Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
There was a lot to build on in today's game---and there's plenty of tape to learn and grow from.
In a way this game seems very symbolic because it was so reminiscent in certain ways of the Super Bowl loss. Fitz scores a big TD to put the team ahead, the defense doesn't get any meaningful pressure on the QB, the secondary misses assignments, tackles and is too loose in coverage and gives up the lead.
So in a way---this is like starting back to where the Cardinals once were---so close.
In that respect, major kudos should go to BA, Carson Palmer and the Cardinals' offense for reminding us of what a very good offense looks like.
No one---save Kurt Warner versus Green Bay---is perfect in this game.
In my opinion, 2 of the 3 sacks that Levi Brown surrendered could have been avoided: sack #2 looked like a hurried snap from Sendlein which gave the Rams a head start on their rush 9the last thing Brown needs)...and sack #3 is on BA (and I am sure he is kicking himself in the butt right now), because you can go empty backfield on 3rds and short (which they did with repeated success), but you can't go empty backfield on 3rd and 8, because the QB and WRs need a couple of extra seconds to get open 9-10 yards down the field.
The good news is---we saw more TE and RB chipping in the 2nd half than we saw at any time over the past few years.
We will see more of it---the next time Levi Brown has a very difficult matchup.
The 3rd and 2 was a brilliant play call (the wheel route to Ellington)...and right in line with BA's attack philosophy. The problem was that it seemed Ellington expected the ball to be thrown a second or two later and could not get a beat to the ball.
What I think we might see next time is BA go for it on 4th and 2. He is that confident and he is not afraid to be aggressive---I mean when have we ever seen a Cardinal team on its own 20 yard line try to pass upfield for a FG try in a tie game with 23 seconds left in the first half?
With BA anything is possible.
As for Jay Feely---the FG miss was disappointing, but a couple of his kickoffs were pitiful esp. seeing as the game was played in a dome.
There likely will be a new kicker this week. It's been in the works for a few weeks.
There won't be a new LT because Nate Potter hasn't done much to prove he deserves a shot and it seems the coaches have ruled out moving Bobbie Massey to the left side---Massey wasn't even active today, which really hurts because he has talent.
It was great to see the Cardinals able to run the ball to the right side for a change. Winston and Fanaika did a good job. Mendenhall was scrappy---so was Smith.
The defense is still in major transition...basically because it looks very clear that there is some significant confusion in coverages and a significant lack of effort and tenacity from the defensive linemen, especially Dockett (who has no business being a captain the way he dogged it today and Campbell, who apparently now is one of the LDEs in a 4 man rush---only he got no pressure from that spot whatsoever.
The inside linebackers, Brinkley and Dansby played very well in my opinion...not perfect but they made a number of good plays.
The secondary is lost and has been for 6 weeks---although other than Mathieu's weird PI on Tavon Austin, at least they weren't getting called for grabbing and clutching.
But then again you can't grab and clutch a wide open receiver, which happened far too many times, especially versus TE Jared Cook---the two worst of which was off an ill-advised last second mass substitution with less than 10 seconds to go in the 4th quarter where the lineman were running around not knowing where to line up and Cook wound up all alone 25 yards down the field---and then in the end zone off play action where the was no Cardinal defender within 7-8 yards of him.
Maybe I am old school, but to me both of those mistakes are totally unacceptable. If my team did that, my DC would be told that if it happens again, he's out as DC. You have to be able to trust your coaches to have the players prepared---if you can't, then you've got the wrong guy.
This Todd Bowles defense is just what the Clancy Pendergast/Bill Davis defenses were: swiss cheese all over the place. Feast or famine.
The offense today is just what the Kurt Warner offense was---a hot QB, highly productive WRs (Andre Roberts was outstanding---Fitz and Floyd too---and Dray had a career game!), but a weak LT who is not given help in key situations by the coaching staff.
The previous coach said he never watched the Super Bowl---well, hopefully this coaching staff will have this game dissected and thoroughly analyzed...and they will help the players learn and grow from it.
The question is---the weaknesses were obvious. Will we see them corrected and improved or will they persist? I think this coaching staff is going to build on the positives and do their best to patch up the leaks.
Transition takes time.
As BA has said he has little patience---so let's see what next week's response is before we jump to further conclusions.
