Courtesy of Darren Urban of AzCardinals.com, here’s the latest word from Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Kolb’s likelihood of playing in his first “revenge” game against the Eagles on Sunday:
Quarterback Kevin Kolb said he continues to progress with his turf toe injury, and that, while last week was about reducing the swelling in the injury this week has been about rehab and trying to get back on the field. He has yet to get back to the field however, sitting out again Thursday and making a Sunday appearance in Philadelphia unlikely.
“I wouldn’t say he has to (practice), but I would like for him to,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
If Kolb doesn’t get in more reps by tomorrow, it doesn’t sound like he would have any chance to start. Whisenhunt said the only way Kolb would be a game-day decision would be if he was in a backup role. At issue remains his ability to drop and move and get around in the pocket. “What you don’t want to do is compromise his mobility,” Whisenhunt said.
The practice part is more about testing Kolb out physically rather than helping him mentally, Whisenhunt said. Kolb can handle that.
Whisenhunt was asked if there was a way John Skelton would retain the starting job after Kolb returned to health. “There is no real reason to comment on that,” Whisenhunt said.
In other injury news, both linebacker Paris Lenon (groin) and fullback Anthony Sherman (ankle) were upgraded to limited, while cornerback A.J. Jefferson was added to the injury report Thursday when he was limited with a foot injury. Cornerback Michael Adams (neck) was upgraded to full
As for Fitz… he was very happy to get a win (and a TD) against the Rams last Sunday… He had just four catches for 43 yards – although he finally got another touchdown – and yet Larry Fitzgerald’s smile was wide, possibly the biggest he has sported since signing that contract extension in late August.
Fitz stood at the postgame press conference podium with that smile and said, “You have no idea how hard it has been coming up here six weeks in a row. It’s a great feeling to come out of here with a ‘W,’ with the passion and the way we did it.”
OK, if Fitz is happy again, it can only mean trouble for the Eagles secondary come Sunday… more on that subject in bit… But first, let me slam in the latest standings for the EEB BRISUKSEGG FANCY FANTASY FOOTBALL Conference:
WEST DIVISION: W L T Pctg. GB
Marty Funkhouser 7 2 0 .778 —-
Sunny’s Jock Strap 6 3 0 .667 1
Team Jax Eagles 6 3 0 .667 1
Dem Stinken Bums 5 4 0 .555 2
Lancaster RubberNecks 4 5 0 .375 3
Green Machine 2 7 0 .222 5
EAST DIVISION:
How You Like Dem Apples 6 3 0 .667 —-
Nut Chokers 5 4 0 .555 1
The Amputatoes 4 4 1 .500 1.5
Team Bone 3 5 1 .375 2.5
Team Conahan 3 6 0 .333 3
McLuvin’s Pastries 2 7 0 .222 4
Back with more after a break….
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Returning to the concept of covering Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday:
This is a topic riddled with mixed reviews….
Some wide receivers can burn defenses with speed. Others can make nearly impossible catches because they possess great hands. And of course there are the tall receivers who can out-leap defensive backs and grab jump balls. But if there’s one receiver in the NFL today that exemplifies the old “SportsCenter” cliche that “you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him,” it’s Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. He can go down the field, make circus grabs and, at 6 feet 3 inches, it’s hard to find defenders to match up against him. Which begs the question for the Eagles: How do you stop or contain) Fitzgerald in Sunday’s game?
| WR |  |
Larry Fitzgeraldaveraging 3 rec, 63 yards Fitzgerald will likely draw Nnamdi Asomugha for most of the day, which is usually bad news for opposing WRs. However, Fitzgerald usually finds ways to get open against good defenders, such as his 176 combined yards against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. |
That’s the classic Sports Illustrated approach to covering Fitz. Put your tallest and your fastest veteran DB on him…and try to isolate him from the Cardinals’ game plan…
For the most part, the bigger and taller guys don’t let Fitzgerald blow up their team for multiple touchdowns and 100+ yard games. The reasons for this include Fitzgerald’s lesser ability to out-muscle the bigger guys, a lesser chance to catch the jump balls, and generally lesser speed than the CB. Fitzgerald hardly ever blows by the safety for a huge touchdown pass, he just doesn’t have the top end speed to do that. However, he does have the height and athleticism to consistently beat CBs to the ball, and he knows how to use his strength and body to his advantage.
