Two new articles on front page

[Skkorpion]

1. Game review by Gary Jones
2. Editorial by Jim Skane

 

[daytripper]

Jim
I can definitely relate to your editorial. In the early 90s after 25 years as a Bills fan I stepped away when Norwood missed wide right to support the Cards. I was pilloried by friends for changing allegencies but after living in Az for 15 years I felt I should support the home team. Besides I could get to see them live and naively figured I would be joining a large contingent of NFL fans.
After a decade of road trips from Globe and Tucson and many hoarse Mondays, I too have reached a point when one must ask is the investment worth it?
THe anticpation, frustration, anger, and disapointmrnt of past seasons have been replaced with a feeling of resignation that this franchises legacy is that of a side show to the rest of the league.
While ownership has certainly upped the ante, we are still grossly behind the curve in overall talent both on and off the field.
Short of one or more blockbuster trades in the next few days another season will be lost.
Which brings us to next year, ( a familiar place for Cardinals diehards). Other than single game sales out of curiosity I cant see how the new staduim will be the long term answer to this teams woes.
Maybe the time is right for the Bidwills to step up and sell the francise. With the new staduim in place the teams value will certainly rise. New ownership would put a new face on the francise and help to lift the yoke of mediocarty that it has been saddled with for almost a half century.
Of course this is yet another recurring pipe dream in our wretched bags of rationalization.
All of that said, I will continue my day trips for now with the dwindling number of riders from Tucson, if only to share the bunker mentality commaradere with the rarest birds in AZ, Cardinals fans.

 

[BigRedArk]

Yea your editorial really spoke to me too Skorp. The Panther loss was especially bitter and I felt much the same as you did after it also. i have been watching and rooting for this team for nearly 40 yrs now and after Sunday's loss I really began to question why I still do it. I am at an extremely low point right now and the only consolation I can seem to muster up is the old cliche' "the dark is always just before the dawn". It has been dark for a long time now. I am ready for some light.

 

[CardsRep03]

I had that "hit rock bottom" feeling two weeks earlier after the Seahawks game. Utter despair and hopeless feeling. I just hate getting completely blown out--4 TD's by one player--YIKES! I sat there and wondered to myself how much money I would save if I cancelled Sunday Ticket, Sports Pak and never flew out to see the team play ever again. Serious jack, I do believe. Well, 3 days later....I was all better(Coping better anyway)

The Carolina game was bad but I justified the loss by saying, "Well, if we had a decent running game we could have run out the clock and we would have won" Shoulda, woulda, coulda. So.....on Tuesday of this week I ordered my plane tickets, hotel room, and car rental for the game against the Titans. Hey, I'm a quick healer! What can I say?

 

[JeffGollin]

Let's put this in full perspective.

Suppose the Cardinals made a miraculous turnaround and actually got into a Super Bowl. Think your life would change all that much?

Probably not. You'll still have a mortgage to pay. You'll still be worried about the twinge in your back. You'll still get excited about your kid's soccer exploits.

About the only thing that would change would be "normal" coverage of the Cardinals in the media - in a manner similar to other cities with successful teams - including overhyping of the players to a degree that would make hard core football purists gag.

And you'd watch more than a usual share of games where the Cardinals won and the usual high fives around the water cooler the next morning.

But you'd still hold your breath when your best RB, receiver or DE limped off the field. And if we won by 3-points, we'd be talking about "winning ugly" and "how come we didn't bury those guys."

Everything's relative. I maintain that whether we feel happy or sad about the Cardinals - whether they win or lose - is more a function of how well or dismal our own lives are playing out.

I say this the day after my bb Cardinals lost (and don't look like they'll get past the Astros) and my NJ Devils look no better than a .350 hockey club.

Life goes on. Pull for your team. Follow every roster move and draft pick. Get excited when Fitz or Q comes down with a patented sick grab or Bertrand devours a QB. Groan when the ball's stripped out of our QB's hand. Be happy when we win. Be sad when we lose.

But I think we'd all be well-advised not to invest every single waking hour on the Cardinals or any other team. (Remember the NJ Devils - Dog meat once; then champs; now on the way to Alpo Land once again).

In the words of every football coach (great or awful) - "One game at a time." Nothing more. Nothing else.

