The Drive with Jody Oehler

The Drive with Jody Oehler

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First And 10 - Week 3

So much hinges on Rosen

First:

It's officially the Josh Rosen era. For the record, I didn’t think it was a great idea to insert Rosen into the game when they did. It was like Hue Jackson and his Thursday night decision to insert Baker Mayfield peer pressured Steve Wilks into doing it and anytime you’re modeling anything after Hue Jackson, expect it to end poorly. So much hinges on Rosen: Steve Keim’s future, relevancy of the franchise, sellout streak and obviously the long term plans of the franchise that we may as well find out sooner rather than later what the future holds.

In terms of his impact, I’d expect less Patrick Mahomes and more Alex Smith which is still pretty damn good.

And 10:

1. Based on his training camp performances, preseason performances and his play versus the Bears I don’t have sky high expectations for Rosen. Rosen manipulates the pocket well, may already go through his progressions better than Bradford and at least offers something different. But I also haven’t seen much “wow” from him in college or his brief professional career. In terms of his impact, I’d expect less Patrick Mahomes and more Alex Smith which is still pretty damn good.

The next step for the Cardinals in their offensive evolution is to bring the run game into the 21st century.

2. Without David Johnson firing on all (or even most) cylinders, it doesn’t matter who the QB is for the Cardinals this year. While Mike McCoy did a better job of getting the ball to Johnson in the receiving game, the designed runs had all the imagination of a stick figure drawing. Johnson seems to almost know the play is going to fail as he’s getting the hand off. The next step for the Cardinals in their offensive evolution is to bring the run game into the 21st century.

The 3rd and 2 hand off to Edmonds with the game on the line was crazy

3.  The coaching staff has a Chase Edmonds problem. The 3rd and 2 hand off to Edmonds with the game on the line was crazy and rightly roasted by just about everyone across the country. But it was their usage of him in the first half that had me just as confused with less of the attention. The Cardinals had just taken a 14-0 lead on a TD pass to David Johnson and forced the Bears to punt. On the next series, David Johnson was out of the game and Chase Edmonds took his place. Edmonds got 4 carries for 13 yards and the Cardinals punted. With the Bears reeling, I would rather have seen the Cardinals feed their workhorse but instead Wilks did the Bears a favor by inserting Edmonds. I understand the plan all along may have been designed to rest Johnson at that moment but I don’t believe coaches should ignore the ebb and

The future of the Cardinals offense hangs in the balance with the chemistry of these two.

4.  Rosen and Christian Kirk need to build some bunk beds and become best friends. The future of the Cardinals offense hangs in the balance with the chemistry of these two. Maybe Kirk should take up tennis? Whatever the case, these two need more of the Carson Palmer/John Brown chemistry than Carson Palmer/Michael Floyd.

5.  The best thing I can continue to say about the offensive line is that they were nowhere near the top of the reasons the Cardinals lost this game. While far from being a stand out unit, the offensive line has by and large performed decently in pass protection and can hardly be faulted for the run game’s total collapse, which I still pin mostly on play calling and design.

6.  Hasson Reddick somehow plunged further into Steve Wilks dog house despite playing just 4 total defensive snaps. On 3rd and 9 late in the 3rd quarter, Mitch Trubisky misfired on a pass to Anthony Miller and the Bears were set to punt. Instead, Hasson Reddick was called for being offsides and on the replay of 3rd down the Bears picked up 13 yards and would eventually settle on a FG to make it 13-14. Steve Wilks was shown on the sideline asking “Who was it? Who was it?” and after he found out, took his whole hand and ran it over his face in disbelief. Pretty much says it all about Reddick these days.

Trubisky was flustered and for most of the game a non factor and yet the defense has nothing to show for their improvements in the win column.

7.  The defense deserved to win this football game. The Cardinals defense played with an intensity and pursuit that had been sorely lacking the first two games. 13 of the Bears 16 points came immediately following turnovers by the offense. The run defense held Jordan Howard to 2.5 yards per carry a week after holding Gurley to 2.2 yards per carry. Trubisky was flustered and for most of the game a non factor and yet the defense has nothing to show for their improvements in the win column.

At this rate the offense should just vote on a TV show to watch and binge it on the sideline the rest of the season.

8.  For the third straight game, the Cardinals time of possession imbalance with their opponent was jarring. The Cardinals offense has been off the field for over 108 minutes to start the season. At this rate the offense should just vote on a TV show to watch and binge it on the sideline the rest of the season.

9.  Silver linings: Bene Benwikere continued his trend from the preseason of just making plays, Josh Bynes has a nose for the football, Chad Williams kept his hands in mint condition, Phil Dawson’s leg will not rust.

With both franchises struggling, it’s gone from the feeling of a heavyweight fight to a bum fight in just 2 years.

10.  Whats next? The Seattle Seahawks roll into town. Just a few short years ago, this was not only one of the most exciting rivalries in football but the whole city buzzed with an electricity the week before the match-up. With both franchises struggling, it’s gone from the feeling of a heavyweight fight to a bum fight in just 2 years.


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