Wednesday - Time to focus on Arizona

Patrick · #1 09-17-2008, 07:27 AM

So Sunday we meet an old foe ...... The Arizona Cardinals (I miss playing them twice a year).
So far the 2008 Cardinals are looking improved, # 7 in total offense and # 7 in total defense.
IMO ......... a tough matchup for us.
So what are the things that stands out in your mind this weekend that will get the Skins pass the Cards.
For me - A LOT of pressure on Kurt Warner. The Skins have to force KW to make mistakes which he hasn't made many of. Keep them on defense and control the ball. ........... Easy enough to say!
Thoughts.................

fent · #2 09-17-2008, 07:56 AM

i think it's a similar game plan to this past week. force the defense to stay on the field and limit the big plays. the obvious difference is we'll be focusing on stopping receivers rather than big play RBs and TEs. we have to get pressure with our front 4, which shouldn't be out of the question given the "quality" of the Cards' line...i'm pretty sure they've given up 5 sacks already and that's against the 49ers and Dolphins. if the front 4 can get the pressure and free up the LBs to be playmakers, then we can contain this offense. if we give Warner time to play, he'll look like an MVP candidate again.

hail2skins · #3 09-17-2008, 07:58 AM

They need to knock Kurt Warner around. I mean lay the hammer to him. They can't allow him to find those big receivers or it'll be a long day. As for offense, some nice long drives ending in TD's and not field goals. Run the ball at them early and often.

culpeper · #4 09-17-2008, 08:06 AM

i think we match up well with this team, even though its still a slight edge in their favor with those WRs...

one mind set...pressure warner. i dont care how you do it, just do it. in years past GGW would not blitz "established" QBs and this really killed us against arizona.

i dont think we will be overlooking this game like we were last year. im not as confident as last week, but i think if we can move the football on O, we can run away with this one...we better because we need a win going into dallas...

skins74 · #5 09-17-2008, 08:12 AM

Pressure Warner as you said and score lots of points using CP and Santana. I feel good about this game...

smoak · #6 09-17-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hail2skins

They need to knock Kurt Warner around. I mean lay the hammer to him. They can't allow him to find those big receivers or it'll be a long day. As for offense, some nice long drives ending in TD's and not field goals. Run the ball at them early and often.

I said it back in 2005, and I'll say it again... You MUST get to Kurt Warner to win this game. Not only does he have the tendency to fumble, but he also has the tendency to get "comfortable" which translates to big plays in the passing game for the Cardinals. I have ZERO faith in our ability to cover Fitz & Boldin consistently so I would send guys all day (~ 35-40% blitzes). We have our work cut out for us b/c these are not your daddy's Cardinals. While I have not seen them play yet, I don't buy the "but they played SF and Arizona" arguments with Akh's wallet. This is a team that has been consistently adding young talent on both sides of the ball and slowly improving. I don't think they are ready to challenge for the NFC Championship, but with the NFC West being as bad as it is, I could see AZ winning it...

We need this game b/c I don't see AZ losing to SF or STL. That is 4-2 or 5-1 right there in there division so we don't want to lose any tiebreakers to them b/c I think they are a playoff team (again more of a function that their division is weak). I can't say the season is over if we lose, but I definitely want to share in the meds someone is taking if the feel confident going to dallass and filthy 1-2.

LATrueRedskin · #7 09-17-2008, 08:46 AM

Offensively, we need to do what we do best. Give Portis the ball, throw intermediate routes to Cooley (the cards have some athletic LBs) and take the deep ball when they give it to us. I think we can have a pretty good day running the ball, and I think our receivers will be able to get good separation from their corners. I think we'll have a similar day like we did against the Saints.

Hrabanmaur · #8 09-17-2008, 09:23 AM

I agree with everyone saying we need to pressure Warner, but I'd take it a step further. We've got to knock him around some. Pressure is good, but we're talking about a 37 year old QB who hasn't been the healthiest guy the last few years. I think part of his shakiness under pressure is the realization that one good hit may knock him out for several weeks or even his career. Now, please don't misinterpret this. The last thing I want for anyone is to sustain serious bodily harm, but football is a physical sport. Intimidation and fear are powerful forces. So, I say we hit him hard a few times and see how he responds then. There's nothing I'd love better than to see Leinart come into the second half of this game.

