Gutted & Filleted: Minnesota Vikings Swallow Arizona Cardinals 35-14

by Hawkwind on Dec 14, 2008 6:05 PM MST in News Comment 14 comments

Down 21-0 what did most of the Cardinals Nation do? *click*

For the benefit of those that jumped ship to more entertaining ventures you missed a 50-yard touchdown to Jerheme Urban and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blocking a Viking field goal attempt that was returned by Roderick Hood for a 68-yard touchdown. Otherwise, you didn't miss much except the Cardinals' secondary making Trevaris Jackson look like a fantasy football stud and the Vikings defense harrying Kurt Warner regularly. Oh, there was a Matt Leinart sighting at the end of the game.

Some random thoughts after the jump.

Mistakes, turnovers, poor execution: Warner tossed an early interception, the Cardinals' Special Teams gave up an 82-yard punt return, and Anquan Boldin was stripped of the ball, all leading to the momentum the Vikings built as they took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter.

Defense Lacking Overall: The Cardinals couldn't mount consistent pressure on Tarvaris Jackson (11/17, 163 yards, 4 TD) and couldn't stop Adrian Peterson (165 yards on 28 carries). When the Cardinals would stack against the run Jackson would connect on a pass despite the tight man-to-man coverage.

An Order of JJ Arrington Please? The RotB favourite had 23 yards on two carries before the score got out of hand. JJ was also impressive on the receiving end for seven receptions, catching balls in space where his speed and shiftiness earned extra yardage (48 yards total).

Vikings Razed the Dome: Sure were a lot of purple jerseys in the stands today giving the Vikings a pseudo-home field advantage. The Vikings came to play and truly dominated the Cardinals on all fronts. The Falcons and Giants will have their hands full in the next two weeks but I like the Vikings' chances of keeping the #3 seed.

They Aren't Who We Think They Were? Today was effectively a playoff game for playoff seeding that the Cardinals utterly failed. The Cardinals will really need to suck it up and prove to themselves that they are capable of being competitive in the playoffs. The Patriots await them in icy Massachesetts needing to win to keep their playoff chances alive; the playoff atmosphere will be intense. Will the Cardinals team we think they are show up?

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How are you feeling right now, RotB members? Not worried? A little worried? Really worried? Talking draft scenarios on the Rams' site?

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

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Comments

Just a little worried.

When we lose, we lose big. It seems like we’re either hot or cold of late. I agree this was like a playoff game, and unfortunately due to a couple of very quick bad plays (INT, Punt return for TD, and then Berrian’s TD) it deflated the team.

OL, what the hell?
Did it seem like Gandy wasn’t even trying. Wells also gave up halfway through the play, and each time it ended up with Warner on the grass.

Rest Warner
After a long day of checking how the sod is growing with 5 minutes left in the 4Q, they left Warner in for another series in which he was sacked and slammed onto the grass two more times. Those were three dangerous plays that Warner should have been on the sideline for. I was happy they finally brought Leinart in, and he looked decent.

In the need of a running game, even though I know it wouldn’t have helped that much this week, except in those 3rd and 1’s where we decided to throw instead of using that power running game that we started using last week.

by CardsFan08 on Dec 14, 2008 6:52 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

its time for a defensive overhaul, starting with Pendergast.

He had opportunities for a head coaching gig and turned them down. Now our defense looks like crap. Sucks for him. The time has come to decide, either run the 3-4 or the 4-3. The hybrid is not working. Noone can stop AD, but we couldn’t even stop TJ today. We don’t have the personnel to effectively run the 3-4. Is that our next move? If so we need a D coordinator familar enough with the 3-4 to make it work, say maybe Pit’s LB coach (Keith Butler). I’m sure he’s learned a lot from Dick LeBeu.

by hevchv on Dec 14, 2008 7:20 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree, it's time for something new

I wouldn’t push Pendy off the plank just yet but if I’m Whisenhunt, I’d sit him down and tell him to simplyfy the gameplans or schemes. I’d tell him he’s auditioning for his job over the next two games and playoffs and we’ll see what happens. These players aren’t that bad (are they?). They should be able to line up and do better than that crap-fest we saw yesterday.

Speaking of D-coordinators, Greg Williams won’t be back as the Jags DC next year so he’ll be avaliable. He’s considered a pretty good defensive mind but I think most of his experience is in the 4-3.

by RedBirds to the SB on Dec 15, 2008 9:11 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

We don't have no Trenches

How much time did Tavaris Jackson have in the pocket?
Every third down he was able to execute under minimal pressure!
How little time did KW have in the pocket?
Russ Grimm came with a vaunted reputation but he has brought this OL forward very little!
Coaching as a whole on this game sucked. What was Warner doing on the field that drive?

by CardsIrish on Dec 15, 2008 5:22 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Under the weather

As crappy as I felt yesterday, I hope the Cards feel crappier. In my feverish nightmares of sleep, my subconscious dwelt on how much the Cardinals SUCK outside of the NFC West:

Against the NFC West 5-0
Against the NFC Rest 1-5
Against the AFC East 2-1

The grim realization I had was Dallas could be coming to town for that first home playoff game in 61 years. I’d hate to have the Cardinals end Dallas’ playoff loss streak considering we started it back in ’98.

Also under the weather is the Cardinals’ offense. Three offensive TDs in the past two weeks?! Stop throwing Clancy under the bus and start looking at the Haley’s one-dimensional offensive schemes that have enough film on it that I could design a defensive game plan to stop it.

Anyone else notice how tired Warner looked yesterday? His throws are fluttering and sailing, clear signs of an arm running out of gas. Please rest the guy! He needs a bye week. Sit him against Seattle at least. If he’s halfway serious about retiring, Leinart needs to see some real game time action this season.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Dec 15, 2008 9:19 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

+1,000,000,000 Hawk. Their offense is transparent!

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Dec 15, 2008 10:07 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

ah the voice of reason

Well said Hawk. It’s easy to to throw eggs at the defense, but the offense should stand in front of the firing line after the past couple of weeks.

Warner looked every bit of 37 or 38 yesterday. That quick screen pass to Breaston was just a sign of how inaccurate he was yesterday.

by RedBirds to the SB on Dec 15, 2008 10:25 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Leinart

Agreed, let’s get Leinart in. this isn’t a slight against Warner, it’s that the Cards success resides with him (and the OL, but I’m choosing not to dwell). A decision needs to be made in the offseason, let’s see what he can do. Plus, let him get beat up, not Warner.

by KDean75 on Dec 15, 2008 1:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 Warner needed a rest after a hard days beating

What the heck is up with Boldin fumbling all of a sudden? Last week he was covering the ball with all his might, then this week we have a Philly moment all over again?

by CardsFan08 on Dec 15, 2008 10:35 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

defense was my focus on this outburst, but beleive me, the offense has no breathing room either.

We’ve been transparent for the past nine games. For the teams we did beat, they could see the train coming at them but who was really gonna stop it. Well our tracks have been turned recently and our opponents have lead us full speed into the mountains. If we don’t figure out how to switch tracks again, that mountain will end our season just one game into the postseason. In the words of the great Rob Snyder from “The Waterboy,” We suck, AGAIN.

by hevchv on Dec 15, 2008 2:08 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs