Cardinals-Bears Post Game Recap
by JoeCB1991 on Aug 29, 2010 9:58 PM MDT
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PrintNobody has written one of these yet, so I'll handle it.
First off, the Cardinals offense and defense played very well in a 14-9 win against the Bears, but now the Qb Competition might be a little bit tougher for Coach Whiz after Anderson and Leinart played well last night. I just finished rewatching the game on Fox Sports AZ so lets get through this thing while everything is fresh in my head.
Positives:
Quarterbacks: There was a ton of controversy over the last couple of days because Whisenhunt decided to let Derek Anderson start last night while Leinart would come in during the two minute drill. Everyone in the Media was saying that Leinart was done because of it, but he stepped up along with Anderson and they both had a good game.
Anderson showed some of what is frustrating about him, with a throw on 3rd and 3 during his first drive where he rifled a pass into triple coverage that hit the hands of a Bears linebacker, then it bounced into the air and was almost picked off again by a defensive lineman. He also put too much of his arm into short passes towards Beanie and Hightower that were dropped, and he overthrew Early Doucet. But he showed a good connection with Rookie Stephen Williams and lead the Cardinals to their first Touchdown. Following that, Leinart came in and lead the team to the Bears 7 yard line before a fumble after a screen pass to Beanie Wells was fumbled (even though it looked like Beanie was down, the play wasn't overturned). Then in the second half he lead the Cardinals down the field for their second Touchdown on a 13 yard pass to Steve Breaston where he made a great play diving into the Endzone.
Overall, Anderson was 7 of 12 for 94 yards and a TD. Leinart was 9 of 10 for 84 yards and a TD.
Defense:
There was pressure on Cutler all night long, he was sacked 4 times during the game (although the Bears offensive line has struggled in the Preseason, he was also sacked 5 times last week against the Raiders). Cutler also threw two Picks in the first half, one on the opening drive to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and one to Greg Toler moments before Leinart went into the game. Greg Toler is also looking like he will be solid alongside DRC. The Bears receivers were well covered by Toler and DRC for most of the time they were in there, and the Bears running backs did not find many holes to run through. The Bears also didn't score until the 4th Quarter.
A sack where he also forced a fumble, and he also blocked the 3rd Field Goal of his career. Campbell has been playing at a Pro Bowl level since he became the starter last year. His only mistake was on a whiffed tackle that resulted in a 34 yard gain for Bears running back Chester Taylor.
Great night for him, and he showed why Whiz still has him as the starter. He had 62 yards on 8 carries for the night, including a 29 yarder on Leinart's TD drive. Great game all around from Hightower.
Stephen Williams:
5 catches, 79 yards, Touchdown. Is this guy a steal or what? I can't believe he wasn't drafted. He could be a starter on quite a few teams in the NFL.
Negatives:
Beanie Wells:
18 carries, 14 yards, and a fumble inside the Bears 10 yard line. Beanie needs to step it up, he hasn't played as well as he should be in the Preseason so far.
While Max Hall came in during the 4th Quarter and looked sharp, Skelton came in after Leinart's TD drive and looked shaky. Nothing like the guy who burned Houston in week 1. He was sacked, and he almost threw a pick, but luckily it wasn't and the receiver caught it.
Still no answer on the QB Competition:
I've made it clear that I am a Leinart supporter. I think Anderson is too inconsistent to be the starter, he is the kind of guy who can make you cheer on one play, and then pull your hair out on the next. I also want to see Leinart get a chance to prove that he can have a good season and prove that he can be the guy for this team. But with both guys playing well instead of one looking good and one struggling it just makes it tougher on Coach Whiz unless he has already made up his mind like some people believe. Hopefully we get an answer on Thursday after the game against the Redskins.
Overall, much improved over last Monday's debacle against Tennessee, I feel a lot more optimistic about the team as a whole after last night. Now it is on to the game against the Skins where we will get to see the Black Unis, and then hopefully on to a 3rd consecutive NFC West title.
