We Were KILLED by Bad Coaching Today

[Russ Smith]

It's time to stop complaining about this. It's a feature of the defense, and nothing's going to change about it. Last year it was because our corners would get beat deep. This year it's because our linebackers can't cover ANYBODY and so we're keeping a Two-deep or three-deep shell to contain everything and funnel play to the middle of the field.

The play that infuriated me was the 3rd and 16 late in the game. I don't know but it seemed like some of our guys were playing man and some were playing zone. DRC seemed to think they wouldn't throw to his side and he just lost track of Clayton. And we didn't bring any pressure at all. If you're going to rush 4 and drop 7, how can a guy get that open 20 yards downfield?

We all saw when we got pressure on Bradford he made mistakes, but all too often he had time to sit back and and count his paycheck.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Bill Davis = Clancy Pendergast. To this day, I cannot understand why the team failed to go after Mike Nolan, Dom Capers, or Greg Williams over Davis.

 

[Sandan]

We won, we were not killed

 

[40yearfan]

We won, we were not killed

You couldn't tell it with all the bitching and moaning going on.

 

[Carddan]

You couldn't tell it with all the bitching and moaning going on.

You could tell if you could see the smile on my face. (ignore the worry lines)

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Sigh...it seems to me that people are suffering from inflated expectations syndrome. Nothing less than a total ass kicking would suffice.

The only thing that matters right now is we got a road win against a division opponent.

 

[azsportsfan01]

How many combined wins does this board have? Oh yea, none. Whiz is a better coach than all of us. Can we please stop pretending we know more than him?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Bill Davis = Clancy Pendergast. To this day, I cannot understand why the team failed to go after Mike Nolan, Dom Capers, or Greg Williams over Davis.

come on... $.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

The problems with coaching started a long time ago. I don't know what's up but it sure seems like they've lost their marbles when it comes to personnel and other decisions.

You have to wonder what in the heck is going on when a team has won back to back division championships and gets rid of two first round picks and three 2nd round picks, and gets 11 guys in new positions, in the same off season.

Did they think we were 3-13 the last two years?

What I want to know is what the hell is going on with the kick return game.

You mean to tell me that Komar is the best we could do?

There are like 6 billion people in the world, and most of them are better at returning kicks than Komar.

It's a shameful indictment of the FO. Shameful.

 

[desertrat218]

I would have thought we lost the game when I read the title for this thread. Seriously, the Cardinals have the best head coach in franchise history right now. Let's not get carried away here.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Sigh...it seems to me that people are suffering from inflated expectations syndrome. Nothing less than a total ass kicking would suffice.

The only thing that matters right now is we got a road win against a division opponent.

Not only that but the line was only 3. So, actually, the Cards exceeded expectations according to the "experts".

 

[Shane]

Sigh...it seems to me that people are suffering from inflated expectations syndrome. Nothing less than a total ass kicking would suffice.

The only thing that matters right now is we got a road win against a division opponent.

 

[Perfectionist]

With other coaches in the past we would have found a way to lose this game, but you know what, Whis found a way to win it. Did I agree with all the coaching decisions? Of course not but to say we were killed because of coaching is ludicrous. When we look back, this game might be one that was a lot tougher than we thought.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The two time defending NFC West Champions. 2008 NFC Champions. Winners of 23 games the last two seasons including 4 of 6 playoff games and only having lost in the post season to the eventual SB Champions, having first game jitters?

I hope not.

Jeez.

If this is how you are going to be after a win, I don't want to know how you will be after a loss.

When you lose your starting QB there is going to be a lot of change.

I completely 100% disagree with you, and Stout.

Our offense is "dumbed down" because our QB and personel have not played a lot together.

Also, if you want to keep around high draft picks, with high salaries, and talent which is eclipsed by other players, then go ahead. But in the end you are not putting your best players on the field.

Right now out of all these HUGE loses, that our CRAZY coaches let go, I only see Warner who retired being a loss.

Washington looks fine in replace of Dansby, Breaston had a game in which if Q had his hustle we would have a Super Bowl in the AZ trophey case (not to mention a career high game for Breaston), and while Antrel Rolle was busy getting burned deep by Steve Smith, Kerry Rhodes played a great game, and allowed Wilson to have an even better game.

