Revenge Of The Birds

'Caption This' Arizona Cardinals Style: Week 9

2009-11-07T10:00:16Z

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

Your caption here.

We're at another week of 'Caption This', and yet another picture. This week, our very own Kurt Warner faces the captions, as he talks with Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. Shout outs to DaveInTuscon for winning a close one last week. He captioned the pic of Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme talking to head coach John Fox saying, "No, Scissors cuts paper! You can't change to rock half way through!" He takes home the win and makes it 8 weeks now that nobody has repeated as champs or even won more then once. Is anyone up for the test this week? It shouldn't be too hard considering how bad Warner played last week. Remember to rec a caption, that way we get a good amount of votes. As always, fabricate something clever and vote (click on "actions" and click on "rec") the captions that give you a chuckle.

Username	WTD Votes	Weeks Won
Irishcardinal	10	1
ajotanelsona	8	1
JoeCB1991	7	1
Andrew602	5	1
AJBirdwatcher	5	1
Sc464	4	1
Hibernian	4	1
DaveInTucson	4	1
fansincejakendrop	4	0
StuckinColorado	3	0
Fitz Jizzle	3	0
Cardsdefense	3	0
CardsIrish	2	0
Machpelican3	2	0
Badmatty53	2	0
azcardswinez	2	0
Desert_Bird_Watcher	2	0
Giannaros	2	0
Sir Whirly	1	0
Suns' Sensei	1	0
Hevchv	1	0
jonny-yuma	1	0
TexansForever	1	0
quid pro quo	1	0
don f	1	0
robloosli	1	0
blank_38	1	0

http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2009/10/31/1108324/caption-this-arizona-cardinals

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Keys to the Game

2009-11-06T17:02:50Z

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Kurt Warner is the key to success for the Cardinals on Sunday. If he can get the ball into the receivers hands and not turn the ball over, expect another road win for the Cardinals.

Browse more photos »

The Arizona Cardinals travel to Soldier Field this Sunday in a game between two 4-3 teams wanting to make a run in their divisions. The Bears have had a similar up and down season as the Cardinals, and both need to establish some consistency on both sides of the ball. After a puzzling loss to the Carolina Panthers this past weekend, the Cardinals are hoping to continue their road success. So far this year, the Cardinals are 3-0 on the road, and have beat the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Giants in that span. There will be many keys to this game, but perhaps none as important as the production of Kurt Warner.

Kurt Warner -This game starts and ends with Warner. He must get off to a good start and put points on the board early. Ken Whisenhunt needs to find a way to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald, whether it be a touchdown or a deep pass, and if Warner can finally start making the deep ball successfull, it will greatly help the offense. Warner needs to play keep away, and not turn the ball over. If he can do that, it gives the Cardinals a significantly better chance of winning the game.

Stop the run - After watching the success the Panthers had against the Cardinals last week, there's not a doubt that the Bears will try to establish the run early(and why shouldn't they?). They have a big offensive line and a talented young back in Matt Forte. The Cardinals need to force Jay Cutler to throw the ball more then Jake Delhomme did last week. Allowing the Bears to run 4+ yards every carry tires the defense, and keeps the Cardinals offense off the field. If the Cardinals can stop Forte, and not allow any running production from the Bears, it gives the defense a better chance to slow the Bears.

Establish the run - Not only do the Cardinals need to stop the run, but they must establish the run themselves. Teams have game planned around pressuring Kurt Warner, and the only way to counter that game plan is running the ball. The Cardinals can't get behind early like they've done before, and must start with handing off the ball. Warner is considerably better on play action, and at this point anything will help.

Pressure Jay Cutler - Cutler has a tendency to turn the ball over when he's pressured or things aren't going his way. The Cardinals sacked Jake Delhomme once last week, something that won't cut it in Chicago. If Cutler can get out of rhythm, it may mean multiple interceptions for a Cardinals defense that didn't have any last week.

One thing that can't happen is for the Arizona Cardinals to stay in their funk. They got ahead of themselves last week and bought into their own hype, which unexpectedly let the Panthers win the game. The Cardinals have been better on the road this season, and must continue that trend on Sunday for them to stay in the division race. What are your keys to the game?

It's probably gonna be cold in Chicago during the game, but that doesn't really bother me. I played...

2009-11-06T21:05:22Z

It's probably gonna be cold in Chicago during the game, but that doesn't really bother me. I played in Pittsburgh for years so I'm used to the cold. We had a "no sleeve" rule in Pittsburgh so I think I'll be alright out there. But still, any time you spend outside in that type of cold is tough.

