UNCATEGORIZED

Bickley Blast: Thoughts on Cardinals’ first preseason game

Aug 12, 2013, 9:07 PM | Updated: 9:56 pm

LISTEN: Bickley Blast

A small town is easily confused.  A small town spends too much time around the punch bowl.  A small town gets overly excited when its teams win meaningless games.

Like when the Suns made the finals of the NBA Summer League.  Or when Coyotes fans believe the media is out to get their hockey team.  Or when the Cardinals beat up the Packers in the first game of the preseason, and renewed optimism fills the Valley.

The greatest team in history — the 1985 Bears — went 1-3 in the preseason.

But here’s what I like about the debut of the 2013 Cardinals. Here’s what I think is real and meaningful from their first preseason game:
Against the Packers, the Cardinals’ offensive line showed a real ability to pass protect over the course of an entire game. They kept Carson Palmer clean.  They allowed him to throw comfortably out of his own end zone. They allowed him to keep his eyes on receivers racing down the field.
Some of this is due to better depth and better players on the offensive line.  But part of it is better schematics. Head coach Bruce Arians and assistant Tom Moore vowed to construct the offense from the ground up, starting with a highly-efficient line.  They haven’t broken a promise yet.

So, a word of caution:  In every form of human competition, it’s very dangerous to draw any conclusions when the outcome doesn’t matter.   

If the outcome doesn’t matter, it really isn’t sports.

But if Arians succeeds in building a fortress around Palmer, he might actually have the sleeper team in the division, maybe even the conference. And he’ll have shown more touch at grooming a quarterback than his predecessor ever did.

Uncategorized

Paul Burkett

Dbacks Home Opener Tickets

The DBacks are back in action!! Register below for the chance to see your 2023 National League Champs debut on Opening Night!!

1 month ago

Promotions

Win the Valentines Day Prize Pack

One lucky winner will win a pair of tickets to the Ren Festival, two tickets to the Arizona Coyotes game tomorrow night and a brand new Stanley Cup!

1 month ago

Promotions

CopperBlues Wings & Roses Suns Ticket Giveaway

Enter below for your chance to win a pair of tickets to a future Phoenix Sun’s game!!

1 month ago

Samantha Hampton

Here Come The Suns Weekend Giveaway

WIN THE ULIMATE ARIZONA WEEKEND GIVEAWAY INCLUDING: -2 Waste Management tickets – 2 Phoenix Suns v Jazz on 2/8 tickets -2 Frank Caliendo tickets      

2 months ago

Bol Bol...

Damon Allred

Bol Bol, Damion Lee only injured Phoenix Suns going into Kings matchup Tuesday

Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol is out with a right foot sprain for Tuesday's game when the Suns host the Sacramento Kings at Footprint Center.

2 months ago

Promotions

Copper Blues Premium Giveaway

Register below for your chance to win premium lower-level tickets to the Warriors vs Suns game tonight!

4 months ago

Bickley Blast: Thoughts on Cardinals’ first preseason game