When the Cardinals start acting like the "same old Cardinals" long time fans start to wonder why they are able to predict how this team is going to lose. They know an embarrassing loss or entire season of failures is eminent and sure enough it happens. The reason is that you have watched the same factors combine to cause these losses for decades and have just not pinpointed what they are. Are you ready to know? Well here it is.
First, we have to take a look at the most important player or group of players on a winning team. I am not a football genius, but through many years of playing and watching football I have come to the same conclusion most experts have come to in regards to this topic. The order of importance are this: 1. Quarterback. 2. Offensive line. 3. Defensive front seven (the guys who stuff the run and rush the passer). With this fundamental truth established we can move on.
Lets now look back at the Cards history and find commonalities. It's irrelevant to go back too far so we will just start at 1970. From that point to now when has this team been good?
From 1974 through 76 the Cards fielded a very good QB (Jim Hart), a very good O-line (in 1975 the line consisting of Dierdorf, Banks, Dobler, Young, and Finnie, allowed just EIGHT sacks-setting the record for fewest sacks given up in a season up to that point), and an average D-line. Two out of three ain't bad. The result: Three winning seasons in a row and two playoff appearances.
From 1982 through 84 they were a good team with three winning seasons in a row, one playoff appearance, and one memorable near miss (9-7 1984). QB: Lomax, with above average O-line (Luis Sharpe and Tootie Robbins), and an average front seven (Curtis Greer and E.J. Junior). Pretty good across the board. Thus, the pretty good but not great results.
There was the 1998 season with Plumber at QB, an average line (Lomas Brown), and a very good front seven (Rice, Swann, Smith, Wadsworth, and Miller). Result: Playoffs.
Then of course there was the 2008 and 09 seasons. Everyone knows who was on those teams. Hall of fame QB, average O-line and above average front seven. Again, two out of three was good enough. The result: First Super Bowl appearance.
Now go back and look at all of the losing seasons and remember all the no name talentless QB's. The leaky/can't block for my talented RB O-lines and the steam rolled D-lines. By the way...it does not matter how talented your RB's, WR's, or DB's are, for they all rely on the big three to function properly. Just think of all the talent that has been wasted because someone or a few someones were missing from the big three areas.
Are you starting to see it? The Chicago/St.Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals have never understood the method used by so many other winning organizations.(Look at a just the recent history of Super Bowl winners for proof). To win in the NFL you must have at least one, if not all of the big three positions taken care of consistently or your chances of winning year in and year out drop drastically.
Look at this years team. Are any of the big three areas of importance worthy of being called above average or great? NO! Therefore, the conclusion is this. Watch Cardinals football, but don't get too caught up in the losing. You know the reason behind it. Until this team has a good QB, O-line, and D-line it is not worth wasting real emotions over. PEACE.
First, we have to take a look at the most important player or group of players on a winning team. I am not a football genius, but through many years of playing and watching football I have come to the same conclusion most experts have come to in regards to this topic. The order of importance are this: 1. Quarterback. 2. Offensive line. 3. Defensive front seven (the guys who stuff the run and rush the passer). With this fundamental truth established we can move on.
Lets now look back at the Cards history and find commonalities. It's irrelevant to go back too far so we will just start at 1970. From that point to now when has this team been good?
From 1974 through 76 the Cards fielded a very good QB (Jim Hart), a very good O-line (in 1975 the line consisting of Dierdorf, Banks, Dobler, Young, and Finnie, allowed just EIGHT sacks-setting the record for fewest sacks given up in a season up to that point), and an average D-line. Two out of three ain't bad. The result: Three winning seasons in a row and two playoff appearances.
From 1982 through 84 they were a good team with three winning seasons in a row, one playoff appearance, and one memorable near miss (9-7 1984). QB: Lomax, with above average O-line (Luis Sharpe and Tootie Robbins), and an average front seven (Curtis Greer and E.J. Junior). Pretty good across the board. Thus, the pretty good but not great results.
There was the 1998 season with Plumber at QB, an average line (Lomas Brown), and a very good front seven (Rice, Swann, Smith, Wadsworth, and Miller). Result: Playoffs.
Then of course there was the 2008 and 09 seasons. Everyone knows who was on those teams. Hall of fame QB, average O-line and above average front seven. Again, two out of three was good enough. The result: First Super Bowl appearance.
Now go back and look at all of the losing seasons and remember all the no name talentless QB's. The leaky/can't block for my talented RB O-lines and the steam rolled D-lines. By the way...it does not matter how talented your RB's, WR's, or DB's are, for they all rely on the big three to function properly. Just think of all the talent that has been wasted because someone or a few someones were missing from the big three areas.
Are you starting to see it? The Chicago/St.Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals have never understood the method used by so many other winning organizations.(Look at a just the recent history of Super Bowl winners for proof). To win in the NFL you must have at least one, if not all of the big three positions taken care of consistently or your chances of winning year in and year out drop drastically.
Look at this years team. Are any of the big three areas of importance worthy of being called above average or great? NO! Therefore, the conclusion is this. Watch Cardinals football, but don't get too caught up in the losing. You know the reason behind it. Until this team has a good QB, O-line, and D-line it is not worth wasting real emotions over. PEACE.
