With next season only a little over three months away, we can take a look at the Cardinals first month and realize how important the month of September is. For the Cards, it is absolutely crucial to set the tone of the season early, and avoid a downward spiral (e.g. Monday night “nightmare” against the Bears last season). Arizona has had two major problems the last three seasons:
1. Too many losses by seven points or less
Arizona lost 4 games last season by less than a touchdown against, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago & Kansas City; but that leads directly into their second problem……
2. The Cards don’t close out games well in the second half
In all 4 of the above mentioned losses the Cards led at halftime. In the first half of each of these games, the defense was flying to the football, Leinart was moving the offense through the air and Arizona played with the intensity and fire that they need to be successful. But in the second half it was an entirely different story. They came out flat, they couldn’t move the ball and the defense was on the field too long and unable to make plays. As so many commented last season in their loss to the Bears on Monday night, “they lacked that killer instinct…..they didn’t go for the jugular!”
Flip the script on those four games and the Cards are 9-7!! Setting the tone early is crucial for the Cardinals to be successful in 2007. Starting with the first two games in September, they open in San Francisco on Monday night as part of a double header. The 49ers have made alot of great moves in the off-season, beefing up their defense with the drafting of Patrick Willis. But their most notable addition is the free agent signing of CB Nate Clements from Buffalo. With the formidable duo of Boldin and Fitzgerald, as well as emerging deep threat Bryant Johnson, the 49ers now have two Pro Bowl CBs to try to limit the dynamic duo’s production, forcing AZ to really try to establish a credible run threat in the first game of the season. Many are touting SF as a wild card team or to possibly steal the NFC West from Seattle, so to start the year off with a win in this game will be huge for the Big Red.
Next up….Seattle @ home in University of Phoenix stadium. If Arizona really wants to establish itself as a legitimate contender for the division title, there is no better way to do that than consecutive games against a talented young team in the 49ers and the current champ in the Seahawks. Establishing the ground game will once again be critical for the Cardinals, as newly acquired DE Patrick Kearney along with emerging playmaker Darrell Tapp look to harass Matt Leinart all day in the pocket. If Edge can get going early, that will set up the long ball to Fitz, as well as the throws underneath to rookie TE Ben Patrick. The defense will have to contain Shaun Alexander, forcing Seattle to beat them through the air.
And to close out the month of September……..away at Baltimore the third week and then the big one for Whisenhunt and Co.: hosting Pittsburgh! These are two games against two of the premier organizations in the NFL. Baltimore’s defense was ranked number one in almost every category last season and they held the best record in the AFC. Pittsburgh went through the traditional slump a team suffers the year right after winning the Super Bowl finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs, but they are loaded with top tier talent in receiver Hines Ward, running back Willie Parker, and QB Ben Rothlesberger. Whisenhunt has been credited with the development of Rothlesberger and looks to do the same with Leinart.
If the Cards can get off to a great start here, either splitting the 4 games with a 2-2 mark, or by stealing one from Pittsburgh at home going 3-1 in Septmber, the season will look awfully bright for Arizona for the first time in a long time.
Mike Duggan
Post Editor