Russ Smith

I'm midway through the 3rd quarter on tape.

Leinart looks good, very good, I won't say great because he's mostly dinking and dunking, but he is at least looking downfield before going to his short receivers, and he is very decisive no wasted time at all. Seems totally in command, just amazing for a kid who missed so much of camp.

Arringtoon looked good, a couple of runs where think he should've kept his feet a bit longer but he's showing much better vision and confidence and he's more explosive too, like on the reverse field run where Boldin threw the block, or on the KO return where Anderson got called for a penalty. Still a bit shaky catching the ball over his shoulder though.

Hayes as others have said looks terrific, and I am pleasantly surprised at our DT's tonight they all seem to be holding up against the run.

Rolle made a nice play on that INT but before that he was really struggling with Berrian and Davis who are talented but not exactly #1 Wr's. I still have some concerns about this secondary's ability to cover, hopefully we'll have enough pass rush it won't matter.

I like the commitment to running tonight, you can almost see the Ol is finally getting their sea legs.

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“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

red desert

I'm glad you made that observation about Arrington ( i.e. he should have kept his feet a bit longer). He does appear to have greatly improved, but, IMO, he still appears lacking in instincts and toughness to ever really be a number one back. And as a second round choice that's what one should expect. Still, the guy is headed in the right direction. Shipp, I thought, showed more in his runs. But I'm a Shipp fan.

Russ Smith

Well I'd say Shipp still shows that he has one move, the spin move, and if it works fine, if not, he goes down. arrington isn't as strong and won't move the pile but he made 3-4 runs in this game where he simply reversed field and got yardage that Shipp just isn't fast enough to get.

I just wish he was better catching the ball he'd be a real value if we could take Edge out on 3rd downs to rest now and then. But to be honest, Shipp is a better receiver because he can catch the ball on the move better than JJ does.

Edge is going to be getting 90% of the carries anyways I'm just glad to see the backups show a little more oomph than they did last year.

Also forgot to say really impressed with Pope, he and Matt seem to really have a nice connection. And another strong effort from Johnson at WR.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

red desert

And Bj continues to impress, don't you think?

slanidrac16

Absolutely. He looks like a guy who finally gets it.

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"The system works. Players are just not making plays."
Ken Whisenhunt

conraddobler

What your seeing is a lot of things comming together, we have a quality coaching staff now, we don't have a 1st year OC now, he isn't a one trick wonder with no running game.

You've got what a lot of people feel is a very good DC that is HC material, you've got a special teams coach and a line coach and a linebackers coach, all very highly thought of.

You've got players with talent being coached up.

You've got Edge Fitz, Bolding, BJ, Pope and Warner/Leinart

Berry, Wilson, Rolle, and a new old MLB that's very good, you've got a super bowl team that just needs seasoning to get there.

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When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity. John F. Kennedy

CardNots

We have gome through many years where our starters would have trouble making backups on playoff teams. Just hearing these names who are good enough to be starters on most teams makes me feel warm inside.

I was speaking with a Minney fan this morning at a hotel in Maintal, Germany. He knew 7 players from our team. He knew Edge, Warner, Fitz, Boldin, Wilson and Berry. Sorry left out Leinart. Makes for a better conversation. Makes me proud to be a Cardinal fan. Win or lose this year we have STAR POWER !

He did mention coach Green, but he was a Minney fan so I expected as much.

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There should be an "Arizona Cardinal principal". A never ending unexplainable phenomenon of impossible scenarios and bumbling performances resulting in a sensation not unlike being kicked in the nuts several times a year.( Quote Rivercard )