Superbowl XLIII: Player Props/Player Knocks
February 4, 2009
This to be completed soon…
Category: 2008 Season, Props/Knocks | Tags:
NFC Championship: Player Props/Player Knocks
January 22, 2009
This weekly segment focuses on players gettin’ props, and players gettin’ knocked for their hustle or lack thereof on the football field.
Player Props: Kurt Warner #13
Why: After watching the Eagles erase an 18-point deficit to take a 25-24 fourth quarter lead, Kurt Warner calmly led his team on a 14 play 72-yard TD scoring drive that erased 7:52 off the clock and demoralized the Eagles defense. Warner finished the game 21 of 28 (75%) for 279 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, and a clutch 2-point conversion to put the Cardinals up 32-25 with 2:53 left to play.
Player Props: Adrian Wilson #24
Why: Does anyone deserve a trip to Superbowl XLIII more than Adrian Wilson? The Cardinals safety plays with a punishing passion that keeps opposing teams honest. Against the Eagles, Wilson recorded 7 solo tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in the NFC Championship game. He single-hardedly covered Brian Westbrook out of the backfield, holding the Eagles superstar to 2 catches for 26 yards.
Honorable Mention: Ben Graham #5
Why: It’s hard to downplay the positive contribution Ben Graham has made to the Cardinals playoff success this postseason. Graham has been pinning Cardinals’ opponents inside their own 20-yard line a shocking 60% of the time. Compare that to his career 30.9% and Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith’s 2008 league leading average of 43.4%, and you can see that Graham is playing extraordinarily well. Field position is everything in the playoffs, and it’s infinitely harder to score on the Cardinals when the opposing team has 80+ yards to go.
Player Knocks: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29
Why: I’m a huge fan of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but the NFC Championship was not one of his better days. DeSean Jackson repeatedly beat Rodgers-Cromartie to the outside, and caught a 62-yard TD bomb over Rodgers-Cromartie’s outstretched arms to give the Eagles a 25-24 4th quarter advantage, almost destroying the Cardinals’ Superbowl dreams. A bad day at the office alone won’t get you in the Player Knocks section, but a half-hearted arm-tackle of Kevin Curtis certainly will. It won’t be a pretty film session for Rodgers-Cromartie this week.
NFC Divisional Playoffs: Player Props/Player Knocks
January 15, 2009
This weekly segment focuses on players gettin’ props, and players gettin’ knocked for their hustle or lack thereof on the football field.
Player Props: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29
Why: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie held Steve Smith to 2 catches for 43 yards and 1 TD, baited Jake Delhomme into a red zone interception, and knocked down 4 other passes from Delhomme, including one ball to Smith that Rodgers-Cromartie tipped into Antrel Rolle’s arms for another interception.
Player Props Part II: Antonio Smith #94
Why: Smith changed the momentum of the game when Delhomme dropped back to pass on Carolina’s first offensive play after Tim Hightower’s 3-yard TD catch evened the score 7-7 in the first quarter. Smith spun off an offensively lineman, slapped the ball out of Delhomme’s hands, and fell on the loose ball at his feet. Two plays later, Edgerrin James scored on a 4-yard TD run to put the Cardinals ahead 14-7. They never relinquished the lead.
Honorable Mention: Larry Fitzgerald #11
Why: Kurt Warner is great, but Fitzgerald makes him look even better. Down 7-0 early and facing a 3rd and 1 from the Arizona 49, Warner threw deep into double coverage, a jump ball that a lesser receiver might not have come down with. Instead, Fitzgerald outjumped both defenders, and turned a possible interception into a 41-yard gain. Three plays later the Cardinals scored, tying the game, and destroying the Panther’s early game momentum.
WK 3: Player Props/Player Knocks
September 22, 2008
This weekly segment focuses on players gettin’ props, and players gettin’ knocked for their hustle or lack thereof on the football field.
Player Props: Gerald Hayes #54
Why: The Washington Redskins touched the ball 73 times on Sunday, Gerald Hayes led the Cardinals by tackling 17.8% of them (nearly 1 out of every 5 snaps). That’s a pretty good day at the office.
Honorable Mention: Antrel Rolle #21
Why: Who made Antrel mad? Jeez… Antrel flew around FedEx Field sticking his hat into all kinds of Redskins trouble to the tune of 6.0 tackles (5.0 solo) and 1 pass defensed. If anyone came close to generating a turnover Sunday, it was Antrel who applied bone-jarring hits and doubled his tackle totals from the previous 2 games combined.
Player Knocks: Roderick Hood # 26
Why: Hood was caught guarding a Gatorade bucket on a Jason Campbell TD bomb to Devin Thomas, but was bailed out by a phantom Redskins personal foul occurring away from the ball. Regardless of the outcome, if you let a guy get at LEAST 30 yards open behind you and shy away from tackles all day, you’re going to end up in the Player Knocks section.
WK 2: Player Props/Player Knocks
September 20, 2008
This weekly segment focuses on players gettin’ props, and players gettin’ knocked for their hustle or lack thereof on the football field.
Player Props: Bertrand Berry #92
Why: Berry chased down running backs like a runaway hay baler and gobbled up everything in sight. My props to a man who had 4.0 tackles (3.0 solo) and a sack against Washington.
Honorable Mention: Calais Campbell #93
Why: Campbell, congrats on your best game as a Pro. Way to blow up the line and torpedo the running back behind the line of scrimmage. Nice job hustling that big 6′8″ frame of yours downfield on punt coverage to stop the ball on the 1-yard line… I’m sure Miami loved that one! Nothing but good things ahead for you.
Player Knocks: Ralph Brown #20
Why: Brown didn’t bring his tackling “A” game against the Redskins, and got exposed when Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown shoved him to the ground on screens and sweeps. Probably not the most fun Ralph’s had in a film session, but that’s why there’s next week.