What I learned week 2

[seesred]

IMO we looked great on our first drive. Once again Palmer looked sharp. Brown & Brown look like the real deal.

1st team defense missing some people looked good in the 1st quarter. The last quarter there were many players I didn't know very well and they played like that. Calais is a beast. WR's very good. Running backs a question except for Ellington. We need some guys back on the O line. I hope Honey bear gets to practice some this week.

GBR
40

 

[Chopper0080]

About Peterson playing back in coverage. I don't think that it's his call. I'm guessing whether he's up (press) or back (off) is the call of the DC.

It isn't. DC's don't dictate the depth CBs line up at in the Pros. CBs are responsible for that as they best know their own speed, the speed of their opponent, and what their responsibility is on the play.

 

[Chopper0080]

Here were a couple of my takeaways:

- Earl Watford is a better football player right now than Jonathan Cooper. As bad as Cooper looked last week, Watford looked impressive. It was a more run-oriented game plan, but Watford sought our people to hit, and stood up to the bull rush in the run game.

- Bruce Arians is going to get someone killed. I starting to wonder whether getting a TE matched up with a DE in pass pro is a bug or a feature of Arians' protection schemes. I get that you have to do something when teams bring inside pressure, but there has to be a better way.

- Ron Wolfley isn't worse than Hitler, but he might be worse than Goebbels. Putting him on TV really plays to his weaknesses. By the end of the game, my wife and I were imitating Wolfley's "color commentary" as the first couplet of various nursery rhymes.

- No, Deone Bucannon isn't going to be able to hang with top TEs one-on-one. He couldn't hang with Kyle Rudolph, who is just a step above Rob Housler on the scale of NFL-quality receiving TEs.

- Hurry back, John Abraham. No pressure whatsoever from the outside linebackers. Really, it's kind of embarrassing. I get that Matt Cassell has some old man wheels, but watching defensive film from this game should not be a comfortable experience.

re Watford: I agree. He is playing with more power than Cooper and seems as athletic. Haven't noticed Fanaika but maybe that is a good thing.

re Deone: I think Rudolph is better than you give him credit for and Norv's offense has always schemed TEs open. That being said, Bucannon has to work on his technique as he is lunging to get his jam which is how Rudolph almost beat him for a TD. I would say that he has the size to matchup though.

re pass rush: It isn't as much OLB as it is our entire LB corps. We have a bunch of Shaughnessy clones and Minter clones on the roster which is nice vs the run but worthless when running down QBs and covering backs and wide receivers. Also, not effective in rushing the passer when the league doesn't call offensive line holding. Next years draft should be heavy on LB's with athleticism as we have none who aren't suspended.

 

[desertdawg]

Here were a couple of my takeaways:

- Earl Watford is a better football player right now than Jonathan Cooper. As bad as Cooper looked last week, Watford looked impressive. It was a more run-oriented game plan, but Watford sought our people to hit, and stood up to the bull rush in the run game.

- Bruce Arians is going to get someone killed. I starting to wonder whether getting a TE matched up with a DE in pass pro is a bug or a feature of Arians' protection schemes. I get that you have to do something when teams bring inside pressure, but there has to be a better way.

- Ron Wolfley isn't worse than Hitler, but he might be worse than Goebbels. Putting him on TV really plays to his weaknesses. By the end of the game, my wife and I were imitating Wolfley's "color commentary" as the first couplet of various nursery rhymes.

- No, Deone Bucannon isn't going to be able to hang with top TEs one-on-one. He couldn't hang with Kyle Rudolph, who is just a step above Rob Housler on the scale of NFL-quality receiving TEs.

- Hurry back, John Abraham. No pressure whatsoever from the outside linebackers. Really, it's kind of embarrassing. I get that Matt Cassell has some old man wheels, but watching defensive film from this game should not be a comfortable experience.

Good stuff vato.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

This year will be addition by subtraction. Good players will be cut to make way for better players. No more scouring the waiver wire to plug holes after the fourth preseason game.

I think we'll be looking for a swing tackle, but considering previous years...

 

[SunsTzu]

How the hell are we lucky enough to have Pasch doing our games? I've wondered that for years!

Pasch is fantastic. I love it when he does Suns games on ESPN, wish he were the full time play-by-play guy for the Suns(when there is no scheduling conflict with the Cards).

 

[THESMEL]

yes we are good and great at some things

We still look 1 dimensional - not 2 that would make us 3 dimensional

I have no doubts about Ellington in his old role, but he aint starting on any other NFCW team. Not for extended time anyhow. I love the guy but we aint got a 1000 yard rusher on this team, maybe Hughes? if we ran more than 1/3 of the time - but we won't.

