Winning breeds disappointment

[PACardsFan]

I started out expecting 8-9. The Robinson injury and other Dline injury losses hurt more than many realized. As the season progressed I thought the Cards were better than Seattle and 10 wins was possible. I was wrong. 2 losses prove Seattle was better. So much of success in the NFL is about individual matchups. The Seattle teams Dline tackle strength was too much for the Cards. So the Cards will end up about where I expected. I’m satisfied as I believe it’s plausible to achieve significant improvement this off season. I also think the vast majority of Ossenfort’s moves last season were successful. There has been criticism about unmade moves, but I think he wanted to see how the moves he made worked out before committing too much capital in that direction. That may be conservative, but seems logical. He’s new to the job. On the whole, the coaching staff has exceeded expectations. My main criticism of that staff would be WR development. Fundamental skills such as coming back or mirroring the direction of a scrambling QB have not been taught. If taught they are not being enforced. I realize the lack of overall speed condenses the receiving plane, hindering separation. Also Oline weakness has limited pocket time, again impacting deep routes and double moves. These are easily correctable. The Cards need a reliable speed receiver and also acquiring a developmental prospect would seem the needed direction. Still I want a new WR coach. On the whole the Cards seem on the correct path.

100% agree. This is a great post & damn near nails where this team currently stands. Too many on this board either don’t understand or don’t want to understand what MOJG meant when they spoke of creating sustained success. They don’t want a quick trip to the playoffs if it means short term success. We saw that happen under Winner, Coryell, Tobin, Whiz, BA, AND Kingsbury. They took this team down to the DAMN STUDS, and are rebuilding it in a manner where culture, drafting, and development are at the forefront. What we saw in 2024 was a team that beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and lost to the teams that are still better than us. The latter situation will change as we continue on this path of sustained success. This really isn’t rocket science guys. I spent over 30 years in Corporate Sales with FedEx, and sustained success was the main topic of every yearly kickoff meeting. And damn if that approach didn’t ALWAYS work. The Cardinals need to stay the course.

 

[Stout]

100% agree. This is a great post & damn near nails where this team currently stands. Too many on this board either don’t understand or don’t want to understand what MOJG meant when they spoke of creating sustained success. They don’t want a quick trip to the playoffs if it means short term success. We saw that happen under Winner, Coryell, Tobin, Whiz, BA, AND Kingsbury. They took this team down to the DAMN STUDS, and are rebuilding it in a manner where culture, drafting, and development are at the forefront. What we saw in 2024 was a team that beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and lost to the teams that are still better than us. The latter situation will change as we continue on this path of sustained success. This really isn’t rocket science guys. I spent over 30 years in Corporate Sales with FedEx, and sustained success was the main topic of every yearly kickoff meeting. And damn if that approach didn’t ALWAYS work. The Cardinals need to stay the course.

This isn't rocket science, no. A quick trip to the playoffs is not some magical bar to long-term success. In fact, culturally speaking, reaching the playoffs before you think you're supposed to would be good for the culture. It would help promote a culture of winning.

 

[PDXChris]

I think some of the disappointment comes from it being week 15. Anyone who drafted Kyler or Marv to their fantasy team just got booted from the playoffs

I sat MHJ, started Kyler and Trey and I'm on pace to win by a solid margin! Thankfully my opponent started Prudy for some reason.

 

[vince56]

I’ve watched professional sports for over 30 years now, and one thing that rings true in most leagues, especially leagues with under 20 games played - good teams do not lose 3 in a row.

That slump was destructive. At the same time the fear is Kyler is in his head a bit and is either 22 for 24, or can’t find an open receiver to save his life. He needs a QB whisperer to get him to the next level, or he’s going to be this middling player for a long time with lots of ups and downs.

 

[PACardsFan]

This isn't rocket science, no. A quick trip to the playoffs is not some magical bar to long-term success. In fact, culturally speaking, reaching the playoffs before you think you're supposed to would be good for the culture. It would help promote a culture of winning.

I’m not against making the playoffs, but I am against quick fixes to get there. It’s not good for the culture if you bring in guys that add just enough talent for a year or two to get you over the hump, and into the playoffs, only to lose in the first round. Especially if they don’t possess the “team first” mentality that MOJG wants and needs to create the long term culture they’re striving for.