Bryant McFadden talks about the loss to the Panthers and the upcoming game against the Bears

Cosell’s Coaching Tape: Cards O v Panthers D

2009-11-06T18:14:31Z

Cosell’s Coaching Tape: Cards O v Panthers D

I'm personally a big fan of Greg Cosell, and his coaching notes, while short, usually help gives an insight in why a game went as it did.

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Who Has the Edge?

2009-11-06T10:00:20Z

Let's take a look at the Cardinals/Bears match up to see who has the edge.

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
QB		Jay Cutler can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he wants to be - will it be on Sunday? Meanwhile, Kurt Warner is coming off quite possibly his worst game as a Cardinal, and needs to prove why he returned to the team for another two years.
RB	Split	Although Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower are improving the running game every week, the Cardinals still rank dead last in the NFL in rushing. Matt Forte hasn't lived up to his rookie year's expectations, but has still put together some solid games so far this season. The Bears have a higher average, but that doesn't say much.
WR		The Bears hope that Devin Hester can be the long-term answer at wide out. Aside from him, they're depth is young. The Cardinals have the best receivers in the league, but have yet to shine to their abilities. Boldin may be out, but Fitzgerald and Breaston should be fine.
TE		Greg Olsen is part of a young tight end class that is starting to make their mark in the NFL. He's been Cutler's favorite target so far this season also. Ben Patrick has produced solid play since returning from suspension after week 4, but he's not at the receiving level of Olsen.
OL	Split	Both offensive lines have had issues this year. Orlando Pace and Olin Kreutz bring experience to the Bears offensive line. The Cardinals offensive line has had problems against quick defenses, but has slowly made some production, both in passing and running situations.

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
DL		The Bears have a lot of defensive lineman that can get the job done, but nobody that will make the pro bowl anytime soon. The Cardinals had their troubles last week, but have been shut down for the most part this season.
LB		I'm giving this one to the Bears. They have Lance Briggs and an overall better stability at linebacker. The Cards 'backers have had a couple good games, but have ultimately been torched this season.
CB		The Cardinals secondary continues to improve after being burned in the beginning of the season. Through the last 3 games, they've greatly lowered the opponents passing average, going from 32nd to 20th in the league. The Bears have Charles Tillman, but are foggy after him.
S		Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle continue to play their best football together and are leading the secondary. Possibly startig this Sunday for the Bears will be Al Afalava and Josh Bullocks - who?
ST		The Bears have good special teams coverage, a solid kicker and punter, and Knox, Manning, and Hester returning kicks. The Cardinals special teams has been dependable this year but can't compete here.
Coach	Split	Given the talent on the team, Lovie Smith has been able to get production out of his team and keep the Bears in the division race. Whisenhunt has done the same and both coaches have taken their teams to Super Bowl and lost. Close call.
Edge	Result	Analysis
Draw	7-7	Given the similarity between the two teams, this game is too close to call. Both have had similar seasons and both stand at the same record. Giving the Bears the edge because they're at home would also be foolish given how good the Cardinals have been on the road. This game could go either way.

Who Would You Take from the Chicago Bears?

2009-11-05T19:45:17Z

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

Imagine the additional threat of Devin Hester taking back punts and kicks for the Cardinals.

Browse more photos »

Last week we started this segment, in which we would pick a player(s) from the opposing team for that given week. This week, we face the Chicago Bears and everybody now has a chance to pick who they would want from their team. It can be a young or new player, a starter or back up, etc. You can also take their current contract status into consideration, as if we were actually signing the player. Also look at who may be leaving our team after this season. Here are some players to consider.

Devin Hester, KR/PR - Notice how he would be a return man only. Obviously picking up Hester would be an addition to a return unit that hasn't had a dangerous threat from quite some time. We also wouldn't use him at wide out for obvious reasons, and with him taking kicks back, we would never be out of a game. Teams would have to gameplan around kicking the ball to him, and as we all know(from the MNF game in '06), he can be a game changer.

Jay Cutler, QB - Before we get into the Warner/Leinart debate, let me say that once Warner retires(which would be sometime soon) we'll need somebody at quarterback. Matt Leinart is the primary candidate to replace Kurt, but Cutler has already become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He has his struggles at times, but imagine pairing him with Fitz, then throw in Boldin and Breaston and Jay would have a lot of deep threats.

