I might know what the Cardinals "saw"

[Mr. Scot]

Moose Johnston suggested during last night's broadcast that the Cardinals might have picked up on something from the Panthers offense or Delhomme himself that allowed them to clue in to where he was throwing.

Someone would likely suggest the same tired notions that Jake was "locked in on Smith" or "staring down receivers". Those notions are bogus and have been shown to be so, but the idea that there was something up last night has been germinating in my mind.

As of this morning. I have a theory.

Ask yourself this question: What's different about Delhomme this season? What have you seen him doing this past season that he wasn't doing before?

The answer: Delhomme has developed an odd habit of "double clutching" in his throwing motion, pump faking two - sometimes three - times prior to making his throws.

I really only began to notice this somewhere past the midway point in the season, though part of me wonders if the seeds were planted in week one with the successful pump fake and throw to Dante Rosario in the end zone.

It may have developed as a mental timing thing, almost like a three count (one...two...three) but as such it could also be a "tell" of sorts. If you can see what direction he's looking when he starts his "three count" then you'll have a pretty good idea of where the throw is going.

Naturally, this wouldn't apply to every bad throw that happened last night, but it may apply to a lot of them. I'm gonna have to go back and look at the tape to see just how many, and confirm if it truly looks like this was the thing that tipped the Cardinals DC, and subsequently their defenders, on where to be and who to defend.

The good news: That sort of thing is fixable.

If this is true, then it is indeed the sort of thing that could potentially be coached out, but that's only assuming the coaches have picked up on it. The fact that Panther QB coach Mike McCoy has stated a preference not to mess with his QB's mechanics makes me nervous here.

Here's to hoping that it is picked up, and that it can (and will) be coached out.

[Snake]

Quite possible. Your right when he dose his double pump he never turned his hips and threw anywhere else. Lets be honest though how many time have you seen Jake under so much Pressure and he didn't give up the ball and anther thing is he holds the ball low and lets the Defenders knock it out. Thats a big nono. End the end though Jake's a Fiery guy and when he gets upset is makes bad decisions. Hell I do it my self when I get pissed I do dumb stuff.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Here's video of all of Jake's turnovers:

[ame]

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He only double-clutches on the first pick.

[pstall]

Sounds like what Philly has said.

He and the offense does it. Game, after game, after game, after game after game after game after game after game.

[beastson]

Bogus? LMAO

Refer to Mills post. The last 2 picks. Thats what he do, stare receivers down

Our whole entire passing game need to be revamped. We've only had 2 options all year. Moose & Smith. I always complained about it cause I knew it would come back on us. All the picks came from throwing to them. Like I said we wasted money on Hackett and a draft pick on Jarrett. King can even catch, but mainly used to block. Rosario went through a sophomore slump

Those the main problems

[Zod]

The Cardinals saw exactly what many falcons fans love seeing, balls flying towards their face.

[Matt Foley]

Jake is a gutty quarterback with a limited set of natural QB skills. Always has been. That's why he wasn't drafted. His first six playoff games he got by on his gutty leadership skills. I think the last two, where he's had eight interceptions, are a result of DCs figuring out that he can't beat you with his arm.

All that being said, the Panthers were very fortunate to get him away from the Saints. He's a leader. There are a lot of quarterbacks in this League who are much more gifted than he is who don't possess that trait.

[tayncat]

Man i shouldnt have even looked at that video. im pissed all over again. I feel bad for jake but that performance is just not acceptable. Our offense had to play defense over and over again tackling players after interceptions. The defense had to keep going out there to save our azz. THe whole team was worn down....

[Randyfloyd]

The Cardinals saw exactly what many falcons fans love seeing, balls flying towards their face.

This post wins.

[Mr. Scot]

Obviously you can't apply this to fumbles. Ditto the tipped pass.

To be clear, I'm not talking strictly about the picks, though they are the most concerning. I'm talking about the pass defense in general.

Queued up the tape to take a look at the whole game now. Gonna take a look and see what I can see. If this doesn't hold water, might see what does.

[User Name]

You can look all you want but it doesn't take a defencive genius to game plan for an inaccurate QB who locks in and throws into double coverage. It amazes me how some in our fanbase make excuse after excuse for Jake doing this. Everyone who doesn't watch the game through Panther blue tinted glasses can see it.

