Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Today was the first time I was able to do a close watching of the game tape. Therefore, I have several additional observations to share.
My predictions are what I believe the Cardinals will do. At the end, for those who are curious, I will add in what I would do.
First of all---as an overview of the game, I was very impressed with how organized the Cardinals were in all three phases. Coach Whiz and his staff deserve a lot of credit for getting the team this organized in such a short amount of time.
I also believe that because of the shortened preparation---the Cardinals gave us a pretty clear idea of what the roster will be---the pecking orders seemed very well thought out for this game.
QB (3): 4-Kolb; 19-Skelton; 2-Bartel.
What impressed me the most about Kolb were his quick feet. He can scoot.
What impressed me the most about Skelton were his footwork, his poise and his throwing accuracy. Working mostly from behind the center, Skelton's three and five step drops were tidy, smooth and efficient. And I love that he throws equally as accurate to his left---it's one of the reasons why we saw so many drops in his 4 games as starter---most of them came to Skelton's left where he actually led the WRs, after they had grown so used to being thrown behind.
What impressed me most about Bartel is his play action skill. He sells it very well, as he did when he threw the long pass back to his left to DeMarco Sampson. Bartel also did a very nice job reading zone in the red zone on his perfect TD pass to Rob Housler, Dems' new hearthrob.
And then there's Max---and to do what he did with the 3rd o-line (who played beautifully in sync and with bounce---led by C Kris O'Dowd and RT Jason Speredon). I love the tempo and love the decisive way Max took what the defense gave him. I love that we won this game---and I am very happy with how Max delivered the win in the clutch.
However, I think the coaches will keep Bartel---because he gives the team a more normal look as the scout team QB. This is always a factor for #3 QBs---and Bartel looks, acts and plays quite a lot like Brian St. Pierre, whom Whiz loved running the scout teams.
RB (3): 34-Williams; 36-Stephens-Howling; 26-Wells.
Williams and LSH clearly outran and out performed Wells---and because they are nifty pass receivers (great 23 yard downfield catch by Williams on Skelton's roll out)---they likely will be used more regularly than Wells. If you saw the Bickley interview---I think he's right---Wells may never be a fit in this offense.
LSH was outstanding in this game. The great run he had over Deuce that was called back---watch it gain---Deuce made a textbook block and subsequent pancake of his man, and his hands were inside the numbers. It was not a holding penalty at all.
What Williams and LSH have more of that Beanie lacks: the ability to make defenders miss---and this has been one of Whiz's focuses this year---THT wasn't great at it either, although he would power his way for extra yards..
Alphonso "Alfredo" Smith has a legitimate shot to make the roster if he starts to excel on STs. For now he's still PS eligible---so that's where he remains.
I think there is a 50/50 chance that Wells will be traded before Week 1. See my moves to see where I have him going.
FB (1): 35-Sherman.
Did you see Sherman nail Denarius Moore on the kickoff following the Housler TD?
Sherman is the total package FB Whiz has been wanting since he missed out on signing John Kuhn (GB).
Reagan Maui'a has made progress but he's not nearly the ST's player Sherman is. And it makes no sense to keep 2 FBs...especially when Jim Dray is being used as one, and Dray is a good ST's player as well.
TE (4): 86-Heap; 87-King; 81-Dray; 84-Housler.
Loved Skelton's third down conversion to Heap---it was thrown perfectly and Heap gathered it in after an initial bobble.
Love King's tenacity---Dray's all-purpose skills---and Housler's receiving ability. All were on display in this game.
Whiz can justify keeping Dray if he only keeps 3 RBs and 1 FB. Essentially Dray takes Jason Wright's roster spot.
WR (5): 11-Fitzgerald; 12-Roberts; 89-Sampson; 85-Doucet; 18-S. Williams.
Fitz and Roberts are givens.
Sampson has moved into the #3 role, imo. He played well on STs. Doucet seems healthy but needs to stand out more. Stephen Williams gives the team another big target WR---and he has some wheels to go with his size.
Isaiah Williams is close---very close. Still PS eligible.
Chansi Stuckey is listed near the back end of the depth chart (must be a reason)---he made an excellent catch and RAC move on the game winning TD drive. At this point---he needs to elevate his game in order to stick. It would appear that he is insurance against Doucet getting injured again.
Max Komar has been sidelined---but with the emergence of Sampson and new TE options, he might have a hard time making the roster this year. And he's not PS eligible.
OL (9): 75-Brown; 71-Colledge; 63-Sendlein; 70-Handot; 72-Keith; 74-Batiste; 73-Bridges; 76-Lutui; 78-Womack.
