MNF: 49ers Perspective

Players to Watch

QB Troy Smith - The former Heisman winner will be making his third straight start of the year. Smith will be using the rest of the season to audition for next year as many believe the 49ers are done with former first overall pick QB Alex Smith and are in line to draft/trade/pick up a new starter. I am a huge fan of Smith, he has good accuracy, an underrated arm and most importantly, he is a winner. This is a huge game for him and the 49ers who still have a chance at the division.

TE Vernon Davis - Davis has been awfully quiet the last couple of games. Look for Smith to target the big tight end early in the game and get him going. The 6'3" 250 lb burner is a nightmare to match up against, so the worst case is Davis takes on double teams and opens things up for other receivers.

LB Patrick Willis - Willis is the best linebacker in the NFL, unfortunately he is on one of the worst teams so he is still somewhat underrated. It will be fun to watch Willis make plays from sideline-to-sideline tonight. Willis has already racked up 91 tackles, 4 sacks and a forced fumble.

Key Matchup: Frank Gore vs. Cardinals Defense- Frank Gore has really been the 49ers' entire offense this year. He leads the team with 801 rushing yards and receptions with 46. Gore has been the workhorse of the offense and I would not expect anything to change tonight. If the Cardinals defense can stop Gore they can really slow down the 49ers offense.

Why the 49ers Will Win- The 49ers are more talented. The 49ers match up well against the Cardinals team which ranks in the bottom of the NFL in most offensive and defensive categories. If they can run the ball with RB Frank Gore and keep the turnovers down I think they will be able to easily win this game. The 49ers have lost a lot of close games to some good teams, but I do not see them losing to the Cardinals if they play their game.

Prediction: 49ers 31 Cardinals 13

MNF: Cardinals Perspective

Players to Watch

WR Larry Fitzgerald- Some analysts predicted a tremendous drop-off in production for Fitzgerald with Derek Anderson under center, but his statistics are not off by much from last year. A lot of his production is a result of being the 4^th most targeted person in the league despite playing against multiple double coverage packages. Steve Breaston has stepped up to replace Anquan Boldin as the #2 receiver, but besides him and Fitzgerald, there’s not much to like about the offense. Look for the extremely talented Fitzgerald to see many passes thrown his way against a mediocre 49ers pass defense, and for his amazing hands and jumping ability to be able to beat the double coverage or safety help he is likely to face.

S Adrian Wilson- The 3-time Pro-Bowler is again playing at a very high level and is one of the few bright spots for a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. The longtime Cardinal plays his position with a linebacker mentality and is quick to recognize plays. Wilson will be making sure that Vernon Davis doesn’t get any cheap yardage in the middle of the field, and punishing Troy Smith for any mistakes that the inexperienced QB will likely make.

RB Beanie Wells- He’s had a very disappointing injury filled season so far and is only averaging 3.5 ypc in the games he has played. With the sporadic playing of Tim Hightower, the Cardinals are looking to make Wells the more featured back in the offense. Wells is finally getting healthy and could have a break out game against an average 49ers rush defense.

Key Matchup: Derek Anderson v. Patrick Willis – The 25-year Willis is the heart and soul of the 49ers defense and has 3 sacks in his last 2 games. Anderson has a decent arm, but has been plagued by his inaccuracy over his career. Anderson will need to take note of where Willis is at all times, or else the linebacker will cause a lot of trouble for the QB. If Arizona is able to limit Willis’s effectiveness, Anderson will be able to improve on his dreadful completion percentage and move the Cardinals offense down the field.

Why the Cardinals Will Win- In a matchup of 3-7 teams, this one is likely to be a toss-up. Arizona is 2-2 at home this year, so they have that working in their favor. They beat the Saints earlier this year and gave the Vikings and Tampa Bay close games, so they are capable of playing good football; it’s just a matter of whether they will. A playoff team a year ago, the Cardinals still has enough talent to be able to overcome the loss of Kurt Warner despite the dreadful play they have gotten from their QBs. I think that the Cardinals, led by Fitzgerald and Wells, will do just enough to win this game against the equally disappointing 49ers.

Prediction: Cardinals 27, 49ers 24

NFC West Quarter Review

This is starting to become a perennial occurrence, but it seems this year is worse than usual.

