SB Nation - Stephen Spach

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: Injury Report

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

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.

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 Release TE Byrd, Sign LB Monty Beisel

Andrew602 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:31:29 -0000

More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP

One of Beisel's rare appearances as a Chief. Beisel only played in three games and was released. He looks better in Cardinal red anyway.

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The Arizona Cardinals have released their 4th string tight end Dominique Byrd today, and signed former Cardinal linebacker Monty Beisel.

Searching for depth at linebacker – especially after Gerald Hayes and Chike Okeafor missing games with back problems and having the inexperienced Reggie Walker and Ali Highsmith on the roster – the Cardinals brought back veteran Monty Beisel today. The Cards wanted Beisel when his contract expired after last season , but Beisel instead followed Todd Haley to Kansas City. Then Beisel was cut after just three games and has been searching for a job since. He had been in contact with the Cardinals in an attempt to come back since then.

To make room on the roster, the Cards decided they couldn’t hang on to four tight ends any longer. They released Dominique Byrd, who had yet to appear active in a regular-season game this season. With Anthony Becht and Ben Patrick taking hold of the two tight end spots on game day and Stephen Spach a more accomplished blocker than Byrd, Byrd was the odd man out.

via azcardinals.com(Urban)

Beisel, an ROTB favorite, was a special teams ace last year and should provide veteran depth to a linebacking corps that has been banged up the last few weeks. In the three years he was with Arizona, Beisel appeared in 40 games and registered 78 tackles. The Cardinals signed linebacker Pago Togafau and defensive end Jason Banks to the practice squad, both also being former Cardinals. They released FB Jed Collins and DT Antoine Holmes to make room.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:55:38 -0000

While the Arizona Cardinals still have some players battling through some nagging injuries they are still in a much better situation than most teams in the league seven weeks into the season. The team had just three players who sat out of yesterday's practice, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was able to participate in the full practice. DRC, who estimated himself at about 85%, said that he was surprised at how well he felt after injuring his ankle against the Giants. The biggest name who missed practice was Antrel Rolle, who's dealing with a foot injury, but he is expected to play on Sunday. Kenny Iwebema (knee) also missed practice although it's not considered serious and Stephen Spach is still being held out as well. Steve Breaston (knee) and Anquan Boldin (ankle) were also limited and Reggie Wells is still listed on the injury report (broken thumb) but he participated fully.

Here's quick look at the Carolina Panthers report:

Landon Johnson (LB) - Shoulder - DNP
Jonathan Stewart (RB) - Achilles - DNP
Dante Rosario (TE) - Knee - DNP
Muhsin Muhammad (WR) - Knee - DNP
Charles Godfrey (S) - Ankle - DNP
Thomas Davis (LB) - Hamstring - LP
Rhys Lloyd (K) - Ankle - FP
Brad Hoover (FB) - Back - FP

Godfrey, Davis, Muhammad and Hoover are all starters and we all know that Jonathan Stewart is a big part of that offense as their backup running back. Godfrey, starting free safety, hurt his ankle last week and showed up at the team facilities on crutches and a cast although head coach Jon Fox said that there isn't anything broken. He would be a significant loss for this Panthers' defense is he can't go on Sunday. Muhammad is still a starting wide out but at 36 he's slowing down very quickly but he's one of only two wide receivers with over three receptions so far this season. Davis, an underrated linebacker who's leading the team in tackles, would be a significant loss but he's expected to play. Hoover has been dealing with back issues all season so his status could change at any time.

Arizona Cardinals Chat with the Enemy: New York Giants

Hawkwind — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:34:39 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt hopes to run his team's road record to 3-0 this Sunday when the Red Birds travel to the Meadowlands. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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We're back this week with a new twist on the normal Q&A session as we sit down with New York Giants expert, Ed Valentine, from Big Blue View. We'll preview this Sunday's game between the Arizona Cardinals and his Giants and while this chat session won't quite match the video preview that we had last year, hopefully it'll still get the juices flowing.

