SB Nation - Larry Fitzgerald

Arizona Cardinals Injury Report; Gandy To IR

Andrew602 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:21 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Mike Gandy's likely reaction after learning he won't return to the Cardinals next season. Bye bye Mike.

The Cardinals remained relatively unscathed at midpoint this week, with only eight players landing on the injury report. Most notably was left tackle Mike Gandy. He however, won't come off the report as he was put on injured reserve late Wednesday afternoon. Gandy has likely seen his last moments as an Arizona Cardinal and I can't say he'll be missed much.

Other notables that made the report were Larry Fitzgerald (knee), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe), Bryant McFadden (hamstring), and the still-injured Neil Rackers (groin). Aside from Rackers, all are expected to be fine and play on Sunday.

Some less fortunate to make the list were Sean Morey and Ben Patrick, who are both suffering from concussion-like symptoms. That news isn't good for Morey, who has dealt with concussions in the past. Losing Morey is a blow to a special teams unit that has been tops in the NFL so far. Also doubtful for Sunday's game is linebacker Will Davis. He recently returned from knee surgery, but should be ready once the playoffs begin.

Making other news yesterday was linebacker Pago Togafau, who was pulled up from the practice squad to back up Gerald Hayes. Togafau should see most of his time on kick off duties. In his place, the Cardinals added Ali Highsmith to the squad as he cleared waivers, a fact that would not have happened after the previous two training camps.

Grade The Offense: Cardinals vs Lions

Andrew602 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:47:47 -0000

Victory isn't always pretty, and the Cardinals reluctantly proved it this past Sunday in their 31-24 win over Detroit. The offense relied heavily on 3 Lions turnovers, and never caught fire till the final quarter. Kurt Warner was off and the protection seemed to fold quicker then a lawn chair, to a defensive line that only had 21 sacks(28th) heading into the game. Larry Fitzgerald clearly was not 100% but Anquan Boldin stepped up for the offense. The biggest positive from the game was Beanie Wells, who went over 100 yards for the first time in his young career.

Kurt Warner: Warner was noticeably"off" with several of this throws on Sunday. After the hip pointer and the dreadful game against the 49ers, many thought Warner would bounce back with a big performance against the droopy Lions. Instead, the Lions pulled off the sack>fumble>recovery before halftime and registered a pick-six in the third quarter that sent them straight back into the game. Warner favorably delivered in the 4th quarter however, leading the Cardinals on two scoring drives, including the game-winning touchdown pass.

Running Backs: This should really be labeled, "Running Back", because Beanie Wells was a one-man show on Sunday. He eclipsed 100 yards against an opponent other then the Rams - albeit the Detroit Lions - but the change was alleviating. Wells plowed through Lion defenders on several occasions and show-cased his fall-forward style that we've all fallen in love with. Tim Hightower wasn't given a substantial amount of carries(6), but did manage to catch 6 passes out of the back field for 34 yards.

Wide Receivers: Anquan Boldin entered the contest at full capacity and it showed on the field. His smash-mouth way of running after the catch was featured throughout the entire game. Boldin was targeted 11 times and many of the balls that didn't reach him were over or under thrown. Larry Fitzgerald toughed-it-out and suited up to play despite injuring his knee just six days earlier. He didn't have a big impact on the game but did mange to gain over 1,000 yards on the season for the third straight year. Steve Breaston has had a tough stretch of games and that didn't end against the Lions. He only caught 3 passes for 38 yards and stomached a muffed punt that was recovered by the Lions in the second half.

Offensive Line: Protection crumbled at times Sunday afternoon, but when it mattered the Cardinals offensive line toughened up. They only allowed 2 sacks and 3 quarterback hits. Obviously Kurt Warner has a quick release which absolutely pads the stats for the line at times, and that was likely the case on Sunday. Either way they managed to open the rushing lanes for Wells and give Warner just enough time to throw on the only drive of the game that mattered.

My Offensive Grade: C+

I toyed with this one for a while considering the Cardinals punched in 4 touchdowns and 31 points on the day. Be that as it may, they struggled against the Lions, which should limit their praise even after a win. In the end, a C+ means they were a step ahead of playing poorly on Sunday. What grade did you give the Cardinals offense and why?

Poll

How would you grade the Arizona Cardinals offense?

Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Wilson and Ben Graham Likely Pro Bowl Bound

Hawkwind — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:20:35 -0000

by Matt York - AP

Larry Fitzgerald looks to snag his fourth overall and third consecutive Pro Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The fan voting portion of the Pro Bowl concluded yesterday and if the fan voting is any indication of how the coaches and players will vote (the remaining 2/3 of the process), the Arizona Cardinals should be well represented. Last year the Cardinals had five representatives, the largest number since 1977, and there is still a chance that they could approach, or exceed, that number this season. Players and coaches will vote today and the team will be announced on the NFL Network next Tuesday (the 29th). Here are the final results from the fan voting:

Larry Fitzgerald: Only four players in the entire league (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Adrian Wilson) received more votes that Fitz and he is certainly headed to his fourth Pro Bowl (2005, 2007 & 2008).

