Hi everyone, we will be discussing many subjects during the postseason but as you all know I am an Arizona Cardinals fan through and through. So first and foremost with a big game coming up on Monday night let’s discuss what could turn around the fortunes of a late season swoon by the Redbirds and be positive and discuss what could create a magical postseason run in the desert. Let’s go with the five keys to a run, not four, not six, not seven, not three, five!!! Let’s do it.
5. Protect the football
The Tennessee Titans getting a number one seed with a negative turnover differential almost never happens (they are an enigma as a team in general). If the Cards do not force turnovers and turn it over themselves it’s going to be over before you know it. In the last decade teams that have won the turnover battle in the playoffs are 58-20 which means if you win the turnover battle you win 74.3 percent of the time. Playing in hostile environments it is paramount the Cards are not giving the home team short fields.
4. Kliff needs to not be too cute with the playcalling
I have always had doubts about Kliff Kingsbury. The fact that he was an hibitual linestepper in terms of how hires in sports and business normally goes (35-40 at Texas Tech never was a coordinator in NFL yet he got an NFL head coaching gig a month after being fired from his failed college job with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback for three years mind you). So the fact that Kliff is .500 after 3 seasons and the teams record has improved each season I will say he has exceeded my expectations. However, this late fade down the stretch for the 2nd straight season has me concerned about his ability to adjust and motivate throughout a season. However, I do think Kliff can win in the playoffs if him and his staff puts his stars in the best position to win. But the most important thing for Kliff to do is stop being cute with the playcalling. I would rather not see a jet sweep on 2nd and goal from the 9 yard line at any point this postseason please.
3. Connor and Edmonds have to be Thunder and Lightning
James Connor and Chase Edmonds have to compliment each other like they did in the first 8 weeks of the season. Connor has to be the power short yardage back that scored 18 touchdowns. Chase Edmonds has to be the lightning component that led him to gaining 5.5 yards per carry. Plus Chase is a huge asset in the passing game. Kyler Murray needs to use him as the safety valve he is in passing downs and late half situations. Biggest factor here is both backs have to remain healthy.
2. Defensive stars need to show up
Budda Baker, Chandler Jones and J.J Watt (to a degree he is coming back from injury) has to play like stars. They have to come up with big plays on third downs and red zone situations, they have to disrupt plays that allow other defenders to make plays. They have to be the stars that they are paid to be. The defense will struggle as a whole if the stars don’t play like stars and wins will likely not follow.
1.Kyler is aggressive and confident
We can discuss all of the facts we can about what would constitute a great Cardinals run. But first and foremost it starts with Kyler Murray. If he doesn’t play well the Cards do not have a chance (it will be over at halftime on Monday night). Kyler doesn’t just need to play confident but most importantly aggressively. He is 5’9 and does not like to get hit and Aaron Donald and company know that and are coming for him. If Kyler plays as skittish as he has since he’s come back from injury it’s over and we know it. The rest of this list is a moot point. If Kyler plays aggressive and confident. Some of the other four components to this list could not hold up it’s end of the bargain and the Cards could still win that given game. If Kyler is awesome (which he is fully capable of being) the Cards could go on that cinderella run Cards have only experienced once before. It is possible, believe it’s possible Cards nation. Two days away your Cardinals play in a playoff game, rejoice.