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Cardinals vs Titans: A Few Things to Watch For

You're only as good as your last game. Or for preseason's sake, as good as you played while the starters were in the game. If this holds true, we have a long way to go. Although we ran a basic offense, we expected our starters to at least put a few points on the board. Now with this game our starters will have an even harder time getting on the score board with Fitz and Early likely not playing. In a rematch of a late season loss we expect to play as a much better team this time around.

The starters will probably see another 3-4 series this game before the caps replace the helmets. During the game here are a few things to watch for...

Star-divide

  • USC vs Texas: From their championship game in college, to last year's miraculous drive, Matt has not been able to get the better of Vince Young. For maybe a quarter will Matt finally be the better QB.
  • Cards Backs vs Titans LBs: Can Beanie and Timmy move the chains on a Titans LB unit not featuring Keith Bullock for the first time in many years?
  • Breaston vs Finnegan/McCourty: With no Fitzgerald or Boldin occupying a double team, will Breaston be able to stretch the field by himself?
  • Chris Johnson vs Washington/Lenon: Johnson has said that this year he will not only lead the league in rushing yards again, but that he will do with 2500 yards on the ground. This will probably be the best test for our new ILBs. If they can handle CJ, the sky is the limit, right?
  • Kenny Britt vs Adams/Toler/Ware: Britt thinks what happened last year is just a precursor to what is to come with him. Ware does not want to see that same result again I'm sure.
  • Anderson vs Titans Secondary: Derek wants to redeem himself for what happened last week. Can he zip through the secondary unscathed this time?

If you feel there are some other match-ups I missed, which there are plenty, feel free to add your comments below. Let's Go Cards!

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I want to see Stephen Williams catch a bomb.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Aug 21, 2010 1:34 PM MDT reply actions  

I bet if we get the ball first we will go deep on the first play.

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 Aug 21, 2010 5:01 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions  

This game will be a big test for Williams without Doucet and Fitz.

The pressure is less on Breaston than the rest of the bunch. I would look to the others to see who can come up as a play maker more than look for Breaston to make up for Fitz being out.

by hadrarius on Aug 21, 2010 10:42 PM MDT up reply actions  

+1

Andre Roberts needs to step up after last week’s disappointing start.

by Birdman from Mesa on Aug 22, 2010 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions  

Want to see first team offense continue with basic plays moving the ball. That’s all. Score doesn’t matter. Let back ups come in an play with flair to show who makes 53 man roster from there! Want to see lots of Washinton at ILB again also!

by Punisher3190 on Aug 21, 2010 2:04 PM MDT via mobile reply actions  

Him and Pago.

Will he contribute this season?

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 Aug 21, 2010 5:03 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions  

If he stays healthy I think Togafau plays a lot this season.

How much we see of him is very dependent upon Hayes’ recovery. I think he’ll be in the rotation quite a bit even if he’s not starting.

by hadrarius on Aug 21, 2010 10:38 PM MDT up reply actions  

I want to see

Toler with a pick six. He needs to secure his spot opposite DRC.

by The Suns on Aug 21, 2010 3:17 PM MDT reply actions  

+1

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 Aug 21, 2010 5:04 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions  

+1

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." - Bill Shankly

by Jesse Reynolds on Aug 21, 2010 5:01 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions  

The Cards Dline

Against the Titans Oline and if they can contain Vince Young.

Remember no matter where you go in life...there you are!

by McCards010 on Aug 21, 2010 3:50 PM MDT reply actions  

Will we need to spy on Vince?

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 Aug 21, 2010 5:06 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions  

The way they shut down Adrian Peterson last year I have no doubt they're capable.

I do question if they can do it without game planning for it, running only a basic package.

by hadrarius on Aug 21, 2010 10:36 PM MDT up reply actions  

AP is more or less a north and south runner.

He was a lot easier for our older backers to handle. CJ has a lot more speed and shiftiness and we have to rely on backers who are more laterally savvy to compensate for him. That’s where our younger backs come in.

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 Aug 21, 2010 10:41 PM MDT up reply actions  

Our D-line had a bunch to do with our success against AP too.

They’re being hailed by some as the best 3-4 d-line in the league now. In particular I like the expectation that the starting front 3 will make close to 20 sacks between them this season. (Don’t recall who made that claim). I remember Dockett all over Peterson in the back field. Penetration by those guys will be a big help for the LBs. CJ may be shiftier but if he’s dodging Campbell and Dockett (and the linemen they are pushing around) that will slow him down some. Nothing like slamming the RB before he can even find the hole. Of course a runner like CJ he can turn his stat sheet around with one play.

by hadrarius on Aug 21, 2010 10:51 PM MDT up reply actions  

Great points about the d-line. Hope those 20 sacks is just the baseline guess. 23 would be awesome.

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 Aug 21, 2010 11:06 PM MDT up reply actions  

That article was assuming B-Rob as the starting NT too.

Sounds like it’s possible he won’t even make the cut with how the other guys are playing. Just looked it up, it was Pat Kirwan’s article at nfl.com: Don’t underestimate the Cardinals, even without Warner.

by hadrarius on Aug 21, 2010 11:12 PM MDT up reply actions  

Yeah I read that one.

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 Aug 21, 2010 11:20 PM MDT up reply actions  

We did a great job against CJ last year

He just happened to break that one teensy little run off for 80 yards or some such figure…

by tw3kr on Aug 24, 2010 3:30 PM MDT up reply actions  

I would like to see them lined up quickly and knowing their vanilla assignments. The rest is cherry.

by superpsck on Aug 21, 2010 4:45 PM MDT reply actions  

D-Line

Agree with McCards, want to see a bit more of our full #1 d-line. Really want to get an idea of how good DD, CC and the Plug are gonna be. With all the tweeting coming outa DD, it’s time to start hammering some o-linemen and backs. Speaking of tweeting, we haven’t seen a Tweet update recently, was that from Andrew? I know he’s been out of the loop, but I’m not able to get my tweets reliably where I am, and I’m missing my “Dose of Dockett” (sounds like something you need a shot for).

"The true test of a person's intellligence is how much they agree with you."

by pthesz on Aug 21, 2010 10:38 PM MDT reply actions  

About Matt....

Interesting that in both cases, (USC v Texas, last year’s Cards/Titans game), it was more about Matt’s defenses not being able to stop Vince at the end of both games.

by Cardzfan on Aug 23, 2010 7:34 AM MDT reply actions  

He played pretty well in both of those games too.

29 of 40 for 365 yards, a TD and a Pick against Texas.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Aug 23, 2010 8:43 AM MDT up reply actions  

I'm watching our O-Line

Too much pressure was allowed on Matty for our first unit, so I’d like to see some improvement… I know that its new so they need time to adjust, but I hated watching Mario Williams run over our Reggie like he was a rag doll… I would just love to see us win our man-mans and see the RBs really push on the line and get some big yardage plays…

by Gildo on Aug 23, 2010 2:09 PM MDT reply actions  

looks like my concern in the first game is still a concern

man they look bad. there is talent there, but they aren’t meshing as a unit yet… and I see our guys losing the 1-1 battles…

by Gildo on Aug 24, 2010 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions  

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