Adrian Wilson: Wilson led all NFC strong safeties with over 305,000 votes and A-dub should be selected to his third Pro Bowl (2006 & 2008).

Ben Graham: Perhaps the surprise performance of this season will be capped off with Ben Graham's first ever Pro Bowl appearance. Graham surged through the final weeks of fan voting and finished the process leading all NFC punters with just over 103,000 votes.

Antrel Rolle: Rolle finished third among NFC free safeties behind Darren Sharper and Madeau Williams. Rolle shouldn't overtake Sharper in the remaining coaches and players votes but it'll be interesting to see how he fares against Williams. Rolle has more tackles (68 vs 63), sacks (1.5 vs 0), forced fumbles (1 vs 0), passed defended (8 vs 4) and interceptions (4 vs 0).

Kurt Warner: Warner finished fourth among NFC QB's behind Brees, Favre and Aaron Rodgers. The gap between Brees, Favre and Warner is likely to much to overcome and Rodgers' numbers are better than Warner's at the moment so it's unlikely that he'll be able to move up.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: DRC finished fourth among NFC corners behind Charles Woodson, Asante Samuel, Antoine Winfield. Woodson and Samuel seem like a good bet to remain ahead of DRC but Winfield hasn't really had a great year statistically and currently looks like the beneficiary of a great voter turnout among Vikings fans. Winfield has missed six games (of 14) and as a result DRC has better numbers across the board despite playing with a mild case of turf toe.

Darnell Dockett: Dockett stayed at fourth overall among NFC defensive tackles for basically the entire process despite having the better numbers than any of the four players ahead of him, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams and Albert Haynesworth. The coaches and players vote will be an interesting process to see whether name recognition or actual peformance on the field is more important.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's it for Cardinals' players who finished in the top five at thier position. Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby could still gain some ground but they've got quite a ways to go and slipping through as an alternate might be the best case scenario for them. How many Cardinals will make the final Pro Bowl roster?

Missing Al Harris In The Packers' Secondary

Brandon — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:25 -0000

by Gene Puskar - AP

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I had been surprised at how well the Green Bay Packers' pass defense had held up in the first 3 games after CB Al Harris was lost for season with a torn ACL. But then came Big Ben and his 503 yards of passing offense. What happened against Pittsburgh that didn't happen in the previous three games?

Opponents: In the first three games without Harris, they played the Lions, Ravens, and Bears. Neither the Lions or Bears can throw the ball. The Ravens have a good pass offense, but RB Ray Rice is a large part of their passing success. The Ravens' don't have a dangerous wide receiver or tight end.

The loss of Harris against the Steelers hurt in the case of WR Santonio Holmes. He was covered for most of the game by CB Charles Woodson. But in past games, if a receiver was having a big game, such as TE Vernon Davis did back in November, the Packers could adjust and cover him with Woodson. But against the Steelers, the Packers couldn't make any adjustments. Woodson had to stay on Holmes or WR Hines Ward, and they had to rely on the recently signed CB Josh Bell. The additional losses of likely dime CB Pat Lee and backup CB Will Blackmon earlier in the season have robbed this unit of its depth, and Mike McCarthy said that "changing personnel frankly is not an option."

But the Steelers also presented another unique problem: they have four very good receivers. According to Football Outsiders, Ward, Holmes and WR Mike Wallace are all ranked among the Top 30 wide receivers. Also, TE Heath Miller is ranked in the Top 10 for tight ends. That's four receivers that deserve respect, and RB Rashard Mendenhall took advantage of that respect to find himself wide open a couple of times.

I'm not even talking about playoffs. The Packers have to win their next two games and then I'll talk about the playoffs. But looking at the rest of the schedule, expect to read stories about how well the Packers' pass defense responded to the poor game in Pittsburgh. Next up is the Seahawks, who's best receiver according to Football Outsiders is WR Nate Burleson, and he's likely out for the season. The Cardinals are more of a challenge but if they at least rest WR Larry Fitzgerald, he played through a knee injury last week, then their best receiver is WR Steve Breaston at No. 26 according to FO. Those are matchups the Packers can handle with their starters.

As far as next season goes, I would love to see them draft a defensive back in the 1st round who could play at cornerback or safety, and also push CB Jarrett Bush off the roster. Then draft an offensive tackle in the 2nd round as either a successor to LT Chad Clifton, or just provide them with better depth.

