RugbyMuffin
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Little bit of a step back on offense, a little bit of a step forward on defense.
That is my initial reaction to game #2 in the Cardinals preseason.
My final 53 predictions, and Current starts are updated, link in my signature.
First some realizations:
- The facebook post from the Cardinals facebook page, showing pictures from the fan booth at the stadium is AWESOME !!! Assignment to all ASFN members, make me a picture that I cannot forget. LOL!
#1: When Bruce Arians and company said they don't care about yards given up on defense, just points, they mean it. This defense gives up yards, but not points. Fine with me, but it takes some getting used to.
#2: Carson Palmer is who we thought he was. Look Palmer is better than Kolb, Skelton, Lindley, and Hoyer combined. But, he is not Kurt Warner, Palmer may be able to throw the dig route, but he goes hot and cold. Palmer had some questionable throws in this game. The Cardinals have to be a good team, they cannot expect Palmer to be Warner and carry the whole team to the Super Bowl.
#3: We need another tight end. Jim Dray looked better in this game, but I still have my doubts about DC Jefferson. Rob Housler, I am sorry, he is not going to be the break out guy everyone wants him to be. Jeff King better be back to what he was 2 years ago, and Kory Sperry better be everything Housler is hyped up to be, or it is going to be a long season for that position.
#4: Jay Feely has me nervous. I see.......I see Neil Rackers!!!! Gotta bring someone into camp. We have the room, I mean about 20 guys never saw the field in this game.
#5: Would Drew Stanton have started for the Cardinals if he was on the roster last year ? I think so.
#6: Does Stepfan Taylor have a role on this teams as a short yardage back ? It looks that way to me. As they say, if you need 3 yards he gets you 4.
#7: Paul Fanaika. No longer a feel good story. The Cardinals have to think long and hard about the right guard position and who they should start. Cause this guy is bringing it. Serious mean streak. Punisher.
#8: Youth will be served.
See Preseason mid-term report: http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/preseason-mid-term-report-198400.html
--Notes--
1st Half - Starters:
- Good to see Alfonso Smith returning Kickoffs. I mean, Kickoffs are almost a waste of time these days, but it makes him more valuable.
- Offensive Starters: Palmer - Mendenhall - Dray - Housler - Floyd - Fitzgerald - Brown - Cooper - Sendlein - College - Winston (TV was wrong, Massie didn't start)
- Didn't like seeing a 3 & out on the opening drive. Stuffed on a run to the right side, Rob Houlser does what he does and drops a pass right in his hands, and an INC pass to Floyd.
- I do like seeing Lorenzo Alexander and Justin Bethel work together on the punt following the 3 & out to force a fumble. Bethel is a a demon on special teams, its ridiculous.
- Once getting the ball back: Mendenhall makes a move that Chris Wells never could on a nice 5 yard run, via nice cut to slip a tackle.
- Palmer was a little cold on the 1st drive, now he gets hot: Very nice pass to Andre Roberts for a 1st down
- A little later Palmer hits Roberts again, but this time Palmer is given time in the pocket to find Roberts who was his 3rd option (that is if I read Palmers eyes correctly....well not his eyes but his helmet opening)
- REDZONE: 3 & 6: Palmer makes a worrisome throw for an incomplete pass, it should have been picked.
- 3 & 0 Cardinals - Feely FG.
- Defensive Starters: Peterson - Campbell - Bell - Talley - Walker - Alexander - Acho - Dockett - Power - Matheui - Brinkley, Yes, Daryl Talley started as the NT. Curtis Taylor was the nickel back. John Abraham pass rush specialist
- Bell had a nice TFL, Peterson with a good pass defense, John Abraham had some nice pressure tho Brinkley got hit for a ticky-tack roughing the passer. The Cardinals stop the drive but luck out since Peterson was beat deep and Romo overthrew the wide open receiver, Dockett ends the drive with a TFL.
- 1st offensive play of the next drive: Patrick Peterson in on offense, Palmer hits Fitzgerald for a big gain....negated by a holding penalty on Levi Brown (play doesn't happen if Brown doesn't hold, btw)
- Palmer to Fitzgerald 11 yards
- Palmer to Fitzgerald on a slant for a 1st down ( that play was unstoppable)
- Mendenhall with a nice 7 yard gain, good block by Housler on the play (yes, you read that correctly, it was a nice block)
- WR Screen to Roberts for a 1st Down
- Palmer to Fitzgerald, for 25 yards on a deep in route. Warner made a living on this route. Nice to see Palmer complete it.
- Kerry Taylor gets a 1st down on a WR screen. Great blocks by Fitzgerald, and Floyd on the play.
