Week 11 Heroes and Goats

[kerouac9]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/?p=594

Our linebackers are terrible. Our offense is really good. We'll never know what Carson Palmer was seeing out there in the first quarter — but I like that Chris Collinsworth is ready to put him in the MVP conversation.

 

[Iceman]

I had people text me that aren't familiar with the entire Cards roster and said "that Nelson guy is fast!" I let them know that he is one of the fastest, if not, the fastest player in the NFL

 

[NJCardFan]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/?p=594

Our linebackers are terrible. Our offense is really good. We'll never know what Carson Palmer was seeing out there in the first quarter — but I like that Chris Collinsworth is ready to put him in the MVP conversation.

I'm thinking butterflies. Once he settled down he was money.

Frustrated Cardinals fans have made Massie a whipping boy of the OL because he’s the lowest paid

Dude, really? I've never heard anyone in the history of sports say they don't like a player because he's the lowest paid. I don't like Massie because he simply isn't any good. Yes last night he was OK but it still doesn't excuse the other 300 plays where he turns into the human turnstile.

The defensive captain played 95% of the defensive snaps Sunday night — which was surprising to me, because he was invisible for almost all of them. The Bengals have a good offensive line, but not this good. Campbell wasn’t able to consistently split double-teams or be disruptive against the run.

So Campbell sucks because he can't "consistently" split double teams? Wow...um...just...wow.

 

[Shane]

Yep Massie was awesome!

 

[DVontel]

Not sure how Powers didn't make the Goats list.

 

[Stout]

Not sure how Powers didn't make the Goats list.

+1

 

[kerouac9]

Not sure how Powers didn't make the Goats list.

People keep asking this. I don't expect Powers to be able to cover A.J. Green one-on-one. I agree with Chopper that I don't think that he's 100% healthy, but he's a reliable veteran. The Bengals are a good passing team with great size on the outside — Marvin Jones is 6'1", 199 lbs. The Cards were leaving both Powers and Peterson on an island on the outside: Johnson, Jefferson and Mathieu all played more than 64% of the snaps, but they were more or less invisible from an activity standpoint.

I'm not sure what people are expecting from Jerroud Powers. He's not Antonio Cromartie.

 

[schutd]

Massie great, Campbell not heard from. I think people assume your critiques are of the player as a whole, not of the performance for the night, so they get all defensive. I dont think youre wrong about any of that post. Youre a realist.

On Bucannon, The guy is a total hero. I started watching him more closely after all the back and forth this season, announcers praising him, posters following that line, others critiquing him. Man, he tries so hard to do whats asked of him, but man, he's too damn small to play ILB. He just has to blow into gaps and hope. He regularly misses wrap ups on tackles. He'll dive for tackles rather than form tackle. But he's always there, trying to get the job done. Imagine if he was able to play with that kind of heart in a position that suited him. The guy has done whats asked of him. Reward him and get him some help, and get him back to where he can actually be successful; a possible game changer. Is that fair? Im not normally a deep analysis guy, but I really tried to pay attention to him last night.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I don't know why Bettcher is on this list - look at our LB core, then look how small our backfield is - he did well given the tools he has.

 

[JCSunsfan]

As far as the defensive coordinator, even Arians took a shot.

He said they got better "once the defense got off da field."

 

[82CardsGrad]

People keep asking this. I don't expect Powers to be able to cover A.J. Green one-on-one. I agree with Chopper that I don't think that he's 100% healthy, but he's a reliable veteran. The Bengals are a good passing team with great size on the outside — Marvin Jones is 6'1", 199 lbs. The Cards were leaving both Powers and Peterson on an island on the outside: Johnson, Jefferson and Mathieu all played more than 64% of the snaps, but they were more or less invisible from an activity standpoint.

I'm not sure what people are expecting from Jerroud Powers. He's not Antonio Cromartie.

Agree about him being unable to defend guys like AJ Green... but, how about tackling a guy or two? How many whiffs did Powers have last night?

 

[crisper57]

Special shout out to Bethel, I think it was, that broke up that last almost-TD toss to Green after PP21 went down.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think it's virtually a miracle that we are 8 & 2 given how bad our linebackers are...
Minter is simply not a starter. I don't care how many tackles he gets. He's not a starter IMHO.
And I was thinking about this - if we had a legit set of linebackers, when/where would Deone see the field? He certainly wouldn't play over Rashad Johnson and most definitely not over the Badger. Would the Cards had shifted him to outside linebacker?? Probably not. Just an interesting thought...

Anyway, the play of Calais is very alarming... I can't believe how a man his size can literally disappear for 90% or more of the game!
As for Bettcher - I think he's doing whatever he can to generate pressure and cover up for the inability of our front 4 to create any pressure of their own, while also dealing with what is no doubt, the most unathletic and untalented bunch of linebackers in the NFL.
Of course, it didn't help when the ONLY d-lineman who has been getting some pressure (Frostee) went out.

I think the way this team dominated the 3rd quarter was stunning. We beat the Bengals silly in that quarter, in every phase of the game.
Still, letting up over 30 points in consecutive games doesn't typically smell like a championship caliber team.
Palmer continues to play at an MVP level. The first INT that was intended to Fitz was a very bad throw where he and Fitz just crossed signals and as Carson even said, he's got to know to pull the ball down when he realized Fitz wasn't in the spot he thought he'd be.
The second INT was more due to JJ running the wrong route... But true to his form and toughness, Palmer came roaring back and played as if those first 2 INT's never happened.

