Vikings 21 Cardinals 14 Post Game Thoughts

[Chopper0080]

I'd like to see Andre Roberts in the slot more. He struggles to get off the press on the outside, but he has the quickness, especially combined with Housler, to get deep. I wonder if he'd be re-directed from his route too easily or something. Roberts has adequate deep speed and acceleration that makes him quicker. I don't know if he's going to be DeSean Jackson from that area, but I think he could do more.

I agree with Roberts in the slot but Floyd has to step up in order for it to happen. Housler matched up on Lbs probably could stretch the field as well. In the end we need a QB who can complete balls down the field and a line that can give him time to do so. Neither are on our roster at the moment.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Somebody tell him the bounce pass only works in basketball.

He has a future as a bowler in cricket.

 

[Duckjake]

I agree with Roberts in the slot but Floyd has to step up in order for it to happen. Housler matched up on Lbs probably could stretch the field as well. In the end we need a QB who can complete balls down the field and a line that can give him time to do so. Neither are on our roster at the moment.

We're losing 40 yards a game to sacks. We average 4.4 yards per play. That means we need 10 extra plays just to make up for the sacks. I don't think most teams that remain on our schedule will give us those 10 plays.

It seems like every time the Cards get something going they allow a sack for -7 yards. It's like the run game last year where for every 28 yard run we'd have 4 for -2.

 

[Chopper0080]

We're losing 40 yards a game to sacks. We average 4.4 yards per play. That means we need 10 extra plays just to make up for the sacks. I don't think most teams that remain on our schedule will give us those 10 plays.

It seems like every time the Cards get something going they allow a sack for -7 yards. It's like the run game last year where for every 28 yard run we'd have 4 for -2.

It is extremely frustrating. We aren't that far off as a team either which is what kills me. A QB and one dominant lineman and we are a totally different offense IMO.

 

[Mitch]

It is extremely frustrating. We aren't that far off as a team either which is what kills me. A QB and one dominant lineman and we are a totally different offense IMO.

I agree with you Chops, if the QB could take command of the offense and account for its obvious flaws in design the way Warner did. Otherwise, the flaws are too prevalent for most players to overcome.

Let me put it this way---the key play in both the last two losses involved the opponent's free safety who felt comfortable enough to sit on and hawk a ten yard down the middle pass to a TE...which shows the Vikings liked what they saw of the Bills' tape, because, let's face it, the Cardinals virtually never threaten the deep middle, or the deep thirds for that matter.

When you allow a team to play its FS into the intermediate zones---your offense is virtually no threat whatsoever.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

A QB and one dominant lineman and we are a totally different offense IMO.

Sadly, these pieces are the most difficult to fill.

 

[Mitch]

Sadly, these pieces are the most difficult to fill.

Kurt Warner and Dan Dierdorf aren't walking through that door...

 

[RugbyMuffin]

For the record---when the games are 1PM EST, I have time to write a post---when the games get over at 8 PM EST I do not---hope that is OK with everyone besides the thread trashers on this board.

Haters gonna hate Mitch.

Good stuff thanks for taking the time.

At least some people still talk football on the board.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Kurt Warner and Dan Dierdorf aren't walking through that door...

They are too!

Just in suits, ties, and with a beer in hand!

 

[D-Dogg]

Nope... the most important stat is W-L

Skelton is 8-5.

It won't be too long until that meaningless QB stat will no longer be in your grab-bag. Unfortunately.

 

[JeffGollin]

You are forgetting the fact we only scored 14 points and 7 of those were set up by the Lenon pick. So Skelton led us on a scoring drive when we were down 14 in the fourth quarter against a prevent D. He also threw a pick six earlier to wipe this out. Not a good day. Did you really watch this game?

Skelton was directly responsible for 10 of the 19 "free points" we handed to Minnesota (i.e. the pick-6 and the fumble in the red zone).

But that still leaves 9 points from the missed 47-yarder and 2 coaching decisions to "go for it" on 4th down inside FG range.