One of the major questions I kept asking myself through the course of this game---was---is the 2nd o-line better than the first?
To me---man for man---with the exception of the C position---they were clearly better.
Let's start at LT. Levi Brown whiffs on his man badly---on the first play, causing Beanie Wells to be dropped in his tracks for a 1 yard loss. Then there was Brown's false start. What I want to know is: where is the passion? Where is the concentration?
Then---one of the most encouraging and surprising things I watched was the play of LT D'Anthony Batiste. I singled in on him for every snap---and I would give him a grade in the 90s. He played with attitude---he sustained his blocks---he never jumped off sides---he played every snap to the whistle---there was only one time he got beat on a pass rush, but he was still able to recover well enough so that it did not affect the outcome of the play. I like his balance---and I like his hand punch, he has a smoother more natural drop step than Brown's. Now I want to what he can do versus Clay Matthews and I hope he gets the chance.
At LG---Daryn Colledge played as advertised---he's not particularly physical in the running game, but he's a solid pro pass protector. What I like are his feet and his agility and it makes me wonder what he would look like at tackle. I know he was tried there with mixed results in Green Bay---but---he reminds me physically and stylistically of Matt Light---who needed a little time to become a first-rate LT.
Conversely, Pork Chop Womack was more physical and, imo, more productive.
At RG and RT---Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith got handled at the goal-line and did not get any push, nor was their technique even adequate. Plus, their side was a swinging gate in pass protection.
Deuce is Deuce---despite his weight, he remains, imo, the best and most feared of all our o-linemen---and he and RT Jeremy Bridges were in unison the entire game. There was excellent chemistry and communication there.
Now---some of you will argue that hey the first line was going up against the Raiders' first d-line.
Not so fast.
The Raiders' second d-line was in for the goal-line stand...and remained in the game for as long as our second o-line was in. Our second o-line started dominating them. Our first o-line couldn't get 2 yards in three tries against them.
At C Lyle Sendlein is a real pro. Ben Claxton is very solid. But---he's the odd man out because Hadnot can play C and O'Dowd will be on the PS...as will Jason Sperendon---these two kids are very good UCFA finds.
NT (2): 92-Williams; 79-Carter.
Neither Williams nor Carter played very well in this game. Williams need to get in shape and Carter needs technique.
DE (4): 90-Dockett; 93-Campbell; 91-Holliday; 98-Eason.
This rotation is solid all the way around.
Ronald Talley, because of his strong, aggressive play this week, is in the mix---what he has to do is convince the coaches they are better off having Carter spend a year on the PS and having Eason be the backup NT. Probably won't happen, but it could if Talley keeps charging.
ILB (4): 58-Washington; 97-Bradley; 51-Lenon; 56-Walker.
Bradley is on his way to the starting lineup. He's quite a presence when he is in the game.
Washington---made two of the quickest chase tackles in this game---to his away side. Boy he gets there in a flash---and he finishes.
Lenon was solid...although on one play, on a 3rd and 4, he moved up to threaten the A gap as a blitzer and then on the snap, he slid two gaps sideways (to the C gap) to his right while the running play went right through the B gap inside him and right past him. I still cannot figure out what he was doing. Later they sent him on a run blitz and he stopped the RB in his tracks. Good stuff there.
Walker was a step behind all night---but he's good on STs and he's getting better in coverage. It's possible that he could get beat out by the ubiquitous Pago Togafau---who played solidly with the 3rd unit.
One of the bigger surprises of the game was learning that Brandon Sharpe was paired with Togafau as the 3rd team WILB. I thought Sharpe's forte is as an edge rusher---he played DE at Texas Tech. But---hey---he made some good plays, including the clean up sack on Edwards.
I was very disappointed in the play of rookies Quan Sturdivant and Kendall Smith---two highly touted ACC LBers. It says a lot that Brandon Sharpe was with the 3rd unit in front of these two---and neither one of them did much to make a case otherwise. I think they will keep Sturdivant on the PS and try to coach him up. There is no way he will be claimed by another team---we are seeing reasons why he dropped to the 6th round. If he were good on STs that would be another thing---but did you see how he didn't even make an effort to tackle Denarius Morris on his long punt return? And Morris ran his lane.
OLB (5): 53-Haggans; 55-Porter; 50-Schofield; 94-Acho; 52-Obiozor.
Haggans and Porter defended the run well in this game. But neither was any factor at all in pressuring the QB. Acho came the closest once, but bumped into the QB for a roughing penalty. Acho and Obiozor were the most active and aggressive, mostly on Tex/loop stunts. Schofield got one near pressure---but like Acho, got sealed off to many times and had no counter.
