What I Saw

[Cheesebeef]

I totally agree with everything that Harry said but I think he also skipped over a key problem area for the Cardinals. Special teams!!!!

Our stellar Special Teams coach is back yet again. So far his crack unit has missed a field goal in every game and managed to average a league low 2.5 yards per punt return. Oh and the Cardinals haven't had a kick return longer than 23 yards yet they still bring it out of the End Zone almost every time.



DREADFUL!!!!!

2.5 yards per return... that's comically inept.

 

[Cardiac]

Let me start by saying in my season preview I said Detroit was 50/50, Indy was a win and Dallas would be a loss. So actually results-wise nothing's changed. However the future looks like my predictions are in jeopardy.

Next I saw one of the greatest performances ever by a veteran receiver. Sadly much like the Super Bowl, Fitz' greatness wasn't enough.

I've been watching football for more than half a century. So I rarely encounter something new. Last night I did. I've never seen a 3 man rush totally humiliate a 5 (at times 6) man defensive line. While you can yell at the players I've got to point my finger at the coaching. Did you see any double-team blocks? I didn't. Rarely was a back kept in to help. Gresham was assigned to single block a rusher a tackle couldn't block. Plays that worked and slowed the rush, like the inside screen to Fitz, weren't repeated. The obvious, admittedly not highly desirable, option of moving Veldheer back to LT and Wetzel to right was never tried. Whether it's the line coach, the OC or BA, this was dereliction of duty by all.

The receivers played well (Fitz unworldly), but again they need to be coached to leave a little more boundary cushion. It was sad with the game on the line they didn't have a short, effective red zone go-to play. That again says as much about the coaches as the players. I was okay with the choice to go for a TD.

Despite Bethel getting beat, he played a fairly good game. TM was undisciplined and displayed poor tackling technique. He must be gotten under control. He's forgotten it's a team game. He did make a great play on Elliot. The run defense overall has been much better than I expected.

The defense as a whole played a solid game and was likely tired in quarter 4. So far Nkemdiche is as useless as I predicted he'd be when drafted. At least with Reddick they drafted a player they didn't have to red shirt.

The Cards' safeties played better, but this is a much weaker safety group than the one they let walk away.

For those of you old enough to remember Simeon Rice, Golden must be déjà vu. Rice has immense talent, but he had a one track mind. Game after game from his DE position he would charge the QB often ignoring ball carriers going the other way. Golden needed to trust the interior of the Cards' defense until he locates the ball. They should test his vision. Mauro was invisible again. Peters had a decent game.

Reddick was okay but like most rookies got pulled out of position. Bynes never saw a pass he could cover.

The tight ends rarely blocked effectively. Gresham is not worth close to $4 mil. Only Keim didn't know that. Of course compared to the rest of the unit, he looks like a Pro Bowler.

Finally there's Palmer. With time to throw I'm confident he beats Dallas. He should have retired for his own safety.

So what's all this mean for the future. Well this isn't a Super Bowl team. It's probably not a playoff team. The defense is good enough to win a few. The offense can handle a few bad defenses. Figure this is about a 7-9 team. The overall league mediocrity works in the Cards' favor. The sad part is they likely won't even be entertaining.

I agree with most it not all of this Harry.

If the Oline play improves then this team can be a playoff team, that unit has been pitiful this season. Hopefully a return of Hump will make a big impact. Not that Wetzel has been horrible but Hump better be an improvement.

I thought that the sack Greshem gave up was more on Veldheer because he went inside to block no one and left Greshem all alone. Greshem looked at Veldheer like he was expecting him to help.

 

[Jetstream Green]

This is what Palmer saw

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[Chopper0080]

Here's the thing: they're not going to play together. Bucannon is gone in a year. He's not a core player; there are tons of too big/slow safeties that you can get in the midrounds of the draft if you really need 'em.