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Well
I hate to say it, but does anyone else think Coach Whiz is looking for reasons to start DA over ML? While praising ML’s stats he said in the same sentence that he would also look at how much the rest of the team likes the QB and other stuff like that. I don’t think he would have said that if ML was in good standing with the rest of the team, despite all of the stuff out of camp that has indicated ML is liked, especially with that trip to Hawaii for the offensive linemen. I think there are deeper, more personal issues between either Coach Whiz and ML or Leinart and the rest of the team. That said, I hope Whiz does choose ML as I think he gives us the best chance to succeed in the short term and he will only get more confident as time goes on, which will lead to him throwing downfield more, dispelling any rumors that say he can’t.
by YoungCardsFanatic on Aug 29, 2010 10:05 PM MDT reply actions
It does seem like it sometimes
A friend of mine thinks that Whiz never liked Leinart.
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.
I don't like these mind games, especially when ML's confidence is low already
I seriously hope this is just another ace up Coach Whiz’s sleeve. Saw a theory on another board that Whiz is making this QB “controversy” so defenses have to game plan for both ML and DA to start the season. Far-fetched, true, but I certainly wouldn’t mind if it was something like that.
by YoungCardsFanatic on Aug 29, 2010 10:34 PM MDT up reply actions
I was hoping that Leianrt would have gotten a lot more time to play than he has.
I want to see him get plenty of time in the Redskins game even though he probably won’t be going against many of the starters since Shanahan rests almost everyone in game 4.
Leinart needs more reps to get his timing with the receivers worked out.
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.
The quote in here is pretty close to how I feel about this entire situation too.
http://forums.azcardinals.com/showpost.php?p=706954&postcount=17
“This is what’s frustrating for me as well, I can’t imagine what it’s like for Matt. Matt was saying that he thinks the preseason is there to help work on things like timing issues and technique and things like that, not lighting up the scoreboard. And after being told it was his team, that is what it always looked like he was doing to me. And if he now loses his job while doing nothing wrong, then I’d feel a little different about Whiz.”
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.
One thing I didn't like
Was that DA got four series to ML’s three, especially considering the last one was at the 8 minute mark or so in the second quarter, which was supposed to be ML’s territory, and ML was pulled for Skelton after his TD drive, when there was still 4 minutes or so left in the third quarter.
by YoungCardsFanatic on Aug 29, 2010 10:45 PM MDT up reply actions
More HardHate
“I was impressed with how Derek Anderson was working with Whiz, Mike Miller, and the two rookies when they had their chances. While on the sidelines, he was engaged and helpful.
Leinart, on the other hand, was off by himself — uninvolved, as usual.
Is he off on his own because he has no interest in working with Whiz, Miller, and the rooks?…. Or is it because nobody really wants or values his input?
I suspect it’s the latter."
He forgets to mention that Leinart was shown on TV talking with the other QBs. I remember him saying something into Max Hall’s ear during a time out on his drive.
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.
No, he slept with HardHats daughter
Don’t know what he did with Whiz though that has the guy so ****** off.
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.
You know what would really help?
If ML goes something like 2-2 for 65 yards or so on his first drive against the Redskins. Coach Whiz has always put himself in a good position but I fear he is setting himself up badly with this whole situation.
by YoungCardsFanatic on Aug 29, 2010 10:48 PM MDT reply actions
Then he would be pulled right away so Derek could go 1 of 1 for 90 yards
;-)
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.
I have to say
I’m getting a little tired of hearing all these theories of “mind games” being played by Whisenhunt. He was very clear about what he wanted going into the Chicago game – some first downs. Yammer on all you want about Leinart’s QB rating, his no interceptions, etc. The offense wasn’t moving, at all. He didn’t blame it all on Leinart, but there isn’t a coach out there who won’t make a change in that situation. What happened when the change was made? We finally outscored another first-string. Whisenhunt has forgotten more about football than our combined knowledge will ever know.
If he never liked Leinart he had all kinds of options in the off-season to replace him. This isn’t a popularity contest, it’s about winning football games – something this franchise wasn’t familiar with until the Whiz arrived. I’d say he’s given Leinart all the room in the world to succeed, if it doesn’t happen it won’t be because Whisenhunt, “doesn’t like him.”
