SB Nation - Tim Hightower

Arizona Cardinals Lack Of Ball Control A Cause Of Concern

Andrew602 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:29:28 -0000

Five fumbles plagued the Arizona Cardinals offense last night, in a loss to the now 6-7 San Francisco 49ers. It was a painful pill to swallow, and after hearing some of the praise the media(ESPN to be exact) was giving the Cardinals, this one hurt.

Rank	Team	Fumbles Lost
1	AZ	15
2	NYG	14
3	JAX	13
4	TEN	13
5	OAK	13

Ball security has been a problem at this point in the season as the Cardinals have fumbled the ball a league-leading 15 times. Tim Hightower- who had 2 fumbles in all of 2008(both were recovered by the Cardinals) - has a team-high 5 fumbles on the year. Four of the five have been lost, and all of them happened in the 1st quarter. Beanie Wells is a not-far second, with 4 fumbles, and only 2 being lost(Wells lost two fumbles against the Rams and Titans, but they were credited to Warner and Leinart). Wells fumble also came at a critical time when the Cardinals were driving at their 11 yard line.

"It was definitely hard, knowing they were counting on me, giving me the ball in crunch time, and I came up short," Wells said. "I felt I had the ball as tight as I could but it was a hell of a play. You try to (move past it), but at times like this you can’t ignore it, you have to really focus on it," Wells said. "It all comes down to focus on that ball. Obviously I felt I had it as tight as I could but something wasn’t good enough."

Last night should have been proof enough that the Arizona Cardinals are clearly not a team that can overcome turnovers. In their 5 losses this year, the Cardinals have an astonishing -13 turnover differential. Ken Whisenhunt faced the same issues last season when the Cardinals couldn't clinch the division at first opportunity. With the Detroit Lions(2-10) up next, the Cardinals can still clinch the division with a win and a 49ers loss at Philadelphia next week.

"We’ve worked on it earlier in the year and it hasn’t been as much of a problem," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Each one of our backs had a fumble and that’s certainly unacceptable, so we will have to work on how they are carrying the football. We just can’t do that."

Unacceptable might be an understatement. What are your thoughts and how can the Cardinals solve this problem? Who gets the start at running back next week?

49ers 24 - Cardinals 9: Post game notes and quotes

Fooch — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:23:18 -0000

Due to computer issues I'm stuck using a rent-a-computer at Fedex/Kinkos (more on that in the post for tomorrow I hastily put together). But for now I have some post-game notes and quotes to throw together. We'll start with stats on ALL the turnovers and after the jump we've got some more stats and quotes. We'll use this post to continue the discussion as Andrew's post-game post fills up.

The 49ers defense tied the franchise record as they forced five turnovers in the first half (3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions). The last time the 49ers forced five turnovers in a half was September 14, 1997, vs. New Orleans (3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries). It is the first time a team forced 5 turnovers in the first half since September 28, 2008, when the N.Y. Jets forced 5 turnovers vs. Arizona.
The 49ers defense tied the franchise record for most forced fumbles in a game (4). The only other times the defense forced 4 fumbles in a game were November 22, 1998, vs. New Orleans, and September 8, 1996, vs. St. Louis.
The 49ers defense registered three forced fumbles in the first half for only the 5^th time in franchise history. The last time was at Seattle (12/6/09). This also marks the first time in franchise history that the 49ers defense forced three fumbles in a half in back-to-back weeks.
S Dashon Goldson knocked the ball out of the hands of RB Tim Hightower on the Cardinals 9-yard line for his first forced fumble on the day. CB Dre' Bly scooped up the loose ball on the 8-yard line. It marked his first fumble recovery of the season, 6^th of his career.
LB Patrick Willis notched his 3^rd forced fumble of the season (6^th of his career) when he striped RB LaRod Stephens-Howling after a 12-yard reception. The fumble was recovered by S Mark Roman and returned 25 yards to the Arizona 28-yard line. It is Roman's first fumble recovery of the season and the 9^th of his career.
Goldson got his hands on another ball as he picked off QB Kurt Warner on the San Francisco 9-yard line. This marked his team-leading 3rd interception of the season and the 3^rd of his career.
CB Tarell Brown registered his second interception of the season (4^th of his career) as he intercepted Warner just before halftime.
LB Ahmad Brooks sacked Warner and knocked the ball out for his 3^rd sack of the season and first forced fumble. The ball was picked up by DT Justin Smith, marking his second fumble recovery of the season.
Goldson notched his second forced fumble of the game as he striped RB Beanie Wells deep in Arizona territory. The fumble was recovered by LB Parys Haralson, his first fumble recovery of the season and the second of his career.

