Here We Go Again...

[JeffGollin]

And I don't mean the Cardinals.

I mean us fans.

It's that time of year - when (stoked by the media) - fans of winning teams are screaming "dynasty" and fans of losing teams are whining about everything from (a) their team being "devestated" by a few injuries to (b) "who should replace the HC" to (c) where we'll draft next year to (d) Let's play Chinese Checkers with the roster.

I apologize in advance for the following rant, but I've been reading a bunch of stuff today in the local media and fan boards that finally pushed me over the edge.

Starting with Injuries. Our star WR will be out for 3 or 4 games. A starting RG on an underperforming line sprained his ankle severely. Our starting NT also sprained his ankle. Other than James Darling who's on the verge of returning, that's about it.

You mean that's all? Yikes! To read all the stuff in the AZR, EVT and here, you'd think someone nuked the Cardinal lockerroom. Compared to other NFL teams, we've gotten off easy so far. Yet all we read about is "How Injuries Have Devestated the Team and Wrecked the Season." Give me a break!

Then there's the inevitable "Who Should Replace the HC", "Let's Make a Trade" and "Who Else Should Play a New Position" fan buzz.

None of this is realistic, relevant or helpful.

Can we please, oh please, stop asking: "Are we any good?" "Are we lousy?" "What did ESPN say about us?" "Are the players unhappy?" "Are we done for the season?" "What's the upcoming schedule like?"

None of it matters. The only thing that does is: "What do we have to do to win Monday night - and following that, each Sunday?

The season is made up of 16 individual games. Each one is separate, unique and unpredictable (otherwise, why play each game? And why root if you already know the outcome?). Each game is what we should be focusing on. If we win enough of them, the season will take care of itself. If we don't, so be it. But to wring our hands over failed expectations is, to me, a waste of time.

We play the Bears on Monday night. (Oh scary stuff!!! The Big Bad Bears are coming to eat us! Where can we hide?). Here's an idea. We have 53 athletes on our roster. They have 53 athletes on their roster. Physically, everyone's a top athlete and there isn't much difference, physically. How about we figure out how, at any point in time, our 11 guys on the field can best handle their 11 guys?

Start with hitting. Follow by focusing on sound techniques. Make sure we don't let our concentration lapse. And "play through" for all 60 minutes.

I want to see if Leinart can repeat last week's performance and even do better. I want to see how Gabe Watson does. I'd like to see what Holliday can do when given the chance. I want to see if our defense will keep its motor running at a high level. And I want to see how all our new high-profile players rise to the challenge of playing well before a national audience on Monday night against the Big Bad Ogres.

Whether we like it or not, the Cardinals are a work in progress. It will be interesting to see whether the progress continues or whether the players and coaches (and fans) allow adversity to stop this progress right in its tracks.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

And I don't mean the Cardinals.

I mean us fans.

It's that time of year - when (stoked by the media) - fans of winning teams are screaming "dynasty" and fans of losing teams are whining about everything from (a) their team being "devestated" by a few injuries to (b) "who should replace the HC" to (c) where we'll draft next year to (d) Let's play Chinese Checkers with the roster.

I apologize in advance for the following rant, but I've been reading a bunch of stuff today in the local media and fan boards that finally pushed me over the edge.

Starting with Injuries. Our star WR will be out for 3 or 4 games. A starting RG on an underperforming line sprained his ankle severely. Our starting NT also sprained his ankle. Other than James Darling who's on the verge of returning, that's about it.

You mean that's all? Yikes! To read all the stuff in the AZR, EVT and here, you'd think someone nuked the Cardinal lockerroom. Compared to other NFL teams, we've gotten off easy so far. Yet all we read about is "How Injuries Have Devestated the Team and Wrecked the Season." Give me a break!

Then there's the inevitable "Who Should Replace the HC", "Let's Make a Trade" and "Who Else Should Play a New Position" fan buzz.

None of this is realistic, relevant or helpful.

Can we please, oh please, stop asking: "Are we any good?" "Are we lousy?" "What did ESPN say about us?" "Are the players unhappy?" "Are we done for the season?" "What's the upcoming schedule like?"

None of it matters. The only thing that does is: "What do we have to do to win Monday night - and following that, each Sunday?

The season is made up of 16 individual games. Each one is separate, unique and unpredictable (otherwise, why play each game? And why root if you already know the outcome?). Each game is what we should be focusing on. If we win enough of them, the season will take care of itself. If we don't, so be it. But to wring our hands over failed expectations is, to me, a waste of time.

