Vikings next week

[Russ Smith]

I think we'll learn a lot about this team next week. If they lay down at home and get killed it'll be a concern, but frankly I'm expecting them to take this tough loss to heart and come out better next week determined to get the win.

Going to be tough, the Vikings are a very good team, but remember, they needed a last second pass to beat SF, when SF was still starting Shaun Hill and didn't have Gore for most of the game. They're very good, but not unbeatable.

 

[Chopper0080]

I second that this will tell us what kind of team we are. A championship team would get the win at home, but I am not sure that we are that team. I doubt that we have the defense players, which is not surprising when you run a defense that is predicted on linebacker play (the 3-4) and are weak at the linebacker position.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I think we'll learn a lot about this team next week. If they lay down at home and get killed it'll be a concern, but frankly I'm expecting them to take this tough loss to heart and come out better next week determined to get the win.

Going to be tough, the Vikings are a very good team, but remember, they needed a last second pass to beat SF, when SF was still starting Shaun Hill and didn't have Gore for most of the game. They're very good, but not unbeatable.

This was such a physical, brusing game though. Such a heartbreaker. How are these guys going to react to that? Against a nasty, punishing, runner like AP?

If it would have been your standard seven point loss, I would be inclined to agree with you. That we would come out with a good mindset and be very competitive.

Now, I don't know.

 

[Chopper0080]

At least AP should be good for a fumble.

 

[Buckybird]

My main concern right now are the injuries. They are starting to take their toll & mount up every week.

 

[Mitch]

This game will be a major challenge for the Cardinals in so many ways:

Mike Sando just said it well in his blog where he thinks the Cardinals won't win the blocking matchups, especially the way the Cardinals play their tackles.

The other mis-matchups are the Cardinals' LBers versus AP...Dansby may be out. Highsmith is not a good replacement. Hopefully Beisel can be. Haggans is banged up...but he's a real key, because he is our best edge player by far right now. On the other side, Berry is no longer a dependable tackler.

The there are the secondary mis-matches. Does BD put DRC on Harvin? It would seem DRC would be a better answer for WR Sydney Rice. I'd prefer Michael Adams on Harvin rather than BMF...but that probably won't happen. Who covers TE Shiancoe?

 

[moklerman]

The Vikings aren't weak in any area that I can think of and they have strength in two areas that kill the Cardinals.

First, they can get pressure with 4 rushers and they are good at stopping the run.

Second, they throw to their TE a lot.

Vikings are a terrible matchup for the Cardinals and this will be a repeat of the Colts game. Cardinals are going to get killed.

 

[Russ Smith]

This game will be a major challenge for the Cardinals in so many ways:

Mike Sando just said it well in his blog where he thinks the Cardinals won't win the blocking matchups, especially the way the Cardinals play their tackles.

The other mis-matchups are the Cardinals' LBers versus AP...Dansby may be out. Highsmith is not a good replacement. Hopefully Beisel can be. Haggans is banged up...but he's a real key, because he is our best edge player by far right now. On the other side, Berry is no longer a dependable tackler.

The there are the secondary mis-matches. Does BD put DRC on Harvin? It would seem DRC would be a better answer for WR Sydney Rice. I'd prefer Michael Adams on Harvin rather than BMF...but that probably won't happen. Who covers TE Shiancoe?

agreed but I don't think they match up well with us either. They are missing Antoine Winfield who has missed the last 5 games. When he got hurt they said 4-6 weeks, fractured foot. So he could play against us don't know but it's unlikely he'll be 100%. At the other CB they start Cedric Griffin who is more of a safety than a CB IMHO.

They give up over 220 yards passing a game, they're a terrific run D but below average against the pass and they're not healthy now. Assuming Kurt can play I think we'll play lots of 3 and 4 WR sets and go after their CB's, I also think we'll play some 2 TE sets and try to get Patrick isolated on a LB, something SF did to them repeatedly in their game which led to 2 TD's and 96 yards receiving by Vernon Davis. I know Patrick is not as fast as Davis but the key was from a run formation they got the matchup they wanted and then threw the ball to the TE instead of running.

Our recent games with the Vikes have not been good, and Favre ate us up last year with the Jets, but I'm hoping the team remembers how those games felt last year and is ready to play.

 

[Buckybird]

This game will be a major challenge for the Cardinals in so many ways:

Mike Sando just said it well in his blog where he thinks the Cardinals won't win the blocking matchups, especially the way the Cardinals play their tackles.

The other mis-matchups are the Cardinals' LBers versus AP...Dansby may be out. Highsmith is not a good replacement. Hopefully Beisel can be. Haggans is banged up...but he's a real key, because he is our best edge player by far right now. On the other side, Berry is no longer a dependable tackler.

The there are the secondary mis-matches. Does BD put DRC on Harvin? It would seem DRC would be a better answer for WR Sydney Rice. I'd prefer Michael Adams on Harvin rather than BMF...but that probably won't happen. Who covers TE Shiancoe?

stop scaring me Mitch

 

[Russ Smith]

The Vikings aren't weak in any area that I can think of and they have strength in two areas that kill the Cardinals.

First, they can get pressure with 4 rushers and they are good at stopping the run.

Second, they throw to their TE a lot.

Vikings are a terrible matchup for the Cardinals and this will be a repeat of the Colts game. Cardinals are going to get killed.

Shiancoe and Allen are my main matchup concerns, aside from the obvious stop AP one of course.

