Seasons of Discontent

That Was Certainly a Sharp Morning Kurt

Well that was certainly quite a bit better than last week wasn’t it?  After a rough Week 1 home loss to the Niners it was imperative that the Cards beat the Jags on the road in Week 2 – and fortunately for my sanity they responded.  Sure Jacksonville wasn’t exactly a team full of world-beaters but the game was at 10AM, on the east coast (where they were 0-5 in 2008), and the first game for the Cards in Florida since SB43 – and they still won.  Some reflections in hackish (and I can’t write) bullet point form:

• After a preseason and Week 1 full of Kurt Warner doubts (including from stupid Scott Howard) – Kurt took what the defense gave him and went 24/26 for 243 and a pair of scores.  His 92.3% completion percentage was an all-time single game NFL record and although nothing was over 22 yards it was most definitely an impressive show.
• Having Steve Breaston back in the fold was certainly nice as he caught 5 balls for 83 yards and provided that security blanket third wideout spot that was missing last week.  A lot of Warner’s improvement can likely be traced back to the activation of Breaston.
• Antrel Rolle’s punt returning career is over.  For some strange reason Rolle opted to not catch three different punts that he had no reason not to catch, and neglected to yell the Cards “safe word” Peter when a punt was rolling periliously near Greg Toler’s legs – causing a turnover.  Rolle did redeem himself on his 83 yard TD return of a blocked FG but lets just all agree to keep Steve Breaston’s sure hands back there.
• 

  Beanie Has the Ball - Just Give Him a Halle Berry and He's Set

  Beanie Wells can really run the football – it’s the actual hanging onto the ball that is representing a bit of a problem.  On his 7 carries Beanie looked fast, agile, and every bit the guy who was a Heisman candidate at Ohio St. and a first round pick.  If only two of those carries hadn’t ended in fumbles.  The first was fortunately recovered by TE Anthony Becht but the second was a drive killer that could have cost the Cards in a big way had Becht not again been on the spot and knocked Rashean Mathis down by contact on his fumble recovery.  Obviously the Darnell Jefferson jokes began flowing in my home after that fumble…and it turns out Adrian Wilson was thinking the same thing as per Kent Somers, Wilson gave Wells a ball with the word “Beanie” written on it and told him not to let it go all week.

• Remember Antonio Smith?  Of course you don’t as Calais Campbell has more than replaced the missing defensive tackle.  Campbell had yet another big week as he batted down a pass, had half a sack, and blocked the field goal that set up Rolle’s big return.  This is the guy who was expected to be a top 5 pick during his sophomore season at Miami.
• Tim Hightower actually did not look terrible in carrying the ball 15 times for 72 yards and a TD.  He didn’t have 12 catches like last week but he was instrumental in salting the game away late.
• The defense looked generally solid until a four touchdown spread had them letting their guard down and helping the Jaguars to rally.  DRC had a pick but he still needs to play smarter football – particularly considering the Cards are headed up against Peyton Manning and the Colts next week.
• Jacksonville’s crowd was insanely pathetic.  ESPN reports the attendance at 46,000+ but it looked like half of that as the Jags pulled that Florida Marlins move where they block off huge sections of seats with Jaguar tarps so it looks less lame.  You’re fooling nobody Jacksonville – enjoy your next city.
• Zim was in the house for this game (after getting over his one week hissy fit) and provided the requisite yelling and sudden screaming that has made him so popular among our friend group.  Does this fact mean anything to you?  No.  But you should know it anyway.

Next week the Colts are headed to UofP to take on the Cards on Sunday night.  Can’t wait for Cris Collinsworth to start drooling over Peyton Manning and hitting his Super Bowl loser’s curse talking points.  Cue up the cactus pictures NBC.

Tags: Arizona Sports, Cardinals, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Sports, Week 2, Winning