What improvements/adjustments do you expect from the Cards after the bye?

[RobbleRobble]

I would think that job one would be addressing the run-blocking and running game in general. This HAD to be something that the Cards have spent a lot of time working on over the bye.

My thought is that if we can't run the ball this week, its time to abadon all hope with regards to the run game. If we see a stat line of Shipp 16 - 42, and Arrington 5-8, it might be time to stick a fork in the run game.

 

[earthsci]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=62723

 

[clif]

I would hope that we would try more runs to get JJ to the outside. Maybe a toss or screens or something to get him to the edge.

 

[Russ Smith]

I would hope that we would try more runs to get JJ to the outside. Maybe a toss or screens or something to get him to the edge.

One of the weird things for me in this whole season is how JJ has changed from what I saw in college, at least how people say he runs now. I read the Scouts Inc review yesterday (the insider one) and they said something like Shipp can't create on his own, and Arrington keeps trying to bounce EVERYTHING outside and it's just not working with this OL.

The JJ Arrington I saw at Cal got the vast majority of his work BETWEEN the tackles. Sure he busted some long runs outside too but he was not Maurice Drew always trying to bounce outside for the long run. Green talked about it too, bowling ball, runs low, gets in behind blockers and is hard to find and bring down. That's the guy I watched for 2 years at Cal.

now he comes here where we have had constant C problems due to injury, the guards can't run block, and Scouts is saying the problem is JJ is trying to bounce it outside too much?

So seeing Clif's comment gave me hope that I'm not insane and that when I read that Scouts thing the first thing that went through my mind was huh, I'm paying for this? JJ ran very well inside at Cal, he can't here because there are no holes and he's simply not able to make room for himself the way Shipp can running inside. So the obvious thing is either make holes inside, or find ways to get JJ outside, precisely as Clif said.

 

[slanidrac16]

I believe for the most part it has become more and more difficult to consistantly run wide in todays game. Players are much quicker. Seems to me the best rb's are able to flow and then cutback at the precise moment. Thats what allowed Smith to get almost 900 yards last year. His problem is when he did cut back he no longer had the speed to turn it into a 50 yard run.

We would be much better off trying to blast J.J. between the tackles. Sooner or later he will get past the first wave and be able to take advantage of his skills which is his speed.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I believe for the most part it has become more and more difficult to consistantly run wide in todays game. Players are much quicker. Seems to me the best rb's are able to flow and then cutback at the precise moment. Thats what allowed Smith to get almost 900 yards last year. His problem is when he did cut back he no longer had the speed to turn it into a 50 yard run.

We would be much better off trying to blast J.J. between the tackles. Sooner or later he will get past the first wave and be able to take advantage of his skills which is his speed.

I watched s. alexander torch the texans last week. He wasn't running through trucked sized holes. But there was a crack, and, when he got to the LOS, a LB or safety was not squared up to alexander in the hole.

That's it. Alexander did the rest on his own.

To his credit, JJ hasn't hasn't had many opportunities like that.

We have to hope that getting the passing game going will help our running game. By the way, has anybody mentioned that we have the #3 offense in the freaking NFL in terms of yardage per game?

 

[Savage58]

I expect atleast 25 carries by the Cardinals in the game, and atleast 80 yards rushing. If not, I will accuse the Cardinals of collusion, for the sake of betting against themselves in Vegas.

Viva la #1 overall pick!??

 

[RugbyMuffin]

None


AND we lose.

 

[Southpaw]

One of the weird things for me in this whole season is how JJ has changed from what I saw in college, at least how people say he runs now. I read the Scouts Inc review yesterday (the insider one) and they said something like Shipp can't create on his own, and Arrington keeps trying to bounce EVERYTHING outside and it's just not working with this OL.

Russ, you need to forget about what he did in college. That was a spread offense with 5 and 6 dbs and no LBs he was running against. Shipp was a Div. II player who never faced this type of competition. These guys are bad candidates to make the trasnsition. They don't have pro set styles. If it was all about speed , they would just draft track guys.

 

[Compa]

That was a spread offense with 5 and 6 dbs and no LBs he was running against.

Why don't the Cards use more 4 WR sets and let our big WRs block? This should spread the defense and open the field for JJ. If it looks like their looking for the run, QB can audible to a pass play. I guess I'm asking why don't we do what the Colts do?

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ, you need to forget about what he did in college. That was a spread offense with 5 and 6 dbs and no LBs he was running against. Shipp was a Div. II player who never faced this type of competition. These guys are bad candidates to make the trasnsition. They don't have pro set styles. If it was all about speed , they would just draft track guys.

How many Cal games did you see the last 2 years? Cal has led the Pac 10 in rushing the last 2 years and is leading it again this year, teams do not play 6 DB's against Cal(USC did). Cal typically played 1 RB, guess what we typically play 1 RB, 11 of his 24 carries are as the lone setback. After Cal lost much of their WR's last year it wasn't uncommon for teams to play the run against Cal, they knew Rodgers had nobody to throw to. Teams played aggressive, take away the underneath he has nobody to go deep too(Jordan was quite inconsistent had some huge games and some invisible ones). This year they have the WR's, but no QB.

The difference for JJ is he's used to a deeper drop, that's why in the I formation this year he's had his best success(nearly 4 YPC), because he's further from the LOS so he has more time to pick his hole.

Either the Cards have to change, or he has to change, I'm assuming it's easier for him to change than to expect Green to change his system.

 

[Russ Smith]

Why don't the Cards use more 4 WR sets and let our big WRs block? This should spread the defense and open the field for JJ. If it looks like their looking for the run, QB can audible to a pass play. I guess I'm asking why don't we do what the Colts do?

according to Green we do, I haven't seen it much but that's what the intent was and even Rowen apparently has said that's what we want to do. I think the problem is, when your OL stinks, using wide splits leads to a ton of blown up plays from guys shooting the gaps.

 

[Duckjake]

Why don't the Cards use more 4 WR sets and let our big WRs block? This should spread the defense and open the field for JJ. If it looks like their looking for the run, QB can audible to a pass play. I guess I'm asking why don't we do what the Colts do?

I would guess that spreading the defense doesn't help our run game because the D is controlling the LOS with their DLine and one or two LB's. They don't need 7 or 8 in the box to stop the Cards so they have extra guys for pass coverage.

Unless the Cards can change this our passing game is going to get shut down as well.

 

[Redsz]

Remember when Green came in he was talking about the lone RB, 3 WR set as the base offense?

Now we are using 2 TE's and 2 WR's more often than not. And if this new blocking FB has any impact we will see him lined up more too.

 

[BigDavis75]

Remember when Green came in he was talking about the lone RB, 3 WR set as the base offense?

Now we are using 2 TE's and 2 WR's more often than not. And if this new blocking FB has any impact we will see him lined up more too.

Thats due in part to BJs ineffectiveness.