Matt Forte, RB - Forte is only in his second year and is already one of the top running backs in the league. Even behind a struggling offensive line, he's managed to produce solid numbers. He's an ideal back, getting the primary amount of carries, catching the ball, and being a leader on offense. He would also be a nice addition to our own young running backs.

Lance Briggs, LB -Briggs is still relatively young and one of the best linebackers in the league. With the possibility of Dansby leaving and our aging depth at linebacker already, he would add talent to a position that could make the defense even better.

Is there anybody that you would want from the Bears and why?

Displaced Cardinal Fans?

2009-11-05T21:35:24Z

I received some info through an email I thought I'd share with everyone.

Are you the DirecTV Ultimate Displaced Fan?
DirecTV is looking for the craziest most-die hard Cardinals fan living outside the Arizona market. Candidates can submit essays, pictures and videos illustrating why they are the DirecTV Ultimate Displaced Fan! The grand prize winner will win a Super Bowl week prize package that includes: an all-expense paid trip to the Super Bowl, two tickets to the Super Bowl, a media tour with one of the star players from their favorite team and the opportunity to play in the nationally televised DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl with former NFL players and celebrities. Go to www.ultimatedisplacedfan.com for more info.

I could not help it I had to post this audio of Brad Childress talking about Brett...

2009-11-05T19:30:23Z

I could not help it I had to post this audio of Brad Childress talking about Brett Favre's groin.

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Know Thy Enemy Edition

2009-11-05T18:15:35Z

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

5 days ago: Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) celebrates with teammate Jason McKie (37) after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Browse more photos »

In the first 7 weeks of football the Arizona Cardinals defense allowed just 67.5 yards rushing per game, and in week 8 the Cards allowed 270 to the Carolina Panthers. This was just one of their major problems that happened last week, but was probably the biggest reason the lost, outside of the turnovers. This week the Cards face another team that is trying to get their running game going but cannot. The difference between last week and this week though, is that the Bears have given their running back enough carries to get it going while the Cardinals had to abandon the run because of being behind. Regardless of how bad the Bears running game has been this season, they will still try to duplicate what the Panthers did to the Cards last week with Matt Forte.

Matt Forte went to Tulane University, where he would play football all four years that he was there. While he did not have a stellar career while he was there, he was still a very good running back. In his freshmen and sophomore years he would start 9 of 22 games and would rush for 1279 combined yards and 8 touchdowns. That would be good enough for him to get his shot as a full time starter in his junior year. His year would be cut short of injuries though, playing in 9 of the 11 games they had, but during those games he would rush for 859 yards from 163 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns. Overall he had a pretty good junior season, and probably would have eclipsed the 1000 yard mark and double digit touchdowns if not for the injury. His senior season though, would be the one that gets him noticed around the country.

Forte's senior season was nothing but a monster season. His final season he would rush for 2,127 yards on 361 carries (5.9 yards per carry) and 23 touchdowns. He would be just the 11th player in NCAA Division I-Bowl subdivision history to rush for that much, while the last player to do this was former Cardinal J.J. Arrington in 2004 when he rushed for 2,018 yards for Cal. Forte would get the majority of the yards on five 200 yards or more rushing games, and two 300 yards or more rushing games. He would also have 282 receiving yards off of 32 catches (8.8 yards per catch). Because of that monster season, Forte would get an invite to the Senior Bowl where he could further show his talents to everyone that had not seen a whole lot of him before. In that game he would rush for 59 yards on 8 carries and record 4 catches for 38 yards. Those numbers would help him become the Senior Bowl MVP. This season effectively made Forte a a top running back for the 2008 NFL Draft.

Forte would be drafted in the second round, 13th overall, by the Chicago Bears to help create a nice 1-2 punch with the struggling Cedric Benson. Forte though, would be left with a job that was his to lose since Benson decided to have legal troubles and would end up getting cut that year. Forte would make sure he never lost his job after getting his shot as the full time starter. In his rookie season Forte would rush for over 1238 yards on 316 carries (3.9 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns. He would also have 63 catches that went for 477 yards (7.6 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns. This would be good enough to warrant rookie of the year award talk, although that would end up going to the Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan.

