Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Team Assessment:
Recently I went back and studied the SNF game last November when the Cardinals played the Bengals. You might recall that Carson Palmer was "off" (according to BA) in the first half, throwing two first quarter interceptions, one on a 3rd and 10 seam pass to Larry Fitzgerald where Leon Hall jumped the route and the second on a pass that sailed over the head of a post pattern right into the waiting arms of the Bengals' FS.
The Cardinals were down by a TD at halftime---but came out and owned the third quarter. At one point the Cardinals' offense had 200 yards in the quarter and the Bengals' offense had 0. BA always stresses that the first five minutes of the second half are the most important tone setting minutes of the game. In that particular game, both the Cardinals' offense and defense were up to the task. Palmer found his rhythm and the defense stymied the Bengals' offense, both stuffing the run and disrupting the timing of Andy Dalton.
But, in light of what occurred in the Seattle game in Week 17, the Carolina NFC Championship game and now both of the Cardinals' pre-season games this year...a handful of disturbing trends are evident:
1. Throwing two early interceptions on forced passes, usually one of them being badly overthrown and right to the free safety.
2. Cardinals' QB throwing to areas, rather than adjusting to the WR's route.
3. Trying to run the ball and doing absolutely nothing to block the opponents' inside LBers.
4. Failing to account for and stop blitzes right up the middle.
5. Opponents' receivers at times getting wide open, with no defender in sight.
6. Losing edge contain on running plays and on QB waggles, bootlegs and scrambles.
7. Inside rushers losing their lanes creating an easy QB scramble escape route right up the middle.
8. Giving up long, time-consuming drives on defense to start the second half.
9. Erratic special teams' play.
Now that the Cardinals find themselves acting out a similar script from week to week, it should be interesting to see how they address these disturbing trends.
If BA is really serious about running the football and even he has said that he think David Johnson has HOF ability and potential, BA has to make necessary adjustments to his offense.
The biggest thing is in the running game---when is he ever going to design blocking schemes that account for blocking the ILBers?
What compounds the matter is BA's refusal to use a FB.
If teams are making it difficult for you to get your linemen to the ILBers, which teams are wont to do, then you need a FB to key on taking out the run blitz and the placed ILB.
FBs, unlike pulling guards, have a straight shot at the ILB. Today's ILBers are so fast that you cannot rely on pulling guards to get to them.
Cases in point...the first running play of the game...and then the 1st and 10 running play backed up on the 2 yard line---both are handoffs to David Johnson who gets met by a blitzing LB just as he secures the handoff. With no FB in front of him as a protector, he's a sitting duck. To his credit he spun out of the first one to get the ball back to the l.o.s., and the second one he powered his way back to the l.o.s....but those are plays that take a toll on a RB.
Put it this way---if your weakest link on the offensive line is the center---you need a good FB in order to compensate for that weakness or teams are just going to exploit that weakness ad nauseum.
On defense, there are times when it looks like the unit is being coached by a young, second year DC who had no experience running a defense at any level. The defense is loaded with talent...but it lacks discipline...and it regularly blows assignments.
For example...why have the CBs play up in press position and then not press? Time and time again, the opponents' WRs are getting free releases. That is a total lack of discipline---and it defeats the whole purpose of press coverage.
Secondly, for a team that plays so much man to man coverage, how and why do so many TEs and receivers look like they are playing against a loose zone because of how open they are?
Thirdly, why does this defense make backup QBs look good, especially because the backups have such easy escape routes from pressure?
Players On The Rise:
QB Matt Barkley---for the simple reason that he looks more accurate and competitive than the #2 QB---and he did flash deep ball arm strength last night, albeit a little too deep.
RB Andre Ellington---he looks stronger a little more up to the task physically this year, and he showed some promise on returns last night, which the team desperately needs.
RBs Stepfan Taylor---ran hard and I wonder if he could be converted to being a situational FB like he was early in his career.
RB Kerwynn Williams---he continues to flash on runs with good burst.
WR Jaron Brown---he is making the most of his opportunities each day in practice and in the games, plus he's a good STs player.
