What Now?

[john h]

Now that we have clinched a home play off spot do we continue to play all our starters every game? I would think we be somewhat cautious. Maybe a chance to see a little of Leinart and let Kurt get some of those nicks healed. Do we play full bore the rest of the way? This is a tough call. I certainly would not play Kurt the entire last game unless their is some advantage to us. Same with Q and Fitz. What are your thoughts out there? Whiz I think will be doing a lot more running.

 

[LVG]

We have to clinch the #3 seed.

That means we have to win against MN and SEA, at the very least.

Since we will probably have to go on the road to an east stadium in winter - better play the starters in NE too.

We keep going full steam.

 

[PJ1]

I would play the starters as long as the # 3 seed is in doubt. However, guys like Laboy and others who may not be 100% need to sit out and get healthy.

If we aren't playing for anything I give them a rest. Especially Kurt who has to be banged up.

 

[AZOffaly]

Now that we have clinched a home play off spot do we continue to play all our starters every game? I would think we be somewhat cautious. Maybe a chance to see a little of Leinart and let Kurt get some of those nicks healed. Do we play full bore the rest of the way? This is a tough call. I certainly would not play Kurt the entire last game unless their is some advantage to us. Same with Q and Fitz. What are your thoughts out there? Whiz I think will be doing a lot more running.

I know what you're saying, but lads can go off the boil too unless they are getting game time. Obviously any nicks or bangs need to be rested, but I'd be inclined to try and make sure the lads are motoring come January. Plus 11-5 or 10-6 reads a lot better than 8-8, even for confidence.

One of the things I would like the Cards to focus on is the run game, which I suppose is a 'no **** sherlock' comment, but it's very hard to win playoff games passing 50 or 60 times, especially against good defences.

On the defensive side of the ball, I'd like to see the 'D' really starting to dominate good teams. We seem to blitz like crazy, which is great when you get there, but our corners give up big plays at times when they are one on one. Unless the safeties and linebackers get to the QB, which isn't easy against the big time teams, then we could get burned out wide.

So we need to start getting pressure up front, in my opinion, with a 4 man rush so that the back 7 can drop back into coverage, and then mix in some run blitzes or pass blitzes to keep if fresh.

That's what I'd like them to work on for the next 3 games.

 

[D-Dogg]

3 seed is their target. It would set us up nicely for the playoffs.

Win a home game, travel to either Tampa or Carolina to face the two seed, most likely, instead of NY, with the outside chance that the 4 seed upsets the Giants and we not only make the NFC title game, but then we'd host it.

Of course, that's the perfect storm playoff scenario, but it can only be done from the 3 seed spot. If we get 4 seed, we would face NY in NJ in the second round, with them rested off their bye.

The 3 seed is really important to make a huge play for.

 

[Mulli]

We have to clinch the #3 seed.

That means we have to win against MN and SEA, at the very least.

Since we will probably have to go on the road to an east stadium in winter - better play the starters in NE too.

We keep going full steam.

Yep. Then you get the bye week to rest (if we win enough )

 

[abomb]

Right now we are 54% for the 3 and 45% for the 4.

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfcstandings.html

 

[CardLogic]

What now? Go out and kick some Viking butt on Sunday!!!

There is no way the Cardinals can coast into the playoffs if they expect to do anything when the playoffs start.

Plus there are still objectives to be accomplished in each of the next three games:
vs. Vikings - a head to head win could be the clincher in determining seeding for the playoffs.
vs. Patriots - an East Coast road game against a good opponent; a win there would do wonders for the psyche of the Cardinals heading into the playoffs.
vs. Seahawks - least important of the three, however a 6-0 division record certainly would be nice.

While not taking any unecessary risks with any players health/injury situation, the Cardinals need to make a strong effort to win the remaining games.

 

[LVG]

Yep. Then you get the bye week to rest (if we win enough )

You're talking the #2 seed.

Right now, per the NFL standings by conference, we're 4th. MN is right above us. Therefore, we have to win Sunday to take the spot from them.

Above them in the #2 seed spot is Bucs at 9-3. IIRC, if the Bucs win tonight, they'll remain the #2 seed spot at 10-3, with ATL, SD, and OAK left to play. I think they'll get 2 out of three, which puts them at 12-4, beyond our reach. If they lose, CAR goes to 10-3, to which I know we lose the tiebreaker with them (because we lost to them in the regular season).

I think that the #2 seed is gone. Best we can hope for is #3. We're playing every week until this thing is decided.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think that the #2 seed is gone. Best we can hope for is #3. We're playing every week until this thing is decided.

We aren't mathematically eliminated from the 2 seed yet, but we are realistically.

We are right in the thick of the hunt for that very, very important three seed though.

 

[Mulli]

You're talking the #2 seed.

Right now, per the NFL standings by conference, we're 4th. MN is right above us. Therefore, we have to win Sunday to take the spot from them.

Above them in the #2 seed spot is Bucs at 9-3. IIRC, if the Bucs win tonight, they'll remain the #2 seed spot at 10-3, with ATL, SD, and OAK left to play. I think they'll get 2 out of three, which puts them at 12-4, beyond our reach. If they lose, CAR goes to 10-3, to which I know we lose the tiebreaker with them (because we lost to them in the regular season).

I think that the #2 seed is gone. Best we can hope for is #3. We're playing every week until this thing is decided.

k fine.