Arizona (2-2)

The Cardinals, who could easily be the front-runner for this division, has what possibly may be the worst QB situation in the NFL. Cutting Matt Leinart might have been a smart move if they had anyone of significant talent at QB on the roster. Instead they have Derek Anderson, who even the Cleveland Browns didn’t want, and the undrafted rookie QB Max Hall who, despite the confidence of coach Ken Whisenhunt, is still years away from even possibly being considered to be a decent option to start at QB for any NFL team.

Standout Players: Adrian Wilson, Paris Lenon, Greg Toler

Seattle (2-2)

The Seahawks under Pete Carroll’s first year have been an enigma. In two games at home they have won very decisively, but on the road they were blown out by the Rams and the Broncos. No NFL team can hope to make the playoffs with a complete inability to play on the road, so Pete Carroll will have to figure out a solution to their road woes if they hope for any shot at the playoffs.

Standout Players: Chris Clemons, Earl Thomas

St. Louis (2-2)

The Rams have been a pleasant surprise as many analysts had the team pegged as the cellar-dweller of this division. Sam Bradford has shown the ability and poise that earned him the first-overall pick the season, and continues to improve with every game. Unfortunately for the Rams the rest of the roster does not have as much promise as Sam Bradford, and even in a division this bad they are not likely to stay competitive as the season progresses.

Standout Players: Sam Bradford, Mark Clayton

San Francisco (0-4)

The 49ers are in desperation mode only 4 games into the season. In any other division, a 0-4 record would have the team already looking towards the draft, but there is a glimmer of hope for the 49ers. The defense, while inconsistent, is loaded with talent and has kept the 49ers in two close games against the Falcons and Saints. If new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson can turn around the offense and Singletary can get consistent play from his defense, San Francisco has the talent to get back into the division race.

Standout Players: Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Nate Clements

Prediction: The Seahawks are able to win the division because of the ineptitude of the rest of the teams, but whichever team represents the NFC West in the playoffs will be making a swift 1^st round exit.

NFL 2010 Preseason: Titans Vs. Cardinals

During last night's game I saw some good and some bad things. The matchup between these two teams was sluggish at the start, with two consecutive 3-and-outs for both offenses.

The Titans played last night's game with a fire and intensity that I did not see from the Cardinals. From the way they ran the ball on offense to the way they played run-stuffing defense, the Titans played fairly well from top to bottom.

The Cardinals, without top receiver Larry Fitzgerald, struggled mightily on offense. Matt Leinart failed to produce a single first down, and backup quarterback Derek Anderson was inconsistent throughout. The Cardinals did not open any running lanes for their RBs, and could not stop the Titans rushing attack. A lackluster performance from the starters and backups, and a solid effort from the third-stringers.

Here are some things I pulled away from Monday's game...

• Matt Leinart's struggles continue

Matt Leinart, against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football, completed 4 of 6 passes for 28 yards, with zero touchdowns or interceptions. Leinart so far through the preseason has completed 10 of 13 passes for 77 yards, with a 90.9 QB rating. If you have not watched Leinart at all this preseason, the stats may mislead you. 5.9 yards/attempt will not cut it in the NFL, and a long throw of 16 yards is unacceptable with all the talent he has at WR.

I have always been baffled at why Leinart has not succeeded yet, and until last night I figured he would straighten things out. Here it is:

Leinart’s problems come down to his lack of urgency. The body language, the slow reads, and lack of leadership qualities needed at QB, lead me to questioning his ability to become the Cardinal’s franchise QB.

In his sideline interview, he essentially blew off his performance, saying” dude it’s the preseason who cares. “ also putting aside his poor game due to the Titans constant pressure.

Leinart has all the tools to succeed; throwing ability, perfect hieght at 6'5 to see over the line, and a wealth of receivers who are playmakers. The single problem I have with Matt Leinart, is his makeup.

When scouting a NFL prospect, scouts take a look at two major categories in their decision of whether or not to draft a player.

1. Physical tools: Is player "A" big enough, strong enough, fast enough to play in the NFL? If so how strong is is arm? Can he take constant hard hitting? Is he physically dominant in the college game? The questions here deal with a players natural and developed physical attributes
2. Mental Make-up: Is player "A" a student of the game? Does he understand the game of football? Does he have a strong mentality as a leader, or is he a follower? Can he handle the media pressure? Is he confident in himself? These questions help determine whether or not a player can deal with the pressures of the NFL, and are dedicated to devoting themselves in order to better understand the game.