I will disagree with this. Unless there are significant changes to our coaching staff, Buc will be back. He is well liked, he won't cost a ton, and he will be used as a reactionary example of how the Cardinals do try to keep their players around and build through the draft. This is sure to happen after a disappointing year where they let both Tony Jefferson and Calais Campbell walk. More than that, Keim will not let another 1st rounder walk due to not performing to expectations as it reflect poorly on him. Cooper is already a bust and gone. Keim let Bucannon be viewed the same way.

 

[Harry]

I will disagree with this. Unless there are significant changes to our coaching staff, Buc will be back. He is well liked, he won't cost a ton, and he will be used as a reactionary example of how the Cardinals do try to keep their players around and build through the draft. This is sure to happen after a disappointing year where they let both Tony Jefferson and Calais Campbell walk. More than that, Keim will not let another 1st rounder walk due to not performing to expectations as it reflect poorly on him. Cooper is already a bust and gone. Keim let Bucannon be viewed the same way.

I think this depends on 2 factors. First, is Dansby capable of playing another year? Infirmities & health will determine this. Second, if Dansby can't, can Reddick replace Dansby? If not I think Reddick stays in Buc's spot. He's dramatically cheaper and the Cards will have quite a few holes to fill.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think this depends on 2 factors. First, is Dansby capable of playing another year? Infirmities & health will determine this. Second, if Dansby can't, can Reddick replace Dansby? If not I think Reddick stays in Buc's spot. He's dramatically cheaper and the Cards will have quite a few holes to fill.

Harry, I believe that is a very reasonable take. Inf fact, it may be the smart plan. However, ego is a hell of a thing, and Keim's ego is starting to take some hits. From the offensive line, to our awful history of picking in the first round, the Mathieu contract, and then letting Campbell and Jefferson leave...Keim is going to start making decisions to show he is doing things the right way.

Here is a look at Steve Keim's BEST GM moves...

Trading for Carson Palmer (however the extension is now being questioned)
Signing Jared Veldheer (who looks terrible right now, and will be cut next year)
Signing Karlos Dansby (who he then let leave and couldn't replace)
Signing John Abraham (off the roster for years now)
Signing Dwight Freeney (off the roster now)
Extending Fitz
Trading for Chandler Jones
Extending Patrick Peterson
Drafting Tyrann Mathieu (the contract extension now being scrutinized)
Signing Tony Jefferson as an UDFA (then let go to the Ravens)
Drafting John Brown (has been garbage for a year and a half regardless of reason)
Drafting Markus Golden
Drafting David Johnson
Trading for Marcus Cooper (off the roster)

It seems like this is a pretty good list, but when you examine it, very few are expected to be on the roster next year. Only Chandler Jones, Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu (and his bloated contract), Markus Golden, and David Johnson will be. So, the resume will be after 5 offseasons/drafts we will have two OLBs, one CB, one S, and a RB in terms of foundation players, and the S is highly questionable. One offensive piece, and four defensive pieces. Not great.

 

[wit3card]

Our ST has played putrid, the O-line didn't play great, but the playcalling helped Dallas. Our D has to make those tackle, 5 wiffed sacks ... gosh ... TM wiffing on that run ... you can't.

Overall mediocre play and our ST Coach should be at home already for a year. BA is maybe a good coach, but his ST coach, O-line coach and the TE coach aren't. The D-Coordinator is not ready yet. He doesn't adjust, and doesn't give his players the chance to do what they can best.

The run game has to get better, our Offense has to be better else we risk the D gives up momentum.

And we need to be better in the red zone. By far...

Else, we lost to two playoff candidates ... so we now know that we need to win our division for the playoffs. But if this the team wants to go there, they have to figure out ST, O-line and interrior line.

The Run D in the 2nd half was putrid and, Fitz ... on one view, you saw he knew that they were loosing this game alread when it got to 28-17

 

[cardpa]

Go look up the coaching staff, most of it looks like resident files from a nursing home.

 

[cardpa]

Stats so far this season.

Calais Campbell
Total tackles-13
Solo tackles-10
Assist-3
TFL-1
Sacks-4.5
Fumble rec. -1

Robert Nkemdiche
Total tackles-1
Solo tackles-0
Assist-1
TFL-0
Sacks-0
Fumble rec. -0

 

[cardncubfan]

Stats so far this season.