TE Vernon Davis recorded his 11^th touchdown of the season on a 5-yard pass from QB Alex Smith. Davis becomes only the 9^th tight end in NFL history to register 11 touchdowns in a single season. He also tied the 49ers tight end record with his fourth consecutive game with a touchdown. He joins TE Ted Kwalick (11/12/72 through 12/4/72) as the only 49ers tight ends to accomplish this feat.

LB Ahmad Brooks set a single-game career-high with 3.0 sacks and 2 forced fumbles of QB Kurt Warner. He now has a career-high 5.0 sacks on the season

DT Ray McDonald blocked K Neil Rackers extra point attempt early in the fourth quarter. It marked the first time the 49ers blocked an extra point in the regular season since DT Junior Bryant blocked a PAT attempt by Detroit's K Jason Hanson on December 14, 1998.

RB Frank Gore rushed for 104 yards on 13 carries in the first half. This marks the second time this season that Gore eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in the first half (vs. Seattle, 9/20/09).

WR Michael Crabtree recorded his first touchdown in front of the home crowd on a 35-yard touchdown reception from QB Alex Smith. Crabtree now has two touchdown receptions on the season.

QB Alex Smith

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

On his impression of the game:

"A great win. You know, it was a must win for us. We came through. Defense played great. Tons of turnovers today, I don't know how many it was, but a lot. They shut them down otherwise. And then I think on offense...offensive line played great up front, we ran the ball. Frank played well. It was kind of a great team victory. We threw the ball well at times, just off a little bit at other times, but all the way around, I thought we executed in all facets of the game and that's why it came out the way it did."

On his two touchdowns passes:

"The first one, you know, defense got us the ball down there in tight, we ran on first down. Second down they were playing man to man, we had Vernon [Davis] isolated outside running a hook route, he did a great job winning, and I let it go, trusted it, and he won. It was tight coverage, he got physical and made the play. And then on the second one, there at the end of the half, we are driving down, rolling, and I hit [Michael] Crabtree on the dig with Vernon coming in underneath and Crabtree did a great job running in there and then made the great catch and finished it off with the run."

On his two interceptions:

"The first one, we were throwing three step drop and the defensive end didn't rush and he jumped to put his hands up and made a play on the ball. Just kind of a freak, unlucky thing. On the second one there in the second half, knowing we are up and trying to run the clock and done a good job there, I think we had a couple first downs and put a little post route in and had the coverage we wanted, it was man-to-man, and the guy jumped on Vernon [Davis] and I came up to throw behind him to Delanie [Walker] on the post and the guy read the coverage and jumped inside, made a good play. Obviously I would like that over again, but just trusted it and letting it go. We will look at on film and try and get better from there. Something we have to get better at. Almost for a second there let them back in and have a chance at the game, so we have to be able to finish there."

On the defense's performance:
"Six turnovers, they played unbelievable all night. Against a team with those receivers, the way they throw the ball, the quarterback there. To be making them in the pass game and the run game, to run up and be physical, causing all the fumbles they did, causing havoc in the coverage looks, they just played tough tonight. I think they were rolling, a lot of confidence. That was great to see. Those guys were flying around and making plays."

On the timing with his receivers tonight:
"I think we were amped up in the first half, we were roaring to go and were off a little bit. Look at the film, it just seemed like a couple throws here and there we were just off in the first half on both ends, my end and the receiving end. We settled down a little bit at the end of the second quarter and there at the end of the game and made some plays when we had to, but I think we are doing well. We have come along, we are maturing. I thought today we just had a lot of energy there to start and missed a couple."

RB Frank Gore

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

On how he felt on rushing for over 150 yards and helping his team to victory:

"It was great. The last couple of weeks I was very frustrated. I called coach Singletary and he told me to keep sticking with it and we're going to try to get it going. He told me to stay patient and it's going to come. My offensive line did a great job today to help us get in that rhythm and we felt like no one could stop us when we got in that rhythm."

On how he was seeing things out there on the field:

"I just told myself that whenever I get the ball not to press, just go out there and be myself. I told myself to be patient, let things develop and that's what I did."

On getting the win on Monday night football:

"It was great, especially after coming off of a loss last week. We played against a great team who had the chance to clinch the division tonight, but it felt good to get the win."

S Dashon Goldson

Quickie - Quotes - December 14, 2009

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals

On the physical play of the teams' defense against Arizona tonight:

"We knew how physical we had to be and coach Singletary told us the same thing. If we went ahead and put our hats on them then we would create our chances and we did that today, both physically and mentally."

On his aggressive style of play:

"When I'm out there I play with no hesitation in my game. When I see my shot, I take them. Sometimes I miss, sometimes I make them but I'll tell you what, I going to make more than I miss, and I did tonight."

