Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. Feeding Frenzy.
We have seen how the Cardinals' defense has fed off of the energy the fans bring them at the U of P. Yet, we haven't quite seen quite the same amplitude of defensive intensity on the road---that is until yesterday, when the Cardinals needed it most. I believe that one of the main cogs of the Cardinals' defensive plan was to feed off the energy in that unique stadium. And boy oh boy---did our boys feed off the energy and off each other. They were ravenous redbirds from the first snap to the last. The dessert? Bags of skittles galore!
2. Baiting Carson.
Sure, every one of the four interceptions seemed to happen at the worst times, either taking sure points off the board or setting the Seahawks up for game changing momentum shifts and a short 7 yard field for the Seahawks' offense to end the first half. These interceptions were of the unthinkable kind: (1) 3rd and 1 inside the Seahawks' 10 yard line; (2) forcing the ball to Fitz into triple coverage, no less; (3) trying to pass out of our own territory with under a minute to go in the first half; (4) floating up a chuck duck gift again in easy FG territory.
But, as bad as these interceptions were---and as much as we want to blame Carson Palmer (who does deserve some of the blame), the honest truth is the Seahawks baited Palmer to perfection whenever he went into the quick passing mode. First the Seahawks had a plan, as Pete Carroll usually does with his defense, is to rush the short porch (away from the strong side) in order to provoke a quicker pass, and then to have the interior d-linemen and interior LB leap into kick blocking mode (hands as high as they can get) to create obscured passing lanes and possible deflections.
You see---twice they got the deflections that led to Chancellor's and Malcolm Smith's interceptions---and on the other two throws, Palmer tried to pass quicker than normal to beat the leaps on the Fitz force and then tried to lob the ball over the leaps on the chuck duck. Both balls wound up in the hands of Richard Sherman, alas.
3. The Patience of Job.
How many times this year have you wanted BA to yank Carson Palmer? How many times, just yesterday alone?
What's so wonderful about BA is how incredibly patient he is with his QBs---and with his commitment to the running game---
The reason? I think BA understands that to run the kind of aggressive offense he likes, his QB are going to have to stay aggressive and what often comes with being aggressive is getting picked off.
Honestly, I bet you that BA is kicking himself in the arse today for not picking up on Pete Carroll's baiting plans earlier in the game. I bet you BA isn't thinking the interceptions were all on Palmer.
it was BA who decided to take a shot into the end zone on 3rd and 1 in the opening possession---that was his call.
My point is---we as fans have to be patient with BA---he's a high risk reward type play caller.
Thank God BA is, because otherwise, the pass from Palmer to Floyd never happens. And if you notice---BA gave it max protection (7 blockers)---and it was a pass that no Seahawk could deflect, save the great play the young Seahawk CB Byron Maxwell made on the ball that Floyd masterfully overpowered.
4. Drawing Up a Great Play.
That draw play the Cardinals run, usually outside of the left tackle box, as awkward as it looks, is a brilliant design. What it does, first and foremost, is it forces the RDE to redirect his pass rush and anytime you can get a good RDE to hesitate or redirect an initial rush you are doing a great job of slowing him down.
Secondly, it now creates a one on one between the RB and the LB assigned to him, which sometimes is the MLB shaded somewhat to that side.
Even though on third and 7 in the 4th quarter, up 6-3, BA called it to Stepfan Taylor, it actually in that situation was a very good call. The Seahawks had been dialing up the pressure on third downs and causing turnovers, and having missed on on three other scoring opportunities, this time you could tell exactly what BA was thinking. Try to surprise them with this play---hope to convert, but at least get the 6 point lead, so that if the Seahawks do score a TD, you have a chance to regain the lead and to win the game on a FG.
Palmer and Taylor ran it to perfection---but the Seahawks are so quick to the ball they stopped Taylor two yards short. But that was OK in that critical situation. This trip into Seahawks territory could not come up empty again.
Now, you just know it was killing BA not to pass on 3rd and 7---but again, here's where his experience and patience as a coach has its greatest rewards.
5. Scoreboard Watching.
Literally during a play by Patrick Peterson. Peterson, like everyone else on the defense, brought his A game to Seattle. But, this play was an egregious brain fart on his part. You never ever quit on a play in this league and Peterson did at a crucial time no less. One play in a game like yesterday's could make all the difference, and Peterson should know better and show much better maturity.
He also decided to let one punt bounce at the ten yard line, which was downed at the 2 yard line. Obviously the coaches got after him on that one because he did come over to fair catch the next one in that vicinity.