The Steve Keim Scorecard

John Morgan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:50:25 -0000

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

Seattle Seahawks fans are unused to repeat failure. Perhaps a Cardinals suit can make them more familiar with the feeling.

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Adam Schefter reports that Steve Keim is among Seattle's ten general manager candidates. This is a quick and dirty attempt to review his performance in Arizona.

Organization: Arizona Cardinals

Position(s): Player Personnel Director (May 2008), College Scouting Director (June 2006), Regional Scout (1999)

Curious that perhaps the most defamed team in the NFC, bad from when the Lions and Rams were good, is now auditioning personnel for promotion to other teams. Thus is the fickle world of the NFL. I don't like it, and I don't like Keim's boss Rod Graves. Graves has served with Arizona since 1997, and few franchises in any sport can claim a longer period of losing, instability and apathy from their fans. But, by all means, let's break off a piece of that talent factory.

Keim scouted the east for Arizona, and, undoubtedly, the southeast specifically. Let us first look at the players we can be most confident Keim had a hand in scouting. I singled out picks made from Keim's particular scouting area, and listed the round, overall pick, name and college.

2000

1) 7 Thomas Jones RB Virginia

2) 41 Raynoch Thompson OLB Tennessee

3) 71 Darwin Walker DT Tennessee

Jones is still around but was a huge bust for Arizona. He split time with Michael Pittman, never averaged more than 3.7 yards per carry and was traded before the end of his rookie contract.

Raynoch Thompson sort of speaks for himself: Who is Raynoch Thompson? He was an undersized Vol linebacker that was out of the league by 2004. He is still only 32, meaning he was cut in his prime.

Darwin Walker played for that same undefeated Tennessee team as Thompson. He didn't play for the Cardinals, who cut him before a single start and after only one regular season game. Walker was claimed by the Eagles off waivers and became a productive five-year starter for some stout Eagles defenses.

2001

2) 54 Michael Stone DB Memphis

3) 64 Adrian Wilson DB North Carolina State

4) 98 Bill Gramatica K South Florida

4) 123 Marcus Bell DT Memphis

Stone never broke through with the Cardinals and is now out of the league.

Adrian Wilson is an unconditional success. Wilson and Keim share an alma mater. He is now considered among the best safeties in the NFL. This is exploiting a hometown connection to pick an absolute steal in the third. Too bad, I guess, that NC State is hardly a talent factory.

Kicker in the fourth. Kicker in the fourth. Kicker in the fourth.

Marcus Bell is out of the league after three seasons with Arizona and three seasons with Detroit.

2002

2) 49 Levar Fisher LB North Carolina State

Fisher is the only member of the 2002 class we can be pretty sure Keim had a significant say in drafting. Fisher was a standout at NC State, but lost his career to knee injuries. Fisher has knee problems in college, so this failure falls on Keim.

2003

1) 17 Bryant Johnson WR Penn State

1) 18 Calvin Pace DE Wake Forest

2) 54 Anquan Boldin WR Florida State

Johnson has been a disappointment since entering the league. He was surpassed by Boldin in their respective rookie seasons and is now a minor player for the Detroit Lions.

Arizona selected Pace with its next pick and he was a bust before Ken Whisenhunt switched him to outside linebacker in 2007. No credit is given Keim.

Boldin was a win for all involved, if, perhaps, a crapshoot win. Boldin was a quarterback and wide receiver at Florida State that suffered serious knee injuries in college and then ran a 4.71 forty. I respect Keim for seeing the potential in Boldin, but I do not think anyone expected Boldin to be so good. His health has never improved and he still regularly misses time because of injury.

2004

2) 33 Karlos Dansby OLB Auburn

3) 64 Darnell Dockett DT Florida State

Maybe this is Keim picking up speed and proving his potential. Dansby has been solid since being signed and still starts for Arizona. Of course, that's to be expected from a linebacker selected with the first pick of the second round.

Dockett has been a starter since his rookie season and a lynchpin on the Cardinals ever-in-flux defensive line. Over the past three seasons, he's been one of the best defensive linemen in football. He was considered a first-round talent, but also an underachiever and a major risk because of his battles with coaches, troubles with the law, and, specifically, his conviction for misdemeanor theft.

2005

1) 8 Antrel Rolle DB Miami (Florida)

3) 75 Eric Green DB Virginia Tech

3) 95 Darryl Blackstock LB Virginia

4) 111 Elton Brown G Virginia

Rolle is a corner bust since shifted to safety. He has played decent at safety, but credit for that goes to the person who made the move: Whisenhunt.

Green was an intermittent starter, mostly between injuries, that is now out of the league.

Blackstock is now out of the league. He played sparingly for Arizona before being signed by the Bengals -- another well run organization.