I don't think anyone would say that Leinart is Joe Montana
But he is better than Derek Anderson, and that is the decision right now. If Max Hall was more polished I would say start him, that dude can play. But Derek is much too inconsistent to be the starter for this team; if Fitz is worried about getting injured on bad throws then DA worries me more on this than Leinart.
Let's explore that one for a minute
All I’ve heard from the Leinart camp is how much better he is than DA. What are you basing that on? Until his appearance in Chicago he didn’t get the offense to move, DA has gotten the ball down the field every game so far. The other thing I’m not following is the observation that they’ve looked equal in camp, but that equates to Leinart being “better.” Here’s a concern I’d have if I’m coaching. If it’s true that they’ve been even in camp (and who knows what the coaches are seeing on film, what they’re hearing in the locker room, etc.) doesn’t it concern you that a guy who is going through our offense for the first time is “equal” to a guy who has been in it for three years? On the flip side, doesn’t that say something positive about DA? I can’t recall too many compliments for him from the Leinart fans since he’s arrived. I even heard one idiot (not anyone here, it was connected to one of the many links provided) make the claim that he didn’t throw an accurate pass in the Chicago game (??? – how much better could the TD throw to Williams have been?).
I’m not putting any credence into the reports that Fitz complained to Cris Carter about Leinart, but for arguments sake let’s say he did. Are you all so married to Leinart that you’d criticize both Whisenhunt (arguably one of the top five coaches in the league) and the league’s best WR for saying they’d rather have DA?
by Long Beach on Aug 30, 2010 10:19 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
DA did not move the ball at all in game 1 until he was going against 3rd stringers.
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.
That's it, that's your defense of why Leinart is "better?"
What excuse are you going to use for TN? Why the early success against Chicago? All because Whisenhunt wants Leinart to fail? Give up something better than that. I’ve listened to you rip on everything DA does in support of ML. What is it that you’re seeing that the Whiz and possibly Fitz are not?
by Long Beach on Aug 30, 2010 10:41 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
You said he moved the ball in every game
I’m just saying he didn’t do jack until the 4th Quarter. And I have problems with his decision making and consistency.
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.
Yet you have no apparent issues with Leinart's inability to move the ball
we’re all okay with an offense that does nothing but punt and lose field position? For being his first live action in our offense I’d say DA has looked pretty good, especially w/o Fitz.
by Long Beach on Aug 30, 2010 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
Give me game planning, an oline that protects, a run game and Fitz.
Thats what Matt didnt have yet he still was accurate. Derek hasnt looked even in practice to the accounts I read, inconsistent at best.
I am one of the first to admit I underestimated DA. Yet a few big plays in preseason do not override the memories of his previous two seasons. Matt may not make as many big plays like DA yet neither does he make as many big mistakes.
None the less, whom ever Whiz picks has my faith.
"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 30, 2010 12:15 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I couldn't give two shits who Coach Whis starts
I’m want to win games, hell I want to win all of the games. Which ever quarterback can do that, I’m on his team. The bottom line is that our coaching staff is in a better spot to make that decision than any of us.
From a personal standpoint, I think DA has looked to be the better option. But if Leinart gets the start I will know that I was wrong and root for Leinart to go out and kill it. I’m curious what you would do if DA gets the start? Will I be reading a bunch of pouty dribble about how it’s not fair?
I've been amazed at the attacks on Whiz over this
not just here, but on a lot of the Cardinals sites. While I don’t like or agree with the attacks on DA I get their origin, although I still doubt we have that many ex-Cleveland fans here who have that direct of a recollection of their past two seasons. But what more does Whisenhunt have to do to get the benefit of the doubt around here? If anyone can operate with impunity around here it should be him, not Leinart.
+1
I respect standing by your franchise guy and wanting to see him succeed. But when all is said and done I just don’t want to have to watch a pathetic season.
Word to the wise: Don’t go out and buy the 1st round draft pick jersey before they prove thier draft status.
