What hard schedule?

[Cardinals.Ken]

Loser of wager has to put " Mulli is King" on his sig line for six months. If I lose, I will each our your names as king.

You're on!

Prepare to praise me with every post for six months!

 

[cardncubfan]

Loser of wager has to put " Mulli is King" on his sig line for six months. If I lose, I will each our your names as king.

 

[oaken1]

He has a yob.

:

I thought maybe he got lost hitch hiking to Colorado after they legalized recreational ganja

 

[oaken1]

but anyway...on topic.......based purely on our schedule alone I can see 11 wins......or 2 wins.....when I have time perhaps I will check opponent schedules...see who has short weeks for prep or who plays a tough division game right before us...

we have an advantage,...we are the Cardinals, and it is easy for teams to overlook us.....and even though I picked them to go all the way last year prior to the season...and still believe they are the strongest team in the league right now......

we will beat the Niners this season.

 

[BigRedRage]

sounds fine to me.

 

[gmabel830]

How many people were predicting wins new england and Philly at this time last year? Trying to look at the schedule and pick wins and losses is pretty darn tough this time of year.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[kerouac9]

How many people were predicting wins new england and Philly at this time last year? Trying to look at the schedule and pick wins and losses is pretty darn tough this time of year.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

How many people were predicting losses to the Rams (twice!), Jets, Vikings, and Bills last year?

Hard to predict specific games, but you can lump them together into games that you "should win," games that you "could win," and games that you "might win."

If you're team isn't winning games they should win, you're in some trouble. If you can't even FIND more than a couple games the Cards should win, you're in a LOT of trouble.

 

[TigToad]

1. All teams in the NFC West have good defenses. I'm going to call them a wash, though the 49ers may have the best by a little bit.

2. Rams have lost offensive weapons, they are thin at WR. Their division wins were a fluke last year.

3. 49ers have Kapernick, who looks really good, but also looks like he may be a head case. I predict an implosion + sophomore slump similar to Bradford's slump.

4. Palmer is so much better than any thing else we had at QB. How many games last year could we have won if our QB had been a top 20 QB or even top 25? Quite a few.

5. Seattle scares me. I can't find anything to knock on Wilson and they seem to be adding talent at an alarming rate.

That said, I think we can win 8 without too much stress. You can't tell me this defense with Palmer throwing to Fitz won't get us more than the 5 that Kolb and company earned us. If Seattle turns out to not be as good as I fear, then I don't see the division as impossible.

 

[HotSauce]

1. All teams in the NFC West have good defenses. I'm going to call them a wash, though the 49ers may have the best by a little bit.

2. Rams have lost offensive weapons, they are thin at WR. Their division wins were a fluke last year.

3. 49ers have Kapernick, who looks really good, but also looks like he may be a head case. I predict an implosion + sophomore slump similar to Bradford's slump.

4. Palmer is so much better than any thing else we had at QB. How many games last year could we have won if our QB had been a top 20 QB or even top 25? Quite a few.

5. Seattle scares me. I can't find anything to knock on Wilson and they seem to be adding talent at an alarming rate.

That said, I think we can win 8 without too much stress. You can't tell me this defense with Palmer throwing to Fitz won't get us more than the 5 that Kolb and company earned us. If Seattle turns out to not be as good as I fear, then I don't see the division as impossible.

1. All NFC West teams had good defenses. But, I wouldn't call it a wash for this season with Bowles replacing Horton and Washington being out at least 4 games via suspension.

2. Put me in the camp that believes that the Rams have actually upgraded their offensive weapons. And one that doesn't believe that those NFC West games were flukes. Two game flukes? They were close to sweeping the division.

3. The 49ers were strong with Alex Smith at QB. I don't see Kapernick taking a step back, but improving. That is, unless he gets hurt and is in a situation where he loses his main offense weapon like Bradford.

4. Carson Palmer could have very well made a difference last year. But, would he have lasted that much longer given all the hits?

5. The Percy Harvin addition in Seattle is going to be a nightmare if he stays healthy. At the same time if teams can do a better job of keeping Wilson in the pocket limiting his vision, he can become mortal again.

 

[CardsFan88]

Richardson and Pead now take over for Steven Jackson. While Pead didn't play much, Richardson did. Though I think he benefited greatly from Jackson being the starter.

It'll be interesting to see how large the drop off that may occur. Richardson is 4 inches shorter and 45 lbs lighter from ESPN's numbers (5'10" 196 lbs). Pead is basically the same size (same height, 1 lb heavier) as Richardson and known as a north-south runner which somehow doesn't seem very conducive for the NFL...short, light, and not known much for lateral movement.

