Wasted Year

[BW52]

I dunno, "best" is subjective especially if you did or did not watch the offense. I know the Air-Coryell teams were good, but could they compare to today's offenses?

I can only compare since they've been here.

- The '88 team had a good offense until Lomax went down
- Bugel's last season the offense was good
- There was a year or two the Larry Centers as mentioned - that was Jim Fassels BTW.
- Marc Tressman was considered an offensive guru, but it seemed too complex or the players just sucked, or both.
- After that, I'd say the '08 and '09 teams had good offenses. C'mon 51pts in the PO game!

Back on topic, 2012 was a wasted year if there ever was one.

mid 1960`s Cardinals had Charley Johnson throwing to Jackie Smith,Sonny Randle and Bobby Joe Conrad

 

[desertdawg]

Some see the flower that grew, some just smell the poo.

 

[Catfish]

Extremely frustrating end to a weird season. With Palmer, this was a very average offense. Without him, they were attrocious. I'm really perplexed as to whether BA is the offensive genius everyone seems to make him out to be.

In my opinion, BA's genius is not in being an offensive guru, but in being able to take a roster full of guys who want to---(supplied by Keim)---and turn them into depth that can step in when needed, AND BELIEVE THEY CAN WIN !!!

They are not supremely talented, and (Fitz aside), did not come at a premium price. They are all journeymen who work their asses off to become serviceable. Under BA's coaching, THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN WIN, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT EACH OF THEM CAN GET THE JOB DONE. That is the difference with BA, compared to other coaches.

At some point, one person in this roster is not able to achieve that belief, and that is precisely what happened with Lindley, (who had been sent packing earlier for exactly that). That began the failing belief's, and then came the losses.

Whether or not there were other QBs available to do the job after Palmer's loss is pure conjecture. Given Keim's ability to fill the roster, I would surmise that there was just not anyone left out there better than Lindley at that point.

My happiest moments this year, were being reasonably sure we were going to win the next game. When has that EVER happened in Cardinals land. Yes, I too got caught up in the belief that this roster was going to win and it DID. Eleven games in all, which is more than any team I can remember wearing the redbird logo.

I totally agree that this finish stinks, and it brought me to quickly remember our OLD Cardinals. I have to believe that as we go along, our depth, (even at QB), will get better and better. I don't believe that this coaching staff is finished working their magic. They did it in Indy when Coach Pagano went down, and they did it again here for BA. Watching it happen was wonderful, and that part of this season was the BEST by far of my lifetime of following Cardinals football. I believe that we will see more of this magic worked by our FO and Staff. Bring on 2015 and more Cardinals fun !!!!!

 

[Darkside]

I am not one for "moral" victories. It's really hard to win in this league let alone get in the playoffs. When you have a team that has enough talent to possibly get you there and because you can't find a QB to keep your chances alive?!?! Yep, feels like a huge wasted opportunity no matter the reason.

Agree with the gist of your post but I don't feel like it was a wasted opportunity. These dudes fired all the bullets they had and came up short. Their opportunity was winning more than last year, on a depleted roster, with their 2nd and 3rd string QB, and they did that.

I know a lot of people said we should bring in a vet or a Tebow type guy at QB, I get that. However, I also agree with ESPN and NFL network who said any team would lose with a 3rd string QB playing. Seattle doesn't even have a 3rd string QB and they aren't the only team.

Additionally, I think bringing in a vet, at that time, when it wouldn't matter, sends a really bad message.

Like, you know what guys, I know you've practiced hard all year, learned the schemes and playbook, endured my wrath on the whiteboard, because I told you it was so important, I know you sacrificed, but I'm enamored with this street dude nobody else wants and he's going to play. Just joking about all that other stuff about team and family and learning and minimizing mistakes and situational football.

That can't happen.

Reminds me of Whiz's game before the Seattle game we were destroyed in. Told the D to lay down. When our D was the only pride on that team. Let them score. That ate up the remaining pride on that team. They go out next week and get annihilated by Seattle. That's how you lose a team.

BA can't afford to lose the team over one or two or three stupid Street QBs who aren't even good enough to be playing.

BA has had two good years with us, and the reason he's a players coach, why the players love him, is because he sticks with guys like Lindley and Butler and Ted Ginn. He gives dudes a chance. Doesn't trash them in the media. Sticks with his guys. If you can't prove yourself to BA you just can't play, because he'll believe in you until you prove he shouldn't.

I'd love to have a boss like that.

(edit: should add, when talking about losing a team, no vet or street QB is taking us to the SB. So you lose now, or lose the next game. But what you give up is credibility.

The players coach thing and sticking with Lindley is for the rest of the team, the remaining players. You don't put their futures in the hands of some nameless guy, or even a guy like Tebow. Can't do it. If you lose with one of those dudes, especially Tebow, you never live it down in the press or with your own team. Can't even come back from that. BA did the only thing he could)

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Yeah, what a waste.

I much preferred the years when we were out of the playoff hunt by week 8 or 9.
Was so much easier to plan vacations back then.

 

[conraddobler]

Some see the flower that grew, some just smell the poo.

I blame the fans for low expectations.

Any historically good team has our season we just had and they'd be somewhat embarrassed I think if nothing else just for that playoff fiasco we just went through.

The knife cuts both ways you can look at this as people being negative or you could say some people just have too low of expectations.

I prefer to think it's just a PTSD fan base that thinks 11 regular season wins means something.

Marty has been fired twice for having great regular season years and flaming out first round in the playoffs.

Harbaugh just got fired for what we would consider to be God hood.

It's all a matter of perspective and nothing I say negative really impacts the team come on, they are professionals paid ridiculously well to play a game.

At the end of the day if they don't get it done the organization has no one but itself to blame.

Oh and by the way I have been a fan long enough to know how much better it is now than it was before, I've also lived in other cities long enough to see that Cardinal fans are starved for success for the most part and so they think 11 regular seasons is something to be excited about.

One day if we are all lucky we'll all agree more that this year kinda sucked when you really think about it instead of being happy losers.

11 win seasons are usually great because usually they are followed by some kind of playoff success.

Philly booed Donovan who got them to Championships, in Boston 11 wins is a yawn fest.

Raise your expectations because after all isn't that the ultimate form of positive thinking?

 

[juza76]

i think we didnt see many times this franchise playing in january,so u cant call it wasted year

 

[snowthedirtbub]

Man a lot of Cardinals fans have gotten a big head all of a sudden, starting to act like we are the early 2000's Patriots where its Super Bowl or bust.