Brown was a seldom starter for the often very bad Cardinals offensive line that is now playing in the USFL.

2006

3) 72 Leonard Pope TE Georgia

6) 177 Jonathan Lewis DT Virginia Tech

Pope is a situational tight end and among the worst players at his position in the NFL.

Lewis participated in four games in 2006 and never again played in the NFL.

At this point, Keim was promoted to Director of College Scouting and can be debited or credited for the Cardinals entire draft class.

2007

1 5 Levi Brown OT Penn State

2 33 Alan Branch DT Michigan

3 69 Buster Davis LB Florida State

5 142 Steve Breaston WR Michigan

7 215 Ben Patrick TE Delaware

Brown is a middling power right tackle that isn't significantly better than Ray Willis. Bust.

Branch is a pretty typical Keim pick: Highly touted prospect, thought of as a top ten pick before a nasty run of belligerence and bad effort knocked him off most draft boards. Branch is three years into his professional career, still every bit the monster he was in college, and still a rotational player buried on the Cardinals depth chart.

Buster Davis was a terrible pick when made. Davis was an undersized, see: 5'9", linebacker completely unfit for Whisenhunt's preferred 3-4 alignment. He was cut before his rookie season, has since bounced around and is now out of the league.

Breaston was a return monster at Michigan State that has developed into a very good slot receiver. Keim must be credited for, first, securing a good returner in the sixth, and moreover, seeing that Breaston was turning the corner as a receiver. A big win for Keim, on a pick I was very skeptical about.

Patrick is the Cardinals starting tight end, but largely an afterthought in the team's offense. Patrick was a toolsy sleeper that's produced some, but is mostly a starter by default, and still more H-back than tight end.

2008

1) 16 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State

2) 50 Calais Campbell DE Miami (Fla.)

3) 81 Early Doucet WR Louisiana State

4) 116 Kenny Iwebema DE Iowa

5) 149 Tim Hightower RB Richmond

6) 185 Chris Harrington LB Texas A&M

7) 225 Brandon Keith T Northern Iowa

This is the draft that made Keim a general manager candidate and his fingerprints are all over it. DRC was a tools messiah that shot up boards during the pre-draft process. He never faced top competition in college, and many, including myself, questioned his ability to cover NFL talent. Well, that question is yet unanswered. Cromartie certainly looks amazing-sometimes, but he is also regularly criticized for being out of position, burned and, well, not being able to cover NFL talent. The Cardinals, noteworthy in this case, are the second worst team in the NFL at defending #1 receivers and were 27^th in 2008. DRC is the unchallenged #1 corner in Arizona. He is only 23, and cover skills are slow to grow. Best to give this pick an "Incomplete". It's possible DRC puts it together and taps into his tremendous talent, and it's possible his flashy play hides a bad player.

Campbell was a slamdunk and is proving so in his second season. He is toolsy, growing into those tools, scheme correct and straight beastly.

I liked the Doucet pick at the time and still think he has a bright future. It's tough to measure his performance because he is buried on the Cardinals depth chart. Doucet suffered a lot of injuries in college and that might have sapped his speed.

Iwebama has proven to be a solid member of a good defensive line rotation. He was, and this will shock everyone that's read this far, a toolsy player that was knocked down boards because injury and off-field problems. His performance declined his senior season, something that hurt Campbell and Doucet's stock, too.

Hightower has proven himself a valuable receiver, but, then, who defends Tim Hightower when Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston are on the field. He has since been de-emphasized in favor of Chris Wells. Hightower is a modest success.

Harrington is now a Jaguar.

Keith is still on Arizona's roster and has played in one game this season.

It's a little too early to make much of the 2009 draft, but it further supports the basic Keim profile. In brief: His preferred scouting area is the American South East. He likes toolsy players and does not bat a lash at character concerns. Keim swings for the fences and has a high whiff rate. The 2008 draft has produced solid players, but let's be clear: The Cardinals are finishing their third decade of terrible football. They made the Super Bowl last season, but were only 9-7 in the regular season. The team changed when it signed Ken Whisenhunt, and its recent success has been built off smart leadership, a weak division, years and years of early round picks, and Kurt Warner. Warner has recovered from a mid-career funk to make a case for the Hall of Fame. That's mighty lucky. Warner joined the Cardinals in 2005 and I do not see how Keim could be credited with his signing.

Maybe he interviews well. Maybe his most recent drafts, his most successful drafts, speak more clearly of his own abilities and potential, but I don't like his method, I am not impressed with his results and I don't want to sign a person that's been an integral part of one of the worst run franchises in sports history. For every one diamond in the rough, there's acres and acres more rough. And, right or wrong, executives must be judged both by the decisions they make and the company they keep.