Calais Campbell
Total tackles-13
Solo tackles-10
Assist-3
TFL-1
Sacks-4.5
Fumble rec. -1

Robert Nkemdiche
Total tackles-1
Solo tackles-0
Assist-1
TFL-0
Sacks-0
Fumble rec. -0

Those are Campbells year 9 stats. Look at his first year stats.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Today's game is all about speed to the ball and speed to cover. The days of the rugged two-down Mike LB are pretty much over.

I think this is going to change. Eventually one of these coaches (and football is not rocket science but the coaches sure act like it when they cannot see the obvious and guys cannot execute in a game they have been playing since a teenager) will reach the 'duh' moment and start loading the OL and play physical football with a big back and dare I say a fullback and will rip the lightweight speed oriented defense apart... hence, the thumper will return inside which will be more 4-3 defenses while the perpetual nickel alignments will become extinct till the process starts all over again

 

[cardpa]

Those are Campbells year 9 stats. Look at is first year stats.

Okay, although it was easy to do Nkemdiche's stats for 2016 because they are the same as this year.

Calais Campbell
Total tackles-28
Solo tackles-23
Assist-5
TFL-0
Sacks-0
Fumble rec. -1

Robert Nkemdiche
Total tackles-1
Solo tackles-0
Assist-1
TFL-0
Sacks-0
Fumble rec. -0

 

[kerouac9]

Those are Campbells year 9 stats. Look at his first year stats.

Why? This is Bobby's second year. Calais had 7 sacks in his second year.

 

[cardncubfan]

Why? This is Bobby's second year. Calais had 7 sacks in his second year.

How many games has each played/started? I'm not saying Nkemdiche is all that but comparing #'s of a 2nd year redshirted player to a 9 year vet is comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Cheesebeef]

How many games has each played/started? I'm not saying Nkemdiche is all that but comparing #'s of a 2nd year redshirted player to a 9 year vet is comparing apples to oranges.

Come on cub... they both rode pine in year one, but Campbell actually looked like a player in year two whereas Diche has still struggled to even be healthy and once on the field has been either a ghost or a penalty.

Kid looks like crap right now. Can that change? Sure. But is what it is for now.

 

[kerouac9]

How many games has each played/started? I'm not saying Nkemdiche is all that but comparing #'s of a 2nd year redshirted player to a 9 year vet is comparing apples to oranges.

I guess, but comparing the stats for a 2nd year player with a rookie is not a fair comparison, either. By any measure, Bobby has been a disappointment so far.

From a Cardinals perspective, they made the decision to replace Calais Campbell with Robert Nkemdiche, more Rodney Gunter, and Olson Pierre. Maybe we should add the production of all three of those players together and compare them to 9-year Campbell?

 

[cardncubfan]

I guess, but comparing the stats for a 2nd year player with a rookie is not a fair comparison, either. By any measure, Bobby has been a disappointment so far.

From a Cardinals perspective, they made the decision to replace Calais Campbell with Robert Nkemdiche, more Rodney Gunter, and Olson Pierre. Maybe we should add the production of all three of those players together and compare them to 9-year Campbell?

Well he definitely earns more than the 3 combined.

 

[cardncubfan]

Come on cub... they both rode pine in year one, but Campbell actually looked like a player in year two whereas Diche has still struggled to even be healthy and once on the field has been either a ghost or a penalty.

Kid looks like crap right now. Can that change? Sure. But is what it is for now.

There's still time left for him in year 2. Hopefully the light comes on & stays on.

 

[JeffGollin]

Comparing Nkemdiche to Calais is lke comparing apples to hand-grenades.

Calais is freakishly tall and came in with rare maturity and leadership skils.

Robert isn't as tall and doesn't appear to match Campbell's leadership skills (at least not yet). His forte is quickness whereas Calaais' was length, leverage and smarts.

Their only similarity is that they're asked to play the same position, but they bring different skills (& weaknesses) to the table.