The 2009 season has been a different story for Forte. He has struggled quite a bit this year just rushing for 408 yards off of 118 carries (3.5 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns. He has also caught just 24 passes for 185 yards (7.7 yards per catch) and no touchdowns. Most of these yards came against awful teams too(121 against the Detroit Lions and 90 against the Cleveland Browns and all touchdowns coming in those two games, 40 of the receiving yards came from those games too). His production has gone down, which could be protection, could be the sophomore slump, or it could be something else. One thing is for certain, he has struggled this season against good defense, one that the Cards are very capable of being.

For the Cardinals their strength on defense has been stopping the run this year. They did have a setback last week going from the number one defense to the number nine ranked defense, but they have shown against good running backs (Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew, etc). They will have to get back to what they do best this week and stop Forte from running over them. Key player to watch on the Cardinal defense: Adrian Wilson. Wilson struggled mightily last week against Carolina, with lots of missed assignments that led to a big run for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Thoughts?

Exclusive ROTB Interview: Five Questions with Antrel Rolle

2009-11-05T15:40:54Z

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Antrel Rolle is one of the most dangerous defenders with the ball in his hands.

Browse more photos »

Recently, I was able to sit down and chat with Arizona Cardinals free safety, Antrel Rolle. Rolle, who is a former first round pick out of Miami by the Arizona Cardinals in 2005, started his career at cornerback and has since moved to free safety. At the midpoint of last season, Antrel found his groove at the position, and has greatly improved since then. This year, he's turned into one of the better play makers at free safety, and hopes to lead the Cardinals defense to the playoffs. Antrel was nice enough to take some time out of his schedule(especially in the middle of the season) to sit down and talk with us, so thank you Antrel.

1. First off, what has been the biggest adjustment moving from cornerback to free safety?

Open-field tackling has been a big difference, learning to take good angles to the ball and just focusing on the whole field rather than just your man like you do as a corner.

2. What have you been able to learn from Adrian Wilson? And do you feel that both of you are one of the most dynamic safety duos in the league?

I have learned a lot watching him (Adrian Wilson). I learned how to play the run and different route combinations and knowing where to go at all times. He's a smart player and a student of the game and I think we benefit each other. I think we are without question one of the best safety duos in the league. We can both play all over the field.

3. We all know that once the ball is in your hands there's a serious threat of it be returned for a touchdown. What makes you so dangerous with the ball?

I've been a return guy all my life. I was an offensive guy up until I got to the NFL. It's just something that I was born with. I feel like whenever I have the ball that I can do something with it.

4. How much of a factor was a Super Bowl appearance for this team?

Getting to the Super Bowl was great for our organization. We worked hard for it and it's something that we can use as a great confidence booster for this year and in the future.

5. Next year could be a contract year for you and it's thought that a deal may get done then. What are your thoughts about resigning with the Cardinals?

I don't really worry too much about contract issues. It's up to the Cardinals. I love my teammates, the fans and the organization, but I know it's a business and things might not always go my way.

Again, big thanks to Antrel for taking the time to talk to your very own Revenge of the Birds. Check out Antrel Rolle's blog(which you can see at www.rolle21.com), and www.playerpress.com/ for other NFL players information.

Send This Arizona Cardinal to the Pro Bowl: Larry Fitzgerald

2009-11-05T10:00:17Z

by Matt York - AP

Will Larry Fitzgerald represent the Cardinals in the pro bowl this year?

View full size photo »

While he's having a down year by his standards, Larry Fitzgerald may be the only lock on the team to make the pro bowl this year. Larry Fitzgerald gained stardom throughout the playoffs last year, and shouldn't have problem appearing on ballots throughout the nation. He's quietly put together a solid season, and unfortunately he faces high expectations at times. Keep in mind that Fitzgerald is projected to finish the year with 107 catches for 1,163 yards and 11 touchdowns - not bad for having a "down" year. Add that to his work ethic, his leadership, and his commitment on the field and you have your ideal player to send to the pro bowl. Let's see how Larry stacks up to the competition.

	Player	Catches	Yards	TDs
1	Steve Smith(NY)	53	662	4
2	Sidney Rice	37	585	2
3	Marques Colston	36	551	6
4	Roddy White	37	543	6
5	Larry Fitzgerald	47	509	5

Looking at the list, the only big name players next to Fitzgerald are Colston and White. It's obvious that Larry hasn't put up the same numbers of his counterparts, but we're half way through the season and players can change. Other receivers can get cold, while Fitzgerald can equally get hot at a given time. The numbers will be there by the end of the season, and Larry Fitzgerald is one Cardinal that needs to represent them at the Pro Bowl. Go here to vote for Larry Fitzgerald and other Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears: An Early Look