ROTB: Ok, first question I have to ask each week.....What is your current injury situation and how will/could it effect Sunday's game?

Edward: Well, the Giants are an injury-riddled mess. Safety Kenny Phillips out for the year with a knee injury, leaving us very vulnerable at safety (see all the discussion on BBV about 'Bad, Bad C.C. Brown.' Chris Canty, Aaron Ross and Michael Boley, also all key defenders, are out. So, defensively this team has been weakened and has not, truthfully, been the dominant group it was expected to be. Not that that can't change. How about the Cards injury situation?

ROTB: Anquan Boldin is the big injury at this point. He suffered the dreaded "high" ankle sprain last week and didn't practice yesterday although both he and head coach Ken Whisenhunt said that they were encouraged by his progress. Boldin told reporters after practice that he'll most likely be a game time decision which for him doesn't sound very promising. Normally Boldin emphatically proclaims that he's going to play, especially in big games, so this might be just a case of trying not to break the bad news until game time. Others on the list include Stephen Spach (a tight end who wouldn't be missed), Steve Breaston (limited) and Beanie Wells (also limited). Breaston would be a huge loss, especially when if Boldin were also out, but most likely this is just a precaution because he's been slowed by a bone bruise suffered in the preseason. Wells is a new injury but with his past it's worth watching as the week progresses. Outside of those though there are no significant season ending injuries to speak of, at least not yet.

Edward: OK, so Arizona is 3-2. Give me an assessment of your team through five games?

ROTB: Well so far I think the Cardinals are sort of the same team that we saw last year during the regular season (aka Jekyll and Hyde). They'll play some great games, they'll play a great half every once in a while followed by a putrid half and sometimes they'll just flat out lay an egg. The offense has been picking up steam throughout the first five games after sputtering out of the gates thanks to some injuries at the wide receiver position. The defense has shown flashes of being very good, especially the run defense, but their overall level of success is greatly dependent on their ability to rush the passer. When they can pressure opposing quarterbacks this is a very good unit but when they allow any quarterback to get comfortable they will be beat.

ROTB: The Giants started the season very nicely until running into the Saints. Are the Giants an elite NFC team or did they benefit from playing some weak teams to start the season?

Edward: Both. Of course they benefited from a schedule that saw them play Washington, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland (the NFL's junior varsity) in four of their first five games. And a couple of areas of concern got exposed Sunday by the Saints, who probably have the best offense in the league. But, this is definitely an elite team. Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career. They have a talented group of receivers. They still have that running game. Defensively, they still have not played up to their ability level, but they have not been anywhere close to healthy, either. The Giants have a lot of big-name players on their defensive line, but that group has been inconsistent. I expect that to change as the season wears on. Are the Giants the best team in the NFC? Maybe, maybe not. If this defense ever gets healthy, though, I still think the Giants have a chance to be special.

Edward: So, question I love to ask. If you could take one player off the Giants roster and put him on your team who would it be? Why?

ROTB: Wow, interesting question. Normally I'd probably flip a coin and take either Osi or Tuck but the Cardinals just switched to a 3-4 defense and I'm not positive that either would be best suited in that defense. The next place I'd look is offensive line considering that the Giants are routinely mentioned among the league's best. Without knowing the details of each of your starting five I'd take whichever tackle is better.

Edward: Interesting. In all honesty in a 3-4 the guy who might fit your team best is Mathias Kiwanuka, a speedy defensive end who also has outside linebacker experience.

ROTB: Interesting. He'd be a heavy OLB, kind of like LaMarr Woodley, but he'd probably still be an upgrade over our guys. Our OL play has been so poor though that I'd probably still stick with one of your tackles.

ROTB: The Giants have reputation as one of those teams that can consistently put pressure on teams with their front four. How has the pass rush been so far and if you had to game plan around slowing them down, what would you do?