Next Day Notes: Cardinals Beat Lions 31-24 After Sloppy Second Half

Pyromnc — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:42 -0000

More photos » by Al Goldis - AP

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After a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals were looking to rebound against the Detroit Lions. Everything indicated that happened when the Cardinals took an early 17-0 lead going into the half. Coming out of the half was a different story. Detroit came out and scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter. The Cardinals pulled it together in the fourth quarter however, by putting up 14 points. The Cardinals were supposed to use this game to make a statement. They did - the Cardinals play down to the competition they face.

The Good

Beanie Wells had quite possibly, his best game since becoming a pro. He recorded his first 100 yard rushing game by putting up 110 yards on 17 carries (a 6.5 yard per carry average). He also tacked on a pivotal 18 yard touchdown in the 4th quarter that would get the Cardinals back into the game. Beanie is clearly the best back on the team, and it's evident coach Whisenhunt is aware as Wells had 17 carries compared to Tim Hightower's 6. Wells also recorded a 13 yard catch in the game.

Anquan Boldin got his usual catches in the game - plowing over defenders and making vintage Boldin runs. Q's last catch was a touchdown that only he could've pulled off, forcing his way into the end zone. This catch would be the deciding touchdown in the game, giving the Cards the win. Boldin continues to play hard this season and has definitely been a big reason the Cardinals have won nine games this year.

The Cardinals Special Teams is one of the best units in the league right now. That didn't change in Sunday's game. Punter Ben Graham pinned the opposition three more times inside the 20 yard line, adding to his league-leading total of 37. He also averaged 45.4 yards per punt on his seven punts. LaRod Stephens-Howling also had another impressive game, averaging 23 yards per kick return and playing very well on coverage. He helped recover a fumble on a Lions muffed punt in the first half. Newly signed kicker Mike Nugent also chimed in with a 48 yard field goal and hit each of the extra points. The Cardinals defense and offense should take some notes from special teams, as they have been the only unit to play consistently well week in and week out.

The Eh

The Defense played well enough to win despite allowing over 100 yards rushing to a back up running back. They began the first half shutting out the Lions but sadly, they couldn't keep up the effort in the second half, as they allowed 24 points. Part of the problem can be attributed to the offenses sloppy play with turnovers, as the defense has less time to rest and less field position to defend. Despite allowing 24 points they were able to make the Lions make mistakes, with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepting two passes. Adrian Wilson also got one step closer to his 20/20 goal by splitting a sack with Clark Haggans. Overall the defense played well enough to win the game, but a consistently good effort for an entire four quarters is something that is needed as the playoffs draw closer.

The Bad

Kurt Warner had a decent game but not the type of game we have been accustomed to seeing from him. The good from him was his two touchdowns and 233 passing yards, but he had problems turning the ball over for the second game in a row, throwing an interception and losing a fumble. He now has 5 turnovers in his last 2 games, and the Cardinals should be lucky they played a bad team like the Lions, who weren't able to take advantage.

The Ugly

Turnovers have been awful for the Cardinals at times this year. They had a six turnover game against the Panthers earlier this year, then 10 in their last two games. Last week Stephens-Howling, Hightower, Wells, Boldin, and Warner couldn't hang onto the ball, and this week it was Warner and Steve Breaston. The Cardinals had issues turning the ball over late last season, but were able to clean up their act in the playoffs. If they want to make a serious run this year, they'll need to do the same.

Despite some erratic play they did manage to win and also got an early Christmas present from the Eagles as they beat the 49ers, allowing the Cardinals to clinch the division. Now should the Cardinals try and win their next two games to hope for better playoff seeding? Or should they rest some of the starters like Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald so they are fresh for the playoffs?

Despite Second Half Rally, Arizona Cardinals Beat Detroit Lions 31-24

Andrew602 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:01:02 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells ran for 110 rushing yards on 17 carries for 1 touchdown in the Cardinals win on Sunday.

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The Arizona Cardinals traveled to Detroit with the NFC West division title only two wins away. The only problem was that they may have over-looked the struggling Detroit Lions. After beginning the first half 17-0, the Lions made it uncomfortably close after a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown and a 64 yard rushing touchdown by Maurice Morris. The Cardinals offense responded with an 18 yard touchdown by Beanie Wells and a 5 yard touchdown by Anquan Boldin. In the end, the Lions were unable to drive for the game-winning touchdown, and the Cardinals improved their record to 9-5.

The positives

- Beanie Wells had his first 100 yard rushing game of the season and gave the Cardinals some explosive running when the passing game was faltering. Wells also scored a 4th quarter touchdown that swung some momentum back in the Cards favor.

