Elite? Think Again Cardinals
by Bezekira on Dec 15, 2009 6:58 AM MST
68 comments
For seven days the Arizona Cardinals, and us fans, wondered if they were an elite team in the NFL. Last night we got our answer, an emphatic NO. Facing a sub-.500 divisional opponent who was crippled with injuries the Cardinals simply laid an egg. They got physically battered, abused and embarrassed. They couldn't protect their quarterback, they couldn't hold onto the ball and they couldn't mount any kind of serious comeback attempt because they couldn't go five plays without putting the ball on the carpet. Simply put, the Arizona Cardinals were embarrassed by an inferior opponent and no amount of "glass half full" Kool-Aid can sugar coat this loss.
News Flash Cardinals Fans.....This is a recipe for disaster:
- Punt
- Fumble
- Fumble
- Interception
- Punt
- Interception
- Fumble
- Punt
That is the result of the first eight Cardinals drives. It wasn't until midway through the third quarter that the Cardinals were able to string together a 25 yard drive to put three points on the board (yipeee). And just in case you thought the offense might have finally got rolling at the end of the game, they had three drives in the fourth quarter that resulted in......
- Fumble
- Punt
- Fumble
That is eleven of the Cardinals thirteen drives and seven of them (54%) ended with a turnover. Read, watch, listen to all the Cardinals coverage you want but anytime, I mean anytime, that more than half of your offensive drives end with a turnover, you are going to lose and probably in an embarrassing fashion. Blame Warner, blame the running backs, blame the coaching staff but it all boils down to this team simply is not consistent. You, nor I, nor the coaching staff, nor probably the players themselves know which team is going to take the field on a given week. Will it be the team that convincing beat the Giants and Vikings or the team that convincingly lost to the Panthers and Niners.
The bottom line is that this team doesn't have the ability to bring their A-game week in and week out, for whatever reason, and that's the most important difference between the mediocre and the elite. And make no mistake friends, if any Cardinals' fan or player dreams of "elite status" we should immediately wake up and apologize.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.
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My friends and I have a tradition
Through out high school I was the only fan of the Cardinals amongst my friends (this was 8 years ago – crap I am getting old) and my passion for the cards slowly started to build in them. A couple years back I had them over for MNF and since it has become tradition. Cardinals + Monday Night Football = Scotts house. Anywyas they all left early last night and what made things worse was I didnt even finish watching the game. Oddly though my wife did.
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
Unfortunately nothing new
I was hoping the cards were an elite team, but they simply aren’t. I don’t really see how it could even be debated. Can’t wait for that grading the offense post this week. What’s below an F?
by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 15, 2009 7:36 AM MST reply actions
G?
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
For God Awful
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
I guess
for some of us that have been fans for a long time, inconsistency is something we’ve seen time and again from the Cards.
While this year has been nice in that they haven’t tanked as they typically have in the past after some success, and the Super Bowl run was f’ing fantastic, they still exhibit typical Cardinal traits. A huge letdown game like this is one of those.
I think they’ll be ok, but I am, as I always am with the Cards, pessimistic.
It's sad
I’m gong to make a fan post about something similar…but I feel the fans are as much to blame as the team
this might be
the dumbest comment I’ve ever read on here.
This sounds like something that would be on the Colts blog.
+1
I don’t guess we’re going to get an explanation though…..
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
My Fault Guys...
for being so completely vague in my statement. I do, however, feel the fans are as much to blame as the team. To sum it up as quickly as possible, elite status is a mentality…and it is NOT a year-to-year mentality. When you are an elite team, games with 7 turnovers from 5 different players are not tolerated. Somebody is held accountable. The reason for this is because winning is EXPECTED, it isn’t a treat. In Cardinals history, the teams have been littered with accepted mediocrity. Because of this, the fans are used to let downs and are used to losing. I’ve read several comments this week already where people said:
“I guess I should have expected this kind of game after beating Minnesota last week.”
THAT is the mindset that Cardinal fans have thanks to a long history of let down. That is also the mindset that has to change in us before we will ever be elite status. Cardinal fans have to expect to win every game and, when we lose, it is unacceptable. It doesn’t matter who we lose to or why, it’s unacceptable. Taking it one step further, this needs to be voiced. I was listening to the radio here in Dallas (I’m here working for now) after the Chargers beat the Cowboys, and one fan was SCREAMING at Jerry Jones and his lack of action in firing Wade ater the loss. They have the same record as us and they are furious about it!! They are considered losers here in Dallas with an 8-5 record. What is our response? “It’s only one game guys.” Wrong. THAT is a medicore answer. THAT is why I say the fans are as much to blame. Via Twitter and via every other media source, we tell our players that it’s okay to take a game off because…hey…we’ll get ’em next week.