Edward: Well, the pass rush has actually been an issue thus far. 'Performance' has not matched 'reputation.' The Giants have 14 sacks, but have had three games in which they got zero sacks. Sunday against New Orleans pressure was non-existent. Osi, Tuck, Kiwanuka and the rest of the guys have to start playing to their ability level on a consistent basis.

ROTB: A quick follow up, I noticed that the Saints used a third offensive tackle in place of the tight end sometimes. Is that something that is just part of the Saints playbook or are teams starting to use that to neutralize the Giants front four?

Edward: I think it is part of what the Saints do. Although I love the idea and I wish the Giants would utilize it, since they don't have a true 'blocking' tight end.

ROTB: Well I hope it's something that the Cards use this weekend because our OT's have really struggled this year.

Edward: Prediction for Sunday?

ROTB: Hopefully the Cards study the Saints tape and try to use the same plan of attack. I'll go with Cards 35-31. Yours?

Edward: Oh, I'm sure the Cards will try to attack the Giants in a lot of the same areas. Basically, find 'Bad, Bad C.C. Brown' and throw it to whoever he should be covering. That should get you at least two TDs. Anyway, I think the Giants were really stung by last Sunday and I think you are going to see a huge effort this week. I will go 30-24, Giants.

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Thoughts?

Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:42:52 -0000

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin suffered a high ankle sprain last week against the Seahawks but will he suit up against the New York Giants? (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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With Wednesday's being the big practice day of the NFL week and the first release of an injury report it's always interesting to see who's name pops up on the list. For the Arizona Cardinals the injury situation is pretty clear. Anquan Boldin has a high ankle sprain and didn't practice at all, although he and Ken Whisenhunt said that they were encouraged by his progress. Boldin told reporters after practice that he thought he'd be a 'game time decision' which doesn't sound promising considering that he normally overly optimistic early in the week. Stephen Spach is the only other player who missed practice entirely but with the return of Ben Patrick, Spach's absence is less of an issue. Steven Breaston (knee) and Beanie Wells (hip) were both limited in practice but neither of them are in jeopardy of missing the game.

For the Giants the injury situation is a much bleaker picture. Michael Boley, Chris Canty and Aaron Ross are all starters who missed practice and are not expected to suit up on Sunday. With this trio being out coupled with the loss of Kenny Phillips earlier in the year, the Giants defense is missing four starters. The Giants had several other players who were limited, including starters Eli Manning, Antonio Pierce, Kareem McKenzie, but none of them are in jeopardy of missing the game.

The big question for the Cardinals will be what to do if Boldin can't play. Will Early Doucet see his first significant action of the season? Will the game plan change to a more conservative approach? Will Breaston still return punts if he's the #2 wide out?

Arizona Cardinals Cut Keilen Dykes to Make Room For Ben Patrick

Hawkwind — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:08:19 -0000

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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In an semi-puzzling move the Arizona Cardinals have reportedly released defensive end Keilen Dykes in an effort to make room for tight end Ben Patrick who is returning from a four game suspension. The puzzling nature of the move is because the team requested, and received, a roster exception for Patrick meaning that he could return to practice without them actually having to release anyone. Of course a move would have to be made later in the week so that Patrick can play this weekend against the Seahawks, but with the exception they could have waited a couple of days and made the move later in the week. Dykes can still be added to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The second reason that this is semi-puzzling is that a defensive lineman instead of a tight end was released. After seeing the entire tight end position struggle with injuries last season, Stephen Spach's recent ankle injury could have something to do with the decision not to release a tight end. Alan Branch's emergence could also have doomed Dykes' status. This move means that for the time being the team will carry four tight ends even though they've only kept two active on game days. Dominique Byrd, who has been inactive for every game, is surely breathing a sign of relief after hearing that he still has a job.

