2004. It is worrying for us as we are not used to a star running back in the team and the previous history. A good note, JJ has improved his stock and that can be inferred as a better (relatively speaking) O-line or we can run the ball.

Having said that, I do agree with the 49er's comment. Do not let the bubble burst.

Lets face it - our history with Cardiac Cards will swing our emotions like a pendulum - europhia (after Pittsburgh game) and despair (NE).

Relax and the let the ride begin -

I just do not think you are going to get max effort out of anyone who has their job locked in. They are not going to want to risk a serious injury in pre season games. You will see effort from rookies and guys trying to move up and that is about it. We beat Pittsburg and lose this week and I still do not know what kind of team we will have when it counts. I am concerned we are not making any significant runs but if the people concerned are not really trying? We are better than the score but how much better I have no idea. I do think winning your very first game is a must. It sets the tone for the season and the fans.

 

[Russ Smith]

My 2 cents, I think the uproar if Edge got hurt in the preseason is a lot bigger risk than him maybe not getting enough work in the preseason. Injuries are unpredictable but RB has to be the most at risk position in the NFL they go down all the time. We're getting 2 things out of this, protecting Edge, and giving his backups more reps in case we need them during the season.

We did the same thing with Emmitt and he was MUCH later in his career than Edge and still nearly gained 1000 yards. I just think it's overkill to play Edge at this point too much. As for Berry, I'd be surprised if we see him again this preseason, but let's be honest he's coming off a major injury so we sort of needed to let him play a bit more just to get the rust off, Edge had 400 touches last year.

 

[Chainthroer]

I agree. The Dyshod Carter "hit" film should be shown not only to the D, but to the O too. Just a good motivation ploy. Also, could Edges relaxing in the preseason be effecting the team attitude? I mean, he's the new guy on the team. Needs to show he's a part of the team, besides getting into game shape!

 

[Duckjake]

Under Dennis Green the Cardinals have fallen into some bad habits...they play hard and reasonably well one week and then play flat the next week. It's like every now and then the team has to prove to itself that it actually can compete and even win in the NFL...but once they prove it to themselves, they lack the hunger and desire to sustain a winning approach and intensity

.

Mitch, I believe that is something that has been a trademark of the Cardinals ever since they moved to Arizona. I have long said that it is a result of there being no penalty for failure nor reward for winning while playing in the Valley.

The players could see the empty seats at SDS and feel the lack of interest in the team in the Valley. They could hear the loud cheers for their opponents at the Cardinals "home" games. Management didn't even seem to care if they won or lost. Neither did the local press who treated them like an afterthought or joke. Even for highly paid professionals it has to be tough, especially for young guys who are used to being the best players wherever they have been, to maintain the intensity needed to suceed in that environment.

The changes are now in place and they will be able to play in front of a real home crowd, increased interest from fans all over Arizona, and an apparent commitment from management that they actually care about winning. However that is going to take some time. A couple of games in the new stadium or a couple of seasons, I don't know, but I really think that is the "fix".

So like you and many others I believe this season is extremely critical for the franchise. Especially the first couple of home games. Of course the die hards will stay no matter what happens but the tens of thousands of bandwagon fans necessary to a true home field advantage will not. Not with this team's history.

 

[Mitch]

I agree. The Dyshod Carter "hit" film should be shown not only to the D, but to the O too. Just a good motivation ploy. Also, could Edges relaxing in the preseason be effecting the team attitude? I mean, he's the new guy on the team. Needs to show he's a part of the team, besides getting into game shape!

Some coaches, like Bill Parcells, have the luxury of giving star players special treatment...or using double standards. After two losing seasons in Arizona, does Dennis Green have that luxury?

Edge is his own man...he won't change for anyone. They say he's great in the locker room, which is fine...but...what would it mean to his teammates if he was to tell them look guys, let's start getting this right, right now...I'll play in Chicago for as long as it takes to get things right...

That would be the kind of leadership the teams needs...

The laid back, don't play me approach can't be helping matters all that much. How could it possibly.

Here's what's likely to happen: The Cardinals will come out against the 49ers and try to run the ball...Edge will get stuffed repeatedly and the morale of the team will dwindle...Kurt Warner will be faced with too many third and longs...which will be difficult to convert...he might start forcing the ball into coverages...and suddenly the Cards will find themselves behind (due also to the defense's porous pass defense) and scrapping the running game altogether.

If I am Dennis Green and/or Keith Rowen, I want to know right now whether the offense can run the ball...because if I know it can't...I can come out throwing against the 49ers and completely commit myself to what the team does best...and I'll run the ball when the 49ers least expect it.

 

[phillycard]

Great post Mitch as usual. I wish we were the kind of team where I could say "It's just the pre-season". Unfortunately too many of our ingrained bad habits have come back to bite us in the rear once the season has started. No way complacency should set in after a solid victory in week one. Edge or no Edge this team can't just show up and expect to win without execution. DG should no this, and I pray he's pounding that into the teams head.