- The passing defense gave their best effort for a second straight game. They didn't allow a 100 yard receiver and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had two interceptions on the day, making his season total 5. They also limited Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson to just 3 catches for 35 yards. Rashad Johnson saw his most action since the preseason and seemed to fill in fine for the majority of the game. He nearly had an interception on the Lions last offensive play of the game, but it luckily had no effect as it was 4th down.

- Anquan Boldin stepped up noticeably with Larry Fitzgerald not being 100%. Boldin was targeted 11 times and caught 6 passes for 72 yards and the go-ahead score to give the Cardinals the lead and eventually win the game.

- Despite some pressure from the Lions defense, the Cardinals offensive line held up well, only allowing 2 sacks and 3 QB hits.

- Mike Nugent filled in for the injured Neil Rackers and the Cardinals kicking game didn't skip a beat. Nugent made all of the extra points and knocked in a 48 yard field goal in the first half.

- Ben Graham played another spectacular game, punting 3 of his kicks inside the Lions 20, and also averaged 50.3 yards a punt.

The negatives

- Kurt Warner may still be suffering the effects of the hip pointer he tweaked against the Vikings three weeks ago. He wasn't limping around the field but he didn't have as much zip on any of his passes. Many passes fell at the receivers feet or were over-thrown. He also fumbled the ball to end the 1st half and threw an interception that resulted in a 100 yard return for a touchdown. Warner redeemed himself as he usually does, when he led the Cardinals on their game-winning drive and threw the touchdown to Anquan Boldin.

- The Cardinals rush-defense was slashed again, and gave up 126 rushing yards and a touchdown to the former Seahawk Maurice Morris. The Cardinals have allowed two 100-yard rushers the last two weeks since they held Adrian Peterson to 19 rushing yards.

- Mental errors and turnovers haunted the entire game. The Cardinals turned the ball over 3 times and the Lions capitalized by scoring 14 points. The Cardinals also committed 8 penalties for 65 yards. Two of them came from Bryan Robinson, for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that resulted in 30 yards. Turnovers and penalties have plagued the Cardinals lately, and isn't something they can continue if they want to make a run in the playoffs.

- Play-calling was questionable at times, mainly on 3rd and short situations when the Cardinals became very predictable. The Cardinals were 4-12 on 3rd downs, and that was one of the main reasons the Lions were able to stay in the game till the 4th quarter.

Final thoughts

While I am upset that the Cardinals couldn't dominate the now 2-12 Lions, I'll take a win know matter which way it comes. The Cardinals did show signs of life when most of the momentum turned in the Lions favor, and they were able to battle back to score on a game-winning drive. Kurt Warner needs to get healthy fast, and the Cardinals may need to show a stronger sense of urgency with the Rams coming to Arizona next week. What are your thoughts on the game?

Gameday Lincs - Eagles host 49ers

JasonB — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:00:19 -0000

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Didinger's Scouting Report: Eagles-49ers
Sizing up Sunday’s game between the Eagles (9-4) and the San Francisco 49ers (6-7) at Lincoln Financial Field:

49ers-Eagles Preview - Dec. 16, 2009 - NFL - CBSSports.com Game Preview
The San Francisco 49ers have won four of their five games within the NFC West, but they enter the final three weeks of the season facing long odds to win the division. With an identical record within the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles are starting to pull away.

Eagles vs. 49ers: The pick | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/18/2009
Could this week be the hiccup I assume is coming? The 49ers looked darned good in blasting the Cardinals Monday night. The Eagles, who have fought hard to get to first place in the NFC East, could let down after beating the Giants.

Desperate 49ers have grabbed Philly's attention | AP | 12/19/2009
It would've been easier for the Philadelphia Eagles to overlook San Francisco before the 49ers beat the defending conference champions convincingly on a national stage

Eagles Notes: Good news, bad news for Birds' passing game | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/19/2009
It may not have been evident on the field, but the passing game has been shorthanded over the last month.

49ers' Dashon Goldson is making strides - San Jose Mercury News
As 49ers cornerback Shawntae Spencer and Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald thundered to the turf Monday, Spencer was surprised to see they had company. Free safety Dashon Goldson was right there, prying the ball from Fitzgerald's magnetic hands for an incomplete pass.

Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions: Three Keys To Success

Andrew602 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:29:39 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Getting Larry Fitzgerald back to 100% is the most important key to the season at this point.

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Yeah, that's right - three keys. I think the Cardinals only need to follow the three keys below in order to beat the lowly Lions.

This Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals(8-5) face off with the Detroit Lions(2-11) in a situation that has become a must-win game for the red birds. The Cardinals are fresh off a disappointing Monday night game, in which they turned the ball over 7 times and were surprisingly limited to 9 points. They need to win 2 out of their next 3 games and need a 49ers loss to clinch the NFC West.