If we don't hand those 9 points to Minny, we win despite Skelton's miscues.

That said - At season's end, I'd like us to come up with an answer other than Skelton or Kolb and agree with Slandirac that we need a "real" OC.

 

[splitsecond]

Secondly, sometimes Russ you have to throw the ball deep as a statement---you CANNOT allow teams to play you tight in a 20 yard box. And like I said---throwing the ball deep doesn't mean holding onto the ball longer---if anything it's throwing it early....like the back shoulder pass or the fade or the flat-out go route. The way Fitz can go up and get to the ball before anyone else, I would throw it up for him once a quarter.

This, this and this. For God's sake, throw a flea flicker in, do some deep trickery, YOU HAVE TO keep the secondary honest. I like the short routes and running schemes we showed, but this damn offensive staff just seems to lack all balls and creativity - which isn't surprising since it was designed by a frickin engineer. I know we joke a lot about that, but it is the absolute truth. Whiz needs a guy like Hayley to bark in his ear and convince him to take risks.

 

[Russ Smith]

Skelton was directly responsible for 10 of the 19 "free points" we handed to Minnesota (i.e. the pick-6 and the fumble in the red zone).

But that still leaves 9 points from the missed 47-yarder and 2 coaching decisions to "go for it" on 4th down inside FG range.

If we don't hand those 9 points to Minny, we win despite Skelton's miscues.

That said - At season's end, I'd like us to come up with an answer other than Skelton or Kolb and agree with Slandirac that we need a "real" OC.

It's like a big MS Project file though, everything is dependent on everything else.

If Feely makes the FG before half it's 14-10. After the picksix it's 21-10 so we probably kick the FG rather than going on 4th down. if Feely makes it, 21-13.

But then we go off the rails because I'm PRETTY sure that Leslie Frazier doesn't go prevent defense with 9 minutes left in the game knowing all we need is a TD and a 2 pt conversion to tie it.

So instead of being in the 10-11 for 130 yards defense, they likely stay in the 15-25 132 yards one INT one Fumble defense, the one that allowed 7 points all game, on a very short field.

Strategy wise Feely's miss was huge but the entire complexion of the game changed on the picksix. And if we don't fumble and go in and score and THEN Lenon gets his pick, we might go into halftime tied or ahead not behind 7.

Too many variables.

Bottom line you take away the mistakes by Ponder and we scored once all game, against their prevent.

 

[cardncubfan]

Dropping acid may be the ONLY way to enjoy a Cardinal game these days...

 

[Duckjake]

Skelton was directly responsible for 10 of the 19 "free points" we handed to Minnesota (i.e. the pick-6 and the fumble in the red zone).

But that still leaves 9 points from the missed 47-yarder and 2 coaching decisions to "go for it" on 4th down inside FG range.

If we don't hand those 9 points to Minny, we win despite Skelton's miscues.

That said - At season's end, I'd like us to come up with an answer other than Skelton or Kolb and agree with Slandirac that we need a "real" OC.

Again how does the fumble hand the Vikings any points? Their QB who our defense made look horrible all day gave us the ball right back and we scored a TD. You make it sound like the Cards fumbled and the Vikings drove the ball out and punted and we got nothing. That fumble had no affect on the game at all!

I can just as easily say that the Cards handed the Vikings 14 points with defensive penalties and the missed FG cost us 3 more. They don't do that and we win 17-7.

 

[WildBB]

This, this and this. For God's sake, throw a flea flicker in, do some deep trickery, YOU HAVE TO keep the secondary honest. I like the short routes and running schemes we showed, but this damn offensive staff just seems to lack all balls and creativity - which isn't surprising since it was designed by a frickin engineer. I know we joke a lot about that, but it is the absolute truth. Whiz needs a guy like Hayley to bark in his ear and convince him to take risks.

Now IF we can just block a little...

 

[Duckjake]

The Vikings had two first downs in the 2nd half and completed one pass and we lost. There's no hope for this season when things like that happen.