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes Patrick to return to the starting lineup. He was the front runner to the win the job during the off season and even with his pending suspension he still started most of the preseason games. He is the most complete tight end on the roster and considering the lack of production from the position so far (six receptions for 48 yards), his return to the starting lineup might be eminent. Patrick has shown flashes during his first two seasons of becoming a quality tight end although he struggles with consistency and injuries.

Arizona Cardinals vs Indianapolis Colts: Offense Break's'down

Andrew602 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:37 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

2 months ago: Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower (34) fumbles as Indianapolis Colts cornerback Melvin Bullitt makes the hit during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Colts recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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When the team took the field on Sunday night, one of the last things you'd expect from the Cardinals was for their offense to struggle, and that's exactly what they did. With 14:20 left in the 2nd quarter, running back Tim Hightower put the football on the ground. Plain and simple. Whenever that happens you can never expect the team to win the game. After that, the score was never close. If the Cardinals want to make any attempt at the playoffs at all this season, they'll need to buckle up and take the drivers seat. Right now they're riding shotgun and don't have control of where they're going. So many things went right for this team last week, and yet it seemed as though so many things went wrong on Sunday. I won't spend this segment looking for the positives, because there were none. Let's do our best to tackle the biggest areas of concern for this offense.

The running game. Or lack thereof should I say. The running game was never a factor in this game from the opening kick off, to the end. After learning the recipe for success in the playoffs last year, you'd think the team would understand...run the football. If you can't run in the NFL, you will never go anywhere, literally. Last week they ran for over 100 yards and dominated their opponent. This week, they ran for a measly 24 yards and not one of those runs earned a first down for the team. Call it what you want, but they had success early running on the ground through two games. They also faced a team that had just given up 200+ yards the week before. Either the team was that discouraged running against the Colts, or they just never game planned for it.

Zero rushing first downs
24 total rushing yards
12 attempts, 2.0 average
2 Fumbles

Offensive line. This unit, quite possibly had one of their worst games as far as I can remember. Both tackles appeared slow and were beat to the punch time and time again. After a great 2008, Reggie Wells has slowly fell out of the mix after Sunday. The other two interior lineman, Deuce Lutui and Lyle Sendlein, don't appear to be playing at the level of the opposing defensive lines. This unit already couldn't run-block, but the lack of protection for Kurt Warner against the Colts has to be alarming. The expectations for this unit were high heading into the season. They've started next to each other going on three seasons, and we hoped they had built more camaraderie after playing in the super bowl. There's not a lot to evaluate, after they were out matched and out played on Sunday. Russ Grimm won't be a happy camper this week, and will likely look to drive this unit to improve dramatically, or we may see some changes along the line.

2 holding penalties
4 sacks allowed
24 rushing yards produced

Turnovers. The two turnovers in the end zone were perhaps the biggest factors of the game. The first came when the Cardinals were very close to taking a respectable 10-0 lead after Antrel Rolle's pick from Peyton Manning. Instead, Hightower fumbles the ball after a solid hit from an opponents helmet. That alone sucked all the momentum out of the Cardinals as a whole. The next came after a solid looking hurry up offense led by Warner all the way down to the 1 yard line. Instead of trying of the run, which would've been successful, they called a pass, in which Warner was picked off after a bobbled incompletion. Had they scored, the Cardinals would've went into half time with the deficit cut in half, 21-10. The final turnover came after a pass from Warner to Stephen Spach. At that point, the game had long been over. The Cardinals need to become more disciplined with the ball, because this team is not built to win if they lose the turnover battle. Some teams can handle it, the Cardinals cannot.

3 turnovers, 2 in red zone
2 fumbles, 1 lost

The bye week couldn't have came at a better time(if you ask me). It not only gives the Cardinals time to heal, both physically and mentally, But it also gives them a longer time to prepare and gameplan for the Houston Texans, a win that has become a must-need. What other concerns do you have with the offense thus far? Is there any roster changes or play calling that you'd fix?

Are the Cardinals Dealing with the Penalty Bug Already?