We play the Bears on Monday night. (Oh scary stuff!!! The Big Bad Bears are coming to eat us! Where can we hide?). Here's an idea. We have 53 athletes on our roster. They have 53 athletes on their roster. Physically, everyone's a top athlete and there isn't much difference, physically. How about we figure out how, at any point in time, our 11 guys on the field can best handle their 11 guys?

Start with hitting. Follow by focusing on sound techniques. Make sure we don't let our concentration lapse. And "play through" for all 60 minutes.

I want to see if Leinart can repeat last week's performance and even do better. I want to see how Gabe Watson does. I'd like to see what Holliday can do when given the chance. I want to see if our defense will keep its motor running at a high level. And I want to see how all our new high-profile players rise to the challenge of playing well before a national audience on Monday night against the Big Bad Ogres.

Whether we like it or not, the Cardinals are a work in progress. It will be interesting to see whether the progress continues or whether the players and coaches (and fans) allow adversity to stop this progress right in its tracks.

I agree with most that you have said, but where is being said that "Injuries Have Devestated the Team and Wrecked the Season?"

Every report up until this week has been about the Cards being relatively healthy.

D-Dogg was the first to claim it, but I am firmly behind him thinking that the Cards have a real chance against the Bears.

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree with most that you have said, but where is being said that "Injuries Have Devestated the Team and Wrecked the Season?"

Every report up until this week has been about the Cards being relatively healthy.

D-Dogg was the first to claim it, but I am firmly behind him thinking that the Cards have a real chance against the Bears.

Injuries wrack Cards’ lineup
By Darren Urban, Tribune
October 9, 2006
It's the kind of news the Cardinals didn’t need. Injuries will sideline a starting receiver (Larry Fitzgerald), the starting right guard (Milford Brown) and the starting nose tackle (Kendrick Clancy) when the Chicago Bears visit in a week for "Monday Night Football." ...

Actually, the AZR wasn't all that doomsounding. Here's some more from the EVT:

"It is a blow to an offense that can’t afford to be without its top playmakers. Fitzgerald has 24 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns in five games for the 1-4 Cardinals.

Fitzgerald hurt the hamstring Sunday after making two catches for 15 yards and a touchdown. His absence means defenses will be able to focus more on fellow receiver Anquan Boldin.

Green declined to say who will replace Fitzgerald in the lineup, but it will almost certainly be Bryant Johnson, with Troy Walters moving in to the third receiver role. Carlyle Holiday will be signed from the practice squad to be the Cards’ fourth receiver on the roster.

Also out with ankle injuries are guard Milford Brown and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy. Both players will also miss at least Monday night’s game against Chicago.

Maybe my perceptions are exaggerated. But that's just the feeling I'm getting - that nearly everyone in the Cardinal community is so focused on "whether we're any good and whether other people like us" that we're forgetting to go out and simply play the game.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Injuries wrack Cards’ lineup
By Darren Urban, Tribune
October 9, 2006
It's the kind of news the Cardinals didn’t need. Injuries will sideline a starting receiver (Larry Fitzgerald), the starting right guard (Milford Brown) and the starting nose tackle (Kendrick Clancy) when the Chicago Bears visit in a week for "Monday Night Football." ...

(I'll dial up the one from the AZR)

Again, this week we have had some injuries, but I dont think that there is anyone with a half a brain that could state that injuries have wrecked the season.

You could substitute injuries for Kurt Warner and have at least a valid argument.

 

[ajcardfan]

I agree with most that you have said, but where is being said that "Injuries Have Devestated the Team and Wrecked the Season?"

Every report up until this week has been about the Cards being relatively healthy.

D-Dogg was the first to claim it, but I am firmly behind him thinking that the Cards have a real chance against the Bears.

They were talking the Bears up like crazy on NFL Primetime last night. Comparing them to the '85 team and rating them way above any other team in the NFL last night. There was also an article on SI yesterday talking about whether they can go undefeated for the season. I love it. I think (or, at least "hope") that all this hype for the Bears will have our team ready to play their best Monday.

 

[AZCB34]

They were talking the Bears up like crazy on NFL Primetime last night. Comparing them to the '85 team and rating them way above any other team in the NFL last night. There was also an article on SI yesterday talking about whether they can go undefeated for the season. I love it. I think (or, at least "hope") that all this hype for the Bears will have our team ready to play their best Monday.

FWIW, this Bears team is better than the 85 team IMO. Some of that is the evolution of the NFL player over 20 years as well as the evolution of schemes but I firmly believe this team is better.