2009-11-04T19:45:21Z

When the Arizona Cardinals travel north the windy city of Chicago to face the Bears it'll be an interesting match of two similar teams. Both squads are 4-3 this season and are 3-2 in their past five games. The Bears haven't lost at home (3-0) while the Red Birds haven't lost on the road (3-0). The points for (CHI-159, ARI-157) and points against (CHI-150, ARI-143) are eerily similar. Needless to say both teams are sitting somewhere around mediocrity and are hoping to keep themselves in the race for the NFC post season. Here's a look at some of things the Bears are talking about this week:

Jay Cutler's history in November and December: As the NFL heads into the second half of the season, the weather will start getting cold and rainy, and things can become challenging for a lot of teams. With that said, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at how Jay Cutler has fared in the months of November and December during his career.
A Detailed Breakdown of the Bears' Offense: Here's an interesting exert...."On running back carries, the Bears went left 18 times for 107 yards, an average of 5.9 per run. Take away Garrett Wolfe's 36-yard run to the left at the end of the game if you wish, and they still averaged 4.2. On 13 running back carries to the right, the Bears had 36 yards, an average of 2.8."
Chicago's Pass Protection: More often that not when you see a QB get sacked fans quickly jump to the conclusion that one of the offensive lineman blew an assignment. While that may be true, it's not always the fault of the specific lineman that was beat on the sack. Seeing as how I'm not privy to the actual O-Line meeting for the Bears at Halas Hall, I'll just make my educated guess on some of the things going on with their pass protection.
Bears' Offense Too Complicated: Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said he's ready to start paring back the playbook with the Bears clearly struggling seven games into the Jay Cutler era. At this point, following Sunday's 30-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field, it's fair to say the Bears aren't doing much of anything very well with the possible exception that Cutler is doing a decent job of getting the ball to Devin Hester on a regular basis.

With that out of the way, here's a look some interesting Bears' stats through the first seven games.

The Bears are 0-3 when Cutler throws for 250 yards or more and 4-0 when he does not.
In the Bears' three losses Cutler has thrown nine interceptions and in their four wins he's thrown just two picks.
Matt Forte has averaged 54.7 total yards in their three losses and 107.3 total yards in their four wins.
Forte has only crossed the goal line three times this season but none of them have come in a losing effort.
Devin Hester, the team leading WR not returner, averages 91.3 yards in the team's losses but just 45 yards in the team's victories.
The Bears are 1-3 against teams with a winning record and their four victories have come against opponents with a combined record of 9-20.

Newest Arizona Cardinal: Jed Collins

2009-11-04T18:40:18Z

Newest Arizona Cardinal: Jed Collins

The Arizona Cardinals filled their practice squad when they signed fullback Jed Collins, a former UDFA, who has spent time with the Chiefs, Eagles and Browns. As far as practice squad players go, he's a great guy to have around considering that he played fullback, tight end and linebacker in college (Washington State).

Arizona Cardinals Power Rankings Round Up: Week 8

2009-11-04T17:43:59Z

The "Take one step forward, take two steps back" edition.

Just when the Arizona Cardinals starting making grounds in the power rankings and started to gain some good ole nation recognition, they show why most critics were doubting them in the first place. After being in the top 10 of most power rankings last week, the Cardinals take a grand fall and average the week at 13.

ESPN - 13

The Cardinals take a 3-0 road record to Soldier Field, where a victory would help their cause immensely. (Sando)

Yahoo - 11

When Kurt Warner shook hands with old NFL Europe teammate Jake Delhomme before Sunday’s game, did he catch the Turnover Flu from the Carolina QB?

NFL.com - 16

Pro Football Weekly - 14

Kurt Warner turned in a positively Delhommian performance.

Sports Illustrated - 13

The Cardinals just aren't getting the same Larry Fitzgerald who took over the league last year. He's averaging almost five yards fewer per catch this season (10.8 compared to 15.4) though seven games, and doesn't have a reception for more than 27 yards, after racking up 10 games last season in which he caught at least one pass for 30 yards or longer. But that's far from the whole story behind Arizona's uneven season. The Cardinals suddenly can't win at home, losing three of their first four after winning eight times in 10 games there last season.

CBS - 11

Can anybody figure this team out? They play well on the road and stink it up at home. Good thing they're on the road this week.

FOX - 17

The Arizona Cardinals are officially on Power Rankings probation. From this point forward, unless the team strings either 2-3 wins or losses together, this frustrating Jekyll-and-Hyde team will be placed right in the middle of the rankings, period.

