Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Optimism is reining high in Arizona this year...for the Arizona Cardinals have reasons to believe they will rise from the ashes...like the Phoenix itself...to become a legitimate playoff caliber football team. These hopes and expectations are further scintillated by the arrival of an awesome brand new state-of-the-art stadium...the only one of its kind...replete with a retractable roof and a movable grass field that will be basking in the Arizona sun during the week and sitting pretty in the floor of the stadium on the weekends...and the hopes and expectations of the franchise are even further galvanized by the Cardinals' surprising feat of landing the prize player in free agency, All-Pro caliber RB, Edgerrin James, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts....and if that wasn't enough...the Cardinals may have pulled off grand larceny in the 2006 NFL Draft by adding the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NCAA Champion, QB Matt Leinart, with the tenth pick, no less!
However...these current Cardinals could be headed for another disappointing season because they may be faced with an identity crisis on both ends of the football.
With the arrival of Edgerrin James comes the pressure to run the football. The problem is...the current offensive line is not suited to run the football...and the mentality of the offense is not of the smashmouth variety, the very mentality that teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers thrive on and have cultivated as an integral part of their tradition and modus operandi for years.
Here are some of the reason why the Cardinals will have a difficult time running the football:
1. Only two of the starters on the line are solid, consistent run blockers: LT Leonard Davis and RG Milford Brown. Davis, who once appeared to be a shoe-in All-Pro at guard, is an imposing and daunting figure to deal with...but he plays on the edge now and the Cardinal problems are on the interior.
Milford Brown, signed as an UFA in the off-season, is an aggressive blocker who has the girth and techinique to budge and maneuver the league's powerful DTs. Brown, however, is just starting to come into his own. He still lacks experience...but the ability is there.
As for the other starters on the line...the one most capable of getting a surge in the running game is newcomer, RT Brandon Gorin, who brings valuable pressure game experience from his starting stints with the New England Patriots. While Gorin has ability...he's one of those players who mystifies coaches because of his inconsistency and sometimes indifferent moods.
The run blocking is weakest at left guard and center...the two positions that most good running teams try to stack with talent...the very reason why the Vikings, for example, broke the bank to sign UFA All-World LG Steve Hutchinson from the Seattle Seahawks. Was it a coincidence that the two best LGs in the game, Hutchinson and Alan Faneca of the Pittsburgh Steelers happened to propel their teams to Super Bowl berths last year? Left guard has become, in my opinion, the most important position (other than QB) in an offense.
The Cardinals signed their incumbent LG, Reggie Wells, to a lucrative multi-year contract, deciding to match the generous RFA offer sheet Wells received from the Buffalo Bills. What's a little mind boggling about Wells' re-signing is that Wells has yet to show any prowess whatsoever at creating a consistent budge on opposing DTs. Through four games in the pre-season this has not changed, nor has the Cardinals ability to run the football effectively changed for the better. These trends are linked because one poor run blocker can hamper a team's rushing ability in a big way.
The Cardinals drafted a player who could be the future at LG...Deuce Lutui, an All-American from USC. Lutui has shown some pop in the pre-season, but hasn't found a comfort level yet in the system...and at times, seems lost out there.
At center, the Cardinals are starting third year pro, Alex Stepanovich, who remains a liability in the running game. Stepanovich is slow off the ball and is agonizingly slow at picking up inside blitzes...which have been the nemesis of the Cardinals' running game for several years now...just ask Emmitt Smith, Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington who must have nightmares about getting pasted while securing the handoff.
Behind Stepanovich is an intriguing player, third year pro Nick Leckey of Kansas St. Leckey is a diminutive center who is a fine technician and a smart, savvy performer. There was an noticeable improvement in the cohesiveness of the line when Leckey became the starter last year...the line seems to get off the ball quicker with Leckey delivering the snaps...and it appears to be more in sync. However, the coaches seem more enamored with Stepanovich's physical abilities and have thus far bypassed Leckey. While Leckey may not seem to be an ideal answer for improving the running game, it would appear that he is better capable of picking up the inside blitzes that have plagued the unit's production.
