Week 8 Heroes and Goats

[Capital Card]

Either way, a good damn day for a guy thrown into the fire.

Much better than I expected after his big whiff the week before.

Go Cards!!!

 

[Darkside]

K9, appreciate the writeups every week. Writing an article every week before and after our matchup can be unrewarding, to say the least, especially with kids and a wife, I'm sure there's better things you'd rather be doing sometimes.

Consistency isn't easy; it's easy to post when you're emotional after a win or loss, much harder to post an article every week, twice a week, regardless. Don't always agree with you, obviously, but I respect the hell out of your effort and commitment to this team. Same goes for Mitch and NJ.

You should have a permanent goat though in DWash. He ate money that could have been used on other players, and with him we'd be an entirely different defense. He's a goat in my eyes every time we play, no matter how we do. He sacrificed this team and his teammates, and a championship run possibly, because of his selfishness. Permanent GOAT until he's permanently removed from this team and our memories. I don't even want him back, I just want him gone permanently.

Palmer finally made your list. I know it pained you something incredible. Everyone wants to compare him to Warner, but he's having a better year than Warner did in '08 and especially '09 so far. People don't want to admit that. Warner was top 10 that year in QB stats. Palmer is top 5 this year, against better QB's and better offenses. People tend to forget that Warner had several multi-interception games in 08 when he played just awful...and what games did he bring us back from behind for victory? Then he'd have a great game. He was inconsistent. 9-7 is an inconsistent team, and that team was really stacked with talent. But the memory of it persists because we had been bad for so damn long that it was like QB-Jesus playing for us. Warner's inconsistency showed by throwing a pick in the SB before halftime to Harrison which was returned for a TD. People can blame the defense for that loss, that's fair, but we knew what they were going in. Nobody had any illusions. Our offense would have to win that game and it failed.

Palmer does that and people would go crazy, calling it a "Palmover" and saying this is what he does. Warner does it...one of the worst football plays in SB history, and nobody says squat. Palmer is a badass QB, and like Warner, I don't think anyone, at least not mere mortals, can judge what burns inside or how bad he wants it or how much he's elevated his game. I look at his steps, look at his footwork. His footwork this year has been nothing short of phenomenal. I'd say he has some of the best footwork in the NFL for a QB. Inside the pocket. He reforms the pocket old school style, by taking a few steps to the side and up and surveying the field while the blocks reform around him, it's not seen much today frankly. He and BA are made for each other, there's no doubt.

Palmer can take us to a SB, he can even win it. People say draft picks don't matter, but it matters where you're drafted. Warner went through hell to play football, he showed the grit and guts and fight necessary. But I'd argue Palmer went through just as much and more. Sometimes it's more difficult always being expected to be badass, from the time you were little (I was disgusted that Palmer remembered his pop warner team, but that's a pro man) until high school and through college and then the NFL where they expect everything. Having those expectations instill mental toughness. Palmer is a tough cat. Physically and mentally.

Other heroes: Coach. Called a great gameplan. He's actually been calling good game plans all year. Fans just have issues. But his gamecalling has been awesome. Look at the offensive stats. Sometimes, going for it on 3rd and short and throwing deep...that sets up other stuff later in the season and playoffs, because you get a look. It instills an uncertainty in defenses going forward. So we miss, so what, if you think you're good enough to win otherwise, you have to get that look and see what defenses will do. It also gives tape, a LOT of tape, to teams we're bound to face in the playoffs. It creates so much uncertainty, if you're planning against it. I think people don't realize how playoff tape is formulated. It's situational. So when they look at 3rd downs, they see us throwing deep, all season long. There's much more that goes into football that just that game or that play, coaches are planning ahead all the time.

Not sure on goats in a dominant win. Perhaps the missed block on the CJ fumble, that was the worst. Like I said Dwash. Ultimate goat, piece of crap, worthless player, eating cap space better utilized for someone else.

I have no other complaints, good post, good article. Thank you.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Really good thoughts Darkside. I appreciate the time you put into it. I can't stand the Palmover term either. I think it completely disrespects the work and dedication he's put on display as a Cardinal. Total disrespect, imo.

 

[Buckybird]

K9, appreciate the writeups every week. Writing an article every week before and after our matchup can be unrewarding, to say the least, especially with kids and a wife, I'm sure there's better things you'd rather be doing sometimes.

Consistency isn't easy; it's easy to post when you're emotional after a win or loss, much harder to post an article every week, twice a week, regardless. Don't always agree with you, obviously, but I respect the hell out of your effort and commitment to this team. Same goes for Mitch and NJ.

You should have a permanent goat though in DWash. He ate money that could have been used on other players, and with him we'd be an entirely different defense. He's a goat in my eyes every time we play, no matter how we do. He sacrificed this team and his teammates, and a championship run possibly, because of his selfishness. Permanent GOAT until he's permanently removed from this team and our memories. I don't even want him back, I just want him gone permanently.

