Arizona preview articles, stats & analysis

[KB_fan]

Really short on time the next 2 - 3 days due to travel, but coming across some interesting pre-game preview articles.  Hope others will feel free to add interesting stats & analysis.

[KB_fan]

Cardinals run game sputtering recently

http://pro32.ap.org/article/cardinals-running-game-sputtering-heading-nfc-showdown

Excerpt:
 

Quote

 

The Arizona Cardinals' once robust running game has all but vanished in recent weeks. Now the team has to try to rediscover it while facing the punishing defense of the Carolina Panthers.

In last Saturday's 26-20 overtime victory over Green Bay, the Cardinals managed just 40 yards rushing in 19 attempts, an anemic average of 2.1 yards per carry.

David Johnson gained 35 yards in 15 tries, an average of 2.3 per attempt. Arizona's longest running play of the game was eight yards.

 

"I think they had a good scheme against us from the two weeks before that when we played them, they were ready for us," Johnson said Tuesday after the Cardinals' walk-through practice.

Arizona coach Bruce Arians placed the blame squarely on the offensive line and not on his rookie running back.

"Getting their (behind) kicked up front," Arians said. "It's not anything David is doing. There's just not a lot of holes there and we have to do a better job. It's a tough challenge this week."

When the Cardinals face Carolina in the NFC championship game on Sunday, they will go against a defense that ranked fourth against the run in the regular season, allowing 88.4 yards per game.

 

 

[KB_fan]

Arizona vs Caroilina - tale of the tape:

http://espn.go.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/19108/tale-of-the-tape-cardinals-wrs-vs-panthers-dbs

Excerpt:
 

Quote

 

The most intriguing matchup of Sunday's NFC Championship Game has nothing to do with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

What may decide whether the Panthers or Arizona Cardinals advance to Super Bowl 50 will be the battle between the Cardinals' wide receivers and the Panthers' defensive backs.

Arizona boasts a future Hall of Famer in Larry Fitzgerald among its receivers, which are the highest-rated unit in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. They lead the league in three categories -- yards per reception, yards before contact per reception and air yards per target -- while ranking in the top five in four others.

Carolina's defense has been one of the best in the NFL at shutting down wide receivers. The Panthers' Total Quarterback Rating of 56.7 on passes to wide receivers is the stingiest in the league. Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman is a big reason. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 54.0 against him during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus.

 

 

[KB_fan]

More on Palmer vs. the Carolina secondary

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Carolina-secondary-prepared-for-Arizonas-attack-mode/793fde31-33f6-47fd-868f-806d098ab9fd

Quote

With Palmer directing an offense that features big-play wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown, Arians is always in "attack-mode," as Carolina head coach Ron Rivera described it.

"He’s just not afraid to make a play call," safety Kurt Coleman said. "He’s a guy that trusts his players to make plays. You can call it bold, you can call it whatever you want to. I just think (coach Arians) trusts his guys."

And Palmer trusts his wide receivers. The Cardinals produced 15 passing plays of more than 40 yards during the regular season, third most in the league.

"They’re explosive wide receivers with great size and speed," safety Roman Harper said. "They’re all on the same page with Carson – you can tell on film. He throws it deep and he trusts them to come down with it."

The Panthers defense held opponents to a league-low 73.5 passer rating during the regular season, but Carolina’s defensive backs know they’ll be tested in Sunday’s NFC Championship, and they know a deep shot might be coming when they least expect it.

 

[KB_fan]

All four championship teams have strong defenses

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/this-might-be-the-nfls-best-defensive-final-four-ever/

[This is a stats-geek article....]

But the conclusion is interesting.  Not are these 4 very high-powered & skilled QBs, but top-level defenses too:

Quote

That doesn’t mean Newton, Palmer, Brady and Manning won’t find a way. But we shouldn’t let the combined star power of the QBs overshadow the fact that, statistically, this could be the best group of defenses to ever collide on the brink of the Super Bowl.

 

[KB_fan]

PFF game preview:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/18/pro-everything-you-need-to-know-for-cardinals-panthers/

[KB_fan]

Speaking of PFF.... wow KK:

Pro Football Focus @PFF

Kawann Short had the best pass rush grade (+5.1) of any defensive player in the Divisional Round of the playoffs in the last 5 years

7:50 AM - 20 Jan 2016

[KB_fan]

PANTHERS, CARDINALS OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES: The "NFL Total Access" crew breaks down how the Panthers will attack the Cardinals' defense and what Arizona will do against Carolina's defense.

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Panthers-Cardinals-offensive-strategies/369a8a3f-6de1-4fac-a45e-1b1d6daf6af3

[KB_fan]

ARIZONA FOCUSED ON RUN GMAE: Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes that Arizona will be focused on their own run game - and stopping the Panthers potent rushing attack. READ MORE

[B.BERSIN]

If they keep running the ball, we can beat them easily.

Our D is too good to run against.

[Ace_Aladdin]

Thanks for the post, I think the key for this game is going to the LBs in passing situation, I expect couple of Int's from 58 & 59.  Although Arizona's OL is better than Seattle with Lupati & Cooper in the interior. KK can dominate Lupati with his quickness while Star needs to disengage better like the play against Lynch. Offense needs to play aggreisve and use quick out routes aginst the blitz oh yeah and pound them down! 

[the butch]

Just watched the Inside the NFL video.  One of the guy's side the MLB for the Cardinals weighs 210?  And they were calling Luke small?

[CPantherKing]

The Cardinals running game is going to be non-existent due to weather/field conditions. They are use to running sideline to sideline with a zone blocking scheme and cutting it up outside the tackles or cutting backside. They will be forced to run north south, which they struggled with throughout the year.

Also, their speed receiver JJ Nelson will not be a factor due to the slower field and conditions that favor the more physical player.

The timing routes they live off of with the sharp cuts will lead to mistakes between Carson Palmer and the receivers and a soft/wet field with slower receivers due to less lean.

They will have to win this game with Fitzgerald and their TEs. So, the game comes down to the LBs v. Fitz/TEs in coverage and the Panthers DL v Cardinals OL. Carson is not very athletic to begin with, so if you get him moving off his spot he will stumble and slip a lot.

The Cardinals style of downfield speed slashing defense with undersized players will not play well in conditions that favor a larger more powerful team. Cam, Stewart, and Olsen will be even harder to bring down than normal.

On the road the Cardinals have faced Seahawks, Steelers, Browns, Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Lions and Bears. They lost to the Steelers, struggled against the 49ers and had to mount a comeback to the Seahawks after falling behind due to turnovers. They ran up the score on the bad teams and had trouble breaking 20 points against the 49ers and Steelers.

I would say the Panthers on the road will be more difficult for them than the Seahawks, 49ers or Steelers, and do not even compare to any of the teams they blew out.

[-13 Amp-]

Not really a stat per say but I thought it was cool that Ted Ginn ended the season with 10 touchdowns and Arizona's wrs all had less each and Ginn missed a game and we all know he dropped some clear tds...thought it that was pretty cool