Honestly I think Mendenhall was more talented than any of them, I hope I'm wrong. but I would be happy with another beat down in a Superbowl- like Denver got last year- should be exciting watching our Cards pass themselves to death.

as good as John Brown looks- The Niners would be stupid to trade Hyde for him, and they chose Hyde directly after Brown. One of my old draft wants was Everson Griffin - we chose Andre Roberts right before him as he dropped. I guess tere is more than one way to skin a Viking.

kind of like the blood eagle on HBO's Vikings last year, cut the ribs down the back , expose the lungs and hang them over the front shoulders- and if you scream you don't get into Valhalla- I'm trying not to scream, but the Superbowl isn't quite Valhalla either.

link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla

IMO we looked great on our first drive. Once again Palmer looked sharp. Brown & Brown look like the real deal.

1st team defense missing some people looked good in the 1st quarter. The last quarter there were many players I didn't know very well and they played like that. Calais is a beast. WR's very good. Running backs a question except for Ellington. We need some guys back on the O line. I hope Honey bear gets to practice some this week.

GBR
40

 

[Chopper0080]

We still look 1 dimensional - not 2 that would make us 3 dimensional

I have no doubts about Ellington in his old role, but he aint starting on any other NFCW team. Not for extended time anyhow. I love the guy but we aint got a 1000 yard rusher on this team, maybe Hughes? if we ran more than 1/3 of the time - but we won't.

Honestly I think Mendenhall was more talented than any of them, I hope I'm wrong. but I would be happy with another beat down in a Superbowl- like Denver got last year- should be exciting watching our Cards pass themselves to death.

as good as John Brown looks- The Niners would be stupid to trade Hyde for him, and they chose Hyde directly after Brown. One of my old draft wants was Everson Griffin - we chose Andre Roberts right before him as he dropped. I guess tere is more than one way to skin a Viking.

kind of like the blood eagle on HBO's Vikings last year, cut the ribs down the back , expose the lungs and hang them over the front shoulders- and if you scream you don't get into Valhalla- I'm trying not to scream, but the Superbowl isn't quite Valhalla either.

link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla

The square root of 4 is 2. Old McDonald had a farm. Massie is from Ole miss, and so is Patrick Willis. I will have the Willis sir. K Swiss tubes.

That is the closest I can come to speaking on your level. you make no sense sir.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I'll just throw it in this thread.… the 9ers have looked downright bad today in their brand new stadium. Broncos are putting a beat down on 1st thru 3rd strings. 24-zip.

Sorry for the short hijack, chopper.

.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

THESMEL..

If we ran EVERY down except ONE (because it was 3rd and 22) I suspect you would still be pissed off that the rock was in the air.

*stupid forward passing rule.. robble robble robble*

 

[NMCard]

kind of like the blood eagle on HBO's Vikings last year, cut the ribs down the back , expose the lungs and hang them over the front shoulders- and if you scream you don't get into Valhalla- I'm trying not to scream, but the Superbowl isn't quite Valhalla either.

link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla

HBO?

 

[Snakester]

One more, I doubt BRadley Sowell makes this team. I believe he had two false start penalties which should seal his fate.

I agree on Okafor, I think he is a player. He is not going to be the answer covering TE's, but is a solid pass rusher and run defender. He also looks the part, I think he used the time during his injury to add some muscle.

Jaron Brown shouldn't be cut. If the Cards think they can't keep him, we should be able to get a pick from someone.

I think Lindley and Feely have been outplayed pretty dramatically. I can't see keeping either of them at this point.

Minter is going to be important this year. The defense looks a lot better with him out there. I think Bishop could be OK, but he looked a little out of synch out there.

If McCann gets serious playing time at corner, the Cards will be getting torched.

I would like to see a little more from Buchannon, but the Cards are asking him to do a ton. Did I see him at LB out there?

Drew Stanton is one of the better backups in the league. I hope he doesn't have to play this year, but I certainly have more confidence this year than many others in the Cards backup.

Agree on all counts. I hope Buchannan doesn't start until mid season. I think he needs some time to get the defense down before he starts. I'm hoping Bishop turns out to be the player he used to be and wins the other starting job over Foote.

 

[Mulli]

The square root of 4 is 2. Old McDonald had a farm. Massie is from Ole miss, and so is Patrick Willis. I will have the Willis sir. K Swiss tubes.

That is the closest I can come to speaking on your level. you make no sense sir.

What you talking bout Willis?

 

[Shaggy]

IMO we looked great on our first drive. Once again Palmer looked sharp. Brown & Brown look like the real deal.

1st team defense missing some people looked good in the 1st quarter. The last quarter there were many players I didn't know very well and they played like that. Calais is a beast. WR's very good. Running backs a question except for Ellington. We need some guys back on the O line. I hope Honey bear gets to practice some this week.

GBR
40

There were 2 passes that Palmer threw that reminded me of him in the beginning of last year. He tried to again force the ball into Fitz when he was double covered. The other when he was under pressure and he tossed up a ball to the left when he should have just taken the sack that anyone could have caught. Luckily those 2 weren't intercepted but it seems he hasn't fully got rid of his INT demons.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There were 2 passes that Palmer threw that reminded me of him in the beginning of last year. He tried to again force the ball into Fitz when he was double covered. The other when he was under pressure and he tossed up a ball to the left when he should have just taken the sack that anyone could have caught. Luckily those 2 weren't intercepted but it seems he hasn't fully got rid of his INT demons.

