azsouthendzone

Whiz annointed Hightower the starter after the Carolina game. While the Cards were never world beaters running the ball, they had a nice 1-2 punch going and a relatively balanced and dangerous offense. Everyone got pshyched when Hightower ran for 100 against STL, but since then he has been beyond terrible. He fails to hit the hole with any consistency. He doesn't see holes. He gives up on plays and kicks it outside. Now Whiz because of his arrogance is sticking with Tim, and using this piss poor shotgun formation crap which is basically telegraphing every play. This team has played bad for four weeks straight. That is the reality. I hope Whiz pulls his head out and reinstates Edge and uses the 1-2 punch. This season is salvagable and the palyoffs can be amazing, but not at this current pace.

And Pendy, you are a joke. The pass rush doesn't exist. You can't gameplan for a high school team.

Brewster10

Hightower isnt the problem.. its that the league has caught up to our act, and can sniff our every single run play we use..

conraddobler

Yep, it worked against STL because they weren't on to it.

They shoot the gaps like mad dogs because they know what's comming, I've seen this stuff before.

There are counters for it, we'll eventually get around to using them I'm sure, but the speed with which we adjust is too slow, in game, between games, offense and defense.

It's poor coaching.

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BullheadCardFan

Hard to watch a game when we apply absolutely no pressure at all on the QB.

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nashman

Well some will say the offense and team is better with TH starting. I didn't agree at the time and still don't, this team looked far more cohesive with Edge starting and using TH as a change of pace or short yardage back. Hopefully this was the last straw and the coaching staff can get back to what got this team off to a 4-2 start!

BEERZ

I agree we have missed Edges 3-4 reliable yards. As painful as it is to watch Edge carry the ball now. He still got us 3rd & short unlike now.

nashman

Don't bother Beerz nobody wants to hear that TH has played worse than Edge they just can't accept it. To them the offense has somehow been better with TH. His great 1.0 tonight was another terrible night but somehow it won't be TH's fault. If the coaching staff doesn't make a change from TH starting we will see our offense continue to be jeckle and hyde like. If you don't want to start Edge then start JJ something has got to change TH is NOT getting it done not even close!

BEERZ

I was as excied as anyone about TH. Se my Avatar. But it clear as day. As slow as Edge IS. He still got 3-4 yards most of the time. TH needs to return to his role as short yardage & 3rd down back for now.

Cardiac

Edge is averaging just over 3 yds a carry so I would guess there is a stat somewhere showing a majority of his run attempts are near 2yds. Sprinkle in the longer runs and that gets you the 3.3 ? yds per carry. Then take into account teams don't have any fear that Edge will burn them big with a long run and they don't worry about stacking the box.
Then factor in the star power we have at WR and QB, the Cards will have a strong tendancy to throw the ball. This is where we tear up defenses so DC's skew their schemes to stopping the pass.

Then factor in our Defense almost never let's us play with a lead and the Offense is constantly under pressure to score early and often so we go with our strength, the passing game.

Another Factor is that KW needs to get in a groove so passing early and often helps achieve this.

Then factor in our O-line is telegraphing pass or run plays by their stance and D's can adjust on the fly by reading this key.

Then factor in our Center is adequate but not a run blocking machine and Duece and Levi are inconsistent. It is difficult to get consistency when we pass the ball sooo much, see several "factors" previously stated.

Factor in that TH is not that adept at picking holes, comes from a small school where is athletic ability made it easier for him to outrun and power through defenders then in the NFL.

Factor in that Edge likes the stretch run blocking scheme but this isn't Grim's forte and probably doesn't fit the skill sets of a couple of our O-linemen.

My theory is that the O-line stances for running the stretch play and pass protection are the same, thus D's can't determine if the played called is pass or run. TH isn't adept at running the stretch play and Edge is at his best with this scheme. I would also guess that JJ isn't adept at running in the stretch scheme.

Time for Haley, Grimm and Whiz to get this figured out, my job was simply to determine the root cause.

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And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around.

Pink Floyd

just do it

right now JJ is the best back on the team and should start. Flat out should go with no huddle and shot gun and control the clock with short hits to Boldin, Fitx and Arrington. Sprinkle in Boldin in the backfield and an end around with Breaston. By the way Breaston is solid, tho he does not look fluid when he runs he has been solid. The D is bad and Dansby has been real bad, he was not even trying to get off of blocks last night, DRC is playing way off the WR's and the front 4 can't get pressure. Also every time it is 3rd and long Pendesuck goes with a 3 man rush and drops the LB's into areas and teams pick them apart after geting like 8 seconds to throw the ball.

WildBB

Do you think that they allways do this or consistently? Who does this? What do you see?

I agree that both sides are very inconsistent pass blocking, but the right side should be doing much better than they are!

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PT - 42 - 40

Cardiac

I confess that I don't study the O-line play during games. I'm simply going off of comments by Mitch and the broadcasting crew for the Giants game.

For O-linemen like Levi and Duece (Big Ole boys not terribly light on their feet) to be in position to pass block they will sit back in their stance more so their weight is easier to shift up and back. For run blocking their weight is set forward more to fire out and drive block. A couple of inches either way is enough to key off of.

With the stretch running play the O-linemans job is to simply engage the D lineman and not specifically to drive block him.

I'm positive others on this board can explain it better than I have.

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And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around.

Pink Floyd

ajcardfan

I just watch Mike Gandy to tell whether we are going to run or pass. It's very easy to read.

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RugbyMuffin

Ain't that the truth.

As for the running game, I agree it has become too predictable. We have all been talking about the lack of a running game and how it will catch up to this team. Last night it did.

When Warner, Boldin, and the rest are off this offense is dead in the water.

And our defense is good, but when that snowball starts rolling down the hill they tend to give up.

Doesn't help that our secondary, looks horrible.

I think this club will turn it around. Our biggest games will be against the Vikings and Pats. It is our last chance to get where we need to be for the playoffs.

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A-Dub on Playoffs:“You get a great sense of pride you stuck it out,” Wilson said, “now that it’s finally here.”

An Out of State Fan's Guide for Seeing the Cardinals in AZ:
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/blog.php?b=71

RugbyMuffin

Agreed.

I am a HUGE Edge supporter. I wish we kept him in for the season. Even though the writing is on the wall that he is gone next season. It still would have benefited us to get what we could out of him this year.

The question is what he will do if given another chance.

It always kind of irk'ed me that Warner is touted as "you know what you got with Warner" and he is justifiably playing over Leinart. But in Edge's case, Edge was not given that same reasoning.

Edge only gained 3 to 4 yards a carry but those were yards we needed, and non longer get. I don't see Hightower grindin, scratchin', and clawing his way to an extra yard or too.

None the less it is a tough situation. Our running game has to be a top priority in the offseason.

__________________
A-Dub on Playoffs:“You get a great sense of pride you stuck it out,” Wilson said, “now that it’s finally here.”

An Out of State Fan's Guide for Seeing the Cardinals in AZ:
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/blog.php?b=71