San Francisco @ Arizona Week 1 INSTANT ANALYSIS

September 14th, 2009 9:58 am
by Pro Set

Of all the atrocious football that was served up on Sunday (stand up CAR QB Jake Delhomme and STL Coach Steve Spagnuolo) none was worse than ARZ QB Kurt Warner. The Chicago fake punt with 12:40 left in the final quarter is runner up.

Anyway, at University of Phoenix Stadium, SF could not move the ball. The Cardinals defense owned the SF backfield. But Warner was back to his old habits of holding onto the ball for ever and shifting into the rush. Both INTs were eerily reminiscent of Warner playing for the Rams: disregard for the football. When the opponent cannot run, field position is critical.

Added to the turnovers, the lack of production from the intermediate passing game was pitiful. It took Ken Whisenhunt over a half to utilise crossing routes. When they did, ARZ quickly changed a 13-3 deficit to a 16-13 lead. But it was insufficient. Home divisional losses rarely go unpunished. The 49ers are an ordinary team at best. But they picked up the blitz for one long drive and deserved the win.

Posted in Analysis, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Game, Ken Whisenhunt, NFL Coaches, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL on FOX, San Francisco 49ers | No Comments »

Week 2 Fantasy Players

September 16th, 2007 3:38 am
by Big Dog

There’s no question that the Buffalo Bills have had an emotionally challenging week as they’ve dealt with the news of Kevin Everett’s injury and then the nearly miraculous nature of his recover thus far. In spite of the distractions, expect the Bills to be playing with a lot of commitment and energy as their injured defense look to hold up against the attack of the Pittsburgh Steelers as led by Ben Roethlisberger.

That said, Roethlisberger himself has a lot to be playing for this week. He’s been stung by criticism of his decision making, game management and his performance last season. He’s got a lot to prove and teammates have reported that he’s training and playing with the drive and commitment of a man with a chip on his shoulder. Add to this the fact that the Steelers defense managed to force five turnovers and six sacks last week. If that proves to be a trend, then the Steelers offense is going to get plenty of playing time. I’d expect Big Ben to be taking full advantage of the Bills’ injuries this week and looking for some impressive numbers from him.

Plaxico Burress was a popular outlet for Eli Manning last week, with a total of 8 receptions for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns. While Manning remains in doubt with a shoulder injury (he’s almost universally expected to play), it would be reasonable to expect that backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen would look for a similar performance from Burress this week. Either way, expect the ball to fly and for Plaxico to test the Green Bay Packers defense.

Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt hosts his first home game as the Arizona Cardinals face the Seattle Seahawks. It’ll be a tough match as both teams posted some good performances in week 1. I think Seattle Running Back Shaun Alexander will supply some excellent value and entertainment this week. He traditionally averages close to 100 yards against the Cardinals and has scored 10 TDs in their last 5 meetings. If he gets a good jump this week, he could carry the Seahawks all the way to a win.

Champ Bailey will be worth keeping an eye on as the Denver Broncos play host to the Oakland Raiders this week. Coach Mike Shanahan has an excellent record against the Raiders and Champ is an interception specialist. In addition, his expanded duties on special teams ensure his contributions to the Broncos are spread as far across the field as possible. The decision to include the Champ on special teams was more than paid for with his touchdown saving tackle in week 1.

Good luck everyone, for week 2.

Posted in Analysis, Arizona Cardinals, Ben Roethlisberger, Buffalo Bills, Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos, Eli Manning, Game, Green Bay Packers, Jared Lorenzen, Ken Whisenhunt, Kevin Everett, Mike Shanahan, NFL, NFL Coaches, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, NY Giants, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Plaxico Burress, Seattle Seahawks, Shaun Alexander | No Comments »

Monday night, the stars come out

September 10th, 2007 7:20 am
by Big Dog

It’s an exciting two for the price of one affair on the first Monday Night Football extravaganza of the year. First up Carson Palmer and the Bengals face an enormous task taking on the Baltimore Ravens.

There’s no doubt that Palmer has the ability to make big plays in the air and he has the record against the Ravens to justify feeling confident. That said, his protection for tonight’s game is questionable. With key injuries and an offensive line that is undergoing changes, there’s a lot to watch out for. Added to this is the fact that the Bengals aren’t expected to have a strong running game that can provide them with enough balance to put the Ravens off. If the Bengals can’t get the running game going, then they’re going to struggle to get away with it in the air.

With Ken Whisenhunt making his NFL head coaching debut, the Cardinals have a lot to play for when they take on the 49ers. The big task for the team from Arizona will be to shake of the pass heavy offense they established last season, putting faith in their ability to establish the run right from the start. I’m not disputing that Matt Leinart can pass and do it effectively, but the simple fact is that Cardinals need to put the groundwork in. Keep an eye on Edgerrin James, there’s plenty left in his tank and the last time these two teams met, he put 105 yards on the board.

Enjoy your Monday night, as the stars come out to play.

Posted in Analysis, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, Edgerrin James, Game, Ken Whisenhunt, Matt Leinart, Monday Night Football, NFL, NFL Coaches, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, San Francisco 49ers | No Comments »