Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
QB (3): SKELTON, Kolb, Lindley
Last night was supposed to be an extensive look at John Skelton. Skelton only had one series the week before.
The most extensive look John Skelton got last night was from the Titans' RDE Kamerion Wimbley who might as well have been wearing Skelton's jersey because he was like white on rice.
No---last night wasn't about giving Skelton an extended look or a means in which to build his confidence or his hold on the starting job.
Last night was about trying to make Kevin Kolb relevant again.
After a week in which Kolb was publicly deemed a scaredy-cat by Raiders' DT Tommy Kelly, was questioned about being the right fit at QB for the Cardinals' offense by Kurt Warner and was vilified in the media from practically all the pundits at ESPN and NFL Network to Peter King in his MMQB blog and most searingly from Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley---it was a good time to try to pull Kolb up by the shoulder pads.
Kolb stood up for himself---and that was a good first step. Finally somewhere toward the end of the week, one of this teammates, G Daryn Colledge stood up for Kolb. Then last night ESPN's Trent Dilfer did the same.
It has been a week of humble pie facials for Kolb--and his head coach Ken Whisenhunt was going to try to find a way to help Kolb feel at least a modicum of satisfaction in his play this week.
It worked---not without some glaring glitches, as we all saw, but Kolb was able to generate enough offense and positive throws that he is now essentially the NFL's latest version of Lazarus. Kevin Kolb is back from the dead.
Coach Whisenhunt did a very good thing. He knows that this team is going to have to lean and depend on Kolb at some point this year---maybe even from the get-go---and this was a good step for Kolb and the team.
The question that remains, however, is what effect last night's priorities might have on John Skelton.
Had Whisenhunt played Skelton two series into the 3rd quarter, despite the early interception, the talk all around the NFL today might very well have been how Skelton had secured the starting job and run away with the job.
Skelton has thus far been about as resilient as a young player can be. He has manifested a propensity to bounce back from setbacks and to maintain his equilibrium.
Skelton, if he stays healthy, is going to take a good deal of snaps for the Cardinals this year. The odds are heavily in his favor.
If Kolb is appointed the Week 1 starter, Skelton will have to bide his time, just as he did last year when in a midst of a winning streak he was lifted in favor of Kolb who was returning from a foot injury.
My own sense is that Skelton would be the better choice to start the Seattle game---Skelton is the one Cardinal QB since Pete Carroll arrived to beat the Seahawks and their multi-dimensional blitz/pressure packages.
Against the Seahawks you can keep them honest and break them down if your QB is willing to tuck it in and run the ball when the situations present themselves. Skelton is more capable of doing just that.
One would hope the Cardinals are privately working to incorporate effectively executed screen passes to Ryan Williams and LaRod Stephens-Howling because Seattle is going to pressure from all angles and they are going to play sticky man coverage with their big, physical DBs. The only way to divert the DBs attention in this game will be via QB scampers and screen passes. If the Cardinals can get those DBs to peek back, then the WRs will have better opportunities to shake free.
I also get the strong feeling that the Cardinals' players are more comfortable and confident in Skelton. After all, they have won 8 games with him of the 12 games he's taken the majority of the snaps.
Ryan Lindley continues to make strides---his accuracy looked much improved last night---what a strike he threw up the seam into a small window to TE Jim Dray, for example, which Dray did not catch---but the zip and accuracy was textbook.
Adam Shefter reported that the Cardinals will be looking around the league to add an experienced QB to the mix via trade or waivers---but Coach Whisenhunt is always loathe to bring in a QB who hasn't been already integrated into the Cardinals' "timing and rhythm" passing scheme.
RB (4): WILLIAMS, Wells, Stephens-Howling, Powell.
Even though Beanie Wells returned last night, the real story is what the Cardinals intend to do with Ryan Williams, both in the running and passing game.
Wells will likely start and will be worked on first downs---but Williams will gradually garner the majority of snaps.
Stephens-Howling will have a package of plays, as he always does---and so will William Powell who shows the speed, elusiveness and sneaky strong base the coaches have been coveting for quite some time.
