My Cardinals scouting report

[CPantherKing]

Cardinals offense:

1. Palmer is horrible when you move him off his spot. Errant throws and turnover machine. Check out the 49ers game late in the season.

2. Arizona passing game struggles against coverage LBs who can play sideline to sideline. They rely on a horizontal passing game to exploit LB coverage and force the safety to cover Fitzgerald. Same as last year in the playoffs. Play physical with Fitzgerald like a TE with Kuechly, Davis, and Shaq taking away the underneath angles.

3. Running game is weak up the middle. Struggle against defenses who slash through zone blocking from sideline to sideline. Rely on passes to the flats as runs. A defense that is quick to screens and short passes shuts down the Arizona offense consistently.

4. The deep passes Arizona threatens with are slow developing timing patterns and will be deep crossing patterns or deep wheel routes. LBs who can cover intermediate to deep on wheel routes and underneath crossing routes allow safeties to play deep to pick off Palmer lobs. Cardinals speed receivers struggle against physical play on their deep timing routes. They live off the same route Cam throws to Tedd Ginn deep across the field.

Cardinals defense:

1. Struggles with fast/quick TEs crossing to the weak side of the field and running out routes.

2. Weak against misdirection/run option.

3. Relies on overloading one side of the OL with stunts and blitzes to gain pressure. Weak on containing/discipline with mobile QBs as demonstrated last year with Cam running all over them when they rushed the passer.

4. Lacks the defenders to get down larger QBs and defend a physical running game.

Cardinals offense has struggled with the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Vikings, and Steelers. They can not fall behind and must get to an early two score lead in the first quarter. They only accomplished that one time in the season. Cardinals offense is always slow to start a game.

Advantage Panthers.

Cover Fitzgerald with any of the 3 LBs and be physical. LBs break on David Johnson in flat or cover on wheel route. Josh Norman shuts down John Brown. Put Finnegan on Michael Floyd. Play speed receiver JJ Nelson physical as he crosses deep across the zones - will throw off his balance and timing. Stick any LB on Fells near the red zone. Keep Coleman and Harper deep to play center field with a 2 deep zone. Move Palmer off his spot with Star and KK. Palmer has a long wind up for his deep passes. Will not work well against the Panthers. I expect to see Palmer stumbling a lot against the Panthers defense.

Panthers 34 - Cardinals 17. (34-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter). The Palmer/receivers match up is over hyped. Same receivers the Panthers shut down with a worse secondary and Palmer's success is dependent on the Panthers never being able to get within 5 yards of him. The key is shutting down Fitzgerald on short crossing patterns, and we know they are going to glue Kuechly and Davis to Fitzgerald. The Cardinals offense will give the Panthers plenty of turnover opportunities.

[Snake]

I disagree that we match up poorly with pocket passers. Our defense is way more set up to rush a statue than someone as mobile as Wilson. The cards def have us beat with there WRs because of injuries and Fitz working out of the slot will be problematic. I really think you dont give your team enough Credit because the Seahawks defense is one of the best and that secondary is legit. Cam will exploit AZ way more than he could with SEA. Our defense will have trouble but Palmer is not ever as close as a good QB as Wilson. IMO we beat the second best team in the NFC last Sunday. A team that AZ was scared to play and chose to hide there starters from. 

[Mother Grabber]

The thing that strikes me about this matchup is that Carolina and Arizona are the #1 and #2 in scoring offenses, 31.3 and 30.6 ppg respectively, AND also 6th and 7th in scoring defense, giving up 19.3 and 19.6 ppg.

Passing defense, 234.5ypg vs 230.4ypg and rushing defense, 88.4ypg vs 91.3ypg, are also very close.

They pass more, we run more.  We have the better QB, they have better WR.

Both offenses like to score in the 30s, but both defenses like it below 20.  We'll meet somewhere in the middle, and mistakes, like turnovers or special teams, will be the difference in this one.  This will be the slugfest everyone thought the Seattle game would be.

[FootballMaestro]

37 minutes ago, CPantherKing said:

Cardinals offense:

1. Palmer is horrible when you move him off his spot. Errant throws and turnover machine. Check out the 49ers game late in the season.

2. Arizona passing game struggles against coverage LBs who can play sideline to sideline. They rely on a horizontal passing game to exploit LB coverage and force the safety to cover Fitzgerald. Same as last year in the playoffs. Play physical with Fitzgerald like a TE with Kuechly, Davis, and Shaq taking away the underneath angles.

3. Running game is weak up the middle. Struggle against defenses who slash through zone blocking from sideline to sideline. Rely on passes to the flats as runs. A defense that is quick to screens and short passes shuts down the Arizona offense consistently.

4. The deep passes Arizona threatens with are slow developing timing patterns and will be deep crossing patterns or deep wheel routes. LBs who can cover intermediate to deep on wheel routes and underneath crossing routes allow safeties to play deep to pick off Palmer lobs. Cardinals speed receivers struggle against physical play on their deep timing routes. They live off the same route Cam throws to Tedd Ginn deep across the field.