The fact that Will Davis is on the 3rd team---he's likely out.
CB (5): 20-Jefferson; 28-Toler; 21-Peterson; 31-Marshall; 27-Adams.
This game was great to watch from the standpoint of seeing 4 good sized CBs all with speed and all with good, solid tackling ability. These guys fit the system beautifully.
Jefferson stood out. He came up fast and made a great tackle on a screen play to his side. When he was passed on deep, he had good sticky coverage and he looked back for the ball! Already we are seeing a change in the coaching! Plus, Jefferson provided two good fast KO returns.
Toler wasn't picked on much---but gave up too much cushion on one pass.
As did Marshall on a couple of occasions---and Marshall lost his cushion on the deep post---but flashed very good recovery speed.
But you can see Marshall's talent---love the way he came up and stuck Morris on the hitch pass. Not too many Cardinal CBs have done that in recent years.
Peterson did not take advantage of his tremendous athleticism because he didn't play instinctually---which for a rookie in his first pre-season game is expected. The one play he was able to flash his great speed and instincts was the KO he ran---boy, he is fast and hard to corral.
Marshay Green had a great punt return---and is good insurance in case Money Mike needs more time to return.
S (5): 25-Rhodes; 49-Johnson; 23-Abdullah; 22-Ware; 24-Wilson
Johnson is a good nickel and dime FS. Coverting him to SS looks like a mistake. Abdullah and Ware struggle in coverage and are hit or miss tacklers. But---the Cardinals seems to be finished adding players---so this could be it.
ST (3): 3-Feely; 5-Graham; 82-Leach.
All three looked in mid-season form. The timing on STs was very good.
PS (8): 46-Smith (RB): 10-Williams, I. (WR); 60-O'Dowd (C); 61-Sperendon (T); 60-Lumpkin (NT); 54-Sturdivant (LB); 39-Lemmons (OLB); 32-Campbell (S).
This Lemmons kid has spunk and great spirit---as does Calais' little bro, Jared. Both made good tackles in this game.
LAST THREE IN: Dray, Obiozor, Ware
FIRST THREE OUT: I. Williams, Claxton, Talley
As for what I would do---I will post it after I eat lunch.
My predictions are what I believe the Cardinals will do. At the end, for those who are curious, I will add in what I would do.
First of all---as an overview of the game, I was very impressed with how organized the Cardinals were in all three phases. Coach Whiz and his staff deserve a lot of credit for getting the team this organized in such a short amount of time.
I also believe that because of the shortened preparation---the Cardinals gave us a pretty clear idea of what the roster will be---the pecking orders seemed very well thought out for this game.
QB (3): 4-Kolb; 19-Skelton; 2-Bartel.
What impressed me the most about Kolb were his quick feet. He can scoot.
What impressed me the most about Skelton were his footwork, his poise and his throwing accuracy. Working mostly from behind the center, Skelton's three and five step drops were tidy, smooth and efficient. And I love that he throws equally as accurate to his left---it's one of the reasons why we saw so many drops in his 4 games as starter---most of them came to Skelton's left where he actually led the WRs, after they had grown so used to being thrown behind.
What impressed me most about Bartel is his play action skill. He sells it very well, as he did when he threw the long pass back to his left to DeMarco Sampson. Bartel also did a very nice job reading zone in the red zone on his perfect TD pass to Rob Housler, Dems' new hearthrob.
And then there's Max---and to do what he did with the 3rd o-line (who played beautifully in sync and with bounce---led by C Kris O'Dowd and RT Jason Speredon). I love the tempo and love the decisive way Max took what the defense gave him. I love that we won this game---and I am very happy with how Max delivered the win in the clutch.
However, I think the coaches will keep Bartel---because he gives the team a more normal look as the scout team QB. This is always a factor for #3 QBs---and Bartel looks, acts and plays quite a lot like Brian St. Pierre, whom Whiz loved running the scout teams.
RB (3): 34-Williams; 36-Stephens-Howling; 26-Wells.
Williams and LSH clearly outran and out performed Wells---and because they are nifty pass receivers (great 23 yard downfield catch by Williams on Skelton's roll out)---they likely will be used more regularly than Wells. If you saw the Bickley interview---I think he's right---Wells may never be a fit in this offense.
LSH was outstanding in this game. The great run he had over Deuce that was called back---watch it gain---Deuce made a textbook block and subsequent pancake of his man, and his hands were inside the numbers. It was not a holding penalty at all.
