Kevin is not listening to you...

[gamebird98]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7066103/kevin-kolb-arizona-cardinals-not-shaken-fans-criticism

 

[Jetstream Green]

Thank God, he should ignore all the crap from people who are not on the field.

 

[Duckjake]

My favorite part of that was the lifelong Cardinal fan who called himself a moron.

Obviously not someone from ASFN.

 

[Buckybird]

I still believe Kolb can be a pretty good QB for us. Now can he can lead us to a title, we won't know that for probably 2 more years. Please, Kevin stay in the pocket a little longer unless it's the last resort.

 

[Darkside]

I'm glad he's not listening to the peanut gallery, but I do want to address something Kolb said, that every game is going to come down to the last two minutes. I totally believe this to be true. We're not a quick strike offense. People have criticized us for trying to be Pittsburgh west, but that's what we actually are. I don't mean this current Pitt team, with Ben throwing it more than they run it, I mean the Pitt when they had Gerome Bettis (no, I'm not comparing Beanie and Bettis). Our primary formation, it seems to me, is the 2 TE set with Beanie in the backfield. They seem to be able to run everything they want out of that formation (doesn't mean it will be successful). Point is, it's not a quick strike offense, it's almost the opposite of that. This offense needs to pound the ball, relentlessly, and I think we're getting there. That being said, with a ground game like that, games do tend to go down to the 4th quarter, and the reason the running team "usually" wins is because that ground and pound has softened a defense by the 4th quarter. That's what we're looking at, and Kolb's right, we need to learn how to finish a team when they're tired and have been pounded all day (like the Giants, I bet they were dreading another Beanie run by the 4th quarter).

Learning how to win will come, I'm not overly concerned about it (although I did expect us to beat Seattle, I still thought we'd lose to the Giants before the season began). Before the season started, we all thought the Cards had a front loaded schedule, meaning the easiest part of our schedule was early in the season. I think if you look at it objectively now, that's not true at all. By the time we finish the Ravens game we'll have faced the toughest competition we will face all year. Seattle will suck all year, don't care if they beat us, but the Panthers and Skins are playing better than anyone expected. These next 3 games will toughen us up mentally and the last half of the schedule is where we can make some noise.

 

[mjb21aztd]

kolb is really derek anderson in a costume

 

[Catfish]

Nor should he listen to the complainers. He is not the problem, though he still has things to learn. He has made satisfactory progress. He didn't teach this team how not to be able to finish a game.

 

[Darkside]

kolb is really derek anderson in a costume

This was your 6,666 post. Dunno why I noticed that, carry on.

 

[Duckjake]

If the Cardinal players and coaches want the fans to stop being negative they should try winning some games. That works every time. Except in NY, Philly and Dallas.

 

[Darkside]

Probly in Chicago too.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

If the Cardinal players and coaches want the fans to stop being negative they should try winning some games. That works every time. Except in NY, Philly and Dallas.

You're darn skippy!

 

[vinnymac]

I'm glad he's not listening to the peanut gallery, but I do want to address something Kolb said, that every game is going to come down to the last two minutes. I totally believe this to be true. We're not a quick strike offense. People have criticized us for trying to be Pittsburgh west, but that's what we actually are. I don't mean this current Pitt team, with Ben throwing it more than they run it, I mean the Pitt when they had Gerome Bettis (no, I'm not comparing Beanie and Bettis). Our primary formation, it seems to me, is the 2 TE set with Beanie in the backfield. They seem to be able to run everything they want out of that formation (doesn't mean it will be successful). Point is, it's not a quick strike offense, it's almost the opposite of that. This offense needs to pound the ball, relentlessly, and I think we're getting there. That being said, with a ground game like that, games do tend to go down to the 4th quarter, and the reason the running team "usually" wins is because that ground and pound has softened a defense by the 4th quarter. That's what we're looking at, and Kolb's right, we need to learn how to finish a team when they're tired and have been pounded all day (like the Giants, I bet they were dreading another Beanie run by the 4th quarter).

Learning how to win will come, I'm not overly concerned about it (although I did expect us to beat Seattle, I still thought we'd lose to the Giants before the season began). Before the season started, we all thought the Cards had a front loaded schedule, meaning the easiest part of our schedule was early in the season. I think if you look at it objectively now, that's not true at all. By the time we finish the Ravens game we'll have faced the toughest competition we will face all year. Seattle will suck all year, don't care if they beat us, but the Panthers and Skins are playing better than anyone expected. These next 3 games will toughen us up mentally and the last half of the schedule is where we can make some noise.

couldn't said better myself.

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm glad he's not listening to the peanut gallery, ...Kolb said, that every game is going to come down to the last two minutes. I totally believe this to be true...Point is, it's not a quick strike offense...This offense needs to pound the ball, relentlessly, and I think we're getting there....with a ground game like that, games do tend to go down to the 4th quarter...that ground and pound has softened a defense by the 4th quarter....Kolb's right, we need to learn how to finish a team when they're tired and have been pounded all day...Learning how to win will come, I'm not overly concerned about it....

A thoughtful post (I edited down the quote to comment on a few specific points):

I agree that Kolb needs to tune out the outside chatter.

I don't agree that every game will come down to the last 2-minutes - each game has a different narrative. Quite often, it may be a bunch of insignificant penalties early in the game or a couple of squibbed punts or a missed FG that puts us in a hole or forces us to go for the TD instead of a FG later on.

I will agree that putting other teams away in the final 2 - 5 minutes of each game would remove a lot of the mystery, "sense of adventure" (& agita) that accompanies most of our games.

