Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
The offensive coaches are now very intent on forcing a running game, and thanks to some solid blocking and some nifty, slippery, gutsy running by Hyphen, they showed real progress...as they did with Powell last week.
Yet both weeks resulted in losses. How come?
For one, a lot of missed opportunities and costly mistakes.
For two, because right now the odds of a ball control offense working and leading to wins with this particular offensive personnel are extremely low...and I mean extremely low. The reason is that ball control offense leads you into a lot of 3rd a 5's or 3's...which then puts a great deal of pressure on the QB to execute in clutch fashion under duress. It also forces the offense to try to complete 5 to 7 yard passes while the DL is pinning its ears back and going full-tilt after the QB.
If the QB is a savvy veteran, then this might work...but neither KK or JS are savvy veterans---
For three, when you try to mount long ball control drives, you are one costly sack, turnover or penalty away from a stalled drive.
For this personnel...it is inevitable that a costly sack, turnover or penalty will occur.
For four, and perhaps most importantly, when you do not threaten the defense deep, you get what we saw today, a playmaker like CB Antoine Winfield feeling at ease to play up in the box all game long...so close to the box in fact that he was in the backfield on run blitzes numerous times...and he was the one to sniff out the absurd 4th and 2 flat pass call to Reagan Ma'uia, turned QB scramble/ramble for naught. It goes to show you that even in such a key situation the Viking defensive coaches felt they didn't even have to put Winfield on Fitzgerald.
With the defense being as good as they are---the philosophy of the Cardinals' offense should be the reverse---stretch the field and go for the big plays.
Now sure you will say, but there's no time.
Actually there is time---and there was time on a number of occasions today.
The only time Skelton threw deep in the game was on a free play.
But, actually deep shots have to be thrown early enough so that you don't under-throw them.
What deep shots do is they loosen the intermediate zones for TEs like Housler, who played well again today, and who also is a deep threat himself.
What the Cardinals are doing by running on early downs and playing dink and dunk on 3rd downs is allowing the defense to play them tight---there's no looseness at all.
That Viking secondary is not that good at all---but the Cardinals' offensive coaches helped make them look good by allowing them to play up and not on their heels.
On defense---we have some special coaching going on. After a lackluster effort in the first half to stop an intensely fired-up AP, Horton started run blitzing and tightening the running lanes in the second half. He dared Ponder to throw the ball---and played sticky coverage.
Horton learned some things today---and he in all likelihood will have the defense better prepared to stop Frank Gore---too bad it took two TDs in the first half in this game because, tis was a game where 17 points could have won the ballgame.
The other thing Horton has to start insisting from his CBs is that instead of arm barring the WRs like they do every time their man goes deep, instead that's the time to look back for the ball.
Been saying this for a few weeks now but if the CBs on this team start looking for the ball, watch out. Had Wm. Gay been looking for the ball last week, he an easy pick six right in his hands which could have changed the whole outcome of that game.
PP21 needs to be told, look man, just stay stride for stride and then if you look back the ball becomes yours.
STs today did not deliver---all those punts to PP21 and not one close block or one good return.
Feely---not only does he miss the 47 yard gift the Vikings gave the team which could have had the team all the more fired up at half-time, he once again tries the on-side up the middle dribble that never has gone 10 yards.
Plus---you are kicking in a dome---is it too much to ask that you kick the ball deep into the end zone so Harvin doesn't get his hands on the ball?
And then---Rashad Johnson ruining the field position with that stupid unnecessary roughness call. At least Hyphen got it back on the next play---but man those kinds of penalties in the 4th quarter are horrible.
As for the coaching, aside from Horton, I thought it absolutely stunk. As much as I lauded CKW for his maybe best game/time management last week, this week was a return to the egregious game and clock management that has marred his tenure as a head coach.
I was happy he went for the 4th down and 2 in the third quarter, I, just like the FOX crew and most of you, couldn't imagine what he and Miller were thinking on the call. That was about as bad a call on 4th down as there is.
Then, still down 14 with about 10 minutes left in the game, the offense is actually driving and on the same down and distance (4th and 2), and inside Minny territory he PUNTS?
That decision at that time of the game when you've previously shown your team you are going to be aggressive to try to score, was just plain chickensheet...and did nothing to try to boost the confidence of the offense.