T D.J. Humphries---save for the first snap of the game (and even then he did enough to recover), he played very well. I was impressed with his technique in fan blocking---he sealed off his edge consistently.
C Evan Boehm---he's starting to make his move up the ladder---looks the part physically and mentally.
DE Josh Mauro---the way he is playing he might win the starting DE job opposite Calais Campbell.
DT Red Bryant---made a handful of splash plays last night.
$LB Deone Bucannon---he sure took the romance out of the inside drag route last night.
OLB Kareem Martin---had the one good edge rush of the night.
CB Brandon Williams---this week he mirrored better and made breaks on the ball better. He's still got a ways to go, but the progress is evident.
CB Cariel Brooks---not only was he applying blanket coverage when inserted at LCB for Pat P., he was outstanding as a gunner on STs.
CB Harlan Miller---took a step forward last night---not a monumental one, but a decent one.
S Marqui Christian---he plays with suddenness---too bad he dropped the interception---but he is establishing himself as a playmaker and a good, force tackler.
P Garrett Swanson---clearly he has the stronger leg and quicker get-off.
LS Danny Dillon---he's been very efficient.
Players On the Decline:
QB Drew Stanton---he just can't seem to help himself, playing very much the way Derek Anderson did.
WR Jaxson Shipley---dropped passes at a time when he could really make a push.
TE Darren Fells---surprised to see that he didn't start and then to see him committing two penalties while playing on the 2nd team.
ILB Donald Butler---when you are a veteran playing deep into the 4th Q in PS games---and not standing out---you are in trouble.
OLB Alex Okafor---was having a good camp, but man now the OLB depth is very thin losing him to a torn tricep.
OLB Tristan Okpalaugo---decent versus the run, but not showing up yet as pass rush threat.
OLB Shaq Riddick---where is this guy?
P Drew Butler---you look at the other team's punter and get envious---like the Chargers' rookie Kaser.
K Chandler Catanzaro---Steve Keim needs to sign a kicker this week to offer some competition---why that hasn't happened with a 90 man roster is mind-boggling for a kicker who missed 5 extra points last year.
Recently I went back and studied the SNF game last November when the Cardinals played the Bengals. You might recall that Carson Palmer was "off" (according to BA) in the first half, throwing two first quarter interceptions, one on a 3rd and 10 seam pass to Larry Fitzgerald where Leon Hall jumped the route and the second on a pass that sailed over the head of a post pattern right into the waiting arms of the Bengals' FS.
The Cardinals were down by a TD at halftime---but came out and owned the third quarter. At one point the Cardinals' offense had 200 yards in the quarter and the Bengals' offense had 0. BA always stresses that the first five minutes of the second half are the most important tone setting minutes of the game. In that particular game, both the Cardinals' offense and defense were up to the task. Palmer found his rhythm and the defense stymied the Bengals' offense, both stuffing the run and disrupting the timing of Andy Dalton.
But, in light of what occurred in the Seattle game in Week 17, the Carolina NFC Championship game and now both of the Cardinals' pre-season games this year...a handful of disturbing trends are evident:
1. Throwing two early interceptions on forced passes, usually one of them being badly overthrown and right to the free safety.
2. Cardinals' QB throwing to areas, rather than adjusting to the WR's route.
3. Trying to run the ball and doing absolutely nothing to block the opponents' inside LBers.
4. Failing to account for and stop blitzes right up the middle.
5. Opponents' receivers at times getting wide open, with no defender in sight.
6. Losing edge contain on running plays and on QB waggles, bootlegs and scrambles.
7. Inside rushers losing their lanes creating an easy QB scramble escape route right up the middle.
8. Giving up long, time-consuming drives on defense to start the second half.
9. Erratic special teams' play.
Now that the Cardinals find themselves acting out a similar script from week to week, it should be interesting to see how they address these disturbing trends.
If BA is really serious about running the football and even he has said that he think David Johnson has HOF ability and potential, BA has to make necessary adjustments to his offense.
The biggest thing is in the running game---when is he ever going to design blocking schemes that account for blocking the ILBers?
What compounds the matter is BA's refusal to use a FB.
