Well Cards fans, we're halfway through a 2011 season that many of us feared over the summer may never actually get here. This isn't what you expected is it? Well, as you know by my preseason prediction this isn't quite what I had in mind either, but as I stated a couple of weeks ago, perhaps our expectations were unreasonable and that this is indeed a rebuilding year.
A new defensive coordinator, a new quarterback, a lot of new faces, for us to think that they could turn all of that into an 11-5 contending team was being a bit too enthusiastic. I understand the nature of fans and the win now mentality (especially after making this point on twitter), but again, patience is in order and I believe that patience will eventually pay off. (See Kurt Warner)
The Bad
Well, we're 2-6, is that bad enough? The pass blocking has been horrible, Kevin Kolb likes to hold the ball like he's scrambling on a Madden video game, the defensive has become the poster child(ren) for missed assignments and poor communication and we have a head coach seemingly bent on jamming a square peg in a round hole. So many places to start....
Give credit where credit is due, the offensive line for the Cardinals has done a decent job in the run blocking department. With the exception of some nagging injuries Beanie Wells has been everything Cards fans could have hoped for this season. He's run with authority and hasn't had an issue putting the ball on the turf. He has taken his role has “the guy”, embraced it and ran with it and Cards fans can only imagine what this running game would have looked like with Ryan Williams. That said Levi Brown has quite honestly become the 2011 version of Derek Anderson, we don't care where he goes as long as it isn't back here.
While I'm critical of the pass blocking the fact that Kevin Kolb holds onto the football way too long is not lost on me. At times, Kolb has made some tremendous throws and has shown us a glimpse into what he can become, other times (most of the time) he looks uncomfortable, unsure and plain lost running the offense.
I attribute this problem to one major factor, Kevin Kolb cannot be asked to run Kurt Warner's offense. Kevin Kolb isn't Kurt Warner, he doesn't have Warner's skill set and for him to be asked to do what Warner did is unfair to Kolb. Should the coaching staff choose to move forward with Kolb being the guy they are going to have to learn to design the offense around Kolb, not try and remake Kolb to the offense.
The Good
This team has talent and are seemingly a light bulb clicking on every week from stepping to that next level. Four of their six losses are by a total of 11 points, and their loss to Pittsburgh was closer than the score indicated. If you can stay in the same ballpark as the Steelers, the Ravens and the Giants, you're onto something. So, while I know you all aren't into moral victories, when you're in a rebuilding season, you get what you can get.
As for the defense I remain strangely confident that this group will be fine in the long run. Maybe not this season, but moving forward, absolutely! We have a learning and growing Patrick Peterson, an evolving group of young linebackers and don't forget, we are without Kerry Rhodes, Greg Toler and have a banged up Adrian Wilson. (though it may be time to address the safety position in the draft)
So while many would have listed the defense under “the bad” category, keep in mind that this is a work in progress. At this stage of the season, Ray Horton is already a vast improvement over Billy Davis.
The Ugly
Without risking being labeled as beating a dead horse, I did want to briefly touch on my “ugly” for the first half of the season.
All I will say is this, when you're in the middle of a losing streak and you call out fans for not being at your double digit loss in greater numbers, that my friends is ugly. Case closed.
The Quarterback
And here we are, onto the good stuff! How many fans watched John Skelton against the Rams last week and noticed how he steps up in the pocket and gets rid of the ball quickly? I did. Does this mean Skelton should replace Kolb as the starter (my dad thinks so)? Does this mean Skelton is a better quarterback than Kolb?
My short answer, for now, is that it all depends on what kind of offense you want to build. As I stated earlier, asking Kevin Kolb to run Kurt Warner's offense is a bad idea, and if you're going to build your franchise around Kolb you are going to have to change the offense to fit his skill set at some point.
If you were going to build the franchise around John Skelton, you would also have to adjust the offense to fit Skelton's skill set. That said however I believe from what I've seen so far that there would be less changes to make in the offense were it to be build around Skelton. He is more the prototype pocket passer with a strong, accurate arm with a quick release.
In either scenario I can confidently tell Cards fans this after 8 games. You have 2 quarterbacks on the roster who both have a very high ceiling and are both still very young, the future, one way or the other, is brighter than at this time last season.
Moving forward
Cards fans, we've been through worse. We've been through years when we looked forward to simply having an average quarterback or a new coach. Now we have a future Hall of Fame receiver here likely till the end of his career, a promising young defense, two promising quarterbacks and are maybe a couple of more pieces from having back that explosive offense that we miss so much.
So, while many of you still don't want to hear me preach moral victories, just know that while we wont reach the playoffs this season (barring a miracle), remember our last rebuilding season and the two years that followed.
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