Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. Here it is his 6th year, and only 1 time in his 6 years have we known for sure who the starting QB was going to be come Game 1. And that 1 time took a Super Bowl berth and some embarrassing contract negotiations even to pull that one off.
2. How can any head coach in the NFL screw things up with WR Anquan Boldin?
3. What exactly IS the Whisenhunt offense?
Should we define it by what it NOT is?
a. A smashmouth, committed running attack.
b. A vertical passing game (how many times do Cardinal QBs coached by Whisenhunt throw a pass longer than 25 yards)?
c. A QB friendly offense that even rookies or first year veterans can pick up readily.
d. An offense that spoils the other team's pass rushing pressure through a variety of screens, rollouts, bootlegs, waggles, hot routes, etc.
e. Well defined by the personnel Whisenhunt has brought in---in six years consistently poor tackle play and only one tackle drafted in the first three rounds---in six years still no deep threat WR---how about slot WRs since Boldin?---how about QBs that fit the so-called system?---how about RBs who can run, block and catch (better than average in each case)?
f. A base offense that the team can have just as much success in as the two-minute offense.
g. An offense that does everything it can to protect its QBs---especially if the RDE is a stud and the LT is having a tough time protecting the blind side.
4. But wait, why was Warner so successful in the Whisenhunt offense? Because Warner and Todd Haley ran their own modified offense wherein they scouted the other team and during the week decided where the best mis-matches were and set out to exploit them, and in so many cases knew exactly where and when they were going to throw the ball before the ball was snapped. They also spent time diagramming their own pet plays for each week---which fired up the team and gave it its swag on offense. But, most importantly, they didn't focus the whole passing game on Larry Fitzgerald or to make Larry Fitzgerald happy. In fact, they took the focus OFF of Fitzgerald early in halves in order to exploit the mismatches and attract the attention of the opponents' safeties---and THEN they start throwing it to Fitz. Even Jerhemy Urban was a main receiver in their offense if they saw they felt he could take the man who was guarding him. They made a star out of Steve Breaston within their mismatch schemes.
5. Just the whole way he manipulates the so-called competitions---like this past week. Look---if he wants Kolb to be the starter, fine---say so---stand by it. It's as if Whisenhunt feels like he has to show the world and the fans that he is justified in making his decision.
6. His constant nit-picking is what makes the offense tight as a drum---which is why they are mistake prone by interceptions, fumbles, etc.---because he has them THINKING too much.
7. His constant blaming of someone else---now to the point of calling out names in press-conferneces, or blaming Kolb's injury on the offensive line---the very offensive line that HE didn't build or coach properly.
8. His repeated game and clock management gaffes.
9. Deferring the coin tosses---even in the Hall of Fame Game where it makes absolutely NO sense. Some of you say this is a moot point---but here's my rebuttal. What was Whisenhunt's biggest criticism of John Skelton last year? Slow starts. Well, if you REALLY want to give the QB the optimum chance of getting off to a fast start---you don't FREEZE him on the sidelines if you have the choice. To me this propensity on Whisenhunt's part defines exactly what he is: an over-thinking, passive-aggressive coach---
10. No wonder that's what his teams typically are: over-thinking, passive-aggressive---that is until Ray Horton showed up. We are finally starting to see what it's like to have coach be aggressive-aggressive.
All this said, I think it's remarkable that in 5 years the Cardinals have had only 1 losing season under Whisenhunt. In some ways I am mystified by it, especially last year when I thought that for the past two years the players were throwing in the towel on him.
I might be wrong, but I think Ray Horton and the remarkable resolve of a vastly under-prepared (by Whisenhunt and the coaches) John Skelton were what changed the players' approach.
I think I would like the guy even more if he were a little ingenuous and forthcoming in his press conferences---but he is stone faced and thoroughly disingenuous most of the time.
There's just not a lot of charisma going on there.
But wait, Larry Fitzgerald loves Whisenhunt---so I and anyone else must be a complete buffoon to feel this way. My response to that is, yeah, if the head coach caters his offense around me and my input, yeah, I love the guy.
That's another reason why Whisenhunt's offense is QB unfriendly---the PRESSURE to get the ball to Fitzgerald is intense (in FACT the WHOLE FRANCHISE'S FOCUS ON FITZGERALD IS INTENSE---what, doesn't anyone think Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett and Paris Lenon would want to WIN A RING?
And the thing is about Fitz, as much as I ADORE him myself and wish they could throw to him every play, he quite frankly is not fast enough to beat double teams---which is EXACTLY why Warner and Haley focused the whole thing on mismatches and took them when they could get them from Fitz.
What I wish for in a head coach who oversees the offense:
1. An offense that takes what it is given and adapts to and has answers to pressure.
2. An offense that's plays to win---not in fear of losing or making mistakes.
3. A spirit and good sense of swag from the players on the field.
4. A sense of how to build it through personnel moves.
5. A coach and organization that reacts swiftly and promptly to setbacks---has there been any new tackle acquired yet? It's been 10 days since Levi was injured.
6. A coach who won't say something as inane as "the lopsided losses are easier to take---I just get made for a day and forget about it."
7. A coach who gets excited very now and then---one who can show true emotions---one who can fire players and fans up.
8. A coach whose play-calling is unpredictable and catered to how best to attack the given opponent.
9. A coach who won't seem vindictive or play head games with the players.
10. A coach who knows what it takes to keep his players motivated.
I know I know---call me a buffoon---remind me once again that I just wasted an hour writing this blog---on top of all the countless hours I've wasted stewing over this guy---I know, I know---we've seen far worse coaches, haven't we?