Not sure what to make of Tavarris James' early action in the past two games. The coaches might like him as a blocker in pass pro, but oddly enough, it seems every time James is in the game on a passing down he immediate leaves the pocket on a flare route.
Alfonso Smith will probably be waived, but brought back at some point, if and when necessary. As may be James. Neither one of them is likely to be claimed off waivers.
FB (1): SHERMAN
There's no question he is going to have an expanded role in the passing game as a pocket protector and a receiver.
OL (9): BATISTE, COLLEDGE, SENDLEIN, SNYDER, MASSIE, Bridges, Kelemete, Ohrnsberger and TBA (Chad Clifton?---or a player in a trade?).
The decision to start D.J. Young last night was dubious from the get-go. This does not speak well for CKW or Russ Grimm as they should have had a better sense of what Young is capable of.
What was much more egregious than starting Young was (a) not affording him any help; and (b) even worse, keeping Young in there when it was clear from the first play that he was getting manhandled by Kamerion Wimbley.
How it took essentially five series for CKW and Grimm to make a switch is about the most reckless and irresponsible decision these coaches can make, save perhaps playing Larry Fitzgerald well into the third quarter of a meaningless pre-season game. If Fitz goes down this team has NO chance. And luckily, neither Skelton nor Kolb was injured in last night's game while getting hammered repeatedly from the blind side.
What bothers me even more is feeling sorry for Young who was clearly unprepared at this point in his development to block a pass rusher like Wimbley (again, is there any pass rusher like Wimbley for Young to face in practice? Um, no. Not even close), was seeing him immediately after each series walking around the sidelines in a shell-shocked daze, and Russ Grimm, nor any other Cardinal coach is NOWHERE in sight.
Have you ever seen a line coach on an NFL sideline so detached and laid-back as Grimm?
The Super Bowl Springsteen story about Grimm remains so incredibly symbolic. Grimm looks like he's got other things on his mind.
D'Anthony Batiste, thank goodness, was able to settle everything down. He was not flawless by any means, but he sported a good, wide base and strong hand positions. What he needs to do now is set up faster and more shallower---he was drop stepping too deeply and made it easier for the DE to push him toward the QB.
On the other side, Bobby Massie, is making strides---but remains very raw. One time, and I have no idea why he did this, he got beat off the edge because on his setup he reared his head back, almost like a horse who rears its head, and lost his balance and leverage as the DE made an outside burst. Balanced head positioning for a tackle is paramount---much the way it is for a golfer.
The Cardinal tackles under Russ Grimm are so poorly drilled in the techniques---and to think that so often they are put on islands---the combination is destructive.
Colledge, Sendlein and Snyder each had their ups and downs---even they do not appear to be in sync---which is even more troubling.
It looks to me like Jeremy Bridges is being groomed to take over the RG spot. Not sure if the coaches are now feeling somewhat iffy about Snyder, or if the coaches are going to kick Snyder out to RT until Massie gets comfortable and strong enough to play.
One thing seems clear---Bridges no longer is in the coaches' plans at tackle.
It seemed utterly preposterous that we had to witness D.J. Young and the QBs getting abused play after play---and then watch a veteran like Jeremy Bridges appear only in the second half as a member of the second unit.
I think Gary is right about C/G Rich Ohrnsberger---it looks like he will make the team.
Senio Kelemete, who gave up a sack last night, continues to run block very well.
Did you see the endzone camera views of Powell's and James' TDs? The execution from Potter---Kelemete---Ohrnsberger---Bridges---Massie was textbook on these off-tackle trap plays. Wow. Loved the one where Potter downblocked, Maui'a took out the DE and Bridges pulled and sprang up the hole. You cannot execute an off-tackle trap play better than that. Give Russ Grimm due props for this because this play looks like it's been worked on quite diligently.
As for Nate Potter---if the Cardinals don't add a veteran tackle---which is imperative, but with the Cardinals' slowness in making moves might not happen---he will probably make the roster because he has been faring well on STs and he does have good potential. He got run over in pass pro, however. Again, the fundamentals of fan blocking are not in evidence, just as they weren't with Young, a player who has been coached by Grimm now for two years.