The good news is that Wells and Stepanovich are solid pass protectors...which aids and abets the team's prolific passing attack.
And herein lies the crux of the matter...this offense has one of the most prodigious passing attacks in all of football. It boasts two splendid passers in Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart...two of the most talented and productive WRs in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald...perhaps the most talented #3 WR in the NFL in Bryant Johnson...and a 6'8" rookie phenom at TE in Leonard Pope...not to mention...and with all of the media focus being on the Cards' poor running game, this has been vastly overlooked...the Cardinals added a RB who is probably the best pass catching RB in the game, in Edgerrin James.
The smartest thing Dennis Green and Keith Rowen could do, in my opinion, is sell the team, the media and the fans on the notion that this offense is a pass first, run second offense...in doing so, this would take the pressure off the team to have to produce consistently respectable running stats...and it would place the emphasis of the offense smack dab on where it is strongest...
The reality is...there are many ways to skin a cat...as long as this offense is putting up enough points that would enable the team to win more games than it loses...who cares whether the Cardinals can consistently run the ball? The name of the game is scoring touchdowns and winning football games. Yes, ideally, teams want to be able to run and pass for TDs...but a TD is TD no matter how it is achieved.
When asked by the media if there is frustration about the running game in light of Edge not getting his typical numbers, Dennis Green could say, "Hey, we signed James because he's also the best pass catching RBs and pass blocking RBs in football and we love the way he makes our passing game even stronger."
Let's say a typical game for Edge this year is 14 carries for 49 yards and 6 catches for 68 yards...that's 20 touches for 117 yards...so what does it matter?
I love what Anquan Boldin said in a recent interview...he said that the offense is going to take what the defense gives them...he said that audibles will be in place and if the defense is stacking the box, Warner will pass...if the defense is backing the safeties off to double on him or Fitzy, then Warner may check to the run. Pretty simple approach...and the right one...which is why I am hoping the Cardinals will throw almost all the time on first down...to back off the safeties and then give the unit the better chance to run on subsequent downs.
The worst thing to happen would be for the Cardinals to try to force the run in the hopes that Edge will get his accustomed numbers...that will exacerbate the identity crisis that this team needs to avoid...it needs to look at its strengths and play to the strengths...in an effort to do one important thing: win ballgames.
Is there a potential identity crisis on defense? Yes. The problem is, while the Cardinals are much stronger across the board in the front seven, the secondary schemes are far too passive to support and take advantage of an aggressive front seven...
The current philosophy seems to be a "bend but don't break" philosophy (predicated by soft zones and seven yard cushions on the corners)...which will be agonizing and often demoralizing to watch, as teams dink and dunk their way down field for large chunks of time on a consistent basis...while converting third downs with relative ease.
The defensive identity of this football team should be to play super fast and aggressively in all aspects of defense...Clancy Pendergast should roll the corners up to play press coverage and continue to send the ranch after the opposing QB...yeah they may give up some big plays, but, if the pressure up front with or without blitzes is fast and furious...this defense could skyrocket near to the top of the league in turnovers.
In doing so, the plan has to be to get the Cardinals' high powered offense on the field as many times as possible...and not have them sit on the sidelines for long, frustrating stretches.
The good news is that the Cardinals' special teams are taking major steps to creating the right and positive identity...this has been manifested in the aggressive, good, strong special teams play we saw in pre-season and the fact that Dennis Green and his staff paid close attention to special teams during roster cuts, as evidenced by the team's decision to keep players such as Diamond Ferri, Ernest Shazor, Aaron Francisco, Fred Wakefield and A.J. Shable...who all will have very valuable roles in a variety of ways on the special teams. The only player they missed out on keeping in my opinion was John Bronson, who is the rare type of player who can bust up a wedge and still make the tackle.
