Thoughts on the Seattle Win

[Mitch]

1. Relishing every minute of beating Pete Carroll---who, all he does, is cozy up to the refs all game, while you never see Whisenhunt focused on the refs---he's focused on the game.

2. I am going to eat my big slice of crow (see me slobbering all over it right now!)---I was wrong about Whisenhunt. He was a big part of making the three most important decisions of this year:

1. Hiring DC Ray Horton
2. Drafting Patrick Peterson
3. Bumping John Skelton to #2

3. We have never seen an Arizona Cardinal defense come to play for 9 straight weeks---EVER. The players deserve a TON of credit. They are now one of the most physical and prolific defenses in the NFL---and I see the Cardinals re-signing both Calais Campbell and Richard Marshall---and then drafting another edge rusher---and it's very possible that this will be a Top 5 defense next year. Ray Horton? I LOVE YOU MAN!

4. How about Vonnie Hollliday? I hope we can sign him for another year. He played a fantastic game.

5. John Skelton---

6-2 this year. (playing all but one series in the SDF win counts)

8-4 career---on teams that were 3-9 and 1-6 when he came in.

4-0 at home

2-2 on the road

4-1 in the NFC West (breaking losing streaks versus SF and SEA)

How about the 7/7 for 70 yard TD drive in answer to the Seahawks' sudden tying of the game at 10-10 on the big Washington run?

Sure the interception was bad---but, this was one of the first times Skelton was playing with the lead in the 4th quarter---thanks to a better start of the game. I will cut him some slack on that---chalk it up to experience.

6. Hyphen. Unbelievable. Not only for rushing for nearly 100 yards, but for his tremendous chase down of Sherman on the interception.

7. Fitzgerald. The catch? One handed and tucking it in? And to think he had what? One catch for 2 yards in the first half? Essentially---he had 150 yards in the 2nd half. He is hands down the best and classiest Cardinal of our lifetime.

8. Peterson---the punt return---the FG block---the tackling! And get this---because of PP21---you watch---free agents will want to jump on this bandwagon---hopefully the FO will oblige.

I am so excited for next year! I imagine you are too.

Tomorrow I will post what I think the off-season will look like.

Tonight I am going to revel in everything that is Cardinal RED!

Love and peace to you all in 2012,

Mitch

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I've never been as excited about a Cards defense as I am this one. The great thing is, a majority of them are young and still improving. Even Rashard Johnson is hitting people this year. Put a guy like Kuechly at SILB and they can be even better (and younger).

 

[D-Dogg]

That blocked FG was HUGE.

damn, I love peterson so much.

 

[ajcardfan]

That blocked FG was HUGE.

damn, I love peterson so much.

That was. And, the effort of LSH to catch that guy on the INT was sensational. I've never, ever, seen a Cardinals team play with that much HEART in the last game of a season, with no playoffs on the line. So impressed with how much these guys care about each other and winning. They all WANTED that win today!

 

[Mitch]

9. Daryl Washington. Unreal---in stepping up and wide versus the run---and in pass coverage.

10. Levi Brown---best game as a Cardinal, imo, save the false starts. I have never seen him sustain his blocks like that versus a premier pass rusher.

11. Anthony Sherman. Already the BEST fullback we have had in decades.

 

[MrYeahBut]

9. Daryl Washington. Unreal---in stepping up and wide versus the run---and in pass coverage.

10. Levi Brown---best game as a Cardinal, imo, save the false starts. I have never seen him sustain his blocks like that versus a premier pass rusher.

11. Anthony Sherman. Already the BEST fullback we have had in decades.

Got his first carry today, too... 3yds for a 1st down

 

[D-Dogg]

Sherman is only going to get better. Great pick.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Mitch, you are dead on about Pete Carroll. He was on the field incessently off camera bitching to the officials. He would even demonstratively make signs like "Holding" and "Pass Interference" to the referee over and over when they didn't get a flag.

