SB Nation - Mike Gandy

Larry Fitzgerald to Have MRI and Other Arizona Cardinals Injury News

Hawkwind — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:30:15 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald missed most of the game on Monday with a knee injury but it doesn't appear to be serious. He'll undergo an MRI today just to make sure. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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Not only did the Arizona Cardinals suffer an demoralizing loss at the hands of a division rival, San Francisco 49ers, they also took a beating during the game. Larry Fitzgerald missed most of the game, although he returned late in the game, with a knee injury and he'll have a MRI today. At this point the team is just being cautious with the MRI, but we all know that losing Fitz for any kind of playoff run would be devastating. The other significant injury involved Matt Ware, who was hurt on the opening kickoff and did not return. Ware is a key backup in the secondary and allows DC Bill Davis to use Adrian Wilson in many creative ways so we'll have to closely monitor his situation. If Ware were to miss significant time, or be done for the season, it would mean big things for Rashad Johnson. It'll be interesting to see if RJ, who has had trouble getting on the field during his rookie season, is ready for extended playing time or if the team will have to look elsewhere for a third safety.

The third injury from this game is still somewhat of an unknown. Mike Gandy came out of the game late in the third quarter but no one has confirmed if he left because of his injured hip or simply because he was playing very poorly. Either way it's probably fair to say that he'll be reavaluated this week and I wouldn't be surprised to see Jeremy Bridges in the starting lineup this Sunday when the Cards travel to Detriot.

49ers-Cardinals: Final Injury Report

Ninjames — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:30:14 -0000

Hey everyone, ~~Fooch~~ James here. We've got the final injury report before the game today and I figured I wasn't TOO busy and I could put this up in Fooch's absence. Right about the time you read this I should be in San Francisco setting up a grill so I won't be making the game threads with you today but don't miss me too much.

New to the injury report (I think) is CB Marcus Hudson, who is questionable along with LT Joe Staley. Staley has said since his injury that he was hoping to return by tonight's game but it's looking more and more doubtful that he'll be able to make it tonight. The Cardinals, however are a rather healthy team this season, which isn't good news but we'll have to deal.

After the jump I've got the transcript of Mike Singletary's post-practice press conference.

49ers
Out
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)

Doubtful
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)

Questionable
CB Marcus Hudson (back)
LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring)
T Joe Staley (knee)

Probable
WR Brandon Jones (thumb)
S Michael Lewis (quadriceps)

Cardinals
Out
LB Will Davis (knee)

Questionable
LB Bert Berry (illness)
DE Kenny Iwebema (thumb)
TE Stephen Spach (knee)

Probable
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
T Mike Gandy (pelvis)
P Ben Graham (left groin)
RB Tim Hightower (thumb)
RB Dan Kreider (thigh)
K Neil Rackers (right groin)
DT Bryan Robinson (illness)
RB Jason Wright (illness)

Head Coach Mike Singletary
Post – Practice – December 12, 2009
San Francisco 49ers

Opening statement:

"Just a bit of information on the injuries: [CB] [Marcus] Hudson – questionable, [LB] Takeo Spikes – questionable, [LT] [Joe] Staley – questionable, [WR] Isaac [Bruce] is out, and [CB] [Nate] Clements is out."

On the possibility that LT Joe Staley will be worked in slowly during the game:

"You just never know with the progress he can show from one day to the next and he’s done a great job this week, but we’re just going to play it and see how it goes."

On whether Staley could be activated as a back-up for Monday night’s game:

"Possibly."

On his impression of Staley’s work out today during team drills:

"I’ll just say that all week he’s done a good job. He’s been pretty sore the next day, but has responded very well. Hopefully later in the week, as of today or tomorrow, we’ll just have to see how he feels, but he’s coming along pretty well."

On agreeing with offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s opinion that Staley would disrupt the offensive line’s continuity:

"The continuity has been going very well. I think the flow has been going very well. I think Jimmy is certainly on to something. The bottom line is that when he is totally healthy he will be our left tackle."