They aren't going to be able to rely on pounding the rock like they have for the last decade unless some unknown camp fodder majorly steps it up imo. Though now they have Austin, so we could be seeing a major philosophy shift for the Rams, and it'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Somehow it just doesn't feel like the type of offense Fisher runs, but some coaches evolve. We'll see what and how much they change. I just don't see how they could run the same plays with backs 45 lbs lighter.

 

[oaken1]

I don't believe Austin will be the weapon so many think....double him over...first man bumps him...which takes away the bubble screen...and the second man covers him if he flies....he will get some plays but I do not foresee the massive pure yac plays some think he will produce.

Then the lambs most likely will not be able to run...at least not on anybody in the division...

IMO the lambs fall short of expectations this season and hit the floor in the NFCW

 

[TigToad]

1. I'll see what Bowles does. Losing Washington is a blow, but less with Dansby back in the fold. We'll see.

2. They were... but outside of the division they looked pretty mediocre. They played above their heads to prove something.. but that type of motivation is hard to carry without more talent. I think they have the weakest defense and the weakest offense in the division, assuming Carson Palmer has anything left in the tank.

3. I'm counting on Kaepernick blowing up. The Dolphins' hat incident gives me hope that he is immature enough to self-destruct under scrutiny.

4. I don't know. We'll find out.

5. I agree.

1. All NFC West teams had good defenses. But, I wouldn't call it a wash for this season with Bowles replacing Horton and Washington being out at least 4 games via suspension.

2. Put me in the camp that believes that the Rams have actually upgraded their offensive weapons. And one that doesn't believe that those NFC West games were flukes. Two game flukes? They were close to sweeping the division.

3. The 49ers were strong with Alex Smith at QB. I don't see Kapernick taking a step back, but improving. That is, unless he gets hurt and is in a situation where he loses his main offense weapon like Bradford.

4. Carson Palmer could have very well made a difference last year. But, would he have lasted that much longer given all the hits?

5. The Percy Harvin addition in Seattle is going to be a nightmare if he stays healthy. At the same time if teams can do a better job of keeping Wilson in the pocket limiting his vision, he can become mortal again.

 

[HotSauce]

CardsFan88,

Count me as one who agrees with the nfl.com segment I saw stating that Steven Jackson was that team's most overrated player. He's talented, but hardly a difference maker as the Rams record has reflected.

I think Fisher already changed his philosophy at TN when he went from a big Eddie George to a much smaller Chris Johnson. And from what I've read the team plans to implement more spread concepts that better fit what Bradford, Austin, Bailey, etc. did in college.

TigToad,

We will have to agree to disagree on the Rams. I see things entirely different and believe they could possibly take the division this year. While they may have lost some games out of the division it seems that were in every game except 2 or 3.

As as I stated earlier, the 49ers won with Alex Smith at QB. I think they are fine even if you get your wish on Kapernick.

 

[HotSauce]

I don't believe Austin will be the weapon so many think....double him over...first man bumps him...which takes away the bubble screen...and the second man covers him if he flies....he will get some plays but I do not foresee the massive pure yac plays some think he will produce.

Then the lambs most likely will not be able to run...at least not on anybody in the division...

IMO the lambs fall short of expectations this season and hit the floor in the NFCW

That's just it. Austin getting that much attention plays right into the Rams hands as it frees up others. He's too quick and too fast to be as easily contained as you seem to believe. He's going to be a nightmare if they use him right.

 

[CardsFan88]

CardsFan88,

Count me as one who agrees with the nfl.com segment I saw stating that Steven Jackson was that team's most overrated player. He's talented, but hardly a difference maker as the Rams record has reflected.

I think Fisher already changed his philosophy at TN when he went from a big Eddie George to a much smaller Chris Johnson. And from what I've read the team plans to implement more spread concepts that better fit what Bradford, Austin, Bailey, etc. did in college.

In regards to Jackson being overrated, I can see the angle. He's been called a superstar without the major numbers. But I also think he willed alot of tough yards. Something that alot of guys can't do even in their prime. Thus I would say nfl.com wasn't looking at things correctly. A guy that pounds out first downs is very valuable. Without those first downs other guys don't get the opportunities because the defense is on the field.

What he brought to the table was still pretty rare and even if he was nowhere near the level of Adrian Peterson, what he did is dirt work, and I don't think the Rams know what they lost.

He got them 1st downs that most backs don't get. Without him over a majority of the last five years or so, they look like 2012 AZ Cardinals offense. With him, he gave them more chances and that helped allow them just to be a pathetic offense.

That's the angle I'm coming from. Now they won't have it, and I think it's going to put a major dent in their running game if they decide to run similar plays.

But I guess it looks like things are shifting and so your George to Johnson insight indeed might be what they are trying to do and is past evidence that Fisher went in that direction, and it might work.