Two bad decisions in what was otherwise an arguably flawless game on Patrick's part. So, the good far outweighs the bad.
6. Wilson in a Bottle.
The edge rushers (Shaughnessy, Bernard & Abraham) had to check their egos and stats at the gates and play contain rushes (keep their outside shoulders free)---which they did so well. Their job was to funnel Wilson into the big boys, Dockett, Campbell (2 big sacks!), Williams, Ta'amu and Rucker, all of whom dominated the interior of the Seahawks' o-line, both versus the run (have you ever seen Marshawn Lynch get jacked up repeatedly like that?) and versus the pass (7 3-and-outs).
Best of all, how about the controlled rushes Bowles assigned to Daryl Washington, where Washington could mirror Wilson's movements...look for teams to copycat Todd Bowles' scheme come playoff time. It was brilliant. Russell Wilson's home record fell to 14-1! And the normally highly composed Wilson looked more frazzled than ever before...which is why he kept sailing passes toward the sideline when under pressure.
7. Secondary School.
As big as the Cardinals' front seven played yesterday, one could argue that the Cardinals' secondary has their best overall game of the season.
Jerraud Powers was huge in this game---which is something about this Cardinals' team that is so encouraging because the players are feeding off of other players' success. There's no question in my mind that Rashard Mendenhall has become a better back because of Andre Ellington. And yesterday Jerraud Powers became a better corner because of the success Antoine Cason had last week.
Tony Jefferson played very good angles and forced the run well in the hole. Yeremiah Bell was solid.
Peterson was light's out. Cason was solid but struggled a couple of times on crossing routes, which most corners do.
There was the breakdown on the TD pass to TE Zach Miller (which remains a red zone concern)---but the TEs were handled well all day otherwise.
All in all, the Cardinals' DBs put on a clinic back there yesterday---it was pretty much blanket coverage. You don't get seven 3-and-outs and allowing a mere 106 yards passing to an 12-2 team without superb pass coverage.
8. Attacking the Seacows.
Did you see how physical the Cardinals' offense line was yesterday? Look at the way they ran at the big boys Red Bryant and Tony McDaniel. Credit Colledge, Sendlein and Fanaika for going right after those two stalwarts in the Seahawk's defense. it wasn't pretty, but the hitting was fierce. They frustrated McDaniels so much he got whistled for a 15 yarder after a play.
The off-tackle bounce play to Ellington was sweet. Did you see the textbook block Stepfan Taylor made in the hole to spring Ellington up the sideline? Taylor is a player. And The Juke is no fluke!
How about Fanaika's seal-off down block on the 2 point conversion?
Equally impressive was the play of the tackles, Sowell and Winston. Aside from a possible assignment gaffe from Winston on the play where Bruce Irvin rushed the edge unblocked and a couple of the inside twists Michael Bennett made tackles on, Sowell and Winston played their tails off in an environment versus big-time rushers where few tackles have been able to hold up.
9. Silent Might.
We might be taking this for granted, but the Cardinals handled the record level ear deafening crowd noise like true pros. Silent counts aren't easy to pull off. This offensive line is playing as one and in unison. They really are.
On the defensive end---will you ever forget the goal-line stand to end the first half? That was a gut check galore. And to have them miss the chip shot FG to boot was amazing. The Cardinals are clearly in the Seahawks' heads. Who would have ever thought that could happen in one year? Wow! Like Darnell Dockett said: "BA has been asking us when are we going to stop being punked on in the NFC West..."
10. A Cardinal In A Pear Tree
Christmas for the Cardinals began on January 8, 2013 when Steve Keim was promoted to GM. Twenty days later on January 28, 2013 Michael Bidwill and Steve Keim hired Bruce Arians as the new HC.
What we see in Arizona today is the most unified Cardinal family to date. There is a brotherhood amongst the players who individually and collectively are manifesting a true love and dedication to the game. Gone are the false bravados of teams past. Gone are the flimsy, coach-speak excuses and trite one-liners. Gone are the days when the team would take weeks off. This team straps it up every day. When a brother goes down, it's the next brother up. When a player goes sour---no one quits on him---his coaches and teammates pick him up until he gets it back right. No more hollow words. In their places are accountability, cooperation and humbleness.
To quote the inimitable Charles Dickens (with a couple little insertions on this fan's part): "They were good to their words. And it could be said of them that they knew how to keep the Cardinal spirit well, if any men alive possessed the knowledge."
"May that truly be said of all of us."
Merry merry Christmas my dear pals! "God bless us, everyone!"
