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http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/15/how-the-nfc-west-could-be-won/
Elaine Thompson/AP
How the (NFC) West Could Be Won
If you haven't figured it out yet: Don't count the Cardinals out. They have a monumental task when they face the Seahawks with a third-string quarterback on Sunday night, but they can win it. Here's how
By Greg A. Bedard
It’s like the football gods want Bruce Arians to show off now.
It’s not enough that the Cardinals made the playoffs in the talent-laden NFC West and tenuously hold the NFC’s top seed after losing standouts Darnell Dockett, John Abraham, Andre Ellington, Tyrann Mathieu and Daryl Washington (suspension), now Arians has to take on the hard-charging Seahawks with his No. 3 quarterback (whomever that may be) since starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton are on the sidelines.
You won’t find many people who give Arians and the Cardinals a chance on Sunday Night Football in the de factor NFC West title game. Seattle won the first matchup 19-3 on Nov. 23 with Stanton at quarterback. Now, in front of a national television audience, either Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas will make his first career start against a Seahawks defense that is playing at the same level as their Super Bowl-winning unit (in the last four games, Seattle has given up an average of 6.8 points per game). Even Las Vegas, which installed the Seahawks as a seven-point road favorite, doesn’t think Arizona has much of a chance.
Yes, it’s going to be extremely difficult for the Cardinals to beat the Seahawks on Sunday, but… it could happen. Here’s how:
1. Start Lindley. The San Diego State product was drafted by Arizona in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, cut this past August, and signed off of San Diego’s practice squad one month ago when Palmer went down. He did not inspire confidence with his performance in Thursday night’s relieve appearance against the Rams (4 of 10, 30 yards, 47.9 rating). But, trust us, it was worlds better than Thomas’s showing earlier this season in a loss to the Broncos (1 of 8, 81 yards, two sacks). Thomas’s one completion was the close-your-eyes variety; he threw short into coverage and Ellington did most of the work for a touchdown. Other than that, it was a debacle.
I know Arians told The Boss in MMQB that they may have a package for Thomas because can move, but I don’t see how that will help. Lindley moves better in the pocket (Thomas is big and takes a while to get moving) and gives the team the best chance for victory. Yes, Lindley looked wide-eyed and jittery against the Rams, but that’s going to happen in your first big spot against a defense as good as the Rams’ (good practice for the Seahawks).
He’ll now to have an entire week of reps and a game plan that will take advantage of strengths and minimize his weaknesses. Lindley has good feet and a quick release, but he has little awareness of how coverages operate (yes, that’s a big problem). Arians can help with that. Thomas is slow at everything and needs another two years of development. Arians can’t help that.
2. Follow the same blueprint as the first matchup. The Cardinals stayed within striking distance in the first game at CenturyLink, they just made mistakes they couldn’t afford. Consider that Arizona missed a field goal, allowed a blocked punt, threw an interception, dropped a touchdown pass and Seattle’s only touchdown came when TE Cooper Helfet of all people, caught a ball at the line of scrimmage and four Cardinals defenders failed to tackle him along the sideline. If the Cardinals make the same mistakes, they’re going to get the same result. Arizona, which sacked Russell Wilson seven times, basically played the Seahawks even if they eliminated two blown plays: a 48-yard pass to Ricardo Lockette (coverage bust by safety Rashad Johnson), and a 40-yard read option run by Wilson when the end crashed the running back.
Other than that, the Cardinals were right there in the game. Take what Seahawks defense gives you: Arians loves to dictate to a defense, but he just can’t with Lindley. It took Arians until the final drive of the first half against Seattle to get in a play-calling groove. It was heavy on the run, and short, safe passes. The result was a 15-play, 74-yard drive that ended in a field goal after Jaron Brown dropped a wide-open touchdown. Lindley can and will learn from Stanton’s game. He got in trouble by trying to make plays against the Seahawks.