- Run to the right, 9yds for Mendenhall.
- Short Yardage Situation: Cardinals in the power I formation with Stephan Taylor in the fullback position. Hand off to Taylor and he gets the 1st down. This kid has short yardage back written all over him. I would use him in the redzone all the time.
- I like this throw, even though Palmer tries to force it to Floyd for a TD. It falls incomplete, but that is a good risk, IMO.
- WR Screen to Patrick Peterson. Good gain on the play. Jonathan Cooper absolutely destroys his man on this play, and by doing so knocks down another Cowboy player. That's a 2'fer right there.
- Pass to Floyd to fumbles the ball, but the Cardinals recover. Good hustle by Levi Brown on the play.
- Cardinals go for it on 4 & 2. Yes, Palmer is under pressure, but he has to make the throw to the flat where Taylor was wide open for a 1st down, maybe even a TD.
- The Cowboys moved the ball well, once they got it back. They hit a play over Peterson for 25yds. Then Curtis Taylor gets lit up by Austin of the Cowboys.
- The Cowboys running back breakers a HUGE play, but fumbles the ball at the end. Brinkley picks up the fumble.
- Mendenhall goes off right tackle for a 1st down. Nice play by Jonathan Cooper.
- Then Palmer goes cold. Three incomplete passes in a row. Some were completely ridiculous. The whole series looked HORRIBLE. Think last year. Palmer's final stats: 7-15 (46%), 66 yards.
- Very nice Punt by Zastudil. He looks a lot better than last week.
- Nice play by Washington, and Daryl Talley.
- Cowboys drive into Cardinals territory.
- Campbell gets pressure, forces a holding penalty
- J. Powers strips the ball from Dez Bryant and Brinkley recovers the ball. That is two fumble recoveries from Jasper Brinkley.
1st Half - 2nd String:
- Offense: 2nd String: Drew Stanton - Stepfan Taylor - Potter - Massie - Fanaika - Gibson - Richal - Dray - DC Jefferson - Jaron Brown - Kerry Taylor
- Alfonso Smith makes some decent runs, one for 10 yards
- Drew Stanton looks solid. Strings some passes together: To Jaron Brown, to Kerry Taylor.
- Drew Stanton gets sacked, fumble. Luckily the call gets overturned to a incomplete pass. I say we get a break there. Doesn't matter cause A.Smith gets stuffed on a run, and Stanton makes a bad pass
- Cardinals 6-0. Jay Feely hits a 53 yard field goal.
- 1st team defense, for the most part, is still on the field.
- J. Powers gets a nice INT
- Drew Stanton hits Kerry Taylor on a big play. Kerry Taylor is making a case for the final 53. It will be the best two out of Jaron Brown, Charles Hawkins, and Kerry Taylor.
- Drew Stanton sacked. Nate Potter beat
- Stanton hits Kerry Taylor in the hands, he drops it.
- Jay Feely pulls a Neil Rackers and misses a chip shot field goal. Feely looks bad this offseason.
- Still mostly the 1st team defense, but Tony Jefferson starts to appear on the field at this point in the game. same with Antoine Cason
- Cardinals get the ball back after a solid showing, but very run of the mill play by defense.
- Stanton hits Dray for 4 yds, St.Taylor on a check down for a 1st down. Potter lets up another sack.
- Stanton hits Kerry Taylor for another big gain, to Dray for 12 yards.
- REDZONE: Stanton overthrow his check down (St. Taylor) for an INT in the redzone.
- Defense: 2nd string: Zach Nash - David Carter - Daryl Talley - Padric Scott - Alex Okafor - Kevin Minter - Daryl Washington - Antoine Cason - Jamel Flemming - Curtis Taylor - Tony Jefferson
- Tyrann Matheui played a lot of nickel....heck he played most the game.
- At this point, Tony Jefferson makes it a point to ensure he has a very good chance to make this team, and picks off a pass for an INT.
- Drew Stanton hits Charles Hawkins for a big gain.
- Cardinals 9-0: Jay Feely hits a FG right before halftime.
-- Halftime --
- Justin Bethel with a really good tackle on the kick off to open the 2nd half of the game.
- Kenny Rowe comes in for Zach Nash at OLBer.
- The Cardinals play well and force the Cowboys to punt.
- After a solid Taylor run, Drew Stanton makes a bad throw that should have been picked.
- Next play Stanton hits Jaron Brown. Nice catch, and Paul Fanaika savagely pancakes the guy he is blocking.
- Stepfan Taylor is hitting the hole MUCH, MUCH faster, and because if it is picking up good yardage each run.