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...-musings-cardinals-keim-doing-a-heck-of-a-job
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32QybCgFdM
We have seen how the Cardinals' defense has fed off of the energy the fans bring them at the U of P. Yet, we haven't quite seen quite the same amplitude of defensive intensity on the road---that is until yesterday, when the Cardinals needed it most. I believe that one of the main cogs of the Cardinals' defensive plan was to feed off the energy in that unique stadium. And boy oh boy---did our boys feed off the energy and off each other. They were ravenous redbirds from the first snap to the last. The dessert? Bags of skittles galore!
2. Baiting Carson.
Sure, every one of the four interceptions seemed to happen at the worst times, either taking sure points off the board or setting the Seahawks up for game changing momentum shifts and a short 7 yard field for the Seahawks' offense to end the first half. These interceptions were of the unthinkable kind: (1) 3rd and 1 inside the Seahawks' 10 yard line; (2) forcing the ball to Fitz into triple coverage, no less; (3) trying to pass out of our own territory with under a minute to go in the first half; (4) floating up a chuck duck gift again in easy FG territory.
But, as bad as these interceptions were---and as much as we want to blame Carson Palmer (who does deserve some of the blame), the honest truth is the Seahawks baited Palmer to perfection whenever he went into the quick passing mode. First the Seahawks had a plan, as Pete Carroll usually does with his defense, is to rush the short porch (away from the strong side) in order to provoke a quicker pass, and then to have the interior d-linemen and interior LB leap into kick blocking mode (hands as high as they can get) to create obscured passing lanes and possible deflections.
You see---twice they got the deflections that led to Chancellor's and Malcolm Smith's interceptions---and on the other two throws, Palmer tried to pass quicker than normal to beat the leaps on the Fitz force and then tried to lob the ball over the leaps on the chuck duck. Both balls wound up in the hands of Richard Sherman, alas.
3. The Patience of Job.
How many times this year have you wanted BA to yank Carson Palmer? How many times, just yesterday alone?
What's so wonderful about BA is how incredibly patient he is with his QBs---and with his commitment to the running game---
The reason? I think BA understands that to run the kind of aggressive offense he likes, his QB are going to have to stay aggressive and what often comes with being aggressive is getting picked off.
Honestly, I bet you that BA is kicking himself in the arse today for not picking up on Pete Carroll's baiting plans earlier in the game. I bet you BA isn't thinking the interceptions were all on Palmer.
it was BA who decided to take a shot into the end zone on 3rd and 1 in the opening possession---that was his call.
My point is---we as fans have to be patient with BA---he's a high risk reward type play caller.
Thank God BA is, because otherwise, the pass from Palmer to Floyd never happens. And if you notice---BA gave it max protection (7 blockers)---and it was a pass that no Seahawk could deflect, save the great play the young Seahawk CB Byron Maxwell made on the ball that Floyd masterfully overpowered.
4. Drawing Up a Great Play.
That draw play the Cardinals run, usually outside of the left tackle box, as awkward as it looks, is a brilliant design. What it does, first and foremost, is it forces the RDE to redirect his pass rush and anytime you can get a good RDE to hesitate or redirect an initial rush you are doing a great job of slowing him down.
Secondly, it now creates a one on one between the RB and the LB assigned to him, which sometimes is the MLB shaded somewhat to that side.
Even though on third and 7 in the 4th quarter, up 6-3, BA called it to Stepfan Taylor, it actually in that situation was a very good call. The Seahawks had been dialing up the pressure on third downs and causing turnovers, and having missed on on three other scoring opportunities, this time you could tell exactly what BA was thinking. Try to surprise them with this play---hope to convert, but at least get the 6 point lead, so that if the Seahawks do score a TD, you have a chance to regain the lead and to win the game on a FG.
Palmer and Taylor ran it to perfection---but the Seahawks are so quick to the ball they stopped Taylor two yards short. But that was OK in that critical situation. This trip into Seahawks territory could not come up empty again.
Now, you just know it was killing BA not to pass on 3rd and 7---but again, here's where his experience and patience as a coach has its greatest rewards.
5. Scoreboard Watching.
Literally during a play by Patrick Peterson. Peterson, like everyone else on the defense, brought his A game to Seattle. But, this play was an egregious brain fart on his part. You never ever quit on a play in this league and Peterson did at a crucial time no less. One play in a game like yesterday's could make all the difference, and Peterson should know better and show much better maturity.
He also decided to let one punt bounce at the ten yard line, which was downed at the 2 yard line. Obviously the coaches got after him on that one because he did come over to fair catch the next one in that vicinity.
