The have emerged as a legitimate contender in the NFC behind a high-powered offense thats clicking on all cylinders and . Bruce Arians has playing the best football of his career and the two-time Coach of the Year has found a way to rejuvenate on the perimeter. With the running Chase Roullier Jersey game slowly coming around, it is time to consider the Bird Gang as a serious threat to the for NFC West supremacy. After all, Arizonas already two games up on the two-time reigning division champs.I dug into of in Chicago this past Sunday to see how Arians is getting it done. Here are three reasons why the offense could spark a legit run at the Lombardi Trophy:1) Carson Palmer is playing at an elite level under Bruce Arians.The 13th-year pro is rarely mentioned as a top-notch quarterback, but few have played better than Palmer since he joined the in 2013. In his last 17 starts, Palmer has completed 64.5 percent of his pa ses with seven 300-yard games and a 34:13 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Most importantly, he sports a 15-2 record and an impre sive 99.0 pa ser rating in this span, illustrating his efficient play in Arians system.Studying of Palmers recent play, Ive been impre sed with his solid understanding of the system. He routinely gets to the second and third receiver in the progre sion, exploiting the vulnerable areas in coverage. Granted, the former er should be able to find the soft spots in zones based on his experience reading defenses over the years, but it is uncommon to see a veteran quarterback with the arm talent and physical skills needed to throw darts to every area of the field. Palmer fires the ball with zip and velocity on intermediate throws outside the numbers, yet also shows the touch and timing to fine se throws over linebackers and defensive backs on the second level. With Palmer also adept at throwing the deep ball, Arians is able to build a game plan that allows the to attack all areas of the field.Palmers superior talent and superb pocket-pa sing skills perfectly match Arians ultra-aggre sive scheme, which places a premium on the vertical pa sing game. The crafty play designer routinely dials up shots on deceptive play-action pa ses that put deep defenders in a bind. In addition, Arians will mix in some quick-rhythm throws designed to get the ball into the hands of electric playmakers on the perimeter. These quick-hitters also allow Palmer to get the ball out quickly, thus avoiding blitzes and heavy pre sure in the pocket. The had legitimate O-line questions heading into the regular season, but the rhythm pa ses have helped the group pitch a shutout against opposing pa s rushers in each game. (Arizona is .), Arians featured more quick-hitters to neutralize the pa s rush and create easy pitch-and-catch situations. From quick slants and angle routes to various slip and now screens, Arians scripted a plan that put the onus on Palmer to get it out of his hands before the edge rushers could collapse the pocket.In the first quarter, the use a slip screen to take advantage of the pa s rush without exposing Palmer to harm. Prior to the snap, motions acro s the formation into a wing position. At the snap, he bangs the edge defender before reverse-pivoting to catch a fast screen from Palmer. With a lead blocker (LT ) kicking out the first second-level defender to show up, Brown waltzes into the end zone for a score (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Considering Palmers succe s directing the offense under Arians direction, it is time to consider the Bird Gang as a legitimate title contender.2) Clever play calling is helping Larry Fitzgerald thrive as a WR1.Fitzgerald is no longer regarded as one of the premier playmakers in the NFL, but the 12th-year pro is enjoying a bit of a renai sance as the WR1 due to creative scheming by Arians. The grizzled coach is moving the veteran around to help him find cracks and crevices in zone coverage. In addition, Arians decision to deploy Fitzgerald at various spots in different formations has allowed the eight-time er to out-leverage defenders and create separation on short/intermediate routes.Studying , I was blown away with the subtle tweaks Arians has incorporated into the game plan to help his 32-year-old pa s catcher get open between the numbers. The are frequently aligning or motioning Fitzgerald to a nasty position near the end of the line to prevent cornerbacks from getting a jam on him early in routes. The close alignment also helps Fitzgerald use a variety of stems to create separation on slants and cro sing routes.In the second quarter of Sundays game in Chicago, Fitzgerald, the lone receiver on the right side of the formation, motions into a tight alignment. By alignment, he has leverage on the cornerback for his slant route. Palmer executes a play fake to lure the safety to the line of scrimmage and create a void on the second level. Fitzgerald sets the defender up with an outside stem before slipping inside on the slant. Palmer delivers the ball on time for an easy 8-yard score (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Arians also has used deception and misdirection to create home-run opportunities for Fitzgerald. The use of a play fake draws defenders to the line of scrimmage, which allows a slower receiver to run past hesitant defenders on vertical route. Given Fitzgeralds limited speed and explosivene s at this stage of his career, the combination of deception and play design is needed to help him get open down the field.In this clip from the third quarter on Sunday, the incorporate a flea flicker to help Fitzgerald get loose on a vertical route. After taking the snap, Palmer hands the ball to ... only to have the veteran runner flip it back to the quarterback. Fitzgerald sells the run by stuttering and breaking down before blowing past the box safety on a go route. With the deceptive play fake creating hesitancy in the back