Kurt Warner made a living throwing to Fitz in double coverage. When you have a receiver like that, you at least want to take some shots in preseason to see if the old magic is still there.

 

[AzStevenCal]

There were 2 passes that Palmer threw that reminded me of him in the beginning of last year. He tried to again force the ball into Fitz when he was double covered. The other when he was under pressure and he tossed up a ball to the left when he should have just taken the sack that anyone could have caught. Luckily those 2 weren't intercepted but it seems he hasn't fully got rid of his INT demons.

I have no problem with the pass to Fitz. He doesn't get much separation and you know he'll fight to keep the ball from being intercepted. The other pass you're talking about, well, that's the price of having Carson Palmer. We got him cheap for a reason, he has some flaws. Most noticeably, he does not do well under pressure.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

Great first drive by the O. Wasn't crazy that the 1st team D struggled against a pretty awful collection of first teamers on Minny. And it looks like we still can't cover the TE to save our lives.

Biggest concern? A total lack of speed by our LBers. And the O-line outside of that first drive looked pretty suspect.

 

[Mulli]

I learned the preseason is VERY important. :/

 

[Cheesebeef]

Oh... and Jaron Brown looked like a nice late round pick as well. Would have liked to see him break his first one all the way, but it was a really nice fight and RAC and the play where he went up for the jump ball was pretty sweet.

 

[PACardsFan]

Great first drive by the O. Wasn't crazy that the 1st team D struggled against a pretty awful collection of first teamers on Minny. And it looks like we still can't cover the TE to save our lives.

Biggest concern? A total lack of speed by our LBers. And the O-line outside of that first drive looked pretty suspect.

Agree 100% in regards to our lack of speed at the LB position. DWeed really screwed us over. There's no replacing a guy like that. Dansby can be replaced, DWeed can't. God help us against the Niners & Seahawks. Their QB's will run for over 100 yards against us

 

[Buckybird]

Biggest concern? A total lack of speed by our LBers. And the O-line outside of that first drive looked pretty suspect.

Not only is it gonna affect us in defending the pass, it's gonna affect us blitzing especially since we did that on 50% of the time on pass plays last year. IMO Minter & Foote aren't even close to the duo of the 2 former #58s.

If the blitz packages can't get to the QB, Bowles may elect for more zones which IMO isn't the strong suit of PP & Crow. I'm concerned we ain't gonna be a top 10 D. The loss of those 2 guys dramatically affect what we do

 

[Shaggy]

Kurt Warner made a living throwing to Fitz in double coverage. When you have a receiver like that, you at least want to take some shots in preseason to see if the old magic is still there.

I have no problem with the pass to Fitz. He doesn't get much separation and you know he'll fight to keep the ball from being intercepted. The other pass you're talking about, well, that's the price of having Carson Palmer. We got him cheap for a reason, he has some flaws. Most noticeably, he does not do well under pressure.

Steve

As long as they are ahead of him like that one was, I will be happy. Didn't Palmer get horse collared on that play where he threw it up the air that anyone could have caught?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Not only is it gonna affect us in defending the pass, it's gonna affect us blitzing especially since we did that on 50% of the time on pass plays last year. IMO Minter & Foote aren't even close to the duo of the 2 former #58s.

If the blitz packages can't get to the QB, Bowles may elect for more zones which IMO isn't the strong suit of PP & Crow. I'm concerned we ain't gonna be a top 10 D. The loss of those 2 guys dramatically affect what we do

I don't mean to sound like the sky is falling but until Tyrann is back and up to speed, I think the PFF ranking on our defense is pretty accurate. With Tyrann, we might be top 15 but I don't think our defense is in the top 20 to start the season. Fortunately, I think PFF was way off on our offense. Even if we don't completely fix our O Line issues I think we have a chance to be a top 10 offense.

Steve

 

[Brian]

I don't mean to sound like the sky is falling but until Tyrann is back and up to speed, I think the PFF ranking on our defense is pretty accurate. With Tyrann, we might be top 15 but I don't think our defense is in the top 20 to start the season. Fortunately, I think PFF was way off on our offense. Even if we don't completely fix our O Line issues I think we have a chance to be a top 10 offense.

Steve

Agree. I'd also add a healthy Ta'amu to that. Late in the season when he and Dan were lined up side by side that line didn't move. He was a big help in the run D imo.

 

[THESMEL]

come on man

I'm just saying more balanced game planning and play calling, if you can't see it in the game try the play by play link below. seemed like many passes in a row then many runs in a row. I like the forward pass enough, but to maximize it-a coach can't telegraph his intent. yea it is preseason but regular season is the same **** but stinkier.

link
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/playbyplay/NFL_20140816_ARI@MIN

THESMEL..

If we ran EVERY down except ONE (because it was 3rd and 22) I suspect you would still be pissed off that the rock was in the air.

*stupid forward passing rule.. robble robble robble*