On whether or not he is disappointed in the performance of the defense this year:

"When you look at our defense, I can’t say that I’m disappointed with our defense. I think that there are certain times in a game where you’ve had some break downs here and there. I think the back end of our defense, [CB] Shawntae [Spencer], has really responded well. I think that [S] Dashon [Goldson] has continued to mature. We’ve had to switch guys in and out, whether it’s Nate, whether it’s [CB Terrell] Brown, it’s been a little tough at times on the back end, but we’ve tried to work our way through it. But I can’t say that I’m disappointed in our defense because I think our defense at times played well. I think inconsistency would be the word to use."

On whether the defense has been on the field more than he’d like them to be:

"I think early on that was the case in particular. Not getting third downs, not being able to move the chains or not converting third downs I would say. Defensively, I would say that one of the inconsistencies has been the ability to get off of the field on third down. First and second down have been great, third down, particularly on third down and longer, have been a little tougher. But I think that whenever you look at the stats for our defense and where we’re ranked, it’s not one of those things where it’s lights out where you’ve played well consistently. I just think our front seven has played as well as anybody in the league. I think you have to break it down – the run part of our defense has really done a great job, as good as any I think. Certainly they’ve had something to do with that on the back end. I just think overall it’s not all just the back end, it’s linebackers making sure that they’re getting their drops deeper to help the guys out. Everything effects the passing game and I just think it’s one of those things that we just haven’t been consistent in."

On having an extra day to rest T Joe Staley:

"I think that it’s always nice to have an extra day, but in terms of Joe Staley, it’s the same thing there. Any of our guys that are banged up and you have that extra day, particularly early in the week to rest a little bit more, that’s very helpful. I think for him that just buys him more time."

On whether waiting to play a Monday night game is a disruption or advantage to the teams’ chemistry:

"That’s always a good question to ask after the game. For me, it doesn’t really change. You get up on Sunday morning, you go through that week and you’re not playing that day. Of course you look at other games. Some guys get restless, everybody responds differently, but I think for us it will be a good thing having that little extra time. I really think it will be a good thing for us."

On whether he wants the team to play this game with a sense of desperation on their minds:

"No. I want them to go out and understand that it’s all about winning the game, it’s all about executing. I think that when you’re prepared, you don’t have to sit back and be in desperation mode. I think that when you’re prepared, you don’t have to sit back and be nervous, just go out and do your job. The most important thing for us to do right now and the thing we tried to do last week and every other week, which is to just execute, play flawless football, and don’t shoot ourselves in the foot. That all comes down to just doing your job and it’s as simple as that – go out and do your job. If we do that, then we’ll be fine."

On whether WR Brandon Jones will see more time in the receiver rotation:

"Yes. Brandon Jones and I talked earlier on this week and I talk to the coaching staff about different players and Brandon is one of those players that they’re just trying to see more of him and get a better opportunity to find out exactly what he can and cannot do. He’s had a couple of opportunities and he’s taken advantage of them so far."

On how much feedback he gets from WR coach Jerry Sullivan have:

"I get constant feedback from Jerry, but really it comes down to Jimmy Raye and looking at the overall game plan, the scheme, the match ups and what he feels gives us the best opportunity to win."

On being confident in the team on playing on Monday night:

"I don’t really think it’s so much Monday night. I think it’s just a matter of where we are. I just want our guys to understand that at this time of year, and really any time for us, it’s really important to play mistake free football. As long as we do that, we’re going to be where we need to be. But when we don’t and when we’re not executing the way we know we can and we miss opportunities, we can’t do that. Our margin for error is very narrow. It’s very small. Everything we do, we have to be on. That’s what I really want our guys to understand. So last week, or if you’d ask me a week before then, whenever it is, it’s just a matter of knowing that, ‘Guys, let’s put a clean game together and play together and we’ll be fine.’ I’m just excited about the opportunity, that’s all."

On his conversation with Brandon Jones:

"Every receiver that we have, at some point in time I’ve talked to about playing time and the frustration of wanting it more. So, Brandon is no exception. I think it is just one of those things where, ‘Coach, I can do it if I get the opportunity.’ But, it has to come and he has to earn that. These other receivers have been working their tails off as well, so it’s just a matter of getting in the right package and getting the right opportunity."

On whether it’s fair to believe Frank Gore will get more than nine carries this game:

"I would think so. I would think that would be a fair statement. I think the thing our offense is striving to do is get that balance and find that balance. Frank knows that. There are other ways that we’re using Frank as well. If you just say he’s going to get a chance to touch the ball nine times, we’re going to throw to him as well. There are other ways to get him into the game. But yes, to run the football, that is something we have to strive to find that balance. That’s a fair assumption."

