View topic - We will run the ball vs Arizona

[El Nino Profile]

Looking at the cardinals defense, I always thought they were a little susceptible to a strong, persistent running game. Their defense, although decent is pretty average, and only looks good when a team is giving them a 1-dimensional look. Pretty much can be the same for any defense if you think of it, most of the credit has to be their offense getting a jump on the opposing team.

In the regular season, the cards are ranked 16th on run defense, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt. The media likes to talk about how 'improved' their defense is, but the playoffs didn't show much of a different story. In the postseason, they gave up a 4.1 ypc average, 3rd worst behind only miami and indy. They are dead last in points allowed, and almost gave up a big comeback against donovan mcnabb who imo, doesn't have any big play weapons other than westbrook, who was playing injured. Long story short, arizona's defense is soft.

In the postseason, they stopped michael turner in their wildcard matchup vs the falcons. Good gameplan, stack the box with 8-9 defenders and force the rookie matt ryan to beat them. Of course the chances are, rookie QB will fold in the playoffs and that's exactly what happened. Now enter carolina and philly.

I was watching the carolina game and scratching my head wondering why they didn't run the ball more. A LOT more. They were averaging well over 5 yards a pop (D. Williams 12 carries - 63 yards, stewart 3 carries - 12 yards/TD). I had no idea what their gameplan was, delhomme isn't peyton manning and they came out trying to air it. End result? they get blown out and delhomme who has always been a scrub, throws 5 INTs. Philly had success on the ground also, with westbrook rushing 12 times for 45 yards. buckhalter chipped in with 4 for 21 yards. I was also yelling at the TV telling them to run more, but go figure, they're the eagles, they're expected to pass 50 times a game.

Now the cards are playing vs the steelers in the sb, and if we get success on the ground, we're gonna keep stuffing the ball down their throat and it will end up looking like the SD game. If the cards can't stop our run it's game over. Warner and co will rot on the bench, and our defense will be coming out fresh on every series, making life hard on them.

sure, the cards had success vs philly's third ranked defense, but playing the steelers is much different for 2 reasons. #1 our defense is #1, not #3. Although separated by only two ranks, if you look at the stats, the steelers have a landslide advantage on yards allowed. Our defense is much more physical, and it's a known fact that our defense hits people, and people get hurt. The eagles, although good, are not nearly as brutal as our defense is. #2 if the steelers have success runnin the ball, they're gonna keep pounding it. This means more time on the bench for warner, and a lot of time for our defense to stay fresh. The eagles' philosophy of passing 50 times a game makes life harder than it should on their D, but we don't play like that thankfully. Willie parker for the first time this season is finally healthy and looking sharp. This is great news for us, bad news for them.

my prediction, steelers win by 10. willie parker is MVP with a 100+ yd effort

[mikeyg Profile]

how'd that work out last year (hint: not so great...........)

WIZ knows this offense and its players - we won't cover the spread, may not win.

[El Nino Profile]

this isn't last year, and the steelers aren't making a trip to arizona where they historically have never played well.

We can talk about familiarity all we like, but our team gets 2 weeks to prepare as well as they do. A lot of our roster has SB experience. I like our chances in this matchup a lot.

[steelcitymetal Profile]

my prediction, steelers win by 10. willie parker is MVP with a 100+ yd effort

so would you say the cards are stacked in our favor? yuk yuk

i agree with the theory that we should be able to get enough rushing yards to make them over-commit and then exploit with passing... but don't forget who our off-coordinator is.

[shawnlucas Profile]

how'd that work out last year (hint: not so great...........)

WIZ knows this offense and its players - we won't cover the spread, may not win.

Correction: Whiz may know many of these players, but he don't know this offense.

Arians has mangled it nearly beyond any form of recognition from anyone.

Cowher's gone. Whizzer's gone. This is Tomlin/Arian's team now, for better or worse.

[McLovin Profile]

Did the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles run against the cards?

[El Nino Profile]

Did the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles run against the cards?

falcons no. for the reason i stated. stack the box and make the rookie qb beat you.

carolina and philly had success on the ground. deangelo williams was averaging over 5 ypc. why they gave him the rock only 12 times is beyond me. westbrook had success also, but again had only 12 carries. I doubt the steelers only give the ball to parker 12 times if he's averaging 4+ per carry

if they stack the box and commit that much to stopping the run, expect a big game out of roethlisberger

the media is quick to jump on arizona's jock strap over such 'great' defensive performances. they gave up more points than anyone else in the playoffs, almost was victim of a comeback against a low-powered eagles offense led by choke artist mcnabb. the steelers will not have a problem moving the ball on these guys, and the point i was getting at was if the cardinals cant stop the run, it's game over for them. however judging by how the season went for them, as well as their last 2 playoff games, there's really no reason for me to believe they can shut down the steelers running game with parker healthy again.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Steelers run the ball on the cardinals.
Keeps the ball out of Card's offensive hands.
Less chance of big defensie play by cardinals turing the game.

Ball control and play good defense.
If they stack he box, Hines, Holmes & Ben will make them pay.

[BoltX Profile]

Heath will hopefully again included in the mix.

[StillTraditional Profile]

The reason that the previous teams the Cards have faced in the playoffs have not run the ball very effectively is because the Cards have been establishing giant leads early. Thus Atlanta, Carolina, and Philly were forced to throw the ball more than they wanted to.
Early and often scores by AZ will dictate whether we run the ball effectively or just plunge it up the middle to keep the defense honest.

[El Nino Profile]

true in the case of carolina, they shot themselves in the foot with too many turnovers early. In the first drive though, d. williams ripped a 32 yard gain on their defense. philly imo was always in less of a hole and didn't need to abandon the run, but then again they're a pass-happy team so ground game isn't as expected out of them.

though still, I'm not sold on arizona's defense. the steelers are a much more physical team than they are, and it will show. arizona was 5th worst this season in points allowed, and dead last in the postseason in the same category. Our offense will have success vs them, and we'll see how well their offense functions after they get smashed in the mouth. steelers will roll in this game.