The Arizona Cardinals' season began with a lot of question marks. One of the biggest was how would their defense respond with a new coordinator and a new scheme?
Despite reaching their first ever Super Bowl, Ken Whisenhunt fired Clancy Pendergast afterwards. To those outside of the organization it may have come as a bit of a surprise, since the outstanding play of the defense was no doubt one of the main ingredients in their playoff run. Creating confusion with a lot of movement and offering an endless amount of looks, all of Pendergast's clever ideas came together at the most opportune time.
Until the final drive of the last game. Ben Roethlisberger's two-minute drill ending with Santonio Holmes' perfect catch is now legendary, and perhaps the most glaring example of the [...]
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Last postseason the Arizona Cardinals showed flashes of what this team could turn into this season- one of the league's best. They are still not there yet, but if they continue this level of play for a few more games even Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels will be drinking the Kool-Aid. As well as their defense played in the playoffs, this defense is better. As much as their running game produced in the playoffs, this running team is stronger and has more big play potential. Those are just a few of the exciting possibilities on the horizon for the Cardinals, after their impressive road victory over the Giants to put them atop the NFC West at 4-2.
Rushing offense: B-
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Lost in Arizona's season opening defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers was the performance of their Defense.
There were questions coming into this season regarding Bill Davis' ability to lead a Defense. As Defensive Coordinator for Mike Nolan's 49ers in 2005 and 2006, Davis squads were dead last and then 26th in the NFL. After his first game in the same role for the Cardinals, he has apparently learned a few lessons.
Davis mixed and matched blitz packages which resulted in 3 sacks on Shaun Hill. The Cardinals added two forced fumbles and held the 49ers to only 203 total yards. The most impressive aspect was what they did to nemesis Frank Gore, holding him to only 30 yards on 22 carries, a phenomenal stat.
Unfortunately, [...]
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September 10, 2009 by
Chris Farmer |
Anquan Boldin,
Beanie Wells,
Bill Davis,
Frank Gore,
Glen Coffee,
Ken Whisenhunt,
Kurt Warner,
Mike Singletary,
Shaun Hill,
Tim Hightower
Perhaps the most encouraging stat for Arizona fans going into their Week 1 matchup versus the 49ers is that Ken Whisenhunt's teams are 14-4 at home. They will desperately need that home field advantage assuming San Francisco has taken on the personality of their new head coach Mike Singletary, whose fire and intense gaze struck fear into opponents throughout his illustrious Hall of Fame career.
Singletary promises a rush first offensive attack, made apparent by their selection of Shaun Hill as their starting QB. Hill does not possess outstanding athleticism or an exceptionally strong arm. He does however exude leadership and a throwback, tough attitude reminiscent of [...]
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Safety Keith Lewis was signed in the off season with a reputation as a solid special teamer, and he had history coming in having worked with new Arizona Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis while both were with San Francisco. The Cardinals have an abundance at the Safety position though and Lewis was a casualty in the first round of cuts along with Brandon Pearce, an undrafted O-lineman from Memphis University.
Return man hopeful Michael Ray Garvin and Linebacker Pago Togafau were waived/injured. Garvin had tore a meniscus in his left knee after Preseason Game 1 versus the Steelers, and Togafau fractured his foot in Game 3 versus the Packers. It is really a shame since both of these players were making [...]
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