On whether Arizona is a benchmark for the 49ers right now:

"No."

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:25:54 -0000

More photos » by Mel Evans - AP

Arizona Cardinals running back Jason Wright (31) missed practice on Wednesday with an undisclosed illness. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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The Arizona Cardinals released their first injury report of the week yesterday and it's still remarkable how healthy this team is this late in the season. Will Davis, who's already been ruled out, and Jason Wright (illness) are the only players who missed practice entirely. Alan Branch (ankle), Ben Graham (groin), Tim Hightower (thumb), Kenny Iwebema (thumb), Dan Kreider (thigh), Neil Rackers (groin), and Stephen Spach (knee) were all limited but no one's injuries are considered serious. Mike Gandy, who missed last week's win over the Vikings, is still listed on the report but he fully participated in practice and will be active for the game on Monday, although Ken Whisenhunt has not made a decision about who will start at left tackle yet. It's also noteable that neither Kurt Warner or Karlos Dansby, who been nursing injuries to both shoulders, are listed on the injury report.

Joe Staley, who has missed the previous five games, has returned to practice and is on track to retun to action this Monday but cornerback Nate Clements has already been ruled out. Considering how well Clements normally plays Larry Fitzgerald, that might be a huge injury for the 49ers. Issaac Bruce and Takeo Spikes also missed practice.

Who Would You Take From The San Francisco 49ers?

Andrew602 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:01:25 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Adding Patrick Willis to the Cardinals would bring more leadership and vastly improve the Cardinals run-defense.

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With the Monday night match up not far ahead, we can start preparing to face the San Francisco 49ers. It may sound difficult to want any players from a division rival on the Arizona Cardinals, but in all honesty, the 49ers are filled with talent. Their 5-7 record may not show it, but the 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league and are starting to gel on offense. Remember that who you pick can be a young or older player, a starter or a back up, etc. You can also take their current contract status into consideration, as if we were actually signing the player. Also look at who may be leaving our team after this season. Here are some of my picks.

Before you look over the list, head over to Niners Nation to check out who they have interest in taking from our very own Cardinals and make sure to voice your opinion if you feel they're overlooking some certain players.

Patrick Willis, LB: This had to be the easiest/most obvious pick from the 49ers. He's a tackling machine(123 tackles leads the league) and has really developed to be one of the best linebackers in the league. Willis is a smart defender that can play the run(as their 5th ranked 95.4 rushing yards per game shows), and he's improving in coverage(6 PD, 2 INT). The former rookie of the year is only 24 years old, and with the uncertainty of Karlos Dansby returning next season, adding Willis would fill a tremendous need.

Vernon Davis, TE: As much as it pains me to say, I would like to have Vernon Davis as a Cardinal. He seems to have turned a new leaf this season and it's showed on the field. Already being a dominant run-blocker, Davis has turned it up a notch at the receiving end and is currently tied with Larry Fitzgerald with a league-leading 10 receiving touchdowns on the year. Adding Davis would surely fix our tight end situation and give us a young receiving/blocking tight end for years. Doesn't it seem like most teams have better tight ends then the Cardinals?

Aubrayo Franklin, DT: Franklin has gradually developed into one of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles in the league. He's also one of the more underrated defenders on the 49ers. The 49ers have had much success stopping the run and much of that stems from Franklin's ability to fill the defensive gaps. He seems to be ever-improving all facets of his game, as he's recorded 2 sacks on the year and also has 1 interception. With Bryan Robinson's age becoming a liability, and the uncertainty of Alan Branch and Gabe Watson, adding Franklin would leave no Cardinals fans worried about the defensive tackle position.

Joe Staley, OT: Staley returns to action this upcoming Monday and the former 1st round pick has been missed by the 49ers. Although Barry Sims has filled in with solid play at tackle, he's not as well rounded as Staley has been the last two seasons. He's still developing but his pass-protection would be greatly welcomed in Arizona. In the seven games this year, Staley has only allowed 2 sacks and hasn't committed any penalties. With how Levi Brown and Mike Gandyhave fared this season, adding Staley would fill a large void.