And, oh yeah; take some time to enjoy a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

 

[conraddobler]

Let's put this in full perspective.

Suppose the Cardinals made a miraculous turnaround and actually got into a Super Bowl. Think your life would change all that much?

Probably not. You'll still have a mortgage to pay. You'll still be worried about the twinge in your back. You'll still get excited about your kid's soccer exploits.

About the only thing that would change would be "normal" coverage of the Cardinals in the media - in a manner similar to other cities with successful teams - including overhyping of the players to a degree that would make hard core football purists gag.

And you'd watch more than a usual share of games where the Cardinals won and the usual high fives around the water cooler the next morning.

But you'd still hold your breath when your best RB, receiver or DE limped off the field. And if we won by 3-points, we'd be talking about "winning ugly" and "how come we didn't bury those guys."

Everything's relative. I maintain that whether we feel happy or sad about the Cardinals - whether they win or lose - is more a function of how well or dismal our own lives are playing out.

I say this the day after my bb Cardinals lost (and don't look like they'll get past the Astros) and my NJ Devils look no better than a .350 hockey club.

Life goes on. Pull for your team. Follow every roster move and draft pick. Get excited when Fitz or Q comes down with a patented sick grab or Bertrand devours a QB. Groan when the ball's stripped out of our QB's hand. Be happy when we win. Be sad when we lose.

But I think we'd all be well-advised not to invest every single waking hour on the Cardinals or any other team. (Remember the NJ Devils - Dog meat once; then champs; now on the way to Alpo Land once again).

In the words of every football coach (great or awful) - "One game at a time." Nothing more. Nothing else.

And, oh yeah; take some time to enjoy a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

I think we all have done just what you said at one time or another especially Cardinal fans.

I think to some extent the heightend expectations have finally gotten to us all.

Legitimately you can say they were never real, and I'd agree with that but this final gut puch has taken it's toll on fans of the team.

Most are doing just what you said, moving on because the futility just goes on and on and on and just out of self preservation the fans of the team have moved it back to an area of much less importance than they ever have.

This team is a dream sucker.

 

[Russ Smith]

I've been at both ends of the spectrum so much. I became a Cardinal fan and UCLA hoops fan in 1975. UCLA won their 10th title that year and then went 20 years before another. Cards made the playoffs that year and then went 23 years before doing it again. So I saw success early and then endured years of comparative failure(UCLA) and total failure (Cards).

Things are better, this team is competitive, we have talent. For years it seemed like if the Bidwills were arrested on federal racketeering charges and teh NFL dissolved the team and had a special draft to disperse our players around the league, the vast majority of the players would have been undrafted. Now I think we actually have quite a few guys who can play for other teams, I credit Green for most of those players.

Now he just needs to elevate the coaching to the same level of competence.

And I didn't even mention becoming a Warrior fan in 1975(they won it all), yes I am clearly bad luck.

 

[vince56]

This message is for Gary Jones:

Hey bud, I love your analysis and I really appreciate what you bring to the table here. You do a ton of work that you don't have to do.

I do have one request, though. When discussing the O-line, you talk about pass blocks and run blocks the player missed on. My question is that while that's good info, could you also maybe describe some of the push or lack-thereof that said player is getting.

For example, on a running play, every O-lineman may hit their block and sustain it, but if they're only stalemating or getting pushed backwards, it's not really an effective block. It's only effective if they hit, drive, push their man out of the play and then sustain -- keeping their man out of the play.

I'm not questioning your analysis at all, it just sounds like you might have the time for that kind of detail, and that's stuff I'd love to know.

Thanks.

 

[Duckjake]

Let's put this in full perspective.

Suppose the Cardinals made a miraculous turnaround and actually got into a Super Bowl. Think your life would change all that much?

Probably not. You'll still have a mortgage to pay. You'll still be worried about the twinge in your back. You'll still get excited about your kid's soccer exploits.

About the only thing that would change would be "normal" coverage of the Cardinals in the media - in a manner similar to other cities with successful teams - including overhyping of the players to a degree that would make hard core football purists gag.

And you'd watch more than a usual share of games where the Cardinals won and the usual high fives around the water cooler the next morning.

But you'd still hold your breath when your best RB, receiver or DE limped off the field. And if we won by 3-points, we'd be talking about "winning ugly" and "how come we didn't bury those guys."

