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Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Blogged under Bloglockers, Front Page, This Week's Matchup Report, General by dawgpounded on Friday 28 September 2007 at 8:40 am
The Pittsburgh Steelers better watch out in this game.  They wanted to hire Ken Whisenhunt in the off-season but the NFL gave them a call and reminded them who made the “Rooney Rule” so they hired Mike Tomlin instead.  Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm left Pittsburgh to go to the desert and they have had this game circled since the schedule came out.

The Steelers will try to do what they have done all season and that’s pass the ball to get the lead and then grind out the football game on the ground.  Ben Roethlisberger must protect the football this week and the offensive line has to keep him clean to make throws as the Cardinals have already made 8 sacks this season.  The Steelers will be without Hines Ward, so they will need to have either TE Heath Miller or WR Nate Washington to step up in this football game.  The Steelers must be aware of where safety Adrian Wilson is lining up as he is just as good of a football player as Troy Polamalu is.  Don’t forget the Steelers running game as Willie Parker (368 yards rushing, 5.0 ypc) and Najeh Davenport (136 yards rushing, 7.2 ypc) have both been outstanding so far this season.  They should have success on the ground against Cardinals defense which is allowing 104.3 yards rushing and 4.0 ypc so far this season.

The Steelers will think that they are looking in the mirror when the Cardinals offense is on the field.  The Cardinals offensive line has been outstanding this season as they have only allowed 2 sacks this season and they have averaged 118.0 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry!  Something has to give in this game as the Steelers will be blitzing a lot which has led them to having 12 sacks this season.  QB Matt Leinart will have to be smart with the football or the Cardinals will replace him with Kurt Warner who was outstanding last weekend against Baltimore.  The Steelers’ corners are not the strength of the defense and they will likely have big trouble covering Anquan Boldin (22 rec, 286 yards, 3 TDs) and Larry Fitzgerald (15 rec, 192 yards).  The Cardinals will also challenge the Steelers on the ground with Edgerrin James (277 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc, 2 TDs) running behind their much improved offensive line.

PREDICTION:  The Steelers should win this football game, but, it’s hard to bet against a team that will be as fired up as the Cardinals will be to win one for the coaching staff.  I don’t know which team will win the game, but I’m guessing that it will only be by a field goal.

 

Baltimore Ravens 26, Arizona Cardinals 23

Blogged under Game Recaps, Bloglockers, Front Page, General by dawgpounded on Monday 24 September 2007 at 11:05 am

The Arizona Cardinals got beat in all three phases of this football game and they almost came back and won the game after Coach Whisenhurt replaced QB Matt Leinart with Kurt Warner.  Warner was outstanding as he was 15 for 20 passing for 258 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Matt Leinart had a rough time as he only completed 9 of 20 passes for 53 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs.  RB Edgerrin James ran well carrying the ball 10 times for 57 yards (5.7 ypc) but the Cards had to abandon the running game after they fell behind.  Anquan Boldin was outstanding as he caught 14 passes for 181 yards (12.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Larry Fitzgerald also had a good game with 5 catches for 85 yards (17.0 avg).  The Cardinals finished up with 61 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.4 ypc) and they completed 24 of 40 passes for 303 yards.

Adrian Wilson (12 tackles), Gerald Hayes (11 tackles) and Karlos Dansby (7 tackles, 2 sacks) all had good games for the Cards defense.  But, they allowed way too many yards.  The Ravens rushed for 129 yards on 30 carries (4.3 ypc) and they completed 28 of 37 passes for 252 yards.  The Cards also had trouble on special teams as rookie Yamon Figurs returned a punt 75-yards for a TD!

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270923033

ARIZONA at BALTIMORE (9/23)

Blogged under General by charlesjay on Sunday 23 September 2007 at 6:20 am

JAY’S PLAYS
All information is for news matter only
All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars
Lines are subject to change

PRO FOOTBALL — September 23

ARIZONA (+7.5) at BALTIMORE (Total 35.5) — The Arizona Cardinals intend to run the ball behind Pro Bowl rusher Edgerrin James. It’s coach Ken Whisenhunt’s philosophy. But that’s going to be a grind against a Baltimore defense that is yielding just 2.5 yards a carry. Matt Leinart, in one of his toughest road trips to date, has to find some room downfield against a decidedly unfriendly Raven secondary (hello, Ed Reed!) with two rookies starting on his offensive line. Despite the presence of a couple of wideouts with over 100 yards receiving, that’s a tall order. Steve McNair back in lineup for Baltimore (though Kyle Boller ably filled in) and Willis McGahee so far giving the team some of what they have been looking for in the backfield. Arizona, which lost its opener at San Francisco, is not a road warrior, having won just five of its last 39 as the visitor. More growing pains for Leinart.

JAY’S PLAY: BALTIMORE ***

For more of Jay’s Plays, visit Wager Prophet — http://www.wagerprophet.com

 

Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens

Blogged under Bloglockers, Front Page, This Week's Matchup Report, General by dawgpounded on Friday 21 September 2007 at 8:14 am

This is a big football game for each the Cardinals and the Ravens as they are both 1-1 on the season.  The Cardinals have a very balanced offense that will challenge the hard hitting defense of the Ravens.  The Cards would like to run the football to set up the pass but that will be easier said than done against a stout Ravens run defense that only allows 62.0 yards rushing per game and 2.5 ypc.  Still, the Cardinals will try to plow ahead in the running game with Edgerrin James (220 yards rushing, 4.4 ypc, 2 TDs).  If James can get it going on the ground the Cardinals will be hard to stop as they have a nice set of receivers and they have only allowed 1 sack this season.  Matt Leinart played well last week against the Seahawks but the Ravens defense is light years better than them.  WRs Larry FItzgerald (10 rec, 107 yards) and Anquan Boldin (8 rec, 105 yards, TD) will challenge CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAllister.  The Cardinals also could look to TE Leonard Pope (4 rec, 52 yards, TD) when they get near the end zone as he is a huge target at 6′8″.

The Baltimore Ravens would like to run the football to keep the ball away from the Cardinals offense.  The Cardinals only allow 92.0 yards rushing per game but the opposition has averaged 4.0 ypc.  Willis McGahee (174 yards rushing, 3.9 ypc) could find some running room which would help open up the play action passing game of the Ravens.  The Ravens really need WR Mark Clayton back healthy as he was there best receiver last season and he only has 1 catch for -1 yard this season.  Derrick Mason (15 rec, 130 yards) and TE Todd Heap (11 rec, 105 yards, TD) are reliable but they haven’t been able to get down the football field.  Which leaves Demetrius Williams who has caught 4 passes for 68 yards to stretch the field. 

PREDICTION:  Look for the Ravens to win a hard fought game.  They have the better defense which is the reason I side with them to win this game by a field goal.

The Arizona Cardinals need QB Matt Leinart to be more consistent

Blogged under Bloglockers, Front Page, General by dawgpounded on Thursday 20 September 2007 at 5:22 pm

The Arizona Cardinals need Matt Leinart to be more consistent than he has been so far this season.  He was pretty bad against the 49ers in the season opener but he was outstanding last week against the Seahawks.  The O-Line is blocking well in front of him as he has only been sacked 1 time so far this season, so he has time to throw the football.  Leinart has completed 37 of 65 (56.9%) passes for 401 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (66.3 QB Rating).  He also has carried the football 7 times for 31 yards (4.4 ypc).  Look for Leinart to improve that QB Rating quite a bit before this season is over because the talent around him is looking pretty good this season.

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