Jeff Blake on the game

[Russ Smith]

Maybe I'm reaching but this starts out as if he's going to blame everyone else, but ends up as a guy taking this on himself, i'm impressed.



The Cardinals committed turnovers on their first four possessions, including the game's first play. Blake connected with rookie Bryant Johnson, whose fumble was returned to the Cardinals' 6.

"That set the tone for the whole game," said a disgusted Blake, who should be available for Sunday's game with Green Bay. "It was nice pass protection, a nice route, a nice throw - right between the numbers. This game just got out of whack in a hurry.

"I want to apologize to our fans. They pay good money to see us play, and they don't deserve this. Our owner (Bill Bidwill) doesn't deserve this. Coach Mac (Dave McGinnis) doesn't deserve this. In order to pack a punch, you have to play together as a team. I promise you: Myself, Emmitt (Smith) and a couple other guys aren't going to allow this to happen again."

Blake was picked off on the Cardinals' next two possessions, but it was still just a 7-0 deficit when McCown entered with 1:53 left in the first quarter.

"You try not to get hurt," Blake said. "I can't afford to put my team in that type of situation by going down. I tried everything possible to come back. I tried to tape it. I took painkillers and a shot. I couldn't put enough pressure on my (left) foot to even drop back."



That first comment I thought Blake was just going to dump it all on others but he clearly is taking a leadership role here so I hope he's able to play next week and get this back on track.

God I hope so.

 

[BW52]

I like the way he is stepping up to accept blame and hope Emmitt and Blake and other vets can get a fire lit under this team.Still the fact remains that Blake has 3 ints and 2 fumbles lost in less than 5 quarters of football.He is performing far worse than everyone expected.I expected more from him.10 turnovers in 2 games is horrible.Blake has been Jake-like so far.

 

[Redheart]

And here I go...

...Blake taking blame is all to remindful of "he who shall not be named" taking blame, week after week.

It just doesn't help or mean crap.

Results are the only thing that means something.

And to be honest, watching Blake, we may be in trouble here campers. Overthown, underthrown, interceptions, and now injuries.

I don't care how "pretty" his long ball is. So far, all it has done is bounce on the ground well past our receivers. It looks damn ugly then.

Before he went down lame, he had three balls he threw right in the turf in front of receivers...not even close...REAL bad.

The ball he delivered to BJ was right bewteen the numbers (front), and the hit he took from the defender by the time Blake got it there was right between the numbers (back). No excuse for the drop, but there were THREE converging DBs and CRUNCH.

I am hoping too Russ, but I was getting a real sick feeling watching Blake before his heal was hurt.

 

[Russ Smith]

Re: And here I go...

Originally posted by Redheart
[B.

I am hoping too Russ, but I was getting a real sick feeling watching Blake before his heal was hurt. [/B]

I posted it because when I started to read it I though oh great now he's going to blame his teammates, but he didn't.

So far he's 35-60 (58%)418 yards 3 picks 3 td's in 5 quarters with a rating of 75. Not bad but he's GOT to cut down on the TO's. As for inaccurate passes, that has been discussed before he's never been a real accurate guy his career % is 56. With young WR's I'd be very surprised if he finishes with a % much higher.

But if he keeps throwing picks and getting guys lit up you all know I'll turn on him. If one thing is clear it's that I have no problem criticizing a QB for the Cards that doesn't play well for a reasonable length of time.

Based on yesterday I would assume Johnson has won more PT if not the right to start again. Hopefully we'll get Gilmore back and that will increase our speed at WR a bit and stretch the field more.

 

[pinnacle]

we are not even close on the long balls...for the most part guys are pretty open on the deep balls..but there is no connection for 2 reasons:

1. Blake seems to not be putting enough air under the ball..ball is not in the air long enough for receivers to adjust, etc..and they are usually overthrown by 5 or 10 yards..a little more air under them (a little float instead of a bullet) and they could probably get their hands on them.

2. guys are not running 100% on their routes..they seem to quit on the routes - thinking the ball is not coming..then they see the ball again - but it is too late.. It was mentioned yesterday that bryant johnson slowed on his route on a bomb yesterday...I saw that he was open..bryant was running towards the goal post..corner was between bryant and the sideline...and the ball was over his head - a little toward the sideline..the center of the field was wide open..no safety....I did not know until I listened to the radio today - but johnson had apparantly slowed earlier in the route before I watched and then put on the burners..but it was too late..

most of the long passes I have seen fit this same pattern - overthrown to guys who are open - but it appears to be part blake and part receivers...I think on the one yesterday - even though bryant slowed - if blake would have laid it over the middle away from the corner johnson would have had a td..