end, Fitzgerald is able to gain a step on the defense to notch a big-play touchdown (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):The have employed creative formations, as well, to help Fitzgerald get easy completions on the perimeter. The team occasionally will align in run-heavy sets to force the defense to load the box, leading to one-on-one coverage on the outside. This is a tactic frequently used by clever play designers to enhance the pa sing game; Arians has started to use it more to help Fitzgerald get easy touches.In the fourth quarter, the align in an overload formation out of 13 personnel (1 RB, 1 WR and 3 TEs), forcing the to load the box in an attempt to stop the run. The formation leaves Fitzgerald alone on the perimeter against one-on-one coverage. With so much space available between receiver and defender, Palmer wisely throws the now route to give the ball to his top playmaker in space. Fitzgerald runs through the defenders arm tackle and scores a touchdown on a simple concept with minimal risk (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Despite failing to register a 1,000-yard season since 2011, Fitzgerald remains a legitimate WR1 for the in his later years. While his diminishing physical skills make it difficult to get open consistently on his own accord, the clever scheming and play design from Arians is giving the veteran an opportunity to make his mark as a playmaker on the perimeter.3) The Cardinals sneaky ground game provides balance to the attack.There is no disputing the reputation as a pa s-first team, but Arians has a sembled enough talent in the backfield to provide enough balance with the running game. The current Shaka Toney Jersey combination of and gives the just enough production on the ground to force opponents to respect the run. The (117.5) and with an average of 4.4 yards per rushing attempt. Those numbers are even more impre sive when you consider the fact that Arizona has yet to break a single run of 20-plus yards.Granted, the absence of injured back has contributed to the lack of big-play production on the ground, but the ex-er formerly known has CJ2K has been better than anticipated as the workhorse. Despite lacking the home-run speed and burst that once made him the most feared runner in football, Johnson has been able to consistently churn out positive yards with the ball in his hands. Although Johnson hasnt broken off a big-gainer to this point, he has given the offense just enough punch to keep opponents from completely ignoring the running game. is the X-factor in the backfield, with his raw combination of speed, quickne s and acceleration. Checking in at 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds with 4.50 speed, the rookie has the ability to take it the distance from anywhere on the field. He has already shown home-run potential with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his three touchdowns in nine total touches (five rushing, two receiving and two kick returns) this season. He has a knack for getting to the corner on outside runs, yet also po se ses the size and strength to grind between the tackles. When he becomes more comfortable with the responsibilities as a potential RB1, could help take the ground game to another level.Arians is starting to tap into s electric skills by giving him a handful of carries on perimeter runs. He used a to s crack play in the red zone against the to get his big-bodied runner loose on the perimeter. As you can see below, Johnson is positioned as the dot back in the trix formation. Receiver motions inside from the slot to crack on the to s sweep to the left. Johnson follows Veldheer around the corner. The ma sive offensive tackle buries the defensive back at the line of scrimmage, resulting in an easy 13-yard score for the rookie (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):The running game might not play a starring role in this offense, but its getting the job done.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter .
2 members of the present Pittsburgh Pirates' coaching staff will likely return for the 2024 period, according to manager Derek a meeting with 93. 7 The Follower on Tuesday, Shelton verified that striking instructor Andy Haines will certainly go back to the team for a 3rd period, and he expects pitching coach Oscar Marin to find back as supervisor Derek Shelton simply verified on @ 937theFan that Andy Haines will certainly be back next period as the Pirates' striking coach. - Matt Koll ) September 5, 2023This was not the information Pirates followers had actually hoped for.. a minimum of regarding the Haines component Tsung-Che Cheng Jersey. Given that taking control of in November 2021, the Pirates have actually been one of MLB's worst offending groups, finishing 29th in cumulative batting average in 2022. 222) and can be found in tied for 25th this year. 236) as of Sept. 5. The Pirates additionally tallied the second-most strikeouts last year 1,497), falling one reluctant of tying the Atlanta Braves for most in the National Organization. On the other hand, they rest 10th across all MLB and 5th in the NL with 1,216. Bear in mind, though, he hasn't been provided much talent to deal with besides a few players this stated during his interview that there are some things the team is obtaining better at offensively, which is a major factor for his return, also mentioning improvements for Ji Hwan Bae, Liover Peguero, Connor Joe, Bryan Reynolds, and Ke'Bryan amusing thing is that Hayes began improving at the plate after speaking with Jon Nunnally, striking coach for the Altoona Curve, Double-An associate of the also had compassion with the amount of criticism a hitting trainer receives each game: I assume it is just one of the hardest jobs in the video game, I can tell you that from personal experience and its also one of one of the most critiqued work in the video game. "