Look, I don’t care who you are on the Cardinals, mediocre is not okay with me. If you’re a receiver and the ball hits you in the hands, you damned well better catch it! If you play defense, I don’t care if you’re 185lbs or 300ls, you better tackle whoever has that ball, and you better do it before they carry it 50 yards! If you can’t do that consistently, then get the hell out. Period.
I understand that every player is going to have a game or two each year where they struggle. That’s fine. But, they better have 14 other games that year where they perform up to, or better than expected! If they can’t do that, why do we want them? You can be the number 1 draft pick with all the talent in the world but, if you don’t perform every week, go play for a team that is okay being in the middle of the pack.
It starts with the fans, will spread through the press, and will incite a fire in the owners and coaching staff. It starts with the fans though.
You do realize you just contradicted your entire argument by bringing up the Cowboys right?
If fans can really “change” the culture of an organization/team and you use the Cowboy’s fans this past week as an example, isn’t that a massive contradiction. They haven’t won a playoff game in over a decade so obviously the fans are no inciting change in that team.
The bottom line is that we as fans can cheer, bitch, moan and throw tantrums as much as we want but you really think Warner or Fitz or the Bidwells or Whiz are sitting around going, “well if these fans would just bitch a little more we could kick it into gear.”
Come on that’s just ridiculous. As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t have any influence over how this team plays on a given Sunday, nor does anyone else who isn’t in a jersey on the field. I don’t care what you “expect” to happen or how much lucky gear you wear or if you’re sitting in your lucky seat or if you’re drinking lucky beer. We don’t control the outcome.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Fans might as well be to blame for a loss too.
Glad everyone has their sense of humor intact, Its the Cardinals world buddy welcome to it. they play great more and more but they also lay plenty of stinky eggs.
I can't contribute anything to the discussion
Because I’m laughing so frikken hard. Exactly what I need after last night’s debacle.
no joke this is getting comical
Somebody call Matt Millen. We figured out what he was doing wrong. It’s not that sucked at talent evaluation, he just didn’t get the fans behind him.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
I promised to do a shot of tequila after ever cardinal score -
but they kicked me out of the bar after I sat there for over an hour without buying anything. Maybe it’s my fault.
by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 15, 2009 2:44 PM MST up reply actions
hahaha!
CardsIrish that was pretty funny!
I don’t think the fans have direct influence on how a team plays on a given Sunday. I DO think that we have control over our reaction and acceptance, or lack of acceptance, of poor performers. That’s probably an overly obvious statement, but all I’m saying is that Cardinals fans settle into mediocrity far too easily.
If we take the literal route, of course the Bidwells aren’t sitting around thinking that if we complain then the players might perform. There are, however, such things as “fan favorites.” Fans can have some impact in the letting go of players and, occasionally, in the keeping of players. When article after article is written about how unhappy the fans are about a particular player because of his poor performance, it obviously reaches media outlets and can indirectly contribute to that player’s future with the organization.
We don’t directly control the outcome, but fans don’t have to accept a mediocre product either. They can speak out and voice their opinions and try to impact change. I’ll take that any day over just saying “same ’ol Cards.”
so......
Rod Graves and the Bidwells site around reading newspaper articles and they use those articles to make personnel decisions. That’s what you’re telling us?
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
I get it now
This is for Fire Joe Morgan or something, right?
Next you’re going to say that Mike Gandy’s contributions can’t be measured because he’s a clubhouse guy, and gritty, and is coach out there, etc. ala David Eckstein.
Then let me flip this around...
so you think that Rod Graves and the Bidwells pay no attention to the media or fans whatsoever and that public opinion about a player has no bearing?
you think that, if every fan in Arizona hates Gandy for a reason, that they would ignore it entirely?
I’m saying that it can INDIRECTLY influene personnel. Obviously the fans don’t hate players that perform, so there would be a reason behind all of the negativity. Come contract time, all of the outspoken, negative press can indirectly influence a decision as to whether they’d want to keep such an unpopular player with the organization. I’m dumbfounded that this would really be an idea that is so unheard of. Everyone is making it sound as if the fans play no part. True, they have no say over decisions whatsoever. But public opinion can influence change.