Two bad decisions in what was otherwise an arguably flawless game on Patrick's part. So, the good far outweighs the bad.
6. Wilson in a Bottle.
The edge rushers (Shaughnessy, Bernard & Abraham) had to check their egos and stats at the gates and play contain rushes (keep their outside shoulders free)---which they did so well. Their job was to funnel Wilson into the big boys, Dockett, Campbell (2 big sacks!), Williams, Ta'amu and Rucker, all of whom dominated the interior of the Seahawks' o-line, both versus the run (have you ever seen Marshawn Lynch get jacked up repeatedly like that?) and versus the pass (7 3-and-outs).
Best of all, how about the controlled rushes Bowles assigned to Daryl Washington, where Washington could mirror Wilson's movements...look for teams to copycat Todd Bowles' scheme come playoff time. It was brilliant. Russell Wilson's home record fell to 14-1! And the normally highly composed Wilson looked more frazzled than ever before...which is why he kept sailing passes toward the sideline when under pressure.
7. Secondary School.
As big as the Cardinals' front seven played yesterday, one could argue that the Cardinals' secondary has their best overall game of the season.
Jerraud Powers was huge in this game---which is something about this Cardinals' team that is so encouraging because the players are feeding off of other players' success. There's no question in my mind that Rashard Mendenhall has become a better back because of Andre Ellington. And yesterday Jerraud Powers became a better corner because of the success Antoine Cason had last week.
Tony Jefferson played very good angles and forced the run well in the hole. Yeremiah Bell was solid.
Peterson was light's out. Cason was solid but struggled a couple of times on crossing routes, which most corners do.
There was the breakdown on the TD pass to TE Zach Miller (which remains a red zone concern)---but the TEs were handled well all day otherwise.
All in all, the Cardinals' DBs put on a clinic back there yesterday---it was pretty much blanket coverage. You don't get seven 3-and-outs and allowing a mere 106 yards passing to an 12-2 team without superb pass coverage.
8. Attacking the Seacows.
Did you see how physical the Cardinals' offense line was yesterday? Look at the way they ran at the big boys Red Bryant and Tony McDaniel. Credit Colledge, Sendlein and Fanaika for going right after those two stalwarts in the Seahawk's defense. it wasn't pretty, but the hitting was fierce. They frustrated McDaniels so much he got whistled for a 15 yarder after a play.
The off-tackle bounce play to Ellington was sweet. Did you see the textbook block Stepfan Taylor made in the hole to spring Ellington up the sideline? Taylor is a player. And The Juke is no fluke!
How about Fanaika's seal-off down block on the 2 point conversion?
Equally impressive was the play of the tackles, Sowell and Winston. Aside from a possible assignment gaffe from Winston on the play where Bruce Irvin rushed the edge unblocked and a couple of the inside twists Michael Bennett made tackles on, Sowell and Winston played their tails off in an environment versus big-time rushers where few tackles have been able to hold up.
9. Silent Might.
We might be taking this for granted, but the Cardinals handled the record level ear deafening crowd noise like true pros. Silent counts aren't easy to pull off. This offensive line is playing as one and in unison. They really are.
On the defensive end---will you ever forget the goal-line stand to end the first half? That was a gut check galore. And to have them miss the chip shot FG to boot was amazing. The Cardinals are clearly in the Seahawks' heads. Who would have ever thought that could happen in one year? Wow! Like Darnell Dockett said: "BA has been asking us when are we going to stop being punked on in the NFC West..."
10. A Cardinal In A Pear Tree
Christmas for the Cardinals began on January 8, 2013 when Steve Keim was promoted to GM. Twenty days later on January 28, 2013 Michael Bidwill and Steve Keim hired Bruce Arians as the new HC.
What we see in Arizona today is the most unified Cardinal family to date. There is a brotherhood amongst the players who individually and collectively are manifesting a true love and dedication to the game. Gone are the false bravados of teams past. Gone are the flimsy, coach-speak excuses and trite one-liners. Gone are the days when the team would take weeks off. This team straps it up every day. When a brother goes down, it's the next brother up. When a player goes sour---no one quits on him---his coaches and teammates pick him up until he gets it back right. No more hollow words. In their places are accountability, cooperation and humbleness.
To quote the inimitable Charles Dickens (with a couple little insertions on this fan's part): "They were good to their words. And it could be said of them that they knew how to keep the Cardinal spirit well, if any men alive possessed the knowledge."
"May that truly be said of all of us."
Merry merry Christmas my dear pals! "God bless us, everyone!"
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...-musings-cardinals-keim-doing-a-heck-of-a-job
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32QybCgFdM
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