Post Game Reaction: Arizona Cardinals Lose to San Francisco 49ers 24-9

Andrew602 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:22:53 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

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There's not much to say other then the fact that the Arizona Cardinals never showed up to play Monday night. It's clear they were looking past the 49ers and San Francisco came in hungry for a win. The Cardinals appeared flat, starting the game defensively with three penalties. Darnell Dockett forced an early interception but the Cardinals offense couldn't get moving. The real story of the game was ball protection. The Cardinals fumbled the ball 5 times while Kurt Warner threw 2 interceptions. I'll make this qucik, so here are some game notes:

The Positives:

- There weren't many. Beanie Wells took over for Tim Hightower and had mild success running the ball, even scoring the Cardinals only touchdown. But he too, could not hang onto the ball.

- The defense had problems but easily kept the Cardinals offense in the game and gave them every chance to catch up. They came within a score at one point.

- Aside from Michael Crabtree's touchdown, the Cardinals defensive backs limited Alex Smith and the 49ers passing attack. Adrian Wilson had another interception to add to his career total at 21.

That's it, really.

The Negatives:

- The Cardinals offense was never in sync and turnovers really hurt this team like usual. It's no secret that when the Cardinals turn the ball over more then their opponent, they lose. That's what happened tonight when the Cardinals turned the ball over SEVEN TIMES, and it shouldn't be a surprise they lost. Was it a surprise that they couldn't get anything going and Kurt Warner's 120+ QB rating games stopped at four? Yes. Fortunately Kurt Warner has a bad game every now and then and usually bounces back with dominating performances, which is good news with the Lions and Rams coming up.

- The defense only registered 1 sack on the day and had no answer for Frank Gore. 167 yards and 1 touchdown were Gore's final numbers as the Cardinals couldn't contain him like they did in their first match up. No pressure + no run defense=loss.

Final thoughts: These are just my thoughts on where the Cardinals currently stand. I'm obviously frustrated and I can't tell you how much I wanted this win.

The Cardinals are not the division champs...yet. Don't get down on yourselves Cardinal fans. This game wasn't for the division and the Cardinals would have to lose to the Rams and Lions while the 49ers have to head to Philadelphia and beat the Eagles next week.

ESPN and the national media finally gave the Cardinals recognition, but was it too much? I appreciate it as a fan but this team obviously plays better with a chip on their shoulder and when they're the underdog. The 49ers ALWAYS play the Cardinals well and the games usually go down to the last minute. Not to mention, one of the teams usually sweeps the other in the season, there's rarely been a split as of late. I even chalked this one up as a loss before the season started and I'm not surprised the 49ers were the better team tonight.

Before I finish let me say there are certainly more negatives but the main two were stated above. If the Cardinals offense could have got more points on the board and the defense could've played like they did last week, the Cardinals would've had the NFC West won. I'm not happy with a loss but I will happily except any negative criticism from the media. Let's even take it one step further and declare the Cardinals underdogs for the rest of the season and throughout the playoffs, especially if that means getting back to the Super Bowl. What are your thoughts on the game?

Week 14 Statistical Matchup: 49ers vs. Cardinals

Florida Danny — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:20 -0000

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for no team and player rankings posts this past week. I've been working on a special article that will appear on NN in a few hours. For now, here's the matchup preview to prep you for tonight's game.

This one's going to be short and sweet, everyone. Beating the Cardinals isn't rocket science (See "Pass, Defend the"), so - not surprisingly - most of the important statistical matchups are not rocket science either. What made this matchup analysis a tad difficult is that there are several pass-defending game situations in which both the Cardinals' OFF and the 49ers' DEF are really good. So this game might end up coming down to a few strength vs. strength matchups rather than the strength vs. weakness matchups I typically present in the preview post.

Away we go...

TEAM MATCHUP #1: CARDINALS OFFENSIVE TREND

In a file-under-"Duh" moment, this week's "opponent wins when they have performance X" matchup has to do with the ARI pass OFF. Here's a chart showing their game performances thus far this season:

Aside from one exception, the Cardinals' wins and losses this season have depended on a Pass OFF DVOA for the game of 30.0%. If they're over that threshold, they're 7-0; under that threshold, and their 1-4. However, as I said, we don't really need statistics to tell us that slowing down ARI's pass OFF gives the 49ers' the best chance of winning this week's game. But, it's not just the win/loss trend that matters...

After the jump, more stats showing the 49ers' recipe for Monday Night Football victory...

