11-5-11: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Day Before The Rams

Time for some links as we are a day away from the next game for the Cardinals.

Cards Focus On Jackson
Notebook: Kolb doubtful, Beanie questionable; roof to be open

Arizona Cardinals-St. Louis Rams scouting report
Kent Somers breaks down the Cardinals' home matchup with NFC West rival St. Louis. Can the Cardinals snap their 6-game losing streak and finally get a win?

Arizona Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson looking to bounce back
It's never fun to get picked on. A.J. Jefferson knows the feeling all too well. Former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin burned him repeatedly in the second half of Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, catching everything Joe Flacco threw his way. And it was usually in Jefferson's direction. It got so bad so fast, the Cardinals had to put rookie corner Patrick Peterson on Boldin. Jefferson, a second-year pro, wound up splitting time late with Richard Marshall. Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton said Jefferson responded with a strong week of practice and he's hoping for better results this Sunday when the Cardinals (1-6) host the St. Louis Rams (1-6).

Word From the Birds Blog - Kolb doubtful for Rams, four others out
Quarterback Kevin Kolb didn’t practice for a third straight day because of his turf toe, and has been officially listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Rams. The way he has limped around, that isn’t really a surprise. The door is still cracked — backup QB John Skelton said "As far as I heard, Kevin is still a possibility" — but if Skelton doesn’t start Sunday, it’s an upset. Coach Ken Whisenhunt again talked about Kolb’s need to be able to push off the right foot, because it would impact his throws. Kolb’s inability to practice points to how difficult that would have been all week.

Word From the Birds Blog - Friday before the Rams
Darnell Dockett stood in front of his locker earlier this week and did his best to answer the questions that aren’t easy to answer. The defensive tackle insisted, over and over, his teammates are putting in the work, even if the results aren’t there. "If we are going to go down losing, I’d rather it be that way than guys just giving up on everything," Dockett said.

No fine for game-changing roughing penalty - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The NFL did not fine Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell for roughing the passer during the fourth quarter of a 30-27 defeat at Baltimore in Week 8. Small consolation. The 15-yard penalty changed field position with 5:07 left in a tie game, setting up the Ravens' punt-coverage team to pin the Cardinals their own 2-yard line. When Arizona punted with 1:02 left, Baltimore took over at the Arizona 44. The Ravens kicked the winning field goal five plays later as time expired.

It's 'night and day' for John Skelton - ArizonaSports.com
As the Cardinals prepare to welcome the 1-6 Rams to Glendale, it's beginning to become clear who the starting quarterback will be: John Skelton. Starting QB Kevin Kolb suffered a turf toe injury in the loss to the Ravens and is listed as doubtful for Sunday after not practicing all week. Even though no official announcement has been made, many expect it will be Skelton under center. If it is, this will the second-year player's 5th NFL start.

Final Word: NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Power backs in spotlight: With Bradford and Kolb limited or out entirely, running backs Steven Jackson and Beanie Wells could play more prominent roles when the Rams and Cardinals play at University of Phoenix Stadium. Both are big, bruising backs. Both are running with attitude. The Rams allowed a season-low 56 yards rushing against a New Orleans team that leans heavily on the pass. Before that, however, the Rams had allowed at least 168 yards on the ground four times. The Cardinals have been more vulnerable against pass than run, but Washington and Minnesota each rushed for 172 yards against Arizona.

Arizona Sports News:

We'll always have November 4, 2001 - ArizonaSports.com
It's November 4, 2011--the ten-year anniversary of the Arizona Diamondbacks shocking the baseball world and beating the juggernaut three-time defending World Series champion New York Yankees in a 7-game series that will go down in history as one of the best ever played.

NFL News:

Questionable? That's the word on Bradford - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Sam Bradford's partial participation in practice Friday suggests the St. Louis Rams quarterback is close to returning from a high-ankle sprain. I'd be a little surprised if the Rams started Bradford against Arizona. Bradford hasn't been healthy enough to practice fully, and it's not like a playoff berth is on the line between 1-6 teams Sunday. Getting Bradford healthy enough to finish the season has to be the priority over getting him ready for one game.

Rams' evolving offense with Brandon Lloyd - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Injuries, additions and subtractions have really impacted the complexity and diversity of the Rams' offense.

2011 Seahawks Week 8: Five observations - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Five things I noticed while watching the Seattle Seahawks during their 34-12 home defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8:

NFC West penalty watch: Refs and roughing - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The 2011 Official Playing Rules and Casebook of the National Football League devotes 1,127 words to the section on roughing the passer. Twenty-two words near the end sum up the spirit: "If in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic on the quarterback, the referee should always call roughing the passer." That sentence pretty much absolves referees from blame for penalizing acts that seem to be borderline infractions.

Sam Bradford ahead of schedule if he plays - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The St. Louis Rams have listed quarterback Sam Bradford as questionable for the second time this season. Recovery times for high-ankle sprains can be unpredictable, coach Steve Spagnuolo has repeatedly said, but if Bradford returns Sunday, he'll beat reasonable expectations.

Peyton Hillis' Cleveland Browns Teammates Stage Intervention - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
The 2011 season has been a disaster for Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis, and his teammates seem to recognize the problems. Hillis had a breakout 2010 season that resulted in the cover of Madden '12. Since gracing the cover, it has been all downhill for the running back as he has dealt with contract issues, strep throat, a hamstring injury and now his teammates getting fed up with all his issues.

Peyton Hillis Injury Update: Browns Running Back Aggravates Hamstring Injury In Friday Practice - SBNation.com
In news that is not particularly surprising given the way the season has gone, Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis aggravated his hamstring at practice Friday and is once again looking like a game-time decision at best. Hillis apparently threw the ball and his helmet in frustration after pulling up lame on a run.

Terrell Owens Wanted After Arrest Warrant Issued For Failure To Appear - SBNation.com
Terrell Owens has a bench warrant out after failing to appear at a child support hearing.