If we let Allen destroy our passing game the way we let Freeney and Mathis do it yes it will get ugly fast. But when they don't get sacks(they have 40 already) they have been pretty mediocre against the pass.

I'm not saying it's going to be easy but I do think if we can find a way to handle Allen, we can make some hay against that secondary.

 

[ajcardfan]

We don't matchup CBs with wideouts. McFadden will be at RCB and DRC at LCB and they will cover whoever is across from them.



Losing Dansby will be a big blow. I'd be pretty confident with him in there, much less so with him out.

 

[Russ Smith]

Any word on Dansby's injury by the way?

 

[CtCardinals78]

Today and the next three weeks will be playoff type atmospheres for the Cards. I expect them to win at least one, if not both of their upcoming games. The Cards have not lost back to back games yet this season and I don't expect them to this year either.

 

[ajcardfan]

The Vikings have yet to put forth a subpar effort. It's very rare for teams to be ready to play all 16 games of a schedule. That might be our best hope for next week, catching them a little flat. i can see them taking us too lightly thinking back to last year.

 

[SeattleCard]

Cards have a real tough one coming up against the Vikes.

I am casting my hope on some Whisenhunt game planning mojo magic...

 

[Buckybird]

i can see them taking us too lightly thinking back to last year.

Really? Great teams don't do that & I will guarantee you The Vikes wont be looking past us.

 

[ajcardfan]

Really? Great teams don't do that & I will guarantee you The Vikes wont be looking past us.

Are they really a great team? Their schedule has been pretty easy, and they haven't been through much adversity. I do think they are better than us, but i don't think they are at the unbeatable level. If they roll on us next fine, call them 'great'.

 

[82CardsGrad]

agreed but I don't think they match up well with us either. They are missing Antoine Winfield who has missed the last 5 games. When he got hurt they said 4-6 weeks, fractured foot. So he could play against us don't know but it's unlikely he'll be 100%. At the other CB they start Cedric Griffin who is more of a safety than a CB IMHO.

They give up over 220 yards passing a game, they're a terrific run D but below average against the pass and they're not healthy now. Assuming Kurt can play I think we'll play lots of 3 and 4 WR sets and go after their CB's, I also think we'll play some 2 TE sets and try to get Patrick isolated on a LB, something SF did to them repeatedly in their game which led to 2 TD's and 96 yards receiving by Vernon Davis. I know Patrick is not as fast as Davis but the key was from a run formation they got the matchup they wanted and then threw the ball to the TE instead of running.

Our recent games with the Vikes have not been good, and Favre ate us up last year with the Jets, but I'm hoping the team remembers how those games felt last year and is ready to play.

Jared Allen is going to eat Levi and/or Gandy/Bridges for breakfast, lunch and dinner... Kurt better wear extra padding... like, all over his body. This could get ugly...

 

[moklerman]

Honestly, as some speculated before the game this week about the validity of sitting Warner I would much rather he taken his chances against the Titans and then sat down next week vs. Minnesota.

This could actually be Warner's last game as a Cardinal if he gets hurt and I don't think it will matter if he starts or if Leinart starts. Might as well just sit him again and have him healthy vs. SF and whatever push toward the playoffs they have at that point.

 

[earthsci]

I just hope that the Cards are ready for what they see in the stands when they come out of the locker room. Seriously, I expect at least 30-40% more Vikings fans than last year.

 

[Duckjake]

Are they really a great team? Their schedule has been pretty easy, and they haven't been through much adversity. I do think they are better than us, but i don't think they are at the unbeatable level. If they roll on us next fine, call them 'great'.

9-1 makes them a great team. 400 yards of offense vs the Ravens is special also.

 

[Buckybird]

9-1 makes them a great team. 400 yards of offense vs the Ravens is special also.

add a very good defense, a superstar RB & a QB legend who's proving the naysayers wrong...Yea they are a great team.

 

[Russ Smith]

Honestly, as some speculated before the game this week about the validity of sitting Warner I would much rather he taken his chances against the Titans and then sat down next week vs. Minnesota.

This could actually be Warner's last game as a Cardinal if he gets hurt and I don't think it will matter if he starts or if Leinart starts. Might as well just sit him again and have him healthy vs. SF and whatever push toward the playoffs they have at that point.

If he's ready to play he should play, you can't pick and choose what weeks to play your starting QB unless he's not healthy.

I also think their pass defense is being overlooked here, Flacco had nearly 400 yards against them, if Kurt can play we have a chance to go after their pass defense I think.

They're very good but they're not too unbeatable if we play well.

 

[conraddobler]

Honestly, as some speculated before the game this week about the validity of sitting Warner I would much rather he taken his chances against the Titans and then sat down next week vs. Minnesota.

This could actually be Warner's last game as a Cardinal if he gets hurt and I don't think it will matter if he starts or if Leinart starts. Might as well just sit him again and have him healthy vs. SF and whatever push toward the playoffs they have at that point.

I don't care if the Cardinals are playing someone who's just destroyed three teams in a row, if you're healthy you play, if not you don't, it aint about picking and choosing based on some odd formula you seem to know about.

 

[slanidrac16]

The Vikings aren't weak in any area that I can think of and they have strength in two areas that kill the Cardinals.

First, they can get pressure with 4 rushers and they are good at stopping the run.

Second, they throw to their TE a lot.

Vikings are a terrible matchup for the Cardinals and this will be a repeat of the Colts game. Cardinals are going to get killed.

Kind of reminds me of going into Carolina in the playoffs....and we all know how that turned out.