While You're Jumping Off the BA Bandwagon

[Harry]

be careful not to get run over by one of the wheels. If I had a dollar for every time I've seen a good coach have a bad year, I'd be spending Christmas on the Riviera. Try to keep in mind except for running someone else's team for a year in Indy, this is his first NFL head coaching job. He looked pretty good when he was winning. Also keep in mind this is Keim's first rodeo and it shows.

Let's look at Keim first. Taking the bargain basement route for a long snapper probably cost BA 2 games. Keim also figured he could make do with one of those last minute, prove your value deals to fill the second corner slot. He couldn't. Hard to quantify what that cost, but those completions certainly demoralized the team BA had to coach. After he signed Mathis, I kept expecting Keim to sign a versatile, veteran lineman, but again he took practice squad guys. Look at the line BA has to make work. Finally he predicated his roster on guys with an injury history being healthy. Mathis, TM, Niklas and Bethel made far more modest contributions than Keim expect. This left BA with holes everywhere. Now you may think I'm off the Keim bandwagon. Actually nothing could be further from my opinion. I think he's learning what works and doesn't work. He's not afraid to go out of the box. I think he has a great future and needs to be allowed to grow in the job. Just think about his predecessors and you'll see why I think that.

Now for BA. It's hard to separate loyalty and stubbornness. He certainly exhibits both. However, despite his love for the deep pass, he's turned more to the running game in several recent contests. He can adapt. As to his selection of Betcher, I like the choice. He's let Bettcher run his own show and for the most part the defense has been solid. Seattle beats the Pats then loses to the Bucs. Virtually no one plays good every week. This is a tough league. I'm interested to see what BA can do with a fresh lineup. It will likely take a couple of years, but his history suggests he can deliver a QBOTF. BA does need to get real about special teams. Jones must go, though again Keim could help by drafting a return man. Whether Palmer stays or goes, there will be much work to do. I think BA has earned the right to build the new offense. Compared to other AZ coaches I've seen he is light years ahead of the others. Let's just accept that this was a perfect storm in reverse this year and move forward with the best available staff.

 

[speedy]

Great write up Harry.

I believe solid franchises are built on commitment. BASK are proven winners; their first 3 years are unprecedented in Cardinal history. I think they may even be unprecedented in the history of the league, but you'd be a better judge of that than I.

This year has sucked and hasn't been a whole lot of fun, but I don't believe for a second we made the wrong decision for our GM and coach. These guys deserve the benefit of a doubt as well as a couple years to get things put back in place.

 

[Cardiac]

Great post Harry. It's hard for long term Cards fans to see the positives and put the negatives in the proper light because for decades the Cards have sucked far more than been good. Also when the Cards were good it took little time for them to suck again.

Point being many years with little positive and tons of punches to the guts makes it tough to truly believe that the Cards are run poorly or simply snake bit and will never get from under the Pottsville curse.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

Great perspective Harry, couldn't agree more on every count!

 

[Reign Blood]

Very cool Harry. Now let's skin some skins!

 

[az jam]

Good writeup Harry. I'm on the bandwagon favoring BA & SK but realize that mistakes can and are made by each. BA's biggest problem is too much loyalty to coaches and certain players. He has a hard time making the tough personal decisions to fire or get rid of a coach/player. Hopefully at the end of the season, he will make the right moves on his coaching staff especially Amos Jones. He has to go.

 

[cardpa]

If there is one area where BA may lack, it's in the area of developing leadership of the players. When I say this I mean I believe his first 3 years at the helm he was fortunate to have players who grabbed the leadership role, took the reins and ran with it. I am starting to believe that this year, he had expectations of certain players fulfilling these roles and it hasn't materialized. If you look at the recent statements made by BA, HB, etc. you realize that the expected leaders did not take those reins and fill the roles of leaders. This is why BA stated that maybe some of the younger guys will step up. I think this caught BA by surprise as he never had to worry about this area on the team, it just naturally happened. Now he is kind of lost on how to get or find solid leaders that other players will respect and follow.

In my 20+ years of coaching experience, sometimes you have to develop leaders and I don't think BA ever considered that he would have to do that. Now I believe he really doesn't have any good ideas on how to fix it. Good leadership is such an invaluable asset of any team. Teams can easily flounder without good leadership and it's pretty apparent this has happened of this team. As a leader you have to be willing to not be liked by everyone but you do have to command respect and hold others accountable.