TEAM MATCHUP #2: PASS DEFENSE

You know I like to focus my attention on strength vs. weakness matchups. However, the passing game is so important for ARI that I feel it's important to judge how likely it is that the Niners' DEF will be able to prevent ARI from doing what they want to do in the passing game.

The Cardinals have the 8th-best Pass OFF DVOA in the NFL going into Monday's game, so they're obviously great in a general sense. However, there are two specific offensive areas that make ARI especially dangerous: (a) red zone passing, (b) pass protection; both of which offer the 49ers' an opportunity to nullify an ARI strength.

With regard to red zone passing, ARI is #3 in the league on OFF (DVOA = 55.4%). Nevertheless, the 49ers's DEF is the top-ranked team in the NFL when it comes to Red Zone Pass DEF DVOA (-97.1%). So, it'll be interesting to see which unit - the Cardinals' pass OFF or the 49ers' pass DEF - ends up having the upper hand when Kurt Warner and company pass the ball in the red zone.

Another reason ARI's pass OFF is so dangerous is because their OL is stingy when it comes to allowing sacks. Specifically, the Cardinals' OL ASR is 4.5%, which is good for 6th-highest in the NFL. Fortunately, for our beloved team, the 49ers are ranked 7th in defensive front 7 (DF7) ASR.

So, to recap, it's obvious that the Cardinals' pass OFF is the straw that stirs their drink. Two key areas in which they're particularly good are in the red zone and in pass protection. It turns out that these two areas are actually defensive strengths for the 49ers: they're among the top 8 in defending them. Therefore, what we have here is the proverbial "irresistible force meets an immovable object" matchup. A Niner victory tonight might depend on their ability to remain "immovable."

TEAM MATCHUP #3: PASS OFFENSE

Each of the past 2 weeks, I've advocated a Niner OFF that passes the ball early and often. Against the Jaguars and Seahawks, my advocacy was based on each of these teams being horrible in pass DEF. This week, the statistical matchup against ARI once again suggests a pass-heavy OFF, but for a different reason: it's highly unlikely that SF will be able to run the ball effectively against ARI. Here's a handy table that, I think, succinctly illustrates this point (bold = top 8; italics = bottom 8):

	SF OFF		ARI DEF
Statistic	Value	Rk	Value	Rk
Rush DVOA	-5.8%	25	-13.1%	7
Overall ALY	3.23	32	3.62	7
C/G ALY	3.22	31	3.68	9
RT ALY	2.53	31	3.04	3
Power Success Rate	59%	23	52%	4
Stuffed Rate	24%	31	27%	1

How's that for an argument against trying to run the ball against ARI? If I had to pin down the most damning evidence in the table, it would have to be the Niners' disadvantageous matchups in C/G and RT ALY. Taken together, these two run directions have comprised 83% of all Niner RB carries this season, which means that ARI's DF7 is best where SF runs most. I don't know about you, but it's kind of the definition of "bad strategy" to implement a tactic that's likely to fail - and miserably so - 4 out of every 5 times you do it. Therefore, "good strategy" would be to avoid this disadvantageous matchup as much as possible. In other words, now is not the time to overreact to the SEA loss; keep passing the ball, please.

PLAYER MATCHUP #1: VERNON DAVIS VS. ARI PASS DEF

By now, it's apparent that the 49ers' pass OFF goes through Vernon Davis. Nevertheless, here's one more stab at it: VD's 101 targets this season are nearly twice as many as the 49ers' most-targeted WR (Josh Morgan, 59). So, when thinking about what the Niners want to do on OFF, "getting the ball to VD" seems to be tops on the list.

Luckily, for the Niners, the Cardinals' DEF is ranked 23rd in DVOA vs. TEs (18.6%), and give up an average of 7.4 yards per TE target (ranked 21st). Obviously, the Niners are going to pass the ball to VD regardless of the matchup, but these stats suggest they have a real opportunity to be especially successful doing so against ARI. Equally obvious is the conclusion that exploiting this matchup is going to have a big impact on whether the 49ers come out of tonight's game with a win.

PLAYER MATCHUP #2: MICHAEL CRABTREE VS. ARI PASS DEF

Although he's behind Morgan in total targets this season (56 vs. 59), Michael Crabtree is only slightly behind VD in targets per game (8.0 vs. 8.4), meaning that Crabtree's the 2nd-most-involved pass catcher on the team. So, though it's a little less obvious, the 49ers' pass OFF heavily involves Crabs.

And as was the case with VD's matchup against ARI's pass DEF, Crabtree's matchup is favorable to the 49ers. That's because the Cardinals are ranked 30th in DEF DVOA vs. #1 WRs (24.2%), and they give up an average of 9.0 yards per #1-WR target (ranked 26th). So, if the Niners can exploit this matchup, we might get to witness a break out of Crabs tonight. To boot, when combined with VD's matchup, December 14, 2009, might be remembered as the day that The Tainted Twosome spread across the nation...if the Niners can win thanks to their matchup advantages.

