11-27-11: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Cards/Rams Gameday

Its gameday, here are some links to get your morning started.

The Message Is Simple
Cardinals looking for seventh straight in St. Louis

2011 Cardinals Week 11: Five observations - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals' most recent game, a 23-7 road defeat to the San Francisco 49ers:

Cards could leave Rams feeling empty - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Cardinals' defense ranks among the NFL's top five in first-down percentage (22.6) and yards per attempt (5.5) against empty formations. Their defense is one of four yet to allow a touchdown against an empty backfield. Opponents have attempted 31 passes from empty sets this season.

What to do? Kolb, Bradford sacked most - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals' opponents have sacked Kevin Kolb on 9.4 percent of dropbacks this season. The St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford owns the second-highest percentage (9.3). Both quarterbacks face capable pass-rushers Sunday, provided Kolb returns from the toe and ankle injuries that have sidelined him for three games.

Wired - Andre Roberts @ SF
Cardinals WR Andre Roberts was wired for sound in San Francisco.

Cards Arrive in STL, Look to Sweep Rams
The Cardinals arrive in St. Louis looking to sweep the season series with the division foe Rams. Paul Calvisi reports.

Building the Gameplan @ STL
Jody Jackson and Ron Wolfley build the gameplan for the Cardinals and Rams match-up.

Arizona Sports News:

QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner lead Arizona Wildcats past Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette already has its first bowl invitation in 41 years. The Ragin' Cajuns came close to knocking off a Pac-12 team, too. The visitors from the Sun Belt Conference rolled up 409 yards but couldn't stop the passing game of Nick Foles in a 45-37 loss to Arizona on Saturday. Foles, whose status for the game had been uncertain because of bruised ribs, threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, two of them late in the first half to put Arizona up 21-13 after the Cajuns had taken leads of 7-0 and 13-7.

Phoenix Coyotes turn around to shut out Dallas Stars
The Coyotes faced a couple of demons Saturday, and they vanquished both. Desperately needing a strong game after lackluster performance 24 hours earlier, they had to accomplish it against a team that had been their early-season nemesis. In their 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena, spearheaded by Mike Smith's second shutout of the season, the Coyotes reverted to the structured play and aggressiveness that has defined them under coach Dave Tippett.

Phoenix Suns have much to do in little time
For a continent of fans, players and owners who had tired during the 149 days of the NBA lockout, word of its end came while most were too tired to wait up for it. The leadership of the players and owners made a handshake agreement early Saturday morning, while most in the Suns organization were sleeping. There will be little time for rest now. Players must get into shape and in sync for a 66-game regular season that begins on Christmas. Executives and coaches must put seven months of planning into execution. "It's great to go back," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "I haven't heard anything firm, so I'm cautiously optimistic. It's been such a long, arduous process. I don't want to get too excited and be let down. If we get back and play 66 games, it'll be great. I'm looking forward to it."

Sources: Dismissal could come soon for ASU football coach Dennis Erickson
ASU football, a team with four consecutive losses, likely will lose its coach this week, not the best way to go into the bowl season. Vice President of Athletics Lisa Love did not return messages left by The Republic on Saturday, but multiple sources confirmed that the end is near for coach Dennis Erickson, and his dismissal could come soon. The Sun Devils wrapped up their regular season with Friday's 47-38 home loss to California, a setback that dropped a team once in control of the Pac-12 South to 6-6 and 4-5 in conference action.

NFL News:

Much at stake for new Houston Texans quarterback Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart took Matt Schaub out to dinner earlier this week and, in addition to picking up the tab, he made him a promise. "I told Matt that I was going to make him proud," Leinart said in a conference call with reporters, "and just win games for this team because he got us to this point." Schaub helped lead the Houston Texans to a 7-3 start before suffering a season-ending injury to his right foot that will require surgery next week. The Texans have a two-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South and are in position to reach the playoffs for the first time in their 10-year history. But now they'll have to get there with Leinart, the former Cardinals castoff, who will be making his first start in two years on Sunday when the Texans play at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cowboys cheerleader knocked over by Witten forced off Twitter - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Cheerleader Melissa Kellerman was barely into the middle part of her 15 minutes of fame when the Dallas Cowboys pulled the plug.