 

[Mitch]

What concerns me the most about BA is his overall offensive philosophy. He doesn't do nearly enough to protect the QB. And he doesn't do enough to protect his prize RB, like having a FB take out the first sign of penetration or having him iso on the opponent's best ILB. In addition, there is no reason for his offense to be so utterly complex that even veteran players have trouble getting on the same page.

I would love to see BA bring in Norv Turner or an OC with a good track record. While BA loves to call the plays---which is perfectly understandable---with as much energy and effort as he puts into arguing with the refs, it is hurting him and the team as a play caller. Moreover, he can't put as much time and focus into the running the offense when he has to oversee the entire team and coaching staff.

 

[Mitch]

If there is one area where BA may lack, it's in the area of developing leadership of the players. When I say this I mean I believe his first 3 years at the helm he was fortunate to have players who grabbed the leadership role, took the reins and ran with it. I am starting to believe that this year, he had expectations of certain players fulfilling these roles and it hasn't materialized. If you look at the recent statements made by BA, HB, etc. you realize that the expected leaders did not take those reins and fill the roles of leaders. This is why BA stated that maybe some of the younger guys will step up. I think this caught BA by surprise as he never had to worry about this area on the team, it just naturally happened. Now he is kind of lost on how to get or find solid leaders that other players will respect and follow.

In my 20+ years of coaching experience, sometimes you have to develop leaders and I don't think BA ever considered that he would have to do that. Now I believe he really doesn't have any good ideas on how to fix it. Good leadership is such an invaluable asset of any team. Teams can easily flounder without good leadership and it's pretty apparent this has happened of this team. As a leader you have to be willing to not be liked by everyone but you do have to command respect and hold others accountable.

Great post, PA. In my opinion, BA has become a victim of his own double standards. Some of his players repeatedly shy away from contact and play like they are afraid of getting hurt---at times to the point of embarrassment. Leaders channel their inner fears and turn them into positive energy and determination---and true leaders, by their actions and words, inspire their teammates to do the same.

BA expects the players to hold themselves to high standards---but in reality it is the head coach who must insist on maintaining the highest standards. Thus, every time his punter flubs another punt, his kickoff returner takes a dive at the 12 yard like, his CB makes zero effort to tackle a WR on his way to the end zone---BA's credibility suffers. Why? Because he lets them do it all over again next week without any repercussions. This is how a HC starts to lose a locker room.

 

[Stout]

Well said, Harry. I'm highly critical of BASK this season--for good reason, of course--but I'm not off their bandwagon. Now, if Keim makes the same boneheaded mistakes next year as he did this year and in much of his draft history, I'll be calling for his head. GMs can quickly run your franchise into the ground, and two bad offseasons in a row, with a poor draft history overall, would be enough. Arians may or may not be on a hot seat after next year. He's shown some alarming tendencies this season. Let's see if he can change that up.

Like you said, this is a learning process for both of them. If Keim doesn't take a project with his 1st-round pick, has an acclaimed draft, and we think we do well in FA, I won't crucify him if it falls apart. If BA shows he's learned from his mistakes, I may not want to run him out of town on a rail if we fail next season. We'll see.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

GREAT post, Harry! As I've said before, this Cardinals mgmt. team will NOT accept losing. ...And therein lies HOPE! Very few teams are GREAT every year...but great teams DO compete every year and make me eagerly look forward to Sundays. I expect roster "changes" going forward but NOT mgmt. changes.

Have a GREAT Sunday, everyone.

Mark

 

[slanidrac16]

The biggest problem with this team is on offense. Red Zone, turnovers and overall lack of scoring has put some glaring shortcomings under a microscope such as special teams.
If we were scoring points like we were last year we can easily assume our w/l record at worse would be flipped.
I know how we'd all like that 2nd CB or better inside LB's and so would I, however, we have only allowed 228 points as a team. Take away int's , fumbles, ko returns we would be sub 200 points allowed and thats not even taken in to account how terrible our special teams and turnovers have failed to ever flip field position.
Our o-line has failed but not for a lack of trying to make it better.