Though is Richardson/Pead Chris Johnson? Was Eddie George on the same level of Steven Jackson? I think in both cases the answer is no. Is the Rams line comparable to the Titans of that era? Also will it work in the NFC west again us, SF, and Sea?

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out one way or another. Until they prove to be successful, my opinion is that there will be a drop off, and it could be a major one. If Austin doesn't pan out, or simply has rookie struggles, it would increase the likelihood and lower the floor of what could happen.

Good insight about George to Johnson. The size differential between Jackson and Richardson/Pead is about the same. Jackson has more open field ability though as dirt work isn't just what he is capable of, and I think even now Jackson has quite a bit more in the tank at this point then George had when they ditched him.

 

[HotSauce]

Time will tell on the impact of the Rams without Jackson, but I'm guessing that Fisher will be happy to replace some tough yards with big gainers and scores. This is probably why they let Jackson walk as he's had fewer TDs than Bennie Wells the last 2 years. In fact, he's averaged less than 5 TDS the last 4 seasons. I've watched a few Rams games on NFL Rewind and he did next to nothing without a huge hole. Meanwhile, this Richardson kid was running wild.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...is-rams-offense-could-be-like-saints-coo-says

I guess it's official now. The Rams are going with more of a spread attack. No one wants to hear it, but with the weapons and speed that they have picked up, they could be dangerous if they pull it all together.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Time will tell on the impact of the Rams without Jackson, but I'm guessing that Fisher will be happy to replace some tough yards with big gainers and scores. This is probably why they let Jackson walk as he's had fewer TDs than Bennie Wells the last 2 years. In fact, he's averaged less than 5 TDS the last 4 seasons. I've watched a few Rams games on NFL Rewind and he did next to nothing without a huge hole. Meanwhile, this Richardson kid was running wild.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...is-rams-offense-could-be-like-saints-coo-says

I guess it's official now. The Rams are going with more of a spread attack. No one wants to hear it, but with the weapons and speed that they have picked up, they could be dangerous if they pull it all together.

I'm not willing to give them the Division just yet but I agree, they will be a factor. Most of the people that write them off so do because they also write off Bradford. I think he's finally in a situation designed to let him win. He's had fewer weapons to work with than perhaps any QB in the league. I'm not convinced Austin will tear up the league but teams will have to pay attention to him. I think we have reason to be optimistic, I think the Rams have far more reason.

Steve

 

[Redcoyote]

I believe Seattle has the edge in gaining the division title this year. Their defense is definitely top 5, combine that with Marshawn Lynch and a QB in Wilson that can make plays you have a dangerous team. I don't think Lynch gets enough credit for what he has accomplished the last two years.

The 49ers will still have a dominate defense and I don't think Kaepernick will regress very much. I'm not sold on how he will respond to adversity when they are having an off game, things aren't going their way and the defense is dominating them. Losing crabtree is going to hurt too.

The Rams will have the chance to be good this year. I don't think Steven Jackson was overrated. He took a beating to earn each yard he racked up. 8 straight 1,000 yard seasons is an accomplishment with some of those Rams teams he was on. That being said, the Rams will be more dynamic and explosive this year. Richardson has more burst than Jackson did and Austin will get enough touches to make plays and he will open things up for the rest of the guys around them, making things easier than they would be otherwise.

With the Cards I'm excited about the improvements we will see from the offense this year but nervous with the new DC that our defense will not perform to the same level it did last year.

Its a division where each defense is impressive. Each team has some offensive players that can impact the game but I don't see any offensive unit as that much better than the others in the division. I can see anyone betting anyone in the division. Its going to be an interesting year.

As far as the Cardinals go, like someone said, they could win anywhere between 2-11 games without being a huge surprise. I'd guess somewhere around 7 wins myself. The over/under on wins I saw on one betting sight was 5 1/2. Not a bad bet IMO. I think the number is a little low because the teams in our division.

 

[Mulli]

Every year I make predictions for all 32 NFL teams and very year I pick a "surprise" team. For the first time I'm picking the Cardinals as my surprise team. I can see the Cardinals winning 10 games this year and being a WC team.

Bump

 

[Mulli]

Bump

 

[NMCard]

Nice call op!

 

[kerouac9]

I dunno. I never really got the feeling that DD operated in the "information economy" as much as the "unfinished rooftop" economy. I'd prefer that he focus on workplace safety.

Love ya, DD.

I don't know why this comment got lost in the noise. I think that it's pretty funny.

Still have love for ya, DD.

 

[cardncubfan]

we will beat seattle, sf and stl at least once each

Wager?!

Mulli, we lost this bet not you. We lost to San Fran twice.

 

[Mulli]

Mulli, we lost this bet not you. We lost to San Fran twice.

Doh! U are still king. Go Cubz!

 

[cardncubfan]

Doh! U are still king. Go Cubz!