What Was Once A Strength Is Now A Weakness

[NJCardFan]

Starting in 2011 we started to become one of the more feared defenses in the league. Even in the beginning of last season before the team gave up on Whiz the defense was scary. Now, it has more holes than a golf course. Little to no pass rush and a weak linebacking corp who couldn't cover a tight end even if they were covered in Gorilla glue are slowly making for a long season. At least the defensive backfield is holding their water but this will give eventually. 2 out of the 3 games the opposing tight end was able to look like hall of famers thanks to this defense. Without a rush a defense is nothing. Look at Carolina today. They were in Manning's kitchen all afternoon and look at the end result.

But what is it? The missing D-Wash? No longer having A-Dub's leadership? Bowles' scheme? Why is this defense looking like it did under Bill Davis all of a sudden?

 

[40yearfan]

Starting in 2011 we started to become one of the more feared defenses in the league. Even in the beginning of last season before the team gave up on Whiz the defense was scary. Now, it has more holes than a golf course. Little to no pass rush and a weak linebacking corp who couldn't cover a tight end even if they were covered in Gorilla glue are slowly making for a long season. At least the defensive backfield is holding their water but this will give eventually. 2 out of the 3 games the opposing tight end was able to look like hall of famers thanks to this defense. Without a rush a defense is nothing. Look at Carolina today. They were in Manning's kitchen all afternoon and look at the end result.

But what is it? The missing D-Wash? No longer having A-Dub's leadership? Bowles' scheme? Why is this defense looking like it did under Bill Davis all of a sudden?

Because of Drew Brees and the receivers he has. Our run defense was excellent today until the last part of the 4th quarter when the defense finally wore down. There is a reason New Orleans is 3 and 0.

 

[GatorAZ]

Daryl Washington masks alot of holes. He can cover TE's, tackle sideline-to-sideline and rush the passer. If he doesn't get suspended we're easily 2-1 and probbly 3-1 next week. THAT said we still don't have a dependable pass rush and Bell might be the worst safety in the league. If Mathieu and Minter develop and we can draft a pass-rusher i'd still be very confident in the defense.

 

[Goldfield]

I def miss Hortons D.

 

[O]

The defense isn't the problem!

 

[Duckjake]

The defense isn't the problem!

I agree. The Cards D is on pace to allow 5,493 yards passing this season. I don't see how anyone could think that's a problem.

 

[wagon mound 464]

Because of Drew Brees and the receivers he has.


There is a reason New Orleans is 3 and 0.

Agree! Brees picked apart the Cards D like he was alone in the Candy store,,, after hours

 

[Cardiac]

The Cards did generate a pass rush today but I'm still waving the flag for drafting a speed rusher in Rd 1 this upcoming year.

Having DWash back will help but Graham is going to get a ton of yards and TD's. He may very well be the best TE in the NFL. Plus Bree's is a top 5 QB in this league.

If the pitiful Offense hadn't punted like 10 straight times and given the D a little help their performance would have been much better.

I'll give Bowels through game 8 of this season before I start slamming him and the D.

 

[Totally_Red]

The defense isn't as good as last season, but I have to say it is the offense, and especially the pass blocking by the offensive line, that is holding this team back.

Both tackles played very poorly on Sunday and it's not the first time. They will continue to hold back the offense because the Cardinals do not have receivers who can get open quickly.

How's that for stating the obvious.

 

[slanidrac16]

Sometimes you have to win a game 34-31. We, at this point we ( this offense) are not capable of that.

Was much like last year. Three and out and you put the ball right back in their hands. Can't do that. Had our offense scored a couple of times and got up on them, and we had that opportunity, it would have change things a bit.

We are not a playoff team. We need to see progress thru out the year. If we can hang around .500 ya never know what might happen. We are not going to be playing New Orleans every week.

 

[juza76]

Sometimes you have to win a game 34-31. We, at this point we ( this offense) are not capable of that.

Was much like last year. Three and out and you put the ball right back in their hands. Can't do that. Had our offense scored a couple of times and got up on them, and we had that opportunity, it would have change things a bit.

We are not a playoff team. We need to see progress thru out the year. If we can hang around .500 ya never know what might happen. We are not going to be playing New Orleans every week.

We dont play new Orleans every week but even we dont play detroit every weeks

 

[Duckjake]

We dont play new Orleans every week but even we dont play detroit every weeks

Don't we wish? Detroit. The only team in the NFL the Cardinals have beaten since Sept 30th 2012. 0-13 vs the rest of the league since then. I sure hope we don't make it a one year anniversary next week vs Tampa.

 

[Russ Smith]

Lots of reasons but to me the most obvious is without D Wash our LB's can't cover, and without Rhodes and Wilson our safeties can't cover. our best safety is a rookie, he's a bit overmatched size wise at times, like yesterday on Graham a few times, but he's already by fary our best cover Safety and he tackles. he gambles too much and gets burned, but that's where we are, a rookie is outplaying the 2 guys we selected to replace Rhodes and Wilson.

I assume it's not even possible anymore to get Rhodes back but if it were me I'd sure be trying.

But the problem leaves the middle of the field wide open for TE's, underneath receivers and backs. Then the safeties come up and over the top they go.

 

[Buckybird]

Which is why I wanted Horton as this teams HC!
I really do believe he would've been smart & thorough enough to hire a competent OC to run a successful offense.

 

[Cardiac]

Lots of reasons but to me the most obvious is without D Wash our LB's can't cover, and without Rhodes and Wilson our safeties can't cover. our best safety is a rookie, he's a bit overmatched size wise at times, like yesterday on Graham a few times, but he's already by fary our best cover Safety and he tackles. he gambles too much and gets burned, but that's where we are, a rookie is outplaying the 2 guys we selected to replace Rhodes and Wilson.

I assume it's not even possible anymore to get Rhodes back but if it were me I'd sure be trying.

But the problem leaves the middle of the field wide open for TE's, underneath receivers and backs. Then the safeties come up and over the top they go.

Thanks Russ. I think Rhodes would have at least slowed Graham down. I love me some Honey Badger but he is a rookie and will have some growing pains.

Bring Rhodes back and let Y. Bell play more LB in specialty packages since we lost 2 to IR this past week.

 

[NJCardFan]

What I'm seeing here are the same old problems with this team. Weak offensive line, weak pass rush, suspect linebackers, it's a broken record. It didn't help that after drafting Levi Brown in 2007 Whiz completely ignored the offensive line for the rest of his tenure.