Cardinals’ success begins with QB Kurt Warner
Cardinals’ success begins with QB Kurt Warner
By Greg Cosell - SportingNews
The Arizona Cardinals will win the NFC West in 2008. They are the most complete team in the division, with no glaring weaknesses.
Offensively, it begins with Kurt Warner. In his past 10 starts dating back to last season, Warner has thrown 25 touchdown passes. The Cardinals are 7-3 in those 10 games.
There was no legitimate competition between Warner and Matt Leinart this preseason. Warner has NFL quarterback skills; Leinart does not. The decision to start Warner was a formality.
In addition, Warner fits the offensive profile head coach Ken Whisenhunt desires. The foundation of Whisenhunt’s offense is the power run game, just like it was when he was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. Run the ball with physicality behind a strong offensive line, then convert on third down to move the chains. This approach demands a quarterback that can process information quickly, since third down is the defensive pressure down, and show the willingness to make stick throws into tight windows, with accuracy.
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Warner was outstanding on third down in 2007, with a QB rating over 96, and that has continued through two games this season. He has 13 completions in 16 attempts.
More importantly, Warner has always had a great sense of timing and anticipation. His 79-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin against Miami was a great example. Out of the shotgun, in an empty set, Warner had Boldin in the inside slot matched against a linebacker, Akin Ayodele. With personnel and formation, Whisenhunt dialed up the mismatch.
But the pass protection could not account for blitzing LB Channing Crowder. Crowder was untouched, but Warner threw the ball to air, well before Boldin had run by Ayodele. The timing of Warner’s throw prevented Crowder from having any impact as a free blitzer.
What’s evident on tape is Warner is very confident throwing the ball to Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. They both attack the ball, snatching it with their hands, and their size allows them to shield defensive backs.
I have also been impressed with rookie RB Tim Hightower, the fifth-round pick from Richmond. He has exhibited explosiveness and power as a downhill runner, with excellent burst and acceleration for a 216-pound back. He’s a nice complement to Edgerrin James, whose running style is more patient and probing.
My one concern with the Cards’ offense is their front five. The unit right now is erratic in pass protection. They must eliminate their tendency to make assignment mistakes, especially against stunts. Too many times I saw them break down in their responsibilities, and allow pass rushers to generate quick pressure. Warner’s rapid fire ability to read defenses and dissect coverages at times compensated for these failings, but it must be tightened up if the Cards’ offense is to play with playoff-level execution.
Defensively, under coordinator Clancy Pendergast, the Cards have shown great versatility with their use of personnel and alignments. They play both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, with players like Travis LaBoy and Bertrand Berry demonstrating the ability to effectively play both defensive end and linebacker.
The Cards are not a high-percentage blitz defense. The majority of their pressures come out of 3-man fronts, but the personnel changes, a reflection of the flexibility of their players.
Darnell Dockett, the fifth-year DL, has shown flashes of being dominant, but he must play with more consistency from week-to-week. Case in point: the opening Sunday against the 49ers, when Dockett was moved too often at the point of attack, and did not do a good job fighting the double team in the run game.
The major change Pendergast made in 2008 was switching Antrel Rolle from corner to free safety. On tape, Rolle looks at times as if he is struggling recognizing and reacting to route combinations. This is not surprising. Keep in mind that his point of view is so dramatically different from deep safety, where everything is in front of him, than it was at corner.
The other part of Rolle’s transition that remains a work in progress is playing downhill reacting to run. He does not yet have a defined sense of the angles to take when attacking forward to fill. That was very evident on Frank Gore’s 41-yard touchdown run on the first weekend. Rolle was out of control, not on balance, and therefore gave up his angle as the final line of defense. Again, it was not unexpected given his lack of experience.
Strong safety Adrian Wilson is Arizona’s best individual defender. He is very effective down in the box, although he is not quite as explosive or dynamic as Troy Polamalu or a healthy Bob Sanders. But Wilson is a tough, physical player who sets a tone.
For the Cards’ defense to perform at a playoff-caliber level against quality passing games, they will need corners Eric Green and Rod Hood to play beyond what they have shown up to this point in their careers.
This is the one area that could jeopardize both a winning season and a division championship. That’s the reason they drafted Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the first round. They knew they needed a talent upgrade on the outside. Right now, Rodgers-Cromartie is the nickel corner. He will need to develop quickly.
But the Cards are a solid team overall, the best in the West.
Greg Cosell of NFL Films analyzes coaching tape and is executive producer of State Farm NFL Matchup. He is a frequent contributor to Sporting News.
