DEFENSE LEADS
CARDS & HALL TO UPSET SAINTS.
The Setup Since we were about to play the
world champs, coming off our second of two 40-burger drubbings (most
recently by SD), could just as easily been 0 & 4 as our current 2 & 2
and were going with an undrafted rookie QB starting his first NFL game, we
billed this contest as more like a preseason game where you attempt to
define "who you are." Our expectations were low. Our prime concerns were (a)
going into Bye Week with some shred of dignity intact, (b) avoiding major
injuries and (c) getting past the transition-period all rookie QB's go
through before they become good (or at least not tragically bad).
The Bottom Line:
The impossible happened. Cards upset the Saints 30 - 20. If you're a
stat person, roaming the post-game numbers, you'd have to come away
believing the Saints had predictably trounced the Cardinals. In every single
key category, the Saints held a decided edge. Every category but one: The
final score. None of our 30 points came from a
traditionally-executed offensive play. Two TD's came from fumble recoveries
(one ours/one theirs). Another came via a game-sealing Pick 6 by DRC with
less than 20-seconds to play. I haven't checked yet, but I'm willing
to bet that at least one or two of our FG's came off turnovers as well. How
did Max Hall do? Nothing spectacular, but after a shaky start, he hung in
there and got the job done - he wasn't
perfect, but he managed the offensive side of the win.
Actually, we won this one with the old school
combination of (a) safe offense, (b) strong special teams and (c)
opportunistic defense that made more big plays than they gave up. (And don't
underestimate pinpoint punting of Mr. Inside (the 20) Ben Graham. This team
is 3 & 2 (& probably feeling deservedly good about itself) going into Bye
Week.
Game Recap
1st Quarter
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Cards received. LSH returned the KO to
the Saints 45 and almost broke it for a TD. But on the 3rd play from
scrimmage (right after a penalty - what's with that?) Hall
through into heavy coverage and got picked off. (Uh Oh!). Brees moved NO
from the Cardinal 49 to our 13, where the defense stiffened and Carney
had to kick a 31-yard FG. Saints 3 - Cardinals 0.
-
On the next Cardinal series, Hall
started on his 20 & managed to pick up one first down before the Cards
were forced to punt from their own 35. Starting from his own 24, Brees
led his team on one of those patented long TD drives (this one using up
11 plays and 5:32). Final play was a TD pass to a wide open Jeremy
Schockey (Who had him? Why have we have so much trouble covering TE's).
Is this going to be another blow-out? At this rate, we're going to lose
by at least 40 - 0. Saints 10 - Cardinals 0.
-
Stephens-Howling to the rescue - this
time with a 48 yard KO return which put us at midfield. We ran off two
plays to end the quarter. First Quarter Score: Saints 10 -
Cardinals 0.
2nd Quarter
-
The Cards moved to the Saints 9-yard
line (mostly due to a 25-yard Hall-to Fitz connection) before a minus-10
sack of Hall moved us back to the NO 19 and we settled for a 37-yard
Feely FG.. Four of the final 8 plays of the series.were runs by Beanie.
(You had to hope that, despite not punching it in for 6, putting 3
points on the board would serve bolster Hall's confidence a little.
Saints 10 - Cardinals 3.
-
Don't ask me how they did it, but the
Saints managed to use up 7 plays and almost 4-minutes to move from their
own 20 to their own 27. (A couple of penalties had a lot to do with it).
The Cards started their next possession from n their own 24. They used
10 plays to go 17 yards (key derailer was a minus-11 yard sack by
Vilma). Saints were kind of cocky during the Cardinal drive, calling a
couple of time outs. One of Graham's patented punts out the ball on the
NO 1-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Brees was picked
off by Paris Lenon at the 4. He returned it to the NO 2. After a
one-yard Beanie run and an incompletion, Hall faded back, scrambled to
his left and then headed for the end zone (unfortunately leading with
his head). He got lit up by Hargrove and fumbled at the two.
Fortunately, he was bailed out by "Levi on the Spot." The Cardinal LT
scooped up the ball at the 2 and stumbled into the end zone for a
game-tying touchdown. (Who woulda thunk)? Saints 10 - Cardinals
10.
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2:19 left til halftime. Starting from
his own 28, Brees worked his magic. A 39-yard pass (over Toler) to
Devery Henderson put the ball on the Arizona 14, but the Card pass
defense held him to 3-straight incompletions, and Carney had to kick
another FG. (So OK, we weren't able to go into the lockerroom with a
tie, but at least we're not getting blown out either. And you never
know). Saints 13 - Cardinals 10.
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Anderson in for a groggy Hall.
Completed a couple of short passes before time ran out. Halftime
Score: Saints 13 - Cardinals 10.
3rd Quarter
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NO received the 2H kickoff (a natural
advantage given Brees ability to score at will when he's on his game).
A sack by Haggans was key to holding Saints to 3 & out. Cards started
from their own 40 (after a somewhat anemic Morstead punt). Despite a
sack/fumble (this time it was Faneca who saved Hall's bacon), a couple
of completions to Ben Patrick (one for +11; one for +8) set up a 44-yard
Feely FG. (Tied again)! Saints 13 - Cardinals 13.