What Williams and LSH have more of that Beanie lacks: the ability to make defenders miss---and this has been one of Whiz's focuses this year---THT wasn't great at it either, although he would power his way for extra yards..
Alphonso "Alfredo" Smith has a legitimate shot to make the roster if he starts to excel on STs. For now he's still PS eligible---so that's where he remains.
I think there is a 50/50 chance that Wells will be traded before Week 1. See my moves to see where I have him going.
FB (1): 35-Sherman.
Did you see Sherman nail Denarius Moore on the kickoff following the Housler TD?
Sherman is the total package FB Whiz has been wanting since he missed out on signing John Kuhn (GB).
Reagan Maui'a has made progress but he's not nearly the ST's player Sherman is. And it makes no sense to keep 2 FBs...especially when Jim Dray is being used as one, and Dray is a good ST's player as well.
TE (4): 86-Heap; 87-King; 81-Dray; 84-Housler.
Loved Skelton's third down conversion to Heap---it was thrown perfectly and Heap gathered it in after an initial bobble.
Love King's tenacity---Dray's all-purpose skills---and Housler's receiving ability. All were on display in this game.
Whiz can justify keeping Dray if he only keeps 3 RBs and 1 FB. Essentially Dray takes Jason Wright's roster spot.
WR (5): 11-Fitzgerald; 12-Roberts; 89-Sampson; 85-Doucet; 18-S. Williams.
Fitz and Roberts are givens.
Sampson has moved into the #3 role, imo. He played well on STs. Doucet seems healthy but needs to stand out more. Stephen Williams gives the team another big target WR---and he has some wheels to go with his size.
Isaiah Williams is close---very close. Still PS eligible.
Chansi Stuckey is listed near the back end of the depth chart (must be a reason)---he made an excellent catch and RAC move on the game winning TD drive. At this point---he needs to elevate his game in order to stick. It would appear that he is insurance against Doucet getting injured again.
Max Komar has been sidelined---but with the emergence of Sampson and new TE options, he might have a hard time making the roster this year. And he's not PS eligible.
OL (9): 75-Brown; 71-Colledge; 63-Sendlein; 70-Handot; 72-Keith; 74-Batiste; 73-Bridges; 76-Lutui; 78-Womack.
One of the major questions I kept asking myself through the course of this game---was---is the 2nd o-line better than the first?
To me---man for man---with the exception of the C position---they were clearly better.
Let's start at LT. Levi Brown whiffs on his man badly---on the first play, causing Beanie Wells to be dropped in his tracks for a 1 yard loss. Then there was Brown's false start. What I want to know is: where is the passion? Where is the concentration?
Then---one of the most encouraging and surprising things I watched was the play of LT D'Anthony Batiste. I singled in on him for every snap---and I would give him a grade in the 90s. He played with attitude---he sustained his blocks---he never jumped off sides---he played every snap to the whistle---there was only one time he got beat on a pass rush, but he was still able to recover well enough so that it did not affect the outcome of the play. I like his balance---and I like his hand punch, he has a smoother more natural drop step than Brown's. Now I want to what he can do versus Clay Matthews and I hope he gets the chance.
At LG---Daryn Colledge played as advertised---he's not particularly physical in the running game, but he's a solid pro pass protector. What I like are his feet and his agility and it makes me wonder what he would look like at tackle. I know he was tried there with mixed results in Green Bay---but---he reminds me physically and stylistically of Matt Light---who needed a little time to become a first-rate LT.
Conversely, Pork Chop Womack was more physical and, imo, more productive.
At RG and RT---Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith got handled at the goal-line and did not get any push, nor was their technique even adequate. Plus, their side was a swinging gate in pass protection.
Deuce is Deuce---despite his weight, he remains, imo, the best and most feared of all our o-linemen---and he and RT Jeremy Bridges were in unison the entire game. There was excellent chemistry and communication there.
Now---some of you will argue that hey the first line was going up against the Raiders' first d-line.
Not so fast.
The Raiders' second d-line was in for the goal-line stand...and remained in the game for as long as our second o-line was in. Our second o-line started dominating them. Our first o-line couldn't get 2 yards in three tries against them.
At C Lyle Sendlein is a real pro. Ben Claxton is very solid. But---he's the odd man out because Hadnot can play C and O'Dowd will be on the PS...as will Jason Sperendon---these two kids are very good UCFA finds.
NT (2): 92-Williams; 79-Carter.
Neither Williams nor Carter played very well in this game. Williams need to get in shape and Carter needs technique.