Cardinals’ success begins with QB Kurt Warner
By Greg Cosell - SportingNews
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The Arizona Cardinals will win the NFC West in 2008. They are the most complete team in the division, with no glaring weaknesses.
Offensively, it begins with Kurt Warner. In his past 10 starts dating back to last season, Warner has thrown 25 touchdown passes. The Cardinals are 7-3 in those 10 games.
There was no legitimate competition between Warner and Matt Leinart this preseason. Warner has NFL quarterback skills; Leinart does not. The decision to start Warner was a formality.
In addition, Warner fits the offensive profile head coach Ken Whisenhunt desires. The foundation of Whisenhunt’s offense is the power run game, just like it was when he was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. Run the ball with physicality behind a strong offensive line, then convert on third down to move the chains. This approach demands a quarterback that can process information quickly, since third down is the defensive pressure down, and show the willingness to make stick throws into tight windows, with accuracy.
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You must be registered for see images
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<IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendy1><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendy2><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendy3><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendy4><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendyVar1><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendyVar2><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendyVar3><IMG height=0 width=0 name=sendyVar4>
Warner was outstanding on third down in 2007, with a QB rating over 96, and that has continued through two games this season. He has 13 completions in 16 attempts.
More importantly, Warner has always had a great sense of timing and anticipation. His 79-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin against Miami was a great example. Out of the shotgun, in an empty set, Warner had Boldin in the inside slot matched against a linebacker, Akin Ayodele. With personnel and formation, Whisenhunt dialed up the mismatch.
But the pass protection could not account for blitzing LB Channing Crowder. Crowder was untouched, but Warner threw the ball to air, well before Boldin had run by Ayodele. The timing of Warner’s throw prevented Crowder from having any impact as a free blitzer.
What’s evident on tape is Warner is very confident throwing the ball to Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. They both attack the ball, snatching it with their hands, and their size allows them to shield defensive backs.
I have also been impressed with rookie RB Tim Hightower, the fifth-round pick from Richmond. He has exhibited explosiveness and power as a downhill runner, with excellent burst and acceleration for a 216-pound back. He’s a nice complement to Edgerrin James, whose running style is more patient and probing.
My one concern with the Cards’ offense is their front five. The unit right now is erratic in pass protection. They must eliminate their tendency to make assignment mistakes, especially against stunts. Too many times I saw them break down in their responsibilities, and allow pass rushers to generate quick pressure. Warner’s rapid fire ability to read defenses and dissect coverages at times compensated for these failings, but it must be tightened up if the Cards’ offense is to play with playoff-level execution.
Defensively, under coordinator Clancy Pendergast, the Cards have shown great versatility with their use of personnel and alignments. They play both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, with players like Travis LaBoy and Bertrand Berry demonstrating the ability to effectively play both defensive end and linebacker.
The Cards are not a high-percentage blitz defense. The majority of their pressures come out of 3-man fronts, but the personnel changes, a reflection of the flexibility of their players.
Darnell Dockett, the fifth-year DL, has shown flashes of being dominant, but he must play with more consistency from week-to-week. Case in point: the opening Sunday against the 49ers, when Dockett was moved too often at the point of attack, and did not do a good job fighting the double team in the run game.
The major change Pendergast made in 2008 was switching Antrel Rolle from corner to free safety. On tape, Rolle looks at times as if he is struggling recognizing and reacting to route combinations. This is not surprising. Keep in mind that his point of view is so dramatically different from deep safety, where everything is in front of him, than it was at corner.
The other part of Rolle’s transition that remains a work in progress is playing downhill reacting to run. He does not yet have a defined sense of the angles to take when attacking forward to fill. That was very evident on Frank Gore’s 41-yard touchdown run on the first weekend. Rolle was out of control, not on balance, and therefore gave up his angle as the final line of defense. Again, it was not unexpected given his lack of experience.
Strong safety Adrian Wilson is Arizona’s best individual defender. He is very effective down in the box, although he is not quite as explosive or dynamic as Troy Polamalu or a healthy Bob Sanders. But Wilson is a tough, physical player who sets a tone.
For the Cards’ defense to perform at a playoff-caliber level against quality passing games, they will need corners Eric Green and Rod Hood to play beyond what they have shown up to this point in their careers.
This is the one area that could jeopardize both a winning season and a division championship. That’s the reason they drafted Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the first round. They knew they needed a talent upgrade on the outside. Right now, Rodgers-Cromartie is the nickel corner. He will need to develop quickly.
But the Cards are a solid team overall, the best in the West.
Greg Cosell of NFL Films analyzes coaching tape and is executive producer of State Farm NFL Matchup. He is a frequent contributor to Sporting News.