Fitz continues to amaze... And man, what would this season have been like for John Brown if he wasn't dealing with a nagging hammy...
And how 'bout Fells going up for that pass like he was ripping down a huge rebound on the hardwood! Awesome!

Next week feels like a trap game to me... The Cards are coming off back to back pressure cooker brawls. They are banged up, mentally and physically... Just hope we can go up there and somehow scratch out a W. I don't care if the score is 6-3... Just win baby!

 

[cards4life]

Palmer really stepped it up in the second half and has been playing great this season and more so in the last few weeks. Pat Kirwan and the Real Football Network even has him in his top 3 candidates for MVP. What do you guys think? I think he def has a shot!

 

[juza76]

Okafor was invisible
Campbell doing his Job considering is double teamed
Powers should just play nickel, he lacks Speed to play cb2
Woodley i dont really know what he is doing
He remind me joey Porter here,i dont ask sacks but i never saw him putting pressure on the qb,Not just yesterday but from week 1
Carson palmer from a statistic standpoint is amazing but why he usually make a couple of plays for game where he put the team in a critical situation

 

[Russ Smith]

I think Campbell looks much better with better LB's behind him but I agree he wasn't great last night.

On the scoring have you looked at the ratio of points after turnovers? My guess is part of why teams are scoring more against us now is all the turnovers giving them short fields but I haven't looked. Was certainly the case last week against Seattle.

 

[Shane]

Can someone even remember the last time the 6'7" Calais Campbell batted down a pass or blocked a FG?? Used to be regular occurrences and now I can't even recall one in at least the last 2 seasons??

 

[Buckybird]

Can someone even remember the last time the 6'7" Calais Campbell batted down a pass or blocked a FG?? Used to be regular occurrences and now I can't even recall one in at least the last 2 seasons??

2011

 

[GuernseyCard]

Can someone even remember the last time the 6'7" Calais Campbell batted down a pass or blocked a FG?? Used to be regular occurrences and now I can't even recall one in at least the last 2 seasons??

Maybe the answer is that the once 6'8" CC is now 6'7".

 

[kerouac9]

I think Campbell looks much better with better LB's behind him but I agree he wasn't great last night.

On the scoring have you looked at the ratio of points after turnovers? My guess is part of why teams are scoring more against us now is all the turnovers giving them short fields but I haven't looked. Was certainly the case last week against Seattle.

I dunno. I don't think that the Bengals got any points off of Palmer's first-half INTs. I know after the first one I breathed a sigh of relief.

I'm honestly more concerned about our inability to stop anyone from scoring a TD on the goal line. According to FO, our D is allowing 5.23 points per red zone possession — 27th in the league. I don't think we're very physical inside the five.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I dunno. I don't think that the Bengals got any points off of Palmer's first-half INTs. I know after the first one I breathed a sigh of relief.

I'm honestly more concerned about our inability to stop anyone from scoring a TD on the goal line. According to FO, our D is allowing 5.23 points per red zone possession — 27th in the league. I don't think we're very physical inside the five.

That... AND (which I believe is related), we seem to suffer from short-yard conversions on offense. 3rd and shorts it seems the only shot we have is to pass.

 

[TJ]

Ball handling is a major concern for this team, and there are multiple culprits. Every time David Johnson touches the ball and it's not in either one of the end zones, I think he's going to have the ball ripped out of his hands. Very loose in his hands.

I also witnessed both Fitz and PP21 on PR holding the ball outside of their bodies while running down the field with tacklers nearby. Gotta tuck that pig skin in.

 

[eastcoastSUN]

1. The only time Minter had any success was when he blitzed and bull-rushed the defending RB. He got some considerable pressure that led to hurried throws from RedHead. Other than that, Minter is absolutely terrible in coverage.

2. Powers was atrocious. He has been atrocious all season. I don't see how there so many Powers apologists here and say he does a decent job. Every big passing play #25 is trailing the receiver. Got burned by Baldwin last week. Got burned by no name WRs on the Saints, Bears, etc. He really lacks the athleticism and length to disrupt any plays. We really need to address CB2 in the draft or free agency in the offseason

3. For all the flak Bettcher gets here, he did impress me (a little) in the second half with the unrelenting pressure. Dalton has one of the quickest releases in the game and he was a little flustered with the throws (especially the one to AJ where Bethel deflected it). The one play we did get burned was the RB screen that they took all the way to the 2.

4. Is it just me or CJ looking a little worn down? We keep riding him for ~20 runs a game but it may be taking a toll on his body when he bangs inside. His cuts lack a little speed and we should be prudent using him and preserving his health while we make a playoff push

5. Massie surprised last night. First time in two years I wasn't yelling at the TV calling #70. Kept Dunlap in check. Just imagine if he could play like this all year!

 

[Russ Smith]

I dunno. I don't think that the Bengals got any points off of Palmer's first-half INTs. I know after the first one I breathed a sigh of relief.

I'm honestly more concerned about our inability to stop anyone from scoring a TD on the goal line. According to FO, our D is allowing 5.23 points per red zone possession — 27th in the league. I don't think we're very physical inside the five.

They scored a TD after the 2nd pick. It wasn't great field position, 36 yard line they went 64 yards but that's how they got the ball.

 

[Russ Smith]

That... AND (which I believe is related), we seem to suffer from short-yard conversions on offense. 3rd and shorts it seems the only shot we have is to pass.

We have no inside LB's is my guess.