DE (4): 90-Dockett; 93-Campbell; 91-Holliday; 98-Eason.
This rotation is solid all the way around.
Ronald Talley, because of his strong, aggressive play this week, is in the mix---what he has to do is convince the coaches they are better off having Carter spend a year on the PS and having Eason be the backup NT. Probably won't happen, but it could if Talley keeps charging.
ILB (4): 58-Washington; 97-Bradley; 51-Lenon; 56-Walker.
Bradley is on his way to the starting lineup. He's quite a presence when he is in the game.
Washington---made two of the quickest chase tackles in this game---to his away side. Boy he gets there in a flash---and he finishes.
Lenon was solid...although on one play, on a 3rd and 4, he moved up to threaten the A gap as a blitzer and then on the snap, he slid two gaps sideways (to the C gap) to his right while the running play went right through the B gap inside him and right past him. I still cannot figure out what he was doing. Later they sent him on a run blitz and he stopped the RB in his tracks. Good stuff there.
Walker was a step behind all night---but he's good on STs and he's getting better in coverage. It's possible that he could get beat out by the ubiquitous Pago Togafau---who played solidly with the 3rd unit.
One of the bigger surprises of the game was learning that Brandon Sharpe was paired with Togafau as the 3rd team WILB. I thought Sharpe's forte is as an edge rusher---he played DE at Texas Tech. But---hey---he made some good plays, including the clean up sack on Edwards.
I was very disappointed in the play of rookies Quan Sturdivant and Kendall Smith---two highly touted ACC LBers. It says a lot that Brandon Sharpe was with the 3rd unit in front of these two---and neither one of them did much to make a case otherwise. I think they will keep Sturdivant on the PS and try to coach him up. There is no way he will be claimed by another team---we are seeing reasons why he dropped to the 6th round. If he were good on STs that would be another thing---but did you see how he didn't even make an effort to tackle Denarius Morris on his long punt return? And Morris ran his lane.
OLB (5): 53-Haggans; 55-Porter; 50-Schofield; 94-Acho; 52-Obiozor.
Haggans and Porter defended the run well in this game. But neither was any factor at all in pressuring the QB. Acho came the closest once, but bumped into the QB for a roughing penalty. Acho and Obiozor were the most active and aggressive, mostly on Tex/loop stunts. Schofield got one near pressure---but like Acho, got sealed off to many times and had no counter.
The fact that Will Davis is on the 3rd team---he's likely out.
CB (5): 20-Jefferson; 28-Toler; 21-Peterson; 31-Marshall; 27-Adams.
This game was great to watch from the standpoint of seeing 4 good sized CBs all with speed and all with good, solid tackling ability. These guys fit the system beautifully.
Jefferson stood out. He came up fast and made a great tackle on a screen play to his side. When he was passed on deep, he had good sticky coverage and he looked back for the ball! Already we are seeing a change in the coaching! Plus, Jefferson provided two good fast KO returns.
Toler wasn't picked on much---but gave up too much cushion on one pass.
As did Marshall on a couple of occasions---and Marshall lost his cushion on the deep post---but flashed very good recovery speed.
But you can see Marshall's talent---love the way he came up and stuck Morris on the hitch pass. Not too many Cardinal CBs have done that in recent years.
Peterson did not take advantage of his tremendous athleticism because he didn't play instinctually---which for a rookie in his first pre-season game is expected. The one play he was able to flash his great speed and instincts was the KO he ran---boy, he is fast and hard to corral.
Marshay Green had a great punt return---and is good insurance in case Money Mike needs more time to return.
S (5): 25-Rhodes; 49-Johnson; 23-Abdullah; 22-Ware; 24-Wilson
Johnson is a good nickel and dime FS. Coverting him to SS looks like a mistake. Abdullah and Ware struggle in coverage and are hit or miss tacklers. But---the Cardinals seems to be finished adding players---so this could be it.
ST (3): 3-Feely; 5-Graham; 82-Leach.
All three looked in mid-season form. The timing on STs was very good.
PS (8): 46-Smith (RB): 10-Williams, I. (WR); 60-O'Dowd (C); 61-Sperendon (T); 60-Lumpkin (NT); 54-Sturdivant (LB); 39-Lemmons (OLB); 32-Campbell (S).
This Lemmons kid has spunk and great spirit---as does Calais' little bro, Jared. Both made good tackles in this game.
LAST THREE IN: Dray, Obiozor, Ware
FIRST THREE OUT: I. Williams, Claxton, Talley
As for what I would do---I will post it after I eat lunch.
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