Totally agree
As long as we win, I could care less who starts. I would like to see Leinart succeed (mostly because it would really piss me off if his domination against U of A and ASU while at USC went to waste) but winning is the most important!
Also, our D is going to be sick this year, so this problem should not be as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be.
Unless the offense keeps going 3 and out
Doesnt matter how good the defense is if they get winded from being on the field a majority if the game.
Personally
I won’t bitch or moan if DA is the starter week 1. I think my concerns have been aired and people know them yet I am on a similar page as you, I just want to win.
Fun thing about a blog though is arguing your point and seeing if you are right at the end of the day. Whiz is the judge and what he says goes and the man is the best thing that has ever happened to the Cardinals. Any fool who doubts Whiz is just that, a fool.
I am just arguing what I see and believe, but I am not married to either guy. (In all honestly, I don’t like either guys and wanted Jason Campbell but since this is what we got I picked what I believed was the lesser of two baddies.)
"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 30, 2010 2:14 PM MDT up reply actions
Whisenhunt has forgotten more about football than our combined knowledge will ever know.
+1 nice line Long Beach
by cardsfanforlife24 on Aug 30, 2010 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions
As was pointed out above
Whiz said ML was the starting QB in the offseason, and unless the coaches have seen something we haven’t, the general consensus was that ML and DA played about the same in training camp. Now, if you’re ML, you’re feeling good about the whole QB situation, when all of a sudden your coach benches you and says that the team is trying to see different players at different positions. How does that make you feel?
Yes, we outscored another first-string, but with BOTH QBs—notice that the first-team defense was in when Leinart was the QB. Whiz did have all offseason to replace ML, but he didn’t—which could mean a number of things. I think Whiz has given ML somewhat of a chance, but he has based it off of preseason games. I would still like to see ML in a regular season game.
by YoungCardsFanatic on Aug 29, 2010 11:08 PM MDT reply actions
Unless the coaches have seen something we haven't
You think?
Training camp performances only go so far. It can only be said so many times but to repeat, it was obvious that the offense needed a spark. It was good, really good, to see both of them lead some scoring drives but let’s quit with this, “…no reason for it…” banter that is seeping out of control.
These are grown men, paid professionals, so I don’t care how it made him feel. He’s not in Pop Warner anymore, no hand-holding should be necessary. If the final result is any indication I’d say it made him feel exactly what it should have. The other thing Whisenhunt was very clear that he wanted to see was a sense of urgency. It took three games but some of it was finally on display. His comments about the intangibles he’ll look it should be the deciding factor. Who is the locker room behind? We’ll know the answer to that soon enough. I get that you all like Leinart, but your conspiracy theories are going way too far.
But they are sooo fun!
(conspiracy theories)
"The true test of a person's intellligence is how much they agree with you."
Agreed
I like the ones where Whis is at the root of the conspiracy, directing the action (insert evil laugh).
"The true test of a person's intellligence is how much they agree with you."
I still think it's a bipolar team
Maybe the new faces will help motivate the group better this year when they get down. The first-string D has been insane, jumping around and smashing people. Some of it carries through to the second- and third-stringers, too. They’ve been fun to watch. No wonder we think the offense is moribund, comparing a Fitz-less group to that.
Conspiracy Theories
I’m getting tired of these too. I’ve seen a lot of it cropping up in all sorts of places. Every move Whis makes someone is spinning it into a masterpiece of deception designed to confound the opposition. It’s the preseason. Whis is working on the puzzle called the 2010 Arizona Cardinals. It’s not about playing head games with the competition.
This is all for not!
Matt will start the season and DA will back him up. The question is how long will it stay that way if we go 2 and 3 into the bye. I think we stay with Matt.
Depends
You can get to 2-3 in very different ways. If we were to blow out STL and OAK, and barely lose in ATL and SD and vs NO, I think a QB change would be unlikely. If we squeak past the first 2 and get blown out by the latter 3, the picture changes.