In a way this game seems very symbolic because it was so reminiscent in certain ways of the Super Bowl loss. Fitz scores a big TD to put the team ahead, the defense doesn't get any meaningful pressure on the QB, the secondary misses assignments, tackles and is too loose in coverage and gives up the lead.
So in a way---this is like starting back to where the Cardinals once were---so close.
In that respect, major kudos should go to BA, Carson Palmer and the Cardinals' offense for reminding us of what a very good offense looks like.
No one---save Kurt Warner versus Green Bay---is perfect in this game.
In my opinion, 2 of the 3 sacks that Levi Brown surrendered could have been avoided: sack #2 looked like a hurried snap from Sendlein which gave the Rams a head start on their rush 9the last thing Brown needs)...and sack #3 is on BA (and I am sure he is kicking himself in the butt right now), because you can go empty backfield on 3rds and short (which they did with repeated success), but you can't go empty backfield on 3rd and 8, because the QB and WRs need a couple of extra seconds to get open 9-10 yards down the field.
The good news is---we saw more TE and RB chipping in the 2nd half than we saw at any time over the past few years.
We will see more of it---the next time Levi Brown has a very difficult matchup.
The 3rd and 2 was a brilliant play call (the wheel route to Ellington)...and right in line with BA's attack philosophy. The problem was that it seemed Ellington expected the ball to be thrown a second or two later and could not get a beat to the ball.
What I think we might see next time is BA go for it on 4th and 2. He is that confident and he is not afraid to be aggressive---I mean when have we ever seen a Cardinal team on its own 20 yard line try to pass upfield for a FG try in a tie game with 23 seconds left in the first half?
With BA anything is possible.
As for Jay Feely---the FG miss was disappointing, but a couple of his kickoffs were pitiful esp. seeing as the game was played in a dome.
There likely will be a new kicker this week. It's been in the works for a few weeks.
There won't be a new LT because Nate Potter hasn't done much to prove he deserves a shot and it seems the coaches have ruled out moving Bobbie Massey to the left side---Massey wasn't even active today, which really hurts because he has talent.
It was great to see the Cardinals able to run the ball to the right side for a change. Winston and Fanaika did a good job. Mendenhall was scrappy---so was Smith.
The defense is still in major transition...basically because it looks very clear that there is some significant confusion in coverages and a significant lack of effort and tenacity from the defensive linemen, especially Dockett (who has no business being a captain the way he dogged it today and Campbell, who apparently now is one of the LDEs in a 4 man rush---only he got no pressure from that spot whatsoever.
The inside linebackers, Brinkley and Dansby played very well in my opinion...not perfect but they made a number of good plays.
The secondary is lost and has been for 6 weeks---although other than Mathieu's weird PI on Tavon Austin, at least they weren't getting called for grabbing and clutching.
But then again you can't grab and clutch a wide open receiver, which happened far too many times, especially versus TE Jared Cook---the two worst of which was off an ill-advised last second mass substitution with less than 10 seconds to go in the 4th quarter where the lineman were running around not knowing where to line up and Cook wound up all alone 25 yards down the field---and then in the end zone off play action where the was no Cardinal defender within 7-8 yards of him.
Maybe I am old school, but to me both of those mistakes are totally unacceptable. If my team did that, my DC would be told that if it happens again, he's out as DC. You have to be able to trust your coaches to have the players prepared---if you can't, then you've got the wrong guy.
This Todd Bowles defense is just what the Clancy Pendergast/Bill Davis defenses were: swiss cheese all over the place. Feast or famine.
The offense today is just what the Kurt Warner offense was---a hot QB, highly productive WRs (Andre Roberts was outstanding---Fitz and Floyd too---and Dray had a career game!), but a weak LT who is not given help in key situations by the coaching staff.
The previous coach said he never watched the Super Bowl---well, hopefully this coaching staff will have this game dissected and thoroughly analyzed...and they will help the players learn and grow from it.
The question is---the weaknesses were obvious. Will we see them corrected and improved or will they persist? I think this coaching staff is going to build on the positives and do their best to patch up the leaks.
Transition takes time.
As BA has said he has little patience---so let's see what next week's response is before we jump to further conclusions.
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Luv ya Mitch, but I strongly disagree.
