=== Shoe-Salesmen WR's ===

With all the Seahawks on the radio tonight, we were struck by the fear in their voices regarding the Cardinals' passing game.

Starting with Larry Fitzgerald, they pretty much talk the Cards up as a juggernaut.  Mora, for example:  You can be all over Fitzgerald, blanketed, and he'll still make the catch just because he's taller and longer than the guy covering him.

And Warner will throw when your back is turned, so you're trying to deal with Fitzgerald's moves and the ball comes and you look back too late anyway.

Brock Huard was pretty hilarious on the radio, getting lathered up about it:  Fitzgerald is ALWAYS OPEN!  He's just ALWAYS open!  He's OPEN on EVERY play.  ... :- )

........

Obviously Anquan Boldin, with his 90 catches and >1,000 yards last year is now well into marquee territory.   Breaston is easy to overlook next to these two but could easily be a starter on another club.

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=== #13 ===

As mentioned in the Hasselbeck post today, a lot of fans think that Kurt Warner is overrated.  The Seahawks, taking the microphones after a week of video, certainly don't.

The guy is what, 38 or 58 or something, can barely move back into the pocket, is a sitting duck and he's still lighting teams up.

...........

Of course this is the advantage that the Seahawks have -- as Lawrence Jackson said, it's a lot easier to hit a stationary target.  So they (ostensibly) plan on heavy rushes, blitzes, and dogs to try to nuke the fighter jets in dry dock.

This will be an interesting thing to watch for on Sunday:  the longer a pass play is live, the Cards' chances increase exponentially. 

At 2 seconds if the pocket is collapsing and Qwest is rocking, it's of course Seahawks territory.  At 3 seconds if the pocket is teetering, it's even.  If Warner sets, looks and the pocket is still there, big trouble.

This is always true to one degree or another, that the later in the play the better for the offense, but this factor gets magnified on Sunday.  The Seahawks have to collapse the pocket early, and it's a do-able job.

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=== Poor-Mouthing Dept. ===

It's fine to respect the marquee WR's and the QB with the ring, but let's not make them out to be the Colts here.  :- )

Lacking a decent rushing game, Cards are bottom-10 in total offensive yards -- not rushing yards, just offensive yards.

Oh yeah, it's points that matter, not yards, sez Mora... wait, Arizona's bottom-10 in points also.

Passing yards overall?  18th in the NFL in passing yards, 17th in yards per pass attempted.

I like the Cards' personnel, but the Seahawks are just preparing for the worst.  That's cool.  Like Tigran Petrosian said, a sense of danger keeps you out of danger.

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=== Qwest ===

Lawrence Jackson had an interesting take on the fans.  He was asked, "Louder than the Coliseum at USC?"  

"Oh, ten times louder.  A hundred times louder.  It's like an actual person up and behind you.  Screaming in your ear so you can't hear what's going on and can't think straight."

Jackson reminded us that when the tackle can't hear the signals, and has to watch the ball, that's measurable time off of the tackle's jump.  And this is the difference between a good tackle and a bad one.

.........

John Madden, in his books, talks about chickenfeathers centers who "give their coaches a quick snap."

What he means is, some centers as they get older, can't deal with tough noses ... and they give themselves an edge by snapping the ball just a bit quicker in the QB's cadence.  This gives the C a good deal, but the other four linemen are toast.  "The linemen are getting whipped, the offense is getting whipped, everybody's ticked."

The unselfish C snaps a microsecond later, giving his linemen just that little bit head start that makes all the difference.

Compare, in proportion, the linemen who have to turn their heads and watch for the snap of the ball just like the linemen do...

The pass rush.  Sunday's key to the game.

Cheers,

Dr D