He had never lost to an Arizona team and beating him was HUGE. Big monkey off the team's back. As big as beating the niners.

You can't give your division opponents a sense that they are invulnerable.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The "Larry" chant while Fitz's catch was being reviewed was awesome.

Reminded me of chanting "Larry" back at SDS for Larry Centers.

 

[slanidrac16]

I am most excited about this defense. Yes we got tagged with 2 big plays and were a bit fortunate that Jackson over threw a couple of receivers, but I no longer feel like our opponent is going to march down the field every time they get the ball. I was actually HAPPY we lost the OT coin toss.
This group never seems to get down. The offense turns the ball over and we simply hold them to a FG.
Toler will be returning as will Dan Williams. Add some depth to our LB corp and a pass rush specialist and we indeed finally have a DEFENSE!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Holy cow - heard on the postgame show that Acho had 7 sacks as a rookie. Impressive enough, but 4 of the 7 resulted in fumbles.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Got his first carry today, too... 3yds for a 1st down

12. ACHO: yet another sack and saved the game with is tackle of Leon Washington on the opening KO of the OT. That was surely six and end of game without that!

 

[az jam]

Glad to see you eat a little crow, Mitch. However, you are not alone as many of us where down on Whiz after the 1 & 6 start. It will be a fun off-season. We need to get the right free agents and have a good draft. It was an excellent turnaround for the team and gives us all high hopes for next year.

Also best wishes to all for a great 2012.

 

[Brewster10]

One pass rusher, two OTs, and a #2 wideout.. Can we do this in one offseason?

 

[JeffGollin]

Mitch pretty much covered everything I was thinking (for the first time I can remember). A few additional isolated comments:

- Why was #30 (M Green) - a raw rook - out on the field when Marshall and Adams figured to be better #3's & 4's?

- Chippiness happens - that rash of knuckleheaded penalties almost cost us the game. Most of the Cardinal guys involved should have known better.

- Season was a failure because we didn't make the playoffs, but I will always consider this group of Cardinals the most memorable and praiseworthy of any I can ever remember because of the sheer grit they showed digging their way out of a deep hole and clawing their way to .500. What a year! (If I'm trying to teach my new grandson what competing in team sports is all about, all I need do is point to this group of merry warriors and exclaim; "Now that's what I'm talking about)!"

 

[Totally_Red]

For all the criticism Whis takes on this board, his team had absolutely no quit this season after the horrendous start. They don't blow teams out, but they win the close games for the most part, Cincy game excepted.

Believe me, Fitz and the defense put this team on their backs and willed it to victory. Outstanding performance against a good Seattle team that gave the Niners all they could handle last week, and had been surging just like the Cardinals. It's a quality win and the team and coaching staff have every reason to feel very good entering the offseason.

 

[Mulli]

I like it!

 

[27Veer]

I pretty much agree with what is being said here.
For next year:
1. keep all three QB's (if Kolb is healthy) all of them will improve with a full off season.
2. Get two competent O T's, Draft one F A another.
3. Get a legit #2 W R.
4. use the draft in 3rd-5th round for a solid D E.

 

[Duckjake]

Mitch pretty much covered everything I was thinking (for the first time I can remember). A few additional isolated comments:

- Why was #30 (M Green) - a raw rook - out on the field when Marshall and Adams figured to be better #3's & 4's?

- Chippiness happens - that rash of knuckleheaded penalties almost cost us the game. Most of the Cardinal guys involved should have known better.

- Season was a failure because we didn't make the playoffs, but I will always consider this group of Cardinals the most memorable and praiseworthy of any I can ever remember because of the sheer grit they showed digging their way out of a deep hole and clawing their way to .500. What a year! (If I'm trying to teach my new grandson what competing in team sports is all about, all I need do is point to this group of merry warriors and exclaim; "Now that's what I'm talking about)!"

Marshay was on the practice squad last season and has played extensively in the preseason in both 2010 and 2011. He's raw but he's not a rookie.