Andrew602 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:17 -0000

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

3 months ago: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner walks off the field after losing to the San Francisco 49ers 20-16 Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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After their first week, the Arizona Cardinals now find out that they've been hit with the penalty bug. It's a contagious little thing that goes around from player to player, causing them to act out during games, in ways that they're normally not accustomed to. The only way to cure the bug is hard discipline, and the fear of losing your job. In all seriousness, after one week, the Cardinals are already the worst team in the league with 12 penalties. Ken Whisenhunt wants a disciplined team, and will strive to make them that way. When talking to a local radio station on Monday, Whisenhunt blatantly said players need to focus, or he'll find somebody else to do their job. If that's not a wake up call, then I don't know what is. Penalties can be the downfall for any team, and the Cardinals were lucky enough last year to not let it ruin their season. Let's take a look at some statistics of the Cardinals recent struggles:

Last year the Cardinals were 28th in the league with 108 penaties(6.75/game) for 781 yards(48.8/Game), which was 21st in the league.
Do penalties really have an affect on the outcome of a game? Last year, in the Cardinals wins, they averaged 7.1 penalties a game, for 55.2 yards. In their losses, they averaged 5.1 a game, for 40.5 yards.
Through week 11 of last year, the Cardinals averaged 8 penalties a game, for 50 yards. From week 12 - 17, they averaged 4.5 a game for 40.1 yards. Clearly, Ken Whisenhunt was able to make something happen at that point in the season.
Have penalties always been a problem for the Cardinals? Think again. Starting in 2001 the Cardinals have slowly become one of the worst penalized teams, going from 5th('01), 2nd('02), 10th('03), 28th('04), 31st('05), 31st('06), 32nd(07), and 28th last year.

Looking at the third point, I can't help but wonder if Whisenhunt will use whatever tactics he used last year to improve the penalty problems that have already begun. One player that I'd like to point out is Deuce Lutui. He was often at the end of some harsh criticism(including from myself) for often committing penalties last year. He was facing heat from back up Elton Brown, and it seemed that we would eventually see the end of Lutui. If and whatever Whisenhunt did, must of worked, because after that week 11 win, Lutui was composed for the remainder of the season. Perhaps job security is the only way for Whisenhunt to get the message through to players. With that being said, let's take a look a some key drives from yesterday that were affected by penalties.

Example #1

1st and 10 at ARZ 29 - (10:25) T.Hightower up the middle to ARZ 30 for 1 yard (M.Lawson).
2nd and 9 at ARZ 30 - (9:43) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass short left to L.Fitzgerald to SF 49 for 21 yards (D.Goldson).
> PENALTY on ARZ-L.Fitzgerald, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at ARZ 30 - No Play.
2nd and 19 at ARZ 20 - (9:13) PENALTY on ARZ-M.Gandy, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ARZ 20 - No Play.
2nd and 24 at ARZ 15 - (8:54) T.Hightower up the middle to ARZ 21 for 6 yards (R.McDonald).
3rd and 18 at ARZ 21 - (8:14) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass deep right intended for J.Urban INTERCEPTED by P.Willis at ARZ 40. P.Willis to ARZ 36 for 4 yards (T.Hightower).

The drive looks to be promising, as we see a vintage Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald play. Unfortunately, a pass interference call on Fitz, results in 2nd and long. On the very next play, Mike Gandy is blown for a false start, putting them in worse field position. After a short Hightower run, Warner is picked off by Patrick Willis. It's Warner's fault for throwing the pick, but he wouldn't have needed to make that throw had it not been for the penalties.

