SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Arizona Cardinals offense.
What do you see in the Cardinals and what are the biggest challenges for you guys going into this game?
“Well, number one, when you think of the Cardinals you’re going to think of [WR] Larry Fitzgerald, obviously. And he’s one of the top receivers in our league, if not the best receiver in the league. Future Hall of Famer and justifiably so, and he’s a tough guy to handle. He’s big. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s tough to tackle after he catches it. So, him in and of himself is a tough chore.”
You always talked about Fitzgerald being a good receiver. But, guys under the radar like WR Early Doucet and WR Andre Roberts, what have you seen of those two receivers?
“Their whole receiving corps is a good group. They’ve really done a good job putting together a good receiving corps. They’ve got good tight ends, also. [TE Rob] Housler was a real threat in the passing game. And 36, [RB LaRod Stephens-] Howling’s coming out of the backfield is a good threat in the passing game. They’ve got a lot of threats in the passing game. And [QB John] Skelton’s a big strong-armed guy that can make all the throws. So, they’re real challenging to play against in the passing game.”
You talked about Fitzgerald. How big a part, percentage-wise, or however you want to quantify it, is he of that offense. What you try to focus in on as a defensive coordinator?
“Well, he’s one of those guys that’s a big part of that offense even when the ball’s not being thrown to him because the defense is always aware of where he’s going to be. He draws a lot of attention from everybody they play. So, even when other guys are catching the ball, he has an indirect effect on that. So, he’s the huge part of their offense, even if it’s not getting thrown to him.”
Last year’s game in Arizona was marked by a lot of big plays that they had in the passing game. You guys seemed to eliminate a big portion of those this year. What are you doing this year that wasn’t happening last year?
“Nothing tangible that I can tell you. We’re playing a lot of the same stuff that we played last year. I think it’s just a product of our guys being more comfortable in the system this year. Playing that little bit better that I told you they would play just by being in the system. But, we’re not doing anything drastically different than we have in the past.”
Is it better tackling?
“That’s part of it, better tackling. But, I think it’s just better overall awareness of what we’re doing.”
With how big the difference, the two quarterbacks, one from the other, do they do the same kinds of things?
“Yeah, they run the same offense with [QB Kevin] Kolb as they would with Skelton. The difference is Kolb’s more of a scrambler, a runner. But, they both are strong-armed guys. And when they’ve had to go in between both guys due to injuries, their offense really hadn’t changed a whole lot.”
Is there any danger facing a team that’s given up a lot of sacks? The guys who you count on to pressure the quarterback get so focused on that part of it that they let other areas slip during the course of a game?
“No, we try hard to tell our guys you can’t get a sack on a running play. So, we’re not just going to be flying out of the shoots assuming every play is a pass. We’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer. And you earn the right to pass the passer by stopping the run and getting them into obvious passing situations.”
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A great perspective on gimmicky plays/kaeperwildcat.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/
This is a better breakdown from a 49ers perspective Axel.
http://ninerchatter.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-there-wildcat-in-san-francisco.html
Yet another
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/39879062
The one directly above Rib’s is the best though ; )
Great article/link ribico and thanks for the explanation on the Welcher. Good to know some history on here.
Prime,
We know it’s you idiot.
Not only are you a welcher, liar, and name caller, now telling people who they really are, well done.
Primate has no shame. After losing a bet to not return for 2 weeks, he comes on here and posts under different names. Then he has the balls to call Jordan a Welcher. What a hypocrite.
What’s wrong Promate. Are you getting bored at the animal shelter?
24 out of 424 plays have ruined the confidence of the Precious. He’s a bit weak-minded, eh?
The coaches are doing the right thing preparing the QB of the future. If Alex DeBerg can’t handle the stress then too bad for him.
He may be damaged good at this point in his career. If he had JH fresh out of college, perhaps things would be different. Oh well, we now have a mediocre handme down damaged good QB. Go Niner D, special teams, running game and carry us to another win.
Here’s what NFL.com says about the Cardinal offense: 27th in rushing, 27th in passing, 31st in yards and 27th in points scored. Bottom line, they don’t scare anyone. That being said, Skelton was able to beat the Niners last December cuz they only let Gore rush 10 times and kicked a bunch of field goals. Let’s pray that the Niners stick with running the ball and don’t force Smith to try to pass cuz we all know what happens when they do (i.e., I’m saying Smith sucks).
If I wasn’t clear, SMITH BLOWS! Been waiting 8 years for him to reach his potential, some fans want to wait a full decade. I say start putting Kaep in and let him throw out of the wildcat.
Until Alex tosses a few TD’s Monday night…
Then what?
Crickets.
That’s what I expect from fans like you. It’s typical & as predictable as the sun coming up every morning.
No, even if he does I’ll still call for them to groom Kaep to take over for Smith, the sooner the better. Like most true fans, I recognize that the Niner offense could be better, starting with the QB. Only the Homers like you are happy with things the way they are.
Alex isn’t capable of throwing a few touchdowns unless they play against the Bills again. Last time I checked, they are not on our schedule again this year.
Alex will play well against a defense that will be worn out from the amount of time spent on the field.
Yep,
That’s the way I see it too.
Time running out for AS, he can’t rely on the rest of the team each week to bail him out, he has so many flaws, poor pocket presence, over thrown and inaccurate throws, dumps it to a back if primary is covered, has poor vision to see the entire field.Going to get ugly for Mr.Inconsisteny.
Neal, are you bored?
My Hof. Just practicing my sermon.
No Hof
Neal, I see…waiting for someone to have a verbal battle with today eh? LOL
Perhaps Hof, but with AS regressing every week Monday night will be interesting, whether he plays great or play poor.ALEX INCONSISTENT SMITH. Go Giants
Looks like Neal is looking to release some tension, there are services for that you know?
And I bet you can offer those services Prime.
Neal I think he can rely on the defense and the coaching to put together game plans that the offense can be effective. Thats what championship teams do, they ride each other til all systems are firing at the right time. Hopefully that happens when the real season starts.
I think Alex Smith is doing a good enough job. Its still early in the season, they are winning games and there is lots of time and talent around him to stay competitve and grind out the next 9 games of the regular season.
Its too early for labels and final conclusion on any player on the team. Relax on the blanket statements, unless you know more than anyone else on here.
Primate Axel, My need to pay for those services, Also did you get hook up with.a biatch at animal services?
Lol. Prime Time just can’t stay away. At least he didn’t go American Me on us like One Niner did with his Latino Heat abomination. Eh Vato?
Punk prime,
Slime just couldn’t stay away. Thats what I call immaturity. Clown couldn’t honor a bet he made with another poster. Sad little maggot. There’s no honor among punks like that.
omg you guys are too funny
Alex smith will be a hall of famer we all know this, accept the truth!!!
Alex Smith won’t even make the Niners Hall of Fame.
Sure he will its not like we have an amazing cast of QB’s outside of Steve young and Joe Montanna, and if he gets to the super bowl bam instant hall of famer for the niners.