Everything's relative. I maintain that whether we feel happy or sad about the Cardinals - whether they win or lose - is more a function of how well or dismal our own lives are playing out.

I say this the day after my bb Cardinals lost (and don't look like they'll get past the Astros) and my NJ Devils look no better than a .350 hockey club.

Life goes on. Pull for your team. Follow every roster move and draft pick. Get excited when Fitz or Q comes down with a patented sick grab or Bertrand devours a QB. Groan when the ball's stripped out of our QB's hand. Be happy when we win. Be sad when we lose.

But I think we'd all be well-advised not to invest every single waking hour on the Cardinals or any other team. (Remember the NJ Devils - Dog meat once; then champs; now on the way to Alpo Land once again).

In the words of every football coach (great or awful) - "One game at a time." Nothing more. Nothing else.

And, oh yeah; take some time to enjoy a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

There's a sunset or sunrise almost every day, especially in Phoenix. There are only 16 regular season football games a year.

If your team's performance is so bad that your passionate fans begin to take a ho hum attitude toward your team imagine what's happening with the casual fan you must have to be financially successful. They'll lose interest all together.

I remember how we knew it was the end for John Macovic at Texas. The calls to the post game radio shows simply stopped. Fans no longer cared enough to call in and complain after another loss.

All that "everything you needed to know about being a football fan you learned in Kindergarten" stuff sounds great but it will kill your program.

 

[Snakester]

This message is for Gary Jones:

Hey bud, I love your analysis and I really appreciate what you bring to the table here. You do a ton of work that you don't have to do.

I do have one request, though. When discussing the O-line, you talk about pass blocks and run blocks the player missed on. My question is that while that's good info, could you also maybe describe some of the push or lack-thereof that said player is getting.

For example, on a running play, every O-lineman may hit their block and sustain it, but if they're only stalemating or getting pushed backwards, it's not really an effective block. It's only effective if they hit, drive, push their man out of the play and then sustain -- keeping their man out of the play.

I'm not questioning your analysis at all, it just sounds like you might have the time for that kind of detail, and that's stuff I'd love to know.

Thanks.

I'll try to help the best I can. First, the Cardinals only have one dominant lineman that really pushes his man out of the play at will and that is Leonard Davis. The only other that has that ability and is starting to do it more often to this point is Elton Brown. The other Cardinal lineman are more finesse blockers. They try to position themselves to wall off the defender. Guys like Reggie Wells and Alex Stepanovich do not have the size and strength to just push guys out of the play and knock their man back five yards. Thats why when a running play is called to the left, they wall their man off to the right.

In pass pro they are taught to form a pocket around the QB. They are supposed to take a step back on the inside(G,C,G) and the tackles tend to take many more steps because the DE is running them to make an opening to either turn back inside or alow the blitzer to get through. That's why it seems as though our lineman are being pushed back. Now some of our lineman like Oliver Ross get a little carried away with this process and are pushed right back to the QB. In pass pro they are not supposed to drive their man forward as I'm sure you already know.

The biggest problem that I see with our line right now is they don't stay on their man long enough. If their man runs away from them they are not turning around and hitting the next guy. If they were more aggressive in the way they played, our running game would be alot better. I flat out think they are being taught to block like this to conserve energy. I do not agree with it. I was taught to go till the whistle blew and to me that is the only way to play. If a lineman is getting tired then rotate him out for a while and give him a break. But in no way would I tell my lineman that it's okay to block half-heartedly like I think they are being told to do now in my opinion.

We have too many runs where we don't have a fullback and TE blocking for the RB. If you want to run your linemen have to sustain their blocks and you need a couple other blockers like a TE and FB to get the running game going. It's okay to use the occasional draw play to catch the other team off guard when you are passing alot, but the play calling has been off somewhat in these regards. When we are in a three or four WR set, we try to run too much and their is just not enough blockers to create holes for our RB. If this team is going to be successful running the ball we have to stay in the basic offense with two WRs and two running backs. Teams were blitzing way to much on us when we run the ball and are catching our man in the backfield.

 

[vince56]

In pass pro they are not supposed to drive their man forward as I'm sure you already know.

The biggest problem that I see with our line right now is they don't stay on their man long enough.