The have emerged as a legitimate contender in the NFC behind a high-powered offense thats clicking on all cylinders and . Bruce Arians has playing the best football of his career and the two-time Coach of the Year has found a way to rejuvenate on the perimeter. With the running Chase Roullier Jersey game slowly coming around, it is time to consider the Bird Gang as a serious threat to the for NFC West supremacy. After all, Arizonas already two games up on the two-time reigning division champs.I dug into of in Chicago this past Sunday to see how Arians is getting it done. Here are three reasons why the offense could spark a legit run at the Lombardi Trophy:1) Carson Palmer is playing at an elite level under Bruce Arians.The 13th-year pro is rarely mentioned as a top-notch quarterback, but few have played better than Palmer since he joined the in 2013. In his last 17 starts, Palmer has completed 64.5 percent of his pa ses with seven 300-yard games and a 34:13 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Most importantly, he sports a 15-2 record and an impre sive 99.0 pa ser rating in this span, illustrating his efficient play in Arians system.Studying of Palmers recent play, Ive been impre sed with his solid understanding of the system. He routinely gets to the second and third receiver in the progre sion, exploiting the vulnerable areas in coverage. Granted, the former er should be able to find the soft spots in zones based on his experience reading defenses over the years, but it is uncommon to see a veteran quarterback with the arm talent and physical skills needed to throw darts to every area of the field. Palmer fires the ball with zip and velocity on intermediate throws outside the numbers, yet also shows the touch and timing to fine se throws over linebackers and defensive backs on the second level. With Palmer also adept at throwing the deep ball, Arians is able to build a game plan that allows the to attack all areas of the field.Palmers superior talent and superb pocket-pa sing skills perfectly match Arians ultra-aggre sive scheme, which places a premium on the vertical pa sing game. The crafty play designer routinely dials up shots on deceptive play-action pa ses that put deep defenders in a bind. In addition, Arians will mix in some quick-rhythm throws designed to get the ball into the hands of electric playmakers on the perimeter. These quick-hitters also allow Palmer to get the ball out quickly, thus avoiding blitzes and heavy pre sure in the pocket. The had legitimate O-line questions heading into the regular season, but the rhythm pa ses have helped the group pitch a shutout against opposing pa s rushers in each game. (Arizona is .), Arians featured more quick-hitters to neutralize the pa s rush and create easy pitch-and-catch situations. From quick slants and angle routes to various slip and now screens, Arians scripted a plan that put the onus on Palmer to get it out of his hands before the edge rushers could collapse the pocket.In the first quarter, the use a slip screen to take advantage of the pa s rush without exposing Palmer to harm. Prior to the snap, motions acro s the formation into a wing position. At the snap, he bangs the edge defender before reverse-pivoting to catch a fast screen from Palmer. With a lead blocker (LT ) kicking out the first second-level defender to show up, Brown waltzes into the end zone for a score (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Considering Palmers succe s directing the offense under Arians direction, it is time to consider the Bird Gang as a legitimate title contender.2) Clever play calling is helping Larry Fitzgerald thrive as a WR1.Fitzgerald is no longer regarded as one of the premier playmakers in the NFL, but the 12th-year pro is enjoying a bit of a renai sance as the WR1 due to creative scheming by Arians. The grizzled coach is moving the veteran around to help him find cracks and crevices in zone coverage. In addition, Arians decision to deploy Fitzgerald at various spots in different formations has allowed the eight-time er to out-leverage defenders and create separation on short/intermediate routes.Studying , I was blown away with the subtle tweaks Arians has incorporated into the game plan to help his 32-year-old pa s catcher get open between the numbers. The are frequently aligning or motioning Fitzgerald to a nasty position near the end of the line to prevent cornerbacks from getting a jam on him early in routes. The close alignment also helps Fitzgerald use a variety of stems to create separation on slants and cro sing routes.In the second quarter of Sundays game in Chicago, Fitzgerald, the lone receiver on the right side of the formation, motions into a tight alignment. By alignment, he has leverage on the cornerback for his slant route. Palmer executes a play fake to lure the safety to the line of scrimmage and create a void on the second level. Fitzgerald sets the defender up with an outside stem before slipping inside on the slant. Palmer delivers the ball on time for an easy 8-yard score (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Arians also has used deception and misdirection to create home-run opportunities for Fitzgerald. The use of a play fake draws defenders to the line of scrimmage, which allows a slower receiver to run past hesitant defenders on vertical route. Given Fitzgeralds limited speed and explosivene s at this stage of his career, the combination of deception and play design is needed to help him get open down the field.In this clip from the third quarter on Sunday, the incorporate a flea flicker to help Fitzgerald get loose on a vertical route. After taking the snap, Palmer hands the ball to ... only to have the veteran runner flip it back to the quarterback. Fitzgerald sells the run by stuttering and breaking down before blowing past the box safety on a go route. With the deceptive play fake creating hesitancy in the back end, Fitzgerald is