Seriously. I have no idea what some of you are expecting. This isn't Madden 2011. You are not going to beat each team 140-3 and have 500 yards passing, and 400 yards rushing.

We fricking won a game, in which we could have easily won 31-3, but overcame a lot of crap that came mostly from two players.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

It's a shameful indictment of the FO. Shameful.

Really ?

We brought in 5 punt returners, and our starting PR is hurt.

 

[Stout]

Guys, read some of the other threads. I am quite upbeat about getting the win, and have even poo-pooed the negativity as far as winning ugly. It's a road win against a division opponent in week one. I love it, and I'm glad to get it any way we can.

That said, I'm not going to ignore coaching stupidity. I love Coach Whis, but he can and did make mistakes. I am learning to very much dislike Mr. 'Let's blitz by putting all of our blitzers on the line and giving them no surprise or momentum' Davis.

K9, I hear you regarding the inability of our LBers to cover, but does that mean we should routinely concede 1st downs? I refuse to get behind any defensive play calling that's so scared as to simply give up on 3rd down so they don't get burned deep. We're very lucky a few of those 3rd down throws were dropped (thank you St. Louis for picking up Clayton!), or we probably would have lost.

A win's a win, especially in these circumstances with San Fran losing, but unless this coaching staff starts calling games better, we're looking at a loooong season.

 

[Stout]

Jeez.

If this is how you are going to be after a win, I don't want to know how you will be after a loss.

When you lose your starting QB there is going to be a lot of change.

I completely 100% disagree with you, and Stout.

Our offense is "dumbed down" because our QB and personel have not played a lot together.

Also, if you want to keep around high draft picks, with high salaries, and talent which is eclipsed by other players, then go ahead. But in the end you are not putting your best players on the field.

Right now out of all these HUGE loses, that our CRAZY coaches let go, I only see Warner who retired being a loss.

Washington looks fine in replace of Dansby, Breaston had a game in which if Q had his hustle we would have a Super Bowl in the AZ trophey case (not to mention a career high game for Breaston), and while Antrel Rolle was busy getting burned deep by Steve Smith, Kerry Rhodes played a great game, and allowed Wilson to have an even better game.

Seriously. I have no idea what some of you are expecting. This isn't Madden 2011. You are not going to beat each team 140-3 and have 500 yards passing, and 400 yards rushing.

We fricking won a game, in which we could have easily won 31-3, but overcame a lot of crap that came mostly from two players.

Like I said, Rugby, I have been on record already as having loved getting the win, in whatever fashion. That doesn't mean I'm frickin' blind and can't comment on stupidity.

I don't care what the rationale or reasoning is--there is zero excuse for our coaches not doing their jobs well. I'm not standing on the ledge demanding they be fired (although Davis is on a very short leash with me right now), but I really want them to be better prepared as we move forward into the rest of our schedule. If our coaches can't do any better next week, we're going to get clobbered--you know, by a team that's supposed to be good as opposed to the Lambs.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Um, we won a DIVISION game ON THE ROAD. The supposed "Heir to our throne" lost their division game on the road by 25! We are transitioning from an era with a HOF QB, having lost other key players, and did so with a win. Yep, it wasn't perfect. OK, move on.

 

[ajcardfan]

Good Lord.

We have a new QB, 3 new starters on the oline (counting Brown at LT) and 5 new starters on defense. OF COURSE, we're going to struggle in the first month of the season! If you were expecting us to be the 09 Saints, you need rehab for your drug problem.

This is a TRANSITION year. Just making the playoffs would be a fantastic outcome for this season.

 

[football karma]

I dont know

Rams were 8/20 on third down. That is average relative to the league. Prior to the final two Rams drives where the Cardinals basically conceded two 3rd and 1 runs for a first down, the Rams were converting 3rd downs at a 33% clip. That would be bottom 5.

So the stats don't support the idea that the Cardinals were conceding easy 3rd down conversions during the game based on the defense called.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Guys, read some of the other threads. I am quite upbeat about getting the win, and have even poo-pooed the negativity as far as winning ugly. It's a road win against a division opponent in week one. I love it, and I'm glad to get it any way we can.

That said, I'm not going to ignore coaching stupidity. I love Coach Whis, but he can and did make mistakes. I am learning to very much dislike Mr. 'Let's blitz by putting all of our blitzers on the line and giving them no surprise or momentum' Davis.