DA’s intangibles must be through the roof (or ML’s is a grating personality) because physically it doesn’t feel like he brings more than any other raw player with a strong arm; the near pick by the Bears is a terrific example. The CB in coverage had the step on the WR to start with. Top that off with the OLB getting settled into the same zone as the route. Two reasons to keep reading, not deliver a ball. The only reason it wasn’t picked is because it was a fastball.
Leinart may be a check down artist, but at which point does it become the major of two evils? DA’s got 3 near-misses with picks to add to the ones he’s thrown this preseason and Whis has continually preached winning the turnover battle.
I hope he doesn’t put an unneeded burden on the D…
Agreed
I’d rather have a QB dump off for a 4-5 yard gain, than throw a pick-6, after a bad read.
I was wondering, "Why is that Frisbee getting bigger" and then it hit me.
by manderson367 on Aug 30, 2010 10:05 AM MDT up reply actions
he woulda been gone had he actually caught it... think thats what he meant...
but DA HAS thrown picks, which are mistakes that Leinart hasn’t made to date. How well did Warner play in the preseason last year? Awful. I wouldn’t say Leinart has played awful, his stats are actually to the contrary. In his nine plays against TN Hightower had -1 yards on 4 carries. I think there’s more than meets the eye here… Its a lot easier to convert 1 st downs when you have 2nd and 6 or 3rd and 3… When you have third and long twice and and then make a “bad” throw on your only short yardage 3rd down (everyone said it seemed like it was a WR miscue), how do you expect to get in rhythm? I don’t know, but 3 3 and outs is not the end of the world. SOOOOO, unless there has been intra-team issues with “who they get behind”, I don’t know how anyone could argue that DA has shown more than Leinart. Its also easy to point out that EVERYTHING Leinart does gets torn apart and dissected, so anyone can spin every little thing he says and does into “he lacks confidence”, “he isn’t poised”, “he doesn’t care”, but my god he has seemingly handled this in stride in my book and think he deserves his shot. And it seems like 75% of the voters in this thread agree…
by Gildo on Aug 30, 2010 12:06 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of dissecting everything that a player is doing
he could have gone the distance had he picked it off? Any other hypotheticals we want to explore?
The point(s) Whisenhunt made, which not surprisingly came to fruition when he made the change, is without moving the chains we were jamming up the entire offense as there was no way our running game could get out of neutral with everyone that close to the line of scrimmage. There was no spark, no fire to the offense at all. Anyone (even Leinart’s storm troopers) could see the difference in the body language of the huddle against TN when DA went in.
Hopefully, whoever ends up being #1, has fully heard the message Whiz sent about wanting to see some urgency. Don’t tell me that you didn’t see a difference in Leinart against Chicago. It should be obvious as hell by now, but the Whiz knows what he’s doing so I don’t care if 100% of the voters on this post agree.
What Whiz did is what Whiz has been know for doing.
Making players better.
"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 30, 2010 2:15 PM MDT up reply actions
I wasn't arguing about Whiz "knowing what he's doing"
My questioning comes into why you backup DA so much and seem to have such malcontent towards Leinart. Yes, I saw the difference in his body language, and I saw someone who threw one incomplete pass, a TD throw and celebrated that TD like it was his first in over 2 years… Now it seems that a small portion of the Cardinals fanbase finds Leinart to be an inept QB, but a larger portion (ie the poll today) are willing to “give him a chance”… I don’t know, but Anderson had a great Pro Bowl year, but has since sputtered and not shown that he is capable of doing it consistently, whereas Leinart has not even had a chance to show any consistency. I think he deserves that much at this point. Thats all I’m saying. DA hasn’t shown that he is “so much more capable” in these preseason games, so should we speculate that Leinart just isn’t capable? Well I think his rookie campaign with a pretty crummy supporting cast shows that he is, and yes he has to earn it, but I’m just at a loss in the fact that he hasn’t “earned it” yet, when he was already told that he had it wrapped up and DA was coming in to be “the backup”. It very much reminds me of “The Decision”, and we all know how that turned out… Now if DA was throwing 200 yards and 3 TDs in a quarter and a half of play I could see why some would be excited to have him at the helm, but he has made mistakes that Leinart hasn’t, and hasn’t been that much more productive. I’ve watched dozens of games with Warner at the helm where the offense doesn’t get moving for the first few drives, was that solely his fault then? Is Leinart to blame for the line’s inability to pass protect and rush block in those first 3 drives? Come on, he was 4/6 for 28 yards, yet the run game couldn’t muster a single yard (well they did, but it was backwards).
