Arizona Cardinals At Seattle Seahawks: Who Has The Edge?

by Andrew602 on Oct 14, 2009 11:41 AM MDT in 2009 Season Comment 26 comments

After the not-so-stellar win over the Houston Texans this past Sunday, the Cardinals hope to quiet the critics against the Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals have already thrown the monkey off their back by winning impressively in an early game on the east coast against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, a place they have continually struggled at in Qwest Field, is where they make their next trip. The Seahawks are coming off a dominating win also against the Jaguars, and hope to make a push back in the NFC West against the Cardinals. Before the game takes place this Sunday, let's find out who has the edge.

Offense

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
QB		Matt Hasselbeck's inability to stay healthy this season hurts him here. Kurt Warner surprisingly has the edge because of that.
RB		The Seahawks running game hasn't been great. The Cardinals running game has been non-existent.
WR		Even with the addition of T.J., The Cardinals still have the edge at wide receiver for obvious reasons.
TE		John Carlson has been great for the Seahawks offense. The Cardinals on the other hand, have yet to find a true starter at tight end. Ben Patrick comes back this week.
OL	Split	This is a spit, widely because neither offensive line holds any significant edge over the other. The Cards line is inconsistent, while the Seahawks can't stay healthy.

Defense/other

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
DL		Here's a surprising stat - the Cardinals have the #1 rushing defense, allowing 71 yards per game. No other team has the edge over them at this point.
LB		Featuring Lofa Tatupu, LeRoy Hill, and Aaron Curry, this unit widely has the edge over a Cardinals linebacking corpse that couldn't stop the short pass last week if their life depended on it.
CB		Even though the game - winning pick six came from a defensive back last week, this unit by the Cardinals has been terrible to say the least. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are 9th in the league with 208 passing yards allowed.
S		This falls along the line of the terrible pass defense of the Cardinals. The Seahawks have been able to make play solid coverage, and limit passing yards. If this came down to personnel, the Cardinals would have the edge. Unfortunately, it comes down to how they've played in 2009.
ST	Split	Going by the numbers, the punt/kick returns on offense and defense are head to head. You could factor in Calais Campbell's ability to block the field goal, but the Cardinals Coverage on Jacoby Jones last week was atrocious.
Coach		When you take the door mat of the league and get them into the Super Bowl in your second year, you'll have the edge over unproven coach, Jim Mora jr.
Edge	6 - 7	When it comes down to it, you could even factor in the Seahawks home-field advantage. This game will be tough for the Cardinals to win, something they'll need to stay in the division race.

As surprising as it sounds, I'm not trying to keep this segment close every week. I'm sure when the Cardinals take on the Rams, they'll have a much bigger edge then now. Last week the Cardinals split the edge with the Texans, and slightly won. This week, the Seahawks have the edge, slightly, and may take the win as well. As much as a Cardinal win would help this team, it's not going to be easy. Is there anything above that you don't agree with? Who do you give the edge to?

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Given there Linebacker's

I would say the OL edge goes to the Seacocks as well.

by badmatty53 on Oct 14, 2009 11:45 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Seahawk fan here. I'd argue that you should look at personnel more.

Anyway, some opinions:

Cards should have edge at S. Our good pass defense is more due to other factors, not safeties.
Cards should have edge at OL (seahawks dealing with a huge amount of injuries, down to 4th string LT)
Seahawks should have edge at DL. Many underrated players, a bunch of young beasts in Lawrence Jackson, Brandon Mebane, and Darryl Tapp. Add to that wiley veterans Patrick Kerney (Cardinal OL knows him very well, hehe) and Corey Redding

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 12:07 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree. The DL is reponsible for more than stopping the run

While it is difficult to directly compare 3-4 and 4-3 DL’s, you can’t ignore the depth and pass rush of the DL.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Oct 14, 2009 8:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Wiley veterans, eh?"

"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."

by Fearless Frog on Oct 14, 2009 10:43 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I agree with your opinions.

I’d trade our safeties for the Cards safeties in a heartbeat.

While I like our O-line when healthy, there are enough starters missing, including our top 3 LTs, that the Cards have to be better just because of continuality if nothing else.

As far as the D line, I understand the argument that they have the #1 rush defense (and I don’t expect us to knock them down very far), but I attribute our success in pass D to our DL as well, much more than our secondary. We also are ranked 4th in sacks vs 25th for the Cards.

I have no problem with any of the other ratings. Other than that, I do think you have to give Seattle +1 for playing at home, I guess you could call it “intangibles” is you wanted to add a new category. By my count that would make the final tally 7-7 which reflects my view of this game, that no outcome will surprise me. We could blow out the Cards, the Cards could blow us out, or either team could score the go ahead score as time expires and I won’t be suprised.

by Mind of no mind on Oct 15, 2009 12:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

ST

Kicker: Seahawks (love Mare)
Punter: Cards
Return game: wash
coverage units: Cards by far, ours is terrible.