There is no such thing as a sure win in this league, especially on the road. Fitz out of the lineup, though, makes a HUGE difference.

 

[gnomepete]

Here we go again . . . And I don't mean the Cardinals. I mean us fans.
color]

Thank you . . .

Pete

 

[Wild Card]

I apologize in advance for the following rant, but I've been reading a bunch of stuff today in the local media and fan boards that finally pushed me over the edge.

Starting with Injuries. Our star WR will be out for 3 or 4 games. A starting RG on an underperforming line sprained his ankle severely. Our starting NT also sprained his ankle. Other than James Darling who's on the verge of returning, that's about it.

You mean that's all? Yikes! To read all the stuff in the AZR, EVT and here, you'd think someone nuked the Cardinal lockerroom.

Jeff:

Losing a starting wideout might not be a catastrophe for most teams. It is for this one. When a one-dimensional passing offense loses one of its two best receivers, it's gonna hurt. I agree with you that the injuries to Kendrick Clancy and--especially--Milford Brown are background noise, but having Larry Fitzgerald out for 2-5 weeks is huge.

We play the Bears on Monday night. (Oh scary stuff!!! The Big Bad Bears are coming to eat us! Where can we hide?). Here's an idea. We have 53 athletes on our roster. They have 53 athletes on their roster. Physically, everyone's a top athlete and there isn't much difference, physically. How about we figure out how, at any point in time, our 11 guys on the field can best handle their 11 guys?

Any reasonable observer would call this a mismatch. The Chicago Bears aren't just unbeaten this season. With the exception of their 19-16 road win at Minnesota (3-2), they're not just winning games, they're humiliating the other team. We're talking a point differential of 137-20 in those four games.

I don't know where you attack Lovie Smith's team. The weak spot of the Bears traditionally has been their offense in general, and more-specifically their ability to throw the ball and score points. After five weeks, though, this year's Bears have the NFL's #3 offense--higher-ranked than their defense, in fact--with the league's fifth-highest passing yards and second-most passing TDs.

And the Cardinals' ability to move the ball against that 7th-ranked defense just took a hit when Fitzgerald went down. With the Bears doubling Anquan Boldin and bringing the house against Matt Leinart, it's hard to envision the Cards keeping this close.

Which is what I hope they can do. I'm hanging my hopes on Leinart, and an out-of-body collective performance by the Cards defenders. If I were betting this game, though, I'm afraid I'd take the Bears and give the 10-1/2 points by which they're favored.

I'm not trying to be overly pessimistic. But reality is what it is.

WC

 

[Russ Smith]

FWIW, this Bears team is better than the 85 team IMO. Some of that is the evolution of the NFL player over 20 years as well as the evolution of schemes but I firmly believe this team is better.

There is no such thing as a sure win in this league, especially on the road. Fitz out of the lineup, though, makes a HUGE difference.

I disagree right now. That 85 team was special because the 46 defense was still pretty new to the NFL so you had a team with tremendous talent on defense AND a scheme nobody had seen. This current team has tremendous talent, but their scheme is not a completely unknown.

And of course the 85 team had Payton and a very experienced if not great QB, Grossman looks great so far but he's not that experienced.

Very good team but they've got a ways to go if they're going to surpass the 85 team.

 

[AZCB34]

I don't know where you attack Lovie Smith's team. WC

Just my observation.

When the Cards are on offense, they have to control the Bears DL...that is where things happen. The Bears defense has something like 18 or 19 sacks and only one has come from a non-DL. They apply pressure with the front 4 (very effectively) and drop 7 into coverage and cause turnovers and, with the exception of the MN game, they are pretty decent tacklers. The Bears, contrary to stats can be run on with a more power style game which should actually be the Cards strength given the size of their line. Running sweeps and string plays towards the sidelines should be used sparingly because the Bears can run like the wind. Cards, have to run the ball well and force the Bears to blitz to get pressure on Leinart...force the Bears to adjust how they defend in the secondary because they will be rolling a S over towards Q on pass plays.

When the Cards are on defense, they must stop the Bears running game and, like Huard, force Grossman to win the game with his arm. He can but he does make some boneheaded mistakes and the Cards need to be there to capitalize. The biggest mismatch is Macklin/Green against Bernard Berrian. He is a real burner who has suddenly gotten it as it pertains to play the game. He is having a great year thus far and seems to be a favorite target or Rex...along with the TE (Desmond Clark). Muhammed is important to the team but I feel like his stature as #1 has dropped a bit. Bears have only given up 5 sacks so far through 5 games so they are protecting well and the run game seems to be getting a bit more on track right now and the Bears are giving Benson some carries along with Jones. Tackling will be key for the Cards.