Example #2

1st Quarter
1st and 10 at SF 44 - (3:44) S.Hill pass short left to D.Walker to ARZ 39 for 17 yards (B.McFadden).
1st and 10 at ARZ 39 - (2:55) S.Hill pass incomplete deep left to V.Davis (A.Wilson).
> PENALTY on ARZ-A.Wilson, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ARZ 39 - No Play.
1st and 10 at ARZ 24 - (2:49) F.Gore up the middle to ARZ 24 for no gain (C.Campbell, C.Haggans).
2nd and 10 at ARZ 24 - (2:02) S.Hill pass incomplete short left to J.Morgan [C.Campbell].
3rd and 10 at ARZ 24 - (1:57) (Shotgun) S.Hill sacked at ARZ 32 for -8 yards (C.Okeafor).
4th and 18 at ARZ 32 - (1:28) J.Nedney 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-A.Lee.

This time the penalty on defense was the difference. As you can see, the 49ers were driving, before Adrian Wilson decided to lead with his helmet and proceed to lay out Vernon Davis. Now, I did get some satisfaction out of the hit and the fact that it was Davis at the receiving end, but Wilson should know by now not to lead with his helmet. The 15 yard penalty gives the Niners better position and are able to hit a 50 yard field goal, which would've been out of range without the penalty.

Example #3

4th Quarter
1st and 10 at SF 38 - (3:11) PENALTY on ARZ-S.Spach, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at SF 38 - No Play.
1st and 15 at SF 43 - (3:11) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass incomplete short left to J.Urban.
> PENALTY on ARZ-M.Gandy, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at SF 43 - No Play.
1st and 25 at ARZ 47 - (3:06) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass short right to T.Hightower to SF 46 for 7 yards (S.Spencer).
2nd and 18 at SF 46 - (2:34) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass short middle to J.Urban to SF 33 for 13 yards (S.Spencer).
3rd and 5 at SF 33 - (2:01) K.Warner pass incomplete deep right to J.Urban.
Two-Minute Warning
4th and 5 at SF 33 - (1:55) (Shotgun) K.Warner pass incomplete short left to T.Hightower [J.Smith].

The last example, and clearly the killer of the game, was in the fourth quarter. After a hard fought punt return by Antrel Rolle, everything was starting to fall into place for the Cardinals. A game winning touchdown was close, until the penalties happened. After a false start by Stephen Spach, and a hold on Gandy, the Cardinals finally began their drive with 1st and 25. After two passes to Hightower and one to Jerheme Urban, the Cardinals turn the ball over on downs. It's clear that without the penalties, the game may have been won.

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It's obvious that penalties effected these drives, so how can Whisenhunt change something as simple as a penalty. We already know that job security is a key factor, but positional drills and practice are what's going to have the main affect. Staying consistent to fix these problems is a must, and the teams need to individually work out the kinks. The Cardinals need to emphasize the importance of not committing penalties, then put them to the test. Whether it be running certain drills over and over again, or extensively watching game footage.

It's important for the Cardinals to establish an identity of a smart, disciplined football team, and committing 12 penalties a game is not a great start. Penalties are drive-killers, and the way the offense is playing, they need all the help they can get. I don't imagine that Whisenhunt will make any drastic depth chart moves, but you can't underestimate how far he's willing to go.

Five Questions After the Arizona Cardinals Cut the Roster to 53

Hawkwind — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:21:04 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

Jerheme Urban is one of seven wide receivers who made the Arizona Cardinals final 53 man roster. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski )

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The Arizona Cardinals trimmed their roster to 53 players over the weekend and while there weren't any big-name players shown the door, there were some surprising moves. Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt has left open the possibility that a player or two from other team's cuts could be added but there shouldn't be any wholesale changes or significant players added any time soon. At most we might see a veteran presence brought in to shore up a weakness in depth but for the most part this is the team that will decide whether the 2009 Cardinals live up to their lofty expectations. In looking over the remaining 53 players, a handful of questions come to mind and the answers to these questions might just be the difference between another successful January or some early prep work for the NFL draft.