Both categories are equally important and help determine the overall outlook on how successful a player will or will not be. In some cases the physical tools far outweigh the mental make-up, and it is up to the coaches to motivate the players, etc. Or some players understand the game so well, and are so devoted that it compensates for their lack of athletic ability.

In Leinart's case, I feel he has the tools, not the make-up. Matt Leinart has no sense of urgency in the pocket, or even on the sidelines with a reporter. Whether or not this is his "style", I couldn't care less. Leinart needs to understand that he could possibly lose his job. He has taken a country club attitude into this season, knowing he is the starter. What I would like to see is Leinart take over this team, and lead this team.
When Leinart is in the pocket, he goes into "slo-mo" and seemingly believes he has all day; the NFL nowadays is not like college ball and blitzes every down. Constant pressure is there and the ball must come out in a flash. If Leinart can become more aware at the line of scrimmage and make quicker decisions, this Arizona Cardinals offense could be very successful. We still have two more games, so Leinart has time..

• Tennessee Titans Linebackers

"Wow enough already with bashing Matt Leinart."

Alright, moving on, the Titans front seven dominated at the point of attack last night.

Stephen Tulloch (pictured) has become an elite LB and anchors this defense. The entire LB corps across the board played very well, scraping across the line and making downhill plays. The linebacking group combined for 12 solo tackles, and 7 assisted.
Rookie Rennie Curran wears Keith Bullock's former No. 53, and has impressed the Titan's coaching staff with his off-season training and preseason play. Look for Curran to get some playing time if he continues his play.

• Arizona Cardinals Defense

For all its worth, Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell still played well despite getting gashed by the Titans offense.
Campbell especially, made 6 solo tackles, 1 assisted, and forced a few errant throws. Campbell who I have talked about since early summer, has become a very good player in the NFL over the past year and a half.
If you read my Arizona Cardinals 2010 team preview, you will have a further explanation of my thoughts.

The safeties, Rhodes and Wilson, were very inconsistent yesterday. Both failed to give help over the top, and both failed to close on corner routes during a Cover 2 coverage. Vince Young pretty much had his way with the secondary, passing for 128 yards on 9 completions.

Joey Porter played decent, making a few tackles and looking fluid in pass coverage. Yet what I worry about is his lack of use oin the pass rushing scheme; a premier pass rusher, Porter blitzed less than 3 times I believe. Nevertheless if the Cardinals are more aggressive in game-planning in the regular season, look for much more success.

From top to bottom I felt throughout the game, as if the Cardinals were playing with a lack of intensity and focus. Blown coverages, missed tackles, it was not very pretty. This team needs to work hard these last few weeks of preseason in order to prepare themselves for the regular season.

• Titans Running Back Depth

"Yes Samkon Gado, there's a party in the endzone and you invited for seconds."

The rushing attack for the Titans last night started with Chris Johnson and instead of tailing off with his exit, excelled even more.

The combination of Javon Ringer, Samkon Gado, and LeGarrette Blount rushed 23 times for a combined 90 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Javon Ringer: Hard-nosed runner between the tackles, showed some strength in broken tackles, and is a one-cut runner. Played immediately following Chris Johnson's exit. Ran for 27 yards on 7 carries
Samkon Gado: Ran down-hill and exploded through tacklers. Seeks out contact, and is a violent runner. Scored touchdowns on a pair of solid 4 yard runs. Looked like he was back in Green Bay, where his career really took off. Gado is making a push to become a goal-line back. Ran for 21 yards on 7 carries for 2 TDs
LeGarrette Blount: Showed his sheer athletic ability, hurdling defenders in his 247 pound body frame. Displayed ability to get to the outside and go North-South. Blount ran with a lot of strength and power and essentially closed out the game for the Titans. Ran for 42 yards on 9 carries.

All in all, the Titans are very deep at the RB position and look poised to lead the NFL in rushing yards.

• Chris "Beanie" Wells

With the QB struggles of the Arizona Cardinals, it is imperative that Chris Wells in 2010 become a workhorse back.

The combo of Tim Hightower and Chris Wells will need to be major contributors this upcoming season if the Cardinals are to have success as an offense; last night I saw nothing that would make me believe this can happen.

It seems that the Offensive Line is unable to create running lanes, neither backs should be at fault for the lack of production so far, as both have clawed and scratched each play just to get back to the LOS (line of scrimmage).