 

[Dr. Jones]

That blocked FG was HUGE.

damn, I love peterson so much.

My next jersey..... PP21

 

[red desert]

1. Relishing every minute of beating Pete Carroll---who, all he does, is cozy up to the refs all game, while you never see Whisenhunt focused on the refs---he's focused on the game.

2. I am going to eat my big slice of crow (see me slobbering all over it right now!)---I was wrong about Whisenhunt. He was a big part of making the three most important decisions of this year:

1. Hiring DC Ray Horton
2. Drafting Patrick Peterson
3. Bumping John Skelton to #2

3. We have never seen an Arizona Cardinal defense come to play for 9 straight weeks---EVER. The players deserve a TON of credit. They are now one of the most physical and prolific defenses in the NFL---and I see the Cardinals re-signing both Calais Campbell and Richard Marshall---and then drafting another edge rusher---and it's very possible that this will be a Top 5 defense next year. Ray Horton? I LOVE YOU MAN!

4. How about Vonnie Hollliday? I hope we can sign him for another year. He played a fantastic game.

5. John Skelton---

6-2 this year. (playing all but one series in the SDF win counts)

8-4 career---on teams that were 3-9 and 1-6 when he came in.

4-0 at home

2-2 on the road

4-1 in the NFC West (breaking losing streaks versus SF and SEA)

How about the 7/7 for 70 yard TD drive in answer to the Seahawks' sudden tying of the game at 10-10 on the big Washington run?

Sure the interception was bad---but, this was one of the first times Skelton was playing with the lead in the 4th quarter---thanks to a better start of the game. I will cut him some slack on that---chalk it up to experience.

6. Hyphen. Unbelievable. Not only for rushing for nearly 100 yards, but for his tremendous chase down of Sherman on the interception.

7. Fitzgerald. The catch? One handed and tucking it in? And to think he had what? One catch for 2 yards in the first half? Essentially---he had 150 yards in the 2nd half. He is hands down the best and classiest Cardinal of our lifetime.

8. Peterson---the punt return---the FG block---the tackling! And get this---because of PP21---you watch---free agents will want to jump on this bandwagon---hopefully the FO will oblige.

I am so excited for next year! I imagine you are too.

Tomorrow I will post what I think the off-season will look like.

Tonight I am going to revel in everything that is Cardinal RED!

Love and peace to you all in 2012,

Mitch

Mitch, as for Wiz, couldn't disagree with you more.

- His coaching was a HUGE part why we lost 8 games this season.
- 8 losses kept us out of the playoffs.

And this victory is of no significance to me. None. It certainly has no bearing on my opinion of Wiz. That opinion was galvanized in stone when we started the season 1-6. One and freaking 6.

Let's move our attention to the draft and not kid ourselves that somehow Wiz deserves kudos for the what transpired this season.

 

[PJ1]

Nice post Mitch and I agree with the excitement being created by the defense. Emerging stars with Washington, Peterson and Campbell is already there in my opinion. I thought DD really showed up big today also. Lenon also had some big plays and played hard.

I am not as excited about Skelton as you and others. I hope his accuracy issues are correctable.

Happy New Year To All.

 

[PJ1]

Mitch pretty much covered everything I was thinking (for the first time I can remember). A few additional isolated comments:

- Why was #30 (M Green) - a raw rook - out on the field when Marshall and Adams figured to be better #3's & 4's?


The M.Green thing made no sense to me either. Rather Johnson at safety and Marshall in coverage.

 

[wa52lz]

The "Larry" chant while Fitz's catch was being reviewed was awesome.

Reminded me of chanting "Larry" back at SDS for Larry Centers.

 

[Chopper0080]

Big win heading into the offseason. I'll take 8-8 when having a dinged up starting RB for most of the season and losing my starting QB for half the season. Do we need to improve the roster, hell yeah, but this was a good start to returning to prominence.