I've criticized Leinart for not moving the offense
and agreed with Whisenhunt’s decision to see if DA could, but I’ve been pretty tame in my overall assessment of Leinart in comparison to how Leinart’s backers have been in their reviews of DA.
Why do I like DA better as a starting option? I see improvement from him every time out (granted it’s been a small sampling to go by), he stretches the field, which gives our run game a chance. But the biggest reason is it appears, from the outside looking in, that he has the locker room. I’ve watched this display from Leinart before, for whatever reason, whenever there is competition he has a tendency to retreat and act as if the coach has no business in challenging him. I sang his praises all off-season long, was impressed with his training camp (at least at the start), but if it doesn’t translate to the field you’ve got to go a different direction.
In another post on different thread I mentioned earlier today that I’m not convinced that the job isn’t still his, but in light of his recent comments about the Whiz he’s making it very difficult to think he has any shot left.
by Long Beach on Aug 30, 2010 8:39 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Someone on the Cardinals message board who watched the NFL Network rerun [which was the version from Chicago]
Said that a sideline reporter said that Lovie Smith treated this like a regular season game and he gameplanned for the Cardinals.
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.
Why do I get the impression that he wouldn't know even if they did?
by Long Beach on Aug 30, 2010 3:57 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I might be alone here
and I can say for sure I don’t know the ins and outs of the position, but I was very impressed with our ILBs in the last week. From my untrained eye, it seemed like they were making, or involved with, play after play during the first half. I know Whis doesn’t like starting rookies until he feels they’ve earned their spot, but I think Daryl Washington has done more than enough to show he’s the class of our ILBs (until Hayes gets back at least). Lenon has looked more and more like he belonged each week and will provide strong support to spell Washington and Hayes.
For a perceived weakness after losing a nice player, I’m not nearly as worried about our ILBs as I was this summer. Washington looks like a first rounder who slipped through the cracks.
I seriously doubt you're alone
I think we’re all pumped about how good Daryl has looked, it’s becoming obvious why we were considering him at #26 if Williams hadn’t slipped. I didn’t like the looks of our ILB’s, at all, after Hayes went down (especially on the strong side) but everything about Lenon is coming back very positive. His versatility to play both the strong and weak side is invaluable. A position that potentially looked like shit a month ago now appears to be a strength. I liked the Washington pick from the word go, but I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting him to progress this quickly.
Ok good.
I was just suprised no one had said anything about it even though it was easily the thing I was most excited about after the game.
by SenSurround on Aug 30, 2010 12:04 PM MDT up reply actions
That's because we're all so busy arguing about the "unfairness"
of Leinart’s “demotion.”
It is very difficult to make an accurate assessment of most positions from watching the game on TV, as the cameras only follow the ball so you can’t see what’s going on behind the play. However, with ILB’s, if their names are being called a lot by the announcers we can know that they’re either (a)getting off blocks and making plays, or (b)not getting blocked, making the right reads, and making plays. Either way, the stat sheet with those guys (in particular the weak side LB) is generally a pretty good indication of how they’re doing. If that sounds obvious, keep in mind the strong side ILB could have a very good game w/o showing up on the stat sheet much.
Daryl Washington
I put up the fanpost about Washington starting because he deserves to be who we are talking about but is being completely overshadowed by the QB issue. I’m pretty excited about how the ILB position is shaping up. Had a lot of hope for the rookie doing well this season. Didn’t expect him to be pushing for a starting spot to open the season. Lenon appears to be more than expected too.
