setting up the ARZ game, including what Cards fans are saying

from PFF: https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pff-press-pass-nfl-previews-for-every-matchup-during-week-2

ARIZONA CARDINALS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS

Plenty of targets for David Johnson

In their first game of the season against Washington, the Cardinals targeted running back David Johnson eight times. The Cardinals would be wise to increase Johnson’s targets against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, as the Rams allowed the Raiders running backs to catch 13 of their 15 targets on Monday night. Johnson last faced the Rams in the season finale in 2016 and earned his second highest receiving grade ever in the NFL (90.7) and his highest graded game overall (80.0).

Rams wide receiver distribution

Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff has three excellent wide receivers to throw to in Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and newly acquired Brandin Cooks. Cooks is among the league’s top deep threats and while it did not show up in the box score, Cooks’ presence was felt on offense as he racked up 87 receiving yards in Week 1. Woods often lines up on the outside opposite of Cooks, and he is also a reliable downfield threat as he drew three targets on passes of 20 or more yards downfield last week. Kupp is known for his ability in the slot and was able to haul in five catches for 52 receiving yards and a touchdown from the slot in Week 1. Goff had a near even target distribution last week as Cooks saw eight targets, while Woods and Kupp both had nine. It will be interesting to see if the even distribution trend continues against the Cardinals, due to the fact that the Rams will be going up against all-pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.

Speed_Kills

Cardinals v Redskins

listen to Baldy breakdown the Skins vs Cardinals

the Skins try and bludgeon rather than deceive like the Rams…. very different approaches

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2018090909/2018/REG1/redskins@cardinals#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000960684&tab=recap

Arizona Cardinals injury report: Andre Smith injury forces change on offensive line

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2018/09/14/arizona-cardinals-injury-report-andre-smith-john-wetzel-los-angeles-rams/1307094002/

Andre Smith has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at the Rams because of continued elbow soreness, meaning John Wetzel will get the start for the Cardinals at right tackle.

Wetzel has started 19 games the past two seasons, mostly at left tackle, and will have to play one of his best games as a pro if the Cardinals hope to contain the Rams’ ferocious defensive front of Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald.

“I feel great about Wetzel,” coach Steve Wilks said. “He had a pretty good camp, done some great things and has also played a lot of football for us around here so I’m very excited about him being in there. Again, those guys are going to work well together and I think we’re going to do a great job on Sunday.”

Smith’s injury isn’t considered to be too serious, Wilks said, adding the lineman likely will be available next week against the Bears.

The only other played ruled out against the Rams is backup defensive tackle Olsen Pierre (toe). Three players are listed as questionable for the Cardinals – defensive end Markus Golden (knee), tight end Jermaine Gresham (Achilles’) and linebacker Haason Reddick (ankle).

Wilks said Golden has had a great week of practice and that there’s a chance he could play.

“I think he can give us a spark,” Wilks said. “We’ve got to be smart and limit his reps, put him in situations where he can be effective. Will that be on third down trying to rush the passer? Those are things to think about, but again, he’s a lot like Jermaine that brings a lot of energy, communicates well, guys feed off of him, so he’ll bring a lot to us.”

MORE: Arizona Cardinals podcast: Bad Week 1, or just a bad team?

Running back David Johnson was limited earlier in the week with a back issue, but he said Friday he’s good to go after being a full participant in practice each of the past two days.

“The back is good,” he said. “I’m 100 percent and I’m ready to go for sure.”

For the Rams, wide receiver Michael Thomas (hip) will not play Sunday and linebacker Mark Barron (ankle) is listed as questionable.

Former Teammates to Face Bradford for First Time

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/former-teammates-to-face-bradford-for-first-time

With how fast the NFL moves, it feels like an eternity ago. But there was a time in the recent past that Sam Bradford played quarterback for the Rams.
Back in 2010, the franchise drafted Bradford No. 1 overall out of Oklahoma — one selection before now-Ram Ndamukong Suh. Bradford compiled a 18-30-1 record as a starter with the franchise, but his tenure was certainly marred by injury.
In 2013, Bradford suffered an ACL tear against the Panthers in the Rams’ seventh game of the season. Then after working his way back, Bradford suffered another ACL tear during the team’s third preseason matchup against Cleveland in 2014.

That would be the last snap Bradford would take in a Rams uniform, as the club traded him to Philadelphia in March of 2015.
There are few players left in the organization who lined up with Bradford, which is part of why he said this week that there isn’t much emotion for him in terms of playing the franchise for the first time.
“If it would’ve happened sooner, maybe there would be more,” Bradford said this week, via azcardinals.com. “There’s just not a lot of connection that’s still there for me.”
It’s true — the franchise isn’t even in the same city where Bradford played, having relocated back to L.A. in 2016. And aside from Los Angeles’ special teams group of kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker, and long snapper Jake McQuaide, only offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and defensive lineman Michael Brockers played a regular-season game with Bradford.
In fact, Saffold came in the league with Bradford back in 2010 as the No. 33 overall pick. Because of that, Saffold agreed that it’s going to be a bit weird to see him on the opposite sideline.

“It happens, but I think this is maybe only the second meeting that I’ve had where Bradford was on the other team — whether he was injured or just with a different team,” Saffold said, referring to the Bradford being on the Vikings last season when Los Angeles visited Minnesota. “But I came here with him, so it is kind of crazy.”
Drafted in 2012, Brockers played with Bradford for 23 regular-season games. But he has plenty of memories of Bradford from the locker room.
“That’s my guy. We used to play card games, be in here playing Tonk and stuff — he owes me some money, so maybe I’ll hit him up,” Brockers said with a laugh. “But for the most part we’re just going to focus on the game plan and execute.
“Hopefully it just makes the game fun, you know?” Brockers added. “Maybe I can get back there and talk a little crap — get in his head a little bit. But for the most part, it’s going to be fun.”
While quarterback Jared Goff and Bradford are linked on paper by their draft status as two of the franchise’s No. 1 overall picks, Goff said this week that he and Bradford have never met. But the Cal product has long admired Bradford from afar.

“He’s a great player, I think he’s tremendous. I think he does a great job,” Goff said. “I have followed his career just through being a fan and being a fellow quarterback, and I think he’s a great player. The guy that our defense is definitely getting ready for and really preparing for as good as he can be.”
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was only a rookie when Bradford suffered his second ACL tear in that preseason matchup with Cleveland, but he knows how effective the quarterback can be.
“He’s a good quarterback. If we don’t get to him and he’s back there comfortable, then it’ll be a long day for us,” Donald said. “Our job up front is to get him on the ground and get some hits on him and try to make him uncomfortable back there.”