PLAYER MATCHUP #3: TIM HIGHTOWER VS. SF PASS DEF

It's been a while, so you may not remember that Tim Hightower had 12 catches for 121 yards in the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Cardinals. Add on 2 incomplete Warner passes that were intended for Hightower, and you find that about 30% of ARI's pass OFF in that game went through their pass-catching RB extraordinaire.

This ARI strategy against the SF pass DEF will probably continue in tonight's game because of something you're far likelier to remember: The 49ers have been getting shredded all season by screens, checkdowns, and dumpoffs to RBs. In terms of DVOA, the Niners' pass DEF is the 6th-worst in the league at defending RBs in the passing game.

Given that the Niners won the first ARI game despite Hightower's prolific receiving day, you might think that this matchup won't have a big impact on winning this game. However, I'll offer a word of caution.

The Week 14 San Francisco 49ers are not the same team that they were in Week 1, and neither are the Week 14 Arizona Cardinals. The formula for beating ARI in Week 1 - DEF and chewing up clock - fit perfectly with what SF was back then. Similarly, ARI's early-season sleepwalking on OFF - they had 2 negative OFF DVOAs in their first 3 games - gave SF a perfect opportunity to implement said winning formula. Since then, the Niners' OFF has - to its benefit - become a more pass-heavy unit, and the Cardinals' OFF has returned to its 2008 form with 9 straight above-average DVOA performances.

So, my point here is that, whereas the first game - as reflected by the 36 total points that were scored - played right into the 49ers' hands, the second game looks to be a high-scoring, gun-slinging affair. If that happens, then heavy involvement by Hightower in ARI's passing attack will play a bigger role in the game's outcome.

My biggest fear in this game is that ends up being like the late-blooming kid who gets beat up by the bigger kid in middle school. If the fight happens a few years down the road, when the kids are the same size, maybe the late-bloomer wins; but, in middle school, the big kid's got the advantage. Similarly, if tonight's game turns into a shootout, ARI's the big kid right now, while the Niners are the late-bloomers. Maybe next season, SF's pass OFF is on par with ARI's, and a shootout is a fair fight. In Week 14 of 2009, however, that kind of game pits men (ARI pass OFF) against boys (SF pass OFF).

MISCELLANEOUS MATCHUPS

SF OFF while winning vs. ARI DEF while losing...Not that any of us are expecting a Niner blowout victory, but ARI's DEF presents a bad matchup for the 49ers' "lose from ahead" OFF. Although they've gotten better the past couple of weeks, they're Winning Big OFF DVOA of -26.7% is still ranked only 29th, while ARI's Losing Big DEF DVOA is a 10th-ranked -11.8%. So, if the Niners do jump out to a lead of 8 or more points, don't expect it to last very long.

SF Shotgun OFF vs. SEA Shotgun DEF...Here's one final reason why I don't like the Niners chances in a shootout: ARI's DEF has already faced a whole heck of a lot of shotgun this season (41.7% of all defensive snaps, 7th-most), and they're pretty decent at defending it (Shotgun DEF DVOA = 4.3%, 13th). Considering how the Jaguars' DEF was ranked dead last against the shotgun and the Seahawks' DEF was ranked 27th, this game is going to be the toughest test yet of the 49ers' new-fangled "Danny-Gun" OFF.

Also, as I've mentioned before, one of the benefits of more shotgun is that the Niners' OL pass-blocks better. Unfortunately, ARI's current ASR ranking (5th) is considerably higher than either JAX's (31st) or SEA's (19th) was when the 49ers played them. So, again, this game presents an opportunity for SF's OFF to show that "more shotgun" works against a real NFL DEF.

BOTTOM LINE

Based on the statistical matchups, here are the keys to a 49er victory on Sunday:

Slow down the straw that stirs ARI's drink: their pass OFF.
Remain immovable on pass DEF in the red zone.
Pressure Kurt Warner.
Prevent efficient receptions by Hightower.
On OFF, pass, pass, pass. The result might be a shootout loss, but doing the opposite makes a blowout loss more likely.
Pass the ball to the Tainted Twosome as much as possible.
Show the entire nation - not just Niners Nation - that their new shotgun OFF works against a real NFL DEF.

*DVOA & ALY statistics used to produce this article were obtained from Football Outsiders.

Poll

Should the 49ers scrap the shotgun FOR THIS GAME ONLY and instead use the same ball-control game plan that they used to beat Arizona in Week 1?