+1
Washington is fast and that will make him a playmaker in this defense (looks faster than Dansby and is not like Dansby was all that powerfull), I also noticed Dan Williams playing the nose, he looks like the real deal, hope Whisenhunt gives both him and Gabe Watson a chance to play ahead of Bryant Robinson, and also would like to mention Greg Toler, he looked good, had the int, and was very close to the receiver all the time, even when the passes were completed the coverage was good, it took great efforts by the receivers and good throws by Cutler to complete those passes, we just need Hayes to come back soon and will be just fine… GO CARDINALS
paco cabrera
+1
If Hayes makes it back our ILBs will be a strenght if not we are still thin, tho I’m impressed with both Lenon and Washington.
by Birdman from Mesa on Aug 30, 2010 4:25 PM MDT up reply actions
Daryl Washington
Whis was on the Doug and Wolf show this morning and said openly that despite being a rookie he is making a push for the starting job. I’M A FAN ALREADY! Was talking to boog a bit ago and he said that he could be our best pickup since DRC and I would say (so far) that is accurate. The kids IQ is impressing.
+1
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.
+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 30, 2010 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions
About leinart and DA
First of all I like it here at ROTB, that we are all fans and not haters, at the end we want the team to succeed… interesting comments by Long Beach, I am not a coach, just a fan, but from what I have seen from Anderson, I can tell, that his has a canon for an arm, but his accuracy is far from good (there is a reason why he was let go by the Browns), in the Bears game, he was almost intercepted by the linebacker (regardless of the final outcome, the pass was terrible), he missed passes to Hightower and Doucet and if it wasn’t for the great play of Stephen Williams on a pass thrown behind him, he wouldn’t have had the scoring drive… against the Texans he was playing against their second and third string defense, and against the Titans he threw a terrible pass to Breaston who was wide open in the end zone, its obvious what he has (great size and great arm) and what he lacks (accuracy and touch)… as for Leinart as most fans do I want to see him get his chance and have succes, I saw him playing in USC as I guess most did, and in his rookie year, and was really expecting him to become a superstar, the face of the franchise and the face of the league (remember he was doing Direct tv adds with the Mannings), so I am biased, as most fans are, because we still hope he can become a good QB; however at the end I think Whisenhunt has earned the benefit of the doubt, so I am sure he will make the best decision for the team, I think we can win with either QB as long as the Whis is running the show, and the defense and the running game keep improving (that doesn’t mean this uncertainty isn’t killing me)… Go Whis and Go Cardinals.
paco cabrera
by pacocab on Aug 30, 2010 12:25 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
I get that there's a lot invested in Leinart
and I would really like to see him play to his potential. I agree with BadMatty on this, it doesn’t mean a thing to me who starts and leads us to victories but let’s attempt to be objective and fair about this. Yes, DA has had some accuracy issues, but it’s his first time in live action with this group so I’d think that is to be expected. Look at the adjustments he and Williams have already made to each other. The other thing, when you take a shot and throw down the field there is a chance the throw will be off. There is also a chance for a big play, and at the very least it backs the defense up.
I’m already on the hook for writing an article about my stupidity if Leinart starts (and am actually hoping to write it) so it’s not like anyone is cheering against him. Quite the opposite. But the rest of you need to lay off DA and the Whiz if you’re the fans you claim to be. Refresh your memories, these concerns that the Whiz has about Leinart aren’t new. Corrected, hopefully, but not new.
Agree abouth the Whiz
When he named Warner the starter, some of us were sad or upset because of it, at the end he proved that he was right… I still think both Leinart and Anderson, need to work very hard to get better, do I like the check downs of cours not… do I like the slow motion tempo of course not… so hopefully Whisenhunt and Chris Miller can work with whomever the starter may be… and don’t feel bad about defending DA, at this point is just about having some faith, because Whisenhunt is very unconventional, some people have been defending Leinart all summer in this and other forums, just to find that heading into the fourth preseason game we don’t have a starter… maybe a decision has been made, maybe not, all that is left is to wait for that anouncement and support whomever is appointed altough I have to believe that it will be very difficult for Leinart to recover… and finally thank you for keeping it real, this is not about hating, is just about bringing facts and having a good discusion and at the end we will all agree on the same GO CARDINALS…
paco cabrera
Well said
No, I don’t hate anybody here – it took me long enough just to find other Cardinals fans. I don’t completely disagree with some of the criticism that is aimed at DA, but it would be nice if some of it was off-set by a little praise (i.e. – it was good to see that Whiz’s idea led to some early points, stretched the field, got the running game going, etc.). Finally, I don’t dislike Leinart at all. But if a change needed to be made, then I trust the Whiz to do what needs to be done.