- Cardinals kill their own drive by calling a ridiculous reverse play in which Jaron Brown fumbles the ball, and recovers it, but it kills the drive.
- Zastudil has back to back good punts. 1st is down inside the 5yd line (downed by Stepfan Taylor) but a facemask negates it, next punt is inside the 15 yard line.
- On defense: Okafor has a nice tackle against the run, Minter makes a nice play, and Flemming makes a good sacrificial play against the run to stop it cold.
- Alex Okafor gets his 1st sack in the NFL. Completely destroys a TE to get to the QB.
- Matheui uses his "Spidey Sense" to almost get a pick six, goes off his fingertips.
- Reggie Walker gets stiff armed and lets up 1st down.
4th Quarter - Camp Fodder
- There are still some players in the game who are going to make this roster, but a lot are not going to from this point on. I will give some real brief notes.
- Fodder Defense: Jonathan Mathis - D.Carter - Cordian Hagans - Kenny Rowe - Kenny Demens - Colin Parker - Zack Nash - Bryan McCann - Javon Harris - Tony Jefferson/R.Yell - J.Bethel/J.Flemming
- Fodder Offense: Ryan Lindley - Andre Ellington - DC Jefferson - Alex Gotleib - Charles Hawkins - Dan Buckner - Jamaal Johnson-Webb - Senio Kelemete/Deveric Gallington - Kyle Quinn - Earl Watford - Joe Caprioglio
- The Cowboys score a touchdown at this point, and the Cardinals add another field goal (and ugly one by Feely) and win 12 - 7. Always nice to beat the Cowboys at home, not matter what the circumstance.
- Tony Jefferson took over the game at this point: A tackle for a loss, a couple nice plays in coverage, a couple tackles here and there, plus another INT, this time to end the game.
- Andre Ellington looks the part. Had a nice kick return. Some really nice runs, and a few nice catches.
- Lindley looked like Lindley. Completed a few passes.
- Charles Hawkins keeps the pressure on the WR battle with a really nice play for big yardage. A lot of YAC on the play. He also shows he can be trusted as a punt returner, holding onto a punt after getting lit up!
- Cardinals are kept to a FG in the redzone again. Not a good thing.
- Bethel had a nice play in pass defense
- DC Jefferson gets overpowered on a block, and ruins a run play
That's it! Bring on Preaseason game #3, the movie trailer for the season!
That is my initial reaction to game #2 in the Cardinals preseason.
My final 53 predictions, and Current starts are updated, link in my signature.
First some realizations:
- The facebook post from the Cardinals facebook page, showing pictures from the fan booth at the stadium is AWESOME !!! Assignment to all ASFN members, make me a picture that I cannot forget. LOL!
#1: When Bruce Arians and company said they don't care about yards given up on defense, just points, they mean it. This defense gives up yards, but not points. Fine with me, but it takes some getting used to.
#2: Carson Palmer is who we thought he was. Look Palmer is better than Kolb, Skelton, Lindley, and Hoyer combined. But, he is not Kurt Warner, Palmer may be able to throw the dig route, but he goes hot and cold. Palmer had some questionable throws in this game. The Cardinals have to be a good team, they cannot expect Palmer to be Warner and carry the whole team to the Super Bowl.
#3: We need another tight end. Jim Dray looked better in this game, but I still have my doubts about DC Jefferson. Rob Housler, I am sorry, he is not going to be the break out guy everyone wants him to be. Jeff King better be back to what he was 2 years ago, and Kory Sperry better be everything Housler is hyped up to be, or it is going to be a long season for that position.
#4: Jay Feely has me nervous. I see.......I see Neil Rackers!!!! Gotta bring someone into camp. We have the room, I mean about 20 guys never saw the field in this game.
#5: Would Drew Stanton have started for the Cardinals if he was on the roster last year ? I think so.
#6: Does Stepfan Taylor have a role on this teams as a short yardage back ? It looks that way to me. As they say, if you need 3 yards he gets you 4.
#7: Paul Fanaika. No longer a feel good story. The Cardinals have to think long and hard about the right guard position and who they should start. Cause this guy is bringing it. Serious mean streak. Punisher.
#8: Youth will be served.
See Preseason mid-term report: http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/preseason-mid-term-report-198400.html
--Notes--
1st Half - Starters:
- Good to see Alfonso Smith returning Kickoffs. I mean, Kickoffs are almost a waste of time these days, but it makes him more valuable.
- Offensive Starters: Palmer - Mendenhall - Dray - Housler - Floyd - Fitzgerald - Brown - Cooper - Sendlein - College - Winston (TV was wrong, Massie didn't start)
- Didn't like seeing a 3 & out on the opening drive. Stuffed on a run to the right side, Rob Houlser does what he does and drops a pass right in his hands, and an INC pass to Floyd.
