Kudos to Cardinals Offense for Playing Hard the Entire Game
Jon Gaines II photo credit: Matt York AP
By Walter Mitchell
Cardinals have best game in pass pro vs NFL's #1 defense:
Kudos to the Cardinals' offense for not giving up and playing hard:
Pass Blocking Grades vs. Texans
LT Josh Fryar - 89.1
LG Jon Gaines II - 81.7
C Hjalte Froholdt - 76.8
RG Isaiah Adams - 80.1
RT Kelvin Beachum - 63.1
Gave up only 2 sacks vs a pash rush that recently sacked Josh Allen 8 times. Credit OLC Justin Frye and OC Drew Petzing for getting their guys prepared.
Imagine how encouraging this game is for the future of the Cardinals' offensive line when Josh Fryer, Jon Gaines II and Isaiah Adams score in the 80s on the pass protections.
Don't let Kelvin Beachum 's 63.1 grade fool you:
Replying to
Beachum still bringing up the rear
If the Cardinals were any good, Trey McBride should be considered an MVP candidate. He, in full sync with Jacoby, just put on a TE clinic (12 catches for 134 yards, huge RACs and 2 TDs) versus the NFL's #1 defense that has been taking away star TEs like Travis Kelce and Ty Warren and making it look easy.
Baldy's Breakdown of Drew Petzing's creative schemes to get Trey McBride the football: (must see video)
This may infuriate the Petzing loathers --- but the fact is--- Drew Petzing is the best coach on the Cardinals' staff, followed by TEC Ben Steele; OLC Justin Frye, WRC Drew Terrell and RBC Autry Denson. There is not a single defensive coach on the staff, including head coach Jonathan Gannon, who is outperforming the offensive coaches.
Petzing is far from perfect, as we know --- but so much of what he is doing during this torrid passing stretch has been commendably designed and impressively effective.
Jacoby Brissett Played Well vs #1 Defense
Brissett played well??? Yes,another 20 point effort by the vaunted back up. That's all this guy can ever do...20-21 points a game. You know what 21 points and under gets you in the NFL this year ..I checked...12 wins and 78 losses...and that's what it will get you hest year. If he's your starter next year...another 2 to 4 win season
Do you ever consider the opponent? Did you know that recently during the Texan's' 6-game win streak, they held:
Patrick Mahomes - 14/33, 160 yards, 0 TD-3int, 19 pts., 19.8 RTG
Josh Allen - 24/34. 253 yards, 0 TD - 2 int, 19 pts. 67.4 RTG
Today in Texas:
Jacoby Brissett -27/40, 249 yards, 3 TD - 1 int., 20 pts. 98.9 RTG
So, under the circumstances and any time a QB has a passer rating in the high 90s, especially against the #1 defense in the NFL, yeah, Jacoby had a good game.
Areas of Drew Petzing's game plans that need improvement:
Kudos to the Cardinals OL for their play vs #1 defense today, giving up only 2 sacks. Jacoby overall played well, but the Wilson miss on 3rd down in Q2 was untimely. The int, though, looked like M-Willy got slowed down just a tad off his break and Jacoby threw it where he normally would have been. Throwing a perfect dime to Wilson for the back shoulder TD in Q4 was awesome. The most disappointing aspect of Jacoby's and the offense's play today were once again the shaky late 4th quarter hurry-up results. This is where Petzing's inexperience appears to be a significant factor (and has been for 3 seasons) but by now Jacoby with his experience should have developed the 2-minute scheme on his own, a la Kurt Warner. Been urging Jacoby to take command of this 2-minute drill for weeks now. More on Red Rain Podcast tomorrow am.
Michael Wilson vs Derek Stingley:
Michael Wilson's back shoulder TD vs Kwami Lassiter:
Cardinals' fans who have insisted that the Texans, once they got the lead played more passively on defense, which in their opinion is why Jacoby, Trey and M-Willy were meaninglessly successful, watch these Michael Wilson plays again. Derek Stingley and Kwamie Lassiter, two of the best cornerbacks in the league are busting their butts here in man-to-man coverage. DeMeco Rayns kept Stingley and Lassiter in the game and didn't call soft zones, like we see so frequently from the Cardinals.
Worth the Watch:
Because of the no-quit, relentless effort from the Cardinals' offense, like we surmised on the Red Rain Podcast, they are giving fans a superb reason to watch the entire game.
I'll admit, I was expecting the Texans game to be the end of Brissett. I didn't think a decimated OL could handle that Texans pass rush. Justin Frye deserves mountains of praise as he has been a whipping boy among the fanbase this year. Maybe the issue was never the coaching but the fact that the right side of the OL had Jonah Williams and Will Hernandez out there when their bodies weren't up to the task.
ReplyDeleteWatching the outstanding play and coaching in the Rams Seahawks game tonight, I wonder who could imagine the Cards,without wholesale coaching changes, being competitive in the division
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