Hmmmmmm…
In a sample of past games going back to 2008 examined by Aaron Weinberg of NextSeasonSports.com, we get this interesting look at the ratio of coverage size to Fitz’ game results:
Analyzing the tape: 6-0 or taller
Against the 49ers’ 6-0 or taller cornerbacks, Fitzgerald caught two short slants for touchdowns, one jumper and a deep ball that doesn’t really count because the 6-0 player in question dumped Fitzgerald off to the safety, who blew the coverage. 49ers CB Nate Clements gave up two of those touchdowns to Fitzgerald, one on a short cross and another on a jumper that Clements was clearly not ready for.
On the cross, the Niners were playing the run, stuffing the box with eight with a safety playing slightly toward Fitzgerald. Clements gives Fitzgerald way to much room and the safety is thinking “run” the whole time. This gives an easy touchdown to Fitzgerald who uses his body to screen out Clements.
He scored another against Rams backup CB Ronald Bartell on a five-yard slant. The fourth came during a game when Redskins CB Shawn Springs was covering him, but it wasn’t actually Springs’ fault, who let Fitzgerald off to the safety, who let Fitzgerald blow by him for a 54-yard touchdown.
Red color indicates shorter than 6-0. All 6-0 and taller CBs held Fitzgerald to less than 100 yards except for ex-Seahawk Shawn Springs. And, as Weinberg stated earlier, the huge play for a touchdown was not Springs’ fault.
Although they may be faster and have all the tricks a taller CB might have, the 5-11 and under crowd let Fitzgerald run all over them.
This time, Weinberg takes a look at all of the less fortunate CBs whose physical attributes put them at a severe disadvantage to bigger and stronger WRs such as Fitzgerald.
Analyzing the tape: 5-11 and shorter
Against 5-11-and-under guys, Fitzgerald hauled in several jump ball touchdowns, but was also able to use his big body and athleticism to run quick slants or crosses for gimme receptions. Shorter players who were physical against Fitzgerald didn’t stand a chance, such as Eagles CB Joselio Hanson, who tried to jam Fitzgerald at the line only to be out-muscled and burned for a touchdown as Fitzgerald pushed him backwards then slanted in.
In the same game, CB Lito Shephard gave Fitzgerald a try when the Cardinals were seven yards from the end zone. He knew the short cross was coming, and even tried to cut him off, but Fitzgerald shielded him with his body, caught the ball, and shed Shephard off his back like snake skin. Warner recognized the man coverage and there was no way Shephard could defend it as they blitzed both safeties.
Moral? Never leave Fitzgerald in single coverage that close to the end zone because that cross is virtually undefendable without a safety to help out.
Against the Bills and Leodis McKelvin, Fitzgerald used his size to block McKelvin and score on that 5-yard slant play. The other time was more of the safety’s fault, who looked past Fitzgerald after McKelvin was picked by another Cardinals WR.
This is another popular move with the Cardinals, who use a lot of picks with their big, physical receivers.
This happened legally on a great play against the Seahawks week 17. Trufant was playing about four or five yards off Fitzgerald. As the play started, Fitzgerald faked into the end zone and Trufant played to the back corner. In the meantime, a screen formed with two wide receivers and the right tackle. Fitzgerald’s move created enough separation for Warner to whip it out to Fitzgerald. As he caught it, Trufant was blocked simultaneously by another WR. The play ended in a touchdown.
Overall, the 5-11 and shorter crowd performed terribly against Fitzgerald.
Of course, if the Eagles’ defensive pressure on the Cardinals’ QB is strong enough, a lot of the Fitz Phenomenon is washed away…and for the Eagles, that would be a good thing.
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