What If Sports - 18

Yahoo Team Ranker - 11

Sporting News - 12

More up and down than a pogo stick. Anemic ground attack remains an issue.

Walter Football - 10

My theory on how the Panthers beat the Cardinals by 13: Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme decided to dress up as each other on Halloween. Delhomme, posing as Warner, tossed five picks and fumbled once. Warner, wearing a Delhomme costume, didn't have to post monster numbers because his running game was working well for the first time ever. Tell me that this doesn't make sense. In fact, it even sounds like the plot of a dumb ABC Family movie. All it's missing is some fat 12-year-old kid who's in the flick solely for comedy relief.

ROTB Collective Rankings

Arizona Cardinals Fly Around the NFC West: Roster Move Addition

2009-11-04T15:56:31Z

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

5 days ago: St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, is congratulated by linebackers coach Paul Ferraro after beating the Detroit Lions 17-10 in an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Browse more photos »

The Arizona Cardinals weren't the only team in the NFC West that made some roster moves this week, but even mid-season roster moves aren't the lead story this week. First it's worth mentioning that the Cardinals will make one more roster move in the upcoming couple of days because the Bengals have signed fullback Fui Vakanpuna off the Cardinals practice squad. It'll be interesting to see who the Cardinals sign to fill the vacant practice squad spot.

St. Louis Rams: Normally we list the teams in order of division standings but when a team breaks a 17 game losing streak, they deserve some recognition. It had literally been 378 days since the Rams last won a regular season game and Steven Jackson (149 yards rushing) did most of the heavy lifting against the equally hapless Lions. Despite the win the Rams still have major questions at quarterback and some are starting to think that Marc Bulger's career is very near the end. One bright spot, outside of Jackson of course, is the development of the offensive line though, especially first round pick Jason Smith. The Rams also made a roster move, releasing wide receiver Tim Carter and signing cornerback Danny Gorrer.

San Francisco 49ers: The Niners lost a game to the Colts that was closer than just about everyone expected (18-14) but the Niners aren't waving the "moral victory" flag either. Not only does this loss push their current losing streak to three but they also lost three significant starters during the game. Joe Staley (MCL and PCL strain) is expected to miss six weeks, Nate Clements (fractured scapula) is expected to miss six to eight weeks and Demetric Evans (AC sprain) is expected to miss at least three weeks. These injuries forced the Niners to make a couple of moves, signing cornerback Keith Smith (formerly of the Lions) and releasing seldom used wide receiver Michael Spurlock. Their also expected to make at least one more roster move (possibly pulling up an OT from their practice squad). Considering that Sunday's game was Alex Smith's first start since 2007, here's also a complete breakdown of his peformance and Niner's fans have also determined that the NFC West will come down to a dog fight (we can still say "dog fight" right?) between their team and the Cards.

Seattle Seahawks: Following thier second consecutive lopsided loss, which dropped them to 2-5, the Seahawks seem to be cleaining house. In the past two days they've made nine roster moves including the release of veteran running back Edgerrin James. Also included in the released/cut department include Travis Fisher and C.J. Wallace. New to the 53 man roster will be Mike Hass (WR), Roy Lewis (CB) and Jamar Adams (S), all of whom were on their practice squad. Filling thier now vacant practice squad spots will be Trae Williams (CB), DeAngelo Willingham (CB) and Devin Moore (RB). Needless to say roster cleaning like this is indicative of a team that has given up on any hopes of competing this season and moving on with the hopes of allowing younger players to grow during the remaining nine games. One interesting thought is that some Hawks fans are wondering if it's time to pass the torch from Matt Hasselbeck to Seneca Wallace (part I and II). Needless to say we're watching the demise of the Hawks and it could turn into quite a show over the next couple of seasons.

NFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Arizona	4	3	157	143
San Francisco	3	4	147	140
Seattle	2	5	135	147
St. Louis	1	7	77	221

(updated 11.3.2009 at 3:44 AM CST)

RotB Pick'em: Week 8 Results & Week 9 Picks

2009-11-04T14:54:12Z

((My apologies for the delay; the movers arrived yesterday with the household items and internet finally started working today so I can wrap this up on my "real" PC!))