Thank you for your reply! Our pass protection actually has impressed me since Wakefield was inserted. They're protecting well. I've noticed especially on the left side of the line that blitzers and outer-edge rushers don't get near the QB.

Like you seem to be, what I'm most concerned with is the run blocking. That's why I was bringing up leg drive and block sustaining. Our RBs seem to be running scared, or for lack of a better word, without confidence in their blockers/scheme. What I find amazing is that over the last 3-4 years, the biggest problem our OL has had is sustaining blocks. Anthony Clement was probably the absolute worst "one-hit-and-quit" lineman, but I've seen that with every line we've had recently.

What I'm really concerned with is that we have a smallish center and left guard, and most effective running games rely on strong, dominant guards and centers/tackles who can hit and stick to their blocks.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Let's put this in full perspective.

Suppose the Cardinals made a miraculous turnaround and actually got into a Super Bowl. Think your life would change all that much?

Probably not.

Speaking for myself.....yes it would.

I LOVE football. It is one of the things that I do to relax, and when you team is as bad as the Cardinals it ruins the relaxation of it all.

How bad are the Cardinals ?

They are so bad that you already know they will lose once you turn the game on. They ALWAYS find a way to lose. Even when they play bad they lose. So the excitement of watching the game to see what will happen next is completely gone. You already know that they will lose, so there is no suspense, and really no reason to watch.

FURTHERMORE, Even if you tune in to watch the game because you enjoy football, and all the plays that happen during a game YOU STILL can't enjoy it why?

With a few exceptions, Cardinals games are usually over by mid-way through the 3rd quarter....if you are lucky. Some don't make it to 1/2 time. The junk time after this usually involves a lot of running by the other team, our QB getting sack 15 times, and a whole lotta suffering.

So not only are you robbed of the suspense of "Who will win", you only get to watch 1/2 of a football game. AND the first half usually is not much better than the second half.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would life be better ?

I just would love to be able to sit down, watch the game, and see good competitive football. This week I watch the Giants vs. Cowboys, and it was an AWESOME game. Down to the wire, full of big plays. It was great.

Super Bowls, and Playoffs? Let's not get ahead of ourselves, I would just be happy with a competitive football team that gives a shot at winning about 45% of our games, and that play competitive football.

MY Sundays', my day of rest, would be a lot more enjoyable. WIN OR LOSE as long as I got a full game, and a little entertainment it would just make the day much better.

Cause even on Sunday's you got lawn work to do, chores, etc., etc. That 6 hours for football is HUGE. It is your time. And it sucks to spend YOUR time with a team that produces a product that makes it look like the don't give a damn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a side note. The current squad is much better than ANYTHING they have put on the field as of late. But still after season, after season of pathetic teams it scares me that this will be the best team we produce for the next couple of years.

And if this was Bidwill's plan to get people to buy more tickets then he is a moron. Sorry, A CHEAP moron. He has the ability to bring in players to help this squad and doesn't make it happen. That is on this shoulders.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

(not trying to be obnoxious, or pick a fight)

Jeff,

How would you know if your life would change/be any better?

The team can hardly make it above .500. We would have to actually know what it feels like to win in order to compare how it feels now.



Stupid team....getting Skorp angry

 

[Redheart]

Skorp, really good article and perception.

How much longer can we take this as fans? At some point, you have to ask yourself if your committment to this team is equal to this team's commitment to the fans; for most die-hards, it is not even close.

More expensive tickets. More driving to get to a game. More losing seasons; seasons that are effectively over before November ends.

If this was a marriage, most would have seen a divorce-lawyer years ago.

 

[vince56]

If this was a marriage, most would have seen a divorce-lawyer years ago.

Most have, the seats are empty. Those that remain take your analogy/metaphor one step further... we're the unlucky, codependent, beat-up housewife that keeps saying "But he said he'd change and I believe him!"

 

[Assface]

Most have, the seats are empty. Those that remain take your analogy/metaphor one step further... we're the unlucky, codependent, beat-up housewife that keeps saying "But he said he'd change and I believe him!"

This is different, the Cardinals love us. They wouldn't say it if they didn't mean it.

I'm not sure if I should put a grin or a sad smilie with this.

 

[KingofCards]

"Im the 'Im so wasted wtf is going on' fan" - 100% Cards Fan.

I agree with this quote.