 

[conraddobler]

We have a pretty solid coaching staff now IMO, Edge is what Edge is you take the good with the bad.

I'd rather he played in the pre-season too, it may be that it does rub off on the younger guys, probably does, as long as he's there bright and early on gameday to light a torch under everyone and say it's go time, then I'm good with it.

Hey we've tried our butts off in pre-season before and achieved a 4-0 start only to get drilled later by a bunch of guys that talked about what Hummer they bought over the summer on the sidelines of those pre-season games.

Let's try it that way for a change and see what happens.

 

[Russ Smith]

Edge had only 17 carries in 5 preseason games last year, 3.4 YPC. After 2 games he had 3 carries for 20 yards all in the first game. 6 carries for 4 yards in the 3rd game. 8 for 32 in the 4th game. SO he had zero carries in the 2nd and 5th games. the overall carries this year are about the same, the results so far are worse. I figure 6-8 carries in game 3 and then he won't even have pads on in game 4. He had 23 for 88 in his first real game last year(Ravens) and went over 100 in 9 of his nex 11 games. His lowest total in those 11 games was 88.

I don't expect he'll do that here but the point is, he has a track record of not playing much in preseason and being ready when it counts, he knows how to do this, the offense is close enough that he basically knows his job already.

I'm not worried about Edge, I honestly think the OL just needs to gel and that can be done with anybody running there in the preseason.I just think we need to run the ball more even if we get nothing out of it but practice.

 

[BigRedRage]

Chicago has a great defence and a sub-par offense, i say we just run, run and run some more until a good run breaks and then start passing, playaction and running it down theyr throats. Until the decent run is broke and they actually pay attention to it i see no reason to pass the ball, we are th ebest passing team in the league, it doesnt need as much work. our D should be able to stop theyr offense so it wont be such a big deal if we lack yardage on our drives and even if we do its preseason so who cares. This will be the last game the starters play alot of so we need all the real time run practise we can get especially against such a great defense, if we can learn how to run on chicago SF should be easy!


PS: The idea of the tackle clip and promotion sounds like a fantastic motivational tool.

 

[Totally_Red]

Edge had only 17 carries in 5 preseason games last year, 3.4 YPC. After 2 games he had 3 carries for 20 yards all in the first game. 6 carries for 4 yards in the 3rd game. 8 for 32 in the 4th game. SO he had zero carries in the 2nd and 5th games. the overall carries this year are about the same, the results so far are worse. I figure 6-8 carries in game 3 and then he won't even have pads on in game 4. He had 23 for 88 in his first real game last year(Ravens) and went over 100 in 9 of his nex 11 games. His lowest total in those 11 games was 88.

I don't expect he'll do that here but the point is, he has a track record of not playing much in preseason and being ready when it counts, he knows how to do this, the offense is close enough that he basically knows his job already.

I'm not worried about Edge, I honestly think the OL just needs to gel and that can be done with anybody running there in the preseason.I just think we need to run the ball more even if we get nothing out of it but practice.

Living in the Midwest not too awful far from where the Rams train, I've seen how they babied Marshall Faulk in training camp and also in the pre-season games. Toward the end of his career, he only got significant carries in the third game to shake the cobwebs off. And he only practices once per day, some times only every other day.

I can certainly see where Mitch is coming from and I agree to a certain extent, but not totally. Edgerin James is a pro who knows what he is doing. I'm more than willing to let Denny Green cut him some slack. I saw an interview with Shaun Alexander during last night's Seahawks game at Indy, and he said pretty much the same thing as Edge. He'd prefer not to play much in pre-season, but he'd do what the team needed.

I do expect to see more extensive action from the entire first-team offense Friday, including James. Edge should play at least two series in that game in my opinion. Game four, no starters except the O-line, play more than a series.

 

[Tashunca]

One of the reasons Edge signed with Cards was because he liked Green's approach toward practices. "Don't leave your game on the practice field". It's the offensive line that needs practice time. You won't know whether it's a good line til about the third of fourth game. An offensive line works like a swiss watch...timing, nuances, mind-reading.

 

[Russ Smith]

One of the reasons Edge signed with Cards was because he liked Green's approach toward practices. "Don't leave your game on the practice field". It's the offensive line that needs practice time. You won't know whether it's a good line til about the third of fourth game. An offensive line works like a swiss watch...timing, nuances, mind-reading.

Yep back when he skipped workouts and people were complaining I pointed out then that this was WELL known before we signed him and people should get used to it, he won't do much in preseason either. HE works hard in the offseason, in camp, but he does not play much in things he feels he doesn't need. Emmitt did this too and had a hell of a career, I personally think Emmitt sort of pioneered this every other great RB figured out they could extend their careers by doing this.

I have no issue at all. Give the reps to arrington, Shipp etc and run the damn ball and make the OL prove it can run block. if they can run block for the backups, they can certainly do it for Edge. If they can't, we'll find out.