As noted in some other responses, if you’re a true Cardinals fan (and I know this group is) leave the attacks and questions of Whiz’s motives out of it. He has more than earned the benefit of anyone’s doubt. Leave that shit to AZ Central, the responders at AZCardinals.com, etc. Again, Paco, I know I’m preaching the choir about that.
Unconventional Whis
Yeah, Whis sticks to what he says about everyone earning their spot. It’s not just lip service. He always balances praise with a reminder that any player in question still has something to work on. He keeps the pressure on to perform and improve. None of that should be unconventional. The fact that he extends it to the QB position probably does though.
But who could deny the fans of the 'Stache in action?
They could have fake mustache giveaway nights to draw fans, to take our minds off of the inevitable 0-16 record.
some thoghts not QB related
first CC is a large human being. He has been using his size quite well not only on the blocked field goal, but (i don’t know if anyone else has been noticing) he has been getting his hands up on plays where he can’t get to the qb. I think that’s going to help out whoever our right corner might be. Second, did anyone else see Jason Wright carry almost the entire Bears D three or four yards on a run. I’ve only watched it once but it was a heck of a carry. Almost done. Third, like it or not our punter is a weapon. I don’t think I saw Hester touch it once on a return and the ball was still inside the 20 most of the time. I know no one likes to see him come out and punt the ball away, but with our uncertainty on offence this guy needs to be cherished. I can’t make it to the games but those who can need to get a little Graham chant going. Maybe an "AUSIE AUSIE AUSIE, OY OY OY!" or something like that.
i like it...
And I’m sure he would appreciate it. It would actually be kinda funny to get behind a punter like that, almost like the “LOUUUUUUUUUUUU” chants at the Suns games… He would get more praise than most of the starters, simply because of his energy and what he brought to the team… A punter can’t really bring “energy” per se, but getting a little lightning when the punting unit comes out could get the defense started on the right track, because people would maybe realize that a punt inside the 20 is a good thing and could create some electricity in the UOP… Plus he really should’ve made the Pro Bowl and deserves a little praise for his performance last year that apparently went unnoticed throughout most of the league. Well, if he keeps up his preseason kicking into the regular season, it surely won’t this year…
We have all been on Grahams side since he's been here
Every one here still believe he should have been in the Probowl last year. Theres no reason to think his performance will diminish this year. Noted in the Chicago game he jumped his own ass over the one pooched punt he had.
I went to the Cardinals/Rams game last year
And I thought about bringing a “Send Ben Graham to the Pro Bowl” sign.
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.
I just once would like to see
a stadium go nuts when their punter takes the field. It might spark that special teams (we might need that more than some think, I’m just not real sure about the offence yet). And you gotta think that it can get inside the returners head a bit. Kinda like a free throw in basket ball.
by ksredbird on Aug 30, 2010 5:45 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol
probably not going to happen, as having to punt really isn’t something to cheer about. I will agree that if a punter deserves some cheers it’s Graham.
Maybe it will occur on the road in SF when we’re kicking their ass and it’s mock cheers for finally getting us off the field.
CC is a monster
Everyone’s saying he’s going to break-out this year, but I’m pretty sure he already did. Iwebema is my man to watch this year. He’s having a heck of a preseason.
Wright has looked good in limited time at RB. I’m pretty sure he sticks.
Calais Campbell. Remember the joint posts with niner fans. They didn't even know who he was.
Campbell did have a break out year last year. This year he’ll get the attention by building on it.
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