But, still---now is now and the same old same old is getting so annoying I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE!
2. How can any head coach in the NFL screw things up with WR Anquan Boldin?
3. What exactly IS the Whisenhunt offense?
Should we define it by what it NOT is?
a. A smashmouth, committed running attack.
b. A vertical passing game (how many times do Cardinal QBs coached by Whisenhunt throw a pass longer than 25 yards)?
c. A QB friendly offense that even rookies or first year veterans can pick up readily.
d. An offense that spoils the other team's pass rushing pressure through a variety of screens, rollouts, bootlegs, waggles, hot routes, etc.
e. Well defined by the personnel Whisenhunt has brought in---in six years consistently poor tackle play and only one tackle drafted in the first three rounds---in six years still no deep threat WR---how about slot WRs since Boldin?---how about QBs that fit the so-called system?---how about RBs who can run, block and catch (better than average in each case)?
f. A base offense that the team can have just as much success in as the two-minute offense.
g. An offense that does everything it can to protect its QBs---especially if the RDE is a stud and the LT is having a tough time protecting the blind side.
4. But wait, why was Warner so successful in the Whisenhunt offense? Because Warner and Todd Haley ran their own modified offense wherein they scouted the other team and during the week decided where the best mis-matches were and set out to exploit them, and in so many cases knew exactly where and when they were going to throw the ball before the ball was snapped. They also spent time diagramming their own pet plays for each week---which fired up the team and gave it its swag on offense. But, most importantly, they didn't focus the whole passing game on Larry Fitzgerald or to make Larry Fitzgerald happy. In fact, they took the focus OFF of Fitzgerald early in halves in order to exploit the mismatches and attract the attention of the opponents' safeties---and THEN they start throwing it to Fitz. Even Jerhemy Urban was a main receiver in their offense if they saw they felt he could take the man who was guarding him. They made a star out of Steve Breaston within their mismatch schemes.
5. Just the whole way he manipulates the so-called competitions---like this past week. Look---if he wants Kolb to be the starter, fine---say so---stand by it. It's as if Whisenhunt feels like he has to show the world and the fans that he is justified in making his decision.
6. His constant nit-picking is what makes the offense tight as a drum---which is why they are mistake prone by interceptions, fumbles, etc.---because he has them THINKING too much.
7. His constant blaming of someone else---now to the point of calling out names in press-conferneces, or blaming Kolb's injury on the offensive line---the very offensive line that HE didn't build or coach properly.
8. His repeated game and clock management gaffes.
9. Deferring the coin tosses---even in the Hall of Fame Game where it makes absolutely NO sense. Some of you say this is a moot point---but here's my rebuttal. What was Whisenhunt's biggest criticism of John Skelton last year? Slow starts. Well, if you REALLY want to give the QB the optimum chance of getting off to a fast start---you don't FREEZE him on the sidelines if you have the choice. To me this propensity on Whisenhunt's part defines exactly what he is: an over-thinking, passive-aggressive coach---
10. No wonder that's what his teams typically are: over-thinking, passive-aggressive---that is until Ray Horton showed up. We are finally starting to see what it's like to have coach be aggressive-aggressive.
All this said, I think it's remarkable that in 5 years the Cardinals have had only 1 losing season under Whisenhunt. In some ways I am mystified by it, especially last year when I thought that for the past two years the players were throwing in the towel on him.
I might be wrong, but I think Ray Horton and the remarkable resolve of a vastly under-prepared (by Whisenhunt and the coaches) John Skelton were what changed the players' approach.
I think I would like the guy even more if he were a little ingenuous and forthcoming in his press conferences---but he is stone faced and thoroughly disingenuous most of the time.
There's just not a lot of charisma going on there.
But wait, Larry Fitzgerald loves Whisenhunt---so I and anyone else must be a complete buffoon to feel this way. My response to that is, yeah, if the head coach caters his offense around me and my input, yeah, I love the guy.
That's another reason why Whisenhunt's offense is QB unfriendly---the PRESSURE to get the ball to Fitzgerald is intense (in FACT the WHOLE FRANCHISE'S FOCUS ON FITZGERALD IS INTENSE---what, doesn't anyone think Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett and Paris Lenon would want to WIN A RING?
And the thing is about Fitz, as much as I ADORE him myself and wish they could throw to him every play, he quite frankly is not fast enough to beat double teams---which is EXACTLY why Warner and Haley focused the whole thing on mismatches and took them when they could get them from Fitz.
What I wish for in a head coach who oversees the offense:
1. An offense that takes what it is given and adapts to and has answers to pressure.
2. An offense that's plays to win---not in fear of losing or making mistakes.
3. A spirit and good sense of swag from the players on the field.
4. A sense of how to build it through personnel moves.
5. A coach and organization that reacts swiftly and promptly to setbacks---has there been any new tackle acquired yet? It's been 10 days since Levi was injured.
6. A coach who won't say something as inane as "the lopsided losses are easier to take---I just get made for a day and forget about it."
7. A coach who gets excited very now and then---one who can show true emotions---one who can fire players and fans up.
8. A coach whose play-calling is unpredictable and catered to how best to attack the given opponent.
9. A coach who won't seem vindictive or play head games with the players.
10. A coach who knows what it takes to keep his players motivated.
I know I know---call me a buffoon---remind me once again that I just wasted an hour writing this blog---on top of all the countless hours I've wasted stewing over this guy---I know, I know---we've seen far worse coaches, haven't we?
But, still---now is now and the same old same old is getting so annoying I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE!
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5/5