[Fox007]

ROFL wow you obviously don't re-watch games, proved to be bogus? Your crazy.

JAKE STARES DOWN RECEIVERS.

That has been PROVEN.

[Mr. Scot]

Here's the play by play breakdown. Analysis will be in the next post.

...

Fumble: Really good job by the DT spinning off of Wharton. Not much else to say there.

Delhomme double clutches on the pass to Smith where Antrell Rolle flew in Smith's face. Rolle really blew it there. I'm not sure that pass would have been caught.

First Pick: Double clutch and a throw on the run. You can see Rodgers-Cromartie suddenly stop and change his cover choice. Johnston thought he was baiting him. I disagree. Watching it at an angle in slo-mo you can see Cromartie makes his cut right as Delhomme is pump faking. Had he simply thrown it, who knows?

Cards DL lining up tight to narrow the gaps definitely screwed with our run game. Might also have screwed Delhomme's sight lines. Watch for teams to copy that next season.

(wonder if Vincent or Hangarter being in rather than Bridges would have made a difference on that front)

Double clutch on the overthrow to Muhammad. Not sure why we threw on that down and distance (1st and 5) anyway.

No double clutch on the batted pass, but the tight alignment might play into that.

Second Pick: No double clutch because Delhomme hurries this one due to pressure. Sight lines might play a role here again.

Next series the Cards are setting up in a very loose alignment that'd be prime pickings for a draw, quick hitter or a screen. Instead, we go downfield. Davidson should have gone with something else, or Delhomme should have audibled.

Double clutch on the near pick downfield to Smith.

Later on, another chancy throw because of a hurry but it hit the turf. Pass blocking is actually looking worse than I had initially thought.

Beason gets his pick. Big deficit but the game is still within reach at this point.

Third Pick: Pump fake on the tipped pass definitely clued them in to where that one was headed. A little more of a delay because the lineman jumped up but the same result. Smith's adjustment honestly wasn't a good choice either.

Next series: Delhomme makes a couple of good throws for completions where he doesn't double clutch. On the third pass he double clutches and winds up overthrowing. Next pass was just too high. Fourth down play no double clutch but a missed connection between Jake and Moose when Moose stumbles coming into his route.

First reception to Smith: Good throw, no double clutch.

Next pass to Rosario, same deal.

Another pass to Rosario. Double clutch this time. Cardinals safety seems to see it and nearly gets into position but just doesn't quite make it.

Pass play intended for Williams but Delhomme double clutches and winds up overthrowing. Had he thrown the ball on his first movement rather than pumping that pass is a completion to DeAngelo in wide open space and quite possibly a touchdown.

Fourth Pick: No double clutch but an awful decision. Ralph Brown had position. Siragusa thinks the umpire got in Delhomme's vision and he threw to an area. Johnston disagrees.

Screen pass to Stewart. That play was underused in this game.

Near Pick: Cromartie sees something that makes him break on the route. Jarrett is the second read on this one but I think Delhomme hurries the pass because there's a guy in his face.

Fifth Pick: No double clutch but a very badly thrown ball. Possible he misread what Muhammad was planning to do.

Final Series: Cardinals are in prevent, only rushing three but still managing at one or two points to get into Delhomme's sight lines. Delhomme doesn't double clutch on a single pass and overall does well, but hard to get too excited because it's against prevent.

[Mr. Scot]

So what's the verdict: It doesn't apply to every one of the picks (nor did I expect it to) but I think there are pretty clear signs the Cardinals picked up on Delhomme's double clutch tendency and used it against him.

Ultimately, even if the Cardinals didn't see it, that habit clearly needs to go. Of the times where Delhomme did it, more bad plays resulted than good. That's clear enough indication to me that Jake definitely needs to be coached out of this habit.

An additional concern: Other teams will likely pick up that narrowing their defensive alignment will make for thinner gaps and help negate Williams ability to make big plays off cutback runs. This can be compensated for by going to more outside runs and pitches and or screening it to get Williams in space.

If, however, the team insists on primarily running inside against that kind of alignment (an unfortunate past habit) then the run game will suffer.