Honorable mentions: Nate Clements, Justin Smith, Manny Lawson

Ok so that's my list for this week. Don't forget to see what the Niners fans are saying and who they'd pick over at Niners Nation. Who would you take from the 49ers and why?

Grading The Offense: Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings

Andrew602 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:05:46 -0000

via prod.static.cardinals.clubs.nfl.com

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It was uncertain just how prepared the Cardinals offense would be for a stingy Minnesota Vikings defense Sunday night. Kurt Warner was questionable all week with post-concussion symptoms. Matt Leinart shared reps with Warner in practice and was ready to go if Warner was not. Mike Gandy had been battling a hip injury and back up offensive tackle Jeremy Bridges was preparing to play as well. On game day, it was likely that Gandy wouldn't suit up, but Kurt Warner would refuse to miss anymore action. The Cardinals offense stumbled to start the game with a Tim Hightower fumble that led to a Vikings touchdown. After that however, the Cardinals offense outscored the Vikings 27-10. Let's take a look at how they did.

Kurt Warner: Kurt was surprisingly spot on after reportedly experiencing blurry vision and sensitivity to light. He had also missed the previous 6 quarters of play, so to see him slinging the ball over a 10-1 Vikings team was encouraging. The fact that the 38-year-old quarterback could return from a viscous blow to the head and beat the 2nd best team in the NFC spoke tremendously for his resiliency. Warner made the reads that put the wide receivers in best interest to make plays on the ball(see Anqun Boldin's 39-yard touchdown) and could have very well played a better game had the Cardinals not resorted to conservative play in the second half.

Running backs: Tim Hightower didn't make many plays with his legs to earn recognition, but surprisingly exceeded many expectations in the blocking department. Hightower squared up on just about every defender that decided to blitz and gave Kurt Warner the perfect amount of time to get rid of the ball. Hightower's blocking will be greatly needed come playoff time. Beanie Wells carried the ball more then Hightower, but only amounted to 28 yards. Obviously being in his rookie season means there will be games where he struggles, but it's not helping his cause to become the starting running back on offense.

Wide receivers: Anquan Boldin posted his best game of the season and also played his fourth game in a row in which he's looked like an absolute beast. Boldin set the tone on offense and led the Cardinals to their first two touchdowns of the game. Larry Fitzgerald quietly put together another solid game, catching a season long 35-yard touchdown pass that added to his league-leading total of 10 touchdowns. Steve Breaston didn't do much on the receiving end but added a 64 yard punt return in the 1st quarter that led to the first Cardinal touchdown of the game.

Offensive line: The biggest part of the win came from the trenches, where the Cardinals big five didn't allow a sack on the day. They completed that feat against the Vikings defensive line, a unit that leads the NFL in sacks. Even more impressive was the fact that back up tackle Jeremy Bridges was inserted into the line up, only to face NFL sack-leader Jared Allen. Add that the Cardinals run-blocking led to 113 rushing yards against the 2nd ranked run-defense and the Cardinals offensive line obviously had the best game of the season.

My offensive grade: A

Final thoughts: It's not hard to give the Cardinals an A after their 30-17 defeat of the Vikings on a nationally televised game of Sunday night football. They played their best game of the year on all facets of the game and faced no trouble moving the ball down-field. How did you grade the Cardinals offense and why?

Poll

How would you grade the Cardinals offensive effort on Sunday?

Arizona Cardinal Of The Week: Week 12

Andrew602 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:19 -0000

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After missing week 11 against the Titans, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner returned to action on Sunday night. Warner played very well and he didn't seem to skip a beat on offense. He recorded his 4th game in a row with a quarterback rating of 120+, which tied him with Johnny Unitas. The Cardinals played their most complete game of the season, en route to a 30-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Clearly the defense played a great game but it was the Cardinals on offense that made their mark.

Anquan Boldin: Anquan has been on a tear(minus last week w/o Warner) since Ken Whisenhunt forced him out of the Bears game with a high ankle sprain. In the last three games that Warner has started, Boldin has 23 catches for 306 yards and 3 TDs. More important was his performance on Sunday. Boldin had a monster first half and his biggest catch was a 39 yard scamper in which he made the circus catch and out maneuvered Vikings defenders to make the score and give the Cardinals the lead.

