Who Let the Cards Out? Chirp, Chirp, Chirp, Chirp!

December 2, 2007 by Walter Mitchell

 The Cardinals have atoned for last week’s disappointment, by earning a hard-fought must win versus the Cleveland Browns, 27-21. This win puts the Cardinals right in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race. As of right now the Redbirds are tied at 6-6 with the Lions and Vikings for the #6 spot…with the Vikings holding the edge with a 4-5 conference record. The Cardinals’ NFC record is 3-5. One would think that if the Cardinals could win one of the next two road games and sweep the last two at home, they would most likely earn their first playoff berth since 1998.

Position Analysis:

QB/TE/WR: Kurt Warner (18-30, 169, 2 TDs, 1 int) was very effective in this game—a game that featured the running attack. Warner used some nifty footwork to find Leonard Pope (2/14, 1 TD) for a 5 yard TD and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Then, in a 14-10 game late in the third quarter, Warner threw a perfect strike to Pope again on first and goal from the two, only Pope dropped the ball. Then on third down, Warner threw a perfect fade pass to Bryant Johnson (6/56, 1 TD), to provide the Cardinals with a 21-10 advantage. Warner’s one interception on a tipped pass late in the second quarter was not an interception, even though the replay officials deemed it so.

Johnson had a solid game at a very good time. He and Kurt Warner were in good sync throughout the afternoon, thus helping the Cardinals pick up the slack for missing Larry Fitzgerald (groin). Anquan Boldin (2/25) was not even thrown to in the first half and just when he was starting to make his presence felt he appeared to rupture an Achilles tendon. This will put more pressure on Fitzgerald to return and for Sean Morey (2/29) and Steve Breaston (2/24) to step up their games in more prominent roles. Boldin’s injury may also behoove the Cardinals to sign another WR this week.

Pope, despite his one drop, had a solid game and now has 5 TDs on the season. Ben Patrick (1/5) made a key catch in the redzone and was horse collared on the play, which spotted the ball on the Browns’ two, and led to Warner’s eventual TD to Johnson. Patrick is now making some key contributions, which certainly bodes well for the present and future. Lyle Sendlein, playing TE on the goal-line in place of the recently released Tim Euhus, very much struggled in that role, which contributed to two Browns’ run  stuffs of Ederrin James on the two yard yard with the game on the line.

OL/RB: Kudos to the line for doping two things well…they wore out the Browns’ front seven and allowed Edgerrin James (24/114, 4.8) a 114 yard performance….and they basically kept an ailing Kurt Warner erect all afternoon. Other wise, their penalties were a real cause for concern, especially on the first drive of the second half, where there were two false start penalties (Lutui and Brown) and an absolutely inexcusable personal foul penalty by Reggie Wells. Lutui was called later on a drive ending holding call. But, as mentioned at the top, the line settled down and performed like winners down the stretch.

J.J. Arrington (2/19 rushing, 2/15 receiving) made a strong contribution off the bench, although a third and 8 draw to him in the third quarter (in which he gained 6) was a very curious call at the time.

DL: Calvin Pace played well once again (5 tackles and some pretty decent pass coverage when asked). Darnell Dockett was tough inside, registering 5 tackles, as was Antonio Smith (3 tackles) who made some big plays. Joe Tafoya (2 tackles) was hustling all over the place but could get no push in the pass rush on rookie LT Joe Thomas. Darryl Blackstock atoned for an earlier off-side penalty on a third down stop by registering a nice end of the half sack. At the nose Gabe Watson and Alan Branch were solid, helping to hold Jamal Lewis to 62 yards.

LB: Karlos Dansby led the team once again with 8 tackles and some solid pass coverage, save one illegal contact penalty. Gerald Hayes did not have one of his better games, recording a mere 3 tackles.

DB: A game ball certainly goes to Roderick Hood who electrified the Cardinals and the crowd with his first quarter 71 yard interception return for a TD. That play set the tempo for the entire game. Hood intercepted another ball, and played tight coverage late with the game on the line.

On the other side, Antrel Rolle was schooled on a few conspicuous occasions by Braylon Edwards…one time costing the Cardinals a 67 yard TD, when replay officials refused to see that Terrence Holt’s leg made contact with Edwards’, thus allowing for the 67 yard TD. Rolle was an active tackler in this game…in fact, he finished second on the team with 6 tackles. Switching him over to strong safety would be the best thing the Cards could do…because the Cards need him there and they can get just as good, if not better, a job at RCB from an emerging Ralph Brown (who showed some clutch blanket coverage at times as nickel CB and hopped on Cribbs’ muffed punt (perhaps the most important play of this game, save Hoods 71 yard TD).

At the safeties the Cards continue to get little to nothing. Terrence Holt did make 5 tackles this week, which is an improvement, but his anticipation in deep coverage as a free safety is disappointing. Oliver Celestin belongs on a JV team. Lucky for the Cardinals that Celestin was not called for forcing out Kellen Winslow on Winslow’s great catch to end the game…better yet, lucky for the Cardinals that Celestin wasn’t called for pass interference on the play, as he clearly hit Winslow seconds before Winslow made the catch, thus making the catch all the more remarkable. One also should question Clancy Pendergast for not loading up the goal-line with 5 players on the last play. There’s no way any Brown should have had a clear shot at catching a ball in that situation, and Winslow did.

ST: Good day for the Cards here. Neil Rackers looks much more comfortable with Mitch Berger as holder, and Berger features a more open stance and a calmer two hand placing of the ball. Rackers was a perfect 2 for 2 on field goals and 3 for 3 on extra points. He also was running into the game sooner, which allowed for more time to get set.

Steve Breaston continues to impress, as he amassed 132 yards in a combination of 4 kickoff and 2 punt returns.

On coverage teams, Rackers mastered the pooch kickoff, and Monte Beisel made three jack ‘em up tackles on his side.

Berger (5/201/40.2) was adequate. His high punts were too short and his long punt was easily returnable. The Cards will need for him to find a happy medium…but today the best news was that he looks to be a reliable holder for Rackers.

Coaching: Incredibly conservative game plan all around…but, hey, it worked (if you don’t count Winslow’s catch as a TD). These coaches deserve a great deal of credit for having this team so competitive week after week…what’s remarkable is that 11 of the Cardinals’ 12 games have basically come down to the last play (when was the last time Card fans could say this after 12 games?). Dan Dierdorf, the Hall-of-Fame Cardinal offensive tackle turned NBC broadcaster, whose allegiance to the Cardinals was quite tangible (despite growing up a Browns’ fan) , lauds Whiz and feels like the Cards are headed in the right direction…well, anyone beg to differ with the big man?  Thanks #72!

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