Nevertheless Wells busted open one long run of 17 yards, showing everyone he is very capable in getting to the outside. Wells must be used effectively and efficiently for the Cardinals to succeed.

• Finally, VY

It sure looks like Vince Young has almost put it all together.

Aside from a few mistakes and early 3-and-outs, Vince Young looked poised in the pocket, getting the ball out in a flash. Young has made tremendous strides over the past year, and Young showed everything you would want to see from your starting QB.

Young completed 9 of 13 passes for 128 yards, while rushing for 10 yards.
VY is a winner, as evidenced by his 26-13 NFL record, and he is dedicated to success. When interviewed, he basically said he understands the game more, and focuses on determining what the defense is trying to do. A more devoted Vince Young can be extremely successful in 2010, as he will not be counted on to throw for 4,000 yards, but rather throwing less than 10 interceptions.

Vince Young also showed the playmaking ability rolling out of the pocket and instead of tucking and running, actually threw to a check down receiver for a first down. Through 2 preseason games, I have been amazed at how far this QB has come. Let's see how he closes the preseason out...

• Lavelle Hawkins

Also Lavelle Hawkins made an unbelievable play. Here's a link to the play,Lavelle Hawkins is a beast!
Anyways that's all I got for today, check out my sportswriter page at BleachReport.com
Later...

Arizona Cardinals 2010 Preview and Predictions

Last Years Record 10-6

Wins: Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks (x2), New York Giants, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams (x2), Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions

Losses: Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers

Biggest Playmaker Larry Fitzgerald

WR, Pitt, Drafted #3, 7^th Year

The offense’s most lethal weapon, Fitzgerald has the ability to bring down every jump ball thrown his way, and stretch a defense vertically. The versatility in his route running abilities makes him a viable threat on every point and place on a football field. The biggest area of concern I have for him, is the drop in his YPC average, which dipped 14.9 all the way to 11.3. Also another emphasis of concern may be the apparent lack of chemistry between him and new QB Matt Leinart. Through 13 career starts by Matt Leinart, in which Fitzgerald also started in, Fitzgerald has 5 TD receptions. Nevertheless Fitzgerald has 34 TDs in his last 40 games played over the past two seasons and postseasons, and looks to continue his success in 2010.

Impact Player Chris Wells

RB, Ohio State, Drafted #31, 2^nd Year

During limited action in his rookie season, Wells impressed many around the league with an impressive 7 rushing touchdowns and a 4.5 YPC split. All seven rushing touchdowns came during a 9 game stretch in which Wells looked like the number one back the Cardinals drafted him to be. The first signs from Chris Wells look promising, and we will see how much he steps up his game in 2010.

Biggest Offseason Addition Alen Faneca

OG, LSU, Drafted #26, 13^th Year

Alan Faneca is a great move by the Cardinals organization as he adds some grit and toughness to the line. Faneca, a Super Bowl XL Winner, 6-time All-Pro, and nine-time Pro Bowler, will vastly improve the line’s running capabilities. With the Cardinals adjusting to the loss of Kurt Warner, they will make it a point of emphasis to install a solid ground game with future stars Chris Wells and Tim Hightower. With a rushing attack in place, this will take some pressure off Matt Leinart and insure a smooth transition for the football team.

Biggest Offseason Loss Kurt Warner

QB, Northern Iowa, Undrafted, 12 years in NFL

How do you replace a Super Bowl Winner and MVP, Future Hall of Famer, 5 time Pro Bowler, and Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2008? You don’t. You can’t replace leadership like that, or production like that. This is the biggest concern of all Cardinals fans this year, as Leinart tries to establish himself as the franchise QB. Kurt Warner is a winner and a solid character to have in any locker room, and he will be sorely missed in 2010.

Biggest Draft Steal Dan Williams

NT, Tennessee, Drafted #26, Rookie

Dan Williams, a pre draft top 15 draft pick, might be the steal of the entire draft. An absolute monster as a 3-4 nose tackle, Williams huge frame at 330lbs will most likely land him a starting spot from week 1. His ability to clog the middle and wreck havoc as a 3-4 nose, makes him a perfect fit for the Cardinals defense.

