Upcoming Week 5 Game with Arizona

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The Cards' defense allows 3.1 ypc and 79.7 ypg in terms of rushing ranking 6th in the NFL. Could that spell trouble for Steve Slaton? On the flip side, their pass defense gives up 280 ypg which ranks 30th. The cause could be that teams get into shoot outs with Kurt Warner and give up on the run and rely upon the passing game. On the other hand, teams may just find it easier to pass on this defense.

Based upon what Slaton has been able to do up to this point, I'd be creating a game plan that utilized a lot of formations that had at least 3 WRs. There would be situations in which I'd have TEs Daniels, Dreesen, and Casey as receivers and Slaton out wide. My offense would make defensive coordinators stay up late at night wondering if I would be bringing out even more tricks next week.

On defense, our Secondary of Reeves, Quinn, Robinson, Wilson, and Pollard should be able to hold their own. Bolden and Fitz are going to get some plays, but we have to be able to contain them somewhat by getting turnovers. I hope we run some blitzes up the middle with Ryans and Cushing to fluster Warner. Having the Nickleback (Quinn) or Pollard blitz a couple of times will also rattle their cages.

Hightower does not scare me. I hope they do run the ball with some degree of success, because they might be less likely to hit a deep ball on a pass play.

I agree with everything except that our secondary should hold their own. I see a shootout on the horizon. We need our front four to really step up and make a couple of big plays in this game for us to have a chance. In fact I predict whichever DL creates the most QB pressure will win this game.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

I agree with everything except that our secondary should hold their own.

Let me define what I mean. Warner has 3 games this season in which he threw 288, 243, and 332 yards, respectively while completing 65.6% of his attempts. If we hold him to 55% completion percentage and less than 240 yards, I'd say they "held their own" against this offensive machine.

[HPF Bob]

So the "offensive machine" has yet to score 20 points in a game this season? Yeah, I'd say that's offensive.

They may have been a few seconds away from being Super Bowl champions but I really think the Cards are the same old Cards we love dissing. If Fitz doesn't go wild on us, I'm really not particularly worried about what they will do. I'm more worried about how we shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties, turnovers and blown assignments.

Hopefully, the Raider game helped the Texans right the ship and on Sunday they can build on that for two wins in a row. Texans have been road warriors all season too.

You only get one chance every four years to mop up the pathetic NFC West so you have to take the opportunities when they come.

[TheMatrix31]

Cushing has flu-like symptoms as per Twitter.....great

[Nconroe]

Some interesting analysis of the upcoming game from Cards perspective:

on our top three offensive guys - seems a fair review of Schaub, SS, AJ
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articl...ffense/1319398

and position comparisons - fairly even split as analyzed
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articl...e_Edge/1322957

[nunusguy]

Except that one would expect atleast a fair-to-midland number of TDs being scored, I have no clue on this game or no clue on what kind of effort the Texans will produce Sunday in the dessert ?

[Fonz the Boss]

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

Cushing has flu-like symptoms as per Twitter.....great

Yeap... I heard it on ESPN radio this morning. They are going to take swine flu precautions because several Texans players have been ill. I wonder if they will travel on a different plane?

[Nconroe]

Sounds like Cushing was back at practice Thursday, so hopefully he'll be ok.

Apparently Cardinals have no reception play over 30 yards this year and Chris Beeny Wells only has 15 carries in 3 games with 2 fumbles. Mainly passing a lot but short plays due to teams have double and triple covered Fitzgerald.

So, just wondering if the game will be as high scoring as I had been thinking.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

So, just wondering if the game will be as high scoring as I had been thinking.

Cards - 17 Texans - 24

that's my guess

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Sounds like Cushing was back at practice Thursday, so hopefully he'll be ok.

Apparently Cardinals have no reception play over 30 yards this year and Chris Beeny Wells only has 15 carries in 3 games with 2 fumbles. Mainly passing a lot but short plays due to teams have double and triple covered Fitzgerald.

So, just wondering if the game will be as high scoring as I had been thinking.

Yea, I don't know what the O/U is but I'd take the under. Shootouts hardly ever live up to their billing it seems.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Let me define what I mean. Warner has 3 games this season in which he threw 288, 243, and 332 yards, respectively while completing 65.6% of his attempts. If we hold him to 55% completion percentage and less than 240 yards, I'd say they "held their own" against this offensive machine.

Okay, so Warner was 26 of 38 for 68% and threw for 302 yards and 2 TDs. They also scored 28 points, so we definitely made them look like an offensive machine.

While watching the game casually, I noted some good plays by Pollard and Dunta Robinson. Reeves looked a little rusty at times. I haven't gone through and looked with a fine tooth comb to see where we could have done better, yet.