You can’t stare down receivers or reload to allow a receiver to get open. If anything, it will help the Seahawks make plays. Against Seattle, Lindley has to have the mentality of getting to his drop and either throwing or running. It has to be three steps, out; or five steps, out (Arians should just toss out the seven-step drops).
3. Do the same thing defensively: The Cardinals were all over Wilson and Marshawn Lynch (15 carries for 39 yards) in the first matchup. Tony Moeaki led the Seahawks with four catches. Arizona will miss Mathieu, who continues to battle a thumb injury. He was a big key in the run defense. They could also stand to spy Wilson a bit better; along with the 40-yard read-option run he also had a killer 15-yard run on third-and-long on the play that preceded the game’s only touchdown. The score never would have happened if Wilson had been accounted for. Calais Campbell (three of the team’s seven sacks) was huge. Arizona kept sending extra players, daring Wilson to beat them. He just couldn’t.
The first matchup showed that the Cardinals, who didn’t play close to a perfect game, could stay with Seattle. If they do that again, at home this time, anything can happen. Considering all the injuries they’ve had, nobody though Arizona would even be in this position, one win away from clinching the NFL’s toughest division. It would be foolish to start doubting them now.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-say-they-dont-know-when-stanton-will-return/
Cardinals say they don’t know when Stanton will return
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 15, 2014
Getty Images
The Cardinals don’t know yet when quarterback Drew Stanton will be able to return from the knee injury he suffered on Thursday.
Asked about a report that Stanton would miss four weeks, Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said it’s simply too soon to say how quickly Stanton will heal.
“I think it’s one of those things with that type of knee injury, everybody heals different,” Keim said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, via ESPN.com. “And I know that ESPN and some other outlets have put a timeline on it. It’s extremely difficult to do. You can say it’s going to be four weeks — I’ve heard people say 1.5 weeks. Everybody heals differently. Drew will be here around the clock rehabbing, and I know he’ll be ready to go as soon as possible.”
The Cardinals are already down starting quarterback Carson Palmer for the season, and Stanton’s absence means they’ll be playing with one of their two co-third stringers, Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas. Neither is a good option, but until Stanton can go those are the only options.
Elaine Thompson/AP
How the (NFC) West Could Be Won
If you haven't figured it out yet: Don't count the Cardinals out. They have a monumental task when they face the Seahawks with a third-string quarterback on Sunday night, but they can win it. Here's how
By Greg A. Bedard
It’s like the football gods want Bruce Arians to show off now.
It’s not enough that the Cardinals made the playoffs in the talent-laden NFC West and tenuously hold the NFC’s top seed after losing standouts Darnell Dockett, John Abraham, Andre Ellington, Tyrann Mathieu and Daryl Washington (suspension), now Arians has to take on the hard-charging Seahawks with his No. 3 quarterback (whomever that may be) since starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton are on the sidelines.
You won’t find many people who give Arians and the Cardinals a chance on Sunday Night Football in the de factor NFC West title game. Seattle won the first matchup 19-3 on Nov. 23 with Stanton at quarterback. Now, in front of a national television audience, either Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas will make his first career start against a Seahawks defense that is playing at the same level as their Super Bowl-winning unit (in the last four games, Seattle has given up an average of 6.8 points per game). Even Las Vegas, which installed the Seahawks as a seven-point road favorite, doesn’t think Arizona has much of a chance.
Yes, it’s going to be extremely difficult for the Cardinals to beat the Seahawks on Sunday, but… it could happen. Here’s how:
1. Start Lindley. The San Diego State product was drafted by Arizona in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, cut this past August, and signed off of San Diego’s practice squad one month ago when Palmer went down. He did not inspire confidence with his performance in Thursday night’s relieve appearance against the Rams (4 of 10, 30 yards, 47.9 rating). But, trust us, it was worlds better than Thomas’s showing earlier this season in a loss to the Broncos (1 of 8, 81 yards, two sacks). Thomas’s one completion was the close-your-eyes variety; he threw short into coverage and Ellington did most of the work for a touchdown. Other than that, it was a debacle.