Biggest Draft Reach Jim Dray

TE, Stanford, Drafted #223, Rookie

Drafting Dray with the final pick in the draft just seems to me as a wasted pick, as they could have addressed other needs such as depth on the D-line. In his best season, he only hauled in a rather underwhelming 19 catches; he also is not anything more than a mediocre blocker.

Offseason Grade B

With the additions of interior linemen Rex Hadnot and Alan Faneca, the Cardinals look poised to have their most potent rushing attack in years. However the losses of Anquan Boldin and Kurt Warner seem irreplaceable. Couple that with the fact the defense only replaced starters lost in the offseason, rather than adding more depth and improving, and you have yourselves here an average offseason.

X-Factor Matt Leinart

QB, USC, Drafted #10, 4^th Year

Matt Leinart is my X-factor for 2010 because the success of the offense depends on whether or not he can play consistently well through the course of an entire season. Leinart is a very smart player who understands how to read defenses and make checks at the line of scrimmage; however he will need to adjust to the speed of the NFL as he noticeably could not handle the pressure in his first years in the NFL. Leinart does not have the strongest arm, however is accurate for the most part in his passing game. He is a talented young player and it will be interesting to see how he can fill Kurt Warner’s shoes in 2010.

Name You Should Know Calais Campbell

DE, Miami (Fla.), Drafted #50, 3^rd Year

Calais Campbell in his sophomore season in 2009, stormed the scene with 48 tackles,7 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Campbell may not be a household name now, but he soon will be; at 6’8 300 lbs Campbell has the astounding size of a young Julius Peppers and is a nightmare to game plan against. Be ready to here his name more and more on Sundays as he will be a force to reckon with in 2010.

Rising Star Steve Breaston

WR, Michigan, Drafted #142, 4^th Year

With the trading of Anquan Boldin, Breaston will be heavily involved in the Cardinals offense in 2010. In 2008-2009 Breaston showed major improvement from his rookie campaign in 2007, catching 132 passes for 1,718 yards and 6 rec. TDs. The bulk of this production coming off the bench, as he has only 15 career starts through 3 years in the league. Although his lack of experience is a cause for doubt, I believe Breaston will have a breakout 2010 season.

Offensive Outlook B+

The 2010 season has question marks abounding around young QB Matt Leinart as he looks to replace future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. The offensive line looks solid with new acquisitions Rex Hadnot and Alan Faneca, and RBs Chris Wells and Tim Hightower seem primed for a breakout running campaign. The offense has numerous weapons on the outside with perennial Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and young WRs Early Doucet and Steve Breaston. Replacing Anquan Boldin is difficult, however I feel that Fitzgerald will shine brightly in his absence. Rookie Andre Roberts from The Citadel also looks to make an impact in 2010.

Defensive Outlook B+

I almost put Karlos Dansby down as a second major loss in the offseason, as he has anchored the Cardinals defense in recent years. Although they lose Dansby, the Cardinals drafted ILB Daryl Washington to be his future replacement. A bonus addition this offseason, accomplished pass rusher Joey Porter should increase the intense pressure the Cardinals defense forces on opposing QBs. With newly drafted Dan Williams, ‘09 sack leaders Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell, and recently acquired Joey Porter, the Cardinals have one of the most impressive defensive fronts in the NFL. Also LB Paris Lenon will serve as the immediate replacement for Dansby, and FS Kerry Rhodes will replace Antrel Rolle in the secondary. This defense has the talent to be a top 10 defense this year as the defensive front has vastly improved since 2010. I look for improvement in 2010.

Special Teams Outlook B+

Although they lost long time kicker Neil Rackers, Jay Feely provides just as much, if not more production at the PK spot. In 2009 he made 30-36 FGs including a 55 yarder. At punter, Australian native Ben Graham had a league-tying record of 42 punts inside the 20 yard line and looks to continue his success in 2010. The only question mark on this special teams unit, is who will replace Steve Breaston as a return specialist. All in all a solid unit.

Projected 2010 Record 7-9

Looking over the schedule for 2010, the Cardinals have a very difficult path to the playoffs. Playing at Atlanta, at Carolina, at San Diego, at Minnesota, and at San Francisco is no joke; and neither is playing the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. All in all, Matt Leinart has too many questions surrounding his ability to become the franchise QB and I feel that all success and failure will be subjugated and placed upon him. Whether that is fair or not is out of the question, all Im saying is, nobody will know how good or bad this team will be until we see Leinart in action.