Cardinals Must be Close to Flawless to Reach 4-0
By Scott Allen
Sept. 23, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) and outside linebacker Sam Acho (94) sack Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) in the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 27 – 6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE
Many call today’s game a typical trap game. I don’t necessarily like to call it that. Is it a game in which they are playing a lesser opponent? On paper, yes. In the standings? You bet. Is it a game the Cards are favored and should win? For sure. Let’s remember, these are still the Arizona Cardinals. This year’s team may have a different attitude, but they will have to prove it once again. Just because the Miami Dolphins is 1-2 and has a rookie quarterback, still, it is no gimme.
There is no such thing as a gimme in the NFL. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Sunday. I think even the Cards have learned that so far this season. From the sounds of it, the Cards have remained focused this week. The one point that guys like defensive coordinator Ray Horton and special teams coach Kevin Spencer has driven home this week is there is still much improvement to be had. The coaches know it and the players know it too.
Defense and special teams are the two strongest areas of this Cards squad. That is no secret. The fact that they can both still improve is both scary and true. Look at the defense. They may not be giving up a lot of points, but they are still letting teams gain yards on them. Statistically, other teams are still out-gaining the Cards offense. They are hard hitting and creating fumbles, but need to work on the pass defense.
As for the special teams, well, we know how special they can be. Kick blocking, punt returning, they’ve been doing their thing. They did allow those couple of long punt and kick returns in week one. There is always room for improvement and as long as the Cards themselves know it, they will always have a better than average chance to win. They don’t need to be perfect to win today, but they will need to be darn near close. Even teams like the Dolphins will make you pay for mistakes.