As much as we would like to forget the Cardinals' game against Carolina, many of us would like to forget our performance in the eighth week of the Pick'em League. Many finished with three or four correct picks (myself included) and are feeling the hurt in the overall standings; some weathered the wild week well with six wins (AJ, bclairao, blank_38, Thomaldo, and wongy) and share the Week Won Point evenly (0.20 each). Congratulations to y' all.

This is the last week new participants can get in on the action and meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible for the Pick'em Championship, participants need to have picked a total of nine weeks of the season (minimum) with the last two weeks being mandatory. The highest qualifying winning percentage takes home the title and some Cardinals prize swag.

Pick'em Overall Standings Through Week 8 (Part 1)

Username	Correct	Wrong	%	Weeks Played	Week Won Points
Drullin'OverDaCards	19	5	.792	3	0
Bezekira	36	12	.750	6	0.26
blank_38	18	6	.750	3	1.2
SenSurround	18	6	.750	3	0
Phil7178	12	4	.750	2	0.06
Undrafteds	6	2	.750	1	0
robloosli	46	18	.719	8	0.18
TBru	40	16	.714	7	0.2
hevchv	45	19	.703	8	1.12
b0rdrline	44	20	.688	8	0.56
bclairao	44	20	.688	8	0.26
CARDSxFAN32	33	15	.688	6	0.2
card-deville	38	18	.679	7	0.56
Carddan	38	18	.679	7	0
Pyromnc	43	21	.671	8	0
Giannaros	16	8	.667	3	0.06
StuckinColorado	42	22	.656	8	1.32
azcardswinez	42	22	.656	8	0.18
Cuckoo for Coco Puffs	42	22	.656	8	0
RottPhiler	21	11	.656	4	0.12

Pick'em Overall Standings Through Week 8 (Part 2)

Username	Correct	Wrong	%	Weeks Played	Week Won Points
sc464	26	14	.650	5	0.06
Desert_Bird_Watcher	36	20	.643	7	0.12
Andrew602	36	20	.643	7	0.06
Tim V	36	20	.643	7	0
JoeCB1991, Travis23	41	23	.641	8	0.06
CardsIrish, jallred350	41	23	.641	8	0
Hibernian	40	24	.625	8	0.2
Red Reign	40	24	.625	8	0.06
Hawkwind	40	24	.625	8	0
wongy	30	18	.625	6	0.32
KDean75	25	15	.625	5	0.06
CARDstuckinVA	10	6	.625	2	0
tigg, Xquizyt	5	3	.625	1	0
AJ Birdwatcher	34	22	.607	7	0.2
Irishcardinal	34	22	.607	7	0.12
Chg91	33	23	.589	7	0.06
don f	14	10	.583	3	0
kj197728	37	27	.578	8	0
Thomaldo	36	28	.563	8	0.26
boogatt66	9	7	.563	2	0
thereallacardsfan	8	8	.500	2	0

Week 9 Pick'em Selected Games

Away	Home	Day/Time (ET)	Network	DirecTV
BAL	CIN	Sun, 1 PM	CBS	704
ARI	CHI	Sun, 1 PM	FOX	709
MIA	NE	Sun, 1 PM	CBS	707
DET	SEA	Sun, 4:05 PM	FOX	712
TEN	SF	Sun, 4:15 PM	CBS	714
SD	NYG	Sun, 4:15 PM	FOX	713
DAL	PHI	Sun, 8:20 PM	NBC
PIT	DEN	Mon, 8:30 PM	ESPN	206

Seahawks release Edge

2009-11-04T00:12:42Z

Seahawks release Edge

Is there another team that will take him?

Grading the Defense: Cardinals vs Panthers

2009-11-03T19:30:32Z

More photos » by Matt York - AP

5 days ago: Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (29) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Browse more photos »

The Cardinals defense was run over by the Panthers this past Sunday and it's now their turn to be graded by the ROTB faithful. The Panthers exploited the Cardinals defense every opportunity they could, and dared the Cardinals to stop the run - the Cardinals never accepted the challenge. Even with 14 passes thrown by Jake Delhomme, the Cardinals couldn't see the run coming. Everyone in the leauge knows that DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are talented backs, but no one on the Cardinals defense wanted to recognize it. 270 rushing yards later and the Cardinals are facing the aftermath. Only time will tell if Bill Davis can get a fire burning under the defense, but they'll need to wake up quickly as they face Matt Forte next week. Let's dish out the grade.