So if I understand your thought process correctly……
- Fans hate players who can’t play
- Teams cut/release guys who can’t play
So the logical result in your mind is that a team “listens” to the fans when making personnel decisions? That’s a hell of a stretch and an extremely weak argument in my mind but since this is obviously going nowhere though I guess we can agree to disagree.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Right, SundayBlitz
I think GMs and owners pay virtually no attention to what fans want in making personel decisions and I don’t think they should. Hopefully the owner listens to the GM and Coach and they make decisions based upon performance and film study not reading the papers and blogs.
GMs and owners that listen to fans change players and caoches like hats and end up with teams like the current Washington and Dallas – not something to emulate in my opinion.
by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 15, 2009 3:33 PM MST up reply actions
Its not the "same ol Cards attitude"
I am so proud of the Cards for how far theyve come in a short time, and I believe anyone whos been a fan for more than a couple years can relate. What we should realize is that the Cards arent going to magically change into some wonder team overnite. Theyre putting the peices in place and gradually working their way to one of the best teams but theyre not an elite team yet. The team will show what theyre made of in the next few weeks and will kick bigtime A, weve seen it before. Lets give Whiz and the team a chance before we all jump off a cliff. They may not make it to the superbowl but then again they could go all the way, either way Ill bet you dont see another game like last nite for the rest of the year. Point is that the Cards arent an elite team yet so no need to go off the deep end when they blow a game, look how good they did in the playoffs last year when no one gave em a chance. I think last nite was another one of Whizs mind games that he likes to play before the playoffs like he did last year with them bad loses
NEW RULE FOR ROTB!!!!!
no one mentions the word elite when speaking about the cardinals.
Not until they have rings on their fingers
I second that motion.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
My wife saw a cardinal on her drive into work today...
…and I asked her if it fumbled. “No, but it did fly into a tree,” was her response.
Tell me I’m not the only one that didn’t immediately have a Wiley Coyote image pop into your head rather than a bird landing on branch in a tree.
I was worried about the Cards having a trap game in Detroit. Now I’m worried that the Lions may have a very cheesed-off Cardinals team visiting. Good.
So the Niners swept the Cards. Yeah, it sucks giant donkey balls but they’ve always been a tough game. I’m sure they’ll cuddle with their two victories all off-season thinking this is the start of something bigger and better at the Bay while the Cardinals host a playoff game(s) and make another run at the Super Bowl. It wasn’t too long ago and we Cardinal fans were doing the same thing. No thanks. I’m done with “moral” victories. I’m also done with knee-jerk panic attacks after every loss. Big deal. Three more to go, 11-5 still in sight. So the bottle of champagne waits another week. Big deal.
The biggest bummer is I cannot ask for Division Champion gear for Xmas now. Frakking Niners ruined my Xmas.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
good points
Not saying people should panic, but there’s no sugar coating this game. That was an a@@ kicking combined with being out-coached combined with one team wanting it more.
That’s all.
Niners could have beaten the Colts if they had that many turnovers
But the Saints would have found some way to win it involving double turnovers and booth reviews.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
The Cards dislike the media spotlight
Any time people begin to think the Cards are contenders – boom goes the dynamite! The first defensive possession said it all.. What should have been a quick 3&out turned into 15 yards of offsides and many missed tackles. I don’t mind this loss TOO much, although I would have rather seen a close match. I think the Cards regroup and gain momentum going into the playoffs.
How many
broken ankles have occurred in the past month with all this jumping on and off the Cardinals are elite/average bandwagon? The emergency rooms around Phoenix must be running out of plaster to wrap around all of them. The articles here have gone from proclaiming Warner’s career to being over to being an MVP candidate, from we’re going 12-4 to we’re all foolish for ever mentioning this as an elite team, to Boldin is a typical “81” to deserving a new contact, etc., etc., etc.
We played like shit last night, no getting around it. You don’t beat anybody when you turn the ball over 7 times. However, at the end of the day we’re still 8-5 and in the driver’s seat in our own division. There were a lot of peaks and valleys at this time last year as well, so please quit all these 180 degree turns every week.
Well said Long Beach
Don´t over react, we are still making the playoffs and we will be playing our best in January… GO CARDINALS
paco cabrera
Well once again the Cards will make the highlight reels
for all the wrong reasons. first off I was really glad to see fitz didnt have his season ended when his leg got landed on, mri may still give some unhappy news tho. Second is now we wont have to hear the elite bull for awhile, Cards are definately improving but still have some of the same ol Cards in them yet. Third, every time they get embarassed like that they kick ass for the next four games at least, so this loss is a blessing in disguise.