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 12:08 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Kicker: Mare

Really? I would rather have Rackers any day of the week. He is generally deadly accurate and is like a linebacker out there on the field. Personally I would take Rackers over Venitari.(sp?)

A man from Dallas who bleeds red, not silver and blue.

by Sir Whirly on Oct 14, 2009 4:43 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I take it you did not see all of those Kicks Mare missed against the Bears....

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Oct 14, 2009 4:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course I did.

Those were the only 2 he missed this season. Missed kicks happen. In that same, game, he made 4 FGs and consistently gave us good field position

He has gotten 80% of his FGs, including some very long ones.

Rackers has around the same percentage, and while he is good at KOs, Mare is better. Look at TBs the last 2 years.

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 6:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather have Rackers.

He’s been pretty consistent the past few seasons, with the exception of the 07 season when he was playing hurt. He is also one of the best, if not the best, at onside kicks.

Since the 03 season, 1st season Rackers was with the Cards, Rackers has made 150/184 field goals which is good for 81% completed. Mare in that same time period made 127/165 which is good for 76%.

Also, as for long ones neither kicker has attempted a 50 yard kick yet this season and Mare’s long is 47 and Rackers long is 45 for the season. That isn’t really a big difference.Your kicker may be better at touchbacks at kicking off but I would take Rackers over Mare any day.

by Pyromnc on Oct 14, 2009 7:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

When it comes down to it, there's not a huge difference between them.

To each his own.

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 11:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except Racker can tackle and grab his own onside kicks,

what about your kicker?

A man from Dallas who bleeds red, not silver and blue.

by Sir Whirly on Oct 15, 2009 3:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Mare has more TBs.

Like I said, a wash.

by redwolf75 on Oct 15, 2009 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd agree with that.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 9:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe we just had a lengthy argument

about kickers.

by redwolf75 on Oct 16, 2009 12:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better than a lengthy argument about long-snappers

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Oct 16, 2009 9:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we're talking which position group we'd rather have.....

I’d take Timmy and Beanie over Edge and Julius Jones.

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Oct 14, 2009 12:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Long-term sure, but Jones is running strong this year.

Edge is toast, but you already knew that, didn’t you. Forsett is a superior HB in almost every way.

by waldo rojas on Oct 14, 2009 12:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beanie has very high bust potential.

Julius Jones is fun to hate but he’s actually been pretty good for the seahawks, as a runner, receiver and pass blocker.
Forsett is a good change of pace/ 3rd down back.

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 6:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously you haven't seen Beanie run.

He doesn’t have high bust potential. He looks like once he starts getting the touches he will be a thousand yard back. He makes good cuts and makes defenders miss. He just looks like a home run threat and once the encorporate him in the plays with Breaston, Boldin, and Fitz going they could be an even more dangerous offense than they already are.

by Pyromnc on Oct 14, 2009 7:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Just look at what he did in the first game they let him play in [Preseason, Week 3].

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81239216/Pre-WK-3-Beanie-Wells-highlights

Keep in mind he wasn’t completely healed up from his ankle injury here.

The Cardinals haven’t had anyone this talented for a LONG time.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Oct 14, 2009 8:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The main reason I think he could bust is because of injuries, not talent.

It’s troubling that he was constantly nicked up and injured at OSU facing college defenses. Now he’s in the NFL.

by redwolf75 on Oct 14, 2009 11:15 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jones is 22nd in DVOA and 34th in success rate out of 38 RB's

Part of that could be O-line but some of it is on him. And of course he was poor last year as well. I think I’d take Beanie and Hightower but it’s fairly close for the time being.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 9:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It all depends on whether or not Beanie breaks

out.

by redwolf75 on Oct 16, 2009 12:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very few would argue against the Cards having better RBs,

but they aren’t quite good enough to overcome such a woefully bad run-blocking OL.

"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."

by Fearless Frog on Oct 14, 2009 10:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

comparing RB's is useless

They don’t run against each other—they run against defenses. The Cards are playing great run defense right now, so I’ll give their backs an edge.
As for their own running game. They need to keep 3 or 4 receivers on the field at all times—when the Defense is playing with 6 DB’s both Hightower and Beanie can break off 17 yard runs. All of the good runs they’ve had this season have come in those situations. It’s when they use 2 TE’s and a full back that it’s a 2 yard gain. Those plays are only needed and 3rd or 4th and 1.

by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Oct 15, 2009 6:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs