Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
After a shaky start (CJ fumbles, drops, ST penalties, missed assignments in coverage, poor attempts to tackle)...a nifty tip interception by Dansby to Mathieu gave the Cardinals quite a lift and momentum when Carson Palmer dropped a perfect pass at the pylon to John Brown. That was the night for Palmer, but the defense came up big when Markus Golden sacked and stripped Matt Schaub and Chandler Jones pounced on the ball. Then John Brown hauled in another TD pass thrown on a dime, this time by Drew Stanton.
The highlight of the second half included sacks from Cap Capi, some good strikes to WRs and TEs by Blaine Gabbert and a bounce out race to the pylon for a TD by James Summers.
This was a very positive response to last week's sluggish loss to the Bears.
Updated 53:
QB (3): Palmer, Gabbert, Stanton
* All 3 QBs played well.
RB (4): D. Johnson, K. Williams, C. Johnson, Ellington
* Chance are BA will remain confident in CJ, who hasn't looked himself in the past two games. Ellington remains a good receiving threat. Penny's fumble hurt his cause. The Cardinals could make a waiver claim for one of these spots, preferably a good all-around RB who can play STs.
WR (6): Fitzgerald, Jaron Brown, Nelson, John Brown, C. Williams, Golden
* Brittan Golden was featured early and was the starting kickoff returner --- looks like he's the #6. Chad Williams had a poor game with a drop and a fumble, which is tough because Jeremy Ross could bring value to the team, as could Aaron Dobson who has a nice combination of size and speed. Curiously, last week's standout, Chris Hubert wasn't targeted until Trevor Knight came into the game with 4 minutes left. Carlos Agudosi has a nice 20 yard catch from Gabbert. J.J. Nelson has a very good catch on a 3rd down out route despite tight coverage.
TE (3): Gresham, Niklas, Momah
* All three are playing solid. Hakeem Valles plays a lot on STs, but should start the year on the PS, as could Ricky Seals-Jones who made another catch on the last TD drive to move the chains on 3rd down.
OL (9): Humphries, Iupati, Shipley, Boehm, Veldheer, Wetzel, Toner, D. Johnson, Holden
* Cases can be made for T Ulrich John and G/C Tony Bergstrom, but it's tough to cut draft picks.
DL (7): Rucker, Peters, Mauro, Nkemdiche, Gunter, Pierre, X. Williams
* Gunter had his best game in the pre-season, as did Xavier Williams. #79 David Maola had a very good second half.
ILB (5): Dansby, Bucannon, Reddick, Bynes, Wheeler
* Josh Bynes and Philip Wheeler were the 2nd team ILBers and they both were aggressive and around the ball. Scooby Wright, as good as he is on STs, may be headed to the PS. If Deone Bucannon can play week 1, the Cardinals could elect to go with just 4 ILBers in favor of keeping an extra WR or DB.
OLB (4): Golden, C. Jones, Martin, Capi
* Cao Capi was outstanding in this game. Kareem Martin was solid too.
CB (4): Peterson, Bethel, B. Williams, T. Williams
* Another good game for Bethel and Brandon Williams.
S (5): Mathieu, Bethea, Branch, Baker, Miller
* Rudy Ford didn't play until late, but made a couple of good plays, one being a good tackle on Leone's last punt. But, Harlan Miller almost intercepted a pass and is playing fairly well as a backup FS. Would not like to see Ford get waived. He is going to be a good player in a year or two. Maybe they keep Ford and waive Wheeler.
STs (3): Brewer, Dawson, Wile.
* Dawson looks very good.
The highlight of the second half included sacks from Cap Capi, some good strikes to WRs and TEs by Blaine Gabbert and a bounce out race to the pylon for a TD by James Summers.
This was a very positive response to last week's sluggish loss to the Bears.
Updated 53:
QB (3): Palmer, Gabbert, Stanton
* All 3 QBs played well.
RB (4): D. Johnson, K. Williams, C. Johnson, Ellington
* Chance are BA will remain confident in CJ, who hasn't looked himself in the past two games. Ellington remains a good receiving threat. Penny's fumble hurt his cause. The Cardinals could make a waiver claim for one of these spots, preferably a good all-around RB who can play STs.
WR (6): Fitzgerald, Jaron Brown, Nelson, John Brown, C. Williams, Golden
* Brittan Golden was featured early and was the starting kickoff returner --- looks like he's the #6. Chad Williams had a poor game with a drop and a fumble, which is tough because Jeremy Ross could bring value to the team, as could Aaron Dobson who has a nice combination of size and speed. Curiously, last week's standout, Chris Hubert wasn't targeted until Trevor Knight came into the game with 4 minutes left. Carlos Agudosi has a nice 20 yard catch from Gabbert. J.J. Nelson has a very good catch on a 3rd down out route despite tight coverage.
TE (3): Gresham, Niklas, Momah
* All three are playing solid. Hakeem Valles plays a lot on STs, but should start the year on the PS, as could Ricky Seals-Jones who made another catch on the last TD drive to move the chains on 3rd down.
OL (9): Humphries, Iupati, Shipley, Boehm, Veldheer, Wetzel, Toner, D. Johnson, Holden
* Cases can be made for T Ulrich John and G/C Tony Bergstrom, but it's tough to cut draft picks.
DL (7): Rucker, Peters, Mauro, Nkemdiche, Gunter, Pierre, X. Williams
* Gunter had his best game in the pre-season, as did Xavier Williams. #79 David Maola had a very good second half.
ILB (5): Dansby, Bucannon, Reddick, Bynes, Wheeler
* Josh Bynes and Philip Wheeler were the 2nd team ILBers and they both were aggressive and around the ball. Scooby Wright, as good as he is on STs, may be headed to the PS. If Deone Bucannon can play week 1, the Cardinals could elect to go with just 4 ILBers in favor of keeping an extra WR or DB.
OLB (4): Golden, C. Jones, Martin, Capi
* Cao Capi was outstanding in this game. Kareem Martin was solid too.
CB (4): Peterson, Bethel, B. Williams, T. Williams
* Another good game for Bethel and Brandon Williams.
S (5): Mathieu, Bethea, Branch, Baker, Miller
* Rudy Ford didn't play until late, but made a couple of good plays, one being a good tackle on Leone's last punt. But, Harlan Miller almost intercepted a pass and is playing fairly well as a backup FS. Would not like to see Ford get waived. He is going to be a good player in a year or two. Maybe they keep Ford and waive Wheeler.
STs (3): Brewer, Dawson, Wile.
* Dawson looks very good.
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