ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Cardinals vs. BillsFriday, October 29, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Last week against Seattle, the Cardinals played very aggressively on the
defensive side of the ball. They utilized a number of different fronts,
with both three and four down linemen, and they blitzed consistently and
effectively. This will put tremendous mental and physical pressure on a
below-average Bills OL and Drew Bledsoe, who lacks any mobility and tends
to perceive pressure even when it is not there.
Bertrand Berry is the Cardinals' designated playmaker on their front
seven. Berry is the right DE in the Cards' base 4-3 defense, but defensive
coordinator Clancy Pendergast also aligns Berry on the left side of the
defense as a stand-up LB. When Berry is positioned on the left as a LB,
the Cards play with three down linemen, and Berry almost always is a pass
rusher.
Look for the Cardinals to align Berry on the left against the Bills. He
would be matched against Buffalo RT Mike Williams, who has consistently
struggled in pass protection this season. Williams had a difficult time
last week matching up to the Ravens' Terrell Suggs, who beat Williams with
both speed and power.
One thing that really stood out watching the Cardinals' defense against
Seattle last week on the coaching tape was how fast they were playing.
They attacked early in the game with a high percentage of blitz, and they
got Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck to play too fast. The clock in
Hasselbeck's head was "racing", he was clearly not comfortable mentally
against a Cardinals defense that was playing at a very rapid tempo.
When you play the Cardinals' defense, the two players you must account for
are DE Bertrand Berry and SS Adrian Wilson. Wilson is a forward moving,
attacking safety, much like Roy Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. The
Cardinals use him very effectively in zone blitz schemes, and his
explosiveness makes him an excellent blitzer.
Watching the Cardinals' defense on tape last week against Seattle, we were
surprised by the amount of man-to-man coverage they played with corners
Renaldo Hill and David Macklin. Hill and Macklin lined up in press
position, challenging Seahawks WRs Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson.
A very intriguing matchup in this game is Bills RDE Aaron Schobel
versus Cardinals LT Leonard Davis. Schobel is a strong outside pass rusher
with good quickness and burst to the corner. Last week against Baltimore,
he easily beat Ravens All-Pro LT Jonathan Ogden twice early in the game,
each time producing a big hit on QB Kyle Boller, the first time resulting
in a turnover.
Look for the Bills' defense to attack the Cardinals' offense with a high
percentage of blitz, especially in long-yardage situations. Cards QB Josh
McCown is improving, but he still does not handle the blitz well. He tends
to break down too early, and leave the pocket, leaving plays on the field
in the passing game.
Few safeties add in to the run game as well as Buffalo's Lawyer Milloy. He
is a key player in this matchup, since he has a great feel and instinct
for showing one thing before the snap and then doing something different
after the snap. The pre-snap phase is always important against an
inexperienced QB, and Milloy is excellent at disguising his post-snap
responsibility.
Look for the Bills to employ their 3-3-5 personnel package in passing
situations. They align LB Jeff Posey in a down position, and Schobel
stands up as a LB. The Bills have a lot of blitz flexibility from this
alignment, and it allows LBs London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes to attack
from the inside.
Special Teams
PK Neil Rackers is taking great advantage of kicking in the weather
conditions in Arizona. He has made nine of 10 attempts, with his only miss
coming from 58 yards. Five of his nine field goals have been from over 50
yards, including three in one game.
The Cardinals' special teams have improved each week and Gerald Hayes'
blocked punt versus the Seahawks resulted in a safety, giving the
Cardinals a lead in the fourth quarter. The Bills' special teams have
struggled at times and will need to contribute to lend a hand to a
struggling offense.
Prediction: Bills 14, Cardinals 13
Scouts Inc.
Last week against Seattle, the Cardinals played very aggressively on the
defensive side of the ball. They utilized a number of different fronts,
with both three and four down linemen, and they blitzed consistently and
effectively. This will put tremendous mental and physical pressure on a
below-average Bills OL and Drew Bledsoe, who lacks any mobility and tends
to perceive pressure even when it is not there.
Bertrand Berry is the Cardinals' designated playmaker on their front
seven. Berry is the right DE in the Cards' base 4-3 defense, but defensive
coordinator Clancy Pendergast also aligns Berry on the left side of the
defense as a stand-up LB. When Berry is positioned on the left as a LB,
the Cards play with three down linemen, and Berry almost always is a pass
rusher.
Look for the Cardinals to align Berry on the left against the Bills. He
would be matched against Buffalo RT Mike Williams, who has consistently
struggled in pass protection this season. Williams had a difficult time
last week matching up to the Ravens' Terrell Suggs, who beat Williams with
both speed and power.
One thing that really stood out watching the Cardinals' defense against
Seattle last week on the coaching tape was how fast they were playing.
They attacked early in the game with a high percentage of blitz, and they
got Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck to play too fast. The clock in
Hasselbeck's head was "racing", he was clearly not comfortable mentally
against a Cardinals defense that was playing at a very rapid tempo.
When you play the Cardinals' defense, the two players you must account for
are DE Bertrand Berry and SS Adrian Wilson. Wilson is a forward moving,
attacking safety, much like Roy Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. The
Cardinals use him very effectively in zone blitz schemes, and his
explosiveness makes him an excellent blitzer.
Watching the Cardinals' defense on tape last week against Seattle, we were
surprised by the amount of man-to-man coverage they played with corners
Renaldo Hill and David Macklin. Hill and Macklin lined up in press
position, challenging Seahawks WRs Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson.
A very intriguing matchup in this game is Bills RDE Aaron Schobel
versus Cardinals LT Leonard Davis. Schobel is a strong outside pass rusher
with good quickness and burst to the corner. Last week against Baltimore,
he easily beat Ravens All-Pro LT Jonathan Ogden twice early in the game,
each time producing a big hit on QB Kyle Boller, the first time resulting
in a turnover.
Look for the Bills' defense to attack the Cardinals' offense with a high
percentage of blitz, especially in long-yardage situations. Cards QB Josh
McCown is improving, but he still does not handle the blitz well. He tends
to break down too early, and leave the pocket, leaving plays on the field
in the passing game.
Few safeties add in to the run game as well as Buffalo's Lawyer Milloy. He
is a key player in this matchup, since he has a great feel and instinct
for showing one thing before the snap and then doing something different
after the snap. The pre-snap phase is always important against an
inexperienced QB, and Milloy is excellent at disguising his post-snap
responsibility.
Look for the Bills to employ their 3-3-5 personnel package in passing
situations. They align LB Jeff Posey in a down position, and Schobel
stands up as a LB. The Bills have a lot of blitz flexibility from this
alignment, and it allows LBs London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes to attack
from the inside.
Special Teams
PK Neil Rackers is taking great advantage of kicking in the weather
conditions in Arizona. He has made nine of 10 attempts, with his only miss
coming from 58 yards. Five of his nine field goals have been from over 50
yards, including three in one game.
The Cardinals' special teams have improved each week and Gerald Hayes'
blocked punt versus the Seahawks resulted in a safety, giving the
Cardinals a lead in the fourth quarter. The Bills' special teams have
struggled at times and will need to contribute to lend a hand to a
struggling offense.
Prediction: Bills 14, Cardinals 13