The defense did hold---but that's when the Johnson penalty resulted in starting the next drive at their own 24 yard line---which led to yet another failed drive.
But---even with the clock ticking down---NO URGENCY---almost as if they were intent on keeping the score close, but not caring that much about winning the game.
These are reasons why I have not been able to feel trust in CKW---he permits this sheet.
The players who deserve kudos---
RB Hyphen
WR Roberts
The o-line (they were pretty good today all things considered)---and I thought Ahrnsberger played well subbing in for Snyder---Snyder's been playing hurt for weeks anyway.
TE Housler
DE Campbell
DE Eason
DE Holliday
LB Washington
LB Lenon
LB Acho
S Sanders---this guy should be starting---he steps up and makes tackles.
S Wilson---missed AP on a blitz but didn't quit on the play and wound up chasing him down. Wilson broke up a big 3rd down pass and he actually wrapped up on a couple of tackles.
P Zastudil
Leach
Personnel concerns:
RT Massie---can no longer be the starter---he is just not there and is not making much progress. can't believe they wouldn't at least throw McQuistan in there for a series to see if he could muscle Roberson away from Skelton.
As for Batiste---he did a creditable job on Jared Allen. Not great---but not bad either. Still hope Chris Williams will sign because he's had something Batiste and Massie haven't had---lots of practice time blocking a stud DE in Julius Peppers.
WR Fitzgerald---not with him, but with the coaches---he could have had a big day, but you ignored him most of the day.
DE Dockett---major disappointment and if it's because he's hurt, he's hurting the team by being out there---they way he vacated his running lane on APs first quarter TD was awful.
CB Fleming---not ready to play in the first quarter, several weak efforts right in a row.
CB Gay---bad penalty, bad time.
S Johnson---boneheaded penalty.
Final thought: until the Cardinals' offense becomes a big play threat instead of a big mistake threat the Cardinals will have trouble beating anyone unless the defense pitches a shutout or scores points the way Minny did today.
The coaches are responsible for preparing the QB and building the QB's confidence---the two go hand in hand. To strictly blame the coaches is wrong and to strictly blame the QB is also wrong.
Execution often is about how well it has been coached in practice.
The coaches constantly using the "poor execution" card as an indictment of the players is a shrugging of the coaches' own responsibility.
Yet both weeks resulted in losses. How come?
For one, a lot of missed opportunities and costly mistakes.
For two, because right now the odds of a ball control offense working and leading to wins with this particular offensive personnel are extremely low...and I mean extremely low. The reason is that ball control offense leads you into a lot of 3rd a 5's or 3's...which then puts a great deal of pressure on the QB to execute in clutch fashion under duress. It also forces the offense to try to complete 5 to 7 yard passes while the DL is pinning its ears back and going full-tilt after the QB.
If the QB is a savvy veteran, then this might work...but neither KK or JS are savvy veterans---
For three, when you try to mount long ball control drives, you are one costly sack, turnover or penalty away from a stalled drive.
For this personnel...it is inevitable that a costly sack, turnover or penalty will occur.
For four, and perhaps most importantly, when you do not threaten the defense deep, you get what we saw today, a playmaker like CB Antoine Winfield feeling at ease to play up in the box all game long...so close to the box in fact that he was in the backfield on run blitzes numerous times...and he was the one to sniff out the absurd 4th and 2 flat pass call to Reagan Ma'uia, turned QB scramble/ramble for naught. It goes to show you that even in such a key situation the Viking defensive coaches felt they didn't even have to put Winfield on Fitzgerald.
With the defense being as good as they are---the philosophy of the Cardinals' offense should be the reverse---stretch the field and go for the big plays.
Now sure you will say, but there's no time.
Actually there is time---and there was time on a number of occasions today.
The only time Skelton threw deep in the game was on a free play.
But, actually deep shots have to be thrown early enough so that you don't under-throw them.
What deep shots do is they loosen the intermediate zones for TEs like Housler, who played well again today, and who also is a deep threat himself.
What the Cardinals are doing by running on early downs and playing dink and dunk on 3rd downs is allowing the defense to play them tight---there's no looseness at all.
That Viking secondary is not that good at all---but the Cardinals' offensive coaches helped make them look good by allowing them to play up and not on their heels.
