RSS
Home
5 matchups to watch when the Arizona Cardinals meet the Jacksonville Jaguars
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Week 2 - Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 - 1:00 PM ET - FOX
Jacksonville Stadium - Jacksonville, FL
All-time Series: Jacksonville 2 - Arizona 0
Intersting Stat: In two games, Jacksonville has outscored Arizona, 68-27
The Cardinals had a lot of confidence going into this season after a surprising Super Bowl Run last year, but all of that went out the window with San Francisco coming into the Nest and taking the season opener. Now, though the Cardinals are still confident they can win against any team in the league, expect a little more urgency in this game. Starting out 0-2 in the NFL is a death wish and the Cardinals know it. Here are the matchups to watch tomorrow when the Cardinals and the Jaguars battle it out in Jacksonville, Florida.
1. DE Calais Campbell vs. RT Eben Britton - Britton was Jacksonville's 2009 second-round draft pick from Arizona; Campbell was Arizona's 2008 second-round draft pick from the state of Florida - Fitting that they should match up in this game. This will be an important battle, as Britton stuggled in his first NFL game last week, while Campbell excelled against the 49ers. Campbell should be able to get loose a time or two and it could cause some problems for quarterback David Gerrard.
2. DE Darnell Dockett vs. LT Eugene Monroe - On the other side of both lines is another important and intriguing matchup. Darnell Dockett is arguably one of the best defensive ends in the NFL and Eugene Monroe is one of the best rookies in this year's class. Dockett's experience should be useful here, so look for the Cardinals defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, to try and confuse these rookie offensive linemen and bring a lot of different looks...and a lot of pressure.
3. Cardinals wide receivers vs. Jaguars secondary - Last week, the Jacksonville defense actually looked much improved this year against the Colts, but one area they continued to get beat was through the air. I expect the Cardinals to try to balance their offense after 44 passes and 15 rushes against the 49ers last week, but it doesn't mean their biggest weapons won't be used. Steve Breaston will be back on the field and Anquan Boldin should be a little more mobile, so Kurt Warner will be looking to improve on a shaky first week. Be aware of where cornerback Derek Cox is on the field, as he had an interception and fumble recovery in his NFL debut last week.
4. DE Derrick Harvey vs. anyone - Most likely, it will be Mike Gandy at left tackle, but it doesn't really matter who Harvey lines up against. He's a freak of nature and he's only in his second year, so he's still got room to grow. Harvey had two sacks last week against a pretty solid Colts offensive line, so the Cardinals will have to find a way to at least slow him down to give Warner time to throw.
5. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower vs. Jaguars defensive line - Jacksonville does not allow a whole lot of rushing yards, but the Cardinals need to establish some sort of run game in order to open up holes for Warner and the Cardinals high-octane air show. As I stated in an article about the Cardinals run game being the key to this game, if Arizona can gain 100 yards or more on the ground, there is a very good chance of coming out of Jacksonville with a win. This is a pivotal matchup.
You might have sensed a theme in these matchups and it is no accident - This game will be decided in the trenches. The defenses have the upper-hand on both sides, but that doesn't mean points won't be scored. Look for Kurt Warner and the Cardinals to come out hungry after a lax performance against the 49ers and don't be surprised if the Jaguars get Maurice Jones-Drew a ton of carries. The experience on the offensive line may be the difference in this game and the Cardinals have the edge in that department.
My prediction (as reported in Fanster.com's week 2 picks): Cardinals 27 - Jaguars 20
The key to this game for the Cardinals: Running the ball
Cardinals-49ers postgame thoughts
How the NFC West will finish in 2009
Here are NFC West players who need to be at the top of their game all season
Take a look at the coaching situations around the NFC West
And here are the rookies that could have an impact in the NFC West this year
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