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Next NO possession can best be
described as "another long drive to nowhere." Starting from their own
28, they used up over 7-minutes of clocktime and 14 plays to get as far
as the Cardinal 4-yard line (before a penalty and a Mike Adams minus-2
yard wipeout of Betts in the left flat pushed them back to the Cardinal
11). Carney missed the 29-yard chip shot (wide left - what's with the
missed FG's? Is it the garlic on our breath)? Cards took over at our own
20, and Hall completed a couple of nice throws (to Roberts for +14 and
Fitz for +8) to end the quarter. We go into the 4Q tied with the
unbeatable Saints. Is this for real??? 3rd Quarter Score:
Saints 13 - Cardinals 13.
4th Quarter
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A pretty 17-yard completion to
Fitz with a face-mask penalty tacked on moved the ball inside the 20,
but we were unable to punch it past the 11. We settled for a Feely
29-yarder to gain the lead (are you kidding me?) for the first
time. Cardinals 16 - Saints 13.
-
Plenty of time (11:39) Saints starting
out on their own 22.. After Washington ate up Betts around LE for
minus-one, Dockett blew up another Betts running play. Fumble!
Kerry Rhodes picked it up and rambled in for a 27-yard score that left
us tongue-tied. Second Pickup-6 by Rhodes in 2-straight games. (Take
that, Antrel!) Ommigosh! Cards up by 10. Cardinals
23 - Saints 13.
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But there's still 10:39 left to play,
and we're talking Mr. Magic (Drew Brees) here. But on the fourth play of
the series, a Brees pass intended for Shockey was picked off by Greg
Toler (Both Toler and nickel-corner Michael Adams had been
uncharacteristically aggressive to the ball all afternoon).
Cards ball on their own 39: Run...Run...Incomplete Pass on 3rd
& 1...Punt (once again pinning the Saints down near their own 10-yard
line). 1:30 worth of clock-time used up. 7:24 to play. On 3rd & 1, Joey
P and Calais stopped Ivory (on his way to circling left end) for a
one-yard loss. 3 & Outsville. Cards got the ball back on their own 28
with 5:09 left. Wiz played it close to his vest with safe runs and short
stuff. Three & Out.
-
This time NO got the ball back at their
own 20 with 3:25 left to play. Brees was at his most dangerous - A
couple of short passes for +8 and +18. An incompletion followed by a
short pass for +12 followed by another incompletion followed by a short
completion for +7. An incompletion accompanied by a roughness call on
Colston put the ball at midfield. What transpired is the kind of thing
that gives us bad dreams at night about Drew Brees. 1:55 to go. 3rd & 18
at midfield. Brees fades back to pass. Kerry Rhodes comes flying in on a
blitz and someone bounces off of him. Brees lofts a desperation pass to
Robert Meacham (who has somehow gotten three whisker-lengths past
Michael Adams. Meacham makes a spectacular catch in the end zone. (Here
we go again)! Cardinals 23 - Saints 20.
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Onside Kicksville. 1:49 on the clock.
Carney's pooch comes down in the big soft hands of Larry Fitzgerald.An
offsides penalty on NO puts the ball on the Cards' 35. Two runs by
Wells followed by another one of those weird plays. On 3rd & 8 at the NO
33, Hall hits Patrick for a 3-yard pickup, but Patrick fumbles. The ball
bounces toward the left sideline but not quite out of bounds. It is then
kicked downfield to the NO 25 where Fitz recovers it.
-
But the refs rule the ball down on the
30, and the Cards decide to pooch-punt it instead of risking a blocked
FG. Saints take over on their own 9-yard line with 0:24 left (I'm
worried - there is still time for Brees to do something spectacular).
But on the first play from scrimmage, his pass targeted for Lance Moore
was picked off near the right sideline at the 28-yard line by DRC who
wove a somewhat dramatic serpentine course en route to a touchdown.
(Whew)! Cardinals 30 - Saints 20.
-
Believe it or not (even with just 0:10,
I'm still nervous. But the kickoff is retrurned to the NO 39 and Brees
concedes defeat by taking a final knee to end the game. Final
Score: Cardinals 30 - Saints 20.
"The Problem With Stats" Check
these out and guess who won the game:
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First Downs: Saints 19 - Cards 12
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Total Net Offensive Yards: Saints 373 - Cards 194
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Average Gain Per Offensive Play: Saints 6.0 - Cards
3.4
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Net Yards Rushing: Saints 85 - Cards 41
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Average Gain Per Rushing Play: Saints 3.9 - Cards
1.7
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Average Gain Per Pass Play: Saints 7.2 - Cards 4.6
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Net Punting Average: Saints 44.7 Cards 36.8
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Fumbles: NO 1 - Cards 4 (but the Saints lost 1; the
Cards lost zero).