On defense---we have some special coaching going on. After a lackluster effort in the first half to stop an intensely fired-up AP, Horton started run blitzing and tightening the running lanes in the second half. He dared Ponder to throw the ball---and played sticky coverage.
Horton learned some things today---and he in all likelihood will have the defense better prepared to stop Frank Gore---too bad it took two TDs in the first half in this game because, tis was a game where 17 points could have won the ballgame.
The other thing Horton has to start insisting from his CBs is that instead of arm barring the WRs like they do every time their man goes deep, instead that's the time to look back for the ball.
Been saying this for a few weeks now but if the CBs on this team start looking for the ball, watch out. Had Wm. Gay been looking for the ball last week, he an easy pick six right in his hands which could have changed the whole outcome of that game.
PP21 needs to be told, look man, just stay stride for stride and then if you look back the ball becomes yours.
STs today did not deliver---all those punts to PP21 and not one close block or one good return.
Feely---not only does he miss the 47 yard gift the Vikings gave the team which could have had the team all the more fired up at half-time, he once again tries the on-side up the middle dribble that never has gone 10 yards.
Plus---you are kicking in a dome---is it too much to ask that you kick the ball deep into the end zone so Harvin doesn't get his hands on the ball?
And then---Rashad Johnson ruining the field position with that stupid unnecessary roughness call. At least Hyphen got it back on the next play---but man those kinds of penalties in the 4th quarter are horrible.
As for the coaching, aside from Horton, I thought it absolutely stunk. As much as I lauded CKW for his maybe best game/time management last week, this week was a return to the egregious game and clock management that has marred his tenure as a head coach.
I was happy he went for the 4th down and 2 in the third quarter, I, just like the FOX crew and most of you, couldn't imagine what he and Miller were thinking on the call. That was about as bad a call on 4th down as there is.
Then, still down 14 with about 10 minutes left in the game, the offense is actually driving and on the same down and distance (4th and 2), and inside Minny territory he PUNTS?
That decision at that time of the game when you've previously shown your team you are going to be aggressive to try to score, was just plain chickensheet...and did nothing to try to boost the confidence of the offense.
The defense did hold---but that's when the Johnson penalty resulted in starting the next drive at their own 24 yard line---which led to yet another failed drive.
But---even with the clock ticking down---NO URGENCY---almost as if they were intent on keeping the score close, but not caring that much about winning the game.
These are reasons why I have not been able to feel trust in CKW---he permits this sheet.
The players who deserve kudos---
RB Hyphen
WR Roberts
The o-line (they were pretty good today all things considered)---and I thought Ahrnsberger played well subbing in for Snyder---Snyder's been playing hurt for weeks anyway.
TE Housler
DE Campbell
DE Eason
DE Holliday
LB Washington
LB Lenon
LB Acho
S Sanders---this guy should be starting---he steps up and makes tackles.
S Wilson---missed AP on a blitz but didn't quit on the play and wound up chasing him down. Wilson broke up a big 3rd down pass and he actually wrapped up on a couple of tackles.
P Zastudil
Leach
Personnel concerns:
RT Massie---can no longer be the starter---he is just not there and is not making much progress. can't believe they wouldn't at least throw McQuistan in there for a series to see if he could muscle Roberson away from Skelton.
As for Batiste---he did a creditable job on Jared Allen. Not great---but not bad either. Still hope Chris Williams will sign because he's had something Batiste and Massie haven't had---lots of practice time blocking a stud DE in Julius Peppers.
WR Fitzgerald---not with him, but with the coaches---he could have had a big day, but you ignored him most of the day.
DE Dockett---major disappointment and if it's because he's hurt, he's hurting the team by being out there---they way he vacated his running lane on APs first quarter TD was awful.
CB Fleming---not ready to play in the first quarter, several weak efforts right in a row.
CB Gay---bad penalty, bad time.
S Johnson---boneheaded penalty.
Final thought: until the Cardinals' offense becomes a big play threat instead of a big mistake threat the Cardinals will have trouble beating anyone unless the defense pitches a shutout or scores points the way Minny did today.
The coaches are responsible for preparing the QB and building the QB's confidence---the two go hand in hand. To strictly blame the coaches is wrong and to strictly blame the QB is also wrong.
Execution often is about how well it has been coached in practice.
The coaches constantly using the "poor execution" card as an indictment of the players is a shrugging of the coaches' own responsibility.
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