Arizona Cardinals' Road To Elite Status

Undrafteds — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:22:14 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

8 days ago: Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (81) dives for a touchdown as Minnesota Vikings' E.J. Henderson runs in late to defend in the second quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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As we prepare for the Cardinals-49ers Monday Night Football matchup, with a chance for Arizona to claim its second NFC West crown in a row with a win, lets take a look back at the season to date to see what we have learned. In the name of reader enjoyment, I'll start with my synopsis, with a skimming of the surface breakdown to follow.

What have we learned? I don't have to tell any of you that we can all watch every snap and come away with very different versions of what we saw. So maybe it is more appropriate to say, what have I learned?

I have learned that the 2009 Cardinals are a new improved version of the 2008 Cardinals. Sounds simple enough doesn't it?

More precisely, the 2008 model was good enough to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in team history, but inconsistent and unreliable, especially at the most inopportune times such as the excruciating Steelers' game winning drive.

Last year, the teams primary weaknesses, arguably of course, were giving up the big play way too often, not winning on the road, and general inability to run the ball.

This year the Cardinals are not giving up nearly as many big plays on defense, are 5-1 on the road, and have increased their team yards per carry average from 3.5 last year to 4.1.

But it goes further than the numbers.

This team has demonstrated that they are more mature and resilient. Arizona is more focused and physical.

Additionally, key players have simply gotten better with each passing week. An alarming number of players are playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level. Defensively, Antrel Rolle, Adrian Wilson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett should at least get consideration. Not to mention special teams warrior LaRod Stephens-Howling, punter Ben Graham and kicker Neil Rackers. Offensively, the usual suspects Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald could all be locks for the Pro Bowl.

Forget about the Pro Bowl for a minute though. Calais Campbell, Lyle Sendlein, Deuce Lutui, Reggie Wells and Tim Hightower have all improved.

Don't bother doing the math, I've already done it: that is 13 out of the starting 22 that are either playing at a Pro Bowl level or have in the least improved their game. On special teams, Graham and Rackers have played nearly flawlessly, and LSH has been an upgrade on kick returns and return coverage.

This team has more character, even when they lose. In my not so humble opinion, the Titans game was a huge character win despite the loss. MattLeinart had some things to prove that day, and he did. There were more players making plays in that game than most I've seen. True, the Cardinals again let a QB execute another two-minute drill to perfection—their Achilles heel—and lost the game, but they can't win them all can they?

Finally, I have to talk about head coach Ken Whisenhunt for a moment. He has a methodical, patient approach, and his teams' progress is a reflection of that. In his first season he took an under-achieving talent-laden squad to their first 8-8 record in many moons. Last year they improved to 9-7, but caught fire and made it to their first-ever Super Bowl. This year their weaknesses have been shored up even moreso—defensively they are more consistent and the rushing attack is better—and the Cardinals have cleared yet another hurdle. Now, my fellow Arizona fans, the Cardinals are becoming one of the elite teams in the NFL right before our very eyes.

As I recall the 12 games played to date briefly below, by my count the 8-4 record can be broken down as follows:

Of the four losses, two were respectably played games that ended in a loss (Week 1 vs. 49ers and Week 12 vs. Titans), and two were games that the Cardinals simply laid an egg (Week 3 vs. the Colts and Week 8 vs. the Panthers).

Of the eight wins, all of them had at least two quarters of completely dominating play by Arizona.

The word dominate is used repeatedly on purpose to drive home my point.

1. San Francisco L 16-20 (0-1): Hard fought game, division rival.

It can be said that with the departure of Todd Haley, the flow of the Cardinals' offense wasn't quite in sync with Ken Whisenhunt's first time out calling plays in awhile.

Held Frank Gore to 30 yards on 22 carries.

2. @ Jacksonville W 31-17 (1-1): The Cardinals' nemesis last regular season was winning on the road. In their first attempt, they completely dominated Jacksonville for three quarters.

Jacksonville's 17 points were a little deceiving as it came up against prevent defense.

Held Maurice Jones-Drew to 66 yards on 13 carries, but 36 came on one run.

3. Indianapolis L 10-31 (1-2): After a promising start to the game, this was a poor all-around effort by the Cardinals.

They were flat and out of sorts in all phases for most of the game.

Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Pierre Garçon embarrassed Arizona, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in particular.

4. BYE WEEK

5. Houston W 28-21 (2-2): Arizona again completely dominated for three quarters.

When they went to prevent defense, Matt Schaub and company mounted a comeback.

A goal-line stand by Arizona prevented the Texans from tying to force overtime.

6. @ Seattle W 27-3 (3-2): Arizona completely dominated this game from start to finish.

One of their most complete wins in team history.