If teams are making it difficult for you to get your linemen to the ILBers, which teams are wont to do, then you need a FB to key on taking out the run blitz and the placed ILB.
FBs, unlike pulling guards, have a straight shot at the ILB. Today's ILBers are so fast that you cannot rely on pulling guards to get to them.
Cases in point...the first running play of the game...and then the 1st and 10 running play backed up on the 2 yard line---both are handoffs to David Johnson who gets met by a blitzing LB just as he secures the handoff. With no FB in front of him as a protector, he's a sitting duck. To his credit he spun out of the first one to get the ball back to the l.o.s., and the second one he powered his way back to the l.o.s....but those are plays that take a toll on a RB.
Put it this way---if your weakest link on the offensive line is the center---you need a good FB in order to compensate for that weakness or teams are just going to exploit that weakness ad nauseum.
On defense, there are times when it looks like the unit is being coached by a young, second year DC who had no experience running a defense at any level. The defense is loaded with talent...but it lacks discipline...and it regularly blows assignments.
For example...why have the CBs play up in press position and then not press? Time and time again, the opponents' WRs are getting free releases. That is a total lack of discipline---and it defeats the whole purpose of press coverage.
Secondly, for a team that plays so much man to man coverage, how and why do so many TEs and receivers look like they are playing against a loose zone because of how open they are?
Thirdly, why does this defense make backup QBs look good, especially because the backups have such easy escape routes from pressure?
Players On The Rise:
QB Matt Barkley---for the simple reason that he looks more accurate and competitive than the #2 QB---and he did flash deep ball arm strength last night, albeit a little too deep.
RB Andre Ellington---he looks stronger a little more up to the task physically this year, and he showed some promise on returns last night, which the team desperately needs.
RBs Stepfan Taylor---ran hard and I wonder if he could be converted to being a situational FB like he was early in his career.
RB Kerwynn Williams---he continues to flash on runs with good burst.
WR Jaron Brown---he is making the most of his opportunities each day in practice and in the games, plus he's a good STs player.
T D.J. Humphries---save for the first snap of the game (and even then he did enough to recover), he played very well. I was impressed with his technique in fan blocking---he sealed off his edge consistently.
C Evan Boehm---he's starting to make his move up the ladder---looks the part physically and mentally.
DE Josh Mauro---the way he is playing he might win the starting DE job opposite Calais Campbell.
DT Red Bryant---made a handful of splash plays last night.
$LB Deone Bucannon---he sure took the romance out of the inside drag route last night.
OLB Kareem Martin---had the one good edge rush of the night.
CB Brandon Williams---this week he mirrored better and made breaks on the ball better. He's still got a ways to go, but the progress is evident.
CB Cariel Brooks---not only was he applying blanket coverage when inserted at LCB for Pat P., he was outstanding as a gunner on STs.
CB Harlan Miller---took a step forward last night---not a monumental one, but a decent one.
S Marqui Christian---he plays with suddenness---too bad he dropped the interception---but he is establishing himself as a playmaker and a good, force tackler.
P Garrett Swanson---clearly he has the stronger leg and quicker get-off.
LS Danny Dillon---he's been very efficient.
Players On the Decline:
QB Drew Stanton---he just can't seem to help himself, playing very much the way Derek Anderson did.
WR Jaxson Shipley---dropped passes at a time when he could really make a push.
TE Darren Fells---surprised to see that he didn't start and then to see him committing two penalties while playing on the 2nd team.
ILB Donald Butler---when you are a veteran playing deep into the 4th Q in PS games---and not standing out---you are in trouble.
OLB Alex Okafor---was having a good camp, but man now the OLB depth is very thin losing him to a torn tricep.
OLB Tristan Okpalaugo---decent versus the run, but not showing up yet as pass rush threat.
OLB Shaq Riddick---where is this guy?
P Drew Butler---you look at the other team's punter and get envious---like the Chargers' rookie Kaser.
K Chandler Catanzaro---Steve Keim needs to sign a kicker this week to offer some competition---why that hasn't happened with a 90 man roster is mind-boggling for a kicker who missed 5 extra points last year.
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