The Lions are experiencing another losing season/rebuilding year and are at the mercy of a rookie coach and quarterback. There is light at the end of the tunnel though, and it's only a matter of time before the Lions are back at mediocrity. Here are the three keys to success on Sunday.

1. Stop the Calvin Johnson. He's the Lions best player and many consider him to have the best all-around skill set of any receiver in the league. His stats may not show it this year but Johnson has faced injuries and his fair share of poor quarterback play and has still produced at a pro bow level. The Cardinals were burned by the other Johnson earlier this year and to keep it from reoccurring, they will need to ensure that there are no breakdowns in coverage. The Cardinals fastest defensive back, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, will likely cover Johnson with added safey help over the top.

2. Play the Lions like they are a 2-11 team. Winning is always satisfying, but the Cardinals certainly should not squeak out a win. They have the Lions beat in every NFL category, so there's certainly not room for any excuses this week. The Cardinals have managed to keep opposing teams in games this year and if they want to make a statement to the league they'll keep their foot on the gas on Sunday. The Lions have been obliterated by some teams this year(see last week) and that shouldn't stop just because the Cardinals are in town.

3. Get healthy and acquainted. The Cardinals may likely use the next stretch of games to rest certain players in hopes to become healthy for the playoffs. Most notably, injuries have hit Mike Gandy, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Ware, Kurt Warner, and Neil Rackers. Fitzgerald suffered a knee injury on Monday but an MRI revealed it was only a bone contusion and knee sprain. Kurt Warner has been nursing a hip pointer the last two weeks and may rest if the Cardinals have a comfortable lead on Sunday. Gandy and Rackers have already been ruled out the game. As a result of the injuries, Mike Nugent, Jeremy Bridges, and Rashad Johnson were pushed into more prominent roles on the team and must become more familiar with their respective positions the next two weeks.

On a final note, the Cardinals should obviously hand the ball off on Sunday and not be scared of fumbling. Limiting the rushing game may only discourage the Cardinals two young backs at this point.

In all reality, this is a game the Cardinals should win at ease. With the 49ers essentially on life-support, they have yet to be eliminated from playoff-contention. If the Cardinals want to take some pressure off themselves, now would be the moment pull the plug. What are your keys to the game and why?

Top Ten Arizona Cardinals' Draft Picks of the Past Decade

Hawkwind — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:21 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Does this trio of Arizona Cardinals (Reggie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston (left to right)) make the cut in the top ten draft picks of the past decade? (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Call us old-fashioned but reaching the end of a decade is a great time to look back at the previous ten years and with that in mind ROTB will be taking that look with some special top ten lists over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned and chime in on what we missed, special memories or just your two cents.

As we all know building a team through the draft is the best way to win consistently and as we also know the Arizona Cardinals haven't always been known as one of the better drafting teams in the league. With the improved play on the field though, the winds of change are blowing throughout our draft evaluation as well. Of the Cardinals starting 22, fourteen starters have come via the draft over the past decade and it's quite possible that the number could grow by four or five next season if guys like Matt Leinart, Brandon Keith, Ben Patrick, Cody Brown or Gabe Watson are ready to step into the starting lineup. Here's a look at the top ten draft picks of this decade.