Palmer finally made your list. I know it pained you something incredible. Everyone wants to compare him to Warner, but he's having a better year than Warner did in '08 and especially '09 so far. People don't want to admit that. Warner was top 10 that year in QB stats. Palmer is top 5 this year, against better QB's and better offenses. People tend to forget that Warner had several multi-interception games in 08 when he played just awful...and what games did he bring us back from behind for victory? Then he'd have a great game. He was inconsistent. 9-7 is an inconsistent team, and that team was really stacked with talent. But the memory of it persists because we had been bad for so damn long that it was like QB-Jesus playing for us. Warner's inconsistency showed by throwing a pick in the SB before halftime to Harrison which was returned for a TD. People can blame the defense for that loss, that's fair, but we knew what they were going in. Nobody had any illusions. Our offense would have to win that game and it failed.

Palmer does that and people would go crazy, calling it a "Palmover" and saying this is what he does. Warner does it...one of the worst football plays in SB history, and nobody says squat. Palmer is a badass QB, and like Warner, I don't think anyone, at least not mere mortals, can judge what burns inside or how bad he wants it or how much he's elevated his game. I look at his steps, look at his footwork. His footwork this year has been nothing short of phenomenal. I'd say he has some of the best footwork in the NFL for a QB. Inside the pocket. He reforms the pocket old school style, by taking a few steps to the side and up and surveying the field while the blocks reform around him, it's not seen much today frankly. He and BA are made for each other, there's no doubt.

Palmer can take us to a SB, he can even win it. People say draft picks don't matter, but it matters where you're drafted. Warner went through hell to play football, he showed the grit and guts and fight necessary. But I'd argue Palmer went through just as much and more. Sometimes it's more difficult always being expected to be badass, from the time you were little (I was disgusted that Palmer remembered his pop warner team, but that's a pro man) until high school and through college and then the NFL where they expect everything. Having those expectations instill mental toughness. Palmer is a tough cat. Physically and mentally.

Other heroes: Coach. Called a great gameplan. He's actually been calling good game plans all year. Fans just have issues. But his gamecalling has been awesome. Look at the offensive stats. Sometimes, going for it on 3rd and short and throwing deep...that sets up other stuff later in the season and playoffs, because you get a look. It instills an uncertainty in defenses going forward. So we miss, so what, if you think you're good enough to win otherwise, you have to get that look and see what defenses will do. It also gives tape, a LOT of tape, to teams we're bound to face in the playoffs. It creates so much uncertainty, if you're planning against it. I think people don't realize how playoff tape is formulated. It's situational. So when they look at 3rd downs, they see us throwing deep, all season long. There's much more that goes into football that just that game or that play, coaches are planning ahead all the time.

Not sure on goats in a dominant win. Perhaps the missed block on the CJ fumble, that was the worst. Like I said Dwash. Ultimate goat, piece of crap, worthless player, eating cap space better utilized for someone else.

I have no other complaints, good post, good article. Thank you.

Yep this offense is dynamic & playmakers all over the skill positions. Palmer is a stud & on a mission & BA has had the offense ready each & every game.

In fact, nobody has shut the Big Reds offense down all year, other than itself with turnovers. This team can win the Suoer Bowl because of its offense.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Ribs and/or shoulder. At one point, his arm was hanging limp after a Minter hit.

I listened to mccown after the game on local radio. He said he was structurally fine and just a matter of pian management. Said he never thought about leaving the game.

 

[Cardiac]

Good stuff K9 and Darkside. Minter needs to be on the hero list because he kept shutting down that unstoppable force also known as Jim Dray.

Bettcher needs to come off the Goat list, 2nd half shut out and 7 of the points allowed came after a TO (CJ fumble returned to the 9 yd line). The D this year does not do well stopping teams after the Cards turn the ball over so that needs to improve.

Floyd was impressive today and played up to his abilities. He isn't a deep threat like Smokey but he does have very good speed and has a crazy good yds per catch for his career IIRC.

 

[Shaggy]

I've been bashing our ILBers... and rightly so. But man, Woodley and the rest of our OLBers are just as horrible.
Amazingly unathletic. At best, they are inconsistent. Unable to get to the QB... Horrendous in space. Has any of our inside or outside LBers even tipped a pass this year, let alone grab an interception?? Heck, Cory Redding of all people got himself an INT... But our LBers?? Uggghhhhh........

Bettcher is quite a puzzle at present. I gotta wonder of Arians is also blasting him when he blows up on the team. I mean, after enjoying life with Bowles, watching Bettcher's mind-knumbing approach and style can't sit well with BA, can it??

As an aside - I love the Badger and the energy he brings. BUT - I'm this close to getting pretty upset with his celebrations everytime he lays a finger on some dude. C'mon Tyrann...get real buddy!

Wow, I was just going to post this same thing! I love me some Badger to, but I can't stand when does the flex his arms thing after he makes a tackle. Just looks childish.