I do feel our offense is more "quick strike" than in past years - not always via the deep throw but sometimes via YAC runs. That doesn't mean we shouldn't run the ball a lot when appropriate. Just that we're potentially more multi-dimensional.

I also don't accept the alternatives between quick strike and pounding the rock. Modern day pro football teams need a variety of options in their offensive tool kit - to exploit mismatches and counter other teams' strategies by pounding the rock straight ahead, running a lot of misdirection, throwing short, going long, screens, trickeration - whatever works in that situation against that team on that date.

Regarding good run stats by some teams late in games: Quite often this is more because a team with a lead wants to milk the clock than because "the other team has been softened up." (If a run-oriented team finds itself behind with less than a quarter to go, guess what? It's going to throw the ball because it has to play catch-up).

Bottom line - teams need to be balanced on both sides of the football. I believe the Cardinals have that balance (not that they are anywhere close to perfect - there are areas of weakness). "Learning how to win" is part of our challenge, but I sense that what's needed is a 5% elevation-of-play in all aspects of the game to put us over the top & turn otherwise narrow-losses into wins.

- Consistently keep our penalties below 6 per game.

- Convert 2 or 3 more third downs per game.

- One or two fewer "Ole" blocks per game by each of our 2 OT's.

- One fewer shanked punt or missed FG per game.

- One or two fewer tackles of Beanie per game by the Turf Monster (maybe a change of cleats)?

- One less deep completion per game over A-Dub and over Kerry.

Our roster is what it is. We only can work with what we've got. Clean up the little things (& make sure other little things don't creep into our play) and we should be OK.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

It is easier to support the guy if he was progressing not regressing.

He looked horrible last game. Deserves the critism.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I can't see 4 games as ample room to even chart a progression or regression on any level, when those are just the start of his career with us and there is hardly any games to apply that to before us. Such judgement has to be made in seasons and not a few games to me, unless the guy is a veteran player who has been around with some seasons under his belt...then a four game stretch will give more obvious implications if he is slipping

 

[Covert Rain]

kolb is really derek anderson in a costume

Not saying Kolb doesn't deserve any criticism but he only knows a portion of the offensive plays and has talent IMO. My problem with Kolb is he needs to grow a pair and try and put some of those throws up for Larry to grab down the field. I swear usually when he throws deep is on a deep crossing pattern and usually down the middle of the field. All of his other stuff seems like its 5 yards down the field.

Anderson knew the offensive and had very little talent. He is by far one of the worst QB's we have ever had starting here IMO.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Thank God, he should ignore all the crap from people who are not on the field.

+1.

 

[crisper57]

What!?!?! I could do a better job than him! I pay that bum's salary! The customer is always right! I have First Amendment rights that he's trampling on by not listening! (Insert other generic ranting and raving phrases here...)

 

[Chopper0080]

What I have faith in is Kolb's work ethic. Nothing that I have heard about him makes me think that he won't do everything that he can to be successful in the NFL. If he fails because he just doesn't have the talent, I can live with that. I don't think that is the case however.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I can't see 4 games as ample room to even chart a progression or regression on any level, when those are just the start of his career with us and there is hardly any games to apply that to before us. Such judgement has to be made in seasons and not a few games to me, unless the guy is a veteran player who has been around with some seasons under his belt...then a four game stretch will give more obvious implications if he is slipping

If your kid starts the school year with:

An A on his first test.

Then a B the following week.

His third week he barely eeks out a C.

Test number 4 is a flat out F... No cause for concern?



Kolb is regressing every game.. and that scares the hell out of me.

 

[conraddobler]

If the Cardinal players and coaches want the fans to stop being negative they should try winning some games. That works every time. Except in NY, Philly and Dallas.

Obviously this is a last resort.


P.S.

It's amazing that one fan to another you can call the triad of evil so easily, there is no more fun thing to do than to have your team dissapoint and rain if only for a day on one of those aforementioned cities teams.

Last night I had a lot of fun watching the Phillies fans thud into the offseason.



Watching the Cardinals pound the Cowboys in the playoffs is the only more fun thing I've ever seen.

 

[gamebird98]

If your kid starts the school year with:

An A on his first test.

Then a B the following week.

His third week he barely eeks out a C.

Test number 4 is a flat out F... No cause for concern?



Kolb is regressing every game.. and that scares the hell out of me.

Yup, and when your kid starts the year, the cirriculum is easier.....it then becomes more difficult, he struggles. He then begins to study and slowly learns it and his grades go up.

 

[Covert Rain]

If your kid starts the school year with:

An A on his first test.

Then a B the following week.

His third week he barely eeks out a C.

Test number 4 is a flat out F... No cause for concern?



Kolb is regressing every game.. and that scares the hell out of me.

Yeah...not tracking. Comparing a QB who has not had time to learn the entire playbook and people are expecting him not to have growing pains is far fetched. Using your analogy......

That's like week 1 you kid learns simple adding and gets an "A". The following week they quickly add subtracting and he gets a "B". Then instead of giving him a chance to practice his skills in week three they throw in multiplication and gets a "C". Before you know it they are trying to get him to do algebra and he gets an "F".

How would you expect any other outcome? The Cards offense is not the easiest offense to learn and even Kurt said there was a learning curve.

 

[Unsterblich856]

He was in Philadelphia. I'm sure there isn't anything we do that can compare.

 

[oaken1]

judging by his performance against minny,....apparently he needs to start listening.