Kurt Warner: Many fans were unclear whether or not Warner would start on Sunday but once it was made official, Cardinals fans could breathe a sigh of relief. Kurt Warner carved up the Vikings secondary, making his reads and putting the ball in places that only the receivers could find. Not only has Warner completed three straight games with a QB rating over 120, but he's also had a rating over 100 seven times this season. Having Kurt Warner under center improves every player on offense and it's clear the Cardinals can beat anyone in the league if they want to.

Tim Hightower: Hightower's numbers don't stand out when you look at them(6 carries, 50 yards) and the fumble certainly doesn't look great as well, but Hightower played another complete game as a running back, and his knowledge on the field was greatly needed. Hightower brought a burst to the running game, but also provided spectator blocking and kept Kurt Warner from being a soft cushion for defenders to land on. Tim Hightower continues to run like a veteran and utilizing his skill set on the field is key to victory.

Jeremy Bridges: Most of us should be aware of who Bridges is, and that he made his first start of the season opposite Jared Allen. The biggest stat of the night was the ZERO sacks allowed, and for a back-up to limit the best defensive end in the league to absolutely nothing says a lot. He received much tight end/running back support but defending Allen is still no easy task. Bridges also filled in for Gandy against the Titans and there was obviously not a drop off in production. With the recent play of Bridges, one would have to wonder how certain the chances are of Mike Gandy returning next season.

Karlos Dansby: The lone defender that makes the list happens to be one of the captions on defense. Dansby recorded a team high in tackles(8) and also picked off Brett Favre in the second half. Dansby was playing through a shoulder injury but looked fine on the field. Dansby surprisingly played safety on the field at times throughout the game and it worked in the Cardinals favor when he recorded the interception.

I feel that there were more individual players on offense that stood out, but the defense played great as a hole. You could certainly make a case for Larry Fitzgerald but Boldin was the receiver that set the tone on offense and initially gave the Cardinals the lead. As aways, feel free to leave a comment if you think anyone should be added to the list. Who did you pick and why?

Poll

Who is the Arizona Cardinal of the week?

Post Game Reaction: Arizona Cardinals Upset Minnesota Vikings 30-17

Andrew602 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:22:23 -0000

More photos » by Ross Franklin - AP

Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (81) gets past Minnesota Vikings' Cedric Griffin and heads for a touchdown in the second quarter.

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After the heart-breaking loss to Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans just a week ago, the Arizona Cardinals understood just how important a win today would be. The Vikings were 10-1 heading into Sunday's game and looked like the most complete team in the NFL.

The game began with a Tim Hightower fumble on the second play of the day. Brett Favre and the Vikings offense easily walked their way down to the 3 yard line on their opening drive. An overturned challenge gave Visanthe Shiancoe a 3 yard touchdown catch to give the Vikings the early lead. After a Steve Breaston 64-yard punt return, Kurt Warner found Anquan Boldin for a two yard score. The Cardinals had their way with the Vikings secondary for most of the game and Kurt Warner threw for 2 more touchdowns to give the Cardinals the win.

The Positives:

- The defense came to play. The Cardinals defense wiped any memory they had of last weeks performance and dominated the Vikings high-powered offense. Adrian Peterson was held to 13 carries for 19 yards, while Brett Favre was picked off twice and had a quarterback rating of 79.4. The Cardinals defensive line also found ways to penetrate into the backfield and sacked Favre 3 times on the night.

- The offensive line protection/blocking was great. Even with starting left tackle Mike Gandy missing the game, back up Jeremy Bridges filled in with an impressive performance. The Cardinals didn't allow one sack to a defensive line featuring Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. A larger part of the success went to the tight end and running back help, something Ken Whisenhunt shied away from at the beginning of the season. The Cardinals also managed to run for 113 yards on the night, something most teams have had trouble achieving against the Vikings defense.

- Kurt Warner showed no signs of post-concussion symtoms.After missing the last 6 quarters of play because of a concussion he suffered three games ago, Kurt Warner had a fantastic night. He was 22 of 32 for 285 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 127.7. Warner was able to read what the defense very well and put the ball on the money throughout the game. With Warner returning, Anquan Boldin had his best game of the season receiving 98 yards with 2 touchdowns.