Defensive line: The defense line can't be faulted completely, as the linebackers are equally responsible, but allowing that many rushing yards is not acceptable. Darnell Dockett suffered a strained groin early, and when the defensive line loses him or he's not playing at 100%, they can't compensate. The long 77 yard run was the biggest dagger in the heart of the offense, and the defensive line was completely pushed out of the way. The defense line failed miserably pressuring Delhomme, and one sack for the entire game on the quarterback will not get the job done.

Linebackers: Several linebackers missed very important tackles, or were blown out of big rushing plays in the first half. Karlos Dansby was a tackling machine, but it wasn't enough to stop the Panthers rushing attack. Poor tackling has to be the story of the game. DeAngelo Williams can break tackles like the best of them, but there were plenty of times were the Cardinals got to the running back and let Panthers running backs break away. The linebackers are very important to a 3-4 defense and cannot continue to play defense this way for the remainder of the season.

Defensive Backs: There's not a lot to judge the defensive backs on after the game, mainly due to the Panthers gameplan of running the ball. The defensive back's primary job all game was stopping the run once it broke through the defensive line and linebackers. The only passing touchdown given up was a sideline throw to Steve Smith, who beat cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. DRC looked like he was expecting safety help over the top, and was beat by the time the ball was released.

My Defensive Grade: D

Allowing 270 rushing yards and 34 points in one game is never a cause for celebration. The defense played a terrible game and because of their second half effort, they came away with a D. They need to focus on their opponent, and stop buying into their own hype. The Cardinals defense has enough talent to play with the best of teams, and they'll need to start showing that starting this week. What did you grade the defense and why?

Poll

What is your grade for the Cardinals defensive effort on Sunday?

"We're going to win enough football games to go to the playoffs," Mike Singletary said. "It's as...

2009-11-03T18:42:36Z

"We're going to win enough football games to go to the playoffs," Mike Singletary said. "It's as simple as that."

Them's fighting words.....

Arizona Cardinals Roster Moves: Keilen Dykes to IR and Antoine Holmes to Practice Squad

2009-11-03T17:16:01Z

The Arizona Cardinals made some roster moves today moving Keilen Dykes to Injured Reserve and signing Antoine Holmes to their practice squad. Dykes, who has spent time on the active roster and practice squad this season, tore a biceps muscle during practice last and will require surgery. Dykes started the season on the practice squad but was activated after Lance Long was cut. He was moved back to the practice squad once Ben Patrick's suspension was lifted. Dykes, an undrafted defensive end/tackle from West Virginia, has spent the past two seasons dealing with various injuries.

Taking Dykes' spot on the practice squad will be Antoine Holmes, an undrafted free agent from this season. Holmes transferred to North Carolina State as a junior and moved into the starting lineup as a senior where he totalled 35 tackles, nine for loss and two sacks. He played both defensive tackle and end at NC State but his size (6-2, 278) will limit him to defensive end with the Cardinals. He's decent athlete, especially for his size, but his upside is limited and he was too often controlled by a single blocker in college. He spent time with the Vikings during camp but has been a free agent ever since.

Revenge Of The Birds

'Caption This' Arizona Cardinals Style: Week 9

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Keys to the Game

It's probably gonna be cold in Chicago during the game, but that doesn't really bother me. I played...

Cosell’s Coaching Tape: Cards O v Panthers D

Cosell’s Coaching Tape: Cards O v Panthers D

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Who Has the Edge?

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

QB

RB

Split

WR

TE

OL

Split

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

DL

LB

CB

S

ST

Split

Draw

7-7

Who Would You Take from the Chicago Bears?

Displaced Cardinal Fans?

I could not help it I had to post this audio of Brad Childress talking about Brett...

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Know Thy Enemy Edition

Exclusive ROTB Interview: Five Questions with Antrel Rolle

Send This Arizona Cardinal to the Pro Bowl: Larry Fitzgerald

Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears: An Early Look

Newest Arizona Cardinal: Jed Collins

Newest Arizona Cardinal: Jed Collins

Arizona Cardinals Power Rankings Round Up: Week 8

Arizona Cardinals Fly Around the NFC West: Roster Move Addition

NFC West Standings

RotB Pick'em: Week 8 Results & Week 9 Picks

Seahawks release Edge

Seahawks release Edge

Grading the Defense: Cardinals vs Panthers

My Defensive Grade: D

What is your grade for the Cardinals defensive effort on Sunday?

"We're going to win enough football games to go to the playoffs," Mike Singletary said. "It's as...

Arizona Cardinals Roster Moves: Keilen Dykes to IR and Antoine Holmes to Practice Squad