K9, I hear you regarding the inability of our LBers to cover, but does that mean we should routinely concede 1st downs? I refuse to get behind any defensive play calling that's so scared as to simply give up on 3rd down so they don't get burned deep. We're very lucky a few of those 3rd down throws were dropped (thank you St. Louis for picking up Clayton!), or we probably would have lost.

A win's a win, especially in these circumstances with San Fran losing, but unless this coaching staff starts calling games better, we're looking at a loooong season.

Washington looks pretty darn good in coverage.

 

[Carddan]

Not only that but the line was only 3. So, actually, the Cards exceeded expectations according to the "experts".

Don't confuse the "experts" with the money. The Cardinals beat the money which is even more impressive. A lot of the "experts" picked us to lose outright. People with $$$ on the line don't care about the "experts".

 

[Cardiac]

Jeez.

If this is how you are going to be after a win, I don't want to know how you will be after a loss.

When you lose your starting QB there is going to be a lot of change.

I completely 100% disagree with you, and Stout.

Our offense is "dumbed down" because our QB and personel have not played a lot together.

Also, if you want to keep around high draft picks, with high salaries, and talent which is eclipsed by other players, then go ahead. But in the end you are not putting your best players on the field.

Right now out of all these HUGE loses, that our CRAZY coaches let go, I only see Warner who retired being a loss.

Washington looks fine in replace of Dansby, Breaston had a game in which if Q had his hustle we would have a Super Bowl in the AZ trophey case (not to mention a career high game for Breaston), and while Antrel Rolle was busy getting burned deep by Steve Smith, Kerry Rhodes played a great game, and allowed Wilson to have an even better game.

Seriously. I have no idea what some of you are expecting. This isn't Madden 2011. You are not going to beat each team 140-3 and have 500 yards passing, and 400 yards rushing.

We fricking won a game, in which we could have easily won 31-3, but overcame a lot of crap that came mostly from two players.

cosign with everything. Especially agree with the bolded part.

 

[JeffGollin]

Some Perspective...

The Cards are notoriously slow coming out of the gate (Chalk this up to funky League scheduling plus the way we prepare in preseason).

This year, it's been compounded by (a) lots of starting roster changes, (b) unfamiliarity between a new QB and his receivers and (c) the need for our relatively young (27 yr old) QB to clean up some major deficiencies in his game.

We went up against a team weaker on paper but relatively solid in its play - in its house, against a very good rookie QB and a loud-boistrous fan-base excited about their new QB. Despite this, we still won.

Our defense not only saved the day, but played better than it did last year and the year before that - in 3 areas: (1) playmaking, (2) few if any dumb mistakes and (3) contributions from each of the 11 starters that (perhaps with the exception of the invisible NT position and Haggans' problems staying onside)) were worthy enough to attract notice and comment - from A-Dub's and Kerry's picks to Toler's 13 tackles to Calais' sack and D-Dock's QB pressures to the play of Joey, Lenon & DWash.

We figure to get better as our offense gets to know one another better (not only QB/receivers but our O-line). And should that happen, there's no reason why we shouldn't win the division (albeit against improved opponents).

The coaching, in my opinion, was solid - although (at least on offense) the execution was not. The only two strategic issues I questioned during the game (both of which I could be wrong about) were (1) Why we didn't immediately go into the Victory Formation with under 1:30 left to play and (2) why Kerry Rhodes chose to cut inside near the end of his interception return instead of picking up his blocker and heading left toward what appeared to be clear sailing down the left sideline. (To be honest, though, part of me was screaming: "Just fall down to avoid having the ball stripped out!").

But if what you want from your coaching is: (1) good strategy/play calling, (2) good morale, (3) acquisition, teaching and development of players and (4) everyone playing well together as a team - I don't know what everyone is griping about.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The coaching, in my opinion, was solid - although (at least on offense) the execution was not. The only two strategic issues I questioned during the game (both of which I could be wrong about) were (1) Why we didn't immediately go into the Victory Formation with under 1:30 left to play and

how do you guys NOT understand that if we went victory formation with 1:30 left, the Rams would have called three straight time-outs and then gotten the ball back with a 1:15 to go? victory formation before victory is assured is the height of stupidity.