I know Arians told The Boss in MMQB that they may have a package for Thomas because can move, but I don’t see how that will help. Lindley moves better in the pocket (Thomas is big and takes a while to get moving) and gives the team the best chance for victory. Yes, Lindley looked wide-eyed and jittery against the Rams, but that’s going to happen in your first big spot against a defense as good as the Rams’ (good practice for the Seahawks).
He’ll now to have an entire week of reps and a game plan that will take advantage of strengths and minimize his weaknesses. Lindley has good feet and a quick release, but he has little awareness of how coverages operate (yes, that’s a big problem). Arians can help with that. Thomas is slow at everything and needs another two years of development. Arians can’t help that.
2. Follow the same blueprint as the first matchup. The Cardinals stayed within striking distance in the first game at CenturyLink, they just made mistakes they couldn’t afford. Consider that Arizona missed a field goal, allowed a blocked punt, threw an interception, dropped a touchdown pass and Seattle’s only touchdown came when TE Cooper Helfet of all people, caught a ball at the line of scrimmage and four Cardinals defenders failed to tackle him along the sideline. If the Cardinals make the same mistakes, they’re going to get the same result. Arizona, which sacked Russell Wilson seven times, basically played the Seahawks even if they eliminated two blown plays: a 48-yard pass to Ricardo Lockette (coverage bust by safety Rashad Johnson), and a 40-yard read option run by Wilson when the end crashed the running back.
Other than that, the Cardinals were right there in the game. Take what Seahawks defense gives you: Arians loves to dictate to a defense, but he just can’t with Lindley. It took Arians until the final drive of the first half against Seattle to get in a play-calling groove. It was heavy on the run, and short, safe passes. The result was a 15-play, 74-yard drive that ended in a field goal after Jaron Brown dropped a wide-open touchdown. Lindley can and will learn from Stanton’s game. He got in trouble by trying to make plays against the Seahawks.
You can’t stare down receivers or reload to allow a receiver to get open. If anything, it will help the Seahawks make plays. Against Seattle, Lindley has to have the mentality of getting to his drop and either throwing or running. It has to be three steps, out; or five steps, out (Arians should just toss out the seven-step drops).
3. Do the same thing defensively: The Cardinals were all over Wilson and Marshawn Lynch (15 carries for 39 yards) in the first matchup. Tony Moeaki led the Seahawks with four catches. Arizona will miss Mathieu, who continues to battle a thumb injury. He was a big key in the run defense. They could also stand to spy Wilson a bit better; along with the 40-yard read-option run he also had a killer 15-yard run on third-and-long on the play that preceded the game’s only touchdown. The score never would have happened if Wilson had been accounted for. Calais Campbell (three of the team’s seven sacks) was huge. Arizona kept sending extra players, daring Wilson to beat them. He just couldn’t.
The first matchup showed that the Cardinals, who didn’t play close to a perfect game, could stay with Seattle. If they do that again, at home this time, anything can happen. Considering all the injuries they’ve had, nobody though Arizona would even be in this position, one win away from clinching the NFL’s toughest division. It would be foolish to start doubting them now.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-say-they-dont-know-when-stanton-will-return/
Cardinals say they don’t know when Stanton will return
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 15, 2014
The Cardinals don’t know yet when quarterback Drew Stanton will be able to return from the knee injury he suffered on Thursday.
Asked about a report that Stanton would miss four weeks, Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said it’s simply too soon to say how quickly Stanton will heal.
“I think it’s one of those things with that type of knee injury, everybody heals different,” Keim said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, via ESPN.com. “And I know that ESPN and some other outlets have put a timeline on it. It’s extremely difficult to do. You can say it’s going to be four weeks — I’ve heard people say 1.5 weeks. Everybody heals differently. Drew will be here around the clock rehabbing, and I know he’ll be ready to go as soon as possible.”
The Cardinals are already down starting quarterback Carson Palmer for the season, and Stanton’s absence means they’ll be playing with one of their two co-third stringers, Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas. Neither is a good option, but until Stanton can go those are the only options.