- I do like seeing Lorenzo Alexander and Justin Bethel work together on the punt following the 3 & out to force a fumble. Bethel is a a demon on special teams, its ridiculous.
- Once getting the ball back: Mendenhall makes a move that Chris Wells never could on a nice 5 yard run, via nice cut to slip a tackle.
- Palmer was a little cold on the 1st drive, now he gets hot: Very nice pass to Andre Roberts for a 1st down
- A little later Palmer hits Roberts again, but this time Palmer is given time in the pocket to find Roberts who was his 3rd option (that is if I read Palmers eyes correctly....well not his eyes but his helmet opening)
- REDZONE: 3 & 6: Palmer makes a worrisome throw for an incomplete pass, it should have been picked.
- 3 & 0 Cardinals - Feely FG.
- Defensive Starters: Peterson - Campbell - Bell - Talley - Walker - Alexander - Acho - Dockett - Power - Matheui - Brinkley, Yes, Daryl Talley started as the NT. Curtis Taylor was the nickel back. John Abraham pass rush specialist
- Bell had a nice TFL, Peterson with a good pass defense, John Abraham had some nice pressure tho Brinkley got hit for a ticky-tack roughing the passer. The Cardinals stop the drive but luck out since Peterson was beat deep and Romo overthrew the wide open receiver, Dockett ends the drive with a TFL.
- 1st offensive play of the next drive: Patrick Peterson in on offense, Palmer hits Fitzgerald for a big gain....negated by a holding penalty on Levi Brown (play doesn't happen if Brown doesn't hold, btw)
- Palmer to Fitzgerald 11 yards
- Palmer to Fitzgerald on a slant for a 1st down ( that play was unstoppable)
- Mendenhall with a nice 7 yard gain, good block by Housler on the play (yes, you read that correctly, it was a nice block)
- WR Screen to Roberts for a 1st Down
- Palmer to Fitzgerald, for 25 yards on a deep in route. Warner made a living on this route. Nice to see Palmer complete it.
- Kerry Taylor gets a 1st down on a WR screen. Great blocks by Fitzgerald, and Floyd on the play.
- Run to the right, 9yds for Mendenhall.
- Short Yardage Situation: Cardinals in the power I formation with Stephan Taylor in the fullback position. Hand off to Taylor and he gets the 1st down. This kid has short yardage back written all over him. I would use him in the redzone all the time.
- I like this throw, even though Palmer tries to force it to Floyd for a TD. It falls incomplete, but that is a good risk, IMO.
- WR Screen to Patrick Peterson. Good gain on the play. Jonathan Cooper absolutely destroys his man on this play, and by doing so knocks down another Cowboy player. That's a 2'fer right there.
- Pass to Floyd to fumbles the ball, but the Cardinals recover. Good hustle by Levi Brown on the play.
- Cardinals go for it on 4 & 2. Yes, Palmer is under pressure, but he has to make the throw to the flat where Taylor was wide open for a 1st down, maybe even a TD.
- The Cowboys moved the ball well, once they got it back. They hit a play over Peterson for 25yds. Then Curtis Taylor gets lit up by Austin of the Cowboys.
- The Cowboys running back breakers a HUGE play, but fumbles the ball at the end. Brinkley picks up the fumble.
- Mendenhall goes off right tackle for a 1st down. Nice play by Jonathan Cooper.
- Then Palmer goes cold. Three incomplete passes in a row. Some were completely ridiculous. The whole series looked HORRIBLE. Think last year. Palmer's final stats: 7-15 (46%), 66 yards.
- Very nice Punt by Zastudil. He looks a lot better than last week.
- Nice play by Washington, and Daryl Talley.
- Cowboys drive into Cardinals territory.
- Campbell gets pressure, forces a holding penalty
- J. Powers strips the ball from Dez Bryant and Brinkley recovers the ball. That is two fumble recoveries from Jasper Brinkley.
1st Half - 2nd String:
- Offense: 2nd String: Drew Stanton - Stepfan Taylor - Potter - Massie - Fanaika - Gibson - Richal - Dray - DC Jefferson - Jaron Brown - Kerry Taylor
- Alfonso Smith makes some decent runs, one for 10 yards
- Drew Stanton looks solid. Strings some passes together: To Jaron Brown, to Kerry Taylor.
- Drew Stanton gets sacked, fumble. Luckily the call gets overturned to a incomplete pass. I say we get a break there. Doesn't matter cause A.Smith gets stuffed on a run, and Stanton makes a bad pass
- Cardinals 6-0. Jay Feely hits a 53 yard field goal.