Why Seven Wide Receivers? - Seven wide receivers is a big number and there are two theories as to why they chose to keep that many. The first, and most likely, theory is that the coaching staff looked at their current wide outs and saw Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet all nursing various ailments. While none of the three are considered serious injuries, Boldin and Doucet do have a rather significant history with injuries and it's possible that they see Lance Long as a cheap but promising insurance policy. The fact that he offers something on special teams, most notably as a returner, certainly didn't hurt his case either. The second, and less likely although more juicy, theory revolves around the possibility of a trade. To make things a bit more complicated this theory has two parts with the most likely theory centering around a trade of Long, whom most thought the Chiefs would claim if he was exposed to waivers. Todd Haley is a fan of Long and the possibility of them giving up a sixth or seventh round pick doesn't seem all that far fetched. The second theory in this subset is again far less likely but the continued Boldin trade rumors simply won't die. It seems far to late for the Cardinals to still consider this an option, especially with Boldin's softer stance, but just know that the rumors are still out there. Of course the most likely of all of these scenarios is simply that the Cardinals thought that they were a better team with Lance Long than without.
Is there enough depth at linebacker? - One of the more surprising cuts was the release of Victor Hobson, a veteran capable of lining up at inside and outside linebacker. Of course it was more surprising given the lack of depth at his position as opposed to his performance on the field but his absence leaves the Cardinals with some very inexperienced backups at the linebacker position. It is conceivable that the Red Birds could enter the season with four backups who have never taken a regular season snap in a 3-4 defense. Bertrand Berry is the veteran of the group but he missed all of OTA's so his experience in this defense is limited to training camp and most view him as strictly a situational pass rusher. Ali Highsmith, a second year undrafted player, is undersized but has the most experience of the inside backers. Rookies Will Davis (6th round) and Reggie Walker (undrafted) comprise the rest of the depth but I think it's fair to say that they are not ready to start on Sundays. If a player is added to the roster this week, it will most likely be a veteran linebacker and they'll certainly add at least one more linebacker on the practice squad.

What happens if Adrian Wilson were to get injured? - While almost everyone who has ever donned Cardinals-red was glad to see Aaron Francisco shown the door, his absence does open a hole in the secondary. While we all knew his limitations, Francisco did at least bring a level of experience to the field that the remaining backup safeties can not boast. He had started just nine games over the past three years but with the way that the Cardinals use their safeties, he was on the field quite a bit with the nickel and dime packages. His responsibilities and playing time now fall to, most likely, Matt Ware. Ware has primarily been a special teams player but his best asset has always been his versatility as both a safety and corner. The interesting thing for Ware though will be if he gets exposed with the increase in playing time, the way that Francisco did over the past couple of seasons. Ware's ability to grasp his responsibilities as a safety could go a long way to determining just how successful this secondary is in 2009.
What happens when Ben Patrick returns? - As we all know, Patrick will return to the team after week four and at that point, someone will have to be cut in order to make room on the roster. As you might expect the Cardinals will have plenty of options, such as cutting a tight or carrying four, cutting a wide receiver or even trimming an offensive lineman off of the current group of nine. The most likely scenario would be cutting a tight end which would mean that the trio of Stephen Spach, Anthony Becht and Dominique Byrd are playing for their jobs for the next four weeks.
Where is the depth at left tackle? - While Oliver Ross wasn't a terribly enticing option as Mike Gandy's backup, Ross was the only player on the 80 man roster who had taken snaps at left tackle during the preseason. His name on the cut list means that the Cardinals are left without an experienced backup should Gandy go down and that should send chills up the blindside of Kurt Warner. Coach Whisenhunt has already stated that Levi Brown would flip over to left tackle if something were to happen and either Brandon Keith or Herman Johnson would step in at right tackle. Given Brown's struggles with speed rushers and Keith and/or Johnson's inexperience, the Cardinals would weaken themselves at two positions and likely leave KW as a sitting duck. I'm sure that the Cardinals would love to add a quality backup at left tackle (ala Elliot Vallejo) but left tackles who can hold their own on an NFL field are not unemployed for very long.

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How do you see these questions playing out and what questions would you ask when looking at the final roster?