If the Cardinals understand who they are...chances are we fans, the coaches and the players will be sleeping well most Sunday nights. Heck, maybe even Edge will be granted his request that the team be given Victory Monday Day Offs. If the Cardinals try to force a different identity upon themselves, get the Tylenol PM ready.
One final note: this next off-season should be focused on getting the personnel on the offensive line right...and cultivating the running attack mentality...when both are in place, then we may be able to see a balanced offense.
However...these current Cardinals could be headed for another disappointing season because they may be faced with an identity crisis on both ends of the football.
With the arrival of Edgerrin James comes the pressure to run the football. The problem is...the current offensive line is not suited to run the football...and the mentality of the offense is not of the smashmouth variety, the very mentality that teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers thrive on and have cultivated as an integral part of their tradition and modus operandi for years.
Here are some of the reason why the Cardinals will have a difficult time running the football:
1. Only two of the starters on the line are solid, consistent run blockers: LT Leonard Davis and RG Milford Brown. Davis, who once appeared to be a shoe-in All-Pro at guard, is an imposing and daunting figure to deal with...but he plays on the edge now and the Cardinal problems are on the interior.
Milford Brown, signed as an UFA in the off-season, is an aggressive blocker who has the girth and techinique to budge and maneuver the league's powerful DTs. Brown, however, is just starting to come into his own. He still lacks experience...but the ability is there.
As for the other starters on the line...the one most capable of getting a surge in the running game is newcomer, RT Brandon Gorin, who brings valuable pressure game experience from his starting stints with the New England Patriots. While Gorin has ability...he's one of those players who mystifies coaches because of his inconsistency and sometimes indifferent moods.
The run blocking is weakest at left guard and center...the two positions that most good running teams try to stack with talent...the very reason why the Vikings, for example, broke the bank to sign UFA All-World LG Steve Hutchinson from the Seattle Seahawks. Was it a coincidence that the two best LGs in the game, Hutchinson and Alan Faneca of the Pittsburgh Steelers happened to propel their teams to Super Bowl berths last year? Left guard has become, in my opinion, the most important position (other than QB) in an offense.
The Cardinals signed their incumbent LG, Reggie Wells, to a lucrative multi-year contract, deciding to match the generous RFA offer sheet Wells received from the Buffalo Bills. What's a little mind boggling about Wells' re-signing is that Wells has yet to show any prowess whatsoever at creating a consistent budge on opposing DTs. Through four games in the pre-season this has not changed, nor has the Cardinals ability to run the football effectively changed for the better. These trends are linked because one poor run blocker can hamper a team's rushing ability in a big way.
The Cardinals drafted a player who could be the future at LG...Deuce Lutui, an All-American from USC. Lutui has shown some pop in the pre-season, but hasn't found a comfort level yet in the system...and at times, seems lost out there.
At center, the Cardinals are starting third year pro, Alex Stepanovich, who remains a liability in the running game. Stepanovich is slow off the ball and is agonizingly slow at picking up inside blitzes...which have been the nemesis of the Cardinals' running game for several years now...just ask Emmitt Smith, Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington who must have nightmares about getting pasted while securing the handoff.
Behind Stepanovich is an intriguing player, third year pro Nick Leckey of Kansas St. Leckey is a diminutive center who is a fine technician and a smart, savvy performer. There was an noticeable improvement in the cohesiveness of the line when Leckey became the starter last year...the line seems to get off the ball quicker with Leckey delivering the snaps...and it appears to be more in sync. However, the coaches seem more enamored with Stepanovich's physical abilities and have thus far bypassed Leckey. While Leckey may not seem to be an ideal answer for improving the running game, it would appear that he is better capable of picking up the inside blitzes that have plagued the unit's production.
The good news is that Wells and Stepanovich are solid pass protectors...which aids and abets the team's prolific passing attack.