We scored 489 points last year! That's 30 points a game my friends. This year? A tad over 22 PPG. In todays NFL you need to score points. That's the way the game is being played AND reffereed.

 

[Stout]

The #2 CB fiasco, which is on both Keim and Arians, directly cost us the first game. Had the position been properly addressed, the game doesn't come down to the FG at the end.

 

[ajcardfan]

He might retire. Personally, I feel he doesn't want to end on a season like this. But, LaCanfora says he will think about is seriously due to his health. I hope he takes one more run at it,

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/c...s-believe-hell-weigh-retirement-after-season/

 

[football karma]

i don't think you win 30+ games over three seasons by luck or by accident. 10 wins in one year can be the result of whacky NFL randomness -- but not three years in a row

I think at the beginning of training camp if you picked two positions where depth wasn't good -- I think you would identify CB and offensive line, especially tackle.

That's exactly where they have had injury issues- especially o-line: Veldheer, Iupati, Mathis, Watford all have missed time. This is a real problem for this type of offense-- where it isn't Russel Wilson making quick throws, or, running around and making something out of nothing. That lack of depth is on Keim where a Jake Long was out there needing a job ( proviso: we have no idea if Long was waiting for a starting job to open, $ asked for, etc)

I also recognize that as a team matures salary cap wise -- you have to take some risks and hope a group stays healthy because the $ become tight.

All that being said, If anybody has earned the benefit of the doubt, it's the BASk duo.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

The #2 CB fiasco, which is on both Keim and Arians, directly cost us the first game. Had the position been properly addressed, the game doesn't come down to the FG at the end.

I think the lack of a veteran OL was a bigger oversight - although we did go cheap on the CB2, we brought in a ton of players, and almost all the vets we brought in either weren't good enough or got injured, plus Bethel never recovered from his foot injury. I don't think we ever brought in a backup tackle with a serious intent to sign them.

 

[cardpa]

Great post, PA. In my opinion, BA has become a victim of his own double standards. Some of his players repeatedly shy away from contact and play like they are afraid of getting hurt---at times to the point of embarrassment. Leaders channel their inner fears and turn them into positive energy and determination---and true leaders, by their actions and words, inspire their teammates to do the same.

BA expects the players to hold themselves to high standards---but in reality it is the head coach who must insist on maintaining the highest standards. Thus, every time his punter flubs another punt, his kickoff returner takes a dive at the 12 yard like, his CB makes zero effort to tackle a WR on his way to the end zone---BA's credibility suffers. Why? Because he lets them do it all over again next week without any repercussions. This is how a HC starts to lose a locker room.

The Steelers didn't keep Troy Palamalu because he was a high caliber player right to the end of his career. They kept him because of the leadership he provided not only to the defense but to the entire team. They were willing to cover his declining abilities because they understood what he meant as a leader. This is what Rashad Johnson provided to the Cardinals and probably one or two other guys they let go this past training camp. Sometimes you have to weigh the physical ability against the leadership abilities to balance out your team.

It would be most interesting to know how team meetings are handled and if there are any what I will call untouchables on the team that BA never calls out no matter how poorly they played or how bad their effort was in a game. Does BA call out players in these meetings? There is a lot we don't know. Your point on double standards has merit. If you see a guy who would have trouble winning a punter's position on a DII college team keeps punting poorly on an NFL team as a player you just might start to wonder how committed your coach is to winning or seeing a player week after week give poor effort in tackling or half heartedly running out pass routes, these things will weigh on players minds and they start to ask themselves why do I keep trying so hard when everyone isn't on the same page.

BA deserves much credit for getting this team where they are however he needs to take a step back and examine how he can be a better coach and where improvements can be made on the staff. Every so often you need to self evaluate or you get stuck in a rut and think everything else is at fault for the team's woes when you yourself has also contributed to them.

 

[daves]

That lack of depth is on Keim where a Jake Long was out there needing a job

Nobody wanted Long until mid way through the season - then he played 4 games for the Vikings before tearing an achilles.

...dbs

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

be careful not to get run over by one of the wheels. If I had a dollar for every time I've seen a good coach have a bad year, I'd be spending Christmas on the Riviera. Try to keep in mind except for running someone else's team for a year in Indy, this is his first NFL head coaching job. He looked pretty good when he was winning. Also keep in mind this is Keim's first rodeo and it shows.