 

[jmt]

It would take a miracle to be the 2 seed. Let's beat the Vikes and win one of the last two to finish 10-6 and get the 3 seed. Then if we win in the first round we would likely go to TB or Carolina. Who knows, maybe the Gnats fall apart, and the Beagles are still in the mix. Just take care of business and keep winning - GBR!

 

[SuperSpck]

The starters on the Cardinals seem to play better rested.
Check the motivation level after the bye ( "good" road loss to the Panthers).
On a short week ("bad" road loss to the Eagles).
After a mini-bye (home drubbing of the Rams).

It's time to temper the metal of our backup and developing players.

But the team can't afford to rest to the level the Colts, or other perennial playoff teams do at the end of the season. The experience just isn't there.

 

[vince56]

What Now?

Just win, baby.

I want 7 more wins this year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

3 seed is their target. It would set us up nicely for the playoffs.

Win a home game, travel to either Tampa or Carolina to face the two seed, most likely, instead of NY, with the outside chance that the 4 seed upsets the Giants and we not only make the NFC title game, but then we'd host it.

Of course, that's the perfect storm playoff scenario, but it can only be done from the 3 seed spot. If we get 4 seed, we would face NY in NJ in the second round, with them rested off their bye.

The 3 seed is really important to make a huge play for.

agreed.

I read the initial post in this thread and just wonder if people actually watch sports outside of the Cardinals. There's still a hell of a lot to play for right now.

 

[abomb]

#2 seed is basically out of reach without winning out and getting a TON of help.

A win vs Minny would be very good and two wins out of the three games would lock up #3.

 

[82CardsGrad]

#2 seed is basically out of reach without winning out and getting a TON of help.

A win vs Minny would be very good and two wins out of the three games would lock up #3.

The incredible thing is that if we were to go 0 & 3, the 9ers were to go 3 & 0, we would have won the West via a tie-breaker...

These final 3 games have a great deal more meaning than any other 3 game stretch we've played this year...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

1. Get the #3 seed
2. Work on the running game (Arrington perhaps?)
3. Work on getting QB pressure from the front 4 (try out Calais Campbell or whoever else)

 

[Mitch]

Keep making efforts to improve.

Fox did a good job yesterday of explaining what steps Whiz made after the Philly game of trying to make improvements, starting with changing punters.

If the approach to these three games is any different, the results will likely be similar to what happened in Philly. The Cardinals have to make the necessary improvement if they are going to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. And, after all, to quote Herman Edwards, "this is why we play the games. You play the games to win."

 

[82CardsGrad]

Keep making efforts to improve.

Fox did a good job yesterday of explaining what steps Whiz made after the Philly game of trying to make improvements, starting with changing punters.

If the approach to these three games is any different, the results will likely be similar to what happened in Philly. The Cardinals have to make the necessary improvement if they are going to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. And, after all, to quote Herman Edwards, "this is why we play the games. You play the games to win."

It's as simple as this... or not...

Improve the running game. Add depth to the defense... Win east of the Mississippi...

Do that and this team would then become a legit Super Bowl Contender...
Right now, if we had to go into Carolina, Philly or the Meadowlands for a game, there is simply no reason to believe we would win. None...

 

[nashman]

Keep playing all out and hit the playoffs on a roll playing well with high confidence.

 

[Skkorpion]

I know what you're saying, but lads can go off the boil too unless they are getting game time. Obviously any nicks or bangs need to be rested, but I'd be inclined to try and make sure the lads are motoring come January. Plus 11-5 or 10-6 reads a lot better than 8-8, even for confidence.

One of the things I would like the Cards to focus on is the run game, which I suppose is a 'no **** sherlock' comment, but it's very hard to win playoff games passing 50 or 60 times, especially against good defences.

On the defensive side of the ball, I'd like to see the 'D' really starting to dominate good teams. We seem to blitz like crazy, which is great when you get there, but our corners give up big plays at times when they are one on one. Unless the safeties and linebackers get to the QB, which isn't easy against the big time teams, then we could get burned out wide.

So we need to start getting pressure up front, in my opinion, with a 4 man rush so that the back 7 can drop back into coverage, and then mix in some run blitzes or pass blitzes to keep if fresh.

That's what I'd like them to work on for the next 3 games.

Welcome to ASFN. Are you Irish or just live there? I went to high school in Dublin and played a lot of Rugby. No Gaa or hurling, just rugby and drinking in the pubs afterward.

 

[AZOffaly]

Welcome to ASFN. Are you Irish or just live there? I went to high school in Dublin and played a lot of Rugby. No Gaa or hurling, just rugby and drinking in the pubs afterward.

Irish born and bred I lived in Arizona for 4 years, and was a season ticket holder for the Cardinals. I posted a thread in the introduce yourself section, so I won't bore the others any more

 

[Perfectionist]

This team has to many issues to work on and trying to coast till the playoffs would be a hugh mistake.

 

[SuperSpck]

So we need to start getting pressure up front, in my opinion, with a 4 man rush so that the back 7 can drop back into coverage, and then mix in some run blitzes or pass blitzes to keep if fresh.

Every team dreams of pressure from just their front four, few can actually do it (although it seems that Tony Dungy seems to make it work more often then not).

Something I noticed during the Rams game (but haven't had the ability to confirm) is that Travis Laboy looked noticeably slower off the snap while in the three-point stance.

He seemed a little quicker standing up, but does anyone remember what his injury was? Would it affect explosion off the line?