- The all-red jerseys continue to help. Ken Whisenhunt may want to continue wearing the all-red look. The Cardinals have won their last two home games in dominant fashion and I personally think they look better.

The Negatives:

- The Cardinals settled for more field goals then TDs in the red zone. Usually Warner and Co. have no problem putting 7 on the scoreboard when in the red zone. Tonight the Cardinals went 1 for 4 and only scored 9 points in the second half because of that. Luckily the Vikings were not able to keep the game close. Settling for more field goals then touchdowns is not something this team can do if they want to continue winning games.

- Depth in the secondary continues to be a concern.The Cardinals lack of depth/talent beyond Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson, and Antrel Rolle has become a pressing issue the last few games. Bryant McFadden had trouble defending outside passes and Michael Adams size allowed a late touchdown to Percy Harvin. Teams will continue to take advantage if the Cardinals cannot fix this problem.

Final Thoughts

Overall the Cardinals we all know and love decided to show up on Sunday and played tough enough to beat the red-hot Vikings. Kurt Warner showed why he gives the Cardinals the best chance to win the game, while the defense revealed their true potential. The 49ers also lost today keeping the Cardinals NFC West lead at 3 games, although next week's Monday night football showdown will still be crucial for the Cardinals chances of clinching the division and improving their playoff seeding. What are your thoughts on the game?

Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings: Five Keys to Success

Andrew602 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:00:20 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

If Kurt Warner starts against the Vikings on Sunday, the Cardinals offense becomes significantly more dangerous.

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The Minnesota Vikings (10-1) travel to Glendale, AZ to take on the Arizona Cardinals (7-4) in a game that could determine playoff positioning. Realistically, if the Cardinals had a chance at catching up to the Vikings or Saints they would've needed a win in Tennessee. Instead they're playing keep away from the 49ers with the division lead and a win on Sunday night would certainly help that cause. The biggest headline going into the game is the status of Kurt Warner. Kurt suffered a concussion two weeks ago against the Rams and concussion-like symptoms kept him out of action last week against the Titans. Luckily, Matt Leinart has been sharing practice time with Warner this week and should be better prepared if Warner is not able to suit up. Here are the keys to success:

Kurt Warner needs to play this week. Without Warner the offense is not as explosive and cannot put up the points it needs to stay ahead of the other team. Having Kurt Warner on the field improves the production of the rest of the offense. With Jared Allen looming ahead the Cardinals need Warner's quick release and pocket presence to avoid a multiple sack day for Allen. Matt Leinart should be prepared for Sunday if Warner can't play but at this point in the season Kurt Warner gives the Cardinals the best chance to win.

Left tackle will need support. The obvious reason why is Jared Allen lining up on the other side. Mike Gandy has been battling a pelvis injury for some time and was forced to miss a portion of the Titans game last week. Gandy was never a dominant left tackle but was adequate enough to protect Kurt Warner's blind side. Now with Gandy hurt, Jeremy Bridges will be inserted into the offensive line against one of the best defensive ends in the game. Bridges quietly entered the game last week and did a great job and with more practice this week, his solid play will need to carry on to Sunday night.

Don't quit on the running game. It's likely that Cardinals running backs will struggle with the "Williams Wall" and the Vikings defense coming to town. The Cardinals performance last week seemed uncanny as they had topped 120+ yards in their previous 3 games (it's not a coincidence all 3 were wins). This week, taking pressure off whichever quarterback lines up under center will be vital which is why the Cardinals shouldn't abandon the run. Obviously going nowhere or gaining 1-2 yard carries would hurt their chances but just keeping the Vikings defense honest to the run will help tremendously. If the Cardinals do eclipse 100 yards it will be because they won the game.

The play of the defensive backs. The Cardinals defensive backs have had the problems stopping passing quarterbacks. Vince Young, Matt Hasselbeck, Jay Cutler, and even Marc Bulger passed successfully against the Cardinals. The key to limiting passing yards is getting pressure on the quarterback. When the Cardinals blitz more it's evident that the defensive backs have more success. If the Cardinals can force Favre to scramble and throw ill-advised passes it will greatly improve their chances of winning.

Win one for the homefield. This same team beat the Cardinals at home last year pretty handily. The Cardinals have also not fared well on their home turf and the last time they played at home on Sunday night the Colts dominated that game. Keeping the home crowd in the game until the end is important but beating the Vikings on Sunday night in front of everyone is a huge step in the right direction.