 

[Shane]

Preseason I went with 6. Nick Rallis has really bailed this team out. If this defense had been playing to it's talent level, we'd be lucky to reach 6 wins.

Or the D is more talented than previously predicted or thought? Our CB room has progressed nicely. The DL has held up overall. The only real issue is outside pass rush. Which must be addressed. The D has been a pleasant surprise as the season has warn on. At what point do you stop saying there is no talent? Coaching only gets you so far. As evidenced by last season(same coach)

 

[Stout]

I’m not against making the playoffs, but I am against quick fixes to get there. It’s not good for the culture if you bring in guys that add just enough talent for a year or two to get you over the hump, and into the playoffs, only to lose in the first round. Especially if they don’t possess the “team first” mentality that MOJG wants and needs to create the long term culture they’re striving for.

Sure. I would not have been a fan of a Keim strategy in the least. Monti showing more gumption in FA would not have been a "quick fix" approach, however, and could have added building blocks to this rebuild.

 

[Shane]

90%? Is that what the preseason poll showed? I recall a lot of people thinking we’d win 7-10 games this season.

Minimum Amount of Wins to Consider 2024 a Successful Season

I don't expect a winning season any more. Unless something totally unexpected happens like winning the next couple of games. Which, we all know has about a 2% chance of happening. I now expect 4 or 5 wins. The usual bad Cardinals season that isn't bad enough to get who we really need in the...

www.arizonasportsfans.com

The poll wasn’t a prediction poll though so that assumption is wrong. The poll clearly says “amount of wins needed to be considered a success” that’s clearly not asking for predictions but a number that would please each individual and make them think the season was a success.

Not the same. So you can’t use that percentage as a barometer in this instance. I didn’t make my choice based off what I thought would happen. I made it based off of what it asked what would make me happy and a success. Based on the wording I’d be surprised if most used this as predictor thread. If they did they didn’t read the poll properly.

 

[Stout]

Or the D is more talented than previously predicted or thought? Our CB room has progressed nicely. The DL has held up overall. The only real issue is outside pass rush. Which must be addressed. The D has been a pleasant surprise as the season has warn on. At what point do you stop saying there is no talent? Coaching only gets you so far. As evidenced by last season(same coach)

No, it's really not. I'm not saying the D has no talent. It has insufficient talent. The DL has not held up--they've done yeoman's work in the run game at times but have given little to nothing in pass rush, which is a big part of the problem. The front 7 overall also lacks sufficient talent. This puts our CBs on an island and forces Baker to make tons of tackles--him having so many tackles looks great individually but speaks volumes to the problems the D is facing. Until and unless we fix the front 7/DL, Rallis is what is holding the D together.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Or the D is more talented than previously predicted or thought? Our CB room has progressed nicely. The DL has held up overall. The only real issue is outside pass rush. Which must be addressed. The D has been a pleasant surprise as the season has warn on. At what point do you stop saying there is no talent? Coaching only gets you so far. As evidenced by last season(same coach)

I’ve been preaching this for about a month now.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Minimum Amount of Wins to Consider 2024 a Successful Season

I don't expect a winning season any more. Unless something totally unexpected happens like winning the next couple of games. Which, we all know has about a 2% chance of happening. I now expect 4 or 5 wins. The usual bad Cardinals season that isn't bad enough to get who we really need in the...

www.arizonasportsfans.com

The poll wasn’t a prediction poll though so that assumption is wrong. The poll clearly says “amount of wins needed to be considered a success” that’s clearly not asking for predictions but a number that would please each individual and make them think the season was a success.

Not the same. So you can’t use that percentage as a barometer in this instance. I didn’t make my choice based off what I thought would happen. I made it based off of what it asked what would make me happy and a success. Based on the wording I’m surprising most used this as predictor thread. If they did they didn’t read the poll properly.

But don’t those two kind of go hand in hand? I think most people approached it with a realistic bent. It may be on the high end of the predictive scale, but it’s not like every said something outrageous like 14-3. So it may be high, but it’s not out to lunch as a measurement (particularly in the absence of anything else).