Warner the problem with our running game

[Catfish]

Sorry guys, but after the past five games, (the SB run and this first pre-season game), I just don't see us as having a big problem with the running game. We ran the ball successfully WITH Warner at the helm then, and we just did again. (Yes it was preseason, and the D was vanilla---but so was our O, and these WERE the Steelers after all. We have out-rushed each of our last 5 opponents, and two of them were the Steelers, (once in the SB). We nearly doubled their run production in the pre-season game (on their home field). Our O-line, has become VERY solid, and with the addition of Fowler, has only gotten better. We are now at least two deep, (with quality at each position) on the line. Our RB's have the skills and talent necessary to perform at a high level, and it now seems to be a matter of keeping them healthy. I predict that we will have a tough time finding one to cut from our candidates of THT, Wright, Wells, and LSH, as EACH of them posses a different set of skills and problems for defenses. While I would agree that Matt is better with ball handling, and ball fakes, and his footwork is better than KW, I really believe we will successfully run the ball this year even WITH KW at the helm. I also believe that IF something happened where we lost KW, Matt would successfully run this offense, and it would become more balanced, (therefore even more troublesome to defend against). I like those kind of problems.

 

[lauraw]

KW is the veteran and knows how to get it done!!!

 

[Redsz]

I do agree with alot of what has been posted in this thread.

However, we are watching one of the best Cardinal QB's of all time right now. I think we should just enjoy the ride with Warner at the helm.

 

[Perfectionist]

az jam, has some good points. Warner seems to be struggling with handoffs (maybe hip), but I will go with Catfish on this one. Our-line seems to be improving and that will be the key to whether we have any run game, and I sure hope so, I like that 130+ qb rating.

 

[OmeneX]

Those Draw Plays suck.

 

[Perfectionist]

KW is the veteran and knows how to get it done!!!

lauraw, you a$fn dollars have grown faster than the weeds in my yard. It will be interesting to watch you on the vbookies. If you need some help, let me know (donations excepted) lol.

 

[RonF]

One could also say that Leinart may know how to fake handoffs, move in the pocket and not telegraph running plays is certainly his area of strength, however, his weakness, imo, is in field leadership, reading the various defensive schemes so that he can hit the receiver with single coverage.

Warner was able to overcome his weakness of handing off the ball in St. Louis to an all-pro RB and win the SB as MVP. In Leinart's case, we will have to wait and see how he deals with adversity.

 

[JeffGollin]

A few observations:

- Yeah, KW sometimes looks clumsy coming out from behind center and slow to hand off or fake to his RB. But most of the time, he gets the job done and I don't view this as much more than a 2 or 3 times a game problem.

- I thought our running game looked OK vs. Pittsburgh and was impressed that our run-blockers seemed to be pushing Steeler defenders a couple of yards off the LOS.

- If there is a problem with our running attack under Warner, I think it has more to do with the play calling. When you can put up ridiculous numbers throwing the ball around to Fitz, Q and Breaston, the temptation is to abandon the running game (and you can understand why).

- But there does come a point where - if you don't run enough - the pass rushers will start to tee-off and begin to get to the QB. With our passing attack, I don't think we'll ever get to a 50-50 run/pass mix. But we do have to run enough to take the pressure off, and I think we can and will do that.

 

[Pariah]

1. I think az jam is right; and as he noted, that doesn't mean I'm calling for his job

2. As Jeff noted, our run game will never get equal billing with our offense being constructed around current personnel

3. Our best running play is a 4 yard slant to Boldin or Fitz

 

[Duckjake]

Yeah, KW sometimes looks clumsy coming out from behind center and slow to hand off or fake to his RB. But most of the time, he gets the job done and I don't view this as much more than a 2 or 3 times a game problem

.

Didn't we finish last in rushing in 2008 and next to last in yards per attempt?

Obviously somebody is not getting the job done.

 

[MadCardDisease]

When was the last time the Cardinals had a decent running game?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Hilarious, it's pretty obvious that we have an average at best run blocking offensive line, and have had pretty average RB's as well. Average run blocking and running backs wouldn't have anything to do with a mediocre running attack, it must be the quarterback.

 

[Catfish]

Duckjake --- you are correct with your comment that we finished second to last in rushing last year. What you are missing, is the fact that the last 4 or 5 games of last season, (including the SB), and the first pre-season game of this year has shown that our running game has finally arrived.

It did not come by some magie hiring of a running back, but by a combination of things: 1. The coming together of the offensive line. 2. the maturation of our younger backs. 3. (and probably most important), the development of the mindset needed to run the ball. This is what has been lacking in our run game for so long.

In order to run, a team must have the WILL to run, and we didn't have that. I feel that we have finally achieved that point, and the results of our most recent 5 performances show that we can successfully run the ball, (4 yards per carry regardless of which running back is in the game), against even the elite teams in the league.

If you can forget all the OLD stats, and the performances that occurred before Coach Whizenhunt was able to change the team's mind-set, you too will see that we are now suddenly different. Those stats are now meaningless. Whiz has been changing that mindset for going on three years now, and I believe he completed that job after the New England game last year.

I believe it occurred (ON THE PLANE) during the return trip home when he told them that there was going to be a practice the next day, and that they should bring their big-boy pads. I believe that this was the exact moment when our bunch of players finally became a TEAM, instead of a bunch of individuals who were busy looking out for themselves and their own stats. Since that point, our running game has been the equal, or better than every opponent we have played, and those opponents were the best in the league.

I believe that our running game is here to stay.

 

[Russ Smith]

I said this last year but just like I said the other day, we were literally a few inches away from a Super Bowl win last year, so I'll take another year of Kurt at that level. It's obvious that the run game is hurt at times because he's slow out of the blocks, stumbles etc. How many times did he collide with a RB last year, that can't all be the RB fault especially when it happened with several different RB's.

but in the end Kurt's been so great throwing the ball you have to live with the other issues. As Pariah said those 4 yard passes are like running plays anyways. I do worry that the hip will make him even slower handing off but we're an unusual team, we don't have to run the ball well to win, it'd be great if we can, but we can be damn near unstoppable without it, we proved that last year.

It's just like Dockett and Wilson and the silly penalties they get, in the end you live with it because of all the great things they do on the other plays.

 

[Duckjake]

Duckjake --- you are correct with your comment that we finished second to last in rushing last year. What you are missing, is the fact that the last 4 or 5 games of last season, (including the SB), and the first pre-season game of this year has shown that our running game has finally arrived.

I'll agree that the running game improved when Edge started again but they still only managed 3.01 ypc against Atlanta and 2.75 ypc in the Super Bowl.

Consistent with their OLD numbers.

When was the last time the Cardinals had a decent running game?

8 seasons ago. Our star running back was named Jake Plummer. 2002 the Cards avg was 4.4 ypc