 

[Redheart]

Originally posted by pinnacle
we are not even close on the long balls...
most of the long passes I have seen fit this same pattern - overthrown to guys who are open - but it appears to be part blake and part receivers...I think on the one yesterday - even though bryant slowed - if blake would have laid it over the middle away from the corner johnson would have had a td..

I want to add this; when Bryant was running the "go" pattern he was running downfield and looking back over his shoulder for almost 20 yards or so. If he had been running flat out and then look back about the time the ball got there, I think he would have been under it.

Bryant is not the fastest guy, but he is a hell of a lot slower when he runs looking back over his shoulder. He did this at least TWICE that I saw.

 

[conraddobler]

Everytime I hear players go on about this or that I remember the ESPN special on Johnny Unitas.

He would always just say talk is cheap.

That's why motivators like Mac are a dime a dozen. I don't care what you do in life unless you are Tony Robbins results are all that matters.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Talk

"I promise you: Myself, Emmitt (Smith) and a couple other guys aren't going to allow this to happen again."

Put up time Mr. Blake.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by pinnacle
we are not even close on the long balls...for the most part guys are pretty open on the deep balls..but there is no connection for 2 reasons:

1. Blake seems to not be putting enough air under the ball..ball is not in the air long enough for receivers to adjust, etc..and they are usually overthrown by 5 or 10 yards..a little more air under them (a little float instead of a bullet) and they could probably get their hands on them.

That's odd because of course Blake is famous for putting air in his long passes.

I hope it's a timing thing that can be worked on.

 

[pinnacle]

redheart..as an update...seems on 910 and 1060 AM the announcers are all saying johnson could have had 2 touchdowns yesterday if he just would have kept going and not slowed/stopped on his routes... hard to tell the entire route when you are at the game because they do not show that man angles on the replay screen - but they seem to agree generally with what you are saying..

 

[ajcardfan]

Johnson was not running full out on either long route until he saw the ball in the air. Then, it's too late. That's what I saw, and the people who sat around me could verify it, because I cussed Johnson out both times for not running full speed.

But, when you play rookies, that's the sort of mistakes that are bound to happen.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
Johnson was not running full out on either long route until he saw the ball in the air. Then, it's too late. That's what I saw, and the people who sat around me could verify it, because I cussed Johnson out both times for not running full speed.

But, when you play rookies, that's the sort of mistakes that are bound to happen.

One of the routes while sitting here at home Johnson was going full speed and it looked like he lost the ball in the air as he was turning around causing him to slow down to try and locate it. It looked like it on the replay and after rewatching it as well!

A mistake yes but correctable! He looked good overall yesterday minus the fumble!

 

[RedStorm]

Re: Talk

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
"I promise you: Myself, Emmitt (Smith) and a couple other guys aren't going to allow this to happen again."

Put up time Mr. Blake.

I am glad we have Blake. But, didn't he say something similar after the Detroit game? I will have to look but it seemed to me he said that falling apart in the second half would not happen again.

I guess he was right they fell apart in the first half this time.

 

[Walter Mitchell]

Excellent point, Russ. At least Blake is accepting his share of the onus and is trying to become part of the solution.

 

[CardsRep03]

Minus the overall results, I feel comfortable with Blake having the ball. I never did when Jake had the ball. Oh, and did you notice that Jake had 98 yards passing yesterday? Shanahan is actually LIMITING the amount of times he touches the ball. There is a reason for this. His team is winning, sure, but in SPITE of him.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I hated Jake while he was here as much as nay of you - but did anyone watch that game - He looked like a decent QB - but then again it was against the Chargers - 98 yards and 3 tds in the first half - not to bad -but then again you put anyone on that all-star team and they can have good halves - but let's get of the Jake thing already -there's more pressing matters to be dealt with here.

 

[Stout]

The problem with Johnson underrunning those deep passes is very simple and quite correctable. The commentators nailed it during the game.

BJ isn't used to running so far on deep plays. Let's see, who was his QB in college? Zack friggin' 'I NEED TO BE BENCHED NOW' Mills.

Now enter Blake. He has an absolute cannon. On the one I saw, BJ was a good fifty or sixty yards downfield. He likely thought he HAD to slow down, and was surprised when he needed to speed up.

Not an excuse, certainly, but he was a rookie in his first start. This, at least, will get better.