Adrian Wilson - 3rd Round 2001 (64th overall) - By any definition Adrian Wilson has been a successful draft pick and considering that 64 players were selected before him, including three safeties (one even selected by the Cardinals), A-dub has been a steal. He's currently one sack from entering the exclusive 20/20 club (only ten members) and he's twice been named as a Pro Bowl starter (2006 & 2008). Wilson is also currently the longest tenured Cardinal and in his nine seasons he's started 116 games (including playoffs) amassing 677 tackles, 19 sacks, 22 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles and scored four touchdowns. He's also the only player in NFL history to have multiple 99 yard return touchdowns without the benefit of a kickoff return.
Reggie Wells - 6th Round 2003 (177th overall) - Wells isn't a Pro Bowl level offensive guard but anytime you find a quality starter in the sixth round of a draft, you've made an amazing pick. He became a starter in just his second season and only a broken ankle in 2005 (missed seven games) have kept him off the field. Since that injury he's started 65 consecutive games (including playoffs) and was a team captain for the 2008 season. He's also been versatile, starting games at left guard, left tackle and right tackle and even took snaps at center during the 2005 season. A case could be made that Wells has offered the most "bang for the buck" (draft pick speaking), of any selection this decade.
Anquan Boldin - 2nd Round 2003 (54th overall) - Boldin didn't waste any time proving to the NFL that he was a premier receiver. In his first professional game he had 217 receiving yards (NFL record) and since then he's set numerous records including most receptions for a rookie, most reception in the first 26 games of a career, fastest to 300 & 400 receptions and he's also set countless team records as well. He's a three time Pro Bowler, a team captain (2007) and endeared himself to Cardinals fans with his fearless, passionate playing style. Despite playing in 16 games only twice in his career, Q has amassed 570 receptions, 7,299 yards and 44 touchdowns
Darnell Dockett - 3rd Round 2004 (64th overall) - Mr. Nine-O was a starter from his very first day in the desert but he didn't really have a breakout season until 2007. In his first three season's he'd start 47 of 48 games and while he was productive, he only managed six sacks. That all changed in 2007 though as he racked up nine sacks and set a career high in tackles. He's now mentioned as one of the best defensive tackles in the league and despite some inconsistency at times, it's hard not to at least put him in the top five at his position. In his six seasons as a Cardinal, Dockett hasn't missed a game while totaling 271 tackles, 26 sacks, four picks and six forced fumbles while being voted to one Pro Bowl.
Larry Fitzgerald - 1st Round 2004 (3rd overall) - You might think it's awful hard to screw up the third overall pick but in the previous four years the Cardinals had five first round selections and the closest thing to a productive starter was Bryant "skillet hands" Johnson. Fitz was considered one of the best receivers to come out of the college ranks in quite some time and he certainly has not disappointed. In six seasons Fitz has established himself as arguably the best receiver in the NFL and his record setting performance during last year's post season run cemented his legacy as an all-time great. Despite still being just 26 years of age, Fitzgerald has already amassed 511 receptions, 6,966 yards and 56 touchdowns.
Lyle Sendlein - Undrafted in 2007 - So technically Sendlein isn't/wasn't a draft pick but anytime an undrafted free agent turns into a starter, someone deserves a massive pat on the back. After not getting drafted in 2007 though he played in 12 games as a rookie, including two starts, and has since started 23 consecutive games (including playoffs). After struggling at times as a rookie, Sendlein has remarkably improved during his second year as a starter and he's looking like a guy who can anchor the center of the Cardinals' offensive line for quite a while.
Gerald Hayes - 3rd Round 2003 (70th overall) - Hayes often gets overlooked by flashier players on the defensive side of the ball but he's developed into one of the most dependable defenders on the team. After two seasons playing mostly special teams, Hayes was supposed to start the 2005 season at middle linebacker before a preseason knee injury sent him to the injured reserve. Since that injury he's missed only two games and averaged almost six tackles per game and started 53 games. In his six seasons (not counting the one missed due to injury) he's amassed 389 tackles, five sacks, four picks and forced seven fumbles.
Steve Breaston - 5th Round 2007 (142th overall) - Breaston was drafted as a return specialist, a spot he excelled at as a rookie, but when the Cardinals used a third round pick on another receiver the following year, Boobs took it personally. Breaston onto the NFL-scene with 77 receptions for 1,006 yards in just his second year in the league and he's established himself as a legitimate deep threat. He's started twelve games over the past two seasons, filling in for an injured Boldin, and he's helped the Cardinals develop one of the most dynamic passing games in the league, not to mention the best trio of receivers.
Antonio Smith - 5th Round 2004 (135th overall) - Smith is really the only guy on this list who didn't make an almost immediate impact but once he broke into the starting lineup, he was quite productive. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and didn't become a full time starter until the latter half of his third season. While he never really was a play-maker, Smith was consistently productive and a great pick in the fifth round. Smith left this past off season for big free agent money with the Houston Texans but as a Cardinal he played in 62 games, 39 starts, and racked up 125 tackles, 14.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Tim Hightower - 5th Round 2008 (149th overall) - The 149th selection of the 2008 draft was followed by a collective "who?" from Cardinals fans and draft 'experts' alike but Hightower has quickly proved to be quite a hidden gem. After starting his rookie season as a very effective goal line/short yardage specialist, he emerged as the starting running back midway through the season and he's managed to keep the starting job despite a promising rookie, Beanie Wells, nipping at his heels. Through just two short years Hightower has proven to be a fairly complete back with the ability to swing out of the backfield, protect his quarterback as well as tote the rock. With the Cardinal's dual running back approach, he's not getting a ton of carries but he's on pace to surpass 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season and could approach double digit touchdowns for the second consecutive season.

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One thing that is quite impressive when looking back at the past decade worth of drafts is how well the Cardinals drafted in the 2003 and 2004 draft. In those two years combined they turned fourteen overall picks into seven quality NFL starters and four Pro Bowl level players. Needless to say, a 50% success rate in the draft is a guaranteed formula for winning. With the past couple of draft classes looking very promising, hopefully we'll be able to look back in five years and see the same kind of success. Who is the best overall pick in your mind and who would be in your top ten?