What game is the Cardinals playing?

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Three things jumped out at me while watching the Browns/Packers last night.
1. QBs seemed to usually have time to find their open receiver.
2. Open receivers seems to be a common place.
3. The number 1 QB in the league and the rookie Weeden, both seemed to have no problem threading the needle and/or getting rid of the ball before being sacked.
4. Both QBs seemed to have instinct, timing, and confidence to get the job done as hoped and expected.

When you see this constantly, especially from teams with rookie QBs, doesn't it make you wonder what game the Cards are playing? It just looks like a different game with our QBs running, ducking, chucking, and flinging about. With all the success of rookie QBs last year (even with a non-existent prep season) and after watching both Weeden and Luck in their 1st starts as a pro this preseason, it really is a head scratcher as to why and how both of our QBs look like they do.



Another point: did you watch the run blocking in the Bengals and Browns game last night? Runners were finding holes to run through for 8 or 9 yards or more, and linemen actually were at the second level blocking people. It just seemed so different than when our Cards try a running play and the RB is lucky he gets to the line of scrimmage before hitting a wall or having to try to bounce outside and turn the corner for a couple yards if lucky.

I know it all seems exaggerated when you are looking at and comparing your own team, but I just can't help thinking that these other teams seem to come out at the start of the game ready and anxious to perform, and look good doing it. They just look more prepared to play than we do.

 

[JeffGollin]

Possible answer - the defenses weren't all that sharp.

Another - for reasons of lack of arm strength, eyeballing receivers or just failing to know when to drill the ball, neither Kolb or Skelton were throwing lasers.

Dunno, though actually I wasn't thrilled by the GB backup QB.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

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[Goldfield]

First mistake as a Cardinals fan is to watch other teams. Then you see how much better they are than us.

 

[Darkside]

First mistake as a Cardinals fan is to watch other teams. Then you see how much better they are than us.

Wasn't sure if you were being facetious or not, but I've been huge football fan my whole life and there's a lot of merit to what you're saying (mostly after they moved to AZ). There were some epically horrible teams (the expansion Tampa team, the Aints back in the day, the Lions of a couple years ago) where that wasn't true but by and large it generally is. I've seen many games where I'm glad they even let us play in the NFL. And it's not just the losing, it's a general lack of fundamental football (I attribute this more to players than coaches believe it or not, because these same players would leave and be good/great elsewhere).

Owner also has a lot to do with it. Being considered cheap lasts a long time in a players mind--even those who don't play here. I think it's something we still haven't quite gotten over (obviously).

We aren't good enough to take plays off, games off (even preseason ones) or practices off. We can't just turn it on when we need to.

There's a reason we've always been considered "soft", it's mental as well as physical, if not moreso. And I'm all for everything Whis has been saying this week (making dudes stay in until they get it right) but he completely undermines his own words by taking them to the movies and bowling (I believe that was last year) and sh*t like that, especially when it's the same week when he's telling them they need to toughen up. I'm all for chemistry and character but toughness matters too.

The players on good teams aren't necessarily bigger and faster and stronger than our guys, but they're more mentally tough because they practice that way day in and day out.

 

[Jetstream Green]

First mistake as a Cardinals fan is to watch other teams. Then you see how much better they are than us.

LOL! classic

 

[Duckjake]

First mistake as a Cardinals fan is to watch other teams. Then you see how much better they are than us.

At least now you don't see how much better and BIGGER they are than our guys. We've finally stopped drafting Safeties to play LB and Fullbacks to play Left Tackle and members of the Lollipop Guild to play CB and now put guys on the field that at least look like the other NFL players at their position.