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AP: 3c3f1a6c-d305-420e-a6c4-033709141ae6
St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) celebrate with teammates after making a tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012. The Bears won 23-6. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Howie Long is a Fox Sports NFL analyst who used to play in the NFL. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, and he's generally regarded as one of the better defensive linemen to ever play the game.

He also has a son, Chris, who plays defensive end for the St. Louis Rams. You know, the same Rams who the Cardinals are facing Thursday night.

As a guest of Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf, Long was asked about his thoughts on the Cardinals, who have started the season with a surprising 4-0 record.

"I've been saying this for about two, three years, obviously with a son in the division," Long said. "Please God, don't let them get a quarterback.

"They get a quarterback, it's a problem."

Long admits the verdict is still out on Kevin Kolb as a true NFL starter, but the real reason the Cards are winning games is because of their defense.

listen Listen: Howie Long, Fox NFL Analyst and former player
Doug and Wolf talk to NFL Analyst Howie Long, Who does he say are the two "wildcards" of the NFC West? What is the difference between Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald? Howie long answers a much asked question, is Tony Romo a good quarterback? And, Howie says he is not shocked by the New Orleans Saint's 0 and 4 record. Why?
"The pieces, what they've done there, collecting pieces," Long said, noting Patrick Peterson, Calais Campbell and Daryl Washington. "You're slowly building the foundation for a team that should be very competitive not only in the division, but league-wide."

The Cardinals are third in the NFL in points allowed, giving up an average of 15.3 per game. They're also tied for second in the league with 14 sacks.

Those numbers are not unlike what one would traditionally find in Pittsburgh, which is the team Arizona has been trying to emulate since hiring Ken Whisenhunt in 2007.

"Arizona looks to me more like a young Pittsburgh," Long said. "Probably more athletic up front. I know they're more athletic up front."

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    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    They arent Pittsburgh bro
    October 3, 2012 10:53 am
    Nothing close. Pittsburgh has won 6 NFL Championships. To say we are "finally" Pittsburgh, but, in the West Coast, and, that we are maybe better, is a insult to Pittsburgh. If you were to say that in front of Pittsburgh managers, coaches, or players who were part of those championship teams, they would laugh. Art Rooney might have slapped you in the face. Thats like comparing Lebron James to Michael Jordan. Do not use our short lived success in 08-09 or currently short success as a excuse to make that comparison. There is no comparison.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    And here comes the praise and attention
    October 3, 2012 10:59 am
    That we need to ignore. This kind of talk is the kind of talk that would inflate your head and make you think your invincible. Its flattering for Howie Long to say such things, but, Pittsburgh has done so much compared to us. We have done jack. And I expected someone to say something like that. And I was hoping that it wouldnt inflate the heads of the players or people of the local media. But it does... Hopefully the national attention the Cards are about to recieve, will not affect their mentalities. Remember... The goal is to win a Championship.
  • Abuse
    winitall24 wrote...
    Reply to "They aren't Pittsburgh bro"
    October 3, 2012 11:26 am
    What needs to be understood is that Howie Long is not comparing Championships here. He is basically saying that the defense is similar to Pittsburgh and the style of play. The defense is ruthless right now and that is the same style of play Pittsburgh produces week in and week out. Ken Whisenhunt has brought that style to the west and it is working. The Cardinals are not the Pittsburgh Steelers for obvious reasons. But if they can produce results every week and every season then maybe those Championships will start accumulating.
  • Abuse
    theuglytruth wrote...
    431 Tannehill passing yards...
    October 3, 2012 12:08 pm
    ..keeps me grounded. I'm a Cards fan, but I'm also realistic about what I saw on Sunday. With all the mistakes (Defensive misques, Kolbs int, PP21 muff's)...it was an ugly day. I hope these guys come out a set the record straight about who they really are!
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    Green, you need to replace
    October 3, 2012 1:03 pm
    "Cardinals are finally Pittsburgh-West -- maybe even better?" with something else man. The defense Horton is running is a 3-4. Its not called "Pittsburgh-West". There are quite a few teams who run Physical 3-4 defenses (like Houston, Baltimore, SF, MIA, AZ and etc...) and we dont hear them comparing themeselves to Pittsburghs D. Its flattering to hear our D reminds ppl of Pittsburghs D, but, just because Whiz and Horton came from coaching in Pitt doesnt mean we're trying to be Pittsburgh West. They are trying to start a winning culture here in Arizona for us to call our own.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    Green, you need to replace
    October 3, 2012 1:11 pm
    Whisenhunt and Horton left their success in Pittsburgh. Now, they are trying to build it here, in Arizona. Our D Cooridinator is Ray Horton. He runs a 3-4. Our HC is Ken Whisenhunt. He runs a spread offense. We Are the ARIZONA CARDINALS from the NFC WEST. Thats who we are... Call it Arizona Football, Cardinals Football, Roy Horton Football, or Ken Whisenhunt Footbal. I dont care... Call it anything except Pittsburgh West. We're not trying to be Pittsburgh. We're trying to be ARIZONA.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    Sorry guys
    October 3, 2012 1:15 pm
    I still have this bad taste in my mouth from that loss to Pittsburgh in the Superbowl. I cant let it go. The last thing I want to be called is Pittsburgh West. You can call me a hipocrite if you want to (because they hired successful ex-Pittsburgh Coaches). But I will say this, when they take what those ex-Pitt coaches are coaching them, and beat other teams, its in a Arizona Cardinal uniform.
  • Abuse
    TomConiam wrote...
    I love being Pittsburgh West
    October 3, 2012 5:37 pm
    I've always wished we could have a team more like the Steelers.. smashmouth, steel curtain defense.. I am so excited for us to finally be there.. if only we could get a little more offense going
  • Abuse
    Chandler59 wrote...
    They "aren't" Pittsburgh bro
    October 3, 2012 7:33 pm
    My family lived 26 miles from Pittsburgh from the mid 60's till '79 I can tell you that the Pittsburgh Steelers were not a good team (check out there record before the 70's - the Cardinals were actually better!) until the early 70's. Credit Chuck Noll for creating the Steeler Dynasty! And for those who aren't aware Mr. Noll started in '69. There 1st division championship was '72. Prior to '72 there were nearly as many Cowboy fans, Oakland fans, etc as Steeler Fans living in the area.
  • Abuse
    Chandler59 wrote...
    Cont.
    October 3, 2012 7:33 pm
    The Steelers were blue collar lovable losers to those of us who were fans. In fact after Oakland BackUp Ken Stabler scored the go ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter of their 1972 playoff game - all of us (15 or 25) said "same old Steelers" got up and quit watching the game and went to the local school to play basketball. We listened to the immaculate reception on the radio, then bombed back home to watch on TV!
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