- 1st team defense, for the most part, is still on the field.
- J. Powers gets a nice INT
- Drew Stanton hits Kerry Taylor on a big play. Kerry Taylor is making a case for the final 53. It will be the best two out of Jaron Brown, Charles Hawkins, and Kerry Taylor.
- Drew Stanton sacked. Nate Potter beat
- Stanton hits Kerry Taylor in the hands, he drops it.
- Jay Feely pulls a Neil Rackers and misses a chip shot field goal. Feely looks bad this offseason.
- Still mostly the 1st team defense, but Tony Jefferson starts to appear on the field at this point in the game. same with Antoine Cason
- Cardinals get the ball back after a solid showing, but very run of the mill play by defense.
- Stanton hits Dray for 4 yds, St.Taylor on a check down for a 1st down. Potter lets up another sack.
- Stanton hits Kerry Taylor for another big gain, to Dray for 12 yards.
- REDZONE: Stanton overthrow his check down (St. Taylor) for an INT in the redzone.
- Defense: 2nd string: Zach Nash - David Carter - Daryl Talley - Padric Scott - Alex Okafor - Kevin Minter - Daryl Washington - Antoine Cason - Jamel Flemming - Curtis Taylor - Tony Jefferson
- Tyrann Matheui played a lot of nickel....heck he played most the game.
- At this point, Tony Jefferson makes it a point to ensure he has a very good chance to make this team, and picks off a pass for an INT.
- Drew Stanton hits Charles Hawkins for a big gain.
- Cardinals 9-0: Jay Feely hits a FG right before halftime.
-- Halftime --
- Justin Bethel with a really good tackle on the kick off to open the 2nd half of the game.
- Kenny Rowe comes in for Zach Nash at OLBer.
- The Cardinals play well and force the Cowboys to punt.
- After a solid Taylor run, Drew Stanton makes a bad throw that should have been picked.
- Next play Stanton hits Jaron Brown. Nice catch, and Paul Fanaika savagely pancakes the guy he is blocking.
- Stepfan Taylor is hitting the hole MUCH, MUCH faster, and because if it is picking up good yardage each run.
- Cardinals kill their own drive by calling a ridiculous reverse play in which Jaron Brown fumbles the ball, and recovers it, but it kills the drive.
- Zastudil has back to back good punts. 1st is down inside the 5yd line (downed by Stepfan Taylor) but a facemask negates it, next punt is inside the 15 yard line.
- On defense: Okafor has a nice tackle against the run, Minter makes a nice play, and Flemming makes a good sacrificial play against the run to stop it cold.
- Alex Okafor gets his 1st sack in the NFL. Completely destroys a TE to get to the QB.
- Matheui uses his "Spidey Sense" to almost get a pick six, goes off his fingertips.
- Reggie Walker gets stiff armed and lets up 1st down.
4th Quarter - Camp Fodder
- There are still some players in the game who are going to make this roster, but a lot are not going to from this point on. I will give some real brief notes.
- Fodder Defense: Jonathan Mathis - D.Carter - Cordian Hagans - Kenny Rowe - Kenny Demens - Colin Parker - Zack Nash - Bryan McCann - Javon Harris - Tony Jefferson/R.Yell - J.Bethel/J.Flemming
- Fodder Offense: Ryan Lindley - Andre Ellington - DC Jefferson - Alex Gotleib - Charles Hawkins - Dan Buckner - Jamaal Johnson-Webb - Senio Kelemete/Deveric Gallington - Kyle Quinn - Earl Watford - Joe Caprioglio
- The Cowboys score a touchdown at this point, and the Cardinals add another field goal (and ugly one by Feely) and win 12 - 7. Always nice to beat the Cowboys at home, not matter what the circumstance.
- Tony Jefferson took over the game at this point: A tackle for a loss, a couple nice plays in coverage, a couple tackles here and there, plus another INT, this time to end the game.
- Andre Ellington looks the part. Had a nice kick return. Some really nice runs, and a few nice catches.
- Lindley looked like Lindley. Completed a few passes.
- Charles Hawkins keeps the pressure on the WR battle with a really nice play for big yardage. A lot of YAC on the play. He also shows he can be trusted as a punt returner, holding onto a punt after getting lit up!
- Cardinals are kept to a FG in the redzone again. Not a good thing.
- Bethel had a nice play in pass defense
- DC Jefferson gets overpowered on a block, and ruins a run play
That's it! Bring on Preaseason game #3, the movie trailer for the season!
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