Held Matt Hasselbeck to 112 yards passing and Seattle to 14 yards rushing on 11 carries.

7. @ NY Giants W 24-17 (4-2): In a signature win, the Cardinals stymied the Giants who were 5-1 before this game, by forcing four turnovers and holding last year's best rushing team to 107 total yards on the ground.

The Giants could only muster three second-half points.

8. Carolina L 21-34 (4-3): Another poor all-around effort by the Cardinals, who were dominated by the previously stagnant Panthers, in a revenge game.

The Cardinals had embarrassed the Panthers last postseason on their home turf, and the Panthers returned the favor.

Arizona came into the game with the top ranked run defense, but were exploited for 270 ground yards.

9. @ Chicago W 41-21 (5-3): Cardinals rebound nicely by dominating the Bears. It was 31-7 at halftime.

In prevent defense, the Bears got back into the game. Matt Leinart helped them out by throwing an INT on his only attempt, and was immediately replaced with Warner.

10. Seattle W 31-20 (6-3): Seattle gave it everything they had, playing maybe their best game of the season, only to lose by 11 points to a superior team.

11. @ St. Louis W 21-13 (7-3): With Kurt Warner at the helm, the Cardinals were cruising with a 21-3 halftime lead.

He suffered a concussion at the end of the second quarter however, and the still rusty Leinart was unable to lead the team to points.

The defense held strong and mopped up, securing the win.

12. @ Tennessee L 17-20 (7-4): Playing the hot Titans, who had won four straight, without Warner.

Leinart improved, and the Cardinals held a 17-13 advantage with two minutes remaining before Vince Young's now instant classic, 18-play 99-yard drive, won the game on the last play of the game for Tennessee.

An all around well-played game by both sides.

13. Minnesota W 30-17 (8-4): Many pundits weighed in and very few gave the Cardinals a chance leading up to kickoff. The Vikings had been anointed the best all-around team by some, with only one loss in 11 attempts coming in. BrettFavre had only thrown three picks, but threw two in this one. Jared Allen was held without a stat, and Adrian Peterson was held to 19 yards on 13 carries. After giving up a 7-0 lead early sparked by Tim Hightower's fumble on the second play of the game, it was all Arizona.

What are your thoughts on the Cardinals season so far? Do you think they have achieved elite status, or is there still more work to be done?

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.

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?

The Vikings Red Zone Review, Sponsored by Comcast

Gonzo — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:40 -0000

by Ross D. Franklin - AP

8 days ago: Minnesota Vikings' Chester Taylor kneels on the ground after being stopped short of the goal line in the second quarter during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal on the drive. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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I'm going to start moving this feature up to earlier in the week in an effort to allow us to move on to the next game more quickly. So, with our weekly look back at the Vikings' red zone performance, here's this week's installment of the Vikings Red Zone Review. As always, the Vikings Red Zone Review is brought to you by the good folks at Comcast. Comcast brings you the NFL Red Zone channel every week, and it's your way to keep in touch with all the biggest plays from every NFL game week in and week out. It's great for fantasy players, or for the late games when you're not sure which game you want to view while celebrating the Vikings' latest conquest. The Red Zone Channel is your season ticket for every single NFL game, and nobody brings it to you like the folks at Comcast.

What kind of performance did the Vikings put together in the red zone last weekend? Let's have a look and find out. After all, with the kind of performance that the Vikings put together against Arizona, you could probably expect that this wouldn't take very long.

Vikings Red Zone trips - 2
Vikings Red Zone scores - 2 (1 TD, 1 FG)
Red Zone touchdown percentage - 50%

Speaking of not taking very long, it didn't take the Vikings long at all to find the red zone, as they did so on their very first drive. Benny Sapp forced a fumble from Tim Hightower on the Cardinals' second play from scrimmage, and the Vikings were immediately in business at the Arizona 47. Brett Favre and company immediately went to work, as an Adrian Peterson carry and a 5-yard catch by Percy Harvin gave Minnesota a first down, and an 11-yard completion to Sidney Rice gave them another. The Vikings moved into the red zone as Favre hit Bernard Berrian on a 3rd and 4 to get the ball to the 15, and a couple of plays later Harvin took a handoff down to the 3 to set up first and goal. From there, Favre dropped back and found Visanthe Shiancoe near the left sideline. At first, the referees ruled that Shank was out of bounds, but Brad Childress threw the challenge flag. After further review, it was decided that Shiancoe did make the catch and get both feet in bounds, giving the Vikings a touchdown. The 10-play, 47-yard drive took 4:25 off the clock and gave the Vikings an early 7-0 lead.