You know you are elite when...
Espn shows how you lost and not how the other team beat you.
They are who we thought they were!
We should know that the best.
I’m sure 49er fans are wondering where the national recognition is.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
Thank you
Fully agree about that — can you imagine what Minnesota would have done to us if we’d played like that a week earlier? The one silver lining in that storm cloud of a game is that our “D” managed to keep the score respectable when it should have been a total annihilation.
Just to set the record straight
on that. One turnover came with 52 seconds left in the first half, and one came at the very end of the game and we ran the clock out. You’re not going to do much with those no matter who we are.
So that’s 24 points off 5 turnovers. Not as good as we would like, but far better than saying only 24 pts off 7 turnovers.
Context is important here.
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will get picked in the first round.
You want context?
A few years back we went 4-2 in the division yet finished 6-10 if I’m not mistaken. That year the Shehawks went to the SB. Here’s your context. We are 8-5 while you are 6-7. One win by us and/or your loss to Philly this weekend gives us the division, again, and leaves you high and dry, again. There, CONTEXT.
Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.
by hevchv on Dec 15, 2009 11:10 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
The real difficulty of being a cards fan is
the occasional flash of brilliance, like last week against Minn.
Ya gotta be mentally ill to cheer with all your heart for team that you know will let you down. That’s a true fanatic.
Go cards! Sign me up for a group counseling session.
by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 15, 2009 2:52 PM MST reply actions
i agree
i may be a masochist but I kinda like the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde aspect of the Cards. The fact that I don’t know which one will appear come gametime is kinda exciting. Sure, I’d be over the moon if they always played like they did against the Vikes but honestly its like they’re growing teenagers right now. You get glimpses of where you can see they’d be upstanding adults and then they do something where you’re just completely dumbfounded.
When they’re on its like its a perfect spring day in Az and when they’re so out of sync its like they’re in desperate need of a brain transplant and I feel like I’m in Siberia laying train tracks.
So cold.
I'm late to this party...
but just wanted to say there is no secret. The Cardinals win when the majority doubt them. when they are favored, they lose.
http://undrafteds.com/
+1
The Cardinals enjoy being underdogs. Any chance that happens the next 2 weeks?
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
I posted this before the game,
and I think it still fits.
Yep, that was this game.
A man from Dallas who bleeds red, not silver and blue.
nobody in the NFC will wan't to play the Cards in the Play-offs
the 9ers match-up very well to beat the Cards … at this point all the Cards want to do is make the play-offs healthy, and losing Fitz would have been much worse than losing the game. If it wasn’t for New England kicking our asses last year that team may not have gone to the SB. And this years team is very similar.
I guarantee teams like the Saints, Vikes, and Eagles want to somehow see SF win the division … if I’m the Cards the only team I don’t want to see is Green Bay because of how the destroyed us in the pre-season.
by quid pro quo on Dec 17, 2009 7:35 AM MST up reply actions
I don't care what they say, they game-planned against us that game.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
the 9ers are built to beat the Cards
they’ve spent the last 3 years doing it … beating the Cardinals is their best (only) chance at making the playoffs
and If they ever get a QB they will start to beat other teams too
by quid pro quo on Dec 18, 2009 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
+1 on the game planning 602
And quid a QB in San Fran would upgrade that team immeasurably.
if Warner had gone to SF
it would have been the 9ers locking up a playoff spot … I totally agree, 9ers are a QB away from being relevant
by quid pro quo on Dec 22, 2009 9:08 AM MST up reply actions
DemCardz right
As usual after a loss, there seems to be an overreaction. In the big picture, the Cards have come a very long way in a short period of time. That remains the real story, unless they collapse in the remaining games. Credit must go to the Niners defense in that game. I suspect that no matter who they played that night, including the Saints, Colts, whoever, they were going to dominate. They played like an “elite” team for one night, as any number of mediocre teams do at times during the season. Most of the fumbles in the game were the result of tremendous hits and swarming defense. In my view, the most chronic problem for the Cards is the OL, who are better than they were, but still not good enough consistently. But this single game was just a bump in the road. Whiz will use the experience to make the Cards better.
Steeler heritage
All during Cowher’s carreer we played to the level of the competition and struggled mightly after a big win.
good point
You’re right: they were so jacked for the Minnesota game that there may have been a letdown.
Ahh Yes
Cowher was an emotional coach and had a lot of success in the regular season knocking off the best teams.
by steelerstyle on Dec 18, 2009 11:01 PM MST up reply actions
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