Cardinals defense:

1. Struggles with fast/quick TEs crossing to the weak side of the field and running out routes.

2. Weak against misdirection/run option.

3. Relies on overloading one side of the OL with stunts and blitzes to gain pressure. Weak on containing/discipline with mobile QBs as demonstrated last year with Cam running all over them when they rushed the passer.

4. Lacks the defenders to get down larger QBs and defend a physical running game.

Cardinals offense has struggled with the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Vikings, and Steelers. They can not fall behind and must get to an early two score lead in the first quarter. They only accomplished that one time in the season. Cardinals offense is always slow to start a game.

Advantage Panthers.

Cover Fitzgerald with any of the 3 LBs and be physical. LBs break on David Johnson in flat or cover on wheel route. Josh Norman shuts down John Brown. Put Finnegan on Michael Floyd. Play speed receiver JJ Nelson physical as he crosses deep across the zones - will throw off his balance and timing. Stick any LB on Fells near the red zone. Keep Coleman and Harper deep to play center field with a 2 deep zone. Move Palmer off his spot with Star and KK. Palmer has a long wind up for his deep passes. Will not work well against the Panthers. I expect to see Palmer stumbling a lot against the Panthers defense.

Panthers 34 - Cardinals 17. (34-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter). The Palmer/receivers match up is over hyped. Same receivers the Panthers shut down with a worse secondary and Palmer's success is dependent on the Panthers never being able to get within 5 yards of him. The key is shutting down Fitzgerald on short crossing patterns, and we know they are going to glue Kuechly and Davis to Fitzgerald. The Cardinals offense will give the Panthers plenty of turnover opportunities.

Man, I guess we just shouldn't play the game then (but I know what you mean, and why you're saying it)!? LOL

Nonetheless, thanks for the detailed and honest (albeit overtly optimistic) write up on the Cardinals.

But like I said. I know why. Cause a lot of it's true (though it doesn't mean it's gonna happen). Plus, you may wanna relax some of the more scared, BUTT TIGHT Panther fans out there. LOL

[MV%doe]

I'll just add to this with my opinions.

 

DL coach beston bucker(former panther) is the best DL coach in the whole nfl. He's sooooo smart when it comes to DL tactics.

Dave is a top GM, so is the cards GM. He's drafted Greeeat since arriving and fixed the team.

 

Cards have a deeeep DB talent, even without honey.

 

I believe they run the most 3WRs sets in the nfl, around 75% of snaps. 

Their LB minter is underratted, he's a beast in the middle.

[ThPantherFan]

Where's Hawk?

[Bj-Monster23]

Cardinals vs Packers replay on NFL Network right now.

[Diehardpanther02]

Good write up about the Cardinals, only thing I disagreed with is you speaking about what type of qb we do better against.  Believe it or not we do much better against pocket qbs such as Palmer.  I think I read some where that throughout the season we held qbs passer ratings in the pocket to like 30 something % and those out side double that to 70 something %(couldn't remember the exact numbers). But really it makes sense because our Dbs are good only when they get to play their assignment and our D struggles when the qb Improvs( see Russell, and Rodgers).  We thrive on pressure and if we get after Palmer like we did Wilson he won't have time to pick on finnegan and McClain 

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Seriously, what do we need to trade to steal Beast Mode away from the 'Hawks? Dude is one of the most legit regulars here.

[carpanfan96]

3 hours ago, Beast Mode said:

He's not Brady or Rodgers back there.. but he can make you pay too.  That said, if you get to him and make him feel the heat.. even if you don't sack him.. he does have a tendency to rush his throw and make a mistake.  Against the Packers he did this a few times.. one of them would have probably lost the game if Sam Shields didn't drop it. 

The interior pressure is definitely key though.  If you rush from the outside and let him step up in the pocket.. he can definitely do some damage.

Palmer is a lot like a really good pitcher in baseball.. if you let him get settled in, he can rip a defense apart.  But if you rattle him early, he's going to make some mistakes. 

Shields dropped like 4 picks in that game, after a while I just started laughing about it each time a pass hit him in the hands. I think Casey Hawyard dropped 1 or 2 as well. 

[aussiePanther]

You're good people @Beast Mode .Thanks for taking the time!

3 hours ago, Beast Mode said:

a 3rd down and Raleigh

This line killed me.

(I may just not be aware that it's a common saying in Charlotte)

[L-TownCat]

 

47 minutes ago, ItsNotGonnaBeAlright said:

Seriously, what do we need to trade to steal Beast Mode away from the 'Hawks? Dude is one of the most legit regulars here.

 

We have an old server, a broken camera lens and the still binding rights to Alice's fat ass.

all of which are redeemable for a regular hamburger at your local McDonald's.

[jayflip]

A Seattle fan received more pie in one op than @PanthersUnitedhas received in all of his Dear Diary threads combined. 

 

Hmmmmm. 

[manu4t]

Great post and class act for posting it.