able to gain a step on the defense to notch a big-play touchdown (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):The have employed creative formations, as well, to help Fitzgerald get easy completions on the perimeter. The team occasionally will align in run-heavy sets to force the defense to load the box, leading to one-on-one coverage on the outside. This is a tactic frequently used by clever play designers to enhance the pa sing game; Arians has started to use it more to help Fitzgerald get easy touches.In the fourth quarter, the align in an overload formation out of 13 personnel (1 RB, 1 WR and 3 TEs), forcing the to load the box in an attempt to stop the run. The formation leaves Fitzgerald alone on the perimeter against one-on-one coverage. With so much space available between receiver and defender, Palmer wisely throws the now route to give the ball to his top playmaker in space. Fitzgerald runs through the defenders arm tackle and scores a touchdown on a simple concept with minimal risk (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):Despite failing to register a 1,000-yard season since 2011, Fitzgerald remains a legitimate WR1 for the in his later years. While his diminishing physical skills make it difficult to get open consistently on his own accord, the clever scheming and play design from Arians is giving the veteran an opportunity to make his mark as a playmaker on the perimeter.3) The Cardinals sneaky ground game provides balance to the attack.There is no disputing the reputation as a pa s-first team, but Arians has a sembled enough talent in the backfield to provide enough balance with the running game. The current Shaka Toney Jersey combination of and gives the just enough production on the ground to force opponents to respect the run. The (117.5) and with an average of 4.4 yards per rushing attempt. Those numbers are even more impre sive when you consider the fact that Arizona has yet to break a single run of 20-plus yards.Granted, the absence of injured back has contributed to the lack of big-play production on the ground, but the ex-er formerly known has CJ2K has been better than anticipated as the workhorse. Despite lacking the home-run speed and burst that once made him the most feared runner in football, Johnson has been able to consistently churn out positive yards with the ball in his hands. Although Johnson hasnt broken off a big-gainer to this point, he has given the offense just enough punch to keep opponents from completely ignoring the running game. is the X-factor in the backfield, with his raw combination of speed, quickne s and acceleration. Checking in at 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds with 4.50 speed, the rookie has the ability to take it the distance from anywhere on the field. He has already shown home-run potential with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his three touchdowns in nine total touches (five rushing, two receiving and two kick returns) this season. He has a knack for getting to the corner on outside runs, yet also po se ses the size and strength to grind between the tackles. When he becomes more comfortable with the responsibilities as a potential RB1, could help take the ground game to another level.Arians is starting to tap into s electric skills by giving him a handful of carries on perimeter runs. He used a to s crack play in the red zone against the to get his big-bodied runner loose on the perimeter. As you can see below, Johnson is positioned as the dot back in the trix formation. Receiver motions inside from the slot to crack on the to s sweep to the left. Johnson follows Veldheer around the corner. The ma sive offensive tackle buries the defensive back at the line of scrimmage, resulting in an easy 13-yard score for the rookie (TO VIEW THE PLAY, SCROLL LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE IMAGE BELOW):The running game might not play a starring role in this offense, but its getting the job done.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter .
2 members of the present Pittsburgh Pirates' coaching staff will likely return for the 2024 period, according to manager Derek a meeting with 93. 7 The Follower on Tuesday, Shelton verified that striking instructor Andy Haines will certainly go back to the team for a 3rd period, and he expects pitching coach Oscar Marin to find back as supervisor Derek Shelton simply verified on @ 937theFan that Andy Haines will certainly be back next period as the Pirates' striking coach. - Matt Koll ) September 5, 2023This was not the information Pirates followers had actually hoped for.. a minimum of regarding the Haines component Tsung-Che Cheng Jersey. Given that taking control of in November 2021, the Pirates have actually been one of MLB's worst offending groups, finishing 29th in cumulative batting average in 2022. 222) and can be found in tied for 25th this year. 236) as of Sept. 5. The Pirates additionally tallied the second-most strikeouts last year 1,497), falling one reluctant of tying the Atlanta Braves for most in the National Organization. On the other hand, they rest 10th across all MLB and 5th in the NL with 1,216. Bear in mind, though, he hasn't been provided much talent to deal with besides a few players this stated during his interview that there are some things the team is obtaining better at offensively, which is a major factor for his return, also mentioning improvements for Ji Hwan Bae, Liover Peguero, Connor Joe, Bryan Reynolds, and Ke'Bryan amusing thing is that Hayes began improving at the plate after speaking with Jon Nunnally, striking coach for the Altoona Curve, Double-An associate of the also had compassion with the amount of criticism a hitting trainer receives each game: I assume it is just one of the hardest jobs in the video game, I can tell you that from personal experience and its also one of one of the most critiqued work in the video game. "