I think the Cardinals might believe that they can waive Potter, a 7th rounder, figuring that with their much-televised and talked about tackle woes, that no team would want to take a Cardinal tackle castoff. But---what worries me is Bill Belichick. Potter fits the Patriot tackle mode very well in terms of size and athleticism, and the Patriots' depth at tackle is thin right now. They might take a chance on a young player like Potter.
WR (5): FITZGERALD, ROBERTS, Doucet, Floyd, Byrd.
Best news of all last night? Fitz did not get hurt while playing meaningless snaps well into the 3rd quarter. Fitz played well and was on the receiving end of the best pass of the night---Kolb's deep strike downfield while running to his left...which is never an easy throw.
Fitz got upended on the slant route---which he shouldn't be running in pre-season games. There is NO reason to subject him to over the middle hits in the pre-season. NONE.
Roberts looked slippery and quick. Nice TD.
Doucet---another night off---it's amazing with this guy and how many nights off he has gotten over the past 5 years.
Floyd---tough drop that ended Skelton's so-called "extended time"---couple of nice catches on short out routes---good effort on blocks. if one didn't know better one might think LaRon Byrd was the drafted player. Byrd looks faster, more athletic and more sure-handed.
Sampson had one good catch from Lindley---as did Stevie Williams---but if the Cardinals are going to add a 6th WR, I bet it is a waiver wire pickup.
Jaymar Johnson got blasted on the punt return and is having a tough pre-season.
TE (3): KING, Heap, Housler.
Jeff King had a nice catch. He seems to be getting back into form.
Todd Heap? Whisenhunt will most likely keep him---BUT---Whisenhunt CANNOT keep 4 TEs on this roster, not with the issues at QB, RB and OL.
And Steven Skelton looks like he could perform Heap's role in the offense---and probably will have to wait for his turn on the PS again.
Rob Housler was held back---which is disappointing because he needs the reps and Dems needs her weekly dose of ga-ga infatuation a la the Head and Shoulders girl in the Joe Mauer commercial. Hang tough for another week, Dems!
Defense and STs up next.
Last night was supposed to be an extensive look at John Skelton. Skelton only had one series the week before.
The most extensive look John Skelton got last night was from the Titans' RDE Kamerion Wimbley who might as well have been wearing Skelton's jersey because he was like white on rice.
No---last night wasn't about giving Skelton an extended look or a means in which to build his confidence or his hold on the starting job.
Last night was about trying to make Kevin Kolb relevant again.
After a week in which Kolb was publicly deemed a scaredy-cat by Raiders' DT Tommy Kelly, was questioned about being the right fit at QB for the Cardinals' offense by Kurt Warner and was vilified in the media from practically all the pundits at ESPN and NFL Network to Peter King in his MMQB blog and most searingly from Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley---it was a good time to try to pull Kolb up by the shoulder pads.
Kolb stood up for himself---and that was a good first step. Finally somewhere toward the end of the week, one of this teammates, G Daryn Colledge stood up for Kolb. Then last night ESPN's Trent Dilfer did the same.
It has been a week of humble pie facials for Kolb--and his head coach Ken Whisenhunt was going to try to find a way to help Kolb feel at least a modicum of satisfaction in his play this week.
It worked---not without some glaring glitches, as we all saw, but Kolb was able to generate enough offense and positive throws that he is now essentially the NFL's latest version of Lazarus. Kevin Kolb is back from the dead.
Coach Whisenhunt did a very good thing. He knows that this team is going to have to lean and depend on Kolb at some point this year---maybe even from the get-go---and this was a good step for Kolb and the team.
The question that remains, however, is what effect last night's priorities might have on John Skelton.
Had Whisenhunt played Skelton two series into the 3rd quarter, despite the early interception, the talk all around the NFL today might very well have been how Skelton had secured the starting job and run away with the job.
Skelton has thus far been about as resilient as a young player can be. He has manifested a propensity to bounce back from setbacks and to maintain his equilibrium.
Skelton, if he stays healthy, is going to take a good deal of snaps for the Cardinals this year. The odds are heavily in his favor.