And herein lies the crux of the matter...this offense has one of the most prodigious passing attacks in all of football. It boasts two splendid passers in Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart...two of the most talented and productive WRs in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald...perhaps the most talented #3 WR in the NFL in Bryant Johnson...and a 6'8" rookie phenom at TE in Leonard Pope...not to mention...and with all of the media focus being on the Cards' poor running game, this has been vastly overlooked...the Cardinals added a RB who is probably the best pass catching RB in the game, in Edgerrin James.
The smartest thing Dennis Green and Keith Rowen could do, in my opinion, is sell the team, the media and the fans on the notion that this offense is a pass first, run second offense...in doing so, this would take the pressure off the team to have to produce consistently respectable running stats...and it would place the emphasis of the offense smack dab on where it is strongest...
The reality is...there are many ways to skin a cat...as long as this offense is putting up enough points that would enable the team to win more games than it loses...who cares whether the Cardinals can consistently run the ball? The name of the game is scoring touchdowns and winning football games. Yes, ideally, teams want to be able to run and pass for TDs...but a TD is TD no matter how it is achieved.
When asked by the media if there is frustration about the running game in light of Edge not getting his typical numbers, Dennis Green could say, "Hey, we signed James because he's also the best pass catching RBs and pass blocking RBs in football and we love the way he makes our passing game even stronger."
Let's say a typical game for Edge this year is 14 carries for 49 yards and 6 catches for 68 yards...that's 20 touches for 117 yards...so what does it matter?
I love what Anquan Boldin said in a recent interview...he said that the offense is going to take what the defense gives them...he said that audibles will be in place and if the defense is stacking the box, Warner will pass...if the defense is backing the safeties off to double on him or Fitzy, then Warner may check to the run. Pretty simple approach...and the right one...which is why I am hoping the Cardinals will throw almost all the time on first down...to back off the safeties and then give the unit the better chance to run on subsequent downs.
The worst thing to happen would be for the Cardinals to try to force the run in the hopes that Edge will get his accustomed numbers...that will exacerbate the identity crisis that this team needs to avoid...it needs to look at its strengths and play to the strengths...in an effort to do one important thing: win ballgames.
Is there a potential identity crisis on defense? Yes. The problem is, while the Cardinals are much stronger across the board in the front seven, the secondary schemes are far too passive to support and take advantage of an aggressive front seven...
The current philosophy seems to be a "bend but don't break" philosophy (predicated by soft zones and seven yard cushions on the corners)...which will be agonizing and often demoralizing to watch, as teams dink and dunk their way down field for large chunks of time on a consistent basis...while converting third downs with relative ease.
The defensive identity of this football team should be to play super fast and aggressively in all aspects of defense...Clancy Pendergast should roll the corners up to play press coverage and continue to send the ranch after the opposing QB...yeah they may give up some big plays, but, if the pressure up front with or without blitzes is fast and furious...this defense could skyrocket near to the top of the league in turnovers.
In doing so, the plan has to be to get the Cardinals' high powered offense on the field as many times as possible...and not have them sit on the sidelines for long, frustrating stretches.
The good news is that the Cardinals' special teams are taking major steps to creating the right and positive identity...this has been manifested in the aggressive, good, strong special teams play we saw in pre-season and the fact that Dennis Green and his staff paid close attention to special teams during roster cuts, as evidenced by the team's decision to keep players such as Diamond Ferri, Ernest Shazor, Aaron Francisco, Fred Wakefield and A.J. Shable...who all will have very valuable roles in a variety of ways on the special teams. The only player they missed out on keeping in my opinion was John Bronson, who is the rare type of player who can bust up a wedge and still make the tackle.
If the Cardinals understand who they are...chances are we fans, the coaches and the players will be sleeping well most Sunday nights. Heck, maybe even Edge will be granted his request that the team be given Victory Monday Day Offs. If the Cardinals try to force a different identity upon themselves, get the Tylenol PM ready.
One final note: this next off-season should be focused on getting the personnel on the offensive line right...and cultivating the running attack mentality...when both are in place, then we may be able to see a balanced offense.
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