Whisenhunt is a football genius

[Arizona's Finest]

I don't know if I am inherently bias to everything he says, see the NFL through the same Cardinal prism as him, or its just mere coincidence but damn is this not the best breakdown of the two teams you have read?

Just seems like he gets it, and its interesting to pick his brain and see how he views opponents and breaks it down. I pray at the Altar of Wiz so needless to say I agree completely with what this write up.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/02/04/whisenhunt/index.html?eref=sihp

Last year at this time, Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt was guiding his NFC champion Cardinals through their first Super Bowl week in franchise history. This season Whisenhunt's team was one of six to face both the Colts and the Saints -- he went 0-2, including a divisional-round playoff loss at New Orleans -- and he agreed to share his observations of the Super Bowl XLIV matchup with SI.com's Don Banks:​

"If the Colts are to win, obviously the No. 1 thing they've got to handle is the Saints blitz, because New Orleans caused a lot of problems for both us and the Vikings. But some of those problems came because of the Saints having an advantage in their dome with the noise, and being able to get the quick break off the snap. I would expect some of their advantage is going to be equalized by the neutral field.​

"In the Colts favor is the fact their offensive line does a great job with identifying and picking up the blitz, and nobody in the NFL does a better job than Peyton Manning of communicating to his offensive line and getting the protection shifted toward wherever he reads the pressure coming from. I see Peyton, as usual, being able to get the ball out before the rush reaches him, and the Saints won't have as much success getting to him as they had in the first two games of the playoffs against Kurt Warner and Brett Favre.​

"What New Orleans has been able to do so far is bring that one extra guy -- either a linebacker or a safety -- and really create havoc with their pass rush. It's going to come down to the Colts being able to hold that extra guy off long enough to get the pass off, and let Manning hurt them for bringing the blitz. But that's exactly what he's done so well against both the Ravens and the Jets, two teams that play the same type of blitzing, aggressive defense as the Saints.​

"I also think Indy can run on New Orleans, especially when the Colts go to their three-receiver sets or when they flex tight end Dallas Clark out wide like they like to do. That's going to spread the Saints defense out, and that's going to put the onus on the New Orleans run defense, which isn't real good. It's going to be a challenge for the Saints to stop the Colts from running the ball if Indy spreads them out.​

"Indy's defense will struggle at times against Drew Brees. I'm not sure where the Colts pass defense ranks, but defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are not going to get the quick get-off on a grass field, especially if it rains at all, that they usually do at home on turf. That's going to neutralize some of the Colts' pass rush, and help the Saints passing game. Brees is one of the best at getting the ball out quick, and the Saints' receivers do a nice job of catching the ball in tight coverage. The Colts' secondary has to have the ability to stay in coverage on those quick throws that Brees likes, and make the plays on those back-shoulder throws he's so good at. Indy has to at least play it tight after the catch, and limit the Saints' YAC.​

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/02/04/whisenhunt/index.html?eref=sihp#ixzz0ecsXfsqd ​

 

[SeattleCard]

It is indeed good. Whiz is the greatest coach in the NFL if you ask me.

 

[Shane]

I didnt have to read any of that to know he is a football genius.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

I didnt have to read any of that to know he is a football genius.

Hey whatta ya know? +1 with Shane

 

[Perfectionist]

Yea, any coach that got the Cards to the Superbowl has to be the smartest and brightest coach alive!! Resign him now!

 

[cardpa]

Let's face it Whiz has done more with the talent he has than any other coach would have done. The Cardinals have some talent but in no way shape or form do they have as much talent as the Colts, Saints, Vikings, Patriots, Eagles, San Diego, Dallas, Green Bay, Baltimore, Pittsburg and probably a couple of other teams.

The Cardinals may be able to match up with some of these as far as starters are concerned but depth wise all these teams have better depth than the Cardinals therefore they have deeper rosters.

 

[lobo]

It is indeed good. Whiz is the greatest coach in the NFL if you ask me.

if not the best, he is in the family photo....the upcoming year is going to be a major challenge with personnel changes in critical positions as starters....team needs an outstanding draft.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I didn't see anything Earth shattering in that article. He presented good thoughts, but if he were a genius, then he would have done a lot better job against these teams than he did.

That's not saying that Whiz isn't a good coach. He is probably the best we have ever had. If you know what a team is going to do, then you should be more successful in stopping it.

 

[Duckjake]

I didn't see anything Earth shattering in that article. He presented good thoughts, but if he were a genius, then he would have done a lot better job against these teams than he did.

That's not saying that Whiz isn't a good coach. He is probably the best we have ever had. If you know what a team is going to do, then you should be more successful in stopping it.

There was some player on the radio yesterday talking about how the preparation can be perfect but the physical play simply doesn't match up and the team loses.

I still believe our guys simply ran out of gas after the long 20 game '08-'09 season and then another 18 games in '09-'10. Especially considering the number of older players on the roster.

Any coach who could take basically the same players that went 5-11 in 2006 to the Super Bowl two years later has to be a genius. Especially when that team is the Cardinals.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I didn't see anything Earth shattering in that article. He presented good thoughts, but if he were a genius, then he would have done a lot better job against these teams than he did.

That's not saying that Whiz isn't a good coach. He is probably the best we have ever had. If you know what a team is going to do, then you should be more successful in stopping it.

Yes, I fault him - in the game against Indy - for not factoring red zone fumbles, and end zone interceptions into his scheme. A genius would have been better prepared.

All a coach can do is put player's in a position to succeed. He can't make the block, tackle, interception, touchdown catch, etc., and he can't instantly heal the injured.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I didn't see anything Earth shattering in that article. He presented good thoughts, but if he were a genius, then he would have done a lot better job against these teams than he did.

That's not saying that Whiz isn't a good coach. He is probably the best we have ever had. If you know what a team is going to do, then you should be more successful in stopping it.

My point was more the way he broke it down. And it was very much aligned with how I thought, which makes him a genius in my book

 

[Shane]

My point was more the way he broke it down. And it was very much aligned with how I thought, which makes him a genius in my book

So modest.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

So modest.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I didn't see anything Earth shattering in that article. He presented good thoughts, but if he were a genius, then he would have done a lot better job against these teams than he did.

That's not saying that Whiz isn't a good coach. He is probably the best we have ever had. If you know what a team is going to do, then you should be more successful in stopping it.

He knew we had to run against the Saints, and Urban did a great job of making us play from behind.

He knew our secondary needed to play a good game, and 1/2 of it was gone by the first quarter.