If Kolb is appointed the Week 1 starter, Skelton will have to bide his time, just as he did last year when in a midst of a winning streak he was lifted in favor of Kolb who was returning from a foot injury.
My own sense is that Skelton would be the better choice to start the Seattle game---Skelton is the one Cardinal QB since Pete Carroll arrived to beat the Seahawks and their multi-dimensional blitz/pressure packages.
Against the Seahawks you can keep them honest and break them down if your QB is willing to tuck it in and run the ball when the situations present themselves. Skelton is more capable of doing just that.
One would hope the Cardinals are privately working to incorporate effectively executed screen passes to Ryan Williams and LaRod Stephens-Howling because Seattle is going to pressure from all angles and they are going to play sticky man coverage with their big, physical DBs. The only way to divert the DBs attention in this game will be via QB scampers and screen passes. If the Cardinals can get those DBs to peek back, then the WRs will have better opportunities to shake free.
I also get the strong feeling that the Cardinals' players are more comfortable and confident in Skelton. After all, they have won 8 games with him of the 12 games he's taken the majority of the snaps.
Ryan Lindley continues to make strides---his accuracy looked much improved last night---what a strike he threw up the seam into a small window to TE Jim Dray, for example, which Dray did not catch---but the zip and accuracy was textbook.
Adam Shefter reported that the Cardinals will be looking around the league to add an experienced QB to the mix via trade or waivers---but Coach Whisenhunt is always loathe to bring in a QB who hasn't been already integrated into the Cardinals' "timing and rhythm" passing scheme.
RB (4): WILLIAMS, Wells, Stephens-Howling, Powell.
Even though Beanie Wells returned last night, the real story is what the Cardinals intend to do with Ryan Williams, both in the running and passing game.
Wells will likely start and will be worked on first downs---but Williams will gradually garner the majority of snaps.
Stephens-Howling will have a package of plays, as he always does---and so will William Powell who shows the speed, elusiveness and sneaky strong base the coaches have been coveting for quite some time.
Not sure what to make of Tavarris James' early action in the past two games. The coaches might like him as a blocker in pass pro, but oddly enough, it seems every time James is in the game on a passing down he immediate leaves the pocket on a flare route.
Alfonso Smith will probably be waived, but brought back at some point, if and when necessary. As may be James. Neither one of them is likely to be claimed off waivers.
FB (1): SHERMAN
There's no question he is going to have an expanded role in the passing game as a pocket protector and a receiver.
OL (9): BATISTE, COLLEDGE, SENDLEIN, SNYDER, MASSIE, Bridges, Kelemete, Ohrnsberger and TBA (Chad Clifton?---or a player in a trade?).
The decision to start D.J. Young last night was dubious from the get-go. This does not speak well for CKW or Russ Grimm as they should have had a better sense of what Young is capable of.
What was much more egregious than starting Young was (a) not affording him any help; and (b) even worse, keeping Young in there when it was clear from the first play that he was getting manhandled by Kamerion Wimbley.
How it took essentially five series for CKW and Grimm to make a switch is about the most reckless and irresponsible decision these coaches can make, save perhaps playing Larry Fitzgerald well into the third quarter of a meaningless pre-season game. If Fitz goes down this team has NO chance. And luckily, neither Skelton nor Kolb was injured in last night's game while getting hammered repeatedly from the blind side.
What bothers me even more is feeling sorry for Young who was clearly unprepared at this point in his development to block a pass rusher like Wimbley (again, is there any pass rusher like Wimbley for Young to face in practice? Um, no. Not even close), was seeing him immediately after each series walking around the sidelines in a shell-shocked daze, and Russ Grimm, nor any other Cardinal coach is NOWHERE in sight.
Have you ever seen a line coach on an NFL sideline so detached and laid-back as Grimm?
The Super Bowl Springsteen story about Grimm remains so incredibly symbolic. Grimm looks like he's got other things on his mind.
D'Anthony Batiste, thank goodness, was able to settle everything down. He was not flawless by any means, but he sported a good, wide base and strong hand positions. What he needs to do now is set up faster and more shallower---he was drop stepping too deeply and made it easier for the DE to push him toward the QB.