As for our offense, I think we'll be fine. JC tends to play much better at home, and I think he'll play with better confidence after the New Orleans game. Although the Cards defense will be better than NO, I don't think they can generate the same kind of pressure we saw with the Giants, which is good for us.

Redskinmayhem · #9 09-17-2008, 09:39 AM

bottom line is we need to Pressure Warner and get in his face. Hit him and knock him down. If we can do that, We're in good shape.

shally · #10 09-17-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hail2skins

They need to knock Kurt Warner around. I mean lay the hammer to him. They can't allow him to find those big receivers or it'll be a long day. As for offense, some nice long drives ending in TD's and not field goals. Run the ball at them early and often.

you are absolutely correct.. since the Pats showed the way, the best way to beat warner has always been to do exactly that.. early and often

Biggie · #11 09-17-2008, 09:41 AM

I think the Cardinals' rankings are a bit inflated due to the level of their competition. However, they definitely have the talent to win games and regardless of quality, they have a better record than us and that's that. As many have said, Warner needs to be pressured into fumbles, and we need to continue having a good pass rush because, quite frankly, Fitz and Boldin are miles better than what we have in the secondary. If we hold the ball for 35 minutes again, I think we'll be ok.

Moe · #12 09-17-2008, 10:02 AM

-Warner is a statue, hit him and get his feet moving and their passing game comes crashing down.

-control the clock with the running game. Zona doesn't have the talent on the d-line that either NY or NO has, exploit that.

-no turnovers. Zona D is opportunistic, don't make it easy for them.

-limit penalties.

-Cooley should see another week of opportunities. Force them to get Wilson up closer to the line and see how that opens up the mid/deep routes.

-if the Skins don't beat themselves or leave points on the field they should win this game.

Patrick · #13 09-17-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoak

I said it back in 2005, and I'll say it again... You MUST get to Kurt Warner to win this game. Not only does he have the tendency to fumble, but he also has the tendency to get "comfortable" which translates to big plays in the passing game for the Cardinals. I have ZERO faith in our ability to cover Fitz & Boldin consistently so I would send guys all day (~ 35-40% blitzes). We have our work cut out for us b/c these are not your daddy's Cardinals. While I have not seen them play yet, I don't buy the "but they played SF and Arizona" arguments with Akh's wallet. This is a team that has been consistently adding young talent on both sides of the ball and slowly improving. I don't think they are ready to challenge for the NFC Championship, but with the NFC West being as bad as it is, I could see AZ winning it...

We need this game b/c I don't see AZ losing to SF or STL. That is 4-2 or 5-1 right there in there division so we don't want to lose any tiebreakers to them b/c I think they are a playoff team (again more of a function that their division is weak). I can't say the season is over if we lose, but I definitely want to share in the meds someone is taking if the feel confident going to dallass and filthy 1-2.

That REALLY raises concerns for me too. Just too much talent there!

BigHairedAristocrat · #14 09-17-2008, 10:30 AM

Am i the only one that thinks Arizona is a complete joke? They ran the score up on two opponents who had a combined total record of 6-26 last year. Their offensive line is horrible, the have no running game to speak of. The only thing the Cardinals have going for them is a good QB and two great receivers. Yeah, their receivers are great, but they haven't faced a defense even half as good as the Skins this year. Pressure the QB and they're done. Jason Taylor should have 3 sacks all by himself against their weak Oline. I'd be shocked if our defense has less than 3 turnovers. Thier defense isnt going to do a thing to stop Portis and if last week was any indication, our O-line can handle their front 4 with ease. Thier back 7 is definately better than what we saw against New Orleans, but still manageable.

This game is going to be our 2nd easiest win of the year (The Rams are utterly horrible).

Canuck · #15 09-17-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

This game is going to be our 2nd easiest win of the year (The Rams are utterly horrible).

This is the NFL - there's no such thing as an easy win. If we go into a game thinking that then we are going get killed because the other team doesn't agree that it's supposed to be an easy win for us.