Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
This game scares me because it has several earmarks of your classic letdown game. It’s certainly a must win if the Cards still consider themselves playoff contenders. They certainly have left a lot to be desired in previous must win games.
Another concern is whether Murray can shake off his “poor me” blues? Can he convince his team he’s up for this game and ready to crush the Pats? The Pats worry me because they figure to use two tactics that have historically damaged the Cards. Hunter Henry is a solid weapon at TE and the Cards have yet to figure out how to cover that position. Williams runs the risk of being manhandled. Thompson seemingly can only handled receiver rubs by taking a great circle route to his assigned target of coverage. The Pats will try to stuff Henry down the Cards’ throat. Then there’s the inability to collapse a pocket. The Cards rushers tend to attack wide. Their opponent’s tackles push them behind the QB. With the pocket intact, the QB steps up and throws. Alternatively the QB can step up and run. Maye has run far more in the NFL than he did in college. He has been effective. The Cards struggle to stay in their lanes when rushing, often opening up the middle of the field.
I think the first offensive series for each team is crucial. If Murray displays poise, the Cards should march down the field. If he throws an interception, the Cards may fall apart. On defense if the Cards fail to defend the two concerns I’ve highlighted above, this could be a long afternoon.
Despite some holes in the roster, the Cards have far more talent and impact players than the Pats. If the Cards come into this game focused and ready to play, they should win. If they show up taking the Pats for granted, they may be in for a rude surprise. This will be a good game to assess the coaching staff’s ability to get their team ready to play. They’ve failed in this task recently and that issue can become a fatal flaw.
If they continue to treat Murray like a fragile piece of fine china, the offense may struggle. When he was drafted, admittedly by another staff, the Cards emphasized his elusiveness. Standing still is not elusive. I’ve seen little evidence that Murray’s outstanding abilities extend far beyond this elusiveness. The failure to use this skill has often left the Cards attack pedestrian. At this point in the season surely it’s time to turn Murray loose. If not now, when?
Another concern is whether Murray can shake off his “poor me” blues? Can he convince his team he’s up for this game and ready to crush the Pats? The Pats worry me because they figure to use two tactics that have historically damaged the Cards. Hunter Henry is a solid weapon at TE and the Cards have yet to figure out how to cover that position. Williams runs the risk of being manhandled. Thompson seemingly can only handled receiver rubs by taking a great circle route to his assigned target of coverage. The Pats will try to stuff Henry down the Cards’ throat. Then there’s the inability to collapse a pocket. The Cards rushers tend to attack wide. Their opponent’s tackles push them behind the QB. With the pocket intact, the QB steps up and throws. Alternatively the QB can step up and run. Maye has run far more in the NFL than he did in college. He has been effective. The Cards struggle to stay in their lanes when rushing, often opening up the middle of the field.
I think the first offensive series for each team is crucial. If Murray displays poise, the Cards should march down the field. If he throws an interception, the Cards may fall apart. On defense if the Cards fail to defend the two concerns I’ve highlighted above, this could be a long afternoon.
Despite some holes in the roster, the Cards have far more talent and impact players than the Pats. If the Cards come into this game focused and ready to play, they should win. If they show up taking the Pats for granted, they may be in for a rude surprise. This will be a good game to assess the coaching staff’s ability to get their team ready to play. They’ve failed in this task recently and that issue can become a fatal flaw.
If they continue to treat Murray like a fragile piece of fine china, the offense may struggle. When he was drafted, admittedly by another staff, the Cards emphasized his elusiveness. Standing still is not elusive. I’ve seen little evidence that Murray’s outstanding abilities extend far beyond this elusiveness. The failure to use this skill has often left the Cards attack pedestrian. At this point in the season surely it’s time to turn Murray loose. If not now, when?