 

[vinnymac]

the only team that the bears beat with a winning record is the seahawks without alexander. the bears defense can be beaten, but the cardinals need to play like they been hyped to play. i am curious as well how leinart will do againist the bears. i have a feeling he is going to be just fine. the cardinals offensive line needs to step up big againist the bears. the cardinals need to get james going. they need to rush james at least 30 times this game. keep james in on 3rd down. you need your best players on the field when you are trying to pick up a first down.

the defense needs to step up as well. they give up more big plays than any other defense in the league. seems like they give up 2-3 30 or more yards plays in a game. the defense couldn't hold the cheifs down. they let haurd pass at will. there were some 3rd down plays where the chiefs recievers just drop the ball for first down. the cardinals defense need to get better.

 

[Wild Card]

the only team that the bears beat with a winning record is the seahawks without alexander.

VM:

The Bears beat the Vikings (3-2) in Minnesota. And the Bills, who the Bears just destroyed 40-7, came in at 2-2 with two losses by a total of ten points.

Just keepin' it real...

WC

 

[DunkTankfrank]

And I don't mean the Cardinals.

I mean us fans.



We play the Bears on Monday night. (Oh scary stuff!!! The Big Bad Bears are coming to eat us! Where can we hide?). Here's an idea. We have 53 athletes on our roster. They have 53 athletes on their roster. Physically, everyone's a top athlete and there isn't much difference, physically. How about we figure out how, at any point in time, our 11 guys on the field can best handle their 11 guys?

I want to see how all our new high-profile players rise to the challenge of playing well before a national audience on Monday night against the Big Bad Ogres.

Well said Jeff..... Now about your teams last meal choice for next Monday night, what would you like?

 

[AZCB34]

I disagree right now. That 85 team was special because the 46 defense was still pretty new to the NFL so you had a team with tremendous talent on defense AND a scheme nobody had seen. This current team has tremendous talent, but their scheme is not a completely unknown.

And of course the 85 team had Payton and a very experienced if not great QB, Grossman looks great so far but he's not that experienced.

Very good team but they've got a ways to go if they're going to surpass the 85 team.

I can see why you say that. The 46 was innovative for sure but the basis for that defensive scheme was essentially bring more defenders than you have blockers. Well the odds are certainly more in your favor when you blitz as often as they did and you have guys coming free. Teams couldn't figure out how to block them thus nothing really worked very well (Miami's brilliant offensive game plan notwithstanding).

This current Bears team is every bit as talented but they do it without all the blitzing the 85 Bears did. This Bears team is faster and stronger and just as capable of creating turnovers. This offense, right now at least, is more explosive than the 85 Bears IMO. Jones/Benson are no Payton but the current WR's are better than the 85 Bears had.

It is an interesting argument though but if this Bears team doesn't win the ring, the argument is dead in the water.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think 5 games is just way too early to start the hype machine. No doubt, the Bears HAVE been very, very impressive so far. But, funny things happen in the NFL every week. Who thought the Titans would scare the Colts like they did last week? The Colts were 18 and a 1/2 point favorites!

Again, I seriously doubt the Cards win. But, I also feel like they will give the Bears a much better game than people are expecting.

 

[AZCB34]

I think 5 games is just way too early to start the hype machine. No doubt, the Bears HAVE been very, very impressive so far. But, funny things happen in the NFL every week. Who thought the Titans would scare the Colts like they did last week? The Colts were 18 and a 1/2 point favorites!

Again, I seriously doubt the Cards win. But, I also feel like they will give the Bears a much better game than people are expecting.

Totally agree. No game is ever a gimme in the NFL. Fitz being out changes things dramatically though.

 

[ajcardfan]

This current Bears team is every bit as talented but they do it without all the blitzing the 85 Bears did. This Bears team is faster and stronger and just as capable of creating turnovers. This offense, right now at least, is more explosive than the 85 Bears IMO. Jones/Benson are no Payton but the current WR's are better than the 85 Bears had.

I don't think this is how you should compare two teams from two different eras. And, 20 years ago is a very different era in the evolution of the NFL player. Obviously, pretty much any team from 2006 would whip the 85 Bears. I think you compare them based on how they perform against the top teams of their day as well as the rest of their schedule. And, obviously, the playoffs and Super Bowl.