If the Cardinals can stay healthy and not make any mistakes they can keep this match up competitive. What are your keys to the game and why?

Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart Split Reps in Practice 50/50

Hawkwind — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:00:42 -0000

by Mark Humphrey - AP

Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner split reps 50/50 during practice today. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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The good news is that Kurt Warner says the foggy vision, residual effects from a concussion sustained against the Rams, is gone now . The better news is that he and Matt Leinart still split reps 50/50 at practice just in case Warner isn't ready for Sunday nights matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings. Ken Whisenhunt is taking a more cautious route this week after Warner took all of the reps last week but Warner is optimistic about playing this week.

News that isn't so good is that Mike Gandy is in jeporady of missing Sunday's game, which means that Jeremy Bridges will likely start in his place. To make matters even more interesting, Levi Brown also took reps at left tackle, in the event that Bridges goes down during the game. The last domino effected will be Brandon Keith who would step in at right tackle if Brown moves over (so needless to say he'll be active for the first time this year). Will Davis and Stephen Spach also missed practice while Tim Hightower, Bryant McFadden, Kenny Iwebema and Neil Rackers were all limited. Karlos Dansby, despite nursing injuries in both shoulders, fully participated in practice.

Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock: Leinart vs. Warner Edition

Andrew602 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:00:12 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

19 days ago: Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals' Matt Ware (22) and Antrel Rolle (21) in the final moments of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 20-17. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Naturally most of the talk surrounding the Arizona Cardinals right now centers on the vision (or lack thereof) of Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart performance in his first start since 2007. It's worth mentioning that at this point any talk of who's going to start at QB this Sunday is pure speculation but here's all of the Cardinals-related chatter out there.

Day Ater From Whiz - Urban wraps up Whisenhunt's day after press conference with a look at a couple injuries (Tim Hightower, Mike Gandy and Karlos Dansby) and says that Whiz is still happy having a two game lead with five to play.
How I See It: NFC West Stock Watch - Matt Leinart and LaRod Stephens-Howling are on the rise while DC Bill Davis is on the decline.
Where they rank on defense: Week 12 - Sando takes a look at where each NFC West defense ranks in various categories. For all their shortcomings, the Cardinals are still 13th in points per game.
Where they rank on offense: Week 12 - Sando takes a look at where each NFC West offense ranks in various categories. For what's it's worth the Cardinals are simply dominant in the red zone and that's a big reason why they're still 10th in points per game.
Peter King's MMQB - King looks rather poetically at the final play of the Titans/Cards game and also touches on the concussion situations with both Ben Roethlisberger and Warner. He even goes as far as to suggest that a couple of years ago, before the increased awareness of head trauma, both guys would have probably started for their respective teams. Can't say I disagree.
Arizona Cardinals Football Team Report - The Cardinals might not be sure if Matt Leinart is their quarterback of the future, but they know now he at least can effectively replace Kurt Warner in the short term.
Football Outsiders Chat During the Game - The site Football Outsiders has a cool weekly segment where they chat during the games and then post the transcipts. It's interesting to see the analysis of Leinart's day (very good versus zone but struggles against man coverage) and this line was almost comical (if the loss didn't still sting, I might have actually laughed).

Vince Young is inching the Titans down the field, scrambling for time and converting fourth downs. Cut to Leinart on the sideline, on one knee, hand covering his mouth, facial and body language screaming "NOT AGAIN."

Cardinals need to focus on Vikings - Cardinals need to focus on Vikings, The Cardinals will try to stick to their coach's 24-hour policy and move on following Sunday's loss.
Playoff Picture 2009 - NFL.com takes a early glimpse at the NFL playoff picture. Spoiler Alert: The Cards would host the Packers if the season ended today, meaning we'd have back to back games against them, both of which would be played in Arizona. Weird.
(From the "WTH" Folder) Twitter / Adam Schefter - Schefter broke the news via his twitter account that former Cardinals' DE/OLB Travis LaBoy was suspended four games. Suspension will begin immediately and will last until NFL reinstates LaBoy. Since he's not currently signed by any team, I'd assume that this is basically a four week suspension from nothing. Maybe they'll disconnect his NFL Sunday Ticket.