And after that, unfortunately, the Vikings' only other red zone appearance of the evening came just before halftime. After the Cardinals went up 14-7, the Vikings took over at their own 32 after a short kickoff that was fielded by Jeff Dugan. Minnesota immediately moved into Arizona territory on a 21-yard reception by Adrian Peterson, and Favre hit Harvin, Peterson, and Chester Taylor to get the ball close. An 11-yard carry for Peterson. . .his best of the night. . .took the ball to the Arizona 11, but the Vikings couldn't punch the ball in, and had to settle for a 25-yard Ryan Longwell field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10.

Minnesota's only other score came on a 31-yard pass from Favre to Percy Harvin to cut the final score to 30-17 and make the game appear closer than it had actually been.

So, the Vikings' offense made two trips into the red zone this weekend, giving them 45 for the year. In those 45 trips, they've scored 24 touchdowns (53.3%), gotten 15 field goals from Ryan Longwell (33.3%), and been held scoreless six times (13.3%). The Cardinals, on the other hand, made four trips into the red zone, but only got one touchdown in those four trips (after a huge punt return by LaRod Stephens-Howling). That means that Viking opponents have found their way into the red zone 28 times this season. They've allowed 11 touchdowns (39.3%), 11 field goals (39.3%), and kept their opponents scoreless six times (21.4%).

If the Vikings want to get on track next week against Cincinnati, they're going to need to make a lot more trips to the red zone, and convert those trips in the manner we've become accustomed to seeing.

Arizona Cardinal Of The Week: Week 12

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

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

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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?

Game Notes: Cardinals Crush Vikings, How?

Undrafteds — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:31:26 -0000

The two most important stats of the game: Adrian Peterson toted the rock 13 times for 19 yards, including an 11-yarder, and Jared Allen was blanked entirely from the stat sheet. No solo tackles, no assists, no sacks—no nothin'.
Jeremy Bridges deserves the game ball without question. To step in and play left tackle, a position he had never played, against one of the most feared defenders in the league and completely shut him down is miraculous. I know that Bridges received help from Ben Patrick and Tim Hightower and others, and that Allen was double-teamed for the majority of the contest, but Bridges did his job and Allen was dominated. That was an effort not many Pro Bowlers can muster, performed by a career back-up.
Maybe Anquan Boldin hasn't lost anything. Q turned in a two-TD effort while running after the catch like the Boldin of old. I had publicly questioned his form recently, trying to recall the last time I saw him running angry and breaking tackles. Last night proved to me that he still owns the fire, and apparently is fully healthy for the first time all season.
It was great to see Larry Fitzgerald become a focal point of the offense once more, and he produced with a season-high 143 yards, including his longest reception on the season with a 34-yarder.

When Tim Hightower fumbled the ball away on the second play of the game giving the Vikings excellent field position, it was easy to moan and groan and wonder if it was a sign of impending doom. Now that the game is over and we have more clarity when rehashing details, there is a positive spin to that blunder. Before fumbling, Hightower had run straight up the Vikings' gut for 10 yards on the Cardinals' first rushing attempt. This set the tone for the game, that the No.4 rushing defense was beatable and nothing to shy away from. The Cardinals totaled 113 yards on the ground against a team that had been allowing an average of only 84 per game. Tim Hightower continued his aggressive play by punishing defenders in his wake, and providing a lethal stiff-arm on his 32-yard romp.
Down 7-0 after handing the Vikings a scoring opportunity right out of the gate, Steve Breaston's 64-yard punt return was the spark that turned the game in the Cardinals favor. That makes two games in a row Arizona has gotten a big return from special teams.
Punter Ben Graham who is having a Pro Bowl caliber season, continued that pace by placing two of this three punts inside the Vikings' 20, with a long of 52.
Flying under the radar is Neil Rackers, who has missed only one kick all season, PAT's included. He is now 15 for 16, with his only miss being a 45-yarder in Week 2.
Tony Dungy accurately surmised that Arizona won this game in the trenches, and I agree. It wasn't just Bridges who played a phenomenal game as the Vikings as a team, the NFL leaders coming in with 40 sacks, had zero. Defensively, Darnell Dockett was his usual unstoppable force, at one point shoving Pro Bowler Steve Hutchinson aside like a feather and tackling Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Calais Campbell made his presence known with constant pressure and his fifth sack of the year, and 34-year old Bertrand Berry registered two sacks to bring his total to five also.
ESPN's NFC West blogger Mike Sando said it best: "The Cardinals outperformed the Vikings in every important dimension: offense, defense, special teams, coaching, intelligence and overall orneriness."
Arizona is now 1-1 versus the top three teams in the NFL, and have for the moment moved past the Vikings as one of the top teams to beat.