On the other side, Bobby Massie, is making strides---but remains very raw. One time, and I have no idea why he did this, he got beat off the edge because on his setup he reared his head back, almost like a horse who rears its head, and lost his balance and leverage as the DE made an outside burst. Balanced head positioning for a tackle is paramount---much the way it is for a golfer.
The Cardinal tackles under Russ Grimm are so poorly drilled in the techniques---and to think that so often they are put on islands---the combination is destructive.
Colledge, Sendlein and Snyder each had their ups and downs---even they do not appear to be in sync---which is even more troubling.
It looks to me like Jeremy Bridges is being groomed to take over the RG spot. Not sure if the coaches are now feeling somewhat iffy about Snyder, or if the coaches are going to kick Snyder out to RT until Massie gets comfortable and strong enough to play.
One thing seems clear---Bridges no longer is in the coaches' plans at tackle.
It seemed utterly preposterous that we had to witness D.J. Young and the QBs getting abused play after play---and then watch a veteran like Jeremy Bridges appear only in the second half as a member of the second unit.
I think Gary is right about C/G Rich Ohrnsberger---it looks like he will make the team.
Senio Kelemete, who gave up a sack last night, continues to run block very well.
Did you see the endzone camera views of Powell's and James' TDs? The execution from Potter---Kelemete---Ohrnsberger---Bridges---Massie was textbook on these off-tackle trap plays. Wow. Loved the one where Potter downblocked, Maui'a took out the DE and Bridges pulled and sprang up the hole. You cannot execute an off-tackle trap play better than that. Give Russ Grimm due props for this because this play looks like it's been worked on quite diligently.
As for Nate Potter---if the Cardinals don't add a veteran tackle---which is imperative, but with the Cardinals' slowness in making moves might not happen---he will probably make the roster because he has been faring well on STs and he does have good potential. He got run over in pass pro, however. Again, the fundamentals of fan blocking are not in evidence, just as they weren't with Young, a player who has been coached by Grimm now for two years.
I think the Cardinals might believe that they can waive Potter, a 7th rounder, figuring that with their much-televised and talked about tackle woes, that no team would want to take a Cardinal tackle castoff. But---what worries me is Bill Belichick. Potter fits the Patriot tackle mode very well in terms of size and athleticism, and the Patriots' depth at tackle is thin right now. They might take a chance on a young player like Potter.
WR (5): FITZGERALD, ROBERTS, Doucet, Floyd, Byrd.
Best news of all last night? Fitz did not get hurt while playing meaningless snaps well into the 3rd quarter. Fitz played well and was on the receiving end of the best pass of the night---Kolb's deep strike downfield while running to his left...which is never an easy throw.
Fitz got upended on the slant route---which he shouldn't be running in pre-season games. There is NO reason to subject him to over the middle hits in the pre-season. NONE.
Roberts looked slippery and quick. Nice TD.
Doucet---another night off---it's amazing with this guy and how many nights off he has gotten over the past 5 years.
Floyd---tough drop that ended Skelton's so-called "extended time"---couple of nice catches on short out routes---good effort on blocks. if one didn't know better one might think LaRon Byrd was the drafted player. Byrd looks faster, more athletic and more sure-handed.
Sampson had one good catch from Lindley---as did Stevie Williams---but if the Cardinals are going to add a 6th WR, I bet it is a waiver wire pickup.
Jaymar Johnson got blasted on the punt return and is having a tough pre-season.
TE (3): KING, Heap, Housler.
Jeff King had a nice catch. He seems to be getting back into form.
Todd Heap? Whisenhunt will most likely keep him---BUT---Whisenhunt CANNOT keep 4 TEs on this roster, not with the issues at QB, RB and OL.
And Steven Skelton looks like he could perform Heap's role in the offense---and probably will have to wait for his turn on the PS again.
Rob Housler was held back---which is disappointing because he needs the reps and Dems needs her weekly dose of ga-ga infatuation a la the Head and Shoulders girl in the Joe Mauer commercial. Hang tough for another week, Dems!
Defense and STs up next.
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