Let's look at Keim first. Taking the bargain basement route for a long snapper probably cost BA 2 games. Keim also figured he could make do with one of those last minute, prove your value deals to fill the second corner slot. He couldn't. Hard to quantify what that cost, but those completions certainly demoralized the team BA had to coach. After he signed Mathis, I kept expecting Keim to sign a versatile, veteran lineman, but again he took practice squad guys. Look at the line BA has to make work. Finally he predicated his roster on guys with an injury history being healthy. Mathis, TM, Niklas and Bethel made far more modest contributions than Keim expect. This left BA with holes everywhere. Now you may think I'm off the Keim bandwagon. Actually nothing could be further from my opinion. I think he's learning what works and doesn't work. He's not afraid to go out of the box. I think he has a great future and needs to be allowed to grow in the job. Just think about his predecessors and you'll see why I think that.

Now for BA. It's hard to separate loyalty and stubbornness. He certainly exhibits both. However, despite his love for the deep pass, he's turned more to the running game in several recent contests. He can adapt. As to his selection of Betcher, I like the choice. He's let Bettcher run his own show and for the most part the defense has been solid. Seattle beats the Pats then loses to the Bucs. Virtually no one plays good every week. This is a tough league. I'm interested to see what BA can do with a fresh lineup. It will likely take a couple of years, but his history suggests he can deliver a QBOTF. BA does need to get real about special teams. Jones must go, though again Keim could help by drafting a return man. Whether Palmer stays or goes, there will be much work to do. I think BA has earned the right to build the new offense. Compared to other AZ coaches I've seen he is light years ahead of the others. Let's just accept that this was a perfect storm in reverse this year and move forward with the best available staff.

I just remember back in the day when Trestman refused to throw downfield. These are the glory years, in my opinion. I'm having the time of my life watching these Cardinals. It almost feels like, Air...what's his name...

 

[Garthshort]

When speaking about BA, Harry mentions loyalty and stubbornness (great BA description). So when it comes to Amos Jones, I doubt that he will be fired. The best we can hope for is a staff reassignment. And no matter who is the ST coach, he will need players who can actually play ST's. And that includes a punter.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Let's look at Keim first. Taking the bargain basement route for a long snapper probably cost BA 2 games. Keim also figured he could make do with one of those last minute, prove your value deals to fill the second corner slot. He couldn't. Hard to quantify what that cost, but those completions certainly demoralized the team BA had to coach. After he signed Mathis, I kept expecting Keim to sign a versatile, veteran lineman, but again he took practice squad guys. Look at the line BA has to make work. Finally he predicated his roster on guys with an injury history being healthy. Mathis, TM, Niklas and Bethel made far more modest contributions than Keim expect. This left BA with holes everywhere. Now you may think I'm off the Keim bandwagon. Actually nothing could be further from my opinion. I think he's learning what works and doesn't work. He's not afraid to go out of the box. I think he has a great future and needs to be allowed to grow in the job. Just think about his predecessors and you'll see why I think that.

+1

I keep hearing from the general sports world that "The Cardinals have the same team as last year"

Not really, not really at all at the start of the year, and now? Not even close.

This is a very different team this year, any carry over from last season was exactly that, carry over from last season, without Mathieu, a potential defensive player of the year, not out there.

Don't think that matters ? Watch the Seahawks from here on out without Earl Thomas, yes, they will still be a great defense, just like the Cardinals are, but they won't be the same.

 

[blindseyed]

Just as a side note Bill Bilichick had only 1 winning season in Cleveland, he had a total record of 36-44, in NE his 1st and 3rd seasons he went 5-11 and only 9-7 , I'm not saying BA is the same as Bilichick it's just interesting to see how coaches progress (and sometimes digress)

 

[Stout]

When speaking about BA, Harry mentions loyalty and stubbornness (great BA description). So when it comes to Amos Jones, I doubt that he will be fired. The best we can hope for is a staff reassignment. And no matter who is the ST coach, he will need players who can actually play ST's. And that includes a punter.

Now, if Amos Jones survives, I will start badmouthing BA in earnest, and pin some of the blame on Keim too. There MUST be accountability.

 

[chickenhead]

I'd be willing to bet that most of the fans being critical of Arians still want to see the Cards win the Super Bowl under Arians in particular.