No doubt the Bears have been outstanding so far this year. I'm sure your thrilled, I know I would be if I was a Bears fan. But, by midseason this talk could sound really foolish.

 

[slanidrac16]

Our only chance against the Bears is to come out winging and stay out of 3rd and long.
On defense we have to get to Grossman early. History shows he can get knocked out and rattled.

This is the type of game the Cards win because at this point the season is virtually over. We should play relaxed and pull out all the stops. If you ever had a trick play you wanted to run, this will be the time.

Imagine though , somehow , someway we were to pull the upset Monday Night and move to 2-4? Green Bay and Oakland on the horizon makes one think of the possibilities of climbing back to .500.

Yeah. Like that would ever happen.

 

[AZCB34]

I don't think this is how you should compare two teams from two different eras. And, 20 years ago is a very different era in the evolution of the NFL player. Obviously, pretty much any team from 2006 would whip the 85 Bears. I think you compare them based on how they perform against the top teams of their day as well as the rest of their schedule. And, obviously, the playoffs and Super Bowl.

No doubt the Bears have been outstanding so far this year. I'm sure your thrilled, I know I would be if I was a Bears fan. But, by midseason this talk could sound really foolish.

I think you will notice in an earlier post in this thread I said that the evolution of players and schemes in 20 years has something to do with the current Bears team. I just think that, side by side, it is too close to call right now (if no ring appears this year then the argument is moot) but I think I would take the current team over the 85 team as a whole right about now...but that is just me.

Couple of injuries in the right spots and this becomes a .500 team probably.

 

[Wild Card]

I think you will notice in an earlier post in this thread I said that the evolution of players and schemes in 20 years has something to do with the current Bears team. I just think that, side by side, it is too close to call right now (if no ring appears this year then the argument is moot) but I think I would take the current team over the 85 team as a whole right about now...but that is just me.

Couple of injuries in the right spots and this becomes a .500 team probably.

AZCB:

Maybe, but Chicago has the injury thing covered better than most. For example, if Thomas Jones gets nicked, Cedric Benson gets to show that he can be the feature back. If Rex Grossman misses some time, they've got Brian Griese warming up. There are very few spots on the Bears roster where the talent dropoff from starter to backup is huge.

WC

 

[AZCB34]

AZCB:

Maybe, but Chicago has the injury thing covered better than most. For example, if Thomas Jones gets nicked, Cedric Benson gets to show that he can be the feature back. If Rex Grossman misses some time, they've got Brian Griese warming up. There are very few spots on the Bears roster where the talent dropoff from starter to backup is huge.

WC

I was thinking LB (especially MLB) and S. OL could be a problem as well.

 

[BigRedArk]

And I don't mean the Cardinals.

I mean us fans.

It's called being realistic Jeff. There is a great risk of this team quitting on DG if they haven't already. We have lost 2 games that we gave away. Two games that we should have had. We continually beat ourselves like the Cardinals have done for eons now. The Steelers or Cowboys or Patriots with a winning tradition could bounce back from two giveaway games but the Cardinals don't have that tradition. I love the Cards and I hope I am wrong but it just doesn't look good right now.

 

[Wild Card]

I was thinking LB (especially MLB) and S. OL could be a problem as well.

AZCB:

True enough, Brian Urlacher's irreplaceable. And the Cardinals could've had him, though that's another rant. But how ironic is it that the Cards passed up Urlacher in favor of Thomas Jones, and here they are both starting for the Bears? Yearrgh...

WC

 

[Duckjake]

AZCB:

True enough, Brian Urlacher's irreplaceable. And the Cardinals could've had him, though that's another rant. But how ironic is it that the Cards passed up Urlacher in favor of Thomas Jones, and here they are both starting for the Bears? Yearrgh...

WC

Didn't somebody put together an all-star team of missed Cardinal draft picks?

As for beating Chicago, when is the last time Arizona beat a team the caliber of the Bears. A team with a 5-0 record and legit Super Bowl contender. The Eagles(finished 11-5) and Raiders (8-2 when the Cards beat them) in 2001?

 

[Wild Card]

As for beating Chicago, when is the last time Arizona beat a team the caliber of the Bears. A team with a 5-0 record and legit Super Bowl contender. The Eagles(finished 11-5) and Raiders (8-2 when the Cards beat them) in 2001?

DJ:

A one-point win at Philly and a three-pointer at Oakland, both with Jake Plummer behind center (during a season that the Cardinals were 4-4 ON THE ROAD). The Snake had his moments, didn't he?

WC