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What the above statistics fail to clearly reveal are
(a) Total Turnovers - Saints surrended 3 picks and a fumble/the Cards
gave up only one interception. (b) Missed Turnover Opportunities: Saints
went 0 for 4 in recovering Cardinal fumbles. (c) Timeliness of plays -
Levi Brown turning a fumble into a TD. The Rhodes fumble recovery for a
TD. DRC's Pick 6 & the impact of Toler's pick on field position.
Finally,. (d) Field Position in General: 6 of the Saints' 13 drive
started from no further than the 20 compared to 2 of the Cardinals' 11
drives. Cards' average starting point was from their own 42 yard line.
The average NO starting point ws from their own 23.
Bright Spots
-
The Cards proved that they have enough weapons - if
used properly - to beat the best.
-
The win has to do a lot for team confidence and also
validates what the coaches and veteran leadership have been telling the
players (i.e. as a learning tool, nothing succeeds like success).
-
Max Hall took his learning lumps, but played well
enough to help lead his team to victory over the world champs. And don't
think for a minute that his return to play after getting dinged right
before halftime hasn't helped win the respect of his teammates. True, he
got picked off early and was rescued from two costly fumbles, but in the
end, he executed a few nifty throws and did little to put his team in a
hole.
-
Ben Patrick caught all 5 passes directed to him
(sign of a trend with Hall throwing the ball)? - Finally, we're seeing
the TE become more a part of our passing offense.
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Fitz and Hall are finally connecting. (Fitz
caught 7 of 9 for 97 yards). Roberts caught 2 and looked comfortable as
our punt returner.
-
It's become pretty clear that LSH is for real.
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Watching Daryl Washington fly to the ball and eat up
RB's in pursuit brought a smile to my face.
-
Card pass defense held Brees to a 69.8 passer
rating.
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Toler is coming along fast - when he and DRC are at
their top game, they represent a very formidable corner tandem.
-
Aside from the late freaky TD by Meacham (whom you
have to tip your cap to), Michael Adams was an animal out there
yesterday - blowing up people on special teams, breaking up passes,
blitzing the QB and lighting up ball carriers solo in the enemy
backfield.
-
Kerry Rhodes (2 pickup sixes in 2 straight games) is
every bit as impactful as was Antrel Rolle (and much smarter too).
-
A-Dub played thru pain during final part of the game
- gritty leadership wins games.
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Our ballhawks picked off 3 passes and pounced on 5
fumbles (4 ours/one theirs'). In the past, our guys have been a
half-step late to the ball.
-
Defensively, Rhodes and Washington led the team in
total tackles with 6, but more impressive was that 6 other defenders
(Adams - 5, J Porter 5 and DRC, Lenon, A Wilson and Rashad Johnson with
4 apiece) had 4 or more tackles.
-
Speaking of Rashad Johnson, #49 is finally emerging
as a solid-citizen.
-
Also, it was nice to see Joey Porter more involved
in the action.
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Ben Graham is flat out the best punter in football.
The Dark Side
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No offensive touchdowns.
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A big gain for us in the run game yesterday
was...like... +5 yards.
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How much more pounding can a little guy like Hall
aborb? Our pass blockers (especially inside) have to do a better job of
protecting him . And Hall has to become more adept reading blitzes at
presnap, moving his feet, checking down and getting rid of the ball
before he gets killed.
-
Why do tight ends get so freakin' wide open against
us?
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The sack-whiff by Kerry Rhodes (that allowed Drew
Brees to complete that ridiculous TD pass to a diving Meacham & brought
NO to within 3 late in the game) should be cause for concern. If there
are any special sack-drills designed to make sure a pass rusher doesn't
bounce off the QB, Kerry, Calais and other Cardinal defenders should be
required to make them part of their daily regimen.
-
We were fortunate that the Saints didn't have a big
physical RB like Snelling pounding us up the middle. This will remain a
bone of contention until we prove we can stop those kinds of guys.
Last Word: You could argue that this is
the first game in seven where the Cards performed like a playoff
contender. What still remains to be seen is whether the defense can
sustain the intensity, discipline and high standard of play each and
every week or whether they'll be inclined to relax occasionally and
revert to their old ugly ways. If they can play at the same high level
(& not rely on some magical "switch" to be turned off or on), you've got
to assume that, the more time Max Hall has to get acclimated to his
teammates as a starter, the better this team will get from game to game.
(Remember, Hall is operating without Breaston and Doucet to go with
Fitzgerald. When they return, the Cards figure to be that much better).
Not only that, but consider this - the amount of NFL game footage Hall
will have to learn from is now at least double what it was just
2 days ago.
Much of the success you see in the pros is a function
of the players believing in what the coaches are telling them, and
nothing will make them believers faster than success on the field.
(Coach Mac used to make a very big deal about how a key win serves to
validate all the hard work and discipline put out by the players during
preseason, the offseason and between regular season games. Bye
Week has to be a whole lot more enjoyable when you win than when you
lose - especially when it's against the Champs. Especially when no one
gave you and your rookie QB a chance. Enjoy the win, guys.Savor the
moment. Remember what it feels like. And, most important...don't let
go!
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